STAMFORD  Drivers who watch pedestrians dart out in front of them in Stamford may appreciate the fact that city police issued nearly three dozen warnings to wayward downtown walkers on the first Monday of the year.

According to a release from downtown Capt. Diedrich Hohn, Monday was the kickoff for a state Department of Transportation Pedestrian Safety Grant, the purpose of which is to conduct targeted enforcement of city intersections with high volumes of pedestrians.

First on the list of those intersections was possibly the busiest pedestrian intersection in the city at Broad Street, Bedford Street and Atlantic Street. There, it only took 90 minutes for six officers to issue 35 verbal warnings to pedestrians crossing out of the crosswalk, against the walk signal, running in front of traffic and several bicyclists doing the same thing, Hohn said.

Although the warnings were only verbal, officers saw some pretty egregious activity with both pedestrians and vehicles at fault, Hohn said.

Hohn said the worst violator was Calvin Thigpin, 49, who apparently thought it was a good idea to make a right turn in his car from the center lane of Broad Street onto Bedford Street. Thigpin then made his way around a vehicle that had stopped for five pedestrians, including a woman and her 3-year-old daughter who was being pushed in a carriage, who were legally crossing the intersection right in front of him, police said.

Thigpin nearly struck the carriage right in front of the police officers and was stopped as the mother began screaming at Thigpin, Hohn said. He was issued a ticket for failing to grant the right of way to a pedestrian at an intersection as well as making an improper turn, a ticket with a $407 penalty.

A woman riding with Thigpin was found to have not appeared for a court date and was taken to Stamford police headquarters and booked.

In addition to the 35 verbal warnings issued to pedestrians, six drivers were given tickets for violating traffic control signals with pedestrians in crosswalks. Two tickets were also issued for drivers failing to grant the right of way to pedestrians at an intersection and one motorist was written up for not having a license, police said.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh) [India], Jan 7 (ANI): A man was stripped naked and thrashed on suspicion of stealing garlic sacks from a wholesale vegetable market here in Mandsaur on Monday, police said.



Speaking about the matter, SL Baurasi, Mandsaur Police Station Incharge said: "This is a very serious matter. We have begun an investigation. Action will be taken against the culprits who are seen in the video."

When farmers came to sell garlic in a wholesale market, they learned that some garlic sacks have been stolen.

Following which, a young man was interrogated and when people suspected that he had stolen garlic, instead of taking him to the police station or calling the police, people took the law into their hands and started beating him. They stripped off all his clothes and put a sack of garlic on his shoulder and made him roam around the market.

"After it was found that a young man had stolen garlic. People hit him after stripping off his clothes. We have recovered the garlic he had stolen. There is a need to tighten the security system in the market," Badrila, a farmer, told ANI.

Police have not made any arrests in this case so far. (ANI)


WASHINGTON - The Pentagon on Monday rushed to play down reports that U.S. troops in Iraq were being repositioned in preparation for a possible withdrawal, one day after Iraqi lawmakers passed a nonbinding resolution calling for all foreign troops to leave the country.

"This is a mistake," the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, told reporters at the Pentagon after a letter indicating a withdrawal was released by the U.S. military command in Baghdad. The letter, he said, was an unsigned planning draft discussing new deployments and "should not have been released."

"There has been no decision made to leave Iraq, period," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said.

But the quickly quelled uproar was indicative of what Milley called the "highly dynamic situation" in which the United States finds itself after Friday's killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike at Baghdad airport.

A policy afterthought for the past three years, while it served as a hub for military efforts against the Islamic State and a place from which to keep a close eye on Iran, Iraq has suddenly become a problem for the United States.

After bringing the Islamic State to heel and claiming to be well on his way to stopping the "endless wars" in the Middle East, President Donald Trump now finds himself in the middle of an entirely new crisis on the same battlefield that bedeviled his two immediate predecessors.

There is widespread agreement among U.S. lawmakers and close allies that Soleimani, commander of the elite Quds force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was responsible for years of terrorist activities by Iran, including attacks that have caused the deaths of hundreds of U.S. forces in the region.

Britain, France and Germany on Monday issued a statement urging the United States and Iran to exercise restraint and avoid escalation. Saudi Arabia, whose deputy defense minister met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday, issued a similar call.

"We are very keen that the situation in the region doesn't escalate any further," Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud told reporters in Riyadh. "We hope that all actors take all the steps necessary to prevent any further escalation and any provocation."

But many worry that the administration has no strategy to deal with the likely escalation of U.S.-Iranian conflict that will follow. That concern is most acute in Iraq, where the two powers have long vied for influence.

"This administration doesn't have a policy on Iraq," said a former senior Iraqi official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid worsening a volatile situation. Iraq, he said, has been a subsidiary of policies toward Israel and Iran, seen as "baggage from the last administration."

Barack Obama came to the presidency determined to end U.S. military involvement in Iraq, withdrawing all combat forces at the end of 2011. But his administration remained deeply involved in political diplomacy there and efforts to stabilize a democratic government. When the Islamic State burst onto the scene in 2014, Obama agreed to an Iraqi request to send U.S. troops, a deployment that Trump said he planned to end as soon as the militants were vanquished.

"Up to the point where ISIS was territorially defeated" last year, a current Iraqi official said, "Iraq was on the radar screen because defeating the Islamic State was an electoral priority of the president. Once they were defeated, we were downgraded."

Many Iraqis were taken aback early last year when Trump, in an interview with CBS's "Face the Nation," indicated that the United States "had Iraq" and intended to keep it for its own purposes. "We spent a fortune on building this incredible base," Trump said of the al Asad Air Base in western Iraq, which hosts many U.S. troops. "We might as well keep it."

"And one of the reasons I want to keep it is because I want . . . to be able to watch Iran. All I want to do is to be able to watch. We have an unbelievable and expensive base built in Iraq. It's perfectly situated for looking at all over, different parts of the troubled Middle East, rather than pulling up."

On Sunday, Trump noted that the base "cost billions of dollars" and said "we're not leaving unless they pay us back."

Iraq has been seen largely "through the lens of counterterrorism, through the lens of Iran, and through the lens of the partisan debate of the last decade," said William Wechsler, a senior Pentagon official under Obama, "none of which is about the sovereignty and future of Iraq, which is what its people care about."

Within minutes of Sunday's vote in Baghdad - pushed by pro-Iranian Shiite representatives in a session boycotted by Sunni and Kurdish lawmakers - Pompeo had dismissed it as the flailing of an unrepresentative parliament headed by a lame-duck prime minister.

Any attempt by Iraq to follow through with the expulsion of U.S. troops, Trump later threatened, would be met with a refusal to leave and sanctions on Iraq "like they've never seen before, ever."

Senior State Department officials who briefed reporters late last week insisted that "Iraqis want us in the county." But there are fears that events of the past few weeks have given pro-Iranian forces an upper hand and distracted attention from anti-Iranian uprisings that have swept Iraq in recent months.

"Iraqis still view both the United States and Iran as malign forces in their country that are interfering in their country's affairs, pursuing their own agendas without caring about Iraqi sovereignty," said Ali Fathollah-Nejad of the Brookings Doha Center.

But "at this particular point in time," he said, the Shiite-dominated "Iraqi political class is using and abusing the situation in order to divert attention from the protests . . . and fanning the flames of anti-Americanism."

For the U.S. military, the concerns are more immediate. The United States has suspended counter-Islamic State operations in Iraq and Syria while the 5,000 U.S. troops in Iraq turn their attention to force protection in expectation of an Iranian response. NATO and U.S. training of Iraqi troops has also been suspended, and the U.S. government has told American civilians in Iraq to leave the country.

Current and former officials said a prolonged pause in counterterrorism operations, let alone a U.S. departure, would hurt American security interests in the region.

"Force protection is our #1 priority. Period," Lt. Gen Pat White, who heads the international mission against the militants in Iraq and Syria, said in a message on Twitter. Beyond Iraq, U.S. troops across the region remained on heightened alert Monday.

Officials are particularly concerned about the potential for Iranian attacks within the next few days, now that the mourning period for Soleimani has ended. "We are seriously concerned about the next 24 to 48 hours," said a U.S. official who was not authorized to address the issue publicly.

The administration has dispatched more than 4,000 additional troops to the region. An additional amphibious force of about 4,500 sailors and Marines is also scheduled to arrive in the region to support Middle East operations.

The order was disclosed as throngs of Iranians mourned Soleimani at his funeral Monday in Tehran. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, wept as he prayed over the general's coffin, and he and other Iranian leaders vowed revenge.

Beyond the immediate threat, U.S. officials said it would be difficult if not impossible to continue the mission targeting the Islamic State in Syria, where there are 1,000 U.S. troops, without a presence in Iraq.

Former officials and analysts said the Trump administration might seek to mitigate Iraq's decision to reduce the American presence, requesting "dual key" status, which would require Iraqi approval for all U.S. military operations or moving U.S. troops to the semiautonomous Kurdistan region.

At the Pentagon on Monday, Milley said he had followed up on reports of the withdrawal letter, which he said referred not to troops leaving Iraq but to movements inside Iraq and to new forces being deployed, and "should not have been released."

"The first part of it, which says 'repositioning forces over the course of the coming days to prepare for onward movement' was poorly worded, [and] implies withdrawal. That is not what's happening," he said.

Esper said the United States remains prepared for any contingency with regard to Iran, and the message to Tehran is that the "ball remains in their court."

The United States encourages Iran to de-escalate the situation, he said, adding that "we are open to sitting down with them and discussing the issues, so we could have a more normal relationship with that country."

Asked whether the U.S. military would strike cultural sites in Iran, as Trump has suggested, Esper said, "We will follow the laws of armed conflict."
Vesta Toller was alive before Arizona became a state.

She was alive during World Wars I and II and the civil rights movement.

Although she didnt watch TV much, she remembers watching the 1969 moon landing.

And shes seen the centurys massive growth in technology firsthand  It has its good and bad sides, she said.

Fast forward many years, Toller is now living in Tucson after growing up in Colorado and living in New Mexico for most of her life. Last week, on Dec. 30, she turned 109 years old.

Its unknown if shes the oldest person in Pima County.

One of Tollers earliest memories was visiting mining camps with her father, who was a doctor. She watched him tend to various injuries, mostly in the Four Corners area.

Her father would sometimes bring one of his 12 children along on medical calls. Toller was about 10 at the time.

It was nice for him to let me go along and be there and see what happened, she said.
Gary Joseph Gravelle, 52, also known as Roland Prejean, pleaded guilty Monday to seven charges related to his threatening to kill, injure and intimidate people and explode property in Connecticut and elsewhere.

Gravelle, who last resided in New Haven, also admitted that he violated the conditions of his supervised release that followed his earlier federal convictions for sending threatening communications.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Gravelle used the U.S. mail, email and telephone to threaten to harm people and explode property in Connecticut, Vermont and Washington.

In a statement from U.S. Attorney John Durhams office, Certain letters that Gravelle mailed contained a white powdery substance and statements that the substance was Anthrax, a biological agent and toxin. Gravelle made threats to various mental-health providers and facilities in New Haven, U.S. Probation Officers, a U.S. District Court Judge, an international airport in Vermont, a federal prison in Washington, occupants of a building in Old Saybrook, a credit union in Bristol, and organizations and religious centers in Connecticut.

He also sent a letter threatening to kill the President of the United States.

Gravelle pleaded guilty to five counts of maliciously conveying false information about an explosive, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count; one count related to the sending of hoax Anthrax letters, and offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and one count of making threats against the president, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.

On July 19, 2013, Gravelle was sentenced in Bridgeport federal court to 70 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for mailing numerous threatening letters in 2010.

Gravelle was released from prison in 2015 and, in September 2018, was still under federal supervision.

In pleading guilty, Gravelle also admitted that he failed to comply with conditions of his supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport scheduled sentencing for March 26.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and many local police and fire departments, including departments from Bristol, Guilford, Groton, Hartford, Middletown, New Haven, Old Saybrook, Southington and Stamford, Yale University, and Burlington, Vermont. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.
Photo: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Amid chants of Death to America in Irans parliament on Sunday, the chambers speaker, Ali Larijani, directed yet another dire warning to the U.S. You ought to know, he said, that this deed will bring painful consequences.

With all the sound and fury emanating from officials in the U.S. and the Middle East following the assassination of Qasem Soleimani on Friday, it wasnt immediately obvious which developments really mattered and which just represented leaders jockeying for advantage by bragging about their willingness to commit acts of violence. But while weve yet to see what form Irans inevitable retaliation may take, the consequences of President Trumps decision are already apparent. From the gobsmacking confusion over the status of U.S. troops in Iraq to reports of discrimination against Iranian-Americans at the border, the following repercussions are well underway.

The situation for U.S. troops on the ground looks dangerously incoherent

Soon after the attack, Iraq declared that U.S. troops must leave the country; over the weekend, caretaker Iraqi prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi demanded, and got, a vote from the Iraqi parliament ordering U.S. forces out. But Sunni and Kurdish lawmakers, whose constituents have borne the brunt of attacks by the militias Soleimani supported, skipped the vote  another indication of how divided Iraq is. Trump-administration officials at first seemed to respond with bravado, suggesting that nothing was final or would necessarily change. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo dismissed criticism from Mahdi, calling him the resigned prime minister, which is, to say the least, an unusual way to talk about someone who controls the status and support for thousands of U.S. service members.

Then things got weird. Late on Monday, a letter from the U.S. commander in Iraq purporting to notify Baghdad of U.S. intent to withdraw troops from Iraq surfaced online and was acknowledged as authentic, spurring confusion and uncertainty. Then, when asked about it, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said the memo was inaccurate and he and his staff were trying to figure out what was going on  not usually how the Pentagons leader responds to news of troop movements. Within an hour of Espers comment, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley was telling a new story: Letter is a draft, it was a mistake, it was unsigned, it should not have been released  poorly worded, implies withdrawal, that is not whats happening.

So are U.S. troops in Iraq staying, going, or being redeployed to less conspicuous locations? Your guess is as good as mine  but, worryingly, Iranian military intelligence likely has better information than we do.

Iran is playing the long game

Despite some dire predictions, we didnt see U.S. embassies overrun or the Eastern Seaboard shut down by Iranian cyberattacks over the weekend. Tehrans messaging has been strong but so far not as extreme as many have feared. Iranian officials and their allies vowed to take revenge, but said civilians would not be targeted. The response for sure will be military and against military sites, Hossein Dehghan, the main military adviser to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told CNN. He added, The only thing that can end this period of war is for the Americans to receive a blow that is equal to the blow they have inflicted  a comment that can be read in a number of ways.

Likewise, the Iranians announced that they are suspending their participation in the 2015 nuclear deal that had shut down their weapons program, but they left open the possibility of returning to it at some point. Tehran has yet to make clear whether that means expelling international inspectors and closing down sensors that let the outside world have a better sense of whether it is dashing for a bomb.

Some commentators have used these developments to argue that Trumps strategy worked and that Iran may be deterred. But remember that it took Austria-Hungary a month to open what became the First World War after its crown prince was assassinated in 1914. Its not time to celebrate yet, by any means.

The Trump administrations decision-making process is just as bad as you feared

The rubble had barely stopped smoldering before anonymous administration sources were running to tell reporters how Trump made the call to target Soleimani. It seems the president got a Pentagon briefing in Mar-a-Lago and picked out assassinating the Iranian general from a list of options on a Power Point slide to the shock and dismay of the officials in charge. (We should note here that its bureaucratic custom to write options memos a la Goldilocks and the Three Bears  one too hot, one too cold, and the middle one, by default, just right. Nice going, guys.)

Publicly, administration officials have given inconsistent answers on the nature of the alleged threat that compelled the Trump administration to strike now without notifying Congress or our allies, including those who have troops on the ground with us in Iraq. But, on background, officials told New York Times reporter Rukmini Callimachi that the sourcing was razor thin and contained no conclusive evidence of an imminent attack.

Republicans wont do anything to rein Trump in

Exactly one Republican has criticized President Trump in the days following the strike: Senator Rand Paul. You could say that Soleimani was plotting to attack the U.S. It may well be true, Paul told Fox Newss Neil Cavuto on Friday. But with his death, do you think its more or less likely that Iran and their militias and their proxies will attack the U.S.? I would argue that its much more likely.

Of course, Paul has been a regular critic of the presidential use of force without congressional authorization. But what are the chances that any significant number of Republicans will vote with Democrats in favor of Senator Tim Kaines war-powers resolution to force a debate and vote in Congress to prevent further escalation of hostilities with Iran? As underscored by Majority Leader Mitch McConnells latest jab at Democrats, basically zero.

McConnell attacks Democrats for going after Trump in the aftermath of Soleimani killing. Says there should a moment for national unity, accusing Dems of deepening partisan divide  Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 6, 2020

Finding and fighting actual terrorists just got harder

Soleimanis killing makes it harder for the U.S. to maintain operations against remnants of ISIS around the Iraq-Syria border. A stable Iraqi government was key both to limiting Irans regional influence and to preventing a resurgence of ISIS, but these developments have only made a weak government weaker. Both Tehran and Washington will be telling Baghdad it must choose. And Tehran is much closer.

In addition to regional threats, Iran has a history of sponsoring terror attacks in our hemisphere. Analysts are thus watching anxiously for signs that Iran or its proxies might seek revenge here  and there are concerns that the Trump administration might use those fears as an excuse to violate the civil liberties of Americans of Middle Eastern ancestry. Over the weekend, more than 60 Iranians and Iranian-Americans were detained for hours at Washington States border with Canada and asked questions about their family history and politics. Most were released, but some were denied entry to the U.S. Masih Fouladi, an executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, suggested these detentions may have been illegal. They also take up time and generate data that may distract Customs and Border Protection offers from the business of catching drug dealers, human traffickers, and other criminals at our borders.

So, as is often the case, the threat we face isnt just foreign retaliation. As we await Irans response, the Trump administration is still disregarding diplomatic norms, lawmakers are granting the executive branch absolute power, and were responding to terror threats with fearmongering and discrimination against our fellow Americans. In the long run, these moves may wind up hurting the U.S. more than whatever Tehran has in store.
Bengaluru, Jan 7 : Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said on Tuesday that agriculture has been facing distress inspite of several measures by the Centre and state governments and asked if science could help, at the valedictory ceremony of the 107th Indian Science Congress here.

"Can science throw up answers to these and other pressing problems faced by the farmers? How to improve soil fertility? How to make crops climate-resilient and nutrition-efficient? How to improve productivity with less water consumption," Naidu asked.

He said adverse seasonal and natural calamities are causing much suffering to farmers while global warming and climate change are real and cannot be wished away any longer.

"Agriculture is close to my heart as I come from a farmer's family. Can we not mitigate the problems faced by the farmers due to nature's fury," asked Naidu.

He said that time has come for all stakeholders, especially the scientific community, to pay urgent attention to farmers' problems and find long-term solutions.

Naidu said a country like India cannot rely on imported food security and strive to achieve home grown food security.

"Unless there are concerted efforts in this direction, I am afraid that more and more people will leave agriculture and shift to other occupations," said the vice president.

He emphasised the critical role technology plays in enhancing both the quality and quantity across agriculture value chain.

"The use of technology, including ICT, would not only help improve efficiency but would also result in reducing the cost of production. Scientific research should also focus on making advanced machinery for a variety of agricultural activities from spraying to post-harvest handling of produce," Naidu said.

In addition to agriculture, Naidu said science must address problems arising from increasing urbanisation, pollution, urban-rural divide, growing anti-bacterial resistance, genetic and non-communicable diseases, water scarcity and others.

Naidu called upon schools to sow the seeds of scientific temper and insatiable curiosity in children to learn and understand newer things.

He expressed happiness on India improving its position from 81 in 2015 to 52 in 2019 on the Global Innovation Index, and called for further improvement.

The Vice President called upon corporate India to develop a symbiotic partnership with universities and academic institutions to contribute towards research and development.

"As the country aims to become a $5 trillion economy in the coming years, we need to fully leverage the demographic advantage with science and technology playing a leading role in driving the economic and social development," he said.

Naidu also presented Indian Science Congress awards such as young scientist and best poster awards.

The five-day Science Congress culminated on Tuesday. It featured the first ever farmers' Science Congress, ninth women's Congress and children's Congress at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) here.
It has been nine years since al Shabaab was defeated by a military offensive, spearheaded by foreign peacekeepers, to drive al Shabaab out of the capital Mogadishu. At that point the brief period when the Islamic terrorists controlled a lot of the country ended. Al Shabaab had been increasing the areas it controlled since it first appeared in 2006, but quickly lost control of Mogadishu and much else over the next few years. Like anyone else seeking to control all of Somalia, the number of local enemies reaches a point where the attacker is overextended and vulnerable to counterattack. Al Shabaab has been on the defensive ever since 2011 but has taken advantage of the increased economic activity. GDP has grown about three percent a year since 2017 throughout Somalia. This enabled al Shabaab to resume its extortion efforts in a big way. There is more to steal and al Shabaab wants all it can get. Unfortunately so do a lot of other armed groups.

The follow the money approach had some success and al Shabaab ended up with more money to fund more operations. While al Shabaab depicts itself as a patriotic organization seeking to cleanse Somalia of non-Moslems, foreigners and corruption, that effort is made possible by money and lots of it. Al Shabaab uses corrupt and criminal practices to obtain as much cash as it can because veteran al Shabaab members must be paid and new weapons and other equipment are easier to purchase than steal from militias or security forces.

The extortion is often carried out by establishing road checkpoints and demanding money to let commercial traffic and affluent passengers through. Al Shabaab will contact the businesses that depend on these routes to arrange fees their vehicles must pay to make sure the shipments get through without delay. The security forces often disrupt these checkpoint operations and al Shabaab has to demand no more taxes than merchants can afford. Sometimes the fees are collected in Mogadishu and the checkpoints are told to let certain shipments pass. The security forces have a hard time stopping this because banditry has been common in Somalia forever and, as local strongmen get paid off, al Shabaab can avoid many attacks by the security forces.

The national government continues to be a work-in-progress and the senior politicians devote most of their efforts to protecting or expanding their power. Too many of the competing factions are armed and will fight rather than be coerced into going along with something that will help all of Somalia at the expense of their faction. Compromise is seen as weakness, vulnerability and an excuse to be attacked. The result is something described as a failed state. That is an area that never was a unified and stable state and is still cursed with a fundamental political instability. It is generally agreed that the best examples are Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan and many African states that were created by colonial rulers who underestimated the durability of tribal traditions and the difficulty of creating a civil society. Failed states tend to account for most of the lawless violence on the planet. Most of these deaths are caused by Islamic terrorism, which is a common feature in the most violent failed states.

While global Islamic terrorism-related deaths have fallen by over 50 percent since 2014 when there were 35,000 that was largely because one Islamic terror group, in particular, ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) was defeated. As a result global terrorism deaths hit 19,000 by 2017 and less than 16,000 for 2018. The decline continued in 2019. This activity is most visible in the GTI (Global Terrorism Index), which counts all forms of terrorism. But Islamic terrorism is the main cause and for years ISIL was the deadliest practitioner. That led to a curious situation in Egypt which in 2018 dropped out of the top ten as they suppressed most of the ISIL activity in Sinai. In 2017 Egypt was number three but now it is at eleven.

The top ten consists of Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Syria, Pakistan, Somalia, India, Yemen, Philippines, and Congo. India, Philippines, Yemen and Congo all have Islamic terrorism accounting for a minority of the deaths. Somalia is one of the areas where there have been fewer deaths in the last few years. Al Shabaab has learned that the most profitable approach is to carry out fewer dramatic, high visibility attacks and otherwise conserve your manpower and resources. Thus the emphasis on spectacular attacks in major cities like Mogadishu or against an American military base.

A major reason why al Shabaab continues to survive and thrive is the endemic corruption found in Somalia. To demonstrate this, consider that according to international surveys Somalia is, and has been for some time, the most corrupt country on the planet. Currently the ten most corrupt nations are Somalia (the worst with CPI of 10), Syria, South Sudan, Yemen, North Korea, Sudan, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Afghanistan and Libya (CPI of 17). Corruption in the Transparency International surveys are expressed as the Corruption Perception Index (CPI). This is measured on a 1 (most corrupt) to 100 (not corrupt) scale. The most corrupt nations (usually North Korea/14, Yemen/14, Syria/13, South Sudan/13 and Somalia/10) have a rating of under 15 while of the least corrupt (New Zealand and Denmark) are over 85.

Many foreign aid efforts in Somalia have been shut down because of the persistent, and extreme, corruption. Thats the main reason the 21,000 man peacekeeping force is going to start withdrawing in 2021. It is mainly about money and limited resources. Peacekeepers are expensive and a decade of peacekeeping in Somalia has produced meager results. There is a demand for peacekeepers in other parts of the world, often in places where peacekeepers make more of a difference. Somalia is considered a wasted effort in a world of too much demand and too little supply. This is a common situation with failed states and Somalia is the worst of the worst.

January 5, 2020: In the south (Lamu County, across the border in Kenya), al Shabaab attacked the Manda Bay airfield before dawn. The facility is used by Kenyan and American forces to fly reconnaissance missions along the border. Three Americans were killed (one military and two contractors) and two were wounded. Two turboprop aircraft and two helicopters were destroyed along with several vehicles. The attackers lost five dead as they were driven out of the base. Other al Shabaab casualties were unknown. There were 150 Americans stationed at the base, most of whom provided training for Kenyan troops. Al Shabaab frequently carries out attacks in Lamu country because the Islamic terrorist group has been operating from camps in the nearby Boni Forest, which has long been a refuge for outlaws because of the thinly populated woodlands are on both sides of the border. Inside Somalia American aircraft and UAVs operate out of the Baledogle airbase which is 85 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu. This is also a training base for Somali Special Forces and commandos, which makes it a less desirable target for al Shabaab. The Somali commandos are often supported by American UAVs, which perform surveillance and reconnaissance for the commandos and an occasional airstrike. Africom (U.S. Africa Command) runs the Balendogle base as well as American operations at the Kenyan Manda Bay base. Since early 2017, when Africom increased its use of armed UAVs over Somalia there have been 110 UAV airstrikes that have killed over 800 al Shabaab and ISIL members. Striking back at those air operations has long been an al Shabaab goal.

January 3, 2020: About 45 kilometers west of Mogadishu an American UAV used missiles to kill three al Shabaab men. This was in support of Somali special operations forces that were operating in the area and had chased al Shabaab out of several towns and villages, killing twenty Islamic terrorists as they did so.

January 2, 2020: In the south (Lamu Country, across the border in Kenya), several gunmen fired on a bus traveling north on the coast road. Three people on the bus were killed. Al Shabaab was suspected.

December 29, 2019: In the southeast (Lower Shabelle region), American UAVs attacked two al Shabaab targets, killing four of the Islamic terrorists.

December 28, 2019: In Mogadishu, an al Shabaab truck bomb went off at a busy checkpoint killing 81 people and wounded 125. Al Shabaab did not take credit for this initially because the bomb had not reached its intended target (a Turkish road construction site) and instead just killed a lot of civilians. This angers most Somalis so al Shabaab tries to pretend they had nothing to do with it. Since al Shabaab is responsible for nearly all the terror attacks in Mogadishu they get the blame anyway. They dont get the additional scorn for boasting about it. In this case, al Shabaab admitted, two days later, that the bomb was indeed theirs and apologized for the large number of civilian casualties.

December 16, 2019: In the south (Dujuuma, 350 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu), an American UAV missile attack killed one al Shabaab man.

December 11, 2019: Outside Mogadishu, six people, including four nearby civilians and a soldier, died after an al Shabaab attack on an army base was repulsed. The attackers rushed the base while aboard pickup trucks. This led to heavy fire from the base and the trucks turned around and fled.

December 10, 2019: In Mogadishu, five al Shabaab gunmen attacked the presidential compound, were repulsed with three killed. The two survivors tried to retreat to a nearby hotel but were killed in a nearby parking lot.

December 6, 2019: In the south (Mandera Country, across the border in Kenya), al Shabaab gunmen stopped a bus and let the 45 ethnic Somali passengers go while the eleven non-Somalis (all Christians) were murdered.

November 25, 2019: Somalia Libya are the two most dangerous areas for foreign aid workers to visit and work in. Foreign aid groups, especially those that send foreign medical specialists in to provide care for desperate locals, have organized International SOS to collect and compile safety data on countries where foreign medical specialists or foreign aid workers, in general, might be called on to help. This ranks potential aid destinations from safest to most dangerous. A bit less dangerous are Afghanistan and Venezuela followed by Iraq and a lot of African nations. Risks measured include general safety (infrastructure and prevalence of diseases), crime rates and the attitude of locals towards foreign aid workers. In both Libya and Somalia foreign aid workers face not one threat but dozens of gangs, militias and semi-official armed groups. A few areas are somewhat safer but there are large rural areas in Somalia and Libya where there is often no one responsible for public safety.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: A day after the brutal attack on students and violence in New Delhis Jawarhal Nehru University, the Karnataka unit of the BJP is mirroring its central unit. Much like how Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasnt spoken a word about the violence, while the partys social media wing is building its narrative, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa too has remained mum while the state units twitter handle has set the tone for its supporters and workers.

While a host of Congress leaders like Siddaramaiah and G Parameshwara condemned the violence and were quick to accuse the ABVP  the student wing of the RSS  barely any leaders of the state BJP spoke about the incident until the social media handles of the party set the narrative. While Chief Ministers of Kerala and even Maharashtra condemned the violence assuring support to students, Yediyurappa remained mum.

I condemn the violence on JNU students by ABVP. It is a barbaric act in the temple of learning. This act of violence reflects the mindset of ABVP and its parent organisation. Like the king, like the subjects, tweeted Leader of opposition Siddaramaiah. Students are the present & future of India. Nation & history will never forgive a regime which not only fails to protect but also finds sadistic pleasure in students being brutally attacked in its central universities. Violence in AMU, JMI & now JNU is condemnable!, (SIC) tweeted former DyCM G Parameshwara.

Tourism Minister CT Ravi was among the first in the State BJP to react on the JNU attack and it was a direct allegation against the Left. I strongly condemn the violent attacks by Leftist Goons on @ABVPVoice students in #JNU. These Goons are a blot on Our Democracy. This is not the first time they have indulged in violence. Its high time @DelhiPolice take strong action against them and their Supporters. (SIC), he tweeted on Sunday. But by Monday morning the narrative had shifted to hold the Congress responsible for the attack.

While the BJP and Congress are busy fighting their political battles over JNU violence, the JDS seems to continue to be a mute spectator. Apart from the JD(S) student wing that shared news reports of the violence condemning fascist forces of assaulting students, no key leader of the JDS has responded to the attacks.
Monday, 6 January 2020, Bizcommunity, one of the leading business-to-business news platforms on the African continent, celebrates the official relaunch of their podcast offering - BizTakeouts.

Developed in 2011, BizTakeouts , Bizcommunitys audio sub-brand, clearly communicates what BizTakeouts will deliver. The cute takeaway box motif contains the tastiest soundbyte-size B2B news>>TO GO - the disruptor in the burgeoning business podcast sector.Widely known for distributing daily industry news to a pan-African and globalreadership across 19 industries, Bizcommunity is Africas biggest multi-industry B2B news website with an estimated 490,000 global website readers.BizTakeouts offers soundbyte-size content for growing on-demand audiences. Industry interviews are hosted by the insightful and eloquent Rutendo Nyamuda to provide essential edits on topics of African tech, trends and trade to amplify Bizcommunitys indispensable B2B industry news offering.Andre Rademan, Bizcommunity CEO and co-founder, says that globally podcast consumption by economically active audiences in the 18-44 age demographic are on the increase. Audio content can be consumed while multi-tasking such as commuting or cooking. According to Whats new in Publishing website, UK, 55% of podcast consumption is from smartphones and almost 50% are listening to learn something. The above type of growth consumption trends indicate that the podcast medium has real potential in South Africa and Africa, as people use time for self-improvement, education, upskilling and self-promotion in the B2B space.BizTakeouts started in 2011 and 2020 is the ideal time for the relaunch of exciting multi-platform promotional opportunities for the continents leading thought leadership.Bizcommunitys website, newsletter and social channels offer the broadest demographic platforms via our 490,000 readership. BizTakeouts realises the need for streamlined curation and the new native web app allows people to access selected highlights in the palm of their hands.In 2020 expect top-level trend contributors such as Tosin Lanipekin, Executive Director Advertising Week Africa (Lagos, London), Ndeye Diagne, Kantar Cote d'Ivoire, and more.At the end of 2019, BizTakeouts featured conversations with local and pan-African thought leaders such as Kevin Ayaba, CEO Southern African Startup Awards; Mark Molenaar, Kantar CX Director; Bronwyn Williams: Flux Trends, Future Finance Specialist; Lebogang Mokgabudi: African Women in FinTech & Payments; Jaime Ondarza: Warner Media SVP for Southern Europe and Africa; former Springbok rugby player and Retroactive Agency Chief Relationship Officer Bryan Habana to name a few.BizTakeouts host and producer Rutendo Nyamuda, who has worked for a number of influential companies including Forbes Africa, CNBC Africa Online and the Expresso Morning show, says the opportunity to work on the BizTakeouts podcast is a dream come true. Working on the BizTakeouts podcast is an absolute honour. When I first started podcasting it was just a hobby that I did after work hours and now I get to do it full-time. Its also very exciting to look at where the international podcast industry is, because it gives one a glimpse into the possible future of the podcast industry on the African continent.One aspect that separates BizTakeouts from other podcasts is its market advantage. The podcast is released to Bizcommunitys already existing audience consisting of over 2 million monthly industry pageviews, 546,500 newsletter subscribers and 889,818 mobile page views per month. In addition, the podcast offers brands and companies unique sponsorship opportunities that also allows for unique advertising opportunities on the podcast.Audiences can listen to the BizTakeouts podcast on a number of local and international platforms including: IONO FM, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, as well as on the Bizcommunity website.There is no denying that PR, marketing and advertising has changed significantly as consumers are interested in more than just a product or service. Seth Godin says, Marketing is no longer about the stuff that you make, but about the stories you tell.In 2020 audiences can expect unforgettable conversations on the BizTakeouts podcast with some of the most influential people on the African continent. The podcast promises to keep you up to date on the latest B2B industry news right at your fingertips and you can listen to it when you like it, where you like it and how you like it.Developed in 2011, BizTakeouts ' cute takeaway box motif clearly communicates what BizTakeouts will deliver - tasty, snackable content - soundbyte-size B2B news>>TO GO - the disruptor in the burgeoning business podcast sector.Annual or channel sponsorship can be tailored such as BizTrends, BizAfrica, BizStartup news, TechTalk, State of the Media or bespoke to amplify industry events or stakeholder interests. Click here for sponsorship and interview enquiries.
WASHINGTON - The killing of a top Iranian general has ratcheted up the anxiety of families of Americans held in Iran, one month after the release of a New Jersey student had given them hope.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this March 7, 2019, file photo, Christine Levinson, wife of Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who vanished in Iran in 2007, left, gets a hug from Babak Namazi, right, the son of Baquer Namazi who has been held in Iran, following their testimony before a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Capitol Hill in Washington. The killing of a top Iranian general has ratcheted up the anxiety of families of Americans held in Iran. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

WASHINGTON - The killing of a top Iranian general has ratcheted up the anxiety of families of Americans held in Iran, one month after the release of a New Jersey student had given them hope.

The Trump administration has made a priority of bringing home hostages held abroad, but the prospect of a forthcoming resolution for the handful of captives in Iran seems to have dimmed with the two nations edging dangerously close to conflict and warning of retaliatory strikes and continued agitation.

"He wasn't safe before now, but now he's really not safe," said Joanne White, whose son, Navy veteran Michael White of Imperial Beach, California, has been imprisoned since July 2018 while visiting a girlfriend in Iran. "I don't know if anyone is going to retaliate."

Iran has vowed revenge for the airstrike that killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani  the U.S. accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death  and has moved to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The Trump administration, while saying it remains committed to freeing Americans held captive in Iran, has said it's prepared to respond to any attacks from the Islamic Republic.

The tensions are the worst in 40 years and are in contrast to the diplomatic breakthrough that resulted in December's release of Princeton University graduate student Xiyue Wang in exchange for the U.S. freeing a detained Iranian scientist. Crushing U.S. sanctions on Iran remain in place, but the release suggested Tehran could be open to using additional American captives as bargaining chips for future negotiations.

Weeks earlier Iran had acknowledged in a filing to the United Nations that it had a "missing person" file on former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in the country in 2007. One of his daughters, Sarah Levinson Moriarty, told reporters last month that she considered the notice from Iran a significant development and an acknowledgment that the country had her father and knew where he was.

Even so, there were already concerns about how recent protests in Iran tied to spiking gas prices were going to affect the fate of Western prisoners.

The new tensions have caused even greater uncertainty.

Babak Namazi said he has tried to stay even-keeled in the more than four years that his brother, Siamak, has been imprisoned in Iran. His father, Baquer, is in a highly restrictive medical furlough there. Both are being held on what the family says are manufactured charges of collaborating with the United States.

"From the lens that I look through of how things affect my family and getting them home safely and expeditiously, when we're in a period of detente, I feel more hopeful," said Namazi, who is based in Dubai.

Though he has felt at times as if his loved ones were on the cusp of being released, he also has endured periods of escalating tension between the two countries. Those moments make him uneasy since the freedom of his father and brother is "very much dependent on both sides being able to talk to each other."

"I've had to learn, very painfully, not to get my hopes up as much as I want to until something actually happens," Namazi said. "At the same time, I've had to teach myself not to get too despondent because, if I don't have hope, how can I go on? It's my honest feeling now."

He said he saw a silver lining in President Donald Trump's statement on Twitter that "Iran never won a war, but never lost a negotiation!" and is hopeful that means the two sides are open to easing and even humanitarian gestures.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who a month ago said the Wang swap could lead to a dialogue between Washington and Tehran over prisoners, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that "I love these families" and that he knows they're "suffering greatly."

"We continue to work on that process, to get every American held anywhere in the world, including by the kleptocrats and theocrats in Iran, to get them to return American hostages. We will never give up on that mission," Pompeo said.

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Joanne White said she is particularly concerned about her son, who was convicted of insulting Iran's supreme leader and posting private information online. She said her son, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison, is ill with cancer and recently complained to her that he was starving in prison.

She said he has long been a Trump supporter and, when it came to the president's impeachment, "he told me to tell the Democrats to leave Trump alone."

White, who lives in Arizona, said she doesn't know what to make of the Trump administration's assertion that Soleimani was planning imminent attacks at the time of his death.

"Its something hes going to have to answer," she said of Trump. "I know he's going to have to answer to that."

___

Follow Eric Tucker at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
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(CNN)  Japanese prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn  the latest twist in the dramatic saga involving her husband, former auto executive and now international fugitive Carlos Ghosn.

Authorities obtained the warrant against Carole Ghosn for allegedly giving false testimony during a court hearing last April, according to a statement from the Tokyo prosecutor's office on Tuesday.

Carole Ghosn is in Lebanon with her husband, according to CNN affiliate TV Asahi. He has denied reports that his family members were involved in helping him flee from Tokyo last week.

Representatives for the Ghosn family did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Japanese authorities have been scrambling to contain the fallout from Ghosn's audacious escape and figure out how he pulled it off in the first place.

On Sunday, Justice Minister Masako Mori said Ghosn had left the country "illegally by unjust methods," and she ordered Japan's immigration department to "further tighten" rules for leaving the country "so that the same situation won't be repeated."

Ghosn was arrested in November 2018 and has since faced a litany of charges, including allegations that he understated his income for years and funneled millions of dollars of Nissan money to a car dealership that he controlled. The arrest led to his ouster from atop Nissan and its automotive alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors.

Ghosn has repeatedly denied the charges, claiming that his arrest was part of a plot to remove him from the business empire he had built.

Before fleeing to Lebanon, the former auto executive had been under strict bail conditions in Tokyo, which included no contact with his wife. On Tuesday, the Tokyo district court said that Ghosn's 1.5 billion ($13.8 million) bail had been forfeited, the highest forfeited sum ever, according to local broadcaster NHK.

Carole Ghosn had for months been blasting Japanese authorities for how they were handling her husband's case, and calling on world leaders such as US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to step in.

Ghosn holds French, Brazilian and Lebanese citizenship.

He has already been using his newfound freedom to rail on Japan's criminal court system, which boasts a conviction rate above 99% once suspects are charged. Ghosn said he was held "hostage" by the "rigged" system.

The arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn comes a day before her husband is widely expected to hold a press conference in Beirut.

CNN's Yoko Wakatsuki contributed to this report.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Japan issues arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn."
Representative image

The country's oilmeals export fell sharply by 79.20 per cent to 67,562 tonne in December 2019, due to price disparity in soybean meal, industry body SEA said on Tuesday. The country had shipped 3,24,927 tonne of oilmeals during December 2018. Oilmeals are used as animal feed in poultry and other sectors.

Overall shipment of oilmeals during April-December period of the current fiscal declined by 25 per cent to 18.02 lakh tonne as against 24.11 lakh tonne a year ago, according to the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA).

"This is mainly due to disparity in export of oilmeals, specifically soybean meal due to higher minimum support price (MSP) of beans which makes the domestic soybean meal expensive in international market compared to other origins," the SEA said in a statement.

The shipment of soyabean extract fell significantly to 5,876 tonne during December 2019 from 1,70,588 tonne in the year-ago period, it said.

Similarly, export of rapeseed extract declined to 24,609 tonne from 87,106 tonne, while that of rice bran extract to 3,550 tonne from 49,060 tonne in the said period, it added.

However, export of castormeal jumped by nearly 60 per cent to 4,69,248 tonne in December 2019 from 2,92,511 tonne in December 2018.

South East Asian nations, the Middle East as well as European countries like Germany besides the US are main export market for Indian oilmeals.
Gov. Kristi Noem drafts bill limiting 'action civics'

This legislation prohibits colleges and schools from directing, requiring or compelling students to protest or lobby as part of a grade or a class.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 6, 2020

A Verizon ad featuring a testimonial by Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost may mislead consumers, according to an appellate board of the ad industry's self-regulatory watchdog.

Yost, who suffered a broken pelvis after falling from a tree on his property near Atlanta, says in the ad that his phone saved his life by allowing him to call his wife from the middle of the woods.

Ive talked on this phone through the happiest times in my life and through the saddest times in my life. But I never dreamed in a thousand years that it would save my life, he says in the spot. I fell 22 feet, completely shattered my pelvis. In the middle of the woods, I called my wife.

Verizon rival AT&T challenged that ad to the Better Business Bureau's self-regulatory program for the ad industry, arguing the spot was misleading because Verizon doesn't actually offer coverage everywhere.

advertisement advertisement

Last year, the National Advertising Division sided against Verizon, finding the ad problematic because it suggested that Yost made the call from below ground level.

Verizon then appealed to a panel of the National Advertising Review Board. That unit also found fault with the ad.

The commercial conveys the distinct message that Ned was in a remote area, not in a suburb of Atlanta, when he suffered an injury, the panelists said in an opinion made available Monday. Having such coverage in remote areas would be a distinct marketing advantage for a network, but Verizon did not offer evidence of any such capacity.

The National Advertising Review Board also took issue with a separate Verizon ad featuring a dancer who discusses accessing streaming video in order to learn routines while she travels by subway to auditions.

I need my phone to work while on the subway, she says in the spot.

The National Advertising Division deemed that ad acceptable, stating in a September opinion: It is commonly known that subway coverage across America is steadily improving, and mass transit systems tend to offer cellular service or Wi-Fi -- many now offer both.

But the National Advertising Review Board panel sided against Verizon.

Fairly interpreted, one message communicated to reasonable consumers is that the Verizon service provides effective streaming in underground mass transit systems across the country, the watchdog wrote. This is a reasonable communication even if some consumers may conclude that the dancer in Kellene is on a New York City subway, especially given that the commercial was part of a nationwide campaign, not a local one.

The appellate panel added that Verizon had not offered evidence regarding its services ability to provide streaming in underground mass transit systems, in New York City or anywhere else.

The watchdog recommended that Verizon revise or discontinue the ads. The company said it will do so, according to the review board.
A stampede at a funeral for a top Iranian general killed at least 56 people and injured some 200 people, according to reports.

The stampede broke out as the funeral procession for Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani began in Kerman, Iran, the generals hometown.

Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions, said Pirhossein Koulivand, head of Irans emergency medical services.

Iranian State TV said 56 were killed and 213 were injured.

Soleimanis burial has been postponed, the ISNA news agency said. He is set to be buried between the graves of Enayatollah Talebizadeh and Mohammad Hossein Yousef Elahi, two former Guard soldiers killed in Irans 1980s war with Iraq.

Iranian police said millions had gathered in the Iranian capital to mourn the general on Monday. The Associated Press estimated the crowd was about 1 million people.

Soleimani was praised by Iranians as a hero for his work leading the Guards expeditionary Quds Force, but U.S. forces said he was responsible for the killing of American troops in Iraq and that he was plotting new attacks.

He was killed Friday in a U.S. drone strike at Baghdads airport.

In response, many Iranians are calling for retaliation against America.

We tell our enemies that we will retaliate but if they take another action we will set ablaze the places that they like and are passionate about, said Hossein Salami, the new leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard.

Death to Israel! the crowd shouted in response.

The Tasnim news agency said Iran has already developed 13 sets of plans to avenge the generals death.

If the U.S. troops do not leave our region voluntarily and upright, we will do something to carry their bodies horizontally out, said Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council.

Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Chris McGrath/Staff, People protesting outside the U.S. Consulate after Soleimani's death

Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
The following editorial appeared in Tuesday's Japan News-Yomiuri:

- - -

Tensions between the United States and Iran have become even more intense. The leaders of the two nations are competing with each other in threatening to take hard-line measures and use armed force against one another. Both must regain calm and pave the way to resolving the conflict.

The aggravated conflict was triggered when U.S. forces killed military commander Qassem Soleimani of Iran's Revolutionary Guards through an airstrike.

A military unit led by the commander has striven to train and assist pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, thereby supporting Iran's efforts to expand its influence in the Middle East. The killing of the commander during his activities in Iraq has illustrated the importance of his role in that respect.

At the end of last year, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq was attacked by demonstrators. A military base in which U.S. forces were stationed was assaulted, with Americans killed or wounded in that incident. The U.S. concern that if the situation is left as it is, it would cause greater harm to U.S. soldiers and diplomats in Iraq is understandable.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he ordered the operation to kill the commander, emphasizing the legitimacy of his action by describing the commander as a "terrorist ringleader." British Prime Minister Boris Johnson went along with Trump when he said "we will not lament" the commander's death, while French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with the United States.

The problem is how much Trump perceived the risk of fanning anti-American sentiment in Iran and Iraq and exacerbating the situation. He has opened himself to criticism if, with the U.S. presidential election set for November, he placed priority on attempting to show the people that he is a strong president.

In reaction to the Iraqi parliament's adoption of a resolution calling for the withdrawal of U.S. forces, Trump has warned of imposing sanctions on Iraq.

The deterioration in the U.S.-Iraq relationship and the U.S. military's withdrawal will only benefit Iran. Trump has a responsibility to rebuild relations with Iraq and present a comprehensive strategy for stabilizing the Middle East.

In response to the killing of the commander, whom the Iranian people hero-worshiped, the Iranian leadership has clearly stated it will retaliate against the United States. There is the possibility that Iran will use armed groups supported by the Revolutionary Guards, among others, and attack U.S. troops deployed in the Middle East.

A chain of retaliation will escalate the situation, which could lead to contingent clashes. As a regional power, Iran should restrain itself from acting to destabilize the circumstances. There should never be a situation in which civilian ships are targeted and their safety threatened in the Strait of Hormuz.

There is no overlooking the fact that Iran has declared it will conduct its uranium enrichment without restrictions, refusing to comply with the 2015 nuclear agreement. If Iran starts developing nuclear weapons, it will be further isolated.

The turmoil in the Middle East will cause a rise in crude oil prices, adversely affecting the global economy. All pertinent nations, including Japan, should perceive the seriousness of the situation and strive to end the current circumstances.
Suspicions were raised when RFS volunteer Blake Banner allegedly turned up early to a fire.

Investigators became more suspicious in November, when police allege they saw the teenager sitting in a dual cab at the Bega River and noticed a fire shortly after.

A home burns at Bilpin in December. Credit:Nick Moir

Several hours later, police from the South Coast Police District arrived at the Tarraganda RFS shed and arrested the 19-year-old.

He was taken to Bega Police Station where he was charged in connection with the lighting of seven fires.
(JNS)-On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, Manger Square in Bethlehem was filled with people, but local Christians were few and far between. The majority of those milling around in the sunshine appeared to be local Muslims, along with a smattering of tourists.

In previous years, visitors waiting to step into the tiny opening of the Church of the Nativity could expect to stand in line for up to an hour. This year, despite the completion of a four-year, $18 million restoration project at the church, the line was short; most of those in the square were more interested in snapping selfies in front of the 55-foot Christmas tree and perusing the numerous street food stalls dotted around the square.

Also in contrast to previous years, there was a lack of tension in the air at the square this year. The faces of the locals reflected a certain resignation.

Crowds gathered to watch the traditional, colorful and noisy parade of uniformed Palestinian scouts as they marched through town with drums and bagpipes. But once the parade was over the crowds thinned under the watchful eyes of scores of heavily armed Palestinian police and Palestinian Authority security forces, who closed off streets and directed traffic.

Following the parade, the market streets leading off Manger Square quickly returned to normal. Most foreign visitors seemed reluctant to venture into the steep, narrow alleyways lined with small jewelry shops and houseware stores.

On one side street, the green iron doors of the Palestinian Bible Society Christian Cultural Center were locked tight. A few yards up the street, the doors of St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church were open, but the church was empty. The Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on January 6.

Peter, the lone church official present, was dusting the empty benches of the ornate church, built in the 1920s. He was happy to show a visitor the hand-written Aramaic bible used by the Syriac parishioners.

Crediting Bethlehem's Christian Mayor Anton Salman with helping to preserve a positive climate for Bethlehem's Christians, Peter said, "things are all good under the Palestinians."

Slightly different views were expressed by members of the Gattas family, Greek Orthodox Christians who own a sophisticated women's clothing store directly across from the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church on Pope Paul VI Street, where foot traffic was very thin on Christmas Eve.

George Gattas, 42, told JNS the store has been in their family for more than 50 years, with his father originally using the space as an electrical supplies shop.

"There's no good employment here for people," said George. "Business last year was better. The tourists only benefit the hotels, not local businesses," he added. Without elaborating, Gattas's sister noted simply that "the politics are not so good right now. Most young people are leaving or want to leave."

Signs on the door of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church invited people to English-language Christmas Eve vespers and a Christmas Eve service, as well as an Arabic Christmas Day morning service.

Prominently on display in the foyer of the church was the 2019 "Christmas Alert" booklet produced by the Kairos Palestine project, which advocates for BDS. The church's pastor, Dr. Munther Isaac, is an active Kairos board member. Much of the booklet is dedicated to decrying the Trump administration's as-yet unrevealed Mideast peace plan, also known as the "deal of the century."

This year, Israel's Tourism Ministry provided round-trip shuttle service for the short journey between central Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Most of those taking advantage of the free service were curious European tourists, but there was also a smattering of American Christians staying in Jerusalem.

Three members of the Carter family from Huntsville, Alabama, were surprised to discover that the southern boundary of Jerusalem is just a few hundred yards from Bethlehem. Others on the bus expressed astonishment at the ease of passage over the Rachel's Crossing checkpoint between Israel and Area A, the Bethlehem area largely under P.A. control. Neither Israeli nor P.A. security personnel checked travel documents in either direction.

Gunther Shtas and his wife, Eva, tourists from Hamburg, told JNS they had no idea Bethlehem was no longer under Israeli control or that they would be crossing a checkpoint.

For many visitors to Manger Square in 2019 it's hard to understand that Bethlehem was the source of many terror attacks against Israeli civilians after Israel handed the town over to Palestinian rule a few days before Christmas 1995, in compliance with the 1993 Oslo Accords.

The transfer of power occurred despite the pleas of the city's Christian mayor, Elias Freij, who urged Israel to refrain from handing over the town to the P.A. because he was concerned about the fate of its Christians.

On Christmas Day that year, P.A. head Yasser Arafat raised the Palestinian flag over Manger Square and addressed thousands from a rooftop in view of the Church of the Nativity. In the 24 years since, the Christian population of the area has dwindled to less than 20 percent, according to most estimates.

Few outside the Christians of Bethlehem remember the month-long April 2002 takeover of the Church of the Nativity by 13 heavily armed Palestinian extremists, orchestrated by Yasser Arafat.

A prominent poster at the Bethlehem Police station at the edge of Manger Square featuring Arafat's smiling face, together with that of current P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas, provides a not-so-subtle reminder of who is still in charge.
On Sunday evening, violence broke out at the JNU campus as masked men and women, armed with sticks, attacked students and teachers, and damaged property on campus

In February 2016, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) witnessed protests that became the most talked-about event of the year. Following the arrest of then-JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar (on charges of sedition), students, academics, public intellectuals and civil society members came together to stage protests against government action.

From the iconic Ganga Dhaba to the "freedom square" near the administrative block of the JNU, the university became a site for protests, where everything from high-pitched sloganeering to lectures were organised. Amidst all this, another group supporting the arrest of Kanhaiya organised its own events  from inviting army veterans to raising slogans of nationalism.

The protests that went on for over a month saw passionate speeches targeting the government and calling for student unity, countered by equally passionate calls to challenge the "leftist hegemony" on campus. But, amidst all this, not a single incident took place that could offend the sensibilities of a university campus. Campus protests are meant to be defined by intellectually-stimulating debates and discussions, placards and posters. And JNU, it appeared, had honoured this unwritten rule in letter and spirit.

Now, nearly four years since that incident, the scenes from the JNU campus on Sunday evening look like a sad, but perfect, anticlimax to the events of 2016.

On Sunday evening, violence broke out at the university campus as masked men and women, armed with sticks, attacked students and teachers, and damaged property on campus. Initially, the JNU registrar issued a statement that "masked miscreants armed with sticks are roaming around, damaging property and attacking people. The JNU administration has called the police to maintain order".

Just a few hours after that, the statement was withdrawn and another was issued. The new one blamed the students opposing registration for the winter semester in protest against a steep hostel fee hike for the entire episode. "At around 4.30 pm, a group of students, who are against the registration process, moved aggressively from the front of the admin block and reached the hostels. The administration immediately contacted the police to come quickly and maintain law and order on the campus. However, by the time police came, the students who are for the registration were beaten up by a group of agitating students opposing the registration."

The statement clearly puts the onus of violence on "agitating students", but this 'official' version has few takers and the blame-game is being played out in full swing with the JNUSU and Left parties on campus blaming the ABVP for orchestrating the entire episode, while the ABVP alleges the involvement of the Left.

Arguments around "who did it" are being supported with new videos and 'evidence' being released by both sides  the Left and the Right. However, all of this might in all probability fail to provide a definitive answer, just as in the case of Kanhaiya. To date, whether or not Kanhaiya raised anti-India slogans remains buried under the narratives shaped by opinions rather than evidence.

So, instead of getting into the question of who did it, a wiser proposition might be to look into why it happened?

The most obvious route might be to accuse the university administration, helmed by Vice-Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, of somehow allowing it to happen. If the official statement of the registrar is to be believed, it was all done by the students protesting a fee hike, But then, the same statement can also be used to highlight the apparent failure of the JNU administration to curb it.

How did this issue of the fee hike  something that witnessed rare unity between those on the Right and Left  suddenly cause a rift so wide that it culminated in such unprecedented violence? On 12 November, thousands of JNU students clashed with the police during their protest against the hike. Like the 2016 protests, the campus was the same, the slogans were the same, and the target was the same. The campus was JNU, the slogans remained anti-establishment and anti-authority and the target was the JNU administration and government.

What had changed was the fact that this time the protest was more representative as students cutting across ideological leanings were protesting the fee hike. It wasn't "them versus us", "Right versus Left", "anti-nationals versus nationalists". It was just about students. So how then did this rare convergence of Left and the Right suddenly transform into the violence of Sunday evening?

One of the explanations put forward was that some ABVP students facilitating registration for the winter semester were beaten by agitating students who were trying to scuttle the registration process. The official statement by the JNU registrar further reinforces this version, but also raises a few questions. The statement reads, "From 1 January, 2020, the winter semester registration was going on smoothly. However, on 3 January, a group of students opposing the registration process entered the Communication and Information Services (CIS) premises, covering their faces with masks and forcibly evicted the technical staff and made the servers dysfunctional. This led to the discontinuation of the registration process on 3 January."

This was the first instance of a complete failure of the security system on campus. This was, by all means, a criminal act and the only way of dealing it was to take the help of law enforcement agencies. However, they weren't intimated at this point.

The statement further adds, "However, on 4 January morning, the technical staff again made the CIS functional. Immediately, thousands of students started registering by paying the new hostel room rent. A group of students who are bent upon stopping the registration process, again entered the CIS premises with a criminal intent to make the servers dysfunctional. They damaged the power supplies, broke the optical fibres and made the servers dysfunctional again on 4 January at around 1 pm disrupting the registration process. A police complaint was again filed against the miscreants." This was the second instance of the complete failure of the JNU security apparatus. The registrar called it an act of "criminal intent". Why then was there such a delay in enlisting the help of law enforcement agencies?

The statement goes on to mention a third instance of an act that hinted at impending disaster. "For the past few days, the group of agitating students also closed the building of some schools preventing the non-agitating students, staff and the faculty members. On 5 January, when the students who have registered in the winter semester wanted to enter these school buildings, they were physically prevented by the agitating students. Since 5 January afternoon, the campus has witnessed scuffles at the schools as well as inside the hostel premises between the groups of students who wanted to stop the registration and those who wanted to register and continue their studies."

It can be argued that the onus was on the vice-chancellor at this point to take corrective and preventive action that could save the interests of students who chose not to agitate and wanted to register for the next semester. Why was it left to the students of opposing camps to facilitate this?

But as highlighted in the statement, it was only after a "group of students, who are against the registration process moved aggressively from the front of the admin block and reached the hostels" that the administration "immediately" contacted the police to come quickly and maintain law and order on the campus. But, it was too late as "by the time police came, the students who are for the registration were beaten up by a group of agitating students opposing the registration" and the campus erupted into violence.

It is an undisputed fact that JNU is an extremely politically-charged campus, which for decades had witnessed conflicts even among opposing strands of the Left apart from the obvious conflict between the Left and the Right. There has been simmering violence underneath the much-discussed culture of debate and discussion. And, those who have been part of this campus can recount several instances of a scuffle, but these were essentially limited to the sort that comes under the category of "campus life".

But what was seen on Sunday evening was reflective of a failure to yield enough space to politics of confrontation and to certain elements that tend to make the campus their political battlefield.

The current case and the case of the arrest of Kanhaiya highlight how the inaction of an ostensibly inefficient administration fails a university and its students. In the case of Kanhaiya's arrest, a matter that could have been handled at the level of the dean or vice-chancellor's office was taken to the highest offices in the country. The matter defamed the university and left it open to potshots from all corners. And with Sunday's events, the decline continues.
By PTI

PALGHAR: A fire broke out at the ancient Vasai Fort in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Monday night, an official said.

No casualty was reported and the structure also did not suffer any damage, he said.

The blaze erupted around 9 pm when some drug addicts were sitting in the fort compound.

One of them apparently threw a burning cigarette on the dry grass which caught fire.

The blaze then quickly spread in parts of the premises, a fire official said on Tuesday.

"There was no casualty. Some trees in the premises were destroyed, but the structure was not damaged," he said.

Fire brigade officials rushed to the spot and managed to douse the flames after about an hour, he added.

The fort was built in 1184 and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

It is a major tourist attraction in the region for its Indo-Portuguese history.
PLAINWELL, MI -- A U.S. Postal Service mail carrier was killed in a fiery crash Monday afternoon.

The crash was reported around 12:25 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, on 10th Street south of Carrie Avenue about three miles north of Plainwell.

An initial investigation determined the postal worker was at a mailbox on 10th Street delivering mail from her vehicle when a southbound pickup truck struck the mail truck from behind, according to Allegan County sheriffs deputies.

Emergency responders arrived to find the postal truck fully engulfed in flames in a ditch, deputies said. It was completely destroyed by the fire.

The postal worker, a woman, was found dead in the wreckage after the flames were put out.

Investigators at this time do not believe alcohol or drugs played a part in the crash.

The pickup driver was wearing a seat belt and was uninjured. Due to the extent of damage to the mail truck, investigators could not determine whether the Postal Service worker was wearing a seat belt.

Deputies will release the womans identity at a later time.

The Allegan County Sheriffs Office was assisted by the Plainwell Department of Public Safety, Plainwell EMS, Gun Plains Fire Department and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
She was recently 'blindsided' when her E! late night show Busy Tonight was cancelled.

But Busy Philipps appeared to bounce back over the New Year's break, with the 40-year-old Dawson's Creek actress seen relaxing on the Mexican shore of Cabo San Lucas with fellow celeb Armie Hammer.

The A-list friends were joined by Armie's wife Elizabeth Chambers and the 33-year-old The Social Network's star's kids.

Not so Busy: Busy Philipps appeared to bounce back from recent setbacks over the New Year's break, with the 40-year-old Dawson's Creek actress seen relaxing on the Mexican shore of Cabo San Lucas

Busy posed in a series of sun-soaked snaps, posted to her Instagram account last week, which were taken at the brand new Nobu Hotel in Los Cabos.

In one, the Freaks and Geeks star showed off her toned midriff in a beachside bikini pic.

Another photo showed Philipps fanning out her multi-colored maxi skirt while posing in the brand new hotel's facilities.

Bright on! Another photo showed Philipps fanning out her multi-colored maxi skirt while posing in the brand new hotel's facilities

Taking it easy: Call Me By Your Name star Hammer, meanwhile, enjoyed time with his family, with the towering 6ft5in star seen reclining poolside with his wife since 2010, Elizabeth Chambers

Family man: In another pic, the great-grandson of oil tycoon Armand Hammer played happily in the pool with five-year-old daughter Harper

Call Me By Your Name star Hammer, meanwhile, enjoyed time with his family, with the towering 6ft5in star seen reclining poolside with his wife since 2010, Elizabeth Chambers.

In another pic, the great-grandson of oil tycoon Armand Hammer played happily in the pool with five-year-old daughter Harper.

Philipps signed off her vacation pics with the caption, 'Bye Mexico, thank you for the nachos and margs and pools and laughs and tears and also the nachos did I mention those and I love you and I'll be back you know I will.'

Tough times: Busy's outing comes days after the TV personality spoke candidly about being 'blindsided' by the cancellation of her fledgling late night show

Looking back: In an Instagram post made last Wednesday, Busy recalled that on April 5, 2019, she had traveled to Dallas to shoot commercials and when she landed, she responded to a text from her manager asking her to call

Busy's outing comes days after the TV personality spoke candidly about being 'blindsided' by the cancellation of her fledgling late night show.

In an Instagram post made last Wednesday, Busy recalled that on April 5, 2019, she had traveled to Dallas to shoot commercials and when she landed, she responded to a text from her manager asking her to call.

'She told me E! would not renew my show after the order was finished in a month. It was effectively cancelled. I was blindsided, especially since the last text I had from the head of E (whos now gone) was about marketing for busy tonight that he was excited to tell me about,' she wrote.

'I sat in the lobby of the hotel in Dallas and ordered three tequilas.... and I cried,' she said.

She posted two selfies, one showing herself when she heard the news and another showing her with tear-smudged mascara running down her face.

Bad memories: 'She told me E! would not renew my show after the order was finished in a month,' Philipps recalled her manager saying

Back in August, she had reflected on the end of her TV talk show in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

'I really believed and still believe in my show, in Busy Tonight. And I know that we were incredibly creative and culturally successful, even though we were cancelled,' she stated.

'I wish I would've known that I only had basically six weeks to get the ratings to where they had wanted them. I didn't know. I wished I had had more information from the network in terms of what they needed and were looking for in terms of milestones and ratings and things.'
White evangelicals disagree with most Americans on religions influence on gov't policies: poll

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White evangelical Protestants hold views that are different from most other Americans when it comes to how much influence religion should have on government policies, according to a new poll that also shows white evangelicals are more supportive of the Trump administration's policies than other Christians and non-Christian groups.

The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Chicago released a survey this month that found white evangelical Protestants believe religion should have more influence on government policies than it currently does, while most other Americans believe religion should have less influence on public policy than it already has.

The survey includes responses from 1,053 adults polled between Dec. 5 and Dec. 9, 2019. The data carries a margin of error of 4.0 percentage points.

Eighty percent of white evangelicals surveyed said religion should have a lot or some influence when it comes to policies on abortion.

However, only 41 percent of all other Americans who took part in the survey agreed that religion should have at least some influence on abortion policy.

When asked whether religion has "a lot" or "some" influence on abortion policy in the U.S., non-evangelical Americans were more likely than white evangelicals (79 percent to 67 percent) to agree that religion already has an influence on abortion policies.

When it comes to LGBT policies, 62 percent of white evangelicals said religion should have a lot or some influence. Meanwhile, only 30 percent of other Americans said religion should have an influence on LGBT issues.

White evangelical Protestants, who make up 14 percent of the population, are less likely than other groups to think religion has much influence on some government policies, particularly abortion and LGBT issues, an issue brief reads. However, they say that religion should have a greater influence over government policies than it currently does. In contrast, other Americans think religion should have less sway over many government policies.

Although conservative white evangelicals are often criticized by the mainstream media for their views on abortion, same-sex marriage, sexuality, and the trans movement, the survey shows that white evangelicals also believe religion should carry a lot or some influence on other areas of public policy as well.

As for policies related to poverty, 76 percent of white evangelicals said religion should have a lot or some influence while only 48 percent of other Americans agreed. Sixty percent of white evangelicals said religion should have a lot or some influence on immigration policies. Thirty-two percent of other Americans said the same.

Sixty-nine percent of white evangelicals said religion should have a lot or some influence in education policy. Only 37 percent of other Americans agreed.

The only two categories where less than half of white evangelicals said religion should have a lot or some influence were gun policy and climate change.

Catholics and non-evangelical Protestants are also more likely than other Americans to believe that religion should have more influence on government policies. However, the survey shows that white evangelical Protestants hold more conservative views.

Sixty-seven percent of white evangelicals surveyed said they support making abortion illegal except for in the cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the woman. Only 37 percent of other Americans, 36 percent of other Protestants, and 45 percent of Catholics said the same.

Thirty-three percent of white evangelicals said they favor a policy to prohibit discrimination against the LGBT community. By comparison, 60 percent of other Protestants and 58 percent of Catholics favored such a policy.

White evangelicals were less likely than other Americans to say they favor regulating carbon dioxide emissions, increasing taxes on wealthy Americans, reducing U.S. military intervention overseas and increasing assistance for poor Americans. White evangelicals were also less likely to support a policy banning semi-automatic weapons.

White evangelicals (29 percent) were more likely than other Americans (17 percent) to favor separating children from their parents at the border. Fifty-four percent of white evangelicals said they oppose separating families at the border and 69 percent of other Americans said the same.

Heading into the 2020 election year, 79 percent of white evangelicals surveyed said they approve of the presidents job performance, indicating the religious demographic will continue to support Trump in heavy numbers.

Conservative Christians have favored the Trump administrations actions on domestic and international issues relating to abortion, religious freedom and criminal justice reform as well as his appointment of conservative federal judges and two Supreme Court justices.

White evangelical Protestants are President Trumps strongest supporters, the issue brief states.

Only 20 percent of white evangelicals said they disapprove of Trumps job performance. Some evangelicals have voiced concern with Trump's behavior and his administration's policies on refugees and immigration.

Trump touted his administration's record on abortion and religious freedom at a Miami megachurch last Friday  a launch event for the "Evangelicals for Trump" coalition.

I dont think evangelicals are united on every position the president takes or says, but they do recognize he is the most pro-life-friendly president in modern history, evangelical leader Franklin Graham told The Associated Press. He has appointed conservative judges that will affect my children and grandchildrens lives, long after hes gone.

About 34 percent of other Protestants and 45 percent of Catholics said they approved of Trumps job performance and 66 percent of other Protestants and 55 percent of Catholics said they disapproved.

Additionally, 35 percent of respondents of other religions said they approved of Trumps job performance and 65 percent said they disapproved.

Three-quarters of people with no religion said they disapproved of Trumps job performance.
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Featured Article: Its an Atomic Bomb: Australia Deploys Military as Fires Spread

The exceptionally brutal wildfires affecting Australia have so far consumed an area larger than Switzerland, killing 24 people since October and prompting thousands of evacuations from communities along the southeastern coast.

In this lesson, youll learn about the damage these fires have caused, how theyre being fought, and the effects theyre having on people and wildlife. Then, youll come up with your own ways to raise awareness about the natural disaster in your community.

Warm Up

Before reading todays featured article, take a few minutes to explore one or more of the pieces below that illustrate the devastation the Australian wildfires have caused so far:

Photos of destruction, escape and the struggle to contain dozens of blazes across the country.

Maps and graphs of where the wildfires are burning and what is contributing to them.

A one-minute video inside firefighters battle to contain the burning.

As you view these resources, write down three things that stand out to you, two reactions you have, and one question you want to ask. Then, share and explain your responses with a partner.

Questions for Writing and Discussion

Read the article, then answer the following questions:

1. What damage have the wildfires in Australia caused so far?

2. Who has been fighting the fires? In what ways is the Australian government now contributing to these efforts and why?
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has raised questions over the appointment of Andrew Bailey, the current chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the new governor of the Bank of England.

Mr McDonnell cited a string of scandals as he called on Chancellor Sajid Javid to postpone Mr Baileys installation in office until an independent inquiry into these failures of financial regulation has taken place.

Speaking during Commons Treasury questions, he accused Mr Bailey of being asleep at the wheel during his period of office at the FCA, adding Labour had already called for a short, sharp inquiry into the recent scandals and into the regulation of the financial services sector.

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Mr Javid hit back, insisting Mr Bailey was an outstanding candidate, the standout candidate for being the next Governor of the Bank of England.

He said: It is hugely important it goes to the right qualified person and any reasonable person that looks at Mr Baileys track record, his track record of public service, outstanding public service will see that he is eminently qualified.

Mr McDonnell said: During Mr Baileys tenure as chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, we saw the scandals of London Capital & Finance, the Woodford Equity (Income) fund and the continuing saga of the RBSs global restructuring group, in which all of those scandals many, many people, many on low incomes were hit extremely hard.

Can I ask the chancellor, did he consult any of the victims of these scandals before he appointed Mr Bailey?

He added: On the question of the Woodford group, from the filings lodged today at Companies House, its reported that 13.8 million of dividends were received by Mr (Ian) Woodford and his chief executive in the 12 months leading up to the crisis that engulfed Woodford investment management and affected so many investors deleteriously.

This adds to the concerns already expressed by others that Mr Bailey was asleep at the wheel during his period of office at the FCA. Labour has already called for a short, sharp inquiry into the recent scandals and into the regulation of the financial services sector.

Could I suggest to the Chancellor, that would it be appropriate to postpone Mr Baileys installation in office until an independent inquiry into these failures of financial regulation has taken place.

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Responding, Mr Javid said: I believe (he) means Mr Neil Woodford, not Mr Ian Woodford. In terms of the inquiry, it is actually an ongoing inquiry, it is rightly being led independently, it is not a matter for ministers, nor should it be.

We are of course interested to make sure that an inquiry takes place and that we learn all the necessary lessons. I believe the economic secretary has a meeting with the FCA precisely on this issue again tomorrow, but we will let the inquiry take its course independently and once the inquiry is complete we will make sure all necessary lessons are learned.
Florida topped the nation in net arrivals of U-Haul trucks in 2019, providing more evidence of the rapid migration that's fueling economic gains there.

The Sunshine State, previously No. 2 in the ranking, overtook Texas, the leader from 2016 through 2018, according to the Phoenix-based moving-equipment company. Florida's arrivals rose 1% from a year earlier, while departures fell 1%.
The process to remove the remainder of the Kingwood mouth bar  a build up of sand and sediment in the San Jacinto River that could increase flooding  begins this week.

Houston officials announced on Monday evening that the $40 million dredging project in the West Fork San Jacinto River has been approved and was provided a Notice to Proceed.

The project will be funded by a combination of entities, such as the City of Houston, grant dollars from the Texas Water Development Board and Harris Countys multibillion voter-approved bond, according to a press release from Houston City Council Member Dave Martin.

The dredging will be completed in two phases. Phase I will remove silt and debris from the West Fork, and Phase II will remove silt and debris gathered at the San Jacinto Rivers east fork.

RELATED: Houston files application to finish dredging Kingwood mouth bar

Theres no doubt that our analysis shows there is additional debris  there is additional sand and sediment sitting in the lake that was a direct result of Hurricane Harvey, Martin said in an interview the day after his election to city council position for District E.

During the second phase, the City of Houston, Harris County, HCFCD, SJRA, and Coastal Water Authority will start a long-term dredging operation of Lake Houston. Funding for this operation was made possible through the passage of Senate Bill 500, the states appropriations bill.

State Representative Dan Huberty, whose district includes much of the Lake Houston area, pressed for $30 million in funding for dredging projects in the San Jacinto River.

The bill denoted that $30 million dollars is dedicated to the Texas Water Development Board to provide a grant to Harris County for the purchase and operation of equipment to remove accumulated siltation and sediment deposits located at the confluence of the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston.

Representative Huberty has been a champion for his residents and a great ally in seeing these additional dredging efforts come to fruition, Martin said in a statement.

ON HOUSTON CHRONICLE.COM: FEMA to pay $25M to help build flood gates and waterproof Kingwood High School

The news comes on the heels of a $70 million dredging project was completed this fall. The Army Corps of Engineers, working by the direction of FEMA, dredged 497,400 cubic yards of debris from the mouth bar this fall. However, additional dredging was deemed necessary after a city of Houston report showed that there is another 500,000 cubic yards of sand to be removed from the mouth bar.

The new project was approved after a series of attempts to continue mouth bar dredging, primarily led by local elected officials, to help reduce the level of sand and silt in the West Fork San Jacinto River to pre-Hurricane Harvey levels.

savannah.mehrtens@chron.com
[January 07, 2020] caresyntax & ARC at Sheba Medical Center Launch Collaboration to Predict Surgical Outcomes Using AI and Machine Learning

caresyntax, a pioneering developer in surgical automation, analytics and AI, today announced the launch of a research and development collaboration with ARC at Sheba Medical Center, the leading hospital facility of its kind in Israel and the Mideast. Sheba Medical Center, which is focused on game-changing medical innovation, was ranked by Newsweek as one of the top ten best hospitals in the world in 2019. The collaboration will enable caresyntax to measure surgical data across more than 300 variables in oncological procedures using artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop algorithms that will predict surgical outcomes and enable a higher quality of care for both patients and surgeons. The ARC (Accelerate, Redesign, Collaborate) complex at Sheba Medical Center collaborates with international medical centers and healthcare companies around the globe to advance medical innovation, biotechnology and patient care. Currently, Sheba Medical Center serves more than 1 million patients per year and more than 25% of all Israeli medical clinical research is conducted in its facilities. Sheba Medical Center has a proven track record of treating oncology patients, and caresyntax will leverage ARC's expertise and scale of data resources to enhance the strength of caresyntax's automation and analytics software. As part of the collaboration, caresyntax will analyze electronic medical records and data from over 3,000 surgical procedures in oncology across more than 300 variables to develop algorithms using AI and machine learning that can predict clinical outcomes. These algorithms will serve as the foundation for real-team feedback that can help surgeons make informed, patient-specific decisions before, during and after surgery. caresyntax then will embed the resulting algorithms into over-the-shoulder clinical decision support systems for surgical teams, which will be tested in one of Sheba's operating rooms by Professor Aviram Nissan, Professor and Chief, Department of General and Oncological Surgery, and Professor Haim Berkenstad, Director, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care. Within caresyntax, the development project is managed by its Surgical AI Labs (SAIL) group, based in Berlin, Germany. As such, it is the first German technology venture to lanch a collaboration with ARC.



"We are thrilled to partner with a leading research and innovation center such as ARC on this important project that has the potential to transform the standard of surgical care for patients and surgeons globally," said Dennis Kogan, caresyntax Chairman and CEO. "Together, we will be able to significantly enhance the real-time, decision-making precision of our software platform to provide actionable insights to surgeons throughout the surgical continuum, which, ultimately, will make surgery safer and more effective. We look forward to working with Professor Nissan and Professor Berkenstad, who share our mission to make surgery safer for patients and more efficient for surgeons." Eyal Zimlichman, Deputy Director, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Innovation Officer at Sheba Medical Center, said, "At Sheba, we are on a mission to collaborate with partners like caresyntax to work together within a singular setting to test and develop solutions that address unmet clinical needs. We're confident that through this partnership with ARC, we can make huge strides in oncological surgery through the combination of our data and caresyntax's leading surgical intelligence and automation technology."

caresyntax and ARC at Sheba Medical Center expect to publish preliminary results for the first phase of the research project in the second quarter of 2020. Following those results, caresyntax expects to begin the second phase of the project, which includes embedding the tested algorithms into the intraoperative decision support module within the caresyntax product portfolio. caresyntax is working to make surgery smarter by combining AI, IoT and analytics to transform unstructured clinical and operational data into actionable, real-time surgical intelligence. In the last year, caresyntax has launched key partnerships focused on accelerating research and development of its products, including with MC Healthcare, a subsidiary company of Mitsubishi (News - Alert) Corporation, Medizin im Grunen, Barco Healthcare and Insel Gruppe AG. About caresyntax caresyntax is working to make mission-critical health care settings such as surgery, interventional radiology and obstetrics smarter and safer. The company's proprietary solutions leverage IoT, analytics and AI technologies to automate clinical and operational decision support for surgical teams, and support all outcome contributors in the delivery and management of risk-bearing contracts. By integrating data from medical devices, electronic health records, and other sources inside the OR into a unified data platform, caresyntax helps caregivers better identify and manage risk, increase workflow efficiency, reduce surgical variability and improve operational or clinical outcomes at the point of care. Today, caresyntax technologies are used in more than 7,000 operating rooms worldwide, and support surgical teams in over 10 million procedures per year. More information at www.caresyntax.com. About Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer Born together with the State of Israel in 1948, Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer is the largest and most comprehensive medical center in the Middle East. Sheba is the only medical center in Israel that combines an acute care hospital and a rehabilitation hospital on one campus, and it is at the forefront of medical treatments, patient care, research and education. As a university teaching hospital affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University, it welcomes people from all over the world indiscriminately. To learn more, visit: eng.sheba.co.il. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005204/en/

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Tokyo prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn, the wife of former Nissan chairman, Carlos Ghosn, on suspicion of making false statements in court.

In a statement, prosecutors said they had obtained the warrant on suspicion of her 'lying to investigators'.

The prosecutors have accused Ms Ghosn, who is no longer in Japan, of making false statements during an earlier April testimony to the Tokyo district court about meetings with an unnamed individual.

No further details have been released about the allegations against the ex Nissan boss' wife.

Her husband had been facing trial in Japan on charges of financial misconduct, which he denied, before fleeing the country in late December for Lebanon.

He stands accused in Japan of under-reporting his salary, deferring part of his income until after his retirement and concealing this from shareholders, as well as siphoning off millions in Nissan cash for his own purposes.

This file photo taken on April 3, 2019 shows former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn (L) and his wife Carole (R) leaving the office of his lawyer in Tokyo.

Ghosn had been freed on bail after agreeing to strict conditions, with prosecutors arguing he posed a flight risk.

The conditions included restrictions on contact with Carole Ghosn, which was reportedly among the reasons he decided to jump bail and flee the country late last month.

The former head of Nissan's second wife was once an influential, but discreet figure in the New York fashion world.

But the arrest of her tycoon husband, his subsequent elaborate flight from Japan, and now the warrant for her arrest, has thrust her into the limelight.

Born in 1966 in Beirut as Carole Nahas, the businesswoman has spent most of her life in the US. She holds American nationality along with her three children from her first marriage.

Highly educated and successful in her own right, in the 2000s she founded a company selling luxury kaftans.

She met Ghosn and the couple fell quickly in love, with Ms Ghosn providing a calming influence on the impulsive tycoon, one friend said.

They were married in 2016 at the gilded Versailles Palace near Paris, in a lavish ceremony that has since caught the attention of authorities amid questions over how it was funded.

This map shows the daring escape Ghosn made from the Japanese capital of Tokyo, to the Lebanese capital of Beirut where he is now believed to be alongside his wife, Carole

According to sources close to the case, Ms Ghosn is named as president of a company used to buy a luxury yacht that prosecutors suspect was purchased partly with funds diverted from Nissan.

Authorities have questioned her over the British Virgin Isles-registered company 'Beauty Yachts' but she has not been charged and denies wrongdoing.

What role Ms Ghosn may or may not have played in her husband's epic escape from Japan also remains unclear.

What is known is that she was reunited with her him last week, after he jumped bail in Tokyo and has now been accused of giving 'false testimony' by Japanese prosecutors.

Since his 2018 arrest, Ms Ghosn has vocally led the campaign for her husband's freedom, insisting on his innocence and slamming Japanese prosecutors for what she deemed ill-treatment after his shock detention.

She was not with him when he was dramatically arrested on November 19, 2018, aboard his private jet at a Japanese airport, and was shocked to learn the news.

Ms Ghosn was initially prevented from seeing her husband, who was held in detention for more than 100 days after his arrest, and petitioned everyone from French President Emmanuel Macron to the White House seeking his release.

She complained in an interview with the French newspaper Journal du Dimanche that the silence of French authorities in the case was 'deafening'.

She also contacted the White House and gave a tearful interview to US media in which she said her 65-year-old husband was in poor health, a state exacerbated by what she described as 'mental abuse' while he was detained.

'During the month he was free, they tried to live normally, go for walks, eat good meals,' said a Tokyo-based friend of the couple.

This was in spite of the photographers who camped outside their residence - to Ms Ghosn's visible annoyance.

Media interest in the case has been high. In this recent photograph members of the press can be seen gathering outside the former Nissan chief's home in Beirut, Lebanon

The respite was brief and her husband was rearrested at dawn on April 4 to answer further allegations - an event that 'traumatised' her, according to her friend.

In interviews she claimed that prosecutors scoured their 50-square-metre (550-square-foot) apartment, searched her, took her passport and even accompanied her to the bathroom.

'It was a huge trial, among the worst moments of her life,' said the couple's French lawyer, Francois Zimeray, who praised her for her 'dignity' under pressure.

Using another passport, Ms Ghosn then left Japan for France but returned a few days later to face questioning and show 'she had nothing to hide' before leaving around the same time as her husband's escape.

Ghosn, a globe-trotting auto titan who was once a giant of the industry, accuses executives at Japanese automaker Nissan of manufacturing the allegations against him in a 'plot' to prevent closer integration with alliance partner Renault.

The 65-year-old executive is now believed to be residing inside his 11million dusky pink mansion in one of the Lebanese capital Beirut's most expensive neighbourhoods.

Footage taken by French media shows the ex Nissan boss and his wife celebrating the start of the New Year in their Beirut home.

Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn can be seen with his wife, Carole Ghosn, celebrating New Year's Eve in their home in Beirut, after his daring escape from house arrest in Tokyo

Lights remain on in the Ashrafieh residence of Carlos Ghosn on January 3, 2020 in Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanon does not have an extradition treaty with Japan, meaning Mr Ghosn, as a Lebanese citizen, is untouchable by Japanese authorities without co-operation from local authorities.

Mr Ghosn, who has an estimated fortune of 91million, is thought to have arrived in Beirut-Rafic Hariri airport by private jet in the early hours of December 30.

It was revealed yesterday that months of planning went into plotting the ex-CEO's bid for freedom, that saw lax airport security exploited as well as a route through Russia used to aid a smooth passage to Lebanon.

Ghosn reportedly employed an international team of up to 15 conspirators, including a former Green Beret commando, to pull his daring escape from house arrest in Japan.

Included in the squad was private security contractor and former Special Forces US Army veteran, Michael Taylor, who has previously protected powerful people and companies as well as secretly helping the US government.

His partner in the operation was Lebanese-born George-Antoine Zayek, who was a member of a a Christian militia in his home country during the 1980s, according to the New York Times.

It is believed Ghosn was smuggled out of Tokyo and onto a bullet train to Osaka to board a jet, which travelled though Russian airspace, before landing in Istanbul, Turkey.

Once in Turkey, Ghosn who is believed to have been smuggled on board the train and planes in a large crate for audio equipment, got on another plane, for Beirut.

Ghosn, pictured in a car after leaving his lawyers offices in early 2019, alleges the charges against him stem from a 'coup' inside Nissan by disgruntled executives and local Japanese officials

Japanese automaker Nissan has slammed its former chief for jumping bail, calling his escape 'extremely regrettable' and vowed it would continue legal action against him for 'various acts of misconduct'.

The firm said its 'robust, thorough internal investigation' had 'incontrovertible evidence of various acts of misconduct by Ghosn'.

'The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan,' it added.

Ghosn alleges the charges against him stem from a 'coup' inside Nissan by disgruntled executives and local Japanese officials who feared his plans to more closely integrate the car giant with its alliance partner, French firm Renault.

Ghosn, who has not appeared in public since arriving in Beirut, has vowed to give his own account at a hotly awaited press conference this week.

He has said he left Japan because he was no longer willing to be 'held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system'.

It is believed Carlos Ghosn and his wife, Carole, are now together in Beirut. A warrant has been issued for his wife's arrest after prosecutors accused her of lying to investigators

Japan's Foreign Ministry said its ambassador to Beirut planned to meet with Lebanese President Michel Aoun later in the day.

The scandal over Ghosn's case has tarnished Nissan's image and created a leadership vacuum at a time when the automaker's profits and sales are tumbling.

Ghosn's successor Hiroto Saikawa also resigned last year amid financial misconduct allegations related to questionable income.

Although Ghosn is unlikely to face trial in Japan, Greg Kelly, another Nissan former executive, is still facing charges of under-reporting Ghosn's future compensation. He says he is innocent.

Kelly, an American, who is out on bail, has not been charged with the breach of trust allegations Ghosn is also facing.

Nissan has also been charged as a corporate entity. The company says it won't fight the charges and will pay the required fines.
Mourners carry the coffins of slain Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and eight others inside the Shrine of Imam Hussein in the holy Iraqi city of Karbala,during a funeral procession on January 4, 2020.

The body of the senior Iranian military commander killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq last week has arrived in his home town of Kerman in southeast Iran for burial, the official IRNA news agency said on Tuesday.

State TV broadcast live images of thousands of people in the streets of the town, many of them dressed in black, to mourn Qasem Soleimani.

Soleimani was widely seen as Iran's second most powerful figure behind Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 80, who wept in grief along with hundreds of thousands of mourners who thronged the streets of Tehran for Soleimani's

funeral on Monday.

Khamenei led prayers at the funeral in the Iranian capital, pausing as his voice cracked with emotion. Soleimani, 62, was a national hero even to many who do not consider themselves supporters of Iran's clerical rulers.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 17:24 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3213a29c 1 Business North-Natuna-Sea,China,investment,foreign-direct-investment,BKPM,FDI,Bahlil-Lahadalia,investment-coordinating-board Free

A recent maritime spat between Indonesia and China over the Natuna island chain in Riau Islands province has not affected investments between the two countries, according to a high-ranking official.

"The Natuna incident and investment are two different things," Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Bahlil Lahadalia said as quoted by Antara news agency on Tuesday. "Investment is a matter of business relations between the two countries and the Natuna issue is a matter of sovereignty."

Diplomatic tension has heightened between Indonesia and China over the past week after the latter's fishing and coast guard vessels entered the North Natuna Sea, the southernmost part of the troubled South China Sea waters.

China has a so-called Nine-Dash Line claim over the waters, which was ruled to be incompatible with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by an international tribunal in 2016.

Indonesia has persistently objected to Chinas's claim and despite being a non-claimant country, it has been involved in brokering diplomacy between the claimants, namely Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and China.

The government has summoned the Chinese ambassador in Jakarta and lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing.

Bahlil said the Natuna issue would be solved through diplomacy and that a peaceful settlement would support a good investment climate.

"My duty is to convince [Chinese investors] that Indonesia is a good place to invest," he said.

In the January-September period last year, the realization of Chinese investments in the country reached Rp 46.3 trillion (US$3.3 billion) with 1,619 projects, lagging only behind Singapore.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said after a Cabinet meeting on Monday that there was no bargaining when it came to Indonesia's sovereign rights on its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the North Natuna Sea.

I think all the statements have made it very clear that there will be no bargaining on our countrys sovereignty, that our territory is nonnegotiable, he said. (dfr)
On Dec. 30, Andrew Bosworth, a longtime Facebook executive and confidant of Mark Zuckerberg, wrote a long memo on the companys internal network.

In the post, titled Thoughts for 2020, Mr. Bosworth  who oversaw Facebooks advertising efforts during the 2016 election and is now in charge of the companys virtual and augmented reality division  admitted that President Trumps savvy use of Facebooks advertising tools very well may lead to his re-election. But he maintained that the company should not change its policies on political advertising, saying that doing so in order to avert a victory by Mr. Trump would be a misuse of power, comparing it to a scene from The Lord of the Rings.

Mr. Bosworth, who is seen by some inside Facebook as a proxy of sorts for Mr. Zuckerberg, also weighed in on a variety of issues that have vexed Facebook for the past few years, including data privacy scandals, Russian interference, political polarization and the debate over whether Facebook is healthy for society.

Here is the full post as written:

The election of Donald Trump immediately put a spotlight on Facebook. While the intensity and focus of that spotlight may be unfair I believe it isnt unjust. Scrutiny is warranted given our position in society as the most prominent of a new medium. I think most of the criticisms that have come to light have been valid and represent real areas for us to serve our community better. I dont enjoy having our flaws exposed, but I consider it far better than the alternative where we remain ignorant of our shortcomings.

One trap I sometimes see people falling into is to dismiss all feedback when they can invalidate one part of it. I see that with personal feedback and I see it happening with media coverage. The press often gets so many details wrong it can be hard to trust the veracity of their conclusions. Dismissing the whole because of flaws in parts is a mistake. The media has limited information to work with (by our own design!) and they sometimes get it entirely wrong but there is almost always some critical issue that motivated them to write which we need to understand.

It is worth looking at the 2016 Election which set this chain of events in motion. I was running our ads organization at the time of the election and had been for the four years prior (and for one year after). It is worth reminding everyone that Russian Interference was real but it was mostly not done through advertising. $100,000 in ads on Facebook can be a powerful tool but it cant buy you an American election, especially when the candidates themselves are putting up several orders of magnitude more money on the same platform (not to mention other platforms).

Instead, the Russians worked to exploit existing divisions in the American public for example by hosting Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter protest events in the same city on the same day. The people who shows up to those events were real even if the event coordinator was not. Likewise the groups of Americans being fed partisan content was real even if those feeding them were not. The organic reach they managed sounds very big in absolute terms and unfortunately humans are bad at contextualizing big numbers. Whatever reach they managed represents an infinitesimal fraction of the overall content people saw in the same period of time and certainly over the course of an election across all media.

So most of the information floating around that is widely believed isnt accurate. But who cares? It is certainly true that we should have been more mindful of the role both paid and organic content played in democracy and been more protective of it. On foreign interference, Facebook has made material progress and while we may never be able to fully eliminate it I dont expect it to be a major issue for 2020.

Misinformation was also real and related but not the same as Russian interference. The Russians may have used misinformation alongside real partisan messaging in their campaigns, but the primary source of misinformation was economically motivated. People with no political interest whatsoever realized they could drive traffic to ad-laden websites by creating fake headlines and did so to make money. These might be more adequately described as hoaxes that play on confirmation bias or conspiracy theory. In my opinion this is another area where the criticism is merited. This is also an area where we have made dramatic progress and dont expect it to be a major issue for 2020.

It is worth noting, as it is relevant at the current moment, that misinformation from the candidates themselves was not considered a major shortcoming of political advertising on FB in 2016 even though our policy then was the same as it is now. These policies are often covered by the press in the context of a profit motive. Thats one area I can confidently assure you the critics are wrong. Having run our ads business for some time it just isnt a factor when we discuss the right thing to do. However, given that those conversations are private I think we can all agree the press can be forgiven for jumping to that conclusion. Perhaps we could do a better job exposing the real cost of these mistakes to make it clear that revenue maximization would have called for a different strategy entirely.

Cambridge Analytica is one of the more acute cases I can think of where the details are almost all wrong but I think the scrutiny is broadly right. Facebook very publicly launched our developer platform in 2012 in an environment primarily scrutinizing us for keeping data to ourselves. Everyone who added an application got a prompt explaining what information it would have access to and at the time it included information from friends. This may sound crazy in a 2020 context but it received widespread praise at the time. However the only mechanism we had for keeping data secure once it was shared was legal threats which ultimately didnt amount to much for companies which had very little to lose. The platform didnt build the value we had hoped for our consumers and we shut this form of it down in 2014.

The company Cambridge Analytica started by running surveys on Facebook to get information about people. It later pivoted to be an advertising company, part of our Facebook Marketing Partner program, who other companies could hire to run their ads. Their claim to fame was psychographic targeting. This was pure snake oil and we knew it; their ads performed no better than any other marketing partner (and in many cases performed worse). I personally regret letting them stay on the FMP program for that reason alone. However at the time we thought they were just another company trying to find an angle to promote themselves and assumed poor performance would eventually lose them their clients. We had no idea they were shopping an old Facebook dataset that they were supposed to have deleted (and certified to us in writing that they had).

When Trump won, Cambridge Analytica tried to take credit so they were back on our radar but just for making [expletive] claims about their own importance. I was glad when the Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale called them out for it. Later on, we found out from journalists that they had never deleted the database and had instead made elaborate promises about its power for advertising. Our comms team decided it would be best to get ahead of the journalists and pull them from the platform. This was a huge mistake. It was not only bad form (justifiably angering the journalists) but we were also fighting the wrong battle. We wanted to be clear this had not been a data breach (which, to be fair to us, it absolutely was not) but the real concern was the existence of the dataset no matter how it happened. We also sent the journalists legal letters advising them not to use the term breech which was received normally by the NYT (who agreed) and aggressively by The Guardian (who forged ahead with the wrong terminology, furious about the letter) in spite of it being a relatively common practice I am told.

In practical terms, Cambridge Analytica is a total non-event. They were snake oil salespeople. The tools they used didnt work, and the scale they used them at wasnt meaningful. Every claim they have made about themselves is garbage. Data of the kind they had isnt that valuable to being with and worse it degrades quickly, so much so as to be effectively useless in 12-18 months. In fact the United Kingdom Information Commissioners Office (ICO) seized all the equipment at Cambridge Analytica and found that there was zero data from any UK citizens! So surely, this is one where we can ignore the press, right? Nope. The platform was such a poor move that the risks associated were bound to come to light. That we shut it down in 2014 and never paid the piper on how bad it was makes this scrutiny justified in my opinion, even if it is narrowly misguided.

So was Facebook responsible for Donald Trump getting elected? I think the answer is yes, but not for the reasons anyone thinks. He didnt get elected because of Russia or misinformation or Cambridge Analytica. He got elected because he ran the single best digital ad campaign Ive ever seen from any advertiser. Period.

To be clear, Im no fan of Trump. I donated the max to Hillary. After his election I wrote a post about Trump supporters that Im told caused colleagues who had supported him to feel unsafe around me (I regret that post and deleted shortly after).

But Parscale and Trump just did unbelievable work. They werent running misinformation or hoaxes. They werent microtargeting or saying different things to different people. They just used the tools we had to show the right creative to each person. The use of custom audiences, video, ecommerce, and fresh creative remains the high water mark of digital ad campaigns in my opinion.

That brings me to the present moment, where we have maintained the same ad policies. It occurs to me that it very well may lead to the same result. As a committed liberal I find myself desperately wanting to pull any lever at my disposal to avoid the same result. So what stays my hand?

I find myself thinking of the Lord of the Rings at this moment. Specifically when Frodo offers the ring to Galadrial and she imagines using the power righteously, at first, but knows it will eventually corrupt her. As tempting as it is to use the tools available to us to change the outcome, I am confident we must never do that or we will become that which we fear.

The philosopher John Rawls reasoned that the only moral way to decide something is to remove yourself entirely from the specifics of any one person involved, behind a so called Veil of Ignorance. That is the tool that leads me to believe in liberal government programs like universal healthcare, expanding housing programs, and promoting civil rights. It is also the tool that prevents me from limiting the reach of publications who have earned their audience, as distasteful as their content may be to me and even to the moral philosophy I hold so dear.

That doesnt mean there is no line. Things like incitement of violence, voter suppression, and more are things that same moral philosophy would safely allow me to rule out. But I think my fellow liberals are a bit too, well, liberal when it comes to calling people Nazis.

If we dont want hate mongering politicians then we must not elect them. If they are getting elected then we have to win hearts and minds. If we change the outcomes without winning the minds of the people who will be ruled then we have a democracy in name only. If we limit what information people have access to and what they can say then we have no democracy at all.

This conversation often raises the alarm around filter bubbles, but that is a myth that is easy to dispel. Ask yourself how many newspapers and news programs people read/watched before the internet. If you guessed one and one on average you are right, and if you guessed those were ideologically aligned with them you are right again. The internet exposes them to far more content from other sources (26% more on Facebook, according to our research). This is one that everyone just gets wrong.

The focus on filter bubbles causes people to miss the real disaster which is polarization. What happens when you see 26% more content from people you dont agree with? Does it help you empathize with them as everyone has been suggesting? Nope. It makes you dislike them even more. This is also easy to prove with a thought experiment: whatever your political leaning, think of a publication from the other side that you despise. When you read an article from that outlet, perhaps shared by an uncle or nephew, does it make you rethink your values? Or does it make you retreat further into the conviction of your own correctness? If you answered the former, congratulations you are a better person than I am. Every time I read something from Breitbart I get 10% more liberal.

What does all of this say about the nature of the algorithmic rewards? Everyone points to top 0.1% content as being acutely polarized but how steep are the curves? What does the top 1% or 5% look like? And what is the real reach across those curves when compared to other content? I think the call for algorithmic transparency can sometimes be overblown but being more transparent about this type of data would likely be healthy.

What I expect people will find is that the algorithms are primarily exposing the desires of humanity itself, for better or worse. This is a Sugar, Salt, Fat problem. The book of that name tells a story ostensibly about food but in reality about the limited effectiveness of corporate paternalism. A while ago Kraft foods had a leader who tried to reduce the sugar they sold in the interest of consumer health. But customers wanted sugar. So instead he just ended up reducing Kraft market share. Health outcomes didnt improve. That CEO lost his job. The new CEO introduced quadruple stuffed Oreos and the company returned to grace. Giving people tools to make their own decisions is good but trying to force decisions upon them rarely works (for them or for you).

In these moments people like to suggest that our consumers dont really have free will. People compare social media to nicotine. I find that wildly offensive, not to me but to addicts. I have seen family members struggle with alcoholism and classmates struggle with opioids. I know there is a battle for the terminology of addiction but I side firmly with the neuroscientists. Still, while Facebook may not be nicotine I think it is probably like sugar. Sugar is delicious and for most of us there is a special place for it in our lives. But like all things it benefits from moderation.

At the end of the day we are forced to ask what responsibility individuals have for themselves. Set aside substances that directly alter our neurochemistry unnaturally. Make costs and trade-offs as transparent as possible. But beyond that each of us must take responsibility for ourselves. If I want to eat sugar and die an early death that is a valid position. My grandfather took such a stance towards bacon and I admired him for it. And social media is likely much less fatal than bacon.

To bring this uncharacteristically long and winding essay full circle, I wanted to start a discussion about what lessons people are taking away from the press coverage. My takeaway is that we were late on data security, misinformation, and foreign interference. We need to get ahead of polarization and algorithmic transparency. What are the other big topics people are seeing and where are we on those?
TICKERS: SCOT

Source: Peter Epstein for Streetwise Reports (1/7/20)

Peter Epstein of Epstein Research profiles this explorer and explains why he believes it could be a take-out target.



Strong drill results have confirmed and expanded the Bend Vein target on Scottie Resources Corp.'s (SCOT:TSX.V) 100%-controlled Bow property. During September, the company completed 878 meters of diamond drilling, 2 km NE of the 100%-owned past-producing Scottie Gold Mine located in the Golden Triangle (GT) of northwest British Columbia, Canada.

Readers are reminded that Scottie Resources owns or controls 18,500 hectares, all in the GT, across seven properties, contained in two groups of contiguous parcels. Some properties border Ascot Resources (between Ascot's Premier Mine and Red Mountain projects), others border Pretium Resources' property south of the world-class, high-grade, operating Brucejack mine. Pretium's enterprise value (EV) is $3.3 billion.

Very high-grade gold at Bow, Scottie Gold & Summit Lake properties

Drill hole SR19-11 hit an interval of 73.3 g/t gold (Au) and 71.0 g/t silver (Ag) (or 74+ g/t Au Eq) over 4.3 m, (true width 80%90%). That blockbuster interval included 1.9 m of 152.5 g/t Au plus 143.6 g/t Ag, equal to 154+ g/t Au Eq. Additional drill results are expected as soon as this week. Importantly, all of the reported intervals to date are near-surface, between 25 and 85 meters in depth. The best intercept in this latest batch is between 25.5 and 30 meters.

According to Scottie's CEO & president Bradley Rourke,

"These new assays confirm the superb results of previous studies and demonstrate a truly under-explored high-grade gold and silver target. Past drilling on the Bend Vein only probed to a vertical depth of ~55 m. Our drilling this season proves that the mineralized structure extends deeper. We substantially increased the strike length of known mineralization. Drilling in the 2020 season will allow us to further prove the scale of this structurally-controlled, high-grade vein deposit."

Scottie's technical team integrated historical and recent (20182019) exploration work into new structural models to better understand the geometry of mineralization. Prior to the company's 2019 drill program, Bow's Bend Vein had only 1,525 meters of drilling on it. No exploration-style drilling had been done to test along the Bend fault structure to assess the potential of a bigger system.

Management is thrilled that drilling in 2019 substantiated the very high grades contained in the historically known ore block, and extended the structure both at depth and along strike. The drill campaign (so far) has already shown gold mineralization expanding east an additional 375 meters. 2020 is off to a great start! Over the past year, management has achieved excellent bang for their exploration buck, with more results any day now.

Previous drilling on the Bend Vein returned the following select high-grade assays:

Notice that drill hole SR19-11, mentioned above, had a [grade x thickness] of 318. Compare that to these other [high-grade] intervals in the GT in 2019. Also, the midpoint of each interval's depth is provided. Scottie's blockbuster interval was found at 28 meters. The average depth of peer intervals is 115 meters.

<>

Surface grab samples at Summit Lake look very promising .

CEO Rourke and VP exploration Thomas Mumford, PhD, are ecstatic over the latest drill results, and also recent surface samples from the much larger Summit Lake property.

The above surface (grab) samples were reported three weeks ago. The best eight (in green) range from 11.0 to 62.8 g/t Au Eq, and average 22.2 g/t Au Eq. There are high-grade showings of copper, lead, zinc and silver, (884 g/t = 28.4 troy oz./t Ag). Summit Lake, Bow and the past-producing Scottie Gold mine total 5,672 hectares. As can be seen in the map above, the top half of this three-property contiguous block borders Pretium.

These impressive Summit Lake samples were reported about a month after even more exciting samples were announced on November 14th. The best four samples are listed below. They come from the newly discovered Domino zone on the 100%-owned Scottie Gold mine property.

Referring to the Domino zone, VP of Exploration Dr. Thomas Mumford commented,

"These initial sample results are exciting, their distribution and high-grade nature fit spectacularly well with our working geological model. This mineralized structure will be a high-priority drill target for the 2020 field season. The potential that it may connect to the Scottie Gold Mine mineralizing system make this an exceptional discovery. Sampling of many of these sites was only possible due to significant glacial retreat in recent years. We are eager to get back on the ground to find and delineate additional drill targets."

Scottie Gold mine property hosts past-producing mine

We already know for certain that the Scottie Gold mine property hosts high-grade mineralization, from 1981-1985 it produced over 95,000 ounces of gold at a tremendous average grade of 16.2 g/t. That's a much higher grade than Pretium's world famous Brucejack mine is currently producing at ~9 g/t.

In addition to high-grade production records, there are some outstanding historical drill results at the Scottie Gold mine project as well. How about 108.3 g/t Au over 3.4 meters, or 107.7 g/t Au over 4.2 meters? Not bad at all! All known mineralization on Bow and Scottie Gold, from a total of 525 drill holes, is found at shallow depths. I find it encouraging that these blockbuster grades were found across 3.4 and 4.2 meters, not merely half-meter, one-hit wonders.

Mining M&A in N. America & the gold price making big moves!

Three big gold deals were announced in 4Q 2019 alone, including Kirkland Lake's plans to acquire Detour Gold. If Detour is taken out, Pretium would be one of the last single-asset gold companies in Canada. Brucejack, situated less than 50 km from Scottie, is one of North America's lowest-cost, highest-margin producers.

Pretium is 234x the size of Scottie Resources. If it's not acquired, it might try to acquire one or more GT juniors like Ascot, GT Gold, Skeena Resources, Tudor Gold or Garibaldi Resources. As an aside, Seabridge Gold is also a potential acquirer. Those companies, with EVs ranging from $84 to $217 million, could in turn look to buy a company like Scottie Resources, with an EV of $14 million.

I don't mean to overplay a takeout thesis, but, the gold price is now at US$ 1,576/oz, up ~US$ 112/oz since U.S. impeachment proceedings and Iran / North Korea troubles commenced, and up ~US$ 300/oz from the low of 2019. Gold in $USD is the highest it's been in 80 months. Furthermore, 2019 was reportedly the biggest year for gold mining M&A in North America since 2010.

Neighboring Pretium and Ascot valuations bullish for Scottie

Looking at the map, it's clear why Pretium might want to acquire Scottie Resources. Or, at least move to control the three properties where Pretium and Scottie share a border. Scottie's valuation is so low relative to Pretium's that it might be cheaper to pursue Scottie's properties than to drill virgin areas on Pretium's existing footprint.

Perhaps more likelylook at the map againAscot certainly has a compelling reason to care about Scottie, and the company's digestible EV of $14 million is right in Ascot's sweet spot. Ascot has multiple projects and properties, but only one with evidence of very high-grade mineralization like that of Scottie's Bow (new drill results), Scottie Gold mine (past production + historical drill results + new surface samples) and Summit Lake (new grab samples).

Ascot's EV of $210 million is 15x that of Scottie, and its share price is up 85% in the past two months alone, resulting in Ascot trading at $8,631/ha vs. $766/ha for Scottie. While Ascot's Red Mountain and Premier projects have substantially more drill holes on them, both have lower gold grades, and high-grade mineralization starting roughly 100 meters deeper than that of Scottie's near-surface deposits.

Tudor & GT Gold have giant intercepts of sub 1.0 to 1.5 g/t Au Eq as thick as one kilometer or more. Grade x thickness readings for these assays are quite good, but drilling and mining through 1,000+ meters of rock can be costly and time consuming, especially if the projects are far from critical infrastructure.

Garibaldi's assets in Canada are base metal (especially nickel + copper) heavy. Diversification into high-grade gold and silver could be an attractive option. With an EV of $96 million, it too could comfortably afford to make a run at Scottie. After 2020's drill results (I believe Scottie is thinking about 5,000 meters of drilling, subject to adequate funding), the company will be well more advanced.

Soon after 2020 drill results, one or more resource estimates likely

Within 1218 months, management should be able to deliver a robust NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate from one or both of the Scottie Gold and Bow properties. In 2H 2021, shareholders might receive a third-party Preliminary Economic Assessments (PEA). In my opinion, Scottie could secure a JV or farm-in partner as soon as next year, upon which time funding requirements would drop dramatically.

Located at the southern end of the GT, Scottie's properties are an easy drive of about an hour, on paved roads, from Stewart, BC. For the most part, infrastructure in the southern portion of the GT is significantly better than the middle and northern regions.

Conclusion

With gold prices and M&A activity up substantially, all eyes are on the Golden Triangle. However, not all of the GT juniors have had recent drilling success. Not all are focused on shallow, high-to-ultra-high-grade gold deposits. Not all have good infrastructure. Not all own or control 100% of sizable land packages. Not all have enterprise values of $14 million or less.

Scottie Resources (TSX-V: SCOT) is blessed with many positive attributes and has successfully advanced its flagship properties very nicely in 201819 with limited capital expenditures. There have been three major initiatives over the past several months, and three fantastic outcomes.

1] great new drill results on January 3rd at Bow, 2] excellent surface samples on the Scottie Gold mine property and 3] great grab samples at Summit Lake. This is a company to watch closely in 2020. In fact, watch closely the rest of January, as further drill results are imminent.

Peter Epstein is the founder of Epstein Research. His background is in company and financial analysis. He holds an MBA degree in financial analysis from New York University's Stern School of Business.

[NLINSERT]

Disclosures: The content of this article is for information only. Readers fully understand and agree that nothing contained herein, written by Peter Epstein of Epstein Research [ER], (together, [ER]) about Scottie Resources, including but not limited to, commentary, opinions, views, assumptions, reported facts, calculations, etc. is not to be considered implicit or explicit investment advice. Nothing contained herein is a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any security. [ER] is not responsible under any circumstances for investment actions taken by the reader. [ER] has never been, and is not currently, a registered or licensed financial advisor or broker/dealer, investment advisor, stockbroker, trader, money manager, compliance or legal officer, and does not perform market making activities. [ER] is not directly employed by any company, group, organization, party or person. The shares of Scottie Resources are highly speculative, not suitable for all investors. It is assumed and agreed upon by readers that they will consult with their own licensed or registered financial advisors before making any investment decisions.

At the time this article was posted, Peter Epstein owned shares of Scottie Resources and the Company was an advertiser on [ER].

Readers understand and agree that they must conduct their own due diligence above and beyond reading this article. While the author believes he's diligent in screening out companies that, for any reasons, are unattractive investment opportunities, he cannot guarantee that his efforts will (or have been) successful. [ER] is not responsible for any perceived, or actual, errors including, but not limited to, commentary, opinions, views, assumptions, reported facts, financial calculations, etc., or for the completeness of this interview or future content. [ER] is not expected or required to subsequently follow or cover events & news, or write about any particular company. [ER] is not an expert in any company, industry sector or investment topic.

Streetwise Reports Disclosure:

1) Peter Epstein's disclosures are listed above.

2) The following companies mentioned in the article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Pretium Resources and Seabridge Gold. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

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Diego Garcia is a British Indian Ocean Territory and the largest of the islands in the Chagos Archipelago about 1,000 miles south off the coast of India

The Chagos Islands were colonized by France in the 18th century and African slaves were shipped in to cultivate coconuts.

In 1814, France ceded the islands to Britain, which in 1903 merged them with Mauritius, its colony about 1,200 miles to the south-west.

In 1965, Britain separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, paying 3million for them.

When Mauritius became independent in 1968, the islands remained under British control, and were renamed the British Indian Ocean Territory.

In 1966, Britain leased the islands to the United States for 50 years.

Between 1968 and 1973, about 2,000 Chagos islanders were evicted.

Most were shipped to Mauritius and the Seychelles.

Evicted islanders enlisted the help of human rights lawyer Amal Clooney when they took their fight to the Supreme Court in 2015, but the court ruled against them.

The secretive military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island, has been dubbed 'the Guantanamo of the East' amid suspicions it was a key staging post in the US rendition and torture program.

In 2016, the US lease was extended to 2036.

The American presence there can be attributed to the fact that Diego Garcia's location is strategically vital.

Diego Garcia has been a launching point for US military actions in the Middle East - including the 2001 campaign against Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The horseshoe-shaped atoll of Diego Garcia (right) measures about 17 square miles. It is surrounded by about 60 other atolls. The coastline of Diego Garcia form a natural harbor, making it ideal to station a naval base there

It is also a refueling station for Air Force jets that patrol the South China Sea.

Diego Garcia was also designated an emergency landing spot for space missions by NASA.

The future of the American presence on the atoll was thrown into doubt earlier this year when a United Nations court ruled that the British illegally seized control of the island.

The court, in a nonbinding ruling, said that control over the territory should be returned to Mauritius.

Diego Garcia is home to between an estimated 3,000-5,000 American military personnel.

There is also believed to be a small number of British soldiers stationed at the site as well as civilian contractors mostly from Mauritius.

This satellite image taken in 2006 shows B-52s and KC-135s on the ramp at Diego Garcia

These contractors are believed to cook and clean for the soldiers and sailors.

The horseshoe-shaped atoll measures about 17 square miles. It is surrounded by about 60 other atolls.

The coastline of Diego Garcia form a natural harbor, making it ideal to station a naval base there.

Diego Garcia is also a tropical paradise that is home to a significant population of turtles, giant migrating birds, and coconut crab.

The US military has long been tight-lipped about Diego Garcia.

Unlike the base in Guam, spouses of military personnel are not allowed on the atoll.

It was also reported that Diego Garcia was used as one of the CIA's 'black sites' - the secret rendition program in which the Americans interrogated and tortured suspected Islamic extremists.

But its most important function for the American military is the airstrip.

The runways at Diego Garcia allow US warplanes to freely operate in the skies above Africa to the southwest; the Middle East and Central Asia to the north and west; and the Far East and Asia to its east.

Source: Business Insider
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.
SPRINGFIELD  Pope Francis Preparatory School has received a $2 million unrestricted gift from an anonymous alumnus of the former Cathedral High School.

Head of School Paul Harrington called the gift to the flagship secondary school of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield transformative."

It is said to be one of the largest single gifts received in the history of the school that opened in 2018, and the legacy high schools that formed it  Cathedral and Holyoke Catholic  and, according to the announcement, will support the schools operational budget.

We are honored and deeply grateful to this donor for such generosity, Harrington said. A gift of this magnitude is transformative for Pope Francis Prep. To provide our school with such a generous gift, demonstrates this donors confidence in Catholic education and our potential for even greater positive impact on students lives and of those they will affect in the future.

He added that though the donor wishes to remain anonymous, we believe their story may reflect that of many of the schools alumni and supporters who found their Catholic education to be the pivotal foundation for success in their lives.

The announcement said that it was learned through the foundation representing the donor, that the donor very much valued their Catholic education at Cathedral High School and credits it to having opened many doors.

The announcement of the gift said it is unrestricted in its use and will be the founding donation for the Pope Francis Preparatory School Legacy Fund and will be maintained in an investment account owned by the school and managed by Merrill Lynch.

Daniel Fenton, the schools development director and a Cathedral High graduate, called the gifts magnitude the ultimate expression of confidence and trust in our school, its mission, its financial management, our leadership, and our vision for the future.

Pope Francis Preparatory School was built on the site of the former Cathedral High School, destroyed by the June 1, 2011 tornado, at a cost of $54.5 million.

The diocese merged Cathedral with Holyoke Catholic in 2015, creating Pope Francis.
Yemen's Houthi rebels said they shot down a drone on Tuesday belonging to the Saudi-led coalition.

The drone was downed over the Yemeni northeastern province of Jawf, Houthi-run al-Masirah television reported, citing a statement by the Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea as saying.

There was no immediate confirmation from the coalition, which has been fighting the Iran-allied Houthis for over four years in support for the Saudi-backed Yemeni Internationally-recognised government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) unit in Punjab has decided to send a strong contingent of volunteers led by Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann to campaign for the party in the Delhi assembly elections.

Leader of opposition in Punjab assembly Harpal Singh Cheema said the state contingent comprising MLAs, core committee members and district-level functionaries will head to Delhi next week.

Delhi goes to the polls on February 8 and the counting of votes will be done on February 11.

Mann will address public meetings in all 70 assembly constituencies and others fan out in different segments. There will be two or more teams, each comprising at least five party leaders and volunteers from the state, in every assembly constituency. They will be there for two weeks to propagate the achievements and programmes of the party, he said after a press conference here on Monday.

Cheema, who is the MLA from Dirba, said that Garry Barring and Harinder Singh would be in Delhi and coordinate the movement of teams from Punjab, whereas political review committee chairman Harchand Singh Bursat and core committee member Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi will organise the teams from the state.

GIAN SINGH MUNGO TO HEAD LEGAL WING

Cheema also named Nabha Bar Council president Gian Singh Mungo as president of its state legal wing with immediate effect.

Mungo, who has been heading the Bar Council for 19 years, came in place of Jastej Singh Arora at the press conference where the announcement was made in the presence of Kotkapura MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Bursat, Sukhwinder Sukhi, state trade wing chief Nina Mittal and senior leader Karanbir Singh Tiwana among others.

He said the party will set up a helpline to provide free legal aid to victims of state excesses and neglect. Mungo and his team will set an example by getting justice for the oppressed, he said.
Randy and Kimberley Pavlock built their small family home along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Porter, Indiana, with their own hands. The Pavlocks have owned the property for five generations, and love being beach people. Their home and private beach on Lake Michigan are the center of their family life, as they often hold fish fries for their family and neighborhood on the beach. Like many families, the Pavlocks especially enjoy watching their grandchildren fall in love with the shore just as they did.

Nobody questioned the Pavlocks ownership of the beach for all those years. But on Feb. 14, 2018, the Indiana Supreme Court declared in a sweeping decision that the Pavlocks and other lakefront owners  lakefront owners like the Pavlocks, who were not even parties to that decision  had never actually owned the beach. The court in Gunderson v. State of Indiana held that the state retained exclusive title to the shoreline of Lake Michigan up to a nebulous point known as the ordinary high-water mark, instead of to the waters edge, as the local, state and federal governments had previously recognized. With the stroke of a pen, the court re-wrote the history of Indianas Lake Michigan shoreline and extinguished all private property rights to the beach, even the rights of the Pavlocks, who had not even participated in that case. Nevertheless, the court took their property for the state without paying any compensation to them for it.
The government has been admonished to heed to ensure better implementation of the Assets and Liabilities Declaration regime.

This admonition is coming from the Pressure group, OccupyGhana.

OccupyGhana is alerting the ruling NPP government under Nana Akufo-Addo that the provision as an aspect of the Constitution that has been largely ignored.

On Constitution Day Tuesday 7th January 2020, OccupyGhana in a statement released notes that the 1992 Constitution expressly and mandatorily requires that prescribed office holders must declare their assets and liabilities to the Auditor-General (i) before taking office, (ii) on every fourth anniversary thereafter, and (iii) at the end of a persons term of office and said these mandatory timelines must be strictly adhered to.

That is why we remain convinced that the provision in section 1(4) of Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550), which gives a 6-month extension for making declarations, is unconstitutional and void, it said.

Read the full press statement below.

7th January 2020

OCCUPYGHANA  PRESS STATEMENT

CONSTITUTION DAY: IT IS TIME TO TAKE THE ASSETS AND LIABILITIES DECLARATION REGIME SERIOUSLY

OccupyGhana salutes Ghanaians on the 26th anniversary of the coming into force of the Fourth Republican Constitution. Marking 7th January as Constitution Day is intended to acknowledge Ghana's collective efforts at ensuring that the tenets of democracy, rule of law and principles of constitutionalism are upheld. This has been the longest spell of constitutional democracy since independence, and it is no mean achievement.

On this auspicious day we would want to highlight, once again, an aspect of our Constitution that has been largely ignored by successive governments, but which is currently being forced to the front burner of our national discourse by the Auditor-General: the declaration of assets and liabilities by public officeholders.

Our position is summarised as follows:

(i) affected officers must file the declarations at the specific times prescribed by the Constitution (for which reason the six-month extension granted by statute is unconstitutional and must be repealed),

(ii) the over 40,000 public officers in default must be compelled to comply forthwith, and

(iii) the Auditor-General must end the unconstitutional system of secret, unverified declarations.

TIME FOR FILING

The Constitution expressly and mandatorily requires that prescribed office holders must declare their assets and liabilities to the Auditor-General (i) before taking office, (ii) on every fourth anniversary thereafter, and (iii) at the end of a persons term of office. We demand strict compliance with these mandatory timelines.

That is why we remain convinced that the provision in section 1(4) of Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550), which gives a 6-month extension for making declarations, is unconstitutional and void.

We therefore repeat our invitation to the government to take immediate steps to repeal this offending provision, without us having to proceed to the Supreme Court to have it struck down as unconstitutional.

PRESCRIBED OFFICERS

The Constitution prescribed specific public office holders who were to declare, and allowed Parliament to extend the coverage to other public office holders. This is what Parliament did when it passed Act 550, Schedule 1 of which contains the extended list.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of public office holders have simply failed, refused or neglected to make the declarations. From our conservative estimates, more than 40,000 public officers are currently in breach of the law.

While we were contemplating legal action against every public office holder in breach, we became aware of the Auditor-Generals 31st December 2019 Circular that announced that henceforth the declarations would be considered part of audits and that offending officers shall be reported to the Commission on Human Rights and AdministrativeJustice for action as required by article 287 of the Constitution.

Since then we have become aware of some frantic and even desperate efforts by some heads of affected institutions to ensure compliance within those institutions. We commend this to every institution mentioned in the law. As the saying goes, better late than never.

We also welcome this bold move by the Auditor-General and we give it our full and unalloyed commendation and support.

END OF SECRET DECLARATIONS

The fact is that even in the relatively few circumstances where declarations have been made, they have been made in sealed envelopes to the Auditor-General and remain unopened, unaudited and unverified.

However an automatic audit or verification would ascertain whether (i) the assets and liabilities were declared in accordance with the law, (ii) the assets declared actually exist, so as to prevent assumptive declarations (where the person declares non-existing assets now, based on the assumption that through corruption those assets may be acquired later), (iii) the declarations were submitted within the time provided by the Constitution, and (iv) any new assets were acquired or liabilities discharged while in office, so that an inquiry may be conducted into whether those assets or the means to settle the declared liabilities were genuinely acquired.

Sadly, successive Auditors-General have not considered it part of their obligations under the Constitution to open the sealed envelopes, let alone verify or audit their contents.

We reiterate our position that there is nothing in article 286 that supports the current secret declaration, which is a contradiction in terms. The concept of a secret declaration that remains uninspected in the hands of the Auditor-General is not just alien to the Constitution but an anathema, and is therefore unconstitutional.

Verification by the Auditor-General is the only way to give life to article 286(3) as follows:

Any property or assets acquired by a public officer after the initial declaration required by clause (1) of this article and which is not reasonably attributable to income, gift, loan, inheritance or any other reasonable source shall be deemed to have been acquired in contravention of this Constitution.

The current stance, therefore, flies in the face of the probity, accountability and transparency provisions in the Preamble to the Constitution, negates the mandatory obligation placed on the state under Article 35(8) to eradicate corrupt practices, and claws back the duty placed on citizens by article 41 to protect and preserve public property and expose and combat misuse and waste of public funds and property.

CONCLUSION

This is the fifth time that OccupyGhana is raising the issue of assets and liabilities declaration. We believe that the government must take the lead in this matter and simply ensure that affected officers comply with the law. Further, we do not think that the government wants to wait for years of litigation before simply repealing the six-month extension for the declarations.

While saluting and congratulating Ghanaians on the 26th anniversary of the Fourth Republican Constitution, we wish to remind ourselves that there is a lot more to do to safeguard the Constitution and make its provisions relevant.

We once again invite all Ghanaians to occupy our spaces because if each of us does a little, together we will do a lot.

Still in the service of God and Country

OccupyGhana

---MyJoyOnline
WASHINGTON - The District of Columbia's top ethics investigator has stepped down amid criticism of the agency's failure to promptly investigate complaints.

Brent Wolfingbarger resigned as director of government ethics at the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability effective Dec. 31, agency officials said.

Wolfingbarger could not immediately be reached for comment. At D.C. Council hearing in November, he defended his time at the agency.

Norma Hutcheson, who chairs the five-member ethics board, said the agency has started a nationwide search for a new director. Rochelle Ford, who has been an attorney for the board since 2018, is serving as acting director.

Wolfingbarger's two-year tenure at the helm of the District's internal watchdog had come under scrutiny by lawmakers and good-government advocates.

Several D.C. Council members, including Chairman Phil Mendelson, D, and Charles Allen, D-Ward 6, had criticized the ethics board for staying on the sidelines of investigations into alleged ethics violations by Jack Evans, D-Ward 2, who resigned from the council on Tuesday rather than face expulsion.

The ethics board was formed several years ago after scandals involving other council members.

Wolfingbarger said law enforcement had warned that a local ethics investigation could interfere with an ongoing federal probe into Evans. But the law firm hired by the council to investigate Evans said federal prosecutors raised no such objections to their review.

The other recent major ethics case involved former D.C. Public Schools chancellor Antwan Wilson's effort to seek a favorable school placement for his daughter. More than a year after Wilson resigned under pressure, the ethics board concluded he violated ethics policies and reprimanded him.

The ethics board has also been under scrutiny for more routine matters.

A recent report by the D.C. auditor identified five instances where the agency failed to respond to D.C. government employees seeking advice on potential conflicts of interest.

It also concluded that the ethics board failed to investigate a 2018 complaint from a former D.C. government employee alleging that officials improperly gave millions to an affordable-housing developer with political connections.

Hutcheson, the ethics board chairwoman, conceded in a response to the audit that the agency mishandled that case, but she said it was not part of a broader pattern.

The audit prompted the council to hold a November hearing on the ethics agency where Wolfingbarger said the board was changing policies to better investigate complaints.

Wolfingbarger also stunned some open-government advocates when he said the agency was unable to access a spreadsheet tracking cases because it was on the laptop of a former employee and officials did not know the password.
By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 22 times, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on Jan. 7, Trend reports.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
There is nothing wrong if a president promotes government workers, the police or immigration officials but the president must understand that a promotion is not strong enough to limit the drastic effects of nepotism and corruption in a country. As a matter of fact, Ghana is seriously bleeding from corruption and nepotism.

Nana Akufo Addo wants to be loved, admired and acknowledged by Ghanaians as a leader who cares about the people but he has failed to tackle serious problems in the country which could have given him that recognition he is dying for.

Last week, Akufo Addo, gave promotion to 6,000 police officers and has gone further to give another promotion to over 400 junior immigration officers.

Promotion is only the activity that supports or encourages a cause, it neither solves a depreciating economy nor unemployment problems.

Therefore, Akufo Addo, work hard as a competent leader and solve the main problems the common Ghanaians face today in the country and stop seeking a cheap and worthless self-recognition.

It would have been better to be incompetent with 50 Ministers than having over 123, yet dont know what to do because you have given Ghanaians a false hope with such elephant-sized ministers.

Its a drain of national resources to have such a large number of ministers in the country, yet nothing significant has been achieved by your corrupt and inefficient ministers.

If productivity comes from learning, which gives birth to efficiency, then as a leader, you need to dig out those secrets to build Ghana.

Let Ghanaians, including the police and immigration officers, admire your government by creating employment and a sustainable economy for the country, not through cheap promotion.

If you are sincere to yourself, you will agree with me that your ego and self-recognition tendencies have done a lot of damage to Ghana, more than the progress Ghana needs.

Your ministers are those who have caused your downfall because they fear to speak against your incompetence, nepotism, and corruption to keep their posts.

Creating a learning society should, therefore, be one of your main objectives of economic policy, which results in a more productive economy and a better standard of living.

The government must insist a lot on the decisive role in proposing and implementing decisions that give the correct direction to the enhancement of learning in the economy as in the whole of society.

Governments play a central role in education, health, infrastructure, and technology policies, for each of these areas certainly contributes to shaping the economy. This is not the first time such an article has been published, yet there is never progress in Ghana.

Structural adjustment policies can end up stifling the growth of countries, especially those with an emerging economy.

Therefore, you mustnt think those promotions can bring any change, improve the economy or creating employment, it only helps those you have promoted.

As a leader who wants to be acknowledged as efficient, concentrate on the improvement of the life of every Ghanaian, not only the police and the immigration because the votes of the majority that counts.
BUCKS COUNTY >> Police in Northampton, Lower Southampton and Upper Makefield townships report the following incidents and arrests: Lower Southampton THEFT >> In the early morning hours on Monday, Jan. 10 two individuals made off with the entire change machine from the Feasterville Laundromat along Bustleton Pike. The male appears to be "cracking himself up" while he hatches his scheme...
Photo courtesy of Pronovias

Model Ashley Graham had a hard time saying yes to a dress when she married videographer Justin Ervin in 2010. (The two are expecting their first child, a boy, later this year.) I had difficulty finding something that made me feel special, something that would flatter and celebrate my body on one of the most important days of my life, she says. Im a traditional girl and knew I wanted my gown to reflect that.

With only two months between her engagement and the ceremony, she was in a bit of a time crunch so going the custom route wasnt exactly an optionshe had to buy off the rack. I went home to Nebraska to shop with my mom and grandmother, and the dress I liked was only a size 10 with a corset, she remembers. We had to put a whole panel in the back so it fit properly, and even after that, I had a bit of a situation with my girls spilling out!

Ashley Graham x Pronovias Gallery

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Photo courtesy of Pronovias

This experience propelled Graham to collaborate on the Ashley Graham x Pronovias bridal collection, available in sizes 0 to 34a much-needed offering in a space that hasnt historically been inclusive when it comes to sizing. Women should be empowered to be their most confident selves on their wedding daylooking and feeling beautifuland thats why its important for brands like Pronovias to provide luxurious options in all sizes and styles, she says. Curvy sizes are often limited in bridal stores despite the fact that they are very much in demand. Typically, we have to try on a smaller size and then either special order our size or reconstruct the dress to fit, Graham explains. So when youre shopping, it makes it difficult to get that this is the dress! feeling. One size and style does not fit all when it comes to wedding dresses.

Thankfully, brides with curves are about to have more options. Its important for the bridal industry to be an advocate for inclusivity and body diversity, Graham adds. I want the Ashley Graham x Pronovias bride to feel bold, brilliant, and beautiful. I want her to be blissfully happy and confident as she embarks on this new chapter in her life.

Story continues

The collection is available at Pronovias boutiques and wholesale partners worldwide.

View the Ashley Graham x Pronovias full lookbook below:

Ashley Graham x Pronovias Lookbook

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Originally Appeared on Vogue
Portland police have arrested two men and charged them in the first homicide of 2020.

Christopher Watkins, 19, and Timothy Burks, 20, were arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Police say the two men killed DeAndre Rouse, 28, at Southeast 151st Avenue and Southeast Stark Street early Saturday morning.

According to a probable cause affidavit, police responded to the Southeast Portland scene around 5 a.m. Saturday after they heard multiple gunshots coming from the area. The officers saw a car speeding down Stark Street with its lights off, and saw two people inside. The officers noticed a New Mexico license plate, and were able to get the plate number. They followed the car, but soon lost sight of it. According to court documents, one of the officers saw it parked a few minutes later, and walked toward the car. It was empty, but the officer said he saw a lot of blood in and around the drivers seat, and a blood trail leading away from the car.

Court documents show the officer talked to a transient man who said the two men in the car parked and waited for police cars to drive by, then got out of the car and ran away.

Another officer heard a call from dispatchers saying that two men were in the parking lot of an apartment on Northeast Halsey Street a few blocks from the abandoned vehicle, and looked like they were hiding from police. Court documents say police went to the apartment complex and found one man, Burks, with a gunshot wound to his arm. Police soon found another man, Watkins, in a car dealership next to the apartment buildings. According to the probable cause affidavit, Watkins ran and got into an Uber or Lyft. Police followed him and stopped the rideshare car. Police found Watkins in the back, covered in mud and with fresh cuts on his hands. Police also found two phones under the drivers seat, which the driver confirmed did not belong to him.

According to court documents, as police found Watkins, other officers went back to Stark Street and Southeast 151st Avenue, the site where they had first started pursuing the two men, and found several bullet casings in the street. They also found Rouses body in the area, between a van and a chain-link fence.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

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Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) (L) talks with Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) during a Senate Finance Committee committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington in a 2019 file photograph. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

USMCA Advances to Full Senate After Committee Approval

The Senate Finance Committee approved sending the U.S.MexicoCanada trade agreement to the full Senate in a 253 vote on Jan. 7.

Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) voted against advancing the bill.

Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), during the hearing on the trade deal, called it one of the most important pieces of legislation we can do this year.

USMCA will bring much-needed certainty and real benefits to Americas farmers, workers, and businesses. Farmers are getting better and more reliable market access, which farmers badly need. Workers will see thousands of new jobs, particularly in high-wage manufacturing industries. Businesses will have an agreement that reflects the realities of modern commerce, including for the $1.3 trillion U.S. digital economy, Grassley said.

There are some aspects of this bill that I dont particularly like, but as I reflect on how we got here, Im proud of the hard work of many individuals that made it possible to achieve a strong agreement and a bill that could garner broad support.

Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Chrystia Freeland (L), Mexicos top trade negotiator Jesus Seade (C), and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer sign an update to the North American Free Trade Agreement, at the national palace in Mexico City on Dec. 10. 2019. Observing from behind are (LR) Mexicos Treasury Secretary Arturo Herrera, Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexicos Labor Secretary Maria Alcalde, and the President of the Mexican Senate Ricardo Monreal. (Marco Ugarte/AP Photo)

Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said the Trump administrations initial USMCA bill looked like more of the status quo regarding enforcement. Still, he and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) pushed the House to include putting regulators on the ground to help identify when factories in Mexico violate labor rules.

The enforcement process will take a fraction of the time it has in the past. No more forcing American businesses and workers to wait around for what seems like eons, while trade cheats rip them off, Wyden said.

Toomey said the North American Free Trade Agreement was only renegotiated because the Trump administration wanted to fix a trade deficit with Mexico.

While he supported modernizing trade with Canada and Mexico, Toomey said that some of the changes are meant to diminish trade and investment. And this, my colleagues, is what I think is wrong with this agreement.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks while flanked by fellow members during a news conference on the USMCA trade agreement, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 10, 2019. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Its the first time we are ever going to go backwards on a trade agreement. The countrys specific rules of origins are completely antithetical to a continental free trade agreement and designed to raise the cost to American consumers of buying Mexican cars, he said.

The Democratic-controlled House passed USMCA on Dec. 19, 2019, in a 38541 bipartisan vote, one day after impeaching President Donald Trump in a sharply partisan vote. Democrats said they made substantial changes to the deal, including strengthening enforcement.

While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said, he expected to put USMCA on the back burner as the Senate impeachment trial takes place. The trial hasnt started because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) hasnt yet sent the impeachment articles to the Senate.

Grassley, on Jan. 7, thanked his colleagues, stating: This is a big bipartisan vote. A reminder that when Congress works together in a bipartisan way, the American people greatly benefit. I want to thank my colleagues again for working with the Trump administration and me and Senator Wyden. I want to thank members of my finance committee trade staff for their very, very hard work.

I look forward to a vote on the Senate floor, hopefully soon, for final passage, he said. Trump is expected to sign the bill if the Senate passes it.
Sajid Javid last night announced a Budget on March 11 that will focus on tax cuts for the low-paid and billions of investment for left behind areas.

The Chancellor aims to tear up Treasury rules blamed for focusing too much investment in the South East.

New rules are set to make it easier to spend on transport, business development and free ports outside already prosperous areas.

Sajid Javid (pictured with Chief Operating Officer of Transport for Greater Manchester Bob Morris, on January 6) last night announced a Budget on March 11 that will focus on tax cuts for the low-paid and billions of investment for left behind areas

Mr Javid said he would offer help for 'hard-working people in particular, especially with the cost of living'.

A 30-year national infrastructure plan will focus on the North and Midlands, where ex-Labour voters helped Boris Johnson to win last months election.

Projects will include a new high-speed rail line from Manchester to Leeds and 500 million to bring back branch lines axed during the Beeching cuts of the 1960s.

Speaking during a visit to the new 350 million Trafford Park tram line project in Manchester, Mr Javid said: 'People across the country have told us that they want change. We've listened and will now deliver.

'With this Budget we will unleash Britain's potential - uniting our great country, opening a new chapter for our economy and ushering in a decade of renewal.'

Speaking during a visit to the new 350 million Trafford Park tram line project in Manchester, Mr Javid said: 'People across the country have told us that they want change. We've listened and will now deliver'

A Treasury source added: 'The election delivered a clear mandate to deliver on the agenda of levelling up opportunity in left behind parts of the country 'That is about infrastructure and education, but also about changing the whole way we do economic policy in this country.'

Mr Javid will also establish a new 'economic taskforce' whose members will include experts on regional priorities.

Money will also be released to set Britain on track to meet the target of delivering on climate change commitments to cut the UK's net carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. Early commitments are expected to include cash for a new fleet of electric buses.

However the focus of the first post-Brexit Budget will be a 10-year plan to deliver on the PM's campaign pledge to 'level up' opportunity in parts of the country that feel neglected.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 23:35:05|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of a leading group for China's seventh national population census, addresses a meeting of the leading group in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng has called for solid preparations for the seventh national population census.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks Monday while giving a speech to a meeting of the leading group for the seventh national population census.

The census should conduct a comprehensive survey of China's population size, structure and distribution to accurately reflect the trends of population changes, said Han.

Han added the census should support national economic and social development plans with scientific and accurate statistical information, and promote high-quality economic development and well-rounded human development.

Efforts should also be made to actively promote electronic collection and improve the efficiency and quality of data collection, said Han.

The seventh national population census will begin on Nov. 1, 2020, according to the State Council, China's cabinet.
A day after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) indicated it will reinvent itself with a new identity and a new ideology by leaning right, its founder Raj Thackeray met BJPs leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday, giving rise to talk of a possible tie-up between the two parties. The BJP had lost its long-time ally Shiv Sena soon after the October 2019 state elections, following which the latter brokered a three-party alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress to form a government in Maharashtra.

Thackeray, who had become a bitter critic of the BJP prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, had held several rallies in the state criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government on issues such as the economy, foreign and domestic policies, and welfare schemes for farmers. He had also been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with transactions related to the purchase of Kohinoor Mills land at Dadar in central Mumbai.

On Tuesday, however, he met former chief minister Fadnavis at Parel in south-central Mumbai in a meeting that lasted just over an hour. The meeting was facilitated by Thackerays friend Guruprasad Rege, who is said to be close to Fadnavis. After the Assembly elections, Thackeray had a few meetings with BJP leader Ashish Shelar, who may have influenced his decision.

A senior MNS leader on condition of anonymity told HT, A section of our party wants him (Thackeray) to tie up with the BJP considering that the Sena has now allied with its bitter rivals, the NCP and the Congress. Political calculations have changed after the formation of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. We (MNS and BJP) need each other. He added that BJP will provide the financial muscle to run the tie-up while MNS will help the BJP in countering the MVA on several fronts.

Political analysts in Maharashtra feel that the BJP needs a quick replacement to the Shiv Sena, and MNS, though much weaker than the Sena, can provide it. BJP is currently isolated as it is pitted against the entire opposition, said Hemant Desai. Here the MNS can really help them. He added a caveat, though. This move may dent Raj Thackerays image. Until now, he was firing his guns against the BJP. Such a tie-up could be suicidal, Desai said.

To be sure, MNS has lost political ground over the years. The party had 13 MLAs in the 2009-2014 Maharashtra Assembly, but won only one Assembly seat each in 2014 and 2019. The announcement about the new identity is likely to come on January 23  the birth anniversary of Shiv Sena founder and MNS chiefs mentor Bal Thackeray. At the same meeting, he is likely to unveil the partys new identity  a saffron flag featuring Maratha king Shivajis seal. The current MNS flag has three colours  saffron, green and blue, respectively representing Hindutva, Islam and Dalits. The image of the old flag has been removed from the partys official Twitter handle, @mnsadhikrut.

Thackeray aides say the MNS chief was mulling the change as his Marathi Manoos agenda was no longer paying dividend. According to Mumbai University professor of political science Surendra Jondhale, it is time Raj Thackeray reviewed his partys ideology. The Marathi Manoos issue is no longer relevant. MNS needs a complete revamp, it needs new thinking. If he adopts the Hindutva ideology, the MNS will become a dwarf organisation hanging on to the BJP. He needs to become creative and focus on issues such as unemployment to emerge as an alternative.

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[January 07, 2020] MITRE Releases Framework for Cyber Attacks on Industrial Control Systems

MITRE released an ATT&CK knowledge base of the tactics and techniques that cyber adversaries use when attacking the industrial control systems (ICS) that operate some of the nation's most critical infrastructures including energy transmission and distribution plants, oil refineries, wastewater treatment facilities, transportation systems, and more. The impacts from these attacks range from disruption to operational productivity to serious harm to human life and the surrounding environment. ATT&CK for ICS builds on the foundation of the globally accessible, freely available MITRE ATT&CK knowledge base, which has been widely adopted by sophisticated cybersecurity teams from around the world to understand adversary behavior and tradecraft and systematically advance defensive capabilities. "Asset owners and defenders want deep knowledge of the tradecraft and technology that adversaries use in affecting industrial control systems to help inform their defenses," said Otis Alexander, a lead cybersecurity engineer focusing on ICS cybersecurity at MITRE. "Adversaries may try to interrupt critical service delivery by disrupting industrial processes. They may also try to cause physical damage to equipment. With MITRE ATT&CK for ICS, we can help mitigate the catastrophic failures that affect property or human life." Recent threats to ICS systems include cyber attacks on the Ukrainian grid that shut down power over short periods in 2015 and 2016. The "NotPetya" campaign in 2017 caused an estimated $10 billion in damage to Ukrainian energy firms as well as airports, banks, other major companies, and government agencies. Other examples include a former employee of a firm that installed radio-controlled sewage equipment in Australia who used a laptop and radio transmitter to cause pumping station failures that spilled more than 200,000 gallons of raw sewage into parks, waterways, and the grounds of a resort, killing marine life, damaging the waters, and creating a terrible stench.



Some aspects of the existing ATT&CK knowledge base for enterprise IT systems are applicable to ICS, and in many cases may represent an entry point into those ICS systems for adversaries. ATT&CK for ICS adds the behavior adversaries use within ICS environments. It highlights the unique aspects of the specialized applications and protocols that ICS system operators typically use, and adversaries take advantage of, to interface with physical equipment.

The knowledge base can play several key roles for defenders, including helping establish a standard language for security practitioners to use as they report incidents. With expertise in this domain in short supply, it can also help with the development of incident response playbooks, prioritizing defenses as well as finding gaps, reporting threat intelligence, analyst training and development, and emulating adversaries during exercises. More than 100 participants from 39 organizations reviewed, provided comments, or contributed to ATT&CK for ICS prior to launch. These organizations consisted of a wide range of private and public entities including cyber intelligence and security companies that focus on ICS, industrial product manufacturers, national labs, research institutes, universities, Information Sharing and Analysis Centers, and government agencies supporting public and private critical infrastructure. Analyst and User Perspective Austin Scott, principal ICS security analyst at Dragos, said, "ATT&CK for ICS shines a light into the unique threat behaviors leveraged by adversaries targeting Industrial Control System environments. We understand the critical importance ICS threat behaviors play in an effective cybersecurity strategy and we're proud to contribute to this program and community resource. It is a huge win for the front-line ICS network defenders who now have a common lexicon for categorizing ICS specific techniques to support reporting and further analysis." Christopher Glyer, chief security architect at FireEye (News - Alert), said, "The ATT&CK framework has been instrumental for cyber defense teams in codifying a lexicon describing how cyber attacks are conducted as well as centralizing examples of research and threat intelligence reports regarding real-world use of attacker techniques. The ICS ATT&CK framework creates a forum for establishing how ICS intrusions are unique/different from enterprise IT intrusions and will enable ICS operations and security teams to better protect these mission critical systems." Quint (News - Alert) Wysor, senior manager of cybersecurity at Duke Energy, said, "ATT&CK provides an essential security operations framework and the introduction of the new industrial control systems-focused version will enhance the work industries with critical infrastructure, including the utility sector, have already done to protect their information and infrastructure. We look forward to collaborating with MITRE and other industries using the framework." Contributions to the ATT&CK for ICS knowledge base can be sent to [email protected]. https://attack.mitre.org/ics About MITRE MITRE's mission-driven teams are dedicated to solving problems for a safer world. Through our public-private partnerships and federally funded R&D centers, we work across government and in partnership with industry to tackle challenges to the safety, stability, and well-being of our nation.  2020 The MITRE Corporation (News - Alert). All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107006064/en/

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When most of your day is spent battling bushfires, it's not easy to fit in a photo shoot with your newborn son.

But volunteer firefighter Beau Haines, from Kiewa in north-west Victoria, was thrilled to be able to organise a few snaps with his boy Spencer - by squeezing it into a short break from tackling the blazes.

Spencer was born on Christmas Eve - just days after his dad was sent to fight devastating blazes around Bateman's Bay and Corryong, on the south coast of New South Wales.

Fortunately, Mr Haines was able to get back from the fires in time for the birth.

Volunteer firefighter Beau Haines stands with his newborn son Spencer at his local fire station

Photographer and fellow volunteer fireman Kurt Hickling told Daily Mail Australia the photoshoot was one of the longest periods of time the first-time father had spent with his son as he had been tied up on the fire front.

'Beau and Cassie wanted a newborn shoot but it was hard to pin down a time because we all kept getting deployed,' the photographer explained.

'It all just came together about a week after Spencer was born.

'Beau was back in town and we had the idea of doing it at the fire station.'

Soon after the photoshoot, Mr Haines, who is in his late 20s, was sent back out to fight the fires.

Spencer was born on Christmas Eve and is father, who was deployed to fight fires just days beforehand, was thrilled to be able to attend the birth

Mr Hickling, from Chiltern in northeast Victoria, runs the photography business with his wife Charlyne and said the photo brought a tear to his eye.

'We wanted to highlight how hard it is for firefighters to be away from their families for so long and the sacrifices they make, and we were wrapped with the way it turned out.'

He said they called the image 'not all heroes wear capes' to demonstrate the sacrifice firefighters and volunteers make to battle bushfires around the nation.

Emergency crews fight a bushfire encroaching on properties near Kioloa, between Bateman's Bay and Ulladulla in December 2019

'There's so much negativity around, but this is something positive. Firefighters are people too and they have families who are worried they won't come home.

'We really wanted to highlight that.'

The images were shared on Facebook and have had more than 30,000 impressions.

More than 300 fires still ravaging the parched land nation-wide.


Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

Global levulinic acid market demand was 2,606.2 tons in 2013 and is projected to be 3,820 tons by 2020. The increasing application of levulinic acid, especially in pesticides, solvents, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics industries are anticipated to boost growth in the coming years.

Over the past few years, the chemical industry has continually been striving towards attaining a sustainable growth, with a focus on the development of renewable biotechnological and bio-based products. The production technology for bio-based levulinic acid has been simplified by dehydration of biomass or carbohydrates with acid. Levulinic acid is being increasingly used as a substitute to its synthetic counterparts in industrial usage.

The global levulinic acid market is anticipated to reach USD 19.65 million revenue, with a growing CAGR of 4.8% by 2020. Increasing usage of the acid in niche applications including plastics, nylons and rubbers are expected to drive demand in the coming years. Increasing R&D expenditure, mainly to diminish production costs of levulinic acid to competitive levels is a critical factor for market players.

Access Research Report of Levulinic acid market @ http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/levulinic-acid-market

Agriculture and pharmaceutical together accounted for over 66% of the overall volume in 2013. Demand for levulinic acid in the agricultural sector and its related applications is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6%, whereas the market is anticipated to grow at 5.4% CAGR from 2014 to 2020 in the pharmaceutical sector.

Apart from these applications, levulinic acid is also moderately used in the production of cigarettes to enhance delivery of nicotine in smoke, making it more receptive to neurons. Methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF), a critical component of levulinic acid acts as a fuel additive. MTHF is commercially used in automotive segments as fuel extenders and is projected to have a potential demand of 20,000 kilo tons by 2020.

North America dominated the levulinic acid market contributing to more than 41% of the overall demand in 2013. Levulinic acid demand in the region is anticipated to be 1,598.3 tons by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% over the forecast period, owing to the presence of the prominent application players in the region.

Europe and Asia Pacific are emerging markets for levulinic acid. China, being one the major suppliers, manufactures, and sells the product at a relatively lower price to companies present in the U.S. and Europe which produce downstream products of the chemical. Europe, being the second largest consumer, accounted for 31% of the overall market volume in 2013.

Major market players include Segetis, Biofine, and DuPont. China has large an unorganized manufacturing base with major suppliers being Ouyi Pharmaceutical Co Ltd. and Shijiazhuang Pharmaceutical Group. Biofine has been one of the prominent manufacturers in the industry, with a key focus on MTHF and DALA applications.

Downstream Potential Insights

Key downstream potential applications for levulinic acid analyzed and reported in this study include methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF), delta-aminolevulinic acid (DALA), ethyl levulinate, diphenolic acid (DPA) and others. Commercial scale application for levulinic acid has recently been linked to automobile fuel extenders, primarily MTHF, which is miscible with gasoline in all proportions and displays favorable oxygenate and vapor pressure properties.

Intermediates during conversion of the levulinic acid to MTHF include  -Valero lactone (GVL) and 1,4 pentanediol, which are also attractive products in their own right. It is estimated that levulinic acid manufacturers could face a potential demand of over 20,000 kilo tons from MTHF applications by 2020.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.
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ATEME (ISIN: FR0011992700), the emerging leader in video delivery infrastructure, today announces its financial communication agenda for 2020. Each publication will be released after Euronext market closing.

Thursday, January 30, 2020 2019 Annual Revenues Thursday, March 26, 2020 2019 Year-End Results Wednesday, May 6, 2020 2020 First Quarter Revenues Wednesday, June 10, 2020 Annual Shareholders Meeting Thursday, July 16, 2020 2020 Half-Year Revenues Thursday, September 24, 2020 2020 Half-Year Results Thursday, November 5, 2020 2020 Third Quarter Revenues



This calendar of publication dates is for reference only, it is subject to change if necessary.





About ATEME: the emerging leader of video delivery infrastructure, servicing the world greatest content and service providers.

ATEME was founded in 1991 as a design house with a focus on video processing. In the 2000s, ATEME specialized in video compression and shortly afterwards introduced a complete video delivery solution. In 2014 ATEME announced its initial public offering at Euronext Paris.

ATEME has and will continue to transform video delivery. ATEME was the first to market with a 10-bit 4:2:2 solution, the first production ready HEVC & HDR, and recently, the first true video delivery NFV software solution, designed to lead and win the service providers transition to video datacenter. To complement our cutting-edge technology, ATEME has partnered with leaders such as Intel, Apple and Microsoft to create the best in class video delivery solutions.

ATEME is a leading member of forums, and organizations, such as the DVB and SMPTE. ATEME actively participated at the ITU in the standardization of HEVC in 2013. In June 2014 ATEME joined the Alliance for Open Media to help develop the AV1 open and royalty-free video codec.

ATEME headquarters are Velizy-Paris, with worldwide support and R&D offices in Rennes, Denver, Sao-Paulo, Singapore and Sydney. With a commercial presence in 18 countries, ATEME is 274 employees strong (as of 2019/06/30), including 110 of the world finest R&D video experts. In 2018 ATEME served close to 400 clients worldwide with revenues of 56.5 million, 93% of which was from overseas.

Name: ATEME - ISIN Code: FR0011992700 - Ticker: ATEME - Compartment: C







ATEME INVESTOR RELATIONS PRESS RELATIONS Michel Artieres

President and CEO Caroline Lesage

Tel: +33 (0)1 53 67 36 79

ateme@actus.fr Anne-Catherine Bonjour

Tel: +33 (0)1 53 67 36 93

acbonjour@actus.fr

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Bundling policies can be an excellent way to save insurance money. But before sealing any deal, make sure you make the right decision. Compare online quotes  you can get them for free! said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Compare-autoinsurance.org has released a new blog post that presents the main advantages of purchasing multi-vehicle car insurance coverage or combining multiple insurance services.

For more info and free car insurance quotes online, visit http://compare-autoinsurance.org/why-bundle-car-insurance-plans/

This blog explains why combining policies will help drivers save time and money. It is far easier to deal with a single contract, make a single payment and deal with just a single company, and possible, with just a single insurance agent.

Furthermore, companies encourage clients to bundle policies or purchase multi-vehicle plans. Those who choose to bundle are rewarded with valuable discounts. The value of the discount varies a lot. Some insurers can provide a discount that goes as much as 25% of the combined value of the premium. More advantages are detailed in the blog post.

The blog post also explains why it is recommended to use online car insurance quotes before agreeing to combine insurance services. Obtaining free car insurance costs is easy and fast and will help the client decide better.

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

For more information, please visit http://compare-autoinsurance.org


07.01.2020 LISTEN

General Qasem Soleiman, commander of the QUDs Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps was murdered on 2nd January, 2020 in cold blood through a misuse of drone to assassinate instead of using it for agriculture, health and engineering. Many innocent lives were lost along with the General when the drone hit his car in Bagdad. The General was in charge of masterminding, organizing and carrying out Irans operations in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. He was instrumental in the defeat of ISIS/IS/DAESH in Syria

The murder has rather helped Iran to mobilize the masses to condemn US, where there is a strong public opinion to retaliate. It must be noted that US hegemony in the region is no longer strong and the elephant is abusing its power in the world.

Iran has warned that US troops will be sent home in coffins if they fail to go home on their own. American soldiers in Middle East know their vulnerabilities and they will be willing to leave. Iranian parliament has meanwhile designated American soldiers in Middle East as terrorists

With regards to revenge by Iran, the Supreme National Security Council of Iran has considered 13 retaliation scenarios and they claimed the weakest of the scenarios will cause historic nightmares for US. The 13 scenarios may not be connected and they will not retaliate in haste.

The largest funeral in the history of mankind with closer to 6 million people mourning in funeral procession of the General on Monday, the 6th January, 2020, has caused fear in the Pentagon. Trump taunts in his tweets warning that US will destroy 52 strategic sites including cultural sites in Iran if Iran retaliates are comments from a president in fear and this has rubbished the existence of UNESCO. Many countries in the region have organized funeral for the General. A sovereign state like Iran cannot be cowed. America has beaten more than it can chew.

Apart from panic by the Pentagon and Trump, the Saudis are in deep fear because of instability in the region, and Saudi Arabia is not sure when Iran will hit their strategic installations in retaliation.

There is indeed a paradigm shift in the region, countries that will otherwise jubilate on the murder have rather called the supreme leader of Iran to express their condolences. Trump has expected public applause for the murder but it didnt happen. Iraq has asked US to leave because they violated Iraqi territorial integrity

Since the murder, prices of crude oil have gone up, and most of world crude pass through the Strait of Hormuz, world most important chokepoint and Iran has strategic control of this strait. This is good for Ghana as we are now a net exporter of crude.

The international community has not expressed the right sincerity to condemn this murder. NATO only asked for de-escalation and condemned Iran without condemning the assassination. Other powers like China and Russia are quiet. Boris Johnson however was bold to take a position by saying UK will not lament the death of the General. Meanwhile, Iranian ambassador to UN has formally written to UN Security Council to consider the unlawful execution of General Soleiman,

Prime Minister Netanyahu has distanced Israel from the assassination of the general and said it is an American thing even though he has a lot to gain to keep him in power if there is a war between US and Iran

Africa Union is equally quiet. Even though most African countries are non-aligned, the geopolitics of current New World Order require that we align and take positions

The international community is acting like ostriches, they should rather help in bringing international harmony.

In conclusion, we ask Iran to exercise maximum restraint and not to retaliate in haste. We strongly advise Iran not to risk MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) leading to a world war scenario where China and Russia will be on the side of Iran, Western Europe will be divided into sharp lines, some supporting Iran like Germany, and others supporting US on the other hand. As for Africa, like most of the 120 non-aligned countries in the General Assembly may be coerced into the war. American presidents use war to win their re-elections and Iran should not give the opportunity for Trump to use it as a proxy to launch an attack that will further kill innocent people in the Middle East.

Dr Habib Ahmed

Email: [email protected]
Mumbai Police on Tuesday filed an FIR against Mahek Mirza Prabhu who was holding a placard with a 'Free Kashmir' slogan at Mumbai's Gateway of India during a protest against the violence against students and faculty of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on 5 January.

Mumbai Police on Tuesday filed an FIR against Mahek Mirza Prabhu who was holding a placard with a 'Free Kashmir' slogan at Mumbai's Gateway of India during a protest against the violence against students and faculty of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on 5 January.

"We have taken serious cognisance of the 'Free Kashmir' poster seen in the protest last night at Gateway of India. Yes, we are definitely investigating it," Sangramsingh Nishandar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, was quoted as saying on Tuesday morning.

Reportedly, Prabhu has been charged under Section 153B, which deals with offences related to publishing any imputation that causes incitement, at the Colaba Police Station.

A controversy has snowballed regarding the poster, with former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and NCP leader and incumbent minister Jayant Patil sparring over the government's action regarding the message.

#WATCH Mumbai: Poster reading, 'Free Kashmir' seen at Gateway of India, during protest against yesterday's violence at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/i7SeImYxCE  ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2020

Prabhu, a resident of Mumbai, clarified the message she was intending to convey earlier on Tuesday. In a video message on Facebook, said she was just demanding the lifting of restrictions in the new Union Territory and claimed her act had been "blown out of proportion". She also issued an apology.

"If by being naive in understanding the impact it would have and in the process create this stir, I apologise. I am an artist who believes in basic human compassion. Let power of love overcome hate," she said.

Prabhu also explained that through the poster she was only seeking to highlight the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, which has been under a slew of communication curbs post revocation of its special status through the abrogation of Article 370 since 5 August. "In the last five months, the basic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been taken away. If we say they are 'ours', then we should treat them accordingly. They should get the basic rights that we are getting," she said.

"They should have the freedom of expression, and with that thought, I had raised the poster," she added.

Expressing her anguish over the way the message has been received in some quarters, Prabhu said she was just stressing on peace. "I was quietly standing. Actually, there were flowers in my hand. It was meant to be offering peace. Let's make peace together. That was my only intention in holding that placard," she said.

But it has been "blown out of proportion" completely, she said, adding, "And I do not understand why they are now calling me a member of some gang or some organisation and suggesting that I had been paid to stand there."

However, the Maharashtra government ordered a probe into her "antecedents". State home minister Anil Deshmukh said the antecedents of the woman are being probed. Talking to reporters, he said the woman's background is being verified. "If she is involved in any anti-national activity, action will be taken against her," Deshmukh said.

A large number of students, common citizens and activists had taken part in the protest rally at the Gateway of India in south Mumbai.

As soon as Prabhus's photo went viral on social media, Fadnavis objected to her "Free Kashmir" message. In a tweet on Monday night, Fadnavis asked, "How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai?" He also sought to know what exactly the protest was for and if Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will tolerate this "anti-India campaign right under his nose".

Protest is for what exactly?

Why slogans of Free Kashmir?

How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai?

Free Kashmir slogans by Azadi gang at 2km from CMO?

Uddhav ji are you going to tolerate this Free Kashmir Anti India campaign right under your nose???@OfficeofUT https://t.co/zkWRjxuTqA  Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) January 6, 2020

In response, Patil accused Fadnavis of trying to confuse people by "decoding words" in a hateful manner. "Devendraji, it's 'free kashmir' from all discrimination, bans on cellular networks and central control. I can't believe a responsible leader like you is trying to confuse people by decoding words in such a hateful way. Is it losing power or losing self control?" Patil tweeted.

The Shiv Sena, the BJP's former ally in the NDA, also explained that the poster meant to convey the Valley's demand for freedom from internet bans and other restrictions that are in place for more than five months. He also said that if the poster was meant to indicate that Kashmir wanted freedom from India, "it wouldn't be tolerated".

"I read in a newspaper that those who held 'Free Kashmir' banner clarified they want Kashmir to be free of restrictions on internet services, mobile services and other issues," Raut said.

Aaditya Thackeray, newly appointed minister in the Maharashtra government and who is seeking to portray himself as a voice of the youth, said that Prabhu's "intent" needed to be investigated.

"Apart from that incident (we need to) look at larger picture... we need to see her intent. Was it to remove internet blockade? If it was to free Kashmir from India, then it is wrong. Obviously everyone condemned it... not even other protesters supported it," Aaditya was quoted as saying by NDTV.

With inputs from agencies
OMAHA, Neb., Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Omaha National, a workers compensation insurance and payroll service provider serving small and midsize employers, has announced the designation of three agencies  Dodge Partners Insurance, INSPRO Insurance, and Kingdom Insurance  to market its products to Nebraska employers.

We are pleased to partner with these agencies because of their excellent reputations for customer service and strong commitment to business growth, said Chris LaMantia, chief marketing officer of Omaha National. Its exciting to offer superior workers compensation and payroll services at competitive prices to employers in our home state.

Nebraska is the newest state in which Omaha National offers coverage, following news last month about its expansion into New Jersey.

Working with Omaha National in Nebraska is a great opportunity, said Marcus Haith, agency principal of Dodge Partners Insurance. Dodge Partners is committed to bringing solutions to our clients that help their businesses. Omaha National offers three different workers compensation premium options and three distinct payroll service programs, which allows us to provide packages that are custom-tailored to the needs of each employer.

Omaha National is one of the fastest-growing companies in Omaha, a city known for its strong insurance and financial services industries. During 2019, the company doubled its office space and increased its staff by more than 50%.

Omaha National is a great fit with our large and growing client base. We see this partnership as a game changer in the workers compensation market in Nebraska, said Tyler Thies, senior vice president at INSPRO Insurance. Omaha National serves a wide range of underserved industries and is known for its excellent claims management, which helps control claim costs while ensuring injured workers get the assistance they need.

About Omaha National

Omaha National is a workers compensation insurance and payroll service provider that has grown to more than $45 million in premium in two years of marketing. The company employs the insurtech approach of developing superior proprietary software. For more information, visit omahanational.com.

Story continues

Attachment

Sara Wilson

402-699-1458

swilson@smithkroeger.com


Will Barclay won a unanimous vote of his Republican colleagues Tuesday to serve as Assembly minority leader, ending a dramatic twist of events sparked by the DWI arrest and subsequent resignation of Brian Kolb last week.

Barclay, R-Pulaski, has quietly moved through the GOP ranks during 17 years in office, making a name for himself as someone who can bridge political and regional divides among Democrats and Republicans.

Until last year, Barclay served as deputy minority leader. He gave up that title when he took over as the top Republican on the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

Here are five things you might not know about him:

Deep roots in Central New York

Barclay, who turned 51 on Sunday, is the eighth generation of his family to live on a farm in Pulaski, a small village in northern Oswego County.

The farm includes about 20,000 feet of prime shoreline along the Salmon River and about 500 acres on both sides of the river.

Barclays parents live in a riverside estate named Douglaston Manor, which dates to 1808.

He and his wife, Margaret, have two sons, Harry, 19, and George, 17, who are the ninth generation in the Barclay family to live on the farm.

His father ranked among NYs most powerful Republicans

Will Barclay is one of five children of H. Douglas and Dee Dee Barclay. H. Douglas Barclay, 87, was among the most influential Republicans in New York state during a 52-year political career.

The senior Barclay served 20 years in the New York Senate and chaired the Senate GOP conference.

H. Douglas Barclay maintained close ties to the families of former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. He chaired George H.W. Bush's presidential campaign in New York in 1992.

President George W. Bush appointed Barclay to serve as U.S. ambassador to El Salvador from 2003 through 2006.

Lawyers run in the family

Will Barclay is a lawyer at Syracuses oldest law firm, Hiscock & Barclay, which became Barclay Damon through a merger in 2015.

The firm moved into the renovated Barclay Damon tower in downtown Syracuse in 2016, keeping the family name as a visible reminder in the city's skyline.

H. Douglas Barclay has been a partner at the firm since 1961, specializing in banking and administrative law.

Will Barclay disclosed outside income averaging $125,500 in 2017, most of it from the law firm. It was the fourth-highest outside income that year among New York Assembly members.

Classmates with Biden and DAmato sons

Barclay is a 1992 graduate of St. Lawrence University and 1995 graduate of Syracuse Universitys College of Law.

While at SU law school, he was friends with classmates Beau Biden (the late son of Joe Biden) and Chris DAmato, son of former New York Sen. Al DAmato.

Joe Biden, Al DAmato and H. Douglas Barclay are all SU Law School graduates. H. Douglas Barclay is a former chairman of SUs Board of Trustees.

Fishing is more than a hobby

Will Barclay says he loves to fish as a hobby, but its also the family business.

The Barclays own Douglas Outdoors, a company based in the Oswego County village of Phoenix that manufactures and sells high-end fishing rods and fishing equipment.

In 2018, the family turned down $883,500 in financial aid from New York state for their plan to build a combination tourist destination and fishing rod plant on the Salmon River in Pulaski.

Will Barclay said he wanted to avoid a potential conflict of interest because he owns a stake in Douglas Outdoors. His brother, David, is the president and handled the application for state assistance.

I called him and told him I didnt like the optics, Will Barclay told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard in 2018. I dont know if it was a direct conflict. But it was just too close.

Read more

Will Barclay elected NY Assembly minority leader

Assemblyman Kolb at twice legal limit in New Years Eve crash, tried to blame wife

Will Barclay very confident in his bid for NY Assembly minority leader

Brian Kolb to step down as NY Assembly GOP leader after DWI arrest

Special prosecutor tapped to handle DWI case of NYS Assembly minority leader Brian Kolb

Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751

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Tucson, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2020) - On December 31, 2019, ABCO Energy, Inc. (OTC Pink: ABCE) ("ABCO") completed negotiations, financial arrangements and closed on the purchase of a 4,800 square foot office and warehouse building located on one/half acre of paved land on one of Tucson's busiest streets. This property will be more than adequate to house both the Solar business (Now 3600 SF and the HVAC business (now 2000 SF) including our previously announced acquisition of a Tucson HVAC service and equipment supplier. The land and outbuildings will accommodate all of our equipment.

The acquisition was priced at $325,000 and the financing was spread over a twenty-year mortgage based on a 20 [20] year amortization and a balloon payment at the end of five (5) years. The monthly payment is one/half of our current rent on both businesses. The property will require repair, but all improvements will add to the current valuation. ABCO will be able to do almost all of the repairs with current employees. We believe the land is worth more than the entire property price. The property is centrally located on North Alvernon Street, close to the center of the Tucson Metropolitan area. We feel very fortunate to find and close on this property at a time when office/warehouse occupancy has reached 99% for this type of facility.





Figure 1: ABCO Solar New Office and Warehouse Building



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6847/51224_f6282ba664720aba_002full.jpg





This property will add to our owned assets and improve our balance sheet at December 31, 2019," said Michael Mildebrandt, President of ABCO Energy, "and it is an excellent location to advertise our businesses on a busy street."

The Company will move its operations into the new building as improvements allow and our leases expire or are subleased on our current property.



The HVAC subsidiary to be acquired will be relocated to the property as soon as we close on the funding for the acquisition of this operating company.

About ABCO Energy

ABCO Energy, Inc. is a commercial and residential installer of Photovoltaic (PV) solar systems, LED lighting solutions and HVAC products and services. ABCO Energy, Inc. is a Nevada corporation, which maintains offices located in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. ABCO is a fully reporting public company trading under the symbol ABCE. Since its inception in 2008, ABCO Energy has taken great pride in delivering quality solar installations and has a reputation for outstanding customer service.

Safe Harbor Statement

Note: Certain statements in this news release may contain "forward-looking" information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-5 under the Securities Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than the statements of fact, included in this press release may include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. ABCO undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances or to reflect unanticipated events or developments.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Michael Mildebrand

Email: info@abcoenergy.com

ABCO Energy, Inc.

2100 North Wilmot Road #211

Tucson, AZ 85712

Phone: 520-777-0511

Fax: 520-620-5574

Website: www.abcoenergy.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51224
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

Galacto Oligosaccharides (GOS) also referred as oligogalactose are non-digestible food ingredients, which enhance host health by selectively stimulating activity or growth of one or limited number of bacteria in colon. They are manufactured through enzymatic conversion of lactose and contain short chains of galactose molecules. Galacto Oligosaccharides promote growth of good bacteria in small intestine and keep bad bacteria such as E. Coli away from the intestine walls.

Ask for Request Sample Report@ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-toc-and-sample/3099

They do this by mimicking intestinal walls appearance, so that unfriendly bacteria gets attached to them instead of intestinal walls and are then flushed away through the intestinal tract. These ingredients also assist in better absorption of certain minerals including calcium and thus its supplementation help in preventing osteoporosis. GOS and good bacteria together play a significant role in reducing the number of allergic reactions in human body, preventing urinary & vaginal infections, alleviating dermatitis & other skin conditions, and assisting in maintaining integrity of intestinal tract. GOS also assists in regulating bowel movements and provides relief from constipation.

Growth in infant population and increase in health consciousness among consumers are primary factors that drive the galacto oligosaccharides market across the globe. Upsurge in demand of functional foods and product innovation are other factors, which supplement the market growth. Asia-Pacific is expected to register substantial growth due to growth in population and rise in disposable incomes in emerging economies such as China and India. Increase in competition of substitutes such as Isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO) and lack of awareness among consumers regarding benefits of galacto oligosaccharide hinder the market growth. However, continuous innovation in terms of production techniques is projected to provide potential growth opportunities for market expansion.

Major Players:



ABO Switzerland Co., Ltd.



Clasado Limited



Ingredion Inc.



New Francisco Biotechnology Corporation Limited



Nissin Sugar Manufacturing Co., Ltd.



Qingdao FTZ United international Inc.



Royal FrieslandCampina NV



Taiwan Fructose Co., Ltd.



Wuxi Cima Science Co., Ltd.



Yakult Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd.

The report segments the galacto oligosaccharides market on the basis of application and geography. Based on application, the market is divided into infant formulas (infant meal replacement drinks, baby yogurt drinks, baby juice, baby snack, and baby dessert), dairy products (yogurt and frozen dairy dessert), food supplements, beverages, bakery & confectionery, and others (cereals and ice cream). By geography, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

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Key Benefits



This report provides a quantitative analysis of the current trends and estimations from 2017 to 2023 of the global galacto oligosaccharides market to identify the prevailing market opportunities.



Major countries in each region are mapped according to individual market revenue.



Comprehensive analysis of factors that drive and restrict the market growth is provided.



An in-depth analysis of current research & clinical developments within the market is provided with key dynamic factors.



Key players and their key developments in the recent years are listed.

About Us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions. AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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Cyberattacks, already seen as the top risk of doing business by executives, are likely to receive renewed attention  and spending  as tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalate.

Defense and intelligence officials are bracing for a potential onslaught of attacks from Iranian hackers after a U.S. airstrike killed one of Iran's top military leaders, Qasem Soleimani, at Baghdad's airport on Friday.

"Today's crisis highlights how volatile cyber risk can be, materializing and escalating almost overnight," said Tom Reagan, U.S. cyber practice leader at Marsh, an insurance brokerage and risk management consulting firm.

The possibility of a retaliatory attack should be viewed as an immediate and urgent challenge for businesses, he added.

Last weekend, a group claiming to be Iranian hackers defaced a federal government library website with a violent image depicting President Donald Trump.

The White House and FBI haven't confirmed or commented on the library hack, but if it is Iran's work, it's only a hint of what Iranian's cyber army is capable of.

In a terror alert after the Soleimani strike, the Department of Homeland Security warned of Iran's long history in cybercrime and ability to target critical infrastructure.

"In today's cyber threat landscape, it's not just the military industrial and defense industries that have a legitimate reason to be concerned about cyber terrorism and state-sponsored cyber attacks. Attacks from state-sponsored sources have significantly increased over the past few years for businesses, too," Jordan Mauriello, vice president of managed security at cybersecurity firm Criticalstart, told CNBC in an email.

"From financial services and healthcare to even retail services, targeted attacks against any number of organizations could occur in an attempt to disrupt the U.S. economy," Mauriello said.

U.S. corporations have often been the target of Iran's efforts.

Between 2012 and 2013, Iranian hackers carried out a series of attacks on the largest U.S. financial institutions including Bank of America and Citigroup. Las Vegas Sands Corp. was attacked in 2014 over owner Sheldon Adelson's support for Israel and calls for attacks on Iran.

Recent events between the U.S. and Iran come at a time when businesses have never spent more on cybersecurity, which has ballooned into a massive global industry, expected to have reached $124 billion.

One segment seeing increased focus is cyber insurance. These policies fill in the gaps left by traditional lines, said Tracie Grella, global head of cyber insurance at AIG.

"Cyber insurance policies were designed specifically to cover intangible, non-physical loss caused by a cyber event  loss of data, cyber extortion, loss of business income," Grella said.

According to Reagan, the number of clients looking to add this type of policy has doubled in the last five years, and those already with cyber insurance are looking to up their policy limits dramatically.
The foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany and Italy along with the EU diplomatic chief will hold talks in Brussels Tuesday on the Iran and Libya crises, officials told AFP.

The British foreign ministry said the talks would cover the fallout from the US killing of a top Iranian general as well as Tehran's latest step back from the 2015 nuclear deal, plus the situation in Libya, where strongman Khalifa Haftar's forces have seized the coastal city of Sirte.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A former social studies teacher from Ohio who is serving a four-year sentence for having sex with a 16-year-old student is seeking an early release from prison.

Madalyn Arnett, a 26-year-old mother-of-three from Dayton, pleaded guilty last March for sexual battery and was sentenced in May 2019 to four years behind bars.

Less than a year into her prison term, the disgraced Franklin High School teacher had her defense lawyers file a motion asking a judge to free her ahead of schedule, arguing that she has 'a positive attitude' and has acquitted herself well working in food service at the correctional facility.

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Let me go: Madalyn Arnett, a 26-year-old former social studies teacher from Ohio, is seeking an early release, less than a year into her four-year prison term on a sexual battery conviction

Arnett's lawyers have filed a motion arguing that the mom-of-three is 'extremely remorseful' and has 'a positive attitude'

Arnett's attorneys further wrote that she accepts responsibility for her actions and is 'extremely remorseful,' reported Dayton Daily News.

If she is released, the former educator, who welcomed her third child last year, would stay with her family and actively look for work, according to the motion.

Warren County prosecutors are against Arnett's early release, pointing out that she used her position of authority to victimize the 16-year-old student by sending him nude photos on social media and having sex with him in her car.

'The defendant used her position as the victims teacher to form a sexual relationship with the student and engaged in sexual conduct,' Warren County Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Heisele said the response to the motion. 'The court gave the defendant a sentence to hold her accountable and punish her for the acts that led to her convictions.'

Prosecutors say Arnett (pictured left with her eldest child) had sex with the victim in her parked car in early 2019. Prior to the encounter, she had sent nude photos to the teen

She was arrested in March 2019, after news of her encounter with the minor got out

Judge Timothy Tepe has scheduled a hearing for March 16 to consider the early-release motion.

According to the prosecution, the student had approached Arnett asking her what he could do to boost his grades, reported Local12.

Prosecutors are against Arnett's early release, pointing out that she used her position of authority to victimize a child

After initially refusing to help the teen, Arnett contacted him on social media and began having exchanges with him that were 'sexual in nature.'

Arnett, who had given birth to her second daughter a few months prior, also allegedly sent nude photos and videos of herself to the teen.

On March 23, 2018, Arnett picked up the boy in her car, drove to a parking lot and had sex with him in the backseat.

School administrators grew suspicious of an inappropriate relationship and confronted Arnett.

She was arrested at her home on March 28 and was suspended from work the same day. In early April, Arnett resigned from the school.

Even if she is released early, Arnett will be required to register as a sex offender.
We're barely into a new decade, and already many are worried about another world war.

Whether the targeted killing of an Iranian general could spark a global conflict is irrelevant -- at least it seems to be for anyone watching Twitter and Facebook. Millennials and Gen-Zers rushing to find out whether they could be drafted actually crashed the Selective Service information website.

To be clear, the United States doesn't conscript its citizens and hasn't done so since 1973. President Jimmy Carter created the Selective Service System in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 as a means of keeping tabs on military-age males.

You know, just in case.

Since the draft ended, however, U.S. demographics have shifted. Carter likely never considered the idea of transgender women signing up for the draft, for example. Americans themselves have changed as well, and not always for the better. In fact, the majority of Americans couldn't be drafted if they wanted to be. Here are the six top reasons why:

1. Obesity

An FMWR group fitness class student at work at the Sgt. Joshua W. Soto Physical Fitness Center at Fort Bliss, Texas. (U.S. Army/David Poe)

Here's the biggest reason Americans can't join the military. Literally. The same lawmakers who deemed ketchup a vegetable in schools are now surprised there's an obesity epic among children. In 2015, then-Maj. Gen. Allen Batschelet, head of Army Recruiting Command, predicted that, by 2020, half of all military-age men and women would be too obese for military service. The numbers were trending that way, anyway.

Welcome to 2020, where some 15,000 people who try to join the armed forces every year are turned away due to weight-related issues. The problem is so bad military leaders believe it's a threat to national security.

2. Education

Sgt. Eddie Quezada, a Marine Corps recruiter from Marine Corps Recruiting Station San Diego, gathers answer key sheets during Mission Bay High Schools first Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery in San Diego, Calif. (U.S. Marine Corps/Sgt. Erica Kirsop)

The United States military wants its troops to have at least a high school education or the equivalent. It isn't just about a basic understanding of core concepts, it also indicates a potential service member's ability to complete organized programs, including study and fitness regimens. Some sources believe the rates of graduation are over 83% and trending higher, but other metrics show a trend in the opposite direction.

While the military breaks down its recruiting pools into categories, the vast majority of accepted candidates are Category I recruits. While some services will accept applicants with a GED, they don't score as high on the Armed Forces Qualification Test and tend to fall into lower categories, according to a 2005 Rand Corporation study. That same study found that candidates with a GED can be up to 30% less effective at their jobs, so some branches won't even consider them. The Pentagon goes so far as to limit how many candidates from Category IV, the lowest category based on education and AFQT scores, the services can recruit.

If there is a draft in the coming days, those recruits certainly won't make it into the Air Force or Coast Guard, the branches of service with the highest minimum ASVAB and education standards.

3. Criminal Records

One out of every 10 American adults cannot join the military because they have a criminal history, says Mission: Readiness, a nonprofit organization comprised of retired generals and admirals. This keeps some 3.4 million adults out of the military, even if they meet all the other standards of service. More than one million juveniles are arrested every year, and more than half of those become repeat offenders in their lifetimes, including felony-level convictions.

In fact, a Pew Center for the States study revealed in 2008 that one of every 30 men of ages 20-34 is behind bars. It'd be hard to meet the draft board if the warden won't let you leave jail.

4. Health Problems

Mission:Readiness also found an estimated 32% of America's greatest natural resource have some kind of health problem that would disqualify them from serving in World War III. These are the health issues unrelated to obesity, of course. Adding obesity to the health issues list put this number up to more than half of American children.

Asthma, mental health issues and ADHD top the list of maladies that keep the recruiters at bay, says Mission: Readiness. Even those who currently serve can have health-related issues that keep them from deploying, such as dental problems and recurring injuries.

5. Drugs

The days of getting high and earning the Medal of Honor are long gone, unless you're playing the "Medal of Honor" video game series. The number of American youth who admit to using recreational drugs on a regular basis is enough cause for concern when it comes to military recruiting. But when paired with drug and alcohol abuse, there come convictions for driving under the influence and other drug- and alcohol-related charges. All of these will render people unfit to serve.

6. The Usual Reasons

(Marvel)

There's only one Steve Rogers, and he's a fictional character. Even among the fit, drug-free, educated masses, many will still be too short, too tall, have flat feet or be the single parent of a minor child. All of those reasons will keep someone out of the military in general, but each branch has its own particular limitations.

Too many tattoos? Forget about the Marine Corps. Can't score high enough on the ASVAB? The Air Force isn't for you.

And all this is long before they ever look you up on social media.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com.

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ZEDRA Group (ZEDRA), the global specialist in Corporate, Fund and Active-Wealth services and Corsair Capital LLC (Corsair), one of the leading private equity firms focused on the financial and business services industries, today announced the successful close of Corsairs majority investment in ZEDRA Group. The transaction, which was first announced on November 28, 2018, has been approved by all relevant regulatory authorities.

Following the close of the transaction, Bart Deconinck, a highly experienced industry figure who previously has been CEO of Intertrust and was a founder of Vistra before going on to co found Zedra four years ago, has been appointed Group Executive Chairman. In addition, Ivo Hemelraad, formerly Zedra Group Director Corporate Funds & Legal, will assume the role of Group Chief Executive Officer.

ZEDRA delivers tailored high quality diversified active-wealth solutions to its clients, which include high net worth individuals and their families, as well as medium to large sized companies, asset managers and their investors. ZEDRAs full range of services is designed to preserve and protect the real value of clients assets and support them in unlocking growth and expansion.

Raja Hadji-Touma and Derrick Estes, Managing Directors at Corsair Capital said, ZEDRA is a unique firm with unparalleled capabilities, and we are pleased to have closed this exciting investment. We look forward to partnering with an ambitious management team, led by Bart Deconinck, with a proven track record of building leading companies in the sector. We believe our investment and financial services expertise, along with the unmatched global network we bring to bear, will help support continued rapid growth at ZEDRA.

Over the last 12 months, ZEDRA has made a number of important acquisitions, creating an expanded platform with over 570 staff in a 16 office network covering 13 jurisdictions across Asia, Oceania, the Americas and Europe. As the Company continues to integrate these acquisitions, ZEDRA is even better-placed to continue creating and delivering bespoke trust, corporate and fund services solutions for clients including high-net-worth individuals and their families, international corporations, institutional investors and entrepreneurs.

Bart Deconinck, Group Executive Chairman added, Today marks the start of the next stage of ZEDRAs ambitious growth plans. Powered by a combination of the resources and expertise of Corsair, together with ZEDRAs considerable experience in the sector, we are looking forward to a period of rapid growth and expansion of the range of services we offer to our clients. The major acquisitions we have made over the past year expand our footprint across Switzerland, the Nordic countries, Cayman and offshore UK jurisdictions, bringing additional clients and staff into the ZEDRA family.

Under its Active - Wealth umbrella, ZEDRA provides a single point of contact for the administration of a wide range of assets for families with diversified investments, including the administration of any relevant structures they require, such as their corporate investment ventures, single-family offices, or private funds for various family members.

Ivo Hemelraad commented: We are delighted to have completed this transaction and to begin our partnership with Corsair Capital. Their commitment and support to ZEDRA S growth as well as to our people are an exciting step for ZEDRA to further enhance our offering and position in the industry.

Editor notes

https://www.zedra.com/boilerplate/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005091/en/
LAS VEGAS , Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Tier-One supplier Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. and Vayyar Imaging, the world leader in 4D imaging sensor technology, are collaborating to provide high resolution Short-Range Radar (SRR) for exterior vehicle sensing.

By providing a single-chip radar sensor, Vayyar will contribute to the safer functionality and advanced control that Aisin Seiki aims for.

The collaboration will combine AISIN's in-vehicle system expertise with Vayyar's 4D high-resolution short-range radar to develop exterior sensing capabilities for vehicles, such as blind spot detection for low-speed driving support.

"Our MIMO 4D SRR offers a high-resolution Point Cloud with wide field-of-view (FOV), resilience to harsh weather conditions and the ability to cope with semi-transparent materialsall at a very affordable price," said Ian Podkamien, Director of Automotive Business Development at Vayyar. "We are thrilled to collaborate with AISIN, a giant in the automotive ecosystem, and look forward to bringing together innovative exterior sensing solutions for the automotive industry."

About AISIN Group

AISIN Group is the sixth largest, global Tier-One supplier of automotive components and systems such as brakes, transmissions, navigation systems, drivetrain, chassis, body, engine-related parts, electronics and intelligent transportation systems, and the largest transmission manufacturer in the world. A $35 billion company, AISIN Group has over 200 consolidated companies and employs approximately 120,000 people. In the Americas, AISIN Group companies include 14,000 employees, 36 manufacturing, sales, and R & D centers, including Aisin Technical Center of America located at the North American Headquarters in Northville, Mich., and FT-Techno of America, the company's 950-acre test track and proving ground in Fowlerville, Mich.

About Vayyar Imaging

Vayyar Imaging is a global leader in 4D radar imaging technology, providing affordable, highly advanced sensors to a wide variety of industries, including automotive, smart home, robotics, retail, RF testing and medical. Vayyar's automotive solution provides in-cabin and exterior sensing based on Vayyar's RFIC, a full radar-on-chip, with up to 48 transceivers and 2000 virtual channels on both 60GHz & 79 GHz bands, providing high resolution imaging that can work in any environmental condition, unaffected by line-of-sight, lighting or weather conditions. With over 150 employees, it recently completed a Series D round of funding, reaching a total of $188M in funds. Vayyar plans to use these funds to expand and to continue developing the next generation of sensor technology that is miniature, affordable and versatile enough to impact everyone's lives.

Vayyar Media Contact

Sarah Small

[email protected]

+1-929-255-1449

Germany

Volker Siegert

WMP EuroCom AG for Vayyar

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +49-69-5770-300-11

SOURCE Vayyar Imaging; Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd

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The footwear and handbag industry aims to reach export revenue of US$24 billion in 2020, after hitting $22 billion last year, the industry association said.

Shoes produced at Sao Viet Company in Binh Duong Province's Di An Industrial Zone.

According to Viet Nam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (Lefaso), footwear export revenue was expected to reach $20 billion while handbags achieved $4 billion this year.

Nguyen Duc Thuan, Lefasos president, said foreign-invested producers remained the major driver for footwear and handbags, citing statistics that foreign-invested firms accounted for 75.8 per cent of the sectors export revenue in 2019

The industry, however, saw a slight expansion of domestic producers in recent years, accounting for 24.2 per cent of the export revenue in 2019, from 19.7 per cent in 2017 and 21.6 per cent in 2018.

Thuan said that the US-China trade war would continue posing risks to Viet Nams footwear and handbag exports.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Cao Quoc Hung said that the Government would continue to provide support for footwear and handbag firms in expanding markets and improving production capacity.

The ministry was developing a strategy to turn leather and footwear into a spearhead industry for export.

Hung also urged footwear and leather firms to take advantage of opportunities from free trade agreements while preparing for challenges from uncertain global and regional trade developments.

He also said firms should be proactive in renovating technologies and enhancing their production capacity as well as focusing on market research and development.

The industry reached an export revenue of $22 billion in 2019, representing a rise of 12.2 per cent over the previous year. Up to $18.3 billion of the export revenue came from footwear exports and $3.7 billion from handbags.

The US was the largest market for Viet Nams footwear and handbag products, with a revenue of $7.41 billion (up 13 per cent) in January-November, followed by the EU with $5.418 billion revenue (up 7.2 per cent) and China at $1.776 billion (up 19.3 per cent).  VNS

Vietnam among top in footwear production Vietnam the third-largest country in the world in terms of footwear production, conference hears.
New Delhi [India], Jan 7 (ANI): Former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar on Tuesday said a Delhi court issuing death warrant against four convicts in 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape case was the victory of the legal system and Delhi police.



Kumar, who was Delhi police commissioner when the brutal incident occurred, told ANI that it was a blind case in the beginning.

"There is no doubt that this is the victory of the country. This is the victory of our legal system, of Delhi Police and of my team. What was more difficult for us was that we had to work out the case immediately. It was a blind case in the beginning," he said.

"We collected information about the bus in which crime took place and after tracing the bus, the driver was caught. And after that the remaining accused were caught," he added.

The former top cop said he is satisfied that he took all the pressure upon himself so that his team remains free to work.

"The first was nabbing the accused, second was collecting evidence which would be accepted by the court. That was a difficult process. There was a public uproar, political pressure, media pressure and I am satisfied that I took all these pressures on me so that my team remained free to work," he said.

"If I would not have taken that pressure, my team would have to handle it and my team would have been distracted from work. So, it was teamwork. And I am happy that we were successful," he said.

Earlier in the day, Delhi's Patiala House court ordered that all four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya case will be hanged on January 22.

The convicts - Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh - will be hanged at 7 am.

Additional Session Judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the death warrant in the presence of all convicts who were produced before the court through video conferencing.

The court said that convicts can use their legal remedies within 14 days. (ANI)


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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 19:15 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c32140120 1 National Natuna,China,RI-China,South-China-Sea,Riau-Islands,Air-Force,F-16 Free

The Air Force has announced it will fly four jet fighters from Squadron 16 of Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base in Pekanbaru, Riau, to patrol the waters around the Natuna Islands.

Indonesia and China have become embroiled in a diplomatic tug-of-war after the latter's coast guard vessels have been repeatedly spotted entering Indonesian-controlled waters along with Chinese fishing boats.

Four F-16 jet fighters depart [on Tuesday], Roesmin Nurjadin air base commander Air Cdre. Ronny Irianto, said in Pekanbaru on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara news agency.

He said the airbase would deploy the jet fighters along with six pilots and dozens of ground personnel to the area at the behest of Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto.

The American-made jet fighters are the mainstay of Air Force patrols.

This is actually a routine patrol, but now we are focusing on Natuna, he said.

However, Ronny stressed that the jet fighters were aimed at defending the countrys sovereignty and there was no intention of provoking other parties, especially China.

Aside from the jet fighters, Ronny said the air base would remain vigilant to respond to any tensions in Natuna waters, and it was ready to deploy any resources that the TNI chief might direct.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo is expected to visit the regency on Wednesday. (sau)
HOUSTON, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight astronaut candidates with ties to California, including one that calls Los Angeles home, will be honored as part of the first class of astronaut candidates to graduate under the Artemis program Friday, Jan. 10, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

After completing more than two years of basic training, these candidates will become eligible for spaceflight, including assignments to the International Space Station (ISS), Artemis missions to the Moon, and ultimately, missions to Mars.

The ceremony will air live at 10:30 a.m. EST on NASA Television and the agency's website . The new graduates also will be available for in-person and remote media interviews following the ceremony.

The class includes 11 NASA candidates, as well as two Canadian Space Agency (CSA) candidates, selected in 2017. The NASA candidates were chosen from a record-setting pool of more than 18,000 applicants. The CSA candidates have been training alongside their NASA classmates.

To participate, California media must submit requests for credentials and interviews to Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. Those following the briefing on social media may ask questions using #AskNASA.

Raja Chari, a U.S. Air Force colonel, hails from Cedar Falls, Iowa. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado with bachelor's degrees in astronautical engineering and engineering science. He continued on to earn a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. Chari served as the commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and the director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California.

Matthew Dominick, a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, was born and raised in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of San Diego and a master's degree in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He also graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Dominick was at sea on the USS Ronald Reagan, serving as department head for Strike Fighter Squadron 115, when he got the call saying he'd been selected as an astronaut candidate.

Bob Hines , a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, attended high school in Mountaintop, Pennsylvania and now considers Harrisburg, Pennsylvania his hometown. He has a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from Boston University and a master's degree in flight test engineering from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB. Hines served as a developmental test pilot on all models of the F-15 while earning a master's in aerospace engineering from the University of Alabama. He has deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Prior to being selected as an astronaut, he was an FAA flight test pilot and a NASA research pilot at Johnson.

Warren Hoburg is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT, and a doctorate in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a commercial pilot, and spent several seasons serving on the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit and Yosemite Search and Rescue. Hoburg came to NASA from MIT, where he led a research group as an assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics.

Dr. Jonny Kim, a U.S. Navy lieutenant, was born and raised in Los Angeles. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, then trained and operated as a Navy SEAL, completing more than 100 combat operations and earning a Silver Star and Bronze Star with Combat V. Afterward, he went on to complete a degree in mathematics at the University of San Diego and a doctorate of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Kim was a resident physician in emergency medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Jasmin Moghbeli, a U.S. Marine Corps major, considers Baldwin, New York, her hometown. She earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering with information technology from MIT and a master's degree in aerospace engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. She is also a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Moghbeli came to NASA from Yuma, Arizona, where she tested H-1 helicopters and served as the quality assurance and avionics officer for Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1.

Dr. Francisco "Frank" Rubio , a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, was born in Los Angeles and now calls Miami home. He earned a bachelor's degree in international relations at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and a doctorate of medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland. Rubio has accumulated more than 1,100 hours as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot, including 600 hours of combat and imminent danger time. He was serving as a surgeon for the 3rd Battalion of the Army's 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Carson, Colorado, before coming to NASA.

Jessica Watkins was born in Gaithersburg, Maryland and now calls Lafayette, Colorado home. She graduated from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, with a bachelor's degree in geological and environmental sciences, then went on to earn a doctorate in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Watkins has worked at NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology, where she collaborated on NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity.

All astronaut candidates have completed training in spacewalking, robotics, ISS systems, T-38 jet proficiency, and Russian language. At the ceremony, each candidate will receive an astronaut pin, marking their graduation from basic training and their eligibility to be selected to fly in space.

As astronauts, they'll help develop spacecraft, support the teams currently in space and ultimately, have the opportunity to join the ranks of only about 500 people who have had the honor of going into space. NASA continues its work aboard the space station, which is preparing to mark the 20th consecutive year of humans living onboard in November 2020. The agency also is on the verge of launching Americans from American soil aboard commercial spacecraft and is preparing to send humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis program.

Find additional photos of the astronaut candidates and their training here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/albums/72157698260056092

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


Since Jennifer Dulos went missing last May, questions have gone beyond the criminal case. What protections exist for people who are scared of their partners? How do friends and family mourn a person who hasnt been found? Find all our coverage at ctinsider.com/stamfordadvocate.

BRIDGEPORT  After more than seven months since Jennifer Dulos vanished, police said Tuesday they have gathered enough evidence to declare the missing New Canaan mother dead and charge three people in connection with her homicide.

The 50-year-old mother of five likely suffered a non-survivable injury, according to Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner James R. Gill, as detailed in arrest warrants released Tuesday.

Her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, 52, faces new charges of capital murder, murder and kidnapping, while his ex-girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, 45, and his former attorney, Kent Douglas Mawhinney, 54, have each been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Carrie Luft, a spokeswoman for Jennifer Dulos family and friends, thanked authorities for their diligent, painstaking work, and said we believe the arrest warrants will speak for themselves.

Although we are relieved that the wait for these charges is over, for us there is no sense of closure, she said. Nothing can bring Jennifer back. We miss her every day and will forever mourn her loss.

The medical examiner described Jennifer Dulos death as a homicide of violence that likely included traumatic blunt-force injuries such as bludgeoning and stabbing.

The warrant describes Jennifer Dulos being bound with zip ties during the alleged attack. Four ties were used, the warrant states, and two were found with Jennifer Dulos blood on them.

It appears the zip ties were used to secure and incapacitate Jennifer Dulos, the warrant reads. It is reasonable that Jennifer Dulos was alive at the time the zip ties were attached to restrain her movements and to prevent her escape.

Fotis Dulos and Troconis had been free on bail after previously being charged with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in the May 24 disappearance.

READ MORE: The case against Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis

READ MORE: Tracing Fotis Dulos movements the day Jennifer Dulos vanished

READ MORE: Former Fotis Dulos attorney accused of spousal rape, wanting his wife dead

READ MORE: Court filing: Fotis Dulos offered house as sex pad to help mend lawyers marriage

Fotis Dulos is now being held on $6 million bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in state Superior Court in Stamford, where his attorney, Norm Pattis, expects him to post bail.

Troconis and Mawhinney were each held on $2 million bond and will also be arraigned Wednesday in Stamford.

We are very encouraged by our preliminary review of the warrants, Pattis said during a Tuesday press conference at his New Haven office. He called on the state to prove that Jennifer Dulos is, in fact, dead.

If this is all the states got, we wonder why it bothered, Pattis said. We are very confident in our odds at trial and we look forward to meeting these allegations in open court, beginning (Wednesday).

For the latest on the Dulos case, sign up for our newsletter.

Fotis Dulos arrest warrant includes little information from him, stating he has provided absolutely no cooperation to law enforcement in their investigation into Jennifers disappearance.

Instead, much of the warrant details conflicting statements made by Troconis.

For instance, Troconis first told police that she was with Fotis Dulos until 8:15 a.m. the morning of the disappearance, and that she spent the morning with him at his Farmington home. Pattis had originally used this information as an alibi for his client.

But when police told Troconis evidence showed Fotis Dulos was not there, the warrant said, she covered her face with her hands, wiped her eyes and tried to change the subject.

She eventually admitted to lying and told investigators Fotis Dulos wasnt home when she woke up that morning, according to the warrant.

When asked if there was tension with Fotis Dulos because of his impending divorce, Troconis said, we fight all the time. Fotis Dulos once told Troconis, sometimes, I hope she disappears, referring to his estranged wife, according to the warrant.

Shortly after Fotis Dulos was taken into custody Tuesday, New Canaan police tweeted Justice!

Mawhinney was taken into custody late Tuesday afternoon when state troopers pulled him from his vehicle at gunpoint in Tolland. Authorities had been looking for him in Hartford courthouses earlier in the day. According to his arrest warrant, police said Mawhinney may have provided a temporary grave site that was used for Jennifer Dulos body.

During his Tuesday afternoon press conference, Pattis called Mawhinneys arrest a surprise.

Mawhinney, a South Windsor lawyer who represented Fotis Dulos in the $2.5 million lawsuits filed by his mother-in-law, had previously been charged with violating a protective order in his own divorce. He was accused of having Fotis Dulos contact his estranged wife on his behalf, according to his arrest warrant.

He was also charged last January with sexual assault in a spousal or cohabiting relationship, second-degree unlawful restraint and disorderly conduct, state judicial records show.

Mawhinneys wife alleged her husband wanted her dead.

Soon after Fotis Dulos was initially charged in his own wifes disappearance, Mawhinney requested to be removed as his civil attorney.

William Murray replaced Mawhinney and represented Fotis Dulos in the two-day civil trial last month in Hartford. On Tuesday, Murray said he believes his client is innocent.

I dont think he did it, Murray said. I think hes innocent. Something weird obviously went on, but Id be interested in seeing what the arrest warrants say.

The new arrest shouldnt affect Mr. Dulos credibility as a witness in the trial, Murray added.

According to arrest warrants, police believe Fotis Dulos was lying in wait when Jennifer Dulos arrived home from dropping off their children at school in New Canaan around 8:05 a.m. May 24.

Inside the home, police found Jennifer Dulos blood on one garage wall, the garage door and in two separate sinks, the warrants state.

Lauren Almeida, the babysitter for the Dulos children, said she noticed many rolls of paper towels were missing when she arrived at Jennifer Dulos Welles Lane home the morning of the alleged attack, the warrants said.

Later in the day, Almeida said she tried several times but could not reach Jennifer Dulos.

Immediately, my stomach sank, she said. In the almost seven years that I have worked for Jennifer, I never ever had a hard time reaching her.

Police said two people resembling Fotis Dulos and Troconis were captured on video in Hartford later that night around the time Jennifer Dulos was reported missing.

A 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 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 were later found to contain his wifes blood, according to the warrant.

However, Pattis has offered alternative explanations for the disappearance that have led to a gag order being issued in the case, which state police cited in why the agency did not take questions at Tuesdays press conference.

Pattis, who appealed the gag order last month to the state Supreme Court, has said his defense team was investigating whether Jennifer Dulos purposely vanished to get back at her husband much like the novel Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn.

Pattis has also publicly questioned whether Jennifer Dulos was seriously ill based on $14,000 worth of medical bills his client received in the months leading up to her disappearance and suggested she could have perpetrated a revenge suicide plot.

Staff writers Jim Shay and Ben Lambert contributed to this report.
A British teenage neo-Nazi who listed venues in his home city as potential terrorist targets has been jailed for six years and eight months, according to media reports on Tuesday.

The boy, who was 16 at the time of the offence and cannot be named, had drawn up his own manifesto naming schools, pubs and council buildings in Durham in North East England as potential sites to bomb.

The now 17-year-old wrote about an "inevitable race war" in his diary and his attack preparations included researching explosives and trying to obtain the dangerous chemical ammonium nitrate.

He also wrote of planning to conduct an arson spree targeting synagogues in the Durham area using Molotov cocktails, the BBC reported.

A jury had found him guilty of preparation of terrorist acts between October 2017 and March 2018.

He was sentenced to six years and eight months at Manchester Crown Court, the report said.

The boy was convicted of six terror offences, including preparing acts of terrorism, disseminating terrorist publications and possessing material for terrorist purposes, The Independent newspaper reported.

Judge David Stockdale told the boy: "These are offences of the utmost seriousness."



The judge described him as a widely-read "young man of high intellect", adding this made it a matter of "infinite regret" that he had persisted on "such a twisted and - many would say sick - ideological path".

He said the evidence in the trial "tells its own macabre story", and while his young age was a powerful mitigating factor, it was also a "most disturbing" aspect of the case.

"You suffer from an autistic spectrum disorder", he told him, saying it was common ground between experts.

The judge also said the teenager had written him a letter expressing "remorse".

During the trial, the court was told that the teen visited websites on firearms and was in communication with a gun auctioneer.

After his arrest in March 2019, police found him in possession of instructions showing to make bombs and ricin - and that he had distributed firearms manuals online by uploading them to a neo-Nazi website.

In one of the journal entries, the youth wrote of his admiration for Adolf Hitler - "a brave man to say the least".

However, he said that he had no intention of carrying out any attacks and claimed he adopted a fake right-wing persona for "shock value", The Telegraph reported.

Commenting on the verdicts, Detective Chief Superintendent Martin Snowden, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: "The extreme right-wing views and hateful rhetoric displayed by this teenager are deeply concerning and we cannot account for those who may have been susceptible to his influence or how they may act in the future.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As hundreds of Boeing 737 Max jets remain grounded awaiting approval from aviation regulators, the troubled planemaker has discovered yet another potential hurdle.

The plane was grounded worldwide in March last year after two crashes that killed 346 people. The company determined a software fix was likely to correct the issue with the automatic safety feature that caused the crashes.

However, as part of a December audit of the plane's safety ordered by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Boeing found 'previously unreported concerns' with wiring in the 737 Max.

The company informed the FAA last month that it is looking into whether two sections of wiring that control the tail of the plane are too close together and could cause a short circuit -- and potentially a crash if pilots did not react appropriately.

A Boeing spokesperson confirmed the report to CNN, saying the issue was identified as part of a rigorous process to ensure the plane's safety.

"Our highest priority is ensuring the 737 Max meets all safety and regulatory requirements before it returns to service," the spokesperson said.

"We are working closely with the FAA and other regulators on a robust and thorough certification process to ensure a safe and compliant design."

The spokesperson said it will be premature to speculate whether the discovery will lead to new design changes for the plane, or further extend the timeline for its recertification.

CNN said it will be a challenge for Boeing's new chief executive David Calhoun who officially takes over the job on January 13 after former CEO Dennis Muilenburg was ousted on December 23.

"A change in leadership was necessary to restore confidence in the company moving forward as it works to repair relationships with regulators, customers, and all other stakeholders," the company said in December.

Earlier in December, the company announced it will take the dramatic step of suspending production of the 737 Max in light of the continued setbacks to recertification.

Orders for the 737 Max dried up following the grounding, and it was not until November that Boeing recorded its first new orders since the grounding.

In the meantime, the company continued to produce the planes at a rate of 42 jets a month in hopes of quick recertification by airline regulators around the globe.

But as the process was pushed into 2020, Boeing said the plane's uncertain future had forced it to pause production and prioritise the delivery of about 400 airplanes it has in storage.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
HONG KONG, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- A senior officer of Hong Kong police on Monday refuted again accusations by a Hong Kong lawmaker that undercover officers disguised as rioters and committed violent acts on the New Year's Day.

"Such accusations were utterly false and founded on fake news," Chief Superintendent Kwok Ka-chuen of Police Public Relations Branch said in a letter to Claudia Mo, a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Mo claimed that the police sent two undercover officers to vandalize shops in Wan Chai with the intention to use the incident to halt the protest on Jan. 1 in a live Sky News broadcast.

In response, the police made a prompt clarification that police officers did not commit crime of any sort on Jan. 1 and elaborated on the matter on the next day.

Kwok said in the letter that it was the violence of rioters, including blocking roads and trashing banks and shops, that led to an early conclusion of the public event, and stressed that the use of force of the police was appropriate and only reactive.

"The Hong Kong Police Force respect all citizens' right to assembly and association, and to express their opinion freely and without fear," Kwok said.
(JNS)The Trump administration is reportedly opposing a bill that would sanction Turkey for purchasing Russian missiles, claiming that it would push both countries towards further cooperation.

The administration also opposes a part of the measure that would assist Syrian Kurdish refugees to resettle in the United States.

The Daily Beast first reported the developments on Monday, citing a seven-page memo sent by the U.S. State Department to senators.

The bill, the Promoting American National Security and Preventing the Resurgence of ISIS Act, passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Dec. 12 and would sanction Turkey for purchasing Russian surface-to-air missiles and would prohibit the United States from selling Turkey F-16 or F-35 fighter jets, including parts, until Ankara has completely ditched the S-400 missile-defense system it acquired from Russiaa move that caused the United States earlier this year to drop Turkey from the F-35 program.

In the memo, the administration claimed that the bill would effectively terminate U.S.-Turkey defense trade, causing Turkey to rely on Russia and other adversary arms providers.

The White House also warned that it would treat Turkey as a pariah in NATO, feeding a narrative that the Russian Federation would likely seek to amplify and exploit.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that while the United States is alarmed with Turkeys acquisition of the S-400, it is important for Turkey to be part of NATO.

NATO is stronger with Turkey as a member, and has been for nearly 70 years, said the spokesperson. Turkey has been a significant contributor to NATO collective security for decades. One of Russias key strategic goals is to drive a wedge between NATO members; we are working to maintain strong cooperation within the Alliance.

We remain deeply concerned with Turkeys acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile system, and stress the S-400 and F-35 cannot coexist, continued the spokesperson. We will continue to urge Turkey to ensure its defense investments adhere to the commitment all allies made to pursue NATO interoperability.

The bill also includes sanctions against Turkish national bank Halkbank, which was indicted in October by the United States for allegedly evading U.S. sanctions on Iran. While the Trump administration already has the authority to sanction the bank, it has yet to do so.

[T]he sanctions on Halkbank are unnecessary because the Department of Treasury already possesses the authority to designate Halkbank, if appropriate, said the memo. Purporting to require the President to impose sanctions on Halkbank, constrains the Presidents authority to conduct foreign relations.

Diliman Abdulkader, co-founder of the newly established Washington, D.C.-based advocacy organization American Friends of Kurdistan, told JNS that the Trump administration is sending the wrong signal to U.S. allies.

If the United States continues to allow Turkey to get away with violations, then we lose our credibility among other allies, he said. Turkey cannot be allowed to act aggressively towards our Kurdish allies while being given the green light to purchase Russian missiles that are incompatible with NATO defense systems.

Our policy towards Turkey must match Turkeys behavior, he continued. Turkey has chosen a policy of blackmailing, through refugees, diplomacy, and now through defense purchases. Turkey is not too big to fail, the Trump administration must adjust its policy to secure American interests.

Abdulkader added, Syrian Kurds sacrificed over 11,000 lives fighting Daesh. It would be an American investment to allow those who are refugees to resettle in the United States; this would be in the interest of the administration. Turkey should not have any say in American policy towards any Kurds, anywhere.
BNP Paribas Securities Services extends license for Temenos Multifonds Global Accounting and Temenos Multifonds Global Investor until 2028

Temenos' single, global software platform will deliver operational excellence for BNP Paribas' global fund administration business

Temenos (SIX: TEMN), the banking software company, today announced that BNP Paribas Securities Services has extended its license for Temenos Multifonds Global Accounting and Temenos Multifonds Global Investor. Temenos' single, global software platform and integrated operating model will deliver localized accounting and reporting to underpin the management of BNP Paribas Securities Services' fund administration operations.

BNP Paribas Securities Services has been a partner of Temenos for more than 20 years, initially deploying the Temenos Fund Administration platform in Luxembourg to replace its legacy architecture and deliver the fundamental scalability needed for BNP Paribas to rapidly onboard new countries onto the global platform. By using a scalable platform and enabling more automated exception-based processing, BNP Paribas Securities Services will benefit from greater operational efficiency, reduced costs and new growth opportunities.

As part of this long-standing strategic partnership, Temenos recently completed the integration of Temenos Multifonds Global Accounting into BNP Paribas Securities Services' domestic fund administration business in France. Achieved in under two years, the project covered 1,300 fund accounts, representing over 20% of the total French market.

Alain Pochet, Head of Client Delivery at BNP Paribas Securities Services, commented: "We are delighted to continue this strategic, long-standing partnership with Temenos. Its investment in R&D means that we will continue to benefit from cutting-edge, next generation banking software, enabling us to enhance operational efficiency and streamline our operating model to enable us to quickly onboard new jurisdictions and grow our business over time."

Max Chuard, CEO, Temenos, said: "It is a great privilege to continue our ongoing support of BNP Paribas Securities Services as they continue to optimize their global fund administration operations and enhance operational efficiency. Throughout this long-standing partnership, our goals have been consistently aligned to BNP Paribas' who have adopted our market-leading products to enhance fund administration with sophisticated workflow, production and control techniques. With a 20-year track record for providing leading fund administration software that supports $7 trillion assets and more than 30,000 funds across 30 countries, Temenos has the blueprint for transformative software that delivers greater efficiencies, reduced costs and enables our clients to take advantage of future growth opportunities."

Ends

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas Securities Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of the BNP Paribas Group, is a leading global custodian and securities services provider. Backed by the strength of the BNP Paribas Group, we provide multi-asset post-trade and asset servicing solutions for buy and sell-side market participants, corporates and issuers. With a global reach covering 90+ markets, our network is one of the most extensive in the industry, enabling clients to maximise their investment opportunities worldwide.

https://securities.bnpparibas.com/

About Temenos

Temenos AG (SIX: TEMN), headquartered in Geneva, is the world's leader in banking software, partnering with banks and other financial institutions to transform their businesses and stay ahead of a changing marketplace. Over 3,000 banks across the globe, including 41 of the top 50 banks, rely on Temenos to process both the daily transactions and client interactions of more than 500 million banking customers. Temenos offers cloud-native, cloud-agnostic front office and core banking, payments, fund management and wealth management software products enabling banks to deliver consistent, frictionless customer journeys and gain operational excellence.

Temenos software is proven to enable its top-performing clients to achieve industry-leading cost-income ratios of 25.2% and returns on equity of 25.0%, 2X better than the industry average. These clients also invest over 53% of their IT budget on growth and innovation versus maintenance, which is 2.5X the industry average, proving the banks' IT investment is adding tangible value to their business.

For more information, please visit www.temenos.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005107/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts

Jessica Wolfe Grace Collins

Temenos Global Public Relations

Tel: +1 610 232 2793 + 44 20 7423 3969

Email : press@temenos.com



Alistair Kellie Andrew Adie

Newgate Communications on behalf of Temenos

Tel: +44 20 7680 6550

Email: allnewgatetemenos@newgatecomms.com



Simon Anderson

Narrative on behalf of Temenos

Tel: +44 (0)7393 636 982

Email: simon.anderson@narrative.uk.com
Costco, America's beloved wholesale behemoth best known for its bulk goods and Kirkland Signature private label, has long been one of the country's favorite one-stop shops. Here, you can get high-end perfume and camping gear. Although most people know that Costco has great deals on household paper goods, they may not realize that Costco has been in the travel business since 2000. Costco Travel offers members discounted rental cars, cruises and guided group trips, as well as domestic and international vacations.

Because Costco Travel is a division under the regular Costco umbrella, its users can expect the same benefits shopping for a vacation as they would shopping for chicken. Here's how it works: Costco Travel is made up of buying teams, just like the dealmaking foot soldiers who work for regular Costco. These buyers work with travel vendors to negotiate lower prices on a limited number of goods (i.e., hotel rooms or cruise fares), then offer those discounted rates and packages to the many millions of Costco members. Buyers don't work on commission or incentives; their job is simply to secure the best value.

Perhaps the nicest part of booking with Costco Travel is that it's straightforward. The prices advertised on the website already include taxes, so you don't end up with a completely different estimate at the end of the process, unlike other online travel agencies (like Booking.com or Hotels.com).

Intrigued? Before you book a trip with Costco Travel, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. There's something for everyone

There isn't one kind of Costco Travel vacation. The most popular itineraries usually involve Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean and cruising, but there's much more out there to book. Costco Travel has trips for adventure-seekers, for young people ages 18 to 35 who want to travel with fellow young people, or people who want to drink a bunch of wine in a new place.

The prices vary, too. Travelers can hunt for packages around $300 in the Under $499 category or splurge on one of the "Costco Vacations of a Lifetime."

You don't have to book a big blockbuster vacation to reap the Costco Travel benefits, either. You can use the service to book an individual hotel room, or a hotel and flight. And according to insiders, one of the best-kept secrets is its rental-car business.

2. Look for Buyer's Choice vacations or cruises, or Kirkland Signature vacations

Costco Travel insiders say that where the real savings lurk are in Kirkland Signature vacations, Buyer's Choice vacations and Hot Buys, or limited-time deals that are advertised online and in Costco email newsletters. These trips will offer added value and amenities beyond what regular Costco Travel experiences already deliver.

3. Take advantage of flexible payment options

Costco members have options when it comes to how to pay, like setting up recurring payments to cover the whole cost. You'll probably have to pay a deposit on packages or pay for your airfare upfront, and some payment requirements may depend on the time of year. People who are able to pay early may be eligible for bigger savings.

4. Do your research on airfare before you book

Shalen Fairbanks, a Costco member who lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, first started using Costco Travel six years ago. She has booked five trips for her family to Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. Her advice to potential Costco Travel users would be to shop around for flights before booking a trip, because she has occasionally found better airfare deals than what Costco offered.

"You pick where you want to go, [Costco Travel] gives you a bunch of different options of hotels and packages, and then I do look at airfare separately," Fairbanks says. "Sometimes it's cheaper to go buy your own flight and then book the rest of the package" through Costco Travel.

If you do go with Costco Travel's airfare option, which often comes with airport transfers, make sure you book any upgrades ahead of time. Charleston, South Carolina, resident Michael Fanning booked an African safari through Costco Travel when he noticed that it cost drastically less than what he had seen elsewhere.

"The trip was fantastic," Fanning says. "I mean, it really was extraordinary."

But one thing he would've done differently: "The one part that was not as fun was the 14-hour plane ride on African Airways from JFK to Johannesburg," Fanning says. "That's a tough trip. We would have preferred to have upgraded our seats, but we weren't allowed to do that through the package."

5. Get cash back on your vacation purchase

Depending on your membership level, you may be able to get even better deals on a vacation when you book with Costco Travel. Executive Members (whose annual fee is $120) earn 2% cash back on their Costco Travel purchases.

Members who book their travel with a Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi credit card (a card with no foreign transaction fees, by the way) earn 3% cash back.

6. Costco Travel trips come with perks

Executive Members are treated to benefits like food and beverage credits, spa credits, room upgrades and more for the primary cardholder booking the trip. The extras that get thrown into vacation packages are one of Fairbanks's favorite parts of using Costco Travel.

"They'll give you a $250 Costco Rebate Card," she says. "The [trips] we've been on have a $100 or $200 spa credit per room. The one to Jamaica, we had a spa credit per room, plus we got $200 to use toward the local activity" company.

That Jamaica trip also included access to a VIP departure experience at the airport that got the Fairbankses through customs quicker. Accounting for the perks her family of five earned, Fairbanks estimates she saved the cost of one person's trip.

7. Costco can't control everything

While the planning and booking can be seamless, keep in mind that Costco Travel trips can have hiccups, like any travel experience. For example, the Fairbankses' airport transfer didn't show up for their scheduled pickup. "But that's a problem on the company that made this transfer," she says - not Costco's. "Their driver didn't show up that day."

In the event that anything goes awry, pick up the phone and contact a Costco Travel representative to assist with any issues.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The general manager of the Hilton Cleveland Downtown hotel has been nominated to the nonprofit Gateway Economic Development Corporation, which serves as landlord for Progressive Field and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

A Cuyahoga County Council committee on Tuesday approved of County Executive Armond Budishs nomination of Teri Agosta. The full County Council is expected to vote on her appointment Jan. 14.

If approved by Council, Agosta will take the place of William Reidy, whose term expires in May 2022.

The Gateway board is comprised of two county-appointed members, two-city-appointed members and one jointly-appointed member.

Agosta has overseen the taxpayer-funded downtown Hilton since it opened ahead of the 2016 Republican National Convention. She has worked for Hilton worldwide since 1993, and has managed hotels in Phoenix, Delaware and Washington D.C., according to her resume.

Agosta also serves on the board of tourism bureau Destination Cleveland.

Agosta during her committee confirmation hearing was questioned about upcoming discussions regarding the future of Progressive Field, given that the Indians lease expires in 2023.

Agosta said the county did a great job of melding public and private interests under a 2017 deal that resulted in the renovation of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and the extension of the Cavs lease of that facility to 2034.

To achieve the same kind of success with a potential Indians lease extension, Agosta said the county and city need to let residents know the economic benefits and jobs that would come with such a deal.

A potential renovation should also be about keeping the ballpark vibrant, fresh and cutting-edge, she said.
Vietnam has agreed to let Japan open a consular office in the central city of Da Nang after a meeting between the countries top diplomats this week.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh met Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu in Hanoi on Monday as part of the latters official visit to the Southeast Asian country from January 5 to 7.

The host said the Vietnamese government has approved Japans proposal for opening a consular office in Da Nang.

Japan has an embassy in Hanoi and a consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City.

Minh proposed that the Japanese government in return simplify visa procedures for Vietnamese citizens.

Both sides agreed to partner in receiving workers and trainees and removing unhealthy labor and student brokerage firms so as to ensure legal Vietnamese workers legitimate rights in Japan.

They agreed to further enhance political trust via maintaining regular visits, exchanges and dialogues at all levels while bringing into full play the efficiency of the existing cooperation and dialogue mechanisms.

Vietnamese Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) talks with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu in Hanoi on January 6, 2020. Photo: Vietnam Government Portal

Regarding the situation in the East Vietnam Sea, the two officials consented on the importance of ensuring peace, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On the occasion, they held a ceremony to exchange diplomatic notes on water drainage and wastewater treatment projects in the northern city of Ha Long, and on dioxin and environment analysis equipment worth US$2.7 million as a non-refundable aid.

The Japanese foreign minister also joined talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on the same day.

During the conversation, Minister Motegi affirmed his countrys commitment to cooperating closely with and supporting Vietnam to fulfill the roles of the ASEAN Chair and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

He also thanked PM Phuc for his attention to the removal of difficulties facing bilateral cooperation, including Japans official development assistance and projects in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese premier asked the Japanese government to further reinforce the two economies connectivity, encourage Japanese firms to continue expanding operations in Vietnam, and create favorable conditions for agricultural and aquatic products of Vietnam to access the Japanese market.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Smart lighting manufacturer LIFX is set to bolster its Wi-Fi bulb lineup at CES this week, announcing new filament and candle bulbs along with a four-gang smart switch. Also on tap: a major redesign of LIFXs mobile app.

First up is LIFXs new Edison-style ST64 teardrop bulb, which comes with linear LED filaments and arrives in smokey, amber, and clear glass versions. The dimmable warm-white bulb will be followed up by a G95 filament bulb, according to LIFX.

LIFX LIFXs new Edison-style ST64 teardrop bulb will be available in smokey, amber, and clear glass versions.

Like the rest of its Wi-Fi bulb lineup, the ST64 teardrop filament bulb is compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit, and it can be controlled without a hub. The new filament bulb is slated to arrive this spring for $40.

Next comes a four-gang switch thats capable of controlling both smart and dumb lights.

LIFX The four-gang LIFX Switch is capable of controlling both smart and dumb lights.

The four LED-backlit buttons on the LIFX Switch (first announced, although not physically shown, at the IFA technology show in Berlin last fall) arent just for turning lights on and off. Indeed, the buttons will also let you activate lighting scenes, change bulb colors, and adjust brightness.

Because the Alexa-, Google Assistant-, and HomeKit-compatible LIFX Switch can control both smart and unconnected lights, you can add a dumb light to one of your LIFX lighting scenes. Look for the LIFX Switch to go on sale this spring for $120 ($100 if your pre-order).

LIFX The new LIFX Warm to White candle bulb follows in the footsteps of LIFXs existing Candle Color.

LIFX is also showing off a tunable-white version of its existing LIFX Candle Color. Like the color version of LIFXs candle bulb, the new LIFX Candle White to Warm can be controlled via Alexa, Google Assistant, or HomeKit, and you can tune it from cool white (6,500K) all the way to a very warm white (2,200K). The White to Warm candle bulb is due to arrive in the spring for $30.

Also on tap is a new gaming-focused bias lighting LED strip with corner connectors, handy for affixing the strip around the edges of your TV.

Ben Patterson/IDG With its connected corners, the LIFX Z TV 360 bias LED lighting strip is ideal for attaching around the edges of your TV.

A follow-up to the existing LIFX Z TV kit (which comes in a single one-meter strip), the new Z TV 360 kit can accomedate TV screens up to 75 inches. You can use the LIFX mobile app to dial up animated color presets, or you can even paint colors onto the strip using the LIFX mobile interface. The Z TV 360 will cost $100 when it goes on sale this spring.

Last but not least, the LIFX mobile app is getting a complete makeover. The revamped App 4, Im told, boasts a much more visual look thats designed to make it much easier to quickly change the lighting scene in a room, or even tweak the color and brightness of an individual bulb.

LIFX The dashboard in the revamped LIFX mobile app gives you direct one-touch control over lighting groups.

A new tabbed design allows you to control lighting groups directly from the dashboard, while a new Scenes & Effects screen gives you one-touch access to your saved actions, scenes, and favorites. Theres also a new Schedules screen lets you create and manage your lighting schedules and routines.

The new LIFX app should begin slowly rolling out next Tuesday, a LIFX rep said.
"I know you guys want to have trial by Twitter, but is Nancy Pelosi going to follow the Constitution? Until she has the articles sent over, there is no trial," said Cory Gardner, a Colorado Republican facing one of the toughest reelection battles of 2020.

What nobody seems to have the answer to at the moment

There seems to be some misconception that just because the Senate subpoenas administration witnesses, they must testify. There is nothing to back this up, nor is there any indication administration officials, other than Bolton, would be any more willing to comply with a Senate subpoena than a House subpoena. In Bolton's case, several Republican senators raised questions about executive privilege and how the White House would handle his testimony.

In other words, very little about this is clean, or black and white. There are a lot of unanswered questions about what witnesses would look like even if they are eventually subpoenaed.

What Bolton knows

CNN spent a few hours Monday asking around about what Bolton may actually bring to the table if he does testimony. A couple points, according to Republicans who know or dealt somewhat extensively with him:

His bureaucratic know-how and operational ability is somewhat legendary, even among those who loathed his policies. That, according to one person, means "it's a certainty everything he saw or was involved in is documented. Count on that."

Don't assume Bolton's testimony would be universally damning to the President. "He has no desire to be alienated from Republican politics," one Republican official told CNN. "Don't get me wrong -- there are plenty in the White House who should be very worried about him, but don't assume a president with a 90% approval rating in the party is one of them."

Along those lines, Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas posited that Bolton's testimony may in fact "be good for the President" if it underscored that these were simply policy differences. That seems unlikely, but Cornyn isn't the only one who mentioned this.

But even those who point to Bolton's potential political calculations underscore that he's made clear in private settings he had significant issues with how the White House operated and Trump's decision-making. He did refer to something Trump's top advisers were working on as a "drug deal," after all.
New Delhi, Jan 8 : In last three decades, since 1991, 16 convicts have been hanged to death in India including Dhananjoy Chatterjee - for rape and murder of 14-year-old school girl, Yakub Memon and Afzal Guru.

In last 20 years, four people were hanged to death out of which only Dhanajoy Chatterjee was charged of rape and murder of a school girl while the other three were terrorists.

The execution of Chatterjee took place in Alipore Central Correctional Home, Kolkata, on August 14, 2004. It took 14 years to execute him. He was charged of rape and murder of Hetal Parekh, a 14-year-old school girl on March 5, 1990.

Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani militant and the mastermind of 2008 Mumbai attacks, was the second person who was executed on November 21, 2012 in Yerawada Central Jail, Pune. He was convicted for murder, conspiracy and waging war. It took 4 years to execute him.

Then on February 9, 2013, it was Kashmiri terrorist Afzal Guru who was hanged to death in Tihar jail. He was convicted for attacks on Parliament on December 13, 2001. It took 11 years to execute Guru. After the execution of Guru, no execution has been done in Tihar jail.

After Guru, on July 30, 2015, Yakub Memon was executed in Nagpur Central jail for his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts. It took 22 years for the execution of Memon.

This will be for the first time in the history of independent India that four convicts will be hanged in the gallows site in Jail No. 3 of the capital's Tihar Jail complex on January 22 after a Delhi court issued death warrants for them on Tuesday.

(Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be reached at sanjeev.c@ians.in)
Business tycoon Anand Mahindra often uses his Twitter handle to share inspiring stories of achievers of all ages. His recent tweet is no different in which hes labelled a 94-year-old woman entrepreneur of the year. The Mahindra Group Chairman was tagged in a tweet about the woman who is fulfilling her dream of earning money by making sweets. Mahindra was so impressed by her story, he shared a heartwarming tweet about her thats now winning Twitter.

It was Twitter user Dr Madhu Teckchandani who tagged Mahindra in the tweet. It shows a video of Chandigarh resident Harbhajan Kaur who runs a home-made besan ki barfi business. It all started four years ago when Kaur told her daughter she wished to earn money by herself.

Here is her story, full of hope and motivation ode! Entrepreneur indeed! wrote the Twitter user tagging Anand Mahindra.

@anandmahindra 94-year-old, Harbhajan Kaur, from #Chandigarh who started making sweets four years back wanted to fulfill her long-term dream of earning by herself. Here is her story, full of hope and motivation pic.twitter.com/f3jXwAC03r ode !

Entrepreneur indeed !  DrMadhuTeckchandani (@msteckchandani) January 5, 2020

The business magnate recently replied to the tweet with words of praise for Kaur. When you hear the word start-up it brings to mind images of millennials in Silicon Valley or Bengaluru trying to build billion dollar unicorns. From now on lets also include a 94 yr old woman who doesnt think its too late to do a start-up, he wrote in addition to calling her my entrepreneur of the year.

When you hear the word start-up it brings to mind images of millennials in Silicon Valley or Bengaluru trying to build billion dollar unicorns. From now on lets also include a 94 yr old woman who doesnt think its too late to do a start-up. Shes my entrepreneur of the year https://t.co/N75BxK18z4  anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) January 7, 2020

Mahindras tweet and Kaurs passion has won a ton of love from people on Twitter with over 3,600 likes and more than 600 retweets.

Passion and determinations and will to do something in life has no age limitations, says a Twitter user. Thanks for sharing sir, these kind of videos will awake us from Inertia to Get-set-go and do something useful to self and society, says another. Very inspiring story sir! A must watch for everyone of all ages! says another. Would be happy to sell her barfis online on our site and in our store, comments a fourth.

A few days ago, Anand Mahindra posted a tweet highlighting the usefulness of mobile phones. The tweet was accompanied by a video that shows a differently abled man using sign-language to communicate with someone over video chat.
A worker with Apache Corp. is viewed at the Patterson 298 natural gas fueled drilling rig on land in the Permian Basin on February 5, 2015 in Mentone, Texas.

Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading.

Apache  Shares of the oil exploration and production company surged 26.8% after announcing a major oil discovery at its offshore Suriname facility. It is a joint venture with France's Total S.A., in which each company holds a 50% ownership of the 1.4 million acre site.

Micron, Western Digital  Micron rose 8.8% and Western Digital shares jumped 6.8% after an analyst at Cowen upgraded them to outperform from market perform. The analyst said the stocks should benefit from improving trends in the memory chip market.

Square  Shares of Square spiked 3.2% after Bank of America upgraded the payments company to buy from neutral. Bank of America's analyst said the stock's relatively weak performance in 2019 made it an attractive buy and that the company's guidance was conservative, specifically for the segment that includes Cash App. Bank of America also raised its price target on the stock to $75 per share from $70, reflecting nearly a 20% upside from where the stock closed on Monday.

Zynga  Gaming stock Zynga rose 3.5% in early trading on Tuesday after SunTrust initiated coverage of the company with a buy rating and a $7.50 per share price target. Analysts forecast revenue for the mobile gaming company to grow by 13% annually over the next two years. SunTrust noted that Zynga also has games based on Harry Potter and Star Wars in development. The price target is a 16.7% premium to where shares closed on Monday.

Tesla  Shares of Telsa rose 3.9% to an all time high on Tuesday after Credit Suisse significantly raised it price target on the stock to $340 a share from $200 a share. Despite the price target hike, the firm's new expectation still represents a nearly 25% stock drop for Elon Musk's company from the current levels. The stock last traded around $460.4 per share.

Boeing  Shares of Boeing rose 1.1% after the aircraft maker and American Airlines reached a settlement over damages incurred due to the grounding of Boeing's 737 Max jet. American said more than $30 million of the compensation will be contributed to the employee profit-sharing program.

Kellogg  Shares of Kellogg jumped 1.3% following an upgrade to outperform from neutral from Credit Suisse. The firm said Kellogg's investments and portfolio changes have "set the stage" for sustainable revenue growth and margin expansion.

FireEye  SunTrust upgraded the cyber security company to buy from hold, sending shares of FireEye up 3.2%. The firm said the situation in Iran and Iraq will lead to increased spending in the government and private sector for cyber security.

CSX Corp.  Shares of CSX rose 0.7% after Susquehanna upgraded the railroad company to positive from neutral and named it a "top value pick." The research firm grew bullish on CSX after 2019 underperformance and its low valuation.

 CNBC's Jesse Pound, Pippa Stevens, Yun Li and Fred Imbert contributed reporting.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

Ikea has agreed to pay $46 million to the family of Jozef Dudek, a 2-year-old boy who died in May 2017 in Buena Park, Calif., after a three-drawer Ikea Malm dresser, recalled the year before, tipped over onto him and killed him.

The settlement was announced yesterday at a press conference held by Feldman Shepherd, the law firm representing Dudeks parents, Joleen and Craig Dudek. In addition to the payment, Ikea has also agreed to expand its outreach efforts so that more people who own the unstable recalled dressers know to get them out of their homes. The firms lawyers said they hoped these efforts would include Ikea emailing every customer in the company database and engaging in prominent social media campaigns.

Feldman Shepherd believes the settlement is the largest for the wrongful death of a child in U.S. history and that the large payout was because Ikea "did not conduct its recall effectively."

The settlement "shows, without a doubt, that strong and effective consumer protection requires both government regulation and private enforcement of the laws through personal injury lawsuits. We cannot rely on just one or the other," says Pamela Gilbert, a former executive director of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the government agency with oversight over more than 15,000 different types of consumer products.

Safety advocates agree the settlement is a win for consumer safety. This settlement sets an important precedent because it calls out a company's failure to carry out a recall effectively. It sends a powerful message to all companies to make sure their recalls are successful at reaching people, says William Wallace, manager of home and safety policy for Consumer Reports.

Approximately one child dies every two weeks and one person is injured every 15 minutes when a piece of furniture or a television falls over onto them, according to the CPSC.

Story continues

Ineffective Recall

Ikea first recalled the Malm line of dressers along with some other Ikea dresser models in June 2016 after the products were tied to the tip-over deaths of several children. In total, 17.3 million dressers were recalled for posing a serious tip-over and entrapment hazard that can result in death or injuries to children, according to the announcement made by the CPSC. Further, the Ikea dressers did not adhere to the industrys voluntary stability standard at the time, which required dressers more than 30 inches tall to remain stable with a 50-pound weight hanging on an open drawer. (The voluntary standard has since been revised to include dressers at least 27 inches tall.)

After the recall was announced, three of the families whose children died as a result of a Malm dresser tip-over settled the lawsuit they brought against Ikea for $50 million in December 2016, five months before Jozef Dudek died.

But like so many others, the Dudeks were unaware of the recall or the dangerous unstable nature of the dresser, said Alan Feldman, the Dudeks' lawyer, who pointed out that it would not have been difficult for Ikea to contact the family. The Dudeks had been members of the Ikea Family loyalty program when they purchased the dresser in 2008. Ikea had their contact information on file and their purchase history, and yet the couple never received a warning letter or email alerting them to the dresser recall.

Jozefs death is thought to be the first Malm-linked fatality to happen after the recall was announced. The lawsuit alleges that in addition to knowing about the dangers and deaths linked to its dressers before the recall, Ikea failed to commit sufficient resources to alert consumers of the recall.

We were devastated by the loss of our beautiful Jozef, said Jozefs mother, Joleen Dudek, through tears at the press conference. We never thought that a 2-year-old could cause a short dresser to tip over and suffocate him. It was only later that we learned that this dresser did not meet safety standards, and that this had happened to other little boys, she said, referencing other Malm-related deaths.

The Dudeks also said during the press conference that they will be donating $1 million to be split between CR and two other consumer groupsKids In Danger and the Consumer Federation of Americato continue ongoing efforts to prevent deaths and injuries from furniture tip-overs.

When asked for comment about the lawsuit, an Ikea spokesperson said that while no settlement can alter the tragic events that brought us here, for the sake of the family and all involved, were grateful that this litigation has reached a resolution. We remain committed to working proactively and collaboratively to address this very important home safety issue. Again, we offer our deepest condolences.

Marietta Robinson, who at the time of the June 2016 recall was one of several CPSC commissioners, is not optimistic the lawsuit will spur real change on Ikeas part. To date, their recall efforts have been absolutely abysmal, she says. So when they say theyre going to broaden them, I dont know what that means.

In Robinsons view, Ikea failed to make a good faith effort to actually get the millions of dangerous dressers out of people's homes, even after the company had already paid out $50 million in settlements involving the three other deaths. Indeed, as of June 2019, Ikea stated that out of the 17.3 million recalled dressers, the company had issued only 400,000 refunds for returned dressers.

Robinson also faults the companys messaging, which she says failed to sufficiently warn parents of the tip-over hazard and encouraged them to attach their furniture to the wall with anti-tip restraints, which she believes is an imperfect solution.

In her time at the CPSC, Robinson says she saw many deaths involving dressers where the anchors had fallen out of the drywall or detached from the dressers particle board backing.

Anchoring can, in fact, be problematic because it typically requires power tools and carpentry skills, and might not be permitted by landlords, among other challenges. As a result, the majority of people dont do it. According to a nationally representative 2018 CR survey of 1,502 U.S. adults, 73 percent of Americans have never anchored furniture in their homes.

Ikea has stated that it has sent out 1.02 million free wall anchors since the "repair program" it initiated in July 2015 (which urged consumers to anchor their furniture) before the company eventually issued the recall in 2016.

But according to Crystal Ellis from Snohomish, Wash., who lost her 2-year-old son Camden when a Malm dresser tipped over onto him in 2014, Ikea's efforts to date have not been robust enough. I believed that the recall and the $50 million settlement to our three families would make a bigger difference than it has for Ikea and the entire industry, says Ellis, who was part of the lawsuit that was settled in 2016.

Ellis, along with other parents whose children have died from a furniture tip-over, helped found Parents Against Tip-Overs (PAT), which advocates for improved furniture stability. The group has been trying for months to get an in-person meeting with Ikea to discuss ways to improve recall efforts and dresser safety. One of the terms of the Dudeks' settlement is that the company must meet with PAT.

The American Home Furnishings Alliance, an industry trade group, declined to comment on the settlement or any implications it has for its members.

Stronger Standards

Gilbert, the former executive director of the CPSC, notes that the agency also needs to work harder to keep consumers safe. She says she was saddened that the CPSC wasn't able to achieve strong enough recall and public education provisions that would have better protected the public.

Safety advocates, including CR, have also called on regulators to address the problem of furniture tip-overs through legislation. For example, the CR-backed bill called the Stop Tip-Overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth (STURDY) Act would require the CPSC to create a mandatory federal rule for dressers that's tougher than the industrys current voluntary standard. The bill passed the House in September 2019 and is currently awaiting a vote in the Senate.

In the meantime, if you have an Ikea dresser that was part of the 2016 recall that is not securely attached to the wall, contact Ikea at ikea-usa.com or 888-966-4532 for a full refund. The company can arrange to come to your home free of charge to pick up the dresser or attach it to the wall.

Though Ikea also offers anti-tip anchors as part of its recall, CR does not believe that distributing anchors meant to attach an unstable dresser to a wall is an effective solution on its own because there is no way to ensure that consumers will take the extra step to install the anchors.

For more on CR's work on this topic, go to CR.org/furnituretipover.





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Top pick tires for 2016

Best used cars for $25,000 and less

7 best mattresses for couples





Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2020, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Damascus for a visit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday, TASS reports.

"Vladimir Putin travelled from the airport to the headquarters of the Russian Armed Forces group in the Syrian Arab Republic, drove down the streets of Damascus," he underlined.

"Putin was met by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at the headquarters," Peskov informed. "The leaders heard military reports on developments in various regions of the country," the spokesman added.

Later, bilateral talks between the Russian and Syrian delegations took place. "Talking to [Syrian President Bashar] al-Assad, Putin underlined that it can certainly be said now that much ground was covered to restore Syrias statehood and territorial integrity," the spokesman pointed out. According to him, "Putin also underlined that it is clear to the naked eye that peaceful life is returning to the streets of Damascus."

Peskov also informed that al-Assad in turn extended his gratitude to Putin for his visit to Damascus. "The Syrian president showed appreciation for Russia and the Russian troops help in fighting terrorism and restoring peaceful life in Syria," he stressed. "Al-Assad also extended warm wishes to Putin and the whole Russian nation on the occasion of the Christmas," Peskov said. Putins agenda in Syria includes a few other visits, the spokesman added.
Khawaja Saad Rafique sustained minor injuries in NAB barracks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique sustained minor injuries after a small fire broke out in Lahore Camp Jails National Accountability Bureau (NAB) barracks on Sunday. The publication reported that the fire had occurred due to a short circuit outside the room of Fawad Hassan Fawad. Panic among the prisoners started as soon as the fire broke out. Due to a lack of jail staff, Rafique started banging the bars of his cell and sustained a minor head injury when his head was struck against the bar, said the report. Jail Superintendent Asadullah Warraich claimed that Rafique was injured because he panicked when the fire ensued. Authorities, according to the publication, said that jail doctor provided the PML-N leader with first aid after which he was shifted back to his jail cell once fire was extinguished.



According to the jailer, it was a small fire which was put off by the staff. Urdu publication Jang reported that there are up to 30 inmates in the NAB barracks including Rafique who is facing charges of corruption in Paragon Housing scam. It reported that the short circuit had occurred due to the overuse of electric heater. PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, in a statement from London, has expressed concerns over the incident and asked the authorities to launch an inquiry into it.
While congratulating the 27 of the 193 member nations that did issue statements condemning the December 31 attempt to storm the compound, the US mission to the UN said Russian and Chinese silence undermined the Security Council.

The United States on Monday slammed Russia and China for their failure to condemn an attack last week on its Baghdad embassy by pro-Iranian demonstrators.

Not allowing the United Nations Security Council to issue the most basic of statements underscoring the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises once again calls the councils credibility into question, the US statement said.

Washington said that voicing support for the 1961 Vienna convention that protects diplomatic missions should not be controversial or warrant courage.-

As we have demonstrated, we will not tolerate attacks on US personnel and facilities and will respond decisively to protect our interests, citizens and allies, it added.

The attack on the Baghdad embassy, which did not result in any injuries, was meant to protest against a US airstrike against Ketaeb Hezbollah (KH), an Iranian-backed militia which the US blames for rocket attacks on its facilities in northern Iraq that resulted in the death of a US contractor.

President Donald Trump responded to the embassy attack by ordering a drone strike in Baghdad that killed one of Irans top military commanders, Qasem Soleimani, and the head of the KH militia.

Russia and China rejected the US allegations, saying in a statement they could not disregard the US killing of Soleimani and the Iraqi general.

As a principle, we condemn strongly any attack on any embassy anywhere in the world, Russian ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia told reporters.

The statement was nearly ready, and it was agreed upon, at least with us, with the US.

But when news of the January 3 drone strike emerged, it wasnt possible to disregard the whole context.

China does not accept the US accusation, Chinas UN ambassador Zhang Jun added.

China firmly supports the protection of the safety of foreign missions in accordance with international law. The US unilateral military action has led to drastic changes in (the) regional situation.

He added that any Security Council action should reflect latest developments of the situation and help prevent escalation of tensions.

UN sources said Monday that no country had so far called for a Security Council meeting to address the soaring tensions that the attacks have triggered in the Middle East.

SOURCE: AFP | PHOTO: AFP
by NAT da Polis

One year ago the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople granted autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Makarios: the division from Moscow stems from the refusal to be subject to the political will of others and of not to being able to serve the Ukrainian people.

Istanbul (AsiaNews) - A solemn liturgy (pictured) recalled that yesterday was one year since the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople granted autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The act was of the granting of autocephaly resulted in the unilateral rupture of the sacramental communion of Moscow with the Ecumenical Patriarchate first, and later, for the same reason, with the Church of Greece and the patriarchate of Alexandria.

It should be remembered that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which until 1991 was part of the Moscow Patriarchate, following the end of the Soviet Union and the consequent birth of the Ukrainian nation, was divided into three Orthodox entities.

One led by Philaret, self-proclaimed Patriarch of Kiev, that of Vladimir, who remained faithful to Moscow, succeeded by the current Onuphrius and that of Archbishop Makarios, self-proclaimed head of the Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church.

After several attempts to recompose the schism, Constantinople, in order to overcome the splits and elect a single primate, proceeded a year ago to the formation of a single constituent synod of the new autocephalous Church, eliminating the existing Ukrainian Orthodox Churches, according to its prerogatives, sanctioned from cannons in the Orthodox world.

In this attempt to recompose the faithful of Philaret, Makarios and two bishops of Onuphrius, proceeded to elect the new Orthodox primate of Ukraine, Epiphanius.

Of note, most of the dioceses and monasteries belong to the metropolitan Onuphrius of Moscow, who with the birth of the independent Ukrainian state in 1991, had expressed himself in favor of autocephaly, while most of the Ukrainian Orthodox faithful attended new Ukrainian autocephalous church.

It was on Sunday 5 January, on the eve of Epiphany, that the ecumenical Patriarchate, like the majority of the Orthodox autocephalous Churches, celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, Mass was celebrated in the presence of the delegates of Kiev, in memory of the autocephaly granted to Ukrainian church a year ago.

In his thanksgiving speech, the head of the Ukrainian Church's delegation, Metropolitan Makarios of Lviv, recalled that for centuries the Orthodox Church of his country was waiting for the granting of its autocephaly, finally obtained on January 6, 2019, thanks to the courage of the ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew.

It was a very difficult year, said Metropolitan Makarios, during which we were immediately offended and heard that we were subjugated to Constantinople. On the contrary, the metropolitan stressed "those who made these accusations against us are those who have truly been historically dominated by the various political powers". He then reminded those who accused them of not being canonically ordained, that the late metropolitan Vladimir (linked to Moscow) always welcomed them with gifts and never spoke of non-canonical ordinations, but only invited them to reject Constantinople. He then recalled that their division from Moscow stems from the refusal to be subject to the political will of others and of not being able to serve the Ukrainian people, according to the Constantinopolitan tradition. Finally he thanked the ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew for freeing the Ukrainian Church.

In his speech, Bartholomew stressed that the Mother Church of Constantinople has always exercised its diaconate with maternal affection, as a mother Church and not as a stepmother Church, for the sole purpose of contributing to the solution of management questions of the Orthodox Churches, which did not enjoy complete freedom, as the representative of the Ukrainian Church also pointed out. In its millennial history, added Bartholomew, the seat of Constantinople has sought, having as a compass its duties sanctioned by sacred canons, to strengthen the Body of Christ, his Church, without ever affecting his theandric nature.

On the contrary, Bartholomew stressed, some are acting to transform the Church of Christ into a secularized institution, which is why they face various questions with criteria devoid of theological foundations and ecclesiological considerations. The ecumenical patriarch finally praised the patriarch of Alexandria Theodoros for recognizing Ukrainian autocephaly, but at the same time considered the Theofilos of Jerusalems proposal for a meeting to restore unity among the primates of the Orthodox Churches in Amman Jordan, to be an unhappy one. Bartholomew invited him to address this message to those who unilaterally interrupted sacramental unity with the other Churches, in short, Moscow.
Minnesota-based Alomere Health discloses a data leak that exposed personal and medical information of 49,351 patients.

Personal and medical information of 49,351 patients of Minnesota-based Alomere Health might have been exposed following the compromise of two employees email accounts.

Alomere Health is a general medical and surgical hospital in Alexandria, MN, with 127 beds. It is accredited by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP), has a Level III trauma center and has twice been named as one of the Top 100 Hospitals by Thomson Reuters.

Exposed data include names, addresses, dates of birth, medical record numbers, health insurance information and diagnosis and treatment details information. Attackers also accessed Social Security numbers and drivers license numbers for some patients.

The incident was discovered on November 6, 2019, the IT staff discovered that an employees email account was accessed by at least one unauthorized third party between October 31 and November 1, 2019.

The Alomere Health hospital started notifying impacted patients on January 3, 2020.

The hospital launched an investigation with the help of an external forensic firm, and on November 10 the experts discovered that also a second employees email was compromised on November 6.

The investigation was unable to determine whether the unauthorized person(s) actually viewed any email or attachment in either account, reads the hospitals breach notification.

In an abundance of caution, we reviewed the emails and attachments in the accounts to identify patients whose information may have been accessible to the unauthorized person(s). In an abundance of caution, we reviewed the emails and attachments in the accounts to identify patients whose information may have been accessible to the unauthorized person(s). From this review, we determined that portions of some patients information were contained in the email accounts.

Alomere Health is going to offer impacted patients free credit monitoring and identity protection services.

The hospital announced to have implemented additional security measures to prevent future incidents, including staff training.

Pierluigi Paganini
OTTAWA - President Donald Trump's decision to order the killing of a top Iranian general has elevated his disregard of Canada and other American allies to a new level, says Barack Obama's former envoy to Ottawa.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman speaks at a breakfast function in Ottawa, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. Barack Obama's former ambassador to Canada says President Donald Trump's decision to order the killing of a top Iranian general represents the latest instance of the mercurial U.S. president throwing allies such as Canada under buses. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - President Donald Trump's decision to order the killing of a top Iranian general has elevated his disregard of Canada and other American allies to a new level, says Barack Obama's former envoy to Ottawa.

Former ambassador Bruce Heyman says the killing of Iranian Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani by a U.S. drone near Baghdad's airport last week is part of a pattern of disruptive international decisions that have left Washington's allies "in really tough spots."

Past examples include the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate-change agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and the Iran nuclear deal, which included the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany, he said.

Those decisions caused serious headaches for American allies, including Canada, while last Friday's killing has imperilled the NATO training mission in Iraq that Canada currently leads, said Heyman. Iraq is ordering all international troops out of the country because it views the American attack on its soil as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty.

"I think this is at a different level," Heyman said in an interview.

"What concerns me, at least as publicly reported, is that the U.S. did not consult with our allies prior to this action. And if that is the case, it put Canada and others in a fairly difficult and complex situation on the ground."

Heyman, a Democrat, has been a fierce critic of Trump, and has emerged as a vocal booster of Canada-U.S. relations during the Republican president's rocky term in office. He was also the American diplomat who helped broker Canada's entry into Iraq in 2014 as a U.S. ally in its fight against the spread of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in that country and neighbouring Syria.

Robert Malley, the president of the International Crisis Group, said Trump's decision to order the drone strike was in part motivated by his desire to project a stance on Iran that was "anti-Obama at all costs," while projecting that the U.S. is not fearful of any consequences.

"They are sending the message: don't mess with us; we are not afraid of anything you can do to us," said Malley, who previously served on Obama's National Security Council.

The Associated Press has reported that Obama and his Republican predecessor George W. Bush decided against ordering a targeted killing of Soleimani because it could spark severe repercussions.

Malley said two key considerations would have been at the top of any president's checklist before ordering such a drastic decision  taking measures to protect U.S. forces from retaliatory attacks and the "management" of allies.

"Certainly, they (the Trump administration) didn't alert some of the countries that deserve being alerted, given they have a stake in what happens in Iraq as well  all of the countries that are present in the counter-ISIS coalition clearly are affected by what happened."

The Canadian Forces announced Tuesday that it was temporarily moving an unspecified number soldiers from Iraq to Kuwait due to security concerns.

Now American allies, including Canada, have a role to play in filling the diplomatic void opened by Trump, Heyman said.

"I'm hopeful that the U.S. allies are talking amongst each other and trying to figure out how best they can calm the waters," said Heyman.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne have spent the last two days doing just that, with a series of phone calls with various international and Middle East counterparts.

Their conversations emphasized the need to find ways to dial down tensions in the region.

On Tuesday, seeking prospects for a diplomatic path forward, Trudeau spoke with Jordan's King Abdullah II and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, following a Monday call to Charles Michel, the president of the European Council.

Terse summaries of the calls from the Prime Minister's Office emphasized the need for cooler heads  dubbed "de-escalation"  and commitment to continue fighting ISIL.

Champagne's office said his conversations with Iraq Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali al-Hakim and Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi expressed the same sentiments.

Safadi said on Twitter that he had an "in-depth discussion" with Champagne that "emphasized all must work to de-escalate rising tensions. Stressed #Iraq stability is key to regional security & central to defeating #Daesh. Int'l coalition must remain intact. Great ties."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 03:06:24|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DUBAI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt on Tuesday rejected Turkey's decision to send troops to Libya, the official news agency WAM reported.

The four countries issued a joint statement by their parliaments, namely the UAE'S Federal National Council, Saudi Arabia's Consultative Assembly, Egypt's House of Representatives and Bahrain's Consultative Council, slamming the recent Turkish parliament's approval of troop deployment in Libya as violation of international laws as well as Libya's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Turkish parliament voted last Thursday to allow the government to send troops to support the UN-backed Libyan government based in the capital of Tripoli.

The quartet, which supports the eastern-based government in Libya, underscored its categorical rejection of any foreign intervention that violates the sovereignty and independence of any Arab country in any party.

It also expressed the Arab bloc's "grave concern" about the security challenges, foreign intervention and terrorist threats to Libya and its neighboring countries.
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
You may not have heard of him, as much media focus has been on Soleimani, but Muhandis, born Jamal Jafar Ibrahim in 1954, is an evil man whose malign actions, including the murders of Iranian opposition Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) members in Iraq in 1999, earned him a place on the US terrorist list.

On November 2, 1999, at roughly 7.30 pm, the Iranian regime attacked the MEKs Camp Habib, which is only 35 kilometers from Irans border, using a large truck carrying 2.5 tons of explosives. This blast left a 12-meter wide crater next to the base, killed five MEK, and injured dozens. A number of Iraqi civilians near the blast site were also killed or injured.

Muhandis had relocated to Iran shortly after finishing university in the late 1970s and received training in a camp. Then, he moved to Kuwait, where he took part in political and security measures against the Iraqi government. During that time, he is also accused of planning bombings of the US and French embassies in Kuwait, which left five people dead.

In 2003, he returned to Iraq as a security advisor to then-Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari. His past was discovered by the US in 2007 and Muhandis returned to Iran until all US forces left Iraq in 2011. Then, he became deputy chief of Hashd al-Shaabi, the Iraqi militia equivalent of Irans paramilitary Basij force.

There is no doubt, that he was an Iran Regime stooge.

Muhandis told Iraqs Al-Sharqiya TV in February 2019: I have very strong relations with the Islamic Republic and their officials because I lived in the Islamic Republic of Iran for 25 years and have worked with them I have many contacts with different Shiite and Sunni political groups and Kurds. This goes way back and is nothing new. I was present in Najaf (southern Iraq) during the first and second seditions. Our friends in the government in that period know that from May 2004 to the end of that year, they know that I used my personal assets to quell the fire in Najaf and strived to end the war.

In fact, during the floods in Iran last year, the mullahs regime ordered the Quds Force to dispatch Iraqi mercenaries, including Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi members, to Khuzestan in southwest Iran to contain the locals growing anger.
EAMONN ANDREWS

Eamonn was the very first host of the gameshow when it aired in 1955. He began his career back in 1946 working as a sports commentator for Irish radio station Radio Eireann.

His first gameshow gig came in 1945 when he began hosting What's My Line? where celebrity panellists would try and guess guests' occupations.

As well as his successful career as a presenter Andrews reached number 18 in the UK charts with a 'spoken narrative' recording named 'The Shifting Whispering Sands', in 1956.

He went on to host his own namesake chat show, all the while keeping up his career as a sports commentator, first on the BBC then ABC.

Aside from Crackerjack! Andrews was best known for presenting This Is Your Life until his death in 1987 having passed away from heart failure at the age of 64.

LESLIE CROWTHER

Leslie was host for Crackerjack! from 1960 for eight years. He was often referred to as the 'game show king' with the Price is Right and Stars in their Eyes also under his belt.

While his on-screen life was a big success, Leslie faced his own demons as, like his father he was an alcoholic.

He was arrested for drink driving in 1983 which went relatively under the raydar but in 1988 he arrived at a gala in Glastonbury drunk which received far more media attention. He went into rehab the following year.

In 1992 Leslie's showbiz career was bought to an end when he sustained life-threatening injuries from a car crash. He died four years later from heart failure at the age of 63.

MICHAEL ASPEL

Aspel succeeded Eamonn Andrews on Crackerjack! as well as This Is Your Life.

His TV career began as a newsreader in Cardiff before becoming a lead anchor on the BBC national channel later becoming a presenter on the kids gameshow and Come Dancing.

He went on to host his own show Aspel & Company, inviting high profile guests such as Margaret Thatcher, and members of the Beatles who were interviewed on the Saturday night programme.

Michael Aspel's career was given a huge boost by his appearance on Crackerjack

Other hosting gigs include the Antiques Roadshow which he presented for eight years until 2008.

In 2003, Aspel revealed that he has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a slow-growing or indolent cancer of the lymphatic system.

It was discovered by chance during tests for prostate problems, and he underwent a course of chemotherapy.

But against his specialist's advice, he has decided not to have further treatment. He has kept a low profile career wise since his diagnosis.

ED STEWART

DJ and presenter Stewart hosted his best known show Crackerjack! for six years from 1973.

Devon-born Stewart had a broadcasting career that's lasted for more than five decades, including working as an announcer, film critic and rugby reporter according to the BBC.

Ed 'stewpot' Stewart during an appearance on the show filmed in January 1977

Stewart was one of the first presenters on Radio 1 when it was launched in 1967.

The following year, he began presenting children's show Junior Choice, which became his trademark radio show.

Stewart presented a Christmas edition of Junior Choice for BBC Radio 2 in 2015.

He died in 2016 at the age of 74 after suffering stroke.

Veteran Crackerjack star Stu Francis is set to make an appearance in the new series

STU FRANCIS

The Bolton-born comedian presented Crackerjack! for five years from 1979 and was one of the most memorable presenters thanks to his catchphrases.

Francis' most iconic was 'I could crush a grape' but variations included: 'I could pop a balloon', I could rip a tissue' and 'I could pummel a peach'.

In fact his famous catchphrase lead to him hosting his very own programme Crush a Grape with a similar premise to Crackerjack!

He also released a single under the same name in 1983. His last television credit was in 2013 when he appeared in an episode of Sooty.
VANCOUVER, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Franciosi Consulting Ltd. ("FCL") is pleased to announce that it has been retained by Vicenna Pharmaceuticals Inc., a new private drug discovery company in Vancouver, British Columbia, to assist with its new research addressing the unmet needs of patients with asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

FCL's President and CEO, Dr. Luigi Franciosi stated, "We are excited to help Vicenna with its new drug discovery programs for asthma and COPD - two major respiratory diseases that affect millions around the World. Currently, there is an emerging trend of 'bifunctional' molecules being developed where dual activity can be produced from the same molecule. For example, ensifentrine (RPL554) is a phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 (PDE3/PDE4) enzyme inhibitor under clinical development for the treatment of COPD, asthma and cystic fibrosis; it produces both bronchodilation and anti-inflammatory effects. We aim to use a similar approach to Vicenna's drug discovery program." Dr. Luigi Franciosi brings a wealth of experience as a pharmacologist and an executive in the pharmaceutical industry within Canada, Europe and Asia. He has developed many important relationships with leading academics, industry experts and regulators on various continents, whom could be called upon to assist with any particular problem, project or operation when necessary. Currently, Dr. Luigi Franciosi is an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine at The University of British Columbia.

About Franciosi Consulting Ltd. (FCL).

FCL is a BC company legally incorporated in 2015 by Luigi Franciosi ("Lui") to advise on the operational and research needs of the pharmaceutical and seniors care industries. Lui has a PhD from The University of British Columbia and has been performance-driven and goal-oriented senior executive for many years. His past academic work focused on the use of pain medications as well as respiratory diseases, in particular, Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and Cough. Lui's industrial experiences have been executive roles overseeing drug development programs and managing seniors care homes. His adopted mantra in searching for new drugs has been "Fail quickly, fail cheaply with the best science possible, quickly obtain clinical proof-of-concept (POC), limit investment in infrastructure and put managerial effort only into projects that meet previously assigned milestones." He uses a supportive style of leadership in any role undertaken. He encourages staff and colleagues to think first before doing. Lui likes a solutions approach when dealing with any daily issues that arise. His favourite quote is 'Don't complain, don't explain, just do it!"

For more information, please visit Dr. Franciosi's company website at https://franciosiconsulting.com , his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/luifranciosi/, his Twitter @luifran7 feed at https://twitter.com/luifran7, or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Luigi-Franciosi-101111588060828

"Dr. Luigi Franciosi"

Dr. Luigi Franciosi, President and Chief Executive Officer

SOURCE Franciosi Consulting Ltd.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 17:09:16|Editor: Wang Yamei

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PHNOM PENH, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodian court has granted bail to the owners of a six-story building that collapsed on Friday, leaving 36 people dead and 23 others injured, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

"Judge Long Kespirom, president of the Kampot Provincial Court, decided to release the building's owners, a man and his wife, on bail on Monday evening," Mann Boreth, a spokesman for the Kampot Provincial Court, told Xinhua.

"But the judge decided to place the couple under the court's supervision, not allowing them to leave Cambodia," he said.

The owners of the collapsed building were identified as Ek Sarun and his wife Chhiv Sothy, both are Cambodians.

The under-construction guesthouse building came down at around 4:30 p.m. local time on Friday in Kep city in southwestern Kep province when workers were pouring concrete to build the seventh floor.

All victims were Cambodians, and among them were a male-contractor, construction workers and their family members, including children.

As a probe has been conducted, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen blamed a male-contractor, who was also killed in the rubble, for the collapse of the building.

"A preliminary probe indicated that there were two mistakes already," he said in a press conference on Sunday at the end of the 43-hour search and rescue operation.

First, the contractor used smaller steel bars than the steel bars required in the building's masterplan and second, the contractor removed the wooden scaffolding supporting wet concrete slabs in 10 days, as the safe period for the removal was 28 days, he said.

"The contractor's mistake resulted in this tragedy," Hun Sen said.
University of North Georgia (UNG) alumna Kathy Tillman believes she inherited her Type A personality from her mother, who she described as a caretaker and multitasker.

It was no surprise when Tillman tackled a job that required not only multitasking but problem-solving skills with a caring spirit for clients. She wanted to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

"I loved problem-solving, and that is what the profession of accounting is," she said. "An issue, problem or situation is presented and clients look to you to solve it."

After she graduated in 1982 from UNG, Tillman pursued her passion.

"I sat for my CPA exam right away and the rest is history," she said.

That history included making history. After working in the industry for two decades and becoming a mother of two, Tillman established an all-female accounting firm in 2002 in Gainesville, Georgia.

"It was a good economy at the time, and I had a skill that clients appreciated," she said.

Tillman started Tillman, Bailey & Associates, with her business partner, Sue Bailey, with the intent of being a female-centric firm. They remained that way for a long time.

"It was a big deal that many years ago because it was a business that usually was considered a man's world," Tillman said. "Now, the industry has more female accountants than before."

Starting the business took a lot of dedication. From 1985 to 2002, Tillman built her clientele and her reputation.

"I specialized in international inbounds where shareholders had a home in a foreign country but established bases in Gainesville and north Georgia," she said.

Tillman parlayed her success with clients into her own business and has maintained a focus on her clients' needs and the relationships.

"We built the firm on having quality of services that we provide and the personal relationship with our clients," Tillman said. "There is always a partner involved with the clients. Some firms don't operate that way, but we do."

Supporting clients is a characteristic she learned from former UNG dean and accounting professor, Dr. Larry Dennis.

"He was my mentor, and I admired him so much," Tillman said. "He was a supportive professor and dean of the school. He was a fabulous professor."

Dennis, now retired from UNG, advised Tillman to pursue a double degree.

"Because I transferred from two universities, I had a lot of extra credits," she said. "Dr. Dennis realized that and said I should go ahead and get a double major."

She did and has Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in accounting and finance.

Her ability to manage her time in college and later as a CPA has served her well in her current role. As managing partner of Tillman, Bailey, Samples and Associates, she prioritizes her duties for the day. Those responsibilities range from conferences with clients to troubleshooting a problem with staff members.

"Every day is a different challenge," Tillman said, indicating one thing always remains the same. "I like interacting with the clients. Because of the good rapport I have established, they will call to ask a business question and tell me about their families and the great news happening for them. Connecting with people is what I like, and I experience that every day."

Tillman also maintains her connections with UNG. A point of pride is the company's ability to provide UNG students with internships throughout the year, which can lead to a full-time job. Lauren Samples, a UNG alumna, joined the firm in 2006 and years later worked up into the ranks of partner.

"We've had a lot of support from UNG," Tillman said. "It's such a great program."
By Amanda Becker WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren won the backing on Monday of former rival Julian Castro, putting the only Latino candidate in a once historically diverse 2020 presidential field in her corner just weeks ahead of the first nominating contest

By Amanda Becker

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren won the backing on Monday of former rival Julian Castro, putting the only Latino candidate in a once historically diverse 2020 presidential field in her corner just weeks ahead of the first nominating contest.

Castro last week became the latest Democratic candidate to end a White House bid. There are now 14 candidates vying to take on President Donald Trump in November 2020.

Castro's endorsement of Warren comes as the U.S. senator from Massachusetts is entering the final critical weeks before the nominating contests kick off on Feb. 3 in Iowa. He could become a high-profile campaigner on Warren's behalf as the contest moves on to states such as Nevada, the first with a sizable bloc of Hispanic voters.

"Elizabeth and I share a vision of America where everyone counts. An America where people - not the wealthy or well-connected - are put first. I'm proud to join her in the fight for big, structural change," Castro wrote on Twitter.

Castro, 45, will make his debut with Warren at an event in Brooklyn, New York on Tuesday.

When Castro left the 2020 race, the former mayor of San Antonio, Texas, and former Housing Department chief during the Obama administration said in a video message to supporters that he had "determined that it simply isn't our time."

Though Warren, 70, remains in the top tier of contenders, she trails former Vice President Joe Biden and fellow U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont in national opinion polls. Her fundraising also dipped in the final quarter of 2019, when she brought in millions less than Sanders and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana.

In a video Castro posted along with his endorsement announcement, he and Warren discuss the 2020 race over tea in her kitchen. "You did so many things in this campaign, and it continues to matter," Warren told him.

(Reporting By Amanda Becker; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bill Berkrot)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Emilia Fox has revealed her daughter Rose, nine, has no interest in following in her parents' footsteps and becoming an actor.

The Silent Witness star, 45, comes from a thespian family with her parents, Edward Fox and Joanna David, both having successful acting careers.

Rose's father Jeremy Gilley is also an actor but she has no desire to enter the profession, citing the early morning starts as a deterrent.

Family: Emilia Fox, 45, has revealed her daughter Rose, nine, has no interest in following in her parents' footsteps and becoming an actor

Speaking on Tuesday's episode of Lorraine on ITV, Emilia said: 'Nope, she does not want to do acting at all, she said you have to get up too early which is very sensible.

'I think Im just going to give her as many options as possible, at the moment she wants to be a comedian.'

Emilia and Jeremy began dating in 2010 after her split from ex husband and Mad Men star Jared Harris.

She announced her pregnancy in May of that year and welcomed Rose in November before she and Jeremy split in 2011.

Not interested: Rose's father Jeremy Gilley is also an actor but she has no desire to enter the profession, citing the early morning starts as a deterrent

During her interview, Emilia also spoke about her work on crime drama Silent Witness where she has starred as Dr Nikki Alexander since 2004.

Speaking about the continued interest in the show after 22 series, Emilia said: 'I think its being able to go behind the scenes in crime solving and seeing the different methods used.

'The forensic science and these opening episodes start with a plane crash and the Lyle team are brought in to investigate if it was an accident or not.'

Interview: Speaking on Tuesday's episode of Lorraine on ITV, Emilia said: 'Nope, she does not want to do acting at all, she said you have to get up too early which is very sensible'

Emilia added: 'I think Im just going to give her as many options as possible, at the moment she wants to be a comedian'

Career: During her interview, Emilia also spoke about her work on crime drama Silent Witness where she has starred as Dr Nikki Alexander since 2004

Emilia is also known for starring in Delicious with Dawn French which wrapped in 2019 after three season.

Speaking about the series, she said: 'I loved it, we did three series together, had a great time and dawn is doing other things and I was doing other things but hopefully one day Id love to do a special.'

The actress also spoke about her role in the BBC series The Trial of Christine Keeler where she plays film star Valerie Hobson Profumo, whose husband John Profumo has an affair with the title character.

Show: Emilia is also known for starring in Delicious with Dawn French which wrapped in 2019 after three season

She said: 'I loved it, we did three series together, had a great time and dawn is doing other things and I was doing other things but hopefully one day Id love to do a special'

She said: 'What I loved about it is that we have some idea of the headlines of that scandal, but actually this series with six episodes got to explore what happens to the human beings behind a scandal like that.'

Emilia is cousins with fellow actor Laurence Fox and discussed his infamous interview with Lorraine last year where he admitted he was hungover.

She explained: 'It was the morning after the gig for his new album... that was such fun and it was lovely to spend time with him.

'Life takes us on different paths, he's so multitalented, Lawrence, and we did Top Gear together.'

Meanwhile, on ITV's This Morning, Emilia's actor brother Freddie Fox discussed his upcoming role in the crime drama series White House Farm.

Role: On ITV's This Morning, Emilia's actor brother Freddie Fox discussed his upcoming role in the crime drama series White House Farm

He portrays Jeremy Bamber in the series, who was convicted of killing his parents, sister and her twin sons at their family home in August 1985.

The victims were Sheila Caffell, her twin sons Daniel and Nicholas, and her parents Neville and June Bamber.

Freddie admitted he did not meet with Bamber, who is serving life imprisonment, in preparation for the role,

He said: 'I should make it clear at this, I didnt turn down an opportunity. I never made an approach.

'I decided to do that in conjunction with my director and the criminal psychologist I was working with as we thought it wasnt beneficial to go down that route. There was so much footage I could use so it wasn't beneficial.

Crime drama: He portrays Jeremy Bamber in the series, who was convicted of killing his parents, sister and her twin sons at their family home in August 1985

Freddie said he felt a 'duty' to portray the story fairly out of respect to the real people involved.

He said: 'You feel duty bound to get through as much of it as you possibly can as real people are involved here and there are surviving victims.

'I went to Colin Caffell's memoir (Sheila Caffell's ex-husband) and process of grief, and the murders on Whitehouse farm, I talked to criminal psychologists.'

Freddie added that Colin was 'supportive' of the production's efforts to tell the story.

He said: 'I think understandably Colin has been very resistant to something like this being made and probably still it's retelling that moment for a public audience but he knew that this team were going to tell it right.

'He was so supportive to me personally and the entire groups so that they got it right.'
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is making a campaign stop in deep-blue New Jersey later this month to reward U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew for switching parties and voting against his impeachment.

Trump will travel to Wildwood, New Jersey, in Van Drews district on Jan. 28 to hold a rally, his campaign announced.

Trump endorsed the Democrat-turned-Republican during an Oval Office meeting on Dec. 19, when Van Drew formally announced he was leaving the Democratic Party after providing Trump with a symbolic victory in the prior days impeachment vote. Van Drew bucked Democrats to join a united Republican Party in opposing impeachment.

Van Drew said at the time that he believed the GOP was a better fit and promised Trump his undying support. Trump promised to return the favour and announced that he was endorsing Van Drew for reelection and labeled him a tremendous asset for the party.

Van Drew had been facing an uphill Democratic primary battle, including a challenge from Brigid Harrison, a Montclair State University political science professor who had secured the backing of top local Democrats, including the New Jersey Senate president.

Amy Kennedy, the wife of former Rhode Island Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy, entered the Democratic race on Monday.
In what seems to be part of Beijings continuing efforts to fight western influence on its school curriculum, China on Tuesday banned foreign textbooks from primary and middle schools, state media reports said.

The new regulation issued by the ministry of education (MoE) added that textbook authors and editors who have a negative morality should be replaced.

The report indicated that the ministry found that certain schools in China were using foreign textbooks without authorisation, despite the governments earlier intervention.

The ban comes a little more than a year after Beijing mandated a month-long campaign in October 2018 to remove unapproved or foreign content from school textbooks.

On Tuesday, the MoE said, all primary and middle schools, which together make up the countrys nine-year compulsory education period, cannot use teaching materials from overseas.

A ministry spokesperson was quoted by the news website sixthtone.com as saying that the new guidelines were introduced so that the system adheres to the correct political direction and a value orientation education.

The report, quoting the rules said, universities, vocational schools, international high schools, and international programs at domestic high schools are still allowed to use imported teaching materials, as domestic teaching materials arent sufficient to meet teaching demands.

Such institutions, however, will be encouraged to choose versions that have been translated and distributed by Chinese publishers.

On the other hand, all primary and middle schools, as well as vocational institutions, must adopt the countrys unified teaching materials for Chinese language, history, and politics, which tend to have a strong ideological slant and may involve content related to state sovereignty, security, ethnicity, and religion, said the regulation as quoted by Sixth Tone.

The regulations stipulate that authors and editors of teaching materials must hold a firm political stance in line with that of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The authors of articles selected for inclusion in textbooks should also have positive historical evaluations and a good social image.

The reason behind the ban of foreign content could be to ensure that there was no gap whatsoever in shaping academic curriculum according to the CPCs interpretation of history and events.

Chinese nationalism and patriotism in school curriculum have been in sharp focus under President Xi Jinping.

During a visit to a school in Macau, one of Chinas special administrative regions, in December, Xi stressed the need to know history in order to consolidate the foundation of patriotism.

The 1.4 billion Chinese are so closely united due to the richness of the Chinese civilization and the Chinese spirit, which are the source of cultural confidence, he told the students.

One can easily feel a strong sense of national self-esteem and national pride after knowing our uninterrupted history spanning over five millennia, Xi said.

And only by knowing the nations history of humiliation after the Opium War, can one understand the Chinese peoples strong yearning for national rejuvenation, he added.

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An article on Saturday about the decision by President Trump to order the killing of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani misspelled the given name of the defense secretary. He is Mark T. Esper, not Marc.

An article on Saturday about threats exchanged between the United States and Iran after the death of General Suleimani described incorrectly the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force. It was approved by Congress to grant legal authority to wage war in Iraq, not to enable military action against Al Qaeda.

INTERNATIONAL

An article on Sunday about the effect the conflict with Iran will have on the fight against ISIS misstated the occupation of the American whose killing helped precipitate the United States strike on Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani. The American was a civilian contractor, not a soldier.

NATIONAL

Because of an editing error, an article on Saturday about the Department of Homeland Securitys assessment of potential threats from Iran misstated the name of the departments transportation agency. It is the Transportation Security Administration, not the Transportation Security Agency.
Michigans two U.S. senators, both Democrats, effectively blocked President Donald Trumps choice to serve as the U.S. attorney for western Michigan.

Former Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard, a Dewitt Republican and prosecutor, was nominated by Trump in September of last year after running an unsuccessful state attorney general campaign in 2018. However, U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, and Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, did not issue an opinion on Leonards fitness for the position, causing his nomination to lapse at the start of a new year last week.

Trump will need to re-nominate Leonard if the president wants him to preside over the Western District, which covers all of the Upper Penninsula and 34 counties on the west side of the Lower Penninsula.

Senators from the state where a federal judicial nominee resides are given special privilege to weigh in on the presidents nominees through a blue-slip process.

Stabenow and Peters endorsed other Trump nominees in the past, including Eastern District Court Judges Stephanie Dawkins Davis and Matthew Schneider, and U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Joan Larsen.

Stabenow said she was unable to support Leonards nomination given our deep policy differences" in a statement.

A statement from Peters office said Trump waited two-and-a-half years to fill the vacancy, then didnt consult Michigans senators before nominating Leonard, breaking with the traditional process. Peters has serious concerns with Leonards nomination, the statement said, but Peters had agreed to meet with Leonard regarding his nomination.

However, Leonard says hes disappointed his nomination was blocked by the Democratic senators without a so much as an interview. Leonard said he was in contact with the senators staff, but as 2019 wore on he was unable to meet with Stabenow or Peters to discuss his qualifications and vision for the office.

Im not going to impute motives or get into the politics, Leonard said. Im going to leave the politics between the senators and the White House. What I know is that there are 94 districts throughout the country, and right now the Western District of Michigan is only one of eight that does not have representation.

Meanwhile, Leonard touted bipartisan support for his nomination. Leonard was endorsed by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, the latter of whom said he appreciates Leonards heart for service and seeking justice.

Duggan said Leonard was an honorable and committed partner while Detroit sought to reform auto insurance laws in the state. Leonard provided letters in support of his nomination to MLive.

On paper, we could be viewed as opposites, but when it came to doing the right thing and putting the needs of citizens first, Mr. Leonard stood with me at the front of the line, Duggan wrote in his letter of recommendation. It is for these reasons I find Mr. Leonard uniquely qualified to serve our citizens as a United States Attorney. He possesses the leadership skills, character, and experience necessary to excel in this position and I strongly encourage the Senate to move quickly to confirm him.

Nearly 80 state prosecutors and sheriffs, the Police Officers Association of Michigan and the Michigan Fraternal Order of Police also endorsed Leonard, among others.

There is no doubt that Im law enforcements choice for this position, Leonard said. Unfortunately, I have not been able to discuss my vision for the office. I have not been able to discuss my priorities for the office, because neither senator is willing to take a meeting with me to discuss those.

Leonard said he hasnt been in contact with the Trump administration about whether the president will submit a new nomination for him in 2020. The office has remained open for nearly three years.

Leonard said the roughly 3.5 million Michigan residents covered by the district are being done a disservice by not having a Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney. Andrew Birge has served as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan since Trump took office in 2017.

Leonard highlighted how Former Attorney General Eric Holder told The Detroit News last year that West Michigan not having a Senate-confirmed federal prosecutor for so long is just nuts."

Theres not anybody there to make the real tough decisions, theres not somebody there to be able to come in and set priorities and a vision for the office, Leonard said. My goals and my priorities were to combat violent crime, to combat the opioid epidemic and to take on public corruption here in the state of Michigan.
Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations.
Chennai, Jan 7 : With the current head of the Murugappa group being inducted into the holding company board soon after his father passed away, the argument that legal heirs do not have the right to acquire directorship based on inheritance, is not a valid one against the family's claim, a Murugappa family member said on Tuesday.

"We believe that simply searching for a written agreement, or saying that there is no legal right for heirs to acquire directorship is not the only barometer. It is also a question of fairness, transparency and good governance that all stakeholders be provided fair and equal representation," Valli Arunachalam told IANS here.

US-based Arunachalam, the daughter of late M.V. Murugappan, has alleged that the group promoters have a gender bias against women getting into family business and hence she and her sister were denied a board berth in Ambadi Investments Ltd after their father's death in 2017.

Arunachalam said that after her father's demise, her family does not have a board representation in the group holding company Ambadi Investments.

Experts in company law have told IANS that a board berth for a female or male is not guaranteed by birth, or by getting married into the family, nor it is hereditary.

Recalling the circumstances that led to Executive Chairman M.M. Murugappan being inducted into the board of Ambadi Investments, she said it was occasioned by his father M.M. Muthiah passing away on January 6, 1979.

"M.M. Murugappan (then in his early twenties, barely out of college and having just joined the family business) was appointed on the Ambadi board on March 3, 1979.. strange, I assume that he expressed an inclination to be appointed only once his father passed away and the board decided to include him only once his father passed away," Arunachalam said.

She wondered what work experience Murugappan had then to be inducted into the Ambadi Investments board.

"Does this not lead to an inference that there is some practice being followed of respecting each family's position on the board?" she asked.

"You should also know that when the family made the assertion to us that the directorship is not connected to inheritance, we brought up the above example to them, and they have not refuted this," Arunachalam added.

Pointing out that Ambadi Investments is just a holding company of the group and not an operating company she asked: "Would it then not be natural for all the family branches to be represented. Also, we do not understand that if there can be eight directors (ensuring all branches are represented). What, then, could be the concern for members of the family or the management of Ambadi to not 'include' us, that is, exclude us?" Queried about whether there exists a shareholders agreement that provides for board berths for legal heirs, Arunachalam said that there is no such written agreement to her knowledge.

She also added that her family members do not have access to all the information that the members of other family branches have.

Citing news reports pertaining to the unwritten practice followed by the group of keeping out female members from the family business, Arunachalam said: "It is a very technical and artificial stance to search for a written agreement or clause in the articles demonstrating gender disparity and bias, when there is enough material in black and white indicating the existence and acknowledgment of a practice." Arunachalam also said if the family's demand for board berth is not met, then the other branches of the family should pay a fair market value for her eight per cent stake held in Ambadi Investments.

According to Arunachalam, she is trying to enforce her father's will to secure a board berth for the family member based on the shareholding in Ambadi Investments.

She had broached the subject of board membership with the family seniors but didn't get a satisfactory reply and any affirmative action in this regard.

One of the leading and respected industrial conglomerates, the Chennai-headquartered Murugappa group has 28 business, including nine listed companies.

The major companies in the group are: Carborundum Universal, Cholamandalam Financial Holdings, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company, Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company, Coromandel International, Coromandel Engineering Company, E.I.D. Parry (India), Parry Agro Industries Ltd, Shanthi Gears, Tube Investments of India, and Wendt (India).

Meanwhile, the Murugappa group maintains a studied silence on the family rift that has now come out into the open.

According to a company law expert, the rift is not a material development for the group's listed entities to intimate the stock exchanges.
Investigative Documentary 'The Red Sea Miracle' Exposes the Intricacies of the Long-Celebrated Old Testament Event Coming to Movie Theaters  An Epic and Unprecedented Two-Film Release from 'Patterns of Evidence' in February and May of 2020



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Patterns of Evidence

Jan. 7, 2020



MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 7, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Patterns of Evidence, makers of The Exodus and The Moses Controversy, will release its newest title, The Red Sea Miracle, a different kind of cinematic biblical adventure. Featuring award-winning filmmaker Timothy Mahoney, The Red Sea Miracle dives deep into two long-held views of Moses' ancient parting of the Red Sea to investigate the validity of one of God's most celebrated miracles.



"From Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments to DreamWorks' The Prince of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea continues to be one of God's most popular works recorded in Scripture," said Mahoney. "But the evidence for it is tricky, and there are different schools of thought concerning how and where it happened. In the making of The Red Sea Miracle, it was my mission to explore those perspectives as thoroughly as possible in pursuit of discovering what exactly took place before the Israelites on that fateful day and where."



Through conducting an on-site investigation and working closely with a spectrum of source experts and commentators ranging from radio host Eric Metaxas to Egyptologist Manfred Bietak and Cecillia DeMille Presley, granddaughter of Cecil B. DeMille, Mahoney explores both the Egyptian and Hebrew beliefs about the Red Sea's parting to uncover a range of evidence about the details concerning the miracle described in Exodus 14.



"For two decades, I've been investigating this miracle," said Mahoney. "It's been a privilege to watch this biblical work come to life, and I'm eager to share its many nuances with the world through this two-part on-screen event."



The Red Sea Miracle will show in select theaters as a two-part Fathom event; part one, which investigates the journey to the different proposed crossing sites where the miracle took place, releases February 18, 2020, and part two, which explores how the sea was miraculously parted and if any evidence still remains today, follows on May 5, 2020. The feature presentation will be followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion.



For more information about The Red Sea Miracle, visit https://patternsofevidence.com/redsea.



About Patterns of Evidence

As Bible-based filmmakers and curriculum writers, Patterns of Evidence is a biblical resource for educators and critical thinkers seeking substantial material for growing in the faith. The company has released two informative films including The Moses Controversy and The Exodus. Its newest release, The Red Sea Miracle, has been in the making for nearly two decades and will release to theaters in 2020. To learn more, visit https://patternsofevidence.com/.



SOURCE Patterns of Evidence



CONTACT: Heidi McDow, 972-267-1111, heidi@alarryross.com



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https://patternsofevidence.com/



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2019 in climate science: A continued warming trend and 'bleak' research

Posted on 7 January 2020 by dana1981

This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections

The last six years have been the six hottest globally ever recorded by humans.

2014 had been the hottest year up to that point, until the record was shattered in 2015, and again in 2016 thanks to a monster El Nino event. El Ninos bring hot water up to the ocean surface where it warms the temperature of the surface air that most directly influences and interests humanity. Next came 2017, the second-hottest year recorded by humans, but far and away the hottest that wasnt influenced by an El Nino event. And then 2018, the fourth-hottest overall, but by far the hottest year on record that was cooled by a La Nina event.

And now 2019, warmed by a moderate El Nino event and as such not as hot as 2016 with its monster El Nino; but it was nevertheless the second-hottest year on record, and quite possibly the second-hottest in the history of human civilization.

As global warming has continued, so too has the volume of peer-reviewed reports and studies published by climate scientists documenting its accelerating impacts. Here are some of the most influential climate change research papers published in calendar 2019.

United Nations IPCC reports

The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published two special reports in 2019, one documenting climate change impacts on land and food security, the other on the oceans and ice. Both reports warned that the risks of severe climate change impacts will grow as global temperatures warm beyond the 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius (2.7 and 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) targets set in the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Food security will become increasingly threatened, as will important marine species and ecosystems like coral reefs. Melting ice sheets will continue to accelerate sea-level rise, and permafrost, once-but-no-longer-permanently frozen, will release increasing amounts of previously trapped carbon into the atmosphere as it thaws. Those are but a few of the growing climate change threats documented in the IPCC special reports, which were widely characterized as being bleak.

A report produced by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in November 2019 also documented that countries planned fossil fuel extraction efforts will far overshoot the Paris climate targets. While global fossil fuel production and associated carbon emissions must peak and begin to fall within a few years to meet those goals, countries instead plan to continue increasing fossil fuel extraction through the year 2040, which would be consistent with a pathway of more than 3 degrees C (5.4 degrees F) hotter than pre-industrial temperatures by the end of the century. This report highlighted an important disconnect between countries goals to curb global warming and their plans to continue extracting ever-more fossil fuels.

Scientists are becoming increasingly concerned and outspoken about this disconnect. In November, more than 11,000 scientists signed a letter published in the journal BioScience declaring clearly and unequivocally that planet Earth is facing a climate emergency.

According to Altmetric, which tracks which scientific research most captures the publics interest each year, the UNEP report was the fourth-most influential scientific paper published in 2019, with coverage in 527 news outlets and 8,290 tweets.

Studies on the climate of the Common Era

Climate scientists best global temperature reconstructions cover the past 2,000 years, a period also known as the Common Era. Several studies investigating the details of temperature changes over the Common Era were published in 2019.

In July, the journal Nature published a study that looked for significant natural climate change events during that period, such as the Medieval Warm Period (approximately the years 950 to 1250) and the Little Ice Age (approximately 1300 to 1850). The authors reported that they find no evidence for preindustrial globally coherent cold and warm epochs  the warmest period of the past two millennia occurred during the twentieth century for more than 98% of the globe. This provides strong evidence that anthropogenic global warming is not only unparalleled in terms of absolute temperatures, but also unprecedented in spatial consistency within the context of the past 2,000 years.

According to Altmetric, that Nature report was the 28th-most influential scientific paper of 2019, with coverage in 264 news outlets and 1,930 tweets.

The Past Global Changes consortium of more than 5,000 scientists from some 125 countries published its newest reconstruction of global temperatures over the Common Era in Nature Geoscience in July. That group similarly concluded, The largest warming trends at timescales of 20 years and longer occur during the second half of the twentieth century, highlighting the unusual character of the warming in recent decades.

A study published in Quaternary Science Reviews in March 2019 sought to determine whether the arrival of Europeans in the Americas in 1492 and the subsequent large-scale massacres of native populations (an estimated 56 million deaths by 1600, shrinking the indigenous population 90%) had a detectable influence on the global climate. Forests re-grew on land previously altered by humans, which the authors estimated led to 5?ppm CO2 additional uptake into the land surface in the 1500s compared to the 1400s  The Great Dying of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas resulted in a human-driven global impact on the Earth System in the two centuries prior to the Industrial Revolution.

According to Altmetric, the Quaternary Science Reviews study was the 46th-most influential scientific paper of 2019, with coverage in 101 news outlets and 4,141 tweets.

Research in 2019 on coral reefs

Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems in the world and a critical source of food and habitat for about 25% of the oceans fish. Theyre also among the species and ecosystems most vulnerable to the changing climate, and thus are the subject of much scientific research.

Researchers published a study in Nature Climate Change exploring the resilience of Great Barrier Reef corals that had survived an extreme hot year in 2016 only to be hard-hit again by extreme heat the following year. The results offered a rare source of encouragement, finding that corals that survived 2016 without bleaching were also more resistant to bleaching in 2017.

According to Altmetric, that study was the 14th-most influential scientific paper of 2019, with coverage in 47 news outlets and 6,228 tweets celebrating the good news.

The 22nd-most influential paper, with coverage in 98 news outlets with 4,812 tweets, however, painted a bleaker picture for the Great Barrier Reef. Published in Nature in April, authors of the study found that larval recruitment (the settlement of fish and coral larvae necessary for a healthy ecosystem) declined 89% in 2018 after those two extreme hot years. This study received a boost of media attention in November, when in a Nature Communications study, scientists used underwater speakers to replicate the sounds of healthy coral reefs. They found that twice as many fish arrived and stayed as in areas where no sound was played. This finding provides some hope that coral reef ecosystem recovery could be accelerated  if the reefs arent continually battered year after year by extreme heat.

The years major findings on flora and fauna

Land species also were the subject of several influential papers published in 2019. One published in Science in July estimated the number of trees that could be planted and the amount of carbon they could pull out of the atmosphere. Ecosystems could support an additional 0.9 billion hectares of continuous forest. This would represent a greater than 25% increase in forested area, including more than 200 gigatonnes of additional carbon at maturity. Those numbers would represent a removal of about one-third of cumulative human carbon emissions through current times, and 20 years worth at the current rate of about 10 billion tons of carbon per year. However, some scientific groups disputed the accuracy of these estimates, which also rely on foresting every available hectare of land. Nevertheless, the study was Altmetrics 9th-most influential of 2019, with coverage in 330 news outlets and 6,518 tweets.

Two 2019 studies finding alarming rates of species extinctions were also high on Altmetrics list. One published in Biological Conservation in April found dramatic rates of decline that may lead to the extinction of 40% of the worlds insect species over the next few decades as a result of various human factors including climate change, which is particularly important in tropical regions. This study was Altmetrics 13th-most influential of the year, with coverage in 251 news outlets and 4,679 tweets.

In the second study, published in Science in October, researchers surveyed bird species and found a net loss approaching three billion birds, or 29% of 1970 abundance as a result of habitat loss, agricultural intensification, coastal disturbance, and direct anthropogenic mortality, all exacerbated by climate change. That study was Altmetrics 34th-most influential paper, with coverage in 259 news outlets and 1,465 tweets.

These studies are consistent with the bleak notion that Earth is currently on a path to its sixth mass extinction event. (An upcoming post at this site will look in depth at major 2019 research reports addressing wildlife and climate change.)

The past years major findings on melting ice

Several high-profile papers in 2019 also addressed the accelerating melting of ice and its implications. One, published in Science Advances in June, found that since 2001, Himalayan glaciers have been losing ice at a rate twice as fast as they had in the prior 25 years. Those glaciers provide an important source of water for billions of people in China, India, Pakistan, and several other countries in the region. The paper was Altmetrics 65th-most influential, with coverage in 294 news outlets and 414 tweets.

A January study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that over the past decade, Antarctica has been losing ice at a rate six times faster than during the 1980s. And another paper published in PNAS in June asking experts about future sea-level rise projections found that because of accelerating ice sheet declines, a rise of more than two meters (about six feet) by the year 2100 remains within the realm of possibility. Those were the 86th- and 70th-most influential papers of 2019, respectively.

Overall, the second-hottest year was, sadly but perhaps unsurprisingly, full of bleak news in climate science research. Climate scientists findings and reports increasingly raise the alarm of a climate emergency or climate crisis  terms that many in the mainstream media began to use regularly in 2019 without feeling the need to qualify or use quotes. Because of climate scientists increasingly concerning research findings and language, climate crisis is becoming more widely accepted and used as the norm.
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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.
Hundreds of staff of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) will no longer be on the employment of the bank in 2020 after they were asked to resign in an on-going restructuring exercise being conducted by the bank, PREMIUM TIMES findings show.

Multiple sources told this newspaper that many of the affected staff are officers who have spent between 10 to 13 years in the service of the bank.

Some of the affected staff, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES under the condition of anonymity, gave different narratives of how the exercise was conducted at different branches of the bank nationwide, between last December and the first week of January. They also said that the decision came to them as a rude shock.

The development has since caused disquiet among staff and a section of the public, amidst reports of mass lay-offs in the bank.

But in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, the banks spokesperson, Nasir Ramon, said that there was no lay-off of staff in the bank. Mr Ramon explained that some staff who under-performed during the banks internal appraisal exercise were advised to resign based on UBAs right-sizing policy.

The right-sizing exercise, he said, also involves the streamlining of the banks grade structure so that staff can enjoy an accelerated professional life, adding that affected staff would be paid their rightful emoluments.

Controversial Decision

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday morning, an affected staff in one of the banks Lagos branches explained that the exercise began in November when some new recruits were drafted to the branches for training.

The new guys were trained and we were told that they would join the operations departments in our branches, the staff, who asked not to be named, said. But last December, we were told that some people would have to go. On January 4, many of us were denied access to the banks portal and it dawned on us that we have been affected.

According to the official who claimed to have spent over 13 years in the bank, people affected in the exercise are largely staff who have spent between 10 to 13 years in the service of the bank. He, however, disclosed that they are already being paid their emoluments even though he currently does not have access to the money.

Maybe some of us are owing the bank (in loans), he said, of possible reasons why the money cannot be accessed yet.

Another source within the bank told PREMIUM TIMES that the bank, through a consultancy firm, hired new employees on December 6.

According to him, the new hands were drafted to different branches and trained in the operations department, with details that about six would join each of the selected branches. On Friday, January 2, the source said that Regional Operations Managers were then instructed to inform the affected staff members about the rightsizing exercise and the resignation option.

Perhaps to forestall the possibility of a paper trail, the source said the information was passed orally.

Bank Explains Stance

Mr Ramon, in an interview on Monday, said there was no lay-off in the bank.

He added that the information being pushed out by some of the affected staff is largely untrue.

There was no lay-off in the bank but people were advised to resign based on our right-sizing policy. The bank concluded its appraisals in December. Every year, we do two appraisals in UBA; one in June and one in December. After the second appraisal, the management of the bank takes the decision. In this year, decisions that were taken include that 5,000 staff will be promoted and 5,000 staff was promoted on Friday, he said.

Another decision that was taken is that UBA has transformed its grading system and processes to become one of the most competitive within the industry. The bank crashed its grade levels to 12 levels from entry-level to the top of the pyramid where previously it had been 16 levels. This means that staff will now find it much easier to attain top leadership management positions at UBA as their careers progress much faster. Also, In a massive recruitment drive, over 4000 new staff members resumed in the last week of December 2019 in Nigeria alone at the bank. UBA currently stands as the highest employer of labour amongst Nigerian banks with a staff strength of close to 20,000.

Now, in any normal appraisal process, people who have performed exceptionally well are rewarded. Over 5,000 staff of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, started the new year with a lot of cheer as the bank promoted them to new grades as well as salary upgrades with immediate effect this January. Beneficiaries of this exercise will receive up to 170% increase in their salaries and benefits, whilst a good number have been moved to higher grade levels.

Those who have been advised to resign have been given handsome benefits far beyond what the policy dictates.

Mr Ramon explained further that, in essence, what the bank has done is to simply realign its workforce by embarking on downsizing. He explained that the bank recruited staff but those the system considered to have under-performed were asked to go.

On allegations that the affected staff could not access their portal, he said they could not access their portal because the process is still ongoing, adding that their full emoluments would be paid.

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Its like that anywhere in the world, he said. If you are advised to leave the bank, some of the jobs basic access will be withdrawn.

He also said that the basic remuneration details have been communicated to the affected staff by Monday afternoon, while those promoted have also been informed.

PREMIUM TIMES sighted a promotion letter addressed to one of the staff members, which shows a distinct category in employees growth.

On reports that the action was directed at contract staff, Mr Ramon argued that there are no contract staff in UBA, except the people in charge of logistics, drivers and security personnel.

We dont have contract staff in UBA, he said. The only contract staff we have in UBA are drivers and securities. In UBA, there is nothing called contract staff.

He explained that since the bank is not a logistics firm, issues of logistics, driving and security, are handled by another firm other than the bank. One of the affected staff confirmed to this newspaper that there are no contract staff in the bank, although he could not confirm the status of the newly recruited staff members.

Policy not for cost-cutting

Mr Ramon also explained that the right-sizing policy was not borne out of the decision to cut cost, as is often done in corporate decision-making situations.

Mr Ramon also said that because the process is ongoing, he would not be able to give the exact number of people affected by the right-sizing decision. According to him, some staff members may choose not to accept the option of resignation.

However, the process will be completed very soon, he added.

5,000 peoples lives have been affected by the promotion, 4, 000 peoples lives have been affected by series of engagement both new hires and experienced hires, thousands of peoples lives have been affected based on the fact that grade structure have been reduced from 16 to 12. Enough of possible impacts have happened on those who have received an increase in their salaries. So, that is the essence of the exercise, he argued.

EDITORS NOTE: This post has been updated to reflect additional clarification provided by UBA.
BEIRUT  When Syrian President Bashar Assad made a rare visit to Tehran last year, the powerful Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani was there to greet him, along with Irans supreme leader and president. Irans foreign minister wasnt, and he resigned in protest at being excluded from talks with a crucial ally.

It was a telling episode on who controls Irans policy in Syria.

Irans frontman in Syria since 2011, Soleimani helped turn the tide in the now nearly 9-year-old civil war, intervening to save Assad as armed rebels neared the capital, Damascus, and seized key cities. He welded together Shiite militias from across the region to back Syrias military and waged sieges that captured back territory, wreaked destruction and prevented the collapse of Assads state.

His killing in an U.S. airstrike in Iraq is likely to rattle thousands of Iranian-backed fighters in Syria. The networks of militias he set up will remain in place, and Syria is likely to become a scene for confrontation with hundreds of U.S. troops stationed there.

The Iranian-backed militias are scattered all over Syria, including near civilians and some near American positions, said Danny Makki, a Syrian analyst based in Britain. If the U.S.-Iranian conflict escalates  as is very likely, he said  the U.S. or Israel could strike the militias, or the Iranian-backed fighters could attack American positions, which are in the eastern part of Syria, including near Kurdish-controlled oil fields that Damascus is eager to regain.

The battleground will be Syria and Iraq, Makki said. It could go bad on multiple levels.

Soleimans killing could also have a resounding knock-on effect in Syria. If Baghdad forces U.S. troops to leave Iraq in protest, American soldiers in Syria would lose a vital logistics and supply line and would likely have to pull out as well. That would leave the Americans ally, the Syrian Kurds, vulnerable. Iraqs Parliament on Sunday demanded U.S. troops leave, but it is not immediately clear if the government will carry out the threat.

Soleimani, known simply as the General, transformed Irans traditional role of supporting proxies focused on challenging Western influence to forging paramilitary forces that could prop up a ruler and a traditional army.

He led Irans intervention in Syria when it became clear to Tehran, early on in the war, that its only state ally in the region was on the verge of collapse. That would have endangered a vital hub for Tehran: Assads state provided access to Irans most important and professional militia ally, Lebanons Hezbollah, gave depth and protection to its influence in Iraq and put Iranian influence on the border with Israel.

Soleimani, at the head of the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, brought in and organized thousands of Shiite militiamen from Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran to back Assads overstretched military, providing firepower and skills. He reorganized Syrias own various paramilitary groups into one force, injecting disciplined fighters into the otherwise drained troops.

It was also Soleimani who negotiated joint military operations with Russia in 2015, two months before Russia began its airstrikes in Syria. In April 2016, Russia carried out airstrikes inside Syria from Iran, the first time a foreign state operated inside Iran since World War II, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Soleimani set battlefield priorities, wresting strategic areas from opposition control one by one. An early objective was Qusayr, a town near the Lebanese border key to supply lines with Hezbollah, then central cities and suburbs around Damascus and a top prize, Syrias largest city, Aleppo. When Aleppo was fully recaptured in 2016, it was Soleimani, not Assad, who visited the city.

At home in Iran, he may have been seen as a war hero fighting extremists, but his opponents say he introduced some of the most brutal tactics of the Syrian war, particularly the use of long, devastating sieges of populated areas that strangled civilians and clawed back territory until resistance collapsed. The tactic killed or displaced hundreds of thousands and left urban areas in ruins. Moreover, pitting Shiite militias against the largely Sunni opposition deepened the wars sectarian nature and fueled atrocities.

He was the godfather of demographic change in Syria  His hallmarks are on every massacre that happened in an area cleared of its people, starting from Homs, Ghouta, Daraa and Aleppo, said Tarek Muharram, an opposition fighter from Aleppo who fought against Iranian-backed militias.

Those tactics wont change much after he dies, said Abdul-Salam Abdul-Razek, a defecting Syrian army officer who also fought against Soleimanis militias.

Displaced Syrians celebrated Soleimanis killing, distributing sweets or shouting thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump. In one of the last opposition-held cities in northern Syria, men danced and sang in a public square.

We woke up to the best news, said Jamil Andani, a displaced man in Idlib. Soleimani made us suffer. He was our worst enemy.

For Assad and his forces, Soleimani was a savior.

Eulogizing Soleimani, Assad said he left clear marks in his victories against terrorist groups in Syria.

The question now is how much impact Soleimanis death will have on the forces he led. Besides his skill as a strategist and tactician, Soleimani was a powerful presence in the field, often showing up in operations rooms to direct fighting or at front lines to boost morale.

The Syrian-Iranian alliance will continue thats for sure, Makki said. But the loss of Soleimani, the mastermind of so many victories, plans and strategies will be a big blow for Syria and Iran on a policy level and in terms of regional clout.

Assad said the tactics used by the general will only grow and be entrenched in the men he trained.

Reflecting concerns over the effect of Soleimanis killing, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said advances made in Syria should not stall, urging fighters to be steadfast and all Iran proxies to fight the U.S. presence in the region.

No one should be shaken or worry or be afraid, Nasrallah said Sunday. We should continue the path firmly toward victory.
The nations leading universities are mobilising to provide immediate support to students, families, communities and businesses hit by the bushfire crisis after discussions between the Group of Eight major universities and federal Education Minister Dan Tehan.

In the short term, the universities have offered to provide everything from financial support to students affected by the fires and on-campus accommodation for displaced families, to agistment for livestock, trauma support for first responders and specialised medical care for burns victims, according to a letter sent by Group of Eight (Go8) chief executive Vicki Thomson to Mr Tehan.

In the medium and long term, the universities have offered to liaise with the government via the Go8 to provide expertise in rebuilding communities, industries, economies and climate science.

The Go8 is a coalition of elite research universities, including the University of Sydney, University of NSW, University of Melbourne, Monash University, Australian National University, and the universities of Western Australia, Adelaide, and Queensland.
As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 21:49:50|Editor: xuxin

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BANGKOK, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak on Tuesday told the media after a cabinet meeting that he had given instructions to quickly facilitate and promote investments into the government's flagship hi-tech investment hub at the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

"On Monday, I met with the executives of the EEC Office, delivered policy guidance so that they can quickly get onto with their work to promote to foreign investors to invest in the EEC," said Somkid, who heads the economic portfolio, adding "having foreign direct investments (FDI) into the EEC is one way to spur the Thai economy."

The EEC investment scheme spans three eastern provinces of Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao, aimed at creating a technological, manufacturing and service hub connected to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.

Several investment projects are already underway focusing on key industries, research and development, advanced technologies and innovations and start-ups.

The EEC Office said that overall investment projects in the pipeline is estimated at 650 billion baht (21.475 billion U.S. dollars) this year.
Life at San Franciscos Hall of Justice is about to change  again  with the baton-passing at 5 p.m. Wednesday from interim District Attorney Suzy Loftus to no-interim-needed Chesa Boudin.

Boudin famously edged out presumed front-runner Loftus in the Nov. 5 election after former District Attorney George Gascon quit to seek the same office in Los Angeles.

The musical chairs will end when Boudin is sworn in by Mayor London Breed at Herbst Theater, an event that Loftus will not attend because, she said, shell be out of town. The two have disagreed on plenty, but in good news for victims of sexual assault, they have agreed on a new way of prosecuting these brutal crimes.

On Monday, Loftus initiated a new policy that Boudin has pledged to continue. It requires a prosecutor in the sex crimes unit be on call 24/7 to assist police officers in sexual assault investigations.

That could include reviewing search warrants, guiding police in interviewing victims and suspects, or helping find video footage from, say, bars, Lyft cars or private buildings security cameras.

As we know, sexual assaults, like many crimes, dont happen between the hours of 9 to 5, Loftus said. Instead of being in a protracted blame game with the police department, well actually provide services that can be helpful. We want to have a say in the investigation because it helps us ultimately be able to charge a case.

That in and of itself would be a big change from Gascons tenure when numerous women complained their sex assault and rape cases went nowhere. Gascon has said his office filed charges in nearly 40% of sexual assault cases  about twice the national average  but admitted it was a far cry from where we need to be.

All four candidates in the November race to replace him said it was a weak spot at the Hall of Justice they were determined to fix.

Under the new policy, at least eight prosecutors and managing attorneys on the sexual assault team will rotate so someone is always available to respond to police seeking aid in an investigation.

Loftus said a particular area of focus will be drug-facilitated sexual assaults, which, like homicide, might have a victim who cant tell police or prosecutors what happened. Those crimes can include an assailant drugging someone to rape them or assaulting someone who is too drunk or high to give consent.

Thats where sending uniformed police officers to the scene as quickly as possible, seeking camera footage and even testing the victims sweat and vomit for drugs can be crucial, Loftus said.

You consider everything and cast a broad net to piece back together what happened, she said.

She said shes talked numerous times to Police Chief Bill Scott about the changes and that he was immediately on board.

Sexual assault is one of the very worst things that any one of us sees in law enforcement, Loftus continued. This idea we couldnt do things better, couldnt do more for people, didnt sit well with him, either.

Boudin confirmed he has spoken with Loftus and Scott about the changes.

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.

I approved the new policies, he wrote in a text message. I look forward to implementing them as a first step towards improving our victim-centered response to sex crimes.

Loftus said shes proud of her 2 months in office and cited the changes in sexual assault prosecutions as one achievement. She said shes also pleased her focus on property crime helped lead to last months bust of a fencing operation, netting $2.5 million in stolen laptops, smartphones, cameras, luxury handbags and other pricey goods.

She said shes also worked to boost the notoriously low morale in the district attorneys office.

But as for what comes next for Loftus professionally, shes not sure. She wont be returning to her previous job as an attorney in the sheriffs office and will take time off to consider her next steps. She said she wants to evaluate different ways to make the greatest impact going forward.

She still claims to not regret taking the job of interim district attorney two weeks before the Nov. 5 election. Breed tapped her for the role after Gascon left office earlier than expected, and political insiders mostly agree it wound up hurting Loftus in the election.

For as many days as I was here, I have been honored to serve, Loftus said. I wish the district attorney-elect the best of luck.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Tuesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf Instagram: @heatherknightsf
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen 'The Brexit Drama Is a Bitter Lesson for Populists'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has no shortage of challenges facing her as she begins her tenure. She spoke with DER SPIEGEL about Donald Trump, climate change and the state of democracs inside the EU.
Donald Trump

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The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany on Sunday called for "restraint and responsibility" following the US assassination of the Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani.

In a joint statement, the leaders said the cycle of violence escalated by President Donald Trump "must be stopped."

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was scheduled to meet with key ministers on Monday to discuss the UK's response to the crisis.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have released a joint statement calling for the "utmost restraint and responsibility" after President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iran "very fast and very hard."

In a statement issued by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, the leaders said there was an "urgent need for de-escalation" and insisted the current cycle of violence "must be stopped."

Addressing Iran's announcement that it would no longer abide by the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the statement added: "We specifically call on Iran to refrain from further violent action or proliferation, and urge Iran to reverse all measures inconsistent with the JCPOA."

Iran has vowed to seek revenge after Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, one of the country's most powerful figures, was killed in a US airstrike in Iraq last week that was personally ordered by Trump.

Trump threatened to target 52 Iranian sites, however, should Iran retaliate. Among the sites, he said, were culturally significant landmarks.

While attacking such sites would constitute a war crime under both the Geneva and Hague conventions, Trump risked further inflaming tensions on Sunday when he doubled down on his aggressive rhetoric.

Story continues

"They're allowed to kill our people," he told reporters. "They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way."

Johnson on Monday morning was expected to gather his most senior ministers, including Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, as they scrambled to navigate a response to the crisis.

The UK faces the difficult task of talking Trump down from his aggressive position without explicitly condemning Washington's actions.

The prime minister said he spoke with Trump on Sunday about the death of Soleimani, who spearheaded Iran's military and covert operations in the Middle East and was seen as perhaps the country's most capable military figure.

The White House said the two leaders had discussed the situation and "reaffirmed the close alliance between the two countries."

Earlier Sunday, Johnson said the general had been "responsible for a pattern of disruptive, destabilizing behavior in the region."

"Given the leading role he has played in actions that have led to the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and western personnel, we will not lament his death," Johnson said.

"It is clear, however, that all calls for retaliation or reprisals will simply lead to more violence in the region and they are in no one's interest."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan waded into controversy last month at the History Congress when he quoted Maulana Azad to call anti-citizenship law protesters dirty water in stinking potholes". In an interview to News18.com, Khan says the comment was aimed at people of separatist mindset and not Indian Muslims. During the interview, Khan also commented on Keralas resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act and shot down speculation that he was the BJPs Muslim Man for Kerala.

Edited excerpts:

The Kerala assembly passed a resolution demanding scrapping of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the first state to do so. You termed the move unconstitutional. How do you see your tenure in the state in view of this?

We are a robust democracy where the right to opinion and expression is considered sacred. I dont have a problem with anybody opposing a law because she has a different opinion. Regarding the resolution of the Kerala Assembly, I have merely pointed out that as a constitutional institution, it should not waste its time and energy on issues, which, from purely constitutional viewpoint, are not its concern. Every minute taken to transact business in the legislature involves financial expenditure and this money belongs to the people of Kerala. The money should be spent on their welfare and not to discuss extraneous issues.

It can be argued that the assembly undertook this exercise for the purpose of public instruction. If it is so then they were duty-bound to present the whole picture. They should have mentioned in the resolution that the promise to accept non-Muslims of Pakistan was made by Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Dr Rajendra Prasad and all important leaders, including Shri Manmohan Singh and Shri Pranab Mukherjee. Right to public instruction does not include right to misinform people.

The other important point is that the History Congress, led by Mr Irfan Habib in its session at Kannur University, passed resolutions not on history or history writing, but resolved to ask Kerala government not to cooperate with the Centre, nor provide any data nor implement the law passed by Parliament. So the resolution can be seen as implementation of the directive given by Mr Habib & Co. The decision maker was Mr Irfan Habib and others were merely operatives.

I feel that that Parliament through CAA has merely given legal shape and form to the promise made by the Father of the Nation to the non-Muslims of Pakistan who had become unwitting victims of Partition. These people had fought for Indias independence, but after freedom, as citizen of Pakistan, their status became worse than that in British India. The then national leadership accepted moral responsibility, hence the promise.

You have said a lot about how CAA is fulfilment of Gandhi, Prasad and Nehrus dream. But how does this act go with the traditional and constitutional values of the country?

The Constitution, particularly Article 14, allows classification based on intelligible differentia, provided it has a reasonable nexus with the objective of the law. Now, those citizens of British India who were reduced to the status of Zimmi clearly can be categorised as a class, more so when we know that after Partition, these people who mostly belonged to SC/ST category were made to stay in Pakistan through coercive methods.

Do we not know that the then prime minister of Pakistan is on record having said that if we allow them to migrate then who will clean our toilets. You think Mahatma Gandhi was not aware of this situation? In fact, apart from making promises to the new Zimmis of Pakistan, Mahatma Gandhi had warned: If Pakistan persists in wrong doing, there is bound to be a war between India and Pakistan. (Harijan, 28-9-1947, p. 349)

In the Indian History Congress session, you called Indian Muslims dirty water that was left behind after Partition. What is the meaning here and what led you to say this?

You have not seen the video, otherwise you would not have asked the question in the manner you did. Please look at the recorded videos carefully. First, Mr Irfan Habib, whose name was not among the list of speakers as approved by Raj Bhawan, breached protocol, took the mic and harangued about abrogation of Article 370, and CAA.

He directly addressed me and referred to what was happening in my alma mater. Although the protocol allows only one hour for the session, I patiently listened to their speeches for more than one-and-a-half hours. When I rose to speak, I inaugurated the conference formally and welcomed the delegates. I said that inaugural sessions are normally a formal affair and controversial issues are kept aside.

But since you have raised some issues, I have a duty to respond. I started with a quote of Imam Abu Hanifa that I firmly believe that my opinion is correct but I am cognizant of the fact that it may be wrong. Likewise, I feel that your criticism is misplaced but you may be right.

I further said that those who are protesting are constantly declining my invite to discuss and debate the issue. At this stage, Mr Irfan Habib rose from his seat and charged towards me. My ADC stopped him, but Mr Habib pulled down his shirt. In the scuffle, his shirt was unbuttoned and his ceremonial badge fell on the ground, but the ADC prevented him from reaching me. Then Mr Habib went behind the chairs and tried to charge towards me from my left and again he was stopped by the security officer and the V-C of Kannur University.

This unseemly behaviour provoked some delegates from Aligarh who started using profane and abusive language. I first appealed to them not to create din, but when they persisted, I said that it is this behaviour of yours which had prompted Maulana Azad to remark in 1949 in Aligarh that the Partition was like a major flood and I believed that it has taken away all the filth and dirt with it, but after seeing your behaviour, I realize that some of this water has stayed back in small potholes and now it has started stinking. It can be verified that Maulana Azad had said these words to Muslim Leaguers who had embraced communism after Partition. I reminded these people not to behave in the same manner. The quote is not about Indian Muslims, it is about people of separatist mindset masquerading as communists.

Today Faizs Hum Dekhenge is suspected to be anti-Hindu. Your views?

I do not accept this general practice of elevating individual opinions to the status of representative opinions. This, unfortunately, is the result of a particular mindset which believes in being sole spokesman and declares anybody holding a different view point as kafir and uses religious fatwas against those who think differently.

You stormed into the Indian political landscape with your bold stand on triple talaq and Muslim personal law. Now you are in a state, the only such state in India, where both the ruling party (Left) and the main opposition (Congress) opposed Narendra Modi governments triple talaq bill in Parliament. How do you look at this curious fact?

I respect their right to formulate their opinions. In 1986, on the question of Shah Bano case and triple talaq, one group that is Left was supporting me, but now they have changed their stance. So the question should be addressed to them, not to me.

You earlier said that Keralas Muslim community is really unique. Can you please elaborate?

You can see it yourself. In Kerala, nobody attaches a religious label to the culture, dress, food and language. Their dress, food and language are common and these factors are not used to create divisions in the society. They are deeply religious but very proud of their Indian-ness and secular behaviour. Kerala has NGOs run by every denomination and caste, but they serve the whole society and the beneficiaries are not selected on the basis of factors associated with birth.

There is much being said about you being the BJPs Muslim Man for Kerala. What do you have to say about that?

There is no ceiling on the flight of imagination. Among the governors of the states with a political background, I am the only one who was not required to resign from a political party because I had withdrawn from electoral politics more than a decade ago. As Governor, I have taken the oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and law, and to devote myself to the service and well-being of people of Kerala. I am a human being, I have my limitations, but I assure you that I am striving to discharge my duties as honestly and sincerely as I can.

Some intellectuals commented at the time of your appointment that it confirms the definition of a good Muslim  cultural capital, political correctness and following the party line. How do you take this classification?

There is a saying that even Hakim Luqman had no medicine for the cynics. If you want to find fault, do so on the basis of my action and words. Nobody has the right to sit in judgment about the intentions and conscience of any other person. If they feel that the attributes they have listed are good, then they can follow them. But they should remember that I am not known for following party line. Rather I had resigned from the government in 1986, much against the wishes of the party leadership and had earned deep anger of the Muslim clergy.

You have been active in North Indian politics, and taken up the cause of reformation in Muslim societies. Are you not going to miss the chaos in Delhi? How will the experience help you navigate the diversity in Kerala?

You are giving me credit for things I never did. I have repeatedly said that I was neither a reformer nor a feminist. I would again like to repeat it that if the then PM Rajiv Gandhi had not asked me to defend the judgment of the Supreme Court in Shah Bano case, then possibly, I would not have spoken in Parliament. But once I took a stand and subsequently the PM succumbed to the violent language of the Personal Law Board, it became incumbent on me to part company. For me, the protection of intellectual and moral integrity is more important than preservation of power. To me, whole India is the same and I consider it a great opportunity and privilege to serve the people of India in any part of the country.

Even years after Independence, Indian Muslims are classified as Nationalist Muslims. Why does the burden of proving love for the country rest only on Muslims? How did we get here?

It is unfortunate, but it is on account of insistence by organisations like Muslim Personal Law Board on the separate community identity of Muslims which they call Milli Tashakhkhus. It was the same mindset which produced the two-nation theory that insisted that Muslims are a separate nation and will not be safe in free and democratic India.

Now there is huge number of Muslims who do not agree with this separatist mindset. In reaction, they start calling themselves nationalist Muslims and in order to make a distinction between the separatist and their detractors, other Indians also call them nationalist Muslims. I think if people like Personal Law Board stop pursuing the separatist agenda, then these not-so-desirable terms would become outdated and their usage will stop.

Kerala is a politically volatile state. Red terror and saffron terror have been in the headlines. What are your thoughts regarding the politics and as a governor how much can you look into it?

I think Kerala is a wonderful state, and except one district, no cases of political violence are reported from anywhere. Kerala is an educated society with a strong sense of empathy. If they see their neighbour agitated, they join her even without knowing the reason or merit of agitation.

The state has a significant Muslim population with educated youth, yet there have been reports claiming Kerala youth joined ISIS. How do you see this phenomenon?

Yes, I have seen these reports. Please do not forget that a large number of Keralites have been working in foreign countries for a long time and their foreign remittance contribution is the highest. People from Kerala go abroad in almost all categories. So some of them become victim of propaganda by jihadi organisations like the ISIS. But this number is very tiny. By and large, Keralites have a culture of peace and harmony. They do not allow their sharp political differences to impact their social fabric.

The state is known for his cultural vibrancy. There is affinity among people of different faith. In this backdrop, the term love jihad emanated from there. Your comments.

Sometimes, media coins some terms which become popular. Kerala has such strong sense of unity, harmony and empathy that I feel that when Swami Vivekananda was speaking in the Parliament of Religions and he proudly referred to the fact that India has always given shelter to the persecuted of the world, he was possibly making a reference to Kerala. Apart from being a pioneer in many other fields, the Kerala society has a special attribute and that is taking care of the uncared for, a maternal attribute.

Historically, Kerala was a matrilineal society. Its gender ratio is in favour of women and that explains why any person anywhere in the world happily gives charge of his health to a Keralite who serves with passion in the capacity of nurse, doctor and para-medical personnel.

There have been allegations against governors that they are acting like puppets of the central government. Why do think there is this atmosphere of suspicion?

I do not wish to respond to kite-flying remarks. But I am always ready to subject my own actions and words to scrutiny. To build an atmosphere of suspicion, factual grounds are not essential. The very people who suspected Indian democracy in 1947 and demanded Partition realised in 1971 that they were misled. People who raised the slogan of religion in danger in 1986, realised in 2017 that they were misled by the Personal Law Board. Even the Khilafat movement of 1920s during which passions ran so high that many people migrated in response to the fatwas of the clerics, finally realised that they were misled to commit hara-kiri.

Muslim League flags have perturbed many saffron leaders. Yogi Adityanath identified it as green virus. But the Muslim League has been credited with acting as a bulwark against radical outfits like the Popular Front. How do you see the role of Muslim League?

Tell me honestly, will you feel comfortable seeing a flag which was used to divide your country. This flag was used in East Pakistan by those who butchered the Bengalis and raped Bengali women. And they were their co-religionist. This flag is a symbol of division, rape and rampage, and every Indian is bound to feel uneasy on seeing this.

But states like Kerala have not been affected by the tragedy of Partition nor has there been any migration from Kerala to Pakistan or refugees from Pakistan coming to Kerala. So people here do not have first-hand experience of the enormity and are not aware of the bloodbath and human misery that this flag brought on India.

Please elaborate on your experience with the maulanas on issues of reform rights and communal harmony. How was the experience?

My experience in Kerala is totally different from what I have lived through and seen in the North. Here, whether it is a Maulana or a Muslim political activist, the first thing he wants to highlight is his secular credentials and they do not boast about it.

It is a reality that in Kerala every religious organisation and every caste organisation is into social service and they run huge establishments which serve the old, weak, abandoned children especially girls, people who suffer from some kind of disability without any discrimination and they are proud of the fact that their institutions serve the society as a whole.
(Newser)  The chances of Kansas electing a Democratic senator for the first time since 1932 may have just gone up. Sources tell the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has ruled out a Senate run in the state this year. The sources say Pompeo informed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of his decision on Monday. "He loves doing the job hes doing right now and feels that things are too volatile with the various situations around the world, particularly with Iran and Iraq, and he wants to make sure hes in the best spot to serve his country," an insider tells the Journal.

story continues below

Pompeo represented the state's 4th District in the House from 2011 until President Trump appointed him director of the CIA in 2017. Republicans had hoped he would be a clear favorite to replace Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, who is retiring. Politico reports that party officials fear there will now be a fierce GOP primary battle, with divisive hardliner Kris Kobach potentially winning. Kobach lost the state's gubernatorial race in 2018 to Democrat Laura Kelly after narrowly defeating incumbent Gov. Jeff Colyer in the GOP primary. Whoever wins the GOP Senate primary is expected to face Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier, a former Republican who switched parties last year. (Read more Mike Pompeo stories.)
A Jakarta residents stores up clean water at her flood-damaged house (AFP or licensors)

As the death toll rises to 53 people in the massive flooding that struck Indonesias capital, the local Catholic Church springs into action to provide assistance to those who have fled their homes in Jakarta.

By Devin Watkins

The Archdiocese of Jakarta began a campaign to collect funds and relief items just a day after floods struck the capital.

Food, toiletries, and medicine are being handed out to people forced from their homes.

The Daya Dharma Institute even provided several boats to help people reach higher ground.

Yosepha Ajeng, who is with the Institute, told ucanews that the social services arm of the local Church has asked Catholics to provide food, soap, and medicines to victims.

Worst deluge in decades

Heavy rains struck Jakarta and surrounding areas late on New Years Eve and into Wednesday.

The Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysics Agency said Friday that the deluge was among the worst to hit Southeast Asias largest city since records began in 1866.

Eight of Jakartas 13 rivers have overflowed their banks, submerging vast swaths of the city.

Television footage showed mud-covered cars littering the streets, some piled on top of each other.

The rains have continued, and Indonesias air force was called in to seed clouds with salt in a bid to halt the precipitation.

Rising death toll

At least 53 people have died so far, and nearly 175,000 others were forced from their homes.

Save the Children, an aid agency, expressed fears the high waters might contaminate drinking water reservoirs, making them a breeding ground for infectious diseases.

Jakartas metropolitan area is home to over 30 million people.

Anies Baswedan, the local governor, has warned that more flooding is likely during the rainy season that lasts until March.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 00:20:11|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC) will step up support for innovative literary and artistic groups and individuals working in the sector to increase their cohesion, according to a CFLAC meeting held Tuesday.

A special fund will be set up to support the healthy development of "new-type" literary and artistic groups and workers and facilitate literary and artistic creation.

New-type literary and artistic groups and workers may refer to for-profit or non-profit cultural institutions funded largely by private capital or organized by individuals, those working in these institutions and freelancers in the sector.

Li Yi, head of the leading Party members group of the CFLAC, said at the meeting that literature and art associations nationwide absorbed 1,256 such literary and artistic workers in 2019, accounting for nearly 28 percent of the total new members.

While continuing to carry out extensive study on the new-type literary and artistic groups and workers this year, the CFLAC will advance the implementation of professional evaluation and accreditation concerning them and support their participation in public cultural services, Li said.
On April 25, 2019, the LIGO Livingston Observatory picked up what appeared to be gravitational ripples from a collision of two neutron stars.

LIGO Livingston is part of a gravitational-wave network that includes LIGO (the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory), funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the European Virgo detector. Now, a new study confirms that this event was indeed likely the result of a merger of two neutron stars. This would be only the second time this type of event has ever been observed in gravitational waves.

The first such observation, which took place in August of 2017, made history for being the first time that both gravitational waves and light were detected from the same cosmic event. The April 25 merger, by contrast, did not result in any light being detected. However, through an analysis of the gravitational-wave data alone, researchers have learned that the collision produced an object with an unusually high mass.

"From conventional observations with light, we already knew of 17 binary neutron star systems in our own galaxy and we have estimated the masses of these stars," says Ben Farr, a LIGO team member based at the University of Oregon. "What's surprising is that the combined mass of this binary is much higher than what was expected."

"We have detected a second event consistent with a binary neutron star system and this is an important confirmation of the August 2017 event that marked an exciting new beginning for multi-messenger astronomy two years ago," says Jo van den Brand, Virgo Spokesperson and professor at Maastricht University, and Nikhef and VU University Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Multi-messenger astronomy occurs when different types of signals are witnessed simultaneously, such as those based on gravitational waves and light.

The study, submitted to The Astrophysical Journal Letters, is authored by an international team comprised of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the Virgo Collaboration, the latter of which is associated with the Virgo gravitational-wave detector in Italy. The results were presented at a press briefing today, January 6, at the 235th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Neutron stars are the remnants of dying stars that undergo catastrophic explosions as they collapse at the end of their lives. When two neutron stars spiral together, they undergo a violent merger that sends gravitational shudders through the fabric of space and time.

LIGO became the first observatory to directly detect gravitational waves in 2015; in that instance, the waves were generated by the fierce collision of two black holes. Since then, LIGO and Virgo have registered dozens of additional candidate black hole mergers.

The August 2017 neutron star merger was witnessed by both LIGO detectors, one in Livingston, Louisiana, and one in Hanford, Washington, together with a host of light-based telescopes around the world (neutron star collisions produce light, while black hole collisions are generally thought not to do so). This merger was not clearly visible in the Virgo data, but that fact provided key information that ultimately pinpointed the event's location in the sky.

The April 2019 event was first identified in data from the LIGO Livingston detector alone. The LIGO Hanford detector was temporarily offline at the time, and, at a distance of more than 500 million light-years, the event was too faint to be visible in Virgo's data. Using the Livingston data, combined with information derived from Virgo's data, the team narrowed the location of the event to a patch of sky more than 8,200 square degrees in size, or about 20 percent of the sky. For comparison, the August 2017 event was narrowed to a region of just 16 square degrees, or 0.04 percent of the sky.

"This is our first published event for a single-observatory detection," says Caltech's Anamaria Effler, a scientist who works at LIGO Livingston. "But Virgo made a valuable contribution. We used information about its non-detection to tell us roughly where the signal must have originated from."

The LIGO data reveal that the combined mass of the merged bodies is about 3.4 times the mass of our Sun. In our galaxy, known binary neutron star systems have combined masses up to only 2.9 times that of Sun. One possibility for the unusually high mass is that the collision took place not between two neutron stars, but a neutron star and a black hole, since black holes are heavier than neutron stars. But if this were the case, the black hole would have to be exceptionally small for its class. Instead, the scientists believe it is much more likely that LIGO witnessed a shattering of two neutron stars.

"What we know from the data are the masses, and the individual masses most likely correspond to neutron stars. However, as a binary neutron star system, the total mass is much higher than any of the other known galactic neutron star binaries," says Surabhi Sachdev, a LIGO team member based at Penn State. "And this could have interesting implications for how the pair originally formed."

Neutron star pairs are thought to form in two possible ways. They might form from binary systems of massive stars that each end their lives as neutron stars, or they might arise when two separately formed neutron stars come together within a dense stellar environment. The LIGO data for the April 25 event do not indicate which of these scenarios is more likely, but they do suggest that more data and new models are needed to explain the merger's unexpectedly high mass.

LIGO is funded by the NSF and operated by Caltech and MIT, which conceived of LIGO and lead the project. Financial support for the Advanced LIGO project was led by the NSF with Germany (Max Planck Society), the U.K. (Science and Technology Facilities Council) and Australia (Australian Research Council-OzGrav) making significant commitments and contributions to the project. Approximately 1,300 scientists from around the world participate in the effort through the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which includes the GEO Collaboration. A list of additional partners is available at https://my.ligo.org/census.php.

The Virgo Collaboration is currently composed of approximately 520 members from 99 institutes in 11 different countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. The European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) hosts the Virgo detector near Pisa in Italy, and is funded by Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France, the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) in Italy, and Nikhef in the Netherlands. A list of the Virgo Collaboration groups can be found at http://public.virgo-gw.eu/the-virgo-collaboration/. More information is available on the Virgo website at http://www.virgo-gw.eu.



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BOSTON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IFM Therapeutics (IFM), a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies that modulate novel targets in the innate immune system, today announced the appointment of Michael Cooke, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer. In his role, Dr. Cooke will work with IFM's leadership and board to guide overall scientific and research strategy, partnerships and capabilities.

"At IFM Therapeutics, we have assembled a world-class team of scientists with deep experience translating scientific discovery into transformative therapies that target the innate immune system," said Dr. H. Martin Seidel, Chief Executive Officer of IFM. "Mike's extensive experience in leading R&D teams at all stages of drug development, combined with his deep passion for delivering scientific breakthroughs in areas of high unmet medical need, make him the perfect fit for IFM. His two-plus decades of expertise in the fields of immunology, innate and adaptive immunity and their applications to autoimmune disease, inflammation and immuno-oncology will be a tremendous asset to our team."

Dr. Cooke joins IFM from Magenta Therapeutics where he most recently served as Chief Scientific Officer, leading an organization responsible for developing curative medicines for hematologic malignancy, genetic diseases and autoimmune disease through advances in bone marrow transplantation.

Prior to Magenta, Dr. Cooke was a founding scientist at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, where he held several positions including Executive Director of Immunology. There, he facilitated the development of an innovative portfolio of therapeutic discovery programs for autoimmunity, inflammation, immuno-oncology and bone marrow transplantation. He previously served as Director of Functional Genomics at SyStemix in the area of hematopoietic stem cell biology.

"I am impressed by IFM's track record and am excited to take on this opportunity to discover and develop small molecule immunotherapies against novel targets in the innate immune system," said Dr. Cooke. "I believe the innate immune system provides a deep pool of validated targets for the next wave of immunomodulatory therapies and look forward to applying my experience to IFM's ground-breaking efforts in this area."

Dr. Cooke earned a B.A. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Washington. He completed postdoctoral research on the molecular basis of B cell tolerance with Dr. Christopher Goodnow at Stanford University. He is a co-author on over 60 peer-reviewed publications and is a co-inventor on over 20 patents and patent applications.

About IFM Therapeutics, LLC

IFM Therapeutics (IFM) is an independent, privately-held biopharmaceutical company based in Boston, Massachusetts. IFM's team has discovered and developed small molecules that modulate novel targets in the innate immune system as next-generation therapies for cancer, autoimmunity, and inflammatory disorders. IFM places each program (or set of related programs) in its own dedicated, independently financed, R&D-focused subsidiary company, which is supported by the common infrastructure, management team and resources of the IFM enterprise. For more information on IFM and its model, please visit https://www.ifmthera.com.

SOURCE IFM Therapeutics

Related Links

https://www.ifmthera.com


Dozens of demonstrators demanding a more inclusive church hold vigil at the edge of the May 3 session of the 2012 United

Methodist General Conference in Tampa, Florida.(Photo: UMNS/Paul Jeffrey)

After years of division in the UMC - the largest mainline Protestant denomination in the US - the proposals set out the path towards the formation of a new "traditionalist Methodist" denomination for those who hold to a conservative view on marriage and sexuality.

The UMC denomination would move forward with formally allowing same-sex marriage and same-sex LGBT clergy. That would mean changing the wording in the UMC's Book of Discipline, which currently states that homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching".

A nine-page document published by UMC leaders on Friday says that a separation is "the best means to resolve our differences, allowing each part of the Church to remain true to its theological understanding, while recognizing the dignity, equality, integrity, and respect of every person".

"The United Methodist Church and its members  after careful reflection, discussion and prayer  have fundamental differences regarding their understanding and interpretation of Scripture, theology and practice," the document reads.

Conservative congregations that choose to join the new traditionalist denomination are to be helped by a $25m fund, while departing clergy will be allowed to retain their UMC pensions.

The proposals have been formulated by a 16-strong committee comprising bishops and Church leaders on both sides of the debate.

In a vote in February last year, 53 per cent of Church leaders and lay members expressed a desire to retain the UMC's traditional stance on marriage and sexuality.

The new plans will come before the 2020 General Conference in May for approval and are expected to pass.

They have been welcomed by liberal and conservative pastors.

Pro-LGBT pastor Thomas Berlin told The New York Times that they were a "welcome relief" to the conflict in the Church.

"I am very encouraged that the United Methodist Church found a way to offer a resolution to a long conflict," he said.

Keith Boyette, president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a fellowship of over 1,000 conservative congregations, predicts that up to 40 per cent of the denomination in the US could leave the UMC.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, he also welcomed the proposals.

"For traditionalists, we can now focus on the next steps," he said. "That would not be achievable if there were not this kind of plan in place."
As news broke that Iran's top general had been fast-tracked through departures at Baghdad Airport by an American drone strike, the heart sank.

Not that the vaporisation of a bloodthirsty Islamist psychopath responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent people should be anything other than a cause for celebration.

It's just that I could have predicted what would follow. And I'm not talking about the ritual sabre-rattling, wailing and gnashing of teeth from Tehran.

No, it's the tedious, knee-jerk condemnation from Iran's useful idiots here in Britain that is so depressing.

As news broke that Iran's top general (pictured) had been fast-tracked through departures at Baghdad Airport by an American drone strike, the heart sank

Naturally, O.J. Corbyn was first out of the blocks with one of his boilerplate anti-American diatribes. And his terrorist-loving sidekick McDonnell took to the streets five minutes later with the usual suspects from the Stop The War rabble.

Of course he did. McDonnell and Corbyn have never met an enemy of Britain they didn't like.

Frankly, who cares what either of Labour's losers thinks about anything any more? They're history, but they just don't know when to leave the stage.

Given five minutes' notice of the drone strike, I could have told you precisely how it would be received.

Donald Trump would be accused of trying to start World War III, violating international law and deliberately escalating tensions in the Middle East. Meanwhile, TV coverage would concentrate on the grieving rent-a-mobs vowing retaliation. How many times have we seen assorted Iranian 'lawmakers' chanting 'Death to America' over the past 40 years?

Naturally, O.J. Corbyn (left) was first out of the blocks with one of his boilerplate anti-American diatribes. And his terrorist-loving sidekick McDonnell (right) took to the streets five minutes later with the usual suspects from the Stop The War rabble

One of the funniest things on Sky News yesterday was the detailed analysis of the crowd at the funeral march in Tehran. We were told we should especially look out for red flags among the sea of flags being raised. Never mind the black-and-white banners, these were the Shia 'Red Flags of Revenge'.

Aaargh! Beware the Red Flags of Revenge!

The fact that they had been unfurled meant Iran now had to strike back. As if they weren't going to, anyway.

Iran doesn't so much strike back as strike first. For at least four decades, Tehran has been pursuing an unrelenting campaign of terror, particularly against American targets, much of it orchestrated by Qassem Soleimani until that American missile finally caught up with him on Friday.

Yet after paying lip-service to the fact that Soleimani wasn't exactly Iran's answer to the saintly Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a conga-line of 'experts' was wheeled out to explain why killing him was a threat to world peace.

Donald Trump (pictured) would be accused of trying to start World War III, violating international law and deliberately escalating tensions in the Middle East

Somehow, though, Iran's regional expansionism, sponsorship of terrorist organisations and responsibility for countless murders as far afield as Indonesia and Buenos Aires keeps getting put on the back-burner.

The narrative is always about American aggression, just as Israel is always blamed for 'perpetuating the cycle of violence' every time it reacts  proportionately  to thousands of rockets being fired at its civilian population by Iran's proxy terror groups in Palestine.

Trump is accused of violating Iraq's sovereignty by taking out Soleimani in Baghdad. But what was the Iranian-inspired attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad last week if not a violation of sovereignty? And what the hell was Soleimani doing there in Iraq in the first place?

Trump is already being warned that destroying 'cultural sites' in Iran will amount to a war crime. Why flatten an ancient mosque, rather than a nuclear enrichment plant or a terrorist training camp?

This kind of nonsense is right up there with the constant warnings during the Iraq War about the dangers of violating 'holy cities' and disturbing the sanctity of 'Friday prayers'.

Soleimani's body was returned to Iran on Sunday. People are seen carrying his casket upon arrival at Ahvaz International Airport in Tehran. The casket was greeted by chants of 'Death to America' as Iran issued new threats of retaliation

Turned out just about every city, town or hamlet in the Middle East qualifies as 'holy'.

I can remembering wondering at the time why we never describe Canterbury or Winchester as 'holy cities' or talk about Christians taking part in 'Sunday prayers'. It's just another manifestation of the cultural cringe which promotes all other faiths and beliefs above our own.

We are also told the President's recklessness will drag Britain into war with Iran, as if the mad mullahs don't hate us enough already. In the aftermath of the Iraq invasion, nearly 200 British troops were killed by roadside bombs and munitions supplied by Iran.

And how many people now remember the taking of Royal Navy hostages in the Shatt-al-Arab waterway in 2007? They were paraded on Iranian TV in a deliberate attempt to humiliate Britain.

Coincidentally, we have just learned of the death of special forces hero Tom MacDonald, who took part in the SAS operation to rescue hostages taken by Islamist terrorists opposing Ayatollah Khomeini during the Iranian Embassy siege in London in 1980. That's a poignant reminder of just how long Iran has been exporting terror beyond its borders.

It came after an Iranian mob invaded the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding more than 50 hostages for 444 days.

It's fair to say that if Obama had ordered a drone attack on Soleimani, he'd have been hailed as a hero, striking an historic and measured blow for peace and stability.

Most of the antagonism levelled at America's action in taking out Soleimani has been motivated by pure, visceral hatred of Trump, both here and in the U.S. He's been monstered for not telling the British government in advance of the attack. So much for the so-called special relationship, eh?

Yet given the leaking last year of our former Washington Ambassador Kim Darroch's confidential cables containing withering criticism of the President, who can blame him for not trusting the usual diplomatic channels?

For all we know, Trump called Boris at his holiday hideaway on Mustique. They do have telephones in the Caribbean.

As regular readers are aware, this column doesn't do honeymoon periods. But I won't join in the criticism of Boris for not cutting his holiday short.

For a start, he deserved a break after the travails and eventual triumphs of the past few months.

Anyway, what was he supposed to do? My fear was that Boris would channel his inner Churchill complex and turn up in a siren suit and a homburg, puffing on a large cigar and pushing toy tanks round a sandpit in the Cabinet war rooms.

After all, Blair, Brown, Call Me Dave and even Mrs May would have been unable to resist such an opportunity for grandstanding.

Yet Boris, wisely, stuck to his sun-lounger, poured himself another rum punch and monitored events from the pool side, while trusting his ministers, aides and generals back in London to do their jobs.

Never mind how much point-scoring politicians and TV producers desperate to fill their rolling news schedules might protest. This was grown-up government.

Boris has given his full support to Trump, and reassured the Europeans, while refusing to over-react and maintaining a commendable spirit of independence.

Nobody really knows what is going to happen next. My best guess is that Trump will have seriously rattled Tehran. The mullahs now know they can no longer attack U.S. targets with impunity.

Yes, there will probably be some kind of retaliation met by further retribution from the U.S, but it's not the beginning of World War III. And even if it is, Boris has made a decent start worthy of his hero.

Keep Calm and Carry On.

The Army has blown a few million quid on yet another fatuous advert attempting to persuade millennials to enlist. Here's a better idea: bring back conscription. Snowflakes, your country really does need you!
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There is no reason to believe that the situation in Delhi is not conducive to hold polls, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh said on Tuesday, asserting that authorities would make adequate arrangements to ensure a peaceful election next month.

Singh was responding to a question on whether the security situation in Delhi in the backdrop of violence at the Jawaharlal Nehru University and the protests against the contentious citizenship law and NRC was conducive to hold polls.

"There is no reason to believe that environment in the national capital is not conducive to hold polls. Delhi Police will make all the arrangements to ensure peace and tranquillity across the city," the CEO told reporters.

"Later, what is the situation and whether it is conducive or not, is the prerogative of the Election Commission to decide. But, situation is fine now," Singh added.

A masked mob went on a rampage in the JNU campus in south Delhi on Sunday evening, assaulting students and teachers with sticks and iron rods, leaving over 35 injured and sparking a massive outrage across the country.

In December, there was violence in Seelampur and near Jamia Millia Islamia following protests over the amended Citizenship Act.

The election to the 70-member Delhi Assembly was announced by the Election Commission on Monday, bringing into force the model code of conduct.

Over 1.46 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the February 8 election, according to the final electoral roll published.

There are a total of 1,46,92,136 voters -- 80,55,686 males, 66,35,635 females and 815 belonging to third gender -- in the final voters' list.

The notification for the polls will be issued next Tuesday, while the last date of withdrawal of candidates' names will be January 24, Singh had said.

With the issuance of the notification, the nomination process will commence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
There is always something new happening in the world of Tesla. This year, we wont be seeing any new products from the company, but instead, they will be focusing on expanding their technology base. Tesla is rolling out numerous over-the-air updates that are keeping the Tesla owners and enthusiasts quite interested all the time. Not to mention, the products also remain fresh this way, thus giving Musk and his company some breathing room from developing new products. Here are the major updates from Tesla this week.

Tesla Gigafactory 4 To Manufacture The Model 3 As Well

Tesla chose Berlin, Germany as the hub for the Gigafactory 4 instead of Britain.

This announcement came from Elon Musk himself at the Golden Steering Wheel Award show held in 2019. Before this news came to light, the Gigafactory 3 in China was expected to handle the production for the Model 3 as well as the Model Y. However, we recently learned that the Berlin factory will handle the Model Ys production. Tesla received approval from the countrys Ministry of Environment last week, and it looks like Tesla will be producing two cars there.

According to Teslarati, the American startup will also manufacture the Model 3 at Gigafactory 4. It aims to produce around 3,000 examples of the Model Y and Model 3 before ramping it up to almost 10,000 cars a week. The Gigafactory 4s construction will begin within the next six months and Tesla plans to start producing from July 2021. If Tesla is as motivated and strictly time-bound as it was during the Shanghai factorys construction, it will be able to complete this also within a year. Tesla has already posted 35 job vacancies for the key roles and will hire 3,000 employees to start off with.

Elon Musk To Come Up With A Solution To Save Cyclists

A twitter user told Musk to do something about cyclists getting knocked out by careless car occupants who open the doors without looking at the back. Although it seems like a one-off issue, this actually happens more often than you think and has become a serious cause of concern. Musk probably understands the depth of Dooring, as its generally called, and replied: Ok to Burhan Halilovs tweet that read, Please consider a feature to look for bicyclist with the side cameras when car is parked and lock the door to prevent dooring if there is a bicycle approaching the blind spot. Dooring in large cities is major cause of injuries. Happened to me.

Since Musk clearly stated that 2020 will be the year of technologies, we can expect this to be implemented soon as well. Tesla cars have side cameras anyway, so a sound warning to the occupants if there is anything in the blind spot, would be hugely beneficial. If Tesla does go with this approach, it can perhaps do it through a seamless, over-the-air update.

In-Cabin Camera  Boon or Bane?

A Model 3 owner and YouTuber, Tesla Raj, brought up the idea for the cabins interior-facing cameras to be used to record vehicle break-ins when the Sentry mode is activated.

As it turns out, Elon Musk approved it and has confirmed that an OTA update will enable the interior camera when sentry mode is activated.

When the cabin camera was first spotted in the Model 3, Musk said, Its there for when we start competing with Uber/Lyft & people allow their car to earn money for them as part of the Tesla shared autonomy fleet. Tesla will also use this for the self-driving Robotaxis that will play a big role in shaping Teslas future. Although people seem to be pitching the idea themselves about the camera for safety purposes, Volvos idea on similar lines was quashed ruthlessly over a year back.

Volvo was planning to introduce new driver-focused in-car cameras as an option for select 2019 model-year vehicles. However, this wasnt received well by the public, and U.Ks Car magazine straight-up called them spy cameras. Volvo is selling this idea as a type of safety system that monitors the driver and driver behavior. Based on what the camera sees, the car can then take steps to de-stress an agitated driver. Volvo mentioned another use for driver-facing cameras - facial recognition. With the driver in the car, the camera could identify the specific person and adjust vehicle settings accordingly, everything from seat and mirror positions to temperature preferences and app settings. Had the company pitched it as a safety feature, it wouldnt have gotten criticized for it. Remember the movie Speed? Even in 1994, the driver-facing camera would have killed Annie and the other passengers had it not been for Jack spotting the camera!

Acceleration Boost Upgrade

The Model 3 Performance recently received an over-the-air update that enhanced the performance by five-percent.

Now, its time for an Acceleration Boost Upgrade. The difference is that this one is paid. A YouTuber, Quantrillous Montgomery, paid $2,000 for the Acceleration Boost Upgrade for his Model 3 Dual Motor AWD. According to the company, the 0-60 mph time was reduced from 4.4 seconds to 3.9 seconds. However, the owner managed to hit the mark in just 3.48 seconds (with a one-foot rollout)! He continued with the run and completed the quarter-mile sprint in 11.82 seconds.

As for the free OTA Model 3 Performance upgrade a couple of months back, it enhanced the cars performance by five-percent. Many owners checked this out and all of them felt the increase in their 0-60 mph sprints. The companys earlier 3.2 seconds claim was squashed by this update as owners were able to breach the three-second barrier. The Model 3 Performance comes with two motors, one attached to each axle, and boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 191 W/kg. Will Tesla release the paid upgrade for the Model 3 performance anytime in the future?

Tesla Model 3 As A Police Cruiser Is A Big Hit

The Bargersville, Indiana Police Department replaced one of their four Dodge Chargers with a Tesla Model 3 in August 2019 and it seems to be a crowd favorite.

Speaking to IndyStar, the Bargersville Police Chief Todd Bertram said, I got a guy for speeding on (Indiana State Road) 37 and all he wanted to talk about was the Tesla, He further added, During that same traffic stop, somebody honks and a guy is hanging out of his window with a phone taking video,.

The chief of police said that the switch was done to bring the overhead costs into control. The Department will save as much as $6,000 every year. He also said that the whirring motors help in raids and to sneak upon suspects as stealthily as possible. After seeing the loud cop cars in Dubai, this is a pleasant surprise.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. missile strike that killed Iranian Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani was a stunning escalation of the conflict between the United States and Iran  an act of open war in a struggle that has been carried out in the shadows for decades.

Yet President Donald Trump and his aides oddly called the airstrike a deescalation, as if it were a step toward peace.

We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war, the president told supporters Friday.

It sounds like Orwellian doublespeak  an attempt to deny that killing a senior Iranian official ratcheted up hostilities by claiming the opposite.

Trump aides offered a convoluted explanation: Because Soleimani was working on plots against the United States, they said, killing him would impede those attacks  and thus deescalate the conflict, at least temporarily.

But thats not deescalation; its preemption.

Still, theres one way the term deescalation does apply. Trump and his aides appear to be using a tactic borrowed from nuclear weapons strategy  a gambit called escalate to deescalate.

The idea is that if you shock your adversaries with a sudden, violent attack, they may back down from action you want to deter.

But its a high-risk gamble. If the other side backs down, you win. If the other side retaliates and unleashes another round of escalation, the conflict can spiral out of control.

In nuclear strategy, both the United States and Russia have decided that escalate to deescalate  launching a small nuclear attack to deter a larger one  is a dangerous idea, because a miscalculation could be catastrophic.

A miscalculation with Iran could be catastrophic too, if it leads to a wider war.

Trump has used escalate to deescalate before, in his confrontation with North Korea.

In 2017, he was determined to stop North Korea from expanding its arsenal of nuclear weapons.

If Kim Jong Un continued threatening the United States, Trump warned, he would face fire and fury  the likes of which this world has never seen before.

It looked and sounded like a cycle of escalation that could lead to nuclear war.

As tensions spiked, Kim proposed a summit meeting with Trump and announced a suspension of nuclear tests as a sign of goodwill. The two leaders met in Singapore and agreed to work toward denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

Two years later, the process appears stalemated; North Korea is still building nuclear weapons and missiles, and Kim made new threats last week. So Trumps main objective hasnt been met  but the level of tension is lower.

A diplomatic opening was possible because there was an offramp: Trump halted joint military exercises with South Korea and offered Kim reduced economic sanctions in return for clear moves toward denuclearization.

The process hasnt succeeded, but at least the two sides are talking.

The Trump administration has offered no such offramp to Iran  unless you count the long list of demands Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo has made of Tehran, ranging from an end to nuclear and missile development to wholesale changes in Iranian foreign and domestic policy.

The Trump administration has frequently offered to open talks with Iran, and it renewed those offers on Friday. But Trump has never offered Tehran anything as appealing as the menu he put before Kim.

Instead, Pompeo and other U.S. officials have often used language that sounds to Iranians as if the Trump administration is seeking regime change in Tehran.

And theres an emotional element: Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has promised to seek revenge for the killing of his most important military official.

All those factors make it likely that we will see retaliation from Iran  and escalation instead of deescalation.

Irans retaliation could include attacks on oil refineries or tankers, or other U.S. interests by proxy forces in other countries. It could be a covert attack on an American general or other senior official in the Middle East. It could involve cyberattacks on U.S. financial institutions or other infrastructure.

But its almost certain to include a form of what might be called strategic retaliation: a carefully planned campaign, in the wake of Soleimanis killing, to persuade Iraqs parliament to expel U.S. forces from their country. Many Iraqis are outraged that the U.S. killed a senior Iranian official on their soil.

They could force the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to close, a humiliating setback for the United States  especially given the immense U.S. sacrifice in lives and dollars in Iraq since 2003. Worse, it would make Iraq a virtual satellite of Iran  a huge strategic win for Tehran.

It would also illustrate the biggest mismatch between the United States and Iran: We have more money and more military power  but they appear to have a clearer strategy and more patience.

Trump and Pompeo have defined their policy toward Iran as maximum pressure. But without a clear goal and a plan to achieve it, that isnt a strategy; its only a tactic.

The presidents goal, he says, is to get the United States out of the Middle East. The targeted killing of Soleimani risks pulling us deeper in.

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A document advising first responders to kill baby koalas and kangaroos that survive the bushfires is causing distress among those working to save them.

The Victorian Response Plan for Wildlife Impacted by Fire directs that the rehabilitation of orphaned milk dependent joeys from these common species found in the fire zone is not supported.

Contrary to established practice, the plan urges against handing the animals to wildlife volunteers, stating these animals require significant long-term care and cannot be successfully returned to the wild.

The government plan goes on to describe methods of euthanasia which include lethal injection, blunt forced trauma and shooting.

This is despite the same document also providing instructions on how to raise the milk dependent joeys.

Victorian government guidelines suggest orphaned koalas should be euthanised. Source: Supplied / Getty

Across Australia many wildlife carers are successfully raising orphaned koalas and kangaroos, and are furious government staff and contractors entering fire-ravaged bushland are being told to shoot rather than rescue many joeys.

If theyre found on the fire ground theyre shot

The Koala Hospital Port Macquarie is successfully raising a milk dependent joey named Keli who was found on the side of the road with a fungal infection.

Most orphaned animals are raised on a product made by Wambaroo which manufactures early and late lactation milk products designed specifically for koalas and kangaroos.

Rex Box Wildlife Shelter operator Nikki Medwell told Yahoo News Australia that it feels like the government are doing nothing to help native animals hit by the bushfires.

Overabundant animals like macropods or koalas they dont deem necessary to rescue, she said.

It doesnt matter whether theyve been burnt, if theyre found on the fire ground theyre shot.

So thats totally healthy, viable wildlife, including koalas which some are saying are on the brink of extinction.

Milk dependent Keli was found on the side of the road suffering from fungal infection and is doing well in care. Source: Koala Hospital Port Macquarie

Number of animals euthanised unknown

The number of joeys euthanised was yet unknown.

Story continues

A Victorian Department of Environment (DELWP) spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia the Response Plan guidelines remain open to interpretation.

DELWP said milk dependent joeys without fur, eyes closed, and ears down should be euthanised, but those with fur are assessed on a case by case basis.

A spokesperson issued a short statement highlighting that decisions are circumstantial.

A range of factors shape whether injured wildlife should be rehabilitated or euthanised, the statement said.

This includes the duration of the rehabilitation period... The sooner wildlife can be rehabilitated and released, the greater their chance of survival.

Two joeys suckle from bottles in Nikki Medwell's care. Source: Supplied

Wildlife carers who have worked within fire zones have told Yahoo News Australia that the DELWP requires detailed records to be kept on euthanasia and rescues.

The DELWP spokesperson indicated that while records have been collected, they have not yet collated figures from the current fire season.

They were unable to provide figures for any previous fire seasons, just that approximately 1000 animals were assessed during the 2018-19 season.
While the number of driving under the influence arrests jumped slightly in Montgomery County between Christmas Day and New Years Day, prosecutors saw a decrease in arrests over all during annual no refusal operations by area law enforcement.

During the operation, 134 people were arrested, whihc was a slight drop from 2018 when 141 people were arrested.

The effort, according to Montgomery County District Attorneys Office Chief of Vehicular Crimes Andrew James, is critical since the county has one of the highest rates of people dying in alcohol or drug related car crashes per capita in the state.

That is why, unfortunately the No Refusal program is such a priority, James said, noting the holidays always see a spike in driving under the influence arrests. We want people to be safe and sober on our roadways.

As part of the program, officials are on hand to issue blood search warrants signed by a judge to allow for blood to be taken of those suspected of being under the influence but have refused to consent to the blood draw.

If a person tries to physically refusal, they can be charged with the crime of resisting a search, James explained. The whole point of the No Refusal is to streamline the process of getting a blood sample as quick as possible and allowing the officer to get back out on the streets.

According to data from the DAs office, 68 people were arrested between Dec. 20 and Dec. 24 for driving under the influence. Law enforcement officials executed 21 blood search warrants during that time. Between Dec. 26 and Dec. 31, 42 people were arrested with 10 blood search warrants executed.

On Christmas Day, seven people were arrested, up from six in 2018, with no blood search warrants issues. New Years Eve saw 17 arrests this year, up from 14 in 2018, with five blood search warrants issued.

James said the operation saves lives.

Anytime when we are not having fatality crashes is a good result, he said adding there was only one fatal crash during the No Refusal period but it was not yet known if that driver was intoxicated.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
[January 07, 2020] Leading Boutique Stretching Franchise Launches Revolutionary TRX MAPS Technology in Studios Nationwide

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- StretchLab, the national assisted stretching franchise, is reaching for new heights with the integration of TRX MAPS Technology into its programming. The company announced today that the revolutionary machine which identifies movement inefficiencies across four critical categories  mobility, activation, posture and symmetry (MAPS)  will be rolling out in its 50-plus studios nationwide over the next few months, as well as all locations in development. StretchLab is the first assisted stretching brand to utilize this technology and has partnered with TRX to be the only assisted stretching brand that will use MAPS. At StretchLab, clients work one-on-one with highly trained Flexologists in an open, modern and friendly environment to increase mobility and flexibility and achieve a deeper, more advanced stretch than one can get on their own. Once an oft-neglected and overlooked area of fitness, deep stretching is scientifically proven to be one of the most effective ways to decrease pain, lower risk of injury and provide people the ability to perform better at work, in the gym and in everyday life. The TRX MAPS machine will be a huge asset to StretchLab's offerings as technology continues to permeate the boutique fitness and wellness industry. MAPS uses 3-D technology to perform a total body movement assessment scan in under 30 seconds, as users perform 3 body-weight squats. Results are deliveed on-screen and via email, which will allow StretchLab's Flexologists to better serve the needs of its diverse members by fostering a customized movement plan and offering a measurable way to see progress in flexibility.



"With technology-driven and trackable workouts continually on the rise in the fitness industry, StretchLab is excited to bring this trend to the recovery space with the TRX MAPS machine," said Lou DeFrancisco, President of StretchLab. "While the benefits of stretching and recovery are undeniable, we believe the integration of technology in this vertical will prove just how advanced and effective StretchLab's programming and Flexologists are." Founded in 2015, StretchLab offers a variety of one-on-one personalized stretching services including a 25-minute stretch that concentrates on areas to focus on the client's current stretching needs, as well as a 50-minute head-to-toe deep stretch that addresses all major muscle groups. In addition to one-on-one stretching services, two small format group stretching classes are also available, in which a Flexologist leads clients through a warm up and sequence of stretches to address major muscle groups.

To learn more about StretchLab and TRX MAPS technology, visit www.stretchlab.com. If you are interested in opening a StretchLab franchise, visit www.stretchlab.com/franchise. ABOUT STRETCHLAB: Founded in 2015 in Venice, California, StretchLab is a boutique health and wellness franchise that offers one-on-one assisted stretching services in a fun, energetic and communal environment. The sessions are designed to increase mobility and flexibility, helping to reduce pain, decrease muscle aches, improve posture, reduce recovery time and enhance quality of life. Guided by highly-trained Flexologists in a one-on-one or group atmosphere, StretchLab is the leader in the stretching industry through its approach to help clients of all ages, fitness levels, genders and sizes achieve deeper stretches that allow them to reach individual wellness goals. Headquartered in Irvine, CA, StretchLab is backed by Xponential Fitness, a team with decades of experience in fitness franchising. To learn more about StretchLab, visit www.stretchlab.com . Media contact: David Robertson, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or 847-945-1300 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leading-boutique-stretching-franchise-launches-revolutionary-trx-maps-technology-in-studios-nationwide-300982751.html SOURCE StretchLab

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NATO Members Agree Iran Must Never Acquire Nuclear Weapon - Alliance Chief Stoltenberg

Sputnik News

19:17 06.01.2020(updated 19:59 06.01.2020)

Last week, Iran stated that it would continue to reduce its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal, and proceed to enrich uranium based on the technical requirements of its nuclear industry.

Speaking during an urgent meeting of NATO countries, the bloc's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that all the member-states have agreed that Iran should never acquire a nuclear weapon.

"At our meeting today, Allies called for restraint and de-escalation. A new conflict would be in no-one's interest, so Iran must refrain from further violence and provocations," Stoltenberg said.

The statement comes hours after US President Donald Trump rushed to Twitter to say that Iran would never be allowed to gain access to a nuclear weapon.

The agenda of the NATO Monday meeting focused on the situation in Iraq following the killing of Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) elite Quds Force, in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport on Friday.

The killing prompted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to warn that Tehran will take revenge for what it views to be a heinous crime. Baghdad has condemned the attack as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, with the national parliament voting to expel foreign troops from the country.

US President Donald Trump, in turn, threatened Iraq with "sanctions like they've never seen before ever," saying US troops will not leave the country unless America is paid back for its "very extraordinarily expensive airbase" located there.

A Sputnik

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Fresh of his success from "Ford vs. Ferrari," the former Dark Knight is slated to make his first foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Christian Bale is rumored to be joining the cast of "Thor: Love and Thunder", which is set to be released on Nov. 5, 2021.

Filming is set to start in August 2020. Marvel remains mum on the confirmation of the Bale-in-Thor rumors. However, Collider sources report that Bale is in talks to star in the follow-up film of "Thor: Ragnarok."

Christian Bale's Rumored Role

The four-time Oscar nominee previously took the lead role in "Batman Begins," "The Dark Knight," and "The Dark Knight Rises." However, Bale will not be appearing as The Dark Knight in the Thor film. Rather, he may take on a protagonist role for the upcoming Thor film such as Balder, who is a crucial ally based off from Norse mythology.

Rumors include the possibility of him taking on the role of Beta Ray Bill. This character is initially thought of to be a monster but turns out unexpectedly to be a hero. The role first appeared on "The Mighty Thor."

Bale has been in the rumor mill of "Thor 4," as Beta Ray Bill would require an actor who could speak Welsh. Bale has a naturally Welsh accent and rumors reveal that he may do the voice over for the role similar to Rocket Raccoon.

Other speculations include Bale might take on a villain role for his first entry in the comic book movie realm. These may include Gorr the God Butcher or the Minotaur, both of whom are yet to make their film debut in the franchise since it started.

Thor: Love and Thunder'

After gaining success in 2017 with "Thor: Ragnarok," grossing $853 million worldwide, the entire team is set for a comeback. "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017) Director Taikaw Waititi returns to direct the upcoming film. He will also be the voice of Korg in the movie.

The film set is expected to be set-up in Australia.

Chris Hemworth will come back as the God of Thunder for the ninth time since the character Thor was introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Joining him in the upcoming movie is Natalie Portman. The 2021 film will be Portman's first major role in Marvel Cinematic since "Thor: The Dark World." She plays Jane Foster -- a crucial character that will be the new God of Thunder in the movie.

Portman's character was first seen in "The Mighty Thor" comic run by Jason Aaron.

Another comeback character is Valkyrie from "Thor: Ragnarok." Tessa Thompson will reprise her role, with her character tasked to look for a new queen to rule the New Asgard with her. This would be her third appearance as Valkyrie.

Trans Character in Thor?

Furthermore, it is believed that "Thor: Love and Thunder" may introduce a trans character to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There is currently a trans character in the home of Asgard, Sera -- a woman who hails from an all-male lineup of angels called the Anchorite of Heben. At birth, Sera was male.

The co-writer of the Marvel comic Kieron Gillen confirmed Sera is trans. However, Marvel is yet to confirm that Sera will be included in the upcoming Thor installation.

Director Waititi did say that the film would be "louder, bigger, and more bombastic" than the previous Thor film.
A civil servant who stole more than 1.7 million from the Ministry of Justice to buy a lavish home and cars has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Allan Williams, 37, masterminded a sophisticated fraud by setting up payments to a fake company for two years.

Williams, who as a Grade 7 civil servant would be earning 50,000-60,000 a year, used the cash to buy an Audi SQ5, an Audi A3 and a five-bedroom manor house with 1.1 acres in Hampshire.

Before the fraud he had been living in a 290,000 three-bedroom semi-detached house in Essex with his family.

At Williamss sentencing yesterday, prosecutor Gregor McKinley told Southwark crown court: This was a sophisticated fraud  and would have resulted in further loss to the taxpayer if it had not been discovered.

On July 23, 2017, Williams created a 7 million purchase order for an IT services contract from Sopra Business Consulting and set up a monthly payment to it. But the firm was bogus, created by Williams.

The money was transferred from the companys bank to his personal account.

He was caught when a junior civil servant became suspicious of a transaction in July 2019.

Williams, a manager in the MoJs commercial and financial control sector, tried to convince him the payments were legitimate, the court heard.

But the employee reported them. Police found Williams had transferred almost 1.4 million of MoJ funds to himself and 400,000 was in the fake firms account.

Williams, of Bentley, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to fraud and transferring criminal property. Judge Joanna Korner QC told him: You conceived of this plan to make yourself richer  It was both sophisticated and greedy.

An MoJ spokeswoman said Williams used his knowledge of our controls to circumvent them, adding: We have since carried out a further review to ensure it would be even harder to commit such an offence.
Trump threatens harsh sanctions against Iraq after parliament vote

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:23, January 06, 2020

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened to impose harsh sanctions on Iraq after the war-torn country's parliament passed a resolution urging the government to expel foreign troops.

"If they do ask us to leave, if we don't do it in a very friendly basis, we will charge them sanctions like they've never seen before ever. It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame," Trump told reporters on Air Force One.

"We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that's there. It costs billions of dollars to build ... We're not leaving unless they pay us back for it," he added.

Trump's warning came hours after the Iraqi parliament on Sunday passed a draft law requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in Iraq, and prevent them from using Iraqi air, space and water.

Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi attended the televised parliament session and addressed the lawmakers, saying "the departure of the U.S. forces from Iraq will be in the benefit of Iraq and the United States, especially after the latest developments."

The U.S. State Department said in a statement on Sunday that America is "disappointed" by the action taken by the Iraqi parliament.

"We strongly urge Iraqi leaders to reconsider the importance of the ongoing economic and security relationship between the two countries and the continued presence of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (the Islamic State)," the statement said.

The Iraqi parliament session came two days after a U.S. drone strike on a convoy near Baghdad International Airport killed Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces.

Over 5,000 U.S. troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the Iraqi forces in the battles against the IS militants, mainly providing training and advising to the Iraqi forces.

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A pregnant homeless woman was forced to sleep on the hard floor of an empty flat due to multiple failings of a London council, a government watchdog has found.

The woman, who cannot be named, was left in the flat for three months, and did not have a bed until she was awarded a grant a month into the tenancy.

The council failed to comply with homelessness laws and subsequently caused her unnecessary distress and anxiety, said the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, which investigated after receiving a complaint from the woman.

The woman had appealed to Tower Hamlets Council for help when her father gave her notice to leave the family home.

But delays in assessing her case and demands for her to provide extra evidence meant time ran out to prevent her becoming homeless.

The Stats: Homelessness in the UK Show all 10 1 /10 The Stats: Homelessness in the UK The Stats: Homelessness in the UK Sleeping rough up 165% from 2010 The total number of people counted or estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2018 was 4,677, up 2,909 people or 165% from the 2010 total of 1,768 Getty The Stats: Homelessness in the UK London rough sleepers up 13% The number of people sleeping rough increased by 146 or 13% in London since 2017 AFP/Getty The Stats: Homelessness in the UK London accounted for 27% of people sleeping rough in England London accounted for 27% of the total number of people sleeping rough in England. This is up from 24% of the England total in 2017 Getty The Stats: Homelessness in the UK 64% of rough sleeps UK nationals 64% were UK nationals, compared to 71% in 2017 AFP/Getty The Stats: Homelessness in the UK 14% of rough sleepers are women 14% of the people recorded sleeping rough were women, the same as in 2017 Getty The Stats: Homelessness in the UK 6% were aged 25 years or under, compared to 8% in 2017 AFP/Getty The Stats: Homelessness in the UK Thousands of families staying in temporary housing Almost 79,000 families were staying in temporary housing in the last three months of 2017 because they didn't have a permanent home, compared with 48,010 in the same period eight years before Getty The Stats: Homelessness in the UK Reduction in families living in temporary housing before Coalition government There had been a significant reduction in families living in such conditions before the Coalition government came into power, with the number having fallen by 52 per cent between 2004 and 2010 under the Labour government AFP/Getty The Stats: Homelessness in the UK Families staying in temporary has risen since But the figure has crept up in each of the past seven years, from 69,140 in the last quarter of 2015, to 75,740 in the same period in 2016 and 78,930 at the end of last year Getty The Stats: Homelessness in the UK Nearly 58,000 families accepted as homeless (2018) Nearly 58,000 families have been accepted as homeless by their local council in the past year (as of March 2018), equating to an increase of 8 per cent over the last five years Getty

The month after she approached the council for the first time, the woman found out she was pregnant and contacted it again. Instead of immediately providing her with interim accommodation, it demanded extra evidence from her.

A week later, the woman provided her 12-week scan, and she was given the unfurnished interim accommodation in another London borough the following day.

The watchdog said the council failed to take into account her medical needs and the fact that the accommodation was far from both her support network and hospital. The council was said to have refused to consider her individual needs when she continued to say her accommodation was unsuitable.

She eventually moved into private rented accommodation three months after approaching the council.

The local authority has since agreed to apologise and pay the woman 1,000 to recognise the time she spent living in unsuitable accommodation, and also agreed to consider service resources and the changes it needs to make to work in line with the law.

Ombudsman Michael King said: In this case, because of the councils faults, the woman was left in unsuitable temporary accommodation for three months, causing her unnecessary distress and anxiety at a time when she was most vulnerable.

I welcome the efforts the council has made during our investigation to help the woman and hope its commitment to learn from its errors will help ensure other people are not affected in the same way in future.

He said he had decided to issue the report in part because it highlighted to other councils the duties they have under the new homelessness prevention laws, and the steps they can take to learn from the errors highlighted.

In a separate case published by the watchdog, a young family, including a disabled child, had to leave their home following a miscalculation of their housing benefits by London Borough of Haringey.

The single-parent family had been living in privately rented accommodation, but were asked to leave by their landlord after the council incorrectly told him the family owed more than 8,000 in backdated benefits.

The ombudsman said the council had failed to calculate the mothers benefits properly, and wrongly told the landlord she owed a significant debt, as well as not properly applying the rules that limit benefits to a familys first two children.

A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council said: We deeply regret the hardship caused in this case and we accept the findings of the ombudsmans investigation.

The resident has now been supported to find appropriate accommodation but the council recognises that errors were made. We have apologised to her and taken steps to ensure that our processes are improved so that similar mistakes do not happen again.
Syniti formerly BackOffice Associates Kevin Campbell, Syniti CEO said, Chris is a powerhouse whose proven success, background and experience will help accelerate our data strategy and analytics organization and offerings. He will be a critical strategic growth driver for the organization.

Syniti, formerly BackOffice Associates, today announced that industry veteran and data thought leader Chris Knerr, CEO and co-founder of Mareana, has been named Syniti's Chief Digital Officer.

As Syniti scales in growth, Chris will lead the expansion of Synitis Data Strategy practice and Unstructured Data/Analytics offerings globally  both serve as key strategic elements of Synitis global strategy.

I am thrilled to be joining Syniti at this critical inflection point in our growth, said Chris Knerr, Chief Digital Officer. We have an incredible opportunity to bring even more value to our customers in their Data Journey through strategy, analytics, and an industry-leading, holistic approach to Data. A robust Digital Strategy depends on Data Strategy and execution, and we're uniquely positioned through our world-class software and services to deliver on that business value."

Kevin Campbell, Syniti CEO said, Chris is a powerhouse whose proven success, background and experience will help accelerate our data strategy and analytics organization and offerings. He brings a unique, holistic perspective to data-focused business transformation. As a former Fortune 50 Client Executive Sponsor for large-scale data migrations at Johnson & Johnson, as well as a Syniti alliance partner who has co-sold significant Syniti software and services, he will be a critical strategic growth driver for the organization.

Most recently, Chris was CEO of Mareana, a high-growth enterprise software tech start-up and management consulting company, which he founded to help clients monetize unstructured data and improve business analytics outcomes using AI and machine learning.

Prior to founding Mareana, Chris was a senior leader at Johnson & Johnson and led strategy, governance, and execution for a massive global portfolio of technology-enabled enterprise programs across the Consumer, Med Device and Pharma businesses, including a high investment 10-year SAP transformation, as well as Johnson & Johnsons largest commercial contracting transformation. As a transformational leader, Chris also helped established Centers of Excellence for Enterprise Master Data Management, Global Supply Chain, Global Finance, North America Distribution & Customer Service, and North America Commercial Contracting.

He holds a BA in Philosophy from Columbia University and an MBA from Cornell University. Chris serves on the boards of several tech companies and non-profits, and guest lectures at Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management.

About Syniti

Syniti, formerly BackOffice Associates, was founded in 1996 to solve business complex data challenges, bringing synergy between data and business, delivering confidence and progress along clients business transformation journey. Through a combination of unique data expertise, services, and intelligent software leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning, we help clients manage their data journey from data conversion to data quality, data archival and replication, master data management, analytics, information governance, and data strategy. Syniti is a portfolio company of private equity firm BridgeGrowth Partners LLC.

http://www.syniti.com

@syniti

@synitidata
NEW YORK, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IDB Capital and American Business today announced a strategic partnership to offer insurance services through IDB Capital, the wholly owned broker-dealer subsidiary of IDB Bank.



As part of the agreement, American Business will provide IDB Capital with an array of insurance solutions and products from industry leading carriers. This includes comprehensive life insurance solutions geared toward high-net-worth individuals; case studies that demonstrate ability to solve unique and demanding life insurance challenges; in-house education; updates on important tax, regulatory and insurance-related news and events; one-on-one consultations; forensic review of all insurance portfolios; and complimentary reviews of estate planning documents (e.g., wills, trusts, powers of attorney, buy-sell agreements).



More than anything else, IDB Capital is committed to providing value for our clients. Thanks to our partnership with American Business, our clients will have even more access to personalized insurance solutions to meet their individualized needs, said Ethan Levinson, President and CEO of IDB Capital.



American Business, founded in 1967, specializes in Life Insurance and Estate Planning. Dedicated exclusively to insurance strategies, the company has extensive experience working with high-net-worth clients developing customized solutions in close coordination with each clients trusted advisors. For IDB Capital, American Business is an ideal partner with a strong foreign nationals practice and an impressive network.



American Business is thrilled to support IDB Capital clients during each and every step along their financial and retirement journeys, said Bruce Mesner, President of American Business.



As part of its emphasis on partner education, American Business will offer IDB Capital with resources and tools such as AB University, a one-day, comprehensive training seminar; weekly meetings dedicated to timely topics and reviews of case studies; and monthly meetings with insurance carriers to learn about the best placement for their products.



###

About IDB Capital

IDB Capital is the wholly owned broker dealer subsidiary of IDB Bank where Its Personal.

At IDB Capital, we embrace the values and lessons that will never be obsolete on Wall Street; service and integrity. An ever-changing market, evolving client needs, new investment products and a world filled with risks and opportunities demands a fresh perspective on client interaction and value creation. With a sharp focus on being a nimble, responsive and accessible organization, IDB Capital offers a personalized approach to demystifying the investment universe. We seek to differentiate ourselves by pairing a deep and wide array of investment options, designed to meet your investment objectives, with a spirit of partnership, performance and transparency.



To learn more about IDB Capital, visit www.idbcapital.com.



Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment products available through IDB Capital are not guaranteed or insured by IDB Capital, IDB Bank or any affiliate, are not FDIC-insured, are subject to investment risks and may lose value.

IDB Bank is a registered service mark of Israel Discount Bank of New York.



About American Business

Stability, focus and teamwork are the foundation of American Business. The firm, founded in 1967, has become the go-to life insurance resource boutique for the nation's leading financial advisory firms. They are not a "one stop shop", but rather, an independent, sophisticated life insurance resource firm that specializes in working closely with well-established investment, accounting, legal and risk management firms and their clients.

Their education and training have set their insurance professionals apart from the industry mainstay. The American Business Two Client Philosophy features the delicate balance and competence required to conduct a "conversation with the affluent" and their trusted advisors. Their consultative and team approach differentiates American Business professionals from their peers.
From its inception, Boeings 737 Max was designed to save airlines the expense of training their pilots on flight simulators. During the initial approval of the plane and after two crashes killed 346 people last year, Boeing argued in conversations with the Federal Aviation Administration that simulator training was not necessary.

Now, after a worldwide grounding has cost the company billions of dollars over nearly 10 months and caused it to temporarily halt the production of the Max, Boeing has reversed course. On Tuesday, the company said it would recommend that pilots train in flight simulators before flying the Max.

The decision stems from Boeings analysis of recent flight simulator tests that were part of the work necessary to return the Max to service, which showed that pilots were not using the right procedures to handle emergencies. Those tests are the latest hurdle for Boeing, which has encountered setback after setback as it tries to fix problems with the Max and persuade regulators that the plane is ready to fly.

The Max has been grounded since March, and Boeing has been working for months on changes to the software that contributed to both accidents. Boeing, the largest aerospace manufacturer in the world and one of the most important companies in the United States, has been roiled by the Max grounding, which still has no end in sight. Last month, the companys board ousted its chief executive, Dennis A. Muilenburg, who had presided over a deteriorating relationship with the F.A.A. and key airline customers.
Gov. Kay Ivey today appointed Dr. Tommie Stewart, former Dean of Alabama State Universitys College of Visual and Performing Arts, to fill the District 5 State Board of Education seat left vacant by long-time board member Ella Bell, who died Nov. 3.

District 5 covers a large portion of the Black Belt and southwest Alabama.

Alabamas students and teachers deserve our best, and Dr. Stewart is prepared to offer that, Gov. Ivey said in a press release. Dr. Stewart is bringing forth a great passion and a lifetime of unique experience that I know will greatly benefit Alabamas students and educators.

Education is the pathway for our childrens future," Stewart said in the release. "It is our charge to motivate, validate, and create a positive environment for teaching the youth and supporting the employees that our children encounter. This was the focus of board member Ella Bell, and her work will not be in vain. It is important that the state of Alabamas educational system deserves student preparedness.

The appointment is effective immediately, Ivey said, and Stewart will participate in the state board of educations Jan. 9 meeting and work session. Stewarts appointment must be confirmed by the Senate during the next legislative session, which starts Feb. 4.

Stewart will complete Bells term, which currently ends in January 2021. Bell was in the middle of her fifth term, first elected in 1999.

Prior to serving as dean, Stewart served as chair and a professor in ASUs Department of Theatre Arts, in addition to being director and holding other positions in the department.

In addition to Stewarts nearly 50 years of experience in higher education, she is an accomplished actress and has appeared in nearly a dozen films, including A Time to Kill, The Rosa Parks Story, and Mississippi Burning. She has appeared in a number of television shows, too, including American Horror Story, Touched by an Angel, and Matlock.

Stewarts appointment comes two months ahead of a vote to convert the elected eight-member Board of Education to nine commissioners appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Voters must approve a Constitutional amendment on the March 3 primary ballot in order to make the change to an appointed body.

Ivey, along with Amendment Ones sponsor Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, has condemned the state board as dysfunctional and broken, and change needs to start at the top.

According to the National Association of State Boards of Education, Alabama is one of seven states and the District of Columbia where voters elect all members of the state board of education.

Lawmakers approved the referendum with 78 votes in the House. Most, but not all, House Democrats voted no. The bill passed with 30 votes in the Senate, with five Senators abstaining.

Current state board member Jackie Zeigler launched a campaign asking voters to reject the amendment. As representative for State Board of Education District One, Zeigler wrote in a press release in October, I am vehemently opposed to any attempt take away the voice of the people. Zeigler is up for re-election in 2020 along with board members in three other districts.

However, if voters approve Amendment One, current board members terms end as soon as new commissioners are appointed and confirmed.

Complicating things further, eight Democrats are vying for election in the primary, on the same ballot as Amendment One. Those Democratic qualifiers include: Fred Bell, Tonya Smith Chestnut, Ron Davis, Pamela J. Laffitte, Patrice Penni McClammy, Woodie E. Pugh Jr., Joanne Shum, and Billie Jean Young.

Stewart earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Jackson State University. She also holds a Master of Arts from the University of California in Santa Barbara and a doctorate from Florida State University. She was the first African American female to receive a doctorate from the FSU School of Theatre. Stewart and her husband Dr. Allen Stewart have children who were educated in the Montgomery County Public School System.

I look forward to serving alongside her as we work to build a stronger future for our state, Ivey said. Education must be at the core of all of our efforts, and that begins with the leadership at the top.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned for two weeks a plea seeking to reopen a 2010 corruption case related to land grabbing in Bengaluru against Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa during his earlier tenure and Congress leader DK Shivakumar.

A bench headed by Supreme Court Chief Justice SA Bobde said NGO Samaj Parivartan Samudaya cannot piggyback and asked its lawyer Prashant Bhushan to show what it did to prosecute its complaint in the land grab case and corruption charges against Yediyurappa and Shivakumar.

"You cannot do piggyback, you cannot ride on somebody's shoulder," CJI Bobde told the NGO.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The city of Alexandria, Virginia, plans to buy and restore Freedom House, site of one of the nation's most notorious pre-Civil War slave pens, and expand exhibits inside the building that showcase its cruel history.

City officials announced the $1.8 million purchase agreement late Monday after months of negotiations with the Northern Virginia Urban League, which has owned the 1812 brick rowhouse at 1315 Duke St. since 1996.

Mayor Justin Wilson, a Democrat, called the building's preservation "vital . . . to connect the stories of our past to our present-day conversation about race and equity, and ensure we are telling a broader, more candid account of Alexandria and our nation's history."

Between 1828 and 1836, the property served as headquarters for Franklin and Armfield, at the time the richest and most successful slave-trading business in the United States. Other slave-trading firms operated there in later years, until Union troops arrived in Alexandria in 1861 and found a lone black man chained by the leg in the basement.

Historians say as many as 50,000 enslaved Africans passed through the depot on their way to servitude in the Deep South. After being herded off boats at Alexandria's port and marched to the property, they were held in the dingy basement or in cells behind the house, then forced to walk in chains or sail on packed ships to bondage, primarily in Mississippi and Louisiana.

The local Urban League was praised for saving the four-story row house from oblivion in 1996 when it bought the property and created a small basement museum that includes shackles and recordings of slave narratives.

But upkeep proved too much for an organization that focuses primarily on scholarships and economic self-reliance, parity and civil rights for disadvantaged communities. In summer of 2019, heavy rainstorms flooded the basement with three inches of water, damaging the flooring and some exhibits.

The league put Freedom House on the market for use as a commercial or residential property, with an asking price of $2.1 million.

In October, Urban League board chair Diane McLaughlin said the Alexandria government was interested in taking over the building. Wilson said the city wanted to keep the property from falling into private hands, and City Manager Mark Jinks predicted a deal by year's end.

The Alexandria City Council will officially vote whether to buy the building in February. Last month, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, included $2.44 million in his proposed budget to help restore the property and expand the museum to the first and second floors.

Wilson said the city plans to seek out partners to help with those efforts.

McLaughlin, in a statement Tuesday, declared the league was pleased to put the house in the city's hands to make sure its story continues to betold. The organization will be allowed to keep its offices in the building for five years, city officials said.

For the past year, the city and the league have jointly operated the museum, although the Urban League retained ownership.

Alexandria provided a $63,000 interest-free loan to stabilize finances in 2018, established an entrance fee and sent city historians to operate weekend tours.

A memo outlining that loan for the City Council said: "Possible loss of this site to private ownership would deprive historians, and those interested in slave history the understanding of an important aspect of our Nation's and City's heritage. This site should remain accessible to the public, so what was once a place of horrors may be held for the public trust."

The Freedom House is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, its website is alexandriava.gov/FreedomHouse.
Specifically, southern Australias temperatures have risen about 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit since 1950. Conditions over the past 20 years have been hotter and drier than in the 20 years before that, and the 20 years before that, and the 20 years before that, and so forth. December saw the nations hottest day on record, an average of more than 107 degrees Fahrenheit  a threshold surpassed just the next day. Heat and drought have toasted the land, turning Australias countryside into a tinderbox.
Missing Idaho kids mystery: Older son begs mom to come home originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Months into the search for two missing children -- and the hunt for their mother, Lori Vallow, who police said fled town -- Vallow's older son is begging her to come home.

"Mom, I want to talk to you like I'm sitting across the room from you," Colby Rayn said in an emotional video posted to YouTube.

"I just need this to end for Tylee and JJ," he pleaded. "I need this to end for you. I need this to end for all of us."

His siblings, Joshua Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, have been missing from Rexburg, Idaho, since Sept. 23.

PHOTO: Missing children Joshua Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, were last seen on Sept. 23, 2019 in Rexburg, Idaho. (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

(MORE: Mom of missing Idaho kids knows where they are or what happened: 'Do the right thing,' police say)

His mother, Lori Vallow, who is Joshua's adopted mother and Tylee's biological mother, knows where the missing kids are or what happened to them but has refused to help with the case, according to Rexburg police.

The children's grandparents held a press conference on Tuesday asking the public for help.

PHOTO: An undated photo shows Lori Vallow. The Rexburg Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating Lori N. Vallow who is wanted for questioning in connection with the disappearance of Vallow's children; Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan. (Rexburg Police Department)

"Can't tell me that someone doesn't know something about these children to give us one piece of information to find them," Larry Woodcock told reporters. "We want information and we want closure."

Police said last week they believe "Joshua's and Tylee's lives are in danger."

(MORE: Mom, stepdad of missing Idaho kids are 'loving' and 'devoted,' attorney says)

Authorities believe the kids' disappearance is linked to the October death of Daybell's former wife, Tamara "Tammy" Daybell.

Her death initially was thought to be natural, but investigators later found it suspicious and her remains were exhumed, police said.

Chad Daybell married Vallow a couple weeks after Tamara Daybell's death.

Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries said it'll take several more weeks for an autopsy to be completed, due to toxicology tests stemming from the allegations that Tamara Daybell was poisoned.

Story continues

PHOTO: An undated photo shows Chad Daybell. The Rexburg Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating Chad Daybell who is wanted for questioning in connection with the disappearance of Lori Vallow's children; Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan. (Rexburg Police Department)

The safety of Tylee and Joshua was called into question in November, when extended family reported that they hadn't been able to speak with Joshua since September.

When officers in November spoke with Vallow and Daybell, the couple said Joshua was staying with a friend, police said. Officers later learned Joshua wasn't there.

When police went back to Vallow and Daybell with search warrants, they found the couple had "abruptly" left Rexburg.

"We pray that they are all together, but we don't know that as a fact," said Kay Woodcock.

On Friday, authorities served a search warrant at Chad Daybell's Fremont County, Idaho, home, seizing computers, phones and documents, according to ABC Idaho Falls affiliate KIFI.

Chad Daybell's sons still live at the home, KIFI said.

(MORE: Attorney prepares 'alibi defense' for estranged husband of missing Connecticut mom)

Police also allege that Vallow and Chad Daybell lied about Vallow's children weeks after Tammy Daybell's death.

They allegedly told people "that Lori's daughter had died a year before the death of her father, which is untrue," police said. "Around that same time Chad told another witness that Lori had no minor children."

Humphries said they don't have enough evidence right now to issue an arrest warrant for Daybell and Vallow, that "they're not suspects at this time."

Sean Bartholick, an attorney for Vallow and Daybell, said in a statement last month that she's a "devoted mother" and he's a "loving husband."

"We look forward to addressing the allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor," Bartholick said.

Bartholick did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment on Tuesday.
Event Takes Place 10-13 November 2020 at the Forte Village Resort in Sardinia, Italy

LONDON, Jan. 07, 2020's SIBEC Europe 2020 brings Europe's major operators from the Health, Fitness and Leisure markets to meet with leading international suppliers to build new business relationships and learn about profitable business strategies. The event is scheduled for 10-13 November 2020 at the Forte Village Resort in Sardinia, Italy.



SIBEC Europe will host 85 senior executives from the Health, Fitness and Leisure markets such as Nuffield Health, David Lloyd Leisure and SATS as well as 130 international suppliers such as Technogym, Gladstone and Pavigym.

The event's location provides an intimate, results-oriented business setting, optimised to deliver maximum results. Prior to the event, each buyer and supplier has the opportunity to pre-select the companies they would like to meet with and SIBEC Europe strategically matches companies according to their preferences for a series of pre-scheduled face-to-face one-on-one meetings. Through a well-balanced networking programme, delegates also have the opportunity to spend time with their peers and prospective clients during offsite activities, coffee breaks, meals and receptions.

David Zarb Jenkins, Event Director for SIBEC Europe, said "Following record attendance and a very successful event in Malta, we are extremely excited to be taking the 24th annual SIBEC Europe event to the Forte Village Resort in Sardinia. This iconic property is the definition of style and luxury and is the perfect platform for delegates to conduct business away from the pressures of the office. SIBEC has facilitated over 50,000 meetings over the years between international suppliers and Europe's most prominent fitness operators. Choosing exotic locations enhances the SIBEC experience and sets the tone for great networking and everlasting friendships. Ultimately people do business with people they like and we firmly believe SIBEC forms those friendships which translate into business."

"As we try to balance increasingly busy work schedules, I continue to find that SIBEC Europe provides me with the perfect opportunity to meet new and existing suppliers in a focused environment, which maximises the opportunity for both buyers and suppliers. It is always great to catch up with colleagues in a relaxed and informal environment. I would highly recommend SIBEC to any prospective buyers," said Jason Stanton, Mytime Active.

To learn more about SIBEC Europe, visit: https://www.sibeceu.com/

To apply for a hosted buyer place at SIBEC Europe, click here .

To register as a supplier for SIBEC Europe, click here .

Stay connected to SIBEC Europe on Facebook and LinkedIn .

About Questex

At Questex, we are passionate about driving business outcomes. We connect buyers and sellers and help both achieve their goals. We are online, on devices and live with experiential engagements. We understand the buyer's behavior and evolving needs and connect them with the seller through continual touchpoints. From discovery through purchase and purchase through advocacy, we supply unmatched access, insight, engagement and turnkey solutions all in one place.

Media Contact

Chris Rivers

Marketing Manager

SIBEC Europe

+44 208 075 9731

crivers@questex.com
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.




She was out on Sunday evening all gussied up to enjoy the most A-list Golden Globes party.

But Shay Mitchell proved that motherhood never gets a night off in her latest Instagram story featuring her two-month-old daughter, Atlas Noa.

Coming home at 2am didn't stop the 32-year-old from doing her motherly duty and breastfeeding her baby girl.

No rest: Upon returning home from the InStyle Golden Globe Awards after party on Sunday night, Shay Mitchel' went into fully mommy mode to cater to the early morning needs of her two-month-old daughter Atlas Noa

There she is: Atlas Noa was featured in the short Instagram story video, lounging in Shay's lap peacefully in a light blue onesie

Shay gave birth to her mini-me in October and has taken on her new roll as 'mommy' with full force.

The Pretty Little Liars alum, still rocking her red carpet make-up, changed from her glamorous gown into a humble robe to cater to the two-month-old's needs.

Mitchell, with her front-facing camera on, spoke to her nearly 30million Instagram followers in the wee hours of Monday morning.

'Now THIS is the real after party' Mitchell proclaimed before shifting the camera from herself to her baby.

On the go: Just a few hours before returning home to care for Atlas, Shay was photographed on the InStyle red carpet for their annual Golden Globes after party

That's a wrap: After the mommy-daughter video, Shay concluded the night's Instagram story by posting this gorgeous up-close selfie of the mom still rocking her red carpet make-up as she changed into pajamas

Atlas resided calmly in Mitchell's lap while donning a light blue onesie with a friendly kitty head plastered across the front.

Grasping onto her mother's robe, sweet Atlas Noa stared into the camera's lens, giving fans a full view of the tiny one's cuteness.

Mitchell then shifted the camera from Atlas to Atlas's dad, Matte Babel.

Babel, eyes visibly closed, appeared to be passed out in the couple's king-size bed.

Dad is out: It's fair to assume baby daddy Matte Babel may have been a little tired after watching baby Atlas while Shay walked the InStyle red carpet

The You actress concluded her Instagram story with an up-close selfie.

Still wearing a full face of make-up, the starlet changed from a robe to a pair of polka dot pajamas for the goodnight snap.

On New Years Eve, Mitchell shared a gorgeous family portrait.

The photo included the actress' 39-year-old boyfriend and their tiny baby.

Shay gave the precious photo a worthy caption: 'Well, this was the most life changing decade yet... from A to Atlas. Happy New Year everyone!'

Wow: The 32-year-old looked fierce in a floral number that showcased her killer post-baby body as she posed on the red carpet for the InStyle Golden Globes after party in Beverly Hills

The Canadian-born actress paid homage to her craft by attending the InStyle and Warner Bros. Golden Globes after party just hours before returning home to chill with her baby girl.

The party was held at the historic Beverly Hilton Hotel, where Mitchell walked the event's black carpet.

Shutterbugs went wild as Shay showed off her curvaceous post-baby body.

Her dress featured an array of black, white, and pink flower decals that beautifully engulfed her petite frame.

The long-sleeved, sparkling nude base of the dress created the illusion of a see-through silhouette.

Shay went for her signature brown smokey eye and peachy-nude lip combo for the evening, along with a high ponytail that brought attention to her strikingly angular bone structure.
The international community rejects Erdogans revisionism. This was among things stressed by the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, in his interview on ERTs Proto Programma, with journalists T. Siafakas and G. Neroutsos.

Mr. Varvitsiotis underscored that in todays meeting with the U.S. President, the Prime Minister will present Turkeys provocative conduct, the manner in which Turkey is blatantly violating the rules of International Law through the memorandum it has signed with Libya, and the fact that Greece is the country of stability in the wider region.

He pointed out that our countrys advantages include the signing of the EastMed agreement and the fact that Greece remains a trusted interlocutor that has stability in its foreign policy and is a defender of international legality.
Russian planes carrying Haftar fighters land in Libya

Turkey supports the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya while Russia supports Haftar's forces.

Russia has sent mercenaries from Syria to Libya to fight for renegade general Khalifa Haftar, a London-based daily reported Tuesday.

UAE, EGYPT SUPPORT THE ACT

Citing unnamed sources, the Arabic al-Jadeed reported, the move came with the support of United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

Two Russian military planes landed at the Benghazi airport in the past three days with fighters from Russian security companies Moran and Schit, it added.

Also, some Syrian nationals working for the Russian forces were sent to Libya, the report went on to say.
China Says Mystery Viral Pneumonia Outbreak in Wuhan Isn't SARS

2020-01-06 -- Confirmed cases of a mystery virus causing atypical pneumonia have continued to grow as authorities in the central Chinese city of Wuhan ruled out Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS.

In Hong Kong, 21 people have been treated in isolation in hospitals in the city after arriving there from Wuhan, the Hospital Authority said, adding that none of the patients had visited Wuhan's South China Seafood Market mentioned as a possible link between cases by mainland Chinese health officials.

"The patients concerned had not visited wet markets in Wuhan before the onset of symptoms," Hospital Authority (HA) infection control chief Raymond Lai said in a statement.

"The HA will keep monitoring the patients' conditions and provide appropriate treatment," Lai said.

Seven of the 21 have been discharged, while the rest are in a stable condition and being treated for fever, respiratory symptoms or pneumonia, the statement said.

But the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has raised its response level to "serious," saying the unknown pathogen had "public health significance."

Health officials in Wuhan said on Sunday that seven people are seriously ill in the city with the mystery virus out of a total of 59 cases since the outbreak began.

"The public is urged to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel," China's National Health Commission said in a directive sent to the Hong Kong government and quoted on its website.

No fatal cases reported

It said no fatal cases have yet been reported, and a total of 163 close contacts were under medical surveillance and symptom-free so far.

"For the time being ... the investigation has not identified any evidence of definite human-to-human transmission and no healthcare workers have been infected," the Hong Kong CHP said.

Hong Kong experts have said in recent media interviews that the possibility of person-to-person transmission can't be ruled out, however.

The type of virus causing the outbreak is "still under investigation," according to China.

"Respiratory pathogens including influenza viruses, avian influenza viruses, adenovirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome have been ruled out," the CHP statement said, citing the Chinese health ministry.

The Hong Kong CHP also warned people to take personal hygiene precautions and stay away from live animal markets.

But Ai Li, a resident of Wuhan, said there wasn't much public health advice or reporting on the outbreak across the border in mainland China.

"I have seen news about it online, but we haven't heard anything [from official media reports]," Ai said.

Asked if people were wearing masks or taking other precautions in Wuhan, she said: "No, nobody is worried. Nobody is even thinking of panicking."

China's official tendency to silence

A mainland Chinese resident who gave an online nickname Zhuzhu said there is a world of difference between the public information culture in Hong Kong and the official tendency to silence under the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

"Hong Kong has done a good job in this matter, and they have done a good job of preventive measures," Zhuzhu said. "Here in China, preventive measures aren't carried out very well."

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday that there could be a link to animals.

"The reported link to a wholesale fish and live animal market could indicate an exposure link to animals," the WHO said, adding that the symptoms reported in patients were mainly fever, with a few patients having difficulty in breathing and chest radiographs showing invasive lesions on both lungs.

"The symptoms reported among the patients are common to several respiratory diseases, and pneumonia is common in the winter season," said the WHO, adding that the concentration of cases should be handled "prudently".

But it said it was against imposing any travel or trade restrictions on China.

SARS -- described as atypical pneumonia caused by a coronavirus -- killed 349 people in mainland China and another 299 in Hong Kong in 2003. The virus, which infected more than 8,000 people around the world, is believed to have originated in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong.

The WHO declared China free of the SARS virus in May 2004, although it criticized the Chinese government's initial attempt to cover up the crisis.

Reported by Qiao Long and Wong Lok-to for RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.

Copyright  1998-2020, 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 January 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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ATLANTA, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Invesco Ltd. today announced that Invesco Real Estate, the company's global real estate investment business, has acquired two Class A office buildings within the broader Bravern mixed-use development in the CBD of Bellevue, Washington for an undisclosed amount. The office buildings have been acquired from Principal Real Estate and PNC Realty on behalf of one of Invesco Real Estate's institutional separate account clients. The offices are 100% leased to the Microsoft Corporation.

Chris Cole, Senior Director, Transactions at Invesco Real Estate commented: "This is a premier mixed-use asset comprising office, retail and residential. The office space provides a tremendous environment for Microsoft's employees and we look forward to a long-term relationship with this outstanding tenant. The Bravern is a good example of a true live/work/play environment and will soon be adjacent to Bellevue's soon-to-open light rail station. We believe this prime office space fits our client's real estate portfolio well, as they seek institutional quality real estate with long term value in the best international locations."

The office component of Bravern consists of 750,000 sq ft and sits atop 305,000 sq ft of high-end retail space adjacent to 455 luxury apartments. The Bellevue CBD is a highly desirable office location due to its walkable amenities, local transit options and surrounding residential neighborhoods. Bravern is conveniently located in Bellevue and with the opening of the adjacent Bellevue CBD light rail station the Bravern office complex will be directly connected to Microsoft's Redmond campus.

Chris continues: "The Bellevue CBD is a well-established and highly amenitized office submarket which has become one of the most sought-after locations for technology tenants in not only greater Seattle but the entire country. We look forward to working closely with Microsoft, with whom we already have an established relationship. This asset represents the type of differentiated offices desirable to the most innovative companies, seeking an attractive work environment and location that allows them to continue to attract and retain the best talent in the world."

About Invesco Ltd.

Invesco is a global independent investment management firm dedicated to delivering an investment experience that helps people get more out of life. Our distinctive investment teams deliver a comprehensive range of active, passive and alternative investment capabilities. With offices in 25 countries, Invesco managed $1.2 trillion in assets on behalf of clients worldwide as of November 30, 2019. For more information, visit Invesco.com.

About Invesco Real Estate

Invesco Real Estate is a global leader in the real estate investment management business with $81.3 billion in real estate assets under management, 534 employees and 21 regional offices across the U.S., Europe and Asia (as of 09/30/19). Invesco Real Estate has been actively investing in core, value-add and opportunistic real estate strategies since 1992. Invesco Real Estate is a business name of Invesco Advisers, Inc., an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd. Invesco Ltd. is an independent investment management firm dedicated to delivering an investment experience that helps people get more out of life.NYSE: IVZ; www.invesco.com.

Jamie Braverman

Invesco Media Relations Director

T: +1 212 278 9630

E: [email protected]

Lisa Nell

Invesco Real Estate

Director  Global Head of Marketing

T: +44 207 543 3535

E: [email protected]

SOURCE Invesco Ltd.

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Let me build on Hearst Connecticut Media columnist Dan Haars insightful analysis under the recently published headline: Connecticuts Lost Decade.

First, the numbers speak for themselves  regional and national underperformance in job creation, GDP growth and home price appreciation. Most of this economic underperformance goes back even longer than the last decade, as Connecticut has not added net new jobs in a generation. Our addiction to debt, specifically underfunded pension liabilities, began in 1939. Regardless of when it started, what people care about is what we are going to do to change the direction and restart our growth engines.

Everyone is an expert at describing the problems; Dan is constructive by offering some broad solutions which deserve attention. He notes that Connecticuts relentless recession is in part driven by tax increases to pay for decades-old debts. Our three previous governors each increased the income tax, something I have refused to do; holding the line on tax rates sent a message to the business community that turning Connecticut around means living within our means.

Living within our means also means taming spending by addressing the underlying growth in fixed costs, including reducing our borrowing, thereby lowering the costs of paying back what we have borrowed, which increased by well over 50 percent in the last decade.

My efforts to reduce our borrowing, reducing our overall debt burden and a continued effort to build upon on our historically high savings is drawing positive attention by investors, credit ratings agencies and news outlets, in addition to reduced borrowing costs for all taxpayers.

Other significant costs include state employee and retiree health care, and our current budget includes millions in savings by better bidding and more outcome-based payment systems. The underfunded pension liability is real, but it is worth noting that over 70 percent of the underfunding at the State Employees Retirement System is with retirees, and all new employees are covered under a hybrid defined contribution/benefit plan  very similar to what large employers in the private sector provide to their employees. Simply put, weve stopped digging the hole and weve begun climbing out. Approximately 30 percent of state employees are retirement eligible by 2022, which provides state government with an opportunity to redesign itself  streamline processes, leverage modern technology and adopt private-sector best practices to reduce cost while improving services. Weve already begun initiatives to centralize business functions that will help reduce the states cost structure.

Dan correctly points out that there is more room for efficiencies in government, especially in cities and towns. I may have been premature in pushing my voluntary regionalization efforts, making it easier for our towns and cities to share back-office services, joint purchasing and regional delivery of some services. I want to work collaboratively with the mayors and first selectmen, since reducing the overhead and advancing joint service delivery models associated with 169 towns and cities is a key to reducing property taxes. In the meantime, I will lead by example. I recently worked collaboratively with our neighboring states to bid for wind power at the same time and we achieved the lowest cost bids in the country. Our state government has started joint purchasing across a statewide online platform operated by Amazon, making it easier and cheaper to buy many products, a system and opportunity we will be rolling out to our towns and cities this year.

As regards to economic growth and jobs, Dan is absolutely right when he states that Connecticut has lost some of its entrepreneurial mojo  we led the nation in start-ups in the 19th and 20th centuries. We were not a leader in IT and computer science, which drove much of the economy over the last generation, but our amazing colleges and universities are leaders in quantum computing and life sciences, which positions us well for the 21st century economy. Just last week, the Connecticut Post headlined States start-ups hit best venture totals in five years, which is nearly two times where it was the year before  another tangible example of our growing venture ecosystem.

Connecticut is the Silicon Valley of advanced manufacturing with the most sophisticated jet engines, helicopters and nuclear subs made right here with multi-year contracts and thousands of unfilled jobs. Dan is right that Connecticut must step up its game in workforce development; we cannot afford to leave anyone behind in training for the 21st century economy, and our Workforce Council led by the private sector in collaboration with our high schools, colleges and labor unions is making sure that companies looking for the best workers can find them right here.

Attracting and keeping the next generation of talent has been tough for Connecticut since we still lack a true magnet city with enough critical mass to attract millennial college graduates, as Dan emphasized. But the turnaround is beginning and all you need to do is look at the recent articles in the Hearst papers: In southwestern CT, apartment boom continues; Stamford has seen thousands of new units built over the last decade, thousands more in the offing, with commercial towers under construction or soon to be built in the downtown area. This is not unique to Stamford  the New Haven Independent recently documented the impressive boom in New Haven real estate development, and Hartford is growing, as well.

Dan points out that Connecticut has missed much of the housing boom over the last decade; by the same token our housing is up to 40 percent less expensive than Boston and New York, with great schools and easy access to parks and beaches. Companies and young people are giving Connecticut a second look.

Dan headlines that Connecticut has to keep working on cities and transportation. The two are closely related  cities as major transportation hubs, with nearby affordable housing, with easier access to New York and Boston (nice places to visit, wouldnt want to live there) are key to our economic future. Easier public transportation interconnecting Waterbury or Hartford or New London via New Haven as the transit center of the state makes our location a key strategic asset. If Bridgeport is one hour by rail away from midtown Manhattan at less than 50 percent of the cost, it is an absolute game changer.

Dan yearns for centrist politics, as evidenced by Massachusetts with a Republican governor and a Democratic legislature or Connecticuts 50/50 Senate split two years ago and the resulting bipartisan budget. It was, however, the most recent Democratic budget, which was passed on time, that contributed to Standard & Poors improved outlook for the state  the first time in 18 years. Connecticut and Massachusetts have both had Republican and Democratic governors, but that was not the differentiator. Rather, Massachusetts has had governors with a business background, while Connecticut has had governors with a political background, until now.

Dan adds that Connecticut needs a solid dose of attitude changes. I truly believe in our great state and in our future, and I hope there is accumulating evidence that you should, as well.

Ned Lamont is beginning his second year as governor of Connecticut.
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Bitcoin climbed to the highest since November after breaching the $8,000 price level.

Concerns about an escalation in the conflict between the U.S. and Iran are seen as contributing to the rally in Bitcoin, which is not managed by a government.

Bitcoin and gold are well supported due to rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran, said Emmanuel Goh, who runs crypto derivatives tracker Skew. Professional investors are also back from the Christmas break and starting to deploy capital -- this is called the January effect in the stock market.

The worlds largest cryptocurrency rose as much as 7.3% to $8,128 in New York trading, the biggest one-day increase since Dec. 18.

Bloomberg Intelligence strategist Mike McGlone expects Bitcoin to draw support this year because of its fixed supply and greater adoption.

Volatility should continue to decline, as we expect $6,000 to mark this years key support and $10,000 to hold resistance, McGlone wrote in a note Tuesday.

To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Olga Kharif in Portland at okharif@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jeremy Herron at jherron8@bloomberg.net, Dave Liedtka, Andrew Dunn

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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Officers found a wounded man on the street in front of the store. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Authorities said his identity was being withheld pending notification of his next of kin. Two other victims showed up on their own at hospitals, police said, with wounds that werent life-threatening.
There have been plenty of misguided takes on President Trumps decision to kill Gen. Soleimani. Elizabeth Warrens is perhaps the most egregious.

Warren claims that Trump hit Soleimani to distract America from his impeachment. She states:

We know Donald Trump is very upset about this upcoming impeachment trial. But look what hes doing now. He is taking us to the edge of war. There was a reason that he chose this moment, not a month ago, not a month from now, not a less aggressive, less dangerous response.

Actually, there are probably several reasons, none of which has anything to do with impeachment. A month ago, Iranian-backed militias hadnt attacked our embassy in Baghdad, nor had terrorists killed that American contractor.

In addition, its not clear that we had intelligence indicating that Soleimani was planning major attacks against the U.S.. For that matter, we might not have had the opportunity to take out the terrorist general a month ago.

Moreover, if Trump wanted to distract America from his impeachment through an attack on the enemy, the time to do it would have been in late November. At that point, impeachment was dominating the news, as witnesses presented evidence that made it clear Trump had withheld military aid to Ukraine for the purpose of pressuring the Ukrainians into investigating Joe Biden.

At the present time, by contrast, few Americans are paying attention to impeachment, and with good reason. Nancy Pelosi hasnt presented the Senate with articles of impeachment.

A month from now would also probably be a better time than the present to wag the dog. By then, Pelosi may have gotten around to presenting the impeachment articles, and the Senate might be holding a trial (or some sort of proceeding).

In sum, last week was precisely the wrong time for Trump to take out Soleimani if his goal was to divert attention away from impeachment. For the time being, Pelosi has already done that for him.
All the convicts were produced before the court through video conferencing. During the hearing, Akshay, a convict, alleged that the jail superintendent had leaked the information to media.

New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) A Delhi court on Tuesday issued death warrants against the four convicts in the Nirbhaya Rape and murder case. The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora.

The convicts had no sign of fear or guilt on their faces.

While the court was hearing the application, filed by Nirbhaya's parents, seeking to expedite the execution of convicts, the prosecution argued that no application was pending before any court or the President right now by any of the convicts.

"The review petition of all convicts are dismissed. In between the issuance and the execution of death warrants if the convicts want to file curative petitions they can do so," the public prosecutor said.

"They can avail their pending legal remedies after issuance of death warrant also," said advocate Jitendra Jha who was representing the victim's parents.

The amicus curaie and the counsel of the convicts, however, pressed that certain legal remedies were still available with the convicts.

However, after concluding the arguments, the judge issued the death warrants and ordered their execution, but, granted them 14 days to exercise remedies.

A 23-year-old woman was gang-raped and tortured on December 16, 2012, which led to her death. All the six accused were arrested and charged with sexual assault and murder. One of the accused, a minor, appeared before a juvenile justice court, while another committed suicide in Tihar Jail.

The four convicts were sentenced to death by a trial court in September 2013. The Delhi High Court confirmed the verdict in March 2014, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in May 2017, which also dismissed their review petitions.

anb/pcj
The 18-year-old charged with stabbing a New Jersey deli owner to death on Friday asked for a job at the store before swiping a tip jar, leading to a fatal confrontation when the owner chased him, authorities said.

Multiple employees of the Shamrock Deli in Audubon told police they had seen Dyheam Williams at the store several times over the last three weeks  each time to ask about a job, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed with the charges against Williams.

Williams stopped in the Shamrock Deli shortly before 5 p.m. Friday to ask owner Jerome Pastore once again about a job, authorities said. When Pastore, 57, told the Lindenwold teenager he hadnt made a decision and to check back next week, Williams grabbed the tip jar and left, a witness told police, according to the affidavit.

Pastore chased him down, and the men began wrestling on the sidewalk outside, authorities said. Pastore was stabbed 11 times, including once in the neck and twice in the liver. He was taken to Cooper University Hospital and pronounced dead about 20 minutes later.

Witnesses told police they saw Williams flee on an orange bicycle, leaving Pastore on Cuthbert Boulevard covered in blood.

Surveillance cameras captured Williams putting the tip money in his pocket and leaving the jar outside the deli, authorities said. His fingerprints were on the jar, police said.

Williams was charged Sunday with murder and weapons offenses.

Jerry Pastore, the owner of the Shamrock Deli, was killed Friday outside his store.

Family and friends remembered Pastore at a vigil outside the Shamrock Deli on Monday night.

We dont want everyone to think of him as this tragedy that happened, said Rachael Pastore, one of Pastores five children. We want people to remember him as our Energizer Bunny dad that worked and worked. As much as he enjoyed working, he also enjoyed being home and working in his yard. This place meant a lot to him, but it wasnt his life.

The Pastore family has vowed to continue running the deli  a local institution which has been open for decades.

A GoFundMe for Pastores family has received more than $41,000 in donations as of Tuesday.

Williams is being held in Camden County jail, pending a Thursday morning detention hearing in front of Superior Court Judge Edward J. McBride Jr.

Staff writer Bill Duhart contributed to this report.

Jenna Wise may be reached at jwise@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JennaRWise. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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U.S. conflict with Iran: What you need to read

Heres what you need to know to understand what this moment means in U.S.-Iran relations.

What happened: President Trump ordered a drone strike near the Baghdad airport, killing Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Irans most powerful military commander and leader of its special-operations forces abroad.

Who was Soleimani: As the leader of the Revolutionary Guard Corps elite Quds Force, Soleimani was key in supporting and coordinating with Irans allies across the region, especially in Iraq. Soleimanis influence was imprinted on various Shiite militias that fought U.S. troops.

How we got here: Tensions had been escalating between Iran and the United States since Trump pulled out of an Obama-era nuclear deal, and they spiked shortly before the airstrike. The strikes that killed Soleimani were carried out after the death of a U.S. contractor in a rocket attack against a military base in Kirkuk, Iraq, that the United States blamed on Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia.

What happens next: Iran responded to Soleimanis death by launching missile strikes at two bases hosting U.S. forces in Iraq. No casualties were reported. In an address to the nation, Trump announced that new sanctions will be imposed on Tehran.

Ask a question: What do you want to know about the strike and its aftermath? Submit a question or read previous Q&As with Post reporters.
India-US ties have grown from strength to strength, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told US President Donald Trump in a new year greeting call, the Prime Ministers office said in a statement early on Tuesday morning.

The Prime Minister extended new year greetings to President Trump, his family and the people of the United States.

PM Modi stated India-US relations have grown from strength to strength. The PM highlighted significant progress made in deepening strategic partnership in previous year and expressed desire to continue to work with President Trump for enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest, said the government.

The government said the US President also wished the people of India prosperity and progress in the new year.

He (Trump) expressed satisfaction at the achievements in the relationship in the last few years and reiterated his readiness for further deepening bilateral cooperation, said the government.

Earlier this week, Indias outgoing Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the two countries are close to concluding a trade package that would provide enhanced market access to both countries.

At the second 2+2 meeting of their foreign and defence ministers in December, the two nations sealed a key defence agreement to further enhance the interoperability of their militaries.

In September last year, Modi and Trump demonstrated much bonhomie and camaraderie at the joint appearance during the Howdy Modi event in Houston. They hugged, clasped hands, clapped each other on the back and had only the most eloquent praise for each other, the ties between their nations and governments and spoke of the historic importance of their joint appearance.

On display was the growing closeness between the two leaders, the easy camaraderie they have come to develop and share over their meetings and interaction, bilaterally and at multilateral meetings.

You have never had a better friend as president than President Donald Trump, Trump said, referring to himself in the third person. And the the prime minister knows that.

It was Modi who brought up the same subject before introducing Trump to the audience. He reminded Trump of a slogan he used as a candidate for the White House in 2016  Abki bar Trump sarkar, which was version of Modis campaign slogan Abki bar Modi Sarkar.
Mayor Lightfoot is committed to working with the City Council to expand affordable housing in a way that considers the unique needs of every community, mayoral spokeswoman Eugenia Orr said in an emailed statement. After review of the proposed ordinance, there were questions and concerns about the aldermans proposal, as it would unilaterally ban zoning changes in areas near the 606, as well as halt any building permits in the area. We remain engaged in conversations with Alderman Maldonado and other aldermen in the area regarding potential changes to the draft ordinance.
Chevron has pulled all of its American oil workers out of Northern Iraq, the company said on Monday, according to Reuters, making it the latest foreign oil company to evacuate staff there at the urging of the US Embassy, following the killing of Iranian Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani.

Chevron operates in Iraqs Kurdistan region, much to the irritation of the Iraqi government, and owns and operates a 50% operating stake in the Sarta production-sharing contract, and a 40% non-operating interest in the Qara Dagh production-sharing contract, according to the companys website.

While American workers are being whisked out of the country, local Kurdistan workers will oversee Chevrons Iraqi operations.

Chevron, Americas second largest oil company behind only Exxon, was blacklisted by Iraq in 2012 for sealing the oil deal with Kurdistan, a move that effectively banned Chevron from signing any oil agreements with the Iraqi government. The Qara Dagh and Sarta blocks that Chevron purchased in part were disputed blocks. The blacklisting, however, have too few teeth to persuade Chevron to drop its Kurdish pursuits.

Chevron had already stopped its Kurdistan activities in October 2017 after an independence referendum created further tensions between the Kurdistan region and the central Iraqi government in Baghdad. At the time, Iraqi government forces had seized all oilfields around Kirkuk, taking 350,000 bpd of oil production offline. The oilfields had been under Kurdish control since 2014. Chevron restarted its operations there months later.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Steptoe & Johnson PLLC is pleased to announce that 11 of its attorneys have been promoted to Member of the firm. The attorneys represent eight Steptoe & Johnson offices in Colorado, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Our Members are chosen carefully and reflect an attorneys commitment to clients and their goals, said Steptoe & Johnson CEO Susan S. Brewer. We look forward to what they will accomplish for our clients in 2020 and beyond.

Derrick W. Bachman focuses his practice in energy and natural resources law from the firms Southpointe office located near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Jon C. Beckman practices in the firms Meadville, Pennsylvania office. His practice focuses on energy law as well as energy and environmental litigation.

Roger S. Christenson II practices energy and natural resources law in the Bridgeport office, working closely with clients on mineral transactions and acquisitions, title and lease litigation, and other title and lease needs.

Crystal I. Bombard-Cutright practices in the Morgantown, W.Va. office. She represents health care providers, long-term care facilities, trucking companies, and others involved in litigation.

Sandra K. Fraley practices energy and natural resources law and assists clients with oil and gas agreements, transactional matters and operational issues as well as risk assessments. She is located in Edmond, Oklahoma and is associated with the firms Charleston, W.Va. office.

Laura L. Mays focuses defends clients against claims involving personal injury, premises liability, and products liability, as well as defending against construction/contract claims and employment claims. She practices in the firms Lexington, Kentucky office.

Michael J. Moore practices from the firms Bridgeport office. His practice is evenly divided between counseling employers in traditional labor disputes and employment litigation.

H. Hampton Rose IV focuses his legal practice on commercial transactions and related financing, often involving energy-related assets and real estate, and government relations in the firms Charleston, W.Va. office.

Andrew P. Smith practices in the Huntington, W.Va. office. Smith assists clients involved in medical malpractice, labor and employment, premises liability, and personal injury litigation.

Candace B. Smith represents clients in the areas of general and energy litigation in both state and federal courts. She practices in the Lexington, Kentucky office.

James M. Tartaglia practices energy and natural resources law from the firms office in Denver, Colorado.

Editors note: requests for attorney photos may be sent to andrew.fulton@steptoe-johnson.com.

About Steptoe & Johnson

Steptoe & Johnson PLLC is a law firm nationally recognized for its strengths in energy law with more than a century of know-how in the areas of business, employment, and litigation. Steptoe & Johnson has 300 attorneys practicing in 14 offices in Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. Visit http://www.steptoe-johnson.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

For more information, contact Betsy Spellman, Chief Marketing Officer, at (304) 933-8000 or by email: press@steptoe-johnson.com.
New Delhi :

Finland's new Prime Minister Sanna Marin is currently in headlines for showcasing her support in cutting down the working hours in a week. The 34-year old has argued in support of reduction of working schedule in the country with four day week and six working hours.

"I believe people deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture. This could be the next step for us in working life." the mother-of-one had said at her party's conference in the autumn of 2019, according to The Independent.

However, it is just a proposal and not yet an official government policy but it is receiving huge applaud from the netizens across the globe.

Check out some of the reactions on Twitter.

Finland Prime minister wants a

4 day week

6 hours a day

Work week



Your thoughts ?  @Georgebakhos1 (@GeorgeBakhos1) January 6, 2020

4 day work week. 6 hours days. Finland wins. I want a do over. It really shouldn't be that majority of one's 'waking' hours is spent 'working'. Fi yuh whole life?  winsome chambers (@wincee5) January 7, 2020

For all the Latest Offbeat News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
A farmer in southern Uruguay found a pregnant cow lying in the mud with most of its rump and hind legs hacked off.

It is thought the cow's rear was cut off by meat smugglers at a site near the city of Canelones.

Farmer Raul Faina came across the live female cow in a ravine while searching for some of his own missing livestock.

The pregnant cow can be seen, clearly conscious, despite having most of its rump and hind legs having been hacked off. The farmer who found the cow euthanized it as its injuries were too severe

Footage he took of the butchered cow, shows it still alive as it lies in the mud, despite no longer have hind legs.

'A quarter of its body was hacked off, but it was still alive,' he said. 'It was shocking to see an animal like that.'

'They are animals made of flesh and bone and they feel pain and cold.'

The farmer said the cow, who was thought to be pregnant at the time, was euthanised at the scene.

'Sadly, I had to slaughter it myself,' he said.

The farmer said he was shocked to see the badly mutlated cow still alive, lying in the ravine

Canelones Farmer Association spokesman Justino Zabala told told local media he suspected those responsible were meat smugglers.

'They removed its hindquarters and in such incidents, the meat usually ends up on the food market, butchers or even in supermarkets,' he said.

Zabala also condemned them for not putting the animal out of its misery before the cruel act.

'It would not have been difficult for the culprit, obviously skilled with a knife, to have slit its throat rather than leave the animal like that.

Minister of Agriculture Carlos Maria Uriarte said on Twitter: 'I hope those responsible are caught for being so evil.'

The local authorities have yet to confirm whether they are investigating the incident, or if any arrests would be made.
US Representative Paul Gosar: Rex Features

A Republican congressman has shared a doctored photo of Barack Obama supposedly shaking hands with Irans president Hassan Rouhani in an attempt to criticise the former US leader.

Paul Gosar, a member of Congress for Arizona, tweeted the fake photo with the caption The world is a better place without these guys in power in a series of posts about the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

However, Mr Obama and Mr Rouhani have never met in person and the original picture shows the former US president shaking hands with Manmohan Singh, then-prime minister of India, instead.

When multiple reporters pointed out that the image was fake, Mr Gosar responded by insisting he knew the photo was doctored before he posted it and criticising people who suggested he did not know Mr Rouhani is still in power.

To the dim witted reporters no one said this wasnt photoshopped. No one said the president of Iran was dead. No one said Obama met with Rouhani in person, he tweeted.

The post is the latest example of Mr Gosar spreading misinformation on his Twitter account, which has repeatedly promoted conspiracy theories.

In November, the Republican congressman shared a series of 23 tweets which used the first letter in each post to spell out the phrase Epstein didnt kill himself in reference to the death of serial sexual abuser and convicted trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

In the same month, he retweeted a post by congressman Steve King which falsely suggested Alexander Soros, the son of billionaire philanthropist George Soros, was the whistleblower whose complaint started the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump.

Mr Gosar has also suggested without evidence that the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville in 2017 was funded by George Soros  a claim which was spread by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

The Arizona congressman rose to national attention during the 2018 midterms when the Democratic candidate in his district ran an advert that featured damning criticism of his time in office from his siblings.

Story continues

U.S. congressman sharing a fake photo. This photoshopped from Obama meeting India's prime minister. https://t.co/7UMjyPwFDQ pic.twitter.com/ckRZx3ktok  andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) January 6, 2020

He's not listening to you, and he doesn't have your interests at heart, Tim Gosar said in the ad, as he endorsed his brothers opponent David Brill.

Despite the rebuke, Mr Gosar won the district, which has been a safe Republican seat since 2012, with more than 68 per cent of the vote.

Read more

Trump-supporting congressman tweets hidden Epstein conspiracy theory
By Trend





On Jan. 6, 2020, Ankara hosted solemn opening ceremony of the Gala administrative building of the Central Office of Turkeys National Intelligence Organization, Trend reports referring to the Public Relations Department of Azerbaijans State Security Service.

On the instruction of Azerbaijani President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev and at the invitation of Head of Turkeys National Intelligence Organization Hakan Fidan, delegations led by Head of Azerbaijans State Security Service, Lieutenant General Ali Nagiyev and Head of Azerbaijans Foreign Intelligence Service, Lieutenant General Orkhan Sultanov participated in the solemn ceremony.

The event was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The opening ceremony of the new building was also attended by senior officials, members of the government and other Turkish executives and the Azerbaijani delegations.

During the event, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with representatives of Azerbaijans State Security Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service.




Canadas trade gap reached $1.1 billion in November after a multi-day rail strike disrupted transportation of key goods, raising concerns about the strength of the domestic economy.

The headline figure slightly beat economist expectations for a $1.2 billion trade deficit, but the gap only narrowed because Octobers numbers were revised to a $1.6 billion deficit from an originally reported $1.1 billion deficit.

The soft trade report follows a series of weak economic data releases over the past couple weeks, potentially putting pressure on the Bank to Canada to consider an interest-rate cut in the first half of 2020.

Overall, the trade data add to the mounting evidence that Q4 GDP growth is likely to be much weaker than the Bank of Canadas last MPR projectionsand maintains our expectation that the Bank will move to cut the overnight rate target in the first half of 2020, Brett House, deputy chief economist at Bank of Nova Scotia in Toronto, said by email.

Canadas currency extended declines after the report, falling 0.3 per cent to $1.3011 against its U.S. counterpart at 8:56 a.m. Toronto time. Two year government bond yield fell one basis point to 1.63 per cent.

Key insights

The report paints a picture of a fragile trade backdrop in Canada and while part of the weakness is attributable to the rail strike, it will be hard for policy-makers to shrug this off given the recent disappointing numbers across jobs, manufacturing and retail sales reports

One of the few bright spots in the report was record shipments to the U.K., mostly gold and crude. Excluding precious metals, Canadas export volumes fell 4.3 per cent in November, the largest monthly drop since 2009

Octobers trade deficit was revised to $1.6 billion after Statistics Canada made some revisions to the way it measures shipments of high-value transactions such as art

Canadas trade surplus with the U.S. narrowed to $4.2 billion as exports decreased 3.3 per cent and imports fell 1.1 per cent; Canadas trade deficit with China narrowed to $1.9 billion

The CN rail strike in November contributed to an export decrease of 1.4 per cent to $48.7 billion. Energy products led the decline, down 7.4 per cent on crude shipments following a pipeline rupture in late October

Declines in imports  down 2.4 per cent to $49.8B  were widespread, with 10 of 11 categories posting decreases, led by aircraft and other transportation equipmentExports and imports declined on both a nominal and a volume basis
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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

In advance of his inauguration on Wednesday, San Francisco's District Attorney-elect Chesa Boudin said Tuesday he's ready to transform the office he was elected in November to lead.

In preparation, Boudin said he's assembled subcommittees made up of special advisors to help him establish his new office and implement key policies.

"With the help of these committees, I will begin to transform the San Francisco DA's office into one that works for everyone," he said in a statement.

"These subcommittees are an important resource in reviewing the current office's policies and proposing strategies to help create a more fair and just system in our community," he said.

The subcommittees include Implementation, Focused Prosecutorial and Alternatives to Incarceration, Economic Justice, Youth and Children's Justice, Restorative Justice, Second Look and Conviction Integrity Unit, Immigration, and Law Enforcement.

Over the past several weeks, the subcommittees have been meeting with community members, experts and people in the criminal legal field to review the District Attorney's Office's policy initiatives, recommend improvements and ensure a smooth transition.

Boudin is set to be sworn in as district attorney by Mayor London Breed on Wednesday during a ceremony at Herbst Theatre at 5:30 p.m.

Boudin, a former deputy public defender, narrowly won the race for district attorney back in November, beating out current interim District Attorney Suzy Loftus with 50.72 percent of the vote.

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.
For any of you who havent been able to follow it, within the last hour, the Iranian government has announced that it has sent missiles to attack our military bases in Iraq, she said. My three brothers all served in the military.  My heart and my prayers are with our military and with their families in Iraq and around the world. This is a reminder of why we need to de-escalate tension in the Middle East. The American people do not want a war with Iran.
TOKYOThe first leg of Carlos Ghosns overnight trek from his Tokyo home to Beirut, before he reportedly climbed into a box to evade airport security, involved something much more prosaic: He got aboard an Osaka-bound bullet train, several Japanese media sources reported Monday.

Taking the trip on a public train would be another embarrassment for Japanese authorities, who on Monday promised to tighten airport baggage inspections and the rules governing the release of criminal suspects on bail.

It is unclear if Ghosn, who is one of the most recognizable public figures in Japan, hid his appearance while on the bullet train, which has a maximum speed of about 177 mph. The revelations came as authorities continued to investigate how the former auto executive eluded authorities and flew to Lebanon last week.

Ghosn, who is facing charges of financial wrongdoing in Japan, fled to Beirut, where he has a home and faces no extradition to Japan.

Details of his trip, which began Dec. 29, are beginning to come to light. Ghosn left his home in central Tokyo by himself around 2:30 p.m. that Sunday, and walked about 900 yards to a hotel, where he met two men, according to NHK, which cited sources in the city prosecutors office and the Tokyo police.

The three then went to Tokyos Shinagawa railroad station, a major hub, and a little after 4:30 p.m. boarded a Shinkansen, or high-speed bullet train, for Osaka, about 547 kilometres (340 miles) southwest of the capital, the report said. Once in Osaka, they entered a hotel near Kansai International Airport at about 8 p.m. A couple of hours later, the two men left the hotel with two large boxes; Ghosn was not in sight, the NHK report said. They boarded a corporate jet with the boxes and flew to Istanbul.

Previous media reports have said that Ghosn evaded airport security measures by hiding in a box that was loaded on the plane.

From Istanbul, Ghosn reportedly got on a smaller plane and arrived in Beirut later Dec. 30.

At a news conference Monday, Masako Mori, Japans justice minister, said authorities were taking steps to bolster the scanning of luggage, though she declined to disclose details.

Now, measures have been taken so that similar acts cant be committed, she said of the escape of Ghosn, who was on bail. Though her ministry is not responsible for baggage inspection, she said, different agencies are working to tighten control.

Mori also said the government would accelerate an existing review of how bail works in the country, including whether to require defendants to wear tracking wrist or ankle bracelets. Ghosn offered to wear one when he sought bail, but the court ultimately granted it without that requirement.

We have been reviewing the current system, Mori said. We would like to swiftly advance the discussions on the matter, taking into account the recent escaping cases and the various opinions we have received.

In leaving Japan, Ghosn forfeited 1.5 billion yen in bail, or about $13.9 million.

Ghosn, the former chief of the Nissan-Renault auto alliance, has long denied the allegations of financial wrongdoing and insisted he had been set up by Nissan executives who were worried that he would further merge the operations of the Japanese automaker and Renault of France.

After he vanished from Tokyo last week, he appeared in Lebanon, saying in a statement that he had been held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system.

Japanese officials Sunday defended the countrys justice system as fair and open, with plenty of opportunities for Ghosn to defend himself.

Mori continued the defence Monday.

We acknowledge that there are various criticisms of Japans criminal justice procedures, but every country has a different criminal justice system, she said, adding, It isnt appropriate to simply focus on one part of the system when comparing it to other countries.

The details of Ghosns escape are still emerging.

Ghosn was accompanied out of Japan by an American security consultant named Michael Taylor, a former Green Beret, The New York Times reported Friday, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Taylor and another American were the only people listed as passengers on a manifest for the flight that carried Ghosn from Japan to Turkey, Turkish news outlets have reported.

Taylor, a well-known private-security contractor, has extensive contacts in Lebanon dating back to the 1980s, when he was deployed to Beirut as part of a team of U.S. special forces that worked alongside Lebanese soldiers. He speaks Arabic, and Lebanese intermediaries connected him with Ghosn, according to a person familiar with the matter.

After his military career, Taylor founded a private security company, American International Security Corp., which was hired by The Times to assist in the rescue of David Rohde, a reporter who was held captive by the Taliban in 2008 and 2009.

But his career collapsed in 2012, when prosecutors accused him of helping to orchestrate a bribery scheme to secure a Defense Department contract and then seeking to derail the subsequent investigation. Taylor disputed the most serious charges and ultimately pleaded guilty to wire fraud and violating the Procurement Integrity Act. He spent about a year and a half behind bars before being released in 2015.

The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing an anonymous source, that Ghosn was smuggled through Kansai airport in a type of box often used for concert equipment. It said the terminal for private jets at that airport was essentially empty, and that oversize luggage could not fit in the airports scanners.

A customs official at the airport, Akira Taniguchi, said that screening of luggage was done in two stages. In the first, a private security company using X-ray and other equipment checks whether there are items that are not allowed on board, likes guns or knives.

In the second stage, customs officials check whether the bags contain items that are not permitted to be brought in or taken out of Japan, like drugs and some foods. They use X-ray machines, metal detectors, drug detectors and dogs for that step.

Asked if Ghosn had managed to elude these measures, Taniguchi said, We cannot comment on this.

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A police officer in Las Vegas shot a 93-year-old man for shooting a maintenance worker after complaining about water damage in his apartment.

Surveillance footage from inside an apartment building office shows Robert Thomas wearing a black coat and wide-brimmed black hat as he points a pistol at a man seated at a desk.

Mr Thomas fires a round, sending the man stumbling to the ground. Mr Thomas then stands above the man, points his gun and shoots a second time.

The Vista Del Valley apartment resident was reportedly angry with management for the flooding in his apartment and threatened staff inside the building's office on 2 January.

Body-worn camera footage shows Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officer Ronald Hornyak running to the building with his gun drawn.

Seconds after Mr Thomas fired two shots, Officer Hornyack arrived on the scene and yelled for Mr Thomas to "drop the gun" before firing a round through a glass door.

According to police, the shot hit Mr Thomas through his jacket. Surveillance camera footage shows Mr Thomas placing his gun on a nearby desk before he's tackled to the ground.

Police say Mr Thomas "received a small cut to his head" during his arrest.

Mr Thomas was treated and released from a local hospital and charged with attempted murder, kidnapping with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm within a structure, burglary with a firearm, and carrying a concealed weapon.

During a court appearance on 3 January, Mr Thomas said he didn't want to hurt the man he shot, but he wanted to "screw him over a little."

His bond was set at $25,000.

The incident marks the city's first officer-involved shooting of 2020.

Las Vegas police Force Investigation Team is investigating the officer's use of force, and the findings will be forwarded to the Clark County District Attorney's Office for review.
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday reiterated that democracy and human rights in Cambodia are intact and serving well Cambodias 15 million citizens, though the country faces the possible loss this year of trade benefits to the worlds largest markets.

While presiding over an annual event in Phnom Penh to mark the 41st anniversary of the victory over the Khmer Rouge rule, Hun Sen hailed Cambodias sovereignty, democracy, and rule of law, noting Cambodia follows its own national law.

Hun Sen disputed western justifications to restore what he claimed to be a functioning democracy.

The reality clearly shows that democracy, the rights, and freedoms of the Cambodian people are being respected, preserved, and promoted steadily in the interests of the Cambodian nation and people, he said to supporters of the Cambodian Peoples Party.

The European Union has initiated an investigation into Cambodias human rights record that could lead to potential suspension of its Everything But Arms trade privileges. With the loss of EU assistance to reach European markets, some experts are concerned that key sectors in Cambodia such as garments and footwear could become smaller.

The preliminary findings of a recent EU assessment, obtained by VOA Khmer, shows that the EU Commission had seen little improvement in 2019 in the countrys human rights record while pointing to a further worsening since the announcement of the investigation. The EU is expected in February to update its probe.

The worse crackdown in Cambodia in more than 20 years against the political opposition, civil society and the independent news-media took place during the second half of 2017 and, basically, has been sustained into 2020.

Ruling party spokesperson Sok Eysan said Cambodia did not want the EBA to be withdrawn but that the country could not make some reforms and changes as underlined by the EU, such as dropping treason charges against opposition leader Kem Sokha.

Political analyst Meas Nee, who has taught at colleges in Cambodia, said he is not optimistic that Hun Sen will find a compromise with the EU, because any concessions would be a threat to his hold on power given the oppositions continued popularity.

It is very difficult for the ruling party to restore the situation since they are worried about [losing] power, he said.
Listen to the latest episode above or on your favorite app including Alexa, Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher. Episodes are available every morning on PennLive. Subscribe/Follow and rate the podcast via your favorite app.

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | January 7, 2020

Accusations of stealing trade secrets have led one Chinese biochemist to be extradited to stand trial in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, a western Pennsylvania couple has been arrested after allegedly badly forging $100 bills. PennDot and the Pennsylvania Turnpike begin automated work zone enforcement programs. Former U.S. Representative Mike Fitzpatrick has died. And, in good news, Pennsylvania has someone to cheer for in the Jeopardy: Greatest of All Time tournament.

Those are the stories we are covering in the latest episode of Today in Pa, a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Julia Hatmaker. Today in Pa is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories in the state.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

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Four people convicted of the rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical student in the national capital seven years ago will hang at 7am on January 22, a court in Delhi ordered on Tuesday, issuing a black warrant in the sensational case that triggered nationwide protests and paved the way for stricter anti-rape laws in the country.

Convicts Akshay Kumar Thakur (33), Mukesh Kumar (33), Pawan Gupta (25) and Vinay Sharma (27) have 14 days to make use of the options before them  curative petitions in the Supreme Court, and mercy petitions before the President, additional sessions judge Satish Kumar Arora said, bringing a prolonged legal battle towards the end, over six years after the men were sentenced to death.

Execution of the four convicts will empower the women of the country. This decision will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system, said Asha Devi, the victims mother, who flashed a victory sign after coming out of the courtroom with her husband.

Advocate AP Singh, who represented Thakur, Sharma and Gupta, said he will file a curative petition in the Supreme Court, and an application to stay the death warrant.

Authorities in Tihar prison, where the convicts are housed, said preparations had begun for the hanging in Jail No 3. The Uttar Pradesh prisons department has already responded to us that they have a hangman available. We will get in touch with them again and seek the mans services, Raj Kumar, a jail spokesperson, said. Three of the convicts are in Jail No 2, and one is in Jail No 4.

Pawan Kumar, a 55-year-old hangman, has been kept on standby, confirmed Anand Kumar, the director general of Uttar Pradesh prison administration and reforms. Pawan will be sent for the execution if he is needed, he said.

The four convicts were among six people who brutally assaulted and gang-raped the young woman on a moving bus on December 16, 2012, before throwing her out of the vehicle. The woman died about two weeks later at a hospital in Singapore.

Ram Singh (35), a fifth accused in the case, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar jail in 2013. An underage person, who was convicted by a juvenile justice board in 2015, was released from a correctional home after serving a three-year term.

The convicts got sufficient time and opportunities to avail legal remedies, judge Arora said. ... there is nothing to delay any further in passing orders on the application seeking issuance of death warrant, he said in his order.

The court was hearing the applications by the womans parents and the prosecution (the Delhi government) seeking the issuance of a death warrant.

In September 2013, a fast-track court awarded death penalty to the four convicts. It was upheld by the high court in March 2014 and by the Supreme Court in May 2017. On July 9, 2018, the top court dismissed the review pleas filed by Kumar, Gupta and Sharma, saying no grounds had been made out by them for the review. Thakurs review plea was turned down in December 2019.

Some people are satisfied that the death warrant has been issued... It has taken seven years. The system should be changed. A system to hang rapists within six months should be implemented, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted in the evening.

After the hearing began on Tuesday, public prosecutor Rajiv Mohan, who appeared for the state, and advocate Jitendra Jha, who represented the womans mother, said a death warrant could be issued even before the convicts avail all legal options.

No petition or application by the convicts is pending in any court, and the death warrant can be issued, they argued. These are delaying tactics by the convicts. Their review petitions have been dismissed long back but they still not did not file the curative petition, Mohan said.

Vrinda Grover, who has been appointed the amicus curiae to assist the court, said a black warrant cannot be issued till all legal remedies are exhausted.

After the arguments, the judge reserved the order at 2:53pm. Soon after, convict Kumars mother started crying and left the court premises.When the hearing resumed around 4pm, all four convicts were present through a video-conference. After an hour, the court passed the death warrant. Mediapersons were not allowed inside the courtroom when the judge pronounced his order.

The issue of death warrant is a huge win for the women of our country and hopefully this historical verdict would stop and minimise such heinous crimes against women in future. We are proud that justice is obtained, the National Commission for Women said in a statement.

Some legal experts, however, pointed to a grey area. In the usual course of procedure, a death warrant is not issued until a convict exhausts all available remedies. But in this case none of the convicts have filed curative petitions in the Supreme Court or mercy petitions before the President.

This is a grey area. If curative petitions are filed and Supreme Court issues a notice, the death warrant cannot be executed unless the curative petitions are decided, said senior advocate Rebecca John.

The convicts can file mercy pleas before the President, which again must be decided before the death warrant can be executed, John said.

Curative petitions are heard in-chambers and decided by judges after going through written submissions without any oral arguments by lawyers. A mercy petition is a constitutional remedy.

(with inputs from Murali Krishnan)
The minister stresses members of illegal armed formations in Donbas must not participate in the process.

Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Vadym Prystaiko says it is expedient to hold local elections in Russia-occupied areas in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, simultaneously with the vote in the rest of Ukraine this autumn.

"Ideally, the elections should be held simultaneously with the local elections in Ukraine this autumn. I constantly have to remind that these are not national elections, but the local ones. Therefore, no illegal groups in the east of Ukraine would be able to take part in them. This is about much smaller administrative units on both sides of the frontline and throughout Ukraine," he said in an interview for Germany's Bild newspaper.

The interview in Ukrainian is available on the Foreign Ministry's website.

Read alsoVadym Prystaiko: If by year-end we're able to do a swap, then Normandy format summits make sense

The minister says that Ukraine agreed to enshrine the so-called Steinmeier formula in its legislation, but this does not mean that the elections in the Russia-occupied districts in Donbas will be held "rain or shine."

Answering a question regarding the possibility of electing representatives of the so-called "republics"  the "Donetsk People's Republic" and the "Luhansk People's Republic", Prystaiko explained: "We are not naive and know very well who will be running during the elections on the other side of the front. But people would at least be able to get a feeling of [involvement in] the democratic process to be held simultaneously in the occupied and free territories, and this would be an ideal opportunity for Russia to withdraw troops from our east."

As Prystaiko said earlier, the Steinmeier formula was agreed by the Ukrainian side and by the Trilateral Contact Group. "The question is how it will be implemented in Ukrainian legislation  where and to what extent. But the very idea of the formula that the final political solution lies in the field of legitimate elections, which must be confirmed by an independent international organization, is precisely a compromise reached in 2016," he told UNIAN in an interview late in 2019.
CNBC's Jim Cramer on Monday laid out a basket of investment plays to hedge against the growing conflict between the United States and Iran.

"If we really get the conflagration that so many people seem to be expecting ... you have to be ready for the market to take a beating, at least in the short-term," the "Mad Money" host said, adding "if you think a genuine war with Iran is inevitable, you want cash, you want gold, utilities, oil, defense and cybersecurity."

Cramer suggests investors can store cash away in three-year Treasury bonds, which yield less than 1.6%, or in money market funds that yield a little more. In the case of war, it's wise to put half of one's capital into cash because it provides enough flexibility for a "true war-time asset allocation," he said.

"Wars tend to create buying opportunities and cash lets you take advantage of them."

Investors will also want to inject money into gold, either in the GLD ETF that tracks the sector, or individual gold stocks. Bullion is the safest thing to own, and it's worth owning outside of the United States for extra protection from risk, Cramer said.

For a value play he recommends Barrick Gold, which merged with Randgold in 2018, and Agnico Eagle, which has operations in Canada, Finland and Northern Mexico.

Utility securities that pay dividends are another safe bet in Cramer's playbook. American Electric Power holds a 3% yield, Consolidated Edison offers 3.4% and Dominion Energy touts a 4.5% dividend.

"I speak with the CEOs of these three utilities regularly. I like what I hear," Cramer said.

In the event that Iran shuts down the Strait of Hormuz, the channel where ships carry 21 million barrels of oil each day from producers in the Middle East to global markets, crude prices will see an ephemeral spike, Cramer said. The oil plays in his purview include Schlumberger, Pioneer Natural Resources, BP and Conoco.

L3Harris Technology is the only defense contractor that Cramer recommends. The stock is about $6 off its highs. Cramer passed over other names like Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics because they have run too high for his liking.

On the cyber defense front, Cramer likes Crowdstrike, whose CEO is warning that people should expect Iran to retaliate against the death of its top commander with cyber warfare.

"Unfortunately the stock caught fire today, so you might want to wait for a pullback before pulling the trigger."
On Monday, protests were organised near the Hutatma Chowk in Mumbai's Fort area, but later the permission was denied. A call was given that people join the protest in front of the Gateway of India. Demonstrations had started there after Sunday midnight.

Mumbai: People protesting against the JNU violence were evicted from Gateway of India in south Mumbai on Tuesday morning as roads were getting blocked and tourists and common people were facing problems, a police official said.

Police had appealed to protesters to shift but they didn't listen, so they were "relocated" to Azad Maidan near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the official said.

"As the demonstration was posing problems for tourists and in traffic movement, we requested the protesters to move to Azad Maidan. But some groups did not listen despite our repeated request, so we relocated them to the Azad Maidan," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Sangramsingh Nishandar said.

Earlier, hundreds of people, including students, women and senior citizens  who assembled at the iconic Gateway of India since Sunday midnight  demanded action against those behind the JNU violence and resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Violence broke out in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus. Nearly 34 people were injured in the violence.

With tambourines and guitars in their hands and songs of revolution on their lips, people protested against the attack on JNU students throughout the night in front of the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Palace hotel here.

Songs like Hum dekhenge, Hum honge kamyab and Sarfaroshi ki tamanna rent the air as students of IIT Bombay, TISS, and members of students' organisations, including the ASFI, raised slogans against Modi and Shah.

The protesters waived the tricolour and raised slogans like Kagaz nahi dikhayenge (won't show documents) and Tum kaun ho be (who are you?).

They also raised slogans against the alleged tanashahi (dictatorship) of Modi-Shah as they opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act, the National Register of Citizens

and the National Population Register.

The protesters also brought up the issue of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act-2019.

There was heavy police deployment at the protest site where water, tea, biscuits and fruits were served to protesters during the night. The city civic body also made

arrangements for toilets.

The protest organisers had earlier asked participants to bring food, water, bed sheets, jackets, mats, power banks, charger and medicines along with them.

Follow LIVE Updates on JNU violence here

On Monday, protests were organised near the Hutatma Chowk in Fort area, but later the permission was denied.

A call was given that people join the protest in front of the Gateway of India. Demonstrations had started there after Sunday midnight.

Beside Mumbai, protests against the violence were held on Monday in Aurangabad and Pune, among other cities.

Political leaders led by state Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also condemned the attack. Maharashtra minister Jitendra Awhad joined the protest at the Gateway of India on Monday, while Thackeray said the JNU violence reminded him of the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
[January 07, 2020] Wind River Collaborates with Baidu on Autonomous Driving Platform

Wind River, a leader in delivering software for the intelligent edge, today announced its collaboration with Baidu to develop an autonomous vehicle solution. A joint proof of concept has been developed to include an AUTOSAR Adaptive-based software architecture with Baidu's Apollo autonomous driving open platform, designed to meet the specific challenges of the next generation of software-defined automobiles. Baidu is the world's largest Chinese language Internet search engine, an integrated Internet information service company, and a world-leading artificial intelligence (AI) platform company. Baidu's Apollo program aims to provide an open, reliable, and secure software platform for its ecosystem partners to develop their own autonomous driving systems. "The complex and varied challenges that come with autonomous driving, coupled with vastly different perspectives across carmakers, make for a difficult road to mass production. A strong push toward standards can help advance the entire industry," said Brenda Herold, vice president of Market Segment Teams at Wind River (News - Alert). "We look forward to working with innovators such as Baidu in an effort to speed the development, testing, and deployment of autonomous vehicles across the industry." "Standards are needed in order for the industry to make significant steps forward. A secure and reliable open platform can assist companies in more rapidly creatig autonomous systems as well as helping technologies across the ecosystem be more interoperable," said Jingao Wang, head of Apollo Platform and executive director at Baidu. "We're excited to work with a software leader like Wind River to address many of the challenging needs of an autonomous vehicle system."



The proof of concept highlights the Baidu Apollo autonomous framework and Wind River AUTOSAR Adaptive-based software architecture, supporting heterogeneous systems with mixed criticality of safety requirements. Open source software, such as non-safety critical applications (infotainment, for example), can run on Wind River Linux, while a proven commercial RTOS such as VxWorks can support safety-critical applications that require deterministic performance. Using a software architecture that can successfully house both safety-critical and non-safety-critical applications on the same piece of hardware, carmakers can achieve significant savings on bill of materials (BOM) costs and power consumption in the vehicle. Able to support customers' diverse range of computing needs, Wind River can create computing environments that accommodate multiple Linux-based workloads that are designed to function seamlessly with the hard real-time, deterministic VxWorks RTOS, giving customers the ability to cost effectively combine open source with the safety and reliability of time-tested certified computing software.

More information about Wind River automotive solutions and technologies is available at www.windriver.com/markets/automotive/. Wind River is exhibiting at CES (News - Alert) 2020 in Las Vegas on January 7-10 at Booth #9029 in the North Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center. About Wind River Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for the intelligent edge. The company's technology has been powering the safest, most secure devices in the world since 1981 and is found in more than 2 billion products. Wind River offers a comprehensive portfolio, supported by world-class global professional services and support and a broad partner ecosystem. Wind River software and expertise are accelerating digital transformation of critical infrastructure systems that demand the highest levels of safety, security, performance, and reliability. To learn more, visit Wind River at www.windriver.com. Wind River is a trademark or registered trademark of Wind River Systems, Inc., and its affiliates. Other names may be the trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005182/en/

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A Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP has moved a breach of privilege notice against Union home minister Amit Shah, alleging that the minister misled Parliament on the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

In a letter to Rajya Sabha secretary general, CPI(M) MP from Kerala Binoy Viswam, said the Bharatiya Janata Party president told Parliament that NRC would be re-implemented in Assam when it is implemented across the country.

However, Viswam said, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that no decision on a pan-India NRC was taken, Shah changed his stand. Such contradictory statements are a clear breach of privilege and an attempt to mislead both Houses of Parliament and the people of India, Viswam said.

The BJP, however, hit back at Viswam saying that the notice lacks merit.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP GVL Narasimha Rao said, Privilege notice against Amit Shah lacks merit and will be rejected outright. Statements of the home minister in Parliament about NRC show intent but the government has not yet firmed up specific implementation plans and guidelines for undertaking NRC. The confusion is in the CPI(M)s mind, not the government.

CPI(M) MPs privilege notice is a poor copycat attempt after my privilege notice against Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan in Rajya Sabha rattled that party, he said.
The US has no alternative and must pull its troops out of Iraq, or else face an impending crisis, the countrys outgoing prime minister says.

But President Donald Trump said that it is not the right time for a pullout and that it would be the worst thing that could happen to Iraq.

Mr Trump said a US pullout would allow Iran to gain a stronger foothold in Iraq.

The people of Iraq do not want to see Iran running the country, that I can tell you, Mr Trump said from the White House.

Adel Abdul-Mahdi, who resigned in November amid mass anti-government protests, said Iraq wants a US troop withdrawal to avoid further escalation as tensions soar between American and Iran.

His comments came just days after a US air strike killed Irans top general, shortly after he arrived at Baghdads international airport.

We have no exit but this, otherwise we are speeding toward confrontationAdel Abdul-Mahdi

A senior Iraqi commander of an Iran-backed militia was also killed in Fridays drone strike.

We have no exit but this, otherwise we are speeding toward confrontation, Mr Abdul-Mahdi said in a pre-recorded televised speech following a weekly cabinet meeting.

He said the historic decision was necessary, otherwise we will not be taken seriously.

US troops are present in Iraq based on a request by the government in 2014, when vast swathes of the country were being overrun by the so-called Islamic State group.

But now that IS has been largely defeated, Mr Abdul-Mahdi said, the mission has devolved into a US-Iran proxy war.

Iraq was barely starting to recover from the devastating four-year war against IS when mass protests erupted in October against the countrys ruling elite, forcing Mr Abdul-Mahdi to resign two months later. He has not been replaced.

Expand Close Mourners attend a funeral ceremony for General Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran (Erfan Kouchari/Tasnim News Agency/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mourners attend a funeral ceremony for General Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran (Erfan Kouchari/Tasnim News Agency/AP)

Referring to the fight against IS extremists, he said: Iraq did its part to fight in the war, and I see that any harm to Iraq will be harmful to all regional states and the whole world.

A letter from Brigadier General William H. Seely, the commander of the US taskforce in Iraq, to his Iraqi counterpart, dated Monday, had said the US-led coalition would be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement.

Many media outlets initially reported that was formal notice that the US was withdrawing forces on Iraqi soil.

US defence secretary Mark Esper later clarified to reporters that there were no plans for American troops to leave Iraq.

General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the letter had been an honest mistake.

Mr Abdul-Mahdi responded that Iraqi authorities had thought the letter was legitimate when it was received, and were blindsided when US officials said it was sent in error.

Expand Close Qassem Soleimani was killed in Iraq by a US air strike (Ikram Suri/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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After four to five hours it was said that the letter was wrong, Mr Abdul-Mahdi said. The letter clearly indicates a withdrawal.

So in the future, what should we do if we get such a request? We should check if it is authentic or not? If we are late, then they will tell us that we are late, he said.

The prime ministers office had immediately sent the letter to the Iraq foreign minister and Iraqs ambassador in Washington and other parties, Mr Abdul-Mahdi said.

An initial Arabic translation of the letter had contradicted the English version, he added, and another copy was then resent.

We have to hold discussions in order to reach the best ways for a withdrawal, he said.
(ANSA) - Rome, January 7 - A spokeswoman for the 'Sardines', a grassroots movement that has sprung up around Italy in opposition to populist, anti-migrant policies such as those proposed by former interior minister and League party leader Matteo Salvini, said Tuesday that the group will hold a national congress shortly. The Sardines Turin spokeswoman Francesca Valentina Penotti said was the decision was made at a meeting in Bologna and the date for the event, which will probably take place over two days, will be announced by January 26. The founders of the movement have ruled out forming a political party. The Sardines sprang up in Bologna in mid-November as a spontaneous response to Salvini's vow to "free" the Emilia-Romagna region of the centre-left politicians who have governed it for decades, in regional elections this month.

Sardine rallies have since taken place across the length and breadth of Italy.


One of the things that became obvious about the Left beginning with 9/11 is that leftists consider anyone who hates America to be virtuous in some way. It's irrelevant to them that some America-haters are, within their own countries, people who are legitimately fighting for freedom, while others are actively seeking to impose totalitarianism wherever they can. To a leftist, America-hating is the beginning and the end. Actors' ideologies and motives are irrelevant.

This worldview is how leftists can come out with statements that are morally blind. Many of us remember that Michael Moore compared the 9/11 killers, who dreamed of a world subordinate to sharia's brutalities, to America's Minutemen, who dreamed of a world of small government, individual liberty, and religious freedom.

We also see this moral blindness in Bernie Sanders, one of the Democrat frontrunners. In an interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN about Trump's decision to terminate Soleimani, Bernie Sanders likened Soleimani, with the blood of hundreds of thousands on his hand, to a dissident in a totalitarian country fighting against his own repressive government:

[B]ut this guy is, you know, was as bad as he was, an official of the Iranian government. And you unleash ... then, if China does that, you know, if Russia does that. You know, Russia has been implicated under Putin with assassinating dissidents. So, once you're in the business of assassination, you unleash some very, very terrible forces[.]

There is so much wrong with what Bernie is saying. To start, even Jeh Johnson, Obama's Homeland Security secretary, on Sunday's Meet the Press, agreed that this was not an assassination. Instead, President Trump, he said, had the absolute right to take out a legitimate military target who was not on his home soil:

This morning, Obama DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson debunked Democrats' claim that Congress needed to approve Soleimani strike



Johnson: Soleimani was a "lawful military objective" & the President had "ample domestic legal authority to take him out" pic.twitter.com/1LUqYAwm9j  Zach Parkinson (@AZachParkinson) January 5, 2020

CHUCK TODD: Jeh, before you were Homeland Security Secretary, you were counselor at the Defense Department. JEH JOHNSON: Correct. CHUCK TODD: So explain for viewers, why does Mike Pompeo keep saying terrorist? There is a legal reason he keeps saying the word terrorist, isnt there? JEH JOHNSON: No, not necessarily. If you believe everything that our government is saying about General Soleimani, he was a lawful military objective, and the president, under his constitutional authority as commander in chief, had ample domestic legal authority to take him out without an additional congressional authorization. Whether he was a terrorist or a general in a military force that was engaged in armed attacks against our people, he was a lawful military objective.

Not only is Bernie wrong legally, but he's wrong morally and ideologically. The Soviet dissidents were, and the Russian dissidents are, people who fight back against their own repressive government. These despotic governments, in turn, do everything they can to silence these voices, whether marginalizing, arresting, imprisoning, torturing, or executing them. Bernie, incidentally, never had a problem with the Soviet Union's treatment of its dissidents.

As to the United States, Soleimani was not a dissident. He was an open combatant in Iran's explicitly declared war against America. He was also a shadow combatant in the myriad proxy wars he fomented across the Middle East to kill all he deemed to be Iran's enemies, whether citizens or soldiers, Americans or not, in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and any other country in which he worked. Significantly, too, when Soleimani was killed, he was not in Iran; he had illegally entered Iraq, making himself a legitimate target on that basis.

The only dissidents involved in this whole drama are the thousands of people in Iran chafing under a brutal regime and routinely imprisoned, tortured, and killed by the mullahs' guards  of whom Soleimani was one. Bernie's never shown much interest in those people.
U.S. intelligence has observed Iran moving military equipment, including drones and ballistic missiles, over the last several days.

U.S. forces and air-defense missile batteries across the Middle East were placed on high alert overnight Monday to possibly shoot down Iranian drones as intelligence mounted about a threat of an imminent attack against U.S. targets, two U.S. officials tell CNN.

The alert reflects the heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran in the wake of last week's U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani, CNN said.

Read alsoPentagon chief denies U.S. is leaving Iraq  media

U.S. officials have claimed the strike against the general was carried out to prevent an "imminent" attack in the region that would have put American lives at risk, but have so far declined to provide details about the intelligence.

U.S. intelligence also has observed Iran moving military equipment, including drones and ballistic missiles, over the last several days. U.S. officials said the movement may be an Iranian effort to secure its weapons from a potential U.S. strike, or put them in positions to launch their own attacks.

Iran has put missiles on its drones that have been used in other attacks, including a significant attack on Saudi oil installations last year. While forces have already been on high alert for several days, they were even more vigilant Monday night, both officials said.

Based on the intelligence, the U.S. was watching for potential attacks specifically against U.S. locations in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. On Monday, the U.S. Maritime Administration issued a warning to commercial vessels operating in the Middle East that "there remains the possibility of Iranian action against U.S. maritime interests in the region."

Soleimani, head of Iran's elite Quds Force, was killed in a U.S. airstrike at Baghdad's international airport on January 3, 2020.
Like most plants, soybeans pair up with soil fungi in a symbiotic mycorrhizal relationship. In exchange for a bit of sugar, the fungus acts as an extension of the root system to pull in more phosphorus, nitrogen, micronutrients, and water than the plant could on its own.

Mycorrhizal fungi occur naturally in soil and are commercially available as soil inoculants, but new research from the University of Illinois suggests not all soybean genotypes respond the same way to their mycorrhizal relationships.

"In our study, root colonization by one mycorrhizal species differed significantly among genotypes and ranged from 11 to 70%," says Michelle Pawlowski, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Crop Sciences at Illinois and co-author on a new study in Theoretical and Applied Genetics.

To arrive at that finding, Pawlowski grew 350 diverse soybean genotypes in pots filled with spores of a common mycorrhizal fungus. After six weeks, she looked at the roots under a microscope to evaluate the level of colonization.

It was a little bit of a gamble because we didn't know much about soybean's relationship with mycorrhizae and did not know if differences in colonization among the soybean genotypes would occur. So when we screened the soybean genotypes and found differences, it was a big relief. That meant there was a potential to find genetic differences, too." Michelle Pawlowski, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Crop Sciences at Illinois

The process of root colonization starts before fungal spores even germinate in the soil. Roots exude chemicals, triggering spores to germinate and grow toward the root. Once the fungus makes contact, there's a complex cascade of reactions in the plant that prevents the usual defensive attack against invading pathogens. Instead, the plant allows the fungus to enter and set up shop inside the root, where it creates tiny tree-like structures known as arbuscules; these are where the fungus and plant trade sugar and nutrients.

The study suggests there is a genetic component to root colonization rates in soybean. To find it, Pawlowski compared the genomes of the 350 genotypes and honed in on six genomic regions associated with differing levels of colonization in soybean.

"We were able to use all the information we have on the soybean genome and gene expression to find possible causal genes within these six regions," she says.

According to the study, the genes control chemical signals and pathways that call fungus toward roots, allow the plant to recognize mycorrhizal fungus as a "good guy," help build arbuscules, and more. "For almost every step in the colonization process, we were finding related genes within those regions," Pawlowski says.

Knowing which genes control root colonization could lead breeders to develop soybean cultivars with a higher affinity for mycorrhizal fungus, which could mean improved nutrient uptake, drought tolerance, and disease resistance.

"This environmentally friendly approach to improving soybean production may also help reduce the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides and promote more holistic crop production systems," says Glen Hartman, plant pathologist in the Department of Crop Sciences and crop pathologist for USDA-ARS.
Cielo To Host Investor Update Webinar On Friday, January 10th at 11 AM EST

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2020 / Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. (CSE: CMC - OTCQB: CWSFF) ("Cielo" or the "Company") and Renewable U Grande Prairie Inc., Renewable U Medicine Hat Inc., Renewable U Brooks Inc., Renewable U Lethbridge Inc. and Seymour Capital Incorporated, (collectively "the JV Companies") have agreed to extend the deadline by which they will enter into the previously announced joint venture agreements to March 31, 2020. These agreements will govern the building and operation of the first five follow-on refineries to be placed on production in the agreed territories in Alberta and Ontario ("Follow-on JV Refineries"). Over the past six months, Cielo has been implementing enhancements to the Company's waste-to-energy refinery in Aldersyde, Alberta ("Aldersyde Refinery"), which has resulted in plans to scale up production of the Follow-On JV Refineries to produce 4,000 liters of renewable fuels per hour and operate 24 hours a day, 341 days per year, which is double the production originally contemplated. Each one of the Follow-On JV Refineries are projected to cost approximately CDN$50 Million to build, commission and place on production, to be funded by the respective JV Companies. Collectively, the Follow-On JV Refineries are projected to convert 327,360 tonnes of garbage into 163,680,000 liters of renewable fuels annually.

Raphael Bohlmann, President of Renewable U Energy Inc., which currently holds the controlling interest in four of the five Follow-on JV Refineries, stated "We are working closely with Cielo to advance the building of our follow-on refineries as quickly as possible. We are very impressed and appreciative of the tenacity and work ethic that Cielo's management and their contractors have exhibited while overcoming multiple challenges in bringing on stream the world's first waste to renewable fuels green refinery at Aldersyde, Alberta. We are in the final stages of securing the land to build our first follow-on refinery to process scrap railway ties into high grade renewable diesel pursuant to Cielo's Service Supply Agreement with CP Rail, which was press released on November 28, 2019. We are looking forward to announcing with Cielo its location in the near future."

Operational Update

Cielo and its contractors have worked diligently over the past 6 months to finish optimizing the design of the Aldersyde Refinery, which required extensive changes to the process as well as the installation of multiple new pieces of equipment that were required before being able to bring its waste to energy green refinery back into continuous-flow production. The Aldersyde Refinery is operating full-time on a continuous-flow basis producing renewable naphtha and diesel from wood biomass. This is a major achievement for Cielo and its shareholders. The Aldersyde Refinery is operating at approximately 100 lph currently but, as Cielo's newly hired, full-time operational staff completes training and becomes comfortable over the coming days and weeks, production will be increased to process significantly more waste into high grade renewable fuels, beginning immediately with 200 lph.

Cielo is continuing to work on further enhancements and improvements to its process, as well as working with the Alberta Government to secure amendments to the Company's operating permit to allow additional waste feedstocks to be utilized. Although the final decision to choose the optimal desulfurization process has not yet been made, Cielo's management continues to be confident that the companies with which Cielo is working will be in a position to deliver a cost-effective solution based on the lab results that are being obtained. Cielo has recently engaged a third-party engineering company to start reviewing its current design drawings so that Cielo can move forward expeditiously with the building of the Follow-On JV Refineries with the JV Companies once the definitive agreements are concluded.

Don Allan, President & CEO of Cielo, stated "We are extremely pleased to finally announce that we are flowing continuously and moving closer to revenues. While we still have more work to do and our refinery remains in the final stage of being commissioned, we are confident that once our Aldersyde Refinery is up and running at commercial production levels, the world will understand just how significant our company will be in making the planet a better place for generations to come. We so appreciate the unwavering support of Renewable U Energy and their subsidiary companies as well as Seymour Capital as we move forward with validating our technology, which has the potential to reduce the amount of garbage going into landfills."

Cielo to Host Investor Update Webinar

On Friday, January 10th, 2020 at 11 AM EST (9 AM MST), Cielo's President & CEO, Don Allan, will be providing an in-depth overview of its current operations and upcoming milestones. Management will be available to answer questions following the presentation on the webinar platform. To ask a question, you will need to be logged into the GoToWebinar platform or by emailing your question(s) beforehand to jborde@rbmilestone.com.

Date: Friday, January 10th, 2020

Time: 11 AM EST / 9 AM MST)

Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5132973681304428300

Join Cielo shareholders on 8020 Connect: http://connects.digital/cielo1

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company.

Cielo Waste Management Corp.

Don Allan, President / CEO / Director

Investor Contacts

Renewable U Energy Inc.

Raphael Bohlmann, President

Raphael@RenewableU.ca

RB Milestone Group, LLC

Trevor Brucato, Managing Director

New York, NY & Stamford, CT

tbrucato@rbmilestone.com

About Cielo Waste Solutions Corp.

Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. is a publicly traded company with its shares listed to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the symbol "CMC", as well as OTC Markets Group, on the OTCQB, under the symbol "CWSFF". Cielo is a waste to renewable energy company with a game changing technology engineered to help solve the world's garbage crisis. Cielo's technology transforms landfill garbage into renewable high-grade diesel, kerosene (aviation jet fuel) and naphtha fuels. Cielo's proven and patent-pending technology is currently being deployed in the Company's Aldersyde, Alberta green refinery where wood waste is currently being converted into renewable fuels.

Cielo is headquartered in Alberta, Canada with plans to build and operate green refineries across North America and globally.

Cielo has already begun expanding its footprint by signing multiple Memorandums of Understanding pursuant to which third parties are in negotiation with Cielo to build, at no cost to Cielo, Joint Venture Refineries in Grande Prairie, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Edmonton Alberta. Each JV Refinery is projected to cost approximately $50M +/- to build, commission and place on production. Cielo will be the general contractor and operator of all of the proposed JV Refineries. The feedstock that will be used in the Company's green refineries is the world's most available and inexpensive feedstock - garbage; including household, commercial / construction / demolition garbage, used tires, railway ties and telephone poles as well as all types of plastic that currently cannot be recycled.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should" or similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes.

Forward looking statements are subject to both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, 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 statements. Cielo is making forward looking statements related to its anticipated joint ventures and with respect to various aspects of the Aldersyde Refinery, including the increase of production to commercial levels, the completion of the desulfurization process and achieving revenues. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are described herein. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, neither the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise. The CSE and the OTCQB have not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this Press Release.

SOURCE: Cielo Waste Solutions Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/572283/Cielo-Announces-Aldersyde-Refinery-Is-Continuously-Flowing-Agrees-to-Extension-to-Enter-into-Definitive-JV-Agreements-and-Announces-Investor-Update-Webinar-Call
Deadly conditions for Indonesian migrant crews tied to illegal fishing

by Basten Gokkon

January 07,2020 | Source: Mongabay

D, 28-year-old Indonesian man, was witness to a deadly assault on a fellow boat crew member by the captain when they worked aboard the Taiwanese fishing vessel Da Wang a few years ago. The captain hit his friend in the head, then forced them to continue working.



In the morning when we woke up for breakfast, we found him dead in his room. The captain wrapped up my dead friends body with a blanket and then stored him in the freezer, D said in an interview in July 2019.



D is one of 34 Indonesian sailors featured in an investigative report by the environmental group Greenpeace and the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI) published on Dec. 9. The organizations looked into their complaints of forced labor during their employment on 13 fishing vessels registered in China, Taiwan, Fiji and Vanuatu.



The crews statements described conditions in which they experienced overwork, withholding of wages, debt bondage, and physical and sexual violence. These conditions eventually forced them to cut short their working contracts, which typically run about two years, and forfeit the deposits they were typically required to pay to get the jobs.



Theres a strong interrelation between illegal fishing and forced labor of crews aboard fishing boats  its two sides of the same coin, Arifsyah Nasution, oceans campaigner at Greenpeace Southeast Asia, told Mongabay.



With coastal fisheries being depleted due to overfishing, vessels are heading farther out into open waters and high seas, in turn racking up higher operating costs. Companies look for cheap labor to reduce costs and stay profitable  and much of that cheap labor comes from Southeast Asia.



The way for [companies] to survive is by doing illegal activities: unreported catch, shark finning, transshipment so they can stay out in the seas longer, and sacrificing standards for salary and life on board, Arifsyah said.



Citing the Taiwan Fisheries Agency, the report says 21,994 Indonesian fishers were working on Taiwanese coastal and distant-water fishing vessels as of June 2019. Migrant boat crews from Indonesia and the Philippines make up a large component of Taiwans distant-water fleets, one of the top five in the world and responsible for an industry valued at $2 billion a year, according to Greenpeace.



While the abuse mostly occurs once the crews are aboard the vessel, exploitative working arrangements begin with recruitment by fly-by-night hiring agents, the report says.



Many Indonesian migrant fishers are reportedly given false seafarers papers by the hiring agencies, which in most cases arent even licensed to send workers overseas; only two of 124 registered manning agencies had permission from the Indonesian Transportation Ministry to recruit and place migrant fishers aboard foreign vessels, according to government records cited in the report.



The migrant fishers also have to agree to a payment scheme in which their salaries are deducted to pay guarantee deposits and processing fees for the first six to eight months of their employment, forcing them to work long hours for little or no pay, the report says. And when a crew member fails to complete their contract, they will lose the deposit, it adds.



The clauses in the contract are already unfair, Arifsyah said. Theres an indication that [working conditions] are designed to be inconvenient [for the boat crews], and its being used to benefit the local recruiters and agencies abroad.

 2020 Copyright Conservation news

Theme(s): Others.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 18:10:25|Editor: Wang Yamei

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HOHHOT, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen Mongolian children suffering from congenital heart disease have received free medical treatment in a hospital in Hohhot, capital of northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local authorities said Tuesday.

The children arrived in the city on Dec. 24 and started receiving operations at Inner Mongolia People's Hospital on Dec. 26. They were on their way back to Mongolia on Tuesday after successful operations.

The service is part of the second phase of a humanitarian aid program by the Red Cross Society of China, which started in June last year and plans to provide 100 sick Mongolian children with free heart surgeries.

In the first phase of the program, 100 sick Mongolian children received free heart surgeries in China.
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A graphic has revealed the true extent bushfire devastation across Australia, as experts warn the worst is yet to come.

The composite was made using data from NASA's satellites and shows where bushfires ravaged the nation between December 5 last year and January 5.

The brightest spots on the graphic are in New South Wales and Victoria, where more than 2,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed by the raging infernos.

The graphic, made using data from NASA's satellites, shows the where the bushfires have ravaged Australia over the last month

The image's creator, Anthony Hearsey, explained that it is a 3D visualisation of the fires, and not an actual photograph.

'Scale is a little exaggerated due to the renders glow, but generally true to the info from the NASA website,' he said.

'Also note that NOT all the areas are still burning, and this is a compilation,' he added.

At least 25 people are dead and six million hectares of land have been destroyed nationwide - an area similar to size of the Republic of Ireland.

While milder conditions on Tuesday have given emergency crews temporary relief, the weather is set to turn on Friday and climate experts believe the hottest and driest days are yet to come.

Temperatures could hit the mid-30s on the south coast and soar to into the 40s in other parts of NSW by Friday.

An infrared image shows fires burning in a forest near Lake Eucumbene in Kosciuszko national park, New South Wales

A shortwave infrared image shows wildfires burning east of Orbost on the south east coast of Victoria

Fire season usually peaks in February - the hottest and driest month when the nation has been hit by the likes of Black Saturday and Ash Wednesday - the worst bushfire disasters in national history.

The Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) long-range climate outlook predicted above average temperatures and below average rainfall for much of the east through until at least the end of March.

Weatherzone meteorologist Tom Hough said: 'Warmer than average and drier than average is the trend that looks to be continuing.

'Based off the climate outlooks it doesn't look like we're going to see any significant rainfall.'

In a piece for The Conversation, Monash University emeritus professor Neville Nicholls said Australia has already suffered through severe heatwaves this summer, but it may get worse.

'They usually peak in the middle and end of summer, so the worst may be yet to come.'

Billions of animals are believed to have perished in the blazes and experts fear some may now be extinct.

As the unprecedented crisis worsens with warnings of power brown outs, NSW transport minister and MP for the fire-ravaged south coast, Andrew Constance, compared the fires to 'an atomic bomb'.

Residents look on as flames burn through bush on January 4 in Lake Tabourie, NSW

The sky turned red from smoke of the Snowy Valley bushfire on the outskirts of Cooma on January 4

'I've got to be honest with you, this isn't a bushfire it's an atomic bomb,' he said, as he revealed he had been defending his own home from embers.

'It's indescribable the hell it's caused and the devastation it's caused.'

Power cuts hit 15,000 people in Sydney's north and south-west on Saturday night, while homes in the Newcastle suburbs of Fletcher and Wallsend were also affected.

More than 300 fires still ravaging the parched land nation-wide.
China on Tuesday urged the US to provide visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to attend UN Security Council meetings in New York this week, saying that as a country hosting the United Nations, Washington is obliged to provide visa for officials of member countries.

Zarif on Monday said the United States had declined to issue him a visa to attend the UN Security Council's meeting scheduled in New York later this week to discuss over the killing of prominent Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in American airstrike in Baghdad on Friday.

Soleimani, 62, the head of Iran's elite al-Quds force and architect of its regional security apparatus, was killed in a US drone attack while leaving Baghdad Airport last week, sparking fears of a new war in the Middle East.

The strike also killed deputy chief of Iraq's powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

"They fear that someone comes to the US and reveals realities," Zarif was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera TV in Tehran on Tuesday.

When asked for his reaction, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told journalists here that "to provide convenience including visa is the responsibility of the US as a host country".

"We urge the US to fulfil obligations as a host country and to provide for convenience to the public services personnel of the relevant country to attend the UN meetings," he said.

On Monday, Geng criticised the US for the tensions with Iran saying the US "adventurism" aggravated the crisis in the Middle East and urged all parties to exercise restraint. He said Beijing was "highly concerned" over the worsening situation.

Iran has vowed to avenge the general's killing, and US President Donald Trump has threatened "major retaliation" if any American targets are hit.
Major political parties in Maharashtra are supporting Wednesdays day-long countrywide Bharat bandh called by the major trade unions in the country to protest against the governments anti-people policies.

The Shiv Sena, Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Swabhimaani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) have all decided to support the strike call against the Narendra Modi government.

However, there is still uncertainty whether it will be limited to just factories or will extend across to all sectors including retail stores and transport.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said the party has decided to back workers on the bandh. The factories are shutting down and unemployment is rising. We want to remind the Central Government of the promises they made in 2014. We will fully back this strike, said Raut.

Mumbai Congress chief Eknath Gaikwad said that his party will ensure complete lockout in the industrial belts.

The SSS which boasts of strong network in the rural areas among the farmers said there would be total bandh in rural areas. The Central Government is planning to give a free hand to imported goods at the cost of our livelihood. This would only devastate our farmers and workers and hence we will enforce this bandh with all our strength, an SSS leader said.

The MNS-affiliated workers will sport a black ribbon and will slow down production across the state.

The Centre on Tuesday ordered public sector undertakings to decline casual leave to employees on Wednesday to discourage employees from participating in the Bharat Bandh.

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The police in Bayelsa State have rescued a kidnapped victim, Master Antonio, the six-year-old son of the State Commissioner for Water Resources Nengi Talbot.

The little boy was abducted on December 22 by four gunmen, who stormed the commissioners residence at the New Commissioners Quarters in Yenagoa.

The gunmen broke into the house of Talbot at the quarters located in Opolo and demanded money from the commissioner.

The assailants seized the boy and whisked him away to an unknown place when the commissioner insisted he had no money.



It was, however, gathered that following investigation by the special police crack team, Operation Puff Adder, the boy was freed from the kidnappers den.

The Commissioner of Police, Uche Anozia, received the abducted victim at the commands headquarters in Yenagoa.

He said the boy regained his freedom following sustained efforts of the police, who were on the trail of the kidnappers.

Anozia said the kidnappers were moving the victim from one creek to another adding that the police adopted high level of intelligence and professionalism to free the boy unhurt.

GOOD NEWS.

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Apostle Paul Okikijesu of the Christ Apostolic Miracle Ministry has declared that God told him that Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeem...





Apostle Paul Okikijesu of the Christ Apostolic Miracle Ministry has declared that God told him that Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor W.F Kumuyi of Deeper Life Bible Church and Bishop Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church, will die soon.





In what he described as part of his prophesies for the year 2020, Okikijesu, also said that God revealed to him that the mentioned men of God will not have a place in heaven when they die.





In the messages he made available on Monday, the pastor said Thus says the Lord: My servant, will you not be surprise that I go into Redeemed Church and I observe [that theres no] sheep that I can select?





That is the reason that I said my message for Adeboye is coming. I had informed him that whatever he likes, he can achieve, but he will not be admitted into my glorious home.





He himself knew and he wants to start doing rectification process now. Even if he rectifies his ways, those who are dead due to his deceit and hypocrisy, can he revive them?





How many rectification steps did Reinhard Bonnke took before he died? My servant, I have told him to start putting his house in order, the day of his sleep is near.





Adeboye and Kumuyi and Oyedepo, I have told them to put their homes in order and be prepared to sleep.





Write these messages down because my judgment will be powerful in 2020.





Thus says the Lord: I will send messages to these people to make amendments maybe they are going to organize a big revival/crusade or big lecture.





It must be a convention of Departing from sinful ways and turning to God. I believe that your body/frame is a sinful frame, but the sin of bloodshed and worshipping other gods are abominations to I the Lord.





Thus says the Lord: As distinguished and famous as they are, will you not be surprise that they will not be admitted into My Home, if they refuse/failed to change?




Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
By Trend

From January through November 2019, Turkeys export from Ankara and Istanbul to Kyrgyzstan amounted to $286.9 million, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend .

During this period, export from Ankara to Kyrgyzstan increased by 19.7 percent compared with the same period of 2018, amounting to $12.3 million, the ministry said.

In the first 11 months of 2019, export from Istanbul to Kyrgyzstan increased by 5.3 percent compared with the same period of 2018, amounting to $274.6 million.

In November 2019, export from these cities to Kyrgyzstan amounted to $32.3 million.

At this time, export from Ankara to Kyrgyzstan increased by 9.3 times compared with November 2018, amounting to $2.6 million.

Export from Istanbul to Kyrgyzstan increased by 29.1 percent compared with November 2018, and amounted to $29.7 million, the ministry said.

From January through November 2019, Turkeys export increased by 1.3 percent compared with the same period of 2018, amounting to $151.8 billion.

In November 2019, Turkeys export dropped by 0.7 percent compared with October 2018, and amounted to $14.8 billion.

---

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Mark Esper said Tuesday that slain Iranian military leader Qassem Solemani was 'caught red-handed' planning an attack that could be carried out within 'days' against America before the president ordered the attack that took him out.

'I think it's more fair to say days, for sure,' the Pentagon chief said while speaking to reporters at a press briefing Tuesday afternoon, claiming Solemani was looking to target America soon before his death.

Donald Trump directed a drone attack that killed Solemani on Friday at an Iraqi airport, a move that has been criticized for being hastily executed.

'I can assure you that it's more than razor thin and it's persuasive,' Esper told CNN's British-Iranian reporter Christiane Amanpour on Tuesday afternoon when she asked what evidence there was that proved Solemani was planning an 'imminent' attack.

'The fact of the matter is Solemani was caught red-handed on the ground in Baghdad  one terrorist leader of a terrorist organization meeting with another terrorist leader  to synchronize and plan additional attacks on American forces, diplomats or facilities,' Esper continued. 'I think we took the right action to remove these players for the battlefield

Defense Department Secretary Mark Esper said it was 'more fair to say days' when asked what the White House meant when it said there was an 'imminent' threat of attacks from Iran

Esper also said in an interview earlier on Tuesday that Iranian General Qassem Solemani was 'caught red-handed' planning an attack against America

Esper also said the intelligence that led to the president ordering a drone strike that killed Soleimani (pictured) was 'more than razor thin and persuasive'

Democratic lawmakers and politicians have questioned whether there was enough intelligence to warrant taking out a top Iranian general amid swelling tensions between D.C. and Tehran.

While top officials like Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have assured an attack from Iran was imminent, other administration offices have claimed the strike was a deterrence.

Some have gotten caught up in the semantics of what the White House means when it says an 'imminent' attack  days, weeks, months or even more than a year.

'I think the threat was being orchestrated by Solemani, that's what the intelligence reported,' Esper told CNN. 'That's what he was found on the ground in both Baghdad and Damascus and elsewhere. And i think it was only a matter of days, certainly no more than weeks.'

The White House signaled that it is looking into making the information available that could proved Iran was planning to attack Americans.

Trump's National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien told reporters gathered at the White House Tuesday morning that he was 'taking a look at ' whether intelligence that led to the president's directive could be declassified.

'[Soleimani was] planning to kill, to attack American facilities and diplomats. Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who were located at those facilities,' O'Brien said during a press gaggle.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo backed up the claim of that there was enough intelligence to prove Iran was planning an 'imminent' attack after several Democrats raised questions over the information that led Trump to direct the deadly drone attack

White House National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien told reporters at the White House Tuesday that he was 'taking a look at' declassifying intelligence information that an Iranian attack on Americans was 'imminent'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said at a press conference Tuesday he wasn't told ahead of time that the attack that took out Osama bin Laden when Barack Obama was president. 'My reaction to it was Congratulations. You did the right thing,' McConnell said, asking 'where is the applause' from Democrats for Trump taking out Soleimani

The attack was ordered after a New Years Eve raid on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, which was carried out by protesters who support Iran-backed Shia militia. The Iraq embassy has never been breached before.

Pompeo backed up the move and intelligence that led to the deadly drone strike during a State Department press briefing Tuesday morning.

'If you're looking for imminence, you needn't look no further than the days that led up to the strike that was taken against Soleimani,' Pompeo told the room of reporters after listing several moves that escalation the boiling situation between the U.S. and Iran.

'Any time a president makes a decision of this magnitude there are multiple pieces of information that come before us,' he said when a reporter questioned how imminent of an attack the U.S. was facing. 'We presented that to him in all of its broad detail, we gave him all of the best information that came out of not only the intelligence community, but for those of us who have teams in the field  we evaluated the relevant risks and the opportunity that we thought might presents itself at some point.'

'It was the right decision, we got it right,' Pompeo asserted. 'The Department of Defense did excellent work and the president had an entirely legal, appropriate and  a basis as well as a decision that fit perfectly within our strategy and how to counter the threat of malign activity from Iran more broadly.'

Funeral processions commenced for Soleimani in multiple cities across Iran, including in his home town where a stampede to see his coffin resulted in 50 dead and more than 200 injured

Democrats also have lambasted the president for breaking with precedent when he failed to notify Congress of the impending drone attack before it was carried out, but the president insisted he has no legal obligation to inform Congress.

'These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner,' Trump warned on Twitter on Sunday.

'Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!' he wrote.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell held a press conference Tuesday where he said when he was part of the Gang of Eight when Barack Obama was president he was not informed ahead of time of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

'When I found out I was not told in advance. I was called by the vice president afterwards. My reaction to it was Congratulations. You did the right thing,' the Kentucky Republican said.

'Where is the applause?,' he said of Trump directing the operation that took out Soleimani. 'This guy was the worst of the worst.'

'It's mind boggling and I do think it's interesting to compare the reaction to this because it's a different occupant of the White House to the reaction all the rest of us had to what President Obama carried out,' McConnell said.

The Gang of Eight is a colloquial term used for the group of eight bipartisan lawmakers in Congress who are briefed on classified intelligence matters by the executive branch.

Trump did not notify this group before carrying out the attack that killed Solemani.

Iran has threatened to retaliate against the U.S. for killing one of its top military leaders, but Trump has promised a 'disproportionate' reaction should that happen.

Over the last few days, Iran has held a multi-city funeral procession for Soleimani, ending in his hometown of Kerman Tuesday, where he will be buried.

More than 200 people were injured and 50 killed in a stampede that ensued when thousands descended on the city and rushed toward his coffin.

Thousands of additional troops were deployed to the Middle East in the aftermath of the attack, while confusion swirled over the fate of troops in Iraq.

The General in charge of U.S. coalition forces in Iraq sent a letter directing preparations to pull troops out of Iraq, but the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley confessed the letter was a draft released by mistake.

Pentagon Chief Mark Esper told reporters 'there's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq, period,' and Trump said over the weekend that troops would only be withdrawn of Iraq paid the U.S. for building and maintaining the main air base.
The residents of MKO Abiola Estate in Lagos are at loggerheads with the Agape Area Headquarters of The Redeemed Christian Church of God over the churchs refusal to vacate the community hall within the estate.

Last year, the residents took the church before an Ebute-Meta magistrate court seeking an injunction to stop the church from use of their community hall.

The case was, however, withdrawn after plaintiffs noticed a defect in their case filing.

Access denied

Adetokunbo Shittu, the president of the estate, told PREMIUM TIMES that the community hall was given to the church on a rent agreement in 1999.

But, according to her, the church has taken total control of the hall, refusing to allow the residents of the estate use it for other purposes.

The MKO Abiola Estate residents bought the community hall from the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation in 1999, Mrs Adetokunbo said.

The hall was originally used by Israel Assembly of the church in 1999, before they got a permanent space behind the estate and transferred the use to another Redeemed Church, the Agape Parish.

Since 2017, we have been giving them quit notice, but they have refused to vacate. It is a community hall, not a church, Mrs Adetokunbo said.

We increased the rent to 2 million but when we found out that the people were not ready to leave and we are in desperate need of the space, we took the case to the court.

Before the case was taken to court in 2018, the estate executives served Agape Parish, RCCG three quit notices, one in 2017 and two in 2018.

The estate president said the lawyer who represented the estate in the suit made technical errors which led to the withdrawal of the case in April 2019.

We gave them another quit notice for six months, that expired in November 2019, we thereafter gave them seven days mandatory notice to leave the place which they have refused.

Mrs Adetokunbo said the hall is locked most of the week and is only opened when the church wants to use it.

Photo of the community hall.

During summertime, our children have nowhere to go, there is no venue for skill acquisition. If we have meetings, we do them outside during rain or sunshine, she said.

No form of event, training or meeting can be done at the community hall, the church takes absolute control of the hall and its premises.

Some time ago, the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development sealed off the residents estate office due to visible cracks on the walls of the building. Mrs Adetokunbo said their executives met with the church leadership to release one of the rooms in the community hall for their use pending the resolution of their matter with the government.

The church refused, according to her.

There are three rooms in the hall, we told them to give us one to be used as our office, which they refused. We only gave them the hall to use and not the rooms, Mrs Adetokunbo said.

Photo of the community hall.

The agreement is that of a landlord and tenant, it should be such a way that anyone can come to use it once they pay. Residents too should be able to hold meetings, training and seminars in the hall, she added.

The church reacts

When contacted, Sesan Oyebode, the Area Pastor of Agape Parish at MKO Abiola Estate told PREMIUM TIMES that the church represents the interests of members of the estate who see it as their chapel.

RCCG was a pioneering church in the estate. The church took (rented) many shops, including the community hall. That is where RCCG has been for the past 21 years, he said.

Mr Oyebode justified the churchs locking of the community hall for most of the week.

We are paying rent not as per use or to use as an event centre, he said.

If you operate a church in an event centre, someone can do a birthday party or wedding reception afterwards but nothing as that has ever been done. That is the way the church (community hall) has been used since inception and there is nothing in writing that says that is how it should be used.

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He said the church, with over 350 members, was paying a rent of 400,000 annually before it was increased to 2 million in 2017.

Mr Oyebode said due to the decision of the estate exco to evict the church from the community hall, the Christian community of the estate wrote a petition to the governor to allocate a piece of land to them. The petition was signed by 57 members of the Redeemed Church who argued that the Muslims in the estate had been given a place of worship.

The state government thereafter allocated a piece of land in the estate to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Sand and gravel poured at the entrance of the community hall to prevent the church members from parking in the premise.Sand and gravel poured at the entrance of the community hall to prevent the church members from parking in the premise.

Mrs Adetokunbo told PREMIUM TIMES the land was meant to be occupied by an interdenominational church, so all Christians living in the estate would benefit from it.

But Mr Oyebode accused the estate exco of denying them access to the land.

CAN got the land on behalf of RCCG, the understanding is that CAN will give its land to one of its members that has a pioneering role in the estate, running the church from inception, he said.

The estate has, however, refused to allow CAN sell the land to us. 10.5 million was put as a price for the land, we are ready to pay the price but the estate executive said the land can only be sold to an interdenominational body and not RCCG.

On January 4, the estate exco locked the community hall in a bid to retrieve it from the church. But it was forced open by the church the next day in order to hold their first thanksgiving service for the year.
Japanese authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Carlos Ghosn's wife for perjury, according to media reports. Carole Ghosn who has been a vocal supporter of Carlos's innocence is suspected of lying during her testimony to the Tokyo District Court last year in April, as per reports. The details of the allegations against her have not been made immediately available.

Fled the country

Carole Ghosn is believed to have reunited with her husband in Lebanon. Carlos had been freed on bail under strict conditions. Prosecutors in the trial had argued that Carlos Ghosn posed a flight risk. The conditions on his bail also included restrictions on contact with his wife.

The carmaker Nissan who has vowed to prosecute its former chairman over his allegations of serious misconduct has expressed its extreme regret on Tuesday regarding Carlos Ghosn. The carmaker in a statement said that it had concrete evidence of various acts of misconduct by its former boss. Nissan also added that even with Ghosn's escape, it will continue to take appropriate legal action in order to have Ghosn pay for the damages it has caused Nissan.

The 65-year-old former Nissan boss has repeatedly denied the charges levelled against him and has claimed that he decided to flee because he did not expect to receive a fair trial. In addition, Carlos also reportedly said that these charges against him were fabricated by former colleagues that were opposed to his plans to strengthen the alliance between Nissan and carmaker Renault. Ghosn's flight to Lebanon will not affect Nissan's basic policy for holding him accountable for his actions.

Read: Ex Nissan Chairman Allegedly Flew Out Of Osaka

Read: Nissan Says Ex-leader Ghosn Still Behind Serious Misconduct

Earlier Ghosn reportedly escaped Japan via the Kansai Airport in Osaka. He was believed to be hidden inside a musical equipment box as was brought aboard a private jet and flown first to Turkey and then to Lebanon. Japan's Justice Minister Masako Mori said Japan would tighten border control precautions to prevent a recurrence, but did not confirm the details of his escape. Ghosn managed to skip bail and leave the country despite heavy surveillance while he was staying at a home in Tokyo. Japan and Lebanon do not have an extradition treaty.

Experts have said it would be difficult to bring Ghosn back to stand trial in Tokyo. And Turkish authorities are investigating possible security flaws that allowed former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn to skip bail in Japan and flee to Lebanon via Istanbul, Turkish media reported on Thursday. NTV television said a number of suspects have been detained as part of the investigation launched by Turkey's Interior Ministry but does not elaborate.

Read: Turkey Probes How Nissan Chief Ghosn Fled Via Istanbul

Read: Prosecutors Raid Ex-Nissan Chair Ghosn's Tokyo Home
Oakland County leaders want residents to make their voices heard.

Through Jan. 10, residents can visit www.OakGov.com to access the countys Citizen Survey 2020. The survey asks residents to rank whats important to them in terms of jobs, the economy, public health, housing, roads, transportation and other relevant topics.

County Executive David Coulter said the survey will help his administration develop policies and strategies that are inclusive of all residents in all parts of the county.

We began engaging Oakland County residents about what matters to them with community meet and greets, Coulter said. Now, were expanding our reach to our citizens with this survey so we can be sure we are hearing from everyone who wants to have a voice in their county government.

County administrators will utilize the results of the survey to help the county be responsive to those who live in Oakland County and ensure the policies and strategies of county government are inclusive of all residents.

Coulter said hes focused on creating opportunity for everyone in all parts of our county, launching a new economic strategy, and improving county-led health and affordable housing initiatives.

If youd like to meet Coulter, and discuss your ideas with him in person, there are a few more meet and greet events scheduled through the end of the month. You can register by visiting www.OakGov.com.

* Jan. 7: 10 a.m. at the Oxford Public Library, 530, Pontiac Street

* Jan. 9: 6 p.m. at the Holly Township Library, 1116 N. Saginaw Street

* Jan. 15: 10:30 a.m. at the White Lake Township Library, 11005 Elizabeth Lake Road

* Jan. 22: 10 a.m. at the Brandon Township Public Library, 304 South Street

READ MORE:
(Natural News) The owner and manager of the Seattle Barrel and Cooperage Company in Seattle, Washington, are both being charged with criminal conspiracy along with 29 counts of violating the Clean Water Act for their complicity in using a hidden drain to dump highly corrosive chemicals directly into the sewer system.

According to a 36-count grand jury indictment, Seattle Barrel and Cooperage owner Louie Sanft, as well as his cousin John Sanft, the firms manager, have been lying to regulators about whats been going on at this shady company since at least 2009.

Instead of properly disposing of the caustic chemical solution that Seattle Barrel and Cooperage has long been using to clean and recondition the 55-gallon industrial drums it sells to customers, the company instead secretly installed a hidden drain to dump it straight into the sewer system, which ultimately drains into the Duwamish Waterway and the Puget Sound.

King County, where Seattle is located, reportedly figured this out after a sensitive sewer flow meter tipped them off to something strange. The county then sent a robot into the sewer system to investigate, upon which it discovered a mysterious white stain.

Federal agents proceeded to execute a search warrant after real-time monitoring equipment uncovered unusual spikes in the waters pH levels. This ultimately led to the discovery that Seattle Barrel and Cooperage has been illegally dumping extremely toxic and highly corrosive waste into the citys sewer system.

The Sanfts deny all wrongdoing, blame former employee

Amazingly, the Sanft cousins are denying that they did anything wrong, even though the evidence shows that their company has been violating the law for at least the past decade.

In a statement, Louie Sanfts lawyer, Angelo Calfo, blamed a former Seattle Barrel and Cooperage employee whom he says cut corners for his own gain by installing a secret drain pipe to illegally dispose of highly caustic toxic waste.

Louie had no motive to do this, Calfo insists. Company practice and policy was to have the tank water boiled down and evaporated. Any sludge from the tank would be transported for proper disposal.

Everything that gets dumped into sewers later gets dumped on food crops in the form of biosludge

But the fact remains that Louie and his cousin have an economic incentive to cut corners to save themselves the added cost of proper waste removal. Surveillance and monitoring that took place prior to the time when these charges were made show that company employees were engaging in other illegal activities, some of which resulted in fines.

In 2013, for instance, Seattle Barrel and Cooperage was fined $55,250 after one of its employees was observed dumping an oily substance directly into a sewer. On another occasion, the company was fined $30,000 for failing to identify caustic wastewater as a hazardous waste, missing labels on hazardous waste containers and lacking measures to prevent the escape of hazardous liquids.

Its important to note that besides polluting the local waterway, including the Puget Sound, Seattle Barrel and Cooperages violations more than likely also led to this caustic waste being dumped on American farms as biosludge fertilizer.

You can learn more about the toxic scourge of biosludge by checking out the filme Biosludged at this link.

You can also learn more about what goes into biosludge and why its a public health hazard by checking out Biosludge.news.

At a time when we are searching for strategies to protect Puget Sound and improve water quality for fish and wildlife, we need companies to do their share  not scheme for ways to pollute in private, stated United States Attorney Brian Moran about the Seattle Barrel and Cooperage case.

Sources for this article include:

BlacklistedNews.com

NaturalNews.com

Biosludged.com
Edge computing has a positively staggering range of applications in the SEO space.

SEOHost.net, a leading domain registration, SSL service, and SEO hosting provider, announced that edge SEO is the next phase of search engine optimization.

Edge computing has a positively staggering range of applications in the SEO space, said SEOHost.net Chief Operations Officer Terry Cane. It has the ability to develop, test, and deploy code to web apps almost instantaneously.

Edge computing involves processing data near the edge of a network. Rather than transmitting data back to a central location for analysis and utilization, it handles everything in edge devices, as close to the user as possible.

As explained by Hewlett Packard, the real power of edge computing lies in the fact that it enables real-time data processing without latency. This is, the company explains, critical for IoT technology such as self-driving cars. But beyond the IoT, edge computing can significantly reduce internet bandwidth usage while also making web applications considerably more efficient.

And therein lies its applications for SEO, said Cane. First is the ability to use edge computing to speed up server requests and handle certain resource-intensive website processes such as Javascript. This allows websites to be made richer and more complex without sacrificing functionality.

It might be a fairly new and not particularly widespread technology at this point, but theres little doubt in my mind that edge SEO will eventually become pervasive, Cane said. I would strongly advise webmasters, web developers, and businesses to begin experimenting with it now. Applications such as Spark, Sloth, and LogFlare are all excellent starting points.

####

About SEOHost.net:

Located in Orlando, Florida with locations all around the world, SEOHost.Net provides a wide range of services in both the U.S. and the E.U., including domain registration, SSL Hosting for SEO, and VPS, dedicated, and A Class IP hosting The company offers exceptional service with a strong service level agreement, multiple geographic locations, and free migration. For more information, visit https://www.seohost.net
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has entered into an agreement to acquire maihiro, a provider of customer experience and customer relationship management consulting, optimization and ongoing enhancement services. The acquisition will help Accenture create solutions for clients that drive innovation and transformation in marketing, sales and customer service.

Founded in 2000 and an SAP Gold Partner, maihiro is a leading provider of SAP-based customer experience (CX), customer relationship management (CRM), and commerce services. The acquisition aims to strengthen Accenture's world-class SAP capabilities that help organizations elevate customer experiences beyond expectations. With headquarters in Munich, maihiro has approximately 160 skilled professionals in offices across Germany and Austria.

"Today's brands compete in the experience economy. Only those capable of delivering the most engaging and differentiated experiences will continue to win and retain customers' loyalty," said Bhaskar Ghosh, group chief executive, Accenture Technology Services. "With this acquisition, we will amplify our experience and knowledge to help clients drive growth by developing and deploying superior experience management. This will enable clients to better understand their customers, evolve business processes to align with customer needs, and enjoy higher customer retention and purchase frequency."

"Together with maihiro, we will have more expertise and capacity to serve clients in Austria, Switzerland, Germany and across Europe, and guide them in their journey to transform customer experiences. Combined with Accenture's end-to-end capabilities, client relationships and global delivery capabilities, we can provide scale and global reach for multinational clients," added Dirk Appelhoff, Accenture SAP Business Group lead in Europe.

"Like Accenture, we are committed to guiding clients in marketing, sales and customer service, and developing and implementing competitive strategies that increase their performance," said Uwe May, CEO, Sales Marketing, maihiro.

Bernd Hesse, CEO, Consulting Human Resources, maihiro, added: "Our collective, comprehensive capabilities will help clients design and operate CX and CRM solutions that enable maximum benefits from the SAP Customer Experience portfolio, including integration with SAP S/4HANA and SAP intelligent technologies to enable seamless, end-to-end processes and drive innovation."

As part of Accenture's strategy to enable clients to gain the most value from SAP solutions, in May 2019, Accenture and SAP announced that they are co-developing and co-innovating to accelerate development of the SAP C/4HANA platform and build industry-specific solutions that elevate digital customer experiences. In November 2018, Accenture also acquired U.S.-based Intrigo Systems, a leading provider of advisory and systems integration services for SAP enterprise and cloud solutions in e-commerce, supply chain and procurement. In its 2019 fiscal year, Accenture invested nearly US$1.2 billion on 33 acquisitions globally to acquire critical skills and capabilities in strategic, high-growth areas of the market.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in early 2020.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions underpinned by the world's largest delivery network Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With 505,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "positioned," "outlook" and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These include, without limitation, risks that: Accenture and maihiro will not be able to close the transaction in the time period anticipated, or at all, which is dependent on the parties' ability to satisfy certain closing conditions; the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture; Accenture's results of operations could be adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company's clients' businesses and levels of business activity; Accenture's business depends on generating and maintaining ongoing, profitable client demand for the company's services and solutions including through the adaptation and expansion of its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings, and a significant reduction in such demand or an inability to respond to the evolving technological environment could materially affect the company's results of operations; if Accenture is unable to keep its supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the company's business, the utilization rate of the company's professionals and the company's results of operations may be materially adversely affected; Accenture could face legal, reputational and financial risks if the company fails to protect client and/or company data from security breaches or cyberattacks; the markets in which Accenture operates are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; changes in Accenture's level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in tax laws or in their interpretation or enforcement, could have a material adverse effect on the company's effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition; Accenture's profitability could materially suffer if the company is unable to obtain favorable pricing for its services and solutions, if the company is unable to remain competitive, if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if it experiences delivery inefficiencies; Accenture's results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; as a result of Accenture's geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue to expand in its key markets around the world, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; Accenture's business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; Accenture's work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; Accenture's ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; if Accenture does not successfully manage and develop its relationships with key alliance partners or fails to anticipate and establish new alliances in new technologies, the company's results of operations could be adversely affected; Accenture might not be successful at acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; if Accenture is unable to protect or enforce its intellectual property rights or if Accenture's services or solutions infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company loses its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others, its business could be adversely affected; Accenture's results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; changes to accounting standards or in the estimates and assumptions Accenture makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; many of Accenture's contracts include fees subject to the attainment of targets or specific service levels, which could increase the variability of the company's revenues and impact its margins; Accenture might be unable to access additional capital on favorable terms or at all and if the company raises equity capital, it may dilute its shareholders' ownership interest in the company; Accenture may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the "Risk Factors" heading in Accenture plc's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accenture's expectations.

Copyright 2020 Accenture. All rights reserved. Accenture and its logo are trademarks of Accenture.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005480/en/

Contacts:

Julie Bennink

Accenture

+1 312 693 7301

julie.l.bennink@accenture.com

Diana Buchner

Accenture

+49 6173 94 69081

diana.buechner@accenture.com
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Parliament has passed an important bill for the exchange of information and criminals with countries to meet a key requirement of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which has placed the country on the Grey List for an extended period till next month.

The FATF, which kept Pakistan on the Grey List for an extended period till February 2020, had warned in October that Islamabad would be put on the Black List if it did not comply with the remaining 22 points in a list of 27 questions.

Pakistan submitted a report comprising answers to 22 questions to the FATF on December 6.

The Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matter) Bill 2019 was passed on Monday evening after the treasury overcame the Opposition's customary resistance in the National Assembly, the lower house.

Under the law, the government would be able to make mutual legal assistance request to a country to "inquire about the location and identification of witnesses, suspects, perpetrators and offenders" and subsequently after due process may transfer the person in custody of Pakistan.

Pakistan may also locate suspects or as "permissible under the domestic law of that country believed to be located in that country and if found, to seize them as permissible under the domestic law of that country" and "also freeze or seize properties that may be the subject of investigations or proceedings through relevant legal process in that county."

After Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan took the floor to present the bill, parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Syed Naveed Qamar termed the bill against the fundamental rights of the citizens of Pakistan.

He claimed that after passage of the bill, the government would be able to seek information from foreign countries and extradite its own citizens on the demand of the other countries even without signing a treaty.

Qamar said, presently the countries did not entertain any request from the Pakistan government to hand over any wanted person to it because of the perception that cases were filed on a political basis in Pakistan.

He said the bill had given "unfettered powers" to the federal interior secretary to seek information about foreign bank accounts and transactions made by any citizen.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) also opposed the bill and alleged that efforts were being made by international financial institutions to colonise countries like Pakistan which were financially dependent on them.

Ali Muhammad Khan said no Pakistani would like to see the country being blacklisted by the FATF.

He explained that the main purpose of the bill was to nominate the interior ministry as the focal point as previously a number of ministries and institutions like the foreign ministry and the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta) were dealing with such matters on their own.

Now, he said, no department or institution could make direct contact with any country without the approval of the interior ministry.

Pakistan was placed on the Grey List by the FATF in June last year and was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019 or face the risk of being placed on the blacklist with Iran and North Korea.

The FATF said Pakistan must demonstrate effective implementation of targeted financial sanctions against all UN-designated terrorists like Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, Jaish-e-Mohammad founder Maulana Masood Azhar, and those acting for or on their behalf.

The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.
A 22-year-old bartender has offered her weekend wage and tips to the victims of the Australian bushfires.

Jess Clennett, from Hobart in Tasmania, wore a brown paper sign around her neck as she served patrons at Republic Bar and Cafe on Saturday evening.

The sign read: 'Everything I earn tonight (donations, tips + my hourly wage) goes to the people in need from the horrible bushfires.'

Jess Clennett, from Hobart in Tasmania, wore a brown paper sign around her neck as she served patrons at Republic Bar and Cafe on Saturday evening

After four hours of work on Saturday, Ms Clennett wrote on Facebook she had already made $439.60 from donations and tips.

'Times like these we should help each other and start taking action,' she wrote.

Ms Clennett tallied a total of $1,260 on Saturday and gathered an additional $1,500 by close of business on Sunday.

'Even though no amount of money can justify the amount of loss Australia as a country has experienced as this disaster occurs - we can all still try to do something about it. We can still help the people who need it,' she said.

'Stop just talking about it. Start taking action and make a difference. Thank you to everyone who has donated.'

Ms Clennett has decided to give the money to The Salvation Army Disaster Relief fund.

The 22-year-old bartender offered her weekend wage and tips to the victims of the Australian bushfires

The 22-year-old told the ABC: 'Even though it will put me behind on my financial weekly budget, I don't mind, I think that everyone should be helping where they can.'

Ms Clennett was praised for her 'amazing' and 'awesome' idea.

'Good for her! This is a lot of money to donate for a young person with her job. She should be commended!' one person wrote.

'Damn right she is - although I am wrapped at all the celebrity donations, I bet many wouldn't put themselves in the financial position this lady has. You rock Jess,' said another.
Federal prosecutors in Delaware have charged an 18-year-old man with throwing a lit incendiary device at a Planned Parenthood in Newark, Del. Read more

An 18-year-old man approached a Planned Parenthood facility just steps from the University of Delaware campus about 2 a.m. Friday, spray-painted a Latin phrase meaning God wills it on the facade, and then threw a lit object at the front wall, where it exploded and began to burn.

The device extinguished itself after about a minute, but it damaged the window and porch of the building in the process.

Thats according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Delaware, which announced that Samuel James Gulick, 18, of Middletown, Del., was arrested Saturday and charged with maliciously damaging a building with fire or a destructive device and intentionally damaging a facility that provides reproductive health services. Gulick was identified by investigators by his license plate and then in part by his Instagram account, which included antiabortion posts.

FBI agents investigating the incident said in court papers that an employee of the Planned Parenthood facility at 140 E. Delaware Ave. in Newark arrived at the office to find it damaged and the words Deus Vult  the Latin religious phrase  as well as religious symbols" spray-painted on the front of the building.

Prosecutors say surveillance video shows a man approaching the Planned Parenthood at night, spray-painting the front, and then throwing the lit incendiary device. An official with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives worked with investigators and concluded the device appears to be a Molotov cocktail, an FBI agent wrote in charging documents. Typically, a Molotov cocktail is a bomb made with a bottle of flammable liquid and a wick of some type.

While the man in the surveillance video fled immediately after tossing the device, investigators identified him via his license plate. Then they found him on Instagram. Deus Vult was in his bio, and several posts show antiabortion ideology. His avatar was Pepe the Frog, a cartoon appropriated by the far-right that has become a meme described by the Anti-Defamation League as a hate symbol.

If Gulick is convicted of the most serious charge, maliciously damaging the facility, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Ryan Clements, a software developer and founder of The Farm Ventures, recently discussed his roots in harness racing and how he would like to work with the Standardbred racing industry as it moves into the future.

I grew up in the horse racing industry on a horse farm, and its in my blood, said Clements, 33, who recently sat down for a brief one-on-one for the inaugural video piece from COSA TV.

My grandfather was lucky enough to own half of Cam Fella  horse of the year 1982, 1983  so, Ive been in the industry a long time. At the time, he bought and built Prince Lee Acres, which has been a breeding farm ever since.

Following him, my dad was a trainer and driver, so he drove mainly in the Ontario circuit. He was the top driver at Grand River and Georgian Downs around 2004/05. Hes now retired from driving, but is still active as a trainer.

Im sort of that third-generation horseman that never became a horseman.

During the one-on-one, Clements explained that he considered diving headfirst into the harness racing industry, but ultimately decided not to.

I worked as a groom a couple of times when I was younger. I even got my set of colours and my helmet, said Clements. There was part of me that wanted to become a driver. I remember when Scott Zeron and Doug McNair were just about to get their licence  Im a little bit older than those guys  but it was kind of right around that time where I was like I think there is an opportunity here.

The previous generation, there was a bit of a gap, an opening. [I was thinking] maybe I can do this. It was something that I always wanted to do, but never really got that close to actually doing it.
Homeland Security is warning U.S. companies to "consider and assess" the possible impacts and threat of a cyberattack on their businesses following heightened tensions with Iran.

It's the first official guidance published by the government's dedicated cyber advisory unit, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, just days after the killing of a leading Iranian military commander, Qasem Soleimani. The U.S. government had accused Soleimani of targeting and killing U.S. personnel across the Middle East.

Soleimani, an Iranian general who was slated as second-in-command in Iran's leadership, was killed on Friday by a U.S drone strike authorized by President Trump. The same drone strike killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a deputy in a coalition of Iran-backed militias in neighboring Iraq.

In its latest advisory, posted Monday, CISA said that the increased geopolitical tensions "may result in cyber and physical attacks against the homeland and also destructive hybrid attacks by proxies against U.S. targets and interests abroad."

The agency said Iran and its allies could launch "disruptive and destructive cyber operations" against strategic targets, such as phone and energy companies, and also carry out "cyber-enabled espionage" that aim to better understand U.S. foreign policy decision making.

CISA also warned of disinformation campaigns, as well as kinetic attacks  including bombings. Companies should take precautions in the event of cyberattacks  such as setting up offline backups, the agency advised.

The warnings come shortly after security experts in the private sector warned of the possibility of retaliatory action following the drone strikes.

"We will probably see an uptick in espionage, primarily focused on government systems, as Iranian actors seek to gather intelligence and better understand the dynamic geopolitical environment," said John Hultquist, director of intelligence analysis at cybersecurity firm FireEye. "We also anticipate disruptive and destructive cyberattacks against the private sphere," he said.

Story continues

Iran is one of the world's most powerful adversaries in cyberspace, experts say.

Tehran has a considerable arsenal of offensive cyber tools, including wipers  malware designed to infiltrate computers and destroy data. Hackers associated with Iran have been active in targeting facilities in the Middle East in recent years. Dmitri Alperovitch, who co-founded security firm Crowdstrike, said in a tweet that Iran may target critical infrastructure, such as energy grids and financial institutions.

More recently, Microsoft said it had notified thousands of customers over the past year who have been targeted by nation-state attackers, including hackers associated with Iran. The software and services giant previously took legal action against Iranian-controlled domains in an effort to disrupt their cyber activities. In October, Microsoft said Iranian hackers targeted a 2020 presidential candidate, which Reuters later confirmed was President Trump's reelection campaign.

The move to assassinate Soleimani was widely panned by both opponents and allies of the Trump administration. Critics say the government had not thought of the consequences of the strike, including both Iranian retaliation with kinetic force but also cyberattacks.

Sen. Ron Wyden, a senior lawmaker on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the killing was "a reckless escalation that will take us further down the road to ruinous war." Meanwhile in a lengthy tweet thread, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who served under President Bush, also criticized the action.
Shekhar joins Pitt from Indiana University (IU), the nation's largest medical school, where he holds a number of leadership roles. These are: executive associate dean for research affairs, distinguished professor, associate vice president for university clinical affairs and research, executive vice president of academic affairs for clinical research at IU Health, and founding director of the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, the only statewide institute of its kind.

"This is a critical hire for the University of Pittsburgh," said Chancellor Patrick Gallagher. "Anantha's capacity to envision solutions, galvanize partnerships and produce results is second to none, and his record of propelling both people and institutions to success is unparalleled. I could not be more excited to welcome Anantha into our community, and I am already looking forward to his arrival in June."

Shekhar's career has been defined by innovation, transformation and sweeping and successful collaborations across the private, public and philanthropic sectors. In addition, he has received continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health for basic, clinical and translational research since 1989 and has authored more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed publications.

His many professional accomplishments include:

Growing the IU School of Medicine's research funding from the National Institutes of Health by 73% since 2015.

Leading the Precision Health Initiativea major strategic investment at IU with more than $140 million in clusters such as genomic medicine and big data sciences. This transformative and innovative initiative resulted in an estimated economic impact of nearly $200 million in just four years, the hiring of more than 126 scientists, as well as the creation of four companies and recruitment of another to Indiana .

in clusters such as genomic medicine and big data sciences. This transformative and innovative initiative resulted in an estimated economic impact of nearly in just four years, the hiring of more than 126 scientists, as well as the creation of four companies and recruitment of another to . Co-founding or leading five biotech companies, including Anagin, a startup company that is developing treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, neuropathic pain, depression, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Demonstrating a novel mechanism of actionthe first in more than 70 yearsthat is being developed as a new approach to treating schizophrenia.

Forming two commercial incubators within the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Instituteone for therapeutics and another for medical devicesthat currently host more than 15 companies in various stages of commercialization.

Directing a laboratory that has developed highly regarded translational models for panic and related anxiety disorders that resulted in patents for novel therapies and the discovery of new treatments.

"I am honored and inspired to be joining one of the most respected medical and research communities in the world," Shekhar said. "Building on the University of Pittsburgh's exceptional record of health sciences education, innovation, clinical excellence and research preeminence is my top priority, and I look forward to advancing this goal in partnership with UPMCfor the greater good of societyin the months to come."

Shekhar will succeed Arthur S. Levine, MD, who has announced his intent to transition to a new research role within the University. In February, the University of Pittsburgh's Board of Trustees will vote on making Shekhar an officer of the board, which is the final step in his hiring process. Once at Pitt, Shekhar will oversee all six health sciences schools, the work of more than 6,000 faculty and staff, and the academic success of approximately 5,000 students while working closely with the institution's clinical partner, UPMC.

"The University has chosen a distinguished physician-scientist to lead the schools of the health sciences, following in the footsteps of Dr. Arthur Levine," said Jeffrey A. Romoff, president and chief executive officer of UPMC. "Dr. Shekhar's bold vision and collaborative spirit will further the successful partnership between UPMC and Pitt, enabling us to continue pushing the boundaries of academic medicine to the benefit of patients around the world."

Shekhar, who was born in India, earned his medical degree from St. John's Medical College and PhD in neuroscience at IU. He and his wife, Dr. Gina Laite, have two children.

Additional praise for Dr. Shekhar:

"Anantha's exceptional and deep experience in basic research leading to novel, patentable therapeutics and in directing large, multi-institutional research initiatives, as well as being an award-winning teacher, will provide transformative contributions to our efforts going forward."

 Ann E. Cudd, PhD, provost and senior vice chancellor, University of Pittsburgh, co-chair of search committee

"Dr. Shekhar's talent, drive and leadership will allow him to step right in and continue the incredible trajectory of Pitt's medical school in partnership with UPMC."

 Steven Shapiro, MD, executive vice president and chief medical and scientific officer, UPMC, co-chair of search committee

"Dr. Shekhar is a true scholar with very broad interests and expertise who excels at essentially everything in which he is involved. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated great facility and respect for all types of science along the fundamental, basic science to translational-clinical spectrum. His research accomplishments and research leadership and administrative skills are clearly at the very top nationally."

 Jeremy Berg, PhD, associate senior vice chancellor for science strategy and planning in the health sciences, University of Pittsburgh

"I'm delighted Anantha will join Pitt to lead the University's health sciences. He is well known and widely respected in the national CTSI arena and in the interprofessional practice and training community. He has a rich and diverse experience to bring to the position, and we are looking forward to working with him to forge new and deepen existing efforts under his leadership."

 Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean and Distinguished Service Professor of Nursing, professor of psychology, epidemiology and occupational therapy, University of Pittsburgh

"Dr. Shekhar is a national visionary known for transforming the approach to medical research and its integration into health. He worked closely with the most senior leaders at NIH and from universities across the country to create translational science as an academic discipline, which changed our approach to research. We are fortunate that he is coming to Pitt. His extensive basic and clinical research activities, entrepreneurial experience and role in creating educational programs will serve the University well. He values interdisciplinary approaches to the integration of science, education and health care and understands how this approach will directly benefit individuals, communities and populations."

 Steven E. Reis, MD, associate vice chancellor for clinical research, health sciences, director, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

"Dr. Anantha Shekhar is a superb choice to capitalize on the remarkable success we have had over the past 20-plus years with a research-focused effort to make Pitt one of the very best institutions in the country while capitalizing on even more team-based care and science. Given his experience in leading collaborative and interdisciplinary health science teams, we are excited to have him join us at Pitt. He has also led one of the most successful clinical research collaborations in the U.S. and is familiar with our own CTSI as a result."

 Bernard J. Costello, DMD, MD, FACS, dean and Thomas W. Braun Endowed Professor, program director, Pediatric Craniomaxillofacial Surgery Fellowship, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Contact: Kevin Zwick, University of Pittsburgh News

412-624-0148 (office); [email protected]

SOURCE University of Pittsburgh
Energy expert Tom Kloza expects oil prices to resume rallying on renewed hostilities with Iran.

But Kloza, who runs global energy analysis for the Oil Price Information Service, believes the bullish activity is temporary.

"We're in the seventh or eighth inning of a rally that's sustainable," he told CNBC's "Trading Nation" on Tuesday. "I'm pretty confident that we're going to exit the year at a much lower number."

WTI crude and Brent fell about 1% on Tuesday. The commodities returned to levels seen before last Thursday's U.S. airstrike that killed a top Iranian commander.

But that doesn't mean there's no gas left in the canister. He believes oil prices could rise another $5 a barrel this week.

"We need to be on guard for attacks like [what] occurred in mid-September at Abqaiq which was the Saudi facility," he said. "A $70 handle is always possible for a short period of time."

However, his biggest concern in connection to rising Mideast tensions would have the opposite effect on oil prices.

"I'm a little bit more worried about if there are soft targets or targets that have to do with transportation," added Kloza. "It doesn't take much to spook Americans into not driving. It doesn't take much to spook the Western world or even emerging markets to lay off of the transportation."

In 2014 when oil was trading in the mid-$70s a barrel, Kloza predicted prices would collapse to $35 in 2015. Thirteen months later, his forecast was a reality.

Now, he's predicting a front-loaded year with the highest oil prices happening now. Kloza cites seasonal trends as the biggest driver and President Donald Trump's objective to keep fuel prices low ahead of the election.

"I don't think this president will tolerate $70-plus crude or $3-plus [a gallon unleaded] gasoline in red states," he said.

By the end of the year, he estimates WTI crude and Brent will be in the mid-$50s a barrel range  a 10% to 20% drop from current levels. And, that should translate into cheaper fuel at the pumps.

"This should be another year of cheap gas," Kloza said. "The last year of very expensive fuel was really 2014, and we're not going to see a repeat of those numbers we saw after the Arab Spring."

Disclaimer
Last week, the League of Women Voters issued a press release indicating that it would not sponsor a debate between the Republican and Democratic candidates for the election to the 151st District seat in the State Legislature. The election will be held Jan. 21.

For a debate to take place, both parties must agree to the terms. On Dec. 16, the league extended to both candidates an offer to hold a debate on Jan. 16. In this case, the Cheryl Moss campaign agreed immediately, and, by Jan. 1, the Harry Arora campaign had not. This is their right. It is also the right of the league to decline to host it.

Since then, Arora partisans have accused the league of bias and partisanship, sometimes in a threatening and unpleasant manner. These accusations are generally false and based upon partial or inaccurate information. Rather than go into answering all of that here, I want to raise a larger concern.

While every volunteer organization certainly has room for improvement, the bashing of a 100-year old volunteer organization that tries to promote civil dialogue between candidates for public office should worry us all.

Will polarized politicking mean an end to our tradition of holding debates between candidates? Who will run debates if the league doesnt? What volunteer would be willing to put forth the significant effort involved to organize a debate given the intimidation that apparently has become involved?

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots, political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It welcomes members from all political persuasions and influences public policy through education and advocacy. To best influence what the league does, critics should join us.

We will do our best to schedule debates in the years to come. We hope that the seeds of distrust in the soil of anger do not make debates another casualty of our political climate. Voters who are less informed will not benefit our democracy.

Since a debate is not possible this year, the league has offered an opportunity for both candidates to complete information for a digital Voters Guide in the next week. Both candidates were asked to answer three questions:

Connecticut has a serious deficit problem. What measures would you support to eliminate the deficit?

What specific ideas do you have to address the ever-increasing congestion problem on Connecticuts roads?

Connecticut has ranked consistently near the bottom of the CNBCs Americas Top States for business (35th overall in 2019). Do you agree with this assessment? If not, why not? If yes, what positive steps do you think should be taken to restore confidence in our state?

The league does not edit submissions, but it will disseminate whatever it receives from the candidates, even if it is a non-response.

The league urges voters (1) to read the Voters Guide when it becomes available, and (2) to vote on Jan. 21.

Sandy Waters is president of the Greenwich League of Women Voters.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 20:37:43|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has signed a State Council decree to publish a regulation on guaranteeing payments of wages to rural migrant workers, which will go into effect on May 1.

To ensure that rural migrant workers get their wages on time and in full, the regulation has clauses on clarifying the responsibilities of employers and related government departments, detailing rules for special areas and strengthening supervision.

The regulation said wages for rural migrant workers should be paid with bank transfers or cash, not in other forms such as physical goods or securities.

Government-funded projects must be given sufficient funding and should not be funded in advance by contractors, and government officials in regions with serious wage arrears will be punished.

The regulation also ordered government departments to beef up regulation, including setting up credit archives for employers and formulating a unified punishment system for those who default on migrant workers' wages.
The ruins of Nepals Gorkha district after the 2015 earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people and injured 22,000. Tourism helped lead the way back.

Holidaying in a disaster zone might seem crazy, but volunteer tourism can actually help communities recover from natural disasters.

And if can offer a unique and rewarding experience for volunteers, if done carefully.

When disaster hits a tourist destination  whether fire, flood, cyclone or earthquake  tourists usually stay away, leaving communities to deal with a loss of income on top of the costs of repair and recovery.

On the other hand, people who feel a natural curiosity, as well as a natural desire to help, are keen for experiences where they can interact with locals and make a difference.

This volunteer tourism should not be confused with disaster tourism in which tourists immediately travel to a scene not to help but to look.

Nepal shows what can be done

We examined volunteer tourism in Nepal in the wake of the April 2015 earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people and injured nearly 22,000.

We found that when it was done in an ethical manner that considered local conditions and the community, it could aid recovery and resilience.

It is important that the process be controlled locally and that the invitation from locals be genuine. It is also important that volunteer tourists be prepared to engage in work that mainstream tourists would not.

Our study, Engaging volunteer tourism in post-disaster recovery in Nepal, has just been published in the Annals of Tourism Research.

In the four months that followed the Nepal earthquake, international tourism more than halved.

Initially most relief organisations asked international volunteers not to come unless they had specific expertise, such as medical skills, building skills, or experience responding to emergencies.

Then the Pacific Asia Travel Association and Nepalese tourism industry leaders worked together to produce the report of the Nepal Rapid Recovery Task Force, running workshops with more than 200 tourism industry leaders and professionals.

Volunteer tourism led the way back

The strategy they came up with prioritised potential tourism regrowth markets, including volunteer tourism.

Nepal relaxed conditions to allow international tourists to volunteer on a wide range of projects including rebuilding homes and schools, interning in hospitals, supporting non-government organisations and reestablishing sustainable agriculture.

It helped that Nepal was set up for it. It had already hosted organisations offering short-term travellers the opportunity to teach English and to work on health projects.

In 2015 and 2016 it hosted three global celebrities whose widely-publicised visits raised the profile and popular appeal of Nepal, especially to volunteer tourists.

US actress Susan Sarandon comforts Kanti Maya Tamang, who lost her husband and daughter during the earthquake in Ramkot village on the outskirt of Kathmandu, Nepal in May 2015. NARENDRA SHRESTHA/EPA

In May 2015, Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon visited Nepal and actively promoted volunteer tourism to the North American market.

In mid-2015 Hong Kong based actor Jackie Chan visited and encouraged Chinese tourists and volunteers to come to Nepal.

In March 2016, Prince Harry (the younger son of Prince Charles) spent two weeks in Nepal engaged in volunteer programs.

Nepals tourism recovery since then has been remarkable.

In 2015, the year of the earthquake, just under 600,000 international tourists visited.

By 2018 the number had reached an all time record of almost 1.2 million. In 2019 it grew further. Volunteer tourism drove the recovery.

The Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents says almost one third of the tours booked to Nepal in the two years after the earthquake comprised groups who combined tourism experiences with volunteering or philanthropy.

It needs to meet local needs

In times of national crisis, the priority of a government has to be restoring the welfare of its people. However, the process by which that happens is multifaceted. In destinations that rely on tourism as a primary source of foreign investment, it can make sense to build tourism into the recovery process.

A focus on tourism need not detract from other critical processes such as providing health care and emergency services, clearing debris and construction.

But thats easier said than done. Natural disasters by their very nature sow confusion, severely damage infrastructure and impose great strains on emergency management and administration.

Volunteer tourism wont work everywhere, but where conditions are right, international visitors can speed rather than slow recovery.

David Beirman, Senior Lecturer, Tourism, University of Technology Sydney; Simone Faulkner, , University of Technology Sydney, and Stephen Wearing, Associate Professor, Management, University of Technology Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Main article image credit: Russell Watkins/Department for International Development.
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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Central Kalimantan  Tue, January 7 2020

The massive expansion of oil palm plantations in forest areas has made it common for families in East Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan, with the largest areas of oil palm plantations in Indonesia to experience water shortages during dry seasons because of environmental damage.

Having relied on monoculture oil palm plantations to earn a living since 2003, Sandi, 60, a small-scale oil palm farmer who lives in Karang Sari village in Parenggean district, has learned the need to cultivate oil palms productively and sustainably, saying that the current situation has often forced people to buy water for Rp 100,000 (US$7) per 100 liters because of shortages.

We have experienced this so often that it has become common now. The last water shortage happened for about three months last September and it was bad. Several other districts near here experienced the same, he said recently.

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The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Anthony Okolie, for using a phone line previously owned by Hannan, one of the daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari.

This was made known by Okolies lawyer, Tope Akinyode who spoke with The Guardian on Monday.

The lawyer said Okolie, who was arrested in July in Asaba, Delta state, spent about 15 weeks in custody before he was released in December.

Okolie, according to his lawyer bought the MTN SIM card after Buharis daughter abandoned it and it was recycled by the telecommunications company.

Read Also: DSS Parades Man Who Created And Circulated Fake Video Of Buharis Wedding

He said, The SIM card became redundant and was recycled to the market for sale. 

Okolie lawfully bought the sim card after years of redundancy unknown to him who the previous owner was. To start with, all the laws have settled that arrest by proxy is forbidden and unconstitutional in Nigeria.

Also, the arrest of the victim over a property which he lawfully obtained is outrageously illegal just as the long detention without trial amounts to unlawful detention.

The lawyer said they are going to file a suit against Hannan and the DSS, adding that his detention for 10 weeks is unlawful and we will not accept such.
The 6.4 magnitude earthquake was the most severe in a series of tremors off the US territory over the past 10 days.

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake, followed by several aftershocks, has struck off the southern coast of the US territory of Puerto Rico, killing at least one person and injuring eight others while collapsing houses, destroying a popular tourist landmark and leaving the island without power, officials said.

The quake hit five miles south of the islands southern coast at 4:24am (8:24 GMT), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Just 10 minutes later, a shallow 5.6 magnitude aftershock struck five miles off the southwest coast near Tallaboa, followed by a shallow 5.8 magnitude aftershock at 7:18am (11:18 GMT) one mile south of the community.

The events prompted Puerto Ricos governor Wanda Vazquez to declare a state of emergency and activate the national guard to deal with the disasters aftermath, El Neuvo Dia newspaper reported.

The quakes cut power to the island as power plants shut down to protect themselves. Authorities said two plants suffered light damage and they expected power to be restored later on Tuesday.

The whole island is without power, the director of Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, Jose Ortiz, told local media.

A shop was damaged after an earthquake in Guanica [Ricardo Ortiz/Reuters]

Before declaring a state of emergency, Vazquez posted on Twitter that the governments security protocols had been activated.

She said government employees were not expected at work, adding: We want everyone to be safe.

Teacher Rey Gonzalez told The Associated Press news agency that his uncle was killed when a wall collapsed on him at the home they shared in the city of Ponce. He said 73-year-old Nelson Martinez was disabled and that he and his father cared for him.

Eight other people were injured in Ponce, near the epicentre of the quake, Mayor Mayita Melendez told WAPA television. Hundreds of people sat in the streets of the city, some cooking food on barbecue grills, afraid to return home for fear of structural damage and aftershocks.

La suspension de labores por el dia de hoy en el sector publico no incluye a los empleados publicos de primera respuesta. Todos ellos se reportan a sus areas como de costumbre.  Wanda Vazquez Garced (@wandavazquezg) January 7, 2020

The islands main airport was operating normally, using generator power, according to authorities.

Tuesdays earthquake was the strongest of a series of tremors that have shaken the island since December 28, topping Mondays 5.8 magnitude quake. The 10-day series of earthquakes have been caused by the grinding of tectonic plates along three faults beneath southern Puerto Rico, according to seismologists, who say it is impossible to predict when the activity will stop or whether it will get stronger.

An alert issued by the Tsunami Warning Center immediately following the earthquake on Tuesday was later cancelled.

Homes, churches and tourist attractions destroyed

Residents of affected areas said they were shaken awake by the force of the earthquake, with many taking to social media to describe the harrowing experience.

Albert Rodriguez, who is from the southwest town of Guanica, told the Associated Press that tsunami sirens went off before officials cancelled the alert.

He added there was widespread damage in his neighbourhood.

The road is cracked in the middle and it lifted up, he said.

Dramatic images on social media appeared to show widespread damage in the town of Guayanilla, home to about 20,000 people, as well as nearby Guanica. Some on social media reported that hospitals and schools were also damaged.

My family in #PuertoRico woke up to this scene on January 7th, 2020 #PuertoRicoEarthquake Take a look at school in Guanica, PR pic.twitter.com/NSOSyqPISy  Eddie M. Guerra (@eddiemguerra) January 7, 2020

The mayor of Guayanilla told local news channel NotiUno that the towns church had collapsed in the incident.

The popular tourist landmark Punta Ventana, a stone arch in Guayanilla on islands southern coast, also crumbled during the earthquake.

Popular tourist landmark Punta Ventana was destroyed after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake in Guayanilla [Ricardo Arduengo/AFP]

The earthquakes are the most recent natural event to threaten Puerto Rico. In 2017, Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 storm, shattered the islands already shaky power grid, overwhelmed public services, left many residents without a roof over their heads, and killed several thousand people according to government estimates.

One of the largest and most damaging earthquakes to hit Puerto Rico occurred in October 1918, when a magnitude 7.3 quake struck near the islands northwest coast, unleashing a tsunami and killing 116 people.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 12:19 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3212be6b 1 City DPRD,jakarta,flood,donation Free

Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) deputy speaker M. Taufik has called on fellow council members to donate 10 percent of their salaries to those affected by the recent widespread flooding that hit parts of the capital.

Taufik himself has donated Rp 10 million (US$ 721.22), 10 percent of his pay, for victims.

I called on [fellow councillors] to help people affected by the flood so they may be able to clean their homes. I asked them to donate 10 percent of their take-home pay. I hope they are willing [to donate], he said on Monday as quoted by kompas.com.

He went on to say that the council secretary would propose the idea to all 106 council members.

Each DPRD member receives a monthly salary of Rp 111 million, while the DPRD speaker receives Rp 59 million and deputy speaker Rp 110 million.

If every DPRD member allocates Rp 10 million of their monthly salary for the cause, the total funds raised would amount to Rp 1.06 billion.

The donation was expected to be distributed to people affected by the flood, as well as volunteers in disaster mitigation efforts, Taufik said.

Jakarta experienced on New Year's Eve its worst rainfall in over a decade, with heavy rain pouring over the city nonstop until Wednesday morning, causing severe flooding in the capital and its satellite cities on the first day of 2020.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded rainfall intensity of 377 millimeters per day at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in East Jakarta during New Year's Eve. The previous heaviest rainfall in the city was in 2007, when rainfall intensity reached 340 mm per day. (rfa)

Topics : DPRD jakarta flood donation
Mumbai police on Tuesday (January 7) filed an FIR against Mahek Mirza Prabhu, a storyteller and blogger, for displaying 'Free Kashmir' poster during a protest held at Gateway of India in Mumbai on Monday (January 6) against the attack on the students and professors of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

The FIR is filed at Colaba police station under Section 153(B) and but Mumbai Police is yet to call Prabhu to record her statement. It is learnt that the police is also scanning CCTV footage and other video evidence to get more details.

BJP leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had launched a scathing attack on the Uddhav Thackeray government saying 'Free Kashmir anti-India campaign' was held just 2-kilometres away from CMO's office. Taking to Twitter, Fadnavis tweeted, "Protest is for what exactly? Why slogans of Free Kashmir? How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai? Free Kashmir slogans by Azadi gang at 2km from CMO? Uddhav ji are you going to tolerate this Free Kashmir Anti India campaign right under your nose???"

Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut, however, defended Prabhu and said that it was quite possible that she may have asked for freedom from internet and mobile shutdown in the Valley for over five months.

"I read in the newspaper that those who held 'free Kashmir' banner clarified that they want to be free of restrictions on internet services, mobile services and other issues. Also, if anyone talks of freedom of Kashmir from India then it will not be tolerated," Raut said.

Live TV

Meanwhile, Prabhu took to her YouTube channel on Tuesday giving clarification for holding the 'Free Kashmir' placard. In a 3.26 minute-long video, she stated that she was standing at the protest site with the rest of the demonstrators raising slogans and singing songs about the several issues. She said that she saw placards being made and picked up the 'Free Kashmir' one. She clarified that she is not a Kashmiri but a Marathi born in Maharashtra.

She further said that holding the placard she wanted to talk about the basic constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as the internet services there are under suspension for the last five months. She said that just as the rest of the people in the country have access to the internet so should the people of Jammu and Kashmir to express themselves.
At least 1 dead after M 6.4 earthquake rocks Puerto Rico triggering islandwide blackout

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At least one person is dead after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked Puerto Rico Tuesday morning, triggering an islandwide blackout and significant damage to buildings, including churches, in several of the hardest hit areas.

The United States Geological Survey said in a release Tuesday that the quake struck at about 4:24 a.m. local time offshore of southwest Puerto Rico just a day after a magnitude 5.8 quake erupted from the same area.

Over the past several weeks, hundreds of small earthquakes have occurred in the region, the USGS said. The seismic activity began with a magnitude 4.7 earthquake late on Dec. 28 and was followed by a magnitude 5.0 tremor just a few hours later. Since Dec. 28, the USGS said, more than 400 magnitude 2+ earthquakes have occurred in the region. Some 10 of them registered stronger than magnitude 4, including Tuesdays tremor.

Puerto Ricos largest newspaper, El Nuevo Dia, reported 73-year-old Nelson Martinez Guillen as the first casualty of the earthquake. A wall from his home in Ponce collapsed on him as he slept.

"There was a wall that divided the wall of the house above, he slept on one of those sides and in one of the movements the wall came off and fell on his back. He broke the bed and everything," Guillens brother-in-law, Reynaldo Gonzalez, told El Nuevo Dia.

"This was too strong, I didn't expect such a thing, but things happen and nobody knows why," he added.

Victor Huerfano, director of Puerto Ricos Seismic Network, told The Wall Street Journal that a complete picture of the damage or injuries suffered is still unclear because communication for much of the island is down, but officials in Ponce have reported widespread damage.

We expect that this will be the largest quake for now, he said. The aftershocks will continue for some time.

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority also confirmed that the earthquake triggered an islandwide blackout, but noted they would be working to restore power throughout the day.

In a statement on Twitter, acting head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf, said the federal government is in touch with officials on the island and stands ready to assist with the recovery.

I am monitoring the earthquake and after-shocks in Puerto Rico closely. @DHSgov stands ready to assist with assessments and recovery. @FEMA has been in touch with the governor and other PR officials and is responding appropriately, he added.

Multiple images and video of damage in the wake of the earthquake were shared online by many on Tuesday, including by former Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Jaime Perello.

Me envian esta foto una amiga de GUAYANILLA . Me informa que es la iglesia del centro urbano . Ella y su familia estan bien Gracias a Dios. pic.twitter.com/ufqf7qjp3i  Jaime Perello (@jrperello) January 7, 2020

A photo worth 1000 words - Hospital patients taken out because of distrust in the structure's reliability #PuertoRicoEarthquakepic.twitter.com/Zud9uKZFf6  Eddie M. Guerra (@eddiemguerra) January 7, 2020

If you have a Puerto Rican co-worker or employee understand if they are nervous and on their phones. Our families back in the island have not recovered from a category 5 hurricane and now have suffered a 6.6 earthquake. We are worried about our families. #PuertoRicoEarthquakepic.twitter.com/NEwEXNPgob  Daya Vera (@dayainjapan) January 7, 2020

Glidden Lopez, spokesman for Guayanilla municipality, told the Miami Herald that the earthquake destroyed the citys colonial-era church that was built in the 1840s.

All thats left is one wall and half of another wall, he said of the church that was an attraction in the citys main plaza. The hospital was damaged and there were several houses that have collapsed but we dont know how many yet.

Puerto Ricos Gov. Wanda Vazquez ordered government offices to remain closed Tuesday except for those working on the emergency.

Its important for the people of Puerto Rico to remain calm and to secure their lives and property, she said in a statement. Citizen security is a priority for me, so we are inspecting vulnerable areas and were taking all the measures necessary to guarantee the safety of Puerto Ricans.
has launched its new, thinnest and lightest 'Legion Y740S' Windows 10 gaming laptop with up to eight hours of battery life at the CES 2020 for a price of $1099.

With up to 10th Gen Intel Core i9 processors reaching more than 5GHz, the Legion Y740S has "Q-Control", allowing users to shift gears with a simple press of their Fn+Q keys.

"Jump into Performance Mode for higher frame rates, down-shift into Quiet Mode for better battery life to watch a movie or stay the course in Balance Mode for day-to-day usage," the company said here on Monday.

Available in Iron Grey with metal finish and illuminated logo on its cover, the laptop weighs 2kg and offers rear and side ports including Thunderbolt 3 to allow for easier coupling with company's first-ever external eGPU companion accessory: the Legion BoostStation.

At the event, the company also unveiled a new Lenovo Legion Y25-25 gaming monitor with a 24.5-inch, Full HD IPS panel display built into the striking near-edgeless chassis at $319.

Crank up refresh rates all the way to 240Hz-more FPS means that more data flows between the GPU and monitor, helping to eliminate tearing in most multiplayer games boosted with AMD Radeon FreeSync technology.

It comes with anti-glare panel and up to 400 nits of brightness.

The company also introduced G32qc 32-inch gaming monitor with near-edgeless bezel QHD (2560 x 1440) screen resolution for clear visuals and superior picture quality at $319.99.

The company also unveiled the latest ThinkBook designed for the next generation workforce.

ThinkBook Plus features an innovative e-Ink cover display that helps users be more productive when multitasking by improving focus, collaboration and creativity.

Featuring a 13.3-inch FHD main display and a 10.8-inch e-ink display on the cover, on which users can create illustrations and diagrams with the integrated Lenovo Precision Pen and receive essential notifications when the lid is closed allowing them to stay focused during meetings.

It features 10th Gen Intel Core processors, Windows 10, standard solid-state storage (SSD) and available Intel Optane memory.

Apart from gaming monitors, Lenovo also introduced its latest gaming mouse and keyboard.

Lenovo Legion M600 Wireless Gaming Mouse features an extra-long battery life7 and energetic 1000Hz polling rate to dramatically lessen latency for lightning-fast reaction times usually reserved for wired gaming mice at $79.

Lenovo Legion K300 RGB Gaming Keyboard comes with clean minimalist design, curved body, and customizable five-zone RGB illumination and lighting effects at $49.

--IANS

wh/arm/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
THE MAYOR of Limerick, Michael Sheahan (FG), will be one of a number of politicians that will not attend the ceremony to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police.

A spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council said: The Mayor has received an invitation to the event in Dublin but wont be attending.

The commemoration, which will take place on January 17, has caused controversy, with a number of politicians across the country announcing that they will not be attending.

Cllr Michael Collins took to Twitter to call on Limerick politicians to boycott the commemoration.

Im calling on Mayor of Limerick and all Limerick Cllrs not to attend RIC commemorations in Dublin.RIC/Auxiliaries murdered Mayor George Clancy & Ex-Mayor Ml (Michael) O'Callaghan in 1921.RIC/Tans were a brutal force in Limerick.

Im calling on Mayor of Limerick and all Limerick Cllrs not to attend RIC commemorations in Dublin.RIC/Auxillaries murdered Mayor George Clancy & Ex Mayor Ml O'Callaghan in 1921.RIC/Tans were a brutal force in Limerick @Limerick_ie @LimerickCouncil @Limerick_Leader @LimerickToday  Cllr Michael Collins (@cllrmcollins) January 7, 2020

Speaking to the Limerick Leader, Maurice Quinlivan TD said:

In my opinion, there is certainly no public demand for this commemoration of the RIC & the Black and Tans, as most Irish people recognise that they were brutal enforcers of British rule in Ireland.

I have no problem whatsoever with people remembering their family members who served in the RIC or other colonialist militias, everyone, of course, has the right to mourn and remember their dead.

However, I find it highly inappropriate that as a state, which has still not been re-unified, we would commemorate a police force who brutally imposed the occupation of our nation by a foreign colonial regime.

"The role of the RIC, and the DMP, were not merely to act as a police force, but they had a specific role to instill terror in the populace in an attempt to break the democratic will of the Irish people for independence.

Mr Quinlivan confirmed that he will not be attending the event.

My own great-grandfather who lived in Michael Street around the corner from my constituency office in Denmark Street was lucky to survive many attempts by the RIC and Black and Tans to kill him. Remember in Limerick it was RIC members, referred to locally as either Auxiliaries or Black and Tans, but members of the RIC nonetheless who murdered the two Mayors of Limerick George Clancy and Micheal OCallaghan in March 1921.

"In no other State that has emerged from anti-colonial struggle would they celebrate the deeds of the oppressors, the Sinn Fein politician finished.

He was joined by Cllr Frankie Daly, who took to Facebook to announce that he will not be attending.

I councillor Frankie Daly under no circumstances will turn my back on brave Irish people who gave and lost their lives for Irish freedom. I will not be attending this sickening commemoration and this event must be boycotted by the government of Ireland, said Cllr Daly.
Former USC campus gynecologist Dr George Tyndall, 72, is facing multiple felony and sexual misconduct charges

A federal judge has approved a $215 million class action settlement in the case involving former USC campus gynecologist Dr George Tyndall.

More than 700 women accused the 72-year-old University of Southern California physician of sexual misconduct during the span of his career.

Under the terms of the settlement, the university will pay around 18,000 former patients, including those who did not accuse him of misconduct, a minimum of $2,500 apiece.

In a statement USC said it's pleased with the decision to grant final approval of the settlement, adding: 'This settlement provides respectful and confidential relief to Tyndall patients at the student health center and formalizes a broad array of campus reforms.'

Tyndall is still facing 29 felony charges in connection with the sexual assault of 16 patients, who prosecutors say were abused during visits to the student health center for annual exams or other treatment.

Tyndall, who is married, practiced at the university for close to 30 years.

The criminal charges include inappropriately touching the women, who were between 17 and 29 years of age.

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A group of current and former USC students who are alleged survivors of alleged sexual assault by gynecologist Dr George Tyndall speak out during a press conference in Los Angeles on October 18

Former and current USC students who accuse former campus gynecologist of sexual assault speak out during a press conference in Los Angeles, California on October 18, 2018

According to a Los Angeles Times article one student reported that Tyndall complimented her public hair and an alumna alleged he had conducted a pelvic exam without wearing a glove.

Others said Tyndall made suggestive and lewd comments about their bodies. Tyndall reportedly told some of the victims he was touching them for professional purposes.

Files released to The Los Angeles Times as part of a Freedom of Information request show the college hired a firm to carry out an investigation in 2016.

The report finds in part that Tyndall was targeting Asian women who didn't have a good grasp of the English language and were unfamiliar with gynecology.

'If the patients were young and Asian, they were more likely to have a pelvic exam completed,' it said.

The report also states the pelvic exams were outside the realm of standard medical practice, adding Tyndall had 'dangerous opinions' about breast exams.

Tyndall (pictured, July 2019), who was fired over two years ago, has pleaded not guilty. If convicted on all charges, Tyndall could go to prison for 53 years

It also found that he had been photographing patients' genitals and using a lab in upstate New York to develop the images.

Tyndall, who was fired by USC in 2017, has pleaded not guilty. If convicted on all charges, Tyndall could go to prison for 53 years.

It was back in June when Tyndall was taken into custody as he left his Lafayette Park high-rise apartment.

He was carrying a .38-caliber revolver at the time.

The 72-year-old began complaining of chest pains and was taken to LA County-USC Medical Center for treatment.

The arrest culminated a yearlong investigation and represents one of the largest sex crime inquiries involving a single suspect in the history of the LA Police Department.
Denise Welsh has admitted that she feared being raped a the height of her alcoholism, and was worried that as an 'older woman' she wouldn't be believed.

The Loose Women panelist, 61, from Tynemouth, who has been open about her battle with alcohol addiction, confessed on today's show that there were times she had put herself into 'dangerous' situations where she was 'vulnerable'.

She explained that looking back she is frightened 'to death' and says she doesn't feel she would have reported a rape if it had occurred, because she doesn't think a woman of her age who was 'drunk' would have been taken seriously.

This comes after a British teenager, who will will fly home to the UK today, was controversially convicted of lying about being gang-raped in Ayia Napa by 12 Israeli men.

Loose Women panelist Denise Welsh (pictured left) , 61, from Tynemouth,admitted that she feared being raped a the height of her alcoholism, and was worried that as an 'older woman' she wouldn't be believed

Amid a discussion about a high profile rape case, she told that she had been in 'dangerous' situations where she was 'vulnerable'

She said: 'I had well-documented battles with alcohol for many years of which there are many reasons, but no excuses

'I did find myself in some situations like that, where I could have put myself in danger, where I was vulnerable.

'When I look back now, it scares me to death and I often thought of that - because I thought if something had happened and I had been raped.

'I was an older woman and I was maybe drunk - would I have reported that rape? Because I was drunk, because I feel like I wouldn't have been believed, because I put myself in that situation.'

The former actress has been open about her battle with alcohol addiction over previous years

The former actress told that while considering a rape, too much importance is placed on the circumstances surrounding the event, for example how much the victim has drunk or what she was wearing.

However, she went on to explain that there's 'two sides of the coin' and realises that there needs to be a very careful legal process when it comes to rape cases.

She said: 'As the mother of sons, as all three of us are, you do have to look at that side.

She went on to explain that there's 'two sides of the coin' and realizes that as a mother of two, there needs to be a very careful legal process. She is pictured with her son, 1975 frontman Matt Healy

'Of course, we all know that on occasions where there has been a false accusation that the accused is all over the newspaper, with his name and his potential life ruined, and of course the person that has accused remains anonymous.

'However, it's a tricky one. Because I think we're talking here as well about the cases not where someone jumps out of a bush and pulls someone in. Not that sort of rape.

'This is sort of - not a date rape - but maybe when someone has, not willingly or under the influence of excessive amounts of alcohol, gone to somebody's room and therefore has not been believed.'
GAINESVILLE, Ga.  The tiny white church has new locks, peepholes and brass plates. While its parishioners pray, the sanctuary is bolted shut and a police officer is now stationed outside. Soon, surveillance cameras will be installed, and the 47-member congregation will participate in active-shooter training.

This is the next chapter for the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which the authorities said was targeted in mid-November. The Gainesville Police charged a 16-year-old white girl with planning a racially motivated knife attack to kill the black worshipers, a plot they said bore eerie similarity to a 2015 massacre at a storied African-American church in Charleston, S.C.

In Gainesville, a small city of about 40,000 residents in the heart of Georgias poultry industry, the police chief has urged church members to use low-tech force to protect themselves. They should hurl Bibles or hot coffee, chairs or fire extinguishers, anything, he said, that can be weaponized if they are under attack and cannot safely escape.

Its a shame that we live in a world today where we have to protect our institutions of worship, our schools, but evil knows where we are most vulnerable, Chief Jay Parrish told church leaders during a recent introduction to the active-shooter training. The lightning bolt got too close this time.
tech2 News Staff

After heavily teasing Neon for over a month, Samsung has finally taken off the wraps from Neon. The South Korean companys latest venture into artificial intelligence is an artificial human that is capable of behaving like a real human and displaying emotions and intelligence.

Rather than just being virtual assistants via speech, Neon generates virtual avatars that look like real humans. Users will interact with them directly and the avatars will react with emotions and converse accordingly. Neon already supports many international languages apart from English including Hindi.

Neon is being developed by Samsungs research division thats called Samsung Technology & Advanced Research (STAR) Labs. The project is being led by its President and CEO, Pranav Mistry, who worked on the launch of Samsungs first smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear.

Based on a proprietary platform called Core R3, theres no indication whether Neon will be integrated into any of Samsungs existing products. The R3 stands for Reality, Realtime and Responsive, and the platform claims to ensure the integrity of data with state-of-the-art protocols. However, theres hardly any clarity on how the technology works and what its based on. Along with Core R3, the company also talked about Spectra that will supposedly enhance the immersive experiences on the platform.

The virtual avatars are called Neons and it will serve as the interface for communication rather than traditional voice assistants. Well have to wait until the company unveils more about the project. Samsung is planning to host a Neonworld 2020 conference later this year where it will shed more light on it that will cover Core R3 and Spectra. Additionally, the beta launch of Neon is also expected this year which we are speculating will happen after the conference.
Apostle Paul Okikijesu of the Christ Apostolic Miracle Ministry has joined the rest of popular clerics in releasing his prophecy for the new year.

Read Also: SEE The Prophecies About 2015 Presidential Election That Never Came To Pass

Speaking during a church service on Monday, 6th January, the cleric stated that God told him that Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor W.F Kumuyi of Deeper Life Bible Church and Bishop Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church, will die and will not make heaven.

Full prophesy below:

Thus says the Lord: My servant, will you not be surprised that I go into Redeemed Church and I observe [that theres no] sheep that I can select?

That is the reason that I said my message for Adeboye is coming. I had informed him that whatever he likes, he can achieve, but he will not be admitted into my glorious home.

He himself knew and he wants to start doing rectification process now. Even if he rectifies his ways, those who are dead due to his deceit and hypocrisy, can he revive them?

How many rectification steps did Reinhard Bonnke took before he died? My servant, I have told him to start putting his house in order, the day of his sleep is near.

Adeboye and Kumuyi and Oyedepo, I have told them to put their homes in order and be prepared to sleep.

Write these messages down because my judgment will be powerful in 2020.

Thus says the Lord: I will send messages to these people to make amendments maybe they are going to organize a big revival/crusade or big lecture.

It must be a convention of Departing from sinful ways and turning to God. I believe that your body/frame is a sinful frame, but the sin of bloodshed and worshipping other gods are abominations to I the Lord.

Thus says the Lord: As distinguished and famous as they are, will you not be surprised that they will not be admitted into My Home, if they refuse/failed to change?
[January 07, 2020] Wolters Kluwer To Launch the Global Privacy Law Review

NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. today announced that it will launch a timely new resource, the Global Privacy Law Review (GPLR), next month. The new journal will focus on high quality peer-reviewed articles, opinions, case notes, and literature review on all aspects of privacy, data protection and cybersecurity topics around the world. Wolters Kluwer is committed to offering top analysis and coverage of legal developments worldwide. GPLR provides customers with regular updates and timely discussions on the national, regional and international cross-border trends and legal developments spanning from the new European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), to the Japanese Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI), and other laws and jurisdictions around the world. GPLR also provides legal professionals with a lively forum for debate on controversial issues spanning the globe, offering possible solutions to the legal challenges faced by society and industries at the height of the Information Age. GPLR is led by acclaimed expert Editor-in-Chief Ceyhun Necati Pehlivan, and a distinguished editorial board that includes top-tier academics and professionals from around the world to maintain the consistency and high-quality of its articles and publications. "Wolters Kluwer is thrilled to add the Global Privacy Law Review to its portfolio," said Christine Robben, Acquisition Manager at Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory International Group. "We look forward to working with Ceyhun Necati Pehlivan and the editorial board to expand our content offerings and provide legal professionals with in-depth and comprehensive international privacy news." "The launch of the Global Privacy Law Review brings together thought leaders, scholars, and practitioners from across the globe to tackle the most timely privacy and securitychallenges posed in the era of ever-changing technology," said Ceyhun Necati Pehlivan, editor-in-chief of GPLR. "I am delighted to work with Wolters Kluwer to deliver quality content and research in this field, contribute to the public debate, and shape the future landscape of data privacy and cybersecurity."



GPLR provides in-depth analysis on the most current issues and features: Analytical and thought-provoking articles by leading academics and practitioners;

Insightful case notes from around the world, including decisions by the data protection authorities, the European and international courts, as well as courts on a national level;

National and regional reports highlighting key legal, regulatory, and administrative challenges and developments; and

Reviews of the latest literature on privacy. Each issue will be available online and in print via http://kluwerlawonline.com/ and http://www.kluweriplaw.com/

For more information about GPLR, visit: http://www.kluwerlaw.com/GPLR/ About Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2018 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY). For more information about Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., visit www.WoltersKluwerLR.com, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Media

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Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.

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Email: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wolters-kluwer-to-launch-the-global-privacy-law-review-300982776.html SOURCE Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.

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Ambulances outside the Dartmouth General Hospital in Dartmouth, N.S., in a file photo. A major epidemic would overpower Canadas health care system largely because of a shortage of hospital beds. (The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan)

If an Epidemic Hits, Canadas Health-Care System Will Fall Woefully Short

Commentary

There are lots of ways the world could end. Theres even a TEDx talk on eight possible ways by Stephen Petranek, the guy who did the famous TED talk on 10 ways the world could end. My favourites are an asteroid and an epidemic. An epidemic is first in Petraneks eight ways talk. And apparently Canadians should worry about epidemics because if one destroys civilization it will also take out our beloved health-care system.

Yes, its the Canadian perspective on the world ending. And yes, Ive worried about epidemics ever since I heard of Ebola, which is very nasty but apparently not liable to spread rapidly. But a story this week in the National Post says we should definitely not relax.

The headline was Canadian officials closely monitoring mysterious virus, which, in Yes Minister style, means doing nothing while mumbling reassurances. The subheading says, Has caused atypical pneumonia in at least 59 in China. And China is a persistent source of worrying outbreaks from SARS to African swine fever because its big, crowded, and has a communist government, which messes up almost everything including health care, then tries to hide it. But heres the Canadian angle, in a big blue pull quote: Going to be scuppered because we do not have bed capacity.

The facts in the story are pretty clear and pretty scary. This mysterious virus based in China has only caused a few dozen cases so far, and we know what its not, including SARS and bird flu. But not what it is. And it could fizzle out. But, as the story notes, global infectious disease officials have long warned that another pandemic is coming.

Obviously highly urban, highly mobile populations are vulnerable to such things. But heres the Canadian angle. We are especially vulnerable, warns Alan Drummond of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians about Ontario, in particular because of chronically overcrowded hospitals.

A strange problem for a wealthy society. But nobody doubts It. Our hospitals are so overcrowded that hallway medicine has been a chronic complaint in this country for three decades. As a result, it doesnt matter how good our diagnoses, labs, and even ERs are if a pandemic hits because, as Drummond says, we do not have bed capacity. He imagines tents in hospital parking lots, which might have especially big drawbacks in February given our climate. Drummond adds the banal point that efficiency plus resilience should see about 85 percent of beds filled normally, but Ontario hospitals are typically at 100 percent or higher.

Higher than 100 percent? Yes. Theyve been storing us in corridors and even diagnosing us there for decades. And naturally the knock-on drawbacks include ambulances at Code Zero because theyre sitting in the parking lot waiting to offload patients for whom there is no bed. They give the problem fancy names. But as Drummond bluntly said, when we say no surge capacity, what we mean is one major epidemic and we are screwed.

So about that bed capacity. How can it be happening in a nation like Canada? Especially when a quarter-century ago we won the battle of ideas over market mechanisms even in health care.

You dont want to hear my old war stories. But Ive been writing about public policy for so long my suits fit when I started. And in those early, heady days when I worked for the free-market Fraser Institute (and didnt discuss my own knees with my doctor) and warned repeatedly that Canadas health system responded to political not economic incentives, we were winning the battle of ideas.

The sort of interventionism espoused by the likes of John Kenneth Galbraith and implemented by the likes of Pierre Trudeau pretty much vanished intellectually by the mid-1990s when Jean Chretien and Paul Martin balanced the budget to save big government. Everybody who mattered became a neoconservative, a word here meaning one who pursues liberal goals through conservative means. And it seemed to work, from Roger Douglass reforms in New Zealand, to Reaganomics that yanked the United States off the rubbish heap of history and dumped the Soviet Union there, to free trade in Canada.

The strange and discouraging thing is that it turned out not to matter. As soon as the wolf was pried off the doorknob, without bothering to revisit the argument, politicians and voters went right back to interventionism. The more important something was, the more determined a majority was to have government do it, in ways that excluded market mechanisms.

Especially in Canadian health care. For the past two decades or more weve rushed from the pillar of decentralization to the post of centralization without anybody ever suggesting having money, even government money, go where patients think it should.

As I thought wed established before there even was an internet, its vitally important that profits be allowed to reward success and punish failure because, under that system, when the price of something useful rises, people make more of it, and when the price of something useless falls, they make less. Which is the very definition of efficiency.

Its not a devil-take-the-hindmost policy. You can subsidize people who cant afford to pay market prices, in any area from education to housing to medicine. But you should do it in ways that empower low-income purchasers without changing the incentives in the system. We once knew that.

Some people still do. Even the Swedes let private hospitals compete for public money. Not us. Instead we cling to a system in which money goes where politicians and bureaucrats think it should. Which means to put out public relations fires, through rhetoric if possible and treatment if necessary.

As a result, if youre really sick or badly hurt in Canada, you get fast high-quality care. Otherwise theres an ugly headline. But if youre sort of sick, or have a chronic condition, youre out of luck especially when it comes to getting access at all. Weve had notoriously long waiting lists for decades despite political blather about cutting them. But its a boring story. As is the fact that our hospitals are infamously overcrowded.

Half the problem in Canada is that patients are basically a source of costs, not revenue. The other half is that hospitals and doctors get paid fees set by the government for procedures, rather than making more money for doing what patients want the way patients want.

Its a dang silly way to run anything, as weve known since at least the collapse of the Soviet Union. We know exactly what happens if you make cars, shoes, or operations that way. But we do it in the public sector anyway, from medicine to education. And now were staring down the barrel of an epidemic going, oh thats weird, our hospitals are clogged.

The epidemic might not materialize, of course. This time. But its certain that one will sooner or later. And equally certain that a health system based on bad economics will provide bad care. But relax. If the world ends, well monitor the situation.

John Robson is a documentary filmmaker, National Post columnist, contributing editor to the Dorchester Review, commentator-at-large with News Talk Radio 580 CFRA in Ottawa, and executive director of the Climate Discussion Nexus. His most recent documentary is The Environment: A True Story.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Anthony Sgherza was 10 years old when he was first sexually abused by a priest. The 58-year-old said he is now seeing justice nearly a half century later.

James Randall Gillette, a former Catholic priest at St. Gabriels Parish in Brighton, was sentenced to five years of house arrest last week for sexually abusing two children in the 1970s, Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollinss office said in a statement.

One of the victims in the criminal case was Sgherza, who said he is still processing Gillettes prosecution.

Im 48 hours removed from having remained silent for 42 years, Sgherza told MassLive. Right now, Im just trying to feel my feet on the ground and breathe and be present with this plethora of emotions.

Gillette pleaded guilty in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston on Jan. 2 to two counts of unnatural and lascivious acts on a child for offenses committed when he was a priest in Boston, according to Rollinss office.

The 77-year-old man must wear a GPS monitoring bracelet until the end of his sentence, register as a sex offender, undergo sex offender treatment and stay away from the survivors and any witnesses in the case, the statement said.

He must also have no one-on-one contact with any child under the age of 18 unless the minors parents are present, Rollinss office said.

His attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding his sentencing.

It can take decades for victims to make the decision to come forward about sexual abuse, as is what happened here, Rollins said. The defendant used his position of trust and authority to ingratiate himself to his victims and their families in order to gain access to vulnerable targets for his sexual abuse. Even more horrific, he used religion as an entryway into these childrens lives, potentially forever altering their faith.

Sgherza, who now lives in Philadelphia, was a parishioner at St. Michaels in Union City, New Jersey in 1971. He said he was sexually abused by Gillette multiple times in Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York between the ages of 10 and 13 years old, when the former priest was working at St. Michaels and St. Gabriels.

One of the incidents took place in Boston after Gillette allegedly took Sgherza to the city for a Red Sox game and sexually abused him during the trip, according to Sgherza. Gillette was a friend of his family, and it was easy for the former priest to gain access to him at a young age, he said.

He groomed the family as well, no doubt, Sgherza said.

Gillette was ordained in 1971 in the Passionist religious order. He worked at St. Michaels from 1972 to 1974 and at St. Gabriels from 1975 to 1978. He served in other parishes in Pittsburgh and Mexico City as well as across New Jersey and New York until 2019. The former priest also did foreign mission trips in Honduras, according to a record of Gillettes assignments provided by Sgherzas attorney, Mitchell Garabedian.

Garabedian said he is currently representing another victim of Gillette in a different civil suit. The survivor was allegedly sexually abused as a 16-year-old in the 70s when Gillette was assigned to St. Gabriels.

Out of the gate, in 1971, he starts abusing, the attorney said.

Sgherza settled a civil claim through the Archdiocese of Bostons compensation program in 2015, Garabedian said. He also submitted a complaint in New York and spoke with New Jerseys attorney general.

The Philadelphia resident said he copes with his trauma with the support of his friends, family and other survivors of sexual abuse. He also engages in routine self-care, including exercising and journaling. Sgherza hopes his story encourages other victims to come forward.

Evil has an opportunity to exist when good people remain silent, he said. I intend to be a good person.
The funeral of Marian Finucane takes place at St Brigids Church in Kill, County Kildare (Niall Carson/PA)

Broadcaster Marian Finucane will be remembered as a generous and determined woman whose keen sense of humour enriched the lives of many, mourners have been told.

The RTE broadcasters funeral took place in Co Kildare on Tuesday following her death last Thursday at the age of 69.

Friends, family and former colleagues gathered at St Brigids Church in Kill for the service.

The coffin of broadcasting legend Marian Finucane arrives at St Brigids Church in Kill, Co Kildare. pic.twitter.com/c2r5BRfqKc  Aine McMahon (@AineMcMahon) January 7, 2020

Those attending included Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, as well as RTE colleagues and broadcasters Joe Duffy, Clare Byrne, Ryan Tubridy, Brendan OConnor, Miriam OCallaghan and RTEs Director General Dee Forbes.

Government ministers including Minister for Children Katherine Zappone and Minister for Communications Richard Bruton also attended.

Her only son Jack Clarke paid tribute to his mother.

He said: Those of us who knew her well, knew that mam was never more than a deep and meaningful conversation, or an emotional story away from having a good old cry.

Expand Close Marian Finucanes son Jack Clarke, centre, carries his mothers coffin during her funeral at St Brigids Church in Kill Co Kildare (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Marian Finucanes son Jack Clarke, centre, carries his mothers coffin during her funeral at St Brigids Church in Kill Co Kildare (Niall Carson/PA)

I want to thank the friends and family who rallied around, and given us great strength in this dark time, your organisation and your willingness to pitch in is greatly appreciated by dad and me.

Mam would have been so proud and grateful to see all the family come together and muck in.

Mr Clarke said that people across the length and breadth of Ireland have their own personal experience of and relationship with Finucane, and the many versions of her.

The mother, the wife, the aunt, the sister, the step-mother, the mother-in-law, the friend, the colleague, the journalist, the radio host, the social commentator, the activist and the architect, he added.

Each of these versions of Marian touched us because she had a great empathy and her curiosity made all these very genuine.

The woman I knew behind all these selves was a shy lady who was as happy reading a book in silence, as she was sitting around the dinner table in the small hours of the morning with friends, laughing, joking, singing when she could remember the words, debating the politics of the day and generally sorting out the worlds problems one dinner party at a time.

Marians husband John Clarke said she was a woman he loved for 40 years, who made colours brighter and made the world easier to live in.

He added: It has been a hard day and a terrible week but Im glad youre all here.

Mr Clarke told mourners Marian had decided in the first week of December that she wanted to retire.

I want to talk about my Marian, a woman I have loved for 40 years. A woman, who for me, always made the colours brighter and the world a bit easier to live in.

Last December  the first week of it  she decided to retire and we were so excited. We would have more time, more space, more books to read, more places to see. Sadly, thats not going to happen.

Somebody said about us, I dont know who, we were two 15-year-old adolescents who were addicted to each other and forgot to grow up. I dont deny that.

I find myself so powerless at the moment, I dont know what to do. I truly dont know what to do, he said  becoming emotional.

He recalled a recent trip to a township in Africa with Marian where they met a local woman who said: The only thing I can give you are my tears.

Fighting back tears himself, he said: Thats all I think I can do today.

The chief celebrant of the mass Monsignor Ciaran OCarroll said the news of Finucanes death was a dreadful shock.

She was such an icon of Irish broadcasting and will always be remembered for her outstanding journalistic abilities, her keen intellect, warmth, wit, thoughtfulness, compassion and kindness, he said during the service.

The influence of Marian was significant.

Publicly the nation has lost a skilled broadcaster. Privately John has lost a soul partner, Jack a loving mother and Jenny a cherished mother-in-lawMonsignor Ciaran OCarroll

The contribution Marian made to advancing and shaping our nation and its peoples through her professional work as a courageous broadcaster, and her determination to facilitate conversation without fear or favour, was repeatedly and wonderfully captured in countless public tributes paid over recent days.

We have also come here this morning to offer our sympathy and express our solidarity with all the members of her family  especially her husband John, her son Jack, her daughter-in-law Jenny, her sisters, brothers, in-laws, family members, relatives, colleagues and friends.

Expand Close The broadcaster died at the age of 69 (RTE/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook

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He added that the nation has lost a skilled broadcaster.

She had great empathy and sense of fairness and treated everyone with courtesy and respect, Monsignor OCarroll added.

A generous and determined woman, and a thoughtful and kind friend whose keen sense of humour enriched the lives of many, her charity work at home and abroad was simply outstanding.

Thousands always enjoyed her programmes and she will be missed on the radio. Publicly the nation has lost a skilled broadcaster.

Privately John has lost a soul partner, Jack a loving mother and Jenny a cherished mother-in-law.

The great, exuberant joy shared by our family and friends but a few short months ago at Jack and Jennys wedding contrasts now with the sorrow and sadness we experience this day of Marians funeral.

Expand Close A woman signs a book of condolence at RT Radio Centre in Donnybrook, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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He said the broadcaster was blessed with an indomitable spirit which she had to call on often in her full, dynamic and fruitful life.

Blessed with energy and dynamism, determined and persistent, she had boundless curiosity about life and the world, he continued.

Throughout her eventful life she was privileged to experience many changes and received the grace to confront various, sometimes demanding, challenges.

She had to carry the cross of bereavement with the death of her beloved daughter Sinead  a bereavement she bore with tremendous dignity.

In the face of Sineads death, Marian mobilised all of her formidable strengths and skills by dedicating a whole chapter of her life to supporting the hospice movement at home and establish a hospice charity in South Africa.

Through her various popular programmes Marian became a presence in thousands of homes each week, as listenership figures consistently revealed.
Pentagon rules out strikes on Irans cultural sites

Defense Secretary Mark Esper acknowledged on Monday that attacking antiquities in Iran would be a war crime, after President Trump said such places would be legitimate targets if the conflict with Tehran escalated.

Mr. Trump, warning Iran against retaliating for the U.S. strike that killed a top Iranian general, said over the weekend: Theyre allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And were not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesnt work that way.

Mr. Trumps advisers have denied he actually made a threat, even as his comments generated international condemnation (including from one of our art critics).

Background: The U.S. is a signatory to a 1954 international agreement to protect cultural property in armed conflict. Iran is home to 22 sites designated by the United Nations as culturally important, including the ruins of Persepolis, the capital of an ancient empire.
Regulatory News:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) ("PSH") today announced that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's Public Shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"):

Trading Venue: London Stock Exchange Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 7 January 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 37,567 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,480 pence 19.40 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,466 pence 19.22 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,476 pence 19.36 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 7 January 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 51,317 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 19.40 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 19.34 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 19.37 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 7 January 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 37,955 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 19.44 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 19.30 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 19.37 USD

PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 26.94 USD 20.34 GBP which was calculated as of 31 December 2019 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 206,144,929 Public Shares outstanding, or 211,800,429 Public Shares calculated on a fully diluted basis (assuming that all Management Shares had been converted into Public Shares at the Relevant NAV). Excluded from the shares outstanding are 4,811,821 Public Shares held in Treasury. The prices per Public Share were calculated by Jefferies.

The number of PSH Management Shares and the one special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) have not been affected.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107006004/en/

Contacts:

Media

Camarco

Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
C hris, Luke and Liam Hemsworth are the latest celebrities to donate cash to firefighters battling Australian bushfires.

The famous siblings - who are from Melbourne - have pledged $1 million (520,000), with Chris announcing their decision in a video posted on Instagram.

"The bushfires in Australia have caused massive devastation," he says in the clip. "They continue to burn and there's warmer weather on its way.

"We're really still in the thick of it here and there are plenty of challenging times to come."

In pictures: Chris Hemsworth 1 /16 In pictures: Chris Hemsworth Happy couple Chris Hemsworth and his pregnant wife Elsa Pataky Jason Kempin/Getty Images Oscar news Chris and Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs announce the nominees at the 86th Academy Awards Nominations event Kevin Winter/Getty Images Behind the scenes Chris is interviewed after his Oscars announcement Kevin Winter/Getty Images Super hero Natalie Portman as Jane Foster and Chris as Thor (2011) Fresh-faced Chris as Kim Hyde om Home and Away (2006) Channel 5 Perfect pair Chris and Elsa Pataky at the Rush premiere in Rome Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images Rough and ready A less preened look for A Perfect Getaway (2009) Allstar High School hit Chris tries his hand at horror in The Cabin in the Woods (2012) Saving the universe It's Thor to the rescue in Avengers Assemble (2012) Protective Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) with Kristen Stewart as Snow White and Chris as Eric Phwoar Thor! Chris suits his armour so well All action Red Dawn (2012) wit Dean Morgan AP Photo/Film District

In the caption next to the clip, Chris explains that his family want to support the organisations and charities who are working flat out to provide support and relief during this devastating and challenging time.

He has also encouraged his followers to donate whatever they can, writing: My family and I are contributing a million dollars. Hopefully you guys can chip in too.

Famous siblings: The Hemsworths are calling for their fans around the world to donate what they can / Getty Images

Every penny counts so whatever you can muster up is greatly appreciated. In my bio Ive added links to support the firefighters, organisations and charities who are working flat out to provide support and relief during this devastating and challenging time.

Chris added that is family are beyond appreciative to everyone around the world for their well wishes and donations.

It really does make a difference, so dig deep! Love ya, he wrote.

Earlier this week, Kylie Minogue and her family donated $500,000 to firefighting efforts.

Her fellow singing superstar Pink also pledged the same amount earlier this month while US-based model Kaylen Ward has raised over $700,000 by selling naked photos for charity.
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Former national security adviser John Bolton Photo: Oliver Contreras/Getty Images

When a parade of witnesses defied the White House to testify about the administrations plot to turn Ukraine policy into a lever to dirty up President Trumps domestic enemies, Republicans dismissed it all as secondhand information. None of them had spoken directly to Trump, except Gordon Sondland, whose memory of such discussions proved fuzzy. Their understanding, which is the foundation of the case for the Democrats, was based on secondhand information, said Representative Kevin McCarthy, mouthing the partys favorite talking point.

Yesterday, former national security adviser John Bolton put himself forward as a willing witness for the Senate impeachment trial. Boltons testimony is very much of the firsthand variety. On at least one occasion, he met with Trump and pleaded with him to release military aid to Ukraine. Yet Republicans seem shockingly unreceptive for the chance to hear the kind of firsthand testimony they have been demanding for weeks.

When confronted by reporters with Boltons announcement, Republicans have hidden behind procedural nonsense. The testimony & evidence considered in a Senate impeachment trial should be the same testimony & evidence the House relied upon when they passed the Articles of Impeachment, wrote Republican senator and Trump footstool Marco Rubio. Our job is to vote on what the House passed, not to conduct an open ended inquiry. Senator John Cornyn framed the no-testimony stance as a matter of respect for the House inquiry, telling CNN, We need to respect the Houses role as the instigator of the impeachment articles and presumably the 17 witnesses that testified in the House will be available here.

The rule requiring the Senate to limit its evidence to that which the House has already gathered does not exist. The Senate rules for impeachment trials explicitly allow for bringing witnesses and testimony. Some Republicans have cited the precedent of the Clinton impeachment. The Senate has a unanimous, bipartisan precedent for when to handle midtrial questions such as witnesses: in the middle of the trial, said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

But that agreement was only struck because Clinton had furnished the relevant evidence to the House. Clinton himself testified under oath before the special prosecutor. Trump, by contrast, has ordered all his officials to boycott the testimony and refused to willingly turn over any documents. Bolton himself abided by that order, which is why the House was unable to hear his testimony. The Republican game is insisting somehow that now that Bolton is willing to speak, its too late, on the basis of a principle they invented yesterday.

An inadvertently revealing window into Republican thinking was opened by right-wing talk-radio host Hugh Hewitt, interviewing Cornyn this morning. Hewitt, who has been close to Bolton for years, insisted that his friend couldnt possibly want to provide damaging testimony. Cornyn agreed:

Hewitt: Now yesterday, an old friend of mine, Ambassador John Bolton, said hed be available to testify. I laughed when I saw that. Thats John Bolton doing three things  selling books, raising money for BoltonPAC so he can support great conservatives like you, and daring and hoping that the Democrats will throw him into the briar patch, because if he gets asked questions through the Chief Justice, theyre going to get lectures on appeasement. Theyre going to get lectures on Putin taking Crimea on their watch. Theyre going to get a lot of stuff from John Bolton. That is grabbing the knife at the wrong end, Senator. But I dont, I dont think theyve thought this through. John Bolton is not a guy to trifle with. Cornyn: No, no. Hes a very smart guy, as you know, and Im sure he would not have said what he said without gaming this thing out. And it could well be if he is called as a witness at some point, that his testimony would be enormously helpful to President Trump. And Im not sure thats what the Democrats have in mind. Hewitt: Oh, thats exactly, I just think they imagine that hes mad. Theyre talking, they think of John Bolton as other than the patriot that he is, and he may have had disagreements with people, but there is no way he is going to go up there and advocate for Democratic results and advocate to avoid the actual policy conducted against Ukraine, which I believe youll agree was far tougher under President Trump in support of Ukraine than President Obama, who sent them blankets.

Hewitt and Cornyn agreed that Bolton, as a patriot and a smart guy, will not want to provide any damaging testimony. That would run against a great deal of public reporting on Boltons perspective. Bolton was reported by firsthand witnesses to have described the Ukraine extortion scheme as a drug deal, and former White House officials and people close to Mr. Bolton told the New York Times yesterday that his testimony would most likely be damning to Mr. Trump and put additional pressure on moderate Republicans to consider convicting him.

But, hey, maybe theyre right. Bolton is an extremely conservative partisan Republican, and perhaps he will explain to the upper chamber that he meant Trump was cooking up a good drug deal, the kind that delivers needed prescription medicine to the sick.

Yet Cornyn did not have enough confidence in this belief to actually commit to allowing Bolton to testify. He merely said, It could well be if he is called as a witness at some point, that his testimony would be enormously helpful to President Trump. Cornyn is all but saying he will only agree to the testimony if he can be assured Bolton wont incriminate Trump.

One of the two counts Trump is being impeached over is obstruction of Congress. His blanket defiance of all congressional oversight is an extraordinary departure from previous presidents, who have resisted sharing some documents and testimony on a case-by-case basis, but never openly refused to allow Congress to investigate anything at all. Senate Republicans are revealing one of the peculiarities of trying this charge: They are active co-conspirators.
As massive blazes continue to ravage parts of Australia, 20 seasoned firefighters from California are on their way to help battle the flames.

Its really a big honor for the Angeles National Forest on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service to be able to assist our brothers and sisters in Australia in this really devastating fire season they are facing, Angeles National Forest Fire Chief Robert Garcia said in a news conference Monday.

Its not the first time the countries have helped each other out. Australia and New Zealand have been sending firefighters to the United States for more than 15 years, the Forest Service says. Most recently, 138 firefighters arrived to help in the U.S. in August 2018, a federal spokeswoman said.

But working in unknown land comes with its challenges, Angeles NF firefighter Danielle Cardenas told CNN.

None of us have ever fought fire over there, she said. Any time you go into a different environment where youre not familiar with the topography and the fuels or even the weather, you have to be on edge a little bit.

For other firefighters, the challenge may be what theyre leaving behind.

Hector Cerna, is a husband and father. For him, getting everything sorted before he leaves was a priority.

Trying to settle everything I have at home, make sure everything is okay, everything is right, the balance is there and then once thats done, it gives me more peace of mind to do what I have to do for a month.

This team isnt the first group of firefighters the U.S. has sent over this fire season. Throughout December, the U.S. has intermittently deployed more than 74 wildland USFS (U.S. Forest Service) and DOI (Department of Interior) fire personnel, the National Interagency Fire Center said.

As the extreme fire danger continues across Australia, the Department of the Interior will continue to do all that we can to support requests for assistance, Department of the Interiors Office of Wildland Fire Deputy Director Craig Leff said in the statement. Our focus remains on helping the people of Australia and keeping people safe in these unprecedented conditions.

What Theyll Be Doing

For these firefighters going in, exactly what theyll face is still unknown.

Theyll be briefed by Australian forces as soon as they land about the hazards and the current situation, Garcia said.

In Australia, about 2,700 firefighters are already on the front lines. The fires have so far scorched more than 14.7 million acres of land, destroyed more than 1,300 houses just in New South Wales and killed about half a billion animals, according to one estimate.

This 20-person handpicked team is trained to hit the ground running.

They work on engine crews, hot-shot crews, aviation helicopters crews, and they often work in remote places, independently with little support, Garcia previously said. They are used to traveling, breaking up into small squads, doing initial attackmeaning attacking fires early before they become a large fire.

One part of their work this time will be sawing down trees, said Angeles NF firefighter Jackie Ortega, whos been with the service for 21 years.

Thats part of removing some of the fuel so you can get down to mineral soil, that way there is no advancement of the fire whether it will be laterally or forward process.

Some of those needed materials will likely be provided by Australian forces, said firefighter Josh Thomas. Hes a Bear Divide Hotshotin other words, comes with some of the most extensive training in wildfire suppression tactics.

Its just not convenient for us to be transporting chainsaws on the flight to Australia, Thomas said. Thomas is Cardenas husband. Theyll be going to Australia together.

And thats why theyve packed lightly, he said, hoping to find all the tools they needed on the other side of the ocean.

Why Theyre Doing It

The dangers didnt deter the team from volunteering.

Just seeing the amount of destruction thats happening and knowing that they need help makes you want to volunteer, Cardenas said. It is 30 days for us probably and so thats a little bit of time away from home but its worth it in the long run.

Its what they love to do.

I love fighting fire and I want to hopefully help the Australians out there and hopefully we do our due diligence as we should as a country here and get out there and get to work, Ortega said.

And for others, the opportunity for experience wasnt one they could pass up.

A lot had to do with the experience that youre able to get with going to a different country and learn how do they fight fire  and try to share with the rest of the firefighters out here, Cerna said. Maybe learn different tactics that we never thought of and gaining knowledge really of firefighting.

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NORRISTOWN  An Upper Dublin man accused of fatally beating his father during an altercation in their home two days before Christmas has asked a judge to allow the Montgomery County Office of the Public Defender to represent him during his upcoming court proceedings.

Maximillian Christopher Han recently met with officials of the public defenders office at the county jail and he indicated his need for counsel, defense lawyer Carrie Lynn Allman, chief homicide lawyer for the public defenders office, wrote in court papers filed on behalf of Han.

Mr. Han is currently housed at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, is incarcerated and in need of the services of the public defenders office, Allman wrote, indicating she is available to represent Han.

A county judge is expected to approve the request.

Han, 27, of the 1800 block of Hood Lane in the Ambler section of Upper Dublin, is awaiting a Feb. 2 preliminary hearing before District Court Judge Patricia A. Zaffarano on charges of first- and third-degree murder, possessing an instrument of crime, tampering with physical evidence and theft by unlawful taking in connection with the alleged Dec. 23 incident that resulted in the death of his 58-year-old father, Jinhan.

The investigation began about 1:58 p.m. Dec. 23, when Upper Dublin police responded to the Han residence for a report of an unconscious male bleeding from his head, according to a criminal complaint filed by county Detective John Wittenberger and Upper Dublin Detective Kevin Shanahan.

Court documents indicate the victim lived at the residence with his wife and two sons.

The victims wife reported she arrived at the home and found her husband bleeding from the head and immediately called 911, according to the arrest affidavit.

Arriving officers found Jinhan Han lying on the living room floor of the residence with bleeding injuries on his face and head, detectives alleged. Personnel from Ambler Ambulance attempted to resuscitate the victim, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, court papers indicate.

Officers observed signs of a struggle and blood at several locations within the living room of the residence, Wittenberger and Shanahan alleged. (Jinhan) Hans face appeared to have sustained injuries consistent with a beating. Also inside the living room were bloodstained towels which appeared to have been used to clean the inside of the room and a plastic container with blood splatter and stains.

Detectives observed blood smears and footprints throughout the residence, according to court papers.

Detectives recovered a box cutter-style knife near (the victims) body and a butcher-style knife with a broken black tip in the kitchen, detectives alleged, adding the victims wallet and cash also were found inside the home.

An autopsy determined that Jinhan Han died as a result of multiple blunt and sharp injuries and the manner of death was listed as homicide.

When detectives interviewed Maximillian Han on Dec. 23, they observed that he had bruising, swelling and abrasions to his right hand, according to the arrest affidavit.

Han initially told detectives that he left his home on the morning of Dec. 23 after getting pissed off at Jinhan Han and that he locked the door to the residence and went to the Willow Grove Park Mall and a local gym.

Han later told detectives that he lied in his initial statement and was responsible for killing Jinhan Han, detectives alleged in court papers. He described using punching, striking and using the grip portion of a knife to smash (Jinhan) Hans skull. Maximillian said he felt like an MMA fighter.'

Han also allegedly told detectives he removed his fathers cellphone and sold it at a kiosk in the mall. Han allegedly received $20 for the cellphone during the transaction, which was recorded by video surveillance, according to the criminal complaint.

A conviction of first-degree murder, an intentional killing, can carry possible penalties of death by lethal injection or life imprisonment. A conviction of third-degree murder, a killing committed with malice, carries a possible maximum sentence of 20-to-40-years in prison.
WESTFIELD  Peckham Industries Inc. of Brewster, New York, has purchased JSL Materials of Westfield, parent company of John S. Lane & Son quarries and JSL Asphalt, for an undisclosed sum, the companies announced Monday.

Peckham is the same company that purchased Palmer Paving, also a maker of asphalt and builder of roads, in 2018. The JSL deal gives Peckham a big portion of the local supply chain for road building.

Merger documents for JSL Materials and Peckham were filed with the secretary of states office Jan. 2.

Founded in 1924, Peckham is a private, family-run company just like Lane and like Palmer Paving before its acquisition. It now employs nearly 1,000 people at more than 25 facilities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont.

With 100 employees, John S. Lane & Son is one of the regions oldest employers, having been founded in 1890. The original John S. Lane got into business to supply the railroads with stone for building beds under train tracks. The Westfield location is one of the oldest continuously operating quarries in the Connecticut River Valley.

Joseph Wildermuth, executive vice president of Peckham Industries, said he expects minimal changes in employment at the former JSL Materials, and he plans on retaining most of the salaried employees and all the production workers.

Lane is headquartered in Westfield and has quarries there on East Mountain Road and Pochassic Road, as well as in Amherst (known as the Notch Quarry), West Stockbridge and North Oxford. It has asphalt plants in Charlton and the JSL Asphalt plant in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

Peckham has the former Palmer Paving asphalt plants in Springfield, Palmer, Easthampton and Barre.

Our facilities have some overlap, but they really each serve their own areas, Wildermuth said. We absolutely have competition in the area, in all the markets that we work in.

Lane Construction Corp., headquartered in Connecticut, is a separate company, Wildermuth said. It is owned by Salini Impregilo, a global infrastructure group.

Wildermuth said JSL Materials and Palmer Pavings customers include municipalities, the state and construction companies like Palmer Pavings construction arm. The industry has recovered tremendously since the Great Recession, he said.

The opportunity for growth is strong, he said.

Jonathan Lane, vice president and secretary of JSL Materials, said in a news release: We are extremely excited for John S. Lane & Son and JSL Asphalt to join Peckham Industries. Our shared values as family-owned companies will ensure a seamless transition as we work through the integration process. We are looking forward to being a part of the growth of Peckham Industries into Massachusetts and the surrounding region.

This acquisition allows us to further integrate a very important part of our supply chain in the Massachusetts and Connecticut markets, said John R. Peckham, president of Peckham Industries, in a statement. We recognize the prominent history of JSL Materials, Inc. and the significant contribution the business has made to the region. The acquisition of JSL Materials is a very proud moment for Peckham Industries and we look forward to the integration of these two family-owned and operated companies.
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Police in the Ashanti Region have picked up a 42-year-old man, Edwin Awuku for allegedly murdering a woman at Ceder Crescent Hotel at Danyame in Kumasi.

The deceased, 46-year-old Comfort Owusu Afriyie alias Maame Yaa, was found in the hotel in cold blood with gunshot wound on January 2, 2020.

Earlier reports suggested that the suspect and the deceased were both attacked in an armed robbery case while in their hotel room but the Police have said that their investigations reveal that the suspect, shot and killed the woman.

According to the police, Edwin Awuku, after shooting the deceased, went home and confessed his action to his wife and both of them went back to the hotel to raise alarm about the death and subsequently lodged a complaint of armed robbery at the Kumasi Central Police Station.

Read the police station below:

1. Police Investigation into an alleged murder of a woman at the Ceder Cresent Hotel at Danyame, Kumasi indicates that the deceased was shot and killed by the suspect Edwin Awuku, 42, the boyfriend who checked into the hotel with the victim.

2. There was no armed robbery attack at the Hotel as was reported by the complainant who is the wife of the suspect.

3. The suspect Edwin Awuku on Thursday 2nd January 2020 at about 1:00am checked into the said Hotel with the girlfriend Comfort Owusu Afriyie alias Maame Yaa, 46.

4. That whilst in the hotel room, suspect Awuku shot the victim in the chest killing her instantly and he suspect Awuku sustaining injury on his left forefinger in the process.

5. Awuku sensing danger left the Hotel premises unnoticed and drove to his residence at Amakom and informed the wife about the incident and dropped the exhibit weapon and his mobile phones at home.

6. Both, the suspect and the wife went back to the hotel to raise alarm on the incident, drawing the attention of other persons.

7. Both later drove to the Central Police Station, where an official complaint of an

alleged armed robbery and Murder was reported

---citinewsroom
Approaching a police station to lodge a complaint will no longer be a cumbersome and time- consuming process for residents of the city.

Thanks to a latest initiative of Hyderabad police, denizens can now give their complaint in writing to police personnel on patrol duty in their locality and get the case registered on the spot.

The complainant is not required to visit the police station concerned.

Personnel in patrol vehicles can be contacted through Hawk Eye app or the official website of the city police, or by calling the local police station.

Since the launch of the new facility on January 5, patrol officers have registered 10 cases.

"Happy to share that Hyderabad City Patrol officers helped many citizens in registration of FIRs without personally visiting the police stations.

So far, 10 FIRs are booked under relevant sections of IPC and CrPC. We thank our citizens who trusted the patrol cars," Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said.

Citizens can give complaint in writing with their address and phone number to the patrol car officers of their locality to register a case, Kumar said adding one (petitioner) need not come to the police station.

Noting that the patrol officers were specially trained and were among the best of the city police, the top police official said, "Make friends with them. You will start appreciating them. Believe me."



The initiative would help senior citizens and those finding it difficult to travel.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Donald Trump was impeached over his criminal scheme to get nonexistent political dirt from Ukraine, but Vice President Mike Pence was at the center of the plot, too.

As Rachel Maddow pointed out on Monday, multiple officials in the administration were essentially trying to reassure the Pentagon that Trumps quid pro quo with Ukraine would be complete and the military aid would be released once Pence met with the president of Ukraine.

In other words, the VP wasnt out of the loop; he was very much a key player in the scandal.

So it was Mike Pence who was supposed to personally get the assurance from the Ukrainian government at that meeting that they were going to announce the investigations? Maddow asked.

Video:

Maddow said:

We now know that after all those weeks of consternation and conflict and concern and CYA inside the administration, we know right before Vice President Pence went and took this meeting at the highest levels of the Defense Department, the chief of staff to the Secretary of Defense was reassuring other officials inside the Pentagon, Oh, dont worry. This is all going to be over soon. When Mike Pence takes that meeting with Zelensky on Tuesday, its all going to get sorted. Why did he think it was all going to get sorted? President Trump was just impeached for demanding that Ukraine give him investigations into Joe Biden that would help him in his 2020 reelection effort and him conveying to Ukraine that they wouldnt get their much-needed military aid until they made that commitment to do those investigation. Right? You wont get the military aid unless you agree to do those investigations. Announce publicly youre doing those investigations or youre never going to see that military aid. We now know that in the Defense Secretarys office, they thought that that would all click into place as soon as this meeting between Mike Pence and the Ukrainian president took place. So it was Mike Pence who was supposed to personally get the assurance from the Ukrainian government at that meeting that they were going to announce the investigations? Because that was the deal, right? Thats what everybody was waiting on. They cant get the military aid until they announce the investigations. Dont worry, theyll be able to get the military aid as soon as Mike Pence has that meeting.

Mike Pence was a key player in Trumps Ukraine plot

Throughout this impeachment saga, Mike Pence has largely flown under the radar as most of the attention is fixed on Trump or other officials in the administration who testified during the House inquiry.

But as Maddow noted on Monday  and as other evidence has shown  its clear that the vice president was a key player in Trumps plot to extort a foreign power into handing over dirt on a political opponent.

Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter
This article originally appeared on Alma. Significant spoilers for all four seasons of The Man in the High Castle contained below.

When I started watching The Man in the High Castle, the idea of a show set in an alternate universe where the allies were defeated in WWII and the Nazis rule over half of North America landed differently than it does today. Thats not to say 2015 was any sort of idyll free of danger or systemic injustice, but the last four years have made the worst of our politics and society more overt.

For instance, when the show began in 2015, or when the book it was based off was published in 1962, the idea of Nazis marching in the streets of a major American city was a terrifying bit of fiction. As we all know, thats not so far-fetched anymore.

I will admit to having a complicated relationship with The Man in the High Castle. While I think it was excellently made, consistently well-acted, and raised interesting questions worth chewing over, I find it difficult to recommend outright. It is extremely dark and bleakeven the lighter moments always seemed a long way off or were snatched away fastand the inescapable Nazi iconography is a lot to subject yourself to over the course of an hour or more, especially if youre Jewish.

Since the show wrapped up its final season last month, this is a good time to explore some of its highs and lows. Where did it swing for the fences? Where did it fall short? And what can other stories about alternate histories learn for the future?

To begin with, I am Jewish. I am also queer. And throughout The Man in the High Castle, I found a bitter and relentless hope in watching the characters like me moving through this world. This, for me, was the very best of the showwhen even in the worst of times, when everything we feared has come to pass and the world is as frightful and dangerous as it has ever been, we are still here. We are falling in love, learning, making art, working, worshipping, and resisting a society that wants to remove us from the world. While some marginalized characters joined and organized resistance movements, and for others the act of survival was itself resistance, I took hope in it all. Watching the show, I was often reminded of a Yiddish resistance song, Mir Veln Zey Iberleben, which translates to We Will Outlive Them.

The Man in the High Castle best embodied this spirit in a scene near the end of Season 3, where Frank Frinkthe shows most prominent Jewish character since the beginninghas his bar mitzvah. Watching this man who used to minimize his heritage now learning and embracing it with a whole community of Jews in hiding would have been a powerful moment no matter how the show depicted it.

But they did something extraordinarythey chose to intercut the bar mitzvah with a scene of a Nazi rally, the audio from one overlapping the video of the other as they switched back and forth. As we watch Frank tentatively read from the Torah, we hear the chilling reminder of what he is risking, and we know the wolves are howling right outside the door. On the other hand, hearing Franks voice over the footage of the rally shows us that even in this world, the Nazis are neither all-powerful nor invincible. They have not stopped Jews from celebrating and reveling in their Jewish culture, community, and identity.

Frank gets beheaded in the next episode. I am still irked about it, because for me this exemplifies the shows greatest pitfall. While The Man in the High Castle did have its moments of excellence at finding a glimmer of hope in the darkness, it didnt always know what to do with all its characters, or why their survival might matter in the big picture beyond their immediate narrative purpose.

Over the course of the series, the writers embraced a universe where anyone could die. While this sometimes made for interesting stakes, it also meant that some storylines felt rushed or abruptly ended. Others never got their due, and characters who could have had more to say got dropped by the wayside instead.

From a technical standpoint, some aspects of the show were absolutely brilliant because of their attention to detail. The costume and set designers all deserve significant praise for their terrifying blending of classic Americana with Nazi elements. The show never wasted an opportunity to use visual iconography to enhance the narrative, designing a world both subtly and drastically different than our own.

The music department too deserves kudos. Their song choices were always on-point and insistently subversive, from using Edelweiss (from The Sound of Music) as the theme song to featuring deliberately anti-Nazi, anti-racist music in major plot moments. The fourth season in particular leaned into music by black composers as part of a larger story arc about a black American resistance movement, though that story itself seems like it should have been introduced much earlier.

A main arc of the show throughout all four seasons was the exploration of a very banal evil. John Smith, a former American soldier who joins the SS and rises through the ranks of the Nazi party, is a fascinating character precisely because he is not a cartoonish villain. He is a genuinely devoted family man who would do anything to protect his childrenincluding willingly committing murder, upholding an oppressive regime, and participating in genocide.

Some of the shows best satire comes in the moments we spend with Smith and his family at home, when we see how neatly 1950s American culture could have fit into this alternate timeline. Many of its most memorably chilling moments have been when we saw Smith at his most ordinaryreading a book to his children at the end of the day, kissing them goodnight, and tucking them into bed, all while his red armband hovers just at the edge of the screen.

Ultimately, The Man in the High Castle reminds us that the people who do evil things are still peopleand thats what makes their actions all the more horrifying. When they had the choice to fight back or give in, they chose the path that would keep them safe and comfortable at the expense of others. But the show also told the stories, over these last four years, of how it is both possible and so important to choose differently.
Wheel of Fortune history was made on Monday, when longtime host Pat Sajak's daughter Maggie filled in as the guest letter turning to kick of a week-long stint.

Maggie, 25, filled in at the letter board so Vanna White could step in and fill in as the host for Pat, 73, as he recovers from his emergency surgery for a blocked intestine in November.

White, 62, hosted the show for the first time in December, following his surgery, returning to host again all this week, with Maggie stepping in for Vanna, as Sajak explained in a brief message before Monday's episode.

Special guest: Wheel of Fortune history was made on Monday, when longtime host Pat Sajak's daughter Maggie filled in as the guest letter turning to kick of a week-long stint

Maggie and Vanna: Maggie, 25, filled in at the letter board so Vanna White could step in and fill in as the host for Pat, 73, as he recovers from his emergency surgery for a blocked intestine in November

Pat explains: White, 62, hosted the show for the first time in December, following his surgery, returning to host again all this week, with Maggie stepping in for Vanna, as Sajak explained in a brief message before Monday's episode

'This is a little complicated so pay attention,' Pat Sajak began. 'I was back from my surgery last week and had a wonderful time on the show and I'm not gonna be here this week.'

He added that his absence is not due to a relapse, but rather, 'the technicalities of the taping order and all that.'

He concluded by stating that all week, fans will get to see Vanna, 'do her Pat impression, and we have a special letter toucher so pay attention.'

Complicated: 'This is a little complicated so pay attention,' Pat Sajak began. 'I was back from my surgery last week and had a wonderful time on the show and I'm not gonna be here this week'

White then entered the iconic game show set, hinting she could, 'host the show better with a Sajak' as she introduced Maggie Sajak as the guest letter toucher.

After Maggie gave Vanna a hug, she then gave an update on her father, saying he's, 'doing well.'

'From the perspective of his daughter, it was a scary experience, I'm not gonna lie, but he's doing great and he's so excited to be back next week,' Maggie said.

Guest: White then entered the iconic game show set, hinting she could, 'host the show better with a Sajak' as she introduced Maggie Sajak as the guest letter toucher

Update: After Maggie gave Vanna a hug, she then gave an update on her father, saying he's, 'doing well'

At the end of the show, Maggie and Vanna showed a clip of Maggie's first appearance on the show, back in 1996, just after turning one year old.

Maggie joked that hopefully she is, 'a little more eloquent than last time' she was on the show, as Vanna assured her she was doing great.

Pat Sajak teased this special appearance in early December, as he explained his schedule in a tweet, though he didn't reveal the 'special guest' was his daughter.

Wheel debut: Later in the show, Maggie and Vanna showed a clip of Maggie's first appearance on the show, back in 1996 when she was just one year old

'Its a bit confusing, but heres the deal: Vanna will be hosting this coming week and the next. Then two weeks of shows I taped before my surgery,' he began.

'Then Vanna again the week of Jan. 6 with a special guest at the puzzle board. Then the planets will realign, and its back to normal,' he concluded.

After Monday's episode, Sajak tweeted out another supportive message stating, 'Another nice job by @TheVannaWhite filling in this week on Wheel. I like the new puzzle person, too.'

Tweet: Pat Sajak teased this special appearance in early December, as he explained his schedule in a tweet, though he didn't reveal the 'special guest' was his daughter

Back to normal: 'Then Vanna again the week of Jan. 6 with a special guest at the puzzle board. Then the planets will realign, and its back to normal,' he concluded

Support: After Monday's episode, Sajak tweeted out another supportive message stating, 'Another nice job by @TheVannaWhite filling in this week on Wheel. I like the new puzzle person, too.'

Sajak had surgery for a blocked intestine in November, but he revealed just days later that the surgery was a success and, 'the worst had passed.'

'Im so grateful for all the good wishes during my recent illness,' the Chicago native wrote, later alluding to co-host Vanna White handling hosting duties amid his recovery.

'Happy to say that the worst has passed, and Ill be out of the hospital in a day of two, then back to work (unless @TheVannaWhite has completely taken over!).'

Surgery: Sajak had surgery for a blocked intestine in November, but he revealed just days later that the surgery was a success and, 'the worst had passed'

Grateful: 'Im so grateful for all the good wishes during my recent illness,' the Chicago native wrote, later alluding to co-host Vanna White handling hosting duties amid his recovery
State Assembly leaders decided Monday to shelve a bill (S1612) that would have mandated staffing levels at nursing homes in New Jersey, according to Kevin McArdle, a spokesman for Assembly Democrats.

The state Senate had already approved the proposal in July, but any bill that does not pass both chambers by Jan. 14 has to be reintroduced when the new session begins later this month.

McArdle declined to comment further, but the union representing nursing assistants said patients would feel the effect.

My residents are going to suffer more," said Zerica Gardner, a nursing assistant in Ocean County, during a Monday phone call organized by 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers, a union that represents thousands of nursing home employees in the state.

Its difficult now to help residents shower even twice a week, Gardner said, because of limited staffing. (The union did not want the nursing assistants to identify their nursing homes in order to protect their jobs.)

Nursing assistants handle a significant part of the nursing home workload. They clean, change and regularly check on patients. There are about 56,500 in the states hospitals and nursing homes, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and current law dictates that residents receive a certain number of hours of care a day.

The bill put on hold originally would have mandated that every nursing home have at least one certified nursing assistant for every eight residents during the day. During the evening, one assistant would be required for every ten residents, and one for every 16 overnight.

A state Assembly committee, however, loosened the requirement so that other types of nurses could be counted when a facility calculated its patient-to-staff ratio.

That was a better option, said Jonathan Dolan, president and chief executive of the Health Care Association of New Jersey, the trade group for assisted-living and nursing home operators.

Dolan said mandating staffing levels just for certified nursing assistants would have cost nursing homes tens of millions of dollars. There is a clear shortage of nursing assistants, he said, and any proposal that mandated staffing levels without also setting aside money for training and retention wouldnt be practical.

It would be, from a workforce and funding perspective, impossible to meet the requirements of this bill, Dolan said about the original version.

New Jersey was recently ranked as one of the top ten best overall states for nursing homes, an improvement from the previous year, according to Families for Better Care, a Texas-based nonprofit.

However, the group also ranked the state as one of the worst when it came to the number of hours staff spent with residents.

Most of the states 360-plus nursing homes are privately owned, and federal data shows that a quarter have staffing issues, according to recent reports by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. One in four were rated below average or much below average when it came to the number of employees who could care for residents.

Other nursing assistants said Monday that the status quo was not sustainable.

Dorett Jackson, a nursing assistant in Passaic County, said she sometimes had 30 or more patients to care for overnight. That ratio was especially problematic when residents were combative, she said.

Margaret Boyce, a nursing assistant in Middlesex County, said a patient at her nursing home once fell and broke a hip, but nobody noticed for some time because everyone was juggling dozens of other residents.

It really is heartbreaking," Boyce said.

State Sen. Linda Greenstein, D-Middlesex and a co-sponsor of the bill, wrote in a message to NJ Advance Media that she did not know why the bill was pulled. Messages left with four other sponsors were not returned.

A statement from the 1199 SEIU union blamed Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, for pulling the bill from consideration, and said caregivers felt disappointment, anger, and a sense of betrayal.

Bryn Lloyd-Bollard, an 1199 SEIU spokesman, said they planned on pushing for the bill again when the new legislative session begins later this month.

Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 00:15:41|Editor: huaxia

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang at regular press conference on Jan. 6, 2020. (Photo from Foreign Ministry website)

"We urge the United States not to abuse force and call on relevant parties to exercise restraint to prevent a spiral escalation. Efforts should be made to resume dialogue and consultation as soon as possible to cool off tensions," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said.



BEIJING, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- China urged the United States not to abuse force and called on relevant parties to exercise restraint to prevent a spiral escalation in the Middle East and the Gulf region, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday.

Spokesman Geng Shuang made the remarks at a daily news briefing when asked for comments about the current situation in the region as tensions in U.S.-Iran relations are escalating. The United States claimed it has targeted 52 Iranian sites, which will be hit if Iran strikes any Americans or American assets. Iran said some 35 U.S. targets in the region are within reach.

"Worsening of tensions in the Middle East and the Gulf region is the last thing anyone wants to see. Ensuring peace and stability in the region is of vital importance to the whole world," Geng said.

Power politics is always resented and short-lived, he said, adding the U.S. military adventurism goes against basic norms governing international relations and aggravates tensions and turbulence in the region, Geng said.

"We urge the United States not to abuse force and call on relevant parties to exercise restraint to prevent a spiral escalation. Efforts should be made to resume dialogue and consultation as soon as possible to cool off tensions," he added.

China will continue to uphold an objective and just position and play a constructive role in maintaining peace and security in the Middle East and the Gulf region, Geng said. 
A senior administration official said a severe but unspecified threat against the embassy was the reason that Mr. Trump made the decision to kill General Suleimani.

Yet no major attack against the sprawling and heavily-fortified diplomatic compound in Baghdads Green Zone is imminent, even though Mr. Pompeo has asserted that repeatedly, said the official, who discussed administration deliberations only on the condition of anonymity. Some Pentagon officials had said earlier that there was no intelligence revealing any unusual threats.

On Tuesday, Mr. Pompeo did not repeat his assertions that the United States had intelligence about an imminent attack and instead pointed to recent violent episodes.

If youre looking for imminence, you need look no further than the days that led up to the strike that was taken against Suleimani, Mr. Pompeo said, apparently referring to the rocket attack by an Iranian-backed militia that killed an American interpreter, Nawres Hamid, in Iraq on Dec. 27. The Americans then carried out airstrikes that killed 25 militiamen, which led to protests by mostly Iranian-backed militiamen inside the American Embassy compound in Baghdad.

American officials say that over the last two months, there have been 11 attacks by Iran-backed militias on bases in Iraq where American service members, diplomats and contractors work.

Critics say Mr. Pompeo, the only surviving member of the presidents original foreign policy team, is a chief architect of the rising tensions between the United States and Iran.

As Mr. Trumps first C.I.A. director, he created a special center to deal with Iran, appointing as its head Michael DAndrea, a veteran officer and convert to Islam known as the Dark Prince, who oversaw the hunt for Osama bin Laden and the drone strike campaign in the Middle East and Central Asia.
Written by ACM

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/[Partly UpDated]- Confirmation even by Turkish President Erdogan, that Ankara started to send to Libya mainly Islamist Extremists Armed Gangs from Syria, etc, in the context of a wider Turkish Military Intervention in a Divided Country facing Europe's Mediterranean SeaCoasts, by a coincidence, the Same Hours that an "Allah Akbar" Yelling Turk attacked with a Knife 2 persons in Germany (GelsebnKirchen), just a Day after another Islamist Extremist Killed one and Wounded 2 Civilian People, also with a Knife, in France, near Paris (Villejuif), closely Followed by another such Islamist Knife Attack even at Nearby Metz, in Strasbourg's Region, (etc), while, at Lybia's South, in Burkina Faso, other Islamist Terrorists were Killing even School-Children in a Bus, following Other such Atrocities near the Libyan Borders at Niger, after another Mass Killing of Christians on Christmas' Day in Nigeria, (etc), remind, in Fact, that, Today's Controversial Turkey's Move Provokes, at least, 3 main Threats Against Europe and well beyond, which Risk to seriously Affect Security, Migration, and Energy (See Infra).

-----------------------------------------

- Indeed, Erdogan reportedly spoke about a "Gradual Departure" of various "Troops" Send by Turkey to Libya, and Claimed that "the role of the Turkish Military... is Not to Fight" there. Troops "are in the Process of being Progressively Deployed" in Libya, "But Our (Turkish) Soldiers will Not be Part" of the "Fighting Forces", for which "We shall have also Other Teams on the spot", he pointed out, withOut revealing yet whom he meant.

- On the Contrary, "the Task of Our (Turkey's) Soldiers there is Coordination" Only, Erdogan Claimed Today. Adding that, Already, "this is what they are Doing, at This Moment, inside a Command Center", where "one of Our (Ankara's) Lieutenant-Generals Will be Placed at the Head of that Command Center", as he said.

- As for that "Fighting Force", that will be "coordinated" by Turkish Officers, it will be Composed by "Various Units", Erdogan simply Evoked, withOut Explicitating, Not even saying When it Arrived, or Will arrive in Libya...

----------------------------------------------------

Previously, even Before the Turkish Parliament Votes to send Troops, Libyan Medias had Published Radar-Maps for at least 4 big Passenger Airplanes Travelling, All at the Same Time, from Istanbul (Constantinople) to Tripoli (Libya), suspected to be Filled with Jihadists/Foreign Fighters from Syria, and/or Delivering Weapons to the Tripoli side of the Libyan Conflict, in Violation of UN SC Resolution on Arms Embargo.

+ London based "Syrian Observatory for Human Rights", meanwhile, had Published various alleged EyeWitnesses' Testimonies about Public Offers for Jobs as Mercenary in Libya, Paid around 1.800 or 2000  as Monthly Salary, etc. reportedly shown on several Placards at the Walls of Buildings in Turkish-Occupied Syrian Kurdish area of Afrin, and elsewhere, controled by various Islamist Extremist Armed Gangs, Proxies of the Turkish Army.

+ Similar, but shorter, Press Reports were Also Published by mainstream Agencies "Bloomberg" (USA),"Deutsche Welle" (Germany), and partly even "Reuters", etc, citing Various Sources, including Turkish.

Initialy, Turkish State sources had reportedly Claimed that, around "250" Islamists from Nearby Idlib, (notoriously Controlled by Al Queda's Successors), might be send to Libya as ... "Translators", for the "Logistics" (sic !).

But, Today, even the USA's Embassy in Libya has Just Denounced "the Dangers of TOXIC (sic !) Foreign Interference in Libya, such as the Arrival of Syrian Fighters, supported by Turkey", inter alia...

-----------------------------

+ Moreover, at the Same Time, in Addition, Erdogan did Not Deny at all, but on the Contrary : he Implied, (F.ex. by Stressing that "Our (Turkish Military's) Goal is to Support" one of the Parties in Conflict, etc, Despite the fact that UNO's Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has clearly Warned, Yesterday, Against "any Foreign Support to the Warring Parties"), that Turkey was going to blatantly Violate UNO's Arms Embargo on Libya, by Providing Weapons to the Side Headquartered in Tripoli.

Nowadays Photos published at the Internet (Comp. Supra), as well as a Recent UNO's Report, have already Accused Turkey to Violate that Arms Embargo in Libya, imposed by an UN SC Resolution. As this Now, Obviously, Risks to Grow Much Bigger, the situation risks to remind that of ISIS' Terrorists Emerging all accross Syria and Iraq's Borders with Turkey, Back on 2012-2014, with the then Head of Syrian Kurds, Salih Muslim Muhammed, asking, Surprized, "Eurofora" at the CoE in Strasbourg : - "Who gives them all those Abraam Tanks, those Humwees, Rockets, etc, ?"...(Comp. : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/syriankurdsheadtoeuroforaatthecoe.html, etc). In Libya, Nowadays, it's more about Turkish Drones, etc....

--------------------------------

As for an Eventual Delay, in what made Erdogan speek Now about a "Process" of "Gradual Deployment" for Turkey's Troops, etc., this might, eventualy, be Due also to the Fact that, during these Last Days, General Haftar's Forces, (supported by the Internationaly Recognized Lybian Parliament Refugeed at the East : Tobruk, since a 2014 Armed "Putsch" by those who Now Support Tripoli's Side), after putting out of order the Big Airport of Tripoli since April 2019, seem to have Nowadays Focused on Bombarding the Misrata Airport there, (which had Recently to "Suspend" its activities), followed by more repeated NLA Air Bombings also against Tripoli's Mitiga Airport too.

--------------------------

But, at least, one thing seems Clear : The Turkish President's Claim that Ankara's Military Intervention would have been Provoked also by a Alleged Need to "Prevent a Humanitarian Catastrophe" (sic !), as he said Now, does Not correspond to the Real Facts !

Indeed, inter alia, it's Enough to see What was doing These Last Days the so-called "Prime Minister" of Tripoli's side, Fayez al-Sarraj, who had, notoriously, stroke a Deal with Erdogan, including the Arrival of Turkish Troops :

- If any Political Leader really Believes that his People might, Perhaps, Face any such alleged Risk of an imminent "Humanitarian Catastrophe" (Comp. Supra), to the point that it might, Eventually, make necesary to Desperately Call for Help from Foreign Powers, Exceptionaly, then, in such Dramatic Circumstances, .... he certainly does Not Abandon his Homeland Alone, just in order to make ... Family "Holidays" in London, and Repeatedly be Seen (and Photgraphed, Filmed, etc) to go .. "Shopping" with his Kids at "Oxford Street", as Mr Al-Sarraj has just been cought by bypassers to do These Days, at least until Yesterday included (4/1/2020+) and may be even more !...

(See relevant Photo + Video, which went "Viral" at the Web).

>>> You just doN't Go "Shopping" at "Oxford Street" in London Family "Holidays" the Day your Country faces a Foreign Military Intervention by Turkish troops, particularly If you are Sincerely Moved by a Fear of Imminent "Humanitarian Catastrophe" (Comp. Supra) !...

Libya did Not Face Any Foreign Military Intervention, Not Even when the Powerfull and popular former Leader Qaddafi was Ousted, Back on 2011 : UK, France, USA a.o. Never Dared Send Military Troops to put their Boots on the Libyan Ground. They just tried to Help the Rioters mainly by some Targetted AIrStrikes, etc., if and when they were Attacked by the Regime's Army with a DisProportionate Force.

To the point that, Nowadays, even Qaddafi's exiled Daughter, Aysha, reportedly issued a Statement Calling for armed Resistance against the Turkish Military "Invasion", as Critical Libyan Medias have just reported.

In the MeanTime, while Big Popular Demonstrations Against the Foreign Turkish Military Invasion were held at Various Cities in Libya, including, f.ex,, Tobruk, Bayda, etc., in broad DayLight, with Large Participation, including Couples, even Children, and Omni-Present, Numerous National Libyan Flags, etc., as Libyan Medias reported,

on the Contrary, a Rare Opposite Move by Turkey's Fans in Tripoli, took place only overNight (at 1 a.m. !), withOut any woman or kid, but Only some Thuggish-looking Individuals, Many Hidding their Heads into balaclavas, etc, almost withOut any visible Libyan National Flag, and Publicised at the Internet by Obvious Islamist Extremists, (etc)...

-----------------------------------------------------

=> However, at least 3 More Grave Risks than one might think at First Sight, Threaten, in Fact, Europe itself :

- (1) -

First of all, a Turkish and/or Islamist Extremists' intervention inside Lybia, risks to be Exploited, in one way or another, by Various Islamist Extremist Armed Gangs, including ISIS, which still Holds an Area Near Tripoli, but Influences much More the South.

And there, Libya is Linked with the 5 Countries of the strategic "Sahel" Region : Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, which have Recently (between 2014 - 2019) become the Focus of ISIS-affiliated "Boko Haram" and other Islamist Terrorist Groups, Multiplying Deadly Attacks mainly against Civilian People, but, sometimes even Military, etc, provoking a Havoc.

This Blocks Plans to Transfert, by Pipeline, NIgeria's abudant Gas Resources towards Europe, through Algeria and/or Maroc, ("Trans-Saharian" Pipeline, etc). while also EnDangering Uranium Supplies for France, which becomes - with UK's "BREXIT" - the Only EU-Member with Nuclear Deterrence : A real GeoPoliticaly Hostile Factor Against Europe, that several Other EU Member Countries are just Starting to Face, Together with France.

- (2) -

At the Same Time, given Also the Fact that Libya's Western Coast, around Tripoli, has become a Hotbed for a Mass "Smuggling" Lobby, notoriously sending more and more Mass Asylum Seekers/Iregular Migrants from Africa towards Europe, through Italy and/or France, etc, it's obvious that any eventual Intrusion of Islamist Extremist Armed Gangs inside the Public Administration in Tripoli, could Seriously EnDanger the Security of European People.

As, already, Many Bloody Incidents have attested, Starting, f.ex., by 2 Fake "Refugees" (in fact: ISIL's Terrorists) who had infiltrated Europe from Turkey, through Greece, back on 2015, to actively Participate in the "Bataclan" massive Massacre in Paris, (etc)...

Or a 32 Years Old convicted Criminal, who presented himself as a ..."Child" aged just 15 or 16 y.o., was accepted as "Refugee", given Money and placed in a Foster Family, etc., by Hidding even the fact that he had been Already Condemned for Brutaly Attacking a Young Woman in Greece, that he Threw over a Bridge, and Abandoned for Dead, (even if she escaped death, but was Seriously Wounded), until he Violently Aggressed, Raped, and KIlled a Young Girl in Germany, (at Nearby Freiburg), who used to Help Refugees... (etc).

European People have Already suffered from a Lot of such UnPrecedented in History "Blunders", (particularly when, Suddenly, More than 1,5 Millions of Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants Tresspassed into the EU through Turkey), including inter alia, also f.ex. tha case of Deadly ISIS Terrorists' Top Propagandist, who arrived in Europe as if he was a ... Tourist, Met and Networked several Islamist Extremist "Sleeping" Cells here, even went ...Shopping at Marseille (France), buying Photo and Video Equipement for his notoriously Horrible Islamist Terrorism Propaganda Worldwide, and Returned Back to Syria to Continue his Morbid Persuasion Job, Affecting Millions of Feable-Minded and/or UnderAge People accross the World-Wide-Web, too often, notoriously Pushed towards committing Brutal Crimes... (ETC)+

=> Obviously, Europe canNot Afford, No More, a Repetition or even a massive Aggravation of such Bloody "Blunders" again, a fortiori No, if such kind of UnTrustWorthy, Islamist Extremism Networks will Now be installed right at the Front of the Huge African Continent's "Door" towards EU Countries, which is Libya and its Mediterranean Coasts, (particularly around Tripoli's notorious Smugglers' Ghetto)...

------------------------

- (3) -

But this Turkish move, to Suddenly jump from its Deadly Military Invasion of Northern Syria, in Asia, to anOther controversial Deadly Military Intervention, at anOther Continent : Africa, EnCircling Europe from anOther Side, is Not due to a pure Hasard, Neither a mere Coincidence, just Happening by Chance : On the Contrary, it seems to be a Calculated Step, Serving, in Fact, certain very Precise Turkish Interests Against Europe, which have Nothing to do with the Libyan People, (as even the African Union Organisation has just Warned Tripoli) :

- Indeed, it all comes Just After a Joint, Greece - Cyprus and Israel move (due to be Joined also by Others, Later-on), and already Supported by the EU and USA, to Sign a Deal for the Construction of Strategic Gas Pipeline due to Bring DIRECTLY into the EU the Recently Growing Energy Findings at the South Eastern Mediterranean Sea, and probably More (See : ..., etc), nick-named the "EAST-MED" Pipeline, practically Linking Israel and Cyprus' Sea Coasts, Near Friendly Egypt's similar Findings (which may Join asap : See ibid), Straight up to Greece and Italy, (which is expected to Join Later-on, and Already Supports that Plan inside EU's "Common Interest Projects").

+ And Just Before the Forthcoming inauguration, Next Week, of a Russia - Turkey Pipeline, through the Black Sea, (that Ankara would probably like to Later Extend, If Possible, until Greece into the EU, through its Anatolia Plateau, in order to get some Money to become sure to Pay itself for the Russian Gas it will receive, Despite the Shaky situation of the Turkish Economy currenty)...

However, Careful, the Russian President Vladimir Putin, has Not Yet given the "Green Light" for the Eventual Creation of such a Long and Zig-Zaging Russia - EU Pipeline through Turkey, But Reserved this as a possible Option for the Future, If and When, inter alia, EU Commission Might, Perhaps, Endorse, (or not), as such, or with some Modifications, that 2nd (and Bigger) Part of this Russian Pipeline through the Black Sea...

Naturally, Russia already has Also Several Other Possibilities (much More Simple, almost Ready, Faster, Cheaper, and Safer) to directly Provide Gas to the EU, withOut being Obliged to take the Trouble of Building from scratch even anOther Pipeline through the Black Sea, which would make all that Long Zig-Zag towards and from Turkey's Earthquake-prone Anatolia Plateau, Amidst various Risks from the Kurdish, Syrian, and Internal Conflicts (as, f.ex. also that 2016 short-lived Military "Coup", etc), added to Ankara's Notorious Bad Habits to Often Abuse of Political Blackmails, (etc) :

- Among Others, Indeed, Russia has just Agreed, Recently, with Ukraine's New President Zelensky, to re-Open the Pre-Existing Russian-Ukranian-EU Pipeline, for Deliveries inside the European Union ! Moreover, it all looks as if Germany Really sticks at its Plans for the "Northern Stream" Pipeline with Russia, so that it would, most Probably, go on asap... And a Direct (i.e. Not Obliged to Zig-Zag through Troublesome Turkey) Russia - EU Pipeline through the Blask Sea, naturally remains Still Technically Possible via EU Member Bulgaria, as it had been Planned Earlier, with a much Shorter, Faster, Cheaper and Safer Trajectory, (if EU Commission agrees), (Etc+)...

=> So that Turkey's own, Selfish Interests, canNot allow for the EU to have Other, Preferable Possibilities of Direct, Faster, Cheaper and Safer Gas Supplies, by Russia and/or By the Partnership between Israel, Cyprus and Greece (Comp. Supra)...

And this can Explain why, inter alia, also the Turkish vice-President Fuat Octay has reportedly launched, Recently, various Threats, (including vis a vis Israel, Cyprus and Greece's "East-Med" Gas Pipeline project, Supported by the EU and USA), Brutaly Claiming (indirecty but surely) that "it will FAIL", and/or Even that "We (Turkey will DESTROY"(sic !), such attempts, (etc)...

>>> What happened Nowadays on Libya looks, at least, as a big Part of it : Indeed, Turkey seems to have pushed the Shaky Tripoli Government to make a Controversial Double Deal : I.e, in substance, No Troops to face General Haftar's more Popular Army (Backed by the Internationaly Recognized Libyan Parliament, Refugeed at Tobruk, since a 2014 "Putch" in Tripoli), unless "Prime Minister" Fayez al-Sarraj also Endorses a Controversial, and apparently, grossly illegal Delimitation of Libya's and Turkey's EEZ which, practically, Omits all the Rights, (according to the International Law of the Sea) of Greek Islands, as big Creta, and even Cyprus itself, etc., as if they did Not have Any EEZ at all ! The Result of such a Caricatural way to ill-treat the International Law of the Sea is, practically, to Attribute almost ...Everything located between remote Turkey and Libya Exclusively to them, but absolutely Nothing to the Neighbouring Countries, Never mind how Near they might be...

=> The craddle of the matter is that, by doing so, Turkey, in fact, pretends that it might Hinder Any Direct Link between Israel and Cyprus, from one side, and Greece from the other, since Ankara would have Claims on a Great Part of its Trajectory : In other words, to put it in a nutshell, Turkey seeks to practically Cut EU's EEZ there in 2 Separate and Distant Parts, by Arbitrarily Ommitting all EU Islands' EEZ, located in the Middle...

So that this Turkish Move blatantly Undermines EU's Sovereignity and Energy Security, as it practically seeks to Hinder the only existing Direct Link to Important Energy Resources largely located inside EU Member States' EEZ (Cyprus, Greece, etc), and Other Friendly Countries, (Israel, Egypt, etc).

+ Moreover, it wasN't in the competence of a Non-Elected, "Interim" Government, as that of PM Sarraj (which had, Initially, been Agreed in order to Prepare Elections, which Never too place until now...), to take such a Decision, withOut Unanimity, Neither the Agreement of the Internationaly Recognized Parliament, refugeed at Tobruk, (which has reportedly Rejected Both Mr. Sarraj himself, and that Controversial Deal with Turkey), well informed Lybian sources pointed out.

=> In consequence, "the Turkey-Libya Memorandum of Understanding on the delimitation of Maritime Jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea infringes upon the Sovereign Rights of 3rd States, does Not Comply with the Law of the Sea, and canNot produce Any Legal Consequences for 3rd States", Unanimously stressed EU's 28 Member States in their Official Conclusions at the Latest EU Heads of State/Government Summit, on December 2019 in Brussels, (See, f.ex. : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eusummitslamsturkishlibyanflop.html, etc).

- Therefore, "the European Council unequivocally reAffirms its Solidarity with Greece and Cyprus, regarding these actions by Turkey", this BRX EU Summit underlined Firmly.

+ Meanwhile, a Strong Boost was Also Given to the "East-Med" Gas Pipeline a.o. relevant Projects by an "East-Med Act" adopted by USA's Congress n Washington DC, and Signed by US President Don Trump.

>>> Expressing, on this occasion, "Our Full Solidarity with Cyprus and Greece, in Front of Turkey's Provocatons in Eastern Mediterranean", French President Emmanuel Macron stressed, in his Press Conference, at the Conclusion of the Latest EU Summit in Brussels, that "It's Absolutely CRUCIAL" to express "Solidarity among EU Member States", so that "We'll Take ALL Useful MEASURES in this sense", as he Underlined with a particularly Firm Look in his eyes, because "we must Not Yield to any Provocation".

------------------------------

>>> In the Meantime, Turkey's Claim for Military Intervention inside Libya, had already Started to be Slamed, in one way or another, from Many Sides :

- F.ex., UNO's SG, Antonio Guterrez, Ruled Out "Any Foreign Support to Warring Parties" in Libya. "Any Foreign Support will only Deepen the on-going Conflict", he Warned, (almost as also Russian President Vladimir Putin).

- EU's High Representative Borrel, expressed his "Deep Concern".

- African Union's Committee President, Moussa Faki Mahamat, called for the "Rapid Promotion of a PEACEFUL Outcome from this Crisis", and "reiterated the African Union's attachment to an Inclusive POLITICAL SOLUTION, where All Actors ...play a main role".

- US President Don Trump Warned Turkey against any "Foreign Interference", because this "would Make the situation in Libya More Complicated".

- The "Arab League" adopted an official Statement Warning of "the Gravity" of "Foreign Military Interventions", which "contribute to the Escalation and Prolongation of the Conflict" in Libya.

+ Moreover, "Interventions" which "Transfer ...Foreign Extremist Fighters, from Other regional Conflict Zones, to Libya", should be Prevented, it stressed.

- Saudi Arabia and Other Arab Countries "Condemned" Turkey's Military Interference inside Libya.

- The Turkish decision to Deploy Troops in Libya presents a Dangerous Threat to regional stability", "constitutes a Gross Violation of the UN SC ...Arms Embargo", "and seriously Undermines ... efforts to find a Peaceful, Political Solution", but "Marks an Escalation of the Conflict and a Significant Deterioration", Denounced also a Joint Declaration by Cyprus' President Anastassiades and Prime Ministers of Israel and Greece, Netanyahu and Mitsotakis.

- "Turkey should Not Violate the Libyan Political Agreement, and related UN Resolutions", because the "Repercussions of such a Reckless move will be Dire for the Stability and Peace of the entire Region". On the Contrary, Ankara "should Refrain from ... Such Action, which blatantly Violates Libyan national Sovereignty and Independence, they Urged.

[+Partly UPDATED]

=> - The Main Message is "Keep Your Hands OUT OF LIBYA !", because "the Country is Suffering too much from Foreign Interferences", reportedly Urged the UN Envoy for Libya, Ghassam Salame, after speaking in a Closed Doors Meeting of UNO's Security Council at New York, (reportedly suggested by Russia, at first).

- "Arms sold or Given to Libyans, InDirect Foreign Military Interventions", etc., "All Kinds of Direct Foreign Interference make things Difficult". "There is Enough Weapons in Libya, they Don't Need Extra Weapons. There are Enough Mercenaries. So, STOP SENDING MERCENARIES, as it's the case RIGHT NOW, with Hundreds, probably Thousands, Comming into the Country, of late" !, he Warned.

On the Contrary, the Country should Focus on a Threefold Gradual Process : Economic/Social, Security, and Political, due to be Boosted this Month in Berlin, in order to Unfold, Later-on at nearby Geneva, for an Agreed Solution to the Crisis, the Top UN Envoy prefered.

-----------------------------------

(../..)

("Draft-News" + Partly UpDated)
(Reuters) - Xerox Holdings Corp (XRX.N) said on Monday it has secured $24 billion in financing for its $33.5 billion takeover offer for HP Inc (HPQ.N), a deal that the personal computer maker is opposing.

HP rejected the $22 per share offer in November saying it significantly undervalued the company, following which the printer maker took the offer directly to HPs shareholders.

Xerox has engaged in constructive dialogue with many of HPs largest shareholders, the companys chief executive officer, John Visentin, said in a letter addressed to HPs board on Monday.

My offer stands to meet with you in person, with or without your advisors, to begin negotiating this transaction, Visentin said.

Activist investor Carl Icahn, who has a 4.2% stake in HP and a 10.9% stake in Xerox, in December urged HP shareholders who agreed with a merger with Xerox to reach out to the PC makers directors for immediate action.

HP had said it was open to exploring a bid for Xerox, stating that it recognizes the potential benefits of consolidation.

Shares of HP were up nearly 2% in trading before the bell. The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

(The story corrects paragraph 6 to say HP open to exploring bid for Xerox instead of agreeing to a deal)
A view of the Dixie Red Rock at Pioneer Park, above the city of St. George, Utah. (Mikayla Whitmore for The Post)

The name abounds here, but that is slowly changing in the city of St. George  though not without resistance.
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As tears welled in the eyes of the hundreds packed into the church, ready to burst at any moment, the bravery and blissful innocence of a young girl brought a smile to their faces.

Charlotte O'Dwyer is too young to understand that she'll never see her father Andrew again, let alone that he won't be there on her first day of school, or her last day of school, or able to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day.

She will grow up without a father, but people everywhere will tell her that her daddy was a hero.

Mr O'Dwyer, 36, and his colleague Geoffrey Keaton were killed on December 19 when the truck they were in rolled and hit a tree while fighting a bushfire at Buxton, south of Sydney.

As mourners heard about the heroic efforts of Mr O'Dwyer that fateful night, little Charlotte donned her father's helmet and accepted a RFS service medal which he had been posthumously awarded.

Moments later, the 19-month-old lay on the floor under her father's coffin and ate a bag of chips, bringing a much needed smile to the faces of mourners.

Her innocence, on full display against a backdrop of grief at the front of the church, is exactly what her father and thousands of other firefighters right across Australia have been fighting so hard to protect over recent months.

Volunteer firefighter Andrew O'Dwyer (left) has been farewelled in an emotional service on Tuesday, with his young daughter Charlotte (pictured) accepting a Rural Fire Service service medal on his behalf, before donning his helmet

Charlotte O'Dwyer wears her father's helmet as his funeral begins at Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church in Horsley Park

Standing up on a church pew, Charlotte O'Dwyer points to the sky before muttering something in the direction of her mother

Little Charlotte also accepted and wore a RFS service medal which her father had been posthumously awarded at the service

In another photograph, the 19-month-old held the side of her father's coffin as she carried a cookie in her other hand

The young girl looks towards her mother in a white dress and metallic shoes as the funeral service continued in Sydney

An experienced volunteer firefighter, Mr O'Dwyer had been a member of the Horsley Park RFS for 18 years.

That he had first joined the brigade as a teenager was pointed out by RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, who gave a moving speech during the service.

'Charlotte should know her father was a selfless and special man, who only left because he was a hero,' he told the packed church.

After stepping from the altar he walked to the front row where young Charlotte was waiting.

Moments earlier she had stood up on the church pew, pointed to the sky and muttered something to her mother.

With her hair in pigtails, the toddler stood still as Mr Fitzsimmons pinned the RFS service medal to her white dress.

The young girl then donned her father's firefighting helmet as Mr Fitzsimmons handed certificates and an RFS flag to his wife Melissa

RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons (left) pins a service medal on the dress of young Charlotte, as her mother Melissa and grandfather Errol O'Dwyer watch on

Mr Fitzsimmons gives young Charlotte a hug after presenting her with the service medal posthumously awarded to her father

Mr O'Dwyer's wife Melissa holds their daughter Charlotte in their arms as they touch the hearse carrying his coffin, while his father Errol watches on

He then handed the fallen firefighter's helmet to his widow Melissa, a move which sparked a thought in the young girl's mind.

Looking up at her mother, Charlotte put her hands on the white hardhat as if asking Mrs O'Dwyer to put it on her.

Naturally, she obliged.

With the hat now sitting loosely on her head, the young girl shone a smile in the direction of her tearful relatives.

At the conclusion of the service she was swept up in her mother's arms and together they walked from the church.

When her mother briefly shed tears as they walked outside, Charlotte tried to comfort her by holding a hand up to her face. When her mother stopped crying, the young girl smiled again.

Mr O'Dwyer's father Errol (pictured) said in his eulogy that farewelling his son was the hardest thing he had ever had to do

Hundreds of friends, family and fellow RFS volunteers packed out the catholic church on Tuesday morning

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, NSW emergency services minister David Elliott and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian were all in attendance

Blissfully brave in the face of tragedy, the young girl's actions brought a smile to the face of her mother and RFS members as they walked Mr O'Dwyer's coffin out of the church

The father-of-one was farewelled at a requiem mass on Tuesday, with his father Errol leading the procession out of Our Lady of Victories church

Mrs O'Dwyer and her daughter Charlotte (front) were joined by members of the Horsley Park RFS in leading the procession out of the church grounds

Mr O'Dwyer's father Errol (left), his wife Melissa (far right) and daughter Charlotte (right) walk out of Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church following the service

Melissa O'Dwyer breaks down in tears outside her husband's funeral (left), before being comforted by the RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons (right)

Outside the service, Melissa O'Dwyer carried carried Charlotte in her arms before lowering her down so she could give her hero father's coffin a kiss goodbye. Around her, eyes welled with tears.

As her husband's coffin was loaded into the back of the hearse, Mrs O'Dwyer carried her daughter over and after giving it a kiss herself, lowered Charlotte down just enough so that she too could kiss her father's coffin goodbye.

Standing around the young girl, big brave men who have spent weeks fighting horrific fires wept.

Charlotte should know her father was a selfless and special man, who only left because he was a hero... RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons on Andrew O'Dwyer

As the back doors of the hearse shut, hundreds of RFS members put their hands on their hearts and lined the road, guiding the car out of the church grounds.

Walking just metres away, young Charlotte's blissful innocence continued to bring smiles to their faces.

At one point she spotted someone she knew in the crowd and tried to walk off in that direction, only to be helped back on track by her mother's guiding hand.

Unable to reach them, she instead offered a smile and a wave. Why wouldn't she?

In the days after her husband's death, Mrs O'Dwyer admitted she had never considered the possibility of having to guide her daughter through life alone.

In a moving tribute to their fallen colleague, hundreds of fellow RFS volunteers formed a guard of honour as Mr O'Dwyer was carried from the church

Mr O'Dwyer, 36, was remembered as a 'hero' by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons (Pictured are RFS volunteers and members at the funeral service for Mr O'Dwyer on Tuesday)

In a lasting tribute, Horsley Park RFS firetrucks will now have 'in memory of Andrew O'Dwyer' written on the passenger door

Maori members of the Rural Fire Service perform a Haka during the funeral for their fellow volunteer Andrew O'Dwyer

The stirring performance paid tribute to the 36-year-old who had been a much-loved member of the Horsley Park brigade for more than a decade

But as she soon realised, nor will she have to.

'Our kids have got all these aunties and uncles now and that gives me a lot of comfort,' she said at the time about the brave RFS volunteers who always help out.

'They can hear the stories about their dads and how mighty they have been.'

Although she won't have her husband by her side, Mrs O'Dwyer knows she'll always have some of him in Charlotte.

As for Charlotte, well she will always have some of her father in her new uncles and aunties.

Tears flow as Prime Minister Scott Morrison hugs Horsley Park RFS captain Darren Nation (left) after the emotional service for long-serving member Mr O'Dwyer. Another brigade member Geoffrey Keaton (right) was also killed in the firetruck rollover

RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons pins Mr Keaton's service medal on his young son, a moment that has become a lasting image of the bushfire disaster
Given the importance of the fight against global warming, the conflict between nationalist narratives and green internationalism could become the dominant political divide of the 2020s. If so, then the climate debate may import global issues into national politics like never before. As Project Syndicate writes, there is an overwhelming consensus among scientists that this decade will be the last window for humanity to change the current global trajectory of carbon dioxide emissions so that the world can get close to zero net emissions by around 2050, and thus avoid potentially catastrophic climate risks. But although the massive technological and economic changes required to achieve this goal are well understood, their political implications are rarely discussed.

While climate activists have built an impressive international movement, broadening their political support and crossing borders, the nationalist narrative has been gaining ground in domestic politics around the world. Its central message  that the world consists of nation-states in relentless competition with one another  stands in sharp contrast to the climate movements one planet emphasis on human solidarity. And these two trends are on a collision course.

Although greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions do not respect political borders, and climate change affects all parts of the planet, the impact of global warming is decidedly not uniform. An average global temperature increase of 2C will create extreme heat stress in India and Africa. Similarly, although rising sea levels will threaten lower-lying areas around the world, and more extreme weather events will affect almost everyone, already poor and vulnerable populations are especially at risk. Another inherently international aspect of the problem is carbon leakage as a result of trade. While GHGs are emitted in one country by the production of, say, steel, it is the use of that steel in importing countries that causes the emissions in the exporting country.

The net benefits for all countries of controlling global warming are clear, because the various tipping points (and the possibility of cascading effects) present huge global risks, and not just for future generations. Moreover, the green economy offers big medium-term opportunities. But, because climate mitigation is a global public good, and given the geographically varied impact of global warming and the transmission of emissions through trade, it is extremely difficult to make progress through multilateral negotiations. Every government tries to maximize its gains and minimize its losses according to a narrowly nationalist perspective  and often within very short-term political timeframes. The failure of the recent COP25 climate negotiations in Madrid reflects these difficulties only too well.

The climate movement has thus correctly perceived that success will require a planetary ethics based on global solidarity and responsibility, with any credible solution necessarily including compensation for the temporary losers from green policies. Solidarity may take the form of direct financial transfers or a global agreement to vary national emissions targets or carbon taxes according to countries income levels.

For that reason, climate change poses a clear dilemma for the political right. On one hand, an increasing number of voters  including many conservatives  are becoming more sensitive to the climate challenge, as extreme weather events and air pollution resulting from GHG emissions directly affect them. Some strongly religious voters have also become sympathetic to conservationist pleas, and Pope Francis has weighed in with an encyclical on ecology, Laudato Si.

On the other hand, the need to overcome short-term national interests in tackling global warming runs counter to the resurgent nationalist narrative. This is especially so in rich countries, which will have to compensate less developed economies either directly or by agreeing to differentiated rights and responsibilities. Raghuram G. Rajan, for example, recently proposed a formula whereby rich countries with per capita CO2 emissions above the world average would pay into a global fund that rewards low per capita emitters. However, under Rajans proposal, the United States would pay about $36 billion per year into the fund. Would nationalist politicians in advanced economies ever agree to such a formula, or even to much less ambitious variants?

Moreover, even governments that claim to be committed to the overall (and insufficiently ambitious) mitigation targets in the 2015 Paris climate agreement are dragging their feet when action requires substantial short-term sacrifice. Without robust solidarity, it seems, the tough measures and difficult compromises needed to protect the world from potentially devastating climate change are unlikely to come soon enough  if at all.

Some climate advocates minimize the distributional issue, because they want to build as wide a political tent as possible and emphasize the long-term gains for all from tackling global warming. And as some center-right political parties, notably in Europe, make climate protection part of their programs, government coalitions comprising them and green parties appear increasingly possible. Globally, however, the inherent contradiction between the conservative nationalist and green internationalist narratives will remain.

What China and India do is crucial, because they already account for about one-third of total global CO2 emissions. Further rapid increases in their share would fuel the nationalist reflex elsewhere, making any global climate agreement even harder to achieve. The European Unions plans for a carbon border tax will be hotly contested, not least on equity grounds, unless developing countries are exempted. The EUs proposed tax also could trigger a negative reaction from the US, depending on the results of Novembers presidential election.

The Nobel laureate economist Robert J Shiller has argued that economies are driven more by popular narratives than by technical policies. The same is true of politics, and, given the centrality of the climate issue this decade, the conflict between climate activism and nationalism is likely to become more pronounced.

In fact, this clash may become a defining feature of politics, with the nationalist right facing a coalition of climate-oriented voters comprising not only todays Greens, but also those from the social-democratic center-left and the traditional center-right. Moreover, other issues will be connected to this fault line, not least the need for domestic compensation of those groups that temporarily lose out as a result of ambitious climate mitigation efforts.

If the dominant divide of the 2020s is between the nationalist narrative and green internationalism, then the climate debate may import global issues into national politics like never before. The outcome, of course, remains to be seen.
Flags of the European Union fly next to flags of EU member countries at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on July 1, 2019. (Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty Images)

Europeans Set to Toughen Iran Response Over Nuclear Violations: Diplomats

BRUSSELS/PARISEuropean parties to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal might launch a dispute resolution process this week that might lead to renewed United Nations sanctions on Tehran, European diplomats said.

Iran took a further step back from its commitments to the 2015 pact with six world powers by announcing on Jan. 5 that it would scrap limits on enriching uranium, although it said it would continue to cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

Its decision followed the killing of Iranian military commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike.

Iran has criticized Britain, France, and Germany for failing to salvage the pact by shielding Tehrans economy from U.S. sanctions, reimposed since 2018 when Washington pulled out of the agreement.

Confirming that an emergency meeting of the European Unions 28 foreign ministers would take place on Jan. 9, an EU diplomat said: We must be ready to react to Irans breaches of the nuclear deal.

Asked whether this could mean triggering a mechanism that could result in international sanctions being reimposed on Tehran, the envoy said: It is increasingly likely, but not yet decided. Friday will be key.

Two other diplomats said France, Britain, and Germany could make the decision before Jan. 9.

Asked whether the mechanism would be triggered, one of the diplomats said: Not later than Friday, but yes.

The Deal Is All But Dead

Iran, which says its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, has already breached many of the restrictions under the 2015 deal, intended to increase the amount of time Tehran would need to accumulate enough fissile material for an atomic bomb to about a year from 2-3 months.

The vagueness of the Iran announcement makes it more necessary than ever to launch the mechanism since its whole purpose is to resolve the differences we have on this, a third diplomat said.

Any party to the deal that believes another isnt meeting its commitments can refer the issue to a joint commission comprising Iran, Russia, China, the three European powers and the EU. There would then be 15 days to resolve the differences, but the period can be extended if theres a consensus to do so.

The process can ultimately lead to a snapbackthe reimposition of sanctions in place under previous U.N. resolutions unless the U.N. Security Council decides otherwise.

Diplomats have said that unless any violations by Iran cross an unacceptable threshold, the Europeans will focus on extending the process rather than pushing toward sanctions, but its unclear what the Europeans breaking point would be.

The deal is all but dead, but we will do everything to slow and limit the (nuclear) proliferation slope that has been taken to try and save what can be saved, said a fourth European diplomat, suggesting Europe still needed to gauge what would be the impact of any measures Iran takes most importantly on the breakout time.

By Robin Emmott & John Irish
In a nutshell: ToTok, a popular messaging app removed from the Google and Apple storefronts last month after it was accused of being a UAE spy tool, is back on the Play Store following a two-week absence.

In late December, a report by the New York Times that cited United States intelligence officials claimed ToTok was a surveillance tool that can track every conversation, movement, relationship, appointment, sound, and image of those who install itinformation that ends up in the hands of the United Arab Emirates government.

ToTok had become very popular in the Middle East, where many messaging apps are blocked or partly blocked, following its launch a few months ago. It briefly became the most downloaded social app in the United States, too.

Computer security experts analysis suggested the firm behind ToTok, Breej Holdings, is most likely a front company affiliated with DarkMatter, an Abu Dhabi-based cyberintelligence and hacking firm that contracts directly with the Emirati government.

Before the Times report was published, the app was removed from both Apples App Store and the Google Play Store. While its still not available on the App Store, Google has quietly allowed it back.

A Google spokesperson declined to tell The Verge why the app was originally removed and why its been reinstated. ToTok has repeatedly denied the accusations, stressing that user privacy and security have always been its priority. In a statement last month, the company said it valued openness, honesty and transparency, and that it would eventually return to both app stores.

A technical analysis by a former NSA employee has concluded ToTok 'simply does what it claims to do, and really nothing more... no exploits, no backdoors, and no malware,' wrote the company's co-founders.
Nissan Motor and Carlos Ghosn are back on a collision course.

The Japanese automaker is preparing for a renewed legal and public relations battle against its former chairman and chief executive officer as Ghosn vows to hit back at the company he turned around two decades ago, but which he blames for engineering his downfall. Ghosn will hold a news conference Wednesday in Beirut, where he fled to escape trial in Japan on charges of understating his pay and misusing company money.

Nissan has already spent more than $200 million on lawyers, investigators, and digital forensics in its investigation of Ghosn and former executive Greg Kelly, people with knowledge of the matter said, asking not to be identified because the information isn't public.

Arrested in November 2018, Ghosn and Kelly - who both deny wrongdoing - were set to stand trial this year. That's now looking unlikely without the main defendant, thrusting the conflict into the public arena and possibly the Lebanese courts. Ghosn is seeking to salvage his legacy, while Nissan faces pressure to justify the turmoil brought on by its decision to investigate its leader and try to help prosecutors convict him.

With Ghosn expected to name the people behind what he says was a plot to halt his plans to more closely integrate Nissan with alliance partner Renault SA, the Japanese company is going on the offensive, according to people familiar with its intentions.

Nissan's first order of business may hit close to home for the fugitive Ghosn. He still has access to an elegant pink villa in Beirut that Nissan purchased for $8.75 million, renovated and furnished for him, according to a person familiar with the matter. Nissan views Ghosn's continued use of the house as illegitimate, and wants him evicted, the person said. Ghosn's representatives have resisted efforts to dislodge him through the courts, arguing the house was part of a retirement package to which he's legally entitled.

The carmaker also is looking at bringing legal action against Ghosn in Lebanon, the people said, to recover money it says he used improperly.

Nissan's capacity to retaliate against Ghosn is considerable. As well as the millions spent on lawyers, it hired computer experts to sift through 6 million emails - stretching back to when Ghosn first came to Nissan in 1999 - at the request of Japanese prosecutors, a person with knowledge of the probe said.

The automaker also engaged private investigators in the Middle East, who have been working for months to unearth potentially damaging material on the former executive, according to people familiar with the moves, asking not to be identified because the information isn't public.

"Ghosn's flight will not affect Nissan's basic policy of holding him responsible for the serious misconduct uncovered by the internal investigation," the Yokohama-based carmaker said Tuesday, in its first public statement since Ghosn fled. Nissan "will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused."

Nissan is continuing to plow time and money into pursuing Ghosn even with its business in crisis. Sales and profits have slumped, and the company is set to axe 12,500 jobs as it tries to keep up with the dramatic shifts in the global auto industry. Ghosn's arrest also hurt its alliance with top shareholder Renault, bringing long-standing tensions to the fore.

Azusa Momose, a spokeswoman for Nissan, declined to comment on the company's plans for Ghosn and whether it will take legal action in Lebanon. Representatives for Ghosn didn't respond to requests for comment. Nissan said Tuesday that its "internal investigation found incontrovertible evidence of various acts of misconduct by Ghosn, including misstatement of his compensation and misappropriation of the company's assets for his personal benefit."

Ghosn was arrested more than a year ago at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, kicking off a legal saga that saw him detained for months in solitary confinement before being released on bail, re-arrested and released again. Ghosn was facing trials that could land him in prison for more than a decade when, on Dec. 30, he fled to Lebanon to escape what he described as a "rigged Japanese justice system." The country doesn't have an extradition agreement with Japan.

The former auto executive, who has Lebanese, French, and Brazilian citizenship, plans to name the people he believes are behind a "coup" to take him down, including some in the Japanese government, at Wednesday's press briefing, according to Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo, who said she spoke with Ghosn last weekend.

With its business in jeopardy and shares down almost 40% since Ghosn's arrest, Nissan is rife with internal divisions over his ouster. Makoto Uchida, who became CEO last month, has a long list of challenges. A top deputy abruptly quit, the company withdrew its dividend outlook in November, and it is under pressure to refresh an aging product lineup. Uchida declined to comment on Ghosn or his escape at a New Year's reception in Tokyo Tuesday for Japan's major business groups.

Nissan doesn't have time to spend more money pursuing Ghosn, said Koji Endo, an analyst at SBI Securities Co. in Tokyo.

"Nissan's current focus should be to carry out major restructuring immediately following a sharp earnings fall and a dividend cut," he said.

Ghosn arrived at Nissan when Renault took a one-third stake in the struggling company. Dubbed "Le Cost Killer," he slashed jobs, cut expenses and restored profitability, eventually becoming CEO of both Nissan and Renault and forming a global auto alliance that now includes Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

In a letter to Nissan's employees Tuesday, Uchida urged workers to focus on the job at hand.

"Unfortunately, media coverage on the past executive misconduct will continue for a while," the CEO wrote in the email, which was seen by Bloomberg News. "We can only revive Nissan by everyone contributing and working as one team."

- - -

Bloomberg's Ayai Tomisawa, Tian Ying, Tsuyoshi Inajima and Dana Khraiche.
In the tense hours following the American killing of a top Iranian military commander, the countrys supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made a rare appearance at a meeting of the governments National Security Council to lay down the parameters for any retaliation. It must be a direct and proportional attack on American interests, he said, openly carried out by Iranian forces themselves, three Iranians familiar with the meeting said Monday.

It was a startling departure for the Iranian leadership. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, Tehran had almost always cloaked its attacks behind the actions of proxies it had cultivated around the region. But in the fury generated by the killing of the military commander, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a close ally and personal friend of the supreme leader, the ayatollah was willing to cast aside those traditional cautions.

The nations anger over the commanders death was on vivid display Monday, as millions of Iranians poured into the streets of Tehran for a funeral procession and Khamenei wept openly over the coffin.

After weeks of furious protests across the country against corruption and misrule, both those who had criticized and those who had supported the government marched together, united in outrage. Subway trains and stations were packed with mourners hours before dawn, and families brought children carrying photographs of Soleimani.

A reformist politician, Sadegh Kharazi, said he had not seen crowds this size since the 1989 funeral of the Islamic Republics founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

We are ready to take a fierce revenge against America, Gen. Hamid Sarkheili of the Revolutionary Guard declared to the throng. American troops in the Persian Gulf and in Iraq and Syria are within our reach.

No negotiations or deal, only war with America, funeral attendees chanted in a video shared with The New York Times.

A renowned eulogist and member of the Revolutionary Guard, Sadegh Ahangaran, exhorted the funeral crowds to raise their voices so damned America can hear you and to wave the flags in preparation for war.

The increasingly public vows of direct action on Monday constituted Irans latest act of defiance to President Donald Trump. Over the weekend the president had repeatedly threatened to retaliate for any attacks against American interests by ordering airstrikes against as many as 52 potential targets, one for each American hostage held after the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979.

In response, Irans moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, on Monday responded with his own numerology. Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290, he said on Twitter, a reference to the 290 people killed in 1988 in the accidental downing of an Iranian airliner by a U.S. warship. Never threaten the Iranian nation, Rouhani added.

Where, when and even if Iran may choose to retaliate remains a matter of speculation. As Iranian leaders weighed just what form it might take, analysts said the targets included U.S. troops in neighbouring Syria and Iraq, American bases in the Persian Gulf, or U.S. embassies or diplomats almost anywhere.

When previous attempts at direct strikes or assassinations have proved unsuccessful, some noted, Iranian-backed militants have turned to the simpler tactic of killing civilians with terrorist bombs.

This was the sequence in 2012 with the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah. After failing in attempts to attack Israeli targets or kill Israeli officials in revenge for the killing of one of the groups leaders, the militants eventually settled on the easier job of bombing a bus load of Israeli tourists in Bulgaria, said Afshon Ostovar, a scholar of Iran at the Naval Postgraduate School.

We are in uncharted territory, and the truth of the matter is nobody knows how Iran is going to respond. I dont think even Iran knows, Ostovar said. But I think there is a blood lust right now in the Revolutionary Guards.

In Iraq, where the parliament had earlier called for the immediate expulsion of the 5,000 U.S. troops stationed there, Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi on Monday listed steps to curtail the troops movements.

While plans were being made for departure of the Americans, he said, they will now be limited to training and advising Iraqi forces, required to remain within the bases and barred from Iraqi air space.

Abdul-Mahdi met with Matthew Tueller, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, on Monday, and stressed the need for joint action to implement the withdrawal, according to a statement and photo released by Abdul-Mahdis office. He also emphasized Iraqs efforts to prevent the current tensions between Iran and the United States from sliding into open war.

The U.S. military stirred a media flurry by accidentally releasing a draft letter that seemed to describe imminent plans to withdraw from Iraq. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. William H. Seely III, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, wrote to the Iraqi government that U.S. troops would be relocated to prepare for onward movement.

We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure, he wrote.

But Defense Department officials played down the significance of the letter. Heres the bottom line, this was a mistake, Gen. Mark A. Milley, Trumps top military commander, told reporters at the Pentagon during a hastily called press briefing. Its a draft unsigned letter because we are moving forces around.

Theres been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq, Mark T. Esper, the defence secretary, told reporters. Theres been no decision made to leave Iraq. Period.

Although the Trump administration has said that the United States killed Soleimani because he was planning imminent attacks against U.S. interests, there were indications Monday that he may have been leading an effort to calm tensions with Saudi Arabia.

Abdul-Mahdi said that he was supposed to meet with Soleimani on the morning he was killed, and that he expected him to bring messages from the Iranians that might help to reach agreements and breakthroughs important for the situation in Iraq and the region.

In Washington, two top Senate Democrats urged Trump early Monday to declassify the administrations formal notification to Congress giving notice of the airstrike that killed Soleimani.

Such notification of Congress is required by law, and to classify the entirety of such a notification is highly unusual.

Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Senate Democratic leader, and Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said in a joint statement that it was critical that national security matters of such import be shared with the American people in a timely manner.

And Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, urged Trumps critics not to jump to conclusions. Unfortunately, in this toxic political environment, some of our colleagues rushed to blame our own government before even knowing the facts, he said.

For its part, Iran simultaneously continued a months-long push against the Trump administration over its demands that Tehran submit to a more restrictive renegotiation of a 2015 accord with Western powers over its nuclear research. The Trump administration has sought to pressure Iran by devastating its economy with sweeping economic sanctions, which Iranian officials have denounced as economic warfare.

The sanctions set off the cycle of attacks and counterattacks that culminated last week in the killing of Soleimani. Iran has also responded with carefully calibrated steps away from the deals limits on its nuclear program. On Sunday, Iranian officials said that they had now abandoned all restrictions on the enrichment of uranium, though they said they would continue to admit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Amid the emotion of the funeral, some called for vengeance that would remake the region. Even if we attack all of U.S. bases and even if we kill Trump himself its not enough revenge, Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh said at the funeral. We must totally eliminate all U.S. troops from the region.

For now, Iranian officials seem to be in no rush to strike back against the United States, possibly enjoying their ability to spread anxiety throughout the West. They seem content to bask in the nationalist surge in their popularity, growing international sympathy and the push to expel U.S. troops from Iraq. I dont think they want to shift the conversation yet, said Sanam Vakil, a scholar of Iran at Chatham House, a research center in London.

But for the hard-liners who dominate the Iranian National Security Council, she said, some vigorous retaliation would be the only rational response. A non-response would appear weak and invite further pressure, creating problems in domestic politics and internationally, she said.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 23:34:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ABUJA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Several Boko Haram militants have been killed in a gunfight which followed an ambush on the convoy of top Nigerian army commanders in the country's northeastern state of Borno, the army confirmed on Tuesday.

At least four army commanders fighting Boko Haram in the northeast region were in the convoy attacked by the group in Kaga local government area of the state on Monday, the army said.

Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, the theater commander of operations in the northeast, and three other army commanders were on their way from a troops' location in Jakana town of Borno when the Boko Haram militants struck from a bush, Aminu Iliyasu, a spokesperson of the army in that part of the country, told reporters.

According to Iliyasu, the ambush was "a clear display of misguided desperation" by the Boko Haram to stage a reprisal, following a recent killing of several of their top commanders by troops on Dec. 6.

He said the theater commander led the troops to engage the militants with superior firepower, subduing them and thereafter assaulting the ambush site. Two soldiers were wounded in the gunfight.

"In the aftermath of the encounter, several Boko Haram criminal insurgents were decimated," Iliyasu said, adding many arms and ammunition were recovered from some fleeing Boko Haram fighters.
This is the amusing moment a man went into Tesco and found his favourite 1.10 chocolate bar locked away in security boxes.

Footage shows Thom scanning shelves of large Aero mint, Dairy Milk and Galaxy bars stored in plastic containers at the supermarket in Bristol yesterday.

He picks up the 100g peppermint Aero bar and moves it to show the tight security packaging.

Thom was left baffled after finding a Milkybar locked away in a security-box at his local Tesco store in Bristol

The chocolate-lover said: 'It was funny because almost everything else around them was of higher value but had no security.

'I actually asked the guy at the till and he didn't know why they were boxed!'

It comes months after the supermarket started storing Cathedral City cheese in boxes.

He scanned the shelves to find the Aero bar locked away behind a security box. This months just two months after the supermarket kept Cathderal City cheese in similar packaging

One shopper wrote on Twitter that they were stopped from buying a product because a staff member was unable to open one of the security boxes in a store on December 19.

Some have also complained about home-deliveries arriving in the packaging.

Meanwhile the Co-op in Recliffe, Bristol, started displaying empty coffee jars, ranging from 2.27 Co-op own brand 'rich roast' to Kenco's 8.48 premium option, and detergent packs which require customers to request them from the counter and staff get them from the stockroom.

This was to stop the store being targeted several times a day and often by the same offenders who try to disguise themselves, according to staff.

They have a 'limiter' on Cathedral City cheese as the only type shoplifters do not tend to go for is the Co-op's own brand.
Bulgarian authorities are set to cull over 24,000 pigs after the country experienced its first outbreak of African swine fever since August 2019.

Veterinary authorities confirmed on Friday (3 January) the disease was present on a farm in the region of Shumen, northeast Bulgaria.

A 3km protection zone has been set up around the area of the outbreak, as well as a 10km monitoring zone, according to Bulgarian media site Sofia Globe.

The northeast of Bulgaria is known for its heavy pig production. In the Shumen district, there are approximately 65,000 pigs.

Prior to Friday's outbreak, areas of the country had declared a state of emergency following the discovery of ASF last August.

Authorities culled 130,000 pigs on six large commercial farms in the north of the country, close to the Romanian border.

It comes as the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recently warned that no countries are safe from the spread of African swine fever.

A quarter of the worlds pigs could die as a result of the virus, scientists have predicted.

In the UK, sniffer dogs are currently used at border points in an effort to combat the growing threat of the disease entering the country.

Officials are ordered by the government to seize and destroy illegally imported meat products.

The disease is highly contagious and the virus can survive in pork meat products, even if cooked or frozen
"ConstructReach is an industry-changing initiative focused on uniting all industry stakeholders for true change.

ConstructReach, a construction industry workforce development company, kicks off its 4-city I Built This tour at the Target located at 8900 S. Sepulveda Blvd in Los Angeles, California on April 14 and 15, 2020. High school students aged 16-18 years from neighboring school districts will gather to learn about the construction industry and participate in elements of the stores remodel. A photographer will be on hand to capture the students at work. Images of participants that represent the makeup of the surrounding community will be featured on the sales floor as tangible examples of success with the proud statement, I built this!.

This is the first of a 4-city tour which will engage communities, students, teachers, and construction leaders in the following cities throughout 2020:

Los Angeles, California April 14 and 15, 2020

Denver, Colorado April/May

St. Louis, Missouri July

Miami, Florida September

ConstructReach exists to increase the visibility of the construction industry by educating students about career opportunities, connecting general contractors to interns and innovative internship curriculum, and creating content, experiences, and a ConstructReach social network to expose diverse populations to construction careers, said Paul Robinson, Founder and CEO of Construct Reach. Fifty-three percent of skilled trade workers are over 46 and will be retiring. Plus, only 9.1% of construction workers are women, only 5.8% are African American, and only 1.9% are Asian. I Built This introduces diverse students to construction opportunities to work towards changing those statistics.

By uniting general contractors, educators, brands, and students in a variety of meaningful ways to educate various stakeholders about the opportunities within construction, students, brands, and construction leaders gain unparalleled insights.

The construction industry is in crisis right now. Thousands and thousands of good paying office and in-the-field jobs remain unfilled, said Mike Arasin, ConstructReach Advisory Council Member, ConstructReach client, and CEO of Fulcrum Construction, a nationwide retail commercial construction company. Every day the crisis gets worse as the industry loses more of its workforce to retirement. The needs are critical and talented individuals, especially those from minority groups and women are in very high demand. ConstructReach is an industry-changing initiative focused on uniting all industry stakeholders for true change.

Students from the surrounding districts participate and Paul Robinson, Founder and CEO of ConstructReach, will provide an overview of the industry and discuss career opportunities. The general contractors involved in the Target remodels/builds will provide hands-on activities, a site tour, and the opportunity to contribute to the building by assisting with fixtures, flooring, painting, and wall framing.

The I Built This Campaign kicks off this unparalleled initiative fusing corporations, industry, and students. A workforce development initiative aimed at meeting the needs of all stakeholders, ConstructReach plans to transform the construction industry within the next decade. For more information or to interview Paul Robinson, please contact Allex Jesper at ajesper@arcoandassociates.com.

About ConstructReach

Founded in May 2018, ConstructReach is a construction industry workforce development initiative that seeks to increase the visibility of the construction industry by educating students about career opportunities within construction, connecting general contractors to interns, employees, and internship curriculum, and creating content, experiences, and a social network to expose a diverse population to sustainable construction careers. Over half of the skilled construction labor force is nearing retirement age and fewer students, especially from diverse backgrounds, are pursuing a construction career. ConstructReach works with students, educators, high school counselors, large brands, and general contractors throughout the country to ensure they have the information and connections they need to facilitate the long-term longevity of a new, more diverse construction industry. ConstructReach started efforts with more than 100 general contractors throughout the United States, but is currently adding additional general contractors, and expanding brands to its network. For more, please visit constructreach.com.
A worker adjusts a valve of an oil pipe in Zubair oilfield in Basra, Iraq.

A dramatic escalation of geopolitical tensions will most likely result in an unplanned oil supply shortage in the Middle East, energy analysts told CNBC on Tuesday, elevating the likelihood of another spike in oil prices.

International benchmark Brent crude rose to its highest level since September in the previous session, briefly climbing above $70 a barrel, as U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) surged to its highest value since April.

The gains follow intensifying fears about the prospect of retaliatory action from Tehran, after the U.S. killed a top Iranian general late last week.

"The consequence one can draw from the latest chapter of the U.S.-Iran relationship is that the geopolitical risk premium is more likely to turn into unplanned supply shortage than disappear," Tamas Varga, senior analyst at PVM Oil Associates, said in a research note published Tuesday.

"The only questions are when and in what form," Varga said.
A family-of-four trapped in Mallacoota for six days were holed up in the local cinema watching Frozen and Happy Feet as blazes raged around them.

Canadian Meaghan Wegg, 34, and her Australian-born husband Tim Buckley, 37, travelled to the popular holiday destination with their daughter Georgia, three, and son Jackson, five on December 27.

But they were forced to seek refuge in the cinema after fleeing to the beach as the blazes approached on New Year's Eve.

'We got here and it felt like a death trap to be honest,' Ms Wegg told CNN of the ordeal.

Canadian Meaghan Wegg, 34, and her Australian-born husband Tim Buckley, 37, camped at the theatre in the East Gippsland region of Victoria with their three-year-old daughter Georgia and five-year-old son Jackson

'On December 31, we woke up and it was already 40C which is a danger watch and fire ban for campers, so we decided to take the kids to the beach to get some water play,' Ms Wegg said.

'We had a blast and stayed longer than we usually would have to keep cool in the water, took our time to get back in the air conditioning and as soon as we got there we had a 10-minute ''get out ASAP'' call and the sirens were going off.'

The family packed up their belongings and went to another beach, where they set up a campsite and waited for the conditions to pass.

But the fire continued to edge closer and the family were forced to escape again at about 4am and found security at the cinema where they were forced to watch Frozen and Happy Feet to pass the time.

On New Year's Day, Ms Wegg wrote on Facebook it was the longest 24 hours of her life.

'Bushes are burnt right where our tents were, houses are gone... We are covered in sand and smoke still is in the air,' she said.

'We were with an amazing community here in Mallacoota. We all just waited in silence and the local cinema (where our second shelter was) played many movies for us and it kept the kids calm.'

The family slept on a crash mat for six days and managed to charge an iPad so the children were distracted by games and things to watch.

Authorities created an evacuation list for those stranded in Mallacoota and determined that families with children under five would be airlifted, while other victims would escape by boat. Pictured: The family wait to leave Mallacoota

On Friday, the family gathered 12 children to make the best out of a bad situation and celebrate Georgia's third birthday.

Authorities created an evacuation list for those stranded in Mallacoota and determined that families with children under five would be airlifted, while other victims would escape by boat.

The family were part of more than 400 people flown to safety by helicopter on Sunday.

'We are all very tired and overwhelmed with the last week being stuck in the Mallacoota fires,' Ms Wegg wrote on Facebook after escaping.

'Thanks so much for all of your support! It kept us positive and gave us hope, you have no idea. It really meant the world.

'We are in shock and will take some time to rest and heal mentally.'

About 4,000 people became stranded on the Mallacoota beach last week when fire suddenly cut off the town.

Communities across East Gippsland had been told to get out before fire hit, but Mallacoota was not one of them.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 7 : A hapless Kerala mother on Tuesday begged the Centre to see that her daughter Nimisha who was a Islamic State (IS) supporter and currently lodged in a jail in Kabul is brought back to India.

Bindhu told the media that she too heard the news that her daughter along with nine other Indian widows of former IS activists are currently lodged in a jail at Kabul.

"I beg the Centre to take steps to see that my daughter and others who are lodged in a jail in Kabul is brought back to India. I am an Indian and I want the due process of Indian law to look into what they did. I do not want my daughter to be tried in an alien country and I have full faith in the laws of my country," pleaded Bindhu.

"I want to know the truth on who were behind my daughter. I have already shared whatever information I had with the NIA. I really want to know how, and what happened to my daughter and who were behind misleading her. The entire evidence of what happened to her is in Kerala, so the Centre should bring back my daughter and others," said Bindhu.

Among the ten include Nimisha and two other Kerala ladies - Nabeesa and Maria.

The news of Keralites joining IS surfaced after the Kerala government contacted various central agencies - IB, NIA, RAW in 2016 about the veracity of reports about 19 missing people from the state and according to some of the relatives they are believed to have joined the IS.

These 19 included 10 men, six women and three children and of these, most of them hail from Kasargode and a few from Palakkad districts and includes Christian and Hindu converts.

While in the past two years, a few of those who had joined IS were reportedly killed, according to their relatives, who got information about it and the husbands of the three Kerala ladies were among those who have been killed.

It was in 2016 that Bindhu, who is settled near Manacadu in the state capital approached Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking his help to locate her daughter who had gone missing.

But later it was known that Nimisha has got married to her friend Eeza, a Christian who had converted to Islam.

Further to this the news came that she had left for Afghanistan and the last contact the mother and daughter had was in November last year, when she spoke to her daughter and husband.
We dont yet know how Iran will retaliate, or whether all-out war will be averted. But already, NATO has suspended its mission training Iraqi forces to fight ISIS. Iraqs Parliament has voted to expel U.S. troops  a longtime Iranian objective. (On Monday, U.S. forces sent a letter saying they were withdrawing from Iraq in response, only to then claim that it was a draft released in error.) On Sunday, Iran said it will no longer be bound by the remaining restrictions on its nuclear program in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the deal that Trump abandoned in 2018. Trump has been threatening to commit war crimes by destroying Irans cultural sites and tried to use Twitter to notify Congress of his intention to respond to any Iranian reprisals with military escalation.
Two suspects are in custody after a shooting in Harrisburg on Monday night, according to police.

Officers were dispatched at around 8 p.m. Monday to the area of North 17th and Liberty streets for a report of a shooting. Responding officers found two suspects fleeing the area and both were arrested without incident, police said.

No injuries were reported as a result of the shooting. The suspects have not yet been identified.

The St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Harrisburg was closed off by officers at the time of the shooting, and officers could be seen talking with church officials and searching the grounds outside.

A K9 unit was brought to the scene, and officers could be seen digging evidence out of the bark of trees between Liberty and State streets in 17th Street.

Read more: Harrisburg police investigate multiple scenes following non-injury shooting

Police continue to investigate the shooting and ask anyone with information to contact the Harrisburg Bureau of Police at 717-558-6900.

Tips can also be submitted via the departments CrimeWatch page.

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang holds talks with visiting Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks with visiting Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith here on Monday, calling for further development of bilateral relations.

Hailing the friendly relations between China and Laos, Li said China attaches great importance to relations with Laos and is ready to work with Laos to carry forward their traditional friendship, deepen mutual political trust, implement the action plan on the building of a community with a shared future for China and Laos, and promote cooperation featuring win-win results.

Noting the huge potential for cooperation between the two countries, Li pointed out that the bilateral trade volume increased last year against all odds.

China stands ready to work with Laos to promote the construction of key infrastructure projects and deepen cooperation in finance and agriculture, and welcomes high-quality Lao agricultural products to enter the Chinese market, said Li, adding that China encourages its competitive and reliable enterprises to invest in Laos and supports Laos's efforts in improving its people's livelihood.

Li also voiced China's support for Laos in hosting the third Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) leaders' meeting and said China is willing to work with ASEAN countries including Laos to facilitate regional economic integration and promote the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as scheduled this year to jointly cement regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Thongloun congratulated China on its development achievements and said the signing of the action plan last year on building a community with a shared future for both countries has laid a solid foundation for the two sides to enhance mutual political trust and deepen pragmatic cooperation.

Laos is ready to closely work with China for more mutually beneficial results, enhance experience exchanges on governance, and deepen cooperation in trade, investment, tourism and agriculture as well as the Laos-China railway project, he said.

Thongloun said his country will continue to promote trade facilitation, optimize its business environment and welcome Chinese enterprises to invest in Laos.

After the talks, Li and Thongloun witnessed the signing of several bilateral cooperation documents covering areas such as finance, information and e-commerce.

China's top legislator Li Zhanshu also met with Thongloun on Monday.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said the NPC is ready to work with the Lao parliament to strengthen experience exchanges on governance, advance cooperation between legislative bodies, provide legal guarantees and policy support for cooperation between the two countries, jointly improve their abilities to cope with risks and challenges, and promote the modernization of their own system and capacity for governance.
Walter Luebcke, a prominent politician, was shot dead outside his home in a suspected far-Right attack last year - DPA

The mayor of a town in western Germany has applied for a gun license to protect himself after receiving far-Right threats, it has emerged.

The case comes amid growing concern over the threat of violence from the far-Right in Germany.

The mayor involved has not come forward publicly and the case only emerged from official court papers in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Details remain sketchy but according to local press reports the town has a known far-Right problem and the mayor has been the targets of threats and hostile behaviour.

The mayor of a municipality requests permission to acquire, own and carry weapons because of a particular risk situation, an announcement of a hearing in the regional capital, Dusseldorf, reads.

Germany has tough gun laws and licenses are generally only granted to registered hunters and professional marksmen.

An unnamed German mayor has applied for a gun license for self-protection after receiving threats from the far-Right Credit: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images Contributor

Although it is possible to request a license for self-protection, the bar is set very high. Applicants are allowed to remain anonymous.

Personally, I don't think much of private individuals or office-holders arming themselves, Herbert Reul, the regional interior minister, told the Rheinische Post newspaper.

If there is evidence of danger, all necessary measures are taken. Those affected can contact the police at any time.

Last year saw a sharp rise in far-Right violence in Germany. A prominent politician from Angela Merkels Christian Democrat party (CDU) was shot dead outside his home in a suspected far-Right attack in June.

In a separate incident in October, a massacre was narrowly averted when a far-Right gunman failed to break into a packed synagogue in the east German city of Halle.

Authorities in the city of Dresden announced a Nazi emergency the same month, saying they were struggling to cope with far-Right and racist activity.
The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), one of the Milky Way's closest galactic neighbors, gets a close-up in this image from the European Southern Observatory's VISTA telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile.

Paul M. Sutter is an astrophysicist at The Ohio State University , host of Ask a Spaceman and Space Radio , and author of " Your Place in the Universe. " Sutter contributed this article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights .

Cosmic rays are tiny charged particles accelerated to nearly the speed of light through some of the most violent events in the universe. By themselves they're not too awful, but in big enough numbers they can start to wreak havoc on entire galaxies.

A team of researchers recently released simulations of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC)  a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way  and found that cosmic rays from a starburst event are starting to rip it apart. For now, thankfully, the LMC seems to be holding itself together.

Related: Gallery: 65 All-Time Great Galaxy Hits

Head in the clouds

Our Milky Way galaxy hosts a retinue of dozens of smaller satellite galaxies. The biggest are the LMC and the Small Magellanic Cloud. They got their name from Ferdinand Magellan; even though these two galaxies were known to stargazers in the southern hemisphere for millennia, Europeans became more familiar with them after detailed records taken after Magellan's famous world-girdling voyage, and so his name stuck.

Although it appears massive in the sky  over 20 times the width of the moon  the LMC sits about 160,000 light-years away from us. With a mass about 10 billion times that of the sun and a diameter of 14,000 light-years, it's the fourth-largest galaxy in our Local Group. The LMC currently orbits the Milky Way along with its sibling, the Small Magellanic Cloud, slowly spiraling inward as it does. In about 2.5 billion years, the LMC will finally reach our own galaxy , and the real fireworks will start then.

But the LMC is capable of some interesting bursts of star formation before that titanic collision billions of years from now. In addition to orbiting the Milky Way, it also orbits the Small Magellanic Cloud, and gravitational interactions between the two can trigger rounds of intense star formation, briefly lighting up the cloud before it settles back down again.

Related: Stunning Photos of Our Milky Way Galaxy (Gallery)

Cooking with cosmic rays

These rounds of intense star formation occur every few hundred million years, and whenever new stars are formed there will be an extra number of the highest-mass stars. These stars live their lives quickly, burning through their nuclear fuel in just a few million years before detonating in supernova explosions , some of the most powerful and energetic events in the known universe.

One of the many byproducts of this violence is the production of cosmic rays, tiny charged particles accelerated to nearly the speed of light. Cosmic rays constantly zip and zap through the cosmos, leaping over billions of light-years to wreak havoc wherever they land.

And according to a recent suite of simulations submitted to The Astrophysical Journal , the copious cosmic rays produced during the rounds of intense star formation in the past are trying to  for lack of a better term  blow up the LMC.

The trouble with cosmic rays is their kinetic energy. Even though they're individually miniscule, their ludicrous speeds mean they can pack a real wallop. And if you're just a random cloud of gas hanging out in the LMC, minding your own business and not bothering anyone else, an onslaught of cosmic rays can really ruin your day. One by one, interaction by interaction, the cosmic rays hit the molecules of the gas cloud, imparting some of their kinetic energy and heating up the gas.

Now much hotter, the gas isn't so interested in staying in the LMC  or, in other words, the gravity of the LMC isn't strong enough to hold on to its own gas after these rounds of concentrated star formation and supernovae. And so the hot gas tries to leave.

Magellanic live-streaming

But not so fast. The researchers examined their simulations to see how far the hot gas, now loose and unbound from the LMC, could escape from their home galaxy . To study this, the researchers looked at the simulated behavior of something called the Magellanic Stream, a trail of hot, thin gas that wraps almost all around the Milky Way, a flow of material ejected from the Clouds hundreds of millions of years ago.

And the researchers found a surprise: even though the cosmic rays heated up the gas in the LMC, the gas stayed inside.

The reason for this apparent contradiction is the LMC's orientation as it falls toward the Milky Way. For the past billion years or so, it's been heading for us directly, no-holds-barred and face-on. Because of this orientation, as the LMC swims through the loose halo of gas surrounding the Milky Way, pressure from the gas can  temporarily  keep a lid on things.

So even though the LMC wants to eject a good fraction of gas, the small galaxy's belly flop into the Milky Way prevents it from escaping. At least for now. Eventually the ram pressure will ease, loosing the hot gas from the LMC and letting it spill into the stream behind it.

And as for the reason behind the existence of the stream itself, the researchers suspect it is caused more by gravitational interactions between the two Clouds than any effects of cosmic rays.

One thing is for sure: When it comes to the Large Magellanic Cloud, the next few billion years are going to be very interesting.

Read more: " Cosmic Ray Driven Outflows from the Large Magellanic Cloud: Contributions to the LMC Filament "

You can listen to the Ask A Spaceman podcast on iTunes , and on the Web at http://www.askaspaceman.com . Ask your own question on Twitter using #AskASpaceman, or by following Paul @PaulMattSutter and facebook.com/PaulMattSutter . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook .
Since Friday, when the U.S. killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani near Iraqs only international airport, Baghdad and Washington have, on the outside, remained locked in a bitter diplomatic feud. Iraqs parliament voted on Sunday that U.S. troops should end their ISIS-fighting mission in the country. Since then, President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose harsh economic sanctions on the country if it ejects American troops.

On Monday, Mahdi publicly declared that U.S. troops were confined to base, limited to training and advising only, and his office released a statement that hed told the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad that both countries needed to implement the withdrawal of foreign forces, even as Trump administration officials try to stave off the expulsion behind the scenes.

But privately, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has been trying to slow-roll the American departure, Iraqi advisors say, fearful not just of Trumps threatened sanctions, but of the departure of Western investment along with the foreign troops, and a resurgence of the so-called Islamic State without U.S. assets to hunt it.

No real discussion has taken place as to the speed and scale of the withdrawal, or whether a full withdrawal will take place, a senior Iraqi official told TIME. At worst, we need to agree to an amicable divorce, in which we keep having a workable relationship thereafter. Otherwise we both lose out big time.

After Irans supreme leader vowed to avenge Soleimanis death hours after the strike, U.S. forces are curtailing counter-ISIS operations in Iraq in order to defend U.S. facilities against possible Iranian-backed retaliatory attacks, and U.S. diplomats are weighing a slight drawdown of personnel until the worst passes, with little trust that Iraqi security forces will protect them after the U.S. embassy in Baghdad was attacked on New Years Eve, a senior administration official told TIME.

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Theres nobody we can work with in the (Iraqi) government right now, the official said. We want to be there, but if nobody on the other end wants our help, weve got to make a decision as to whether to keep our people there. (A State Department official would not confirm the deliberations, adding, We are always evaluating our personnel posture.)

U.S. military officials had to tamp down a flurry of reports a U.S. troop drawdown would begin shortly after a letter leaked to the media from U.S. Marine Brigadier General William Seely in Baghdad, advising the Iraqi government that he would be repositioning forcesin the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement in deference to the Iraqi Parliaments vote. We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure, he added. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley told reporters the letter was a draft sent in error, and that troops are not leaving.

A senior U.S. military official said that while contingency planning is underway for a withdrawal if the Iraqi government eventually demands it, U.S. troops simply cant draw down in the immediate future due to Irans current threats of retaliation. Any reduced military presence in the foreseeable future would be untenable given the Iraqi militarys inability to protect the bases that house our people, even if theyre willing to do so, the official said.

Mahdi, too, is trying to slow down the car crash, privately weighing options that would see only some U.S. troops withdraw, or extend the drawdown over a long period of time, says an Iraqi official who advises the prime minister. The Parliament wants to eject coalition troops fighting against (ISIS)but not specialized people who came to help the Iraqi security apparatus by training them, the advisor told TIME Monday.

Mahdi had already artfully thrown a bureaucratic wrench in the works on Sunday, essentially disqualifying himself from carrying out the removal orders. Just after he won the Parliaments approval to remove all 5,200 U.S. troops Sunday, he then asked the lawmakers to do something they havent been able to pull off since he resigned from his post last fall: replace him with a new prime minister.

It was a classic delaying tactic designed to buy time for tempers to cool, says Kenneth Pollack, a former CIA officer based in Iraq who is now a resident scholar with the American Enterprise Institute. The leadership  starting with Mahdi but not limited to him  are trying to figure this out to roll it back so it takes months or years That said, weve got two rounds coming up that are hugely determinative: what Iranians do and how Trump reacts to whatever they do.

Mahdis private backtracking shows hes painfully aware of the countrys fragile economic state, which fueled months of Iraqi protests that prompted him to resign in the fall, and led him to occupy his current caretaker role.

Any public warming or repair of the damaged U.S.-Iraqi relationship, however, may have to wait for Iran to respond for the drone strike that killed Soleimani, who commanded Irans elite Quds Force. Iraqs Shia majority is furious over the killing of the man who brought them weaponry and military advisors to keep ISIS from marching south through Baghdad in 2014, while the Obama administration dithered. Until Iran respondsnone of the Shia leaders either wants to or dares to call for repairing relations with the U.S. or for U.S troops to remain, says Rend Rahim, a former Iraqi Ambassador to the U.S. who now heads the Baghdad-based nonprofit Iraq Foundation.

Still, hes not the only one exhibiting signs of quick to anger, repent at leisure regret: Video was leaked of Iraqs Sunni Parliamentary Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi warning the largely pro-Iran Shiite majority in Parliament that they would be blamed if Iraqs economy slides into the abyss for choosing to oust U.S. troops in retaliation for Soleimani at their own economys expense. Even firebrand Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr reversed his calls to all Iraqis to take up arms against the Americans, stating only a day later that all diplomatic options should be exhausted first.

Trumps steady drumbeat of tweeted and spoken insults and sanction threats are not helping relations get back on track. Rahim, the former Iraqi Ambassador, said the sanctions threats have only made the situation worse. The senior U.S. military official said they complicated the behind-the-scenes effort to persuade the Iraqis to reconsider their plans. Call what the Embassy is trying to do damage control, the official said.

The Iraqi official who advises Mahdi said Trumps salvo on Sunday that Iraq must pay the U.S. back for improvements it made to Al Asad Air Base, which actually belongs to Iraq, also infuriated Iraqi officials. The PM is under huge pressureTrump is making it harder for for him, he said.

Others agree. Its not our base. Its theirs, Pollack said. We made improvements to their base, as part of the ISIS fight. That is so insulting to Iraq sensibilities.

Administration officials acknowledge that Mahdis position, caught between his next-door neighbor and its potent allies on his turf and the U.S., has grown more difficult in light of the attack on Soleimani and Trumps sanctions threat.

Mahdi will tilt toward Tehran, in the words of a former senior U.S. intelligence expert on Iran, especially given the lack of European support for Trumps Iran actions. The official said: If you were Abdul Mahdi, which way would you turn, toward the neighbor who invented chess or a temperamental Twitter addict halfway around the world?

Some Iraq watchers say that if Iran does win this tug of war for Iraqs future, that will ultimately suit Trump just fine. We dont want to stayso thats why we took that risk, says Michael Knights, a scholar with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, who has met with Iraqs top leaders since 2003. We see our mission being as degraded and the countrys leadership being completely unresponsive to our concerns.

U.S. and coalition officials had petitioned Mahdi repeatedly to rein in the countrys Popular Mobilization Forces, most of them Shiite militiamen aligned with Iran, and led by Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, the Iraqi deputy commander who was killed along with Soleimani. Mahdi had tried unsuccessfully to rein in al-Mohandes  known as the Engineer  and his militias. The armed fighters technically answered to the prime minister, but al-Mohandes enjoyed hero status among the Iraqi people for his role in defeating ISIS. And his backing by Iranian general Soleimani meant al-Mohandes could essentially do as he pleased.

It was al-Mohandes forces  groups like Asab al-Haq and Kataib Hezbollah  that conducted 11 rocket attacks against U.S. troops and personnel on Iraqi bases over the last two months. The groups also trafficked Iranian personnel, money and weapons, including mid-range missiles across Iraq, at Soleimanis behest, U.S. and Iraqi officials say.

That lead to at least two strikes by Israel last year against the lethal Iranian aid, including bombing missiles stored on a militia base in northwest Iraq last May. An angry Iraqi prime minister ordered an investigation into the strikes, convinced Washington had approved them. U.S. officials shared commercial satellite imagery with Mahdi, showing him that the militia groups had buried whatever munitions had survived the Israeli action, and suggested the prime minister investigate what Iran was smuggling. Mahdis investigations team did try to access the base, but were turned away twice in a demonstration of how little power the prime minister had over what had become essentially a parallel power structure within Iraq.

That long-running friction between U.S. and Iraqi officials over militia activity eventually convinced U.S. officials that Mahdi was unwilling or unable to stop attacks on U.S. interests, including a recent rocket attack on a military base in Iraq, which killed an American contractor and injured four U.S. service members working to fight ISIS. That led to the Trump administration strikes on Iraqi militia bases and the subsequent attack by Kataib Hezbollah on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on December 31st.

U.S. officials complained to Iraq that it took roughly 24 hours for the prime minister to personally scramble Iraqi forces to defend the protestor-besieged embassy, which was hit by volleys of rocks and Molotov cocktails, an Iraqi official says, and the senior Trump administration official confirmed. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the fraught conversations. Al-Mohandes was among the protestors on New Years Eve, apparently countermanding Mahdis orders and keeping the violence going.

U.S. diplomats told the Iraqi government that its embassy security teams were within minutes of switching to live fire against the protestors, when Iraqi special forces finally appeared. There was no loss of life, but three of the embassys main gatehouses were all but destroyed, and have now been mostly barricaded by stacked shipping containers to keep those inside safe.

This one missed us, but they are getting closer, the official said. We are absolutely braced for it to happen again.

With reporting by John Walcott/Washington
The New York Times

The evacuees walked down the gangway of the giant naval vessel to the dock, each carrying just a few items of luggage. Some held infants and others their dogs, whose legs were still shaky from the 20-hour voyage down the coast of Australia. They were weary, and their clothes smelled of smoke, but the terrible infernos were finally behind them.

Four days after a bush fire ravaged the remote coastal town of Mallacoota, forcing people to shelter on the beach under blood-red skies, more than 1,000 stranded residents and vacationers arrived on Saturday in Hastings, a town near Melbourne.

Authorities said it was most likely the largest peacetime maritime rescue operation in Australias history. It was also a symbol of a country in perpetual flight from danger during a catastrophic fire season  and the challenge the government faces in getting the blazes under control.

Searing heat and afternoon winds propelled fires over large swaths of Australia on Saturday, adding to the devastation of a deadly fire season that has now claimed 23 lives. Thousands of people have been evacuated, while many towns and cities under threat were still smoldering from ferocious blazes that ripped through the countryside earlier in the week.

More than 12 million acres have burned so far, an area larger than Switzerland, and the damage is expected to only get worse in the extremely arid conditions that are allowing the fires to spread. The fires are also so hot and so large that they are creating their own weather patterns, which can worsen the conditions.

With more than a month still to go in the fire season, the government announced on Saturday a large-scale use of military assets, a deployment not seen since World War II, experts say. About 3,000 army reservists, along with aircraft and naval ships, are being made available to help with the evacuation and firefighting efforts.

"The government has not taken this decision lightly," said Defense Minister Linda Reynolds. "It is the first time that reserves have been called out in this way in living memory."

In anticipation of the bad conditions on Saturday, thousands of people were evacuated, largely from communities along the southeastern coast, where the towns normally swell with tourists during the summer. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that a third Australian Navy ship, the Adelaide, would be used to evacuate people.

Morrison, who has been widely criticized for his response to the fires, had resisted a major intervention by the national government, saying firefighting has traditionally been the domain of the individual states. He has also minimized the link between global warming and the extreme conditions that have fueled the fires.

The states and their overwhelmingly volunteer force of firefighters in rural areas have been stretched and depleted by a season that started earlier and has been especially ferocious. While Australia has long dealt with bush fires, a yearslong drought and record-breaking temperatures have made for a more volatile and unpredictable season.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported that the western Sydney suburb of Penrith, which reached a high of 48.9 degrees Celsius, or 120 degrees Fahrenheit, was the hottest place in the country on Saturday. Last month, Australia recorded its warmest day across the continent.

As climate change worsens, scientists are predicting that the fires will become more frequent and more intense.

John Blaxland, a professor at the Strategic and Defense Studies Centre at the Australian National University, said the country had not seen a seen a catastrophe on this scale, affecting so many people in so many different locations since Australia became independent in 1901.

With other obligations in the Pacific and South East Asia, the military was not necessarily staffed to handle a looming climate crisis, he said. If this is the new normal, then that model is broken, he said.

Officials on Saturday said one major fire had crossed from the state of Victoria north into New South Wales and was spreading quickly. Fire-generated thunderstorms have appeared over blazes in two different places. Emergency workers were using cranes and air tankers to fight the fires, as winds moving up the coast were causing some of the blazes to merge.

The fires are blazing ferociously along Australias eastern coast, as well as South Australia, Tasmania and parts of Western Australia. In southern Australia, fire tore through a popular nature reserve known for its koala bears, sea lions and other wildlife, killing a man and his grown son. In towns along the southwest coast between Melbourne and Sydney shops closed, power was cut and the authorities went door to door ordering evacuations.

In Nowra, a coastal town two hours south of Sydney, the sky went dark, the air filled with choking smoke.

At a lawn-bowling club transformed into an evacuation center, people strapped on gas masks, while dogs barked frantically. A chaplain ministered to the anxious.

"Theres nowhere safe," said Liddy Lant, a hospital cleaner still in her uniform who had fled from her home on Saturday. "I could seriously just sit down and cry."

The Fire Commissioner of the Rural Fire Service in New South Wales, Shane Fitzsimmons, told reporters on Saturday that more than 148 active fires were burning in his state alone, with 12 at an emergency level. Further south, in Victoria, authorities counted more than 50 active fires.

"This is not a bush fire," Andrew Constance, the transport minister in New South Wales, told ABC radio. "Its an atomic bomb."

For Australias wildlife, the toll has been incalculable. About 87% of Australias wildlife is endemic to the country, which means it can only be found on this island continent.

And a great many of those species, like the koala, the southern brown bandicoot and the long-footed potoroo, have populations living in the regions now being obliterated by the fires. Because the fires this season have been so intense and consumed wetlands as well as dry eucalyptus forests, there are few places many of these animals can seek refuge.

"Weve never seen fires like this, not to this extent, not all at once, and the reservoir of animals that could come and repopulate the areas, they may not be there," said Jim Radford, a research fellow at La Trobe University in Melbourne.

At the evacuation center in Nowra, about a hundred people sought cover throughout the day. Children chased each other around as paramedics strapped oxygen masks onto elderly residents.

Lant, 71, said she received an emergency alert on Saturday afternoon telling her to evacuate immediately from North Nowra. She ran home to fetch her dog Kaiser and her bird. Her cat had fled. Firefighters were knocking on doors telling her neighbors to leave. Her brother is in Mallacoota, the town where residents are being evacuated by the navy.

"Ive just had it," she said.

At the next table, the Barwick family and their two dogs were waiting as they had for days. Although their home in Worrigee was not in the direct line of fire, they had arrived here on Tuesday night, having lived through a bush fire in 2017.

Their two children had been traumatized by that experience. Back then, they had to flee the approaching flames, spending hours on the beach.

"I dont need them seeing the plumes again," said Daniel Barwick. "Im just trying to protect them as much as possible."

As people disembarked the naval ships in Hastings on Saturday, emergency service workers offered emotional support and premade sandwiches. Buses then took them either to Melbourne or a relief center in the nearby town of Somerville, where many would be picked up by friends and relatives.

The arrivals said they were thankful to be safely ashore. A man who had stepped off a bus in Somerville embraced a woman who had come to meet him, and sobbed.

What Darcy Brown, 16, craved most was a shower. Brown had just moved with her family to Mallacoota when the fire razed their new home and worsened her asthma. It was devastating, she said.

Others said their personal brush with climate disaster had crystallized their view that the government needed to do more not just to reduce heat-trapping emissions, but also to help the country adapt to a warmer world.

One woman disembarking the boat, Corrin Mueller, 23, carried a sign that read "inaction costs more" which she described as referring to the Australian governments failure to reduce emissions.

"Were only here because nobodys acted quick enough," she said. "And theres so much more we can still do to stop more people having to go through this."

Livia Albeck-Ripka, Isabella Kwai, Thomas Fuller and Jamie Tarabay. c.2020 The New York Times Company
Kildare South councillor, Mark Wall, has called on the Minister for Transport, Shane Ross TD, to address the cost of transport for rail commuters in South Kildare.

Cllr Wall was replying to a letter from Ms Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in response to the Kildare South Rail survey.

According to Cllr Wall, in her reply the CEO states that annual and monthly tickets are virtually unchanged following the NTA yearly review but the review of all other fares will be announced in March 2020. Minister Ross must listen to the 7,000 people from South Kildare who have signed our petition for fair rail fares and the hundreds that completed our rail survey, he said.

 Commuters are finding it difficult to manage train fare costs, and some are still travelling to Sallins rail station rather than use their local station.

He said that this situation was unacceptable.

Meanwhile, in relation to the second biggest issue raised in the rail survey, that of overcrowding, the NTA have given a detailed response to the roll out of new carriages for the Kildare line. Unfortunately, commuters will have to wait until the end of 2021 to see the introduction of these carriages, he added.

The additional capacity of 30% will be welcomed by Commuters but the NTA, Government and Irish rail cannot wait two years to address this overcrowding.
WOOD DALE, Ill., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AAR, a leading provider of aviation services to airlines and governments worldwide, is honored to share that Board Member Jennifer L. Vogel was recognized by WomenInc. as one of their "Most Influential Corporate Board Members" for 2019.

Vogel has over 25 years of leadership experience in the airline and energy industries. She has extensive experience working in a variety of capacities with and on corporate boards and committees. She served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer of Continental Airlines, Inc., then the fifth largest airline in the world and a Fortune 200 company. In 2013, she co-founded InVista Advisors, which provides advisory services to organizations seeking to maximize the effectiveness of their legal teams.

"We are proud to have Jennifer on our Board. She is a strong director whose leadership and industry knowledge provide invaluable support to the Company and its shareholders," said John Holmes, AAR President and CEO.

WomenInc. Magazine is a leading business publication reporting on women's success and achievements. The "Most Influential Corporate Board Members" issue is the most comprehensive listing of women executives, influencers and achievers who contribute leadership to corporate boards.

"It is essential that the achievements and success of professional women are showcased in the highest regard, and their stories are told in meaningful ways," said Catrina Young, WomenInc. Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer.

About AAR

AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company that employs more than 6,000 people in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Expeditionary Services. AAR's Aviation Services include Parts Supply; OEM Solutions; Integrated Solutions; and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Services. AAR's Expeditionary Services include Mobility Systems and Composite Manufacturing operations. Additional information can be found at www.aarcorp.com.

This press release contains certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions and estimates based on information currently available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated, including those factors discussed under Item 1A, entitled "Risk Factors", included in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2019. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize adversely, or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described. These events and uncertainties are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many are beyond the Company's control. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. For additional information, see the comments included in AAR's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE AAR

Related Links

https://www.aarcorp.com/


The Delhi Police Crime Branch has begun a probe into Sunday's violence in JNU after the Union Home Ministry on Monday asked for a detailed report from Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.Delhi Police Crime Branch has formed nine teams to ascertain the perpetrators behind the attack.According to sources in Delhi Police, the Crime Branch has taken all the CCTV footage under its custody as it begins an investigation. Here's how JNU looks a day after the violence. Police arrive at the Jawaharlal Nehru University after masked assailants beat students and teachers with sticks in New Delhi. (Image: AP)
EVANSVILLE, Wis., Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Shepherd, Smith, Edwards & Kantas (SSEK) has filed another case against Kalos Capital for one of their registered representatives pushing clients into so-called alternative investments, most notably, GPB Capital. According to the complaint filed with FINRA, Kristian Finfrock, who has been a broker with Kalos since 2012, placed more than $750,000 of a retired and ill clients life savings into illiquid alternative investments, including $185,000 into GPB Capital. Other than GPB, most of the alternative investments were non-traded REITs, including HPI Real Estate Opportunities Fund, Shopoff Land Fund, Cottonwood Residential, AEI Capital Corporation and ARC Trust.



Mr. Finfrock, although a registered representative of Kalos, works under the company name Retirement Income Strategies. However, it is typically unsuitable and inappropriate for retired investors to place any significant savings into illiquid, opaque and very risky alternative investments, such as those Finfrock and Kalos allegedly sold to this client. In addition to Evansville, Finfrock and Retirement Income Strategies purport to have offices in Madison, Middleton and Brookfield.

It appears from SSEKs investigation that Kalos was encouraging its representatives from all over the country to sell expensive and illiquid alternative investments to customers where such investments were clearly unsuitable and often misrepresented.



GPB Capital Holdings

GPB Capital Holdings is a New York based alternative asset manager that purportedly invests in waste management and car dealerships. GPB is under investigation by FINRA, the SEC, the FBI and several state regulators. According to GPB, it raised $1.8 billion from investors and reportedly paid out more than $165 million in commissions to brokers, such as Kalos. Unfortunately, the value of GPBs Funds have dropped dramatically in recent months as the company continues to miss filing deadlines and is accused of being a Ponzi scheme.



Investment Loss Lawyers



Please contact the lawyers at SSEK if you suffered losses from investing in a GPB fund, or any other alternative investment, that was recommended to you through Kalos Capital, Kristian Finfrock, or any other brokerage firm and/or financial adviser. Our lawyers represent investors whose brokers and firms inappropriately recommended investments to them, such as GPB Capital. Contact SSEK to request your free, no obligation case consultation.



Contact

Sam Edwards

800-259-9010

sedwards@sseklaw.com
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Five convicts from Staten Island serving murder sentences are eligible for parole this year.

The killings, often savage and gruesome, claimed the lives of two young girls, a 28-year-old mom, a disabled veteran and a 26-year-old man.

The inmates are all serving lengthy prison sentences. Some have been denied parole several times.

Here's a look at them.

BARRY RODRIGO: FATALLY BEAT GIRLFRIENDS LITTLE DAUGHTER

Barry Rodrigo, as seen in 2015.

Rodrigo, 48, is serving a sentence of 15 years to life for beating his girlfriends 2-year-old daughter to death 25 years ago in the South Beach home they shared.

Prosecutors said Rodrigo repeatedly punched little Lisa Nugent on July 19, 1995, because the child wouldn't use the toilet.

Rodrigo had beaten the child so often over a five-month period that a blow ruptured one of her intestines, subjecting her to a "painful, protracted death," said prosecutors.

After the final attack, Rodrigo and Christine Nugent, the girl's mother, called an ambulance and accompanied her to Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze.

There, doctors found the youngster was covered with bruises and welts suffered over the course of several months.

In July 1996, Rodrigo, then 25, pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to second-degree murder to resolve his case.

Christine Nugent pleaded guilty then to second-degree manslaughter for allowing the abuse to continue.

She was sentenced to 18 months to 54 months in prison.

Rodrigo, who is incarcerated in Otisville Correctional Facility, is eligible for parole in March. He has previously been denied parole five times.

KEITH VISCHIO: MURDERED 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL

Keith Vischo, as seen in 2017.

Vischio savagely killed Lorraine Pacifico, 10, on July 7, 1980, near the victims Oakwood home.

Authorities said the killer, then 20, smashed the victims skull 20 times with a rock and slashed her stomach, from neck to waist, several times with a broken beer bottle.

A prior parole board report said the child was partially nude.

At the time of the attack, Vischio was under the influence of a mix of Quaaludes and alcohol after quitting his job as a clerk for a Manhattan stock-brokerage firm earlier that same day, said Advance reports.

Vischio later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced in January 1981. He admitted he killed Lorraine once she began screaming after he refused to let her leave.

The Pacifico family believes it was a sex attack and that Lorraine fought back.

Now, 59, Vischio is serving a sentence of 20 years to life.

He is housed in Gowanda Correctional Facility.

Previously denied parole multiple times, Vischio will appear before the parole board in May. He turns 60 that month.

DANIEL STRATTON: KILLED YOUNG MOM IN GRUESOME 1987 MURDER

Daniel Stratton, as seen in 2017.

Stratton was convicted of murder in the disturbing Sept. 25, 1987 slaying of Princes Bay resident Rebecca Fein, 28.

The young mothers body was found on the beach at the foot of Craig Avenue, Tottenville. Her skull had been crushed.

The victim had met Stratton, then 20, the previous day at a local service station where he worked.

She arranged for him to pick up her fiances van the next morning to have its brakes fixed, according to witness testimony at his trial in state Supreme Court, St. George.

The van was found stuck in the sand near the victims body.

Stratton went on the lam afterward and was arrested about a week later on Oct. 1 in Queens. He had a bus ticket for Miami when taken into custody.

Police found human blood on his clothing.

Stratton, now 52, was also suspected, but never charged, in the death of Judith Anne Summerville, 19, a college student.

Her severely decomposed body was found in the woods behind Tottenville High School on Sept. 30, 1987, the day before Strattons arrest. Summerville had last been seen three weeks earlier.

Stratton is serving 26-and-a-half years to life for second-degree murder and promoting prison contraband.

Housed in Attica Correctional Facility, he will appear before the parole board again in October.

MICHAEL TAYLOR: FATALLY STABBED DISABLED VETERAN IN CHARLESTON

Michael Taylor, as seen in 2017.

Taylor is serving a sentence of 23 years to life for slaying James Zappalorti, 44, a disabled Vietnam veteran, in January 1990.

The victim was killed near a secluded brick-and-wood shack he had built close to his parents home by the Arthur Kill in Charleston.

Taylor and an accomplice, Philip Sarlo, had set upon Zappalorti, intent on robbing him as he returned home from a nearby deli.

According to Advance reports, Taylor, who stabbed the victim three times in the abdomen, told authorities he "didn't like queers." Taylor was 20 then.

Zappalorti was the first murder victim on Staten Island whose slaying was officially designated a bias crime committed because of his sexual preference.

Taylor ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, as did Sarlo, to resolve their cases.

Sarlo, who was sentenced to 18 years to life, died in May 1997 at age 33, according to online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Taylor, now 50, is incarcerated in Great Meadow Correctional Facility.

Previously denied parole several times, Taylor has an October hearing date.

ENNIS MICHAELS: KILLED VICTIM IN DISPUTE ON STREET

Ennis Michaels, as seen in NYS Dept. of Corrections and Community Supervision photo

Michaels, 55, was convicted of murder for fatally shooting Anthony Craft, 26, on April 9, 1994, in Tompkinsville during an argument.

The killing occurred around 1:30 a.m. at the corner of Bay Street and Victory Boulevard.

At his two-week trial in state Supreme Court, St. George, in May 1996, five witnesses fingered Michaels, a West Brighton resident, for the shooting.

Some of the prosecution witnesses said the beef between the two men was over money, others said it involved drugs.

However, they agreed Michaels turned around and shot Craft, who lived in Charleston. The mortally wounded man reportedly never regained consciousness and succumbed to injuries to his vital organs nine days later.

The jury convicted Michaels of second-degree murder and two counts of gun possession.

He was sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder conviction and to 90 months to 15 years for second-degree gun possession and 42 months to seven years for a third-degree gun possession conviction.

The prison terms were run concurrently.

Michaels, who was previously denied release, will also appear before the parole board in October.
A passenger plane skidded off the runway in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Tuesday, temporarily shutting down the airport.

The Boeing 737-800 from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, operated by Turkish low-cost airline Pegasus, skidded as it landed at Sabiha Gokcen Airport in the morning and became stuck in soft ground. All passengers were evacuated by emergency slides.

The airline said there were no deaths or injuries. Istanbul governors office said all 164 passengers were safely evacuated.

Storms and heavy rain have affected the city and transportation since Sunday night.

All flights out of the airport were suspended shortly before 10:00 a.m. (local time) and an airport official had said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued a note halting departures and landings until 8:00 p.m.

But domestic flights began operating regularly after passengers in the aircraft were evacuated and checks were carried out at Sabiha Gokcen, an airport on the Asian side of the city, state-owned Anadolu Agency said.

Sabiha Gokcen Airport is situated on the Asian side of Turkeys largest city, which spans two continents.

Two years ago in January 2018, another Pegasus Boeing 737-800 skidded off the runway after landing at an airport in northeast Turkey, stopping just short of the Black Sea as its wheels became stuck in the mud.

Pegasus Airlines confirmed in a statement that the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, flying from Ankara to Trabzon, had a runway excursion incident.

The 162 passengers, two pilots, and four cabin crew onboard were all unhurt, according to the airline.

Turkish news agency Dogan reported that the pilot said there was something wrong with one engine.

Video From the Crash

Epoch Times reporter Simon Veazey, The Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this report.
JOHNSON CITY, N.Y., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovation, the market-leading provider of high-volume pharmacy automation technology and software solutions to the retail, hospital, federal health care, and mail order pharmacy markets, today announced several changes to the company's leadership team. The leadership changes come on the heels of the recent closing of the transaction in which a consortium of investors led by Greg Wasson, the former Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO, acquired a majority stake in the company.

Innovation's senior management team will continue to be led by CEO Mary Reno, with former COO, Tom Boyer and former Capstone Consultants Managing Director, Marvin Richardson becoming Co-Presidents reporting to Ms. Reno. Boyer has been with Innovation for over 10 years, while Richardson, is one of the new majority owners after leading Capstone, a pharmacy automation consulting company, since 2015. Richardson, a pharmacist, is a 37-year veteran of pharmacy and health care. Throughout his career, he has worked in corporate positions with Walgreens and Rite Aid, as well as founding and co-owning Low Cost Health Care, PrairieStone Pharmacies, and DailyMed, a compliance packaging pharmacy started in 2002.

Rounding out the changes to the senior team, Innovation has hired Rick Hans as Chief Financial Officer, Jessica Baer as General Counsel, and Dionne Archie as Executive Vice President, Human Resources. Hans has over 25 years of retail pharmacy experience including leadership roles with Fred's and Walgreens in finance, treasury, real estate and investor relations. Ms. Baer, recently led her own firm, Jessica Baer Consulting, and previously was the Director of the Division of Professional Regulation and a General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Ms. Archie also recently led her own firm, Transform HR Consulting. She has over 20 years of in-depth human resource experience with Baxalta, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Walgreens, Time Warner Cable, SBC, and Manpower.

At the board of director level, Greg Wasson will lead the company as the Executive Chairman, and the remaining board members include Steve Chang, Managing Partner of Allomer Capital Group, along with Ms. Reno, Mr. Boyer, and Mr. Richardson.

Additionally, the company has promoted Alecia Lashier to Senior Vice President, Solutions Engineering and Dr. Phil Samples to Senior Vice President, Professional Services, and has hired Brian Williams as Vice President of Special Operations.

"We've brought in some exceptional talent and industry experience to strengthen our leadership team. I'm looking forward to our new team meshing and sharing their ideas and experiences as we continue on our rapid growth path in the coming year," said Mary Reno, CEO, Innovation.

About Innovation

Innovation is the leading provider of Pharmacy Intelligence and high-volume pharmacy automation to the retail, hospital, government, and mail order pharmacy markets. Our PharmASSIST family of pharmacy automation and Symphony software process optimization solutions enable all types of pharmacies to increase operational efficiency, enhance patient safety, and provide a higher quality of patient care. For more information, visit www.innovat.com.

SOURCE Innovation

Related Links

http://www.innovat.com


Ector County ISD School superintendent Scott Muri was selected as a finalist for Texan of the Year by the Dallas Morning News. The Dallas Morning News stated that Superintendent Juan Cabrera of El Paso ISD and Superintendent Muri were chosen for addressing the trauma of the more than 90,000 students in their care after the shootings in El Paso and Odessa.

Muri had been the ECISD superintendent for eight weeks when the mass shooting happened Aug. 31. Seven people were killed; 25 were wounded. Odessa High School sophomore Leilah Hernandez was among those killed.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 15:08:58|Editor: xuxin

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MANILA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has started implementing the government ban on sending Filipino household service workers (HSWs) to Kuwait, an immigration official said on Tuesday.

"The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that it has started implementing the government ban on the deployment of newly-hired domestic workers to Kuwait," Grifton Medina, acting BI port operations division chief, said in a statement.

The Philippines announced on Jan. 2 that it will stop sending newly-hired maids to Kuwait while an investigation into the recent killing of a Filipino maid allegedly in the hands of her female employer is underway.

Medina said immigration officers in different international ports have been instructed to strictly enforce the ban imposed by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

"The ban applies to all newly-hired household service workers," Medina said.

Medina said the bureau implemented the ban after it received a copy of a resolution from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Jan. 3 ordering a partial deployment ban of Filipino domestic workers to Kuwait.

Kuwait is one of the major labor destinations for Filipinos in the Middle East, with over 250,000 currently working there, mostly as domestic helpers.

However, Manila enforced a deployment ban for Filipino workers in Kuwait in early 2018 after the body of another Filipino maid was found in the freezer of her employer's house.

The ban was lifted in May 2018 after the Philippines and Kuwait inked a memorandum of agreement that provides "legal protection for Filipino maids in the Gulf State."
Fresh off roles in Little Women and Netflix's The King, Timothee Chalamet is getting set to portray music legend Bob Dylan.

Chalamet, 24, is attached to star as Dylan in Fox Searchlight's biopic Going Electric, with Ford Vs. Ferrari director James Mangold, Deadline reports.

The director also did a rewrite on the script, originally written by Jay Cocks (Gangs of New York, Silence).

Timothee as Bob: Fresh off roles in Little Women and Netflix's The King, Timothee Chalamet is getting set to portray music legend Bob Dylan

Shift: The film will follow Dylan as he shifts from acoustic guitar music, as one of folk music's leading names, to an electric guitar

The film will follow Dylan as he shifts from acoustic guitar music, as one of folk music's leading names, to an electric guitar.

His switch from acoustic to electric lead to a huge outcry in the folk music world, which also cemented the status of rock in the musical lexicon.

Bob Dylan, 78, himself is actively working with Mangold and Fox Searchlight in the development of this project.

Bob's biopic: Bob Dylan, 78, himself is actively working with Mangold and Fox Searchlight in the development of this project

While no production schedule has been released for Going Electric, Chalamet is expected to start work on this project after his London stage debut.

The actor is slated to star alongside Eileen Atkins in 4,000 Miles, a production of Amy Herzog's Pulitzer Prize winning drama at the Old Vic Theatre.

The play opens on April 16 and is set to close on May 23, with Chalamet expected to start work on Going Electric shortly thereafter.

Stage debut: While no production schedule has been released for Going Electric, Chalamet is expected to start work on this project after his London stage debut

Chalamet has two new movies coming in 2020, director Wes Anderson's latest The French Dispatch, which doesn't have a release date yet, and director Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Dune, in theaters December 18.

He is also attached to star in Find Me, a sequel to his 2017 breakout hit film Call Me By Your Name, alongside Armie Hammer.

Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino is returning to direct, though it isn't known when filming may begin.

New movies: Chalamet has two new movies coming in 2020, director Wes Anderson's latest The French Dispatch, which doesn't have a release date yet, and director Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Dune, in theaters December 18.

Controversy: The 'electric Dylan' controversy started in 1965 when he released his fifth album Bringing It All Back Home, with all of the songs on the first side of that album featuring an electric band and the b-side featuring acoustic

The 'electric Dylan' controversy started in 1965 when he released his fifth album Bringing It All Back Home, with all of the songs on the first side of that album featuring an electric band and the b-side featuring acoustic.

He performed his first live rock set at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, which was received by a chorus of boos from the crowd.

The rights package that was put together includes Dylan's music and the book Dylan Goes Electric by Elijah Wald.
Stephen Colbert and The Late Show returned from Christmas vacation on Monday, and in his first monologue in weeks, he recapped the Golden Globe awards and, at the same time, freaked out over the possibility wed end up in a war with Iran.

The 77th Annual Golden Globes  it was a dazzling night of glitz and glamour, and God help us, we might be going to war with Iran, Colbert joked right off the bat. All the stars were there as we inch closer to yet another tragically ill-considered military conflict, including Salma Hayek, whose Gucci dress featured a neckline that didnt leave much to the imagination  unless youre imagining an endless quagmire in the Middle East.

The jokes referred to, of course, Sunday nights Golden Globes awards, as well as the rising tensions in the Middle East following a U.S. military drone strike against a convoy in Baghdad that killed Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani.

Also Read: Golden Globes 2020: Winners Get Political With Speeches on Climate Change, Abortion Rights and War

Because this is whats been keeping you up at night for the last three years, Colbert continued. It wasnt the baggy suits. It wasnt covfefe. It was his ability to wage war without understanding the consequences. And no one can stop him.

Also, Colbert added, congratulations to Awkwafina for snatching a Globe for best actress. Well-deserved.

Colbert then rolled out what he described as the first installment of our long-running segment: America at whaaa? Crisis with Iran. In Iraq. About Iran.'

Also Read: Comedian George Lopez Under Attack for Joke About Rumored Bounty on Trump

During the gag, Colbert noted that among other nerve-wracking statements Trump has made since the assassination of Soleimani, the president also implied that future military actions might be taken in revenge for the 1979-1981 Iranian hostage crisis.

Hes still mad about the Iranian hostage crisis? Whats next on his 1980s agenda? Colbert asked. Then, switching into his Trump impression, he said: Im also targeting the top four Iranian generals  one for all three men and a baby  six different regions  one for each side of a Rubiks Cube. And, I have officially changed the launch codes to 9675309.

Story continues

Watch the clip below:

TONIGHT: We're back with brand new shows and 2020 is off to a frightening start! #LSSC pic.twitter.com/0ZZausp2VL

 The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) January 7, 2020

Read original story Colbert Combines Golden Globes Gushing With Being Terrified About Possible War With Iran (Video) At TheWrap
New Delhi: Sources in the government said on Tuesday (January 07) that the claim made by fringe group Hindu Raksha Dal that it attacked the students and a few professors at Jawaharlal Nehru University is being investigated. Earlier today, the outfit leader Pinky Chaudhary took the onus of the January 5 attack on JNU students, saying 'they were our workers'.

"JNU is a hotbed of anti-national activities, we can't tolerate this. We take full responsibility for the attack in JNU and would like to say that they were our workers. #JNUViolence," Pinky Chaudhary said in a video, according to ANI.

Government sources said the claims made by Hindu Raksha Dal Chief Pinky Chaudhary are being investigated. "Delhi Police has taken cognizance. To identity masked men in JNU, Police is taking help of video footage as well as face recognition systems," sources said, according to ANI.

On the evening of January 5, violence had swept the JNU as several masked individuals, said to be both male and female, thrashed students, including girls, and teachers inside the varsity campus with wooden and metal rods. Two office-bearers of the JNUSU, including President Aishe Ghosh, who was reportedly hit over the eye with an iron rod, received severe injuries and accused RSS' student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for the rampant violence.

JNUSU General Secretary Satish Chandra was also injured in the attack. Hostel rooms, and lobbies were vandalised during the assault while several vehicles standing on roads were damaged by the unidentified miscreants.

The JNU administration summoned the police which deployed in the campus and prohibitory orders were imposed. Union Home Minister Amit Shah ordered the Delhi Police to take all necessary action to control the situation in the campus, and also ordered an inquiry into the matter.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reached the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to meet the injured JNU students, while her brother and former party chief Rahul Gandhi attacked the central government.
A person close to McConnell confirmed the meeting. Leader McConnell spoke with Secretary Pompeo this afternoon where he indicated he will not be running for Senate. Leader McConnell believes Secretary Pompeo is doing an incredible job as Secretary of State and is exactly where the country needs him right now, the person said.
Hyundai flying taxi Source: Hyundai

Best known for its affordable automobiles, South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor aims to take flight with Uber to develop a line of flying taxis for the Uber Elevate aerial ridehailing service. A full-scale mock-up, dubbed the S-A1, is making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. The electrically powered PAV, or "personal air vehicle," will have the capability of carrying up to four passengers on trips of up to 60 miles at speeds reaching 180 mph, the partners said Monday.

Uber Elevate has already signed up more traditional aerospace partners such as Embraer, Bell and Boeing subsidiary Aurora, but "Hyundai is our first vehicle partner with experience of manufacturing passenger cars on a global scale," Eric Allison, head of Uber Elevate, said in a statement. "We believe Hyundai has the potential to build Uber Air vehicles at rates unseen in the current aerospace industry, producing high quality, reliable aircraft at high volumes to drive down passenger costs per trip."

First unveiled in 2016, Uber Elevate aims to expand the ride-hailing giant's reach by linking urban centers and their suburbs, its air taxis expected to leapfrog traffic congestion by cruising at altitudes of around 1,000 to 2,000 feet. The company anticipates the roughly 50-mile trip from the Marina district near Uber headquarters in San Francisco to downtown San Jose, in the heart of Silicon Valley, would take about 15 minutes. The same trip can take more than 2 hours by car, depending upon traffic. Uber Elevate is planning to begin demonstration flights this year. The ride-sharing giant hopes to launch commercial service in 2023, with operations initially set to debut in Dallas, Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia.

Hyundai flying taxi Source: Hyundai

For its part, Hyundai said its decision to develop the S-A1 is part of its broader goal of becoming a "smart mobility solution provider." "Our vision of Urban Air Mobility will transform the concept of urban transportation," said Jaiwon Shin, executive vice president and head of Hyundai's Urban Air Mobility Division, or UAM. "We expect UAM to vitalize urban communities and provide more quality time to people. We are confident that Uber Elevate is the right partner to make this innovative product readily available to as many customers as possible." Along with the full-size S-A1 mock-up, Hyundai is debuting several other concepts at this year's CES. That includes a "hub," the downsized equivalent of a flying taxi air terminal, as well as the PBV, or "purpose built vehicle" that could serve as an autonomous shuttle to carry passengers to and from Uber's Elevate bases. The idea of using flying cars  or cabs  has been around for at least a century. Automotive pioneer Henry Ford hoped to develop an airworthy alternative to his Model T, running extensive testing on a craft dubbed "the flying flivver." But a crash that killed a test pilot led Ford to cancel the program. Today, helicopter services operate out of many major metropolitan communities, often to connect airports and city centers. But those craft use complex powertrain systems that are extremely expensive to own and operate, limiting their application.
On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, the trial of 24 suspected jihadists linked to the massacre that killed 12 people at the satirical weekly has opened in Paris. Only five of the suspects are expected to appear in the dock, with most presumed dead in Iraq or Syria.

Known as the "Sevran network", the suspects became radicalised at a clandestine mosque in the Paris suburb of Sevran.

The 20 men and four women, of French, Moroccan, Mauritanian and Algerian nationality, converted to jihadist ideology through mentors at the Sevran mosque, some swayed by the declaration of the self-proclaimed "caliphate by the Islamic State (IS) armed group in June 2014.

They are believed to have provided logistical support to Said and Cherif Kouachi, the al Qaeda-linked brothers who carried out the Charlie Hebdo attack.

The trial is also linked to the Jewish supermarket assault outside Paris, two days after Charlie Hebdo, in which a jihadist gunman killed four people.

Among the absent defendants are the Belhoucine brothers. Mohamed, the elder, has been identified as the mentor of Amedy Couilbaly, who carried out the Hyper Cacher attack.

Quentin Roy, reportedly killed in Syria in 2016, is also on the docket. His parents were informed he had died in January 2016. They are expected to speak at the trial as witnesses on Tuesday. Roy will be represented in absentia by a lawyer at the hearing.

The defendants were aged between 20-30 years when they left France, just before the January 2015 attacks. Most are believed to have been killed in bombings or suicide attacks while fighting for IS group.

The court requisitions are scheduled for Thursday 16 January, with the verdicts slated for Friday 17 January.
If I will die, let it ...
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 01:01:45|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIJING, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- China has investigated 98,000 cases and punished 130,100 people for ignoring or hurting people's interests during a campaign against problems concerning the public wellbeing, said a statement from China's top anti-graft body Monday.

The achievements, published by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, were made amid an ongoing CPC education campaign themed "staying true to our founding mission."

The campaign has made headway in various aspects, according to the statement.

The authorities have so far handled 29,500 cases concerning the quality and safety of agricultural products and 9,775 cases of food safety crime, said the statement.

To improve medical and health care, 46 new township hospitals and 1,022 village clinics were built, and 666 township hospitals and 6,892 village clinics were equipped with qualified doctors.

In the area of education, the number of students who dropped out of their compulsory education, which covers primary school and junior high school, in the country's 832 national-level impoverished counties dropped by 267,000.

Efforts have been made to crack down on malpractices of housing rental agencies. A total of 107,000 agencies have been inspected nationwide, of which, 10,100 were punished for irregular or illegal activities.

In order to ease the burden of medical costs, 10 pediatric blood disorders and cancers were included in an assistance program, which has benefitted 20,200 children.

Achievements were also made in regulating medical insurance funds, a program to improve the nutritional intake of students in their compulsory education and the water and power supply in rural areas, as well as services for transportation.

The discipline watchdog has vowed to work with participating authorities to consolidate the achievements and make greater progress in the campaign.
Senior White House officials are drafting sanctions against Iraq after the country threatened to push out U.S. troops.

The Washington Post reported Monday night on the White House's move, calling discussions of sanctions preliminary. No final decision has been made.

The Treasury Department and the White House would probably take a lead role in implementing the sanctions, sources told The Post.

President Trump threatened Iraq with sanctions on Sunday and on Monday night the Washington Post reported that senior officials were drafting them

On Sunday, the Iraqi parliament voted in favor of a non-binding measure that would request the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country

Iraq's Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi (left) is seen during Sunday's vote in the Iraqi parliament to expel U.S. troops from the country

One source said the plan was to wait 'at least a little while' to see if the Iraqi government followed up on the threat to push out U.S. forces from the country.

There's been an American presence in the country since the beginning of the Iraq war in 2003.

On Thursday, Iraq became the staging ground for the U.S.'s strike on Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

Soleimani had just left the Baghdad International Airport when his convoy was shot with missiles from American drones.

On Sunday, responding to Soleimani's killing outside the Baghdad airport, the Iraqi parliament voted to expel American troops from the country.

The vote was non-binding.

President Trump responded by threatening sanctions against Iraq.

'If they do ask us to leave, if we don't do it in a very friendly basis, we will charge them sanctions like they've never seen before, ever,' Trump told reporters as he flew back to Washington, D.C. from West Palm Beach Sunday night. 'It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame.'

This leaked letter created confusion between Iraq and the United States Monday as it looked like the U.S. was ready to pull out troops

'If there's any hostility, that they do anything we think is inappropriate,' the president continued. 'We are going to put sanctions on Iraq, very big sanctions on Iraq.'

On Monday, there was confusion between the two countries as Iraq received a draft letter that suggested Americans troops were leaving the country.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told reporters there were no plans for U.S. troops to leave.

'There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq, period,' Esper said. 'There are no plans to leave.'

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley explained that the letter was 'a draft. It was a mistake. It was unsigned. It should not have been released.'

Milley admitted that the 'poorly worded' letter 'implies withdrawal.'

'That is not what's happening,' he added.

Onboard Air Force One, Trump said American forces wouldn't leave unless the country was paid back.

'We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that's there. It cost billions of dollars to build. Long before my time,' Trump said. 'We're not leaving unless they pay us back for it.'
As a mob wielding sticks, iron rods and hammers assaulted students and damaged property on Jawaharlal Nehru University campus on Sunday night, police teams stood outside the gate and entered the campus only at 8pm. The police explained that they were waiting for an official permission from the varsity administration to enter the campus, as required by the law.

However, an FIR registered by the police on Monday mentions that the university officials had sent a written request to the police to reach the campus, when the first incident of violence was reported from Periyar hostel at around 3.45pm on Sunday. HT has a copy of the FIR.

According to the FIR, the police were informed, at around 3.45pm, that some students were fighting and damaging property at Periyar hostel. ....At around the same time, we received a letter from JNU,requesting the police to control the situation, reads the FIR.

Also Watch l JNU violence: Injured student leader describes assault; wants VC sacked

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West) Devender Arya said a PCR van reached the campus to ascertain the situation. An inspector and 15-20 personnel, deployed in plain clothes at JNUs administration block, who remain deployed at the campus following Delhi High Courts orders, also responded to the calls.

Some 40-50 unidentified people, some of them covering their faces with mufflers and cloth and carrying sticks, were vandalising property in the hostel and were assaulting students. The rioters fled after seeing the police. The police personnel brought the situation under control, said Arya.

Around 7pm, the police again received calls from the campus about a mob attack and vandalism at Sabarmati T-point and Sabarmati hostel. Another PCR van and the same policemen responded to the call.

The policemen found a group of 40-50 rioters carrying sticks were vandalising properties in the hostel and assaulting students there. The police used a public address system to warn the mob not to damage property and disperse peacefully. Despite warnings, the mob continued the violence and paid no heed to the police orders, Arya said.

He said since the number of calls to the police were increasing and many students getting injured, the policemen on campus called for reinforcements. However, despite already having the university authorisation to intervene, as per the FIR, the police force stopped at the gate and waited for an official permission to enter the campus.

When pointed out the anomaly, DCP Arya explained, There must be a mistake while framing the FIR. We received permission only at 7.45pm. Our teams entered the campus at around 8pm. Since the FIR has been frozen, the correction cannot be made now. We will stick to our official version (of 7.45 pm) in all the subsequent reports.

Retired IPS and former UP DGP Vikram Singh, however, described the contradiction as a major discrepancy. This is a major discrepancy. An FIR has a greater authenticity than what an officer says on record. It has raised a serious question on the credibility of the Delhi Police. This will also affect the case in the court of law.

He also said that the police must not have waited to enter the campus since under the provisions of CrPC the police are empowered to act in cases of hot pursuit, violence or a law and order situation.

It is difficult to understand why Delhi police waited for permission while students were being beaten inside. This shows the double standards of the Delhi Police. They did not seek permission while entering Jamia Millia but waited at the gates of JNU, the former UP DGP said.

On December 15, Delhi police personnel barged into the Jamia Millia Islamia campus after protests outside the university turned violent and led to clashes. The police team fired tear gas shells, stormed into the library and lathi charged students inside the campus.

More than twenty-four hours after Sundays violence, the police are yet to make any arrest.

Also, despite 34 people suffering injuries, some of them of serious nature, no sections of IPC pertaining to the assault and injuries were mentioned in the FIR. Such charges will be added to the FIR as and when we get the medical reports of the injured persons. The sections of IPC would be added as per the nature of the injuries mentioned in the medical reports, said DCP Arya.
President and Prime Minister have discussed ways to further strengthen the US-India strategic partnership and reviewed "regional security matters", the White House has said.

The telephonic conversation between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi came in the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Gulf region after the US killed top Iranian commander General Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Monday's telephonic call was the first contact between the two leaders in the New Year and possibly the first for President Trump with an leader on his return to the White House after his year-end vacation at his resort in Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

While in Florida, Trump authorised the drone strike on the commander of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards General Soleimani on Friday, killing him on the spot.

"Today, President Donald J. Trump spoke with Prime Minister of India to exchange New Year's greetings," the White House said in a readout of the call between the two leaders on Monday.

"The leaders discussed ways to further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership in 2020, and they also reviewed the regional security matters," the White House said.

In its readout, the White House did not elaborate the "regional security matters" discussed by the two leaders.

The conversation between Trump and Modi came a day after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday held a telephonic talk with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and voiced India's concerns over the escalating tensions in the Gulf region after the killing of Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite al-Quds force.

Observers say it would not be a surprise if the latest developments in Iran did not figure during the telephonic conversation between the two leaders as it was the first phone call between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump after the killing of Soleimani.

The US action has resulted in an unprecedented escalation of tension between Washington and Tehran as well as heightened concern and rattled global financial markets.

In New Delhi, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement on Tuesday that Prime Minister Modi spoke with US President Trump and expressed his desire to continue to work with him to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Modi conveyed his New Year greetings to the US president, the statement said.

During the conversation, the prime minister noted that India-US relations, which are built on trust, mutual respect and understanding, "have grown from strength to strength", it said.

Modi highlighted the significant progress made in deepening the strategic partnership between India and the US in the previous year and expressed his desire to continue to work with President Trump for enhancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, the statement said.

President Trump wished the people of India prosperity and progress in the New Year.

He expressed satisfaction at the achievements in the relationship in the last few years and reiterated his readiness for further deepening bilateral cooperation, according to the statement.

Reacting to the killing of Soleimani, India on Friday said the increase in tension has alarmed the world and asserted that peace, stability and security in the region is of utmost importance to it.

In a statement, the External Affairs Ministry said India has consistently advocated restraint and continues to do so and it is vital that the situation does not escalate further.

The killing brought fears that long-standing tensions between the US and Iran could spiral into a major conflict.

Soleimani was widely considered the second most powerful man in the Iran behind Supreme Leader Khamenei. The US saw him as a terrorist.

While top Iranian leaders have vowed of "severe revenge" for assassinating Soleimani, President Trump has warned Iran that the US has identified 52 possible targets in the country if Tehran carries out any attack against America to avenge the killing of top military commander.

In 2019, Modi and Trump, who have developed a personal rapport, met four times, including their joint appearance at the historic 'Howdy Modi!' event in Houston. They spoke over phone at least twice last year.
Making the government your client could mean lots of advantages to your business. Most crucial is the assurance that your customer will never go bankrupt or even become insolvent. This is also different from contracts that you may have with a company in the private sector as it provides equal opportunities for companies of different sizes. There is no preference for established organizations, and you can equally access the life-changing opportunity even as a small or medium enterprise. But before you win government tenders in the country, you may face several hurdles. Therefore, you need to be versed with the types of tenders in Kenya, requirements, dos, and donts, as well as the right procedure to follow.

Image: unsplash.com

Source: UGC

Government tenders Kenya are open for any running and legally registered business entity, whether based within the country or internationally. These lucky companies mostly supply the government with goods and services. Unfortunately, a majority of businesspeople have been discouraged by the idea of "tenderpreneurehsip." This simply refers to the notion that only those with the "right connections" end up as successful applicants.

Furthermore, a section of the fortunate who win government tenders also ends up bankrupt after supplying non-paying agencies. But with the knowledge of how the open tendering process in Kenya works, you are in a position to win.

What are tenders?

Before learning learn how to apply for government tenders in Kenya and how to win government tenders, it is important to know what it entails.

Government agencies or authorities usually require to be supplied with essential commodities and services in the value of billions. The needs may include public awareness, office furniture, cleaning services, maintenance, or project management. Any person who is able and willing to supply any advertised items first has to be assessed on their compliance with the statutory conditions.

Failure to do this would mean that your company is disqualified at the initial stage. Therefore, you have to research extensively and provide clear and concise answers to the different evaluation criteria.

How to apply for a tender in Kenya

Most people ask, how do you qualify for government tenders? Well, the applicant will also be evaluated against a non-cost assessment strategy involving these areas:

Your companys technical merit

Your entitys ability to meet requirements like technical and administration proficiency, financial sustainability, and the appropriate expertise.

Your experience, skills, and the available critical talent

Quality assurance requirements

Hazards or risks related to the company

Image: unsplash.com

Source: UGC

The countrys public administration carries out more sophisticated accountability checks compared to private firms. As a government supplier, your entity enjoys accreditation that would aid your next tender application or attracting more clients. This means that you have to fulfill every requirement to enjoy the great opportunity.

Requirements to fulfill

People also ask these common questions, How do you win tenders? Can one apply for a tender using a business name?

The process may seem tedious, but winning a contract with the government can be achieved with the right preparation, resources, and paperwork in place. To position yourself to win these great opportunities, here is what you need to apply for tenders:

Ensure that your entity is registered in the relevant business category. Are you a sole proprietor? Did you begin the company as partners? Is it a limited company?

Find a Kenya Revenue Authority PIN as well as the tax compliance certificate for your business.

Arm yourself with any requisite certification given to you by any professional body or authority. Those with physical disabilities, for instance, may apply to the National Council for Persons with Disability for the relevant certification.

If you are seeking for tenders in Kenya for youth, the proprietors or directors should feature 70 percent of youths.

A CR12 Form as proof of who the most company shareholders are.

Once you are certain to fulfill all these, you can proceed to register on the Government Procurement Portal. Alternatively, you may complete the registration process at your country headquarters.

Tender prequalification

With your documentation in place, alongside the AGPO certificate (Access to Government Procurement Opportunities), you will be ready for pre-qualification registration. At the pre-qualification stage, you will register your enterprise for supplying commodities, talent, services, or consultation. This, of course, will be sent to the specific agency that has sent out their Notice for Pre-Qualification.

If you succeed at this phase and your business is shortlisted, you will have completed half the journey. It is only those companies that have successfully passed this stage that can bid directly for tenders within their fields.

Paperwork

You can access tender notices from whichever part of the country. They are usually in the daily newspapers as well as on the Treasury site. Any qualified bidder is entitled to a grace period for purchasing or downloading their tender document. Later on after tender opening, bids that are in compliance with the suitability standards within the notice will be evaluated. Subsequent to an exhaustive evaluation, the most appropriate company will get the tender.

Image: unsplash.com

Source: UGC

If you are not a fan of reading, then chances are you will find the entire process exhaustive. Tender papers usually reach hundreds of pages, and you may have to deal with mounds of paperwork. To fill out the document with ease, ensure that you concentrate and keep your mind completely at peace. You also need to be meticulous because failing to attach even one supporting document may lead to disqualification.

Quotations

You may successfully pass the first elimination, but also crucial is your financial proposal. This is what determines whether the resources and skill invested in the project are worth the dime. To get an edge, you must make your proposal the most competitive. But stating the lowest prices is not always a guarantee.

The procurement committee of the agency will make comparisons between what you quoted and the current market rates, while also considering your specifications and quantities. Thus, you may win even if you state a higher cost, yet better specs. Thus, ensure that you stay within quotations that offer the most value for money.

Following through your suppliers

The journey does not end once you have won a bid, you still need to deliver and execute. Since all your activities will be based on a tight schedule, you will need to work with a great team through the contract. The suppliers you choose will either aid your success or disappoint you, so you need to be careful when making your selections.

To be sure, you can offer opportunities to individuals that allow you to push for top professionalism or value. Furthermore, they should deliver even under pressure, and hold the best reputation, expertise, and manpower.

Tips on how to win government tenders in Kenya

Here are the primary tips to beat the high competition for these opportunities:

Read all the issued documents carefully

Fill out the entire bid document

Maintain honesty

Stay within the proper price range

Follow up in case you lose your bid and find out what made you miss the opportunity

Deliver the best quality and maintain your reputation if you win

With all these tips at your fingertips, you now understand how to win government tenders in the republic of Kenya. Feel free to share what you know about the lucrative opportunity in the comments section below.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke
The Procudo Laser Peening System will be installed for research onboard a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), a lightweight vessel designed for ocean-going and near-shore operations and combat. Well be demonstrating how laser peening deters cracking due to sensitization of aluminum, as well as how to install and operate a portable, hardened version of the Procudo system actually onboard the ship" David Lahrman, VP Business Development, LSP Technologies

A public-private investment will help LSP Technologies Inc. (LSPT) and Hepburn & Sons LLC research and design a new laser peening system to treat aluminum plates on Navy combat ships.

The Procudo Laser Peening System will be installed for research onboard a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), a lightweight vessel designed for ocean-going and near-shore operations and combat.

A $1.78 million National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) project will be funded to the lead contractor, Hepburn & Sons, along with LSP Technologies and Vigor Shipyards. The Naval Surface War Centers Carderock Division will provide technical expertise from the Navy to support this project.

Contractual work based on the award began in December, following the recent grant announcement. Terms include an investment of $1.96 million from the private sector team, bringing the total value of the project to nearly $3.8 million, said LSPT VP Business Development David Lahrman.

Custom Laser Peening Solution

The project will include actual installation of a Procudo Laser Peening System with a custom-designed Beam Deck Delivery System onboard an LCS vessel at one of the West Coast operations of Vigor Shipyards.

The LCS craft use 5xxx Series Aluminum extensively to make them lighter, stronger, and faster in ocean-going and near-shore  that is, littoral  operations. However, 5xxx Series Aluminum contains magnesium and other elements that make it vulnerable to corrosion due to sensitization, a process in which high temperatures and salt water can combine to promote corrosion in some aluminum alloys.

Moving Laser Beam Delivery to Treat Deck Plate

Well be demonstrating how laser peening deters cracking due to sensitization of aluminum, as well as how to install and operate a portable, hardened version of the Procudo actually onboard the ship, said Lahrman. Typically, our Procudo laser peening systems involve robots manipulating metal parts for the laser peening process, but in this case, we will use an articulating arm to manipulate the laser beam delivery to the deck of the ship.

This project promises to be a major step forward in adopting laser peening technology to improve the survivability and reliability of Navy vessels, said Scott Hepburn, Chief Operating Officer of Hepburn & Sons. We will validate the ways in which laser peening can improve the condition of the aluminum onboard the ship, even when the aluminum has been sensitized beyond weld repair levels. This kind of lasting repair is a high priority for the Navy.
Whatever happened in Badaniyagaon of the Hindauli police station area of Bundi district is nothing short of a terrible incident. In this case, on Sunday night, three sons have killed their aged mother by beating them with sticks and headscarves over a property dispute. According to the information received, the husband of the deceased was very badly injured in this incident, which is undergoing treatment in the district hospital. On getting information on Monday morning, Hindauli police reached the spot and inquired about the developments.

Woman committed suicide with her 3-year-old son

At the same time, Bundi Superintendent of Police Mamta Gupta also reached Badanyagaon and took stock of the situation and also instructed the police officers to take necessary action. According to the news, Hindauli Police Officer Shivraj Gurjar told that the family of Ramkaran Mali, resident of Badanyagaon, lives in a house on the farm and on Sunday, there was a dispute between the family over the property.

Britain's worst rapist sentenced 30-year jail for raping 190 men

Then at midnight, Ramkishan's three sons Maingilal, Phoolchand and Mukesh, along with their wives, attacked their parents with sticks and bars which killed Kamala Bai on the spot, but Ramkishan was very badly got injured. It is being told that the police took three sons from their custody in the spot and after the post-mortem of the dead body has been given to the family members.

15-year-old girl raped by minor one and two companions making video, arrested
N ow that the official line-up has been revealed, the countdown is on for the first ever of Winter Love Island.

The show, which first aired in 2005 before being revamped into its current format in 2015, will see a group of singletons couple up over roughly six weeks in a bid to be crowned the winners  and scoop a 50,000 cash prize.

Former winners include the likes of Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay, Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham and Amber Gill and Greg Oshea.

But this is the first time the show is taking place in the winter months, with the stars hot footing it to South Africa (not an island, we know).

Stars: This year's cohort of Winter Love Island stars / ITV

But how long should we cancel our plans for? When will the series air until? Here's everything you need to know...

When does Winter Love Island start?

We'll finally get to see the Islanders enter the all-new villa on Sunday, January 12 at 9pm.

When is the finale?

ITV are yet to reveal when the series will wrap up and it's expected that - as has been the case in previous years - they'll announce the date of the grand finale at some point during the second half of the series.

Love Island typically airs for around six to eight weeks so keep your evenings free until the end of February.

Who's in the line-up this year?

Rochelle Humes sister, Sophie Piper, and Lewis Capaldis ex girlfriend, Paige Turley - who is said to have inspired his number one hit Someone You Loved - will both be among the stars heading into the villa.

This year will also see a set of twins  Eve and Jess Gale  appearing on the show for the first time. Its not clear if they will go for the same man, be treated as a pair or as individual contestants. So far in the promotional shots and interviews for the series, the duo have been featured together.

Who's replacing Caroline Flack as presenter?

After Caroline Flack announced she was stepping down from the series, Laura Whitmore said she was taking over the helm. Whitmore has hosted a series of programmes prior to the notable gig including Survival of the Fittest, MTV News and The Brits Backstage coverage.

Whitmore was the rumoured frontrunner to take over the hosting gig after Flack said she was missing this series.

Presenters: Flack has praised the decision to bring Whitmore on the show / Dave Benett

Will narrator Iain Stirling be back for the South Africa edition?

Yes  much to the delight of fans of the show, our favourite humours Scot will be giving his sassy commentary for this years series.

He confirmed he was taking part in the new season during an appearance on Good Morning Britain last year. Stirling told the programme: Do you know what, its gonna be an absolute blast. Winter Love Island is gonna come back sooner than you thought and its gonna be enjoyable.
Regulatory News:

CARMAT (FR0010907956, ALCAR) (Paris:ALCAR), the designer and developer of the world's most advanced artificial heart project, aiming to provide a therapeutic alternative for people suffering from end-stage biventricular heart failure, today announces its indicative financial calendar for 2020.

This preliminary agenda may be modified. Each publication will be released before market opening.

Event Date 2019 Full-Year Results Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Shareholders' Meeting Monday, March 30, 2020 2020 Half-Year Results Friday, September 18, 2020

About CARMAT: the world's most advanced total artificial heart project

A credible response to end-stage heart failure: CARMAT aims to eventually provide a response to a major public health issue associated with heart disease, the world's leading cause of death: chronic and acute heart failure. By pursuing the development of its total artificial heart, composed of the implantable bioprosthesis and its portable external power supply system to which it is connected, CARMAT intends to overcome the well-known shortfall in heart transplants for the tens of thousands of people suffering from irreversible end-stage heart failure, the most seriously affected of the 20 million patients with this progressive disease in Europe and the United States.

The result of combining two types of unique expertise: the medical expertise of Professor Carpentier, known throughout the world for inventing Carpentier-Edwards heart valves, which are the most used in the world, and the technological expertise of Airbus Group, world aerospace leader.

The first physiological artificial heart: given its size, the use of highly biocompatible materials, its unique self-regulation system and its pulsatile nature, the CARMAT total artificial heart could, assuming the clinical trials are successful, potentially save the lives of thousands of patients each year with no risk of rejection and with a good quality of life.

A project leader acknowledged at a European level: with the backing of the European Commission, CARMAT has been granted the largest subsidy ever given to an SME by Bpifrance; a total of 33 million.

Strongly committed, prestigious founders and shareholders: Matra Defense SAS (subsidiary of the Airbus Group), Professor Alain Carpentier, the Centre Chirurgical Marie Lannelongue, Truffle Capital, a leading European venture capital firm, ALIAD (Air Liquide's venture capital investor), CorNovum (an investment holding company held 50-50 by Bpifrance and the French State), the family offices of Pierre Bastid (Lohas), of Dr. Antonino Ligresti (Sante Holdings S.R.L.), of the Gaspard family (Corely Belgium SPRL and Bratya SPRL) and of M. Pierre-Edouard Sterin (BAD 21 SPRL), Groupe Therabel as well as the thousands of institutional and individual shareholders who have placed their trust in CARMAT.

For more information: www.carmatsa.com

Name: CARMAT

ISIN code: FR0010907956

Ticker: ALCAR

DISCLAIMER

This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe to, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to, shares in CARMAT ("the Company") in any country. This press release contains forward-looking statements that relate to the Company's objectives. Such forward-looking statements are based solely on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company's management and involve risk and uncertainties. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, whether the Company will be successful in implementing its strategies, whether there will be continued growth in the relevant market and demand for the Company's products, new products or technological developments introduced by competitors, and risks associated with managing growth. The Company's objectives as mentioned in this press release may not be achieved for any of these reasons or due to other risks and uncertainties.

No guarantee can be given as to any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements, which are subject to inherent risks, including those described in the Document de Reference registration document filed with the Autorite des Marches Financiers under number D.19-0135 on March 12, 2019, as well as changes in economic conditions, the financial markets or the markets in which CARMAT operates. In particular, no guarantee can be given concerning the Company's ability to finalize the development, validation and industrialization of the prosthesis and the equipment required for its use, to manufacture the prostheses, satisfy the requirements of the ANSM, enroll patients, obtain satisfactory clinical results, perform the clinical trials and tests required for CE marking and to obtain the CE mark. CARMAT products are currently exclusively used within the framework of clinical trials.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005934/en/

Contacts:

CARMAT

Stephane Piat

Chief Executive Officer

Pascale d'Arbonneau

Chief Financial Officer

Tel.: +33 1 39 45 64 50

contact@carmatsas.com

Alize RP

Press Relations

Caroline Carmagnol

Tel.: +33 6 64 18 99 59

carmat@alizerp.com

NewCap

Investor Relations

Strategic Communication

Dusan Oresansky

Alexia Faure

Tel.: +33 1 44 71 94 94

carmat@newcap.eu
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Catherine Zeta-Jones has revealed her Maltese Figaro has passed away, just over 10 years after welcoming the pet into her family.

The screen star, 50, posted a series of loved-up throwback images with her beloved dog as she shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram on Monday.

Also mourning the loss of the animal was Catherine's daughter Carys, 16, who also uploaded a sweet picture of Figaro, alongside the caption: 'Will love you forever.'

'Sleep tight, little one': Catherine Zeta-Jones has revealed her Maltese Figaro has passed away (pictured in December 2010)

The Mask of Zorro actress wrote on her social media site: 'Thank you my darling Figaro for all the years of your friendship and love.

'We will miss you so very much, sleep tight little one', the media personality ended her message.

In the heart-warming photos from 2017, the Welsh thespian cuddled up to Figaro as she posed in an advert for her QVC home collection.

The TV star was first seen with her pooch in November 2009, and often enjoyed refreshing walks with the fluffy dog.

Grief: The screen star, 50, welcomed the adorable animal into her family in November 2009 (pictured in February 2019)

'Will love you forever': Also mourning the loss of the animal was Catherine's daughter Carys, 16, who also uploaded a sweet picture of Figaro

The Maltese breed are commonly known for their warm and friendly nature, and get on well with young children.

The tragedy has no doubt dampened her 19-year wedding anniversary trip with her husband Michael Douglas.

Late last month, the couple enjoyed a sun-soaked break in Zimbabwe and Zanzibar with their children Dylan, 19, and Carys before travelling to Istanbul.

The couple first crossed paths in 1996 at the Deauville Film Festival and later married in 2000 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

Touching: 'Thank you my darling Figaro for all the years of your friendship and love. 'We will miss you so very much, sleep tight little one', the thespian wrote (pictured in July 2018)

Close: The Maltese breed are commonly known for their warm and friendly nature, and get on well with young children (pictured in April 2010)

Just shortly after their first encounter, the screen star famously told Catherine: 'I want to father your children.'

According to the Hollywood legend, the smitten hunk arranged to sit by the Chicago actress, who was at the festival promoting Mask of Zorro, and his shock line seemed to work as they married two years later.

Michael is also the father to Cameron Douglas, 40, from his 23-year marriage to Diandra Luker, 63, between 1977-2000.
Escalation of tension between the US and Iran will impact India's exports to the Persian Gulf nation, apex exporters body FIEO said on Tuesday.

Tensions between Iran and the US has increased after an American drone strike killed top Iranian General last week.

Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President Sharad Kumar Saraf said, "Iran is a key trading partner of India. So far exporters have not flagged any concerns related with exports to Iran".

However, if the tensions escalates, it may have an effect on India's exports to Iran, Saraf said.

He also said that due to existing trade sanctions on Iran, Iranian shipping lines are only taking Indian consignments to that country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
'Yoga can increase the volume of hippocampus and improve memory.'

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

"In India, the population of the elderly will double in the next 30 years. Even now, the number of people with dementia is increasing fast," warns Dr Hemant Bhargav, an assistant professor at the department of integrative medicine at NIMHANS, Bengaluru.

An ageing population and their families have to grapple with problems like Alzheimer's and dementia.

"It is possible to teach yoga to people who are in all three stages of dementia. They showed 30% to 40% improvement in their performance," Dr Bhargav -- an MD, he has also completed his PhD in yoga and rehabilitation -- tells Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com in the concluding segment of the interview.

Part 1 of the interview: How yoga can help the elderly

When you found that the quality of life of the elderly improved with yoga, did you feel yoga would help people with dementia?

Yes. The study gave us the confidence that we could explore what kind of impact yoga would have on people with mild cognitive impairment, like the initial stages of dementia and some cases with Alzheimer's.

Then we picked the useful practices from both ancient literature and modern science and consulted experts in the field of mental health and yoga.

The module we designed for people with dementia needed some adaptation from what we had used for elderly people.

This time, our stress was more on memory and we designed a yoga module based on kundalini yoga and chair yoga because people we were dealing with are the elderly.

At that time, we came across a paper which talked about adapting yoga for early stage, middle stage and late stages of Alzheimer's.

The paper said that, in the early stages, people are rigid in their minds so there shouldn't be frequent changes in the module and the patients needed individual attention.

In the middle stages, people are more playful and child-like.

But in the late stage, it was advised to physically guide them into various postures.

We incorporated these ideas also into our module.

Then, we looked for people with early, middle and late stage symptoms to make them practise.

What are the early, middle and late symptoms of Alzheimer's you looked for?

In the early stages, you will see marginal forgetfulness, difficulty in recollecting names of even the close relatives, rigidity in routine and aversion to changes. Because of this, you will see a slight change in the personality also.

When they reach the middle stages, the rigidity which was part of their personality changes and they become more child-like and fun loving. At the same time, their forgetfulness increases.

In the later change, they may even forget the language they were used to and may not be able to talk.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

What are the results of the study you did on patients with dementia?

The feasibility test is going on at the moment. So far, we have found that the module we have developed is safe and has no adverse effects.

The initial studies also show that their ability to imitate has become better, which will help them do yoga in a better way as you need some amount of memory to perform yogasanas.

We have found that in eight weeks, these people are able to do yoga with slight guidance.

One of the most important things we have found is, it is possible to teach yoga to people who are in all the three stages of dementia.

On the yoga performance scale, on an average, they showed 30% to 40% improvement in their performance.

Stopping the progression of dementia itself is a big achievement.

If it is taking long time to progress one stage to another, it is a big achievement. But we have to do a long term follow-up to come out with a proper result.

What gives us hope is that our study on the elderly found that yoga can increase the volume of hippocampus and improve memory.

Did you find changes in all the three stages?

We cannot comment on the efficacy right now.

I would say it is possible to do yoga in all the three stages of dementia. We plan to write to the Government of India for a grant to do a larger randomised study to establish that yoga is effective in controlling dementia.

At present, we are doing the study only in one group, not in a controlled group.

Do you feel there should be more studies like yours as the number of people with dementia is increasing rapidly?

Definitely, because modern science has very little to offer in conditions like these.

The main approach of Ayurveda and yoga is not to cure diseases but to promote health and well-being. They also work holistically, on the mind, the body and emotions, promoting health through multiple ways.

On the other hand, the approach of modern medicine is totally different.

That's why I feel we should have larger studies on yoga and Ayurveda.

In fact, there are very good studies done in the US on the effects of yoga in Alzheimer's. But, in India, no such study had been done so far.

Photograph: Jitendra Prakash/Reuters

Do you feel they have been doing these studies because there are more elderly people there?

Yes.

But, in India, the population of the elderly will double in the next 30 years. Even now, the number of people with dementia is increasing fast in India.

Of late, have you started seeing more elderly people visiting the hospital?

Yes, it has increased tremendously and is increasing every year. That's why we now have a department called geriatric psychiatry to address the problems of this population.

We at the department of integrative medicine collaborate with geriatric psychiatry. We research together; while we explore the ancient system, they research on the modern system.

NIMHANS is the only central government institute that has a separate department for integrative medicine. This is should be taken up by all the other institutes in India.

Integrative medicine is very popular in western countries and they are doing a lot of studies. But we in India ignore our traditional system; we should do much more work around it.

The problem is we accept our own traditional system only when it comes from the US. We accept yoga when it becomes popular in the US.

At NIMHANS, do you use yoga as a therapy for mental problems?

Our present director, Dr B N Gangadhar, started exploring yoga some 12 years ago to treat people with mental disorders. Today, it has developed into a full-fledged department of integrative medicine.

For mild depression, yoga can be as effective as drugs. There are a couple of trials going on to use yoga as the first line therapy.

In depression, we use more dynamic asanas which are done more intensively and the breathing exercises are also faster, like Vastrika.

For anxiety, we use slower breathing practices and meditative postures.

On the other hand, meditation with eyes closed is not recommended for depression and schizophrenia. Meditation may worsen their problem. That's why we recommend more physical practices like Surya Namaskara, chanting and breathing exercises and not introvert meditation.

There is sufficient amount of evidence to show that yoga can be beneficial to people suffering from depression, schizophrenia, pain disorders and anxiety.
A growing number of investigative journalists and news organizations around the world are investing more resources in covering China from afar.

Why it matters: The Chinese Communist Party claims China's rise offers the world an alternative to western leadership and values. In the coming decade, journalism is vital to understanding exactly what kind of global leader China will be.

What's happening: Chinese President Xi Jinping has cracked down on media and civil society, making it increasingly difficult for journalists to operate inside the country.

By the numbers: China now ranks an abysmal 177 out 180 countries for press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders.

China now ranks an abysmal 177 out 180 countries for press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders. But China's growing footprint abroad, and its tendency to use threats, corruption, and coercion to get what it wants, means that journalists in countries with more robust media freedoms now have lots of fodder for China-related stories, without leaving home.

Between the lines: Newsrooms have traditionally been divided into domestic reporters based at home, and foreign correspondents who cover the country they're in.

But Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election caught the U.S. off guard, and helped newsroom editors realize the old system left blindspots in coverage.

in the 2016 U.S. presidential election caught the U.S. off guard, and helped newsroom editors realize the old system left blindspots in coverage. China, too, has sought to influence the decision-making processes in other countries, sometimes through coercive measures.

the decision-making processes in other countries, sometimes through coercive measures. As bipartisan support for a more hawkish China policy has gained traction, there's growing interest in knowing more about what Beijing is up to in our own backyard.

Newsrooms are catching on:

Several major news organizations, including The Economist and Reuters, have created new positions specifically for covering China in the world, and many other outlets have dedicated resources to covering the topic.

Reports have uncovered China's successful campaign to influence the United Nations; investigated business ties between China and the family of U.S. transportation secretary Elaine Chao; described Beijing's demands to Hollywood filmmakers; and many other stories.

The big picture: It's not just China's activities stateside that are attracting media attention. Reporters are breaking major stories from countries around the world.

Czech Republic: Journalists recently uncovered a "clandestine network" that dedicated huge amounts of money and more than 2,000 hours of work to shore up China's faltering image in the country.

Journalists recently uncovered a "clandestine network" that dedicated huge amounts of money and more than 2,000 hours of work to shore up China's faltering image in the country. Poland: Reuters staff covered a Cold War-style intelligence battle there between the U.S. and China over Huawei.

Reuters staff covered a Cold War-style intelligence battle there between the U.S. and China over Huawei. French Polynesia: A dispatch by New Zealand China expert Anne-Marie Brady revealed the Chinese consulate's years-long illegal occupation of an expensive residence in Tahiti.

A dispatch by New Zealand China expert Anne-Marie Brady revealed the Chinese consulate's years-long illegal occupation of an expensive residence in Tahiti. Germany: Hong Kong-born German journalist Didi Kirsten Tatlow uncovered how the Chinese Communist Party's overseas influence bureau, the United Front Work Department, keeps tabs on Chinese students and professionals in the country.

Hong Kong-born German journalist Didi Kirsten Tatlow uncovered how the Chinese Communist Party's overseas influence bureau, the United Front Work Department, keeps tabs on Chinese students and professionals in the country. Australia: Top investigative journalists have written blockbuster reports for years about Chinese Communist Party-linked money and influence in Australian politics, leading to a set of new laws which took effect in 2019 and are aimed at keeping foreign influence out of their democratic processes.

Top investigative journalists have written blockbuster reports for years about Chinese Communist Party-linked money and influence in Australian politics, leading to a set of new laws which took effect in 2019 and are aimed at keeping foreign influence out of their democratic processes. Pakistan: Dawn.com, one of the country's few independent media outlets, published documents laying out China's sweeping plans in Pakistan, including the construction of comprehensive surveillance systems in major cities.

The bottom line: In 2020 and onwards, expect even more critical investigations about China's impact on the world.

Editor's note: This piece was clarified to better describe the NYT's investigation into ties between China and the family of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao.
JKhand: JMMs Rabindra Nath Mahato set to be become Speaker of House

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

Ranchi, Jan 07: The Senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator and three time MLA Rabindra Nath Mahato, has been elected as the Speaker of state assembly on Tuesday.

Mahato is the legislator from the Nala constituency. With this he became the Speaker of the fifth State Legislative Assembly.

On Monday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced that the name of Ravindra Nath Mahto has come for the Speaker's post and no other name has come either from the ruling coalition's side or the Opposition's side.

Finally, the Mahagathbandhan fixed the name of Mahto for the post of Speaker of the House.

Confident that new Jharkhand Govt will work for all, tweets Rahul

According to reports, Mahto filed his nomination for the post on Monday. He has been elected MLA from Nala Assembly constituency for the third time in 2019 on JMM ticket.

Earlier, in 2005 and 2014, he was elected as MLA from Nala on the ticket of JMM.

Considering Shibu Soren as his ideal, Mahto became active in the Jharkhand movement and he later started politics with the JMM.

The 2019 Jharkhand Assembly polls results were declared on December 23 of all the 81 seats, according to the Election Commission the JMM has won 30 seats, Congress 16 and BJP got 25 seats. 44-year-old JMM working president Hemant Soren sworn in as the 11th chief minister of the state.

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Story first published: Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 14:14 [IST]
Speaking to ANI, Dinakar said, "Jagan Mohan Reddy led YSRCP Government in Andhra Pradesh is using police forces unhumanly against the farmers of Amaravathi to suppress their agitation on three capitals formula. Polices are threatening the farmers' families of the 29 villages in the Amaravathi Core Capital Area by entering their houses at midnights.""Is this a gift the Government of Andhra Pradesh offering to the farmers who gave the lands in Land Pooling System for the pride of the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh after bifurcation where the entire country applauded the farmers, who gave their lands to showcase the face of the State," the BJP leader said.Dinakar further said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Government had incentivized the farmers by exempting the Capital Gain Taxes for them to encourage the success of land pooling for the construction of the capital as so many projects were stalled due to Land acquisition problems in our country. But adamant approach of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister is penalizing the innocent farmers who created the history by offering more than 33,000 acres after unanimously supporting by the both the then ruling party TDP along with BJP and opposition party YSRCP for Amaravathi as the capital of Andhra Pradesh between Guntur and Vijayawada as a center point of 13 Districts."Dinakar said, "YSRCP supremo Jagan Mohan Reddy and his party expressed that Amaravathi as the Capital of Andhra Pradesh time and again and their party Manifesto Committee Chairman Umareddy Venkateswarlu had declared before 2019 Elections, that Amaravathi would be the Capital of Andhra Pradesh after winning the Assembly Elections, but YSRCP Government is behaving in contradiction with their earlier stand just for the sake of political scores between the two regional parties. Now, present Andhra Pradesh Government is not feeling that their Governance is continuous from the previous five years.""First, Jagan Mohan Reddy should learn basics of the governance and order for a CBI inquiry on irregularities in the previous five years governance as well as irregularities in Vishakapatnam Land Scams for the last six months in the present government. Generally, Farmers resist land acquisition since their bondage with lands years together of generations of their families," Dinakar said."But here farmers are standing for the completion of the project as promised and work is in progress. Present government of Andhra Pradesh responsible for breach of trust of farmers who voluntarily offered their lands for Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh," he added. (ANI)
A Magistrate Court in Osogbo, Osun State has remanded a 37-year-old man, Nwanosike Emmanuel, in Ilesha for conduct likely to breach of peace.

The Police prosecutor, Shoyemi Bose told the court that on 4th of January, 2020 at about 5:30pm at No 9B Makai street, Oluode area, Osogbo the accused person invaded the shop of one Olanike Olawale in a manner that could cause breach of peace.

Shoyemi said the defendant invaded Olanike's shop and pretended to be a pastor and thereby caused panic.

The prosecutor stated that the offense committed by the defendant is contrary to and punishable under section 509 and 249(D) of criminal code Cap 34. Volume II, Laws of Osun State Nigeria, 2002.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the offence levelled against him by the police.

The defense counsel, R.A Ugwu applied for the bail of the accused person in the most liberal term.

The prosecutor opposed the bail of the accused person. She said the accused person is from Lagos State, have no sureties to stand for him and if he is granted bail, he might run away.

In her ruling, Cheif Mrs Adijat Oloyade remanded the accused person in Ilesha prison and adjourned the case till 27th of February, 2020.
Its amazing. You cross the big hurdles, and when you get to the small ones, you get tripped up.

That was Albert Reynolds wistful observation on his own demise. There is a crossroads between great strategy and cunning tactics. The RIC commemoration row was a non-issue, but it could have had serious consequences.

Firstly, there are intense talks this week about reviving power-sharing in Stormont. If the DUP wants cheap rhetoric, it was gifted it, Ballymagash Urban District Council-style, by the mayor of Clare and others. It is astonishing that the difference between abstention and a boycott was missed by a country mile.

But breaking glass and setting off the alarm does get attention.

Secondly, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is in the most important week of his life politically. Because Brexit is effectively done and because Novembers by-elections robbed him of sufficient strength in the Dail, for the first time he can credibly call an election.

He has that choice before the Dail resumes next Wednesday, or shortly thereafter. It was essential to ensure his freedom to manoeuvre that the RIC was removed from the political pitch.

Thirdly, and this is the only issue that ultimately counts: In being badly mishandled by the Government and opportunistically seized upon by the opposition, bad tactics undermined good strategy.

Bertie Ahern set out that strategy in his speech to the Houses of Parliament at Westminster in 2007 when he said: Irelands hour has come. It came not as victory or defeat but as a shared future for all.

When I heard Cathal Crowe, the mayor of Clare, lead on this, I instantly recalled Ian Paisley throwing snowballs at Jack Lynchs car as he and TK Whitaker were driven into Stormont to visit with Terence ONeill. To Paisleys shouts of no pope here, Lynch asked Whitaker: Which of us does he think is the pope? There have been a lot of ex cathedral statements over the last few days  few of them intended to be helpful.

Following the long arc from Sean Lemass historic first visit to ONeill at Stormont (the 55th anniversary of which is next Tuesday) to today, there are fundamental questions to be asked.

Why, in a State that accommodated for good reason the IRA and its political machine, are we quibbling about the misdemeanors of the RIC? Is it the body count that matters? Is it the insignia on the uniform? Is it that, unlike the dead of the Troubles, who still have fresh flowers on their graves, these are far removed enough to be fetishised as either monsters or martyrs?

Is it that, after only a short passage of time, we already have a new generation of politicians with no involvement and less sense of what was required to secure peace and push it back up the hill every time it rolled back down? There should have been care in Government and reticence in opposition. Instead, we have wilful waste of what those memory warriors contributed nothing to.

Perhaps the very best statement on commemoration was then taoiseach Brian Cowens at the Institute for British-Irish Studies in 2010. Reflecting on growing up knowing and hearing only one set of stories, he said that, for too long, we concentrated on our differences.

Acknowledging that commemoration is a selective act, Cowen said he wanted to see full acknowledgement of the totality of the islands history.

Warning that there will be those who oppose any such reflection and would hijack history for themselves, he said: Count me out. I attribute no view whatsoever on this controversy to Ahern or Cowen, but their experience then informs my view now.

If the mayor of Clare  vying for a second Fianna Fail seat there and seeking to position himself as a barrow for displaced Sinn Fein votes  set the tone of the response, the impetus came from the Government, and Cork specifically.

The Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations, bandied about as cover until yesterday, wasnt consulted on the RIC plan. Historian Diarmaid Ferriter, Professor of Modern Irish History at University College Dublin, made that crystal clear yesterday. Of more concern is that it hasnt received the political time and attention required in government.

Unlike former Culture Minister Heather Humphreys, who was acutely sensitive to nuance and liaised closely with the group, the incumbent Josepha Madigan has less to learn it seems.

The 2020 programme, announced on January 2, is Cork-centric, with a 1m budget, because Tanaiste Simon Coveney pushed for it. To a significant degree, the mainframe for 2020 commemorations is political.

In a less than duly deliberated upon programme prepared at relatively short notice, specific events were required as garnish. Notably on January 2, launch day for the programme, there was no mention of the RIC event in Dublin Castle on January 17.

Invitations to that only issued on January 6 from Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan. That required instant clarification from Flanagan, that the event was in no sense a commemoration of the Black & Tans or the auxiliaries. Flanagan should have consulted first.

The hurried nature of preparing the programme, and the standalone and uncontextualised nature of the RIC event, was careless.

Of course, as the Expert Advisory Group suggested on page 17 of its report, consideration should also be given to the organisation of specific initiatives to commemorate the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Dublin Metropolitan Police and to acknowledge their place in history.

That commemoration would properly be in 2022, the centenary of its disbandment. A context and understanding could be built though a series of seminars and academic papers dealing with all aspects of the force, and its complex history in between.

Instead now there is entitled talk about a flattening of history to accommodate commemoration here.

But this history is only flattened from the hindsight of a nationalist perspective in a specifically partitionist setting.

The RIC, and subsequently the RUC, was involved in an at-times brutal rearguard action to preserve the union. Each had substantial popular support on the island as a whole.

We can build round towers at Messines in Flanders and commemorate the Somme. But that some of our own were implacably opposed to independence is a reckoning still to be allowed for.

As Cowen said, commemoration is a selective act.

Tomorrow evening, the Taoiseach meets Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin.

By Monday, it will be clear whether there will be an assembly or fresh elections in the North. Next Wednesday the Dail may meet.

The ultimate irony is the spectacle of the long shadow of the Royal Irish Constabulary 98 years after their disbandment.

History is never over.
Members of the Bajrang Dal, Durga Vahini workers, Sikh groups and other organisations on Tuesday protested outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi over the mob attack on Nankana Sahib Gurdwara and the killing of a Sikh youth in Pakistan's Peshawar. A scuffle broke out between the protestors and security forces near the site, following which the police reportedly detained them. The protestors burnt an effigy of Pakistan PM Imran Khan.

Police detained protestors

Delhi: Scuffle broke out between Bajrang Dal,Durga Vahini workers and Security forces near Pakistan High Commission during protest against mob attack on Nankana Sahib Gurdwara on January 3. Police detained protesters pic.twitter.com/26hbgZskp1  ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2020

Main accused arrested

The main accused in the recent incident of vandalism at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan's Punjab province has been arrested and charged with a non-bailable section of the stringent anti-terrorism act, a top official said on Monday. Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, also known as Gurdwara Janam Asthan, is a site near Lahore where the first Guru of Sikhs, Guru Nanak, was born.

A violent mob had attacked the Gurdwara and pelted it with stones on Friday. A team of police had to intervene briskly to control the situation. The accused, identified as Imran, was arrested on Sunday for his role in the incident, Geo News reported.

India condemned the attack on Nankana Sahib

India has strongly condemned the incident of vandalism at the revered Gurdwara and called upon the Pakistan government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of the Sikh community there. On Saturday, January 4, Indian leaders cutting across party lines and various outfits condemned the mob attack on the historic Gurdwara, terming it as "cowardly" and "shameful".

READ | VHP states 'AIMPLB can exhaust legal options', board to file for review on Ayodhya verdict

READ | Nankana Sahib attack: VHP urges UNHRC to take cognizance, slams Pakistan

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee, the top body which manages Sikh shrines in India, said it will send a four-member delegation to Pakistan to take stock of the situation and urged the Pakistan government to take stringent action against the culprits who attacked the gurdwara - one of the holiest sites in Sikhism.

Pakistan's Foreign Office on Friday rejected the media reports that the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib was desecrated in a mob attack, saying the birthplace of the founder of Sikhism remains "untouched and undamaged" and the "claims of destruction" of one of the holiest Sikh shrines are "false".

READ | AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan defends 'provocative' speech, blames BJP-VHP workers for violence

READ | UP police and CM Adityanath should learn from Telangana police, says VHP's Sadhvi Prachi

(with PTI inputs)
Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST

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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.
[January 07, 2020] Webair Announces Jovia Financial Credit Union as a New Client

Webair, a leading managed cloud-based infrastructure solutions provider, announces today that Jovia Financial Credit Union has selected Webair (News - Alert) as its provider of choice for IT infrastructure solutions. Jovia Financial Credit Union, one of Long Island's leading credit unions specializing in providing affordable banking services, has signed a 3-year contract to procure Webair's highly secure managed cloud and uptime solutions. This will include Dedicated Private Cloud, off-site Backups-as-a-Service (BaaS), and Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service (DRaaS). Jovia sought a provider that served not only as a vendor but as a partner, seeking a company with a highly skilled technical team that could act as an extension of Jovia's internal IT team. Webair's unique ability to customize solutions for Jovia, support its current IT needs, and adapt as the credit union continues to grow were pivotal factors during the selection process. "Part of being an innovative credit union is ensuring a resilient infrastructure that provides practically zero downtime for our members," says Dan Ford (News - Alert), Chief Information Officer of Jovia Financial Credit Union. "Partnering with Webair brings us closer to realizing this goal." Webair's Private Cloud, BaaS, and DRaaS solutions were carefully designed and architected by the Webair technical team to ensure that all of Jovia's security, performance, and business requirements were compehensively met. In addition to these solutions being specifically tailored to meet Jovia's needs, these services also satisfy a wide range of compliance and certification requirements, including certifications that fall under the SOC 2 audit umbrella.



"We're excited that we're able to provide Jovia with custom-tailored uptime solutions that ensure superior protection for its most critical and sensitive data," says Michael Ohayon, Chief Operating Officer of Webair. "Since Webair has vast experience in customizing solutions for clients in the finance vertical, we leverage our insight, expertise, and resources to cater to all of Jovia's needs. This will allow us to provide peace of mind to both Jovia and its customers, enabling them to feel reassured that their data will always remain safe." Both Webair and Jovia share the same ideologies when it comes to serving their clients, ensuring that industry-leading service and support are at the forefront of their strategies. These shared business principles, paired with Webair's ability to offer individualized uptime solutions and world-class support for Jovia, will ultimately facilitate exceptional growth for both companies.

For more information, visit www.webair.com or follow Webair on LinkedIn (News - Alert): www.linkedin.com/company/webair, Facebook (News - Alert): www.facebook.com/WebairInc/, and Twitter (News - Alert): @WebairInc. ABOUT WEBAIR Webair is a high-touch, agile Cloud and IT Infrastructure solutions provider headquartered in New York. With a global network of fully compliant, highly secure data centers, Webair offers a vast selection of scalable, flexible, and secure solutions that are completely individualized to satisfy the unique requirements of each client. Coupled with 24x7x365 white-glove support from seasoned technical experts, fully managed services, and world-class technology, Webair can ensure that its clients' Cloud and IT Infrastructure solutions are completely taken care of so that clients can dedicate their focus to their core businesses. ABOUT JOVIA FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION Jovia Financial Credit Union is one of Long Island's leading credit unions that proudly offers its affordable banking services to all Long Islanders. With more than $3 billion in assets and nearly 200,000 members, Jovia has branches and a shared branch network throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. To join Jovia, eligible members must live, work, attend school, or regularly conduct business in Nassau and/or Suffolk counties (excluding the townships of East Hampton, Southampton and Shelter Island). Existing Jovia members may also sponsor immediate family members or household members. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005025/en/

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Read below is former President John Dramani Mahama's new year message to Ghanaians wishing victory for the NDC in the upcoming elections in December this year.

Happy New Year to you all, my fellow countrymen and women.

The last pages of 2019 have shut and a blank new one- 2020- has opened up to us. Within the last 365 days, there has been joy, happiness and fulfilled dreams for a few; but pain, anguish and unfulfilled promises for the majority.

In all things, however, let us continue to be thankful to the Almighty God because we have the most valuable gift- the gift of life. In our personal lives and in our family struggles, in our relationships with others, in our business commitments and in all other endeavours and engagements, we are presented with a new opportunity to change things for the better, in order to triumph over the set-backs we encountered.

One of our nations foremost literary icons, the late Professor Kofi Awoonor, declared in one of his writings that, I believe in hope, but even in its absence, I believe in the possibility of hope. Therefore, even in our darkest and most difficult moments, we must remember to hold on to hope.

Let us hope and work for a better and prosperous Ghana in 2020 and beyond. Let us hope and work for a peaceful Ghana that offers opportunities for all, not just a few. My brothers and sisters, it is a testament to the resilience of the Ghanaian that we never give up but fight and inspire others to greatness. We did it during the independence struggle where we became the first sub-Saharan nation to achieve independence.

In more recent times, Ghanaians have occupied some of the highest positions in global affairs and left indelible marks of excellence. As a result, the world has come to expect nothing short of inspiration from the name GHANA, so we cannot begin to see ourselves any less.

The year 2020 is an election year and the eyes of the world would continue to be fixed on us, as we go to the polls. We need to meet the high standards set by previous Electoral Commissions and even better it. I do not say it lightly when I say that the 2020 election will be a pivotal event for our country. It is one that will determine the destiny of our nation.

I believe at this critical stage in our nations life, Ghanaians deserve- more than ever- a government that is honest and truthful with them. A government that takes responsibility and gives them results, not excuses or blame. A government that opens the opportunities of our country to all its people, and not just a few.

2019 was a difficult year for Ghanaian businesses and by extension affected the quality of life in many Ghanaian homes. In my rounds, I have met many business persons who are in despair that their enterprises are collapsing and they can no longer hold it together. To all my countrymen and women, I urge you to keep hope alive. It is said that the darkest hour, is before the dawn. We can change things, and make our nation better.

We must all work together to build our beloved country. I urge you not to despair. I urge you not to be passive. And most of all, do not be apathetic; for there is nothing to gain in apathy except regret. If we are apathetic, others will make the decision for us. As we go to the polls in 2020, President Nana Akufo-Addo has a responsibility to secure the safety of all citizens and must resist the temptation to allow the use of violence to harm and intimidate innocent civilians as we observed last year during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.

On my part, I will continue to work for peace and I urge the President to do the same. As a first step, I suggest he stops shielding the perpetrators of the violence at Ayawaso West Wuogon. He must have them face the appropriate sanctions.

My brothers and sisters, the New Year is here. May God grant us a peaceful, prosperous and victorious New Year.
Advertisement

The U.S. Air Force has performed a huge show of strength by launching 52 fully-armed Lightning II stealth fighters in a single wave from a base in Utah.

The F-35A aircraft, which are worth a total of $4.2 billion, took off in quick succession from the Hill Air Force Base in Utah on Monday as tensions mount in the Middle East over the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

Fifty two is the number of American diplomats and civilians seized by Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis, and the number of targets that Trump has threatened to strike in Iran if the regime retaliates over Soleimani's death.

The exercise was carried out by the active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings, which said it showed the Air Force's ability to deploy a large force of the F-35As.

The 52 F-35A aircrafts, which are worth a whopping $4.2 billion, took off in quick succession from the Hill Air Force Base in Utah on Monday following an elephant walk down the runway

While the exercise has been planned for several months, the execution of it came in the same week the U.S. continues to brace for Iran to respond to the drone strike killing of its most powerful general in Iraq.

The Fighter Wings revealed on Monday that the F-35As have now finally reached full war-fighting capability.

'We're ready to fly, fight, and win,' the 419th Fighter Wings tweeted after the exercise.

They added the exercise 'pushed the boundaries and tested our Airmen's ability to deploy the F-35As en masse'.

The 388th Fight Wingers said: 'The exercise, which was planned for months, demonstrated their ability to employ a large force of F-35As  testing readiness in the areas of personnel accountability, aircraft generation, ground operations, flight operations, and combat capability against air and ground targets.

'A little more than four years after receiving their first combat-coded F-35A Lightning II aircraft, Hills fighter wings have achieved full warfighting capability.'

Each F-35A fighter is worth about $89.2 million.

The U.S. received its first F-35A at the Hill Air Force Base four years ago.

Since then, the Fighter Wings have been training pilots, engaging in multiple large combat exercises and supporting two Middle East combat deployments.

'Every training opportunity, exercise and deployment we've completed over the past four years has been a key stepping stone in reaching full warfighting capability,' Col. Steven Behmer, 388th Fighter Wing commander, said.

'This is just the beginning of sustained F-35A combat operations and we will remain focused on staying ready to deploy whenever, wherever we're needed.'

The exercise carried out by the active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings showed the Air Force's ability to deploy a large force of the F-35As

While the exercise has been planned for several months, the execution of it came in the same week the U.S. continues to brace for Iran to respond to the drone strike killing of its most powerful general in Iraq

It was a huge show of strength from the Air Force in a week where the U.S. braced for Iran to respond to the killing of its most powerful general, noting heightened military readiness in the country and preparing for a possible 'tit-for-tat' attempt on the life of an American military commander

The Fighter Wings revealed on Monday that the F-35As have now finally reached full war-fighting capability

The Air Force deployed its F-35A stealth fighter jets to the Middle East for the first time ever last year.

At least six F-35As from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings left the Hill Air Force Base in April 2019 en route to the Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.

The Air Force said at the time that the fighters would be participating in coalition air operations targeting ISIS militants.

While they were the first U.S. Air Force-operated F35As to enter to Middle East, they weren't new to the region with Israel already operating 12 of the jets.

The model is billed as the most advanced military aircraft ever sent into the skies.

The Air Force has previously boasted that the jet 'improves lethality, survivability and adaptability against emerging threats in order to maintain air superiority'.

The F-35A is the conventional takeoff and landing variant version of the jet, and the first of the three versions to enter full service.

The F-35B, which is capable of vertical take-off and landing, only recently entered service.

Meanwhile the F-35C, which specializes in aircraft carrier operations, has consistently fallen behind in testing.

Some of a group of 52 U.S. Air Force F-35A aircraft from the 388th and 428th Fighter Wings, form up in an "elephant walk" exercise at Hill Air Force Base on Monday

The Air Force has previously boasted that the jet 'improves lethality, survivability and adaptability against emerging threats in order to maintain air superiority'

A U.S. Air Force pilot adjusts his mask as he taxies his Air Force F-35A aircraft from the 388th and 428th Fighter Wings, to form up in an "elephant walk" exercise at Hill Air Force Base

The 419th Fighter Wings tweeted after the exercise 'We're ready to fly, fight, and win' after revealing the fleet had reached full war-fighting capability

The F-35 is the first to combine radar-evading stealth technology with supersonic speeds and the ability to conduct short take-offs and vertical landings.

It has the ability to operate from land and sea and has previously been hailed as a huge leap forward in aerospace technology.

The Fighter Wings on Monday insisted that the training exercise was not a result of heightened tensions with Iran following the U.S. drone strike that killed top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force.

Esmail Ghaani, the general who replaced Qassem Soleimani after he was killed, has since vowed to take revenge as part of the fallout over the U.S. strike.

WATCH: 52 F-35s launched in rapid succession from @HAFB today! @388fw & @419fw conducted a combat power exercise part of normal, scheduled training operations and not a response to any current events.



The fighter wings are home to 78 aircraft.



Via @Fox13 pic.twitter.com/fHFlGTyp05    (@brian_schnee) January 6, 2020

'God the almighty has promised to get his revenge, and God is the main avenger. Certainly actions will be taken,' he said on Monday in an interview with Iranian state television.

Soleimani's daughter, Zeinab, also directly threatened an attack on the U.S. military in the Mideast while speaking to a crowd of hundreds of thousands in Tehran that stretched as far as the eye could see.

'The families of U.S. soldiers in the Middle East will spend their days waiting for death of their children,' she said to cheers.

It comes as Iran abandoned the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in response to the slaying. Separately, Iraq's parliament has called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil.

Adding to the tensions, President Donald Trump threatened to demand billions of dollars in compensation from Iraq or impose 'sanctions like they've never seen before' if it goes through with expelling U.S. troops.

A U.S. Air Force pilot takes off in his Air Force F-35A aircraft from the 388th and 428th Fighter Wings to participate in the combat power exercise

The Air Force has previously boasted that the jet 'improves lethality, survivability and adaptability against emerging threats in order to maintain air superiority'

A U.S. Air Force pilot takes off in his Air Force F-35A aircraft at the Hill Air Force Base in Utah on Monday

The model is billed as the most advanced military aircraft ever sent into the skies
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TUCSON, Ariz.  A Tucson woman said Monday her husband was among the three Americans killed in a terror attack at a Kenya military base.

Television station KOLD 13 said Hope Harrison confirmed in a Monday phone interview that her husband, Dustin Harrison, was among those killed Sunday by al-Shabab extremists.

She could not be immediately located for further comment.

Her husband was a pilot who worked as a Defense Department contractor.

Another contractor and Army Spec. Henry Mayfield Jr. of the Chicago area, also died in the attack.

Received the heart wrenching call this evening that my beautiful husband was one of the casualties from the attack, she wrote earlier on Facebook. My world is completely a nightmare at the moment. My worst fear is now my reality.

The television station said Harrison was meeting with her husbands co-workers to learn the details of the attack before flying on to an Air Force base to receive his body.

Al-Shabab, based in neighboring Somalia, claimed responsibility for the attack.
AMHERST, Mass. - In a new paper, a team of evolutionary biologists and geneticists led by senior author associate professor Ana Caicedo, with first author Hamid Razifard at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and others, report that they have identified missing links in the tomato's evolution from a wild blueberry-sized fruit in South America to the larger modern tomato of today.

The missing link that deserves more attention than it has gotten to date, they say, is one of a number of intermediate variants between the fully wild and fully domesticated tomato. Results of their genetic studies indicate that the modern cultivated tomato is most closely related to a weed-like tomato group still found in Mexico rather than to semi-domesticated intermediate types found in South America.

Razifard, a postdoctoral researcher in the Caicedo lab, says, "What's new is that we propose that about 7,000 years ago, these weedy tomatoes may have been re-domesticated into the cultivated tomato." The common cultivated tomato is the world's highest value and most widely grown vegetable crop and an important model for studying fruit development, Caicedo and colleagues point out.

In this work, part of a larger research effort supported by the National Science Foundation and led by Esther van der Knaap at the University of Georgia, the researchers say that for many years an oversimplified view of tomato domestication was thought to involve two major transitions, the first from small, wild Solanum pimpinellifolium L. (SP) to a semi-domesticated intermediate, S. lycoperiscum L. var. cerasiforme (SLC). The second was a transition from an intermediate group (SLC) to fully domesticated cultivated tomato (S. lycopersicum L. var. lycopersicum (SLL)).

Their genetic studies address the role of what they call a "historically contentious" and complex intermediate stage of tomato domestication, an essential chapter that should not be overlooked in the tomato's long journey from wildness to domestication. Details appear in an Advanced Access edition of Molecular Biology and Evolution.

Razifard and colleagues, who created a public genomic variants dataset for this study, used whole-genome sequencing of wild, intermediate and domesticated (SP, SLC, and SLL) varieties, plus population genomic analyses to reconstruct tomato domestication, focusing on evolutionary changes especially in the intermediate stages (SLC). They generated new whole-genome sequences for 166 samples, with particular attention to intermediate variants from its native range and cultivated fruit from Mexico, previously under-represented in studies.

Razifard says, "We found that SLC may have originated in Ecuador around 80,000 years ago as a wild species rather than a domesticate. It was cultivated in Peru and Ecuador by native people later to create medium-size tomato fruits. We also found that two subgroups from the intermediate group may have spread northward to Central America and Mexico possibly as a weedy companion to other crops."

"Remarkably, these northward extensions of SLC seem to have lost some of the domestication-related phenotypes present in South America. They still grow in milpas of Mexico, where people use them as food although not cultivating them intentionally," he adds. Milpas are fields where farmers plant many different crops in the same area.

He and Caicedo note that an origin of the domestic tomato from weed-like ancestors was proposed in 1948 based on the many native names that exist for the weed-like tomato, in contrast to fewer names for the common cultivated tomato. This hypothesis was challenged by others who argued against Mexico as a center of tomato domestication due to the absence of completely wild tomatoes there.

Razifard says, "It's still a mystery how tomatoes have moved northward. All we have is genetic evidence and no archaeological evidence because tomato seeds don't preserve well in the archeological records."

The researchers point out that exploring intermediate stages of tomato domestication has "direct implications for crop improvement." For example, they observed some signals of selection in certain intermediate populations for alleles involved in disease resistance and drought tolerance, important, Razifard says, "Such evidence is useful for finding candidate alleles that can be used for creating disease-resistant and/or drought-tolerant tomatoes." Other intermediate populations had higher beta-carotene or sugar content, attractive traits to consumers.

The evolutionary biologist says, "This is the kind of paper that Darwin would have enjoyed reading. He drew many of his insights on evolution from studying plants, especially crops. He corresponded extensively with botanists before he finalized his theory of evolution through natural selection."

A postdoctoral researcher who did much of the population genomic analyses for this project, Razifard adds that he wants to support the movement in biology against "plant blindness," the tendency to ignore the importance of plants in studying evolution as well as other subfields of biology. Also, he is from a minority Azerbaijani-speaking area of Iran and says, "This paper is special to me because it's my first one with a female-majority author list. I feel lucky to be part of a generation that is changing science, and I hope this paper serves as a model for gender equity in STEM fields."

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[January 06, 2020] Texas Native Loral O'Hara to Graduate as NASA Astronaut with Eye on Artemis Missions

HOUSTON, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas native Loral O'Hara will join the rest of NASA's first class of astronaut candidates to graduate under the Artemis program, for a graduation ceremony and media opportunity Friday, Jan. 10, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston. After completing more than two years of basic training, she will become eligible for spaceflight assignments to the International Space Station (ISS), Artemis missions to the Moon, and future missions to Mars. The ceremony will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website. The new graduates also will be available for in-person and remote media interviews following the ceremony. To participate, media must submit requests for credetials and interviews to Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. Those following the briefing on social media may ask questions using #AskNASA.



The class includes 11 NASA candidates, as well as two Canadian Space Agency (CSA) candidates, selected in 2017. The NASA candidates, including O'Hara, were chosen from a record-setting pool of more than 18,000 applicants. The CSA candidates have been training alongside their NASA classmates. O'Hara was born in Houston, Texas. She earned a bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Kansas and a master's degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University. Prior to joining NASA, O'Hara was a Research Engineer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, where she worked on the engineering, test, and operations of deep-ocean research submersibles and robots.

All astronaut candidates have completed training in spacewalking, robotics, ISS systems, T-38 jet proficiency, and Russian language. At the ceremony, each candidate will receive an astronaut pin, marking their graduation from basic training and their eligibility to be selected to fly in space. As astronauts, they'll help develop spacecraft, support the teams currently in space and ultimately, have the opportunity to join the ranks of only about 500 people who have had the honor of going into space. NASA continues its work aboard the space station, which is preparing to mark the 20th consecutive year of humans living onboard in November 2020. The agency also is on the verge of launching Americans from American soil aboard commercial spacecraft and is preparing to send humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis program. Find additional photos of the astronaut candidates and their training here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/albums/72157698260056092 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/texas-native-loral-ohara-to-graduate-as-nasa-astronaut-with-eye-on-artemis-missions-300982159.html SOURCE NASA

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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The most prestigious think tank in the world, the Brookings Institution, once annoyed then president Richard Nixon so much that he proposed fire-bombing its headquarters. One of his aides, John W. Dean III, described how in recordings from the Oval Office Nixon can be heard, "literally pounding on his desk, saying, 'I want that break-in at the Brookings'". He figured that during the blaze his operatives might be able to sneak past the firefighters to steal files from its safe, Dean later told The Washington Post. The fire-bombing never happened and Nixon later resigned in disgrace (over other scandals), but Brookings has thrived. It was named think tank of the year in 2018 by the University of Pennsylvania's Think Tank and Civil Societies Program, a kind of think tank think tank. Though think tanks are constantly cited and quoted in media, and often even in policy documents, confusion remains about what exactly it is that they do, why and how they do it, and for whom. According to the Think Tank and Civil Societies Program's 2018 report, there were 8248 think tanks in the world last year, including 42 in Australia. The highest-ranked Australian outfit was the Australian Institute for International Affairs, which came in at number 56 in the world, followed by the Lowy Institute for International Policy at 64. The ranking is the result of 1796 interviews with peer institutions and experts from the print and electronic media, academia, public and private donor institutions and governments around the world. So what do these think tanks do? And what effect do they have?

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Illustration: Dionne Gain Credit: What's the difference between a think tank and a lobby group? Typically a lobby group acts as a hired gun, prosecuting the interests of its members  which may be major commercial interests  while a think tank conducts and presents the research of its scholars and experts. In practice, the line becomes blurred, especially when think tanks undertake work for clients on commission. Some think tanks in Australia are viewed by critics as acting like lobby groups, pushing industry-friendly research or junk science in support of interest groups. There are other distinctions. According to the University of Pennsylvania, think tanks are structured as permanent bodies rather than as ad hoc commissions or research panels; and they devote a substantial portion of their resources to commissioning and publishing research and policy analysis in the social science areas such as political science, economics, public administration and international affairs. Why the term "think tank"? The phrase think tank was a synonym for the brain around the turn of the last century, as expressed in this most peculiar anonymous item in an Australian country newspaper in 1890: "It is a fine thing that think tanks are not transparent, for if our friends could see what sickly little specimens our original thoughts are, and how robust we try to make them appear, they would turn from us in disgust." A little harsh, perhaps. In any case, think tanks assumed a more heavy-hitting complexion during World War II, according to Britannica, when they were used to describe a safe place where plans and strategies could be nutted out. It was in the 1960s, though, that the term "think tank" hit its stride when it was used to refer to private, non-profit policy research organisations. These organisations flourished in Washington during the Kennedy administration, reported The Canberra Times in 1971, in an article about a think tank set up by Don Dunstan's Labor government in South Australia. The term "has tended to conjure up visions of a small army of long-haired, ideologically motivated, faceless backroom intellectuals  spawning brilliant theoretical ideas like mushrooms in a rainforest," the writer contended. Yet, they wrote, the South Australian premier's think tank consisted of "five hand-picked public servants" who were doing rather well. While many news reports from the '70s and '80s render "think tank" in inverted commas to indicate its newfangled status, the term is now in common use and think tanks have become a significant part of public discussion. The Macquarie Dictionary defines a think tank as "a group, usually of highly qualified specialists, dedicated to the solving of particular problems and the generating of productive ideas".  Felicity Lewis

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How do think tanks work? The Lowy Institute was founded in 2003 with a gift from shopping-centre mogul Frank Lowy and his family and instructions to academic Michael Fullilove, who wrote the original feasibility study, to help create an organisation that would "deepen the debate in Australia about the world, and give Australia a greater voice abroad". The billionaire's philanthropic gesture vaulted the Lowy Institute to the front rank of Australian think tanks when it launched. Today it functions as a model think tank. Its experts produce original research in fields run by program directors who report to research director Alex Oliver and Fullilove, who serves as an executive director answering to a board made up of Lowy family members as well as business, political, academic and retired military heavyweights. Think tank directors generally agree that their key role is to bridge the gap between other sources of information  such as media and academia  and policymakers. Ben Oquist, director of the Australia Institute, says that even the best academic research can be slow to produce and difficult to digest, while journalists often produce timely information that is not deeply enough researched to inform policymaking. The work of a think tank takes up the middle ground.

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Normally, that research is made freely available to anyone who wants to use it and it is often presented in talks and conferences hosted by the institutions. The Lowy Institute publishes its flagship papers as Penguin Paperbacks and some of its most significant research is crafted as digital interactives that compare aid spending and diplomatic influence in Asia and the Pacific. This information is used widely in diplomatic, political, military and media circles around the region and the world. Ben Chifley and Doc Evatt. Illustration: Dionne Gain Credit: Some progressive Australian think tanks The Australia Institute: Though not party aligned, the most prominent progressive think tank was founded largely with donations from an offshoot of Rupert Murdoch's family, the Kantors, through two private organisations, the Poola Foundation and Treepot Foundation, and prosecutes research on a broad range of public policy areas. Per Capita: Per Capita focuses on how government can better shape the economy for more equitable social outcomes. Its founders, in Melbourne in 2007, included Evan Thornley, Joshua Funder and Tony Kitchener. Chifley Research Centre: Named after reformist post-war prime minister Ben Chifley, the Chifley Research Centre is the official think tank of the Australian Labor Party, designed to help "renew Australias progressive values and to rebuild the progressive movement". Evatt Foundation: Founded in 1979 as a memorial to Dr Herbert (Doc) Evatt, the former Labor leader, attorney-general and and High Court judge, the foundation seeks to uphold the "highest ideals of the labour movement", promoting research, debate and discussion of social and economic issues. Who sets a think tank's agenda? Most think tanks are transparent about their core values. Both the Labor and Liberal parties run affiliated think tanks to inform their policymaking, though these think tanks' influence surges and recedes over the years. Because they are expensive to run, think tanks can have a tendency to amplify the voices of those individuals and organisations  public or private  that fund them. According to Oquist, fundraising takes up a substantial amount of time that could better be spent on research and the task has become harder since the global financial crisis. As a result large donations, either corporate or philanthropic, are crucial.

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The right-leaning Institute for Public Affairs (IPA) has been accused of championing policies to reduce the wages bills, taxes and regulations on some of its biggest donors, including tobacco companies and Gina Rinehart, the chairman of Hancock Prospecting. Federal MP Tim Wilson, a former policy director at the IPA, says the suggestion that corporate donors shape the IPA's policy outlook is unfounded as its public positions remain in line with its values. "Look at the consistency of our work, there is no inconsistency, he says. In 2016, The New York Times published an investigation critical of leading US think tanks, which it said had allowed their research and even their internal appointments to be influenced by donations from foreign governments and corporations. Elizabeth Warren, the Democratic Party senator who is now in the running to be president, said at the time: "This is about giant corporations who figured out that by spending, hey, a few tens of millions of dollars, if they can influence outcomes here in Washington, they can make billions of dollars. Martin Indyk, the Australian-born diplomat and academic who was then serving as Brookings' executive vice-president (and who is now on the Lowy Institute's board) said at the time: "We do not compromise our integrity. We maintain our core values of quality, independence, as well as impact. Asked why the Centre for Independent Studies does not publish details about its funding, its executive director, Tom Switzer, says public debate has become so toxic that to do so would be to invite a needless barrage of criticism upon the organisation's supporters. Fullilove says while the Lowy Institute's outlook is determinedly international, the views of its scholars are their own and they often disagree with each other. "There are no house positions," says Fullilove. "We are host to a range of opinions, but the advocate of none." He says what influence Lowy has it retains through the quality of its research and by positioning itself as the chosen venue for powerful people to introduce big ideas. This year Scott Morrison became the third sitting prime minister to deliver the Lowy Institute's annual address. Illustration: Dionne Gain Credit: Some key conservative think tanks Institute for Public Affairs: Founded by businessmen during World War II to champion neoliberal ideas such as deregulation, free speech and tax cuts. Centre for Independent Studies: Created in 1976 by a schoolteacher influenced by the libertarian ideas of Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek and classical liberal philosophers such as Adam Smith, David Hume and John Locke. Menzies Research Centre: Named after the Liberal Party's founder and Australia's longest-serving prime minister, Sir Robert Menzies, the centre was founded in 1994 with the support of the Liberal Party, funded by corporate and philanthropic sponsors. It seeks to promote "individual liberty, free speech, competitive enterprise, limited government and democracy" through its research, publications and conferences.

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Weinstein trial spotlights the use of 'prior bad acts' witnesses originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Six women are expected to testify that Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted them at the Hollywood movie producers New York City trial, but he is only charged with assaulting two of them.

Similarly, six women took the witness stand last year in a Pennsylvania courtroom to accuse Bill Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting them, though he was charged with and convicted of attacking just one -- former Temple University employee Andrea Constand.

Experts in sexual assault and victims' advocates say that the use of so-called prior bad acts witnesses  women with credible sexual assault claims against a defendant which fall outside the statute of limitations for prosecution  are an increasingly vital tool for prosecutors at a time when the #MeToo movement is drawing forth long-delayed reports of sex abuse.

They are 100% important, crucial and necessary to provide to the jury that the defendant knew what he was doing, that this was not an accident, said Kristen Gibbons Feden, one of a trio of Pennsylvania prosecutors who won convictions against Cosby last year.

Yet critics contend these witnesses can serve to tilt the case unfairly against the defendant and subvert the spirit of the law.

Since in many instances the alleged attacks werent reported to police or doctors at the time, physical evidence typically associated with sex assaults is often absent  which can turn conflicting testimony into he said, she said sagas, and force jurors to choose who to believe rather than relying on forensic evidence.

This in turn prompts defense attorneys to try and impeach the accusers credibility altogether, instead of simply challenging the witnesss account.

When you look at Andrea Constand, she had all kinds of credibility problems, University of Colorado law professor and former defense attorney Aya Gruber told ABC News. Even some of those prior bad acts witnesses -- they were not altogether great witnesses individually.

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But when you start adding them all up, jurors start saying, wait a second: they may all have individual issues, but what are the chances they would all come forward and lie, Gruber said.

Youre not supposed to do this. Youre not supposed to say, Well, if I had to find each of these beyond a reasonable doubt, I wouldnt, but putting them altogether? Eh. Sure. Thats exactly whats not supposed to happen.

PHOTO: Movie producer Harvey Weinstein arrives at criminal court on Dec. 11, 2019 in New York City. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

(MORE: Harvey Weinstein's long-anticipated criminal trial begins this week in New York City )

Its a fraught decision for any judge  who must weigh the value to the jury of hearing additional evidence from other accusers with similar accounts, versus the potential prejudicial cumulative effect such new witnesses could have on the defendant.

In Cosbys first trial, the judge allowed one prior bad acts witness to support Constands claim with her own account. The jury deadlocked, and a mistrial was declared.

In Cosbys retrial, the same judge allowed five prior bad acts witnesses, and a jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts in just over 12 hours. The ruling has withstood two appellate reviews.

(In a post-verdict statement, the Cosby retrial jurors were explicit about their deliberative process. "Simply put, we were asked to assess the credibility of Ms. Constand's account ... and each one of us found her credible and compelling.")

Judges on the hot seat

Sex assault victim advocates and researchers have long argued that gender-based violence victims should not be expected to behave the way most crime victims do  by, for example, reporting it immediately to the police.

Despite indications of a rise in sex crimes reporting in recent years, rape and sexual assault remain among the most underreported of all crimes. Less than a quarter of all sexual assaults in the U.S. are reported, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

It is hurdles like these that prosecutors are seeking to overcome through the use of prior bad acts witnesses.

(MORE: Harvey Weinstein's long-anticipated criminal trial begins today in New York City )

"Even with the #MeToo movement, you have a lot of different people with misconceptions about sex crimes, such as delayed disclosure .... not immediately going to the police, having a piecemeal disclosure, said Gibbons Feden, who has moved into private practice. And those are misconceptions."

"Individuals like to put themselves into the shoes of a victim or survivor -- and for people who dont know many victims or survivors and cant really empathize, or put themselves in that persons shoes, they think to themselves, 'Well, if that were me I would immediately disclose to someone, I would go to the police, I would have such a crazy reaction," she said. "And thats not the typical response."

Leveling the playing field

Another key tactic New York prosecutors seem to be pulling from the Cosby trial playbook is the use of expert prosecution witness, Dr. Barbara Ziv  a forensic psychiatrist who studies the behavior of sexual assault victims.

Ziv testified at the Cosby trial that the vast majority of victims of sexual assault do not report to authorities, and that sexual assault reporting can be delayed from days to weeks to months to years.

PHOTO: Dr. Barbara Ziv talks about a Pennsylvania gunman who killed three women and injured nine others during an appearance on ABC's, 'Good Morning America,' Aug. 6, 2009. (ABC)

She testified to how common counterintuitive behavior is in victims of sexual violence, and how they rarely act the way you would think they would.

Experts who testify about victim behavior are so important because they are leveling the playing field, said Jennifer Long, executive director of AEquitas, a non-profit legal organization that trains district attorneys in the effective prosecution of sex crimes cases. They are basically trying to undo years of both public and prevalent myths about victims of sexual assault and how theyre supposed to behave.

(MORE: Timeline: Harvey Weinstein's path to his New York City rape and sexual assault trial)

Gruber applauded the push to educate jurors on the realities of sexual trauma -- but believes that the Weinstein case is going to raise some complex questions about the nature of consent and coercion.

Weinstein defense attorneys have argued that any sexual encounters between Weinstein and his accusers were consensual. They have submitted email correspondence to the court between Weinstein and the two complaining witnesses they say demonstrates that both women subsequently sought his help in getting jobs. The defense contends that the alleged 2013 rape victim maintained a consensual sexual relationship with Weinstein for years afterwards.

In a response letter filed with the court, Assistant District Attorney Kevin Wilson countered, "That the defendant has a misguided and antiquated view of how a rape victim should react after having been assaulted does not change this reality.

Thorny questions

All the women testifying against Weinstein are expected to come under withering cross-examination at trial, just as those that testified against Cosby did last year.

Gruber expects the Weinstein prosecution witness cross-examinations to be even more devastating.

PHOTO: Harvey Weinstein leaves court following a hearing, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019 in New York. (Mark Lennihan/AP)

At least with Cosby, if somebody is passed out and youre having sex with them, thats rape, said Gruber.

Whats not clear here is, what are the levels at which youre negotiating things where  because of power differentials  the encounter becomes nonconsensual? she said. So, the experts are going to be really important in this case.

What is on trial in Weinstein is what is rape, versus sexual harassment or bad behavior? We all can understand that anything [sexual] you do with a child, for instance, is nonconsensual -- but the trouble we get into is these presumptions about being unable to say no, unable to bargain, unable to get away.

Do all these apply to adult women? she wondered. Are we supposed to assume that an adult woman is just like a child because she wants that job so much? What are the presumptions that flow to women?

These are really thorny questions about the definition of rape, so I think we can expect some real gray areas, she said.
Expert advice allows Shalaby Laboratory to strengthen staff development

Leading fashion designers, global fruit and vegetable producers, and now high-tech medical clinics that extend affordable healthcare... Egyptian small- and medium-sized enterprises are on the front line of innovation.

The story of Shalaby Laboratory is a remarkable example. The company dates back to 1994, when it was first opened by Dr Ashraf Shalaby in Damanhour, Egypt.

Fast-forward to today and Shalaby Lab is fully equipped clinic and one of the biggest clinics in the region in terms of variety and complexity of tests.

A unique market proposition

Shalaby Lab is also uniquely positioned in the healthcare sector in Egypt. Unlike other clinics, Dr Ashrafs laboratory brings an extensive repertoire of medical examinations and diagnostics all under one roof.

Instead of waiting for results processed in an external facility  which in some cases can take weeks  patients undergo examinations and receive results all in one go. In-house labs are therefore a game-changer in terms of their ability to provide more responsive care.

Working tirelessly every day of the year, providing quality care to more than 500 patients daily, Shalaby Lab raises healthcare services in Egypt to global standards but at the local price point.

The clinic delivers results for over 600 different medical tests, from microbial to cancer diagnostics, using state-of-the-art equipment.

We have taken the lead in this industry by implementing high-tech equipment with automated sample analyzers supported by solid infrastructure and IT solutions, says Dr Marwan, Dr Ashrafs son who works in the family clinic.

Organisation breeds success

Having achieved momentum in their operations and turnover, Shalaby Lab decided to go forward with their idea of expanding the business into more clinics in Egypts Delta region.

But their rudimentary human resource model prevented them from managing their teams more effectively to expand the department and support their increasing operations.

Gaps in performance planning and assessment along with a lack of specific training programmes needed to be addressed before they could take their idea further.

The EBRD together with the European Union helped Shalaby Lab find the right HR specialist to advise on a cohesive strategy aligned with their labs objectives.

The expert reviewed the labs organisational structure and held separate meetings with departments to assess their individual needs.

Recalling the projects success, Dr Marwan notes how the advisory services opened a new horizon for me to utilise my clinic staff potentials to the maximum.

Establishing training programmes for staff was the extra boost we needed. Now we can guarantee that each patient, each sample, is treated exactly the same way every time by every member of our staff, he adds.
Iran's parliament speaker told lawmakers on January 7 that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei last night authorized the allocation of 200 million euros of additional budget to the Qods Force in the next two months, to counter U.S. threats.

Ali Larijani made the remarks before a triple-urgency bill called "Counter-Measures Against U.S." was put to vote.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and its Qods force receive their regular budget from the state and Khamenei's order to allocate more money is an symbolic step amid high tensions with the United States.

The money will be allocated to the Qods (Quds) Force from the National Development Fund coffers to counter U.S. measures against Iran, Larijani said.

The "Counter-Measures Against U.S." bill was approved by 229 to 3 votes and final its ratification was deferred to the Guardian Council.

Article 1 of the bill designates U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and affiliated entities as terrorist organizations.

Jurists of the Guardian Council were present in parliament to discuss the triple-urgent bill and are now reviewing it before final ratification. The Council is expected to urgently endorse it.

Iran has vowed a harsh revenge for the death of Soleimani, who was the architect of Iran's extensive network of proxies in the Middle east and beyond.

Tensions are very high between Iran and the United States following the targeted killing of General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraqs pro-government Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), in U.S. drone attack in Baghdad on Friday.
OTTAWA, Ontario, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventy-five years after Canadian soldiers and their allies liberated Western Europe in the closing months of the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Mint is dedicating its annual Proof Silver Dollar to their memory. This exceptional collectible features the artwork of accomplished coin designer Pandora Young, who has vividly illustrated the outpouring of emotion of civilians cheering the victorious troops. In tribute to each military branch, the distinct silhouettes of a sailor, soldier and airman stand out in a mirror-like finish before a thankful crowd. A large "V" for victory at the centre of the coin and a 1945-2020 double date complete the design. This same illustration appears in the 2020 Fine Silver Proof Set, which features selective gold plating on the "V" and the rim of the Proof Silver Dollar. That special coin accompanies 99.99% pure silver versions of Canada's 2020 circulation coins. These memorable keepsakes, and many others offered in the first product launch of 2020, are available as of today.

The airman's silhouette from the 2020 Proof Silver Dollar transforms into an exquisitely detailed engraving on the 2020 $100 14-Karat Gold Coin - 75th Anniversary of V-E Day. The reverse design by Guelph, Ontario artist Laurie McGaw is a V-E Day salute to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Against a "V" for Victory backdrop, a wing commander is flanked by a pilot on his right and a waving member of the RCAF Women's Division on his left. The pilot flashes a victory sign and the commander raises his hand to salute as a Spitfire fighter plane flies overhead.

The Mint highlights another chapter in Canadian history on the 2020 $200 Pure Gold Coin - Early Canadian History: New France, designed by artist Alan Daniel. It depicts New France pioneer Louis Hebert and his family clearing land to grow crops for Samuel de Champlain'sHabitation, the 1608 settlement that would become Quebec City. Daniel has derived the location of Hebert's land from Champlain's own drawing of his settlement, with the fortifications visible in the background of the coin's design.

Other products launching this month, including several perennial favourites, include:

The 2020 Classic Canadian Uncirculated Set;

The 2020 Gift Sets, celebrating the themes "Born in 2020", "Married in 2020", "Happy Birthday" and "O Canada";

The 2020 $20 Fine Silver Coin - Best Wishes on your Wedding Day, featuring a heart-shaped design by artist Sylvie Daigneault selectively plated in pink gold;

Fine Silver Coin - Best Wishes on your Wedding Day, featuring a heart-shaped design by artist selectively plated in pink gold; The 2020 $10 Fine Silver Coin- Welcome to the World;

Fine Silver Coin- Welcome to the World; The $3 Fine Silver Coin - Celebration of Love, featuring a crystal-enhanced bouquet of colourful flowers designed by Anna Bucciarelli;

Fine Silver Coin - Celebration of Love, featuring a crystal-enhanced bouquet of colourful flowers designed by Anna Bucciarelli; The 2020 $200 Pure Gold Coin - Canadian Coastal Symbols: The Atlantic, designed by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin and crafted of 99.999% pure gold;

Pure Gold Coin - Canadian Coastal Symbols: The Atlantic, designed by and crafted of 99.999% pure gold; The 2020 $50 Fine Silver Coin - Real Shapes: The Bluenose, a schooner-shaped coin celebrating the timeless Emanuel Hahn design of Canada's 10-cent circulation coin;

Fine Silver Coin - Real Shapes: The Bluenose, a schooner-shaped coin celebrating the timeless design of circulation coin; The 1/25 oz. 2020 $8 Pure Gold Coin - Lucky Flower Dragon, designed by artist Jai Paek ;

Pure Gold Coin - Lucky Flower Dragon, designed by artist ; The 2020 $125 Fine Silver Coin - Lucky Dragon, a half-kilo, selectively gold-plated coin designed by Simon Ng ; and

Fine Silver Coin - Lucky Dragon, a half-kilo, selectively gold-plated coin designed by ; and The crystal-enhanced 2020 $5 Fine Silver Coin - Birthstones: February, featuring the artwork of Pandora Young .

Mintages, pricing and full background information on each product can be found on the "Shop" tab of www.mint.ca. Coin images are available here.

All of these products can be ordered directly from the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada,

1-800-268-6468 in the US, or on the Mint's web site. The coins are also available at Royal Canadian Mint boutiques in Ottawa and Winnipeg, as well as through our global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets.

About the Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. The Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca. Follow the Mint on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1062921/2020_Fine_Silver_Proof_Dollar___75th_Anniversary_of_V_E_Day_Rev.jpg

For more information, please contact:

Alex Reeves

Senior Manager, Public Affairs

Tel: +1(613)884-6370

reeves@mint.ca
Because World War III has not yet started (and we don't believe that the targeted killing of a terrorist will start it), President Trump is turning his gimlet eye and wonderful sense of humor back to domestic issues. Monday night, he had a message for Democrat-run cities, mostly in California.

It's no secret that West Coast Democrat-run cities are having disastrous problems with rampant homelessness. As a West Coast native, I know that some of it has to do with the temperate climate. It's easier to live on the streets with a temperature range between 50F and 80F than it is when the lows drop below freezing and the highs are near 100F.

Temperature alone, though, does not account for the homeless crisis in California cities, as well as similar crises in other Democrat-run cities such as Seattle and New York. The problem is one of management.

In each of these cities, either state or local Democrat governments made conscious decisions to stop enforcing quality of life laws, such as preventing excretory functions in the street, and to allow low-level crime, such as public drug use and small-dollar thefts to become formally or informally decriminalized.

In California, voters agreed that property thefts under $950 should be considered petty theft and therefore misdemeanors. Crime soared throughout the state.

In San Francisco, the city stopped enforcing rules against urinating and defecating in the streets. San Francisco now has a "poop map" that many residents find very helpful. The map does have its limits, for it does not document the interiors of Safeway grocery stores, which are also becoming poop hazard zones.

To add to the misery, the newly elected district attorney has announced that he will no longer prosecute any quality of life crimes. No wonder that, on Tucker Carlson Tonight, "San Francisco police Lt. Tracy McCray says the city's left-wing prosecutors are to blame for rising crime and disorder in the city."

In Los Angeles, thanks to uncontrolled homelessness, with thousands of people living in the streets, the city is seeing a resurgence of diseases associated with the Middle Ages or war zones. Public health officials are worried about an outbreak of bubonic plague, and a city employee caught typhus from the homeless clustered around her office building.

Speaking of bubonic plague, Sacramento, which is California's state capital, is experiencing a plague of rats. Typically for California, those charged with ridding the city of rats have been getting pushback from various environmental groups, with some groups arguing for predator animals to do the killing, but only some predators, and others objecting to rat poison.

Farther north, in Seattle, a local news station produced a viral video showcasing that city's homeless crisis. The video emphasized what most people in Democrat-run cities already know, which is that homelessness is a problem not of poverty, but of substance abuse, often paired with mental illness. (Debate rages about which comes first, the mental illness or the substance abuse.)

Heather Mac Donald has observed that, when it comes to drugs and homelessness, San Francisco is an inviting environment. The drugs are freely available, there are no criminal penalties for their use, and myriad private and government charities provide food and, when wanted, shelter and medical care. The fact that ordinary people would find these conditions awful does not apply to drug-abusers, who find them more than adequate. "If you build it, they will come," and all that.

All of the above problems are driven by local political decisions. So, of course, California's hard-Left governor, Gavin Newsom, placed the blame squarely where it belonged: on Donald Trump:

Gov. Gavin Newsom accused the Trump administration Wednesday of intentionally withholding key data on California's homeless population, preventing the state from addressing a surging crisis. Newsom said his administration would begin accepting applications for nearly $500 million in state funding set aside for local programs to fight homelessness, even though the federal government has yet to release the final point-in-time homeless counts that are typically used to determine how that money is distributed. The governor's office said the Trump administration has put up "politicized roadblocks" for California by refusing to release the data, even though cities and counties conducted their counts and sent the results to the federal government for approval months ago. "California is making historic investments now to help our communities fight homelessness," Newsom said in a statement. "But we have work to do and we need the federal government to do its part."

On Monday night, Trump had a message for Newsom and all of the other Democrat Party politicians who have turned once great cities into giant, filthy, disease-infested skid rows:

The homeless situation in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and many other Democrat Party run cities throughout the Nation is a state and local problem, not a federal problem....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2020

....If however, the city or state in question is willing to acknowledge responsibility, and politely asks for help from the Federal Government, we will very seriously consider getting involved in order to make those poorly run Democrat Cities Great Again!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2020

Trump is absolutely right in his first tweet. Regarding the second tweet, it's wrong for citizens in well-run communities to have to pay for California's, and other Democrat-run enclaves', poor policies. The only reason the federal government should step in would be to prevent epidemic disease from breaking out of those diseased hellholes and into the general population.

But aside from disagreeing with the offer to extend federal aid, one can't help but admire Trump's epic trolling.
Stephen Townsend

Ali Abdul Hassan/AP

A four-star US Army general said Monday that reports of his death in a terrorist attack in Kenya were "greatly exaggerated."

"This is yet another example of the lies, propaganda and fake news coming from al-Shabaab and other malign actors such as Iran and its proxies," said Gen. Stephen Townsend, head of US Africa Command.

Townsend's statement follows an attack by al-Shabab at an airfield in Manda Bay in Kenya on Sunday. A US Army soldier and two American contractors were killed in the fighting.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A four-star US Army general on Monday issued a statement calling the reports of his death in a terrorist attack in Kenya as "greatly exaggerated."

"This is yet another example of the lies, propaganda and fake news coming from al-Shabaab and other malign actors such as Iran and its proxies," Gen. Stephen Townsend, head of US Africa Command, the combatant command responsible for the region, said in a statement.

"AFRICOM continues to work with out partners to protect US interests and eradicate terrorists who wish to do harm to the US homeland, innocent Africans and international partners," he added.

Townsend's statement follows an attack by al-Shabab militants at an airfield in Manda Bay, Kenya, on Sunday. Unconfirmed reports of Townsend's death began circulating on the internet after the attack.

Al-Shabaab, a Somali-based al-Qaeda affiliate, attacked the airbase with "indirect and small arms fire," according to US and Kenyan officials. Five attackers were killed in the assault, the Associated Press said, citing Kenyan military officials. Several US aircraft and vehicles were destroyed in the attack.

One US Army soldier and two American contractors were killed in the fighting. The soldier who was killed in the attack has reportedly been identified by his family as 23-year-old Spc. Henry Mayfield Jr.

Story continues

The militant group falsely claimed it killed 17 US service members and nine Kenyan soldiers.

The US and the Kenya Defense Forces jointly use the base for local training and to combat extremist groups. The airbase attack followed a truck bomb that killed at least 79 people in Mogadishu, Somalia, and a subsequent retaliatory US airstrike that killed seven al-Shabaab militants.

In response to the attack, AFRICOM's East Africa Response Force, a combat-ready rapid deployment team, mobilized to Manda Bay on Sunday to provide additional security.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 12:45:44|Editor: huaxia

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SHIJIAZHUANG, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- North China's Hebei Province, which neighbors Beijing and is known for its steel industry and severe smog, saw its average PM2.5 density drop 5.8 percent in 2019.

Xu Qin, governor of the province, made the announcement Tuesday when delivering a government work report at the opening of the local legislative session.

PM2.5 is a measure of the density of hazardous particulates in the air. Xu said Hebei enjoyed the best air quality in six years.

In 2019, the province established a database to monitor and record the emissions of 55,600 enterprises, replaced coal-fired heaters with clean energy facilities and cut coal and steel capacities.

Xu said the province would continue to combat smog and vowed to lower the average density of PM2.5 by around 3 percent in 2020.
They're go-to soundbites for radio presenters grasping for extra words to fill the silence.

But bosses at BBC Radio 3 plan to ban presumptuous phrases like of course and as we all know for fear that know-it-all presenters are turning off listeners.

New guidance instructs hosts on documentary programmes to avoid terms like we all presume that, while beginning on-location segments with the words Im standing in the... is also forbidden.

The move, drawn up in a bid to avoid radio cliches, is part of a series of measures recently taken by the channel as it grapples with claims its content amounts to bedtime cocoa.

But bosses at BBC Radio 3 plan to ban presumptuous phrases like of course and as we all know (Broadcasting House in London pictured above)

The guidance, revealed in commissioning briefs seen by The Times, is also designed to attract a younger audience. Nearly half of the stations two million weekly listeners are over 65.

The brief urges presenters to tone down their expertise in order to appeal to as wide an audience as possible.

It says: They should feel like they are sharing their experience, offering their enthusiasms and recommendations but not lecturing.

Katie Derham (pictured above) is one of the presenters on BBC's Radio 3

Details of the plans come after Radio 3s controller, Alan Davey, described the its content as dangerous and edgy as he defended it against criticism.

As part of a revamp, the stations flagship music programme, Late Junction, was cut from three nights a week to a single two-hour show.

One listener likened the new late-night music content to bedtime cocoa but station boss Alan Davey hit back.

He said: I think weve always been dangerous and edgy. What we try to do in the after dark zone is set this tone that its dark and youre going to listen in a different way.

His comments came after a listener told the programme: Im wondering why Radio 3 has taken off all the interesting late night music... and replaced it with the musical equivalent of bedtime cocoa.
The speed of time is the speed of a clock, and goes by, we can probably agree, in a blur. The speed of fashion is seemingly that of light and is thus impossible to track.

This is the sense that can come over an observer of fashions increasingly hectic cycles. You begin a new year forgetting what you saw in the last. Creepy developments like Pinterests new Trends tool, which provides year-round, real-time trend data to the public are not exactly a help.

How about, instead, indulging in a little reflection? Why not slow down for a moment to consider the creativity that lies at the core of one of the largest global industries?

As another new cycle gets underway this week and scores of mens wear shows roll out in London, Florence, Milan and Paris, I posed a question to some seasoned professionals: What stood out for you in 2019?
If you became aware of its closing from mainstream sources, you might come away with one of these two ideas: Its regrettable that an institution that celebrates the First Amendment had to close because of financial difficulties. Or: The place was foolishly overbuilt and unrealistic from the start, an exercise in hubris, though for a good cause. (You might even be ticked off that the Newseum store once sold Fake News souvenirs.)
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State on Tuesday inaugurated a 24-member committee to work out modalities for the implementation of the new minimum wage in the state.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee is chaired by the deputy governor, Emmanuel Akabe.

The committee has 11 representatives from government and 13 from the organised labour.

Speaking at the inauguration, the governor said the committee was set up in fulfillment of his promise to improve living conditions of workers through better welfare package.

This is in line with our determination to improve the welfare of public servants as they are the cornerstone for the implementation of government policies and programmes.

We have continued to make consultation on how to implement the new minimum wage in the state, he said.

Mr Sule charged the committee to be guided by the revenue accruals to the state vis-a-vis its ability to pay the minimum wage

He said the terms of reference of the committee are to obtain and study the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2019 and the consequential adjustment at the federal level.

Others, he said, are to obtain and study copies of agreements reached between the Federal Government and the organised labour in line with the consequential adjustment/increase in all the salary structures.

To liaise with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (if necessary) for technical assistance on the implementation of the new minimum wage for the state, the governor said.

He said the committee had three weeks to complete its assignment and submit report for prompt action.

He assured the state workers that a committee to consider implementation of outstanding promotion arrears and proper placements of the civil servants would be inaugurated on January 13.

The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Yusuf Iya, commended the governor for the steps so far taken toward the implementation of the new national minimum wage.

Mr Iya, who is also a member of the committee, however, expressed hope that the template used at the federal level would be adopted by the committee.

(NAN)
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that Iran is working to harm the peace process in Afghanistan, Anadolu Agency reports.

Speaking at a news conference at the State Department, the U.S. top diplomat accused Tehran of refusing to attend to a regional and global consensus for peace in the war-weary country.

Tehran "is, in fact, today actively working to undermine the peace process by continuing its long global effort to support militant groups there," said Pompeo, adding that Iran has a "relationship" with Taliban and other militant groups in the country.

"Most people know about Irans proxy networks in the Arab world, but the regime also has a relationship with the Taliban and related groups. The Talibans entanglement in Irans dirty work will only harm the Afghanistan peace process," Pompeo added.

He did not provided evidence on the nature of alleged "dirty work."

U.S.-Taliban negotiations resumed in early December in the Qatari capital of Doha to reduce violence and lay the groundwork for peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government.
NAPA, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In December 2018, Menke & Associates helped Intervine, a Napa, CA-based wine management company serving the travel industry, with the successful transition to 100% employee ownership. A year later, on the first anniversary of their ESOP, co-founders Colleen May and Michael Borck, who continue to serve as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board respectively, reflected on the experience of seeing the company they spent nearly 30 years building being run by its employee-owners.

The story of Intervine's ESOP began long before a single share was sold. "I had first read about ESOPs maybe 20 years ago," said May. "That planted the seeds, but we didn't get where we wanted with our sales for a long time."

Founded in 1991, Intervine manages the full wine programs of several major airlines, provides extensive wine services to a lengthy list of domestic and international airlines and cruise lines, and is the only company to completely manage the entire wine program of a three-cabin North American airline.

Their services include meticulously sourcing wines from more than 500 wineries around the world, handling all the logistics of getting the right bottles onto the right planes, creating marketing materials for their clients to promote their wine programs, and even training flight and cruise personnel to give them the depth and breadth of knowledge they need to discuss, recommend, and serve wines to an exacting customer base of luxury travelers.

Even with their wide array of services, May and Borck have no illusions about the fact their Intervine is, at its core, a middleman between buyers and sellers. And even in as specialized and rarified an environment as high-end wines, there are always those who will try to cut corners by eliminating the middleman.

"There's no inherent right for us to exist," Borck said. "We've had pushback from our clients since the day we started. Every day we have to prove who we are and why we exist." Despite the growth of both Intervine and widespread interest in wine since the 90s, they still feel that pressure to justify themselves amid today's economic rush to embrace apps and automation. "There's a huge amount of energy in the world today to push out things in the middle, thinking that will somehow be cheaper. We're working in an area that's complex enough that there's a real need for expertise."

There is no easily replicable, plug-and-play model for Intervine's business. In order to consistently deliver service at the high level their clients demand, Intervine needs to maintain a team with a deeply nuanced understanding of wine and its constantly shifting trends; the airline and cruise industries with all their own complexities and changing needs; and the vast array of logistical and legal hurdles involved in getting alcoholic beverages to where they need to go, often requiring moving through multiple international jurisdictions in the process.

Intervine's business is also deeply driven by the relationships they have built. First class travelers expect perfection. If an airline promises that they serve a particular vintage in their first class cabin, their customers will not accept any excuses for its absence.

"We're a services company. That's about people," said May. "Some of our buyers have been in the industry for nearly 20 years, and they have relationships in France, in Chile, in Germany and Australia. When we say something's going to be there, it's there. It's a very reputational business. So it was really critical for us that we keep our people."

By 2018, May and Borck were feeling ready to step away from their hands-on leadership roles and all the factors they were looking for had clicked into place. They had a president, Ed Matovcik, who had been doing a tremendous job and was precisely the sort of leader they had in mind to be CEO. They had an employee culture of mutual support, where people already went beyond their specific duties to help their coworkers succeeda strong foundation for employee ownership. And, with many of the world's largest airlines and cruise lines as clients, their sales had grown enough to give them a valuation that more than satisfied them both.

With their business so tied to the knowledge and relationships of their team, selling the company to their valued employees through an ESOP simply made sense. They interviewed multiple firms and ultimately chose to work with Menke based on the strength of the recommendation they received from a trusted advisor. From the beginning of the process, they knew they wanted to sell 100% ownership to the ESOP right away.

"For me," May said, "it was either run the company or send the company on. I saw it as all or nothing, and with the team we had, I felt comfortable for it to be 'all.' "

In addition to rewarding and retaining their team, May and Borck wanted to ensure that the sale of their shares left their employees and the company in a strong financial position, and they wanted to complete the transaction and have the ESOP in place before the end of their 2018 fiscal year. Menke was able to help them achieve all of those goals.

Menke CEO Kyle Coltman worked closely with Intervine throughout the entire process. Utilizing Menke's proprietary process of iterative financial modeling, Coltman created over 30 models for the ESOP transaction, empowering May, Borck, and the ESOP's independent fiduciary to make confident decisions about the terms of the transaction based on up-to-the-minute changes to data.

"Working with Kyle was incredible," May said. "He was always there to answer questions any time of day, with lightning fast communication. The whole transaction went as successfully as it did because Menke handled it so well."

When the sale was finalized, Coltman traveled to Intervine's Napa headquarters for the employee rollout, which was disguised as a brand relaunch. "We introduced him as a marketing consultant. He had a slideshow to introduce our 'new logo.' And it said '100% employee owned.' That's when it started to dawn on people what was really going on."

May and Borck distributed T-shirts to the employees that read: "I just bought a company." Coltman stayed to explain the ESOP in detail and answer questions from the employeesnow employee-owners.

After the initial shock wore off, May and Borck said that their team leapt into their new roles as owners. "Seeing how little the team has needed from us since the sale has just reinforced our belief that we made the right decision," said May. "They've been really on top of things and started acting like owners without any hesitation."

"One of the most meaningful things about this whole experience is that we've been able to take this company that we put our hearts and souls into and turn it over to people we know and trust, some of whom have been with us for 20 years, and see them rise to the occasion like this," Borck added.

The employees immediately changed the company's website and business cards to reflect that Intervine was now a 100% employee-owned company. They also created ESOP committees to continually keep each other informed and involved, ensuring that all 30 employees are not only owners on paper, but that they truly feel the part. They have taken their ownership to heart in a variety of smaller ways, as well.

"I went into the office and saw someone turning out the lights, and they said, 'Hey, we own the company, we've got to save money.' Where was that when we owned it?" May joked.

With the first year of employee ownership behind them, Intervine is now looking to the future. May and Borck have been focused on building a strong board that would not only serve the ESOP well, but would also pave the way for even greater commercial success. They have already seen the impact that being an employee-owned company has on their client base.

"It's been a great thing for our customer relationships," Borck said. "When they hear that the buyer they're dealing with is now an owner, there's a genuine desire on the part of the customers to want to help them succeed."

Intervine's employee-owners have embraced their ESOP wholeheartedly, and after just a year, they are excitedly looking ahead to what it will mean for the company to completely pay off the ESOP's acquisition debt.

As May puts it, "Our CFO likes to say, 'the ESOP's greatwe can't wait to pay you two off!'"

Menke & Associates, Inc. has helped over 3,500 companies successfully transition to employee ownership. Our holistic ESOP approach enables a positive outcome for the company, its employees and its shareholders. We believe ownership is powerful.

Photo(s):

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SOURCE The Menke Group

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At least nine chief executives in the FTSE 100 index will leave their jobs in 2020 as blue chip firms shake up their top teams.

The bosses of household names including BP, Tesco, Auto Trader, British Gas owner Centrica and tobacco giant Imperial Brands are all standing down.

Publisher Pearson, insurance company Phoenix Group, miner BHP and property company Land Securities have also already announced that there will be change at the top this year.

Checking out: BP boss Bob Dudley is among at least nine chief executives in the FTSE 100 index who are set to leave their jobs in 2020

The exodus follows the departure of 13 chief executives in the FTSE 100 index in 2019, including at Unilever, BT, Aviva, HSBC, B&Q owner Kingfisher and Royal Bank of Scotland.

But with the 20 longest-serving Footsie bosses in post for eight years or more, analysts predict there could be even more departures in 2020.

Among those tipped to go are Jes Staley at Barclays, Ivan Glasenberg at Glencore and Willie Walsh at British Airways-owner IAG.

Other long-serving bosses who could be moving on include Antonio Horta-Osorio at Lloyds and Chris Grigg at British Land.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: Some bosses go because they go on their own terms, to either retire, seek a fresh challenge or leave what they see as a positive legacy, even getting out while the going is still good.

Others go because they are booted out by frustrated shareholders or disappointed colleagues on the board.

There is every chance that we will see more chief executives go in 2020, voluntarily or not, thanks to pressure from investors to deliver good performance in terms of governance, financial results and the share price, especially if the global economy unexpectedly takes a leg down next year.

Mould said Staley could come under fresh pressure from activist Sherborne Investors, one of its biggest shareholders with a 5.5 per cent stake.

Sherborne chief Ed Bramson has clashed with Staley over the investment bank, arguing that it should be shrunk.

Glasenberg has hinted he is looking to promote the next generation of managers at mining giant Glencore.

The firm suffered a setback when the Serious Fraud Office recently announced an investigation into its operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

And Walsh has said he wants to stand down in the next two years  prompting a major shake-up at IAG. He is the third longest-serving boss in the FTSE 100 having run the company since January 2005.

The longest-serving chief executive is Simon Wolfson who took over at Next in May 2001. He is followed by Tim Steiner who has run Ocado since January 2002.
Mumbai : The Mumbai Police on Tuesday evicted those protesting here at the Gateway of India against violence in the Jawaharlal Nehru University, and relocated them to Azad Maidan citing inconvenience to tourists and locals.

Before shifting the protestors, Sangramsingh Nishandar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) had appealed to protesters to relocate to Azad Maidan due to disruption in traffic at the Gateway of India.

"There is only one Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) toilet at the Gateway of India, Azad Maidan has all facilities. There is water. We have no objection against your slogans, posters and placards or anything. There were even posters of free Kashmir," the DCP said while appealing students and others to shift their protest to Azad Maidan.

"There are tourists coming here. Thousands of people going to hospitals and locals going to their offices using this route. There are several other andolans parallelly going on. Public peace was disturbed. Protestors also took out a march, which is against the court's order. Nothing was being followed for the two days. As rules were not followed, we sincerely appeal to you to relocate yourself. We have nothing against the peaceful assembly but I am declaring this assembly is unlawful," he added.

After relocating the protestors forcefully by putting them into buses, Nishandar said: "The roads were getting blocked and common Mumbaikar and tourists were facing problems. We had appealed to protesters many times. We have now relocated them to Azad Maidan."

The protestors while being evicted raised slogans of "Inqilab Zindabad" and "Mumbai Police Murdabad".

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and lyricist Vishal Dadlani had joined the protest being organised by students at the Gateway of India last night.

While Kashyap had said that he was there at the protest site to show his solidarity with the students and blamed the government for the attacks in JNU campus, Dadlani had stated that he was there in support of a secular India.

The students and activists had gathered here on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, soon after the reports of violence in JNU became public.

Placards with "We stand with JNU", "Stop attacks on students" written on them were also seen at the Gateway of India.

Politicians, cutting across party lines, had condemned the attack on students which had taken place in JNU on Sunday. They had urged the administration to take nab the culprits and take strict action against those found guilty.

More than 30 students were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the JNU on Sunday and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.
The phrase Jacksonian belongs to the foreign policy scholar Walter Russell Mead, part of a famous typology in which he divides American foreign policy tendencies into four worldviews: Hamiltonian, Wilsonian, Jacksonian and Jeffersonian. The worldviews are simplifications (intended to be suggestive and evocative, in Meads words), and they inevitably frustrate many scholars; nonetheless, they remain a useful way of thinking about how, in our imperial era, American foreign policy tends to work.

The Hamiltonians are the business-minded internationalists, cold-eyed and stability-oriented and wary of wars that seem idealistic rather than self-interested. The Wilsonians are the idealists, whether neoconservative or liberal-humanitarian, who regard the United States military as a force for spreading democracy and protecting human rights. Most foreign policy elites belong to one of these two groups, both political parties include both tendencies in their upper echelons, and most recent presidencies have been defined by internal conflicts between the two.

But far more American voters are either Jacksonians or Jeffersonians. The Jeffersonian impulse, more common on the left than on the right, is toward a come home, America retreat from empire that regards global hegemony as a corrupting folly and Americas wars as mostly unwise and unjust. (No blood for oil is the defining Jeffersonian attitude toward all our Middle Eastern misadventures.) The Jacksonian tendency, more common on the right than on the left, is toward a pugilistic nationalism thats wary of all international entanglements but ready for war whenever threats arise. (More rubble, less trouble is the essential Jacksonian credo.) Since neither tendency has that much purchase in the imperial capital, its a safe bet that at any given moment in Washington, D.C., elites in both political parties will be trying to mobilize Jacksonian or Jeffersonian sentiment to achieve Hamiltonian or Wilsonian ends.

But when elites of both persuasions preside over too many calamities, you can get Jeffersonians and Jacksonians as important presidential contenders in their own right  think of George McGovern and George Wallace when the Vietnam War went bad. And when one partys elite loses control of the electoral process entirely, it turns out that you can get an actual Jacksonian in the White House.

Yes, not everything Trump has done fits Meads paradigm  but a great deal of what makes him different from previous presidents is plainly Jacksonian. A Hamiltonian wouldnt have saber-rattled so wildly against North Korea; a Wilsonian wouldnt be so subsequently eager for a deal with such an odious regime. A Hamiltonian wouldnt be as eager for an extended trade war with China; a Wilsonian would speak out more clearly against Beijings human rights abuses instead of just treating them as one more bargaining chip. Trumps bureaucracy-impeded attempts to pull out of Syria and Afghanistan are patently Jacksonian; likewise his disdain for his predecessors negotiations on climate change. His eagerness to pardon war criminals and threaten war crimes, meanwhile, are Jacksonianism at its worst.
Sangramsingh Nishandar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1), on Tuesday, said that serious cognizance has been taken regarding the 'free Kashmir' poster seen in the protest against the violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) at the Gateway of India.

"We have taken serious cognizance of the 'free Kashmir' poster seen in the protest last night at Gateway of India. Yes, we are definitely investigating it," the DCP told ANI.

Last night, during the protest, a girl was seen holding the poster which read - "Free Kashmir." The demonstrators were seen with several other placards with objectionable and abusive languages.Some posters called for 'Ban on ABVP,' while some others read -- "Stand with JNU."

This morning, Mumbai Police evicted those protesting at the Gateway of India and relocated them to Azad Maidan citing inconvenience to tourists and locals.

"There is only one Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) toilet at the Gateway of India, Azad Maidan has all facilities. There is water. We have no objection against your slogans, posters and placards or anything. There were even posters of free Kashmir," the DCP said while appealing students and others to shift their protest to Azad Maidan.

"There are tourists coming here. Thousands of people going to hospitals and locals going to their offices using this route. There are several other andolans parallelly going on. Public peace was disturbed. Protestors also took out a march, which is against the court's order. Nothing was being followed for the two days. As rules were not followed, we sincerely appeal to you to relocate yourself. We have nothing against the peaceful assembly but I am declaring this assembly is unlawful," he added.

After being shifted to Azad Maidan, the students said that claimed that they have been detained by the police and they are not free there,

"We are not free at Azad maidan. We tried to move out from the gate but police personnel did not allow us to move out. We are detained here," said a student of the core committee formed for the protest.

"We were surrounded by 100 police personnel at Azad Maidan. We did not tell police people that we will not move. We told them we will decide democratically whether we have to move or not. However, police forcefully put us into the buses and brought us here," said another student.

The students and activists had gathered at Azad Maidan on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, soon after the reports of violence in JNU became public.

Placards with "We stand with JNU", "Stop attacks on students" written on them were also seen at the Gateway of India.

Politicians, cutting across party lines, had condemned the attack on students which had taken place in JNU on Sunday. They had urged the administration to take nab the culprits and take strict action against those found guilty.

More than 30 students were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the JNU on Sunday and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Argan, Inc. (NYSE: AGX) ("Argan" or the "Company") announced today that in late December 2019 its wholly owned subsidiary, Gemma Power Systems ("Gemma"), entered into an engineering, procurement and construction ("EPC") services contract with Harrison Power, LLC to construct the Harrison Energy Center, a 1,085 MW state-of-the-art natural gas-fired power plant, in Harrison County, Ohio. The facility is being developed by EmberClear, the parent company of Harrison Power, LLC and construction activities are scheduled to start in 2020.

"Harrison Energy Center will be a reliable, highly efficient world class power generating facility offering stability and cleaner electricity to the PJM power market. We look forward to working alongside Gemma and Mitsubishi to bring this significant project to completion," said Raj Suri, President and Chief Executive Officer of EmberClear.

"We are pleased to hear Gemma has been chosen as the EPC contractor. There is a large volume of complex industrial projects being built in our region. This project will further ensure the future economic prosperity of our region and state," said Nick Homrighausen, Harrison County CIC Executive Director of Community Economic Development.

"We appreciate the confidence the EmberClear team has shown in us and we're excited about the opportunity to help deliver cleaner, reliable energy to Harrison County and the surrounding area," said Charles E. Collins, IV, Co-President of Gemma Power Systems. "We're pleased to be working in Ohio and we look forward to establishing positive relationships with the local communities," he said.

Argan anticipates adding the project to backlog closer to its expected start date.

About Argan, Inc.

Argan's primary business is providing a full range of services to the power industry including the renewable energy sector. Argan's service offerings focus primarily on the engineering, procurement and construction of natural gas-fired power plants, along with related commissioning, operations management, maintenance, project development and consulting services, through its Gemma Power Systems and Atlantic Projects Company operations. Argan also owns SMC Infrastructure Solutions, which provides telecommunications infrastructure services, and The Roberts Company, which is a fully integrated fabrication, construction and industrial plant services company.

About EmberClear

Since 2008, EmberClear is bringing a new generation of cleaner energy projects to America, particularly in the PJM and MISO regions. EmberClear is a privately owned company that has been in operation since 2003.

Certain matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the Company's successful addition of new contracts to project backlog, the Company's receipt of corresponding notices to proceed with contract activities and the Company's ability to successfully complete the projects that it obtains. Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors detailed from time to time in Argan's filings with the SEC. In addition, reference is hereby made to cautionary statements with respect to risk factors set forth in the Company's most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, and in other SEC filings.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005692/en/

Contacts:

Company Contact:

Rainer Bosselmann

301.315.0027

Investor Relations Contact:

David Watson

301.315.0027
Update:

Madison Police said missing teen Claire Ann Houssain was located Tuesday afternoon. No other details were provided.

Earlier:

Madison Police are asking for the publics help in finding a runaway teen.

Claire Ann Houssain was last seen Jan. 6 around 3 p.m. leaving Liberty Middle School on foot. She was wearing all black clothing.

Houssain is a 13-year-old white female with black and red hair, according to a description provided by police.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
Could China Galaxy Securities Co., Ltd. (HKG:6881) 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 stock for its dividend and lose money because the share price falls by more than they earned in dividend payments.

Investors might not know much about China Galaxy Securities's dividend prospects, even though it has been paying dividends for the last six years and offers a 2.2% yield. A low yield is generally a turn-off, but if the prospects for earnings growth were strong, investors might be pleasantly surprised by the long-term results. When buying stocks for their dividends, you should always run through the checks below, to see if the dividend looks sustainable.

Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on China Galaxy Securities!

SEHK:6881 Historical Dividend Yield, January 7th 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. 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, China Galaxy Securities paid out 18% of its profit as dividends. With a low payout ratio, it looks like the dividend is comprehensively covered by earnings.

We update our data on China Galaxy Securities 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. Looking at the data, we can see that China Galaxy Securities has been paying a dividend for the past six years. Although it has been paying a dividend for several years now, the dividend has been cut at least once by more than 20%, and we're cautious about the consistency of its dividend across a full economic cycle. During the past six-year period, the first annual payment was CN0.062 in 2014, compared to CN0.09 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.4% a year over that time. The growth in dividends has not been linear, but the CAGR is a decent approximation of the rate of change over this time frame.

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A reasonable rate of dividend growth is good to see, but we're wary that the dividend history is not as solid as we'd like, having been cut at least once.

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. China Galaxy Securities has grown its earnings per share at 9.7% per annum over the past five years. With a decent amount of growth and a low payout ratio, we think this bodes well for China Galaxy Securities's prospects of growing its dividend payments in the future.

Conclusion

To summarise, shareholders should always check that China Galaxy Securities'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 glad to see China Galaxy Securities 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. China Galaxy Securities 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 12 analysts we track are forecasting for China Galaxy Securities 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.
Children from Burkina Faso leave a cocoa farm near Bonon, Ivory Coast, at the end of the workday. U.S. data show that despite promises from chocolate companies to protect against child labor, nearly two million children still work on cocoa farms. Read more

Almost two decades ago, the worlds largest chocolate companies pledged to cleanse their global supply chains of cocoa harvested by young boys swinging machetes on West African farms. The voluntary self-regulation derailed legislation, then moving swiftly through Congress, that could have labeled Hershey or Snickers bars as the products of child labor.

But the latest U.S. data show that two million children still work on cocoa farms.

And now three of the biggest chocolate firms say they are open to European regulations to help protect child workers and lush West African rain forests from the ravages of cocoa farming.

M&Ms maker Mars Wrigley and Oreo-maker Mondelez International signed the December letter calling for regulations, along with cocoa-processor Barry Callebaut and watchdog cocoa groups. The regulations would legally require cocoa importers in the European Union  the worlds biggest cocoa market  to map cocoa supply chains and disclose human rights violations such as forced labor and child labor. Fixes to these violations would also be part of the reports, which are now voluntary.

Pennsylvania-based Hershey Co., controlled by the child-care charity Milton S. Hershey School, said it supports the due diligence efforts and additional regulation proposed by the European coalition but has not officially joined. A Hershey spokesman said Friday that the company would support proposals in the United States that align with [European] proposals.

But advocacy groups say that Hershey is still an unknown as to whether it would strongly support U.S. regulations in Washington.

U.S. and European chocolate companies source their cocoa from the same area in West Africa.

The optimistic view is that child labor is at the same level it was 20 years ago, said Antonie C. Fountain, the managing director of the Netherlands-based VOICE Network, an association of advocacy groups involved with sustainable cocoa farming.

Fountain said that the agreement with the three companies and groups that inspect cocoa farms for violations is a big deal. Companies will generally try to deregulate instead of asking for regulations. The companies are beginning to realize that all these voluntary promises are not enough.

Todd Larsen, a top official with the advocacy group Green America, said that deforestation in West Africa has accelerated in the last decade because of cocoa farming and that there has been no improvement with child labor.

A 2015 U.S. Labor Department report estimated that two million children still worked in dangerous jobs in cocoa-growing regions in West Africa. A new report could be released within a few months.

A 2019 investigation by the Washington Post found that Utz, a third-party group that inspects cocoa farms as part of the self-regulatory protocols, had a spotty record and that Utz-inspected Ivory Coast cocoa farms were more likely, not less, to employ child labor.

Thousands of Ivory Coast farms, also certified by Utz, were located in nationally protected forests, the Post reported.

What they are doing is not enough, Sarah Zoen, a senior policy adviser at the anti-poverty group Oxfam America, said of the chocolate industry. With each new progress report, its dismal. Something more needs to happen and legislation can raise the bar for everyone.

Experts agree that the poverty among cocoa farmers  mostly a result of low prices for their crop that leads to child or forced labor  is a root cause of the human rights and ecological problems.

The Ivory Coast and Ghana, which produce about 60% of the worlds cocoa, have banded together to create a cartel-like group to boost cocoa prices, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Observers have informally dubbed it COPEC because of its similarity to the OPEC consortium of oil-producing countries, and note that it would likely raise prices for consumers.

Larsen, of Green America, said that advocates believe that COPEC is a good idea. You want the [cocoa] price to go up for all companies and relieve the pressure for farmers to access free or child labor, he said.

Hershey and other big chocolate companies pledged in 2001 to regulate themselves to expunge child labor-connected cocoa from their candy bars after European and U.S. media reports, including an investigative series published in The Inquirer and other newspapers.

At the time, top Hershey officials said they were shocked by news of child labor on the cocoa farms. No one, repeat, no one, had ever heard of this, Robert Reese, a senior vice president at the company, told The Inquirer in 2001. Your instinct is that Hershey should have known. But the fact is we didnt know.

But the industrys voluntary regulation missed just about every deadline for cracking down on child labor.

Hershey spokesman Jeff Beckman said Friday that the voluntary efforts of chocolate companies and cocoa importers who have led the way through farm-level sustainability programs, cocoa certification, and remediation programs account for about 40% of the cocoa used in the world. It has become clear that in order to effect widespread change across the entire sector, new policies and regulations that will hold all purchasers of cocoa accountable for their supply chains is needed.

Beckman added that Hershey has zero-tolerance for child labor, and we are working with suppliers and governments to eradicate it. This includes taking steps to prevent, identify, and remediate any instances of child labor found in our cocoa supply chain.

The charitable 2,100-student Milton Hershey School, the nations richest private school that serves only impoverished children, the majority from Pennsylvania, controls 83.5% of the shareholder vote in the candy giant. Hershey dividends account for much of the school cash for classrooms and boarding.

Through the charitys complex financial structure, the Hershey candy company benefits from low-cost cocoa farmed by children in West Africa. Hershey profits  partly boosted by low-cost cocoa  is then funneled to the U.S. school in stock dividends.

Ive talked to Hershey, Zoen said of its child labor efforts in West Africa. I think there are really great advocates in the company. They have the makings of progress but I have not seen the latest of what they are up to. She added that with Hershey, we are still holding our breath.
Is Low Keng Huat (Singapore) Limited (SGX:F1E) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can be highly rewarding in the long term. 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.

A high yield and a long history of paying dividends is an appealing combination for Low Keng Huat (Singapore). We'd guess that plenty of investors have purchased it for the income. Some simple research can reduce the risk of buying Low Keng Huat (Singapore) for its dividend - read on to learn more.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

SGX:F1E Historical Dividend Yield, January 7th 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. Looking at the data, we can see that 317% of Low Keng Huat (Singapore)'s profits were paid out as dividends in the last 12 months. A payout ratio above 100% is definitely an item of concern, unless there are some other circumstances that would justify it.

We also measure dividends paid against a company's levered free cash flow, to see if enough cash was generated to cover the dividend. Unfortunately, while Low Keng Huat (Singapore) pays a dividend, it also reported negative free cash flow last year. While there may be a good reason for this, it's not ideal from a dividend perspective.

Is Low Keng Huat (Singapore)'s Balance Sheet Risky?

As Low Keng Huat (Singapore)'s dividend was not well covered by earnings, we need to check its balance sheet for signs of financial distress. A quick check of its financial situation can be done with two ratios: net debt divided by EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), and net interest cover. Net debt to EBITDA measures total debt load relative to company earnings (lower = less debt), while net interest cover measures the ability to pay interest on the debt (higher = greater ability to pay interest costs). With a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 69.70 times, Low Keng Huat (Singapore) is very highly levered. While this debt might be serviceable, we would still say it carries substantial risk for the investor who hopes to live on the dividend.

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We calculated its interest cover by measuring its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT), and dividing this by the company's net interest expense. Interest cover of 2.17 times its interest expense is starting to become a concern for Low Keng Huat (Singapore), and be aware that lenders may place additional restrictions on the company as well. High debt and weak interest cover are not a great combo, and we would be cautious of relying on this company's dividend while these metrics persist.

Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Low Keng Huat (Singapore)'s latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health.

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. Low Keng Huat (Singapore) has been paying dividends for a long time, but for the purpose of this analysis, we only examine the past 10 years of payments. Its dividend payments have fallen by 20% or more on at least one occasion over the past ten years. Its most recent annual dividend was S$0.015 per share, effectively flat on its first payment ten years ago.

It's good to see some dividend growth, but the dividend has been cut at least once, and the size of the cut would eliminate most of the growth, anyway. We're not that enthused by this.

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. Low Keng Huat (Singapore)'s EPS have fallen by approximately 41% per year during the past five years. With this kind of significant decline, we always wonder what has changed in the business. Dividends are about stability, and Low Keng Huat (Singapore)'s earnings per share, which support the dividend, have been anything but stable.

Conclusion

To summarise, shareholders should always check that Low Keng Huat (Singapore)'s dividends are affordable, that its dividend payments are relatively stable, and that it has decent prospects for growing its earnings and dividend. It's a concern to see that the company paid out such a high percentage of its earnings and cashflow as dividends. Earnings per share are down, and Low Keng Huat (Singapore)'s dividend has been cut at least once in the past, which is disappointing. Using these criteria, Low Keng Huat (Singapore) looks quite suboptimal from a dividend investment perspective.

You can also discover whether shareholders are aligned with insider interests by checking our visualisation of insider shareholdings and trades in Low Keng Huat (Singapore) stock.

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.
F irefighters have joined heartbroken family members at a funeral service for a colleague killed tackling one of hundreds of blazes to have ravaged Australia .

Volunteer Andrew ODwyer, 36, was killed along with fellow firefighter Geoffrey Keaton on December 19, after a burnt tree fell in the path of their fire engine, causing it to roll.

The funeral in Sydney was also attended by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has faced anger from communities hit by the bushfires for his perceived slow response to the crisis.

In poignant scenes, Mr ODwyers young daughter, Charlotte, was seen wearing her fathers service medal and helmet as she stood by the coffin.

Charlotte O'Dwyer, the daughter of Andrew O'Dwyer, receives her father's service medal / Getty Images

A guard of honour was formed by dozens of volunteers as a fire truck and hearse went past.

The funeral came as fire chiefs took advantage of cooler conditions to carry out a series of strategic burns in an effort to prevent a mega-blaze forming along the border of New South Wales and Victoria when temperatures rise again later this week.

Andrew O'Dwyer in a picture taken from the order of service / Getty Images

The fires could wipe out roughly half a million hectares of land, a prospect that Victorias State Response Controller David Bruce called concerning.

Like New South Wales, weve had a bit of a reprieve, but the fires are still very active so well be doing everything we can to consolidate ahead of Thursday, Mr Bruce said.

New South Wales Police on Tuesday revealed that 24 people have been arrested for intentionally setting fires, an offence that can result in up to 21 years in prison, since early November.

NSW RFS volunteer s make an honour guard for Andrew O'Dwyer / Getty Images

Another 53 people are facing legal action for not following the states fire ban, and 47 people have faced legal action for discarding a lit cigarette or match on land.

Wildfires have so far ravaged more than 8.6 million hectares of land across Australia, killing 25 people and destroying thousands of homes.

In recent weeks, more than 10.3 million hectares of land  about the size of South Korea  has been damaged, according to latest data.

Australia bush fires hit 'catastrophic level - In pictures 1 /34 Australia bush fires hit 'catastrophic level - In pictures Helicopters dump water on bushfires Getty Images NSW Rural Fire Service crew fight the Gospers Mountain Fire AP Fire and smoke rise from a bush fire at Blue Mountains AP NSW Rural Fire Service crews fight the Gospers Mountain Fire AP An aircrewman monitoring the Tianjara fire from a helicopter in the Moreton and Jerrawangala National Park Getty Images kangaroos move as nearby property burn in a fire in Lithgow, New South Wales AP A man sprays water on a fire in Lithgow, New South Wales state AP A firefighter sprays water on a fire in Lithgow AP A firefighter sprays water on a home on fire. AP A firefighter sprays water on a home on fire. AP A policeman watches bushfires as they approach homes in NSW Getty Images Helicopters dump water on bushfire Getty Images Firemen prepare as a bushfire approaches homes on the outskirts of the town of Bargo Getty Images Firemen prepare as a bushfire approaches homes on the outskirts of the town of Bargo Getty Images A large bushfire burns near houses in Bargo, southwest of Sydney AFP via Getty Images Two bushfires approach a home located on the outskirts of the town of Bargo Getty Images Firemen inspect a house recently destroyed by bushfires Getty Images Firefighters tend to burning property caused by bushfires in Bargo AFP via Getty Images Firemen inspect a house recently destroyed by bushfires Getty Images A burnt bicycle lies on the ground in front of a house Getty Images Firefighter Gary Stokes monitoring bushfires AFP via Getty Images Firefighters making arrangements to secure the residential area from an approaching bushfire AFP via Getty Images volunteer firefighter Andrew Moyles cutting down burned trees in Dargan AFP via Getty Images Volunteer firefighter Andrew Moyles cutting down burned trees in Dargan AFP via Getty Images A smoke haze is seen over the Sydney skyline Getty Images Firefighters tend to burning property caused by bushfires in Bargo AFP via Getty Images

Plumes of smoke were shown reaching as far as South America through imagery from the Himawari 8 Japanese satellite and Nasas Earth Observatory.

The Insurance Council of Australia increased its estimate for damage claims from the fires to over 366 million.
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,
Sanchez had been unable to win support in an earlier proceeding Sunday, which required an outright majority in the 350-seat parliament. But the bar lowered for Tuesdays vote, which required only that the yes votes outnumber the no votes  meaning abstentions could help launch a minority government into power. With 18 lawmakers abstaining, 167 voted in favor of the government and 165 voted against. Some of the politicians who backed the deal mentioned that the only alternative would be going back to the polls for Spains fifth election in just over four years.
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The calls for revenge came as millions poured into the streets of Tehran to mourn the general, according to state-run news outlets. Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has told advisers that any reprisals must be direct, proportional and openly carried out by Iran  a startling departure for a leadership that typically carries out attacks via regional proxy forces.

How, or even if, Iran may retaliate against the United States is still a matter of speculation. But the crisis had already strained relations between the United States and its European allies  Britain, France and Germany  that were among the nations to strike a now-imperiled nuclear accord with Iran in 2015.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is walking an especially fine line. Britain will be ever more dependent on its economic relationship with the U.S. after it leaves the European Union later this month. Yet it could also be exposed if tensions arise between the U.S. and the major European powers over Iran.

Related: Amid a rapid U.S. troop mobilization and widespread confusion about the Trump administrations Iran strategy, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that a letter about U.S. forces preparing to leave Iraq was a draft that had been released by mistake.

Trumps threat: Mr. Esper also contradicted President Trumps earlier threat to strike cultural sites in Iran, acknowledging that doing so would be a war crime. (Our art critics said that would not only be illegal, but also barbaric.)
On Sunday, in the first round of voting by lawmakers, Mr. Sanchez failed to gain the absolute majority that he needed. But on Tuesday he needed only to receive more votes in favor than against.

The conflict over Catalonia dominated the acrimonious parliamentary debate, particularly after a recent pledge by Mr. Sanchez that his next government would hold a fresh round of negotiations with the separatist politicians who have governed in the region since 2015.

His offer of talks provoked a blistering response from right-wing politicians, who accused Mr. Sanchez of caving in to the separatists to continue in office and of paving the way for the breakup of Spain.

Before the vote on Tuesday, Pablo Casado, the leader of the Popular Party, which is now the main opposition, repeated his earlier warning that Spain was set to have the most radical government in its history.

He told lawmakers that the next Socialist-led government would be at the mercy of the blackmail of Catalan separatists, while also having to comply with the far-left demands of Unidas Podemos.

Directly addressing Mr. Sanchez, Mr. Casado said, Now the problem will be yours: If you meet the demands of your anti-system partners, you will break up Spain. If not, they will throw you out onto the street.

Mr. Sanchez responded by pledging that his government would end the toxic climate that Mr. Casado and other right-wing lawmakers were fueling and would instead work to ease nationalist tensions within Spain.
Haftar's Lybian National Army Declares Full Control Over City of Sirte

Sputnik News

20:35 06.01.2020(updated 20:37 06.01.2020)

CAIRO (Sputnik) - The Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, took full control of the country's largest city of Sirte, LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari said on Monday.

"The Libyan National Army has taken control of the city of Sirte," the spokesman said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, an LNA source said that the army had entered Sirte and had taken control over the city's seaport. Forces supporting Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) then said that the LNA had captured a military base south of Sirte, according to the Qatari broadcaster Al-Jazeera.

Libya has been torn apart between the two rival administrations since 2011 when its long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed. The LNA has been trying to seize control over the country's capital of Tripoli, currently controlled by the rival UN-backed GNA, since April 2019. Sirte, located between Tripoli and Benghazi, is Gaddafi's birthplace.

A Sputnik

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Illegal immigrants cannot be allowed to hold protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a law which has nothing to do with bonafide citizens of the country, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said on Tuesday.

New Delhi: Illegal immigrants cannot be allowed to hold protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, a law which has nothing to do with bonafide citizens of the country, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said on Tuesday.

Tiwari urged the protesters holding demonstrations against the CAA at Shaheen Bagh area to end their road blockade saying they do not need to fear anything.

"I request those protesting at Shaheen Bagh and other places that if you are born here and are a citizen of India, you need not fear anything, but if you are not a citizen of India then you must catch the first train and leave," Tiwari said at a press conference at the Delhi BJP office.

Tiwari has been at the forefront demanding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in Delhi, alleging that illegal immigrants are involved in majority of crimes like snatchings and loot in the National Capital.

The protestors in Shaheen Bagh near Jamia Millia Islamia University, including women, have been camping in the area for nearly a month. As a result, the crucial Kalindi Kunj road linking south-east Delhi areas to Noida remains blocked.

The roadblock is posing hardships to motorists commuting between Delhi and Noida as there are heavy traffic jams at alternate roads including the DND flyover.

Delhi Traffic Police has been flashing alerts daily on its official twitter handle warning commuters about the closure of Road no 13A between Mathura Road and Kalindi Khunj for traffic movement, suggesting motorists to take the DND or Akshardham road to commute between Delhi and Noida.

Tiwari said the BJP and its government at the Centre have been consistently saying that CAA has nothing to do with any citizen of India, even if they are Muslims.

The minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have been given citizenship and illegal immigrants will have to leave the country, he said.

"We cannot allow it if the illegal immigrants are holding protests," Tiwari stated.

The BJP leaders have been visiting people in different parts of the city explaining to them that CAA was not meant for taking away their citizenship, but was aimed at helping persecuted religious minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday led the party's door-to-door campaign in Lajpat Nagar area, visiting households and distributing literature to spread awareness about the CAA.

Union minister and Delhi BJP's Assembly poll incharge Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday visited Madrasi Camp locality in Moti Bagh area, spreading awareness about the amended law on citizenship.

Those spreading "rumours" about CAA are not well wishers of the country. Their objective will not be allowed to succeed, Javadekar stated.
New York, 7 January 2020 (SPS) - The Frente POLISARIO has expressed its strong rejection and condemnation of the planned crossing of the so-called Africa Eco Race into the occupied Territories of Western Sahara in complicity with the Moroccan occupying authorities.



The so-called Africa Eco Race is scheduled to enter the occupied Western Sahara on Friday, 10 January 2020, and to pass through the Moroccan-built illegal breach across the Buffer Strip in Guerguerat, in southern Western Sahara, on Monday, 13 January 2020.



In a letter today, Tuesday, to Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Mr Antonio Guterres, Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations, Dr Sidi M. Omar, confirmed that involving the so-called Africa Eco Race to cross the occupied Territories of Western Sahara was another example of Moroccos bad faith and its utter disregard for Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2494 (2019), which called for refraining from any actions that could further destabilise the situation in Western Sahara.



The Representative of the Frente POLISARIO called on the United Nations Secretariat and the Security Council to assume their responsibilities in upholding the legal status of Western Sahara, as a Non-Self-Governing Territory waiting to be decolonized, holding the occupying power of Morocco fully responsible for the consequences that may result from its continued provocations and destabilising actions.



The following is the full text of the Frente POLISARIOs letter to the United Nations Secretary General:



H.E. Mr Antonio Guterres



Secretary-General of the United Nations



New York, 7 January 2020



Your Excellency,



Upon instructions from my Authorities, I am writing to you to express our strong condemnation of the planned crossing of the so-called Africa Eco Race into the occupied Territories of Western Sahara in complicity with the Moroccan occupying authorities. According to the organisers, the rally raid is scheduled to enter the occupied Western Sahara on Friday, 10 January 2020, and to pass through the Moroccan-built illegal breach across the Buffer Strip in Guerguerat, in southern Western Sahara, on Monday, 13 January 2020.



Involving the so-called Africa Eco Race to cross the occupied Territories of Western Sahara, which we vehemently denounce, is another example of Moroccos bad faith and its utter disregard for Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2494 (2019), which called for refraining from any actions that could further destabilise the situation in Western Sahara.



It is deeply regrettable that the failure of the United Nations to take robust actions in the face of Moroccos repeated attempts to forcibly impose a fait accompli in the occupied Territories of Western Sahara has emboldened the Moroccan occupying power to deliberately persist in its provocative and unlawful actions and to defy the authority and resolutions of the Security Council. It is therefore imperative that the United Nations Secretariat and the Security Council assume their responsibilities in upholding the legal status of Western Sahara, as a Non-Self-Governing Territory waiting to be decolonised.



The Frente POLISARIO reserves the right to use all legitimate means to defend the sacrosanct rights of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and independence and to respond resolutely to any actions that aim to undermine the integrity of Western Sahara. The Frente POLISARIO therefore holds the occupying power, Morocco, fully responsible for the consequences that may result from its continued provocations and destabilising actions, which seriously undermine not only the authority and credibility of the United Nations but also the prospects for advancing the already fragile UN peace process in Western Sahara.



Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.



Dr Sidi M. Omar



Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations (SPS)



062/SPS
Acclaimed Pakistani writer Mohammed Hanif has accused the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of raiding the offices of his Urdu publisher and confiscating the translated version of his 2008 satirical bestseller, A Case of Exploding Mangoes, which is about former military dictator Zia-ul-Haq.

Hanif tweeted on Monday that people claiming to be from ISI barged into the Karachi office of Maktaba Daniyal, the Urdu publisher, threatened its manager and sought information about our whereabouts. He said the people confiscated all copies of the Urdu version of the novel and said they would return to get lists of booksellers selling the novel.

A Case of Exploding Mangoes is a comical account of Zia-ul-Haqs final days and the conspiracies behind the plane crash that killed him in 1988. Despite widespread praise, and international awards, more than a decade passed before the novel was translated into Urdu last year.

Hanif, who graduated from the Pakistan Air Force Academy as a pilot officer before becoming a journalist, also tweeted that he and the publishers had last week received a defamation notice from Zia-ul-Haqs son, Ijaz-ul-Haq, demanding Rs 1 billion for maligning the former dictators name. Our lawyers are preparing a reply. Is ISI acting on Ijaz-ul-Haqs behalf? he asked.

Noting that his debut novel had been in publication for 11 years, the New York Times columnist said: Nobody has ever bothered me. Why now? I am sitting here, wondering when will they come for us. ISI is Worlds No 1 spy agency. I am sure they have better things to do. I have my school run tomorrow.

The media reported the ISI denied its involvement in the matter. Unnamed ISI officials were quoted by the media as saying that Hanif made the claim to increase sales of the book.

Both Hanif and his publisher Hoori Noorani of Maktaba Daniyal were unavailable for comment.

There were reports that major bookstores in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad were asked to remove the book by intelligence officials.

The book satirises the Pakistani military, which is depicted as relying on torture and extrajudicial murder, and covertly supporting jihadi groups to pursue its goals  accusations levelled from many quarters in real life and denied by the powerful army that has ruled the country for half of its history.

Hanifs novel earned glowing reviews and was longlisted for the Booker Prize, with critics comparing him to satire writers such as Joseph Heller and Kurt Vonnegut.

Zia-ul-Haq was killed when his military aircraft went down in Punjab province. Authorities never released the results of their investigation or said what had caused the crash, which also killed US ambassador Arnold Raphel and then-ISI chief Akhtar Abdur Rahman. The novel cites a rumour that a bomb was planted in a crate of mangoes gifted to the dictator.
By William Schwartz | Published on 2020/01/06

On January 6th the city of Chungju confirmed that a prominent location in "Crash Landing on You" took place near the city.

Advertisement

In the sixth episode of the romantic drama the characters have a picnic before the protagonist, played by Son Ye-jin, is expected to go back to South Korea. This scene was shot on Binae Island, which is located in the southern Han River.

The Korea Tourism Organization recommended Binae Island as one of the country's best fall locations back in October. The location is reknowned for its natural beauty. It's located near the Donsan Hot Springs Tourism Complex, which is located northwest of Chungju proper. "Crash Landing on You" airs on Saturday and Sunday night, though it had a break last weekend due to unusually cold shooting conditions.

Written by William Schwartz

___________

"Crash Landing on You" is directed by Lee Jeong-hyo, written by Park Ji-eun, and features Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Seo Ji-hye, Kim Jung-hyun, Kim Sun-young, Kim Jung-nan. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2019/12/14~Now airing, Sat, Sun 21:00 on tvN.
The latest of Korea's endless food fads is for super-spicy food, especially among the young who enjoy the thrill of burn and sweat that it brings.

"Ghost Pepper" instant noodles containing Bhut Jolokia peppers, originally made by Shinsegae Food only for sale in Malaysia, is being imported back to Korea and sold for a relatively hefty W15,000 per pack on the Internet (US$1=W1,170).

Bhut Jolokia is so potent that it is used in India to manufacture tear gas.

Another assault on the palate is "One Chip Challenge" tortilla chips from the U.S. using Carolina Reaper peppers. Last month, a Korean YouTube clip went viral when a man ate a half-palm-sized piece and tried to refrain from drinking water for five minutes, only to be rushed to hospital.

"One Chip Challenge" tortilla chips too can be bought on the Internet here for W30,000 to W40,000 a bag.

Young Koreans are mesmerized. Kicking off the masochistic fascination, with its strangely cleansing aftermath, was the popularity of mundane Sichuan peppers over the last couple of years, and it spiraled from there.
MBABANE  Within a period of just seven months, magistrates claimed over E1 million in overtime payment.

The total amount claimed by the judicial officers for working on weekends is E1 173 406.59.



It is common knowledge that magistrates who work on weekends preside mostly over traffic offences, a bulk of which are drink-driving cases. Some magistrates, however, do hear others cases including rape, robbery and theft.

According to a report of claims provided to the Treasury Department, the aforementioned amount was claimed by 15 magistrates from the four regions of the country from January 2019 to July 2019.



As per the report, the highest amount that was claimed by the magistrates was a sum of E202 901.08. This amount was for claims for the month of May 2019 alone.



In July they forwarded claims which totalled E193 469.64 and in June, the amount claimed was E186 898.38. A sum of E168 720.12 was claimed in January 2019 and a claim sheet reflecting an amount of E152 181.88 was forwarded to the Treasury Department in April 2019 to process the overtime payment. The least amount that was claimed by the judicial officers was E118 206.84 and this was in March 2019.



According to the report, Manzini Principal Magistrate David Khumalo forwarded a claim of E139 089.60 which was the highest amount in the seven-month period. Among the 15 magistrates, Khumalo claimed the highest amount in a single month. In July, he forwarded a claim of E47 871.04. The aforementioned amount exceeds the claims filed by at least six magistrates over the period of seven months.



Magistrate Dumisani Magagula, as per the report, claimed the second highest amount, which was E123 305. 57, from January 2019 to July 2019.

Mbabane Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi came third with a claim of E114 358.20. The now retired Magistrate Joseph Gumedze claimed an amount of E103 305.60 in the seven month period. Lubombo Principal- Magistrate Donald Mavuso, on the other hand forwarded a claim of E97 955.82.



least



The least amount was claimed by Manzini Magistrate Sebenzile Ndlela. Magistrate Ndlela only claimed an amount of E943.32 for the month of April 2019. The report reflects that in the preceding and subsequent months, the magistrate did not file any claim for overtime payment.

Meanwhile, the Judiciary recently issued a minute informing magistrates and other judicial officers that it would no longer process overtime claims exceeding four hours.



In essence this meant that the judicial officers will be at liberty to stop proceeding with matters that will go beyond the four hours on weekends as they will not be remunerated for working beyond those hours. The stance by the Judiciary was communicated to the judicial officers by Supreme Court Registrar Lungile Msimango, through a minute dated August 14, 2019.



The minute which was titled Re: Weekend Courts was circulated to all principal magistrates, senior magistrates, magistrates and clerks of court.

The minute has also been forwarded to the registrar of the High Court of Eswatini, deputy registrar of the High Court, assistant registrars and the accounts departments of the High Court.



Msimango, who is the controlling officer in the Judiciary, stated that the budget committee raised concerns regarding over expenditure on item 01, being the item where salaries and overtime are paid.



The said item reflects a negative balance which effectively means that the Judiciary will not be able to pay for overtime claims and salaries, said the Supreme Court Registrar, who is also the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Msimango stated that it was for that reason that the Judiciary had resorted to curbing all overtime claims to a maximum of four hours per day.



Minute



In the minute, Msimango emphasised that: Any claim in the excess of four hours shall not be processed.

Information gathered is that for overtime a magistrate is paid at an hourly rate which depends on the amount she or he earns.



In a previous interview, one of the judicial officers who preferred anonymity said: I understand where the controlling officer is coming from as the previous system of overtime claims was open to abuse and corrupt tendencies, however, I do not see most magistrates working on weekends now.

Meanwhile, an independent lawyer said the decision by the Judiciary would be prejudicial to suspects who would be arrested on weekends in the event a magistrate decided not to proceed with matters beyond the stipulated four hours.



Last year it was reported that about 28 officers from the High Court were being paid overtime for moving files from the old archives to the new ones.

This was after the Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Lorraine Hlophe wrote a letter to the Ministry of Public Service requesting that the officers be engaged to claim overtime in the alterations of the High Court building.



In the memorandum, Hlophe disclosed that the 28 officers who included the assistant registrar, clerk of courts and personal secretaries, had to work overtime since the Judiciary had hired more judges and there was currently not enough space to accommodate all of them.

She said as a result, the Judiciary had engaged the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to execute the alteration and minor renovations to the building in order to make more space.



Hlophe was quoted having said this had resulted in the Judiciary engaging the High Court staff to move the files from the old archives to the new archives and this involved the compilation of the statistics and status of each file.



Authority



She stated that they, therefore, requested the authority to claim overtime for the 28 officers who would assist in these services.

The government Establishment Circular No.8 of 2010 prescribed the Freezing of Overtime Payment to Public servants which states that prior to engaging staff to work overtime, Cabinet approval should be obtained.



Meanwhile, the Law Society of Swaziland (LSS) said it was of the view that the assertion that the over expenditure in the Judiciary was only caused by the payment of overtime claims was devoid of the truth.



In an earlier interview, Secretary General of the Law Society of Swaziland (LSS) Thulani Maseko opined that there might be other contributing factors which they were not told of.



We are not told as to who finances trips for judges. Despite that we are stakeholders, we are not told of anything that is happening in the Judiciary but we only read about issues in the newspapers, said Maseko.
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday said those who indulged in the mayhem in Jawaharlal Nehru University should be identified at the earliest and arrested.

Talking to mediapersons here, Athawale, the president of RPI(A), an ally of the BJP, said the fact-finding team headed by Delhi Police joint commissioner Shalini Singh, which has been asked to probe into the incident, should complete its job as soon as possible so that the perpetrators of the crime are brought to book.

To a question, he said all the culprits, whether belonging to left wing or right wing outfits, "should be brought before the law soon".

He said it was painful that the university, which carries the name of Jawaharlal Nehru, has been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons like incident of raising of anti-India slogans, demonstration to condemn the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, disruption of registration process for the winter semester and continuous protests against the hostel fee hike.

He suggested that the university authorities should consider reducing the increased hostel fee by holding talks with student representatives.

To another question, Athawale said it was not proper for Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray to have reportedly compared JNU campus violence to 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Both are different issues, he said.

Thackeray, while condemning the attack on students on the JNU campus on Sunday night, reportedly said, "When I saw the of JNU attack on TV, it reminded me of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack."



Masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus.

The Left-controlled JNU Students' Union and the RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) blamed each other for the incident in which at least 35 people, including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, were injured.

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


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Soldiers who've recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan have left Brisbane to help bushfire ravaged communities in NSW and Victoria.

Two battle groups from the army's 7th Combat Brigade left Brisbane's Gallipoli Barracks early on Tuesday, ready to man bulldozers and chainsaws to help devastated communities back on their feet.

Brigade Commander Andrew Hocking says there's no end date for the mission, and 400 of his soldiers will stay for as long as they're needed.

Soldiers who've recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan have left Brisbane to help bushfire ravaged communities in NSW and Victoria. A soldier is pictured helping a child into a helicopter in Mallacoota

'Many of the soldiers that are heading down today have served recently in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of them returning over the last two or three months,' he told ABC radio.

'Many of them have also been involved over the last three months in supporting the bushfire efforts up here in Queensland.'

Brigadier Hocking said his soldiers had great respect for the extremely difficult task emergency services have faced in southern states.

'It's really natural that these soldiers are eager to help. Helping mates is a deep Australian quality and I think that's really coming to bear today.'

The 400 soldiers have expertise in engineering and logistics, but will also take heavy machinery to help clear blackened landscapes.

'It will be a lot of destruction ... a lot of people and communities in stress. We will see great Australians doing great work to help each other, and we will join them.'
The Delhi Police on Tuesday said that no fresh occurrence of violence has been reported from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus and there will be a continuation of active police deployment in both inside and outside the varsity's premises.

"No fresh incident has been reported from any part of the university. Active deployment of police to continue both inside and outside the university," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Devender Arya told reporters here.

Meanwhile, Joint Commissioner Shalini Singh, the Delhi Police officer who has been assigned to submit a fact-finding report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, visited the JNU campus.

AWe have visited all the spots and interacted with students in JNU. Currently, the investigation is in its initial stage. Students have put their confidence in us and given us a few inputs," she said.

On Sunday evening, more than 30 students, including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, were injured and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered JNU and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.

The JNU administration and politicians, cutting across political lines, had condemned the attack on students and urged the police to take action against the perpetrators.

The Hindu Raksha Dal, a fringe outfit, has claimed responsibility for the violence in JNU.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept in grief with hundreds of thousands of mourners thronging Tehrans streets on Monday for the funeral of military commander Qassem Soleimani, killed by a U.S. drone on U.S. President Donald Trumps orders.

The coffins of General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who also died in Fridays attack in Baghdad, were draped in their national flags and passed from hand to hand over the heads of mourners in central Tehran.

Responding to Trumps threats to hit 52 Iranian sites if Tehran retaliates for the drone strike, Irans President Hassan Rouhani pointedly wrote on Twitter: Never threaten the Iranian nation. And Soleimanis successor vowed to expel U.S. forces from the Middle East in revenge.

Khamenei, 80, led prayers at the funeral, pausing as his voice cracked with emotion. Soleimani, 62, was a national hero in Iran, even to many who do not consider themselves supporters of Irans clerical rulers.

Aerial footage showed people, many clad in black, packing thoroughfares and side streets in the Iranian capital, chanting Death to America! - a show of national unity after anti-government protests in November in which many demonstrators were killed.

The crowd, which state media said numbered in the millions, recalled the masses of people that gathered in 1989 for the funeral of the Islamic Republics founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Soleimani, architect of Irans drive to extend its influence across the Middle East, was widely seen as Irans second most powerful figure behind Khamenei.

His killing of Soleimani has prompted concern around the world that a broader regional conflict could flare.

Trump on Saturday vowed to strike 52 Iranian targets, including cultural sites, if Iran retaliates with attacks on Americans or U.S. assets, and stood by his threat on Sunday, though American officials sought to downplay his reference to cultural targets. The 52 figure, Trump noted, matched the number of U.S. Embassy hostages held for 444 days after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Rouhani, regarded as a moderate, responded to Trump on Twitter.

Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290. #IR655, Rouhani wrote, referring to the 1988 shooting down of an Iranian airline by a U.S. warship in which 290 were killed.

Trump also took to Twitter to reiterate the White House stance that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon but gave no other details.

Actions will be taken

General Esmail Ghaani, Soleimanis successor as commander of the Quds Force, the elite unit of Irans Revolutionary Guards charged with overseas operations, promised to continue martyr Soleimanis cause as firmly as before with the help of God, and in return for his martyrdom we aim to rid the region of America.

God the Almighty has promised to take martyr Soleimanis revenge, he told state television. Certainly, actions will be taken.

Other political and military leaders have made similar, unspecific threats. Iran, which lies at the mouth of the key Gulf oil shipping route, has a range of proxy forces in the region through which it could act.

Irans demand for U.S. forces to withdraw from the region gained traction on Sunday when Iraqs parliament passed a resolution calling for all foreign troops to leave the country.

Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Abdel Abdul Mahdi told the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad on Monday that both nations needed to implement the resolution, the premiers office said in a statement. It did not give a timeline.

The United States has about 5,000 troops in Iraq.

Soleimani built a network of proxy militia that formed a crescent of influence - and a direct challenge to the United States and its regional allies led by Saudi Arabia - stretching from Lebanon through Syria and Iraq to Iran. Outside the crescent, Iran nurtured allied Palestinian and Yemeni groups.

He notably mobilised Shiite Muslim militia forces in Iraq that helped to crush Islamic State, the Sunni militant group that had seized control of swathes of Syria and Iraq in 2014.

Washington, however, blames Soleimani for attacks on U.S. forces and their allies.

The funeral moves to Soleimanis southern home city of Kerman on Tuesday. Zeinab Soleimani, his daughter, told mourners in Tehran that the United States would face a dark day for her fathers death, adding, Crazy Trump, dont think that everything is over with my fathers martyrdom.

Nuclear Deal

Iran stoked tensions on Sunday by dropping all limitations on its uranium enrichment, another step back from commitments under a landmark deal with major powers in 2015 to curtail its nuclear programme that Trump abandoned in 2018.

In response, European signatories may launch a dispute resolution process against Iran this week that could lead to a renewal of the United Nations sanctions that were lifted as part of the deal, European diplomats said on Monday.

Diplomats said France, Britain and Germany could make a decision ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting on Friday that would assess whether there were any ways to salvage the deal.

After quitting the deal, the United States imposed new sanctions on Iran, saying it wanted to halt Iranian oil exports, the main source of government revenues. Irans economy has been in freefall as the currency has plunged.

Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway said on Monday that he was still confident he could renegotiate a new nuclear agreement if Iran wants to start behaving like a normal country.

Tehran has said Washington must return to the existing nuclear pact and lift sanctions before any talks can take place.

The United States advised American citizens in Israel and the Palestinian territories to be vigilant, citing the risk of rocket fire amid heightened tensions. As a U.S. ally against Iran, Israel is concerned about possible rocket attacks from Gaza, ruled by Iranian-backed Palestinian Islamists, or major Iran proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Democratic critics of Trump have said the Republican president was reckless in authorising the strike, with some saying his threat to hit cultural sites amounted to a vow to commit war crimes. Trump also threatened sanctions against Iraq and said Baghdad would have to pay Washington for an air base in Iraq if U.S. troops were required to leave.
Hyderabad: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi demanded on Tuesday that cases must be booked against those involved in Sundays attack on students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, for attempt to murder, rioting and trespassing. He also called for JNU Vice Chancellor Jagdesh Kumar to tender his resignation for failing to protect the students.

Speaking to the media, Mr Owaisi commented sarcastically on the Delhi polices lack of arrests by saying that whatever happened in JNU was not the work of human beings, but was an operation carried out by aliens who came in a spaceship, landed on the roof of the Delhi police office from where they went silently to JNU and beat up the students and returned in their spaceship to their planets Mars and Venus. He said the honest thing to have done was to first book a case of trespass against those attackers who entered the University wearing masks. They were equipped with iron rods and they attacked the president of the Students Union for which they should be charged with attempt to murder. They also damaged the property of the University, he said. He said when the UP government had issued notices to a dead person and a 90-year-old man as recovery for destruction of public property, the police must probe which BJP MP was involved in JNU violence.
Seven Xfinity Series and Truck Series races will have different pit stop procedures in 2020. (AP Photo/Larry Papke)

Seven Xfinity and Truck Series races are going have significantly different rules for pit stops in 2020.

NASCAR announced Tuesday that four Xfinity Series races (Mid-Ohio, Iowa, Iowa, and Road America) and three Truck Series races (Iowa, Gateway, and Canadian Tire Motorsports Park) would be officiated differently. Teams will not be allowed to perform standard pit stops that include full tire changes and refueling at the same time.

Instead, teams will have the opportunity to pit twice during a caution flag either for a crash or debris or for the conclusion of the stage. At oval tracks, teams will have the opportunity to changes two tires and fuel the car at the same time. If a team wants to add four fresh tires during a pit stop it must come back to pit road a second time and change the other two tires.

At the three road course races, teams can either change fuel or all four tires in the first pit stop. If it wants to do both, a second pit stop is needed to do what wasnt done the first time.

The field will be frozen at the moment of caution before the pit stops begin at these seven races. The restart order will be determined first by the running order of the cars that didnt pit and then the cars that pitted once. The cars that pitted twice will follow the single pit stop cars and cars getting their lap(s) back and penalized cars will be at the end of the line.

Stage lengths will also be adjusted at the seven races to ensure that teams dont have to make a pit stop under green.

Green-flag pit stops that involve four-tire changes will be subject to a two-lap penalty unless NASCAR rules theyre necessary due to damage. The same goes for any four-tire and fuel pit stop.

Why?

Youre probably wondering why NASCAR is going to these lengths for seven second and third-tier races. The answer is pretty simple. Its an attempt to cut costs and level the playing field between the haves and have nots.

Teams wont need to rent or lease pit crews for these seven races that are happening independent of Cup Series race weekends.

Story continues

The richest teams typically spend the most for pit crews and the Cup Series-affiliated pit crews that cost the most are typically the best. This will allow teams at the back of the field to have a chance to keep up with Cup-affiliated teams on pit road because regular crew members will be allowed to service the car without the pressure of performing a pit stop in 16 seconds.

The stand-alones in general provide some additional logistical and efficiency challenges for Gander Trucks and Xfinity teams, Xfinity Series technical director Eric Peterson said in an article on NASCAR.com. Any time you have races where were not a companion to Cup or Cup is in a different area of the country, it is logistically harder for the Xfinity and Truck teams to accomplish those races and do all the things we do on a normal weekend.  A lot of the teams  a good portion, not all of them  do utilize sharing pit crew personnel between Cup and Xfinity and Gander Trucks that it is a logistical hurdle for the teams to fly those individuals back and forth. Trying this procedure at these events certainly alleviates a lot of that burden on the teams to make that happen.

Itll also  in theory, anyway  give teams that are at the back of the field a chance to move up in the running order by pitting just once or not at all during a caution flag. A lower-budget team with a fast car and a good setup but without the resources to field a great pit crew wont have to worry about getting beaten on pit road by teams with more financial ability.

Will it work or have a dramatic impact on the racing? Well get the first answer to that question at Mid-Ohio on May 30 when the Xfinity Series tests out these new rules.

      

Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.

More from Yahoo Sports:
New Delhi:

Iran's parliament passed a bill on Tuesday designating all US forces "terrorists" over the killing of a top Iranian military commander in a US strike last week. Qasem Soleimani, the popular head of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm, was killed in a US drone strike outside Baghdad airport on Friday, ratcheting up tensions between the arch-foes.

Earlier, Iran unfurled a 'red flag of revenge' on an important mosque in after vowing to avenge the killing of its top general in an airstrike by US drones. The red flag was hoisted above the Jamkaran Mosque which is on the outskirts of the holy city of Qom, about 100 miles south of Tehran. In Shiite tradition, red flags symbolise both blood spilled unjustly and serve as a call to avenge a person who is slain. The text on the flag says: "Those who want to avenge the blood of Hussein".

The flag can be seen as a clear warning that Iran is getting ready to strike back at America. General Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds force and mastermind of its regional security strategy, was killed in an airstrike last week near the Iraqi capital's international airport. Soleimani and Mohandis were killed along with eight others in a precision drone strike early Friday as they drove away from Baghdad international airport in two vehicles.

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One of Boris Johnsons top aides in the lead-up to the election has said the UK should have a special relationship with Viktor Orbans authoritarian government in Hungary after Brexit.

Tim Montgomerie, who was social justice adviser at Downing Street until last month, praised the Hungarian governments thinking on the limits of liberalism.

At the helm of his far-right Fidesz party, Mr Orban has centralised power around himself and his allies, cracking down on civil society and monopolising the media.

The government has also been accused of running antisemitic and Islamophobic hate campaigns, notably against Jewish philanthropist George Soros.

In 2018, Mr Orban confirmed that his party had replaced a shipwrecked liberal democracy with a 21st-century Christian democracy.

In May, the Council of Europes report on Hungary said that human rights violations in Hungary have a negative effect on the whole protection system and the rule of law. They must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Labour MP Chris Bryant described Mr Montgomeries backing for the regime as representing extraordinarily dangerous views close to the heart of government.

Orban is as close to an open fascist as Europe has had for decades, he added.

Mr Montgomerie made his comments, first reported by BuzzFeed News, at a 17 December meeting hosted by the Danube Institute, a right-wing think-tank.

I think there will be very significant investment by Boris Johnson in relationships, particularly bilaterally, with key European states. I think the French relationship will be significant, and I think this relationship with Budapest will be significant as well, he said.

Budapest and Hungary have been home, I think, for an awful lot of interesting early thinking on the limits of liberalism, and I think we are seeing that in the UK as well. So I hope there will be a special relationship with Hungary amongst other states.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. 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A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Days after the meeting, Mr Montgomerie was criticised after he took to Twitter to declare that Hungarian family policy is worthy of close study. Critics claimed that the policies, which encourage Hungarians to have large families, have highly conservative undertones.

Mr Montgomeries views are not necessarily isolated in the Conservative Party. Mr Orban was one of the first world leaders to be invited to Downing Street after Theresa May took office.

Tory MEPs were also criticised after they stood almost alone among western conservative parties in supporting Mr Orbans government against European Parliament censure.

A government spokesperson said Mr Montgomerie has not currently returned to his position following the general election, though stopped short of saying he would not return.
India: Smart phone technology is making fishing safer for climate change threatened communities in India

by Jayashree Balasubramanian

January 07,2020 | Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation

The blue umbrella, nearly blending with the sea in the background, offers little protection from the scorching tropical heat to Arockiyem, who stands with a group around him. As they peer at the smart phone in his hands, he explains how the device can help at sea, in the midst of nowhere. Over a dozen fishing community members in the port town of Tuticorin, in south India, have come to listen, and while the elders look undecided, youth quickly catch on, whipping out their own phones. About 1,600 kilometres away, Rabindra Behara also is explaining the technology to fishers seated on brightly colored sheets in the village of Golabandha, in Odisha. Both communities speak different languages, but are bound by their profession and its inherent risks.



In December 2004, a devastating tsunami took an estimated 220,000 lives in and alongside the Indian Ocean. Besides worst-hit Indonesia, many of Indias coastal districts bore the brunt. In some - like Nagapattinam alone - over 6,000 people were killed, 85% of them in fishing communities. The event sounded a high alarm to build resilience especially among coastal communities. There are an estimated one million active fishing communities along the over 8,000-kilometre Indian coastline. Artisanal or small fishers face highest life and livelihood risk. Traditional knowledge, which guides most fishers here, is not helping in quite the same way. Weather uncertainties, changes in catchment areas and limited resources make their lives more complex in the context of climate change. Their motorized boats have limited range  40-50 kilometres at most. Long searches for fish or engine trouble can have serious consequences. This is where technology comes in.



The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services of the government of India has been observing oceans to provide information to scientists and society for over two decades. However, communities needed a technology interface, based on science, to use the information. Scientists at M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in India, meanwhile, were identifying ways to build resilience among communities through knowledge services. Telecom companies were also exploring the opportunity to provide technologies for social good. The result was partnerships that created Indias first mobile app for marginalized fishing communities, about a decade ago.



Called the Fisher Friend Mobile Application what made it unique, was constant discussion with communities. This meant it took longer to develop, with over 40 variations, tested with different groups for over five years. However, that meant the content, information and language were suitable for the people it was intended for. Over the years, as research intensified, technology also underwent many changes and communities and development workers needed to keep pace. The entry of corporate partner - global telecom major Qualcomm - enhanced support for this initiative, bringing in much-needed resources and technology to reach the end user, with the result that this app has now been rolled out in nine languages across Indias diverse land and culture in partnership with state governments.



It now reaches over 50,000 Indian fishing communities who are using the app on a regular basis. Most of all, over 500 fishermens lives were saved during cyclones and disasters, through the helpline service of this initiative and timely intimation given to the Indian Coast Guard. The app helps support sustainable marine fishing, guiding fishers on fish catch locations, helping them minimize the risk and cost of their journey. A study found that it has also potentially increased their income by as much as 20-30%, or approximately $4,000 per catch, a quite significant amount for resource-poor fishers.



Ironically this decade-long journey in tech has been undertaken from the ancient historic Indian port of Poompuhar, in south India. S. Velvizhi, the scientist who heads the Fish for All Centre and who is from this region, says it has not been easy. Constraints of mobile instrument and data charges, connectivity strength and comfort at using smart phones are things we take for granted. Among these marginalized communities in remote locations, these are important barriers that we struggle against.



However, for communities, understanding and using technology remains crucial. This is where foot soldiers make the final connection between disaster, resilience and technology, giving hope to marginal fishing communities that they can protect themselves better. Now, as fishers of the region prepare for another long haul, they also look out on the seas more confident than they were before, because of a device as simple as a smart phone in their hand.
As political impasse continued in Assam with protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the All Assam Students Union (AASU) on Tuesday said it was in talks with several outfits for a political alternative to safeguard the future of indigenous people.

On the sidelines of a press conference AASU held in Delhi along with the Northeast Students Organisation (NESO), AASU leaders said the talks were ongoing. There are several organisations we are talking to, including cultural outfits, student organisations and intellectuals. The preservation of the future of Assams indigenous people is of utmost priority, and the political solution needs to be inclusive, away from communalism, while keeping the Assamese identity intact, AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said.

Samujjal Bhattacharya, AASUs long-time adviser, said their immediate demands were to pull back CAA and that the Centres High Level Committee for the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord should finish its work within a tight deadline.

As part of the committee, AASU will be part of a three-day meeting in Guwahati starting Wednesday.
DUBLIN, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Smart Pneumatics Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2019 - 2024)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The smart pneumatics market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period 2019 to 2024. One of the key theories driving the future of pneumatics is its overall equipment effectiveness, which is improved with a boosted understanding of machine systems and processes. While the focus is very much on the electronic and digital control of automated systems, this doesn't necessarily prevent a future for pneumatics, as many material elements of the pneumatic system are able to adapt their designs and processes to incorporate IIoT factors into their operation. Researchers are looking at advanced electronic data collection systems; for example, using thin foils. These foils could be attached as labels to a pneumatic cylinder, where they would gather usage and sensory data and transmit it wirelessly to a control network.



Growing awareness toward predictive maintenance is driving the market, due to the emergence of industry 4.0 and sophisticated smarter technologies. According to Accenture, predictive maintenance of assets is one matching area of focus, which saves up to 12 percent over scheduled repairs, reducing overall maintenance costs up to 30%, and eliminate breakdowns up to 70 percent. For fluid power systems, it means a whole new level of condition and remote monitoring, to the extent that maintenance personnel can determine whether some obstacles has occurred or not.



With sensory data flowing in both directions, old pneumatic processes are being renovated into smart pneumatic systems, with data communicated to higher-level controllers and distributed to local networks through pneumatic components such as smart actuators, smart valves. This integration incorporates in various end-users such as manufacturing, industrial, etc.



Key Market Trends



With an increasing demand for energy in the long term but quite unstable in the short term, the oil and gas industry is facing many challenges in its complete value chain and there is a need for major technological revolution or massive investment to improve safety, efficiency and competitiveness. Process instrumentation is an integral portion of any process industry as it allows real-time measurement and control of process variables such as levels, flow, pressure, temperature, pH, and humidity.

The expanding population, increasing industrialization, and rapid urbanization in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in developing countries, such as China and India will lead to the increasing demand for agricultural products, food, and chemicals, which use pneumatic equipment in their manufacturing plants.

region, especially in developing countries, such as and will lead to the increasing demand for agricultural products, food, and chemicals, which use pneumatic equipment in their manufacturing plants. Increased investments in new plants such as in oil and gas, steel, power, and petrochemicals, and rising adoption of international safety standards and practices are predicted to hold the market growth. This is the only region to register an oil and gas capacity growth in recent years and about four new refineries were added in the region, which has added about 750,000 barrels per day, to global crude oil production.

Also, the Cambodian government signed an agreement with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency to build a wastewater treatment plant in Dangkor district. The project focused to improve the drainage system in the district for wastewater to flow straight to the plant rather than river by investing USD 25 million . Such projects across this region are estimated to drive the market for smart valves and actuators.

Key Topics Covered:



1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition

1.2 Study Assumptions



2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY



3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



4. MARKET INSIGHT

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.3 Industry Value Chain Analysis



5. MARKET DYNAMICS

5.1 Market Drivers

5.2 Market Challenges



6. MARKET SEGMENTATION

6.1 By End User

6.2 By Geography



7. KEY VENDOR PROFILES



8. INVESTMENT ANALYSIS



9. FUTURE OF THE MARKET

Companies Mentioned



Azbil Corporation

Bimba Manufacturing Company (IMI PLC)

Emerson Electric Co.

Festo AG

Ham-Let Group

Metrolog Measurement Control Systems

Metso Corporation

Parker Hannifin Corporation

Rotork PLC

Solution Control and Engineering Co. Ltd

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qaev3h

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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SOURCE Research and Markets

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The mere whiff that another predator could be circling Caltex should prompt its existing suitor Canada's Couche-Tard to assess the merits of sharpening its pencil on the indicative offer it has on the table.

British giant EG Group has emerged as a potential contestant to Couche-Tard for the $8.6 billion prize of owning Caltex.

And it is a rival with plenty of form in the industry.

Whether a firm offer ultimately emerges from EG remains to be seen. But EG Group has enlisted US group Jefferies for advice under the direction of Australian boss Michael Stock, so it appears to be kicking the tyres hard.
LOD, Israel, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chakratec announced the approval of the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy Program's match-funding for the Blink and Chakratec project for affordable, sustainable everyday DC fast-charging solutions.

Chakratec Partners with Blink Charging to Bring Affordable and Sustainable EV Charging Technology to the US Market. Photo of a Kinetic Charging Station.

The BIRD Energy Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and Israel's Ministry of Energy together with the Israel Innovation Authority. Chakratec is partnering with US Blink Charging, to bring a robust DC fast charging solution to the United States which can be deployed practically anywhere, regardless of the location's existing power grid capabilities.

Today, DC Fast Chargers (50kW, 175kW, 350kW, and higher) provide the fastest electric vehicle (EV) charging speeds, making these high-power charging solutions only attainable in locations with sufficient grid power. Upgrading grid infrastructure is extremely costly. Even for cities that can afford the upgrade, the process can be sluggish, with an arduous approval processes, with various regulatory and bureaucratic procedures. Accordingly, most roads in the United States are unable to take advantage of DC fast charging technology, which is escalating the EV drivers' range anxiety for long-distance travel.

The project is expected to introduce cutting-edge DC fast charging technology to the United States based on Chakratec's kinetic energy storage technology which will be adopted to American UL standards from already deployed and proven systems in Europe. This will enable high-power charging, serving many EVs daily without straining the grid, and avoiding increased "high demand" charges from utility companies. The proprietary technology is chemical-free, environmentally friendly, fast reaction and able to provide an unlimited number of charging cycles (more than 200,000).

The project facilitates the deployment of DC Fast Chargers nationwide, regardless of the location's current grid status, without the need for costly upgrades. All of the DC Chargers will be connected to the Blink Network, which provides a comprehensive and easy-to-use service experience for drivers. The technology will enable Blink to offer a practical, inexpensive DC fast charging solution to the US market, making fast EV charging available anywhere and anytime. The build-out of this fast DC charging solution will further encourage the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

Since its inception in 2013, Chakratec is introducing innovative and sustainable energy storage technology to the EV charging industry. The company has active deployment in Europe, and is looking to expand its operations to the US.

Chakratec will be exhibiting at this year's CES, together with the Israeli Pavilion powered by the Israeli export institute and ministry of economy and industry at the Eureka park.

"We are excited to begin the Blink-Chakratec project. The Chakratec technology has the unique capability of absorbing and storing peak loads in the power grid and utilizing the kinetically stored energy to enable DC Fast Charging anytime, anywhere. Additionally, this technology has the benefit of being entirely mechanical, not requiring the use of batteries, giving the charger a much longer life and ensuring it has minimal to no impact on our environment; we expect this project to make DC fast charging on the Blink Network a fast, economical, and easy way to charge wherever the road may take you," shared Michael D. Farkas, Chairman and CEO of Blink Charging.

"We are proud to collaborate with Blink Charging. This is another step in Chakratec's journey to introduce our unique kinetic energy storage system which enables ultra-fast EV charging. After successful deployments in Europe, this joint project with Blink will be our first in the North American market. We are positive that this project will benefit our companies and the EV industry, greatly. We hope to create a fast charging solution that will end US drivers' range anxiety once and for all," added Ilan Ben David, Chakratec's CEO.

The BIRD Energy Program began in 2009 as a result of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Since then and including the projects announced this past week, BIRD Energy has funded forty-nine projects with a total government investment of approximately $38 million, in addition to the $49 million in matching funds coming from the private sector. Each project is conducted by a U.S. and an Israeli partner. Selected projects address energy challenges and opportunities that are of interest to both countries and focus on commercializing clean energy technologies that improve economic competitiveness, create jobs and support innovative companies.

Please contact [email protected].

Come and meet Chakratec at CES (Israeli Pavilion, Sands Hall G).

ABOUT CHAKRATEC

Chakratec ltd was founded in 2013 and is privately owned and managed by its three co-founders, who gained significant experience in senior executive positions in public companies. Operating from its offices in Lod, Israel, the innovative company has a patent-protected technology for EV charging, with proof of concept achieved with operational units in Austria, Italy, and the Czech Republic, installed in leading energy and automotive companies.

ABOUT BLINK CHARGING

Blink Charging is a leading owner/operator of EV charging stations in the United States and a growing presence in Europe, Asia, Israel, the Caribbean, and South America. With a long history as a pioneer in the EV industry and a dedicated team with industry knowledge, Blink continues to be a preferred, trusted partner in EV charging station technology. As such, Blink is a driving force with more than 150,000 registered EV driver members and more than 15,000 EV charging stations deployed. For more information, please visit www.blinkcharging.com.

ABOUT BIRD FOUNDATION

The BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Foundation established in 1977 works to encourage and facilitate cooperation between U.S. and Israeli companies in a wide range of technology sectors and offers funding to selected projects. The BIRD Foundation supports projects without receiving any equity or intellectual property rights in the participating companies or in the projects, themselves. BIRD funding is repaid as royalties from sales of products that were commercialized as a result of BIRD support. The Foundation provides funding of up to 50% of a project's budget, beginning with R&D and ending with the initial stages of sales and marketing. The Foundation shares the risk and does not require repayment if the project fails to reach the sales stage. The cumulative sales of products developed through projects funded by the BIRD Foundation have exceeded $10 billion.

Further information:

Nir Zohar

Chief Customer Officer

[email protected]

T: +972-544-232-082

Daniel Raanani

Marketing & MarCom

[email protected]

T: +972-547-797-703



SOURCE Chakratec

Related Links

https://www.chakratec.com


[January 07, 2020] CES 2020 Opens with Innovation That Will Change the World

CES 2020 opens today unveiling the next generation of innovation that will redefine industries, create jobs and solve many of society's challenges. With more than 4,400 exhibiting companies, including 1,200 startups, CES (News - Alert) 2020 features the latest transformative technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, vehicle technology, digital health and more. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), CES 2020 runs through Friday, January 10, in Las Vegas, Nevada. "The innovation on display this week at CES embodies the drive and passion that fuels our industry and furthers economic growth on a global scale," said Gary Shapiro (News - Alert), president and CEO, CTA. "The entire tech ecosystem is here at CES 2020, and the products and technologies launching this week will inspire, connect and change lives for the better." While the CES exhibit show floor opens today, the full week of innovation kicked off on Sunday and Monday with Media Days, CTA's 2020 Tech Trends to Watch presentation, CES Unveiled Las Vegas, conference programming at the ARIA and preshow keynotes from Samsung and Daimler. Preshow Keynotes Samsung Consumer Electronics President and CEO H.S. Kim delivered the first CES 2020 keynote. Kim focused on the "Age of Experience," a decade of human-centric innovation that combines hardware and software to create personalized experiences to make life more convenient, enjoyable and meaningful. Highlighting the company's latest advances in intelligent robotics, AI, 5G and edge computing, Samsung offered a snapshot of the future in which these technologies will come together to offer richer, more adaptive experiences for consumers. "In the Age of Experience, we need to re-think the space we have to accommodate our diverse and evolving lifestyles," said Kim. Ola Kallenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz, delivered a keynote address Monday evening, where he shared the company's plans for a sustainable autonomous future. "When you come to CES you ask yourself 'What's Next' and that question is what we have been asking ourselves for 130 years," said Kallenius. He was joined on stage by director James Cameron to unveil Mercedes Benz's latest concept car, the Vision AVTR, a partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Cameron's film franchise. The car has no doors and 33 movable, multidirectional "bionic flaps" that are meant to look like scales on a reptile. The Vision AVTR detects your pulse and can sense your breathing. Mercedes designed the concept car to merge the passenger and automobile into a "symbiotic organism." 2020 Tech Trends to Watch Presentation CTA's Steve Koenig and Lesley Rohrbaugh presented 2020 Tech Trends to Watch on Sunday and gave an exclusive preview of the January U.S. Consumer Technology Sales & Forecasts. Skyrocketing popularity of streaming services along with 5G connectivity and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled devices will drive revenue growth for the U.S. consumer tech industry to a record $422 billion in retail revenues in 2020 - nearly 4% growth over last year. For more visit CTA.tech/SalesandForecasts. Unveiled Las Vegas Sunday evening featured one of the largest CES Unveiled events in show history, with more than 220 exhibiting companies, including 98 startups from Eureka Park, the startup hub at CES 2020. More than 1,900 media gathered at CES Unveiled for a sneak preview of the innovation debuting this week at the show, including the Source Hydropanel, which can extract water from air and electricity; a smart bathmat that tracks weight, BMI and posture; a service robot for those with disabilities; AR/VR software that shows before and after workout results and a smart thermometer that measures and adjusts oven temperature. Check out all the highlights here. CES Media Days featured two days of preshow press events from CES exhibitors, including major brands and emerging startups. Twenty-nine companies announced products, including: AMD - The Ryzen 4000 Series mobile processor, the world's first 7nm laptop processor.

- The Ryzen 4000 Series mobile processor, the world's first 7nm laptop processor. Bosch - Vivascope, a smart device tat creates digital microscopic images of cells and analyzes them using AI.

- Vivascope, a smart device tat creates digital microscopic images of cells and analyzes them using AI. BrainCo - Showcased the final model of its AI-powered prosthetic hand, which works with an amputee's brain waves and muscle signals.

- Showcased the final model of its AI-powered prosthetic hand, which works with an amputee's brain waves and muscle signals. Brunswick Corporation - Debuted the SLX-R 400e, a 22-passenger yacht-certified watercraft capable of speeds of 65 mph.

- Debuted the SLX-R 400e, a 22-passenger yacht-certified watercraft capable of speeds of 65 mph. BYTON - Announced its first wave of content partnerships, including ViacomCBS, to be featured on its 48-inch digital dashboard screen in the M-Byte SUV.

- Announced its first wave of content partnerships, including ViacomCBS, to be featured on its 48-inch digital dashboard screen in the M-Byte SUV. Continental Automotive - Natural 3D Centerstack display, offering drivers a 3D experience without the need for special glasses.

- Natural 3D Centerstack display, offering drivers a 3D experience without the need for special glasses. HDMI - Ultra High Speed HDMI certification program that assures support for all HDMI 2.1 features, including 8K.

Ultra High Speed HDMI certification program that assures support for all HDMI 2.1 features, including 8K. Hisense - The dual-cell XD9G LCD TV layers two liquid crystal modules one on top of the other inside a single cabinet.

- The dual-cell XD9G LCD TV layers two liquid crystal modules one on top of the other inside a single cabinet. Hyundai - Showcased a model of the S-A1, an electrically powered "personal air vehicle" capable of carrying up to four passengers.

- Showcased a model of the S-A1, an electrically powered "personal air vehicle" capable of carrying up to four passengers. Impossible Foods - Introduced two new plant-based meat substitutes, Impossible Pork and Impossible Sausage.

- Introduced two new plant-based meat substitutes, Impossible Pork and Impossible Sausage. Intel Corporation - Announced Tiger Lake, the latest chip in the Intel Core mobile processor family.

- Announced Tiger Lake, the latest chip in the Intel Core mobile processor family. LG - OLED (LG Signature OLED 8K) and LCD (LG 8K NanoCell) TV models delivering a 'REAL 8K' UHD viewing experience.

OLED (LG Signature OLED 8K) and LCD (LG 8K NanoCell) TV models delivering a 'REAL 8K' UHD viewing experience. Living in Digital Times - Announced several lifestyle products including the mamaRoo sleep bassinet and NEUTROGENA's Skin360 app.

- Announced several lifestyle products including the mamaRoo sleep bassinet and NEUTROGENA's Skin360 app. Monster - MultiLink Bluetooth technology, enabling multiple Bluetooth devices to play audio in sync.

- MultiLink Bluetooth technology, enabling multiple Bluetooth devices to play audio in sync. Panasonic (News - Alert) - Flagship HZ2000 OLED TV with support for the UHD Alliance's Filmmaker Mode.

- Flagship HZ2000 OLED TV with support for the UHD Alliance's Filmmaker Mode. POW Audio - Biz is a pocketable magnetic speaker offering superior teleconferencing with a 360 mic, echo cancellation, and noise suppression.

- Biz is a pocketable magnetic speaker offering superior teleconferencing with a 360 mic, echo cancellation, and noise suppression. Procter & Gamble - Charmin's RollBot, a concept robot that brings you toilet paper and Oral-B's new connected electric toothbrush, the iO.

- Charmin's RollBot, a concept robot that brings you toilet paper and Oral-B's new connected electric toothbrush, the iO. Qualcomm - Debuted the Snapdragon Ride autonomous-driving platform.

- Debuted the Snapdragon Ride autonomous-driving platform. Royole Corporation - Unveiled its Mirage Smart Speaker, an Amazon Alexa-enabled smart speaker featuring an 8" AMOLED flexible touch display.

- Unveiled its Mirage Smart Speaker, an Amazon Alexa-enabled smart speaker featuring an 8" AMOLED flexible touch display. Schneider Electronics - Launched Square D Connected Home suite for North America.

- Launched Square D Connected Home suite for North America. Sony - Unveiled the Vision S electric concept car featuring 33 different sensors and a newly-designed EV platform.

- Unveiled the electric concept car featuring 33 different sensors and a newly-designed EV platform. Taiwan Excellence - Showcased multiple innovations from Taiwanese companies, including Noodoe's intuitive charging stations for electric cars.

- Showcased multiple innovations from Taiwanese companies, including Noodoe's intuitive charging stations for electric cars. TCL Corp (News - Alert) - Vidrian mini-LED display technology offers increased brightness, sharper contrast, and long-life performance.

- Vidrian mini-LED display technology offers increased brightness, sharper contrast, and long-life performance. Toyota - Showcased Woven City, its "prototype city of the future" where it can test autonomous vehicles, innovative street design, smart home technology, robotics, and new mobility products.

- Showcased Woven City, its "prototype city of the future" where it can test autonomous vehicles, innovative street design, smart home technology, robotics, and new mobility products. UHD Alliance - Announced two additional television partners for its Filmmaker Mode initiative: Samsung and Phillips.

- Announced two additional television partners for its Filmmaker Mode initiative: Samsung and Phillips. Valeo - Unveiled its autonomous, electric delivery droid prototype, Valeo eDeliver4U.

- Unveiled its autonomous, electric delivery droid prototype, Valeo eDeliver4U. ZF - Level 2+ semi-automated driving systems for passenger cars and Level 4 fully automated driving systems for commercial vehicles.



CMO Insights - Putting the "C" in CMO Part of the CMO Insights track, this conference session featured CMOs from leading businesses who talked about growth, disruption and the role marketing should play in business. Speakers included Jean Foster (News - Alert), SVP, Marketing and Communications, CTA; Jennifer Berman, CMO, Insider; Diana O'Brien, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Deloitte; and Deborah Wahl, General Motors Global Chief Marketing Officer, General Motors.

The show floor opening also marks the launch of the Global Tech Challenge, presented by CES and the World Bank Group. The Global Tech Challenge will focus on three areas: health, gender barriers and technologies that enable communities to be more resilient in the face of disasters and climate change. Visit CES.tech/Live to get live updates from CES 2020 - including keynotes, sessions, product announcements and show floor coverage. Download CES b-roll and view the high-res image gallery here. For breaking news, visit CES.tech. Check out the Featured Speakers page to see some of the 1,100 industry visionaries slated to speak at CES 2020. The CES App has everything you need to plan for and navigate CES 2020. Download the CES 2020 App by searching "CES 2020" in your app store or visiting CES.tech/CESApp. About CES: CES is the largest, most influential tech event in the world - the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators. This is where the world's biggest brands do business and meet new partners, and the sharpest innovators hit the stage. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), CES features every aspect of the tech sector. Learn more at CES.tech and follow CES on social. About Consumer Technology Association: As North America's largest technology trade association, CTA is the tech sector. Our members are the world's leading innovators - from startups to global brands - helping support more than 18 million American jobs. CTA owns and produces CES - the largest, most influential tech event in the world. Find us at CTA.tech. Follow us @CTAtech. UPCOMING EVENTS CES 2021 January 6-9, 2021 - Las Vegas, NV View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005494/en/

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The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes has issued an interim order preventing Nepals government from collecting capital gains tax on Axiatas acquisition of Ncell.

Nepals Inland Revenue Department and Large Taxpayers Office have been directed not to take any steps to demand the payment of the NPR22.4 billion ($194 million) tax bill relating to Axiatas 2016 acquisition of an 80% stake in Ncell. The tribunals order was made in response to arbitration proceedings brought against Nepals government by Axiata Investments and Ncell.

Semanta Dahal, a lawyer following the case, told The Himalayan Times: The ICSID Convention is not clear on whether interim measures will have binding effect. But previous tribunals have made provisional measures binding for parties involved in ICSID cases.

If the final verdict is issued in line with todays order, the Nepal government will not only be barred from collecting outstanding capital gains tax but will have to reimburse whatever capital gains tax it has collected from Ncell in the past, added Dahal.

Axiata was ordered to pay capital gains tax of NPR62.63 billion following its $1.4 billion acquisition of the Ncell stake from TeliaSonera Norway. In April 2019, Ncell disputed this amount in Nepals Supreme Court, which ruled in its favour, reducing the total to NPR45 billion.

Of this, Ncell had already paid NPR23 billion, and is under pressure to pay the remainder. However, the companies are now seeking a permanent injunction against the any further demands for capital gains tax, as well as damages for their losses and the return of taxes already paid.

The companies have stated that: the act of imposing CGT...contravenes Nepals international law obligations under the 1993 Nepal-UK Bilateral Investment Treaty. This means Axiata and Ncell are not happy that the CGT has been imposed on buyers and not sellers, which is against the global practice.

However, the Large Taxpayers Office notes that this treaty only covers issues related to investment, whereas the issue raised by Axiata and Ncell in the international court is related to taxation. International courts cannot intervene in taxation affairs of a sovereign country. So, we will follow the Supreme Courts order to collect taxes from Ncell.
(CNN)  Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on Monday contradicted US President Donald Trump by asserting the US would not target Iranian cultural sites amid rising tensions after a US strike killed Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani.

"We will follow the laws of armed conflict," Esper told CNN Monday.

When pressed if that meant not targeting Iranian cultural sites, Esper replied, "That's the laws of armed conflict."

The comments come one day after Trump reiterated his threat to target Iranian cultural sites in a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One.

"They're allowed to kill our people, they're allowed to torture and maim our people, they're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people, and we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way," Trump said, according to a pool report.

The threats have been met with criticism because it is against international law to target cultural rather than military sites, and the US military's policy has long been to avoid striking areas of cultural importance.

Two senior US officials told CNN Sunday there was widespread opposition within the administration to targeting cultural sites in Iran should the United States launch retaliatory strikes against Tehran.

"Nothing rallies people like the deliberate destruction of beloved cultural sites. Whether ISIS's destruction of religious monuments or the burning of the Leuven Library in WWI, history shows targeting locations giving civilization meaning is not only immoral but self-defeating," one of the officials told CNN.

"The Persian people hold a deeply influential and beautiful history of poetry, logic, art and science. Iran's leaders do not live up to that history. But America would be better served by leaders who embrace Persian culture, not threaten to destroy it," they added.

"Consistent with laws and norms of armed conflict, we would respect Iranian culture," the second senior US official said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, however, defended Trump on Sunday, arguing on CNN's "State of the Union" that such an action would not violate international law and instead suggested it would be a continuation of the administration's attempt at deterrence and defense.

"If we need to defend American interests, we will do so," he told Tapper.

In a separate interview on Fox News on Sunday, Pompeo claimed Trump never said he would order attacks on cultural sites if they struck Americans or American assets, something Trump did tweet on Saturday.

"As for these critiques, President Trump didn't say he'd go after a cultural site. Read what he said very closely. We've made clear that the cost, if they use proxy-forces in the region, will not just be borne just by those proxies. They'll be borne by Iran and its leadership itself," Pompeo said.
[January 07, 2020] Esri Joins HERE Technologies at CES 2020

Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, today announced that it will join this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES (News - Alert)), to be held January 7-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Esri will be on hand for a discussion moderated by location data company HERE Technologies about how geospatial technology can help businesses make better-informed geographic decisions, such as where to open new stores. Who:

Jeffrey Peters, Director, Global Business Development, Esri

Jason Bettinger, Senior Director and Head of Retail & Financial Services, Americas, HERE Technologies What:

Using the new breed of location data to decide where to open your next store: HERE Technologies in conversation with Esri As 'brick and mortar' retailers continue to innovate with new formats and shopping experiences, they're also turning to high quality data when deciding on their next location. In this talk, Esri joins HERE to discuss how retailers are tapping into a rich resource of map, venue, and traffic informaion to achieve an advantage in what has become one of the most fiercely competitive sectors of the economy.?



Where:

HERE Technologies booth, LVCC, Central Plaza, CP-2 Las Vegas Convention Center

3150 Paradise Rd

Las Vegas, NV 89109

When:

January 8, 2020, 12:00 p.m.-12:15 p.m. Learn more:

www.ces.tech About Esri Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, offers the most powerful geospatial cloud available, to help customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations including 90 of the Fortune 100 companies, all 50 state governments, more than half of all counties (large and small), and 87 of the Forbes Top 100 Colleges in the U.S., as well as all 15 Executive Departments of the U.S. Government and dozens of independent agencies. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial information technology, Esri engineers the most advanced solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics. Visit us at esri.com. Copyright  2020 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri globe logo, ArcGIS, The Science of Where, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005020/en/

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She won an Oscar for Room and starred in billion dollar blockbuster Captain Marvel.

And on Monday night, Brie Larson pulled out all the stops for a special screening of her new film Just Mercy in Los Angeles.

The actress, 30, shimmered in a metallic gold dress as she posed for photos at the event held in the South LA neighborhood of Baldwin Hills.

Shining star: Brie Larson shimmered in a metallic gold dress as she posed for photos at a special screening of her new movie Just Mercy in LA on Monday night

Larson's eye-catching dress had a high neck and long sleeves and was cinched at the waist.

She paired the outfit with knee-high black boots.

Her hair was styled back from her face in a sophisticated do and she accessorized with gold earrings.

Stylishly eye-catching: Larson's eye-catching dress had a high neck and long sleeves and was cinched at the waist. She paired the outfit with knee-high black boots

Natural beauty: The actress, 30, wore her hair styled back from her face in a sophisticated do and she accessorized with gold earrings

All eyes on her: Brie definitely turned heads at the event

Good times: The Captain Marvel star had a huge smile on her face

Fun times: Brie chatted with one of the young attendees

Sweet: Brie and the young fan even shared a hug

Just Mercy is a legal drama based on true events.

Larson plays advocate Eva Ansley who assists a young lawyer fighting to save the life of a black man wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of a white woman in Alabama.

Michael B. Jordan stars as the lawyer Bryan Stevenson while Jamie Foxx plays the convicted man Walter McMillian.

Jordan also serves as a producer on the movie which is based on the memoir of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson who founded the Equal Justice Initiative.

Dramatic role: In Just Mercy, Jamie Foxx, 52, plays a man wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death for murder in Alabama. He showed up to the screening in a dapper gray suit

Dynamic duo: Brie and Jamie posed for a cute snap together

Based on true story: Michael B. Jordan, left, looked suave in a bespoke Burberry suit. He stars as real-life civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson who was also at the screening to support the film, right

Dapper: Michael looked handsome as always

In tune: The two clapped before they showed the film

Team player: Brie held up her mobile phone for an Instagram live

Family night out: Jordan, 32, also produced Just Mercy and he brought along his parents Michael A. and Donna Jordan as his special guests

Minor players: The film's supporting cast also includes Karan Kendrick, left, as the wife of Foxx's character and O'Shea Jackson, right, plays a fellow death row inmate

Heavyweight support: Monday night's screening in the South LA neighborhood of Baldwin Hills was hosted by former LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant

Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in one photo: The three stars posed up together

Fantastic four: They were joined by O'Shea

Squad: O'Shea Jackson Jr., Karan Kendrick, Kobe Bryant, Michael B. Jordan, Brie Larson, Jamie Foxx, Bryan Stevenson (pictured left to right)

Jordan has previously spoken about how he personally asked Foxx to be in the film.

The supporting cast also includes Karan Kendrick as the wife of Foxx's character and O'Shea Jackson plays a fellow death row inmate.

Monday night's screening was hosted by former LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant and attorney Bryan Stevenson was also in attendance.

The drama is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton who co-wrote the screenplay.

Just Mercy opened in theaters in New York and Los Angeles on Christmas Day in order to qualify for Oscar consideration and will open in wide release on Friday.

Friendly to fans: Michael didn't hesitate to take a selfie with a follower
It cost 1.3m to buy new mobile phones for top civil servants and ministerial advisers since 2017, it can be revealed.

Across all departments, figures show that the Government has spent 1,290,267.35 on work-related phones for top spin doctors and officials over the past three years.

In figures released to Fianna Fail TD Shane Cassells, it is clear that the highest spending department was the Department of Justice, headed by Charlie Flanagan. Mr Flanagans department spent 410,629 on mobile phones for its staff.

The figures also show that the Department of Finance, headed by Paschal Donohoe spent almost 200,000 on new phones for its staff.

Mr Cassells, a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has queried the amount spent on purchasing mobile telephones for staff in each department. He is demanding to know which robust steps were being taken to ensure that the costs incurred on work-related telephones are the best value for taxpayers.

Heather Humphreys Jobs Department spent 160,331, while Shane Ross Department of Transport and Tourism pent 148,035.

The total bill for the Department of Foreign Affairs came to 91,019; while the Housing Department spent 80,660.

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty paid 80,708 on 212 phones while Minister of State at the Department of Defence Paul Kehoe spent 62,489.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar spent 50,719 on new phones for 114 staff members. Among those to benefit from the new devices include the Taoiseachs special advisers with 11,914 being spent on political staff.

Commenting on the expenditure, Mr Varadkar said:

The current contract was established between the Department and Three Ireland in September 2019 following a public procurement exercise.

"It was awarded on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender when costs of mobile phones, costs associated with ongoing usage, international roaming, data usage, and customer support capabilities were considered.
The power to appoint judges at every level of the federal judiciary should logically be an important issue in every presidential election. This year, however, a confluence of several factors may well make it the most important one.

Donald Trump has already appointed two justices to the U.S. Supreme Court and filled 50 vacancies on the U.S. Courts of Appeals, an unprecedented number for a president at this stage of his tenure. At the same time, opponents have frustrated many of his key initiatives by procuring nation-wide injunctions against them from trial-level federal judges appointed by Democratic presidents.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal icon, will be 87 years old in March and is in poor health. With Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. having moved to the center of an ideologically divided court, Ginsburgs replacement  assuming she does, in fact, leave  will determine the future direction of the court. Also at play is a radical court-packing threat made by several congressional Democrats to expand the number of Supreme Court justices to give a Democratic president the ability to appoint additional judges to the court.

Magnifying all of this, the Supreme Court will be handing down key rulings in several high profile, politically volatile cases as the presidential campaign kicks into high gear. These decisions are certain to ignite partisan passions as well as claims, fair or unfair, that the nations highest court is, at its core, just another political entity. Heres a brief summary of cases guaranteed to generate screaming headlines in the months ahead.

Sex and guns

On Oct. 8, the court heard oral arguments in three cases involving Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Among other things, the statute prohibits employment discrimination because of.sex. At issue is whether the law covers gay, lesbian and transgender employees. The courts decision will make an already contentious issue even more so since over half of the states have chosen not to include such employees in anti-discrimination statutes. The ruling in favor of inclusion would create serious legal problems for many religious schools whose mission would be undermined should they be forced to hire or retain employees who are openly gay, lesbian or transgender.

Illegal immigration, another explosive issue, was before the court in November as the justices entertained oral arguments on the Trump Administrations decision to terminate DACA. To resolve the dispute, the court will have to decide two issues. First, is this particular decision by the executive branch properly reviewable by the judiciary? Second, if so, is the decision legal? However the court rules, fireworks will ensue.

Gun control, another subject that generates passions, was before the court in December as the justices considered a Second Amendment challenge to a New York City rule, since repealed, that essentially prohibited gun owners from transporting their guns outside the five boroughs. The city argued that the case is now moot and the court should refrain from reaching the merits. The citys real concern, however, shared by gun control advocates, is that a ruling on the merits could produce dicta further expanding the constitutional right to bear arms.

Abortion and taxes

Abortion is before the court again on March 4 when the justices hear June Medical Services v. Gee, a constitutional challenge to a Louisiana statute requiring doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. Three years ago, the court, with Justice Anthony Kennedy providing the deciding vote, struck down a similar Texas statute in Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt. Here, however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit upheld the Louisiana statute on the grounds that the underlying facts of the two cases are significantly different.

Finally, and potentially most impactful of all, the court agreed on Dec. 13 to hear three consolidated cases in which Trump is seeking to quash subpoenas for his financial records. Two of the mandates were issued by Democrat-controlled House committees and the third by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, yet another Democrat. While the subpoenas appear to be both unreasonably broad and politically motivated, they could create serious problems for Trump if allowed to stand. On the other hand, expect Democrats to howl in protest if the court quashes the mandates, especially if such a ruling is along ideological lines.

Roberts is clearly uncomfortable with the court  his court  being the center of attention and contention. This year, however, its likely to be a lightning rod in what promises to be an especially intense, nasty political campaign.

Daniel Leddys column On the Law appears weekly. Follow him on Twitter. His email address is column@danielleddylaw.com.
PHILIPSBURG:--- As of January 6th Ms. Cassandra Richardson will follow up Melanie Choisy to become the NPOwer Project Coordinator. NPOwer was launched by Foresee Foundation at the end of 2018 with the financial support of the Dutch Disaster Fund.

NPOwers aim is to strengthen the capacity of local NGOs and forge more collaboration and communication through its online database network of active organizations. Through workshops, webinars, training, and lectures, NPOwer intends to empower St. Maartens organizations in their communal missions. Furthermore, with the NPOwer website databank and Community Service Facebook page, which shows all things NGOs and NPOs passionately do on St. Maarten, NPOwer also encourages more relationships with residents, tourists, and charitable organizations alike.

Cassandra Richardson is a native of the island of St. Maarten/St. Martin and received her academic degrees in the US and Canada, respectively. After completing her second Master's degree in Canada, she worked in the Canadian NGO sector and as a community arts advocate for 11 years before deciding to bring back her expertise and love for community building to St. Maarten, her home of origin.

Her background and skills in Social Work, community arts and communication skills are the right ingredients for a new career opportunity. The experiences in the NGO sector in St. Maarten and Canada inspire her to continually find innovative ways to support multisectoral initiatives and community-led efforts to motivate and sustain positive change. One of Cassandras passions is to build relationships between partners at all levels  from individuals to local partners and global organizations  and coordinate their efforts towards a common goal. She has played a foundational role in her previous roles as Executive Director of the Safe Haven Foundation, in Canada as a Program Manager for several social programs, and as a student active in the student body in the United States, towards these efforts and looks forward to continue strengthening relationships in the NGO sector on St. Maarten through NPOwer.

In this new capacity, she will start taking up the task to organize a one day conference for the NGO sector on February 22nd, 2020, expand the online NGO website and database and organize capacity strengthening workshops and training for all those in the community who are affiliated with non-profit organizations.

Jose Sommers, President of The Foresee Foundation expressed 4C boards excitement to have Ms. Richardson on board and is looking forward to her support in the further building of our NGO sector. More information on NPOwer and the St. Maarten NGO sector can be found on the website http://www.npowersxm.com/ and the Facebook page SXM community Service Organizations, link https://www.facebook.com/groups/sxmcsos/.
Security experts have found a malicious app in the Google Play that exploits the recently patched CVE-2019-2215 zero-day vulnerability.

Earlier October, Google Project Zero researchers Maddie Stone publicly disclosed a zero-day vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2019-2215, in Android.

Maddie Stone published technical details and a proof-of-concept exploit for the high-severity security vulnerability, seven days after she reported it to the colleagues of the Android security team.

The flaw is a use-after-free vulnerability that affects the Android kernels binder driver, it could be exploited by a local privileged attacker or a malicious app to escalate privileges to gain root access to a vulnerable device. Experts warn it could potentially allow to fully compromise the device.

The flaw affects versions of Android kernel released before April last year. This vulnerability was addressed in Dec 2017 in the 4.14 LTS kernel [1], AOSP android 3.18 kernel [2], AOSP android 4.4 kernel [3], and AOSP android 4.9 kernel [4]. The expert pointed out that Pixel 2 with most recent security bulletin is still vulnerable based on source code review.

This means that most of the Android devices available on the market with the unpatched kernel are still vulnerable to this vulnerability, even is the owners have installed the latest Android security updates.

Some of the devices which appear to be vulnerable based on source code review are:

1) Pixel 2 with Android 9 and Android 10 preview (https://android.googlesource.com/kernel/msm/+/refs/heads/android-msm-wahoo-4.4-q-preview-6/)

2) Huawei P20

3) Xiaomi Redmi 5A

4) Xiaomi Redmi Note 5

5) Xiaomi A1

6) A3

7) Moto Z3

8) Oreo LG phones (run according to )

9) Samsung S7, S8, S9

Maddie Stone explained that the flaw is accessible from inside the Chrome sandbox, the issue is exploitable in Chromes renderer processes under Androids isolated_app SELinux domain. This means that a remote attacker could potentially exploit the flaw by chaining it with a Chrome rendering issue

In October, the researchers Grant Hernandez, a PhD candidate at the Florida Institute of Cyber Security at the University of Florida, has publicly disclosed a PoC exploit code for the CVE-2019-2215 vulnerability.

In October, Google released the October 2019 set of Android fixes that addressed the flaw.

According to Stone, the CVE-2019-2215 vulnerability was being used or sold by the controversial surveillance firm NSO Group, it was exploited by its surveillance software Pegasus.

This credible evidence included the leads and details outlined above in the Hunting the Bug section, and how after a detailed review of kernel patches, all requirements perfectly aligned with one bug (and only one bug). reads a blog post published by Stone.

The examined information included marketing materials for this exploit, and that the exploit was used to install a version of Pegasus. With this evidence, we decided that although we did not have an exploit sample, the risk to users was too great to wait 90 days for a patch and disclosure, and thus reported this to Android under a 7-day deadline..

Security experts at Trend Micro discovered that at least three malicious apps were available in the official Google Play store since March 2019, The researchers pointed out that the apps are working together to compromise devices and collect user information, and one of them uses the CVE-2019-2215 exploits.

We found three malicious apps in the Google Play Store that work together to compromise a victims device and collect user information. reads the analysis published by Trend Micro. One of these apps, called Camero , exploits CVE-2019-2215, a vulnerability that exists in Binder (the main Inter-Process Communication system in Android). This is the first known active attack in the wild that uses the use-after-free vulnerability.

Interestingly, upon further investigation we also found that the three apps are likely to be part of the SideWinder threat actor groups arsenal. SideWinder, a group that has been active since 2012, is a known threat and has reportedly targeted military entities Windows machines.

The three malicious apps were disguised as photography and file manager tools, according to Trend Micro they are part of the arsenal used by a threat actor tracked as SideWinder.

The attackers install the payload app in two stages, it first downloads a DEX file from the C2 server, then the downloaded DEX file downloads an APK file and installs it after exploiting the device or employing accessibility.

The apps Camero and FileCrypt Manger act as droppers. After downloading the extra DEX file from the C&C server, the second-layer droppers invoke extra code to download, install, and launch the callCam app on the device. continues the analysis.

In order to root the device, Camero retrieves a specific exploit from the C&C, it works on Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Nokia 3 (TA-1032), LG V20 (LG-H990), Oppo F9 (CPH1881), and Redmi 6A devices. The researchers downloaded five exploits from the server, including CVE-2019-2215 and MediaTek-SU, that are used to achieve root privileges before installing callCam .

The FileCrypt Manager, on the other hand, asks the user to enable the accessibility permission, then shows a full-screen window that says it needs further setup steps. The window is used to hide malicious activity, the malicious code installs callCam and enables the accessibility permission for it.

The app callCam collects data such as location, battery status, files on device, installed app list, device information, sensor information, camera information, account details, Wi-Fi information, screenshots, and data from WeChat , Outlook, Twitter, Yahoo Mail, Facebook, Gmail, and Chrome. Collected data is encrypted using RSA and AES encryption algorithms, then it is sent to the C&C server.

Additional technical details, including the Indicators of Compromise, are reported in the analysis published by Trend Micro.

Pierluigi Paganini
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 17:19:18|Editor: Wang Yamei

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GUANGZHOU, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The freight volume of south China's Pearl River exceeded 1 billion tonnes in 2019, setting a new record, second only to that of Yangtze River in China, official statistics showed Tuesday.

According to the Pearl River Administration of Navigational Affairs under the Ministry of Transport, the river's freight volume, which ranks second in the world, increased by 5.5 percent year on year in 2019. The container throughput on the river hit 14 million TEU in the period, up 13.4 percent year on year.

In 2019, 53 water transport projects were under construction on the river, including ports, shipping channels and facilities, with a total investment of 62 billion yuan (about 8.92 billion U.S. dollars).

Wu Caiying, the administration's planning official, said the development of the Pearl River waterway provides strong support for the economic development along the river.

The Pan-Pearl River Delta region is one of China's economic powerhouses. It includes Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan, as well as Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. The regional cooperation mechanism was launched in 2004.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan 7

By Fakhri Vakilov - Trend:

Uzbekistans Central Bank has set new foreign exchange rates, which will be in force from Jan.7 through Jan. 13, 2020, Trend reports with reference to the bank.

According to the bank, the US dollar fell, amounting to 9,507 soums.

In addition, euro fell by 15.8 soums to 10,608 soums.

Russian ruble went up and amounted to 153.43 soums.

The US currency has recently been showing slight fluctuations in both directions, while the euro has been rapidly falling in recent weeks, but has now increased in price.

An increase in exchange rate volatility was observed in August at the auctions of Uzbekistans interbank currency market. Since the beginning of the year, the US dollar against the soum increased by 12.5 percent, from slightly over 8,336 soums on Jan. 1 to 9,384 soums on Aug. 21. Most of the growth occurred in August, when the US dollar rose by 679 soums.

In this regard, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan has stopped to set prices for the sale and purchase of foreign currency.

Prices for the purchase and sale of currency are now formed on the market independently.

Moreover, from Aug. 20, commercial banks began selling foreign currency in cash through exchange offices.

---

Follow author on Twitter:@vakilovfaxri
Associated Press

Chevron said Monday it will pull its employees out of Iraq temporarily amid an escalation in tensions following the United States' targeted killing of Iran's top military general.

Chevron said it was evacuating its workers and contractors from the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq after the U.S. State Department urged Americans to flee Iraq because of concerns from Iran-backed militias and the potential targeting of Americans in the area.
WASHINGTON  An official letter from the Defense Department informing Iraq that the United States was repositioning forces for movement out of Iraq produced headlines around the world that an American withdrawal had begun.

But the letter, drafted by the United States military command in Baghdad, was sent out by mistake. The furor it caused prompted Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark A. Milley, to call an urgent news conference to deny the reports.

It was an honest mistake, General Milley told reporters at the Pentagon. That letter is a draft, it was a mistake, it was unsigned, it should not have been released.

The Iraqi Parliament voted Sunday to expel American forces, reflecting widespread anger with the United States after President Trump ordered the killing of an Iranian military leader, Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, in Baghdad. But the vote was not the final word on the subject and the Iraqi government had not formally notified the United States to leave.
Actor Brian Cox has called for action on a new Scottish film studio (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

Golden Globe-winner Brian Cox has called for more action to help Scotland attract major film and TV productions.

The actor said Scotland has the ability but needs more studio space to be able to capitalise on its talent.

Plans to create a full-time permanent film studio in Scotland  in addition to the converted warehouse in Cumbernauld where the Outlander TV series is shot  have been troubled.

A 250 million purpose-built facility planned for the Pentland Estate on the outskirts of Edinburgh was stymied last year by a court ruling in a land tenancy row, prompting a change of plans to a site at Dalkeith, Midlothian.

Separately, Screen Scotland planned to put a private firm in place to turn a former wave power plant at the citys Leith Docks, used in producing Marvels Avengers: Infinity War, into a round-the-clock film studio last spring but this deadline was missed.

The film workers in Scotland are pretty phenomenal, and I want to see more work happeningBrian Cox

Now, Cox  who won best actor in a TV drama for his role as ageing media magnate Logan Roy in Succession at the Golden Globe awards in LA on Monday  wants more to be done.

Speaking on BBC Scotlands The Nine, he said: Weve got great crews in Scotland  thats why we really need to get that studio off the ground.

We can service so many films, weve got the ability. Ive done two or three in Scotland.

So I know the props guys, the film workers in Scotland are pretty phenomenal, and I want to see more work happening.

Congratulations to Brian Cox - Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama - Succession. - #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/IL27iJD9Xe  Golden Globe Awards (@goldenglobes) January 6, 2020

Parts of Succession were filmed in the Dundee natives home city, including in the new V&A museum, and he said I think everyone was delighted to be in Dundee.

He revealed his character was not originally cast as being from Dundee.

Cox said: Its the weirdest thing  originally the character wasnt born in Dundee, in fact he wasnt born in Dundee until the ninth episode of the first series.

Originally the character was born in Quebec, Canada, and I was playing it that way.

Then they said youre no longer born in Quebec. Youre born in some place called Dundee, Scotland. And I said  well thats where Im from.

Cox, 73, whose film roles include Manhunter, The Bourne Identity and Troy, spoke of his reaction to being named a Golden Globe winner.

He said: It was extraordinary  it does your head in at these kind of events.

You are always happy when it gets announced, either when you lose or when you win it.

I actually apologised to my fellow nominees because its such hell that you go through for that 30 seconds. But it was wonderful.
Half a dozen protesters waved American flags in front of the Iraqi Consulate General in Southfield Tuesday, Jan. 7, as it invited the public to offer sympathy after U.S. airstrikes in Baghdad killed a top Iranian general and others.

Jeff Hilliard, of Madison Heights, said he was motivated to come to the consulate at 16445 W. 12 Mile Road, near Southfield Road, after watching media accounts of the Iraqi prime minister calling Americans terrorists and seeing protesters chant death to America.

Hilliard, who served the U.S. Army in Afghanistan in 2003-04, said he came to the consulate in honor of the more than 4,000 American soldiers killed in Iraq since a U.S.-led coalition invaded the country and toppled Saddam Hussein.

At least one Iraqi-American agreed with the U.S. airstrikes on Friday, Jan. 3, which killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani and others.

Soleimani is a big killer, said Kahled Somo of Sterling Heights. They killed American soldiers and Iraqi soldiers.

Somo said he came to the United States seven years ago because he feared for his life.

He got into a heated exchange with pro-American protesters in front of the consulate before everyone realized they were on the same side.

It didnt appear that many came to the consulate to offer condolences.

A security guard referred all questions to the consulates management, who did not speak to the media.

A long line of people inside the building were there for the consulates usual business, which is to help Iraqis in the United States who are experiencing difficulties with obtaining visas or other matters.

According to the consulates website, the opening of a record of condolences for the lives of the righteous martyrs who were killed as a result of the recent American raids in Iraq,  was to be held from 2-5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 7-8.

The Southfield Police Department maintained a presence at the consulate Tuesday afternoon, but the protest remained peaceful.
On November 19, 2019, Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Rajya Sabha, said, According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI), frauds as per the year of reporting, as stated by Public Sector Banks (PSBs) from April 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019, is 5,743 and involving a total amount of Rs 95,760.49 crore."

Bank frauds reported 2013-2019

But what was overlooked was that the situation has become extremely alarming. Taken against the backdrop of earlier disclosures by the government, it is clear that the amounts involved in frauds have been increasing year after year. Public sector banks account for nearly 90 percent of the frauds in terms of the sum involved.

Clearly, when instances of fraud keep increasing, and so do the amounts, some urgent steps need to be put into place. The Finance Ministers statement was related to a six-month period. Annualised, the figures would probably have been more than 10,000 cases, and more than Rs 1.8 lakh crore lost by way of fraud.

Perhaps the first step required to remedy the situation is greater transparency. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is still shy of disclosing the names of the defaulters and officers involved. In fact, tainted officers should be cauterized immediately, so that they are not allowed to carry on their creative bank book management elsewhere.

But the government seems reluctant to part with information, the first pre-requisite for transparency. Take two instances.

Consider the statement relating to the unstarred question no 1,447 on bank frauds that was answered on 1 July 2019. Go to the end of the statement and you will find two tables where the related numbers in six columns have disappeared, and are given as run-on sentences. Someone has to be very patient with parsing each line and fixing each number in a tabulation to make any sense of them.

Then try downloading the pdf version and the table does not even appear in its full format. Such unwillingness to let the public gain access to numbers is visible time and again. You cannot solve a problem by concealing numbers.

Second, keep the RBI as the auditor of the last resort. Use third-party auditors, with the clear understanding that the audit firms will lose its licence if its annual audit report shows any sign of concealment. The time to pussyfoot around with auditors is over. The situation is extremely serious. If required, rope in reputed global forensic experts like the SGS to take up a few cases on a random selection basis, so that empanelled auditors can begin losing their licenses if coverups are detected.

Third, allow the RBI to remove its officers from the boards of banks. You cannot be a regulator and a participant. The RBI had suggested this earlier. Even former RBI governor, Raghuram Rajan, is not in favour of having RBI officials on Bank Boards. But the government overruled the RBI. Conflict of interest situations makes staunching the tide of corruption in banks even more difficult.

The current crisis in Indian banks warrants such moves urgently. It wont help if people put their money with Google or PayTM rather than banks. Foregoing saving interest is better than losing ones capital, isnt it?

Will bank reforms begin in full earnest?
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A terror attack by the Al Shabaab, which took place on Sunday in Kenya, has claimed the lives of three Americans.

A US service member and two civilian contractors working for the Defence Department were killed; their identities are yet to be disclosed.

Two others were injured and are currently in stable condition; they are being evacuated.

Besides the three Americans who were killed, a Kenyan military spokesperson, Paul Njuguna, confirmed the death of five attackers.

Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

Background

The group attacked Manda Bay airfield, Kenya on Sunday and according to The Guardian. It marks their first attack against US forces in the east African country Kenya.

Al Shabaabs attack which started before dawn lasted for about four hours, according to reports by the military and witnesses quoted by Reuters.

A statement by the group claimed it had destroyed seven aircraft and three military vehicles, without providing other details.

READ ALSO:

It also published pictures of masked gunmen standing next to an aircraft in flames.

Al-Shabaab, according to Aljazeera, has maintained a campaign of deadly bomb and gun attacks despite being ejected from their bases in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, and other areas years ago.

The attack on Sunday, comes almost a year after the group launched a deadly suicide attack on the upscale 14 Riverside complex in Nairobi, killing 21 people.
New Hong Kong Liaison Office Chief Praises 'One Country, Two Systems' as Advantage for City

Sputnik News

05:43 06.01.2020(updated 06:12 06.01.2020)

Hong Kong has been gripped by violent protests for months. Recently, protesters demanded Beijing honor its commitment to maintaining the territory's semi-autonomous status, as outlined in a 1997 treaty that transferred the city's sovereignty from UK to Chinese rule, also known as the "one country, two systems" framework.

China has replaced the head of its Hong Kong liaison office. China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said on its website late on Saturday that Wang Zhimin, who had held the post since 2017, was replaced by Luo Huining, who for a brief tenure beginning November 2019 was the top official of China's ruling Communist Party in the northern province of Shanxi.

Huining said early on Monday that he is familiar with the matter of Hong Kong and the situation in the city. The new liaison office chief praised the contribution that Hong Kong makes to China's modernization, claiming that Beijing is the city's strongest supporter, according to Reuters.

Huining expressed his hope that the preeminent Asian financial hub would gradually return to what he characterized as the right path, stressing that the "one country, two systems" framework is to Hong Kong's advantage.

The Chinese senior official also expressed hope that the rule of law would prevail under the efforts of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Widespread protests in Hong Kong began in June over a controversial extradition bill which was officially withdrawn in October. Protests have continued against what demonstrators note is the heavy-handed response by the police, as they call for the release of those imprisoned during the rallies and demand Lam's resignation.

Beijing has repeatedly claimed that the ongoing situation in Hong Kong is a result of foreign interference in China's domestic affairs. President Xi Jinping's administration in Beijing has stressed that it fully supports the actions of the city authority and security forces.

A Sputnik

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Jeff Sessions campaign trail for a return to the U.S. Senate took him Monday to the burgeoning FBI complex at Redstone Arsenal and the former attorney general raved about the protections it will provide for the nation once its completed.

Speaking at a news conference at the Madison County sheriffs department after touring the FBI campus, Sessions said he wanted to celebrate the things I saw today.

Joining Sessions at the media event were Sheriff Kevin Turner, Huntsville police chief Mark McMurray, Madison County Commission Chair Dale Strong and Alabama Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon.

"He's all about solving crime and he's all about trying to put dollars where they work the best," McCutcheon said of Sessions. "And for that, I have a lot of respect for him."

Speaking at the press conference, Turner and Strong applauded Sessions' support for law enforcement while Sessions, in turn, noted that 85 percent of law enforcement across the country are either state or local agencies.

The FBIs presence at Redstone, however, is a particularly bright jewel in Huntsvilles economic crown these days. At a presentation last month, the FBIs Rob Hamilton described a campus in the spirit of a college campus thats under construction at Redstone Arsenal.

That campus will house close to 2,000 FBI employees by the summer of 2021 and the FBI has indicated a growth of more than 4,000 employees altogether in Huntsville.

"Eleven of the top 20 income counties in America are around the Washington Beltway," Sessions said. "Most of that money is coming from us. People around the country send it there. So this is actually a draining of the swamp."

Sessions praised the work of Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby in securing funding for the FBI's presence in Alabama  an effort that Shelby said last year could total up to $1 billion. Shelby has already endorsed Sessions' candidacy in the March 3 Republican primary.

Sessions repeatedly made the point that if elected to the Senate, he would protect the funding needed for the FBI in Huntsville. The spending bills approved by Congress and President Donald Trump last month earmarked $485 million for FBI construction at Redstone Arsenal.

"I know this: You can have a five-year plan to expand a program but if three years down the road, somebody else comes along and wants that money for some other project, if you're not watching, they will take it," Sessions said. "It may never happen. We need to make sure that project completes in its full capacity and do what the Congress has already decided it needs to do and the Department of Justice has decided what it needs to do."

As attorney general, Sessions said he pushed for increase funding for cybersecurity and noted that is a key function for the new FBI center at Redstone Arsenal.

Were going to have the best cyber center in the world at this facility in Huntsville, Sessions said.
Bengaluru, Jan 7 : Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson G. Madhusudhana on Tuesday said it is better to declare all ministers as deputy chief ministers as many are lobbying for the post.

"It is better to declare all ministers as deputy chief ministers and there will be only one chief minister, perhaps that will be better. Nowadays deputy CM post has become a ridicule," Madhusudhana told IANS.

He said rural development and panchayat raj minister K.S. Eshwarappa and others are also lobbying for the deputy CM post.

Madhusudhana said Karnataka currently has three deputy CMs in Ashwath Narayan, Govind Karjol and Laxman Savadi but highlighted that accommodating the 12 legislators, who resigned from the previous government to bring the BJP to power, is also important.

"We will have to accommodate them, it is our bounden duty. They have sacrificed their seats, contested the election and won. So we will have to be grateful. And that will be done," said Madhusudhana.

Though he did not reveal the names, he said 3-4 senior BJP leaders will also be inducted into the cabinet.

Madhusudhana specially mentioned that S. Angara, a dalit politician from Sullia constituency did not make a hue or cry despite not being made a minister.

"Angara has been winning continuously since 1994. This is the sixth term he has won and he is a dalit. Still he has not been accommodated," he said when enquired about Karnataka Health Minister B. Sriramulu lobbying for the deputy CM post.

Madhusudhana also pointed out that many regions in the state were left behind and not represented in the cabinet.

"None from Mysore district are accommodated, none from Hassan, none from Chamarajanagar, none from Mandya district. There are so many districts which are vacant. At the same time there are so many ministers coming from Belgaum and Bangalore city," he told IANS.

However, he said Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa is a senior politician who knows how to handle it.
With the civil agitations and state crackdowns stretching over weeks now, could India be facing a possible mental health epidemic?

Among the many tweets for and against the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens that have flooded social media timelines in India since mid-December, a recent post that stood out. Titled Resilience in the time of Resistance it announced a support circle at a safe location in Mumbai, which would aid discussion across boundaries, (about) secondary trauma, triggers, self-carein this political climate, and was organised by a trauma therapist and a psychologist.

The calls for looking after ones mental health through such posts and events are timely and important. Public mental health has been a serious concern amid worldwide political unrest, including in countries like China and Chile as reported recently. India, with its ongoing agitation against the states perceived cultural, social and political persecution, is not immune to a mental health crisis.

Witnessing the passage of legislations construed as dehumanising, witnessing or experiencing the violence against minority communities, students and other protesters who are opposing such legislation could trigger acute psychological turmoil in individuals, which could devolve into a persistent state (as has been observed in other countries). This is in line with the already doubled numbers of people diagnosed with mental illness in India.

Trauma can have a serious effect on the primary survivor. A person who has undergone oppression directly, or has witnessed firsthand violence, mostly carry memories and flashbacks of it. These intrusive symptoms can affect their overall social perception, mood, personality, and interpersonal relations, says Swati Bhagchandani, a clinical psychologist. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most evident conditions, which may have a long-term impact. The secondary effect is found in people who see their friends and acquaintances suffer.

Besides the unimaginable plight of those who are directly (and more severely) affected by such adverse conditions, those involved in a collective retaliation against it are also eventually exposed to a grim timeline of events. Such exposure is more likely to induce anxiety as at times, people may feel helpless and out-of-control about certain situations. Panic attacks are also probable in those already having anxiety issues, Bhagchandani adds.

A Delhi-based student who has been participating in the ongoing protests, Mounica says she freezes up, feeling numb and uncertain anytime she sees a policeman, or someone wielding a lathi, or when street lights go off. Over the past few weeks, Mounica has seen friends and fellow students experiencing panic and trauma; this in turn makes Mounica feel helpless. I see people break down in gatherings, Ive seen friends getting full-blown panic attacks. It is difficult to look after ourselves amidst all this, she says.

Systemic violence and discrimination  perpetrated verbally, physically or economically  has both direct and passive effects on the human psyche, as previous research has established. Also alarming is the extent to which hate-based violence generates traumatic reactions in people. With the civil agitations and state crackdowns stretching over weeks now, could we be facing a possible mental health epidemic?

It wouldnt be a stretch to assume that peoples mental health is significantly impacted because of the draconian ways of the state. Their mental health would be challenged if they are having to consistently resist, says psychologist Himani K, who has been an active part of the anti-CAA protests while also professionally helping individuals affected by the political upheaval.

Himani points out that in addition to the threat to life, all oppression aims to limit a person's capacity to help and think for themselves, hence forcing people to decide against their best interests. The threat to life that Himani refers to is not just physical, but also existential. We are always striving to make meaning of our lives, but when this tendency is snatched away from us, we are bound to experience ontological insecurity  a deep-seated angst that repeatedly tells us that we no longer belong or relate.

There is a considerable body of research explaining why trauma equally affects those who witness traumatic events (as those who experience it), especially those with whom they relate on a humanitarian level through bonds of blood, land or ethnicity. Constant exposure to violence via the news can also have a debilitating effect on mental health. The emotional content of trauma is transferable due to the mechanism of empathy, Swati Bhagchandani notes. People registering their protest online also endure bullying and harassment. One may get caught up in dealing with personal attacks, sometimes even from close ones. Bhagchandani has had individuals reach out to her for help after their friendships were impacted due to differing viewpoints on the current political situation.

Expressing dissent on the streets takes audacity and solidarity  but it can also simultaneously produce emotional exhaustion. Citizens of all age groups and genders are putting their lives on hold to stand up for themselves and it could lead to burnout, anxiety and loss of hope, Himani K says. I have observed young people already talking about feeling numb, losing parts of traumatic memories, feeling lonely and detached. And, as Himani remarks, the stress of civil strife is in addition to stressors from their personal lives for these individuals.

Longitudinal studies in different parts of the world have established the long-term psychological effects of civil unrest. In South America, the indigenous population facing recurrent bouts of political violence in the urban regions of Peru were found to have significantly higher risks of developing issues such as PTSD, depression and anxiety disorders. In African regions, ex-post-facto case studies assessed the subjective experience of Somali citizens following the civil war and noted a high incidence of repressed memories of conflicts that had later resulted in trauma and mood-related symptoms within civilians. At the same time, recent psychosocial research has also shown the positive effects of collective resistance. In a survey-based study, black communities who continue to strive for power and control in the face of continuous racism and violence tend to exhibit a decline in symptoms of mental illness.

The acclaimed psychoanalyst and Marxist philosopher Frantz Fanon believed that some mental health problems were socially and politically generated but psychotherapy had little to no effect against this kind of distress. Based on his work with people coming from colonised populations, he advocated for collective healing which must take place in an environment of togetherness. Himani recently held a free support group in Delhi for people experiencing sociopolitical distress and shared insights on what seems to be helping: Solidarity is key. People leaning on each other, helping with everyday errands, providing emotional supportthese have been the greatest protective factors. The sense of belonging in the community in different forms is what has been helpful to deal with the pain and distress.

Mounicas experience echoes this. The solidarities we've built are our only homes. We share our distress and dont have to explain our positions. We check up on each other and do whatever we can, she says.

Indeed, interpersonal relations built on grounds of solidarity towards a humanitarian cause yields resilience. Catharsis too may be achieved in different ways. Himani enumerates: Disengaging from social media or other activities from time-to-time helps. One can also shift to things that they regularly engage in for leisure or as their passion, be it art or humour. Another positive course of action would be to help others cope and listening to their problems as an act of altruism.

Swati Bhagchandani recommends keeping in regular touch with those around whom we feel safe and secure, alongside basic relaxation techniques that are helpful in calming oneself. Its also essential that we keep counting upon our existing support system, stay in contact with friends and family. Talking about these incidents and thoughts with someone who is experienced, or a mentor, also helps. Another way to practise catharsis is to write down a narrative of thoughts and emotions related to everyday experiences, she says.

Bhagchandani cautions against falling into the vacuum of missing out on things pertaining to what is happening around you and encourages individuals to seek healthier engagements via activities and discussions than allowing oneself to ruminate over negativity.

Crucially, be comfortable with the nature of participation you wish to offer. Its okay to choose what part you can play rather than forcing yourself to do it all. Know that the person who chants at the frontline, and the person who claps at the back of the crowd in a protest are both important, says Himani. Believe in the collective power of people, strengthen your ideology, and deal with naysayers in small doses.
Mumbai, Jan 7 : A surprise meeting between Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray and Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday fuelled speculation of a new political front emerging in Maharashtra.

While a MNS spokesperson confirmed the meeting, he declined to elaborate on the deliberations between the two leaders, once at loggerheads.

Fadnavis met Raj Thackeray - the estranged cousin of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray - at a venue in south-central Mumbai this afternoon for around an hour.

The meeting is considered significant as the MNS is toying with the idea of claiming the 'Hindutva' space vacated by the Shiv Sena after its alliance with the BJP broke in October and it hugged Nationalist Congress Party-Congress to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in November.

The BJP too has been trying to come to terms with the tectonic shift in the state political arena after the October 21 elections with huge ramifications for the party in the future.

However, during the assembly election campaign, the MNS had been extremely harsh on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP, its President and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

In his well-attended poll meetings, the charismatic Raj Thackeray even fervently appealed to the electorate to vote for MNS as a "strong Opposition party", but managed to bag only one seat, virtually putting a question mark on its future and survival.

Earlier during the Lok Sabha election, the MNS has experienced a taste of realpolitik when both fronts - BJP-Shiv Sena and NCP-Congress kept Raj Thackeray at an arm's length.

After being treated as virtually a political pariah in two successive elections, the 14-year old MNS is busy exploring greener pastures possibly with a saffron partner, well in time for the 2024 assembly polls.

Simultaneously the MNS is also planning to turn a new leaf, starting with a change in its party colours to a saffron hue and a new design flag invoking Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's glorious regime.

MNS leaders say any final decisions on these would be taken by Raj Thackeray at an important convention scheduled later this month.
Real Madrid's kids will challenge for the Supercopa Real Madrid Vinicius, Rodrygo, Jovic and Brahim will be key

Zinedine Zidane will have to call on the kids as Real Madrid compete for the first piece of silverware on offer this season in the Supercopa de Espana.

With Eden Hazard, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema all out, as well as Marco Asensio, the Frenchman will face some problems when he tries to select an attack in Saudi Arabia.

Considering that Mariano Diaz hasn't been counted upon yet this season and James Rodriguez is still coming back from an injury, Zidane has 18-year-old Rodrygo, 19-year-old Vinicius Junior, Luka Jovic at 22 and 20-year-old Brahim Diaz to choose from against Valencia.

The semi-final, and possible final, will act as a litmus test for the youngsters and should Madrid have two games to play in Jeddah then all of them are likely to be played.

Jovic will need to make the most of the opportunity more than anyone, as he's still struggling to prove his worth since making his move from Germany.

The Brazilian pair will also be desperate to take another step forward and show that they can carry the responsibility of a big occasion for Madrid.

Even Brahim could be handed a chance to prove that he has a place in Zidane's plans.
Photo: Roy Luck/Flickr

Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Houston.

Houston Dash trades Kealia Ohai to Chicago during 2020 NWSL Draft

Ohai, who is also engaged to Houston Texans star J.J. Watt, was drafted to Houston in the 2014 draft as the No. 2 pick.

Read the full story on ABC13 Houston.

Heidi Broussard's friend allegedly faked pregnancy for months in order to kidnap her newborn

Broussard was found dead in the trunk of a car at Magen Fieramusca's Houston home. A 3-week-old presumed to be Broussard's daughter was found alive at the same home.

Read the full story on NBC News.

Anti-war protesters take to Galleria, Discovery Green amid heightened tensions

Houston anti-war demonstrators congregated on Sunday in the wake of an American airstrike that killed a leading Iranian general.

Read the full story on Chron.com from the Houston Chronicle.

7 juveniles lead police on NE Houston chase, 3 still on the run

Four juveniles were taken into custody early Monday morning after leading police on a chase through parts of northeast Houston.

Read the full story on ABC Houston, KTRK.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lirio, a behavior change AI company that uses personalized engagement to improve health outcomes, formed a new research and development lab to develop behavior change AI solutions. The company also announced tech industry veteran John Seely Brown will be joining the lab as scientific advisor.

John Seely Brown

The Behavioral Reinforcement Learning Lab (BReLL) aims to re-shape the current understanding of how behavior change and AI come together to address some of the most stubbornly persistent challenges in healthcare: patient engagement, care gaps, and improved health outcomes.

"The marriage of AI and behavioral science offers the most promising solution to getting people engaged and acting in health-enhancing ways," according to Chandra Osborn, PhD., MPH, chief behavioral officer for Lirio, and co-leader of the new lab. "Few companies incorporate both, and even fewer combine the strengths of AI and behavioral science into engaging solutions that work. I am eager to share discoveries and insights from our new lab with our growing network of clients and partners."

BReLL is jointly led by Christopher Symons, PhD, and chief artificial intelligence scientist for Lirio, who is working with Osborn to assemble a cross functional group of highly experienced research fellows and scientific advisors to create industry leading solutions in behavior change AI. Lirio anticipates adding three additional research scientists in the first half of 2020.

"Behavior is a huge driver of health outcomes, but changing behaviors is extremely difficult," added Symons. "Lirio is actively creating some of the most interesting datasets on which to learn and improve machine learning techniques, and to take advantage of behavior change expertise. I am very excited to have some of the brightest minds in the world join us through the Behavioral Reinforcement Learning Lab."

Joining the lab as scientific advisor is John Seely Brown, who has spent the bulk of his career focused on how an increasingly digital culture drives a need for continuous learning and adaptability. He is currently the independent co-chairman for Deloitte's Center for the Edge. The Center pursues research on institutional innovation and a reimagined work environment built on ubiquitous computing, IoT, Intelligent Automation/Artificial Intelligence, and the need for constant learning and adaptability. He is also a visiting scholar and adviser to the provost at the University of Southern California, where he facilitates collaboration between the schools for communication and media and the Institute for Creative Technologies. Previously, Brown was chief scientist at Xerox Corporation and director of its Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), and was a member of Amazon's board of directors for 14 years.

"While at PARC, I expanded its focus to include cutting edge research into the social sciences like anthropology, sociology, cognitive sciences, and user centering design," said Brown. "These continue to be incredibly meaningful and fertile research topics, and I'm excited to collaborate with the team at Lirio to explore how they can be combined with AI to motivate people to make better decisions about their health."

About Lirio

Lirio's behavior change AI platform moves people along their unique journey to better health through person-centered communication. The company brings together the power of behavioral science with artificial intelligence to learn the most effective way to communicate with people in a particular context. That insight is applied to create personalized behavior change programs for health systems and large employers resulting in improved engagement and outcomes. For more information, visit https://lirio.com.

Media Contact:

Patrick Hunt

865.243.2418

[email protected]

SOURCE Lirio

Related Links

https://lirio.com


The scale of the bushfire disaster and the horrifying images emanating from Australia right now need no exaggeration  and yet, deliberately or not, images and claims have been circulating online that arent what they appear to be.

There have been numerous pictures, videos and claims spread online during this ongoing crisis that dont stack up. Some appear to have been deliberately intended to spread falsehoods while others accidentally took on a life of their own on social media, with the underlying truth becoming lost along the way.

One of the latest is a widely shared composition image of satellite data purporting to show fire-affected areas for the past four weeks, with the 3D render of the image giving an exaggerated effect (and also includes routine dry season burn offs in the north). However many have shared it believing it shows the scale of fires from space.

After it went viral, creator Anthony Hearsey, sought to clarify the true nature of the image.

Didnt realise this would go viral ... This is a 3D visualisation of the fires in Australia. NOT A PHOTO. Think of this as a prettier looking graph, he explained.

This is made from data from NASAs FIRMS (Satellite data regarding fires) between 05/12/19 - 05/01/20. These are all the areas which have been affected by bushfires.

Scale is a little exaggerated due to the renders glow, but generally true to the info from the NASA website. Also note that NOT all the areas are still burning, and this is a compilation.

Despite the clarification, it continued to be shared Tuesday morning including by celebrity Jason Momoa who posted it to his 14.4 million Instagram followers.

Another pair of images doing the rounds shows continental Australia being overlaid with the United States with an exaggerated number of fires burning. One has even been posted by Americas ABC News.

This image was posted by America's ABC News and stayed up for 24 hours before being taken down.

It follows a string of misinformation and misrepresentation online surrounding the bushfires.

An online petition this week which claimed a volunteer fire fighter who delivered an expletive-laden reproach to the Prime Minister could be stood down was completely untrue.

Story continues

Also this week, UK media outlet The Sun shared a video of firefighter rejoicing in the field as rain falls. The only problem is the video is actually from November.

Earlier, a particularly harrowing photo of a mother and her children hiding in the water to escape 2013 fires in Tasmania was circulated as if it was from the current disaster.

(1/3) This has 30k+ likes & retweets yet the second photo is from 2013 during the Dunalley fires in Tasmania. Not Australia currently. Its inaccurate. Please be mindful when you see tweets like this. https://t.co/R6lXuuP5gL  Faley Goyette (@faley_goyette) January 6, 2020

Online bots spread misinformation about arson

At the more extreme end, some accounts, including online bots, have shared the more ludicrous conspiracy theory that environmentalists are lighting fires to further the agenda of climate action.

While The Australian dubiously reported on Tuesday there has been 183 people charged this fire season for arson, there has been no suggestion or evidence that any of them have been ideologically motivated. Referring to the charges as arson is also wildly misleading as a vast majority of these fire offences reported by the paper involve reckless behaviour during total fire bans including lighting a BBQ, campers using a gas cooker and people who discarding a lit cigarette.

In NSW 24 people have been charged with deliberately lighting fires while no fires in Victoria are considered suspicious. However an ongoing online disinformation campaign is exaggerating the role of arson.

According to Dr Timothy Graham from Queenslands University of Technology, there is a lot of bot and troll activity surrounding the #ArsonEmergency hashtag, with a disproportionate amount of tweets coming from a small group of accounts that show telltale signs of automation.

Based on my analysis it appears that the bushfires have catapulted Australia into the global disinformation space, and the #ArsonEmergency hashtag is a prime example right now, he told Yahoo News Australia.

The corrosive affect of false information

While misinformation is not a new problem, it can be a problem that goes global very quickly with the opaque and ubiquitous world of social media.

Aside from muddying the waters during the time of a crisis, the big problem is that it erodes the overall trust in information being disseminated under the catch-all term of media.

Dr Andrea Carson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy at Melbournes La Trobe University and has researched the weaponisation of fake news and the changing nature of online misinformation.

She says there is a direct correlation between declining trust in media and the explosion of social media as a news source.

A lot of the platforms have information that is not of high quality, she told Yahoo News Australia. It makes it a really confusing space for the public.

With many Australians relying on the ABC to get the vital information during this bushfire crisis  sometimes exclusively via radio when the power has been down  the importance of good reporting is rarely more clear. But despite the immensely important role it plays, trust is media institutions, including the ABC, has declined in recent years.

When it comes to polling, the ABC is still on top, but its come down quite a bit and part of that is the politicisation of the ABC and accusations it has a left-wing agenda, she said.

This petition including false information has since been pulled down.

Some users who rely on aggregators like Facebook might not differentiate between credible sources like the ABC and far less reputable websites, Dr Carson said. And ultimately, Facebook can be used to target certain demographics online where disinformation feeds into their confirmation bias.

There is a distinction to be made between the more accidental and subtle forms of misinformation and disinformation that is deliberately and maliciously spread propaganda for different motivations, she points out.

But in terms of tackling the problem, debate continues about the medias responsibility to proactively combat accusations of fake news and the responsibility for tech companies to do more to mitigate the spread of false information online.

These are not easy problems to solve, Dr Carson said.

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.
A former Cornell University student has admitted to illegally buying a gun on behalf of a former classmate who was convicted of possessing a cache of weapons.

Aaron Reynolds pleaded guilty in December to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm in 2017.

Reynolds admitted that he signed a form stating he was making the purchase for himself. Really, he was buying the gun for former classmate Maximilien Reynolds, he admitted in a plea agreement.

Maximilien Reynolds had given Aaron Reynolds $1,000 to buy the gun, and $200 for the favor, court records said. Maximilien Reynolds could not purchase the gun for himself because he had previously been arrested, involuntarily committed to a psychiatric center and barred from purchasing firearms.

Aaron Reynolds bought the gun, a Savage Arms MSR-15 Patrol Rife, caliber .223/5.56 mm on Nov. 27, 2017, court records said.

Investigators found the weapon in Maximilien Reynolds Ithaca apartment after receiving a tip from a Wal-Mart employee that Maximilien had purchased ammo, camping gear, knives and other suspicious items.

FBI agents searching Maximilien Reynolds apartment found a cache of weapons, including a bomb, a homemade silencer and over 300 rounds of ammunition. Police divers also recovered a pistol belonging to Reynolds in a canal off Cayuga Lake, court records said.

Maximilien Reynolds, who is from northern New Jersey, was on academic leave from Cornell University at the time of his arrest. He was taking classes at Tompkins-Cortland Community College and living in Ithaca.

Prosecutors said Maximilien and Aaron Reynolds are not related, but attended Cornell at the same time. Both men are marked as former students in the colleges online directory.

Maximilien Reynolds, 21, is serving a two-year prison sentence. His lawyers have maintained he was not planning any act of violence and had stockpiled the weapons out of self defense and fear arising from mental illness.

No age was given in court records for Aaron Reynolds, but documents indicate he is living in Seattle while on court-supervised release prior to his sentencing.

Aaron Reynolds faces up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines when he is sentenced in April.

Prosecutors agreed to ask for leniency due to his acceptance of responsibility. As part of his plea agreement, Reynolds agreed not to appeal a sentence of up to 21 months, or almost two years, in federal prison.

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government, education and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992

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Axiom helps clients boost their revenue and brands with white label prepaid card programs. There is a great deal of expertise that goes into running a white label program. Axiom provides that to our customers so they can keep their attention on operating their businesses while we make sure their brand is gaining continual traction."

Its no secret that taking care of business requires focus on cores services and team development. Yet, according to executives at Axiom Prepaid Holdings, that diligence may in fact lead many businesses to miss out on opportunities to boost their brand and revenue that outsourcing could provide. With one such example being white label prepaid card programs.

Steven Foster, CEO, Axiom Prepaid Holdings says that white label programs are growing in popularity in direct correlation to the explosion in use of prepaid cards. White label basically means that the card carries the companys logo. He says that too often businesses are not pursing the option because of lack of knowledge in running such a program. Thats where Axiom comes in.

Last year, the company  which is a global provider of end-to-end payment solutions  launched its white label program to support those same businesses. In addition to the brand visibility and loyalty building benefits, the cards provide businesses with the opportunity to collect data, analytics and tracking for use in improving customer outreach. They can also be used to pay commissions and distribute compensation to customers, agents and affiliates, and offer an alternative to traditional payroll programs.

Axiom gets the programs up and running  typically in as little as three to four months  for their clients. They then manage the programs. Comprehensive reporting tools are provided along with seamless integration of cardholder services to existing applications and websites; and customization of cardholder fees and the revenue generated from those. Built into every program are expert compliance safeguards to ensure that a brand-building program does not become a reputation damaging one. Standard features of the programs include card-to-card payments, ATM access, direct deposit load, generated statements, 24/7 help, fraud protection, virtual card access and SMS/email alerts.

There is a great deal of expertise that goes into running a white label program and we provide that. Our advanced digital tools, compliance expertise, and overall industry-leading knowledge of prepaid card programs allow Axioms customers to keep their attention on operating their businesses while we make sure their brand is gaining continual traction, said Foster.

Consistent branding has the potential to increase company revenue by more than 20 percent and strengthen relationship with target audiences, he added. We help make sure clients dont miss out on that because they lack experience running a white label prepaid card program.

About Axiom Prepaid Holdings:

Axiom Prepaid Holdings was born of the desire of two entrepreneurial-minded banking industry veterans to turn the prepaid card model upside down. To make banking simple. To give consumers and businesses around the globe access to innovative, easy-to-use, digitally driven, fun, flexible and secure products and services. Today, Axiom has 9 offices in 13 countries. Every day, the Axiom team strives to create 100% turnkey solutions to help cardholders gain economic freedoms and help businesses achieve growth and success.

To learn more about Axiom Prepaid Holdings, please visit: http://www.axiompph.com


Japanese fishing boat reels in $1.79 mn tuna to start the year

by TAIJI ITO

January 07,2020 | Source: Asahi Shimbun

Japanese fishing boat captain Masahiko Yamamoto has the fish story of the new year, the day he hit the lottery at sea, landing a million-dollar catch.



Yamamoto, 57, was on his boat when he heard that a 276-kilogram bluefin tuna he landed sold at the first auction of the year at the Toyosu fish market in Tokyo on Jan. 5.



The winning bid of 193.2 million yen ($1.79 million) from a Tokyo-based sushi chain operator was the second-highest ever in the New Year's auction.



Yamamoto landed the lunker off the coast of Oma. The waters here have produced tuna fetching the highest price in the New Year's auction for nine consecutive years, making Oma famed as the pole-and-line fishing bluefin tuna town.



Yamamoto, captain of the Shuneimaru fishing boat, received the good news while he was fishing overnight in the Tsugaru Straits.



He became excited at the news, which he shared with Shohei, his 30-year-old son, who was on the boat.



We did it! Our bluefin tuna received the No. 1 price at 700,000 yen per kilogram, Yamamoto said.



Both became bluefin tuna fishermen when they were 15 or 16, following in the same paths as their fathers.



While they have landed bluefin tuna weighing around 300 kg on many occasions, they have never sold the lunkers for top dollar, which can exceed 10 million yen.



In July 2016, they lost their 28th Shuneimaru fishing vessel in an engine fire. They purchased their new boat while taking out a loan and removed "the 28th" from the name for good luck two years ago.



From the last fishing season, a catch quota was established for large bluefin tuna. This season, poor catches continued until the end of the year and fish prices have been low.



Despite the difficult conditions, they hooked the prized bluefin tuna.



Its fantastic, we're super happy, Yamamoto said. He took pictures with his son to mark the occasion.



Mitsuo Saka, who leads the Oma fishery cooperative, said proudly that its fishermen have continued to make Oma more famous in succession.



Oma Mayor Mitsuharu Kanazawa hailed the winning Toyosu auction as New Years happy news.



Kanazawa said he will ask the central government to review the fishing quotas to protect pole-and-line fishermen, who are viewed as practicing the most sustainable method for protecting bluefin tuna resources.

 The Asahi Shimbun Company

Theme(s): Fisheries Resources.
AP_20001579601553

AP Photo/Nasser Nasser

Rockets were fired near two US bases in Iraq, days after a US airstrike in the country killed top Iranian military leader, Qassem Soleimani, according to Reuters and other outlets.

On Saturday, two rockets reportedly landed near Iraq's US Embassy in Baghdad, and two more landed about 50 miles north, at an airbase that housed US troops.

No injuries or casualties were reported at either site.

Reports did not say who fired the rockets.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Rockets were reportedly fired near two US bases in Iraq, days after a US airstrike in the country killed top Iranian military leader, Qassem Soleimani.

On Saturday, two rockets landed near Iraq's US Embassy in Baghdad, which is in the city's heavily secured Green Zone, the Daily Mail reported, citing Sky News Arabia. No injuries were reported.

Reuters also reported on Saturday that two rockets fell inside an airbase that housed US troops, about 50 miles north of Baghdad. There were no casualties, according to the report.

It was not reported who fired the rockets at either site.

Tensions had been mounting between the US and Iran over the last week, which resulted in a US airstrike on Thursday that killed Soleimani at Iraq's international airport in Baghdad. Soleimani was a top military leader and one of the most powerful people in Iran.

A military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader told CNN's Fred Pleitgen and Schams Elwazer that there would likely be a military response against military bases.

Business Insider's Aaron Holmes also reported that any retaliation against the US could include cyberwarfare.

On Tuesday, before the US strike that killed Soleimani, protestors supporting an Iranian-backed militia also stormed Baghdad's US Embassy, calling for US troops and diplomats to leave Iraq.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Duchess of Cambridge attended a church service at Sandringham wearing a sold-out coat from London-based brand Roksanda.

The coat, which has a cosy funnel neck and a streamlined silhouette, is from the brand's autumn/winter 2016 collection and is no longer available to buy, but originally retailed for 2,600.

Roksanda was founded by Serbian fashion designer Roksanda Ilincic in 2014.

The Duchess complimented the pretty coat with her trusty pair of suede Stuart Weitzman "Zipkin" boots, which she wore throughout her three pregnancies, and are similarly no longer available to buy.

Max Mumby/Indigo

The Duchess also donned a quirky blue feather fedora hat, which was from UK-based brand, Hicks & Brown.

The "Suffolk" fedora hat which the Duchess sported was adorned with a pheasant feather wrap and retailed for 95, but is now sold out.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made the appearance as they attended a church service at Sandringham, alongside a group of their close friends.
Yahoo News Singapore file photo

SINGAPORE  The total amount lost to China officials impersonation scams was $18.8 million between January and November last year, rising from $12.8 million in 2017, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam.

The number of such scams surged to 401 cases between January and November last year from 188 cases in 2017, added Shanmugam, who was giving his written answers on Monday (6 January) to a parliamentary question from Tanjong Pagar GRC Member of Parliament Melvin Yong.

In recent years, there was a rising trend of younger victims being targeted in such scams, with more than half of the victims in 2019 being young adults below the age of 30.

China officials impersonation scams, social media impersonation scams, where scammers pretend to be a victims family member or friend, and tech support scams, where victims are tricked into installing malicious software onto their computers, are the three types of scams that are of key concern, said Shanmugam.

The total amount cheated from social media impersonation scams surged to $7.2 million between January and November last year from $168,000 in 2017 while the number of cases jumped to 672 cases from 71 cases over the period.

Similarly, the total amount lost to tech support scams jumped to $12 million between January and November 2019 from $36,000 in 2017 while the number of cases jumped to 224 cases from 53 cases over the period.

Criminals are constantly evolving their methods to deceive people into parting with their money. No amount of Police resources will be enough. The key to the fight against scams is a discerning public, said Shanmugam.

The police have also been stepping community efforts to fight scams, he added.

For instance, the police partner the National Crime Prevention Council to raise public awareness through the regular Scamalert segment on the CrimeWatch programme and have launched an Anti-Scam Helpline (1800-722-6688).

The police also work with the Residents Committees and grassroots volunteers to spread scam alerts to residents such as at roadshows and festive events.

Story continues

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SDP says MOM decision 'cop-out', will contest POFMA orders in court
Securities and commodities market regulator SEBI may stick to its rules on the upfront collection of margins for cash market trades, a source familiar with the development told Moneycontrol. The new rules came into effect from January 1 this year.

But the regulator may tweak the rules for margin collection from clients who are non-resident Indians (NRIs) or People of Indian Origin (PIO), the source said.

SEBI may give a days time to NRIs for paying margin, provided brokers maintain a separate account for NRI trades, the source said.

In its November circular, SEBI said it was aligning margin processes for the derivative and cash market segments.

Representatives of broker associations will be meeting SEBI officials on January 8, seeking dilution of the margin norms for cash market trades.

Stockbrokers are pushing for a change in the rules that allow them to collect margins from their clients after market closing, instead of collecting them upfront at the time of doing the trade, as SEBI rules currently require.

The source said that SEBI had come across instances where many clients were doing big trades intra-day, which posed a risk to the system if their brokers had not collected adequate margins.

The SEBI decision to bring margin rules for cash and derivatives segments on par follows instances of many brokers using the collateral of one client to pay for the margin requirement of other clients.

In the cash market, there were no clearly defined rules for collection of margins, until SEBI issued a circular in November last year.

The value at risk (VaR) margin was collected by the Clearing Corporation upfront from brokers by adjusting against the available liquid assets of the brokers at the time of the trade. As part of the networth requirements, brokers have to maintain a certain level of funds with the Clearing Corporation at all times.

However, the quantum, form and mode of collection of the margin from the client was left to the discretion of the broker.

This is in stark contrast to the derivatives segment, where clients are required to shell out the various margins at the time of placing their order.

The absence of a defined margin system for cash market trades posed a huge risk to the system, said the top official at an institutional broking firm. Brokers were allowing their clients 20-30 times leverage, the official added.

This meant that by depositing Rs 10,000 with the broker, a client could take up a position worth Rs 20-30 lakh in the cash market.

Brokers will now have to collect the value at risk margin (VaR), extreme loss margin, (ELM), mark-to-market margin (MTM), delivery margin, special/additional margin or any other margin as prescribed by the stock exchanges, from their cash market clients, at the time of the order.

The VaR margin is a margin intended to cover the largest loss that can be encountered on 99 percent of the days (99 percent Value at Risk). For liquid stocks, the margin covers one-day losses while for illiquid stocks, it covers three-day losses so as to allow the exchange to liquidate the position over three days.

The ELM for any stock is the higher of 5 percent, and 1.5 times the standard deviation of daily logarithmic returns of the stock price in the last six months. This computation is done at the end of each month by taking the price data on a rolling basis for the past six months and the resulting value is applicable for the next month.

Said the Chief Executive Officer of a retail broking firm: Brokers who not have a depository participant (DP) facility will be affected; those who have Demat and DP facility will not be affected by this circular. The impact of this circular may be limited as less than 20 percent of the brokers in the market will be affected. However, one circular after the other is hurting the broking community.

Another Delhi-based broker who deals mainly with retail investors told Moneycontrol: This circular will only affect retail traders, not a retail investor. Retail investors mostly have a pre-decided limit and transfer money upfront. Retail traders will henceforth have to put up margins before taking up positions and that in a way is good for the system. If one big clients defaults and the broker tries to fund that loss by using the shares and funds of other clients, it is bad for the industry as a whole.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 13:51:50|Editor: ZX

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PHNOM PENH, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Tuesday hailed peace, political stability and rapid development under the leadership of his ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and vowed to maintain them for a prosperous Cambodia.

Addressing a huge crowd of more than 30,000 people here, Hun Sen, who is also the CPP's president, said peace and political stability are firm foundations for Cambodia's economic development.

"The past 41 years has been full of solidarity, heroism and victories," he said. "Our determination and commitment in the past 41 years has transformed our motherland from ashes to its proudest development stage."

He said where there is peace, there will be a sustainable development and peaceful and prosperous life.

"We are determined resolutely to defend the hard-won peace for it to exist firmly and long-lastingly," Hun Sen said. "We would allow no reactionary forces, at whatever price it would be to pay, to destroy it."

The prime minister said the government would continue safeguarding peace, political stability, security and social order in order to support the kingdom's goals of becoming an upper middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.

He also highlighted the country's overall situation in 2019, saying that the political situation was very stable and the economy grew roughly 7.1 percent.

The GDP per capita reached 1,679 U.S. dollars last year, up 8.4 percent from 1,548 dollars in the year before, he said, adding that the poverty rate had now come down to below 10 percent.

According to the prime minister, the country's unemployment rate was very low, at 0.3 percent.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to look into public interest litigation (PIL) against Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) decision to exchange Rs 30 crores worth of banknotes which were defaced by separatist groups in Kashmir in 2013.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Sharad Arvind Bobde, has asked the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, to reply within two weeks as "it is a matter of importance."

The plea filed by one Satish Bhardwaj, has called for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation against RBI for allowing notes to be exchanged. Bhardwaj has alleged that he had moved RBI and CBI for action into the matter in 2013 itself but did not get any response.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
itel, a Transsion India-owned company, on Monday launched its "A25" smartphone with features like HD display, Google Lens and face unlock for Rs 3,999 in India.

"The latest launch, itel A25 is a quintessence of magical features like multi-language support, face unlock, Google Lens and much more available at a budget-friendly price range of under 4k," Goldee Patnaik, Head of Marketing, itel Business Unit said in a statement.

"We are sure that this powerful combination of features and innovations in itel A25 will extend our customers a very delightful experience and it'll magically transform the sub 4k category," Patnaik added.

The device is available in three colours -- Gradient Purple, Gradient Blue and Gradient Sea Blue.

In terms of specification, the smartphone features 5.0-inch IPS HD display.

The device packs 1GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. There's a microSD card slot for expandable storage up to 32GB. It is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core processor.

In terms of optics, the phone has a 5MP rear camera with flash. There's a 2MP camera with front flash for selfies.

itel A25 also comes with support for Google Lens.

The camera comes with smart recognition capability and HDR features for the rear camera that's new for the entry-level segment under the 4k range.

On the software front, it runs on Android 9 Pie out-of-the-box and packs a 3,020mAh battery.

Its connectivity options include dual SIM support, dual 4G VoLTE/ViLTE, Bluetooth, and WiFi.

The smartphone also comes with face unlock feature.
Shanghai, Jan 7 : Tesla CEO Elon Musk ripped off his jacket, tossed it towards the audience and showed some smart dance moves on stage during a ceremony at Tesla's new $2 billion plant near Shanghai on Tuesday. The billionaire shared the video on Twitter and captioned it: "At Tesla Giga Shanghai NSFW!!" The 15-second clip of the event, where the first China-made Model 3 sedans were handed over to the public, was widely shared on social media.

After the 48-year-old billionaire stripped off his jacket, it revealed a T-shirt underneath with a cartoon of the factory. He labelled the video "NSFW" or Not Safe For Work in a tweet.

Since being shared, the video has gathered close to two million views. It has also garnered about 120K likes and more than 15K retweets.

A Twitter user wrote, "I love how genuine and clumsy he is. A Hero." "Teach me your dance moves...I am serious," added another.

A Twitterati wrote, "Yep someone is having good time 'Must be on weed'. Good one dude." A fan of Musk wrote, "Finally something we share in common: dance skills." A Tweeple remarked, "Nice moves, Elon!"
Photo: The Canadian Press Keith Hoyte leaves the courthouse in Calgary, Monday.

A retired neurologist has admitted in court to sexually assaulting 28 female patients over three decades.

Keith Hoyte, 71, pleaded guilty to 28 counts as his trial was to begin Monday in Calgary. Two counts were stayed because they were melded into charges involving the same victims.

Crown prosecutor Rosalind Greenwood read aloud an agreed statement of facts describing how victims between 17 and 46 felt confused, embarrassed, numb and angry during appointments with Hoyte.

"The common thread running through the evidence is that Dr. Hoyte was seeking, in each instance, to obtain sexual gratification from his patients," the statement said.

The charges relate to assaults between 1983 or 1984 to 2013.

In the statement, women described being told to undress from the waist up even though they were there seeking treatment for brain ailments such as migraines and seizures.

They described Hoyte fondling their breasts and pricking them with pins, while the doctor made little eye contact or conversation. In some cases, he pushed down gowns without his patients' consent.

Court heard that most of the time he did not explain what he was doing or why. In others, he said it was to test reflexes or sensation.

One woman described how Hoyte instructed her to walk back and forth with her eyes closed, arms outstretched and her gown wide open. She opened her eyes to see him crouching down and looking under the gown. He then grabbed her breast and pushed his body against her, the agreed statement of facts said.

"As she left the appointment she said to herself, 'What the heck just happened?'" the document said.

"She tried to rationalize what happened. She also thought about reporting the incident, but thought to herself, 'Who's going to believe me? It would be my word against his.'"

That woman, trusting a family doctor who made the referral, went to see Hoyte for another appointment six years later, during which he tugged down her gown so hard she could hear the stitching rip, she recalled.

One victim went to police in 1991, one in 2008 and another in 2018. Police charged Hoyte with three counts of sexual assault in June 2018. After media reports, 25 more women came forward.

Complainants gave varied reasons for not reporting Hoyte sooner. Many thought they wouldn't be believed. One didn't want to be thought of as a "difficult patient" when it was so hard to get a referral. Another one had debilitating headaches and she didn't want to "risk not getting some answers."

The case is next in court Jan. 17 to set a date for sentencing. Defence lawyer Alain Hepner has requested a psychological risk assessment.
No arrest made in connection with Sunday nights violence but police file case against Aishe Ghosh for vandalism.

Police in India have filed a case against a left-wing student leader and 19 others for vandalising a server room on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on Saturday, but have yet to make any arrest into Sunday nights brutal mob attack in which dozens of students and teachers were injured.

JNU Students Union President Aishe Ghosh, who was attacked by masked assailants on Sunday night, was named in the first information report (FIR or police complaint) of the Delhi police on Tuesday.

Ghosh was among at least 31 other students injured on Sunday when the mob of about 50 masked people raided the New Delhi-based university, attacking students and teachers with iron rods, sticks and sledgehammer and vandalising property.

Kavita Krishnan, a left-wing leader and JNU alumnus, dubbed the police case against Ghosh outrageous.

This is outrageous. Aishe Ghosh herself has been a victim of murderous act and you are filing an FIR against the victim Kavita Krishnan, JNU alumnus

Aishe [Ghosh] herself has been a victim of murderous act and you are filing an FIR against the victim, whereas in the presence of Delhi police a whole hoard of assailants armed to the deep, walked out of the campus, battered on the back the police and they didnt arrest anyone, she told Al Jazeera.

The JNU Teachers Association, which has sought vice chancellors dismissal, also questioned the logic behind the FIR.

Members of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union shout slogans during a protest against the mob attack [Vipin Kumar/Hindustan Times via Getty Images]

It seems to be very clear that they want to escape from responsibilities on what has happened during the mob violence, Surajit Mazumdar, the secretary of JNU Teachers Association, told Al Jazeera.

I cant see any other purpose behind his. I dont understand on what basis and evidence are they, otherwise, filing an FIR against the JNU Students [Union] president who was badly injured.

No immediate arrests

At a news conference on Monday, Ghosh blamed the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for the violence that has caused outrage and triggered nationwide protests. ABVP is a student group affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)  the ideological parent of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

It was an organised attack. They were singling out people and attacking. There is a clear nexus of JNU administration, security police and the ABVP vandals. They did not intervene to stop violence, Ghosh was quoted as saying by the indianexpress.com website.

Police installed barricades near a road leading towards JNU campus [Nasir Kachroo/NurPhoto/Getty Images]

Witnesses had earlier told Al Jazeera the attacks on Sunday were carried out by ABVP members, a charge the right-wing student outfit has denied. The RSS-affiliated group instead blamed left-wing leaders for attacking its members.

Scores of riot police on Monday patrolled the university  the alma mater of several key ministers in Prime Minister Narendra Modis cabinet  picking their way past the shattered glass and broken doors and furniture.

Police made no immediate arrests, but blamed the violence on rival student groups. On Monday, it filed a case against unidentified people on charges of rioting and damaging property.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a statement published on Tuesday accused the police of failing to protect students.

The police has faced criticism for handling of the situation, with videos shared on social media showing the police allowing the assailants to leave the campus.

Students and teachers begged the police to intervene during the attack at Jawaharlal Nehru University, but the police simply stood and watched the attackers walk away, Meenakshi Ganguly, HRW South Asia director, said in a statement.

Police have also been accused of brutalities against students at Jamia Millia Islamia University and Aligarh Muslim University for protesting against a new citizenship law passed in December.

All too often police in India use excessive force and arbitrarily arrest peaceful critics of the government, but are derelict in their duty to maintain law and order when violent ruling party supporters are involved, Ganguly said.

Despite repeated attempts, the Delhi police could not be reached for comments.

Nationwide protests

As condemnation of the attacks spread, more than 1,000 people held a vigil in Mumbai, Indias financial capital. Demonstrations were also held in Bengaluru, Kolkata and other major cities.

Nobel Prize winner for economic sciences, Abhijit Banerjee, a former JNU student, said the attacks had echoes of the years when Germany was moving towards Nazi rule.

The attacks had echoes of the years when Germany was moving towards Nazi rule Abhijit Banerjee, Nobel laureate and JNU alumnus

The BJP denied claims by the opposition Congress party that it was responsible, and in turn blamed left-leaning student groups which dominate the JNU politics.

The government has promised an investigation, while Home Minister Amit Shah  a close Modi aide  told university administrators and police to maintain order at the campus, which has been tense since protests in November over fee increases.

The unrest comes as nationwide protests continue against the citizenship law that bars Muslims belonging to three neighbouring countries from getting citizenship.

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets across the country, and more than 25 people have been killed.

Critics say the legislation goes against Indias secular constitution, but Modi says the new law is intended to help persecuted minorities.

Meanwhile, Indias leading trade unions have called for a general strike on Wednesday to protest against the governments anti-people policies.

Bilal Kuchay contributed to this report from New Delhi
A cyber-espionage group tracked as Bronze President has been targeting countries in South and East Asia, Secureworks experts warn.

Researchers at Secureworks Counter Threat Unit (CTU) have uncovered a cyber espionage campaign carried out by an APT group tracked as Bronze President, The Bronze President group is targeting political and law enforcement organizations and NGOs in Asia.

The China-based group has been active at least since 2014, it leverages both custom remote access tools and publicly available remote access and post-compromise to compromise target networks.

BRONZE PRESIDENT is a likely Peoples Republic of China (PRC ) -based targeted cyberespionage group that uses both proprietary and publicly available tools to target NGO networks. reads the post published by Secureworks. Secureworks Counter Threat Unit (CTU) researchers have observed BRONZE PRESIDENT activity since mid-2018 but identified artifacts suggesting that the threat actors may have been conducting network intrusions as far back as 2014.

Once compromed a network, the attackers will elevate their privileges and install malware on a large proportion of systems. The group runs custom batch scripts to collect specific file types and takes proactive steps to minimize detection of its activities.

Using publicly available open-source tools could be a deliberate ploy by the group to cover its tracks and reduce the risk of attribution.

Once gained access to a target network, the threat actors elevate their privileges and install malware on its systems, it uses custom batch scripts to collect specific file types (including files with . pptx , . xlsx , .pdf extensions) and attempt to hide its presence.

Attackers also collect credentials from high-privilege network accounts and reputationally sensitive accounts, such as social media and webmail accounts

Researchers pointed out that threat actors attempt to remain in the compromised networks over a long period of time.

The BRONZE PRESIDENT targeted entities in countries adjacent to the PRC, including Mongolia and India, they used spear-phishing messages aimed at individuals and organizations with an interest in national security, humanitarian, and law enforcement organizations in East, South, and Southeast Asia.

Experts suspect that the group is linked to the Chinese government due to the following evidence;

BRONZE PRESIDENTs infrastructure is linked to entities within the PRC.

There are several connections between a subset of the groups operational infrastructure and PRC-based Internet service providers.

The tools used well-known tools such as PlugX that have been used in multiple campaigns associated with China-linked threat actors.

Connections were found between a subset of the groups operational infrastructure and PRC-based internet service providers. Furthermore, the group uses tools such as PlugX that have historically been leveraged by threat groups based in the PRC.

It is likely that Bronze President is sponsored or at least tolerated by the PRC government. The threat groups systemic long-term targeting of NGO and political networks does not align with patriotic or criminal threat groups, continues Secureworks.

The TTPs of the group suggests that the group is a highly organized state-sponsored actor.

Bronze President has demonstrated intent to steal data from organizations using tools such as Cobalt Strike, PlugX, ORat, and RCSession. concludes the report. The concurrent use of so many tools during a single intrusion suggests that the group could include threat actors with distinct tactics, roles, and tool preferences.



Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs  Bronze President, hacking)
President Trump backed off his threats against Iran's cultural sites, albeit begrudgingly.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Trump said he likes to obey the law, and if international agreements forbid him from targeting protected heritage sites in Iran, he'll stick to them. The president sent a tweet over the weekend hinting that places of cultural importance to Iran were among potential retaliatory U.S. targets should Iran launch any sort of attack against U.S. interests in the wake of the death of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq last week. The threat led to intense backlash in Iran, the U.S.  even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said it was "not appropriate"  and the rest of the world because protected sites are, well, protected and therefore off-limits, even in bellicose times.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tried to assure people over the weekend there was no way the U.S. would commit war crimes, and it looks like Trump has fallen in line  the president said he's "ok" with staying within the confines of international law. He did, however, complain about having to be "very gentle" with Iran's cultural institutions, despite Iranian violence.

President Trump: "I like to obey the law. But think of it; they kill our people. They blow up our people and then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions? But I'm okay with it. It's okay with me." pic.twitter.com/vFCthzwpWU  CSPAN (@cspan) January 7, 2020

More stories from theweek.com

Joe Biden's free ride is over

Trump's Iranian diplomacy gambit

Iran has offered Trump an 'off-ramp' from war, and there's growing speculation he might take it


PARALIMNI, Cyprus  A British woman who was convicted last month of lying to the authorities in Cyprus when she accused a dozen Israelis of raping her in a resort town before retracting her statement will not serve any time in prison, after she was given a four-month suspended sentence on Tuesday.

The woman, who said she had been pressured by the authorities to change her account, will now be allowed to return to Britain after a judge said that he was willing to give her a second chance in a case that has drawn international attention.

The handling of her case and the guilty verdict have outraged rights groups  scores of people, including some who had traveled from Israel, protested outside the courthouse in a show of support  and her lawyers said they planned to appeal her conviction in an effort to clear her name.

Dominic Raab, the British foreign minister, said that he had very serious concerns about her treatment in Cyprus, telling the BBC on Sunday, I think shes gone through a terrible ordeal.
GOODHUE, Minn.  Tom Steger knows southeastern Minnesota, literally.

Steger, district conservationist with the Goodhue County Natural Resource Conservation Service, retired this month after 40 years with the agency.

Jim Fritz, area resource conservationist in Rochester, has worked with Steger for about 20 years. Steger, he said, "is going to be very hard to replace."

"He has the respect of all the farmers he's worked with, and the respect of all his coworkers," said Fritz. "He's just an all-around good person, and conservation has always been his passion."

Fritz said that even while Steger was getting close to retirement, he was always willing to take on new challenges and responsibilities.

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"He ran hard to the finish line, and was hard at work on his last day," said Fritz. "I don't see Tom sitting idle for very long."

Starting out

In his sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Steger was partnered with a Soil Conservation Service officer in Wisconsin who was looking for summer interns.

He said he was lucky enough to get hired and work a couple summers with the agency and by the the time he graduated, there was a position waiting for him.

"It was kind of a tight job market so I thought with an offer standing, I'm going to grab it," said Steger. "And I ended up sticking with it for 40 years."

It was 1979 when Steger started working for the agency in Wisconsin, before he took a transfer to the Red River Valley in 1983, where he was in charge of Marshall County.

He said there have been a lot of changes in his work since then, but none bigger than technology.

"Computers have been good and bad," he said. "You can do a lot more work in a shorter period of time, but a lot more detail is expected."

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He said when he first started, his job meant going door-to-door, trying to convince farmers there was something they could do to help out the bigger picture in the county.

"Often you'd find people at home, like well over the half the time," said Steger.

But nowadays, he said, that's rarely the case, which makes it harder to make an initial contact or to do a follow-up.

"In the last couple years I've started to do more texting with farmers and emailing," he said. "It's just the way it is now, it's not face-to-face, it's different. You lose some effectiveness that way."

An average 8 or 9-hour workday for Steger has changed from him heading out into the field right away, to starting each day by checking emails.

Looking back

Steger's responsibilities included managing NRCS activities, technical programs in Goodhue County and administering a number of programs including the Conservation Stewardship Program and Environmental Quality Incentives Programs.

His favorite part of the job was conservation planning and working with landowners to help them identify resource concerns, and then look at solutions to fix the problems.

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"It's kind of fun now, that I can see go around and see so many shelterbelts (a line of trees or shrubs planted to protect an area from strong winds and erosion) that I helped plan out 15-20 years ago," said Steger. "And you see them doing some good now."

He said one fact remains even as farming methods have changed, and farms and machinery have gotten bigger.

"At heart, farmers still want to do the right thing," said Steger. "It's just maybe more complicated and problematic to help them do it."

Perspective changes as you get older, said Steger, reflecting on his career.

He said he often references things to his wife, saying they happened last year, then she reminds him that they actually happened five or 10 years ago.

But as he dug through boxes of work artifacts in his office, Steger realized time does indeed go fast.

At the 40-year mark, Steger said he's choosing to retire because he's ready to try something different in life.

Soil health

Two clumps of soil sit in a bowl at the center of Steger's office desk, which came from the same farm. One is from a fence line, and the other from a cropped area that's been rented out for 15 years.

Just in the color of the soils, you can see that much of the organic matter from the cropped area has been depleted and is crusted over with no room for water to soak in.

"That's soil health, right there" he said. "Something that just in the last four or five years has become more of a buzzword."

One of his regrets is that he didn't have more time to teach soil health.

Steger said that "gully erosion was 99 percent of our work" when he first started, but the agency has evolved. It used to be the Soil Conservation Service and now it's the Natural Resource Conservation Service, to recognize the agency deals with more than just the soil.

To strengthen the state's soil and water, "there's always work to be done," he said. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Board of Water and Soil Resources and NRCS offer a lot of resources but sometimes farmers' work gets in the way.

"When push comes to shove, and it's time to get on that tractor and get that corn harvested before it freezes up, a lot of times these programs get pushed aside," said Steger, "because they gotta get the work done, and I understand that."

It's tough when farmers are on a thin economic margin, he said, and they are asked to change something that's worked for them, but not necessarily for the environment.

Talking with an engineer in the office recently, Steger referenced an old design he did for a farmer that had an earthen manure pit drawn on it. The farmer told him he couldn't put the pit there, and Steger asked him why not. He said, "there's a fence there." Steger told him the fence could be moved.

"My grandpa put the fence there, so we're going to keep the fence there," the farmer told him.
In March 1942, soon after U.S. forces in the Philippines surrendered to the Japanese, Chief Nurse Laura Mae Cobb of the Canacao Naval Hospital in Manila Bay was sent with 11 other nurses to a civilian internment camp on the grounds of Santo Tomas University. There 49-year-old Cobb directed her nurses to care for some 3,000 captive civilian men, women and children.

Many of the internees were alone, hungry and traumatized. At times they had only the kindness of a nurse on which to rely. In turn, the Navy nurses had Cobb to watch over them. Whenever possible, she squirreled away extra food, money and supplies. Though the Japanese forbade private papers of any kind, the chief nurse risked punishment by smuggling her nurses service records into camp. When the Japanese ordered Cobb to provide them an inventory of medicines, she had her nurses mislabel bottles of the antimalarial drug quinine as baking soda to protect it from being looted by the enemy. Had the Japanese discovered the deception, they likely would have executed the American chief nurse.

In May 1943 the Santo Tomas commandant announced he would transfer 800 male prisoners to Los Banos, a camp under construction some 40 miles to the south. That posed a dilemma, as the civilian physician accompanying the men did not have any medical personnel to assist him. The Army nurses interned at Santo Tomas had refused the assignment. Cobb asked her Navy nurses if they were willing to risk it, and they all agreed. Three civilian nurses joined them. On the morning the nurses left camp, someone managed to play Anchors Aweigh on the camp PA system, and the internees lined up to cheer. Cobb strolled out to the truck with her nurses service records hidden beneath her uniform blouse, a flower garland concealing the otherwise conspicuous rectangular imprint.

At the new camp the nurses cobbled together a makeshift hospital from scratch, fitting together pipes to make bed frames, mixing tree sap to create bandage adhesive and fashioning slings from donated scraps. Demand for the infirmary grew as the Japanese transferred ever more prisoners to Los Banos and a sadistic new officer took charge. Among other abuses, Lt. Sadaaki Konishi withheld salt from internees and reduced their food rations to less than 900 calories per person a day. Cobb and her nurses became increasingly important to the 2,100-plus men being starved to death.

Their deliverance finally came on Feb. 23, 1945, in a morning raid by U.S. paratroopers and Filipino guerrillas. The freed civilians were evacuated to the newly liberated Bilibid POW camp, just outside Manila. There the Navy nurses assumed five-hour shifts until Cobb insisted the women themselves receive the medical care they so badly required. None of the nurses weighed more than 100 pounds (some well under). One had undiagnosed tuberculosis, others beriberi. Cobb herself had an undiagnosed heart ailment and arthritis. The Navy soon evacuated the nurses stateside, where Cobb was promoted to lieutenant commander. Her foresight in hiding personnel records enabled her nurses to receive the back pay and promotions theyd missed while being held captive.

In September 1945 the Navy and Army presented Cobb and her nurses the Bronze Star with a gold star device (in lieu of a second award). While the intrepid chief nurse never considered herself a hero, the citation accompanying her medal praised her dauntless determination, zealous efforts and unselfish devotion to duty in the face of unprecedented hardship. Though she had hoped to return to the Philippines with the Navy, her arthritis proved too debilitating, and she retired at the rank of commander in 1947. Cobb spent nearly 30 years in the civilian nursing field. She died in 1981 at age 89.
A lawsuit filed last month accuses Jersey City school officials of negligence in the alleged sexual assault of a student at Middle School 40 in 2016.

The complaint, filed Dec. 5 in Hudson County Superior Court, states that students forced a 13-year-old girl to perform oral sex on two other students at the school in October 2016 and that the district failed to supervise, operate and control the school.

The 13-page lawsuit, which calls for a jury trial, names the Jersey City Board of Education as a defendant, as well as the districts superintendent, former Middle School 40 principal Francine Luce, and vice principal Jason Justino.

Jersey City Superintendent Franklin Walker declined to comment on the lawsuit. Officials at Jersey City Middle School 40 could not be reached for comment Monday.

The lawsuit states the student suffered severe bodily injuries that caused her great pain and suffering and required medical treatment.

The complaint alleges a lack of supervision, said Jeffrey Advokat, the Morristown lawyer who is representing the plaintiff. He said the defendants named in the complaint failed in their duty to properly supervise the middle schools students.

These are all the people or the entities, the offices, who are responsible for the health and welfare and safety of students, Advokat told the Jersey Journal.
The move comes after five inmates were killed in 10 days of violence in a prison system long dogged by understaffing.

Prisoner advocates in the United States are calling for a federal investigation into the state of Mississippis beleaguered prison system for possible civil rights violations, saying a recent spate of violence highlights deliberate violations of inmates constitutional right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.

Advocacy groups and media reports have detailed alleged abuses, including inhumane conditions, woefully understaffed facilities and neglect that have allowed gang violence to flourish in Mississippi prisons for years, but the most recent incidents, which include widespread rioting and five deaths at three facilities in 10 days, have again put the states prison system under the spotlight.

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Mississippi, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as well as other rights groups, sent a letter Tuesday requesting the investigation to the US Department of Justice.

The letter warns that it is no exaggeration to say more lives will be lost absent immediate intervention.

The Mississippi prison system is in a state of acute and undeniable crises, with five deaths in just the last 10 days, and a history of preventable deaths and injuries stretching back years, the 18-page complaint states. Mississippi has acknowledged the danger presented by severe understaffing and horrific conditions, but has repeatedly failed to take appropriate action.

The letter was also signed by US Representative Bennie Thompson, Mississippis only Democrat in Congress.

Mississippi prison officials, who were forced to call in state troopers and a special team of prison guards from Tennessee to help regain control during the most recent wave of violence, have said four of the five deaths are related to fighting between gangs.

The letter accuses outgoing Governor Phil Bryant and incoming Governor Reeves of trying to shift blame to prisoners by focusing on gangs instead of accepting that officials are to blame for the violence.

Bryant said on Monday he would welcome a federal investigation into prisons, but said federal officials should also investigate criminals and gangs in the states crime-challenged capital city of Jackson and across the state.

Renewed attention on Mississippis prisons

The most recent rioting and deaths have focused attention on a prison system that, by its own record-keeping, fills only about half its guard posts.

A series of investigations by Pro Publica and the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting published last year found that a 2014 sentencing reform law aimed at reducing the prison population in the state had done little to fix the issues of underfunding and neglect.

Prison leaders are currently seeking tens of millions in additional funding to hire another 800 guards, but legislators have instead recommended a cut in operating funds for the three state-operated prisons, according to The Associated Press news agency.

The legislators also recommended spending the same amount as last year on three private prisons and 15 county-run facilities that hold state inmates.

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Prison officials are also seeking money to renovate a decrepit maximum-security cell block at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman that was shuttered in 2010 as part of a settlement after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued the prison system, according to the Clarion-Ledger.

In response to the most recent violence, prison officials have reopened that unit, the newspaper reported, prompting further allegations of inhumane conditions.

Photos and videos posted on social media purport to show mould on the walls, non-working plumbing, and standing water on the floors, the newspaper reported. Another photo allegedly shows six inmates sleeping in a small cell with a single bed  five on the floor.

The letter that will be delivered to the Department of Justice on Tuesday cites the increasing number of deaths in state prisons in recent years, jumping from an average of 51 deaths a year from 2001 through 2014 to 85 deaths in the fiscal year 2018 and 80 deaths the following fiscal year. Those numbers include all, not just violent, deaths in custody.

The most recent violence is directly linked to acute understaffing and that funding has declined, the letter charged.

The state has functionally divested from its correctional system, with deadly consequences for the individuals who live and work within that system, the letter said.

Alabama as example

The Justice Department had previously censured Alabama for egregious anddangerous understaffing at a time when Alabama had more prison guards per prisoner than Mississippi, the letter notes. A three-year federal investigation of Alabamas prisons concluded in April with a damning federal report and the threat of a federal lawsuit.

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The low number of staff in Mississippi prisons makes it impossible for guards to manage, the letter continues, noting that gang control and inmate-on-inmate violence is the predictable and preventable result of abdication of control of the facility.

In sworn statements to the SPLC, inmates at South Mississippi Correctional Institution in Leakesville said that gangs assign inmates to cells and beds, control access to phones, determine where and when people may eat and shower, fine people who break gang-written rules and even conduct their own strip searches to locate stolen contraband, the letter said.

The letter also claims extended lockdowns may violate inmates constitutional rights by leaving inmates in conditions amounting to solitary confinement without access to basic privileges including recreation, showers, and visitation. The prison in Leakesville was on lockdown for almost all of 2019, citing a severe shortage of correctional officers, with Corrections Commissioner Pelicia Hall saying in a January 2019 release that we are operating in a pressure cooker type situation right now.
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
South African photojournalist Shiraaz Mohamed returned home on Friday, January 3, after being held in captivity in Syria for three years. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) celebrates his safe return and reunification with his family.

Shiraaz Mohamed, 38, was abducted on the border with Turkey by a group of unknown armed men, on January 10, 2017. At the time he was working on assignment for Gift of the Givers, a South African disaster relief organization.

The journalist was documenting the effects of civil war and was supposed to exit Syria by car, when he was pulled out of the vehicle by armed men, near a hospital run by the Gift of the Givers. He was then taken for questioning and was never released afterwards.

The exact circumstances of his release remain unknown. Mohamed is said to have escaped his capturers, although his family did not confirm this information.

In late 2018, the IFJ also welcomed the release of Japanese journalist Jumpei Sada. He was held for a similar period of time  almost 3 years.

Syria remains a dangerous country for journalist to operate in. In 2019, five journalists were killed while working as reporters. The whereabouts and condition of five other journalists who have been captured and held hostage remain unknown.

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger said: We welcome and celebrate the release of Shiraaz Mohamed, after his detention in Syria for three years. The ongoing abduction of journalists and media workers in areas of conflict must end. Journalists should be free to do their jobs without fear of abduction across the world.
By Sudarshan Varadhan NEW DELHI,

Jan 7 (Reuters) - Top Indian coal-fired power generators Adani Power and NTPC Ltd have sought two-to-three-year extensions of deadlines to install emissions-cutting equipment at some plants, according to documents reviewed by Reuters, even as the country battles rampant pollution.

The requests mean the two biggest power producers in India are pressuring the government to delay emissions targets for a second time, citing costs and technical difficulties, even as the country chokes on some of the worst smog on the planet. Highlighted in correspondences over the past year reviewed by Reuters, the requests haven't previously been made public. They could set battle lines between the power industry and the environment ministry ahead of a key Supreme Court case on power plant emissions due in February.

India already extended its original December 2017 deadline for utilities to meet tighter new emissions standards, after extensive lobbying by the coal-fired power industry. The country now has a has a phased timetable - from end-2019 to end-2022 - and many coal-fired plants around New Delhi are operating despite missing deadlines, and want a further extension. Adani Power wants to extend the timeline for stricter emissions rules at two units in a central Indian plant by about three years to March 2023, citing a change of ownership, the documents show. Adani bought the assets from the GMR group last year.

Thermal power companies like Adani, which produce three-quarters of the country's electricity, account for some 80% of India's industrial emissions of gases linked to lung diseases, acid rain and smog. But more than half of the coal-fired power plants ordered to retrofit equipment to cut emissions are set to miss deadlines.

"The way FGD technology is being forced upon the industry is not practically sustainable," Rajiv Agrawal, secretary of the Indian captive power producers association, told Reuters on Tuesday. Captive plants produce power for their own use and account for about a sixth of the country's electricity generation capacity. State-run NTPC Ltd, India's largest electricity generator, has sought to extend the deadline by up to two years at its Bongaigaon eastern Indian plant, according to the documents reviewed by Reuters.

India's Central Electricity Authority (CEA), which advises the federal power ministry, recommended that NTPC's request be passed on the environment ministry. "The Ministry of Power may take up the matter with Ministry of Environments, Forests and Climate Change for providing exemption to NTPC to run units at its Bongaigaon Thermal Power Plant," the climate change division of the CEA said in a letter last year. The Ministry of Power already wants to extend deadlines for some economically stressed power plants.

The CEA has also asked the power ministry to request the environment ministry to extend timelines for captive power plants. Neither the CEA nor the two ministries were immediately available for comment.

(Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) Twitter: @sudvaradhan;))
In the tense hours following the American killing of a top Iranian military commander, the countrys supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made a rare appearance at a meeting of the governments National Security Council to lay down the parameters for any retaliation. It must be a direct and proportional attack on American interests, he said, openly carried out by Iranian forces themselves, three Iranians familiar with the meeting said Monday.

It was a startling departure for the Iranian leadership. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, Tehran had almost always cloaked its attacks behind the actions of proxies it had cultivated around the region. But in the fury generated by the killing of the military commander, Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, a close ally and personal friend of the supreme leader, the ayatollah was willing to cast aside those traditional cautions.

The nations anger over the commanders death was on vivid display Monday, as millions of Iranians poured into the streets of Tehran for a funeral procession and Mr. Khamenei wept openly over the coffin.
URUMQI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Nineteen Chinese provinces and municipalities provided more than 18.8 billion yuan (about 2.7 billion U.S. dollars) of aid funds in 2019 to northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Shohrat Zakir, chairman of the regional government, said in his government work report delivered Monday at the third session of the 13th People's Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region that last year 1,935 aid projects have been undertaken by the provinces and municipalities to contribute to the region's poverty alleviation, people's wellbeing and economic development.

Zakir added that more than 80 percent of the aid funds have been invested in areas related to people's wellbeing and to regions at and below the county level.

China has been implementing the "pairing assistance" program in Xinjiang since 1997, channeling financial support to Xinjiang from other regions of the country and sending cadres and professionals to work there.

In 2010, a new round of pairing assistance program was launched, involving central and state organs, centrally-administered state-owned enterprises, and 19 provinces and municipalities.

Over the past nine years, Xinjiang has received a total investment of nearly 120 billion yuan.
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[January 07, 2020] Votacall CEO Ed Lennon accepted into Forbes Technology Council

BOSTON, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Were excited to announce that Edward Lennon, CEO of Boston-based VoIP provider Votacall, has been accepted into Forbes Technology Council - an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives.

Mr. Lennon was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience in the business technology space. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. We are honored to welcome Edward Lennon into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Technology Council. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world. As an accepted member of the Council, Edward has the ability to connect, share ideas, and collaborate with other ocal technology leaders in a private forum. Hell also be invited to share his insights in original articles on Forbes.com, and contribute to published Q&A panels.



Im very excited to be joining the Forbes Technology Council, said Edward, adding that As someone who has run a technology business for over a decade, Im looking forward to sharing my ideas and hearing how other members of the council have driven success for their respective companies. Itll be great to bring fresh new perspectives to our team at Votacall. ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS

Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. For more information about Forbes Technology Council, visit forbestechcouncil.com . To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com . About Votacall Votacall is a leading provider of cloud-based voice solutions and business communication systems, with expertise in VoIP, unified communications and call center design and deployment. The company is committed to delivering communications solutions that improve businesses flexibility and provide more control over costs, all while offering onboarding and support experiences that are unmatched in the industry. Contact: Andy DeAngelis Votacall, Inc (781) 693-0604 [email protected]

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Pier 1 Imports announced on Monday that it plans to shutter up to 450 of its stores in the United States and Canada.

The company, based in Fort Worth, Texas, sells home furnishings and decor, and has 973 locations. "Although decisions that impact our associates are never easy, reducing the number of our brick-and-mortar locations is a necessary business decision," CEO Robert Riesbeck said.

Pier 1 will also close some distribution centers, and while layoffs will take place, the company did not say how many jobs will be cut. A person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters Pier 1 has drafted a bankruptcy plan that it presented to creditors last month. The goal is for the company to re-launch with roughly $900 million in yearly sales. In 2013, the company's shares were trading at close to $500, and in late 2019, they plummeted to $5, Reuters reports.

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Protest against the assassination of Iranian Major-General Soleimani in Tehran

By Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's leaders have promised to avenge the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, by the United States.

Here are some of Tehran's options:

MILITARY POWER

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and U.S. President Donald Trump talk tough but neither have indicated an interest in all-out war although the possibility of military confrontation cannot be ruled out.

If Khamenei calls for restraint, he could look weak at home and among regional proxies. So he may opt for small-scale retaliation.

Karim Sadjadpour, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Khamenei must carefully calibrate the reaction. "A weak response risks losing face, an excessive response risks losing his head."

A U.S. Defence Intelligence Agency report in December said Iran relies on three main military capabilities - its ballistic missile programme, naval forces that can threaten navigation in the oil-producing Gulf region, and militia proxies in countries such as Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.

Iran says it has precision-guided missiles, cruise missiles and armed drones capable of hitting U.S. military bases in the Gulf and reaching Tehran's arch-enemy Israel.

Tehran or its proxies could attack oil tankers in the Gulf and Red Sea, shipping routes for oil and other trade linking the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal.

BLOCKING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ

A military confrontation or heightened tensions could disrupt shipping via the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's oil production passes. Any interruption could drive up oil prices sharply.

Iran cannot legally close the waterway unilaterally because part of it is Oman's territorial waters. However, ships pass through Iranian waters, which are under the responsibility of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Navy.

Tehran could use missiles, drones, mines and speedboats to confront the United States and its allies. U.S. officials say closing the Strait would be crossing a "red line" and America would take action to reopen it.

Story continues

ASYMMETRIC TACTICS AND PROXIES

U.S. forces in the Middle East could be endangered. Iran mainly relies on asymmetric tactics and its proxies to counter more sophisticated U.S. weaponry.

Iran has passed on weaponry and technical expertise to allies. Yemen's Houthis have used Iran-made missiles and drones to bomb airports in Saudi Arabia.

The United States and Saudi Arabia accuse Iran of attacking oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz last year and say Tehran was behind attacks on Saudi oil facilities. Tehran denies this.

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have attacked bases where U.S. forces are located. In June, Iran downed a U.S. drone with a surface-to-air missile, bringing to two sides to the brink of direct conflict.

TIMING

Iran is unlikely to rush into action, said Ali Alfoneh, senior fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

"Iran has no choice but to strike back and retaliate for assassination of Major General Soleimani," he said. "But the Islamic Republic is patient and the timing and nature of that strike is not yet known to us."

IRAN'S LONG REACH

Iran and its allies could project power beyond the region.

In 1994, a member of the Lebanese movement Hezbollah bombed the Argentine Jewish Mutual Aid Society building in Buenos Aires, killing 85 people. Argentina blamed Iran and Hezbollah for the attack. They deny any responsibility.

Argentina also blamed Hezbollah for an attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires in 1992 that killed 29 people.

"What is more likely is sustained proxy attacks against U.S. interests and allies regionally and even globally. Iran has a long history of such attacks in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with mixed success," Carnegie's Sadjadpour said.

DIPLOMACY NOT CONFRONTATION

Iranian leaders have previously kept the door open to diplomacy to achieve their aims, especially when its economy has been squeezed by U.S. sanctions.

"Iran and America have worked together in the past, in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places. They have common interests and common enemies. A military confrontation will be costly for both sides. But diplomacy can solve many problems and it is an option," said a senior regional diplomat.

Iran has ruled out any talks with the United States unless it returns to a 2015 nuclear deal and lifts all sanctions it reimposed on Tehran after quitting the pact in 2018.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said after Soleimani's killing that Washington was committed to reducing tensions.

"While many are predicting World War III, the last 40 years of Iran's history reflect that what's paramount for the Islamic Republic is its survival. Tehran can ill-afford a full-blown war with the U.S. while facing onerous economic sanctions and internal tumult, especially without Soleimani," Sadjadpour said.

(Additional reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Edited by Angus MacSwan)
A Kentucky family court judge has been suspended from the bench while officials investigate allegations she had sex with staff inside the courthouse and sexually harassed others, among dozens of charges for ethical violations showing a pattern of misconduct in office.

Kenton county judge Dawn Gentry was suspended without pay by the Judicial Conduct Commission after she was charged with nine ethics violations last month.

She allegedly hired a man with whom she had a sexual relationship, and had terminated another employee by forcing her to resign to create a job opening for him. Ms Gentry also is accused of having sex with the male employee and her secretary inside the court during office hours.

The commission accused her of making unwelcomed sexual advances towards one woman at the court, and then sending an attorney to accuse that woman of gossiping about the judge, which the commission said was reasonably interpreted as warning [the woman] to remain quiet about her sexual advances.

The judge also allegedly sent explicit Snapchat conversations with others.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

In Mondays order, the commission said it will be in the best interest of justice that judge Gentry be suspended temporarily from acting in her official capacity as a judge and from the performance of her duties until final adjudication of the pending formal proceedings.

The judge was also accused of coercing her colleagues into supporting or working for her 2018 election campaign, and retaliating or threatening to retaliate against people who did not sufficiently donate to her campaign. She was sitting on the bench as an appointed judge at the time.

She also is accused of using her court staff to work on the campaign during office hours.

While in office, she allegedly filled out false time-sheets for others employees and frequently left the courthouse without any staff during court hours.

Ms Gentry has denied the accusations.
The petitioner, Aman Khan, had moved the high court to seek judicial inquiry by a 'Court Monitored Committee' against the instances of police atrocities in AMU, where students were subjected to injuries and were detained.

The Allahabad High Court ordered the National Human Rights Council (NHRC) on Tuesday to investigate into the alleged police violence in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The court has asked the commission to complete its probe and submit the report by 17 February, reported CNN-News18.

#NewsAlert  Allahabad High Court orders probe by NHRC into AMU violence. The Court has asked the Commission to submit the report by February 17, 2020. | @pranshumisraa with details. pic.twitter.com/5LvPROFVuB  News18 (@CNNnews18) January 7, 2020

The development comes after a former student of the varsity filed a petition seeking a detailed probe into the incident. The order was passed by the bench of Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Vivek Sharma.

The petitioner, Aman Khan, had moved the high court to seek judicial inquiry by a 'Court Monitored Committee' against the instances of police atrocities in AMU, where students were subjected to injuries and were detained.

According to Live Law, Khan alleged that the students protesting peacefully against the citizenship law since 13 December were lathi charged by the para military force and Uttar Pradesh Police, who also fired tear gas shells, rubber bullets and pellets at them on 15 December.

Earlier, the high court had ordered the District Magistrate, Aligarh, to provide necessary medical assistance to all the injured in the alleged incident. The court had reserved order in the matter on 2 January.

On 17 December, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain pleas seeking enquiry into police atrocities against University students. A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde asked the petitioners to approach the concerned high courts.

The apex court had said that the high courts will be at liberty to consider all issues raised by the petitioners such as the entry of police into campuses without permissions from the authorities, detention of students and denial of medical help to injured students etc.

With inputs from PTI
The Romance Writers of America ended 2019 reeling from the backlash to its handling of a racism accusation. It is beginning this year by canceling its 2020 awards for romance novels, known in the industry as the Ritas, after it said that several contestants and judges had already pulled out.

The awards, which recognize excellence in published romance novels and novellas, are typically given during the trade organizations annual conference in the summer. But in a statement released on Monday, the R.W.A. said that many had lost faith in its ability to conduct a fair contest, leading participants to withdraw.

The contest will not reflect the breadth and diversity of 2019 romance novels/novellas and thus will not be able to fulfill its purpose of recognizing excellence in the genre, it said in the statement, adding that it planned to recognize 2019 and 2020 books next year. The organization declined to comment further.

Romance books are a lucrative part of the publishing industry, with a deeply engaged fan base, but the lack of diversity among the genres writers has been an ongoing topic of debate. Many readers, writers and others in the community followed the turmoil that engulfed the R.W.A. late last month, when the organization suspended Courtney Milan, a former board member and chair of its ethics committee, and banned her from leadership positions in response to an ethics complaint. Ms. Milan, a romance writer who is Chinese-American, had criticized the depiction of Chinese women in the novel Somewhere Lies the Moon, prompting its author, Kathryn Lynn Davis, an honorary R.W.A. member, and Suzan Tisdale, who employs Ms. Davis at a publishing imprint, to file ethics complaints against Ms. Milan.
"If the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify," the message says.

John Bolton, the U.S. National Security Advisor Liga.net

Former US National Security Advisor to the President, John Bolton is ready to testify in the impeachment case of Donald Trump if necessary. He said this in a statement published on the net.



"Since my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study. I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify," the message says.

Related: Giuliani willing to testify in Trumps impeachment investigation



We recall that the US Congress began the impeachment process on September 24 due to the scandal surrounding the July telephone conversation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. Before the call, the US leader delayed the financial support of Ukraine. And during the telephone dialogue, Trump several times mentioned the need to continue the investigation into the Burisma gas company.



As reported on December 19, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump. A judicial investigation should now take place in the Senate, led by Republicans. Two-thirds of the vote is needed to remove the president from office.
In an FIR filed on Sunday, 20 JNU students, including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, were accused of indulging in physical violence and verbal abuse when the university staff and security tried to facilitate the registration process

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, and 19 other students, have been accused of indulging in physical violence and verbal abuse when the university staff and security tried to open the Communication and Information Services (CIS) office to facilitate the winter semester registration, according to a First Information Report filed at the Vasant Kunj North Police Station in Delhi.

The FIR, filed by one Shyam Singh on 5 January, accuses the students under Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, and Sections 323, 341, 506, 34 of the Indian Penal Code. These sections deal with offences concerning damage to public property, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, voluntarily causing hurt and commitment of a criminal act by several persons with a particular intention. Singh's address was registered as JNU Security Administrative Block.

The FIR alleges that after remaining closed on the intervening night of 3 and 4 January, the violence at the CIS office began when staff and JNU security guards tried opening the office at 6 am on Saturday. Apart from Aishe, students, who were named for allegedly indulging in violence, pushing female guards and threatening dire consequences if the office is opened, included Saket Moon, Satish Yadav, Sarika Chaudhary, G Suresh, Krish Jaiswal, Vivek Kumar, Gautam Sharma, Vaskar V Mech, Apeksha Priyadarshi, Shreya Ghosh, Sweta Kashyap, Sambhavit Siddhi, Vivek Kumar Pandey, Raju Kumar, Manas Kumar, Chunchun Yadav, Kamaran, Dolan and Geeta Kumari. A few security guards were injured after being attacked by the agitating students, the FIR further added.

FIR filed against Aishe Ghosh, 19 others by Srishti Kapoor on Scribd

Aishe was among the more than 30 people who were injured on Sunday night, when around 50 masked intruders carrying lathis, clubs and sticks, entered the JNU campus and attacked students and teachers and vandalised varsity property. The attackers targeted Sabarmati, Periyar and Kaveri hostels of the JNU.

While sources told PTI that the violence began around 5 pm, the police entered the campus later after a written request from the JNU administration. The police also reportedly got nearly 100 PCR calls asking for help amid violence at the hostels. The police then conducted an extensive flag march, bringing back normalcy to the situation. Aishe blamed the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for the violence that triggered nationwide protests.

The FIR registered on Saturday did not put the names of the 20 students, including Aishe, in the accused column. Also, while it named the students, there was no mention of any attackers.

Later, on Saturday morning, after the CIS office was opened to restore the information system, the students entered and abused the staff members and forced them out of the premises, the FIR further noted, accusing the students of stopping public officials from dispensing their duties. A police team visited the campus shortly after to take stock of the situation, the FIR said.

The police complaint cited a "security report" and alleged that around 1 pm on the same day, students broke open the CIS offices rear-end glass door, damaged servers, power supplies and biometric systems.

Requesting the filing of an FIR against the 20 students, the complaint pointed out that the agitating students flouted Delhi High Court orders dated August 2017 and December 2019, which mandated that gatherings, dharna and protests within 100 metres of the administration building are prohibited. It also requested for the deployment of police personnel during the registration period.

Another FIR was filed by the Delhi Police on Saturday following a complaint lodged on 3 January, which held the accused responsible for switching off the server. JNUSU vice president Saket Moon alleged that the administration is selectively targeting some students and denied any involvement in the vandalism of the server room.

Separately, another FIR was registered by the Delhi Police on Monday against "unidentified people" for rioting and damaging property. It was transferred to the Crime Branch, which visited the affected hostels in the university on the same day. The FIR read that JNU students had been protesting against the hostel fee hike for the past few days. A police team headed by an inspector was at the Administrative Block on Sunday at 3.45 pm, when they got information that a few students had gathered at Periyar Hostel and that a fight had broken out and some property was damaged.

The FIR was filed under Sections 145 (joining or continuing in unlawful assembly), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (prosecution of common object) and 151 (knowingly joining or continuing in assembly) of the Indian Penal Code as well Section 3 (mischief causing damage to public property) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Delhi Police said it is collecting mobile videos from various sources to identify the people involved in the violence.

With inputs from PTI
Eight former legislators led by Syed Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday became the first group of mainstream politicians from J&K to open the channels of communication with the office of Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu and making a slew of demands including restoration of statehood

Srinagar: Eight former legislators led by Syed Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday became the first group of mainstream politicians to open the channels of communication with the office of Jammu and Kashmir's Lieutenant Governor and making a slew of demands including restoration of statehood.

The delegation met Lt Governor GC Murmu in Jammu and submitted a 15-point memorandum demanding rights of people over land and jobs be safeguarded, detainees be released and cases against youth be withdrawn, among others.

"We have met Murmu and brought to his notice the concern about J&K post abrogation of Article 370. It was a meeting in our personal capacity," Bukhari, who was the finance minister in the PDP-BJP coalition government told PTI.

The leaders said to win over the confidence of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre will have to re-examine its decades-old policies vis-a-vis Kashmir and allay the apprehensions among people in a just and humane manner.

Depending solely on security measures and dealing with peoples' political aspirations through the law and order prism will always have its old tested repercussions, they said.

"Since the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status embedded in Article 370 of the Constitution of India and bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories  Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature and Ladakh without one  the majority of its residents are yet to reconcile with this decision," the memorandum reads.

"For the residents of J&K, the issue of statehood holds more emotional importance than legal. Statehood for these people is the solidification of the idea of pluralism and respectful coexistence," it said.

"In view of keeping the pluralistic ethos and diversity intact, it is more than essential that restoration of statehood to J&K is considered as an immediate requirement for keeping up the spirit of coexistence and allowing this mosaic to continue to shine in this part of the country."

"We demand the restoration of statehood including the establishment of a Legislative Council and in providing thereto reservation of seats for socially and economically backward classes, art and culture, languages, literature and sports," it said.

The memorandum said that economic development can be ensured only if there is normalcy and stability in the region.

"It is the assurances given under that Article and the erosion of special privileges that created the situation in the Valley over the past three decades," it said.

The other members of the delegation were Ghulam Hassan Mir (president, Democratic Party Nationalist), Mohammad Dilawar Mir (former minister), Zaffar Iqbal (former PDP MLC), Javed Hassan Beig, Noor Mohammad Shiekh, Choudhary Qamar Hussain and Raja Manzoor Ahmad (all former PDP MLAs).

Most of the leaders were part of the PDP till the fall of the PDP-BJP government in 2018. Ghulam Hassan Mir was in PDP till 2008.

The meeting comes on the fourth death anniversary of PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Mohammad Sayeed.

The delegation also demanded the restoration of J&K Bank's functional dominion, reviving agriculture and horticulture sectors, support for industry and manufacturing sector, tourism and allied industries and their revival.

"People of Jammu and Kashmir have always seen J&K Bank as a repository of trust and confidence in their economic interests. But unfortunately, this trust and confidence seem to have been shaken for the last few years," it said.

"Not only its control over financial matters but its overall functioning has been unnecessarily put to a question mark," it added.

On the issue of safeguarding rights over land and jobs, the memorandum said that the abrogation of Article 370 and, in particular, annulling Article 35A on account of being "discriminatory against non-permanent residents and women of Jammu and Kashmir" and it being "an obstacle in the development of the state" has outstanding issues.

"This most important issue can be addressed by tangible legal and constitutional safeguards that can be put in place by virtue of which protection of Domicile Rights including that of reservation for the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir in the matter of employment and that of admissions to professional courses is ensured," it said.

They said that a blend of models like Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and parts of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh can provide the solution for the protection of these rights of the Peoples of Jammu and Kashmir.

They also demanded the release of political detainees and said that one of the psychological setbacks to a number of people in Kashmir is that their near and dear ones were detained.

"These people were not arrested for committing any violation of the law, but were preventive detentions vis-a-vis law and order situation. Now that the life has almost returned to normal... it is a genuine demand that these detainees should be immediately shifted from jails across the country to Jammu and Kashmir and subsequently released," it said.

The leaders further said that cases against youth (mostly teenagers), who were detained under different FIRs by the police in the summer of 2016 be withdrawn on compassionate grounds.

Some of these youth have got jobs in the police and army but are being denied a character certificate as there are pending cases against them.

"It is requested to withdraw cases against such youth on compassionate grounds and support them integrate into the society", it said.

The delegation said it was heartening to see that the Kashmir Valley remained peaceful and no fatalities were recorded due to enhanced security measures but the credit must also go to the people of Jammu and Kashmir who showed extreme maturity while registering peaceful protests.

"Fact of the matter is that a majority of people in Jammu and Kashmir feel hurt and there are vocal concerns wherein they feel their decades-long privileges were unceremoniously curtailed," it said.
Laois councillors are backing a plan by a BT Young Scientist team from Limerick to end the scourge of abandoned tents at the Electric Picnic festival.

THE fate of thousands of tents abandoned each year by festival goers has captured the creative interest of three second-year students from Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher: Eoin Tynan, Daniel OConnell and Stephen Minihane.

A chat with Stephens dad, Ian, a regular festival goer, got them started.

He has seen all the tents left behind, Stephen explained.He was always saying it when he came home. He had been trying to come up with something that would help.

I thought it was a very good idea, Daniel chipped in. All the tents are damaging for the environment and something had to be done about it.

First though, the boys needed to understand why.

It goes back to human behaviour, Eoin explained. The boys met with UL professors Stephen Kinsella and Declan Dineen who explained to them about the principles of the carrot or the stick in helping to change behaviour.

And the examples they gave were the refunds paid when glass bottles were returned, the carrot, and the price charged for plastic bags, the stick.

Armed with this information, the boys compiled a Monkey survey with some key questions, which they circulated to various festival sites and to colleges and to their great satisfaction, they got 373 responses.

One key question was to ascertain what peoples price range was when it came to buying a tent, as they reckoned that people were more likely to abandon a cheap tent.

And when it came to analysing the responses, they discovered that 18-20 year olds made up the majority of those likely to abandon a tent.

The boys also discovered that most people mistakenly believed that abandoned tents were gathered up and donated to relief charities.

We emailed charities to see their side of it, Eoin explained. They did not receive tents and have never been offered any tents.

Applying their theory of the carrot and the stick, these three young thinkers designed an app with a QR code which would appear on each festival pass.

This QR code would be scanned and anyone arriving at the festival with a tent would automatically have 50 deducted from their account. On leaving the site, provided they brought the tent with them, it would be automatically reimbursed.

To make the system work, the boys have first to convince the bodies who grant the festival licences: the local authorities. We have to sell it to councils first, explained Stephen.

They say they have found support from councillors in Laois County Council which gives the licence for Electric Picnic.
Plans to extend Welsh medium primary school and increase pupil capacity given the go ahead

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jan 7th, 2020

Plans to extend a Welsh-medium school in Wrexham have been given the go ahead.

Members of Wrexham Councils planning committee unanimously backed an application to increase capacity at Ysgol Bro Alun in Gwersyllt at a meeting last night.

The extension will allow the school to accomodate a further 105 pupils  increasing from the current provision for 210 pupils to 315, plus 45 nursery places.

The 5.9 million school opened in 2013 and currently has provision for 210 pupils. But there has been criticism from some parents after their child was refused a place in their desired Welsh medium primary school.

As part of the redevelopment two new classrooms with storage areas, cloakrooms, toilets and circulation spaces will be created. It will also provide a new childcare Early Education Unit.

The existing games court will be relocated to the west of the school grounds.

Last year executive board members backed proposals to extend the school to allow for an increase of pupil numbers.

A capital investment of 1.3 million from Welsh Government to allow building work has been secured , along with a separate grant to provide wrap around child care provision.
EUGENE, Ore.  Musgrove Family Mortuaries & Cemeteries in Eugene will be joining the Foundation Partners Groups network, company officials announced.

All prearrangements with the Musgrove Family will be honored, they said.

All five business locations and the care center in the Eugene area will maintain the Musgrove name, and Mark and Jeff Musgrove will remain with the team.

Even though we have chosen Foundation Partners for our transition, we are keenly aware that our name will remain the same at the funeral homes, Jeff Musgrove said. Therefore, it was imperative that we partner with a company committed to continuing our legacy of caring service to our community.

Foundation Partners Group is a Florida-based company that says it focuses on providing innovative funeral and cemetery experiences and products.

Mark Musgrove said they heard from many people that Foundation Partners had a reputation as people that care.

The original funeral home was founded as Day and Henderson in 1883 in Eugene, company officials said. Wayne Musgrove joined the firm in 1952 and bought the mortuary in 1973. His two sons, Mark and Jeff, joined the business in the 80s. Over time, the company acquired many local funeral homes and cemeteries.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 21:18:47|Editor: xuxin

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KABUL, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 militants have surrendered to Afghan government forces over the past two days amid increasing military pressure on the Taliban, officials said Tuesday.

A 20-member group of the Taliban fighters has laid down arms and surrendered to local authorities in the eastern Nangarhar province, said a statement of the provincial government.

The former militants who were involved in anti-government activities in the restive Khogiani, Chaparhar and Momandara districts over the past couple of years, according to the statement, have handed over their weapons to local authorities.

Welcoming the surrender and stressing for continued military pressure, Nangarhar's provincial governor Shah Mahmoud Miakhil called upon other Taliban fighters to follow the step.

Meanwhile, 69 militants have surrendered to Afghan government forces in the western Ghor province, amid ongoing military pressure against the armed militants in the mountainous region, provincial governor Ghulam Nasir Khaze said Tuesday.

"The security forces have besieged some 300 armed militants in Shahrak district over the past one week and 69 of them surrendered to the security forces on Monday evening," Khaze told Xinhua.

Khaze also noted that the military pressure would continue until the militants are killed or captured.

Moreover, a 13-member group of Taliban fighters, according to local officials, has surrendered to local authorities in the northern Badakhshan province over the past two days.
Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk speaks next to a screen showing an image of Tesla Model 3 car during an opening ceremony for Tesla China-made Model Y program in Shanghai, China January 7, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song

Argus Research has raised its target price on Buy-rated Tesla Inc. (TSLA) to $556 on better than expected 4Q deliveries.

Tesla recently announced it had achieved record production of 104,891 vehicles in 4Q19 and record deliveries of 112,000 vehicles, meeting a goal that the company had forecast at the beginning of last year. Total deliveries for 2019 of 367,500 were 50% higher than in 2018.

We are raising our 2020 EPS estimate to $5.96 from $4.40 to reflect improved economies of scale in 2020 production and delivery results and a better-than-expected ramp up of vehicles produced at the Shanghai factory in China. The 2020 consensus estimate is $5.58.

Our positive stance on the stock, which is up 40% over the past year versus 27% for the S&P 500, assumes ongoing revenue growth from the legacy Model S and Model X, as well as continued strong demand for the new Model 3. The recent (record) production and delivery performance for the fourth-quarter of 2019 highlight the popularity of the Model 3, which accounted for more than 80% of 4Q production.

Despite the recent jump in the stock price, we continue to see significant upside for TSLA shares based on accelerating revenue trends and strong demand for the Model 3.

This excerpt was brought to you by Argus Research using the Research Reports feature available through Yahoo Finance Premium. Click here to start your free trial* and step up your investing. Yahoo Finance Premium members can read more fundamental analyst views by going to Research Reports and filtering by Analyst Reports.
Florence County Detention Center(FLORENCE, S.C.) -- Authorities have charged a man in the fatal shooting a young South Carolina police officer during a traffic stop over the weekend.



James Edward Bell, 37, was charged with murder, discharging of a firearm into a vehicle and possession of a weapon during a violent crime on Monday, one day after he allegedly shot and killed an airport police officer.



Police officer Jackson Ryan Winkeler, 26, was conducting a traffic stop at the Florence Regional Airport, located about 80 miles east of Columbia, when Bell allegedly opened fire and fled the scene, according to police.



Winkeler was found dead on the ground outside of his police vehicle. His weapon was missing, but police found an empty 9 mm handgun and more than 30 shell casings nearby, according to an arrest affidavit.



Bell was later captured in a car lot near Effingham, about 12 miles south of Florence, by Florence County sheriff's deputies following a brief chase. Deputies found the slain officer's gun in Bell's possession along with a magazine that matched the handgun left at the scene, the affidavit said.



Winkeler was the first police officer killed in the line of duty in the United States in 2020, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page website. In 2019, 134 U.S. law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty, including 47 who were shot to death, according to the memorial page.



Family friends remembered Winkeler as a caring person who dedicated his life to serving others. He also volunteered with the Latta Fire Department and would frequently post on Facebook, asking friends and family to participate in events for charity, people close to him said.



"He lost his life doing what he loved the most: helping people. Jackson was one of the best firefighters that you could ever have on a fire scene," Dillon County Fire Lt. Nic Bethea told Florence ABC affiliate WPDE-TV. "No matter what time of the day it was, Jackson was willing to help. Jackson had a heart of gold. From myself and all of Dillon County Station 2 firefighters, we will continue praying for the family. Latta Fire 23 will forever be Jackson Winkeler."



The Florence County Sheriff's Department released a statement in the wake of the officer's death, asking the public to keep his family in their prayers.



"This morning our community has been again shocked by an act of violence directed at one of our local Law Enforcement officers," the statement said. "We ask that the community please keep Jackson Winkelers family, friends, and coworkers in their prayers as they process what has occurred."



"They have our deepest sympathy and we will be assisting them in any way possible," it added.



Police are still investigating and have not released a possible motive in the shooting.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
In November, voters across Illinois will be choosing between two very different narratives about Illinois and the United States  about the state and country we are today and the state and country we want to be tomorrow. We have an opportunity to elect a new president and reject tribal nationalism and hatred. And as Illinoisans, we have an opportunity to bring greater equity and justice to our tax code and lift up working families across our state.
By Kwak Yeon-soo







Arirang TV is airing special shows on Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020, which is being held in Las Vegas from Jan. 7 to 10, the broadcaster said Tuesday.







A series of shows, which will run through Jan. 15, highlight Korean companies' innovative technologies and the response from overseas manufacturers.







They will feature IT industry experts discussing major tech trends of 2020, introduce Korean companies specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) and the fifth-generation (5G) network-backed services.







Arirang TV will also conduct interviews with Steve Koening, vice president of the Consumer Technology Association, Jeremy Kaplan, an editor-in-chief of Digital Trends, and Chang Joon-hyuk, a professor of electronic engineering at Hanyang University.







Among Korean companies, Samsung Electronics' AI technology-featured robots and products, LG Electronics' Internet of Things (IoT) products and home-help robots, SK Telecom's 5G network-based services and Hyundai Motor's air taxi and autonomous driving technologies will be showcased on air.







As robots are the key theme for the CES event, the show will also look into the robot industry, and how they will affect human lives in the future.







CES is the world's largest technology exhibition, offering a glimpse into the latest trend in global technology industry. This year's show invited 4,400 companies from all over the world, and is expected to garner about 170,000 visitors from 160 countries.






IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan, who shot to fame during Kerala floods, resigns over restrictions

Rahul writes to Centre seeking help for flood relief works in Kerala

Centre approves Rs 5,908 crore flood relief to 7 states, eludes Kerala

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 07: The Centre has excluded Kerala from a calamity relief of Rs 5,908 crore released to seven States on Monday.

Kerala witnessed worst floods in two successive years, 2018 and 2019, and is still struggling to build rehabilitation of the victims.

The Home Ministry, in a statement, said the decision was taken at a meeting of a high-level committee (HLC), chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Around 200 dead due to floods in Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra

The HLC approved additional central assistance of Rs 5908.56 crore to seven states from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) of which Rs 616.63 crore will be given to Assam, Rs 284.93 crore to Himachal Pradesh, Rs 1869.85 crore to Karnataka, Rs 1749.73 crore to Madhya Pradesh, Rs 956.93 crore to Maharashtra, Rs 63.32 to Tripura and Rs 367.17 crore to Uttar Pradesh for floods or landslides or cloudburst during the 2019 southwest monsoon, the statement said.

Earlier, the central government has released an interim financial assistance of Rs 3,200 crore to four states -- Rs 1,200 crore to Karnataka, Rs 1,000 crore to Madhya Pradesh, Rs 600 crore to Maharashtra and Rs 400 crore to Bihar.

During 2019-20, the government has released Rs 8,068.33 crore to 27 states as central share from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

The central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been providing full support to states by providing timely logistics and financial resources to supplement efforts of the state governments to deal with the situation effectively in the wake of natural calamities, the statement said.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was present in the meeting, along with senior officers of the ministries of Home Affairs, Finance, Agriculture and NITI Aayog.

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Story first published: Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 15:13 [IST]
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 14:07:51|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The added value of China's copyright industry reached 6.63 trillion yuan (about 951 billion U.S. dollars) in 2018, accounting for 7.37 percent of the country's GDP, according to the China Academy of Press and Publication Tuesday.

The industry's added value in 2018 increased 9 percent over the previous year and 55 percent from 2013, showed a report recently issued by the academy.

New industrial forms including news and publication, broadcasting, software and advertising sped up integration, pushing for fast development of the core copyright industry, the report said.

Nearly 16.46 million people were employed by urban units in the industry in 2018, accounting for 9.53 percent of all the employees at urban units, the report said.

In 2018, the trade volume of commodities in the industry rose 5.66 percent from 2017, the second consecutive annual growth.
In response to continued discussion on the validity of the conclusions of the EXCEL trial comparing coronary stenting to coronary bypass surgery, The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) has released a statement calling for the release of all trial data to help surgeons and patients make informed choices based on sound analysis.

AATS statement on transparency of clinical research data

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) is made up of over 1,400 of the foremost academic cardiothoracic surgeons in the world. The AATS Board of Directors has noted, with concern, allegations raised in a BBC news report about the validity of the conclusions of the EXCEL trial which compared coronary stenting to coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with left main coronary artery stenosis.

We note also the response of the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery (EACTS), which has withdrawn their support for the Left Main Chapter of the joint 2018 EACTS  ESC (European Society of Cardiology) Clinical Guidelines for Myocardial Revascularization.

The possibility that some patients may have been wrongly advised or treated as a result of current recommendations, which may have been influenced due to incomplete reporting of available data from the EXCEL trial, is a serious matter.

Our membership holds the veracity and transparency of data as fundamental tenets of clinical research trials; if any member of the treating heart teams, oversight committees, trial investigators, or peer reviewers raise potential serious issues regarding trial data presentation or interpretation, then the best way forward is the public release of all trial data for an independent analysis to confirm that the original trial conclusions are valid.

This is particularly true for industry sponsored trials of previously approved devices which are not subject to Government oversight, to reassure the public and physician community that conflicts of interest or unconscious bias has not influenced substantially the design, conduct, reporting, or interpretation of such studies.

The AATS agrees with others that all of the data should be made publicly available for analysis and interpretation, as a way to resolve the current controversy around the EXCEL trial, in order to provide patients with the best possible counsel and informed consent.

Vaughn A. Starnes, MD, President and David R. Jones, MD, Secretary
Decades-old trains, passenger crowding, forecasts of a $1.3 billion maintenance backlog and a surge in demand for services will heap pressure on Sydney's already stretched rail network as the city balloons to 6 million people over the next decade, an internal government report reveals.

The report, marked "Cabinet in confidence" and completed in September, underscores the need for the state government to inject even more funding into the backbone of the public transport system as an extra 1.4 million people are forecast to call the city home by 2031.

Sydney's rail network is under pressure from a surge in demand for services. Credit:Peter Rae

The Sydney Trains report, obtained by the Herald using freedom of information laws, reveals a backlog in deferred maintenance across the rail network is forecast to surge to $1.3 billion by the end of the decade, from $419 million last year, without a funding boost.

Despite recently retiring old trains dubbed "sweat sets", almost one-quarter of the state's passenger trains are still more than 30 years old, and nearly half of the fleet is more than two decades in age.
Kerman : , Jan 7 (IANS) At least 35 mourners were killed on Tuesday in a stampede during a funeral procession for Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in his hometown of Kerman, where he will be laid to rest later in the day, according to state media.

Besides the 35 victims, Iranian state TV also confirmed that 48 others were also injured in the stampede, reports mirror.co.uk.

It quoted the head of Iran's emergency medical services, Pirhossein Koulivand, saying there had been a deadly stampede.

The remains of Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy leader of the Iraqi militia Popular Mobilization Forces who was also killed in the January 3 attack ordered by US President Donald Trump, arrived in Kerman on Tuesday morning, following massive funeral processions in the Iraqi cities of Baghdad, Karbala and Najaf as well as the cities of Ahvaz, Mashhad, Tehran and Qom in Iran, reports Press TV.

An estimated seven million mourners took part in Monday's funeral in Tehran, according to the Coordination Council for Islamic Propagation.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Soleimani's daughter Zeinab also participated in Monday's procession.

From the early hours of Tuesday, large crowds of black-clad mourners began filling the streets of Kerman.

Chants of "Death to America" have been ringing out across the city, with mourners carrying the portraits of the national hero.

Soleimani, 63, had been on the ground in Syria and Iraq supervising militias backed by Tehran.
With multiple media outlets reporting on a letter appearing to reveal U.S. plans to withdraw from Iraq, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told reporters Monday afternoon that no such decision has been made.

Driving the news: AFP and Reuters set off a frenzy by publishing a letter from Marine Corps Brig. Gen. William Seely informing the Iraqi military that the coalition to fight ISIS would be "repositioning forces" and preparing to move "out of Iraq" in the coming days and weeks out of respect for Iraqi sovereignty. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Mark Milley told reporters that the letter was simply a draft and was not meant to be released.

That letter is a draft, it was a mistake, it was unsigned, it should not have been released  poorly worded, implies withdrawal, that is not whats happening," Milley said.

The big picture: The Iraqi parliament passed a resolution on Sunday calling on the government to expel U.S. troops from Iraq after the U.S. killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani and the leader of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia in a drone strike near Baghdad airport.

Between the lines: The legal basis for the U.S. presence in Iraq is that it comes at Iraq's invitation. The resolution passed Sunday didn't formally revoke that invitation, but it is a step along that path. A U.S. exit from Iraq could ultimately be one of the most consequential results of Soleimani's killing, because it would significantly hamper the fight against ISIS and achieve a major Iranian objective.

Flashback: Just last night, President Trump declared that the U.S. would not leave Iraq "unless they pay us back" for a U.S. air base, and that if the departure did not occur "on a friendly basis," the U.S. would hit Iraq with "sanctions like theyve never seen before."

Rob Malley, president of the International Crisis Group, noted during a briefing with reporters this afternoon that Trump may come to view the Iraqi vote as an opportunity to extricate the U.S. from the Middle East, despite the potential benefits to Iran and ISIS.

Go deeper ... Scoop: Trump officials tried to stop Iraqi expulsion vote
In an interview with the Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Information Center (PIC) Dec. 22, Sami Khater, a member of the Hamas Political Bureau, identified his movements five strategic priorities for 2020. Hamas leaders rarely talk about specific priorities for their next strategy. This has been limited to Hamas official political documents.

Priorities include developing Hamas armed structure against Israel to tilt the balance of power in its favor; adopting a national position on managing the conflict with Israel; confronting the Israeli measures against the Palestinians in every way; standing up to the US-proposed deal of the century; and mobilizing the Palestinian diaspora to support the Palestinian people back home.

The talk about Hamas priorities came Dec. 14, only days after the 32nd anniversary of the founding of the movement. Khater, 70, is based in Qatar and is one of the first-generation members of Hamas and a member of its political bureau since its founding. He supervised the establishment of political action departments.

He told Al-Monitor, Hamas is permanently working on achieving its strategies, which are approved by its organizational institutions. As long as they are strategies, they are not linked to a specific time limit. But the most important obstacles to achieving them are Israeli measures at various levels and some international policies, such as the US administration and other countries in the region whose regimes bet on Israeli and US support to ensure the stability of their rule.

Khater added, Hamas priorities include implicitly restricting its struggle to fighting Israel in the land of Palestine. Hamas does not want to target any party that supports Israel. It is adhering to the policy of noninterference in the internal affairs of states, without being aligned with a specific political axis against another.

Speaking to the PIC, Khater pointed out that although Hamas name was not removed from the European and US lists of terrorist groups, the world deals with it as an existing active and influential Palestinian party.

Khater had confirmed in a research paper published by al-Zaytouna Center for Studies and Consultations in Beirut in 2015 the existence of in-depth dialogues between Hamas and official and popular European parties for getting Hamas name off of their list of terrorist groups.

On Feb. 2, 2015, Ahmed Youssef, a former political adviser to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, spoke in an article published on Sama news website about Hamas holding meetings with Norway and Switzerland. Osama Hamdan, a former Hamas representative in Lebanon, highlighted in an article published by Amad news website on Aug. 6, 2015, Hamas relationship with Russia and a number of African and Latin American countries.

Sari Orabi, a Palestinian expert on Islamist factions, told Al-Monitor, Fatah shares these same priorities. Hamas cannot overlook them. Since 2007, Hamas has been unable to create a formula for joint management of the Gaza Strip.

Orabi added, Mobilizing Palestinians abroad requires recognition that this is a step long overdue by Hamas, which failed to take advantage of the vacuum left by the PLO after the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1993. This would hold Hamas accountable. Yet mobilizing the diaspora raises questions about Hamas' relationship with neighboring countries and its political and security readiness for this effort.

Hamas' five priorities are consistent with its political document issued in May 2017, through which it approached new regional and global capitals, albeit with no tangible results.

The priorities focus on armed resistance because Hamas advanced armament capabilities in the Gaza Strip turned it from an organization fighting guerrilla wars to a semi-regular army, which could deter Israel from attacking it.

Mahmoud Mardawi, a member of the Hamas National Relations Office, told Al-Monitor, Hamas sees these five priorities as the backbone of its project to be liberated from Israel. They mainly aim to strengthen Hamas military structure, bring all factions around a round table, and engage them in taking national decisions and integrating the Palestinian diaspora of more than 8 million out of 13 million Palestinians. This is in addition to promoting ties with allies and friends who support us wherever we are.

The Hamas talk about mobilizing Palestinians abroad raises an important question about its inability until now to mobilize its popular bases in the West Bank. This is despite Hamas members there facing extensive and continuous campaigns of arrests by Israel and the PA. If the PA and Israel are clamping down on Hamas in the West Bank, will other countries of the region give it a break?

Palestinians abroad are concentrated in neighboring countries. But Syrias relationship with Hamas is strained as the Syrian regime accuses Hamas of supporting militants fighting against it  an accusation Hamas denies. Lebanon is battling security and economic instability due to the recent protests. The movement's relationship with Jordan is at a standstill. Jordanian King Abdullah II decided in 1999 to ban Hamas in the kingdom and deport a number of its leaders to Qatar, with sporadic contacts being made from time to time. Egypt will not allow Hamas to communicate with the Palestinians residing in its territories, fearing attacks against Israel from Sinai.

Hussam al-Dujni, a political science professor at Umma University in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, Hamas solidified its political position by listing these five priorities within its strategy. But talking about these priorities, especially the part about armed resistance and mobilizing the Palestinian diaspora, in the media could negatively affect Hamas.

Dujni added, Talking publicly about reinforcing Hamas military structure as a priority goes against regional and international efforts to disarm Hamas and limit its resistance against Israel to peaceful and nonviolent activities. This could be exploited negatively by Israel against Hamas.

He said talking about mobilizing the Palestinian diaspora may harm it. There is a difference between involving Palestinians abroad in the national struggle silently so as not to affect their situations in their countries of residence, and bragging about their involvement in the media.

Hamas five priorities may indicate a clear aspiration to lead the Palestinian national project. It is in an ongoing competition with Fatah, which it currently sees as retreating, especially as Palestinians are gearing up to contest the first Palestinian elections in 13 years.

A new political scene could unfold that gives Hamas the opportunity to achieve its priorities if it can overcome the obstacles that hinder them.
A campaign by official Chinese media to discredit a movement by Uyghurs seeking information about missing relatives back home in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) will fail, according to the movements organizer, because of Beijings intransparency over its policies there.



In recent months, the hashtag #StillNoInfo has gained a following on social media platforms among Uyghurs in exile who say their relatives are likely detained in a network of internment camps where authorities in the XUAR are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities accused of harboring strong religious views and politically incorrect ideas since April 2017.



The hashtag became even more widely used after XUAR Chairman Shohret Zakir held a press conference on Dec. 9 claiming that all detainees in the camps, which China refers to as vocational education and training centers, had graduated and returned to their homes, prompting many exiled Uyghurs to question why they were still unable to contact their relatives and loved ones.



In response, China Global Television Network (CGTN)the international arm of the official China Central Television (CCTV)has launched a video propaganda campaign entitled Crash the #StillNoInfo rumors in which news anchor Tao Yuan meets with several of the missing relatives as part of a bid to challenge the claims made by Uyghurs in exile about Chinas policies in the XUAR.



In videos posted to YouTube and Twitter, Tao visits Mahire, Xenimxan Turdi, Eziz Niyaz, and Halinurall relatives of Uyghurs in exile who have participated in the #StillNoInfo movementin their homes and purported places of work, portraying them as living normal lives outside the camps.



CGTN often refers to those who post to #StillNoInfo as distant relatives or suggests that they are mere acquaintances rather than close friends, while the missing Uyghurs say in interviews that they have no idea why they have been mentioned in the posts.



Spreading propaganda



Speaking to RFAs Uyghur Service, Bahram Sintash, a Uyghur American who created #StillNoInfo as part of his efforts to locate his father in the XUAR, said that the CGTN campaign will fail because the international community and international media doesnt believe their propaganda.



Theyre asking why it is that some Uyghurs havent been able to contact their families for two, three, and even four years, why are [the Chinese authorities] controlling communication so tightly in the 21st century, and why is there still no free communication for Uyghurs, he said.



As long as theyve cut communication and as long as they only trot out peoples relatives on their own media, which shows that we are still not in contact with them, this ultimately means that theyre just using our relatives as pawns. Were asking them to connect us to our relatives, but theyre just showing us a little bit of them on video. The world can see that [the authorities] keep using [our relatives] as pawns.



Sintash said that most members of the exile Uyghur community would be satisfied if Chinas government opened up communication channels, which are either actively blocked or heavily monitored by security personnel, and allowed them to see their relatives on their own terms.



All we want is to see them without obstructionto know what they have been through  [but China instead is] putting their own [propaganda] channels to work, using examples of a few people here and there to continue spreading their lies, he said.



Sintash cited his own father as an example of how Chinas narrative that all Uyghurs have been freed from the camps and are able to freely communicate with their loved ones is false.



Given that Im the person who started the #StillNoInfo movement on social media, before doing anything else, they could have shown my father in an attempt to portray me as a liar, he said.



The fact that they did not show my parents or the family members of other activists like myself shows that theyre still exacting revenge on some of us, and also that the people theyre showing [in these videos] have been specifically chosen from among a select group of peoplepeople who are completely under the control of the authoritiesso as to attempt to deceive the international community.



Halinur



RFA recently spoke with Abdullah Rasul, the husband of Halinurs cousin Raziyegul Ablimit, who in mid-December posted a photo of the 23-year-old woman from Turpan (in Chinese, Tulufan) city on social media with the #StillNoInfo hashtag among several photos of other relatives, along with a message asking Where is my mother-in-law and her family members?



In a CGTN video from Dec. 25, reporter Tao meets with Halinurwho the network describes as a former trainee who refutes the false claims by her cousin-in-law, Abdullah Rasulat the restaurant where she works in Turpan, and Halinur tells her she was shocked to learn that Rasul had said she was missing.



In the video, Halinur tells CGTN that she hadnt spoken to Ablimit since she moved abroad in 2016 and didnt understand why Rasul would lie about looking for her. She acknowledges that she followed the wrong path after dropping out of school, illegally wearing a burqa, and allowing herself to be infected with radical ideas as a result of her aunts teachings, but says a training center set her straight.



However Rusul told RFA that Halinurs husband, Abduqadir, was arrested for no reason whatsoever when she was pregnant with their second child in 2015 and sentenced to five or 10 years in prison, and that Halinur was later detained in an internment camp, despite her relatively moderate views on Islam.



Her [Mandarin] Chinese is really good, he said, adding that its just not logical to think that someone whose Chinese is already good has to go into a camp to study the language in order to work at a restaurant.



While Rasul was unsure of when Halinur was able to leave the camp she was held in, he said that her behavior when questioned by the reporter in the CGTN video suggested her answers were given under duress.



Looking at her, I can see that her faceher colordoesnt look good  it doesnt look quite the same as before, he said.



Her hands are also shaking when she talks and she has them clenched really tightly.



Chinas domestic broadcaster CCTV has in recent years been caught out staging televised confessions of human rights lawyers and activists. In one case, human rights lawyer Wang Yu said in 2018 that she had agreed to make a forced confession after Chinese authorities threatened to stop her from seeing her son.



Other relatives



Rasul said that while he and his wife were initially troubled by the video, they ultimately found peace in knowing that Halinur has not been harmed.



If nothing else, were seeing the result of our testimonies and our hard work, he said, adding, Halinur and her two kids are safe, theyre alive.



But Rasul said he has little information about his mother-in-law, who he said he had learned was imprisoned in 2016 for terrorism and also for plotting to split the country.



My father-in-law passed away four or five years before we left [China in 2015], so my mother-in-law was alonea widow and a housewife who didnt leave the house much, he said.



To say that a woman like this was involved in terrorism and splitting up the country, and the fact that they put her in prison, is such great injustice.



In addition to his mother-in-law, Rasul said that many of his wifes relatives have also been detained, while he believes some 150 immediate and distant members of his familywhich he lost contact with in 2017have been taken away by authorities, although they were able to learn of the release of some of them since they began posting content as part of the #StillNoInfo movement.



Reported by RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Elise Anderson. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
The Emergency Response Unit took part in the operation

Three members of a northside gang suspected of being the most prolific cash-in-transit mob in the country have been arrested following a surveillance operation by gardai.

The trio remained in custody in Finglas and Blanchardstown garda stations last night where they were being questioned by detectives from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, who have been monitoring their movements for weeks.

Yesterday's operation saw heavily armed members of the Emergency Response Unit pounce on the suspects just seconds after a security company employee was robbed at gunpoint in Clonee, Co Meath.

A senior source said a gang member threatened an employee with "what is suspected to be a realistic-looking imitation firearm" and demanded a cash box from the terrified worker.

The raider obtained the box, which contained 30,000 in cash, but before he and his accomplice could get back to a waiting getaway vehicle, armed officers arrested the suspects and recovered an imitation firearm and electronic signal blocker.

The suspected raider, accomplice and a getaway driver were all detained at the scene while two cars were seized.

All the money was recovered and no one was injured in the incident.

Last night, senior sources said the same gang, who are understood to have a "core" of four members, are the chief suspects for a botched cash-in-transit robbery in Tullow, Co Carlow, in late November, in which they failed to get money.

They are also suspected of a successful 26,000 heist at on Taney Road, Dundrum, at 10.35am on December 13.

"An employee transporting a cash box was approached and allegedly threatened by a male armed with a firearm," gardai announced at the time in relation to the south Dublin robbery.

"The suspect then stole the cash box and fled the scene in a white van.

"The van was found burnt out on Taney Crescent a short time later," they said in an appeal for information.

Last night, sources said that the mob, who have close links to the Finglas area, are suspected of a number of other similar crimes in recent months.

Thug

However, they are not linked to the armed robbery of 40,000 from a cash-in-transit van in the Cornmarket area of the south inner city on December 10.

Last month, the Herald revealed gardai had arrested a 29-year-old thug with links to the Kinahan cartel in relation to that crime.

In relation to yesterday's Clonee bust, gardai were questioning the suspected getaway driver (35) as well as a 33-year-old man and 30-year-old man who are from Finglas and are well known to officers.
The number of girls receiving HPV vaccines in Denmark plummeted after vaccine misinformation spread through Danish media outlets from 2013 to 2016. Health officials launched a campaign in 2017 aiming to correct the misinformation and encourage girls to get vaccinated.

New research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shows that, despite substantial progress, about 26,000 Danish girls remain unvaccinated as a result of vaccine misinformation. About 33,000 girls are born annually in Denmark. Among the unvaccinated girls, researchers expect to see as many as 180 avoidable cases of cervical cancer and 45 deaths.

The researchers found that misinformation in Danish media outlets from 2013-2016 led to vaccinations dropping by 50.4%. An information campaign geared toward concerned parents helped increase vaccine uptake again, but uptake is still below the level before misinformation began, showing how difficult it is to undo the damages misinformation causes.

The study results were published Jan. 7 in Vaccine. The paper's lead author is UNC-Chapel Hill Latane Distinguished Professor of Economics Peter R. Hansen. Hansen worked with Noel Brewer, professor of health behavior at Carolina and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member, and Matthias Schmidblaicher, graduate student in the Department of Economics at the European University Institute, on the research.

"Denmark is a good case study to see how a country deals with vaccine misinformation. By using anecdotal stories, media can create a false equivalence between outrageous claims and scientific facts," Hansen said. "The media stories that include inaccurate information cut HPV vaccine uptake in half. Recovery has been slow and costly. Resources are being used to combat misinformation instead of being used for healthcare benefits."

The HPV vaccine is safe and can prevent six cancers, including up to 90% of cervical cancers. Receiving the vaccine at 11- or 12-years-old is important because the vaccine is most effective at that time and infections often begin at 13-years-old.

The Danish Health Agency, Danish Cancer Society and Danish Medical Association partnered on the information campaign, which was funded by the Danish Parliament's Health and Senior Citizen's Committee and the Danish Cancer Society. The campaign cost about $1 million USD in taxpayer funds, and aimed to provide information to people hesitant about the vaccine, as opposed to people unwilling to get the vaccine for their children, who likely wouldn't change their minds, the study said. The campaign focused on sharing personal stories from women with cervical cancer on social media and digital platforms.

"The main threat to the resilience of vaccination programs globally is vaccine misinformation," Brewer said. "When there's a large drop in vaccination coverage, it's almost always because there's an unproven vaccine safety scare. For example, Japan had their HPV vaccination rates drop from 70% to 7% in one year. This has happened in several other countries, and all were due to unsubstantiated safety concerns."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 06:12:39|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TRIPOLI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Higher Council of State of Libya, an advisory body, on Tuesday recommended the UN-backed government to cut relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for "direct involvement in the attack on Tripoli".

The Council recommended the UN-backed government to cut relations with the UAE for "being a direct partner in the aggression on Tripoli, and in the massacre of the military academy in particular".

On Saturday, 30 student were killed and 33 others were injured in an airstrike that hit the military academy in Tripoli, according to the Ministry of Health of the UN-backed government.

The UN-backed government accused the rival eastern-based army of carrying out the airstrike, which the eastern-based army denied.

The Council also recommended to reassess relations with all countries that "help or communicate" with the eastern-based army commander Khalifa Haftar.

The Council criticized the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for holding conferences "based on unclear mechanisms without consulting the competent Libyan authorities."

The eastern-based army has been leading a military campaign in and around Tripoli since early April, trying to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government.

Thousands have been killed and injured in the fighting, and more than 120,000 people fled their homes from the violence.
WATERLOO  Black Hawk County Attorney Brian Williams is calling for increased courtroom security after one of his prosecutors was nearly beaten last week.

This is something thats been percolating for some time, Williams told members of the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. We have issues almost on a weekly basis, but it got real on Friday.

Theres no doubt that on Friday one of my employees would have been beaten severely but for the Black Hawk County deputies that were present, he added. The concern I have is they were present only based on a hunch.

Williams was referencing a courtroom outburst after jurors found Brittany Valencia Martin guilty of intentionally hitting her son with a vehicle. The 16-year-old victim went after the assistant county attorney prosecuting the case but was intercepted by deputies who dragged him from the courtroom screaming.

Deputies would normally not have been present in the courtroom because the defendant was not incarcerated, but Williams said he personally asked deputies to be there based on Martins and her familys behavior during the trial.

Currently, we just operate on the hunch practice as to when we call for deputies, said Williams, noting other large county courthouses have a better law enforcement presence. It is not efficient, and more importantly it is not safe.

It is a conversation that we have to have, he added. What were doing right now is not enough. We need more.

The issue came up during the board meeting as the supervisors were getting preliminary information on the upcoming budget process.

Supervisor Tom Little said the issue of security should be addressed by the sheriff and judges.

The sheriff is the one thats paying for the security, Little said. Thats where the discussion needs to be. If the board can be of assistance we certainly will.

But Williams reminded Little the supervisors set the sheriffs budget.

Sheriff Tony Thompson said he has increased the number of deputies assigned to provide courthouse security during hearings, but all of their time is dedicated to escorting people in custody. They are not assigned routinely to civil hearings or cases not involving persons not in custody.

The ability to increase services for non-incarcerated coverage strictly comes down to more bodies, Thompson said. That is something Im willing to have a discussion on.

Thompson said the deputies currently assigned to escort jail inmates to hearings are barely keeping up now.

Never before have we held more forcible felons than were holding in the Black Hawk County Jail, he said. While all of our call volume and arrest rates have decreased, the severity of the crimes have increased. The types of crimes that are being tried  are much more violent, are much more serious.

The supervisors are expected to hold a series of meetings starting next week to discuss priorities and spending plans for the fiscal year starting July 1.

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Local governments will be guided to revise rules to allow foreign-invested banks underwriting bonds issued by them as part of the country's financial market opening-up, the Ministry of Finance said.

Allowing foreign-invested banks to participate in underwriting local government bonds would help expand the issuance channel, investor base and the market's opening-up, the ministry said Monday in a statement on its website.

Foreign-invested banks include solely foreign-funded banks, Sino-foreign joint venture banks and Chinese branches of foreign banks.

Foreign-invested banks have already participated in underwriting bonds issued by the governments of Ningbo, Chongqing, Tianjin and Qingdao cities, as well as the government of Guangdong Province, the ministry said.
[January 07, 2020] Billion-dollar Consulting Firm Slalom Expands to Westchester County, Bringing Hundreds of New Jobs

Slalom, the $1B modern consulting firm focused on strategy, technology, and business transformation, today announced the opening of its newest office servicing Westchester County and Southern Connecticut. The office will be located in White Plains, New York, and will bring more than 300 jobs to Westchester and Southern Connecticut over the next several years. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005290/en/ Marc Raderman, Slalom General Manager for Westchester/Southern Connecticut (Photo: Business Wire) "Westchester County is pleased to welcome Slalom and the hundreds of professional jobs the firm will bring to our business community," said Westcester County Executive, George Latimer. "We are fortunate to possess a wealth of talented, successful business leaders right here in Westchester, and with an ideal location adjacent to New York City, this is the perfect place for an innovative company like Slalom to thrive."



Slalom was founded in Seattle in 2001. Today, the company is in over 35 markets across the US and around the world and is worth over $1B in revenue. Slalom's clients include more than half the Fortune 100 and a third of the Fortune 500-along with startups, not-for-profits, and innovative organizations of all kinds. "We're building the Westchester market from the ground up and will be driving growth in the business community with the leadership of our newest General Manager, Marc Raderman," said Troy Johnson, Slalom Chief Growth Officer and Co-Founder.

For Slalom, Westchester County offers close proximity to multiple Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, and a rapidly expanding growth center for media, manufacturing, biotech, med-tech, and healthcare innovation. "In Westchester County, we see a lot of untapped potential," said Marc Raderman, Slalom General Manager for Westchester/Southern Connecticut. "Westchester is home to industry leaders in healthcare, financial services, technology, and retail, and we're looking forward to bringing innovation and impactful outcomes to this business community." Along with Slalom's newest office, the company currently employs 7,500 people globally and will continue its rapid growth in 2020. About Slalom Slalom is a modern consulting firm focused on strategy, technology, and business transformation. In over 35 markets across the US and around the world, Slalom's teams have autonomy to move fast and do what's right. They're backed by regional innovation hubs, a global culture of collaboration, and partnerships with the world's top technology providers. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Seattle, Slalom has organically grown to over 7,500 employees. Slalom was named one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2019 and is regularly recognized by employees as a best place to work. Learn more at slalom.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005290/en/

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The executives of motorcycle taxi app Joyride revealed that they are now fasttracking the establishment of a Cebu facility in line to bolster their presence in the country.

During the site visit at their Rizal facility, Joyride vice president for corporate affairs Noli Eala announced that they are working out on putting up a facility similar to the existing one in Antipolo, Rizal.

The upcoming facility is to meet the cap in the area intended for every study participant.

We are now discussing about putting up a Cebu facility, Eala said.

However, they see the March 23 deadline of the TWG as one of the challenges in raising the establishment.

We really have time constraints. But we will exert all efforts, Eala told reporters during the interview.

The eyed facility will be created within the Php30 million capital investment for the eyed business.

Meanwhile, Chief Business Advisor for Joyride Edwin Rodriguez urged the Department of Transportation to apprehend erring Joyride owners.

Pag hindi nakasunod ang Joyride riders, hulihin niyo, pag hindi nakasunod within the standards ang motorcycles, impound niyo. Pero dapat lahat ng participants din, Rodriguez said.

Meanwhile, mobile app giant Grab is reiterating its interest in participating in the motorcycle taxi service.

It may be recalled that Grab used to operate GrabBike in the Philippines until mid-2016 when the service was discontinued in compliance with the government regulations.

As the government is seriously looking into a possible regulation for motorcycle taxis, Grab is seriously considering to re-invest in the motorcycle taxi denomination and relaunch its GrabBike service in the Philippines, they said in a statement.

Grab has prepared its approach for reviving its GrabBike service, and is ready to present to the LTFRB and the DOTr anytime it is asked to.

John Paul Nabua, counsel for MyTaxi. PH Inc sent a letter to TWG chair Antonio Gardiola Jr. last December 9, expressing their intention to join the motorcycle taxi study.

Story continues

Below is the letter of Grab (MyTaxi. PH) sent to the office of Gardiola.

The post Joyride to put up Cebu Facility Despite Time Constraints appeared first on Carmudi Philippines.
ASUS Unveils All-New Lineup of Lifestyle, Business and Gaming Innovations at CES 2020

ASUS today unveiled a comprehensive new lineup of lifestyle, business and gaming innovations at CES (News - Alert) 2020, including notebooks, motherboards, desktops, displays, routers and devices for AIoT applications designed to deliver exceptional productivity and gaming experiences and fulfill the ASUS mission of creating the most ubiquitous, intelligent, heartfelt and joyful smart life for everyone.

The latest notebooks include Chromebook Flip C436, the VivoBook S (S333/S433/S533) series and ExpertBook B9450. The ultrathin Chromebook Flip C436 delivers nimble performance and connectivity with an up to 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, up to 16GB RAM, a fast NVMe SSD and the latest Wi-Fi 6 networking. The latest VivoBook S laptops cater to users seeking a blend of personality and performance characteristic to the series with an updated chassis available in bold new colors and 13-inch, 14-inch and 15-inch form factors. The ExpertBook B9450 is the world's lightest 14-inch business notebook1 and gives users a long-lasting battery and a dynamic 10th Generation Intel Core processor for accelerated productivity.

ASUS also showcased the Prime TRX40-Pro motherboard for content creators, designers and professionals. The motherboard is expertly engineered to unleash the full potential of AMD's (News - Alert) latest 3rd Gen Ryzen Threadripper processors and pairs perfectly with the Hyper M.2 X16 Gen4 Card, which enables creation of hardware SSD RAID arrays for blazingly fast storage performance.

Other products on display include ProArt StudioBook notebooks and ProArt Station mini PCs; the TUF Gaming A15 and A17 gaming laptops; ZenScreen MB16ACE portable monitor; ProArt Display PA248QV and PA278QV monitors; TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A gaming monitor; ZenWiFi Voice, ZenWiFi AX (XT8), ZenWiFi AC (CT8), RT-AX89X and RT-AX86U routers; and devices for AIoT applications, including the Tinker Edge T and Tinker Edge R single-board computers and Mini PC PN61T.

The latest ASUS innovations will be on display to CES 2020 visitors Jan. 6-9 at the ASUS Media Showroom at the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino.

NOTEBOOKS

The feature-rich Chromebook Flip C436 integrates up to a 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, a quick NVMe SSD and cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6 networking capability for nimble connectivity. It also includes a wide range of premium features such as an integrated fingerprint sensor in the power button, an omnidirectional quad-speaker design for high-quality sound in a number of convertible modes, USI stylus support for open pen input and numerous other peripheral options. The use of high-grade metal, two alluring finishes, including the iridescent Aerogel White and the classic Transparent Silver, and an ultrathin chassis give the Chromebook Flip C436 a sleek and graceful appearance.

The VivoBook S (S333/S433/S533) family of notebooks deftly blends personality and performance with finishes in a variety of bold colors and an eye-catching Enter key with color-blocked edges, up to 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processors, Wi-Fi 6 technology, NVIDIA discrete graphics and an updated chassis available in 13-inch, 14-inch and 15-inch form factors. With an array of colors and sizes to choose from, users can choose the perfect VivoBook S that not only fits their needs but also expresses their personal style.

ExpertBook B9450 is a formidable notebook designed to meet the demanding needs of mobile working professionals. The world's lightest 14-inch business notebook2, it weighs just 870 grams3 and has a thickness of just 14.8 mm. Despite its highly portable design, ExpertBook B9450 features a powerful battery that delivers up to 24 hours4 of use on a single charge, even when tasked with heavy workloads and surpasses the strict MIL-STD 810G US military standard for proven quality. ExpertBook comes equipped with a 10th Generation Intel Core i7 or i5 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, a pair of M.2 slots, two Thunderbolt 3 ports and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. ExpertBook B9450 is an excellent notebook for business professionals who need a powerful notebook and the latest technology to get things done.

GAMING LAPTOPS

The 15-inch TUF Gaming A15 and 17-inch TUF Gaming A17 deliver unprecedented gaming experiences with potent 4th Gen AMD Ryzen Mobile CPUs and up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics. These powerful NVIDIA Turing-based GPUs feed frames into fast displays that refresh at up to 144 Hz and use adaptive sync technology to ensure smoother, tear-free gaming across a wide range of titles. Armed with bigger battery options ranging up to 90 Wh, TUF Gaming A15 and A17 give users the flexibility and freedom to spend long hours away from an outlet. The more compact chassis on each model is ideal for portability, and updated military-grade durability testing ensures each notebook's ability to survive in the field.

MOTHERBOARDS

The Hyper M.2 X16 Gen4 Card pairs perfectly with all ASUS and ROG TRX40 motherboards, enabling users to add up to four NVMe SSDs to their system. With PCIe 4.0 bandwidth of up to 16GT/s and AMD Ryzen Threadripper support for bootable hardware RAID arrays using CPU PCIe lanes, Hyper M.2 X16 Gen4 Card enables blazingly fast storage performance that is perfect for content creators, such as video editors who work with 4K and 8K video files.

MONITORS

ProArt Display PA248QV and PA278QV are designed to satisfy the needs of creative professionals, such as photographers, video editors and graphic designers. The displays come factory calibrated and deliver superb color accuracy with an average Delta E < 2 rating and 100% sRGB / 100% Rec. 709 color space coverage. ASUS-exclusive features, such as ProArt Preset and ProArt Palette with six-axis color, black-level and brightness adjustments, enable users to achieve the exact look they want quickly, easily and precisely.

The 27-inch ProArt Display PA278QV offers 2560 x 1440 resolution and a wide aspect ratio, while the 24.1-inch ProArt Display PA248QV has a resolution of 1920 x 1200 and a 16:10 aspect ratio. Both displays have ultra-slim side and top bezels that minimize distractions and enable nearly seamless multi-monitor setups. They offer flexible connectivity and each feature a USB 3.0 hub for attaching high-spee storage devices and other accessories. ProArt Display PA278QV comes with DisplayPort 1.2, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4 and Dual-link DVI-D ports, and ProArt Display PA248QV has DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4, and legacy D-Sub ports.







TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A features a stand that is wider than those on competing gaming monitors, providing increased stability. Its ultra-thin bezel helps keep the focus on onscreen action and VESA DisplayHDR 400 compliance ensures that virtual gaming worlds are presented in the highest quality. The 1440p IPS display of the TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A features refresh rates of up to 165 Hz with a low 1-millisecond response time (MPRT), ensuring that users will have a seamless and nimble gaming experience. It also features ELMB SYNC for enabling ELMB (low-motion-blur technology) and variable refresh rates at the same time, eliminating ghosting and tearing for sharp visuals and high frame rates while gaming.

NETWORKING

ZenWiFi Voice is a dual-band AC1300 mesh network router that integrates Amazon Alexa technology, making it suitable as a centerpiece of any smart home. Supporting AiMesh technology makes it possible to use the device as a standalone router or as part of a larger mesh network with other AiMesh devices. It can also be used in Repeater mode to boost the signal of any wireless router. ZenWiFi Voice delivers a smooth connection for wireless devices, as well as providing access to Amazon's Alexa. The built-in Amazon Alexa provides support from the smart assistant for streaming music, receiving weather updates, or even telling users a joke, all owing to the smooth connection of the ZenWiFi Voice.

RT-AX86U router has inherited gaming genes from the popular RT-AC86U, yet is upgraded to allow users enjoy great Wi-Fi 6 benefits. Supporting Wi-Fi 6 technology, RT-AX86U enables networking speeds up to 5700 Mbps, more network capacity, better power efficiency for connected devices and much wider signal coverage. It is also a new face to the ASUS Gaming series, which provides great features to smoothen gaming experiences. With mobile game boost, users can give their phone top network priority for faster online gaming experiences with minimal lag. RT-AX86U can also deliver boosted gaming over wired connections with speeds of up to 2 gigabits via WAN/LAN aggregation and a 2.5G Base-T port that can be configured as a WAN or LAN port through the router's web interface.

AIOT DEVICES

Mini PC PN61T features a built-in Google Edge TPU that offers enhanced performance for local inferencing, and supports Power Delivery (PD) power input through a USB Type-C port in the back. Mini PC PN61T also has a consumer infrared sensor for remote control applications. Additionally, it features a USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port, microSD card reader and has a smooth fan policy to reduce acoustics.

PRODUCT IMAGES

https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=kZp8PjkZ0aGVwaV8Um7DI9za9gmdJYKmcHKX

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information on products and availability.

ASUS at CES 2020: If you're interested in seeing any products or taking a tour of the ASUS and ROG showrooms at CES, please reach out to the press contacts listed below.

ASUS AND ROG AT CES 2020

To access all ASUS and ROG CES 2020 press releases and collateral, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/ASUS-AT-CES-2020.

For all ASUS and ROG CES 2020 news, please visit: https://www.asus.com/us/News/ or view the related press releases below:

About ASUS

ASUS is a multinational company known for the world's best motherboards, PCs, monitors, graphics cards and routers, and driven to become the most-admired innovative leading technology enterprise. With a global workforce that includes more than 5,000 R&D professionals, ASUS leads the industry through cutting-edge design and innovations made to create the most ubiquitous, intelligent, heartfelt and joyful smart life for everyone. Inspired by the In Search of Incredible brand spirit, ASUS won more than 11 prestigious awards every day in 2018 and ranked as one of Forbes' Global 2000 Top Regarded Companies, Thomson (News - Alert) Reuters' Top 100 Global Tech Leaders and Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies.

1 As of Dec 1, 2019. Based on internal ASUS market analysis comparing the size of ExpertBook B9450 to competitor products from vendors including Acer (News - Alert), HP, Huawei, Lenovo, Microsoft and Samsung. Actual weight may vary by specs.

2 As of Dec 1, 2019. Based on internal ASUS market analysis comparing the size of ExpertBook B9 to competitor products from vendors including Acer, HP, Huawei (News - Alert), Lenovo, Microsoft and Samsung. Actual weight may vary by specs.

3 Measured with 33W battery. Weight may vary according to configuration.

4 Battery life test configuration: Intel Core i7-10510U, 16GB RAM, FHD display, 2TB PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD, 66W battery. Battery tests conducted by ASUS in August 2018 using the MobileMark 2014 Office Productivity scenario.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200106005972/en/
Large crowds are expected in a Kerry church this evening to be blessed with one of Padre Pios trademark fingerless gloves.

The glove is said to have been one of a number that the saint wore to cover wounds in both his hands.

Devotees believe they and other scars he bore correspond with the same wounds Jesus Christ sustained at his crucification.

The glove is one of a number found in the small Italian convent cell where Padre Pio lived until his death in 1968.

It will be on display in the Church of Saints Stephen and John in Castleisland during monthly devotions to Padre Pio, starting tonight from 7.30pm.

Fr Mossie Brick, the priest behind the initiative, previously held packed devotions to the saint at the Church of St Michael in the north Kerry village of Lixnaw.

Tonights evening of devotion will be addressed by the Irish Capuchin provincial, Brother Bryan Shortall OFM.

It will continue on the first Tuesday of each month until June and will then break until the first Tuesday of September.

The church now has a dedicated shrine to St Pio, which is already attracting a lot of devotion locally since it was expertly constructed and finished by local trades-man, Tim Broderick.

Fr Brick said last night: One of the gloves he used to wear to cover the wounds to his hands will be at the services.

Those who wish will be able to take the glove and bless themselves.

Its in a frame or else it would be torn to shreds.

Fr Brick, parish priest of Castleisland, said his devotion to Padre Pio began as a child while listening to his mother talking about him.

He added: We are very lucky to have one of Padre Pios healing gloves at our devotions on Tuesday evening.

In the course of his remarkable lifetime, he had the power of healing sickness of both body and mind. And he had innumerable miracles to his credit  even in the course of his lifetime.
The Iranian military commander killed by US air raid laid to rest in Kerman as large crowds attended his funeral.

At least 56 people have been killed in a stampede in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman at the funeral procession for top Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani assassinated in an air raid by the United States.

Iranian state TV said at least 56 people have been killed and more than 200 injured in the stampede, citing security sources.

More:

Earlier, the head of the countrys emergency services, Pirhossein Koolivand, told state television that 190 were injured due to overcrowding.

The injured were immediately transferred to the hospital, he added.

Initial videos posted online showed people lying lifeless on a road, others shouting and trying to help them.

Hundreds of thousands of people had gathered in Kerman for the burial of Soleimani, the head of Revolutionary Guards elite Quds Force, who was assassinated on Friday near the Baghdad airport.

Officials lowered the shroud-wrapped remains of Soleimani into the ground in Kerman just before 6am on Wednesday. Mourners at the grave site wailed.





Tuesdays funeral comes after days of processions that attracted huge crowds in the streets of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran, followed by Mashhad in the northeast, the capital Tehran and the holy city of Qom.

A procession in Tehran on Monday drew over one million people in the Iranian capital.

Al Jazeeras Assed Beig, reporting from Tehran, said many who were unable to attend the previous gatherings had made their way to the final procession in Kerman.

People are travelling in narrow spaces, going in one direction to that specific graveyard  and that could be one of the reasons as to why a stampede has happened, Beig said.

The assassination of Soleimani triggered a dramatic escalation of tensions in the region and marked the most significant confrontation between the US and Iran in recent years.

Tehran has since responded, hitting US military sites in Iraq with missiles on Wednesday morning.
(Newser)  President Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn deserves up to six months in prison, the Justice Department said Tuesday in a reversal of its earlier stance. Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the then-Russian ambassador to the US. He met repeatedly with prosecutors over the following months and was to have been sentenced in December 2018. But the hearing was upended when a sharp rebuke from a judge raised the prospect that he might send Flynn to prison even though prosecutors hadn't sought that punishment, reports the AP. Flynn asked for the hearing to be postponed so he could continue cooperating with the government in hopes of avoiding prison and proving his value as a witness. The case has taken a tumultuous turn since then.

story continues below

The Justice Department opted not to have Flynn testify in the Virginia trial of a former business associate, denying him a chance to be credited for that cooperation. He also fired his lawyers and replaced them with new ones who have accused prosecutors of withholding documents that they said was favorable to Flynn. Prosecutors, for their part, now accuse him of seeking at times "to thwart the efforts of the government to hold other individuals, principally Bijan Rafiekian, accountable for criminal wrongdoing." Other lines from the federal prosecutors' filing, per the Washington Post and CNBC:

"In light of the complete record, including actions subsequent to December 18, 2018, that negate the benefits of much of the defendants earlier cooperation, the government no longer deems the defendants assistance substantial,'" wrote prosecutor Brandon Van Grack in a court filing.

"The government also does not believe the defendant should receive credit for acceptance of responsibility, prosecutors wrote. Indeed, the government has reason to believe, through representations by the defendants counsel, that the defendant has retreated from his acceptance of responsibility in this case regarding his lies to the FBI."

Flynn's lawyers have until Jan. 13 to respond. Sentencing is set for Jan. 28. (Read more Michael Flynn stories.)
Motherland is Hong Kong's biggest support: new head of liaison office

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/1/6 12:13:39

The "One Country, Two Systems" is the biggest advantage for Hong Kong and the motherland is Hong Kong's biggest support, Luo Huining, the new chief of the liaison office of the central government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said at a brief and highly anticipated press conference on Monday, his first day in office.

"It is a new mission and a new challenge for me to work for the liaison office of the central government in Hong Kong," Luo said, noting that he is not unfamiliar with Hong Kong.

He stressed that Hong Kong people have made great contributions to the country's reform and opening-up and modernization construction.

"The past half year in Hong Kong has been distressing and we all sincerely hope that the city will get back on the right track," Luo said.

"One country, two systems" is Hong Kong's biggest advantage, he stressed.

Luo, 65, was announced as the new chief of the liaison office on Saturday.

He was also appointed vice-chairman of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress on December 28, 2019. He previously served as Party chief of Northwest China's Qinghai Province and North China's Shanxi Province.

Luo visited Hong Kong in 2017 as provincial Party chief of Shanxi and met with Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam to discuss cooperation between Shanxi and Hong Kong, according to a statement issued by Lam on Saturday.

Lam said that under Luo's leadership the liaison office will continue to work with the Hong Kong government to fully implement the Basic Law and "one country, two systems" in the interest of Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.

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The Singapore government will continue with its balanced approach in managing the employment of foreigners in the country as it cannot open the floodgates and drown Singaporeans, but neither can close the borders and reject foreigners in the workforce, a senior minister has said.

To ensure the Singapore economy continues to grow and good jobs are created for Singaporeans, the Government cannot take extreme positions on the intake of foreign workers, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing was quoted as saying by the Channel Asia.

Chan said the real competition is not between the Singaporean (citizens) versus the permanent resident (PR) here versus the foreigner in the City State that has grown into Asian financial centre and industrial hubs for multi-national corporations.

"The real competition is Team Singapore, comprising Singaporeans, PRs and foreign workers here, competing with the rest of the world to give our fellow Singaporeans the best chance possible to win, not just in Singapore but across the entire globe," he told Parliament on Monday.

"We cannot open the floodgates and drown Singaporeans. But neither can we close our borders and reject foreigners in our workforce," he said.

Singapore must firmly reject more extreme positions as it strives for what Chan called the "Goldilocks balance".

"Above all, we must firmly reject efforts to stoke anti-foreigner sentiments by spreading falsehoods or creating invidious comparisons out of context. That is not the kind of politics we want," said the minister.

Singapore also depends on foreign labourers and workers in services sectors, mostly coming from Southeast Asian countries, China, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jeremy Corbyn was mocked by Tory MPs this afternoon after he claimed to have 'long spoken out against the Iranian government's human rights record'.

The Labour leader demanded answers from the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in the Commons over the UK's response to rising tensions in the Middle East following the US killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

But he was interrupted by laughing Conservative backbenchers after he insisted he was no ally of the Iranian regime.

Mr Wallace accused Mr Corbyn of talking the 'usual tripe' and 'anti-America, anti-imperialistic guff' after the latter slammed Donald Trump for what he described as the 'illegal' fatal drone attack in Baghdad last Friday.

Mr Corbyn has faced repeated criticism in recent years for past paid appearances on Press TV, Iran's controversial state television broadcaster.

The Labour leader told the Commons: 'As the Secretary of State for Defence will confirm, I have long spoken out against the Iranian government's human rights record, including when he and I visited Iran together in 2014.'

His remarks prompted a wave of uproarious laughter on the Tory benches opposite the Labour leader as he had to raise his voice in order to continue.

Jeremy Corbyn, pictured in the House of Commons this afternoon, said he had 'long spoken out against the Iranian government's human rights record'

Mr Corbyn said the killing of Soleimani meant the world was facing a 'highly dangerous moment' as he demanded to know why Mr Wallace was updating MPs instead of Boris Johnson.

The Leader of the Opposition asked the Defence Secretary: 'Could he tell us where the Prime Minister is and what is he doing that is so much more important than addressing Parliament on the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani?

'An extremely dangerous and aggressive act that risks starting yet another deadly war in the Middle East.'

But Mr Wallace hit back and said: 'We have had the usual tripe about this is about Trump, this is about America and all the anti-America, anti-Imperialistic guff that we have had [from Mr Corbyn].

'The Leader of the Opposition asks where the Prime Minister is. Funnily enough the Prime Minister is running the country - something the Leader of the Opposition will fail to ever do as a result of the election.'

Mr Corbyn claimed Mr Johnson was 'hiding behind his Defence Secretary' as he claimed the killing of Soleimani was 'widely regarded as an illegal act'.

The US has insisted the strike was justified on the grounds of self-defence.

Mr Corbyn demanded to know whether the White House had provided any evidence to the UK to support that claim.

He also attacked the government's response as he claimed the UK's call for calm had only been directed at Tehran.

He told MPs: 'I wonder if Iran had assassinated an American general whether the British government would be telling Washington that the onus was entirely on the US to deescalate?'

He continued: 'Time and time again over the last two decades the political and military establishments have made the wrong call on military interventions in the Middle East.

'Many of us opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the failed invasion of Afghanistan and I opposed the bombing of Libya in 2011.

'Have we learnt nothing from those events? This House must rule out plunging our country into yet another devastating war at the behest of another state.'

Mr Corbyn's comments came as Mr Johnson gathered senior ministers, military chiefs and spy bosses in Number 10 to discuss the mounting crisis in the Gulf.

The Prime Minister is due to chair a meeting of the National Security Council early this evening.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace updated MPs this afternoon on the situation in the Middle East

At a Cabinet meeting earlier on Tuesday, the Prime Minister set out the government's position on 'the importance of protecting British citizens and interests and de-escalating tensions'.

Tehran has vowed 'severe revenge' for the killing of its top military commander but Donald Trump in turn warned that the US was ready to strike back in a 'disproportionate' manner if the Iranians retaliate.

Mr Johnson has been accused of being slow to respond to the crisis - only returning to the UK at the weekend following his new year holiday on the private Caribbean island of Mustique.

Asked why Mr Wallace, and not the Prime Minister, was making the statement in the Commons, the PM's spokesman said earlier today: 'The PM leads a Cabinet government and the response to events in the Middle East is a collective Cabinet response.

'The Prime Minister continues to speak to world leaders. He has overseen the ministerial response and will chair the National Security Council later today.'
The second phase of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement came into effect early this month providing zero duty facility to over thousand Pakistani products, while Islamabad continue to grapple with huge trade deficit with Beijing despite the inflow of large Chinese investments into the country under the CPEC.

Pakistan's trade deficit with China has further widened to USD 9.7 billion in 2018 in about USD 13 billion total trade, according to official data.

The second phase of China Pakistan Free trade Agreement (CPFTA) initiated from January 1, 2020. The first phase of the FTA between the two countries was signed in 2006.

China has committed to investment over USD 60 billion in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project under which it planned to build a number of special economic zones. India has objected to the CPEC as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Commenting on the second phase of the FTA with Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told the media here on Tuesday that the core content of the agreement is to substantially increase the level of liberalisation of trade in goods.

It "stipulates the proportion of the tariff lines with zero tariff products between China and Pakistan will gradually increase from 35 per cent to 75 per cent. In addition, both parties will implement 20 per cent reduction in taxes on other products that account for 5 per cent of their respective tariff lines. The tariff elimination measures started to be implemented from January 1," he said.

Noting that China and Pakistan are all weather strategic cooperative partners with sound momentum in ties, he said, "We will continue to deepen our political mutual trust, deepen all dimensional cooperation for greater high quality development of CPEC, and to deliver more benefits to our peoples."



The second phase of the FTA allows the Pakistani manufacturers and traders to export around 313 new products on zero duty to the Chinese market taking the total to products to 1,047, Pakistan's state run APP agency reported.

The new facility will particularly benefit the textile sector to enhance its export to China as textile exports to China will virtually be duty free, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 2000 article frommagazine aimed to propel us 20 years into the future for a glimpse at what 2020 would hold. The jumping-off point was a gathering of futurists in San Francisco at an installment of the Next Twenty Years discussion series. Stanley Williams, director of the quantum structures research initiative at HP Labs, predicted that our electronics will be 10,000 times as capable as they are today in 2020. I wont attempt to quibble the multiplier. It was a valid point.One of the benefits of having a more than 30-year history as a print magazine is that there are decades of archived copies of this magazine to page through when the decades pass into history. The May 2000 issue featured the cover story, envisioning a future in which states would offer up personalized, service-packed websites packed with capabilities for consumers that would keep them from having to visit government offices. Yes, the desire to conduct business online rather than stand in line was gaining traction even then. The story also predicted a privacy crisis triggered by all the data sharing that would need to happen for government portals to be truly effective.In 2000 vs. 2020: How Far Has Gov Tech Come in Two Decades? , we consider the state of our digital lives in the year 2000, as well as how we thought they would evolve by 2020. Self-driving cars are not, in fact, ubiquitous on city streets and highways, despite the predictions, though advances in the past two decades have gotten us much closer to that reality. Likewise, casting a vote in a U.S. election is not something everyone does online from the comfort of their living room, which some forecasters pegged would be the case as early as 2008. And the reason for the delay  the explosion of cybersecurity vulnerabilities in recent years  gets to an issue almost no one fully anticipated as the millennium turned, despite the panic surrounding Y2K.And the final milestone Ill note is the newest one. Five years ago, this publication launched its inaugural GovTech 100  a list of government-facing tech companies that jumped into an emerging market that is working its way toward the mainstream. This year, weve added a short list of international companies to the GT100, a recognition of how global this market segment has really become. But the bulk of the list is made up of U.S.-based businesses that earn more than half of their revenue from their work with the public sector.Many companies on the 2020 list were formed within the last several years, and the most successful have done more than take a product built for the private sector and offer it to government. Theyre embedding themselves in city halls and agency offices and drawing upon the expertise of public servants to solve problems that improve how government does its important work. These are good ideas gaining traction: This years companies have raised a total of $4.8 billion from more than 500 unique investors. Thats more than enough reason to be, as one investor said, gov-curious.
Neogen Corporation NEOG announced that it acquired its food safety diagnostics distributor, Productos Quimicos Magiar (Magiar), which has network in Argentina and Uruguay. Notably, Neogen has been conducting business with Magiar for the past 20 years.



The former Magiar operations will, henceforth, be managed by Neogens Latin American operations, and will offer direct sales of Neogen food safety, animal safety and genomic products into Argentina and Uruguay. However, financial terms of the deal have been kept under wraps.



With the recent buyout, Neogen aims to recapture distributor profits as well as have a direct sales and technical service presence for its full suite of products in the Southern Cone. The company is looking forward to strengthen its food safety business globally through such moves.







Rationale Behind the Buyout



With the recent buyout, Neogen will be able to establish its physical presence in the two countries where it can tap into the huge beef and dairy population. These regions will also provide the company with considerable export opportunities.



Per Neogens management, key personnel have been retained to ensure the same level of service to customers and consistency is maintained.



Industry Prospects



Per a report by Grand View Research, the global food safety testing market size was approximated at $18 billion in 2018, witnessing a CAGR of 7.7% between 2019 and 2025. Increasing incidents of food contamination due to rising demand for packaged and processed food is likely to drive the market.



Given the rising potential of the market, the buyout has been well-timed.



Recent Developments



Lately, Neogen witnessed a number of crucial developments, pertaining to the Food Safety segment.



In December, the company announced the receipt of approval from the AOAC Research Institute for its Soleris for Enterobacteriaceae (EBAC) test, which has been designed for the prevention of bacterial contamination of food, pet food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.



Further, it announced the launch of the Reveal Q+ MAX test in December to check for ergot alkaloids infection in rye and wheat. The test, which is the first one for ergot alkaloids in the simple rapid lateral flow format, is compatible to be used with Neogen's Raptor testing platform.



In November, the AOAC Research Institute approved the companys Reveal 3-D for Peanut test to help prevent peanut residues from contaminating foods intended to be peanut-free.



Neogen, in October, launched K-Gold Plus, a p-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNPP) substrate, combining the ease of use of its previous PNPP substrate with improved signal-to-background performance.



Price Performance



Shares of Neogen have gained 11.6% in the past year compared with the industrys 19.1% growth.



Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider



Currently, Neogen carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).



Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Haemonetics Corporation HAE, Medtronic plc MDT and Vapotherm, Inc VAPO.



Haemonetics, currently flaunting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), has a projected long-term earnings growth rate of 13.5%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Medtronics long-term earnings growth rate is estimated at 7.4%. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).



Vapotherms long-term earnings growth rate is estimated at 49.5%. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.



Just Released: Zacks 7 Best Stocks for Today



Experts extracted 7 stocks from the list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys that has beaten the market more than 2X over with a stunning average gain of +24.6% per year.



These 7 were selected because of their superior potential for immediate breakout.



See these time-sensitive tickers now >>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Medtronic PLC (MDT) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Neogen Corporation (NEOG) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Gigi Hadid, Adriana Lima, Joan Smalls, and Irina Shayk have joined fashion forces for the new Max Mara campaign, with all four stunners dressing up similar to page boys for the new collection.

The Italian-based brand released its new campaign imagery featuring the modeling foursome to show off its Spring/Summer 2020 collection.

Campaign images showed the women donning pastel short-sleeved suit jackets with military-tailored shorts and knee-high socks while wearing train conductor-esque hats that match the fabric.

Dynamic foursome: Adriana Lima, Joan Smalls, Irina Shayk, and Gigi Hadid (pictured left to right) joined fashion forces for the Max Mara campaign

Poised: The women (pictured is Shayk and Hadid) modeled the new Spring/Summer 2020 collection, which was first unveiled in September 2019 during Milan Fashion Week

Inspiration: The collection, which was inspired by shows like Killing Eve, featured a more masculine vibe

The looks: Creative director Ian Griffiths previously revealed he was inspired by what he thought a modern-day, female James Bond would wear when creating the collection

The photoshoot gave an old-fashioned and masculine vibe with the four women posing alongside each other in a straight line in the different colored pastel looks.

Besides the pastel-colored suit sets, the rest of the Max Mara collection stuck to neutral tones.

Hadid, Shayk, Smalls, and Lima changed into gray plaid-inspired outfits to model a different selection of items from the collection.

These offered more variety with Shayk, 34, modeling patterned pants while Lima, 38, and Smalls, 31, stayed in a pair of military-cut shorts similar to what they modeled for the pastel looks.

Hadid, 24, then struck a different chord with her look in the group shot by wearing a skirt that hit just below her knees. Included with the design was large pockets resting just below her hips.

All four women looked cohesive, though, with the matching fabrics and heels featuring a patent black toe.

Strike a pose: Inspired by the current #MeToo era, Griffths decided to focus on masculinity in the collection and what he thought people would want to see from a female 007

All business: A majority of the collection entailed neutral tones for each of the clothing pieces

Stunning: Then the final grouping of looks for the Spring/Summer 2020 collection involved black fabric and white polka dots

Another collection of looks involved beige-colored clothing adorning each of the models. These looks were then paired with black hats that also mirrored that of train conductor caps.

Then the final grouping of looks for the Spring/Summer 2020 collection featured black fabric and white polka dots.

Hadid and Shayk both kept on their black hats for the shoot while Lima and Smalls modeled black-and-white polka dot head scarves that matched the fabric of the outfits they wore.

The Spring/Summer 2020 collection was first unveiled on the runway in the September 2019 during the Milan Fashion week, with Hadid and Smalls both walking for the designer.

Creative director Ian Griffiths previously revealed he was inspired by shows like Killing Eve to create what he believed the female version of James Bond would wear.

Also inspired by the current #MeToo era, Griffths decided to focus on masculinity in the collection and what he thought people would want to see from a female 007. The 1960s comic strip spy Modesty Blaise helped to also inspire the collection.

In the end, the looks came together to create a collection the modern woman could rock on her morning commute, in the boardroom, or when out for drinks on the town. All with the help of the modeling foursome to show off each look.
The San Antonio Express-News has hired a new chief revenue officer, publisher Michael Sacks announced Monday.

Raj Ramanan is moving to San Antonio from Austin to oversee the newspapers sales and advertising operations and to boost revenue, effective immediately.

Im super excited to be here and to get started, he said.

Ramanan, 42, previously served as president of HYFN Local, an ad agency owned by Irving-based Nexstar Media Group, where, he said, he increased revenue by double digits, returning the company to profitability.

Before that, he worked for Disney, investment bank Bear Stearns, private equity firm KKR and consulting firm McKinsey. Ramanan also founded and sold a search app startup with a friend.

Step one is operate at a world-class level and bring in A-plus talent, he said of his plans to increase revenue at the Express-News.

I think theres a few areas where we can add some additional resources, and there are strategic investments we should make in new tools, new processes, potentially new ad solutions to increase values to our customers, Ramanan said.

Ramanan is married and has a 10-month-old son.

The Express-News spent about two months looking for a chief revenue officer. While Ramanan is not a traditional newspaper person, he is very smart and has a huge belief in local businesses, Sacks said. His responsibilities will include developing relationships with local partners.

We need to do a better job helping advertisers figure out how to leverage our audience to grow their business, Sacks said.

Newspapers across the country have struggled to reverse declines in revenue for more than a decade as advertisers moved their spending online, where Facebook and Google dominate. The Express-News is part of Hearst, a privately held company that does not disclose financial data on its subsidiaries.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
Sonos filed a lawsuit against Google for five patent infringements on Tuesday, with the company claiming that Google stole technology from its wireless speakers to develop their own smart products.

According to Sonos CEO Patrick Spence, Google gained access to - and then copied - the patented tech during in a joint venture in 2013, when the two companies worked together to bring Google's music streaming service to Sonos speakers.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, says that Google didn't just copy Sanos' technology, including features that allows smart speakers to pair and sync, but that it also 'subsidized the prices of its patent infringing products', with Google speakers now costing as little as $35, in comparison to Sonos' products which are often valued in excess of hundreds of dollars.

'Google is an important partner with whom we have collaborated successfully for years, including bringing the Google Assistant to the Sonos platform last year. However, Google has been blatantly and knowingly copying our patented technology in creating its audio products,' Patrick Spence, Sonos CEO, told DailyMail.com in an emailed statement.

'Despite our repeated and extensive efforts over the last few years, Google has not shown any willingness to work with us on a mutually beneficial solution. We're left with no choice but to litigate in the interest of protecting our inventions, our customers, and the spirit of innovation that's defined Sonos from the beginning.'

According to Sonos CEO Patrick Spence, Google gained access to - and then copied - the patented tech during in a joint venture in 2013, when the two companies worked together to bring Google's music streaming service to Sonos speakers

According to Sonos CEO Patrick Spence, Google gained access to - and then copied - the patented tech during in a joint venture in 2013, when the two companies worked together to bring Google's music streaming service to Sonos speakers

Sonos makes home speakers compatible with both Google's AI-powered assistant as well as Amazon's Alexa. While their speakers predate Google's line of Nest Home devices, Google sells the same amount of speakers that Sonos does in a year, in just a few months - credited largely to its significantly cheaper price points.

Sonos is now seeking unspecified financial damages against Google, as well as a ban on any of the company's speakers, smartphones or laptops from being sold in the US.

Though the company is suing Google for infringing on five of it's patents, Spence believes the company has actually violated more than 100.

The CEO told the New York Times that he agonized over his decision to sue Google, largely because the company still underpins so much of what they do and he didn't want to complicate other areas of their relationship - though he fears that may already be happening.

After Sonos applied more pressure on Google demanding that it licence it's wireless technology, Google pushed back by ordering Sonos to comply with stricter rules for using it's virtual assistant feature.

Such proposed rules included a mandate to surrender the planned names, designs and targeted start dates of all its future products six months in advance, despite the fact the products would be in direct competition with Google's.

When Sonos teamed up with Google in 2013, they handed the company's engineers detailed diagrams for how its speakers worked and interacted wirelessly with one another, as, at the time, Google was not a competitor and did not manufacture it's own speakers.

When Sonos teamed up with Google in 2013, they handed the company's engineers detailed diagrams for how its speakers worked and interacted wirelessly with one another, as, at the time, Google was not a competitor and did not manufacture it's own speakers

Though the company is suing Google for infringing on five of it's patents, Spence believes the company has actually violated more than 100, including features that allows smart speakers to pair and sync

Two years later, however, and Google released a small device that could turn an old speaker into a wireless one, similar to Sonos' original product.

Then in 2016, Google released its own wireless speaker, the Google Home, marketed around its virtual assistant and quickly outselling Sonos' similar products.

Sonos bought some of the products and began investigating how the speakers communicated with one another.

Using a technique called packet sniffing, they were able to discover that Google's devices used the same approach Sonos ones did to solve a variety of technological hurdles. They also found that the Amazon Echo has also ripped off Sonos technology.

Executives from Sonos informed Google of the infringements in August 2016, but received little back from the company in response, except that Google believed Sonos was actually infringing on their technology, though little justification was offered.

When Sonos presented a licensing model for Google to pay for using its tech, they returned their own model which essentially required them to pay nothing.

Sonos makes home speakers compatible with both Google's AI-powered assistant as well as Amazon's Alexa. While their speakers predate Google's line of Nest Home devices, Google sells the same amount of speakers that Sonos does in a year, in just a few months - credited largely to its significantly cheaper price points

Sonos say their concerns with Google and Amazon go beyond patents though. They say they're fearful of the effect that flooding the market with cheap speakers they're subsidizing because they aren't just used for music like Sonos' speakers, they show ads and collect data as well.

Sonos is suing Google in both the Federal District Court of Los Angeles and the United States International Trade Commission  the latter of which has the power to block imported goods that violate patents.

Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda refuted Sonos' claims and said the two companies have negotiated over eachother's intellectual property for years, 'and we are disappointed that Sonos brought these lawsuits instead of continuing negotiations in good faith.

'We dispute these claims and will defend them vigorously.'

When asked by the Times why Sonos is not suing Amazon as well, Spence said the company can't risk battling two tech giants at once in court.
WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he has the votes to start President Donald Trumps impeachment trial as soon as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi releases the documents, winning support from GOP senators to postpone a decision on calling witnesses.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is surrounded by reporters after remarks on the floor about the looming impeachment trial of President Donald Trump and Trump's order to kill an Iranian general, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he has the votes to start President Donald Trumps impeachment trial as soon as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi releases the documents, winning support from GOP senators to postpone a decision on calling witnesses.

The announcement is significant, enabling McConnell to bypass for now Democratic demands for new testimony as he launches the third impeachment trial in the nation's history. It could begin this week if Pelosi sends the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

But Pelosi gave little indication Tuesday of her next move. She cut short an impeachment discussion with her leadership team late at the Capitol when an aide handed her a note about the crisis unfolding in the Middle East. She asked Democrats to pray,'' according to a lawmaker at the closed-door session.

Pelosi appears in no rush to transmit the articles of impeachment as Democrats push to hear from more witnesses but McConnell focuses Republicans on a strategy for speedy acquittal. The Senate can't start the proceedings until the charges against Trump are sent.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., arrives at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday Jan. 7, 2020, as Democrats prepared largely symbolic resolutions under the War Powers Act to limit the president's military actions regarding Iran. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

"We have the votes, McConnell told reporters about his proposal that would set the rules for a trial and would be modeled after President Bill Clinton's impeachment 20 years ago. He said the question of new witnesses and documents will be addressed later and not before the trial begins.

The contours of a Senate trial have been in dispute for weeks. Pelosi is delaying transmission of the articles as Democrats press for testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton and other new witnesses.

Sadly, Leader McConnell has made clear that his loyalty is to the President and not the Constitution, Pelosi wrote to colleagues late Tuesday. She said the process he is outlining "is not only unfair but designed to deprive Senators and the American people of crucial documents and testimony.''

Pelosi told House leaders Tuesday she believed the strategy was working, according to those in the private meeting. She called on McConnell to immediately reveal the details of his proposal.

People are united," said Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson of California about the mood in the House caucus.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, arrives for a closed meeting with fellow Republicans about the looming impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

McConnell has resisted calling new witnesses and expects the trial to end with the GOP Senate majority voting to acquit the president of the charges, and without Trump's removal from office.

The GOP leader told senators at their closed-door lunch Tuesday that he has support for his plan. It would start the trial first and postpone votes on witnesses until later in the process.

"He has 51 (votes), for sure,"' said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a top ally of the president, exiting the meeting. Republicans hold the majority in the Senate, 53-47.

In withholding the articles, Pelosi gave Democrats an opportunity to ramp up pressure on Republicans not to go along with McConnell's proposal. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called McConnell's plan a trap and a coverup. He vowed to force votes anyway on Bolton and the others.

Whoever heard of a trial without witnesses and documents? the New York Democrat said. He asked Trump what he has to hide. Witnesses and documents: fair trial. No witnesses and documents: cover- up.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, arrives for a closed meeting with fellow Republicans about the looming impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Republicans countered that Democrats rushed to impeach and then delayed the process. Pelosi has yet to choose House impeachment managers for the trial, a politically sensitive next step, with many lawmakers vying to be candidates. The House impeached the president last month on the two charges.

Just four GOP senators would be needed to deny McConnell his majority, but he appears to have locked up the votes. GOP leaders were conducting a whip count Tuesday to gauge support. Several GOP senators have indicated they want to hear from Bolton and other witnesses, but they are nevertheless standing with McConnell's plan for starting the trial.

I'm comfortable with that process, said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah. "I'd like to hear from John Bolton and other witnesses with the right information, but that process will accommodate that.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has also said she supports McConnell's approach. Others say they are not sure they even need to hear from Bolton or other witnesses, blaming the House for not forcing them to testify. Trump had instructed White House officials not to comply with the House investigation.

Its not that I don't want to hear from him," said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. "I want to hear from him when the House is willing to do their work and have the same agreement with the ambassador on their side of the Hill.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined by Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., left, and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, tells reporters he has secured enough Republican votes to start President Donald Trump's impeachment trial and postpone a decision on witnesses and documents Democrats want, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday Jan. 7, 2020. The trial could start as soon as this week if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi releases the articles of impeachment. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Trump faces charges that he abused the power of the presidency by pressuring Ukraine's new leader to investigate Democrats, using as leverage $400 million in military assistance that is critical for the ally as it counters Russia at its border.

The funding for Ukraine was eventually released but only after Congress intervened.

From the Oval Office, where Trump was meeting with the prime minister of Greece, he railed against the impeachment proceedings, as he often does, as "a totally partisan hoax witch hunt.''

Trump insisted there was absolutely nothing done wrong in his interactions with Ukraine.

Republicans are expected to swiftly acquit Trump of the charges, but Democrats say fresh evidence, including Bolton's willingness to testify, only increases pressure for new witnesses and documents.

Bolton apparently compared the administration's actions toward Ukraine to a drug deal he wanted no part of, a shadow diplomacy being concocted by the acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, according to House testimony. Bolton left the administration in September.

Democrats also want documents about the withheld aid to Ukraine that the White House refused to turn over to House investigators, defying congressional subpoenas.

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With a 53-seat majority, McConnell has only loose control over the impeachment proceedings, where decisions on witnesses or documents can be made with a 51-vote majority.

Pressure will mount on senators up for reelection from swing states in 2020, including Collins, Tillis, Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst and Colorado GOP Sen. Cory Gardner, who are being closely watched for their votes by a deeply divided country. Protesters are showing up at the Capitol.

McConnell deflected a question Tuesday on whether Trump acted appropriately with Ukraine, saying he had nothing more to add on that issue. He acknowledged the votes on witnesses and documents will be the most contentious'' part of the proceedings. "There will be, Im sure, intense discussion," he said.

The GOP leader has come under criticism for saying he was not an impartial juror but rather was working in total co-ordination with the White House on the trial strategy. Democrats similarly worked with Clinton's White House during his impeachment.

___

Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Matthew Daly and Padmananda Rama in Washington contributed to this report.
RNC Minerals Strengthens Team with the Appointment of Chad Williams to Board of Directors

Posted by Publisher Internet

RNC Minerals (TSX: RNX) (?RNC?) is pleased to announce the appointment of Chad Williams, P. Eng, to its board of directors.

Paul Andre Huet Chairman and CEO of RNC said, ?We are very pleased to have Chad join our board and look forward to his contributions. Chad is a well recognized leader in the mining industry, not only with the resounding success of Red Cloud but throughout his career in executive management, investment banking and as a mining analyst. With our focus now on growing production and reducing costs at our Western Australian gold mining and milling operations, Chad?s insights will provide valuable guidance as we work to grow the business to create shareholder value.?

Mr. Williams is the Chairman and Founder of Red Cloud Securities, and has extensive experience in mining finance and management, having previously held the positions of CEO of Victoria Gold Corp., Head of Mining Investment Banking at Blackmont Capital Inc. and a top-ranked mining analyst at TD Bank and other Canadian brokerage firms. Mr. Williams has been a Director of several emerging mining companies and was a founder of Agilith Capital Inc. and Westwind Capital Inc. Mr. Williams holds a P.Eng in Mining and an MBA from McGill University.

?RNC?s future is bright?, said Mr Williams. ?The Company?s two gold mining operations are now performing very well due to the many positive changes made by Paul Huet and his team over the past several months. With continued cost improvements and the significant upside remaining at both operations, this promises to be a very exciting year for RNC shareholders.?

About RNC

RNC is focused on growing gold production and reducing costs at its integrated Beta Hunt Gold Mine and Higginsville Gold Operations (\HGO\) in Western Australia. The Higginsville treatment facility is a low-cost 1.4 Mtpa processing plant which is fed at capacity from RNC\-\-s underground Beta Hunt mine and open pit Higginsville mine. At Beta Hunt, a robust gold mineral resource and reserve is hosted in multiple gold shears, with gold intersections along a 4 km strike length remaining open in multiple directions. HGO has a substantial historical gold resource and highly prospective land package totaling approximately 1,800 square kilometers. In addition, RNC has a 28% interest in a nickel joint venture that owns the Dumont Nickel-Cobalt Project located in the Abitibi region of Quebec. Dumont contains the second largest nickel reserve and ninth largest cobalt reserve in the world. RNC has a strong Board and management team focused on delivering shareholder value. RNC\-\-s common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol RNX. RNC shares also trade on the OTCQX market under the symbol RNKLF.

Cautionary Statement Regarding the Beta Hunt Mine

The decision to produce at the Beta Hunt Mine was not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, which include increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that anticipated production costs will be achieved. Failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on SLM?s cash flow and future profitability. Readers are cautioned that there is increased uncertainty and higher risk of economic and technical failure associated with such production decisions An updated mineral resource estimate is summarized in the ?Technical Report on The Beta Hunt Mine, Kambalda, Western Australia? dated September 17, 2019. It is further cautioned that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains \forward-looking information\ including without limitation statements relating to the liquidity and capital resources of RNC, production guidance and the potential of the Beta Hunt Mine, Higginsville Gold Operation and Dumont Nickel Project.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of RNC to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of drilling; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the properties; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; results of exploration programs; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals, projected cash operating costs, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to RNC\-\-s filings with Canadian securities regulators, including the most recent Annual Information Form, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Although RNC has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and RNC disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Cautionary Statement Regarding the Beta Hunt Mine and Higginsville

The decision to produce at the Beta Hunt Mine was not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, which include increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that anticipated production costs will be achieved. Failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on SLM?s cash flow and future profitability. Readers are cautioned that there is increased uncertainty and higher risk of economic and technical failure associated with such production decisions. It is further cautioned that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

?A production decision at the Higginsville gold operations was made by previous operators of the mine, prior to the completion of the acquisition of the Higginsville gold operations by RNC and RNC made a decision to continue production subsequent to the acquisition. This decision by RNC to continue production and, to the knowledge of RNC, the prior production decision were not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, which include increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that anticipated production costs will be achieved. Failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Corporation?s cash flow and future profitability. Readers are cautioned that there is increased uncertainty and higher risk of economic and technical failure associated with such production decisions.

For more information, please contact:

Rob Buchanan

Director, Investor Relations

T: (416) 363-0649

www.rncminerals.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch
Nasa's newest planet-hunting telescope has found its first Earth-sized planet orbiting around two stars.

The world, known as TOI 1338 b, is in the habitable zone, which means that it orbits its suns at a distance that could allow it to support liquid water.

That, in turn, is thought to be a key ingredient for life, leading scientists to hope that the distant world could possible host aliens.

Nasa's TESS satellite was sent to space in the hope of spotting distant worlds as they move in front of their stars and block out the light. That makes it extra difficult to spot planets that orbit around two stars, making the discovery even more of a breakthrough.

The star system known as TOI 1338 is 1,300 light years away. It is made up of the newly discovered planet as well as its two suns, one of them slightly brighter than ours and the other cool and dim, which orbit around each other every 15 days.

Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Mystic Mountain, a pillar of gas and dust standing at three-light-years tall, bursting with jets of gas from fledgling stars buried within, was captured by Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope in February 2010 Nasa/ESA/STScI Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures The first ever selfie taken on an alien planet, captured by Nasa's Curiosity Rover in the early days of its mission to explore Mars in 2012 Nasa/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Death of a star: This image from Nasa's Chandra X-ray telescope shows the supernova of Tycho, a star in our Milky Way galaxy Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Arrokoth, the most distant object ever explored, pictured here on 1 January 2019 by a camera on Nasa's New Horizons spaceraft at a distance of 4.1 billion miles from Earth Getty Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory in January 2012. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures The first ever image of a black hole, captured by the Event Horizon telescope, as part of a global collaboration involving Nasa, and released on 10 April 2019. The image reveals the black hole at the centre of Messier 87, a massive galaxy in the nearby Virgo galaxy cluster. This black hole resides about 54 million light-years from Earth Getty Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Pluto, as pictured by Nasa's New Horizons spacecraft as it flew over the dwarf planet for the first time ever in July 2015 Nasa/APL/SwRI Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures A coronal mass ejection as seen by the Chandra Observatory in 2019. This is the first time that Chandra has detected this phenomenon from a star other than the Sun Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Dark, narrow, 100 meter-long streaks running downhill on the surface Mars were believed to be evidence of contemporary flowing water. It has since been suggested that they may instead be formed by flowing sand Nasa/JPL/University of Arizona Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Morning Aurora: Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station in October 2015 Nasa/Scott Kelly

The planet itself is almost seven times as big as Earth, or roughly somewhere between Neptune and Saturn.

The new TESS space telescope has four cameras on board, which are used to continually survey different patches of the sky. The aim is to spot when the stars it can see temporarily go dim, which could indicate that a planet has passed in front of them.

Recommended Nasa could find alien planets that host life after new breakthrough

The dimming that would eventually be identified as TOI 1338 b was first spotted by an intern at Nasa named Wolf Cukier, who was looking through a series of candidates that had been uploaded to a citizen science project.

"I was looking through the data for everything the volunteers had flagged as an eclipsing binary, a system where two stars circle around each other and from our view eclipse each other every orbit," Cukier said.

"About three days into my internship, I saw a signal from a system called TOI 1338. At first I thought it was a stellar eclipse, but the timing was wrong. It turned out to be a planet."

Scientists have tried to use computers to spot such patterns, but they are made more difficult in binary star systems like TOI 1338. That meant that the work of those like Cukier was doubly important, to allow scientists to identify possible planets.

"These are the types of signals that algorithms really struggle with," said lead author Veselin Kostov, a research scientist at the SETI Institute and Goddard. "The human eye is extremely good at finding patterns in data, especially non-periodic patterns like those we see in transits from these systems."

Scientists have already examined the star system from the ground, which gave Kostov and his team historical data to use to understand the system and confirm the existence of the planet. While its orbit is stable, it changes in relation to us so that the dimming will not be visible for the eight years after November 2023.
I thought of Altadena as being too far away, Ms. Cantwell said. She works in the city of Rosemead, 20 minutes southeast of Pasadena, and she was hesitant to add time to an already tough commute. But after she was outbid on a home in Pasadena, she wandered into an open house in Altadena and found a three-bedroom, two-bath home with a private guest unit that was perfect for when her children came to visit. Better yet, it was priced below market value by an owner hoping for a quick sell. She offered $845,000 and quickly brought in a contractor to rip out the garage floors, which a previous owner had painted lime green.

Her new community has come to surprise her. I work in a very urban area and I just love coming up the hill at the end of the day and seeing the mountains right there, Ms. Cantwell said, noting that the mountains were covered in snow at the end of December. And Altadena has changed. Its got all these cool little restaurants and coffee places now. Its a nice mix of things.

What Youll Find

Altadena is wedged against the foothills of the Angeles National Forest, with its northern slopes branching into a patchwork of hiking trails, including Altadena Crest, Henninger Flats and Camp Huntington Trailhead.

Image 2793 LINCOLN AVENUE | A two-bedroom, one-bath house built in 1923 on 0.19 acres, listed for $630,000. 855-872-8026. Credit... Beth Coller for The New York Times

It sits just north of Pasadena, home of the Rose Bowl Stadium and the storied Rose Parade on New Years Day; and just to the east of La Canada Flintridge, home to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the NASA research and development center.
The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness is asking individuals across the state to volunteer for the upcoming annual counts of individuals experiencing homelessness in Connecticut. The Pointin-Time Count will take place on the evening of Jan. 21 into the morning of Jan. 22. A Youth Outreach & Count runs from Jan. 22-28.

Each year, the Point-in-Time Count surveys adults and families with children for one night, followed by the Outreach & Count, a week-long count of youth. These counts provide two sources of data that are used to measure the extent of homelessness in the state and enables a comparison of how homelessness is trending from year-to-year, according to a statement from the coalition.

CCEH says that separate census for youth is critical, because many are missed during the PIT Count because they often do not access adult emergency shelters or other homeless services. For those experiencing homelessness, these counts offer a chance for young people to connect with volunteer surveyors who can record their needs, add them to community lists for housing resources, and guide them to services and supports that that can end their homelessness.

The 2019 PIT Count estimated that 3,033 people in Connecticut were experiencing homelessness, 577 of them children, according to the statement. The 2019 Youth Outreach & Count identified 337 unaccompanied youth under age 25 who reported having been literally homeless the night of the Point-in-Time Count and 674 unaccompanied youth who reported being unstably housed that night. The full 2019 PIT and Youth Count Report can be found at www.cceh.org/pit/data-and-reports.

Connecticut has been a national leader in ending homelessness, having reduced the number of people experiencing homelessness by 25 percent since 2007. The success of these Counts depends on the participation of volunteers. Volunteers will attend a brief training before hitting the streets in teams led by members of Connecticuts homeless service-provider community.

Visit www.cceh.org/volunteer to sign up.

Foundation receives tracking, GPS systems

CHESHIRE  The CSP K9 Foundation recently received a donation from NorthPoint Pets & Company that includes several Garmin GPS and Tracking systems, valued at over $900 each. The Garmin Alpha TT Tracking system aids police and K9 teams in tracking, and search and rescue by acting as a GPS locator for K9s in the event of separation from their handlers. This is one of several GPS and dog food donations NorthPoint Pets & Company has made to the Foundation over the last two years totaling over $20,000.

The Garmin GPS devices help police departments and search and rescue teams more effectively and efficiently search large areas, especially when time is critical. The technology allows K9 teams from different agencies to communicate and view each others location and progress, and track the exact location of each K9. These are true GPS units, functioning independently of cellular networks thus reducing the risk of losing communication during times of high traffic.

The CSP K9 Foundation is seeking donations for several ongoing projects and equipment funding. To learn more or make a donation, visit www.cspk9foundation.org

Residents reminded of snow rules

WEST HAVEN  To help crews expedite snow removal, Public Works Commissioner Tom McCarthy is reminding residents and businesses to observe parking regulations during and after storms.

Per the Severe Weather parking ordinance under Chapter 188 of the West Haven Code, police will tag and tow vehicles violating the ordinance at the owners expense. Violators will receive a $100 fine.

Once snow begins to fall, a parking ban is in effect on the even-numbered side of most roads, unless one is posted with a No Parking sign on the odd side. The ban is in effect for 36 hours after a storm. Residents are urged to park in driveways or designated private lots.

However, during an official snow emergency declared by Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, a parking ban will run from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. on both sides of Campbell and Savin avenues, Morgan Lane, Elm Street, Meloy Road, Second Avenue from Elm to Beach streets, and Main Street from Savin to Washington avenues.

McCarthy is also reminding residents and businesses to shovel their sidewalks within 24 hours after a storm or face a $25 fine for each day that the violation persists. According to the Removal of Snow and Ice ordinance under Chapter 195 of the West Haven Code, people are given 24 hours to remove snow from sidewalks on and bordering their properties. Violators are subject to the $25-per-day fine, which is enforced by the Police Department, the ordinance states. To report a complaint, call the departments nonemergency line at 203-937-3900. Complaints are kept confidential.

McCarthy also pointed out that plowing or blowing snow into city streets is prohibited and violators are subject to a $60 fine for each offense, per the ordinance. Also, residents and businesses with mailboxes damaged by snow thrown from a plow are the responsibility of the property owner. The city will only repair mailboxes damaged by the striking of a plow blade if there is visible evidence, such as paint or tire tracks. Snow removal around mailboxes is the property owners responsibility. Residents are also urged to help firefighters keep hydrants clear of snow.

For more information, call the Department of Public Works at 203-937-3585 or visit the departments page at www.cityofwesthaven.com.
Grounded Boeing 737 Max jets belonging to American Airlines pictured in during storage at Tulsa International Airport in Tulsa, Okla. Read more

American Airlines, the dominant airline in Philadelphia, said Monday that it has reached a settlement with Boeing for financial losses related to the worldwide grounding of the 737 Max jet after two deadly crashes that killed 346 people.

Although the terms are confidential, American CEO Doug Parker said a portion  $30 million  will be shared with employees through the companys profit-sharing plan. (As of Dec. 31, 2018, the company had about 128,900 full-time employees.)

American is the second U.S. carrier to reach a settlement with the company. Southwest Airlines announced that it had reached a settlement with Boeing in December.

"Despite the ongoing challenges the grounding has brought, American Airlines team members continue to do an incredible job caring for our customers," Parker said in a news release. "Our ability as an airline to weather these unprecedented times is thanks to our phenomenal team, and it was important to us that we get a deal done this year."

The newest version of Boeing's best-selling jet has been grounded worldwide since March, after the fatal crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jetliner. The March 10 crash was the second involving a Max jet in less than five months. In October 2018, a Lion Air jet crashed shortly after takeoff in Indonesia.

The tragedies have led to intense scrutiny of Boeing and of the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversaw the process for determining that the 737 Max jet was safe to fly.

Boeing has been working on software fixes to an automated flight control system that was implicated in both tragedies. The company had hoped that the jets would resume flying by the end of 2019, but regulators at the FAA have not given their approval. Adding to Boeing's woes, international regulators are also scrutinizing the company's proposed fixes.

American, which has 24 737 Max jets in its fleet, has removed the jet from its schedule through April 6.

Parker said the settlement covers losses American incurred in 2019. In October, the airline announced a loss of $540 million in pre-tax revenue for 2019. Parker said American will continue discussions with Boeing for damages related to the Max grounding beyond 2019.

The money is expected to be paid out to employees in March.

In December, Southwest Airlines announced that it had reached a settlement and would share a portion of that  $125 million  with its employees. The terms of Southwests settlement were confidential, but the amount is probably greater given that it has the most 737 Max jets of any U.S. carrier  34, all of which have been grounded since March 13.

In October, Southwest reported that the grounding of the 737 Max had cost the airline $435 million through the end of September.
FAIRFIELD  The Connecticut Audubon Society has received two grants totaling $11,215, from The United Illuminating Company under Connecticuts Neighborhood Assistance Act tax credit program. The funding will be used for modifications to convert all light sources to energy efficient lighting at Connecticut Audubons Center at Fairfield and Birdcraft Museum in Fairfield, and at the Coastal Center in Milford.

As a nonprofit, we are always looking for ways to reduce costs to our bottom line, said Shari Goldblatt, Southwest Regional Director of The Connecticut Audubon Society. Utility costs are a significant part of our budget. By modifying all of our lighting structures to energy efficient sources, not only will we benefit from substantial cost savings, we will be reducing our energy emissions and carbon footprint.
An election campaign is a realm of uncertainty, wrote three Supreme Court justices on Jan. 2. The judges dismissed a petition by opposition parties that sought to disqualify a Knesset member charged with grievous offenses, i.e., interim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, from forming the countrys next government. The justices agreed with Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who already declined to rule on the issue, saying it was theoretical given that elections would only take place on March 2. The justices, too, pointed out that a ruling would be premature given that no one can know who the elected lawmakers will recommend to President Reuven Rivlin as prime minister.

True, there is no certainty that Netanyahu would obtain a Knesset majority ensuring that Rivlin would task him with forming a government. The justices may assume (or hope?) that Netanyahus indictment on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust would limit his chances of receiving the presidential mandate to form a government. When Rivlin handed him the mandate after the April 2019 elections and again after the September voting, Netanyahu had not yet been indicted and was awaiting a hearing before the attorney general to lay out his case against indictment.

Nonetheless, while ruling the petition premature, the justices left open the door to revisiting the issue in the future, rejecting claims by Netanyahu and his Likud party that the issue was not under the courts jurisdiction because in a democracy the people decide who rules them, not the court. The judges essentially said that even if the people decide to anoint an indicted criminal to rule them, the court is authorized to subvert the will of the people.

The prime minister and his aides probably noticed that in dismissing the petition, the justices nonetheless wrote that the probity of elected officials falls within their purview since it touches on the core of the fundamental values on which our legal system is based. There is more than a hint in this remark that the judicial branch also views itself as authorized to overturn a potential future decision by the Knesset to grant Netanyahus request for immunity from prosecution on charges of corruption. In other words, even in the realm of uncertainty," there are limits dictated by morals and values. The ultimate authority to block politicians seeking to breach them (still) rests in the hands of the top court of justice.

This ruling by the Supreme Court regarding fundamental values contradicts outright the arguments Netanyahu raised in his Jan. 1 speech announcing he would seek Knesset immunity. In his nationally televised speech, Netanyahu claimed the immunity law was intended to protect elected officials from fabricated legal proceedings  from political indictment intended to damage the will of the people." To make his intention clear, he added, the will of the people, not the will of the law clerks." According to Netanyahu, then, the will of the people overtakes the will/ruling of the judges. Indeed, on Nov. 21, Netanyahu had said that "for justice, we have to do one thing: to finally investigate the investigators. And if the investigators must be investigated, why not also trial the judges?

Netanyahu then repeated his populist and dangerous claim that in a democracy, only the people decide who will lead them. I have a right, a duty and a mission, he added, to continue serving you for the future of Israel. What he meant was that anyone who seeks to stop him, is hurting you, dear citizens of Israel.

As the justices noted in their decision, stating the obvious, under Israels political system, the voters elect party slates, not prime ministers. In other words, even if Netanyahu and his right-wing and ultra-Orthodox allies garner the equivalent votes of a 61-seat Knesset majority to recommend to the president that he task Netanyahu with forming the next government, the will of the voter will not be subverted if Rivlin gives the nod to another elected Knesset member from that bloc of parties. What's more, if the president decides to hand the task to a lawmaker under criminal indictment, the Supreme Court could still invalidate his decision and demand that he gives the mandate to another lawmaker from the majority bloc.

That's why Netanyahu has an interest in turning this election campaign from his personal battle for survival and an interest shared by his party and his allies into a civil war. On one side of the equation he places the dear citizens of Israel to whom I dedicate my life. On the other side are the evil law clerks waiting to ambush him (including those he personally appointed, such as the attorney general and the former chief of police). Alongside them he puts the treasonous (Arab-loving) left, which always goes hand in hand with the hostile media  excluding pro-Netanyahu outlets such as Israel Hayom newspaper, Channel 20 television, and Netanyahus court pundits Amit Segal, Shimon Riklin, Sharon Gal, Yaakov Bardugo, and others.

Do not let the media and the left mislead you, the indicted politician warned the dear citizens of Israel. As Haaretz columnist Rogel Alpher recently wrote, in Netanyahus book, left-wing voters and the media are not among the citizens of Israel to whom the prime minister devotes his life. You know the truth, Netanyahu told his voters, we are the majority of the people and only the majority will decide. You will decide, only you.

The 2018 documentary King Bibi directed by Dan Shadur presents some of the you who know the truth and are the ones and only ones who should decide whether an indicted politician should lead the state. An opinionated citizen explains in the film that we need a prime minister who will face the entire world, not a sucker. Someone who knows how to lie a bit. A son of a bitch, a bastard. This incredible insight must be combined with music notes and turned into the official election-campaign tune of the Likud.
London, Jan 7 : An air hostess has talked about an excruciating experience after she broke her leg in seven places after a plane she was deployed on ran into severe turbulence and climbed 500 feet to avoid it, a media report said.

Eden Garrity, 27, said that she was serving passengers with a catering trolley when the aircraft entered a mid-Atlantic hailstorm, causing it to violently climb up, the Mail Online reported.

Eden, who worked as a Thomas Cook air hostess between April 2017 and the company's collapse in September last, said she always dreamt of a career in the sky. She was injured on August 2 last year, shortly after leaving Cuba as she fell to the ground under the crushing force of the plane's sudden rise in altitude, she said.

She broke her fibula in five places, apart from tibia, ankle bone and fracture on her foot. She said: "We hit a massive hailstorm. The pilot said to me afterwards that it turned black all around him.

"It was by far the worst turbulence I have ever experienced as a crew member or a passenger." She lay on the plane floor for an hour while seats were cleared. She was in agony during the remaining travel that lasted seven hours, before she was taken to the hospital.
A Group Of Ministers (GoM) meeting on Air India divestment led by Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to be held today, said sources.

The scheduled meeting is expected to discuss the Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) on the Air India sale process, sources added.

The meeting is likely to take place between 12- 1 pm.

More details in this regard are awaited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[January 07, 2020] East Africa's Largest Commercial Bank Makes Actifio its DevOps & Data Protection Standard

WALTHAM, Mass. and NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Actifio, the pioneer of multi-cloud copy data management software, has been chosen to provide comprehensive data backup and application development support for KCB Group, East Africa's largest commercial bank. The bank has placed the Actifio platform at the center of its DevOps and data management initiatives to assure stability and continuing business growth. KCB Group Plc was established in Kenya in 1896. The bank has since expanded into Tanzania, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia (Rep). The KCB Group Plc network includes 330 branches, 1,076 ATMs and more than 18,818 merchants and agents offering 24x7 services, including mobile and Internet banking. Gabriel Kimanzi, KCB's IT Risk and Security Officer, said, "We identified Actifio as our best data backup and recovery solution through a competitive process. Not only did Actifio closely match our primary criteria, but it also provides creative support for application development using application-aware data mounts. That is very powerful for us; a great benefit." Complex information technology is central to the opeation of KCB's banking business. Its technology needs to operate responsively and reliably to support bank business in seven countries while protecting the bank's production and backup data centers. The bank needed to replace its complex and time-consuming tape-based process to eliminate unacceptable time delays and data recovery failures.



"The success rate of our old data backup system was horrible," said Kimanzi. "We wasted too much staff time dealing with failures. It had become a major pain point and a real danger to the bank's business." The KCB team recognized Actifio's unique value in saving application developers' time by using data virtualization to create database copies as needed without adding storage system capacity. "Actifio is a powerful tool for data protection and application development. Backup speed, simplicity of management, and excellent support were all factors in our decision," said Christopher Tiren, KCB's Chief Procurement Officer.

The Actifio benefits to KCB start with a powerful and affordable backup, test and development platform. The business has also gained simple, reliable, and consistent performance for data backup and recovery with unique value in time savings and self-service for application developers. To read the complete KCB case study click here. About Actifio Actifio is the pioneer of multi-cloud copy data management software. With more than 3,600 customers around the world, Actifio enables organizations to virtualize and deliver their data instantly, anywhere. An enterprise-class software platform powered by patented Virtual Data Pipeline technology, Actifio helps accelerate adoption of hybrid, public and multi-cloud strategies, build higher quality applications faster, and improve business resiliency and availability. For more, visit Actifio.com or follow @Actifio on Twitter. Media Contact:

Carissa Ryan, CTP for Actifio

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/east-africas-largest-commercial-bank-makes-actifio-its-devops--data-protection-standard-300982920.html SOURCE Actifio

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(Alliance News) - Altus Strategies PLC on Tuesday said it has issued 2.0 million shares to Agmex Sarl as part of the agreement signed in February last year.

The deal relates to a 3% net smelter return royalty held by Agmex on Altus's Lakanfla gold project in Mali. Under the deal, Altus has acquired and cancelled two of the three percentage points of this net smelter return.

Altus retains an option - which expires in mid-January 2023 - to acquire the final 1% net smelter return by making a cash payment of USD350,000 to Agmex.

"We are pleased to have concluded the acquisition of a 2% net smelter return royalty on our Lakanfla gold project in western Mali," said Altus Chief Executive Steve Poulton.

"Lakanfla contains a significant area of artisanal gold workings and historical drilling has returned excellent results," noted Poulton. "Preparations for a phase one drilling programme at Lakanfla are now underway."

Altus shares were untraded in London on Tuesday, last closing at 6.96 pence each.

By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has said there is no question of his party voting for the Government as requested by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

In a letter sent on December 23, Mr Varadkar called on his opposite number to have his party support the Government in some Dail votes, to allow the Government conclude its business.

However, speaking today on Newstalk radio, Mr Martin made clear he will not change his approach despite Mr Varadkar's request.

It has been confirmed that the two leaders will meet on Thursday night to discuss the timing of an election and the possible continuation of the Confidence and Supply deal.

The meeting will take place in Dublin but the time and place has not yet been finalised and comes amid heightened speculation that an election is likely sooner rather than later.

Several Fine Gael ministers have said they believe a February election is now on the cards.

The Cabinet will hold a special meeting focusing on disability issues in Marino, Dublin, on Thursday. The venue is in the constituency of Finian McGrath, Minister of State for Disability Issues.

Fine Gael Ministers and Ministers of State will hold a meeting on Friday morning, followed by a gathering of the Fine Gael parliamentary party that afternoon.

Mr Varadkar has convened similar meetings previously at the start of Dail sessions, but party TDs believe increasingly that he may call a February election. Some TDs and candidates were also last night sent templates for election canvass cards.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said that before an election is called, reform of the Local Property Tax is needed.

He said: "We will need to go ahead with a process of reform in relation to local property tax.

A key reason alone as to why we need to do is that as the number of homes that are being built across our country begins to go up, there will be an increasing number of homeowners that will not be paying local property tax, whereas their neighbours will be living in homes in which they are paying local property tax.

"So because of that, the local property base needs to be included, widened to include all homeowners within our country," he said.
Intel INTC has reportedly released a video showcasing its autonomous car  Mobileye  navigating through streets in Jerusalem. Mobileye is Intels Israel-based autonomous driving unit.



Per Reuters, the video showcases Mobileyes journey for about 20 minutes, through the help of 12 on-board cameras and no sensors.



Portions of the unedited video were shown by the company at a news conference, held at the CES tech show in Las Vegas. In the video, Mobileye navigated through four-way intersections and change lanes to weave into traffic as well as avoid pedestrians.



Mobileye Achieves New Breakthrough



Most technology companies pair cameras with sensors such as radar or lidar, which enables the self-driving vehicle to see the surroundings. By evading the use of sensors, the latest demo provided by Mobileye is considered a breakthrough in the self-driving vehicles space.



The company stated that Mobileyes technology is capable of creating 3D images from 2D camera images. This facilitates the vehicle to better sense the environment. The technology is based on the use of latest autonomous driving EyeQ5 chips that helps process the images.



Mobileye is also capable of merging the information from its camera-only system with the data procured from radar and lidar systems that can be used together on self-driving cars.

Intel Corporation Price and Consensus

Intel Corporation Price and Consensus

Autonomous Vehicles Growth Potential



Technology companies have been competing with each other to come up with innovative solutions and capabilities in the autonomous vehicles space, which act as eyes and brains for advanced transportation systems.



In fact, advancement in machine vision systems, neural networking capabilities, digital mapping and obstacle recognition functionalities, have supported growth of self-driving vehicles.



Markedly, the autonomous-vehicle technology achieved rapid progress in 2019 with the launch of vehicles featuring Level-2 and Level-3 functionalities. In fact, Goldman Sachs believes that the first commercially available semi-autonomous cars (Level 4) are likely to be on road in the next 1-2 years.



Apart from Intel, Qualcomm QCOM has showcased new product solution for the self-driving space, at the CES. The company unveiled a group of ADAS and autonomous driving system-on-chips (SoCs), which will be sold under the Snapdragon Ride Safety label.



Moreover, several technology and automotive giants like Alphabets GOOGL Waymo, Nvidia NVDA, Baidu, Tesla and Ford are focusing on the development and testing of autonomous vehicles as well as related technologies.



With strong growth prospects in the autonomous vehicles space, Intels efforts to boost presence in this arena are likely to yield favorably in the near term. This is likely to favor the companys top-line growth.



Zacks Rank



Intel currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!



It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.



Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.



Click here for the 6 trades >>

Click to get this free report Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Intel Corporation (INTC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Kochi, Jan 7 : Even as the Kerala Left government is showcasing the state as a leading destination for investment, the ongoing CITU-led protests against Muthoot Finance, a leading non-banking financial company (NBFC) on Tuesday turned violent, when its Managing Director's vehicle, was stoned.

Top CITU leader A. Anandan, however, defended the CITU workers and said their people will never do such a thing.

The MD of Muthoot Finance, George Alexander's vehicle was nearing his office, when a stone landed on it breaking the windscreen and causing injuries to the back side of his head.

Alexander was seated in the front seat.

An employee of the company whose vehicle was following Alexander's vehicle said three vehicles were attacked.

"The stone was a very big one weighing around five kilograms and was meant to finish him. We identified the person to the police, but since CITU is the ruling party's trade union, the police never acts. In the past one week 20 of our staff who are not part of the strike have been attacked," said a company official.

For the last few months, a section of the employees with support from the CITU -- the trade union of the CPI-M -- has been protesting against the indiscriminate transfer and dismissal of a few employees by the management.

"We have no role in this stone attack and we do not know who is behind this," said a protesting employee.

The protesters are staging a protest about 50 metres from the head office of Muthoot Finance, after the Kerala High Court directed the protesters to keep away from the office.

Alexander is currently admitted to a hospital and is being treated.

The incident took place just days ahead of a key investment meet, here over two days, on Thursday.

Leading industrialists Kochu Ouseph Chittilapally said: "This is nothing new to Kerala and I myself had faced numerous such issues.

"This is exactly why, investors are wary of coming into Kerala and incidents like these don't augur well for either the state or for the investor." Muthoot Finance has 3,600 branches in the country, of which 600 branches are in Kerala. It employs over 30,000 people across the country.

The Muthoot management has stated that the unrest has been going on for the past three years owing to which the company has lost 66 per cent of its business in Kerala, that contributed 11 per cent of their all-India business when the strikes began in 2016, which is now down to four per cent.

However, Muthoot Finance as a company has grown by 50 per cent during this period (between 2016 to 2019) from Rs 25,000 crore to Rs 35,000 crore.
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As citizens become more vocal about climate change, governments and organisations are developing sustainable less harmful methods of providing power and other services. African countries are taking action by promoting and encouraging public and private sector to develop the green economy within the African context.

Khumo Theko

Kenya is leading

Other countries

Various states are turning to using renewable energy as an approach to cultivate the green economy, while increasing access of sustainable power to remote and rural areas. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that sub-Saharan Africa would need to invest $300bn to achieve universal electricity access by 2030. It also believes that the continents off-grid solar capacity will triple in the next five years.According to the World Bank, Kenya is one of the leaders in using geothermal resources as a clean fuel for power generation. The country has the highest electricity access rate in the East African region and plans to expand on this, with the migration to renewable energy.In 2018, the Kenyan government announced its goal to provide universal electricity access to its citizens by 2022. It further plans for its energy supply to come 100% from renewable sources by 2030. The country is making giant strides to achieving these goals.In 2018, Kenya launched the largest solar power plant in East Africa. The Garissa Solar Park compromises of 300,000 solar panels and is expected to produce power for an estimated 625,000 homes, while reducing carbon emission by 43,000 tons annually. In addition, the Lake Turkana Wind Power is recognised as Africas largest wind farm, and is expected to increase the countrys electricity supply by 13%.Construction is scheduled to begin on the countrys first hybrid wind, solar PV and battery storage park in 2021. The Meru County Energy Park will compromise of 20 wind turbines and over 40,000 solar panels.Other African countries with energy woes are also looking at renewables as an alternative method to making electricity more accessible.Uganda, for example, has built a solar plant which provides power to almost 40,000 rural homes in the country.The Namibian government has also announced their plans to invest an estimated $63.9m on the construction of a solar plant in 2020.
The Office of Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has outlined 10 possible cases it could press against Nigerian security forces and the three factions of insurgent groups operating under the popular name of Boko Haram.

The war against Boko Haram has lingered on since 2009, spreading to swathes of land in the Lake Chad region.

The report identified seven possible cases that could be brought against Boko Haram insurgents and three possible cases that could be pressed against Nigerian authorities.

In an end of the year report on preliminary examination activities, the ICC prosecutor listed Nigeria among 11 countries being probed for alleged war and international human rights crimes.

Other cases being investigated alongside that of Nigeria include those in Venezuela, Colombia, Guinea, Iraq/UK, Palestine, Republic of Philippines, Ukraine and Bangladesh/Myanmar.

Nigeria is among those in phase three of the investigation stages dealing with admissibility, which is the last stage before the conclusion of investigation under the ICC processes.

Nigeria ratified the ICC instruments in 2001, giving the international court jurisdiction over international human rights crimes committed on the territory of Nigeria or by its national.

The report, dated December 5, 2019, explained that the office of the prosecutor has examined information regarding a wide range of alleged crimes committed in Nigeria, since 2010.

During the reporting period, the Office has updated its subject-matter assessment to include alleged crimes occurring after March 2015.

The Boko Haram splinter organisations, according to the report, include the one headed by the most known face of the North East insurgency, Abubakar Shekau; the Islamic State in West African Province (ISWAP) and the Ansaru faction.

The crimes

Boko Haram and its leaders, according to the international prosecutor, may have to answer for targeted attacks against the civilian population; abductions and imprisonment of civilians; attacks against education (including schools, teachers, and schoolchildren); recruitment and use of children to participate in hostilities.

Other possible cases are Boko Haram attacks against girls and women; attacks against buildings dedicated to religion; attacks against personnel or objects involved in humanitarian assistance.

The possible crimes against the Nigerian security and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) include killings, torture or ill-treatment of military aged males suspected to be Boko Haram members or supporters in northeast Nigeria.

Nigerian officials could also stand trial for attacks against the civilian population and recruitment and use of children under 15 to participate in hostilities, the latter accusation is particularly targeted at the CJTF.

Other possible crimes

In addition to crimes relating to the protracted Boko Haram war, the report also identified military actions against members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), among others.

In particular, during the reporting period, the office worked on finalising its assessment on subject-matter jurisdiction with respect to the events which took place in December 2015 in Zaria, Kaduna State, when members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) reportedly clashed with the NSF.

Other allegations that the Office has been reviewing include allegations with respect to the conduct of the NSF against members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and communal violence in Nigerias North Central and North East geographical zones.
A mother nearly died after being bitten by a venomous snake in her sleep beacuse she ignored the pain as she thought her dog had scratched her.

Nikita Aldridge, 28, from Brisbane, woke up at 4am last Monday to a sharp pain in her arm and the sound of her five-year-old Maltese Shih Tzu, Freckle, barking.

The nurse, who is a single mother to two-year-old Liliana, had two small red puncture marks on her right arm but assumed Freckle had jumped on her and scratched her in the night - so she went back to sleep.

But hours later and in excruciating pain, the mother was rushed to hospital where she had a seizure and fell unconscious.

Nikita Aldridge, 28, (pictured with her daughter) woke up at 4am last Monday to a sharp pain in her arm and the sound of her dog barking

Doctors discovered that a snake had been in bed with her and told her if she had not come to hospital when she did she could have died.

Experts have now identified the animal as a venomous yellow faced whip snake, whose bite causes extremely painful swelling.

They believe the reptile is still lurking in her house.

'I was asleep in bed and I woke up to a sharp pain in my arm and I was bleeding,' Ms Aldridge said.

'I didn't think anything of it at the time because I've never experienced anything like this before.'

The 28-year-old said she thought Freckle had scratched her during her sleep.

Ms Aldridge ignored the bite marks on her arm initially as she though her dog had bitten her in the night

'I just couldn't believe it when they told me what it was. The fact that it had been in bed with me. I was freaking out,' she said.

'The doctors said I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't have gone to the hospital when I did. When I came around, I was just in shock.

'Luckily my bite was from a more mildly venomous snake, but I have lupus so that made it even worse and my body was struggling to fight off the venom.'

Ms Aldridge said she now struggles to sleep after the terrifying ordeal.

'Now I have anxiety, nightmares, and I can't sleep. I jump at everything. If someone touches me I jump out of my skin,' the mother said.

'There's not much that can be done about snakes coming in to your home but if anyone finds anything they think could be something more severe, they should get it checked.

'I wasn't worried because I've never experienced anything like this before.'

Ms Aldridge was rushed to hospital after feeling dizzy and having a loss of vision from the snake bite

After initially ignoring the small red puncture marks on her arm, Ms Aldridge only started to worry hours later after she became dizzy, fell in and out of consciousness and her vision was blurred.

She posted photos of her arm on social media to ask for advice, and then called her local snake catcher who confirmed she had suffered a snake bite.

The snake catcher rushed her to hospital, where nurses told her she was lucky to be alive due to her lupus exacerbating the venom and her body being unable to fight it off.

She was put on a drip for several hours to flush the venom out of her system before being discharged later the same day.

'My arm had got worse throughout the day, it got bigger and I was in excruciating pain. I became very unwell,' Ms Aldridge said.

Ms Aldridge said she is now too scared to sleep as the snake was never found in her house

'When I put the pictures on Facebook, someone said it looked like a snake bite.

'I still said there was absolutely no way that was the case because I would have felt a snake bite, but at the same time I was really tired and in so much pain.'

She said after the snake catcher arrived he performed first aid on her but didn't have enough time to search for the animal.

'I was falling in and out of consciousness and I was really unwell. I'm just glad I went to the hospital when I did or I don't know what would have happened,' she said.

'I can't remember much from my time in hospital, I was put on a drip with four different medications and I know I had a seizure.'

The mother said the snake catcher believes the snake may still be in her home.

She now lives in constant fear that the snake will bite her again.

'I'm constantly looking around the house, every time I hear a noise I panic because I've got a two year old,' Ms Aldridge said.

'I'm extremely tired because I'm too scared to sleep.

'But there's literally nothing we can do about snakes coming into our home and that just terrifies me when I have a two year old wandering around.'
Kim Jong-un should seize opportunity



Some of the key themes of President Moon Jae-in's New Year address Tuesday were peace, economic recovery, industrial innovation and social fairness.



What was most intriguing was his proposal that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un should visit South Korea soon as the two leaders had previously agreed upon. Moon again showed his eagerness to push for the resumption of the stalled symbolic projects between the two Koreas  the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and South Korean tours to Mount Geumgang  as well as reconnecting severed inter-Korean roads and railways.



"I hope the two Koreas will make efforts together so that the conditions for Chairman Kim's reciprocal visit can be created early," Moon said, referring to Kim's agreement to visit the South during Moon's trip to Pyongyang in September 2018.



It is meaningful that Moon has shared his vision for peace on the Korean Peninsula again, especially when tensions are rising between North Korea and the United States over their stalled denuclearization talks. We surely need to do something to break the deadlock, revive dialogue and then move the peace process forward.



Moon's latest message to the North shows his willingness to sit in the "driver's seat" again to pave the way for positive changes just as he made the most of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in early 2018 to usher in a new era for the two Koreas, and help Pyongyang and Washington begin negotiations.



Given that Moon has been consistent about reviving inter-Korean economic exchanges as a means to consolidate peace depending on the progress of the dialogue between the North and the U.S., the current stalemate in their talks ironically gives more flexibility to Moon.



More than anyone else, Moon has been waiting for a deal between Pyongyang and Washington with patience, and the right time to put his ideas about promoting inter-Korean peace into action. And it was only considered possible if a deal was done, and the U.S. eased or removed sanctions on the North accordingly. But with talks between the North and the U.S. on the brink of collapse, he may choose to move more independently from Washington to revitalize exchanges with Pyongyang.



It is most important that North Korea should behave well. If it goes ahead with an intercontinental missile test, as widely speculated, it will be the beginning of a whole different story.



Kim Jong-un should realize that he holds the key to a consolidated peace and prosperous future for his country. He may believe a grand bargain with the U.S. will resolve all pending problems, including those with South Korea. However, the first thing he must do is to try to improve ties with the South. Without doing so, he will obtain nothing.


January 07 : Mouni Roy will leave you breathless as she poses in her Instagram world. She is too good at her nature struck photos that are beautified with meaningful poetry and also the icing on the cake happens to her photos. From saree photos to gowns, to those bikini wear, she defines the sensual side of life in the most elegant manner. Recently, the actress was a vacationing spree during the New Year holiday season. She shared some drool-worthy pics that will surely steal your hearts away.

She posed for the cameras in an elegant round seater with the sunset and beach scenery in the backdrop. As seen, the picture shows that she had taken the photo was taken from Nikki Beach. She had captioned her post with the usual love-filled poetry that read as The Classic I love you , Do you love me too? On sharing this photo, Bollywood fitness actress Mandira Bedi responded with a lovable I do.

Watch the video

It is a known fact that she is a beach bum and some of her passions include enjoying the sun, reading books and being in the water always. This snap was taken during the Christmas 2019 season when she spent her holidays at the Cove Beach, Dubai.

After Made in China with Rajkummar Rao, the actress will soon be seen in Brahmastra and Mogul. In Brahmastra, she will be playing a villain role and sharing screen space with Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor.
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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is slated on Tuesday to deliver remarks in a press conference, days after the U.S. decision to take out Iran's top commander, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, in an airstrike in Baghdad.

Soleimani led an elite branch of Iran's armed forces, the Quds Force, and has been blamed for the deaths of many Americans across the Middle East.

The killing has been met with criticism from members of Congress and 2020 candidates for president, who argue that the move could trigger a major conflict between the United States and Iran. Iranian officials also rebuked the decision, calling it "extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation."

Tweet

Iran has threatened "harsh revenge" for the strike.

Pompeo is expected to take questions.

After months of rumors, Pompeo on Monday informed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that he does not plan to run for Senate in 2020.

McConnell had urged Pompeo to run for the seat to help keep the party's majority after Republican Sen. Pat Roberts announced last year he would retire.

CNBC's Amanda Macias contributed to this report.

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Maintenance workers cover the engine of an American Airlines Group Boeing 737 Max plane at Tulsa International Airport (TUL) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 14, 2019.

Check out the companies making headlines after the bell.

Microchip Technology  Shares of Microchip rose over 4% after releasing updated guidance that put projected sales near the top of its previous range. The company now expects sales to be between $1.281 billion and $1.288 billion. Microchip's previous guidance ranged from $1.244 billion to $1.298 billion. CEO Steve Sanghi said the company viewed the latest quarter as the bottom of a downturn and he expected revenue to grow in 2020.

Texas Instruments  Shares of the semiconductor company rose about 2% in extended trading after fellow chipmaker Microchip released updated guidance and express confidence about the industry in 2020. The companies both produce analog chips and microcontrollers.

American Airlines  Shares of American Airlines rose about 0.5% after hours on Monday following an announcement that it had agreed to a deal with Boeing regarding compensation from the grounding of the 737 Max. The total amount was not disclosed, but American said it would add $30 million to an employee profit-sharing program. Shares of Boeing were nearly flat after the announcement.

Pier 1  The struggling retailer's stock was down 6% after it announced that it was closing 450 stores, nearly half of its total. The company announced a loss of $14.15 per share for its third quarter. The company now has a market cap of around $22 million.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : Months after the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Act, 2019 came into being, the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to designate a Special Court in West Bengal to handle trials of scheduled offences being probed by the central anti-terror investigative body.

Aimed at expeditious judicial trial in scheduled offences being probed by the NIA, the MHA issued a gazette notification, as per the law, on Monday to designate a special court which will now handle all such matters in West Bengal except the cases reported in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts of the state.

The notification mentions that the Central government in consultation with the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court "designates the Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Court No. 3 at Bichar Bhawan, Calcutta as the Special Court for the trial of the scheduled offences investigated by the NIA".

"The jurisdiction of the Special Court shall extend throughout the state of West Bengal (except the Districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar)," the notification said.

As per the notification, the Centre took the decision "in exercise of the powers conferred by section 11 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (34 of 2008)" and "in supersession of the notification published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), vide number S.O. 2937(E), dated the 9th August, 2019, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession." The gazette notification was issued after the NIA (Amendment) Act, 2019 got the assent of the President on July 24 last year following its passage from the Lok Sabha on July 15, 2019, and the Rajya Sabha on July 17, 2019 with amendment to the NIA Act, 2008.

Earlier, Court of the Chief Judge, City Sessions Court, Calcutta was designated as the Special Court for the trial of scheduled offences having jurisdiction in all the districts of West Bengal, except Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar, as per a gazette notification issued on July 16, 2012 under sub-section (1) of section 11 of the NIA Act, 2008, (34 of 2008).

As there was no updated notification for the trial of scheduled offences occurring in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts of West Bengal, the cases registered in these regions will be presented before a special court in Siliguri.

As per a notification issued on April 29, 2011, the Central government notified the Court of Seniormost Additional District and Sessions Judges at Siliguri as the Special Court for the purpose of sub-section (1) of Section 11 of the NIA Act, 2008 for the trial of scheduled offences in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts of West Bengal.

The new Act gives power to the Central government to constitute Special Courts for NIA cases by notification in the official gazette for the trial of scheduled offences. It also provides power to a national-level agency to investigate and prosecute offences listed in a schedule (scheduled offences).

A Special Court shall be presided over by a judge to be appointed by the Central government on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the High Court. The agency may make an application to the Chief Justice of the High Court for appointment of a Judge to preside over the Special Court.

On receipt of an application under sub-section (4), the Chief Justice shall, as soon as possible and not later than seven days, recommend the name of a judge for being appointed to preside over the Special Court.

The Central government may, if required, appoint an additional judge or additional judges to the Special Court, on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the High Court.

A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a judge or an additional judge of a Special Court unless he is, immediately before such appointment, a Sessions Judge or an Additional Sessions Judge in any state.

(Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in)
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump welcomed the prime minister of Greece to the White House Tuesday by saying the United States was very proud of the country and the comeback it is making.

From 2010-2018, Greece survived on bailout loans from its European partners and the International Monetary Fund. It exited the rescue program more than a year ago, but remains under strict supervision from lenders and has committed to achieving stringent budget targets for years to come.

Trump and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met at a time of high stakes in the Mediterranean region. The Harvard-educated Mitsotakis said his country was following a recipe that has worked in the United States, including lower taxes, and the Greek economy has reacted positively.

Mitsotakis said he was looking for Trumps support in calling on American companies to invest in Greece. Mitsotakis won office pledging to make the country more-business friendly, cut taxes and modernize Greeces antiquated bureaucracy.

Leading up to the White House meeting, Trump administration officials described Greece as transforming itself from being a source of problems to becoming a source of solutions and stability. The officials noted that Greece recently signed a deal with Israel and Cyprus to build an undersea pipeline to carry gas from new offshore deposits in the southeastern Mediterranean to continental Europe.

The race to claim offshore energy deposits in the southern Mediterranean has created new tensions between Greece and Cyprus, on one side, and historic rival Turkey.

The Trump administration said it supports Greeces emergence as a regional energy hub and said reliable access to energy is critical to economic development and stability in the region.

Trump said Tuesdays meeting would also cover trade and military issues. It comes as the world grapples with heightening tensions in the Middle East after a U.S. strike killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
In temperament, ideology and style on the campaign trail, the gregarious, gaffe-prone, relatively moderate Biden and the disciplined, democratic socialist Sanders could not be more different. Yet polling and interviews on the ground demonstrate that they have some overlapping appeal here, especially with the white, working-class voters who are skeptical of Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, the other two front-runners in Iowa who have done well with college-educated voters.
A stooped Harvey Weinstein shuffled into court with a walker Tuesday for the start of jury selection at the disgraced Hollywood mogul's sexual assault trial in New York, the morning after prosecutors in Los Angeles brought charges against him.

The judge ruled that jury selection would begin as scheduled Tuesday despite a request from Weinstein's lawyer to grant a "cooling-off period" following the new charges.

Scores of potential jurors were summoned for a selection process that could take weeks, given the heavy publicity surrounding the case and the way Weinstein has been cast as the chief villain of the #MeToo movement.

Weinstein, who recently underwent back surgery, is charged in New York with raping a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing a sex act on another woman in the city in 2006. The 67-year-old former movie titan has said any sexual activity was consensual.

"In this great country, you are innocent until proven guilty," his lawyer Donna Rotunno said Monday.

Judge James Burke denied the prosecution's request to jail Weinstein after they argued the Los Angeles charges increased his incentive to flee. Burke did threaten to jail Weinstein for violating his order not to use his cell phone in the courtroom.

Once one of Hollywood's most powerful producers, Weinstein has now been accused of sexual assault, harassment and misconduct by dozens of women, from famous actresses to assistants at his former company. The allegations began surfacing publicly in October 2017 and sparked the #MeToo movement, as well as investigations in multiple places.

Los Angeles prosecutors charged Weinstein Monday with sexually assaulting two women there on successive nights during Oscar week in 2013.

Lawyers for Weinstein had no immediate comment on the new charges, though he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey said the timing of the charges was unrelated to the New York trial. She said the case took more than two years to build because the women were reluctant to provide all the information necessary, and the filing happened on the first business day when all the necessary people could gather.

There is some connection between the cases, though: One of the Los Angeles accusers is expected to testify in the New York case to help prosecutors establish what they say was Weinstein's pattern of forcing himself on young actresses and women trying to break into Hollywood.

Weinstein is expected to appear in court in California after his New York trial, Lacey said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Charlie Hebdo, controversial five-year commemoration Attack marked start of black year of terror in France

(ANSAmed) - PARIS, JANUARY 7 - Seventeen victims and the start of a black year for France: five years after the deadly attack against satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, France commemorates the first of a long series of acts of terrorism that culminated on November 2015 in the multiple attacks against Parisian restaurants and the Bataclan.



Jihadist brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi opened fire during a news meeting at the paper, killing the 12 people present, including journalists, operators, visitors and police officers.



They fled screaming: ''We have vindicated the Prophet Mohamed! We have killed Charlie Hebdo!''.



The victims included popular cartoonists like Charb and Wolinski. Forty-eight hours later, the manhunt ended in a typography of a banlieu where the Kouachi brothers were killed by special forces. In the same hours, an accomplice, Amedy Coulibaly, targeted Jews, taking hostages inside a kosher supermarket, Hyper Casher, in the suburbs of the capital. Four people were killed before the attacker was shot dead by security forces. A day before carrying out the attack, he had killed a policewoman in Montrouge, south of Paris.



''Yesterday - wrote Riss, the editor-in-chief of Charlie Hebdo in his commemorative editorial - we said 'shit' to God, the army, the Church and the State. Today, we must learn to say 'shit' to tyrannical associations, narcissistic minorities, bloggers who scold us like teachers. Today, being politically correct is an imposition forcing us to use gender spelling, advising us against words that could be disturbing''. (ANSAmed)
New Jersey is facing a critical blood shortage and is in urgent need of donations.

Vitalant, a nonprofit community blood bank and one of New Jerseys primary blood providers, has declared a critical shortage, saying the busy holiday season resulted in over 21,000 fewer donations than expected, according to a statement.

The blood bank said its blood providers nationwide have less than a two days supply of necessary blood types.

Its certainly critical right now, said Chandra Stewart, spokeswoman for Vitalant, which supplies blood in New Jersey from Bergen County to Ocean County.

The American Red Cross New Jersey Region also issued a statement Monday about a critical need for blood, including in the South Jersey region. The organization also cited the holiday season as a reason for shortages, saying there were about 500 fewer volunteer blood drives than required to meet the needs of patients.

Lifesaving medical treatments and emergencies never take a holiday, Paul Sullivan, senior vice president of Red Cross Biomedical Services, said in a statement. Declines in donations can affect patient care. Thats why the Red Cross is encouraging eligible donors to make an appointment to give now and help those sidelined by illness and trauma.

#BREAKING - #RedCross issues critical need for blood and platelet donors after the holidays w/ less than a 3 day supply of type O. Learn more: https://t.co/H54iDMTBLu#GiveNow pic.twitter.com/AZud3u4VeH  Red Cross Blood Services #GiveNow (@RedCrossBloodPJ) January 6, 2020

Without a sufficient blood supply, hospitals may have to prioritize blood in some circumstances.

Effectively, we need to collect blood every single day, and if we dont have enough people showing up  then surgeries can get postponed and potentially canceled, and hospitals need to triage which patients receive blood, said Cliff Numark, chief of marketing for Vitalant.

For example, a heart surgery may need to be postponed because blood is needed for a trauma patient suffering critical injuries.

Robert Kessler, senior manager of donor recruitment at Vitalant, said its not unusual for donations to fall during the holidays. But this season, the drop was especially significant.

It looks like they took a little bit of a lower dip than in past years, Kessler said.

All blood types and components are in short supply, according to Vitalant. The organization added there is a particular need for platelets and Type O donations. Platelets have only a five-day shelf life. Type O-negative blood is known as the universal blood type.

Every two seconds, a patient needs blood, Vitalant said. Patients depend on volunteer blood donors.

Nationwide, Vitalant requires more than 35,000 blood products per week to meet the needs of patients. In New Jersey and New York, where Vitalant also serves as a blood provider, 700 blood products per week are needed.

To donate, call 877-258-4825 (877-25-VITAL) or visit Vitalant.org.

To donate to the Red Cross, people can use the Red Cross Blood Donor App or they can visit RedCrossBlood.org. People can also call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Masked goons attacked the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus on Sunday evening, wounding many students and at least one lady faculty member.

Shockingly, the Delhi police reportedly did not intervene to apprehend the mob creating mayhem on the JNU campus.

Uttam Ghosh offers his take on the assault which has shocked the nation.
CHICAGO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Joyce Foundation announced today that the 2020 Joyce Awards have been awarded to four collaborations between artists of color and arts and cultural organizations in Chicago, Cleveland and the Twin Cities.

The $50,000 grants will develop works that engage, educate and challenge while celebrating the diversity in their local communities. This year's Joyce Awards projects will take an important look at the themes of heritage, history and resilience.

"For 16 years, the Joyce Awards have celebrated diverse artistic talents and engaged communities throughout the Great Lakes region in vibrant conversations about the arts," said Ellen Alberding, president of the Joyce Foundation. "Each year, we are incredibly impressed by the caliber of submissions and are thrilled to help make the vision of these artists a reality."

To date, the Joyce Awards have granted $3.7 million to commission 69 new works connecting artists with cultural organizations throughout the Great Lakes region. The award is used to support artists in the creation and production of a new work and provides the commissioning organization the resources needed to engage potential audiences, new partners and their larger communities.

"This year's commissions are united in the quest to lift up voices and narratives that are rarely centered," said Tracie Hall, director of The Joyce Foundation's culture program. "We were struck by the fact that in each of these projects the artists counted community dialogue and co-creation as essential to the development process."

The 2020 Joyce Awards Winners:

Twelve Literary Arts (Cleveland)

Twelve Literary Arts will commission Terrel Wallace (aka "Tall Black Guy"), one of contemporary music's most innovative producers, to create, "The Land Claps Back," a series of programs and performances featuring inter-generational poets, vocalists and musicians that will culminate in a sound-recording composed and produced by Wallace.

Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

Artists M. Carmen Lane and Shaun Leonardo will be commissioned by moCa Cleveland to produce "Recovering Cleveland's Jazz Temple," a yearlong series of arts interventions and programs paying homage to the historic African-American live music venue that was the target of racialized violence and harassment until its bombing in 1963.

Guthrie Theater (Minneapolis)

The Guthrie will commission artists Ty Defoe and Larissa FastHorse of Indigenous Direction to create a new theater production that centers Twin Cities Native stories, specifically that of the Dakota and Anishinaabe-Ojibwe people.

Hyde Park Art Center (Chicago)

The Hyde Park Art Center will commission visual artist Faheem Majeed to create a monumental artwork, exhibition and programming to commemorate the legacy of the South Side Community Art Center.

For images and news releases on each award winner, please visit the media pages here. Password: JOYCE2020.

To view a video on the Joyce Awards, please click here.

For more information on the Joyce Awards and the Joyce Foundation, please visit www.JoyceFdn.org.

About The Joyce Foundation

The Joyce Foundation is a nonpartisan, private foundation that invests in public policies and strategies to advance racial equity and economic mobility for the next generation in the Great Lakes region. The foundation supports policy research, development, and advocacy in five areas: Education & Economic Mobility, Environment, Gun Violence Prevention & Justice Reform, Democracy, and Culture.

SOURCE The Joyce Foundation

Related Links

http://www.joycefdn.org


MUNSTER  Police are searching for a suspect who allegedly robbed First Midwest Bank in Munster Tuesday morning.

At about 9:10 a.m., the suspect entered the bank, 750 Ridge Road, and handed a bank teller a note that demanded money and implied he had a gun, police said. The man then fled the bank with an undetermined amount of cash, police said.

The suspect, whose likeness was captured on surveillance video, is described as a black male in his late 50s, wearing a gray suit with an ivory colored fedora and large rimmed glasses.

Police ask anyone with information in the case to call Munster police detective, Sgt. Tim Nosich, at 219-836-6658 or contact him by email tnosich@munster.org.

Tipsters can remain anonymous.

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Is CSC Financial Co., Ltd. (HKG:6066) 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.

With only a three-year payment history, and a 2.9% yield, investors probably think CSC Financial is not much of a dividend stock. While it may not look like much, if earnings are growing it could become quite interesting. Some simple analysis can reduce the risk of holding CSC Financial for its dividend, and we'll focus on the most important aspects below.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

SEHK:6066 Historical Dividend Yield, January 7th 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. So we need to form a view on if a company's dividend is sustainable, relative to its net profit after tax. In the last year, CSC Financial paid out 31% of its profit as dividends. A medium payout ratio strikes a good balance between paying dividends, and keeping enough back to invest in the business. Plus, there is room to increase the payout ratio over time.

Remember, you can always get a snapshot of CSC Financial's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health.

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. It has only been paying dividends for a few short years, and the dividend has already been cut at least once. This is one income stream we're not ready to live on. Its most recent annual dividend was CN0.18 per share, effectively flat on its first payment three years ago.

It's good to see some dividend growth, but the dividend has been cut at least once, and the size of the cut would eliminate most of the growth, anyway. We're not that enthused by this.

Story continues

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 CSC Financial has grown its earnings per share at 14% per annum over the past five years. A company paying out less than a quarter of its earnings as dividends, and growing earnings at more than 10% per annum, looks to be right in the cusp of its growth phase. At the right price, we might be interested.

We'd also point out that CSC Financial issued a meaningful number of new shares in the past year. Trying to grow the dividend when issuing new shares reminds us of the ancient Greek tale of Sisyphus - perpetually pushing a boulder uphill. Companies that consistently issue new shares are often suboptimal from a dividend perspective.

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 CSC Financial 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. Overall we think CSC Financial is an interesting dividend stock, although it could be better.

Earnings growth generally bodes well for the future value of company dividend payments. See if the 6 CSC Financial analysts we track are forecasting continued growth with our free report on analyst estimates 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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 19:16:32|Editor: Xiang Bo

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LHASA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chagxi Dawa started his winery business from scratch and achieved business success within only a few years.

The young entrepreneur from southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region attributed his success to the local policies that encourage young people to start businesses.

After graduating from the wine college of Yunnan Agricultural University in 2014, Chagxi planned to engage in ice wines in his hometown. However, there was no winery in the region at that time.

"Few people knew about ice wines, so there was no market," said Chagxi.

It was not easy to start the business at the beginning. Chagxi's business got better after he took part in a youth innovation and entrepreneurship competition in 2017.

In a bid to support youth entrepreneurship, the regional government set up a 2-billion-yuan (about 287 million U.S. dollars) fund that year to boost youth employment, hold youth entrepreneurship competitions, and establish innovation and entrepreneurship service centers.

In the competition, Chagxi placed first and was awarded a 500,000-yuan venture fund. His ice red wine also became more well-known because of the competition.

"Thanks to the fund, my winery is able to function well, and we now produce more wine varieties," Chagxi said, noting that the annual yield of wine has grown from 30 tonnes to over 100 tonnes, and the beverage was sold both in China and abroad.

The entrepreneurship competition also changed Qamba Chinlai's life. Qamba, then a kindergarten teacher, was also working part-time in a cultural education company as product designer.

In 2017, the company's annual sales were less than 100,000 yuan, making it barely viable. He was then invited to participate in the entrepreneurship competition and came in third, but won an award for the most popular company on the Internet.

Qamba's company later received a 400,000-yuan grant from the local government to help him continue the research and product development.

Thanks to the support, their products were purchased by local kindergartens, and company sales soared to over 3 million yuan in 2019.

"We learned a lot of advanced management ideas from the competition. Meanwhile, our products were widely recognized via the event," said Qamba.

He said what made him decide to suspend his teaching job and focus on the work in the company was an entrepreneur-friendly policy, which, issued in 2018, ensures entrepreneurs can go back to their original jobs in case their businesses fail within three years.

Tibet has striven to boost employment and entrepreneurship among young people in recent years. For this purpose, a series of policies have been rolled out to attract college and university graduates to start businesses in the region.

In September 2019, the region issued a development plan to further support innovation and entrepreneurship among Tibetan young people aged between 14 and 35. Since then, a total of 12 such projects have been launched.
A stampede at the funeral of slain Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani has left at least 50 people dead and over 200 injured, according to Iranian state television.

Soleimani, killed in a U.S. airstrike Thursday at Baghdad International Airport, was to be buried in his hometown of Kerman. The burial was postponed after throngs of people who turned out for the funeral made it impossible for vehicles to reach the cemetery. The crowds apparently overwhelmed authorities organizing the funeral.

The death toll of this incident is over 50, said Abbas Amian, the director general of the coroner bureau in Kerman, in comments to the state-run IRNA news agency. Most of them are men, ranging from young to adults.

Amian said 213 people were injured in the stampede.

Tuesday was the final day of funeral proceedings for Soleimani, and Iranian officials continued to issue calls for revenge against the U.S. for the strike.

I say the last word first. We will take revenge, said IRGC commander Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami. If they make another move, we will set fire to the place they love.

However, theA Financial Times reported that some in Irans government are hoping to avoid an all-out war with the U.S.

We cannot ignore this aggression easily and have to prevent the U.S. from repeating its rogue behaviour, said Hamid-Reza Taraghi, a conservative politician. But our strategy is retaliation in such a way that we do not go to a war.

According to multiple reports, the U.S. is in the process of deploying 3,500 troops to bases in Kuwait following the strike, in preparation for a possible response by Iran.

More from National Review
Public officials usually dont make new years resolutions, but if the Beaumont ISD board was hoping to start off 2020 with a positive goal, it succeeded. The managers recently moved the public comment period for each meeting from the middle to the start, and residents will be able to sign up for the comment period any time before the 6 p.m. start, although they can still sign up in advance through the districts website.

This is a nice change for the BISD  as it would be for any other taxing entity in the region that doesnt put out the welcome mat for public comments.

An open secret on this issue is that some public boards make it difficult for residents to speak before them, either by making the signup process difficult, giving each speaker only a short period of time or by delaying the comment period until later in the meeting, sometimes at the end. That last trick forces residents to sit around for an hour or two before they can speak their mind. More than a few have given up in frustration, as the meeting dragged on, and went home. This, of course, is exactly what the board wanted.

Thats not how the process is supposed to work, and no public board in Southeast Texas should play those games.

Yes, sometimes the public comments may be rude or off-point. That doesnt matter. Democracy is not always neat and tidy, but its still better than any other form of government. Outside of profanity or personal insults, taxpayers should be allowed to say pretty much anything they want before the public boards that are spending their tax dollars.

In turn, elected officials should realize that sometimes they will have to take the heat. If theyre too sensitive or thin-skinned for that, they shouldnt seek public office in the first place. And it should be obvious that if they carry out their duties well, they wont face much criticism from taxpayers.

Every other public board in the area should review its public comments policy to see if it can be improved like this. The goal should be making it as easy as possible for people to speak to the representatives they voted on and ask questions about official policies. Public boards should value this feedback to know the concerns of voters and understand what changes might need to be made.

More communication and openness is always good. Policies like this promote that.
The offender told the victim that her computer had been hacked, and that in order to repair it, she needed to purchase gift cards and provide him with the access codes. The victim complied, and purchased $5,500 worth of gift cards and provided the scammer with the access codes, which were then immediately used to redeem the cards.
[January 07, 2020] Wearsafe Labs Introduces Mobile Personal Safety Devices with Accident Insurance Protection at CES 2020

At CES (News - Alert) 2020, Wearsafe Labs, a leader in consumer and enterprise IoT software, today announced that it will now include insurance protection to cover certain accident-related medical expenses for individuals using their supported IoT devices. The Blanket Accident Insurance coverage is underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company. Wearsafe's IoT software platform powers a host of LTE (News - Alert), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS-connected device applications designed for the well-being of individuals, their children, parents, pets, homes, and other valued possessions. "At this year's CES, we are showcasing being the first to market a protection software solution that goes beyond the application," said David Benoit, CEO of Wearsafe Labs. "Our patented IoT platform is extremely dynamic, and now adds insurance protection from Zurich that can help financially protect device holders in the event of an accidental injury. Wearsafe-powered devices provide a personal alert network that can initiate professional monitoring services and escalate various forms of emergency assistance. For our customers who may incur accident-related medical expenses due to their emergency (i.e. hospital or ambulance expenses), the Zurich insurance coverage helps provide financial protection to the consumer, subject to the terms and conditions of the insurance policy." "At their core, IoT safety devices powered by the Wearsafe software platform solve the problem of providing immediate emergency assistance to our users in their time of need," said Dan McDowell, Vice President of Sales fr Wearsafe. "However, emergency situations oftentimes create financial burdens for our users in the form of emergency transport and medical expenses that may not be fully covered by a user's health insurance. By combining the safety our devices provide with the financial protection afforded by Zurich, our IoT software platform creates significant product differentiation for our device partners, drives device usefulness, and enhances customer value."



"We are proud to complement Wearsafe technology solutions with our Blanket Accident Insurance coverage, creating significant value for Wearsafe customers," said Mike Hughes (News - Alert), Vice President and Zone Underwriting Manager for Group Accident at Zurich North America. In addition to providing the data communication infrastructure and mobile app experience for a wide range of IoT devices, the Wearsafe platform now provides wireless operators, hardware manufacturers, and IoT distributors with service expansion and extension opportunities to drive additional consumer engagement and revenue. Additionally, by pairing IoT devices with insurance solutions, Wearsafe is able to bridge consumers' need for both safety and security while enhancing peace of mind.

Insurance products and coverage were arranged on behalf of Wearsafe Labs through ZON Digital Insurance, the licensed division of Group Benefit Options, LLC. www.gboiq.com. About Wearsafe Labs Based in Hartford, Connecticut, Wearsafe provides an industry-leading IoT platform and mobile app software to international hardware manufacturers and wireless operators. Wearsafe's carrier-grade IoT platform powers a wide range of consumer and enterprise IoT devices including mPERS, panic buttons, smartwatches, pet and asset tracker devices, and automobile safety devices. The Wearsafe platform includes a fully-licensed insurance solution with consolidated billing and delivery of insurance products to IoT consumers and supports the integration of insurance services directly into an IoT device's set-up flow, including the underwriting, quoting, binding and issuing of insurance products and solutions. IoT devices powered by the Wearsafe platform provide consumers with comprehensive features including real-time tracking, precise in-building location, large-scale enterprise deployment and management, 2-way voice calling, voice activation, customizable alerts, professional monitoring integration, and geolocation in a universal application. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005244/en/

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The 20th Meet in Beijing International Arts Festival opened Monday with a concert delivered by Chinese and Japanese artists at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.

More than 60 performances and three exhibitions will be staged over the following month as part of the festival by art troupes and over 700 artists from 12 countries and regions, including the National Ballet of China, the Maria Pages Company, French pianist Richard Clayderman and the Berlin Philharmonic.

The festival this year will feature elements of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, which will remain a feature for the next two editions of the festival.

As the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are also around the corner, Japan was chosen as the festival's guest country of honor this year.

The closing ceremony of the festival will take place on Feb. 4 at the Beijing National Stadium.
WASHINGTONU.S. federal prosecutors on Tuesday recommended that former national security adviser Michael Flynn serve up to six months in prison, reversing their earlier recommendation of probation because of his drawn out attacks against the FBI and Justice Department.

The dramatic revocation of the Justice Departments request for leniency came weeks after Flynns sentencing judge on Dec. 16 categorically rejected Flynns claims of prosecutorial misconduct and that he had been duped into pleading guilty to lying to FBI agents about his Russian contacts after the 2016 U.S. election.

It is within the governments sole discretion to determine whether the defendant has substantially assisted the government, prosecutor Brandon Van Grack wrote in a 33-page court filing. In light of the complete record, including actions subsequent to December 18, 2018, that negate the benefits of much of the defendants earlier cooperation, the government no longer deems the defendants assistance substantial.

Flynn faces sentencing Jan. 28 before U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan in Washington, D.C. Flynn defence attorney Sidney Powell is scheduled to file his sentencing request on Jan. 22.

The government motion marked the latest twist in the legal saga of the former Army lieutenant general and Trump adviser, whose rocky path after his candidate won the White House included serving the shortest tenure of a national security adviser on record  just 24 days. He then became a key witness in a probe into the administration, before breaking with the prosecutors who had credited him for helping them.

Flynns actions punctuated the beginning and end of special counsel Robert Muellers probe of Russian election interference, and his latest change of heart came after the investigation formally closed last March. Some Trump allies at that time pushed the president to pardon figures in the probe, particularly Flynn, calls that potential prison term could renew.

Flynn, 61, pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2017, to lying about his communications with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the presidential transition, becoming the highest-ranking Trump official charged and one of the first to co-operate with Muellers office.

Flynn faces up to a five-year prison term under the charge, which included his misrepresentation of work advancing the interests of the Turkish government. However, ahead of Flynns initially scheduled sentencing in December 2018, prosecutors said he deserved probation for his substantial assistance in several ongoing but undisclosed investigations, as well as his disclosure of firsthand information about the content and context of interactions between the transition team and Russian government officials.

In a November 2018 filing with specifics redacted, Mueller wrote that Flynns guilty plea likely affected the decisions of related firsthand witnesses to be forthcoming with the SCO and cooperate, and some individuals gave additional details about key events after his cooperation became public.

And the special counsel noted that Flynns early cooperation was particularly valuable because he was one of the few people with long-term and firsthand insight regarding events and issues under investigation by the SCO.

Flynns plea revealed that he was in touch with senior Trump transition officials before and after his communications with Kislyak. The pre-inauguration communications involved efforts to blunt Obama administration policy decisions on sanctions on Russia and a United Nations resolution on Israel.

Flynn told prosecutors that a very senior member of the Presidential Transition Team  President Donald Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, according to people familiar with the matter  directed him to contact officials from foreign governments, including Russia, about the UN resolution on Israel.

At the time of Flynns plea, prosecutors said they would likely seek a prison sentence between zero and six months. But based on his ongoing co-operation they recommended a sentence on the low end of that range, including a sentence that does not impose a term of incarceration.

Prosecutors singled out Flynns exemplary public service, including 33 years in the military and combat service, as a mitigating circumstance.

The defendants record of military and public service distinguish him from every other person who has been charged as part (of) the SCOs investigation, prosecutors wrote in 2018. However, senior government leaders should be held to the highest standards.

Flynns attorneys joined that recommendation.

But at last years Dec. 18, 2018, sentencing hearing, Sullivan lambasted Flynns attorneys for also suggesting prosecutors overreached and for appearing to play down his offences. Under questioning by the judge, Flynn repeated under oath that he admitted he was guilty as Sullivan recited at length his misstatements to Vice President Mike Pence, senior White House aides, federal investigators and the news media before and after Trumps January 2017 inauguration about the nature of his foreign contacts

Arguably, you sold your country out, Sullivan told Flynn, warning he might impose prison time. Flynns lawyers agreed to postpone the proceeding so that he could continue to show his good faith co-operation.

In a string of related developments this year, Flynn switched defence lawyers, and his new team asked Sullivan to find prosecutors in contempt, alleging that Flynn had been entrapped into pleading guilty, was actually innocent, and that prosecutors had wrongfully withheld evidence helpful to his defence.

Over the same period, Flynn broke with prosecutors over assisting them in the Alexandria federal trial of a former business partner in July. A judge in September overturned a subsequent jury verdict convicting Bijan Rafiekian of illegally lobbying for Turkey, finding that with Flynns role in dispute, the evidence against him was insufficient.

Prosecutors accuse Michael Flynn of misrepresenting facts and peddling conspiracy theories in bid to dismiss case

As a consequence, prosecutors said they would revisit their assessment of Flynns co-operation and sentencing recommendation, which Sullivan scheduled after summarily rejecting the defendants 11th-hour allegations.

In Tuesdays filing, prosecutors cited the events as reasons for withdrawing their request for leniency.

Given the serious nature of the defendants offense, his apparent failure to accept responsibility, his failure to complete his cooperation in  and his affirmative efforts to undermine  the prosecution of Bijan Rafiekian, and the need to promote respect for the law and adequately deter such criminal conduct, the government recommends that the court sentence the defendant within the applicable Guidelines range of 0 to 6 months of incarceration, Van Grack wrote.

Prosecutors said Flynn participated in 19 interviews with federal prosecutors and turned over documents and communications, but the substance of his co-operation was initially hidden from view.

Most  but not all  has come out in Muellers final report, subsequent trials or public records released in lawsuits news organizations.

Among other things Flynn told Mueller that Trump and his campaign repeatedly sought to reach out to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks and obtain Hillary Clintons private emails, which the government has alleged were hacked by Russia, with Flynn offering to use his intelligence sources and contacting multiple people in an attempt to get them.

Flynn also informed the government of multiple instances in which he or his attorneys received communications from White House or congressional sources that could have affected his decision to co-operate or co-operate fully, including messages from Trump to stay strong and that the president still cared for him.

Trumps lawyer raised possibility of pardons for Manafort, Flynn last summer

Prosecutors disclosed that it was Flynn himself who told prosecutors of a sensitive voice-mail message that one of Trumps attorneys left for Flynns lawyer seeking to suss out if he was about to co-operate and if so to do so while protecting the president, a transcript of which was quoted in Mueller report and released in full as part of Flynns proceedings.

If theres information that implicates the President, then weve got a national security issue, said Trumps lawyer, whom sources have identified as John Dowd. So you know  we need some kind of heads up, he added. Um, just for the sake of protecting all our interests if we can, without you having to give up any  confidential information  remember what weve always said about the President and his feelings toward Flynn and, that still remains.

Flynn resigned from his top White House post in February 2017 after the White House said he misled Pence and other administration officials about his contacts with Kislyak.

Flynn was succeeded by H.R. McMaster, an Army lieutenant general at the time of his hiring by Trump. McMaster was forced out in March 2018 after sparring with conservatives and disagreeing with Trump on key foreign policy strategies including Russia, Iran and North Korea.

Trumps third national security adviser, John Bolton, was also ousted, in September. Earlier this week Bolton expressed willingness to testify in a Senate impeachment trial of Trump over the presidents alleged attempt to pressure Ukraine to investigate political rival former Democratic vice president Joe Biden, while withholding nearly $400 million in military aid.

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- BB gun shots rang out Sunday night, striking an ambulance on Syracuses West Side, police said.

An American Medical Response ambulance was driving in the 600 block of South Geddes Street when the crew heard two bangs, Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Matthew Malinowski said Monday.

AMR crews realized something had broken the back window, according to a company spokeswoman.

Police met with the ambulance crew at Upstate University Hospital at 6:45 p.m. Officers described the damage as consistent with a BB gun being shot at the ambulance, Malinowski said.

No one was injured, he said.

Syracuse police do not know who shot at the ambulance, but are asking anyone with information to call them at (315) 442-5222.

AMR officials said the ambulance is being repaired and returned to service.

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.
New Delhi [India], Jan 7 (ANI): The Centre has made mandatory the default temperature settings for room air conditioners, of all makes and types, from January 1, which had been formed after consulting with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).



"The Centre in consultation with BEE had notified new energy performance standards for Room Air Conditioner (RACs) on October 30, 2019. The 24 degree Celsius default setting has been made mandatory from January 1, 2020 for all room air conditioners covered under the ambit of BEE star-labelling program vide this notification," according to a press release by PIB on Monday.

"Additionally, the Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ISEER) as per the new standards will range from (3.30 - 5.00) for split and (2.70 - 3.50) for window air conditioners, which will be applicable from 1st January 2021 onwards," the release added.

This would make it mandatory for all brands and types of star labelled ACs to have 24 degree Celsius as the default temperature from January 1.

"BEE launched the voluntary star labelling program for fixed-speed room air conditioners (RACs) in 2006, and this program became mandatory on January 12, 2009. Thereafter, in 2015, voluntary star labelling program for inverter room air conditioners was launched and which was made mandatory with effect from January 1, 2018. The BEE star labelling program for Room Air Conditioners now covers both fixed and inverter RAC up to a cooling capacity of 10,465 watts (2.97 TR)," the release added. (ANI)
Tipped off that ICE is on its way, Javier hustles his undocumented kitchen employees out the back door, never dreaming that the agents have come for him and Gloria instead. Theyve spent two decades building a family and a business, paying taxes and pledging their patriotism  yet, indeed, they themselves lack the necessary proof. (You think the rules dont apply to you? one of the officers growls. Things have changed, Mr. Acosta. I need to see your papers.) Theyre arrested and sent to a detention center where they await a deportation hearing.
New Delhi: In a big development, Delhi's Patiala House court on Tuesday (January 7) issued a death warrant for the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case. The convicts will be hanged at 7 am on January 22. As soon as the judge pronounced the verdict, the convicts, who were produced before court through video conferencing, broke into tears. Additional Session Judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the death warrant against them.

Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi who very courageously fought the case erupted with joy and said that her struggle of seven years has finally ended. She said that her daughter has got justice and the hanging of four convicts will empower the women of the country. "My daughter has got justice. Execution of the four convicts will empower the women of the country. This decision will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system," said Asha Devi.

Lauding courts decision Nirbhaya's father Badrinath Singh said, "I am happy with the court's decision. This decision will instil fear in people who commit such crimes.''

Earlier in the day, the court reserved the order on the plea of parents of Nirbhaya seeking issuance of death warrant against all the four convicts in the case. The court heard the plea of parents of the 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim seeking to expedite the procedure to hang all four convicted in the case and also seeking issuance of death warrant against them. It was informed by the lawyers of the convicts that they are in the process of filing the curative plea.

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However, the convicts' lawyer AP Singh said that they will file a curative petition in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the death warrant. Singh said, "We will file a curative petition in the Supreme Court within two days. Five senior-most judges of the Supreme Court will hear it. There has been media, public and political pressure since the beginning, which is why an unbiased probe did not take place in this case.''

The four convicts are Pawan Gupta, Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur. The main accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail during the trial. Another accused was a minor at the time of the commission of the crime and was sent to a reform facility and released after three years.

People across the country including political leader including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Gautam Gambhir, Minister G Kishan Reddy, DCW Prakash Javedkar and many others spoke in favour of the decision and said that this judgement will set an example for others.

The issuance of a death warrant means that the four convicts will now be not allowed to work inside the jail and they will be kept under round-the-clock surveillance. The medical check-up of convict against whom death warrant is issued is done two times in a day. The black warrant issued by the court is sent to the jail in a red envelope and convicts and their family members are informed about the death warrant by the jail authorities.
When animal control officers arrived, the Fire Department was able to pull the young coyote from the water, put him on a gurney with blankets to warm him up! animal control officials said in a Facebook post. The coyote was transported to CACC, and our partner Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation will be picking him up...
Following the exposure of scam in the PMC Bank, which has over 9.15 lakh depositors, the RBI imposed restrictions on withdrawals.

Mumbai: The RBI on Monday revised the Supervisory Action Framework (SAF) for urban cooperative banks to ensure expeditious resolution of financial stress being faced by some of them.

The move comes in the backdrop of the scam in Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank causing distress to over 9 lakh depositors.

"Keeping in view the experience gained, it has been decided to further rationalise the SAF to make it more effective in bringing about the desired improvement in the UCBs as also expeditious resolution of UCBs experiencing financial stress," said an RBI notification.

The central bank also added that it will continue to monitor asset quality, profitability and capital/net worth of UCBs under the revised SAF.

As per the revised norms, a UCB may be placed under SAF when its net NPAs exceed 6 percent of its net advances.

Depending upon the severity of the stress, the RBI may ask them to curtail their lending powers, among other safeguards.

An urban cooperative bank could also be placed under SAF when it incurs losses for two consecutive financial years or has accumulated losses on its balance sheet.

Further, the issue of show cause notice for cancellation of banking license may be considered by the Reserve bank "when continued normal functioning of the UCB is no longer considered to be in the interest of its depositors/ public", the notification said.

"Supervisory action already taken under the earlier SAF will be reviewed and revised instructions, if any, will be issued to the UCBs concerned," it added.

Following the exposure of scam in the PMC Bank, which has over 9.15 lakh depositors, the RBI imposed restrictions on withdrawals.

Statutory inspection of PMC by the RBI had revealed large group exposure of about Rs 6,226.01 crore to Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL) Group companies.

Of the total exposure to the HDIL group, only Rs 439.58 crore was disclosed to the RBI, while Rs 5,786.43 crore remained undisclosed.
San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/07/2020 -- Used extensively as an EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) agent, alkyl polyglucoside is a popular product, seeing growth in terms of demand owing to interfacial tensions and phase behavior. The reason behind this is that the property is crucial for EOR applications in oilfields.



Thus, it goes without saying that the global alkyl polyglucosides market will witness tremendous growth in this application segment. And, as per a Transparency Market Research report, the market itself is ready to chart notable growth figures and a solid CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) over the period of 2018 to 2028.



Some of the notable factors behind the growth include concerted efforts towards opting for surfactants derived from materials that are renewable. And, this means increase in demand for alkyl polyglucosides market. Here is it is important to note that the rising trend shifting preference towards all things that are biodegradable and green is also revving the market up considerably. It is because these have a high dispersing attributes, superior stability, high solubility, and high wetting attribute.



Get Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=6195



One of the major applications that the market will grow on the back of is shampoo formulations in which alkyl polyglucosides are vastly used for cleansing and foaming properties. Thus, it surprises no one that leading players in the personal care market are choosing alkyl polyglucosides over other variants. This paves way for better product value and lower costs of manufacturing.



Stringent government regulations and rising awareness regarding the environmental impact of inorganic surfactants are also playing a critical role in driving the global alkyl polyglucosides market over the forecast period. In fact, as per some experts, this is what underpins the growth.



As far as the regional analysis goes, North America and Europe will witness growth owing to strong presence of prominent players like BASF SE. The brand is known for its surfactants that are bio based and is headquartered in Germany. It is also noteworthy that Europe's leading position is also a result of high use of bio-based surfactants because of properties such as toxicity levels that are low and high awareness regarding the same. And, as regional authorities (ECHA, EEA, and REACH) have stringent compliance, region is propelled on to a higher trajectory of growth.



At this point, it important to put the spotlight on Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), which is ready to demonstrate an impressive CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) over the forecast period of 2018 to 2028. And, it is important to point out here that the growth will be driven by demand for agrochemical formulations. And, since alkyl polyglucosides play a significant role, demand will see an upward curve.



It is pertinent to make note of the competitive landscape of the global alkyl polyglucosides market which is fragmented, competitive and set to make the most of the upcoming oppoertunities. Some of the players to look for include Galaxy Surfactants, Shanghai Fine Chemical Co Ltd, Pilot Chemical Company, SEPPIC S.A, LG Household & Healthcare, Nouryon, Huntsman Corporation, Dow Chemical Company, BASF SE, and Croda International PLC.



Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=6195



Players are not only involved in creating specialty products like Croda International does but laos use technology to improve results and thus, contribute to sales and brand loyalty in the market, Of late, Diversaclean CS was developed by the company. And, it is making noise I terms of efficacy in cleaning and wetting of non-ionics. Besides, the profile of the product is green. Additionally, it is quite stable as a surfactant.



Also, synergistic collaborations and partnerships are also a lucrative way to strengthen grasp on market share and have a deeper penetration into the dynamics. Others include mergers and acquisitions and better marketing strategies.



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ATLANTA, GA, Jan. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- True Nature Holding, Inc. DBA Mitesco, Inc. (OTCQB: TNTY) (the Company or True Nature) announces the appointment of Mr. Tom Brodmerkel to its Board of Directors. He is a senior executive and board member with over 30 years experience in healthcare operations, M&A, business development and marketing. With extensive public company and healthcare knowledge, Mr. Brodmerkel joins Mr. Ronald Riewold, Ms. Julie R. Smith and Mr. Larry Diamond, where all participants have both healthcare and public company experience.



Mr. Larry Diamond, Chief Executive Officer of True Nature Holding, Inc., said, Tom brings an important blend of strategic experience within the healthcare continuum and public experience within highly regulated environments to the Board of Directors. Toms thought leadership and growth-oriented perspective will benefit the organization as we expand. I join Julie R. Smith, COO & President of True Nature Holding, Inc., in welcoming Tom to the team. Additionally, Mr. Douglas Cole is stepping down from the Board to make room for Mr. Brodmerkel. Mr. Diamond added, We thank Doug Cole for his contributions and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Brodmerkel, age 62, commented on the opportunity, I am excited to join the Board of Directors of True Nature Holding, Inc. The opportunity to improve cost and access of healthcare is significant. As the company advances its mission of improving the quality of healthcare for consumers, reducing healthcare costs in the United States and Europe, and leveraging technology to improve access to care, the incubators success should accelerate and create even more opportunities and success for our investors.

Below is a description of Mr. Brodmerkels professional work experience.

Mr. Brodmerkel is the CEO and Chair of Wave Health Technologies. They were recently selected into the prestigious Georgia Tech incubator program (ATDC). Tom is on the Board of CareSource Corporation, a not for profit $10B health plan primarily focused on serving the Medicaid population. Additionally, Tom serves on the board of PointRight, a privately held analytics company.

Story continues

Toms passion for the senior market is well chronicled in his stellar career. He has served in large health care corporations and health plans as well as successful start-up healthcare companies. His experience includes President, Medicare Programs, a +$2 billion division of Coventry Health Care; nine years at UnitedHealth Group, where his positions included: President of United Health Advisors, SVP of Ovations, and COO of United Healthcares +$3 billion Medicare Programs division, as well as starting their national Small Group commercial department.

Tom has also served as a senior executive in start-up healthcare companies including Matrix Medical Network, Definity Health, and American Telecare. Earlier in his career, Mr. Brodmerkel held regional VP sales management positions with Principal Financial Group (ONA) and Mutual of New York (MONY).

Tom has served on many advisory boards, and he has been honored by the state legislatures of Arkansas and Kentucky for his contributions to healthcare reform and has served as a guest lecturer for the National Association of Health Underwriters. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, Mr. Brodmerkel served in both active and reserve duty in the U.S. Navy.

The Mission of True Nature Holding, Inc. DBA Mitesco, Inc.

We have in development a suite of offerings aimed at enhancing healthcare throughout the supply chain and to end-users. We intend to acquire and implement technologies and services to improve the quality of care, reduce cost, and enhance consumer convenience. We are focused on developing a portfolio of companies that provide healthcare technology solutions and the team is adept at deal structures supportive of long-term organizational value. The holding company structure facilitates profitable growth and enables the acquired business to focus on scale. The TNTY portfolio of companies will apply leading-edge solutions that emphasize stakeholder value and leverages distinct sector trends.

Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act

As contemplated by the provisions of the Safe Harbor section of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to future, anticipated, or projected plans, performances, and developments, as well as other statements relating to future operations. All such forward-looking statements are necessarily only estimates or predictions of future results or events and there can be no assurance that actual results or events will not materially differ from expectations. Further information on potential factors that could affect True Nature Holding, Inc. is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We expressly disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

www.truenatureholding.com



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tech2 News Staff

The Hubble Space Telescope, managed jointly by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), has taken a stunning new image of a barred spiral galaxy located some 232 million light-years from Earth, in the northern constellation of Perseus. Dubbed UGC 2885, or LEDA 14030, the spiral galaxy is 8,16,000 light-years wide  roughly 8 times the size of the Milky Way Galaxy. Astronomers also think it contains ten times the number of stars as the Milky Way.

UGC 2885 has also acquired the nickname 'Rubins Galaxy' after astronomer Dr Vera Rubin, by Dr Benne Holwerda from the University of Louisville, who observed the galaxy with the Hubble telescope.

"Dr Rubin measured the galaxys rotation, providing evidence for dark matter that makes up most of the galaxys mass," Dr Holwerda said. His research into the size and features of UGC 2885 has been inspired largely by the work of Vera Rubin in the 1980s. Holwerda and his colleagues from Canada and the United States are studying the galaxy to understand what led to its enormous size.

"Its as big as you can make a disk galaxy without hitting anything else in space," Holwerda said. "Did the monster galaxy gobble up much smaller satellite galaxies over time? Or did it just slowly accrete gas to make new stars?"

Holwerda thinks the galaxy appears to be "puttering along, slowly growing." UGC 2885 is situated in a fairly isolated locale, without many galaxies in striking distance to crash into and disrupt the shape of its disk. But it is close enough to Earth for Dr Holwerda and his co-authors to make some finer observations. For instance, the number of globular star clusters that appear in UGC 2885's halo.

"It is close enough for Hubble observations to resolve the globular cluster population," the astronomers said.

Another thing the team hopes to study using UGC 2885 are scaling trends  how important physical properties like mass, size, luminosity and colour of galaxy clusters relate to others in the same galaxy or others.

"[Many] scaling relations between the globular cluster population and parent galaxy have been observed, but these differ for disk and spheroidal galaxies [which are more massive]," said Holwerda. "This galaxy is an ideal test case of these scaling relations as it lies between spiral and massive ellipticals."

The team of astronomers are expected to present their findings on 8 January 2020 at the 235th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Enterprise Ireland, the Government agency responsible for developing Irish business globally has reported a nine percent increase in the number of Laois based jobs created by Enterprise Ireland supported companies in 2019.

The agency said 1,769 people are now employed in companies based in the county and supported by the agency.

Enterprise Ireland Regional Director in the Midlands, Michael Brougham welcomed the results on the day Enterprise Ireland published its annual report.

A nine percent increase in employment in Laois over the past twelve months is positive. These companies make a significant contribution to the local economy and helping more Irish businesses to create sustainable regional jobs for the future through innovation and competitiveness is the objective for the year to come.

The challenges that Brexit and other global trading factors present concerns for businesses across the midlands. However, we continue to see opportunities for indigenous companies to expand their reach and grow exports in markets overseas.

We are committed to helping Irish companies, through a wide range of funding and advisory supports, to build scale domestically and compete internationally with the view of creating and sustaining high skilled employment in the Midlands," he said.

Mr Broughan said the regional response team will be working hard with the public and private sector over the next twelve months to achieve an even greater boost in employment in 2020.

Enterprise Ireland CEO, Julie Sinnamon revealed that a record 221,895 people are employed in 2019 Irish companies that export. However, the rate of job creation in such companies slowed in 2019.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Two days after the violence in the JNU campus, the situation in the university was back to normal with police deployed at the university gates.

On Monday, the university saw a complete shut down with most eateries closed with protests taking place throughout. Few of the canteens were open on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the JNU alumni have given a protest call against the attack on teachers and students. The protesters will assemble at North gate at 3 pm and march to Sabarmati T point for a solidarity meeting which will be addressed by JNU alumni including Bezwada Wilson, Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, Kavita Krishnan, Kanhaiya Kumar, Yogendra Yadav.

JNU Professor Sucharita Sen, who was injured during the Sunday violence, has submitted a written complaint addressing Station House Officer of Vasant Kunj North Police Station. According to reports, no FIR has been filed on Sen's complaint.

Police have registered one FIR in connection with the violence on Sunday against the unidentified under Sections of rioting among others.

Another FIR has been lodged with regards to scuffles between students and security.

The FIR was lodged on Sunday in connection with the incident that occurred on Saturday wherein the security guards were trying to clear the Communication and Information Services Centre that had been occupied by the students to hamper registration for the winter examinations.

The students protesting against fee hike had entered the room on Friday.

On Monday, during a presser, two women students Apeksha and Tripta narrated their account that left them badly injured. Apeksha is one of the 20 named by police in the FIR.

Former JNUSU office-bearers Sarika Chaudhary and Geeta have also been charged.

The accused indulged in violence, pushed lady guard, verbally abused them and threatened them of dire consequences if they opened the lock of the CIS office, the FIR said.

According to it, a few CIS staff members managed to enter the building and restore the information system that had been shut down by the agitating students. The administration has alleged that a large number of agitating students entered CIS and forced the guards out of it, preventing them from doing their duty.

On Saturday, the JNUSU issued a statement, condemning "the strongest possible actions of the JNU administration which is using the security as its private lumpen army."

According to them, near the CIS, "security guards in the number of 30-40 mobilized, switched off the lights and like the police did at Jor Bagh, attacked students".

"They were shamefully wearing masks," it had said.

On Sunday, masked men and women entered the campus with rods, sticks and stones and beat up students and teachers.

The injured include Ghosh and JNU Professor Sucharita Sen.

While the left unity alleged that ABVP was involved in the attack, the RSS' left organisation said that the attack was from the other side.

Meanwhile, the police are investigating the Sunday violence and have constituted a fact-finding committee to come up with details on the sequence of events.

On Tuesday, the road in front of JNU campus was blocked with barricades in place.
The visa requirement would dim resentment among Filipinos who believe today's rules are unfair. Filipinos need $160 visas for the United States but do not always qualify.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said last month via his office's website that Americans would be required to apply for tourist visas if the United States bars entry by officials from Manila who are linked to the imprisonment of Leila de Lima, a Philippine senator who's at odds with Duterte.

U.S. citizens can enter the beach-studded archipelago now on a visa-free landing stamp, saving time and any application fees before travel. "If we look at the situation of the Philippines in relation with the U.S., of course the Philippines will lose more with that kind of option (a visa rule) than Americans," said Maria Ela Atienza, political science professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman "Americans will have other options."

A requirement that U.S. citizens get visas for travel in the Philippines would hobble the Southeast Asian country's tourism industry to ease a pair of high-level political spats, analysts say.

 Tourism Impact

The tit-for-tat would bite into a tourism industry that generated $4.78 billion in the first half of 2019, analysts say, because the United States is the third largest source of arrivals after South Korea and China.

Americans asked to spend time and money on a visa could go instead to half a dozen other Southeast Asian countries either visa free or with with a visa payable upon landing.

International tourist arrivals to the Philippines rose by 7.7 percent to 7.1 million visitors in 2018 over 2017, Philippine Department of Trade and Industry figures show. Of those visitors, 1,587,959 came from South Korea, 1,255,258 from China and 1,034,396 from the United States.

Americans often travel to the Philippines for beach holidays and tours of old Spanish architecture. Filipino-Americans who still hold Philippine passports could still get back into their old homeland without visas. "It will probably be the tourists (who are affected), American tourists who are not from here," said Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Metro Manila-based advocacy group Institute for Political and Electoral Reform.

 Senator vs. Duterte

A visa requirement would answer the Philippine government's opposition to a U.S. budget proposal to ban entry to the United States by certain officials linked to the De Lima case.

De Lima, a harsh critic of Duterte, was charged in 2017 with orchestrating a drug-trafficking ring while justice secretary before 2015. Some believe her arrest was politically motivated.

The 2020 U.S. budget contains a provision authorizing the Secretary of State to ban Philippine officials from entry if the U.S. side finds "credible information" that they "have been involved in the wrongful imprisonment" of De Lima."

We have explained repeatedly that the subject provision is ineffective given that the Filipino Senator is not wrongfully detained," presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said via his office's website. If the U.S. goes ahead, he said, "This government will require all Americans intending to come to the Philippines to apply and secure a visa before they can enter Philippine territory." The U.S. Embassy in Manila did not answer a request last week for comment.

 Reciprocity Issue

A visa rule for Americans might also set a stage for negotiations on visa rules from both sides, Casiple said. Filipinos must apply for visas to enter the United States and not everyone gets approval. "I think it will be within the context of renegotiation, not a policy immediately," he said. "Particularly, it will raise the question of reciprocity."

Filipinos have historically seen the wealthier United States as a place to find high-paid work and remit money to family back home. Tourist visa applicants pay a $160 fee and must pass a consular interview to be approved. U.S. Department of Homeland Security data show that 5,276 Filipinos overstayed non-immigrant "pleasure" visas in 2018.

Duterte might not act on his threat, some caution. "I don't take Duterte's visa threats too seriously, as he has a history of just spouting off," said Sean King, vice president of the Park Strategies political consultancy in New York. "Our countries' relationship will long outlast Duterte's reign. We can't overreact to every little thing he does."

If the United States hits back, King said, it should avoid hurting an overall U.S.-friendly Filipino public and instead "personally needle Duterte."
What happened

Shares of CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP), a gas and electric utility based in Houston, rose 11% in December, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. This was a partial reversal from November, when the company's stock suffered a 15.5% decline.

So what

The reason for the December jump in CenterPoint's shares was a new development in the case that was responsible for the stock's big November drop.

In November, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) -- the agency that regulates CenterPoint's largest market, Houston -- denied the company's requested rate increase for Houston. CenterPoint's proposal would have allowed it to earn a 10.5% return on equity in the market, but PUCT instead approved a much lower 9.25% return on equity. During CenterPoint's Q3 2019 earnings call, CEO Scott Prochazka offered a bleak view of the company's outlook if that proposed lower rate went into effect. Disappointed investors promptly sold off the stock as analysts rushed to downgrade it.

However, on Dec. 12, CenterPoint sent a letter informing PUCT that "CenterPoint Houston, Commission Staff, the Office of Public Utility Counsel, the City of Houston and Houston Coalition of Cities, the Gulf Coast Coalition of Cities, the Texas Coast Utilities Coalition, and Texas Industrial Energy Consumers have been engaged in discussions regarding a possible stipulation" regarding the rate increase, and requested the PUCT commissioners to defer further consideration until January. This seemed promising, and investors bid shares up on the news.

Now what

In a follow-up letter to PUCT on Dec. 20, CenterPoint stated that "the parties will be working over the coming weeks to finalize the settlement documents for your review and consideration and plan to file them no later than January 9, 2020." The next open meeting of PUCT is on Jan. 16.

Without further details on what might be in the works, it's impossible to know how the stock will react. It seems likely that the parties will propose a rate change to PUCT that will be somewhere between the 10.5% return requested by the company and the 9.25% return approved by PUCT, but it's unclear what exactly that might be, or what concessions CenterPoint will have to offer in return.

One thing's for sure: Because Houston is CenterPoint's largest market, making up more than 25% of the company's revenue, how this case gets resolved is of paramount importance to CenterPoint shareholders. Smart investors should wait for the final word before buying or selling.
Some Portlaoise voters will not have as far to travel in the next General Election but the election returning officer for Laois has ruled out opening new polling stations in Portlaoise town centre.

Mr Paul Fetherstonhaugh has written to Portlaoise Municipal District county councillors on foot of a request to add more polling stations.

In the letter, he says he plans to expand polling station numbers Scoil Bhride National School in Knockmay. Five polling stations will move from the Holy Family National School to Knockmay. Heretofore, just four stations were located on the Mountmellick side of town.

People registered to vote in some areas around the Knockmay school surrounding will no longer vote at the Holy Family.

Councillors had also asked for him to consider using St Francis NS and the Dunamaise College in Portlaoise.

He declined to open stations in these schools. He said Dunamase College is not suitable because it is a secondary school. St Francis is a special school which the registrar says makes in inappropriate to use for voting.

He says he worked with school authorities and election staff to make the changes. He thanked Laois County Council staff for helping make the changes.

The changes were made following a motion from Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley at a previous meeting. She described the response as mixed. She welcomed the extra polling stations for Knockmay, which she said had been underused, but said polling stations are needed in the town centre. She said residents are at a loss because schools have moved further out of town.

Surely we can have a look at an alternative venue in the town centre to make it encourage people to go out and exercise their vote, she said.

Cllr Willie Aird said presumed part of the electorate would be relocated to Knockmay.
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Meghan Markle, as a mother, wants only the best for Archie and her future kid, and the Duchess of Sussex does not find the Royal Palace as an ideal place to welcome another baby at.

Over the past few years, Meghan found it hard to adjust to the Royal Family's way of living, most especially when she started to received criticisms.

The Duchess of Sussexs' greatest battle yet was when she became the target of British tabloids after marrying into the royal family. She even took legal action and exposed the libelous acts of U.K.-based publications in pursuit of protecting herself, Prince Harry, and Archie.

The issues Prince Harry and Markle both encountered in the past year pushed them to take a six-week break from their royal duties and away from the palace.

The family of three spent the holidays -- from Thanksgiving Week to New Year -- in the United States and Canada, proving that they do not feel "at home" with the royal family at all.

Though they are back on their duties after their off days, there is still a huge possibility that they will be moving away again from the palace -- specifically once Meghan bears their second child.

Meghan Does Not Want to Stay at The Royal Palace?

BAZAAR.com's royal editor Omid Scobie revealed to OK magazine that Prince Harry and Meghan are planning to work more in Canada, as the family-of-three "genuinely switched off" during their stay in the country.

"Canada is a safe place for the couple - they were able to go unnoticed there for a while," Omid stated. "It's an important place for Meghan and she has family and friends there. It's also part of the Commonwealth.

"We'll see them take on more work there, perhaps even a tour."

Though the royal editor claimed that the two already gained "renewed energy" after their tour, he could not still say that the Sussexes are house-hunting already since the two want to focus on safeguarding their mental health this year as they serve the monarchy.

Due to their full-packed schedule, Omid added that aside from house-hunting, Prince Harry and Meghan also do not want to prioritize having another baby this year (though it would be a 'wonderful surprise' if it happens).

Moreover, the editor is also sure that they do not want the Royal Palace to be the place where they could welcome the child.

Meghan Wishes To Stay in LA

Royal watchers surely knew why Meghan wanted to stay away from the U.K.

Before 2019 ended, PlayOJO surveyed the most unfairly treated person of the year, and out of 2,000 people who participated, half of them thought that Markle should be at the top of the list.

It is not a title people should be proud of, but it just shows that the people recognized Meghan's struggles over the past year.

A spokesperson from PlayOJO stated that they launched the survey to find the balance this year and not only to acknowledge that this is the worst year for Prince Harry's wife.

"Whatever you think of her, the majority of us Brits agree on one thing - she's had a pretty tough year," the statement went on.

Because of what the title screamed about Meghan's sufferings, a royal commentator revealed that the Duchess of Sussex allegedly told her friends how she would like to welcome their second baby in Los Angeles.

Meghan came up with the decision as she felt "incredibly lonely and uncomfortable" when she conceived baby Archie and gave birth to him in the U.K.

Whatever plans the Sussexes have reserved for the future, royal watchers are sure that Prince Harry will not let her wife down.
She wrote on @ShainaNC: "To Anurag Kashyap I ask?? We must be the only country where you can criticise @narendramodi, the PM of the country, without any compunction. Enjoy this freedom, but your insidious activities may end up killing the golden goose. Think... or maybe, that's beyond you." It got 557 retweets and 2K likes.

Mumbai, Jan 7 (IANS) BJP leader Shaina NC was on Tuesday flayed by a section of Twitterati after she questioned film director Anurag Kashyap on his opposition to the government.

One user posted: "He is exercising the exact same right you did in criticising the previous PM..."

"Yup, Shaina. Why was it OK to criticise every PM earlier," asked one user.

One user tweeted: "'India is the only country...' made me recall an old joke. American: 'We are a free people. I can march up to the White House and call the President an idiot.' Russian: 'We too are a free people. I can march up the steps of the White House & call your president an idiot.'"

One post read: "Oh, and HOLD on to your chair when I tell you this, Shaina: In other democracies, people do not get called anti-nationals or Urban Naxals for criticising the leaders THEY have elected."

A user remarked: "No madam, every democracy has that freedom. In fact, in the US, one is not called anti-national or terrorist for criticising the government. And no matter how fascist Donald Trump is, he doesn't have terrorists in his students wing."

On Monday, Anurag Kashyap had changed his Twitter display picture in which Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were shown in masks. The filmmaker was criticised by a section of Twitterati on the issue.

tsb/saurav/arm
A paedophile who spent four-and-a-half years amassing almost half a million child abuse images on computers and hard drives has avoided jail.

Robert Swanepoel, 35, from Swindon, was caught with a hoard of vile images so large that authorities only managed to categorise around 47,000 pictures and video clips - having to leave a further 400,000.

The paedophile, who searched parts of the internet for terms such as 'teen' and 'young little girls' before he was caught by police in November 2018, denied being sexually attracted to children and claimed he posed no danger, Swindon Crown Court heard.

When asked about the depraved images, he said: 'It's like a drug addiction.'

Robert Swanepoel (pictured at Swindon Crown Court), 35, from Swindon, trawled parts of the internet for four-and-a-half years for images of child abuse before he was caught by police in November 2018

Swanepoel was handed a six-month suspended sentence at Swindon Crown Court on January 6 after admitting the charges against him.

A court heard that Swanepoel first viewed child abuse images when an pop-up directed him to a illicit website.

But Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, said that, after that, he began looking for the vile images.

The substantial collection was saved on a Toshiba laptop, an Acer computer, Firestorm hard drive and a Kingston USB stick.

Some files had been encrypted and the collection had been sorted into categories.

Swanepoel was finally caught by detectives in November 2018, with more than 21 hours' worth of abuse videos as well as the images.

He admitted making 34 category A indecent images of children - which includes images depicting rape - 126 still images and 45 videos in the middle category and 46,430 images and 168 movies in category B.

He also had 34 prohibited images of children.

Emma Handslip, defending, told Swindon Crown Court her client had grown increasingly isolated - despite holding down a job at the same company for 15 years.

Swanepoel, who claimed he posed no danger, was handed a six-month suspended sentence at Swindon Crown Court on January 6. Pictured: Swindon Crown Court

Hinting at health difficulties, she said: 'This is somebody who has had a very, very difficult and challenging life from a very young age.

'This is not an excuse for his behaviour but perhaps an explanation to the court about why he's become isolated.'

She added that Swanepoel had come clean at the earliest opportunity during his interview with detectives.

Despite the significant 13-month delay in the case getting to court, Swanepoel had kept off the police radar.

There was no suggestion that he had viewed any further child abuse images after he was arrested. The images he did collect had not been distributed.

Ms Handslip pointed to the conclusions of a pre-sentence report compiled by the probation service, saying there was a realistic likelihood Swanepoel could be rehabilitated and kept out of prison.

Swanepoel was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for two years, with Judge Jason Taylor QC acknowledging the defendant could be rehabilitated.

He said: 'There were a further 400,000 images and videos that were not reviewed given the sheer number.

'But the aggravating features involved in the case was that you had made searches, there were multiple victims some of a very young age, your offending lasted over a four-and-a-half year period and you had even taken the time to categorise the images some in encrypted folders.'

Swanepoel must complete 40 rehabilitation activity sessions and abide by a six-month curfew.

He was made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and will need to sign on to the sex offenders' register for a decade.
Seven months after a Connecticut mother of 5 mysteriously vanished from her New Canaan home after dropping her children off at school, her estranged husband has been charged with her murder.

His girlfriend and his civil lawyer were also charged with conspiracy to commit murder, according to a Tuesday press conference by the Connecticut State Police.

On Tuesday, the Connecticut State Police announced that Fotis Dulos and his girlfriend Michelle Troconis had been taken into custody.

Fotis Dulos attorney, Norm Pattis, confirmed the arrest outside his home in Farmington, NBC New York reports.

Pattis told reporters he had just found out about the warrant for his clients arrest.

Im not surprised the state decided to bring the charge, Pattis said outside Fotis Duloss home, which was swarming with law enforcement.

He says his client is innocent: Ill be surprised if they can win it. Mr. Dulos contends that he was not involved and I think the evidence wont show he was.

I havent seen the warrant yet but it is my understanding that Mr. Dulos was just arrested and was charged with the crime of murder as to his wife, Jennifer Dulos. It is my understanding  that arrests are simultaneously taking place and that two other individuals are being arrested, Pattis stated.

RELATED: Im Afraid of My Husband: What Missing Conn. Mom Said About Estranged Spouse in Divorce Papers

Fotis Dulos is at Connecticut State Police Troop G in Bridgeport, where he will be processed.

He is being held on a $6 million bond, according to a release from the Connecticut State Police, while Troconis is being held on a $2 million bond. Dulos and Troconis were previously charged with evidence tampering in connection to the disappearance of his estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos. Both pleaded not guilty to those charges.

Story continues

Fotis Dulos civil lawyer, Kent Mawhilley, is being held on $2 million bail.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLEs free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Jennifer Farber Dulos vanished on May 24. Bloodstains were found in the garage of her New Canaan home, indicating a violent struggle, say police.

Shortly thereafter, her black Chevy Suburban was found abandoned near a local park several miles away.

Police allege that Fotis Dulos was lying in wait for his estranged wife on the day she died, court documents show.

She and Fotis Dulos were involved in a contentious divorce and custody battle.

Attorneys for Fotis Dulos and Troconis did not immediately return PEOPLEs calls for comment.

A statement from Jennifer Dulos friend Carrie Luft on behalf of her family and friends reads, Above all we thank the Connecticut State Police and the New Canaan Police Department, as well as the assisting local departments, for their tireless commitment and diligent, painstaking work that have led to these arrests. Although we are relieved that the wait for these charges is over, for us there is no sense of closure. Nothing can bring Jennifer back. We miss her every day and will forever mourn her loss.
A convicted murderer has told how he "did not hesitate" to help fight off a terrorist who went on a killing spree armed with two knives on London Bridge.

Serving prisoner Steve Gallant took on Usman Khan as he embarked on a killing spree wearing a fake suicide vest during a rehabilitation project event on November 29.

Harrowing footage shows Gallant, wearing a purple top with the sleeves rolled up, and two other men, running on to the bridge after Khan and tackling him to the ground.

Gallant, one of two men convicted of killing Barrie Jackson in Hull in 2005, had been allowed out on licence that day for the first time since his sentencing.

London Bridge terror attack victims (left) Jack Merritt, 25, of Cottenham, Cambridgeshire and (right) Saskia Jones, 23, of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire / PA

The 42-year-old, who was jailed for a minimum of 17 years, helped restrain Khan before he was shot dead by police following the attack at a Learning Together event at Fishmongers' Hall near London Bridge. Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones died in the attack.

Speaking publicly for the first time about Khan's rampage, Gallant said he heard noises downstairs and went to investigate despite "orders to stay in the conference hall".

In a statement issued through his lawyers, he said: "I could tell something was wrong and had to help.

"I saw injured people.

"Khan was stood in the foyer with two large knives in his hands.

"He was a clear danger to all, so I didn't hesitate."

Using a chair and narwhal tusk handed to him by civil servant Darryn Frost, who revealed last month how he had also risked his life to take on the attacker, Gallant tried to hold Khan back.

Usman Khan killed two people in the terror attack at London Bridge / West Midlands Police/PA Wire

He said: "Khan also showed us the bomb around his waist in an attempt to frighten us.

"We then chased him on to London Bridge and restrained him until the police arrived."

Gallant and James Gilligan were jailed for carrying out a revenge attack on 33-year-old ex-fireman Mr Jackson.

The pair lay in wait for Mr Jackson outside a pub after believing he attacked Gallant's girlfriend. He is thought to have been bludgeoned with a hammer, kicked and punched to death, according to a 2008 Court of Appeal judgment which dismissed Gallant's application to quash the conviction.

But since going to prison, Gallant, who will be eligible for parole in 2022 subject to approval, has "vowed never to turn to violence again". Instead he learnt to read and write and is now in his third year of a business studies degree.

He has co-written several plays, one of which was recently performed at the Royal Court Theatre in London, his lawyers at Hudgell Solicitors said.

Gallant said: "Nobody has the right to take another's life and I offer my sincere apologies to my victim's family for the hurt caused.

"I can never bring that life back, and it is right that I was handed a severe penalty for my actions.

"Once I'd accepted my punishment, I decided to seek help.

"When you go to prison, you lose control of your life.

"Your own future relies on the decisions of others.

"Bettering yourself becomes one of the few things you can do while reducing the existing burden on society."

Funerals of London Bridge victims Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt 1 /18 Funerals of London Bridge victims Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt Mourners arrive for the funeral of London Bridge terror attack victim Jack Merritt at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge PA Mourners arrive for the funeral of London Bridge terror attack victim Jack Merritt at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge PA Mourners arrive for the funeral of London Bridge terror attack victim Jack Merritt at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge PA Mourners arrive for the funeral of London Bridge terror attack victim Jack Merritt at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge PA Family members arrive for a memorial service to celebrate the life of Saskia Jones at Holy Trinity Church Getty Images A member of the media looks at an order of service before a memorial service to celebrate the life of Saskia Jones at Holy Trinity church Getty Images Floral tributes are carried into the church before a memorial service to celebrate the life of Saskia Jones at Holy Trinity Church Getty Images Floral tributes are carried into the church before a memorial service to celebrate the life of Saskia Jones at Holy Trinity Church Getty Images The grandmother of Saskia Jones arrives for a memorial service to celebrate her life at Holy Trinity Church Getty Images Family members arrive for a memorial service to celebrate the life of Saskia Jones at Holy Trinity Church on December 20, 2019 Getty Images The coffin arrives for the funeral of London Bridge terror attack victim Jack Merritt at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge PA Pallbearers prepare to carry the coffin at the funeral of London Bridge terror attack victim Jack Merritt at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge. PA The coffin arrives for the funeral of London Bridge terror attack victim Jack Merritt at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge PA The coffin arrives for the funeral of London Bridge terror attack victim Jack Merritt at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge PA

Inspired by the Learning Together project after he met the founders, Gallant applied to take part from behind bars.

As part of the programme he has worked with a team of students in Cambridge producing legal advice guides and has become a mentor.

Losing course co-ordinators Mr Merritt and Miss Jones is an "unbearable blow" and the "sense of loss is immense", he said.

Mr Merritt, who Gallant met in 2016, was a "role model and friend", he said, adding: "Jack didn't care who you were, he cared about you and your future, he saw who you could become and did not define you by your past.

"I will miss him badly."

Miss Jones was "highly respected and loved" by those involved with the course, he added.

Gallant said he has resolved to "keep doing positive things" and was "certain" the pair would wish for the programme to continue.

Although initially reluctant to speak out, Gallant decided to come forward after Ministry of Justice employee Mr Frost revealed how he took on Khan.

Gallant said: "I would like to say a special thanks to Darryn.

"Had he not passed me the narwhal tusk at that crucial moment, not only could I have been killed, the situation could have been even worse."

Mr Frost, a 38-year-old South African who has lived in the UK for 14 years, spoke out last month in a bid to urge people to unite against terrorism and raise money for the victims' families.

He has since launched the website extinguishhate.co.uk as part of his campaign.

Gallant described former prisoner John Crilly and the chef called Lukasz who also stepped in as "extremely brave", adding: "I would like to say thank you to everyone who did their best on that tragic day and I hope that the injured recover as quickly as possible."
UP CM warns Owaisi: Followers of 'abba jaan', don't try to inflame passions over CAA

PM Modi should admit that demonetistion a failure: Owaisi on cash seizure in UP

JNU violence: AIMIM chief Owaisi condemns registration of FIR against Aishe Ghosh

India

oi-PTI

Hyderabad, Jan 07: The AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday condemned the registration of an FIR by Delhi police against "the girl who was injured in the violence" at the Jawaharlal Nehru University instead of booking those who made an attempt to 'kill' her.

"...they made an attempt to kill that union president. First thing is that inquiry should look into how did the police allow them. Secondly, what did the vice-chancellor do. Thirdly, even the police allowed safe passage for goonda elements," he told reporters here.

Masked men involved in JNU attack will be exposed soon: Prakash Javadekar

NEWS AT 3 PM, JANUARY 7th, 2020

He was referring to the violence targeting students on Sunday and the police filing two FIRs in connection with vandalism at the server room at the university.

Delhi police said the FIRs were registered in connection with vandalism at the server room at the JNU on a complaint from the university administration on January 5.

The administration had given the names of students union office bearers including its president Aishe Gosh in connection with the vandalism but police have not put her name or that of other students in the accused column of the FIRs.

Without naming Gosh, Owaisi said it was 'unfortunate' that a case had been registered against the "girl who had 18- 19 stitches on her head".

Sanjay Raut downplays 'Free Kashmir' poster at protest against JNU violence

"Instead of booking a trespass case, attempt to murder case on all these people, what we are seeing is complete reverse is happening. This is injustice, I condemn this behavior. It is completely wrong," he maintained.

The Hyderabad MP demanded that the JNU Vice-Chancellor quit over the incidents.

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Story first published: Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 15:00 [IST]
Marylanders have had the wool pulled over their eyes twice with a pack of lies from our state government. In the 1970s, Marylanders went to the polls to approve or disapprove a state lottery. The state promoted this constitutional change very heavily with advertisements that the lottery profits would go to Maryland schools. Shortly after it passed, the Maryland government decided the funds would go toward the Maryland Stadium Fund. The creation of this fund was a direct result of the Baltimore Colts leaving Maryland.
No arrests made in JNU campus violence case in over 1.5 years: Govt informs Parliament

JNU to impose night curfew in campus between 10 pm-5 am

Hindu Raksha Dal claims responsibility for JNU violence, probe underway

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 07: Hindu Raksha Dal has claimed responsibility for the brutal attack on students and teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Sunday night.

Hindu Raksha Dal national convenor Pinki Choudhary in a video said the cadres of his outfit had barged into the university campus on January 5 and perpetrated the attack students and faculty members.

JNU violence: FIR against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh for vandalism

"The University has been a centre of communism-related activities. They abuse our religion and our nation. This would not be tolerated. We will carry out such attacks in the future as well. If our religion and our nation are being disrespected, then how we remain silent?" he said.

"JNU is a hotbed of anti-national activities, we can't tolerate this. We take full responsibility for the attack in JNU and would like to say that they were our workers," he added.

JNU violence: No arrests yet, FIR filed against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh | OneIndia News

Taking cognizance, the Delhi police said claims made by Hindu Raksha Dal Chief Pinky Chaudhary are being investigated.

A mob of masked young people stormed the JNU campus and brutally attacked students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones, and iron rods.

While the ABVP has drawn brickbats for the JNU violence that left at least 34 injured, including teachers after three terrifying hours, confrontational politics has created unrest in the campuses across the country.

The JNU students union claimed that the ABVP members, with their faces masked, were moving in the campus with lathis, rods and hammers and beating up students. The Union has dubbed it as an emergency situation.

"Students are trying to save themselves while being chased by ABVP goons while the police is complicit in the crimes, forcing students to chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' slogans," the JNUSU said on Twitter.

However, the ABVP claimed that Left activists were behind the violence in JNU.

The attack is a dark reminder of campuses turning into political battlegrounds and losing their academic freedom.
What if you get stuck on the highway in a storm? Here are some tips
Several Boeing 777X aircraft are seen in various stages of production during a media tour of the Boeing 777X at the Boeing production facility in Everett, Washington, on Feb. 27, 2019. (Reuters/Lindsey Wasson)

Boeing Will Reassign 3,000 Workers as Airlines Reach Compensation Deals Over MAX

Boeing Co said Monday that it will reassign 3,000 workers to other jobs as it halts production of the grounded best-selling 737 MAX jet in mid-January.

The announcement came after American Airlines Group Inc. and Mexicos Aeromexico disclosed they were the latest carriers to reach settlements with Boeing over losses resulting from the grounding of 737 MAX aircraft.

Neither airline disclosed the compensation. A number of airlines have struck confidential settlements with Boeing in recent weeks. Boeing said it does not comment on discussions with airlines.

Boeings best-selling 737 MAX has been grounded since March, following two fatal crashes in five months that killed 346 people.

In an email to employees, Boeing said about 3,000 employees, mostly in manufacturing, engineering and fabrication, will be reassigned to other tasks. Most of those employees work at Boeings Renton, Washington plant where the 737 MAX is manufactured while some are at Boeings South Carolina operations.

Some staff will be reassigned to work on the 767 and 777/777X aircraft in Everett, Washington. Boeing has said it does not plan to lay off or furlough any workers as a result of the production halt.

Boeing also said it added a MAX storage facility in Victorville, California. Some employees from Renton will staff MAX airplane storage locations in Moses Lake, Washington and Victorville.

Boeings biggest supplier, Spirit AeroSystems Inc., said Monday it would offer voluntary layoffs to some employees as it grapples with the production halt. The company said last month it would suspend production of 737 MAX parts beginning Jan. 1.

Reuters has reported the Federal Aviation Administration is not expected to approve the planes return to service until at least February and potentially March or later.

U.S. airlines will not resume 737 MAX flights until at least early April, they have said.

Aerial photos showing Boeing 737 Max airplanes parked at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, U.S., on Oct. 20, 2019. (Reuters/Gary He)

Boeing and the FAA said Sunday they are reviewing a potentially serious wiring issue that could delay the return of the 737 MAX.

American said the compensation from Boeing will be received over several years, and of the total amount, more than $30 million will be used for the airlines 2019 employee profit-sharing program.

Southwest Airlines Co., the worlds largest 737 MAX operator, said in December it had reached a confidential agreement with Boeing for a portion of a projected $830 million hit to operating income in 2019.

Boeing shares ended the day up 0.29 percent at $333.74.

By David Shepardson
 Flash

Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said Monday that he's willing to testify in the Senate trial of President Donald Trump's impeachment if subpoenaed.

"I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify," said Bolton, who left the White House in Sept. 2019, in a statement.

Bolton also said he has weighed the issues of executive privilege and that after "careful consideration and study" he has decided that he would comply with a Senate subpoena.

Bolton is one of several witnesses that Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has proposed calling for the trial of Trump's impeachment.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not sent two articles of impeachment against Trump to the Senate in hope of giving Democrats more leverage to set rules for the trial, while Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has so far rejected their demand.

It is unclear when Pelosi will release the articles, a move critical for the Senate to begin its trial.

McConnell has tweeted they can't hold a trial without the articles of impeachment, saying "the Senate's own rules don't provide for that."

The House, controlled by Democrats, impeached Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, last month.

Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing, on Monday slammed his impeachment case as a "hoax" and "witch hunt."

"The Impeachment Hoax, just a continuation of the Witch Hunt which started even before I won the Election, must end quickly," he tweeted. "It is a con game by the Dems to help with the Election!"

According to the nation's constitution, the House shall have the sole power of impeachment, while the Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments.

Conviction can only happen in the Senate and requires at least two-thirds of its members, or 67 senators, to vote in favor after a trial. Currently, the Senate has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 22:33:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BERLIN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Following tensions over the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, the German government was moving some of its soldiers stationed in Iraq to Jordan and Kuwait, the German armed forces Bundeswehr confirmed on Tuesday.

The Bundeswehr announced on Twitter that "due to the temporary suspension of the training mission and the current security situation in Iraq, the presence of the German contingent has been temporarily reduced by staff currently not required".

Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas informed representatives of the federal parliament Bundestag in a letter that German soldiers, especially located in Baghdad and Taji, would be "temporarily thinned out".

In the letter, the ministers confirmed that talks on a continuation of the mission in Iraq were continuing with the government in Baghdad, according to Deutsche Presse Agentur.

On Tuesday, an Airbus A400M had already taken 32 German soldiers from the military base in Taji to Jordan. In the central Iraqi military complex of Taji, some 30 kilometers north of Baghdad, German soldiers were deployed to train Iraqi forces.

Three German soldiers stationed in Baghdad, together with soldiers from other countries, were transferred to Kuwait on order of the headquarters of Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-lead joint international operation against IS (the Islamic State), the Bundeswehr announced.

On Sunday, the Iraqi parliament had demanded the withdrawal of the nearly 5,000 U.S. soldiers stationed in the country and all other foreign troops.
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Top stories for Tuesday, Jan. 7

NEW CHIEF: Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler introduces new Portland Police Chief Jami Resch at a press conference Monday. She pledged to be a collaborative chief who will be out in the community as much as possible. (Beth Nakamura/Staff)

11-YEAR-OLD DIES: A student at Dexter McCarty Middle School in Gresham was hit and killed by a driver Monday morning in a marked crosswalk on Southeast Hogan Road, police said. They arrested Garret Bergquist, 26, who allegedly ran a red light.

JEREMY CHRISTIAN TRIAL: Jurors in the upcoming trial of Jeremy Christian will walk through a MAX train car identical to the one where Christian is accused of fatally stabbing two strangers, a judge has ruled. Defense attorneys said the visit would be weird and unnecessary; the prosecution said it would add to jurors understanding of how the stabbings occurred.

HOMELESS CAMPS: The City of Portland has halted all homeless camp clean-ups while officials debate whether to authorize a new contract for the work. According to a memo, the city has not responded to complaints about camps for at least a week.

NOTE TO READERS: As of Jan. 2, weve eliminated comments on OregonLive, as have many other news sites over the past decade.

Snap of the day

Jose Luiz Pederneiras/Courtesy of White Bird

IN THE WINGS: Our picks for the winter dance season include Grupo Copro, which returns to Portland with two new works featuring the companys incomparable mix of contemporary dance, ballet, and Afro-Brazilian movement. (Jose Luiz Pederneiras/Courtesy of White Bird)

More news

Officers involved in fatal Hillsboro shooting identified

Police identify victim, suspects in Saturdays fatal SE Portland shooting

Korean fried chicken chain Bonchon to open first Oregon location

Beat Check podcast: Meet the daredevil driver of an Oregon-based speed racing teamFind more at oregonlive.com

Weather and traffic

Tuesday will see another shot of valley rain and mountain snow. High 53, low 41.

Freeway sign installation has closed the Interstate 5 southbound ramp to North Alberta/Swan Island until Sunday, Jan. 12.

Get the latest forecast at oregonlive.com/weather

Stay up to date on traffic conditions at oregonlive.com/commuting

Advice

Ask Amy: Couple raising daughters young son should get legal help

Dear Abby: Leftover GoFundMe money should help others in need

Dear Annie: Husband anguishes over wifes years of alcoholism

Find more, including todays horoscope, at oregonlive.com

Today's comics

Click here to see today's comics

Today's obituaries

Click here to find area deaths reported recently

Today in history

In 1789: America held its first presidential election as voters chose electors who, a month later, selected George Washington to be the nations first chief executive.

In 1999: For the second time in history, an impeached American president went on trial before the Senate. President Bill Clinton faced charges of perjury and obstruction of justice; he was acquitted.

In 2004: President George W. Bush proposed legal status, at least temporarily, for millions of immigrants improperly working in the U.S.
ZEDRA Group ("ZEDRA"), the global specialist in Corporate, Fund and 'Active-Wealth' services and Corsair Capital LLC ("Corsair"), one of the leading private equity firms focused on the financial and business services industries, today announced the successful close of Corsair's majority investment in ZEDRA Group. The transaction, which was first announced on November 28, 2018, has been approved by all relevant regulatory authorities.

Following the close of the transaction, Bart Deconinck, a highly experienced industry figure who previously has been CEO of Intertrust and was a founder of Vistra before going on to co found Zedra four years ago, has been appointed Group Executive Chairman. In addition, Ivo Hemelraad, formerly Zedra Group Director Corporate Funds Legal, will assume the role of Group Chief Executive Officer.

ZEDRA delivers tailored high quality diversified active-wealth solutions to its clients, which include high net worth individuals and their families, as well as medium to large sized companies, asset managers and their investors. ZEDRA's full range of services is designed to preserve and protect the real value of clients' assets and support them in unlocking growth and expansion.

Raja Hadji-Touma and Derrick Estes, Managing Directors at Corsair Capital said, "ZEDRA is a unique firm with unparalleled capabilities, and we are pleased to have closed this exciting investment. We look forward to partnering with an ambitious management team, led by Bart Deconinck, with a proven track record of building leading companies in the sector. We believe our investment and financial services expertise, along with the unmatched global network we bring to bear, will help support continued rapid growth at ZEDRA."

Over the last 12 months, ZEDRA has made a number of important acquisitions, creating an expanded platform with over 570 staff in a 16 office network covering 13 jurisdictions across Asia, Oceania, the Americas and Europe. As the Company continues to integrate these acquisitions, ZEDRA is even better-placed to continue creating and delivering bespoke trust, corporate and fund services solutions for clients including high-net-worth individuals and their families, international corporations, institutional investors and entrepreneurs.

Bart Deconinck, Group Executive Chairman added, "Today marks the start of the next stage of ZEDRA's ambitious growth plans. Powered by a combination of the resources and expertise of Corsair, together with ZEDRA's considerable experience in the sector, we are looking forward to a period of rapid growth and expansion of the range of services we offer to our clients. The major acquisitions we have made over the past year expand our footprint across Switzerland, the Nordic countries, Cayman and offshore UK jurisdictions, bringing additional clients and staff into the ZEDRA family."

Under its 'Active Wealth' umbrella, ZEDRA provides a single point of contact for the administration of a wide range of assets for families with diversified investments, including the administration of any relevant structures they require, such as their corporate investment ventures, single-family offices, or private funds for various family members.

Ivo Hemelraad commented: "We are delighted to have completed this transaction and to begin our partnership with Corsair Capital. Their commitment and support to ZEDRA' S growth as well as to our people are an exciting step for ZEDRA to further enhance our offering and position in the industry."

Editor notes

https://www.zedra.com/boilerplate/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005091/en/

Contacts:

Guy Stephenson

Nacelle

020 8333 9125
Washington Elementary School students in Elizabeth Reillys fourth-grade class participated in a seasonal STEM project in December that combined technology, teamwork and  gingerbread.

Students in the United States, Canada, Vietnam, and Lithuania participated in the Gingerbread STEM Community and Makerspace Global Project, a seasonal undertaking of STEM learning created seven years ago by two educators in Kansas.

After joining the online global group, Reillys class researched which Westfield structures they wanted to build to create their Gingerbread STEM Community. The class settled on such iconic sites and buildings as the Westfield Memorial Library, the Presbyterian Church, Mindowaskin Park, the YMCA, the train station, Trader Joes, the Charles Addams House, and, of course, Washington School. The students teamed up to create their structures, using milk cartons and other small cardboard boxes, along with frosting, assorted candies, and graham crackers for a sturdier gingerbread appearance.

After joining an online global group, Washington Elementary School fourth graders researched Westfield structures they wanted to build to create a Gingerbread STEM Community.Westfield Public Schools

Ive been doing gingerbread houses for 15 years but I wanted to something more. The Gingerbread Community STEM Challenge allowed the class to build upon their knowledge of Westfield, plan and work collaboratively with a partner, and share their work with classes from across the country, said Reilly. The project was more successful than I could have ever imagined. The students put the science and STEM practices that we have been learning in class to use in a fun and creative way.

Reilly said her students learned how to adapt their original plans and how to problem solve when something didnt go the way they planned.

The best part was the way the different groups used and complemented each others ideas, she added.

The interactive project included video conferences with classrooms in other cities and states and sessions with master technology teacher Jeanine Gottko to create short videos about the project and share them with other school communities.

One parent, who joined other parents in the classroom to help with the project, praised the process. The energy in your classroom was really something, the parent wrote in an email to Reilly. The kids were all so excited and their creativity, planning, and determination were so impressive. What impressed me the most was how kind all the students were to each other. I heard so many of the students complimenting each other about their creations and offering ideas of help and support to their classmates."
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The four-day workweek is hardly a new idea, but as Niraj Chokshi wrote recently in The New York Times, the dream of shortening the workweek has mostly failed to become a reality.

That's why it's worth paying attention to how one company's experiment with the concept has been so successful that the firm has made the practice permanent. And the benefits have been both measurable and impressive: higher productivity. Better morale. Increased profits.

If you're curious about the idea, you should read The 4 Day Week by Andrew Barnes, founder of Perpetual Guardian, New Zealand's largest corporate trustee corporation. In the book, Barnes not only makes a case for why the four-day workweek is such a good idea, he also explains how to do it.

Here are nine steps Barnes recommends you take if you're considering a four-day workweek:

Start by articulating your purpose. "The four-day week is only one form of flexible working, and it may not be right for every company," writes Barnes. "Be clear about what you want to achieve ... if your objectives are explicit at the start, success can be measured accurately." Engage experts from outside the company. Perpetual Guardian worked with academic researchers who were able to design a structured pilot test and measure key factors like engagement and productivity. Gather data about key metrics before you begin. Barnes writes that his firm "erred in announcing the trial before amassing a comprehensive set of pre-trial levels of engagement and work-life balance in the company. An early data set would have served as a control against the inevitable surge in engagement scores when the trial was announced." Run a pilot/trial. Doing so "allows you to gather data to compare your business to others of similar size in other markets and industries. And by testing the model throughout the company, you can find out whether greater efficiency would come as a result of staff improved focus and motivation." Perpetual Guardian originally planned to do a six-week trial, but quickly decided that an eight-week pilot would work best. Don't over-engineer the plan. At Barnes's company, the premise was simple: a 100-80-100 rule in which employees received 100 percent of their pay for working 80 percent of their time but delivering 100 percent of agreed-upon productivity. Employees were "only required to work for four days provided that they meet productivity targets agreed on with their managers." Consult your lawyers. Perpetual Guardian sought legal advice before the pilot and again when implementing the long-term version of the program. This was especially important because of New Zealand's labor laws. "Because what we were proposing had never been done inside the New Zealand legislative framework, we had to be sure we could offer a four-day week, even temporarily, and stay within the law." Once the basics are in place, ask employees for their input about how to design a trial "in accordance with their individual and team workloads, performance objectives, and personal schedule preferences." Expect surprises--and bumps--along the way. Although Perpetual Guardian got mostly positive results during the four-day workweek trial, issues did arise. For example, some teams experienced stress because of deadlines and other pressures. Other teams worked compressed working hours (10 hours a day over four days) instead of the intended working hours. And some leaders were not entirely supportive of the effort. Keep soliciting employee feedback. People have good ideas and valuable insights, so make sure there are lots of ways to discuss obstacles and offer suggestions.
After 20 years of marriage, pastor fatally stabs wife in church then slits his own throat

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A troubled marriage between husband and wife co-pastors ended in a bloody murder-suicide in Kenya Sunday when the husband fatally stabbed his wife of 20 years and mother of his four children, then slit his own throat in front of their congregants.

Witnesses to the murder suicide said that pastor Elisha Misiko, 55, of Ground for God's Gospel Ministries in Mombasa and his wife, Senior Pastor Ann Mughoi, had been feuding for months over the management of the church.

"The two had been running the church for more than eight years but, in the last few months, they differed over management, village elder Mtengo Amuri told Kenyas Daily Nation.

He explained that Misiko accused the mother of his children of plotting to push him out of the church they founded together.

Tensions between the two exploded unexpectedly Sunday when Misiko calmly entered the church Sunday at about 9 a.m., worshipers told the Daily Nation, and sat next to his wife on the pulpit.

As the service was underway, Misiko got up from his seat and appeared at first to be saying something to his wife but quickly pulled two knives from under his shirt and began stabbing her multiple times.

"The husband moved stealthily toward his wife and stabbed her in the back. When he tried to slit her throat, she blocked him, injuring her hand," Amuri said.

Worshipers eventually intervened to stop the attack but not before Misiko had stabbed his wife several times. Misiko reportedly slit his own throat as they tried to save his wife.

Police later revealed that Misiko had left behind a 17-page suicide note, The Star said, he titled Betrayal and Consequences.

In the letter, Misiko accused his wife of infidelity and painted her as a controlling spouse who wanted to be in charge of family property.

In one confession, he says that infidelity on his wifes part and the fight to control family property drove him to the brink. He also accused her of trying to keep him away from their children while forcing him to pay child support as she dated another man.

"90% of my money I sent to her (Anne) but she wrote on social media that I don't pay fees or even buy clothes," Misiko said in the note cited by The Star.

"When we got married, life was hard. I was forced to do the mkokoteni business. I took a loan from SMEP and combined with the money I had accumulated to buy a plot. I bought a plot for the sake of my family," he added. "She took away everything we accumulated for over 19 years. She took away my plot of land and church equipment by force."

Mombasa sub-county police commander Julius Kiragu told CNN that in 2017, Misiko was detained by the police after his wife accused him of threatening her life.

He further noted that Misiko was released after police concluded the accusation was untrue.

The couple had reportedly been living apart over the last two years since tensions between them started escalating.

"She (wife) had been trying to stay away from the husband since the dispute over the ownership of the church began," Kiragu told CNN. "They had even reported the matter to church leaders but they were unable to resolve the dispute."
One FANG stock is breaking out.

Google parent Alphabet has rocketed to records four days in a row, soaring 5% higher just this month.

Piper Sandler chief market technician Craig Johnson says the stock could pull back before roaring even higher.

"Google is finally breaking out of the consolidation range it's been in for a long time, 2+ years," Johnson said on CNBC's "Trading Nation" on Monday. "What I would expect from a technical perspective is it to pull back toward about $1,300, where you broke out from. Then I can see a measured objective based upon the size of the base that could very easily take this stock up toward $1,550 to $1,600."

Alphabet traded at $1,398 at midday Tuesday. A move to $1,600 implies 14% upside.

BK Asset Management's Boris Schlossberg also counts himself an Alphabet bull. He sees this as a stock to hold for the long term.

"Google is a very, very strong buy. Basically the rule of thumb always whenever a stock makes record highs, whatever near-term overbought condition it is in, long term it's almost always a good buy if the fundamentals support it," said Schlossberg during the same segment.

Schlossberg adds that at this juncture Alphabet's fundamentals look particularly strong.

"It's got a tremendous position in search. Search is essentially invulnerable to any kind of economic downturn. It has more net cash on its balance sheet than anybody besides Berkshire Hathaway," he said.

He sees two ways to play shares  either selling puts against the stock or, his preferred method, going long Alphabet against a basket of FANG stocks, which includes Facebook, Amazon and Netflix.

"If we get a downdraft in the stock market, I think the other FANGs are going to perform much worse than Google," he said.

Disclaimer
The Narendra Modi-led government has approved additional central assistance of Rs 5908.56 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to seven states which had experienced heavy flooding and losses in 2019.

According to the decision taken at a meeting of a high-level committee (HLC) chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam will receive an additional aid of Rs 616.63 crore, Himachal Pradesh Rs 284.93 crore, Karnataka Rs 1869.85 crore, Madhya Pradesh Rs 1749.73 crore, Maharashtra Rs 956.93 crore, Tripura Rs 63.32 and Uttar Pradesh will be given Rs 367.17 crore.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was present in the meeting, along with senior officers of the ministries of Home Affairs, Finance, Agriculture and NITI Aayog.

This is in addition to the interim relief of Rs 3,200 crore to four states, Rs 1,200 crore to Karnataka, Rs 1,000 crore to Madhya Pradesh, Rs 600 crore to Maharashtra and Rs 400 crore to Bihar.

Significantly missing out from the list of states that have been granted financial aid is Kerala. The state which had suffered the second flooding in as many years had sought the aid of Rs 2101 crore from the Center. The Kerala Government had in September sent a letter detailing the loses the state suffered and seeking financial aid from the Center.

This is not the first time the Modi government has been accused of turning its back on the left-ruled state. Even in 2018, when the state was hit by the worst flooding in over a century the Modi government was accused of not allowing the state to receive financial aid from UAE which pledged an amount to the tune of Rs 700 crore and several other countries around the world.

The Modi government was also accused of denying permission to Kerala minister to go abroad to collect funds for flood relief. In 2018 the Centre had provided initial assistance of Rs 600 crore to Kerala and later another Rs 3,048 crore was allocated to the state ad additional assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

Kerala had sought Rs 4,700 crore as compensation from the central government for the damage caused by the floods, which was termed as the worst in a century. At least 488 people died in the state due to the rains and floods this monsoon, which hit 14 districts of the state.

Calling the decision unfortunate, Kerala Finance Minister Dr. TM Thomas Isaac said state leadership of the BJP should explain the Modi government's vindictive attitude towards Kerala.
Historians say as many as 50,000 enslaved Africans passed through the depot on their way to servitude in the Deep South. After being herded off boats at Alexandrias port and marched to the property, they were held in the dingy basement or in cells behind the house, then forced to walk in chains or sail on packed ships to bondage, primarily in Mississippi and Louisiana.
Morrison & Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce the election of 18 lawyers to the firms partnership, effective January 1, 2020. The class of 2020 includes eight women and 10 men from multiple practice groups across six offices in the U.S., Asia, and Europe.

Im delighted to welcome our 2020 class of attorneys to the partnership at Morrison & Foerster, Larren Nashelsky, chair of Morrison & Foerster, said. These extraordinarily talented and diverse attorneys are all thoroughly deserving of this recognition. Our new partners have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to our clients as well as their colleagues across the firm.

The following lawyers have been elected partners:



ABOUT MOFO

We are Morrison & Foerster  a global firm of exceptional credentials. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, investment banks, Fortune 100, and technology and life sciences companies. The Financial Times has named the firm to its lists of most innovative law firms in Northern America every year that it has published its Innovative Lawyers Reports in the region. In the past few years, Chambers USA has honored MoFos Privacy and Data Security, Bankruptcy, and IP teams with Firm of the Year awards, the Corporate/M&A team with a client service award, and the firm as a whole as Global USA Firm of the Year. Our lawyers are committed to achieving innovative and business-minded results for our clients, while preserving the differences that make us stronger. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education for poor children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, winning asylum for the persecuted, and safeguarding the environment.
Donald Trump Jr. posted a photo on Instagram on Monday of him holding an AR-15-style rifle featuring an image of the kind of cross used during the Crusades, a series of medieval religious wars between Muslims and Christians. The magazine of the rifle is adorned with an illustration of former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton behind bars.

"Nice day at the range," Trump Jr. wrote in his post, which also refers to the designer and seller of the gun.

It is unclear whether Trump Jr. owns the rifle.

The cross is Christianity's most prominent symbol, appearing in Christian artwork and Western culture to commemorate the biblical account of Jesus' crucifixion. The image of four crosses surrounding a larger one, shown in Trump Jr.'s post, is known as the Jerusalem cross and was used during the Crusades.

"At its best, the cross is a symbol of self-sacrifice and divine love. It has many different resonances for people," said Robin Jensen, a theology professor at the University of Notre Dame who studies Christian art. "This is not what you put on a gun unless you're saying Christians have a right to kill people who aren't one of us."

Andy Surabian, a spokesman for Trump Jr., said symbols "depicting various historical warriors" are common in gun culture. The symbols are common on gear and accessories, but adding them to guns is more niche and expensive. Base AR-15-style rifles can be bought for as little as $500, but the "Crusader" rifle retails for $2,125.

Surabian said the appearance of the Jerusalem cross was not a political statement.

"Don's instagram post was strictly about him using a famous meme to mock Hillary Clinton, as he and many others have done on numerous occasions and will surely do again in the future, so long as it continues triggering humorless liberals," Surabian said in a text message.

Trump Jr.'s post comes just days after the targeted U.S. killing of Qasem Soleimani, one of Iran's top military figures. On Friday, President Donald Trump spoke in front of a group of evangelicals in Florida, saying, "I really do believe we have God on our side," the kind of reference used by Christian nationalists, who believe that God founded the United States to be a religious nation.

The magazine well of the rifle Trump Jr. holds is designed to look like a Crusader helmet and is made by Rare Breed Firearms as part of its Crusader label.

The Jerusalem cross grew out of the Crusades beginning in the early 11th century, according to Fredrick Bunce's 2014 book, "Crosses, Christian and Otherwise: Their Form and Meaning." The four smaller crosses are said to represent the four gospels and the four corners of the world. Together, the five crosses are interpreted to represent the five wounds suffered by Christ at his crucifixion. That kind of cross is derived from the original Greek cross and is frequently employed in heraldry, according to Bunce.

In the right context, the Jerusalem cross is used as a symbol for Christian pilgrimage to the city, according to Dan Jones, a British-based historian who wrote a book published last year on the Crusades. But that particular cross has been co-opted for all kinds of movements since. He noted how white supremacists during the Charlottesville protests and the New Zealand mass shooter have been inspired by images from the Crusades.

"At a time when tensions in the Middle East are running high, it's an inflammatory time to run around with a gun with a crusader image on it," Jones said.

A spokesman for the Southern Poverty Law Center said that Crusader imagery is frequently used by far-right extremists to invoke the notion that America and its citizens should retake land through violence and expel Muslim "invaders," particularly in the United States and Middle East.

Trump Jr. is an avid hunter. Last year, he shot endangered sheep in Mongolia before he had approval from the government there.

Rare Breed Firearms appeared to provide the cross design on the rifle Trump Jr. posted, and Spike's Tactical appeared to distribute it. Their companies do not indicate whether their owners have religious motivations, and no one from the companies returned requests for comment from The Washington Post on Monday.

Spike's came under fire from some Muslim leaders in 2015 after it made a rifle with a Bible verse designed to repel Muslim terrorists. This time, Ibrahim Hooper, national communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the rifle Trump Jr. is shown holding doesn't appear to directly include an anti-Muslim message.

"A cross doesn't offend me. It's the context. It's on a weapon," Hooper said. "It's a weapon that is similar to ones used in mass killings. The whole package sends the wrong message."

In the Instagram photo, Trump Jr. poses with the rifle with the safety off and the selector switch on fire. Firearm safety norms discourage taking the safety off unless a weapon is pointed down range at a target and ready to be fired, which he is not doing in the photo. The bolt is pulled to the rear in one photo, and it is unclear whether there is any ammunition in the magazine, though it is probably empty. Trump Jr.'s finger is off the trigger.

A recent Axios-SurveyMonkey poll asked Republicans and Republican-leaning independents which Republican they would consider voting for in a theoretical 2024 general election, and 29% said Trump Jr. That put him second, behind Vice President Mike Pence at 40%, and about even with former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley at 26%, but above other hypothetical GOP candidates.

A 2017 Quinnipiac poll found 51% of registered voters overall had an unfavorable opinion of Trump Jr., 22% were favorable, and 25% had no opinion. Among Republican voters, a 54% majority had a favorable opinion of the president's son, 14% were unfavorable, and 31% had no opinion.

- - -

The Washington Post's Alex Horton and Emily Guskin contributed to this report.
Pakistan on Tuesday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia to "convey strong rejection of allegations" over Nankana Sahib attack and Sikh youth's killing Peshawar.

"Indian Charge d'Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia was summoned by Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri today to convey Pakistan's strong rejection of "baseless and fabricated Indian allegations" concerning the Sikh community," Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

It said Chaudhri conveyed Pakistan's "strong denouncement" of India's "allegations of attack, vandalism, and desecration" at the holy Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and "targeted killing" of Pakistani Sikh youth in Peshawar.

"Chaudhri also underscored that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees equal rights to all its citizens and the Government is "committed to protecting the rights of minorities, with zero-tolerance against any discrimination," the statement said.

India had on Monday summoned Acting Pakistan High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah to lodge a strong protest with Pakistan over the recent acts of vandalism and desecration at the revered Nankana Sahib Gurdwara and the "targeted killing" of a Sikh youth in Peshawar.

An angry group of local residents pelted stones at the revered Sikh shrine in Pakistan on January 3. The group was led by the family of a boy who had allegedly abducted Sikh girl Jagjit Kaur, daughter of gurdwara's panthi, last year.

On Friday, India had strongly condemned the "wanton acts of destruction and desecration" at the Gurudwara, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev, and called upon Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and welfare of the members of the Sikh community.

New Delhi had also shared strong concerns over the "continued persecution of religious and ethnic minorities" in Pakistan, including the recent "despicable and heinous acts". Body of the Sikh youth, identified as Ravinder Singh, was found in the Chamkani police station area of Peshawar on Sunday. He was the brother of an Islamabad-based journalist, Harmeet Singh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The mother of a British teenager who has avoided jail after being found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus has said her daughter is coming home.

The 19-year-old woman, who has not been named, was handed a four-month prison sentence suspended for three years.

She is expected to return to the UK following the outcome at Famagusta District Court in Paralimni on Tuesday.

One of the accused Israelis was semi-professional footballer Shimon Yusufov, 19, who the woman had been in a consensual relationship with at the time of the alleged incident.

His lawyer Nir Yaslovitzh told MailOnline after the sentencing: He takes the opinion that justice has been done. She was found guilty by the court of lying and I hope with this sentence she has learned her lesson. We respect the decision of the court and of course she was found guilty.

A British teenager covers her face as she arrives at the Famagusta District Court in Paralimni in Cyprus for sentencing (AFP/Getty)

She hugged her family and her legal team and left court weeping, with her head in her hands.

The teenager's mother shouted "she's coming home" to supporters outside court, adding she feels "relieved".

There was criticism of prime minister Boris Johnson following the sentencing. The teenager had earlier appealed to Mr Johnson to please bring me home.

Labour leadership candidate Lisa Nandy tweeted: "The message this case sends to victims is that they will become the accused if they report rape. Boris Johnson should have intervened without hesitation."

Her family had raised fears she would suffer permanent damage to her mental health if she was sent to prison, having been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Activists show their support for the British teenager outside the court (Reuters)

But she is free to return home after Judge Michalis Papathanasiou told her he was giving her a "second chance".

The teenager's mother said: "On behalf of the family, I would like to say we are very relieved at the sentence that has been passed down today.

"I would also like to say thank you for all the support we have received throughout the globe."

Addressing applauding supporters, she added: "I just want to thank each and every one of you for turning up today, having belief, having faith and making sure we get justice."

Story continues

The teenager, who is appealing her conviction, claimed she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party town of Ayia Napa on July 17.

Her lawyers asked the judge to consider a suspended prison sentence after she was convicted of public mischief last week.

Read more

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'Worst rapist' in UK history jailed for life for offences against 48 men

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Local media had reported she would have been pardoned by Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades if the judge had imposed an immediate jail term.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the court before the sentencing. They included a group of women who have travelled from Israel.

They chanted "Cyprus justice, shame on you", "stop blaming the victim" and "you are not alone". Some held placards reading "we believe you" and "don't be afraid".

The teenager was charged, while the young men, aged between 15 and 20, who were arrested over the incident, were freed after she signed a retraction statement 10 days later.

Activists protest outside the Famagusta District Court in support of the British teenager (AFP/Getty)

She claimed police made her sign a confession.

The woman spent around a month in prison before being granted bail in August.

She maintains she was raped after having consensual sex with one of the Israelis but forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police.

The case hinged on a retraction statement signed by the teenager following hours of questioning alone and without legal representation.

One of the Israeli tourists has vowed to sue her, it was reported.

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said he has raised concerns over the treatment of the teenager with the Cypriot authorities after her conviction provoked outrage in Cyprus and the UK.

Sentencing the teenager, the judge said: "I admit, I have been troubled over this. All the evidence shows that she had lied and prevented the police from doing other serious jobs.

"Twelve people were arrested and seven of them were there for at least 10 days. That was also a serious offence.

The British teenager pictured at a previous hearing (Getty)

"Her psychological state, her youth, that she has been away from her family, her friends and academic studies this year.

"This has led me to decide to give her a second chance and suspend the sentence for three years."

The teenagers English lawyer, Lewis Power QC, said she will be returning home on Tuesday.

He said: "Whilst we welcome the fact that the sentence imposed today allows her to go home, we strongly contest the conviction and the fight for her innocence will go on regardless.

Im writing to @DominicRaab to ask Govt to investigate failings in this case as rape allegations must be taken seriously & shell need to fight injustice if shes to have chance of recovery. Also tackle urgent need for therapy & compensation, as neither will be readily available. https://t.co/yUapFx6hvL  Victims Commissioner for London (@LDNVictimsComm) January 7, 2020

"We will be appealing the conviction and will take this case to the Supreme Court of Human Rights.

"We say and will maintain that this young girl was stripped both of her dignity and her basic human rights.

"She has been diagnosed with severe PTSD and this case has resulted in the deterioration of her mental health."

Mr Power added: "She is adamant of her innocence and that she has told the truth."

Londons victims commissioner Claire Waxman tweeted that she is writing to the foreign secretary to ask the British government to investigate failings in this case as rape allegations must be taken seriously.
Iranian mourners gather during the funeral processions for Qasem Soleimani. Photo: Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images

At least 56 people are dead and another 213 injured after a stampede Tuesday during the funeral procession for Qasem Soleimani, the slain commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force.

The deaths occurred along the route to Soleimanis burial place in Kerman, his hometown, where hundreds of thousands of mourners filled the streets. According to the BBC, the problem stemmed from a poorly planned route that saw thousands of people crammed onto a single street.

The route that they chose was too narrow for this crowd. This is something that could have been prevented, said one Kerman resident, who was not named.

The surrounding alleyways were also blocked for different reasons, he said. There was no way to go back or to escape through a side street.

The tragedy in Kerman comes a day after enormous crowds gathered in Tehran to pay their respects to the military leader, who was killed last week by a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani prayed over Soleimanis body during the funeral in Tehran. His body was then taken to the holy city of Qom before arriving in Kerman.

Hossein Salami, the leader of Irans Revolutionary Guards, delivered a fiery speech to the massive crowd in Kerman before the stampede. We tell our enemies that we will retaliate, but if they take another action we will set ablaze the places that they like and are passionate about, he said, according to the AP. The crowd responded by chanting Death to Israel.

"We will burn the places they love"

IRGC Commander Hossein Salami reaffirms Iran's vow to avenge the death of Qasem Soleimani pic.twitter.com/bCqxco1nsL  BBC Monitoring (@BBCMonitoring) January 7, 2020

Salami also promised that Iran will take revenge. How it does so remains an open question, but the countrys parliament appeared to set the table for an attack on the U.S. Tuesday when its parliament unanimously declared the entire U.S. military a terrorist organization.
Farmers have been warned to step up biosecurity measures as a suspected outbreak of bird flu is investigated at a poultry farm in Co Fermanagh.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northen Ireland said that officials are investigating the suspected presence of a "notifiable avian disease" (NAD) in a broiler breeder flock in Co Fermanagh.

A private veterinary practitioner contacted DAERA on January 2 with concerns over increased bird mortality at the premises.

The DAERA spokesperson said a veterinary enquiry at the holding started that evening. Testing has already started on samples taken from birds to detect the presence of serious bird diseases like avian influenza and Newcastle disease.

The results are expected to take several days and restrictive measures are in place on the farm.

The spokesperson added: "All bird keepers are urged to remain vigilant and if they suspect any signs of the disease in their flocks, they must report it immediately to DAERA.

"All poultry keepers, including backyard flock keepers and those keeping game birds and pet birds, need to act now and maintain high levels of biosecurity at all times in order to reduce the risk of transmission of avian flu to their flocks." Last month, 27,000 chickens were culled when the H5 strain of bird flu was discovered at a poultry business in Suffolk.

At the time DAERA said the risk to poultry in Northern Ireland remains low but avian flu was still a "constant threat".

Migrating winter birds increase the risk of contamination and DAERA has previously stated that an outbreak of avian influenza would have "a significant impact" on the poultry industry and wider economy.
T he "heartbroken" family of Hounslow dad Mohammed Shah Subhani made a fresh appeal for information from the woodland where his body was discovered.

Detectives investigating the death of the 27-year-old, who went missing in May, discovered human remains belonging to the Heathrow airport worker in December.

Officers made the tragic find after searching land near Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire.

Mr Subhani's grieving family visited the site today to lay flowers, pray and pay tribute to the loving and caring young man.

The 27-year-old went missing in May / PA

His baby daughter, who was born after he disappeared, also attended.

Speaking for the first time in public the family asked anyone with information about a key vehicle to come forward.

A black BMW X5 which had been stolen from Farnborough, Hampshire on cloned plates of YC67 MFY was seen loitering near the forest around the time Mr Subhani disappeared.

The victims family visit the site where his remains were found / Met Police

His older sister Quirat said: "What happened to Shah, no one deserves - the only thing we look forward to in our lives now is justice for him.

For this reason, we beg you all to go back and try remember if there was anything suspicious you saw around Hedgerley Lane or Hounslow around 7 May last year.

Was there something that you thought looked odd? Did you hear something? Did you find yourself questioning some activities taking place?

She added: It is now up to you all to help us unveil the faces of the monsters who did this and get them behind bars forever."

Mr Subhani never got to meet his daughter / Met Police

Paying tribute to her brother, she recalled the moment that the family was forced to hear the devastating confirmation that the human remains found did belong to Shah.

"When this heartbreaking news was delivered, we felt as if someone had pulled the ground beneath us and we had been swallowed whole.

We had waited in hope and prayed that one day, against all odds, Shah will walk through the door and all this would be over. Never did we think Shah would be discovered seven months later, just 15 miles away from home.

She said it was beyond our imagination that something so horrific could have happened to our loving Shah.

Police tape and evidence identification markers on woodland floor (John Dunne)

These monsters maliciously killed our brother mercilessly and disregarded his body in an isolated woodland, she added.

We couldnt even have fathomed this in our worst nightmares. Not only was Shah robbed of life, but also robbed of a rightful burial.

Describing her brother as a loving and caring young man who had his whole life ahead of him, Quirat said his four-month-old daughter never got to experience how much of an amazing dad he would have been.

Our hearts are broken, this pain will never go away," she said.

Police searching woodland in Beaconsfield / John Dunne

Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, from Specialist Crime, who is leading the investigation, praised the family for speaking publicly to help the investigation, days after what would have been the victims 28th birthday.

"I believe that Shahs discovery is something that his killer(s) were confident would never happen. However, whilst this was the worst possible news for his loved ones, I believe it presents potential opportunities for our ongoing investigation, he said.

I think that this area is only familiar to a small group of people. It is fairly isolated and you would probably have to know it existed, as opposed to it being stumbled across. It is not visible to a passing motorist.

As I mentioned previously, the wooded area had evidence of spent shotgun cartridges, these are not connected to Shahs death, but I am keen to speak to people who use this area for such recreational activities, particularly if they were here in early May last year.

Police tent over body believed to be of missing Shah Subhani / John Dunne

Detective Chief Inspector McHugh said a car parked in the wooded spot probably appear out of the norm to locals and police are very keen to understand who was using this vehicle.

He urged the public share any information no matter how small as it could prove to be a significant piece of the jigsaw in establishing what happened to Shah."

We have a substantial amount of land left to search and it is very challenging terrain, making it a complex and painstaking undertaking, but we continue to make progress - and have had a significant new find just today, he added

We are likely to be here for several more weeks while we complete this important task. I am very grateful to the local community who have been so understanding and supportive of the police operation. I do apologise for the inconvenience that you are experiencing, as we continue to strive to keep disruption to a minimum."

What do the police know so far?

- On the day he disappeared, Tuesday, May, 7 Mr Subhani travelled to Acton police station, arriving at approximately 1.45pm.

- He then travelled from the Acton area at 3pm on a journey to Hounslow. His Audi Q3, registration LC67 CXS, was captured on CCTV travelling south on Hanworth Road, towards Whitton Road, in Hounslow at around 3.17pm.

- Mr Subhani was due to collect 5,000 at a business premises on Derby Road in Hounslow. His white Audi Q3, arrived at 3.19pm and police believe the victim was driving.

- His car left at 3.47pm, but it is not believed that he was driving the car at that time. He was not seen to leave the premises.

- The Q3 entered Park Road and was subsequently moved to Camden on false registration plates.

- DCI McHugh previously confirmed that his team had ruled out the possibility that Mr Subhani was in his own car at the time it was shot at - the vehicle was recovered with ballistic damage on Wednesday, 19 June in Camden.

- One of the other suspicious vehicles officers also still need information about is a blue Range Rover Evoque, using false plates MF13 AOT, which was at the corner of Derby Road at around 3.20 on Tuesday, 7 May, at the same time Mr Subhani was there. Officers know the car later travelled to Ilford on those plates, but has not been seen since. It had a lot of body damage and might have been passed on.

Police still think key people have not come forward

DCI McHugh added: I am in no doubt that there are people out there with information who have still not come forward.

There is possibly a misguided loyalty to those responsible for Shahs murder or you may be frightened of those involved; please be reassured that we will deal with your information sensitively in complete confidence.

"To anyone in the know, just imagine the pain your continuing silence is causing Shahs family. Please reach out to us if you can help, either via 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers. A substantial reward of 20,000 remains on offer for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved."

Detectives have made a number of arrests in connection with their investigation

- A 23-year-old-man [A] was arrested on Tuesday, July 2 on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, he has been released under investigation.

- Two men  aged 22 [B] and 25 [C]  were arrested on Monday, July 8 on suspicion of murder, kidnap/abduction and perverting the course of justice. [B] remains on bail, while [C] was released under investigation.

- A 20-year-old man [D] was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, kidnap and perverting the course of justice on Wednesday, July 31. He was subsequently released under investigation.

- A 19-year-old man [E] was arrested on Thursday, August 29 on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder and kidnap. He was released under investigation.

- A 22-year-old man [F] was arrested at an address in west London on Tuesday, October 22 on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. In addition, a search warrant was executed at a residential address in west London. He was later released under investigation.

- A 22-year-old man [G] was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday, December 9. He has been bailed to return to a police station at a later date.

- A 67-year-old woman [H] who was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Tuesday, December 17 on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, assisting an offender and making a false statement has been bailed to return to a police station at a later date.

- A 19-year-old man [E] was re-arrested at Heathrow Airport on Friday December 20 on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, perverting the course of justice, and preventing a lawful burial. He was released under investigation.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), an advisory committee that reports to NASA and Congress, issued its 2019 annual report Tuesday examining the agency's safety performance over the past year and highlighting accomplishments, issues and concerns.

The report highlights 2019 activities and includes assessments of NASA's:

International Space Station

Lunar and deep space exploration

Exploration Systems Development

Commercial Crew Program

Aeronautics and air operations

Safety culture

Enterprise protection

"The panel noted considerable headway toward NASA's human exploration objectives in 2019," said ASAP Chair Patricia Sanders. "We are supportive of the significant amount of testing  both completed and underway  as well as the thoroughness of ongoing work to resolve technical issues. While many challenges remain, the progress to date is encouraging; however, much work lies ahead."

The report notes the panel's focus over the past year on the qualification testing, analysis, and validation efforts of NASA's Commercial Crew Program and Exploration Systems Development as both efforts move closer to launching uncrewed and crewed flights. Achieving these milestones will be critical steps toward launching the first woman and the next man to the surface of the Moon by 2024 with NASA's Artemis program, part of the agency's broader Moon to Mars exploration approach.

The report is based on the panel's 2019 fact-finding and quarterly public meetings; "insight" visits and meetings; direct observations of NASA operations and decision-making processes; discussions with NASA management, employees and contractors; and the panel members' own experience.

Congress established the panel in 1968 to provide advice and make recommendations to the NASA administrator on safety matters after the 1967 Apollo 1 fire that claimed the lives of three American astronauts.

For more information about the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, and to view the 2019 report, visit:

https://oiir.hq.nasa.gov/asap

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


EDMONTON - Alberta's energy minister says the United Nations is an unelected, unaccountable body that has no business criticizing Canada's energy megaprojects.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Minister of Energy Sonya Savage listens while Premier Jason Kenney responds to the federal approval of the Trans Mountain Pipeline in Edmonton, Alberta, on Tuesday June 18, 2019. Alberta's energy minister says the United Nations is an unelected, unaccountable body that has no business criticizing Canada's energy megaprojects.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken

EDMONTON - Alberta's energy minister says the United Nations is an unelected, unaccountable body that has no business criticizing Canada's energy megaprojects.

Sonya Savage, in a statement, says that it's the job of elected leaders, not the UN, to make decisions on how best to govern people and economies.

The UN's Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has urged Canada to stop work on three major resource projects  including the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion  until it obtains approval from affected First Nations.

The committee, in a directive last month, says it's worried that work is going ahead without free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous groups.

Savage says the committee is ignoring the majority of First Nations groups that support projects such as Trans Mountain and the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline.

She says the criticism is unfair and out of context, given Canada's track record on making sure all voices are heard.

"With all the injustice in the world, its beyond rich that the unelected, unaccountable United Nations would seemingly single out Canada  one of the greatest champions of human rights, democracy and the rule of law," Savage said Tuesday.

Canadas duly elected representatives  not unaccountable international committees  are responsible for governing decisions in this country.

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers also said in a statement Tuesday that the committee's directive shows an "ignorance of Canadian law and consultation processes."

CAPP said the three projects cited by the committee  TransMountain, Site C and Coastal GasLink  underwent extensive consulation and review in accordance with Canadian laws.

Trans Mountain Corp., the federal Crown corporation building the pipeline expansion from Alberta to the British Columbia coast, says it is moving forward with construction safely and in respect of communities.

BC Hydro says it has been consulting with affected First Nations on the Site C hydroelectric dam since 2007 and has reached benefit agreements with most of them.

The UN committee previously demanded a halt to Site C, which is opposed by the West Moberly and Prophet River First Nations in northeastern British Columbia.

However, this marks the first time it has called for a stop to the Trans Mountain and Coastal GasLink projects.

Members of the Wetsuweten have tried to block construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline near Smithers, B.C. The natural gas pipeline is part of a $40-billion LNG Canada project.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2020
Smoke from wildfires in Australia is drifting across the Pacific to cities in South America, and may have reached the Antarctic, the UN World Meteorological Organisation has said.

At the weekend, skies turned "apocalyptic" bright orange 1,300 miles away in Auckland, New Zealand, as bushfires continue to wreak destruction in Australia, where so far 24 people have been killed.

Now, skies as far as 7,000 miles away in Chile have gone grey in the thick smoke, with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) citing reports that the sunset in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, had turned red.

"The fires have led to hazardous air quality, which has affected human health, in major cities in Australia, spreading to New Zealand and sent smoke drifting thousands of kilometres across the Pacific to South America," WMO spokeswoman Clare Nullis told reporters in Geneva.

Meanwhile, a striking 3D visualisation of the Australian fires by Anthony Hearsey has gone viral on social media, encompassing all the areas which have been affected in the country using NASA satellite data collected across the span of a month.

The Australian bushfires, which have raged for months, have already emitted 400 megatonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and produced harmful pollutants, according to the EU's Copernicus monitoring programme.

Brown sooty deposits have also been spotted on glaciers in New Zealand - potentially accelerating the rate at which they melt.

NASA said the recent satellite images taken of Australia is "just a reminder that smoke does not stay in one place".

The US space agency added it is evident that the smoke plumes coming from the fires are "travelling on wind currents" and drifting to other countries.

Meanwhile, the raging fires are taking a big toll on tourism, reducing some resorts to ghost towns in New South Wales when tourists would usually be jostling for space on its popular beaches.

Story continues

Authorities have blocked access to Hyams Beach amid a severe drought, record high temperatures and winds fanning blazes as close as 15km (nine miles) away.

According to official data, an area the size of South Korea has now been destroyed by the bushfires.

More than 10.3 million hectares of land has been razed by the flames so far this summer, turning the skies a hellish orange across the Tasman Sea in New Zealand.

Thousands of people in Australia have been left homeless. Some have spent days without electricity, telecommunications and drinking water.

Chris Dickman, a biodiversity expert at the University of Sydney, estimates that almost half a billion animals have perished in the bushfires, which are among the worst the country has ever seen - with the WWF telling Sky News the figure is likely to end up at a billion.

The flames have been exacerbated by a three-year drought and the impact of climate change, although the Australian prime minister has refuted that link .

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Scott Morrison said last month it was "not credible" to say climate change had made a difference and has since been criticised for his response to the fires, notably from residents of a ravaged town he visited .

He has now pledged $2bn Aus (1.05bn) to a newly-created National Bushfire Recovery Agency, and acknowledged that the ongoing crisis would have a significant impact on the Australian economy.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Another set of flyers promoting a New Jersey hate group were found in New Dorp on Thursday.

Tracy Schulman, who has previously shared similar items with the Advance, said she found the flyers from the New Jersey European Heritage Association at the bus stop near the intersection of Mill Road and Tysens Lane Thursday morning while walking her dogs.

It makes me uncomfortable. We never had these problems on Staten Island -- like this, Schulman, who grew up in the East Shore neighborhood, said. Theres no place for hate on Staten Island.

The flyer Schulman found lays out a series of ways America is being SUBVERTED, ranging from pornography to the ANTI WHITE AGENDA.

Each of the subversion examples is accompanied by partial quotes or information from Jewish sources in an apparent effort to make clear the groups vehement anti-Semitism.

GROUP BASED IN NEW JERSEY

On its websites contact form, one of the questions asks if the person contacting the organization is of European non-Semitic descent.

The Anti-Defamation League lists NJEHA as a small, New Jersey-based white supremacist group that espouses racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance under the guise of saving white European peoples from purported imminent extinction.

A series of anti-Semitic attacks have recently rocked the New York metro area with the most notable coming in early December when members of an extremist sect of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement killed four people, including one police officer, in an attack in Jersey City.

Community leaders along with law enforcement and elected officials have been working to address the issue. More than 10,000 people took part in a march across the Brooklyn Bridge Sunday to protest anti-Semitism and hate.

ISLAND LEADERS TAKING ACTION

Rep. Max Rose along with other members of the citys congressional delegation urged New Yorks non-profit institutions to take advantage of a $90-million increase in security grant funding passed as part of the remaining fiscal year 2020 budget.

Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) will also chair his first congressional hearing of the new year focused directly on anti-Semitism and the rise in domestic attacks on the Jewish community.

Nazis and white supremacists are the scum of the earth and have no place in our community or country, Rose said Monday. The reality of the violence they preach is all too real and we all must stand strong in denouncing and combating it.

Schulman said she made police at the 122nd Precinct aware of the flyers. Previously, she made the community aware of other flyers blaming Jewish people for the 9/11 attacks.

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn) said she also reached out to the NYPD, and that they are actively investigating the origin.

This is both outrageous and frightening, she said. Hate organizations have no place in society, especially not in our diverse community.

City Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo urged borough residents not to take the threat of bigoted violence lightly given the recent spate of anti-Semitic attacks.

However, as I have said in the past, I have faith that Staten Islanders will reject the hate and ignorance in these appalling flyers and put them where they belong - in the garbage, he said.

In the meanwhile, I will continue to work with law enforcement and leaders of our faith communities to protect our Jewish neighbors and I ask that Staten Islanders remain vigilant.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : The Centre has finalised the draft Expression of Interest (EoI) document for the privatisation of Air India, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

According to the official, the EoI inviting bids for the national carrier will be issued by the month end.

The development comes after the ministerial panel on Air India disinvestment met here on Tuesday.

After the meet, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the meeting was productive and a statement on the decisions taken will be issued soon.

At present, Union Home Minister Amit Shah heads the panel looking after the divestment process. Its other members, apart from Puri, include Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Commerce and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal.

In the previous Modi government, then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley headed the ministerial panel called the Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM).

After failing to find a bidder then, the government is working on a war footing to sell Air India to a private player.

Last week, Puri had said that Centre is in the middle of a serious divestment process which is required to save Air India as it has accumulated unsustainable debt levels over the years.

He said the national carrier was making a loss of Rs 20-26 crore per day.

Besides, he said the healthy asset quality of the airline has generated interest from private entities and established airlines.

Furthermore, the minister has reassured Air India's employees that the passenger carrier will remain operational till its privatisation process is complete.

He had last week met Air India employees' unions in New Delhi.

Puri, according to the union, had said that Air India will run till its privatisation and requested all the unions to cooperate towards the process.
The Vice Chairman welcomed the delegations visit to Vietnam when the two countries are preparing for the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties (February 3), thus contributing to further strengthening cooperation between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Fidesz  Hungarian Civic Alliance.

He stressed the Vietnamese State and people always remember valuable and effective help from the State and people of Hungary for Vietnams national defence and construction.

Hien said he hopes for the further development of the relations between the two parties and countries, contributing to promoting understanding and the relations between the two nations and peoples.

He highlighted that cooperation between the two national assemblies in recent times has been promoted via visits to each other by senior leaders of the two parliaments and their agencies.

The two sides have coordinated and supported each other at multilateral parliamentary forums, he said, while proposing they continue increasing exchange activities and cooperation to tighten traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Hungary.

Vice President of Fidesz  Hungarian Civic Alliance Katalin Novak agreed with Hiens proposal, saying that the two countries need to expand cooperation in the fields of their potential such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, application of science and technology in socio-economic development.

She said the Hungarian Embassy in Vietnam will organise numerous activities to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Hungary.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he is "okay with" following laws that prevent him from destroying Iranian cultural sites, after previously threatening to target and attack them.

Trump originally mentioned Iran's cultural sites as part of a threat toward Tehran, which had vowed "harsh revenge" against the U.S. for killing its top military leader, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, in an airstrike days earlier.

Targeting cultural sites in that way could constitute a war crime under laws of armed conflict.

In the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump expressed skepticism about the rules, but nevertheless said he would follow the law.

"They're allowed to kill our people, they're allowed to maim our people, they're allowed to blow up everything that we have, and there's nothing that stops them. And we are, according to various laws, supposed to be very careful with their cultural heritage," he said.

"And you know? If that's what the law is  I like to obey the law. But think of it, they kill our people, they blow up our people, but then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions," Trump said.

"But I'm okay with it. It's okay with me," he added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7) The United States Embassy (US) in Manila issued a security alert amid the tension between the US and Iran.

There is heightened tension in the Middle East that may result in security risks to U.S. citizens abroad, said the US Embassy in its website.

The United States and Iran have been exchanging threats since a U.S. drone strike in Iraq last week that killed a top Iranian military commander.

The embassy advised everyone to keep a low profile, be aware of their surroundings, stay alert in places frequented by tourists, review personal security plans, and have updated travel documents which are also easily accessible.

"The Embassy will continue to review the security situation and will provide additional information as needed," it added.

On the other hand, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also advised Filipino communities to stay vigilant.

"In view of recent developments in the region, Filipino communities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are advised to be vigilant against potential security threats, observe security measures and protocols established by the Saudi government, and abide by the laws, rules, and regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,"
The problem for India may not stop with abrogation of Article 370 and the possibility of Sri Lanka telling them that the ethnic issue was an internal affair of that nation -- if and when it came to that. Citing the Centres decision to bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir, the Colombo dispensation too could tell New Delhi and the rest of the world that even the re-merger of Sri Lankas North and the East, s sought by the Tamils, too, was an internal affair of their country, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

IMAGE: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, left, with President Ram Nath Kovind, centre, and Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan, on November 29, 2019. Photograph: MEA on Twitter

Now that neighbouring southern Sri Lanka is out of the presidential poll mode and is preparing for the even more complicated parliamentary elections, due later this year, can India still hope to intervene in the internal affairs of the island-nation as believed ahead of the abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A in the context of special status for Jammu and Kashmir?

The question assumes significance after New Delhi described the constitutional change-over as an internal affair of the nation, implying that third nations, including the US and the rest of the West, leave alone traditional adversaries in Pakistan and China, taking a different view of the matter  and consequent Indian claims  was not welcome.

Like the abrogation of Article 370, and later the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which again India has described as an internal affair, Sri Lanka too can now tell the rest of the world that the ethnic issue is an internal affair of that nation. This could be independent of all the claims and charges of the nations Tamil minority, which has successively supported -- rather, demanded -- international intervention of the UNHRC kind, through these post-war years.

There may however be one noticeable difference between the past and the present. In the post-war years, India and the rest of the international community (read: West) said that then Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was shifting the goal-posts and frequently so, over finding a political solution to the ethnic issue. In comparison, successor Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was smart enough not to take the West head-on, but purchased enough time for his government to dilute the UNHRC concerns without moving much on addressing the spirit and content of the UN bodys much-flaunted Resolution: 30/1 with relation to credible and independent inquiry into war-crimes.

President Maithripala Sirisena was even more wishy-washy than Mahinda R. He would promise what the world wanted on war-crimes probe and the like, both in UNHRC and the UN General Assembly, the very year he was elected president (2015), and return home to eat his own words, with an equally straight face. No marks for guessing the Wests helplessness and haplessness in the matter, for their hurried response to Mahindas game-plans of the time, and engineering a regime-change in 2015.

Unlike the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe duo on the one hand and his own elder brother and party boss, Mahinda R, who is at present his prime minister, incumbent President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is considered a straight-shooter in such matters, considering his own long service in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). He may not mince words if and when it came to stating the obvious to international interlocutors and in international forums like the UNHRC and the UNGA.

It thus remains to be seen if President Gota would decide to address the UNGA or any other world forums later this year, when they become due. In between, there is the UNHRC in March and also possibly the September session for his government to confront on the international arena.

On the domestic scene, his party and leadership would have faced the all-important parliamentary election, where obtaining a simple majority could well be even more difficult than his own presidential poll victory -- that too with a substantial, 10-per cent victory margin.

A two-thirds electoral victory in the 225-seat parliament seems just out of the question, though post-poll realignments and cross-overs could still help President Gota and his party to achieve precisely as much. He will require as much for effecting the kind of constitutional amendments that he wants, to re-strengthen the executive presidency, diluted by the predecessor dispensation.

In the changed environment of Easter Sunday serial-blasts overnight made national security the major talking point for Sri Lankans, especially the swing voters, who contributed to a massive Gota victory on November 16. In his maiden address to parliament on January 3, President Gota too put national security on the top of his administrations agenda, along with the protection, if not strengthening of the unitary status of the Sri Lankan State.

In adaptable terms, such an approach could and should put national sovereignty and nations authority along with a strong and independent foreign policy. Unlike in the case of their political rivals, who managed and mis-managed State affairs, including foreign and security policies, their traditional constituencies across the board expect the Rajapaksas to be tough-talking leaders, who should not mince words while dealing with their international interlocutors.

India is one of them, and from time to time the most important of them -- though not the only one, particularly after the adversarial UNHRC vote in 2012, when Mahinda Rajapaksa was president. Between the two again, second-line party leaders, cadres and constituencies alike see Gota as a tougher and uncompromising leader than brother Mahinda. Considering that he could still work in isolation mode compared to Mahinda R, who still remains the popular face and vote-catcher for the family and their SLPP, Gota has no reason -- or, justification -- to behave otherwise, unless he deliberately chose to modify his public image, nearer home and afar.

President Gota has since reminded his audience in different venues, how he had won near-exclusively on the votes polled in his favour by the majority Sinhala constituency, and how the minorities, comprising Tamils Muslims and Upcountry Tamils, had deserted the Rajapaksas once again. He still promised a fair deal to all religions beyond his majority Buddhism and for all ethnicities, too, but Sri Lankan Tamil political leaders of various hues have already taken exception to his vote-share talk as unbecoming of a nations president, elected as such and not as the president of the Sinhala-Buddhists alone.

Nothing much is expected on political negotiations for a full and final settlement of power-sharing before the parliamentary polls and possibly the provincial council elections in all nine provinces, delayed by months and years by the predecessor dispensation, fearing a complete rout. The TNA is expected to sweep the Tamil seats in the North and the East, and aspires to enter non-traditional areas in capital Colombo and other southern electorates and electoral districts, too. The party is expected to sweep the Northern PC polls and also win, if in the company of local Muslim parties, the Eastern PC, too. However, their alliance is still a big question.

Post-poll, the multi-party TNA can be expected to flaunt its numbers to revive its political demands for a just and final solution to the ethnic issue and power-sharing processes, which they had wantonly abandoned in the name of a constitution assembly under the previous regime, knowing full well that it would remain a non-starter as far as the final results were concerned. They are sure to then knock at the doors of India and the rest of the international community, asking them to obtain the Tamils rights from an uncompromising Rajapaksa clan, now represented by President Gota. Intermittently, they will also revive calls for war crimes probe, at times at the instance of the West, which seems unwilling to re-adjust itself to the regime-change in Sri Lanka, effected this time by voters.

For India, all of it means multiple problems on the Sri Lankan ethnic front, independent of other telling issues like the China factor and possible Pakistani efforts to wean away Colombo from India. Even without it, post-cold war, South Asian neighbourhood has ceased to be the traditional area of Indian influence, to the specific advantage of the US ally and other western friends. If the erstwhile Manmohan Singh dispensation paved the way through the first UNHRC vote in 2012, the incumbent Narendra Modi government has only played along.

In the case of the TNA and other Tamil parties, they have mostly stayed away from India from the post-war period in particular, and more so after Narendra Modi and the BJP came to power. There is nothing on record to show that the TNA leadership sought to meet with the new leaders for detailed discussions in Delhi, other than their customary courtesy call on PM Modi when he visited Colombo and Jaffna, twice in two years during his first term as PM.

The TNA has not shied away from displaying its greater affinity towards the US, obviously independent of India, during the period, though after Gota came to power, some of them are talking in public about meeting with Indian leadership in Delhi.

It was a critical mistake that the TNA might have committed as the BJP-NDA government at the top-most rungs do not know any of their leaders personally, nor does PM Modi have similar access to the Rajapaksas on the Sri Lankan State side, despite an occasional meeting at their levels through the past five years in office. Even those meetings, barring President Gotas maiden overseas visit, to Delhi, post-poll, involved Mahinda Rajapaksa and once, his son, Namal Rajapaksa, MP.

For a leader who seems to lay great faith on personal chemistry with global leaders through his first term in office, PM Modi too may be at a disadvantage on that score -- leave aside President Gota, who had presented himself as being aloof, through the past decade and more.

The problem for India may not stop with abrogation of Article 370 and the possibility of Sri Lanka telling them that the ethnic issue was an internal affair of that nation -- if and when it came to that. Citing the Centres decision to bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir, the Colombo dispensation too could tell New Delhi and the rest of the world that even the re-merger of Sri Lankas North and the East, s sought by the Tamils, too, was an internal affair of their country.

What then that could link India to Sri Lankas ethnic issue is the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987, which is an international agreement under global law and practices. But then, citing international laws and ICJ rulings may not be the way, PM Modis India could promote his Neighbourhood First policy.

After all, New Delhi already has on record, a senior minister of then Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen, referring to J & K issue, but by twisting the tale to say that just as New Delhi was commenting on Maldivian internal affairs, they could also do so -- but were not doing it, after all!

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and political analyst, is Distinguished Fellow and Head-Chennai Initiative of Observer Research Foundation.
Navy and Garda divers as well as remote underwater vehicles have been dispatched to assist the search operation for a fisherman missing since a trawler sank off the Wexford coast over the weekend.

William Whelan (41) has still not been found while fellow fisherman Joseph Sinnott (65) died after their Alize vessel got into difficulty six miles south of Hook Head.

A multi-agency operation has been ongoing since Saturday night involving the Irish Coast Guard, the RNLI, Gardai, the Naval Service and local fishermen.

Late last night Gardai formally requested the assistance of a Naval Service dive team to help with the search.

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Navy divers are expected on scene at around 3pm this afternoon along with a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) which will be deployed underwater in an effort to locate the wreckage.

The Naval team will also have side-scan sonar, used to create an image of the seabed. The operation will be conducted from the LE Samuel Beckett, which replaced the LE Ciara this morning and will act as on-scene coordinator.

A team of Garda divers have also been sent to the scene to assist.

Its understood the area where search teams believe the sunken vessel is located is very deep and the operation is expected to take a number of days.

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Unfavourable weather conditions and sea swells may also restrict the work navy divers can carry out today, but Naval crews are expected to begin some work between the time they arrive and nightfall.

A formal investigation into the tragedy has also been launched in an effort to establish what led to the trawler getting into difficulty before sinking.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB), an independent body, confirmed that it was carrying out an investigation in relation to the fatal incident.

A spokesperson added that the MCIB could not comment any further due to the ongoing inquiry.

Unfavourable weather conditions delayed the search for William Whelan yesterday morning but rescue teams eventually managed to deploy at 9am.

Two RNLI lifeboats, from Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay, were dispatched along with Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117.

The Taoiseach was among those to pay tribute to the work of the Search and Rescue (SAR) teams who have been working tirelessly in an effort to locate William Whelan.

Leo Varadkar said he spoke to the director of the Irish Coast Guard, Eugene Clonan, to thank staff and volunteers for their ongoing efforts.

"As a former Minister for Transport, I am very conscious of the brave service provided by the Coast Guard's staff and volunteers right around our coastline," the Taoiseach said.

The funeral of Joseph Sinnott will take place at St Mary's Church, Kilmore, tomorrow morning followed by his burial in the New Cemetery Kilmore.

Over the last number of days neighbours and friends gathered at the house he shared with his wife Mary to comfort her and the Sinnott family on their loss.

"We really don't know what happened. It's too early to tell. The first we knew was around 11pm after the signal from the boat was received by the Coast Guard in Dublin who then in turn contacted the owner," Mr Sinnott's son, Michael, previously said.

"It's hard to believe. He was so many years at sea, and the man who was with him too, so whatever happened wasn't down to a lack of experience."

"He was a hard worker. They were scallop fishing, which would have been a 24-hour trip with a two-man crew.

"The boat was in good condition."

The family of William Whelan are also being comforted by friends and relatives as the search for their loved one continues.

Mr Sinnott and Mr Whelan were fishing for scallops off the Wexford coast when the Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) from their vessel alerted emergency services that they were in distress.
Germany plans to temporarily move some of its small troop contingent deployed in Iraq to neighboring Jordan and Kuwait amid tensions over the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general in an airstrike in Baghdad last week

Germany plans to move some of its small troop contingent in Iraq to neighboring Jordan and Kuwait amid tensions over the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general in an airstrike in Baghdad last week.

The killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani has drastically raised regional tensions and escalated a crisis between Washington and Tehran.

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas wrote to lawmakers that the troops in the Iraqi bases in Baghdad and Taji would be "temporarily thinned out," news agency dpa reported Tuesday. The two officials stressed that talks with the Iraqi government on a continuation of the mission to train Iraqi troops would go on.

Germany has some 120 soldiers in Iraq, though the majority are not stationed in Taji and Baghdad but elsewhere in Iraq. The two ministers, speaking about those two locations, said that "the soldiers deployed there will promptly be moved to Jordan and Kuwait" and can be moved back if training resumes.

Roderich Kiesewetter, a lawmaker with Chancellor Angela Merkel's party who is on the parliament's foreign affairs committee, said the "temporary reduction" will mean that "about 30 (soldiers) will be pulled out of Taji and a few out of Baghdad," for a total of between 30 and 40.

"Our soldiers are staying in the region and the mission is being kept in place for now, even though it is suspended this week pending further consultation," Kiesewetter told Deutschlandfunk radio.

He said this was "a very good step to give the Iraqi government time to evaluate the situation" after Iraq's parliament called for the withdrawal of foreign troops. The international coalition fighting the Islamic State group will have to discuss how to proceed, he added.

Germany had already ordered its soldiers in Taji and Baghdad not to leave their bases after the killing of Soleimani last week near the Baghdad airport.

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OMAHA, Nebraska and PHOENIX, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent energy company Tenaska and Bright Canyon Energy announced that Bright Canyon has acquired ownership interests in two Tenaska-developed wind projects.

The transaction, which closed Dec. 20, 2019, includes the purchase of indirect minority interests in both Tenaska Clear Creek Wind, LLC, owner of Tenaska Clear Creek Energy Center in Missouri, and Nobles 2 Power Partners, owner of the Nobles 2 wind farm in Minnesota. Both projects are under construction and anticipated to be fully operational in 2020.

"We have found a strong partner for these valuable wind assets in Bright Canyon," said Dave Kirkwood, Tenaska senior vice president of finance. "These projects are well positioned having long-term power purchase agreements, and we are pleased to have Bright Canyon on board as we approach completion of construction."

"We are very pleased to invest in two high-quality wind farms that will serve customers in the Midwest with clean energy and to do so with a first-class partner in Tenaska. These projects also provide an opportunity to gain experience in the construction, ownership and operation of large-scale wind operations and support our strategy focused on a clean energy future," said Jim Hatfield, Pinnacle West executive vice president and chief financial officer. Bright Canyon is a subsidiary of Pinnacle West.

The 242-megawatt (MW) Tenaska Clear Creek wind farm in Nodaway County in northwest Missouri is nearing completion. Construction of the project started in spring 2019. The wind farm is expected to achieve commercial operation in the first quarter of 2020.

When complete, Tenaska Clear Creek will provide renewable power for Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., an electric generation and transmission cooperative based in Springfield, Missouri, that provides wholesale power to six regional cooperatives, including NW Electric Power Cooperative Inc. of Cameron, Missouri, and 51 local cooperative systems in Missouri, southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma that serve 910,000 members.

Bright Canyon indirectly owns 9.9% interest in Tenaska Clear Creek Wind, LLC and 5.1% interest in Nobles 2 Power Partners, LLC.

Construction of the 250-MW Nobles 2 wind farm, located in Nobles County, Minnesota, began in August 2019. The commencement of commercial operation is anticipated in 2020. When complete, the wind farm will deliver power under a 20-year power purchase agreement to Minnesota Power, a utility division of ALLETE.

In addition to Bright Canyon and Tenaska, ALLETE holds an ownership interest in Nobles 2 Power Partners, LLC. Along with its electric utilities, Minnesota Power and Superior Water, Light and Power of Wisconsin, ALLETE owns ALLETE Clean Energy, based in Duluth; and BNI Energy in Bismarck, N.D.; and has an 8 percent equity interest in the American Transmission Co.

Tenaska has successfully developed approximately 10,500 megawatts (MW) of natural gas-fueled and renewable power projects, including these two wind farms.

Along with power generation, Tenaska and its affiliates are industry leaders in natural gas and electric power marketing. Tenaska Marketing Ventures is among the top five largest natural gas marketers in North America and is the top-ranked natural gas pipeline capacity release trader. Tenaska Power Services Co. (TPS) is the leading provider of energy management services to generation and demand-side customers in the U.S., with more third party-owned generation under management than any other provider. TPS is the single largest provider of services to the wind industry in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas market.

About Tenaska

Tenaska, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is one of the leading independent energy companies in the United States. Forbes magazine consistently ranks Tenaska among the 50 largest private U.S. companies. Gross operating revenues were approximately $12 billion in 2018.

Tenaska has developed approximately 10,500 megawatts (MW) of natural gas-fueled and renewable power projects. Affiliate Tenaska Solar Ventures provides development services to approximately 40 projects in 11 states, totaling roughly 4,000 MW of renewable solar capacity. Tenaska and its affiliates have managed the acquisition of approximately 10,750 MW of energy assets. The current Tenaska operating fleet includes 11 natural gas-fueled and renewable power plants able to generate approximately 8,000 MW combined.

Tenaska affiliates are industry leaders in natural gas and electric power marketing. Tenaska Marketing Ventures (TMV) is among the top five largest natural gas marketers in North America and is the top-ranked natural gas pipeline capacity release trader. During 2018, TMV sold or managed 10.6 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas per day. Tenaska Power Services Co. is the leading provider of energy management services to generation and demand-side customers in the U.S., with more third party-owned generation under management than any other provider.

For more information, visit www.tenaska.com or follow the company on LinkedIn and Facebook .

About Bright Canyon Energy

Bright Canyon, based in Phoenix, Arizona, is a developer, owner and operator of electric infrastructure in the U.S. Bright Canyon is a subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation.

SOURCE Bright Canyon Energy; Tenaska
Dublin City Council (DCC) has threatened businessman Martin Keane with legal action if he does not forfeit control of the capital's historic Iveagh Market.

The hotelier and publican has been at the centre of a dispute with DCC for years over stalled plans to redevelop the market.

Revamp

This is despite his intention to revamp the site into a European-style food hall with restaurants, a distillery, brewery and craft workshops.

The council does not believe Mr Keane has the appropriate funding for the ambitious project and is now in the process of repossessing the property.

Assistant Chief Executive of DCC Richard Shakespeare said the council has informed the businessman of its decision.

"Mr Keane was requested to provide evidence that he had sufficient funds available to deliver the project in a timely fashion," he said in a letter addressed to members of DCC.

"The documentation provided to date does not satisfy the council that he has secured the appropriate funding.

"The council has written to Mr Keane advising him that it is terminating all communication with him and that it is taking the necessary steps to repossess the property from him.

"The council will defend this action in the courts if necessary," he said.

A condition survey has estimated the cost of stabilisation works would be in the region of 13m. In 2018, the Herald reported that Mr Keane will recover a deposit of 1.77m if he loses control of the market, which he controlled for two decades.

Iveagh Market Hotels Limited, a company controlled by Mr Keane, "entered into a contract with Dublin City Council in 2008 to redevelop the site".

Dublin South Central Cllr Rebecca Moynihan said DCC needs to follow through on its intention to repossess the site.

"The Iveagh Markets have fallen into a serious state of dereliction. The building needs to be secured and made structurally sound as a matter of urgency," she said.

"Taking back and developing the Iveagh Markets will be a complete game changer for the Francis Street and Liberties area."

Attempts have been made to contact Mr Keane for comment.
Italy will keep its around 1,000 troops in Iraq, the defence ministry said on Tuesday, despite increased tensions after the US killing of an Iranian general in Baghdad.

Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini had a "frank and articulate" phone call with US Defence Secretary Mark Esper about the situation in Iraq, his ministry said in a statement.

Esper hailed "as a strong positive signal the Italian decision to maintain its presence in the field, in the same Iraqi territory," the statement said.

Italian media quoted military sources as saying that "a few dozen" Italian soldiers had been moved from an operations centre near the US embassy in Baghdad after repeated mortar attacks.

The US and allied foreign troops in Iraq are concerned they might be targeted by Iran or allied Iraqi militias in retaliation for Friday's killing in Baghdad of Revolutionary Guards General Qasem Soleimani, who commanded Iran's operations across the Middle East.

NATO announced on Saturday that it had suspended its training mission in Iraq, which fields 500 instructors.

Canada and Germany have said they are moving some troops out of the country, while France has said it has no plans to pull any of its forces.

Guerini appealed to the US for "moderation, dialogue and the sense of responsibility with which the complexity of the current situation in Iraq must be managed." "With around 1,000 men in Iraq, over 1,000 in Lebanon in the UNIFIL (peacekeeping) mission, and just under 1,000 in Afghanistan, Italy is among the countries most committed to the stability of the region," Guerini said.

Italy has over 900 troops in and around Iraq, including 300 in Kuwait, around 450 training Kurdish fighters in Erbil, 90 in Kirkuk and 50 in Baghdad, according to Italian media.

Guerini stressed the importance of "facing future developments in a coordinated manner, with the objective of being able to continue the commitment of the Anti-Daesh Coalition, within a security framework for our military." Daesh is an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State jihadist group.

Esper tweeted his thanks to Italy for its "important" decision which "demonstrates Italian resolve and a commitment to Iraqi stability".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ZAISAN, Kazakhstan -- A trial of two ethnic Kazakhs charged with illegally crossing into Kazakhstan from China's northwestern region of Xinjiang has been postponed amid protests in the eastern Kazakh town of Zaisan.

Murager Alimuly and Qaster Musakhanuly, who crossed the Chinese-Kazakh border in October and are seeking asylum in Kazakhstan, went on trial on January 6.

They are charged with illegal border crossing and face possible deportation to China, where they say they will be persecuted.

The courtroom in Zaisan, a town of 15,000 near the Chinese border, was not big enough to include dozens of supporters who traveled there from different parts of Kazakhstan.

Those who were unable to get inside rallied outside the courtroom, demanding the two men be acquitted and given the status of legal residents in Kazakhstan.

Similar rallies were held in the capital, Nur-Sultan, and in Almaty, the Central Asian state's largest city, on January 6.

The 25-year-old Alimuly told the court on January 6 that he had been detained in Xinjiang for questioning and faced incarceration at a Chinese "reeducation camp."

Musakhanuly, 30, said he had previously spent five years in such a camp in Xinjiang. In September, he said, he was told by Chinese authorities that he would be sent back to one of the camps.

In August 2019, the United Nations said an estimated 1 million Uyghurs and members of other mostly Muslim indigenous ethnic groups in Xinjiang were being held in "counterextremism centers."

The UN said millions more had been forced into reeducation camps. China denies that the facilities are internment camps.

At the trial in eastern Kazakhstan, Judge Shynar Ospanova abruptly stopped the proceedings on January 6 after the testimony from the two defendants and announced that the trial would resume on January 21.

Defense lawyer Lazzat Akhatova filed a no-confidence motion against the judge, calling her justification for postponing the trial "inadequate."

In August 2018, a court in Almaty refused to extradite Sairagul Sauytbay, an ethnic Kazakh Chinese citizen who was wanted in China on the same charges of illegal border crossing.

Sauytbay fled China in April and testified in an Almaty court that thousands of ethnic Kazakhs, Uyghurs, and other Muslims in Xinjiang were undergoing "political indoctrination" at a network of "reeducation camps."

She testified that Chinese authorities had forced her to train "political ideology" instructors for reeducation camps, giving her access to secret documents about what she called a state program to "reeducate" Muslims from indigenous ethnic communities.

Although she was not extradited to China, Kazakh authorities did not allow Sauytbay to stay in Kazakhstan. She later obtained asylum in Sweden.

Kazakhs are the second-largest Turkic-speaking indigenous community in Xinjiang after Uyghurs. The region is also home to ethnic Kyrgyz, Tajiks, and Hui, also known as Dungans. Han, China's largest ethnicity, are the second-largest community in Xinjiang.
People have been advised to restrict outdoors exercise, close windows and doors, and wear protective masks to protect themselves from PM2.5 fine dust.

The air quality in Hanoi and HCM City has been poor for many days. The concentration of PM2.5 fine dust has been higher than the permitted level.



Experts said the air pollution comes from three major sources  transport, construction works and industrial production.



Of these, transport activities make up 20 percent of carbon emissions around the globe. In Vietnam, the figure is 10.8 percent, according to the World Bank.



Le Thi Xuan Lan, a meteorological expert, has warned that the air quality in HCM City wont improved until the 2020 Lunar New Year (late January 2020 and early February).

The air quality in Hanoi and HCM City has been poor for many days. The concentration of PM2.5 fine dust has been higher than the permitted level.

In Hanoi, the AQI was between 151 and 200 at 9 am of December 29, 2019. It was 160 on Pham Van Dong street, 157 on Hang Dau, 157 in Hoan Kiem district and 157 in Bac Tu Liem district.



VTC News reported that from September to December 2019, Hanoi and some northern provinces experienced many spells of serious air pollution. The capital city at some moments had an AQI exceeding 300.



The emission volume is predicted to increase by 6-7 percent per annum to reach 70 million tons by 2030. Petrol-run motorbikes are believed to be the biggest polluting culprit.



However, the experts said if applying reasonable policies, Vietnam can reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector by 8-9 percent with domestic resources and by 15-20 percent if it can get international support and active participation of the private sector.



In current conditions, experts agree that changing the way people travel needs to be done. They said replacing petrol-run motorbikes with electric motorbikes is an inevitable trend. Large urban areas are considering restricting or prohibiting petrol-run motorbikes.



According to the Vietnam Association of Motorbike Manufacturers (VAMM), nearly 500,000 electric bicycles were sold in Vietnam in 2018, an increase of 30 percent over 2016.



But electric motorbike manufacturers still have not well prepared for the demand increase. At electric motorbike shops in Hanoi, one can see some models from China and a few models from Japan and South Korea. There are also some Vietnamese brands, but people believe that the products are assembled with Chinese accessories.



However, analysts believe that the market situation will change considerably with the appearance of VinFast, a Vietnamese brand.

Thien Nhien
Authorities in western Chinas Sichuan province are continuing to hold in detention seven people, including four monks who were arrested in November after scattering pro-independence leaflets in front of a Chinese government building.

The monks, identified as Kunsal, 20, Tsultrim, 18, Tamey, 18, and Soeta, 18, were seized in their rooms at Dza Wonpo Ganden Shedrub monastery in the Kardze (in Chinese, Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

The group had allegedly scattered hundreds of leaflets on Nov. 7 in the courtyard of the Chinese administrative office in the Dza Wonpo village of Dza Mey township in Sershul.

On Nov.18 another monk named Nimey was taken into custody after posting online expressions of support for those held.

A few days later on Nov. 21, Nimeys brother Choegyal and another person named Yonten shouted support for Tibetan independence in front of a Chinese police station. They were also detained.

The seven are still being detained, Jampa Yonten, a monk at Indias Sera monasterytold RFA, citing sources in the region.

Between Nov. 24 and Jan. 3, Jampa Yonten learned from his sources that the Dza Mey local government had arrested around 30 people, including monks, on different charges, keeping them detained for more than a month.

According to Jampa Yonten, the arrested were charged for activities like using social media, displaying pictures of the Dalai Lama, or having contact with people outside Tibet.

He said the 30 were fed only barley flour during their detention. They were given political re-education classes for half a month and authorities threatened to punish the masses severely if they were to involve themselves in any political activities, he added.

Police raid Wonpo

Mobile phones of Tibetans living in Wonpo Township and other nearby Townships were searched by Chinese and many were summoned to the police station, interrogated and later forced to sign certain documents, Jampa Yonten told RFA, citing his Tibetan sources.

Following the incident, armed Chinese security forces poured into the Tibetan township and patrolled the streets causing fear among the local Tibetan resident, he said.

An RFA source in Tibet sent photo evidence of Chinese security forces patrolling Wonpo. The source said the presence of armed Chinese personnel is restricting the free movement of Tibetans there.

According to the RFA source, the Chinese security force were in the town between Nov. 7 and Dec. 12, but they have since withdrawn.

Already tightly restricted following widespread protests in Tibetan regions in 2008, Dza Wonpo monastery drew increased police scrutiny in 2012 when monks refused to hoist Chinese national flags on the monasterys roofs, and an ensuing crackdown led to scores of arbitrary detentions, arrests, and searches of Tibetan homes, sources told RFA in earlier reports.

Tibetans say Chinese authorities regularly restrict their political activities and peaceful expression of ethnic and religious identity in the Tibetan region, and subject them to persecution, torture, imprisonment, and extrajudicial killings.

Reported by RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Rigdhen Dolma. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
3 American Sisters Raped in Spain; 3 Afghan Men Arrested

Three men have been arrested in Spain over the alleged sexual assault of three sisters from the United States on News Years Eve, authorities said.

The alleged victims, aged 23, 20, and 18, who are from Ohio, were reportedly attacked on New Years Eve in the southeastern Spanish city of Murcia by three Afghan men aged between 20 and 25.

In a press conference on Jan. 3, Francisco Jimenez, the government delegate in Murcia, said the alleged sexual assaults took place in two different homes, one of which was in the Plaza de la Candelaria, where the youngest of the victims lived while she was studying in the city, reported Euro Weekly News.

The second location belonged to the three arrested Afghan citizens, he said.

Local newspaper La Opinion de Murcia reported that the alleged victims and attackers initially met in a pub during the New Years Eve celebrations before one of the sisters left with one of the men to go to his home.

The other two sisters stayed in the bar before leaving with the two remaining men to continue celebrations at the apartment belonging to the youngest woman, they said.

According to Jimenez, at the time the incident took place, the older sisters were on vacation and visiting the younger sister, who was due to return with them to the United States after finishing her studies.

According to La Opinion de Murcia, two of the women reported being raped and the third was assaulted and beaten before managing to escape.

Police found indications not only of sexual assault but also other injuries to one of the girls who was attacked, Euro Weekly News reported.

The men were taken to different police stations after spending the night in a station located in Plaza Ceballos, near the neighborhood of Santa Eulalia where the events took place, Jimenez said.

Two of the three men had recently been granted political asylum in Spain and one of them is studying professional training in the country. None of them has a criminal record, he added.

They are now facing charges of sexual assault, threats, and battery.

Meanwhile, the three women, who have since reportedly flown back to the United States, were treated by doctors and were said to be in contact with the National Police unit for sexual and domestic violence cases.

According to Euro Weekly News, the National Police are continuing to investigate the incident and officials are reportedly collecting footage from surveillance cameras in the central district of Santa Eulalia where the women met the detainees.

Just one day after the alleged attack on the three sisters, a young woman was reportedly beaten and raped in Almeria, Andalusia, in the southeast of Spain, where she is now in a coma in hospital.

On Jan. 5, a group of migrants was arrested by the National Police in the town of Teruel, in the mountainous Aragon region of eastern Spain, after they were accused of sexually assaulting a young woman, reported Euro Weekly News.

The Guardian reported that the past year saw hundreds of protesters take to the streets in more than 250 towns and cities across Spain to declare a feminist emergency after a series of high-profile rape cases and a summer which saw 19 women murdered by current or former partners.

Since the government began recording such murders in 2003, 1,017 women have been killed by their current or former partners, according to the Ministry of the Presidency, Relations with the Courts and Equality.
Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency via Getty

In the hours after members and supporters of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq began protesting at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, senior Trump administration officials in the State Department, White House, and Pentagon convened to discuss options for how to respond. The situation in the country was growing increasingly hostile on the ground, and an American contractor had been killed just days earlier by a rocket attack launched by Kataib Hezbollah.

Key advisers to President Donald Trump presented a slew of options, as they had in the past when Irans rockets got too close for comfort or its militias had made moves on the battlefield that suggested they were postured to strike American assets, according to two senior U.S. officials. But the attack on a U.S. base near Kirkuk was different from past skirmishes between American and pro-Iranian forces. An American was dead and Iran showed no sign of backing down militarily in Iraq or elsewhere in the region.

The president was faced with a choice and he took the shot, a person familiar with Trumps thinking told The Daily Beast, referring to the Trump administrations assassination of Irans top military leader, Qassem Soleimani, last week.

Things were never expected to get to this point. Part of the implied goal of an American policy known as maximum pressure, with its crushing sanctions on the Iranian economy, was to force Tehran to scale back its aggression. While the Trump administration never specifically stated that the campaign aimed to curtail Irans military stance toward the U.S. and its allies, American officials told The Daily Beast that the White House hoped it could gain enough leverage with sanctions to deter Tehrans military aggression. The attack that killed the contractor, the move toward U.S. bases, these were signs Iran was getting more aggressive, not less.

The president wasnt alone in his decision to strike Soleimani. Officials across the three agencies had for months discussed Irans threat against the U.S. and determined that the maximum pressure campaign had not changed Tehrans behavior, at least not militarily, according to the two U.S. officials and three other individuals with knowledge of the administration's decision-making regarding Iran. It had only bolstered Irans adversarial posture toward American assets in the Middle East and elsewhere throughout the world, those sources said. Behind closed doors, many U.S. officials began to question the efficacy of maximum pressure, while others pushed the president privately to go after a high-profile Iranian target.

Story continues

While the maximum pressure campaign has completely ravaged Irans economy, Tehrans intentions toward the U.S. have remained as hostile as they have been for four decades, said Mark Dubowitz, the CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a think tank in Washington known for advising the Trump administration on its Iran policy. Up until now I think people assumed that the president would only use sanctions as his sole instrument of national power. But once Soleimani-backed militias killed an American and threatened to kill others, the president decided to do what no president has done in the past. It could now change the way the administration deploys the full range of national power against the regime in Iran.

Following the assassination of Soleimani, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo went on national television and laid out exactly how Soleimanis actions had begun to worry the U.S. enough that they deemed it necessary to strike.

We watched the intelligence flow in that talked about Soleimanis role in the region and the work that he was doing to put Americans further at risk, he said. It was time to take this action so we could disrupt this plot. The risk of doing nothing was enormous.

But months earlier, Pompeo was making nearly the opposite case: that maximum pressure was causing Iran to turn down the heat.

Before we reimposed sanctions and accelerated our pressure campaign, Iran was increasing its malign activity, Pompeo wrote in an opinion column last spring. U.S. pressure is reversing these trends. The regime and its proxies are weaker than when our pressure began. Iranian-backed militias have stated that Iran no longer has enough money to pay them as much as in the past and has enacted austerity plans.

The State Department, Pentagon, and White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Maximum pressure was drafted, in part, with the help of outside economic and political consultants and former officials who publicly called on the U.S. to take a much harsher stance against the Iranian regime. Since then, the Trump administration has sanctioned more than 1,000 Iranian entities. Most recently, it designated Tehrans main military outfit as a terrorist organization.

All of that was designed to cripple Irans ability to grow on the international stage through trade and to make it more difficult for the regime to prop up its most important institutions. And its largely worked. Iran is struggling to pay its bills, and its ability to sell its key goodoilon the international market has been severely diminished. And in that sense, the U.S. has succeeded in its goal. But the other part of the maximum pressure campaign was supposed to change Irans behaviorthe way it acted on the international stage.

For some time throughout the last six months it seemed as though the U.S. and Iran were working toward coming back to the negotiating table on issues like the nuclear deal. Americas intermediaries in places like Switzerland, Oman, Iraq, and France passed messages between the two countries in the hopes that the two could begin some sort of process toward reconciliation.

Others in the U.S. government, though, had their doubts, concerns heightened by the purported Iran strike on Saudi oil facilities and Tehran shooting down an American drone over the Gulf of Oman.

Inside the U.S.-Iran Drone War

But for Trump, who has said publicly that he did not want to go to war with Iran, the maximum pressure campaign was the best of both worldsit hit Tehran economically but would keep the U.S. out of a protracted military conflict with the country. And for years, the Trump administrations line was consistent: Our policy toward Iran is working; Iran is weakening.

The problem, according to Jennifer Carafella, the research director at the Institute for the Study of War, was that there is no consensus on what threshold of Iranian escalation is noteworthy or unacceptable. That incoherence, she added, made maximum pressure more likely to lead to war than to lead to Iran surrendering on the administrations terms.

In recent months, it became clear to those at the State Department and within the broader national security community that Iran had grown more emboldened on the battlefield and that the maximum pressure campaign had not deterred Tehran militarily. Iranian-backed militias were launching rockets closer to American infrastructure in Iraq and further bolstering their support for rebels in Yemen.

Virtually no one expects Iran to suddenly buckle with Soleimanis death. If anything, the expectation is that Tehran will retaliateand that America will respond with additional force, both economic and military. In that way, some version of maximum pressure may even grow more intense.

Im not sure anyone really knew what the endgame was supposed to be. The purpose of sanctions and coercive authority is to cause a change in behavior or policy outcomes with respect to the folks in Tehran. If its not regime change, its not entirely clear how this works, said one former Obama official who worked on Iran policy. The reality is that its working, tactically, from an economic perspective. But the maximum pressure campaign clearly hasnt demonstrated enough strength to determine Irans activity in the neighborhood.

with additional reporting by Spencer Ackerman

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham says she wants Americans to stop questioning whether the US intelligence agencies Donald Trump has spent years attacking had sufficient information to justify his decision to order the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

Speaking to Fox News, Ms Grisham  who has not delivered a single press briefing since replacing Sarah Huckabee Sanders last July  was asked about the information which Mr Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo say proved Soleimani was planning major attacks against US forces.

Ms Grisham declined to go into details, but said it was "really unfortunate" that anyone would question the conclusions upon which Mr Trump based his decision.

I know a lot of people are now questioning the intel, thats really unfortunate, she said. A lot of people are saying to what benefit? I would answer that question: The benefit is that we saved American lives. Saved members of the military, we saved diplomats, and a lot of families from having to welcome their loved ones home in coffins.

The Trump administration's sudden confidence in US intelligence agencies marks a stunning reversal for Ms Grisham, who has dismissed career government officials who testified during the impeachment inquiry against her boss as "radical unelected bureaucrats", as well as Mr Trump, who just days before being sworn in as president compared the intelligence apparatus he would soon command to the Third Reich.

US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early Friday 3 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures The wreckage of the car in which general Soleimani was travelling when a targeted US airstrike struck outside Baghdad International Airport on 3 January Ahmad Al Mukhtar via Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Demonstrators burn the US and British flags during a protest in Tehran after general Soleimani was killed in a targeted airstrike by American forces Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of Donald Trump AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn Israeli and US flags as thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of general Soleimani at the hands of America EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of Donald Trump pray at an 'Evangelicals for Trump' campaign event held on the day following the killing of general Soleimani. At the event, the president praised the "flawless strike that eliminated the terrorist ringleader" AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A huge procession of mourners gather in Baghdad for the funeral of general Soleimani on 4 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani during an anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iraqis perform a mourning prayer for slain major general Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the Great Mosque of Kufa AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A billboard reading 'Death to America and Israel', installed by Iran-backed shiite armed groups at a street in Jadriyah district in Baghdad, Iraq EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him visiting the family of Soleiman KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US flag as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Feiruznia, looks to a portrait of Soleimani, as he receives condolences at the Iranian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures People make their way on the street while a screen on the wall of a cinema shows a portrait Soleimani in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Aziz Asmar, one of two Syrian painters who completed a mural following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani poses next to his creation in the rebel-held Syrian town of Dana in the northwestern province of Idlib AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A demonstration in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures An anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Mujtaba al-Husseini, the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in the holy shrine city of Najaf AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US and Israeli flags as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters demonstrate in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shi'ite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters, holding a photograph of the leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Massoud Rajavi, outside Downing Street in London PA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn a US flag in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A Syrian man offers sweets to children to mark the killing AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers attend a mourning prayer for Soleimani in Iran's capital Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti American and anti Israel slogans during a protest AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshipers chant slogans during Friday prayers Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A protest against the USA, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranians burn a US flag in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin, Germany Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol a road in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel. Following morning's killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement called for the missile strike by Israel's closest ally, to be avenged AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian women take to the streets in Tehran EPA

"Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to 'leak' into the public. One last shot at me. Are we living in Nazi Germany?" Mr Trump tweeted on January 11, 2017, after it was reported that officials had briefed him on the existence of the infamous Steele Dossier, which alleged that Russian intelligence operatives had obtained compromising information on the soon-to-be president.

Since taking office, Mr Trump's relationship with the US intelligence community has been strained at best and contemptuous at worst.

During the two-year Justice Department investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election, Mr Trump routinely railed against so-called "deep state" operatives who he and his allies claimed were working to effect a "coup" against his administration, with much of his ire directed at Gen James Clapper, who led the CIA under the Obama administration, and Mr Obama's Director of National Intelligence, John Brennan.

His handpicked replacement for Gen Clapper, former Indiana senator Dan Coats, quit in July after reportedly drawing his boss's scorn for contradicting Mr Trump's claims on matters including whether Russia interfered in the 2016 election, his relationship with Vladimir Putin, and whether his multiple summits with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un had been effective at slowing the pace of Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

When critics assailed his first choice to succeed Mr Coats, Republican congressman John Ratcliffe, for having little in the way of qualifications for the job, Mr Trump said someone like Mr Ratcliffe was needed to "rein in" the intelligence community.

We need somebody strong that can rein it in. Because, as I think youve all learned, the intelligence agencies have run amok. They have run amok," he said.

Mr Ratcliffe withdrew himself from consideration after it was revealed that he'd embellished his record as a federal prosecutor. The position is currently being filled on an acting basis and Mr Trump has not expressed any interest in nominating a permanent replacement for Mr Coats.

More recently, he repeatedly attacked the intelligence analyst whose complaint to the Intelligence Community Inspector General touched off the inquiry which led to articles of impeachment being approved against him last month.

Shortly after the whistleblower complaint became public in September, Mr Trump said the author  thought to be a career CIA employee who'd been detailed to the National Security Council  was "crooked" and a "political hack", and called for the officials who provided information to the whistleblower to be executed for espionage.
Soleimani's death has sparked calls across Iran for revenge against America for a slaying that's drastically raised tensions across the Middle East.

Tehran: A stampede erupted on Tuesday at a funeral procession for a top Iranian general killed in a US airstrike last week, killing 32 people and injuring 190 others, state television reported.

According to the report, the stampede took place in Kerman, the hometown of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, as the procession got underway. Initial videos posted online showed people lying lifeless on a road and others shouting and trying to help them.

Iranian state TV gave the casualty toll in its online report, citing Pirhossein Koulivand, the head of Iran's emergency medical services.

"Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions," he earlier said.

Authorities later delayed Soleimani's burial, citing concerns about the massive crowd that had gathered, the semi-official ISNA news agency said. It did not say when the burial would take place.

A procession in Tehran on Monday drew over 1 million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main thoroughfares and side streets in Tehran.

Soleimani's death has sparked calls across Iran for revenge against America for a slaying that's drastically raised tensions across the Middle East.

The US government warned ships of an unspecified threat from Iran across all the Mideast's waterways, crucial routes for global energy supplies.

Early Tuesday, the leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened to "set ablaze" places supported by the United States over the killing of a top Iranian general in a US airstrike last week, sparking cries from the crowd of supporters of Death to Israel!

Hossein Salami made the pledge before a crowd of thousands gathered in a central square in Kerman before a casket carrying Soleimani's remains.

The outpouring of grief was an unprecedented honor for a man viewed by Iranians as a national hero for his work leading the Guard's expeditionary Quds Force.

The US blames him for the killing of American troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death on Friday in a drone strike near Baghdad's airport.

Soleimani also led forces in Syria backing President Bashar Assad in a long war, and he also served as the point man for Iranian proxies in countries like Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

His slaying already has pushed Tehran to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers as his successor and others vow to take revenge.

In Baghdad, the parliament has called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil, something analysts fear could allow Islamic State militants to mount a comeback.

Speaking in Kerman, Salami praised Soleimani's exploits, describing him as essential to backing Palestinian groups, Yemen's Houthi rebels and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria. As a martyr, Soleimani represented an even greater threat to Iran's enemies, Salami said.

"We will take revenge. We will set ablaze where they like," Salami said, drawing the cries of Death to Israel! Israel is a longtime regional foe of Iran.

According to a report on Tuesday by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Iran has worked up 13 sets of plans for revenge for Soleimani's killing. The report quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, as saying that even the weakest among them would be a "historic nightmare" for the US. He declined to give any details, "If the US troops do not leave our region voluntarily and upright, we will do something to carry their bodies horizontally out," Shamkhani said.

The US Maritime Administration warned Tuesday ships across the Mideast, citing the rising threats after the US killed Soleimani.

"The Iranian response to this action, if any, is unknown, but there remains the possibility of Iranian action against US maritime interests in the region," it said.

Oil tankers were targeted in mine attacks last year the US blamed on Iran. Tehran denied being responsible though it did seize oil tankers around the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20 per cent of the world's crude oil travels.

The US Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet earlier said it could respond to any threat.

"Afloat or ashore, we remain vigilant to assess, mitigate and defeat threats to our forward-deployed forces and our interests," 5th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Joshua Frey said.

Iran's parliament, meanwhile, has passed an urgent bill declaring the US military's command at the Pentagon and those acting on its behalf in Soleimani's killing as terrorists," subject to Iranian sanctions.

The measure appears to be an attempt to mirror a decision by President Donald Trump in April to declare the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. The US Defense Department used the Guard's designation as a terror organization in the U.S. to support the strike that killed Soleimani.

The decision by Iran's parliament, done by a special procedure to speed the bill to law, comes as officials across the country threaten to retaliate for Soleimani's killing.

The vote also saw lawmakers approve funding for the Quds Force with an additional 200 million euros, or about USD 224 million.

Also Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the US had declined to issue him a visa to travel to New York for upcoming meetings at the United Nations. The US as the host of the UN headquarters is supposed to allow foreign officials to attend such meetings.
At General Suleimanis funeral in Tehran on Monday, military commanders promised vengeance. Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told advisers that any retaliation against the United States should be direct, proportional and carried out openly by Iran.

That is a startling departure for the Iranian leadership, which has typically cloaked its attacks behind the actions of proxies it has cultivated around the region. But in the fury generated by the killing of General Suleimani, a close ally and personal friend of the supreme leader, the ayatollah was apparently willing to cast aside those traditional cautions.

Warnings to United State citizens were sent by American diplomats not only in the Middle East but also in Asia.

The American Embassy in Beijing, citing heightened tension in the Middle East, advised American citizens on Tuesday to keep a low profile, be aware of their surroundings, stay alert in tourist locations, review personal security plans and ensure that their travel documents were updated and accessible. American citizens in South Korea said they had received similar warnings.

American diplomats in the Middle East began sending advisories earlier in the week.

American embassies across the region have been on heightened alert since Dec. 31, when militants, backed by the Iranian government, stormed the embassy in Baghdad. President Trump said the assault was organized by General Suleimani.

Last week, embassies in Baghdad and in Beirut, Lebanon, issued security alerts. Some airlines have halted flights to the Iraqi capital, including EgyptAir, which on Tuesday announced that its flights in and out of the city would stop from Wednesday through Friday.

Irans Parliament labeled the Pentagons leadership terrorists.
In recent days, one aide to President Donald Trump has blitzed the media to talk about troop deployments, deterrence and the likelihood of American bombs raining down on Iranian soil.

Its not the man who leads the Pentagon.

Instead, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has seized the spotlight amid the escalating U.S. confrontation with Iran. As hes done so, hes come across to some observers as an unofficial secretary of defense, overshadowing the actual defense secretary.

Pompeos omnipresence illustrates the extraordinary influence he wields in Trumps inner circle three years into the Republican presidents tenure.

His prestige within the administration has been enhanced by multiple leadership changes at the Pentagon and National Security Council. It has continued despite questions about his role in the Ukraine scandal that led to Trumps impeachment, and amid questions about his political aspirations. And it has raised eyebrows at the Defense Department, which is led by Mark Esper, a former West Point classmate of Pompeos who has kept a relatively low profile in his six months on the job.

Pompeo is first among equals in the national security team, and others defer to him, said Tom Wright, a Brookings Institution scholar who has been tracking the Trump teams dynamics. He doesnt have a competing center of power.

Pompeo appeared on all the major talk shows on Sunday to field a slew of tough questions about the Trump administrations decision to kill Qassem Soleimani, a powerful Iranian general that U.S. officials blame for attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq and terrorist operations elsewhere around the world.

A long-time Iran hawk, Pompeo fiercely defended the strike, which took out Soleimani as he was visiting Baghdad, even as it has led to vows of Iranian revenge and calls from Iraqi politicians for U.S. forces to withdraw. Pompeo, who graduated first in the class of 1986 at West Point, sounded more like a swaggering military leader than Americas top diplomat.

Story continues

We took a bad guy off the battlefield. We made the right decision. There is less risk today to American forces in the region as a result of that attack, Pompeo said while on CNNs State of the Union.

Previous administrations had allowed Shiite militias to take shots at us, and at best, we responded in theater, trying to challenge and attack everybody who was running around with an AK-47 or a piece of indirect artillery, he said on ABCs This Week. Weve made a very different approach.

Aides to Pompeo did not respond to a request for comment. But a Trump administration official defended Esper in comments offered after this story was first published. The official noted that under his leadership, the Pentagon flawlessly carried out the strike against the Iranian general, and that the secretarys low profile over the past several days has been intentional.

The administration chose to put Secretary Pompeo, the chief diplomat, out to de-escalate tensions and make room for negotiations, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Secretary Esper has worked diligently to keep [the Department of Defense] out of politics. Your metric  Sunday show appearances  uses the most political media metric available to judge influence. It is the exact opposite of what DOD does.

The secretary of defense did appear in the media in the hours ahead of last weeks strike on Soleimani. He told reporters on Thursday that the United States, will take preemptive action as well to protect American forces, warning Iran that the game has changed.

And he popped up on Monday to clarify that U.S. troops were not planning to leave Iraq, despite a letter suggesting otherwise from an American brigadier general.

But Esper, who served in the 101st Airborne Division during the first Gulf War, has largely vanished from sight otherwise.

Given the dangerous situation in the Middle East now, his absence has led to griping among some military reporters, whove also long complained about the dearth of press briefings at the Pentagon.

Former military officials and others who track the Defense Department say that Esper appears to have made the calculation that its best to stay behind the scenes in an administration where few people have Trumps ear, and where anything you say could be easily undermined by a presidential tweet moments later.

Plus, Esper, a former Capitol Hill staffer and lobbyist for defense contractor Raytheon, took over as defense secretary with a thinner executive branch resume than many whove held the position in the past. And while he can point to his time as an infantry officer and at West Point, some Pentagon watchers wonder if even that is helping Pompeo overshadow him.

Several people from the 1986 West Point class hold key administration positions. Because he was first in that class, Pentagon observers say its possible that others from the 1986 crew at West Point take a back seat to Pompeo.

The worry at the Pentagon is that [Esper] defers to Pompeo, said Mark Perry, author of The Pentagon's Wars: The Military's Undeclared War Against America's Presidents. He said there were other reasons for that beyond the West Point dynamics, including that Pompeo has the presidents ear and Esper doesnt.

Pompeo is one of the few Trump aides able to deal with tough media questions without showing any personal differences with the president  even if that means his answers are sometimes misleading. And Trump clearly trusts him.

I argue with everyone, Trump said in a 2018 account in New York magazine. Except Pompeo... I dont think Ive had an argument with Pompeo!

A senior Trump administration official confirmed that it was the White House that requested Pompeo appear on the Sunday shows. Given that Pompeo is passionate about the issue of Iran  U.S. diplomats say he gets deep into the weeds on the topic  he requires little prep work.

But the latest Iran crisis isnt the first time Pompeos actions have startled Pentagon officials.

On June 18, in an odd move for a secretary of State, Pompeo traveled to Florida to meet with leaders of U.S. Central Command and Special Operations command. The meetings focused in part on Iran, which the U.S. was accusing of attacking international oil tankers.

But the visit also came the same day the president withdrew the nomination of then-Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan to serve in the role on a permanent basis.

Shanahans nomination was shelved after some family troubles came to light. His withdrawal was another low point for the Pentagon, which had already seen James Mattis quit as defense secretary after the president in late 2018 ordered the withdrawal of troops from Syria.

Pompeo said the purpose of his Florida visit was to make sure that the State Department and the Department of Defense were deeply coordinated across a whole broad range of issues. But, according to Perry, the visit still roils some military officials.

A former senior Pentagon official described it to POLITICO as a very unusual way for a secretary of State to spend an entire day, not least because he could have gotten similar briefings at the Pentagon itself.

While he was in Florida, some in the Washington foreign policy establishment wondered if he was auditioning to be the next secretary of defense. (Pompeos first job with Trump was as CIA director.)

Even at the State Department, Pompeo, who served as an Army cavalry officer after West Point, often takes a military-style approach. He refers to his diplomats having a mission set and tells his team to keep crushing it.

People who know him say his military training appears to influence his willingness to defend Trump in public and implement whatever the president  the commander-in-chief  wants.

In his first major address to his workforce after he became secretary of State in 2018, Pompeo raised the military concept of commanders intent in pledging to craft a vision for what he wanted to achieve. The concept describes the end-state a commander seeks so that his troops can do what they need to get there.

Some in the military world downplayed questions about whether, in staying below the radar, Esper and the Pentagon were ceding anything to Pompeo.

Pentagon officials are busy dealing with the technicalities of ramping up the U.S. troop presence in the Middle East amid threats of reprisals from Iran. Esper needs to focus more on that than public relations, they argued.

It goes more to the relationship between Pompeo and Trump than any sort of emasculation of the Pentagon, said Peter Mansoor, a retired U.S. Army colonel. The Pentagon leaders realize they need to stay under the radar and get on with their business.

Another former Pentagon official pointed to critiques that over the past two decades  especially after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks  the Department of Defense has taken an outsized role in setting the U.S. foreign policy agenda.

He acknowledged that the State Department remains a weak institution under Trump, who views it with suspicion as stronghold for Democrats. But the former official said it was refreshing to see the top U.S. diplomat out front on an issue of international relations.

Isnt this more of a restoration of the way the system is supposed to work? he asked.

Pompeos willingness to be so public also might have to do with politics as much as policy.

The former Kansas congressman is believed to have ambitions to run for office again someday, though the latest indications are that he wont make a run for the Senate this year. Republicans view him as a potential White House contender in 2024. Getting face-time on national television helps, especially when he can sound tough on a country loathed by many in the GOP base.

Also unusually for a secretary of State, Pompeo often takes indirect partisan shots.

For instance, he has used his recent platform to blame the Democratic administration of Barack Obama for the challenges in dealing with Iran today. On Sunday, he described it as the Obama-Biden" administration, referring to former vice president Joe Biden, a leading contender against Trump in this years presidential race.

Pompeo also stressed the scope of his relationship with the president.

Ive been with President Trump through the entire strategic planning process related to our entire campaign  diplomatic, economic, and military, he said on CNN, adding later: The American people should know that we will not waiver.

Wesley Morgan contributed to this report.
A fringe group Hindu Raksha Dal has taken responsibility for the attack on students and teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The groups leader Pinky Chaudhary took the onus of the attack on Tuesday in a video posted on Twitter.

JNU is a hotbed of anti-national activities, we cant tolerate this. We take full responsibility of the attack in JNU and would like to say that they were our workers, Chaudhary said in the video, according to news agency ANI.

Government sources said the claims made by Chaudhary are being investigated. Delhi Police has taken cognizance. To identity masked men in JNU, Police is taking help of video footage as well as face recognition systems, ANI said quoting sources.

Also Watch l Were our workers..take full responsibility: Hindu Raksha Dal on JNU attack

More than 30 people were injured in the attack on Sunday evening which took place during a meeting called by JNU teachers association. Masked persons with iron rods and sticks were seen roaming around the university premises and hostels, thrashing students.

The Left-backed JNUSU and the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) have blamed each other for the violence that continued for nearly two hours on Sunday.

JNU Students Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh was also injured in the incident. She was rushed to AIIMS Truma Centre in New Delhi along with other injured people. All of them were discharged on Monday.

The Delhi Police, which is investigating the case, is taking the help of video footage and facial recognition system to identify those involved in the violence. Some students accused police of doing nothing to stop the violence.

Protests were held across India on Monday where students condemned the violence at JNU campus. More than 1,000 people held a vigil in Mumbai; demonstrations were also held in Bangalore, Kolkata and other major cities.

A protest against the violence at JNU - the alma mater of several key ministers in Prime Minister Narendra Modis cabinet - was also organised at Gateway of India in Mumbai on Tuesday morning, but the police forcefully evicted the protesters and asked them to hold the demostration at Azad Maidan.
Students of the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University staged a protest here on Tuesday against the attack JNU students and teachers.

The protesters, under the aegis of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Vidyarthi Sanghatna, a local body of students, gathered outside the university's front gate here in Maharashtra and shouted slogans condemning the JNU violence.

"The violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi should not be given a political colour, like Left or right wing angle, but a fair probe should be conducted into it," the student body's president, Bhushan Waghmare, told PTI.

Students from medical, engineering and other streams of the Nagpur University participated in the protest, he said.

Violence broke out at JNU on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in police that conducted a flag march.

At least 34 people, including JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured as chaos reigned on the campus for nearly two hours.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SPRINGFIELD -- The citys Water and Sewer Commission is notifying residents of the continuing appearance of haloacetic acids in the drinking water, but people can continue to drink tap water safely.

The acids, known as HAA5, exceed the maximum contaminant level set by the state Department of Environmental Protection. It is not considered a health hazard so residents can continue to drink tap water without filtrating or boiling it, said Jaimye Bartak, communications manager for the commission.

At high levels, the haloacetic acids can cause liver, kidney, eye, nervous system and reproductive system problems. People who have very fragile health vulnerabilities should contact their doctors to see if they should take extra precautions, she said.

The chemicals form through water treatment when chlorine reacts with dissolved natural organic material found in surface water at the Cobble Mountain Reservoir or other locations. The organic material flows into the reservoir through rain and snow running over plant matter and soil in the forest so high precipitation from 2018 caused an increase of the material, she said.

Because more chlorine was needed to treat the water due to the increased organic material it created the chemical. The problem is on-going and the Commission is expecting the levels to continue to exceed maximum levels through 2020. The next testing is expected to take place in March, Bartak said.

The Commission is currently working to make significant upgrades to the treatment plant that will ensure consistent water quality and state regulation compliance. In the fall the commission began pilot testing to evaluate treatment processes to reduce the chemical and that will continue through the summer, she said.

Once the testing is complete, the Commission plans to design upgrades to the plant, which must be approved by the state before construction begins. The cost of the project is expected to be about $70 million and take about 36 months to complete, Bartak said.
Massive Tehran Crowd Mourns Soleimani at His Funeral

By VOA News January 06, 2020

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians took to the streets of Tehran Monday to mourn top general Qassem Soleimani at his funeral, even as Iranian officials vowed to exact revenge against the U.S. for the drone attack that killed him.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wept as he prayed over Soleimani's flag-draped coffin and those of five other "martyrs" killed in the U.S. strike outside the Baghdad airport late last week, an attack ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Black-clad Iranians carried anti-American signs and portraits of the 62-year-old Soleimani, who was the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force. As they marched, the mourners chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel."

Soleimani's daughter, Zeinab, in an emotional speech, called Trump a "symbol of stupidity and a toy in the hand of Zionism, don't think that with the martyrdom of my father everything is over."

The U.S. has blamed Soleimani for killing American troops in Iraq and plotting new attacks they claim posed an "imminent threat," while not publicly disclosing the nature of the threat.

The war of words between Trump and Iranian officials was unabated. Trump vowed in an all-caps Twitter comment, "IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!" after Tehran's Sunday announcement that it was further curbing its compliance with the 2015 international pact restraining its nuclear program, a deal that Trump withdrew the U.S. from.

With Iran's threats to seek revenge for Soleimani's killing, Trump vowed late Sunday that the U.S. will strike "very hard and very fast" at as many as 52 Iranian targets if the Islamic republic attacks U.S. personnel or assets, the number 52 representing the number of Americans Tehran took hostage in 1979 for 444 days.

"They're allowed to kill our people," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people and we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way."

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani rebuffed Trump's threat, saying, "Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290. #IR655. Never threaten the Iranian nation." It was a reference to the U.S. mistakenly shooting down an Iranian passenger jet flying over the Persian Gulf in 1988, killing all 290 people aboard the aircraft. Then U.S. President Ronald Reagan expressed deep regret over the incident and the U.S. paid nearly $62 million in reparations to the victims' families.

As the threats and counter-threats ricocheted between Tehran and Washington, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg urged Iran to avoid "further violence and provocations." At an emergency session of NATO's ruling council in Brussels, U.S. officials briefed allies about the drone strike that killed Soleimani.

Stoltenberg said it was a "U.S. decision" to launch the attack, but added that the other 28 NATO countries had longstanding concerns about aggressive Iranian military actions in the Middle East.

The White House said that on Wednesday it would brief the entire 100-member Senate on the drone attack. While Republicans have generally supported Trump's action to take out Soleimani, opposition Democrats have called for release of underlying U.S. intelligence reports that Trump administration officials say show an "imminent threat" that Soleimani was about to launch new attacks on American personnel and operations in the Mideast.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to her Democratic colleagues that the House will vote this week on a war powers resolution "to limit the President's military actions regarding Iran."

"It reasserts Congress's long-established oversight responsibilities by mandating that if no further Congressional action is taken, the Administration's military hostilities with regard to Iran cease within 30 days," Pelosi wrote.

She called last week's airstrike "provocative and disproportionate," and said it endangered U.S. troops while escalating tensions with Iran.

Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen told the "Fox News Sunday" show, "We're now headed very close to the precipice of war," adding "you just can't go around and kill" world figures the U.S. opposes. "The president is not entitled to take us to war" without congressional authorization.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of Trump's Republican allies, said the president "did the right thing" and that his national security team is "doing a great job helping President Trump navigate Iranian provocations."

Republican Congressman Mike Johnson also backed Trump, writing on Twitter, "Now we must remain united against Iranian aggression while praying and working for de-escalation."

Trump tweeted Sunday that his social media posts "will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner. Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!"

Yale University law professor Oona Hathaway told VOA the president cannot notify Congress of his intent to go to war by tweet and said he would be breaking several laws.

"Any time the president involves the armed forces into hostilities, he must -- at a minimum -- notify Congress within 48 hours," she said.

Hathaway added that a president is obligated to consult with Congress before putting the armed forces into any hostilities. She said a "disproportionate" response would break international law, which says any action taken in self-defense must be proportionate to the threat.

The leaders of Britain, France and Germany issued a joint statement Monday citing the urgent need for de-escalation and saying a new crisis in Iraq "risks jeopardizing years of effort" to stabilize the country.

They further called on Iran to "refrain from further violent action or proliferation" and to reverse the steps it has taken away from the 2015 nuclear agreement that constrained its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Iran said Sunday it is no longer limiting the number of centrifuges used to enrich uranium, a move that follows earlier actions to ignore limits on the amount of uranium it is allowed to stockpile and how highly it can enrich uranium.

"Iran's nuclear program will have no limitations in production including enrichment capacity and percentage and number of enriched uranium and research and expansion," a government statement said.

Iran did not make any explicit threats to build a nuclear weapon, something it has always denied it wants to do. It also said it will still cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran's gradual stepping back from the commitments it made under the nuclear deal have come since Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Islamic republic.

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Abhijit Iyer-Mitra

It seems the first thing to go out of the window when a major event happens is common sense. Starting from the raising of the Red Flag over Jamkaran Mosque in Qom (simply signifying the unjust spilling of blood, not severe war) to predicting a Third World War, all we have is hyperbole shorn of facts. In such a situation it is probably best to look at what Irans options are and why things may actually be more stable now.

Iran is severely disadvantaged in conventional military terms vis-a-vis its Sunni neighbours. With a mere hundred effective aircraft it faces almost 500 Arab aircraft vastly more advanced than anything it has, not to mention the US fleet stationed in Bahrain. It was precisely to combat these odds that the Iranian came up with a two-pronged strategy. They couldnt combat their neighbours conventionally, so they chose to combat them above and below the conventional layer, which is to say nuclear at the top end and terrorism/asymmetric warfare (which for the purposes of this article we will call sub-conventional warfare) at the bottom end.

The problem with sub-conventional warfare is, it leaves one open to severe conventional retaliation. So for example, when Hezbollah or Hamas attack Israel, Israel almost always responds with conventional force. This is fine for both Hezbollah and Hamas who are either not part of government (and hence not responsible for governance failure) or running a failed government desperate for external diversions. In short either they have nothing to lose or pass on the losses to the population.

Iran, unlike these two, is a strong functional state albeit in economic doldrums. This is compounded by the fact that since 2017 Iran has seen an organic opposition emerge, as opposed to the fake moderates represented by former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi and former President Hassan Rouhani who were just as corrupt and bloodthirsty when they served under Ayatollah Khomeini as Khamenei is today. This restricts Khameneis freedom of action as he has to be extremely cautious about genuine internal opposition.

Whatever the domestic considerations, there is no denying that sub-conventional warfare have been a great force multiplier for Iranian foreign policy. We should not forget that it was through the adroit exploitation of these tactics and a willingness to accept massive human losses that Iran has created the Shia Arc from Lebanon through Syria, Iraq, and ending in Yemen with all these states effectively being subordinate allies or outright protectorates of Iran.

This is a kind of influence that the Shah (who was in a much better military position) couldnt have achieved in his wildest dreams, and it is no exaggeration to say that Khamenei actually expanded Iranian suzerainty over a greater area than the Sassanid Empire ever did. However, such bold sub-conventional moves always need a nuclear umbrella. This is why, North Korea and Pakistan can be far more outrageous in their support of cross border terrorism, and this was why Iran was moving towards nuclear weapons.

This is where the Iran nuclear deal comes in. What former US President Barack Obama promised the Iranians was that if they gave up nuclear weapons, the world would lift sanctions that had been imposed in Iran not just for pursuing nuclear weapons but also for terrorism. In effect what it meant was that if Iran agreed to give up nukes, the US and west would not just give them regime survival guarantees but also turn a blind eye to Iranian terrorism. Rightly this deal made Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and most of the GCC (some of the biggest victims of Iranian terror) apoplectic.

US President Donald Trump responded to this in two ways. One is that he withdrew from the nuclear deal essentially challenging Iran to go nuclear (Iran knowing full well that certain red lines would draw an American military response). The problem, however, was that being under renewed US sanctions, Iran felt it had the freedom to carry out sub-conventional actions with impunity as it always had. This is what Trumps second action  killing Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force  blocked off.

As a result, today Iran is stuck without both its aces  it cant go nuclear without facing a full blown US military strike, and it cant resort to terror without its leadership being targeted. Net result? Iran cant match the US and its Gulf allies conventionally, Iran cant go nuclear and Iran cant resort to terrorism. The real question now is what will Iran do given that its 40-year-old playbook just got flushed down the drain?

Knowing that the Iranians are past masters of diplomacy and turning disadvantage into advantage, no doubt the Iranians will come up with some counter. However, the way its security is structured, it will require a whole different paradigm. Till then, at least for a few years, we will see stability  West Asia style stability which is never very stable anyway.
In 2019, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were roughly 12 percent below 2005 levels. That puts the United States at risk of missing the 17 percent target it agreed to reach by 2020 under the 2009 Copenhagen Accord, the Rhodium study said. In addition, U.S. emissions last year were still a long way off from the 26 percent to 28 percent reduction that the United States pledged to carry out by 2025 under the 2015 Paris climate agreement, the study said. The Trump administration has said it will withdraw from the Paris accord next fall.
ISTANBUL  Following a visit to Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin will join his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wednesday to open the TurkStream gas pipeline, a major energy project that analysts say will deepen ties between the two nations and expand Moscows political leverage in the region.

During a ceremony in Istanbul, the two leaders will inaugurate a project consisting of two pipelines, the first of which will begin supplying 15.75 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkish markets, while the second is scheduled to open later in 2020, carrying the same capacity to southeastern European countries.

Though the pair are expected to hold closed-door meetings regarding developments in Idlib and Libya, where Russia and Turkey back opposing sides, Turkish officials are calling the opening of TurkStream a significant advancement for the nations energy security.

We have made a huge leap forward toward becoming a major energy corridor, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay told the state-run Anadolu Agency last week.

The 930-kilometer (580-mile) pipeline linking the Russian Black Sea port of Anapa with Kiyikoy, just west of Istanbul, is opening less than two months after the inauguration of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline, which transports energy from gas fields in Azerbaijan through Turkey and then to European markets.

While the developments strengthen Turkeys position as a regional energy transit hub, the TurkStream pipeline will also increase Turkish dependency on Russian energy imports, according to Kerim Has, a Moscow-based analyst on Turkish-Russian relations.

Russia will play the role of a hegemonic actor in Turkeys gas market, Has told Al-Monitor. And from the Russian perspective, Russia can diminish its dependency on Ukraine as a transit country.

The TurkStream is expected to largely replace the Trans-Balkan Pipeline, which runs through Ukraine to southeastern Europe but has experienced service interruptions since the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea sparked tensions between Kyiv and Moscow. The Nord Stream 2 project, an underwater pipeline connecting Russia and Germany, is currently under construction to circumvent similar obstructions in overland routes through Ukraine.

Yet as Ankara officials position their nation as a new regional energy hub, Has points out Turkish consumers will not immediately benefit from the discounted energy prices normally afforded to transit countries. In EU markets, the average price for Russian gas is about $220 per 1,000 cubic meters, while the Turkish market will pay about $305 for the same quantity via the TurkStream pipeline, Has said.

Even though Turkey is Russias second biggest gas client after Germany,  Turkey still couldnt get any discount from the Russian side because so many political issues were involved in this process, Has told Al-Monitor.

Since TurkStream was proposed in 2014, Turkish-Russian relations weathered turmoil when Turkish forces shot down a Russian jet near the Syrian border in 2015. Following the 2016 coup attempt, relations were restored but due to diverging Syria strategies, Has said Ankara officials made significant concessions when negotiating terms for the TurkStream project.

At the same time, Turkish imports of Russian gas through existing infrastructure have declined amid an ongoing economic recession that has seen Turkish consumers cut back on energy usage. In 2017, Turkey imported 28.6 billion cubic meters from Russia, while in 2018 imports fell to 23.6 billion before sliding further throughout 2019.

Still, alternative gas sources will be needed to offset energy imports from Iran that Turkish officials are halting to comply with US sanctions on Tehran.

Questions remain over the potential impact of new sanctions introduced through the Washingtons 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes penalties for companies engaged in pipe-laying services for the construction of the Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream pipelines. As the underwater construction phase of the TurkStream pipeline is complete, some legal analysts believe such sanctions may not impact Turkey and are more likely directed toward the Nord Stream 2 project.

During a panel discussion last month on the NDAA pipeline sanctions, John Herbst, former US ambassador to Ukraine and director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council, said the Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream pipelines would help Russia increase its leverage over eastern Europe through an expanded energy supply network that can isolate traditional transit nations such as Ukraine, Poland and Belarus.

The Kremlin is determined to exert its influence in Europe by weakening the EU as well as weakening NATO and reestablishing its sovereignty over the nations whom it had fully in its thrall 40 years ago, Herbst said.
In announcing the settlement her office negotiated with Friedman  which was first reported by the New York Times  James sounded a warning. No matter how high-profile the establishment or how seemingly powerful the owner is, this settlement reiterates that we will not tolerate sexual harassment of any type in the workplace and that no one, no one is above the law, said James, who was joined by five former Spotted Pig employees at her news conference announcing the agreement.
EP Global Opportunities Trust plc (the "Company")

Total Voting Rights

As a result of the purchase of 60,000 Ordinary 1p shares placed into Treasury on 6 January 2020 and in conformity with Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 5.6.1A, the issued share capital and voting rights of the Company are as follows:

Class of share Total number of shares in circulation Number of voting rights attached to each share Total number of voting rights of shares in circulation Number of shares held in treasury (carrying no voting rights attached until issued) Total number of shares in issue Ordinary 1p Shares 41,087,725 1 41,087,725 23,421,917 64,509,642

The above total voting rights figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine whether they are required to notify their interest in EP Global Opportunities Trust plc under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

7 January 2020

LEI: 2138005T5CT5ITZ7ZX58

Enquiries:

Kenneth Greig

Edinburgh Partners AIFM Limited

Tel: 0131 270 3800

The Company's registered office address is:

27-31 Melville Street

Edinburgh

EH3 7JF
Stormzy turned up for an interview on BBC Breakfast today wearing a pair of slippers after he forgot to bring his trainers.

The grime star stayed in his slippers after a record signing last night at an HMV store in Bristol - and only realised he was still wearing them after getting into his car to go to the studios at MediaCityUK in Salford, Greater Manchester, today.

The rapper was complemented on his 90 Ugg Tasmans by BBC host Dan Walker, who began the chat by saying: 'Can I say, first up, those slippers are magnificent.'

Stormzy replied: 'I know, do you know what it is? I forgot, no, I actually forgot, I'm an idiot, I forgot.' Walker asked: 'What, forgot your shoes?'

Stormzy stayed in his slippers after a record signing last night at an HMV store in Bristol - and only realised he was still wearing them after getting into his car to go to the BBC studios

And Stormzy said: 'Yeah, which sounds mad. We've been doing signings - I did a signing in Bristol, we've got a signing tonight - but I just stay in my slippers, and then I came, I got in my car and was like, oh, I ain't got my trainers.'

Big for Your Boots singer Stormzy, who has another record signing at an HMV store in Cardiff tonight, later added in the interview that his hopes for 2020 were 'more music, touring, then I'm going to go to bed after'.

Stormzy waves to fans in his slippers outside BBC Breakfast studios at MediaCityUK in Salford, Greater Manchester, this morning

Walker's fellow host Louise Minchin joked: 'Well, you're already wearing your slippers.' And Stormzy replied: 'Exactly, I'm ready, I'm ready.'

Walker then added: 'I love the fact that you've rocked them today.' Stormzy said: 'I know, it was an accident, and you know, the back bit's all yeah.'

Following today's interview on BBC One, the rapper smiled as he posed for selfies with excited fans outside the studios - still wearing his slippers.

His choice of footwear caused much laughter on social media, with one viewer saying: If I was as famous or as rich as Stormzy, I'd just live in slippers and pyjamas and move around in a motorised bed and do all my press while eating toast and mainlining tea.'

Another said: 'Loving Stormzy forgetting to take off his slippers before heading to BBC Breakfast this morning. Should have gone the whole hog and kept his jammies on.'

And a third tweeted: 'Stormzy wearing his slippers on BBC Breakfast because he was half asleep when he got in the cab is the most relatable pop star moment of all time.'

Stormzy spoke on BBC Breakfast in his slippers today, with Dan Walker and Louise Minchin

Stormzy said it was an 'accident' when he appeared at MediaCityUK in Salford this morning

In the wide-ranging interview, Stormzy was also asked about his outspoken views on politics, including his support for the Labour Party and its leader Jeremy Corbyn.

He said: 'I knew exactly as an artist with a platform, coming out and standing in favour and backing a politician, in my case I was backing Corbyn.

'That comes with, people are going to hate you for politics, people are going to 'ah, you're this' and 'you're that', 'how can you'. I understood that before I did it, but that was my personal decision.

'Also, not in an ignorant way, but a lot of people were saying to me 'you have a platform, so you shouldn't' But I was like, before my platform I'm just a citizen of the UK who can have a political allegiance.

Following today's interview, the rapper smiled as he posed for selfies with excited fans outside the studios in Salford - still wearing his slippers

'Before I'm Stormzy with the platform, it's like no, I'm just a man with a political view, and I've backed it, and it's not my fault that I've got a platform.'

Stormzy poses with a fan during a signing at HMV in Bristol last night - wearing his slippers

He was also asked about whether he feels a heavy responsibility in life, pointing towards the title of his second album, Heavy Is the Head, released last month.

Stormzy said: 'I always try and stay as true to myself as possible, and not let that cloud anything I say. I always like to say whatever's on my heart, or on my soul.

'I fully understand, I'm not naive to the fact that I've progressed to a point now where I've got a platform where I've got influence and I've got reach.

'And most days I wake up willing to use that and stand my ground and bite the bullet and be defiant and stand up for whatever.

'On the other end of the spectrum, it's super overwhelming when you just say one thing, or you say a little thing, and it's like 'Oh Stormzy'.'

Fellow grime artist Wiley criticised Stormzy for working with Ed Sheeran on the number one single Own It.

But Stormzy said of Sheeran: 'That's my brother. I've got nothing but good words to say about him.'

Another picture of Stormzy posing with fans at HMV in Bristol last night, in his slippers

BBC breakfast host Dan Walker later tweeted a picture of Stormzy on the sofa this morning

Asked if he could collaborate with any star he liked, he said: 'I wish it was that easy, otherwise I'd phone up Beyonce right now.'

And on his hopes for this year, he said: 'I'm just a musician, sometimes my name gets thrown round in politics, which I'm cool with.

'But I always say I'm a musician and I dedicate years and months and time in the studio, and I always like that to be at the forefront of what I do.

'I've made a brilliant album, proud of it, want the world to hear it  2020, that's me, just more music, touring, then I'm going to go to bed after.'

Stormzy was one of many celebrity backers of Labour on polling day, and he took to Twitter last month to tell his 1.3million followers in a video who he was backing.

He said: '[I] never voted, always looked at politicians  I don't trust you lot, you don't do nothing for my community and my circumstance and my mum's circumstance.

'But for the first time in my 26 years of life there's a man that I trust. Personally for me it's very clear-cut. Jeremy Corbyn is a man of hope, justice and equality. And the other guy is a f***ing prick. So don't be stupid, go vote.'

Also last month, ITV apologised to Stormzy after he told them 'you can suck my d***' amid accusations they had been 'spinning his words' over an interview in which he said the UK was a racist country.

In an interview with an Italian newspaper, the rapper was asked if the UK was a racist country, and said: 'Definitely, 100 per cent. It's like, 'oh no, we're not racist', but there's a lot of racism in the country.'

ITV headlined their piece on the interview: 'Rapper Stormzy says UK is '100 per cent' racist' and received a furious four-letter response from the Glastonbury headliner.

Stormzy retweeted the story, writing simply: 'ITV you lot can suck my d*** for this.'

He then followed up with a tweet to say: 'All you publications and media outlets that are intentionally spinning my words for some click bait can suck my d*** and please don't try beg it in the future.'
International Networking Leader-BNI Celebrates 35 Years of Helping Businesses Grow Through Referral Marketing

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BNI (Business Network International) celebrates 35 years of building referral generating relationships for its Members around the world.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1062991/BNI_Logo.jpg

In 1985, BNI held its first meeting in Arcadia, Calif., with 20 people in attendance. Since that time, it has grown to be the largest and most successful business networking organization in the world. Today, BNI has over 270,000 Members in more than 70 countries around the world attending weekly meetings in nearly 9,500 Chapters. From its inception, BNI has helped its Members generate over $100 Billion in closed business. With thousands of chapters worldwide, BNI provides a global business network that is unparalleled in scope, scale and performance. After 35 years, BNI remains the world's leading referral organization.

"It is very humbling to me to see what BNI has become," says Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI. "I simply had this nugget of an idea 35 years ago. If it was just me, BNI would be two chapters, not approaching 10,000. It was all our BNI Directors and Members that made the dream a reality. BNI's impact on the world of business and on individual lives continues to flourish. I feel so proud of how the Givers Gain philosophy has been embraced by millions of people and expanded around the world."

"The success of BNI is a tribute to our Founder Dr. Ivan Misner for having the vision, drive and determination to create an organization that is so simple in design and yet has had such an extraordinary impact on people's lives. It's also a tribute to all the BNI Leaders and Members past and present who have tirelessly supported and helped each other grow their businesses. I look forward reaching BNI's next milestone of 10,000 chapters," says Graham Weihmiller, Chairman and CEO of BNI.

For the 35th Anniversary Logo and photos: https://bni.canto.com/v/BNIAnniversary

For more information about joining BNI: https://www.bni.com/

About BNI

BNI is the world's largest and most successful business networking organization in the world. BNI has over 270,000 members who attend one of nearly 9,500 weekly chapter meetings in more than 70 countries around the globe. BNI's proven business networking platform provides its members the right environment, training and support to help them build strong referral generating relationships and business skills to grow their business. Visit BNI.com for more information
KEARNEY  Kearney Area Habitat for Humanity will conduct its first home dedication of the new year this week.

The house, the 84th that Kearney Habitat has built, will be dedicated at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at 1403 E. 17th St. and will belong to Daniel Medina, Ingrith Tejeiro and their daughter Daniella.

The dedication is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Kearney Habitat President Marshall Everitt will open the dedication with a welcome. The Rev. Kelley Mast of Spirit of Life Church will give the invocation, benediction and house blessing.

Kearney vocal group Cabriolet will provide special music.

The couple will receive a number of gifts to help them settle into their home: mattresses from Bruce Furniture, household items from Kearney Women of Today, an American flag on behalf of the Daughters of the American Revolution, books from Kearney Literacy Council, picnic bench from Family of Christ Lutheran Church and Mead Lumber, photo album of the home construction from Bonnie Mumm and tools from the Habitat building committee.

Angelita Hernandez, the support partner for the family, will present a Bible and cross from Phil Kommers. Building committee member Milt Kotrc will present the keys.
(CNN)  When astronauts encounter a medical risk on the International Space Station 250 miles up from the Earth's surface, it's not exactly easy for a doctor to make a house call.

So when NASA researchers suspected a blood clot in one of their astronauts during a long-duration stay on the space station last year, they had to act quickly to treat the unexpected risk.

The blood clot was detected during a vascular study of 11 astronauts on the station to assess the effect of space on the internal jugular vein. In zero gravity, astronauts' blood and tissue fluid shifts toward the head.

The study involved nine men and two women with an average age of 46. The identities of the astronauts were not included in the study.

A new assessment of the blood clot published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Six of the astronauts experienced stagnant or reverse blood flow, one had a blood clot and another was found to have a potential partial blood clot. None exhibited symptoms and the findings wouldn't have been apparent without the study.

Two months into a six-month mission, an ultrasound of one of the astronaut's veins revealed a blood clot. The astronaut performed a second ultrasound, guided in real time from scientists and radiologists on the ground, to confirm the findings. The radiologists interpreted the results of the ultrasound immediately.

This risk had never been spotted in an astronaut during spaceflight before, so the scientists weighed the risk of the blood clot and its potential to block a vessel in the absence of gravity. They also assessed how treatment might impact the astronaut in this environment.

Dr. Stephan Moll at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Medicine was the only non-NASA physician consulted to help the astronaut in real time.

"My first reaction when NASA reached out to me was to ask if I could visit the International Space Station to examine the patient myself," Moll said. "NASA told me they couldn't get me up to space quickly enough, so I proceeded with the evaluation and treatment process from here in Chapel Hill."

Moll is a member of UNC's Blood Research Center and is a blood clot expert.

"Normally the protocol for treating a patient with deep vein thrombosis would be to start them on blood thinners for at least three months to prevent the clot from getting bigger and to lessen the harm it could cause if it moved to a different part of the body such as the lungs," Moll said. "There is some risk when taking blood thinners that if an injury occurs, it could cause internal bleeding that is difficult to stop. In either case, emergency medical attention could be needed. Knowing there are no emergency rooms in space, we had to weigh our options very carefully."

Moll spoke with the astronaut during a "phone call from space," consulting with them as if they were one of his other patients.

The pharmacy on the space station contained 20 vials with 300 milligrams each of an injectable blood thinner, which the astronaut was directed to use on a daily basis until an anticoagulant drug could be sent up to the station on a resupply mission.

Injections themselves can be challenging on the station. Syringes, like other supplies, are limited and zero gravity has an effect on liquids as they are drawn from containers. The astronaut took a higher dose of the injectable, enoxaparin, for 33 days to control the risk of the blood clot. That dose was lowered after 33 days as the astronaut awaited the arrival of the drug apixaban.

The researchers watched the clot shrink over time. Blood flow was induced after 47 days through the vein, but actual spontaneous blood flow was not achieved even after 90 days of treatment.

After landing, the blood clot disappeared once 24 hours had passed. Six months later, the astronaut was still asymptomatic. The astronaut also had no family history of blood clots.

"These new findings demonstrate that the human body still surprises us in space," said Dr. Serena Aunon-Chancellor in a statement, study author, NASA astronaut and clinical associate professor of medicine at Louisiana State University's Health New Orleans School of Medicine. "We still haven't learned everything about Aerospace Medicine or Space Physiology."

But stagnant blood flow and the blood clot made NASA aware of this potential risk, especially when considering future long duration missions to the moon or Mars.

"The biggest question that remains is how would we deal with this on an exploration class mission to Mars?" Aunon-Chancellor said. "How would we prepare ourselves medically? More research must be performed to further elucidate clot formation in this environment and possible countermeasures."
Against the backdrop of attack on JNU students, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that what they wanted was happening, and said such "brutal politics" was never seen before in the country.

An editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' further alleged that the BJP wanted to see "Hindu-Muslim riots" over the Citizenship Amendment Act, but that did not happen. Since the BJP has been cornered over the issue of CAA, several things are happening out of "revenge", it ...
Sackville Street (now OConnell Street) around the time of the 1916 Easter Rising (PA)

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has defended the decision to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) in Dublin, saying all traditions should be respected.

The government is facing rising opposition over a controversial service for the RIC and the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) planned later this month at Dublin Castle.

A number of mayors have said they will not attend the event including Waterford mayor John Pratt and mayor for Galway Mike Cubbard.

Mr Pratt said on Tuesday morning that the appetite does not exist for representation at this event.

Its about remembering our history, not condoning what happenedLeo Varadkar

Mr Varadkar said that the commemoration is not a celebration.

Its about remembering our history, not condoning what happened, he said.

We will also remember the terrible burning of Cork, Balbriggan, partition and the atrocities of the Civil War.

We should respect all traditions on our island and be mature enough as a State to acknowledge all aspects of our past.

His comments comes as Kevin Boxer Moran, the Minister of State responsible for Dublin Castle, said the event should be postponed.

He said that the public debate and calls for a boycott reflect the serious sensitivities and concerns that people have.

Mr Moran has confirmed he will not be attending the event scheduled for January 17.

I believe it should be postponed to allow for greater reflection on how best to deal with the wider issue of such commemorations, he added.

We are at a very sensitive period in our historic 100-year anniversaries and the planned commemoration of members who served in the RIC and the DMP prior to independence while being led by good intentions, has failed to recognise the deep-seated feelings surrounding the force.

We must respect the sincerely held feelings of people on the matter and note the historical record of how policing was carried out in the State from when the RIC was formed in 1836 and which ultimately led to the declaration in April 2019 by Dail Eireann to boycott the police service.

I believe it would be wrong that this difficult period of Irish history that we are about to commemorate and which led to our independence to ignore the firmly held convictions by the general public.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said the event is not the appropriate vehicle to explore such complex themes.

It was an error of judgment compounded by the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste and their reaction to those who have decided not to participate, Mr Martin added.

They should withdraw their accusation that, to quote Minister (Charlie) Flanagan, those who choose not to attend this event are abandoning mutual understanding and reconciliation.

On Monday night Dublin City Council voted to boycott the commemoration service.

Councillors described the event as obscene.

RIC and DMP upheld regime of oppression and exploitation in Ireland including the 1913 Lockout to repression of tenant farmers and landless labourers. They should not be commemorated or celebrated. #BlackandTans #dubw https://t.co/ePPYCD2fg2  Ruth Coppinger (@RuthCoppingerSP) January 7, 2020

The government said the event will commemorate those who served in the RIC and DMP.

Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris will be among those attending the event.

The Socialist Party tweeted: Dublin Metropolitan Police engaged in brutal oppression of Dublin working class in interests of the Irish capitalist class in the 1913 lockout.

The RIC brutally evicted poor tenant farmers and landless labourers in the interests of British landlordism.

Sinn Fein has also called for the event to be cancelled.

Govt commemoration of RIC, Black&Tans, DMP a calculated insult to all who stood for Irish freedom. Nowhere else would those who brutally suppressed national freedom be afforded a state commemoration. Crass Fine Gael revisionism gone too far. Cancel this event @LeoVaradkar pic.twitter.com/YFiOi2eets  Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) January 6, 2020

Other mayors who confirmed they will not attend the event included Dublin Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe, Cork mayor John Sheehan and Clare mayor Cathal Crowe.

Mr Cubbard said attending the event would me hypocritical.

Attending this event would be hypocritical of me as they directly opposed those whose lives were lost creating the free Ireland we enjoy today.

History cannot be re-written.
In this photo provided by the Australian Department of Defence on Jan. 6, 2020, a fire burns near Eden as HMAS Adelaide arrives to assist with wildfires. The wildfires have so far scorched an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland. They have destroyed about 2,000 homes. Read more

BALMORAL, Australia  Bolstered by cooler weather and desperately needed rain, exhausted firefighters in Australia raced to shore up defenses against deadly wildfires before the blazes flare again within days when scorching temperatures are expected to return.

The first hints of the financial toll from the disaster began to emerge on Tuesday. The Insurance Council of Australia said the estimated damage bill had doubled in two days, with insurance claims reaching 700 million Australian dollars ($485 million).

That estimate comes one day after Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government was committing an extra 2 billion Australian dollars ($1.4 billion) toward the recovery effort in addition to the tens of millions of dollars that have already been promised. Morrisons funding announcement came amid fierce criticism from many Australians who say he has been too slow to respond to the crisis. He has also faced backlash for downplaying the need for his government to address climate change, which experts say helps supercharge the blazes.

The fires, fueled by drought and the countrys hottest and driest year on record, have been raging since September, months earlier than is typical for Australias annual wildfire season. So far, the blazes have killed 25 people, destroyed 2,000 homes and scorched an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland. Three people in New South Wales state who were reported missing earlier Tuesday were later found, police said.

Across New South Wales, 130 fires were still burning on Tuesday, around 50 of which were uncontrolled. The days cooler, rainier weather was providing thousands of weary firefighters a psychological and emotional reprieve as they scrambled to strengthen containment lines around the blazes before temperatures rise again, said Shane Fitzsimmons, commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.

It really is about shoring up protection to limit the damage potential and the outbreak of these fires over the coming days, he told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

The rain was not heavy enough to extinguish the blazes. Victoria state Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said on Monday at least 200 millimeters (8 inches) of rain would need to fall in a short time to snuff out the fires  around 20 times what has fallen across the region in the past day. And officials warned that Australia's wildfire season  which generally lasts through March  was nowhere near its end.

The rain was also complicating firefighters attempts to strategically backburn certain areas, and was making the ground slippery for fire trucks.

Anxious, weary and frustrated after living through months of fires already, many Australians have focused their fury on the prime minister, whose response to the crisis has been roundly criticized as lax, and at times, dismissive. Morrison faced particularly fierce backlash for taking a family vacation to Hawaii in the midst of the disaster.

Helena Wong and her partner Justin Kam, who lost their home when fires swept through the town of Balmoral south of Sydney last month, were frustrated with what they say has been a slow, uncoordinated response to the fires and a lack of preparedness by the government.

Disaster plans should have been put in place ahead of time, not after the fact when everybodys in a state of emergency and everybodys scrambling, Wong said. Communication could be better. We are told different things by different people. ... We are a fire-prone country. Things should have been put in place.

Thousands of army, navy and air force reservists were being dispatched to battle the fires. On Tuesday, rescue crews were still trying to reach some affected communities. A navy ship was sent to rescue stranded residents of Mallacoota, a coastal town in Victoria cut off for days by fires that forced around 4,000 people to shelter on beaches over the weekend. Heavy smoke squandered the navys efforts to airlift people out on Monday.

Around 200 of the 340 residents still waiting to be evacuated from the town had signed up to board the navy ship on Tuesday, said Andrew Crisp, Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner. The rest were hoping to be rescued by military helicopter.

The fires have exacted a grisly toll on the country's wildlife, with carcasses of kangaroos littering the sides of roadways. Hundreds of millions of wild animals are believed to have been killed in the blazes, along with thousands of livestock.

Those who are working with wildlife, those who are having to go through that incredibly painful process of having to put down stock ... my heart  as someone who grew up in regional Victoria  I could only think how challenging it would be for my family to have to destroy stock, Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said. I can barely imagine how the grief, the toll, that would take on you.
'Unprecedented'; 'never in the history of JNU'; 'violence against left students by ABVP'; and several other such headlines flashed on various national dailies after the latest incident of violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University on 5 January, as the handiwork of those who oppose or are inimical to the Left.

The deeper message is not lost on anyone  that the "Left" has all along been at the forefront of maintaining "JNU traditions" but has been targeted for the same. The victim is there, public opinion favourably created and the right wing now clearly painted as the villain. Also, the real message these dailies are sending out is that the students of the Left persuasion were not even remotely nvolved in the fracas and were rather at the receiving end.

The well-oiled machinery is apace to prove that, in fact, the Left has always been a harbinger of peace in JNU and all the blame lay at the doors of those opposing them, more particularly ABVP, which has been publicly adjudged by them to be the culprit.

This is farthest from the truth and I can vouch for this from my experiences at JNU, where I spent about five years during the late 1990s and early 2000s when I was active in students politics. It was a time when the Left student organisations, including SFI, AISA, AISF, were being challenged by the ABVP. They employed all means to subdue the activism of ABVP. The methodology adopted was both physical and mental. It began with a system of segregating, targeting and ridiculing ABVP activists and sympathisers in the hostel mess during meals. The malaise was deep and systemic. The new recruits were then led up to getting help from idelologically aligned teachers, many of whom, were student leaders of these organisations and continued to behave so. It didn't end there. The supporters of ABVP were openly discriminated in terms of grades or for that matter in getting their papers published, to name a few categories. If needed, resorting to violence was widely justified.

There are many such instances to recount but I would like the readers to know of the violent machinations deployed by the Left, during my time in JNU, which are still fresh in my mind.

It was 1999, I was a student councilor, elected for the 2nd time in a row, from the School of International Studies. JNUSU was led by SFI. In February-March, news started coming in that the SFI-led Union has set in motion to bring in, what they called "Progressive Admission Policy". Even their supporters were wary of their intent. As is the case in JNU, the issue was discussed in all the Schools and it was decided that it will be referred to the University General Body Meeting and a date was fixed for everyone to come forward and share their thoughts which was to be followed by a vote by head count.

The deliberations went for the whole day and it was close to midnight when the headcount started. In the midst of headcounts, the SFI-led Union, took to the stage and started exhorting its cadre to take things in their hands. Lawlessness and violence was openly incited. Being one of the councilors, I also took to the stage and started appealing the students to help us to finish the headcount. Me, along with other ABVP activists, were pelted with stones and beaten up brutally. It took us many days to recover from the injuries.

However, a campaign was launched by the Left along with the JNUTA to paint ABVP in the wrong. Truth did prevail though, as the inquiry conducted by the university resulted in many Left students getting expelled.

Towards the end of 1999, a mushiara was organised by the JNUSU, again led by the SFI, in the Jhelum lawns to which many poets from Pakistan were also invited along with poets from our country. It so happened that two serving Armymen were also in the audience and when a poet from Pakistan took to stage and recited something which was offensive, they protested. Soon, they were surrounded by the SFI members who started heckling the duo followed by severe thrashing. It was with great difficulty that these Armymen were rescued.

The situation had came to such a passe that a one-man inquiry commission headed by Justice PK Bahri (Retd.) a retired judge of the Delhi High Court, was appointed to inquire into the incident. It has always been the strategy of the Left that while they preach many things like freedom of expression, democracy, right to free speech etc. in practice, they are the exact opposite of these virtues.

I had a first hand experience of many such instances during my time in JNU. But one which needs to be recounted is of a programme that was organised in August 2002 when we had invited late Ashok Singhal Ji on the occasion of "Guru Dakshina" an annual event of the RSS where the swayamsevaks gather to pay respect to the Guru, the Bhagwa Dhwaj (saffron flag). Left lost out on president's post when I got elected in 2000. They targetted this program and even though we had the permission to conduct it, large scale mobilisations were made to ensure that Singhal did not enter the campus.

We finally got Singhal into the campus and the programme started in the Admin Block but the security was forced to shut the gates of the venue. The programme went on with the assembled Left student organisations with the support of JNUTA, many of whose members were active participants in opposing the event, crying hoarse over a "fascist" being allowed with ear-deafening sloganeering. They started sloganeering once the "Guru Dakshina" programme concluded. However, once the students started to leave, the Left beat them with lathis, iron rods, and stones.

Again, as always, the propaganda machinery was put to action to blame the ABVP/RSS but an internal inquiry found many Left student leaders guilty.

These are only few of the many instances that took place during my time which show that the left has always been the instigator and perpetrator of violence in the campus. They also ensure that their supporter from outside come to their aid in the name of fighting against "fascism", "imperialism" and now " Hindutva".

The author is a Supreme Court Advocate and former President of JNUSU
Australian actress Yael Stone is making a climate stand of her own, vowing to give up her US green card and return to her home country of Australia to cut carbon emissions from flying often between the two countries.

The actress, who established a home in both countries after obtaining a US green card, said she could no longer justify her actions in light of Australia's bushfire crisis and stated that it is not 'environmentally ethical to build a life across two continents.'

'The carbon emissions alone from that flying, it's unethical, it's not right,' she said in a video uploaded to her social media.

Australian actress Yael Stone (pictured, left and right) has announced she is giving up her US green card for environmental reasons, in light of her country's bushfire emergency

Crews monitor fires and begin back burns between the towns of Orbost and Lakes Entrance in east Gippsland on January 2 (file image)

'So I will be going through the process of giving up my green card and saying goodbye to a life in America.'

Stone, who plays Lorna Morello in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, went on to announce she would be joining the fight to tackle climate change in her home country.

'I'm going to be here in Australia, doing the work I can to make a difference here, because the time is now. Like I said, this is war and we've only got ten years, so let's make these sacrifices, let's make these changes.'

She added: 'This is just the beginning for me.'

Stone criticised Prime Minsiter Scott Morrison's perceived inaction on the issue, saying: 'We don't have leaders, we have cowards' (Mr Morrison pictured attending the funeral of NSW firefighter Andrew O'Dwyer today)

Adelaide wildlife rescuer Simon Adamczyk holds a koala he rescued at a burning forest near Cape Borda on Kangaroo Island on Tuesday. Australia's government is sticking firmly to a position that there is no direct link between climate change and the country's devastating bushfires, despite public anger, the anguish of victims and warnings from scientists

Stone had in a previous Instagram post drawn attention to the devastating bushfires that have gripped Australia in recent months, adding that her country is on fire.

She criticised Prime Minsiter Scott Morrison's perceived inaction on the issue, saying: 'We don't have leaders, we have cowards.'

Australia's government is sticking firmly to a position that there is no direct link between climate change and the country's devastating bushfires, despite public anger, the anguish of victims and warnings from scientists.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his emissions reduction minister, Angus Taylor, say Australia does not need to cut carbon emissions more aggressively to limit global warming, even after a three-year drought and unprecedented bushfires.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday dialled US President Donald Trump and wished him, his family and the people of the United States good health, prosperity and success in the New Year. The Prime Minister stated that India-US relations, which are built on trust, mutual respect and understanding, have grown from strength to strength.

He also highlighted the significant progress made in deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries in the previous year and expressed his desire to continue to work with President Trump for enhancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

President Trump also wished the people of India prosperity and progress in the New Year. He expressed satisfaction at the achievements in the relationship in the last few years and reiterated his readiness for further deepening bilateral cooperation.

India and the US are close to concluding a trade package that would provide enhanced market access to both countries. The trade deal was first announced by Trump when he met Modi in New York in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Trump on September 24, 2019, had said his country would soon have a trade deal with India to boost economic ties between the two nations.

Also read: India, US close to concluding a trade deal package: Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla
Neon is capable of conversing and sympathising like real human beings. Heres what you need to know about the worlds first Artificial Human.

What's next for the Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Samsung-backed Star Labs is trying to address this with 'Neon' which is described as the world's first "Artificial Human". The brainchild of Pranav Mistry, President, and CEO of Star Labs, Neon aims to deliver a deeply personalised experience with an AI.

Neon or rather Neons can converse and sympathise like real human beings. Star Labs stresses that Neon shouldn't be confused with regular bots or commercial AIs like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa which tell users weather updates or play music. The AI also understands Hindi, Spanish and other languages.

At the CES 2020, Star Labs demoed six avatars of Neon based on people from different walks of life including a yoga instructor, a banker, a K-pop star, a news anchor, and a fashion model among others. While Neon avatars may look like these real people, they show their unique personalities and show new expressions, movements, and dialogues. This is quite different from the techniques used in facial recognition.

Watch | Neon, Samsung's AI-powered avatar is world's first 'Artificial Human'

Under the hood, Neon runs on a proprietary technology platform, Core R3, where R3 stands for Reality, Realtime, and Responsiveness.

Star Labs says Neons are different from the likes of Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (Star Labs)

"It is inspired by the rhythmic complexities of nature and extensively trained with how humans look, behave and interact. CORE R3 can computationally create a lifelike reality that is beyond normal perception to distinguish," said the company in a release.

"CORE R3 can also connect to other domain-specific and value-added services. SPECTRA, still in the development stage, will complement CORE R3 with the spectrum of Intelligence, Learning, Emotions, and Memory, thus making NEONs fully immersional," it added.

On difference with deepfakes, Star Labs says Neon doesn't manipulate an individual scene, video or sequence but it creates unique behaviours and interactions in real-time that may have never happened before. This makes Core R3 one of the few AIs capable of creating original content or realities.

Star Labs plans to introduce a beta version of Neon with select partners later this year. The company will hold a "NeonWorld 2020" conference to provide more details about the new AI.
A mother left with a hole in her face and without an eye because of skin cancer has been given a prosthetic made using a phone camera and 3D printer.

Denise Vicentin was so self-conscious about her wound she avoided being seen in public and burst into tears when she caught her reflection in the mirror.

But now the 52-year-old says she is 'so happy' after having her 'missing piece' filled by doctors who crafted her a pioneering prosthetic.

Mrs Vicentin lost part of her jaw, as well as her right eye, during her cancer battle in 2010. It left her with difficulty eating and slurred speech.

Over the years she was offered to have a hand-made prosthetic sculpted. However, she refused because the procedure cost 384,000.

Mrs Vicentin, from Brazil, was referred to a team of researchers at Paulista University in Sao Paulo last year. They developed a cheaper, alternative treatment.

Denise Vicentin, 52, has had part of her face reconstructed using smartphones and 3D printers

She lost her right eye and part of her jaw when a cancerous tumour ravaged her face in 2010 (doctors lining up the prosthetic)

Using smartphone cameras, researchers at Paulista University in Sao Paulo took photos of her face and built a digital 3D model on a computer (experts fitting fake eyelashes to the prosthetic to make it life-like)

Their method was a fraction of the cost and took just half the time of the traditional methods. It is unclear how much Mrs Vicentin paid.

Using a smartphone, doctors took 15 pictures of Mrs Vicentin's face from different angles, which were used to make a three-dimensional digital model on a computer.

Technicians then 3D-printed a prototype prosthetic which they used as a guideline to make the final one from silicone, resin and synthetic fibers.

To make the prosthesis as life-like as possible, the researchers carefully painted it to match Mrs Vicentin's skin and blue-green eye.

The process for making the final prosthesis took 12 hours  around half the time of conventional methods.

But the entire process was spread out over a year because she underwent surgeries to prepare for it to be fitted.

Doctors had to implant titanium hooks in her eye socket to hold the prosthesis in place. She had it fitted in early December.

Mrs Vicentin said the egg-sized prosthetic makes her comfortable enough to walk around in public  something she had avoided for years.

She added: '[Before] when I was on the metro or train, I tried not to pay attention to the stares.

'At places like the bowling alley, I felt them looking, and the person would even leave when they saw me.

The entire process was spread out over a year as she underwent surgeries to prepare for the prosthetic to be fitted. She had metal clips implanted in her eye socket to hold it in place

To make the prosthesis as real-looking as possible, the researchers carefully matched its colouring to Mrs Vicentin's skin and blue-green eye

Mrs Vicentin's journey to recovery is not over yet as she needs further treatment to restore her jaw and top lip - but she now has the confidence to go out in public again (she hugs the medical team after giving her a new lease of life)

'It was a long time looking at a face which was missing a piece, so I am so happy. I only took it off to clean it - I even slept with it.'

Mrs Vicentin's journey to recovery is not over yet as she needs further treatment to restore her jaw and top lip.

Her ordeal began 30 years ago when she developed a non-cancerous facial tumor. It was removed twice, but it returned in a malignant form two decades later.

Gradually, she lost parts of the right side of her face  along with her marriage and her confidence.

The mother embraces lead researcher Dr Rodrigo Salazar after being overwhelmed at the results

Thanks to the advancement in smartphone and 3D printing technology, the Sao Paulo scientists have been able to craft life-like facial prosthetics to more than 50 patients

Lead researcher Dr Rodrigo Salazar and his colleagues began offering the treatment after developing the technique in 2016.

The method was published in 2016 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery.

Thanks to the advancement in smartphone and 3D printing technology, they have been able to craft life-like facial prosthetics to more than 50 patients.

The team specialises in maxillofacial prosthetics, a branch of dentistry focused on treating people disfigured by birth defects, disease or trauma.

Dr Salazar said: 'In the past, it took much longer work, hours of sculpting by hand, and the process was very invasive, with material on the patient's face to get an imprint of their appearance.

'Today with cell phone pictures, we create a three-dimensional model. The method demonstrates that you don't need big investments to use advanced technology.'
After a 'Free Kashmir' placard was spotted at the protests in Mumbai on Tuesday, Pakistan Army spokesperson Asif Ghafoor took to Twitter and picked up the Kashmir issue again.

Ghafoor, who is the Director-General for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Public Relations, took this opportunity to drive social media attention towards Pakistan's Kashmir propaganda. Ghafoor made pointless remarks like it is the "Begining of the End" and claimed that "Kashmir is Pakistan." Ironic enough, his Twitter handle says 'peace for change'.

Protests against the JNU violence which have been witnessed in Mumbai since Sunday night took a bizarre turn when 'Free Kashmir' posters were witnessed on Monday. Mumbai's 'Occupy Gateyway' protest against the amended Citizenship Act and the violence that was unleashed at the JNU campus on Sunday night ended on Tuesday morning.

Mumbai Police Files FIR Against Protester

The Mumbai Police filed an FIR against Mahek Mirza, the protestor who was holding a placard that read 'Free Kashmir.' As per reports, the FIR was filed at the Colaba police station after the protestor sparked a row with her placard in the demonstration against the JNU violence.

Read: Mumbai Police files 4 FIRs over 'Occupy Gateway' protest from Jan 6

As per Republic sources, the FIR has been filed under Section 153B, however, the Police have still not called her for a statement. Mehak Mirza Prabhu further posted a video on YouTube where she said that her act was "misinterpreted".

She further added that her message was meant to draw focus on the five-month-long Internet blockade in the region. She also stated she is a native of Maharashtra and not a Kashmiri.

Read: Manjinder Singh Sirsa slams Deepika for showing solidarity with student protesters

Attack on JNU

In a shocking development, a massive attack was reported inside Delhi's JNU campus on Sunday night. Reportedly, a mob of masked persons gathered inside the campus and started beating the students. As per reports, JNUSU President Aishe Gosh along with various faculty members were brutally attacked.

Read: Mumbai Police files FIR against protester with 'Free Kashmir' placard at Gateway of India

Read: Pakistan fans mock India over Guwahati 'hair-dryer' fiasco, Indians hit back in style
Dominic Raab today warned that ISIS would be the 'only winners' from war with Iran as Britons brace for revenge attacks after the killing of Qassem Soleimani.

The Foreign Secretary stressed the need to 'de-escalate' tensions, saying it was crucial to keep hold of the 'hard-won gains' against the terrorist group in Iraq.

The comments came as Mr Raab headed to Brussels for talks with European counterparts on the mounting crisis.

Boris Johnson gathered Cabinet this morning for the first time since the dramatic US strike that killed Soleimani in Baghdad on Friday.

He stressed to his senior ministers the 'importance of protecting British citizens and interests and deescalating tensions', his official spokesman said.

Mr Johnson will take stock with security chiefs late this afternoon, amid claims evacuation plans are being prepared for UK personnel in the region.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace will also update MPs about the future of British troops based in Iraq when he addresses the Commons this afternoon as they return from the Christmas break.

Asked why Mr Wallace is speaking today instead of the PM, who has made no public appearance to discuss Iran since returning from a Caribbean holiday on Sunday, Mr Johnson's spokesman said: 'The PM leads a Cabinet government and the response to events in the Middle East is a collective Cabinet response.'

It is also far from clear that Mr Johnson will even attend the statement later. Quizzed on the premier's movements, his official spokesman said: 'I believe the PM is working from Number 10 today.'

Tehran has threatened to make British forces 'collateral damage' in reprisals against Donald Trump.

But Mr Johnson is facing criticism that he was 'caught short' by the US president's actions and the government response has been too slow.

Mr Raab said the government was focused on the need to find a peaceful way through the standoff. He said ISIS - also known as Daesh - would benefit from 'full-blown' war.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab today stressed the need to 'de-escalate' tensions with Iran

Boris Johnson has been desperately trying to ease tensions in the wake of the dramatic US strike that killed general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on Friday

Housing minister Esther McVey (left) and Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry were at the first Cabinet meeting since Christmas today

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (right), Zac Goldsmith (right) and Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers were among the ministers at Cabinet today

Soleimani's death has galvanized Iranians around revenge for the 'martyr'; Hundreds of thousands crowded into Tehran streets to see his coffin on Monday

Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom were in Downing Street as ministers were updated on the Iran situation

'The terrorists, in particular Daesh, would be the only winners,' he told reporters.

There are claims the Ministry of Defence is stepping up contingency plans to evacuate military and civilian personnel from neighbouring Iraq - where the Parliament has been demanding the expulsion of foreign forces.

The Times reported that a team of around 20 senior military planners and liaison officers had been dispatched to the embassy in Baghdad over the weekend.

Iran crisis exposes 'biggest ever cracks' in Western alliance, warns Jeremy Hunt The Iran crisis has exposed the 'biggest ever cracks', Jeremy Hunt warned today. The former foreign secretary said the killing of the general Qassem Soleimani without consultation from the US reflected a growing disregard toward Europe from Washington. This stemmed mostly from American disenchantment with defence spending by European countries, which invest 2 per cent of their GDP or less on defence whereas the US spends 4 per cent. 'In the end, money matters. If we're not prepared to cough up we should not be surprised if we are not consulted ahead of big decisions such as the taking out of General Suleimani,' he wrote in the Daily Telegraph, 'Nor should we be surprised if the Western alliance slowly starts to fracture as resentment builds up at European free-riding. To allow that would be a historic mistake.' Mr Hunt said many in Washington would happily abandon institutions such as NATO for an alternative scenario in which powers like the US, Russia and China 'carve up the world into spheres of influence'. If Britain did not want that, it had to behave 'like a real ally' to the US and pull its weight in global affairs, including making 'proper' contributions to world peace and security and persuading EU countries to do the same. Advertisement

Mr Raab will have a bilateral meeting with the French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, before they join their German and Italian counterparts and the EU High Representative for talks on Libya.

The so-called 'E3' - Britain, France and Germany - will then meet to discuss the tensions between the US and Iran, with all three pushing for de-escalation, a Foreign Office spokesman said.

Mr Raab spoke to his Iranian opposite number Mohammed Javad Zarif yesterday to stress the need for a diplomatic resolution to avoid a renewed conflict in the region.

Tehran has vowed 'severe revenge' for the killing of its top military commander Soleimani in a US drone strike last week.

Huge crowds have been gathering on the streets of Iran as the funeral of Soleimani takes place. His body is being buried in his home town.

Mr Trump in turn has warned the US is ready to strike back in a 'disproportionate' manner if the Iranians hit US targets.

The Prime Minister has faced criticism he was slow to respond to the crisis - only returning to the UK at the weekend following his new year break on the private Caribbean island of Mustique.

The former national security adviser Lord Ricketts said that ministers should have been quicker to react to the escalation.

'I think that the British Government were caught short by this,' he told BBC2's Newsnight.

'People were still on holiday, and there wasn't sufficient early recognition at the top level that this is a serious crisis and really dangerous for Western interests in the Middle East.

'Yes, I'm glad to see that the wheels are now in motion and things are happening but we are four days downwind of this sudden and dramatic escalation.'

Lord Ricketts said he would have expected the National Security Council to have met on Friday, when the killing of Gen Soleimani took place, to co-ordinate measures to ensure British nationals were protected.

'That may have been going on behind the scenes but there wasn't, as far as I could see, a collective discussion among senior ministers.'

Mr Johnson has sought to tread a delicate diplomatic path - joining with French and German allies in calling for a 'de-escalation' in the region.

At the same time, he is anxious to maintain good relations with the Trump administration ahead of talks with the US on a post-Brexit trade deal.

Mr Raab is due to fly to Washington later this week to meet Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after he criticised the lack of support by the Europeans - including the UK - for the US action.

The Foreign Secretary echoed Mr Johnson in saying the UK would not 'lament' the passing of Gen Soleimani who he described as a 'regional threat'.

Key figure: The letter from the Marine general in charge of coalition forces fighting ISIS and training the Iraqi army comes after the drone strike which killed Iran's Qassem Soleimani, its most senior commander who the U.S. designated a terrorist

Donald Trump has warned the US is ready to strike back in a 'disproportionate' manner if the Iranians hit US targets

However he also warned that a threat by Mr Trump to target Iranian cultural sites would be a breach of international law.

'We have been very clear that cultural sites are protected under international law and we would expect that to be respected,' he said.

Meanwhile US defence secretary Mark Esper was forced to deny the US was about to withdraw its troops from Iraq where the strike on Gen Soleimani took place.

A leaked letter from a US Marine Corps commander said that in 'due deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq', the coalition would be 're-positioning forces over the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement'.

It added: 'We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure.'

It followed a vote in the Iraqi parliament on Sunday, backed by prime minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, calling for the withdrawal of all foreign troops including British forces.

The Pentagon said the letter, addressed to the Iraqi defence ministry had been a 'poorly worded' draft which should never have been released.

Mr Esper told reporters in Washington: 'There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq. There's no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave.'

Mr Johnson emphasised the need to maintain a coalition presence in Iraq against Islamic State when he spoke by telephone to Mr Abdul-Mahdi yesterday.

Around 400 UK troops are stationed in Iraq in the fight against IS, while the US has 5,200, prompting fears of a withdrawal that could cripple the battle against the terror group.
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Linkedin Novan Iman Santosa (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 08:32 735 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3211838b 1 Opinion #commentary,commentary,China-Indonesia,Natuna,Natuna-sea,fishing,diplomacy,foreign-policy,diplomatic-missions,diplomatic-relations,diplomatic-tension Free

The latest incidents in the North Natuna Sea should serve as another wake-up call for the government to immediately and expediently improve the countrys naval and other related capabilities to safeguard the sovereign rights of the nation, particularly on the southern fringe of South China Sea.

Still fresh in our minds is the skirmish between warship KRI Imam Bonjol and a Chinese fishing vessel in 2016, after which President Joko Jokowi Widodo held a meeting on board the warship to assert Indonesias rights in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). An integrated military base was then built on the Natuna Islands to deter any threat from the South China Sea. Late last year, the military presence was further strengthened after Jokowi inaugurated three Joint Defense regional Commands (Kogabwilhan), one of which is headquartered in the Riau Islands provincial capital of Tanjung Pinang and oversees western Indonesia.

The military buildup, however, remains unable to prevent or mitigate encroachments by foreign fishing vessels in the North Natuna Sea, the most recent of which was reported by local fishermen as early as Oct. 26, 2019, and picked up by local media over two months later.

Only then did the issue receive attention from all parties. It is quite disturbing that such violations took that long to be addressed. There should be a mechanism that ensures immediate response from the authorities.

It seems the government has been caught off-guard with the encroachment upon the Natuna waters, as the latest incidents have evinced. Unlike in the previous cases, the latest events saw the Chinese fishing fleet closely escorted by the countrys Coast Guard vessels. In the past, the white-hulled vessels would stay behind and only appear when Indonesian ships took legal action against the fishing fleet.

The official report said the Chinese fishing fleet was about 130 nautical miles from Natuna Island. This means they encroached a significant 70 nautical miles from where they should have stopped unless they had proper documentation and licenses to fish inside the Indonesian EEZ.

The incidents clearly showed Chinas stronger assertiveness in claiming the region using the non-internationally recognized nine-dash line and the traditional fishing ground argument. Indonesias EEZ, on the contrary, is delineated according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The incursions came about a week after the Indonesia Onward Cabinet was sworn in. China is perhaps aware that a tough figure like former maritime affairs and fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti, who was prominent for sinking foreign vessels caught poaching in Indonesian waters, is no longer in Jokowis Cabinet.

The way the government responded to the latest encroachment reflected a lack of unity at the highest level  even after a coordination meeting. Institutions responsible for maintaining Indonesias sovereignty have instead sent confusing signals to the public, both at home and outside.

While the Foreign Ministry took strict action by summoning the Chinese ambassador to Indonesia, other officials opted for a soft and amicable approach, citing Chinas role as a strategic trade and investment partner.

Bilateral relations and trade and investment opportunities matter, but the law must be upheld and enforced.

Therefore, Jakarta must assert its presence in the North Natuna Sea and exercise its sovereign rights in its EEZ.

The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) has sent six additional warships to patrol the area, but this is a somewhat asymmetrical showdown between the Indonesian naval gray hulls and Chinese Coast Guard white hulls. It is true that the TNI AL has constabulary duties in addition to defense and diplomacy, but sending white hulls would be a better choice.

To prevent future encroachment, the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) must be strengthened and empowered. Unfortunately, the government regulation that elevates the agency to Indonesias coast guard has been stalled due to resistance from the Transportation Ministry which oversees the Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard Unit (KPLP).

Bakamla has already commissioned one 110-meter and three 80-m cutters  all made locally  to safeguard Indonesian waters, but it needs a whole lot more. So does the TNI AL, which is operating an inadequate number of 90-m corvettes and 113-m and 105-m frigates. Indonesia also needs larger ships that can stay on station longer and carry surveillance helicopters.

Such procurement could be a boon for the national ship-building industry, especially if the government provides a common design for both the TNI AL and Bakamla. Such commonalities would be beneficial as Bakamla also uses TNI AL personnel to man their cutters.

The constant presence of Indonesian vessels and other assets, such as surveillance and maritime patrol aircraft, in the North Natuna Sea will allow the authorities to rapidly respond to any trespasses in the future.

The idea of bringing fishermen from other parts of the country to fish in the North Natuna Sea should be considered to show Indonesias presence there. It requires careful planning and cooperation with local fishermen so as not to trigger harsh competition between them.

Diplomatic measures alone will not suffice to resolve the dispute with China, which claims the North Natuna Sea as its traditional fishing grounds. Resorting to diplomatic channels will only give China the upper hand. Beijing has successfully militarized contested islands and other sea features by turning them into artificial islands.

Until China, as a party to UNCLOS, fully adheres to the law of the sea, Indonesia should always be ready to defend its national interests and peoples welfare.
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 Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG).

Chipotle Mexican Grill has a ROE of 19%, based on the last twelve months. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each $1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made $0.19 in profit.

Check out our latest analysis for Chipotle Mexican Grill

How Do You Calculate Return On Equity?

The formula for ROE is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

Or for Chipotle Mexican Grill:

19% = US$310m  US$1.6b (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 all the money paid into the company from shareholders, plus any earnings retained. You can calculate shareholders' equity by subtracting the company's total liabilities from its total assets.

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 yearly profit. That means that the higher the ROE, the more profitable the company is. So, as a general rule, a high ROE is a good thing. That means ROE can be used to compare two businesses.

Does Chipotle Mexican Grill Have A Good Return On Equity?

By comparing a company's ROE with its industry average, we can get a quick measure of how good it is. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. Pleasingly, Chipotle Mexican Grill has a superior ROE than the average (13%) company in the Hospitality industry.

NYSE:CMG Past Revenue and Net Income, January 7th 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

Why You Should Consider Debt When Looking At 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 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.

Chipotle Mexican Grill's Debt And Its 19% ROE

Chipotle Mexican Grill is free of net debt, which is a positive for shareholders. Its ROE already suggests it is a good business, but the fact it has achieved this -- and doesn't borrowings -- makes it worthy of further consideration, in my view. At the end of the day, when a company has zero debt, it is in a better position to take future growth opportunities.

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. In my book the highest quality companies have high return on equity, despite low debt. If two companies have the same ROE, then I would generally prefer the one with less debt.

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 you might want to take a peek at this data-rich interactive graph of 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.
HTC's financial results for 2019 are in and they look unsurprisingly dim. The company made just $330m in revenue for the entire year, a drop of nearly 58% over 2018 and staggering 84% down compared to 2017.

To put things in perspective, Bloomberg Columnist Tim Culpan aptly points that Apple makes more money from AirPods sales in two weeks, than HTC makes in an entire year.

HTC managed to improve its performance compared to 2018 only in September, when it posted a 1.53% increase, but was down for the rest of the year.

HTC revenue fell to just $330m last year.

Thats an 84% drop in 2 years.



In context: Apple now gets more from selling AirPods in a fortnight than HTC gets from selling *everything* in a year pic.twitter.com/6GF3EAgGd3  TIM CULPAN (@tculpan) January 6, 2020

HTC has stated time and time again that it hasn't given up on its smartphone business but given its downfall it's barely relevant at this point. Its latest midrange and blockchain devices are clearly unable to stop the fall so the feel is the company is running out of the time.

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Acquisition expands global reach & scale of Systech's Brand Protection Suite

PRINCETON, New Jersey, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Systech International ("Systech") announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Dover Corporation ("Dover"). Dover is a diversified global manufacturer that delivers innovative equipment and components, specialty systems, consumable supplies, software and digital solutions, and support services. Following the close of the transaction, Systech will become part of Dover's Markem-Imaje business unit, a global supplier of product identification and traceability solutions, in Dover's Imaging and Identification segment.

Systech is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, and is recognized as a pioneer in protecting pharmaceutical and consumer brands across the global supply chain. Systech provides digital brand protection solutions for 19 of the top 20 global pharmaceutical manufacturers and is expanding with its innovative and proven solutions in adjacent verticals such as personal care, cosmetics, wine & spirits and medical devices. Whereas most current solutions are analogue and additive, Systech empowers brand owners to digitize their brand protection solutions through non-additive means and indubitably protect against the growing global threat of counterfeiting.

"Integration with Markem-Imaje will boost Systech's R&D capabilities and support our ambitious technological innovation agenda. The acquisition will also enhance implementation scale, accelerate innovation and help to better serve both our global client base and our partners," said Ara Ohanian, Systech's Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Ohanian continued, "our solutions are complementary, and the combined offerings will strengthen our brand promise of delivering authentic, safe and connected products across the supply chain, from manufacturing to the consumer's hands."

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020. Atlas Technology Group and Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi, PC acted as financial advisor and legal advisor, respectively, to Systech.

About Systech International:

Systech International, a Princeton, New Jersey-based company, has developed an innovative software suite of authentication and traceability solutions to combat counterfeiting, prevent diversion and meet regulatory compliance. Built on decades of experience as the leader in pharmaceutical serialization, Systech is revolutionizing brand protection with its comprehensive suite that delivers the real-time insight, actionable product data, digital connectivity and consumer engagement functionality needed to fight supply chain threats. Global brands across industries rely on Systech to keep their products authentic, safe and connected as they move through the supply chain. Visit www.systechone.com for further information.

About Dover:

Dover is a diversified global manufacturer with annual revenue of approximately $7 billion. Dover delivers innovative equipment and components, specialty systems, consumable supplies, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Fueling Solutions, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Refrigeration & Food Equipment. Dover combines global scale with operational agility to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for its entrepreneurial approach for over 60 years, Dover's team of approximately 24,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at www.dovercorporation.com.

About Markem-Imaje:

Markem-Imaje, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Dover, is a trusted world manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions, offering a full line of reliable and innovative inkjet, thermal transfer, laser, and print and apply label systems. Markem-Imaje provides global reach to over 50,000 customers with 30 subsidiaries, 6 technology centers, several equipment repair centers and manufacturing plants with the most comprehensive marking and coding portfolio available in the marketplace. Additional information is available at www.markem-imaje.com.

Media Contact:

Jefferson Barr

Vice President - Marketing

(609) 235 8446

jefferson.barr@systechone.com

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Shimla, Jan 7 : A special sitting of the 68-member Himachal Pradesh state legislative assembly was held on Tuesday to ratify a bill to extend reservation to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for another 10 years.

The bill was passed unanimously in the assembly after a brief discussion.

The reservation for SCs, STs and Anglo Indians given for the past 70 years in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was due to end on January 25, 2020, necessitating the Constitution Amendment Bill.

Parliament recently passed the Constitution Amendment Bill in this regard and the legislation has to be ratified by state legislatures before it becomes a law.

Before the bill was passed, Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, in his customary address to the legislators, said since this session had been summoned for a particular purpose, he would not be going into much detail.

"I shall discuss the achievements of the government in detail in my address scheduled for the ensuing Budget session," he said.
So Democrats are deluding themselves about wresting control of impeachment from McConnells bloodless grip. The only way to be rid of their nemesis is to win more seats. In the 100-member Senate, they need to grow their numbers from 47 (counting the two independents who caucus with them) to at least 50 or 51, depending on which party has the tie-breaking vice president. How likely is that?
While others might pass up fishing in 45-degree weather, one Texas man from Richmond thought it was a perfect opportunity to hopefully catch sandbar shark just before the new year.

Ron Richmond was right. The 61-year-old caught not one but two sandbar sharks during a chilly day on Dec. 30 at Matagorda Bay about 80 miles northeast of Corpus Christi. The sharks measured at 7-foot-1-inch and 7-foot-7-inch, respectively.

Richmond told mySA.com the weather conditions didn't scare him away because he knew sandbar sharks typically like when the water temperature drops below 70 degrees. Richmond said he was the only fisherman out at the beach that day.

READ ALSO: Texas man catches, releases 8-foot tiger shark in Corpus Christi

After dropping his bait about 500 yards out in the ocean, Richmond rowed his kayak back to the shoreline and later made his first catch at around noon. He reeled in the larger shark Monday evening, and it wasn't easy, said Richmond, who needed to use all three of his fishing lines to make the catch.

"I put out three baits that evening and it took all three, so they were all tangled up as I was reeling in all three lines," he said. "It was a little tough but I ended up catching it."

Shortly after making the catch, Richmond took a picture with the sandbar, tagged it and then took DNA samples to submit it just in time before the Texas Shark Rodeo tournament ended on Dec. 31.

The tournament is a voluntary year-long competition that allows fishermen to gain points based on the sharks and species they catch. The data from each catch goes to the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Both of Richmond's catches were released.

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
Civil society groups in Cambodia have called on the government to improve construction industry regulation after Fridays major construction site building collapse in Kep province, the second such calamity in Cambodia in some six months.

Authorities on Monday confirmed 36 dead due to the collapse of the incomplete concrete structure in Kep. Most of the killed were workers on the project, police said.

Additionally, the public citizen advocates asked for authorities to speed up investigation into the first collapse, which killed some 28 people in late June in the port-resort town of Sihanoukville.

Sok Kin, president of Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia, said Monday that authorities are responsible for overseeing construction procedures and ensuring that quality inspections are properly enforced.

How could they have built up to six or seven floors if the quality wasnt up to standard? he asked. Im not accusing any party of corruption.

The Friday collapse in Kep province  with at least 23 people injured, in addition to a death toll of 36 so far, police said  follows a similar incident at a Chinese-owned construction project in coastal Sihanoukville. Authorities could not confirm that the construction site in Sihanoukville met proper building-quality requirements.

Preap Kol, the executive director of Transparency International Cambodia, said there were questionable actions in regards to corruption in the industry.

If we try to prevent [such collapse] from happening a third timewhat needs to be done?, Preap Kol said. This would require the utmost attention, responsibility, and strict regulation.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at a press conference on Sunday said that the construction contractor in Kep should be accountable for poor construction.

He said that neither Kep provincial governor nor his deputy would be removed from office, as was the case in Preah Sihanouk province. Former Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Yun Min resigned shortly after the June tragedy in his province and subsequently was appointed to a new government position.

The two collapses, and the high death tolls, have raised concerns about construction and workers safety in Cambodia.

A commission has been set up to investigate the building collapse in Kep province, authorities said. A similar investigation of the building collapse in Sihanoukville has not yielded public results.

Sreng Vanly, a Sihanoukville-based coordinator for rights group Licadho, said he has not received updates on court proceedings or investigation results from the ministry.

Cambodian officials contacted for this story could not be reached or said they had no further information on the investigation.

Seng Lot, representative of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, told VOA Khmer that the ministry is currently holding key meetings about the Sihanoukville investigation.

Preap Kol suggested authorities speed up the Sihanoukville investigation to provide justice to the victims and information to the public.

The World Bank 2018 report had warned of the cost of rapid and uncontrolled real estate development in Sihanoukville which is said to operate on a build first, license later timeline. According to the report, the granting of permits and control of construction is beyond the authority of individual provincial departments and municipality.
Storyful

Supporters of world No.1 Novak Djokovic gathered outside a courthouse in Melbourne on January 10 as the player appealed against his deportation from Australia.A bid by the Australian government to delay a court hearing to January 12 was rejected by a federal circuit judge.According to court filings, Djokovics lawyers say he was granted a visa on November 18. An exemption certificate was issued by Tennis Australias chief medical officer on December 30, they said.The hearing was due to start at 10am local time but was delayed due to technical issues. Footage by Marion Theissen shows fans outside the Federal Circuit and Family Court in Melbourne. Credit: Marion Theissen via Storyful
Saudi Arabias vice defense minister said on Tuesday he had met U.S. President Donald Trump and discussed joint efforts to confront regional and international challenges, at a time of heightened U.S.-Iranian tensions, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Prince Khalid bin Salman also said in a Twitter post that he had delivered a message from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his meeting with Trump on Monday, without providing details.

Prince Khalid, a son of King Salman, also met with the U.S. secretaries of defense and state on a trip scheduled after the killing of a top Iranian military commander in a U.S. strike in Iraq.

Later on Tuesday, he said he had met in London with David Quarrey, the British prime ministers international affairs adviser and deputy national security adviser, to discuss regional and international developments.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By M. Alper - Trend:

Interpol has detained another Azerbaijani migrant, Dashgin Aghalarli, in Europe, Trend reports via an informed source.

Dashgin Aghalarli was detained at Poland's Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport on the basis of a request from the Azerbaijani police. The detainee is expected to be extradited to Azerbaijan.

The police of Germany's Rostock city detained 19 foreigners, including Azerbaijanis, for violating the law on the stay in the country, Trend earlier reported via German media.

So, as a result of a raid conducted at the Rostock railway station, it was found that nine foreigners had expired passports, four had no passports, five foreigners exceeded the maximum stay in the Schengen area, and one of them presented a document to the police, not containing personal data.

According to media reports, along with migrants from Azerbaijan, the police also detained citizens of North Macedonia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Chile.

In December 2019, German law enforcement authorities detained former members of one of the opposition parties in Azerbaijan. It was found that those arrested, who were engaged in "emigration business" in Germany, are suspected of transporting at least 20 people to this country, and offered their services for 3,000 to 10,000 euros. In relation to the detained, German federal courts chose a preventive measure in the form of six-month detention.

Among the detained were: ex-head of the correctional institution of the Penitentiary Service of Azerbaijan Elchin Akbarov, Chairman of the European Coordination Council (ECC) of the Musavat party, former head of the Kalbajar District Executive Power Ilham Hasan, member of the Musavat party, Deputy Chairman of the ECC Mehdi Khalilbayli, activist of the Musavat party Abdin Javadov, brother ex-MP Sabir Rustamkhanli, head of the Leqat Integration Center, former police chief Alovsat Aliyev, Mehdi Khalilbayli's driver Rashad Mammadov and member of the Musavat party Elshan Abdullayev.
"Having recently compiled one of the most comprehensive studies of the medical device industry, we plan to drill down to the deeper issues facing our industry alongside some of the most brilliant minds within our industry."

Greenlight Guru, the only medical device quality management system (MD QMS), today announced the 2020 True Quality Roadshow, an eight-city, global gathering of medical device professionals and industry stakeholders.

The 2020 True Quality Roadshow will include a networking event and panel discussion where industry professionals will offer their personal experience and thoughts on the recently released State of Medical Device Product Development & Quality Management Report 2020, as well as a live recording of the Global Medical Device Podcast, the most downloaded podcast in the medical device industry. This year, the show has also expanded globally with a stop in Dublin, Ireland.

In 2019, we launched the True Quality Roadshow on the heels of our partnership with the FDA to promote the benefits of their Case for Quality initiative. We brought together more than 400 medical device professionals in seven U.S. cities, and this year, were expecting many more with the addition of a stop in Dublin, Ireland, said Jon Speer, Founder & VP of QA/RA at Greenlight Guru. Having recently compiled one of the most comprehensive studies of the medical device industry, we plan to drill down to the deeper issues facing our industry alongside some of the most brilliant minds within our industry.

Greenlight Gurus State of Medical Device Product Development & Quality Management Report 2020 found that 81% of medical device companies are not using tools designed for the medical device industry within their quality management processes. Furthermore, 75% of medical device professionals said that they would not be prepared for an unannounced audit by the FDA or other Notified Body.

The True Quality Roadshow which will be hosted in leading medical device hubs across the world will evaluate the report as experts offer their personal insights on the findings. The first stop of the roadshow will be San Jose, California in February 2020.



San Jose, Calif.  February 6th

Houston, Texas  February 26th

New York City, N.Y.  March

Boston, Mass.  April

Dublin, Ireland  April 20th

Minneapolis, Minn.  May 21st

San Francisco, Calif.  June

Chicago, Ill.  July 16th

The True Quality Roadshow follows the announcement of the State of Medical Device Product Development & Quality Management Report 2020 and the fifth straight quarter Greenlight Guru was named a market leader according to G2 Crowd, the first and only vendor to be recognized as such in the category.

To learn more about attending the roadshow in a city near you and partnership opportunities, please visit https://www.greenlight.guru/events/true-quality-roadshow.

About Greenlight Guru

Greenlight Guru is the only quality management software platform designed specifically for medical devices companies. The platform helps companies bring safer products to market faster, simplifies FDA and ISO regulatory compliance and provides a single source of truth by connecting the management of all quality processes like CAPAs, risk, audits and more. Greenlight Gurus platform is used by thousands of users across the globe to push beyond baseline compliance and achieve True Quality for their medical devices. For more information, visit http://www.greenlight.guru.

Media Contact

Kate Johnson

kate_johnson@blastmedia.com

(317) 806-1900 ext. 144
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En espanol | There are more than 330 million people living in the United States. This year the Census Bureau will undertake the process of figuring out exactly where each one of them lives. Here's a quick timeline of what that means for you.

The U.S. Constitution requires the Census Bureau to conduct a full count of the nation's population every 10 years. That tally is used to determine how many legislators each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next decade. The numbers also help policymakers figure out where roughly $675 billion in federal funding gets spent each year.

Most people should expect to receive their census invitation in the mail in mid-March, but the bureau is already busy, currently hiring more than 500,000 workers just to help with the count and opening 248 additional offices nationwide.

Here's what to expect in the months ahead.

January 2020

The Alaska native village of Toksook Bay, west of Bethel on the Bering Sea, will be the first place to be counted. Why start there? Some of the remote villages in Alaska aren't connected to the internet and don't have at-home mail delivery, so locally hired census workers will have to go door-to-door. That's easier to do in the winter when the ground is frozen, says Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham. We are working hard with state and tribal leaders as well as community organizations to make sure that the Alaska native population and everyone in Alaska  no matter where they live  receive information about the 2020 census and why it is so important to be counted, he says.

March 2020

Most Americans will receive their first invitation to complete their census forms this month. For 95 percent of the nation, this invite will arrive in the mail, but the forms can be filled out online, by phone or by mail.

April 2020

April 1 is Census Day, when all U.S. households will have received at least one invitation to fill out their form. As you complete your form you should use the address that is your primary residence as of April 1. This month census takers will also start surveying senior centers and colleges, to conduct the counts on those larger residences.

May 2020

For those who haven't completed their household census form yet, this month is when workers will start going door-to-door throughout most of the country to assist stragglers. Completing your census form is important for your community and the nation, but make sure to beware of potential scammers. If someone comes to your door, start by asking for a valid Census Bureau ID card.

December 2020

The Census Bureau will provide Congress and the president with the results of the 2020 count.

March 2021

By the end of the month, the Census Bureau will send each state its redistricting counts. These figures will be used to determine new legislative districts and also where federal funding is spent.
Mourners gather to pay their respects to General Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran (Iran Press via AP)

The leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard has threatened to set ablaze places supported by the United States over the killing of General Qassem Soleimani last week.

Hossein Salami made the pledge before a crowd of thousands gathered in a central square in the slain generals hometown of Kerman.

He said as a martyr, Soleimani represented an even greater threat to Irans enemies- including longtime regional foe Israel.

We will take revenge. We will set ablaze where they like, Salami said, drawing the cries of death to Israel.

His vow mirrored the demands of top Iranian officials  from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to others  as well as supporters across the Islamic Republic, demanding retaliation against America for a slaying that has drastically raised tensions across the Middle East.

Expand Close Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, front row, fourth from left, leads a prayer over the coffins of Gen. Soleimani and his comrades (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, front row, fourth from left, leads a prayer over the coffins of Gen. Soleimani and his comrades (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Mourners in Kerman dressed in black and carried posters bearing the image of Soleimani, a man whose slaying prompted Irans supreme leader to weep over his casket.

Although there was no independent estimate, aerial footage and Associated Press journalists suggested a turnout of at least 1 million people.

Authorities later brought Soleimanis remains and those of the others killed in the airstrike to Irans holy city of Qom, where another massive crowd turned out.

The outpouring of grief was an unprecedented honour for a man viewed by Iranians as a national hero for his work leading the Guards expeditionary Quds Force.

The US blames him for the killing of American troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death on Friday in a drone strike near Baghdads airport.

Soleimani also led forces in Syria backing President Bashar Assad in a long war, and he also served as the point man for Iranian proxies in countries like Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

Expand Close It is believed that more than a million people turned out for the funeral service in Tehran (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp It is believed that more than a million people turned out for the funeral service in Tehran (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

His slaying has already pushed Tehran to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers as his successor and others vow to take revenge.

In Baghdad, the parliament has called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil, something analysts fear could allow Islamic State militants to mount a comeback.

Irans parliament, meanwhile, passed an urgent bill declaring the US militarys command at the Pentagon in Washington and those acting on its behalf terrorists subject to Iranian sanctions.

The measure appears to mirror a decision by President Donald Trump in April to declare the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organisation.

The decision by Irans parliament, done by a special procedure to speed the bill to law, comes as officials across the country threaten to retaliate for Soleimanis killing.
Key Senate Republicans are refusing to give a clear answer on whether President Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton should be subpoenaed to testify in an eventual impeachment trial, after he stated Monday that he would comply with a Senate subpoena.

Why it matters: Bolton has firsthand knowledge of Trump's direct conversations about Ukraine aid. The big question heading into this week is whether rebel Republican Senators are even remotely thinking about joining Democrats demands for the Senate to call witnesses and request documents from key figures being blocked by the White House.

These GOP senators either are facing tough re-election fights, have previously bucked Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), or are retiring and may feel less pressure to stick to the party line.

The bottom line: The senators made clear Monday that they will not commit to voting for witness testimony, despite new revelations over the holiday break about Trump's actions toward Ukraine.

What they're saying:

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine): " I believe the Senate should follow the precedent that was established in the trial of President Clinton. ... I remember [now-Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer voting against witnesses."

I believe the Senate should follow the precedent that was established in the trial of President Clinton. ... I remember [now-Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer voting against witnesses." Asked if she personally wants to hear from Bolton: I think we will decide at that stage who we need.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), via spokesperson Karina Borger: Senator Murkowski is taking this process one step at a time. Right now the articles of impeachment havent been transmitted to the Senate, so we arent to the step yet that youve referenced below. "

Senator Murkowski is taking this process one step at a time. Right now the articles of impeachment havent been transmitted to the Senate, so we arent to the step yet that youve referenced below. " Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.): I think it's more appropriate for the House to consider that task. And if Ambassador Bolton is prepared to testify, and they want to do it in the House ... I'm fine with that. What I don't want to do is all of a sudden open it up to where we effectively have an impeachment inquiry on the Senate side.

I think it's more appropriate for the House to consider that task. And if Ambassador Bolton is prepared to testify, and they want to do it in the House ... I'm fine with that. What I don't want to do is all of a sudden open it up to where we effectively have an impeachment inquiry on the Senate side. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa): "We don't even have articles of impeachment so why does it matter? ... Tell [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi to get her act together.

"We don't even have articles of impeachment so why does it matter? ... Tell [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi to get her act together. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) was the most forthright about wanting to hear from Bolton, but he stopped short of committing to vote to subpoena him.

Bonus: House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who was spotted in the Senate basement Monday afternoon, refused to state whether the House will subpoena Bolton for testimony, instead placing the emphasis on the Senate:

Senators aught to hear directly from him, as well as the other witnesses. ... He was also a copious notetaker. It would help to start with the notes," Schiff said.

Asked whether Bolton would also comply with a House subpoena, Bolton's spokesperson Sarah Tinsley told Axios that he had "no further comment."

The backdrop: Pelosi has not yet decided when she will transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate, and McConnell and Schumer have not yet agreed to the rules for a Senate trial.

McConnell said Monday that he thinks the Senate should adhere to the "precedent" from former President Bill Clinton's 1999 impeachment trial, and has previously stated his desire to pass two resolutions once in possession of the articles.

said Monday that he thinks the Senate should adhere to the "precedent" from former President Bill Clinton's 1999 impeachment trial, and has previously stated his desire to pass two resolutions once in possession of the articles. The first would establish the rules. The second would be voted on after senators give their opening statements and questions, and would determine whether any witnesses will be called.

Meanwhile Schumer has advocated for one resolution at the start of the trial that would address both the rules and which witnesses will be called.

has advocated for one resolution at the start of the trial that would address both the rules and which witnesses will be called. If no deal is reached between the two leaders, 51 senators will vote to establish the process.

Go deeper: Trump aides fear John Bolton's secret notes
An ancient Puerto Rico rock formation that adorned the background of countless vacation photos, Instagram posts and selfies tumbled into the ocean off the U.S. territory's southwestern coast on Monday after an unusually strong earthquake shook the island and damaged more than a dozen homes.

The 5.8-magnitude earthquake rocked the coastal municipality of Guayanilla about 6:35 a.m., sending families racing out of their homes as the structures collapsed beneath them. At least one beachside residence was completely destroyed. Residents have experienced more than a half-dozen strong aftershocks and expect more in the coming days, but so far no injuries have been reported as a result of the tremors and the resulting damage, local authorities said.

"Punta Ventana" - in Spanish, "Window Point" - rewarded tourists to Puerto Rico's southern coast with a stunning frame for ocean views, with its rocky sea cliff and a hollowed-out "eye" carved by the cerulean blue waters of the Caribbean over millennia. The natural wonder has been a source of pride for residents of Guayanilla, whose mayor adopted the landmark as part of a new logo and slogan: "La Nueva Ventana al Caribe: The New Window to the Caribbean."

"We've lost an important symbol of our town and our natural heritage," said Guayanilla Mayor Nelson Torres Yordan. "Playa Ventana is iconic to this region and a priceless, beautiful resource for a community that has suffered greatly in recent years."

Town officials said they had been monitoring the rock formation during two weeks of seismic activity that triggered hundreds of small temblors on the island beginning in late December. The shaking loosened gravel and rock that formed the top curve of the "window" people used to climb to gain a view from atop the narrow rock bridge.

The sequence of shallow-depth earthquakes originated offshore, but they could be felt across the main island. The intensity of the tremors has ratcheted up in recent months but caused little more than heart palpitations across the island.

The U.S. Geological Survey logged a magnitude 6.0 earthquake in September just off the island's northwest coast - a potency not felt since 2014. The last time an earthquake caused any notable damage was in 2010, according to USGS records.

"This is not normal," said Daniel Hernandez, a spokesman for the municipal government. "It's too many one after the other. Tremors happen sporadically, but nothing like this."

Each vibration dislodged huge chunks of rock and destabilized the cliff. Town officials feared the worst. For years the city had been trying to negotiate safe public access to the rock formation because the road to the cliff runs through private farmland. The municipality sponsors excursions to the Ventana that also take tourists to its glimmering beach, Playa Tamarindo and hiking into the adjacent state forest.

As each tremor grew in intensity, rattled residents grew terrified that a tsunami could bury the small seaside city of about 18,000 people. Authorities said there was no tsunami risk as a result of the earthquake; the last tsunami in Puerto Rico was in 1918.

Residents packed a town hall this week expressing fears the power grid - still fragile after Hurricane Maria's devastation in 2017 - could fail again and that water service could remain interminably interrupted for many barrios, the mayor said.

"We are not okay," said Torres Yordan, who is asking residents to refresh their emergency plans and identify rendezvous points for family. "We've been told that the earthquakes will continue for at least several more days."

Four hours after the early morning quake triggered Punta Ventana's collapse, there was another 5.1-magnitude aftershock just before 11 a.m.

"We tried to get out as quickly as possible but the shaking was so strong that we could barely walk," one mother told WAPA Television during a live interview just before the ground began to quake, provoking screams from reporter Maricarmen Ortiz: "It's shaking! It's shaking!"

Local officials are still assessing the damage but so far one home was completely destroyed, six suffered severe structural damage and eight others experienced minor damage. At least one road had to be closed due to quake damage. The city used a local school to open a shelter and one displaced family obtained an emergency housing voucher.

Gov. Wanda Vasquez Garced visited the city Monday evening, but local authorities do not expect the bankrupt central government to be much help. Painful memories haunt Guayanilla officials who have asked the state to provide psychological counseling for residents who are still traumatized by Hurricane Maria and its aftermath.

Guayanilla is one of dozens of local municipalities struggling to recover structurally and economically from the Category 4 hurricane that devastated Puerto Rico. Pounding rain in the central mountains caused flash flooding that bloated rivers downstream and inundated the urban center of the municipality. Hernandez estimated there are about 50 families in the municipality that still live under blue tarps because of damage from Maria.

The mayor said he had hoped the area's rebranding campaign would generate more badly needed tourism dollars for the far-flung southwestern town.

"We have no idea how losing the Ventana will impact us here," Torres Yordan said. "We could try to rebuild it, but where's the money for that?"
The escalation of hostility between the United States and Iran after the U.S. assassination of a top Iranian military commander is the top news story so far this year. The potential repercussions of an open conflict would be numerous, and now analysts are warning they will not be limited to the oil market, but would spill into other energy products too, such as LNG.

Irans neighbor Qatar was until recently the worlds largest supplier of liquefied natural gas. Last year, according to S&P Global Platts figures, Qatar supplied 22 percent of the global LNG. In the event of a war, this supply could be disrupted.

"Should tensions in the Middle East escalate, it is likely that spot Asian LNG prices would rise to reflect the concern that Middle Eastern LNG supply could be reduced if the Strait of Hormuz was closed or supply through the Strait limited," analyst David Lenesma from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies told S&P Global Platts.

This should provide some breathing room for LNG producers; some of them are struggling to turn in a profit amid a stable oversupply resulting from the addition of several-large-scale projects in the past couple of years.

However, some note that the chances of Qatar getting involved in the conflict are not too great.

"Qatar is friendly with both sides and is unlikely to be targeted," S&P Global Platts quoted an unnamed analyst from a trading house. "Except in the event of a full blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the issues are unlikely to have any significant impact on LNG flows. And any full blockade will be very much short-lived."

In other words, there is enough LNG supply available outside the Middle East to keep a lid on prices even if a war between the United States and Iran breaks out. Indeed, last year Australia overtook Qatar as the worlds top supplier of the fuel, exporting 77.9 million tons last year, according to new data from consultancy EnergyQuest. To compare, Qatar exported some 75 million tons. Related: How To Short The Worlds Largest Oil Company

"The LNG market is currently oversupplied; hence an interruption to LNG exports from Gulf countries, in the unlikely event such interruption should take place, can be balanced by supplies from outside the region and product in storage at import terminals over a period of weeks, if not months," analyst Morten Frisch told S&P Global.

Despite the small chance of Qatar getting embroiled in a conflict, the fact of its proximity to Iran could be enough to push LNG prices on the spot market higher. This is what happens with oil prices every time tensions flare up in the Middle East, regardless of how intense the flare-up actually is. Commodity markets are sensitive to geopolitical risk, regardless of the actual danger of supply disruption.

Because of this heightened sensitivity, LNG prices could start trending higher soon. For now, they are stable, but thats not just because of the relatively low risk for a supply disruption. Its because the Christmas holidays are a time of lower trading activity, which have this year coupled with low liquidity. Supply of LNG in some of the major consuming regions, such as Europe, is ample, which would provide a cushion against price shocks in case Qatar does get involved in an open conflict in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, fresh data showed that China broke another LNG import record last month, taking in 7.189 million tons of the fuel, according to Refinitiv Eikon data reported by Reuters. That was almost 16 percent higher than its November LNG imports and suggests the worlds top LNG importer, too, has enough LNG to weather a potential disruption, no matter how short-lived it might be. In LNG, its business as usual.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
...we were aware of the need for a better, centralized solution for stop loss reporting. Weve solved for this by designing a tool that draws on our data expertise to deliver easy-to-use stop loss reporting that is specific to each groups unique situation and can be easily run and distributed.

Deerwalk, Inc., an innovative population health management, data management, and healthcare analytics software company is proud to introduce new stop loss reporting functionality. This new reporting provides a "one-stop shop" for stop loss reporting and is available with the latest release of Plan Analytics, Deerwalks interoperable healthcare reporting and analytics application.

From within Plan Analytics, clients now have access to a data entry portal and two new reports, Specific Stop Loss (i.e., Individual Stop Loss) and Aggregate Stop Loss. The data entry portal allows users to enter a group's stop loss contract parameters to calculate specific or aggregate stop loss, including custom parameters such as lasered members, run-in and run-out provisions, and uncommon (i.e., non-January) contract renewal months. The reports generate an overall financial picture by combining the input contract parameters with medical/pharmacy claims and eligibility data.

Reporting that integrates the actual paid claims experience and accounts for specific contract variables simplifies analysis, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of how a group is performing in relation to its stop loss policy. Armed with this information, healthcare decision makers can more accurately assess exposure to fluctuating claims costs, easily track where a group is in terms of meeting its stop loss deductible and reimbursement levels, and plan accordingly for budgeting for contractual purposes.

Deerwalks Vice President of Product Ed Hausman stated, From our experience working with a client base that includes over 45 third party administrators, as well as brokers and stop loss entities, we were aware of the need for a better, centralized solution for stop loss reporting. Weve solved for this by designing a tool that draws on our data expertise to deliver easy-to-use stop loss reporting that is specific to each groups unique situation and can be easily run and distributed.

Not only does Deerwalks stop loss reporting provide a clearer, more detailed overall picture, but having all this data in one place eliminates the need to collect information from disparate sources (such as carriers, claims databases, and numerous reporting tools) that must then be compiled and reconciled with the stop loss contract. Deerwalks dynamic reporting replaces this manual work, essentially automating this time-consuming process by bringing together all of the critical pieces of information into one place to quickly generate a report that can be shared with stakeholders.

To see a live demo of this new functionality, visit info.deerwalk.com/demorequest or reach out to Tim Huke, Chief Growth Officer at Deerwalk, at (949) 233-4908 or thuke@deerwalk.com.

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NEW YORK  A New York judge threatened to throw Harvey Weinstein in jail Tuesday after he was caught using two cellphones in the courtroom despite previous warnings to put the devices away.

The sharp rebuke came on the first day of jury selection in Weinsteins rape trial in Manhattan, when it became clear how hard it would be to find an impartial jury. A third of the 120 potential jurors in court Tuesday asked to be excused, saying they could not be fair. The people who told the judge they had their minds made up about Weinstein varied in age and ethnicity. Twenty-four were women.

Before the potential jurors were vetted, Justice James M. Burke had issued the warning to Weinstein, the disgraced movie producer, who spent several minutes before the proceedings tapping on the screen of his phone and at one point held two cellphones. Court officers had apparently reported the behavior to the judge, who took the bench and immediately addressed the matter.

What did I say would happen if he so much has a cellphone or electronic device since there have been repeated violations of this, including some on the record? Burke said firmly.

One of Weinsteins lawyers, Arthur Aidala, had minutes earlier entered the courtroom, Part 99 of the state Supreme Court, and appeared taken aback: You said you never want to see a cellphone in my clients hand.

Because it was my intention to do what? the judge snapped back.

To change his bail conditions, Aidala responded.

To what? Burke said.

I believe you said remand, Aidala said, meaning to place Weinstein in jail.

Weinstein, who had entered the courtroom aided by a walker minutes before, shook his head and seemed worried about what might happen next.

The judge cautioned Weinstein not to say anything else and asked, Is this really how you want to end up in jail for the rest of your life, by texting and violating a court order?

After the tirade, prosecutors asked for Weinstein to be remanded given new rape and sexual assault charges that were filed in Los Angeles on Monday. The judge kept the bail conditions, but issued a stern warning about Weinsteins cellphone use.

The trial of Weinstein, 67, is one of the most anticipated proceedings in recent years. Allegations against him prompted the global #MeToo movement, a reckoning over sexual assault by powerful and influential men in the workplace.

Twelve jurors and six alternates will ultimately decide Weinsteins fate.

On Tuesday, the potential jurors who said they could be fair to Weinstein were asked to complete a 16-page questionnaire, which asked, among other things, if they had heard about the case in newspapers, on the internet, on the radio or on television, and if that information would affect their ability to be fair and impartial.

The people were also asked if they or someone they know had ever been the victim of physical or sexual assault, either as a child or a victim.

By the afternoon, 30 potential jurors were expected to return next week for further review.

Opening arguments in the case are expected to start Jan. 22, with the trial concluding by March 6.

Prosecutors in New York charge that Weinstein raped one woman, who has not been identified in court documents, at a midtown hotel in March 2013 and forced a second woman, Mimi Haleyi, a production assistant, to allow him to perform oral sex on her at his apartment in Manhattan in 2006.

The producer also faces a charge of predatory sexual assault for having committed a serious sex crime against more than one person.

To further buttress that charge, prosecutors plan on calling actress Annabella Sciorra to testify against Weinstein, who she said sexually assaulted her in 1993 in her Manhattan apartment. If convicted of predatory sexual assault, Weinstein faces a maximum of life in prison.

Weinstein maintains that his sexual encounters with the women were consensual.

The Manhattan Dstrict Attorneys Office is also expected to call on three other women to testify about allegations of sexual assault by the producer.

Prosecutors hope those witnesses will convince a jury that Weinstein has long been a sexual predator, even if the events they describe happened too long ago to be prosecuted as sex crimes. Prosecutors in Pennsylvania used a similar strategy in the sexual assault trial of the comedian Bill Cosby, who is now in prison.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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Our Life Sciences Business is dedicated to meeting and exceeding the evolving needs and expectations of life science professionals through a comprehensive range of clinical, educational and research microscopes and microscope systems. For more information, visit https://www.olympus-lifescience.com.
Iran is considering 13 'revenge scenarios' in retaliation for the US airstrike that killed General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq, a top official has said.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, vowed that even if Tehran opted for the weakest option, it will create an 'historic nightmare for the Americans'.

While Shamkhani would not reveal any specific details of the plans, he said all US forces in the Middle East are being considered for strikes.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (centre), revealed Tehran is considering 13 'revenge scenarios' in retaliation for the killing of General Soleimani

Even if the security council votes for the weakest option it will mean an 'historic nightmare for the Americans', Shamkani warned (pictured, a protester in Iran)

He said that US bases across Iraq are being kept under close surveillance and claimed to know the exact number of personnel and equipment being kept at each.

'We insist that all troops be withdrawn,' he said, according to Iranian newspaper Resalat. 'If the troops want to dig into the bases, we will destroy the bases in addition to the troops.

'Those who crawl into shelters and close the doors hoping to escape our revenge are unaware that the Islamic Republic will open the door to hell.'

He later added: 'If the US troops do not leave our region voluntarily and upright, we will do something to carry their bodies out horizontally.'

Iran has vowed to exact a 'crushing revenge' over the killing of Soleimani, which is expected to ramp up Tuesday after a three-day period of mourning ends.

The country has already ripped up what remained of the nuclear deal signed under Obama in the wake of the strike, and Iraq has voted to kick all US troops out.

Rockets have also been launched at the Green Zone surrounding the US embassy in Baghdad, with the area expected to come under increasing attacks.

While Iran has not made its future plans clear, some 5,000 US troops stationed across Iraq and 500 still in Syria are expected to be targeted in response.

Hassan Nasrallah, the Lebanese secretary-general of Iran-backed Hezbollah, said all US bases, all warships and every single soldier in the region is now a target.

'The true, just retribution for those who conducted this assassination is an institution, which is the U.S. military,' he said during a ceremony to mourn Soleimani's death in Beirut on Sunday.

'We will launch a battle against those killers, those criminals.'

US intelligence believes that Iran will try to kill one of its top generals in the region in a tit-for-tat slaying.

One official said the U.S. anticipates a 'major' attack of some type within the next day or two.

Iranian lawmakers holding pictures of slain Iran's Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani as they chant 'death to America' during a session on Tuesday

Iran's response to Soleimani's killing is expected to ramp up Tuesday when a three-day period of mourning comes to an end (pictured, funeral procession in his home town of Kerman)

The U.S. military has increased protection of its forces, particularly in Iraq.

Six long-range B-52 bombers have also been stationed on Diego Garcia, a British-controlled island in the Indian ocean - putting them out of range of Iranian missiles but within striking distance of the country.

Pentagon officials said the B-52s will be available for operations against the Islamic Republic if ordered into action.

Meanwhile the US Air Force put on a show of strength in Utah, after carrying out a training exercise with 52 F-35A Lightining II stealth fighters.

'We're ready to fly, fight, and win,' the 419th Fighter Wings tweeted after the exercise.

They added the exercise 'pushed the boundaries and tested our Airmen's ability to deploy the F-35As en masse'

The 52 F-35A aircrafts, which are worth a whopping $4.2 billion, took off in quick succession from the Hill Air Force Base in Utah on Monday following an elephant walk down the runway

NATO has said it is withdrawing 'some personnel' from Iraq over fears for their safety, after cancelling a training exercise on Saturday.

Iran's parliament passed a bill on Tuesday designating all US forces 'terrorists' over the killing.

Under the newly adopted bill, all US forces and employees of the Pentagon and affiliated organisations, agents and commanders and those who ordered the 'martyrdom' of Soleimani were designated as terrorists.

'Any aid to these forces, including military, intelligence, financial, technical, service or logistical, will be considered as co-operation in a terrorist act,' the Iranian parliament said.

According to reports on social media, Iranian lawmakers chanted 'Death to America' while voting for passage of the bill.

Lawmakers also voted to bolster by 170million the coffers of the Quds Force - the foreign operations arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards that was headed by Soleimani.

The bill was an amended version of a law adopted in April last year that declared the United States a 'state sponsor of terrorism' and its forces in the region 'terror groups'.

A U.S. Air Force pilot takes off in his Air Force F-35A aircraft from the 388th and 428th Fighter Wings to participate in the combat power exercise

Iran's top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, said that blackisting came after the US designated Iran's Revolutionary Guards a 'terrorist organisation'.

Iran and America have careened from one flare-up to another since Trump began his 'maximum pressure' campaign against Iran shortly after taking office.

He tore up the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed crushing economic sanctions, both steps aimed at preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and deterring the sort of regional aggression spearheaded by Soleimani.

Two U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions, said targeting Soleimani was not representative of a wholesale shift in American policy toward Iran, despite Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's comments on Sunday that the U.S. was targeting Iran's 'actual decision-makers' rather than its network of proxy allies.

Trump has repeatedly contended that he is not seeking 'regime change' in Iran, as has been pushed by some of his more hawkish advisers.

Still, Trump's strike against Soleimani, a revered figure in Iran whose death sparked large displays of anger and grief, was a risky decision his Republican and Democratic predecessors opted not to take out of concern it would draw the U.S. and Iran closer to conflict.

The Pentagon is deploying six B-52 Stratofortress bombers (like the ones seen in the above stock image) to a military base in the northern Indian Ocean, according to a CNN report from Monday

The strategic bombers were on their way Monday to Diego Garcia, an atoll that is home to a vital US military base

U.S. officials are also aware that Iran could try to strike a high-level American leader in a 'tit-for-tat' move, potentially a military commander.

One official said some Iranian ships have spread out, and while the intent isnt immediately clear, they could move rapidly to attack.

The U.S. military has increased protection of its forces, particularly in Iraq. Officials said a number of the recently deployed soldiers from the 1st Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division had moved into Iraq from Kuwait in order to increase security for Americans there.

The U.S. military has stopped all training of Iraqi forces to focus on force protection, officials said.

As of Monday, officials said, there had not been a broadly distributed order or recommendation to increase security at military installations worldwide. Instead, decisions were being left up to the commanders.
Governor-General David Hurley has encouraged tourists to keep visiting fire-ravaged Kangaroo Island in a bid to bolster its economy.

Australia's representative to the Queen toured the South Australian island on Tuesday after large parts, including most of the Flinders Chase National Park, were destroyed by bushfire last week.

'Kangaroo Island is not completely closed to tourists coming back here, spending money and coming, using the facilities here,' he told reporters.

Governor-General David Hurley (pictured at a relief centre in East Gippsland in Victoria) has encouraged tourists to keep visiting fire-ravaged Kangaroo Island in a bid to bolster its economy

'While the primary industry income will be down, tourism can help resurrect (it).

'Get out here, put money into the tourist industry directly - that would be a good thing to do.'

So far the island fire has burnt more than 155,000 hectares inside a 320-kilometre perimeter with many homes and other buildings feared lost.

It has claimed two lives with outback pilot Dick Lang, 78, and his 43-year-old son Clayton Lang killed when their car became trapped by flames near Parndana.

So far the island fire has burnt more than 155,000 hectares inside a 320-kilometre perimeter with many homes and other buildings feared lost

Mr Hurley toured fire grounds in Victoria's east earlier this week, and has received a message of condolence from the Queen during Australia's bushfire crisis.

While on Kangaroo Island he met with families who were affected by the bushfire, and said mental health care would be a 'big issue' in the aftermath.

'People are very much traumatised at the moment ... they're uncertain about what's going to happen,' he said.

'That's a message for people around the country - put your hand up if you need help.'
Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn accompanied by his wife, Carole, in Tokyo on March 8, 2019. (Issei Kato/Reuters)

Japan Issues Arrest Warrant for Nissan Ex-Chairs Wife Carole Ghosn

Tokyo prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant Tuesday for former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosns wife on suspicion of perjury, adding to the couples legal troubles in the country where he once was revered as a star executive.

The move against Carole Ghosn, who is not in Japan, followed her husbands flight to Lebanon last week while he was out on bail awaiting trial for alleged financial misconduct.

Prosecutors said in a statement that Carole Ghosn gave false testimony to a Tokyo court last year in her husbands case about the transfer of money from one company to another that allegedly caused losses to Nissan.

She also denied knowing various people, or meeting with them, and the statements were false, they said. The allegations cited were unrelated to Ghosns escape.

Carole Ghosn was not immediately available for comment but earlier she told The Associated Press after her questioning in court that she considered the questions trite and unsubstantial.

She was banned from meeting with her husband after his release on bail because of fears she might help tamper with evidence.

Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, center, leaves his lawyers office in Tokyo, Japan on April 3, 2019. (Sadayuki Goto/Kyodo News via AP, File)

Lebanon and Japan do not have an extradition treaty. Japanese justice officials acknowledge that its unclear whether the two can be brought back to Japan to face any of the charges. They said they were still looking into what could be done.

The Lebanese presidential palace said Tuesday that Lebanons president met with the Japanese ambassador and they discussed the case, but did not provide any other details. This is the first known meeting between the president and a Japanese diplomat since Ghosn arrived in the country on Dec. 30.

Japans chief government spokesman said Japanese officials have told Lebanon that Ghosn left the country illegally and that they are seeking cooperation in finding out what happened. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the situation must be handled carefully.

Prosecutors have said they did not want Carlos Ghosn to be granted bail because they saw him as a flight risk.

With his abundant financial power and multiple foreign bases worldwide, it would be easy for the defendant Ghosn to flee from Japan, they said in a statement.

Earlier Tuesday, Ghosns former employer, Nissan Motor Co., said it was still pursuing legal action against him despite his escape.

The Japanese automaker said in a statement that Ghosn engaged in serious misconduct while leading the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance.

The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan, it said, without giving details.

Ghosn managed to skip bail and leave the country despite surveillance while he was staying at a home in Tokyo.

Journalists stand outside the Tokyo residence of former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, while prosecutors raid the house, in Tokyo, Japan, on Jan. 2, 2020. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Japanese news reports Tuesday gave new details of that escape, saying he left his residence alone, met two men at a Tokyo hotel, and then took a bullet train to Osaka before boarding a private jet hidden inside a case for musical equipment.

Japanese Justice Minister Masako Mori told reporters that measures were being taken to make sure all cargo and luggage are inspected at regional airports, including those for private jets, to prevent a recurrence.

Nissans statement was the first word from the company since Ghosns flight last week. The automaker and Japanese prosecutors allege Ghosn misstated his future compensation and diverted company assets for personal gain. He says he is innocent.

Ghosn has not appeared in public since arriving in Lebanon. He is expected to give his side of the story in a news conference planned for Wednesday in Beirut.

Private security guards stand outside of the house of ex-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn in Beirut, Lebanon on Jan. 6, 2020. (Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)

Earlier, he said the allegations against him were concocted by Nissan, Japanese authorities, and others who wanted to block efforts toward a fuller merger between Nissan and its French alliance partner Renault SA.

Ghosn said in a statement last week that he wanted to escape injustice. Critics of the Japanese judicial system say his case exemplifies its tendency to move too slowly and keep suspects in detention for too long.

Nissan said in its statement that an investigation is ongoing in France, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has found some wrongdoing.

Ghosn has not been charged in France or the United States.

Mori and other Japanese officials have defended the nations judicial system and denounced Ghosns escape as an unjustifiable crime. Mori said each nations system has its own way of making arrests and granting bail.

The scandal over Ghosns case has tarnished Nissans image and created a leadership vacuum at a time when the automakers profits and sales are tumbling. Ghosns successor Hiroto Saikawa also resigned last year amid financial misconduct allegations related to questionable income.

Nissan will continue to do the right thing by cooperating with judicial and regulatory authorities wherever necessary, the Yokohama-based company said.

Although Ghosn is unlikely to face trial in Japan, Greg Kelly, another Nissan former executive, is still facing charges of under-reporting Ghosns future compensation. He says he is innocent.

Kelly, an American, who is out on bail, has not been charged with the breach of trust allegations Ghosn is also facing.

Nissan has also been charged as a corporate entity. The company says it wont fight the charges and will pay the required fines.
(Alliance News) - Aura Energy Ltd said Tuesday that John Bennett has been elected as a director to the board of the company during the extraordinary general meeting on Monday.

Aura Energy said the board, as constituted prior to the election of Bennett, is "extremely concerned at this development".

In October, the Australia-based uranium explorer had received a notice from its shareholder Pre Emptive Trading Pty Ltd to call a general meeting in order to propose the immediate removal of the company's Chair Peter Reeve and cancel his 17.5 million performance shares.

Pre Emptive Trading, which holds 5.89% stake in Aura, had also proposed the appointment of John Bennett as non-executive director.

On December 19, Aura Energy had said it had written to the Australian Securities & Investments Commission in a bid to delay a shareholder meeting requisitioned by Pre-Emptive Trading.

Aura Energy repeated its view that Bennett should not be appointed as a non-executive director as it believes Pre-Emptive Trading is in breach of contact for failing to take up shares it agreed to subscribe for in the companyas placement that completed back in February.

As a result, Aura Energy had brought action against Pre-Emptive Trading for the recovery of USD456,000 in damages.

Aura Energy had also said it did not believe Bennett has the experience necessary to act as a director of the company nor the appropriate skills in governance, debt & equity markets and reporting.

In an extraordinary general meeting on Monday, the vote to appoint Bennett as a director was passed by a "slim margin" of approximately 33.4 million shares, representing approximately 2% of the issued capital, the company said.

"The Aura Board today resolved, given the unprecedented situation of having ongoing litigation against a subsequently- elected director, to assess, with the appropriate legal advice, the degree to which Bennett can be included in the company's activities and the degree to which information can be released to him," the company said.

"At this stage the board believes that this will be very limited until the litigation has been resolved," Aura Energy noted.

Aura Energy shares were down 9.8% in London at 0.23 pence each on Tuesday.

By Loreta Juodagalvyte; loretajuodagalvyte@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
One of the fascinating, if depressing, aspects of our political landscape is the extent to which good ideas frequently struggle to survive while bad ideas seem to never die. The continued fascination with deeper involvement and even intervention in Iran by a certain slice of the foreign policy elite provides an instructive example. Most of the American people seem to be opposed to further involvement. For our elites, however, the support of the people is neither necessary nor sufficient; it is barely relevant.

The United States has been intervening in Iran for a very long time indeed: a coup in 1953, Desert One in 1979, the re-flagging of Kuwaiti oil tankers in the 1980s, etc. That so many voters remain ignorant of this history is moderately surprising. Perhaps this is culpable ignorance as the voters of 2016 manifested much more interest in Hillary Clintons emails and Donald Trumps dating than they did in the intricacies of the nature of the Shia regime in Iran. During the campaign the Iranian government did not need to mock the candidates, it simply broadcast the debates live.

The passage of time has caused the arguments of the ostensible experts to develop an almost comical perspective: Do something! Anything! It is, of course, worth noting that two unstated assumptions drive the discourse: (1) our nations involvement will at least reduce the harm; and (2) others are available to do any actual killing (or dying).

The nature of the discourse is in one sense unsurprising. One of the key reasons the vast majority of experts are in a position to provide their insights is their reticence about actual service in Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Kuwait, Iraq, Somalia, etc. Their willingness to risk life and limb is uniquely limited to the lives and limbs of others, as is their willingness to kill, or to risk killing.

The media have, regrettably, become complicit in all this. In addition to providing a platform where the calls to attack are enthusiastically published, they have ceased to ask the unpleasant questions. They never ask ostensible experts, whether currently in government or not, a question like, What does it say about your support for war with X that at the relevant time in life you (or your spouse or child) preferred attending graduate school or working at a hedge fund to military service? The question is to an extent impertinent, but not asking it is irresponsible.

Many in the media fail to recognize this irresponsibility because in their social circles folks intern at foundations or think tanks. They do not deploy.

A more aware media might help us recognize that we are in approximately the same situation as Spain four centuries ago. The nations foreign policy had succeeded to a great extent. The military maintained an extensive overseas presence, commercial enterprises in far-off lands poured a fortune into the treasury, and the language was spoken across the globe. Only the most shallow of defeatists could question the unbounded and continuing success of the elites that had brought the people to this unparalleled level of dominance. Only in retrospect can we see that the empire was dangerously overextended and on the verge of bankruptcy.

In the end, it does not matter. The ruling elites will continue the semi-war to which we have become accustomed, comfortably dismissing critics as naive pacifists or reactionary isolationists while providing a truly inspirational set of speeches for the Fourth of July and Veterans Day.

I must confess that I keep hoping the voters will act. They will not. Perhaps we do get the government we deserve.

Phillip Hatfield, a Fremont resident, enlisted in the Army in 1981 and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2013, having served in Ukraine, Croatia, Italy, Germany, Kuwait and Iraq. He also spent several years as an attorney in various federal agencies.
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The country's largest airline, IndiGo, which is in news for more than six months over spat between its co-founders Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal has recently informed the stock exchange that it's planning to hold an EGM (extraordinary general meeting) in end January to make amendments to the company's Articles of Association (AoA). The AoA was signed between Bhatia and Gangwal to define their rights in the company. Now, these rights are heavily loaded in favour of Bhatia which has led to the fracas between the two.

The EGM, which is requisitioned (or called) by Gangwal, has sought to delete some articles pertaining to the transfer of equity shares, acquisition of shares, and other provisions on equity shares. The reasoning given by RG Group (Gangwal's side) is that since the shareholder's agreement (SHA) has expired last November, so some of the provisions of SHA which were included in the AoA have also expired, and need to be removed. The operative word here is "remove", and not "re-incorporate" as one would expect from Gangwal if he wanted to protect his shareholding in the airline (more on that later). At the moment, IGE Group (about 38 per cent) and RG Group (about 37 per cent) have an almost identical shareholding in IndiGo.

More importantly, Bhatia's IGE Group has agreed for the EGM request by the RG Group. It may be noted that Gangwal's earlier request to hold EGM last year on controversial RPTs (related party transactions) was categorically denied by the IGE Group after seeking a legal opinion from a retired judge of the Supreme Court. In fact, the fight between the promoters escalated largely because IGE Group was against the idea of holding an EGM sought by the Gangwal camp.

But what does it imply? In order to understand the issue better, it's important to dig deeper into the articles (in AoA) that deal with the transfers and acquisition of equity shares of both RG Group and IGE Group. Broadly, these articles say that if one of the two parties is interested in selling its shares to a third-party, then the other party has the first right of refusal and right to tag along.

Let's understand with an example. If RG Group wants to sell its 37 per cent shareholding in InterGlobe Aviation, it would have to tell IGE Group about the price at which it plans to offload those shares, disclose the name of the buyer (which cannot be a competitor), and the date of the share sale. If IGE Group matches the price, then it would get preference over the third-party buyer. In addition, the IGE Group can also direct RG Group to ask the third-party buyer to purchase shares from IGE Group as well which should be at least 18.5 per cent of the InterGlobe Aviation's shareholding.

By removing these "binding" articles, each party would then be free to sell their shares (in part or full) to anybody they choose to (subject to SEBI's regulatory norms). But why does Gangwal want to remove these articles in the first place when he can simply exit the company by selling his stake to Bhatia at a competitive price? It's becoming clear that the idea behind this EGM - and that's why the fight has possibly dragged on for so long - is that Gangwal doesn't want to sell his stake to Bhatia's IGE Group. Why? Nobody knows. But evidences are somewhat obvious.

The fact that Bhatia has agreed to an EGM is perhaps the first step in making it easier for Gangwal to sell his stake in the low-cost carrier. Bhatia, who is probably tired of fighting with his former friend, seems to be looking for a closure after the EGM. He might be open to give an exit to Gangwal at the terms which are suitable to Gangwal (which essentially involve selling his stake to anybody except Bhatia).

Email queries sent to IndiGo didn't elicit response.

Bhatia seems to have already given in to the demands of Gangwal by adding a woman director (Pallavi Shardul Shroff) to the IndiGo's board in September - taking the total board strength to seven, which was Gangwal's proposed number. Bhatia had earlier sought board strength to be increased to 10 members.

In October, Bhatia had submitted a request for arbitration in the London Court of International Arbitration against Gangwal. Prior to that, both promoters were engaged in a bitter dispute making tall allegations against each other. For instance, in a June 2019 letter to the board, Bhatia wrote that "the script of the play stands exposed even more starkly as Gangwal makes innocent fig leaf statements of standing by and honouring the SHA and being a crusader of corporate governance."

Gangwal, in July, wrote to SEBI chairman that "the unusual rights available to the IGE Group in conjunction with the lack of diversity and paucity of independent directors in the board may very well be at the root of why governance matters have taken such a back seat at IndiGo."

The genesis of this fight, according to Bhatia, goes back to early 2018 when Gangwal asked him to expand the board. Bhatia was fine with the expansion as long as his board representation remained intact, which meant 50 per cent IGE Group nominees. This seemed to have irked Gangwal who then requested an EGM from IndiGo's board to adopt new RPT protocols for transactions between the airline and Bhatia's IGE Group.

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Former UN advisor Roy Thompson and his wife Vesta were facing mounting financial problems, an inquest heard

A former UN advisor whose family flew him home to the UK following three suicide attempts was found dead after being allowed to leave a psychiatric unit, an inquest heard.

The body of father-of-four Roy Thompson, 60, was discovered in woodland a week after he walked out of the Hartington Unit at Chesterfield Royal Hospital without being challenged.

Just days earlier he had jetted 12,000 miles to England from Malawi in Africa with one of his daughters after relatives became increasingly concerned about his state of mind.

They believed he would be safe at the Hartington Unit, but were not told he was taken off anti-depressants which had been prescribed for him by a doctor in Malawi.

Less than 72 hours later Mr Thompson was reported missing by staff. CCTV cameras captured him strolling out of the hospital doors.

Police launched a manhunt and his body was eventually found a week later in nearby woodland by a dog walker.

A jury at Chesterfield Coroners Court was told Mr Thompson, who specialised in monitoring and evaluating business projects, had lived and worked all round the world, particularly in Africa.

But he had struggled to recover financially after divorce from his first wife and as his debts mounted and worked dried up he began to show signs of serious mental health issues after returning to live in Malawi in early 2015.

In early summer he was rushed to hospital when he swallowed 'some pills' and then went to stay with his daughter Cathryn, who lived near him. There he attempted to hang himself, but was saved when the wall gave way.

Weeks later at his home in Blantyre, a town four hour's drive from the Malawi capital Lilongwe, he tried to electrocute himself in the bath as his second wife Vesta looked on.

A jury at Chesterfield Coroners Court was told Mr Thompson (pictured) who specialised in monitoring and evaluating business projects, had lived and worked all round the world, particularly in Africa

Mr Thompson's family believed he would be safe at the Hartington Unit (pictured, as he left the unit) but were not told he was taken off anti-depressants which had been prescribed him by a doctor in Malawi

Fears about his mental health had surfaced weeks earlier when Cathryn noticed a change in his mood. She said he was 'tired' and had spoken about semi-retirement, but he needed to keep working to pay his debts.

Speaking by telephone from Malawi she told the court: 'Dad was always a bubbly character, but by then he had dramatically changed.'

After speaking with other family members Cathryn took her father to see consultant psychiatrist Dr Anna Stout at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Blantyre.

She said Mr Thompson was clearly suicidal and in need of help and she prescribed anti-depressants.

With his condition deteriorating relatives agreed he needed more help and they arranged a place at a hospital in South Africa, but after flying there with Cathryn he refused to be admitted.

They found another bed for him at the Vista Clinic near Pretoria and he agreed to stay.

His family claimed he made progress during his two weeks there, but he became unsettled when his wife Vesta made an unscheduled visit and he soon demanded to leave.

The jury was told Dr Stout advised the best course of action would be to take him back to the UK where he would be considered 'sectionable'.

Despite Mr Thompson's reservations at returning to England, the pair flew for 15 hours to Manchester on October 11 2015, where they met with his eldest daughter Carla.

The next day they took him to his former GPs in Dronfield armed with a referral letter from Dr Stout and soon he was admitted as a voluntary patient on the Hartington Unit.

Carla told the court she had seen her father in Malawi while visiting family in July 2015 and said she had noticed a dramatic change in his character.

'He did not just do a job, he had spent his life making major decisions, like when he worked for the UN. The jobs he did held a lot of responsibility,' she said.

'When I saw him there had been a distinct decline in his personality, it easy to see.

CCTV captured Roy Thompson leaving the Hartington Unit at Chesterfield Royal Hospital - he was never seen alive again

'He said he needed to speak to me alone. He said, 'I can't seem to find any peace anywhere. I'm tired'. I knew there was something really wrong but I had to come back to the UK for work.'

By the time he arrived in England a few weeks later she said her father was constantly agitated and his behaviour had become 'childlike'.

Carla said they had dropped him at the Hartington Unit and spoke to staff about her father's history and handed over the referral letter.

She said she and her sister visited their dad the night before her went missing. He was becoming increasingly anxious and made it clear he wanted to leave the psychiatric unit.

'I did not know that he had been taken off his medication, that was something I only learned about later,' she told the jury.

She said, at one point, her father had 'got on his knees and begged me to take him out of there'.

The body of father-of-four Roy Thompson, 60, was discovered in woodland a week after he walked out of the Hartington Unit at Chesterfield Royal Hospital (pictured)

And he told her: 'You don't know what it's like in here, I feel like a caged bird!'

Both daughters told the court they believed he was not allowed to leave the unit unattended after speaking with staff about the risk level her father was considered to be.

Mr Thompson was caught on CCTV walking out of the main door of the unit at 9.20am on Thursday 15 October 2015. He was never seen alive again.

The Sheffield-born management consultant's first marriage to South African Anne Fletcher had seen them raise their three children in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Derbyshire.

They later moved to Malawi where they built up a very successful holiday and restaurant business, but when they divorced he was left facing financial ruin after losing everything in the settlement.

He remained in Malawi where he met and married his second wife, widowed mum-of-one Vesta in 2003. The bank worker later gave birth to a daughter Sophia and he continued to work across Africa as a project manager.

In 2009 the Doctor of Philosophy took up a post with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) which is 'the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled'.

Their work involves improving reproductive health, including providing birth control supplies and services and is also known for its worldwide campaign against child marriage and female genital mutilation.

It supports programs in more than 150 countries and areas spread across four geographic regions and Mr Thompson was an advisor in the Arab States for two years.

Around 2012 the family moved to the UK and he set himself up as a consultant, but soon found himself in financial troubles. His two brothers bailed Mr Thompson out on more than one occasion lending him thousands of pounds.

At the same he watched his ex-wife turn the 'Annie's' chain of holiday lodges into a 'lucrative' business.

In a statement read to the court Malcolm Thompson said his brother described his second wife as 'flaky' when it came sorting out financial matters.

At the start of 2015 the couple once again found themselves with money troubles and they were forced to sell one of two properties they owned in Malawi, but that did little to ease the growing pressure Mr Thompson was feeling.

As well as long standing debts he was paying 12,000 a year to send his youngest daughter to a private girl's school in Sheffield.

In April of that year the family decided to leave the flat above a takeaway they were renting in Dronfield, Derbyshire, and return to Malawi.

His brother said in his statement: 'Roy was very emotional before he left the UK, but he did not contact me after that.

'He took jobs working in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where he had to stay in his hotel for fear of being abducted. The lifestyle was so poor I can only assume it must have only been for the money.

'There was also animosity between Vesta and Carla and Cathryn, they did not get on with her and they were concerned she was not taking the financial situation seriously enough.'

Speaking about his admission to the Hartington Unit he described it as 'a relief'. He said his brother would not have wanted to be detained under the Mental Health Act.

'But with hindsight I now wish he had been sectioned,' he said.

'I later learned they took him off his drugs so as not to mask his condition and see how bad he was.'

In her statement his wife Vesta said her husband first showed signs of anxiety and depression as far back as 2011, while he was working in Egypt.

They moved back to the UK in the hope it would help, but things had changed so much in the years he had been in Africa and the cold and wet UK weather did not lighten his moods.

'He struggled with dark days,' she told police.

The couple had been trying to develop holiday properties in Malawi and by early 2015 they decided to return there to put all their efforts into the business.

But after having done little work for several months the debts began to mount and she said her husband's mental health as 'fragile'. She said he was prescribed sleeping pills and anti-depressants.

He had also lost weight, so much so that his trousers did not fit him, but Mrs Thompson said she was scared to buy him a belt for fear of what he might use it for.

She believed after he flew back to the UK with Cathryn he would be admitted to hospital and receive proper care. Days later she was shocked to hear he had gone missing from the unit and she caught a plane to England.

Mrs Thompson said: 'They let Roy down badly, he was suffering from depression and was suicidal and needed attentive support, but clearly he did not get it and they did not listen to the opinions of Dr Stout.'

The inquest, which is expected to last six days, continues.
EasyHotel has hired Francois Bacchetta as its next chief executive (Professional Images/@ProfImages/PA)

EasyHotel has appointed a new boss, months after a Luxembourg investment group bought a majority stake in the listed business.

The budget hotel firm has announced that Francois Bacchetta will join the company as its chief executive in the spring.

In November, Guy Parsons stepped down from the helm of the hospitality company, with chairman Scott Christie taking over as interim chief executive.

Mr Bacchetta joins the company from easyJet, where he has worked for the past 15 years and is currently country director for France and Italy.

EasyHotel was founded in 2005 by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou as part of his easyGroup and now runs 40 hotels globally.

Sir Stelios still owns a 28% stake in the company, which is listed on the London Stock Exchanges junior AIM index, and recently blocked attempts to take the firm private.

In August, Luxembourg group ICAMAP purchased a 52% majority stake in the business, but was unable to build a large enough holding to take the company off the market, due to opposition from the easyJet founder.

The hotel business recently posted a 56% rise in revenue to 17.6 million for the year to September 30.

Harm Meijer, non-executive chairman of the business, said: Following a comprehensive search, we are pleased that Francois is joining us to lead easyHotel in its aspiration to become a European leader in the super budget hotel segment.

He knows the easy brand and understands its values extremely well. He also brings a wealth of experience in developing businesses, strategy, business optimisation, leadership, marketing and revenue management.

Mr Bacchetta said: EasyHotel is a business I greatly admire and I am thrilled to be appointed.

With a strong hotel network established in the UK, I believe this is a very exciting time for the brand and I look forward to leading the expansion in Europe as the group seeks to become a leader in the budget hotel space.

Shares in the company remained flat at 87.5p in morning trading on Tuesday.
A $1 Million Cash Blowout scratch-off lottery ticket was sold in Lebanon County, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery.

The Weis Markets, 800 S. 12th St., Lebanon, will receive $5,000 for selling the winning ticket.

The $1 Million Cash Blowout is a $20 game with five top prizes of $1 million each.

The winner should sign the ticket, call the lottery at 800-692-7481 and file a claim at a lottery office.

The ticket is valid for one year.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 04:18:29|Editor: ZX

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CAIRO, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The number of tourists to visit Egypt in 2020 is expected to exceed 15 million, an official with the World Tourism Organization (WTO) said Tuesday.

"Figures released by the WTO shows that Egypt's tourism sector has recovered after the number of tourists who visited the country in 2019 hit about 13 million," WTO economic adviser Saeed el-Batouti told Egypt's official MENA news agency.

El-Batouti, also a board member of the German Travel Association, attributed the expected rise in the number of tourists visiting Egypt this year to Egypt's stability and the package of policies the country has adopted.

He added that the tourism sector recovery results from the strong support provided by Egypt's political leadership, highlighting the importance of working to attract tourists from various countries.

"Spain and Italy are among the markets that Egypt targets," he said, calling for opening up new tourist markets in Egypt and focusing on the religious tourism.

The tourism sector in Egypt, a major source of state revenues, has been suffering recession over the past few years due to political turmoils and security challenges that resulted from the ouster of two heads of state in 2011 and 2013.

However, tourism started to recover as Egypt has improved security measures at airports and tourism sites, while launching campaigns abroad to promote the vital sector.
Although there have been other Samsung brand phones released after Galaxy A20e, the device remains under the radar of many smartphone enthusiasts. What makes this device exceptional and does it have the crucial specifications that serve your needs?

Image: twitter.com, @Ptelemoveis

Source: UGC

Samsung Galaxy A20e is a budget smartphone, and every aspect of it is tailored to meet the needs of a user who is after a moderate experience of a smartphone. It comes with decent cameras, average battery life and an attractive design.

Overview

Here a summary of the good and bad sides of the phone.

Pros

Sleek and compact design

Sufficient storage capacity

Fast battery charging

Cons

It is not water/dustproof

Samsung Galaxy A20e specs list

Take a quick look at the details and specifications of the device.

Samsung Galaxy A20e release date : May, 2019

: May, 2019 Dimensions : 147.4 x 69.7 x 8.4 mm (5.80 x 2.74 x 0.33 in)

: 147.4 x 69.7 x 8.4 mm (5.80 x 2.74 x 0.33 in) Weight : 141 g (4.97 oz)

: 141 g (4.97 oz) SIM card : Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)

: Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) Display : PLS TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors

: PLS TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors Size : 5.8 inches

: 5.8 inches Resolution : 720 x 1560 pixels

: 720 x 1560 pixels Operating system : Android 9.0 (Pie); One UI

: Android 9.0 (Pie); One UI Internal memory : 32GB ROM 3GB RAM

: 32GB ROM 3GB RAM Expandable memory : MicroSD, up to 1 TB

: MicroSD, up to 1 TB Camera : 13MP + 5MP

: 13MP + 5MP Selfie : 8MP

: 8MP USB : 2.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector

: 2.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector Sensors : Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass

: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass Battery : Non-removable Li-Po 3000 mAh battery

: Non-removable Li-Po 3000 mAh battery Colors: Black, White, Blue, and Coral

Hardware

The device has some remarkable hardware specifications.

Image: twitter.com, @InforElectronic

Source: UGC

Design

The phone weighs 141 grams, and its light-weight is attributed to its built materials which are a plastic back, plastic frame and glass front. It is almost bezel-less with a waterdrop notch housing the selfie camera, and that gives ample display area on the screen.

At the rear side, there is a dual-camera setup at the top left corner. Just below it, there is an LED flash for extra lighting when taking photos or videos. The fingerprint sensor is beside the camera setup at a position where you can easily reach it with your fingers.

The volume rocker and the power button are on the left side of the phone while the SIM card tray is positioned on the right side. Even though this is a mid-range phone, it is magnificently designed with top-notch finishes that make it look like a premium phone.

Display

The device's display technology is a PLS TFT capacitive touchscreen, which is credited for moderate image quality, maximum screen brightness and good viewing angles. The display size is about 5.8 inches, which translates to an area of approximately 82.6 cm2. The display area is just wide enough for comfortable viewing and playing some games.

The display resolution is 720 x 1560 pixels with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and about 296 ppi density which offers properly balanced colour concentration leading to good picture quality.

Processor

Samsung Galaxy A20e uses the Exynos 7884 (14nm) chipset with an octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A73 & 6x1.35 GHz Cortex-A53) CPU and a Mali-G71 MP2 GPU for graphics. These specs put it among averagely performing processors and thus, you can rely on the device for executing various tasks and playing some games that do not require high graphics and speed.

Storage

The internal memory comprises of 32 GB ROM and 3 GB RAM which is sufficient for keeping phone applications and personal data. The phone has a dedicated memory card slot which can accommodate up to 1 TB and thus, both the internal and external memory provide ample space even if you have high storage needs.

Samsung Galaxy A20e battery life

It is packed with a non-removable Li-Po 3000 mAh battery which is a slight reduction of capacity compared to the Galaxy A40s of 3100 mAh. The screen display technology and processor are not high power consumers, and thus, the battery capacity can support phone operations for a considerable duration.

There is no need to worry about the battery capacity because it has the fast charging support of 15W, which can quickly recharge the battery when it runs low.

Speaker and call quality

The device has powerful speakers which give excellent call quality. You can connect headphones to the 3.5mm jack and listen to audio files.

Software

Are you conversant with the software features and applications that run the phone?

Image: twitter.com, @netudara

Source: UGC

OS and features

Samsung Galaxy A20e operates on Android version 9.0 (Pie) and Samsung's One UI. Even though this is not the latest Android version, it works perfectly with most of the phone features and gives an excellent user interface.

The platform supports various applications such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS. The notable sensors of the phone include a highly sensitive and accurate fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity and compass.

Camera, video and image quality

The dual camera at its rear side has a 13MP main sensor and a 5MP ultra-wide lens while the selfie camera is 8MP. The camera gives modest picture quality in a well-lit environment with regards to detail and dynamic range. It can support real-time HDR but lacks the scene optimization feature and slow-motion recording.

Samsung Galaxy A20e price

If you are contemplating on buying the phone, then you should have a budget of approximately 65,520 Naira.

Samsung Galaxy A20e accessories

What are some of the accessories that you should have handy to improve your experience of the device? Here is an outline of accessories that you should consider using with the device:

Screen protector

Case

Charger

Car holder

Headphones

Stylus

Bluetooth headsets

Memory card

Samsung Galaxy A20e review

The device has been on the market for quite some time, and people have had the opportunity to test it. What are some of the opinions of people who have interacted with the phone so far? Here is a sneak peek of the comments on YouTube about the gadget.

Kruzz Yadav: These "budget" Samsung phones are pretty good especially this A20e. You can experience amazing Samsung displays and cameras at a very cheap price. Good video

zohar zo: Really appreciate the bugdet smartphone reviews, since I can't really afford a Samsung S10 or an iPhone 11, but i think Samsung's A series is fantastic for the price point!

Nahid Rahman: Thanks for uploading this! My phone broke a few days ago and I needed a new phone under 200 and I wanted to get this one but I didnt know how good it was. I'm getting this one!!!!

Verdict

Samsung Galaxy A20e is a highly affordable device, and that makes it a nice budget phone. However, you might have to contend with its average performance and not so good display quality. Even though the battery capacity is only 3000 mAh, the fast charger will quickly top it up if it goes low. If phone performance and display are not a cause for alarm, then I bet that it offers a satisfactory service.

While Samsung Galaxy A20e offers the essential features you will want in a smartphone; you can find a better experience in other devices at the same price or a little bit more. For instance, Samsung Galaxy A40 is a bit costly, yet it provides better features.

Source: Legit.ng
The trouble with Les Carlyon is that its impossible to turn a line about him  or anything else  that he couldnt do twice as well in half the time, Andrew Rule wrote in tribute to his fellow journalist, also war historian and chronicler of the turf, who died in March last year.

Writing about writers who have died is indeed a melancholy and frustrating task, because they could do it so much better themselves, if modesty had not prevented them. But the turn of the year is nevertheless a good time to look back at the writers we have lost and the work they leave behind.

Clive James' breadth of knowledge was extraordinary. Credit:Ben Rushton

There have already been many tributes to Clive James, and deservedly so. I cant think of many other writers who have shone in so many fields: poetry, memoir, fiction, essays, journalism, criticism. His caustic television reviews in Britain's Observer newspaper inspired me to fumble through my own early attempts at reviewing. And then he went on to star in the medium he reviewed so well. He was a stupendously sharp, witty, charming clown who sent everybody and everything up, including himself; but he could also be serious and moving, especially about his approaching death.

Although Les Murray didnt have James breadth of knowledge or his performance skills, I believe he surpassed him as a poet. The New York Times described him as Australias unofficial poet laureate, which is an apt line: everything about Murray was unofficial. We will also miss Andrew McGahan, who has left us his last novel, The Rich Mans House, a thriller about an evil tycoon.
Deepika Padukone is the biggest Indian star to back the protesting students who on Sunday faced a brutal assault.

A top Bollywood actress is being praised for visiting an elite Indian university where students were protesting against an attack on them by masked suspects with alleged links to a student group backed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Deepika Padukone, 34, on Tuesday visited New Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where alleged members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) brutally assaulted dozens of students and teachers with sticks, sledgehammers and rocks on Sunday.

The violence in JNU followed a public meeting organised by the universitys teachers association in connection with a rise in hostel charges for students announced weeks ago.

200105180840606

Aishe Ghosh, president of the JNU students union who was seriously wounded in the attack, was present among the students when Padukone joined their protest.

Indian media reports said Padukone hugged Ghosh and stayed with the JNU students for about 15 minutes, but only had a brief chat with the student leader and did not address the crowd.

Ghosh, who was attacked by masked assailants on Sunday night, is among 20 students named in the first information report (FIR or police complaint) of the Delhi police on Tuesday.

You should speak up

Photos and videos on social media showed Padukone wearing a black outfit and standing behind a makeshift stage, while former JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar addressed the gathering.

More power to you @deepikapadukone and thank you for your solidarity and support. You might be abused or trolled today, but history will remember you for your courage and standing by the idea of India. pic.twitter.com/q9WkXODchL  Kanhaiya Kumar (@kanhaiyakumar) January 7, 2020

According to The Wire website, after Padukone left, Ghosh in her address to the crowd said: When you are in a position, you should speak up.

Padukone, who was in New Delhi for the promotion of her next film, Chhapaak, scheduled to release this Friday, is the biggest Bollywood star to express her solidarity with the JNU students.

On Monday night, nearly a dozen filmmakers and actors demonstrated along with hundreds of people in Mumbai against the attack on the university.

I feel proud that we are not scared. I think to be able to express ourselves, I think the fact we are thinking about this and about the future of our country, Padukone told NDTV news channel on Monday.

It is nice to see people are coming out on the streets to voice this and express [themselves]. Because if we want to see change, this is very important.

This picture speaks a thousand words! #DeepikaPadukone at the JNU protests in Delhi. #JNUUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/VJFnnOLAd2  Filmfare (@filmfare) January 7, 2020

Padukones solidarity with the JNU students triggered #ISupportDeepika and #boycottchhapaak as the top two trends on Indian Twitter on Tuesday evening.

As part of a film industry where its top stars have been slammed for their silence on contentious political issues, many lauded the 34-year-old actress.

191225073542499

Thank you @deepikapadukone for standing up for students and youth against fascist bullies. The times they are a changing! tweeted former JNU student Umar Khalid as he urged Indias top Muslim actors to speak out.

Bollywoods top Muslim stars  Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan  have been questioned for their silence on the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act passed by Indias parliament last month.

Critics say the law violates Indias secular constitution and is anti-Muslim. At least 27 people have been killed in nationwide protests against the law.

RT if you will Boycott Movies of @deepikapadukone for her Support to #TukdeTukdeGang and Afzal Gang pic.twitter.com/LN5rpwjDmT  #IStandWithFarmers (@TajinderBagga) January 7, 2020

But the supporters of the BJP have called for a boycott of Padukones next film, accusing her of supporting the anti-national students of JNU.

In 2017, Padukone was attacked for starring in a historical drama, Padmaavat, with a BJP leader putting a bounty of $1.5m on the heads of the actress and the films director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Saudi and Bahraini Customs have signed in Riyadh an agreement of mutual recognition of the Authorised Economic Operator Programme (AEO). The agreement aims to enhance the security of the supply chain and the advantages of trade facilitation offered by the AEO.

The agreement was signed on the Saudi side by Governor of the General Customs Authority Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Haqbani and on the Bahraini side by Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa, president of Bahrain Customs. Mr Al Haqbani said that the signing of the agreement reinforced the historical relationship between the two countries, which was witnessing a remarkable development in all areas of customs.

Mr Al Haqbani said that one of the most important goals achieved by the mutual recognition agreement is to enhance intra-trade and raise the level of trade exchange and overcome obstacles that limit the flexibility of trade exchange, in addition to strengthening and consolidating the principle of partnership between customs and the private sector.

He said that the agreement would contribute to the growth of the volume of trade exchange and support the economy of the two countries.
ANNAPOLIS, Md., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Experiences, a leading provider of international internship programs, announces a goal to be carbon neutral by 2025 in response to the overwhelming global climate crisis.

This groundbreaking green initiative is set to begin with Global Experiences' 2020 internship programs. Travel for all participants and staff will be neutralized through the purchasing of carbon credits in a variety of alternative energy, reforestation, and biodiversity projects in critical regions of the world.

"Global Experiences was founded to make the world a better place, and we can no longer deliver on this vision without a serious commitment to protecting the environment and our children's future," states Emily Merson, Global Experiences founder and CEO. "We are thrilled to be moving towards a carbon-neutral organization and sharing this commitment with our participants."

An international round trip flight is one of the biggest producers of carbon dioxide that a student may generate in one year and it is one of the biggest differences between an internship at home and an internship abroad. According to Goal 13 on Climate Action from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, "global net CO2 emissions must drop by 45% between 2010 and 2030" in order to limit global warming."

Alongside this initiative, Global Experiences is integrating additional materials to encourage participants to be aware of their impact on the environment  including reducing their carbon footprint and ways to be more green while traveling and living abroad. Global Experiences plans to develop and adapt green practices on an organizational level and will also bring their efforts to their global stakeholders including university partners, host employers, and housing partners.

"Leveraging carbon calculators and the global reach of the Gold Standard organization's environmental offset system, we will begin working toward a carbon-neutral program. The time is now for all of us to take responsibility for the environmental impact of our industry, and we look forward to being part of a growing movement within the international education community," states Melissa Buerkett, Global Experiences' Director of Partnerships.

Global Experiences, established in 2001, is a leader in providing college and university students with career-enhancing international internship programs in Australia, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the United States. Committed to advancing international education, Global Experiences is a part of the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) family of programs.

SOURCE Global Experiences
Franklin Regional Transport Authority launched a new program this past fall that allows the general public to schedule next-day or same-day transportation utilizing a mobile app. Now, the FRTA is extending the program for another year thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

The FRTA received a $171,050 grant from MassDOT to fund a pilot program extending evening service in the region. The grant was part of $3.5 million awarded to regional transit authorities across the commonwealth.

This started back in the fall, said Tina Cote, FRTA administrator. and the [grant] is going to be an extension for the program.

Cote said that the buses operate like the Uber app. A customer requests a ride on the FRTA app and the bus will travel to their location. The service is $5.00 per one-way trip and all additional riders are $2.50.

There are two zones that will have access to this application. Zone 1 consists of Greenfield, Montague, Deerfield, Whately, Gill and Leyden. Which will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Zone 2 consists of Orange, New Salem, Warwick and Wendell. Service there will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Cote said that the FRTA is looking into the possibility of travel using the service between the two zones.

We dont know how much it will be used, said Cote. But its one of the things were looking at.

The grant the FRTA received in 2019 ends in June which is when they will start using the $171,050 to continue their service.

You can download the app at the Apple App Store or from Google Play by searching for FRTA.
MEXICO CITY, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- New Notes Offering

The United Mexican States (" Mexico ") announced today that it priced a global offering (the " New Notes Offering ") of U.S.$3,050,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 3.250% Global Notes due 2030 (the " New Notes "). The New Notes Offering is being conducted together with an offering of U.S.$800,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Mexico's U.S. dollar denominated 4.500% global notes due 2050 (the " 2050 Notes ").

The aggregate principal amount of New Notes includes approximately U.S.$1,300,000,000 of New Notes intended to fund the purchase of preferred tenders in the concurrent tender offer described below, and the amount of New Notes issued may be adjusted based on final acceptances in the tender offer. The closing of the New Notes Offering and the offering of the 2050 Notes is expected to occur on Thursday, January 16, 2020.

The 2050 Notes will be consolidated and form a single series with, and be fungible with, the outstanding U.S.$2,103,527,000 4.500% Global Notes due 2050 previously issued by Mexico.

BBVA Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as Joint Lead Underwriters for the New Notes Offering and the offering of the 2050 Notes.

The New Notes Offering and the offering of the 2050 Notes were made only by means of a preliminary prospectus supplement and an accompanying base prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement, the final prospectus supplement (when filed) and the related base prospectus for the New Notes Offering and the offering of the 2050 Notes may be obtained by contacting: BBVA Securities Inc., by calling +1 (800) 422-8692 (U.S. toll free), Citigroup Global Markets Inc., by calling +1 (800) 558-3745 (U.S. toll free), Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, by calling +1 (800) 820-1653 (U.S. toll free) or Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, by calling +1 (800) 828-3182 (U.S. toll free).

Application will be made for the New Notes and the 2050 Notes to be admitted to listing on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and admitted to trading on the Euro MTF Market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

Tender Offer

Mexico's previously announced tender offer (the " Tender Offer ") to purchase the notes of the series listed in the table below (collectively, the " Old Notes ") on the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase, dated January 6, 2020 (the " Offer to Purchase "), expired as scheduled at 3:00 p.m., New York City time, today. All capitalized terms used but not defined under the heading "Tender Offer" in this communication have the respective meanings specified in the Offer to Purchase.

The purchase prices to be paid for each series of the Old Notes validly tendered and accepted pursuant to the Tender Offer were calculated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Offer to Purchase and Mexico's press release issued today, based on (i) the U.S. Treasury Rate for such series, which is a yield to maturity based on the bid-side price of the Reference U.S. Treasury Security identified for such series in the table below and (ii) the Fixed Spread for such series set forth in the table below.

Table: Old Notes

Old Notes Outstanding

Principal Amount

as of January 3, 2020 ISIN CUSIP Reference U.S.

Treasury Security U.S.

Treasury

Rate Fixed

Spread

(basis points) Purchase Price(1) 3.625% Global Bonds due 2022 U.S.$1,903,536,000 US91086QBA58 91086Q BA5 2.375% due 3/15/22 1.550% +30 U.S.$1,037.60 4.000% Global Bonds due 2023 U.S.$3,117,678,000 US91086QBC15 91086Q BC1 1.625% due 12/15/22 1.559% +80 U.S.$1,058.08 3.600% Global Bonds due 2025 U.S.$2,153,690,000 US91087BAA89 91087B AA8 1.75% due 12/31/24 1.607% +87 U.S.$1,052.96 4.125% Global Bonds due 2026 U.S.$2,230,059,000 US91086QBG29 91086Q BG2 1.75% due 12/31/24 1.607% +116 U.S.$1,074.85 4.150% Global Bonds due 2027 U.S.$3,150,415,000 US91087BAC46 91087B AC4 1.75% due 11/15/29 1.812% +112 U.S.$1,078.59 3.750% Global Bonds due 2028 U.S.$2,555,196,000 US91087BAE02 91087B AE0 1.75% due 11/15/29 1.812% +125 U.S.$1,048.46

(1) Per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Old Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase. Holders will also receive accrued and unpaid interest on Old Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase.

Tomorrow, January 7, 2020, Mexico expects (i) to instruct Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC as the Billing and Delivering Bank to accept, subject to proration and other terms and conditions as described in the Offer to Purchase, valid Preferred and Non-Preferred Tenders and (ii) to announce the Old Notes Maximum Purchase and the aggregate principal amount of Preferred Tenders and Non-Preferred Tenders of each series of Old Notes that has been accepted, and whether any proration has occurred.

The Offer to Purchase may be downloaded from the Information Agent's website at www.dfking.com/ums or obtained from the Information Agent, D. F. King & Co., Inc., [email protected] or from any of the Dealer Managers.

The Dealer Managers for the Tender Offer are:

BBVA Securities Inc. Attn: Liability Management 1345 Avenue of the Americas,

44th Floor New York, NY

10105 Collect: +1 (212) 728-2446 or +1 (800) 422-8692 (U.S. Toll

Free) Citigroup Global Markets

Inc. Attn: Liability Management 388 Greenwich Street, Flr 7 New York, NY 10013 Collect: +1 (212) 723-6106 or +1 (800) 558-3745 (U.S. Toll

Free) Credit Suisse Securities

(USA) LLC

Attn: Liability Management

11 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10010

Collect: +1 (212) 538-2147 or +1 (800) 820-1653 (U.S. Toll

Free) Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Attn: Liability Management

Group

200 West Street New York, NY 10282

Collect: +1 (212) 357-1452 or

+1 (800) 828-3182 (U.S. Toll

Free)

The Billing and Delivering Bank for this Tender Offer was: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.

Questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to the Dealer Managers at the above contact.

Mexico has filed a registration statement (including the prospectus) and the preliminary prospectus supplement with the SEC for the New Notes Offering and the offering of the 2050 Notes. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents Mexico has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Mexico and such offerings. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Joint Lead Underwriters, the Dealer Managers or the Information Agent, as the case may be, will arrange to send you the prospectus supplement and the prospectus if you request it by calling any one of them at the numbers specified above.

Important Notice

The distribution of materials relating to the New Notes Offering and the Tender Offer and the transactions contemplated by the New Notes Offering and the Tender Offer may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Each of the New Notes Offering and the Tender Offer is void in all jurisdictions where it is prohibited. If materials relating to the New Notes Offering or the Tender Offer come into your possession, you are required by Mexico to inform yourself of and to observe all of these restrictions. The materials relating to the New Notes Offering or the Tender Offer, including this communication, do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation in any place where offers or solicitations are not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the New Notes Offering or the Tender Offer be made by a licensed broker or dealer and a Dealer Manager or any affiliate of a Dealer Manager is a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the New Notes Offering or the Tender Offer, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Manager or such affiliate on behalf of Mexico in that jurisdiction. Owners who may lawfully participate in the Tender Offer in accordance with the terms thereof are referred to as "holders."

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. The offering of these securities will be made only by means of the preliminary prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus.

The New Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (" EEA "). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended or superseded, " MiFID II "); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97/EC (the " Insurance Distribution Directive "), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (the " PRIIPs Regulation ") for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

In Belgium, the New Notes Offering and the Tender Offer are not directly or indirectly, being made to, or for the account of, any person other than to qualified investors (gekwalificeerde beleggers/investisseurs qualifies) within the meaning of Article 2(e) Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market, and repealing Directive 2003/71/EC. (Reglement (UE) 2017/1129 du 14 juin 2017 du Parlement europeen et du Conseil concernant le prospectus a publier en cas d'offre au public de valeurs mobilieres ou en vue de l'admission de valeurs mobilieres a la negociation sur un marche reglemente, et abrogeant la directive 2003/71/CE / Verordening (EU) 2017/1129 van het Europees Parlement en de Raad van 14 juni 2017 betreffende het prospectus dat moet worden gepubliceerd wanneer effecten aan het publiek worden aangeboden of tot de handel op een gereglementeerde markt worden toegelaten en tot intrekking van Richtlijn 2003/71/EG), as amended or replaced from time to time (Belgian Qualified Investor), that do not qualify as consumers (consumenten/consommateurs) within the meaning of Article I.1, 2 of the Belgian Code of Economic Law of February 28, 2013 (Wetboek van economisch recht/Code de droit economique), as amended or replaced from time to time (Consumers). A Consumer within the meaning of Article I.1, 2 of the Belgian Code of Economic Law is any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside their trade, business, craft or profession.

As a result, the New Notes Offering and the Tender Offer do not constitute a public takeover bid pursuant to Articles 3, 1, 1 and 6,  1 of the Belgian law of April 1, 2007 on public takeover bids (Wet op de openbare overnamebiedingen/Loi relative aux offres publiques d'acquisition), as amended or replaced from time to time.

Consequently, the New Notes Offering and the Tender Offer and any material relating thereto have not been and will not be, notified or submitted to, nor approved by the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (Autoriteit voor Financiele Diensten en Markten/Autorite des Services et Marches Financiers) pursuant to the Belgian laws and regulations applicable to the public offering or tendering of securities.

The New Notes Offering and the Tender Offer as well as any materials relating thereto may not be advertised, nor distributed, directly or indirectly, to any person in Belgium other than Belgian Qualified Investors acting for their own account who are not Consumers, and may not be used in connection with any offering in Belgium except as may otherwise be permitted by law.

The New Notes Offering cannot be considered to be a regulated investment service such as investment advice as listed under Annex I to the European Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments and amending Directive 2002/92/EC and Directive 2011/61/EU (MiFID II), as amended or replaced from time to time.

The New Notes and the Old Notes will not be registered under Chilean Law No. 18,045, as amended, with the Comision para el Mercado Financiero de Chile (Financial Market Commission of Chile, or " CMF ") and, accordingly, the New Notes and the Old Notes cannot and will not be offered or sold to persons in Chile except in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in a public offering under Chilean law, and in compliance with Norma de Caracter General (Rule) No. 336, dated June 27, 2012, issued by the CMF.

The New Notes may not be offered, sold or negotiated in Colombia, except in compliance with Part 4 of Decree 2555 of 2010. The Offer to Purchase and the New Notes Offering do not constitute and may not be used for, or in connection with, a public offering as defined under Colombian law.

The New Notes Offering and the Tender Offer have not been and will not be approved by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority, as neither constitute a public offer in accordance with the EU Prospectus Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/1129) nor the Danish Capital Market Act.

This announcement does not constitute an offer to the public in France. It is not a prospectus within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation.

No prospectus (including any amendment, supplement or replacement thereto) has been prepared in connection with the New Notes Offering that has been approved by the French Autorite des marches financiers (" AMF ") or by the competent authority of another Member State of the EEA and notified to the AMF under the Prospectus Regulation; the materials relating to the New Notes have not been distributed or caused to be distributed and will not be released, issued or distributed or caused to be released, issued or distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in France, or used in connection with any offer for subscription, exchange or sale of the notes to the public in France. Any such offers, sales and distributions have been and shall only be made in France to (i) qualified investors (investisseurs qualifies) acting for their own account, and/or to (ii) investment services providers authorized to engage in portfolio management services on behalf of third parties and/or to (iii) a limited group of investors (cercle restreint d'investisseurs) acting for their own account, all as defined in, and in accordance with, Articles L.411-2, II, D.411-1, D.411-4, D.744-l, D.754-l and D.764-1 of the French Code monetaire et financier.

In the event that the New Notes purchased or subscribed by investors listed above are offered or resold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France, the conditions relating to public offers set forth in Articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 to L.621-8-3 of the French Code monetaire et financier must be complied with. Investors in France and persons into whose possession offering materials come must inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions.

The Tender Offer is made in the Federal Republic of Germany (" Germany ") to existing holders of the Old Notes only.

The prospectus supplement does not constitute a prospectus compliant with the Prospectus Regulation and does therefore not allow any public offering in Germany. No action has been or will be taken in Germany that would permit a public offering of the New Notes, or distribution of a prospectus or prospectus supplement or any other offering material relating to the New Notes. In particular, no prospectus (Prospekt) within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation and the German Securities Trading Act (Wertpapierprospektgesetz) or any other applicable laws in Germany has been or will be published in Germany, nor has any prospectus or the prospectus supplement been filed with or approved by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) for publication in Germany.

The prospectus supplement is strictly for use of the person who has received it. It may not be forwarded to other persons or published in Germany.

With respect to persons in Hong Kong, the New Notes Offering and the Tender Offer are only made to, and are only capable of acceptance by, "professional investors" within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong (the " SFO ") and any rules made thereunder. No person or entity may issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the New Notes, Old Notes or the Tender Offer, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the Old Notes which are or are intended to be tendered, or New Notes which are intended to be purchased, only by persons outside Hong Kong or only by "professional investors" as defined in the SFO and any rules made under thereunder.

The Old Notes and the New Notes, and the Offer to Purchase and the New Notes Offering prospectus supplement, and any other documents or materials related to such offers have not and will not be registered with the Italian Securities Exchange Commission (Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa, or " CONSOB ") pursuant to applicable Italian laws and regulations. The Offer to Purchase and the New Notes Offering are being carried out pursuant to the exemptions provided for, with respect to the Offer to Purchase, in Article 101 bis, paragraph 3 bis of Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998, as amended (the " Consolidated Financial Act ") and Article 35 bis, paragraph 4, of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as amended; and, with respect to the New Bonds Offering, in Article 1, paragraph 4, letter c), of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

Holders or beneficial owners of the Old Notes that are resident and/or located in Italy can tender the Old Notes for purchase, and the New Notes Offerings can be offered, sold and delivered, through authorized persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, the Consolidated Financial Act, the CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of 15 February 2018, as amended, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of September 1, 1993, as amended) and in compliance with any other applicable laws and regulations or with any requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority. Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis a vis its clients in connection with the bonds or the relevant offering.

In Luxembourg, this announcement has been prepared on the basis that the offer of the New Notes, the Tender Offer and the potential exchange offer will be made pursuant to an exemption under Article 1 (4) of the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of securities.

Neither the Offer to Purchase, nor any other documents or materials relating to the Offer to Purchase have been approved by or will be submitted for the approval of, the Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission (Comision Nacional Bancaria y de Valores, or the " CNBV ") and, the New Notes have not been and will not be registered with the Mexican National Securities Registry (Registro Nacional de Valores) maintained by the CNBV, and therefore the Old Notes and New Notes have not and may not be offered or sold publicly in Mexico. However, investors that qualify as institutional or qualified investors pursuant to the private placement exemption set forth in Article 8 of the Mexican Securities Market Law (Ley del Mercado de Valores), may be contacted in connection with, and may participate in the Offer to Purchase, and can be offered with or purchase New Notes. The participation in the Offer to Purchase or the acquisition of New Notes will be made under such investor's own responsibility.

In Norway, the New Notes Offering and the Tender Offer are made only in accordance with applicable exemptions from the requirement to prepare a prospectus or offer document in accordance with the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. Accordingly, the New Notes Offering and the Tender Offer have not been and will not be filed with or approved by the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority, the Oslo Stock Exchange or the Norwegian Registry of Business Enterprises.

The Tender Offer is not intended for any person who is not qualified as an institutional investor, in accordance with provisions set forth in Resolution SMV No. 021-2013-SMV-01 issued by Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores (Superintendency of Capital Markets) of Peru, and as subsequently amended. No legal, financial, tax or any other kind of advice is hereby being provided.

The New Notes Offering prospectus supplement and the Offer to Purchase have not been and will not be registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The Offer to Purchase does not constitute an offering of securities in Singapore pursuant to the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the " SFA "). The New Notes will not be offered or sold or cause that such New Notes to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and will not offer or sell such New Notes or cause such New Notes to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and has not circulated or distributed, nor will it circulate or distribute, this prospectus supplement or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of such New Notes, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA and (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018 of Singapore or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the New Notes are subscribed or purchased in reliance on an exemption under Sections 274 or 275 of the SFA, the New Notes shall not be sold within the period of six months from the date of the initial acquisition of the notes, except to any of the following persons:

an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA);

a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA); or

any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA,

unless expressly specified otherwise in Section 276(7) of the SFA or Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore.

Where the New Notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries' rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the New Notes pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

to an institutional investor or to a relevant person as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or (in the case of such corporation) where the transfer arises from an offer referred to in 276(3)(i)(B) of the SFA or (in the case of such trust) where the transfer arises from an offer referred to in Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

where the transfer is by operation of law;

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore .

None of the offer materials related to the New Notes Offering or Tender Offer have been approved or registered in the administrative registries of the Spanish Securities Market Commission (Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores). Consequently, the securities may not be offered, sold or distributed in Spain except in circumstances which do not constitute a public offer of securities in Spain within the meaning of Article 35 of the restated text of the Securities Markets Act approved by Royal Legislative Decree 4/2015, dated October 23, 2015 (Real Decreto Legislativo 4/2015, de 23 de octubre, por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la Ley del Mercado de Valores), Royal Decree 1310/2005, dated November 4, 2005 (Real Decreto 1310/2005 de 4 de noviembre), or otherwise in reliance on an exception from registration available thereunder.

The prospectus supplement is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the New Notes described therein in Switzerland, except as permitted by law. The New Notes may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (" FinSA ") and will not be admitted to any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland.

Neither the prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the New Notes constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to the FinSA, and neither the prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the New Notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither the communication of the Offer to Purchase nor any other offer material relating to the Tender Offer or the New Notes Offering has been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The Offer to Purchase and the prospectus supplement are only being distributed to and are only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the " Order ") or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Articles 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such other persons together being referred to as " relevant persons "). Any investment or investment activity to which the Offer to Purchase or the New Notes Offering relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. The New Notes will only be available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire the New Notes will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the Offer to Purchase, the prospectus supplement or any of their contents.

The New Notes Offering and the Tender Offer qualifies as a private placement pursuant to section 2 of Uruguayan law 18.627. The New Notes and the Old Notes are not and will not be registered with the Central Bank of Uruguay to be publicly offered in Uruguay.

Contact information:

D. F. King & Co., Inc.

48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor

New York, NY 10005

E-mail: [email protected]

Call Collect:: +1 (212) 269-5550

Call Toll-Free: +1 (800) 714-3312

website: www.dfking.com/ums

ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR AFTER THIS MESSAGE ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.

SOURCE The United Mexican States
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, we are living in the United States of Propaganda.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) The National Commission for Women (NCW), here on Tuesday, welcomed the decision in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case.

"The issuance of death warrant is a huge win for the women of our country and, hopefully, this historical verdict would stop/minimise such crimes against women," said NCW chief Rekha Sharma
FLINT, MI -- Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group expects to decide whether to build a new manufacturing plant in Flint or at one of several sites its considering in other states in coming weeks, a spokesman for the company says.

We (are) working through the process of reviewing proposals from several other states . as we continue to talk with the state of Michigan, Richard Ansell, a spokesman for Mahindra Automotive North America, said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal. We expect to complete this process over the next month or so."

Mahindra is in the running to handle production of the U.S. Postal Services next-generation delivery vehicle, and officials with the company expect that sourcing decision, which was delayed previously, to happen in the second quarter of this year.

Regardless of whether Mahindra gets that Postal Service contract, company officials say they need more room for its production of an off-road work and recreational vehicle that its currently building in Auburn Hills, which also serves as its North American headquarters.

Mahindra has been looking at the Buick City site for months, announcing in August that it had signed a letter of intent to evaluate property owned by the Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response Trust for its new plant. RACER is a trust that was created to sell off troubled assets of General Motors when the company went through bankruptcy in 2009.

Its not known what type of incentive package the state may have developed to bring Mahindra and up to 2,000 jobs to Flint rather than other sites that have been under consideration in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Arizona.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in August that the state was working with the company, but referred questions this week to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which declined to comment.

We do not comment on potential projects that may or may not come before the Michigan Strategic Fund board in the future, spokesman Otie McKinley said in an email to The Journal.

Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley has also been in contact with the company since his election in November.

Flint is the ideal location to build the next generation of U.S. Postal Service vehicles, Neeley said in a written statement to The Journal. We are moving Flint forward. This is a great place to do business.
January 7, 2020 - Careful monitoring of pressure within the skull (intracranial pressure, or ICP) is crucial for some neurocritical care patients. But current procedures for measuring ICP via an external ventricular drain (EVD) may not leave enough time for accurate ICP readings, reports a study in the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing (JNN), official journal of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

In patients with an EVD to drain excess fluid from around the brain, current practice in terms of temporarily clamping the drain does not provide sufficient time to reach the true ICP level in most cases, according to the new research by Xiuyun Liu, PhD, and colleagues of University of California, San Francisco.

Three-Fourths of EVD Closures Don't Leave Enough Time to Reach Stable ICP

The researchers evaluated procedures for ICP measurement via EVD in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a severe type of stroke in which there is bleeding into the brain, most commonly caused by a ruptured aneurysm. Patients with SAH, traumatic brain injury, and certain other conditions are at risk of developing excessive pressure within the skull, which can cause secondary brain injury.

For these patients, surgical placement of an EVD within the ventricle is a lifesaving procedure, allowing drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to control pressure within the skull. Regular and precise measurement of ICP is essential for clinicians to make decisions promptly to protect the brain. To perform these measurements, the EVD system must be temporarily clamped. This stops CSF drainage, allowing the true level of ICP within the brain to be reached.

A 2017 study in JNN suggested that a minimum 5-minute period without drainage is required to reach equilibrium, or a stable level of ICP. "This clinical practice still faces great challenges," the researchers write. "[R]ecent studies have revealed wide practice variations associated with monitoring, treating, and documenting ICP values using EVD."

Is the 5-minute waiting period long enough to reach a stable ICP level? To find out, Dr. Liu and colleagues analyzed high-resolution continuous ICP values recorded via EVD in 107 patients with SAH. The analysis included data from every clamping procedure performed throughout the patients' hospital stay: a total of nearly 33,000 episodes of EVD closure. The researchers developed an automated algorithm to determine whether EVD clamping times allowed enough time for ICP to reach a new equilibrium.

About 66 percent of EVD closures were less than one minute, while 16 percent were more than five minutes. Some closures were performed to test whether the patient was ready to be weaned off their EVD -whether their ICP remained under control without CSF drainage. In about 30 percent of tests, the patient was not yet ready for weaning.

Overall, just 23 percent of closures met study criteria for equilibrium, including a stable ICP level with an EVD closure time of longer than one minute. This suggested that more than three-fourths of EVD closures may not have left adequate time for accurate ICP measurement.

"The result is crucial, and it raises great concerns about the current practice of clamping EVD to measure ICP and obtain accurate readings," Dr. Liu and coauthors write. "A standard guideline and proper training to nurses are needed for ICP intermittent checking." The researchers also call for continued innovations in monitoring technology that can quickly and accurately show ICP trends at a "proper time scale," alongside other critical vital signs.

###

Click here to read "Intracranial Pressure Monitoring via External Ventricular Drain: Are We Waiting Long Enough Before Recording the Real Value?"

DOI: 10.1097/JNN.0000000000000487

About the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing

The Journal of Neuroscience Nursing (JNN), the official journal of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, contains original articles on advances in neurosurgical and neurological techniques as they affect nursing care, theory and research, as well as commentary on the roles of the neuroscience nurse in the health care team.

The journal provides information to nurses and health care professionals working in diverse areas of neuroscience patient care. The information is applicable to professionals working in clinical, research, administrative, and educational settings.

About the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses

Founded in 1968, the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) is an organization of more than 5,400 nurses and healthcare professionals worldwide. These professionals work in clinical, research, administrative, and educational settings, covering diverse areas of neuroscience patient care such as multispecialty and neuroscience intensive care units, general neuroscience units, combination units, rehabilitation units, medical-surgical units, pediatric units, emergency and trauma departments, and surgery.

About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the clinicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and tax, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2018 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 18,600 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit http://healthclarity.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth.

For more information, visit http://www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 8, 2020 - 01:37 | All, Japan

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi promised on Tuesday to help Thailand join a trans-Pacific free trade agreement at an early date.

"We would like to cooperate as much as possible" in ensuring Thailand's entry into the revised Trans-Pacific Partnership, an 11-member FTA, Motegi told Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai in a meeting in Bangkok.

Don explained that the Thai government is examining the technical aspects of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which entered into force in December 2018.

The CPTPP involves Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Thailand is considering joining it so it would not be left behind by regional competitors.

Indonesia, South Korea and Britain are among other countries that have expressed interest in signing onto the CPTPP. Citing his preference for bilateral trade deals, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the 12-nation TPP in 2017.

[Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (L) and his Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai shake hands in Bangkok]

In a separate meeting later Tuesday, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told Motegi that Japan would be the first to know when Thailand finalizes its application to join the CPTPP.

Motegi and Don agreed to step up economic cooperation between their countries, including by creating a suitable environment to attract Japanese investment in Thailand.

They also pledged to work to bring India back to negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a 16-nation FTA that would cover half the world's population and roughly a third of its gross domestic product.

Motegi is on a weeklong tour of Southeast Asia that includes Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.

[Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (L) and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha hold talks in Bangkok]
The US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, has said that America has no plans to pull out its militarily from Iraq. Following the assass...





The US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, has said that America has no plans to pull out its militarily from Iraq.





the Iraqi Parliament on Sunday, voted for US troops to evacuate the country immediately. Following the assassination of Iranian army General, Qassem Soleimani by the US government,the Iraqi Parliament on Sunday, voted for US troops to evacuate the country immediately.





However, Esper told Pentagon reporters on Monday that there is no plan for troops to leave Iraq following reports of a US military letter about preparations for a withdrawal.





Theres been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq, Esper said, when asked about the letter, adding there had also been no plans issued to prepare to leave.





Theres been no decision made to leave Iraq. Period, he told reporters, Al Jazeera reports.





The letter, cited by news agencies and the US media, was sent to Iraqi military by a US Marine Corps Brigadier General William H Seely III, commanding general of Task Force Iraq, the US-led military coalition against ISIL.





Al Jazeera quoted a top US general as saying that the letter was a poorly worded draft document meant to only underscore increased movement of forces.





Poorly worded, implies withdrawal. Thats not whats happening, US Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a group of reporters, stressing there was no withdrawal being planned.





This was a mistake from McKenzie, Milley told reporters, referring to US Central Command commander General Frank McKenzie.





The long and short of it is: Its an honest mistake by people trying to do the right things in highly dynamic situations, etc. It should not have been sent, he said, adding that the unsigned document was a draft sent to get input from Iraqi officials.





It (the draft letter) was sent over to some key Iraqi military guys in order to get things coordinated for air movements, etc. Then it went from that guys hands to another guys hands and then it went to your hands. Now, its a kerfuffle.




The first image of the noose supposedly used by Jeffrey Epstein contradicts the official story of his alleged suicide.

A picture of the noose was broadcast by CBS News last night during 60 Minutes.

The forensic evidence released so far, including autopsy, point much more to murder [but] I hesitate to make a final opinion, until all the evidence is in. Dr. Michael Baden, a renowned forensic pathologist, is investigating the death on behalf of his Epsteins brother. pic.twitter.com/rVO73WhH5P  60 Minutes (@60Minutes) January 6, 2020

It shows a clean cloth with so signs of blood stains despite the fact that Epsteins neck was bloody.

The noose is also hemmed at either end, with no sign of it being cut, contradicting the official explanation that Epsteins body was cut down by the jail guard who found him.

The EMS people normally, and especially in a jail, should not move a dead body. Federal prison protocol was not followed after Jeffrey Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell. https://t.co/uhobs7dnNn pic.twitter.com/dwVI3TFjcK  60 Minutes (@60Minutes) January 6, 2020

It doesnt look like anybody ever took scissors to it, said 60 Minutes Sharyn Alfonsi. So there is some questionis that the right noose?

Dr. Michael Baden, the forensic pathologist who observed Epsteins four-hour autopsy on behalf of Epsteins brother Mark, continues to assert that Epstein was murdered.

The circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Epstein being put on suicide watch after an alleged attempt to take his own life are in dispute. Epstein told his lawyers he didnt try to kill himself, he was attacked by a cellmate. https://t.co/WPETR6hWZl pic.twitter.com/3e8Zbiydkz  60 Minutes (@60Minutes) January 6, 2020

There were fractures of the left, the right thyroid cartilage and the left hyoid bone, said Baden. I have never seen three fractures like this in a suicidal hanging.

Going over a thousand jail hangings, suicides in the New York City state prisons over the past 40-50 years, no one had three fractures, he added.

Other unanswered questions remain; Why was Epstein taken off suicide watch? Why did his jail guards fail to properly keep check on him and why did surveillance cameras recording his cell fail?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with United States President Donald Trump and expressed his desire to continue to work with him to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, a Prime Ministers Office statement said on Tuesday.

Modi conveyed his New Year greetings to the US president, the PMO said.

During the conversation, the prime minister noted that India-US relations, which are built on trust, mutual respect and understanding, "have grown from strength to strength", it said.

Modi highlighted the significant progress made in deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries in the previous year and expressed his desire to continue to work with President Trump for enhancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, the statement said.

US President Trump wished the people of India prosperity and progress in the New Year.

He expressed satisfaction at the achievements in the relationship in the last few years and reiterated his readiness for further deepening bilateral cooperation, according to the statement.

Edited by Roshneesh K'Maneck
PORTLAND, Ore.  Four more firefighters from the Pacific Northwest are headed to help fight massive wildfires in Australia, the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced on Monday.

This time the deployment includes firefighters from the BLM Vale, Prineville, and Burns Districts. They'll join 13 other firefighters from Oregon and Washington that are already on the ground in Australia.

"Fires that started to burn in August have continued uninterrupted with large areas of both New South Wales and Queensland burned, multiple property losses, and, sadly, fatalities," BLM said. "Fire conditions continue to challenge in New South Wales and Queensland, while new fires are causing concern further south in Victoria."

Fire conditions in Australia have been extreme due to an extended drought, hot temperatures, and relative humidity in the single digits, the agency continued.

The BLM firefighters aiding in Australia bring more than just extra muscle. According to the agency, they have expertise in air tactical support, wildland fire management, and fire crew leadership.

During the harsh wildfire season on the U.S. West Coast in August of 2018, 138 firefighters from Australia and New Zealand came to the area for nearly 30 days to help with fire suppression in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.

"The Australian and New Zealand personnel filled critical needs during the peak of the western fire season for mid-level fireline management, heavy equipment, helicopter operations, and structure protection," BLM said.

The last time firefighters from the U.S. deployed to Australia was in 2010.
Bitcentral's FUEL Non-Stop Live Streaming Platform Exceends Expectations in Trial with Heartland Media, Leading to Group-Wide Implementation

11 local stations across the U.S. will begin monetizing live newscasts through FUEL

Newport Beach, CA( )

Bitcentral Inc., a well-known provider of efficient media workflows in the U.S. and Latin America, expands its reach across the nation as Atlanta-based Heartland Media, a local broadcast media company operating 11 local stations and digital media assets stations across the continental U.S., chooses the FUEL Non-Stop Live streaming platform to enhance its media operations.

Heartland Media trialed the Non-Stop Live platform at KEZI in Eugene, Oregon, as part of their efforts to effectively monetize live newscasts with an option that could seamlessly integrate with their current workflow. Through the trial, Heartland Media found the FUEL solution enhanced the viewer experience, leading to a substantial 12-times increase in the average session duration. Before yearend 2019 Heartland will implement FUEL and Non-Stop Live in each of the 11 markets, maximizing the quality of its viewership while maintaining a focus on generating greater digital advertising revenue.

After a very successful market trial, we are excited to be partnering with Bitcentral to rollout the FUEL Non-Stop Live streaming solution into all our eleven markets, said Lisa Bishop, Chief Digital Officer at Heartland Media. Our entire team is impressed with the significant lift in viewing hours, session duration and increased ad inventory which will result in much higher monetization. FUEL will provide Heartland Media with the solution for us to create new digital revenue  and most importantly, give our viewers an engaging and very satisfying viewing experience.

We value our long-standing relationship with Heartland Media and are excited to expand our partnership by implementing FUEL in all of their markets, said Fred Fourcher, Bitcentral founder and CEO. Consistent with KEZI and with other customers experiences, we are confident FUEL will deliver a high-quality viewing experience, coupled with effective built-in dynamic ad insertion across all of Heartlands digital platforms and importantly, provide an excellent experience for their staff  all resulting in the peace of mind Bitcentral promises our customers.

Launched in August 2018, FUEL is Bitcentrals highly efficient production, cloud streaming and video monetization solution. FUEL was created to assist OTT/streaming providers, broadcasters and rights holders with providing viewers a high-quality viewing experience while maximizing advertising revenue.

To learn more about FUEL, visit the products page at www.bitcentral.com, and follow @bitcentral on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Bitcentral, Inc.

Founded in 2000, Bitcentral is a software company that provides efficient media workflows and customized solutions to maximize the value of video content. Our Core News solution is the No. 1 news production platform in the U.S. reaching millions every day; Central Control provides a flexible toolset for master control operation with modules to execute all the processes that converge into playout; while FUEL, our most innovative and industry-changing Linear on Demand streaming solution, is creating an easy path to new digital revenue. More than 1,000 broadcast operations worldwide rely on Bitcentrals news production and master control automation software and with FUEL, theyll now be able to target and deliver personalized content across digital platforms (OTT, web, apps, mobile devices), social media and syndication. Bitcentral is based in Newport Beach, California, and its Latin America headquarters is in Mexico City. Schedule a demo today with a Bitcentral expert to see how FUEL can create an easy path to new digital revenue while elevating workflow efficiencies and maximizing the value of media.

About Heartland Media

Heartland Media, LLC is a local broadcast media company, operating local broadcast TV stations and digital media assets across the continental United States. Their mission is to build a television group by acquiring No. 1 rated stations, affiliates (CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, CW) with strong local news operations targeting university towns and state capitals that are deeply ingrained in the fabric of their communities.
Nigerians on Monday attacked the Ministry of Power over its reactions to controversial appointments made in different agencies under the supervision of the ministry.

Twitter users launched attacks on the minister, Sale Mamman, and the power ministry, after a press statement reacting to reports of the controversial appointments made by the minister described many Nigerians as wailers.

The press statement, signed by Aaron Artimas, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister of power, also accused officials affected by the ministers decision as people who are not susceptible to relinquishing public office even after exhausting their welcome or in the face of apparent failure to perform.

Mr Artimas also argued that the decisions were taken by the minister because, despite the huge resources President Muhammadu Buhari poured into the power ministry for over four years, there has been no tangible result. He attributed the failure to the poor performance of the officials affected by the ministers new decision, calling on Nigerians to ask question on why there has been no improvement in the sector.

Controversial Appointments

PREMIUM TIMES reported how two key agencies under the ministry have been dogged by controversies in the past weeks. PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported the appointment 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).

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.

Power Lines used to illustrate the story [Photo: energymixreport.com]

Similarly, there has been palpable tension at the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC after its embattled Managing Director, Marilyn Amobi, was suspended. PREMIUM TIMES reported how nine top officials of the bulk trader were arrested and detained by the State Security Services. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria(HURIWA) in its reaction had said that Mr Mamman lacked power under the laws to suspend Ms Amobi.

Ministry attacks critics, affected officials

But the ministry in a statement posted on its Twitter page Monday evening described reports and criticism of the ministers actions as myopic and illogical arguments questioning its discretionary judgement.

A section of the media supported as usual by the so-called wailers have gone to town with the sickening and boring allegations of ethnic, regional or religious discrimination without examining the substance of the changes, the statement said.

On group even went to the bizarre level of accusing the minister of power, Engineer Sale Mamman, of discrimination against women. The minister of power, Engineer Sale Mamman, has no particular interest in any particular appointment in the ministry other than to put square pegs in square holes for the maximum result. Those talking about changes in appointment are merely engaged in idle talks.

The statement said that Mr Buhari has invested so much in the power ministry since he came to power with no tangible results.

Nigerians should be asking why there was no much improvement in the sector after such concerted efforts by the government and not to encourage wailers to sulk over public officers who have been in the ministry for over four years without tangible results, it added.

The statement said there had been in-fighting in the different agencies for a long time, a development that has affected performances. The new appointments, the ministry said, were meant to effect changes and deliver results.

Lagos Faceless Groups

The ministry also accused what it called a cabal using some faceless groups in Lagos of attempts to undermine the efforts of the new minister.

As early as November last year, this cabal began to sponsor insidious reports using some faceless groups in Lagos, claiming that the ministry of power was failing under the new minister, the statement said.

It is the same untouchables who want to perpetuate themselves in power that are now resisting any form of re-organisation meant to reposition the ministry for optimum performance. The ministry should not be tied down by individuals whose only concern is the retention of power at the expense of service delivery.

The ministry said the same cabal which accused the minister of poor co-ordination of the ministry now condemns it for re-organising the different agencies, adding that it would not focus on removal or appointment of officials but the mandate to deliver power to Nigerians.

The minister should not be distracted by the detestable and nauseating appeal to sentiment at the expense of the need for genuine change in the power sector in line with the next level agenda of president Muhammadu Buhari, the statement added.

Nigerians Fume

But many Nigerians in their reaction to the press statement attacked the ministry for its vulgar and abusive language. Others noted that the reaction calls to question the suitability in office of those charged with the responsibility of serving the Nigerian people.

Aminu Ida, tweeting via the handle @aminu3214, described the statement as a poorly written statement that ought to have been drafted without its acerbic contents. He wrote: I think this is a poorly written statement, you can convey same message but nit(not) like this!!!

Nigerias Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola. [PHOTO CREDIT: Energy Mix Report]

Kayode Abaniwonnda in his response said the statement was an attack on the immediate past minister of power, Babatunde Fashola. This is such an unfortunate press release, he tweeted. Totally unnecessary and badly written. It practically attacked the previous appointees of @MBuhari of incompetence and failure. I wonder how @EngrSMamman expect his colleague @tundefashola to feel about this.

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Akinfosile Oluwaseyi, another user, said the statement was Very unprofessional because it Actually adds more fuel to the controversy and seeks to condescend on genuine concerns while doing nothing to improve public confidence. Gbenga Adesoji, another commenter, in his own reply simply described the statement as Unbelievable.

Samuel Out said the statement was not well written. You couldnt help tagging some critics as wailers, he tweeted. This is below par.

Mr Abaniwonnda in a subsequent tweet called on the Nigerian government to withdraw the statement. The @NGRPresident should as a matter of urgency get the minister to withdraw this terrible press release.

Another user, tweeting via the handle @Idonges89861691, described the press release as a very unfortunate press statement from the Minister.

When contacted Monday night, the ministers spokesperson, Emmanuel Bello, did not deny that the statement was from his colleague, Mr Artimas.

He promised to contact Mr Artimas for further clarification and authentication of the statement and said he would get back to this reporter. He was yet to do so at the time of this report.
New Delhi: A fringe right-wing group calling itself the Hindu Raksha Dal has purportedly taken responsibility for the attack on students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in a video posted on social media.

The video, which was posted on social media on Monday and has gone viral since then, shows a man identifying himself as Pinki Chaudhary saying that those who resort to anti-national activities will be treated in the same way that JNU students and faculty were.

He later told news channels that others involved in "anti-national activities" would face similar attacks.

There was no immediate reaction from the police on Chaudhury's claims.

For several years, JNU has been a bastion of communists and we will not tolerate it. Hindu Raksha Dal, Bhupendra Tomar, Pinki Chaudhury take the responsibility of what has happened in JNU...all of them were our volunteers. Those who cannot do such work for Mother India don't have the right to live in this country, Chaudhary is seen saying in the video.

We are always ready to sacrifice our lives for Mother India. We will not tolerate anyone who speaks against the religion, he added.

Efforts to reach the man were unsuccessful: his phone was switched off.

More than 35 students were injured Sunday when a masked mob went on the rampage, attacking students and professors and vandalising property. The JNUSU has accused the RSS-affiliated ABVP volunteers of attacking the students.
I live in rural Vermont and dating/meeting people is fairly difficult. Within the past three months, I've become closer with a woman I've known for about a year now. I felt like she might have a crush on me, but I wasn't sure. We hung out a couple times, including taking a day trip. She recently opened up about having some serious seasonal depression. I sympathized, and then eventually, after having trouble reaching her, I sent her a physical letter.

I started out by saying that I had a crush on her, if it wasn't obvious. I told her she's beautiful, creative, has great taste in music, great style, and is very thoughtful and sweet. The next of couple days, as I waited for her to receive the letter, I had a ton of anxiety. Three or four days later, she messaged me and said she was going to write me a letter in return but decided that I deserved a faster response. She told me she's had a crush on me for months but has gone through some traumatic events this year. I won't go into specifics, but she isn't quite ready to date and wants to work through her issues. She said she wouldn't completely throw out the possibility of us getting together down the road but had no idea how long that road would be, and didn't want me to wait for her because it felt unfair. She still feels really drawn to me, she said, and I share that feeling, but we are in some kind of limbo that feels a little difficult to navigate.

That whole conversation was weeks ago, and we've had some really personal conversations since then about random family dynamics and struggles. I want to be supportive as a friend. I also feel like I have a positive effect on her, but perhaps that's just my ego trying to justify my feelings that we should be together. I don't want to pressure her into anything, but I do feel like I have a calming effect on her.

The little community I met her in had a Secret Santa, and naturally I was selected to give her a gift. It feels like some kind of a sign to me. I bought her really personal, meaningful gifts that I knew she would love. I just hope they didnt result in pressure to commit to anything. Or maybe I do? I don't know.

 Waiting
Democrats criticized President Trump for claiming that his tweets now count as official notification to Congress about any U.S. military plans to attack Iran.

Trump claimed that "should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner."

"Such legal notice is not required but is given nevertheless!" he said.

This prompted the Democratic-led House Foreign Affairs Committee to respond with their own tweet to the president telling him, "You're not a dictator."

"This Media Post will serve as a reminder that war powers reside in the Congress under the United States Constitution," the tweet reads. "And that you should read the War Powers Act. And that youre not a dictator."

This Media Post will serve as a reminder that war powers reside in the Congress under the United States Constitution. And that you should read the War Powers Act. And that youre not a dictator. https://t.co/VTroMegWv0  House Foreign Affairs Committee (@HouseForeign) January 5, 2020

The tweet references The War Powers Act of 1973, which states that when existing U.S. armed forces abroad are without a war declaration, "the President shall submit within 48 hours ... a report, in writing" to the House Speaker and President pro tempore of the Senate. In this case, Trump would submit to Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Grassley.

The Trump administration sent Congress a formal notification Saturday regarding the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, CNN reported. White House officials reportedly told lawmakers the notification would be sent in accordance with the law on Friday.

Oona Hathaway, a legal scholar and professor at Yale University, weighed in on the matter on Twitter, asserting that the president's tweet "threatens to break several laws."

Story continues

"First, the President cannot notify Congress under the War Powers Resolution by tweet," she said. "Second, he claims '[s]uch legal notice is not required.' That's not true. Any time the president involves the armed forces into 'hostilities,' he must--at a minimum--notify Congress within 48 hours."

This tweet threatens to break several laws. First, the President cannot notify Congress under the War Powers Resolution by tweet. 1/ https://t.co/tf5m8gXzCh  Oona Hathaway (@oonahathaway) January 5, 2020

"That any of this has to be said suggests just how insane this situation has become," she concluded.
A Delhi court Tuesday ordered hanging of the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case triggering debate whether death sentence deters heinous crimes.

While a section of experts hold a contrary view, there are those who favour the retention of capital punishment in the statute book.

Senior advocate Rebecca M John and advocate Avani Bansal were of the view that capital punishments have rarely acted as a deterrent and it was not a solution.

However, senior advocate Vikas Singh said death penalty should remain because it is a way of informing people that something so heinous would be retributed with the same treatment.

John said the need to make work places, streets and the society safe for women and that would eventually act as deterrents to rapes in the country.

"Capital punishments have rarely acted as a deterrent. What we need to do is to make our society, our workplaces, our streets safe for women," she said.

Bansal said that though it was important to punish criminals, death penalty was no solution.

"It is important to punish those who commit heinous crimes but it can never equal to the State taking away one's life. Because the State cannot take, what it cannot give," she added.

Singh, on the other hand, said: "You know that the gravity of this offence is so large, definitely it will have some deterrence on the prospective of criminals indulging in such kind of activities.

"So I think capital punishment should remain and it should be given in appropriate cases especially 'rarest of the rare' as has already been held by the Supreme Court and this (Nirbhaya gang rape) was definitely one such case which can be said to be rarest of rare where capital punishment can be imposed."

After the trial court's Tuesday order issuing death warrants of the convicts, Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi, said, "the hanging of convicts will restore the faith of women in law".

Meanwhile, the lawyers said the four convicts, against whom death warrants have been issued by a trial court in Delhi, still have the option of filing curative pleas in the Supreme Court.

After exhausting the last legal remedy of curative petition, the convicts can then approach the President with their mercy pleas, a constitutional remedy available to them.

A curative petition is the last legal recourse available to a person and it is generally considered in-chamber.

The trial court issued death warrants of the four convicts -- Mukesh (32), Vinay Sharma (26), Akshay Singh (31) and Pawan Gupta (25) -- ordering that they be hanged on January 22 at 7am in Tihar Jail.

John and senior advocate Ajit Sinha said the convicts have time till january 22 to file curative petitions in the Supreme Court, which may or may not be entertained.

"They will be filing a curative. That is the only remedy left. Otherwise everything is final. Nobody can stop it (the curative pleas) but will it be entertained is the question. They have time till January 22," Sinha said.

John said the convicts could have done it earlier but what they can still do is to file a curative petition and upon dismissal of the curative pleas, they can move a mercy petition before the President.
TEFEN, Israel, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers can now enjoy delicious antioxidant-rich pomegranates for an extended season, thanks to the packaging experts at StePac L.A., Ltd., who have been pioneering advances in pomegranate packaging since 2003. The company introduces its latest range of sustainable packaging solutions, perfect for preserving the freshness and extending the shelf life of pomegranates and their extracted arils.

Sustainable packaging extends the pomegranate season

StePac has expanded its range to include new recyclable solutions, as well as packaging formats tailored to automation of both bulk and retail packing. These will be showcased at the upcoming Fruit Logistica in Berlin, February 5-7, hall 26, booth #D10.

In spite of their tough exterior, whole fresh pomegranates host a range of challenges that arise with prolonged storage. In the absence of proper protection, the fruit can suffer significant dehydration and weight loss, causing it to shrivel. This may be accompanied by the development of skin blemishes and crown decay that eventually leaches into the fruit and impairs the quality and taste of the arils.

From orchard to table

StePac's pomegranate packaging portfolio incorporates long storage packaging formats to meet the requirements of growers seeking glut management solutions for post-harvest bulk storage.

Pomegranate growers and packers are now able to load fresh-picked pomegranates directly at the orchard and store up to 400kg of the fruit in each specialized StePac Xtend bin liner for periods of three months or longer, with no negative effect on the fruit. This is in addition to storage liners for weight of 10-80kg that are already widely used in many countries.

The Xtend line also includes unique carton liners that offer the ideal solution for maintaining fruit quality during the lengthy shipments to distant locations.

Leaner flowpack packaging for whole fruits

StePac developed film structures containing a unique sealing layer that facilitates leaner packaging and induces savings of up to 40% in material use as well as reduced labor costs, by enabling pomegranates to be flow-packed in both bulk and retail formats.

100% recyclable retail packaging for arils

The company recently finalized development of fully recyclable Xgo lidding films and standing pouches to add to this category of retail-packaging products. These solutions are designed to inhibit postharvest microbial decay and extend the shelf life of extracted pomegranate arils for up to 17 days, preserving the fruit's organoleptic properties. The lidding films are available in lean easy peel and resealable formats.

The company's comprehensive range of lean and sustainable packaging solutions is designed to maintain pomegranate freshness throughout all stages of the supply chain. The technology is based on a unique modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) system that reduces respiration rates and ethylene production for a combined effect of slowing down ageing and ripening. It also inhibits the proliferation of pathogens.

Water vapor transmission technology enhances performance

StePac has developed a comprehensive repertoire of films with built-in abilities to regulate water-vapor transmission rates as well as provide optimal modified atmosphere conditions. The films incorporate distinct properties to cater to a range of pomegranate packaging applications.

"During prolonged storage of this fruit, it is paramount to strike the perfect balance between eliminating excess free moisture to mitigate the risk of microbial decay and to concurrently avoid excessive product dehydration," explains Gary Ward, Ph.D., Business Development Manager for StePac. "Such balance depends on multiple synergistic factors, including surface area to volume ratio, produce weight, supply chain length, and shipping and storage conditions."

"Pomegranates are in demand in every continent," Ward enthuses. "The global reach of our technology is instrumental in addressing the challenges facing the pomegranate industry and for ensuring that both the whole fruit and the extracted arils reach the consumers wherever they might be  in prime condition, while keeping waste to a minimum. Our holistic vision and pragmatic approach are embedded in a range of complex structures and packaging formats that deliver the extended shelf life and sustainability principles our customers seek. This approach evolved from our deep-rooted understanding and 25-year history of researching fresh produce pathology and physiology and its interaction with packaging design."

Meet us at Fruit Logistica 2020, Berlin, February 5-7, hall 26, booth #D10

About StePac

StePac specializes in functional packaging for fresh produce. Its globally recognized brands include Xtend, Xgo, Xflow and Xbloom modified-atmosphere/modified-humidity packaging solutions. These solutions reduce weight loss, slow respiration and aging, and inhibit microbial decay, while prolonging storability and shelf life. They are supported by a wealth of post-harvest expertise for enhanced performance and sustainability. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson Matthey, plc, UK.

Company Contact: Press Contact StePac, Johnson Matthey NutriPR Ms. Hila Nagel Ms. Liat Simha Marketing Communications liat@nutripr.com Tel: +972.4.612.3500 www.nutripr.com info@StePac.com www.StePac.com @StePac_Xtend Twitter: @LiatSimha





Photo:

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SOURCE StePac
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES

Mallacoota local Bob Semmens has been carrying out surveys of East Gippsland's bird life for the past 30 years but until this week he had never seen such devastation.

A rainbow lorikeet that died in the fires washed up on Tip Beach just outside Mallacoota Credit:Justin McManus

Following the fires that have torn through the region, bird carcasses  perhaps in their thousands  have washed up on Mallacoota's once-pristine beaches.

Mr Semmens, 87, has counted 100 dead birds from 25 species on a half-kilometre stretch of Tip Beach, just outside Mallacoota, half-buried in blackened piles of leaves. Its a sorry sight, he said.
Karishma Hasnat

Laisri has become a grandmother  her daughter R3A has given birth to a calf at the Manas National Park in Assam, and the birth of the newborn rhino warrants a celebration in the state that is presently witnessing widespread protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The six-year-old rhino has become a mother for the first time. The calf was born on 4 January, and authorities have been documenting its movements since it was born.

"R3A was born to Laisri in 2013, and we are happy to see her becoming a mother now. Laisri was relocated to Manas from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary through the wild-to-wild translocation procedure. The calf's gender is yet known, but our initial observations suggest that both the mother and baby are doing well in the wild," Deba Kumar Dutta, Landscape Coordinator (BHL, Manas Conservation Area), WWF-India and member of IUCN/SSC Asian Rhino Specialist Group, said.

The Manas National Park that reclaimed its UNESCO (Natural) World Heritage Site tag in 2011 is now home to 42 rhinos, including rescued and rehabilitated. The birth of a rhino calf is seen as a big win for conservationists, and their efforts towards protection of the critically threatened one-horned rhinoceros species, the pride of Assam and Assamese people.

Manas has revived because of the rhino introduction process. It has been more than a decade since we translocated two male rhinos to Manas from Pobitora in April 2008. It was a wild-to-wild rhino translocation. In 2006, rhinos were also brought to Manas from the rehabilitation centre, said Dutta.

In the early eighties and nineties, heavy poaching had wiped out the entire rhino population in Manas  prior to 1989, an estimate of more than 100 rhinos were living in the national park. In 2005, Assam government with support from the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Bodoland Territorial Council launched the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020)  a programme to reintroduce rhinos in protected areas  where they had fallen to poachers bullets. In Assam, the rhino population is distributed in four major protected areas  Manas National Park, Kaziranga National Park, the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.

"Translocation is the intentional release of the animal to the wild in an attempt to establish, re-establish or augment the population. Translocation of a rhino is not an easy process, and it has to follow strict international and national protocols," explained Dutta, adding that the rhino translocation programme has also contributed to the mixing of genes as rhinos from Kaziranga and Pobitora have been introduced in Manas National Park.

From 2008-2012, 10 rhinos have been translocated to Manas from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, and eight others from Kaziranga National Park. Along with the wild rhinos, 17 rehabilitated rhinos from the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) have been introduced in the national park since 2006.

"Two more sub-adult rhinos are soon to be translocated from Kaziranga to Manas," informed Dutta, also explaining how the authorities keep a track of the rhinos in the park. "When they were first brought here, the rhinos were radio-collared, but once they were established, they have always been wild and free. It is a natural process of monitoring that we follow  it is ID-based, and also through distinctive body features, or through their movement pattern. Camera trap monitoring is also done, their ranges are well identified."

Tourism was almost non-existent or limping in Manas from 2003-2008, but with the revival of the national park, there has been a giant increase in Assams tourism revenue - till 2018, the revenue collection by Assam government stood at almost Rs 1 crore. The boost in tourism has also offered livelihood opportunities to the fringe community.

The increase in rhino population has further led to an increase in tiger and elephant population  at present, as many as 30 tigers are living in Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve, with the state government using the M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers - Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) application for better monitoring, surveillance and conservation of wildlife.

India holds 75 percent of worlds wild Indian rhino population, and due to multiple conservation efforts, the rhino population in Assam grew about 71% in between 1999 to 2018. According to Dutta, it has been a challenging task to re-establish the rhino population in Manas in the last decade - the Indian rhinos continue to be globally threatened due to habitat conversion, fragmentation and poaching.

"It has been a silent initiative to revive the rhino population at the Manas National Park, and every birth makes a difference. But the rhino population and the fragile habitat of Manas need much more attention from all stakeholders of the society."
The man got off on southbound Cline and led police through the industrial complex along River Road and Woodlawn, Martin said. At one point, a Griffith officer shot at the car low on the drivers side in order to stop it, but Hobart police eventually stopped the car in the 200 block of Woodlawn.
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A new report by the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria has highlighted the appalling treatment suffered by Palestinians in Syrian regime prisons.

The Action Group for Palestinians of Syria (AGPS) has documented the death of 616 Palestinian refugees under torture in Syrian government prisons since the outburst of bloody warfare.

1,780 Palestinian refugees have been secretly held behind Syrias prison bars, among them 109 women and girls along with dozens of minors.

Field reporters believe the real numbers to be far higher due to the governments reticence to reveal the names and fate of Palestinian captives and the families fears of disclosing their relatives names over retaliation concerns.

The list of victims includes activists, volunteers, medics, engineers, academics, journalists, university students, and artists.

According to affidavits by ex-detainees, Palestinian refugees have been subjected to harsh psycho-physical torture tactics, including electric shocks, heavy beating using iron sticks, and sexual abuse.

Such practices also breach the Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict of 1974, Article 5, which criminalizes all forms of torture and mistreatment against women and children.

Syrian opposition sources said that more than 500,000 prisoners remain inside the prisons of the Syrian regime.

According to the International Conscience Movement, an NGO, more than 13,500 women have been jailed since the Syrian conflict began, and more than 7,000 women remain in detention, where they are subjected to torture, rape and sexual violence.

Since the revolution, about 1.2 million Syrian citizens at some point have been arrested and detained in the regimes detention centers, including 130,000 individuals who are still detained or forcibly disappeared by the Syrian regime, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said.

At least 4,671 people were arrested by the Syrian regime and other warring factions in 2019.

The Syrian regime has been practicing 72 torture methods against detainees in security chambers and military hospitals, the SNHR said last October.

The eight-year-long war has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands and forced 13 million people from their homes, half of whom have left their shattered homeland.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Potential jurors in Harvey Weinsteins New York sexual assault trial are expected to fill a courtroom as the former film titans legal problems deepened with new charges in Los Angeles.

A stooped Weinstein shuffled into court with a walking frame for the start of the selection in New York, which could take weeks as prosecutors, lawyers and the judge find people to serve on a lengthy trial in a high-profile case that has fuelled pressure for accountability for sexual misconduct.

The trial involves charges alleging that Weinstein raped a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performed a sex act on another woman in the city in 2006.

Weinstein, 67, has said any sexual activity was consensual.

Expand Close Harvey Weinstein leaves court following a pre-trial hearing in New York (Mary Altaffer/AP) / Facebook

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In this great country, you are innocent until proven guilty, his lawyer Donna Rotunno said on Monday.

Across the street from the court, women who allege they were sexually harassed or assaulted by Weinstein branded him a villain undeserving of anyones pity.

This trial is a cultural reckoning regardless of its legal outcome, said Sarah Ann Masse, a performer and writer who alleged Weinstein once sexually harassed her in his underwear during a job interview.

Once one of Hollywoods most powerful producers, Weinstein has now been accused of sexual assault, harassment and misconduct by dozens of women, from famous actresses to assistants at his former company.

The allegations began surfacing publicly in October 2017 and sparked the #MeToo movement, as well as investigations in multiple places.

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Los Angeles prosecutors charged Weinstein on Monday with sexually assaulting two women there on successive nights during Oscar week in 2013.

Lawyers for Weinstein had no immediate comment on the new charges, though he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Los Angeles district attorney Jackie Lacey said the timing of the charges was unrelated to the New York trial.

She said the case took more than two years to build because the women were reluctant to provide all the information necessary, and the filing happened on the first business day when all the necessary people could gather.

There is some connection between the cases, though.

One of the Los Angeles accusers is expected to give evidence in the New York case to help prosecutors establish what they allege was Weinsteins pattern of forcing himself on young actresses and women trying to break into Hollywood.

Weinstein is expected to appear in court in California after his New York trial, Ms Lacey said.
Washington has warned Iran could target US ships across the Middle East after Tehran vowed 'jihad' for the killing of General Qassem Soleimani.

The US Maritime Administration put out the warning Tuesday, citing the rising threat after a US drone strike killed Iran's highest ranking commander in Baghdad Friday.

Oil tankers were targeted in mine attacks last year which the US blamed on Iran.

Tehran also seized the British-flagged Stena Impero tanker in July in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of the world's crude oil flows.

Two armed members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard storm the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero in July. It was seized in the Strait of Hormuz before being taken to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas

It comes after threats have been made to the shipping lanes as well as other American strategic assets and personnel after the general's killing.

Over the weekend General Gholamali Abuhamzeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards in Soleimani's hometown of Kerman, outlined a number of targets Tehran was weighing.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his commanders have vowed retaliation, including using the Strait of Hormuz

'The Strait of Hormuz is a vital point for the West and a large number of American destroyers and warships cross there ... vital American targets in the region have been identified by Iran since long time ago ... some 35 US targets in the region as well as Tel Aviv are within our reach,' Abuhamzeh said, naming Israel's largest city.

Britain's defence minister, Ben Wallace, said Saturday that all British-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz would be escorted by the Navy.

Wallace, ordered the HMS Montrose and HMS Defender to prepare to return to escort duties in the major oil shipping route as Prime Minister Boris Johnson came in for criticism for his silence over the killing.

Britain was forced to defend its ships through the world's most important shipping route last year after Iranian commandos seized the Stena Impero.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and military commanders have said Iranian retaliation for the U.S. action on Friday would match the scale of Soleimani's killing but that it would be at a time and place of Tehran's choosing.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said 13 'revenge scenarios' were being considered, Fars news agency reported. Even the weakest option would prove 'a historic nightmare for the Americans,' he said.

Soleimani (pictured) was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport on Friday, shocking the Islamic republic and sending tensions spiralling in the Middle East

Iranian state media said 'millions' of people had gathered in Tehran on Monday to mourn Soleimani's death in scenes not witnessed since the death of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989

Iran, whose southern coast stretches along a Gulf oil shipping route that includes the narrow Strait of Hormuz, has allied forces across the Middle East through which it could act.

Representatives from those groups, including the Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, attended the funeral events in Tehran.

Despite its strident rhetoric, analysts say Iran will seek to avoid any conventional conflict with the United States but asymmetric strikes, such as sabotage or other more limited military actions, are more likely.

Trump has promised strikes on 52 Iranian targets, including cultural sites, if Iran retaliates, although US officials sought to downplay his reference to cultural targets.

Reuters and other media reported on Monday that the U.S. military had sent a letter to Iraqi officials informing them that U.S. troops were preparing to leave.

'In order to conduct this task, Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner,' it said.

However, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said there had been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq. 'I don't know what that letter is,' he said.

U.S. Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the letter was a 'poorly worded' draft document meant only to underscore increased movement by U.S. forces.

About 5,000 U.S. troops are still in Iraq, where there has been a U.S. military presence since Saddam Hussein was toppled in a 2003 invasion.

On Sunday, Iraq's parliament, dominated by lawmakers representing Muslim Shia groups, passed a resolution calling for all foreign troops to leave the country.

Speedboats from Iran's Revolutionary Guard circle the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero on Sunday, July 21, 2019 in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, after it was seized in the Strait of Hormuz two days earlier

A Sailor assigned to a Mark VI patrol boat attached to Commander, Task Force 56 participates in a high value asset escort transit of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) after a port visit in Manama, Bahrain last month

Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister Abdel Abdul Mahdi told the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad on Monday that both sides needed to work together to implement the resolution.

Friction between Iran and the United States has risen since Washington withdrew in 2018 from a nuclear deal between Tehran and other world powers.

The United States has imposed economic sanctions on Iran and Tehran said on Sunday it was dropping all limitations on uranium enrichment, its latest step back from commitments under the deal.

Trump's U.S. political rivals have challenged his decision to order the killing of Soleimani and its timing in a U.S. election year.

His administration said Soleimani was planning new attacks on US interests but has offered no evidence.
Former Maharashtra chief minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis met with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray in Mumbai's Prabhadevi on Tuesday.

The meeting between the two leaders lasted for nearly two hours, sources said.

However, what transpired during the meeting could not be known immediately.

The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of the MNS chief running a campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, triggering speculations that he was getting close to the Nationalist Congress Party leadership.

Raj Thackeray, who portrays his party as the only saviour of Marathi interests, is the estranged cousin of Shiv Sena president and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

The MNS, which is battling for political survival in the state, currently has only one MLA in the state legislative assembly.

Raj Thackeray is expected to hold a public rally on January 23, where he might announce a key decision, an MNS official said.
Many of the members were caught unawares when reminded that they have to be present in the meeting in New Delhi to discuss the privatisation of Air India.

With the server of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) down for two days, the office of many members could access the mail from the Civil Aviation Ministry only on Monday (January 6) morning for the meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

Sources told IANS that the Civil Aviation Ministry sent an email on Friday to the members, informing them about the schedule of the meeting, but the same could not be accessed by many as the NIC server was down.

Sources said only 6-8 members of Parliament attended the meeting. The consultative committee has nearly 17 members representing both the Houses of the Parliament.

"Staff of the Parliamentarians could access the email only on Monday morning. When they informed the MPs about the schedule, many of them were outside Delhi and expressed their inability to attend the crucial meeting," a reliable source said.

IANS tried to reach some of the MPs to check if they got the email from the Aviation Ministry in time.

"The attendance was not full. It was a very short notice, so I am not surprised that full turnout was not there," Rajya Sabha member and senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said.

Swamy declined to share details of the consultative committee meeting, saying the proceedings were secret. While Swamy refused to share details of the deliberations, he had publicly opposed the privatisation of the national carrier in the past.

Meanwhile, a ministerial panel led by Home Minister Amit Shah has approved the draft of Expression of Interest (EoI) for the sale of Air India.

Sources said a large portion of Air India's debt would be taken off its books before putting it on the block for private players.

(Nirbhay Kumar can be contacted at nirbhay.k@ians.in)
Health officials have offered fresh talks with trade unions on staffing proposals in a last-ditch bid to avert strike action planned for this week.

In a direct appeal last night, Northern Ireland's top health official said dialogue rather than industrial action represented the best way forward.

The crisis gripping the health service continued yesterday with midwives here beginning to vote on taking part in industrial action.

Nurses from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) will tomorrow stage their second day of strike action over staffing levels and pay.

A further strike has also been planned for Friday. However, last night the permanent secretary of the Department of Health said it was still not too late for trade unions to defer the industrial action and get back around the negotiating table.

Richard Pengelly said the Royal College of Nursing has written to the department detailing a series of proposals on staffing.

He said: "Up to this point, discussions with unions had concentrated on pay issues. Now, the RCN has itemised specific demands in respect of safe staffing levels. In our view, these proposals can provide the basis for serious engagement.

"We have repeatedly made clear that our door remained open for discussions, with the specific aim of drawing up a detailed, costed implementation plan on staffing.

"We see no good reason why such dialogue cannot begin immediately. Deferring strike action would be in the best interests of patient and patient safety and would provide the necessary space for fresh dialogue.

"Our hospitals are already under severe pressure at present, even before the planned industrial action takes place this week."

Mr Pengelly added demands for pay parity was a matter for consideration by a minister. The position, he said, cannot be changed by industrial action.

"In terms of political resolution, all main political parties have already publicly supported the calls for parity with England and talks are ongoing about restoration of the devolved institutions," he said.

"It is only that process that can provide the mechanism for a sustainable solution on pay.

"In that context, we would encourage unions to reflect on what possible objective could be served by further industrial action at this time."

The ballot by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) opened yesterday and will close on January 29.

They urged members to "vote yes", calling for industrial action up to and including strike action.

The RCM claims the decision to ballot its members "comes after nine years of pay restraint which has seen midwives and Maternity Support Workers (MSWs)... earn up to 2,000 less than their colleagues in England".

Karen Murray, the RCM's director for Northern Ireland, explained: "We have exhausted every avenue over a number of years in trying to resolve this dispute with the Department of Health.

"Despite our best efforts to negotiate a fair pay deal for our members, the department have failed to come to an agreement.

"Our midwives here are much worse off in their pay packet than their colleagues in other parts of the UK.

"This is simply neither right nor fair. That is why we are recommending our members to vote yes to industrial action."

Meanwhile, additional strike action from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is set to take place tomorrow and Friday, while members of the largest healthcare union Unison will walk out on Friday.
As controversy looms over a planned commemoration of the RIC at Dublin Castle, we take a look at who the RIC were and the legacy they left in Ireland.

Q. Who were the RIC?

The Irish Constabulary was formed in 1836 and was given the prefix Royal in 1867 for suppressing the Fenian uprising. It was never universally popular because it was a quasi-military force, also engaged in intelligence gathering, and had assisted at evictions during the Land War of the 1880s. But it had a certain public acceptance as this countrys first legitimate police force. Its members were predominantly Irish and Catholic with some Protestant and English senior officers.

Q. Who were the DMP?

The Dublin Metropolitan Police was formed in 1838 and covered counties Wicklow and Dublin as a largely civilian unarmed force. It had a difficult relationship with working class Dubliners made worse after violence during the 1913 Lockout. It had less of a role in the War of Independence of 1919-1921. But its G-Division, responsible for intelligence, had a gut struggle with Michael Collinss IRA spy network.

Q. Who were the Black and Tans?

By late 1919 the RIC were intimidated and boycotted causing many officers to resign and few recruits to join. The London government would not openly acknowledge a war in Ireland. In January 1920 they began recruiting an auxiliary police force in Britain made up of ex-soldiers to support policing in Ireland. Officially called the RIC Reserve, their black tunics and kakhi trousers earned them their name after a pack of foxhounds in Co Limerick. They often operated independently of the RIC with whom they often had a very uneasy relationship. They became a byword for terror and atrocities enflaming public opinion.

Q. Who were the Auxiliaries?

Another police back-up force begun in July 1920, smaller than the Black and Tans and styled as more elite comprising ex-army officers. They were paid 1 per day  twice the rate for the Black and Tans. Nominally, the blue uniformed Auxies were under RIC command. But they often acted independently or with the Black and Tans and became similarly reviled for their criminal acts.

Q. What is the RICs legacy?

Some RIC members did criminal things during the War of Independence like the murder of the Lord Mayor of Cork, Tomas MacCurtain. Other RIC members tried to act honourably and independently of the two auxiliary terror forces. Some actively criticised the auxiliary police forces behaviour while some RIC officers helped the rebel cause. Some IRA members also did some very morally questionable things during a very dirty conflict.
Creative Spark Dundalk has announced its new artist in residence Naoimh Larkin. Naoimh, who is from Newry will be the artist in residence for the next two months.

Ms Larkin is a textile artist who specialises in combined hand weave and screen-printing techniques.

The Creative Spark Residency Programme provides opportunities for visual artists and art professionals to research and develop their practices.

It supports both emerging and established visual artists working in any medium, but will give preference to those artists developing a body of work in a printmaking discipline.

Each residency is supported by the provision of studio space in Creative Spark, along with access to all the facilities and basic technical support.

The recipient artist will be required to give demonstrations and provide talks on their practice during their residency and donate one piece to Creative Spark archives.

The residency will include a community participation element and may also conclude with an exhibition of the recipients' work locally.

Naoimh Larkin is a handweaver, who recently has moved back to Northern Ireland from Scotland to take part in the artist in residency programme at Creative Spark.

After completing her undergraduate degree in Textile Art, at the Belfast School of Art, Naoimh's desire and passion to continue working in a creative environment enabled her to experience working in a wide range of textile careers, from teaching, working in costume for T. V, Film and Theatre productions to falling in love with weave and working for luxury hand weaving studios in both Northern Ireland and Scotland.



Gaining part time employment as a handweaver and design assistant at Araminta Campbells Scottish Designs, Naoimh decided to continue to explore her passion by completing an MFA in Textiles at the Edinburgh college of Art.

Initially inspired by the research of Patricia Belford and her Shadow Tissues revival, Naoimh decided to explore other combinations of weave and print. During her MFA experience Naoimh was been able to undertake extensive research in yarns and materials, exploring and developing methods that enable her to combine traditional handweaving with more contemporary screen-printing processes.

Her work explores themes of cloth construction, deconstruction and how one can influence the fabrics weight and density through a combination of these weaving and screen-printing techniques.



Taking inspiration from light and architecture, Naoimh incorporates the sun-bleached colours of her travels and the shapes and structures from her sketches to create hand-woven interior pieces.

While taking part in the artist in residency Naoimh is excited to continue the development of her own practice, refining the knowledge she has gained from her previous experiences and to push her making skills, to challenge her question of can hand weaving and screen-printing work together?
Victoria's Secret model Kelly Gale just returned home from a sun-drenched sojourn to Bali, Indonesia.

And on Monday, the 24-year-old wasted no time hitting the beach yet again after landing in Los Angeles.

Taking to Instagram stories, the catwalk star flaunted her lithe frame in a skimpy red bikini as she bathed her curves in the California sunshine.

Red hot! Victoria's Secret model Kelly Gale, 24, (pictured) flaunted her sensational figure in a skimpy red bikini as she soaked-up the sun in Los Angeles on Monday

Kelly's ample cleavage and toned washboard abs were on full display in the clip.

Pointing the camera to her face, Kelly gave a serene smile before turning the lens to a bikini-clad female pal who was emerging from the ocean in a bikini.

'Cold?' Kelly asked, as the two women laughed together. Kelly then zoomed-in on her female friend's skimpy bikini bottoms.

Va va voom! Pointing the camera to her face, Kelly gave a serene smile

'No longer in Bali but still sunshine and going for swims,' she captioned the clip.

Later, Kelly shared a photo of herself relaxing in an infrared sauna, captioning the snap: 'Ahhhhhh love this.'

Kelly is known for her dedication to maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.

'Good to be back!' Kelly also uploaded this snap to Instagram Stories showing off her lithe frame as she bathed in the sun

'Ahhhh love this': Kelly later showed herself relaxing in an infrared sauna in the same red bikini

In an interview with Vogue Australia in November 2018, Kelly spoke about her extreme exercise regimen in the lead up to the since-cancelled annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

'To be honest, my exercise regimen doesn't change that much leading up to the show,' she told the publication at the time.

'I work out six days per week all year round and usually work out two hours per day, and on top of that, I like power walking 15 to 30 kilometres each day.'

She added: 'In the lead up to the show, I walk closer to 30 kilometres every day, [and] work out two hours per day.'
Chevron said Monday it has evacuated all expatriate oil workers from Iraq, following last weeks Trump airstrike in Baghdad that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

Chevron, which is the number 2 U.S. oil company, said in a statement that as a "precautionary measure" all non-Iraqi employees and contractors have departed the companys one and only site in the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq "for the time being."

"The safety of our people and facilities is Chevrons top priority globally," a Chevron spokeswoman told CNN Business, which has more on the development.

As this 2017 article notes, Russian state-sponsored Rosneft has also been quite active in the Kurdistan Region in the last 4 or so years, and its investment in natural gas pipelines in the region continues.

When US companies leave, will Rosneft take over?

More about Chevrons history of operations in Iraq on the Chevron website.
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Linkedin Karina M. Tehusijarana, Apriza Pinandita, Apriadi Gunawan and Jon Afrizal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Medan and Jambi  Wed, January 8, 2020 08:19 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321444c0 1 National rape,United-Kingdom,sexual-abuse,Sexual-assault Free

Indonesians at home and abroad are reeling from shock and shame after the name of Reynhard Sinaga, an Indonesian student convicted of over 130 rape cases in the United Kingdom, made global headlines as the most prolific rapist in British history.

In the UK, especially, the revelation has shaken Indonesian students currently studying there, with some expressing concern that Reynhards case might blacken the reputation of Indonesians by association.

Stela Nau, the president of Indonesian Student Association (PPI) in the UK, said that the news had caused uproar among those in the association. We were shocked and concerned, especially because the case has become headline news everywhere, she told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Gilang, a 30-year-old PhD student at the University of Lancaster, said that the news had horrified her community of Indonesian doctoral students in the UK, driving her to fear the case would adversely affect the Indonesian student community in the country.

First of all hes an Indonesian, and an Indonesian PhD student, she told the Post. Its not easy to get into a PhD program in the UK as an Indonesian, and we PhD students have worked hard to make Indonesia proud and a case like this seems to undo all that hard work.

Reynhard, a 36-year-old PhD student, was sentenced on Monday by a court in Manchester to life on 136 counts of rape, eight counts of attempted rape, 13 counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual assault with penetration.

The UKs Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) called him "the worst-known sex offender in the country's history" for the assault or rape of as many as 195 men and for attacking scores more since moving to Britain as a student in 2007, AFP reports.

Gilang said that the case had made her feel less confident as an Indonesian student in the UK and made her feel like she and her fellow Indonesians had to prove that they were not like Reynhard.

The case is very disappointing and like a slap in the face, she said. I feel like we have to prove to institutions here - universities, the government, the public - that were not all like that.

Both Gilang and Stela said that Reynhard was not known within the Indonesian student community in the UK, possibly because he had been there much longer than the typical student.

Reynhard first moved to the UK as a student in 2007, obtaining a masters degree in sociology from Manchester University, as reported by The Guardian. In August 2012, he started to pursue a PhD in human geography at Leeds University, but did not finish his doctorate before his arrest in 2017.

He was born in Jambi to a respected and affluent businessman family of Batak origin - his last name Sinaga is a marga or clan name of the Batak people of North Sumatra.

Wati, not her real name, one of the people who knew Reynhard during his childhood in Jambi -- where he lived with his family from 1982 to 1988 before moving to Kendari in Southeast Sulawesi -- was in utter shock upon learning about his conviction.

"He was friendly, although he was more of a quiet person," Wati said, adding that, however, she did not know how he had been since he left Jambi.

Reynhard's case has led to a wave of shock and contempt online and offline, both in the UK and in Indonesia, including among the Batak community.

Lamsiang Sitompul, the chairman of the Horas Bangso Batak community, said that Reynhards actions had hurt and shamed the Batak community and that his crimes made it seem like the Batak people were sexual deviants.

That is not true, and honestly we are very ashamed of Reynhard Sinagas actions. His actions do not reflect the behavior of Batak people, Lamsiang told the Post in Medan, North Sumatra, on Tuesday.

Reynhard was arrested in 2017 after one of his victims was able to hand one of his mobile phones to the police. The CPS said its investigators discovered 3.29 terabytes of graphic content of sexual assault equivalent to 250 DVDs or 300,000 photos. One of the assaults lasted eight hours.

The Indonesian Embassy in the UK, which had kept a low profile with regard to the case, revealed on Monday that it had followed Reynhards case for the past three years to ensure he was afforded the full extent of his rights and protections as an Indonesian citizen.

The embassy, which stated that it had provided legal assistance to Reynhard, said that he had been tried in four separate trials in which he was found guilty and sentenced to life with a chance of parole after 30 years. (afr)
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House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said that if Adam Schiff would not have impeached Trump, the president would not have attacked Iran.

McCarthy said on Fox and Friends, after Schiff criticized Trumps Iran attack, You know, what? Hes the chairman of the Intel Committee. Maybe had he spent the last year working on that, trying to protect from what is happening in Iran from the bombing of the tankers, Saudi Arabia taking down our drone, instead of taking that committee and making an impeachment, he would have never made that comment.

Video:

On Fox & Friends, Kevin McCarthy suggests that if Adam Schiff had "been trying to protect us" from Iran instead of doing impeachment, Trump wouldn't have droned Soleimani. pic.twitter.com/VFyhLsIgtb  Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) January 7, 2020

Nikki Haley went on Fox News and equated Democrats to Iranian terrorists. Kevin McCarthy is trying to blame impeachment and Adam Schiff for Trumps reckless and dangerous attack on Iran. Impeachment is not to blame for Trumps bad decisionmaking.

Adam Schiff is not the commander in chief. He doesnt make national security policy. Chairman Schiff held impeachment hearings because the president illegally withheld congressionally appropriated funds in an effort to get a foreign country to investigate a political opponent.

It is not Adam Schiffs fault that Trump abused his presidential powers to distract from impeachment.

The Iran strike is not playing the way that Trump and his party hoped. It hasnt distracted from impeachment or made the president more popular, which is why Republicans are blaming Democrats, instead of taking responsibility for Trumps dangerous actions.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill ramped up the pressure Tuesday to hear from witnesses in the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.

With House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holding off on sending articles of impeachment to the Senate until the ground rules of a trial are clearer, Sen. Chuck Schumer again pushed Sen. Mitch McConnell and his Republican colleagues to allow testimony from key players in the Trump administrations interactions with Ukraine.

If any Senate Republican votes to prevent witnesses and documents from coming before the Senate, the American people will see that they are part of a cover-up," Schumer, the minority leader, said on the Senate floor Tuesday.

The New York senator needs four GOP lawmakers to support his push for witnesses and unreleased documents at the trial. On Monday, one of the witnesses Schumer and Democrats want to hear from, former National Security Adviser John Bolton, said if he was subpoenaed by the Senate, he would comply and testify.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff of California told MSNBC that his committee hasnt ruled out summoning Bolton to testify about Trumps conduct with Ukraine.

I think what makes the most sense, though, frankly, is for him to testify in the Senate trial," Schiff said.

But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, whos said hed work in lockstep with Trump administration lawyers, argues the Senates role isnt to fix the Houses rushed impeachment case fueled by partisan rage.

On Tuesday, McConnell accused Pelosi of being contemptuous of the American people by holding onto the articles of impeachment, the Washington Post reported.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy told Fox and Friends on Tuesday that "there was no urgency with the Articles of Impeachment because there was no case.

Great interview with @GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy on @foxandfriends. There was no urgency with the Articles of Impeachment because there was no case.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2020

Democrats and several current and former Trump administration officials say the president led a coordinated effort, using diplomatic teams and his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, to leverage military aid and a White House meeting to persuade Ukraine to announce investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden that would boost Trumps re-election chances.

In near party-line votes, the House of Representatives in December impeached Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress.
January 07 : In solidarity with JNU students a massive crowd including a mob of Bollywood celebrities gathered at Carter Road to protest against the unprecedented attack on the students and faculty of Delhi.

Among the protestors were also noted celebrities like Anurag Kashyap, Anubhav Sinha, Gauahar Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Sudhir Misra, Vishal Bhardwaj, Reema Kagti, Zoya Akhtar, Dia Mirza, Rahul Bose, Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal, Reema Kagti and other celebrities as well as common people.

The celebrities shouted the slogans, carried placards and even sang the Indian National Anthem with the entire fan base present at the venue.

Celebrities also took to social media to appeal to people to gather for a silent protest at the Carter Road promenade on the evening of 6 January. Dia Mirza posted on her Instagram story and wrote, Peaceful Silent Assembly in support of the students of India tonight the 6th of January 2020, from 8 pm to 10 pm, Carter Road promenade in front of Cafe Coffee Day.

Late on Sunday, violence broke out in JNU when several people with their faces covered with masks entered the campus with sticks and rods and attacked the students and teachers, as well as damaged the property. At least 28 students, including JNU students' union president Aishe Ghosh, were severely injured as the violence went on for nearly two hours.
In her first weekly press conference of the new year, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam was terse when it came to her future relationship with the newly appointed head of Beijings representative agency in the city.

I could offer no particular comment on the personnel change in the central people governments agency in Hong Kong. I have issued a press statement to welcome the appointment of Director Luo, Lam said on Jan. 7.

Three days ago on Jan. 4, Luo Huining, 65, the former party secretary at northern Chinas Shanxi Province, was named the new head of the Hong Kong Liaison Office replacing Wang Zhimin.

Lam issued her statement on Jan. 4 welcoming Luo and thanking Wang. She pointed out that she had good exchanges with Luo on co-operation between Shanxi and Hong Kong when the two met in 2018.

According to Chinas state-run media, Luo visited Hong Kong in December 2018 to draw business investment to Shanxi. He also visited the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to hold talks about helping Chinese companies in the province list on the exchange.

On Jan. 6, Luo met with the press at the Liaison Office to give a three-minute speech, but he did not take any questions.

In the morning on Jan. 7, Tanya Chan, convenor of the pro-democracy camp, told local media RTHK that she welcomed Luos cautious tone yesterday.

Lam added that she and Luo will meet later this week. She added: I am sure that we could work together in strict accordance with the implementation of one country, two systems, and the basic law to ensure the continued stability of Hong Kong, especially after the seven months of social unrest that has caused society very major concern.

In Hong Kong, what started out to be a protest against a controversial extradition bill has since evolved into calls for greater democracy, as well as demands for the city government to establish an independent inquiry over instances of police violence against protesters.

On Jan. 1 this year, over one million people marched in downtown Hong Kong to renew their demands, in an event organized by the local pro-democracy group Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF).

During the press conference, Lam criticized some rioters who spray-painted judges names on the walls of the citys High Court in Admiralty on Jan. 1. She did not address the demands voiced by those taking part in the march.

According to Hong Kong media, words like the rule of law is dead were spray-painted on the walls of the High Court.

Hong Kong Police have arrested over 6,000 people since June. Most recently on Jan. 5., after 10,000 took part in a peaceful march in Sheung Shui, a border town in the city, the march organizer said that 42 people were arrested.

Unknown Virus in Mainland

Also during the press conference, Lam said the city government has adopted heightened measures, including enhanced monitoring at immigration checkpoints, to prevent the spread of an unidentified form of pneumonia that has engulfed Wuhan, a city in central Chinas Hubei Province.

The first case was discovered in Wuhan on Dec. 12, and the local health commission has since confirmed 59 cases of the unknown virus.

In Hong Kong, the citys hospital authority stated that there were 21 cases of patients with symptoms of respiratory infection or pneumonia as of yesterday. Some of the patients had been in Wuhan sometime during the past 14 days.

From The Epoch Times
The former franchisee and general manager of the Rockingham Han's cafe are facing penalties ten times the level of previous fines they have been slapped with for alleged exploitation of workers.

In a first for WA the Fair Work Ombudsman is using the serious contraventions provisions of the protecting vulnerable workers laws in the Federal Circuit Court, given alleged repeat offending.

Han's Cafe is a popular Asian restaurant franchise that has been operating in WA since the 90s. Credit:Internet

It is alleged that Tac Pham Pty Ltd and the former general manager of the outlet Cuc Thi Thu Pham breached pay slip laws and underpaid 11 employees, including migrant and young workers, $5022 between October 2017 and April 2018.

The employees have since been back-paid but the Ombudsman is using the serious contravention provisions because Ms Pham and Tac Pham have previously been pursued for workplace law breaches.
At last, some good news, editorial, Jan. 5

Thank you for recognizing the groundswell of public support for real action on climate change. Now, at the very least, many governments are saying the right words: hundreds have issued climate emergency declarations in 2019. But the question remains: will 2020 bring bold and sweeping action to match the urgency in these statements?

A first indication of how governments will act locally in this new decade will come on Friday, when the City of Toronto releases its proposed 2020 budget. Will our tax dollars actually support climate action? As Torontos first climate emergency budget, we should expect increased funding for priorities like low carbon housing, transportation, and energy. That would mean budget lines earmarked for the rapid construction of low-carbon affordable housing, increased incentives for home energy retrofits, expanded renewable energy production, new bus priority zones and protected bike lanes, and new investments to create good green jobs here in Toronto.

We should all be watching on Friday to see if our leaders are willing to back up their climate words with real climate action.
A stinging attack has been launched on the Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan by his Laois constituency colleague and Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley over the event to remember the Royal Irish Constabulary and the Dublin Metropolitan Police.

The Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley dismissed the event planned for Dublin Castle in January as a "step backwards and a disgrace. He also was particularly critical of the Fine Gael Minister's defence of the event.

This Commemoration to be hosted by the Minister for Justice is no less than an insult to the Irish nation and a clear political attempt to rewrite Irish history. The fact that it is being held in Dublin Castle, the former headquarters and nerve centre of the British military / police, adds to the insult. It was from this building that all plans to suppress any attempt at gaining Irish Freedom was planned and directed over a period of two centuries.

"Minister Flanagan tries in some way to sanitise this event and fails miserably to do so. The reality is that from its founding in 1836 the RIC were central to suppressing peaceful political movements and armed rebellions in Ireland. They also enforced the social injustice that was heaped on the Irish peasantry in the form of evictions etc.

"He also tries to distance the event from the Black and Tans and this, of course, is ludicrous. The Black and Tans and Auxiliaries were recruited by the British as Policemen into the Police force in Ireland which was the RIC. They carried out a campaign of terror in 1920 and 1921 not seen in Ireland since the suppression of the 1798 Rebellion. The DMP also comprised of the dreaded 'G men'. These were the political detectives whose sole job was to gather intelligence and stamp out any attempt at challenging British rule.

"What Minister Flanagan and the Government are trying to do here is rewrite Irish History. They have politicised this event by using the resources of the State to organise it and taxpayers money is being used to fund it. It clearly doesnt have the backing of the Dail and should now be cancelled, concluded the statement.

The two men previously clashed on historical matters. In 2013, the Minister criticised Deputy Stanley for wearing the Easter Lily in the Dail. Sinn Fein TDs wear the badge to commemorate the Easter Rising.
Iran's proxy allies may step up in retaliation against the U.S. for the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, a former American ambassador warned Tuesday.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated after a U.S. airstrike killed the Iranian general in Baghdad last Friday. Soleimani was a top military commander who led Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Quds Force, the country's special-operations forces abroad.

He was also an important figure involved in Iran's many proxy forces around the region, including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. Tehran has vowed retaliation.

"It's not only Iran, it's not only Quds Force," Gerald Feierstein, who served as U.S. ambassador to Yemen from 2010 to 2013, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia."

"They have allies, Hezbollah ... and other organizations (such as) Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen and possibilities outside," he said. "I don't think we should only look for Iranian responses in the Middle East."

Retaliation will come in different ways and different locations, Feierstein predicted.

"The Iranian response, which I think will almost certainly come, could come in many different guises, many different places at any time," said Feierstein, who is currently a senior vice president at the Middle East Institute. "This is going to keep the world on edge I think, for quite a long period while the Iranians think through their strategy."

Rodger Shanahan, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute, agreed that Iran's proxies may act on behalf of the country.

"It has built up over years a range of proxy and allied forces in the region and it could use those to conduct the response against the United States to have a degree of separation between Tehran and the action that is taken," he said.
Iraqi PM stresses foreign troops withdrawal in talks with US ambassador

Iran Press TV

Monday, 06 January 2020 7:04 PM

Iraq's caretaker prime minister says his country and the United States should work together on implementing the withdrawal of all foreign troops from the country.

Adel Abdul-Mahdi made the remarks while talking to US ambassador Matthew Tueller, after Iraqi lawmakers unanimously approved a bill demanding the withdrawal of all foreign military forces led by the United States from the country.

"The prime minister stressed the importance of mutual cooperation on implementing the withdrawal of foreign troops, in line with the Iraqi parliament's resolution, and to set relations with the United States on a proper foundation," Abdul-Mahdi's office said in a statement on Monday.

"He stressed how dangerous the situation is right now and its potential consequences, adding that Iraq is doing everything it can to prevent the descent into open war."

On Monday, Abdul-Mahdi also spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the Iraqi parliament resolution calling on all foreign troops to leave the country.

"The German chancellor expressed her support for Iraq's security and stability, and highlighted the importance of continued cooperation between Iraq and European Union member states over fighting terrorism," his office said.

Sunday's parliamentary vote was held in response to Washington's Friday airstrikes which assassinated Iran's Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and the second-in-command of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

The vote came as many Iraqi figures and parliamentary factions have been long demanding the withdrawal of US troops from the country, specifically following a series of unclaimed airstrikes on PMU forces.

Separately on Sunday, Iraq said it has lodged a formal complaint to the UN chief and the UN Security Council over the US assassination of General Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

According to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry statement, the complaint is about "American attacks and aggression on Iraqi military positions and the assassination of Iraqi and allied high-level military commanders on Iraqi soil."

The assassination was "a dangerous breach of Iraqi sovereignty and of the terms of US presence in Iraq," the ministry added.

The US, backed by Britain, invaded Iraq in 2003 claiming that the former regime of Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons, however, were ever found.

The invaders withdrew from Iraq, after nearly nine years of a military campaign that cost tens of thousands of Iraqi lives.

A US-led military coalition, however, returned to the Arab country in 2014, when the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group unleashed a campaign of destruction there.

Widespread reports said the Washington-led operations largely spared the terrorists and led, instead, to civilian deaths and inflicted damage on the Iraqi infrastructure.

Iraq's army troops, backed by volunteer PMU forces, managed to liberate all Daesh-held areas, thanks in part to effective military advisory assistance from neighboring Iran.

Baghdad declared the end of the anti-Daesh campaign back in 2017.

Lieutenant General Soleimani was an international figure who played a leading role in promoting security in regional countries, particularly in Iraq and Syria.

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Our attorneys continue to be regarded as leaders in the industry, and when that acknowledgement comes from your clients and peers, we consider that recognition to be an exceptional honor..." said Joseph F. Coniglio, managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurigs Dallas office.

Two shareholders in the Dallas office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Bina Palnitkar and Todd Basile, have been selected to D Magazines 2020 Best Lawyers Under 40 list.

Our attorneys continue to be regarded as leaders in the industry, and when that acknowledgement comes from your clients and peers, we consider that recognition to be an exceptional honor. Congratulations to Bina and Todd for being recognized as a top legal practitioner in Dallas under the age of 40. It is a testament to their hard work and fortitude to establish themselves in their respective practices, as well as positioning each of them for a very bright future with us, said Joseph F. Coniglio, managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurigs Dallas office.

Chosen for the second consecutive year, Palnitkar is a seasoned trial lawyer focusing her practice on complex business and commercial disputes involving several industry sectors. She has served as first chair at trial and represents both global and national corporations in matters such as breach of contract, trademark infringement, anti-counterfeiting enforcement, international FCPA compliance matters, medical malpractice defense, fraud, tortious interference, and theft of trade secrets. In 2015, she secured a $6.8 million unanimous jury verdict in a complex business dispute in Dallas County.

Basile is a registered patent attorney with more than a dozen years of experience in the legal and engineering industries. His practice helps technology companies protect and commercialize their innovations and brands across a wide range of industries through strategic patent portfolio development and technology transactions. He also represents technology investors in M&A deals, negotiates software licenses and technology development agreements, and assists clients in navigating IP disputes. This year, he helped close several technology company acquisitions worth over $100 million combined and served as a contributing author for the trade publication IP Watchdog.

According to D Magazine, its 2020 Best Lawyers Under 40 listing is determined through a peer-review voting process, with ballots submitted by thousands of area lawyers. The final list was compiled by an independent panel of distinguished attorneys working in conjunction with the magazines editors, according to the publication.

The complete list of attorneys will appear in the May 2020 edition of D Magazine and available online at http://www.dmagazine.com.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP  Texas: Texas is important to Greenberg Traurig and part of its history. With more than 125 Texas lawyers in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, Greenberg Traurig has deep roots in the Texas business, legal, and governmental communities. Greenberg Traurig Texas works with clients to address their interdisciplinary legal needs across the state, utilizing the firms global platform. The Texas attorneys are experienced in industries key to the states future, including: aviation, chemicals, construction, education, energy and natural resources, financial institutions, health care, hedge funds, hospitality, infrastructure, insurance, media, medical devices, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, real estate, retail, sports, technology and software, telecommunications, transportation, and video games and esports.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2,100 attorneys in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.
We are now in the final countdown in efforts to re-establish our power-sharing Executive. One issue still to be resolved is the question of the Irish language. Failure to deal satisfactorily with this issue could lead to the collapse of these efforts - with dire consequences.

Such an impasse is completely unnecessary. It is possible to find a resolution on the language issue. We need to learn from what went wrong in earlier talks and we need to take a common-sense approach.

What happened last year when it proved impossible to get an agreement on the Irish language issue? While the talks went on, there was widespread public debate on the matter and this helped bring about their collapse and a failure to re-establish a government.

On the airways and in the press there was heated, often sensational, argument over the Irish language issue. Some language enthusiasts urged extreme proposals, such as bilingual signs on every street and road (including the Shankill Road) and Irish language quotas in the Civil Service.

In response to these proposals, there were extreme arguments on the other side that the language issue was all part of a republican anti-British plot and that people would be forced to learn Irish. Politicians made little or no effort to moderate the arguments, but often supported the viewpoints of their supporters. Reasonable views from the universities were not heard. Myths and exaggeration were peddled in the media.

All this fatally undermined the negotiations which were going on between the DUP and Sinn Fein.

We must avoid these mistakes. The subject must be approached sensibly and without overheated arguments. Some compromise will be necessary from all sides.

How do we make progress today on this matter? Part of the answer may be to build on existing developments. My rates notification from Land and Property Services also carries its name in Irish and I can make inquiries in Irish. Other government departments could provide this service.

Irish services in the Civil Service and other bodies should not be provided through some quota system of Irish speakers (which would probably be discriminatory and illegal), but made available through existing staff with language skills, or an outside translation service, at not great cost.

In some areas, councils use their Irish language name as well as the English version. In streets where there is a majority in support it is possible to have bilingual names.

Good resources are already available for Irish language-medium schools. Any new legislation can include and build on these developments.

Such changes must be promoted in a moderate fashion. Local street signs can be bilingual, if there is local consent, but this should not be extended to main roads and motorways. This would lead to a Balkanisation of our society.

If there is an argument that main roads should have Irish as well as English names, there is an equal argument they should have Ulster Scots names. Trilingual signs on our roads would be a nonsense.

The question of the use of Irish in the courts has been a matter of controversy. Thanks to an Irish Act of 1737, only English can be used in Northern Ireland courts. The original purpose of this and similar acts in Britain was to ban the use of Latin and French. It was then extended to Irish.

Such acts have been repealed elsewhere, but not here. Nonetheless, a wide range of languages, including Portuguese and Polish, can be and are regularly spoken in our courts, but not Irish. In spite of the 1737 Act, this is allowed because of EU and human rights law.

Because the persons involved speak no or little English (which would not be true for Irish speakers), they are entitled to a translator.

It would not be a major step to extend this right to Irish speakers. The 1737 Act is an anomaly today.

In the courts, a translation service should be available when required, but not a full court service in Irish, not least because even in the south this has proved difficult to provide. A commissioner for the Irish language has been suggested, but an ombudsman would be seen as less threatening.

The question of a separate Irish Language Act is controversial. In Wales, some 20% of the population speak Welsh, which justifies a robust language act and all parties support it. In Scotland, a much smaller number speak Gaelic, rather like in Northern Ireland, but in Scotland the matter is non-controversial, with full party backing.

Clearly our circumstances are different from these two countries and an Irish Language Act would need to be tailored to our own situation. Such an Act could incorporate and build on provisions already available for the Irish language.

In the unsuccessful negotiations last year, it was suggested that language legislation could embrace not just Irish, but also Ulster Scots and other language and cultural matters. Such an imaginative approach could be explored again.

All these steps will improve the position of the Irish language in our society and should not be seen as threatening to anyone.

The reality is that English will remain the common language not only of Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, but also of most of the world (thanks to our American cousins).

In September 2018, the Irish Chief Justice, Frank Clark, in a speech in the USA to encourage American law firms to operate in Ireland after Brexit, acknowledged that in Ireland "English is the spoken language".

So, unionists should have more self-confidence and not be worried that somehow Irish will replace English in Northern Ireland.

At the same time, they should note that, elsewhere in the UK, British citizens enjoy good provisions for minority languages.

The existence of language Acts in Scotland and Wales is a good reason why we should have a language act here.

The Irish language has a venerable history and, for many, a contemporary relevance. Because members of the Catholic community (and others) value the Irish language as part of their cultural heritage, it is essential that unionists should show respect for the language.

Also, it is critical that republican/nationalist politicians and language enthusiasts back moderate proposals. They need to be conscious of unionist concerns. It is important for the Irish language that it be depoliticised.

For the future of the Irish language, it is vital that no section of the community sees it as a threat. For language enthusiasts, this should be a priority.

Talks to rebuild our power-sharing Executive are at a critical stage. It would be ridiculous if the issue of the Irish language brought about their collapse.

This is especially so when we realise that the means to deal with this matter are already largely in place, or can be introduced at relatively little cost.

Our political leaders must urge moderation and even some compromise among their constituents. Sensible new arrangements, based on existing and improved practice, should be presented as a win for pragmatic good sense. That way we all will win.

Professor Emeritus Brian M Walker is a former member of the School of History, Politics and Philosophy at Queen's University Belfast. His book, Irish History Matters: Politics, Identities and Commemoration, was published recently by The History Press Ireland
Google Maps

Over the next four days, part of Interstate 45s northbound frontage road in Texas City will be closed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for workers to install large drainage structures.

The feeder lanes will be completely closed during those hours Jan. 6-9 between Lago Mar and Holland Road, as will the I-45 northbound exit ramp to Holland.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) on Monday called reports that dozens of Canadian and American citizens faced hours of questioning at the U.S.-Canada border because of their Iranian heritage over the weekend "deeply alarming." Customs and Border Protection denies the allegations.

Driving the news: Civil rights group the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said it's been "assisting more than 60 Iranians and Iranian-Americans of all ages who were detained at length and questioned at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, Wash."

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

The allegations: "Those detained reported that their passports were confiscated and they were questioned about their political views and allegiances," CAIR said in a statement Sunday.

Sam Sadr, an Iranian-Canadian who traveled to the U.S. using his Canadian passport, told CTV Monday he saw "dozens of other Iranians held, including children" while he was stopped by agents at a U.S. border crossing in British Colombia for eight hours.

At a CAIR Washington news conference Monday, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said there was a clear link to the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani last Friday and President Trump's subsequent action on Iran and the border delays.

"Clearly, many people were being processed through and the only people that seemed to be held aside and detained in some form or fashion were people of Iranian heritage."

What they're saying: Customs and Border Protection says it does not discriminate against anyone's religion, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. It said in a statement Sunday, "Social media posts that CBP is detaining Iranian-Americans and refusing their entry into the U.S. because of their country of origin are false. Reports that DHS/CBP has issued a related directive are also false."

Wait times at Blaine increased to an average of two hours on Saturday evening, though this was higher for some travelers, up to four hours, because of increased volume and reduced staff during the holiday season, according to CBP.

A CBP spokesman told Axios Monday there's a difference between a secondary inspection and detention. "It is possible that Canadian Iranians underwent secondary inspections," he said.

The big picture: CBP says it has stepped up procedures at its ports of entry for security based on the current threat environment.

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

Go deeper: "Axios on HBO" sits down with top CBP official
MEXICO CITY - Mexicos labour secretary acknowledged Monday that 80 to 85% of all labour contracts in the country were signed without approval from the workers they cover.

Corrupt unions in Mexico have long signed contracts with companies before they even open plants, locking in low wages.

Known as protection contracts, Labor Secretary Luisa Maria Alcalde said Tuesday such agreements represent the immense majority of labour contracts in Mexico.

U.S. legislators say Mexicos low manufacturing wages of $1 to $1.50 per hour have lured American jobs south of the border.

Mexico has since passed reforms aimed at ensuring secret ballot votes on contracts and effective control by membership over union leaders, but those measures wont be implemented nation-wide until 2022.

The situation is so bad, Alcalde said, that it eventually hurts even business owners.

Because there has been no transparent process for determining which union really represents workers, fake unions often shake down employers with false threats of strikes.

We all known about construction projects were not a stone has been laid, and they already get a strike notice from a union that usually doesnt represent the workers on the project, she said.

U.S. legislators pressed for improved labour safeguards in the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. But many of the reforms enacted for the new deal, which replace the old North American Free Trade Agreement, face an uphill battle against entrenched pro-company pseudo-unions.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn deserves up to six months behind bars, the Justice Department said Tuesday, reversing its earlier position that he was entitled to avoid prison time because of his extensive co-operation with prosecutors.

The governments sentencing memo is a sharp rebuke to Flynns new legal team, which for months has attacked special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation and accused prosecutors of withholding information that the lawyers said was favourable to their client. A judge rejected those arguments last month.

Any prison sentence for Flynn would continue a precipitous fall for the former Army lieutenant general, who after a long career in Iraq and Afghanistan was entrusted with shaping the Trump administrations national security policy but became entangled early on in the FBIs investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The sentencing recommendation bookends Flynns path from valued, high-level government co-operator  he is the only former White House aide charged in Muellers investigation  to a defendant who prosecutors say no longer deserves any credit for helping the government.

Indeed, the government has reason to believe, through representations by the defendants counsel, that the defendant has retreated from his acceptance of responsibility in this case regarding his lies to the FBI, prosecutors wrote in seeking a sentence of up to six months.

For that reason, they added, the government asks this Court to inquire of the defendant as to whether he maintains those apparent statements of innocence or whether he disavows them and fully accepts responsibility for his criminal conduct.

Sidney Powell, a lawyer for Flynn, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Defence lawyers will submit their own filing later this month.

Flynn was to have been sentenced in December 2018 for lying to the FBI about his conversations with the then-Russian ambassador to the United States, including about his request that Russia not escalate tensions with the U.S. in response to sanctions imposed by the Obama administration for election interference.

But the hearing was abruptly postponed midway through it at Flynns request after scathing criticism from U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan raised the prospect that he might send him to prison, even though prosecutors hadnt recommended it. Flynn, who led Lock Her Up chants directed at Hillary Clinton during the Republican National Convention, asked that the hearing be put off so that he could continue co-operating with prosecutors in hopes of avoiding any prison time.

The case has taken a tumultuous turn since then.

The Justice Department opted not to have Flynn testify in the Virginia trial of a former business associate, saying that shortly before trial, he changed his account and contradicted his own past statements  making him unreliable as a witness. The decision denied Flynn a chance to be credited for that co-operation,

He also fired his lawyers and replaced them with new ones who have taken a strikingly contentious stance toward Muellers investigation, accusing FBI agents of effectively entrapping Flynn when they interviewed him at the White House and saying prosecutors had withheld documents and other information favourable to Flynn. Sullivan rejected each of the defence arguments in a lengthy opinion last month.

Flynn was seen as an important figure in the FBIs investigation into whether the Trump campaign co-ordinated with Russia. He was interviewed at the White House days after Trump was inaugurated and pressed about his conversations during the presidential transition period with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

In their sentencing memo, prosecutors underscored the significance of that interaction.

Any effort to undermine the recently imposed sanctions, which were enacted to punish the Russian government for interfering in the 2016 election, could have been evidence of links or co-ordination between the Trump Campaign and Russia, prosecutors wrote.

Accordingly, determining the extent of the defendants actions, why the defendant took such actions, and at whose direction he took those actions, were critical to the FBIs counterintelligence investigation, prosecutors wrote.

Flynn is one of a half-dozen Trump associates charged in the Mueller investigation, and at the time of his December 2017 guilty plea, he was the closest adviser to agree to co-operate with the probe. All six have either pleaded guilty or been found guilty in a jury trial.

Mueller found substantial contacts between Trump aides and Russia, but did not ultimately allege a criminal conspiracy to tip the 2016 election.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 28.

_____

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 23:18:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait and Qatar signed on Sunday a long-term sale and purchase agreement for the annual supply of up to 3 million tons of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Kuwait.

The agreement on Kuwait importing LNG from Qatar for 15 years, starting in 2022, will help reduce the expense of electric energy production and pollutants, according to Kuwaiti experts.

Kuwait, which is rich in oil but falls short in gas production, imports natural gas for power generation and petrochemical industry.

Experts expect a high consumption of electricity in Kuwait during the upcoming years given the rapid growth in the number of industrial projects, especially if Kuwait starts implementing the Silk City project.

Kuwait needs to focus on guaranteeing the supply of natural gas to meet its growing needs, Talal Al-Seif, a Kuwaiti oil expert, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Kuwait is moving toward clean energy away from burning oil to generate energy which creates high residues and pollutants, he said, noting natural gas burns 100 percent.

Kuwait burns between 250,000 to 300,000 barrels of oil per day to generate energy, approximately equal to a cost of 18 million U.S. dollars a day, according to Al-Seif.

"I expect to save between 8 to 9 million dollars a day if using natural gas," he noted.

"We have an opportunity to save money and live in a better environment and to make better usage of the burned oil," the Kuwaiti expert concluded.

Abdul Hamid Al-Awadi, an oil expert, also said the agreement will bring many benefits given that Qatar is not far from Kuwait.

Kuwait suffers from a severe shortage in the production of gas but with the availability of Qatari gas, Kuwait will be able to produce electricity, desalinate seawater, improve the environment and reduce pollutants, Al-Awadi noted.

The use of natural gas will raise the efficiency of generators in power stations, while the cost of maintaining them will decrease, he said.

The agreement will allow Kuwait to save between 20 to 30 percent of the costs, Al-Awadi added.

For the oil analyst Kamel Al-Harami, Kuwait needs huge quantities of gas and the agreement is important in terms of Kuwait's efforts to enhance Gulf cooperation.

Importing gas from Qatar is a solution to the Gulf cooperation in a certain degree, said Al-Harami, noting the gas can be exported to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia later through a pipeline instead of by sea.
Two days after the mob attack in JNU, no arrests have been made by the Delhi police which received more flak on Tuesday from opposition parties and student groups as it came to light that twin FIRs were filed on the night of the campus violence based on the varsity's previous vandalism complaints naming injured students union president Aishe Ghosh and others.

Breaking his silence, Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, who is facing demands of resignation from the Left-controlled students union, said the incident was unfortunate and appealed to the students to put the past behind, but only broached superficially the allegations of delayed action by authorities during the January 5 rampage by masked attackers.

"If there is a law and order situation we do not rush to police immediately. We see if our security can handle. On Sunday, when we saw that there is a possibility of aggressive behaviour among students, we informed the police," he told reporters.

Protests continued against the attack at the JNU, with the students union alleging that the FIRs showed the varsity administration was colluding with the RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Left-affiliated student groups and ABVP have blamed each other for the violence.

In an alumni meeting at the university, former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and activist Kavita Krishnan slammed the Centre over the violence, alleging the government was trying to destory the Constitution. In the evening, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone also visited the varsity to express solidarity with the students, but left without addressing the gathering.

A march by students and faculty was organised at the varsity during which slogans were raised against the ABVP, the Vice Chancellor and the Centre.

The Opposition too questioned the filing of FIRs and slammed the police, with Congress saying saying "40 hours since the violent attacks in JNU and the Delhi Police has failed to arrest a single perpetrator, despite the glaring evidence."



"Is the police so incompetent under Amit Shah? Instead they file an FIR against a victim of the attack. Disgraceful (sic)," the party said on its twitter handle.

The two FIRs were registered by Delhi Police on the night of January 5, within a span of few minutes, after taking cognisance of complaints filed by JNU authorities naming office bearers of student union including Ghosh and JNUSU Vice President Saket Moon in connection with alleged vandalism on premises on January 1 and 4.

Incidentally, this was also the time when police had been called in to restore law and order in the university and several injured students, including Ghosh, were rushed to hospital.

The general diary reference in police records showed the FIRs were registered at 8.44 pm and 8.49 pm on complaints filed by the varsity's security department on January 3 and January 4 respectively. These were related to alleged incidents of vandalism on January 1 and January 4 respectively.

Ghosh or any students' union office bearer's name does not figure in the accused column of the FIR though they were named in the complaints.

Moon alleged that the administration is selectively targeting some students and denied their involvement in the vandalism of server room.

Ghosh said her "struggle" against the proposed fee hike in the varsity will continue even if an FIR is filed against her for each day of the protest.

"I am not scared of the vice-chancellor. Even if they file 70 FIRs for 70 days of protests against the fee hike, we will continue our struggle," she said.

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury alleged that the FIRs have been filed as an "after thought".

Without naming Ghosh, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said it was "unfortunate" that a case had been registered against the "girl who had 18-19 stitches on her head".

"Instead of booking a trespass case, attempt to murder case on all these people (who attacked students), what we are seeing is complete reverse is happening. This is injustice, I condemn this behaviour. It is completely wrong," he said.

The Congress and the Left also questioned the "silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the incident.

Delhi Police, meanwhile, issued a public appeal seeking pictures, footage or any information related to Sunday's violence in JNU campus that left 34 people injured even as forensic teams looked for evidence.

"A Crime Branch team of Delhi Police is probing the case in a scientific and professional manner and evidence is being collected," said Anil Mittal, Additional PRO of Delhi Police.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Western Range) Shalini Singh, who is heading a fact-finding committee to probe the incident, also visited the JNU campus and spoke to students and teachers.

A fringe right-wing group, Hindu Raksha Dal, has purportedly taken responsibility for the attack on JNU students in a video posted on social media.

The video, which was posted on Monday and has gone viral since, shows a man identifying himself as Pinki Chaudhary saying that those who resort to "anti-national activities" will be treated in the same way that JNU students and faculty were.

Security has been strengthened in the campus following the violence. Police personnel in large numbers were present near various gates of the university to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.

Police has barricaded the gates and only visitors with valid identity cards are being allowed entry.

An FIR has been registered against unidentified people in connection with the January 5 violence in which over 30 students and teachers were injured.

Police is taking the help of video footage as well as face recognition system to identify the culprits, sources said.

The cops are scanning all CCTV footage of the incident and also the video clips uploaded on social media and circulated on WhatsApp, according to police.

Demonstrations over the attack were held in various parts of the country. Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and its rival National Students' Union of India clashed in Ahmedabad during a protest organised by students' wing of the Congress outside the office of the RSS-affiliated outfit in the city's Paldi area, leaving 10 people injured.

Both the student bodies blamed each other for the incident. While Gujarat NSUI said it general secretary Nikhil Savani sustained serious head injuries, ABVP alleged it was a "pre-planned" attack by NSUI, similar to the one in JNU, and more than five members were injured.

In Mumbai, police said people protesting against the JNU violence since Sunday night were evicted from Gateway of India and "relocated" to the Azad Maidan on Tuesday morning as roads were getting blocked and tourists and common people were facing problems.

In a brief statement, JNU Vice Chancellor Kumar said, "Our heart goes out to all injured students. The incident (violence) is unfortunate. I would like to tell students that JNU campus is a secure place.

"I urge all students to come back to the campus. Let us put the past behind," he said.

After the attack there has been a demand for several quarters, including the students and faculty, for his resignation.

In a scathing statement, the JNU students union alleged the administration has remained "completely silent" on the January 5 attack on students and teachers, "and instead has now tried to criminalise the peaceful students of JNU, completely exposing the saffron nexus of the ABVP-Administration".

"Not only has the administration washed its hands off the violence committed by its henchmen, it has tried to blame the overwhelming majority of protesting students and file another fake complaint," it said.

The students outfit again demanded removal of the VC and an inquiry against him. "The Delhi Police and the Home Ministry also must be held accountable," it said.

An official said HRD Ministry officials will meet the Vice Chancellor on Wednesday over the violence on campus by a masked mob and other issues affecting the normal functioning of the varsity.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, the GOP congressman who became famous when his six brothers and sisters appeared in campaign ads warning people not to vote for him, Tweeted a fake photo that showed Obama shaking hands with Iranian president Hassan Rouhani with the caption, "The world is a better place without these guys in power."

The world is a better place without these guys in power. pic.twitter.com/gDoXQu9vO5  Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) January 6, 2020

People pointed out that the photo was a fake based on a 2011 photo of Obama and India's prime minister:

U.S. congressman sharing a fake photo. This photoshopped from Obama meeting India's prime minister. https://t.co/7UMjyPwFDQ pic.twitter.com/ckRZx3ktok  andrew kaczynski? (@KFILE) January 6, 2020

Gosar pretended he knew that all along, calling everyone who called him out "dim witted":

2. The point remains to all but the dimmest: Obama coddled, appeased, nurtured and protected the worlds No. 1 sponsor of terror. The world is better without Obama as president. The world will be better off without Rouhani.  Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) January 6, 2020

People responded with their own fakes, like these:

That is photoshopped. Just like this one. pic.twitter.com/g6O2KUW0Ml  Mo Latno Bill Phelan (@MoBill) January 6, 2020

And real photos, like this:

https://twitter.com/ReelDancing/status/121429982542172979

My favorite Gosar fake is the one at the top, created by our own @beschizza.
DAMASCUS, Syria - Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled to Damascus on Tuesday for a meeting with President Bashar Assad, a rare visit that comes amid soaring tensions between Iran and United States following the U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian general.

While the official statements made during the previously unannounced visit made no mention of the killing last week of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the timing was conspicuous.

The U.S. strike that killed Soleimani minutes after he landed in Iraq has drawn vows of retaliation from Tehran and its proxy militias in Baghdad and Beirut. It has also led the U.S. to re-position its troops in Iraq following calls by the Iraqi Parliament and prime minister for U.S. forces to leave the country.

Soleimani led Iran-backed forces supporting Assad in Syrias civil war and played a key role in shoring up his army. With some 600 American troops deployed in Syria, the country is a potential site of conflict with Iran.

Putins visit is the second to the country during the war, where his troops have been fighting alongside Syrian government forces since 2015. It comes amid a crushing Russian-backed offensive by Syrian forces on the northwestern province of Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in Syria.

Putin and Assad met at a Russian command post in Damascus, and were presented with military reports on the situation in different regions of Syria, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

In his conversation with Assad, Putin said that a lot has been done toward restoring Syrias statehood and territorial integrity. The situation didnt just change  in fact, were witnessing the restoration of Syrias statehood, Syria as a state, the countrys territorial integrity, Putin said in video of the meeting released by Syrias state news agency SANA.

At the same time, Putin noted that the situation in the Middle East is, unfortunately, escalating.

During his time in Damascus, Putin visited the Syrian capitals landmark Umayyad Mosque in the walled Old City together, where he viewed the tomb of John the Baptist who is sacred to both Christians and Muslims.

Putins visit coincided with Russian Orthodox Christmas, and Putin congratulated his troops on the holiday, according to a statement from Assads office. Photos released by SANA showed the two leaders visiting an orthodox cathedral in Damascus.

Russia joined the war in 2015, when the Syrian military appeared close to collapse. Since then, and largely because of Russias blanket air support, the Syrian government has largely won the nearly 9-year civil war militarily, and has retaken control of most of the country from rebel fighters.

In recent weeks, Syrian troops supported by Russian warplanes have been pushing into the countrys last rebel stronghold, located in northwestern Idlib province.

The last time Putin came to Syria was in 2017 when he announced a scale-back of the Russian military presence there. At the time, rebels were still entrenched on the outskirts of Damascus, and he only visited Russias Hemeimeem air base in Syrias coastal province of Latakia. Assad previously visited Russia and met with Putin in May 2018, November 2017 and October 2015.

Close to half a million people have been killed in Syrias civil war and 11 million have been displaced from their homes, including 5 million who are refugees outside the country.

___

Litvinova reported from Moscow. Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue contributed from Beirut.
Whoops.

In an apparent slip of the tongue, Benjamin Netanyahu called Israel a 'nuclear power' before correcting himself to say 'energy power'. Israel is widely believed to have a nuclear arsenal but hasn't confirmed or denied this https://t.co/tLCGX2ZrUX pic.twitter.com/uGXF5MzM8y

From Reuters, Netanyahu, in apparent stumble, calls Israel nuclear power':

In an apparent slip of the tongue on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Israel as a nuclear power before correcting himself with a bashful nod and an embarrassed smile.

[] The significance of this project is that we are turning Israel into a nuclear power, he said, before quickly correcting himself to say energy power.

He then paused for a beat, acknowledging his mistake with a smile, and then ploughed on with his comments.
Johnson aligns himself in the Soleimani crisis with those who deprecate barbarism

Boris Johnson faces, in the stand-off between Washington and Tehran, an early test of his ability to handle the often exceedingly difficult situations in foreign affairs which confront a British Prime Minister.

His critics expect him to fail this test. They took a dismissive view of his performance as Foreign Secretary, and were unwilling to see that any holder of that post who is not invited to work in harness with the Prime Minister is doomed to irrelevance.

These adversaries enjoy ransacking Johnsons back catalogue in order to discover evidence of past opinions which in their view render him unfit for high office.

They delight in highlighting any expressions which burst the bounds of what can be said in polite society.

Such opponents do Johnson a favour. For by promoting the idea that he is a crass and tasteless fool, they set low expectations which he exceeded in the Brexit negotiations, and in the general election, and which he has so far exceeded in the present crisis.

He has the further advantage of having spent two years as Foreign Secretary: not long enough to acquire a mastery of problems so intricate they repay a lifetimes study, but better than arriving in Number Ten with no previous experience of foreign policy as conducted by the government machine.

He adds to this several decades of work as a correspondent and commentator who, while not a member of the official machine, was a close and astute observer of it.

Johnson understands that on the great questions of the day, it is essential to remain willing, when circumstances change, to change ones view.

If one looks through his back catalogue without simply concentrating on his many moments of political incorrectness, one finds evidence of this realism. When asked at the end of 2006 to explain why he had recanted his support for the Iraq War of 2003, Johnson replied:

It is the sheer number of casualties, the chaos, that persuades me that we did the wrong thing. I voted for this bloody disaster not because I believed Blair, but because I thought it would be a good thing to get rid of Saddam. And it was a good thing. It is just that the price has been way too high.

In December 2006, he put a question to the then Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett:

What can the Foreign Secretary say to disprove the withering verdict of the US State Department official, Kendall Myers, that Washington has systematically ignored British advice over Iraq? Can she give a single concrete example of any piece of advice given by her or the Prime Minister that was accepted by Washington and without which the catastrophe in Iraq would have been even worse?

Beckett was unable to offer a single concrete example of British advice being acted upon in Washington. Nor in all likelihood could Johnson or Dominic Raab do so now.

The Prime Minister will not wish to say anything which could be construed as an attack on Donald Trump, with whom he hopes in the near future to conclude a free-trade deal.

But he has taken the opportunity to show a degree of solidarity with Britains European allies, issuing a statement on Sunday night with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron in which the three of them spoke of an urgent need for de-escalation.

And yesterday he spoke to Abdul Mehdi, the Prime Minister of Iraq. According to Downing Street, Johnson underlined the UKs unwavering commitment to Iraqs stability and sovereignty and emphasised the importance of the continued fight against the shared threat from Daesh.

For a supporter of Brexit to defend Iraqs sovereignty is entirely natural. The Prime Ministers spokesman added that there are international conventions in place which prevent the destruction of cultural heritage  a point which President Trump, with his threat to attack Iranian cultural sites, appeared to have overlooked.

Johnson has aligned himself, in the early stages of this crisis, with those who deprecate barbarism and want to see Daeshs defeat confirmed. This moderation will surprise his critics, but should not surprise any fair-minded person who has studied his record.
On January 6, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee entered a final consent judgment in a previously-filed SEC enforcement action against Jay Costa Kelter, a former registered investment adviser and registered representative. The SEC's action, filed November 9, 2017, charged Kelter with defrauding three retired clients out of more than $1.85 million. As alleged, Kelter made material misrepresentations to these clients, including false guarantees concerning investor losses, and misappropriated $1.4 million of client funds for his own use.

In a parallel criminal matter, Kelter pled guilty to one count of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud. He was sentenced to 29 months imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution of $1.467 million.

To resolve the SEC's allegations, Kelter consented to the entry of the final judgment, enjoining him from future violations of the antifraud provisions of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5, Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Sections 206(1) and (2) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The judgment orders Kelter to pay disgorgement of $1.467 million and prejudgment interest of $331,985, deemed satisfied by the restitution ordered against him in the criminal case. Kelter also consented to an order permanently barring him from the securities industry.

The investigation and litigation were conducted by Brittany Hamelers, Christina McGill, and Christian D.H. Schultz of the SEC's Home Office. This matter was supervised by Associate Director Melissa Hodgman, Assistant Director Timothy N. England, and Supervisory Trial Counsel Frederick L. Block. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Nashville Resident Agency.
- Hassan Ayariga, the leader of the All People's Congress says Akufo-Addo cannot claim to be president if he feels the current voters' register has any problem

- According to Ayariga, the president only wants to change to register because he fears losing the 2020 elections

- 6 opposition parties have formed the Inter-Party Resistance Against the New Voters Register to kick against the move to make a new register

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes

The founder and leader of the All Peoples Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga says President Akufo-Addo cannot hold himself out as President of Ghana if the EC claims that the voters register is not credible.

Speaking on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM, the APC flagbearer asserted that the reason Nana Addo wants to change the current register is that fear has gripped him that he might lose if it is maintained.

It would be recalled that just recently, the vice-president Bawumia revealed that the Ghana Card would soon erase all arguments about the use of voters register for elections in the country.

READ ALSO: Ghanaian nurse Makafui Amenyaglo needs urgent financial help for surgery

According to Bawumia, the card would automatically replace the voters ID since the Electoral Commission (EC) would extract details of all those who have turned eighteen and above.

Youre aware that the voter register is credible because theyve used it number of time to make elections and in those elections your party has lost, you think that you gonna lose the 2020 elections so youre advocating for a new voter register, which you termed not credible.

"If the voter register is not credible then definitely youre not the President of Ghana, said Ayariga

Reports indicate that a coalition of six opposition political parties says they are against the plan by the Electoral Commission to compile a new voters register for the 2020 general elections.

READ ALSO: Meet Ghana's radio presenter who graduated top university without attending SHS

The parties are the All Peoples Congress (APC), National Democratic Congress (NDC), Egle Party, United Progressive Party (UPP), United Front Party (UFP), and Peoples National Convention (PNC).

Together, the group calls itself the Inter-Party Resistance Against the New Voters Register.

In other news, Prof Adei disclosed that the only way a country can develop is when leaders have a long-term strategy in place to govern the people.

Speaking on Joy FMs Super Morning Show, he said, there are people who may be ideologically opposed to planning, there are some who are ideologically supportive of it but the reality is that no country can develop with a four-year manifesto.

Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
A thin sperm whale has died while stranded off the shoreline in the Scottish Highlands.

The mammal was first spotted struggling in the water at around 11am on Tuesday in the Moray Firth near the village of Ardersier, between Inverness and Nairn.

It is thought to be a male up to 20m (66ft) in length and weighing around 20-25 tonnes,

A local Coastguard team, the British Diver Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and Charlie Phillips - a field officer for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) stayed with the stranded mammal.

Its body will now be moved up the beach and examined by experts.

A sperm whale that died after stranding close to a shore of the Moray Firth / PA

Mr Phillips said: "The whale died very soon after it stranded. It's a fairly thin looking animal and not in good nutritional condition.

"It's got to be examined properly, which will happen with the strandings team because there's a protocol in place.

"We've also got Coastguard on scene because all stranded whales belong to the Queen so HM Coastguard are actually the policemen, if you like, who guard the animal.

It's just one of these things that happen every now and again in rough weather.

A sperm whale that died after stranding close to a shore of the Moray Firth / PA

The sighting of a sperm whale off the Highlands coast is unusual, but not unprecedented - a 12m (40ft) adult sperm whale died in August 2008 after stranding in shallow water elsewhere in the Moray Firth - at Arturlie Point near Inverness.

The mammals are found in deep waters off the north of Scotland and Norway, and their travel pattern sees them migrate south to feed and breed around the Azores.

Local Cailean Macleod said the whale drew a crowd. He said: Its a pretty rare and possibly once in a lifetime experience to see an actual deep sea whale ashore.

A spokesman for the Coastguard said: "At just after 8.40am this morning, HM Coastguard received a report that a distressed whale had been found in shallow water at Ardersier, close to Inverness, in Scotland.

"Coastguard rescue teams from Nairn and Inverness and Cromarty were sent to the location.

"The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and members of the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) were contacted and also attended the scene to assess the whale and monitor the situation."
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday told Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, that he does not plan to run for Senate in 2020, most likely ending Republicans hopes of securing a potentially dominant candidate for the open seat in his home state of Kansas, according to four people briefed on the meeting.

Pompeo, a former congressman from the Wichita area, has quietly explored a campaign for months. But in the aftermath of the military operation last week that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani of Iran, Pompeo has told senior party officials that he is ruling out becoming a candidate, according to several people who have spoken with him directly.

Pompeo still has time to change his mind. The filing deadline for the primary is not until June. However, administration officials who have spoken with him in recent days said he seemed adamant about not entering the race.

Without Pompeo in the race, Republicans face an unsettled primary that includes at least one candidate, Kris Kobach, whom party leaders fear could imperil their hold on a crucial open Senate seat. Kobach, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2018, is popular with hard-right primary voters but widely disliked among moderate and independent voters in Kansas.

Several other candidates are competing for the Republican nomination, including Rep. Roger Marshall. National Democrats have rallied behind Barbara Bollier, a state senator who left the GOP to become a Democrat a little more than a year ago, as their preferred candidate.

Pompeos decision is a setback for Republicans working to retain their Senate majority in the November elections. McConnell aggressively courted him for months, and also deployed a number of his lieutenants to make the case that the secretary of state should return to Kansas, which he represented in the House until he joined the Trump administration.

Republicans hold a relatively narrow majority with 53 seats in the Senate, and they appear to be on defense in nearly all of the competitive races this year, including in blue states such as Colorado and Maine and Republican-leaning swing states like North Carolina, Arizona, Georgia and Iowa. Democrats have only one incumbent senator who is clearly vulnerable to defeat, Doug Jones of Alabama.

But both parties have been trying to stretch the Senate battlefield, hoping to increase their odds of an outright majority through an upset win or two. For Democrats, Kansas is among those long-shot targets, along with Texas, Kentucky and South Carolina.

The Republican majority in the Senate has been among the most important political assets of Donald Trumps presidency, allowing him  even after Democrats seized the House of Representatives in 2018  to appoint scores of conservative judges and, so far, to thwart the impeachment process initiated in the House.

Even before the Soleimani strike, that impeachment process had emerged as a political complication for Pompeo, because of his proximity to Trumps efforts to spur the Ukrainian government to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, and to the internal Trump administration debate about whether to withhold military aid from the Eastern European ally.

Still, Republicans held out hope that Pompeo would return to electoral politics in Kansas, and for months he encouraged that expectation.

While the state has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932, McConnell and other top Republican officials are deeply worried that they could lose the seat should Kobach, the controversial former Kansas secretary of state, emerge as their nominee. An immigration hard-liner with a history of inflammatory comments, Kobach lost the governors race there last year.

Internal Republican polling suggested that Pompeo would have easily captured the nomination for the seat that is being vacated by Sen. Pat Roberts, a longtime member of the chamber who is retiring. And for months, it seemed like Pompeo would go forward with a run as he found reasons to return to Kansas and conspicuously showed up at events in Washington that were connected to his home state.

He even appeared to win something of a blessing from Trump after McConnell and other congressional Republicans privately emphasized to him the importance of retaining the seat.

The fate of the Senate in the 2020 election could determine whether Trump would be able to accomplish anything in his second term, should he win another four years in office, or whether an incoming Democratic president would be able to enact significant legislation and appoint judges without worrying about a wall of Republican opposition in the upper chamber.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
BREA, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Beckman Coulter, a global leader in clinical diagnostics, announced today that South West London Pathology (SWLP) has implemented DxH 900 haematology analysers and the Early Sepsis Indicator across the SWLP network.

The DxH 900 features the Early Sepsis Indicator, the only CE marked and FDA-cleared haematologic biomarker that aids the diagnosis of sepsis in adult patients

SWLP is an award-winning NHS pathology partnership set up by St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust and Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The installation enables SWLP laboratories to provide a single, integrated pathology service to more than 3.5 million people across South West London via three hospitals, 200 general practitioner practices and 30 community healthcare sites.

Beckman Coulter's DxH 900 haematology analysers enable clinical laboratories like SWLP to perform complete blood count and white blood cell differential tests. Demonstrating an industry-leading 93% first-pass yield, the DxH 900 reduces the number of manual slide reviews, helping to generate reportable results as quickly as possible. In addition, the DxH 900 features the Early Sepsis Indicator, the only CE marked and FDA-cleared haematologic biomarker that aids the diagnosis of sepsis in adult patients.

"Emergency departments across our network see 370,000 patients a year. And, with conditions like sepsis becoming more and more prevalent, it is mission critical to have the tools and technology to identify, diagnose and begin treatment as early as possible," said Simon Brewer, Managing Director at South West London Pathology. "We believe that Beckman Coulter's DxH 900 and Early Sepsis Indicator will help us detect and the clinical teams manage sepsis more effectively. Our staff is looking forward to seeing the benefits that the technology brings to the growing population being served by SWLP."

"We are proud to partner with South West London Pathology on their mission to reduce the impact of sepsis," said Peter Soltani, Ph.D., senior vice president and general manager of the haematology business unit at Beckman Coulter. "Our partners count on Beckman Coulter to provide a broad menu of solutions that impact the treatment of the most prevalent and costly health conditions. And in cases like sepsis where every minute counts, having a biomarker included as part of a routine CBC blood test enables detection earlier in the critical care pathway which can make a huge difference."

For more information regarding Beckman Coulter's full suite of solutions for sepsis diagnosis and management, visit www.BeckmanCoulter.com/Sepsis.

About Beckman Coulter

Beckman Coulter is committed to advancing healthcare for every person by applying the power of science, technology and the passion and creativity of our teams to enhance the diagnostic laboratory's role in improving healthcare outcomes. Our diagnostic systems are used in complex biomedical testing, and are found in hospitals, reference laboratories and physician office settings around the globe. Beckman Coulter offers a unique combination of people, processes and solutions designed to elevate the performance of clinical laboratories and healthcare networks. We do this by accelerating care with a menu that matters, bringing the benefit of automation to all, delivering greater insights through clinical informatics and unlocking hidden value through performance partnership. An operating company of Danaher Corporation since 2011, Beckman Coulter is headquartered in Brea, Calif., and has more than 11,000 global associates working diligently to make the world a healthier place.

 2020 Beckman Coulter. All rights reserved. Beckman Coulter, the stylized logo, and the Beckman Coulter product and service marks mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

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The Tragedy of the Commons by Hardin (1968) is an economic theory that describes how people often use natural resources to their advantage without considering the good of a group or society as a whole. When a few individuals consider only their own welfare in this manner, it leads to negative outcomes for everybody, as the natural resource becomes depleted.

The famous example given by Hardin includes pastureland that people use to graze their cattle. Herdsmen who operate under The Tragedy of the Commons dont consider how excessive grazing or adding additional cattle to their herd will impact another herdsman or everyone as a whole in the long run. The more herdsmen who only consider their own herd and profit, the more the pasture is run down and the more all the herds suffer. As Hardin (1968) put it, Freedom in a common brings ruin to all.

The idea of the commons can be extrapolated to many different contexts where humans believe they should have free reign which affects humanity as a whole. Not only does it relate to land and pollution, but it also relates to the freedom to use, misuse and overuse the enigmatic Spirit of Biafra.

The Biafran Spirit is a common resource owned by all Igbos. It is the trait that all Igbos use to achieve unprecedented success in their chosen life endeavors. It remains the never-say-die attitude that Igbos are known for.

Unfortunately, as in the Tragedy of the Commons, Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB have been overusing and misusing this shared resource. Like a herdsman that adds additional cattle to the land to maximise personal gain leading to the degradation of the land from overgrazing, Nnamdi Kanu uses and manipulates the Biafran Spirit, which is the common good of all Igbos for his monetary gains and has brought ruin to the entire Igbo race.

Due to the reorientation of our cultural values in Igbo land over the past couple of decades; individuals are locked into a system that compels them to maximise personal gains without limit. Thus, ruin is the destination towards which IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu have pushed all Igbos, politically, economically, socially and religiously.

If you are building a house and a nail breaks, do you stop building or do you change the nail? The nail, IPOB, is not only broken but is lost in the wilderness of western countries. IPOB as presently constituted and ran is simply serving as a fulltime job for the leadership that is simply making some small change for themselves. They have politically ruined the chance of an Igbo man becoming the President of Nigeria in the foreseeable future.

As we speak, Chief Atiku Abubakar is strongly positioning himself to run for reelection under the platform of the PDP in 2023. You know why? This is simply because the Igbos who are the major stakeholders in the PDP are conscious of the damage caused by Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB to the Igbo identity in the Nigerian political landscape. Peter Obi who ordinarily is expected to step up and fly the ticket of the PDP in the 2023 Presidential election is currently shying away from that responsibility.

Several solutions have been proposed to offset negative outcomes related to The Tragedy of the Commons. In general, solving this problem requires collaboration and cooperation as people come together to preserve resources for the good of all.

By focusing on interest as narrow as separatism, Igbos who support IPOB and those not speaking out against the collateral damage to Igbo brand in Nigeria miss the broader picture of the need to protect and preserve our common resource  the Biafran Spirit.

Nothing equals possibilities like unleashed thinking. To unleash our thinking, we should have long realized that the politics of fanning ethnic sentiment in a multicultural Nigeria has taken Igbos as far as it can  nowhere.

What Igbos need in this New Year and a new decade is collaboration and cooperation to transform the states in Igbo land through our handwork and ingenuity. To save our common resource from the polluter, IPOB, Igbos should build a broad coalition that will actualise the structural changes needed at the center.

Per Hardin, the polluter finds that his share of the cost of the wastes he discharges into the commons is less than the cost of purifying his wastes before releasing them. Similarly, Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB find that the share of damaging the Biafran Spirit and by extension, the Igbo brand in Nigeria through their toxic rhetoric is less than the cost of purifying their utterances before spewing them out.

A Beninese proverb says that you must attend to your business with the vendor in the market, and not to the noise of the market. IPOB as presently constituted is a noise. Igbos, should, therefore, attend to the business of living in a multicultural Nigeria without the constant distraction from the noise.

Together, we can.

On Twitter @Churchillnnobi
Elizabeth Lee Wurtzel was born in Manhattan on July 31, 1967. Her mother, Lynne Winters, was an assistant at Random House when she had an affair with Adelman, according to Ms. Wurtzel. He remained a family friend, lived a block away and died in 2016. Ms. Wurtzel said it was only after his death that she learned of their relationship, through a call from his girlfriend and then from Winters.




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Aston Martin warned its 2019 profits would almost be cut in half due to weak European markets, sending its shares sharply lower as rivals Bentley and Rolls-Royce powered ahead.

Tuesday's downgrade is the latest from the British luxury carmaker, whose shares have now plunged about three quarters in value since their 2018 listing.

The 107-year-old firm, famed for being fictional agent James Bond's brand of choice, cut its forecast for wholesale volumes and profit margins in July, and reduced its volume forecast again in November.

It has blamed weak UK and European markets and subdued demand for its Vantage model and said on Tuesday those conditions continued through December, leading to a 7% drop in wholesale volumes for 2019.

"From a trading perspective, 2019 has been a very disappointing year," Chief Executive Officer Andy Palmer said, as the company's shares plunged as much as 16%.

While Aston spent 2019 ploughing money into a new factory to build its first SUV, the highly lucrative market a number of carmakers have entered, rivals such as BMW-owned Rolls-Royce and Volkswagen-owned Bentley appear one step ahead.

Bentley on Tuesday said its Bentayga SUV boosted the brand's performance in 2019 as it returned to profitability, while Rolls-Royce's Cullinan helped drive a 25% increase in sales to an all-time high of 5,152 vehicles.

"Cullinan has proven to be an outstanding hot seller for the brand," Chief Executive Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes told Reuters.

"We are sitting now on an order bank reaching even far into 2020."

Aston hopes its first SUV, the DBX, will emulate this success and revive its fortunes next year. About 1,800 orders have been booked since its launch in November, the company said.

"The order rate is materially better than any other car that we have ever launched before," Palmer told Reuters.

For 2019, Aston expects adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of 130-140 million pounds ($171 million to $184 million).

Story continues

The company reported 247.3 million pounds in core profit a year earlier, while analysts' average forecast was 196 million pounds for 2019, according to a company-compiled consensus.

Aston said it was also in talks with investors for a potential equity investment and would draw down $100 million in bond notes.

Its shares, which have lost nearly 3 billion pounds in market value since their listing, were down 11.1% to 464.8 pence at 1136 GMT.
Pakistan will not allow use of its soil against any other country: Shah Mahmood 07 January, 2020



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Hand Wash and Toiletries in Pakistan And the Role of DUPAS in Reshaping the Industry

Woke Bingo ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Monday said Pakistan will not allow use of its soil against any other country, and urged the United States and Iran to abide by the United Nations Charter and international laws for peaceful settlement of the differences.



The minister, in a policy statement in both the houses of the Parliament on the Middle East situation, called upon the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to play their role for the regional security. He said a task force has already been established at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to monitor and assess the developments in the region.



The foreign minister viewed that further action from any of the two sides will never be in favour of the region and that the use of force is not a solution to the conflict. The parties concerned will hopefully exercise restraint and avoid the escalation of situation as the region cannot afford any adventurism, he said, adding that the current regional situation is a threat to the world peace.



Qureshi said according to regional experts, the repercussions of the strike that killed Soleimani can be more severe than the 2011 raid that killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and the 2019 killing of militant Islamic State group chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He said Iraq has decided to send its foreign minister to the United Nations to record protest because in their view the strike violated international law and the UN Charter. I decided to contact the important foreign ministers of the region. I talked in detail with the Iranian foreign minister and presented Pakistans stance on the incident and gained information from him, he said, adding that he also spoke with the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The situation in the Middle East is very sensitive, fluid and concerning, he said.



Foreign Minister Qureshi spelled out 11 points which he said reflect why Pakistan is concerned about the US-Iran tensions: The incident will further destabilise the region, especially the situation in Iraq and Syria; the crisis can have a negative impact on the Afghanistan peace process and Pakistans efforts in this regard can be undone; the situation in Yemen van get out of hand and attacks by Houthis on Saudi Arabia can increase; Hezbollah, which has in the past conducted rocket attacks, can go ahead and strike Israel; the situation can lead to high-profile assassinations of US personnel in the region; route blockades can be enacted leading to breakage in oil supply, which will have a negative impact on the regional and global economy; Iran nuclear deal has come under severe pressure with the latest announcements coming out of Iran suggesting Tehran has virtually backed out of the deal that put restrictions on the countrys Uranium enrichment; crisis can lead to terrorism rearing its head again in Pakistan; the developments have raised the chances of further division of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation; the situation has also impacted the Pakistani governments efforts to unite the forum of OIC on the human rights violations in India-held Kashmir; and India may pounce on the chance to destabilise Pakistan and conduct false-flag operations.



He recalled that the Iranian supreme leader has promised revenge over Soleimanis killing while Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has termed this strike as international terrorism. The Pentagon, on the other hand, has acknowledged that the strike was carried out on the direction of US President Donald Trump, he said. The White House stated that it was a decisive defensive action. These tensions have not arisen overnight but the situation has been intensifying over a period of time, the foreign minister said, adding that this specific act by the US has aggravated the situation in the region. Sharing Pakistans perspective, Qureshi reiterated Islamabads readiness to continue to play a role in preventing further escalation, and maintaining regional peace and stability. He said Pakistan will not support any unilateral action, which can undermine the regional peace as the use of power will further destabilize the region. He said Pakistan can support the peace building and de-escalation efforts, but not any move for further tension.



He urged the United Nations (UN) secretary general to play a vital role in peace building. He said Pakistan is making efforts for a vibrant role of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). He assured the parliament that the Pakistani nation and the army are fully alive to the ongoing situation, and are capable enough to defend their homeland in case of any misadventure by India. He said all the opposition parties have played a key role on the Kashmir issue, and hoped for a positive and responsible attitude on the emerging situation. He said the European Union has also expressed reservation over the situation in Middle East. He also asked the opposition to forward their suggestions on the issue.
HOUSTON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bracewell LLP added 16 partners and senior principal in 2019, including four lawyers promoted to partner or senior principal, effective January 1, 2020, and 12 lateral partner hires.

"This group of outstanding lawyers represents the very best of our profession," said Bracewell Managing Partner Gregory M. Bopp. "Each of these lawyers has a long track record of success as trusted advisers in their respective areas of practice and will further our commitment to client service excellence worldwide."

E. Steve Bolden II  Bolden joined Bracewell's Dallas office in September 2019, with a broad public finance practice. He also has an active corporate and securities practice, representing clients in the merger and acquisition of publicly traded and privately held companies. Bolden earned his A.B. in government from Dartmouth College and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University.

Stephen L. Braga  Braga joined Bracewell's Washington, DC office in January 2019, with over 35 years of experience representing clients in white collar, appellate and civil litigation matters. He has played a leading role in many high-profile white collar cases and investigations in DC over the course of his career. Braga received his B.A., cum laude, from Fairfield University and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Michael Chibib  Chibib rejoined Bracewell's Austin office in December 2019, with over 25 years of experience advising companies in the semiconductor, telecommunications, electronics and software fields on various IP litigation matters. From 2000 to 2006, he was general counsel at a publicly traded company in the alternative energy space. Chibib earned his B.S. in electrical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and his J.D., with honors, from The University of Texas School of Law.

Conor M. Civins  Civins rejoined Bracewell's Austin office in December 2019, with over 16 years of experience handling IP litigation and general commercial litigation. He represents a range of clients in patent litigation, trademark and trade secret disputes, as well as disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, unfair competition and breach of fiduciary duty. Civins graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. from Emory University and earned his J.D., with honors, from The University of Texas School of Law.

William H. Ebert  Resident in Bracewell's Washington, DC office, Ebert was promoted from senior counsel to partner, effective January 1, 2020. He represents large financial institutions, private equity funds and companies in secured and unsecured commercial lending transactions, primarily in the upstream, midstream and renewable energy sectors. Ebert received his B.A. from University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law.

Todd W. Eckland  Eckland joined Bracewell's New York office in September 2019, with over 30 years of experience representing investment banks and public and private companies in capital markets transactions. He has advised clients in more than 250 public offerings of debt, equity and hybrid securities across the energy, technology and life science sectors. Eckland earned his B.S., summa cum laude, from the University of Minnesota and his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

Catherine Hood  Hood joined Bracewell's New York office in June 2019, with over 30 years of experience representing clients in capital markets transactions, primarily in the utilities sector. She advises public utilities, competitive energy companies, and the financial institutions that underwrite and purchase securities of such companies, on a range of offerings. Hood received her A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard University and her J.D., cum laude, from Cornell Law School. She is a fellow and trustee of the American College of Investment Counsel.

Nina Howell  Howell joined Bracewell's London office in June 2019, with over 20 years of experience advising energy companies on projects and corporate transactions around the world, including cross-border pipelines, upstream joint ventures, unitization and various oil and gas projects. She has advised on major LNG import and export projects in Africa, Australia, Europe, South America and the United States. Howell earned her B.A. at The University of Manchester and her C.P.E. and L.P.C. from College of Law, London.

Andrej Kormuth  Kormuth joined Bracewell's Dubai office in March 2019, with significant experience as a projects and infrastructure lawyer, including the latest wave of Saudi Arabian renewables, water and waste water projects and Qatar's first renewables IPP. Kormuth earned an L.L.B., summa cum laude, at Howard College, University of KwaZululNatal, and an LL.M. at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, where he was a Cecil Renaud Scholar. He has been recognized as a next generation lawyer in Legal 500 United Kingdom (20172018), and as a rising star in IFLR1000 (20182020).

William Mahomes Jr.  Mahomes joined Bracewell's Dallas office in July 2019, with over 30 years of experience in public finance, real estate and other transactional disciplines. He provides practical advice on public projects and public-private partnerships (P3s) based on his service on the board of directors of major transportation agencies. Mahomes received his B.A. from Texas A&M University and his J.D. from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law.

Eimear Murphy  Resident in Bracewell's London office, Murphy was promoted from senior associate to partner, effective January 1, 2020. Murphy advises borrowers and lenders in the upstream oil and gas finance market. Her experience includes advising on cross-border upstream financings in Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Murphy graduated with distinction with a BBLS from University College Dublin, with distinction with an LL.M. from London School of Economics and with distinction with a L.P.C. from BPP Law School. Murphy has been recognized as a rising star in emerging market finance in Legal 500 United Kingdom (20182020).

Matthew G. Nielsen  Nielsen joined Bracewell's Dallas office in March 2019, with over 18 years of experience representing individuals and companies in civil and criminal investigations, internal investigations, securities-related litigation and compliance counseling. He advises clients in matters relating to federal and state securities laws, accounting fraud, US export control and sanctions laws, and anti-bribery laws. Nielsen received his B.B.A., cum laude, from Texas Christian University and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Baylor Law School.

David A. Shargel  Shargel rejoined Bracewell's New York office in September 2019. He advises companies and individuals in complex commercial litigation, internal investigations, white collar defense, and regulatory and compliance matters. Prior to Bracewell, he served as a law clerk to US District Judge Richard M. Berman in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Shargel earned his B.A. from Kenyon College and his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School.

Clint Steyn  Steyn rejoined Bracewell's Dubai office in May 2019, after serving two years as general counsel at Alcazar Energy. He has over 20 years of M&A, project development and project finance experience, including 10 years on the ground in the Middle East. Recognized as a leading energy and infrastructure lawyer by Chambers Global (2016) and Legal 500 EMEA (20152017), Steyn holds a B.A. and L.L.B. from University of Cape Town and a Diploma in Finance from London Business School.

Tom Swarbrick  Resident in Bracewell's Dubai office, Swarbrick was promoted from senior counsel to partner, effective January 1, 2020. He represents governments, developers, funders and contractors on major construction and infrastructure projects in and the Middle East and Africa. Swarbrick earned his B.A. at the University of Manchester and his G.D.L. and L.P.C. at Nottingham Law School. Swarbrick has been recommended for construction by Legal 500 United Kingdom since 2017, ranking as a next generation lawyer in 2017.

Christine G. Wyman  Resident in Bracewell's Washington, DC office, Wyman was promoted from senior counsel to senior principal, effective January 1, 2020. Wyman represents clients before the US Congress and federal agencies, assisting them with the development and implementation of effective policy solutions. She works on a range of issues, including energy, environmental, permitting and pipeline safety. Prior to joining Bracewell, Wyman was senior counsel at the American Gas Association. Wyman graduated with a B.A. from University of North Carolina at Asheville, earned her Master of Environmental Management from Duke University, and graduated cum laude with a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

About Bracewell LLP

Bracewell LLP is a leading law and government relations firm. Our knowledge of the commercial, legal and governmental challenges faced by clients across industries enables us to provide innovative solutions to facilitate transactions and resolve disputes.

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Surprise visit comes as regional tensions intensify over Syrias ally Iran vowing response to Soleimanis killing.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has met his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad during a rare visit to the Syrian capital as the prospect of war between Iran and the United States loomed over the region.

Tuesdays visit was Putins first to Damascus and second to Syria, a key Iran ally, since the start of the nearly nine-year war that Russian troops joined in 2015 to support the Syrian government.

The two leaders listened to a military presentation by the commander of Russian forces in Syria, the Syrian presidency said in a statement along with a picture of the two leaders shaking hands.

Putin extended his greetings to Russian forces for Orthodox Christmas which is celebrated on January 7.

He also said enormous progress had been made in the Syrian conflict, Russian news agencies reported.

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In his conversation with Assad, Putin noted that we can now say with confidence that a huge distance has been travelled towards restoring Syrian statehood and the countrys territorial integrity, the agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Peskov told Interfax, RIA Novosti and TASS that Putin met al-Assad at a command post for Russian forces in Syria, driving through Damascus on the way.

Putin also noted that on the streets of Damascus, the signs of how peace has been restored can be seen with the naked eye, according to Peskov.

He said the two men heard military reports on the situation in various parts of Syria, where Russias armed forces intervened in 2015 in support of al-Assad.

The Syrian president expressed appreciation for the help of Russia and the Russian military in the fight against terrorism and the restoration of peaceful life in Syria, Peskov said.

Putin was due to visit several more sites, Peskov said, without providing further details.

The Russian leader visited Syria in December 2017 but had not been to the capital, only stopping at the Russian base of Hmeimim on the Mediterranean coast.

Heightened tensions

The visit came amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US, following the killing of a top Iranian general in a US air raid in neighbouring Iraq.

Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimanis death has sparked calls across Iran for revenge against the US.

US troops are based in eastern Syria, making the country a potential site of conflict with Iran.

Soleimani, who was killed on Friday in a US attack on Baghdad airport, was widely seen as one of the most powerful men in the region and the architect of Irans support for the Syrian army.

Tehran has reacted by vowing bloody revenge, as have the militias it controls in Iraq, while Parliament in Baghdad has voted to request a full US troop withdrawal.

Putin is expected in Turkey on Wednesday to inaugurate a gas pipeline with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 00:41:13|Editor: ZX

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French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian leaves after a meeting on Libya with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

BRUSSELS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Top European diplomats emerged from a Tuesday meeting saying continuing outside interference is fuelling the crisis in Libya and that there is no military solution to it.

Top diplomats from Britain, Italy, Germany, France as well as the European Union said in a joint statement after the meeting that "there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis... An immediate cessation of hostilities is therefore crucial."

"All the members of the international community need to strictly respect and enforce the UN arms embargo. Continuing outside interference is fuelling the crisis," the statement added.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters: "It is obvious that this made a reference to the Turkish decision to intervene with their troops in Libya, which is something that we reject."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday evening that Turkey is "gradually" sending troops to Libya under a deal inked with its UN-recognized Government of National Accord.

"Our soldiers are gradually going," Erdogan told the CNNTurk broadcaster in a televised interview, saying "the duty of Turkish soldiers is to ensure ceasefire and not to fight."
THREE works by British modernist artists worth an estimated 400,000 have been gifted to the nation by a woman from Turville.

Kate Ashbrook has donated sculptures by Dame Barbara Hepworth and Denis Mitchell and a painting by William Scott to the Hepworth gallery in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, where they will go on display next month.

The pieces were owned by her aunt Nancy Balfour, an art collector and senior editor at the Economist magazine, who was chairman and president of the Contemporary Art Society and knew Hepworth.

She had kept them at her flat in Eaton Square, London, and when she died in 1997, aged 86, they were passed down to her family.

The artworks were acquired for the nation through the Cultural Gifts Scheme, which enables UK taxpayers to donate important objects to the nation in return for a tax rebate during their lifetime.

Hepworths Orpheus, dated 1956, is a bronze sculpture on a wooden base and one of four Orpheus pieces.

The sculpture is an early example of Hepworths move from carving predominantly in stone and wood to including bronze and brass among her materials of choice.

Hepworth, who died in 1975, studied at Leeds School of Art from 1920 to 1921 alongside fellow Yorkshire-born artist Henry Moore.

Trevarrack by Denis Mitchell is a polished bronze sculpture mounted on a slate base. It is dated 1961 and signed with his initials.

Mitchell was Hepworths assistant from 1949 to 1959 and his work clearly shows her influence. He died in 1993.

Small Cornish Landscape by William Scott was painted around 1953 and is signed SCOTT in the lower right corner.

Scott spent a few months in Cornwall in 1935 and 1936 and returned in the early Fifties. Known for his still life and abstract paintings, he died in 1989.

Miss Ashbrook, who is general secretary of the Henley-based Open Spaces Society, said: I am pleased that these striking and important works by British modernist artists have found a permanent home at the Hepworth Wakefield, where they will complement the core collection.

These works will be on permanent display and properly looked after in the right place.

I didnt want them, couldnt accommodate them and I didnt want them to be sold abroad or into a private collection. I really did want them to be enjoyed by everybody.

My aunt, who was a commanding figure in the modern art world, could have found no better place for them to live. In her will, Miss Balfour informed her family that they could choose pieces from her art collection.

Miss Ashbrook said: We were amazed because we didnt think she had such strong feelings for the family because she was a very independent lady. We were quite touched by it.

We had to pay the probate valuation and the rest went to the Contemporary Art Society, which distributed works to small museums that would benefit from them.

My parents particularly liked these three works and we were advised, purely from a tax point of view, that one of us girls  my sister Sue or me  paid for them from the estate then we wouldnt have to pay inheritance tax on them later.

I paid for them but I have to say I cant remember what it was but it wasnt very much. What my sister and I both probably said was our Nancy would have liked us to have taken some more modern things. We tended to choose more classical pieces but we were very happy with them.

The artworks remained at her parents Jay and Margarets home in Denham, Buckinghamshire, until her mother died in 2018. Her father had passed away in 2002.

Miss Ashbrook said: I was wondering what to do with them and I came across Barbara Hepworths granddaughter, Dr Sophie Bowness, who said, you could give them to the Hepworth.

She said it was a long process to donate the pieces under the Cultural Gifts Scheme but she would receive a tax rebate of 124,500 over five years.

The money is very likely to go into charitable things because I do like supporting charities, said Miss Ashbrook.

It is a gift to the nation and I get something in return. I cant pretend I dont, it is all public.

You get landowners who get that sort of tax concession for allowing public access to their land and I have to say, quite often, they dont provide it properly or they have blocked rights of way on the land.

Miss Ashbrook, who also chairs Ramblers Great Britain and is vice-chair of the Campaign for National Parks and patron of the Walkers Are Welcome Towns Network, added: Orpheus is absolutely splendid.

Denis Mitchells sculpture, I like that very much  it looks a bit like a Cornish tin mine.

It turns out my aunt knew Barbara Hepworth quite well and commissioned a work from her.

We knew she had an awful lot of works because she had this flat in Eaton Square that was jammed full but we found there was an awful lot in the cupboard.

I regret not knowing her better in her lifetime.

She discovered people before they become famous, like [painter] Howard Hodgkin. She just had a really good eye but she only ever bought things she liked.

Simon Wallis, director of the Hepworth gallery, said: We are thrilled that Wakefields art collection will receive this generous philanthropic gift.

These are three major works of art that will find a perfect home for wide public appreciation and benefit.

Arts minister Helen Whately said she was delighted that the three brilliant artworks would be enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

The Cultural Gifts Scheme was launched by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport in 2013 and is administered by the Arts Council.

Donated pieces are allocated to public collections and in return donors receive a reduction in their income tax, capital gains tax or corporation tax liability, based on a set percentage of the value of the object they are donating  30 per cent for individuals and 20 per cent for companies.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Mighty Crown's Sami T, Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Masta Simon are pictured following a performance during his recent visit to Japan.

The internationally renowned Mighty Crown sound system has amassed quite the impressive list of accomplishments over the years. But their latest milestone is surely the most phenomenal of them all!





Quite the honor, the "Far East Rulaz" were hand picked by Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to attend and perform at an exclusive, invite only dinner welcoming Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Michael Holness, ON, MP to Japan. Introduced to the visiting Holness as "The 1999 World Clash Champions" by Prime Minister Abe, the political leaders took no time to chat with Mighty Crown about their legacy and how much Jamaican music and culture has impacted their personal and professional lives. The popular sound system emphasized that Jamaica's beloved Reggae and Dancehall have left an indelible mark on Japan.





Quite the honor, Mighty Crown's Masta Simon greets Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness during Holness' recent visit to Japan.









As the first sound system/DJs to perform at Prime Minister

Shinzo Abe's home, Mighty Crown had a lot to say about the opportunity.





"It's such a big deal to be in the company of Japan and Jamaica's top political leaders. Our hard work really shines and comes full circle with this honor."





"To have the Prime Ministers call the name Mighty Crown from their mouths and salute us was just crazy," Sami T adds.





Much to their credit, Mighty Crown has made it their mission to unify Japan and Jamaica through music over the course of their long running career. Building a reputable sound system, business and brand on their love of Reggae and Dancehall music, Mighty Crown has continually promoted Jamaica's indigenous culture in Japan and through out the world. Their annual stadium show, themed concerts, sound clashes in conjunction with Irish and Chin, and events feature the best of the best of Jamaican artists and sounds.





Mighty Crown culminated their attendance with an explosive set of Reggae and Dancehall music, playing selections from Bob Marley, Beres Hammond and Richie Stephens. And they musically introduced Prime Minister Abe to the "Crown Prince of Reggae" Dennis Brown. But it was when the "Far East Rulaz" dropped Koffee's anthem "Toast" that both Prime Ministers began dancing and proceeded to the DJ booth, which is how the photos came about. The night's climactic moment genuinely demonstrated how music can transcend cultural boundaries.





Mighty Crown's Sami T greets Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness during Holness' recent visit to Japan.








In a news cycle dominated by tension in the Middle East, you may have missed something that will provide a direct benefit to American consumers and business. Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee approved  and yes, its true  did so with overwhelming bipartisan support - the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This action moves us closer to putting a modernized version of NAFTA on the presidents desk.

Lets hope that the full Senate takes up the agreement soon. Originally passed in 1993, NAFTA has long needed an upgrade into the 21st Century. Mexico has realized the urgency, already ratifying the USMCA. Canada is expected to approve the agreement when its House of Commons reconvenes in late January.

Ratifying USMCA is important for American workers. The U.S. economy is experiencing historically low unemployment levels, a trend that Goldman Sachs expects to continue. The USMCA can extend that good fortune by re-incentivizing trade businesses and securing critical partnerships, many of which hinge on dealings with Mexico and Canada. Trade with Canada and Mexico now supports nearly 12 million U.S. jobs, with more than a third of those created and supported by the former NAFTA deal, which created nearly 31 million American jobs since 1993.

The deal is particularly critical on the energy front. With American energy supplies booming, Canada and Mexico have become invaluable energy trade partners. Canada remains the largest destination for U.S. crude oil exports and a massive market for natural gas exports, with energy accounting for $25 billion, or about 8%, of the value of all U.S. exports to Canada in 2018. In February 2019, for example, U.S. natural gas exports to Canada topped 3 billion cubic feet per day, the highest level on record.

Energy represents an even larger slice of the pie for trade with Mexico, representing 12% of the value for all U.S. exports to Mexico last year. U.S. exports of petroleum products to Mexico nearly tripled over the past ten years, reaching a record high of $30.5 billion in 2018. These exports, combined with energy supplies heading north to Canadian markets, have the U.S. on track next year to become a net exporter of crude and fuel for the first time.

While robust energy trade is good for American suppliers, it could also help resolve some emerging issues in Mexico. As the Wall Street Journal has reported, under the leadership of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexico is looking to take a nationalist approach to energy, retreating to some degree from North American energy markets in a move toward self-sufficiency. A ratified USMCA is key to preserving free energy trade across the border, orienting Mexicos energy outlook toward growth and countering any nationalist trajectory. A new agreement assures that energy trade will remain free and uninterrupted, attracting private investment, lowering capital costs and reducing energy costs to consumers.

Moreover, a unified trade market across North America makes an important geopolitical statement. A few weeks ago, China and Russia opened the spigot on a 1,800 mile, $55 billion pipeline to deliver Russian natural gas to China. The pipeline is part of a $400 billion gas-supply deal that the two neighbors signed in 2014. Our biggest global competitors recognize the value of long-term energy partnerships. Will we?

With USMCA in place, the U.S. will have guaranteed markets  something that will encourage private infrastructure investment like export facilities and pipelines. Well also have the stability and policies to extend economic growth and high levels of employment. With the iron hot, the Senate should act now to ratify USMCA and deliver a key benefit to the American people.
Workers' Party Chairman Sylvia Lim and Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran speaking in Parliament on Monday (6 January). (PHOTOS: CNA screengrabs)

SINGAPORE  Workers Party (WP) chairman Sylvia Lim may be barking up the wrong tree in expressing concern that certain rules concerning online political advertisements will allow the ruling political party a strategic advantage over its political opponents, said Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran in Parliament on Monday (6 January).

Lim had raised queries regarding the Code of Practice for Transparency of Online Political Advertisements, specifically with regard to the requirements imposed on prescribed intermediaries  such as social media platforms  that carry such advertising.

The Code, which was issued by the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Office on 2 October last year, requires intermediaries carrying online political ads to display notices disclosing the person or organisation that paid for them and to maintain a database of the ads  which includes information such as the ads intended target audience and number of viewers reached.

There is nothing to stop the POFMA Office from going back at any time to look at (an intermediarys records), even if an advert has no problems. And, in that sense, it is a good way to discover the election strategy of the political opponents of the ruling party, said Lim.

Quipping that Lim had a very active imagination, Iswaran responded by pointing out how popular social media platforms had already taken action against political advertising.

If you want to take out political advertising through the English social media platforms, Google is not taking them. Twitter is not taking them... Facebook is making full disclosure. More than the disclosure that we require through this code, he observed.

So Im not sure how this affords us greater intelligence, Iswaran added.

In explaining the rationale for having the Code, the minister also noted how digital advertising tools are widely used on social media platforms and how ads can be micro-targeted at specific groups using a variety of indicators.

Story continues

We believe that Singaporeans should know, and indeed that our citizens would want to know, who is behind the political advertisements that they see online, he said, adding that the Code was also aimed at enhancing the transparency of online political advertising and holding advertisers accountable.

Regarding the obligation for intermediaries to maintain a database of political ads, Iswaran said this pertains to such groups being required to keep the information.

It doesn't mean that the (POFMA Office) has to have access to this information but the information must be available, so that in the event action is required, the relevant information is available, he added.

Related story:

Coincidence that fake news law applied to politicians, Singapore minister says
"As the global leader in innovation and technology, TOTO is committed to designing products that improve people's lives. For more than 100 years, we have focused on the consumer experience in the residential bath space and innovated, engineered and designed timelessly beautiful products that anticipate people's needs," said Shinya Tamura, CEO, TOTO USA. "As TOTO advances into the new world of the Internet of Things, we will develop collaborations with leading-edge companies whose innovative IoT systems provide an improved consumer experience through connected restroomspublic, retailer, and mobileno matter where they travel for work or play."

CLEANOVATION: Pioneering Cleanliness Technologies that Enrich Every Day

Cleanovation, which combines the words "clean" and "innovation," enables TOTO to demonstrate its commitment to the kind of refreshing cleanliness that promotes peace of mind, beauty, and wellness through its technological innovations that enrich people's everyday lives as they protect the planet. As the company articulates, "TOTO Innovation brings a new world of clean to life, enriching every moment of every day."

At CES 2020, the company will encourage attendees to "Experience TOTO," and TOTO has designed its booth to highlight the way its products support consumers with their cleanliness technologies: "Anyone, Any Time, Anywhere." TOTO has divided its booth by parts of the day. Entitled "Cleanliness 24/7/365," the morning section highlights TOTO's WASHLET+ and NEOREST intelligent toilets and their cleanliness technologies in a residential setting. The afternoon section, entitled "Universal Cleanliness," focuses on TOTO's collaborations on IoT-enabled restroomspublic, retailer, and mobilewhich offer consumers a consistently clean, comfortable restroom experience wherever they travel for work or play. Entitled "Care for People & Planet," the evening section showcases the Flotation Tub's ZERO DIMENSION and Global Showers' WARM SPA technologies, which provide both cleanliness and deep relaxation.

In each section of its CES 2020 booth, TOTO will provide large-screen videos that offer a glimpse into the different kinds of lifestyle that TOTO's products and technologies offer. In addition, TOTO will offer creative displays that give visitors the opportunity to see and experience first-hand its pioneering Cleanovation technologies.

TOTO's high-tech, intelligent toilets NEOREST and WASHLET+ will showcase their cleansing technologies:

PREMIST: The bowl's interior is sprayed with a fine mist of water to reduce matter, mold, and mildew's ability to stick to its surface.

The bowl's interior is sprayed with a fine mist of water to reduce matter, mold, and mildew's ability to stick to its surface. CEFIONTECT: TOTO's nano-technology glaze seals the porcelain with an ionized barrier, creating a super-slippery, non-porous surface that repels matter, mold and mildew.

TOTO's nano-technology glaze seals the porcelain with an ionized barrier, creating a super-slippery, non-porous surface that repels matter, mold and mildew. TORNADO FLUSH SYSTEM: TOTO's rimless bowl design and 2.5 diameter trapway use 100% of the water to remove waste effectively and clean every inch of the bowl and rim. TOTO's TORNADO FLUSH SYSTEM optimizes water conservation (1.28 or 1.0 gallons per flush), while setting a high bar in quiet world-class flushing performance.

TOTO's rimless bowl design and 2.5 diameter trapway use 100% of the water to remove waste effectively and clean every inch of the bowl and rim. TOTO's TORNADO FLUSH SYSTEM optimizes water conservation (1.28 or 1.0 gallons per flush), while setting a high bar in world-class flushing performance. EWATER+ : The cleanliness of the bowl's surface is ensured by misting it with EWATER+ to keep the bowl and WASHLET and NEOREST wands clean. EWATER+ uses no chemicals or cleaning agents, providing peace of mind every day that microscopic build up has no place to hide.

Remaining steadfast in its commitment to create a culture of clean, comfortable living through its innovative products and advanced technologies, TOTO will also display its NEOREST NX1 Intelligent Toilet.

TOTO's NEOREST NX1 is its most beautiful intelligent toilet. Inspired by the natural beauty of pebbles shaped by water over time, the NEOREST NX1's sophisticated elliptical silhouette will serve as an artistic focal point of any bath. It offers the people-first innovations consumers appreciate: high-tech sensor operation with auto open/close and auto flush; integrated WASHLET personal cleansing system with warm, aerated water to cleanse, warm air dryer, heated seat, and in-bowl catalytic deodorizer; and energy- and water-saving features.

BATH RELAXOLOGY: The Science Behind Relaxation and Revitalization

TOTO brings the science of relaxation and rejuvenation to the pleasure of bathing and showering with products that are designed to harmonize with the rhythms of daily lifeinvigorating in the morning and deeply relaxing in the evening.

At CES 2020, TOTO will display its revolutionary Flotation Tub with ZERO DIMENSION, a CES 2019 Innovation Awards Honoree, which simulates zero gravity by offering bathers a weightless experience that eliminates the mechanical energy/load on their joints. TOTO's breakthrough came after 10-years' research on bathing's relaxation effect, biomechanics, neuroscience, and ergonomics. TOTO discovered that a unique body posturewith the reclining body stabilized and the hips, knees, and ankles flexedreduced the joints' mechanical energy/load to nearly zero. It replicates the body's posture at zero gravity. Astronauts sleep in this position; it enables the most relaxing rest possible. TOTO christened this unique body position, ZERO DIMENSION.

TOTO's ZERO DIMENSION bathing posture deeply relaxes mind and body. Cerebral blood flow studies show activity in the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortexthe part of the brain responsible for languageis dramatically reduced. Bathers are afloat, calm and immersed in a meditative moment of relaxation, enhanced by special massage jets producing a therapeutic flow of warm air bubbles enveloping the entire body. A stream of warm water flows from the height-adjustable Neck Spa, an ergonomic pillow that keeps the neck and shoulders comfortably warm. HYDROHANDS massage jets create the experience of real hands massaging the lower back. All functions are easily operated using the control panel on the inside of the tub.

SHOWER RELAXOLOGY: Innovative Water Technologies for Rainshowers and Handshowers

For its Global Collection of Showers and Handshowers, TOTO offers exciting water technologies designed to provide bathers with showering experiences to fit their mood  the moderate intensity Comfort Wave, the high-intensity Active Water, and the deeply relaxing Warm Spa.

Active Wave Technology uses TOTO's unique shower nozzle design to powerfully release large water droplets. It provides a more vigorous, revitalizing showering experience, ideal for first thing in the morning.

uses TOTO's unique shower nozzle design to powerfully release large water droplets. It provides a more vigorous, revitalizing showering experience, ideal for first thing in the morning. Comfort Wave Technology uses TOTO's newest spray nozzle design to add large water droplets to the standard water spray for just the right amount of stimulation, enabling bathers to enjoy a shower of moderate intensity while saving water.

uses TOTO's newest spray nozzle design to add large water droplets to the standard water spray for just the right amount of stimulation, enabling bathers to enjoy a shower of moderate intensity while saving water. Warm Spa Technology offers a showering experience as relaxing as a soaking in warm bath. A single voluminous pillar of warm water flows silently from TOTO's overhead rainshower or handshower, enveloping the body's curves in relaxing warmth, without heat loss or splash. With Warm Spa, TOTO offers a showering experience that warms the body thoroughly without wasting water.

IOT COLLABORATIONS: At CES 2020, TOTO will display its latest business collaborations in IoT connected smart systems that improve consumers' restroom experiencepublic, retailer, and mobile.

Smart, Fully-Connected Public Restrooms: To provide consumers with a consistently clean, comfortable restroom experience no matter where they travel, TOTO has collaborated with GP PRO, a division of Georgia-Pacific, to innovate the Public Restroom of the Future.

The companies harnessed GP PRO's award-winning KOLO Smart Monitoring System, which delivers reliable, customizable and secure monitoring and analysis of connected restroom fixtures to a dashboard that facility managers and their custodial staff monitor via smartphone or computer. They receive real-time updates and alerts on:

the number of toilet and faucet activations and their water consumption;

fixture under-utilization and operational abnormalities such as leaks;

toilet paper, towel, and soap levels, preventing partial rolls or bottles from being discarded too soon;

optimized cleaning schedules for volume based cleaning and workforce management.



Facility managers harness this information to dramatically increase consumers' satisfaction with their public restroom experience and solve real-world business issues to better manage their work force and make substantial cost savings in their restrooms' operation.

Secure Access to Modern Restrooms On the Go: In the U.S., the number of public restrooms is insufficient to meet consumer need. Those that do exist may be in poor condition, and, in some cases, their isolated location can put consumers at risk. To offer an alternative to public restrooms, TOTO teamed with Good2Go, a San Francisco startup, to leverage the Internet of Things to enable consumers to find and securely access a growing network of modern, hands-free retailer restroomsall from their smartphone.

Consumers now have access to a map that shows them where to find modern, touchless restrooms available in retail establishments, directions to the locations, and how many Good2Go users are in line ahead of them at each site. The app also informs them when a location is closed.

When consumers arrive at their Good2Go location, they use the app to join a virtual queue. No need to stand in line, the app does it for them. When it is their turn, consumers receive a notification and may enter the restroom via digital keyonly the individual user may unlock the automatic door, which assures secure access and privacy. If a retail outlet's customer does not have the app, they can request a print copy of the QR code to unlock the door.

Retailers, too, benefit from TOTO and Good2Go's smart, secure access system. Increased consumer foot traffic to their establishments can increase revenue. Retailers can better monitor the quality and conditions of their restrooms. Not only do they receive real-time customer feedback on the restroom's conditions from the in-app user survey, but they can also leverage occupancy sensor data, wait time and dwell time to create alerts for operational and security issues. Additionally, retailers see a dramatic reduction in the costs associated with restroom damage and misuse since users' are digitally credentialed.

About TOTO

TOTO USA is headquarters for the Americas Division of the TOTO Global Group, which was established in 1917 with the founding of TOTO, Ltd., in Kitakyushu, Japan. TOTO is the world's largest manufacturer of bathroom fixtures and fittings with $5.19 billion dollars in annual sales (as of March 2018 and its exchange rate). For the past 100 years, TOTO has been the recognized leader in innovation, technology, performance, and design with products that enhance the luxury bathroom experience. Today, the company maintains 33,431 employees in 20 countries and owns manufacturing facilities around the world in countries as diverse as Japan, Mexico, Germany, the USA, India and China. Guided by its corporate philosophy , the TOTO Global Group strives to create a great company, trusted by people all around the world, which contributes to the betterment of society. Dedicated to engineering products that respect the environment while meeting people's needs for comfort, beauty and performance, TOTO is the sole plumbing manufacturer to maintain a research and development center devoted to universal design, advanced science, and technology. Consumers enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing they purchased a brand that innovates to improve people's quality of life. Winner of numerous domestic and international awards and recognitions, TOTO is the only plumbing manufacturer honored as Water Efficiency Leader by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The company continues to raise industry standards and consumer expectations as to what is possible in the bath space, as TOTO believes a high-quality bathroom is an experience and an everyday luxury people value and appreciate.

For more information, consumers may visit www.totousa.com or call 1.888.295.8134, Option 5. Follow TOTO on Twitter ( @TOTOUSA ) and become a TOTO fan on Facebook .

SOURCE TOTO

Related Links

http://www.totousa.com


Tens, if not hundreds, of millions of workers and youth will participate in tomorrows India-wide one-day general strike.

The strike call was issued on September 30, 2019 by an alliance of the countrys principal trade union federations to protest the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments big business measuressocial spending cuts, privatization, the promotion of precarious contract-labour jobs, the gutting of workplace and environmental regulations and further massive corporate tax cuts.

In the intervening three months, the BJP government has accelerated it class war offensive, turn to authoritarian methods of rule, promotion of Hindu supremacism and integration of India into Washingtons military-strategic offensive against China.

Indian workers on strike in Mumbai, on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

The BJP government has tabled legislation to streamline and modernize Indias labour laws into four new labour codes. Among other changes, these would empower companies to employ workers on fire-at-will contracts, place new restrictions on the right to strike and establish workplace organizations and gut Indias already woefully lax and inadequate system of factory inspections.

The Modi government is responding to a mounting clamour from global capital and domestic big business for it to do more to boost Indias competitiveness, i.e. investor profits, amid a pronounced slowdown of the countrys economy. Consumer demand, industrial production, and exports are all faltering. According to the Centre of Monitoring the Indian Economy, there were 73 million jobless in India in December and the jobless rate of 7.7 percent was close to a 45-year high.

Ten central labour federations and various independent unions, which together represent large sections of workers, from coal miners and port workers to bank employees, will participate in Wednesdays strike. Politically, however, the one-day protest strike is being led by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the All India Trades Union Congress (AITUC), the labour affiliates of the twin Stalinist parliamentary parties, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM and the Communist Party of India (CPI).

For decades, the Stalinists have functioned as a critical part of the Indian political establishment, whose special function is to contain, defuse and suppress working class opposition. This includes, in the name of thwarting the Hindu supremacist BJP, supporting a succession of right-wing big business governments from 1989 to 2008. Today, under conditions where the bourgeoisie is demonstrably breaking with democratic-constitutional forms of rule, the Stalinists are seeking to shackle the working class to the putrefying parties and institutions of the Indian state.

Even while they denounce the Modi government as fascist, the Stalinists insist that it can be pressured into dropping its anti-worker, anti-people and anti-national policies by working in tandem with the right-wing opposition parties and their various labour fronts, such as the Indian National Trades Union Congress (INTUC) and the DMK-aligned Labour Progressive Federation.

The INTUC is the trade union wing of the Congress Party, which until recently was the Indian ruling elites principal party of national government. Congress spearheaded both the Indian bourgeoisies post-1991 drive to make India a cheap-labor haven for global capital and its forging of a global strategic partnership with US imperialism.

Late last month, the unions added to a long list of socio-economic demands a call for the BJP government to rescind its anti-Muslim Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Rushed through parliament and into law in just four days last month, the CAA makes religion a criterion for determining citizenship, for the first-time ever in independent India. Moreover, it is meant to pave the way for an all-India National Register of Citizens (NRC) whose transparent purpose will be to harass and intimidate the Muslim minority in the name of identifying and expelling illegal migrants.

Since the CAA came into law on December 12, India has been convulsed by the biggest wave of mass protests in decades. Often mounted in defiance of brutal police repression, these protests have touched all parts of the country and cut across the communal, caste and ethnic divisions that Indias venal ruling elite has systematically cultivated with the aim of dividing the working class.

The sudden eruption of mass opposition has shaken the BJP national and state governments. They have responded with lethal repression, internet and cell phone shut-offs, blanket bans of all public gatherings of more than four people under the notorious British colonial-authored Section 144 of Indias Criminal Code and by further stoking communalism.

The outburst of popular opposition to the CAA, itself only the latest in the long series of BJP government provocations against Indias Muslim minority, will undoubtedly swell the participation in Wednesdays general strike, helping draw in students and sections of the rural and urban poor. Organizations of peasants and agricultural workers associated with the twin Stalinist parliamentary parties have called for a Grameen Bandh or rural strike on Wednesday.

As more perceptive Indian commentators have recognized, anger over mass joblessness, under-employment and contract jobs, endemic poverty, and Indias transformation into one of the worlds most socially unequal societies, have contributed to the breadth and tenacity of the anti-CAA movement.

Recent months have seen a wave of workers struggles. These include a massive one-day strike last September by hundreds of thousands of coal miners protesting the governments privatization plans, and a 52-day strike by 48,000 Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) workers against the plans of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi state government to sell-off much or all of the intra-city bus service.

The TSRTC workers courageously defied police repression and government threats to fire them en masse. But, as has happened time and again over the past three decades, the unions, with the Stalinists support, isolated the TSRTC workers struggle, while encouraging them to make futile appeals to the courts, opposition parties and even the Modi government to intervene on their behalf (see: Telangana Road Transport workers face harassment, contract-rollbacks after union surrender).

There have also been strikes and protests against job cuts, especially in Indias globally-connected auto industry. Hundreds of thousands of autoworkers have been laid off or had their contracts terminated in recent months.

Since early November, thousands of workers laid off from Honda Motorcycle and Scooters Manesar, Haryana plant have been protesting outside the plant, forcing the company to temporarily halt production. On December 1, thousands of workers from across the Manesar-Gurgaon industrial belt, which lies on the outskirts of Indians capital, Delhi, joined a demonstration protesting the government-promoted proliferation of poorly-paid, precarious contract labour jobs.

The president of the Bellsonica Auto Component India Employees Union, Jasbir Singh, told the Newsclick website that contract workers have borne the brunt of the employers drive to make workers pay for a sharp downturn in sales. In the Gurgaon-Manesar region well over 2.5 lakh (250,000) workers have been laid off  The ones not laid off are facing major cuts in wages.

Wednesdays strike will undoubtedly provide an occasion for tens of millions of workers and youth to voice their opposition to the Modi government and will, albeit only in a limited way, attest to the enormous social power of the working class.

However for the Stalinist CPM and CPI and their union apparatuses the strike is political theatre. Over the past quarter century, they have called 19 one or two-day general strikes, while working as the left-flank of the capitalist establishmentmuch of that time, including today, in open alliance with the Congress Party.

Significantly, the unions demands make no mention of Indias military-strategic alliance with US imperialism, nor voice any opposition to the Indias bourgeoisies vast military build-up, and bellicose drive to establish itself as the regional hegemon. The unions do, however, decry the governments moves to privatize parts of the defence sector as a betrayal of national interests.

Also, conspicuously absent from the unions list of demands is any call for the freedom of the 13 Maruti Suzuki workers who have been jailed for life on frame-up murder charges for having led militant opposition to a brutal work regime and contract labour jobs. The Stalinist parties and the CITU and AITUC have callously abandoned the Maruti Suzuki workers because they fear their militant example and because the exposure of the role of the police, courts, and Congress Party in the workers frame-up would disrupt their own cozy relations with the political establishment and big business.

Underscoring, the orientation of the CITU, AITUC, and all the unions, their top officials rushed to meet BJP Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar last week when he invited them for a meeting. Later they lamented that this representative of the ultra right-wing BJP government wasnt interested in serious dialogue. A key union demand is that the government reinstitute annual meetings of the tripartite Indian Labour Conference, which has not met since 2015.
The first results of clinical trials testing CRISPR suggest that the prospect of using the popular gene-editing tool to treat a range of diseases may be on the horizon.

Image Credit: Necula Valentin Andrei / Shutterstock.com

After years of ethical debate, controversy, and medical breakthroughs in the laboratory, CRISPR has finally entered clinical trials that are testing whether it can be used to treat various heritable diseases and cancer in humans.

Theres been a convergence of the science getting better, the manufacturing getting much better, and money being available for these kinds of studies Its truly come of age. Cynthia Dunbar, senior investigator at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

2019 has been a banner year

Last year was a banner year for the medical applications of CRISPRCas9, as results from the first clinical trials came in and more trials were launched - both critical steps in establishing whether the tool can fulfill its potential to treat human disease.

These first clinical trials are testing the safety and efficacy of the tool in treating blood disorders, cancer, and a form of inherited blindness. Many more trials are also due to begin soon. Unlike the controversial and ethically fraught practice of editing embryos that are destined to be born, the gene edits being made in these trials would not be passed onto future generations.

As the promising clinical trial results start to trickle in, researchers are encouraged that more sophisticated medical applications of genome editing could pave the way for treating a host of human diseases.

Progress has been rapid

It has only been seven years since scientists discovered that a CRISPR-Cas9 molecular defense system used by microbes to fend off viruses and other threats could be used to alter gene sequences in humans.

Since then, the technology has attracted attention for its controversial and unethical use in embryos by Chinese scientist, He Jiankui, which resulted in the first birth of genome-edited babies, Lulu and Nana. However, at the same time, researchers have been carrying out much less risky experiments testing the tools ability to make non-germline, non-controversy gene corrections to treat a wide array of diseases.

In 2016, researchers in China reported that they had treated a person using a CRISPR therapy that targets cancer by disabling a gene that shields cancer cells.

By 2019, the US governments clinicaltrials.gov database listed over a dozen new trials testing whether the technology can treat a host of diseases, ranging from blood disorders and HIV to cancer.

People are investing in the technology

Speaking to Science News, Janelle Waack an intellectual property attorney at the law firm Bass, Berry & Sims in Washington, DC, said that CRISPRs rise as a potential medical tool has happened in a remarkably short period of time.

She has been monitoring CRISPR patent filings in health care, medical research, agriculture, and chemical processing.

People are investing in the technology and think it has great commercial value, she told the news outlet.

It is still too early to draw conclusions about clinical use

Although the results have been promising so far, researchers say not enough people have been treated in the trials for any firm conclusions to be drawn about the safety and efficacy of CRISPR-Cas9 therapies in humans.

Theres been a lot of appropriate caution in applying this to treating people, says Edward Stadtmauer, an oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania.

For now, though, researchers are positive about the progress that has already been made:

I think were starting to see some of the results of that work, says Stadtmauer.

All of this has been very encouraging, concludes Dunbar.
Plans for two new large poultry houses near Norton Lindsey are recommended for approval by Warwick District Council this week, despite a wave of opposition from residents and Norton Lindsey Parish Council.

The plan, submitted by Mr A. Audhali, is that latest in a series of unsuccessful applications all seeking to replace the existing disused chicken sheds on the site, on land at Ward Hill, North East of the village.

The latest proposal also includes an on-site workers dwelling.

If successful, the sheds, with a combined capacity for more than 20,000 birds, would be used to rear chicks for the egg production industry.

68 objections to the proposal have been submitted to Warwick District Council, with some raising concerns about odours, increased vermin, the impact on greenbelt land, noise, dust and the potential spread of airborne bacteria, and the effect this could have on residents.

Among the other complaints are that the proposal could negatively affect the local highway network, would harm biodiversity, that the scheme is of no benefit to residents and that the site is unsuitable for such a use.

Concerns over animal welfare were also raised.

Norton Lindsey Parish Council have echoed some of these concerns in their response to the application and questioned the need for a workers dwelling at the site, suggesting that regular visits would suffice.

A response from the parish council reads: Norton Lindsey Parish Council has grave concerns with the environmental impact this proposal will have on the locality, particularly regarding odour (both during day-to-day operations and especially when the sheds are cleaned), dust in the atmosphere, increased vermin, noise from ventilation fans, etc. We are unconvinced by the methodology and findings of an odour report that suggests minimal impact on houses that are less than 50m away.

Despite residents raising questions the scheme could have, the Environmental Health Department at Warwick District Council and the Highways Department at Warwickshire County Council, have both raised no objections to the proposal, subject to conditions.

The argument to include the workers dwelling at the site is that someone would need to be close by to rapidly respond to any issues and ensure that no harm came to the birds.

The assessment of the application by planning officers, agrees with the need for an on-site workers presence and dwelling, reasoning that this outweighs any potential harm to the green belt.

Officers also noted that the new low-profile sheds would replace the existing dilapidated buildings on the site, which are of a similar scale.

They concluded that the site would be low noise impact and that a management plan detailing the control of dust and odours would need to be implemented.

A decision on the application is expected to be made at the Warwick District Council Planning Committee meeting on 8 January.
A lawyer for an Iranian-French academic detained in Iran since 2019 says Iran has dropped a spying charge against her.



"The espionage charge has been dropped" for Sciences Po University academic Fariba Adelkhah, attorney Said Dehghan told the AFP news agency on January 7.



Dehghan welcomed the move, noting that a conviction of espionage in Iran can result in the death penalty.



Dehghan said the prosecution has also dropped its case against Adelkhah on charges of "disturbing public order."



Adelkhah still faces two other charges from Iranian authorities. They include spreading "propaganda against the political system" of Iran and "conspiracy against national security."



Adelkhah, an expert on Iran and Shi'ite Islam, was arrested in Tehran in June 2019.



A colleague of hers at Sciences Po University, Roland Marchal, was also arrested by Iranian authorities in June while he was visiting Adelkhah.



Iran does not recognize dual nationality and has repeatedly rebuffed calls from foreign governments for consular access to those it has detained during legal proceedings.

Based on reporting by AFP and Le Monde
Fotis Dulos arrested for murder of estranged wife Jennifer Dulos originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Fotis Dulos, the estranged husband of missing Connecticut mom Jennifer Dulos, was charged Tuesday with capital murder, murder and kidnapping, police said.

Fotis Dulos' girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, was also arrested, charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

PHOTO: Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis in police booking photos. (New Canaan Police Department )

Kent Mahwinney, an attorney who has represented Fotis Dulos, was charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Mawhinney remains at large.

PHOTO: Kent Mawhinney (South Windsor Police Dept.)

Jennifer Dulos, who shared five children with her estranged husband, went missing on May 24 amid the former couple's contentious custody battle.

Her body has never been found.

MORE: Estranged husband of Connecticut missing mom Jennifer Dulos: 'I understand the public's perception of me as a monster'

Fotis Dulos was taken into custody by Connecticut State Police at his home on Tuesday.

His defense attorney, Norm Pattis, told reporters Tuesday, "We are confident about our odds."

PHOTO: A police car sits outside the home of Fotis Dulos on Jan. 7, 2020 in Connecticut. (WTIC)

Carrie Luft, a spokeswoman for Jennifer Dulos' family said in a statement Tuesday: "Although we are relieved that the wait for these charges is over, for us there is no sense of closure. Nothing can bring Jennifer back. We miss her every day and will forever mourn her loss."

"Above all we thank the Connecticut State Police and the New Canaan Police Department, as well as the assisting local departments, for their tireless commitment and diligent, painstaking work that have led to these arrests," Luft said. "We believe the arrest warrants will speak for themselves, and we ask that you please respect our privacy during this time."

PHOTO: Police in Connecticut are looking for Jennifer Dulos, 50, who was last seen on Friday, May 24, 2019. (New Canaan Police Department)

MORE: A Connecticut mystery: A timeline of the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos

Fotis Dulos and his girlfriend were initially arrested in June and charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence in connection with Jennifer Dulos' disappearance. The couple was arrested again months later on another charge of tampering with evidence.

Story continues

State police have alleged in court papers that Fotis Dulos was "lying in wait" for Jennifer Dulos at her New Canaan home and a violent assault took place in the garage, where bloodstains were found.

PHOTO: Fotis Dulos, the estranged husband of missing Connecticut mom Jennifer Dulos, was charged with capital murder, murder and kidnapping. (Connecticut State Police)

Clothes and sponges with her blood were found in trash cans where surveillance cameras captured a man appearing to be Fotis Dulos disposing of garbage bags, according to arrest warrants. A woman in the man's car fit the description of Fotis Dulos' girlfriend, Troconis, according to the documents.

PHOTO: Fotis Dulos, charged with two counts of tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in the disappearance of his wife, appears with his attorney Kevin Smith at Stamford Superior Court for a pre-trial hearing, Oct. 4, 2019, in Stamford, Conn. (Erik Trautmann/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, FILE)

Fotis Dulos' bond was set at $6 million after Tuesday's arrest. He will be arraigned on Wednesday, Pattis told reporters. Troconis' bond has been set at $2 million.

"We've sat for months, waiting and listening to speculation, and now we get to address the proof," Pattis continued. "And we are confident about our case."

Jennifer Dulos' mother has custody of the Dulos' five children.
Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani (C) attends a meeting in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 18, 2016. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP

Pompeo: Killing Soleimani Was the Right Decision

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, telling reporters in Washington that it was the right decision.

An airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump killed Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Quds Forces, in Baghdad on Jan. 2.

Reporters and some lawmakers have challenged U.S. leaders who have repeatedly said they learned that Soleimani was planning an imminent attack on U.S. interests.

If youre looking for imminence, you need look no further than the days that led up to the strike that was taken against Soleimani. And then you, in addition to that, have what we could clearly see were continuing efforts on behalf of this terrorist to build out a network of campaign activities that were going to lead, potentially, to the death of many more Americans, Pompeo said on Jan. 7.

It was the right decision. We got it right. The Department of Defense did excellent work and the president had an entirely legal, appropriate basis as well as a decision that fit perfectly within our strategy in how to counter the threat of malign activity from Iran more broadly.

Pompeo said the claims that Soleimani was traveling to Baghdad on a diplomatic mission werent credible. We know that wasnt true. We not only know the history, we know in that moment, that was not true.

A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike, in Baghdad, Iraq, early on Jan. 2, 2020. (Iraqi Prime Ministers Press Office, via AP)

Military leaders also said the evidence was ample that Soleimani was planning attacks on U.S. interests.

Ive seen words like, oh, the intel was razor thin,' Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chief of Staffs, told reporters at the Pentagon on Jan. 6.

Very, very few people saw that intelligence. He and I saw that intelligence. And I will be happy, when the appropriate time comes in front of the proper committees and anybody else, through history and everyIll stand by the intelligence I saw, thatthat was compelling, it was imminent, and it was very, very clear in scale, scope.

National security adviser Robert OBrien told reporters outside the White House on Jan. 7 that there was strong evidence and strong intelligence of the planned attack.

He was planning to kill, to attack American facilities. And diplomats, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines were located at those facilities, OBrien said.
HARARE, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwean authorities say they have retrieved the bodies of two park rangers who had arrested four poachers but were then thrown into Lake Kariba by the suspects.

The bodies of the two rangers were taken to the capital, Harare, for examinations, said Tinashe Farawo, spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority on Tuesday.

The two rangers had arrested four Zambian men for poaching and on Dec. 31 were transporting them by boat to Kariba town to be charged and jailed. But the four suspects overpowered the rangers and threw them into Lake Kariba, said Farawo. The rangers bodies were discovered after a week-long search.

Authorities are searching for the suspected poachers, he said.

The rangers had caught the poachers in Matusadona National Park, home to lions, leopards, elephants and hyena on the shores of Lake Kariba, one of the worlds largest man-made lakes. The park is popular with tourists who go on walking safaris and boating on the lake.

The rangers had detained the poachers overnight before attempting to take them by boat to Kariba town.

Although the parks agency has recorded a significant decrease in poaching in the wildlife rich southern African country, cases of armed contact between poachers and rangers have been on the rise in the Kariba area, where Zimbabwe borders Zambia to the north, said Farawo. The two countries share the lake as well as the magnificent Victoria Falls along the Zambezi River.
Given it's a World Cup year and the holders have been engulfed in a crisis since before the competition began, it's perhaps understandable that this has been a less than vintage European campaign so far.

Two rounds remain in the pool stages and three of the five pools are essentially sewn up, with eight of the 20 participants already out of the running.

Leinster are in the quarter-finals, Exeter and Toulouse can safely pencil themselves in for the first weekend in April.

Who will join them?

Pool 1

Leinster have made the most of a kind draw by locking down a last-eight spot already.

Their target now is to finish the pool stages as top seeds. Ten points is an achievable target, given their remaining matches are against Lyon at the RDS and Benetton in Treviso. Both opponents are out of the running.

Despite back-to-back defeats to the Irish province before Christmas, Northampton Saints have a real chance of joining Leinster in the last eight if they can beat the same opposition and pick up a couple of bonus points.

The only problem is it might set them on course for a return to the Aviva Stadium this spring.

Pool 2

This one is unfolding in much the same way as Leinster's pool, with Exeter four from four on 19 points and vying for top seeding.

The difference is that the Chiefs face a tricky trip to Glasgow on Saturday, with the Scots firmly in the hunt for a best runners-up spot on nine points which means they'll be at full strength and firing.

Pool 3

Saturday's clash between Clermont Auvergne and Ulster could be the tie of the round this weekend if Dan McFarland's men can deliver a performance.

With 17 points banked and a home game against an already-out Bath side to come next week, the Irish province are almost certainly set for a return to the knockouts.

A win in France would put them firmly in the frame for a home quarter-final.

That prize is also on offer for Clermont who will bank on getting a win from Harlequins on the final weekend and Les Jaunards will be a very different proposition on home soil after rolling over in Belfast.

Currently, Clermont are in second spot on 16 points and given the next best runners-up are Munster on 11, it's hard to see either of these teams slipping up from here.

But, having been drawn away to Leinster in last year's quarter-final, Ulster know the value of getting a good seeding.

Pool 4

From the moment the draw was made, this pool captured the imagination and it has delivered.

Saracens' self-inflicted predicament has opened the door to Racing 92 and Munster and it's the Parisians who have capitalised to put themselves in a position of undoubted strength with two rounds to go.

Johann van Graan's Reds, however, are in real danger ahead of Sunday's trip to Paris as Saracens look to make their move against the hapless Ospreys.

Six points behind Racing and just one ahead of Saracens, Munster must win at the La Defense Arena to retain control of their own destiny.

Anything less puts them in jeopardy, particularly given Racing will be through ahead of their trip to London next weekend.

Perhaps home advantage will be enough of a carrot for the Parisians, but if Sarries have a chance of making the last eight they'll surely go full strength for that game which means even an expected five-point haul may not be enough for Munster.

Pool 5

A sensational late win over Gloucester kept Connacht in the quarter-final hunt and, while it seems utterly unlikely given their Christmas form, a result at home to Toulouse would mean they go to Montpellier in the final round with a chance.

The French champions haven't been setting the world on fire themselves recently and are effectively through, so if they take their eye off the ball then the Sportsground could get a real lift.

A point behind Gloucester, Connacht would then need to win in Montpellier while hoping the English side slip up and results elsewhere go their way. It's a long shot, but they have a chance.

Predicted quarter-finals:

Leinster v Northampton

Toulouse v Saracens

Exeter Chiefs v Ulster

Clermont v Racing
New Delhi, Jan 7 : A group of political leaders in Jammu & Kashmir have proposed a set of measures to the Lieutenant Governor for restoring normalcy including restoration of statehood and establishment of a Legislative Council.

In a letter to J&K Lieutenant Governor G.C. Murmu, political leaders including former ministers and MLAs in J&K have flagged measures that can be taken for meeting the political aspirations of the people.

The letter to the L-G has been signed by former ministers Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Mohammad Dilawar Mir, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Democratic Party Nationalist President Zaffar Iqbal, and former MLAs Javed Hassan Beig, Noor Mohammad Shiekh, Choudhary Qamar Hussain and Raja Manzoor Ahmad.

The memorandum points out that since the revocation of Jammu & Kashmir's special status embedded in Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories Jammu & Kashmir with a legislature and Ladakh without one, "the majority of its residents are yet to reconcile with this decision".

"Although it is heartening that the Kashmir Valley remained peaceful and no fatalities were recorded due to enhanced security measures and other administrative efforts but the credit must go to the people of Jammu & Kashmir who showed extreme maturity while registering their peaceful protests," the leaders added.

"Fact of the matter is that a majority of people in Jammu & Kashmir feel hurt and there are vocal concerns wherein they feel their decades-long privileges were unceremoniously curtailed," they added.

To win over the confidence of the people of J&K, the Centre will have to re-examine its decades-old policies vis-a-vis Kashmir. Depending solely on security measures and dealing with people's political aspirations through the law and order prism will always have the old tested repercussions, the leaders said.

The leaders have demanded restoration of statehood including establishment of a Legislative Council and providing reservation of seats for socially and economically backward classes, art, culture, languages, literature and sports.

"Annulment of this Article (Article 35-A) is the main reason behind the present discontentment among the people of Jammu & Kashmir. The constitutional and legal decisions taken on August 5 have been viewed by significant number of population of J&K as something like stripping them off from the rights over their land and other rightful holdings," they added.

The leaders have sought domicile rights of people of J&K. "This most important issue can be addressed by tangible legal and constitutional safeguards that can be put in place by virtue of which protection of domicile rights including that of reservation for the permanent residents of Jammu & Kashmir in the matter of employment and that of admissions to professional courses is ensured," they added.

In addition, they have sought release of detainees arrested after August 5.

"One of the psychological setbacks to a number of people in Kashmir is that their near and dear ones were detained around the August 5, 2019 decision. These people were not arrested for committing any violation of law, but were preventive detentions vis-a-vis law and order situation," they said.

They have also sought restoration of J&K Bank's functional domain. So there is a dire need for some concrete, purpose oriented measures and interventions to restore the functional dominion of J&K Bank which holds a revered position in Jammu & Kashmir's economic trajectory.

The other demands include withdrawing cases against youths, reviving agriculture and horticulture sectors, support for industry and manufacturing sector, tourism revival, relief for shopkeepers, bus owners, taxi owners, credit expansion, addressing unemployment, restoration of internet, national highway and regional connectivity, and augmentation of power projects.
Dhaka, Jan 7 : Protests erupted in the Dhaka University (DU) over the rape of a student, with the participants raising concerns over womens safety in the Bangladeshi capital and also across the country, it was reported on Tuesday.

The rape took place on Sunday night near the Kurmitola General Hospital, just a few metres away the Airport Road, one of the busiest thoroughfares in the capital, reports The Daily Star newspaper.

It happened when the second-year student was walking from the Kurmitola bus stop to a friend's house in the nearby Sheora area.

The university students on Monday protested throughout the day. At one point, they gave the authorities a 48-hour ultimatum to arrest the perpetrators, warning that they would wage a tough movement if their demand was not met.

Many students also took to social media to express their anger at the lack of women safety in the country.

The police was yet to make any arrest in the case.

Meanwhile, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials on Monday collected evidence, including a wrist watch and a key-ring, from the crime scene.

According to the victim's friends, she was also tortured besides being raped.

DU Vice Chancellor Professor Akhtaruzzaman told the media on Monday that the university authorities would do everything necessary so that the victim gets justice.

Rights body Ain O Salish Kendra condemned the incident and said: "Increasing violence against women has become one of the major concerns in our lives. It is undoubtedly a weakness of the state that it cannot ensure the environment conducive to women's safe movement," The Daily Star reported.

A total of 1,413 women in Bangladesh were either gang-raped or subjected to rape last year.

Of them, 76 were killed after rape and 10 others died by suicide, according to the rights body.
Shivalik Mercantile Cooperative Bank gets in-principle approval to convert into SFB

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted in-principle approval to Saharanpur-based Shivalik Mercantile Cooperative Bank to convert into a Small Finance Bank (SFB) on January 6, making it the first such lender to have opted for the transition.

The in-principle approval implies that the lender now has 18 months to comply with all conditions required to get the final SFB license from the RBI.

On being satisfied that the applicant has complied with the requisite conditions laid down by it as part of in-principle approval, the RBI would consider granting it a licence for the commencement of banking business under Section 22 (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 as an SFB, the regulator said.

As per the scheme, the minimum net worth of the proposed SFB was set at Rs 100 crore and minimum capital adequacy ratio of 15 percent from the date of commencement of business.

According to its annual report, Shivalik Mercantile Cooperative Banks net worth stood at Rs 77.21 crore and capital adequacy ratio was at 13.07 percent as on March 2019.

Shivalik Mercantile Cooperative Bank is registered under the Multi-state Cooperative Societies Act 2002 and operates through 31 branches across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand. It acquired two Madhya Pradesh-based cooperative banks in 2010 and 2012.

The 23-year old bank had total deposits of Rs 1,051 crore, while its loan book stood at Rs 715 crore at the end of March 2019. The bank has 486 employees and focuses on priority sector lending. The banks net non-performing assets (NPA) ratio stood at 1.19 percent as on March 30, 2019.

The scheme on the voluntary transition of Urban Co-operative Bank (UCB) into an SFB was issued on September 27, 2018. It was part of the recommendations made by the High Powered Committee on UCBs led by then deputy governor R Gandhi.
Bangkok: Thailand has opened its first full-time clinic specialising in traditional and alternative cannabis-based medicine, as part of a move by the government towards developing a medicinal cannabis industry.

"This is a pilot clinic, because we cannot produce enough doctors with expertise in cannabis," Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, told reporters at the opening ceremony in Bangkok on Monday. Patients will receive treatment free of charge for the first two weeks, he added.

Patients wait to register for a consultation at the first full-time clinic prescribing cannabis oil for medical treatment in the Public Health Ministry in Nonthaburi province, Thailand. Credit:AP

Thailand, which has a tradition of using cannabis to relieve pain and fatigue, legalised marijuana for medical use and research in 2017 to boost agricultural income.

There are already around 25 cannabis clinics attached to general hospitals around the country but, unlike the newly-launched pilot clinic, they operate for just a few days a week due to a lack of specialised staff.
WILMINGTONS LIE

The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy

By David Zucchino

Today we Americans find ourselves struggling with the ghosts of our past. Some among us reach for histories that affirm the established view of who we are as a nation. Many believe the United States is, and must always be, a white nation. But moments of storm and stress also occasion the telling of different stories. We have seen this with The New York Timess 1619 Project. Now we have David Zucchinos brilliant new book.

Wilmingtons Lie is a tragic story about the brutal overthrow of the multiracial government of Wilmington, N.C., in 1898. The book is divided into three parts. The first details how white supremacists rejected the goals of Reconstruction and chafed under what they called Negro domination. We are introduced to characters like Colonel Alfred Moore Waddell, who would play a central role in the coup, and to the overall sense of moral panic that engulfed the white community as it confronted black self-assertion  like that of Abraham Galloway, the first black man in North Carolina to campaign in a statewide race  in the aftermath of the Confederacys defeat.

The second section charts the campaign to reassert white rule in Wilmington. Zucchino shows how Josephus Daniels, the editor and publisher of The News and Observer, the states most important daily, and Furnifold Simmons, the state chairman of the Democratic Party, exploited the prejudices and fears of white North Carolinians. As Zucchino writes, More than a century before sophisticated fake news attacks targeted social media websites, Danielss manipulation of white readers through phony or misleading newspaper stories was perhaps the most daring and effective disinformation campaign of the era. This was most clearly seen in the exploitation of a column about race, sex and lynching in the black newspaper The Daily Record to justify the coup. The article, written by one of the papers publishers, Alexander Manly, became Exhibit A in the case that black men had forgotten their place and represented a clear and present danger to the sanctity of white womanhood.

The first two parts of the book move in a deliberate fashion. Zucchino, a contributing writer for The New York Times, does not overwrite the scenes. His moral judgment stands at a distance. He simply describes what happened and the lies told to justify it all. A generalized terror comes into view as the white citizens of Wilmington mobilized to seize power through violence and outright fraud.
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Holywood award nights does not only mean giving recognition to talented artists but also a time to watch out for every celebrity red-carpet look. Black tie, ball gown, evening dress, this is where they set the trend, and true fashion enthusiasts can consider it as heaven.

The 2020 Golden Globes is not an exemption. Last Sunday night, fans witnessed the brightest stars walk down the red carpet in their designer gown and suits. However, what really caught people's eye are some arms, biceps and thick muscles, thanks to the Aquaman hunk himself.

Earlier, "Aquaman" star Jason Momoa arrived at the 2020 Golden Globes wearing a green Tom Ford Jacket paired with black Valentino pants, a watch, and Cartier brooch. Being his extraordinary self, the 40-year-old actor completes his look by hanging a green pendant across his chest, a seafoam green stone bracelet, and his signature stack of rings.

Momoa's look stood out among the rest, especially when he walked down with his stunning arm-candy wife Lisa Bonet, who is also rocking her Fendi gown.

What seems to be an ordinary awards night for Momoa and Bonet turned social media users on fire after the hunk actor took off his stylish coat while in the middle of the program.

Viewers were all shaken after realizing that underneath Momoa's velvet blazer is a black muscle tank top showing off his tattooed biceps and all its glory.

Momoa's winning jackets off, muscle out moment was caught on cam as "Succession" actor Brian Cox is about to receive his trophy for the Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama.

While on his way to the stage of The Beverly Hilton hotel, Cox paused for a moment beside Momoa -- blessing our screens with a few moments of Jason's muscle paired with his pulled-up hair, which somehow give us a whole Khal Drogo vibe.

This quick tank-top moment has only appeared on TV for a few seconds, but it immediately went viral on social media, leaving Twitter users in awe while described their reactions with a wide-eye emoji.

So what happened to Momoa's Tom Ford blazer? Well, some eagle-eyed viewers noticed that the jacket was sitting pretty over his wife's shoulder, who sits next to him. It only means that the actor once again pulled off a gentleman move and drape it over Bonet to keep her warm. Sweet.

Jason Momoa wearing a tank to the #GoldenGlobes is peak Jason Momoa. pic.twitter.com/2EbDU4FYm5  Christian Goeckel (@goeckelespn) January 6, 2020

Literally the only person on the planet who could wear a tank top to the #GoldenGlobes is Jason Momoa. pic.twitter.com/5BlDQ1qfG8  Eddie Mouradian (@eddie_mouradian) January 6, 2020

Momoa quickly covered himself and let go of his hair once again before joining his stepdaughter Zoe Kravitz on stage to present the Best Actress in a Television Series - Drama award, which was received by Olivia Colman for her performance in The Crown.

This is not the first time that Momoa made noise for his awards night choice of clothes. In 2018, he graced the 91st Academy Awards in a full velvet pink Fendi suit while carrying a clutch and sported an iconic pink scrunchie around his wrist.

In September of last year, he was spotted wearing a jewel-tone purple suit for The Joker New York Film Festival Premiere.
Ricky Gervais speaks onstage during the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Jan. 5, 2020. (Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal Media, LLC via Getty Images)

Ricky Gervais Responds to Criticism That His Golden Globes Speech Was Right-Wing

British comedian Ricky Gervais has responded to backlash over his 2020 Golden Globes opening speech after it was criticized for being right wing.

It comes after Vanity Fair reporter Mark Harris took to Twitter on Jan. 6 where he condemned Gervais for yelling at celebrities who he said had used their stage time to say valuable things.

Heres my Ricky Gervais problem: The idea that celebrities are not only pampered babies but hypocrites who cause the problems they make speeches deploring and should therefore shut up and act/sing/be grateful is a right-wing talking point, and an especially stupid one, he wrote.

Its not an act of speaking truth to power or of bravery to attack celebs on that frontits a tired way of scolding people into silence because you dont like what theyre saying, and saying that hes calling out the hyper privileged is just the same thing in a new guise, Harris continued.

Youll never go broke ending a night scowling at celebrities and saying, Get drunk, do your drugs, [expletive] off, which I think were his last words on the show. There will always be people to say, Yeah! You tell em! But tell em what? [expletive] off isnt a stance. Its a tantrum.

Gervais, who hosted this years event took to Twitter to respond to the criticism over his speech, sharing a photo of himself smiling as he hosted the awards ceremony.

How the [expletive] can teasing huge corporations, and the richest, most privileged people in the world be considered right wing? he wrote.

It is not clear if Gervaiss post was a direct response to the earlier one by Harris.

Previously, the comedian had thanked fans for their support over his opening monologue and admitted he was relieved this years ceremony was over.

Thanks for all your amazing comments about my Golden Globes monologue. Best reaction ever and that means a lot to me, he wrote.

I had a blast but thank [expletive] its over, so I can get back to my real job of editing #AfterLife2 and touring #SuperNature. Make Jokes, Not War.

British host Ricky Gervais (L) and partner Jane Fallon arrive for the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Jan. 5, 2020. (Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images)

During his eight-minute opening monologue at the event, which took place on Jan. 4, an unapologetic Gervais took aim at celebrities in attendance over their alleged friendship with convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

I know hes your friend but I dont care. You had to make your own way here in your own plane, didnt you? he said.

The writer and director opened his speech by referencing actress Felicity Huffman and her imprisonment for a college admissions scandal involving her daughter.

I also came here in a limo and the license plate was made by Felicity Huffman, he joked.

The former star of the BBCs The Office criticized Hollywood figures for advocating certain causes but turning a blind eye to the companies that pay them, singling out Apple while its CEO Tim Cook sat in the audience.

Apple roared into the TV game with The Morning Show, a superb drama about the importance of dignity and doing the right thing, made by a company that runs sweatshops in China, he said.

Well, you say youre woke but the companies you work for in Chinaunbelievable. Apple, Amazon, Disney. If ISIS started a streaming service youd call your agent, wouldnt you?

Elsewhere in his speech, Gervais jokingly accused the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which decides who win the coveted Golden Globes awards, of being very, very racist.

Concluding his speech, the comedian told this years winners that they should avoid talking about politics when making their acceptance speeches as they are in no position to lecture the public about anything.

You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg, he said, referencing the 17-year-old Swedish environmental activist.

Despite his advice, some of the speakers and award recipients at this years event, including actors and actresses Russell Crowe, Patricia Arquette, and Michelle Williams, were still vocal in sharing political messages.

Arquette said the United States was on the brink of war with Iran and urged the audience to vote in 2020, but did not endorse a specific candidate.
Deepika Padukone visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on the evening of January 7, 2020, as a show of solidarity with the students and teachers who were attacked by a masked mob on January 5. In pictures shared by students, she can be seen standing with them.

The JNU mob violence incident on Sunday night has stirred Bollywood's conscience like never before. Deepika, who usually prefers to keep her political opinions to herself, visited JNU's Sabarmati T-Point, and supported the students who went through the harrowing experience. JNU's Student Union president, Aishe Ghosh, who was injured during the mob attacks, was also present with her.

NOW: Deepika Padukone at JNU amid protests and crackdown! She has been in Delhi for the past 2 days for the promotion of her upcoming movie #Chhapaak pic.twitter.com/3l7MbPSkx4  Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) January 7, 2020

Deepika was in Delhi for the promotions of her upcoming movie Chhapaak, when she decided to visit the campus. Reportedly, she did not speak on the issue, but simply stood in solidarity.

@deepikapadukone says she doesn't want to speak just had come to express solidarity with #JNU students pic.twitter.com/GPlEjgEDYl  Shradha Chettri (@Shrads_chettri) January 7, 2020

Earlier in the day, Deepika had expressed her opinions to NDTV on what is happening in the country. She said that she feels proud to see that the citizens are not scared to express themselves. The fact that we are thinking about the future of the country, regardless of the viewpoint, is heartening to see according to Deepika. She feels that if one has to see change in society, it is important to express one's opinion.

Were you in JNU?

In support of protesters?@deepikapadukone pic.twitter.com/yjMJP0N72R  Jyotsna Bedi (@JyotsnaBedi) January 7, 2020

On Monday night, Bollywood stars like Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, Taapsee Pannu, Swara Bhaskar, Dia Mirza and Ali Fazal took part in protests against the JNU violence, in Mumbai. Others like Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Sonam Kapoor posted touching notes on social media, expressing their support to students.

ALSO READ: After Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone BREAKS SILENCE On The Ongoing Protests Over JNU Attack!

ALSO READ: Taapsee Pannu, Swara Bhaskar, Zoya Akhtar & Others Protest Against JNU Violence


LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- This May, the National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP) will be hosting the premier networking and educational event for professionals who serve clients going through a divorce. Dubbed the NADP Experience 2020, this exciting conference will be held from May 14 through 16 at the Park MGM Hotel, the newest hotel and casino on the Las Vegas strip.

The NADP

Open to NADP members and non-members alike, the conference will give attendees the opportunity to learn more about the divorce process, network with experienced divorce professionals from across the country, and learn how to build their brand and their business with marketing experts. Professionals who attend the conference will hail from a broad range of industries, including law, finance, real estate, and mental health, among others.

"We are working hard to bring our members and guests a conference that will improve their clients' experience through this process as well as have a direct impact on their business," Vicky Townsend, CEO and co-founder of the NADP, said. "From powerful networking to divorce-centered education to marketing and branding, we bring it all together for everyone that touches the lives of families going through a divorce."

In addition to networking opportunities, the NADP Experience 2020 will feature a lineup of prominent keynote speakers, including the University of CaliforniaBerkley's research neuroscientist Daniela Kaufer, who will be speaking about the impacts of stress on the brain, and psychologist Owen Fitzpatrick, who will be speaking about mastering the language of divorce. The conference will also have over 35 breakout sessions on intermediate and advanced topics ranging from cultural differences in divorce to financial matters to managing high-conflict clients to marketing your practice and building your brand.

"If you want to learn more about how you can better serve your divorcing clients and make an impact on their lives, this is the conference for you," Townsend said.

To register for the NADP Experience 2020 go to www.NADPExperience.com. Early bird pricing is in effect until March 1, 2020. Reach out to Kris DeMonte for more information at [email protected].

About the NADP: The National Association of Divorce Professionals is an invitation-only organization that unifies highly vetted professionals who serve clients going through all stages of divorce. The NADP is committed to making a positive impact on the divorce process through strategic alliances, divorce-centered education, and comprehensive professional development. Please visit www.thenadp.com for more information.

Contact:

Kris DeMonte

[email protected]

(954) 800-3080

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NADP Experience 2020

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SOURCE The NADP

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E3 states urge Iran to reverse nuclear countermeasures

Iran Press TV

Monday, 06 January 2020 8:46 AM

Britain, France, and Germany say they want Iran to reverse the countermeasures it has adopted in response to the United States withdrawing from the country's 2015 nuclear agreement with the P5+1 group of states.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a joint statement on Monday after Iran announced that it was taking its fifth and final step to scale back its commitments under the deal.

The statement urged the Islamic Republic to refrain from further "proliferation" and "to reverse all measures inconsistent with the JCPOA," referring to the nuclear deal by the abbreviation of its official name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The deal Iran signed with the United States, Britain, France, Russia, and China plus Germany, lifted nuclear-related sanctions in return for Tehran voluntarily reducing some aspects of its nuclear energy program. The deal was later ratified in the form of a United Nations Security Council resolution.

But the US withdrew from the accord and returned the sanctions, prompting Iran to begin a set of countermeasures. Tehran has been particularly disappointed with the European trio's failure to protect its business interests under the deal after Washington's withdrawal.

Also speaking on Monday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned that Iran's latest move to cut its commitments could be a step towards the end of the nuclear accord.

"(The situation) has not got easier, and this could be the first step to the end of this agreement, which would be a big loss so we will weigh this up very, very responsibly now," Maas told Deutschlandfunk radio.

On Sunday, Iran said it would no longer observe any operational limitations on its nuclear industry, whether concerning the capacity and level of uranium enrichment, the volume of stockpiled uranium or research and development.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif noted that all of Iran's retaliatory steps fitted within Paragraph 36 of the JCPOA, and that the countermeasures "were reversible upon effective implementation of reciprocal obligations."

Iran also pledged continued cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Maas also said that Berlin, London, and Paris would react to Tehran's most recent announcement later this week.

Tehran's decision to further scale back its commitments followed the United States' assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' Quds Force in Baghdad on Friday.

The three European signatories to the deal, also known as the E3, said in their statement, "We recall our attachment to the sovereignty and security of Iraq. Another crisis risks jeopardizing years of efforts to stabilize Iraq."

The European statement, however, fell short of acknowledging any provocative action or atrocity committed by the US in Iraq. It even accused Iran of playing a "negative role" in the region, and called for an end to the current cycle of violence in Iraq.

"We also reaffirm our commitment to continue the fight against Daesh, which remains a high priority. The preservation of the Coalition is key in this regard. We therefore urge the Iraqi authorities to continue providing the Coalition all the necessary support," read part of the joint statement.

Following the airstrikes that also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) anti-terror group, the Iraqi parliament voted unanimously in favor of expelling all foreign military forces led by the US from Iraq.

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Governor Bill Lee announced Tuesday that Tennessee will provide paid family leave for state employees. The Governor signed an Executive Order Tuesday directing the Tennessee Department of Human Resources to issue the new policy effective March 1.



Strong families make for strong communities, and I am proud that Tennessee will lead the nation in supporting our employees, said Governor Lee. This is an impactful investment in the state workforce and will allow us to continue to attract and retain the best workforce possible.



"While 69 percent of full-time working Americans believe that receiving paid parental leave is important when looking for a job, only 17 percent of employees across the U.S.

have access to it," officials said. "One additional month of paid family leave is associated with a 13 percent drop in infant mortality."Paid family leave will improve quality of life for state employees both at work and at home. I am grateful to Governor Lee and Senator Dickerson for making this a priority, said Lt. Governor Randy McNally.I appreciate Governor Lees desire to support our state employees through this initiative, and I support the idea of allowing new mothers and fathers opportunities to spend more quality time with their newly adopted or newborn children. I look forward to working with the governor, the House and Senate, Rep. Helton and our Fiscal Review Committee to determine the best ways we can continue to strengthen our Tennessee families, said Speaker Cameron Sexton.Paid family leave for state employees builds upon our recent efforts creating safe, nurturing environments for our children, while strengthening bonds between parents and their newly adopted or newborn sons and daughters. This important benefit levels the playing field for our state departments, agencies, and the General Assembly so we can attract and retain the best and brightest employees. I applaud Governor Lee for this pro-family initiative because it supports those who work tirelessly on behalf of this state to make it the best in the entire nation, said House Majority Leader William Lamberth.

I am pleased to sponsor this bill so our state government can continue to retain the finest employees possible, said Chairman Steve Dickerson.



Tennessee is proud to be a pro-family state, and this initiative strengthens our commitment to families and is a step in the right direction. We have all experienced scenarios where we have had to choose between work and family. This initiative ensures our state employees will no longer have to make that difficult choice, and I am honored to serve as co-prime sponsor of this legislation in the House, said Representative Esther Helton.



"This new policy confirms Tennessee state governments position as a pro-family employer, while also improving its ability to effectively serve taxpayers by reducing turnover rates for high performing employees and reducing long-term state health care costs," officials said.



The expanded paid family leave will apply to all state executive branch employees subject to the TEAM Act and will not include a mandate on private business. Included in this policy is parental leave, making Tennessee the tenth state employer to offer benefits to parents in addition to the federal government. Qualifying events will be consistent with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The new policy will go into effect on March 1 to provide sufficient time for the Department of Human Resources to draft policy guidance, train managers and ensure accurate tracking of time and leave.
Iran's health officials have confirmed that at least 65 people died as crowds of mourners marched toward a cemetery in the city of Kerman, where the commander of Iran's Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, was laid to rest. The stampede left over 200 injured, many in serious condition, prompting officials to halt the burial for several hours.

Soleimani's body has been traveling from city to city across across Iraq and Iran since Saturday, with millions taking to the streets to bid farewell to the commander and to call for retaliation. The Iranian general and several others, including his bodyguards and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis  the deputy chief of the Iranian-backed Iraqi Shiite militia known as the Popular Mobilization Units  were killed Jan. 3 after a US drone attack targeted their convoy as it departed Baghdad International Airport.

The death of the powerful chief of the Quds Force  the overseas branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)  has ignited an unprecedented war of words between Iran and the United States, bringing the two closer to a military conflict than any other time.

The last stop in Soleimani's funeral was his hometown, the southern city of Kerman. IRGC commander Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami addressed the ceremony, threatening the United States with "harsh" revenge that would make Washington "regret" the assassination. "Muslims will leave no safe place for America," the hard-line commander said, suggesting that an Iranian retaliation could be spearheaded by a widespread network of regional proxies that Soleimani's Quds Force has boosted and expanded over the years.

Iran has not specified the timing and the magnitude of its response, but warnings of the sort have been incessantly issued from commanders and civilian officials. In the latest, state media quoted Adm. Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, as saying that the Iranian leadership has 13 options on the table, "the slightest one" of which would pose a "nightmare" to the US government. The council, however, denied the report.

Even to Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's moderate and pro-engagement top diplomat, punishment is unquestionable and will be "painful." At a Foreign Ministry building just named after the assassinated commander, Zarif attacked the US president for his "big gamble" by ordering the Soleimani assassination. The Iranian foreign minister confirmed that the US government had denied him a visa to attend an upcoming UN summit in New York, a decision he dismissed as proof of "the Trump regime's bankruptcy."

In yet another important development, the Iranian parliament passed an urgent bill dubbed the "harsh vengeance," designating the entire Pentagon as a "terrorist" entity. The bill obliges the government to further strengthen the Quds Force by injecting an additional 200 million euros into the organization's budget for the last two months of the Iranian fiscal year ending March 21, 2020.

Known for his pragmatism and nonpartisanship, Soleimani has long been viewed as a national hero by Iran's mainstream political forces. Within that typically divided spectrum, where Reformists and hard-liners agree upon little, Soleimani's death has gathered everyone behind the flag, sparking unanimous calls for punishment to be exacted.

Despite their opposing editorial lines, papers covering the Jan. 6 funeral in Tehran highlighted the theme of retaliation among mourners. Kayhan, affiliated with the supreme leader's office, spoke for the mourners: "We are all time bombs as the revenge day nears." Hard-line Vatan-e Emrooz applauded "the uprising for revenge," and the Reformist Aftab-e Yazd interpreted the same message from the crowds, or, as it called them, "the avengers of Soleimani's blood."
Gov. Phil Murphy said he wouldnt sign it, but Senate President Steve Sweeney says towns need it, and Senate Budget Chair Paul Sarlo says he knows of 40 municipalities who will welcome the legislation.

Sarlo must be talking about government leaders in those 40 towns because he sure isn't talking about taxpayers.

What they're discussing is S-4289, introduced into the NJ Legislature by Sweeney in early December and speedily passed by both Houses and now on Murphys desk. The Hudson delegation all voted in favor.

The bill will allow any school district losing money under the new school aid formula to exceed the statewide 2% budget cap to raise taxes to support local schools.

You'll recall that in 2010 Governor Jon Corzine spearheaded the drive to impose that cap on municipal budgets, forcing cities and towns to keep tax hikes manageable because in polls voters said constantly rising property taxes were their number one concern. There were some exceptions, but school funding wasn't one of them.

When Sweeney led the fight last year to reallocate school aid in what he called a "fairness formula," most school districts saw increases, including Secaucus, which got one of the highest jumps (13.05%,) Bayonne, Kearny, Guttenberg, East Newark, West New York, Hudson County Schools of Technology, Union City, North Bergen and Harrison with the smallest increase of 0.41%.

The big losers were Weehawken, losing 4.14%, Hoboken, losing 4.53% and Jersey City, losing a whopping 6.68% or $27,192,633 per year.

Jersey City took action to compensate for the loss by enacting a payroll tax, after a huge fight with the business community. They were able to do that because of legislation enacted decades ago especially for Newark and Jersey City. Only Newark took advantage of the opportunity at that time, but Jersey City was willing for fight for it last year. However, it won't make up the total loss.

S4289 amends the older law by inserting only a single phrase that allows exceptions "in the case of a school district that is spending below adequacy, during the 2020-21 through the 2024-25 school years, increases to raise a general fund tax levy in an amount equal to the school district's loss in State aid from the prebudget year."

All school districts plan for budgets from July 1st to June 30th each year but only a few municipalities operate on that schedule. Most use the calendar year for budgeting purposes, so the legislation is probably too late to help anyone immediately.

Sweeney took heat from some mayors and school superintendents about cuts to aid, but 370 other districts benefitted from the new formula, and about two hundred saw only a tiny percentage shift one way or the other. He said the formula had been unbalanced for years with some districts suffering from inadequate aid and others spending extravagantly because of overfunding.

Jersey City's old formula was set years ago while the district was still partially controlled by the State Department of Education, which had taken over operations in 1989. The state didnt relinquish total control until 2017. Murphy recently allocated $15 million in emergency school aid, but Jersey Citys application was denied.

So far local officials have not publicly commented on the proposed legislation, so I cant predict whether any council person or commissioner will dare propose a local ordinance allowing a tax increase specifically for school aid. Theyll wait to see if Murphy makes good on his threat.

If he does sign the bill, each eligible municipality will have to take action to raise taxes, so pay close attention to whats happening at commission and council meetings.

A former assemblywoman from Jersey City, Joan Quigley is the president and CEO of North Hudson Community Action Corp.

Submit letters to the editor and guest columns at jjletters@jjournal.com.
Hardware Encrypted Flash Drives & Hard Drives "We are thrilled to be exhibiting at CES again this year. We will be showcasing our newest security solution the SecureDrive Duo, to the public for the first time, bringing together the best of both authentication methods offering more flexibility and additional layers of security to our customers"

At the CES 2020 Show (January 7-10, Las Vegas, NV), SECUREDATA will be debuting their latest data security solution s for protecting private and confidential data on-the-go. One of them is the worlds first and only portable external hardware-encrypted drive, the SecureDrive Duo. This drive offers two popular and secure methods of OS/Host independent user-authentication  PIN-authentication with a built-in alphanumeric keypad AND wireless authentication by using a smartphone with paired app.

We are thrilled to be exhibiting at CES again this year. We will be showcasing our newest security solution, the SecureDrive Duo to the public for the first time. SecureDrive Duo brings together the best of both authentication methods offering more flexibility and additional layers of security to our customers, said Mike Vanoverbeke, Senior Product Specialist at SECUREDATA.

SECUREDATAs award-winning FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certified hardware encrypted storage devices (Flash and HDD/SSD) with either keypad or secure wireless user-authentication are used by many industries already. The secure wireless BT line of drives offers various security layers such as remote management. These devices offer unparalleled data protection to our current customers in areas like healthcare and Federal agencies, allowing them to build security defenses to better meet their compliance needs. The SecureDrive Duo combines all of these features into one solution for maximum data protection, secure device management, and an ease--of-use that is required by our customers in the field.

Learn more about product categories for CES 2020 at https://www.ces.tech/. SECUREDATA will be at Booth 43067 in Tech West, Sands Expo, Level 2. Of the dozens of CES product categories that a companys innovations might fall under, SECUREDATAs products can be found under: Cloud Services, Computer Hardware, Cyber Security and Privacy, Other Consumer Technology, and Public Policy/Government.

The SecureDrive products are manufactured by SECUREDATA in the U.S.A. and are based on patented DataLock technology licensed from ClevX, LLC.

About SECUREDATA

SECUREDATA, Inc. is a privately held company, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, USA. SecureData offers a range of tailored high-level data protection capabilities through a set of services and products. These include hardware encrypted portable data storage devices, backup solutions, file repair software, data recovery, and digital forensics services to help clients achieve their security objectives. SecureData has a presence through its partners in North America; Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA); Asia; and South America., SECUREDATA serves companies and organizations in regulated industries, such as government, financial services, military, law enforcement, legal, healthcare, manufacturing, and higher education.

For more information, please visit: http://www.securedata.com and http://www.securedrive.com

About ClevX

ClevX is a Seattle based, information security technology company  Your Innovation Partner. It is focused on the Security/Mobility markets, where ClevX pioneered its award-winning DATALOCK KP/BT Secured USB drives (OS-agnostic, hardware encrypted, PIN- or Phone-activated, bootable) and easy to use portable software applications for secure drives for personal and business use. ClevX differentiates itself by creating solutions that are simple, clever, and elegant.

For more information, please visit: http://www.clevx.com

About CES

CES showcases more than 4,500 exhibiting companies, including manufacturers, developers and suppliers of consumer technology hardware, content, technology delivery systems and more; a conference program with more than 250 conference sessions and more than 170,000 attendees from 160 countries.

And because it is owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)  the technology trade association representing the $401 billion U.S. consumer technology industry  it attracts the worlds business leaders and pioneering thinkers to a forum where the industrys most relevant issues are addressed.

For more information, please visit: http://www.ces.tech


HONOLULU  A U.S. facility designed in part to solve the mysteries of dark matter now officially carries the name of Vera Rubin, the scientist who concluded that the elusive substance must exist.

That announcement came Monday (Jan. 6) here, at the 235th meeting of the American Astronomical Society, during an open house devoted to what to date has been called the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). However, the name change had been in the works since the summer, when Congress began discussing a bill that would create the new moniker. That bill became a law on Dec. 20.

"We're here today to focus on the major renaming of the facility after a pioneering astronomer, that is intimately tied to one of the key focus science areas for this project," Ralph Gaume, Director of the National Science Foundation's Division of Astronomical Sciences, said during the event. "I'm pleased, very pleased, beyond how much you all know and may recognize, to today officially rename the LSST observatory as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory."

Video: NSF Vera C. Rubin Observatory Will Be Revolutionary

Related: Vera Rubin: The Astronomer Who Brought Dark Matter to Light

A photo of astronomer Vera Rubin. (Image credit: NOAO/AURA/NSF)

Gaume's comments were met by applause from the gathered astronomers. Observatory director Steve Kahn and other team members soon donned T-shirts sporting the new name.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is a federal project run by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy. Its first 10 years of work will be dedicated entirely to a project now known as the Legacy Survey of Space and Time. "Because we know you're all in love with the four letters LSST, we figured out a way to preserve that," Gaume said.

Until her death in 2016, Rubin was frequently listed as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in physics. Her most consequential realization was that galaxies rotate so quickly that they ought to fly apart. The fact that they don't, she reasoned, is proof that there is a massive amount of, well, something in the universe that humans cannot yet study directly  what we now call dark matter.

But Rubin, who was born in 1928, struggled throughout her career to convince others to treat her based on the merits of her work, rather than on her sex. When she did make traction in the community, she worked to share that acceptance with others.

"She has multiple legacies of, of course, the major science work, the major discoveries and the major legacy of paving way for young people and especially women," Kathy Turner, program manager of the Department of Energy's Office of High Energy Physics, said during the presentation. "Speaking especially as a woman and as a physicist, I feel honored to be part of this project."

Another new name is also in the works, that one for a specific instrument in order to honor the private donation that kickstarted the LSST project before it was adopted by the federal government. The presentation included a thorough primer on how to use each of the names in scientific writing. "We'll all get used to this as we go along," Kahn said.

The panel also included an update on the facility's construction, given by project manager Victor Krabbendam. "The summit facility is looking really good," he said, sharing images of optical equipment at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory site, which is located on a mountain ridge called Cerro Pachon, in Chile. However, he did add that some aspects of the project have been progressing more slowly and at a higher cost than previously expected, and that the team is pushing the schedule to meet its goal of taking "first light" data with its full-observing capacity in November 2021.

That first data could be a vital step toward solving the dark-matter puzzle that Rubin discovered on her way to becoming a major figure in astronomy. Turner recounted that her initial encounter with Rubin's research, as a college student, was a crucial moment on her own path to becoming a physicist, and the way her respect for Rubin has deepened over time.

"[I remember] thinking, yes, science is a field that women have a right to be in and a right to pursue, and we don't have to take no for an answer," Turner said. "Her dogged determination to be recognized for her work was really something that stood out to me when I read more detail about her."

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo said he does not believe Trump's impeachment has emboldened North Korea and Iran. He issued an indirect threat by adding that he believes North Korea and Iran know Trump would do the "right thing" to protect American lives.

The North has certainly been put on notice not to risk any fresh provocations. Trump told reporters on Sunday, "I don't think [North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would] break his word to me, but maybe he will."

Speculation is running high in some quarters here whether North Korea will suffer the same fate as Iran and fall victim to U.S. President Donald Trump's new-found belligerence.

North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in an editorial on Monday that Pyongyang must make a "frontal breakthrough," as Kim had suggested in an extraordinary session of Workers Party Central Committee. According to the daily, masses of North Koreans gathered at an annual rally in Pyongyang on Sunday to show their loyalty to their leader.

"There is no need to hesitate with any expectation of the lifting of sanctions, now that we know the real intention of the United States," it added. The comments came after the U.S. assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' elite Quds Force, a division primarily responsible for extraterritorial and clandestine operations.

North Korean state TV reported Monday that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the U.S. drone attack. The official [North] Korean Central News Agency said China and Russia, which have been shielding the North, "cannot accept" the assassination.

North Korea and Iran's cooperation on nuclear weapons and missile technology goes back around 40 years. Choi Jin-wook, former head of the Korea Institute for National Unification, said, "Until now, North Korea has remained silent when the U.S. took hardline measures in the Middle East. Although it will continue nuclear activities, it will not try to agitate the U.S."

But the National Intelligence Service told Liberty Korea Party Lee Eun-jae that North Korea is likely to upgrade its intercontinental ballistic and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, while developing a new ICBM carrying several warheads, each capable of hitting a different target.

Others also suggest that North Korea will take advantage of Trump's attention being diverted. Go Myong-Hyun at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies said North Korea's provocation "could entail the unveiling of a strategic weapon either on Kim Jong-un's birthday on Jan. 8 or Kim Jong-ils birthday on Feb. 16." Go added, "North Korea will try to use Trump's declining support at a time when U.S.-Iranian relations break down."
NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The following roundup is a collection of stories dealing with the CES 2020 conference and is appropriate for special sections and for general use.

For each story included in this package, you will find the first paragraph of the release below, as well as its headline linked to the full text.

This is the latest in a series of event-related roundups PRN will carry as part of its regular Cision Roundup News Service. Coming up in 2020 are roundups on:



Package Name Slug Distribution Date CES 2020 II CES Jan. 15 MWC Barcelona 2020 I MWC Barcelona 2020 I Feb. 24 MWC Barcelona 2020 II MWC Barcelona Mar. 4 HIMSS 2020 I HIMSS 2020 I Mar. 9 HIMSS 2020 II HIMSS Mar. 18



CES 2020 I Cision Roundup

1. Honda Xcelerator to Debut Industrial Innovation Collaborations at CES 2020 Along with New Technologies Coming Soon to Market

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Dec. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Honda Xcelerator, a global open innovation program from Honda Innovations, will debut collaborations at CES 2020 with startups focused on augmenting human capabilities and devices that enhance workplace ergonomics for the manufacturing environment. Honda Xcelerator also will showcase soon-to-be commercialized technologies based on successful collaborations with Drivemode and SoundHound Inc.

2. Honda's Vision of the Future Integrates CASE Technologies into New Products and Services at CES 2020

TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Demonstrating new technologies and partnerships aimed at "expanding life's potential through mobility," Honda's exhibit at CES 2020 will feature global debuts of concepts that integrate connected, autonomous, shared, and electric (CASE) technologies into new mobility products and services. The exhibit will also showcase Honda Xcelerator's Industrial Innovation Pavilion and highlight the company's continued evolution of Safe Swarm, the V2X connected safety system currently testing on U.S. Route 33 in Ohio. CES attendees can experience demonstrations and simulations of technology concepts at Honda's booth #7900 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, January 7-10, 2020.

3. Deloitte Steps Into the Smart Future at CES 2020

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- During CES 2020, Deloitte will host a "Smart Future" conference series focusing on the impact smart technology will have on individuals and organizations. Deloitte's Smart Future conference track will provide a bold look at how the concept of "smart" makes the shift from visionary possibility to a connected global reality. Along with senior leaders from some of the world's most iconic brands driving innovation and disruption, we'll explore enabling technology and how people are responding to this foundational and extraordinary change in how the world connects and operates.

4. Aptiv to Present at J.P. Morgan Tech/Auto Forum at the 2020 International CES

DUBLIN, Dec. 27, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Aptiv PLC (NYSE: APTV) Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Glen De Vos, will present at the J.P. Morgan Tech/Auto Forum at the 2020 International CES in Las Vegas at 12:25 p.m. PST on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020.

5. AVITA debuts stylish ADMIROR and PURA laptops at CES 2020

HOUSTON, Dec. 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Following on the success of last year's CLARUS and LIBER laptop models, the lifestyle-focused CE brand AVITA continues to disrupt the consumer tech space with new, artfully designed laptops, ADMIROR and PURA.

6. EnvisionBody debut CES 2020: Imagine using edgy AR tech to see yourself with less weight or more muscle mass, showcasing how it's done on a headset

TAMPA BAY, Fla., Jan. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stop by CES Unveiled on media day to view on a headset display, an explanation of how the technology works by Philippe Lewicki the Captain of AfterNow an award-winning AR/VR company.

7. OWC Showcasing the Products Consumers and Pros Need to Improve and Preserve Their Digital Life and Workflows at CES 2020

WOODSTOCK, Ill., Jan. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OWC ; a leading zero emissions Mac and PC technology company and one of the world's most respected manufacturers of hard drives , SSDs , Mac & PC docking solutions and performance upgrade kits , will exhibit a full lineup of pioneering new hardware and software products at CES 2020, which runs January 7-10 in Las Vegas. OWC will be attending CES Unveiled on January 5, CES ShowStoppers on January 7, and will showcase these technological advances in its Venetian Hotel suite throughout the show.

8. The Birth Of The Smart Health Home Industry To Be Revealed At CES 2020

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- You might be familiar with the term "smart home," but get ready for the "Smart Health Home" by Electronic Caregiver. At the Consumer Electronics Show 2020 in Las Vegas, Electronic Caregiver will present an ambitious new digital health technology solution named Addison Care.

9. Targus Showcases Award-Winning Docking Solutions at CES 2020

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CES -- Targus, the industry leader that introduced the first universal dual-video docking station, today announces its technology solutions to be on display at CES 2020. The line-up includes two award-winning revolutionary products  MiraLogic Workspace Intelligence System, a hardware and software solution that allows companies to better optimize and utilize their workspace, and DOCK570USZ, its quad 4K docking station. Both of these products will be showcased during the show starting with CES Unveiled on Sunday, January 5 and continuing at its booth (LVCC, South Hall, Booth #31147).

10. Digi-Key Electronics Supports Startups With CES 2020 Activities

THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn., Jan. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Digi-Key Electronics, the leading global electronic components distributor, will be focused on supporting startups with its presence at CES 2020, Jan. 7-10, 2020, in Las Vegas, Nev. CES is host to Eureka Park, the global stage for innovation, showcasing more than 1,200 startups.

11. SensiML to Showcase AI-Based Algorithms at CES 2020

PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SensiML Corporation, a leading developer of AI tools for building intelligent IoT endpoints, will be demonstrating its SensiML Analytics Toolkit and how easy it is to integrate real-world edge AI inference models into existing IoT platform. SensiML offers an IoT AI software program that enables developers to build intelligent endpoints quickly and easily (up to five times faster than hand-coded solutions).

12. Ebb Therapeutics Debuts First-of-its-Kind Wearable Technology at CES 2020 to Help Consumers Manage Sleeplessness

LAS VEGAS and PITTSBURGH, Jan. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ebb Therapeutics is on a mission to make an impact in both the professional healthcare and consumer sleep markets. At CES 2020 (Booth # 43824/Sands Expo, January 7-10, Las Vegas, NV), the sleep tech company will debut a wearable sleep device with proprietary technology that targets the root cause of sleeplessness: a racing, or overactive, mind.

13. Targus Introduces Sustainable Laptop Cases at CES 2020

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CES -- Targus, a leader in laptop cases and mobile computing accessories, today released its latest collection of EcoSmart laptop bags at CES 2020. Made from recycled components, the new Cypress EcoSmart Collection is certified by Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and aims to reduce the number of plastic bottles destined for landfills by utilizing them in the bag production. The bottles are cleaned, flaked, re-polymerized and spun into fiber that is woven into the fabric that is used for the bags. The Cypress EcoSmart Collection encompasses 33 products, including backpacks, briefcases, sleeves and slipcases, and will be on display at Targus' CES booth in the LVCC, South Hall, Booth #31147.

14. Pocketalk Announces 2020 Model Of Two-Way Translation Device, Marking Official U.S. Launch

PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pocketalk , the global leader in connecting conversations and removing language barriers, today announced the newest model of its popular Pocketalk two-way translator device at the Unveiled press event at the 2020 International CES show in Las Vegas, Nev.

15. L'Oreal Takes Another Step Into Beauty Tech At CES 2020 With Introduction Of Perso: A First-Of-Its-Kind, 3-in-1 Device For Personalized At-Home Skincare And Cosmetics

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CES 2020 -- L'Oreal today unveiled Perso, an AI-powered at-home system that represents the ultimate in beauty personalization. Developed by the L'Oreal Technology Incubator, Perso's sleek device, which stands 6.5 inches high and weighs just over one pound, features a streamlined four-step process to deliver on-the-spot skincare and cosmetic formulas that optimize for increasing levels of personalization over time.

16. Jabra Launches the Elite Active 75t: True Wireless Earbuds Engineered For Active Lifestyles

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CES -- Jabra , a leader in personal sound and office solutions, announces the Elite Active 75t earbuds  the active lifestyle edition of the recently announced Elite 75t true wireless earbuds. The Elite Active 75t is enhanced for durability and optimized for workout and fitness use. The Elite Active 75t is the latest in Jabra's award-winning portfolio of true wireless earbuds and brings the same great calls and music expected from Jabra.

17. Jabra Elite 45h, Best-in-Class On-Ear Headphones Announced at CES 2020

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CES  Jabra , a leader in personal sound and office solutions, announces the Jabra Elite 45h, engineered to be the best-in-class on-ear wireless headphones at the competitive price point of MSRP 99 USD. The headphones offer an incredibly long battery life of up to 40 hours on just one charge and large speakers that deliver a superior music experience. The Elite 45h features Jabra MySound, an innovative new technology by Jabra and sister company GN Hearing, created to optimize and personalize sound experiences based on individual hearing profiles.

18. Willow Reveals Third Generation Breast Pump Designed With New Tech Inside to Help Moms Pump their Most Milk Yet

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Willow, the femtech leader that changed the way women pump with the first quiet, all-in-one, in-bra wearable breast pump, announces today Willow Generation 3, the most advanced model yet, will be available this spring. The next iteration of Willow's life-changing breast pump features groundbreaking technology that reinforces their commitment to create the smartest and most productive pumping experience for moms.

19. 1MORE Announces New True Wireless ANC In-Ear Headphones at CES 2020

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 1MORE, a globally distributed premium consumer audio company, today announced its new True Wireless ANC In-Ear headphones featuring dual drivers for superior sound quality, two levels of active noise cancelation, pass-through mode and a wireless charging option. As the first true wireless headphones pending THX Certification, these earbuds continue to uphold 1MORE's commitment to consumers by providing affordable luxury audio products. The True Wireless ANC headphones are available now to pre-order on 1MORE.com for $199.99 MSRP, and all who pre-order will also receive a free charging pad to take advantage of the product's wireless charging capabilities (US only).

20. StradVision to demonstrate breakthroughs in vision processing and perception technology for Autonomous Vehicles at CES 2020

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- When CES 2020 opens on Jan. 7 in Las Vegas for its four-day run, one major theme will be the visions of the technological future being presented by its many participants. StradVision, an industry leader in vision processing and perception technology for Autonomous Vehicles, will be on site at CES showcasing their vision literally  demonstrating up-close how their SVNet software will provide the eyes that guide the Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and ADAS systems of the future, including vehicles headed to roadways in 2020.

If you would like a copy of the complete schedule, or if you would care to comment, please email [email protected]. We welcome suggestions. Copies of previous packages will be available for the media. Cision roundups and photos are also available on the PR Newswire Web site.

Photos that accompany releases are available for download from PRNewswire.com.

SOURCE PR Newswire Association LLC
Storyful

Birds swarmed over a Texas parking lot on January 8, perching on the cars in a scene worthy of Alfred Hitchcock.The unnerving sight was captured by Kenna Mitchell outside the Stonebriar Mall in Frisco.The footage shows birds perched atop parked cars, while others circle above in the foggy evening sky.We went to Stonebriar Mall just after dusk and the entrance by the Cheesecake Factory was overrun with thousands of birds, she told Storyful.These grackles were perched on cars, in the trees, and swarms were everywhere you looked. Other people in the lot were just amazed at the sheer number of birds, Mitchell said.Very loud and very gross, but still quite a site to see! Definitely in need of a car wash now! she added. Credit: Kenna Mitchell via Storyful
Chennai: DMK legislators on Tuesday staged a walkout of Tamil Nadu Assembly over the Citizens Amendment Act (CAA) as Speaker did not allow M K Stalin to raise the issue in the house. The DMK chief earlier submitted a resolution against the CAA saying the country is burning, therefore, he should be allowed to take up the issue.

The Speaker, however, told Stalin, "I am considering the resolution that you have submitted. I would take prompt action at the right time."

Addressing media persons, Stalin said, "I had sent a letter to the TN assembly secretary to move a resolution against CAA, and till today there has not been any clarity whether it will be taken up or not. I asked the Speaker regarding this issue."

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"Since only two more days are left in the session, it seems this is not going to be taken up by the house," Stalin said. He further said that it is not just Tamil Nadu, but protests and deaths on this issue are being witnessed across the country as it is a burning issue.

"The Speaker has not given us permission to discuss the issue. This is being opposed in Kerala, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Jharkhand. Even the BJP has opposed it in Assam, Stalin said, adding "the political parties which supported CAA in Parliament have also announced that they will not implement it in their respective states."

"We want to give a strong message that we too dont support it. The AIADMK in the state is not taking any step, as it is working for the BJP in the Centre, hence, we have walked out of the assembly today," Stalin added.

Notably, DMK MLAs also staged a walkout during Governor's address on Monday.
BRUSSELS - The European Union called Tuesday on Turkey to stop its interference in conflict-ravaged Libya and appealed to forces fighting in the northern African country to call a ceasefire around the capital, Tripoli.

Speaking after talks with the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany and Italy in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Turkeys decision to deploy troops is something that we reject and increases our worries about the situation in Libya.

The over-riding urgency is to stop the fighting in and around Tripoli, Borrell said. Any escalation and also any outside interference will only make the conflict more protracted, bring more misery to ordinary people in Libya, exacerbate divisions in the country and increase the risk of its partition.

Libya is governed by dueling authorities, one based in the east and one in Tripoli in the west, with each relying on different militias for support. The east-based government is backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia. The U.N.-backed government in Tripoli receives aid from Turkey, Qatar and Italy.

The government of Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj has faced an offensive by rival eastern forces loyal to commander Gen. Khalifa Hifter. The fighting has threatened to plunge Libya into violent chaos rivaling the 2011 conflict that ousted and killed long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Turkeys parliament authorized the deployment of troops to Libya last Thursday, following a separate deal on sending military experts and weapons signed into law in December.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkish soldiers were already going gradually to Libya. He said Turkish soldiers were tasked with co-ordination at a command centre.

Borrell said the fighting in Libya is worsening day by day and the solution  has to be a political negotiation. His meeting with the four European foreign ministers had been scheduled to take place in Tripoli but was shifted to Brussels for security reasons.

The group said later in a joint statement that the more Libyan warring parties rely on foreign military assistance, the more they give external actors undue influence on sovereign Libyan decisions.

The statement cited in particular the need to avoid the signing of agreements which create a pretext for external interference that serves neither Libya nor European interests.

As tensions rise, Libyas North African neighbours, notably Algeria and Tunisia, became part of a flurry of diplomacy. Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum met on Tuesday in Algiers with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu  who was to meet in the evening with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio.

Sarraj, prime minister for the U.N.-backed government, travelled on Monday to Algeria for a meeting with that nations recently elected president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who stressed Algerias position of non-interference, the official APS news agency said. Tebboune called on the international community to impose an immediate cease-fire, without saying how that could be done.
Actor Deepika Padukone showed up at the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday evening to express solidarity with students protesting against the recent violence on the campus.

She stood quietly among students as former JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar, in a defiant speech, said the students wont be cowed down by the violence. The students were on protest near the Sabarmati hostel which was one of the six hostels that was attacked by masked men on Sunday night.

Thank you @deepikapadukone for standing up for students and youth against fascist bullies.



The times they are a changing!



Khan uncles, agar zameer zinda hai, to ab to kuch boldo @iamsrk, @aamir_khan, @BeingSalmanKhan https://t.co/E1nIdxLg1W  Umar Khalid (@UmarKhalidJNU) January 7, 2020

Deepikas visit is the most high profile one to the university since the violence on Sunday drew widespread condemnation and sparked outrage across the country and prompted students at several universities in different cities to stage protests.

WATCH | Deepika Padukone visits JNU to support students protesting violence

The actor also met JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh who was seriously injured in Sundays attack.

On Monday night, Bollywood celebrities such as directors Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar and actors Taapsee Pannu and Richa Chadha joined a protest at Mumbais Carter Road in Mumbai against the violence at the JNU.

JNU has been on the boil since Sunday when groups of masked miscreants intruded into the campus and assaulted students in Sabarmati hostel with sticks and metal rods. The students and ABVP members have been accusing each other for the violence. Police are investigating the matter.

Deepika has been in Delhi for the last two days to promote her upcoming film Chhapaak.
Four men found guilty of fatally gang-raping a female student on a bus in Delhi in 2012 have had a date set for their execution.

Akshay Kumar Singh, 31, Pawan Gupta, 25, Vinay Sharma, 26, and Mukesh Singh, 32, are due to be hanged on January 22 at 7am in the city's Tihar jail, a court has ruled.

It comes after the country's Supreme Court rejected appeals by all four men against the initial death sentence, with the final verdict coming in December last year.

The men still have one more chance to appeal against the so-called 'black warrant' death notice, and their lawyer has said he will file a mercy plea with the country's Supreme Court.

Pawan Gupta (left), Vinay Sharma (second left), Mukesh Singh (second right) and Akshay Singh (right) have been sentenced to die on January 22 for the fatal gang-rape of a student in 2012

Asha Devi (centre), the mother of 23-year-old victim Jyoti Singh, welcomed the verdict saying that 'justice has been restored'

The case sparked protests across India, garnered international media attention, and prompted lawmakers to toughen penalties for sex crimes

The plea is not expected to be granted. If the execution goes ahead, it will be India's first use of capital punishment since 2015.

Asha Devi, mother of 23-year-old victim Jyoti Singh, said: 'This judgement will reinforce people's faith in the judiciary. My daughter will get justice.'

In court, there was a moment of drama as Mukesh's mother went to Asha and begged for her son's life to be saved.

'Please forgive my son. I am begging you for his life, she said, according to NDTV.

'I had a daughter too. What happened with her? How can I forget,' she replied.

Jyoti was riding on a bus through Delhi on December 16, 2012, when she and a male friend were attacked by six men including the bus driver.

Awindra Pratap Pandey described being beaten unconscious with a metal bar, before the men took it in turns to rape and torture Jyoti - who was nicknamed Nirbhaya or 'fearless' by Indian media.

The metal bar was used to inflict catastrophic internal injuries on the physiotherapy student, who was dumped naked by the side of the road.

Awindra survived with minor injuries, but Jyoti had to be flown to Singapore for specialist treatment.

Women take part in a protest following the death of a rape victim in New Deli in December last year. Such cases have received heightened attention since Jyoti was killed

Jyoti was nicknamed Nirbhaya or 'fearless' by Indian media and has sparked nationwide protest movements demanding more protection for women from sex attacks

She died two weeks later, on December 29.

The case caught international attention, sparked weeks of national protests, prompted a change in laws around sex crimes, and harsher penalties for attackers.

Five men and one juvenile were initially arrested for the attack, and fast-tracked through the Indian court system where sex crime trials often take years to play out.

One of the men, Ram Singh, died in custody in 2013 with an autopsy ruling he hanged himself, though his family argue he was killed.

The juvenile was convicted of rape and murder and sentenced to the harshest possible punishment - imprisonment for three years in a reform institution.

The remaining four men were convicted of rape and murder in September 2013 and sentenced to death.

All four men subsequently launched legal appeals, fighting all the way to the Supreme Court.

The last appeal to be heard was from Akshay, who argued that since pollution in Delhi was so bad he couldn't be expected to live long and hanging was unnecessary.

A demonstrator wearing a blindfold takes part in a protest in solidarity with rape victims and to oppose violence against women in India in New Delhi on December 7

The court rejected his petition, saying he had provided no evidence that was not already considered by the lower courts.

In their ruling, the judges lambasted his legal team for seeking a 're-hearing of appeal over and over again.'

Preparations for the execution have already begun at Delhi's Tihar jail, with a mock hanging already carried out to test that the gallows still work.

A hangman is being brought to the city from Meerut, some 40 miles away, along with ropes from Buxar, some 450 miles distant.

Officials told NDTV that preparations began last month, after the final appeal failed and in preparation for Tuesday's black warrant being issued.

The men are currently being kept in separate cells and are being monitored around the clock by CCTV to prevent them from killing themselves.
Georgia gets another crack at 'Bama for college football title
JNU students protest at Delhi Police Headquarters after some masked miscreants attacked in the campus. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: With no arrests yet in the apparently planned attack on students and teachers at the Jawarharlal Nehru University, protests were held across India on Monday and the clamour grew for the resignation of the vice chancellor who is being blamed for inaction during the violence that left 34 people injured.

As horrific first-person accounts emerged of the attack on Sunday evening, including on JNU Students Union president Aishe Ghosh, Delhi Police said that they have transferred the case to the Crime Branch, which claimed to have found "vital clues".

Politicians of all parties condemned the violence. The opposition and JNU students blamed the ABVP, the students' wing of the BJP for the violence, and accused the Delhi Police of inaction. The BJP said campuses should not become political battleground.

On Sunday, a mob of masked young people stormed the JNU campus in south Delhi and systematically targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings. They also attacked a women's hostel.

I was specifically targeted on Sunday during a peace march on campus. Around 20-25 masked persons disrupted the march and attacked me with iron rods, union president Ghosh, her head swathed in bandages, told PTI after being released from hospital earlier Monday. She received at least 15 stitches on the head, and her arm was in a cast after the attack.

The ABVP has denied being responsible, and in turn, has blamed Ghosh's Left-supported union of stage managing the violence. It also claimed that many of its activists were injured, but has not presented any to the media.

"For the last four-five days, some RSS affiliated professors were promoting violence to break our movement," Ghosh alleged at a press conference later.

Also Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah talked to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and the HRD ministry to take stock of the volatile situation.

"The horrifying and unprecedented violence unleashed on India's young by goons with active abetment of the ruling Modi government is deplorable and unacceptable," alleged Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Union minister Smriti Irani said campuses should not be made a "political battlefield" and hoped students would not become political pawns.

With no face to Sunday night's terror, videos of which did endless rounds of social media and news channels, the tide of anger showed no signs of ebbing.

Protests against the citizenship amendment act and the attack against students of JNU -- which has seen a 70-day strike against the hike in fees -- segued into one with students joining parties across the political spectrum to call for accountability.

The 34 people, including students and faculty members, who were admitted to the AIIMS trauma centre were discharged on Monday morning, officials said.

Large protests took place Monday in universities in Pondicherry to Chandigarh and Aligarh to Kolkata. Protests were also held at the National Law University in Bangalore and IIT-Bombay as well as at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

"Today it is them, tomorrow it can be us," Raiza, a Pondicherry University student, said.

In Mumbai, the protest by students at the Gateway of India that started at midnight continued.

In New Delhi, the youth wing of the Congress Party took out a torchlight march through central New Delhi.

In Nepal, JNU alumni gathered at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu to voice their protest, as did students at Oxford University and University of Sussex in Britain and at Columbia University in the US.

Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati also condemned the violence.

While Yadav said masked men attacking teachers and students in JNU shows how "low" the government will stoop to rule through "fear" and accused the BJP of using violence and hate to polarise society, Mayawati termed the mob attack shameful and demanded a judicial probe.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said JNU students were subjected to a "cowardly and planned attack".

Bollywood spoke up too. "Horrifying", "heartbreaking" and "barbaric" is how many in the film industry, including actors-filmmakers Anil Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Rajkummar Rao, Anurag Kashyap and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, described the attack.

The JNU campus was a battle zone with the shattered windowpanes and the shards of glass mute testimonies of the violence the night before.

As students began cleaning the debris, hundreds of security personnel swarmed the campus - and outside it too -- keeping a watchful eye on the restless crowds that sang songs of revolution and raised slogans. Many students also packed their bags and left for their homes.

A Kashmiri student, requesting anonymity, said he was chased by the mob and had jump from the first floor with his friends.

"We were three-four friends inside a room. Suddenly, some of our friends came running and said, 'The ABVP is coming with lathis and rods'. We latched the room but within a few seconds, they started banging on it with lathis. They also broke glass windows on top of the door. Scared, we opened the balcony door and jumped from the first floor. Otherwise they would have killed us," the student said.

Surya Prakash, a visually challenged student, was beaten too.

"They came to my room and beat with me rods. I told them I am blind but they continued the assault. I have been hit badly and I will have to go for an X-ray. I'm scared," he said.

Questions swirled in the air.

How was the armed mob allowed to enter the campus? Why was it taking so long for police to make an arrest?

Shreya Ghosh asked how armed goons could enter the campus and said, "The attack could not have happened without the connivance of the administration and police."

The Home minister spoke to Delhi LG Anil Baijal and requested him to call representatives from JNU for discussions, officials said. However, Shah did not mention JNU when he addressed a gathering here later in the day.

The HRD Ministry, on its part, met officials from the JNU administration and took stock of the situation on the campus but Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar skipped the meeting.

"A detailed report has been sent to the HRD Ministry about the sequence of events," Kumar told PTI.

The clamour for Kumar's resignation grew louder with the students' union and the JNU Teachers Association accusing him of behaving like a "mobster" and of "perpetrating violence" in the university.

"The violence that happened is the result of the desperation and frustration of the VC and his cronies, JNUSU said.

Sunday night's attack - exactly three weeks after violence in Jamia Millia Islamia - led to furious reactions from political parties too.

Congress leader P Chidambaram said the violence in JNU was an example of the country's "descent into fascism" and the incident was the most clinching evidence of India rapidly descending into anarchy.

And while Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena compared the JNU violence with the 26/11 terror attack, his counterpart in Kerala and political rival Pinarayi Vijayan said "Nazi-style attacks" on students and teachers inside the campus were an attempt to create unrest and violence in the country.

The Left leader said the attack on students is an "appalling display of intolerance running amok".
Throughout Nebraska and Colorado, there have been many sightings of mysterious drones popping up after dark, with no clear idea who is the operator behind them.Local police departments have fielded many calls, and state congressional leaders are expressing their concerns.Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith released a statement about the sightings: I have reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about finding the source of these unidentified drones and am concerned there seems to be no clear assessment of their source. We must protect the privacy and property rights of Nebraskans.I appreciate the work of federal, state, and local officials to address these concerns and encourage Nebraskans to promptly contact local law enforcement with detailed accounts of confirmed future sightings.Senator Deb Fischer released a similar statement, especially encouraging those who see these sightings to alert local law enforcement.Monday, the FAA sent out a tweet saying that they are working with other agencies to get to the bottom of who is behind these mysterious drones.Meanwhile, local residents are seeing many drones in the area after dark.Matt Beard of Grand Island said he and a friend were traveling north on North Road when they saw a drone suddenly drop down near them, hover for about 30 seconds, then take off.Beard said they followed the drone, which was flying fast, and it took them to the Alda Road where it headed southwest toward Kenesaw. The two men went to the RC airport to see if they could find an operator, but there was no one there, and the drone had flown out of sight.Sara Yount was in Twisters parking lot and joked to her daughter to keep an eye out for drones after Younts friend said she saw some in the South Locust area.Younts daughter said she thought she saw three, but Yount thought they were stars.Then they started moving and I realized they werent stars, said Yount.Yount and her daughter continued to watch when her daughter saw another drone.Mom, look, theres a really big one!Yount said the drone looked like it had a six-foot wingspan and was moving very slow and was low.It just looked like it was going down Locust, said Yount.Krystal OBrien said that around 8:30 p.m. Monday night she and her boyfriend saw a drone on 11th Street.It was very bright and moving at a fairly good speed going east, said OBrien.They saw two more identical looking objects toward 13th Street.Amanda Jewett of Genoa said she and her husband watched four drones for a couple hours late Monday night.Jewett said before she saw them, she was thinking the whole thing was a hoax.When she and her husband saw the drones out of their picture window, however, she knew it wasnt.Last night is something me and my husband will never forget, Jewett said.Aggie Schurman said around 10 p.m. on Friday night, she and some friends saw at least seven of the drones over Hastings Lake.Schurman said she has never seen anything like it before. They were flying in a straight line, said Schurman.Sara Stroman also saw drones in Hastings.Stroman said on Sunday night at around 9 p.m., she saw three to five drones flying in what looked to be a grid pattern.On Monday night, Stroman said she saw the same thing, except this time she saw them around 6:30 p.m.Deb Miller said on Sunday night, her daughter told her there were drones all over Aurora.Miller said she stepped outside and saw at first what looked like a star in the west, but then saw the red and white flashing lights.She then saw seven head east of Aurora near Hampton.It looked like they backed up, then went over our house again, Miller said.She said she heard humming from one of the drones and could see a jet stream behind another, questioning what the power source of these vehicles are.Daniel Hormann of Loup City said he had heard the stories, but had yet to see one.Monday night around 6:30 p.m., when he was getting ready to eat supper, he stepped outside, enchilada in hand, just to see if he could spot one.Hormann said he saw the red and white lights and called his wife outside to see if that really was a drone.We turn around and look out our house and see there is a drone floating right above our house, Hormann said.His wife was looking through the tree when they saw many drones sporadically moving east.I kept stepping outside to look at them, and they stayed around my house and the river, said Hormann, who lives on the edge of town.When Hormann went to check around 10 p.m., however, they were all gone.The whole thing was very startling, Hormann said.Hannah Boyce said she saw several Sunday and Monday nights southwest of North Loup.Boyce said on Monday night, she and her husband watched a low-flying, large drone that was about 100 feet above their house.Then all of a sudden there was seven of them flying in lines coming from every direction and a few would fly into a square and then move in lines again, Boyce said.Boyce said the large one mostly stayed in the same place for over an hour.On Tuesday, Fischer put out another statement about the recent drone activity. Nebraskans are rightly concerned about the recent drone activity. This morning, I spoke with FAA Administrator Dickson directly who informed me that, as of now, there are still no answers about who is using these drones.Yesterday, the FAA, FBI, the Nebraska State Patrol, and local law enforcement officials from Nebraska and Colorado met to discuss how to address this problem.Fischer said the best thing Nebraskans can do at this time is to report any drone sightings to local law enforcement.
French Foreign Minister Urges Iran to 'Renounce Retaliation' Against US

Sputnik News

23:26 06.01.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The French Foreign Minister said Monday Iran should not take revenge against the United States for killing its top military commander in order to avoid further escalation.

"It is necessary that Iran renounce retaliation and reprisals and that talks reopen on Iran's return to the Vienna deal so that talks on regional stability may take place", Jean-Yves Le Drian told BFMTV broadcaster.

Le Drian said the situation in the Middle East was very serious. He warned that a "chain of escalation" in the US-Iranian relations could eventually lead to a conflict.

But the diplomat added that there was still a place for diplomacy and "time to stop this infernal spiral". "France's position is to strive for a de-escalation", the Foreign Minister stressed.

On 3 January, the US carried out a drone strike on Baghdad international airport, killing chief of Iran's elite Quds force Major General Qasem Soleimani, Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and 10 more people who were in the convoy.

Iran has vowed a tit-for-tat response to the killing of its top military commander. US President Donald Trump has said his country will then strike at a wide range of Iranian targets, including cultural sites.

Tehran also said Sunday it would no longer abide by the enrichment limitations set in the 2015 nuclear deal with France, Russia, China, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, which quit it in 2018.

A Sputnik

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On Sunday, violence broke out at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) when masked goons armed with sticks and rods attacked the campus and beat up students, with some of them severely injured in the attack.

The attack was met with condemnations from all sections. Videos circulating on social media showed that the Delhi Police stood as mere spectators while the goons entered the campus and thrashed students black and blue.

Delhi Police forces lawyer, Rahul Mehra, spoke out strongly against the attack on students and faculty by a group of masked assailants.

"I, as Standing Counsel @DelhiPolice, hang my head in shame after witnessing video clips of goons merrily entering JNU campus, creating mayhem &grievously injuring innocent students, damaging public property and then exiting the campus in capital city. Where is our force @CPDelhi?" lawyer Rahul Mehra tweeted. Mehra also represents the Aam Aadmi Party in court.

I, as Standing Counsel @DelhiPolice, hang my head in shame after witnessing video clips of goons merrily entering JNU campus, creating mayhem &grievously injuring innocent students, damaging public property and then exiting the campus in capital city. Where is our force @CPDelhi?  Rahul Mehra (@TheRahulMehra) January 5, 2020

The university administration later called in the police which conducted a flag march.

Around 34 people, including JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured amid chaos on the campus for nearly two hours in the JNU attack.

Videos that emerged after late Sunday's assault showed people in masks roaming inside the corridors of Jawaharlal Nehru University and beating students who were protesting against a fee hike.

Most of the injured were treated at a hospital for cuts and bruises, said Aarti Vij, a spokeswoman at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

AFP

New Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik said the incident was a clash between rival student groups.

Opposition parties and injured students blamed the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, a student organisation linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.

The fascists in control of our nation, are afraid of the voices of our brave students. Today's violence in JNU is a reflection of that fear,'' tweeted Rahul Gandhi, a leading politician of the main opposition Congress party.

The brutal attack on JNU students & teachers by masked thugs, that has left many seriously injured, is shocking.



The fascists in control of our nation, are afraid of the voices of our brave students. Todays violence in JNU is a reflection of that fear.



#SOSJNU pic.twitter.com/kruTzbxJFJ  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 5, 2020

Hours after the attack, students across the country took to the streets to protest the incident.

Hundreds of students and ordinary people of the city gathered outside police headquarters in New Delhi and accused officers of inaction.

In Mumbai, students from several educational institutions gathered at the Gateway of India and demanded that the government act against the assailants.

Students at a university in Uttar Pradesh state held a candlelight march to protest the incident.
Kenneally considers most of the legalization law to be deeply flawed and unwarranted, a serious public health risk, and a safety risk that will undoubtedly result in more deaths on our roadways. But he said his office doesnt necessarily object to erasing minor criminal convictions after a reasonable period of time.
More than 70,000 items donated companywide

Atlanta, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LogistiCare, the nations largest non-emergency medical transportation broker, today announced that staff at 19 LogistiCare l Circulation locations throughout the U.S. once again exhibited their generosity during the 2019 Gobble Up Hunger food and clothing drive, shattering the previous one-year collection record in the process.

In sum, LogistiCare employees collected and donated nearly 71,000 food and clothing items for distribution to people in need through local churches, rescue missions, soup kitchens and shelters. The total surpasses the previous company record of 52,000 items collected last year and brings the number of food products and clothing donated over the programs last five years to more than one quarter million.

We are grateful to LogistiCares employees for thinking of others this holiday season, said John Roberts, Executive Director of Mountain Mission, Charleston, WV. The people we serve are among the most vulnerable and the efforts of the companys staff are vital to helping us feed and clothe families in the greatest need.

To help boost interest in the program and increase donations, LogistiCares operations center teams engage in a very friendly competition each year to determine which collects the largest number of items per employee during the Gobble Up Hunger campaign.

Employees in Savannah, GA. (the Savannah Sisters) won the title by collecting 122 food and clothing items per employee. They were followed by the Charleston, WV. team (the Charleston Champions); 73 items per employee donated, and Norton, VA. employees (the IncrEDIBLES); 60 items collected per employee. Nortons team were the two-time defending champions and, no doubt, will be looking to reclaim their crown in 2020 amid increasing stiff competition.

I couldnt be more proud to work with people that are truly caring and selfless, said Daniel Greenleaf, chief executive officer. This effort and other community outreach programs in which they volunteer throughout the year are extensions of the work they do every day in providing vital non-emergency medical transportation services to millions across the country. Their compassion for the less fortunate shows through in everything they do both personally and professionally, and I am deeply appreciative.

Story continues

In addition to the collection competition, company teams also engaged in a contest to see which could come up with the most creative design for office collection boxes. Bragging rights for that honor went to the Okie Duds and Grub team in Oklahoma City, OK. Their winning entry included a train of collection boxes known as the Chew Chew Express, and another collection bin featuring a Cat in the Hat motif.

For more information about LogistiCares community involvement, visit www.logisticare.com/community-commitment/.

About LogistiCare l Circulation

LogistiCare, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Providence Service Corporation (PRSC), is the nation's largest manager of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) programs for state government agencies and managed care organizations. The Company's services include NEMT ride management, call center management, transportation provider network development and credentialing, and vendor administration. The Company is focused on providing access to convenient, cost-effective, safe and reliable transportation. Together with subsidiary Circulation, LogistiCare delivers tech-enabled solutions that provide enhanced functionality, stronger network performance, streamlined workflow processes, and higher overall system efficiency. LogistiCare consistently maintains a 99 percent complaint-free service rate while annually managing over 65 million trips and more than 24 million eligible riders in 49 states and the District of Columbia. For more information about LogistiCare and Circulation visit, www.logisticare.com and www.circulation.com.

Mike Rieman

LogistiCare

404.419.9230

mrieman@cookerly.com


Dutch French English

Press release

Brussels, January 7, 2020

Orange Belgium's Board of Directors has validated the nomination of Christophe Dujardin as Chief Consumer Officer, starting February 1st, 2020.

Christophe Dujardin, age 48, has over 18 years of experience in telecom sales, customer relations, transformation and finance. Christophe is a recognized leader in the industry, with a successful track record in the Belgian market. He was until September 2019 responsible for Consumer Sales at the Consumer Business Unit of Proximus.

Christophe Dujardin succeeds Cristina Zanchi, who decided to seek for new opportunities after 9 years of passionate contribution within Mobistar/Orange Belgium.

Michael Trabbia, CEO of Orange Belgium, reacts: "I am thrilled to welcome Christophe in Orange Belgiums management team. Thanks to his extensive experience and his leadership capabilities, he will be of great value for the further development of our activities on the residential market. I would also like to thank Cristina Zanchi for her strong commitment and impact on our results for the past 9 years.

Regarding his nomination, Christophe Dujardin declares: "I look forward to joining Orange Belgiums team and I would like to thank the CEO and the Board for their confidence. I am delighted to further build on Oranges bold challenger position on the Belgian market."

About Orange Belgium

Orange Belgium is one of the leading telecommunication operators on the Belgian market, with over 4 million customers, and in Luxembourg through its subsidiary Orange Communications Luxembourg.

As a convergent actor, we provide mobile telecommunication services, internet and TV to private clients, as well as innovative mobile and fixed line services to businesses. Our high-performance mobile network supports 2G, 3G, 4G and 4G+ technology and is the subject of ongoing investments.

Orange Belgium is a subsidiary of the Orange Group, one of the leading European and African operators for mobile telephony and internet access, as well as one of the world leaders for telecommunication services to enterprises.

Orange Belgium is listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange (OBEL).

More information on: corporate.orange.be, www.orange.be or follow us on Twitter : @pressOrangeBe.

Press contact

Annelore Marynissen  annelore.marynissen@orange.com - +32 (0) 479 01 60 58

Younes Al Bouchouari  younes.albouchouari@orange.com  +32 (0) 477 69 87 73

press@orange.be

Contact investors

ir@orange.be

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Rapper French Montana rose to fame in the early 2010s and became known for releasing popular songs like Pop That, No Shopping, Unforgettable, and Writing on the Wall. Recently, Montana also made news for doing something quite out of the ordinary: treating himself to a very expensive purchase after being released from the hospital. Read on below to find out exactly what French Montana spent his money on and how other people reacted to it.

French Montana was hospitalized in November for cardiac issues

French Montana | Leon Bennett/Getty Images

On November 21, it was announced that Montana had been admitted to the ICU for cardiac issues and nausea. According to TMZ, he went to the hospital via ambulance and was given IV fluids.

The cause of his illness could not be determined by doctors, but sources suspected that he could have been exposed to contaminated food after traveling to various countries in the Middle East and Europe. The rapper remained there on Thanksgiving as well, and he wrote to followers on Instagram, Day 9 [thumbs up emoji] send me a plate lol.

There were also reports that Montanas ex-girlfriend, Khloe Kardashian, reached out to him to make sure that he was okay. In any case, Montana was released from the hospital after two weeks.

French Montana bought a $1.5 million Bugatti Veyron after his hospitalization

In late December, Montana revealed that he had bought himself a $1.5 million Bugatti Veyron after his ICU stint.

He shared a video of his new ride on Instagram and captioned it: FRESH OUT OF ICU WOKE UP IN THAT NEW BUGGATTI!!! LIL GIFT TO MYSELF! FEEL LIKE A BOSS MOVE LIKE A BOSS AND TASTE LIKE A BOSS lol.

The black-and-blue car was delivered to Montanas home in Las Vegas by Wires Only Luxury Car Dealer. The company used a special truck designed to keep the vehicle from getting damaged via transit.

The Bugatti Veyron is known as one of the most expensive cars in the world, with a starting price at seven figures. Although it is pricey and requires a lot of money to maintain, fans tend to love it for its speed and how it pushed the envelope for what is considered a street-legal car.

50 Cent has been throwing shades at French Montanas car

While Montana seems proud of himself to have snagged a Bugatti Veyron, fellow rapper 50 Cent seems to be less than impressed.

After Montana revealed his purchase, 50 Cent wrote a diss to Montana: Thats a 2010 Veyron man, you shoulda just got the Uber app on ya phone, 50 Cent said. Its 2020 Chiron Man hahaha Put that bullshit back on that truck.

Later on, 50 Cent also posted two videos onto his Instagram account, where he could be heard talking with someone else about Montanas car. The two men seemed to be claiming that Montanas Bugatti was a 2008 model without any modern updates like a USB port.

They also asserted that Montana took out a 60-month loan to pay for the car. In response, Montana posted a photo that shows his black-and-blue car being the 2010 model.

CONGRATS TO ME 59 lol, Montana wrote in the caption. IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY ??!! LOL U REALLY MAD IM WAVIER THAN YOU  YOU UNWAVY CREATURE GET YOUR INFO RIGHT SHOW THE PAPER WORK DINOSAUR YOU DO IN EVERY OTHER CASE YOU RODENT. YOU DONT EVEN OWN ONE . FRONTIN LIKE YOU GOT ONE U FUNNY 59 !! YOU GOT A LAWSUIT WITH MANHATTAN MOTORS FOR RETURNING ALL THEM CARS YOU TOLD THEM YOU WAS BUYING AND THATS BIG FACTS.
From Colum McCann and Hilary Mantel to Nick Hornby and Rachael English, there are plenty interesting reads on the way over the next few months, writes Marjorie Brennan.

1. American Dirt

Jeanine Cummins (January)

A suspenseful, harrowing and heartbreaking exploration of the human cost behind the border crisis, this timely novel tells the story of Lydia who must flee her comfortable life in Mexico with her young son and join the terrifying la bestia freight train in search of a new life in the US.

2. Motherwell

Deborah Orr (January)

Sadly, this much-anticipated memoir will serve as an epitaph of sorts for Deborah Orr who died last October, aged just 57.

Orr blazed a trail through Londons journalism scene and in more recent years was a fierce and funny presence on social media. This reflection on her youth inScotland is characteristically piercing, funny and honest.

3. Apeirogon

Colum McCann (February)

McCanns acclaimed back catalogue, including the sublime Let The Great World Spin, means this book comes with a guarantee of quality, but the advance word on this novel suggests a level of ambition we may not have encountered yet from the Dublin native.

It explores the Palestine-Israel conflict through the unlikely friendship of two men from either side.

Eimear McBride (February)

Expect something out of the ordinary from the author (pictured above) of the acclaimed A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing.

McBrides third novel follows a nameless womans journey through a series of hotel rooms, which reflect aspects of her lifeand self.

6. The Mirror And The Light

Hilary Mantel (March)

Theres eagerly anticipated and then theres the maniacal fervour that comes with the arrival of a new book by Hilary Mantel.

Mantels sweeping series on Thomas Cromwell already encompasses bestsellers Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, and The Mirror and The Light, out in March, deals with Cromwells final years.

Spoiler: it doesnt end well for him.

7. A Thousand Moons

Sebastian Barry (March)

Barrys Days Without End entranced readers with its lyrical rendition of the American West and two men who fall in love amid the carnage of the native American genocide.

John Cole and Thomas McNulty return in AThousand Moons, in which Barry continues his exploration of identity and dislocation.

8. My Dark Vanessa

Kate Elizabeth Russell (March)

In this Me-Too era take on Lolita, the titular protagonist must re-evaluate her schoolgirl relationship with a teacher when new information comes to light, almost two decades later.

An explosive and challenging read, this is sure to polarise readers as much as the Nabokov classic continues to do.

9. Our Little Cruelties

Liz Nugent (March)

Nugent is queen of the pacy page-turner and her latest is sure to be no different. Brothers Will, Brian and Luke are in constant competition growing up  a rivalry which ends up with one of them dead.

10. Exciting Times

Naoise Dolan (April)

The buzz has been building around this debut novel from Irish writer Dolan for quite a while, with the Sally Rooney comparisons flowing thick and fast.

Protagonist Ava teaches English to the children of the Hong Kong elite, while navigating her relationships with non-committal banker Julian and earnest lawyer Edith. Millennial cynicism smartly rendered.

11. As You Were

Elaine Feeney (April)

Feeney is one of Irelands brightest literary talents and her debuter novel comes with an inventive premise, featuring at its centre a young property developer with a terrifying secret which she confides to a magpie.

12. The Ratline

Philippe Sands (April)

Sands previous book, East West Street, interweaved the authors family origins in eastern Europe with the Nuremberg trials following World War II.

In this book, based on the gripping podcast of the same name, Sands tracks a Nazi provincial governor as he tries to escape justice after the war  helped by a growing friendship with the Nazis son,who still believes his father was a good man.

13. The Cutting Place

Jane Casey (April)

Casey is one of the leading proponents of Irelands flourishing crime fiction genre and has won a legion of devoted fans with her Maeve Kerrigan series.

In the latest instalment, the indefatigable detective sergeant tackles toxic masculinity and domestic abuse when she probes the murder of a young journalist.

14. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Suzanne Collins (May)

The taut and thrilling Hunger Games books were among the last decades top sellers, spawning a hugely successful movie franchise and launching the career of Jennifer Lawrence. In this prequel Collins revisits the world of Panem, 64 years before Katniss Everdeen took up her bow, and centres on the competitors of the 10th Hunger Games.

15. Nothing But Blue Sky

Kathleen MacMahon (May)

This is How It Ends by the Dublin-based former journalist was a deeply affecting and beautifully written meditation on grief and loss. In her latest novel, a husband discovers theres no such thing as a perfect marriage when he must confront his wifes secrets after her death.

16. Love

Roddy Doyle (May)

One of Irelands best-loved writers returns with this humorous and poignant examination of friendship and the meaning of love. Former drinking buddies Davy and Joe meet up for a pub crawl as old memories resurface to comfort and haunt them.

17. The Lying Life of Adults

Elena Ferrante (June)

Speculation continues to swirl over the actual identity of the author but die hard fans will only be interested in getting their hands on this English translation of Ferrantes latest novel, which was published in her home country of Italy in November, with fans queuing up to buy copies at the stroke of midnight.Reviews suggest readers wont be disappointed.

18. Curtis Sittenfeld (July)

Details such as the title of Sittenfelds new book are thin on the ground, but that wont matter to the many fans of her finely drawn portraits of contemporary American life, from Prep to Sisterland.

What we do know is that the new book takes Hillary Clinton as its inspiration; this echoes the criminally under-rated American Wife, which was based on the life of Laura Bush.

19. Just Like You

Nick Hornby (September)

Hornby may now be better known as a screenwriter in some quarters  he adapted Brooklyn and Wild for the screen  but his first novel in five years will kindle interest among those who fell in love with the effortless charm of his earlier books such as HIgh Fidelity.

Just Like You is being flagged as another astute analysis of relationships, but with an added layer of complexity added to the mix: the swirl of the Brexit referendum forms the background to the narrative.

20. Ghosts

Dolly Alderton (October)

The Times columnist and podcasters witty memoir Everything I Know About Love was a huge word-of-mouth hit, so expectations for her first novel will be high.

It follows food writer Nina, whose huge success online is not mirrored in her increasingly fragile reality.
A male rape victim has claimed being quizzed by police officers on whether he'd cheated on his girlfriend when he reported the crime made him feel like he wasn't being believed.

Sam Thompson, 24, from Newark, Nottinghamshire, was raped by two men on a night out in Manchester in September 2016, after becoming separated from his partner.

The traumatic event left him unable to leave his parents' house for weeks, led to a break-up with his long term girlfriend and drove him to the brink of taking his own life.

He waived his right to anonymity and is retelling his story following the conviction of Indonesian student and serial rapist Reynhard Sinaga, 36, who was jailed for 60 years serving a minimum of 30 in custody yesterday.

Sam Thompson, 24, from Newark, Nottinghamshire, was raped by two men on a night out in Manchester in September 2016, after becoming separated from his girlfriend

Sam, who was not assaulted by Sinaga - who is believed to have attacked at least 195 men - is keen to banish stigma around male rape.

Speaking to the BBC, he said reporting the crime made the harrowing ordeal worse as he was made to feel he wasn't telling the truth.

'They asked me about my sexuality, about whether I've ever cheated on my girlfriend before, about whether I've ever had a male sexual encounter,' he recalled.

'It all made me feel at the time like I really wasn't being believed here.

'I didn't understand what, whether or not I'm straight or gay, what does that have a difference? Obviously the issue's over consent.'

The traumatic event left Sam, pictured, unable to leave his parents' house for weeks, led to a break-up with his long term girlfriend, pictured, who has asked not to be named, and drove him to the brink of taking his own life

Sam is retelling his story following the conviction of Indonesian student and serial rapist Reynhard Sinaga, 36, pictured, who was jailed for 60 years serving a minimum of 30 in custody yesterday. Police have linked Sinaga to more than 190 potential victims in total - 70 of whom they have not yet been able to identify

Speaking about when he broke down to his mother on the phone following the assault, Sam said he told her he 'wanted to die'.

'I genuinely meant it,' he went on. 'I didn't want to be anywhere, I didn't want to live with it.'

Sam said he believes too many people automatically associate male rape with homosexuality.

'I think there's a certain stigma attached to it, that gets round masculinity, that we say that you can't be a masculine man if you've not fought back and you've allowed this thing to happen and you've not done whatever you can to go and find the perpetrators or even allow there to be perpetrators,' he explained.

'I think that what defines us as men or supposedly defines us as men is impacted from the offset as soon as something like this happens.'

Sam said he believes too many people automatically associate male rape with homosexuality

Sam was treated at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester, where clinical director Dr Catherine White said they've seen an increase of around 33 per cent for male rape victims coming forward.

She said she'd like to think it's not an increase in sexual violence but an increase in confidence in victims being able to speak up.

Sam, who had moved to Manchester with his then-girlfriend to pursue his dream of becoming a professional DJ, previously said he never thought he'd be a victim of rape, adding it was 'never on my radar'.

'I wanted to end my life afterwards. I felt dirty and ashamed, like it was my fault,' he admitted.

The traumatic event left Sam unable to leave his house for weeks and he lost interest in sex. Finding it difficult even to kiss another person, his relationship ended in January 2017

'Now I want to make men aware, to break the silence surrounding the crime and to encourage victims to speak out.'

His ordeal lasted several hours - in which Sam says the two men took it in turns to rape him.

He drew on his experience to advise the writers of Coronation Street on the storyline involving David Platt, who was drugged and raped by his friend Josh Tucker.

How common is male rape? Experts say that male rape and sexual assault is massively underreported in the UK. Around 75,000 men in England and Wales are estimated to be victims of sexual assault or attempted assault each year, according to the latest government statistics. Of those, 9,000 are estimated to be victims of rape or attempted rape. But only around 1,550 males reported those crimes to the police in the year the data was collected. Advertisement

Sam didn't initially realise what was happening to him when he woke up in a hotel room, and it was only when the physical pain kicked in that the horror of the situation hit him.

'I didn't know if it was a dream or a nightmare. I only remember snippets of it, and my memory of the whole ordeal is hazy,' he said.

'It was the way I was in pain - that was the biggest indication.

'When it was over I got up and left and started walking home to my flat where my girlfriend and friend were waiting for me. When I got back to the flat I just burst out crying.'

At the time, Sam could not explain why he didn't fight back. He froze. A therapist has since told him that people respond to trauma in different ways and the 'fight, flight or freeze' response kicks in.

He remembers leaving the hotel where it took place at around 8am, after the men had finished, and staggered towards his home in the new city in a daze.

Mr Thompson now realises that the questions he was asked during his police interrogation were necessary for the investigation, but he found it a harrowing experience.

He was taken home by a police officer and told not to shower or change his clothes until his appointment at the sexual assault referral centre at 10pm that night.

Sam was treated at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester, where clinical director Dr Catherine White (pictured) said they've seen an increase of around 33 per cent for male rape victims coming forward

Exhausted after his ordeal, he managed to sleep only briefly before the forensic examination, where he was internally examined, given blood tests and advice on sexually transmitted diseases.

Having lost interest in sex and finding it difficult even to kiss another person, his relationship ended in January 2017.

Not long after, police told him the case against two men arrested in connection with his rape had been dropped because it would be difficult to prove he didn't consent.

'Initially it was a major knock back. I was adamant the police didn't believe me and that was the problem,' he said.

'But in June 2017 I met with the officer who handled my case and I realised that was not true.'

After admitting he needed help, Mr Thompson had counselling and has since become a Survivors ambassador. Pictured from left to right: Sam's brothers Joe and Jake, his mum Jan, Sam, and his dad Gary, at Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall

Shortly afterwards, however, Mr Thompson suffered a breakdown and was advised by the specialist officer who had handled his case to contact Survivors Manchester.

The organisation works exclusively with male victims of rape and sexual abuse supporting them through counselling and peer-to-peer support.

After admitting he needed help, Mr Thompson had counselling and has since become a Survivors ambassador.

Greater Manchester Police said it's learned lessons from Sam's case.

For confidential support in the UK call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details.
ATLANTA, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gray Television, Inc. (Gray) (NYSE: GTN) announced today the retirement of decorated broadcast veteran and Senior Vice President-Local Media Brad Streit on February 12, 2020. Upon his retirement, WVUE New Orleans, Louisiana, General Manager Tim Ingram will be promoted to Senior Vice President-Local Media and assume Brads role in overseeing numerous television markets for Gray.

Gray proudly recognizes the distinguished career of Brad Streit. Brads passion for broadcasting began more than four decades ago. While Brad was a junior at Stephen F. Austin State University, the Texas native worked as a camera operator at KTRE in Lufkin, Texas. His career took him to stations in Ohio, Mississippi, and Texas. He served as a general manager for Liberty until eleven years ago, when he began to oversee a region of stations for Raycom following its acquisition of Liberty. For the past year, Brad has overseen an even larger region of stations for Gray following its acquisition of Raycom.

Brad has served as Chairman of the Texas Association of Broadcasters and previously held positions on both the ABC and CBS affiliate boards. Over the years, he has received numerous awards for his leadership and community involvement, including the Texas Association of Broadcasters 2018 Pioneer of the Year Award.

Brad represents the best in local broadcasters. A big part of his legacy is his ability to identify and train future leaders. That comes full circle now with Tim, said Hilton Howell Jr., Grays Chairman and CEO.

Tim Ingram started his broadcast career more than twenty-five years ago as a camera operator at KAIT in Jonesboro, Arkansas, while a student at Arkansas State University. His career took him to stations in Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Texas, where he served as Director of Operations and Marketing at KLTV in Tyler, Texas under then-General Manager Brad Streit. He has served as the General Manager of Grays KFVS in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and KAIT, before assuming the helm of WVUE in New Orleans. During his tenure, WVUE became the markets ratings leader in November 2018, ending decades of single station dominance.

Tim has a strong commitment to quality journalism and community service. What he and his team have done in New Orleans from both a ratings and business standpoint, is nothing short of remarkable, said Pat LaPlatney, Grays President and Co-CEO. Tim has received numerous industry awards for his contributions. Most recently, Broadcasting and Cable honored Tim as 2019 General Manager of the Year, markets 26-50, for his accomplishments at WVUE.

About Gray Television:

Gray currently owns and/or operates television stations and leading digital properties in 93 television markets, including the number-one rated television station in 68 markets and the first or second highest rated television station in 87 markets. Grays television stations cover approximately 24 percent of US television households and broadcast over 400 separate programming streams, including approximately 150 affiliates of the CBS/NBC/ABC/FOX networks. Gray also owns video program production, marketing, and digital businesses including Raycom Sports, Tupelo-Raycom, and RTM Studios, the producer of PowerNation programs and content. For further information, please visit www.gray.tv.

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HEIDELBERG and JENA, Germany, January 07, 2020 / B3C newswire / -- Today, Velabs Therapeutics GmbH (Velabs), a biotech company focused on the rapid screening of functional therapeutic antibodies announced that it has entered into an exclusive licence agreement with alytas therapeutics GmbH (alytas), for the development and commercialization of alytas antibodies in the field of senescence, related degenerative processes and pathologies.

Velabs Therapeutics, a young start-up company of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), is a pioneer of microfluidic technology for the screening of antibodies with modulatory function on complex signalling proteins such as GPCRs, ion channels or other regulatory proteins. The current active investor is Xlife Sciences AG (m:access: XLS, www.xlifesciences.ch), a Swiss company focusing on the development of promising life science technologies. Velabs offers its screening know-how and capacities for pharmaceutical collaborations worldwide. In addition to existing partnerships, Velabs is currently building its own pipeline of therapeutic antibody candidates for further development. Recently, the company has started to develop antibody-based senolytics, a class of drugs designed to prevent cell and tissue degeneration that can occur during the aging process by eliminating so-called senescent cells.

alytas specializes in the research of fat metabolism in connection with obesity. Its program is based on several proprietary protein epitopes with high relevance for the immunological regulation of excess adipocytes and has already been conceptually confirmed in vitro and in vivo. In a previous strategic partnership, alytas and Velabs co-developed different sets of preclinical antibodies for a novel immune-based obesity treatment. The current licence will allow Velabs to exclusively develop these antibodies against senescence related degenerative processes. Both indications, obesity and senescence, together with their associated co-morbidities, are conditions with unmet medical need and enormous market potential.

Christoph Antz, Managing Director of Velabs, states: "We are pleased to have entered this licence agreement with alytas, which will allow us to develop a completely new treatment against ageing related decline of body functions. We are confident that this new approach has the potential to open new ways towards less associated deteriorations, higher degrees of vitality and better health conditions during human ageing process, thus increasing quality of life at older age and reducing the burden of age-related diseases and complaints. Velabs know-how in the generation and preclinical validation of functional antibodies will be instrumental in developing a first mover antibody-based therapy for the preventive delay of senescence associated body decline.

About Velabs Therapeutics

Velabs Therapeutics, financed by Swiss-based Xlife Sciences Ltd., is a spin-off company launched by Europe's most renowned institute for life sciences research, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and its technology transfer arm EMBLEM Technology Transfer GmbH (EMBLEM). The institute has an outstanding track record in instrumentation development and is at the forefront of microfluidics-based screening technology and applications worldwide.

The Company's droplet-based microfluidic screening technology is designed to rapidly generate antibodies against target molecules presented on cellular membrane surfaces or as a soluble protein. Velabs has pioneered the use of droplet microfluidics for the rapid screening of correctly paired human antibodies; the antibodies found by Velabs not only bind to a drug target, but can also modulate its function.

About alytas therapeutics

alytas therapeutics GmbH is a spin-off of the University of Jena with the aim to develop a therapeutic antibody for the treatment of morbid obesity. The Company, financed and managed by the Swiss-based Xlife Sciences Ltd., has know-how and patents on several antigenic epitopes with proven relevance to novel therapeutic immune-based regulation of excessive amounts of adipocytes in patients with obesity. The founders of alytas have been working for many years in the field of obesity and their current treatment hypothesis is based on in vitro and in vivo data from humans and animals. The company is set up as a Lean Project Management Engine with various core partnerships.

About Xlife Sciences AG

Xlife Sciences AG is a Swiss company with focus on investing in promising technologies in the life science industry. Xlife Sciences AG is building the bridge from research and development to healthcare markets by supporting researchers and entrepreneurs in positioning, structuring, developing and implementing their concepts. Together with industrial partners or universities, Xlife Sciences AG leads projects through the proof-of-concept phase after an invention disclosure or start-up. Subsequently, the firm focuses on out-licensing or selling the company, often with a combination of a strategic partnership. Xlife Sciences AG offers its investors direct access to the further development of innovative and future-oriented technologies at a very early stage.

Contact

Velabs Therapeutics GmbH

Dr Christoph Antz

Managing Director

Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany

+49-6221-387-8194

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Keywords: Epitopes; Obesity, Morbid; Antibodies; Adipocytes; Lipid Metabolism; Comorbidity; Biotechnology

Published by B3C newswire and shared through Newronic


STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Rep. Max Rose vowed Tuesday to continue their bipartisan push to ensure veterans receive the best possible health care.

In his first visit to the borough, Secretary Robert Wilkie joined Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) for a tour of the Staten Island Community VA Clinic on South Avenue before traveling to the Staten Island Vet Center on Bay Street.

Its an honor for me to be here with a warrior, Wilkie said referencing Roses military service. Having someone who speaks the language is absolutely key.

Wilkie and Rose said they spoke with about 15 veterans who were receiving services from the clinic during their time there. Staff and VA leaders accompanied the two men, including VA NY Harbor Health Care System Director Martina A. Parauda, Staten Island Community VA Clinic Assistant Administrator Darlene Wineman, and VA NY Harbor Health Care System chief of staff Dr. Patrick Malloy.

Visiting the Staten Community VA Clinic in Travis, are, from left, VA NY Harbor Health Care System Director Martina A. Parauda, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, Staten Island Community VA Clinic Assistant Administrator Darlene Wineman, Rep. Max Rose, VA NY Harbor Health Care System chief of staff Dr. Patrick Malloy visit the Staten Community VA Clinic in Travis. (Courtesy: Office of Rep. Max Rose)

Rose and Wilkie have built a working relationship in their shared time in office. Wilkie said Rose was one of the first members he visited in the 116th Congress, because of his time in the military.

Wilkie, who was appointed by President Trump, and Rose, who voted to impeach the president in December, both said partisanship takes a back seat when it comes to veterans issues.

When it comes to ensuring our veterans receive the best quality care and treatment, theres no place for party and partisanship, Rose said.

Advocacy groups and some members of Congress have raised concerns about the privatization of veterans health care during the Trump administration.

Wilkie and the VA have repeatedly addressed the concerns, including under oath, about privatization by noting the increases to the VA budget and staff that have occurred during his tenure.

We have the largest budget in history. I expect that budget to grow quite a bit next year, Wilkie said. The only thing that we are changing is that if we cant meet the immediate needs of a veteran, we give that veteran the choice, if that veteran desires to go into the private sector.

The MISSION Act of 2018, which passed with bipartisan support, expands the number of veterans who qualify for private care that is reimbursed by the VA. Concerned parties, including Rose in early December, have worried that it could serve as a Trojan horse for privatization.

The VA has said the MISSION Act is about giving veterans more health care choices and making it more convenient for them to use the benefits theyve earned.

On Tuesday, Rose reiterated his belief that addressing veterans health is a bipartisan issue, and that there is a bipartisan consensus that the VA will not be privatized. He said work needs to continue to insure veterans receive the best care.

We will always need to do more, including working to not only ensure all VA facilities are properly equipped to treat a growing population of women veterans, as well as improving transportation and accessibility issues, but also working to ensure the promises made to all veterans are kept, he said.
En espanol | Sure, we know that a few drops of artificial tears can provide relief to dry, tired eyes, and that sunglasses are a really good idea during a sunny day. But beyond the basics, how much do we really know about the health of our eyes? Apparently, not as much as we think, according to a new nationwide online survey conducted by the Harris Poll on behalf of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

The results were eye-opening, to say the least.

Though approximately 80 percent of the 3,500 U.S. adults surveyed said they were knowledgeable about eye health, the survey results didn't exactly back up that confident claim. Fewer than 1 in 5 (or less than 20 percent) were able to identify the three main causes of blindness in the United States. Only 3 percent were able to identify all of the common threats to eye health. And a mere 11 percent were aware of all of the early signs of vision loss. Clearly, there's quite a disparity between what people think they know and what they actually do know, says Andrea Tooley, M.D., an ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery fellow at Columbia University in New York City and an AAO spokesperson.

Especially troubling: Only 37 percent were aware that you don't always experience symptoms before losing vision to eye disease. Glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease  the three main causes of vision loss  can be causing damage without you even realizing it, says Tooley, who points out that our brains are good at compensating for gaps in our vision. Likewise, a strong eye will pick up the slack for a weak one. I had a patient who had been losing vision in one eye for a long time, but it wasn't until she got shampoo in her good eye and was forced to keep that eye closed for a while  while seeing from the other eye  that she realized there was a problem, Tooley says. I was able to diagnose a problem with her optic nerve that had probably been going on for a year or more.

And while approximately 12 million people age 40 and older in the U.S. have vision impairment, only 37 percent of those polled knew that vision loss is not inevitable as we age. Our eyes may change as we grow older, Tooley says. We may need reading glasses or a brighter light to see. But some of my patients think that decreased vision over time is just a normal process of aging, and that's really not the case. In fact, following a few simple rules can help you keep seeing clearly and cut the risk of vision problems down the road.

Ditch the cigs

It's the biggest thing you can do not only for your general health, but for the health of your eyes, as well, Tooley says. In fact, studies have found links between puffing and age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

Shun the sun

Daily UV exposure ups your chances of getting cataracts. Look for shades that offer 100 percent UVA- and UVB-blocking protection. And if you're in proximity to airborne materials  whether it's while cutting wood, mulching or mowing the grass  consider safety glasses or protective goggles.
His legal situation became more precarious, however, after his wife pleaded guilty last June to one count of conspiring with him to spend campaign funds for personal use. As part of the deal, Margaret Hunter agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and testify against her husband.
The festive season has only just ended yet owners are already selling dogs they bought as Christmas presents.

Online marketplace Gumtree has several listings from owners desperate to get rid of their dogs just two weeks after Christmas, with some even being flogged for free.

Reasons for getting rid of their new pooches include children being allergic and moving house.

Charity Dogs Trust said it received 253 calls from owners looking to re-home their dogs during the week of Christmas.

Other listings from owners wanting to sell other puppies, aged six months and under, reveal they 'don't have the energy' to play with the dog or are unable to cope with the 'stress'.

UNWANTED PRESENT: One advert for a 12-week-old Cavachon puppy in Dagenham, London, shows the adorable pooch being listed for 900, with the owner explaining she bought her as a Christmas present for her children, who ended up being allergic

One advert for a 12-week-old Cavachon puppy in Dagenham, London, shows the adorable pooch being listed for 900, with the owner explaining she bought her as a Christmas present for her children, who ended up being allergic to it.

Advice on buying a puppy online Dogs Trust said if something seems too good to be true, chances are it is. Here are some points to follow if you are thinking about getting a dog:  Always see puppy and mum together at their home and make sure to visit more than once.  Ask lots of questions and make sure you see all vital paperwork, such as a puppy contract  which gives lots of information about their parents, breed, health, diet and more.  If you have any doubts or feel pressured to buy, as hard as it may be, walk away.  For more information visit the Dogs Trust website. Advertisement

One listing in Falkirk shows a 16-week-old Beagle, with the owners claiming they 'do not have time' to look after the pooch due to their work schedules.

An advert in Glasgow for a black German Shepherd said: 'Only selling him as I have been offered a new job that will require me to be away from home most of each week!'

Charity Dogs Trust have warned against buying puppies online, saying adverts 'don't always give the full picture' and could even have been illegally imported into the country.

The charity have encouraged owners who are forced to give up as dog to speak to a rehoming charity first before selling it online.

A spokesperson said: 'It's very easy nowadays to choose a puppy at the click of a button but not all adverts give the full picture and the pups could even have been illegally imported into the country. We would always encourage potential dog owners to do their research first, especially before buying online.'

NEW JOB: This owner, from Glasgow, is selling their three-month-old German Shepard puppy because they have been given a new job

NO TIME: One listing in Falkirk shows a 16-week-old Beagle, with the owners claiming they 'do not have time' to look after the pooch due to their work schedules

NEEDS MORE ATTENTION: A five-month-old puppy is being sold in Aberdeen because the owners are 'unable to giver her all the attention she needs'

Gumtree works with the RSPCA and DEFRA and the Pets Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) to improve animal welfare online.

A spokesperson said: 'We take the welfare of animals very seriously at Gumtree and work hard to ensure our site is a safe place to find pets in need of rehoming.

'This includes educating users on how to buy pets safely and responsibly. We encourage anyone thinking of welcoming an animal into their family to familiarise themselves with our advice on how to buy pets safely and responsibly, which can be found on our website.

'If you have any concerns about a listing, you can report the advert to Gumtree, or contact the RSPCA directly.

'Gumtree actively discourage the "casual" trading of animals online and work hard to deter unscrupulous operators through our compulsory paywall.'

TO STRESSFUL FOR THEIR CAT: An advert for a 10-week-old black cockapoo puppy in Chelmsford, Essex, explained the dog is causing 'stress for the cat' and 'all around'

OTHER DOG IS UNHAPPY: A nine-week-old cavachon puppy in Wombell, South Yorkshire was not 'accepted' by the owners other dog and so is being sold for 470
For the second day in a row, South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel is experiencing significant overcrowding.

760 patients are waiting without beds in Irelands hospitals, matching Mondays record highest daily figure.

This is more than the total bed capacity of any hospital in the State.

Read more: Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath calls Simon Harris resignation

Along with South Tipperary General Hospital (44), the worst-hit hospitals include University Hospital Limerick (75), University Hospital Galway (51), Cork University Hospital (47) and Letterkenny University Hospital (47).

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has written to the Minister for Health Simon Harris calling for the following:

A declaration of a major incident at the worst-affected hospitals.

Immediate approval for all posts awaiting sign-off in nursing and midwifery across all acute hospitals.

Cancellation of elective procedures in the worst-affected hospitals.

An infection control plan.

Closure to non-emergency admissions in worst-affected hospitals.

Sourcing of additional beds in the private and voluntary sectors.

An end to the recruitment ban.



The union is also seeking previously agreed funding for the Safe Staffing Framework to bring staffing levels to safe levels to help ease overcrowding and improve patient outcomes. Otherwise, the INMO warns the risks to patient safety will continue throughout 2020.

This extreme overcrowding presents a clear danger to patients and staff alike. It requires immediate political intervention to stabilise our hospitals," INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said.

760 patients on trolleys means the health service is simply not functioning. The longer this level of overcrowding continues, the greater the threats to patient safety.

We have written to the minister calling for action. We need to grasp the nettle and declare a major incident, cancel electives, and immediately approve recruitment for the worst-hit hospitals," she added.
BAGHDAD  Iraqi protesters have been waging campaigns to boycott foreign products flooding Iraqi markets, namely Iranian ones, in a bid to promote local goods.

Despite the fact that the number of protesters has been decreasing recently, especially after the assassination of two top commanders  Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Tehran-backed deputy leader of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units  these campaigns are continuing, and in some cities like the capital Baghdad even on rise.

Protesters went out into the streets and launched a campaign on social media, which went viral among Iraqi activists and internet users.

Made in Iraq has been sharing pictures of Iraqi products and asking Iraqis to buy them. Activists in the Iraqi National Product campaign also called on its Facebook followers to buy chicken from the city of Kubaysah, which is produced in Anbar governorate. They also encouraged the purchase of red eggs produced in al-Nuaimiya in Wasit governorate. Activist Abbas Faisal al-Mamouri wrote on social media pages supporting local products that these campaigns are positively reflected on increasing the gross domestic product and decreasing the unemployment rate.

The campaigns have had good results so far. For instance, Diyala province in eastern Iraq announced Jan. 1 that the sale of chicken and egg products has significantly increased recently as a result of the campaigns.

Mamouri also told Al-Monitor, Impressive results have been achieved by the campaigns. Local products began to invade markets, due to the higher demand on them. He called on the owners of factories and plants as well as Iraqi investors to work on improving the quality of the products to gain the confidence of Iraqi consumers.

The campaigns seem to have prompted, on Nov. 28, the Supreme Judicial Council to tighten measures on smuggling and importing foreign goods by illegal means, to further strengthen support for domestic products.

During one of the protests, activist Omar al-Mashhadani told Al-Monitor, I have been in contact with the owner of a dairy factory in Babil governorate that has been closed since 2007. He told me that the factory will be functioning again with one production line and will be in full power within a few days. This would provide 70 jobs.

Mazhar Muhammad Salih, financial adviser to the Iraqi prime minister, told Al-Monitor, Reaping the fruits of the campaigns requires the activation of two basic laws that need an organizational structure and to have an effective executive force, i.e., the Product Protection and Consumer Protection Councils.

He noted, This requires first the protection of the quality of goods, especially those that are imported, given that these goods are extremely harmful to consumers health and income. Second, domestic products need to be protected from imported products.

Salih added, Protecting the national product needs a national decision that takes three major factors into account: enforcing the law to protect the product, controlling the borders using military force to protect the countrys economic fence from smugglers and lawbreakers, and using an alternative customs tax system, in cooperation with international expert companies.

Mohammad Hussein al-Mousawi, director of a commercial company in the Shorja market in Baghdad, said in a Nov. 24 statement, Shoddy goods have flooded the markets.

In an interview with Al-Monitor, former parliament member Sarwa Abdul Wahid attributed the delay in national production to the fact that successive governments failed after 2003 to lay down a strategic plan to revive factories due to their preoccupation in conflicts.

The youth campaigns in support of local products were positively reflected in the marketing and promotion of national goods. The campaign to boycott Iranian products is being politicized within the agenda of extracting Irans political influence in Iraq, which had a decisive impact in the formation of the government of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi. The government has failed big time and caused the street to turn on Iran, she said.

Abdul Wahid added, The volume of unilateral trade exchange in favor of Iran reached in the previous governments periods $16 billion annually. Under Abdul Mahdi, this figure doubled, according to some official information.

Spokesman for the Ministry of Planning Abdul-Zahra al-Hindawi told Al-Monitor, The campaign was launched at an appropriate time, as Iraq needs to rebuild the thousands of factories that are not operating. This is part of the five-year plan from 2018 to 2022 that requires 18,000 factories to be operational.

He said, The campaign coincides with Iraqi sufficiency of cement at a capacity of 31 million tons. Iraq has also stopped the import of 22 types of crops. The Iraqi plastic industries meet the need and their import has also been stopped. The import of milk decreased with about 50%.

Zaid al-Hilly, a journalist and editor-in-chief of Dunia al-Mal wal-Istesmar magazine (Arabic for Money and Investment World), told Al-Monitor, Encouraging the national product is more than a campaign, but rather a popular awakening and uprising. The volume of the imports of simple goods and materials with Iraqi alternatives stands at about $36 billion annually.

Economic researcher and former engineer at the Ministry of Oil Muhammad Zaki Ibrahim spoke to Al-Monitor about the effect of the politicized agenda on the campaign to support local products. The campaign targeted mainly Iranian products and omitted the products of other countries," he said.

He pointed out that the wave of protests is united in showing hostility to Iran, adding, The boycott falls within the scope of the US-Iranian conflict in the region.

Ibrahim pointed to adverse reactions to this campaign that portends a similar boycott of goods from the Gulf states and Turkey by the social groups that sympathize with Iran. He noted, however, The campaign to encourage national goods is widely admired.

The protesters in the streets clearly focus on encouraging the national product following the launch of Made in Iraq. The exhibition called Liberation Youth to Support the Iraqi Industry at Tahrir Square in Baghdad in late November is the best example.

A remarkable presence of the Iraqi industry is expected at the next exhibitions and support will not be limited to advertising and campaigns. Rather practical laws and mechanisms allowing the supply of pieces of machinery and capital for entrepreneurs are to see the light.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 11:08:36|Editor: ZD

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LHASA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- More than 40 million tourists from home and abroad visited southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region in 2019, up 19 percent year on year, according to local authorities.

Last year, tourism revenue rose to 56 billion yuan (7.9 billion U.S. dollars), Qizhala, chairman of the regional government, said in his government work report delivered Tuesday at the third session of the 11th People's Congress of Tibet Autonomous Region.

Tibet will continue to develop the tourism industry in 2020, with an aim to attract over 47 million tourists and increase the tourism revenue to over 60 billion yuan, Qizhala said.

"We will build Tibet into an important destination for global tourism and promote our tourism brand of the world's Third Pole," he said.
Pakistans lower house of parliament on Tuesday approved amendments to the Army Act 1952, Pakistan Air Force Act 1953 and Pakistan Navy Ordinance 1961 which will now give the prime minister the power to extend the tenure of any service chief and the president to give his final nod to the extension or reappointment.

The bills amendments were passed with the support of all major political parties, including the opposition PML-N and PPP.

Some opposition lawmakers, including MPs from the rightist Jamaat-e-Islami walked out in protest over the bills. They had earlier announced they would not be supporting the bill on principle.

After the National Assemblys approval, the bills will now go to the Senate Standing Committee on Defence for approval before they are passed by the Senate. The bills would become acts of parliament once signed by the president.

In November 2019, the Supreme Court had asked the government to legislate on an extension in the COASs services within six months, allowing General Qamar Javed Bajwa to stay in office until then.
CHICAGO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "IoT in Chemical Industry Market by Technology Type (Enabling Technology and Operational Technology), Chemical Verticals (Mining & Metals, Food & Beverages, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Paper & Pulp), Region - Global Forecast to 2024", published by MarketsandMarkets, the IoT in Chemical Industry Market is projected to reach USD 79.9 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 9.7% from USD 48.9 billion in 2019.

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The growth of chemical and associated industries and the increasing rate of digitization in various manufacturing processes, such as production, procurement, and logistics, are expected to drive the IoT in Chemical Industry market. In addition, rapid industrialization in countries such as China and India will increase the demand for various automation solutions and products. This factor is estimated to drive the IoT in Chemical Industry market.

Enabling technology is the largest segment of the IoT in Chemical Industry market.

The Enabling technology segment is estimated to lead the market, in terms of value, in 2019. The demand for IoT in Chemical Industry is growing because of the growing need for efficient and optimized chemical production, also the need to address the risk associated with various industrial processes and activities. One of the biggest challenges being faced by the industry is the older infrastructure, which is prone to any failure. Lack of flexibility and agility reduces asset utilization rate and hence decreases the overall efficiency of the plant. These are also called anomalies. Technologies such as IoT and Big data can actually help in detecting and analyzing such anomalies. IoT in Chemical Industry is being deployed not only to increase the potential assets but to help reduce downtime risks and accommodate process changes for new products.

Chemical verticals is estimated to be the largest segment of the IoT in Chemical Industry market during the forecast period.

The petrochemical industry in chemical verticals is estimated to have the largest share in the market during the forecast period. The increased use of petrochemicals for various applications and the increased refinery output have driven its demand, which, in turn, increases the demand for IoT in Chemical Industry. Almost 100 greenfield refinery projects are active globally. New plants are expected to enact digital technologies to boost operations. This will have a positive impact on petrochemical production and will increase the adoption of IoT in Chemical Industry in the segment.

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APAC is estimated to be the largest market for IoT in Chemical Industry during the forecast period.

APAC is the largest IoT in Chemical Industry Market and is expected to continue dominating the global market during the forecast period. The market is largely driven by increased investments in the manufacturing industries. Improving living standards has been driving the growth of the associated industries, such as construction, food & beverage, and HVAC (Heating, ventilation, & air conditioning) industries, which is expected to drive the IoT in Chemical Industry market.

The key market players profiled in the report include Siemens AG (Germany), General Electric Co (US), ABB Ltd (Switzerland), Rockwell Automation, Inc. (US), Emerson Electric Co (US), Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Japan), Honeywell International Inc. (US), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan), Schneider Electric SE (Germany)

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TG4050 moves therapeutic vaccination into the digital age: combines Transgenes expertise in viral vectors with NECs cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities

Novel immunotherapy is fully tailored to each individual by generating an immune response that targets highly specific patient tumor mutations

First patients enrolled in two Phase 1 trials at the Mayo Clinic and Toulouse Oncopole



Transgene (Euronext Paris: TNG), a biotech company that designs and develops virus-based immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, and NEC Corporation (NEC;TOKYO: 6701), a leader in IT and network technologies, today announced that the first patients have been enrolled in the first-in-human trials evaluating TG4050, a therapeutic vaccine based on the myvac technology and powered by NECs cutting-edge AI capabilities. In these Phase 1 trials, TG4050 is being administered to patientswith head and neck cancer who have a high risk of relapse after surgery and patients with ovarian cancer after surgery and adjuvant therapy.

Transgenes highly innovative myvac technology allows the generation of a virus-based immunotherapy within a very short time frame while encoding patient-specific mutations identified and selected by NECs Neoantigen Prediction System.

TG4050 has been designed to target up to 30 patient-specific neoantigens (cancer cell mutations). They are selected using NECs Neoantigen Prediction System, an advanced AI technology that has already been applied in the field of oncology. The prediction system is based on more than two decades of expertise in AI and has been trained on proprietary immune data, allowing it to accurately prioritize and select the most immunogenic sequences.

Transgene uses its expertise in viral vectorization via myvac to incorporate the selected neoantigen sequences in the genome of the Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) viral vector. The Company has also set up a unique in-house good manufacturing practice (GMP) unit dedicated to the manufacturing of the individualized batches of TG4050 needed for the clinical development of this novel therapeutic vaccine.

As each patients cancer is unique, we have developed a therapy that turns their solid tumors genetic signature into a powerful highly specific anticancer weapon. TG4050 is based on an MVA viral vector that has proven biological activity and has the ability to elicit an immune response against tumor antigens. Our partnership with NEC ensures that TG4050 is benefitting from its world-leading expertise in artificial intelligence and its unique algorithm that is used to select up to 30 patient-specific antigens that allow this novel vaccine to induce a strong immune response. We are convinced that TG4050, which is at the crossroad of immunotherapy and big data sciences, will herald the start of a new era in the fight against cancer, explained Philippe Archinard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Transgene.

We are excited to enroll our first patients in these trials and see TG4050 advance to the clinic. This is another step closer towards the realization of an AI-driven individualized immunotherapy for each patient. Our unique partnership with Transgene enables us to leverage its significant clinical development know-how and proven viral vector delivery platform. We are hopeful that TG4050 will make a significant difference for patients throughout the world, commented Osamu Fujikawa, Senior Vice President, NEC Corporation.

A Phase 1 clinical trial of TG4050 is enrolling patients with ovarian cancer after surgery and first-line chemotherapy. This multi-center, one-arm trial will recruit patients in the USA and in France. Endpoints of the trial include safety, feasibility and biological activity of the therapeutic vaccine. Dr. Matthew Block, MD, PhD, immunologist and medical oncologist at the Mayo Clinic, is conducting the trial in the USA; in France, the trial will be conducted by Dr. Martinez at Toulouse-Oncopole and by Pr. Le Tourneau at Institut Curie.

Another Phase 1 clinical trial of TG4050 is enrolling patients with newly diagnosed, locoregionally advanced, HPV negative, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) that have received an adjuvant (first-line) therapy after surgery. This multi-center, open label, randomized two arms trial will include patients in the UK and in France. Patients will receive either TG4050 monotherapy after completion of the adjuvant therapy or in combination with the standard of care at the time of recurrence. Endpoints of the trial include safety, feasibility and biological activity of the therapeutic vaccine. In France, the trial is being conducted by Pr. Delord at Toulouse-Oncopole and by Pr. Le Tourneau at Institut Curie; in the UK, the trial is coordinated by Pr. Ottensmeier from Southampton University.

Both studies are sponsored by Transgene and are co-financed by Transgene and NEC.

About Transgene

Additional information about Transgene is available at: www.transgene.fr.

About NEC Corporation

For more information, visit NEC at www.nec.com.

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A large fire has ripped through the iconic music venue Koko in Camden, north London.

Dozens of firefighters were battling the blaze at the historic building, which had been closed for refurbishment, on Monday night.

Dramatic footage showed flames tearing through the roof.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said crews were working hard to save the rest of the building near Mornington Crescent station.

Camden: Koko fire - In pictures 1 /21 Camden: Koko fire - In pictures Dave Benett Dave Benett Dave Benett Dave Benett Lucy Young Lucy Young Dave Benett Lucy Young Dave Benett Lucy Young Dave Benett Lucy Young Lucy Young Lucy Young PA Barney Davis

It warned people to stay away from the area as firefighters fought to bring the blaze under control.

In a tweet, LFB said: "Weve got eight fire engines & around 60 firefighters tackling a visible blaze on #Camden High Street. Please avoid the area if possible."

And in a later update it added: "We were called at 20:56 to a fire at a #Camden nightclub under refurbishment. 30% of the roof is alight. Firefighters working hard to save the rest of the building. Please avoid the area if possible."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted on Tuesday morning: "London's firefighters have been working tirelessly overnight to tackle a fire at #Koko in #Camden.

"Their quick response to get the fire under control meant the fire was contained to the roof of the building.

"To all firefighters and @LondonFire staff involved: thank you."

Shops near to the scene have been evacuated as the flames are fought.

Koko was forced to close last year for a major refurbishment. It is scheduled to open in around April of this year.

The venue has hosted acts including Madonna, Ed Sheeran and Prince.

DJ Tony Blackburn tweeted: "I've only just heard about this. This is terrible news particularly as it was going through a refurbishment and we were hoping to hold our next BBC Radio London Soul Night Out there when it opens.

"Let's hope nobody has been hurt in the fire at KoKo it's such a great venue."

Sir Keir Starmer, Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras, tweeted: "Awful news in Camden tonight."

Conservative councillor for Hampstead Oliver Cooper tweeted that he was "devastated by the potential loss of such a huge part of Camdens culture".

Others said it was "so sad" to witness the blaze.

Another Twitter user wrote: "The London music scene doesnt need any more heartbreaking permanent closures."

Kentish Town ward councillor Georgia Gould wrote: "Heartbreaking watching the Camden Palace / Koko up in flames this evening, a building that holds so many memories and means so much to us in Camden."

The venue was in the middle of a 40 million redevelopment.

It is set to have updated performance areas, restaurants and shops in the renovated complex.
NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong (R) visits Heroic Mother Dang Thi Lai (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the programme, organised by the Vietnam Womens Union Central Committee, the NA Vice Chairwoman spoke highly of Nghe An provinces achievements over the years in all fields, including politics, border security in land and at sea, mass mobilisation, economy and budget collection, among others.

In addition, the province was a bright spot in providing support for people who rendered great services to the nation, policy beneficiaries and poor people, she added.

She voiced her hope that the locality will continue enhancing solidarity to contribute to the provinces development and pay due attention to the implementation of social welfare policies for the disadvantaged.

On the occasion, the NA Vice Chairwoman visited Heroic Mother Dang Thi Lai who resides in Quynh Hong commune of the provinces Quynh Luu district. She also handed over relief to 20 policy beneficiaries.

At the programme, President of the VWU Central Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha and Nghe An authorities presented Tet gifts to 50 disadvantaged women and 30 scholarships to students.

The officials also raised fund to build new houses for 15 families in Quynh Luu district.
He warned against the transformation of the war into a frozen conflict.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko says Ukraine should start seeking an alternative to the Minsk peace deal on Donbas if local elections are not held in Russia-occupied districts in 2020 or if there is a delay in the withdrawal of enemy troops and weapons.

"Let's be frank. If the elections are not held in the occupied territories in 2020 or the process of withdrawing troops lasts too long, then there is the need for considering possible alternatives to the Minsk [deal]. This could be a peacekeeping mission. However, this does not mean we are quitting the general Minsk process," he told Germany's Bild newspaper in an interview the translation of which was posted on the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's website.

Read alsoMinister Prystaiko: Expedient to hold elections in Donbas simultaneously with rest of Ukraine

Prystaiko warns the war in eastern Ukraine could turn into a frozen conflict.

"I don't want this to happen, but I could predict it. I'll be frank: even a frozen conflict is a long way to go. Now they are still opening fire on us. Of course, we don't want a frozen conflict. Ideally, we want to get our land and our people back. But if this doesn't happen, then at least it is necessary to have those killings stopped," the foreign minister said.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Prystaiko said in November 2019 that deploying peacekeepers, which is not foreseen by the Minsk process, could be an alternative to the Minsk peace deal.
After fighting through attempts by security forces to keep him and allied lawmakers out, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido entered the National Assembly to try to begin a legislative session.

Earlier, the pro-government group led by Luis Parra which has claimed the presidency, attempted to hold a session without quorum.

Guaido climbed to the top of the assembly steps and took the microphone as opposition lawmakers sang the national assembly.

"The people are the ones who decide who enters the Parliament, not the military," Guaido said.

The sudden attempted takeover of what was the last democratic institution in Venezuela has deepened the standoff between President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition's Guaido who last year was recognized as the legitimate leader of the country by more than 50 countries.

Parra, who's been named in a graft case for trying to lobby in favor of pro-government businessmen involved in a food program, claims to have legitimately been voted as the new national assembly head on Jan. 5.

Guaido for his part, said he was re-elected the same day by 100 lawmakers in an off site vote after he was barred from entering congress.

- - -

Bloomberg's Alex Vasquez and Nicolle Yapur contributed to this report.
President Trump may not have given us the executive order on birthright citizenship he promised before the 2018 midterms but at least we got a war with Iran!

From Breitbart, Nearly 400K Anchor Babies Born in 2019, Exceeding U.S. Births in 48 States:

Close to 400,000 anchor babies were born in the United States in 2019 as an executive order to end birthright citizenship gets kicked down the road for another year by President Donald Trumps administration.

Analysis conducted by the Center for Immigration Studies revealed in 2018 that about 300,000 U.S.-born children of illegal aliens are born every year. These children, often referred to as anchor babies, immediately obtain American citizenship and anchor their illegal or foreign parents in the country.

In addition, about 72,000 anchor babies are born to foreign tourists, foreign visa workers, and foreign students every year  all of whom obtain immediate American citizenship simply for being born within the parameters of the country.

Altogether, about 372,000 anchor babies are estimated to have been born last year despite a commitment by Trump to sign an executive order ending the nations anchor baby policy that incentivizes pregnant migrant women to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in the hopes of securing American citizenship for their children.

This indicates that there were more anchor babies born in 2019 than births in each of the 50 states except California and Texas. California residents deliver about 455,000 babies a year, while Texans deliver about 379,000 babies a year, just slightly more than the total annual number of anchor babies born.
An employee manually counts 20 sterling pound notes in this arranged photograph at a Travelex store in London, United Kingdom, on March 6, 2013.

U.K.-based currency exchange company Travelex experienced a ransomware attack that crippled the company's online presence and locations across the U.S., European Union and Asia. It was unclear how much ransom cybercriminals were demanding. Travelex did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Ransomware is malicious software that shuts down computers, including those that may run retail equipment, until a victim pays a ransom to cybercriminals for a key to unlock the encrypted machines.

On its main website Tuesday, Travelex said the incident started Dec. 31, and the company took "all our systems offline" to prevent a spread of the virus.

"We have deployed teams of IT specialists and external cybersecurity experts who have been working continuously since New Year's Eve to isolate the virus and restore affected systems," the website says.

Britain's Metropolitan Police Force said it has been looking into a "ransomware attack involving a foreign currency exchange" since Jan. 2, and it has been assisting with an ongoing investigation.

A cyber task force insider confirmed to CNBC that the foreign currency exchange was Travelex.

Travelex's bank and wire service partners, including Virgin Money and Sainsbury Bank, reported they also were suffering outages as a result of the attack, according to the BBC.
A 57-year-old man waved a knife in front of a neighbour putting her in fear when they were drinking and listening to music in his kitchen.

Ted OMahony of 9 Garrydhu Drive, Kilmoney, Carrigaline, County Cork, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting Georgina Eke (also known as Hanlon) at his home on the night of November 26, 2018, when she visited with another neighbour, Olive Qettari.

Inspector Denis Lynch prosecuted the case where it was alleged that, as well as waving the knife, he also held it under Ms Hanlons throat, without touching her with the knife.

Ms Hanlon said he held the knife inches from her throat. Ted OMahony said he had told the two women not to drop cigarette ash and that Ms Qettari ended up dropping a glass that broke into a thousand bits.

Ted OMahony testified: I said, ye will have to go. There was glass all over my floor. It was in a thousand bits.

I just waved the knife. I did not put it to Georginas throat.

"They left and I cleaned up the glass.

Judge Con OLeary said that even on the evidence of the defendant in court and in his statement to Garda Stephen Cleary, Ted OMahony had admitted waving around the knife in front of her face and he said this evidence was enough to convict him of assault.

Defence solicitor Donal Daly said that many of the facts in the case were agreed but that the defendant was adamant he never held the knife to her throat.

Garda Stephen Cleary said Ms Hanlon was anxious about the defendants behaviour in the neighbourhood.

He tends to stare at her quite a lot. Also at the bus stop, he would often stand opposite her. She would be anxious this kind of behaviour stops, Garda Cleary said.

The judge bound the accused to the peace on condition that he would not loiter within visibility of the complainant.

Ted OMahony asked the judge, If I am walking past her house what do I do?

Judge OLeary said: Keep walking. If you see her, you keep moving. You cannot wave knives in front of peoples faces.

The defendant, who has no previous convictions, said after the case that he might as well go to prison but he later apologised for such remarks and Judge OLeary reminded him, When you see her, move on.

Ted OMahony said: I will take your advice on that.

Finally, the judge said to the defendant, Keep the peace.

Ted OMahony said: I am a peace commissioner now. I dont know how I got that job.
Hundreds of disadvantaged workers have received gifts and free bus tickets to return home for the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

Hundreds of disadvantaged workers have received gifts and free bus tickets to return home for the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.  Photo tuyencongnhan.vn

Some 800 tickets and Tet presents were given to workers in the northern province of Hung Yen yesterday at a year-end gathering organised by the provinces labour federation.

Six new houses were also given to low-income local workers by the federation, and an existing one got repaired.

Up to 300 bus tickets and 1,000 presents were given to disadvantaged workers in the northern province of Ha Nam at a similar gathering, which saw the participation of Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung and Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour Tran Van Thuat.

Thirty buses will be arranged to take the workers home for the holiday as many of them live as far as 150km from the province, said Trinh Van Bung, president of the province's labour federation.

Ha Nam Province has some 65,000 industrial workers  some 20,000 of them hail from other provinces and cities and some 8,000 are living in disadvantaged circumstances, he said.

Also yesterday, Politburo member and standing member of the Party Central Committees Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong presented 100 presents to low-income workers at the electronics company JNTC Vina in the northern province of Phu Tho.

The Party official asked the VGCL and Phu Thos labour federation to improve the performance of grassroots trade unions in protecting the legitimate interests and rights of workers.

Some 100 low-income labourers in the northern province of Ha Giang yesterday also received presents from Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committees Commission for Information and Education Vo Van Thuong.

He expressed his hope that the mountainous province will continue its efforts to reduce poverty and improve the living standards of ethnic minority locals.

The labour federation of the northern province of Bac Ninh and local enterprises collaborated to give some 7,300 bus tickets and 1,700 presents to disadvantaged workers.

Tet presents were also given to 55 victims of Agent Orange in the southern province of Soc Trang yesterday by the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.  VNS
Seen above is a service center of Samsung C&T's apartment resident service brand Raemian Hestia. Courtesy of Samsung C&T



Samsung C&T, Lotte Hotel stay most satisfactory



By Nam Hyun-woo





National Customer Satisfaction Index

Korean businesses staged a fierce competition last year to improve customer satisfaction, as 10 industrial sectors each saw new top rankers in the annual National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI) for 2019.



According to the index, compiled by the Korea Productivity Center (KPC), 10 out of 76 industrial sectors on the index that could make yearly comparisons had the leading firm replaced in each of their standings. Also, multiple companies shared the top spot in 11 sectors.



This is an increase from that of the 2018 index, which had new top rankers in six sectors and co-leaders in 11.



"This shows companies competed harder to improve their service quality last year," a KPC official said. "Leading firms' efforts for better service quality is improving the overall customer satisfaction of each industrial sectors and the entire Korean industry."



The average score for 329 companies, colleges and public institutions surveyed for last year's index was 76.7 points, up 0.2 points from 76.5 in 2018. This is the highest score since the state-backed KPC started conducting the annual poll in 1998.



Of the firms surveyed, Samsung C&T's apartment construction business and Lotte Hotel scored the highest, extending their prowess in the index. Samsung C&T, which scored 84 points in 2018 to sit at No. 3, improved to No. 1 last year. Lotte Hotel, which scored 86 points in the previous survey, maintained its top ranking.



Samsung C&T attributed the top score to its efforts to improve service quality. The construction firm introduced a service brand, Raemian Hestia, for the first time in Korea, and employed staffers who cater to residents' various demands.
FILE  In this Sunday, July 21, 2019, photo, two armed members of Irans Revolutionary Guard inspect the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero, which was seized in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday by the Guard, in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. The U.S. airstrike that killed a prominent Iranian general in Baghdad raises tensions even higher between Tehran and Washington after months of trading attacks and threats across the wider Middle East. (Morteza Akhoondi/Mehr News Agency via AP, File)

The US government is warning ships across Middle Eastern waterways crucial to global energy supplies that there is the possibility of Iranian action against US maritime interests in the region.

The US Maritime Administration put out the warning on Tuesday, citing the rising threat after an American drone strike in Baghdad killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani.

The warning came as Washington braced for Iran to respond to the killing of its most powerful general, noting heightened military readiness in the country and preparing for a possible tit-for-tat attempt on the life of an American military commander.

Oil tankers were targeted in mine attacks last year which the US blamed on Iran.

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Tehran denied being responsible though it did seize oil tankers around the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of the worlds crude oil travels.

President Donald Trump ordered the January 2 strike against General Soleimani after the death of an American contractor in Iraq.

Now, amid massive demonstrations in Irans public mourning period for Gen Soleimani and a state TV report of a deadly stampede at his funeral, officials believe the next steps by Americas long-time foe will determine the course of the latest crisis.

Officials say American intelligence is not clear on whether Irans latest military moves are designed to bolster Tehrans defences or prepare for an offensive strike, but the US is continuing to reinforce its own positions in the region, including repositioning some forces.

One official said the US anticipated a major attack of some type within the next day or two.

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US embassies in a growing number of countries outside the Middle East are issuing security alerts to American citizens.

Embassies in France, Algeria and Morocco issued alerts on Tuesday warning of heightened tension in the Middle East that may result in security risks to US citizens abroad. The warnings also have been issued at some embassies in sub-Saharan Africa. The US Embassy in Tanzania issued one on Monday.

On Monday, defence secretary Mark Esper said no decision had been made about withdrawing troops from Iraq. Pro-Iranian factions in the Iraqi parliament have pushed to oust American troops following Gen Soleimanis killing on Iraqi soil.

Mr Esper spoke to reporters after a letter from a US Marine general seemed to suggest a withdrawal had been ordered in response to a vote by the Iraqi parliament over the weekend. Theres been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq, Mr Esper said.

Gen Soleimanis death, which has sparked major protests, further nuclear development and new threats of violence, has raised the prospect of a wide and unpredictable conflict in the Middle East and escalated tensions between Iran and the US.

The two nations have gone from one flare-up to another since Mr Trump began his maximum pressure campaign against Tehran shortly after taking office. He abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed crushing economic sanctions, aimed at preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and deterring the sort of regional aggression spearheaded by Gen Soleimani.

Two US sources said targeting Gen Soleimani was not representative of a wholesale shift in American policy towards Iran, despite secretary of state Mike Pompeos comments on Sunday that the US was targeting Tehrans actual decision-makers rather than its network of proxy allies.

Mr Trump has repeatedly contended that he is not seeking regime change in Iran, as has been pushed by some of his more hawkish advisers.

One official said some Iranian ships have spread out, and while the intent is not immediately clear, they could move rapidly to attack.

The US military has increased protection of its forces, particularly in Iraq. Officials said a number of the recently deployed soldiers from the 1st Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division had moved into Iraq from Kuwait to increase security for Americans there.

The US military has stopped all training of Iraqi forces to focus on force protection, officials said.

As of Monday, officials said, there had not been a broadly distributed order or recommendation to increase security at military installations worldwide. Instead, decisions were being left up to the commanders.

The US militarys concern about its vulnerability to Iranian attack in the Persian Gulf region has been at a heightened state since the spring, when the administration reported it was getting intelligence indications that Iran was planning attacks on US interests in Iraq and elsewhere in the region.

The Pentagon sent additional forces to the Gulf at that point, and in July it worked out an arrangement with the government of Saudi Arabia to send US forces to a large base deep in the Saudi desert, in less obvious range of Iranian missiles.
ALBANY  The New York Civil Liberties Union is calling on the state Education Department to cancel its approval of a biometric surveillance system for a Western New York school district, arguing that the district has not addressed questions raised by SED's own experts on potential risks to student privacy.

Lockport City School District, in Niagara County, activated facial recognition cameras in all of its buildings last Thursday, becoming the first public school in the state to use the software designed to prevent intruders.

The New York branch of the civil liberties union, in a letter to state education officials, wrote that the approval was premature, bypassed community input and regulatory and legislative processes, and may have serious implications for use of the controversial technology in other spheres.

"NYSED should not allow Lockports students, teachers, and community members to be test subjects for inaccurate and invasive technology," wrote Stefanie D. Coyle, deputy director at the group's Education Policy Center.

Coyle notes that Lockwood's decision to turn on the schools Aegis software system was made after SED's chief privacy officer, Temitope Akinyemi, recommended in her approval that the district strengthen its privacy and security policies. She suggested that the policy clarify, among other things, that the devices would never be used in student discipline. It was unclear whether the suggested changes were mandatory.

Facial recognition is the latest biometric tool schools are using to monitor student behavior and secure school grounds. Several districts in the Capital Region, including Niskayuna and South Colonie, have begun installing vape detectors that also screen for loud noises and sudden movements in high school bathrooms.

The devices, which send real-time alerts to administrators, use artificial intelligence to study students' vocal patterns and movements, tend to produce many false positives when they are first installed, school leaders said. The technology has helped administrators track down culprits when there is an incident.

"I really never expected it to be a catchall or a cure-all. I'm just happy to have one more tool in our investigations," Niskayuna High School Principal John Rickert said in an interview with the Times Union.

Lockport officials say their facial recognition cameras are part of a plan to prevent school shootings. They claim the system will only store the faces of suspicious individuals. SED approved the system in November after the district asserted that no student data will be created or stored in their security system and indicated the district's policy had been revised to reflect that.

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

State education officials, who have been in talks with Lockport, said in November that they believe the system now meets state regulations that dictate how student data may be collected and shared. Concerns of privacy also "appear to be addressed," they said.

SED officials department did recommend that Lockport schools consult with their lawyers to ensure that all other applicable laws and regulations are met and that the civil rights of all individuals are also protected when it comes to the districts use of technology.

Privacy experts at the NYCLU say there is no way to know how students' facial impressions will be used to fine-tune the software's algorithms, or how long their images will be stored when false positives occur. They are also concerned that stored images could be vulnerable to hacking.

"We think that SED's November letter was very vague," said Johanna Miller, a civil rights attorney and director at the NYCLU's Education Policy Center "The decision itself was arbitrary and capricious ... SED based its decision on a fundamentally flawed understanding of how this technology works."

A bill pending in the state Legislature would create a one-year moratorium on the technology's use so that lawmakers can study how the technology works.

The NYCLU is asking for a more comprehensive review while ongoing regulatory and legal oversight processes continue. The group has submitted a freedom of information law (FOIL) request for all State Education Department records regarding the school district and face surveillance.
Several student organisations, civil society groups and parties cutting across political lines took out rallies across the country on Tuesday to protest against the violence in New Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

In Mumbai, hundreds of protesters who have been demonstrating at the iconic Gateway of India since Sunday night were moved by the police on Tuesday, following which the protest was called off.

In the morning, several protesters, including students and women, were moved to Azad Maidan in police vans. DCP zone 1 Sangram Singh Nishandar said: I requested them (the protesters) to shift to Azad Maidan as the demonstration was choking the roads and creating traffic issues.

However, Kapil Agarwal, a protester, told news agency ANI that they were forcibly removed. We were forcibly shifted to Azad Maidan by Police. But now we have called off our occupy Gateway of India protests, it was a successful protest. Our resistance will continue, we have a long line up of programmes.

In Nagpur, students , under the aegis of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Vidyarthi Sanghatna, a local body of students, gathered outside the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur Universitys front gate condemning the JNU violence. In Pune, NSUI members defaced an ABVP board outside its office.

In Kolkata, a clash broke out between the students of Jadavpur University and police personnel during a protest. In a viral video, the police were purportedly seen baton-charging the protestors. However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sudip Sarkar dismissed the video, saying: While we were chasing BJP workers some Jadavpur University students entered the mob. We could not differentiate between students and BJP workers who were burning tyres. We did not lathi-charge students. The Students Federation of India (SFI) led a rally from Presidency University. In West Burdwan districts Durgapur, SFI protesters blockaded the rail tracks for some time.

In Uttar Pradesh, clashes broke out between NSUI and ABVP workers in Agra.

The ABVPs city unit submitted a memorandum to BR Ambedkar University registrar KN Singh, demanding a ban on the leaders of left wing student organisations on the campus. Students are busy with preparations for their examinations. We want that academic atmosphere is not affected in the university. Administration should take appropriate steps and ban any anti-social left wing activity on the campus, said Agra ABVP unit president Aakash Rathore.

NSUIs Bilal Ahmed, however, accused ABVP of attempting to disturb peace in the university. The university administration has been favouring ABVP and the university registrar went out of the way to accept the memorandum despite prohibitory orders banning any such activities there, said Bilal.

The North East Students Organisation (NESO) also announced protests in solidarity with JNU students on January 8 and 9 in all states of the region. It was a barbaric attack on the innocent students at JNU and we strongly condemn it. Such violence at an academic institution is unacceptable, NESO advisor Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya said in New Delhi.

In Hyderabads Osmania University, scores of students gathered to burn effigies of the ABVP to mark their protest

Several masked people, armed with sticks and stones, barged into the university campus spreading chaos and terror as they targeted students and teachers on Sunday evening. JNU students union blamed members of the ABVP. ABVP, however, blamed the left-leaning students.

(With agency inputs)
Flynn told the officials and others that This is to all those first responders who risk their lives and miss holidays and birthdays to help serve. .The minute I walked through the door, I knew River Grove was the Village of Friendly Neighbors, he said. I look forward to many more years serving the citizens of River Grove.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Reporter Jerry Mitchell, who spent years investigating the most infamous murders of the civil rights movement, will speak at a National Press Club Headliners event on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020 about his upcoming book, Race Against Time: A Reporter Reopens the Unsolved Murder Cases of the Civil Right Era.

Race Against Time chronicles Mitchell's quest to unearth the truth behind some of the most gruesome and harrowing unsolved murders of the civil rights era. Mitchell's reporting is credited with helping to bring killers to justice for the assassination of Medgar Evers, the firebombing of Vernon Dahmer, the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Church in Birmingham, and the murder of three civil rights workers commonly referred to as the Mississippi Burning case.

This event will take place in the Club's Zenger Room at 8:30 a.m., and will feature a moderated discussion with the author, an audience question-and-answer session, and a book signing. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. with a light breakfast of coffee, tea, muffins and pastries.

Tickets cost $5 for members of the National Press Club and $10 for the general public. Please click here to purchase tickets.

Preordered books will be available for pickup and signing at the event. Attendees will also be able to purchase books at the door. Proceeds from the book sales will benefit the National Press Club Journalism Institute, the non-profit affiliate of the Club, so the Institute asks that you leave all outside books at home.

CONTACT: Lindsay Underwood for the National Press Club; (202) 662-7561, [email protected]

SOURCE National Press Club

Related Links

http://press.org


The United Nations has informed Iran that the United States will not grant a visa to Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to participate in the UNSC meeting later this week.

Iran had submitted an application for a US visa on December 10.

"Last night, we were informed by the United Nations that based on the information it received from the United States, Foreign Minister Zarif's visa to address the Security Council will not be issued, but we have not received any communication about it from the US mission," Sputnik quoted Alireza Miryousefi of the Iranian mission to the United Nations, as saying.

The developments comes as the tensions between Iran and the United States have suddenly escalated following the killing of Iranian Quds Force chief Qaseem Soleimani.

Iran has vowed to take the "harshest revenge" against Washington. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has threatened that his country will hit 52 Iranian sites if Tehran dares to take any action against the "preemptive" strike.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A presidential aide has assured Nigerians that there is no cause for concern over the withdrawal of 1,200 Chadian troops from North-east Nigeria.

PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday reported how the Chadian government withdrew the 1,200 troops from Nigeria.

French newswire, AFP, quoted a Chadian Military spokesperson, Azem Bermandoa saying Its our troops who went to aid Nigerian soldiers months ago returning home. They have finished their mission, none of our soldiers remains in Nigeria.

A spokesperson to President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu, on Tuesday morning, told PREMIUM TIMES that the withdrawal was a result of a change in the concept and the mandate of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

He also disclosed that Indications from the defence headquarters suggest that soon, Nigeria will be sending troops to that country (Chad) as part of yet another concept.

Mr Shehu asked Nigerians not to have any doubt in the ability of the Nigerian armed forces to defeat the Boko Haram terrorists. He said they are capable and have proven to be so.

Nigerians need not worry at all about the Chadian withdrawals, he said, They came here as a part of a concept of the ongoing operations by the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF.

That concept has changed and they are moving out. Indications from the defence headquarters suggest that soon, Nigeria will be sending troops to that country as part of yet another concept.

So there is nothing of concern about the way deployments are made by the MNJTF. They know what they are doing. It is in the execution of their mandate.

Nigerians should equally not have any doubts about the ability of our armed forces to hold their own. They are capable and have proven to be so.

The MNJTF is a multinational formation, comprising troops, mostly military, from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. It is headquartered in the Chadian capital, NDjamena, and is mandated to bring an end to the Boko Haram insurgency.

The Boko Haram insurgency has caused over 30,000 deaths in Nigeria since 2009. The terrorists, who have since split into factions, also carry out operations in Niger, Cameroon and Chad.
A dog bite victim who had 'literal pubic hair' growing out of an unusual skin graft on her face has regained her confidence after doctors were able to remove the patch and close the gap with minimal scarring.

Crystal, 30, from Jacksonville, Florida, met with Dr. Paul Nassif and Dr. Terry Dubrow on Monday night's episode of the E! reality series Botched, explaining that she had been living with the unsightly skin graft since she was attacked by a pit bull as a child.

'The skin graft came from my groin, very close to my pubic area. It's genital hair. I've tried everything you can diminish it, but you can't take it away,' she said in her testimonial.

Scroll down for video

Before and after: Crystal, 30, from Jacksonville, Florida, had her hairy skin graft removed from her face on Monday night's episode of Botched

Side effect: Crystal said she was growing 'literal pubic hair' from her face after a plastic surgeon used a skin graft from her groin to patch up her cheek after a dog attack

At her consultation, the mother of one told the doctors that she needed a skin graft after a dog attacked her and bit out a chunk of her right cheek.

'When I was nine years old, my grandfather was holding a dog ... I was actually pretty terrified of the pit bull,' she said. 'All I remember is black.'

Instead of immediately treating her, an emergency room doctor wisely advised her family to take her to see a plastic surgeon.

'Crystal is very lucky that the emergency room physicians didn't try just to stitch up that big gash and opening in her cheek because the ER doctor does not have the same skill set as a plastic surgeon,' Dr. Nassif told the cameras.

'If they did, she would've been like this,' he explained, pulling the skin on his cheek down until the bottom of his eye was visible.

Then and now: Crystal, who was bitten by a pit bull when she was nine years old, lived with the dark, hairy patch on her cheek for 21 years

Hard to handle: Crystal said she plucked the hair on her face, but it was only a temporary fix. She also put lemons on her face to try to make the dark patch lighter

Crystal said the wound was open for a while, noting that the inside of the gash looked like the outside of Freddy Krueger's face.

Her surgeon suggested doing a skin graft taken from the groin, and after the procedure, hair started growing out of the patch.

'So you're getting pubic hair on your face?' Dr. Nassif asked.

'Yes, literal pubic hair,' she replied.

'I don't believe that the doctor mentioned I would grow pubic hair out of my patch,' she told the camera with a laugh. 'I don't remember that.'

Protective mom: Crystal worried the hairy skin graft would cause he six-month-old daughter, Sana, to get teased at school

Trouble: After examining her, Dr. Paul Nassif said the 'good news' was that the nerves in her face were working perfectly, but the 'bad news' was that her skin was 'very tight'

Dr. Dubrow admitted that it was unusual for the doctor to take skin from the groin when he or she could have gotten the graft from a number of hair-free areas, including the patient's back and abdomen.

Crystal said she plucked the hair on her face, but it was only a temporary fix. The patch was also darker than the rest of her skin, which led her to put lemons on her face in an attempt to lighten the area.

'I at first thought it didn't affect me,' she told the doctors. 'Since having my daughter, I really started to get conscious of it.'

Her baby girl, Sana, was only six months old, but she was worried about how her appearance would affect her child in the future.

'After having my daughter, I am very nervous about how other kids would treat her because of how I look. I don't want her to be teased,' she explained.

Process: The doctor believed their best option was to remove the patch of skin, make a pocket along her cheek, and put a tissue expander (pictured)

Yikes: The tissue expander had to be filled with fluid ever few weeks to stretch the skin

The doctors agreed that taking a skin graft from her groin was less than ideal, but they noted that the complicated reconstructive work on her face was 'expertly done.'

Their patient wanted the patch to be made as 'small and minimal as possible,' which wasn't going to be easy.

'Crystal's case is actually deceptively very complicated,' Dr. Dubrow said in his testimonial. 'That skin graft is very close to critical anatomic structures  like the nose, the cheeks, and the eye  that if altered, even a little bit, can change the entire shape of the face and look very deformed.'

After examining her, Dr. Nassif said the 'good news' was that the nerves in her face were working perfectly, but the 'bad news' was that her skin was 'very tight.'

The doctor believed their best option was to remove the patch of skin, make a pocket along her cheek, and put a tissue expander.

Almost over: Crystal was all smiles before going under the knife for the last time

Success: Dr. Nassif was able to remove the dark, hairy patch of skin on Crystal's face and close the gap

Dr. Nassif explained a 'tissue expander is like a big balloon' that is put underneath the skin and filled with fluid every few weeks to make it bigger and stretch the tissue around it.

'That will give us more elasticity of the skin,' he said. 'So when we take out the expander, we can cut out the skin graft and then move that extra tissue into the defect and close it.'

Crystal was told she would have to have the tissue expander in her cheek for six to eight weeks, but that didn't deter her.

'I want it gone,' she said of her hairy skin patch.

A few weeks after the expander was inserted, Dr. Nassif noted that her skin was responding nicely and it would probably only need to be left in for a total of four weeks.

Amazing: Not only was the skin graft gone, but Crystal also had minimal scarring on her cheek

Confident: Crystal met with her aunt Lynette and best friend Dionna to show off her incredible transformation, and they were both impressed by her stunning new look

On the day of Crystal's final surgery, he realizes the expander should have been left in a little bit longer. He had to make an incision around her smile line to get the tissue up and elevated, which left her with a slightly longer scar than he had anticipated.

However, despite the minor setback, the surgery was a success and Crystal looked like a whole new woman.

'Before, I was way too self-conscious,' she admitted. 'Now, I'm no longer worried about Sana having to go through 21 questions about what's on my face. I'm excited. I feel beautiful. It's like a closed chapter.'

Crystal met with her aunt Lynette and best friend Dionna to show off her incredible transformation, and they were both impressed by her stunning new look.

'Thanks to Dr. Nassif, the skin graft is completely gone,' the mom told the cameras. 'So now, my face is finally smooth, symmetrical, and pubic hair-free.'
[January 07, 2020] New Analysis by IFI CLAIMS Provides Insight into the Intangible Assets of the Top U.S. Publicly Traded Companies

IFI CLAIMS Patent Services, provider of the most accessible global patent data repository, today released its annual ranking of companies on the S&P 100 Index that currently hold the most active patent families. To view the global patent rankings of all 100 companies, visit the 2019 IFI S&P100, posted today on the company's website. IFI will also issue its much-anticipated annual rankings of the Top 50 U.S. patent recipients of 2019 along with analysis covering fast growing technologies and U.S. patent trends. In addition IFI will introduce the IFI 250 which showcases the top owners of global patent assets. "Overall, patents continue to rise among the S&P 100, with 8 percent growth across the list and 75 percent of member companies growing heir patent portfolios since our first S&P analysis in May 2019," said Mike Baycroft, CEO of IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. "We see this as an encouraging indicator of vibrancy of some of America's top companies in terms of innovation."



"Examining the patent assets of the S&P 100 gives financial analysts a new tool to gauge the intangible assets of publicly traded companies," continued Baycroft. "Intangible assets are becoming increasingly important to a company's valuation." Patent data is clearly a valuable financial indicator, according to Baycroft. "Many researchers, analysts, and investors are looking for new insights into R&D productivity, technology trends, and clues to IP strategy and competitive landscape within different industries," he added.

Findings include: 36% of the S&P 100 exceeded average portfolio growth from May through December, 2019.

Among companies with over a thousand patent families, Facebook (News - Alert) had the fastest growth from May through December, with a 29% increase in its portfolio.

Capital One Financing had the fastest growing portfolio, seeing 100% growth over the past seven months.

Several pharmaceutical company portfolios shrunk 1-4% during that time period including Pfizer, Merck, Abbvie and Abbott Labs'. However BMS grew by an impressive 29%.

Morgan Stanley showed the largest decline, with its portfolio shrinking by 17%. About IFI CLAIMS Patent Services/Fairview Research IFI CLAIMS Patent Services uses proprietary data architecture to produce the industry's most accurate patent database. The CLAIMS Direct platform allows for the easy integration of applications, other data sets, and analysis software. Headquartered in New Haven, Conn., with a satellite office in Barcelona, Spain, IFI CLAIMS is a division of Fairview Research. For more information, visit www.ificlaims.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005241/en/

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The Shia rebels are talking aggressively, apparently at the urging of their Iranian backers. The reality is that the rebels are in trouble and it is getting worse. They are running short of cash and have been unsuccessful in solving that problem. Their Iranian Quds Force advisers urge them to plunder their occupied territories more thoroughly. But that has long-term effects the Shia tribes would rather avoid. Years of civil war have created active opposition to the rebels in their home province of Saada up on the Saudi border. The Saudis have long supported the Sunni tribes up there and, for the last few years, that has included weapons and other military aid. The Sunni tribes are not eager to escalate the fighting because Shia retaliation is up close and personal for the families of Sunni tribesmen. So the violence tends to be low key with no one taking credit for many attacks. The rebels are short of manpower and dont want to try and crush the rebellious Sunni tribes because that would require more manpower on a permanent basis as an occupation force. The rebels dont want to publicize these tribal warfare woes, but they are not a secret and are getting worse.

Further south the rebels are still at war with government forces despite several ceasefire agreements. The front lines dont move much and when they do it is usually the rebels pulling back to conserve dwindling manpower and other resources.

There has been a major reduction in fighting since October 2019 as both sides talk about the possibility of a ceasefire and peace deal. No real progress there. Meeting are held regularly about a ship offshore that the UN uses as a base. It is safer than anywhere in Yemen and close enough for negotiators from both sides to reach. Meanwhile the Shia rebels continue threatening to attack Red Sea shipping. This is part of an Iranian effort to retaliate for economic sanctions on Iran. While coalition airstrikes are down about 80 percent since October, this can change quickly if there are more attacks on Red Sea shipping.

Since Iranian UAVs attacked Saudi oil facilities in September 2019, the Saudis have sought to negotiate some kind of long-term ceasefire in Yemen. Since they are dealing with Iran they are wary of how such an agreement is worded and implemented. This is because Iranian support has enabled the Shia rebels to survive four years of Arab coalition efforts to defeat them and end the Shia rebellion. UN pressure to make peace ignored the fact that restoring Shia autonomy (lost in the 1960s) in the north would make it possible for Iran to continue supplying the Shia tribes with weapons that can be used to attack Saudi Arabia or, according to Israeli leaders, Israel. The rebels still control a hundred kilometers of Red Sea coast and are now using that to threaten all shipping passing by headed for Saudi, Egyptian, Jordanian and Israeli ports as well as the Suez Canal. Traffic going south is headed for the Gulf of Aden and anywhere in the world. The Saudis do not trust Iran and will not accept Iranian weapons and advisors on their southwestern border as well as the Red Sea coast. The Red Sea commercial traffic moves over a billion dollars worth of raw materials and finished goods each month. This traffic is of vital economic importance to the Arab Gulf states, Israel, Egypt and Jordan. With access to the Red Sea coast, Iran can threaten all of it and let the Shia rebels take the credit (and blame).

The rebels currently provide Iran with access to the Saudi border and for the Saudis that is unacceptable, given the fact that the Iranians are openly calling for the overthrow of the Saudi government, and Iran taking over as the protector of the two Most Holy Islamic cities of Mecca and Medina. The Saudis suddenly feel more sympathy for Israel and the years of Iran-financed violence on Israels southern border where Gaza-based Hamas exists mainly to try and destroy Israel.

January 3, 2020: In the north (Sanaa, Amran and Amanat al Assima provinces), Shia rebels conducted dozens of raids to kidnap tribal leaders who had become uncooperative. Kidnapping and holding tribal leaders until those tribes agree to cooperate is a short-term solution. Those agreements usually dont last long and the rebels have to kidnap tribal leaders again. These operations risk turning bloody which, in turn, can lead to tribes openly declaring war on the rebels. The tribes would prefer to keep their resistance low key because the rebels often control the flow of foreign aid to the tribes and that is also cut in an effort to compel cooperation. The tribal people in these provinces have enough problems just getting by without the additional problems of being actively involved with the war between the rebels and the government. Nevertheless the tribes are more hostile towards the rebels than anyone else. There are several Sunni tribes in the Shia majority north and some of these tribes have been at war with Shia neighbors long before the current rebellion went nation-wide in 2013.

January 2, 2020: In Iraq, American UAVs used missiles to kill Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, the long-time commander of the IRGC Quds Force. Also killed were nine Iraqi and Iranian associates of Soleimani. This included the head of the Iraqi Kataeb Hezbollah which is trying to emulate the older Lebanese Hezbollah. It was later revealed that American intelligence indicated that Soleimani had ordered preparations for major attacks on American targets. The Shia rebels of Yemen expressed anger at the death 0f Soleimani and announced they would take part in retaliation against the Americans. Privately the Shia rebels were demoralized by the loss of Soleimani, who was a major proponent of more Iranian support for them. With Soleimani gone the rebels have one less ally in the Iranian leadership. In addition, encouraging the U.S. to attack them does not appeal to the Shia rebels. This does not rule out some kind of attack by more radical rebel factions who really, really miss their man Soleimani.

January 1, 2020: As a peace gesture the Shia rebels released six Saudis prisoners. This deal was brokered by the UN.

December 31, 2019: The UN has resumed grain milling operations outside the port of Hodeida. The milling was halted on December 26th because the rebels had resumed firing on the grain storage and milling operation. The rebels do this to gain concessions from the UN or government forces. The storage capacity silos hold over 50,000 tons of grain that arrives by ship and is then milled to produce flour for making bread that keeps millions of impoverished Yemenis alive. While the silos are controlled by government forces the nearby Shia rebels can fire on the silos/milling operation or nearby roads into the area. Either tactic makes it impossible to move the grain out to starving Yemeni civilians. The Shia rebels had, since September 2018, frequently blocked access to the grain. If left alone the grain/milling operation can feed nearly four million people for a month.

December 30, 2019: In the northwest (Hudaydah province), Shia rebels shot down a Saudi recon UAV. Photos of the wreckage showed it was a Turkish Karayel UAV, which until now was believed only used by the Turkish military. Karayel is a half-ton UAV with a max endurance of 20 hours and a controlled flight range of 200 kilometers. Preprogrammed flights can go much farther. Karayel can fly high enough (6,500 meters/20,000 feet) to avoid most anti-aircraft weapons but may have been flying lower to obtain more detailed video of what as below. Or it may have had equipment problems. Whatever the case the Saudis had at least one of them, which is now lost. Karayel can also carry weapons, as in either Turkish made laser-guided missiles (similar to Hellfire) or a GPS guided bomb. Two of these weapons can be carried and the Turks have been using this UAV for several years now.

December 29, 2019: In the south (Dhalea province), the Shia rebels fired a missile at a graduation ceremony held by a pro-government militia for men who completed military training. The explosion killed seven and wounded many more. The Shia rebels have attacked similar ceremonies in the past, often timing the attack to strike while the ceremony was still underway. In this case, the ceremony had just ended, otherwise the casualties would have been higher.

The Shia rebels announced that they had selected six targets in Saudi Arabia and three in UAE that will be attacked by rebel cruise missiles and long-range UAVs. What this really means that those targets closer to Iran than northwest Yemen (and the Saudi border) will probably be attacked by cruise missiles and armed UAVs launched from Iran. The Shia rebels and Iran will insist these unmanned aircraft actually came from Yemen. Since such an attack in September on Saudi oil facilities, the Saudis have been more willing to try and negotiate a peace deal. That has not been going well and more attacks on targets deep inside Saudi Arabia will not help.

Earlier the Shia rebels also threatened to use their Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles against Israel. An attack on Israel is recognized as unlikely, simply because the rebels dont have any weapons that can reach that far. Worse, even if an unsuccessful attempt were made he Israelis would retaliate and that is something the rebels want no part of.

December 26, 2019: Shia rebel leaders met with the Iranian foreign minister in Oman to discuss the future of Iranian support for the Shia rebels. Iran continues to suffer economically from sanctions and has had to cut support for overseas operations (in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq and Yemen). While Gaza and Yemen are relatively low-cost for Iran Yemen is considered particularly important because it puts an Iranian ally on the Saudi border and able to launch attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE whenever Iran needs it. Right now the radicals (IRGC leaders) in Iran are pushing for more violence against Gulf Arabs and American forces in Iraq. Attacks on Israel are much more difficult so IRGC wants to concentrate on the Americans and Arab states that oppose Iran. A growing number of Shia rebel leaders are reluctant to go along with what Quds Force (the IRGC dirty deeds department) is demanding. Being on the Saudi border makes the Shia rebel home province vulnerable to Saudi attack and a growing number of Saudis support a major escalation involving more air and ground attacks on Shia rebels just across the border.

December 23, 2019: Most of the foreign aid groups in Yemen halted their operations because of continued Shia rebel attacks on some relief operations. Over the weekend there were attacks that wounded relief workers and damaged their equipment and facilities. Such violence against relief operations, especially the delivery of food and other essential supplies, has been a constant problem with the rebels. What is going on here is typical of many conflict zones where one side or the other tries to take control of aid distribution to further their own goals. This usually means stealing some of the aid to support continued violence and to block aid to populations who do not support them. This sort of thing is worst in Yemen and nearby Somalia. The situation is particularly critical in Yemen, which is considered the largest (in terms of needy people) disaster relief situation in the world but is chronically short of money. Thats because donor nations favor situations where their aid money will do the most good rather than areas were much of the aid money supports the people causing the chaos.

December 19, 2019: In Saudi Arabia, a local man admitted that he had attacked people at a public event on November 11th on orders from AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) in Yemen. This knife attack left three people wounded and the attacker under arrest for what he described as a protest against a public performance of music. This used to be illegal in Saudi Arabia but younger leaders are taking over and easing a lot of the lifestyle restrictions that have been in force for decades. The attacker was a Yemeni living legally in Saudi Arabia and police eventually connected him with AQAP and arrested an associate in Saudi Arabia. By the end of the month, the attacker had been sentenced to death and his associate to twelve years in prison. Most of the remaining AQAP personnel are in central Yemen ( Baida province) and to the east. Anywhere an Islamic terrorist can find a hospitable tribe, they can usually arrange refuge . AQAP has few active members left in Yemen and the only remaining local support is from some separatist Sunni tribes in the south and east. In the south (Shabwa province) Yemeni special operation troops have been finding and raiding the few remaining rural AQAP hideouts there. Since 2017 AQAP has been under heavy attack by the Americans and the Arab coalition and the Islamic terrorists have responded by shifting more of their attacks to the government and Arab coalition forces.

December 8, 2019: Sudan announced its recall of all of its soldiers from the war in Yemen. At one time 15,000 Sudanese soldiers served with the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. The contingent has already been reduced to 5,000 and these will soon be withdrawn. Sudan now believes that the Yemen conflict has no military solution.

November 29, 2019: Yemen continues to be one of the most violent areas in the world. This is according to the GTI (Global Terrorism Index), which counts all forms of terrorism. Afghanistan and Iraq have usually been competing for first and second place while the rest of the top ten fluctuates. The rest of the top ten is currently Syria, Pakistan, Somalia, India, Yemen, Philippines, and Congo. India, Philippines, Yemen and Congo all have Islamic terrorism accounting for a minority of the deaths. In the last few years, the deaths that are counted for the GTI have declined considerably and that decline continues.

November 27, 2019: An American destroyer halted and searched a dhow in the Indian Ocean (near Oman and Iran) because an ID check had shown it to be stateless. That indicated smuggling and a search of the cargo revealed a large number of key components for Iranian cruise missiles (both land-attack and anti-ship) as well as anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles. The cargo was apparently headed for Yemen, where final delivery would probably be made by fishing boats carrying cargoes of weapons rather than recently caught fish. There are so many of these fishing boats off the Red Sea coast of Yemen that not all can be searched and the smuggler boats seek to appear less suspicious than the actual fishing boats. Iran pays what it takes to get this smuggling done and there are plenty of skilled smugglers in Yemen looking for work, no questions asked. Such cargoes used to be sent to Gaza on a regular basis but the Israeli-Egyptian blockade is tighter than ever and it is difficult to even get individuals or suitcases of cash into Gaza.
Danish brand SKAGEN has announced its next smartwatch, the Falster 3, during CES 2020.

The Falster 3 will follow in the footsteps of previous devices in the series and come with Wear OS software. Itll also be releasing today and will be available to purchase in select markets, the US included.

SKAGEN hasnt officially said which retail outlets will carry the device. Chances are though that retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and others that already sell smartwatches will offer it.

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The SKAGEN Falster 3 will retail for $295

If youre wondering how much the Falster 3 will cost, it wont be far off from the trend of similar wearables. Most smartwatches targeted at the majority of consumers are around the $300 mark.

SKAGEN is pricing the watch to be right at that point as $295 will be the official cost. That is of course US pricing, and other regions where the watch launches could see a different price tag. More than likely though itll be at that equivalent.

$295 also puts the watch right around the same cost as devices like the PUMA Smartwatch and the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. Which retail for $275 and $299 respectively.

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Powered by Snapdragon Wear 3100 with support for interchangeable straps

As with other current Wear OS smartwatches, the Falster 3 is powered by the Snapdragon Wear 3100 platform.

It also comes with support for interchangeable straps so you can pick one that fits your style. SKAGEN will offer some options officially, but you could easily pick up a strap from just about anywhere and use it as long as its the right size.

The watch itself will come in four different styles, including different colored watch cases, leather and metal straps, and a limited edition model.

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The limited edition model in particular will be designed in partnership with the X by KYGO brand. SKAGEN isnt releasing this version of the watch until sometime in early Spring, and its yet to mention a price.

Presumably itll be a little bit more than the standard styles thanks to the fashion brand partnership. Though its also possible that it could retail for the same $295 price as the others.

Rounding out the specs on this watch are 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage which is double that of the Falster 2, and things like Google Pay support and function-based dials.

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The watch also comes in a 42mm case, and has a speaker so it can be used for things like music playback, phone calls, and Google Assistant interaction.
People who run their own businesses like a florist or plumber would benefit from more effective forms of support in Northern Ireland

A Christmas break at the end of a long year and our social conditioning to take stock and make changes at the start of a new year means January is the most popular month for job searching and job changing.

While many will choose to make a switch from one employer to another, we have traditionally been reluctant to consider making the jump into self-employment.

A dynamic entrepreneurial economy is positively related to innovation, productivity and job creation - all the things Northern Ireland craves.

Towards the end of the year, two new reports on our local entrepreneurs were released by the Department for the Economy which provide a fascinating insight into our levels of entrepreneurship and their performance.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) has been measuring entrepreneurial activity of working age adults for over 20 years.

GEM measures entrepreneurial activity from intention to start right through to exiting either through a business sale or shut down.

The new report for Northern Ireland shows that the proportion of our population describing themselves as "early stage entrepreneurs" - those in the process of starting a business or running one for less than three-and-a-half years - is 6.5% of the working-age population, or one in every 15 adults.

Although this rate lags behind the UK rate as a whole (8.5%), it has been on an upward trend over the past 15 years.

In seeking to understand why people here are motivated to become entrepreneurs, the findings from the GEM report suggest that opportunity (pull factors) are far outweighing necessity (push factors such as losing a job).

That finding would be consistent with the strength of the labour market in recent years, which has added tens of thousands of jobs since the depths of the recession.

The age profiles of people engaged in entrepreneurial activity also throws up some interesting insight.

A significantly higher share of those aged 25-34 years old are engaged in early stage entrepreneurship than those aged 35 and over.

For people not engaged in entrepreneurship, Northern Ireland lags significantly behind the rest of the UK in recognising opportunities for start-up.

Around seven in 10 non-entrepreneurs don't see a good opportunity for starting a business.

Further, for those that do see an good opportunity, about half are put off by a fear of failure.

How our entrepreneurs fare was the subject of the second of the two new entrepreneurship reports that were released just before Christmas.

This report, from the Enterprise Research Centre and Queen's University, provides insight into a range of growth metrics for start-ups and existing companies.

We already know that Northern Ireland lags behind the rest of the UK in start-up rates but what about the growth trends of those that do start?

A key indicator of this performance is the proportion of new firms that go on and generate at least 1m in revenues after three years.

The proportion of new firms that achieve this is very small (2% in the UK), but Northern Ireland is ahead of the national average, with 2.7% of firms achieving 1m turnover after three years.

Sample sizes don't permit a council-level analysis but 'north of Northern Ireland' (broadly consisting of Causeway Coast and Glens and Derry City and Strabane District Council) comes out top of the UK at 4.6% of firms.

Reaching 1m turnover is no mean feat and making the next leap from there is even more difficult. Across the UK, 7.4% of firms with turnover of 1m-2m per annum in 2015 grew to at least 3m in 2018.

In Northern Ireland, the figure is 6.7%. Understanding these differences is important if we want to change them.

It was therefore encouraging to see Enterprise Northern Ireland launch their enterprise barometer recently.

Their survey of 1,250 businesses provides rich insight into the attitudes and ambitions of our small, micro and sole-proprietor businesses.

This survey revealed that 51% of businesses are growing but one in 20 are in difficulty.

Operating costs, property costs and wage pressures were cited as the top three reasons for those businesses that cited issues with profitability.

On a positive note, just over three-quarters of surveyed businesses outlined an ambition to attract more clients and customers in the year ahead.

Supporting our business base to achieve these ambitions is a crucial element of government policy.

The business support world remains as confusing as ever.

More than half of the respondents to Enterprise NI's survey noted a lack of clarity around where to go for business support and yet, at the last count, there are around 2,000 business support programmes which are being delivered by hundreds of providers.

Much of this is one-off transactional type support and doesn't appear to be making any significant impact on performance.

There is a growing case being made that more effective support will be delivered by moving away from this transactional approach and moving to a relational approach with trusted advisors and mentors that can guide business growth and act as a critical friend.

Key areas where support is required include in digital marketing, accessing funding and in sales and export development.

Supporting our existing cohort of businesses to achieve their ambitions might just show a new generation of would-be entrepreneurs that it is a rewarding career path.

In next week's Economy Watch, we hear from EY chief economist Neil Gibson
The Ghana Association of Pittsburgh held its Annual Dinner Dance and Fundraising at the Best Western Hotel in Monroeville, a suburb of Pennsylvania.

The event started with the Association recognizing and honouring the Mayor of Pittsburgh, Bill Peduto and the Allegheny County Executive, Rich Fitzgerald for their selfless dedication to diversity and inclusiveness to immigrants and minority communities in the Pittsburgh area.

The Special Guest, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to the United States of America, His Excellency Dr. Barfour Adjei-Barwuah presented the awards to the representatives of the two men.

The Ambassador appealed to the Ghanaian Community in the United States of America to find a way to support their country.

Steve Green, an American Pediatrician based in Pittsburgh who for the past 30 years has been a friend to Ghana highlighted on some of what he has done for the country under the tutelage of his Hope for Ghana projects.

His Hope for Ghana has built schools, brought clean water to some villages in Ghana. Read more about his projects via http://hopeforghana.com/mission/

The Ghana Association of Pittsburgh is a non-profit Association and operates exclusively for educational and charitable purposes. The Association is to foster positive social and professional relationships among Ghanaians and also educate and share Ghanaian culture with interested parties in Greater Pittsburgh.

Watch highlights of the event captured by Ghana Gist TV.

Ghana Association of Pittsburgh 2019 Dinner Dance & Fundraising

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igf-5dA8aeY

Find a way to support your country - Ambassador Adjei-Barwuah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc9tTenfuDE

Sankofa Village for the Arts performing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-SpRMQhYeM

Meet Steve Greene, the American doing wonders for Ghana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9LTAUo3ohM

Ghana Ambassador to United States of America show off dancing skills

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oac1kAdw1E

Ghana Association of Pittsburgh honors Allegheny County Executive, Rich Fitzgerald

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMLcEpZFe8A

Ghana Association of Pittsburgh honors Mayor of Pittsburgh, Bill Peduto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=criXDoqQbpA
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 03:51:27|Editor: ZX

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. Senate panel on Tuesday advanced a bill to implement a new North American trade deal known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), moving it one step closer to ratification in the United States.

The Senate Finance Committee approved the USMCA Implementation Act by a vote of 25-3, sending it to the Senate floor for a full vote.

"USMCA will bring much needed certainty, and real benefits to America's farmers, workers, and businesses," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said during the markup of the legislation, adding that the trade deal has the support of hundreds of organizations representing a wide range of the economy.

"The bill before us today has something in it for everyone, and it's not often that we can say that about an implementing bill," he said.

The U.S. House of Representatives last month overwhelmingly approved the USMCA after months of negotiation with the Trump administration over issues including labor and environmental enforcement.

It's not yet clear when the full Senate will have a vote to ratify the USMCA to replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had signaled that the trade deal could be voted on after the Senate concludes its impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump.

While the Trump administration has touted the USMCA as pro-growth, an analysis published by the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) last month showed that the deal is "a net negative" for all three economies.

The USMCA modernizes trading rules and strengthens enforcement of labor and environmental rights, but its restrictions on auto trade and investment and on auto production "will hurt U.S. industry," said PIIE trade economists Mary Lovely and Jeffrey Schott, authors of the analysis.

"The Trump administration's stated goal was to ensure that more of the vehicles will be produced in North America. But the outcome will be just the opposite," the economists said.
Australia's east and south coasts have been severely affected by wildfires which resulted in residents of the surrounding area to flee. Some even have tragically lost their lives.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took to Instagram to encourage people to donate to those who have been affected by the Australian wildfire.

They called donations to the NSW Rural Fire Service, Australian Red Cross, Country Fire Authority, Victorian Bushfire Relief, as well as action to address the "global environmental crisis," which has been described as "ecocide," but "there's always a way to help."

The couple also shared several tragic images that included Australian residents sheltering at a smoke-filled beach, a huge smoke cloud drowning bushland, and an RFS volunteer cradling a koala between the blazes.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those across Australia who are continuing to face the devastating fires that have been raging for months."

Even though they are currently spending a six-week Christmas break in Canada, they broke their holiday silence to comment on the fires, which torched more than 12 million acres of land.

"From areas, we connected to such as the communities and people we visited in South Wales in 2018, to the fires in California and parts of Africa, and we are struck by the increasingly overlapping presence of these environmental disasters, including, of course, the destruction of the Amazon which continues."

Their post follows a statement released by the Queen on Saturday.

The Royal Family has shared their devastation over Australia's fire tragedy, with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also sharing messages of encouragement on their respective social media.

On Twitter, the Queen posted a message writing, "I have been deeply saddened to hear of the continued bushfires and their devastating impact across many parts of Australia. My thanks go out to the emergency services, and those who put their own lives in danger to help communities in need."

She continued, "Prince Philip and I send our thoughts and prayers to all Australians at this difficult time."

Her grandchild, Prince William, and Kate Middleton also shared their messages on Instagram with a photo of the bushfires and a fleeing kangaroo.

The Duke and Duchess said, "We continue to be shocked and deeply saddened to hear about the fires that are destroying homes, livelihoods, and wildlife across much of Australia. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the people and communities who are affected by the devastating event."

They furthermore added, "We send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have tragically lost their lives and the brave firefighters who continue to risk their own lives to save the lives of others."

According to CBS, more than half a billion wild animals have died in flames, and the number is expected to "exponentially increase."

Local authorities urged more than 100,000 people in the southeastern part of Australia to evacuate while a state of emergency has been declared.

Temperatures have climbed past 48 degrees Celcius, and strong 50 mph winds are fanning the flames as firefighters battle to save lives and property.

It has killed over 20 people and destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and continues to threaten to wipe out the entire species.

READ MORE: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle TRYING HARD To Be a 'Cool' Power Couple?
Agility Robotics is putting Digit  a two-legged robot that can lift 40-pound packages  on the market. And Ford Motor is the first customer.

Ford, which has been involved in a research project with the robotics startup since last year, said Sunday night ahead of CES 2020 in Las Vegas that it will receive the first two robots off the production line. Ford has been testing how Digit and self-driving vehicles might work together to solve what CTO Ken Washington has called the last-50-feet problem, those final steps from the curb to the door.

Neither company is discussing what Digit costs.

Ford Agility Robotics

Ford is partnering with startup Agility Robotics to research and test the use of is bipedal Digit robot

Making Digit available for sale is a milestone for Agility, which spun out of Oregon State University's Dynamic Robotics Laboratory in late 2015 with an aim to commercialize research on bipedal locomotion. The company introduced its ostrich-inspired Cassie robot in 2017 as a bipedal research platform. Digit, which added an upper torso, arms, sensors and additional computing power to the Cassie design, was introduced in spring 2019. Since then, Agility has refined the design, including more advanced feet that allow Digit to balance on one foot or carefully navigate obstacles, and new sensors to perceive and map the world for robot navigation.

"As online retailing continues growing, we believe robots will help our commercial customers build stronger businesses by making deliveries more efficient and affordable for all of us," Washington said in a statement. "We learned a lot this year working with Agility, now we can accelerate our exploratory work with commercial Digit robots."

While Ford is looking at how Digit can help support self-driving cars deliver packages to people, the robot has other applications as well, such as inside warehouses, the company said.
Under fire for failing to prevent an attack on students and teachers of the institution he heads, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar called for a fresh beginning on Tuesday and urged students to return to the campus.

Breaking his silence on the attack by masked assailants that injured 34 people on Sunday and triggered protests across 30 cities, Kumar said his heart went out to all injured students.

The incident (violence) is unfortunate. I would like to tell students that JNU campus is a secure place, he said in a statement that came after two days of nationwide protests.

I urge students to come back to the campus. Let us put the past behind...we cannot discontinue the academic activities because of one isolated incident, he said.

Kumar, who is battling nationwide criticism and calls for his removal from students and teachers for allegedly doing little to stop goons from barging into the campus and beating up people with sticks, rods and hammers on Sunday, has not met the injured students or faculty yet.

But the vice-chancellor defended himself. Appropriate help is always provided. Our office is always open. Those who need help can approach us, he added. When asked about calls for his removal, he said,They have the freedom to criticise.

A large section of students, including the Left-controlled students union, and many professors blame the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for the violence, and allege that the JNU administration was complicit in the attack.

The student wing of the RSS has denied all charges and blamed Left-leaning students instead. Over the past two days, the administration under Kumar has also sought to blame left-leaning students and the JNUSU.

Kumar has come under criticism for not controlling the violence or calling the police, which waited at the gates of the university as a rampaging mob beat up people and vandalised property.

But on Tuesday, he offered an explanation, telling reporters that the campus has its own security. If there is a law-and-order situation we do not rush to the police immediately. We see if our security can handle it. The campus has its own security. On Sunday, when we saw that there is a possibility of aggressive behaviour among students, we informed the police, he said.

Kumar said that the administration has also formed a security committee and promised action against those found guilty.

The students opposing the registration process had attacked me also on December 14 and damaged the V-C office. It is some of those students who had come with masked faces and damaged the data centre last week. Let the police investigate and let the facts come forward, he said.

Kumars statement didnt impress the JNUSU, which reiterated its demand for his removal. It said the filing of FIRs against injured students, including union president Aishe Ghosh who suffered head injuries, showed the administration was hand-in-glove with attackers.

We have been peacefully protesting against the fee hike. None of the protesters wore mask or attacked the centre for communication and information services, said JNUSU vice-president Saket Moon.

Kumar said the administration was yet to ascertain if outsiders were involved. We should not make any conclusive statement on this. Let police find out if they were from outside or inside, he said.

When asked if the university would help bear financial costs of those injured, the V-C said, The students were taken to AIIMS. We provide free medicines at the health centre. Any students requiring any medical help will be provided there.

But many students said the facility was inadequate. Surya Prakash, 25, a visually challenged student who was beaten up in his room in Sabarmati Hostel, said, When I went to the health centre and asked for Moov, they didnt even have that. The facilities were not adequate.

Kumar said that the administration had submitted a detailed report with the ministry of human resource development. The report has factual accounts of whatever came in our knowledge through our security officials, he said.
Nearly 48 hours after violence broke out at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi, the police are yet to make any arrests in the case.

Nearly 48 hours after attacks on students was reported at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, the Delhi Police are yet to make any arrests in the case. Two FIRs have been filed against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh and 19 other students affiliated to the Left outfits, and several reports indicated that the FIRs were filed at the same time that assailants were running amok inside the campus. In fact, Ghosh was among the students who were injured in the incident.

On the other hand, no ABVP student has been booked despite there being evidence that the organisation was at least partly involved in the violence. In fact, an ABVP member Anima Sonkar admitted on live television that two men purportedly seen carrying rods on video during the attack on JNU were associated with the organisation. Sonkar made this statement during a debate on Times Now.

Sonkar claimed that residents of the Brahmaputra hostel were asked to be armed for "self-defence" when they stepped out of the hostel. Later, she said, The entire Brahmaputra Hostel was asked to be armed. Not ABVP, everyone was asked.

Further, a Firstpost report quoted students present on campus that the attack was coordinated on WhatsApp groups, many of them tied to the ABVP.

Hindu Raksha Dal, a far-Right group, has claimed responsibility for the brutal assault on teachers and students. In a video posted on Twitter, the outfits leader Bhupendra Tomar alias Pinky Chaudhary said Hindu Raksha Dal workers barged into the JNU campus on Sunday night as "anti-national and anti-Hindu activities" were being carried out there. While no FIR has been filed yet against the outfit, government sources told ANI that the claims made by Chaudhary are being investigated.

Aishe Ghosh, along with 35 others, was hospitalised due to head injuries that she sustained during the violence on Sunday evening.

According to NDTV, while one FIR against Ghosh was filed for vandalising the university server room, another was filed for attacking security guards.

Follow LIVE updates on JNU violence here

On the other hand, Delhi Police's reaction to protests held against attack on Jamia Milia Islamia students at Delhi's Daryaganj was in sharp contrast to its recent conduct. In fact the very next morning, the police said that it had arrested 15 people and charged them with rioting and using force to deter policemen from doing their duty. Further, the police had detained 40 people  including at least eight minors  on the night that the violence took place. The minor detainees were released the next morning.

Further, according to the police's own statement, it had used water cannons to quell protests in Daryaganj, whereas there is no evidence that the police took any such action in the JNU violence on Sunday.

Similarly, at Jamia Milia Islamia on 15 December, the police had baton-charged students when they were trying to overstep and push against barricades. As reported by Firstpost at that time, the baton-charge didn't stop in the streets, but the police personnel chased the students inside the campus and thrashed them. In response to the attack, few students resorted to stone-pelting. Following this, the police fired tear gas shells inside the campus.

Two days after the incident, the police had arrested ten people in the case, but said that none of them were students.
Such a Fun Age

By Kiley Reid

Putnam. $26. 310 pp.

---

Many novels about race in America take a toll on a reader. That doesn't mean readers shouldn't endure that toll, especially privileged white readers, but sometimes that endurance can become performative. One can imagine Alix Chamberlain, the wealthy white character in Kiley Reid's debut novel "Such a Fun Age," sitting down with Colson Whitehead's "The Nickel Boys," for example, determined to "understand."

Alix is a blogger and influencer whose epistolary campaign titled "LetHer Speak" has landed her a book deal. "On thick, textured stationery and with dreamy cursive handwriting, Alix asked nicely for the things she wanted, and it became a rare occurrence when she didn't receive them," the narrator explains. But, despite appearances, Alix's life is not entirely perfect. For starters, she hates living in Philadelphia. Her family has moved there for husband Peter's job as a TV newscaster, so Alix must find a way to make a life for herself and their two little girls, toddler Briar and baby Catherine. Her first step: finding a babysitter.

Enter Emira Tucker, currently experiencing a quarter-life crisis. A college graduate, African American Emira has a group of best friends who have begun their journeys toward career satisfaction and success. Meanwhile, Emira will soon lose access to her parents' health insurance and has no idea what she wants to do with her life. A part-time babysitting gig will at least help her pay the rent.

"Sometimes, when she was particularly broke, Emira convinced herself that if she had a real job, a nine-to-five position with benefits and decent pay, then the rest of her life would start to resemble adulthood as well," Reid writes. "She'd do things like make her bed in the morning, and she'd learn to start liking coffee."

From this simple premise Reid constructs a plot so beautifully intricate and real and fascinating that readers will forget it's also full of tough questions about race, class and identity. While Alix transfixes an auditorium of her peers with her decision to nurse her baby onstage, Emira has to cope with a security guard who accuses her of kidnapping Briar. The videotaped fallout from that incident will eventually ignite a powder keg that changes both women's lives. Toggling between the perspectives of Emira and Alix is like marrying two very different novels, yet Reid seamlessly pulls off the union.

Meanwhile, she consistently challenges readers' expectations. Emira and Alix, along with their friends (there's a particularly well-drawn star turn by Peter's slightly tacky but supremely kind co-anchor) must live with the results of their actions. For Alix, that means facing past misdeeds, but it also means facing the future consequences of her parenting choices. Emira does not function as some kind of tool to point Alix toward a path of racial equality. Instead, Emira has her own evolving existential issues that she weathers while bearing witness to the deeper, scarier side of her employer's need for child care - one that challenges notions about why we hire others to serve us.

With this entertaining novel, Reid subverts our notions of what it means to write about race and class in America, not to mention what it means to write about love. In short, it's a great way to kick off 2020.

---

Patrick is the editor, most recently, of "The Books That Changed My Life: Reflections by 100 Authors, Actors, Musicians and Other Remarkable People."
Its easier to appreciate snowflakes when you dont have a shovel in your hand, says Kenneth G. Libbrecht, a professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., who studies snowflake morphology by growing ice crystals in his laboratory. Go out in the snow with dark clothing on and let a few flakes fall on your coat. Peer at them through a magnifying glass. Dont assume youll see the archetypal, branching-star type called stellar dendrites, which require temperatures around minus 15 degrees Celsius. To see those in the wild, Libbrecht travels to a small town in northeastern Ontario. The people there think Im crazy, he says.

A snowflake takes shape when swirling molecules of vaporized water freeze into symmetrical, six-sided crystals, a process that typically takes 30 minutes. Its exact form will depend on the humidity and temperature during its fall. Libbrecht categorizes snowflakes into 35 basic types. His favorites, capped columns, look like empty thread spools. For prime snowflake conditions, go out on a cold, windless night with low-slung clouds. Libbrechts snowflake hot spots include Fairbanks, Alaska, and Hokkaido, Japan. Utah and Vermont get good crystals, but most states are too warm. The snow just glops together, he says.

Those who grew up in cold climates tend to be the ones who most admire his snow-crystal chambers. You get a visitor from Canada, and theyre like, Wow,  he says. For much of his career, Libbrecht, who is from North Dakota, focused on other things, like gravitational waves. But as he got older, he let the other stuff go. His singular focus has led to some unlikely opportunities, like when he was the snowflake consultant for Disneys Frozen.

Years ago, Libbrecht set up a Google news alert for the word snowflake, which generated daily updates about ice crystals and an occasional news item about the town of Snowflake, Ariz. More recently it has generated a litany of derogatory slurs and alt-right political rants, which saddens and perplexes him. I look forward to the day when a snowflake can be a snowflake again, he says.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), along with Southwest Airlines, is coming in for some Department of Transportation (DOT) criticism for how it handled safety, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The Journal says it has reviewed a draft of the report scheduled to be released in early February. The draft report allegedly claims that the airline failed to prioritize safety and that the FAA failed to hold it accountable.

According to the draft, Southwest transported passengers on jets with unconfirmed maintenance records during a two year period. As an example, the report documents an incident in which a Southwest jet smashed the tips of both wings while repeatedly trying to land during gale force winds.

The Journal claims the report also calls the FAAs oversight of the airline lax, ineffective and inconsistent. The report suggests Southwest was never subject to FAA enforcement actions in relation to safety issues, and it goes so far as to suggest the FAAs stance toward Southwest served to justify continued noncompliance with safety regulations.

The Inspector Generals investigation reportedly found that the FAA allowed Southwest to fly aircraft with unresolved safety concerns. Further, the audit found that a majority of the FAA employees it interviewed about the matter raised concerns about the culture at Southwest.

Engine explosion

U.S.-based airlines have been remarkably safe during the last 20 years, largely due to better training, better equipment, and enhanced safety policies.

Fatal accidents have been rare, but one of the most recent involved Southwest. The accident occurred when an engine exploded and pieces of metal broke a window. The passenger sitting next to the window was killed when the depressurization of the cabin sucked her halfway out of the aircraft.

The resulting investigation focused on the engines metal fatigue, and Southwest announced an acceleration of its program to inspect CFM56-7B engines used on its Boeing 737 aircraft.

The Journal report says that an 18-month government investigation concluded that the FAA management in the Dallas office, where Southwest is based, allowed the airline to fly planes with unresolved safety concerns.

Government officials have declined to comment, but Southwest, which has reportedly reviewed the draft, took issue with its findings. A spokeswoman told The Journal that the company strongly disagrees with unsubstantiated references to Southwests safety culture.
Australia is burning. Bush fires are a regular occurrence around this time of year in the country, but this years spate of flames has been historically bad; the 14.7 million acres CNN reports to have been destroyed thus far makes this one of the worst years in decades. The majority of that damage, 8.9 million acres, has taken place in the countrys most populated state of New South Wales, where nearly 1,300 homes have been destroyed and over 400 more damaged. As of the latest reporting, 24 individuals have died in the fires as well as a third of the koala population in NSW is believed to have perished. More than half a billion animals have died.

Things are bad, and with the hottest months of January and February still ahead, the worst may be yet to come. And as so often happens in times of crisis, coffee companies are stepping up to help raise funds for the relief efforts.

It all began locally with Everyday Coffee, who announced on Christmas Eve they had raised $1,953 to be split between Refugee Legal and the NSW Rural Fire Service. Last week, Market Lane, a Melbourne roaster who announced they would be donating 100% of filter coffee sales from their six cafes to the Red Crosss Brush Fire Relief Fund. In total they were able to contribute $2,801 from the one-day fundraising event. Inspired by the work of Market Lane, Seven Seeds donated 100% of their weekend filter sales from their Melbourne cafe to the Red Cross, totaling $2,527. And on Sunday, St. Ali announced they would be donating $1 to the Red Cross for every coffee sold across all venues for the entire week. Additional fundraising cafes including Paramount Coffee Project, Reuben Hills, Assembly Coffee, All Are Welcome, and many more. This is just coffeea host of hospitality and food and beverage companies have joined in the effort, with a growing list here via Broadsheet.

The call to action has spread international as well. Tokyos Switch Coffee will be donating 100% of filter coffee sales at their two cafes over the forthcoming weekend to the relief efforts. Weta Coffee in Fiji has announced they will be donating 100% of yesterdays coffee proceeds to helping the firefighting efforts. And Vigilante Coffee in Maryland have joined in the efforts.

Though many of these efforts have already passed, the wild fires rage on and theres still much work to be done. If youre a cafe owner anywhere in the world, consider following the lead of these coffee companies by helping raise funds for the relief efforts. If there arent any events happening locally and you have the money to spare, consider donating directly to the Australian Red Cross, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, or the Brigades Donation Fund.

Throughout this week on Sprudge well be featuring stories focused on Australia, each with an easy link to donate at the top. Global climate catastrophes impact us all, no matter where you happen to live. Make no mistake: this is all the result of climate change. Let it be a wake-up call.

Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.

Top image by Saeed Khan/AFP via CNN
People around the world are reportedly knitting protective pouches and blankets for homeless animals who were injured in the Australian bushfires in NSW region. Belinda Orellana, a founding member of The Animal Rescue Craft Guild informed an international media outlet that the organisation had put out a call to volunteers who are able to knit and sew to make a number of items including pouches for joeys, wraps for bat and mittens for koalas. She further added that the response has been amazing.

Do you sew or crochet? Are the animals in these pouches THE CUTEST things you've EVER seen - equal to my schnauzers, of course.



The Animal Rescue Collective Craft Guild publishes instructions on Facebook for things crafters can make to help wild animals injured in the bushfires. pic.twitter.com/WM5xPJ40PD  Snuva (@Snuva) January 3, 2020

Amid the Australian bushfires, thousands of animals were left injured, displaced and the animal rescue organisation sent out their items to thousands of rescue groups all over Australia. Orellana further told the media outlet that her organisation creates and supplies items to rescue groups and carers around the country who take in care for the wildlife. She informed that knitters from as far as Singapore, UK and Germany crafted items for the injured animals. While speaking to an international media outlet, one volunteer from New Zealand said that she is planning to make as many as possible by asking fabric outlets for fabric donations.

READ: Chris Hemsworth Donates $1 Million To Australia Bushfire Crisis

To further save the injured animals, Mogo Zoo has taken all precautionary measures to ensure animal safety from the encroaching bushfires. The staff at the zoo was also helped by the former federal MP Emma Husar, who set up a GoFundMe for the zoo. According to international media reports, the funding page was able to raise approximately $30,000, which has been used to buy a generator, water, firefighting pump and animal food.

READ: Australia: Firefighters Pay Guard Of Honour To Slain Volunteer

Species affected by bushfires

According to international media reports, the wildlife rescue services have rescued some of the kangaroos and treated them for burnt feet pads, however, they have estimated that millions of animals have already been killed by the bushfires. According to reports, many species including kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, possums, wombats and echidnas have been affected by the wild bushfires and koalas are feared to be among the hardest hit, with an estimated 30 per cent of just one koala colony on the country's northeast coast thought to be lost.

READ: Amy Jackson Expresses Regret Over Spreading Wildfire In Australia With An Emotional Post

READ: Funeral Of Firefighter Killed In Australian Fires
Trump threats against Iran 'nothing but a bluff': Army commander

Iran Press TV

Monday, 06 January 2020 3:02 PM

A senior Iranian Army commander says the United States has been threatening the Islamic Republic for the past 40 years, stressing that recent threats made by US President Donald Trump against Iran are "nothing but a bluff."

"The US will soon receive a crushing response," Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari, commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces, told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) in Tehran on Monday on the sidelines of special ceremonies to pay homage to Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), who was assassinated in a US airstrike in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, early Friday.

He added that the Islamic Republic enjoys great capacities and capabilities to counter threats, saying, "Trump's remarks show his fear of the power of Iran and the resistance front."

In a Saturday tweet, the White House tenant claimed that the US military would hit "very important" targets related to Iran if the Islamic Republic seeks retaliation.

"We have ... targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran," Trump tweeted, making a reference to the 1979 US embassy incident in Tehran.

The threat came after Iranian authorities said they would give a harsh response to the US strikes that led to the martyrdom of Lieutenant General Soleimani and the second-in-command of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, on President Trump's order.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned the Swiss ambassador, whose country represents Washington's interests in Iran, to convey the Islamic Republic's firm dismissal of Trump's threatening language, describing his latest anti-Iran threats as "utterly unacceptable and unconventional."

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi said the diplomat was summoned to receive Iran's official protest over the "hostile" remarks made by the US president which "amount to war crime" under international law.

Referring to Trump's threat to strike Iran's cultural sites, the Iranian official said, "Such a threat is reminiscent of the Mongols' invasion or the actions of terrorist and criminal groups in the destruction of cultural and historical sites, which according to international law, amount to war crime."

US threats psychological warfare, sign of fear: IRGC commander

IRGC deputy commander for coordination Brigadier General Ali Fadavi also told IRNA that the US threats against Iran, particularly after General Soleimani's assassination, are a sign of its fear, stressing, "The Americans' psychological warfare will not influence our response to the assassination of the resistance [front]'s commanders."

He added that such threats being made by the Americans show that they are concerned about the resistance front's reaction to the martyrdom of General Soleimani and his companions.

The IRGC commander emphasized that the country would give a befitting response to the US attack as per Islam and the holy Quran.

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Jeff Bezos -founded space technology company Blue Origin officially cut the ribbon to open its new HQ and R&D facility, located in Kent, Wash. -- close by to Amazon's own headquarters. The new facility covers 230,000 square feet and sits on a plot of land over 30 acres in size, and will eventually be the base of operations for around 1,500 Blue Origin employees.

The new HQ is called the O'Neill Building, named after Princeton University physicist Gerard O'Neill. O'Neill is known for his work with NASA in the 1970s, conceiving potential future technology for sustained human presence in space -- including the so-called O'Neill cylinders, which are large habitats designed to spin to replicate Earth's gravity for long-term residents and for on-board agriculture.

Bezos last year discussed making O'Neill's vision of the future a reality, detailing how the habitats might be able to house as many as a million people on each station, to help establish a new extension of humanity's home on Earth.

In total, Blue Origin employs more than 2,500 people, including at its facilities in Cape Canaveral, Fla.; Van Horn, West Texas; and Huntsville, Ala. It also plans to open a dedicated engine manufacturing facility in Alabama this March. 2020 should also see Blue Origin fly its first human passengers aboard New Shepard, its sub-orbital rocket, which is currently well along the path to human certification, and it's looking to next year to begin operating New Glenn, its orbital launch vehicle.
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Kiribati's President Taneti Mamau before their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, January 6, 2020. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao]

BEIJING, January 6 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that Kiribati's President Taneti Mamau and his country stand on the right side of history by resuming diplomatic ties with China.

Xi made the remarks when holding talks with Mamau at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

China and Kiribati resumed diplomatic relations in September 2019 on the basis of the one-China policy, opening a new chapter for bilateral ties, said Xi.

"Mr. President and the Kiribati government stand on the right side of history," Xi told Mamau, adding that the resumption "fully embodies their strategic vision and political courage."

"China speaks highly of the decision," said Xi.

Since the resumption of diplomatic ties, China and Kiribati have conducted numerous exchanges in different areas and at different levels with fruitful results, he said.

Facts proved that it is in the interests of both peoples to restore diplomatic ties, and the bilateral ties enjoy broad prospects, said Xi.

Calling Mamau's visit to China "an important landmark in China-Kiribati ties," Xi said China stands ready to work with the Pacific island country to promote bilateral ties to a new level.

Xi called on both countries to deepen mutual political understanding, saying that China has always held that all countries, no matter big or small, should be equal and all countries should respect one another's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China sticks to the path of peaceful development and respects Kiribati's choice of a development path that suits its own national situation, Xi said.

Xi said the two countries should expand pragmatic cooperation by seeking the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative with Kiribati's development plans.

China will encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Kiribati, said Xi, adding that China has approved the listing of Kiribati as a destination for Chinese tour groups.

China is willing to enhance cooperation within multilateral mechanisms including the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum, and will continue to provide assistance and support to Kiribati on climate change under the framework of South-South cooperation to safeguard the common interests of developing countries, said Xi.

Mamau said it is based on trust and confidence in China that Kiribati made the important decision to restore diplomatic ties with China.

He reaffirmed that Kiribati will firmly adhere to the one-China policy, respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, support China's "one country, two systems" principle and its reunification.

Appreciating China's support, Mamau said he looks forward to enhancing cooperation with China in areas including economy, trade, investment, tourism, fisheries, education, healthcare and infrastructure construction.

Kiribati speaks highly of China's role in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, and appreciates China's efforts to advance South-South cooperation and help small and medium-sized developing countries such as Kiribati to speed up development and address challenges such as climate change, Mamau said.

Kiribati is willing to work with China to improve bilateral ties to benefit both peoples, Mamau said.

After the talks, Xi and Mamau witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in Beijing.

Mamau is paying a state visit to China from January 4 to 11.

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Kiribati's President Taneti Mamau before their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, January 6, 2020. [Xinhua/Ding Lin]

Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd, R) and his wife Peng Liyuan (1st, R) pose for a group photo with Kiribati's President Taneti Mamau and his wife before the talks between Xi and Mamau in Beijing, capital of China, January 6, 2020. Xi held talks with Mamau at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. [Xinhua/Huang Jingwen]

(Source: Xinhua)
After dissecting the information we got, we'll admit that even we are still very confused.

Just yesterday, we got word from our reliable contact about a carmaker's plans for a new model launch, and it's a big one: it's Honda.

At AutoIndustriya.com, we get quite a few rumors and insights from several industry insiders in the South East Asian region. More often than not, they point towards future (or near future) models that are destined for our market.

Basically, what we were sent was a snapshot of a spreadsheet document that outlines Honda's plans for some variants of the Honda City; yeah, the all new model they debuted just over a month ago. We can't publish that image (otherwise our contact could lose his/her job), but what we can tell you is that we're still trying to make sense it.

The screenshot of the internal Honda document covers the production of the City that will be manufactured in Thailand. One thing it confirms is that Honda will manufacture the 2020 City in Hybrid Electric Vehicle with a 1.5-liter i-MMD gas-electric hybrid engine.

The Honda City HEV, alongside the Honda City PET 21M (which we presume to be Petrol, or the 1.0-liter Turbo) will be sold in Thailand, as well as be exported across the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean, among other regions and countries.

The rows on the spreadsheet for the Philippine market Honda City are not on the cropped image, but we think that's because the City is assembled in Santa Rosa, Laguna; that means we'll be getting it in parts form. But the interesting bit is that Honda is planning three variants of a different kind of City model:

We say different because there's a 5D appended to the City name, which is very odd.

The City is a 4-door sedan, and the 5-door hatchback counterpart really is the Jazz (AKA: Fit). Yet the spreadsheet (again, we can't show it to you) clearly indicates City 5D. It doesn't say Jazz 5D or Fit 5D, but there is a column that says 22M.

Our contact says that the City 5D will be a Jazz successor; but whether or not it will be based on the Honda Fit we saw at the Tokyo Motor Show or a different City model altogether (perhaps one that mimics the Chinese 5-door Honda City called the Gienia, pictured above) is still unclear. What we can tell is that there are three rows which point to a logical conclusion that there will be three variants for the Philippine market. As before, the 5-door subcompact hatchback will be imported from Thailand.

Here's the thing: it says the Philippine market will get the naturally aspirated 1.5-liter engine only. There was no row that indicates 1.0-liter VTEC Turbo, which will be produced for the Thai-market City and City 5D.

The engine that the Philippine-bound City 5D models (and presumably, future PH-assembled City 4-door models) will get is better than the 1.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC L15Z1 engine in current City and Jazz models. The local market will get a 1.5-liter DOHC i-VTEC which could be the L15B1 engine (pictured below). If that is the model, then it will have 10 more metric horsepower at 130 PS and 10 Nm of extra torque.

The information we got also indicated that Honda will commence production of the City 1.5L Hybrid in Thailand in Q4 of this year. The company will also produce the City 5D beginning in the same period (Q4 2020) and will commence export in Q1 2021.

We have to apologize if the information is presented in this unusual manner, but we're trying to relay as much as we can and as best we can. We are a bit disappointed that the 1.0-liter VTEC Turbo might not make it to the Philippine-market Honda City and Honda City 5D, but hey, maybe we can see it in mid-cycle update of the model.
WINONA, Minn.  A man who complained on social media about his companys holiday gift  barbecue sauce and a grill scraper  wound up getting fired for it.

The man, a Canadian branch manager for Minnesota company Fastenal, was dismissed just before New Years Day after he posted a tweet chiding the company for the gift choice.

The Star Tribune reported that Hussien Mehaidli tweeted, What kind of multi billion company gifts its Canadian employees barbecue sauce as a holiday gift? Yet the USA employees stuff their face with an actual holiday giftbox?

Fastenal said the tweet violated the companys policy on social media posts. CEO Dan Florness said the policy about acceptable standards of conduct is given to every employee and posted on the company website.

News of the firing has been widely shared on social media and has prompted a backlash, including several now-deleted website posts and phone messages that were vulgar or threatening, Florness told the Star Tribune.

Mehaidlis supervisors contacted the companys human resources department which recommended termination.
ROME- Members of local faith communities and other community members gathered in Rome on Monday as part of a nationwide call for peace.

It's called #PrayforPeace. This comes after a U.S. airstrike killed Iran's top military commander, Qasem Soleimani, on Friday. Tensions are now high between the two countries, and groups across the United States are calling for more peace.

Dozens of people gathered at Rome City Hall on Monday to say a prayer. People at the vigil told NEWSChannel 2 they believe President Trump inflicted violence on the border, in the country and across the world.

Attendees held candles as people spoke about being at peace and avoiding war.

Speakers said peace is something that could bring everyone together.

"It's wonderful to get a group of people together with diverse backgrounds to discuss the cause of peace, and it's something that I think we can all sort of agree upon or at least should be able to agree upon," said Colt Brumm who spoke at the event.

According to https://www.redletterchristians.org/prayforpeace-candlelight-vigils/ Rome, NY was one of seven places with a scheduled vigil.
A Village Defence Committee (VDC) member was arrested for allegedly selling a weapon to a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, officials said on Tuesday.

Devi Dass was arrested after a case was registered against him for selling the weapon and ammunition to Hizbul terrorist Tariq Hussain Wani in Kishtwar, a senior police officer said.

Tariq's interrogation had revealed that he had purchased the weapon from Dass and joined militancy in Kishtwar district, he said.

Tariq, who had joined the ranks of Hizbul Mujahideen in November last year, was arrested in December last year, officials said.

He had purchased the old .303 rifle and ammunition for Rs 1.50 lakh, they said.

Senior officer said that weapon was manufactured in the seventies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"The fall in mining activity in November, in our view, is not related to the social unrest in Chile, but rather, it is tied to mining-specific factors," Cestau said in an interview. Chile's vast copper mines - the country produces nearly a third of the world's copper - said they had largely maintained production through early November, though some mining companies have warned that protests, strikes and road blockades had taken a toll. As the protests subside, market watchers are looking further into the future to gauge potential impacts on investment decisions by the many large mining companies operating in Chile. In April, Chileans will vote on whether to draft a new constitution, sowing uncertainty among investors both foreign and domestic. Diego Hernandez, head of Chilean mining trade union SONAMI, said in an interview that miners were watching carefully and that some of them could put off making investment decisions. But he acknowledged the short-term impacts had been minimal and doubted there would be major changes to rules or royalties in the mid-term. "Those involved in mining haven't been as affected as the rest of the country," he said. Santander's Cestau took an equally optimistic view. "We see mining as one of the things that will pull the economy up in 2020," Cestau said. (Reporting by Dave Sherwood and Fabian Cambero; Editing by Steve Orlofsky, Sandra Maler and Richard Chang)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 05:52:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced Tuesday the appointment of Daniela Kroslak of Germany as the deputy head for the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA).

The Hodeidah agreement stipulates a ceasefire in the Yemeni governorate of Hodeidah and the redeployment of Houthi rebel and Yemeni government forces from the port city of Hodeidah and nearby smaller ports of Saleef and Ras Issa.

Kroslak brings to the position much experience in the field as well as at the UN headquarters. Since 2018, she has been the chief of staff of the UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH). From 2014 to 2018, Kroslak was the principal officer for the Sudan Integrated Operational Team within the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

She has also served as senior adviser and head of office for the Office of the Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan over 2012-2013, having previously been the senior political affairs officer within the UN headquarters supporting both that office along with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

Kroslak holds a Doctorate in International Politics and a Bachelor in International History and International Politics from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Britain.
By Rasana Gasimova

Eight more Azerbaijani Houses are planned to be opened abroad in 2020, chairman of the State Committee on work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan Fuad Muradov has said.

The first two Azerbaijani Houses were opened in Germany - in Berlin and Cologne in 2019. In 2020, we plan to open eight more houses. In general, it is planned that such houses will appear in Hungary, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Ukraine, Georgia and Turkey, Muradov noted in his article published in the official press.

He emphasized that the opening of these houses plays an important role in the unity and solidarity of Azerbaijanis living abroad.

Muradov expressed hope that parliament will adopt the law "On Compatriots" in 2020, which will create rules for providing social support to Azerbaijanis living abroad.

He also added that numerous cultural projects in the US and Russia are expected to be implemented this year.

Note that Azerbaijani Houses in Berlin and Cologne opened on December 24 and 29, 2019 respectively.

These houses serve as places for discussions, places where both Azerbaijanis and representatives of other countries who love Azerbaijan and respects national interests meet.

The State Committee on Work with Diaspora was established on November 19, 2008. Since then, the committee has put a lot of efforts to organize systematic work with the compatriots abroad and ensure the consolidation of national unity among Azerbaijani people.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Thousands of people cut off by bushfire could be stuck without power for weeks, as emergency crews rush to prepare for a spike in fire risk on Friday.

Emergency crews have undertaken controlled burns in Victoria's north-east and have planned for more in East Gippsland ahead of another hot and windy Friday.

Cann River on Thursday. Credit:Getty

Bulldozers have also strengthened containment lines around 12 fires that are still burning across the state, none at the emergency level.
One of the six pillars of the Chester County Historic Courthouse on North High Street will shine in blue light on January nights beginning Tuesday evening in recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
BROOKINGS, Ore.  Deputies have arrested a man in connection with multiple burglaries in the Brookings area, according to the Curry County Sheriff's Office (CCSO).

On Monday, the Sheriff's Office got information about the possible location of property stolen during a break-in at the Brookings Harbor Veterinarian clinic that was reported back on November 4. Between the stolen property and damage caused to the building, the cost of that burglary was estimated at more than $5,000.

A detective applied for a search warrant on a vehicle registered to 34-year-old Daniel Richardson and a house where the vehicle had been parked near Ophir. A judge granted the warrant, leading deputies and detectives to descend on the property around 8 p.m. on Monday.

The investigators found "numerous items" stolen from the vet clinic in both Richardson's vehicle and the house, the Sheriff's Office said. They also reported finding items stolen in a separate burglary at the Hungry Clam on Lower Harbor Road, one where $7,000 in property had been taken.

Around 10:45 p.m., deputies, a detective, and an Oregon State Trooper found Richardson at a house on Foxglove Way in Brookings  arresting him on two counts of Burglary in the Second Degree and Theft I by Receiving. He was taken to the Curry County Jail and lodged.

"The Curry County Sheriffs Office will continue the investigation and information will be shared with the Brookings Police Department and the Oregon State Police for possible association of other burglaries that happened during the same time frame in the south county," the agency said. "Information was filed with the Curry County District Attorneys Office and an additional charge of Aggravated Theft will be charged."
Osteoporosis affects millions of people around the world, and it is not possible to change some of the primary risk factors, such as aging. However, more and more environmental risk factors are coming to light, and air pollution appears to be one of them.

Share on Pinterest New research points to a link between bone health and ambient air quality.

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by impaired bone density, which causes them to become brittle and fragile.

This condition tends to affect older individuals, particularly females, but some environmental factors  such as a lack of vitamin D  can also contribute to its development.

As research into the causes of and best preventive strategies against this condition continue, researchers keep on uncovering potential risk factors.

A new study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health  whose findings appear in JAMA Network Open  now suggests that poor air quality is associated with a lower bone density among aging populations.

This study contributes to the limited and inconclusive literature on air pollution and bone health, says first author Otavio Ranzani, Ph.D.
Britain is pulling dozens of 'non-essential' personnel out of Baghdad and putting helicopters and ships on high alert amid fears of revenge attacks by Iran, it was revealed tonight.

The move was announced by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace as he updated MPs on the mounting crisis.

Tehran has threatened to make British forces 'collateral damage' in reprisals against Donald Trump over the killing of Qassem Soleimani on Friday.

Iraqi politicians have voted to kick out foreign forces from the country in protest at the drone strike on its territory. But the government in Baghdad has yet to follow through on the calls.

Mr Wallace said the Government had taken 'urgent measures' to protect British nationals and interests in the Gulf.

He said UK forces in the region including helicopters and ships were on standby to assist if needed, while non-essential personnel had been relocated from Baghdad to nearby Taji.

'At the same time, Defence are changing the readiness of our forces - including helicopters and ships on stand-by to assist if the need arises,' he said.

'As part of prudent planning, a small team has been sent to the region to provide additional situational awareness and contingency planning assistance,' he told MPs.

The UK has around 400 personnel in Iraq, and dozens are thought to be relocating from the capital. The US is also believed to be shifting people.

The Government has already announced that the Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender and the Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose are to resume duties escorting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The UK has around 400 personnel in Iraq, and dozens are thought to be relocating from the capital to nearby Taji

American F15s were seen taking off for training missions at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk today

Security has been ramped up at RAF Lakenheath (pictured) amid rising tensions with Iran

Ben Wallace said the assassinated general had not been a 'friend' to peace, and Tehran's actions had been stoking problems in the region

Mr Wallace said the assassinated general had not been a 'friend' to peace, and said Tehran's actions had been stoking problems in the region.

Citing Washington's view that Soleimani had been plotting attacks on their assets when he was killed in a drone strike in Baghdad, he said: 'The UK has always defended the right of countries to defend themselves.'

He also dismissed criticism of the PM's handling of the situation, saying he had been 'engaging' with fellow world leaders.

But Jeremy Corbyn immediately questioned why Mr Johnson had not come to the House himself, swiping that he was 'hiding'.

'Can he tell me where he is?' he said.

However, Mr Wallace accused the Labour leader of 'anti-American tripe' for his blanket condemnation of the US action.

'Funnily enough the PM is running the country, something the leader of the opposition failed to do,' he said.

The bruising exchanges came after Dominic Raab warned that ISIS would be the 'only winners' from war with Iran.

As Britons brace for revenge attacks after the drone strike on Soleimani in Baghdad on Friday, the Foreign Secretary stressed the need to 'de-escalate' tensions, saying it was crucial to keep hold of the 'hard-won gains' against the terrorist group in Iraq.

The comments came as Mr Raab headed to Brussels for talks with European counterparts on the mounting crisis.

But although Mr Johnson gathered Cabinet earlier and is taking stock with security chiefs this evening, he has still yet to be seen in public since returning from a Caribbean holiday on Sunday.

Asked why Mr Wallace is speaking today instead of the PM, who has made no public appearance to discuss Iran since returning from a Caribbean holiday on Sunday, Mr Johnson's spokesman said: 'The PM leads a Cabinet government and the response to events in the Middle East is a collective Cabinet response.'

Quizzed on the premier's movements, his official spokesman said: 'I believe the PM is working from Number 10 today.'

Boris Johnson has been desperately trying to ease tensions in the wake of the dramatic US strike that killed general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on Friday

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab today stressed the need to 'de-escalate' tensions with Iran

Soleimani's death has galvanized Iranians around revenge for the 'martyr'; Hundreds of thousands crowded into Tehran streets to see his coffin on Monday

Mr Wallace said Iran's pattern of 'aggressive behaviour' including targeting dissidents in Europe and hijacking civilian ships 'was never going to go unchallenged'.

'Her Majesty's Government urges Iran to return to the normal behaviour of the country it aspires to be and resist the urge to retaliate.'

He repeated his calls for calm, adding: 'None of us wants conflict, none of us wants our citizens, our friends and our allies to be put at risk.'

He said the Government was looking at the implications of the vote in the Iraqi parliament which called for the expulsion of foreign troops but urged the Baghdad government to allow them to remain in order to fight ISIS.

'Our commitment to Iraq's stability and sovereignty is unwavering and we urge the Iraqi government to ensure the coalition is able to continue our work countering this shared threat,' he said.

Mr Raab will have a bilateral meeting with the French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, before they join their German and Italian counterparts and the EU High Representative for talks on Libya.

The so-called 'E3' - Britain, France and Germany - will then meet to discuss the tensions between the US and Iran, with all three pushing for de-escalation, a Foreign Office spokesman said.

Iran crisis exposes 'biggest ever cracks' in Western alliance, warns Jeremy Hunt The Iran crisis has exposed the 'biggest ever cracks', Jeremy Hunt warned today. The former foreign secretary said the killing of the general Qassem Soleimani without consultation from the US reflected a growing disregard toward Europe from Washington. This stemmed mostly from American disenchantment with defence spending by European countries, which invest 2 per cent of their GDP or less on defence whereas the US spends 4 per cent. 'In the end, money matters. If we're not prepared to cough up we should not be surprised if we are not consulted ahead of big decisions such as the taking out of General Suleimani,' he wrote in the Daily Telegraph, 'Nor should we be surprised if the Western alliance slowly starts to fracture as resentment builds up at European free-riding. To allow that would be a historic mistake.' Mr Hunt said many in Washington would happily abandon institutions such as NATO for an alternative scenario in which powers like the US, Russia and China 'carve up the world into spheres of influence'. If Britain did not want that, it had to behave 'like a real ally' to the US and pull its weight in global affairs, including making 'proper' contributions to world peace and security and persuading EU countries to do the same. Advertisement

Mr Raab spoke to his Iranian opposite number Mohammed Javad Zarif yesterday to stress the need for a diplomatic resolution to avoid a renewed conflict in the region.

Tehran has vowed 'severe revenge' for the killing of its top military commander Soleimani in a US drone strike last week.

Huge crowds have been gathering on the streets of Iran as the funeral of Soleimani takes place. His body is being buried in his home town.

Mr Trump in turn has warned the US is ready to strike back in a 'disproportionate' manner if the Iranians hit US targets.

The Prime Minister has faced criticism he was slow to respond to the crisis - only returning to the UK at the weekend following his new year break on the private Caribbean island of Mustique.

The former national security adviser Lord Ricketts said that ministers should have been quicker to react to the escalation.

'I think that the British Government were caught short by this,' he told BBC2's Newsnight.

'People were still on holiday, and there wasn't sufficient early recognition at the top level that this is a serious crisis and really dangerous for Western interests in the Middle East.

'Yes, I'm glad to see that the wheels are now in motion and things are happening but we are four days downwind of this sudden and dramatic escalation.'

Lord Ricketts said he would have expected the National Security Council to have met on Friday, when the killing of Gen Soleimani took place, to co-ordinate measures to ensure British nationals were protected.

'That may have been going on behind the scenes but there wasn't, as far as I could see, a collective discussion among senior ministers.'

Mr Johnson has sought to tread a delicate diplomatic path - joining with French and German allies in calling for a 'de-escalation' in the region.

At the same time, he is anxious to maintain good relations with the Trump administration ahead of talks with the US on a post-Brexit trade deal.

Mr Raab is due to fly to Washington later this week to meet Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after he criticised the lack of support by the Europeans - including the UK - for the US action.

The Foreign Secretary echoed Mr Johnson in saying the UK would not 'lament' the passing of Gen Soleimani who he described as a 'regional threat'.

Key figure: The letter from the Marine general in charge of coalition forces fighting ISIS and training the Iraqi army comes after the drone strike which killed Iran's Qassem Soleimani, its most senior commander who the U.S. designated a terrorist

However he also warned that a threat by Mr Trump to target Iranian cultural sites would be a breach of international law.

'We have been very clear that cultural sites are protected under international law and we would expect that to be respected,' he said.

Meanwhile US defence secretary Mark Esper was forced to deny the US was about to withdraw its troops from Iraq where the strike on Gen Soleimani took place.

A leaked letter from a US Marine Corps commander said that in 'due deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq', the coalition would be 're-positioning forces over the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement'.

It added: 'We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure.'

It followed a vote in the Iraqi parliament on Sunday, backed by prime minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, calling for the withdrawal of all foreign troops including British forces.

The Pentagon said the letter, addressed to the Iraqi defence ministry had been a 'poorly worded' draft which should never have been released.

Mr Esper told reporters in Washington: 'There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq. There's no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave.'

Mr Johnson emphasised the need to maintain a coalition presence in Iraq against Islamic State when he spoke by telephone to Mr Abdul-Mahdi yesterday.

Around 400 UK troops are stationed in Iraq in the fight against IS, while the US has 5,200, prompting fears of a withdrawal that could cripple the battle against the terror group.
Mission unaccomplished. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Last week, the United States executed a high-ranking Iranian official by dropping several bombs on him as he lingered outside Baghdad International Airport. The U.S. did not seek the Iraqi governments permission before carrying out an assassination-by-missile on the streets of its capital city. And the Iraqi government (understandably) took exception to this oversight.

Iraq is now a sovereign nation, not U.S.-occupied territory. It had consented to the ongoing presence of American troops on the understanding that they are there to train Iraqi security forces, and counter jihadists, not slaughter Iranian officials at its airport. Thus, on Sunday, the Iraqi parliament voted to expel U.S. troops from the country.

It is not clear if this resolution is legally binding, and the Iraqi lawmakers included no timetable for withdrawal. Further complicating matters, Iraq is currently ruled by caretaker government, as Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi officially resigned in December amid nationwide protests, but has continued executing his formal duties until new elections can be held. In this context, the limits of the sitting governments authority is ambiguous. Meanwhile, most Kurdish and Sunni lawmakers sat out Sundays special emergency session, which is significant, since support for U.S. withdrawal in those ethnic communities is lower than among Iraqs Shia majority (ostensibly because a U.S. withdrawal would help Iran, a Shia power, increase its influence over Iraqi politics and society).

For these reasons, there was little basis for believing the U.S. would comply with the Iraqi parliaments order. After all, if America respected Iraqi sovereignty, it wouldnt have carried out the strike against Soleimani (or ever invaded the country) in the first place. And President Trump appeared to confirm Americas intransigence Sunday, when he vowed to respond to the expulsion of U.S. troops by charging Iraq sanctions like theyve never seen before ever.

And yet, on Monday afternoon, the Iraqi defense ministry received a letter from United States Marine Corps Brigadier General William H. Seely III, the commanding general of Task Force Iraq, announcing Americas withdrawal from the country.

Sir, in deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister, CJTF-OIR will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement, the commanding general wrote. We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure.

An Iraqi military official confirmed the authenticity of the letter to Reuters, and Americas long-awaited, final withdrawal from Iraq became international news.

For a few minutes, anyway. Shortly after the letter began making headlines, the Trump administration clarified that it does not, in fact, respect Iraqs sovereign decision.

In a press conference Monday afternoon, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley explained that the letter in question was just a draft.

It was a mistake, it was unsigned, it should not have been released, Milley continued, adding that the letter was poorly worded, and implied withdrawal, which is not whats happening.

MORE BREAKING: @thejointstaff Gen. Milley came back to brief us again after looking at the letter. "It was a mistake," he said. Milley said it was a draft, poorly worded, and had not been signed. It was being worked w/ Iraqis. Bottom Line: US troops ARE NOT leaving, he said. https://t.co/L6wGYiVIkv  Tara Copp (@TaraCopp) January 6, 2020

So, fear not America  your nations mission in Iraq remains unaccomplished.
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Himachal Pradesh Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Rajiv Saizal, who is a Dalit, on Tuesday told the state assembly that he and a legislator were not allowed to enter a temple in the state.

Saizal was speaking while participating in a discussion on a bill that extends reservation for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by another 10 years.

The state Assembly in its special one-day session ratified by a unanimous voice vote The Constitution (126th) Amendment Bill.

It had already been passed by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on December 10 and 12, respectively. Later, the bill was sent to states for ratification as it requires the consent of at least 50 per cent of state assemblies before implementation.

Saizal said that he and Nachan MLA Vinod Kumar were not allowed to enter a temple. He, however, did not mention the name of the temple, its location and the time when they were not allowed inside.

Earlier, Congress MLA from Kinnaur Jagat Singh Negi said that Dalits were not allowed to enter temples in some places in the state.

The minister said he agreed with the Congress MLAs who had stated that Dalits are not allowed inside some temples.

Saizal, 47, who is an MLA from Kasauli (SC) Assembly segment in Solan district, said that the society as a whole was required to take steps to end this discrimination.

The minister praised Sikh gurus for starting the langar system in an attempt to end the caste system and said that Mahatma Gandhi had praised the RSS for its endeavours to bring equality among various classes of society.

Congress MLA Sukhvinder Sukhu said if the minister was not allowed to enter the temple, he was provided protection under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 that was formulated by then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

To this, Saizal said that he wanted to shine light on the reality outside and it should be taken in that sense only.

He said that even former Dalit ministers from the Congress would have been denied entry into some temples during the previous Congress regimes.

Replying to the discussion on the ratification motion, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said Saizal spoke very well on the issue.

Thakur admitted that discrimination against Dalits existed in some parts of the state and members of the community were still served food in separate queues.

A lot of positive changes have taken place but more are required for bringing in equality, he said.

The chief minister said that all members of the House supported the bill and there was no need to discuss the issues pertaining to history.

"If the Congress legislators say their party has done a lot for Dalits, they should also admit that Pakistan was also created by the Congress," he said.

Referring to Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri, Thakur said he was not against a discussion on the issue but presumed that all the members will be in favour of the ratification which is why he fixed the meeting at 2 pm.

Reacting to Congress MLA Asha Kumari, Thakur admitted that some discrimination against Dalits existed not only in Chamba but in some other parts of the state as well.

Earlier, the chief minister moved the motion for ratification of the bill after it was tabled by assembly secretary Yash Paul Sharma.

While presenting the motion, Thakur said that the Constitution provides reservation for members of SC/ST communities in Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies of states.

"The provision was included for 70 years since the enactment of the Constitution on January 26, 1950, hence, it was scheduled to expire on January 25, 2020. The bill seeks to extend the reservation till January 25, 2030," he added.

The leader of opposition supported the ratification motion but raised questions on the governor's brief address.

Supporting the bill, lone CPI(M) MLA Rakesh Singha said the country failed to provide justice to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the last 70 years, which was why it was required to extend reservation for them in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Chintpurni BJP MLA Balbir Singh said the first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru was initially against reservation. However, Congress MLA Ram Lal Thakur raised objection to the remarks and said previous Congress governments had done a lot for the upliftment of SC/STs.

Congress legislator Asha Kumari pointed out that Punjab and Haryana Assemblies are holding three-day sessions for ratification of the bill and called for the Himachal Assembly's special session to be extended to discuss the bill in detail.

Agriculture Minister Ram Lal Markanda, MLAs Harshwardhan Chauhan, Hans Raj, Rakesh Pathania, Jagat Singh Negi and Nand Lal also spoke in support of the bill's ratification.

Earlier, the special session started with Governor Bandaru Dattatreya's address at 11 am. In his brief address, he said, "Since this session has been summoned for a particular purpose, therefore, I will not be going into much detail."



The governor said he will discuss the achievements of the government in detail in his address scheduled for the ensuing budget session.

The House also passed a condolence resolution to express grief over the demise of its former member Ninju Ram, who had breathed his last in December. Ram was elected MLA from Rampur on a Janata Party ticket in 1977.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a serious collision involving a cyclist and a pedestrian in Co Tipperary.

It happened at approximately 6.35pm yesterday at the N24, Glenconnor Upper in Clonmel.
(Newser)  The California Attorney General's Office has filed suit against a billionaire who's long tried to block the public from accessing a beach he claims as his own. The suit, filed Monday on behalf of the California State Lands Commission and California Coastal Commission, claims Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla has been "illegally" restricting public access to Martins Beach for the past decade, per the San Jose Mercury News. After purchasing the 89-acre property for $32.5 million in 2008, Khosla sought to close a private road and paid parking area the previous owners set up for public access, sparking a legal fight centering on the Coastal Act of 1976, which granted beach access to all. It seemed Khosla would need a state permit to close the road when the Supreme Court refused to hear the case in 2018. Then he scored an appeals court win in November.

story continues below

Friends of Martins Beach had argued the previous owners' permission to use the road amounted to implied public dedication, per the San Francisco Chronicle. But San Francisco's 1st District Court of Appeal focused on the parking fee, ruling that because access was "permissive, it did not ripen into a public dedication." The state commissions dispute that, citing a 1970 Supreme Court ruling that determined implied dedication is established if the public has regularly accessed a route for at least five years. They say evidence shows families have accessed Martins Beach since the 1920s without being charged, including after parking fees were instituted in the 1960s or '70s, per the Mercury News. An attorney for Khosla, however, argues the state is trying to seize the billionaire's property "without compensation," using claims "repeatedly rejected by the courts," per the Los Angeles Times. (Read more Vinod Khosla stories.)
Gladys Castaneda had been asleep when a fire threatened to spread to her home

A brave neighbor alerted a single mother and her two daughters to a fire threatening to engulf their home in dramatic footage captured by a Ring doorbell.

Gladys Castaneda and her daughters Victoria and Emily had been asleep in Mesa, Arizona when a fire at their neighbor's property threatened to spread to their home.

But the family was suddenly woken by banging and shouting in the early hours of the morning when neighbors from across the road endeavored to alert them to the danger.

In the clip, captured on Ms Castaneda's Ring doorbell, Ty and Amanda are seen knocking on the windows and door of the property.

In a clip, a brave man is seen alerting Gladys Castaneda and her daughters Victoria and Emily to a blaze in a neighboring property in Arizona

Moments later, Ty notices the video doorbell and begins to yell 'your house in almost on fire!' into the speaker before walking to the front of the property.

Ms Castaneda then appears at her front door with her daughter Emily, two, in her arms.

She asks Ty 'will you help me?' before passing the young girl to her neighbor and running back inside the house to evacuate her other child.

'I heard loud banging on my windows so I got more scared. Then I grabbed my phone to see my Ring camera doorbell and I see it's my neighbor', she said.

Ty and another neighbor Amanda were seen knocking on doors and windows in the house to alert the single mother to the danger

Ty then helped Ms Castaneda carry her daughters Emily and Victoria, one and two, to safety as the family escaped the fire threatening to engulf their home

'I immediately jumped out of my bed and ran to my eldest daughter's Emily's room in the dark. I didn't realise there was smoke inside her room until I turned on the light.

'My neighbors were still at the front door so they could help me, thank God'.

In the clip, captured at 4.45am on July 26, the brave neighbor speeds back to the door and carries Ms Castaneda's one-year-old daughter Victoria to safety. The mother-of-two then races out of the home and is reunited with her children across the street.

'I immediately asked Ty for help as soon as I spotted him and he took Emily as I handed her over', she said.

'I hurried to Victoria's room and picked her up out of her crib and handed her over to Ty.

A second clip, filmed from across the road, shows firefighters battling the terrifying inferno at the property adjacent to Ms Castaneda's home

The single mother said she later learned that the owner of the property which was on fire wasn't aware of the danger at the time

'When I was finally out the house and across the street I reunited with my daughters'.

A second clip, filmed from across the road, shows firefighters battling the terrifying inferno at the property adjacent to Ms Castaneda's home.

The single mother said she later learned that the owner of the property which was on fire wasn't aware of the danger at the time.

'I learned from Ty that my neighbor of the house fire didn't even know his house was almost completely on fire', she said.

But despite the fire completely destroying her neighbor's property, Ms Castaneda's house was unaffected by the blaze.
In a statement on December 7, Nissan Motor Corporation said that the actions of ousted Chairman Carlos Ghosn to escape from Tokyo to Lebanon were regrettable and undermined the Japanese judicial system. Nissan's statement comes after Ghosn had appeared in a court in Beirut subject to very strict bail conditions in Japan.

The statement further added that Ghosn's escape to Lebanon with legal permission undermines the judicial system. It also said that the corporation came across many acts of misconduct by the former chairman by the help of an internal investigation. Following the investigation, the management decided he was not fit to serve as the chairman and removed him from the post.

Nissan's statement said that the company will completely cooperate with the authorities, adding that Ghosn's escape will not influence its policy of holding him accountable for financial misconduct. However, another investigation conducted by the US Securities and Exchange Commission ended with a conclusion that Ghosn's charges of misconduct were fraudulent.

Read: Nissan Says Ex-leader Ghosn Still Behind Serious Misconduct

Read: Turkey Probes How Nissan Chief Ghosn Fled Via Istanbul

Interpol asked to issue a red notice

Authorities in Japan have asked Interpol to issue an official red notice against Carlos Ghosn and wait for his return to the country based on the criminal charges against him. Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said that Japan will try and make attempts to get Lebanon to send Ghosn back to Japan. However, no extradition treaty had been signed between both countries.

After former Nissan chairman jumped the bail and fled to Lebanon, reports claim that the fugitive used bullet train and a private jet to escape Japan. A Japanese news channel reported that Ghosn boarded a bullet train from Tokyo's Shinagawa station on December 29 and got off at a station in western Osaka. The 65-year-old executive took a taxi to a hotel near Kansai airport and availed a private jet to Istanbul. It is believed that the business tycoon switched planes and travelled to Beirut. According to international media outlets, Turkish authorities have been investigating possible security flaws that allowed former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn to skip bail in Japan and flee to Lebanon via Istanbul

According to reports, Japanese authorities issued an arrest warrant for Carlos Ghosn's wife for perjury. Carole Ghosn who has been a vocal supporter of Carlos's innocence is suspected of lying during her testimony to the Tokyo District Court last year in April. The details of the allegations against her have not been made available. Carole Ghosn is believed to have reunited with her husband in Lebanon.

Read: Japanese Prosecutors Raid Nissan Ex-chair Ghosn's Tokyo Home

Read: Nissan Ex-chairman Ghosn Met Lebanese President After Fleeing Japan: Report

(With inputs from agencies)
Kranti Dal on Tuesday batted for constituting a shrine board to manage affairs of hundreds of temples and their properties in Jammu and Kashmir.

The outfit said existing religious and historical places in the union territory should be publicised to attract tourists and pilgrims from across the globe.

Appreciating the Uttarakhand government for setting up a board for the historical Char Dham Yatra, President of Kranti Dal, Pritam Sharma urged Lt Governor Girish Chander Murmur to take a similar step for the temples and shrines in the Union Territory.

"We demand the constitution of the board for temples and their properties in Jammu and Kashmir in bid to manage and protect them," Sharma told reporters here.

"On the pattern of Uttarakhand shrine board, Lt Government Girish Chander Murmu should constitute a single shrine board for all historical temples in Jammu region and implemented policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for one nation and one board of all temples," Sharma said.

He said that the constitution of the single shrine board for all historical temples will ensure development of all temples.

"Temple properties are being sold in Kashmir valley and there is no accountability... due to misusing funds, the condition of many temples is very poor," he added.

Sharma alleged that despite submitting several memorandums to the central government and the local BJP unit, no heed has been paid to the outfit's request.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- GRA has exceeded its 2019 target

- The GRA board chairman, Prof. Stephen Adei said the Authority exceeded its revenue target due to the hard work they put in in the month of December 2019

- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Professor Stephen Adei says the country exceeded its GHS43 billion tax revenue target for 2019.

According to the respected professor, the GRA excelled very well in December 2019 by collecting more taxes.

The target, in general, was about GHS46 billion but you know the government changed the benchmark rate at the port, so, it was revised a little over GHS43 billion, which we have slightly exceeded, he said in an interview on Joy FM on Monday, January 6.

READ ALSO: The 4-year manifesto plan by political parties cannot develop Ghana  Prof. Stephen Adei

Prof. Adei also revealed that the GRA did extremely well in December 2019.

It will interest you to note that in December 2019, we more than met our target in revenue collection; actually, Im having a board meeting because every day, they have to calibrate. The last time it was about GHS5.6 billion while we were looking for GHS5.0 billion, so, thank God, he added.

Ghana raked in tax revenue of GHS22.7 billion in the first half of 2019, compared to the target of GHS29.95 billion.

ATTENTION: Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana

Even though the Ghana Revenue Authority claim to have met their revenue target for 2019, we do not know if the country achieved its total revenue target of GHS57.7 billion for 2019.

READ ALSO: Powerful clergyman dies at age 69 in Takoradi

Meanwhile, government is set to be targeting a revenue of GHS65.8 billion in 2020.

In other business news, the Bank of Ghana has noted that the countrys Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) increased to GH7.19 billion in October 2019 from GH7.14 billion in October 2018.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that a journalist by name Joseph Ofosu alias Nartey has been charged with three counts of defrauding by false pretence for impersonating Director of Communication at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin.

The Koforidua-based journalist is said to have demanded monies from the unsuspecting public, with the assurance that he will secure them auction cars and also have them nominated as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) by the president.

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
When dozens of eager job applicants started dropping by Park Line Coffee with resumes and prepared for an interview with a person named Kenny last Sunday, owner Janis Urniezius was perplexed.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 6/1/2020 (735 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When dozens of eager job applicants started dropping by Park Line Coffee with resumes and prepared for an interview with a person named Kenny last Sunday, owner Janis Urniezius was perplexed.

It wasnt surprising to her that folks wanted to join the staff at the small coffee shop on Osborne Street. Its just that she hadnt advertised any open positions and didnt know anyone named Kenny.

"I can only suspect theyre trying to collect peoples information." said Janis Urniezius. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

"I felt terrible for them," Urniezius said. "It was a bit of an inconvenience for me, but you can see the look on someones face when theyre there for something and you have to say Sorry, thats not happening."

Urniezius soon learned from job seekers that they were responding to an ad posted on indeed.com, an online job board that allows employers to post positions for free.

The fake advertisement requested applications for a barista and cashier for Park Line Coffee and directed interested candidates to send their resume to a person named Kenny by email.

The post read like one Urniezius might have used if she was hiring, with the exception of a few details that would have raised the eyebrows of people familiar with the business.

"I was surprised and I didn't understand why someone would do that at first," she said. "I can only suspect theyre trying to collect peoples information."

And when applicants didnt immediately hear back from Kenny by email, they instead reached out to Urniezius by phone and in person. She had to field roughly 50 inquiries, and Urniezius said its unclear what information the poster solicited from potential applicants  including banking information, social security numbers, and addresses  before they got in touch with her.

"Late Monday, I reported it as not a real ad, as inaccurate," she said. "And still with people coming in and calling on Tuesday, I changed my phone message and I stopped answering the phone, and I put it on social media just in case someone was researching us."

The ad has since been taken down from the job board.

Urniezius said shes aware of two other local businesses targeted in the same way. Thom Bargen Coffee co-owner Graham Bargen confirmed a similiar fake job advertisement was posted last year to indeed.com for a position at the coffee shop and job seekers arrived at his business believing they had been hired over email.

The fake ad has since been taken down from the job board. (webcache)

Employment scams are a successful and well-used ploy by fraudsters seeking personal information and cash transfers, said Jeff Thomson, a senior RCMP intelligence analyst with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre said.

However, fraudsters posing as legitimate, small local businesses is out of the norm.

Typically, a scammer will create a fake business and build a web presence to make it appear legitimate, he said.

"When we see job scams, normally theres some sort of job and it leads to somebody cashing a counterfeit cheque or being a money mule," Thomson said. "To see one where theres no actual job and their spoofing a real company, it is a bit curious."

"At the very least, it provides some level of personal information," Thomson said. "So certainly identity theft would be a concern."

Urniezius said shes aware of two other local businesses targeted in the same way. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

Other scams include fraudsters posing as large corporations offering cash to consumers who wrap their vehicles with logos, or posting a financial assistant position that requires people to unwittingly accept e-transfers from compromised bank accounts and exchange the money into e-currency.

"Maybe theyre changing it up," he said. "Theyre always looking for these money mules. Its a huge part of fraud and cyber crime today."

According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, there have been 1,251 reported employment scams as of Aug. 31, 2019. Of those scams, 452 reported victims having lost a cumulative $1.5 million.

Len Andrusiak, chief executive officer of the Better Business Bureau serving Manitoba and Northwest Ontario, said job seekers ought to do their due diligence before sharing personal information with potential employers online.

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I felt terrible for them. It was a bit of an inconvenience for me, but you can see the look on someones face when theyre there for something and you have to say Sorry, thats not happening.  Janis Urniezius

"Where we run into issues, or where we get reports of consumers who have been taken advantage of, is where they follow the process of the scam," Andrusiak said. "Theres a wide range of different ways that they can try and milk money out of somebody."

Andrusiak said theres little stopping someone from impersonating a brand on the internet for nefarious purposes.

"Technology has made scamming so complicated, and it really has given individuals the ability to leverage electronic communications to their advantage," Andrusiak said.

"If a scammer really wants to take advantage and target your business theres not much you can do other than making sure information about your business is well documented and published."

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
Dividend paying stocks like London Security plc (LON:LSC) 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. 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.

In this case, London Security likely looks attractive to dividend investors, given its 3.7% dividend yield and nine-year payment history. It sure looks interesting on these metrics - but there's always more to the story . Some simple research can reduce the risk of buying London Security for its dividend - read on to learn more.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

AIM:LSC Historical Dividend Yield, January 7th 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. London Security paid out 30% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. 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.

Another important check we do is to see if the free cash flow generated is sufficient to pay the dividend. London Security paid out 66% of its free cash flow last year, which is acceptable, but is starting to limit the amount of earnings that can be reinvested into the business. 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.

With a strong net cash balance, London Security investors may not have much to worry about in the near term from a dividend perspective.

Story continues

Consider getting our latest analysis on London Security's financial position 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. Looking at the last decade of data, we can see that London Security paid its first dividend at least nine years ago. Although it has been paying a dividend for several years now, the dividend has been cut at least once by more than 20%, and we're cautious about the consistency of its dividend across a full economic cycle. During the past nine-year period, the first annual payment was UK0.17 in 2011, compared to UK0.80 last year. Dividends per share have grown at approximately 19% per year over this time. London Security's dividend payments have fluctuated, so it hasn't grown 19% every year, but the CAGR is a useful rule of thumb for approximating the historical growth.

It's not great to see that the payment has been cut in the past. We're generally more wary of companies that have cut their dividend before, as they tend to perform worse in an economic downturn.

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? London Security has grown its earnings per share at 3.5% per annum over the past five years. A payout ratio below 50% leaves ample room to reinvest in the business, and provides finanical flexibility. Earnings per share growth have grown slowly, which is not great, but if the retained earnings can be reinvested effectively, future growth may be stronger.

Conclusion

To summarise, shareholders should always check that London Security's dividends are affordable, that its dividend payments are relatively stable, and that it has decent prospects for growing its earnings and dividend. London Security's dividend payout ratios are within normal bounds, although we note its cash flow is not as strong as the income statement would suggest. Second, earnings growth has been ordinary, and its history of dividend payments is chequered - having cut its dividend at least once in the past. Ultimately, London Security comes up short on our dividend analysis. It's not that we think it is a bad company - just that there are likely more appealing dividend prospects out there on this analysis.

Are management backing themselves to deliver performance? Check their shareholdings in London Security in our latest insider ownership analysis.

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.
Harvey Weinstein (Image: Reuters)

Lawyers in Harvey Weinstein's rape trial will begin selecting jurors on January 7, a challenging process in the wake of the #MeToo movement and fresh sex crime charges brought against the former film producer.

Hours after Weinstein's New York trial started on January 6, Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey charged Weinstein with the sexual assault of two unidentified women in 2013.

Weinstein, 67, has pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting two women in New York. He faces life in prison if convicted on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault.

The once-powerful film producer is known for reshaping movie-making with low-budget, critically acclaimed films such as "The English Patient" and "Shakespeare in Love."

The Los Angeles charges come as potential jurors in New York were scheduled to arrive at court on January 7 and fill out questionnaires to determine if they can be impartial.

The second phase of selection, in which a final jury of 12 will be picked, is expected to begin a week later, though Judge James Burke has called that date "optimistic".

Given the high-profile nature of the case, the court cast a wide net, sending out jury summonses to 2,000 New Yorkers. Based on past experience, a court spokesman said about 500 were likely to show up for jury duty. Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for the Office of Court Administration, said the number of jurors summoned for Weinstein is roughly five times the number for a typical trial.

Jill Huntley Taylor, a jury expert at the trial consulting firm Dispute Dynamics, said the new charges announced on January 6 in Los Angeles will increase the challenge of picking a fair jury.

"It's one more opportunity for jurors to be exposed to the allegations against him," she said.

More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct dating back decades. Weinstein has denied the allegations, saying any sexual encounters he had were consensual.

The allegations propelled the #MeToo movement, which led to men in politics and business being expelled from positions of power following accusations of sexual misconduct.

Allegations against Weinstein first were reported in the New York Times and The New Yorker magazine in October 2017.

The New York prosecutors have charged Weinstein with assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006. Prosecutors say Weinstein raped the second woman, who has not been publicly identified, in 2013.

Experts said lawyers for Weinstein and the prosecution will need to be wary of jurors who may try and mask their bias so they can serve on a headline-grabbing trial. Some jurors may seek to use the trial as a means of advancing a personal cause, a concern in a case that has become a flashpoint for ending sexual harassment.

"They may think, 'I want to be the one to make sure he goes to jail. I want to be the one to do justice'," said Roy Futterman, a New York jury consultant.

Weinstein in October lost a bid to move the trial to suburban Long Island or to Albany, New York state's capital. He said intense media scrutiny made it impossible for jurors to give him a fair trial in Manhattan.

The defence asked at the January 6 hearing that the jury be sequestered, a request the judge denied.
Armed robbers targeted a game room in the back of a southwest Houston restaurant early Tuesday, reportedly making off with $30,000 in cash and other items, police say.

As many as 10 people were inside Bombay Express, at 10732 West Bellfort Avenue around 1:40 a.m. moments after the restaurant closed, according to Houston Police Department robbery detective Matthew Green. The patrons moved to the back of the restaurant, where there is a pool table in what police described as a game room.

Minutes after employees locked the front of the business, a group of five to seven armed and masked men shot open the glass door and stormed into the dining room, Green said. Thats where they accosted the stores owner and stole cash from the register, Green said.

They also stole cash from inside several gaming devices inside the restaurant, police later said, helping account for the large sum.

Hearing the commotion from the back of the restaurant, the patrons locked themselves inside another room in the rear of the building. The robbers, searching for more victims, kicked down the door and held each of the patrons at gunpoint, even pistol-whipping some, Green said.

ONLY ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: How Houston police foil robbers in armored car heist capital of U.S

The robbers stole money from the patrons and ripped a gold necklace from one man, he told reporters. They also stole $4,000 in cash from the man.

They were saying give me all the money, give me all the money, the man said. He did not identify himself to reporters.

They were speaking Spanish and English, too, he said. I was so traumatized hiding in there. Everybody was hiding.

Two of the robbers were holding long guns while the rest were armed with pistols, Green said. One of them shot into the ceiling while in the backroom, but no one was injured by gunfire.

The robbers tried to steal the restaurants surveillance system, but it was found in what was later identified as the robbers pickup truck in a nearby parking lot, Green said. Officers also found a pistol in that truck, believed to belong to one of the suspects.

MORE FROM JAY R. JORDAN: Crosby gun shop owner kills burglar in shootout, sheriff says

The group was seen fleeing in a white SUV, leaving the pickup truck behind, Green said. In all, Green said, the robbers made off with about $30,000 in cash.

The detective told reporters that robbers sometimes use two vehicles during heists  one to get to the location and another to leave, hoping to thwart witnesses.

Paramedics checked on the patrons, some of whom were hit over the head with guns during the heist, Green said. The extent of their injuries is unclear.

No one was able to give a detailed description of the attackers, Green said. He hopes investigators are able to use the surveillance video on the system found inside the pickup truck to get a better description.

Anyone with information is urged to call Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com
The Pentagon is calling on Iran to come to the negotiating table and abandon plans for retaliation following a deadly strike on Iranian Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani earlier this month.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters in a Pentagon briefing that the U.S. still sees an option to avoid war with Iran, but is "prepared to deliver a forceful response to defend our interests."

"As we defend our people and interests, let me reiterate that the United States is not seeking a war with Iran," he said. "But we are prepared to finish one."

Military officials have alleged Soleimani was planning an "imminent" attack on Americans when he was taken out by a Hellfire missile fired from an MQ-9 Reaper drone at the Baghdad airport. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declined to provide specifics about the planned attack in a State Department briefing Tuesday. But Esper said it was fair to characterize the planned attacks as "days away" at the time of Soleimani's death.

Related: People Are Panicking About Military Draft, Stop-Loss and IRR Activation. Here's the Reality

Soleimani, Esper said, had "the blood of hundreds of American soldiers on his hands," and was responsible for the murder of his own people as well.

"So this sense that somehow taking somebody who ... [in] the last few months had planned ... or resourced attacks against the United States that resulted in the killing of American and the siege of our embassy in Baghdad and was in Baghdad to coordinate additional attacks -- to somehow suggest that he wasn't a legitimate target, I think is, fanciful," Esper said. "He was clearly on the battlefield. He was conducting, preparing, planning military operations. He was a legitimate target, and his time was due."

As the Defense Department deploys thousands of troops to the Middle East in anticipation of Iranian military action, Esper said the U.S. called on the country to come to the negotiating table and "cease malign activities" in the region to avert military conflict.

"We're not the ones that have escalated this over the past, arguably 40 years, and certainly in the past several months," he said. "It's been Iran and Iranian proxies ... that consistently escalate this in terms of the size, scale, scope of their attacks. We reached the point where we had to act in self-defense. We had to take appropriate action."

In the wake of a dustup involving a widely circulated letter from the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Marine Brig. Gen. William Seely, that appeared to signal plans to withdraw troops from the country, Esper was unequivocal: The U.S. is not leaving.

Esper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley have characterized the letter as a "draft" and "honest mistake." It was circulated, and reportedly received by Iraqi officials, following a vote in the Iraqi Parliament to pass a resolution in support of ejecting U.S. troops.

Esper said the resolution was nonbinding and noted there are a number of additional steps the Iraqi government would have to take to force the U.S. military's departure.

"There may be people trying to create confusion," he said. "Our policy has not changed. We are in Iraq, and we are there to support Iraqi forces in Iraq."

Esper said he personally had received no communication from the Iraqi government regarding withdrawal.

"I think it's fair to say that many Iraqis recognize the strategic importance of our partnership with them, whether it's training and advising their military to become more effective on the field of battle, or it's working together with them to defeat ISIS [as a] coalition," he said.

Esper declined to respond to a question about whether military leadership would refuse an order to target Iranian cultural sites, a move President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened.

"I'm fully confident that the president of the United States will not give us an illegal order," he said.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.

Read more: A Lance Corporal's Phone Selfie Got His Marine Unit 'Killed' at 29 Palms
A New Zealand Lotto winner unaware they began the new year $17.1 million richer is already losing thousands each week in potential interest.

Officials have stepped up their desperate hunt to track down the mystery millionaire who's yet to claim their Powerball first-division windfall won on December 28.

Nine days on, the unclaimed money remains in Lotto coffers instead of the hands of the rightful owner or earning interest in a bank savings account.

A New Zealand Powerball winner who won $17.1 million last month is yet to claim their prize

The winner has already lost more than $12,000 in pre-tax earnings in just nine days.

If they had claimed their prize and wisely put it in a 12-month term deposit earning up to 2.9 per cent a year, they would have earned almost half a million ($493,000) in pre-tax interest in the first year alone.

The figure equates to around $1350 in potential pre-tax earnings every day, based on New Zealand Herald calculations.

The winning ticket for the December 28 draw was bought at the Market Store in Twizel in the Canterbury region on the South Island.

It was the nation's fourth biggest Powerball first division win in 2019.

Lotto New Zealand officials are confident the mysterious winner will finally come forward this week after a renewed public appeal.

'A lot of Kiwis have returned to work and are back to their normal routines, so we are really hoping our missing millionaire realises they have won big and claims their prize,' spokeswoman Marie Winfield said.

'This is a life-changing amount of money, and we have the champagne on ice ready to celebrate with our newest Powerball winner.'

'If we don't hear from them in the next week we will make every effort to find the winner.'

Kiwi winners have up to 12 months to claim their Lotto windfall.

Nine days on, the unclaimed Powerball windfall remains in Lotto coffers instead of the hands of the rightful owner

It's not the first time a lucky winner has taken their time to claim their prize in New Zealand.

A $12.2 million Powerball prize went unclaimed for more than a fortnight last August before the shocked winner came forward.

In 2017, a Gisborne couple who knew straight away they were $6.5 million richer spent a fortnight planning how they'd use the windfall before they eventually claimed their prize.

In 2014, another couple from Hamilton sat on their winning $16.2 million ticket for ten days before checking and finding out they were the missing millionaires.

In 2013, Lotto NZ tracked down a Christchurch player unaware they had won $22 million.

The man thought the prize had already been claimed so was taken by surprise when Lotto NZ knocked on his door.
(Bloomberg) -- Singapores Sea Ltd., Asias best-performing internet stock in 2019, is seeking a full digital banking license in Singapore, becoming the first declared sole applicant for that category.

New York-listed Seas digital bank would focus on addressing the unmet needs of millennials and small businesses through technology, the company said in a statement. The Monetary Authority of Singapore said Tuesday that 21 groups made bids for the digital licenses, including seven for full digital banking licenses. Fourteen were for wholesale permits.

MAS unveiled plans last year to grant as many as five virtual bank licenses to boost competition and innovation, and is set to announce the winners in June. Efforts to open up the Singapore banking industry to technology companies come on the heels of a similar move in Hong Kong, where units of Ant Financial and other Chinese firms including Tencent Holdings Ltd. obtained licenses. Ant has applied for a Singapore wholesale digital banking license.

Southeast Asias digital lending market is expected to more than quadruple to $110 billion by 2025, according to a report by Bain & Co., Google and Temasek Holdings Pte.

The two main operating divisions of Sea, which counts Tencent as its largest outside shareholder, are Shopee, a popular online shopping platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, and gaming arm Garena. Shopees users include SME and millennial consumers. Sea also has a digital financial services arm, SeaMoney.

Through Garena, Shopee, and SeaMoney, we have unrivaled insight into the needs and wants of millennials and SMEs across the region, said Forrest Li, Seas chief executive officer. We have also developed exceptional capabilities in addressing these unmet needs, and have the technology, infrastructure, data analytics capabilities, and management experience to design and scale Singapores first full digital bank.

The full digital banks will require total capital of S$1.5 billion ($1.1 billion) and must be controlled by Singaporeans. They will be allowed to provide a range of financial services as well as take deposits from retail customers. The MAS plans to award as many as two such permits.

Story continues

Earlier this month, gaming company Razer Inc. said it had teamed up with homegrown Singaporean entrepreneurs and Asian billionaires to apply for a full banking license. The Razer-led group also targets younger users. Other bidders include the Grab Holdings Inc.-Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. group and Beyond Consortium, which is led by one of Asias largest massage chair makers, V3 Group Ltd. and stored-value card company EZ-Link Pte.

One of Seas key advantages over the other known applicants is its potential to tap its sizable user base across gaming and e-commerce to become customers of its digital bank, said Vey-Sern Ling, a senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.

These are young, generally tech savvy, and many have established paying-relationships with Sea, Ling said. Shopees leading position in regional e-commerce will likewise provide multiple business cases for Seas digital bank.

In 2019, Sea went on to outperform all other major Asian internet stocks with a gain of 255%, its best year since going public in New York in 2017. Investors are optimistic about the companys revenue outlook. Seas stock closed at an all-time high of $40.49 on Friday.

(Updates with an analyst comment and a stock chart from ninth paragraph.)

--With assistance from Chanyaporn Chanjaroen.

To contact the reporter on this story: Yoolim Lee in Singapore at yoolim@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Edwin Chan at echan273@bloomberg.net, Colum Murphy, Vlad Savov

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Jeremy Corbyn has accused Boris Johnson of providing cover to Donald Trump over the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani because of his dependence on a post-Brexit trade deal with the US president.

Mr Corbyn branded the drone strike on the leader of Irans feared Quds Force an assassination and told the House of Commons that it was widely regarded as illegal.

And he accused the prime minister of hiding away from scrutiny after Mr Johnson sent Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, to answer MPs questions on the 3 January killing in Baghdad.

But Mr Wallace dismissed the Labour leaders comments as anti-American, anti-imperialistic guff and insisted that he had seen evidence suggesting there was a case of self-defence to be made by Washington, which has claimed Soleimani was involved in the planning of an imminent attack on US interests.

The defence secretary declined to rule out UK involvement in military action in Iran, and said that he hoped British troops would be able to remain in neighbouring Iraq, where their mission training local military forces has been paused following Soleimanis death so they can concentrate on force protection.

Helicopters and ships in the region have been put on stand-by to assist if needed, while non-essential staff have been relocated from Baghdad to the Taji allied military base, he told MPs in a statement. Meanwhile, a specialist team has been sent to the region to provide additional situational awareness and contingency planning assistance.

Calling for a de-escalation of tension on all sides, Mr Wallace told the Commons: The United States is confident that General Soleimani came to Baghdad to coordinate imminent attacks on American diplomats and military personnel. The UK will always defend the right for countries to defend themselves.

US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early Friday 3 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures The wreckage of the car in which general Soleimani was travelling when a targeted US airstrike struck outside Baghdad International Airport on 3 January Ahmad Al Mukhtar via Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Demonstrators burn the US and British flags during a protest in Tehran after general Soleimani was killed in a targeted airstrike by American forces Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of Donald Trump AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn Israeli and US flags as thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of general Soleimani at the hands of America EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of Donald Trump pray at an 'Evangelicals for Trump' campaign event held on the day following the killing of general Soleimani. At the event, the president praised the "flawless strike that eliminated the terrorist ringleader" AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A huge procession of mourners gather in Baghdad for the funeral of general Soleimani on 4 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani during an anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iraqis perform a mourning prayer for slain major general Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the Great Mosque of Kufa AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A billboard reading 'Death to America and Israel', installed by Iran-backed shiite armed groups at a street in Jadriyah district in Baghdad, Iraq EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him visiting the family of Soleiman KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US flag as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Feiruznia, looks to a portrait of Soleimani, as he receives condolences at the Iranian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures People make their way on the street while a screen on the wall of a cinema shows a portrait Soleimani in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Aziz Asmar, one of two Syrian painters who completed a mural following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani poses next to his creation in the rebel-held Syrian town of Dana in the northwestern province of Idlib AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A demonstration in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures An anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Mujtaba al-Husseini, the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in the holy shrine city of Najaf AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US and Israeli flags as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters demonstrate in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shi'ite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters, holding a photograph of the leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Massoud Rajavi, outside Downing Street in London PA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn a US flag in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A Syrian man offers sweets to children to mark the killing AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers attend a mourning prayer for Soleimani in Iran's capital Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti American and anti Israel slogans during a protest AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshipers chant slogans during Friday prayers Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A protest against the USA, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranians burn a US flag in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin, Germany Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol a road in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel. Following morning's killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement called for the missile strike by Israel's closest ally, to be avenged AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian women take to the streets in Tehran EPA

Pressed by Mr Corbyn on what evidence the UK had seen to support US claims of a planned attack, the defence secretary added: From the information and intelligence I have seen, it is clear that there was a case of self-defence to be made about an individual who had come to Iraq to coordinate murder and attacks on US citizens.

After Mr Trump threatened Iraq with sanctions if its government acted on a vote in the Baghdad parliament and told western troops to leave, Mr Wallace told MPs the UK wants to keep its own military personnel in the country, but was ready to pull out if told to.

We are ... trying to get them to say that its in your best interest for us to remain, Mr Wallace told the Commons. [But] we will respect Iraqi sovereignty. If they require us to leave, that is their right and we will respect it.

Mr Wallace said that the UK would condemn any attacks on heritage sites in Iran, adding: If anyone was to do that, no matter whether they were friend or foe, we would, of course, call them out on doing that.

Mr Trump declared on Saturday that the United States had identified 52 cultural sites in Iran as potential targets if the conflict escalates, although the Pentagon later indicated the US will observe the laws of armed conflict which outlaw such an attack.

In the Commons, Liberal Democrat acting leader Ed Davey demanded to know if the government could rule out joining the US in any military attack on Iran.

Mr Wallace responded: Im not going to rule out anything. The UK will do what it has to do to defend its persons, its citizens and wherever it needs to do that. That is our duty.

Mr Corbyn demanded to know why Mr Johnson himself had not come to the Commons to deliver a statement on the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani  an extremely dangerous and aggressive act that risks starting yet another deadly war in the Middle East.

The Labour leader said: He is hiding behind his defence secretary. Isnt the truth that he is scared to stand up to President Trump because he has hitched his wagon to the prospect of a toxic Trump trade deal.

At this highly dangerous moment, we find the government giving cover to and even expressing sympathy for what is widely regarded as an illegal act because they are so determined to keep in with president Trump.

And he added: Whatever the record of any state official, the principle and the law is that we dont go around assassinating foreign leaders. Without the clear demonstration of an immediate threat, it is illegal.

Responding to Mr Corbyns demand for Mr Johnson to face MPs, Mr Wallace retorted: Funnily enough, the prime minister is running the country  something the leader of the opposition will fail to ever do as a result of the election.

Challenged over why it was Mr Wallace and not the PM himself who was delivering todays statement to MPs, Mr Johnsons official spokesman told reporters: The PM leads a cabinet government and the response to events in the Middle East is a collective cabinet response.

But Mr Davey said: It is shameful that Boris Johnson is hiding behind his ministers rather than addressing the intensification of tensions between the US and Iran.

The prime minister must stop dodging parliament and explain what he will do to de-escalate the situation and ensure the safety of British service personnel and civilians in the region.

Boris Johnson must confirm that he will not blindly follow Donald Trump into military action against Iran. That would be the most reckless decision since the Iraq war.
In order to repeal the appointment of expert directors, a provision in the APMC Act will also be deleted.

Mumbai: In a reversal of the former BJP-led state governments decision, the Shiv Sena-led MVA government has decided to revoke the posts of four invitee expert directors in the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC). Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray took the decision in a cabinet meeting held at Mantralaya Tuesday.

According to officials, those who lost the APMC election for the post of director got a backdoor entry through a provision added by the former Devendra Fadnavis-led government in the APMC (Development and Regulation) Act, 1963.

After the 2014 Assembly election, the then chief minister, Mr Fadnavis, amended the APMC Act, 1963, by adding a provision in section 13 which entrusted power to the state government to appoint four special invitees as directors in every market committee which had an income of over `5crore from the fees levied and collections.

The provision also gave power to the government to appoint two special invitees in the APMCs that had an income up to `5 crore. The experts could be from the fields of agriculture, agriculture processing, agriculture marketing, law, economics or commerce.

The then Opposition parties  Congress and NCP  alleged that the Fadnavis governments move was an attempt to wrest control of the APMCs as the BJP could not win the internal elections. Incidentally, both the Congress and NCP have a hold on the APMCs across the state.

An official said that an ordinance to delete the amendments brought by the Fadnavis government will be sent for promulgation to governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. The government will bring the bill for the same in the upcoming budget session.

According to the CMO, the Cabinet has decided to repeal the special invitee (expert director).

In order to repeal the appointment of expert directors, a provision in the APMC Act will also be deleted.
Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard is among a number of candidates criticizing President Donald Trump's actions against Iran.

For months, Gabbard has been warning about a high-stakes foreign policy moment such as this one. The Hawaii congresswoman on Monday condemned Trump's airstrike against Iran's top general.

"Trump has committed an act of war," Gabbard said. "He has pushed our country into a state of war with Iran, a war that will prove to be far more devastating and costly than anything that we saw with the war in Iraq or the war in Afghanistan. It will make those wars look like a picnic."

Gabbard said the administration's argument that the world is safer without Gen. Qassem Soleimani misses something bigger.

"There's no question that this was a really bad guy, but that's not really the point here," she said. "The point here is, what is the end goal? What is the strategy here? What mission are we trying to accomplish? And it's very clear Trump's actions have undermined our national security interests."

Gabbard's more restrained foreign policy appears ready-made for this moment, as the Middle East once again becomes a top issue for voters.

"I don't think anyone wants to go fight or have another big war on our hands," said Dartmouth College sophomore Emily Pommier.

Gabbard is calling for the removal of U.S. troops from Iraq and Syria, but she said it shouldn't be done on anyone else's terms.

"What is happening right now is a very clear consequence of having a commander in chief who doesn't know what he's doing," she said.

Gabbard said she has been told there will be a vote in Congress this week to try to limit Trump's war powers against Iran, a move she has been calling for for some time.
Prime Minister Jacinda Arden said that it is horrifying to imagine what it is like to directly experience the huge fires in Australia. (Photo : Jacinda Arden's official Facebook page)

New Zealand and some countries in the Pacific region have endowed military and financial support to Australia to aid in the on-going bushfire crisis in New South Wales and Victoria.

Since the crisis started in October, 157 firefighting personnel were already deployed from New Zealand. However, according to New Zealand's minister of defense, Ron Mark, it is not enough because the fires showed no signs of subsiding.

Thousands of people are still in danger, Mark also added.

So, they sent members of the New Zealand military, along with three Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopters. The team will be deployed at the defense base in Adelaide, South Australia, and will stay until the end of the month.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Friday through Facebook that another batch of firefighters will also come to Australia. She said that it was horrifying to imagine what it feels like to experience the giant bushfires directly.

It was previously reported that there is a single fire in the state of Victoria that is bigger than Manhattan in New York.

The prime minister claimed that she has been in contact with her counterpart in Australia, Scott Morrison, to send her support and offer help because it was her way of expressing gratitude for helping New Zealand through some "horrific moments in 2019".

During the White Island crisis in December of the previous years, Australia was among the first countries to offer help. Aside from financial support, Australia sent medical help, especially the much-needed skin supply that came from the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria.

RELATED ARTICLE: Sky Turns Bloody Red as More Fires Engulf South Australia

Pacific nation also sent help...

James Marape, the prime minister of Papua New Guinea, said in a statement that Australia has always been the first one to come during the time of their crisis.

Then, he announced that the country is ready to deploy 1,000 soldiers and firefighters if requested by Morrison, with whom Marape claimed to be in "constant contact" over the past weeks.

Governor Powes Parkop of the National Capital District of PNG proposed construction of a pipeline that connects the country with Australia so that PNG can supply water during the dry season.

PNG is at least 2,360 kilometers away from Australia.

Meanwhile, the government of Vanuatu, another neighboring country in the Southeast of Australia, pledged 20 million vatu (around $175,000) to assist the Rural Fire Service.

The acting prime minister Jotham Napat also said that it is also out of gratitude since Australia has always been there during their time in need.

Napat also expressed his admiration for the volunteer firefighters who have shown the "true Australian spirit". He cannot help but "watched in awe" while feeling very proud as a friend and neighbor, he added.

Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama has expressed his prayers through his Twitter account. He ended the tweet with a claim that he has written Morrison to offer help but didn't specify what it is.

The prayers of the Fijian people are with the Australian families who have suffered the loss of loved ones and homes, businesses and property to the catastrophic bushfires. I have written to @ScottMorrisonMP to offer Fijis assistance in any way we can to deal with this crisis.  Frank Bainimarama (@FijiPM) January 6, 2020

Since the bushfire crisis started last year, at least 24 people have died, including the two respected firefighters who died in a vehicular accident. The situation on Sunday was "one of the worst", according to NSWRFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.
Vladimir Putin met Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Tuesday, the Russian leader's second trip to Syria since Moscow intervened decisively on the Syrian president's behalf in a civil war.

The visit comes at a time of heightened regional tension, when Assad's other main military ally Iran has said it will retaliate against the United States for the killing of an Iranian general.

Qassem Soleimani, who was one of the key figures in Syria's civil war as the architect of Iranian military operations in the Middle East, had just arrived in Iraq from Syria when he was killed by a U.S. drone on Friday at Baghdad airport.

Russian and Iranian support have helped Assad win back nearly all territory from rebels who tried to overthrow him during the civil war that began nearly nine years ago.

Putin told Assad that much had been done to restore Syrian statehood, while Assad thanked Putin for his assistance in restoring peaceful life in Syria, Russia's Interfax news agency reported, citing the Kremlin. Putin will visit several facilities in Syria during the trip, it added.

Syrian state news agency SANA showed a photo of Putin smiling as he shook Assad's hand and said they had listened to a military presentation by the head of Russian forces in Syria.

Putin's previous trip to Syria was in 2017 when he visited Russias Hmeymim air base.

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On Fox & Friends the next morning, the co-host Brian Kilmeade said he was elated by the news, only to be scolded by Geraldo Rivera, who pointed to false intelligence peddled by the George W. Bush administration to justify the Iraq war.

Dont for a minute start cheering this on, Mr. Rivera, a Fox News correspondent, told the hosts.

Mr. Bannon, the former chief of Breitbart News, now runs a pro-Trump podcast, War Room: Impeachment. In the interview, he said he was concerned that a burgeoning conflict in Iran could threaten Mr. Trumps support among working-class, middle-class people, particularly people whose sons and daughters actually fight in these wars, a group that believed the president opposed significant foreign intervention.

Why was it necessary to kill this guy and to kill him now and to exacerbate the military issues, given the fact that President Trump looks to us as someone whos not trigger happy? Mr. Bannon said, paraphrasing a question he said he was hearing from independent voters.

That still has to be explained, Mr. Bannon continued. I dont know if its the president addressing the nation. I dont know if its the president getting on Fox & Friends. But clearly, at some point in time, the presidents got to walk through not just what his logic was, but also where he wants to take this.

Indeed, part of the problem for conservative media commentators was the lack of guidance from the White House, which has been slow to settle on a public narrative around General Suleimanis death.

In 2003, as the Bush administration prepared for a conflict in Iraq, White House officials took pains to build support among allies and media commentators for an invasion. In 2020, the Trump administration seems to be attempting the reverse: retroactively arguing its case even as the world grapples with the consequences of a provocative military strike.

Without providing specifics, Trump aides have referred to evidence from intelligence agencies about an imminent threat from Iran  the same intelligence agencies that Mr. Trump and his media surrogates have attacked for three years as biased and prone to fabricating evidence.
Rescue personnel work at the site where an under-construction building collapsed in southern Cambodia's coastal Kep province, Jan. 5, 2020.

Cambodia has ended its search for victims in the rubble of a seven-story hotel that collapsed late last week, as the number of casualties jumped to an estimated 36 dead and 23 injuredmany of whom were living in the unfinished building as members of the crew that was constructing it.

Prime Minister Hun Sen held a press conference on Sunday announcing an end to rescue efforts, in which he defended his governments handling of the disaster that occurred on Jan. 3 in southern Cambodias Kep province. He said that no one would be fired as a result of the collapse, which provincial authorities have said is being investigated to determine a cause.

Hun Sen blamed the collapse on the buildings contractor, who perished in the collapse, and said that the buildings ownersEk Sarun and his wife, Chhiv Sithyhad been detained for questioning, although he suggested that they were not responsible for the accident.

It was a tragedy and the mistake of the contractor, he said.

The owners of the collapsed building were not staying at the construction site, so they were unaware of what was going on during the constructiononly the contractor knew that. Unfortunately, he and his child were trapped and died inside the [collapsed] building.

Hun Sen said that the courts will decide how to proceed, but vowed that the families of the 36 killed in the tragedywhich Reuters news agency said included six children, at least two of which were infantswould each receive U.S. $50,000 in compensation, while those injured would receive U.S. $20,000.

On Monday, Man Boareth, a spokesman for the court of neighboring Kampot province, told RFAs Khmer Service that the Kep Provincial Court had released building owners Ek Sarun and Chhiv Sithy on bail.

I dont know the reason why they were releasedthey werent facing a criminal charge, just a regular civil charge, he added.

Reuters quoted Kep governor Ken Satha as saying he was unaware if the owners had been charged with any crime.

He said that, in principle, people are not allowed to live at construction sites, but acknowledged that there was nowhere else for the workers to live.

He also vowed to take measures, when asked whether authorities will ban workers from living at other construction sites.

Seang Phan, who lost five members of his familyincluding two childrenin the collapse, told RFA that he is demanding justice.

Regular people like us have no clue about what the court has decided, but I also want reparations from the buildings owners, he said, noting that he had had received U.S. $50,000 following Hun Sens promise to provide compensation.

Construction accidents

Tragedies such as last weeks collapse are common amid a construction boom in Cambodia, where developers often ignore permit requirements or simply never apply for them, and workers have died as a result.

RFA reported in June that a Chinese-owned unlicensed seven-story building collapsed in Sihanoukville, killing 28 people and injuring 26many of whom were construction workers sleeping on the second floor at the time of the incident.

Calls for the country to take action against illegal construction were made to Hun Sen following that incident, including through measures such as shutting off the electrical and water supply to sites, refusing access to the sewage system, rejecting permit applications, and banning marketing materials from offending developers.

Last week, Yun Phally, the Kep province coordinator for local rights group ADHOC, told RFA that the construction permit for the hotel in Kep province did not allow for seven floors, and suggested that corruption may have caused local officials to turn a blind eye to what was happening at the site.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Neang Ieng. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Imran Khan tried to defuse tensions between Iran-USA: US State dept

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Imran Khan was one of the world leaders who had engaged in an off-ramp diplomacy to defuse recent tensions between Iran and the United States, an official of the US State Department said on Monday. The off-ramp has been there for three years. The Iranians keep projecting it. And its not just us, said the official during a briefing earlier this week on the current Iran-US conflict.



French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, Prime Minister Khan in Pakistan and Sultan of Oman all these countries from all parts of the world have reached out to the regime in Iran, the official added.



After the assassination of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on Friday, Pakistan urged both the United States and Iran to avoid further escalation. On Sunday, Pakistan reaffirmed its resolve not to become a part of any conflict in the region and renewed its offer for mediating in the Middle East crisis.



Prime Minister Imran Khan had visited the Iranian capital in October as part of an initiative to defuse tensions in the Gulf and mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia. He also visited Saudi Arabia for further talks on the matter.



In Washington, the State Department official claimed that world leaders had failed to get the supreme leader (of Iran) to make better decisions, forcing Washington to take actions like bringing economic sanctions and assassinating Gen Soleimani.



Instead of focusing on diplomacy to resolve his disputes with the United States, the Iranian leader was busy managing economic collapse and a political crisis, and the death of his Qods Force leader, the US official alleged.



Iran has rejected such claims as incorrect, pointing out that it was President Donald Trump who walked out of a peace treaty negotiated by the previous US administration.



Iranian leaders say that they had participated in all international efforts to find a negotiated settlement, but the Trump administration has always been more interested in sanctions and military actions than talks.



Iran announced on Sunday it would no longer abide by the limits placed on its nuclear programme under a deal it signed with the United States and other world powers in 2015. Besides the United States, China, Russia, Germany, France and Britain signed this treaty.



President Trump withdrew the United States from the deal in May 2018 and justified his unilateral action by saying the accord was flawed. The agreement offered Tehran relief from stinging sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear weapons programme.



Mr. Trumps gambit has effectively backfired, observed The New York Times while commenting on Tehrans announcement and Washingtons decision to eliminate Gen Soleimani.



But Germany, France and Britain have urged Tehran to drop measures that go against the agreement. We call on Iran to withdraw all measures that are not in line with the nuclear agreement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a joint statement.
ISTANBUL - As U.S. officials on Tuesday defended the decision to kill Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad last week, Iranian leaders have stepped up calls for revenge against the United States, which says it has no intention of removing troops from neighboring Iraq.

The calls for retaliation came as Iranian authorities prepared to bury Soleimani in his hometown in Kerman, a city in the southeast of the country. Hours earlier, authorities had been forced to halt the burial proceedings after a deadly stampede killed dozens of people.

In Washington, Defense Secretary Mark Esper reaffirmed that U.S. troops will not be withdrawing from Iraq, saying that a letter sent by the U.S. commander in Baghdad to Iraqi officials "has no value" and that the Trump administration wants a continued U.S. presence.

Esper, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon for the second day in a row, called the letter a "draft." He said that he had asked whether a signed copy had been sent to Iraqi officials and that, "to the best of my knowledge," it had not.

However, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who resigned in November but is operating in a caretaker capacity, said earlier in the day in Baghdad that he had received a copy. A U.S. military official with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, also said Tuesday that a signed copy was sent.

The letter does not say explicitly that the U.S. military will withdraw forces, but it appears to leave open the possibility. Marine Brig. Gen. William Seely wrote in it that U.S. forces "will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement" and that "we respect your sovereign decision to order our departure."

Esper said Tuesday that "there may be some people trying to create confusion" in regard to the letter.

On Monday, the Pentagon's top officer, Army Gen. Mark Milley, said sending the letter was "a mistake," but Iraq's prime minister is interpreting the letter as a "withdrawal announcement."

According to senior officials in the Iraqi prime minister's office, Milley's comments are not being officially recognized, and the Iraqi government will now request a withdrawal timetable from Washington.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that the Trump administration "got it right" when it launched the airstrike that killed Soleimani, raising the risk of reprisal attacks on U.S. targets.

"It was the right decision," Pompeo said at a news conference at the State Department. "We got it right. The president had an entirely legal, appropriate and a basis [for] a decision that fit perfectly within our strategy of how to counter the threat, the malign activity from Iran."

Pompeo said he was confident that President Donald Trump's decision to target Soleimani was fully vetted by White House lawyers and that future actions would be legal.

But he grew heated when asked about the growing criticism of Trump's threat to strike Iranian cultural sites if Iran retaliates, a potential war crime.

"Every action we take will be consistent with the international rule of law," he said. "Let me tell you who has done damage to the Persian culture. It's not the United States of America. It's the ayatollah."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Trump's calls for targeting such sites "not appropriate." Tuesday afternoon.

McConnell made his comments unprompted at the top of his first news conference of the year, before even being asked a question. However, McConnell also defended the president's handling of the killing of Soleimani, telling reporters that he did not expect the "Gang of Eight" to be notified before action was taken.

"When President Obama took out Osama bin Laden, I was not told in advance, I was called by the VP afterwards and my response was, you did the right thing," he said. "Where is the applause on the other side for the killing of one of the heinous killers who ever walked the earth? It's mind-boggling."

The funeral for Soleimani resumed Tuesday evening after a stampede among mourners killed at least 50 people earlier in the day. Iranian news outlets reported that Soleimani's remains reached the Martyrs' Cemetery in Kerman.

The graveyard in Kerman, a southeastern city of about half a million people, is in a well-manicured lot near the teal-domed Saheb Zaman mosque. Earlier Tuesday, as mourners gathered to march to the site, the crowd surged near Azadi Square. In the ensuing panic, 50 people were killed and 200 injured.

"Today, I think that there are more than one million people here. The city was definitely not prepared for such a crowd," a local resident, Morteza, told BBC Persian.

Soleimani, a divisive but popular figure, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad last week. His funeral procession started Saturday in the Iraqi capital and included stops in the shrine cities of Karbala and Najaf, as well as in Ahvaz, Mashhad, Tehran, Qom and Kerman in Iran.

In the wake of the commander's death, Iranian leaders have stepped up calls for revenge against the United States. Security council head Ali Shamkhani said 13 scenarios for retaliation are being considered, and specifically mentioned that U.S. bases in the region were under surveillance.

Shamkhani said even the mildest of these options would be a "historical nightmare" for the United States. He added that the retaliation would "not be limited to a single operation."

The leader of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps said Tuesday that locations loved by the United States would be set on fire in revenge - a possible reference to Israel.

Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami spoke to hundreds of thousands gathering in the southern Iranian town of Kerman, birthplace of Soleimani, leader of the Guard's Quds Force.

"We will set fire to the place they love, and they know where that is," said Salami. Some commentators have suggested that he could have been referring to Israel. As he spoke, the crowd chanted "Death to Israel!"

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued an alert advising U.S. commercial ships to "exercise caution" when passing through waters near Iran, citing the threat from "Iran and its proxies."

The alert listed the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and the entire Indian Ocean as areas in which to be cautious.

After a U.S. airstrike killed a top Iranian commander early Jan. 3, the alert said, "the Iranian response to this action, if any, is unknown, but there remains the possibility of Iranian action against U.S. maritime interests in the region."

A series of incidents occurred during the summer in the narrow waters between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula through which pass vast amounts of the world's oil. The incidents included attacks on six commercial vessels and the seizure of three tankers.

NATO has begun moving troops out of Baghdad's Green Zone to other locations in Iraq and the broader region, citing a need to keep personnel safe. Military officials reported that the drawdown had already started, with helicopters evacuating a first wave of personnel overnight. The NATO mission in Iraq is focused on training Iraqi security forces fighting remnants of the Islamic State.

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.

Germany has temporarily moved all its military personnel stationed in non-Kurdish Iraqi territory to either Jordan or Kuwait, a German military spokesman said Tuesday.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has warned that militants "would be the only winners" of a full-blown war as a result of U.S.-Iran tensions. Raab singled out the Islamic State group as having most to gain.

The U.S.-led international coalition fighting the Islamic State has suspended its operations over safety concerns, even though the move is so far only temporary.

Raab's warning came after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement, which called on "all parties to exercise utmost restraint and responsibility."

While nearly every U.S. ally has declined to support Trump's order to kill Soleimani, the U.S. leader has found support in one surprising location: Brazil. razilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has made strengthening ties with Trump the fulcrum of his foreign policy, said Brazil stood with "any country in the world in the fight against terrorism."

In Washington, the bipartisan group of senators known as the"Gang of Eight" will receive a briefing on the killing of Soleimani on Tuesday from CIA Director Gina Haspel, National Security Agency Director Paul Nakasone and Joseph Maguire, acting director of national intelligence, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Top Democratic leaders in Congress have said that they were not informed in advance about the strike.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tuesday that the United States had denied his request for a visa to attend a meeting at the New York headquarters of the United Nations.

The move appears to violate an agreement the United States made with the United Nations in 1947 requiring the U.S. government to facilitate the entry of foreign officials attending the organization's meetings.

White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said Tuesday that the State Department may have refused to give Zarif a visa to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting this week because the timing was not right.

"I don't think Secretary [Mike] Pompeo thought that this was the right time for Mr. Zarif to come to the United States," O'Brien told "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday morning.

The State Department, which had no immediate comment on Zarif's visa, has granted Zarif visas only reluctantly in the past.

Senior Trump administration officials have begun drafting sanctions against Iraq after President Donald Trump publicly threatened the country with economic penalties if it proceeded to expel U.S. troops, according to three people briefed on the planning.

The Treasury Department and White House will probably take a lead role if the sanctions are implemented, the officials said. Such a step would represent a highly unusual move against a foreign ally that the United States has spent almost two decades and hundreds of billions of dollars supporting.

- - -

The Washington Post's Adam Taylor, Carol Morello Josh Dawsey, Karoun Demirjian, Jeff Stein, Dan Lamothe, Paul Kane and Colby Itkowitz in Washington, Louisa Loveluck in Baghdad, Rick Noack in Berlin, Mustafa Salim in Baghdad, and Paul Schemm in Dubai contributed to this report.
ST. JOSEPH, Minn. -- The Sustainable Farming Association's annual conference will be 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 8 at the College of St. Benedict here.

With more than 20 educational topics as well as children's programming, an afternoon social, trade show and more, the conference provides relevant, accessible education for all farmers, chefs, food buyers and anyone interested in local food.

Session topics include deep winter greenhouses, farm diversification, ideas on how to capitalize on local food trends, the untapped potential of the Minnesota halal and kosher meat market, and an overview of SFA's new initiative to promote managed woodland grazing.

Cost is $50 for SFA members or $60 for nonmembers through Jan. 31. All-day children's programming is $10 per child.

For a complete schedule, attendee registration, sponsor registration and much more, go to www.sfa-mn.org/conference .
US denied visa to Iranian Foreign Minister

WASHINGTON: The United States has denied a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that would have allowed him to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday, a US official said.



Monday's comments by the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, came as tensions escalate between the two countries after the United States killed Iran's most prominent military commander, Qasem Soleimani, in Baghdad on Friday.



Under the 1947 UN "headquarters agreement," the United States is generally required to allow access to the United Nations for foreign diplomats. But Washington says it can deny visas for "security, terrorism and foreign policy" reasons.



The US State Department declined immediate comment. Iran's mission to the United Nations said: "We have seen the media reports, but we have not received any official communication from either the US or the UN regarding Foreign Minister Zarif's visa."



UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric declined to comment on the US denial of a visa for Zarif. Zarif wanted to attend a meeting of the Security Council on Thursday on the topic of upholding the UN Charter. The meeting and Zarif's travel had been planned before the latest flare-up in tensions between Washington and Tehran.



The Security Council meeting would have given Zarif a global spotlight to publicly criticise the United States for killing Soleimani.



Iran's UN envoy, Majid Takht Ravanchi, has described the killing of Soleimani as "an obvious example of State terrorism and, as a criminal act, constitutes a gross violation of the fundamental principles of international law, including, in particular [...] the Charter of the United Nations".



Zarif last travelled to New York in September for the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations  after the United States sanctioned him for implementing "the reckless agenda of Iran's Supreme Leader".



The sanctions block any property or interests Zarif has in the United States, but he said he had none.
Justice Daddy Onyema who later went to The Hague was quoted to have said in the West African Pilot owned by the Great Zik of Africa that Igbo domination of Nigeria is only a matter of time. This statement didnt go down well with the rest of the country as it was viewed as one of arrogance.

This statement was rather prophetic because as at the time of independence, the top of the federal civil service was dominated by them. The University of Lagos which was situated in the west had an Igbo Vice-Chancellor as its first in the person of Professor Eni Njoku. Many academics in the then first generation universities were of Igbo extraction and the business landscape had their sturdy imprimatur with the countrys wealthiest man, Sir Louis Philip Odumegwu-Ojukwu the father of the Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu hailed from there as well. The most senior military officer after the retirement of the British General Welby Everald in 1965 was Major-General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi who was an Igbo man.

The first coup which terminated the First Coup was spearheaded by another Igbo man, Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and the first military Head of State was Aguiyi-Ironsi.

Their fortunes slid downhill after the Nigerian Civil War which saw the starvation of millions of Igbo children as the then Federal Commissioner for Finance and Vice-Chairman of the Federal Executive Council and the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo said that starvation was a legitimate weapon of warfare. Despite the No victor, no vanquished statement credited to the then Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, they were only given a paltry twenty pounds after the war as their settlement. It didnt matter how much they had prior to the war  that was their punishment for being renegades.

In an Arise TV interview granted recently where Mallam Isa Funtua, the former Managing Director of the Democrats Newspapers and an opinion leader from the north he picked holes at the thought of an Igbo person succeeding President Buhari. The interview was anchored by the duo of Dr. Reuben Abati and Tundun Abiola and he was quoted to have said: They (Igbo) should belong. They should join the party. They want to do things on their own and because they are Igbo, we should dash them the president? That was the reason I said is it turn by turn Nigeria Limited?

He also said: With due respect to the Igbo, they fail to understand that when the south-west chose to remain on their own as opposition, they did not go near the power. To a large extent, the north in terms of religion and culture are closer to the south-west than to the south-east. When Ekwueme contested (for the PDP ticket), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo defeated him.

I know Nigerian politics, you chose your candidate who will be able to bring votes to you to win election, not on regional basis, not on tribal basis. Is he going to be the president of the North, East, South-west, South-south or whatever? If the Ibo wants to be president, then they must belong. If you dont belong, then you cant be the president.

This statement is rather tragic as it greatly belittles the personality of Funtua relegating him to the status of an ethnic jingoist. The reason why the cry for secession is loudest in the south east is because of their marginalization by successive governments since the war ended decades ago. There is hardly governmental presence in the region with the worst roads being located there. The government at the centre has been playing sinister politics with the dredging of the River Niger and there is the crass refusal to build seaports there which will greatly decongest the Lagos ports and diffuse development and wealth to the east.

The number of relevant political appointments given to the region has greatly dipped as well as their presence in the top echelon of the civil and public service. These are critical issues that cannot be swept under the carpet which has seen the rise of the likes of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who have been vociferous in their cry for their own country as the union is not working in their interest.

The 1999 Constitution provides clearly for Federal Character to cater effectively for the interests of the over 250 ethnic groups that make up the nation so as to ensure that no single group perpetually lords it over the other. Therefore it is not out of place for the south east to agitate for the Presidency since they have never been privileged to have a shot at it since independence. The foremost nationalist, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who was of Igbo extraction fought against the secession clause from being inserted into the independence constitution of 1960 and gave up his Prime Ministerial dream when uhuru finally came in the interest of peace. In my humble opinion, the pay back time is now as they have really made lots of sacrifices for the growth and development of our nation.

In the interest of justice and equity, other tribes should support their bid to succeed Buhari in 2023 when his term would come to an end. We need to build a more inclusive nation as we are currently too divided. The east needs to be shown more love and not made to feel like second class citizens simply because they lost a war which they fought for a justifiable reason.

The south or the Confederates which tried to secede from the American Union werent treated as badly as the way the Igbos are being treated.

2023 should herald the new dawn of fair play and they should be sturdily backed to sit in Aso Rock.

Enough of the overheating of the polity by Northern leaders like Funtua!

Tony Ademiluyi writes from Lagos and edits www.africanbard.com
'It is unlikely that under this dispensation we will be able to contribute in any way to building a credible statistical system. So I didnt see the point in part of being in the committee'

IMAGE: Jawaharlal Nehru University Professor C P Chandrasekhar. Photograph: C P Chandrasekhar/Twitter

A day after masked goons entered Jawaharlal Nehru University and ran riot, injuring over 36 people with sticks, lathis and hammers, noted economist, Professor C P Chandrasekhar resigned from a central government-appointed committee on statistics.

The committee, appointed by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation, was set to shortly hold its first meeting to review Indias economic data.

In his resignation letter, Professor Chandrasekhar wrote, I regret to inform you that because of the situation in JNU where I stay, I will be unable to attend tomorrows meeting.

He was also quoted as saying in the letter, The JNU incident on Sunday has further undermined the faith in the system. It shows that we are now living in a different world and its hard to work with a government in which you have lost faith.

Speaking to Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com, Professor Chandrasekhar said that the agenda is "to declare everybody as anti-national and urban naxals and so on and so forth".

Why did you resign from the government-appointed panel?

I used to be on two committees -- the index services production and the other was the index services prices -- for which reports have been prepared and submitted. They created an omnibus committee which also has other things like responsibility for services and so on. So, when they called me a while back and since I had worked for the Central Statistics Office and department of industrial policy and promotion, I agreed to be a part of this large 28-member committee.

But since then so many things have happened, starting from the Citizenship Amendment Bill to the National Register of Citizens. Now, we have the National Population Register which is supposed to have house listing operations for census that became NPR under a different government. Now NPR is being increased in terms of its expanse and on that basis there is a possibility that an official can identify people on the basis of NPR figures as being doubtful (citizens of India).

Then you had the Jamia Millia University incident and the Aligarh Muslim University and now this Jawaharlal Nehru University incident happened. So it is unlikely that under this dispensation we will be able to contribute in any way to building a credible statistical system. So I didnt see the point in part of being on the committee.

Did you witness the violence at JNU?

I did not witness it directly as I live in a different part of the campus but I went out and met the students.

As of now there are two opposing views on who perpetrated the violence. While one says it was by the Left-backed students union, the other says it was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party's student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

There is enough evidence. It is like saying somebody who is hit on the head and had to get 18 stitches did it to herself (Aishe Ghosh, president of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union). This is all propaganda. It is very clear that the attack was planned and who did it. It had the backing of the police and now we are having all such stories coming out.

As a professor what do you have to say to young students about violence on college campuses?

First of all, there is an agenda. And we know that there is a divisive agenda trying to identify the other as enemy. The agenda is to declare everybody as anti-national and urban naxals and so on and so forth. That is at the propaganda level.

On a secondary level, you are moving into a situation where you want to suppress dissent or different opinion -- either through direct police action like in Jamia or AMU. And if not that, then by having an incident as in JNU. There is no question that they (goons) had support from the police and administration.

What should the government do in such a time?

What should they have done! On some level, there is involvement of the State and police. You cannot have the police standing by in large numbers at the gate and some policemen go in civil dress within the campus. All of this happens for two hours, and that is not normal. After two hours, the university decides to invite the police to control the situation, which they do. There is a video showing that they are escorting them (goons).

There are also questions being raised about the integrity of the GDP data under the Modi government.

There are multiple things. One is you have GDP; they can say that they revised the series from 2011 as base and therefore some changes. But the whole point is that when you decided to generate a back series so that you can look at compatibility over time. There was a government committee which was to review the data and then you have another set of figures manufactured, which says that the rate of growth is the highest in the year of demonetisation.

NITI Aayog then got involved which they are not supposed to. There was some manipulation. They then decided not to release the employment survey and when they did not like what the data revealed, they did not release it. Obviously, this is not a dispensation which would like any information being put out.

Does this give the country a bad name across the world?

Obviously, the government is not bothered. There are large numbers of economists who have signed on this statistics issue. Even the international media has (written) about it. The government obviously is not bothered.
T he British Academy Film Awards, otherwise known as 'The BAFTAs' have been around since 1949.

Although the ceremony takes place after the much-anticipated Golden Globes and SAG Awards, the British-based event never fails to attract a star-studded crowd.

Over the years, the BAFTA red carpet has been graced by some of the biggest names in film and television, along with some truly memorable outfits.

From Audrey Hepburn's iconic white dress in 1955, to Angelina Jolie breaking barriers in 2014 wearing a Yves Saint Laurent suit, it's fair to say that an array of designers and trends have made an appearance during the awards' history.

PA

The glamorous evening also has a long association with the royal family, which in recent years has meant the attendance of The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Willliam.

For The Duchess's BAFTA debut in 2011, she stunned in a sweeping lavender floor length gown by Alexander McQueen - the designer also created her wedding dress that same year.

Getty Images

The duchess is set to return to the red carpet for a fourth time at the BAFTAs 2020 along with a killer line-up of stars at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday, February 2.

TODO: define component type apester
South Mountain in Bethlehem these days is dotted with signs of Lehigh Universitys ambitious growth and it is ready to add another big project to the list with a business school expansion.

The Southside school wants to grow its College of Business by building a three-story building at 459-461 Webster St., on the site of a 44-space parking lot and three Lehigh administrative buildings. The new addition will sit across from the Rauch Business Center.

The new high-tech building will give young businesses a place to grow and students a chance to dive into the world of big data in a new data analytics lab. The proposed 18,500-square-foot building will grow Lehighs financial services lab and expand the business communications center.

The Vistex Center for Executive Education -- created by Lehigh MBA alumnus and Vistex, Inc., founder Sanjay Shah -- will occupy the entire third floor. The center provides high-impact, short programs for working professionals. Lehigh is adding a business incubator program in partnership with the Baker Center for Entrepreneurship.

Lehigh Business is at the intersection of business and technology and the new building will enhance this direction and stature, Lehigh spokeswoman Lori Friedman said. The physical expansion of Lehigh Business will impact all facets of the college.

Lehigh will need to demolish two existing university campus facilities/services planning buildings and the Zoellner Arts Center administrative offices to construct the Rauch expansion, according to a letter submitted to the city planning bureau. The administrative offices will be relocated elsewhere on campus, Friedman said.

Lehigh University plans to tear down these administrative offices to build a new three-story College of Business building.Sara K. Satullo | For lehighvalleylive.com

The city will want to hear how the project fits into Lehighs Path to Prominence program and its campus-wide plan to reduce car usage and promote walking on campus, said Tracy E. Samuelson, city assistant director of planning and zoning.

Lehigh contends its campus-wide parking approach meets city parking requirements and the building is not expected to generate additional car traffic, according to the letter it submitted to the city. The university plans to provide a traffic analysis as part of its land development submission. The project will result in the loss of some parking, but Lehighs internal inventory of pay-by-space and metered parking shows an underutilization that can absorb the loss of on-street parking, Friedman said.

Lehigh University plans to tear down three administrative offices and build a new three-story College of Business building on this parking lot along West Packer Avenue and Webster Street.Sara K. Satullo | For lehighvalleylive.com

The site plans for the proposed building are set to be reviewed by the Bethlehem Planning Commission at 5 p.m. on Thursday, which will provide feedback to the citys zoning hearing board. The project requires several setback and building coverage zoning variances and is expected to go before the zoning board later this month. If the variances are granted, the project will return to the planning commission for land development approval.

Lehighs Path to Prominence is an aggressive plan to grow the universitys undergraduate and graduate enrollment by 1,500 students, attract more leading researchers to the faculty and open a new College of Health. Its meant lots of building activity on the campus in recent years.

SouthSide Commons, a new five-story development of 426 student apartments at Packer and Brodhead avenues, opened last fall. The university is building a cluster of six new resident halls west of the the Clayton University Center at Packer Hall. The first $75 million phase of the New Residential Houses project -- originally dubbed Bridge West -- is already underway and three of the houses will be available to students starting this fall.

Lehigh broke ground in October on the $145 million Health, Science and Technology building that will house the College of Health. Steps away from the proposed Rauch expansion, HST is being built on a former faculty parking lot behind Whitaker Laboratory at the corner of Morton and Webster streets.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
By PTI

BENGALURU: A Bengaluru-based devotee of Lord Venkateswara on Monday donated Rs 1 crore to the Tirumala hill temple near here with a request to use the fund for the temple-run Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshana (care and protection of cows) Trust.

A senior temple official told PTI that the devotee Amarnath Chowdary and his wife, after offering worship at the hill temple, handed over the DD for the amount to the additional executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) AV Dharma Reddy. The TTD governs the hill shrine.

The donation was a fulfillment of a vow made to the Lord Venkateswara by the devotee for fruitfully running a software company floated nine years ago in Bengaluru, the official said.

The devotee requested the TTD to use the donation for the trust meant for the welfare of the cows housed in the TTD's dairy farm that has been supplying milk for the temple rituals and babies of devotees on the hills, he added.
After a night of tear jerkers (see: Tom Hankss emotional acceptance speech), major fashion risks that paid off (Kerry Washingtons jaw-dropping Altuzarra number, Gwyneth Paltrows sheer booty-baring Fendi dress, etc.), and more at Sunday nights Golden Globes, it was time to let loose, grab a treat by Lady M Cake Boutique, and party the night away at the 21st annual InStyle and Warner Bros. HFPA party, sponsored by Secret Deodorant, Cadillac, and LOreal Paris, and decorated by Jowy Productions.

Randy Shropshire/Getty Images

Just a few steps away from the ceremony inside the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif., Washington, Margot Robbie, Yara Shahidi, Helen Mirren, and more of your faves made their way inside the invite-only bash for a night of mixing, mingling, and dancing, thanks to DJ Michele Pesce, who kept everyone on their feet and throwing up their hands until the very last song of the night.

Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

And as if the fashion highlights on the Globes carpet werent enough, they continued at the after party, with many ditching their gowns for chic cocktail ensembles. Laverne Cox, for example, slayed in not one, but two looks, rocking a statement-making neon orange Michael Cinco gown on the carpet, and then doing a quick change moments later into a black suit before heading inside. This is just for InStyle, the former Orange Is the New Black star said before giving her platinum blonde bob a flip.

It's the place that everybody kind of wants to be, Kathryn Newton, who twirled around the carpet in a dreamy, floral-embellished Valentino gown, told InStyle. "To get to be here is an honor, just to be in the room is really cool. I mean, last year I saw Lady Gaga, you know what I mean? she added with a laugh. Like, we made eye contact.

Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen made it a couples night out, as did Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello, and Patricia Arquette (who palmed her Globes trophy as she hit the party) and her boyfriend Eric White.

Lester Cohen/Getty Images

And although Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa were also on hand, Bonet called it a family night, since her daughter Zoe Kravitz was right there with them. Its a family moment, Bonet said, before Kravitz grabbed her hand and said "I love you." Bonet went on, Everyone's away in the world working, so it's so nice to be together.

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Inside, several dance parties broke out around the room, with Paris Hilton throwing up her hands, tossing back her hair, and dancing like no one was watching, and Kate Beckinsale enjoying a girls night out as she shook her hips with her friend at the bar to French Montanas Pop That as they waited for their drinks.

Shailene Woodley had a party of her own on the carpet, and danced her way into the bash in a sparkly beaded blue and black Balmain gown. I love that it was custom made by Olivier [Rousteing] himself and Balmain for my body, she said about her dress, before telling us that her theme song for the night would be anything from a Studio 54 playlist.

I mean, I'm already dancing, she said, when asked about the vibe of the annual party. It's in my bones. It's in my blood.

RELATED: All the Incredible After Party Moments from the Golden Globes 2020

Tiffany Haddish, meanwhile, sang us her theme song for the night, saying, it was one I made up for myself. She went on to sing, Tonight's the night! Tonight is your night sis! You're gonna dance tonight sis! You're gonna look so good tonight sis! All the men are gonna be on you cause tonight, tonight, tonight is your night sis! She then belted out a high note, laughed, and headed into the party.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Before the night was over, Yara Shahidi, who stunned in a Carolina Herrara yellow dress that had a secret detail (my train has a hook, she told us before hooking it on her thumb and extending her arm) and more hit the LOreal photo booth, while others grabbed a caffeine boost at the espresso bar, and Erika Christensen and more gave their feet a break by grabbing a pair of flip flops at the Secret Deodorant booth on the way home.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Getty

Getty Images

And, of course, no Globes night would be complete without a toast. Kate Bosworth and Sophia Bush, who hung out together throughout the night, were ready to celebrate a new year and new beginnings. [Im toasting to] a new decade. The decade of the lady perhaps, Bush said. Im ready for 2020, Bosworth chimed in.
Jerome L. Zaha, 38, of the 400 block of Fifth Street, was arrested Thursday and is accused of possessing images in which he knew, or should have known, the people shown were under the age of 13, according to court documents.
CHICAGO, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VelocityEHS , the global leader in cloud-based environment, health, safety (EHS) and sustainability solutions, is reminding employers in the United States of OSHAs annual Recordkeeping Standard deadline. By February 1, covered employers must complete Form 300A and post the summary of serious injuries and illnesses from the previous year in a location that is clearly visible to all employees and new applicants, and keep it posted until April 30. VelocityEHS is helping safety professionals better understand their reporting obligations with a variety of resources available to help them stay in compliance.



OSHAs Recordkeeping Standard has undergone a number of updates in recent years, especially those concerning the agencys Electronic Reporting Rule. As a result, employers unfamiliar with the changes and how they affect their business are encouraged to attend VelocityEHS popular live webinar,  OSHAs Recordkeeping Standard: Your Guide to Compliance , on January 9, 2020 from 11 a.m.  12 p.m. ET. Offered to the public at no additional cost, the webinar provides a comprehensive review of the most recent updates to the Recordkeeping Standard, current Electronic Reporting applicability and due dates, as well as best practices for ensuring compliance. Attendees get a look at the nuances and challenges of recordkeeping  including detailed discussion of how to determine if injuries and illnesses are recordable  and an opportunity to have their questions directly addressed by our EHS experts. Those unable to attend the live webinar broadcast can also watch an on-demand version.

Also available from VelocityEHS is its OSHA Recordkeeping Infographic , which helps EHS professionals quickly and easily determine which workplace incidents are OSHA recordable or reportable, what next steps need to be taken, and when.

Those looking for a more comprehensive way to record detailed incident information, generate regulatory documents and more easily file electronic submissions should consider comprehensive cloud software. VelocityEHS easy-to-use Incident Management software helps streamline the reporting process by enabling users to generate the injury and illness summaries you are required to post on-site each February, as well as quickly complete the necessary forms to meet the electronic submission requirements via OSHAs Injury Tracking Application (ITA). In addition, the award-winning VelocityEHS Mobile App makes it easier to manage workplace incidents by engaging front-line workers to instantly report accidents, near misses and hazards as they occur  with or without internet connectivity  via a smartphone or tablet device for faster, more detailed and accurate accounts of reportable incidents.

For more information about VelocityEHS and its full suite of award-winning EHS products and services, visit www.EHS.com .

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Trusted by more than 18,000 customers worldwide, VelocityEHS helps you reach your EHS goals faster with quick implementations, affordable solutions and unparalleled customer support. We deliver a comprehensive cloud-based environment, health and safety (EHS) software platform. Our easy-to-use software applications are designed based on industry best-practice principles to help you solve complex business challenges in simple ways. Recognized by the EHS industrys top independent analysts, including leading scores in the Verdantix 2019 Green Quadrant Analysis, VelocityEHS is the global leader in cloud EHS software solutions.



VelocityEHS is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with locations in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Tampa, Florida; Oakville, Ontario; London, England; and Perth, Western Australia. For more information, visit www.EHS.com .
LANSING, Mich., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Lift Company has redesigned WirelessAir, the premium on-board air compressor system, making the wireless control of all brands of air spring load support solutions easier and more convenient than ever. WirelessAir is a dual-path system, allowing the user to adjust their air springs independently of each other, perfect for those towing or hauling uneven or top-heavy loads.

The updated WirelessAir system was designed around increased functionality and ease of accessibility, starting with the new, hand-held controller, featuring an LCD display. The company also introduced a new mobile app, available for free on Apple and Android devices, that allows users to inflate and deflate their air springs from their Bluetooth-enabled smartphone. Both the app and the controller are programmable with up to three user-defined presets, making pressure changes easy, from inside or outside the vehicle.

The weather-resistant and corrosion-proof manifold was also completely reimagined, now featuring Bluetooth-connectivity, allowing for two-way communication between itself and the controller, resulting in integrated diagnostics, including leak detection and wiring assistance. Upgrades and software updates are now available using Air Lift's exclusive firmware-over-the-air technology, through the mobile app.

The system is powered by a heavy-duty, 120 PSI, 1.03 CFM, 9% duty cycle, 12V compressor that seamlessly connects to the pre-assembled wiring harness. WirelessAir is now also compatible with air tanks, allowing users to store air for use with tires or other equipment.

The new EZ Mount system makes installation faster and simpler than ever before by packaging the manifold and a heavy-duty compressor into one convenient, pre-assembled mounting bracket.

The WirelessAir system is backed by Air Lift's industry-leading two-year limited warranty and a 60-day, no-questions-asked, money-back guarantee. For more information, visit airliftcompany.com/wirelessair , or call Air Lift's customer service team at (800) 248-0892.

About Air Lift

Air Lift Company, founded in 1949, is a third-generation, family-owned suspension specialty company based in Lansing, Michigan. Air Lift is committed to engineering, manufacturing and selling the highest quality suspension products that fit, work and last. Air Lift products are available at retailers across the country as well as internationally. For more information or additional product photos, find Air Lift Company on the web at http://www.airliftcompany.com/ or call (517) 999-2121.

SOURCE Air Lift Company

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HMS Montrose is on standby to assist British nationals in the Gulf (Steve Parsons/PA)

The Government is putting in place urgent measures to protect British nationals and interests amid rising tensions in the Gulf, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said.

Mr Wallace said non-essential personnel had been moved out of Baghdad while Royal Navy warships and military helicopters were on heightened readiness to assist if needed.

In a Commons statement, he again appealed for all sides to de-escalate in the wake of the killing of the Iranian military chief Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike.

At the same time he defended the right of the US to act in self-defence, saying Gen Soleimani had been in neighbouring Iraq when he was hit to co-ordinate murder and attacks on US citizens.

Ahead of a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the growing crisis, Mr Wallace said the safety and security of UK nationals and interests in the region were of paramount concern.

Non-essential personnel had been re-located from Baghdad to the military base at Camp Taji, north of the Iraqi capital, while the Department of Transport was reviewing its advice to British shipping on a daily basis.

At the same time, Defence are changing the readiness of our forces  including helicopters and ships on stand-by to assist if the need arises, he said.

As part of prudent planning, a small team has been sent to the region to provide additional situational awareness and contingency planning assistance.

Expand Close Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told MPs the protection of UK nationals was paramount (House of Commons/PA PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told MPs the protection of UK nationals was paramount (House of Commons/PA

The Government has already announced that the Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender and the Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose are to resume duties escorting shipping through the Straits of Hormuz.

In the Commons, Jeremy Corbyn demanded to know why Boris Johnson was not in the House to address MPs, accusing him of hiding behind his Defence Secretary.

Isnt the truth that hes scared to stand up to President Trump because hes hitched his wagon to the prospect of a toxic Trump trade deal? he said.

Instead, at this highly dangerous moment, we find the Government giving cover and even expressing sympathy for what is widely regarded as an illegal act, because theyre so determined to keep in with President Trump.

Speaking to Sky News on Tuesday evening, Mr Corbyn condemned Gen Soleimanis killing once again.

He said: To assassinate an official of a foreign government in a third country, in this case Iraq, is illegal under any law and the US, if it wants the world to stand by international law, must stand by international law itself.

This is a provocative act which has made the whole world a much more dangerous place.

Mr Corbyn was repeatedly asked whether he would label the targeted general as a terrorist. He replied: Soleimani is the head of special forces of Iran  they obviously operate in all kinds of places that you and I would not agree with or want.

That is not the point. The point is its an illegal act that took place and if we want to end illegal acts by anybody; you dont commit them yourself.

The Labour leader later reiterated his criticism of Mr Johnson for failing to address MPs and added: He is the prime minister of this country, he has to be held to account for what his government says and does; he has to be held to account for his own actions by coming to our parliament to answer questions.

His comments come amid criticism Mr Johnson had been slow to respond to the crisis, not returning from his new year break on the private Caribbean island of Mustique until the weekend.

Expand Close Jeremy Corbyn accused Boris Johnson of giving cover to the US for an illegal act (House of Commons/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Jeremy Corbyn accused Boris Johnson of giving cover to the US for an illegal act (House of Commons/PA)

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said he was continuing to talk to other world leaders and had overseen the ministerial response by the Government.

The PM leads a Cabinet Government and the response to events in the Middle East is a collective Cabinet response, the spokesman said.

Mr Wallace said Gen Soleimani had been no friend of the UK and that the Quds force of the Revolutionary Guards Corps which he led had been one of the foremost architects of Irans malign activity in the region.

His clandestine operations saw him supply weaponry to proxy forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said.

He encouraged proxies to develop weapons such as improvised explosive devices that killed and maimed UK soldiers and other Western forces.

Mr Wallace said the US believed Gen Soleimani had been behind a militia attack which killed a US civilian contractor in Kirkuk in northern Iraq last month and that he had been in Baghdad to co-ordinate imminent attacks on US diplomats and troops.

Since October last year, he said there had been 14 attacks on coalition bases in the country, used by both US and UK forces, and the international green zone in Baghdad.

The UK will always defend the right of countries to defend themselves, he said.

At the same time he said Britain would do all it could to encourage Iran to take a different path, including working with European allies to reboot the nuclear deal abandoned by the US.

Her Majestys Government urges Iran to return to the normal behaviour of the country it aspires to be and resist the urge to retaliate, he said.
It wasnt long when the Ghana Government decided to launch the Year of return initiative to invite those in the diaspora to come back to their ancestral roots and see for themselves how their ancestors were sold as slaves to Foreign countries.

This initiative by the Government was applauded by many and hundreds of foreigners trooped in to honor the invitation.

Well, everything was so successful that our neighboring country Nigeria decided to come up with Door of Return.

A lot of social media users have reacted to this including Ghanaian controversial TV and radio personality Afia Schwarzenegger.

Afia Schwarzenegger who could not fathom why Nigeria decided to copy Ghana took to her Instagram page to mock them.

According to Afia Schwarzenegger, instead of Nigerians fixing their light issues, they want to rub shoulders with Ghanaians.

She wrote;  But Why???? The door of return. Na waooo do you have lights?? Or they are coming with their own generatorsI know they will bring their sharp mouth, me I am sleeping ooo. Cos this will be the saga of the returnees I swearm

Return to be kidnapped or return to Book Haram? I love my naija people but I beg, this one Naija no go fitI know from a distance it looks enviable but bro where will they land? mutala Mohammed? Are you sure? And how will they move, by air, cos the traffic in Lagos is another bad news.

2020 certainly wont be the door of return in Nigeria..you are not ready yet!!!!!!

Lots of people reacted to Afias advice with some even asking her to do a video to make the Nigerians understand her more.

Do you agree with Afia Schwarzenegger? Are Nigerians not prepared for the door of return? Share your thoughts with us!

---Ghbase.com
J ailed former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for Covid-19.

Reports that Weinstein, 68, has been placed in isolation at Wende Correctional Facility were confirmed by Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association.

Previously, the movie mogul required help walking into New York's Supreme Court, where he was convicted of third degree rape and a first degree criminal sex act on February 24.

He was then sentenced to 23 years in prison on March 11 for sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress.

Following the sentencing, Weinstein spent time at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan for heart problems, according to his spokesman, Juda Engelmayer. He also has other medical issues, including diabetes and high blood pressure.

Harvey Weinstein appears at court / AFP via Getty Images

How did the disgraced movie mogul catch coronavirus?

Mr Powers said he learned that the test came back positive on Sunday morning and is concerned about the corrections officers, who he said lack proper protective equipment.

He added that several staff have been quarantined.

A lawyer for Weinstein said on Sunday night that his legal team had not been notified of the coronavirus diagnosis. "Given Mr. Weinstein's state of health, we are of course concerned, if this is the case, and we are vigilantly monitoring the situation," said lawyer Imran Ansari, who is based in New York.

The Niagara Gazette, a local newspaper in upstate New York, reported that Weinstein had tested positive for the highly contagious virus earlier Sunday, citing anonymous officials.

According to reports a state official said two prisoners at the Wende Facility have confirmed cases of COVID-19. The official said he could not comment on any individual prisoner's medical record.

The official added that with each confirmed case, the Department of Corrections works with the Department of Health to identify potentially exposed people.

Why did Harvey Weinstein use a Zimmer frame during his trial?

Weinstein underwent a three-hour back operation in mid-December for laminectomy - also known as decompression surgery.

The procedure involves removing the back part of the bone called the lamina over the spinal column.

It is performed to relieve pinched nerves in the spinal column, which often causes back and leg pain.

The surgery was scheduled after the 67-year-old began experiencing pain and difficulty walking as a result of what he claims was a car accident in August.

Harvey Weinstein arrives in court in December / REUTERS

He appeared in court on December 11, the day before his surgery, looking frail and using a walker which prompted questions about his health.

The week before, he had also hobbled into court for a bail hearing looking distinctly frail and unsteady on his feet, propped up by two security guards.

His attorney Donna Rotunno also revealed at that time that he was suffering from Type 2 diabetes.

Throughout his trial and weeks after his surgery, the disgraced movie mogul continued to use a Zimmer frame as he recovered from the operation.

Towards the end of January the defendant started using a Drive Nitro walker, which costs around 170 on Amazon.

Weinstein was warned by a judge not to let his health get in the way of the trial.

Weinstein with his new walker / REUTERS

What was the criticism of his frail appearance during his trial?

When Weinstein first appeared at court looking unwell, hundreds speculated that it might have been an act to incite sympathy.

His lawyers said they were "dismayed" by the suggestion, adding that the media had "incorrectly stated" it as such.

"Mr Weinstein was in a serious car accident in August, which resulted in a concussion and has now necessitated the need for back surgery later this week", Ms Rotunno said.

"He has been using a walker to assist him as the back pain has increased. He wanted to leave the walker in the car, so it did not appear that was he looking for sympathy, as he is not.

Harvey Weinstein appears at court in December / Getty Images

"The press surrounding his physical condition is mean spirited and false."

However, he faced another onslaught of criticism when he appeared with a Zimmer subsequently.

When asked outside the courtroom how his back felt, Weinstein responded with a thin smile and a so-so gesture with his hand.

Across the street from the court, actresses and other women who allege they were sexually harassed or assaulted by Weinstein said he was undeserving of anyones pity.

He looked cowardly. He wouldnt look at us. He wouldnt make eye contact, said Sarah Ann Masse, a performer and writer who alleged Weinstein once sexually harassed her during a job interview.

This trial is a cultural reckoning regardless of its legal outcome, she said.

Why was Harvey Weinstein on trial?

Harvey Weinstein looks to have been using the frame while in the court rooms / REUTERS

Weinstein was facing allegations that he raped one woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and performed a forcible sex act on a different woman in 2006.

While more than 80 women have made claims of sexual harassment or assault against the movie mogul, these two were at the centre of his criminal trail in New York.

But there are still ongoing criminal investigations into further complaints against him in London, New York and Los Angeles.

His trial started at the New York Supreme Court on Monday January 6, where he pleaded not guilty to the five charges against him.

The 67-year-old was convicted of third degree rape and a first degree criminal sex act on February 24. He faces up to 25 years in prison and will be sentenced on March 11.

He was acquitted on the most serious charge - predatory sexual assault - which carried a potential life sentence. He was also cleared on first degree rape.

Weinstein accuser Rose McGowan speaks outside New York's Supreme Court / AFP via Getty Images

On January 6, 2020, the Los Angeles County District Attorney announced further criminal charges against Harvey Weinstein as he was facing his trail in relation to the separate allegations in New York.

In LA, he is accused of allegedly raping one woman and sexually assaulting another in separate incidents over a two-day period in 2013.

Weinstein is charged with one felony count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint.

He has pleaded not guilty and has always maintained that any sexual activity was consensual.

It has been more than two years since allegations first came to widespread public attention and catalysed the #MeToo movement.
[January 07, 2020] Horseware Ireland Announces Revolutionary Fitness Tracker for Horses Powered by Taoglas

CES (News - Alert) 2020 -- Horseware Ireland, the leading branded horse blanket company and Taoglas, a leading provider of next-generation IoT solutions, today announced the ground-breaking Horsepal Edge solution powered by Taoglas (News - Alert), at CES. The Horsepal Edge is a market-leading Internet of Things (IoT) solution for the equestrian industry and represents the next generation in the Horsepal series. Building on the success of the original Horsepal, the Horsepal Edge enables a "connected horse," allowing health, activity and behavior to be monitored in real time. Metrics include motion detection, movement style, sleep tracking and more. The Horsepal Edge ensures professional knowledge to optimize the wellness and performance of the horse through evaluation and management of activity, rest, sleep and environment. Speaking on the inspiration behind the new Horsepal Edge, Horseware Ireland Founder and Executive Chairman Tom MacGuinness stated, "Having real-time data and a more holistic view of horse health and activity is something our industry has been lacking for ages. Digital transformation with 24/7 monitoring will help horse owners make more informed decisions about health, exercise and care and will ultimately lead to improved health and life of the horse. When we saw the need in the market, we decided to develop a solution from the ground up!" The Horsepal Edge is powered by Taoglas' EDGE Connect, a next-generation IoT hardware and software platform that provides full cellular, Bluetooth and GPS capabilities with heart rate and activity monitoring - all from an ultra low-power device. The Taoglas EDGE Connect platform also provides device management, sensor management, a full IoT security stack, power management and Data-as-a-Service out of the box and is the backbone behind the new Horsepal Edge solution. "Being first to market with a superior IoT platform combined with our deep knowledge of the equestrian industryhas allowed us to develop this unique health management solution for horses. We're proud to lead this evolution and excited about what our continued innovation of the platform will provide in years to come," Mr. MacGuinness continued.



Monitoring horse health, activity and behavior metrics initially proved technically challenging, and Taoglas worked with Horseware to augment and innovate technologies specifically designed to detect reliable heart rate signals through horse hair, train algorithms to work for horses and develop an ultra low-power device to allow for required battery life. "We had to push the boundaries of power management, sensor optimization, edge computing and firmware optimization to achieve this world-class product," said Adrian Burns, president of the IoT solutions division at Taoglas. "Horsepal Edge can continuously collect data 24/7 and has a battery life of weeks rather than days. Horseware is leading the digital transformation of the equestrian industry with the Horsepal Edge, and IoT will help owners make even more insightful decisions. We are excited to bring this solution to market together with the innovative team at Horseware."

The Horsepal Edge's key capabilities include: Capturing data including distance travelled by the horse, time spent grazing, gait analysis, sleep tracking, time spent standing still, etc.

Fully operational GPS tracking for geofencing with active notifications

An integrated heart rate monitor to assess the fitness of the horse and determine recommended activity level for optimal fitness

A Rug Advisor with GPS and advanced temperature algorithms to advise which rug to put on the horse, factoring in the weather forecast for the next 5 days

Multi-mode setup with sensor integration, including training mode, stable mode and vet mode

Application including horse profile with farrier contact, veterinary contact, and ability to upload images of passports and vaccination certificates

Cloud-based data that can be shared across devices anywhere

User-controlled data update frequency

An ergonomic shape and water-resistant casing Ultimately, the Horsepal Edge is an essential tool for both the experienced equestrians who want to get real verifiable data or for the novice owner seeking peace of mind determining the right care for their pony. For more information or to see a demonstration of the Horsepal solution, visit Taoglas' booth (#2909) in the IoT Infrastructure Pavilion inside the Westgate at Tech East at CES. About Horseware Ireland Horseware Ireland is the leading producer of equestrian and pet products including rugs, therapeutics, and accessories, as well as a range of performance and casual clothing for men, women, and children. Founded in 1985 by Tom and Carol MacGuinness, Horseware Ireland has grown to employ over 700 people, with facilities in Ireland, Cambodia, China, and North Carolina. The iconic Rambo  original turnout was a revolution in the design, fit and quality of horse rugs. The original Rambo  turnout continues to be produced in Ireland and is exported around the world, to countries like North America, the UK, Sweden, Germany, and Australia. Horseware Ireland is an innovative company with creativity at the core of all product development. They have won numerous accolades for their blankets and accessories. The original Horsepal system was launched in 2018, winning the coveted innovation award at BETA 2018. See www.horsepal.com for further information. About Taoglas Taoglas is the world's leading provider of next-generation IoT solutions, combining the latest in high-performance RF antenna with advanced positioning, imaging, audio and artificial intelligence technologies for companies with unique IoT challenges. With 10 world-class design, support and test centers in Ireland, Germany, Poland, Taiwan, China, and the US, in-house manufacturing in Taiwan and the US, and a dynamic online ordering system, Taoglas helps companies deliver complex IoT solutions to market quickly and cost-effectively. Best-in-class support, unmatched consultancy, engineering expertise, and custom design services make Taoglas a trusted adviser to companies across a range of wireless and IoT technologies, from cellular 4G/5G, GNSS, Wi-Fi, DSRC/CV2X, NFC, LORA/LPWAN to any protocol used to transmit and receive data. This expertise is proven across a variety of use cases in automotive, utilities and smart cities, healthcare, telematics, smart metering and more. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005556/en/

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LOS ANGELES (AP)  Harvey Weinstein has been indicted on new sex crime charges in Los Angeles, just as his trial on separate rape and sexual assault charges in New York was poised to get underway, prosecutors announced Monday.

The Hollywood mogul has been charged with raping one woman and sexually assaulting another in separate incidents over a two-day period in 2013, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a news release.

We believe the evidence will show that the defendant used his power and influence to gain access to his victims and then commit violent crimes against them, Lacey said in a statement. I want to commend the victims who have come forward and bravely recounted what happened to them. It is my hope that all victims of sexual violence find strength and healing as they move forward.

Weinstein allegedly raped a woman in a hotel room on Feb. 18, 2013, after he pushed his way inside her room, prosecutors said. The next night, he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in a Beverly Hills hotel suite. That woman is expected to testify at Weinstein's trial in New York.

The Los Angeles district attorneys task force is still investigating sex crime allegations against Weinstein from three women, Lacey said. Prosecutors declined charges involving three other women because their cases were beyond the statute of limitations.

Weinstein faces up to 28 years in state prison if he is convicted of the charges filed in L.A. of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint. His arraignment has not yet been scheduled and prosecutors will recommend $5 million bail. Weinstein is expected to appear in court in California after his trial in New York is finished, Lacey said.

Lawyers for Weinstein had no immediate response to the new charges. The Manhattan district attorney's office declined to comment on them.

The news came the same day that Weinstein and several of the women who have accused him of sexual misconduct converged Monday at the New York City courthouse where a judge and his lawyers handled the final preparations for his high-stakes trial on charges of rape and assault.

Speaking at the New York courthouse Monday prior to the announcement, Weinsteins attorneys suggested they knew charges might be coming. They asked the judge for potential jurors to be sequestered partly because of the possibility that charges could be brought elsewhere against Weinstein while the trial was ongoing. The denied that request.

There is a potential L.A. situation going on, his lawyer, Donna Rotunno, told reporters after the hearing.

We dont know what is going to happen. Were hoping not, added another of his lawyers, Damon Cheronis. We have no control over what happens in Los Angeles or anywhere else.

Earlier Monday, Weinstein, 67, entered the courthouse in New York leaning on a walker following a recent back surgery. When asked outside the courtroom how his back felt, Weinstein responded with a thin smile and a so-so gesture with his hand.

Not so good, he said. Better.

Inside, his lawyers and prosecutors spent the morning sparring about procedural matters, including how to keep publicity surrounding the trial from influencing the jury's thinking.

In a brief hearing, the judge declined to gag Weinstein's attorneys from speaking to the media  in addition to denying the motion to sequester jurors. The judge also turned down a defense request to call as a witness a police detective who had been accused of mishandling part of the case.

Across the street, actresses and other women who say they were sexually harassed or assaulted by Weinstein dismissed him as a villain undeserving of anyone's pity.

He looked cowardly. He wouldnt look at us. He wouldnt make eye contact, said Sarah Ann Masse, a performer and writer who said Weinstein once sexually harassed her in his underwear during a job interview. "This trial is a cultural reckoning regardless of its legal outcome," she said.

Jury selection in the trial will start Tuesday, more than two years since the allegations first came to widespread public attention and catalyzed the #MeToo movement.

Weinstein's lead lawyer, Donna Rotunno, said she was hopeful a fair jury could be found that wouldn't pre-judge the case.

In this great country, you are innocent until proven guilty, she told reporters outside the courthouse.

Weinstein faces allegations that he raped one woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and performed a forcible sex act on a woman, Mimi Haleyi, who had come to him seeking film work in 2006.

He has pleaded not guilty and says any sexual activity was consensual. If he's convicted of the most serious charges against him, two counts of predatory sexual assault, Weinstein faces a mandatory life sentence.

For that to happen, prosecutors must demonstrate Weinstein had a habit of violating women, beyond the two directly involved in the encounters in which he's charged. To that end, they plan to call actress Annabella Sciorra, who says Weinstein forced himself inside her Manhattan apartment in 1993 or 1994 and raped her after she starred in a film for his movie studio.

They also wanted jurors to hear from a few of the more than 75 women who have come forward publicly to accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct ranging from harassment to assault. The first allegations were brought to light by The New York Times and The New Yorker in October 2017.

Prosecutors got permission from the court to try to buttress their case with four other witnesses: Sciorra and three other accusers who haven't been named.

One of those women said she had an encounter with Weinstein at a Manhattan hotel in 2004. A second was to testify about an interaction with Weinstein at a SoHo apartment in 2005. A third was described in court papers as having had an incident with Weinstein at a hotel in Beverly Hills, California, in February 2013.

Speaking outside the courthouse as proceedings began, a group of Weinstein's accusers spoke with reporters, including Masse, the actresses Rosanna Arquette, Dominique Huett and Rose McGowan, model Paula Williams, Louise Godbold and the actress and journalist Lauren Sivan.

McGowan thanked the women who will testify during the trial as alleged victims for representing many more women who may never get their day in court.

They are standing for us, and I am immensely proud of them, she said. We didnt have our day. But hopefully they will. Their victory will be our victory. Their loss will be our loss.

Rotunno has argued the case is weak and said she plans to aggressively cross-examine the accusers.

In court on Monday, prosecutor Joan Illuzzi immediately set a combative tone by referring to Weinstein as a "predator," drawing an objection from the defense table.

The lawyers also clashed after prosecutors asked the judge to bar all attorneys in the trial from speaking about the evidence outside court. Illuzzi accused Rotunno of degrading and humiliating and putting down our witnesses in statements to the press leading up to the trial.

"I have not degraded anyone," Rotunno responded.

Judge James Burke refused to issue a gag order, but told both sides: Leave the witnesses alone, OK? Dont talk about them in any way.

The judge also barred the defense from calling detective Nicholas DiGaudio as a witness. DiGaudio was removed the investigation amid allegations he had withheld evidence that could have helped defend Weinstein.

Illuzzi revealed that prosecutors hope to use seven photographs from a trove of more than 70 images collected as evidence against the defendant. It was unclear what the photos show, but the prosecutor said: We do think they're very important for the jury to see.

Jury selection could could take two weeks or more, in part because of immense media attention on the case could mean some potential jurors already have their minds made up. Weinsteins lawyers tried to get the trial moved out of Manhattan, but a court rejected that.
After Shiv Sena downplayed 'Free Kashmir' poster seen at the protest at the Gateway of India last night, BJP leader Sambit Patra on Tuesday took a jibe at Uddhav Thackeray's party workers and called them 'Sonia Sainiks' claiming that they may soon be heard "badmouthing Lord Ram" and turn up their own version of "Hindu terrorism".

"Now Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut defends the "Free Kashmir" poster at Mumbai Protests. Believe me, friends these Sonia Sainikis in an attempt to show their allegiance to Tukde Tukde Gang may soon be heard badmouthing Shri Ram and may soon turn up with their own version of "Hindu Terrorism"!" Patra tweeted.

Earlier today, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut claimed that the 'Free Kashmir' banner was about freedom from restrictions on internet and mobile services. However, he asserted that any demand for freedom of Kashmir would not be tolerated by the Shiv Sena.

Lambasting at the Sena over the matter, former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had questioned the basis of the protest and asked how such separatist elements could be tolerated in Mumbai.

"Protest is for what exactly? Why slogans of "Free Kashmir"? How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai? 'Free Kashmir' slogans by Azadi gang at 2km from CMO? Uddhav ji are you going to tolerate this Free Kashmir Anti India campaign right under your nose???" he tweeted.

Last night, during the protest, a girl was seen holding the poster which read - "Free Kashmir." The demonstrators were seen with several other placards with objectionable and abusive languages.Some posters called for 'Ban on ABVP,' while some others read -- "Stand with JNU."This morning, Mumbai Police evicted those protesting at the Gateway of India and relocated them to Azad Maidan citing inconvenience to tourists and locals.The students and activists had gathered at Azad Maidan on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, soon after the reports of violence in JNU became public.

Placards with "We stand with JNU", "Stop attacks on students" written on them were also seen at the Gateway of India.Politicians, cutting across party lines, had condemned the attack on students which had taken place in JNU on Sunday. They had urged the administration to take nab the culprits and take strict action against those found guilty.More than 30 students were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the JNU on Sunday and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A police officer run down by a car in north-east London has shared an image of himself in hospital, thanking people for support and adding he is lucky to be alive.

The unnamed officer, whose name on Twitter is Response Squirrel, was struck in the early hours of Monday morning in Woodford Green.

An image of a Mini Cooper was released on Monday, and the Metropolitan Police continued to search for the driver on Tuesday.

Detective Sergeant Jose-Paulo Qureshi also said that the officer, aged in his 30s, was lucky not to have been killed following the incident in Chigwell Hill.

Underneath his Twitter post was a photo of a pair of legs in a hospital, of which the left was in a cast.

He said: Im lucky to be alive... Been a long night. Not slept a wink. 100's of positive msgs. Thank you everyone who treated me.

The Mini Cooper the police are looking for / Met Police

On the Twitter account, the officer also says he was assaulted for the first time on duty on New Years Eve.

The officer said: Bit of a fat lip and cut. Suppose there is a first time for everything. Nicked the fella needless to say.

Police at the scene on Monday in northeast London / NIGEL HOWARD 

Speaking of Mondays incident, Detective Sergeant Qureshi said: The officer was simply doing his duty when he was struck by the vehicle and seriously injured  hes lucky not to have been killed.

The suspects fled the scene, despite knowing they had hit an officer, leaving him seriously injured in the road.

NIGEL HOWARD 

The officer who was injured was trying to deploy a stinger to stop the Mini Cooper, a statement from the police said.

Mr Qureshi added: We are working around the clock to find the people responsible. I would appeal to those who were involved to do the right thing and hand yourself in.
Although 2023 when President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to finish his second term is still three years away, agitations on which zone power should shift to have been on but former Chief Whip of the Senate, Sir Roland Owie presented a new perspective to the agitation when he said power should remain in the north at least for another four years after 2023 for equity and fairness.

Speaking to journalists in his residence, Owie also posited that when power eventually shifts to the south post-2023, it should be ceded to the south-east region of the country.

Owie said his position is hinged on the fact that the south has had more time at the presidency than the north since 1999, a situation he said was occasioned by the death President Umaru Musa YarAdua and the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to contest after he finished the tenure if YarAdua against his advice.



He said The problem we have in Nigeria particularly those of us from the southern part is that we are sometimes not realistic and we forget that if we are going to equity, we must go with clean hands.

Presidency came from South West with Obasanjo even though he lost his unit, he lost his booth, he lost his local government and lost the entire zone but he became President of Nigeria and did eight years even though he was trying to take a third term.

Then the thing shifted to the north and produced YarAdua, one of the best president Nigeria has ever had may his soul rest in peace.

The man who agreed that his election was flawed, and brought peace to Niger Delta died and the Vice President took over.

You can see the wisdom of Abacha in his constitution that was not used where he made provision for a second Vice President from the Zone that produces the president, if we had adopted that his constitution, it means when YarAdua died, the Vice President from his zone would have taken over, we would not have been where we are today.

YarAdua died and Jonathan took over and finished the remaining years in the tenure and took another four years.

If there were no greedy leaders, I knew what I said in our south-south leaders meeting that Jonathan should allow somebody from the north run for the presidency age is on his side, that when it rotates back to the South-South, he can still run but those who felt that they owned PDP, who were not there when PDP was formed lured the man and pushed him to go for a third term.

Today, when you calculate after Buharis tenure expires in 2023, the north will have four years, 244 days to complete their own quota of the presidency so it is not the turn of the south yet.

When there is no justice, there cant be peace. So the slot for 2023 is for the north and when the thing finishes, the presidency will come to the south and then should go to South-East.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
LONDON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- British multi-channel apparel retailer, Cotton Traders , has today announced that it has partnered with app commerce platform, Poq , to launch their first apps for customers.

Founded in 1987, by former England national rugby union team captains Fran Cotton and Steve Smith, the Cotton Traders brand was created to provide casual wear with premium quality that fits all shapes and sizes - values that are prominent in the retailers' commitment to customers.

As part of its latest growth strategy, Cotton Traders is repositioning the brand and extending to a younger target audience. A part of this initiative is a digital-first approach, with the launch of an iOS and Android app at its core. Cotton Traders has seen significant growth in customers moving from shopping on desktop to tablet and mobile, a trend that is consistent across the retail sector.

Shona Jameson, Chief Marketing Officer, Cotton Traders explains: "Over the past two years, we've seen more and more customers choosing to browse on mobile. However, one of the biggest challenges we faced was that where our mobile traffic was high, conversion on mobile was lower when compared with desktop."

Paul Hurst, Head of Digital, added: "To tackle this we decided to launch our first-ever shopping apps, coming later this year. We know that the experience on app will be easier and more convenient for our customers, but also is beneficial for the business. Apps tackle the challenge of higher mobile web traffic but lower conversion on mobile. We're excited to launch our apps, an entirely new channel for our customers to shop on and we look forward to growing our customer engagement and brand loyalty on our new apps."

Cotton Traders viewed partnering with Poq as "low risk." The senior execs at the business followed the progress of early app adopters, like Missguided and PrettyLittleThing, who power its apps on the Poq platform. Cotton Traders can rely on the expertise of the tried and tested app platform from Poq.

Building on the steady growth that Cotton Traders has experienced on its digital channels and evolving the business with changing consumer behaviour, the iOS and Android apps will empower the retailer to have greater data and insight into how its customers are shopping.

Cotton Traders intends to initially launch its apps to its UK customer base, where the greatest volume of consumers are already shopping on mobile. With a loyal customer base that frequently shop with the retailer, Cotton Traders is in a strong position to engage and retain these shoppers with its apps.

Oyvind Henriksen, Co-Founder and CEO, Poq, adds: "We're excited that a traditional multichannel retailer like Cotton Traders has prioritised providing the best customer experience to its shoppers by embracing app commerce. Shopping apps have become an expectation for today's consumer and we're proud to partner with Cotton Traders to provide a great shopping experience through its apps."

Notes to the editor

About Cotton Traders

Founded by former England national rugby union team captains, Fran Cotton and Steve Smith, Cotton Traders have been producing high-quality fashion ranges since 1987. With over 32 years' experience, the brand is the fashion force that offers affordable and timeless clothing to suit every aspect of life.

About Poq

Poq is a Software-as-a-Service platform that empowers retailers to create highly effective and fully customised native apps in record time. Apps that allow them to engage with shoppers, sell more products, deepen customer loyalty and deliver highly relevant content, communications and rewards.

The Poq platform is the result of years of focus on shopping apps and is proven to increase conversion rates and revenue. Regular major releases ensure retailers' apps are up-to-date and ahead of the curve. Clients include the UK's largest brands and retailers, such as Missguided, Holland & Barrett, Belk, PrettyLittleThing, the Cotton On Group and FeelUnique.

SOURCE Cotton Traders; Poq

Related Links

https://poqcommerce.com


AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Spearhead Lodge (SHL) formally announced today that as the complexity of our world increases, they are changing to meet that need. While Spearhead Lodge remains true to their 12-Step roots, they are expanding their abilities to treat trauma and dual diagnosis in our programs for young adult men.

The Curriculum At Spearhead Lodge Is Expanding

The new curriculum is uniquely designed to address the gender and developmental challenges of young adulthood. Drawing deeply on the work of Brene Brown and Warren Farrell, they are addressing the "Boy Crisis" head on. Through various modalities, they are helping their clients to:

Reconnect with their emotions and offer them a language of expression

Work to value authentic, intimate relationships in all areas of them lives

Employ healthy conflict resolution skills absent of violence against themselves and others

Engage in relationships that do no objectify themselves or others

"BRAVE" the process of taking control of and writing/re-writing their stories

Participate in their families in ways that nurture and affirm family relationships

Their team of clinicians are trained in Experiential Therapy, Brene Brown's Shame work, Holistic Healing and Energy Care, Trauma Informed Yoga, and EMDR.

Brittney Lollis Moved To Spearhead Lodge As The Clinical Director

Brittney Lollis, LMSW, LCDC, MAC takes the reins of Spearhead Lodge as the new clinical director after working with the BRC Family of Programs for 16 months at Makana Path, our intensive trauma program. She holds a Master of Social Work Degree from Savanna State University (Go Tigers!) and is a Certified Daring Way-Candidate. Brittney believes that "shame is at the core of many of our addictions and relationship limitations. If we can learn to talk about shame and take away its power, we can live much more fulfilled lives and have deeper connections with others."

Brittney is an avid softball player after playing college softball for 3 years. She plays on the BRC softball team in the Austin Sober League and is trained in Trauma Conscious Yoga Instruction. Brittney will soon be certified in EMDR and joins our other specialty clinicians in offering this method of working with traumatic events. She is passionate about teaching and training and brings many years of counseling experience to the SHL team.

Spearhead Lodge Specializes In Treating Dual Diagnosis Clients

Led by Alex Kudisch, MD, DFAPA, a triple-board certified psychiatrist, the Spearhead Lodge medical team is working hard to provide an additional avenue of support to our clients with co-occurring disorders. Clients meet with our team of medical professionals weekly to ensure that their physical well-being and psychiatric health progress in tandem with their recovery from addictive illness while in our care. In tandem with our Master's Level clinicians and our specialty therapy offerings, Dr. Kudisch's team of providers engage clients in motivational psychotherapy and medication management. Dr. Kudisch quickly developed a passion for the field of mental health. "When I went into psychiatry," he says, reflecting on his early years, "I was immediately challenged by how patients presented with their clinical symptoms. There is very little objectivity in how to understand and arrive at a diagnosis." The challenge in diagnoses is perhaps easy to underestimate. "If you have someone who is diabetic, for example, you can do blood tests to find out," he says. "But there's no blood test for mental disorder. There's only a clinical interview and observation to lead you to diagnose and decide what you are going to call it. I was always intrigued by that kind of challenge."

Dr. Kudisch was born in the capital city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dr. Kudisch came to the United States with his family at the age of five. He and his wife, Evelia, who is also medically trained, were married during his residency and fellowship work in child psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. They have 2 sons. Dr. Kudisch joined the team at BRC in October of 2018 and is supported by a team of physicians and Nurse Practitioners who work closely with each Spearhead Lodge client.

About Spearhead Lodge

Spearhead Lodge is a stand-alone program within the BRC Recovery Family of Programs. BRC Recovery Family of Programs is one of the country's premier behavioral healthcare offerings. Founded in 2006 by Mark Houston, BRC's original mission was to provide treatment resistant clients a new way of life in recovery through 12-step immersion, accountability, and truly individualized care. Today, BRC Recovery has grown extensively under the leadership of CEO/Owner Marsha Stone into a diverse and specialized Family of Programs. Our full continuum of care includes medical detox, trauma and dual diagnosis, young adult, and gender-specific, chronic relapse treatment. We have been providing excellence in rehabilitative care for over 13 years, giving each individual and family member the tools necessary to discover a life of permanent sobriety. The BRC Recovery Family of Programs includes  BRC Recovery, gender-specific extended care for the treatment resistant, Spearhead Lodge, specialized care for young adults, Makana Path, medical detox and intensive healing, and Segue, case management and sober living. BRC is committed to excellence, integrity, and growth as we continue to partner with professionals, families, and like-minded individuals to Bring Real Change. For more information, visit SpearheadLodge.com.

Contact:

Name: Marsha Stone, CEO,

BRC Recovery Family of Programs

Phone: 866.905.4550

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Spearhead Lodge

Related Links

https://www.spearheadlodge.com


Turkeys defense company BMC won an international tender to manufacture for the Tunisian interior ministry nine 44 Medium Class Multi-Purpose Armored Vehicles (MPAVs).

The value of the contract has not been revealed but the North African country will become the first country in the world to use the military vehicles aside the Turkish military.

The MPAVs, midrange armored vehicles, are used at battle fronts for the transportation of troops on the ground.

BMC is Turkeys leading defense company. It produces a wide range of equipment including tanks and buses for the Turkish military.

The Qatari military owns 49.5 per cent of the company and the remaining stakes are owned by Turkish businessmen close to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

It is unclear when BMC won the contract but the news comes amid discontent in the North African country against the Tunisian regime following Erdogans recent visit to Tunis. The Turkish President has then urged President Kais Saied to help prop up Libyas UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). Turkey has emerged as the GNAs international mouthpiece and pillar of support.

Critics accused the Tunisian President of abandoning the countrys neutral stance in regional crises.
Taste of Persia owner Saeed Pourkay. Photo: Nina Roberts

If youve never tasted the ash reshteh from Saeed Pourkays pocket shop  a steam table operation lodged in the corner of a nondescript 18th Street pizza joint  run, dont walk. Pourkay has said the restaurant-within-a-restaurant will remain open through January. Beyond then, he plans to return with a restaurant space all his own, but who knows what will happen.

On a visit to Taste of Persia a few months back, the food was just as good as when Pourkay debuted at the Union Square Holiday Market back in 2012. I remember my bewildered delight at tasting his ash reshteh for the first time at that market. It was a dish Id only eaten in the kitchens of Persian friends on Long Island, and it was nourishing and exciting to see outside someones home.

Traditional Iranian cooking is layered, intricate, and labor-intensive: Pourkays ash reshteh involves five kinds of beans simmered to creamy compliance with two forms of caramelized onions (immersed in the stew, and fried as a topping), a tangle of herbs, broken splinters of noodles, and invigorating doses of cardamom and ginger. Pourkays fesenjan evokes home cooking no matter where you grew up: braised chicken, walnuts, and pomegranate molasses meld into a tangy, voluptuous gravy that could sustain you through the worst snowstorm or subway debacle. For $12, you get two homestyle dishes like these on a bed of rice packed into a plastic takeout container, which Pourkay anoints with a golden drizzle of saffron water.

Pourkay announced Taste of Persias closing on his Facebook page just after Christmas. Over the phone, he explained that the owners of the pizza shop, with whom hes had a verbal rental agreement for nearly eight years, recently sold the business, and the new tenants want him out. The new owners raised my rent a tiny amount but promised that they wanted me to stay, Pourkay says. They said they needed me, that everyone knows me and that I bring business to the pizza place. This was in October. By mid-December, however, the buildings owner approached Pourkay and told him to start packing. Pourkay believes this was at the request of the new tenants. Later, he was offered an ultimatum: assume half of the pizza shops lease or leave. They fooled me, he says. They had me crying for an hour.

So here we are. Taste of Persia is closing, and I dont know what to do. I dont know how to square the messages that writers like me give to entrepreneurs with the brutal realities of running a restaurant in New York today. I dont know how to respond when every food-industry worker Ive spoken with in years shares how burned-out they feel. I dont know what you do when youve done everything right and its still not enough. Pourkay has to cook around the pizza shops schedule, often in the middle of the night. He usually works alone and never takes days off. For this and 100 square feet of retail space he now pays $900 in rent a week. He estimates opening a restaurant of his own would cost $50,000 to $60,000, which he doesnt have. Multiple customers have offered to set up GoFundMe pages for him, as one did in 2017 after Taste of Persia suffered a fire. A miracle could happen. Maybe it will. Hed still need to start over.

When Taste of Persia opened in 2013, it wasnt just good news for the citys minuscule Persian restaurant scene; it felt like a throwback to the New York I grew up in, where of course theres an Iranian steam table inside a slice joint in the Flatiron, because thats what New York does. For those of us who have seen so many beloved restaurants shutter over the last decade, Taste of Persia was a rare tick in the win column.

His story is very much this classic immigrant tale of loss and resilience, says New York Times Hungry City restaurant critic Ligaya Mishan. Thematically, thats so resonant for New York City. You go there and you root for him: somebody whos made a space for himself that didnt exist before, who builds something out of nothing. I asked Mishan what stands out to her about Taste of Persia, since she reviewed it in 2013. To have this person make the food he loves without filter or compromise, the way he wanted to make it  thats another New York thing. She adds, People who do things the way they want to do them, and you either like it or come to grudgingly accept it  were running out of those characters.

I dont know where we go from here. We can push for policy changes like commercial rent control, retail vacancy taxes, or eliminating the cap on street vendor permits. None of these reforms would help Pourkay. In our guts, we all know that it keeps getting harder to run a business like his. At some point, that implicit instinct becomes explicit acceptance. There are always more banks to snatch up empty storefronts. A salad chain with a mobile app is now worth $1.6 billion and plans to expand from 100 stores, to 1,000.

For his part, Pourkay told me hes excited for some time off. Once Taste of Persia closes, he plans to spend four to six weeks in Iran to rest and recuperate. Then, hes committed to finding a new retail space, a place of his own where he can flex his creative muscle. I need a place where I can do my best, he says.

I hope he can. But I dont know if the city that he returns to will deserve him.
Live streaming is helping to boost sales on Chinese online shopping platforms such as Taobao, Xinhua reported on Jan. 6.

Hu shungen (right), deputy head of Suichuan countys government, promotes farm produce from the county during a livestreaming broadcast on Taobao on Dec. 28, 2019. (Photo/Sipaphoto.com)

In 2019, more than 500 million people watched live streaming sessions online, and 40 percent of them bought products recommended by influencers, according to a survey report.

According to a report released by Taobao, over 100 billion yuan ($14.2 billion) worth of goods were sold through live streaming in 2018, up 400 percent year-on-year.

Live streaming gives users a strong sense of interactivity, through which they can gain a fuller and more in-depth understanding of the products, said Chen Qi, founder of Mogujie, a Tencent-backed fashion platform.

Statistics showed that there are more than 600 incubation companies with well-known influencers, and most of the companies are based in Hangzhou. This indicated that live streaming has become more organized and professional, said an analyst.

Live streaming has also helped rural residents sell their products to more people. For example, farmers are now selling agricultural products to consumers across the country with the help of live streaming services. During the Double 11 shopping festival last year, about 20,000 live broadcasts took place on Tmall.

Going forward, the live streaming industry must address weaknesses such as exaggerated publicity, inflated statistics and poor after-sales services.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 19:03:30|Editor: xuxin

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Indian Shiite Muslims shout slogans during an anti-U.S. protest against the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, in New Delhi, Jan. 7, 2020. Dozens of Shiite Muslims in Indian capital New Delhi on Tuesday protested against the killing of influential Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, police said. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)

NEW DELHI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Shiite Muslims in Indian capital New Delhi on Tuesday protested against the killing of influential Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, police said.

The protesters including women and children carried placards of Soleimani along with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and shouted anti-U.S. slogans.

The protesters took a march from Teen Murti Road and tried to move toward the U.S. embassy in Chanakyapuri. However, policemen stopped them from going close to the diplomatic enclave.

Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), was killed leaving Baghdad international airport on Friday in a U.S. drone attack.

The killing of Soleimani has further escalated the tensions between the U.S. and Iran with the later saying it would avenge Soleimani's killing.
When masked assailants armed with sticks, rods and hammers were running riot inside Jawarharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Sunday evening, police at the Vasant Kunj North station were registering FIRs against JNU students, including union president Aishe Ghosh, who suffered head injuries after being beaten with iron rods.

Police at the station  which is responsible for ensuring order in the south Delhi university campus  filed two FIRs against Ghosh and other student leaders for allegedly manhandling security personnel and destroying university property on January 1 and 4.

The FIRs were filed at 8.44 pm and 8.49 pm on Sunday based on the complaint of the JNU chief security officer Shyam Singh. At the time, Ghosh was being treated in the trauma centre at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences with deep gashes on her head.

A number of other teacher and students were on their way to the hospital, and a large posse of police personnel had just entered the campus, after waiting at the gates for at least three hours as the mob beat up students and faculty, and smashed hostel property.

The first FIR named eight students while the second named 22. Ghosh was mentioned in both. No arrests, however, were made in connection with the violence, and the police FIR into the January 5 incident mentioned unknown persons.

Ghosh said on Wednesday that she and her union members were not involved in any violence. We have not done any violence. In fact, on January 4, its the ABVP [Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the RSS] who attacked the protesting students including JNUSU general secretary Satish Yadav. The police should first prove our involvement in the vandalism and violence, she said.

Ghosh previously alleged that at least three senior police officers didnt respond to her distress calls on Sunday.

The ABVP denied that the masked men and women were members of the outfit, or that it had any role to play in the violence, and alleged that a number of its workers were beaten up by Left-leaning students.

Deputy commissioner of police Devender Arya dismissed allegations that the police were filing FIRs instead of protecting students. The complaints were received on Saturday night. I directed the police station staff to register FIRs around Sunday noon, soon after the incidents and complaints were brought to my notice. A preliminary inquiry was conducted and the spot of incidents was visited. The entire process took some time, he said.

The JNU administration sent the two complaints to the station house officer (SHO) of Vasant Kunj police station on January 3 and 4. The FIRs were filed on the evening of January 5.

In the first complaint, Singh alleged that at around 1pm, a group of students wearing masks entered the office of the Centre for Information System (CIS) and switched off the power supply before evicting the staff there. The students also made the servers dysfunctional, reads the complaint filed by the security officer. In his complaint, the officer named Ghosh, JNUSU vice-president Saket Moon, and six other students.

In the second complaint, Singh accused Ghosh, Moon and other students of damaging the server in the CIS room and manhandling the security guards the same morning . The security officer also alleged that the students of cutting the fibre-optic cable of the server and breaking the glass panes of the CIS building. The complaint was also marked to the police commissioner and the districts deputy commissioner of police (DCP).

The officer who prepared the FIRs noted the timing of the FIR filing as 8.44 pm and 8.49 pm on January 5.

According to eye witnesses, violence first broke out shortly after 4.30 pm on Sunday afternoon as students were leaving a demonstration against a proposed fee hike. By 6 pm, students and teachers reported mobs of masked men and women armed with sticks, rods and hammers running towards them, beating people up and smashing property. Some students also reported an earlier instance of violence at Periyar hostel at around 3 pm.

Videos shot by students showed shattered glass and broken furniture at Sabarmati hostel, and injured pupils cowering for safety from the assailants who shouted slogans threatening death to traitors. The violence continued until about 8.30 pm, around the time the police entered the campus and conducted a flag march.

It is unclear why the police took time to enter the campus. While a suo-motu FIR registered by police mentions the receipt of a note from the JNU administration asking it to intervene around 4 pm, Arya said permission to enter the campus was received at 7.45 pm.

The JNUSU condemned the FIRs. This is another instance of this administrations attempt to criminalise the democratic protest led by JNUSU while at the same time protecting the ABVP who was involved in the Sundays violent incident, said Moon.

Ambuj Mishra, member of the ABVPs JNU unit and a PhD student, said, It is the Left that has engaged in targeted attack and now they are trying to garner sympathy. Our members were dragged and beaten outside Periyar hostel mercilessly.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 10:38:32|Editor: ZX

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CANBERRA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Former Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has called for the government to be a global leader on climate change.

As the country endures a bushfire crisis, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has repeatedly ruled out pursuing more ambitious climate change policies than those Australia has already committed to.

"Australia is a highly developed country," Bishop, the minister for foreign affairs between 2013 and 2018, told Nine Network television on Monday.

"We should be showing leadership on the issue of climate change." she said.

Bushfires in all six Australian states have killed at lease 24 people, destroyed thousands of properties and burned more than 5 million hectares of land.

Bishop said that the crisis was taking "a tragic toll on the nation" and that communities needed "leadership at every level."

"All of our leaders need to show compassion and care to address the needs that people have," she said.

It comes after the former foreign minister criticized Morrison for going on a family holiday to Hawaii in December while much of the country was ablaze.
Danish home retail brand Jysk is to create more than 70 new jobs with the opening of seven new Irish stores during the first half of the year - including one premises in Carlow.

The retailer opened its first five Irish stores last year. The next stores will open in Waterford on February 27 and in Limerick on March 26.

Jysk is also targeting store openings in Carlow, Sligo and Dublin, as well as two stores in Cork city during the summer.

Up to ten new full-time positions are expected to be created when the shop opens in Carlow.

According to the Irish Times, Jysk Ireland country manager Roni Tuominen said: "The appetite for Jysk in Ireland continues to grow, and we continue to receive a warm welcome and a great response to our offering.

"Our goal is to establish new Jysk locations in towns and cities all over Ireland, so we can contribute to the local economy, especially in smaller communities where our job creation will be extremely valuable."
Trump has threatened to target Irans cultural heritage if it responds violently to Qassem Soleimanis killing.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has said that both the United States and Iran must observe conventions obliging states to protect cultural sites after US President Donald Trump threatened to target Irans cultural heritage.

At a meeting with the Iranian ambassador to the Paris-based organisation on Monday, Director-General Audrey Azoulay said provisions of the 1954 and 1972 conventions, ratified by both the US and Iran, should be observed.

The conventions ask the signatory states to not undertake any deliberate measures that might damage cultural and natural heritage on the territory of other states party to the conventions.

Azoulay stressed the universality of cultural and natural heritage as vectors of peace and dialogue between peoples, which the international community has a duty to protect and preserve for future generations.

Trump on Sunday stood by his threat to go after Iranian cultural sites, warning of a major retaliation if Iran strikes back for the killing of one of its top military commanders, Qassem Soleimani.

Theyre allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And were not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesnt work that way, Trump said in a tweet without specifying the alleged attacks to which he was referring.

In response, Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said such a move would be a war crime.

The ancient city of Persepolis is a major draw for tourists [Delbars/Getty Images]

UNESCO was supported by the United Kingdom, whose Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been criticised for his silence over US-Iran tensions during his Christmas holiday.

James Slack, Johnsons official spokesman, reiterated UNESCOs comments, telling reporters during a briefing on Monday that there are international conventions in place that prevent the destruction of cultural heritage.

Iran boasts 22 cultural sites and two natural sites on UNESCOs World Heritage list.

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Important Iranian cultural sites that are not on the UNESCO list include the Azadi Tower in the capital, Tehran, and the tomb of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Perhaps the most spectacular cultural site is the ancient Achaemenid capital of Persepolis in southwest Iran. Founded by Darius I in 518 BC, it is a major attraction for foreign tourists.

The US withdrew from UNESCO in 2019, along with Israel, over accusations of anti-Israel bias.

The Paris-based organisation had previously criticised Israels occupation of East Jerusalem and granted full membership to Palestine in 2011.
For Nelly, the protagonist of the documentary film Towards the North, the decision to leave her home in Honduras and seek political asylum in the United States was forced upon her.

The leader of a gang needed my house. His men pointed a gun at me and said, If you dont leave, we will kill you, and your head will be hung on your front door, Nelly says in the film, which is part of the documentary initiative Short Stories from Yahoo News and RYOT Films.

Nellys story is horrific yet all too common among those fleeing Honduras, where recent violence has displaced more than 200,000 people and 65 percent of Hondurans live below the poverty line. Amid political unrest, an explosion of gang activity, and displacement caused by climate change, Central American migration to the U.S. has soared in recent years, yet the individual stories of those seeking asylum in the U.S. often go untold.

Towards the North showcases one familys perspective on the other side of the border. Directed by Jessica Chermayeff and Joshua Bennett, the documentary follows Nelly, 37, and her daughter, Joseline, 17  whose surnames are omitted to protect their privacy  over the course of four months in 2016 as they travel thousands of miles in an attempt to immigrate to the U.S. But after attempting to legally present themselves to immigration officials, the mother and daughter are turned away by agents who are overwhelmed by the number of immigrants at the border.

Chermayeff says it was heartbreaking see the two women stranded in limbo at the border.

What actually happens to them is theyre neither accepted nor rejected, Chermayeff told Yahoo News.

In "Towards the North," viewers get an intimate look into the daily battles of asylum seekers from Central America through the eyes of Nelly and her daughter, Joseline.

In 2016, the year Nelly and Joseline applied for asylum, U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped more than 70,400 family units, defined as the number of individuals traveling in a family, from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala attempting to cross the border illegally. Promises of a border wall and anti-immigrant rhetoric were hallmarks of President Trumps 2016 presidential campaign, so many migrants attempted the journey from Central America to the U.S.-Mexico border during the waning months of the Obama administration, Chermayeff said, because they feared harsher conditions under Trump.

Story continues

The sort of buzz on the ground was if you were thinking about trying to get in and apply for asylum, now was kind of it, she said.

The Trump administration announced a deal in September with the Honduran government that gives U.S. immigration authorities the ability to send asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border back to Honduras. As Nelly recounts in the film, that amounts to a death sentence.

I knew two teenagers who grew up with my kids, and the U.S. denied their application, Nelly says. The day after they got back to Honduras, they were murdered.

Despite the Trump administrations crackdown on Central American migrants, there were 473,682 apprehensions of family units at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2019, and apprehensions of unaccompanied children reached 76,020, their highest level on record.

For Nelly and Joseline, the journey north landed them in a detention facility in July 2017 in Tijuana, Mexico, where they were housed for several months as they waited for their cases to be reviewed by U.S. officials.

Nelly and Joseline have since been released from detention and are now living in the United States. Nelly was released in the spring of 2018, and Joseline, who was eight months pregnant at the time, was released in the fall of 2017.

Joseline is now living in southern California with her baby daughter, Ruth, who was born in the United States.

I dont feel that the film can or should argue about our policy, Chermayeff said. But I do think that films, as opposed to many other mediums, have the potential to let you spend time with people enough to recognize yourself in them. And it is truly a random set of circumstances that makes their reality different from anyone elses. So I hope that people can see themselves in their shoes.

You can learn more about Jessica Chermayeff and Joshua Bennetts projects at humanityonthemove.org.
The answer is exemplified by the 19801988 Iran-Iraq War, where we allow, even encourage, the fanatics to kill each other, given their seemingly insatiable appetite for internecine warfare, preferably without an American presence.

It is a foreign policy based not on altruism or quaint notions of "breaking the cycle of violence," but on leveraging the chaos.

That is, the U.S. should begin a transition from policies relying on military intervention to strategically disrupting the plans of our adversaries by exploiting the instability of which the U.S. itself has often been the victim.

Even without the Islamic State, the Middle East remains an epicenter of Islamic extremism and a complex political-military environment dominated by the Sunni-Shia religious conflict, but also influenced by ethnic aspirations, tribal rivalries, regional hegemony, superpower competition, and ever-shifting allegiances.

We must disabuse ourselves of the expectation that there is some yet unidentified grand design, a one-size-fits-all strategy to defend our national interests.

In a region with a chronic level of instability, of ambiguities and animosities, we have no permanent friends or enemies and need to re-examine our relationships on a continual basis, including using the mutually destructive behaviors among opponents for our short- or long-term advantage.

A healthy first step in transitioning to a more rational and practical foreign policy is to admit that the War on Terror is over, and the methods we used to fight it are obsolete.

We didn't lose that fight, but we haven't exactly won, either. A further pursuit of stalemate would be an unnecessary, even tragic forfeiture of blood and treasure, which would not honor our dead and wounded, while producing more of the same.

The War on Terror itself is a misnomer. Islamic extremism is largely driven by nation-states and is simply the latest iteration of proxy warfare . Iran uses it against the U.S. and Israel. Pakistan uses it against Afghanistan and India. Turkey uses it against Syria. Saudi Arabia funds it to promote a fundamentalist strain of Islam known as Wahhabism in order to establish a global caliphate.

The export of Wahhabism is clearly contrary to the interests of the United States, yet Saudi Arabia remains an "ally," no doubt influenced by Saudi contributions across the American political spectrum. In the battle against Islamic extremism, the U.S. cannot continue its role as global firefighter while supporting the arsonist.

The two foremost promoters of Islamic extremism, Saudi Arabia and Iran, now find themselves leading the Sunni-Shia contest for theological hegemony and fighting a mini Iran-Iraq War for regional political-military dominance via proxies in Yemen.

Strategic disruption would allow the U.S. to withdraw from Afghanistan while protecting our national interests by shifting the burden of the instability onto adversaries with regional ambitions.

Pakistan has never been an ally of the United States, but a duplicitous partner, pursuing its own interests in coordination with its true ally, China. While accepting billions of American dollars in military and economic aid, Pakistan has been slowly bleeding the U.S. to death in Afghanistan through its support of the Taliban, Haqqani Network, and other terrorist groups.

The U.S. presence has always been an obstacle to Chinese ambitions to incorporate Afghanistan into Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative as well as a number of other China-centric economic and military pacts, so, together with Pakistan, China could dominate South Asia.

China's eventual aim is to expand its military footprint by establishing military bases on Pakistan's Arabian Sea coast close to the Strait of Hormuz, the choke point for the oil leaving the Persian Gulf. Those bases would provide a critical link between China's military facilities in the South China Sea and its naval base in Djibouti at the entrance of the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

The Chinese plan is dependent on the success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the flagship of its Belt and Road Initiative and highly susceptible to the same instability Pakistan has stoked to prevent the U.S. from achieving its goals in Afghanistan.

In a similar way, instead of being a victim of them, the U.S. could strategically disrupt Russian or Iranian ambitions in the Middle East by leveraging the chaos or exploiting the fault lines from a variety of historic enmities: the Sunni-Shia conflict, the struggle for Kurdish and Baloch independence, or the competition between secular and religious elements.

It's not rocket science. It's Machiavelli.

Lawrence Sellin, Ph.D. is a retired US Army Reserve colonel, trained in Arabic and Kurdish, an IT command and control and cyber security subject matter expert and a veteran of Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa. He receives email at lawrence.sellin@gmail.com and can be followed on Twitter @LawrenceSellin
MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI), a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community, today broadens its range of innovative fixed income tools and solutions for institutional investors with the launch of the MSCI Fixed Income ESG Indexes and the MSCI Fixed Income Factor Indexes.

MSCI brings to market 15 Fixed Income Indexes to meet investor demand for innovative indexes to support their ESG and Factor based fixed income investment strategies.

Jana Haines, Head of Index Products, Americas, at MSCI comments, We are pleased to bring next generation fixed income indexes to market. Investors are increasingly demanding ESG integration across all asset classes and looking to Factors  such as Carry, Quality, Value, Size and Risk  to more precisely define how they can better identify, measure and manage risk and return in their portfolios.

The MSCI Fixed Income ESG Indexes and Factor Indexes include:

Issuance Weighted

MSCI USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index



ESG

MSCI USD IG ESG Universal Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG ESG Leaders Corporate Bond Index



Factors

MSCI USD IG Carry High Exposure Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Low Risk High Exposure Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Quality High Exposure Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Value High Exposure Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Size High Exposure Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Multi-Factor High Exposure Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Carry Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Low Risk Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Quality Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Value Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Size Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Multi-Factor Corporate Bond Index



The full range of MSCIs fixed income solutions capture MSCIs market leading capabilities in Analytics, Portfolio Construction, Measurement, Attribution, Reporting and now Indexes, to help institutional investors navigate market risk and return, as well as deliver operational efficiency and transparency.

Peter Zangari, Global Head of Research and Product Development at MSCI, adds, Investors are facing market conditions driven by macroeconomic and geopolitical events, industry dynamics and the increased role of data and technology. Our fixed income solutions help investors assess and manage opportunity and risk, while responding to demand for improved transparency and operational efficiency. Building on our four decades of experience, this next generation of indexes brings increased clarity to the traditionally opaque fixed income asset class to support ESG and Factor based fixed income strategies.

About MSCI

MSCI is a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community. With over 45 years of expertise in research, data and technology, we power better investment decisions by enabling clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently build more effective portfolios. We create industry-leading research-enhanced solutions that clients use to gain insight into and improve transparency across the investment process. To learn more, please visit www.msci.com.

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NASA images show that the smoke from the horrible bushfires that have been devastating Australia have reached South America. South America is 12,000 kilometres away from Australia. Smoke clouds that were seen leaving Australia's east coast are said to have been bigger than the United States.

'Heartbreaking' images

The images that show the smoke from Australian bushfires reaching South America were taken by Suomi NPP satellite on January 1 and show the smoke travelling over the South Pacific Ocean for 10 days before being dispelled by the wind. The smoke covered most of Chile and Argentina, as well as parts of Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

Satellite images shows New Zealand and South America are shrouded with Australia's bushfire smoke https://t.co/ojCEWKmIpz pic.twitter.com/WtrkqI5zQ3  Siglov Freudivan (@DerangedRadio) January 7, 2020

As fires continue to rage in southern and eastern Australia, @NASAEarth is tracing their trails through the atmosphere >> https://t.co/lhKI4BTZ0k pic.twitter.com/VzaG3t81Ei  NASA Marshall (@NASA_Marshall) November 22, 2019

People online have been sharing of how smoke for the Australian bushfire has been effecting the skies in Auckland, New Zealand, almost 2000 kilometres away.

Read: Law College In Puducherry To Be Upgraded To Law Varsity: CM V Narayanasamy

Read: NASA Astronauts Celebrated New Year 16 Times In Space, Here's How

Just took this photo outside my house in Auckland. No filter. The sky really is this colour. This is the extent of the Australian Bush fires - visible in New Zealand over 2000 kilometres away. #AustraliaBurns pic.twitter.com/gCmEFuavVt  Sarah Sketcher (@sarahsketcher) January 5, 2020

The sky is yellow in New Zealand because of the bushfires in Australia. Flooding in Venice, Amazon fires, dying reefs and the mass extinction of thousands of species.



We cant continue with business as usual and turn our planet into Mars. Shame on leaders who ignore science. pic.twitter.com/RKy415cTMr  Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) January 5, 2020

The earth satellite of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has revealed 'heartbreaking' images of Australia bushfires showing the island continent covered in a thick blanket of smoke. As Australia battles the worst wildfires, NASA captured the colour image of the southeastern part of the country on January 4. The white patches of smoke will apparently become 'pyrocumulonimbus' clouds created by heat rising from the fire. Earlier, NASA had also shown the same blanket of smoke on January 3 saying it turned 'day to night'.

When smoke turns day to night.



In southeastern #Australia, fires are continuing to rage. #Landsat 8 acquired this image of thick smoke blanketing Mallacoota on January 1, 2020. https://t.co/JlzEUelhcl #Victoria pic.twitter.com/F5ld4eDPYZ  NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) January 3, 2020

Read: NASA Contractor Settles Whistleblower Complaint For $375,000

Read: NASA Astronauts Capture Photo Of Australia Covered In Thick Smoke, See Pic
SpendEdge has been monitoring the global surfactants market and the market is poised to experience spend growth of more than USD 10 billion between 2019-2024 at a CAGR of over 5% during the forecast period. Request Free Sample Pages.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005552/en/

Read the 132-page research report with TOC and LOE on "The Global Surfactants Market Procurement Intelligence Report, Pricing Outlook in Geographies that include APAC, North America, South America, and MEA, and insights into best practices to optimize procurement spend."

Improvement in disposable incomes in the emerging countries is favoring consumer spend on personal care and beauty products. The demand is particularly high for sulfate-free personal care products which are contributing to the demand growth in the surfactants market across the globe. However, the environmental impact caused by the production and the usage of surfactants is hindering the prospects of growth in this market.

In the US, the household cleaning segment is estimated to grow and currently, it is emerging as one of the chief end-users in the surfactants market in the region. Meanwhile, in Europe, the increasing demand for organic personal care products and cosmetics is propelling spend momentum in the surfactants market.

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Insights into the market price trends

The surfactants price will observe a steep increase owing to the imposition of hiked import duties on Chinese products by the US. The increase in the cost of non-ionic surfactants, such as Lutensol, Plurafac, Pluronic, Emulan, Degressal, and Dehydol in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa will also contribute to price growth.

Surfactants suppliers will tackle a substantial increase in their technology expenses as they seek to cater to consumer's growing preference towards bio-based surfactants.

What are the strategies to adopt to optimize procurement spend in this market?

Adopt the volume-based pricing model

Buyers are advised to adopt the volume-based pricing model while entering into a contract with surfactants suppliers. This model will protect buyers against the dynamic nature of the market prices of raw materials as they can fix the price over the period of the contract. Buyers can negotiate for discounts on the price if the demand is significantly higher than the MOQ.

Pricing terms

Buyers must focus on the flexibility offered by surfactants suppliers in terms of payback terms and openness to strategic and tactical negotiations that benefit both parties.

Buy 1 report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 reports and get the third for free. Download the free sample of this report on the surfactants market.

Some of the key topics covered in this report are:

Surfactants market spend segmentation by region

Total cost of ownership analysis in the surfactants market

Regional spend opportunity for surfactants suppliers

Surfactants suppliers cost structure

Surfactants pricing models analysis

Surfactants procurement best practices

Category management objectives

Cost saving opportunities in the surfactants market

Free sample of reports that you may like:

Global Natural Fragrance Ingredients Market Procurement Intelligence Report

Global Cellulose Gum Market Procurement Intelligence Report

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SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more, https://www.spendedge.com/request-free-proposal

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Taiwan election is make or break for fleeing Hong Kong protesters Supporters of Kuomintang party's presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu attend his election rally in Tainan

By Felice Wu and Yimou Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) - A small but growing number of Hong Kong protesters who fled to Taiwan for safety over the past few months fear an opposition victory in the island's election this week will put them in peril and force them to leave.

The mostly young men and women who came to Taiwan after taking part in increasingly violent protests in support of democracy in Hong Kong have no legal way to gain permanent asylum, but President Tsai Ing-wen's broadly sympathetic government has allowed about 60 of them to temporarily extend their stay.

Some of those protesters fear that support will vanish if the Jan. 11 election is won by Han Kuo-yu, the presidential candidate for Taiwan's Kuomintang opposition party, which favors close ties with China.

"If Han Kuo-yu is elected, I will buy a flight ticket and flee to another country right away," a protestor in his early 30s who asked only to be identified as Jero told Reuters.

Jero said he flew to Taiwan on a tourist visa days after he took part in the storming of Hong Kong's Legislative Council on July 1 fearing he could be charged with rioting, which carries a maximum prison term of 10 years.

He now lives in a small studio in Taipei funded by a network of local activists supporting the protesters.

The issue of Hong Kong has played a large role in Taiwan's election campaign. Tsai has vowed to defend the island's sovereignty and has rejected China's suggestion of a "one country, two systems" political formula, saying it has failed in Hong Kong.

Han, who says he wants to forge strong ties with Beijing and met with Hong Kong's embattled leader Carrie Lam and senior Chinese officials last year, has accused Tsai of using the Hong Kong protests to whip up fears of China for electoral gain.

Both Tsai and Han have voiced support for Hong Kong protesters. But the prospect of a Han presidency is more concerning to the protesters.

Story continues

"Hong Kong people are fighting against the Chinese Communist Party, but how could we convince ourselves that the Kuomintang is also against the Communist Party?" said a protester called Roger, whose tourist visa has been extended twice since his arrival in Taiwan in July.

Jacob Lin, a Taipei-based lawyer who is part of a team that has been offering legal assistance to protesters seeking residency in Taiwan since mid-summer, said many protesters are worried about a change of political control.

"If the ruling party is replaced, the treatment for protesters may be quite different," he said, referring to Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Responding to protesters' concerns about a Han victory, Han spokeswoman Anne Wang urged Hong Kong protesters not to be used by the DPP for electoral gain.

"I hope they have a true understanding of Mr. Han's insistence on the value of democracy and freedom," she said. "He's solely against provocation, conflict and war, but he's in full support of Hong Kong's democracy and freedom."

Hong Kong's Security Bureau told Reuters in a statement that those accused of breaking the law in the city will have an open and fair trial, and any accusation of politically motivated prosecutions are "unfounded."

'PROTECTIVE UMBRELLA'

Taiwan's government has helped close to 60 protesters who are seeking shelter on the island for "political" reasons since the protests started about six months ago, a senior government official with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The official, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, said Taiwan has been offering "assistance on an individual basis" to protesters, discreetly allowing them to extend tourist visas multiple times or facilitating applications for student or work visas.

Taiwan's government will not deport those who had made it there, the official said.

"If we don't help Hong Kong when they are in trouble, who is going to help Taiwan when we are in trouble?" he said.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement that it will "appropriately handle individual cases" in accordance with existing laws, without elaborating.

Tired of waiting around, some are taking direct action to help the protesters restart their lives in Taiwan.

Hong Kong-based rights lawyer Daniel Wong is leading an initiative to set up at least 10 companies from a laundry service to a restaurant in Taiwan to give protesters much-needed residency via work visas.

Wong said the plan, dubbed "project protective umbrella," will be funded by a group of anonymous supporters in Taiwan and Hong Kong, many of whom are lawyers, doctors and other professionals.

"We are going to help our own kids," he said. "Hong Kong people are not refugees."

Huang Chun-sheng, a pastor at a Presbyterian Church in Taipei which has received more than 100 protesters said he will set up a foundation for Hong Kongers in Taiwan to coordinate funding support for those needing shelters.

He said a few of those protesters had since returned to Hong Kong in the belief that they would likely not be charged there.

Shopping for daily necessities in Taipei, a protester in her 20s who identified herself as Tiffany sounded caution on the coming vote, and urged Taiwanese to vote for Tsai, who she says can protect the island's freedoms.

"I hope to study and find a job in Taiwan," she said. "I hope Taiwanese can cherish the votes in their hands."

(Reporting by Felice Wu and Yimou Lee in Taipei; Additional reporting by James Pomfret in Hong Kong; Editing by Bill Rigby)
The original Wiggles' lineup of Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Greg Page and Jeff Fatt are reuniting this month for 18+ shows in aid of the Australian bushfire crisis.

But the globally-recognised children's entertainers revealed on Wednesday that they almost missed their big break in the early '90s.

During an appearance on the Today show, Anthony claimed the group had been told by multiple booking agents that four male kids' entertainers would 'never work'.

Early days: The Wiggles have revealed they were almost never signed in the '90s because an all-male children's group was 'looked upon suspiciously'. Pictured on the Today show

The Wiggles were formed in 1991, and three of the original members (Murray, Greg and Jeff) were later replaced with younger performers.

Today host Karl Stefanovic said: 'No one in their right mind would have thought this is going to be one of the greatest exports that the country has ever seen.'

Greg agreed, then recalled how the group had been rejected early in their career by a female booking agent who told them The Wiggles weren't commercially viable.

'There is four of you, it will never work. Too many of you, you'll never make any money,' she had apparently told them.

They were wrong! Anthony Field claimed the group had been told by multiple booking agents in the '90s that four male kids' entertainers would 'never work'

'Also men to sing children's songs at the time was also kind of looked upon suspiciously,' said Anthony.

'We're early childhood teachers and, again, that was something odd... there's not many of us male pre-school teachers, especially then,' remarked Murray.

'So it was actually good [The Wiggles were signed], because men should be involved in bringing up children,' Anthony added.

For a good cause: The original Wiggles' lineup of Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Greg Page and Jeff Fatt are reuniting this month for 18+ shows in aid of the Australian bushfire crisis

The Wiggles were on the program to promote their 18+ shows in Sydney in aid of the Australian bushfire crisis.

While both concerts sold out in 10 minutes, Anthony said they were working hard to set up an $8 pay-per-view system for people who'd missed out.

The group announced the shows via Twitter on Monday, writing: 'We're getting the band back together... to raise some much-needed funds to assist with those affected by the bushfires in Australia.

Devastation: At least 25 people have died in the bushfires since the start of the horror season and a billion animals have perished

'ALL proceeds from the show (tickets and merchandise sales) will be going to the Australian Red Cross and WIRES.'

At least 25 people have died in the bushfires since the start of the horror season and a billion animals have perished.

If you'd like to donate to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief, click here.

To donate to the St Vincent de Paul Society appeal for bushfire victims, click here.

For donations to Victoria's Country Fire Authority click here and here for the NSW Rural Fire Service.

To donate to Foodbank click here and here for the World Wildlife Fund.
Waterford is now the only city in the country that is affordable to live in, according to the interim chair of the Land Development Agency (LDA).

John Moran told attendees at the Lisney Outlook 2020 event in Dublin this morning that the city with the most affordable housing was Waterford and that Ireland could face "political instability" if all the development is concentrated in Dublin, leaving other counties behind.

He said the potential for political instability was fuelled by reactionary politics with pressure on the government to respond to the demands of the most populated part of the country.

As former secretary-general of the Department of Finance, Mr Moran is credited with being one of the architects of Ireland's recovery in the wake of the Troika bailout.

At the event, he also spoke about the need for higher density neighbourhoods if Ireland is to have any hope of catering for the projected increase of one million people by 2040.

"I don't think the penny has dropped that we will have an extra one million people in the next 20 years," Mr Moran said.

This would require a "ramping up" of housebuilding to 7,000 to 8,000 units per annum.

"Five, six, seven-storey apartments is what we need to start thinking about, we don't necessarily need 20-storeys," he said.

People were going to have to move on from their traditional notion of a house, he said and were also going to have to start thinking about moving away from cars.

It was his "personal view" that "we have to talk about not having vehicles at all", particularly in cities where there were alternate public transport options.

"We shouldn't have cars if we live in Ranelagh," he said. "If you live near a railway station, you don't need a car."

Mr Moran, a social entrepreneur and founder of thought leadership consultancy RHH International, said he believed the government's decision to set up the LDA in 2018 in response to the housing crisis "will probably have more of an impact on Ireland than the decision to set up the ESB."

The agency is tasked with managing state lands in a way that boosts housing supply and delivers affordable housing, as well as building strategic landbanks to reduce volatility in land values.

Its target is to build 150,000 homes by 2040.

In October, LDA CEO John Coleman told the Oireachtas Housing Committee that they were focusing on eight sites in the short term, with teams appointed to advance planning applications for three sites, including St Kevin's Hospital in Cork city "which should yield approximately 200 homes".

Mr Coleman said he expected construction to start "in late 2020" subject to the approval of the planning authority".

Also addressing the Outlook 2020 Launch was Duncan Lyster, Lisney managing director who spoke about the growing influence of environmental considerations on property investment decisions.

"For the first time, people power may force changes in advance of legislative changes," he said.

"Twelve months ago, we didn't know who Greta Thunberg was. We mightn't agree with what she says or how she says it, but it is clear the green movement is overtaking lawmakers," Mr Lyster said.

The greening of properties is in progress. Under EU requirements, Ireland has an obligation to ensure that all new building completions and properties that have undergone major renovations meet what is called the NZEB standard (Nearly Zero Energy Buildings/A2 BER for new homes and B2 for renovated homes) by December 31 2020.

The government has conceded this will add 4 per cent to construction costs. Lisney predicts potential buyers will be more likely to choose a new home in the coming years, due to turnkey condition, tax incentives and help-to-buy schemes, as the cost of renovating second-hand homes increases.

Lisney said such a trend "can already be seen in sales data, where new homes are continually making up a greater proportion of total market sales".
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Vancouver, Canada, January 6, 2020  Authorities in Chad should release journalist Ali Hamata Achene, and stop pursuing criminal defamation and retaliatory cases against reporters, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Police arrested Achene, a reporter with the privately owned Dja FM radio station, in Mongo, the capital of Chads south-central Guera region, on December 26, 2019, according to a press release posted on Facebook by his employer and a report by French broadcaster Radio France Internationale.

Achene arrived at the local gendarmerie office in Mongo in response to a summons from the judicial police; when he arrived, police arrested him for alleged defamation and contempt of court, according to that press release.

When they arrested him, authorities showed Achene a copy of a Facebook post he published on his personal account, according to the press release and a Dja FM manager who spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal. A police officer said that authorities disapproved of what Achene broadcast on Dja FM, but did not have proof of his statements until they saw his Facebook post, the manager said.

CPJ reviewed a copy of that post, which alleged corruption in the Mongo legal system. Achene occasionally posted commentary on local politics on his Facebook page, which CPJ reviewed.

Achene has not seen a judge since he was detained, and charges have not been formally filed against him as of January 6, the Dja FM manager told CPJ.

The arrest of radio journalist Ali Hamata Achene sends a chilling message to those seeking to shine a light on governance issues in Chad, Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, said from New York. Achene should be released, and Chad should cease pursuing criminal cases against journalists for doing their jobs.

The journalist spent the night of December 26 at the gendarmerie office, and was transferred to Mongo Prison on December 27, according to a Facebook post by Dja FM.

CPJ could not immediately determine the origin of the defamation complaint. The only person mentioned by name in Achenes Facebook post, which has been deleted, was Djimet Arabi, Chads minister of justice.

Arabi confirmed to CPJ over messaging app that Achene was being prosecuted for contempt of court and was being held in pre-trial detention. Arabi did not respond to follow-up questions from CPJ about the defamation complaint.

Radio France Internationale reported that Achenes arrest followed a complaint by a public prosecutor, who was not named in that report.

Achene has been held in solitary confinement since December 30, according to another post by the broadcaster.

The Dja FM manager told CPJ that Achene has experienced swelling in his foot after a reptile bit him during his confinement. Arabi disputed claims that Achene was being held in isolation and, without elaborating, told CPJ not to worry about the journalists health.

Authorities previously detained Achene on December 23, 2019, in the office of Atteib Mahamat, a public prosecutor in Mongo, after the official took issue with the questions the journalist asked about alleged corruption in the local legal system, according to a Dja FM Facebook post from that day.

CPJ called Mahamat for comment but no one answered the phone.

In September 2019, a Chad court sentenced Martin Inoua Doulguet, publisher of the privately owned Salam Info newspaper, to three years in prison for defamation and conspiracy following a defamation complaint by Toupta Boguena, a former Chadian health minister, according to CPJ research.
Aster DM Healthcare rose 1.69% to Rs 168.45 after the company said its board will consider share buyback on Thursday, 9 January 2020.

The scrip traded in the range of Rs 168.05 and Rs 173.40 so far during the day.

Aster DM Healthcare is one of the largest private healthcare service providers operating in multiple GCC states and is an emerging healthcare player in India.

On a consolidated basis, the company's net profit fell 71.7% to Rs 3.12 crore on a 13.6% increase in the net sales to Rs 2086.88 crore in Q2 September 2019 over Q2 September 2018.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Security review in J&K is message to Pak not to use Taliban win in Kashmir

Top JeM commander gunned down by security forces in Valley

11 civilians gunned down by security forces in Nagaland; CM Neiphiu Rio orders SIT probe, appeals for peace

Day after Category A terrorist was killed, 2 more gunned down today in J&K

J&K: Terrorist killed by security forces in Awantipora

India

oi-Deepika S

Srinagar, Jan 07: A terrorist has been killed in a gun battle that broke out in Awantipora area of Kashmir's Pulwama district on Tuesday morning.

Police said arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militant whose identity and affiliation are being ascertained. The terrorist is said to be a local.

High alert along India-Nepal border after inputs of suspected terrorists in UP

JNU violence: No arrests yet, FIR filed against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh | OneIndia News

Meanwhile, the police have launched a combing operation in the area.

Earlier, two Army soldiers were killed during an encounter with terrorists in Naushera sector on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1. They were identified as Naik Sawant Sandip Raghunath and Rifleman Arjun Thapa Magar.
MANILA, Philippines  The Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) on Tuesday said it has intercepted a shipment allegedly containing kush weeds and liquid marijuana with an estimated value of P200,000.

The BOC-NAIA said the shipment was confiscated at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City on Monday, January 6.

The parcel was intercepted by the bureau in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group.

The shipment, which was declared to contain a pair of shoes and chocolate, was identified to have originated from California.

The parcel was subjected to further examination after authorities detected the scent it emitted which was similar to marijuana shipments previously intercepted by authorities.

It was found to contain four packs of suspected kush weeds and ten cartridges of liquid marijuana.

The shipment was consigned to a certain Xavier Martin Bulos from Sampaloc, Manila, who was arrested when he claimed the parcel.

The BOC said Bulos will face charges for violation of RA 9165 also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in relation to RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization Tariff Act.

The post BOC seizes P200K worth of Kush weeds, liquid marijuana appeared first on UNTV News.
Danny is online weekly to chat live with readers. Heres an edited transcript of this weeks chat.

Q. Cuckolding relationships: Im in my 40s, and for my entire adult life, Ive only been able to (and I only want to) be in relationships in which my significant others very openly cheat on me. Before I came out more openly about my position, I dreamed of them cheating on me and wished for it. When it happened, I found peace in the relationship. Once open, Ive found a lot of women who admit to cheating in prior relationships, and desire it to continue, especially with consent. The problem: So far, they have all fallen in love with others, and 100 percent of the time, they have left me for men who later dumped them. Ive refused to take anyone back. So I move forward. Now the issue is my wife of five years is falling in love with her lover. I see it coming. Weve talked and we both realize our marriage is coming to an end.

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There is no dating site for something like this. The stigma is that its a fetish, but its not. Its the type of love I find meaningful. Ive learned years ago there exist hundreds of thousands of men like me (which was a shocking revelation), and millions of spouses cheat. Why is it harder to find full love this way, while dishonest, cheating couples appear to have a better chance at success not doing it the way Im doing it? Should I just hide it again? Is it possible the lying is actually creating healthier situations? I know cheating ends many marriages. But there appear to be a lot that still make it after affairs. I dont want to be alone. I feel like this lifestyle needs to come into the light more so its less of a taboo thing and more of an acceptable form of love.

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A: Most people do not want to be alone! In this desire you have a great deal of company. I wish that the desire not to be alone were always accompanied by a commensurate pool of similarly minded individuals who want the exact same type of not-being-alone as you do, but theres absolutely no guarantee of that. Youve been able to identify what you want out of a relationship, and while youre entitled to have specificeven onerously specificrequirements of your ideal partner, Im not sure that even with increased awareness and broad support for the practice of cuckolding that you would stop running into the same problemnamely, that a lot of the women you date dont want exactly the same arrangement that you do, and that some of the women youre so eager to cheat on you cant necessarily perfectly control their emotional response to that increased sexual and romantic intimacy with other partners.

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Im not entirely convinced there arent any dating sites that make room for people with specific cuckolding interests (and Im not entirely sure that theres anything wrong with acknowledging this as a fetish). There may not be a site wholly dedicated to the exact brand of cuckolding that excites you, but that doesnt mean youre without recourse. FetLife comes to mind, as does AdultFriendFinder; you can be very clear in your profiles on even the most bland and middle-of-the-road dating apps about what interests you, etc. But the basic problem of all my previous relationships have ended, and the people my exes went on to date later broke up with them in turn is one shared by everyone who dates, regardless of what their relationships look like.

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The key to your letter, I think, is in this sentence: Why is it harder to find full love this way, while dishonest, cheating couples appear to have a better chance at success? Its because youre not part of those dishonest, cheating couples and you dont actually know what they feel like from the inside. They appear to be more successful than your marriage, which is currently ending, but youre not in anyone elses marriage, only your own. Its hard for anyone to find full love. Its more difficult when the kind of love youre looking for involves frequent, sustained sexual relationships with other partners but not emotional involvement. Thats not to say what youre looking for is impossible, merely challenging, and I dont think you can force an outcome by becoming dishonest about what you want from a partner. All any of us can do is be honest about what we want and hope for the best.

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How to Get Advice From Prudie:

 Send questions for publication to prudence@slate.com. (Questions may be edited.)

 Join the live chat Mondays at noon. Submit your questions and comments here before or during the discussion.

 Call the voicemail of the Dear Prudence podcast at 401-371-DEAR (3327) to hear your question answered on a future episode of the show.

Q. Can I date her? Ive been divorced for about a year and a half now. It was very painful. The woman I thought was the love of my life for the previous 12 years had been cheating on me. I noticed we had been distant and tried to discuss it and asked for counseling, and each time I was told there was nothing wrong or she was just tired or stressed. We hadnt had sex or even any real intimacy for almost a year. Im a toucher, so not being touched was an intense alienating experience for me. I felt like such a failure and it felt like she didnt want to address it. I felt doomed to raise our daughter in a loveless marriage.

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We separated shortly after the affair and I moved in with a friend. About three months into the separation I was out drinking and met a new woman. She was way out of my league but was so sweet and funny and very compassionate. I ended up not only sleeping with her that night but kind of dating her for about a month. It had been years since I had felt so loved and validated both as a man and as a person. She was so good to me, but I finally confessed to still being married. She really liked me and was devastated when I told her. I ran into her at a coffee shop a short while after this and she actually took the time to ask how I was doing, which lead to me sort of dumping all of my marital and parenting issues on her. And she just quietly and patiently listened to me pour my heart out. I greatly regret doing that to her, but she was so understanding. I think part of her wanted closure on the subject, but it felt good to really talk to someone about my issues who didnt know my wife. She wished me well and gave me the business card for a local therapist for when I was ready, but told me to please leave her alone. My wife and I divorced officially about a month after this and i started going to therapy to cope. It was the best decision I made during that time. Fast forward to last week. I was at a friends party and it turns out that this friend is also a good friend of hers. She actually came up to me and asked how I was and what I was up to. Prudie, I am still so into this woman, and I swear I felt she felt the same way. Weve been talking again, but not anything serious, and I really want to approach her and try again. I felt that warmth and that love and compassion all over again in these interactions. Am I wrong to want to date the woman I cheated on my wife with? If I do ask her out and she says yes, do I have to tell my ex who she is? My friends? I hid the fact that I continued to see her after that night from everyone and Im worried theyll judge me.

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A: Its not an especially auspicious beginning that you dated this woman for a month before telling her you were still married and she gave you a therapists card and told you to leave her alone, but the fact that she later sought you out, that you actually pursued therapy, and that youre currently divorced seems pretty heartening. Id worry about what your friends might think a little bit later; that strikes me as putting the cart before the horse. Tell this woman that youre still interested in her but youd understand if she doesnt want to go out again, and see what she says. If she really has just been reaching out to you as a concerned friend, shell let you know, and you can start to try to move on. If she does want to try again, great! There is nothing wrong with dating someone who wants to date you.

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If Ive understood your timeline correctly, you only started dating this woman after your wife admitted to having an affair and you moved out. I dont say that to diminish how painful it must have been for your sort-of-girlfriend to learn youd been keeping something so significant from her, merely that as far as your ex-wife is concerned, whom youve dated after you moved out isnt really any of her businessand if you do tell her, and she gets upset, its not really your problem. One of the upsides of getting divorced is getting increased distance from your ex!

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Q. Ungrateful: I gained a lot of weight during college and while I am active now, I am never going to be as thin as I was in high school. For Christmas I requested medium/large pajamas and workout clothes from my family. I texted my sizes to my various aunts and uncles. What I woke up to on Christmas morning was present after present of cute clothes that I couldnt fit in (all smalls). I have never felt more ugly or unwanted. None of the clothes would fit but my mother encouraged us kids to try things on and have a fashion show. I refused and got shamed into trying the clothes on. I looked like a stuffed turkey and I started to cry so hard that I threw up. This gave me an out for the fashion show but I got an earful from my mother, father, and grandmother. I needed to stop being hysterical, I was being ungrateful because gifts are gifts, and my mother told me to look on this as encouragement to lose more weight. All I see is my family hates me. They asked me for exactly what I wanted and deliberately got me the opposite. What am I supposed to say, thank you family for making me feel like a hippo, like the world doesnt shove down my throat that my self-worth is related to what I weigh? I feel awful now and I have no idea how to talk about it.

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A: Your family was deliberately cruel and vicious to you. Of course you feel awful after being called hysterical for not wanting to publicly try on clothes they bought knowing they wouldnt fit you. Do not thank them. Do not keep these gifts, and do not let them convince you that you should be grateful for being the butt of a brutal, inhumane, familywide joke. Keep your distance and look out for yourself. Im so sorry they put you through that.

Q. Is my husband lying to me? I found a few explicit SMS messages on my husbands MacBook between him and another man. I confronted him and he said he did not send these messages under any circumstances. He was adamant. We even contacted the other person and he said he did not recognize my husbands number nor did he correspond with anyone on those days and times. We have been unable to find a logical reason as to how these messages and replies got there. I am not tech-savvy enough to be aware of some elusive hacking incident where nothing else was compromised except for this one message thread. I want to believe him, but I know enough about technology to know that something like this is extremely rare. My husband has always been honest with me, he is genuinely a lovely person, and we are committed to our marriage and starting a family. He seems sick over this and I dont know what to believe anymore. Is my marriage doomed?

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A: I dont know if your marriage is doomed, but Im pretty sure that your husband sent explicit messages to someone else and is currently lying to you about it. Thats not a great sign, but lots of marriages survive infidelity, and lots of (perhaps most?) people dont immediately commit to full honesty when their affairs/peccadilloes/dealings come to light. Its possible that your husband loves you and is a genuinely loving person, and that hes having an affair and lying to you about it (and the other guy was savvy and self-preserving enough to lie when pressed). But I agree that it is extremely unlikely that your husbands laptop was hacked only insofar as a single sexual conversation was faked and nothing else was touched or altered in any way. I think you can keep your options open while also insisting upon honesty: I love you. I also dont believe that this conversation was the result of an opportunistic, one-time hacker. I believe what I saw, which is that you were having a sexually explicit conversation with someone else. Can we talk about this?

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Q. Birthday dilemma: I have been seeing a married guy for a few months now. I already know, heard, read, and cried over how things never fare well for the other woman. I have rationalized my choices and decided to follow his lead, which is not to overthink a good thing. This was after our fourth break-up I initiated. Anyway, his birthday is coming up this month and I want to give him tickets to events for something Id know he would enjoy going to. It would not matter if he did not take me. Seriously. After all, it his birthday present and he is free to decide what to do with it. But when I gave him a Christmas present after he gave me a very valuable gift, he left the gift I gave him at my house for us to use later and (hopefully) on our road trips we used to take weekly on the weekends in the summer. Do I ask him first if he will actually use the tickets and go to these events? Or should I just surprise him, as he often does with me?

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A: I hope you will eventually reexamine your definition of a good thing if that includes a relationship thats weathered four break-ups (all initiated by you!) in a few months. Good things are actually better than that. But! You have not asked me for my advice about whether to continue seeing a married man, so Ill get back to the matter at hand. I think the odds are good that he will ignore or neglect whatever gift you give him. I think part of the reason he has given you expensive and/or extravagant gifts is to assuage his own guilt or make up for the fact that yours is a permanently unequal relationship, that he does not prioritize you in the same way that you prioritize him. If you believe you can give him the tickets and truly divorce yourself from caring whether he ever uses them or lets them sit on a counter until long after the event has passed, sure. But if you think it would make you feel anxious to get closer and closer to the day of the concert or event without hearing him discuss how he plans to make use of the ticket, and that youd ask in a deceptively casual voice, I hope you had a great time at ____ the day after, then try to disguise your disappointment when he tells you he couldnt make it after all, then I think you should save your money.

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Q. Mail carrier: A year ago, my best friend moved out of our home into her parents house, and then moved to start a new career 2,000-plus miles away. At this time, she cut off most contact with our group of friends in an effort to have some space and clarity. This seems like a great thing for her and Im glad shes on a more stable path. Despite a formal change of address, I still get occasional mail for her, including ominous, minimally marked, white envelopes that I know are student loan and credit card bills and collections notices. I kept trying to give them to her, but she often canceled plans. Once I brought them while meeting her for dinner, but when I got home, I realized I still had them in my pocketbook. She sometimes told me to throw the mail away because it is probably junk, and if its bills she jokes that she doesnt want them. I have never said this out loud to avoid talking smack about her, but unfortunately I know that she tends to displace blame for things that are actually due to her own negligence onto other people (like not getting enough reminders from an admin to register for classes, or her sibling calling when she was about to pay a bill online and distracting her). I am paranoid that if I throw the mail away, she will try to say that part of why the collections were escalated is that I threw away her mail with bills or reminders. We have stopped talking except for holiday texts. I dont have her current address. Would it be inappropriate or aggressive to send it to her sisters house in one big envelope? Is it actually OK to throw it away? I refuse to open it because I feel like that is a real violation of trust, but I do not know how to handle this while protecting myself.

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A: Theres nothing aggressive about trying to forward someones mail to them via a relative. You could also mark these bills and envelopes NO LONGER AT THIS ADDRESS or RETURN TO SENDER and hand them to your postal carrier or put them back in your mailbox and let USPS sort it out. And its great that youre not opening her mail, but thats less because Im worried about the trust aspect of your nonexistent relationship and more because that may be a crime. Same with throwing it away. As much of a hassle as this may be for you, its best to notify the post office and ask for its help in rerouting these bills, rather than continually throwing them away or letting them pile up.

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Q. Spelling mistakes: My stepmother has begun misspelling my sisters name. In texts and emails to my sister, my stepmother now spells the name in a way thats vastly less common than the way my sisters name is really spelled. Only a Swedish speaker would even think to spell the name this way. My sister thinks its funny and forwards me these communications. And for the first few times I thought it was funny too. But now, even though its not my name shes misspelling, Im starting to feel like I should do something about it. My stepmother has been married to my father for 25 years and theres no reasonable explanation for this change. I wonder if shes OK. Also, I think it may secretly hurt my sisters feelings. Should I say something about it, either to my dad or to my stepmother? Or is this something only my sister can bring up, since she is the recipient of all of these messages and hers is the name being misspelled?

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A: This is fine! If its bothering you, mention it casually to your stepmother; this is not a contentious issue that needs to be broached with delicacy. If youre worried your sister is more upset than shes letting on, tell her she should correct your stepmother. It could be an autocorrect error, or a simple slip that shes failed to catch, but it doesnt sound like shes doing this on purpose, so theres no reason not to say, Oh, its spelled Lauren, not Laren. Its a 30-second conversation and a very quick fix.

Q. Re: Is my husband lying to me? I dont know if the husband and the other person are lying about the SMS messages, but I work in tech and know that in general, the internet is not secure. People can spoof email addresses, text messages, and pages, posts and threads from Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I have gotten explicit emails and text messages from people I have never heard of (and who are probably hiding behind false identities or names). If this is the only time it has happened, I would look into getting better internet security and try to forget about it. If there are other reasons to think that he is cheating, then by all means, continue to question him and your marriage. But dont blame him for what was originally a feature, and now is a huge bug, in the internet.

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A: Im not quite sure what getting better internet security would entail when it comes to My husband claims he didnt write a single sexually explicit series of text messages on his account. While that scenario is possible, I think the most likely explanation by far is that he wrote them, that hes embarrassed and reluctant to cop to an affair (not many people leap at the chance to announce theyve been cheating on their spouse!), and that hes lying.

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Q. Re: Spelling mistakes: I got married in 1988 and changed my name. When I got divorced I kept that name. My big sister just sent out Ive Moved! cards and she addressed it to my pre-1988 name! I sent her a text with a little smiley and said, I havent had that name since 1988! She sent a smiley back and we both laughed. It could just be a weird mistake the stepmom made and never noticed.

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A: That is my guess too! Absent any other change in behavior, I think its fair to assume its just an error shes totally blanked on. Sometimes Ive made a spelling error repeatedly because my brain has automatically corrected it whenever I read it back and needed someone else to point it out for me. Theres no reason to be anxious or tentative about bringing this up.

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Danny M. Lavery: Thanks, everyone, and see you next week.

If you missed Part 1 of this weeks chat, click here to read it.

Discuss this column on our Facebook page!

From Care and Feeding

Q. May my child pee in the park? What is the current policy on allowing young children to urinate in public parks? I let my 3-year-old son pee in a park recently, in a secluded spot among some bushes, and another adult said, Thats disgusting! (to her partner, but really for me to overhear). I used to pee in urban parks all the time as a child, but it seems to have gone out of fashion. Plus, this park is overrun by dogs every morning and evening, all of whom urinate wherever they see fit. Whats the difference? Read what Nicole Cliffe had to say.
By Trend

Uzbekistans Central Bank has set new foreign exchange rates, which will be in force from Jan.7 through Jan. 13, 2020, Trend reports with reference to the bank.

According to the bank, the US dollar fell, amounting to 9,507 soums.

In addition, euro fell by 15.8 soums to 10,608 soums.

Russian ruble went up and amounted to 153.43 soums.

The US currency has recently been showing slight fluctuations in both directions, while the euro has been rapidly falling in recent weeks, but has now increased in price.

An increase in exchange rate volatility was observed in August at the auctions of Uzbekistans interbank currency market. Since the beginning of the year, the US dollar against the soum increased by 12.5 percent, from slightly over 8,336 soums on Jan. 1 to 9,384 soums on Aug. 21. Most of the growth occurred in August, when the US dollar rose by 679 soums.

In this regard, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan has stopped to set prices for the sale and purchase of foreign currency.

Prices for the purchase and sale of currency are now formed on the market independently.

Moreover, from Aug. 20, commercial banks began selling foreign currency in cash through exchange offices.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Nunes Reveals House GOP Probe of Intelligence Community Inspector General Atkinson

WASHINGTONHouse Select Committee on Intelligence ranking minority member Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and other Republicans on the panel are investigating Intelligence Community Inspector General (ICIG) Michael Atkinsons role in the whistleblower complaint that led to President Donald Trumps impeachment by House Democrats.

The Republicans have an active investigation into Atkinson, Nunes said Jan. 6 during a podcast interview on the Sara Carter Show. Carter noted that the investigation hadnt been previously reported.

Weve mentioned it, but people have just sort of ignored it and, of course, we dont have subpoena power to bring Atkinson back in, Nunes told Carter. But hes got serious questions to answer for, because I believe that he either lied to Congress or he really needs to correct his statements.

Nunes was referring to Atkinsons secret testimony in 2019 before the Intelligence committee during hearings called by the chairman, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).

Atkinson told lawmakers about an anonymous whistleblowers written complaint regarding Trumps July 25, 2019, telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The whistleblower wasnt a witness to the call, during which Trump asked Zelensky to investigate claims that a server containing digital copies of former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons personal email were being held by unknown person(s) in Ukraine.

Based on what he claimed to have been told by others in the White House who were listening to the call, however, the whistleblower said Trump also told Zelensky that Ukraine wouldnt receive promised U.S. military aid if he didnt investigate the role of Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden, with a Ukrainian natural gas firm.

House Democrats claim Trump was using his office for personal benefit in seeking the investigation, in hopes that it would damage Joe Biden, a potential rival to the presidents reelection effort in the 2020 campaign.

Schiff, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) have refused to make public the whistleblowers name.

Schiff also has refused to make public the transcript of Atkinsons Oct. 4, 2019, closed-door testimony before the Intelligence panel. Nunes and other Republican committee members were present for the ICIGs testimony, but arent permitted to discuss it publicly since it is classified.

We really do need to hear from the whistleblower, Nunes told Carter. That needs to happen  Everyone needs to see that testimony, and the reason that its not being released is because its very damaging, not only to the whistleblower, but also to Atkinson himself.

Nunes declined to provide additional details about what the Republican probe of the ICIG has found, saying, Im not going to go any further than that because you know, obviously, he has a chance to come in and prove his innocence, but my guess is Schiff, Atkinson, they dont want that transcript out because its very damaging.

Nunes also told Carter that he, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Intelligence panel member Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) wrote to Atkinson in 2019 asking why he expedited the whistleblowers complaint despite that it was based on hearsay and second-hand information.

The ICIG gave us a very typical IC response, which is to not answer the question. Three years ago, that mightve worked. It doesnt work with us anymore, Nunes told Carter.

Atkinson, who is a career government employee, was nominated for the ICIG post by Trump in November 2017.

Mr. Atkinson has served as an Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General (AAG) of the National Security Division (NSD) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) since 2016, the White House said in announcing Atkinsons nomination.

As senior counsel, Atkinson was in a key position advising then-AAG John Carlin, a major player in the DOJ/FBI Operation Crossfire Hurricane probe of allegations of collusion between Trumps 2016 campaign and Russian interests.

The probe was severely criticized in a recent report by the DOJ inspector general for filing questionable applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court to spy on Trump campaign volunteer Carter Page.

Prior to the senior counsel position, Atkinson was an assistant United States attorney in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia from 2006 to 2012. He then became deputy chief of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section until 2015. He was the sections acting chief from 2015 until 2016.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc.
Democratic Sens. Stephen Fenberg of Boulder and Rachel Zenzinger of Arvada plan to introduce a bill that would enable the state to repay student loan debt for the first two years after an individual graduates from college in Colorado and stays in Colorado.
A British teenager found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus has been handed a four-month jail sentence, suspended for three years.

The 19-year-old on Tuesday hugged her family and her legal team and left court weeping, with her head in her hands, after she was sentenced for public mischief.

Her family had raised fears she would suffer permanent damage to her mental health if she was sent to prison, having been diagnosed with PTSD.

But she is free to return home after Judge Michalis Papathanasiou told her he was giving her a second chance.





The judge told Famagusta District Court on Tuesday the four-month sentence would be suspended for three years.

I was in the courtroom as this was being read out, said Al Jazeeras Rory Challands, reporting from Paralimni.

Over the shouts of her supporters down on the streets, it was hard to hear what was going on. But at the moment she heard she could essentially go home, she turned to her supporters and gave a sad smile.

The teenager has been stuck on the island after claiming she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in Ayia Napa on July 17.

She was charged and spent about a month in prison before being granted bail in August.

It cuts right to the heart of the #MeToo movement, said Challands, but it has political undertones, too. There are people here saying the way this case has been handled has been a case of Cyprus trying to maintain ties with Israel.

The dozen young men and boys, aged between 15 and 20, arrested over the incident were freed after she signed a retraction statement 10 days later.

The woman maintains she was raped after having consensual sex with one of the Israelis, but forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police.

Her legal team says she was denied a lawyer  even a translator  during her interrogation.

Her fight goes on, reported Al Jazeeras Challands. She is going to appeal against her conviction at the Supreme Court of Cyprus.

A member of her legal team told BBC News: Well also be considering going to the European Court of Human Rights.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he has raised concerns over her treatment with the Cypriot authorities after the teenagers conviction provoked outrage in Cyprus and the United Kingdom.

Supporters had gathered outside the court on Tuesday holding banners declaring: We believe you.

Shes been completely aware of all the support, said a member of her legal team. Shes had well-wishers from all around the world, particularly from Israel, who were concerned about her plight and whether she was getting justice.
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Oregon-based firefighters will travel to Australia to help fight the wildfires that have been burning since August, the Bureau of Land Management announced Monday.

Bureau of Land Management firefighters from three Oregon districts will travel to Australia. Crews from Burns, Prineville and Vale will assist with air tactical support, wildland fire incident management and crew leadership, the Bureau said in a news release.

The fires in Australia have been burning since August, charring large swaths of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. The fires have caused major property loss, and several humans and millions of animals are estimated to have died in the fires.

According to the bureau, 138 firefighters from New Zealand and Australia assisted with fires in Northern California in August 2018, helping with mid-level fireline management, heavy equipment, helicopter operations and structure protection. The last time the U.S. sent firefighters to Australia was 2010.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

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ROSEVILLE, California, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PASCO Scientific announced today that it has joined the Google for Education Integrated Solutions Initiative. This collaboration integrates PASCO solutions with Google products to improve the efficiency of classroom experimentation and science learning.

PASCO Scientific has collaborated with Google throughout the development process to deliver users a fluid experience. "Teachers and students have been using SPARKvue to collect and analyze data on their Chromebooks and Android devices for years. Partnering with Google feels like a natural step forward in our mission to provide educators with a centralized solution for teaching science. We plan to continue improving global access to science education and data literacy alongside Google," said Richard Briscoe, President and CEO of PASCO Scientific.

The Google for Education Integrated Solutions Initiative features education apps and tools optimized for integration with Chrome OS, Google Classroom, or G Suite for Education. PASCO's more than 55 years of experience in science education has made them a well-known leader in STEM education and an ideal partner for the advancement of powerful teaching and learning solutions.

The first set of integrations with Google's offerings include the ability to connect PASCO sensors to the Google Science Journal app on Android, export data directly to Google Sheets on Android, and easily share lab resources from PASCO.com through Google Classroom.

The partnership extends accessibility to educators by providing them with an affordable and compatible sensor solution. Science Journal app users will now enjoy the same plug-and-play sensor experience as SPARKvue users when using PASCO wireless sensors. A new "Share to Classroom" button exports digital experiments from the PASCO Experiment Library to courses setup in Google Classroom. This feature enables educators to export any of PASCO's free experiments to their entire class with a single click.

Briscoe is confident in the partnership's potential saying, "At PASCO, we are excited to be partnering with Google in our mission to promote accessible science learning and data literacy. We are consistently striving to provide educators with innovative teaching solutions that improve the efficiency of their classroom. Hundreds of thousands of learners around the world use Google Science Journal. By enabling PASCO sensors to work with Google Science Journal, we are expanding educators' tools and helping students engage with science learning."

For more information about the integration of PASCO solutions into Google products, please visit https://www.pasco.com/resources/google.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk spoke during a ceremony at the company's new Gigafactory in Shanghai on Tuesday and had a chance to show off some of his dance moves.

Musk talked about several initiatives and achievements. The first Tesla Model 3 cars were delivered out of the Shanghai factory to the public, for example, and Musk said he will design a future Tesla vehicle in China that will be sold globally. He also said China would open a new design and engineering center in the country and that it will use the Shanghai Gigafactory to build a production program for the Model Y.

But all of this may have been overshadowed by Musk's dance, which he tweeted afterwards:

tweet

The China ceremony was the second in less than a month for Tesla. The first was on Dec. 30, when Musk delivered the first Model 3 cars off the line to Tesla employees. Tesla is already considering cutting the price of its China-built Model 3 cars this year, which has angered some customers.

--CNBC's Arjun Kharpal and Lora Kolodny contributed to this report.

Follow @CNBCtech on Twitter for the latest tech product news.
(JNS)The problem of anti-Semitic intimidation on American college campuses is serious, and hopefully, U.S. President Donald Trumps recent executive order will help combat it. But an equally significant problem is the deeply entrenched anti-Israel bias in the lectures, discussions and even the student trips abroad that our sons and daughters are participating in at many universities today.

Case in point: an upcoming trip to Israel and Palestine for students who attend American University in our nations capital.

The official description of the trip employs all the usual cliches that indicate the organizers slant without being too overt about their bias.

It will be a dual-narrative immersive experience, which will feature both the Israeli and Palestinian narratives. That means the students will be taught that the Israeli narrative (in which Israel has a right to exist) and the Palestinian narrative (in which Israelis are Nazis and Israels creation was an act of racist colonialist aggression) are equally valid.

According to the web site, the theme of the trip will be social justice, and in order for social justice anywhere to be achieved, a true and lasting peace rooted in a power structure based on equity, security and justice must take shape. In progressive-speak, that means Israeli policies are unjust, the Palestinian Arabs are innocent victims, and Israel must be pressured to make more concessions to the Palestinian Authority.

The itinerary of the trip posted on the universitys website is short on details, but there are some clues as to its flavor. For example, the students will walk the separation wall. Not the security wall, which is what Israelis call it, since it was built to keep out Palestinian Arab suicide-bombers. No, the American University organizers prefer the Arab propaganda term separation wall, which is in effect an endorsement of the Arab allegation that the walls purpose is to enforce apartheid-style separation.

The itinerary also mentions that there will be a discussion of the impact of war and violence. The word terrorism isnt mentioned. I wonder why not. The students will also get to visit with a joint peace-seeking NGO. The NGO is not named, but when pro-Palestinian activists use buzz words such as peace-seeking, you can imagine what they have in mind.

According to the websites description, the purpose of the trip is to allow the students to begin to think critically about the necessary steps that must take place for peace to come about. And what are those steps? No need to guess. All we have to do is look at the Twitter feed of the co-leader of the trip, an American University senior and Palestinian American activist named Yazan Hanouneh.

Earlier this year, Hanouneh marked the anniversary of Israels founding by re-tweeting a multi-part video from Al Jazeera called What Is the Nakba?

According to the Anti-Defamation league, Al Jazeera is a major exporter of hateful content against the Jewish people, Israel and the United States. And the What Is the Nakba? video that Yazan Hanouneh is promoting certainly lives up to that description.

The video falsely claims that over 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes by Israel in 1948. It features a speaker claiming that many times during the 1948 war, Israeli soldiers went into Arab villages, took ten of the youngsters in the middle of the village, shot them just in order to kill them in order that all the others will see it and run away, and if it was not enough they took others also.

The video does not even acknowledge that there was a Holocaust. Although the video covers the entire period from the early 1900s to the present, viewers are told only this about the Nazi genocide: The persecution of Jews across Europe led them to believe they were not safe there and Zionists saw Palestine as a prime location for a Jewish homeland.

Thats the Al Jazeera version of Israels creation, which American Universitys Yazan Hanouneh promotesJews committing mass murder, Jews undertaking mass expulsions, and Jews seizing prime Arab land for their state. Evidently, thats what Hanouneh believes, and evidently, thats the perspective he will be sharing with the students on the upcoming trip.

The trips co-leader is a student activist named Aylon Berger, who, according to the website, is fluent in Hebrew and once lived in Israel for a couple of years. Defenders of the trip will no doubt say that Aylons presence will give it balance. But lets keep in mind what balance means in this context. As former chairman of High School Democrats of America, Aylon represents one particular political perspective. For some reason, no representatives of any other perspective were included among the leaders of the trip.

Isnt that strange? Where are all the proponents of diversity when it comes to American Universitys trip to Israel? Are Palestinian advocates and representatives of the youth wing of the Democratic Party the only ones whose views should be aired on a trip to Israel?

If the American University administration expects parents to shell out $3,000 (!) to send their child to Israel under its auspices, it ought to consider the idea of ensuring that the student participants will be exposed to some genuine diversity and balance in the perspectives of the trips leaders.

Stephen M. Flatow, an attorney in New Jersey, is the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995. He is the author of A Fathers Story: My Fight for Justice Against Iranian Terrorism, now available on Kindle.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 18:22:26|Editor: Wang Yamei

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TEHRAN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- An unspecified number of people were killed and a number of others were injured in a stampede at the funeral ceremony of slain Iranian general in Iran's Kerman city, according to official IRNA news agency.

The head of Iran's Emergency Center, Pir Hossein Kolivand, confirmed the casualties without specifying the figures.

No official report is available about the casualties, but some local media put the number of killed people at 35 and the injured at 48.

Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, was killed in a U.S. airstrike at Baghdad Airport on Friday.
Mahindra & Mahindra announced the production, sales and export figured for month of December 2019 as under -

The company achieved total production of 33888 units in December 2019 compared to 27,653 units in December 2018.

The company reported total sales of 36,576 units in December 2019 compared to 36,611 units in December 2018. Exports were 2141 units in December 2019 compared to 3065 units in December 2018.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Fort Bend County Sheriffs Office has arrested an Islamic religious teacher for alleged sex crimes against children. Mohamed Omar Ali, 59, was charged with one count of sexual assault of a child and three counts of sexual indecency of a child following his Jan. 3 arrest.

At a press conference Monday morning, Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls said that all four victims were children under the age of 14. Ali is a Somalian national who was living in the U.S. illegally, acording to Nehls. The bail for Ali was set at $125,000, but due to his illegal status, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement put a detainer on Ali, and he is being held at the Fort Bend County jail, Nehls said.

According to Detective Michael Alexander of the Fort Bend County Sheriffs Office, Ali gained access to his alleged victims by gaining the trust of the victims families, who invited him into their homes to teach the Quran to their children.

Shariq Abdul Ghani, Director of the Minaret Foundation and representative of the Muslim community, added that Ali was not an employee or official volunteer of any particular mosque, but he traveled to different mosques and schools in the area, establishing himself as a defacto religious leader.

In a phone interview on Monday afternoon, Ghani also said that leaders within the Houston Muslim community were unfamiliar with Ghani. Ali lives in the Houston area of Fort Bend County, according to a news release from the sheriffs office.

He has a very fluent understanding of the Quran, and hes fluent in Arabic, which makes him an ideal teacher, Ghani said at the press conference.

Sohail Syed, president of The Islamic Society of Greater Houston, said that Ali is not a volunteer or employee at any of their facilities.

ISGH leadership takes the safety of our community very seriously and has implemented strict background check measures for all of our employees and any volunteers who work with children, said Syed in a statement. We are also working with organizations that specialize in this area to create rigorous standards for our community, staff, and volunteers to ensure that our loved ones are safe.

Surveillance of Ali began in September of 2019, after victims reported the abuse to the FBI, but investigators believe the alleged crimes date back to 2013. Investigators said they believe there are many more victims who have not spoken up, and the sheriffs office urges those victims to come forward.

The focus now, according to Nehls, is finding these potential victims, which can be a challenge due to some of the nuances of Muslim belief regarding sexual assault. Said Nehls, You will hear that if a child in the Muslim community is assaulted in any way sexually, that child may be considered unclean, and will that child be able to get married in the future?

Alexander stated that the stigma has already made the investigation difficult, and his office has not been able to move the investigation as quickly because of it.

Nehls added, Put your religious affiliation away, folks, and do what's in the best interest of your child, and reach out to us.

However, Ghani emphasized later in a phone interview that there is no stigma against sexual assault victims.

In Islam, theres no bias against the survivor, theres only a bias against those that have inflicted injustice, said Ghani. Survivors are not treated differently. Our community is here to support them in their healing and in their growth.

Ghani encourages any other sexual assault victims or others with knowledge of Ali to come forward to the sheriffs office.

The sheriffs office is also asking anyone who is a potential victim to contact Sgt. Jonathan Howell at (281) 341-4797. Nehls emphasized that all victims will remain anonymous with their identities protected.

They can come in and total confidence and talk to us, and we will not release their identity in any way, Nehls said.

claire.goodman@chron.com

brooke.lewis@chron.com
A category one tropical cyclone has moved closer to the Australian coast overnight and is threatening a string of remote communities with damaging conditions .

As of early Tuesday morning Cyclone Blake was only 30km north northwest of Broome and 170 kilometres west southwest of Derby while moving at 9km/h.

The cyclone is expected to bring wind gusts to 95 kilometres per hour with sustained 65km/h winds at its centre.

Destructive winds with gusts over 125km/h may develop early on Tuesday between Beagle Bay and Bidyadanga.

A yellow alert has been issued for large areas of northern Western Australia as category one tropical storm Cyclone Blake edges closer to the region (pictured)

Destructive winds with gusts over 125km/h may develop early on Tuesday between Beagle Bay and Bidyadanga along with heavy rain

'Tropical Cyclone Blake has weakened due to interaction with the land. It will move southwards and may reintensify if it moves far enough off the coast,' a Bureau of Meteorology statement warned.

'The system is forecast to move towards the south-southwest and stay close to the coast today.

The Dampier Peninsula, north of Broome, is expected to be hammered with gale force winds on Tuesday morning.

A yellow alert was issued for people in or near communities from Cape Leveque to Bidyadanga.

Residents in Bidyadanga and Broome are being told they need to take action and get ready to shelter from the cyclone.

'Gales could extend to Wallal Downs and De Grey during Tuesday or early Wednesday,' the BOM statement continued.

'There is a slight risk of gales extending further along the Pilbara coast as far as Whim Creek, including Port Hedland, and into inland parts of the eastern Pilbara.

'(And) as far inland as Nullagine overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday morning.'

Heavy rainfall is also forecast for the Pilbara and far southwestern Kimberley region on Tuesday and will likely continue into Wednesday.

Residents in Bidyadanga and Broome are being told they need to take action and get ready to shelter from the cyclone as destructive winds pick up on Tuesday

Cyclone Blake is expected to cross the coast along Eighty Mile Beach near Wallal sometime on Tuesday after skirting past Broome at around 5am.

The cyclone's path is expected to move it toward Wallal Downs and De Gray by 5pm on Tuesday.

Gales could extend into inland parts of the eastern Pilbara late on Tuesday or early on Wednesday.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned people to take action and get ready to shelter from the cyclone

Monsoonal rain and thunderstorm activity is also forecast to continue on the northwest Kimberley coast on Tuesday.

The system could also create heavy rain 'well away from the system centre.'

Residents between De Grey and Whim Creek and the eastern inland Pilbara, including Marble Bar, are being urged to be prepared and listen for the next advice.
[January 07, 2020] Steven Wyatt Elected New President of The International Federation of Robotics

Steven Wyatt (ABB, Switzerland) has been elected as the new President of the International Federation of Robotics by its Executive Board. Wyatt succeeds Junji Tsuda (Yaskawa Electric Corporation), who has served in the rotating post since December 2017. Milton Guerry (SCHUNK, USA) has been appointed as IFRs new Vice President. The new IFR President, Steven Wyatt, has a decade of international experience gained in the flexible automation industry. He is currently global Head of Portfolio and Digital for ABB's Robotics & Discrete Automation business. Prior to joining ABB in 2010, the native Scot worked in a series of executive marketing & sales roles within the plastics industry globally. Mr. Wyatt holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Edinburgh. Before being elected President of IFR, Wyatt assisted his predecessor, Junji Tsuda, as Vice President, a role he held for two years. Steven Wyatt thanked the outgoing IFR President, Junji Tsuda, for sharing his esteemed and valuable industry expertise with key international stakeholders and the world's press. "As the voice of the robotics industry, Junji Tsuda did an exemplary job insetting forth our members' viewpoint on the key topics impacting our industry. As its new President, it is my pleasure to carry on his successful work. Together with the new Vice President, Milton Guerry, I will continue Junji Tsudas mission to deliver improved awareness and a better understanding of the rapidly changing world of flexible automation.



The new IFR Vice President Milton Guerry began his career in the automotive industry in various engineering and technical functions. Today, he heads the SCHUNK USA team as its President. Guerry is a member of the Robotic Industries Association's (RIA) Board of Directors. He joined SCHUNK in 2000 and has held various leadership roles assuming his current role as President in 2007. Files for Download

Please find files for download at: https://tinyurl.com/yfav9eff

Follow IFR on LinkedIn (News - Alert) at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-federation-of-robotics/ About IFR

The International Federation of Robotics: www.ifr.org View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005061/en/

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Over the weekend, Donald Trump Jr. picked up a rifle inscribed with medieval Christian iconography, a molded knight's helmet and a magazine picturing Hillary Clinton behind bars, and went shooting. He shared the photos of this weapon on Instagram.

This gun, dubbed the "Crusader" has been in the news before, when it caused controversy for its anti-Islamic imagery. This new version, as with the original, was marketed as something to be used by American citizens against Islamic terrorists and is described on the seller's website as "inspired by some of the most fierce warriors who fought in nearly 200 years of epic conflicts known as the Crusades . . . Technology evolves, warriors never change."

The key element here is the molded helmet. Unlike actual helmets of the 12th century, which would almost all have been quite similar to those shown in the Bayeux Tapestry, the helmet on the gun fully encloses the face. It's a much later type of helmet - and one that importantly speaks not to the real Middle Ages but an Internet fantasy version. Specifically, it iconographically winks at the popular "Deus vult" rallying cry and "Templar" meme that is hurled at Muslims by white supremacists in the United States and Europe, directed at political leftists in Brazil and even last week scrawled on the walls of a Planned Parenthood facility, allegedly by an extremist who tried to burn the building down

As such, this decorated weapon plays into a right-wing fascination with the European Middle Ages, one built on fantasy and almost always linked back to the violence of the Crusades and an imagined apocalyptic war between the West and "Islam." Its iconography, carefully documented in Trump Jr.'s photos, signals a commitment to a vision of a world defined by a clash between Christians and Muslims, thereby emboldening some of the most dangerous tendencies in right-wing America.

As others have pointed out, a strain of apocalyptic Christianity has long underwritten the contemporary Republican Party's view of presidential power under Trump. Evangelical leaders hailed the administration's decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem in an apocalyptic mode. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who pushed for the airstrike to kill Qasem Soleimani, has been open about seeing Muslim-Christian relations within a religious framework.

This is what makes Trump Jr.'s Instagram post troubling. The gun itself implicitly signals the administration's alignment with the heavily-armed fringe. But that would be true of almost any gun he might brandish: The fact that it's a "crusader" gun, however, further suggests to some on the right that Trump understands ongoing confrontations in the Middle East in the correct terms; for white evangelicals as a prelude to apocalypse, while for white supremacists a chance to avenge the crusaders and "win" this time.

As medieval scholars like us have been saying at least since George W. Bush proclaimed the war in Iraq a "crusade," medieval holy wars were not some glorious conflict between good white guys and bad nonwhite guys, but were rather a series of armed conflicts between a wide variety of groups that stretched across Europe and into both southwestern and northwestern Asia.

Medieval people did develop sophisticated ideas about when it was acceptable to kill in God's name, ideas that sometimes led to terrible violence, but the Crusades were never a coherent thing for the vast majority of the time they were supposedly playing out. Instead, they only came to be codified as an institution at the very end of the Middle Ages, then given force by colonialist European historians of during the nineteenth century - all long after Latin Christian Europeans ruled in Jerusalem from 1099-1189.

In other words, they were used to artificially give precedent to modern European expansion, letting the colonial powers argue, for example, that the French and English belonged in the Middle East in the early twentieth century because kings Philip Augustus and Richard the Lion-Hearted had been there before. In sum, the myths about crusading - which, like all myths, survive and spread because they are stories that are useful in contemporary moments - have allowed people to not only justify violence against those who do not share their specific religious identities, but also cast other kinds of conflict into the framework of holy war.

And that's precisely what this gun does. The "Crusader" gun plays on a mythological past to suggest that the company's products are essential to the culture wars of today and tomorrow.

And the stakes of that culture war are clear: Along with the guns, they also sell a shirt advocating waterboarding, a poster depicting Crusader-wielding gunmen holding off antifa protesters, one implying that their weapons should be used against "libturds," and still another shirt with an image of a medieval crusader holding the crusader rifle under the banner of Psalm 144:1, a verse that was also often etched on the blade of medieval swords and that the Christian invaders cited as inspiration when they took Jerusalem in 1099. The makers write that they chose this Psalm to "hoist the flag of our faith . . . The war is here. We have a duty to defend our homeland and our way of life."

The metaphorical targets of the Crusader gun are clear from the context; they are the enemies in this apocalyptic conflict, enemies both foreign and domestic. Indeed, that's reinforced by Trump Jr.'s magazine depicting Hillary Clinton behind bars, making clear the links in the conservative imagination between liberals and infidels.

During the 2014 electoral campaign, an ex-Navy SEAL named Ryan Zinke was running for Congress in Montana, when he referred to Hillary Clinton as the "Antichrist." Zinke won a competitive primary and then the race, and won again in 2017. Then Donald Trump Jr. recommended Zinke to the president, who named him interior secretary. This could all be coincidence, but it speaks to the fluency with which modern conservatives can cast political struggles as apocalyptic. And apocalyptic struggles are zero-sum, the ends justifying all means, the enemy worthy of nothing but earthly fury and fire from the sky.

In the words of another shirt from the retailer of Donald Trump Jr.'s gun: "If God be for me, it matters not who is against me."

- - -

Gabriele is a professor of medieval studies in the department of religion and culture at Virginia Tech and has published widely on religion and violence in the Middle Ages.

Perry is a journalist and senior academic adviser to the history department at the University of Minnesota.
ATLANTA, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlanta Housing, in conjunction with the City of Atlanta, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Invest Atlanta and the Westside Future Fund, held a groundbreaking ceremony today, Tuesday, January 7, for the redevelopment of the first phase of Herndon Square.

"Atlanta Housing is delighted to begin a new decade with the groundbreaking and development of Herndon Square," says Eugene Jones Jr., president and CEO of Atlanta Housing. "This development will add hundreds of new affordable housing units to the city of Atlanta and provide a catalyst for retail and neighborhood redevelopment on the west side."

Herndon Square resides on 12.3 acres of the former Herndon Homes public housing site, located at Cameron Madison Alexander Boulevard and Northside Drive. The Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners in 2016 approved the selection of team of Hunt Companies and Oakwood Development Group to redevelop the site into a high-quality, mixed-income and mixed-use complex. The estimated $166 million development consists of five phases. Phase 1 will include 97 affordable units for seniors earning up to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI). Construction of the midrise building will be completed in Spring 2021 with an anticipated budget of $24 million, financed by tax-exempt bonds issued by Invest Atlanta and a ground lease first and second priority mortgage from Atlanta Housing. The overall development will feature a variety of building types and bedroom sizes for single professionals, families and seniors. Phases 1 through 4 will include Land Use Restrictive Covenants, securing affordability on the site for a minimum of 30 years. The development program also has plans for approximately 681 rental units and 32 for-sale townhomes in Phase 5, with 45 percent of the units projected to be affordable for households earning up to 80 percent of AMI.

Qualifying homebuyers earning less than 80 percent AMI will receive AH's down payment assistance up to $20,000. The development, expected to be completed in 2027, also includes greenspace, approximately 36,500 square feet of retail and health and wellness space.

"Atlanta Housing would like to thank Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Invest Atlanta, the Westside Future Fund, HUD and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for making housing affordability a priority and this project a reality," says Dr. Christopher Edwards, chairman of the AH Board of Commissioners. "Working together, we're confident we can continue our mission and help meet the mayor's goal of $1 billion in affordable housing."

About Atlanta Housing

Led by President and CEO Eugene Jones, Jr., the Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia (AH), is the largest housing authority in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation. AH provides and facilitates affordable housing resources for nearly 22,000 low-income households comprised of approximately 50,000 people.

These affordable housing resources include AH-owned residential communities, AH-sponsored mixed-income, mixed-finance residential communities, tenant-based vouchers, project based rental assistance, supportive housing arrangements and homeownership opportunities. AH's programs are funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD").

Visit Atlanta Housing at www.atlantahousing.org or follow us on Twitter at @housingatlanta.

SOURCE Atlanta Housing

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http://www.atlantahousing.org


Clinical programs in IPF, NASH and cancer

Joint entity to be named Galecto, Inc.

SAN DIEGO and COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galecto, the leading developer of galectin modulators for the treatment of fibrotic diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and cancer, and PharmAkea, Inc., a privately held San Diego-based pharmaceutical company developing novel small molecules against protein targets involved in fibroproliferative disease, today announced the two companies will merge. Financial terms have not been disclosed. Following completion, the joint company will retain the Galecto name and current senior management team, including Hans Schambye as CEO. Galecto, Inc. will be incorporated in the US and will retain its operating headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The merger brings together two clinical stage companies with strong programs in fibrosis and cancer, including an inhaled galectin-3 modulator currently in phase IIb for the potential treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Galecto has built a broad pipeline of drug candidates targeting the role of galectin-3 in inhibiting cells involved in fibrosis. This is complemented by PharmAkea, which has developed small molecules that target LOXL2, a key enzyme involved in the formation of the extracellular matrix during the fibrotic process.

The merger between Galecto and PharmAkea brings together two highly complementary companies, which with our strengths in fibrosis and cancer will help us build a future global player in this space. PharmAkea, which included team members from Amira Pharmaceuticals, previously acquired by BMS, has a highly validated target and an exciting next generation small molecule inhibitor that is very potent and penetrates the fibrotic tissue. We are very much looking forward to working as a combined entity, said Hans Schambye, CEO of Galecto.

Galecto has vast experience in developing galectin-3 modulators that have potential to open up new treatment options, particularly in fibrotic indications. The synergy achieved by combining our complementary scientific approaches, first-in-class product candidates, supportive long-term investors and dedicated employees with extensive experience of drug development, will ensure that we address these debilitating diseases sooner, said Robert Williamson, CEO of PharmAkea.

As a consequence of the merger, Carl Goldfischer from Bay City Capital will join the Galecto Board of Directors.

About Galecto, Inc.

Galecto is focused on developing novel drugs for the treatment of fibrosis, inflammation, and other serious human diseases. The companys products target galectins or galactoside binding lectins, which are a group of proteins shown to be involved in many disease processes. Since its founding in 2011, Galectos R&D team has proven that galectin-3 is an attractive drug target and that galectin-3 inhibitors are effective in reducing fibrosis in several different organs in preclinical models. Based on this research and recently completed clinical studies, Galectos high potency galectin modulators may open new treatment possibilities for many patients. The company is incorporated in the US and has its operating headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. Galecto is funded by Novo Holdings, OrbiMed, Ysios, HBM Healthcare Investments, Sunstone Capital, M Ventures, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Maverick Ventures, Seventure and SEED Capital.

Further information can be found at www.galecto.com.

About PharmAkea, Inc.

PharmAkea is a privately held San Diego-based clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel small molecules against protein targets involved in fibroproliferative diseases. The company was funded through a collaboration with Celgene and a venture round by Bay City Capital. The companys lead program is PAT-1251, a Phase 2 ready LOXL2 inhibitor, for the treatment of fibrotic diseases and some cancers. PharmAkea spun out PAT-409, a Phase 1 ready autotaxin inhibitor, in 2019, and that program was subsequently purchased by Blade Therapeutics.

For more information, contact:
PARIS - The French government and unions appeared still far apart after talks resumed Tuesday over fiercely contested pension reform proposals that have triggeredrecord-settingstrikes on the countrys train network.

On another day of walkouts that caused more misery for Paris commuters, the strikes spread to oil refineries, raising the prospect of disruption for motorists too

Following morning discussions with the unions, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe struck a determined tone, sticking to the governments tight timetable for getting its pension proposals through parliament before the summer recess.

But the CGT union came out of the talks vowing more strikes and calling for more people to take the streets. The strikes on the rail network have overtaken those in the 1980s for longevity, and are now the longest the SNCF has suffered.

The protracted battle over the governments pension reforms is proving to be one of the toughest domestic tests for President Emmanuel Macron since his 2017 election on a platform of promises to modernize the French economy.

Philippe said the pension reform bill will be presented to the Cabinet on Jan. 24 and for parliamentary debate from Feb. 17. He added that further discussions with unions would drill down into the minutiae of the governments plans.

But union representatives gave a grim readout of Tuesdays encounter at the Labor Ministry.

The strikes arent about to stop, said Catherine Perret of the CGT union, who urged people to turn out en masse for rallies called for Thursday.

Among the principal points of contention is the proposal to push back the age at which retirees would be eligible for full pensions, from 62 to 64.

The government also wants to end some of the special pension deals that allow a minority of workers to retire in their fifties. It insists the new system will be fairer to all French workers and will make the pension system financially sustainable into the future.

To find a compromise, everyone has to budge a little bit, Philippe said on RTL radio.

Tuesday marked the 34th day of disruptive train strikes and walkouts in the Paris Metro. The strikes are set to continue on Wednesday with the SNCF train authority saying that six of 10 trains will be running nationally. The RATP public transport authority for the Paris region said normal service was only likely for the two automated Metro lines with partial service on most others and numerous stations closed.

Oil refinery workers joined the walkouts wit h union leaders vowing that not a drop of gasoline would be allowed through strikers lines. Their involvement piles the pressure on the government by raising the spectre of possible shortages at pumps for motorists.

Workers were striking at all eight of Frances refineries, with their walkouts planned to last through Friday, CGT delegates said.

The government played down the impact of refinery disruptions, saying France has fuel stocks to last beyond three months and that more than 98% of the countrys 11,000 gas stations are completely unaffected.
This is kinda weird since hes THE Batman for me.

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if hes a god can he please have his normal accent

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Natalie was really over the MCU after how they treated Patty Jenkins (she was originally supposed to direct Thor: The Dark World but then they fired her), but I think Feige locking Ike Perlmutter out of the MCU, the way they gave Taika and Ryan Coogler space to do new and interesting things with the franchise convinced her to come back. And buttloads of money of course



Edited at 2020-01-06 11:57 pm (UTC)

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Well she'll be playing Thor so that's gotta be intriguing.

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I don't think it's the money, otherwise she'd have stayed in the first time. It's that she gets a more enjoyable role.

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I think Taika can be pretty persuasive.

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Are there any celebrities you think would NEVER do a Marvel movie, no matter the $$$ offer?

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Probably Joaquin Phoenix? I mean, they tried to get him to do Doctor Strange and he rejected it. He only did Joker because they obviously sold him the idea as this artistic~ thing.

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Leo definitely wouldnt.

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Hard to see him in one lbr

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Probably Leo tbh.

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Scorsese's boys probably. And Brad Pitt bc Angelina got Disney in the divorce.

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Never say never. Even the most pretentious ones who typically look down on these kinds of things start to come around when they realize it's easy, stable work that pays incredibly well.

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A lot of actors realize that you practically need to be part of a huge franchise to get parts in mid-budget or indie movies. The celebrity star system just isn't the same anymore.

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Rooney Mara, can't see her doing comic book stuff

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no one has the scruples tbh



ryan gosling has turned down multiple superhero movies but i feel like he could be sold with the right team/concept

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Danie Day Lewis

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i hope he can ham it up in this role lmao

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Will Hollywood ever realize there are other actors in the industry instead of recycling the same damn people



Edited at 2020-01-06 11:46 pm (UTC)

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I'm trying to think on who could he play.

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My favorite suggestion: Beta Ray Bill (Bale)

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Is he going to get crazy bulked up again, he gained a lot of weight for Vice so this dude's heart is probably like enoughhh. I don't know what he looks like lately.

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lmao okay.

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love all the angry fanboys crying about how Bale is too good for the MCU, as if the MCU isn't full of talented people who have won Oscars and have been nominated for Oscars

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Yeah, regardless of your thoughts on the movies themselves, people act like only bad-to-average actors/actresses are in them when thats not the case.

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Can Taika make a proper music video to this now:





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iconic iconic

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wild how this was made by lucian piane who later had his own outburst incidence

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IKR

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seeing as he can just hand pick projects, do you think this is just a chance to work with taika or he wants to buy a holiday home or something?

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Hopefully he will be playing thor's personal cumdumpster. His main power being is a god-level powerbottom #yaaaaaassssss

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nnn

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lol mte at your 1st point. i think he'd be great.

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yesss agreed, lmao

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- James Reid and Nadine Lustre made headlines due to the rumor of their breakup

- New pieces of evidence on social media seem to suggest that the rumors are incorrect

- Pictures of James and Nadine hiking together on Mt. Ulap, which is located in Benguet, went viral

- In one clip, James can be seen holding Nadines shoulder while they were hiking

PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed

James Reid and Nadine Lustre recently made headlines after rumors of their breakup hit the internet.

KAMI learned that new pieces of evidence seem to suggest that the rumors are incorrect.

Photos of James and Nadine hiking together on Mt. Ulap, which is located in Benguet, has gone viral on social media.

A short clip of James holding Nadines shoulder while they were hiking also went viral online:

Netizens on Fashion Pulis were ecstatic after seeing the new photos of James and Nadine spending time together:

ANU NA? asan ang break jan? LOL! mga memang reporter dahil lang wala silang project together break na

JaDine all the way. puro kayo break na pero wala sila pake at masaya pa din sila

If they are still together then that's good for them.

PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news!

In a previous report by KAMI, Lolit Solis shared her thoughts on the breakup rumor.

James Reid and Nadine Lustres love team is one of the most beloved today in the Philippines. Their love team became popular after they starred in the movie Diary ng Panget. They have confirmed living together under the same roof before rumors of a breakup spread on social media.

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
 Flash

Iran's parliament on Tuesday announced U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon, as "terrorist organization," official IRNA news agency reported.

"According to the vote by the Iranian lawmakers, all members of the Pentagon, the affiliated institutions and companies, and the U.S. commanders who planned and perpetrated assassination" of Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), are blacklisted, the report said.

The vote of the parliament also obliged the Iranian government to allocate 200 million euros ($223 million) to the IRGC's Quds Force to strengthen its defense power.

The generalities and details of the "emergency motion" were unanimously passed during an open session of the parliament on Tuesday.

On Friday, Soleimani was killed in a U.S. airstrike at Baghdad Airport.

In April 2019, Iran's Supreme National Security Council also announced U.S. Central Command forces in West Asia as "terrorist group" in retaliation for designation of the IRGC as "a foreign terrorist organization" by the United States.
I wouldnt call it just additional scrutiny because they had their passports taken away, they were not allowed to leave, so they were held in some form of detention at the Peace Arch Border crossing, she said. It appears that was as the result of some sort of directive. I understand CBP has said no such thing occurred. But it is difficult to believe that when you listen to the multiple accounts of what happened. It is also difficult to believe that this was just a question of short staffing at the border  because, in fact, there were clearly many people being processed. The only people who seemed to be pulled aside and held back and detained in some form or fashion were people of Iranian heritage.
Cane Island Neighbors is a resident-only Facebook page created by Ilich Ramirez and Tyler and Samantha Coldwell in 2016 that reports the goings-on in the community.

Those reports with increased frequency this year have included sightings of feral hogs as well as damages that the animals have caused.

In a Dec. 23 social media posting, Katy Councilwoman Janet Corte told Cane Island residents that Katy Police Chief Noe Diaz is looking into options for dealing with their feral hog issue. She encouraged residents to call the police department at 281-391-4848 with sightings and to share related photos with the police department.

The Ward A councilwoman in a phone interview said she wasnt aware of a problem until residents posted information on social media.

Evidently theyre having some issues. I talked with Chief Diaz. Hes looking into options and talking to people in Waller County. Hes also looking at private trappers.

Part of the problem is No. 1, (Katy) Animal Control is not set up to be a wildlife control; Its set up for dogs and cats and that type of thing.

In talking with Chief Diaz, continued Corte, if we have a feral hog problem, we want to nip it in the bud before its uncontrollable.

ON HOUSTON CHRONCILE.COM: In The Woodlands, a senior community fights back against feral hogs

But in a Jan. 2 telephone interview with Diaz, he said the police department had not received a lot of service calls regarding feral hogs. Some land owners have placed traps on their property, he added.

The department is focused on catching the bad guys, he said. Feral hogs is not an issue for us.

A spokesman for Rise Communities, developer of Cane Island, emailed, The presence of wildlife is part of living along the Gulf Coast and in particular, communities outside Houston. Cane Island residents are advised to contact the Katy Police Department or Texas Parks & Wildlife if they encounter wildlife in the community.

Ramirez, a Realtor who said his family bought the eighth house in Cane Island in October 2016, talks of the Cane Island community as being very tightknit.

The Cane Island Neighbors Facebook page, which started with three members, now has 710. We love each other like a family, so, of course, this whole feral hog thing were trying to figure out how to fix it and help each other around it, he said.

Ramirez reported seeing feral hogs in mid-summer 2017 crossing Cane Island Parkway and then nothing in 2018. But this year, he said, neighbors have reported the hogs coming through their yards as captured by video cameras posted on homes. Those visits primarily occur in the early morning or during the evening when its dark.

Ramirez lists residents reports of feral hogs posted on Dec. 18, Dec. 20, Dec. 22 and Dec. 23. He figures Cane Island is in the middle of the feral hogs pathway as they go west and north.

RELATED: Feral hogs, a familiar Texas pest, are roaming north

Everyones very aware because of the lady killed by feral hogs in Chambers County, he said.

Texas Parks and Wildlife on its website has a question-and-answer column about feral hogs. In part, it reads that all wild animals have the potential of being dangerous, especially when wounded or cornered. In a natural state, feral hogs will prefer to run and escape danger, and are not considered dangerous, according to the website.

People are afraid that feral hogs carry disease, continued Ramirez. People are watching out for everything. Awareness is important and being mindful. Were watching out for each other. Were a very social community.

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, however, In general, diseases from wild hogs do not pose a significant threat to humans; however, some diseases can be transmitted to livestock and wildlife.

Ramirez talks of the possibility of there being some home remedy out there that would repel the feral hogs. But the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department talks of hunting and trapping feral hogs. There are currently no birth control, toxicants or repellents registered for the control of feral hogs, said TPWD.

karen.zurawski@chron.com
The value of civil society lies in that it provides a space for alternative views, debate, and dissent. Yet, this paper points out, civil society in post-war Sri Lanka is captive to the forces of local and global politics. While this has resulted in the emergence of new forms of resistance and dissent, it has also given rise to less palatable, illiberal, and dangerous movements such as the resurgence of radical Sinhala Buddhist activism. The tacit state approval granted to these movements has meant that state response to different civil society groups has been markedly lopsided. Thus, post-war Sri Lankan society has been subject to greater state control and an extreme polarisation of values and ideas.
Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and its rival National Students' Union of India clashed in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

Ahmedabad: Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and its rival National Students' Union of India clashed in Ahmedabad on Tuesday during a protest against the JNU violence, leaving over 10 people injured.

The incident took place during the protest organised by NSUI, the students' wing of the Congress, outside the office of the RSS-affiliated ABVP in the city's Paldi area.

The police later rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, an official said. Both the student bodies alleged that sticks and stones were used to attack each other, and claimed more than five members each from the two sides were injured in the clash.

Gujarat NSUI general secretary Nikhil Savani sustained serious head injuries and was admitted to V S General Hospital, a member of the Congress students' body said.

In a video clip telecast by some local news channels, Savani, a close associate of Congress leader Hardik Patel, was seen being beaten by some people in the presence of policemen.

Follow LIVE updates on JNU violence here

"The situation has been brought under control. As of now, no FIR has been lodged," a police official said.

Violence broke out here when NSUI members reached outside the ABVP's office to protest against the attack on students and teachers at JNU in Delhi on Sunday.

The NSUI has been alleging that ABVP members were involved in the JNU attack.

#WATCH Clash between ABVP and NSUI workers in Ahmedabad, Police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowd. NSUI was protesting near ABVP officer over #JNUViolence when clash broke out. Around 10 people injured. (note: abusive language) #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/R7vvvYiit5  ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2020

"Our protest was peaceful. However, goons from the ABVP suddenly attacked us using sticks, stones and pipes. It was a pre-planned attack in the presence of police. Over five of our members, including Savani, were injured in the attack," another NSUI general secretary Bhavik Solanki said.

However, the ABVP alleged that NSUI members came to its office with an intention to attack the activists.

"The NSUI members came to our office waiving their flags. They then removed the flags and used its wooden sticks to attack our members," ABVP member Naresh Desai said.

"Just like the ABVP members were attacked in JNU, the anti-social elements of NSUI attacked us in a pre-planned manner here," he alleged, adding that more than five of their members were also injured in the incident.
The Nebraska Foster Care Review Office executive director has resigned to become the deputy county administrator over Douglas County Juvenile Justice services.

Kim Hawekotte, who has led the independent foster care review agency since January 2013, will leave the office Friday.

Peggy Snurr, chairwoman for the five-member Foster Care Review Office Advisory Committee, said Hawekotte has brought significant changes to the office that will have a long-lasting and positive impact both on the agency and on Nebraska children and families.

We know that Kim will continue her strong advocacy for Nebraskas children/youth in her new position, Snurr said.

Hawekotte said she will start her job, which is a new position, with the Douglas County administrator's office Monday.

Former state Sen. Nancy Thompson and child advocate Kathy Bigsby Moore will assist with the search process for the foster care review position and lead the agency during the transition. Bigsby Moore was the interim director of the agency before Hawekotte was hired.

It has been a privilege and an honor to work with such dedicated people within the FCRO," Hawekotte said. "I know the passionate advocacy for the best interest of Nebraskas children will continue."

The review office is an independent state agency created by state law and is not affiliated with the Department of Health and Human Services, the courts or any other child welfare entity. It was created in 1982.

The role of the office is to independently track children in out-of-home care, review childrens cases, collect and analyze data related to the children, and make recommendations on conditions and outcomes for Nebraskas children in out-of-home care, including any needed corrective actions.

The open position will be posted on the Nebraska state jobs website (statejobs.nebraska.gov/). According to a news release, applications received before Friday will be prioritized.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSLegislature

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Like many children, Giovanni DUrso used to dream of becoming an astronaut. But now its not such an unrealistic career prospect.

The 27-year-old is one of two students from the University of Technology Sydney who have recently completed a three-month stint at NASAs prestigious Jet Propulsion Lab in California, as part of an ambitious program to recruit talented Indigenous students to work in the space industry.

UTS students Giovanni D'Urso and Tui Nolan have just returned from a stint with NASA in the US. Credit:Rhett Wyman

Growing up in Mt Druitt as one of seven children, Mr DUrso developed an early fascination with science and robotics, constantly taking things apart and building silly projects.

His curiosity led him to study mechatronic engineering, which earned him a work experience placement at NASA JPL, a world leader in robotic exploration of the solar system.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2020) - Ridgestone Mining Inc. (TSXV: RMI) (OTCQB: RIGMF) ("Ridgestone Mining") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Richard Savage to the Company's Advisory Board.

Mr. Savage began his career as an Investment Advisor at Yorkton Securities (subsequently Richardson GMP) in 1988 and remained there for 28 years. During it's time, Yorkton Securities was one of the leading mining and technology investment firms in Canada and Mr. Savage was consistently one of the firm's top producing wealth advisors. Throughout his career he served and managed a diverse client base of over 2000 accounts and was responsible for raising funds for Initial Public Offerings, Private Placements and Capital Pool Companies.

Mr. Savage is a philanthropist and believes in giving back to the community. He served on The Macquarie Group Foundation's Board of Directors from 2009 to 2012 and was a former Director of Artists for Kids, which provides art education for the children of British Columbia, for over 20 years. In addition, he has served as Vice Chairman for the past 10 years of The Gordon and Marion Smith Foundation, which supports and encourages community engagement in the arts.

Jonathan George, Ridgestone's Chief Executive Officer and President, commented: "We are excited and fortunate to welcome Richard to our Advisory Board. His wealth of capital markets experience and more specifically his involvement in financing the mining sector significantly complements the skill set of our existing board and management team members. We look forward to his valuable input and advice in the exciting development of our Rebeico gold-copper project in Mexico."

Richard Savage commented: "I look forward to joining the highly experienced and accomplished Ridgestone mining team and help the company reach its potential. The Rebeico property is located in a prolific mining resource area in Mexico and I will utilize my experience and resource network to help maximize value for Ridgestone's shareholders."

About Ridgestone Mining Inc.

Ridgestone is a TSX Venture Exchange-listed junior mineral exploration company with offices in Taipei and Vancouver, B.C. The Company's focus is on precious metals and copper in Sonora, Mexico, and specifically the Rebeico Gold-Copper project.

For further information, please contact:

MarketSmart Communications Inc.

Telephone: 877-261-4466

info@marketsmart.ca

This news release contains forward-looking statements or information (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. In this news release such statements include but are not limited to any ongoing drilling programs or exploration results, or any results from the MarketSmart program. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the Company's regulatory filings available on www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the Company's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risks, uncertainties and other factors is not exhaustive. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements. The impact of any one factor on a particular forward-looking statement is not determinable with certainty as such factors are dependent on other factors, and the Company's course of action would depend on its assessment of the future considering all information then available. All forward-looking statements in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51167
He said it would be helpful to have guidance from the courts  as opposed to the Illinois attorney general, an elected official who can change every four years  on the question, but he noted that now that the videos have been released, there is a question of whether the case is moot.
Carmaker stands by internal findings of Ghosns alleged misconduct, says it will continue to cooperate with authorities.

Nissan Motor said on Tuesday that former chairman Carlos Ghosns flight from Japan would not affect its policy of holding him responsible for serious misconduct.

The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan, Nissan said in a statement.

Ghosn became an international fugitive after he revealed last week he had fled to Lebanon to escape what he called a rigged justice system in Japan, where he faces charges relating to alleged financial crimes.

He is planning to hold a news conference in Beirut on Wednesday to express his innocence and argue that his arrest for financial crimes in Japan in November 2018 was part of a plot at the carmaker to take him down.

The consequences of Ghosns misconduct have been significant, the Nissan statement said.

Japan said it is in contact with Lebanon regarding Ghosns departure.

Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference that Japan had told Lebanon Ghosns flight was regrettable, and it would seek cooperation to find the truth.

Meanwhile, Nissan is dealing with multiple problems. With profits at decade lows and its stock tanking, the carmaker is rife with internal divisions over the removal of its former leader and the way forward.

And Makoto Uchida, who became CEO last month, has a long list of challenges. A top deputy abruptly quit, some 12,500 jobs are on the chopping block, and Uchida needs to refresh an ageing lineup of models.

The internal investigation found incontrovertible evidence of various acts of misconduct by Ghosn, including misstatement of his compensation and misappropriation of the companys assets for his personal benefit, the Yokohama-based carmaker said in the statement.

Nissan will continue to do the right thing by cooperating with judicial and regulatory authorities wherever necessary.

Ghosn was arrested slightly more than a year ago at Tokyos Haneda Airport, kicking off a legal saga that saw him detained for months in solitary confinement before being released on bail, rearrested and bailed out again.

The former Nissan executive, who has Lebanese citizenship, plans to reveal the names of people he believes are behind a coup to take him down, including those of some in the Japanese government, at the anticipated press briefing, according to Fox Business Networks Maria Bartiromo, who said she spoke to him last weekend.

In his first remarks since the escape, Ghosn reportedly said he would finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week. Ghosn told Fox that he will say at the Beirut briefing that he is willing to have his case heard by any court, aside from those in Japan.

Nissan needs to get its business in order fast, with autonomous vehicles and electrification poised to disrupt the car industry in a once-in-a-generation shift. Ghosns arrest also hurt its alliance with top shareholder Renault SA, bringing long-standing tensions between the companies to the fore.

Carlos Ghosns escape to the Lebanese Republic without the courts permission in violation of his bail conditions is an act that defies Japans judicial system, Nissan said. Nissan finds it extremely regrettable.
By Kim Hyun-bin



The Australian corporate body of POSCO, Korea's largest steel maker, has donated 400 million won ($343,000) to the Australian Red Cross to help in combatting the fires engulfing much of the country.



"The Australia fire has evolved into a national catastrophe and we plan to help Australians in their early recovery and share their grievances," POSCO Chairman Choi Jeong-woo said Tuesday. "Since POSCO's establishment, Australia has been a key investor and supplier of raw materials and we hope the fire can be extinguished as soon as possible."





POSCO Chairman Choi Jeong-woo.
The Nigerian Army on Monday night reacted to the allegation that the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum allege...

The Nigerian Army on Monday night reacted to the allegation that the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum allegedly accused soldiers of Operation LAFIYA DOLE deployed along Maiduguri  Damaturu Road of extorting commuters and causing them unnecessary hardship.





The Army in a statement from Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator also said,  it is important to unequivocally observe that public outburst particularly by eminent personalities such as a State Executive could be counterproductive and indeed capable of reversing the gains recorded so far in the ongoing fight against insurgents and other criminal elements across the nation.





The statement said, the Nigerian Army as a professional and disciplined institution views such allegations seriously, particularly coming from a State Executive.





It is on record that, whenever such allegations of troops misconduct were made in the past, the Nigerian Army never reneged in conducting thorough investigations to establish them and where any infractions were established against any personnel, appropriate sanctions were applied in line with extant rules and regulations as provided for in the Armed Forces Act CAP A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.





Thus, the Nigerian Army wishes to assure the good people of Borno State and indeed the nation at large that any allegations of misconduct against the Nigerian Army troops will be duly investigated and culprits will be dealt with accordingly.





The Nigerian Army wishes to emphatically reiterate its steadfastness on the protection of lives, property of all law-abiding citizens as it is committed to wiping out insurgents from the North East and other forms of criminality across the country. Additionally, citizens continuous support and cooperation is highly appreciated.





Any observed misconduct by troops could be reported directly through a toll  free code 193 for immediate remedy, the statement said.




The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the terrorist attack against the military base in the Republic of Kenya.

Bahrain condemns the terrorist attack that took place in Lamu, Republic of Kenya, targeting a military base used by American and Kenyan troops, the ministry said. The ministry has expressed sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates the Kingdom of Bahrains firm rejection of all forms of terrorism, calling for concerted international efforts to end terrorism and its financing.
People talked about Joaquin Phoenix's win as Best Actor in a Drama for "Joker" and his acceptance speech that was mostly bleeped out due to obscenity.

In between, Sunday's event boasted a ton of celebrities and stars, gowns and surprising wins.

However, Phoenix is making headlines once again because he was the reason why the 2020 Golden Globe Awards served vegan food.

Phoenix gave the nod to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for offering a vegan meal at the festivities.

In his speech, he said, "I would like to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press (HFPA) for recognizing and acknowledging the link between animal agriculture and climate change. It's a very bold move, making plant-based tonight."

According to Variety, the actor reportedly lobbied for the HFPA to go for a meat- and dairy-less meal, which included chilled golden beet soup, globe carrots, pea tendrils, mushroom risotto with faux scallops (mushroom), roasted baby purple and green Brussels sprouts, and a chocolate opera dome for dessert. There were even vegan snacks at the bar.

"I've never been so proud to attend an awards ceremony as I am tonight," Phoenix said.

The "Joke" actor also thanked the president of the HFPA, along with the chefs and service workers, who made the plant-based evening possible.

"And thank you to the brilliant chefs, and everyone working so hard to confront the environmental perils we face by supporting a plant-based 77th Golden Globes celebration."

Two weeks before the ceremony, HFPA reportedly approached the team at The Beverly Hilton to make the historic menu change and draw attention to the issue of climate change.

Executive chef Matthew Morgan told the Associated Press that he found the request "a little shocking" when he first heard about it.

"When first mentioned, because of being very close to the actual Globes and having already decided on a menu. But once we thought about it and the message that it sent; we were excited about it. That's something I stand behind myself," Morgan said.

Phoenix raved to reporters and pointed out the staggering statistics about global meat consumption being one of the earth's most significant sources of pollution.

"It's coming to a point now where the evidence is irrefutable and undeniable. Now, consuming animal products is no longer a personal choice," he explained, "It's having drastic consequences around the world."

The "Joker" star is a long-time vegan and animal rights activist. Fellow activist Moby claimed that Phoenix and his partner, Rooney Mara, helped organize the entire vegan menu.

Speaking to Page Six, Moby said, "Joaquin and Rooney Mara sort of organized that. In the vegan mafia, Joaquin and I have known each other for decades - and I don't know if I'm even allowed to say this - but I know that he was one of the people who helped arrange that.

"I don't know if it was predominantly him or with other people, but he had mentioned to me a while ago that he was working on it."
The University of Ghana, after investigation, has largely exonerated the two lecturers indicted in the BBC documentary which exposed the menace of sex-for-favours in tertiary institutions.

The documentary released in October 2019 focused on how some academics target the most vulnerable female students  those struggling with studies, seeking admission or in search of mentors.

Through the use of secret cameras, the undercover reporters captured the dialogues of four predatory lecturers from both institutions as they attempted to cajole and manipulate the undercover journalists into engaging in sexual acts with them.

The two Ghanaian dons, Ransford Gyampo and Paul Butakor, were filmed alongside Igbenedu Boniface, and Samuel Oladipo, two lecturers in the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Hours after the premiere of the documentary, Messrs Igbenedu and Oladipo were suspended indefinitely by UNILAG authorities. This is one among the various reactions the documentary generated.

The video

In the 53-minute-clip, Mr Gyampo promised to help the undercover journalist with her postgraduate studies and national service. No sooner had they met, he promised to marry her. He took her to a mall, where he bought her shoes and asked her if she has been violently kissed before.

He also referred to the undercover reporter as his wedded wife. When confronted by the BBC, Mr Gyampo, a professor of Political Science, denied he was manipulating the undercover reporter. He said he calls all his female staff his wedded wife and accused the BBC of entrapping him.

On the other hand, Mr Butakor, a lecturer in the College of Education of the University of Ghana, repeatedly begged the undercover reporter to allow him to be her side guy.

Showing her his wedding band, he told her that his wife was out of the country. He said if men could have side chicks, then a lady could have a side guy.

In its reaction, the university announced that a panel was set up to investigate the allegations of sexual misconduct against the two lecturers last year October.

Exoneration

According to Joy News, a Ghana-based news platform, the fact-finding committee established by the University of Ghana to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct said the title of the piece was deceptive and dramatic.

Messrs Gyampo and Butakor were referred to the committee following the release of the documentary after they were found culpable of conducting themselves in a manner that caused embarrassment to the university.

In the report, a copy of which is available to Joy News, the committee said it finds that the totality of the evidence before it there is a huge variance between the import title Sex for Grades and the content of the actual video recording of the affected lecturers of the University of Ghana.

On the allegations of sexual misconduct, the committee said it does not find any prima facie evidence that satisfy the ingredients of misconduct as stated by the universitys Code of Conduct for Senior Members.

Also, the six-member committee indicated that under paragraphs 10.1, 12.1 and 12.4 of the Code of Conduct of Senior Members of the University of Ghana and the Anti-Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy of the university, the victim of the misconduct must be a member of the university.

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Consequently, the Committee notes that, in the absence of any evidence that Zara, Abigail  the BBC undercover journalists  are students or members of the University of Ghana, the provisions of paragraphs 10.1, 12.1 and 12.4 of the Code of Conduct of Senior Members of the University of Ghana and the Anti-Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy of the University cannot be triggered against the affected lecturers, the report said.

Lecturers violate code of conduct

Meanwhile, the committee after examining available evidence, found credible evidence of misconduct against Prof Gyampo and Dr Butakor contrary to Paragraph 6.4 of the Code of Conduct of Senior Members of the University of Ghana.

That paragraph stipulates that Academic staff shall at all times comport themselves in ways that will enhance their image and that of the University.

In addition, the committee also found credible evidence of misconduct against Mr Gyampo contrary to Statute 42(1)(e) (i) of the university statutes which states that no member of the university shall (e) engage in a course of vexatious conduct that is directed at one or more specific individuals, and (ii) that is known to be unwelcome.

In the light of the Committees findings that there is credible evidence of misconduct against Prof Gyampo and Dr Butakor, should the University be desirous of taking disciplinary action against them it could do so under Paragraphs 14.1, 14.2 and 14.6 of the Code of Conduct for the Academic Staff of the University or Statute 43(2) of the University of Ghana Statutes as amended, the report stated.
Molina Healthcare, Inc. to Present at 38th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: MOH) ("Molina" or "the Company") today announced that management will give a presentation, followed by a question and answer session, at the 38th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference to be held January 13 - 16, 2020, in San Francisco.

A live broadcast of the Company's conference presentation will be available on Monday, January 13, 2020, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. To access the broadcast, listeners should go to the Investors section of the Company's website, molinahealthcare.com, approximately 15 minutes prior to the event to register and download any necessary software. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available for 30 days from the Company's website.







About Molina Healthcare

Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare served approximately 3.3 million members as of September 30, 2019. For more information about Molina Healthcare, please visit molinahealthcare.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005179/en/
- The theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, has survived Boko Haram attack

- Boko Haram insurgents were said to have laid an ambush for the army general on Monday, January 6, while he was returning from Jakana area of Maiduguri

- General Adeniyi's vehicle was said to have been badly damaged and riddled with gun holes after the attack

A report by Daily Trust indicates that Boko Haram insurgents on the night of Monday, January 6, ambushed the convoy of the theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi.

Legit.ng gathered that General Adeniyi survived the attack which took place few kilometres away from Jakana around 7:20pm.

The newspaper reports that a military source said the theatre commander was on his way back to Maiduguri after a visit to troops who were recently deployed to Jakana.

The troops were deployed to Jakana in order to protect lives and property in the general area against Boko Haram attack.

Nigerian troops were deployed to Jakana to maintain the peace there.

Source: UGC

As we were coming back to Maiduguri after we left Jakana, suddenly we started hearing gunshots all over the place.

"They bombarded us with heavy fire from different angle but our men with the Theatre commander successfully repelled the attack, the source was quoted as saying.

It was learnt that the vehicle of the theatre commandant was badly damaged, riddled with gun holes from the attack.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the security personnel of the Nigeria military and police were accused of collecting bribes of N1000 from travellers who do not have national identity cards in Borno state.

It was reported that the allegation was made on Monday, January 6, by the state governor, Babagana Zulum.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigerias #1 news app

The governor made the accusation when he visited the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway where thousands of travellers were stranded because security officials manning the highway locked it down.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng Same great journalism, upgraded for better service!

Can Nigerian Soldiers really not deal with Boko Haram fighters?| - on Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
US Defense Secretary Esper: "There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq."

But a push led by pro-Iran factions to oust U.S. troops gained momentum.

Russia and China united against U.S. attack and called for United Nations response.

Dozens of Iranian-Americans were held up and questioned at the U.S.-Canada border.

Oil prices kept going up and more nations warned their citizens about staying in the region.

Commentary: A showdown could explode quickly, and disastrously.

Even before Iranian General Qassem Soleimani got off a commercial airliner in Baghdad last week, his fate was already sealed.

His travel was monitored by drones including the Reaper, a $64 million drone armed with laser-guided Hellfire air-to-surface missiles. The Reaper watched Soleimani for about 10 minutes before firing on two cars carrying the Iranian commander and other senior leaders and aides.

The new details of Soleimani's killing were among many developments in Washington and the Mideast on Monday:

Mideast update: All the latest on escalating tensions following Iran general's killing US Reaper drone left Soleimani with little chance The sequence of events that led to the killing of the Quds Force commander began hours earlier in Beirut as drones tracked his every move. AP Commentary: In Iran showdown, conflict could explode quickly  and disastrously It's very dangerous to assume that Iran will not escalate the crisis further, much less that the US could limit any violence that might ensue.

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Israeli-Palestinian Peace Prospects: A View from the Palestinian street

On Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Keith Dvorchik, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando and CEO of The Roth Family JCC, and Central Florida Hillel CEO Aaron Weil will discuss their recent meetings in the West Bank with senior Palestinian leaders and residents of the West Bank. Hear about the challenges, frustrations and hope that they experienced and the varying Palestinian narratives they encountered. A Q&A session will follow.

During the first week of November 2019, Dvorchik and Weil were in Israel for the Encounter program. This program takes senior Jewish leaders for an immersive experience in the West Bank. They spent four days traveling in Bethlehem and surrounding areas, East Jerusalem, and Ramallah, meeting with a diverse array of Palestinian civil society leaders, business people, negotiators, and grassroots activists for an opportunity to hear and consider the perspectives of those who live there.

This event is free. Register online at orlandojcc.org/calendar/israeli-palestinian-peace-prospects

For more information, contact Keith Dvorchik at 407-645-5933

Youre Not Alone: Raising Successful Kids

Is intelligence something you are born with or something that develops? How does your child respond to frustration, and what should you do to help them be more resilient? How we respond to childrens failures and successes impacts how they see themselves and their place in the world. Learn how to talk to your children in such a way that they develop resilience, grit, and a growth mindset.

Join other parents for bagels and coffee as Juliana Sanchez Bloom, Ph.D., discusses Raising Successful Kids: Why You Should Never Tell Your Kids Theyre Smart and What to Say Instead, on Jan. 15, 2020 from 9:15 a.m.  11:30 a.m.

Dr. Bloom is a licensed psychologist and pediatric neuropsychologist who serves as a member of the board of The Levin Center and as a community consultant on issues of educational practices and policy in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Blooms areas of clinical interest include dyslexia, ADHD, brain injury and illness, brain development, emotional issues that affect learning, and parenting.

This discussion is free and open to the community. Free babysitting is available in Kid Zone with advanced notice for children 6 mos. and/or sitting up.

To register, email register@orlandojcc.org, visit the Registration Desk in the main lobby or call 407-621-4036.

The event will be held in Shaynas Village at The Roth Family JCC.

Visiting Author: Marcia Jo Zerivitz

In honor of Florida Jewish History Month, The Cultural Arts Department of The Roth Family Jewish Community Center welcomes home, visiting author Marcia Jo Zerivitz, presenting her book and lecture, Jews of FloridaCenturies of Stories, the first comprehensive history of the Jews of Florida, from colonial times to present in a sweeping tapestry of voices spanning centuries. The presentation will be held on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at orlandojcc.og/calendar/visiting-author-Marcia-Jo-Zerivitz

This program was made possible with the generous support of Roz Fuchs, Rachel Heimovics and Mati Braun, Sara and Louis Stern, and Lisa and Eric Schwartz.

For more information, contact Robby Etzkin at 407-621-4031.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 22:17:54|Editor: xuxin

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TOKYO, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Tokyo District Court will forfeit the 1.5-billion-yen (14 million U.S. dollars) bail money posted by former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn, who fled Japan while awaiting trial for financial misconduct in violation of his bail conditions, officials said Tuesday.

According to officials, the decision by the court was made after prosecutors requested the ex-auto tycoon's bail be revoked, with the landmark sum being redirected to the government.

Ghosn, who fled Japan to Lebanon on Dec. 29 in breach of his bail conditions and under dramatic circumstances, has also led to Japan setting about tightening restrictions on luggage checks for private jets departing the country.

On Tuesday, transport minister Kazuyoshi Akaba said that jets carrying large luggage will be required to undergo more stringent inspections.

"We will ensure safe operations by strengthening inspections," Akaba told a press conference on the matter.

On Monday, more stringent mandatory luggage inspections came into effect at airports across Japan, including at Haneda, Narita, Chubu and Kansai airports.

Akaba has called for other regional airports to follow suit, with the aim being for the inspections of luggage being carried by private jets to be as rigid as those for commercial aircraft, which is currently not the case.

Justice Minister Masako Mori also said Tuesday that laws pertaining to the inspections will be amended forthwith, with the ministry seeking to expand criminal sanctions to include individuals jumping bail.

Ghosn, who holds Brazilian, French and Lebanese nationality, is believed to have left from Kansai International Airport in Osaka on a private jet on Dec. 29, traveling to Lebanon via Turkey.

Sources close to the matter have said that immigration here have no record of Ghosn leaving Japan, while the the Tokyo District Court said there have been no changes made to his bail conditions and he remains banned from traveling abroad.

Local media here, citing a Lebanese media outlet, said the former auto bigwig may have hid in a box that was designed to carry musical equipment and departed from Japan undetected from a regional airport.

It has been reported that he managed to flee Japan with the assistance of a security company and was in possession of a French passport.

Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Japan will seek cooperation from Lebanon to try to better understand Ghosn's dramatic escape.

Japan's top government spokesman said it was "extremely regrettable that Ghosn had left Japan illegally."

He added that Japan and Lebanon had been in talks over the matter.
VinCSS announced the information on January 6. Accordingly, FIDO2 is the overarching term for FIDO Alliances newest set of specifications, enabling users to leverage common devices to easily authenticate using online services in both mobile and desktop environments.

Around the world, there are currently only 13 countries capable of mastering this technology and producing FIDO2-certified authentication products, notably the US, Japan, Canada, Germany and the UK.

The event marks a milestone for VinCSS in the world security technology community, putting it in the ranks of tech giants with FIDO2 certification in the world like Google, Apple, Microsoft or Fujitsu.

To achieve certification, the VinCSS FIDO2 Authenticator product must pass a complex technology compatibility test over two consecutive days. All the products operations must be compatible with all popular browsers and interactions with 10 authentication servers specified by FIDO Alliance which must have zero errors.

VinCSS's engineers had to pass a direct interview from the FIDO Alliance's examination board with tough questions about the technological design details of the product.

Finally, VinCSS must present a set of supplier specifications with all specifications for FIDO Alliance to evaluate.

According to Nguyen Phi Kha, Director of VinCSSs Research and Development Centre, after nine months of research and development, at the end of December 2019, VinCSS was certified by FIDO Alliance to achieve the FIDO2 certificate. This ground breaking success marks a big turn in modern network security in Vietnam, said Kha, adding that VinCSS would introduce a series of practical products and services for customers in the near future, such as a managed security service provider (MSSP), Zero Trust Flatform, ThreatHunting and IoT Security Lab.

FIDO2 authentication standard is considered the safest way to authenticate, aiming to eliminate the difficulty of having to memorise too many passwords for end users, while eliminating the risk of fake attacks or accounts being hacked into. FIDO2 has been supported on all popular browsers, products and services of major technological suppliers including Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Samsung and Sony, with FIDO2 certificated products becoming a trend of transformation around the world with an ever increasing number of users.
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cherry Creek Mortgage Company today announced the appointment of Matt Garlinghouse as Executive Vice President, Capital Markets.

With more than 20 years of experience in finance, portfolio lending, mortgage banking, capital markets, strategic acquisitions, risk management, and advanced analytics, Garlinghouse brings an extensive background to the role. Garlinghouse previously worked for Supreme Lending and Everbank.

"Joining the Cherry Creek Mortgage team is an exciting milestone in my career," said Garlinghouse. "The culture of the company and the supportive, longstanding leadership drew me to Cherry Creek Mortgage, and I'm excited about the opportunity to lead the Capital Markets team and support home buyers throughout the country."

As Executive Vice President, Capital Markets, Garlinghouse will oversee trading, product pricing and development, investor relations, post-closing, and risk management.

About Cherry Creek Mortgage Company

Cherry Creek Mortgage Company Co., Inc. NMLS #3001 has a 32-year tradition of serving the needs of home buyers across the country. With a reputation built on a passion for responsible lending and dedication to personal relationships, Cherry Creek Mortgage has helped thousands of customers realize their goal of home ownership. Cherry Creek Mortgage's specialized internal processes and proprietary technology deliver a digital mortgage experience with a personal touch. The company is headquartered in Colorado and is licensed in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Learn more at cherrycreekmortgage.com.

Media Contact:

Megan Duggan

[email protected]

SOURCE Cherry Creek Mortgage Company

Related Links

https://www.cherrycreekmortgage.com/


Reports Identify Regulatory Coordination Key to Optimizing Cross-Border Electricity Trade in South Asia

January 7, 2020

South Asia is one of the fastest growing regions in the world, possessing substantial generation potential yet nevertheless plagued by electricity supply shortages. Open electricity trading across borders can help, but poor regulatory alignment between neighboring countries can stand in the way of success.

A series of three reports developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) examines the regulatory coordination needed to enable Bangladesh, India, and Nepal to participate cost-effectively in cross-border electricity trading (CBET). A coordinated regulatory regime for CBET can help each country meet its growing energy demands, improve power system reliability across the region, and efficiently manage domestic renewable energy resources.

The reports are funded through the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Regional Connectivity Program. The program helps partner countries develop more robust regional energy markets, improve cross-border connectivity in South Asia, and expand renewable energy in the region through peer-to-peer collaborations, power system modeling, regulatory coordination, and improved data.

Looking Beyond Technical Challenges

Flowing energy across international borders creates unique challenges.

"Cross-border electricity trading represents the nexus between technical potential and political reality," said Dr. David Hurlbut, senior researcher at NREL and the reports' primary author. "There is an additional level of complexity in harmonizing the sovereign decisions of different countries so they can be on the same page with respect to things like cost recovery, foreign exchange, investment risk, and the distribution of benefits. Its about consensus, which requires vision and fair processes along with good technical information."

Importantly, the aim of the report series is not to recommend how Bangladesh, India, and Nepal should engage in CBET. Rather, the intent is to map out the major decision points and collaborative steps to assist each country's power system planners in developing a supportive institutional framework.

Market Drivers for CBET in South Asia

Regulators in India proposed major reforms to address inefficiencies in India's wholesale power markets in 2018. The reforms would move India's power system toward greater integration based on the principles of market-based economic dispatch, in contrast to its current patchwork of bilateral contracts and separate operating norms. While the reforms in India are still evolving, they could significantly accelerate CBET between India and other South Asian nations.

The implications of these market reforms could include the ability of Nepal to sell surplus hydropower to India and Bangladesh. For Bangladesh, participation in a dynamic wholesale power market could provide cost-effective energy alternatives at a time when its natural gas reserves are diminishing.

Cross-border power trade uses exports and imports to "right-size" domestic hydropower generation.

An Outline for Market Readiness

Each country's regulatory considerations are framed through three CBET transaction models:

Tenant generation, in which a generator exports power to another country over a dedicated cross-border transmission line with little or no connection to the host countrys system

Bilateral contracts, where power moves through both national networks and across transmission interfaces linking the two grids

An integrated market exchange where cross-border trades and all other power flows are optimized simultaneously over a consolidated network.

The reports go on to lay out specific regulatory areas that Bangladesh, India, and Nepal might review to ensure a transparent shift to cross-border, market-based electricity trading. Among these decisions is jurisdictional clarity as to which agencies in each country decide specific topics such as transmission siting approval, standard data reporting requirements, registration, and the use of foreign exchange.

Additionally, the reports recognize each country's need to begin its transition toward market-based electricity trading by first performing an inventory of its own national electricity and foreign trade policies to identify potential gaps in existing laws. Further, monitoring important metrics such as price, volume, and transmission congestion can help regulators assess whether CBET outcomes are consistent with each countrys public interest. If they agree that an expanded and fully integrated electricity market would be in their best interests, the countries would also need to reach consensus on market governance and on the role of stakeholders.

Empowering Robust Private Sector Participation

Many country-specific factors come into play with greater CBET. Besides multilateral consensus, some actions might entail additional domestic legislation and internal coordination among various national agencies.

As Hurlbut further clarified, "the more clarity and transparency you have within regulatory guardrails, the more private investment can happen. Any degree of regulatory uncertainty will have a chilling effect on investment."

Decision-makers in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal have myriad concerns to manage when crafting their approach to CBET. These reports help map efficient regional planning by providing insights about institutional coordination necessary to ensure that cross-border, market-based electricity trading is successful.

Read the report series:

Regulatory Foundations for Cross-Border Electricity Trading: Bangladesh

Regulatory Foundations for Cross-Border Electricity Trading: India

Regulatory Foundations for Cross-Border Electricity Trading: Nepal
After establishing proof-of-concept and first market approval for NBTXR3 in soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and trunk wall, Nanobiotix is now focused on developing this product in the United States and the European Union for the treatment of head and neck cancers

As per the plan, the Company's resources are focused on head and neck cancers, as these indications have a high incidence, unmet medical needs, and offer a prime opportunity to demonstrate medical and economic value for NBTXR3

The Company is also moving forward with its evaluation of NBTXR3 as a potential pillar of immuno-oncology, given positive data showing that the product may generate an immune response in patients on its own, and also increase the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination

In parallel, Nanobiotix collaborators will continue to develop NBTXR3 across several additional indications including lung, esophageal, pancreatic, and others

Regulatory News:

"After the achievement of major development milestones in 2019, 2020 offers great opportunity for Nanobiotix and NBTXR3 to fulfill unmet patient needs across oncology. Given NBTXR3's universal mode of action, our proof-of-concept in soft tissue sarcoma, and promising results from our phase I trial in head and neck cancers, we are confident that NBTXR3 activated by radiation therapy has the potential to significantly improve treatment outcomes for head and neck cancer patients. Beyond head and neck, we will continue to expand into additional indications and combination therapies. Ultimately, we aim to change the oncology treatment paradigm for millions of patients around the world." Laurent Levy, CEO of Nanobiotix

NANOBIOTIX (Euronext: NANO ISIN: FR0011341205 the ''Company'') today announced its global development strategy for 2020 and beyond, following proof-of-concept (POC) and European market approval for NBTXR3 in locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and trunk wall (Brand Name: Hensify) in 2019. The Company will continue to prioritize its registration pathway in the US and EU for the treatment of head and neck cancers, while also working to advance the Nanobiotix immuno-oncology (I/O) program and evaluate NBTXR3 in other indications such as lung, pancreatic, esophageal, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), prostrate, and rectal cancers. To execute this plan, Nanobiotix will focus on H&N cancers while its collaborators (i.e. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson) in the US and PharmaEngine in Asia) are working on other indications.

Global Development Plan Visualization

TRIAL STATUS ANTICIPATED NEXT STEPS Development in Head and Neck Moving Forward Phase III Registration Trial for NBTXR3 in head and neck patients ineligible for cisplatin TRIAL NAME: STUDY 312 Nanobiotix trial Design completed based on last interactions with FDA and European payers (EUnetHTA) Jan 2020 Submission of final protocol to FDA and other global regulatory bodies Phase I and Phase I Expansion Trial for NBTXR3 in head and neck patients ineligible for cisplatin or intolerant to cetuximab TRIAL NAME: Study 102102Expansion Nanobiotix trial Phase I dose escalation completed data reported 19 patients Dose Expansion 38 of 44 patients recruited Q1 2020 Update of dose escalation patients follow-up Mid 2020 First expansion phase data on efficacy and safety of dose expansion Phase I/II Trial for NBTXR3 combined with cisplatin for head and neck patients TRIAL NAME: PEP503-HN-1002 PharmaEngine trial 3rd dose level recruiting H2 2020- Last patient in for 5th (last) dose level Immuno-Oncology Program with NBTXR3 Phase I Basket Trial for NBTXR3 combined with pembrolizumab or nivolumab in H&N, lung metastasis, liver metastasis patients TRIAL NAME: Study 1100 Nanobiotix trial First patients treated Protocol extended to include patients with lung and liver metastases from any primary tumor. Recruitment ongoing Mid-year 2020 first data reported Phase II Trial of reirradiation with NBTXR3 combined with anti-PD-1/L1 for inoperable, locally advanced HN cancer Phase II Trial for NBTXR3 combined with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 in Stage IV lung cancer Phase I Trial for NBTXR3 combined with anti- CTLA4 and anti-PD-1 or PD-L1 in patients with advanced solid tumors and lung or liver mets Phase II Trial for NBTXR3 for recurrent/metastatic HNSCC patients with limited PD-L1 expression MD Anderson trials Final stage of protocol development Q2-Q3 2020 Submission of protocols to FDA Development Across Other Indications Phase I Trial for NBTXR3 in hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastasis patients TRIAL NAME: Study 103 Nanobiotix trial Recruitment of the last patient at the 5th (last) dose level (one patient left to be treated) Q1 2020 Update on results Phase I Trial for NBTXR3 in prostate cancer patients TRIAL NAME: Study 104 Nanobiotix trial 2nd dose level recruiting Q4 2020 Update on results Phase I Trial for NBTXR3 in pancreatic cancer Phase I Trial for NBTXR3 in lung cancer patients in need of reirradiation Phase I Trial for NBTXR3 in esophageal cancer patients MD Anderson trials Pancreas Regulatory process ongoing Lung re-irradiation Esophageal Submission of final protocol to regulatory process Q2 2020 First patient treated in pancreas Q3 2020 Lung re-irradiation Esophageal first patient treated Phase I/II Trial for NBTXR3 combined with chemotherapy in rectal cancer patients TRIAL NAME: PEP503-RC-1001 PharmaEngine trial 4th (last) dose level recruiting H2 2020 Report phase I results Next Steps in Soft Tissue Sarcoma Phase III Trial for NBTXR3 in soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and trunk wall patients TRIAL NAME: Act.In.Sarc Nanobiotix trial Trial completed data reported H2 2020- Further follow up of the patients Post-Approval Trial for NBTXR3 in soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and trunk wall patients TRIAL NAME: TBD Nanobiotix trial Design established (100 patients) H2 2020 Trial authorization by the relevant regulatory bodies expected

Development in Head and Neck Moving Forward

There are approximately 700,000 new head and neck cancer patients worldwide each year-300,000 of these patients reside in the US and the European Union (EU) 1. Of these patients at diagnosis, 90% suffer from local disease and the remaining 10% have metastatic disease. 70-80% of all Head and Neck patients will receive radiation therapy, but significant unmet medical needs remain regarding either local control, systemic control, toxicity, or some combination of the three2. This is especially challenging for patients ineligible for platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin).

Global Registration Trial for NBTXR3 in Head and Neck Patients Ineligible for Cisplatin

As previously announced, Nanobiotix has begun interacting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its regulatory pathway and met with the agency in October 2019 to refine the design elements of Study 312-a phase III investigator's choice, dual-arm, randomized (1:1) global registration trial including elderly head and neck cancer patients who are ineligible for platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin).

More than half of head and neck cancers include large primary tumors which may invade underlying structures and/or spread to regional nodes. Treatment of these locally advanced forms of the disease ordinarily requires aggressive, concerted measures. Due to potential comorbidities and toxicities associated with treatment, elderly and frail patients suffer from limited therapeutic options. Study 312 aims to target the unmet needs of this population.

Patients in the control arm will receive radiation therapy with or without cetuximab (investigator's choice), and patients in the treatment arm will receive NBTXR3 activated by radiation therapy with or without cetuximab (investigator's choice). The trial will recruit around 500 patients, the initial readout will be based on event-driven progression-free survival (PFS), and the final readout will be based on PFS and overall survival (OS). The study will be powered to demonstrate the OS superiority of NBTXR3 activated by radiation therapy. In addition, quality of life (QoL) will be measured as a key secondary outcome.

The Company's next step is to submit the final trial design to FDA and other global regulatory bodies within the month. A futility analysis is expected 18 months after the first patient is randomized, the interim analysis for PFS superiority is expected at 24-30 months, and final analysis will report on PFS and OS. In the event of favorable data from the initial readout, Nanobiotix plans to apply for conditional registration in the US.

Confirming Efficacy with Phase I (Study 102) Expansion

Nanobiotix has already reported promising early signs of efficacy for patients with head and neck cancer through Study 1023 -a phase I trial of NBTXR3 nanoparticles activated by intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in the treatment of advanced-stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The patient population for Study 102 includes elderly and frail patients who are ineligible for cisplatin or intolerant to cetuximab.

As a result of this report, the Company launched an expansion cohort with 44 additional patients to strengthen preliminary efficacy data. Recruitment for the expansion cohort has reached 38 of 44 patients and the initial readout is expected by mid-2020. Depending on the favorability of the final expansion phase data, the Company may seek to expedite the regulatory process in the EU.

Additional Development in Head and Neck with Collaborators

To serve as many head and neck cancer patients as possible and as mentioned above, the Company has engaged in ongoing clinical collaborations with MD Anderson in the US and PharmaEngine in Asia.

The Company is collaborating with MD Anderson on nine (9) clinical trials across multiple indications, three (3) of which are expected to evaluate head and neck cancer in patient populations outside of the trials Nanobiotix is executing alone (e.g. borderline resectable, inoperable and neck cancer (re-irradiation), etc.)

The head and neck portion of the PharmaEngine collaboration features a phase I/II trial designed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of NBTXR3 activated by radiation therapy in combination with cisplatin for patients with locally advanced cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx.

Immuno-Oncology Program with NBTXR3

In addition to the main program evaluating the use of NBTXR3 as a single agent, and as mentioned above, Nanobiotix is running a global I/O program. For the past decade, there has been excitement around the ability of I/O agents (immune checkpoint inhibitors or ICIs) to activate the immune system to attack tumor cells. However, many tumors exhibit little or no response to these therapies and are considered "cold," due to a lack of immunogenicity. As a result, a small fraction of patients realize the benefits of ICIs4

The Nanobiotix I/O program is comprised of Study 1100-an I/O basket trial in the US-a pre-clinical collaboration with MD Anderson, and a large-scale clinical collaboration with MD Anderson including several trials,. The program aims to evaluate the potential for NBTXR3 activated by radiation therapy in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors to convert checkpoint inhibitor non-responders into responders; provide better local and systemic control; and increase survival.

Study 1100 evaluates NBTXR3 in combination with anti-PD-1, includes three cohorts, is recruiting and has four activated sites. The head and neck cohort includes patients with locoregional recurrent (LRR) or recurrent and metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The remaining cohorts include patients with lung and liver metastasis. While cohorts two and three initially called for liver and lung metastasis patients with HNSCC or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as the primary tumor, the protocol was recently expanded to include patients with lung and liver metastases from any primary cancer eligible for anti-PD-1 therapy (e.g. metastatic melanoma, metastatic NSCLC, metastatic small cell lung cancer, metastatic HNSCC, metastatic cervical cancer, metastatic urothelial cancer, metastatic gastric cancer, metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma, and metastatic microsatellite-high or mismatch repair deficient cancers, etc.).

The I/O portion of the Nanobiotix clinical collaboration with MD Anderson plans to evaluate NBTXR3 activated by radiation therapy in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, and anti-CTLA-4) in patients with locally advanced and metastatic lung cancer.

Development Across Other Indications

Study 103-evaluating NBTXR3 activated by radiation therapy for the treatment of patients with HCC and liver metastasis-is recruiting the last patient at the 5th (last) dose level and final results are expected in the first quarter of this year.

Furthermore, the Company is evaluating NBTXR3 activated by radiation therapy for patients with prostate cancer through Study 104; for patients with naive esophageal cancer, and pancreatic cancer through the clinical collaboration with MD Anderson; and in combination with chemotherapy for patients with rectal cancers through the PharmaEngine collaboration. Two additional trials with MD Anderson are under discussion.

Next Steps in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Given positive phase III results and market approval for NBTXR3 in Europe for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and trunk wall, the Company is currently preparing a post-registrational trial that will continue evaluating safety and efficacy, and will provide patients with access to the product. Around 100 patients should be recruited for this trial, which is expected to launch in the second half of 2020.

About NBTXR3

NBTXR3 is a first-in-class product designed to destroy tumors through physical cell death when activated by radiotherapy. NBTXR3 has a high degree of biocompatibility, requires one single administration before the first radiotherapy treatment session, and has the ability to fit into current worldwide standards of radiation care. The physical mode of action of NBTXR3 makes it applicable across solid tumors such as lung, prostate, liver, glioblastoma, and breast cancers.

About NANOBIOTIX: www.nanobiotix.com

Incorporated in 2003, Nanobiotix is a leading, clinical-stage nanomedicine company pioneering new approaches to significantly change patient outcomes by bringing nanophysics to the heart of the cell.

The Nanobiotix philosophy is rooted in designing pioneering, physical-based approaches to bring highly effective and generalized solutions to address unmet medical needs and challenges.

Nanobiotix's first-in-class, proprietary lead technology, NBTXR3, aims to expand radiotherapy benefits for millions of cancer patients. Nanobiotix's Immuno-Oncology program has the potential to bring a new dimension to cancer immunotherapies.

Nanobiotix is listed on the regulated market of Euronext in Paris (Euronext: NANO ISIN: FR0011341205; Bloomberg: NANO: FP). The Company's headquarters are in Paris, France, with a U.S. affiliate in Cambridge, MA, and European affiliates in France, Spain and Germany

Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Nanobiotix and its business, including its prospects and product candidate development. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that Nanobiotix considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that the estimates contained in such forward-looking statements will be verified, which estimates are subject to numerous risks including the risks set forth in the reference document of Nanobiotix registered with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers) under number R.19-018 on April 30, 2019 (a copy of which is available on www.nanobiotix.com) and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Nanobiotix operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Nanobiotix or not currently considered material by Nanobiotix. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Nanobiotix to be materially different from such forward-looking statements.

1 Bray, F., Ferlay, J., Soerjomataram, I., Siegel, R. L., Torre, L. A., Jemal, A. (2018). Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 68(6), 394-424.

2 Delaney, G., Jacob, S., Featherstone, C., Barton, M. (2005). The role of radiotherapy in cancer treatment: estimating optimal utilization from a review of evidence-based clinical guidelines. Cancer: Interdisciplinary International Journal of the American Cancer Society, 104(6), 1129-1137.

3 See Company's press release dated September 20, 2019.

4 Spigel, David R., et al. (2015): 8009-8009.; Ferris, Robert L., et al. New England Journal of Medicine 375.19 (2016): 1856-1867.; Borghaei, Hossein, et al. New England Journal of Medicine 373.17 (2015): 1627-1639.; Garon, Edward B., et al. New England Journal of Medicine 372.21 (2015): 2018-2028.; Seiwert, Tanguy Y., et al.The lancet oncology 17.7 (2016): 956-965.; Antonia, Scott J., et al. New England Journal of Medicine 377.20 (2017): 1919-1929.

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The Iraqi military has said 22 ballistic missiles were fired at two bases used by US and coalition forces in Iraq, as Iran claimed responsibility and dozens of casualties, in a dramatic development of the crisis sparked by the killing of Qassem Soleimani.

The Pentagon confirmed Wednesdays early morning attacks on the al-Asad and Erbil facilities saying they were still evaluating the damage and their response.

President Donald Trump downplayed the reports of wounded and dead saying assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good!

Iranian state television, however, claimed 80 American terrorists had been killed and US helicopters and military equipment damaged, but offered no evidence of how it obtained that information.

Iraqs military said there were no Iraqis injured in the assault, adding that 17 missiles landed on al-Asad base in the western province of Anbar and five on Erbil city, the capital of the Iraqi Kurdistan region.



The Iraqi prime ministry condemned "any attacks on its territory" adding that Iran notified Baghdad shortly after midnight that its response to the killing of its top military commander had begun, and that retaliation would be limited to locations where the US military is present.

Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Show all 24 1 /24 Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions Iranian mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of top general Qasem Soleimani during the final stage of funeral processions, in his hometown Kerman. Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with Iran which has vowed "severe revenge" AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranian people carry a coffin of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani during a funeral procession in Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions The assassination of the 62-year-old heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile, oil-rich Middle East and rattled financial markets AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Mourners packed the streets of Tehran for ceremonies to pay homage to Soleimani, who spearheaded Iran's Middle East operations as commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force and was killed in a US drone strike on January 3 Iranian Supreme Leader's Office/EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranians set a US and an Israeli flag on fire during the funeral procession AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, centre, with Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, second left, and President Hassan Rouhani, third left, standing next to him as he leads a prayer over the caskets of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Tehran University Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, openly weeps as he leads a prayer over the coffin of Qassem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Mourners holding posters of Qassem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Coffins of Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a US drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession, at the Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions An Iranian mourner holds a placard AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Downtown Tehran was brought to a standstill as mourners flooded the Iranian capital Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Former Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps chief Mohamad Ali Jafari prays on the coffins of Qasem Soleimani and of other victims during their funeral ceremony EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Satellite image Maxar Technologies/AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA

The missile barrages came hours after tens of thousands of Iranians turned out to mourn the slain Iranian military commander Soleimani  and more than 50 died in a stampede.

Responsibility for the attacks was swiftly claimed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), whose nonconventional Quds Force Soleimani commanded.

This morning, courageous fighters of the IRGCs air force launched a successful operation called Operation Martyr Soleimani, the IRGC said in a statement. The fierce revenge by the Revolutionary Guards has begun.

On Twitter, Irans foreign minister, Javad Zarif, added: Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defence under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched. We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the missile barrage saying it was a "slap in the face" for the Americans. He did not appear to call for further strikes but repeated demands that Washington pull its troops from the region.

"When it comes to confrontation, military actions of these kinds are not enough...the corrupt presence of the US should come to an end," he said to crowds chanting "death to America".

In Washington DC, Mr Trump tweeted: All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.

In a statement, foreign secretary Dominic Raab said the UK condemn[s] this attack on Iraqi military bases hosting Coalition  including British  forces.

We are concerned by reports of casualties and use of ballistic missiles, he said. We urge Iran not to repeat these reckless and dangerous attacks, and instead to pursue urgent de-escalation.

A war in the Middle East would only benefit [Isis] and other terrorist groups.

 Huge crowds surround funeral procession of Soleimani as it moves through Kerman, Iran

A spokesman for the Pentagon confirmed it also believed the missiles had been fired by Iran, rather than one of its proxy forces.

It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US military and coalition personnel at Al Asad and Erbil, Jonathan Hoffman, assistant to the secretary of defence for public affairs, said in a statement. We are working on initial battle damage assessments.

He said the base had already been on high alert due to indications that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces and interests in the region.

He added: As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend US personnel, partners, and allies in the region.

Donald Trump had previously made a personal visit to the Al Asad base, in December 2018.



The Iraqi prime ministry said it refused "any violation of its sovereignty and any attacks on its territory."

It added that Iraq is doing everything in its power to contain the situation to avoid a "devastating all-out war."

The development marked a rapid escalation in the crisis between Tehran and Washington, and a major challenge for Mr Trump, who had campaigned on keeping the US out of further wars in the Middle East.

Tehrans missile strike came as senior members of congress were finally briefed on the purported threat presented by Soleimani, which led to the decision to kill him. Mere hours before the attacks, Mr Trump had told reporters in the Oval Office: If Iran does anything they shouldnt be doing, they are going to be suffering the consequences, and very strongly.

Irans Revolutionary Guard warned Washington against retaliating, and told its regional neighbours that if any military action were launched from their territory, they could expect to be attacked in turn.

Mr Esper had warned the US was anticipating a reaction from Iran to the killing of Soleimani, a major regional power broker.

I think we should expect that they will retaliate in some way, shape or form, he told a news briefing at the Pentagon on Tuesday afternoon. He added: Were prepared for any contingency. And then we will respond appropriately to whatever they do.

In turn, a senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering several scenarios to avenge Soleimanis death. Other senior figures have said the Islamic Republic would match the scale of the killing when it responds, but that it would choose the time and place.

We will take revenge, a hard and definitive revenge, the head of the IRCG, General Hossein Salami, told throngs who crowded the streets for Soleimanis funeral in Kerman, his hometown in southeastern Iran.

Soleimanis burial went ahead after several hours of delay following a stampede that killed at least 56 people and injured more than 210, according an emergency official quoted by Irans semi-official Fars news agency.

The next steps on both sides remained unclear. Some experts suggested the actions by Iran, which had been promised by its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, may have been calculated to satisfy domestic demands for revenge, without provoking a major response from Washington.

Much of the uncertainty lies in the fact that the decision on how the US responds will be made by Mr Trump.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn's wife Carole said Tuesday she was not in the loop about his audacious escape from Japan, adding that it was the "only choice possible." Speaking after Japanese prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for her, Carole Ghosn told France's Le Parisien newspaper that she knew nothing about the December 29-30 escape when Carlos Ghosn jumped bail and fled from Tokyo. The interview came hours before an eagerly awaited press conference by the disgraced executive in Beirut on Wednesday. "I wasn't aware of anything... I was in Beirut with my children to celebrate Christmas, someone called me to say 'I have a surprise for you. It was the best in all my life!" she said. "Fleeing was the only possible choice as he saw his trial being postponed indefinitely and he was being detained in conditions that deprived him of his rights with the aim of dehumanising him. "Carlos cannot plead guilty for things he did not do," Carole Ghosn said, adding that her husband was the "victim of an industrial plot and the war between Renault and Nissan." She said he was slightly tense before his press conference, adding that this was "normal" as he was making "the most important statement of his life." Ghosn had been facing trial in Japan on charges of financial misconduct, which he denies, before fleeing the country in late December for Lebanon, where he was reunited with his second wife Carole. The globe-trotting former auto mogul accuses executives at Japanese automaker Nissan of manufacturing the allegations against him in a "plot" to prevent closer integration with alliance partner Renault. Ghosn appears to have left his residence in Tokyo, which was monitored by surveillance cameras under his bail conditions, alone. He reportedly later met up with two US citizens and boarded a bullet train to Osaka on December 29. In Osaka, he is reported to have been put into a large box with holes drilled into it to ensure he could breathe and then loaded onto a private jet that flew to Istanbul. Airport security rules meant large items loaded onto private planes were exempt from screening -- a loophole that appears to have allowed Ghosn to escape unnoticed. In Istanbul, he boarded a second private jet that took him to Lebanon, where he entered on a French passport. Under his bail conditions, his French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports were confiscated and held by his lawyers. But he was allowed to retain a second French passport -- in a locked case with the key held by his lawyers -- so he could prove his short-term visa status if needed when travelling in Japan -- which was allowed in the terms of his bail. Carole Ghosn said fleeing was the only possible choice for her husband as his trial was being indefinitely postponed Factfile on the arrest and charges against Carlos Ghosn
(TNS)  Of all the life experiences helping to shape research in an age of data privacy threats, robotic workers and driverless cars, here's one you might not have considered.It involves blueberries -- specifically, the not-yet-ripe, green ones.Years before he joined The Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, Randy Sargent worked on an early-career project in Washington state to develop a system for sorting blueberries without human hands, using cameras to spot green ones and air jets to separate them from the others on a conveyor.As advancements go, it was a no-brainer, right? After all, who would want to do that monotonous work?"I learned that it was a very naive view," he said.Turns out, the employees making a living at it "didn't want to be replaced," he said. In fact, what he assumed was a joyless job actually enabled those workers to talk with each other and engage.The project he worked on ultimately was not deployed, said Mr. Sargent, a senior systems scientist at Carnegie Mellon. But the example, he added, is less important than what it symbolizes.Today, at Carnegie Mellon, he is among a swath of classroom professors, researchers and students probing the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, automation and other technology -- from the viewpoint of disciplines as disparate as computer science and philosophy. A sizable portion of his work involves uses of AI that can help level the playing field for those otherwise disadvantaged as data mining reshapes everyday life in areas from housing opportunities and creditworthiness to health care."When we're in a competitive marketplace, it's sometimes hard for us to pay as much attention as we should to broader impact of what we're doing," he said of those involved in the inventions.So Mr. Sargent and his colleagues want to help a generation of scholars, inventors and others get outside their own "bubble" for the good of society.The stakes in that would seem to be huge.After all, intelligent machines able to "think," and data mining so rich it can reveal and even influence human behaviors, are driving an uneasy discussion globally about how far the technology should go.Just look at the headlines."Ethics and automation: What to do when workers are displaced," reads a headline on the site of, the management school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology."After generations of increasing inequality, can we teach tech leaders to love their neighbors more than their algorithms and profits?" asks online tech industry publication"Can we teach robots ethics?" askedin 2017, only to be followed by this:"Why ethical robots may not be such a good idea after all," stated a piece posted to the web site of, the world's largest technical professional organization devoted to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.In the grand scheme of things, Carnegie Mellon is just one of many universities looking at these issues. It just happens to be a huge player, with a global reputation for computing, engineering and robotics that makes what it says on the subject resonate.And it's not just those on the techy side of campus.From his vantage in the philosophy department, Alex John London works with groups and individuals on and off campus to promote better understanding of various aspects of ethics, including the importance of recognizing the difference between useful innovations and hype.He said he can't design an engine or build a brake or clutch. But he's a go-to person on human decision-making. As such, what he says is relevant to those trying to get an autonomous vehicle to safely do what humans behind the wheel have done for generations."Part of what I do as a humanist is educate people about what these system can and can't do," said Mr. London, the professor of ethics and philosophy.He looks at such things as what's gained and lost in the quality of care and doctor-patient interaction as medical records are digitized. He helps others understand that it's not just the developers of the technology that have a responsibility for its ethical application."There's no one person who's responsible for that," he said.Those who bankroll research, those who make policies and those who purchase and use the end product also have a say.Robots able to do dangerous jobs offer a social benefit, he said. Another set of questions comes with use of robots in policing or the military. "I think people's reticence to use lethal force can change when they can use that force safely removed from the context," he said.The fact that Carnegie Mellon for decades has championed research across disciplines makes it easier for him as a philosopher to bring ethics into the discussion on such things as computation science, AI and computing.The earlier that conversation begins, the better.In fact, one joint effort by the university and AlphaLab Gear -- a startup accelerator focused on entrepreneurs developing hardware, robots and other physical technologies -- has introduced a program dubbed Ethics MVP. Starting in April, it worked for six months with more than half a dozen startups.The proposition, in essence, was: "What if we helped startup founders really think about ethics from day one and build ethical practices into their companies and products?" said Jessica Pachuta, a project co-director of Ethics MVP.Participants reconvened last month to share their takeaways from the program, developed through the School of Computer Science's Create Lab.It's hard to deny that ethics is good for business, said Ms. Pachuta, but it's a complicated topic with new questions arising as technology itself changes.That can be hard on time-pressured entrepreneurs.So regardless if the venture involves artificial intelligence, data collection or some other technology, founders are encouraged to explicitly weigh in on the subject, "so it's something normal to talk about."
A number of Extinction Rebellion activists who boarded a Scottish gas rig in a bid to prevent it heading out to the North Sea have been arrested.

Five climate campaigners set out in a boat at 11.30am towards Valaris 122 rig in Dundee Harbour on Monday.

Three made it on board, climbing halfway up one of the legs of the rig to try to prevent it leaving and had the intention of staging an occupation for a few days.

However, the campaigners aborted the mission and returned back to dry land due to deteriorating weather conditions.

Climate activists boarded a gas rig in Dundee to prevent it heading out to the North Sea. / Press Association Images

Extinction Rebellion said three of its activists were arrested after the stunt with police confirming they had detained seven people in total.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: Police can confirm that four men and three women have been arrested in connection with the incident. "Inquiries are ongoing.

The rig is due to come on contract to Shell later this month and be sent to the Shearwater gas field.

An Extinction Rebellion Scotland spokeswoman said they took all necessary safety precautions and informed police of the peaceful occupation.

"These activists had one chance, and they took it. In the end, it was too dangerous to carry on," she added.

Others dont get to choose what danger they are in. The climate crisis, driven by fossil fuel emissions, is putting millions, potentially billions, in grave danger.

The activists earlier issued three demands for the Scottish and UK governments, including urging them to tell the truth about the impact of the fossil fuel industry on the climate crisis.

They also want politicians to act now to decommission oil and gas infrastructure, with a just transition for workers and communities, and a legally binding citizens assembly.

Extinction Rebellion had said the action was the first of many planned across Scotland over the next fortnight as part of Rig Rebellion 2.0.

A spokesman for Forth Ports, owner of the Port of Dundee, previously said: Earlier today, Forth Ports was made aware that a number of apparent protesters had made their way via the River Tay to the Valaris 122 jack-up rig, which is currently berthed at Princess Alexandra Wharf at the Port of Dundee.

We have deployed one of our pilot boats at the scene and this will remain in attendance as a safety precaution should anyone require assistance.

We are also liaising with the rigs owners and with the relevant authorities.

A Shell spokesman said: Were aware of the protest action on the Valaris 122 rig. The safety of those involved  both protesters and workers  is our prime concern.

Chief executive of industry body OGUK, Deirdre Michie, said: This is a dangerous and short-sighted stunt which does absolutely nothing to help provide the solutions which will be required to meaningfully deliver net zero emissions by 2045 in Scotland.
Worried by the recent spate of insecurity and kidnappings, Girei communities in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest, calling on President Muhammad Buhari to intervene.

The protesters, who barricaded the only major high way that leads to Yola, the state capital, held placards with inscriptions expressing their anger and frustration.

Saidu Hamman Girei, a youth leader, explained the reason for the protest.

Our people are being kidnapped on a daily basis; some of the residents have fled their homes for fear of being kidnapped, he said. People were recently killed by kidnappers here in Girei town. They (kidnappers) carted away over N70 million, we do not sleep with two eyes closed for fear of kidnappers.

He also said traditional leaders met with the youth and have agreed to conduct 24-hour patrol to deter the criminals.

The giant stride yielded positive results; as we nabbed some suspects with their ammunition, guns and other incriminating items in their houses, he said.

Among those arrested, there is one who told us that he is a kidnapper and he listed about nine or ten of his accomplices. We took him to where the others were hiding.

But to our greatest surprise, minutes after handing over the suspects to police, an order from the above came that they should be released with immediate effect, he said.

Another protester, Mallum Girei, accused officials of colluding with the criminals. He said, people are tired of this double-face by security echelon. This is not the first time suspects are being released.

We want President Buhari to look seriously on the increasing cases of kidnappings as it portrays that the government or some people in the government are benefitting from the crimes.

Meanwhile, Tounde Elijah, the chairman Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), in the state said, the alarming rate of kidnappings in the state really calls for concern; from simple menial jobbers, the water vendors, to politicians, entrepreneurs, now other professionals, university dons and medical doctors, have also joined the casualty list, he said.

Police reacts

When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Suleiman Nguroje, said the state police command had deployed its men to restore peace.

Mr Nguroje also denied that suspects arrested by the community were released by police.

This is (a) blatant lie. The police are professional and professionalism and laws have to be followed, he said. No suspect is released, due process and investigation have to be followed which some people didnt know.

The Girei suspects are still in police custody, being investigated, and I dont know they got such wrong and false information. Let people not take laws unto their hands.

Meanwhile, the council chairman of Girei, the divisional police officer, SSS representative and other community leaders have met with the state commissioner of police, Audu Madaki, to brainstorm on the challenges facing the communities.
NEW YORK  A New York judge threatened to throw Harvey Weinstein in jail Tuesday after he was caught using two cellphones in the courtroom despite previous warnings to put the devices away.

On day two of the closely watched rape trial in Manhattan, Justice James M. Burke issued a strong rebuke to Weinstein, the disgraced movie producer, who spent several minutes before the proceedings tapping on the screen of his phone and at one point held two cellphones. Court officers had apparently reported the behavior to the judge, who took the bench and immediately addressed the matter.

What did I say would happen if he so much has a cellphone or electronic device since there have been repeated violations of this, including some on the record? Burke said firmly.

One of Weinsteins lawyers, Arthur Aidala, had minutes earlier entered the courtroom, Part 99 of the state Supreme Court, and appeared taken aback: You said you never want to see a cellphone in my clients hand.

Because it was my intention to do what? the judge snapped back.

To change his bail conditions, Aidala responded.

To what? Burke said.

I believe you said remand, Aidala said, meaning to place Weinstein in jail.

Weinstein, who had entered the courtroom aided by a walker minutes before, shook his head and seemed worried about what might happen next.

The judge cautioned Weinstein not to say anything else and asked, Is this really how you want to end up in jail for the rest of your life, by texting and violating a court order?

After the tirade, prosecutors asked for Weinstein to be remanded given new rape and sexual assault charges that were filed in Los Angeles on Monday. The judge kept the bail conditions, but issued a stern warning about Weinsteins cellphone use.

The trial against Weinstein, 67, is one of the most anticipated proceedings in recent years. Allegations against the producer prompted the global #MeToo movement, a reckoning over sexual assault by powerful and influential men in the workplace.

Jury selection in the New York case will begin Tuesday. The lawyers will pick 12 jurors and six alternates from a pool of 500 New Yorkers.

Prosecutors in New York charge that Weinstein raped one woman, who has not been identified in court documents, at a midtown hotel in March 2013 and forced a second woman, Mimi Haleyi, a production assistant, to allow him to perform oral sex on her at his apartment in Manhattan in 2006.

The producer also faces a charge of predatory sexual assault for having committed a serious sex crime against more than one person.

To further buttress that charge, prosecutors plan on calling actress Annabella Sciorra to testify against Weinstein, who she said sexually assaulted her in 1993 in her Manhattan apartment. If convicted of predatory sexual assault, Weinstein faces a maximum of life in prison.

Weinstein maintains that his sexual encounters with the women were consensual.

The Manhattan Dstrict Attorneys Office is also expected to call on three other women to testify about allegations of sexual assault by the producer.

Prosecutors hope those witnesses will convince a jury that Weinstein has long been a sexual predator, even if the events they describe happened too long ago to be prosecuted as sex crimes. Prosecutors in Pennsylvania used a similar strategy in the sexual assault trial of the comedian Bill Cosby, who is now in prison.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
- A customer of Menzold Ghana Limited, Nana Kissi, has ben arrested and granted bail for threatening Nana Appiah Mensah, the CEO of the company

- His arrest comes after that of another client of the company who was charged with offensive conduct

- Social media users have meanwhile reacted in anger and surprise at the recent events

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Nana Kissi, a customer of gold dealership firm, Menzgold Ghana Limited, has been arrested and granted bail after threatening Nana Appiah Mensah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company.

Information available suggested that Kissi passed threatening comments on Adom FM, an Accra-based radio station.

He was however released on Monday, January 6, 2020 after a meeting with police officials at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

Source: citinewsroom.com

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Top committee slams Nigeria's Door of Return; says it is illegal (Photos)

YEN.com.gh is however yet to confirm if he has been formally charged with committing a crime.

Per a report by citinewsroom.com, another Menzgold customer was arrested on Thursday, January 2, 2020 and charged with offensive conduct.

According to a spokesperson of the aggrieved Menzgold customers, Frederick Forson, they will not be intimidated by the recent arrests.

He however admitted that some comments made by some customers may have not been the best.

Some social media users have meanwhile reacted to the news of the arrests:

Hany stated that Kissi is frustrated hence his action.

Akaribo added that NAM1 is simply a smart man.

To Mens, the system is simply sick.

Muhammed wondered why no one is concerned about customers of Gold Coast Security and GN Bank.

Norvieto indicated that corrupt governance would lead Ghanaians into temptation.

Gentu wondered if the government knew NAM1's actions were a threat to lives of customers.

In other news, the minister of lands and natural resources, Kwaku Asomah Cheremeh, has been involved in an accident, YEN.com.gh has learned.

He subsequently impounded the truck which smashed into his official vehicle as it was loaded with illegal lumber.

The incident occurred at Sunyani in the Bono region and it has since been reported to the police.

Per a report by Ghana Web, the accident occurred as the minister was returning from a trip in the region.

He chanced upon the truck, which has its registration number as AS4955E, heading from Dormaa to Yeji in the Bono East.

Cheremehs car was destroyed by the KIA driver when he attempted to stop him and enquire about the destination of the lumber.

Shedding light on the incident, Cheremeh noted that the documents covering the illegal lumber during the arrest were suspicious because the amount paid in VAT was higher than the actual cost of the lumber and therefore further investigations needed to be conducted.

READ ALSO: Rev. Obofuor slams churches; blames them for increased fornication in Ghana

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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
Meet Omar Tate: The Chef Making Dishes Inspired By Jazz, Hip-Hop & Black Literature Nereya Otieno Nereya Otieno is a writer, thinker and ramen-eater currently based

From homemade Kool-Aid to smoked turkey necks, Chef Omar Tate has made a career for himself pulling from jazz, hip-hop, and literature to create dishes that give snapshots of Black life in America.

This dish placed in front of me was a matte black lump. Still smoking. Wispy gray tendrils of air were dancing from my plate. Despite the hand-written menu reading smoked turkey neck on a bed of beans, and the underlying rich, savory and herb-laced scent of slow-roasted meat emanating from the open kitchen, there was something about the dish that made me feel like I was at a crime scene. A gruesomely charred and mangled body over a mound of white-hot ash. But I knew the chef behind the dish had served it that way with purpose and intent. If this was a crime scene, hed want me to investigate.

Chef Omar Tate has been making a name for himself via intricately conceptual dinners known as Honeysuckle Pop-Ups. In October, I was lucky enough to attend one of these pop-up dinners at an apartment for sale in the Upper West Side in Manhattan. His dinners  which usually seat around 10 people  are forays into the Black American experience, exhaustingly constructed courses with immense depth of flavor that give snapshots of historical events, musical movements, and cultural ideas that have somehow shaped Black life and American society as a whole.

Many of the worlds most notable chefs will take a critical part of their identity and work that into a theme they explore with their dishes. Tate gave me the examples of Massimo Bottura using his Italian heritage to push food sustainability and Rene Redzepi working his Nordic background into the future of food science. So, how could I use Black heritage? Tate asked. My nostalgia isnt foraging in the field or at my grandmothers feet watching the flour fall when she made pasta, you know?

Tates work ends up being much more modern than nostalgic, resulting in explorations into how the present came to be. Tate himself has no place in a backward-looking lens as his life, realistically, couldnt have existed in the past. Hes a dark-skinned Black man who was raised in Philadelphia by a single mother. He had a kid pretty young, has been on the unlucky side of a bullet, and has been locked up a few timesa biography he gives willingly, quickly, and somewhat offhandedly. A chef of his pedigree is nearly non-existent in the fine dining world. Yet his personal history, though far from representative of an entire countrys race, has critical anchors that can be expressed through dishes with the same precision, execution and finesse that makes food critics sit back, slack-jawed yet satisfied.

Its fitting to say he works in edible Black history. The first offering at any of his dinners is homemade Kool-Aid. A blend of pulverized, freeze-dried fruit and sugar awaits diners in a packet at the table, allowing them to dump a powdered red substance in a glass, fill it up with water and stir to taste a familiar hit of sweet, berry-filled goodness. Oh yeah. For Tate, Kool-Aid was that sentimental reference point that kicked off the entire concept behind Honeysuckle. Whenever it was dinnertime and we didnt have any more Kool-Aid, my mom would always ask me to make it, Tate said. It was my job and it signified that the food was ready. My Kool-Aid is bringing together every single thing that I care about in food: agricultural systems, Black heritage, making it contemporary and also fighting stigmas.

Fighting stigmas is what makes Tate so singularly gifted in what he does. His dishes are not made for you to taste  though they are impressive in that right  theyre made for you to experience. This is where the Tate-factor comes into play, the litany of references he makes to literature, music, poetry, plays, people, places, and events in his work. He builds his dinners the same way he builds his identity: joining things hes been exposed to with things he identifies with and things he likes as well as things he wants to question. Its not about the delicate balance of an oyster stew (creamy and earthy with a grandmas porridge thickness), its about the story he tells while serving it. (Its a story of the freed man who sold oysters near the auction blocks where he would have been sold.) It isnt about sensing the technique behind a perfectly prepared and dressed sweet potato, its about bringing the sensation the narrator of Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man feels when he happens upon a cart of yams in New York City. In the 1952 novel, the narrator, who is from the South, buys a yam from a street vendor and is overcome with the simple pleasure of the hot yam, intoxicated with pride for his Southern roots, unafraid to be seen eating like a Black boy from the South.

This connection to Ellisons novel isnt theoretical, my third course from Tate was called Cart of Yams and it was an homage to this scene. It consisted of charred sweet potato cooked slowly in yam molasses. Though it was served to look like an ordinary yam, it was incredibly soft and moist and parted easily for your teeth then melted on your tongue. It was velvety  though not in a way that seemed engineered.

Tate had a yam cart moment of his own while Honeysuckle was still gestating in his mind. In 2017, Tate was jaded from working as a kitchen manager at the now-closed Once Upon a Tart and wanted to take some time off. So he headed to the South. He decided to crash on a friends couch in New Orleans before making his way to his familial roots in plantations around Charleston. He arrived on a Monday, started wandering around and ended up in Treme where he stopped into a bar. He ordered a Heineken and a whiskey. The place was empty save two old ladies working. The women served him his drinks and then passed him a Styrofoam bowl of rice and beans with pork tail. The three started talking about their lives and the news and Tate couldnt get over how incredibly delicious the rice and beans were, how effortless the conversation between strangers was. That was very significant to me, because, at this moment, it stopped being about food as a structure to build a Black menu or narrative around, Tate said. The narratives already there. I am the narrative.

From this moment, Tate knew that Honeysuckle wouldnt be about food trying to fit in a box. It would be about food acting as an extension of the man who was making it. In that way, he couldnt go wrong because if it was about him, it was always true. As he  like all of us  is a complex and rich individual, his food would be, too. Music plays a central figure in the ideation of his dishes. In creating Honeysuckle, he became an even greater jazz fiend than he had previously been, focusing on music from 1940 to 1963 when jazz was intentionally trying to push boundaries and challenge the idea of what constituted as music. Tate mentions Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie often, while John Coltrane comes up with the frequency of punctuation. In addition to jazz, Tate draws from hip-hop. Rakim flipping verse, trying to fit as many syllables and ideas as possible into one bar frame was one thing I thought about. But he took that from how Coltrane tried to fit as many different moves in a frame, Tate said. Kendrick [Lamar] does the same thing in how he builds his bars. Questlove [of The Roots] does it with drums. How can you layer things with clarity like that? Thats what I wanted to do.

Tates favorite dish hes made is Clorindy. Its named after the 1898 theatre play written by two Black men, Paul Laurence Dunbar and William Cook. The play was the first production on Broadway to have an all-Black cast. Reportedly, the production was thought up over a meal of raw beef, onions, chopped bell peppers, and beer. At the time, however, the Black performers still had to perform in blackface.

Tates layered interpretation of this event? As per Honeysuckles Instagram, A beef tartare with chopped bell peppers and onions, candied lemon peel, and grilled scallions. The dressing is squid ink and creme fraiche. The squid ink is a not so subtle nod to the material used to try and obfuscate the beauty of Black folks. The dish was garnished with black rice wafers broken into the tartare to signify the shattered ceiling that was penetrated by this production. Clorindy wasnt served at my dinner but I asked food writer Korsha Wilson what it was like, knowing shes had it. She told me:

Clorindy is a mindbending dish. You dont know exactly what youre eating when its set in front of you because its all black. As you bite into tender cubes of steak, mixed with bright bits of lemon and earthy, sweet bell peppers wrapped in a squid ink you realize this is a totally different take on a steak tartare. It feels wrong to even call it that. Its completely different.

How Tate can take such dense stories and turn them into remarkably savory and delectable offerings that are both visually and viscerally evocative of their moment is a testament to his skill and conceptual brilliance. Food is thought of as a loving, comforting literal life-giving force. Tate serves up tough love concerned with your pleasure but not your comfort. I suppose thats where his New Orleans moment comes into play, hes not here to simply make you feel good. Hes here to give you something of himself. That may not always be palatablethough it is still good for you.

A lot of chefs are making very pretty plates that are just ostensibly not true, Tate said. It can be something very pretty that doesnt taste good, is unethical or is just morally wrong. So, I abandoned pretty and went for beautyTheres beauty in things that are sad and that gives me space, mentally, to make dishes that have a particular aesthetic significance that people cant abandon.

Cut back to the smoldering, crime scene at my dining experience. The dish was called Smoked Turkey Necks in 1980s Philadelphia. It was a charred turkey neck perched on a bed of lima beans swimming in turkey jus served in a deep plate dusted with ash on one side. The plate was served over the hay the turkey itself had been smoked in, it had been set aflame then blown out. So Im sitting there as a Black woman in a room suddenly smelling of burnt earth and this is placed in front of me: a black neck that Im supposed to break into with my hands. Snap it and eat it. I felt incredibly uncomfortable at that moment, silently at war with myself for reasons I couldnt articulate. But I did it, I bit into it and it was moist and delicious and flavorful and my hands were instantly coated with the juice as it flowed shiny to my wrists. The interior of the neck betrayed the cold, dark, dead, unappealing and un-pretty look of its exterior.

Tates food isnt just food; it is empathy and it is education. It is music and it is rhythm. It is jazzs frustration morphing into hip-hops articulation and nodding to all the barbecues that happened in between. It harkens back to an older time while laying the foundation for a more confident future. What I am trying to do is use history to create or impart new ideas about whats happening with us right now, Tate said.

When other chefs or diners suggest to him that his turkey neck dish should be made to be more photographable, shinier, welcoming, he tells them they just dont get it. Its supposed to look burnt and forgotten about and not cared over, Tate said. But then when you eat it, you get this range of flavor and umami and care. To me, the look of it is what happened to people, and the care that you taste in it is what the people actually were. They were people with depth and character and flavor and salt, and all these things matter.

Chef Omar Tates next pop-up dinner will be held on January 13th. Reservations are $150 a seat. RSVP here.

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Nereya Otieno is a writer, thinker and ramen-eater currently based in Los Angeles.
A British teen found guilty of lying about being gang-raped has avoided jail.

The 19-year-old woman, who has not been named, was sentenced to a four month suspended jail sentence in Cyprus on Tuesday.

She hugged her family and her legal team and left court weeping, with her head in her hands, after she received her sentence for public mischief.

Her family had raised fears she would suffer permanent damage to her mental health if she was sent to prison, having been diagnosed with PTSD.

But she is free to return home after Judge Michalis Papathanasiou told her he was giving her a "second chance".

Protesters gathered outside court / REUTERS

Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said: "I admit, I have been troubled over this. All the evidence shows that she had lied and prevented the police from doing other serious jobs.

"Twelve people were arrested and seven of them were there for at least 10 days. That was also a serious offence.

"Her psychological state, her youth, that she has been away from her family, her friends and academic studies this year.

"This has led me to decide to give her a second chance and suspend the sentence for three years."

The teenagers mother said: On behalf of the family, I would like to say we are very relieved at the sentence that has been passed down today.

I would also like to say thank you for all the support we have received throughout the globe.

Addressing applauding supporters, she added: I just want to thank each and every one of you for turning up today, having belief, having faith and making sure we get justice.

The teenagers mother shouted shes coming home to supporters outside court, telling reporters she felt relieved.

Her lawyer, Lewis Power QC, said she will be returning home on Tuesday.

He added: "This has been an incredibly sad and tragic case"

Judge Papathanasiou said; "I admit, I have been troubled over this." / Getty Images

Her lawyers had asked the judge to consider a suspended prison sentence after she was convicted of public mischief last week.

The teenager maintained that she was raped and said she was forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police.

Local media reports had suggested she could be pardoned by Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades if the judge had imposed an immediate jail term, allowing her to go home.

The sentence came as dozens of protesters gathered outside Famagusta District Court in Paralimni on Tuesday morning.

They chanted Cyprus justice, shame on you, stop blaming the victim and you are not alone.

Some held placards reading we believe you and dont be afraid.

They included a group of women who have travelled from Israel.

Activists protest outside the Famagusta District Court / Getty Images

The teenager claimed she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party town of Ayia Napa on July 17.

She was charged, while the 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 spent around a month in prison before being granted bail in August.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he has raised concerns over the treatment of the teenager with the Cypriot authorities after her conviction provoked outrage in Cyprus and the UK.

Her lawyers were poised to launch an appeal and hope to fast-track proceedings in Cyprus's supreme court, which could take three to four years.

Listen to today's episode of The Leader:
American Airlines said that it has reached a confidential agreement with Boeing on compensation for financial damages incurred in 2019 due to the grounding of the airlines Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.



Despite the ongoing challenges the grounding has brought, American Airlines team members continue to do an incredible job caring for our customers, said Americans chairman and CEO Doug Parker.



Our ability as an airline to weather these unprecedented times is thanks to our phenomenal team, and it was important to us that we get a deal done before the end of the year. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are proud to take the step of including this compensation in our 2019 profit-sharing program, even though the compensation will be received over several years.



Given the projected reduction in annual operating income for 2019 as a result of the MAX groundings, Americans Board of Directors has authorized a discretionary portion of the settlement to be returned to American Airlines team members through the companys 2019 profit-sharing program.



The profit-sharing award is based on the companys estimate of projected full-year 2019 financial damages for the MAX groundings. An additional accrual of more than $30 million will be made to the airlines 2019 profit-sharing program, which is expected to be distributed to Americans team members in March 2020.



American said that it anticipates accounting for substantially all of the compensation as a reduction in cost basis of grounded MAX aircraft and certain future MAX aircraft deliveries.



The airline will continue its conversations with Boeing regarding compensation for damages related to the MAX grounding beyond 2019, and any future compensation will be similarly shared with its team members, it said in a statement.  TradeArabia News Service
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 15:40:02|Editor: xuxin

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FIROZ KOAH, Afghanistan, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Sixty-nine Taliban militants have surrendered to the Afghan army in western Ghor province amid military pressure in the mountainous region, provincial governor said on Tuesday.

"A cleanup operation, launched by Afghan National Army (ANA), is ongoing in Shahrak district during the past one week. About 300 militants are surrounded by the army personnel and on Monday evening, 69 Taliban militants surrendered to army in the district," Governor Ghulam Nasir Khaze told Xinhua.

The surrendered militants also handed over 60 rounds of guns to army officials and the army personnel also found an ammunition cache, based on a tip provided by former militants, according to Khaze.

With the former insurgents' surrender, peace and stability would be further strengthened in several parts of the province, some 360 km west of the country's capital, Kabul, the governor said.

The governor also called on Taliban members to surrender to the security forces in Ghor. "The security forces will have no pause in their military pressure, during the winter, and the militants will have to surrender or leave the region," the governor said.

The province has been the scene of heavy clashes between Taliban militants and government security forces for long.

The militant group hasn't responded to the report so far.
More than 10,000 camels will be shot by professional firearms experts from helicopters to prevent them from drinking too much water in drought-afflicted South Australia.

The shooters will begin the cull on Wednesday following an order from Aboriginal leaders in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands.

Locals have complained that the animals have been entering communities and wreaking havoc as they look for any available water source, including taps and tanks.

We have been stuck in stinking hot and uncomfortable conditions, feeling unwell, because the camels are coming in and knocking down fences, getting in around the houses and trying to get to water through air-conditioners, Marita Baker, a board member of the APY executive, told The Australian.

The animals are also being culled over concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, as they emit methane equivalent to one ton of carbon dioxide per year, the paper reported.

Animals rescued during Australia fires Show all 25 1 /25 Animals rescued during Australia fires Animals rescued during Australia fires Wildlife rescuer Simon Adamczyk is seen with a koala rescued at a burning forest near Cape Borda on Kangaroo Island, southwest of Adelaide AAP Image/Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires Rural Fire Service volunteer firefighter Pat Smith pouring water onto a possum's feet with burns from fires on the outskirts of the town of Tumbarumba in New South Wales Greenpeace Australia-Pacific/AFP Animals rescued during Australia fires Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education volunteer and carer Tracy Dodd holds a kangaroo with burnt feet pads after being rescued from bushfires in Australia's Blue Mountains area Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires Grey-headed Flying Fox bats prepared for a feeding at the Uralla, Australia, home of Jackie Maisey, a volunteer with Northern Tableands Wildlife Carers. The bats are swaddled in flannel wraps similar to those being made by thousands of crafters worldwide who are using their sewing, knitting and crocheting skills to make items for wildlife injured in the Australian brush fires Jackie Maisey/AP Animals rescued during Australia fires Sara Tilling takes care of a young injured Kangaroo which she and her partner Gary Henderson are nursing back to health in Cobargo EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires Humane Society International Crisis Response Specialist, Kelly Donithan holds a baby Koala she just rescued on Kangaroo Island AFP via Getty Images Animals rescued during Australia fires Tracy Burgess holds a severely burnt brushtail possum Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires Fire-impacted, orphaned pouch-rescued Eastern Grey Kangaroo joeys are seen at the property of WIRES Carers Kevin and Lorita Clapson in East Lynne, South of Sydney EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires A koala receives water from a cyclist during a severe heatwave that hit the region, in Adelaide Instagram/BIKEBUG2019 via Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires An orphaned Flying-Fox is fed at the property of WIRES Mid-South Coast Bat Coordinator, Janet Jones, in Tuross Head EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires Humane Society International Crisis Response Specialist, Kelly Donithan checks an injured Koala she had just rescued on Kangaroo Island AFP via Getty Animals rescued during Australia fires A wallabie eating a carrot dropped by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife services over the bushfire affected areas along the South Coast for wallabies NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services Animals rescued during Australia fires A dehydrated and injured Koala receives treatment at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital AFP via Getty Animals rescued during Australia fires Gary Henderson holds the young injured kangaroo he and his partner are nursing back to health EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires A koala drinks water offered from a bottle by a firefighter during bushfires in Cudlee Creek, south Australia Oakbank Balhannah CFS via Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires WIRES Mid South Coast wombat coordinator Tony De La Fosse with two orphaned pouch-rescued Wombats at his property in Malua Bay EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires Qantas, an orphaned Eastern Grey Kangaroo joey whose feet were burned in recent bushfires, is held by WIRES Carer Kevin Clapson at his property in East Lynne EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires Various completed animal pouches for animals affected by Australia bushfires hang on clothing racks in Regents Park, Queensland Kim Simeon via Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires An orphaned pouch-rescued Eastern Grey Kangaroo joey hangs in a makeshift pouch at the property of WIRES EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires A rescued koala injured in a bushfire in Kangaroo Island, South Australia Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park/AP Animals rescued during Australia fires WIRES Mid-South Coast Bat Coordinator Janet Jones weighs a rescued Grey-Headed Flying-Fox at her home in Tuross Head EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires A weary kangaroo shelters on a patch of green grass surrounded by burnt bushland along the Princes Highway near in Milton Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires Various animal wraps for bats affected by bushfires Simone Watts via Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires A staff member moving a rescued koala to a temporary shelter at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney Taronga Zoo/AFP via Getty Animals rescued during Australia fires A kangaroo jumps in a field amidst smoke from a bushfire in Snowy Valley AFP via Getty Images

A spokesperson for the South Australia Department of Environment and Water said the increasing number of camels had caused several problems in the region.

This has resulted in significant damage to infrastructure, danger to families and communities, increased grazing pressure across the APY lands and critical animal welfare issues as some camels die of thirst or trample each other to access water, the spokesperson told news.com.au.

In some cases, dead animals have contaminated important water sources and cultural sites.

The operation to control the camel population, estimated to total 1.2 million across the country, is expected to take five days.

Their carcasses will be left to dry off before they are burned or buried, ABC News reported.

Camels were introduced to Australia from India and Afghanistan during the 19th century, and were used for transport and construction.

If culling did not take place, the camel population would double every eight to 10 years.

The operation comes amid estimates that more than a billion animals have died in the wildfires which have been raging across Australia.

Chris Dickman, an ecologist at the University of Sydney, told HuffPost earlier estimates that nearly half a billion creatures had perished were conservative because they did not include animals such as bats, frogs and invertebrates.

Including those, he said it was without any doubt at all that the losses exceeded 1 billion, which he also called a very conservative figure.

Conservationists and wildlife experts fear the bushfires may have wiped out entire species of animals.

Populations of small marsupials called dunnarts, along with glossy black cockatoos, may have disappeared entirely after fires burned a third of Kangaroo Island, which has been left a scorched wasteland.
When Andy Friend was asked at the weekend if there was any danger of the wheels falling off the Connacht wagon, perhaps  in hindsight  the question should have been phrased a tad differently.

It might, indeed, have been better to wonder if the westerners were capable of getting the wheels moving at all. It seems like the province have been stuck in a rut for weeks now.

Barring the Gloucester victory in the Champions Cup, a bizarre Houdini act which rather papered over the cracks of another poor performance, the westerners have stuttered to a grinding halt after what seemed like a promising start to the campaign.

The resemblance to their southern rivals is eerily similar; both are stuttering in the league and their Champions Cup hopes are hanging by a thread, awaiting unspooling by French opposition this weekend.

You'd fancy Connachts chances more than Munsters however, even if it might seem faintly preposterous to suggest that, just a week after suffering their heaviest defeat to the form team in Europe, they might somehow succeed against the second best.

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Their hope is predicated upon Toulouses level of interest in this tie; a factor which is too often prevalent in the Champions Cup of late, with some teams paying less than half-hearted attention to their efforts.

This is slightly different, of course. Toulouse are already on course for the quarter-finals and, after pitching up in Paris last Sunday, will not be expected to send all their troops to a venue where they lost three seasons ago.

Only a victory will do if Friends men are to maintain their flickering hopes of reaching the competitions last eight.

With Toulouse virtually assured of top spot, Connacht are one of a number of teams aiming for one of the three best runners-up spots that would send them into the quarter-finals along with the five pool winners.

One of those spots is likely to be filled by Ulster (17 points) or Clermont (16) in Pool 3, while in Pool 4 Munster (11) and, much more probably now, Saracens (10), are jostling for a potential quarter-final in the Aviva against Leinster.

Northampton and Glasgow have nine points in their respective pools so Connacht are well down the pecking order but a win of any description might, at least, trouble the mathematicians ahead of the final pool game in Montpellier.

That presupposes Connacht will still be interested in how the numbers might tot up at that stage.

Even if they achieve another famous victory this weekend, their chances of progression will remain perched somewhere nearer to none than slim.

Gloucesters utter indifference, even though they currently lie second, might only be salved by the fact they are at home against an equally disinterested Montpellier.

And so for Connacht, that will mean a decision will have to be made regardless of what happens this weekend  do they prioritise returning to the Champions Cup next season rather than straining to prolong their interest in this one?

Expand Close Ultan Dillane of Connacht in action against Todd Gleave of Gloucester during the Heineken Champions Cup Pool 5 clash at The Sportsground in Galway last month. Photo: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile / Facebook

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"At the same time you want to make sure you dont keep getting licked like that, so its a real fine balance," says Friend, who was reflecting on the Leinster drubbing, but might just as easily have been referring to the equally jarring Ulster reverse.

"You dont go out to lose games, you go out to win them. There comes a time though when the reality hits. Every contest we enter we firmly believe we can win.

"But at some stage we need to pin our colours to the mast and say we need to focus on the Pro14."

They do have a proud record at home in Europe, however; unbeaten since 2015, their own professional pride, as well as the urgings from patient supporters and sponsors, will demand a performance.

"I'll always tell you we can win. What will determine that is the opening 20 minutes. If we deliver an opening 20 minutes like Leinster, we havent got a snowballs chance.

"Lets hope we dont see that again. They have to come to us. We know if we kick loosely or dont make tackles, theyre going to hurt us.

"But if we can front up and do some of the things we have done in other games this season, we have a dead set chance."
Mr. Biden said that if there was an imminent threat that warranted this extraordinary action, Americans should receive an explanation and the facts to back it up.

At precisely the moment when we should be rallying our allies to stand beside us and hold the line against threats, Donald Trumps shortsighted, America First dogmatism has come home to roost, Mr. Biden said. He went on to add, We are alone now. Were alone and well have to bear the cost of Donald Trumps folly.

On the campaign trail, Mr. Biden has emphasized his decades-long record in international affairs and extensive relationships abroad, highlighting a contrast with his rivals in the Democratic field, who have largely been focused on domestic matters throughout the race. In New York, the setting appeared designed to conjure the White House briefing room: Mr. Biden spoke against a blue backdrop before a room full of reporters. He walked in to the clicking of multiple cameras and offered his own prescription for the path forward, calling for cleareyed, hard-nosed diplomacy grounded in a strategy thats not about one-off decisions and one-upsmanship.

Mr. President, he urged, you have to explain your decision and your strategy to the American people. Thats your job as president, Mr. President. Not Dear Leader. Not Supreme Leader. Democracy runs on accountability, and nowhere is it more important than the power to make war and bring peace.

Mr. Biden, who has faced renewed scrutiny of his foreign policy record and especially his Iraq war vote, also appeared to misspeak at times, referring to Iran when he apparently intended to say Iraq, and he appeared to say that the current perilous situation was unavoidable, when excerpts from the speech circulated before the appearance used the word avoidable.

Still, Mr. Bidens advisers and allies hope that the gravity of the moment will further crystallize the importance of defeating Mr. Trump in the minds of voters, and polls continue to show that Democrats believe Mr. Biden has the best chance to do so, though other candidates have also polled strongly against the president in hypothetical head-to-head matchups.

The current crisis just reinforces how high the stakes are in this election, Mr. Biden said at a fund-raiser earlier Tuesday, during which he also envisioned a Senate dynamic in which one could see Mitch McConnell changing some ideas or being more  how can I say  mildly cooperative, even as Mr. Biden also discussed the imperative for Democrats to win back the Senate, revoking Mr. McConnells title as majority leader.
Koalas aren't the only wildlife under threat of being wiped out in Australia's ongoing bushfire crisis.

The nationwide disaster has also taken a heavy toll on the populations of unique and lesser known creatures native to fire-ravaged regions.

Bushfires have decimated more than a billion animals so far this season.

From little-known marsupials and bird life to amphibians, reptiles and even insects, the list of species at the brink of extinction is growing as the widespread devastation continues.

There are fears Australia's dunnart population (pictured) native to Kangaroo Island is gone

This image made from video shows dead kangaroos and sheep after wildfires hit the Kangaroo Island, South Australia on Sunday (Australian Broadcasting Corporation via AP)

Among the hardest-hit areas is Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia, where livestock losses have run into the tens of thousands.

Dunnarts native to the island are believed to have been wiped out by the bushfires.

The Federal Government had listed the iconic mouse-like marsupial as one of the top 10 priority species under threat even before the fires destroyed at least a third of the island.

'The endangered Kangaroo Island dunnart is an endemic marsupial, found only within remnant bushland of the islands west end, its entire habitat has been burnt, all known monitoring sites have been burnt, the species may now be on the very brink of extinction,' a GoFundMe page recently set up by Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife states.

'We have lost valuable survey equipment in the fires, your financial support will help to replace much needed survey equipment (cameras, fencing materials) and allow the team to start surveying immediately, find the last few individuals and protect them from feral predators and further wildfire events.'

While glossy black cockatoos are still in abundance, there are fears for their future.

'How this is going to impact the long-term efforts is unknown,' Flinders University ecologist Prof Corey Bradshaw told The Guardian.

'It is extreme events  whether it's drought, flood, cyclones or fires  that drives things to extinction.'

Much of Kangaroo Island's bee population was also lost, including the green carpenter species

Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife shared this photo of a burnt survey fence line and wildlife camera last Thursday. The island of South Australia was torched again on Friday by bushfire

Army reservists will dig mass graves for sheep and cattle killed in the bushfires to stave off a potential biosecurity emergency. Pictured is killed livestock in Coolagolite, NSW

There are also unconfirmed reports up to 1000 beehives have been destroyed on Kangaroo Island, amid grave concerns for the rare green carpenter bee.

'All that's left of the bees are on Kangaroo Island and a few in the ranges near Sydney,' University of Adelaide entomologist and island resident Dr Richard Glatz added.

In the alpine areas of New South Wales and Victoria hit by bushfires in the last week, a number of reptile, amphibian and skink species are also fighting for survival.

Nearly half of the skink species are listed as threatened by the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Among the biggest concerns is the future of the alpine bog skink.

'The problem with that species is the population distributions are so small that events like this could wipe out a whole population,' University of Melbourne ecologist Oliver Griffith told the ABC.

'Then it's probably gone forever because there's no connectivity between these sites.'

Several skink species are also fighting for survival, including the endangered alpine bog skink

A badly-burned possum carrying a baby in its pouch is treated at a wildlife centre in New South Wales. Ecologists fear native survivors will now become easy prey for feral cats and foxes

There are also fears for the southern grass and alpine she-oak species, along with the Guthega skink in the Victorian alpine region of Bogong High Plains and the Blue Mountains water skink.

'It matters which individuals survive, not just that any individuals survive,' Western Sydney University's Dr Kate Umbers added.

Other amphibians and reptiles struggling to survive in their bushfire-ravaged habitat include the Martin's toadlet in east Gippsland, grasshoppers in alpine regions and broad-headed snake populations in the NSW Hawkesbury and Shoalhaven regions.

The already endangered southern and northern corroboree frog species are native to the NSW Southern Tablelands, which was devastated by fires in the first week of 2020.

Southern (pictured) and northern corroboree frogs also also on the brink of extinction

The burnt bodies of hundreds of animals line the road into the small town of Batlow, New South Wales, which was one of the worst hit areas by bushfires on the weekend

Prior to the fires, there were reportedly fewer than 200 southern corroboree frogs still in the wild.

The numbers lost are unknown as many of the affected areas are still unsafe to enter, according to Zoos Victoria.

Recent fires have also devastated insect population, particularly in Western Australia's Stirling Ranges, where trapdoor spiders, snails, millipedes and worms were among the species wiped out by the blaze.

There are also concerns for the velvet worm in fire-ravaged parts of NSW and ACT.

'It's conceivable that species could have been wiped out without us even knowing they were there,' University of Sydney entomologist Tanya Latty told the ABC.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 sheep and cattle have perished in the blazes. Pictured are surviving livestock in East Gippsland
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Bharatiya Janata Partys West Bengal unit chief Dilip Ghosh came under fire on Tuesday from students, civil society members and political parties after he questioned whether it was blood or paint that was smeared on the forehead of Aishe Ghosh, JNU students union president who was attacked Sunday night.

We are yet to know whether it was blood or some red paint that was smeared on the forehead. It has not been examined yet. The JNU incident could be staged, said Ghosh, adding that students were hitting the streets every day for this incident and sacrificing their studies.

Aishe suffered head injuries after she was allegedly hit with an iron rod by masked goons on the campus on Sunday evening following which she had to be rushed to the AIIMS trauma centre for treatment.

On Tuesday, Aishes mother Sharmistha Ghosh also participated in a rally jointly organized jointly by the trade unions of Congress and the CPI (M) at Durgapur in West Burdwan district, Aishes hometown.

I feel ashamed to comment on such statements. But we need to think twice whether we should allow our children to continue their studies in JNU till the time such a vice chancellor is heading the university, said Sharmistha Ghosh, when told about Diip Ghoshs comments.

I would urge Dilip Ghosh to be a little more humane, said Partha Chatterjee, state education minister, adding that he had briefed the chief minister about the baton charge on students of Jadavpur University by the police on Monday evening.

Following this, Police Commissioner of Kolkata Anuj Sharma said that police should exercise extreme restraint while dealing with student agitations.

Protests by students and the civil society against the JNU incident continued in Kolkata for the second consecutive day with students from various colleges and universities organizing a road rally in south Kolkata that culminated at Nizam Palace, which houses several central government offices. A separate rally was organized in central Kolkata, which was attended by politicians, members of the civil society and students without any political banner.

A person, who can say that the JNU incident could be staged and the bandage on Aishes incident was fake, is either insane or a devil. Dilip Ghosh is both, said Kaushik Sen, an actor, who participated in the rally.

When the entire country saw how Aishe Ghosh was brutally attacked, he (Dilip Ghosh) has raised questions. He doesnt value blood. This is expected of him, said Sukanya Debnath, a student walking in the protest rally.

Meanwhile, Governor of West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar took to twitter accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (without naming her) of maintaining a selective approach after she condemned the mob attack in JNU.

Acts of violence, anarchy in educational institutions is worrisome and should not be tolerated. Silence of those in authority (who severely condemned JNU violence) over what happened at Jadavpur University a fortnight ago is painfully worrisome, Dhankhar tweeted.

Banerjee on Sunday night had tweeted to condemn the attack on JNU students and had even sent a team led by Dinesh Trivedi, former MP to Delhi to show solidarity with the students.

The position of Chancellor (of Jadavpur University) was compromised by omission and inaction of state and university authorities. Why this selective approach to violence and disruption on JU campus. Fire at home ought to be first priority. Am sure there will be soul searching, Dhankhar said in his second tweet.

Meanwhile, the BJP organized a rally in south Kolkata in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Some of the BJP supporters were arrested as police said that no permission was given for the rally.

The Left and the Congress has called for a strike on Wednesday to protest against the CAA and NRC. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, said that her party supports the issue but does not support the strike. The state government has also made attendance in government offices mandatory to counter the strike.

The Calcutta High Court, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation, has also directed the state government to ensure that the citizens do not face any inconvenience on account of the strike.
- Nadine Lustre became emotional while giving her comment towards a contestant in 'Your Moment', an ABS-CBN show

- This was after the singing performance of the band 'Juan Gapang' with their frontman Kokoi Baldo

- The multi-talented judge was in tears while talking about their performance and went on about how she feels about "love"

- It is known that the Kapamilya actress became the talk of the town due to her rumored breakup with her beau James Reid

PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News

Nadine Lustre became emotional while giving her comment to a singing performance on Kapamilya show Your Moment.

This was after the performance of the singing group Juan Gapang.

The other half of JaDine said that she had goosebumps and was shaking after the performance of the aforementioned band.

"Sorry, na ah ano pa ako, kinikilabutan at nanginginig ako ngayon," she stated.

She also said that she really gets sensitive whenever 'love' is being brought up because she believes that it is what the world needs now.

"No, kasi to be honest, I really get sensitive kapagka ang pinag-uusapan na is love."

"Nagiging sensitive ako kasi love is a universal language and love is what the world badly needs now and I am just really happy kasi nage-gets ko kung ano 'yung gusto mong iparamdam at iparating sa buong mundo through singing."

Her co-judges Billy Crawford and Boy Abunda were there to comfort her.

Moreover, the band sang their own rendition of Tropical Depression's "Kapayapaan".

They received a standing ovation both from the three judges and from the studio audience.

It is known that Nadine and her boyfriend James Reid recently made headlines due to their rumored breakup.

Watch the video here:

PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news!

In a previous report by KAMI, Nadine Lustre and James Reid were spotted dining out together amid rumored split.

James Reid and Nadine Lustres love team is one of the most beloved today in the Philippines. Their love team became popular after they starred in the movie Diary ng Panget.

They have confirmed living together under the same roof before rumors of a breakup spread on social media.

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
It is still early in the investigation into a Pennsylvania Turnpike crash that killed five people this weekend, but the National Transportation Safety Board has already identified one problem: The tour bus from which a 9-year-old girl was thrown did not have any seatbelts.

NTSB Board member Jennifer Homendy gave what she predicted would be the final press conference for a while on Monday, with the final report not expected to be ready for another 18 to 24 months. A preliminary report might be available in 10 days and it would include facts but no analysis, according to Homendy.

Homendy was one of the people to survey the damaged vehicles and said it was devastating.

But while they figure out the logistics of what exactly happened to each vehicle involved in the crash, Homendy said the one recommendation NTSB is continuing to make is that buses have lap and shoulder seatbelts.

Homendy said It is unclear if the driver of the tour bus, Shuang Qing Feng, 58, was wearing a seatbelt. But the bus did not have seatbelts for its passengers, she said.

Feng was killed along with two passengers: Eileen Zelis Aria, 35, and Jaremy Vazquez, 9. All three are from New York City, according to reports.

The crash that took place around 3:30 a.m. Sunday occurred in two parts, Homendy explained. First, the tour bus lost control shortly after passing a FedEx truck, causing it to hit the concrete median barrier and then forcing it up an embankment. It rolled onto the passenger side.

The bus was then blocking the road and the FedEx truck could not stop in time and hit the bus, Homendy said. From there, a UPS truck also hit the bus, and then a Mercedes Benz and second UPS truck hit vehicles in the crash. Homendy was not specific about how the final two vehicles were involved.

Two UPS drivers from one of the trucks were the other victims of the crash, Dennis L. Kehler, 48, of Lebanon, and Daniel J. Kepner, 53, of Lewistown.

READ MORE: By the Grace of God: PA Turnpike drivers reflect on Sunday crash, site

As of Monday night, investigators had recovered machinery from the bus that could help investigators know whether speed was a factor in the crash, Homendy said. An outward-facing camera from one of the other vehicles was collected, which they hope to use to obtain more information.

There were 56 people on the bus, including the driver, Homendy said.

As of Monday evening, six people were still hospitalized. Five patients are at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, including two in critical condition and three in fair condition. One patient is at UPMC Presbyterian in fair condition, according to officials.

Homendy confirmed that the bus touring company involved, Z&D Tour Inc of Rockaway, New Jersey, were in good standing with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and had last been reviewed for compliance in 2018. The reviews happen once every three years, Homendy said.

The companys vehicles had been inspected on Dec. 17, 2019, and no issues were reported, Homendy said.

State police are working alongside the NTSB but are focusing on things from a law enforcement perspective, Homendy said. NTSB is reviewing the crash to determine if there is anything it can learn to improve safety on a national level.

The NTSBs recommendations in the past have included a need for seatbelts in buses, but Homendy said these recommendations have been ignored.

Its frustrating and its devastating, Homendy said of her reaction to learning the bus was not equipped with seatbelts.

As a board member, part of our job is not to just meet with the press, and elected officials and other officials, but also many times to meet with the families of the victims. And it is the toughest part of our job, Homendy said. It is hard when you see accident after accident, where a death or serious injury could have been prevented by a seatbelt. Lap-shoulder belt in particular.

Homendy said the NTSB is prepared to continue the fight for seatbelt implementation.

"We keep recommending it. Were not going to stop, Homendy said. Part of my job is to try to get those recommendations implemented and our other board members are just as committed to that, so thats what were going to keep doing.

Read more on PennLive:

Charles Thompson contributed to this report.
Girls often dont receive the same education opportunities as boys in many places of the world that Ive walked. This was visible especially in conservative agricultural economies. Everyone knows this is a huge loss to the societies involved. There are always remarkable exceptions, of course. I met parents along my route who were going against the grain, and valuing their daughters educations, and that was refreshing. The Ismailis, a minority branch of [Shiite] Muslims, have a saying: If parents are so poor they must choose between educating a son or daughter, then send the girl to school first. They are a prosperous and relatively egalitarian community. [That means they believe in equal rights.]
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) on Tuesday demanded ban on the book on Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar over its "objectionable content".

The book titled "Veer Savarkar, Kitne 'Veer'?" was distributed by Congress-affiliated Seva Dal in Bhopal on January 2, questioning his credentials as a patriot. It also made some insinuations on Savarkar and Mahatma Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse.

"The Central government should take immediate steps and legislate an Act so that no one will ever dare to insult not only Swatantryaveer Savarkar but also any national hero and freedom fighter," HJS Goa Convener Manoj Solanki told reporters after handing a memorandum to Additional Collector (South District) Surendra Naik.

He alleged that the book appears to have a hidden agenda to create a communal and caste tension to disturb peace in the country.

"We have demanded that this book be banned for publishing a filthy write up on Veer Savarkar. Action should be taken against its author and publisher," Solanki said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Schools need to forget about emphasising the use of devices like smartphones in classrooms and instead focus on what technology offers students and teachers as they enter a new school year, an Australian education expert says.

Cluey chief learning officer Selina Samuels said in 2020 there needed to be less importance placed on whether devices had a place in education and more attention on developing pupils skills to be able to cope in a rapidly changing world.

Schools need to focus less on the device and more on what technology offers students in 2020, says leading education expert Selina Samuels. Credit:Alamy Stock Photo

There is a lot of debate across the country about the device, theres a lot of focus on the thing itself; the phone or the iPad and whether it has a place in education, she said.

What well see is that discussion become less and less important, we will stop talking about technology in education.
The US has not taken any decision to withdraw American troops from Iraq, Defence Secretary Mark Esper has said, shortly after the US military in a letter to Iraqi officials said that the US forces would be relocating "to prepare for onward movement".

Some 5,000 US soldiers are deployed in Iraq as part of the international coalition against the IS terror group. The Iraqi Parliament on Sunday passed a resolution to terminate the agreement that allows for American troops in the country.

Iraq's move comes in response to the killing of Maj Gen Qasem Soleimani, the 62-year-old head of Iran's elite al-Quds force and the architect of its regional security apparatus, in a US drone attack in Baghdad on Friday.

The strike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force.

In a letter released on Monday, Marine Corps Brig Gen William H Seely said the US forces "respect your sovereign decision to order our departure".

Seely said the US-led coalition would "be repositioning forces" and the American troops would be relocating "to prepare for onward movement". "In order to conduct this task, Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner," the letter stated.

However, shortly after the letter was released, Defence Secretary Esper said no decision has been taken yet to leave Iraq.

"There has been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq. There's no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave," he told reporters here on Monday.

The US remains committed to the campaign to defeat the Islamic State group in Iraq and the region, Esper said.

Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, during an off-camera briefing, told reporters that the letter incorrectly implies withdrawal and it was sent by "mistake".

"It (the letter) was a draft, it was a mistake, it was unsigned, it should not have been released," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the high lake levels and the heavy winds coming out of the east that we typically see in November, there has been obviously a lot of water going up the various cells up the beach, Thomas said. We wanted to make sure the new roadway was 100 percent protected as best as we could.
The architects of the partys catastrophic failure in 2019 cannot be allowed to be the architects of the response.

The next leadership team must turn us into an election-winning machine that uses the skills and talents of all our members and supporters to succeed.

To win again we will need to beat the odds and I know how to win by building broad coalitions of support.
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], Jan 7 (ANI): West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday said that the acts of violence and anarchy in educational institutions is "worrisome and should not be tolerated."



Taking to Twitter, Dhankhar also stated that silence of those in authority, who had condemned violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), over what happened in Jadavpur University is "painfully worrisome".

"Acts of violence, anarchy in educational institutions is worrisome and should not be tolerated. Silence of those in authority (who severely condemned JNU violence) over what happened at Jadavpur University a fortnight ago is painfully worrisome," Dhankhar tweeted.

"The position of Chancellor was compromised by omission and inaction of State and University authorities. Why this selective approach to violence and disruption on JU campus! Fire at home ought to be first priority. Am sure there will be soul searching," he added.

A clash broke out between the students of Jadavpur University and police personnel near Sulekha Mor in Kolkata on Monday during a protest against the violence that took place at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. In a video of the protest, the police were seen lathi-charing on the protestors.

However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sudip Sarkar said that the police personnel did not lathi-charge on the students of Jadavpur University.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Monday condemned JNU violence and called it a "fascist surgical strike on the student community".

"It is very disturbing. It is a dangerous planted attack on democracy. Anyone who speaks against the government is labeled a Pakistani and an enemy of the country. We never saw such a situation in the country before this," the Banerjee had said.

"I know student politics very well because I started as a student leader. They are torturing the students. India is a democratic and secular country. This differentiates us from fundamentalist Pakistan. Yesterday, on the one hand, they sent the goons and on the other they held the Delhi Police inactive. It was a fascist surgical strike on the student community. I stand by the student community," she had said.

On Sunday evening, more than 30 students of the university, including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, were injured and were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the JNU and attacked them and some teaching staff with sticks and rods. (ANI)


She is the acclaimed director whose latest film Little Women has become one of the best reviewed movies of the year.

And Greta Gerwig has candidly discussed her fears over directing Meryl Streep in the film along with making a candid revelation about motherhood in a new interview with Elle UK.

The Lady Bird star 36, said she was left 'terrified' at the prospect of directing the three-time Oscar winner, 70, but the experience of working with the Hollywood icon who played Aunt March, 'forced her to be better.'

Candid: Greta Gerwig has candidly discussed her fears over directing Meryl Streep in the film along with making a candid revelation about motherhood in a new interview with Elle UK

She said: 'Oh, I was terrified as a director, because what am I going to say to her? She's so smart and she knows more about how films are made than anyone.

'There were a couple of lines I wrote to get a character from A to B, inelegantly, and you know when Meryl asks, "Now why do I say that?" you'd better have a f*****g good answer.

'It's intimidating, but it forces you to be better. Unfortunately, it's uncomfortable to get better, because it means you have to look like an idiot in front of her. But she's fabulous.'

Discussing the process behind turning Little Women into a film, she added: 'It made me cry, both while I was writing it and then making it.

Nerves: The Lady Bird star 36, said she was left 'terrified' at the prospect of directing the three-time Oscar winner, 70 (pictured at the Golden Globes with Adam Driver)

'Now I have no feelings left. Little Women feels as personal as anything I'll ever make.

'Everyone who works with me can attest to this  I go into a zone where I don't wash or return calls and I go feral.

'I can go into hyperfocus as well as becoming more scattered. I like things that have a great deal of pressure and a lot of deadlines, because I need it.'

Greta made her solo directorial debut in 2017 with the acclaimed Lady Bird, which she also wrote.

Role: She said: 'Oh, I was terrified as a director, because what am I going to say to her? She's so smart and she knows more about how films are made than anyone' (above, Streep as Aunt March)

Previously, she was best known for her acting work in microbudget indie features like Hannah Takes The Stairs and Baghead.

She began an artistic collaboration with director Noah Baumbach in 2010 when she starred opposite Ben Stiller in Greenberg.

She also led and co-wrote his features Frances Ha and Mistress America.

The two reportedly began dating in 2011, following Noah's 2010 split and divorce from Jennifer Jason Leigh.

The two were so secretive about their private life that it wasn't known that Greta was pregnant until the two were seen in New York City in March pushing their son Harold in a stroller.

Stunning: Discussing the process behind turning Little Women into a film, she added: 'It made me cry, both while I was writing it and then making it'

New mother: The star also confessed that she would be unable to be a working mother without paid help and the support of her friends and family with childcare

The star also confessed that she would be unable to be a working mother without paid help and the support of her friends and family with childcare.

She said: 'There's no way I could do it without that help [paid help], as well as my mother and my friends. Whatever you were prepared for, none of it is how you think, as far as I can tell. There has to be a certain amount of denial that goes on.'

On co-writing with husband Noah, 50, Greta revealed the pair will write separately before meeting up and trading ideas.

She said: 'Writing with someone is more fun than writing alone, but we're not in the same room.

Interview: The February issue of ELLE UK is on sale from 9 January 2020

'We'll talk together a lot at first and we'll try to make each other laugh, but when we write, we write separately and then we trade.

'We'll have an idea for a scene and I'll say, "Well, I'll take a crack at that," see how far I can get and then give it to him and he'll edit it or have ideas. Or vice versa.'

The power couple attended the 2020 Golden Globe Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Greta's Little Women was up for two honors (One for Saoirse Ronan for Best Actress and another for Alexandre Desplat for Best Original Score), but missed out in both categories.

Noah was nominated for Best Screenplay for Marriage Story. The film was also up for the Best Motion Picture - Drama, as well as acting honors for leads Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver and supporting player Laura Dern - with Dern taking home the award.

The February issue of ELLE UK is on sale from 9 January 2020.
President Ramnath Kovind recently compromised his security protocol to help a couple take their wedding vows as per the planned schedule. The US resident Ashley Hall who has been in India for more than a month planned her wedding at Taj Vivanta Hotel in Kochi this week. However, Ashley was told to change her wedding venue at the eleventh hour as President Kovind's stay was also arranged at the same hotel. It is to be noted that the last-minute notice to change the wedding venue was due to strict security protocol. President Kovind arrived at the Navy airport of Kochi on Monday. Ashley was given 48-hours to shift her wedding venue.

Thereafter, the disappointed bride took to Twitter seeking the President's help in the matter. She wrote that she had been planning the wedding for 8 months and due to the impromptu trip of the President she was told to change the venue at the last moment.



Sometimes you plan a destination wedding for 8 months at an elite hotel in India.



Sometimes the President of India makes an impromptu trip to that hotel on the day of the wedding.



Sometimes you get 48 hours notice to plan an entirely new wedding. Ashley Hall (@hall_ash) January 4, 2020 Ashley, further wrote, "Hey, President of India -anything you can do to help us with your security team so that we don't have to move our wedding from the Taj Malabar Cochin in under 48 hours?" Hey @rashtrapatibhvn- anything you can do to help us with your security team so that we dont have to move our wedding from the @Taj_Cochin in under 48 hours? https://t.co/0S5y9az9Hk Ashley Hall (@hall_ash) January 5, 2020 Although there was no official message from Rashtrapati Bhavan, Ashley's problem was resolved as she wrote a thankful note to the President as well as the Taj Hotel. I want to thank the @Taj_Cochin and State Officials for working on this with us throughout the day. Hoping we can have a beautiful wedding with the blessings of The Honorable @rashtrapatibhvn. https://t.co/i6lR4D9YDQ Ashley Hall (@hall_ash) January 5, 2020 To which, the President replied, "We are glad the issues have been resolved. President Kovind conveys his best wishes to you on this joyous occasion". We are glad the issues have been resolved. President Kovind conveys his best wishes to you on this joyous occasion President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 5, 2020 Taj Malabar Cochin also wrote on its official Twitter handle, "Thank you for your gracious patience and cooperation. We hope to make your special day extremely memorable. President Kovind, we sincerely thank you for your kind support to help make this possible". @hall_ash, Thank you for your gracious patience and cooperation. We hope to make your special day extremely memorable. @rashtrapatibhvn, we sincerely thank you for your kind support to help make this possible. Taj Malabar Cochin (@Taj_Cochin) January 7, 2020

Also read: Finland to introduce six-hour shifts, four-day working week

Also read: Air India sale: Amit Shah-led GoM approves draft for inviting bids
CAIRO  Libyan rebels have seized control of a key coastal city, the countrys beleaguered government conceded on Tuesday, amid new criticism that the growing role of foreign powers in the chaotic conflict has fueled a sudden escalation in fighting.

Forces loyal to the militia leader Khalifa Hifter swept into the city, Surt, on Monday, days after Turkey announced that it was deploying troops to prop up the weak United Nations-backed government.

The fall of Surt is a significant blow to the government, which has been under siege from Mr. Hifters forces since April.

In 2016, American warplanes carried out hundreds of airstrikes against Islamic State fighters in Surt, in support of a government force that eventually expelled the group from the city. Now that the government has relinquished that gain, this time to Mr. Hifters forces, its authority has shrunk to a 250-mile strip of coastline stretching from either side of the capital, Tripoli.
(Newser)  Top Pentagon leaders said Monday that the US has no plans to withdraw troops from Iraq, despite a draft letter from a senior military officer that appeared to suggest a withdrawal was being planned. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters the US is "moving forces around Iraq and neighboring Kuwait. He said a draft letter circulated internally by a Marine commander was "poorly written" and should never have gotten out, the AP reports. The draft letter appeared to suggest the US was preparing to pull troops out of Iraq in response to a vote by its Parliament over the weekend. The draft said troops would be "repositioning over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement" and warned of an increase in helicopter travel around the Green Zone. It added, "We respect your sovereignty decision to order our departure."

story continues below

Milley and Defense Secretary Mark Esper, however, said the US has been repositioning troops, largely due to increased security threats from Iran. The letter was meant to coordinate with the Iraqi military on an increase in US helicopter and troop movements. "There's been no decision whatsever to leave Iraq," Esper said. Some language in the letter "implies withdrawal," Milley acknowledged. "The long and the short of it is, it's an honest mistake." Esper said the US remains committed to defeating the Islamic State group in Iraq and the region. Pro-Iran factions in the Iraqi Parliament have pushed to oust American troops following the killing of a top Iranian general in Baghdad in a US drone strike last week. A three-ship US naval group that includes 2,200 Marines and a helicopter group is on its way to the Persian Gulf region, per Bloomberg.

(Read more Iran stories.)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The older I get, the more I feel like Im turning into crazy kook from a dystopian movie.

You know who I mean: The hermit whos holed up off the grid somewhere, cooking over a campfire, reading old paperbacks by the light of an oil lantern, and rocking out with my battery-powered cassette boom box.

The guy whod rather stay in the past than live some ever-more-invasive, automated future.

I get this way every time I hear about some new technological advance thats supposed to make things simpler for me but only ends up giving Big Brother more access to and control of my everyday life.

Today, it was reading about how more and more companies are looking to replace building access cards for employees with microchip implants.

Im supposed to let my company install a piece of tracking technology under my skin just so I can get in and out of the building? I dont think so, boss.

And I dont care if you tell me that theyll remove the chip when I leave the company. Like a lot of things that you try to delete from a computer or a phone, a little trace of it is going to remain behind.

No, the company doesnt get to invade my actual personal body in exchange for a paycheck. Its bad enough that they photograph me for my access card.

A court recently rebuffed an effort by a landlord in Chinatown to install a biometric entry system on his building. Tenants would have had to have their fingerprint scanned in order to enter.

I get that we need to have security, that we need to ensure that the only people who are in a building are those who belong there. But we cant give up our civil liberties in order to do so. I have a right to be secure in my person.

But I dont think theres any stopping stuff like this from happening. Technological advances are just too tempting.

We could have debit card chips implanted in our fingers, and just swipe whenever we buy anything. No wallet, no money to carry. No PIN number to remember. Merchants would love that: Customers would lose all track of how much theyre spending.

Or what about having a phone chip implanted in our heads? That way we could really be hands-free when we drive. We could listen to music or podcasts too. And its not a big leap to think we could watch movies that way as well.

William Gibson wrote about tech like this in the novel Neuromancer, back in 1984. Chips that would allow software to be downloaded directly to our brains. How long before that fantasy becomes reality? Google Glasses are just the first, primitive attempts. Theyll figure it out.

Were already used to giving all our privacy away. We have cell phones that can track our locations and every website we visit and every person we communicate with. That give service providers access to our most private details in perpetuity. We have Apple Watches that can tell you how many steps you took today, and what your heart rate was. That info could be used to deny health coverage to you in the future. Think about it.

We have Alexa and other artificial-intelligence personal assistants in our homes. They play our music. Turn our lights on and off. Turn the heat up. Keep track of our grocery list. And legions of workers at Amazon catalogue what they hear us say. And sometimes catch us at our most intimate moments. Skynet is indeed aware.

Never mind how people willingly give up their DNA to these ancestry research firms. You actually pay them to take the most vital of your vital stuff. They tell you what nationality you are, sure, but then sell your genetic matter to third parties, where it can be used for medical research and by law enforcement.

And we havent even gotten to the robots yet!

All in the name of increased leisure and convenience. And were all voluntarily signing up for it. It may be too late to go off the grid.
B efore I joined Glasgow city council as Director of Education, I was the link HM Inspector for the city. When I drove around the city, I couldnt help but notice groups of young people gathering outside shops or street corners when they should have been in school. They didnt see school as an option for them. When I became director, in December 2007, it was clear that if we were to improve educational outcomes then we had to include all young people  not just those who came to school regularly.

As well as working with the council I am a teacher and Ive seen how education is a powerful tool. It can open doors and change lives, but to do these things schools need to raise the attainment and achievement of each and every young person. They need to keep their students in school by creating environments where they want to go and where they will feel motivated to be successful.

First and foremost, schools are communities of learning, where young people and staff should feel safe and secure. The curriculum on offer should be sufficiently flexible and responsive to allow everyone to achieve their potential. This is not easy. Some pupils feel disengaged from education.

They may have experienced trauma in their lives and find it difficult to manage their emotions. In areas where there are high levels of poverty  like much of Glasgow  we know young people are more likely to have been exposed to adverse and stressful experiences. We also know this can have a long-lasting impact on their ability to think, interact with others, and learn.

Maureen McKenna, executive director of education, Glasgow City Council / SWNS

In Glasgow, there is no prescribed curriculum  we ask our schools to work with their students, staff and parents to develop a curriculum that meets the needs of their community. We are interested in young people achieving positive outcomes through high-quality learning and teaching, and have been relentless in our pursuit of these things. That means we all need to share that responsibility and work together. If what we are delivering does not achieve positive outcomes then we should stop doing it.

That might mean that we have to think differently about the curriculum on offer to some young people  it might mean we have to take a different approach, work with partners, listen to students, be tolerant and understanding of differences, and value each young person regardless of their background or behaviour.

Excluding young people brings a much higher risk of drug-carrying, child sex exploitation and violence

We do exclude in Glasgow, because there will always be times when, for the safety of the young person or for the safety of others, that pupil needs to be taken out of school.

However, it must be for the right reasons and it can only be once we have explored all other options. School is the safest place for many of our children. Exclusion brings a much higher risk of becoming involved in drug-carrying, child sex exploitation, antisocial behaviour and youth violence. This is not just anecdotal  we know this from extensive research. But even without the research, it is common sense. Thats why it is so important for schools to understand and take into consideration the context of each young person.

When we set ourselves the challenge of becoming a Nurturing City, our psychological services developed nurturing principles to help us understand what this would mean for families.

These are my two favourites: first, that all children and young people, and their families, feel that they belong and that their lives and experiences are valued and respected. Second, that all pupils and their families feel that staff listen to their views and that, if disagreements arise, staff respond sensitively and thoughtfully and work to resolve them. The first principle is significant because many of our teachers, including me, have not had the same lived experiences as many of our families. Therefore, it is hard to empathise, and sometimes this manifests in being a little judgmental. So we have to work hard to value and respect our families lives and experiences even if they are quite different to our own.

The second principle is equally important because, too often, teachers (including me) dont listen properly  we think we know what needs to be done because were teachers. We must listen to the views of young people and accept its OK for there to be disagreements  every family or community has them, even teachers families  it is how we respond that makes the difference.

We need to walk alongside young people and their families, responding sensitively and thoughtfully. What we shouldnt do is, every time there is an instance of bad behaviour, exclude them from the community where they have a right to feel safe and secure. Teachers dont tend to do that when their own children misbehave  I certainly didnt  so why would we do it with someone elses child?

We dont have young people hanging around shops or street corners now when they should be in school. Exclusions in Glasgow have fallen by 87 per cent since 2007. During the same time period, exclusions in Scotland have come down by 65 per cent.

This is about raising expectations for both pupils and staff. More young people than ever before are achieving qualifications that allow them to access better employment. In the UK there has been an 80 per cent increase in the proportion going on to college or university. We are not perfect. I dont think we ever will be. We have much more to do but we are in a much better place to equip our young people with the skills and attributes to be Glasgows citizens of the future  citizens that we can be proud of.
At least 50 people were killed in a stampede as mourners packed streets for the funeral of a slain Iranian military commander in his hometown on Tuesday, forcing his burial to be postponed, state media reported.

Tens of thousands of people had gathered in the southeastern city of Kerman to pay tribute to General Qassem Soleimani, whose killing in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq on Friday plunged the region into a new crisis and raised fears of a broader conflict.

A senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering several scenarios to avenge his killing. Other senior figures have said Iran will match the scale of Soleimani's killing when it responds but that it will choose the time and place.

Tuesday's stampede broke out amid the crush of mourners, killing 50 people, Iran's ISNA news agency said, quoting the chief coroner for Kerman province, Abbas Amian. About 213 people were injured, an emergency services official told the semi-official Fars news agency.

The burial of Soleimani had been postponed, ISNA said, without adding long any delay would last.

"Today because of the heavy congestion of the crowd unfortunately a number of our fellow citizens who were mourning were injured and a number were killed," emergency medical services chief Pirhossein Kolivand told state television.

The body of Soleimani, a national hero to many Iranians but viewed as a dangerous villain by Western governments opposed to the Islamic Republic, had been taken to Iraqi and Iranian cities before arriving in Kerman for burial.

In each place, huge numbers of people filled thoroughfares, chanting "Death to America" and weeping with emotion. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shed tears when leading prayers in Tehran.

Soleimani, who commanded the elite Quds Force, was responsible for building up Tehran's network of proxy armies across the Middle East. He was a key figure in orchestrating Iran's long-standing campaign to drive U.S. forces out of Iraq.

Iran's opponents say its proxies have fuelled conflicts, killing and displacing people in Iraq, Syria and beyond. Tehran says any operations abroad are at the request of governments and that it offers "advisory support".

The U.S. defense secretary denied reports the U.S. military was preparing to withdraw from Iraq, where Tehran has vied with Washington for influence since the 2003 U.S. invasion.

Revenge

"We will take revenge, a hard and definitive revenge," the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, General Hossein Salami, told the crowds in Kerman before the stampede.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said 13 "revenge scenarios" were being considered, Fars news agency reported. Even the weakest option would prove "a historic nightmare for the Americans," he said.

Iran, whose coastline runs along a Gulf oil shipping route that includes the narrow Strait of Hormuz, has allied forces across the Middle East through which it can act. Representatives from those groups, including the Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, attended funeral events in Tehran.

Despite its strident rhetoric, analysts say Iran will want to avoid any conventional conflict with the United States and is likely to focus on asymmetric strikes, such as sabotage or other military action via proxies.

Trump has promised to target 52 Iranian sites if Iran retaliates.

Reuters and other media reported on Monday that the U.S. military had sent a letter to Iraqi officials informing them U.S. troops were preparing to leave. But U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper denied there had been any decision to pull out.

About 5,000 U.S. troops are still in Iraq, where there has been a U.S. military presence since Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003.

Friction

Iraq's parliament, dominated by lawmakers representing Muslim Shi'ite groups who have been united by the killing of Soleimani alongside an Iraqi militia leader, passed a resolution on Sunday calling for all foreign troops to leave.

Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister Abdel Abdul Mahdi told the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad the resolution must be implemented.

Friction between Iran and the United States has risen since Washington withdrew in 2018 from a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.

The United States has imposed new economic sanctions on Iran, slashing Iranian oil exports, and Tehran said on Sunday it was dropping limitations on uranium enrichment, in its latest step back from commitments to the deal.

Washington denied a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to allow him to attend a U.N. Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday, a U.S. official said.

Trump's U.S. political rivals have challenged his decision to order the killing of Soleimani and questioned its timing in a U.S. election year. His administration said Soleimani was planning new attacks on U.S. interests without giving evidence.

U.S. general Milley said the threat from Soleimani was imminent. "We would have been culpably negligent to the American people had we not made the decision we made," he said.

Trump administration officials will provide a classified briefing for U.S. senators on Wednesday on events in Iraq after some lawmakers accused the White House of risking a broad conflict without a strategy.

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GAB Foundation, an NGO dedicated to the cause of the vulnerable and marginalised, has fed about 150 Persons With Disability (PWDs) at its annual get together at Laweh Open University College, Teshie-Nungua.

The PWDs were served with food and drinks while some danced their hearts out to show gratitude to God for seeing them through 2019.

This years event was significant because it marked 20 years of philanthropic activities by GAB Foundation towards vulnerable and marginalised groups.

Addressing the event, Prof. Goski Alabi, Founder of GAB Foundation, assured the PWDs of the Foundation's continuous support in order to make life better and meaningful for them.

Prof. Alabi, who is also President of Laweh Open University College, announced that GAB Foundation will be offering two additional scholarships to PWDs to pursue degree programmes at Laweh Open University College.

That will bring to five the total number of beneficiaries of GAB Foundation scholarships to PWDs.

Three of them are already pursuing their respective undergraduate degree programmes at the University.

James Bortey Samuelson, leader of the PWDs, expressed, on behalf of the PWDs, their deep gratitude to Prof. Alabi for her unwavering support for PWDs in their quest to improve their lot.

---Myjoyonline.com
Four convicts in the sensational 2012 Nirbhaya Gang rape and murder case will be hanged on January 22 at 7 am in Tihar jail, a Delhi court said on Tuesday.

Following is the chronology of events in the Nirbhaya case.

Dec 16, 2012: Paramedical student gang raped and brutally assaulted by six men in a private bus and thrown out of the moving vehicle along with her male friend. The victims admitted to Safdarjung Hospital.

Dec 17: Widespread protests erupt demanding stringent action against the accused. Police identify the accused -- bus driver Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta.

Dec 18: Ram Singh and three others arrested.

Dec 20: Victim's friend testifies.

Dec 21: Delinquent juvenile nabbed from Anand Vihar bus terminal in Delhi. Victim's friend identifies Mukesh as one of the culprits. Police conduct raids in Haryana and Bihar to nab the sixth accused, Akshay Thakur.

Dec 21-22: Thakur arrested in Aurangabad district of Bihar and brought to Delhi. Victim records statement before the SDM in hospital.

Dec 23: Protesters defy prohibitory orders, take to the streets. Delhi Police Constable Subhash Tomar, on duty to control protests, rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

Dec 25: Girl's condition declared critical. Constable Tomar succumbs to injuries.

Dec 26: Following a cardiac arrest, victim flown to Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital by the government.

Dec 29: Victim succumbs to injuries and other medical conditions. Police add murder charge in the FIR.

Jan 2, 2013: Then Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir inaugurates fast track court for speedy trial in sexual offence cases.

Jan 3: Police file chargesheet against five adults accused of murder, gang rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, unnatural offences and dacoity.

Jan 5: Court takes cognisance of the chargesheet.

Jan 7: Court orders in-camera proceedings.

Jan 17: Fast track court tarts proceedings against the five adult accused.

Jan 28: Juvenile Justice Board says minority of juvenile accused is proved.

Feb 2: Fast track court frames charges against five adult accused.

Feb 28: JJB frames charges against the minor.

Mar 11: Ram Singh commits suicide in Tihar Jail.

Mar 22: Delhi HC allows national media to report trial court's proceedings.

Jul 5: Inquiry (trial) in JJB against the juvenile in concludes. JJB reserves verdict for July 11.

Jul 8: FTC completes recording of testimonies of prosecution witnesses.

Jul 11: JJB holds minor also guilty of illegally confining and robbing a carpenter on December 16, night before allegedly taking part in the gang rape.

The Delhi high court allows three international news agencies to cover the trial in the case.

Aug 22: FTC begins hearing final arguments in trial against four adult accused.

Aug 31: JJB convicts the minor for gang rape and murder and awards three-year term at probation home.

Sep 3: FTC concludes trial. Reserves verdict.

Sep 10: Court convicts Mukesh, Vinay, Akshay, Pawan of 13 offences including gang rape, unnatural offence and murder of the girl and attempt to murder her male friend.

Sep 13: Court awards death penalty to all 4 convicts.

Sep 23: HC begins hearing the convicts' death sentence reference sent to it by the trial court.

Jan 3, 2014: HC reserves verdict on convicts' appeals.

Mar 13: HC upholds death penalty to the 4 convicts.

Mar 15: SC stays execution of 2 convicts, Mukesh and Pawan, after they file appeals. Later, stays execution of other convicts also.

Apr 15: SC directs police to produce the dying declaration of the victim.

Feb 3, 2017: SC says it would hear afresh the aspect of awarding death penalty to the convicts.

Mar 27: SC reserves verdict on their appeals.

May 5: SC upholds death penalty to four convicts, says the case falls under the category of 'rarest of rare' and the offence created "tsunami of shock".

Nov 8: Mukesh, one of the four death row convicts in the case, moves SC seeking review of its verdict upholding the capital punishment awarded to him.

Dec 12: The Delhi Police opposes Mukesh's plea in SC.

Dec 15: Convicts Vinay Sharma and Pawan Kumar Gupta move SC for review of its verdict.

May 4, 2018: SC reserves order on review plea by two condemned convicts--Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta.

Jul 9: SC dismisses review pleas of three convicts.

Feb, 2019: Victim's parents move Delhi court for issuance of death warrants of the four convicts

Dec 10, 2019: Akshay moves plea in SC seeking review of his death penalty.

Dec 13: Victim's mother moves SC opposing review plea of convict

Dec 18: SC dismisses Akshay's review plea.

Delhi govt seeks death warrants for execution of death sentence to the 4 convicts.

Delhi court directs Tihar authorities to issue notice to convicts to avail their remaining legal remedies.

Dec 19: Delhi HC dismisses plea of Pawan Kumar Gupta claiming he was a juvenile at the time of the offence.

Jan 6, 2020: Delhi court dismisses complaint filed by Pawan's father seeking FIR against sole witness

Jan 7: Delhi court orders 4 convicts to be hanged on January 22 at 7 am in Tihar jail.
N.Korean Hackers Are Working With European Criminals

North Korean state-backed hackers appear to be cooperating with Eastern European cybercriminals according the experts at Sentinel Labs, the newly created threat intelligence divison of SentinelOne. Their finding suggests digital gangsters and state-backed spies are finding ways to work together online.

Lazarus Group (also known as Lazarus, Hidden Cobra, and Kimsuky) is an advanced persistent threat (APT) group comprised of operators from Bureau 121, the cyber warfare division of North Koreas clandestine Reconnaiance General Bureau (RGB0 intelligence unit.

The group has been active since at least 2009 and isthought to operate fromf a multitude of international locations. The

Sentinel Labs researcers say that the Lazarus Group, which American prosecutors accuse of organising the leak of emails from Sony Pictures and stealing millions of dollars from the Central Bank of Bangladesh, is getting access to some of its victims through a cybercrime gang dubbed TrickBot.

Lazarus appears to have been interested in a variety of sectors and targets in the last eighteen months, including crypto-currency exchanges, financial institutions, non-governmental organisations, and South Korean individuals. Many North Korea cyber operators are likely not only self-funded but also tasked with earning income for the North Korean regime; Lazarus Group has likely targeted banks crypto-currency exchanges and users to achieve this goal. For me its the biggest crimeware story since I dont-know-when, said Vitali Kremez of SentinelOne. The Lazarus group has a relationship with the most sophisticated, most resourceful Russian botnet operation on the landscape.

Clues that Lazarus and TrickBot operators are cooperating have surfaced before when in April last year BAE researchers developed the theory that the cybercriminals were selling access to compromised organisations to Lazarus.

Subsequentky, the cybersecurity arm of Japanese telecommunications company NTT speculated here that North Korea might be collaborating with Lazarus and TrickBot's operators. Kremez said he found evidence. TrickBot communicated with a Lazarus-controlled server just a couple of hours before that same server was used to help break into the Chilean inter-bank network earlier this year, he said. American officials have also blamed the multi-million dollar heist on North Korea. Thats the strongest possible evidence linking to a celebrated case of Lazarus intrusion, said Kremez who also that he thinks the TrickBot operators were likely renting out its services to the North Koreans, or perhaps working on a commission basis.

Kremez is supported by the experts at Cybereason, which has published a separate report on Trickbot's operations and are reported to be certain that the cybercriminals knew that they were dealing with the North Korean government.

Sentinel One: Reuters: Cybereason:

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N. Koreas Hackers Stole $2b To Fund Its Missile Program:
US General sent letter by mistake to Iraqi govt: Pentagon

WASHINGTON: America's military strategy in Iraq was thrown into confusion Monday as the Pentagon admitted a letter from a general informing the Iraqi government of an imminent US troop pullout was sent by "mistake". The latest developments came as a sea of black-clad mourners in Tehran paid homage to Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force who was killed in a US strike in Iraq on Friday.



US Brigadier General William Seely informed his Iraqi counterparts in a letter dated Sunday that American troops were preparing to leave Iraq. "We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure," said the letter, whose authenticity was confirmed to AFP by both Iraqi and US defence officials.



Seely said the US-led coalition would "be repositioning forces". "In order to conduct this task, Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner," said the letter.



It said helicopters would be travelling in and around Baghdad's Green Zone where the US embassy is located as part of the preparations. But Pentagon Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley said on Monday the letter was a mere "draft" and "should not have been sent".



"It was a mistake, an honest mistake, a draft unsigned letter, because we are moving forces around," Milley told reporters in Washington. US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said the letter was "inconsistent" with Washington's position and denied there had been a decision to leave Iraq.



The US drone strike that killed Soleimani, as well as Iraqi military commanders, has sparked fury in both Iran and Iraq, with Tehran vowing revenge.



Iraqi lawmakers on Sunday urged the government to oust all foreign troops from Iraqi soil. Some 5,200 US soldiers are stationed across Iraqi bases to support local troops preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State group.



They make up the bulk of a broader coalition, invited by the Iraqi government in 2014 to help combat the jihadists. On Monday, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei fought back tears as mourners flooded the streets around Tehran University to honour Soleimani.



The targeted killing of the 62-year-old Soleimani saw Iran step back even further from the already tattered 2015 nuclear accord with world powers.



In an escalating war of words that has heightened international concern and rattled financial markets, Trump threatened yet more major retaliation if Tehran hits back, including strikes on Iranian cultural sites.



Writing in all-caps on Monday, Trump tweeted: "IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!"



Iraq requested in a letter to the UN that the Security Council condemn the US drone strike, so that "the law of the jungle" was not allowed to prevail.



The operation represented "a dangerous escalation that could lead to a devastating war in Iraq, the region and the world," wrote the Iraqi ambassador to the UN, Mohammed Hussein Bahr-Aluloom.



Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg warned Iran must avoid "further violence and provocations" after the alliance held emergency talks in Brussels.



"At our meeting today, allies called for restraint and de-escalation. A new conflict would be in no-one's interest," he said.



Saudi Arabia  an oil-rich US ally seen as vulnerable to Iranian counter strikes also appealed for calm.



The European Union, whose foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on Friday, said it was in Iran and Iraq's interest to "take the path of sobriety and not the path of escalation".



EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said he "deeply regrets" Iran's latest step back from the nuclear deal. The agreement had offered Tehran sanctions relief in return for curbs to prevent it acquiring nuclear weapons  but Trump's withdrawal in 2018 dramatically weakened the deal.



Despite its latest step, Iran insisted it would continue to cooperate with the UN agency overseeing its atomic programme.



The raw emotions sparked by the killing of Soleimani were on full display in Tehran, where state television said "several million" black-clad mourners filled the streets. As they marched down a main artery of Tehran, the mourners chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel".



Soleimani, a beloved hero of the 1980s war with Iraq, will be laid to rest in his hometown Kerman on Tuesday.



Trump on Saturday issued a US strike list of 52 targets in the Islamic republic. "Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290. IR655 Never threaten the Iranian nation," Rouhani tweeted, referring to 290 lives lost in July 1988 when a US warship shot down an Iran Air plane in the Gulf.



Trump said his figure of 52 targets represented the number of Americans held hostage at the US embassy in Tehran for more than a year starting in late 1979.
The lawyer of a British woman found guilty of rape accusations said on Tuesday that her family are relieved "she is finally coming home". A Cyprus court on Tuesday handed a four-month suspended sentence to the 19-year-old woman who was found guilty of public mischief for making up claims that she was raped by up to a dozen Israelis.

Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said that he decided to give the woman a second chance because she admitted that she made a mistake in making the false rape claim. He also cited other reasons including her young age, immaturity, personal circumstances, psychological condition and the fact that she had already spent almost month in detention during the six months her trial lasted. He said that the sentence could be activated if she commits another serious offence within three years.
The FBI is asking Apple to help unlock two iPhones that investigators think were owned by Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, the man believed to have carried out the shooting attack that killed three people last month at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

In a letter sent late Monday to Apple's general counsel, the FBI said that although it has court permission to search the contents of the phones, both are password-protected. "Investigators are actively engaging in efforts to 'guess' the relevant passcodes but so far have been unsuccessful," it said.

The letter, from FBI General Counsel Dana Boente, said officials have sought help from other federal agencies, as well as from experts in foreign countries and "familiar contacts in the third-party vendor community." That may be a reference to the undisclosed vendor that helped the FBI open the locked phone of Syed Farook, the gunman who attacked a city meeting in San Bernardino, California, in 2015. The Justice Department took Apple to court in an effort to get the company to help the FBI open that phone.

Apple on Monday said the company had been working with the government.

"We have the greatest respect for law enforcement and have always worked cooperatively to help in their investigations," Apple said in a statement. "When the FBI requested information from us relating to this case a month ago, we gave them all of the data in our possession and we will continue to support them with the data we have available."

A law enforcement official said there's an additional problem with one of the iPhones thought to belong to Alshamrani, who was killed by a deputy during the attack: He apparently fired a round into the phone, further complicating efforts to unlock it.

Another official said Alshamrani, a member of the Saudi air force who was taking flight training, apparently acted alone but cautioned that the investigation is not complete.

Attorney General William Barr said last month in an interview with NBC News that the Pensacola shooting "appeared to be" an act of terrorism, but officials have not yet formally offered any conclusion. "Even though the shooter is dead," the FBI letter said, agents want to search the phone "out of an abundance of caution."

According to the letter, the iPhones were sent to the FBI's crime lab in Quantico, Virginia. "We stand ready from a logistical standpoint to do whatever is needed of us to work with Apple in effectuating the court's order," it said.
By PTI

LONDON: Joaquin Phoenix-starrer "Joker", one of the most controversial yet admired movies of 2019, is leading the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominations with 11 nods while "The Irishman" and 1960s-set "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" also feature prominently in the list.

The nominations are a major Oscar boost for "Joker", which was recognised at the just-concluded Golden Globes for the best actor-drama for Phoenix and best original score.

The film is nominated in almost all the key categories including the best picture, best director for Todd Phillips, actor, cinematography, score, adapted screenplay and editing.

ALSO READ: Golden Globes - '1917', 'Once Upon a Time ...in Hollywood' win best movie, Joaquin Phoenix best actor for 'Joker'

In the best picture category the film will fight it out with Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman" and Quentin Tarantino's revisionist tale "Once Upon a Time."

Besides, Sam Mendes' Golden Globe-winner "1917" and South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho's class satire "Parasite" has also snagged nominations in categories such as best director, original screenplay and foreign film.

Both the directors and the actors nominees list is highly competitive this year, featuring the usual suspects in Mendes, Scorsese, Phillips, Tarantino and Bong.

In the best actor category, Phoenix will face a tough fight from Leonardo DiCaprio ("Once Upon a Time in Hollywood"), Adam Driver ("Marriage Story"), Taron Egerton ("Rocketman") and Jonathan Pryce ("The Two Popes").

Renee Zellweger, this year's best actress-drama Golden Globe winner for "Judy", will compete with Jesse Buckley ("Wild Rose"), Scarlett Johansson ("Marriage Story"), Saoirse Ronan ("Little Women") and Charlize Theron ("Bombshell").

The best supporting actor category is populated by acting heavy-weights like Tom Hanks ("A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood"), Anthony Hopkins ("The Two Popes"), Al Pacino ("The Irishman") and Joe Pesci ("The Irishman") with Brad Pitt being the youngest in the list.

Margot Robbie had a great year in cinema and that's reflected in the Bafta nominations where she is competing against herself in the best supporting actress category with films "Bombshell" and "Once Upon".

Laura Dern is the front-runner this year for her role of an empathic lawyer in "Marriage Story" while Johansson also features in the supporting list for her role of a mother in "Jojo Rabbit" alongside her "Black Widow" co-star Florence Pugh ("Little Women").

Besides "Parasite", the original screenplay features titles such as "Booksmart", "Knives Out", "Marriage Story" and "Once Upon".

"The Irishman", "Jojo Rabbit", "Joker", "Little Women" and "The Two Popes" are up for best-adapted screenplay Bafta.

In the documentary category, Indian-British filmmaker Asif Kapadia's "Diego Maradona" will compete with "American Factory", "Apollo 11", "For Sama" and "The Great Hack".

Disney dominates the animated feature list with "Frozen 2" and "Toy Story 4".

"Klaus" and "A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon" also figure.

Bafta has a special category to honour the best in British cinema where films "1917", "Bait", "For Sama", "Rocketman", "Sorry We Missed You" and "The Two Popes" are competing for outstanding British film.

"Bait", "For Sama" also feature in the outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer category along with "Maiden", "Only You" and "Retablo".

Nominees for this year's EE rising star award include Golden Globe-winner Awkwafina, Kaitlyn Dever, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jack Lowden and Micheal Ward Nominations for technical categories such as cinematography, editing, production design, costume design, makeup & hair, sound, special visual effects, British short animation and British short film were also announced.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act will not be accepted in the Northeast and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will face agitation and protests when he visits the region next, the North East Students Organisation (NESO) has said.

NESO is an umbrella organisation comprising of student bodies from eight northeastern states. The powerful and influential All Assam Students Union (AASU), Naga Students Union, Arunachal Pradesh Students Union, Mizo Zirlai Pawal, Khasi Students Union of Meghalaya and Twipra Student Federation of Tripura are a part of it.

The CAA is based on religion which violates the Indian Constitution. We dont distinguish on basis of religion but basis of identity, NESO Chairman Samuel B Jyrwa said. He also said that there are many states in the Northeast, but psychological we are together and stand as one.

Our secular values are not confined to the geographical boundary of our country. It is incumbent upon us to also appear as a secular country in our thoughts and acts, AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said.

Another AASU leader Samujjal Bhattacharya said they will continue their non-violent movement against CAA in the Northeast. Those supporting CAA are communal, said Bhattacharya adding, We are against both Hindu and Muslim migrants who have entered the Northeast.

The student bodies also came out in support of JNU students who were beaten up on Sunday. We hold PM and HM responsible for this. We all know who control the police, Bhattacharya said and added, protest will be held across the seven northeastern states in solidarity with the students of JNU.

NESO had last month led the protests in the Northeast against the CAA, which grants citizenship to religious minorities from the three Muslim-majority countries in Indias neighbourhood.

Protesters blocked roads at several places in Assams principal city Guwahati and across the state. There were also reports of violence at some places in upper Assam.

Protests also took place in Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh - states with inner line permit (ILP) regime - which have been exempted from the purview of the new law.

There is apprehension among many groups that provisions in the new law could lead to inflow of a lot of migrants into the Northeast which can change the regions demography. The Centre as well as the state governments have tried to allay those fears.
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2020 / Avidian Gold Corp. ("Avidian" or the "Company") (TSXV:AVG) is pleased to report the results from its re-assaying of the 2019 Trenching program at its Amanita property. The Amanita property is comprised of State of Alaska claims totaling 1,460 hectares (14.6 sq. km) and is located 15 km northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, and approximately 5 km southwest and contiguous to the Fort Knox open-pit gold mine (Figure 1).

During the summer of 2019, Avidian carried out an exploration program whereby a total of six trenches were excavated for 1,725 m with 722 samples collected with variable sample lengths of 1.5 m or 3.0 m depending on prospective geology. Initially samples were assayed using a standard fire assay analysis (October 21, 2019 release), however recognizing that visible gold occurs on the property, selected samples were re-assayed using metallic screen analysis. This analytical technique utilizes a larger sample size and also determines the concentration of free gold within the coarse fraction of the sample.

The table below provides a comparison of the October 21, 2019 results versus the re-assay results both on an uncut and top cut to 20.0 g/t Au as two individual samples returned 52.6 g/t Au and 27.3 g/t Au. The main intersection is now 94.5 m of 3.04 g/t Au (uncut) or 2.01 g/t Au (cut), including 22.5 m of 1.51 g/t Au (uncut) or 7.16 g/t Au (cut).

October 21, 2019 Press Release Re-assay Results Using Metallic Screening Analysis Trench Length (m) Grade Grade Difference Grade Difference Name Au (g/t) Au (g/t) to Original Au (g/t) to Original uncut uncut Reported Assays Cut to 20 g/t Au Reported Assays A 3.0 7.91 7.02 -11 % B 1.5 0.52 Not Re-Assayed C 6.0 1.87 2.31 +24 % 109.5 * 1.18 2.76 +134 % 1.86 +58 % 94.5 1.24 3.04 +145 % 2.01 +62 % 22.5 3.85 11.51 +199 % 7.16 +86 % 10.5 * 6.88 22.80 +231 % 13.5 +96 % 6.0 11.48 13.10 +14 % 6.0 * 6.07 6.13 +1 % 3.0 12.15 10.71 -12 % D 7.5 0.96 1.13 +18 % 9.0 1.82 1.82 0 % 6.0 2.56 2.55 0 % 27.0 3.48 4.22 +21 % 3.41 -2 % 6.0 4.79 4.70 -2 % 6.0 10.18 13.85 +36 % 10.20 0 % 12.0 1.34 0.67 -50 % G 1.5 1.1 0.77 -30 % 6.0 2.67 2.48 -7 % 3.0 1.47 1.69 +15 %



* Not previously reported. Trench E not completed, Trench F abandoned. True widths of each mineralized zone have yet to be clearly established.

Ninety seven (97) samples were re-analyzed dominantly within the known mineralized trends as reported in the October 21, 2019 press release as well as other selected samples outside these mineralized trends. All the major mineralized intervals were re-assayed using the metallic screen technique, as were any samples containing elevated bismuth values (greater than 10 ppm), as there is a direct association of elevated bismuth with gold.

Dave Anderson, Chairman and CEO of Avidian states " Our prospecting crews have noted visible gold on the Amanita property on several occasions. This combined with the knowledge of historical placer mining and blaster analysis results completed by Kinross in the late 90's indicated the need for metallic screen analysis. Not surprisingly the new analyses confirmed the coarse gold content and translated into a significant increase in the reported grades. Going forward all assays returning elevated bismuth results will be reassayed using the metallic screen analysis. We look forward to following up on these results and exploring the entirety of the Tonsina Trend in our 2020 summer drilling and trenching programs".

The objective of the 2019 trenching program was to expose and sample a portion of the Tonsina Trend which is a fault bounded, 800 metre wide, northeast trending structural corridor that can be traced along a strike length of approximately 4 km on the property. This corridor trends directly into Kinross's Fort Knox open-pit mine which produced over 255,000 ounces of gold at a mill grade of 0.50 g/t Au (Kinross press release, Feb 13, 2019). The mineralization at Fort Knox is associated with this northeast structural corridor (see Figure 1).

The Tonsina Trend has been sparsely drilled with 39 historical reverse circulation holes, of which 30 intersected oxide mineralization with grades > 1.0 g/t Au such as: 13.72 m of 3.02 g/t Au, 10.67 m of 1.08 g/t Au, 12.19 m of 2.28 g/t Au, 4.57 m of 11.49 g/t Au, and 3.05 m of 14.04 g/t Au. This previous drilling has only tested a portion of the Tonsina Trend (see Figure 2) to a depth of less than 150 m with the gold mineralization currently believed to be a series of steeply dipping oxidized bodies hosted within metamorphosed sediments proximal to intrusive Cretaceous age rocks. This setting is similar to Kinross's Gil project where gold mineralization occurs in quartz-sulphide and quartz-carbonate veins, clay-filled shear zones, and limonite-stained fractures, which crosscut nearly all lithologies. Gold mineralization is widespread, but both gold grade and continuity are related to complex interactions among hydrothermal fluids, host rocks, and structure (June 11, 2018 NI 43-101 Kinross Technical Report).

The 2019 trenching program was designed to delineate and map structures, geology and mineralization that may be related to the historical drill holes in order to establish the best orientations for a follow-up diamond drill program. The gold mineralization encountered in the trenches is associated primarily with N70W and N005 to 010E striking, high angle Quartz-Iron Oxide veins/shears/faults that also contain elevated arsenic, bismuth and antimony. The highest gold values are associated with elevated bismuth (> 10 ppm to 870 ppm). Vein widths range from 2 cm to 2 m. The intersection of 94.5 m of 3.04 g/t Au that occurs in Trench C, which trends due north, is hosted in mineralized structures trending from 003 to 055 and dipping steeply in variable directions. The results from trenches C & D in relation to the historical RC holes are shown in Figure 3 which highlights the wide distribution of gold mineralization greater than 1 g/t Au. While many of the mineralized zones are associated with veins/shears/faults, significant intersections can also be found within the metamorphosed sedimentary host rocks such as the 27.0 m of 4.22 g/t Au found in trench D.

The grades of the mineralized intersections encountered in the trenches are significant when compared to the resource cut-off grade at the adjacent Fort Knox mine (0.10 g/t Au) and at the Gil Project (0.21 g/t Au) (NI 43-101 Kinross Technical Report dated June 11, 2018). Also, the discovery of NW trending mineralized veins is important given that historical drilling was mainly in a NW direction; it appears that future drilling should be designed to intersect the mineralized NW structures.

The trench results combined with the historical drilling highlights the wide distribution of gold mineralization with significant widths and grades within the 4 km long Tonsina Trend. Avidian is currently compiling the results of the 2019 trenching program with the historical information in preparation for a follow-up drill program that is anticipated to test the full length and width of the Tonsina structural corridor on the Amanita property.

Figure 1. Amanita Property

Proximity to Fort Knox

Figure 2: Amanita Property - Trench Locations and Selected Historical Drill Hole Results

Figure 3: Plan View of Trench C and D with Historical RC Holes

Quality Control/Quality Assurance

Sampling included insertion of certified standards and blanks into the stream of samples for chemical analysis. Every twentieth trench sample was a standard or a blank. Samples were prepared at ALS Chemex's laboratory in Fairbanks, Alaska and shipped to their Vancouver facility for gold analysis by fire assay and other elements by ICP analysis for the October 21, 2019 reported results. ALS is a certified and accredited laboratory service. Original gold results varied from below detection to a high of 19.95 g/t. For the current re-assay program, approximately 1 kg of previously prepared reject material was analyzed by the metallic screen assay technique; results for total contained gold varied from below detection to 52.6 g/t.

The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Dr. Tom Setterfield, P.Geo., Vice President Exploration of Avidian, who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Avidian Gold Corp.

Avidian brings a disciplined and veteran team of project managers together with a regional scale advanced stage gold-copper exploration portfolio in Alaska. Avidian's Golden Zone project also hosts a NI 43-101 Indicated gold resource of 267,400 ounces (4,187,000 tonnes at 1.99 g/t Au) plus an Inferred gold resource of 35,900 ounces (1,353,000 tonnes at 0.83 g/t Au). Additional projects include the Amanita gold property which is adjacent to Kinross Gold's Fort Knox gold mine in Alaska and the Jungo gold/copper property in Nevada.

Avidian is the majority owner of High Tide Resources, a private company, that owns the base metal Strickland Property, the Black Raven gold property and an option on the Labrador West Iron Ore property, all located in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Avidian is focused on and committed to the development of advanced stage mineral projects throughout first world mining friendly jurisdictions using industry best practices combined with a strong social license from local communities. Further details on the Corporation and the individual projects, including the NI 43-101 Technical report on the Golden Zone property, can be found on the Corporation's website at www.avidiangold.com.

For further information, please contact:

Bonnie Hughes, Manger Investor Relations

Mobile: +44 7538 296674

Email: info@avidiangold.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-looking information

This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements". These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of the Company's mineral properties, and the Company's financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with the activities of the Company; and other matters discussed in this news release. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities law.

SOURCE: Avidian Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/572231/Avidian-Re-Assays-Amanita-Results-Using-Metallic-Screen-Analysis-Reports-304-gt-Au-over-945-m-from-Amanita-Property-Trenching-Program-Adjacent-to-Fort-Knox-Gold-Mine






A few days back a mob entered the university and attacked the students in the hostel and several were injured in the horrific incident. Many celebs have come out and voiced their angst against the gruesome incident that took place in JNU but Deepika is the first actress who went all the way to the university today to lend her support and stand with the students fighting for justice. We have a few pictures from the spot.















Kudos to you girl!







Deepika Padukone is the reigning Queen of Bollywood and there is no denying that. The diva is currently in New Delhi along with Vikrant Massey to promote herChhapaak. The Meghna Gulzar directorial revolves around the life of acid attack survivorand her struggle to fight for justice.have been promoting the film in New Delhi since the past two days and after visiting the National Commission for Women earlier today,(Jawaharlal Nehru University) to show her support for the students there.
The police in Milwaukee were searching for a driver who is accused of shooting two children this weekend after they threw snowballs at passing cars, the authorities said.

At about 7:50 p.m. on Saturday, the Milwaukee Police Department responded to a shooting on West Birch Street, the department said in a statement.

Officers found a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy suffering from gunshot wounds that were not life-threatening, the statement said. The children were taken to a hospital and were recovering from their injuries on Tuesday, said Sgt. Sheronda Grant, a public information officer for the department. She declined to answer questions about the extent of their injuries.

The victims were among a group of young people who were throwing snowballs at passing cars, the police said. One of the snowballs struck a white Toyota, and the driver of that car then fired shots into the group, striking the two children, they said.
[January 06, 2020] Panasonic and Drop Collaborate to Bring Kitchen Success

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic today announced that they are collaborating with Drop, the leading smart kitchen platform, to simplify the lives of home cooks using their appliances. With customized navigation, users will have access to advanced features like resizing recipes or offering substitutions for missing ingredients. "Meal preparation can be a daily challenge," said Fumi Usuki, IoT Business Development Senior Manager at Panasonic. "This collaboration offers an articulated solution, providing adjustable step by step instruction and an additional value proposition to consumers using our appliances." The first step in this relationship is a number of microwave ovens utilizing Drop's guided cooking recipe format. The Panasonic microwave ovens offer uniquely superior heating elements that, when used alongside the Drop Recipes app, enrich the consumer's dining experience and results in better food. "We're excited to work with a company like Panasonic and find its focus on food and thoughtful design inspiring," said Ben Harris, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Drop. "We share a vision for a unified experience in the smart kitchen, and this collaboration is the first step in showing how that can happen for the consumer." About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Based in Newark, NJ, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is a division of Panasonic Coporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation. The company offers a wide range of consumer solutions in the U.S. including LUMIX Digital Cameras, Camcorders, Blu-ray players, Home Audio, Technics, Cordless Phones, Home Appliances, Beauty, Grooming, Wellness and Personal Care products and more. Panasonic was featured in Fortune Magazine's 2016 ranking of 50 companies that are changing the world and doing well by doing good. Specifically cited were its smart and sustainable technologies, including its contributions to smart cities and the electric vehicle revolution.



About Drop

Drop is the leading smart kitchen platform specializing in recipe and kitchen appliance technology to connect the whole cooking journey. Over 100 different appliance models from brands like Instant Brands, Bosch, Electrolux, GE Appliances, Kenwood, LG Electronics and Thermomix can now be controlled from the Drop Kitchen OS platform and the Drop Recipes app at the center of it all. With offices in San Francisco, Dublin, Ireland, and Zaragoza, Spain, a love for great food is at its core. Each recipe and appliance partner added to the platform makes for an even stronger Kitchen OS, inspiring home cooks to make food more. To learn more visit https://kitchenos.com Follow Press Updates for Panasonic Consumer Products:

Internet - http:// us.panasonic.com/news

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/panasonicusaconsumerpress

Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/panasonicusa_consumer_press

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/panasonic-and-drop-collaborate-to-bring-kitchen-success-300982120.html SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America

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Identity and access management in 2022 - what will the future look like?

As we enter into 2022, there is still a level of uncertainty in place. Its unclear what the future holds, as companies around the world still contend with the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote working has been encouraged by most organisations and the move to a hybrid working system has become business as usual, for the majority of businesses. Some have reduced their office space or done away with their locations altogether. Following best security practices With all this change in place, there are problems to deal with. According to research, 32.7% of IT admins say they are concerned about employees using unsecured networks to carry out that work. Alongside this, 74% of IT admins thought that remote work makes it harder for employees to follow best security practices. This need to manage security around remote work is no longer temporary. Instead, companies have to build permanent strategies around remote work and security. The coming year will also create a different landscape for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Here are some key predictions for next year and what to start preparing for in 2022: The reality of SMB spending around security will hit home SMBs had to undertake significant investments to adapt to remote working SMBs had to undertake significant investments to adapt to remote working, especially in comparison to their size. They had to undertake significant digital transformation projects that made it possible to deliver services remotely, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weve seen a shift in mindset for these companies, which are now more tech-focused in their approach to problem solving. According to our research, 45% of SMBs plan to increase their spending towards IT services in 2022. Around half of all organisations think their IT budgets are adequate for their needs, while 14.5% of those surveyed believe they will need more, to cover all that needs to be done. Identity management spending to support remote work For others, the COVID-19 pandemic led to over-spending, just to get ahead of things and they will spend in 2022, looking at what they should keep and what they can reduce their spending on. Areas like identity management will stay in place, as companies struggle to support remote work and security, without this in place. However, on-premise IT spending will be reduced or cut, as those solutions are not relevant for the new work model. Services that rely on on-premise IT will be cut or replaced. The device will lead the way for security We rely on our phones to work and to communicate. In 2022, they will become central to how we manage access, to all our assets and locations, IT and physical. When employees can use company devices and their own phones for work, security is more difficult. IT teams have to ensure that theyre prepared for this, by making sure that these devices can be trusted. Wide use of digital certificates and strong MFA factors Rather than requiring a separate smart card or fingerprint reader, devices can be used for access using push authentication There are multiple ways that companies can achieve this, for example - By using digital certificates to identify company devices as trusted, an agent, or strong MFA factors, like a FIDO security key or mobile push authentication. Whichever approach you choose, this can prevent unauthorised access to IT assets and applications, and these same devices can be used for authentication into physical locations too. Rather than requiring a separate smart card or fingerprint reader, devices can be used for access using push authentication. Understanding human behaviour Alongside this, it is important to understand human behaviour. Anything that introduces an extra step for authentication can lead to employees taking workarounds. To stop this, it is important to put an employee education process in place, in order to emphasize on the importance of security. The next step is to think about adopting passwordless security, to further reduce friction and increase adoption. Lastly, as devices become the starting point for security and trust, remote device management will be needed too. More companies will need to manage devices remotely, from wiping an asset remotely if it gets lost or stolen, through to de-provisioning users easily and removing their access rights, when they leave the company. Identity will be a layer cake Zero Trust approaches to security Identity management relies on being able to trust that someone is who they say they are. Zero Trust approaches to security can support this effectively, particularly when aligned with least privilege access models. In order to turn theory into practical easy-to-deploy steps, companies need to use contextual access, as part of their identity management strategy. This involves looking at the context that employees will work in and putting together the right management approach for those circumstances. For typical employee behaviour, using two factor authentication might be enough to help them work, without security getting in the way. How enterprises manage, access and store identity data There will also be a shift in how enterprises manage, access, and store that identity data over time For areas where security is more important, additional security policies can be put over the top, to ensure that only the right people have access. A step-up in authentication can be added, based on the sensitivity of resources or risk-based adaptive authentication policies might be needed. There will also be a shift in how enterprises manage, access, and store that identity data over time, so that it aligns more closely with those use cases. Identity management critical to secure assets in 2022 There are bigger conversations taking place around digital identity for citizenship, as more services move online as well. Any moves that take place in this arena will affect how businesses think about their identity management processes too, encouraging them to look at their requirements in more detail. Overall, 2022 will be the year when identity will be critical to how companies keep their assets secure and their employees productive. With employees working remotely and businesses becoming decentralised, identity strategies will have to take the same approach. This will put the emphasis on strong identity management as the starting point for all security planning.
Police violations of the accuseds rights in two Ontario cases resulted in quashed convictions for child pornography and weapons offences on Tuesday.

In separate decisions, Ontarios top court ruled the breaches were serious enough to bring the administration of justice into disrepute.

In the first case, the court ordered a new trial for Peter McSweeney, who was convicted in October 2017 of child pornography offences based in part on self-incriminating statements he made to police.

Court documents show nine police officers went to McSweeneys home in Whitby, Ont., on an early morning in May 2016. They arrived with a search warrant after receiving a report that someone had uploaded pornographic images from an account registered to that address.

At one point, Durham Regional Police Det. Const. Jeff Lockwood asked McSweeney to head to the porch and, without advising him of his rights, questioned him.

In one exchange, McSweeney made a self-incriminating statement, after which he was arrested. Questioning continued at the police station, and despite McSweeney saying he wished to remain silent after talking to a lawyer, he again incriminated himself.

At trial, Ontario court Judge Mary Teresa Devlin allowed the accuseds statements as evidence over defence objections. Devlin ruled the suspect was not detained when he confessed on the porch, and the officer was therefore not obliged to advise him of his right to speak to a lawyer immediately.

The Appeal Court disagreed, finding a reasonable observer would have considered McSweeney to have been under detention at home. In addition, the questioning at the police station was improper, the court ruled.

The state conduct was wilful and in disregard of the appellants asserted charter rights, the higher court concluded. It had a serious impact on those rights and on his attempt to exercise them.

The court ordered a new trial, saying the now-excluded confessions were important but not critical to the prosecution.

Separately, the court entered an acquittal in the case of Bilaal Mohammed, who was convicted of firearms and other offences in May 2016.

Evidence was that provincial police stopped him in a parking lot near Alfred, Ont., for a broken licence-plate light. The officer smelled marijuana and decided to investigate further, without advising Mohammed of his right to speak to a lawyer.

One officer strip-searched Mohammed in the parking lot, dropping his pants to his ankles. Police found nothing untoward. However, a search of his car turned up some cash, several cellphones, some cannabis and ammunition.

Officers then asked if he had a gun, and he said he did, strapped to his pant leg. The officers arrested him, advised him of his rights, and took him to the police station, where they searched through his cellphone.

Judge Paul Belanger convicted Mohammed of weapons and other offences related to the items police found in the car.

Mohammed appealed, arguing evidence obtained during the strip search and the searches of his car and phone should have been excluded. The prosecution agreed police violated Mohammeds rights by failing initially to advise him of his rights and questioning him for more than 20 minutes before he was able to talk to a lawyer.

The Crown conceded the strip search and search of his phone without a warrant were also serious charter breaches.

The Crowns concessions are appropriate and we accept them, the Appeal Court said in acquitting Mohammed. In our view, each of the breaches is very serious. Taken as a whole, the breaches are so egregious that the evidence must be excluded.
Salute for school board

January is School Board Recognition Month. This is a time to recognize the individuals who approach their volunteer work like it is a full-time job and with extraordinary dedication to public schools. They are citizens whose decisions affect our children and build our community.

School boards are charged with making decisions that can sometimes be quite difficult, or require sifting through a great deal of information. They contribute hundreds of hours each year leading Mt. Pleasant Public Schools. Collectively, school board members across the state spend more than 7,500 hours on professional development to keep well-informed of the latest trends in educational leadership, are deeply involved in community activities and spend many hours at extracurricular events.

Through their dedication, governance, advocacy and collaboration with other school district staff, they are building the future of education in Michigan.

This month, we encourage all members of the community to thank a board member. Please take this opportunity to show your appreciation for these servant leaders and begin to better understand how local trustees work together to prepare todays students to be tomorrows leaders.

The men and women serving Mt. Pleasant Public Schools and their years of service are:

Tim Odykirk, President  10.5 years

Beth Sorenson Prince, Vice-President  2 years

Taylor Sheahan-Stahl, Secretary  4 years

Brandon McQueen, Treasurer  8 years

Amy Bond, Trustee  New Member

Sheila Murphy, Trustee  6 years

Courtney Stegman, Trustee  New Member

On behalf of the Mt. Pleasant Public Schools, I want to share our heart-felt appreciation for our board members and their dedication to our district! Thank you! Go Oilers!

Jennifer Verleger,

Superintendent

Mt. Pleasant Public Schools
Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept in grief with hundreds of thousands of mourners thronging Tehrans streets on Monday for the funeral of military commander Qassem Soleimani, killed by a U.S. drone on U.S. President Donald Trumps orders.

The coffins of General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who also died in Fridays attack in Baghdad, were draped in their national flags and passed from hand to hand over the heads of mourners in central Tehran.

Responding to Trumps threats to hit 52 Iranian sites if Tehran retaliates for the drone strike, Irans President Hassan Rouhani pointedly wrote on Twitter: Never threaten the Iranian nation. And Soleimanis successor vowed to expel U.S. forces from the Middle East in revenge.

Khamenei, 80, led prayers at the funeral, pausing as his voice cracked with emotion. Soleimani, 62, was a national hero in Iran, even to many who do not consider themselves supporters of Irans clerical rulers.

Aerial footage showed people, many clad in black, packing thoroughfares and side streets in the Iranian capital, chanting Death to America! - a show of national unity after anti-government protests in November in which many demonstrators were killed.

The crowd, which state media said numbered in the millions, recalled the masses of people that gathered in 1989 for the funeral of the Islamic Republics founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Soleimani, architect of Irans drive to extend its influence across the Middle East, was widely seen as Irans second most powerful figure behind Khamenei.

His killing of Soleimani has prompted concern around the world that a broader regional conflict could flare.

Trump on Saturday vowed to strike 52 Iranian targets, including cultural sites, if Iran retaliates with attacks on Americans or U.S. assets, and stood by his threat on Sunday, though American officials sought to downplay his reference to cultural targets. The 52 figure, Trump noted, matched the number of U.S. Embassy hostages held for 444 days after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Rouhani, regarded as a moderate, responded to Trump on Twitter.

Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290. #IR655, Rouhani wrote, referring to the 1988 shooting down of an Iranian airline by a U.S. warship in which 290 were killed.

Trump also took to Twitter to reiterate the White House stance that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon but gave no other details.

ACTIONS WILL BE TAKEN

General Esmail Ghaani, Soleimanis successor as commander of the Quds Force, the elite unit of Irans Revolutionary Guards charged with overseas operations, promised to continue martyr Soleimanis cause as firmly as before with the help of God, and in return for his martyrdom we aim to rid the region of America.

God the Almighty has promised to take martyr Soleimanis revenge, he told state television. Certainly, actions will be taken.

Other political and military leaders have made similar, unspecific threats. Iran, which lies at the mouth of the key Gulf oil shipping route, has a range of proxy forces in the region through which it could act.

Irans demand for U.S. forces to withdraw from the region gained traction on Sunday when Iraqs parliament passed a resolution calling for all foreign troops to leave the country.

Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Abdel Abdul Mahdi told the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad on Monday that both nations needed to implement the resolution, the premiers office said in a statement. It did not give a timeline.

The United States has about 5,000 troops in Iraq.

Soleimani built a network of proxy militia that formed a crescent of influence - and a direct challenge to the United States and its regional allies led by Saudi Arabia - stretching from Lebanon through Syria and Iraq to Iran. Outside the crescent, Iran nurtured allied Palestinian and Yemeni groups.

He notably mobilised Shiite Muslim militia forces in Iraq that helped to crush Islamic State, the Sunni militant group that had seized control of swathes of Syria and Iraq in 2014.

Washington, however, blames Soleimani for attacks on U.S. forces and their allies.

The funeral moves to Soleimanis southern home city of Kerman on Tuesday. Zeinab Soleimani, his daughter, told mourners in Tehran that the United States would face a dark day for her fathers death, adding, Crazy Trump, dont think that everything is over with my fathers martyrdom.

NUCLEAR DEAL

Iran stoked tensions on Sunday by dropping all limitations on its uranium enrichment, another step back from commitments under a landmark deal with major powers in 2015 to curtail its nuclear programme that Trump abandoned in 2018.

In response, European signatories may launch a dispute resolution process against Iran this week that could lead to a renewal of the United Nations sanctions that were lifted as part of the deal, European diplomats said on Monday.

Diplomats said France, Britain and Germany could make a decision ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting on Friday that would assess whether there were any ways to salvage the deal.

After quitting the deal, the United States imposed new sanctions on Iran, saying it wanted to halt Iranian oil exports, the main source of government revenues. Irans economy has been in freefall as the currency has plunged.

Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway said on Monday that he was still confident he could renegotiate a new nuclear agreement if Iran wants to start behaving like a normal country.

Tehran has said Washington must return to the existing nuclear pact and lift sanctions before any talks can take place.

The United States advised American citizens in Israel and the Palestinian territories to be vigilant, citing the risk of rocket fire amid heightened tensions. As a U.S. ally against Iran, Israel is concerned about possible rocket attacks from Gaza, ruled by Iranian-backed Palestinian Islamists, or major Iran proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Democratic critics of Trump have said the Republican president was reckless in authorising the strike, with some saying his threat to hit cultural sites amounted to a vow to commit war crimes. Trump also threatened sanctions against Iraq and said Baghdad would have to pay Washington for an air base in Iraq if U.S. troops were required to leave.
The United Arab Emirates on Monday introduced a multiple-entry visa scheme valid for five years for all nationalities, with the aim of turning the Gulf state into a tourism hub.

"#UAE Cabinet chaired by @HHShkMohd, approves new amendment for tourist visas in #UAE," the government of Dubai Media Office tweeted, referring to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE prime minister and ruler of Dubai.

"The new tourist visa will be valid for 5 years and can be used for multiple entries and is open for all nationalities," the Dubai Media Office wrote.

Sheikh Maktoum said on Twitter that the UAE currently attracts 21 million tourists a year.

Travellers from Africa, some South American countries, Arab states outside the Gulf, and European states from outside the European Union and former Soviet Union previously needed visas.

In October, Dubai is to host Expo 2020, a big-budget global trade fair.
In buying the Public Interest Registry, Ethos Capital would acquire the rights to run dot-org and collect annual fees from the nearly 10.5 million registered dot-org names, held by both nonprofits and domain-name speculators. Those yearly fees are $10 to $20 on average, but can be far higher for big sites that buy several names to protect their brand and get added services like security against online attacks.

Opponents of the private-equity sale said they feared that to make an attractive profit on its pricey deal, Ethos Capital would have to raise prices, cut expenses, skimp on service  and most likely sell users data.

Ethos Capital said those concerns were unfounded.

In a blog post in December, Erik Brooks, the firms founder, said that we understand that change brings uncertainty and concern, which was reflected in alarmist statements.

Ethos Capital, Mr. Brooks said, wants to invest in dot-org for the reputation of the platform and the values it represents in the marketplace. He said his firm planned to build on that asset.

Big price increases have been a major concern for critics of the deal. When ICANN renewed the 10-year contract with the Public Interest Registry last year, it removed a price cap that limited price increases to 10 percent a year at most. That move was part of a broader ICANN policy to ease price controls across all internet domains.

Ethos Capital has pledged to adhere to the 10 percent cap, though it would have no contractual obligation to do so. In blog posts, the private equity firm said it planned to invest in new services and clamp down on spam, security attacks and other abuse launched from some illicit dot-org domains.

Some nonprofits worry that any cleanup effort could result in censorship, even if inadvertently. As the owner of the registry for dot-org, Ethos Capital would manage the acceptable business practices and conduct for dot-org domains. The same freedoms that open the door to extremist groups on some dot-org sites, nonprofit leaders say, also help protect free speech on public-interest dot-org sites in developing countries with authoritarian governments.
Tim Hersheys experience and industry knowledge will help us further accelerate the performance of our partners and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-changing retail landscape.

In response to continued growth and innovation in the e-commerce space, Netrush has announced the addition of Tim Hershey to the executive leadership team as the companys Chief Retail Officer.

Our retail operations are essential to how we help our partners win on Amazon and e-commerce, said Netrush CEO Brian Gonsalves. Its humbling to watch the Netrush team grow to where we are today. Tim Hersheys experience and industry knowledge will help us further accelerate the performance of our partners and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-changing retail landscape.

Hershey has over 25 years of experience working with high-profile brands including Nike, Gucci, and Gap.

As Chief Retail Officer, Hershey will support the organization by driving mutually profitable, sustainable growth for Netrush and its premium partners. Hell also be sharply focused on the growth and development of the companys high-performing brand management and sales teams.

Our brand partners already have the amazing product, said Hershey. When you take that and combine it with our expertise, theres no end to the potential of what we can do. Im excited to add my experience and knowledge to an already winning team.

Netrush is an online retailer that partners with premium brands to provide the teams, technology, strategy, and infrastructure needed to thrive on Amazon and other e-commerce platforms. With headquarters in Vancouver, Washington, and processing facilities in Kentucky and Canada, Netrush provides a full suite of capabilities ranging from supply chain to creative services that make brands stand out across the shopping journey. For more information, visit http://www.netrush.com.
This past week saw the rise of the Democrat "but" warriors. Every viable remaining presidential candidate, with the exception of Bernie Sanders, included an identical sentence construct in response to President Donald Trump's decision to erase the world's worst terrorist leader.

When "but" is employed in a sentence, particularly a political one, the wise course of action is to pay little heed to what came before it. The writer's true feelings are reflected in what follows, even if he is not quite bold enough not to include a caveat.

A few examples, focusing only on what came after that key word, illustrate this point:

Joe Biden: "... this action almost certainly will have the opposite effect (of deterring future attacks). President Trump just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox, and he owes the American people an explanation[.]"

Pete Buttigieg: "... there are serious questions about how this decision was made and whether we are prepared for the consequences[.]"

Elizabeth Warren: "... this reckless move escalates the situation with Iran and increases the likelihood of more deaths and new Middle East conflict. Our priority must be to avoid another costly war," since apparently the best way to avoid war is to project weakness and never respond.

Most of the lesser lights employed similar strategies. Sanders is crazy enough that he didn't bother with the "but," instead aiming for the jugular, aligning himself with the Squad wing that reflects the energy in the extremist party.

Warren's awkward tightrope walk again planted her squarely on her face. She came under withering fire from leftists for having the audacity to use a "but," since apparently even acknowledging the obvious reality that Qassem Soleimani was a murderer was a bridge too far. Leftists have room for only one villain, and Soleimani is not he. So she came out with follow-up reactions in which she went full Bernie. Warren's attempt to appeal to both sides of the Democrat coin, even if those sides are getting increasingly difficult to tell apart, has utterly failed.

Unless I missed it, not a single Democrat offered unequivocal support for the action.

The zeitgeist at the moment among all Democrats is that this will result in a series of tit-for-tat escalations ending in war. Up to this point, there had been a noticeable lack of tat. Likely further emboldened by the impeachment nonsense, Iran felt free to do whatever it wanted, particularly after years of being bought off by the clowns who are protesting Trump's air strike the loudest.

This was simply unsustainable. The left may have a short attention span, but Iran has been ratcheting up the provocations for some time, from the attacks on oil tankers to the vicious attack on the Saudi oil refinery. The more recent attacks were specifically focused on the U.S., from the downing of a U.S. drone to the Kataeb Hezb'allah attack on a military installation that killed an American contractor while injuring four U.S. service members. The attempt to Benghazi the embassy was the final straw.

For all intents and purposes, Iran was already at war with the U.S. in Iraq, and Soleimani was leading it. Considering he had the blood of hundreds of Americans on his hand, the real question is why the U.S. or Israeli did not take him out earlier. If reports are to be believed, President Obama actually stopped an Israeli plan to take out this murderous monster by tipping off the Iranians back in 2015.

To leave U.S. troops in Iraq while allowing the primary leader who was organizing successful attacks against them to waltz freely around the country to plan more murderous mayhem would be beyond irresponsible. This is proof that none of these Democrats is fit to be commander-in-chief.

The strike ushers in the possibility of providing a needed return to deterrence, which was long overdue.

The decision calculus for Iran is not easy. For all of the regime leadership's apocalyptic language, regime survival is a top consideration to which a miscalculation would be deadly. Nobody knows for sure how the Iranians will respond, but even more importantly, the mullahs have no idea how the president who commands the world's most powerful military force would respond to any of their provocations.

Count me among those who suspect that Iran's response will be careful and calculated, in the same way a disciplined child might stick his tongue out behind his parents' backs but wouldn't dare act openly with the sting of the punishment still at the forefront of his mind. Iran may retaliate against non-U.S. targets in the same way that same disciplined kid might take out his frustration at his punishment on a younger sibling, a far less threatening target.

The other near universal Democrat criticism, that the president did not inform them before the attack, is laughable. Even Barack Obama's Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, Jeh Johnson, admitted that Soleimani was a lawful military objective and the president had all the authority he needed to take him out.

The Democrats' newfound appreciation for the War Powers Act is a cute fraud, since it was their paragon who violated it by attacking Libya. That attack, unlike this one, was not in response to anything resembling a real threat against America. In contrast, Soleimani was an active combatant, which is beyond debate.

Leaving aside that the operation was clearly legal, the Democrats are no longer to be trusted on national security. If you believe that informing the Schiffty Democrats would not have seriously risked the operation, I have a wonderful tract of feces-free oceanfront property in Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco district to sell you.

There used to at least be a pretense of bipartisan consensus that Americans support their president during wartime regardless of political party. Those days are long gone, washed away by the complete mental breakdown of the Resistance party. When America took out Osama bin Laden under the Obama administration, Republicans were not "but" warriors. They are always more loyal as the opposition party than the Democrat-media-academia triumvirate. But when a Republican is elected president, America reverts to a house divided.

Retired general David Petraeus said the strike was "more significant than the killing of Osama bin Laden" since Soleimani was a "combination of CIA director, JSOC [Joint Special Operations Command] commander, and special presidential envoy for the region" who had "killed well over 600 American soldiers and many more of our coalition and Iraqi partners just in Iraq, as well as in many other countries such as Syria."

Patriotic Americans rejoiced. But with a Republican president in office, Democrats are simply incapable of rejoicing at positive news for Americans.

The most important observation came from the president himself.

"We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war," he said.

Don't count on the "but" warriors to understand this, since they have eyes for only one enemy, and he is not an Iranian mass murderer bent on killing Americans. To paraphrase the man who has been on the wrong side of nearly every foreign policy decision of the last half-century, putting Democrats back in charge would be like tossing a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox.

Fletch Daniels can be found on Twitter at @fletchdaniels.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Tuesday he had ordered police deployed at refineries and fuel depots to prevent planned union blockades amid the country's longest transport strike in decades.

"We are ensuring that there are no supply problems," he told RTL radio. "I don't fear any supply problems at all." The hardline CGT union has called for a four-day blockade of refineries and fuel depots starting Tuesday, raising the spectre of petrol shortages.

Philippe said that although unions have the right to strike, "the right to blockade is completely illegal, so it is not legal to blockade depots".

Of the 200-odd oil depots in France, "one or two were blockaded", he said. The prime minister said he had called on regional authorities to mobilise police to ensure the facilities remain open.

The threatened siege is part of a transport strike that began December 5 over a planned government pension overhaul.

Union leaders have said the reforms could force millions to retire later than they had planned.

French officials were to restart talks with unions on Tuesday over the reforms.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Why is unclear; perhaps young workers, facing economic desperation at an impressionable age, adopted unhealthy behaviors they had trouble shaking later on. The continued economic and social challenges they faced after the recession ended likely made adopting healthier habits harder, too. The same paper also found that these unlucky cohorts had higher divorce rates, fewer children and a persistent earnings gap with cohorts who graduated into stronger economies.
A driver attached to Olusegun Adeniyi, commander of operation Lafiya Dole, may have been killed in an attack by Boko Haram insurgents o...





A driver attached to Olusegun Adeniyi, commander of operation Lafiya Dole, may have been killed in an attack by Boko Haram insurgents on the commanders convoy.





The incident happened on Monday when Adeniyi, a major-general, was on his way back to Maiduguri after a visit to Jakana, Borno state, where the insurgents struck on Saturday.





Military sources in the area said the commander came to encourage troops to fight on, and on his way back around 7pm, the insurgents opened fire on his convoy.





It was a heavy fire, and we learnt the commanders driver may have died in the hospital, one of the sources said.









Confirming the attack, Aminu Iliyasu, army operations media coordinator, in a statement on Tuesday, said the commander led his men to repel the attack, and that wounded soldiers are responding to treatment at hospital.





The Theatre Commanders convoy came under the criminals ineffective and uncoordinated fire from Anti-Aircraft Guns, Machines Guns, Rocket Propelled Grenades and some of their foot soldiers about 2 Kilometers to Auno in Kaga LGA of Borno State while returning from Jakana where he visited troops location following his earlier meeting with the Executive Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum at Auno, he said.





In a commendable demonstration of bold action in battle, the Theatre Commander led the gallant troops of his convoy to engage the criminal Boko Haram Insurgents with superior fire power, subduing them and thereafter assaulting the ambush site with his men thereby causing the criminal insurgents to flee the location in disarray. Other senior military officers in the Theatre Commanders convoy at the time of the ambush include the Deputy Theatre Commander, Maj Gen MG Ali, Brig Gen EI Eze, Brig Gen SI Igbinomwanya and Lt AA Tejuoso.





Additionally, 20 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 2 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, one camouflage trouser, one Nigeria Police Force fragmental jacket, 2 AK 47 Rifles and 3 AK 47 Rifle magazines were captured from the fleeing insurgents. In the aftermath of the encounter, several Boko Haram criminal insurgents were decimated.Additionally, 20 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 2 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, one camouflage trouser, one Nigeria Police Force fragmental jacket, 2 AK 47 Rifles and 3 AK 47 Rifle magazines were captured from the fleeing insurgents.




Fresh off their holiday on Vancouver Island in Canada, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were all smiles as they stepped out in London on Tuesday to pay tribute to their host country.

The royal couple visited Canada House, the home of the High Commission of Canada to the U.K., to show their appreciation for what the couples office said was the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay.

As they thanked the staff inside, Meghan revealed that Archie was in awe of the natural beauty of Canada.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also chatted with well-wishers and employees who gathered outside to greet them.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty

Meghan said it was beautiful, says Jamie Weare, from Ontario. They seemed really relaxed and happy.

Harry said it was raining a lot of the time in Vancouver, Weare adds  but one of her colleagues pointed out that the prince laughed so he may have been joking.

RELATED: Archies First Christmas! Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Release Holiday Card Starring 7-Month-Old Son

Adds her colleague Sumira Osmin, They are just beautiful and just their aurathey are always so positive and very friendly.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty

Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, spent their first holiday season as a family of three with son Archie, 8 months, on Vancouver Island. The palace confirmed that the family were spending private family time in Canada ahead of Christmas.

The couple have history with the North American country, which is part of the Commonwealth, a group of nations with close ties to the Crown. Meghan called Toronto home for years while she filmed her hit USA legal drama Suits, and she was living there when she and Harry first began dating. The couples first public appearance together was in support of Harrys Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Samir Hussein/WireImage

The couple were joined by Meghans mother, Doria Ragland, on their trip, as well as a few close friends, including Meghans former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer and actress Janina Gavankar. Spencer also joined the couple on a New Years Day hike at Horth Hill Regional Park, where the royal mom helped a couple struggling to take a selfie.

Story continues

Prince Harry with son Archie | Sussex Royals

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She was super friendly and down to earth, says Asymina Kantorowicz, 29, who was attempting to use a selfie stick with her boyfriend Iliya Pavlovic, 29, when Meghan approached. She was just enjoying her New Years hike with her husband and friend. She and Harry seemed really happylike a happy newly married couple.

Janice Charette, High Commissioner in Canada to the U.K. said she was thrilled the couple had been able to relax and enjoy the area around Vancouver Island.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/POOL/AFP via Getty

The fact that they were able to be there for an extended period of time and be able to enjoy themselves without people coming and invading their space. I am thrilled about that, she said.

Of the couples tour of Canada House, she said: It was a great visit with their Royal Highnesses. It was a chance to catch up and hear a bit about their visit to Canada and their holidays and their impressions. And also talk a bit about what they see in terms of their priorities for the next year. Theres a lot of areas where they have interest which are also priorities for Canada.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  President Rodrigo Duterte ordered top Philippine officials to travel to the Middle East and check the welfare of Filipinos and overseas Filipino workers in the region amid the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Tuesday said that during the Cabinet meeting on Monday, Duterte tasked Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu  his former special envoy to the Middle East  to fly to the region immediately to lay the groundwork for the evacuation of the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos in the conflict areas.

The President also directed Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Abdullah Mamao to head to Iran and Iraq on Tuesday to talk to the governments. He was asked to deliver an urgent message from Duterte to keep all Filipinos safe amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran following a U.S. airstrike on January 3 that killed Tehrans top general, Qasem Soleimani, in Iraq.

Philippine troops are already preparing to bring home Filipinos from the affected countries in the event an armed or military warfare happens between US and Iran.

A special working committee was also created to draw up measures for the repatriation of Filipinos. Included in the group are Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Interior Chief Eduardo Ano, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddyboy Locsin, Labor Chief Silvestre Bello III, and Transportation head Arthur Tugade. Duterte instructed concerned government agencies to prepare for back up plans for those who will be displaced due to the conflict.

Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos residing and working in the Middle East will be affected in case of a forced repatriation. There are 1,006 registered Filipinos in Iran, who are mostly permanent residents with their family members, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. It added there are also 50 documented Filipino workers in the country. In Iraq, there are currently 1,190 documented and 450 undocumented Filipinos. Meanwhile, there is a total of 237,615 Filipinos in Kuwait.

"PRRD likewise directed the appropriate government instrumentalities to prepare for contingencies that will absorb displaced workers to government projects so as to prevent the economic dislocation of their families upon their return," Panelo said in a statement.

The President earlier suggested that Congress convene a special session to create a standby fund in case Filipino workers in Iran need to be repatriated.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : After a fringe group by the name of Hindu Raksha Dal claimed responsibility for Sunday's violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi Police has said that the claim is being investigated.

The self proclaimed chief of the fringe outfit Bhupendra Tomar alias Pinky Chaudhary released a video to claim that the outfit's workers barged into the JNU campus to stop 'anti-national and anti-Hindu activities'.

"JNU is a hub of communists and we won't tolerate such hubs. They abuse our religion and our country. Their attitude towards our religion is anti-national. In future, too, we will take the same action in other universities if someone tries to indulge in anti-national activities," Tomar said in the video.

After the video went viral and Hindu Raksha Dal started trending on Twitter, the Delhi Police took note of the matter. About the masked men in JNU creating violence, police said that they are taking the help of video footage as well as face recognition system to identify the culprits.

Jawaharlal Nehru University witnessed widespread violence this Sunday evening which left many students, including girls, and teachers injured. Two office-bearers of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU), including President Aishe Ghosh - who was reportedly hit over her eye with an iron rod, received severe injuries.

While the left unions have blamed ABVP so far, the RSS-linked students union has counter blamed the Left.

The JNU has limped back to normalcy after the violence but a sense of fear still prevails in the campus.
Geometry, WPPs end-to-end Creative Commerce agency, appoints Jesse Lin as its APAC CEO, effective immediately. A 25-year industry veteran, Jesse will lead over 1,100 employees across 17 cities to deliver creative solutions and experiences that drive commercial growth everywhere commerce touches peoples lives. Based in Shanghai, he will report directly to Global CEO Beth Ann Kaminkow.

Commenting on the appointment, Beth Ann Kaminkow stated, I am thrilled to welcome Jesse to Geometry at a critical moment in our agencys story. With a proven track record of driving transformation for other world-class organizations in the APAC region, hes perfectly suited to deliver growth locally and globally for those clients navigating the new retail opportunities that the region presents. Jesses passion for commerce and his home-base of Shanghai places him in our priority China market which is leading in retail innovation.

Jesse succeeds Diana Cawley as she leaves the company to seek new opportunities.

Wed like to thank Diana for her genuine commitment to Geometry these past four years. Diana has been a master operator of a complex regional landscape. Under her leadership, the region has become a strong and connected network focused on nurturing creativity to drive commercial growth for clients. We wish her all the best on her next adventure.

Commenting on the appointment, Ranjit Raina Chief Executive Officer, Geometry Encompass, We are glad to welcome Jesse Lin as part of our Geometry family. He is a seasoned and accomplished professional who has been responsible for great work in the past and Im sure his extensive expertise will be a huge contributing factor to our growth.

Jesse brings to Geometry over 25 years of experience across business management, brand marketing, digital marketing, and communications. He joins Geometry from Edelman where he served as APAC CEO, successfully transforming the traditional PR agency into a modern communication organization with brand and digital capabilities.

Before Edelman, he worked for McCann Greater China as CEO, and prior to that held senior positions at DDB Shanghai, Wieden + Kennedy China, and Leo Burnette Hong Kong.

On his new role, Jesse comments, Today the relationship between brand and consumer is increasingly dynamic and fragmented, particularly in retail. To maintain relevance and drive business growth, marketers are constantly seeking out fresh and effective solutions from their agency partners. Geometry has demonstrated a willingness to innovate through its vision of commerce as a ripe canvas for creativity. I am very excited and honored to join this entrepreneurial team. APAC is full of energy, optimism, and opportunity. I look forward to partnering with our Asian teams driving more innovation and success from this region.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump discussed the Iran situation in a phone call on Tuesday, after serious escalation in tensions between Tehran and Washington in the past few days.

The recent developments have alarmed India due to the possible fallout on its strategic port development project at Chabahar in Iran, which provides sea-land connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.

Sources confirmed that the situation arising from Iran-US tensions was discussed between the two leaders. Apart from spiralling oil prices that are a global concern, any adverse impact of the current tensions on the Chabahar project may badly hit Indian strategic interests and connectivity to the central Asian region.

Both leaders may have therefore put forth their respective national positions. While the US is seeking the isolation of Iran and support for the recent American actions, New Delhi is instead pushing for peace, stability and security in this region which is of utmost importance to India and reduction in tensions so that the Chabahar project is not jeopardised.

A statement issued by the White House mentioned that regional security matters were reviewed, while a statement on the phone call issued by New Delhi mentioned only the strategic partnership between the two nations and bilateral ties built on trust, mutual respect and understanding, (that) have grown from strength to strength.

In the statement, the White House said, Today, President Donald J. Trump spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to exchange New Years greetings. The leaders discussed ways to further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership in 2020, and they also reviewed the regional security matters.

In its statement from New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with His Excellency Mr Donald Trump, President of the United States to convey New Year greetings. The Prime Minister stated the India-US relations, which are built on trust, mutual respect and understanding, have grown from strength to strength. Prime Minister highlighted the significant progress made in deepening the Strategic Partnership between the two countries in the previous year and expressed his desire to continue to work with President Trump for enhancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. President Trump expressed satisfaction at the achievements in the relationship in last few years and reiterated his readiness for further deepening bilateral cooperation.

Ties between the US and Iran had plummeted further after the US assassinated Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in the Iraqi Capital Baghdad last week.
A fringe right-wing group, Hindu Raksha Dal,



has purportedly taken responsibility for the attack on JNU students in a video posted on social media.

The video, which was posted on social media on Monday and has gone viral since,



shows a man identifying himself as Pinki Chaudhary saying that those who resort to "anti-national activities" will be treated in the same way that JNU students and faculty were.

He later told channels that others involved in "anti-national activities" will face similar attacks.

There was no immediate reaction from the police on Chaudhury's claims.

"For several years, JNU has been a bastion of communists and we will not tolerate it. Hindu Raksha Dal, Bhupendra Tomar, Pinki Chaudhury take the responsibility of what has happened in JNU...all of them were our volunteers. Those who cannot do such work for Mother India don't have the right to live in this country," Chaudhary was seen as saying in the video.

"We are always ready to sacrifice our lives for Mother India. We will not tolerate anyone who speaks against the religion," he added.

Efforts to reach out to Chaudhary were unsuccessful with his phone switched off.

More than 35 students were injured on Sunday when a masked mob went on the rampage, attacking students and professors and vandalising property.

The JNUSU has accused the RSS-affiliated ABVP volunteers of attacking the students.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft returned to Earth today (Jan. 7) after a monthlong cargo delivery trip to the International Space Station for NASA.

Astronauts on the space station released the Dragon CRS-19 spacecraft into space with the outpost's robotic arm, bidding farewell to a spacecraft that delivered more than 5,700 lbs. (2,585 kilograms) of NASA supplies last month. Dragon left the station at 5:05 a.m. EST (1005 GMT) and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at about 10:41 a.m. EST (1541 GMT). SpaceX confirmed Dragon's successful return to Earth in a Twitter update five minutes after the scheduled splashdown.

"It's been really an honor and incredibly, incredibly rewarding to be here working with this Dragon, both for the capture and for the release," Luca Parmitano, a European Space Agency astronaut and commander of the station's current Expedition 61 crew, said as Dragon left the station today. "We know that together with Dragon we are sending down not only viable science, but also a little bit of our lives up here. And so, it's really been nice. Thank you so much."

Video: See SpaceX's Dragon CRS-19 Arrival in this Awesome Time-Lapse View

Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: NASA TV) A SpaceX CRS-19 cargo ship departs the International Space Station on Jan. 7, 2020 to end the company's 19th resupply mission for NASA. Image 2 of 3 (Image credit: NASA TV) The uncrewed Dragon CRS-19 cargo ship made its third delivery mission to the space station for NASA on this flight. It previously launched the CRS-4 in 2014 and CRS-11 in 2017. Image 3 of 3 (Image credit: NASA TV) The view from SpaceX's CRS-19 cargo ship, showing the International Space Station as Dragon pulled away from the orbiting lab on Jan. 7, 2020.

Splashdown of Dragon confirmed, completing this spacecrafts third mission to and from the @space_station!January 7, 2020 See more

During Dragon's departure, the spacecraft's maneuvers near the station appear to have affected the solar arrays of another commercial cargo ship, the Cygnus-12 spacecraft built by Northrop Grumman, docked at an nearby port.

"Hey, we noticed that while the jets were firing for the departure burn two, the blast from the engines was shaking quite vigorously the solar panels of Cygnus-12," Parmitano radioed Mission Control as Dragon left the station.

Cygnus-12 arrived at the station in November and is parked at the station's Earth-facing port non Unity node, while Dragon was linked to an Earth-facing port on the Harmony node. The two nodes are separated by NASA's bus-size Destiny module, which is 28 feet (8.5 meters) long.

This NASA graphic shows the locations of SpaceX's CRS-19 Dragon spacecraft and the Cygnus-12 spacecraft before the Jan. 7, 2020 departure of Dragon from the International Space Station. (Image credit: NASA)

NASA spokesperson Dan Huot of the Johnson Space Center in Houston said ground teams are monitoring the Cygnus-12 spacecraft, which has been docked to the station since November, to make sure all is well.

"They do a lot of analysis anytime vehicles are coming and going to and from the International Space Station," Huot said of NASA ground teams during live TV commentary. "So, they'll just go off and make sure that there were no impacts to the Cygnus spacecraft."

SpaceX launched Dragon to the station on Dec. 5, with the spacecraft arriving at the orbiting lab three days later. Packed among its basic supplies were more than 2,100 lbs. (952 kg) of gear for 38 different experiments, including a "mighty mice" experiment to study bone and muscle loss in space, a "robot hotel" for the outpost's two free-flying Robotic External Leak Locators and a space beer experiment by Budweiser to see how barley seeds grow in space.

SpaceX and Northrop Grumman hold mutibillion-dollar contracts to fly commercial cargo missions to the station for NASA using their Dragon and Cygnus spacecraft, respectively. The Dragon CRS-19 mission is SpaceX's 19th mission for NASA under that deal.

The CRS-19 Dragon has also visited the space station before. This mission marked the spacecraft's third mission to the space station, the most ever for a single Dragon spacecraft. SpaceX marks its veteran Dragon cargo ships with a space station image for each supply run it makes.

In addition to its uncrewed Dragon cargo missions, SpaceX has built a Crew Dragon version capable of flying astronauts for NASA. The first crewed flight of a Crew Dragon is expected to occur later this year, but only after SpaceX performs a critical In-Flight Abort test flight of the spacecraft's emergency escape system.

That abort launch test is currently scheduled for no earlier than Jan. 18, NASA officials said Monday (Jan. 6).

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Instagram.
Along with a new year, coffee drinkers in Michigan will have a new flavor option at Starbucks locations across the state as Michigan is one of a handful of states to be selected for the new oatmilk milk alternative in their favorite coffee drinks.

The non-dairy option is available at 1,300 Starbucks locations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin according to a news release from the company. Oatmilk is described as having a mild flavor and velvety foam according to the company.

When I think about oats and winter, its very natural to pair honey with oats, said product developer Raegan Powell . Just think of a lightly sweetened oatmeal cookie or warm bowl of oatmeal.

Along with the oatmilk option, Starbucks introduced the Oatmilk Honey Latte. Made with the companys Blonde Espresso which is infused with Honey Blend and the steamed oatmilk, its finished off with a honey topping.

Customers are looking for more ways to personalize their beverages, Powell said. We love how the nuanced flavor you get with plant-based milks pairs with espresso, either hot or iced. Its a new way to start your new year.
T he number of children banished from mainstream schools to pupil referral units for bad behaviour could be more than twice the official permanent exclusion figure, the Evening Standard can reveal today.

In contrast to the Department for Educations figure of 7,900 permanent exclusions, our investigation reveals that about 16,000 children were sent to PRUs or alternative provision (AP) in England in 2017-18.

This figure is supported as a best estimate by the Centre for Social Justice, which analysed the data and found that the official number understates the true position.

The Standard first observed a discrepancy between the official record and reality when we visited several PRUs and APs in London and found that in some cases just 10 per cent of students on the roll of PRUs had been permanently excluded, with 90 per cent sent there on a managed move.

Managed moves are neither tracked by the DfE nor recorded in their statistics and can be a way for schools to move troublesome pupils off their rolls without being branded a high-excluding school.

The Standard is running a week-long investigation into school exclusions / NIGEL HOWARD 

PRU headteachers seldom speak out, but one London PRU head  90 per cent of whose pupils are on managed moves  said: In the overwhelming majority of cases, a managed move to a PRU is exactly the same as a permanent exclusion.

Schools are not obliged to report to the DfE the number of managed moves to a PRU, so you can see why it might be an attractive fudge for some headteachers at mainstream schools who are desperate to keep their permanent exclusions artificially low.

On the first day of our special investigation into school exclusions yesterday, the Standard reported on the links between the rise in children being permanently excluded and county lines drug gangs and knife crime.

The scale of the managed moves problem was hinted at in a report published by the Education Policy Institute in October called Unexplained pupil exits from schools in which it estimated a total of 8,874 managed moves for pupils starting secondary school in 2012 and finishing GCSEs in 2017.

The Centre for Social Justice analysis of the data found that 5,589 of these managed moves were to PRUs or AP, rather than to other mainstream schools.

When the 5,589 figure is added to the 4,500 official permanent exclusion data for the 2012-17 cohort, the new total of 10,089 amounts to 2.2 times the official DfE figure for permanent exclusions.

Applying this 2.2 ratio to the official 2017-18 figure of 7,900 permanent exclusions suggests that a more accurate permanent exclusion figure for 2017-18 would be more than 16,000.

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Cath Murray, AP lead at the Centre for Social Justice, said: Managed moves to AP are basically permanent exclusions by another name.

"This is why the CSJ is calling on the Government to change how it publishes exclusions data.

"In addition to a permanent exclusion rate, it should publish a combined rate that includes all moves into AP.

"Its a simple change for the DfE, but one that would remove the incentive for local authorities, schools or multi-academy trusts to use administrative tricks to hide whats going on.

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Soon-to-be published CSJ data reveals Waltham Forest and Tower Hamlets have among the lowest permanent exclusion rates in London, but also that this masks the true position as they are the second and third highest excluding boroughs, after Islington, when managed moves to AP are factored in.

A DfE spokesman acknowledged that the system needs to change, saying: The threat of exclusion must never be used to influence parents to remove their child from school.

"We will shortly be revising our guidance to offer further clarity on behaviour and exclusions, including on the practice of managed moves.
OTTAWAJustin Trudeau is sporting a new, more serious look to go with his more businesslike approach to being prime minister.

He has returned from more than two weeks vacation in Costa Rica with a salt-and-pepper beard.

Trudeaus new look was revealed in a photo posted Monday on Instagram by his official photographer, Adam Scotti.

Trudeau later tweeted another photo showing him and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan being briefed by military officials on developments in Iraq.

Its not clear whether the beard is here to stay, at least for a while, or just the temporary result of not bothering to shave while on vacation  the Prime Ministers Office offered no immediate comment on the matter.

But for now at least, Trudeau is the first prime minister to sport a full beard since Mackenzie Bowell, who served from 1894 to 1896.

Trudeau has exhibited a fondness for facial hair in the past.

In younger days, including when he was first elected as an MP, he sported a variety of moustaches, goatees and the occasional beard, along with longer, more unruly hair. Critics carped from time to time that he looked like a pirate or a drug lord.

But since being elected Liberal leader in 2013, Trudeau has resolutely stuck to short locks and a clean-shaven face  until now.

His new beard is neatly trimmed and flecked liberally with grey. It seems to match Trudeaus stated intention to take a lower profile, more businesslike approach to his second mandate, keeping the focus on concrete bread-and-butter initiatives and shifting the spotlight to his team of cabinet ministers.
The Anglican Communions Director for Communications, Gavin Drake, outlines a new strategy and direction for the Communications department of the Anglican Communion Office.

What is happening in the Anglican Communion?

If you believe some reports, the Communion is about to implode and tear itself apart in a major schism. That is the message of a handful of bloggers and commentators (most of whom arent part of the Anglican Communion). Rather than report the truth, they campaign against the Anglican Communion.

In my role, I get to see, hear and experience the Anglican Communion first hand through visits to different parts of the Communion, and by speaking to the many primates and hundreds of bishops, clergy and laity, who pass through the Anglican Communion Office (ACO) in London each year. They  the members of the Anglican Communion  tell a different story.

Yes, there are differences; but there is also a deep desire to work and pray together; to support each other in evangelism, witness and discipleship; to campaign as one on issues such as climate change and the environment, on trafficking and modern slavery, and on education and healthcare.

I am determined to reclaim the narrative of the Anglican Communion and to ensure that this truer picture of the life of our member churches emerges.

To do that, we are introducing some changes. Firstly, the Anglican Communion News Service (ACNS)  this website  will actually report less stories each week. Rather than trying to write three-or-four stories per day, we will concentrate on three or four per week. This means that we can put more effort into researching articles, especially from parts of the Communion with less developed communications strategies.

This also means that ALL of our coverage will now be translated in full into French, Spanish and Portuguese. Previously, speakers of these languages were restricted to a short weekly bulletin of news in their language. ACNS has also launched new Twitter accounts in French, Spanish and Portuguese.

And our blogs will change too. Like this one, the majority of blogs in future will come from my colleagues at the ACO who will be able to report first hand on the work they are doing in partnership with Anglican Churches around the world.

Other blogs will be written by the primates of the Anglican Communion: the Anglican Cycle of Prayer lists dioceses of the Communion six days a week. On Sundays, we pray mainly for Provinces. We have asked all primates to write a brief introduction to their province and provide prayer pointers, to help us to pray together for each other with knowledge.

Each blog  together with our news articles  will be published on Tuesdays in future. This is designed to help weekly Christian publications pick up on stories we publish and use them in their own publications, which are typically published on Fridays.

That is part of a new effort to work more closely with religious and secular publications and broadcasters. Through ACNS we can tell our stories, but through independent news media we can reach far more people.

We have installed a radio facility in our London office  through it we can connect to radio broadcasters around the world for down-the-line broadcast quality contributions.

But we arent relying solely on external media: we will publish more videos  including live interviews  to tell the story of the Anglican Communion.

This year, the 15th Lambeth Conference will take place in Canterbury, England. The Anglican Communions detractors will use it to step up their attacks. I pray that our improved communications activities will help reclaim the narrative so that the truth can be more clearly heard and seen.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants to see more action on land clearing and hazard-reduction burns, but experts warn burns are ineffective against extreme fires such as the destructive blazes seen this summer.

They also say Australia is carrying out more prescribed burning than in previous decades and to do much more would lead to heavy smoke affecting communities throughout winter.

National Parks and Wildlife Service staff burning containment lines ahead of the fire front at Burrill Lake on Sunday. Credit:Dean Lewins.

Speaking at the weekend about the need to reduce fuel loads in forests, Mr Morrison said there was time before the next scheduled meeting of the Council of Australian Governments "to bring forward some immediate steps and for those to be considered by premiers before moving to broader-scale reviews".

"You've got to deal with hazard management in national parks ... this, of course, will be one of the things that we will consider when premiers come together after they've been dealing with the fires," he said.
India is home to one of the largest film industries in the world. As a programme genre, feature films/ movies are the largest contributors to television viewership at 30 per cent, followed by drama/ soaps at 25 per cent. The strong affinity for movies makes it a mainstay in most media plans.

Among all the markets in India, South India makes and consumes movies on a large scale vis-a-vis the other parts of the country. The per capita per annum consumption of respective regional movies range from a whopping 415 hours in Andhra Pradesh/ Telangana to 206 hours in Karnataka. In comparison, Hindi movies in HSM clock 125 hours of per capita perannum consumption. Four South languages account for 32 per cent of airtime of all movies on television. And along with dubbed movies, most of which are from South, the number rises to 42 per cent.

The Broadcast Audience Research Councils (BARC) latest THiNK Newsletter, titled Viewership of Movies in South India, focuses on the performance of movies in the states of Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh/ Telangana, Tamil Nadu/ Pondicherry.

Giving a breakdown of the movie content screened on television between the months November 2018 and October 2019, BARC states that during this period, 17 per cent of the content aired was movie content. Individually, Hindi content contributes the most in terms of supply of movie content (23 per cent of total movies duration telecast) and well as total movie viewership (31 per cent), movies in the four South languages combined are higher in both areas, contributing to 32 per cent of total movies telecast and 35 per cent of overall movie viewership. Out of the total 193 channels that telecast movies on television, more than half (104) belong to the 4 South languages.

A total 859K hours was the combined run time of movies on the small screen in the last 12 month period from November 2018 to October 2019. Movies originating from the South clocked 135 billion hours of viewing minutes annually, which is 2.6 billion hours per week on an average. In terms of duration of movies on television, 43 per cent of movies belonged to South: Telugu (11%), Tamil (9%), Kannada (6.1%) and Malayalam (5.6%); dubbed Hindi movies contributed 11 per cent.

Out of the 4.9 million programming hours on television annually, movies clocked 17 per cent of airtime in the same period. The contribution of movies to total programming content varies across languages. South languages are higher in terms of movie contribution at 23 per cent.

South languages movies contribute to 42 per cent viewership from 23 per cent airtime, which is much higher than the 30 per cent pan India contribution of movies.

South viewership is different on many counts due to:

Average daily tune-ins in each of the Southern states is higher than the national average.

Number of channels showing movies is higher than other regional languages.

Regional language viewership share is highest in the Southern states.

Almost half of total unique titles (12,429 out of 26,143) aired are from the 4 South languages.

In the South megacities like Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, movies commanded 7.02 per cent of the total TV viewership. Premium South audiences love their Telugu and Tamil content, with English content coming third in terms of viewership.
PHOENIX - An elected official in metro Phoenix resigned Tuesday, months after being charged with running a human smuggling operation that paid pregnant women from the Marshall Islands to give up their babies in the U.S.

The resignation of Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen came after leaders in the one of the nations most populous counties suspended and pressured him to resign after his arrest nearly three months ago. The countys governing board voted in late December to start the process of removing Petersen, who also works as an adoption attorney.

He is accused of illegally paying women from the Pacific island nation to come to the United States to give up their babies in at least 70 adoption cases in Arizona, Utah and Arkansas over three years. Citizens of the Marshall Islands have been prohibited from travelling to the U.S. for adoption purposes since 2003.

In a statement released by his attorneys, Petersen proclaimed his innocence and said he never neglected his duties as assessor, responsible for determining the property values in the county. The Republican said county officials and news organizations presumed he was guilty.

My focus now turns to defending the allegations against me, Petersen said.

He is charged with human smuggling in Utah and Arkansas and defrauding Arizonas Medicaid system by $800,000 by submitting false applications for the women to receive state-funded health coverage.

Authorities say the women who went to Utah to give birth received little or no prenatal care. They also said Petersen and his associates took passports from the pregnant women while they were in the U.S. to assert more control over them.

Petersen has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Arizona and Arkansas. He hasnt yet entered a plea in Utah.

His attorneys have said Petersen ran a legal adoption practice and has been vilified before his side of the story comes out. They had argued that the county governing board had no basis for suspending him.

County Supervisor Steve Gallardo said Petersen has only himself to blame for his actions. He took advantage of these vulnerable women for his own personal greed, and he did it on county time, Gallardo said.

Kory Langhofer, one of Petersens attorneys, said his client had to choose between focusing his time and money on holding onto his office or preserving his liberty. Its an unfair choice, but he has ultimately chosen to focus on the criminal allegations, rather than his job, Langhofer said.

Petersen previously rejected calls to resign and was fighting his 120-day unpaid suspension.

Thousands of files related to his adoption business were discovered on his government laptop, cementing the boards push to remove him. Content recovered on the laptop included text messages of pregnant women being threatened when they changed their minds about giving up their newborns.

Petersen, who was paid $77,000 a year in his government job, won a 2014 special election to be assessor and was re-elected in 2016. His term was scheduled to expire at the end of the year.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christs of Latter-day Saints, he completed a proselytizing mission in the Marshall Islands, a collection of atolls and islands in the eastern Pacific.

Lynwood Jennet, who was accused of helping Petersen in the scheme, pleaded guilty last month in Arizona to helping arrange state-funded health coverage for the expectant mothers, even though the women didnt live in the state. She has agreed to testify against Petersen.
A four-year-old Brazilian girl was found alive after surviving five days alone in a rainforest by eating fruit and drinking river water.

Ana Vitoria Soares Cardosa went missing on 29th December in a rural area of the Rio Maniva community, in northern Brazil.

She had last been seen playing with her eight-year-old sister in a canoe. After she went missing her family feared she had drowned because she did not know how to swim.

Ana Vitoria Soares Cardoso is seen in this photo not long after she was found alive in a forest in northern Brazil. She had survived five days alone and lost by eating fruit and drinking river water

The four-year-old had gone missing on 29th December in the Rio Maniva community, in a rural area (pictured in the map above) in northern Brazil

They called emergency services, and three divers were called to help in the search and rescue.

Local fire chief Rosivaldo Andrade told reporters they scoured the river for days looking for the young girl who was thought to have drowned.

'The information given by her relatives made us believe that she could have died and that she could have not gone to the forest.'

The young girl, who was found dehydrated with a few scrapes and bruises, appears to have come through her ordeal relatively unscathed. She is being treated in a local hospital but is expected to make a full recovery

Despite her ordeal the girl, four, is seen looking relatively well as she plays with a balloon while undergoing treatment at a local hospital

But on January 2 the 4-year-old, one of nine children, was found by her cousin, in the forest, two kilometres from where she had first gone missing.

Andrade said it was fortunate she was found.

'There were no dangerous animals in the area to attack, but this does not change the risk the forest poses, from cutting yourself, tripping, scrapes, the risk of the water, the cold, infections,' he said.

'She went through tremendous difficulty.'

Her mother, Rosilete de Souza Soares, told local media her daughter had survived by eating fruit and drinking water from a stream in the forest

Search and rescue efforts had been focused around the river, with most believing the little girl, who could not swim, had drowned as she had last been seen playing in a canoe with her older sister

Her mother Rosilete de Souza Soares told reporters she survived by 'eating fruit and drinking from a stream'.

The mother added: 'She was sitting on a trunk, but she was unable to walk. A cousin found her.'

She was taken to hospital in the town of Santana in the neighbouring state of Amapa where she remains under observation, but is expected to make a full recovery.
Mourners who attended the funeral mass of the late Marian Finucane at Saint Brigids Church, Kill in Kildare, earlier today, Tuesday, January 7, heard that the nation has lost a skilled broadcaster, while her family have lost a treasured wife, mother, step-mother, sister, friend and mother-in-law.

The chief celebrant of the Mass was Monsignor Ciaran OCarroll, rector of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, who told the congregation that Marian, who passed away suddenly last week, was blessed with energy, dynamism, determination, passion, empathy and kindness as well as a boundless curiosity about life and the world.

The late Marian Finucane

He said that she had to carry the cross of bereavement, with the loss of her beloved daughter Sinead, 8, in 1990, which she did with dignity. In turn, she became a huge supporter of the hospice movement, both at home and in South Africa. She had a quiet generosity and worked abundantly for charity throughout her life.

"She was a presence in thousands of homes each weekend, and it was in the peace of her own home that she was called unexpectedly to her eternal rest."

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pictured with Fine Gael senator Anthony Lawlor at the church in Kill for the funeral mass of broadcaster Marian Finucane

The concelebrants were Bishop Eamonn Walsh, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Dublin, and Father Willie OByrne, Parish Priest of Kill, while the mourners included the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar and fellow RTE stalwarts Ryan Tubridy, Clare Byrne and Miriam O'Callaghan.

The eulogy was delivered by her son Jack, who recently married his wife Jennifer. The couple are due to become parents next month.

"Many people across the length and breadth of the country have their own experience with mum - my version is of a mother, wife, friend, step-mother, colleague and neighbour. She was a shy lady who was as happy reading a book or sitting around talking with friends into the small hours, sorting out the world's problems one dinner party at a time. She was a classy lady with soul in the true sense of the word," he said.

Jack said his mother was patient, compassionate and great company, adding that she was deeply protective of her family.

"She was not strict but she would let me know if she thought I was being foolish," he said. "She expected a great effort and gave me a lot of freedom in return. Respect was deserved not just earned but there was always room for improvement and nobody was all good and nobody is all bad."

He told the mourners that his mother also had courage in her work as an activist, and one of her favourite songs was Revolution by the Beatles.

"Her activism and charity work were real because she lived the problems that she tried to fix. She stepped up to life's challenges publicly and lived them privately."

He said that she would always advise him to find within people their humanity, to stand up straight and look them in the eye and "go from there".

Jack concluded that his mother's legacy would be to live a life well travelled, full of courage, curiosity and kindness.

Marian's husband John Clarke then stood up and spoke about his love of 40 years. He said Marian was, for him, a woman who "made the colours brighter and the world a bit easier to live in".

"Last December she decided to retire and we were so excited we would have more time, more books to read, more places to see but sadly that is not going to happen. Someone said were were like two 15-year-olds addicted to each other and I can't deny it. Some weeks ago were were in a township in South Africa and a very old black woman said to us that the only thing she can give us is her tears. That is all I can give you today too."

Fittingly, The Bright Lady, with Peter Browne on uileann pipes played as Marian's coffin entered the church and the final musical piece was Mo Ghile Mear, the chorus of which was sang by the congregation as she was taken to her final resting place.

Burial took place privately after the Mass.
Police officers rescued a family of three after a Christmas tree caught fire inside their apartment early Tuesday, authorities say.

Newberg-Dundee police said heavy smoke kept officers from accessing the apartment, 1110 S. River St. in Newberg. So the officers drove a patrol car to the back of the apartment and used it as a platform to reach the family members, who were trapped on the second floor.

Officers then helped the trio  a mother and her two kids  to the ground.

Firefighters showed up moments later, searched the apartment and extinguished the fire, according to police.

The family members werent hurt. They were displaced, however, because of fire and smoke damage. The American Red Cross will help them with temporary housing, police said.

A baseboard heater ignited the Christmas tree, causing the fire.

Cause of the fire was determined to be accidental and due to a baseboard heater that ignited a Christmas tree. This is a good reminder for everyone to recycle your tree (they dry out quickly) and ensure there are no combustibles within at least three feet of any heating devices.  TVF&R (@TVFR) January 7, 2020

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just returned from holiday break, and they look better than ever.

Earlier today, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended their first royal engagement of 2020 and paid a visit to Canada House in London.

While there, Prince Harry and Markle met with Janice Charette, the High Commissioner in Canada to the U.K, as well as staff members who provided them with warm hospitality during their recent trip to Canada.

The royal couple also stopped by the Canada Gallery, where they met members of the High Commission and browsed a special exhibition by Indigenous Canadian artist Skawennati.

During the outing, Markle wore a tan wool coat by Stella McCartney, which features a collared neckline, button details andwait for itpockets. The piece retails for $1,150. Cha-ching!

The duchess accessorized the look with a turtleneck, brown satin skirt and velvet pumps by Jimmy Choo. Markle has the Oxid color, which is currently out of stock. But have no fear: Nordstrom has a variety of different hue options, which retail for $595.

This isnt the first time Prince Harry and Markle visited the Canada House in London. Back in March 2019, the duke and duchess visited the historic building in celebration of Commonwealth Day. Two months after the visit, Markle gave birth to the couples first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

The royals partnership with Canada House holds a special place in Markles heart, since she used to live in Toronto while filming Suits.

If she only knew shed be the guest of honor a few years later.

RELATED: Listen to Royally Obsessed, the Podcast for People Who Love the Royal Family

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PHOENIX, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CopperPoint Insurance Companies, a western-based super regional commercial insurance company, announced Brad Lontz has joined the company as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer.



Brad is a seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience working in insurance, financial services, supply chain and consulting organizations, said Scott Shader, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He has spent his entire career focused on delivering profitable growth through business and technology alignment, organizational development, technology strategy and project delivery. We are excited to see the impact he will make for the CopperPoint family of companies at this important time in our growth and product diversification strategy.

Brad will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day IT operations for CopperPoints growing family of insurance companies: CopperPoint, Pacific Compensation Insurance Company and Alaska National Insurance Company, as well as leading the organizations technology roadmaps across numerous systems and throughout the companys 10-state footprint in the western United States. He will be instrumental in leading the strategic build and deployment of Policy, Billing, Claims and Digital for the CopperPoint platform.

Most recently, Brad served as the Chief Information Officer for the California Dental Association where he worked to improve the companys information technology program execution, transform its insurance operation, launch a new e-commerce distribution business and improve technology agility across the organization. Previously, he held the title of Chief Information Officer for Nautilus Insurance, a national multi-line insurance firm. He also spent eight years at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in several IT management and development roles of increasing responsibility.

Brad attended Purdue University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering. He earned his MBA from Indiana University. He served as the Vice President of the AZ Society of Information Management and is a member of the CIO Group.

About CopperPoint Insurance Companies

Founded in 1925, CopperPoint Insurance Companies, www.copperpoint.com , is a western-based super regional commercial insurance company and a leading provider of workers compensation and commercial insurance solutions. With an expanded line of insurance products and a growing 10 state footprint in the western United States, CopperPoint is in a strong position to meet the evolving needs of our brokers, agents and customers. It has $5 billion in total assets and an enterprise surplus of over $1.4 billion.

CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Holding Company is the corporate parent of CopperPoint Insurance Companies, Pacific Compensation Insurance Company and Alaska National Insurance Company. All companies are rated A (Excellent) by AM Best.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9ea71c03-862b-40ec-bd65-dd2e3661a68b

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.
Times that try men's souls gave way to hope and optimism

Twas the early evening of Christmas Day in 1776 and Gen. George Washington was on the verge of losing the Revolutionary War. His armies felt defeated and discouraged, his countrymen had lost confidence in his abilities, his adjutant-general Joseph Reed had conspired against him, his second in command Charles Lee had been captured two weeks prior on Friday the 13th, and Gen. Horatio Gates was off currying favor at his expense with the Continental Congress, which had fled Philadelphia for Baltimore days earlier.

A Desperate Gamble

With his mens enlistments expiring in one week, Washington had no choice but to risk everything on a desperate gamble he hoped would save the cause. His plan was to split up the approximately 5,000 men left under his command into three coordinated strike teams, cross the Delaware River, surround the Hessian-occupied town of Trenton, and attack an hour before sunrise.

As he looked across the river from McConkeys Ferry toward New Jersey, Washington must have reflected on the disastrous events that had led him to this point. When independence was declared in July, he commanded approximately 20,000 men, albeit undisciplined and poorly trained. His opponent Gen. William Howe commanded 32,000 highly-trained and better-equipped British soldiers and German mercenaries.

After a series of defeats in Brooklyn, Kips Bay, White Plains, and Fort Washington, as well as the abandonment of Fort Lee, what was left of the Continental Army found itself retreating across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania. An entire New York unit had abandoned the campaign and gone home. Many Americans accepted the offer of amnesty by swearing allegiance to the British crown.

Times That Try Mens Souls

The situation was so bleak that Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense and one of the few who still believed in Washington, felt compelled to write The Crisis in hopes of rallying the men and inspiring the nation to continue the war. As inspiring as St. Crispin Days speech in Shakespeares Henry V, Washington had it read to his beaten, demoralized men:

THESE are the times that try mens souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: Tis dearness only that gives every thing its value.

Crossing the Delaware River

Heavy winds, snow, and sleet blew into the faces of the 2,400 men as they crossed the ice-covered Delaware River. What should have taken six hours took nine. Washington knew his men were bitterly cold and tired, and thought about calling off the attack. But the country needed this victory. He needed this victory and was determined to carry it through to the end as he encouraged his men, Press on! Press on, boys! He was unaware that further down river his two other strike teams led by John Cadwalader and James Ewing had aborted the operation due to the worsening weather.

With him were Nathaniel Greene and John Sullivan, who led the two divisions as they marched the nine miles to Trenton. Many of the men were improperly dressed for the bitter cold. Two soldiers would freeze to death. Those without shoes left blood trails in the ice and snow. But the men didnt complain. Rather, they marched on in hopes of victory. Among those marching that day were John Stark, Henry Knox, Alexander Hamilton, Arthur St. Clair, William Alexander (aka Lord Stirling) and future president James Monroe.

Victory at Trenton

While causing great misery for the Americans, the blizzard was heavy enough to convince the Hessian brigade that no army would dare attack under such appalling conditions. Their estimation of the Americans determination to fight proved fatal as the attack commenced early in the morning.

The Hessian commander in Trenton, Col. Johann Rall, was sleeping when the shooting began. He got up and rallied his men in the chaos before two rounds slammed into his body. Americans charged down the street with bayonets and cannon. The 90-minute battle turned into a route as the town was captured, along with an estimated 920 Hessians. Twenty-three to 25 were dead or dying, including Rall, while 400 managed to escape across the Assunpink Creek Bridge (James Ewings objective). Only four Americans were wounded.

Word of the success in Trenton spread. Having felt despair for so long, patriotic Americans suddenly found themselves celebrating and rejoicing this rare victory. The British were in disbelief that undisciplined rebels could pull off such an attack during winter and annihilate a well-disciplined German brigade.

Gen. Howe had already retired to his winter quarters in New York City, since armies typically ceased fighting in winter before commencing military operations in the spring. With the rebel army smashed and on the verge of quitting, Howe was convinced he could reason with the Continental Congress and end the conflict the following year. The raid on Trenton changed everything. A distraught Lord Charles Cornwallis, who had prepared to depart for London and visit his ailing wife, found himself instead traversing New Jersey on New Years Day in the rain, commanding a unit assigned to crush the rejuvenated rebellion.

Washington wasnt satisfied with the lone victory. He requested money from Philadelphia banker Robert Morris to finance further operations before retiring for the winter. He then addressed his men and asked them to stay for six more weeks. When none volunteered, Washington pleaded with an anguished face and begged in the name of their country and all that was at stake. His second appeal won them over.

On the evening of Jan. 2, an exhausted Cornwallis finally reached Trenton and engaged Washington and his men who were deployed across Assunpink Creek. His plans were to rest for the night and finish off the rebels in the morning. Cornwallis believed his enemies were trapped with nowhere to retreat. But Washington had no intention of retreating. Instead, he and his men quietly slipped away and attacked Princeton the following morning, where Cornwallis had left behind a brigade of men and much-needed provisions.

The Winds of Fortune Shift

What at first appeared to be a British victory turned into an American one as Washington charged into the battle on his white horse, rallied the retreating men, and personally led them back to the fight. The British and Americans were only 30 yards apart when Washington rode between the two lines and shouted at his men Halt! before yelling Fire! Both sides fired volleys and filled the scene with smoke. When the smoke cleared, Washington could still be seen on his horse as the enemy ran away. He not only secured another victory but unwittingly achieved the status of a mythical figure. The news of the victory and Washingtons courageous actions inspired Americans across the nation to volunteer and continue the fight.

Despite the overwhelming odds, the defeats, peoples skepticism about his ability to lead, and the bleak outlook for both the war and the revolution itself, Washington refused to quit. His determination and persistence made all the difference when a localized New England rebellion between the Sons of Liberty and British authority metastasized into a worldwide conflagration when France, Spain, Vermont, Mysore, and the Netherlands joined the war. When all seemed lost after a dismal 1776, fortune changed for America in only nine days as 1777 began with hope and optimism.

If 2019 was a tough year for you, think of George Washington, press on, and have a Happy New Year in 2020.

Alan Wakim is the co-founder of The Sons of History, a YouTube series and weekly podcast. He travels to interview and document historical figures and sites for his video series. He holds a business degree from Texas A&M University.
Marketing, Pricing, Strategy Tools; Upcoming Events and Training

Money attracts criminal activity. I know that isnt late-breaking news, but heres a scam I hadnt heard of involving, once again, real estate and appraisers. The good news is that when a landowner permanently protects pristine land from development, theyre eligible for a charitable deduction for the conservation easement. The bad news is that someone thought up syndicating the deal: A promoter buys the land, find an appraiser whos willing to say its got enormous value if developed, and then sell stakes to wealthy investors. When that incredibly valuable land is then protected, all the rich investors get a juicy tax write-off on the hypothetical value of the land they were never going to develop as high as $4 for every $1 invested. The good news for those of us who dont think this way is that the IRS announce it is escalating enforcement and launching criminal investigations, with over 80 tax court cases pending.



Lender Products and Services

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to 2020! If youre in need of some new inspiration and guidance for your business, a new eBook from Maxwell, 2020 Mortgage Lending Resolutions, is for you. Its less an attempt to predict the future and more an exercise in setting our intention for the year ahead. Its about setting goals that push us out of our comfort zone, and preparing to demonstrate our agility for what 2020 will surprise us with. A must-read for all lending professionals and managers, read your complimentary copy here (no form required).

As a Non-Delegated Correspondent Lender, you don't always specialize in some of the more unique tasks surrounding the closing of a mortgage. That's why ReadyPrice has directly with the industry's top fulfillment providers, making their services available through Mortgage.Exchange. Focus Fulfillment and Shanks & Associates are two of the first to integrate with ReadyPrice through the MX Community, driving NDC independence by making it even more efficient for NDC Lenders to manage documents and ensure compliance. Learn more today at Mortgage.Exchange.



Training and Events

On January 9th the Puget Sound Mortgage Lenders Association is having its general dinner meeting in Fife, Washington. Yours truly will be there speaking about the economy, lending trends around the nation, and the importance of customer service.

Private morning insurance are good sources for training, as have been listed before in this commentary. National MI has its webinars, MGICs January 2020 webinars are currently posted here, and Genworth Mortgage Insurance provides complimentary courses: View the January Training Calendar.

FHA is providing a free online webinar, Wednesday January 8th on the Defect Taxonomy Version 2 Implementation. This webinar is scheduled from 2:30 PM  4:00 PM (Eastern).

FAMCs January 2020 Wholesale Customer Training Calendar offers a variety of training opportunities such as: Analyzing Appraisals, Working Virtually, How to Evaluate and Calculate Borrower Income  Focus on Base, Hourly, Overtime, Bonus and Commission, How to Create Your Perfect Presentation for Lunch and Learns and Detecting and Avoiding Fraud in Loan Files.

Plaza Home Mortgage is offering a new webinar on Monday, January 13th: How to Evaluate and Calculate Borrower Income  Focus on Base, Hourly, Overtime, Bonus and Commission.

Check out Plazas January 2020 line-up of Webinars for additional training options.

Hudson Cook, LLP announced a monthly webinar series, CFPB Bites of the Month, beginning January 15.

On January 16th the California MBA is hosting a webinar: Hear from two top mortgage executives about a new mortgage origination strategy for 2020: digital origination only! New Origination Strategy for a New Decade.

Register for the CAMP-Silicon Valley Chapters Breakfast Meeting on January 17th. Guest Randy Warshawsky, EA will be addressing and explaining the new 2020 tax laws.

The PRMG University TPO Training Calendar for the month of January is currently available for viewing and registration on its January Live Webinars.

Collateral Risk Network has launched CRN as a non-profit with an ambitious agenda. The Compliance Roundtable on January 21 will focus on the new California gig economy law and the impact on the appraisal profession. There are also new data laws emerging that will impact lenders and AMCs. It looks like finally regulators and legislation has caught up to emerging technologies. Contact Karen to learn more.

From February 3-6, MBAs Independent Mortgage Bankers Conference will be in New Orleans where IMB leadership and their management teams will hear the latest industry happenings and get new perspectives to position themselves competitively for 2020 and beyond.

The Mortgage Bankers Association of New Jersey in conjunction with the NJ Bankers Association and the NJ State Bar Association; will be having dinner with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, Marlene Caride, on February 6 at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick.

Register for FHAs free, on-site Credit Underwriting Training in Denver on February 11 from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Receive an overview of FHA underwriting procedures and addresses various industry-related FAQs related to FHAs Handbook 4000.1. This training will also take an in-depth look at a variety of topics including credit, income, and asset (CIA) documentation; manual underwriting; automated underwriting systems (AUS); endorsement protocols; Loan Review System (LRS); and more.

The Americatalyst Conference is scheduled for February 11th-12th in Dallas. The conference will look at the future of mortgage banking, non-bank lending, technology and its influence, government policy and more. Find out more information by viewing the agenda.

Lace 'Em Up! The next FDCPA Boot Camp will be held February 10th-11th in Minneapolis. Registration is underway for this intensive, hands-on curriculum designed to help you launch your Plaintiff's FDCPA practice immediately.

On Wednesday, February 12th, join CAMP South L.A. for a free 2-hour event. From 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the University of Phoenix to hear guest speaker Nancy West, the Housing Program Officer for HUD. She will bring insightful information about FHA updates. Email to register.

On February 19th, in the evening, the Charlotte Regional Mortgage Lenders Association is having its monthly meeting. Come on by and say hello!

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University have organized Room to Grow: Housing for a New Economy. This one-day Conference in Dallas on February 21st provides industry analysts, economists and experts to learn about the latest trends affecting housing, and discover developments that promise to change home buying.



Capital Markets

Brexit and the U.S./China trade war will inevitably move markets soon, but the start of 2020 has been all about tensions in the Middle East. U.S. Treasuries began the first full week of 2020 rebounding slightly from Fridays large rally. Risk tolerance improved slightly, though global investors remained concerned about the situation in the Middle East potentially escalating. President Trump and his aides spent the weekend arguing that the U.S. killing of Iranian General Soleimani made the world safer for Americans, despite Irans pledge to enact revenge.

U.S. allies havent thrown much support behind President Trump and there is confusion over U.S. policy in the region. While some people believe more U.S. troops will be sent to the Middle East, there are now reports America may be considering a withdrawal from Iraq (no decision has been made, one official said). After Iraq urged the U.S. to go, Trump threatened to sanction the ally and seek billions of dollars in reimbursement. He also repeated his threat to bomb Iranian cultural sites, widely condemned as a promise to commit a war crime.

Now, can we talk about Brexit and the trade war? The South China Morning Post reported that a Chinese trade delegation will travel to Washington D.C. on January 13 to sign the Phase One deal. Beijing had kept mum on the signing until that official report. And the British Parliament is expected to resume debating the withdrawal agreement this week.

Onto today as the economic calendar is already underway with the November trade deficit (narrowed to $43.1 billion, down to 2016 levels, as expected). Later this morning brings Redbook same store sales for the week ending January 4, December ISM non-manufacturing PMI, and November Factory Orders. Treasury conducts the first leg of this weeks mini-Refunding when they auction $38 billion 3-year notes just before noon ET. Additionally, the Desk will conduct a UMBS15 FedTrade operation targeting up to $200 million 2.5 percent ($99 million) and 3 percent ($101 million). We begin the day Agency MBS prices unchanged from Monday evening and the 10-year also unchanged yielding 1.81 percent.

Employment

Wyndham Capital Mortgage has promoted Ben Cowen to President and Josh Hankins to COO to kick off new decade. This move was made strategically to position Wyndham Capital for scalable growth in 2020. In promoting Ben and Josh, plus the recent addition of Trey Rigdon as SVP of Marketing, were ready to build on a record year. We believe were positioned for explosive growth in 2020, shares Jeff Douglas, Wyndham Capitals CEO. Cowen played a crucial role in expanding Wyndham Capitals footprint while Hankins is responsible for introducing programs like the WCM NexGen LO. This program is the future of modern lending and offers LOs freedom and flexibility, operational support to close more loans than national average without sacrificing time, and marketing support to increase LO brand presence. Cowen and Hankins have also introduced efficiency gains with robotics and AI throughout Wyndham Capitals lending process. Interested in joining Wyndham Capital? www.joinwyndham.com.

Congrats to Rob Truitt who is the new CFO of Michigans Amerifirst Home Mortgage, a division of Amerifirst Financial Corporation, in charge of financial analysis, forecasting and budgeting, strategic growth planning, capital management, and capital markets for the over 700 employees in branches across a dozen states.
- Some suspected bandits are reportedly stranded in Munya local government area of Niger state

- The bandits are allegedly in search of food as they look for safe exit ways out of the local government

- The residents called on the security agents to move into the local government to capture them as they are already confused regarding how to find their ways out of the communities

Dozens of bandits, who are reportedly stranded, have been sighted in some communities in Munya local government area of Niger state.

Channels TV reports that the residents of Munya said the suspected bandits, numbering up to 30, were wandering about in search of food.

Sources, who spoke to the news media, said the bandits were involved in a recent attack which claimed the lives of four soldiers and other civilians, saying they are armed with sophisticated guns.

Other residents, who also spoke under the condition of anonymity, said the bandits are stranded in the communities as they look for safe exit ways.

The governor of Niger state, Abubakar Sani Bello, with the inspector general of police, Muhammad Adamu. Credit: Public Enlightenment Unit, Niger state Government House

Source: Twitter

They called on the security agents move into the local government to capture them as they are already confused regarding how to find their ways out of the communities.

Legit.ng gathered that the chairman of Munya LGA, Mohammed Daza, confirmed the development and called on the Niger state government to beef up the security in the area.

According to him, the residents in the area have abandoned their homes in fear of the bandits.

The spokesperson of the Niger state police command, Mohammed Abubakar, said police operatives have been deployed to the local government to ensure security and to flush out the suspected criminals.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigerias #1 news app

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian Army captain and four soldiers were killed by some gunmen in an ambush in Sarkin Pawa in Munya local government.

Three other soldiers were also injured in the attack.

It was gathered that the deceased were said to have responded to a distress call by residents of Gwar community in Munya local government area when the incident took place.

The gunmen had invaded the area carrying out a house to house raid but immediately left after they sighted the Army team deployed from the base Zazzaga community.

They took cover in the bush where they ambushed the team accompanied by some armed policemen in their armoured vehicle.

Meanwhile, governors from the northern part of Nigeria have urged the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari to make some considerations concerning its planned withdrawal of troops in some parts of the country.

The chairman of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF), Simon Lalong, made the plea in reaction to the planned withdrawal of troops as announced by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Ibok Ekwe-Ibas, recently.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) - Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better

Primate Ayodele releases new year prophesy, speaks on Buhari actualizing vision 2020| Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
Co-reflection and not just passively waiting and dwelling, but really trying to grasp the problem better is important because it helps you do something to improve your situation, Dr. Bastin said.

How much complaining is good for you? How long is a piece of string? You want to avoid what Dr. Grice calls wearing muddy glasses, where no matter whats going on you always find something to complain about. The same goes with rehashing a problem over and over again, whether with friends or in the echo chamber of the internet.

Ultimately, Dr. Bastin said, emotional disclosure is important, but the way in which you disclose is what determines whether the interaction has a positive or negative impact, not just on the complainer but also the person who is listening.

How to do it right

Complaining is honestly just part of the social fabric of our lives, its part of how we communicate, Dr. Kowalski said. As in every type of communication, theres an appropriate place and time.

Start by paying attention to how often you complain, and who youre doing it with. You cant modify behavior until you become aware of it, Dr. Kowalski said.

While trying to go cold turkey is probably an overambitious goal, mindfulness has been shown to be very effective in decreasing rumination, Dr. Bastin said. Even just the act of paying attention to our habits can start shifting them. If you take a breath before calling a friend to vent, or reflect quickly on if you really need to act on your impulse to complain, youll be more mindful of your behavior and be able to make choices accordingly.

Its crucial, if youre venting, to know that youre venting and to tell the person youre venting, Ms. Gilbertson said. Whether you just want to blow off steam or actually need help solving a problem, clarifying what you want from the interaction will make the receiver of your venting more comfortable, and it will better prepare them to give you the support you need.
(CNN)  Australian researchers claim they have developed a battery that can keep a smartphone charged for five days or power an electric car for 1,000 kilometers (over 600 miles).

If the technology comes to be used widely, it would represent a significant breakthrough in the hunt for greener, more efficient energy.

The team from Monash University in Melbourne says the lithium-sulfur battery it has created is the "world's most efficient," and can outperform traditional batteries by four times.

The researchers said they are "on the brink" of commercializing the innovation, and touted its benefits for the fight against climate change.

Most commercial batteries are lithium-ion, but lithium-sulfur alternatives have long been attractive because of their higher energy density and ability to power objects for longer.

However, lithium-sulfur batteries tend to have a far shorter lifespan. They are used in some aircraft and cars, but previous attempts to bring them to mass production and phase out lithium-ion batteries have failed.

According to battery experts The Faraday Institution, the widespread use of lithium-sulfur batteries faces "major hurdles" stemming from sulfur's "insulating nature," and degradation of the metallic lithium anode.

The team in Australia, whose research was published in the journal Science Advances, reconfigured the design of sulfur cathodes so that they are able to withstand higher stress loads without seeing a drop in overall performance.

Their work "will revolutionise the Australian vehicle market and provide all Australians with a cleaner and more reliable energy market," lead researcher Professor Mainak Majumder said in a press release.

The group, whose work received funding from the Australian government, has patented the new battery and further testing is scheduled for later this year.

"This approach not only favours high performance metrics and long cycle life, but is also simple and extremely low-cost to manufacture, using water-based processes, and can lead to significant reductions in environmentally hazardous waste," Matthew Hill, who also worked on the team, said.

However, the there are some challenges and limitations associated with the technology.

This story was first published on CNN.com "New lithium-sulfur battery could charge your phone for five days, researchers say"
John Bolton knows the details. He knows who, and when, and how. He knows that President Donald Trump held up congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine in an effort to get that nations newly elected leader to announce publicly that hed launched an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who worked for a Ukrainian energy concern.

Virtually everyone else knows, too, though only those who are thinking clearly, and freely, have admitted as much. The others -- Republicans in Congress and folks who believe what they are spoon fed by right-wing media sources -- seem to have come to accept the rhetoric that spews forth from the president and his allies. They believe, or so say in public, that it was just fine and dandy for Trump to use his public office for private gain, to stick it to Ukraine if it might help his electoral chances. They believe, if one takes their defenses of Trump's actions to their logical conclusion, that there's absolutely no problem with our nation's chief executive seeking foreign assistance to get himself reelected.

Bolton, though, Trumps former national security adviser, was on the scene when the president was doing his dirty work. And now hes said hell testify in the Senates impeachment trial of Trump -- if he is subpoenaed.

All that's needed now is for the GOP-majority Senate to compel his testimony. Sadly, though, that's not likely to happen, as the red wall of support for Trump maintained by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, still seems impervious.

If, as seems likely, the Senate adopts effectively the same set of rules that were used for President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial in 1999 -- and it will take just 51 votes to do that -- what would follow, before subpoenas could even be considered, would consume hour upon hour that would add up to days. If, against all odds, Trump's Senate firewall broke and Bolton were to be subpoenaed, his deposition wouldn't be on TV, but would be videotaped. And though senators could review the tape and transcripts, they'd be bound by confidentiality.

Simply put, what initially appeared as a possible game-changer -- Boltons willingness to testify -- may quickly fizzle. Though he knows the secrets, folks may have to wait for the publication of his book in the fall to find them out.
BOSTON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sappi North America, Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified graphic and release papers, packaging products and dissolving wood pulp, today announced that its Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, Maine is certified to the ISO 22000:2018 Food Safety Management System (FSMS) standard. Sappi is considered a Tier 3 supplier in the food supply chain and this new certification applies to all products produced at the mill.

"With this certification we are now able to provide our customers in the food packaging industry with assurance out of the gate that our products meet the strict industry standards for safety," said Heather Pelletier, Director of Packaging Brands, Sappi North America. "We continue to invest in and improve our mills to make sure our products meet our customers' needs. This is an important next step in our journey as we continue to set the new standard for paperboard packaging."

In 2018, Sappi completed a substantial rebuild of Paper Machine 1 at its Somerset Mill. Following the rebuild, the company is now producing a range of paperboard packaging grades, including products for food end uses. Proto C1S is a sturdy, single-ply SBS capable of meeting a breadth of applications with substantial feel at a lighter weight. Proto Litho brings all the benefits of Proto to meet corrugated litho lamination packaging needs. Spectro is a single-ply SBS with enhanced optics, making it ideal for premium applications that call for dynamic and vibrant images. On other machines at the Somerset Mill, Sappi produces its LusterPrint and LusterCote packaging grades; its Opus, Somerset and Flo graphics papers; as well as its Somerset Synergy ECF premium kraft pulp.

In order to meet the requirements of the ISO 22000:2018 FSMS, Sappi evaluated the production, storage and transportation processes for potential hazards and implemented monitoring and control systems to prevent product contamination.

As part of building the food safety management system, Sappi also followed the guidelines provided in the technical specification ISO/TS 22002-4:2013, Prerequisite Programmes on Food Safety - Part 4: Food packaging manufacturing. As an upstream provider of substrates to packaging converters, this technical specification provides the best operating floor systems guidance for a substrate supplier.

To learn more about Sappi, please visit: www.sappi.com.

About Sappi North America, Inc.

Maintaining its position as a leader in diversified wood fiber products, Sappi North America is focused on achieving the goals set in the Sappi Group's 2020Vision. Sappi North America employs over 2,000 individuals at its three mills, sheeting facility, Technology Center, and supporting offices across the U.S. Altogether, the sites produce 1.35 million metric tons of paper, and over 800,000 metric tons of kraft and dissolving wood pulp (DWP) annually.

Sappi North America, Inc., headquartered in Boston, is a market leader in converting wood fiber into superior products that customers demand worldwide. The success of our four diversified businesses  high-quality Coated Printing Papers, Dissolving Wood Pulp, Packaging and Specialty Papers and Casting and Release Papers  is driven by strong customer relationships, best-in-class people and advantaged assets, products and services. Our high-quality Coated Printing Papers, including McCoy, Opus, Somerset, and Flo, are the key platform for premium magazines, catalogs, books, direct mail and high-end print advertising. We are a leading manufacturer of Dissolving Wood Pulp with Verve, which is used in a wide range of products, including textile fibers and household goods. We deliver sustainable Packaging and Specialty Papers for luxury packaging and folding carton applications with our single-ply packaging brands, Spectro and Proto, and for the food and label industries with our specialty papers, LusterPrint and LusterCote. We are also one of the world's leading suppliers of Casting and Release Papers with our Ultracast, PolyEX, and Classics lines for the automotive, fashion and engineered films industries. Customers rely on Sappi for high technical, operational and market expertise; products and services delivered with consistently high quality and reliability; and, state-of-the-art and cost-competitive assets and innovative spirit.

Sappi North America is a subsidiary of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with more than 12,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries and customers in over 150 countries.

SOURCE Sappi North America, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.sappi.com/


Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 00:56:14|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration will partner with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to translate and release the Esperanto version of the Courier magazine in China.

At the signing ceremony held Tuesday, Fang Zhenghui, deputy director of the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, expressed his hope for the Esperanto version to contribute to the spread of UNESCO's messages.

The Courier was founded in 1948 with the aim to spread the messages of UNESCO and build a platform for dialogue among civilizations.

Esperanto was created by Polish doctor Lazaro Ludoviko Zamenhof in 1887 and was introduced to China in the early 1990s.
John Baron is MP for Basildon and Billericay.

The world, and especially those in the Middle East, tensely awaits the consequences of the killing of General Soleimani. Some fear that the region is on the brink of open conflict between the United States and the Islamic Republic, with Iraq as the battlefield and with the potential to allow Daesh and its affiliates to regroup as attention swings elsewhere. Whether or not these fears turn out to be justified, it is concerning for the British Government that the strike came as much as a surprise to Number 10 and the FCO as it evidently did to General Soleimani.

The Prime Minister is right in his statement that we should not lament the Generals passing. Over many years he has been the architect of much of Irans military and foreign policy, which has violently interfered in the internal affairs of many countries. Many of the IEDs which maimed and killed British soldiers in southern Iraq were made in his bomb factories, and the Shia militias which caused our diplomats and soldiers so many problems were almost certainly trained and supplied on the Generals orders. The conflicts in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen have certainly been the bloodier and more protracted because of his involvement.

However, we must recognise that there are very few clean hands in the Middle East. A large cast of countries, the United Kingdom and United States included, have chosen to involve themselves, to a greater or lesser extent, in the multiple conflicts across the region over the past decades. The wars in Syria and Yemen in particular have become the battlefields for proxy wars between different blocs  the former especially with overtones of Cold War one-upmanship with the strong Russian support for President al-Assad, and with the various Gulf states contending with each other too. Turkey, for its part, senses an opportunity with its Syrian and Libyan involvements. Israel also is not without guilt given its interventions in the region.

Whether the United States was justified in killing General Soleimani is an open question, given the Presidents apparent reliance on secret intelligence to justify the strike. Supporters of the decision cite a rumoured plot to kill US diplomats, as well as an extensive list of Iranian or Iranian-backed provocations, from the downing of a US drone to the large-scale attack on Saudi oil infrastructure  which the US chose not to respond to. However, it seems the incursion into its Embassy in Baghdad proved to be a tipping point, Donald Trump probably recalling the damage done to Barack Obama  and to Hilary Clinton in her 2016 election campaign  when the US Ambassador to Libya was killed in 2012.

Whatever the justification, killing such a major figure will have consequences  as indeed it would if the Iranian Government assassinated the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Iranians feel honour-bound to respond, and we will all have to brace ourselves for this. Hopefully this was carefully considered by the President as he took the decision to authorise the strike, and no doubt the British Government would have counselled against such a move had it been informed in advance of his intentions. The fact that no US allies appear to have been forewarned of this attack is concerning, not least because all Western forces in the region will probably be viewed by Tehran as fair game.

Although Trump has a claim to be a war dove rather than a war hawk  a large part of his campaign in 2016 was ending endless foreign entanglements  there is no doubt he has a blind spot when it comes to Iran. Relations between the US and Iran are complicated, with grave faults on both sides over the decades. However, some of these differences were being resolved by the nuclear deal agreed between Iran and the international community in 2015. This is the deal the US President has very publicly torn up, which inevitably complicates trying to find a diplomatic solution to the current crisis.

However, such diplomatic steps must be attempted, with other countries mediating between the US and Iran  we need to remember that diplomatic solutions tend to be more enduring than military ones. Here is an area where Britain could play a role, with both a close relationship with Washington and a reasonably cordial one with Tehran, despite our similarly complicated history. A wider or more protracted conflict is in no-ones interests, and the international community should remind the Americans and Iranians alike of this fact  especially when other countries, like Iraq and Syria, will likely prove the arena.

Britains viewpoint would certainly carry more weight if it were bolstered by greater resources. Our diplomatic and military capabilities have suffered in recent years, often seen as easy targets for spending cutbacks. This has resulted in a dilution of diplomatic expertise and a reduction in our military heft, sending the unhelpful signal to friends and potential adversaries alike that we are retreating from the international stage. This should be quickly addressed by the new Government, and if done correctly might give the US President pause for thought the next time such a situation comes around.
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Linkedin Dian Septiari and Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020

President Joko Jokowi Widodo told China on Monday that Indonesias territorial integrity was nonnegotiable, as the government prepared to deploy a multitude of military and naval assets to the Natuna island chain in Riau Islands province, where a maritime spat with Chinese vessels is slowly turning into a show of strength against a foreign power.

The government is planning to bolster its defenses in the waters around the Natunas, where Chinese coast guard vessels have since last month been repeatedly spotted encroaching on Indonesian-controlled waters and Chinese fishing boats found illegally fishing.

Over the past week, Jakarta and Beijing have been embroiled in a diplomatic tug-of-war over the latters claim in Indonesias exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the North Natuna Sea, which borders Vietnam and Malaysia and is located adjacent to the disputed South China Sea.

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BAE Systems has successfully fired an integrated, long-range anti-tank guided missile from the CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle in a recent series of tests. This advancement further diversifies the CV90's operational capabilities on the battlefield by enabling indirect fire at long distances or at air targets, boosting the vehicle's lethality while increasing crew safety.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005171/en/

BAE Systems has successfully fired an integrated, long-range anti-tank guided missile from the CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle in recent tests. (Photo: BAE Systems)

The testing, which took place in difficult arctic conditions, used a Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' SPIKE-LR (long range) missile mounted on a BAE Systems Hagglunds' CV90 to defeat a target at more than 2,000 metres. The exercise marks the first time an integrated version of the anti-tank guided missile has been launched from the CV90. It also demonstrates the platform's versatility to perform a wide range of missions, and shows the CV90 can easily adapt to new technologies for meeting current and future customer needs.

"This integrated anti-tank capability confirms that the CV90 is a true benchmark when it comes to expanding a family of multi-mission armored fighting vehicles," said Dan Lindell, CV90 platform director at BAE Systems Hagglunds. "This new capability can alter the battlefield dynamic and is yet another example of how the CV90's already superior mobility and survivability allows the warfighter to pack an even heavier punch in any terrain or weather conditions, and at any time on any battlefield."

The December testing took place in northern Sweden in below freezing temperatures with heavy snowfall and low visibility.

"We fully appreciate Rafael and their Spike team for working with us to demonstrate this important capability and look forward to continuing our collaboration to provide present and future customers with this powerful addition to the CV90's lethality suite," Lindell said.

The long-range missile testing is yet another recent example of improved lethality on the CV90. BAE Systems is currently executing a Swedish government contract to provide a mortar variant of the CV90 called Mjolner that adds greater mobility to close indirect fire support.

More than 1,200 CV90s of numerous variants are in service with Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The vehicle has a combat-proven track record and is designed to accommodate future growth to meet evolving missions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005171/en/

Contacts:

Ola Thoren, BAE Systems Hagglunds

Office: +46 660 80506; Mobile: +46 708 335000

ola.thoren@baesystems.se

Rebecca Surtees, BAE Systems, Inc.

Mobile: +44 (0)7825 948274

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Four leading European powers on Tuesday condemned Turkey for deploying troops to Libya on the weekend, in a sign of rising tensions with Ankara. Britain, France, Germany and Italy put out a statement calling for an end to fighting and "continuing outside interference" following emergency talks in Brussels. Europe is scrambling to respond to two escalating crises -- Libya and Iran, which has threatened revenge for the US killing of Qasem Soleimani, one of its top generals. EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell criticised Turkey by name over its Libya intervention, telling reporters: "We asked for a ceasefire and we asked also to stop escalation and to external interference, which has been increasing in the past days. "It is obvious that this makes a reference to the Turkish decision to intervene with their troops in Libya which is something that we reject and which increases our worries about the situation in Libya." Turkey said on Sunday that its troops had begun deploying to support the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) -- which is battling a number of militant groups. - 'No military solution' - Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar -- who receives backing from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt in his bid to overthrow the GNA -- seized the coastal city of Sirte on Monday. "The EU is of the firm conviction that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis and that a protracted conflict will only bring more misery to ordinary people," the ministers said in their joint statement. "Continuing outside interference is fuelling the crisis. The more the Libyan warring parties rely on foreign military assistance, the more they give external actors undue influence on sovereign Libyan decisions, to the detriment of the country's national interests and of regional stability." The European criticism follows a blunt warning from US President Donald Trump to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the weekend not to interfere in the conflict. The oil-rich North African country has been in turmoil since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that killed longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi. - 'Trustful exchange' on Iran - The Libya talks were followed by a meeting on Iran between Britain, France and Germany -- the three are parties to a 2015 nuclear deal that saw Tehran agree to limit its nuclear ambitions in return for easing of sanctions. Iran announced on Sunday that it would no longer follow some of its commitments under the deal, which has been unravelling since US President Donald Trump withdrew in May 2018. The Europeans are mulling whether to trigger the deal's dispute resolution mechanism, which could lead to the UN Security Council voting on whether to reimpose sanctions on Iran. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas indicated patience with Tehran is wearing thin. "We still believe that this is an important agreement that will prevent Iran from coming into possession of a nuclear bomb," he said. "But we will not be able to take note of announcements with a shrug of our shoulders that the commitments in Tehran will no longer be met." An EU diplomat told AFP that ministers held a "trustful exchange of views" and were committed to "a closely coordinated approach to upcoming contacts in order to contribute to a de-escalation". French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said a decision would be made in the coming days on whether to trigger the mechanism. The EU has called an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers on Friday to discuss the nuclear deal and the possible repercussions from the killing of Soleimani -- the key player in Iran's network of alliances and proxy groups around the Middle East. The US operation took Washington's allies by surprise and NATO held an urgent meeting of its ruling council on Monday to hear from American officials and discuss the future of the alliance's training mission in Iraq. Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has invited Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Brussels for talks, but it is not clear when he might come -- or if he will come at all. Soleimani's death continued to reverberate in Iraq, where NATO is removing some of its personnel because of increased security threats. The alliance has suspended its 500-strong Iraq training mission but insists it remains committed to the fight against jihadists from the Islamic State group. burs-pdw-arp/jxb
gorodenkoff/iStock(WASHINGTON) -- The Pentagon has no plans to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, senior defense officials said on Monday, despite a vote by the Iraqi Parliament over the weekend to kick foreign forces out of the country and a decision by the U.S. and NATO to suspend operations against the Islamic State there.



The non-binding vote followed the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and sparked outrage in Tehran as hundreds of thousands of mourners took to the streets with the Iranian government vowing to take revenge against the United States.



"There has been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq," Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters on Monday, emphasizing that the parliamentary resolution was "non-binding."



But confusion was sparked earlier in the day by a letter circulating on social media from an American general to the Iraqi defense ministry that indicated U.S. and coalition troops would reposition "over the course of the coming days and weeks."



The letter concluded by saying, "We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure."



Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley called the letter a "draft," and said it was never meant to be made public. He said it was written to notify Iraqi officials of the movement of additional U.S. troops largely from Kuwait into Iraq. The Pentagon has deployed approximately 3,500 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to Kuwait as a defensive measure should Iran or its proxy forces retaliate against American personnel and interests.



"It was a mistake, an honest mistake, a draft unsigned letter because we are moving forces around, and we have increased helicopter movement in Iraq between Baghdad and Taji and other camps and stations, and we're bringing in people from Kuwait and all this other types of stuff," Milley said. "So we're moving forces all over the place."



"Nobody's leaving. There's no onward movement," the general added later.



Earlier on Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller met with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, according to his office, about the need "to implement the withdrawal of foreign forces" in accordance with parliament's decision. The prime minister has condemned the strike and called for parliament to take "urgent measures" to get foreign militaries out of the country.



Soleimani was the leader of Iran's Quds Force, which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American troops in Iraq over decades. Milley defended the decision to kill the Iranian general on Monday, saying there was "compelling" intelligence that he posed an "imminent" threat to Americans in the Middle East.



"Did (the intelligence) exactly say who, what, when, where? No. But (Soleimani) was planning, coordinating and synchronizing significant combat operations against U.S. military forces in the region, and it was imminent," Milley said.



But as tensions mount between Washington and Tehran in the aftermath of the strike, the U.S. and NATO have been forced to suspend the fight against ISIS in Iraq.



After NATO announced that it was suspending its training mission, the U.S.-led coalition said in a statement on Sunday that it would also "pause" its ongoing operations against ISIS in Iraq due to the need for personnel to be "fully committed to protecting the Iraqi bases" that have been targeted by Iranian-backed militia forces -- attacks which continued over the weekend.



NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday that while NATO allies expressed their "strong support" for the fight against ISIS in Iraq "the safety of our personnel is paramount." Forces from NATO countries are co-located with U.S. service members on bases inside Iraq, which are now at a heightened state of alert given escalating tensions.



"As such, we have temporarily suspended our training on the ground, Stoltenberg said.



Approximately 5,000 American troops are in Iraq as part of a training mission to assist Iraqi Security Forces in the fight against ISIS, a group that took over large swaths of the country in 2014.



"The U.S. and Iraqi military defeated ISIS together," said Mick Mulroy, an ABC News contributor and former deputy defense secretary for Middle East policy, adding, "Together, they built an Iraqi Security Force that the Iraqi citizen should be proud of and confident in."



"If U.S. forces depart, it will mean a victory for ISIS which will look to capitalize and regain territory, and it will mean a victory for Iran who will look to dominate the Iraqi government for their own purposes," Mulroy warned.



A Pentagon report issued last August warned that ISIS was consolidating its insurgency in Iraq and that Iraqi forces lacked the ability to maintain security in territories already cleared of the terror group north and west of Baghdad.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
(ANSA) - Rome, January 7 - Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio has said that he will take part on an extraordinary meeting in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss the situation in conflict-ravaged Libya with his counterparts from France, Germany and Britain and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell. "The situation on the ground in Libya is highly delicate but that does not mean the EU should be immobile," Di Maio said on Facebook.

"I talked about it yesterday evening with EU High Representative Josep Borrell, with whom we addressed the Iranian question too. "I will be in Brussels shortly for an extraordinary meeting with my European counterparts from France, Germany and Great Britain and with Borrel".


At around 9:00 pm on January 5, 2019, I was standing outside JNUs main gate, along with a friend from work. I was very close to the gate, trying to figure out what was going on  a scuffle was in process on the left side (of the gate), and a couple of seconds later someone yelled maaro, maaro. Both of us were forced to retreat and hide behind the nearby bus stop. Very soon, we realised someone had yelled just to create panic.

We stood at the bus stop (stepped out of our hiding place) and saw as masked men yelled out slogans and scuffles broke out between the two sides, every few minutes. People were still trickling in, but most were scared to come to the gate - The news about the goons being outside the gate had spread like wild fire. On our way to the gate, we had seen several small groups, waiting to get stronger in number to be able to walk to the gate; every second group dissuaded us from going there.

Twitter

I would be lying if I said I wasnt scared. I was scared of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and being beaten up by one of these masked men, but that was before I saw the police standing outside the JNU gate, doing nothing.

The entire stretch of road of up to one kilometre, in front of JNU was pitch dark because the street lights had been switched off  I say switched off because it seems to be too convenient a coincidence that just when the university was under siege and the goons were out and about, that stretch of road was plunged in darkness.

Madam aap media se ho? one of them asked me.

Haan, I said.

Toh apna ID card pehen lo, aise hi pitt jaoge, he advised me.

Not that journalists have not been beaten up and their cameras smashed by miscreants, but at that point, having a press card felt like a privilege I did not deserve.

I remember at least 3-4 police cars parked right outside the gate, and yet, somehow no one from amongst those who were creating trouble were arrested or even restrained. Someone who was being beaten up was escorted off the site by the police, while the people who were inflicting harm and injury, roamed free.

Indiatimes

That was what scared me the most  not the lathis, rods and masked men, THAT.

Owing to the sporadic violence in front of the main gate, a call was made for people to gather outside the west gate of the university. As I was walking towards the west gate, I saw a few students exiting from another gate of the university (on the same road), with their luggage  they were leaving because they had been told that there were goons inside who would beat them up. Instead of miscreants being chased out, students were being forced to flee to save their lives.

After about an hour, by the time a group of people who had gathered in support of JNU came back to the main gate, the goons had fled, and now, the road was bathed in the glow of street lights  each and every one of them working perfectly well. Very soon, the number of people grew and a full-fledged protest against the attack on JNU, started.

Indiatimes

To put things in perspective, I cannot go through Delhi Metros security check with my face covered. Then, how is it that a mob (yes, thats exactly what it was), masked and armed, was allowed to enter a university campus, and thrash students and teachers, left right and centre? Their heads split open, bleeding, bruised and with broken limbs, they ended up in trauma centres and ICUs.

Apparently, when asked why the police did not enter the campus, they said they did not have permission. Now, here are a few questions that have been bothering me for the last couple of days, more so because not enough people are asking them. Also, just a reminder - when the police entered Jamia, there was no official permission that was given to them by college authorities.

AFP

If students were being attacked inside the campus, did the police need orders to enter to university? Werent the police supposed to protect the students and teachers?



Why were the street lights switched off? They were obviously not out of order because they came on soon after the goons fled. IF the police were not aware why the lights were off, why did they not investigate and remedy that? Mind you, the same thing happened in Jamia  so, its not a stray incident, its a pattern.

I saw peaceful protesters roughed up and shoved into police vans, during the Mandi House protest of December 19, then why and how were MASKED and ARMED miscreants allowed to stand right in front of the university gate, bang in the middle of the road, like they owned the place?

A lot of people still refuse to see and believe what is right in front of them. While I agree that fake news finds its way into every situation, and even in this case there might be a few stray fragments of it, but there is overwhelming and incontrovertible proof of the massacre, the attack, inside the campus of the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

In fact, there are now confessions too. I still, however, am waiting for an eminent politician to take a stand on the issue, and order that proper investigation and punishment, follow. I think I am going to be waiting a long time.

AFP

Blatant attacks on centres of learning, bang in the middle of the capital of India, should be proof enough that something very, very wrong is going on in the country. Despite the Internet being patchy and almost dead, a lot of information and evidence saw the light of the day  people who were in the eye of the storm will tell you just how hard it was.

If this is New Delhi, imagine how bad the situation might be in places like Kashmir and Assam, where both the Internet services and media attention is severely limited.

You can agree or disagree with the agenda of a protest  CAA-NRC, fee hike etc, but nothing justifies stifling of peaceful protests, beating up of students by goons and the police doing next to nothing, when they need to. In a democracy, people have the right to dissent and protest  if this is being threatened and being literally shot down, then I am not sure what this will stop at; in all likelihood, nothing.
New Delhi:

At least 35 people were killed and 50 others were injured after a stampede erupted at a funeral procession for Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, reported Iranian state television. Over 1 million people had gathered in the Iranian capital to attend the funeral of Soleimani, who was killed in a US airstrike. This led to overcrowding of both main thoroughfares and side streets in Tehran.

The TV says the stampede erupted in Kerman, the hometown of Qasem Soleimani.

Who Was General Qasem Soleimani?

Soleimani was one of the most popular figures in Iran and seen as a deadly adversary by America and its allies. General Soleimani, who headed the external operations Quds Force for the Guards, had wielded his regional clout publicly since 2018 when it was revealed that he had direct involvement in top-level talks over the formation of Iraq's government. It was no surprise at the time for a man who has been at the centre of power-broking in the region for two decades.

Soleimani has been in and out of Baghdad ever since, most recently last month as parties sought to form a new government. Where once he kept to the shadows, Soleimani has in recent years become an unlikely celebrity in Iran -- replete with a huge following on Instagram.

His profile rose suddenly when he was pushed forward as the public face of Iran's intervention in the Syrian conflict from 2013, appearing in battlefield photos, documentaries -- and even being featured in a music video and animated film. In a rare interview aired on Iranian state television in October, he said he was in Lebanon during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war to oversee the conflict.

To his fans and enemies alike, Soleimani was the key architect of Iran's regional influence, leading the fight against jihadist forces and extending Iran's diplomatic heft in Iraq, Syria and beyond. "To Middle Eastern Shiites, he is James Bond, Erwin Rommel and Lady Gaga rolled into one," wrote former CIA analyst Kenneth Pollack in a profile for Time's 100 most influential people in 2017.
A Chinese national was sentenced to a year in jail Tuesday for stealing VND9.4 million ($404) on a flight from Da Nang to Saigon last September.

Ren Dao Jun, 48, committed the theft on a VietJet flight on September 1 last year. A fellow passenger, An, was asleep when Jun stole cash that he had kept in his bag stowed in the luggage rack.

Two other passengers found Jun rummaging among others' bag and informed attendants. As the attendants approached him, Jun retreated and sat next to the sleeping An, two rows from where he was supposed to sit.

After waking up, An found that he had lost the money stored in his luggage. Flight attendants later found that Jun had taken the money.

Jun did not plead guilty at the trial. He claimed instead that he had found the cash on the floor and picked it up. He only informed the crew about the cash he found after the plane landed due to language barriers, he said. He had switched to a seat next to An because that seat was empty, he added.

The court rejected Jun's contention on the basis of statements by An and other witnesses and sentenced the culprit to jail.

Stealing aboard flights in Vietnam is not rare. National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines reported 20 cases in the first seven months of last year, and VietJet Air, 11, according to the Ministry of Transport. Many of the culprits caught were Chinese.
US not to leave Iraq, unless they pay for our base: Trump

Iran Press TV

Monday, 06 January 2020 3:13 AM

US President Donald Trump has vowed to launch sanctions on Iraq after the parliament votes to ban the American forces' presence in the country.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One Sunday, the American commander-in-chief's comments came as tensions were spiraling between Tehran and Washington over the US assassination of Major General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

Trump further defended his earlier remarks about striking Iran's cultural sites, falsely accusing Tehran of terrorism.

"They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people and we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way," he said.

This is while targeting cultural sites with military action is considered a war crime under the international law, a point previously brought up by Iranian officials.

"We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that's there. It cost billions of dollars to build, long before my time. We're not leaving unless they pay us back for it," he said.

The president vowed to introduce sanctions on Baghdad, ones even harsher than those imposed on Iran.

"We will charge them sanctions like they've never seen before ever. It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame," Trump said.

Tehran has vowed to retaliate the terrorist attack that led to the martyrdom of the General Soleimani on Thursday.

Thousands of mourners took to the streets in the region to pay homage to the anti-terrorism hero, a household name in Iran.

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Tesla has just raced to a new record.

Shares of the electric automaker climbed more than 3% to a fresh all-time high of $469.73 in Tuesday's trading session on the back of some news out of China: Tesla began production of the Model Y at its new Shanghai Gigafactory and delivered the first round of its China-built Model 3 vehicles.

Tesla also got a price target raise from analysts at Credit Suisse, who maintained their underperform rating on the stock but upped their target to $340 from $200 commensurate with the recent run. Tesla shares have climbed by more than 97% in the last three months.

Here's what market watchers, including CNBC's Jim Cramer  a newfound, self-proclaimed Tesla "believer"  thought of the move:

Gene Munster, managing partner and co-founder of Loup Ventures, compared Tesla's progress in China with that of Apple:

"China's the largest [electric vehicle] market in the world, 60-70%.  The average EV sells for about 15,000 U.S. dollars, and so well below [Tesla's cheapest model, the Model 3]. But I think the right analogy here is what's happened with Apple. Their China business right now is 17% of total Apple revenue. And right now, China, for Tesla, in the most recent reported quarter, the September quarter, was 11%. And so they're not going to hit the sweet spot of the China market  they're just too expensive  but I think that if you start to put the pieces together and say that they can have, call it, 17% of Tesla's businesses in China, you start to build a model out where you can grow their business at 20% year over year. I'm almost at my punchline here. If you do that, 20% growth for the next few years  they'll probably grow at 30% this year  and put a 10% operating margin on that a few years out, which is debatable but, I think, achievable, and a 30 multiple on that, you get to $150 billion. So, there's room.  Tesla's maintained their, call it, 70% share in the U.S. That's going to decline over time, no doubt, but we're talking about 450,000 vehicles this year in a market that's 90 million globally. And so when I think about that road to a higher market cap, there's some asterisks there, [CEO] Elon [Musk] needs to continue to behave, but I think that the market and, most importantly, I think that their technology has this 10-year headstart, very similar to what happened at [Amazon Web Services] that a lot of people ignored. But that is fundamental to, whether it's battery life or some of the visualization around autonomy, advancing this story."

Craig Irwin, who covers Tesla as senior research analyst at Roth Capital Partners, wasn't sure Tesla had such a clear-cut growth story in China's auto market:

"The big question is whether or not this is a comp to the luxury vehicle market in China or if it's more of a comp to the EV vehicles in China. So, most people looking at Tesla are assuming that it's really to the EV vehicles, and no, it's not comparable to the vast majority of vehicles that are being sold as EVs in China today. To the luxury vehicles? Yeah. There's a lot of tier-one automotive companies that make most of their money, actually, selling into China. So, Tesla's going to have to aim to compete against them rather than take a pre-existing slice out of the EV market. ... I think Tesla operates in a vacuum. I think that they're going to be strong competition, and I can't think of a stronger signal to Detroit of, 'Hey, we want credible EVs' as the market cap dislocation in Tesla right now."

Jim Cramer, host of "Mad Money," declared himself a "believer" in Tesla CEO Elon Musk:

"I'm a believer. [In] 10 months, he built that plant. Ten months. Hey, listen, the moment you throw a rock at a window and it goes right through it and the deposits soar. I mean, come on. And 27% of the float is short. People still don't believe."

Disclaimer
Southern Connecticut State University biology professor Chris Wisniewski gave insight into a fast-growing bat disease with his presentation "A New Dawn? Bat Diversity & Habitat Use Post-White-Nose Syndrome" at the Bruce Museum Seaside Center at Greenwich Point Park on Sunday.

Wisniewski discussed the deadly disease that has killed more than 7 million North American bats over the past decade.
Former Vice President Joe Biden delivered a foreign policy speech from New York on Tuesday where he laid out why it was impossible to believe the Trump administration's claims that Qassem Soleimani was an imminent threat.

'This is a president with a history of lying about virtually everything,' Biden said, adding that Americans are owed a better explanation to why Trump decided to take out Iran's No. 2 official. 'And facts to back it up.'

Biden also made a mistake during the nearly 20-minute long speech, briefly confusing Iraq and Iran.

Former Vice President Joe Biden blamed President Trump 'lying about virtually everything' as the reason Americans and people around the world didn't take Trump's explanation for targeting an Iranian general at face value

Vice President Joe Biden also made a gaffe during the foreign policy speech - briefly swapping Iran for Iraq

Former Vice President Joe Biden blasted President Trump (left) for not giving Americans a better explanation for killing Iranian general Qassem Soleimani (right)

'The Iran parliament, the Iran parliament, voted to eject all American and coalition forces from the country,' Biden said, meaning Iraq.

On Sunday, the Iraq parliament voted on a non-binding resolution that aimed to remove U.S. forces from the country in the aftermath of Trump's decision to target Soleimani with a drone outside the Baghdad International Airport.

Soleimani was killed Thursday, his body only identified by a ring he had worn.

Biden reminded his audience he had once called Trump 'dangerously incompetent and incapable of world leadership.'

The ex-veep said that Trump's decision to kill Soleimani only demonstrated this.

'What have we heard from President Trump'?' Biden asked. 'We have not heard a sober-minded explanation to assure the American people that this decision and its consequences were thought through.'

'No level-headed words meant to dial down the tensions and take us off the path of conflict,' he continued. 'No press conference or consultation with our Congress.'

'No, what we've heard so far from this president, are tweets, threats and tantrums,' Biden said.

The former vice president said the administration has only produced 'shifting explanations, evasive answers, repeated assurances of an imminent threat, without the evidence to support the conclusion.'

And because of Trump's loose relationship with the truth, the ex-veep continued.

'Neither the American people, nor our allies, and indeed no one around the world, seems to be taking his word for it,' Biden said.

The 2020 hopeful added that Trump indeed needed Congressional approval if he wanted to go to war with Iran.

He also rehashed how the U.S. and Tehran had gotten to this place - pointing the first finger at Trump for pulling out, in May 2018, of the Iran nuclear deal that had been negotiated under President Obama's tenure.

Biden warned that while the U.S. and Iran were entangled, ISIS could also regroup.

He then talked about how the Iraqi - though said Iranian - parliament wished to see the U.S. leave Iraq.

'There's a right way and a wrong way to draw down our troops, our troop presence,' Biden said. 'Getting unceremoniously kicked out is, unequivocally, the wrong way.'

'And if we do end up having to leave, that would be another boon for Iran, tipping the balance of power in the region in their favor,' the former vice president added.

China and Russia would be 'quietly reveling' too, if the U.S. got stuck in another quagmire in the United States, Biden said, 'giving them room' to grow.

Biden blamed the 'short-sighted America First dogmatism' of the Trump administration as the reason American allies aren't stepping up in the U.S.'s defense, instead creating a 'moral equivalence' between the U.S. and Iran.

'We're alone now and we'll have to pay the costs of Donald Trump's folly,' the 2020 candidate warned.
Gold prices retreated on Tuesday from near seven-year highs reached in the previous session as investors took profits in the absence of new developments in the tense situation between the United States and Iran.

Deficit-hit palladium meanwhile hit another record peak on the back of prolonged supply constraints in the market. Spot gold was down 0.1% at $1,564.31 per ounce as of 1257 GMT, having fallen as much as 0.7% earlier in the session. It touched its highest since April 2013 at $1,582.59 on Monday. US gold futures were 0.2% lower at $1,566.00.

"There is nothing fundamental going on here, it is just a reaction to yesterday`s price movement. Investors are looking at the other side of the coin and taking some profits," ABN Amro analyst Georgette Boele said. The market seems a little more relaxed about the situation in the Middle East, she added.

Prices surged on worries about an armed conflict between the United States and Iran after a US-authorised drone strike killed a top Iranian military official on Friday. With both sides exchanging threats of retaliation, a senior Tehran official said on Tuesday Iran had been considering 13 "revenge scenarios" in retaliation to the air strike.

Live TV

"We are far from out of the woods yet, and any signs of hopes for an easing in tensions would be premature,"Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch said. Washington`s decision to deny a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had added to concerns, he said. Zarif was expected to arrive in New York for a United Nations Security Council meeting on Thursday.

"The fact that gold hasn`t reacted to this news is a signal that the market has already positioned (itself). People are long (on gold), so I would expect some kind of correction unless you really see an escalation," ABN`s Boele said.

Other safe-haven investments, such as the Japanese yen and Swiss franc, also pulled back after posting some solid gains in the previous two sessions. Elsewhere spot palladium rose 0.6% to $2,042 an ounce, having touched an all-time peak of $2,047.24 earlier in the session.

The surge in palladium prices is predominantly due to speculative buying, and the "higher the prices go, the sharper the correction will be", Commerzbank`s Fritsch said.

Silver slipped 0.6 % to $18.03 an ounce, after touching a more than three-month high of $18.50 in the previous session, while platinum advanced 0.6% to $968.50.
In this image released on Jan. 2, 2020, massive smoke rises from wildfires burning in East Gippsland, Victoria. (Dale Appleton/DELWP via AP)

Police Take Legal Action Against More Than 180 in Australias Most Populous State for Alleged Bushfire-Related Offenses

State authorities in Australias most populous state of New South Wales have taken legal action against more than 180 people for bushfire-related offenses since the devastating blazes began.

Since November 2019, a total of 183 people have been targeted by police in the state of New South Wales (NSW) for 205 fire-related offenses, according to the NSW Police Force.

NSW police said 24 were apprehended and charged with deliberately lighting bushfires. A further 53 people face legal action for allegedly failing to comply with a total fire ban, while 47 others are accused of improperly discarding lit cigarettes or matches outdoors.

Police in the north-eastern state of Queensland are also taking action against people for fire-related offenses. Police revealed to AAP that 103 fires had been deliberately lit since September, with 98 people67 of them juvenileshaving been identified as alleged culprits.

Devastating bushfires have ravaged Australia in recent months, in particular in southeast Australias NSW and Victoria, killing at least 25 people and affecting hundreds of millions of animals and livestock. More than 2,000 homes have been destroyed by the blazes, which have so far burned through more than 5.25 million hectares (13 million acres) of land, an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland.

A Rural Fire Service (RFS) firefighter conducts mopping up near the town of Sussex Inlet in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 31, 2019. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

A horse tries to move away from nearby bushfires at a residential property near the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales on Dec. 31, 2019. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)

Under the NSW Crimes Act, the Rural Fires Act, and Rural Fires Regulation, penalties relating to lighting bushfires include up to 25 years in prison for damaging property with the intention of endangering life, and 21 years in prison for starting a bushfire and being reckless as to its spread.

Those caught lighting a fire when a total fire ban is in place risk up to 12 months imprisonment and an A$5,500 (about $3,779) fine, while those seen lighting or using a tobacco product within 15 meters of any stack of grain, hay corn, straw, or any standing crop, dry grass, or stubble field could be fined up to A$5,500.

Around 85 percent of bushfires are caused by humans either deliberately or accidentally starting them, Dr. Paul Read, co-director of the National Centre for Research in Bushfire and Arson, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in September 2019.

About 85 percent are related to human activity, 13 percent confirmed arson, and 37 percent suspected arson, he said. The remainder are usually due to reckless fire lighting or even just children playing with fire.

According to Melbourne University bushfire expert Janet Stanley, the majority of fires are lit by young people aged 12 to 24. However, they have also been set by children as young as 10.

Unfortunately, 10 percent of people who we think light fires are 10 years old or younger, she told Newscorp in December 2019.

Although there is very little research conducted on arsonists worldwide, Stanley believes there are a number of reasons and circumstances why they may start fires, adding that she doesnt believe they are evil. Stanley started researching bushfire arson after her own home burned in 1983.

Older men are also prone to lighting fires, she said. They often have a history of child abuse and neglect. They probably dropped out of school at a very early age, living on the edge of society, likely to be unemployed, not engaged in the community.

In most cases, they dont intend to cause this chaos, they might just like to make a fuss, she added.

Stanley added that much clearer data needs to be collected to understand why people are lighting fires and noted that not all fires are officially recorded, let alone being investigated.

We need to understand how to better protect and understand these people [arsonists]. Sometimes they are quite happy to be caughtthey feel safer in jail, she said.

Australias current bushfire crisis began in September, coinciding with a temperature imbalance recorded in the Indian Ocean that, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), has contributed to favorable fire conditions across the country.

The temperature imbalance, known as the Indian Ocean Dipole, brought reduced rainfall and low humidity to Australia, while causing intense rains on the western side of the Indian Ocean in East Africa.

There, devastating floods and landslides have killed more than 280 people, and hundreds of thousands more have been forced to flee their homes, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The imbalance in the Indian Ocean Dipole is forecast to dissipate in early January 2020, according to BOM, which may bring more favorable climatic conditions to Australias bushfire-ravaged east coast.

Correction: A previous version of this article, in the headline, incorrectly stated the actions police took against 183 people for alleged bushfire-related offenses in Australia. Police have taken legal action against them. The location of the police actions has also been clarified. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
Iranians gathered in Kerman for the burial Tuesday of top general Qasem Soleimani in the final stage of funeral processions after he was killed in a US strike in Iraq.

The massive number of mourners in the hometown of the slain commander of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign arm appeared to match the huge turnout seen in the cities of Tehran, Qom, Mashhad and Ahvaz.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Discovering what is inside a three-dimensional (3D) nanostructure, is no longer a matter of cutting slices, and in this way destroying its functionality. Scientists from the University of Twente and the European Synchrotron (ESRF) have discovered a new method to look deep inside a 3D nanostructure. This traceless X-ray tomography (TXT) can be used for photonics, electron chips and memories, for example. The results are published in the ACS Nano journal.

Today, nano-structures are complicated three-dimensional buildings, for example for manipulating light. Silicon electronics chips, as well, consist of multiple layers of material and interconnecting wires. But how do architects know if the full structure matches their expectations? Looking through a microscope, only the surface can be checked. At this surface level, a good, bad or ugly sample may look perfectly the same. One way of looking deeper inside is cutting the material in thin slices and examining those. Unfortunately, it then loses its functionality.

Although X-ray technology has been available for a long time, it is sometimes still necessary to open up a sample for reaching sufficient depth and contrast. The new traceless X-ray tomography (TXT) makes use of a higher X-ray energy level, making it possible to look into samples that have a silicon thickness of over 1 millimetre. The principal author of the ACS Nano paper, Diana Grishina, of the University of Twente, explains the advantages of the new technique: In modern nanotechnology this is plenty sufficient to image through wafers. Indeed, all silicon devices remained untouched and as is during our study. This is up to 20 times deeper than using existing technologies! The new method also makes it possible to zoom-in on a desired region.

The experiments were carried out on beamline ID16A, with a beam focused to a spot of 23 nanometer by 37 nanometer. The sample rotated to create very sensitive transmission images from different viewpoints. At the end, intensive processing was done to combine all the separate images in one 3D image. Peter Cloetens, beamline responsible for ID16A, says: One key feature of our TXT study is the use of X-rays with a much higher photon energy than before. Therefore, the attenuation length for silicon is 640 m, which is 9 to 20 greater than before, and sufficient to traverse wafer-thick silicon substrates.

As an example, the researchers took a so-called photonic bandgap crystal, a recent breakthrough in photonics. Its functionality depends on many deep pores in two directions, creating cavities in which light can be manipulated. Although at surface level the structures seem identical, looking inside only one of the three is good. Another has a large void inside due to an error in the manufacturing process: it is bad. A third one even lacks a 3D structure inside and is ugly: the pores are too shallow. According to the leader of the research team, Willem Vos, TXT serves to non-destructively differentiate between the possible reasons of not finding the designed and expected performance. This is why we think that TXT is an original and powerful tool to critically assess 3D functional nanostructures.

The Extremely Brilliant Source of the ESRF will improve this technique: The EBS will obviously increase the through-put for this kind of measurements, but also the resolving power and image quality will be further improved by using even higher X-ray energy beams with sufficient coherence, concludes Peter Cloetens.

The research was done in the Complex Photonics Group of UTs MESA+ Institute, together with the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble, France. It was made possible by the NWO programme Stirring Light, the Shell/NWO programme Computational Sciences for Energy research, the Descartes-Huygens Prize of the French Academy of Sciences, and contributions of MESA+ (Applied Nano Photonics) and ESRF (beamtime grants).

Reference:

Grishina, DA., et al, ACS Nano 2019, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.9b05519

Text and video by Montserrat Capellas Espuny.
Home On The Range

Plugging In

Incentives

Fleet Vehicles

(TNS)  Electric vehicle owners  nearly 1.2 million of them on United States roads today  share the thrills of being energy-efficient and progressive. But they also have one big worry in common: where to plug in.Depending on the state, access to public charging stations can be adequate  or nearly nonexistent.Purchases of electric vehicles are growing at an astronomical rate  an 81% increase from 2017 to 2018, according to the Edison Electric Institute, which tracks electricity use  and nothing indicates the trend will slow dramatically any time soon. But if anything could stunt the growth, its the lack of power charging stations in some states.Drivers can experience range anxiety wondering how far they can drive before the next charge and where to find a station before the car dies. Its the electric vehicle equivalent of driving a traditional car on an isolated country road with the gas gauge hovering near empty.Many states want to encourage electric vehicle use to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change. But ensuring that there are enough charging stations has been a challenge. Some states provide incentives for private investment, while others are relying on millions from a settlement with Volkswagen over its falsification of emissions tests to subsidize the building of commercial charging stations.In addition, state utilities have just begun to cope with how to regulate the power supplied by the chargers by setting cost per kilowatt, peak charges and subsidies.Legislatures in Colorado, Washington, California and New Mexico passed laws in 2019 calling on state utility boards to write rules governing electric charging stations to encourage EV adoption. In New Jersey, a bill to incentivize electric car buying and installation of charging stations passed a Senate committee in December with just one vote in opposition. Other states also are considering bills addressing electric vehicles and charging stations.Electric vehicles used for short commutes can be plugged in at home daily; the worry stems from longer trips.For example, lets say you take a trip from Boston to Washington, D.C. In Massachusetts, theres a ratio of 13 electric vehicles to every public charger. But in New Jersey, there are about 35 vehicles to every public charger, and drivers on longer trips might worry that they wont find an available place to plug in.Ford, maker of the electric Mustang, says the new 2021 models range could be up to 300 miles, though auto experts say its more like 240. But rather than touting the range, Ford is promoting the cars sleek silhouette and muscular curves.That could be because a lack of public charging stations turns off potential buyers, say many experts, including Matt Stanberry, managing director at Advanced Energy Economy, a business trade group focused on non-carbon sources of energy.California has the most charging stations  more than 22,600 (some with multiple outlets) at last count in May by the website, which tracks electric vehicle issues. The state also has the most electric vehicles, approaching half a million. But North Dakota has 36 charging locations and Alaska 26.There is very good data that shows that (electric) vehicle adoption is slowed by a shortage of charging infrastructure, Stanberry said. Consumer surveys cite a very high percentage level of charging infrastructure as one of their key concerns.A survey for Volvo conducted in 2018 by the Harris polling firm showed that the No. 1 barrier to buying an electric vehicle was running out of power (58%), following by low availability of charging stations (49%). And more charging stations was the No. 1 factor that would increase respondents likelihood of buying.We are short on charging infrastructure across the board in every state, even the states that are doing better, Stanberry said in a telephone interview. We are all playing catch-up.There are three levels of charging available for plug-in electric vehicles, according to the Council of State Governments.Most can be plugged into an ordinary 120-volt outlet, but charging is slow. The most popular charger resembles the 240-volt outlet used for refrigerators and washing machines, which provides 10-20 miles of range per hour of charging. The third choice, a direct current fast charging outlet, zaps 60-80 miles of driving into the car in only 20 minutes.Most electric cars have plug heads that are compatible with the three types of chargers. Tesla is the exception, with its own style of plug and outlet, but Tesla drivers can buy an adapter that will fit the other outlets.States utility boards face questions on how to regulate charging stations, including how to set the price drivers must pay.One model for charging for electricity involves so-called demand charges, which calculates the amount of electricity used in 15-minute increments. But high demand charges make fast-charging stations in places like malls and grocery stores costly and impractical, according to a report from the nonprofit Rocky Mountain Institute.Many states give residents incentives to buy electric vehicles. California allows alternative-fuel cars to use high-occupancy lanes (a godsend in Los Angeles traffic) and provides a rebate of between $1,500 and $2,000 on plug-in electric vehicles and hybrids.A federal program also gives rebates on a sliding scale. But both of those programs are phasing out; some credits expired Jan. 1. A congressional effort to extend the program failed in 2018.One of the biggest pushes for electric vehicles came with the 2017 Volkswagen pollution settlement, under which the car company settled with the federal government for violating emissions laws. The settlement allowed states to allocate up to 15% of their share of the nearly $3 billion Environmental Mitigation Trust from the Volkswagen payout to electric vehicle infrastructure.The consumer group USPIRG in a May report ranked the states on how they used the Volkswagen money for electric car infrastructure in the three years since the settlement. The group gave Washington state and Hawaii an A-plus. Rhode Island and Vermont got As; and California, Massachusetts and New York got Bs.Fifteen states  Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin  got a failing grade, meaning they did not prioritize infrastructure for electric cars.Overall, California is the leading state in providing electric vehicle infrastructure. Former Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, signed a 2018 executive order setting a goal of 5 million electric vehicles on the states roads by 2030. Under the order, the state will spend $2.5 billion to continue electric vehicle rebates and build 250,000 electric charging stations.California also requires automakers to sell a certain number of electric (or hydrogen powered) vehicles in the state, under its zero emission vehicle program. The exact number is based on how many vehicles the automaker sells overall in California. That program has been copied in 10 states: Connecticut, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.Aside from personal vehicles, the push toward no-emissions electric vehicles includes cities and other jurisdictions committing to turning their fleet cars and trucks over to electric.Minnesota, for example, in November pledged $15 million of its Volkswagen settlement money in grants to replace state school buses and heavy-duty vehicles with ones powered by electric motors and install more charging stations.Grant programs like Minnesotas are critical to installing electric charging infrastructure, said Kevin Miller, director of public policy at ChargePoint, a company that provides networks of residential and commercial electric vehicle charging stations. He said states like Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Colorado are considering modifying the regulatory and policy framework of electric vehicle charging.But isnt it a chicken and egg question of whether chargers come first and then more vehicles  or more vehicles demanding places to charge up?Its not that we need a lot of chickens or a lot of eggs, Miller said. They have to complement each other. Having a comprehensive state plan is important. A comprehensive plan addresses the systemic issues head on.
The U.S. won't issue Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif a visa to travel to the United Nations later this week, contending there was not enough time to process the request.

Mohammed Javad Zarif told "CBS This Morning'' on Tuesday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo informed the U.N. secretary general, who in turn relayed the information to Zarif.

Zarif's trip would have been an opportunity for him to discuss the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general in Baghdad last week. That targeted killing has escalated tensions with Iran, which has vowed to retaliate.

A U.S. official said Tuesday the application couldn't be processed in time for Zarif's travel although it wasn't clear if his request had been formally denied. A formal rejection would trigger legal technicalities that could affect future visa applications and could also violate the host country agreement the U.S. has with the U.N. The official wasn't authorized to speak on the record and discussed the matter on condition of anonymity.

The State Department declined to comment on the matter, citing visa confidentiality laws that bar the release of such information with certain limited exceptions, and Pompeo himself would not discuss specifics of the situation while briefing reporters.

"We don't comment on visa matters of those traveling here to the United States on visas, so I can't add much more on this issue of Foreign Minister Zarif's travel to the United States," he said. "I'll say only this: We will always comply with our obligations under the U.N. requirements, the headquarters agreement, and we will do so in this particular instance and more broadly."

Pompeo's remarks appeared to suggest that the U.S. believes it remains in compliance with the headquarters agreement as long as the visa was not formally rejected.

At the White House earlier Tuesday, national security adviser Robert O'Brien told "Fox & Friends," "I don't think Secretary Pompeo thought that this was the right time for Mr. Zarif to come to the United States.''

"This is because they fear someone will go there and tell the truth to the American people," Zarif said earlier Tuesday. But they are mistaken. The world is not limited to New York. You can speak with American people from Tehran, too, and we will do that.''

Zarif had applied for the visa in order to speak to a U.N. Security Council session Thursday about the importance of upholding the U.N. charter.

"Whenever he comes to New York, he spreads propaganda,'' O'Brien said. "I actually find it somewhat ironic that Mr. Zarif wants to take advantage of the diplomatic niceties of being able to come to New York and come to the U.N. when his revolution was born in the taking of 52 American diplomats hostage in Iran and holding them for 444 days. ... He can certainly call in to the meeting or he can participate by video teleconference and his voice will be heard if he wants to be heard.''

Under its obligations as the host country of the U.N. headquarters, the U.S. is required in most circumstances to issue visas to foreign officials for meetings at the world body. However, there are exceptions and the U.S. has severely restricted the movements of Iranian diplomats in New York in the past. It has also moved to bar non-U.N.-related travel by other foreign officials, notably the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

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Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg asked the court for life in prison without parole.

Prior to this homicide, Schultz had already amassed 10 felony convictions, and multiple misdemeanors, all committed prior to his 18th birthday, Klomberg said.

Never have I encountered an offender who had such an extensive criminal record at such a young age, Klomberg said. The defendant viewed the killing as his most significant accomplishment, and bragged about it as if it was a badge of honor. I am totally convinced that he will kill again if given the opportunity. In the end I can find no redeeming value in this individual, and I believe he should never be allowed to be released from prison.

One point where Schultz could have changed his mind was when the gun he originally picked up to shoot Gerke in the head misfired.

Its really important with what happens next, Klomberg said. Schultz re-cocks the gun and shoots Bradlee in the head.

The Dodge County Sheriffs Office received a call at 6:15 p.m. on Oct. 31, alerting it that there was a body at N901 Redwing Road northwest of Ashippun in Dodge County. Gerkes body was recovered that night.
The avalanche that killed two Anaconda men on New Year's Day was triggered when two riders went to help dig out a third whose snowmobile had become stuck on an open slope, according to recently issued findings on the incident.

Avalanche experts on Monday released their early analysis on the slide that killed Jade Green, 24, and Lowell Grosvold, 26, north of Seeley Lake on New Year's Day. A third man, also from Anaconda, survived the avalanche.

The slide, which began at 6,740 feet in elevation, ran 560 feet from the crown of the avalanche, which averaged 3 feet deep, to the deposition zone, where the pileup was an average 6 feet deep, according to the West Central Montana Avalanche Center's preliminary report released online.

The West Central Montana Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche warning that day after a storm deposited up to 3.5 inches of snow water equivalent on an already unstable snowpack. The center reported the avalanche broke loose approximately 1 mile northwest of Lake Dinah, about 12 miles northwest of Seeley Lake.

The report described the avalanche triggering this way: While riding along on a small open slope around 2 p.m. on Jan. 1, the first rider rode partway up the 30-to-35 degree slope and became stuck. The second rider rode up to help dig out the stuck snowmobile, followed by the third rider. As the third rider parked next to his partners, the avalanche released, sweeping all three riders downslope, partially burying the third rider and fully burying the first and second.

The third rider was able to self-rescue and immediately called 9-1-1. He then began a transceiver search and located the second rider buried beneath about 5.5 feet of snow. The third rider performed CPR on the second rider for several minutes.

Search teams arrived at the scene at approximately 4 p.m. and began searching for the first rider. A volunteer public member assisting the rescue found the first rider by probing next to a tree downslope from the first rider's last known location. The first rider was found buried about 7.5 feet below the surface. He did wear a transceiver but had an avalanche airbag, which had deployed.

"This was a soft slab avalanche triggered on an east-facing slope at 6,740 feet in elevation," according to the report. "The average slope angle is 35 degrees, 38 degrees at the crown."

At a briefing on Jan. 2, the Missoula County Sheriff's Office said more than two dozen people, most of them volunteers, braved the harsh conditions to take part in the recovery.

The West Central Montana Avalanche Center said it will issue a more detailed report in the coming days.

"Our condolences go out to friends and families for their losses," the report authors wrote. "Our thanks to the multiple agencies and volunteers who responded to this incident on what is usually a happy holiday."

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The 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Puerto Rico before dawn Tuesday, killing at least one man and injuring eight other people in the southern part of the island, The Associated Press reported. The quake is part of a series of tremors along southern Puerto Rico over the last 10 days, according to seismologists, who have not been able to predict when the quakes will stop or what their severity could be.
BETHEL, Alaska - New laws limiting the amount of alcohol that can be legally possessed took effect in a southwest Alaska community.

The new rules went into effect Monday, two days after the citys only liquor store was set to close, KYUK-AM reported.

Under the rules, a person of legal drinking age cannot possess more than 10.5 litres (2.8 gallons) of distilled spirits, 24 litres (6.3 gallons) of wine or either 12 gallons (45 litres) of beer or a half keg of beer, which holds 15.5 gallons (59 litres).

Luggage flown into Bethel will need to be clearly labeled with an itemized invoice of any alcohol in the baggage.

The requirement applies to baggage holding more than 2 litres (0.5 gallons) of wine, 1 gallon (3.8 litres) of beer, or 1 litre (0.26 gallons) of distilled spirits.

The state of Alaska will also track how much alcohol Bethel residents order per month in a database that will not be accessible to the general public.

Bootlegging and providing alcohol to a person under 21 will both become felonies. They were previously misdemeanouroffences.

Purchases of wine and beer at Bethel restaurants will be allowed to continue under the law.

Caribou Traders Liquor Store, which was expected to close Saturday, was the only alcohol retailer in Bethel after the state Alcohol Beverage Control Board refused to renew AC Liquor Stores license in May.
When I woke up last Friday and glanced at my phone, I was immediately filled with dread.

Scrolling through Twitter, report after report confirmed that U.S. forces had assassinated Qassem Soleimani, the all-powerful 62-year-old head of the Quds Force, the clandestine foreign wing of Irans elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Many horrified social media users expressed disbelief at such a seismic event. How could President Trump do this? Was he setting us on the path to World War III?

Richard Ratcliffe was left preoccupied with the question of whether the ordered assassination of Qassem Soleimani by President Trump would seal the fate of his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

But I was preoccupied by a far more personal question: did this act seal the fate of my wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been imprisoned in Iran for nearly four years on trumped-up charges of espionage? Would I see her again?

It couldnt have come at a more gut-wrenching time.

I had just shared my first Christmas with Gabriella, our five-year-old daughter, since her mother was imprisoned back in April 2016.

Horrified

After my wife was arrested, Gabriella had her passport confiscated and lived in Tehran with Nazanins family. It meant she could visit her mother once a month.

Without the two most important people in my life, I hadnt much felt like celebrating Christmas throughout those years apart.

But last October, we finally got clearance for Gabriella to move back to Britain to start school. And although Nazanin wasnt with us, I was determined to make this Christmas special for Gabriella.

It was a magical, if bittersweet affair. Having been brought up largely in Iran, she doesnt speak much English or know much about Christmas. But she was delighted with the presents in her stocking and threw herself into the carol singing.

While she has been imprisoned in Iran for nearly four years on trumped-up charges of espionage, their daughter Gabriella (pictured) had her passport confiscated. She lived in Tehran with Nazanins family

Indeed, it is a huge testament to Nazanin, and her family in Iran, that in spite of everything Gabriella is such a bright and cheerful little girl.

That didnt make it any easier for Nazanin, who was stuck in prison and on hunger strike in solidarity with other prisoners. When I spoke to her on the phone on Christmas Day she sounded flat.

But the next time we spoke, the day after Soleimanis assassination, her mood was much bleaker. She was horrified by the implications.

She, along with other prisoners from Western countries, are being held by the Revolutionary Guard on fabricated charges, pawns in Irans conflict with the West.

At first she could not believe what had happened. She had seen the reports on Iranian TV in the prison, but she and her fellow inmates were unsure whether the news had been invented by the state-controlled media.

When I confirmed it was true, her despair was palpable, even though she was behind bars 4,000 miles away.

My wife now believes there is no chance she will be released in the near future.

Worse still, she is terrified that an angry Revolutionary Guard will make her serve a second sentence.

Ratcliffe finally got clearance for Gabriella to move back to Britain to start school, in October

And, like many Iranians, she is beside herself with worry about what the future holds for the country. Iranians are tired of war and do not want to be caught in the middle of a devastating conflict.

As someone who spends every waking moment campaigning for Nazanins release, I share these fears.

At the very least, it is highly likely Soleimanis death will have made it harder for Gabriella and me to be reunited with her mother.

That is why I am anxious to meet Boris Johnson as soon as possible, to understand what is going on. So far, he has not agreed to see me.

Thankfully, Gabriella is far too young to understand what is happening in the news, but life is hard for her without her Iranian family and, most of all, without her mother, whom she misses desperately.

Pictured carol singing, the little girl was delighted with presents in her stocking and threw herself into the festive spirit. She is a credit to her mother that in spite of everything Gabriella is such a bright and cheerful little girl

This morning, as Gabriella attends her first proper day at school, she will ask again why her mother isnt with us. Still, she is excited and I am both proud and heartbroken to be waving her off on my own.

Nazanin would have wanted so desperately to be there for her daughters first day, to brush her hair, help with her uniform, take her into the classroom and give her a hug.

I am urging the Prime Minister to show real leadership and ensure this crisis doesnt get worse, for the sake of my wife and the other Western detainees illegally held in Iran.

He described his wife's mood as bleaker since the ordered killing of Soleimani. Nazanin now believes there is no chance she will be released in the near future. Worse still, she is terrified that an angry Revolutionary Guard will make her serve a second sentence

So I was encouraged to read yesterday that he has finally spoken out and called for de-escalation. A calm, collected approach is needed now more than ever.

Mr Johnson must also plead with President Trump to think of the Western hostages  for that is what they are  held in Iran, to remember them when he is making decisions that could endanger their lives. American policy must be clearer strategically.

The mother has been held in an Iranian prison since April 2016 on trumped-up spying charges. Pictured above is her husband and five-year-old daughter Gabriella, who was allowed to return to the UK so that she could attend school

And the Prime Minister must honour his pledge to leave no stone unturned to get our hostages released.

But Mr Johnson must also realise that the Revolutionary Guard have a ruthless side. We can expect them to respond with fury.

Yet however they retaliate, the Prime Minister and other Western leaders, given the actions of this past week, must reaffirm our values and hold firm to international law.

I say that even though the Revolutionary Guard  who took Nazanin hostage despite her innocence  have terrorised our family and are holding her in a brutal prison where prisoners are tortured with mock executions.

Hostages

It is far harder to urge them to uphold the law when America, our ally, appears to play fast and loose with it.

It makes things dangerous for us all, especially those trapped in the middle.

What happens now depends in part on the UKs response and the clarity of its priorities.

The husband of Iran prisoner Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (pictured with daughter Gabriella in happier times) has asked for a meeting with Boris Johnson over her 'desperate' plight for his wife's return to the UK

Our Government must decide what to do about the 400 million debt it owes Iran over an arms deal. When he was Foreign Secretary, Mr Johnson indicated that this debt would be paid to secure the release of Nazanin and other British hostages.

So far he has not kept his promise. He talks of protecting British interests, seemingly shipping routes and oil.

Thats all very well. But what about British citizens? What about protecting their lives?

Ever since Nazanins arrest, normal life has been on hold for our family. Last night Gabriella asked again when Mummy was coming home: Will it be tomorrow?

Probably not, I said, But soon I hope.

Even as I said it, I knew our familys chances of being reunited have been, at the very least, delayed.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has updated MPs in the House of Commons on the mounting crisis in the Gulf - PA

UK forces are on standby to assist in the Middle East following the escalation of tensions with Iran, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has announced.

Mr Wallace said the Government has taken urgent measures to protect British nationals and interests in the Gulf following the killing of General Qassim Soleimani in a US drone strike.

He added that it is for the US to explain if its decision was "illegal or not", but said it was "clear there was a case for self-defence".

The Commons statement revealed that UK forces in the region, including helicopters and ships, were ready to assist in the crisis if needed. Non-essential personnel had been relocated from Baghdad to Camp Taji, the military base 17 miles north of the Iraqi capital that is the current base for around 400 members of the Irish Guards.

"As part of prudent planning, a small team has been sent to the region to provide additional situational awareness and contingency planning assistance," Mr Wallace told MPs.

The Defence Secretary urged Tehran not to retaliate for the strike on General Soleimani, saying Irans pattern of aggressive behaviour" including targeting dissidents in Europe and hijacking civilian ships "was never going to go unchallenged".

"Her Majesty's Government urges Iran to return to the normal behaviour of the country it aspires to be and resist the urge to retaliate.

"None of us wants conflict, none of us wants our citizens, our friends and our allies to be put at risk."

He said the Government was looking at the implications of the vote in the Iraqi parliament which called for the expulsion of foreign troops but urged the Baghdad government to allow them to remain in order to fight Islamic State militants.

"Our commitment to Iraq's stability and sovereignty is unwavering and we urge the Iraqi government to ensure the coalition is able to continue our work countering this shared threat," he said.

Story continues

The Defence Secretary said Iranian General Qassim Soleimani, killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad, had provided practical military support to the murderous regime in Syria, armed groups in Iraq and a total disregard for Human Rights.

He said Gen Soleimani was a serious destabilisingimpact in the region and the foremost architects of the malign activity was the Quds force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Council, led by the senior Iranian prior to his death last week.

General Soleimani was no friend of the UK or our allies in the region, Ben Wallace said.

His clandestine operations saw him provide weapons to proxy forces in Iraq...killed and maimed UK soldiers [and] fomented instability in Basra during the time when British forces were based in the southern Iraqi city, he said.

The Defence Secretary conformed a team of military personnel had deployed to the region to conduct planning to evacuate British nationals if required.

"As part of prudent planning, a small team has been sent to the region to provide additional situational awareness and contingency planning assistance," he told MPs.

The group of around 20 military personnel, called an Operational Liaison and Reconnaissance Team, would have been deployed by the MoDs Strategic Command, based in Northwood in north west London.

Addressing a packed House of Commons, the Defence Minister said coalition bases in Iraq containing UK and US personnel, including in the central area in Baghdad, had been attacked 14 times, on one occasion with 42 rockets, since Oct 2019

He said the US had consistently shown restraint throughout these attacks.

Jeremy Corbyn criticises Prime Minister's absence

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of "hiding behind his Defence Secretary" by not making the Commons statement himself.

He asked Mr Wallace in the Commons: "Could he tell us where the Prime Minister is and what is he doing that's so much more important than addressing Parliament on the assassination of Iranian general Qassim Soleimani - an extremely dangerous and aggressive act that risks starting yet another deadly war in the Middle East."

Mr Corbyn said the PM had not answered a series of questions he asked in a letter, adding: "Instead today he's hiding behind his Defence Secretary."

Mr Corbyn said the "assassination" puts British troops and civilians, as well as people living in the region, "in danger" before asking if UK Government lawyers regarded the United States' actions as "legal under international law".

Responding, Mr Wallace defended the Prime Minister's decision not to give a statement to MPs on the situation in the Middle East.

He said: "This Prime Minister actually believes in a Cabinet Government and letting the members of the cabinet who are responsible for the policy to come to the House to be able to answer the questions around the policy matter."

The Defence Secretary accused Mr Corbyn of being "anti-America" in response to his questions about the killing of General Soleimani.

He said: "We've had the usual tripe of 'this is about Trump, this is about America' and all the anti-American anti-imperialist guff that we've had from him."
CROMWELL  For some folks, moving to a new town can cause some anxiety. Having a new child in a new town can increase that anxiety.

But officials from the school district and the towns Youth Services Department again are joining forces to present an expo that will offer information to reduce that stress.

The Family Resource & Pre-schoool Expo, set for Jan. 22, aims to provide information about resources available to families, as well as a rundown of preschool program offerings.

The event held in the Town Hall gymnasium from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Youth Services Program Assistant Marcia Pendleton-Sacco said Monday.

The program previously had been held at the Edna C. Stevens elementary school. But Youth Services Director Katelynn Pourro and Sylvia Webb, coordinator for the Cromwell Early Childhood Council, felt they needed more space as they seek to expand the breadth and reach of the expo, Sacco said.

Katelynn and Sylvia are working in tandem to put this expo together, Pendleton-Sacco said. They have sought to expand the reach of the program by involving other agencies, she added.

Invitations have gone out to the Cromwell Police Department and Fire Department, the Middlesex County YMCA and ShopRite, among others, she said.

We should have a complete list of the agencies/preschools who will be attending by the beginning of next week, Webb said via email Monday.

While the focus is on Cromwell, Sacco said residents from the surrounding area are welcome, as well. We have lot of people who may be thinking about moving to Cromwell, and this is an opportunity for them to see what we have to offer, Sacco said.

Were not going to be checking peoples IDs at the door, she joked.

The expo will touch upon key issues for new residents and new parents, such as the all-important issue of daycare and preschool programs.

A third-generation Portland native, Puorro earned a bachelors degree in social work at Central Connecticut State University. She earned a masters degree in social work from the University of Connecticut.

When she took over the administrator position, Puorro said she enjoyed working with young people, be it in child care or in-school settings, working toward the departments motto: (P)romoting better outcomes for children, youth, and families.

jmill@middletownpress.com
Collaboration to Assess Surgical Data Across 300+ Variables to Enable a Higher Quality of Care for Patients and Surgeons

caresyntax, a pioneering developer in surgical automation, analytics and AI, today announced the launch of a research and development collaboration with ARC at Sheba Medical Center, the leading hospital facility of its kind in Israel and the Mideast. Sheba Medical Center, which is focused on game-changing medical innovation, was ranked by Newsweek as one of the top ten best hospitals in the world in 2019. The collaboration will enable caresyntax to measure surgical data across more than 300 variables in oncological procedures using artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop algorithms that will predict surgical outcomes and enable a higher quality of care for both patients and surgeons.

The ARC (Accelerate, Redesign, Collaborate) complex at Sheba Medical Center collaborates with international medical centers and healthcare companies around the globe to advance medical innovation, biotechnology and patient care. Currently, Sheba Medical Center serves more than 1 million patients per year and more than 25% of all Israeli medical clinical research is conducted in its facilities. Sheba Medical Center has a proven track record of treating oncology patients, and caresyntax will leverage ARC's expertise and scale of data resources to enhance the strength of caresyntax's automation and analytics software.

As part of the collaboration, caresyntax will analyze electronic medical records and data from over 3,000 surgical procedures in oncology across more than 300 variables to develop algorithms using AI and machine learning that can predict clinical outcomes. These algorithms will serve as the foundation for real-team feedback that can help surgeons make informed, patient-specific decisions before, during and after surgery. caresyntax then will embed the resulting algorithms into over-the-shoulder clinical decision support systems for surgical teams, which will be tested in one of Sheba's operating rooms by Professor Aviram Nissan, Professor and Chief, Department of General and Oncological Surgery, and Professor Haim Berkenstad, Director, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care. Within caresyntax, the development project is managed by its Surgical AI Labs (SAIL) group, based in Berlin, Germany. As such, it is the first German technology venture to launch a collaboration with ARC.

"We are thrilled to partner with a leading research and innovation center such as ARC on this important project that has the potential to transform the standard of surgical care for patients and surgeons globally," said Dennis Kogan, caresyntax Chairman and CEO. "Together, we will be able to significantly enhance the real-time, decision-making precision of our software platform to provide actionable insights to surgeons throughout the surgical continuum, which, ultimately, will make surgery safer and more effective. We look forward to working with Professor Nissan and Professor Berkenstad, who share our mission to make surgery safer for patients and more efficient for surgeons."

Eyal Zimlichman, Deputy Director, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Innovation Officer at Sheba Medical Center, said, "At Sheba, we are on a mission to collaborate with partners like caresyntax to work together within a singular setting to test and develop solutions that address unmet clinical needs. We're confident that through this partnership with ARC, we can make huge strides in oncological surgery through the combination of our data and caresyntax's leading surgical intelligence and automation technology."

caresyntax and ARC at Sheba Medical Center expect to publish preliminary results for the first phase of the research project in the second quarter of 2020. Following those results, caresyntax expects to begin the second phase of the project, which includes embedding the tested algorithms into the intraoperative decision support module within the caresyntax product portfolio.

caresyntax is working to make surgery smarter by combining AI, IoT and analytics to transform unstructured clinical and operational data into actionable, real-time surgical intelligence. In the last year, caresyntax has launched key partnerships focused on accelerating research and development of its products, including with MC Healthcare, a subsidiary company of Mitsubishi Corporation, Medizin im Grunen, Barco Healthcare and Insel Gruppe AG.

About caresyntax

caresyntax is working to make mission-critical health care settings such as surgery, interventional radiology and obstetrics smarter and safer. The company's proprietary solutions leverage IoT, analytics and AI technologies to automate clinical and operational decision support for surgical teams, and support all outcome contributors in the delivery and management of risk-bearing contracts. By integrating data from medical devices, electronic health records, and other sources inside the OR into a unified data platform, caresyntax helps caregivers better identify and manage risk, increase workflow efficiency, reduce surgical variability and improve operational or clinical outcomes at the point of care. Today, caresyntax technologies are used in more than 7,000 operating rooms worldwide, and support surgical teams in over 10 million procedures per year. More information at www.caresyntax.com.

About Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer

Born together with the State of Israel in 1948, Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer is the largest and most comprehensive medical center in the Middle East. Sheba is the only medical center in Israel that combines an acute care hospital and a rehabilitation hospital on one campus, and it is at the forefront of medical treatments, patient care, research and education. As a university teaching hospital affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University, it welcomes people from all over the world indiscriminately. To learn more, visit: eng.sheba.co.il.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005204/en/

Contacts:

Media:

For caresyntax:

Luke Walker, Director of Global Marketing Communications

caresyntax Corporation

E: luke.walker@caresyntax.com

For Sheba Medical Center:

Steve Walz, Director of International Media Relations

E: steve.walz@sheba.health.gov.il
"The university is forming a small security committee to look into the incident," said JNU Vice-Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar while addressing the media.

New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration, here on Tuesday, announced formation of panel to look into the reasons that triggered the Sunday campus violence, leaving many students injured and causing uproar across the nation.

A report on the incident had been sent to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), he said referring to the campus violence when several masked people, both male and female, thrashed students and teachers with wooden and metal rods.

Requesting "not to politicise" and let the police investigate the incident, the V-C asked students to take part in the online registration process for the winter semester. Around 2,851 students had registered, he added.

Around 50 per cent students had paid their fees and registered, he said and added, the university's data servers, which was damaged by a group of students, was functional from 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Some students prevented others from registering for the winter semester and it had come to their notice, he added.

Kumar said there was adequate security at the university entrance, but raised concern over some insiders' role in facilitating entrance of hooligans. On not personally reaching out to students and teachers, the V-C said wardens inquired about students and appropriate help was provided to teachers.

The V-C said the campus had its own security and enough security personnel had been deployed as "we don't want to spoil the university atmosphere".

"If there is a law and order situation, we don't rush to the police. We see if our security can handle. On Sunday, when we felt there was a possibility of aggressive behaviour among students we informed police.

"Our office is always open and we regularly meet teachers and students," the V-C said and added, the JNU had never been known for violence. The university "does have" CCTVs at main gate and important locations.

On disruption in hostel mess, the V-C said: "We had a meeting with wardens and provosts. We are in touch with hostels. There is no disruption in the mess and they (students) are being provided food. We would like to reach out to students through media."

"I am 24x7 present on the campus," the V-C said.

On the Sunday incident, the V-C said some students came wearing masks and asked the data centre employees to come out. "If they think what they are doing is right, why did they need to hide faces," he said.

On Sabarmati Hostel warden's resignation, Kumar said, "When a group of students surround and ask you to resign, what will one do? They are still wardens."

rag/rak/pcj
Foxxs attorneys said that there is no evidence to support such bold claims and that Foxx collected well above the required number of signatures, anticipating that some might innocently be deemed illegitimate. Residents signing at shopping centers, train stations and other public venues may not always give the right address, and some enthusiastic residents might sign for their entire families  a move thats improper but not illegal.
Ikea will pay $46million to the parents of a two-year-old boy who was crushed to death by one of the companys dressers that tipped over in his bedroom in 2017.

The settlement was announced on Monday by attorneys for Craig and Joleen Dudek, a California couple whose two-year-old son, Jozef, died in May 2017.

The Dudeks lawyers believe it is the largest settlement resulting from the wrongful death of a child ever paid out in United States history.

The $46million sum is almost three times the amount paid in 2016 to settle similar lawsuits filed by parents of other kids killed in tip-overs of its dressers.

Three families split $50million between them in that 2016 court case.

A spokesperson for Ikea confirmed the settlement on Monday, telling DailyMail.com: While no settlement can alter the tragic events that brought us here, for the sake of the family and all involved, were grateful that this litigation has reached a resolution.

Jozef Dudek, 2, was killed in May 2017 after a dresser his parents bought from Ikea fell on top of him

Young Josef Dudek is seen in the above undated file photo with his parents Joleen and Craig Dudek. The parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Ikea, the Swedish furniture maker

Joleen and Craig Dudek, top right, comfort each other as they join a news conference in Philadelphia via video on Monday. The news conference was held by the couple's lawyers (seen seated to the left)

Jozef is believed to have been the first child who was killed by the Malm 3 dresser (seen in the above stock image) after the company announced a recall of the unit in 2016

We remain committed to working proactively and collaboratively to address this very important home safety issue.

Again, we offer our deepest condolences.

Dudeks mother, Joleen, told USA Today: We miss him so much.

He would be turning 5 this year in April.

We never thought that a two year old could cause a short 30-inch dresser to tip over and suffocate him.

It was only later that we learned that this dresser was designed unstable and did not meet safety standards and that this had happened to other little boys.

At least nine children are believed to have died as a result of Ikea dressers that have tipped over.

Most of those incidents happened when the child pulled on a drawer of the unit, tipping it forward.

Jozef was killed when a three-drawer Malm dresser fell on him in the bedroom of his home after his parents put him down for a nap.

The boy was in his bedroom alone when the accident happened and was found trapped under the dresser by his father.

He is the fourth child killed specifically by the Malm product.

Jozef is believed to be the first confirmed death since Ikea recalled the dresser in 2016.

Dudeks mother, Joleen, told USA Today: We miss him so much. He would be turning 5 this year in April. We never thought that a two year old could cause a short 30-inch dresser to tip over and suffocate him.' The parents are seen above shortly after Jozef's birth in April 2015

A spokesperson for Ikea confirmed the settlement on Monday, telling DailyMail.com: While no settlement can alter the tragic events that brought us here, for the sake of the family and all involved, were grateful that this litigation has reached a resolution'

Ikea says that in the three years since the Malm dresser was recalled, the company has destroyed 420,000 returned units.

The company also says it has provided customers with 1.05 million anchoring kits.

Safety advocates say, however, that there are likely millions of unstable dressers in consumers homes today.

Ikea has been accused of not doing enough to alert customers of the dangers posed by products already purchased.

As per the terms of the settlement with the Dudek family, Ikeas president, Javier Quinones, agreed to meet with Parents Against Tip-Overs, an advocacy group made up of people who have lost their children to tipped over bureaus and drawers.

Quinones reportedly wanted to meet last year, but eventually decided to postpone the sit-down due to pending litigation.

Janet McGee, whose two-year-old son Ted also died when an Ikea-made dresser tipped over onto him in the familys Minnesota home in 2016, is a member of Parents Against Tip-Overs.

Curran Collas (pictured left and right with his mother Jackie) was killed in 2014 when he was crushed by an Ikea dresser

Ted McGee (pictured with mom Janet) was killed in 2012 when he was crushed by an Ikea dresser

Washington State toddler Camden Ellis, 2, was found trapped underneath a 3-drawer Malm dresser in June 2014 and died after four days on a ventilator

She said she plans to tell Quinones that his companys recall of the dresser has been ineffective.

McGee says she noticed a number of people still selling the dresser on Facebook marketplace.

When she reached out to the sellers and informed them there had been a recall of the product, she says they told her they were not even aware of it.

Ikea has to do more to get this message out to consumers, McGee said.

This is exactly why Jozef Dudek died, because they did not get this message out to consumers.

Two other toddlers, Curran Collas of Pennsylvania and Camden Ellis of Washington, died between 2012 and 2014 after similar incidents.

The Collas, Ellis, and McGee families split the $50million settlement between them.

A two-year-old boy from Woodbridge, Virginia, also died in September 2011, while toddlers also died in 1989, 2002 and 2007 in similar incidents.

Ikea recalled a total of 29 million items sold in the US in 2016 after the products failed industry safety tests because they could fall over when unattached to a wall.
(JTA)A federal complaint has been filed against Columbia University accusing the school of anti-Semitic discrimination.

It is the first case filed since President Donald Trumps executive order on combating anti-Semitism, which grants Jewish students the same protections as other minority groups.

The complaint requests a formal investigation by the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights into alleged anti-Semitic discrimination at Columbia. It was filed by the Lawfare Project on behalf of a Jewish Israeli-American undergraduate who says he has been a victim of anti-Semitic discrimination over the past year.

Jonathan Karten told The Jerusalem Post that he decided to go forward with the complaint after he learned that a well-known professor in the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies at Columbia had endorsed Hamas military wing, the al-Qassam Terrorist brigade, with impunity. Kartens uncle, Sharon Edri, was kidnapped and murdered by a Hamas cell in Israel in 1996.

According to the Lawfare Project, Jewish students at Columbia have endured systematic discrimination from tenured professors and anti-Israel groups, including Students for Justice for Palestine and Columbia University Apartheid Divest. Columbia students and faculty also host Israel Apartheid Week, which has included bringing virulently anti-Semitic speakers to campus.

A university spokesperson said in an email that Columbia had no comment on the complaint.
Google has been introducing new features for Assistant making it more useful and interactive. Heres 5 tips and tricks you can try with Google Assistant.

Google Assistant, search giant Google's digital helper, is the most frequently used artificial intelligence (AI) by people on their smartphones, laptops and smart speakers. The dependency on Google Assistant has increased multifold since its launch in 2016.

Google Assistant has been launched as part of Google's messaging app Allo, and its voice-activated speaker Google Home. It was initially exclusively available on the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. From 2017, the feature became available on Android devices and was introduced in iOS devices in May 2017.

Google Assistant allows users to interact with it through their natural voice. It also supports keyboard input. Here are five tips and tricks of Google Assistant that users should know of:

Google Assistant in Hindi

Google Assistant can now talk to users in Hindi. The feature launched in Google Assistant last year allows users to talk to the app in Hindi. After the app is being updated, users can say, 'Okay Google, Hindi Bolo' or 'Talk to me in Hindi' and the smart virtual assistant will quickly and automatically switch to Hindi. The feature will also work when Google Assistant users begin conversation and switch to Hindi midway.

Block or unblock offensive words

To make sure your Google Assistant is child-friendly and also to save yourself from being embarrassed when guests are there at your home, you would really want to block offensive words from being searched. There is a feature in Google Assistant by which you can activate block offensive words from searches.

To activate the block offensive words feature on your device, Google Assistant users can long-press on the home button of their phone. They can then tap on the menu icon on the right and then click of Settings. Tap on Voice option and enable the toggle that says, 'Block offensive words'. The toggle turns blue when it is enabled, and Google Assistant will no longer use profanity and will censor stronger words.

Say 'OK Google' to unlock device

Security has been a major concern for smartphones and users often keep their devices locked either by fingerprint sensor or face recognition.

Through Google Assistant, users can unlock their smartphones with their voice. To activate the feature, users can go to Settings, click on Security, scroll down to Smart Lock and select Trusted voice or Voice Match. Follow the directions to set your smartphone to unlock itself the moment it hears the user saying 'Ok Google'.

Ambient Mode

Launched last year, Ambient Mode of Google Assistant turns smartphones, tablets into a smart display by showing information from the users' calendar, current weather, notifications, reminders, music controls, and smart home controls.

Users can even show photos from Google Photos, turning their devices into a digital photo frame. What is more enticing about the feature is that one can set alarms directly from the Ambient Mode screen. The Ambient Mode switches on when the device is plugged in to charge.

Play games

Google Assistant can play a game with its users. Yes, it's true! It also provides you with a host of options. So next time when you are getting bored, you may ask Google Assistant to play games. It has several quiz games and there are different levels.
The supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Garegin (Karekin) II, urged Armenians to reject erroneous interpretation of freedom and rights and stick to their Christian faith as he celebrated a Christmas mass on Monday.

Dear faithful people, on this soul-renewing day of the Holy Nativity we also reflect with a sense of regret that in the midst of the diverse and contradictory developments of modern life, in the currents of secularization and conformity  the message of the Birth of Christ is often lost, Garegin said in a homily read out at Saint Gregory the Illuminators Cathedral in Yerevan.

Dangerous imitations of true values are being promoted, which are stripped of the genuine principles of love of God and love of others and are built upon erroneous understanding and interpretation of freedom and rights, he said. To withstand these new realities and changing times, we must stand firm in our faith in Christ, revaluating our past, choosing renewal and adoption.

Armenians must be more decisive in the witnessing of our Christian identity and united through our spiritual values, through our faith, around our sacred homeland and our Holy Church, he added during the liturgy attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and other senior state officials.

Garegin did not specify concrete norms or practices rejected by the ancient church to which the vast majority of Armenias population nominally belongs.

The Catholicos championed traditional family values and blasted pseudo-liberalism in his previous Christmas sermon delivered a year ago.

A few months later, the Armenian Churchs top clergymen voiced strong opposition to a 2011 treaty that commits Council of Europe member states, including Armenia, to combatting violence against women. The extraordinary move came as Pashinians government indicated its intention to ensure the Armenian parliaments ratification of the treaty known as the Istanbul Convention.

While supporting the protection of women, the church and socially conservative groups object to the conventions definition of gender as social roles, behaviors, activities and characteristics that a particular society considers appropriate for women and men. They say it paves way for introducing transsexual or transgender as separate categories and legalizing same-sex marriage. Government officials deny that.

Garegin and Pope Francis reaffirmed their opposition to same-sex marriage in a joint declaration during the pontiffs June 2016 visit to Armenia. The two religious leaders also expressed concern at the crisis of the family in many Christian nations.

The Armenian Apostolic Church marks Christmas on January 6. Celebrations of the holiday start late on January 5 with Christmas Eve candlelight services held in churches in and outside Armenia. Christmas became a public holiday in the South Caucasus country after the break-up of the Soviet Union.
2020 Democrats look to step into commander-in-chief role amid intensifying Iran crisis originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

The U.S. strike killing Irans top military general sparked a sudden inflection point in the 2020 presidential primary, bringing to the forefront one of the first auditions of the cycle for the Democratic hopefuls to not only be seen as a candidate and a possible leader of the free world, but as the commander-in-chief amid a foreign policy turn.

With the sudden entrance of a potential national security crisis into the contest, the Democratic contenders are drawing "revealing" distinctions as they articulate their vision for U.S. leadership abroad.

"The differences in how they've spoken about [the strike] are revealing," Jonathan Tepperman, editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy Magazine, told ABC News. "They've been universal in their criticism, but what they criticize it for has differed."

Former Vice President Joe Biden continued his multi-day drumbeat against President Donald Trump's foreign policy platform with a forceful rebuke of the Republican incumbent on Tuesday. Biden used the opportunity to directly address Trump, seeking to elevate his potential presidential leadership against the current commander-in-chief -- calling him "dangerously incompetent" -- and to argue he is best-suited to assume the presidency on day one.

"I have no illusions about Iran. The regime has long sponsored terrorism and threatened our interests. It continues to detain American citizens. Theyve ruthlessly killed hundreds of protesters, and they should be held accountable for their actions," he said in a foreign policy address in New York City. "But there is a smart way to counter them -- to counter Iran -- and a self-defeating way. Trumps approach is demonstrably the latter."

Throughout the weekend on the trail, Biden leaned into his "sober approach to foreign policy" based on decades of experience with international affairs, Tepperman said, threading his time as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee and as vice president into his stump speech to contrast himself with Trump's "impulsive" nature.

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"All this just reinforces the stakes of this election in my view," he said in Des Moines, Iowa on Sunday. "That's why it's so important to elect someone who is already ready on day one. When they are elected, to pick up the pieces -- to pick up the pieces of this disarray and immediately be commander-and-chief of our armed forces."

PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign rally at Modern Woodmen Park, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Davenport, Iowa. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Bidens argument was also reinforced by the endorsement of a trio of military veterans -- Reps. Conor Lamb, D-Penn., Elaine Luria, D-Va., and Chrissy Houlahan, D-Penn., -- on Sunday, who also represent three Democrats who flipped red districts to blue in 2018 in crucial battleground states.

Arguably, no two candidates more than Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders exemplified the fractures in the primary, based on clear differences in philosophy about the direction of American foreign policy in a post-Trump era, political experts said.

"The conflict with Iran enables both Biden and Sanders to play to their strengths," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. "Biden has a long and deep portfolio of experience on foreign policy that reinforces his claim that hes ready to be president. Iran has brought foreign policy to the forefront, which ought to help Biden. But Sanders gets to play one of his best cards. While Biden voted for the Iraq War, Sanders opposed it, giving him the argument that he has better judgment. Many liberals in the party have never forgiven Biden, like Hillary Clinton, for the Iraq vote."

(MORE: The Note: Iran and Iraq present fresh challenges to 2020 candidates)

But the former Delaware senators lengthy record also has left him open to criticism from his political rivals, particularly, as Sabato notes, his support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Biden has since called his 2002 vote to authorize the Iraq War "bad judgement" for trusting former President George W. Bush at the time for saying "he was only doing this to get inspectors in."

His vote is one that Sanders repeatedly invokes to contrast himself with Biden and underscore his long-standing credentials as a "dove," someone who tends to be more averse to the use of military force. Sanders did, in fact, vote for the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, but he, too, recently conceded at the December Democratic debate that he was "wrong."

(MORE: Former Vice President Joe Biden lays out his vision on foreign policy in NY speech)

"He brings into this campaign a record which is so weak that it just cannot create the kind of excitement and energy that is going to be needed to defeat Donald Trump," Sanders said of Biden in an interview with the Washington Post last week.

On Monday, Sanders again knocked Biden's voting record, telling CNN the former vice president "helped lead the effort for the war in Iraq, the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in the modern history of this country," before adding, "You think that's going to play well in Michigan or Wisconsin or Pennsylvania?"

In calling attention to Bidens Iraq War vote, Sanders implicitly highlights his own staunch opposition to war, stemming back to his aversion to the Vietnam War. On the campaign trail, he often uses the key difference as the most significant example of his commitment to a foreign policy agenda focused first and foremost on diplomatic efforts.

"It gives me no pleasure to tell you that at this moment we face a similar crossroads fraught with danger. Once again, we must worry about unintended consequences and the impact of unilateral decision making. And let me repeat a -- a warning, I gave in 2002 during the debate over the war in Iraq," he said in Anamosa, Iowa on Friday. "This is what I said back then, 'War must be the last recourse in our international relations. And as a caring nation, we must do everything we can to prevent the horrible suffering that a war will cause.'"

Sanders reiterated his stance during an interview with CNN Monday, calling the attack an assassination and saying, "once you start this business of a major country saying, 'Hey we have the right to assassinate,' then you're unleashing international anarchy."

The differences in Bidens and Sanders approaches to foreign policy reflects perhaps the clearest contrast between the two front-runners, but it also highlights one key similarity between the two: their comfort with assuming the role of commander-in-chief.

PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders stands with former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner during a campaign event, Jan. 4, 2020, in Mason City, Iowa. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

"I think Biden quickly referred to his own experience and confidence in handling a moment like this," Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, told ABC News. "People watch that, again, it's not simply the substance -- because Im not sure everyone follows -- but just imagine if he was the one at the podium explaining how this is going to be done."

In calling for a "more wholesale rethinking of policies in the Middle East," Zelizer said, "Sanders, for Sanders fans, his response will also be exciting. He instantly thinks big and says, we have a bigger problem here. That boldness is what his supporters like."

"The substance certainly matters, but there's also something about the way they deliberate in public, the way they handle the crisis in real time, that is going to be very important," Zelizer continued, speaking more broadly of the field at large. "It's watching them in the middle of a crisis and imagining as they were the president."

(MORE: Julian Castro endorses Elizabeth Warren in 2020 race)

Though Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts was among the first to respond as news of the strike broke, she swiftly drew heat from both the left and right - calling him a "murderer," and getting criticized both for vilifying him, rather than decrying escalation in the Middle East - and for not vilifying him enough.

Progressive supporters backing Warren were uncomfortable with her initial response, upset with its centrist thrust and dearth of the "big, bold, structural" stances that won them to her side, multiple sources told ABC News. By the next day, her rhetoric showed a clear U-turn: calling the strike an "assassination," as Sanders had already done.

By Tuesday, when pressed by ABC's "This View" co-host Meghan McCain about the "flip-flop," Warren said, "This isnt a change -- the question is what is the response the president of the United States should make."

"Having killed Soleimani does not make America safer," she told the hosts during the appearance, continuing an ongoing critique of Trump. "He has moved us close to the edge of war."

But Warren was not the only top-tier candidate to shift her tone: Pete Buttigieg, a former U.S. Navy intelligence officer and mayor of South Bend, Ind., walked back his characterization of the strike against Soleimani as an "assassination," despite doing so just the night before -- saying hes "not interested in terminology."

PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks during a town hall event in Davenport, Iowa, Jan. 5, 2020. (Daniel Acker/Reuters)

In this crucial test for the field of Democrats asking for Americas vote, however -- words become the currency of promised action, underscoring stance; fluctuating rhetoric erodes strength of message in a moment when, experts say, thats key.

"If this keeps unraveling, if this gets scarier, you know, attacks are happening, Mayor Pete might look that much younger," Zelizer said. "And voters might be that much less comfortable with him, not because of his substance or not even because he somehow couldn't handle this, but he just looks like he might not be able to and then that could hurt in a campaign. He has to overcome that with a lot of gravitas."

(MORE: Trump calls for speedy end to impeachment amid escalating tensions with Iran)

Zelizer added - its not a simple matter of age -- one of the most senior people in the race, he notes, is "the most gaffe-ridden candidate." Moreover -- its not a pure question of one 'right' ideology, but rather, of demonstrating a firm hand at the helm during turbulent times.

"I think Senator Warren got in some trouble right away," Zelizer said. "That kind of her position changed based on criticism and push back, and it wasn't necessarily the substance as much as her doing that, I think kind of undermined some of the authority she could bring on a question like this."

"Voters want to see a certain steadiness about how the candidates handle this," he added.

The unique test of foreign policy

While President Trump contends with mounting blowback and dramatic ramifications over authorizing a drone strike against Qassem Soleimani -- the second most important official in Iran's government behind Ayatollah Khamenei -- the move marked a major escalation in months of tension between the U.S. and Iran.

For the Democratic presidential candidates, confronting a foreign policy test brings some of the most unique set of challenges to a still unsettled contest that has been dominated by domestic policy.

"Foreign policy has been neglected in presidential politics," said Andrew Bacevich, a professor emeritus of history and international relations at Boston University, the president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and the author of The Age of Illusions: How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory. "In the present moment, there is significant fear about the possibility of the United States being involved in a major war another major war."

But with less than a month until early voting gets underway with Februarys Iowa caucuses, this critical moment, Bacevich said, "could well offer a candidate an opportunity to distinguish himself or herself from all the other Democrats on that crowded stage."

Unlike pocketbook issues or questions over health care, foreign policy relies on an ability to quickly lead by instinct, experts say.

"If you ask yourself, who's gonna give me the best health care plan for the nation, that's a question of a whole different order," Bacevich told ABC News.

"It's one that doesn't center on a capacity to make sound judgments matters of great importance in a short span of time," he continued, before posing, "Is this is a person who we will trust to make the right decision on matters of war and peace?"

ABC News' Molly Nagle, John Verhovek and Adam Kelsey contributed reporting.
San Francisco, Jan 7 : Reviving a bittle legal battle, the state of California has sued billionaire venture capitalist Vinod Khosla over denying access to the public to a beach next to his property in San Mateo County.

According to a report in CNBC, Khosla whose net worth is $2 billion (Forbes' listing) bought land surrounding Martins Beach in 2008 for $32 million.

Since then, he has been fighting lawsuits from local activist groups on letting the public use the beach as Khosla has locked the entry for the public.

Beaches in California are public land under the California Coastal Act.

Khosla has been fighting this battle for 12 years now to "keep private a stretch of beach in front of an 89-acre property that the billionaire venture capitalist purchased in 2008", says TechCrunch.

The state of California said in the lawsuit on Monday that he has "improperly and illegally" restricted entry to the beach.

The suit added that without court orders, Khosla will "continue to deny, impair and obstruct" the public's right to use Martins Beach.

"The claims asserted in today's lawsuit have been extensively litigated and repeatedly rejected by the courts in a prior lawsuit," Dori Yob Kilmer, a lawyer for Khosla, said in a statement.
A disturbing video shows an Iranian actor posing as a gunman and aiming at US President Donald Trump in a mocked-up assassination attempt.

The video emerged as Tehran vows bloody revenge for the killing of top commander Qasem Soleimani on Friday.

The images, released by Iranian news agency Fars, manipulate real-life footage of Trump being ushered off-stage during a Nevada rally on November 5, amid fears an audience member had a gun.

A disturbing video shows an Iranian actor posing as a gunman and aiming at US President Donald Trump in a mocked-up assassination attempt

The fake assassination video shows the gunman firing shots at Trump, who is then hastily removed from the podium

The images, released by Iranian news agency Fars, manipulate real-life footage of Trump being ushered off-stage during a Nevada rally on November 5, amid fears an audience member had a gun

Iranian Video Depicts Assassination of President Trump as Revenge for Soleimanis Death; Caption Reads: If You Begin the War, We Will End the War pic.twitter.com/onJs0wRjwO  MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) January 7, 2020

The fake assassination video shows the gunman firing shots at Trump, who is then hastily removed from the podium.

The video caption reads 'Hey US, if you begin the war, we will end the war.'

It was released as Iran has vowed to take 'severe revenge' for the killing of Soleimani, who was widely seen as one of the most powerful men in the Middle East, ordered by the White House on Friday.

General Soleimani's death has sparked calls across Iran for revenge against America for a killing that has drastically raised tensions across the region.

It comes as one of Iran's vice presidents, Massoumeh Ebtekar, said Trump had made a 'serious miscalculation' and referred to a 'wave of awakening' across the Western world in the wake of Soleimani's death, in an interview with CNN on Tuesday.

Ebtekar, the current Vice President of Iran for Women and Family Affairs, said that the outrage at his death was not just limited to Iran and claimed that many countries including across Europe and the US, understand the 'terrible actions of the American government'.

Iranian Vice President Massoumeh Ebtekar: The American president made a serious miscalculation, they made a serious mistake by assassinating, by taking this terrorist action, against Commander Soleimani, and Im sure that they regret what they have done. pic.twitter.com/KTQgPNjGBP  Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) January 7, 2020

Ebtekar, the current Vice President of Iran for Women and Family Affairs, said that the outrage at his death was not just limited to Iran and claimed that many countries including across Europe and the US, understand the 'terrible actions of the American government'

She added that the killing of Soleimani has brought the Iranian nation together

Ebtekar said: 'I'm sure that they regret what they've done because the response is not only limited to Iran. We see this wave of awakening in many countries in the world, in many European countries...

'In the US, the people in the US, their reactions, I've been seeing some of this on the social networks, on Twitter.

'This is an awakening. The people now understand very well what has happened and the terrible actions of the American government.'

Iranians attend a gathering to commemorate the memory of the former IRGC Qods Force commander Qasem Soleimani in central Tehran on Tuesday evening

A woman holds a sign showing Soleimani as mourners gather to commemorate the memory of the commander

She added that the killing of Soleimani has brought the Iranian nation together.

Ebtekar said that US President Donald Trump had made a 'serious miscalculation'.

'They made a serious mistake by assassinating, by taking this terrorist action, against Commander Soleimani, and I'm sure that they regret what they have done,' she said.

Ebtekar's comments come as more than 50 mourners were killed and more than 200 injured after a stampede broke out on the final day of Qassem Soleimani's funeral in Iran today.

Iran's farewell to the general descended into chaos after thousands of people thronged to his home town of Kerman, where he is being buried on the third day of his funeral.

With a sea of mourners clamouring to see Soleimani's coffin, state media said the overcrowding had caused a stampede which left 56 people dead and 213 injured.

Iranian mourners gather for the burial of slain top general Qassem Soleimani in his hometown of Kerman on Tuesday

A woman holds up a placard declaring 'we want revenge' during today's funeral gathering in Soleimani's home town

The head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps foreign operations arm, Qassem Soleimani, was killed on Friday in a US strike on Baghdad international airport.

The head of the Quds Force was widely seen as one of the most powerful men in the region and the architect of Iran's support for the Syrian army.

Tehran has reacted by vowing bloody revenge, as have the militias it controls in Iraq, while parliament in Baghdad has voted to request a full US troop withdrawal.

US President Donald Trump, who boasted in a tweet that Soleimani should have been killed earlier, in turn threatened Iran with more strikes and Iraq with sanctions if US forces were targeted or forced to leave.
As many as one in three opioid overdose deaths may go uncounted by US health officials, a new study suggests.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that, between 2003 and 2017, there were about 375,000 deaths from opioids and 106,000 deaths from heroin.

But researchers from the University of South Florida found that government officials missed as many as 45 percent of deaths in the Sunshine State alone.

The team says it estimates that there were actually 33 percent more fatal opioid overdoses and 36 percent more heroin overdose across the country over the 14-year time period than previously reported.

A new study from the University of South Florida suggests that there 501,329 deaths from opioids and 146,110 deaths from heroin from 2013 to 2017, 33% more than originally reported (file image)

According to the CDC, nationwide overdose deaths topped 70,000 in 2017, a 10 percent increase from the year before.

Fentanyl, the synthetic opioid 100 times stronger than morphine, was the driving culprit, alone accounting for a 45 percent increase in deaths between 2016 and 2017.

But the researchers say that number could be much larger.

For the new study, published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, the team looked at data from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission (FMEC) and compared it to data from the CDC's Multiple Cause of Death (MCOD) database.

According to MCOD data, nationally there were 375,527 deaths caused by opioids and 106,806 caused by heroin between 2003 and 2017.

However, for Florida, federal officials undercounted the number of overdose deaths caused by benzodiazepines - psychoactive sedatives - by 45 percent and amphetamines - powerful stimulants - by 17 percent.

An additional 3,000 deaths from cocaine were also overlooked.

What's more, the percent of fatal overdoses not included in the federal data for heroin and methadone were about 25 percent and 45 percent, respectively.

Using the estimates from Florida, researchers believe the true numbers are 501,329 deaths from opioids and 146,110 deaths from heroin across the US.

The team believes there is such a difference in reported numbers because Florida medical examiners are required to wait for complete toxicology reports before submitting an official cause of death, which could take weeks or months.

Meanwhile, CDC data is from death certificates filed by local authorities, which don't always include information on what drug or drugs were involved, if any..

'The CDC data are widely reported in the news and referenced by politicians, which is problematic since those estimates significantly undercount the true scope of the epidemic for specific drugs,' said Dr Troy Quast, an associate professor at the USF College of Public Health.

'The rate of under-reporting for all overdose deaths in Florida is near the national average, so the problem is not to the state.'

Federal health officials say they are working to improve counting fatal overdoses.

For example, the CDC's Enhanced State Opioid Overdose Surveillance program was recently awarded $13 million to speed up how quickly toxicology reports are filed.

Dr Quast believes efforts such as these will help enhance our understanding and improve the response to the drug misuse epidemic.
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Linkedin Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 17:51 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3213cc21 1 City flood,anies-baswedan,Basuki-Hadimuljono,BBWSCC,Ciliwung-river,ciawi,dam,vertical-drainage,climate-change,extreme-weather Free

Experts on urban planning and flood mitigation have urged the public to engage in a healthier, more comprehensive discussion about flood mitigation instead of riding on a political spat between Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono regarding a 17-kilometer stretch of the Ciliwung River, a minor issue in Greater Jakarta's overall flood problem.

Climate scientists have warned that the extreme weather caused by climate change that happened in Indonesia at the turn of the year may become the "new normal" of the future. The warning has led to a conversation about flood-mitigation strategies far beyond the spat among officials and politicians about river "normalization or naturalization" programs.

Minister Basuki has pushed for the so-called river normalization program, in which the ministry will widen the Ciliwung River, install concrete piling along the river and build a road for motor vehicles, all of which will require evictions.

Meanwhile, Anies, who pledged not to carry out forced evictions in his election campaign, halted the procurement of land needed for the project and offered naturalization instead, which replaces concrete piling with river stones and transforms riverbanks into green public spaces.

A waste of time

The ongoing debate will be a waste of time if officials do not address the underlying problems of recurring floods, namely climate change, land conversion to resorts and villas in the upstream area and rapid development in the downstream, which leads to massive groundwater extraction from deep aquifers, according to Bosman Batubara, a PhD student at the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands, who is doing a doctoral thesis on flood management.

The problem is getting more complex because of inadequate care of waterways coupled with garbage dumping and sedimentation, Bosman said.

But none of the technical solutions talk about power, which is the core problem. Flooding in the cities is the result of a process whereby power becomes an inevitable element, he added.

Rita Padawangi, an urban expert at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), added an argument saying that the shrinking quantity and quality of lakes in the Ciliwung watersheds had reduced the water infiltration rate.

She cited the book Banjir Kanal Timur, Karya Anak Bangsa (East Flood Canal, Work of the People) authored by senior Kompas journalist Robert Adhi Ksp on the number of lakes in Greater Jakarta, which had declined from a total of 240 lakes covering 2,337 hectares in 2004 to 1,462 ha with 184 lakes in 2009. Only a small proportion of these are in good condition.

Hydrologist Fatchy Muhammad of the Indonesian Water Society stressed that all relevant stakeholders must change their paradigm into achieving zero-runoff by installing abundant infiltration wells, given the interconnected problems of drought during the dry season.

The typical geological structure of Greater Jakarta land has good potential to absorb water until the pressurized aquifer layer at a depth of over 200 meters "because it comprises layers of clay and sand, Fatchy said.

The Jakarta administration recently stated that the city requires 1.8 million vertical drainage units installed throughout the city, except in North Jakarta and Thousand Islands, by the private and public sectors and by individuals.

Only some 2,000 vertical drainage units have reportedly been installed. Fatchy questioned the pace, doubting that the city would ever reach its 1.8 million-unit target.

The administration has issued regulations to oblige entities that utilize surface water or extract groundwater from more than 40 meters in depth, but enforcement is patchy, he said.

Both vertical and horizontal needed

Vertical drainage alone, however, will not be enough.

At some point, the soil may saturate, hence runoff absorption will be more effective for light to medium rainfall intensity. During extreme rainfall, utilization of waterways that channel water to the seasuch as canals or riversis inevitable, according to Dwita Sutjiningsih, a professor of hydrology at the University of Indonesia.

Comprehensive efforts to cope with any rainfall intensity are needed because rain is actually a blessing, right? Dwita asked.

Drainage installation is sized according to the probability of occurrence of expected peak discharge. Climate change that results in extreme weather will lead to changes in peak discharge projection.

In addition, land development contributes to the changing design calculation of a drainage system.

"Infrastructure is built to complement each strategy. A [periodic] review of the built infrastructure should be made in line with the current situation," Dwita said. The difficulty is we dont have enough long range data to understand the trend."

The ministry has come up with infrastructure solutions for flood mitigation, with the highlighted ones being river normalization, water tunnels and the construction of Ciawi and Sukamahi dry dams in West Java.

On Jan. 2, Minister Basuki claimed that the normalized part of the Ciliwung was "relatively" safe from flooding after he inspected the area from above. However, Isnu Handono from community organization Ciliwung Merdeka, which advocated on behalf of residents in Bukit Duri, South Jakarta, during the forced evictions for the ministry's project in 2016, said that the normalized area was flooded. He had a video filmed in the early hours of Jan. 2 that showed a deluge of water overflowing from Ciliwung, overwhelming the concrete embankment and flooding the inspection road built by the ministry as part of the normalization program.

Naturalization needs land too

Another expert said that while naturalization could work, Anies would need to procure land to make room for the green space. Land procurement in many projects in Indonesia usually leads to forced evictions.

River water always needs areas for runoff corridors during heavy downpours, so there should not be permanent activities on riverbanks. Non-permanent things like green spaces or sporting fields are still possible, said Hadi Susilo Arifin, an urban water expert from Bogor Agricultural University.

With his pledge to halt forced evictions, Anies pinned high hopes on the ministry's projects to build the Ciawi and Sukamahi dry dams in the upstream when reporters asked about flood-mitigation strategies.

Land acquisition for the projects has progressed 90 percent and the physical construction is at nearly 45 percent, according to the ministry. The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2020.

The two dry dams have a total capacity of 8 million cubic meters, which is expected to reduce by 30 percent the water discharge from the upstream areas, hence water discharge arriving in the capital will be reduced by about 12 percent.

I worry that the public will have great expectations about the project without knowing the complete information, Dwita said, pointing out that the dam's capacity was actually much less than the Jatiluhur dams that contain up to 3 billion cubic meters.

Above all the correlated issues, Armi Susandi, a meteorology and geophysics expert from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), urged the government to ensure every development in every part of the country is in line with disaster risk-management principles, in which short-term disaster mitigation should be a priority.

The government should also give incentives to people regarding disaster mitigation, as well as promoting climate-change adaptation. For example, building the necessary facilities that will ease the impact from climate-induced disasters, Armi said.

Rita of SUSS, who was involved in collaborative international research on the Ciliwung River project with other scientists, that aimed to develop solutions to address flooding, water quality and ecology with local population involvement, expressed a similar suggestion.

Identify the capabilities of residents that can be empowered to actively participate in disaster mitigation and focus on increasing public resilience for extreme occurrences," Rita said. "Because any mitigation efforts will not completely eliminate floods under extreme conditions."
YPSILANTI, MI - Terrence J. Roberts, a member of the Little Rock Nine who challenged racial segregation in the public schools in the 1950s, is the keynote speaker at Eastern Michigan Universitys 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Presidents Luncheon.

Roberts will give brief comments during the 11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20 luncheon in the EMU Student Center Grand Ballroom. His keynote address begins at 2 p.m. inside the student center auditorium. While luncheon tickets are $15 for students and $30 for the general public, the keynote address is free to attend.

Roberts was one of nine students who helped desegregate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957, becoming the first black students ever enter and attend classes there.

Three years after the landmark Brown v. The Board of Education Supreme Court ruling, the Little Rock School Board pledged to voluntarily desegregate its schools, according to The Smithsonian. The night before what was supposed to be the students first day at the school on Sept. 2, 1957, then Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus ordered the states national guard to block their entrance, saying it was done for the safety of the students.

On Sept. 4, 1957, a federal judge ordered that the Little Rock Nine begin attending Central High School immediately, but a belligerent mob, along with the National Guard, prevented the students from entering the school.

It would not be until Sept. 25, 1957, after a plea from Little Rock Mayor Woodrow Mann, that President Dwight Eisenhower federalized the National Guard and sent U.S. Army troops to the school, according to The Smithsonian. Personally guarded by National Guard soldiers and the Armys 101st Airborne, the Little Rock Nine began regular class attendance at Central High.

In 1999, Roberts and other members of the Little Rock Nine were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Bill Clinton. In 2009, Roberts published his memoir, Lessons from Little Rock," along with a second book, Simple Not Easy: Reflections on Community Social Responsibility and Tolerance," the next year. He currently is the principal of the management-consulting firm, Terrence Roberts Consulting.

In addition to the keynote address, EMU is hosting a week filled with activities, including a commemorative walk, a scholarship showcase and a day of service.

In Ann Arbor, political activist and author Angela Davis will provide the keynote lecture for the University of Michigans annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium.
The Ghana Manganese Company (GMC), in Tarkwa in the Western region, which has been bleeding financially is seeking to dialogue with the government over its woes.

It would be recalled that GMC as a result of a directive from the ruling NPP government halted its operations in August 2019.

The development according to the Ghana Railway Workers Union and the Association of Railway Senior Officers is affecting their source of revenue which is from haulage of manganese ore from Nsuta to the Takoradi Port.

The Finance Manager of GMC, Emmanuel Appiah Kubi said the development affected the companys mining projection of 7 million tons of manganese per annum.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Appiah Kubi further said they are collaborating with the Lands and Natural Resources Minister to address the issue.

The situation we face now as a company is quite complicated because, at the beginning of the year, the plan was to mine and ship 7 million tons [of manganese]. This plan was approved by the Minerals Commission. We had just put in place logistics and resources to mine the 7 million tons and out of that 7 million, 2 million was allocated to the railway company. But in the middle of the year we received a directive from the government to cap this target to 5 million and so we had no choice than to reduce the number of tons we'll hoard by rail. I believe this might have affected the cash flow of the railway company, hence, their inability to pay the workers their December salaries. It's a sad situation but as a company, we are engaging the government about it, he assured.

Meanwhile, Citi News understands that the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Kweku Asomah Cheremeh is set to meet the management of Ghana Manganese Company next week to work out modalities on resolving the issue. Background

The Ghana Manganese Company was shut down in August following allegations that it had short-changed government to the tune of GHc1.94 billion in taxes and royalties as well as price manipulation between 2010 and 2017.

The company had been under investigation since February 2019 after preliminary checks of its finances allegedly revealed several infractions.

About 2,000 employees were affected by the shutdown.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Railway Workers Union and the Association of Railway Senior Officers are appealing to President Nana Akufo-Addo to intervene in the matter as the issue is having a toll on the livelihood of employees.

The company is for the state and so what it means is that the government has to come in and give us money to pay the salaries which we don't think is going to be sustainable so we think whatever impasse between the two should be resolved amicably and we start operation, said the General Secretary of the Ghana Railway Workers, Godwill Ntarmah.

---CitinewsRoom
Indianapolis, IN -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/07/2020 -- The cosmetics industry, which appeals to billions of people, is one of the locomotives of the economy. The turnover volume of the sector is expected to exceed 650 billion dollars in 2020. A significant development has occurred in cosmetics sector, which is one of the most competitive sectors. France, which is considered as the homeland of cosmetics sector, has lost one of its well-established firms to Turkey. Turkish businessman Adnan Erturk bought the 138-year-old French cosmetics giant Romano Style 1881. Erturk will now export cosmetics and perfumery from Turkey to all around the world under the brand Romano Style.



Romano Style 1881 is preparing to have a big breakthrough by attending the Perfume Innovation Summit in Paris in November 2020 as well.



The majority of global premium sales in cosmetics center upon developed markets (Europe, USA, Japan and France). Also, BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) are growing fast in the cosmetics market. Turkey is one of the countries where the cosmetics market grows rapidly. Considering that Turkey has prominently a young population, businessman Adnan Erturk has made a running entrance into the sector by buying the well-established firm of France.



France, which is on the position of the market's biggest exporter, took the biggest share of this import of Turkey. Now that the businessman Adnan Erturk has bought Romano Style, Turkey is expected to promptly direct its way from the importer position to the exporter in cosmetics.



Romano Style formulas 1881 are available in different options for all skin types. It is confirmed with 100% vegan certificate that it does not conduct animal experiments and does not use any animal substances in its products.



DISTRIBUTORSHIP HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO MANY COUNTRIES



The company, which started production under the Romano Style 1881 brand, will be available to consumers initially with 138 products. RS 1881 will reach the customer through online sales points and a network of overseas distributors.



China, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Iraq and Uzbekistan became the first countries given distributorship.



ROMANO STYLE IS ON THE NEW JOURNEY!



Founded in 1881 as a reference laboratory by Moli Franard in Grasse, the southern French town, Romano Style 1881 produced essence for many years. RS 1881, which made a name for itself in a short time, produced herbal essence dermo cosmetics under the management of his daughter Katerina after the death of Moli Franard. For Romano Style, which produced raw materials for cosmetic companies, this process continued until 2018 in the following period.



Imparted to Turkey after being bought by Turkish businessman Adnan Erturk in 2018, Romano Style 1881is now on a new journey. Bringing 138 years of brand tradition with modern technologies, Erturk aims to bring a new perspective to the cosmetics sector.



RS 1881, starting out by analyzing the needs of the cosmetics sector, besides the naive scents it brings with glass bottles, also created a special collection for hair, skin and body care. RS 1881, which completed the new product tests in two years' time, obtained the required permission and reference documents from international organizations and Turkish authorities.



Product approvals were obtained from Merieux NutriSciences, a world-renowned testing and laboratory company. Merieux NutriSciences, founded by Marcel Merieux, who has conducted scientific researches with famous French scientist Louis Pasteur, has been serving in many countries around the world. T.R. Ministry of Health has also given the necessary permissions. RS 1881, which has a vegetarian product certificate, has also been approved by the World Dermatology Institute for newly developed products.



RS 1881, which keeps the aesthetic concern at the highest level in addition to product quality and naturalness, is offered for sale in glass bottles specially produced for each product. RS 1881, which also creates a special store concept, will grow with the franchising model in the coming period.



BUSINESSMAN ERTURK HAS ASSERTIVELY ENTERED THE COSMETICS SECTOR!



Adnan Erturk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Romano Style 1881, underlined that they combine modern vision with more than a century of experience. Erturk said, "We are pleased to bring France's well-established cosmetic company to the Turkish economy. While Turkish companies are generally bought by international companies, we have taken a step that reverses this process. We have combined our vision and experience with an important brand which is known for its unique product range and acts as a reference for the cosmetic sector. Our goal is to provide the most natural cosmetic products to our customers by using advanced technologies with an approach based on human health."



WE TRUST TURKISH ECONOMY!



Stating that he has great trust in the Turkish economy and continues make investments with this perspective, Turkish Businessman Erturk said, "Romano Style 1881 formulas have options for all skin types. It is confirmed with our 100% vegan certificate that we do not conduct animal experiments and do not use any animal substances in our products. We are pleased to bring a brand-new perspective to the cosmetics sector by bringing together 138 years of brand tradition with technology."
Kochi (Tamil Nadu) [India], Jan 7 (ANI): As the date for the demolition of the four high rises in Kochi's Maradu draws near, house owners in the immediate vicinity of Alfa Serene have started vacating their homes in fear and are also afraid about the fate of their houses.



Paintings saying it is an 'Unhappy New Year' and 'God save my house' were painted on the wall of a house located within 100-metre range of the Alfa Serene apartment.

The residents also complained that they had not received adequate compensation from the administration.

"We evacuated our house 3 days ago. Now, we are living outside Maradu on rent. But we did not get adequate compensation, we just got Rs 30,000 rupees for rent for 3 months. But then we were told that we had to live 6 months outside, all costs related to shifting the house also went from our pocket," Latheef, a homeowner told ANI on Monday.

Harichandra Sai, another resident, said that he was afraid that the demolition of the Alfa Serene apartment would bring down his own house and alleged that no awareness drives have been carried out by the authorities.

"My house developed cracks when part of the wall and pillars in the apartment were brought down. The noise and the tremors were so loud that it made us spring up in the air. When the actual demolition takes place we are afraid that the whole house will be destroyed. The authorities are misleading people here. They have not carried out any awareness drive," Sai told ANI.

Several other owners of houses in the vicinity expressed similar sentiments.

Meanwhile, engineers from the Maradu Municipality have started conducting the structural audit of houses in the vicinity of the apartment before the demolition. The auditing will also be conducted after the demolition process ends.

For the first time in India, a series of controlled blast will be carried out to bring down four apartment complexes on January 11 and 12, in Maradu, famous for its serene lake and uncalled guests of migratory birds flying from all over the world particularly from Europe during the winter season.

The four high-rises violating the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) on the edge of the lake flowing through Maradu were ordered to be demolished by the Supreme Court.

The apex court had ordered for the demolition of the four apartment complexes of H20 Holy faith, Alfa Serene, Jain Coral Cove and Golden Kayaloram for violating the CRZ norms. (ANI)


Mourners gather to pay their respects to General Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran (Iran Press via AP)

The leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard has threatened to set ablaze places supported by the United States over the killing of a top Iranian general in a US air strike last week.

Hossein Salami made the pledge before a crowd of thousands gathered in a central square in Kerman, the home town of General Qassem Soleimani.

His vow mirrored the demands of top Iranian officials  from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to others  as well as supporters across the Islamic Republic, demanding retaliation against America for a killing that has drastically raised tensions across the Middle East.

Mourners in Kerman dressed in black carried posters bearing the image of Gen Soleimani, a man whose death prompted Irans supreme leader to weep over his coffin on Monday as a crowd said by police to be in the millions filled Tehran streets.

Expand Close Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, weeps as he leads a prayer over the coffin of General Qassem Soleimani (Iran Press TV via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, weeps as he leads a prayer over the coffin of General Qassem Soleimani (Iran Press TV via AP)

Although there was no independent estimate, aerial footage and Associated Press journalists suggested a turnout of at least one million, and the throngs were visible on satellite images of Tehran.

The outpouring of grief was an unprecedented honour for a man viewed by Iranians as a national hero for his work leading the Guards expeditionary Quds Force.

The US blames him for the killing of American troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death on Friday in a drone strike near Baghdads airport.

Gen Soleimani also led forces in Syria backing President Bashar Assad in a long war, and he also served as the point man for Iranian proxies in countries such as Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

His killing has already pushed Tehran to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers as his successor and others vow to take revenge.

In Baghdad, the parliament has called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil, something analysts fear could allow militants from so-called Islamic State to mount a comeback.

Gen Soleimanis remains and those of the others killed in the air strike were brought to a central square in Kerman, a desert city surrounded by mountains that dates back to the days of the Silk Road, where he will be buried later.

Expand Close It is believed that more than a million people turned out for the funeral service in Tehran (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp It is believed that more than a million people turned out for the funeral service in Tehran (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Mr Salami praised Gen Soleimanis exploits and said as a martyr, he represented an even greater threat to Irans enemies.

We will take revenge. We will set ablaze where they like, Mr Salami said, drawing cries of Death to Israel! from the crowd.

Israel is a longtime regional foe of Iran.

According to a report on Tuesday by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Iran has worked up 13 sets of plans for revenge for Gen Soleimanis killing.

The report quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, as saying that even the weakest among them would be a historic nightmare for the US.

If the US troops do not leave our region voluntarily and upright, we will do something to carry their bodies horizontally out, Mr Shamkhani said.

Irans parliament, meanwhile, passed an urgent bill declaring the US militarys command at the Pentagon in Washington and those acting on its behalf terrorists, subject to Iranian sanctions.

The measure appears to mirror a decision by President Donald Trump in April to declare the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organisation.

The world is not limited to New York and you can talk to the American people from Tehran and we will do thatMohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian foreign minister

The US Defence Department used the Guards designation as a terror organisation in the US to support the strike that killed Gen Soleimani.

The decision by Irans parliament, done by a special procedure to speed the bill to law, comes as officials across the country threaten to retaliate for Gen Soleimanis killing.

Also on Tuesday, Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the US had declined to issue him a visa to travel to New York for upcoming meetings at the United Nations.

The US as the host of the UN headquarters is supposed to allow foreign officials to attend such meetings.

They fear that someone comes to the US and reveals realities, Mr Zarif said, adding: The world is not limited to New York and you can talk to the American people from Tehran and we will do that.
Justice finally delivered, said Nirbhayas mother after the court pronounced the order to award death penalty to the four accused.

New Delhi: Finally a sigh of relief after seven years for Nirbhayas family as a Delhi court, on Tuesday, issued death warrants against four convicts in the Nirbhaya case. The civil society and activists also hailed the court order, saying it was a win for all the Nirbhayas of the country.

Justice finally delivered, said Nirbhayas mother after the court pronounced the order to award death penalty to the four accused.

She has been fighting for the last seven years to get justice for her daughter.

My daughter finally got justice and her soul may now rest in peace. Execution of the four convicts will empower the women of the country. This decision will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system, she said.

However, now there is a need to strengthen and speed up the judicial process so that victims and their kins shouldnt have to wait for so long to get justice like in this case, she added.

There are still many Nirbhayas in the country who are yet to get justice and I pray to God to deliver speedy justice to them. Our judiciary system may be slow and time consuming, but we had full faith in it, she said.

Nirbhayas mother said that January 22 will be a big day for her when the convicts will be hanged.

After the court pronounced the verdict, Nirbhayas father was seen coming out of the court premises with a victory sign.

The order was pronounced by additional sessions judge Satish Kumar Arora, who issued death warrants against the convicts.

The four death row convicts are Mukesh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Singh, and Pawan Gupta.

At their native village in Uttar Pradesh, Nirbhayas grandfather said: Though late, the family has got justice. It is a big relief for the family.

Reacting on the court order, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal said, We strongly welcome this decision. It is a win for all the Nirbhayas living in this country. I salute Nirbhayas parents, who fought for seven long years. But why has it taken seven years to punish these people? Why cannot this time period be reduced? she questioned. Kudos to the judiciary for restoring our faith and delivering justice to the soul of #Nirbhaya, who represents the soul of every Indian girl. She is not here to see this day but it is a day every woman of India was waiting to see, tweeted Yogita Bhayana, a rape victim activist.

The national capital witnessed the rarest of the rare gang-rape of a 23-year-old paramedic student Nirbhaya.
Early on Friday morning, Chattanooga police responded to a burglary call at Silverdale Baptist Church. The incident led to a large amount of stolen property from various sites.

An employee at the church said a man broke into the front of a construction trailer and took a computer, scanner and printer.

Video showed a vehicle enter the parking lot before two unidentified people exited the vehicle and entered the trailer.

After about 10 minutes, the two people got back into the vehicle and drove away. A few hours later, officers located the suspected vehicle parked in front of 7010 Hamilton View St.

Juan David Santos Hernandez told officers he lived there, and then he was detained. When Hernandez guided officers inside to retrieve the lease for the apartment, they observed what appeared to be the stolen scanner from the trailer. Another resident, Noel Lopez, 40, was also detained.

While searching the residence, officers found the computer and printer as well. A representative from Silverdale Baptist Church confirmed those items belonged to the church.

Officers also found other items belonging to victims of other burglaries and thefts. They found property of Brown and Bock construction, who a few days earlier had reported a large amount of their hand/power tools had been stolen from a number of construction sites.

A representative of the construction company confirmed those tools belonged to Brown and Bock. They also found electronic items, including a laptop that also belonged to the company, as well as a personalized knife.

Officers then found property belonging to the organizationKnights of Columbus. These items included cash, electronics, alcohol, and checks.

Lastly, police found property belonging to Newman and Sons Painting, which was reported stolen in December.

Lopez admitted to stealing the property at Silverdale Baptist Church. He has been charged with theft of property and burglary of a business.
Left to right: Larry Gogan, Marty Whelan, Jimmy Greeley, Gerry Ryan, Lorcan Murray and Jim ONeill c 1982. Photo: RTE Stills Library

HEARTBROKEN: National treasure Larry Gogan is still shattered after the love of his life Florrie passed away from breast cancer

Legendary broadcaster Larry Gogan has died, aged 85.

The veteran broadcaster worked with RTE for over 50 years, he was a presenter with 2FM for forty years, before moving to digital station RTE Gold last year.

Dee Forbes, Director General of RTE, paid tribute to Mr Gogan this morning.

She said in a statement: "Larry Gogan was a legend, and a genuine national institution. He transcended generations  whether it was a hilarious moment on the Just a Minute Quiz, the breakneck countdown of the weekly top 40, or the first play of a Christmas song  Larry didnt just preserve these traditions, he created them.

"Legendary, cross-generational, universally popular: The Golden Hour and the Just a Minute Quiz were national institutions, just the like the man himself.

"He returns now to his beloved Florrie - we are the poorer for his loss, but the richer for having known this gentleman of the airwaves."

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close 2fm DJs DJs pose with cars, in a shot taken for the RTE Guide in 1982 Larry Gogan Larry Gogan and Ryan Tubridy Pictured at the announcement of Everest Music as sponsor of School of Rock are 2FM DJ Larry Gogan and School of Rock judge Mark Greaney of Concerto for Constantine. Larry Gogan with Jedward Larry Gogan with singer Joe Cuddy in 1972. Surprise: Larry Gogan 2fm presenter Larry Gogan. Photo: Brian McEvoy Larry Gogan BP Fallon and Larry Gogan, co-presenters of RTE Televisions GO 2 show, 27 June 1967 Broadcasting legend Larry Gogan. Photo: Mark Condren Seamless operator: Gogan. Photo: Mark Condren Larry Gogan in 2010.Photo: Mark Condren Larry Gogan pictured at RTE 2FM Christmas Broadcast in 2013 Larry Gogan Broadcasting legend Larry Gogan / Facebook

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Whatsapp 2fm DJs DJs pose with cars, in a shot taken for the RTE Guide in 1982

Dan Healy, Head of RTE 2FM, has remembered Mr Gogan as "the greatest music DJ in Irish broadcasting history".

Larry was a huge part of the foundation on which 2FM was built  he was, arguably, the greatest music DJ in Irish broadcasting history; that gorgeous voice; that genius with a link; that love for the music.

"Larry won all the major radio awards in Ireland but over and above them all he had the one that mattered most: universal popularity. Everyone loved Larry, and well all miss him deeply, he said.

Born Lorcan Gogan in Dublin 1938, he was one of eight children.

He met his future wife Florrie when he was just 15, they were engaged within two years.

They were married for 39 years and had five children - Gerard, Orla, Grainne, David and Sinead - and 12 grandchildren together.

He spoke to the Sunday Independent last year about his devastation after Florrie passed away from breast cancer in 2002.

"People say time heals all wounds but I don't think it does. I still grieve for Florrie... I do believe we will meet again. I do believe there is something else. Otherwise what's the point of it all?"

He spun the first disc on RTE Radio 2 (now RTE 2FM) in 1979.

Larry became a much-loved radio personality, particularly for his Golden Hour slot and Just a Minute Quiz.

He left 2FM last year and moved to digital station RTE Gold.

Friends, colleagues and fans have paid tribute to Larry following the news of his death.

Marty Whelan shared photos of them on social media and said: "Larry Gogan a dear friend. A wonderful man. May he rest in peace."

Today FM's Ed Smith also spoke about Larry's incredible broadcasting career.

He said: "Larry Gogan was and will always be the finest music presenter this country has ever produced.

"His elegance and genuine passion for pop tunes on the air was matched by his decency and kindness off it. Every hour was 'the golden hour' when Larry took the mic. RIP The Greatest."

Author Cathy Kelly remarked on the death of Larry just days after RTE broadcaster Marian Finucane passed away.

"Farewell to the iconic Marian Finnucane, brilliant & ground breaking broadcaster & today, another sad goodbye to loveliest man in radio, Larry Gogan. Golden man with a golden voice," she wrote on Twitter.
Organizers of the eighth-annual BottleRock Napa Valley festival taking place in May announced the lineup Monday, with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band and Stevie Nicks headlining the three-day event.

Three-day tickets for BottleRock go on sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The festival featuring music, food, drinks and other activities will take place from May 22-24 at the Napa Valley Expo.

Other top acts scheduled to perform are Miley Cyrus, Khalid, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Janelle Monae and Blondie.

Tickets start at $349 for the three-day early bird general admission pass. The full lineup and more details about tickets and accommodations can be found on the festival's website at https://www.bottlerocknapavalley.com.

A standoff is continuing on Monday afternoon at an unpermitted marijuana grow house in West Oakland where a commercial burglary was reported earlier in the day, police said.

Officers responded at 3:53 a.m. Monday to the burglary in the 2700 block of Adeline Street, which is near Vincent Academy, a charter school that serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade, and McClymonds High School.

Police said one person has been arrested and one firearm has been recovered, but they believe additional suspects who may be armed are still inside the house.

Santa Rosa Junior College will soon have a construction and building trades training center on its Petaluma campus that will provide the skilled workers needed to help rebuild the thousands of homes lost in the 2017 Sonoma County wildfires.

SRJC President Frank Chong, U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, and Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Dr. John Fleming announced a $7.1 million federal grant for the training center Monday morning at SRJC's Santa Rosa campus.

The grant for the training center is from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration's disaster relief funds.

The SRJC's North Bay Regional Construction and Trades Employment Training Center will offer short-term career skill training classes that lead to non-credit certificates in construction and building trades, home repair and maintenance, industrial and residential construction methods, construction project planning and supervision and fire prevention through landscape.

SRJC also will offer credit programs that take one to four semesters to complete. They include HVAC, refrigeration technician, solar panel technology and construction management.

A woman fatally shot in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood early Sunday morning has been identified by the city's medical examiner's office as 32-year-old Emma Hunt.

The shooting was reported at 3:51 a.m. in the area of O'Farrell and Larkin streets.

Hunt, a San Francisco resident, died after being taken to a hospital.

The shooting suspect, described as a man in his 20s, remains at large as of Monday morning, according to police.

A motorcyclist who died in a crash on Marsh Creek Road east of Clayton on Sunday afternoon has been identified by the Contra Costa County coroner's office as 59-year-old Concord resident Timothy Baker.

Firefighters from the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District responded at 3:43 p.m. to a report of a motorcyclist down on Marsh Creek Road just east of Morgan Territory Road, Fire Marshal Steve Aubert said.

The motorcyclist, later identified as Baker, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Aubert.

An Oakland man who's been in custody without bail for nearly five years will be set free after charges were dismissed on Monday in a case in which he was charged with two counts of murder for the fatal shooting of two cousins at an East Oakland apartment complex in 2011.

Kyle Puckett, 31, had been scheduled to stand trial a fourth time on charges stemming from the shooting deaths of Raymond Greenwood, 20, of Oroville, and Joshua Crouseite, 22, of Fairfield, in the courtyard of an apartment complex in the 1300 block of MacArthur Boulevard at about 11:40 p.m. on Oct. 15, 2011, in what prosecutors said was a marijuana deal that went bad.

But Alameda County prosecutor Butch Ford moved on Monday to dismiss the charges against Puckett. Judge Kevin Murphy, who presided over two of Puckett's three trials, which all resulted in mistrials, granted the motion.

Puckett's attorney Ernie Castillo, who has been involved in numerous serious murder cases, said the dismissal of the charges against Puckett is "the sweetest victory of my career."

Charges of felony vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run have been filed against a Stanislaus County man related to the death of a bicyclist in August, the Fremont Police Department announced Saturday.

The fatality happened just before 5 a.m. on Aug. 28, when 28-year-old Fremont resident Kiranjot Deol was riding to his job at Facebook in Menlo Park.

Police said Deol was in the bicycle lane on Boyce Road between Auto Mall Parkway and Stewart Avenue in Fremont when a motorist struck him and then fled the scene, but later returned and called 911.

Police and fire crews responded and pronounced Deol dead at the scene.

Charges were filed against the driver, Ceres resident Rosendo Cruz Vargas, 25, after a lengthy investigation. Vargas surrendered to investigators on Dec. 12 and has since been released pending future court proceedings, according to police.

The fate of the case against a man charged with murder for the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Nia Wilson at the MacArthur BART station in Oakland in 2018 remained up in the air on Monday even though a trial judge was selected and a jury selection date was scheduled.

John Lee Cowell, a 29-year-old transient, 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's trial on Monday was assigned to veteran Alameda County Superior Court Judge Allan Hymer, who was appointed to the bench in 1997 by former Gov. Pete Wilson.

Hymer said the first panel of potential jurors for Cowell's trial will be brought to court on Jan. 15.

But Hymer also scheduled a hearing for Jan. 13 on a motion filed by Cowell's attorney Christina Moore asking that his trial be moved out of Alameda County because she doesn't think he can get a fair trial locally due to the pervasive publicity his case has received.

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.
Rolls-Royce's new Cullinan vehicle helped to push sales at the high-end car firm up by 25 per cent last year.

The super-luxury SUV, which costs a hefty 264,000, has been very popular since it arrived on the market last year and propelled sales of the luxury automaker's vehicles to their highest since the company's founding in 1904.

The continuing popularity of the company's Phantom model also helped boost annual sales at Rolls Royce by more than a thousand to 5,152. There were record sales in Russia, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Qatar and Korea.

The off-road Rolls-Royce Cullinan launched in 2018 and is named after the world's largest ever gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered. It has a twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V12 engine and is the first 'three-box' car in the SUV-sector according to the automaker

Rolls-Royce's performance stands in sharp contrast to its rival Aston Martin, which expects earnings to be more than a quarter lower this year as the Warwickshire carmaker continues its struggle with poor sales.

It now expects adjusted earnings to fall from 196million last year to between 130million and 140million this year.

The firm says it will miss its profit targets after tough headwinds continued into December, a key month, even as Rolls-Royce posted a record year.

The business said that 'challenging trading conditions' it flagged up in November have not eased and, as a result, it has registered fewer sales, higher costs for selling each vehicle, and lower margins.

Chief executive Andy Palmer said the firm is taking numerous actions to try and turn itself around.

He said: 'This will include a cost saving programme alongside a focus on returning dealer stock levels to those more normally associated with a luxury company; winning back our strong price positioning is a key focus.'

In November last year, the firm blamed poor sales of the Vantage model and 'tough trading condition in the UK and Europe' on its faltering bottom line.

The new Aston Martin DBX model is the company's first ever SUV. It has a top speed of 181 mph, a 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8 engine and can go from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds.

That same month, it opened a new factory in St Athan, Wales where its first SUV, the new DBX model will be built. The Welsh Assembly even paid for a new access road to the facility.

Palmer has said he hope the vehicle would possess strong appeal with multimillionaire women in China and the USA.

Aston Martin hopes this vehicle will turn around the company's fortunes. Between becoming a publicly traded company in October 2018 and the DBX coming on sale in November 2019, the firm's share price had declined by 75 per cent.

Rolls Royce's chief executive Torsten Muller-Otvos called the Cullinan 'a ringing testament to the quality and integrity of our products'

The new DBX model has a top speed of 181 mph, a 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8 engine and can go from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds.

The auto manufacturer says there have been 'very encouraging' signs with the DBX after its launch. The vehicle has been touted as a competitor with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

The off-road Cullinan launched in 2018 and is named after the world's largest ever gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered.

It has a twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V12 engine and is the first 'three-box' car in the SUV-sector according to Rolls Royce.

The automaker's chief executive Torsten Muller-Otvos said: Worldwide demand last year for our Cullinan SUV has driven this success and is expected to stabilise in 2020.

It is a ringing testament to the quality and integrity of our products, the faith and passion of our customers and, above all, the skill, dedication and determination of our exceptional team at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood and around the world and our dedicated global dealer network.
Alaska Air Group ALK announced that its long-serving chief financial officer (CFO) Brandon Pedersen intends to retire on Mar 2, 2020. Pedersen has been associated with the company for a long time. He was the companys outside auditor for 11 years prior to joining it in 2003 as the vice president of finance and controller. He was promoted to his current position in May 2010.

During Pedersens tenure as CFO, Alaska Air Group acquired Virgin America, thereby expanding its presence significantly, particularly on the West Coast. Other notable feats accomplished by this Seattle, WA-based carrier include the initiation of quarterly dividend payouts in 2013, courtesy of a robust balance sheet. Notably, the dividend has increased every year since 2013.

Pederson will be replaced by Shane Tackett, who currently serves as the companys executive vice president of planning and strategy. Tackett has served Alaska Air Group in multiple capacities ever since joining it in 2000. Given his vast experience, Alaska Air Group expects the appointment of Tackett to be a successful step toward its efforts to grow further.

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Burma Myanmar, Bangladesh Officials Discuss Border Security in Dhaka

Border Guards Bangladesh director general Major General Shafeenul Islam (right) meets Myanmar Police Brigadier General Myo Than at BGB headquarters in Dhaka.

DHAKAA series of top-level border security meetings between officials from Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) and the Myanmar Police Force continued in Dhaka on Tuesday, with officials from the two countries pledging to find ways to tackle armed and terrorist groups on the border, and Rohingya-related crimes.

The Bangladesh side raised the issue of the planting of landmines along the international boundary and urged that a solution be found, pointing out that a number of unarmed people have been killed by the devices in recent months.

The officials have also discussed halting illegal drug flows, prevention of illegal entry of Myanmar nationals into Bangladesh, fire control in border areas, the handing over to the respective authorities of those found crossing the international border illegally, exchange of border-related information on security and law and order, and joint patrols, according to a press statement issued by BGB headquarters on Sunday.

Lieutenant Colonel Mohiuddin Ahmed, director of operations at BGB headquarters, said a joint record of the discussion would be finalized on Wednesday.

Myanmar Police Force officials assured their BGB counterparts that Myanmar would facilitate the building of a road along the international boundary and would continue joint patrols to curb cross-border crime, the Bangladesh officials said.

BGB director general Major General Shafeenul Islam is leading the 14-member Bangladesh delegation, while Police Brigadier General Myo Than of the Myanmar Police Force heads the eight-member team from his country in the seventh such top-level conference. The meetings are usually held twice a year.

The seventh meeting began on Sunday and will formally conclude on Wednesday with the signing of joint records of discussion. The Myanmar delegation is due to leave Dhaka on Thursday.

The BGB arranged a familiarization trip to Sylhet, near the Indian border, for the Myanmar delegation.

A senior BGB official, seeking anonymity as he was not authorized to talk to the press, said, We want smooth relations with our counterparts in Myanmar.

The official said the aim of the summit was to improve the border security situation and follow up on decisions taken at previous meetings.

Another official, however, acknowledged that there was mistrust among the two countries forces. However, he said, Things are getting changed by discussion.

Cooperating with us will also help them to secure their land, the official said.

Apart from high-ranking BGB officials, representatives of Bangladeshs Home and Foreign ministries and Department of Narcotics Control are taking part in the meetings.

No one at the Myanmar Embassy in Dhaka was available for comment, but a joint press conference is scheduled to be held at BGB headquarters on Wednesday.

Another Bangladeshi official said the Myanmar border force was reluctant to discuss the landmine issue, despite the fact that a number of Bangladeshi and Rohingya people moving around the border areas have been injured in landmine explosions.

Between Aug. 31 and Nov. 28, 2019, at least four people were killed and two injured in landmine explosions in Naikhanchhari in Bangladeshs border district of Bandarban, according to sources at the Bangladeshi Home Ministry.

As reported by Dhaka-based daily New Age, Dhaka has accused Myanmars border security forces of planting mines along the border to prevent displaced Rohingya people from returning, a charge Myanmar rejects.

Rights group Amnesty International claims to have evidence of what appears to be the targeted use of landmines along a narrow stretch of the northwestern border of Rakhine State. Anti-personnel mines are banned under the global Mine Ban Treaty of 1997.

BGB officials say the smuggling of yaba methamphetamine tablets continues despite repeated assurances from their counterparts in Myanmar that they are working to halt it.

The BGB said it seized 9,217,687 tablets in 2019.

Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Thursday that the reason the yaba smuggling had not been stopped was that neighboring Myanmar had failed to live up to its commitments.

Myanmar promised on several occasions that they would look into the issue and take steps to stop yaba smuggling, but they havent taken any initiative so far, the Bangladeshi minister was quoted as saying by New Age.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Police Detain All Arakan Deportees

Bangladesh Posts Border Guard to St. Martins Island for 1st Time in 22 Years

Bangladesh Military Looks to Deepen Ties With Myanmar Counterpart
Scores of students of Hyderabad's Osmania University on Monday night burnt effigy of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) to mark their protest against the attack on students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Showing solidarity with the students of JNU, the protesters were holding placards and sloganeering against the ABVP.

On Sunday evening, more than 30 students, including JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh, were injured and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered JNU and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.

The JNU administration and political leaders, cutting across political lines, had condemned the attack on students and urged the police to take action against the perpetrators.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Astronomers using the Mayall telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory, a program of NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory, have identified several overlapping bubbles of hydrogen gas ionized by the stars in early galaxies, a mere 680 million years after the Big Bang. This is the earliest direct evidence from the period when the first generation of stars formed and began reionizing the hydrogen gas that permeated the Universe.

There was a period in the very early Universe -- known as the "cosmic dark ages" -- when elementary particles, formed in the Big Bang, had combined to form neutral hydrogen but no stars or galaxies existed yet to light up the Universe. This period began less than half a million years after the Big Bang and ended with the formation of the first stars. While this stage in the evolution of our Universe is indicated by computer simulations, direct evidence is sparse.

Now, astronomers using the infrared imager NEWFIRM on the 4-meter Mayall Telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory of NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (OIR Lab), have reported imaging a group of galaxies, known as EGS77 [1], that contains these first stars. Their results were announced at a press conference held today at the 235th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in Honolulu, Hawai'i.

"The young Universe was filled with hydrogen atoms, which so attenuate ultraviolet light that they block our view of early galaxies," said James Rhoads at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, who presented the findings at the AAS press conference. "EGS77 is the first galaxy group caught in the act of clearing out this cosmic fog."

The team began with an imaging survey designed to detect high redshift galaxies and combined these data with corresponding images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. This enabled the team to compute what is known as a photometric redshift, a proxy for estimating distance. At these redshifts, a galaxy's light is shifted completely out of the range of wavelengths to which the human eye is sensitive (the visible spectrum) to longer (infrared) wavelengths. The criteria for selecting distant galaxy candidates included a clear detection of them in the special infrared narrowband filters used with NEWFIRM on the Mayall 4-meter telescope and a complete non-detection in the shorter wavelength optical filter bands used by Hubble. "The discovery of the two fainter galaxies in the group was only possible because of the special narrowband filter used with NEWFIRM," said team leader Vithal Tilvi, a researcher at Arizona State University in Tempe.

"Intense light from galaxies can ionize the surrounding hydrogen gas, forming bubbles that allow starlight to travel freely," said Tilvi. "EGS77 has formed a large bubble that allows its light to travel to Earth without much attenuation. Eventually, bubbles like these grew around all galaxies and filled intergalactic space, clearing the way for light to travel across the Universe."

EGS77 was discovered as part of the Cosmic Deep And Wide Narrowband (Cosmic DAWN) survey, for which Rhoads serves as principal investigator. The team imaged a small area in the constellation of Bootes using a custom-built filter on the National Optical Astronomy Observatory's Extremely Wide-Field InfraRed imager (NEWFIRM). Ron Probst, a DAWN team member who also helped to develop NEWFIRM, adds, "These results show the value of maintaining instruments at our national observatories that are powerful and can flexibly adapt to pursue new scientific questions, questions that may not have been in mind when an instrument was originally built."

Once identified, the distances and hence the ages of these galaxies were confirmed with spectra taken with the MOSFIRE spectrograph at the Keck I telescope at the W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea in Hawai'i. All three galaxies show strong emission lines of hydrogen Lyman alpha at a redshift (z = 7.7), which means we are seeing them at about 680 million years after the Big Bang. The size of the ionized bubble around each was derived from computer modeling. These bubbles overlap spatially, but are large enough (about 2.2 million light-years) that Lyman alpha photons are redshifted before they reach the boundary of the bubble and can thus escape unscathed, allowing astronomers to detect them.

"We expected that reionization bubbles from this era in cosmic history would be rare and hard to find," said Sangeeta Malhotra, a collaborator at NASA GSFC, "so confirmation of this transition is important." This "cosmic dawn", the intermediate state between a neutral and an ionized Universe, is something that has been predicted. Such discoveries are made possible by the availability of powerful astronomical instruments that can probe the Universe in a way unimagined by past generations of astronomers.

###

Notes

[1] EGS, or the Extended Groth Strip, is a region imaged by HST in 2005; it corresponds to a narrow strip of the sky about the width of a finger held at arms length. There are at least 50,000 galaxies known within the strip.

More information

This research will be presented in a forthcoming paper and is currently close to acceptance.

The research team is composed of:

V. Tilvi, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ; S. Malhotra, Astrophysics Science Division, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD; J. E. Rhoads,Astrophysics Science Division, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt; A. Coughlin, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Chandler, AZ; Z. Zheng, CAS Key Laboratory for Research in Galaxies and Cosmology, Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Shangha, People's Republic of China; S. L. Finkelstein,Department of Astronomy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX; S. Veilleux, Department of Astronomy and Joint Space-Science Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD; B. Mobasher, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, CA; J. Wang, CAS Key Laboratory for Research in Galaxies and Cosmology, Department of Astronomy, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China; Rob Probst, NOAO, 950 N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719.

NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory, the US center for ground-based optical-infrared astronomy, operates the international Gemini Observatory, Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), the Community Science and Data Center (CSDC), and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). It is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with NSF and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. The astronomical community is honored to have the opportunity to conduct astronomical research on Iolkam Du'ag (Kitt Peak) in Arizona, on Maunakea in Hawai'i, and on Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachon in Chile. We recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that these sites have to the Tohono O'odham Nation, to the Native Hawaiian community, and to the local Communities in Chile, respectively.

Contacts

Peter Michaud

NewsTeam Manager

NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory

Gemini Observatory, Hilo HI

Desk: +1 808-974-2510

Cell: +1 808-936-6643

Email: pmichaud@gemini.edu

Vithal Tilui

Arizona State University

Tempe, Arizona

Email: titui@asu.edu

James Rhoads

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt MD

Email: james.e.rhoads@nasa.gov
Japan-based Yokogawa Electric Corporation said it has entered into a strategic alliance agreement with Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), ranked among the worlds largest petrochemical manufacturers.



The agreement includes selection of Yokogawa as a preferred supplier of control systems, said a statement from the company.



A global industrial giant, Sabic is composed of four strategic business units: petrochemicals, specialties, agri-nutrients, and metals.



Under this agreement, Yokogawa will promote localisation in Saudi Arabia, and its integrated control systems and safety instrumented systems will be preferentially selected for plants operated by Sabic in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions, it added.



Additionally, Yokogawa will promote manufacturing excellence by collaborating with Sabic on innovative digitalisation technologies, as well as energy optimisation programmes.



To date, Yokogawa has delivered integrated control systems in some Sabic plants such as a large ethylene plant (1,000kt/year) in Jubail, it said.



Yokogawa had established its Saudi subsidiary in 2006 and the very next year it opened its service unit. Under the Saudi governments Nitaqat Program, Yokogawa is in the top Platinum Saudization tier.



In a major boost to kingdom's women empowerment, the company has set up an all-female engineering team and has also lauched a programme to support projects for female engineers in the Gulf countries, said the statement.



Since April 2007, Yokogawa has been providing a one-year Graduate Engineer Training Program and shorter internship programmes that are specially tailored to the needs of the Saudi job market, targeting recent graduates and students of Saudi universities and colleges for both male and female, it stated.



So far more than 550 Saudi trainees have benefited from these programmes, it added.  TradeArabia News Service
The Chairman of the National Security Bureau attended the funeral of Qassem Soleimani on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad reports SANA.

Representing President Bashar al-Assad, the Chairman of the National Security Bureau, Maj. Gen. Ali Mamlouk, on Monday took part in the funeral procession of leader of al-Quds Forces Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and his companions.

The funeral procession took place in Tehran in the presence of the leader of Iranian Islamic Revolution Imam Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, senior Iranian officials and millions of Iranians.

Mamlouk relayed the deepest condolences of Assad to Khamenei over the martyrdom of Soleimani who stood by the Syrian Arab Army in its war against terrorism and its backers and defended the values of truth and dignity against aggression and domination.

Khamenei thanked Assad for his sincere condolences over the martyrdom of Soleimani and his companions, which will reinforce the resistances approach and its strategic achievements in the region.

He affirmed the continuation of coordination between Syria and Iran until the elimination of terrorism and the return of security and stability to all Syrian territories.

The Ambassador of the Syrian Arab Republic to Iran, Dr. Adnan Mahmoud, Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Saleh al-Ali, and the accompanying delegation also took part in the funeral ceremonies.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
A resolution passed by the Iraqi Members of Parliament on Jan. 5 calling for the expulsion of the foreign troops from the country is a balancing act between the United States and Iran, according to expert sources who said the expulsion will most likely not take place.

The government commits to revoke its request for assistance from the international coalition fighting Islamic State due to the end of military operations in Iraq and the achievement of victory, read the resolution passed in a parliament session on Sunday.

The Iraqi government must work to end the presence of any foreign troops on Iraqi soil and prohibit them from using its land, airspace, or water for any reason.

Esra Serim, a Turkish researcher in France, told The Epoch Times that Iraqs interests are threatened due to the growing tension between the United States and Iran on its soil and the country can not afford an escalation of conflict between the two adversaries.

Iraqs interests are at stake due to the recent tension between Washington and Tehran, and Baghdad cannot bear any possible consequences on its territory that would be triggered by another escalation, said Serim in an email.

Kashish Parpiani, a Research Fellow with the Observers Research Foundation, told The Epoch Times that the resolution acts as an important balancing act because, on one hand, Iraqi wants to keep access to U.S. resources being invested in military training, and on the other hand, even up the situation with the Iranians because of the role Iranian proxies play in its internal situation.

Since the final territorial defeat of the ISIS group in Syria in March, when the terrorists lost the last pocket of their so-called caliphate to coalition-backed forces, the U.S.-led international coalition has been training Iraqi forces to secure the country against lingering threats posed by cells of Daeshthe Arabic name for ISISoperating in the countryside.

Poorly trained and equipped, underfunded, and corrupted in the decade after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the army disintegrated in the face of sweeping advances from ISIS.

It was then that the Iraqi parliament voted to invite international forces back into the country, to turn the tide in the war against ISIS. The presence of the same U.S. military forces are now a threat to Iraq, according to Wilder Alejandro Sanchez, a defense and geopolitics analyst based in Washington.

I think this move made sense for Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and the Iraqi government, Sanchez told The Epoch Times.

If U.S. troops do depart Iraq, any retaliatory operations from Iran against U.S. assets will, at least, not occur in Iraqi soil, said Sanchez.

Iraqs Neutralization Policy

Iraq is continuing to try to achieve a neutralization policy between the United States and Iran through Sundays resolution. However, keeping in mind the complexity of the multilateral tensions in the region, its impossible or extremely difficult to achieve, said analysts.

Serim, a Senior Researcher, PhD, at University of Aix Marseille, emphasized that the resolution doesnt only mean the expulsion of the U.S. troops from Iraq but also the Iranian military.

The Iraqi MPs resolution means that the Iraqi government, in fact, does not want both the American military presence and Irans ideological and military support, she said.

Iraq is a key country for both the U.S. and Iran. Because, if Iraq has a balancing policy between the U.S. and Iran, Baghdad could be able to keep away from the bilateral or multilateral tensions between the U.S., Iran, Israel and Saudi Arabia, she added.

Serim believes that if the Iraqi government is able to achieve this neutralization policy through Sundays resolution it would be able to experience full independence first time ever since the U.S. intervention of 2003.

Lastly, the Iraqi government thinks that it would play an appeasing role like Oman between the U.S. and Iran if it would be able to deport all foreign troops from Iraq. The truth is that the Iraq central government is trying to accomplish this act or pursue this naturalization policy to provide its domestic peace and end the recent domestic unrest in Iraq, explained Serim.

Kanishkan Sathasivam, a Massachusetts based Middle East expert agrees with what Serim said. I think that has been Iraqs approach thus far.

They have wanted to have good relations with both the U.S. and Iran because both sides give them things they very badly need, said Sathasivam, the Director of the William H. Bates Center for Public & Global Affairs.

He however also acknowledged that this neutralization policy hasnt been successful until now. But it was widely known and acknowledged that this balancing act could not be maintained indefinitely, and at some point, they would have to come down on one side or the other simply because U.S.-Iran relations were just too volatile and had too much potential for problems and escalations, he said.

Mumbai-based Parpiani, who studies U.S. Foreign Policy, is of the opinion that Iraq is not in a position to achieve a neutralization policy between the United States and Iran for the reason that the Iraqi dispensation derives much of its legitimacy from socio-political proximity to Shias.

Because Irans penetration into the Iraqi socio-political fabric is real, and so is Americas unfinished business with Iran, he explained.

Serin also agrees that though Iraq is trying to achieve a neutralization policy through Sundays resolution, it is not very likely to happen.

Because Irans ideological and historical presence in Iraq has still been quite robust. Well see its implications in a few years if the Iraqis could succeed in keeping away from both, she affirmed.

Will US Troops Actually Leave Iraq?

Iraqi lawmakers backing the non-binding resolution asked the government on Sunday to end a 2014 agreement with Washington to station an estimated 5,200 troops in Iraq to help in the fight against ISIS. Experts told The Epoch Times that the resolution is most likely not going to lead to the expulsion of the U.S. troops from multiple locations in Iraq.

Parliaments decision is not a binding decision, Eldad Shavit, a senior research fellow with the Institute of National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, Israel, told The Epoch Times.

Parpiani corroborated what Shavit said: My sense is that Iraq will stop at this resolution which derides U.S. military presence in the country. The Iraqi military and its force readiness depend on U.S. military aid and training, he explained.

Serin said that the resolution is more about Iraq trying to look impartial in the region but the U.S. military presence will most likely continue inside Iraq because the U.S. troops have a strategical consideration due to the Russian presence in Syria and Israels protection against the Iranian regime.

She however also added that the Iraqi government will not withdraw the resolution concerning the deportation of the foreign troops whatever Washington claims.

As uncertainty prevailed over the scene on Sunday after the Iraqi Parliament passed the resolution, President Donald Trump threatened harsh sanctions against Iraq if the U.S. troops are expelled from the country.

Sathasivam explained that the troops in the eight facilities across Iraq are most likely not going to move out because the resolution is not a law and the Iraqi administration is not legally bound by it.

The PM is currently serving as a caretaker PM and as such does not have the power to enact any legislation. But the PM can still use his executive power to honor the resolution by canceling the bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Iraq on the stationing of U.S. forces in Iraq. He would need to do this in a written declaration to the U.S. side, which has not yet happened, said Sathasivam.

Shavit, who had earlier served in the Israeli Defense Forces Intelligence Corps and at the Prime Ministers Office in Tel Aviv, added another dimension to the meaning of the Sundays resolution and said the resolution denotes an increasing trend that is not new but has now urged the demand that the U.S. troops leave Iraq.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From The Epoch Times
IT services leader will direct IT consulting, delivery practices and project management team

DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2020 / NexusTek, a national provider of managed IT services and full IT outsourcing solutions to small and medium size businesses, today announced the appointment of Mark Richtermeyer to lead and grow the consulting, delivery practices and project management teams.

"Mark is a proven entrepreneur, business leader and consulting expert in IT services," said Scott Ray, NexusTek COO. "In addition to starting and successfully running three of his own businesses over the last 20 years, Mark has built a wealth of knowledge and expertise in organizing and growing delivery practices in consulting and software development. We are excited to have him join us, to further strengthen our executive team."

Mr. Richtermeyer will lead NexusTek's professional services teams into the future, focusing on exceptional service to our customers, building and growing the IT consulting practices our clients need to effectively run their businesses and organizing our project management efforts to continue smooth and efficient on-time implementation activities. The professional services division is NexusTek's strategic arm in performing needed technology upgrades, cloud migrations, planned remediation and many more IT projects for their customer-base.

"I am excited to be part of the NexusTek team of professionals, whose diligence and commitment to better service and customer experience allow small and medium-sized businesses to focus on running their business instead of worrying about technology," said Mark Richtermeyer. "This is a great opportunity to leverage my knowledge and experience in consulting, integrations and growing professional services organizations to continue to build NexusTek's national presence, with a local feel and delivery."

Mr. Richtermeyer will join the company's executive leadership team and report directly to Scott Ray, COO.

Mark Richtermeyer is a seasoned senior executive and entrepreneur in IT consulting and software development across a range of business verticals including small and medium businesses as well as enterprise clients. He has a proven track record of leadership and delivering business results. Most recently, Richtermeyer founded and led three consulting businesses; the Premios Group, specializing in oil and gas-focused software and consulting services, the Spitfire Group, focusing on high performance consulting and software development projects, and CCG Online, an ecommerce and digital marketing company acquired by iXL. Prior to running his own successful businesses, Richtermeyer held a variety of executive positions for Hitachi Consulting.

Mark Richtermeyer holds a BS degree in Accounting from the University of Wyoming and an MBA from the University of Colorado (Boulder). We are also honored to have a former military veteran join our ranks, as Mr. Richtermeyer was a Captain in the US Air Force and Air National Guard. He also is a member of the National Ski Patrol and Larimer County Search and Rescue team, primarily focused on winter operations.

ABOUT NEXUSTEK

Trusted by thousands of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), NexusTek is a national managed IT services provider with a comprehensive portfolio comprised of end-user services, cloud, infrastructure, cyber security, and IT consulting. We design holistic technology solutions for business customers that deliver a superior end-user experience, backed by a 24/7/365 domestically staffed support team. NexusTek Managed Service Plans offer end-to-end IT management with fixed-monthly, per-user pricing through which SMBs can leverage helpdesk, backup, disaster recovery, dedicated engineers, security, 247 remote support and network monitoring services while creating predictable IT budgets.

NexusTek is ranked number 22 on the 2019 Channel Futures MSP 501 list of top Managed Services Providers worldwide, is the 2018 Channel Futures MSP of the Year, a two-time CRN MSP Elite 150 list member and award-winning Microsoft Gold Partner.

Included in its all-encompassing products and services portfolio are: IT support and outsourced help desk backed by multiple domestic NOCs (Network Operation Centers) for redundancy; hosted infrastructure, cloud services, and Microsoft Azure; professional IT consulting and virtual CIO (vCIO) services; disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS); cyber security services; server and network monitoring; unified communications and voice-over-IP (VoIP); Office 365; enterprise content management (ECM); and many more IT solutions. An SSAE 16 SOC II certified company which, as of 2018, has also qualified for the GDPR rider, NexusTek adheres to rigorous, industry-accepted auditing standards for service companies. This achievement reflects the transparency and control that comes from managed private cloud service environments.

CONTACT:

Andrea Brito-amador

7204532512

ABrito-Amador@nexustek.com

SOURCE: NexusTek

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/572124/NexusTek-Names-Mark-Richtermeyer-as-Vice-President-Professional-Services
Mr. Aaron Daniel Mminele has been announced as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Absa Group Limited (AGL). His appointment is expected to take effect on January 15, 2020.

Mr. Mminele is taking over from Rene Van Wyk, who has been leading the bank on an interim basis since Maria Ramos retirement in February 2019.

We are delighted to welcome Daniel to the Absa family. He brings with him a deep understanding of the financial services industry both in South Africa and abroad, said Wendy Lucas-Bull, Chairman of the Absa Group Board.

His unique skills set and global perspective makes him a suitable leader to drive our banks focus on long-term growth that is digitally-led across our markets. Absa launched its strategy in March 2018, which focused on regaining market share in core businesses. We then reconfigured our operating model and made changes to our Executive Committee to set up the business for the implementation of the strategy.

In terms of his starting point, Daniel will want to assess where we are in implementing that strategy and asses how he can play a role in strengthening the teams ability to continue on that journey. As a leader, he will make his own assessment of what is required but he has a complete open mandate as the Group CE to lead this organization, said Lucas-Bull.

Mminele spent more than 20 years at the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), where he rose through the ranks to be a Deputy Governor and a member of key committees such as the Monetary Policy Committee and Financial Stability Committee. His other main responsibilities at the SARB included financial markets and international economic relations and policy.

He has represented South Africa in a number of international forums such as the G20, BRICS, and the International Monetary Fund. He was also a regular participant in National Treasurys international investor roadshows to promote South Africa.

I am delighted to be joining the Absa group. I look forward to being part of and leading the exciting journey that Absa has embarked upon to fully establish itself as an African financial services group with deep roots across the continent and a global reach.

Before joining the SARB, Mminele worked as a banker. After completing a Diploma in Banking at Sparkasse Paderborn in Germany in 1987, he spent eight years in various roles at the Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale, at its Dusseldorf and London offices. He continued his studies while in the UK and obtained various certificates from the UKs Chartered Institute of Bankers.

He came back to South Africa in 1995, then spent about two years each at Commerzbank, working as a customer relations manager in corporate banking, and at African Merchant Bank, as a project and structured finance specialist, in Johannesburg.

We are really looking forward to Daniel joining the Absa Group and to his leadership in driving our strategy and guiding this organization into the future, said Lucas-Bull.

We are also thankful to Rene for the job that he has done, especially overseeing the progress we made in our separation from Barclays PLC and the key milestones we achieved in 2019, she added.

Van Wyk will step down as Chief Executive on 14 January 2020 but remain with the Group as an executive director for handover purposes until 31 January 2020.

He will rejoin Absa Group and Absa Banks boards as a non-executive director, following a six-month cooling-off period.

---JoyBusiness
Mourners pay homage to the assassinated Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani. Photo: Mazyar Asadi/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Gold prices hit their highest level since 2013 on Monday as the crisis deepened over the US assassination of Irans most senior military leader Qasem Soleimani.

Gold futures (GC=F) were treading water in early trading on Tuesday in London, at about $1,568 (1,193) per ounce.

Gold futures have risen since the US assassination of a senior Iranian general. Chart: Yahoo Finance UK

Fears are growing of Iranian retaliation and continued escalation of tensions by US president Donald Trump after the drone strike in Baghdad, and of threats to armed forces and civilians from the US and its allies in Iraq.

US officials have denied claims American forces could be pulled out of Iraq, while the UK government is reported to be making contingency evacuation plans.

READ MORE: UK pulls staff at Iranian and Iraqi embassies

"There's no escalation in the geopolitical situation, but the tensions have not receded completely and because of that after a good correction in gold, prices have bounced," Jigar Trivedi, a commodities analyst at Anand Rathi Shares & Stock Brokers in Mumbai, told Reuters.

Gold is widely seen as a safe haven amid heightened political and economic uncertainty as it is seen to keep its value more reliably than equities.

"If things de-escalate then gold will hit lower quite quickly. We would see it go down below $1,500 [1,141]," a senior market analyst for the Asia-Pacific region at OANDA, also told Reuters.

Soleimani's body was transported to his hometown of Kerman for his burial on Tuesday, after thousands of Iranians took to the streets in anger and mourning over the weekend.

Hossein Salami, the leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, told a crowd of thousands in Kerman that Iran would take "a hard and definitive revenge."

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also said Iran's response would match the scale of Soleimani's killing, but be at a time and place of Tehran's choosing, according to Reuters.
Sense tells users what's using energy in their home and how to reduce their utility bills. The Sense app is like a fitness tracker for the home, showing what's on, what's off, and how much energy the home is using. With Sense's insights, people can set goals to save money while making their home more efficient and safer.

To see how much money their solar panels are saving them, users can set their utility's billing and solar energy buy-back rates in the Sense app. In many states, the utility buys back energy at a lower price than it charges for electricity. With Sense Solar, customers can determine the best balance of solar and utility power for their budget and to maximize their solar investment.

In addition to tracking in real time, homeowners can understand their solar production and usage historically, including the past day, week, month, year or utility billing period.

The updated Sense app allows Sense Solar users to:

Visualize how their solar production and energy use flows to and from the electrical grid in real-time, in both watts and dollars.

Set a utility buy-back rate for their solar production and compare the financial benefits of shifting loads to times of peak production versus selling energy back to the grid.

Comply with all the energy monitoring requirements of California's Title 24 legislation.

Sense Solar is an essential tool to comply with the energy monitoring requirements of the new Title 24 rules that take effect in California in 2020, the first state to require solar for newly built homes. The Sense app tracks information mandated by Title 24, now including:

The PV system's nominal kW rating; The number of PV modules and the nominal wattage rating of each module; Daily, monthly, and annual kWh production in numeric and graphic formats for the system; Running total of daily kW production; Daily kW peak power production; and Current kW production of the entire PV system.

The new codes are expected to deliver more than $1.7 billion in net energy savings over the next 30 years and reduce carbon pollution statewide by 1.4 million metric tons.

Sense at CES

Sense is participating in Pepcom's Digital Experience event for media on Monday, January 6. Sense executives will show a demonstration of Sense live in a real home and have a drawing for three free Sense Home Energy Monitors during the event. Reporters who attend a Sense demo will be eligible for a home energy makeover to help them eliminate energy hogs, keep better track of their homes, and set goals and alerts on their smartphones. The event takes place from 7 to 10:30 p.m in The Mirage Events Center (MEC) at the Mirage Hotel.

Availability

Available today, the updated Sense app works with iOS or Android (v30) and Web (v11). No hardware update is required.

About Sense

Sense is the first company to give consumers engaging, real-time analytics on energy consumption in their homes right on their mobile devices. Its mission is to make all homes intelligent through its fitness tracker for the home, helping consumers save money and live safer with more energy-efficient households. Founded in 2013 by pioneers in speech recognition, Sense uses machine learning technology to provide real-time insights on device behavior, even for those devices that are not "smart." Customers rely on Sense for a wide range of uses including monitoring their home appliances, determining whether they left appliances running and identifying major energy drains in their home so they can substantially reduce their energy costs. Sense has received investments from two of the world's largest energy technology companies, Schneider Electric and Landis + Gyr. The company is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. To make sense of your energy, visit: https://sense.com .

Media contact: [email protected] .

SOURCE Sense

Related Links

https://sense.com


A bomb went off near a vehicle of security forces in provincial capital Quetta of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, leaving two people killed and 18 others injured, hospital sources and police said, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

The target of the explosion was a vehicle of paramilitary troops Frontier Corps and several of them got injured in the attack, Deputy Inspector General of Quetta police Abdul Razzaq Cheema told Xinhua.

Those injured were shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta, whose spokesperson Waseem Baig said that they received 18 people who received multiple kinds of injuries, at the hospital.

A state of emergency was declared at the hospital to tackle the emergency situation, Baig said, adding that several of the injured are in critical condition while others will be discharged after treatment.

Rescue sources from a non-governmental organization Edhi Foundation told Xinhua that the explosion was caused by the detonation of an improvised explosive device planted at a motorbike parked by unknown militants near the blast site.

The Frontier Corps' vehicle was on its routine patrolling in the area when the device exploded near it.

The explosion has not been claimed by any group or individual yet, but in the past the attacks on security forces in Quetta had either been claimed by or attributed to separatist groups of the province.

Taking notice of the incident, Chief Minister of Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan ordered an immediate inquiry, and sought report from the relevant authorities. He also condemned the attack and directed hospital administration to provide best possible medical treatment to the injured people.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Kazakhstan improves its position in The Henley Passport Index published by Henley & Partners company, Trend reports with reference to Global Ranking 2020.

According to the ranking, Kazakhstans passport ranked 67th due to its ability to allow visa free entrance to 76 countries worldwide.

Thus, Kazakhstan improves its positions in the index for the third year in a row: it ranked 67th in 2017, 69th in 2018, 68th in 2019 and 67th in 2020.

In Oct. 2019, Kazakhstan introduced visa free regime with 12 countries: Bahrain, Colombia, Indonesia, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Vatican, Vietnam.

As noted by Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Aibek Smadiyarov, abolition of visa requirements is aimed at increase of a number of foreign investors, businessmen and tourists visiting the country. The simplification of visa regime also aims to provide for creation of favorable investment climate in Kazakhstan, he said.

He added that President of Kazakhstan Kassym Jomart Tokayev has mandated the ministry to expand the list of the visa-free countries for citizens of Kazakhstan.

The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the worlds passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.

The ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the worlds largest and most accurate database of travel information, and enhanced by the Henley & Partners Research Department.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
In April 2016, the Supreme Court began hearing the pleas of the four men sentenced to death for raping a paramedic in a bus in Delhi on December 16, 2012 and a year later upheld the death sentence. The woman died of her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.

Here are the main evidence the apex court took into account to decide that Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh.deserved no leniency.

1 In its judgment on May 5, 2017, the top court found the evidence of the lone witness who was the victims friend, to be unimpeachable. It said the statement cannot be disbelieved simply because there were certain omissions that the defence had flagged.

2 The court also relied on the victims dying declaration and said such a declaration recorded on the basis of nods and gestures is not only admissible but also possesses evidentiary value. Of her three dying declarations that were recorded, the last one was in gestures.

3 It also took into account the prosecutions charge that the rape was brutal and inhuman because the accused inserted an iron rod into the victims vagina and took out her internal organs causing serious injuries that led to her death less than two weeks later.

4 DNA profile from the blood stains from the rod showed it had the victims blood. The rod was recovered at the instance of another accused Ram Singh  who committed suicide within a few months of the crime while he was lodged in Tihar jail.

5 The court also held that the DNA analysis had cogently linked each of the accused with the victims and the crime scene.

6 The court also said that the odontology report which the prosecution had relied upon heavily was credible because of matching of bite marks on the victims body with the tooth structure of the accused.

7 The court also said the crime was an act of conspiracy which was established by the sequence of events and the conduct of the accused.

8 The recovery of the bus and CCTV footage was also a major evidence for the prosecution which the Supreme Court said was not tampered with and there was no reason to doubt the footage.

9 The court also relied on the police theory and said the recovery of articles such as clothes and mobile phones of the victim and her friend from the accused cannot be discarded because there was no explanation from the accused explaining how they came to possess those articles.

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Former Kaduna central Senator, Shehu Sani has turned down a lie detector test suggested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissio...





Former Kaduna central Senator, Shehu Sani has turned down a lie detector test suggested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and instead opted to swear by the Quran.





It was the latest development in the alleged extortion case involving him and ASD Motors Chairman, Sani Dauda, who claimed to have given him $24,000 as demanded to offer as bribes to judges and the EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu.





According to The Nation, Shehu Sani refused to take a lie detector test when taken to a polygraph clinic at the EFCC Wuse office, in Abuja.





I wont take the test; I do not trust the machine. I am not sure whether or not the machine is working well.Instead of polygraph, give me the Holy Quran to swear with,  Sani was quoted as saying.

It was learnt that EFCC detectives later asked Senator Sani to put his resistance in a statement on oath for record purposes.





A highly-placed source said: Following his refusal, our detectives did not force him to go through the test.





But they asked him to write a statement on his refusal to undergo polygraph because he had earlier sworn by his grave but he has not been straightforward.





As there are several ways to catch a monkey, the EFCC will be administering the Polygraph test on Sanis accuser and his wife on Tuesday.




New Delhi [India], Jan 7 (ANI): Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Registrar, Dr Pramod Kumar said that it is a myth that the administration does not talk to the protesting students and said that they are trying to make them understand so that the registration process can be restarted.



"We are trying to make the students understand so that the registration process can be restarted. The administration is in contact with the students who are protesting. It is a total myth that we do not talk to them," Kumar said.

On Sunday evening, more than 30 students of the university including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh were injured and were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the varsity and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.

According to sources in the Delhi Police, the investigation has revealed that some insiders, as well as outsiders, were involved in the violence. (ANI)
JetBlue Airways has said it will become the first large US airline to offset emissions from all of its domestic flights, aiming to be carbon-neutral by July, as pressure grows on the industry from climate change activists.

It will also begin using sustainable aviation fuel on its flights from San Francisco International Airport.

JetBlue declined to disclose the cost of the offset programme. The airline produces about eight million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year and is working on a plan to compensate for international flights, said Sophia Mendelsohn, head of sustainability. Bloomberg
European market hangs in the balance as LNG champions take aim at Russian-Turkish energy alliance.

Athens, Greece  Two geostrategic energy alliances are crossing swords over southeast Europe and the eastern Mediterranean. Between them, they plan billions of dollars worth of competing infrastructure projects. And the ones that succeed will create the regional energy map of the future.

On one end of the piste stands the Russian-Turkish energy alliance, which seeks to boost Russias natural gas exports through new pipelines, along with Turkeys status as an energy transit hub to Europe.

On the other end stands the rapidly advancing liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry and its new champions, the United States, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus and Greece.

Both alliances are vying to sell natural gas to the European market as it pursues an ambitious decarbonisation plan  one which aims to bridge Europes transition from coal to renewables by importing increasing amounts of natural gas over the next decade.

All of our region has seen a mad race over the past two years, [one] that will determine who will beat the others out to be Europes main supplier, says Ioannis Desypris, a director at Mytilineos Group, Greeces leading independent electricity producer and gas trader.

All the forecasts predict that at least until 2040, when other technologies may be available, the energy transition to those technologies will depend on natural gas, Despypris tells Al Jazeera.

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a ceremony to mark the completion of the sea part of the TurkStream gas pipeline, in Istanbul, Turkey in November 2018 [File: Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via Reuters]

Ready  set 

Turkey and Russia have a head start on the LNG crowd. This week, presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin plan to inaugurate the operation of the first leg of Turkish Stream. Also called TurkStream, it consists of an undersea pipeline running 930km (578 miles) from the Russian Black Sea coast to Kiyikoy, west of Istanbul. It will carry 15.75 billion cubic metres of Russian gas a year to Turkey for domestic consumption.

A second leg of TurkStream slated for construction is designed to carry that much again into southeast Europe through Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary, further cementing the regions dependence on Russian gas.

TurkStream and its northern equivalent, Nord Stream 2, are game-changers for Moscow because they enable Gazprom, Russias majority state-owned energy company, to bypass Ukraine as a conduit for funnelling Russian gas to Europe.

Not surprisingly, Washington has opposed both pipeline projects. Russia already claims some 40 percent of the European Union gas market, according to Eurostat, and TurkStream and Nord Stream 2 are designed to strengthen and possibly expand that foothold.

But Russia faces growing competition in Europe from US LNG producers.

To that end, Washington upped the ante last month.

Although Gazprom and Ukraines Naftogaz reached a new five-year deal last week to ensure the flow of Russian natural gas through Ukraine, US President Donald Trump in December signed into law a defence bill that includes sanctions  imposed by the US Congress  on both Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream.

But Washington may be too late. Nord Stream needs only 322km (200 miles) of pipeline laid to complete the roughly 2,575-km (1,600-mile) network, while TurkStreams first leg is ready for action.

TurkStream is an undersea pipeline that stretches 930km (578 miles) from Anapa on the Russian Black Sea coast to Kiyikoy west of Istanbul [Al Jazeera]

And if price rather than geopolitics decides market dominance, Russia is likely to maintain the upper hand, says Jonathan Stern, a research fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.

Our analysis is that the Russians can go lower than anybody except gutter LNG and definitely lower than US LNG, Stern tells Al Jazeera.

Breaking Russias Balkan gas monopoly

As competitive as Russian gas is in Europe, in the Balkans it is a near monopoly. But the Balkan exception -Greece  could play a pivotal role in breaking Moscows hold over the market.

Greeces gas transmission system operator, DESFA, has just finished expanding its LNG terminal  the only one in southeast Europe  and is building compressors that will allow it to pump gas north into Bulgaria via the Soviet-era Trans-Balkan Pipeline that was designed to bring Russian gas south.

This means Greece will be able to export US LNG to the Balkans. Starting on a small scale this year, those exports are poised to expand massively with a new DESFA pipeline in the works: the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), which is positioned to go ahead next year.

[IGB] competes on the EUs behalf with the second string of Turkish Stream, says Desypris.

Another pipeline project, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, is expected to start pumping natural gas from Azerbaijan to Italy via Turkey and Greece this year  and some of that gas will eventually feed into the Balkans via the IGB.

But transiting gas through Turkey to feed Greeces needs is not without potential drawbacks. This year Greece is set to receive most of its pipeline gas  both Azeri and Russian  via Turkey.

If they [Turkey] want to they can shut off supply, says Costis Stambolis, executive director of the Institute of Energy for South East Europe. Thats not just theoretical. It has happened. When there is bad weather in Turkey  they close off the supply to Greece.

Such a scenario further bolsters the attractiveness of LNG by affording Greece independence from both Russia as a source of gas and Turkey as a transit country.

Meanwhile, three private consortia are drafting plans to build LNG storage facilities to feed Balkan consumption, two of which are expected to make final investment decisions this year.

The catalyst for this new LNG investment, says Desypris, is Greeces accelerating transition to cleaner energy.

Greece plans to completely abolish coal by 2028  10 years earlier than Germany  and replace the lost generating capacity with gas and renewables.

Weve known for 20 years that abolition of lignite coal was going to happen. The difference is that now there is a public commitment to a timeline, says Desypris.

The East Med proposed gas pipeline

The US takes notice

Greece is proving a test case of the power of LNG to grab market share. In just two years, the country has transitioned from near-total dependence on Russian gas to an energy mix comprised of 40 percent LNG.

Moscow is already positioning chess pieces to counter LNGs rising influences.

Last July, Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak announced that the second leg of TurkStream will not go through Greece, as originally planned, but via Bulgaria and Serbia, to reach Hungary.

For all the talk about markets dominating energy decisions, the Russian switch demonstrates the abiding relationship between energy and geopolitics.

We took a big turn towards the US and the Russians dont trust us, a senior Greek energy official tells Al Jazeera. They consider us a US [territory] and wouldnt put their investment through our country.

Greece may also prove pivotal as a conduit for the only significant new gas discoveries near Europe  those of the eastern Mediterranean.

Along with Israel and Cyprus, Greece champions the East Med, a proposed 2,000-km (1,243-mile) mostly undersea pipeline intended to run from Israels Levantine Basin offshore gas reserves to Cyprus, Crete and the Greek mainland. The goal of the pipeline is to provide Europe with an alternative to Russian gas.

While Greek, US and European companies are heavily involved in exploring and exploiting east Mediterranean gas, there is no Turkish or Russian presence in this new market.

Turkey has made clear its displeasure by disrupting exploration vessels in Cypriot waters on at least two occasions, and sending its own vessels to explore within Cypruss maritime territory. On November 27, it struck a deal with Libya to claim a broad corridor of water across the Mediterranean Sea that cuts across Greeces claims, further escalating tensions.
For decades, Doug Evans, a white district attorney, was dogged in his prosecution of Curtis Flowers, a black man, for a 1996 quadruple murder in Winona, Miss., even as the case collapsed six times in mistrials or convictions that were reversed on appeal.

But it appears that Mr. Evans will not try Mr. Flowers for a seventh time after Mr. Evans moved to recuse himself from the case on Monday and hand it over to the Mississippi attorney generals office.

I have personally prosecuted the defendant in all six of his prior trials, Mr. Evans said in a court filing. While I remain confident in both the investigation and jury verdicts in this matter, I have come to the conclusion that my continued involvement will prevent the families from obtaining justice and from the defendant being held responsible for his actions.

A lawyer for Mr. Flowers, who was released on bail in December, said that the request would most likely be approved by the judge, Joseph H. Loper of Montgomery County Circuit Court, who could not immediately be reached on Tuesday. While the prosecution is still pending, supporters of Mr. Flowers said Mr. Evanss recusal was a positive step in a case that has incited conversations nationwide about the fairness of the criminal justice system for minorities.




(PLA's)The fundamentals of trademark infringement in relation to traditional keyword advertising in the EU have largely been settled. However, more complex and increasingly common types of search engine advertising, such as comparison-shopping ads, have largely escaped the attention of the courts. This post explores how the German courts might treat Googles PLAs subsequent to the Federal Courts decisions in thedispute.Many a reader will doubtless have noticed Product Listing Ads (PLAs) in Google search results. These ads, normally displayed at the top of the search results page, consist of a product image and price, together with minimal text. By way of illustration, the image below shows some of the PLAs displayed when searching for Sneakers. [Kat readers alert: the word Sneaker could just as well be a trademark or brand name/span.]While PLAs may seem akin to Google AdWords in that both are triggered by search terms, they are fundamentally different in their manner of operation. In AdWords, the advertiser selects keywords, bidding for them in auctions together with other interested advertisers. In PLAs, it is Googles algorithm that chooses relevant keywords, based on the product description and prior user behaviour.This raises the question of where liability lies with regards to possible trademark infringement resulting from PLAs. Google and other keyword advertising providers have, since the CJEUs decision in(C-236/08, C-238/08), been protected by virtue of their status as neutral intermediaries. Can this status be maintained where the provider no longer merely gives advertisers the opportunity of using a competitor's trademark as a keyword, but actively makes this choice on their behalf via algorithms?The recent decisions of the German Federal Court in thecases suggest that the German courts could conceivably hold Google liable for the use of third-party trademarks to trigger the display of PLAs. Thecases arose out of a dispute betweenSportartikel GmbH, a mid-sized German sport equipment manufacturer, and Amazon, concerning the search results for ortlieb on Amazon.de. Amazon employs a search algorithm that generates results based not only on text matches in product descriptions, but also prior customer behaviour.When a potential customer searches for ortlieb on Amazon, they are presented with an undifferentiated list containing both Ortlieb and third-party products. Amazons search algorithm would thus appear to be functionally similar in principle to the broad match algorithm employed by Google for PLAs.Ortlieb brought a claim against Amazon alleging that the display of third-party products in the search result list for their trademark constituted trademark infringement. While the Munich Higher Regional Court had distinguished search results on e-commerce platforms from keyword advertising, in Ortlieb I (15.02.2018, I ZR 138/16) the Federal Court held that product listings displayed in response to searches with a search term identical to a trademark must be assessed under the same legal standard as AdWords and in accordance with the Courts two-part keyword advertising test:1) Can the consumer distinguish third party advertising from the trademarked search term on the basis of general knowledge, or2) Does the design of the third-party advertising make it sufficiently clear that it is not related to the trademarked search term?The Court also held that the commercial user of that trademark is the party that selects which listings are displayed. Consequently, where this choice is made by an algorithm operated and controlled by a platform, liability for infringement lies with the platform. Given that the search terms triggering Googles PLAs would appear to be determined in a functionally similar way by a Google-operated algorithm, the reasoning of the Federal Court could conceivably be equally applicable to them as well.While the Federal Courts keyword advertising test is dependent on the specific trademark and ad in question,(25.07.2019, I ZR 29/18) suggests that the manner in which Google displays PLAs might render them particularly prone to infringement. There, the Federal Court clarified that infringement is likely to occur where consumers are primed into expecting that only products related to the trademark search term will be displayed.The case concerned AdWord ads purchased by Amazon.de inviting consumers to look for Ortlieb bags and other apparel on Amazon (the picture below of one of the ads is taken from the Court judgement):Upon clicking on the AdWords, the user was redirected to the Amazon search result lists at issue in Ortlieb I. In parallel with their action concerning the search result lists, Ortlieb claimed that the use of their trademark in the AdWords was a separate instance of trademark infringement.The Federal Court agreed with the Munich Higher Regional Court in finding that because the AdWords ad referred exclusively to Ortlieb, it gave rise to the expectation that, by clicking on the ad, consumers would see Ortlieb products exclusively. This expectation was dashed when the consumer then reached the search result list for Ortlieb on Amazon.de, containing both Ortlieb and third-party products.One might query whether this result might be problematic for PLAs as well, since the ads that appear after searching for a particular trademark are displayed under the caption See (trademark). Although the PLAs displayed are usually exact matches for the brand, this is not always the case.Based on the foregoing, it can be argued that the circumstances of a PLA might be broadly analogous with the facts in Ortlieb II, as in each case, both goods corresponding to the trademark, as well as third-party goods not connected with the trademark, are displayed under the trademark caption. Indeed, in PLAs, the link between the ads and the trademark might be more pronounced, because the ads appear directly under the See (trademark) caption.This, coupled with the fact that the products usually correspond to the trademark, means that consumers may come to expect that the ads are related to the trademark being searched. Where the third-party products displayed do not mention a brand name or are otherwise indistinguishable from the products sold under the trademark searched for, such advertising could easily fall foul of the test established by the Federal Court.PLAs were not at issue in thecases and have yet to face scrutiny by the German courts. However, one can contemplate a result, based on thecases, whereby Google might eventually be forced to amend such ads, as currently displayed, so as to remove the caption repeating the search term. In any event, since Googles trademark policy currently does not allow complaints regarding PLAs, might their policy need to be modified in light of developments in the case law.
Baghdad: The US military on Monday told the Iraqi government American troops were preparing to pull out of the country but a top US general in Washington said the message was sent by "mistake".

It came after a deadly American drone strike on Baghdad on Friday that killed senior Iranian and Iraqi military commanders, sparking fury in both countries with Tehran vowing "revenge".

The head of the US military's Task Force Iraq, Brigadier General William Seely, informed his Iraqi counterparts in a letter dated Sunday that troops were preparing to leave.

"We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure," said the letter, whose authenticity was confirmed to AFP by both Iraqi and US defence officials.

Seely said the US-led coalition would "be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks".

"In order to conduct this task, Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner," said the letter.

It said helicopters would be travelling in and around Baghdad's Green Zone where the US embassy is located as part of the preparations.

AFP could hear helicopters flying low over Baghdad throughout the night on Monday. But Pentagon Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley said on Monday the letter was a mere "draft" and "should not have been sent".

"This was a mistake," Milley told reporters. "It was a mistake, an honest mistake, a draft unsigned letter, because we are moving forces around," he said. "It shouldn't have been sent," Milley said.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said the letter was "inconsistent" with Washington's position, denying there has been a decision to leave Iraq.

The latest developments came as a sea of black-clad mourners paid homage Monday in Tehran to Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force killed Friday in a US drone strike in Baghdad.

Following his death along with Iraqi military figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Iraqi lawmakers on Sunday urged the government to oust all foreign troops from Iraqi soil. Some 5,200 US soldiers are stationed across Iraqi bases to support local troops preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State group.

They make up the bulk of a broader coalition, invited by the Iraqi government in 2014 to help combat the jihadists.

On Monday, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei fought back tears as mourners flooded the streets around Tehran University to honour Soleimani.

The targeted killing of the 62-year-old Soleimani ordered by US President Donald Trump saw Iran vow "severe revenge" and step back even further from the already tattered 2015 nuclear accord with world powers.

In an escalating war of words that has heightened international concern and rattled financial markets, Trump threatened yet more "major retaliation" if Tehran hits back, including strikes on Iranian cultural sites.

Writing in all-caps on Monday, Trump tweeted: "IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!"

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned Iran must avoid "further violence and provocations" after the alliance held emergency talks in Brussels on the crisis.

"At our meeting today, allies called for restraint and de-escalation. A new conflict would be in no-one's interest," he said. The European Union, whose foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on the crisis Friday, said it was in both Iran and Iraq's interests to "take the path of sobriety and not the path of escalation".

Saudi Arabia -- an oil-rich US ally seen as vulnerable to Iranian counter strikes -- also appealed for calm after a "very dangerous" escalation.

The EU's diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said he "deeply regrets" Iran's latest step back from the nuclear deal.

The agreement had offered Tehran relief from sanctions in return for curbs to prevent it acquiring nuclear weapons -- but Trump's withdrawal from it in 2018 dramatically weakened the agreement.

Despite its latest step, Iran insisted it will continue to fully cooperate with the UN agency overseeing its atomic programme. The raw emotions sparked by the killing of Soleimani were on full display in Tehran, where mourners formed a sea of black, dotted with red Shiite flags and white signs, in what state television said was a "several million-strong" turnout.

"The last time I remember such a crowd was at Ayatollah Khomeini's funeral 30 years ago," said Iranian journalist Maziar Khosravi. As they marched down a main artery of Tehran, the mourners chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel".

Soleimani was one of Iran's most popular public figures, seen as a hero of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. He will be laid to rest in his hometown Kerman on Tuesday next to a war veteran he used to fight alongside with.

Khamenei was flanked by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and other top political and military figures as well as the slain general's replacement as Quds commander, Esmail Qaani.

Trump on Saturday issued a US strike list of 52 targets in the Islamic republic. "Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290. #IR655 Never threaten the Iranian nation," Rouhani tweeted, referring to 290 lives lost in July 1988 when a US warship shot down an Iran Air plane in the Gulf.

Trump said his figure of 52 targets represented the number of Americans held hostage at the US embassy in Tehran for more than a year starting in late 1979.
Considering the rising tensions in the Middle East and improved regulatory clarity for large investors in the West I want to go on record predicting that Bitcoin will never trade below $7,000 again. - John Sarson

John Sarson, the Managing Partner of Sarson Funds, went on record with his 2020 Bitcoin prediction in a Tweet over the weekend. According to Sarson, as international political uncertainty casts ominous clouds over an otherwise positive economic narrative, one thing is certain about the state of digital assets - you will not see Bitcoin under $7,000 USD again.

In a memo to investors last Friday, Sarson noted that the combination of improved regulatory clarity at home and political instability abroad are creating a supportive environment for the worlds largest digital asset. We [now] have so much more clarity into the trajectory of institutional crypto adoption with firms like JP Morgan issuing their own digital currencies and Fidelity offering Bitcoin custody and trading, Sarson said.

Looking ahead to 2020, one significant sign of encouragement, according to Sarson Funds, is developments on Capitol Hill, particularly the proposed Crypto-Currency Act of 2020, a draft House bill sponsored by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), which Sarson claims has broad support among financial firms looking to keep pace with Asian and European rivals.

Sarson Funds Chief Marketing Officer, Jahon Jamali cites US digital asset leadership as of vital national strategic interest.

Jamali cautioned that beyond escalating tensions in the Middle East, it is Chinas national blockchain technology initiatives that most directly threaten Americas global financial leadership saying, Washington needs to step up and lead - the US must not lose the Blockchain Wars. Comments that gain urgency and validity when considered with respect to Jamalis background as former US intelligence officer.

This is not the first time Sarson Funds came out with bold New Year guidance for cryptocurrency investors. One year ago, while Bitcoins price hovered around $3600, Sarson publicly went on record with a press release stating that the price bottom was in for Bitcoin and that 2019 would herald renewed investor interest and growth for the digital currency.

Fast forward a year, and Bitcoin is up nearly 100%. During that time the Indianapolis and Boston based-firm focused on its core mission: educating Wall Street about blockchain technology and cryptocurrency investment strategies. From a nationwide speaking tour, presenting to investor groups and CFA Societies connecting thousands of financial advisors with transparent cryptocurrency educational resources, Sarson Funds believes increased regulatory advances will yield even further accelerated growth for digital assets in the new decade. Time will tell if Sarsons predictions hold true again, with Bitcoins price trading just 3% above Sarsons $7000 floor at the time of the announcement we may have our answer fairly quickly.
FLUSHING TWP, MI  A man is in custody after Flushing Township police say he fired shots during an attempted home invasion in the Meadowbrook Park subdivision.

Officers with the Flushing Township Police Department were dispatched around 3 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7 to the 5000 block of Meadowbrook Lane off Carpenter Road for an unknown trouble call.

We determined it was an occupied home invasion where several shots were fired into the residence, said Flushing Township Police Chief Mark Bolin. The shots appear to have been fired to assist in forcing entry in the home.

Two people were inside the home at the time of the incident.

No injuries were reported, Bolin said.

The suspect, who police only described as an adult male, attempted to take some items from the home, but he was unsuccessful.

No information was provided by police on what the items were or if the suspect and residents know each other.

It appears that the police intercepted (the suspect) while he was coming out of the garage, said Bolin.

The suspect is in custody and is believed to be the only person involved in the incident.

Police did not find any other property damaged by the shots that were fired.

Flushing Community Schools issued a statement Tuesday morning regarding gunfire in the subdivision located across from the districts middle school.

We have been notified by the Flushing Township Police Department that the individuals involved are in custody and it is safe for students to attend and for school to proceed on a normal schedule today, the statement reads.

The incident remains under investigation.
Creative Group, a leading meeting, incentive and recognition company marks 50th year in business

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. and TORONTO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Creative Group, Inc., a full-service meeting, incentive and recognition company, is proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary. Much has changed since 1970, but Creative Group has remained at the forefront of the meetings and incentive business.

In 1970, Creative Group produced one of the first travel-related incentive programs for a wholesale food distributor. From that experience, a big idea was born: Use incentive rewards to meet a specific business need by encouraging changes in people's behavior. Now, with over 260 employees in six offices in the US and Canada, Creative Group remains committed to helping clients design programs and experiences that drive their audiences to thrive  programs that reward excellence and inspire people to reach their full potential.

Creative Group has been named to MeetingsNet's Top 25 Most Influential Meeting Management Companies every year since the list's inception in 2007. They have also received numerous other industry awards, including the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence Crystal Award, Incentive Magazine's Motivation Masters and the Incentive Marketing Association Circle of Excellence.

"Over five decades of change, one constant remains. We've stayed true to our roots, always focused on helping people achieve their greatest potential. And we could not have achieved our outstanding success without the dedication of the talented team here at Creative Group. Their passion for the work  and putting the client first  comes through in everything that they do," said Janet Traphagen, President, Creative Group.

About Creative Group

Creative Group is a full-service meeting, incentive and recognition company that delivers business results by inspiring people to thrive. An industry leader, Creative Group has been honored with Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) awards and the CMI 25 Award, which recognizes the top 25 most influential meeting and incentive management companies in the U.S.

Creative Group was founded in 1970, and has served clients in financial services, life sciences, insurance, manufacturing, retail, technology, automotive and hospitality. Employing over 260 people, the company is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, and maintains offices in Detroit, Denver, San Francisco, Appleton, Wisconsin and Toronto, Canada. Creative Group was acquired by Direct Travel in 2015. For more information about Creative Group, visit www.creativegroupinc.com

SOURCE Creative Group, Inc.

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The global automotive electrically adjustable outside rear view mirror (ORVM) market is expected to post a CAGR of more than 4% during the period 2019-2023, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. Request a free sample report

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005861/en/

Technavio announced its latest market research report titled global automotive electrically adjustable outside rear view mirror (ORVM) market 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire)

OEMs are increasingly integrating automotive electrically adjustable ORVMs with additional functionalities such as heated mirrors, puddle lamps, and mirrors with auto-fold function. Some mirror systems also incorporate a joystick or adjustment buttons to electrically fold the mirrors. Such features enhance the functionality of electrically adjustable ORVMs and contribute to the convenience in the vehicle. They also increase the overall cost of electrically adjustable ORVMs and help vendors generate more revenue. This growing integration of advanced features in electrically adjustable OVRMs is expected to fuel the growth of the market during the forecast period.

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR31104

As per Technavio, the increased offerings in side rear-view mirror for trucks will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other important trends and market drivers that will affect market growth over 2019-2023.

Global Automotive Electrically Adjustable Outside Rear View Mirror (ORVM) Market: Increased Offerings in Side-View Mirror for Trucks

Prominent automotive OEMs are offering ADAS with electrically adjustable OVRMs for pickup trucks. For instance, Ford Motors offers blind spot information system (BLIS) on outside rear-view mirrors in its F-150 pickup truck. GM offers a similar feature in its RAM pickup truck. The rear cross-traffic alert information available on the side view mirror improves safety. The integration of such safety systems with OVRMs is enhancing the value proposition of automotive mirror systems. This trend is expected to have a positive impact on the growth of the global electrically adjustable outside rear view mirror (OVRM) market during the forecast period.

"Vehicle access systems comprising of mirrors having biometric authentication and the increasing availability of electrically adjustable OVRMs in entry-segment vehicles in APAC will further boost market growth during the forecast period," says a senior analyst at Technavio.

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Global Automotive Electrically Adjustable Outside Rear View Mirror (ORVM) Market: Segmentation Analysis

This market report segments the global automotive electrically adjustable outside rear view mirror (ORVM) marketbyapplication (passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America).

The APAC region led the market in 2019, followed by Europe, North America, South America, and MEA respectively. During the forecast period, the APAC region is expected to maintain its dominance over the market. This is due to the increasing adoption of electrically adjustable OVRMs in passenger vehicles in China, Japan, South Korea, and India.

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

Request a free sample report

Some of the key topics covered in the report include:

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market size and forecast

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation

Customer Landscape

Geographical Segmentation

Geographic comparison

Key leading countries

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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WESTON, Mass., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fastweb (www.fastweb.com), the leading website for scholarship and financial aid information and a member of the Monster network, has released its annual resource for 2020 that highlights scholarship opportunities for students at all education levels.

Fastweb's 2020 College Scholarships resource outlines a range of scholarship opportunities in multiple educational fields with various awards of up to $20,000.This resource lists scholarships in order of due date and is continuously updated with top opportunities from Fastweb's extensive database.

"This annual resource provides students with scholarship opportunities they can apply to now to support their 2020 college planning," said Mark Nelson, Vice President, Fastweb. "We are committed to providing relevant scholarship, internship and part-time job matches to help all students to help them pursue their college objectives".

Students seeking valuable career skills and experience can find excellent opportunities with Fastweb's 2020 College Internships resource. Students can also view internship matches from leading companies, as well as scholarship matches provided by Fastweb's industry-leading database. Additionally, Fastweb's Part-Time Jobs functionality, powered by Monster, matches students with part-time job opportunities in varying industries including; retail, childcare, and food service.

Fastweb encourages students who have not yet filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, to do so now to start the federal student aid process. Understanding the financial aid process is crucial for all students. More information on the FAFSA application can be found on Fastweb's Financial Aid section. For more helpful free online resources, visit Fastweb.com or download the Fastweb app.

About Fastweb:

Fastweb, a top site in the Monster network, is the nation's recognized leader in helping students pay for school, by providing scholarship and financial aid information, as well as information on jobs and internships. As the oldest and most popular free online scholarship matching service, one out of three college-bound seniors use the site and more than 50 million users have benefitted from Fastweb's information and services. Fastweb lets students create personalized profiles that can be matched against its expansive databases of colleges and scholarships. To learn more about Fastweb, visit www.fastweb.com and follow Fastweb on social media for the latest on paying for school all year long: Twitter (at @PayingForSchool); Facebook; Instagram and Pinterest.

About Monster

Monster is a global leader in connecting the right people to the right jobs. Every day, Monster aims to make every workplace happier and more productive by transforming the way employers find talent and candidates find careers. For 25 years, Monster has worked to transform the recruiting industry. Today, the company leverages innovative digital, social, and mobile solutions, including Monster Studios and SearchMonster, to enable employers and candidates to see each other more clearly. Monster is a digital venture owned by Randstad North America, a subsidiary of Randstad N.V., a $26 billion international provider of flexible work and human resources services.

SOURCE Fastweb

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Fiction

1. Where the Crawdads Sing

by Delia Owens. In a quiet town on the North Carolina coast in 1969, a young woman who survived alone in the marsh becomes a murder suspect.

2. The Guardians

by John Grisham. Cullen Post, a lawyer and Episcopal minister, antagonizes some ruthless killers when he takes on a wrongful conviction case.

3. The Institute

by Stephen King. Children with special talents are abducted and sequestered in an institution where the sinister staff seeks to extract their gifts through harsh methods.

4. Criss Cross

by James Patterson. The 27th book in the Alex Cross series. Copycat crimes make the detective question whether an innocent man was executed.

5. Blue Moon

by Lee Child. Jack Reacher gets caught up in a turf war between Ukrainian and Albanian gangs.

6. A Minute to Midnight

by David Baldacci. When Atlee Pine returns to her hometown to investigate her sisters kidnapping from 30 years ago, she winds up tracking a potential serial killer.

7. The Dutch House

by Ann Patchett. A sibling relationship is impacted when the family goes from poverty to wealth and back again over the course of many decades.

8. Twisted Twenty-Six

by Janet Evanovich. The 26th book in the Stephanie Plum series. A New Jersey gangsters associates go after a bounty hunters widowed grandmother.

9. The Silent Patient

by Alex Michaelides. Theo Faber looks into the mystery of a famous painter who stops speaking after shooting her husband.

10. The Testaments

by Margaret Atwood. In a sequel to The Handmaids Tale, old secrets bring

Nonfiction

1. Becoming

by Michelle Obama. The former first lady describes how she balanced work, family and her husbands political ascent.

2. Educated

by Tara Westover. The daughter of survivalists, who is kept out of school, educates herself enough to leave home for university.

3. Me

by Elton John. The multi-award-winning solo artists first autobiography chronicles his career, relationships and private struggles.

4. Talking to Strangers

by Malcolm Gladwell. Famous examples of miscommunication serve as the backdrop to explain potential conflicts and misunderstandings.

5. Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers

by Brian Kilmeade. The Fox & Friends host gives an account of the battle against the Mexican Army in 1836.

6. The Body

by Bill Bryson. An owners manual of the human body covering various parts, functions and what happens when things go wrong.

7. A Warning

by Anonymous. A senior official in the Trump administration offers an assessment of the president and makes a moral appeal.

8. Mobituaries

by Mo Rocca and Jonathan Greenberg. The humorist spotlights frequently unnoticed aspects of deceased celebrities and historical figures.

9. Triggered

by Donald Trump Jr. Forays into politics and views on liberals from the executive vice president of the Trump Organization.

10. Finding Chika

by Mitch Albom. Lessons learned by the Alboms when they bring a Haitian orphan with a life-threatening illness into their family.

New York Times
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) leaves federal court after pleading guilty to misusing campaign funds, in San Diego, Calif., on Dec. 3, 2019. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

Rep. Duncan Hunter Announces Resignation From Congress

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) has formally resigned from Congress after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to misuse campaign funds weeks ago, according to a letter he sent to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

I write to inform you of my resignation, effective close of business on Jan. 13, 2020, he wrote.

It has been an honor to serve the people of Californias 50th District, and I greatly appreciate the trust they have put in me over the last 11 years, Hunter concludes in the letter to Newsom. During my time in Congress, I had the privilege of helping thousands of individuals in my district, he said.

Hunter had previously told reporters he would leave Congress after the holiday recess.

Shortly after the Holidays, I will resign from Congress. It has been an honor to serve the people of Californias 50th District, and I greatly appreciate the trust they have put in me over these last 11 years, he said in a statement last month, reported local San Diego station 10 News.

Hunter pleaded guilty to one of the 60 counts against him, reported KUSI News.

He faces a potential five-year prison term and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced in March. His wife and former campaign treasurer, Margaret, already admitted to her role in the scandal and also faces a five-year prison term and a $250,000 fine.

The two were indicted in August 2018 for misusing at least $250,000 in campaign funds.

I failed to monitor and account for my campaign spending. I made mistakes, and thats what today was all about. So, that being said, Ill have more statements in the future about the future, Hunter previously told NBC San Diego about the plea.

Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) arrives for his arraignment at federal court in San Diego, California, on Aug. 23, 2018. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

No. 1, not a single dime of taxpayer money is involved in this. The plea that I accepted was misuse of my own campaign funds, of which I pled guilty to only one count. I think its important that people know that I did make mistakes, Hunter told local media outlets at the time.

He added, Whatever my time in custody is, I will take that hit. My only hope is that the judge does not sentence my wife to jail. I think my kids need a mom in the home.

Despite his legal troubles, Hunter was able to get reelected.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report noted that Hunters plea may actually help Republicans secure Californias 50th district.

Hunter was the main reason the seat was at risk, and his exit improves the GOPs odds of holding his inland San Diego seat President Trump carried 55 percent to 40 percent in 2016, according to the website.
(Bloomberg) -- Sign up for Next China, a weekly email on where the nation stands now and where it's going next.

In the days after the U.S. government said it would bar Huawei Technologies Co. from buying vital American components, the Chinese companys founder, Ren Zhengfei, pulled together an emergency meeting of his top lieutenants at headquarters in Shenzhen. In a large conference room, the billionaire asked for a report from the head of each business unit on how they would be affected by the Trump administrations ban, which blocks U.S. companies from supplying everything from semiconductors to software. Their assessments were dire. We thought we had lost the world, said Will Zhang, who attended as president of corporate strategy.

It turns out they were far too pessimistic. Huawei recorded an 18% rise in sales to a new high of 850 billion yuan ($122 billion) last year, although that was down from about 23% in the first half and missed its own internal targets. Company projections for 2020 are similar. Huawei holds the enviable position of being the worlds largest supplier of communications equipment to telecom operators and the largest smartphone maker globally after Samsung Electronics Co.

Huawei isnt just surviving; its actually thriving in some areas. The question is for how long. Last week, executives warned in a New Years memo that survival itself is a priority, urging employees to brace for a difficult 2020. Inventories stockpiled months in advance of the May blacklisting are drying up. The company can no longer count on momentum alone to drive the business, Rotating Chairman Eric Xu warned.

How Huawei survived the U.S. blacklisting could prove a case study in unintended consequences and a vast shift underway in global IT production. Huawei is a big customer for all of its suppliers, and a few actually cut ties after the blacklisting. Others lost out to rivals in Japan and South Korea. But American companies with extensive global operations, including Microsoft Corp. and chipmaker Micron Technology Inc., found legal ways around the ban, leaning on production outside the U.S. so Huawei-destined products wouldnt be hit. Huawei itself put armies of engineers to work redesigning products to reduce its reliance on American parts.

Story continues

Trumps attack also had surprising implications for Huaweis brand. A few countries, like Australia, agreed with the U.S. presidents assessment and barred its equipment from their networks. But in the rest of the world, Huaweis name recognition soared. After laboring in obscurity for decades, the maker of digital piping was suddenly front-page news everywhere. Beyond the U.S. and its close allies, telecom operators wanted to find out what all the fuss was about. In China, consumers and carriers rallied to Huaweis side in response to what they saw as unfair persecution, driving a sales boom.

The Trump sanctions in some ways validated Huaweis ability to develop cutting-edge technology, from fifth-generation networking gear to AI chips. On Tuesday, the new head of Canadas biggest telecom firm, BCE Inc., became the latest to publicly endorse the Chinese companys gear.

Its quite a stupid thing the U.S. is doing, Zhang said, a key architect of Huaweis global ambitions and efforts to mitigate the impact of American sanctions. They are confused about how this business works.

Huaweis a global goliath with revenues more than General Electric Co. or Boeing Co. In just three decades its grown from an obscure re-seller of switchboards into one of the worlds biggest private companies, with businesses from telecom to cloud computing to cybersecurity. After plowing billions into research, the company is now among Chinas top recipients of international patents, edging out rivals Nokia Oyj and Ericsson AB in a technology that underpins applications from robotics to AI.

Huawei started to tap overseas markets in the late 1990s, dispatching sales representatives to Russia, Southeast Asia and Africa, where competition was less intense than in developed arenas. It used lower pricing as a wedge to gain entry, then tried to one-up its rivals on round-the-clock customer service. One of its earliest markets was Malaysia, where it wielded that formula to great effect. I was asked by one of the board members to consider Huawei. I remember my response at the time was, I dont want to waste my time, Jamaludin bin Ibrahim, chief executive officer of Malaysian wireless carrier Axiata, said. When they started initially, it was price that gave us confidence.

Once Huawei secured the contract, they pulled out the stops. According to Jamaludin, Huaweis then rotating-CEO would get personally involved in Axiata problems or maintenance issues. When friction developed between Axiata ground staff and Huawei workers assigned to the contract, Jamaludin called the Chinese companys rotating CEO and within two days, all the Huawei employees had been re-assigned, he said, describing rarely disclosed, behind-the-scenes details of how Huawei conducts business. Today, Huawei gear occupies about 80% of Axiatas core network, he said. While the equipment isnt necessarily always the most capable or advanced, the Chinese company has other things going for it. The combo of tech, customer service, support and price is what makes it stand out, Jamaludin said.

Cultivating such deep ties in countries like Malaysia appears to have paid off. Last May, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said the Southeast Asian country will use Huaweis gear as much as possible as they offer tremendous advance over American technology.

How Huawei Landed at the Center of Global Tech Tussle: QuickTake

Huawei executives like to trumpet instances where employees go above and beyond to get the job done. Sometimes, they also seize the initiative. In 2003, without Rens blessing, some Huawei executives decided to venture into mobile phones. It wasnt until the early 2010s that Huawei made its first smartphone, and early models were no-frills, basic affairs that competed on price -- much as its networking gear once did. But within a half-decade, Huawei had used a combination of savvy marketing (partnering with Leica in 2016 on cameras was a master-stroke) and research to move up the value chain and challenge Apple Inc. and Samsung.

Its in smartphones that evidence of Huaweis diversification efforts emerge. Launched last fall, the marquee Huawei Mate 30 Pro handset uses communications modules from Japanese supplier Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. and contains a number in-house components. This contrasts with the Mate 20 Pro released a year earlier that relied on components from U.S. wireless semiconductor manufacturer Skyworks Solutions Inc.

Huaweis smartphone business is now the worlds No. 2, growing shipments 16.5% to a record 240 million units in 2019. Much of that growth came from China, where Trumps sanctions have little effect since the Google apps its shut out of cant be used anyway. Even some senior Huawei executives hadnt expected the smartphone business, which today contributes about half of revenue, to survive the sanctions, not to mention expand.

But this year may not be so rosy. Huawei faces strong challenges in 2020, especially on the smartphone business, said IDC analyst Will Wong. Its retail channel will face immense pressure as some buyers may turn to Samsung or another brand since the latest Huawei phones lack support from Google Mobile Services.

Another area the blacklisting will severely impact is the enterprise business, which makes servers and sells smart city solutions to clients around the world. The Entity List cut Huawei off from the Intel x86 processors it needed and Huaweis supply chain managers couldnt source alternatives because there arent any with comparable performance and availability. Huawei originally anticipated as much as $8 billion in server revenue in 2019. The final total was only half as much. The server is not the core product. But every project you have, there will be some servers, Zhang said.

Longer term, it could also lose access to chip design tools from U.S.-based companies such as Synopsys Inc. and Cadence Design Systems Inc., which would undermine its aspirations to become a player in the semiconductor industry -- a key aspect of any effort to replace American technology.

Still, the real battle from 2020 onward will be in 5G. The company started initial research on the standard as early as 2009, when even 4G was years from commercialization. It assigned more than $600 million to the project in the following five years, according to the companys website. That surged to $1.4 billion between 2017 and 2018.

The U.S. government has long worried Huaweis 5G capabilities pose a threat to national security. It warned in 2018 that Huawei owned 10% of worldwide essential 5G patents and deep involvement in international standards-setting could weaken U.S. companies negotiating power. Huawei has inked more than 60 5G contracts globally, Deputy Chairman Ken Hu said in September. Washington continues to try and persuade allies to boycott Huawei gear in core networks -- if successful, that could severely crimp its future prospects in a swath of technologies and hamper efforts to grab a slice of hundreds of billions of dollars in projected network spending.

Design and software are really the biggest challenges, said Paul Triolo of the Eurasia Group. But they have surprised people with their ability to re-engineer products. Theyre in it for the long haul.

Read more: Huawei Vows to Shake Up Ranks as Trumps Curbs Bite in 2020

Theres also the chance that Washington will tighten the screws. The U.S. government is said to be weighing new limits on sales of chips and other vital components to Huawei. Zhang said the company has decided to tune out the noise of U.S.-Chinese relations. This blacklisting has changed the whole perception of globalization, said Zhang. The world is not flat anymore, everybody agrees and will try to adopt that approach. The suppliers and Huawei ourselves will try to adapt to the new geopolitical complex.

(Updates with Canadian CEOs TV interview in the sixth paragraph)

--With assistance from Peter Elstrom.

To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Gao Yuan in Beijing at ygao199@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Peter Elstrom at pelstrom@bloomberg.net, Edwin Chan, Colum Murphy

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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As the international fallout builds from President Trumps rash decision to kill Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian general, Trumps rhetoric has gotten more reckless as well.

Over the weekend, he tweeted that should Iran strike any Americans or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites ... some at a very high level and important to Iran and the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, will be hit very fast and very hard.

The next day, he added that the U.S. would strike back perhaps in a disproportionate manner, should Iran retaliate for Soleimanis killing.

Trumps comments immediately drew ire across the world and across the political spectrum  and for an excellent reason.

Targeting cultural sites is a war crime.

There is no wiggle room in the definition, which is included in several international laws that the U.S. has not only signed but sponsored. These include the 1949 Geneva Conventions and a 2017 United Nations Security Council resolution that condemns the unlawful destruction of cultural heritage during war and other conflict.

With a rich history that dates back as far as 100,000 BC, Iran has 22 cultural UNESCO World Heritage sites. They include the ancient ruins of the royal Persian city of Persepolis and geological sites that span thousands of years.

In the decades since the international community agreed to protect cultural sites, they have been destroyed in the course of conflict. Frequently, the perpetrators have been terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State fighters that waged a campaign against historic cultural sites in Syria and Iraq.

For an American president to suggest that similar action would be appropriate as an official U.S. action is beyond comprehension.

Similarly, Trumps threat of disproportionate response is completely out of bounds for any democratic world leader.

All the more reason for Congress to act immediately. It must intervene, before Trumps dangerous foreign escalations result in unnecessary death and destruction.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
Supreme Leader leads prayer for body of Martyr General Soleimani

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Jan 6, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Monday led mass prayers for the beloved Martyr Lieutenant-General Qasem Soleimani.

Supreme Leader leads a prayer for the body of Martyr General Soleimani

The prayer started this morning at Tehran University at 9:30.

Heads of the three branches of the government, members of the Expediency Council, cabinet members, president's deputies, Members of Parliament, senior Iranian military commanders, Friday prayers leaders, provincial officials and a huge number of Iranians from all walks of life attended the ceremony.

Lieutenant General Soleimani and the acting commander of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) - known as the Hash al-Shaabi - Abu Mahdi Al-Mohandes, who were separately leaving Baghdad airport in two cars were targeted and assassinated by the US Army in Baghdad on Friday.

Iraqi media said the US helicopters targeted both cars.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei commented on the martyrdom of the great commander of the IRGC's Quds Forces and said harsh and severe revenge is awaiting the criminals.

General Soleimani's body was transferred to Ahvaz, southwestern Iran, where he was warmly welcomed by hundreds of thousands of people.

He was then taken to Mashhad, northeastern Iran. Hundreds of thousands Iranians attended the ceremony.

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(CNN)  At least 56 people were crushed to death Tuesday when a stampede broke out at the funeral of the Iranian commander killed in a US drone strike.

State-run Iranian broadcaster IRINN reported 35 men and 21 women died, and another 213 people were injured, at the funeral procession for Qasem Soleimani in his hometown of Kerman. Images showed tens of thousands of people pouring into the streets to honor the slain commander, a revered figure in Iran.

The chaos forced Iranian authorities to delay Soleimani's burial, four days after a US drone strike at Baghdad's airport killed him in a dramatic escalation of tensions between Tehran and Washington, and US allies in the Middle East. The strike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of the Iranian-backed Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

As head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, Soleimani became the architect of Tehran's proxy conflicts in the Middle East.

Iran has vowed revenge for the killing, which it describes as an "act of war" and "state terrorism."

US forces and air defense missile batteries across the Middle East were on high alert overnight Monday to possibly shoot down Iranian drones as intelligence mounted about a threat of an imminent attack against US targets, two US officials told CNN.

US officials say the strike against the general was carried out to prevent an "imminent" attack in the region that would have put American lives at risk, but they have declined to provide details about the intelligence.

US intelligence also has observed Iran moving military equipment, including drones and ballistic missiles, over the past several days. US officials said the movement may be an Iranian effort to secure its weapons from a potential US strike, or put them in positions to launch their own attacks.

The Pentagon blamed Soleimani and his Quds Force for attacks on coalition bases in Iraq in recent months, including the December 27 strike that culminated in the deaths of an American contractor and Iraqi personnel. He was also blamed for the December 31 attack on the US Embassy in Baghdad, and in
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Truxton Trust announced a leadership change in its Private Banking Division, one of the firms two core businesses. Tom Snyder, formerly Senior Managing Director and Chief Lending Officer, is Executive Vice President as of January 1, 2020. He will work with existing bank clients and focus on new business development. Tom Snyder has 48 years of banking experience and has been with Truxton Trust since its inception in 2004. He is one of its original founders.



Taking over Snyders former management responsibilities, W. Bryant Tirrill and William H. Hank Stuart have been elevated to Managing Directors, co-heading leadership of the private banking team, also effective January 1, 2020.

Tom Stumb, Chairman and CEO, said, As Chief Lending Officer since our inception, Tom Snyder has led the private banking team in growing our loan portfolio from $0 to over $350 million. And we still have yet to charge off any loan that weve originated. His commitment to protecting the capital of our bank and his guardianship of our asset quality are arguably unrivaled in the history of the U.S. banking industry. It has been a grand privilege to work alongside him, and I am thrilled he has agreed to continue working with us.

Bryant Tirrill joined Truxton Trust shortly after its inception in 2004 and has over 30 years of banking experience in the Nashville community. Hank Stuart joined Truxton Trust in 2016, also with over 30 years of banking experience. Prior to Truxton Trust, he was Executive Vice President of CedarStone Bank in Lebanon, Tennessee, for twelve years.

Andy May, President and CFO, said, We continue to grow our loan portfolio year over year with non-performing loans remaining zero percent of total assets. Bryant and Hank will work closely with the entire lending team to continue the delivery of customized banking solutions to our clients while growing bank assets. Their experience and drive are extremely impressive, and we look forward to their leadership.

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About Truxton Trust

Truxton Trust Company is a provider of private banking, wealth management, trust, and family office services for wealthy individuals, their families and their business interests. Serving clients across the world, Truxtons vastly experienced team of professionals provides customized solutions to its clients complex financial needs. Founded in 2004 in Nashville, Tennessee, Truxton Trust upholds its original guiding principle: do the right thing. Truxton Trust Company is a subsidiary of financial holding company, Truxton Corporation (TRUX). For more information, visit truxtontrust.com.

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A Crown attorney who blamed a software update for missing a court appearance caused a delay in a case that ultimately led to a mans drug and gun charges being tossed.

Brampton provincial court judge Paul OMarra recently stayed firearm and drug possession-related offences against David Ansah due to delay in his case, finding that just over 20 months would have elapsed between his 2018 arrest and his trial set for May 15 of this year.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that cases in provincial court that go over 18 months must be tossed for violating an accused persons right to a trial within a reasonable time unless the Crown can prove there were exceptional circumstances for the delay.

In the Ansah case, a Crown attorney failed to appear for a judicial pretrial last June, causing it to be rescheduled for September and adding 93 days of delay to the case.

Crown attorney Jelena Vlacic (not the same prosecutor who missed the pretrial) argued before OMarra that this was a discrete event that should be subtracted from the overall delay in the case. Specifically, she argued that there had been technological issues stemming from a recent software update with the Ministry of the Attorney General  Criminal Law Division, which impacted the Crown attorneys ability to access his schedule and be reminded of the date and time of the pretrial, according to OMarras ruling.

But the judge disagreed, finding that the Crown attorney simply forgot to attend the June pretrial.

I am more than satisfied that the assigned Crown attorney was aware of the date of the (judicial pretrial) and simply lost track of the time of the (judicial pretrial) and forgot about it that morning. In my view, the assigned Crown attorney did not lose track of the case in the system due to a scheduling issue, as erroneously submitted by Ms. Vlacic, the judge wrote in a ruling, released on Christmas Eve.

I find that the assigned Crown attorney simply forgot to attend the (judicial pretrial) that morning. The assigned Crown attorneys forgetfulness, in my view, does not constitute a discrete event that laid beyond the Crowns control in this case.

OMarra said he came to this conclusion after looking at emails between the defence and the Brampton Crown attorneys office shortly before and after the June 12 pretrial, as well as by applying common sense and experience.

He noted an email was sent to the defence on June 11 indicating a Crown attorney would be attending the following day. On June 14, the Crown attorney who missed the appearance emailed the defence to apologize and said, I was immersed (sic) the procedures around the refreshing of our computers to incorporate Office 365 and lost track of the time.

The Ministry of the Attorney General, as well as Ansahs lawyer, Heather Spence, declined to comment when reached by the Star.

There were also other unacceptable periods of delay in what was not a complex case, the judge wrote. It took the Crown approximately seven-and-a-half months to disclose to the defence a copy of an Information to Obtain, a document submitted by police to obtain a search warrant, and it took nine-and-a-half months to disclose a police officers notes. But it was the delay caused by rescheduling the pretrial that sent the case over the 18-month limit.

The delay was compounded after the case was re-assigned to a second Crown attorney who was essentially unavailable and too preoccupied to case manage or conduct a (judicial pretrial) as a result of other obligations, OMarra wrote. Therefore, I am satisfied that there were no exceptional circumstances that justified this delay.

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A 47-year-old New Jersey man who flew to Rhode Island expecting to have sex with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl was arrested after learning hed been chatting online with an undercover detective, authorities said.

Amish Jayant Patel, of Swedesboro, was charged with enticement and travel in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct on Sunday and was ordered held in federal custody, the U.S. Attorneys Office for Rhode Island said in a statement.

Investigators followed Patel to a local liquor store where he bought alcohol shortly after he exited a commercial flight at T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick, authorities said. Cops then tailed Patel to another spot where he was planning to meet someone he believed to be a high school freshman, authorities said.

Patel had previously sent the detective photos of himself as well as sexually explicit photos during their online conversations, authorities said. The person he was communicating with was a Rhode Island State Police Detective assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Ranking member Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., left, speaks with chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, during the Senate Finance Committee hearing on "The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement" on Tuesday, July 30, 2019.

Businesses have sought stability as Trump stirs up trade conflicts with China and other major economic partners. The president has made replacing NAFTA and cracking down on Beijing's trade abuses a priority in his first term in the White House and used tariffs as a negotiating tool around the world.

"USMCA will bring much needed certainty and real benefits to America's farmers, workers and businesses," Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Tuesday at the start of the bill markup.

USMCA backers, led by President Donald Trump, have called the deal a long-needed overhaul of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement. The new pact makes several changes to protect auto industry workers, increases access to Canadian dairy markets for U.S. farmers and updates digital trade rules.

In a 25-3 vote, the panel sent the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement to the full Senate, which could pass the pact this month. The House approved the accord last month in a bipartisan vote.

The Senate Finance Committee approved a new North American trade deal on Tuesday, moving it one step closer to ratification in the United States.

House Democrats worked with the Trump administration for more than a year to secure tweaks to boost enforcement of labor and environmental standards. The changes got most of the party, including a trade deal skeptic in Senate Finance Committee ranking member Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., on board with the deal.

Most Democrats in Congress and major labor organizations such as the AFL-CIO support USMCA. But a handful of House Democrats and labor unions oppose it, arguing it did not go far enough to stop outsourcing of U.S. jobs.

Three Senate Finance Committee members voted against reporting the bill favorably Tuesday. They were Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Bill Cassidy, R-La.

Toomey has said USMCA as revised will hamper free trade. Whitehouse, meanwhile, contends it does not take enough steps to address the climate crisis.

The agreement has also split up the 2020 Democratic presidential field. Former Vice President Joe Biden backs it. While Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has indicated she will support the deal revised to include Democratic changes, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has opposed the pact.

Mexico has ratified the trade agreement. Canada may not approve it until later this month. The agreement does not take effect until all three nations ratify it.

The U.S. exports more goods to Canada and Mexico than any other countries.

Trump's impeachment could complicate the Senate's efforts to pass the deal. After House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sends House-passed articles of impeachment to the Senate, the chamber will start a trial on whether to remove him from office.

The speaker has not pushed impeachment to the other side of the Capitol as Democrats pressure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to call witnesses. Without a trial, the Senate has more flexibility to quickly pass USMCA.

"If it can be brought up before the impeachment vote, it'd be very important to get this  the sooner it gets done, for the good of the economy, the better," Grassley told reporters after the committee voted for USMCA. He noted that impeachment would have to take priority over other matters if it comes before the Senate.

Speaking at the start of the bill markup Tuesday, Wyden said the Senate should take both trade and impeachment seriously in the coming weeks.

"The new NAFTA agreement must not be used as a convenient excuse to shut down any other business before the Senate," he said.

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A mourner holds a poster of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani as she passes a satirical US flag after a ceremony for the general and colleagues killed in Iraq in a US drone attack (Vahid Salemi/AP)

US officials are bracing for Iran to respond to the killing of its most powerful general, noting heightened military readiness in the country and preparing for a possible tit-for-tat attempt on the life of an American military commander.

President Donald Trump ordered last weeks strike against General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Irans elite Quds Force, after the death of an American contractor in Iraq.

Now, as the massive demonstrations of Irans public mourning period for General Soleimani come to a close, US officials believe the next steps by Americas longtime foe will determine the ultimate course of the latest crisis.

While officials say American intelligence isnt clear on whether Irans latest military moves are designed to bolster Tehrans defences or prepare for an offensive strike, the US is continuing to reinforce its own positions in the region, including repositioning some forces.

One official said the US anticipated a major attack of some type within the next day or two.

Expand Close A police officer conducts a sweep with a sniffer dog outside the Capitol Building in Washington on Monday as Congress returns to address fall-out from President Donald Trumps military strike in Iraq (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A police officer conducts a sweep with a sniffer dog outside the Capitol Building in Washington on Monday as Congress returns to address fall-out from President Donald Trumps military strike in Iraq (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

On Monday, Defence Secretary Mark Esper said no decision had been made about withdrawing troops from Iraq. Pro-Iranian factions in the Iraqi Parliament have pushed to oust American troops following General Soleimanis killing on Iraqi soil.

The US and Iran have careened from one flare-up to another since Mr Trump began his maximum pressure campaign against Iran shortly after taking office. He abrogated the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed crushing economic sanctions, both steps aimed at preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and deterring the sort of regional aggression spearheaded by General Soleimani.

Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said targeting General Soleimani was not representative of a wholesale shift in American policy toward Iran, despite Secretary of State Mike Pompeos comments on Sunday that the US was targeting Irans actual decision-makers rather than its network of proxy allies.

Mr Trump has repeatedly contended he is not seeking regime change in Iran, a move promoted by some of his more hawkish advisers.

Still, Mr Trumps strike against General Soleimani, a revered figure in Iran whose death sparked large displays of anger and grief, was a risky decision his Republican and Democratic predecessors opted not to take out of concern it would draw the US and Iran closer to conflict.

US officials are also aware Iran could try to strike a high-level American leader in a tit-for-tat move, potentially a military commander.

One official said some Iranian ships had spread out, and while the intent wasnt immediately clear, they could move rapidly to attack.

Expand Close A crowd said by Tehran police to be in the millions turns out for Mondays funeral service for General Suleimani in Tehran (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A crowd said by Tehran police to be in the millions turns out for Mondays funeral service for General Suleimani in Tehran (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP)

The US military has increased protection of its forces, particularly in Iraq. Officials said a number of the recently deployed soldiers from the 1st Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division had moved into Iraq from Kuwait in order to increase security for Americans there. The US military has stopped all training of Iraqi forces to focus on force protection, officials said.

As of Monday, officials said, there had not been a broadly distributed order or recommendation to increase security at military installations worldwide. Instead, decisions were being left up to the commanders.

The US militarys concern about its vulnerability to Iranian attack in the Persian Gulf region has been at a heightened state since about May, when the administration reported it was getting intelligence indications that Iran was planning attacks on US interests in Iraq and elsewhere in the region.

The Pentagon sent additional forces to the Gulf at that point, and in July it worked out an arrangement with the government of Saudi Arabia to send US forces to a large base deep in the Saudi desert, in less obvious range of Iranian missiles.

The main hub for American military air operations throughout the Middle East is located at al-Udeid air base in Qatar  within easy range of Iranian missiles. American forces also are stationed in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. The Navys 5th Fleet, which operates throughout the region, is based at Bahrain.

Meanwhile in Washington, Democrats prepared largely symbolic resolutions under the War Powers Act to limit the presidents military actions regarding Iran.

In a letter to House Democrats, Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the air strike on General Soleimani provocative and disproportionate and said it had endangered our service members, diplomats and others by risking a serious escalation of tensions with Iran.

Congress, which has the sole power to declare war, has complained that Mr Trump did not provide advance notice of his air strike in Baghdad.

Mr Trump did meet the 48-hour deadline required by the War Powers Act to notify Congress after the deadly drone strike. The document was classified, and no public version was released.
Update: Gardai have arrested two teenagers following a manhunt in north Cork this afternoon.

It followed a large garda operation in the Glenville area following a suspected theft incident at a petrol station in the village earlier.

Shortly after 11.30am, gardai in Fermoy received a report of a car that had driven off without paying for petrol.

The car was involved in a collision with a delivery truck in the area following the suspected theft.

Two males fled the scene and a search of the area was carried out by members of the Roads Policing Unit and the Southern Region Dog Unit.

A sighting of two suspects was reported to Fermoy Garda Station after members of the public saw an appeal for information on the Garda Southern Region Facebook page.

The two males, who are both juveniles in the late teens, are currently detained at Fermoy Garda Station under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

Earlier: Manhunt underway after delivery van rammed in north Cork

Gardai have launched a manhunt for two suspects after a delivery van was rammed in north Cork.

Several garda units and the specialist garda search dog, Lazer, are scouring fields near the village of Glenville for two male suspects, described as being in their late teens or early 20s.

The search was mounted after a car was driven at speed into a delivery van in the area within the last hour or so.

The number plates on the car were covered.

Gardai were alerted and were on the scene quickly but the suspects fled before abandoning the car and escaping on foot into nearby fields.

The search is focused on fields east of Glenville.

Gardai have appealed to anyone in the area who sees anything suspicious to contact them on 112/999.

"One is wearing a grey hoodie and the other, a red jacket. If you see any suspicious activity call 112/999 immediately, dont assume someone else will.

Any other good leads that help us make a collar would be welcome at Fermoy Tel. 025 82100," gardai said.
Currently, the faint star V Sagittae, V Sge, in the constellation Sagitta, is barely visible, even in mid-sized telescopes. However, around the year 2083, this innocent star will explode, becoming as bright as Sirius, the brightest star visible in the night sky.

During this time of eruption, V Sge will be the most luminous star in the Milky Way galaxy. This prediction is being presented for the first time at the 235th American Astronomical Society meeting in Honolulu, Hawai'i, by astronomers Bradley E. Schaefer, Juhan Frank, and Manos Chatzopoulos, with the Louisiana State University Department of Physics & Astronomy.

"We now have a strong prediction for the future of V Sge," said Professor Emeritus Bradley E. Schaefer, LSU Department of Physics & Astronomy. "Over the next few decades, the star will brighten rapidly. Around the year 2083, its accretion rate will rise catastrophically, spilling mass at incredibly high rates onto the white dwarf, with this material blazing away. In the final days of this death-spiral, all of the mass from the companion star will fall onto the white dwarf, creating a supermassive wind from the merging star, appearing as bright as Sirius, possibly even as bright as Venus."

V Sge is a star system in a large and diverse class called cataclysmic variables, CVs, consisting of an ordinary star in a binary orbit around a white dwarf star, where the normal star's mass is slowly falling onto the white dwarf. CVs include multiple types of binary stars, often with spectacular behavior. V Sge is the most extreme of all the CVs, approximately 100 times more luminous than all other known CVs, and is powering a massive stellar wind, equal to the winds of the most massive stars prior to their deaths. These two extreme properties are caused by the fact that the normal star is 3.9 times more massive than the white dwarf.

"In all other known CVs the white dwarf is more massive than the orbiting normal star, so V Sge is utterly unique," said Schaefer.

"Previously, astronomers have studied V Sge, realizing that it is an unusual system with extreme properties," said Frank. "However, no one had realized that the binary orbit was in-spiraling very fast."

This realization came from routine measures of V Sge's brightness on old sky photos now archived at the Harvard College Observatory, providing a detailed history going back to the year 1890.

Startlingly, V Sge has been systematically brightening by a factor of 10X, 2.5 magnitudes, from the early 1890s up until the last decade. This unprecedented behavior was confirmed with archival data collected from the database of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, AAVSO, showing V Sge brightening by nearly a factor of 10X, 2.4 magnitudes, from 1907 until the last few years.

"V Sge is exponentially gaining luminosity with a doubling time scale of 89 years," said Frank. "This brightening can only result with the rate of mass falling off the normal companion star increasing exponentially, ultimately because the binary orbit is in-spiraling rapidly."

"In anticipation of this fast decaying of the orbit, the fate of V Sge is sealed," stated Schaefer. "The critical and simple physics are derived from V Sge having the companion star being much more massive than the white dwarf star, so forcing the rate of mass transfer to rise exponentially. Anticipating the next few decades, V Sge will in-spiral at a rapid pace with increasing brightness. Inevitably, this in-spiral will climax with the majority of the gas in the normal star falling onto the white dwarf, all within the final weeks and days. This falling mass will release a tremendous amount of gravitational potential energy, driving a stellar wind as never before seen, and raise the system luminosity to just short of that of supernovae at peak."

This explosive event will have peak brightness over a month, with two stars merging into one star. The end result of the merger will produce a single star with a degenerate white dwarf core, a hydrogen-burning layer, surrounded by a vast gas envelope mostly of hydrogen.

"From this critical new input of the doubling time scale of 89 years, it becomes possible to directly calculate the future evolution of V Sge, all using standard equations describing the many physical mechanisms involved," said Schaefer.

The calculations give a robust answer to the brightness with the in-spiral merger happen for the final merge event will be around the year 2083. "The uncertainty in this date is 16 years, arising mostly from not having a perfect measure of the doubling time scale due to the large intrinsic jitter of the brightness in the historical record," said Frank. "Therefore, the merge will be approximately between 2067 and 2099, most likely near the middle of this range."

"Thus, V Sge will appear startlingly bright in the night sky, said Schaefer. "This is substantially brighter than the all-time brightest known nova (at -0.5) just over a century ago, and the last time any 'guest star' appeared brighter was Kepler's Supernova in the year 1604."

"Now people the world over can know that they will see a wondrous guest star shining as the brightest in the sky for a month or so, being pointed at by the Arrow just below Cygnus, the Swan," said Schaefer.

Acknowledgments: The critical new observational input that forced our recognition of the fast in-spiral is from the century-long light curves (measures of brightness changes over the years), with these coming from two sources. The first source is from the database of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO), who also provided excellent support on comparison stars, finder charts and more. The second source is the Harvard College Observatory, where archival sky photographs record the brightness of V Sge back to the year 1890, with special help from Josh Grindlay and Alison Doane.



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OTTAWA - Canada's border agency violated the law by carrying out unduly invasive searches of personal digital devices, in one case viewing a traveller's social media and online banking information, an investigation by the federal privacy watchdog has found.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Tuesday, December 10, 2019. The federal privacy czar says Canada's border agency violated the law by carrying out overly invasive searches of personal digital devices, in one case viewing a traveller's social media and online banking information. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - Canada's border agency violated the law by carrying out unduly invasive searches of personal digital devices, in one case viewing a traveller's social media and online banking information, an investigation by the federal privacy watchdog has found.

Privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien looked into complaints against the Canada Border Services Agency concerning the examination of devices, such as cell phones, tablets and laptop computers, at ports of entry.

Therrien found the border agency contravened federal law and noted significant shortcomings in the agency's overall practices related to digital devices.

Border officers cannot routinely examine such devices, and can only proceed in the event a number of indicators suggest a search would produce evidence of illegal activities.

Such signs could include a traveller's behaviour, the way they answer a question, coding on a suitcase that doesn't match the person's itinerary or the fact a ticket was purchased at the last minute.

Therrien examined six complaints from Canadian citizens whose devices were searched upon returning home from abroad. Border officers accessed content including documents, text messages, photographs and, in one case, content on Facebook and banking details.

"Digital devices clearly contain vast amounts of personal, and sometimes sensitive, information about identifiable individuals," the privacy commissioner's investigation report says.

The commissioner accepts that border officers can search electronic documents stored on a device but not information that can be accessed remotely via an internet connection. As a result, officers are supposed to disable connectivity before examining a device.

Therrien found:

 Connectivity was not disabled  for instance, by switching a device to airplane mode  in at least four of the six cases;

 In one case, an officer improperly took photos of the content on the complainant's phone;

 Certain information relating to examination of the complainants' digital devices was destroyed in two cases despite the fact the Privacy Act and regulations require that such material be kept for at least two years;

 In all six cases, officers failed to record the indicators that led to searches of the digital devices, which areas of the devices were accessed or why those areas were searched.

The commissioner concluded the policies in place, on their own, had "not proven an effective means of ensuring that examinations and searches of digital devices respect individuals' privacy rights."

In addition, there were "insufficient training and accountability mechanisms" to help border officers meet the necessary requirements, Therrien's report said.

"We therefore consider all six of the complaints to be well-founded."

The findings are included in the commissioner's latest annual report, recently presented to Parliament.

Therrien made several recommendations to the border agency and called for reform of the legal framework governing searches of devices at the border.

Specifically, he wants the border agency's guidelines for examination of digital devices written into the Customs Act and says the threshold to trigger a search should be defined in law as "reasonable grounds to suspect" a crime or customs infraction.

The border agency agreed to take several steps, including mandatory training for officers, implementation of oversight measures, enforcement manual updates, an internal audit and publication of online guidance for travellers.

The office of Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said Tuesday the government is committed to respecting travellers' privacy rights while protecting border security.

In a statement, the office said it is "carefully reflecting" on the commissioner's proposals for legislative change.

The government intends to reintroduce a bill that died at last year's election call to create an independent review body for the border agency, aimed at strengthening accountability and public trust, Blair's office added.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2020.

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A new partnership announced today is offering farmers a 25 percent discount on ATV helmets to improve the industry's safety record.

The NFU's member offer provides a 25% discount off all Spada helmets as part of work to help farmers stay safe and legal.

The launch comes as the Farm Safety Partnership (FSP) turns its focus to safety in transport.

Farming advocate Hannah Jackson, known as the Red Shepherdess, will promote the offer and highlight the need for active safety changes within the farming industry.

Alongside providing discounted helmets for members, the NFU is advising farmers to ensure appropriate training for those riding ATVs as well as good vehicle maintenance.

The union's vice president Stuart Roberts said: One of the simplest things anyone can do to keep themselves safe on farm is to wear a helmet when riding an ATV.

The time has passed for turning a blind eye to practices which are illegal and which put people we care about in danger.

There are some green shoots that as an industry we are starting to embrace  we just have to keep reiterating the safety message day after day, month after month, year after year. Only by doing that will we start to see real changes.

Hannah Jackson said the industry needs to be spearheading the way forward for better health and safety on farms, and not normalising behaviour that will keep farmings safety record behind.

There are so many people who have followed my journey ever since I started in farming six years ago, and its great to have a platform where I can really showcase what British farming is all about.

But there is also a sense of responsibility  to myself, to the public and to the rest of the farming community.

Im proud to get behind the NFUs campaign to improve safety on farms. Im proud to commit to wearing a helmet every time I get on my ATV and Im proud to take that message to the wider farming community, she said.

A range of safety helmets will be showcased on the NFU stand at today's LAMMA show.
America's military strategy in Iraq has been thrown into disarray after the Pentagon admitted a top US general mistakenly informed the Iraqi government his troops were preparing to leave.

Here is AFP's look at what shape a withdrawal could take.

- How could troops withdraw? -

A senior US military official had told AFP that a hypothetical withdrawal would take weeks, but could be shortened to days in an emergency situation -- like being ordered out immediately by Iraq's government.

Cargo planes would transport equipment by air while troops would likely drive out through the south to Kuwait.

The Monday letter mistakenly sent by US Brigadier General William Seely to the Iraqi government said the US-led coalition would be "repositioning forces in the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement."

Jack Watling of the Royal United Services Institute told AFP: "The coalition would need to map out travel routes, sequence evacuation plans for troops, civilians and contractors and decide what equipment and documents to bring, abandon or destroy."

- What is happening on the ground? -

The Pentagon swiftly denied there was a plan to leave Iraq, saying the letter was still a draft.

But there already seemed to be an impact on the ground.

The letter said helicopters would be flying around Baghdad's Green Zone where the US embassy is located as part of the departure arrangements.

AFP could hear helicopters flying low over Baghdad throughout the night for three nights before the letter was sent.

On Tuesday, Germany said 30 soldiers based in Baghdad and a nearby airbase would "shortly" be moved to Jordan and Kuwait, "together with soldiers from other countries".

A French government source told AFP on Tuesday it had no plans to withdraw its forces.

But a European diplomat told AFP a withdrawal of US troops would necessitate all coalition forces leaving Iraq.

NATO on Tuesday announced it was temporarily taking "some personnel" out of Iraq for safety reasons.

Iraq's caretaker premier Adel Abdel Mahdi has told US ambassador Matthew Tueller and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg that the government wanted foreign troops out following a vote to that effect by the Iraqi parliament.

- Why are troops still in Iraq? -

Thousands of foreign troops are deployed across Iraq as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led coalition formed to fight the Islamic State group.

In 2014, the Iraqi foreign ministry issued an urgent appeal to the United Nations Security Council for help to roll back IS, which was sweeping across Iraq.

The coalition sent troops and special forces to Iraq to "advise and assist" Iraqi forces as they fought IS.

Their deployment was based on an executive-to-executive agreement that was never ratified by Iraq's parliament.

It was not governed by a detailed arrangement like the 2008 Status of Forces Agreement that expired in 2011.

NATO's mission was separately established in late 2018 to train Iraqi troops.

- Who is deployed, and where? -

The bulk of the coalition is made up of 5,200 US soldiers stationed at Iraqi bases, the largest of which is Ain al-Assad in the west.

More are based at Al-Balad and Taji north of Baghdad, as well as four bases in northern Iraq, near the US embassy in Baghdad and in the Kurdish regional capital Arbil.

They are joined by about 400 British, 200 French, and 120 German forces, as well as dozens of other international troops.

There are also thousands of civilian contractors and support staff in Iraq for logistical operations.

Troop numbers have fluctuated recently as US officials said they would deploy up to 4,000 more troops to the region in the wake of tensions with Iran.

At least 150 US troops arrived in Baghdad last week to reinforce security at the US embassy following an unprecedented attack by a pro-Iran mob, and hundreds more have been flown to Taji.

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Skilled handlers are suspected of stealing nearly 200 sheep across Wiltshire over the last three months, police say.

Officers from the force's Rural Crime Team are investigating three separate incidents of sheep thefts in the county.

The first incident was reported on 7 November - approximately 45 sheep had been stolen from a gated and locked field in Corsham Road, Lacock.

On 17 December, sixty-one sheep had been stolen from a field in Broughton Gifford, Melksham.

The police received another report on 27 December that seventy-two Romney breeding ewes had been stolen from a field on the Bowood Estate, Derry Hill.

PC Emily Thomas said the force suspects those behind the thefts to be 'skilled sheep handlers with trained dogs'.

This kind of theft requires a high level or organisation to be conducted quickly and undisturbed.

Often, those responsible will not look suspicious to passers-by unless you are local and know who the farmers in your area are.

Wiltshire Police are now urging the public to be vigilant and on the look-out for any unrecognisable vehicles or people in the area.

Even if it turns out the individuals are legitimate, we would rather be made aware so we can check all is well, PC Thomas said.

While of course there is a financial loss to the farmers, this type of theft can also have an emotional impact as in some of these circumstances, it would have taken years of breeding to establish the flock.

Not knowing what may have happened to the animals can be extremely upsetting.

Figures published last year show that livestock worth 2.5m were stolen in 2018 amid an increase in organised large scale animal thefts across the UK.

Anyone with information about any of the Wiltshire incidents are urged to call 101 and quote crime reference number 54190124666.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday attended the Standing Committee Meeting of the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) upon his arrival in the Canadian capital Ottawa.

Birla is leading an Indian Parliamentary delegation -- comprising of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh and Lok Sabha Secretary-General Snehlata Shrivastava -- to the 25th CSPOC being held in Ottawa from January 5 to January 11.

A total of four workshop sessions and a special plenary will be held during the conference.

The theme of the first workshop is -- 'Parliamentary Engagement: Openness, Transparency, and Accountability, while the second workshop is based on 'Challenges and Opportunities Arising from the Displacement of a Parliamentary Assembly'.

The theme of the third and fourth workshops are -- 'Parliamentarians as Effective Legislators and Constituency Representatives: Evolving Support Required' and 'Security of Individuals in the Parliamentary Context and Beyond', respectively.

The Lok Sabha Speaker will be the workshop presenter in the fourth workshop and will also attend the meeting of CSPOC standing committee to be held on January 6.

The special plenary will be held on January 9 on the theme 'Inclusive Parliaments: The Role of the Speaker in Supporting Emerging Procedures and Practices Embracing the Changing Face and Needs of Parliament', the government release read.

The delegates from the Indian Parliament will participate in the special plenary session and other workshops of the conference.

"During his stay in Ottawa, Birla will have bilateral meetings with his counterparts in the Canadian Senate and House of Commons and other dignitaries," the release read.

The Indian Parliamentary delegation will also have meetings with the Indian diaspora in Ottawa and Toronto during the visit.

"The CSPOC brings together the Speakers and Presiding Officers of the National Parliaments of Commonwealth countries. It was created in 1969 as an initiative of the then Speaker of House of Commons of Canada.

Since its inception, Canada has provided CSPOC with a Secretariat to support its activities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pelosi effort to rein in Trump on Iran renews war powers debate originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic House of Representatives are set to debate and vote on a war powers resolution later this week to limit President Donald Trump's authority to take military action against Iran, all members of Congress will receive classified briefings from senior Trump administration officials on Wednesday.

Those all-member sessions follow a "Gang of Eight" briefing for the top congressional and intelligence committee leadership slated for Tuesday as many lawmakers question the legality of the president's orders to target Iran's top general, Qassem Soleimani.

Since last week's strike, the administration has attempted to justify its actions through two broad resolutions authorizing the use of military force that were enacted two decades ago but nevertheless have been used by three U.S. presidents to justify dozens of military operations across the region.

(MORE: Leader of Iran's elite Quds Force killed in US airstrike near Baghdad airport)

Democratic pushback

Pelosi said that a classified War Powers Act notification delivered to Congress last week "raises more questions than it answers" and prompted "serious and urgent questions about the timing, manner and justification of the Administration's decision to engage in hostilities against Iran  complaining that Congress and the American people "are being left in the dark about our national security."

"The Trump Administration's provocative, escalatory and disproportionate military engagement continues to put servicemembers, diplomats and citizens of America and our allies in danger," Pelosi, D-Calif., stated. "This initiation of hostilities was taken without an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iran, without the consultation of the Congress and without the articulation of a clear and legitimate strategy to either the Congress or the public."

Story continues

PHOTO: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrives for a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Dec. 19, 2019. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters, FILE)

Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine is also leading a similar effort in the Senate, although its prospects for passage in the upper chamber are minimal considering broad GOP support for the president's actions.

What do the existing authorizations of the use of military force say?

2001 AUMF for Global War on Terror (S.J. Res 23)  approved September 18, 2001: "To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against those responsible for the recent attacks launched against the United States."

Section 2 of the resolution explains that the president "is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons."

2002 AUMF against Iraq (H.J. Res. 114) - approved October 16, 2002: "To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq."

Section 3 of this resolution specifies that the President "is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to  (1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and (2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq."

Under the subsection titled "Presidential Determination," the resolution directs the president to explain why diplomacy alone won't "adequately protect the national security" of the U.S. against the "continuing threat posed by Iraq," and that acting militarily "is consistent" in taking "necessary actions against international terrorist and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001."

(MORE: FAQ about the Authorization for the Use of Military Force to fight ISIS)

The Constitution

Congress has the expressed power to declare war, but Article II, Section II of the U.S. Constitution names the president as Commander in Chief over any military operations approved by Congress, although it does not state any limitation on that power.

For more than 200 years, that power has been hotly debated, challenged and loosely interpreted. Since Congress has the power to appropriate money to fund the U.S. military, the president would have no force to command without Congressional cooperation. But presidentialists argue that if there's an imminent threat, the president does not need to link military action to an authorization of military force and has the power to act to repel any attacks.

The Trump administration's defense

Trump will send Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, CIA director Gina Haspel and Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to brief senators behind closed doors on Wednesday. The officials are also expected to brief members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

PHOTO: Iranian mourners lift a picture of slain military commander Qassem Soleimani during a funeral procession in Tehran, Jan. 6, 2020, for him as well as Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and other victims of a U.S. drone strike. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)

Without directly citing the 2001 or 2002 AUMFs, Vice President Mike Pence posted a long thread on Twitter enumerating Soleimani's "worst atrocities," including overseeing the IRGC's financial, logistical and military support to the Taliban and sponsors attacks on coalition forces, providing missiles and other advanced weapons to terrorists throughout the Middle East, including Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia.

"Soleimani was plotting imminent attacks on American diplomats and military personnel," Pence tweeted Friday. "The world is a safer place today because Soleimani is gone."

Pompeo has also maintained that the strikes were intelligence-based and Trump's actions were taken to thwart an "imminent attack."

"We'll do everything required under the law to bring us into compliance with all the relevant constitutional legal provisions with respect to our duties to the legislative branch," Pompeo told George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. "We have all the authority we need to do what we've done to-date. We will continue to do things appropriately, lawfully, and constitutionally. George, we've been consistent about that. There's no reason to expect we'd do anything different going forward."

MORE: Iran vows revenge for US attack that killed powerful general

While the administration has pointed at both AUMFs to justify its military force, Tehran's links to al Qaeda are disputed. The 9/11 report stated that there was "no evidence that Iran or Hezbollah was aware of the planning for what later became the 9/11 attack," although it found "strong evidence that Iran facilitated the transit of al Qaeda members into and out of Afghanistan before 9/11, and that some of these were future 9/11 hijackers."

Although he misstated the number of 9/11 hijackers, Pence highlighted that Iranian facilitation of transit in the series of tweets last Friday, painting Soleimani as a terrorist while noting he "assisted in the clandestine travel to Afghanistan of 10 of the 12 terrorists who carried out the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States." By tying Iran to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the administration is seemingly justifying its strike against Soleimani with the 2001 AUMF.

National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said that the Soleimani strike was "defensive action" taken "in order to protect American personnel" and "was designed to prevent further bloodshed." O'Brien further stated that the strike was "aimed at disrupting ongoing attacks that were being planned by Soleimani, and deterring future Iranian attacks, through their proxies or through the IRGC Quds Force directly, against Americans."

"It was a fully authorized action under the 2002 AUMF [for Iraq] and was consistent with his constitutional authority as Commander-in-Chief to defend our nation and our forces against attacks like those that Soleimani has directed in the past and was plotting now," O'Brien told reporters on Friday. "There's always a risk in taking decisive action, there's a greater risk in not taking that action. And the President just was not prepared to risk the lives of American service men and women and our diplomats, given Soleimani's history and his efforts to further destabilize the region and the imminent nature of the attacks that he was planning on Americans in Iraq and in other locations."

The bottom line

Despite the criticism, Democratic efforts this week are unlikely to stop the president from taking further action against Iran, since the president still enjoys a GOP majority in the Senate and the resolution is subject to the president's veto power.
Amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, France has stepped up its security in Iraq to ensure safety of its troops deployed in the region.

French Defence Minister Florence Parly in a series of tweets said that France will continue to act as a "force of balance" in the region and asserted that it is essential to ease tensions which have escalated following the killing of Iranian Quds Force chief Qaseem Soleimani in Iraq.

Parly also said that priority should be given to fighting the Islamic States.

"The priority today is the same as yesterday and must be that of tomorrow: to fight against Daesh (IS), its resurgence on the ground in the Levant, its propaganda on the internet...This is why the easing of tensions in Iraq and in the region is essential: the international anti-Daesh coalition must be able to continue its mission." tweeted Parly."After the events in Baghdad, as of last Friday, we have strengthened the level of protection of our 160 French soldiers deployed in Iraq. Everything is done to ensure their safety," She further tweeted.

On Friday, the US had carried out a predawn strike near Baghdad's international airport killing Soleimani, a US-designated terrorist, along with six others on the direction of President Donald Trump.'

Infuriated by the killing of Soleimani, Iran has vowed to take revenge. The United States has also said that it will also attack Iran if the country will target the US.

Iraq has also condemned the strike and its parliament has passed a resolution asking the US-led coalition to suspend all the defence operations and leave the country.

The NATO Iraq mission was formed in 2018 after three years of war against ISIL fighters and is made up of several hundred trainers, advisers and support staff from both countries of the 29-member alliance and non-NATO partner countries includes military and civilian personnel.

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

GIS  07 January, 2020: Hapag Lloyd, a leading global liner shipping company, has officially launched its Quality Service Centre in Mauritius, today, during a ceremony held in its office at HSBC Centre, in Ebene. The Minister of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping, Mr Sudheer Maudhoo, the Chairman of the Economic Development Board (EDB), Mr Joseph E. Charles Cartier, the Senior Managing Director of Hapag Lloyd (Middle East and Africa), Mr Dheeraj Bhatia, as well as other personalities were present.

In his address, Minister Maudhoo underlined that it is a privilege for Mauritius to welcome major players like the leading global liner shipping company to offer its services. This partnership, he added, will provide significant opportunities for Mauritius, in particular in the creation of employment.

According to the Minister, the company will benefit massively from the bilingual labour market of Mauritius. He recalled that the company has recruited around 100 local Mauritian staff and is expected to recruit additionally 200 staff by early 2021. He urged those who are qualified in the sector to tap in the professional opportunities being offered.

As for the Chairman of the EDB, he expressed conviction that the setting up of the Quality Service Centre of Hapag Lloyd in Mauritius will bring a new dynamism in the service delivery sector of the country. Government, he emphasised, will ensure that all the necessary facilities and benefits are provided for its successful establishment and eventual growth.

Furthermore, Mr Cartier underlined that Hapag Lloyd will avail of major advantages through its venture in Mauritius which include: regional headquartering facilities, good connectivity and the young labour pool. He also indicated that the HRDC will work closely with the company to help them tap into local talents.

Hapag Lloyds Senior Managing Director, Mr Bhatia, highlighted that the company has some 237 modern ships, and employs around 12,900 employees in 392 offices in 129 countries. The Quality Service Centre will oversee the companys activities and businesses in Africa, he pointed out.

He underscored the companys strategy which is to become the leading shipping industry and continue to deliver quality service to customers.
To become a teacher in the state of Louisiana candidates usually need to earn a degree and pass the required tests. Learn more about other routes to becoming a teacher in the state and which schools offer the necessary programs.

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There are multiple routes for teacher certification in the state of Louisiana, though the traditional route is to earn a bachelor's degree prior to certification. Alternate routes are available for those who want to either obtain a higher degree, or want to teach while they work towards a certification.

What Is the Traditional Route to Becoming a Certified Teacher in Louisiana?

Becoming a teacher in the state of Louisiana requires applicants to first hold a bachelor's degree in teaching, or a bachelor's degree in the subject area that they wish to teach. In addition to earning their degree, students must also complete an educator preparation program that has bee approved by the state at an accredited college or university.

After graduating, candidates will then need to take and pass multiple mandated tests. The first is the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exams, which are used to test a person's reading, writing and mathematics skills. Second is the Praxis Content exams or the Learning and Teaching exam. These tests are used to assess the knowledge that a potential teacher has in specific subjects, typically the ones that they plan to teach. The last available exams are the School Leadership Series, and these are specifically for individuals that plan to hold administrative or leadership roles within a school.

What Should I Know About Earning a Bachelor's Degree in Teaching in Louisiana?

Earning a bachelor's degree in teaching typically takes students around four years, and they will need to earn between 120 and 125 credits prior to graduation. Students can work to earn either a bachelor of science or a bachelor of arts degree, depending on the specific area they hope to teach. The different degree areas of teaching that students may choose to pursue include early childhood education, elementary education, middle school education, secondary education, or art and music education. In order to graduate, students typically need to maintain a GPA of at least 2.5 in their coursework.

What Schools in Louisiana Offer Bachelor's Degree Programs in Teaching and Educator Preparation Programs?

Individuals who are hoping to become teachers in the state of Louisiana can earn a bachelor's degree in teaching from one of the many different schools that offer the program. A few of these schools include:

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Southeastern Louisiana University

Louisiana State University

What Are Some Alternate Routes to Becoming a Certified Teacher in Louisiana?

If students do not want to pursue their teaching certification via the traditional route listed above, there are three alternate routes in the state of Louisiana. The first is to complete a master's degree program that will end with the student earning both their degree and their certification. Alternatively, students could enter into a practitioner teaching program that would require both intensive coursework and full time teaching. Lastly, there is a certification-only program for those who do not want to teach full time or earn a master's degree.

What Would Be Good to Know About Earning a Master's Degree in Teaching?

Students who want to earn a master's degree in teaching will need to already hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college and have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA in their previous undergraduate coursework. A master's degree program can be completed either online, on campus, or in a combination of formats depending on the school program. Students will be required to complete around 36 credit hours of graduate courses, and the length of these programs is typically one year, though some can be completed in as little as eight weeks.

Which Schools in Louisiana Offer a Master's Degree Program in Teaching?

Students who are working to become a certified teacher through the master's degree program alternative route can choose to attend schools like:
Jakarta: Indonesia will mobilise fishermen to join warships in the South China Sea to help defend against Chinese vessels, the government said, as the biggest stand-off with China for years escalated off south-east Asia's largest country.

In an unusually strong statement, President Joko Widodo has told reporters "There is no negotiation when it comes to our sovereignty."

Joko Widodo inspects Natuna Islands in 2016. Credit:AP

The stand-off since last month in the northern Natuna islands, where a Chinese coastguard vessel has accompanied Chinese fishing vessels, has soured the generally friendly relationship between Jakarta and Beijing.

Indonesia's Chief Security Minister Mahfud MD said around 120 fishermen from the island of Java would be sent to the Natuna islands, some 1000 kilometres to the north.
Martin Scorsese is one of the most famous directors of our time. He has dozens of films under his belt as not only a director but a producer and writer dating back to the late 1950s, many of which received ample praise and awards.

His best-known films include The Wolf of Wall Street, Goodfellas, and Raging Bull. He was making the interview rounds after directing his most recent film for Netflix  The Irishman  when he said something about Marvel films that got a lot of people talking, and they werent very happy.

What did Martin Scorsese say about Marvel films?

In Scorseses interview with Empire magazine, the topic of Marvel films came up. He said: I dont see them. I tried, you know? But thats not cinema.

He goes on to add: Honestly, the closest I can think of them, as well made as they are, with actors doing the best they can under the circumstances, is theme parks. It isnt the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.

The assertion that Marvel films are not cinema and are theme parks are the two phrases Marvel creators and fans alike latched onto as they took to Twitter and media outlets to respond. Not long after the interview blew up, Scorsese wrote an op-ed in The New York Times to explain his comments further.

Scorsese didnt backpedal under the pressure but instead doubled down. He explained how he viewed cinema as an art form, one that surprises you and changes you in some way.

He also expressed frustration with how there are fewer and fewer avenues for true artistic films to be seen on the big screen as blockbuster hits take over. Scorsese does, however, say that disliking the films is simply personal taste and the films are made by those with considerable talent and artistry.

What was the response to Martin Scorseses comments about Marvel?

Marvel creatives, actors, and fans were not too happy about Scorseses remarks. Karen Gillan, who played Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy weighed in telling The Hollywood Reporter: I would absolutely say that Marvel movies are cinema. Cinema is storytelling with visuals.

James Gunn, the director of Guardians of the Galaxy, also shared his thoughts tweeting: Martin Scorsese is one of my 5 favorite living filmmakers. I was outraged when people picketed The Last Temptation of Christ without having seen the film. Im saddened that hes now judging my films in the same way.

Martin Scorsese is one of my 5 favorite living filmmakers. I was outraged when people picketed The Last Temptation of Christ without having seen the film. Im saddened that hes now judging my films in the same way. https://t.co/hzHp8x4Aj8  James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 4, 2019

This comment got some backlash of its own and garnered several more tweets from Gunn on the topic.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige also made public comments telling The Hollywood Reporter: Everybody has a different definition of cinema. Everybody has a different definition of art. Everybody has a different definition of risk. Some people dont think its cinema. Everybody is entitled to their opinion.

Chadwick Boseman, who played Black Panther, also joined in the wider discussion with his unique perspective on the matter telling BBC 5: The mystery that Scorsese is talking about is in Black Panther We felt that angst. We felt that thing you would feel from cinema when we watched it. Thats cultural. Maybe its generational.

Gunn expressed similar sentiments about generational differences on his Instagram, commenting on how gangster movies, of which Scorsese has directed many, used to be thought of as despicable.

Who trolled Martin Scorsese after the stir?

Martin Scorsese | Anthony Harvey/Getty Images

Scorsese makes frequent appearances on his daughter Francescas Instagram and vice versa. The pair appears to be close with one of her captions reading: Happy 77th Birthday daddio!!! I love you more than life itself.

This year for Christmas, in light of the controversy over her fathers comments about the Marvel films, Francesca decided shed have a little fun with him. In her Instagram story, she shared a photo of one of his gifts with the caption Look what Im wrapping my dads xmas gifts in.

It was covered in Marvel wrapping paper, with a couple more tubes of paper at the ready.

In the months since Scorseses comments and the aftermath, its anyones guess how much this is effecting the Scorsese family, but judging by Francesca Scorseses trolling, itd be safe to assume, not much.
UPDATE: Principal added at Easton Area Middle School through years end

The Easton Area School Board will vote Tuesday night on a plan to add an interim principal at Easton Area Middle School to oversee seventh and eighth graders at the school.

Longtime principal Charlene Symia will continue to run the building and its operations as well as focus on grade six faculty, staff, and students, according to Easton Area School District superintendent David Piperato.

Symia was named principal of the year in 2018 by the Pennsylvania Parent Teacher Association. Shes a more-than-30-year educator and has been principal of the Forks Township school since 2006.

When Piperato took his post Dec. 15, he quickly learned that teachers, staff and administrators at the middle school are concerned over the size of the school and workload for administrators.

Hes proposed appointing Frank DAngelo as interim principal of grades seven and eight to share the workload. DAngelo stepped in as interim superintendent for about six months to bridge the gap between retiring superintendent John Reinhart and Piperato.

Working collaboratively with their assistant principals and teachers, Drs. Symia and D'Angelo will explore options for improving our services to students and support of our educators, Piperato said.

Some Parent Teacher Association parents question the reshuffling of duties.

Given the extensive experience and accolades that Dr. Symia has accumulated throughout her career, why change things? asked former Easton PTA Council President Michelle Robertson. Shes a dynamite administrator who is beloved by so many.

Parent Jen Berry called the shift of duties unbelievable. She helped craft Symias nomination petition for principal of the year and went to Erie, Pa., to see Symia accept the award. She said no one reached out to the PTA to discuss the proposal.

I am very concerned that putting someone else in charge of seventh and eighth grade could be detrimental to our children. I cant imagine that anyone would dedicate as much time and effort to our students as Dr. Symia does, she said.

Berry isnt an officer with the PTA but described herself as a full-time volunteer. She initiated international culture nights which have drawn hundreds of children and parents to the school in recent years. The program started in the middle school has expanded into the elementary schools. Symia has dedicated many hours to programs like hers, she said.

Symia didnt return a call for comment. Teachers union President Kevin Deely had no comment on the proposal.

Piperato said parents shouldnt see the changes as a blow against Symia. He said all the administrators are working together to make the middle school the best it can be.

I agree that our administrators and teachers do a great job at the school and simply want to provide additional resources to help make their jobs easier, Piperato said. The decision to do so is not a criticism of any administrator, but rather an attempt to provide the resources asked for by so many in the building.

Its unclear when the district will put permanent principals in charge of seventh and eighth grade, whether the administrative structure will be changed and who will take over in the permanent role or roles.

We hope to make those decisions later this spring after exploring the possibilities provided by the additional support, Piperato said.

DAngelo would serve as a private contractor under School Operation Services Group, Inc., of Phoenixville under the proposal. The company would bill the school $725 a day from Jan 2 though June 30 under the proposal.

Security and safety are ongoing concerns at the school. The school was evacuated late last year due to the accidental discharge of a pepper spray canister. An intruder got into the school in 2018.

Get Involved

The Easton Area School Board will vote on the plan to reshuffle duties at a special voting meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, at the education center, 1801 Bushkill Drive, Forks Township. The boards standing committee meetings will immediately follow the special meeting.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
A Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday approved the Expression of Interest (EoI) as well as the share purchase agreement for Air India's privatisation, a senior government official said

New Delhi: A Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday approved the Expression of Interest (EoI) as well as the share purchase agreement for Air India's privatisation, a senior government official said.

The EoI and the share purchase agreement would be issued in January itself for the bidders, he said.

The last GoM meeting took place in September 2019.

#JustIn | Ministerial panel approves EoI (expression of interest) for Air India divestment; Govt to invite EoI for Air India divestment in January: Sources pic.twitter.com/PoxIGS1u0a  CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) January 7, 2020

Last year, the Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM) approved the re-initiation of the process for the government's 100 percent stake sale in Air India along with Air India Express and the carrier's stake in joint venture AISATS.

While Air India's net loss in 2018-19 was around Rs 8,556 crore, its current total debt is around Rs 80,000 crore.

A Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) as well as a debt restructuring plan for the airline was also approved by the AISAM, the official said, refusing to divulge any details about the same.

On Saturday, Air India chief Ashwani Lohani had said "rumours" of the disinvestment-bound airline's shutdown are "all baseless", weeks after he told the Civil Aviation Ministry that the carrier's financial situation was "grossly untenable" for sustaining operations.

"Rumours regarding Air India shutting down or closing operations are all baseless. Air India would continue to fly and also expand and there should be no cause for concern whatsoever to travellers, corporates or agents. Air India the national carrier is still the biggest airline of India," the Air India Chairman and Managing Director had tweeted.

In a letter to the ministry last month, Lohani had said, "It also needs appreciation that the overall financial situation is grossly untenable and the airline may not be able to sustain physical operations in the absence of immediate government intervention and support that we have been repeatedly requesting for in the recent past."
A Cypriot court on Tuesday handed a British teenager a four-month suspended prison sentence after convicting her of falsely accusing a dozen Israeli tourists of gang rape. The 19-year-old, who could have faced up to a year in jail, smiled and hugged family at the end of a trial that sparked protests in Britain and calls for a boycott of the Mediterranean resort island. Defence lawyers and activists say the case was littered with investigatory and legal mistakes and issues, including repeated refusals by the judge to consider whether she was raped. The sentencing took place to loud shouts from protesters outside the court room, including dozens of Israelis -- mainly women, but some men -- who travelled to Cyprus to offer moral support to the teenager. As the judge delivered his sentencing at the Famagusta District Court in Paralimni, shouts of "Cyprus justice, shame on you" were audible in the court, despite police ordering journalists to close windows and blinds. Other shouts from outside included "Judge, shame on you, don't you have a daughter too?" and "Blaming the victim is a second rape!" Lawyers for the woman, whom AFP is not naming, say she was raped in the seaside resort of Ayia Napa by 12 Israeli teenagers in their hotel room on July 17. She fled in distress to her own hotel and was examined by an in-house doctor, who called the police. A group of Israeli teenagers were arrested and appeared in court, but 10 days after making a complaint of rape she was interviewed again by police and signed a retraction. The Israelis, aged 15 to 18, were released without charge, allowed to return home and not called as witnesses. - 'Gaping chasm' - Britain has said it was "seriously concerned" about whether the woman received a fair trial. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said London would follow up with Cypriot officials after hearing "the full facts" from the defence and family. "I'm relieved that this vulnerable young lady will now be returning home to begin the process of recovery, given all that she's been through," Raab told reporters. "There is a broader issue for Brits travelling not just in Cyprus or indeed in Europe, but travelling abroad to make sure that they can do so as safely and as securely as possible." Judge Michalis Papathanasiou had told the young woman "statements you have given were false", as he convicted her on December 30 of "public mischief". He said during the trial that her account was beset by "contradictions, confusion, lack of logic and exaggeration". Lewis Power, a British lawyer helping the woman, said she would appeal to the Supreme Court but it was unclear when any case would be heard, because the "wheels of justice move very slowly in Cyprus." The case has highlighted "a gaping chasm in the treatment" of victims of sexual assault in Cyprus relative to other jurisdictions, Power added. The woman's mother and legal team say she has been suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Her legal team say she was questioned by police in the absence of a translator or lawyer acting on her behalf and there was no transcript or video recording of the process. More than 50 Israelis flew to Cyprus to stand by the woman at the sentencing, partly out of disgust that the boys were welcomed home as heroes, they said. "I am happy that she is going home, but her conviction still stands," said Namaa Morell, a 20-year old mother. "I see it as a success for today, but it doesn't change the conviction and that's the main problem," especially since at least one of the boys is seeking to sue the British woman, she added. Lucy Nevitt, who organised a march in support of the teenager in London on Monday, told AFP: "We are unsurprised by the sentence but disgusted how its leniency was framed as kindness to the young woman, when it is anything but."
Saudi Arabia's Real Estate Development Fund has announced the deposit of SR1.692 billion ($451 million) in the accounts of citizens benefiting from the Sakani programme for the month of December 2019.

The funds spokesperson, Hamoud Al-Osaimi, pointed out that the announcement confirms its keenness on supporting Saudi citizens to own their first home, said a Saudi Press Agency report.

Sakani is a programme developed by the Ministry of Housing and the Real Estate Development Fund to allocate residential products for citizens across Saudi Arabia.
FILE  In this May 22, 2002 file photo, a group of Japanese tourists visit Persepolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, northeast of the Iranian city of Shiraz. Iran's ancient and rich cultural landscape has become a potential U.S. military target as Washington and Tehran stumble toward a possible open conflict. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi,File) APAP

CLEVELAND, Ohio  In 2001, the Taliban earned global condemnation by destroying two monumental sixth-century statues of the Buddha at Bamiyan, Afghanistan, as part of an effort to erase the countrys pre-Islamic past.

In 2015, the Islamic State group shocked the world by bulldozing most of the 3,000-year-old Iraqi city of Nimrud, part of a campaign of destruction that included sites across Iraq and Syria.

Is the United States about to engage in the same kind of assaults on cultural heritage?

On Saturday, President Trump tweeted the U.S. would attack cultural sites in Iran if the country retaliates for the U.S. drone strike in Baghdad Friday that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.

The attack raised tensions in the region, along with fears that tit-for-tat military responses could lead to war.

Trumps threat to include cultural sites on a target list raised the possibility that the United States could engage in wartime behavior it once condemned. The presidents threat attracted swift condemnation from cultural authorities and museum officials around the world and in the U.S.

On Monday, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York issued a statement calling Trumps threat abhorrent, without citing the president by name.

The Association of Art Museum Directors, whose members represent the nations 225 largest art museums, released a statement saying it deplores the tactic of targeting or demolishing cultural sites as part of any war or armed conflict.

The association pointed out that the United States has a long and important history of safeguarding art and artifacts during conflict, such as with the Monuments Men during World War II.

And the American Alliance of Museums, which represents several thousand institutions, said it condemns the targeting of cultural sites for destruction.

The alliance said it encourages members and advocates to contact their legislators to protest the threat to attack cultural sites.

Officials for the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Toledo Museum of Art and the Cincinnati Art Museum did not respond immediately to questions about Trumps threat against cultural sites in Iran.

Those questions include whether Trumps threat to attack cultural facilities and sites in Iran could make American museums and cultural or religious sites more vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

"At this stage, we do not have reason to believe that cultural sites in the U.S. are at greater risk,'' Sascha D. Freudenheim, a spokesperson for the AAMD, said late Monday in an email.

All three Ohio museums include examples of Islamic art and the art of Persia  the ancient empire centered on present-day Iran. Among those treasures is the Cleveland Museum of Arts 17th-century ceramic mosaic prayer niche from Isfahan, an Iranian city rich in cultural sites.

The "Prayer Niche (Mihrab) and Inscription Frieze,'' early 1600s. Iran, Isfahan, a Safavid period ceramic mosaic, is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. It comes from a city of cultural treasures that could be the subject of attack by the U.S. according to threats issued by President Trump,Cleveland Museum of Art

Trump tweeted on Saturday that America has 52 Iranian targets on its list  one for every American diplomat seized at the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979 during the Islamic Revolution.

The president said that some of the sites are at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday while returning from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump doubled down on his threat, according to news reports.

Theyre allowed to kill our people, he told reporters. Theyre allowed to torture and maim our people. Theyre allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And were not allowed to touch their cultural sites. It doesnt work that way.

Artnet.news reported that while the United States has not named the cultural targets, Iran has 22 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List. They include ruins of the ancient city of Persepolis, the Royal Mosque in Isfahan and the pink mosque of Nasir al-Mulk in Shiraz.

On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that targeting cultural sites is a WAR CRIME.

Such statements are backed up by international laws.

The Hague Convention of 1907 states that in war, all necessary steps must be taken to spare buildings dedicated to religion, art, science, or charitable purposes, historic monuments, hospitals, and places where the sick and wounded are collected.

The convention makes an exception for facilities that are being used for military purposes.

The Geneva Convention Protocol I, signed in 1949 and amended in 1977, describes as unlawful any acts of hostility directed against the historic monuments, works of art or places of worship which constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples.

On Sunday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press that the U.S. would not violate the law with any strikes.

(On Monday night, as the government responded to harsh criticism, the Pentagon ruled out attacks on cultural sites).

Nevertheless, Trumps statements amount to a threat to commit a war crime, lawyer Sara C. Bronin, a specialist in antiquities law, wrote in Sundays Los Angeles Times.

Trumps threatened actions would be morally reprehensible even outside the law, she wrote, because they would destroy centuries-old places of profound importance not just to Iranians, but to all of human civilization.
Figures released by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) shows that Egypt's tourism sector has recovered after the number of tourists who visited the country in 2019 hit about 13 million, according to the economic adviser at the WTO and member of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Saied El-Batouti.

In statements to MENA on Tuesday, Batouti, who is also a board member of the German Travel Association (DRV) added that the number of tourists expected to visit Egypt this year will exceed 15 million, thanks to Egypt's stability, in addition to the package of current policies the country adopts.

He attributed the tourism sector recovery to the strong support provided by the political leadership.

Batouti asserted the importance of working on attracting tourists from various countries, highlighting that Spain and Italy are among the markets that Egypt targets.

He called for opening up new tourist markets in Egypt and focusing on the religious tourism.

The entire world in general and Germany in particular are waiting for the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum, he said, underscoring that Germany recorded the highest growth in international tourist arrivals in Egypt in 2019 with 2.5 million German tourists, compared to 707,000 tourists registered in 2018.

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Muslim countries must unite to protect themselves after the death of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, the prime minister of Malaysia said today.

Condemning the US drone strike which killed Soleimani as immoral, Mahathir Mohamad said it could lead to an escalation in 'what is called terrorism'.

'The time is right for Muslim countries to come together,' the 94-year-old leader told reporters.

'We are no longer safe now. If anybody insults or says something that somebody doesn't like, it is all right for that person from another country to send a drone and perhaps have a shot at me.'

Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad (pictured) said Muslim countries must unite to protect themselves after the death of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani

About 50 people including burqa-wearing women gathered outside the Iranian embassy in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, to shout 'Down, Down USA'.

Mahathir has tried to maintain good relations with Iran despite U.S. sanctions on the Middle Eastern country. An estimated 10,000 Iranians live in Malaysia.

The world's oldest premier, who has stoked diplomatic tensions by speaking out on issues concerning the Muslim world, also said the U.S. drone attack on Soleimani was against international laws.

Last month, Mahathir hosted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at a conference of Muslim leaders in Malaysia where they discussed trade.

Mahathir's recent comments on the treatment of Muslims in India and his criticism of the Saudi Arabia-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have soured Malaysia's relations with both New Delhi and Riyadh.

'I speak the truth,' Mahathir said. 'You do something that is not right, I think I have the right to speak out.'

Soleimani's killing in Baghdad last Friday has sparked fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East.

Soleimani (pictured) was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport on Friday, shocking the Islamic republic and sending tensions spiralling in the Middle East

Today the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said the country had lined up 13 'revenge scenarios' in retaliation for Soleimani's death.

'The Americans should know that until now 13 revenge scenarios have been discussed in the council and even if there is consensus on the weakest scenario carrying it out can be a historic nightmare for the Americans,' Ali Shamkhani said.

American forces are braced for retaliation and the US-led coalition against ISIS said in a statement that it was pausing its fight against the jihadists to shore up its own defences.

One official said the US anticipated a 'major' attack of some type within the next day or two.

US bases in the region are shoring up their defences and there are also fears that Iran will harass shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which is critical to the world's oil supply.

The global benchmark for crude oil rose above $70 a barrel on Monday for the first time in over three months, with jitters rising over the escalating military tensions.

One Iranian MP also warned of an attack on the White House while an adviser to Hassan Rouhani posted a list of Trump-owned properties in a hint of a possible reprisal.
Hecklers Veto: UBC Threatened With Legal Action for Cancelling Talk on Antifa

Threat of violence from far-left extremists real, but universities must defend free speech, says journalist

The University of British Columbia is being threatened with legal action over the cancellation of a speaking engagement featuring conservative U.S. journalist Andy Ngo discussing Antifa violence.

Sponsored by The Free Speech Club, the event had been given the green light to take place on Jan. 29, but on Dec. 20 the university suddenly cancelled the talk citing safety and security concerns.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) is calling on UBC to reinstate the event or face legal action, saying cancelling Ngos talk goes against the universitys principles regarding academic freedom and free speech.

The decision is unreasonable, said JCCF staff lawyer Marty Moore in a demand letter to UBC president Santa Ono.

It is an alarming betrayal of the foundational pillar of higher educationthe freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression. Furthermore, it signals automatic acquiescence to the hecklers veto, which will embolden threats from those who oppose the very notion of free expression.

Ngo, currently the editor-at-large for Canadian news website The Post Millennial, frequently reports on Antifa protests and violence, which has made him a target of the left-wing activist group. In June 2019, he was attacked while covering an Antifa protest in Portland, Oregon, ending up in hospital with a brain hemorrhage.

Antifa activists are self-described communist anarchists who have used vandalism, physical violence, threats, and even blockades to shut down events or protest opinions they oppose. They typically dress in black, sometimes carry clubs, and wear masks to hide their faces.

Ron Holton, the chief risk officer at UBC, said in an email to The Epoch Times that based on a risk assessment that is done for every event booking, the Jan. 20 event couldnt go on.

The assessment in this case determined the safety and security of UBC students, staff, and infrastructure was at risk if the event was allowed to proceed, Holton said, adding that it was cancelled in order to safeguard the safety and security of our community.

Angelo Isidorou, executive director of The Free Speech Club, said hes surprised by the cancellation given the generally receptive attitude to free speech on campus, with other events that might have been deemed contentious getting approval, including a talk by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro in 2018.

In every event we have ever hosted that is controversial, we are consulted by the school and asked to employ security. This time, I fully expected to get a similar call, but instead they outright just cancelled, he said in an interview.

Fundamentally, the issue at hand is the invasion of Antifa groups on campus. When the school called and cancelled, they even conceded that this is a new issue and they are fearful of what they should do in relation to these groups.

Ngo said he thinks UBCs concerns about safety and security are genuine.

Violence from left-wing ideologues on campuses is routine, he said. The only thing to do is to be brave. The authoritarian far-left seek power through intimidation, harassment, and violence, if need be. We cant give them that.

Going forward, he thinks legal action might be necessary in the fight for free speech.

If academic institutions wont protect free speech unless forced to by the state, so be it.

Justifying taking the university to court if it fails to reinstate the event, Moore said in an interview that there are multiple legal bases on which UBC can be challenged for its decision to cancel, including the fact that, as a public body, it has a duty under administrative law to make its decisions reasonably.

Cancelling an event discussing the issue of Antifa violence a month in advance of that event over unspecified concerns for safety is not reasonable: UBC could have taken numerous steps to address any safety concerns, including letting the police deal with anyone making specific threats, he said.

If UBC had safety concerns, it did not communicate them to The Free Speech Club or make any efforts to address such concerns, he adds. Rather, UBC cancelled the event outright.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Workers from Clevelands EMS protested Monday at Cleveland City Council over what they say is a refusal by Mayor Frank Jacksons administration to address poor wages and working conditions.

The event, a silent protest in which dozens of EMS workers and their families came into council chambers en masse, was meant to show worker unity. It was the first of several events planned by Local 1975 of the Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees, the EMS workers union, to try to pressure the administration.

The union also plans to do informational pickets and to parade up Lakeside Avenue on two days later this month. It already has launched an email campaign to pressure the administration and members of the City Council.

These actions will show the many ways this division is being poorly managed, an online post by Local 1975 states. Our ambulance fleet is failing, our wages are far from competitive, and the figurehead of this division fails to treat people in an equitable manner. Employees are leaving faster than they can be replaced."

In December, the union won a ruling in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court in which a judge rejected the citys motion to set aside an arbitrators decision related to mental-health support for employees.

According to the union, the city is considering an appeal.

"Taxpayer money is being flushed down the toilet to fight mental health support for first responders, the union said.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Frank Jackson said the administration would not comment on the issue given that it involve pending litigation.

Councilman Matt Zone, who chairs councils Safety Committee, recognized the EMS group, expressing support for safety forces and welcoming the group to the meeting.

Those remarks drew loud applause and cheers from the EMS workers.
Global surface temperature anomalies, 1880-2019, compared with the 1880-1899 average. The year 2019 was the second warmest year on record, capping the warmest decade since measurements began. Data: Gavin Schmidt / NASA GISTEMP. Graphic: InsideClimate News

By Bob Berwyn

19 December 2019

(InsideClimate News)  Deadly heat waves, wildfires and widespread flooding punctuated a decade of climate extremes that, by many scientific accounts, show global warming kicking into overdrive.

As the year drew to a close, scientists were confidently saying 2019 was Earths second-warmest recorded year on record, capping the warmest decade. Eight of the 10 warmest years since measurements began occurred this decade, and the other two were only a few years earlier.

Arctic sea ice melted faster and took longer to form again in the fall. Big swaths of ocean remained record-warm nearly all year, in some regions spawning horrifically damaging tropical storms that surprised experts with their rapid intensification. Densely populated parts of Europe shattered temperature records amid heat waves blamed for hundreds of deaths, and a huge section of the U.S. breadbasket region was swamped for months by floodwater.

And wildfires burned around the globe, starting unusually early in unexpected places like the UK. They blazed across country-size tracts of Siberia, fueled by record heat, flared up in the Arctic and devastated parts of California. Australia ended the decade with thick smoke and flames menacing Sydney and a record-breaking heat wave that sent the continents average temperature over 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Again and again, scientists completed near real-time attribution studies showing how global warming is making extremesincluding wildfiresmore likely.

Even more worrisome, scientists warned late in the year that many of these extremes are linked and intensify each other, pushing the global climate system ever-closer to tipping points that could lead to the breakdown of ecological systemsalready seen in coral reefs and some forestsand potentially trigger runaway warming.

Total wildfire carbon dioxide emissions for the Arctic Circle, 2003-2019. Data: Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. Graphic: InsideClimate News

Every decade or half-decade we go into a new realm of temperature. When you look at the decadal averages, it becomes pretty obvious that the climate of the 20th Century is gone. Were in a new neighborhood, said Deke Arndt, chief of the Climate Monitoring Branch at NOAAs National Centers for Environmental Information.

When I look at the patterns, the thing that always comes back to me is, we share one atmosphere, one climate system with people we will never meet. When we poke it here in our part of the world it can have mammoth consequences elsewhere, he said.

The record heat and weather extremes are affecting millions of people worldwide, said Omar Baddour, who helped compile a World Meteorological Organization report showing that more than 10 million people were displaced by climate extremes in just the first half of 2019. In addition to extreme weather, warming can increase the risk of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, rising sea levels and erosion can make coastal areas uninhabitable, and increasing heat can harm agriculture and water supplies communities rely on.

Its really serious. We are getting into a self-sustained loop of global warming that could lead to 3 to 5 degrees Celsius (5.4 to 9F) of warming by the end of the century, he said. We have been recording 2,000 to 3,000 excess deaths from heat waves. This is really becoming a disaster. Humans are suffering. [more]

Earths Hottest Decade on Record Marked by Extreme Storms, Deadly Wildfires
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Chris Hemsworth has pledged $1million towards helping firefighters and residents affected by the Australian bushfires.

The 36-year-old actor, who is best known for playing Thor in the Marvel Universe franchise, announced his donation on Instagram on Tuesday.

'As you're well aware, the bushfires in Australia have caused massive devastation. They continue to burn, there's warmer weather on its way, we're really still in the thick of it here and there's plenty of challenging times ahead,' he began.

Thor to the rescue! Chris Hemsworth has pledged $1million towards helping firefighters and residents affected by the Australian bushfires

'What we need is your support and your donations. I'm going to put forward a million dollars and was hoping that all of you could contribute in any way, shape or form.

'Every dollar counts. That money goes directly to the firefighters, the people on the frontline, the people who have suffered, the communities that have taken a hit and who are in desperate need of our support.'

He added: 'I want to say a huge "thank you" to everyone who's sent all their well-wishes and donations already. It's greatly appreciated here in Australia.

'The bushfires in Australia have caused massive devastation. They continue to burn, there's warmer weather on its way, we're really still in the thick of it here and there's plenty of challenging times ahead,' said Chris. Pictured, a firefighter in East Gippsland on January 4

'Dig deep, lots of love and we'll keep pushing forwards. Cheers.'

Chris accompanied his video with a lengthy caption, which read: 'Hi everyone. Like you, I want to support the fight against the bushfires here in Australia.

'My family and I are contributing a million dollars. Hopefully you guys can chip in too.

Digging deep: Chris' pledge comes after Celeste Barber's global fundraiser to help the firefighters smashed its latest goal of $40million earlier on Tuesday

'It's just hit me, it's so much money... it's incredible,' Celeste said on social media after her campaign had reached $36million

'Every penny counts so whatever you can muster up is greatly appreciated. In my bio I've added links to support the firefighters, organisations and charities who are working flat out to provide support and relief during this devastating and challenging time.

'[I am] beyond appreciative to everyone around the world for their well-wishes and donations. It really does make a difference, so dig deep! Love ya.'

Chris is married to Spanish actress Elsa Pataky, with whom he shares three children: daughter India Rose, seven, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, five.

'I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now': Pink has donated $500,000 to help the Australian firefighters

The family live in a mansion in Byron Bay, NSW, worth an estimated $20million.

Chris' pledge comes after Celeste Barber's global fundraiser to help the firefighters smashed its latest goal of $40million earlier on Tuesday.

As bushfires persisted through light rain across south east Australia on Tuesday, the online fund - which was launched on Friday - was nudging $41million and showing no signs of slowing down.

Giving: Nicole Kidman and her husband, Keith Urban, have also donated half a million dollars

Celeste, a comedian known for her parodies of celebrities' Instagram posts, has so far attracted more than one million donations from around the world.

'It's just hit me, it's so much money... it's incredible,' Celeste said on social media after her campaign had reached $36million.

The money raised will go to the registered charity NSW Rural Fire Service and Brigades Donations Fund. Pledged donations are due between 15 and 90 days.

Deep pockets: Billionaire James Packer has pledged $5million on behalf of his family

Horrific: The fires have so far claimed at least 24 lives, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and killed 500 million animals. Pictured: fires in Lake Tabourie on January 4

Australia's bushfire disaster has attracted several high-profile and corporate donations, including $500,000 from U.S. singer Pink, another half-million dollars from Australian actress Nicole Kidman and her husband, Keith Urban, plus $5million from the billionaire Packer family.

Artists are starting to organise charity events to raise more funds, with award-winning singer Tones and I announcing plans for a Melbourne concert on January 28 to benefit the RFS, Victoria's Country Fire Association and the Red Cross.

The bushfires have so far claimed at least 25 lives, destroyed 2,000 homes and killed approximately 500 million animals.
Artistic extravaganza directors and producers typically spends lots of time searching for the perfect venues to showcase every fantastic detail of their events. Belgian theater director Franco Dragones latest water-based show, frequently compared to Cirque du Soleils O, is blessed with the gift of having eastern Chinas new Wuxi Taihu Show Theatre as a permanent home.

The Wuxi Taihu Show Theatre as seen from across the water.

The Designers Vision

Steven Chilton, leader of Londons world-renowned Steven Chilton Architects, was inspired by the Sea of Bamboo national park in nearby Yixing, the largest bamboo rainforest in China, in his design concept for the theater.

Golden slats adorn the top of the Wuxi Taihu's white columns to create a mock canopy.

Representing an abstract impression of a bamboo forest, Chilton wanted to replicate the feeling of the forest to his audiences experienced as they witnessed the magnificent water show. He explains that he [hopes] the audience found a connection with the architecture that resonates with them emotionally. Wandering through the Sea of Bamboo forest on the edge of Wuxi will be a common memory for many visitors, and we hope the experience of visiting the theater will [also] prove to be evocative and meaningful.

Bringing the Elements Together

The circular theater is over 104 feet tall and made up of three key components: the columns, the shade canopy, and the building envelope. The columns are further abstract representations of the bamboo forest, each one painstakingly positioned around the perimeter of the structure to create a screen between the building facades and adjacent landscape.

Golden slats adorn the top of the Wuxi Taihu's white columns to create a mock canopy.

The columns are topped with an awning of leaves to complete their transformation into forest trees, running around the whole of the building at roof level. This canopy consists of an assortment of triangular bays holding rows of gold-anodized aluminum louvers. The slats are arbitrarily arranged to create a natural pattern of light and shade that dances around the building throughout the day. Each cove of louvers is also positioned at different perspectives to amplify the the illusion of their being a real-life canopy. Every bay of slats is held up by a triangular lattice configuration that supports the tops of the columns and shifts their load onto the main structure of the building.

Story continues

The shade canopy and columns also serve the eco-friendly purpose of casting a gentle shadow over the building that inertly lowers the structures cooling load.

Eastern China's new Wuxi Taihu Show Theatre at night.

The building envelope is chiefly made up of painted block-work and curtain wall glazing. This glazing extends the total height of the building in and above the entrance hall to afford the greatest all-around views of nearby public areas. White and gold stripes on the envelope lightly illuminate the theaters full length at night, bringing an added air of magic to the already-spellbinding forest of columns.

The 2000-seat Wuxi Taihu Show Theatre opened on December 22nd, 2019 and is expected to keep showcasing Dragones water show for the indefinite future.
SANTA FE  The Las Vegas, New Mexico, City Council will meet on Friday to discuss the removal from office of Mayor Tonita Gurule-Giron, who last month was indicted on bribery and kickback charges.

City Councilor Barbara Perea-Casey said the council can vote for Gurule-Girons removal and that the matter would then go to a state district judge for consideration.

But Dan Cron of Santa Fe, Gurule-Girons attorney, said it appears that nothing in the Las Vegas city charter allows for removal of a mayor other than by a recall election.

I think its an illegal action, Cron said of the councils potential vote to remove Gurule-Giron. A section of the charter cited by Cron says, The power of recall is hereby reserved by the voters of the City.

Perea-Casey maintained the city charter does support the proposed vote to remove Gurule-Giron. A Las Vegas city ordinance says, Any person elected or appointed to an elective office of the municipality may be removed for malfeasance in office by the District Court upon complaint of the Mayor or governing body of the municipality.

She also cites a charter provision that says the city governing body shall be the judge of the qualifications of its members, and of the grounds for removal from office, consistent with state law provisions regarding qualifications and removal.

Cron also said Gurule-Giron, who pleaded innocent to her criminal charges in a Las Vegas courtroom Monday, will not run for re-election the March 3 municipal election. Perea-Casey has announced that she will run for the position.

Perea-Casey said she and two other councilors  Vince Howell and David Romero  asked for the special meeting on Friday. The three councilors make up a majority on the city governing board. David Ulibarri is the fourth councilor.

In a case brought by the state Attorney Generals Office, Gurule-Giron faces several indictments in a criminal case that accuses her of pressuring city employees to give contracts to her boyfriends contracting company and receiving kickbacks as an active participant, business partner, and financier in the boyfriends company.

She is charged specifically with engaging in an official act for personal financial gain, violation of ethical principles of public service, soliciting or receiving an illegal kickback, conspiracy to commit making or permitting a false public voucher, unlawful interest in a public contract and demanding or receiving a bribe by a public officer or employee.
A thief has been jailed after she was caught burgling her own grandparents' home on a secret camera set up by police, having previously been caught taking money from her best friend.

Melissa Collier, 28, would wait until she knew her grandma, 83, was out before letting herself into their home and 'creeping' past her 92-year-old war-hero grandad who was confined to a chair after suffering a stroke.

After the couple noticed money was going missing, their concerns were reported to police who set up 'surveillance' inside their sheltered housing complex in Analby, Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire.

Hull Crown Court heard it was their carers who 'came under suspicion', but the thief turned out to be their granddaughter, who they had an 'excellent' relationship with.

Collier's grandfather was said to be 'devastated' when he was told it was his daughter's daughter who had been stealing from them.

He has since died without an apology and before her conviction.

Previously, footage from a hidden camera at Samantha Wood's house showed the moment Collier, her friend of 14 years, nabbed money from her handbag and stuffed it in her bra.

Melissa Collier, 28, would 'creep' past her 92-year-old war-hero grandad who was confined to a chair after suffering a stroke

Stephen Welch, prosecuting, told the court that Collier had used information only known to the family before 'planning' how to take advantage.

He said: 'For some time they had noticed money had been going missing, never in very large amounts. The suspicion had fallen on the carer.

'The matter was reported to the police and was under surveillance.

'When her grandmother was being taken out to go shopping - clearly because of the family connection she [Collier], was aware when her grandmother would leave - she would turn up and was slipping in.

'Her grandfather had suffered a stroke and was confined to a chair. It was only when police set up surveillance that she was caught going into a drawer in her grandfather's bedroom and taking the money from a drawer.'

Mr Welch said the aggregating features in the case include the fact her grandfather was in his home at the time of the burglaries.

He said: 'The complainant was in the home at the time that the burglary occurred and the premises were deliberately targeted due to the vulnerability of the complainant.

'There's a degree of planning, she has attended when her grandmother is out and her grandfather is on her own.'

Unemployed Collier arrived at court on Tuesday to learn her fate, having previously pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary from a dwelling and one count of theft from a person.

Collier (left. pictured with Ms Wood, right) of Hull, admitted one count of theft which was caught on camera

She was convicted of theft after being caught on a secret camera by her best friend Samanatha Wood who also noticed money going missing.

Before Mark Savage, defending, could put forward any mitigation, Judge Paul Watson QC, Honorary Recorder of Hull, said: 'You can't claim it's a one off can you? She's gone back multiple times.'

Mr Savage agreed, but said Collier was very remorseful. He blamed her need for money on the desire to 'keep up with' her mother.

Footage shows the moment Melissa Collier grabs Samantha Wood's purse as she makes a cup of tea in the kitchen

He said: 'On behalf of Miss Collier, she can not offer and refuses to offer any excuse, what is clear, is this is a young woman not coping with life and was spending money to keep up with her mother.

'Her remorse is deep and genuine. This is a young woman who realises she has lost everything, and her grandparent's who she had an excellent relationship with.

'The loss of her grandparents gives her immeasurable pain, if she was able to speak to her grandparents she would express her remorse and offer to pay them back.

'It's cost her her job, her friends, her family, her self dignity, through her own actions.

'She says to the court she cannot make good what she has done, her actions will stay with her, not just her, but her elderly grandparents and her friend, forever.

She is then filmed on the secret camera rifling through her purse and stuffing money in her bra

'There is clearly a background history of problems between herself and her mother and she was trying to keep up with her mother in spending money she did not have and that caused this.'

The court heard that the starting point for sentencing is three years in prison, with a range of between two and six years, for one offence.

Having read to himself a letter from Collier, addressed to him, Judge Paul Watson QC said he had no doubt her remorse is 'genuine and heartfelt', but pointed out it is 'all very well and good after the offence'.

In an unusual move, he then sent her to prison for two nights, to allow himself time to consider her case.

Speaking directly to Mr Savage, the judge said: 'Courts are required to follow the guidelines. I want to think more about your clients' case. I'll deal with your client at 10.15am on Thursday.

'I'll remand her until 10.15am on Thursday morning. If I deal with her now she would go straight to custody where she can go now.'

Collier (left, with her best friend Ms Wood) and right, has now been jailed for two nights

He told the court his decision was not an indication of his final decision, but did not speak directly to Collier - who was crying uncontrollably as she was sent down.

Ms Wood said she set up the camera after she noticed money from her savings jar and from her nine-year-old son's piggy bank had gone missing.

She said: 'That day she acted like nothing had happened. She told me she had made me a cup of tea, like she had done me a favour, but she had just stolen from me.

'I cried when I watched the footage, it was heartbreaking. This was my best friend who I was helping and she was stealing from me, it was such a difficult process.

'I'm a single mum and she knew I was struggling myself. She was my best friend, I confided in her in everything and then she was stealing from me.

'She left me in a position where I couldn't afford my bills. I loved her like a sister and she has not once cared about how her stealing from me was going to affect my ability to pay my bills or for my son Lucas.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 05:04:33|Editor: huaxia

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TUNIS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian Caretaker Prime Minister Youssef Chahed on Tuesday stressed the "need to be vigilant in the face of possible threats" considering the country's borders with Libya.

The caretaker prime minister made the remarks at a ministerial meeting held at the government's headquarters, according to a statement released by the Tunisian government.

Chahed also called for "enhancing coordination between the national and international structures and institutions."

The caretaker prime minister also stressed the need to accelerate diplomatic and security plans in order to protect Tunisia's best interests. Enditem
Audra Melton / New York Times

GAINESVILLE, Ga.  The tiny white church has new locks, peepholes and brass plates. While its parishioners pray, the sanctuary is bolted shut and a police officer is now stationed outside. Soon, surveillance cameras will be installed, and the 47-member congregation will participate in active-shooter training.

This is the next chapter for the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which the authorities said was targeted in mid-November. Gainesville police charged a 16-year-old white girl with planning a racially motivated knife attack to kill the black worshipers, a plot they said bore eerie similarity to a 2015 massacre at a storied African American church in Charleston, S.C.
FORT WORTH, Texas  A woman awaiting a court decision in her battle against a Texas hospitals plan to end life-sustaining treatment for her 11-month-old daughter spoke out Monday after revoking the medical centers permission to talk about her childs treatment.

This situation takes away my job as a mother and lets other people who dont even know her decide whether her life is worth living, Trinity Lewis said during a news conference outside the hospital. She says she doesnt believe her daughter is suffering.

Doctors at Cook Childrens Medical Center in Fort Worth insist Tinslee Lewis is in pain and will never recover. They had planned to remove Tinslee from life support Nov. 10 after invoking the states 10-day rule that can be employed when a family disagrees with doctors who say life-sustaining treatment should be stopped. The law stipulates that if the hospitals ethics committee agrees with doctors, treatment can be withdrawn after 10 days if a new provider cant be found to take the patient.

Texas Second Court of Appeals on Friday said the hospital cant remove Tinslee from life support until the court makes a final ruling in the case. In a lower court in Tarrant County on Thursday, a judge denied the mothers request to issue an injunction in the case.

I know that my daughters medical needs are complex but I am praying for someone to give her a chance, Lewis said at the news conference, which was organized by Texas Right to Life, an anti-abortion group, and Protect TX Fragile Kids, a group made up of parents of medically fragile children.

Tinslee has been at Cook Childrens since her premature birth on Feb. 1. The hospital has said she has a rare heart defect and suffers from chronic lung disease and severe chronic high blood pressure. The hospital has said she has been on a ventilator since going into respiratory arrest in early July and requires full respiratory and cardiac support, deep sedation and to be medically paralyzed.

At a hearing last month, Dr. Jay Duncan, one of Tinslees physicians, testified that the girl is in pain and that treatment was no longer benefiting her.

Lewis said the hospital is no longer allowed to speak to the media about Tinslee. A hospital spokeswoman said they were informed Friday that permission to speak about the case was revoked.

Efforts to find another facility to take the girl have been unsuccessful. The hospital said it has reached out to more than 20 facilities. Hannah Mehta of Protect TX Fragile Kids said their search for another facility is ongoing.
Rep. Paul Gosar, whose history of inflammatory social media posts has made him Internet infamous, tweeted a doctored picture of Barack Obama shaking hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in an apparent effort to criticize the former U.S. leader's Iran policy.

The tweet, sent Monday afternoon, is captioned, "The world is a better place without these guys in power" and features a fake photo that was debunked more than four years ago. In the falsified image, Obama and Rouhani are posing, hands clasped and smiling, in front of two American flags and a poorly altered Iranian one.

But Obama and Rouhani never met in person - and, while Obama left office in 2017, Rouhani is still in power. The real photo was taken at a 2011 meeting between Obama and then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

It's at least the third time in two months that Gosar, R-Ariz., has tweeted conspiratorial messages or misinformation. In November, he posted an acrostic to his account that spelled out the phrase "Epstein didn't kill himself," an oft-memed claim referring to the death of jailed financier Jeffrey Epstein. The day after, in a now-deleted tweet, Gosar boosted a conspiracy theory suggesting that George Soros's son was the whistleblower who triggered the House's impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.

His latest tweet comes as Iranian-American relations have sunk in the days since a U.S. airstrike killed Iran's top military commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, an escalation that fueled fears of another regional war in the Middle East.

On Monday, when commenters pointed out that the photo was a hoax, Gosar doubled down, calling his critics "dim witted" and implying that he knew the photo was fake.

"No one said this wasn't photoshopped," Gosar said in a follow-up tweet. "No one said the president of Iran was dead. No one said Obama met with Rouhani in person."

And in a third tweet, Gosar seemed to edit his first photo caption, adding the word "will": "The world is better without Obama as president. The world will be better off without Rouhani."

"The point remains to all but the dimmest," Gosar wrote. "Obama coddled, appeased, nurtured and protected the worlds No. 1 sponsor of terror."

Gosar's congressional colleagues were quick to criticize him.

"The world would be a better place if elected officials didn't share photoshopped images and take pride in being ignorant," Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., said on Twitter. "This is irresponsible."

Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., added: "Make no mistake, this is exactly the kind of thing Republicans are going to do in 2020 to hold onto power."

Dan Pfeiffer, co-host of the podcast "Pod Save America" and one of Obama's former senior advisers, wrote on Twitter that "Mainstream Republicans are totally fine with this type of disinformation and hope you share it in outrage."

But Pfeiffer also defended the idea of an Obama-Rouhani meeting (which, again, never actually happened), saying, "There would have been nothing wrong with Obama meeting with Rouhani."

In 2013, Obama did speak to Rouhani by phone, becoming the first U.S. president since 1979 to have a direct conversation with his Iranian counterpart. The Obama administration would go on to negotiate the Iran nuclear deal, finalizing the accord in 2015.

Even Trump has said he would meet with Rouhani "anytime they want" with no preconditions.

"I'll meet with anybody," Trump said at a 2018 news conference, weeks after meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I believe in meeting . . . there's nothing wrong with meeting."

Like many doctored photos circulating through the online ecosystem, the one Gosar shared this week has surfaced before. The conservative political action committee Restoration PAC used the picture in a 2015 television ad promoting the anti-Iran stance of Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and dubbing the nuclear deal a "toothless agreement that makes us less safe."

With an ominous voice-over, the ad warns of "radical Islamist leaders," shows still images from an Islamic State propaganda video and then pans over the fake photo of Obama and Rouhani. After BuzzFeed News reported that the image was altered, a Restoration PAC spokesman defended the use of the image, telling FactCheck.org that "it indeed is in circulation widely on the internet."

The group later cut it from the ad.
The killing of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the elite Quds force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in Baghdad takes to a new extreme Donald Trump's policy of "maximum pressure" on Iran. The fervent celebrations among U.S foreign policy hawks, and passionate calls for vengeance emanating from Tehran, make it seem that the Islamic revolutionaries have no greater foe than the United States.

A dispassionate view would reveal the opposite: The assassination is the latest and most conclusive evidence that Iranian revolutionaries have no greater friends than their supposed enemies in Washington, D.C.

This pungent historical irony has been verified right from 1953, when the United States overthrew Iran's elected secular leader, creating the soil in which a religious ideology could flourish. It then watered this soil for decades by supporting a corrupt, inept and brutal despot, the Shah of Iran. The CIA, in particular, helped the Shah's murderous secret police to create martyrs for the coming revolution.

When the revolution erupted in 1979, the United States, instead of heeding the demand of Iranians, and dumping the hated Shah, chose to mollycoddle him. It was American hospitality to the Shah that provoked hard-line Iranian students to occupy the U.S. embassy in Tehran and take 52 hostages.

The Iranian Revolution was still a fragile affair, with many potential outcomes, when Saddam Hussein invaded Iran in 1980. The urgencies of national consolidation against a vicious and initially successful invader was what empowered Ayatollah Khomeini and other hardliners; they also overturned Khomeini's deep-rooted Islamic objection to the Shah's nuclear program.

By choosing to back Saddam Hussein against Iran, the United States played an inadvertently stalwart role in strengthening Islamic revolutionaries during a calamitous eight-year-long war that spawned, among others, the legend of Soleimani.

The U.S. became more directly helpful to Tehran after 9/11. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. military toppled regimes that had long plagued the Iranian regime (Iran had come close to a full-scale invasion of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan before 9/11).

Then, while the U.S. struggled against two lethal counterinsurgencies, Iran expanded its sphere of influence in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Its network of proxies across the Middle East grew even stronger, as Islamic State emerged out of the ruins of the American invasion of Iraq, and the U.S-backed Saudi Arabian assault on Yemen created a strategic opening for closer ties between Iran and Yemen's Houthi rebels.

More recently, the Islamic revolutionaries were flailing domestically, increasingly reliant on ruthless methods to quell disaffection, before Trump rescued them by killing Soleimani, Iran's national hero. The U.S has not only managed to unite Iranians behind their present leaders, while effectively delegitimizing and disempowering what had been a growing opposition. Creating the greatest Iranian martyr since Khomeini, it has also refurbished the faded mythology of the Iranian Revolution.

Iran is returning to its nuclear program; its friends in Iraq are more determined to expel American troops from their country. Other fiascos for the United States in a region it once dominated will no doubt follow.

They will confirm something that is as bizarre as it is under-noticed: the recurrent and often extraordinary blindness of American policymakers to the force of anti-colonial nationalism.

Notwithstanding the lofty anti-colonialist pose of President Franklin Roosevelt, they regularly chose to swim against the greatest historical tide of the 20th century: the steady cancellation of the prerogative of a small minority of white men to rule the world in accordance with their interests and wishes. Initial U.S. reluctance to support efforts by Britain, France and the Netherlands - among other European masters of Asia and Africa -- to retain their colonies faded before Cold War exigencies. Indeed, in one of history's better little twists, the Eisenhower administration resisted Britain's granting of internal self-government to Singapore because it worried that Lee Kwan Yew was a crypto-communist, and launched a CIA effort to subvert the man who would become one of America's most stalwart allies.

Faced with the truly revolutionary urge for self-determination and sovereignty, the United States has too often supported proxy despots, unleashed its superior military firepower and flexed its diplomatic and economic muscle. But the recourse to brute force is always a sign of lost legitimacy and authority.

Moreover, as James Baldwin once pointed out, "force does not work the way its advocates seem to think it does. It does not, for example, reveal to the victim the strength of his adversary. On the contrary, it reveals the weakness, even the panic of his adversary, and this revelation invests the victim with patience."

It is with infinite patience - and guile - that Iran's revolutionaries have reaped the fruits of American blunders. Hemmed in by sanctions, they have still increased their power and influence at the same time that the United States has staged flop shock-and-awe spectacles in the Middle East.

To be sure, Trump's white-supremacist-friendly regime is only slightly more oblivious to the irrefutable material and intellectual logic of decolonization than some previous U.S. administrations. But as a result of its actions, the U.S. will now be humiliated into a retreat from the Middle East that was long inevitable and should have been voluntarily undertaken, in peace and with dignity. At this stage, Saigon-style departures from the roofs of U.S embassies cannot be ruled out.

Iran, of course, will remain where and what it is: in its own region, as its major power. The death of a military commander is very unlikely to undermine its position. Indeed, as Iran's leaders confront a morally diminished and self-isolating United States, they can continue to indulge the thought that with enemies such as these, who needs friends.

- - -

Mishra is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. His books include "Age of Anger: A History of the Present," "From the Ruins of Empire: The Intellectuals Who Remade Asia," and "Temptations of the West: How to Be Modern in India, Pakistan, Tibet and Beyond."
First FDA Approved In Maharashtra

First-of-its-kind in-house Pulverization Department established at Mumbai based Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children which is open for all needy patients in the city. FDA has given special permission and approval after the request from the Hospital. It was inaugurated by Dr Minnie Bodhanwala (CEO), present on the occasion were Dr SS Prabhu (Medical Director), Dr Suhas Pawar (Medical Superintendent), Dr Amjadkhan Pathan (Head Clinical Pharmacology).

Pulverization is the process of reduction of medicine dose as per the need of patients. It means to grinding or crushing medicines into fine particles and then dividing it in the required doses as per the requirement of the patient. This technique will be useful for non-coated tablets. In order to help paediatric patients enhance their quality of life, the hospital has come forward with a great move of opening a Pulverization Department at a minimal cost. A special nano weighing scale is used for the process of dose reduction.

Dr Minnie Bodhanwala, Chief Executive Officer of the Wadia Hospitals, said, Earlier, patients relative had to be in the queue for 2-3days, for getting the pulverized medicine (dose reduction) from outside facilities. Due to the delayed dose of medicine, many patients had prolonged hospitalization just waiting for the pulverized medicine from outside. After looking into this issue, the hospital decided to start the in house Pulverization department.

She added, Now, The FDA has given special permission and approval after the request from Hospital as the paediatric dosage is different from what is recommended to the adults. Usually the medicine dosage are dependent upon the weight of the patient and hence, paediatric patient have very small dosages requirement. Neonatal patients unit also requires nano doses of medicine which is not available in the market. So, the doctor advises reducing the dose into one- forth or one-eight part which is impossible for parents. However, this dose can be reduced by well-qualified pharmacists who can do the Pulverization in the sterile and aseptic areas. The hospital remains at the forefront of the latest technology and promises to give round-the-clock-care to the patients. We are committed to come up with more such helpful initiatives for the benefit of the patients, in the near future too.
Inbound Sales Executive Jobs 2020

Latest Call Center Posts Lahore 2022 Web Honkers is hiring career professionals for its International Campaign for cable, satellite, Land line, cellular and home security Campaigns. Applicants are for the positions in one of the most leading and fastest growing industries of Digital Services in Pakistan; for Sales/ Costumer Support.



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Individuals with the past experience of Working with company/companies who provide services for Cable, Internet, PhoneLand Lines/ Cellular, Satellite and Security will be preferred the most.



Training will be provided To Potential Candidates.



Basic Salary + Commission + KPIs



Skills



Speak and understand in English and poses ability to sell, up sell and cross sell along with providing tailor made needs for existing costumer.

Skills Required Customer Support Data Entry Excel Testing / QA CRM

How to Apply on 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.



Telephone: Login to view number

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Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If an employer asks to pay money for any purpose, do not pay at all and report us at contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs may not be applied online here. Human typing error is possible. Error & omissions excepted.
A judge has been urged to dismiss 'manufactured' fraud claims against Mike Lynch as the British tech tycoon's trial comes to a close.

The 54-year-old founder of software group Autonomy is accused of artificially inflating his company's value before it was sold to Hewlett Packard (HP) for 9billion in 2011.

But in the High Court yesterday, Lynch's lawyers told Mr Justice Hildyard the 'mishmash' of allegations against their client lacked 'merit and realism'.

Trial: Mike Lynch, the 54-year-old founder of software group Autonomy, is accused of artificially inflating his company's value before it was sold to Hewlett Packard for 9bn

They said: 'Before HP even completed its purchase of Autonomy, HP's board experienced buyer's remorse. The integration of Autonomy was mishandled.

'Since then, HP has been engaged on a witch hunt.'

Now called HP Enterprise (HPE), it says Lynch oversaw efforts to fraudulently inflate Autonomy's value, for example by selling hardware at a loss and booking the transactions as software sales.

It has also accused him of giving contradictory or dishonest evidence. HPE's lawyers claimed he told 'lie after lie' during the trial.

Robert Miles QC, for Lynch, however, questioned HP's 4billion damages claim.

He said: 'The figure was arbitrary and effectively plucked from the air. There was no basis for it.'
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar asserted that when he studied in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), he didn't see any "tukde tukde" gang there. Speaking at an event in the national capital on Monday Jaishankar said, "On JNU issue, what I have to say, I have said yesterday. I can certainly tell you when I studied at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), we didn't see any 'tukde tukde' gang there."

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BJP leaders have in the past referred to "tukde tukde gang" in the context of JNU, a term used for those it thinks displayed a mindset that called for dismemberment of India.

On Sunday (December 5) evening, the JNU campus was rocked by violence when a masked mob entered the varsity and attacked the students and professors with sticks and rods and also vandalised the property. More than a dozen students of the university, including JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh, were injured and were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

Following the incident, Jaishankar condemned the violent incident "unequivocally" at the university. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, he had added that it was "completely against the tradition and culture of the university". "Have seen pictures of what is happening in JNU. Condemn the violence unequivocally. This is completely against the tradition and culture of the university," Jaishankar had tweeted.

Have seen pictures of what is happening in #JNU. Condemn the violence unequivocally. This is completely against the tradition and culture of the university.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 5, 2020

People across India have been condemning the act and held protest showing posters in solidarity with the JNU on Monday (January 6). The violence also drew strong reactions from students and opposition party leaders and social media was flooded with hashtags in support of JNU.

The protesting students hit the streets demanding strict action against those who resorted to violence on campus. Students in Mumbai also protested outside the Gateway of India on Monday, posters of 'Free Kashmir' were also seen at JNU solidarity march in Mumbai's Gateway of India. Along with students, Bollywood personalities including Sushant Singh, Swara Bhasker, Shabana Azmi, Taapsee Pannu and Anil Kapoor also protested over the JNU incident.

Hundred of JNU students gathered in front of the North Gate of the university to protest against the attack on students and teachers. Blaming ABVP for the act of violence JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh said that since past 4-5 days violence was being promoted in the campus by some RSS affiliated professors and ABVP. She added, ''Every iron rod used against the students will be given back by debate and discussion. JNU's culture will not be eroded anytime soon. JNU will uphold its democratic culture''. Aishe further demanded the removal of the vice-chancellor.
Photo: Megan A./Yelp

Here's everything you need to know about Oakland's food and drink scene this week. In this edition: a Korean restaurant is headed to Piedmont Avenue, Adams Point has lost an ice cream shop and a Lakeshore Indian restaurant is no more.

Opening

Piedmont Avenue

Nokni Upstairs (3770 Piedmont Ave.)

Photo: Ms. Fizz/Hoodline Tipline

Hoodline tipster Ms. Fizz spotted a pending liquor license application posted in the windows of the former Chow location. As the Chronicle reported, chefs Julya Shin and Steve Joo are planning to open Nokni Upstairs, serving Korean meals made with locally sourced ingredients, sometime this summer.

What started as a pop-up in various locations will now find a permanent home on Piedmont Avenue, sharing the space with Dona Savitsky's new eatery, Dona.

According to their website, Shin's connection to Korean culture is primarily through her great aunt's food that she remembers eating and helping to prepare. Together with Joo, they are preparing their dishes centered around ssam, a Korean dish involving meat and other fillings wrapped with leafy green vegetables.

Closed

Adams Point

Icey Cream (346 Grand Ave.)

Photo: Albertino M./Hoodline Tipline

Hoodline veteran tipster Al M. tells us that Lake Merritt has lost an ice cream spot: Icey Cream is now closed. Al says the windows have been covered up, and he also spotted a construction crew working inside. A Hoodline reporter called to confirm the news, but the line was already disconnected.

No news yet what will be next for the space. No new permits have been filed with the city, according to online records.

Lakeshore

Flavors of India (3276 Lakeshore Ave.)

Photo: Albertino M./Hoodline Tipline

Al also says that the Flavors of India location on Lakeshore Avenue appears to no longer be serving Indian cuisine. "A notice on the window is saying that they will open through Thanksgiving and that would be final," he wrote. He also spotted a for lease sign on the door. A Hoodline reporter also called this business to learn more details but the line was disconnected.

According to a real estate posting on Loopnet, the 2,395 square feet space is indeed available and it comes with a city approval for restaurant use. The listing promotes features such as high ceilings, a large dining room, and arched glass windows with visibility onto Lakeshore Avenue.

Thanks to our tipsters Ms. Fizz and Al M.! Have you noticed a new addition to (or subtraction from) Oakland's food landscape? Text a tip and a horizontal photo to (415) 200-3233, and we'll look into it.


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Police are searching for a missing 3-year-old after his mother was found slain in a southeast Roswell home Tuesday morning.

The boy is believed to be with his father  the prime suspect in the slaying  and possibly headed to Mexico.

Todd Wildermuth, a Roswell police spokesman, said officers are scouring the area for Osiel Ernesto Rico and his father, 32-year-old Jorge Rico-Ruvira.

He said the body of Osiels mother, 27-year-old Isela Mauricio-Sanchez, was discovered by relatives around 11 a.m. at a home in the 600 block of East Forest. Osiel was nowhere to be found.

At first considered suspicious, Wildermuth said her death has since been ruled a homicide. He did not say how Mauricio-Sanchez was killed.

He said Osiel was last seen on Sunday in Roswell and the initial investigation by Roswell police has authorities suspecting the father may try to cross the border with his son. The pair are believed to be traveling in a maroon 2003 GMC Yukon SUV with a turquoise New Mexico license plate: MNF231.

An Amber Alert for Osiel was sent out by New Mexico State Police on Tuesday afternoon. It said Osiel is missing and believed to be in danger if not located.

In the release State Police attached a photograph of a widely grinning Osiel in Nike sneakers, blue jeans and a gray T-shirt imprinted with a tie and suspenders.

Many details are still unknown and under investigation, Dusty Francisco, a State Police spokesman, said in a news release. However, of urgent concern is the whereabouts of Osiel Ernesto Rico.

State Police also released a drivers license photo of Rico-Ruvira and a grainy photo of the GMC Yukon SUV.

Osiel is described as 2 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing about 40 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Rico-Ruvira is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about Osiel or Rico-Ruviras whereabouts is asked to call the Roswell Police Department at 575-624-6770 or dial 911.
REGINA The union representing hundreds of Regina Co-op oil refinery workers is asking locals from across Canada to send members to Saskatchewan as a show of solidarity.

Scott Doherty, executive assistant to Unifors national president, says the call-out could mean the arrival of hundreds of supporters.

More than 700 refinery workers have been off work for more than a month, after the company locked them out after the union issued a strike notice.

Lana Payne, Unifors national secretary-treasurer, told workers on the picket line in -25 C weather that the union plans to escalate its campaign to get a deal with Co-op.

Doherty says the union will continue to ramp up its national boycott against the company and support secondary picketing in other locations across Western Canada.

The company says its committed to collective bargaining and is ready to resume negotiations with Unifor.

Co-op has been housing replacement workers on the refinery site and flying supplies in with a helicopter. Last month, it went to court and was granted an injunction that restricts how long pickets can block trucks entering and leaving the facility.

Both sides have been divided over issues surrounding the workers pension plan.
In a vacuum, a case can be made that killing Qasem Soleimani might deescalate conflict with Iran. That is initially what President Trump said the aim was. We took action last night to stop a war, he said. We did not take action to start a war.

There are more- and less-believable versions of this. No one should kid himself into thinking that most Iranians will be pleased at this action or that it will weaken the regimes grip on the Iranian people. On the contrary, even people with despicable governments tend to rally around their leaders when they feel threatened or under siege from outside. And the Iranian revolution still has its true believers: They were out in the street mourning the death of Soleimani.

The case for doing what Trump did revolves around the United States need to punish those who inflict death and damage on its people, hopefully while achieving tactical or strategic ends that are greater than the costs of action. Soleimani was Irans indispensable man, whose Quds Force and its proxies were constantly harassing American clients and even Americans in the region. In recently leaked Iranian cables, high-level sources in the Iranian government are shown worrying about Soleimanis aggressive methods and whether they were keeping the Americans more engaged in Iraq and focused on Iran than Tehran wished. America needed to respond to an increasing tempo of provocation from Iran, including the death of an American contractor and the wounding of a handful of servicemen. Striking him may simultaneously hamper Irans effectiveness in using proxy forces, retain American honor, and perhaps allow the United States to do what the president claims to want: make an orderly exit from unproductive wars.

In fact, the strongest case for Donald Trumps realism is that he is simply incapable of being educated into the wisdom of Washington, D.C., which has held that malefactors dont have to be punished with limited strikes, but instead that their entire government and society surrounding them can be transformed through limitless commitments.

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There are problems with this case, of course. First, Trump has proven almost unwilling to put an exit into Americas exit strategy. Second, the collateral damage to our relationship with Iraq is already coming in, with members of the Iraqi parliament already threatening to withdraw their consent for our continued presence. That would be a shameful exit for us, though one we should take. Theres also the notorious unreliability of Americas intelligence in the Middle East (or anywhere). And theres the larger fact that since Americas withdrawal from the Iran deal, the nations policy toward Iran seems to be one of drifting toward war lazily and thoughtlessly. Making unreasonable demands, imposing sanctions, and then watching Iranian provocations roll in.

But most important, we dont live in a vacuum. And perhaps youve noticed that since the news of this assassination broke, the president has sounded out of his mind.

He has returned to his idea of vandalism, blasphemy, and outrage as strategy. Contradicting his own secretary of state, Trump promised that the United States would respond to further Iranian provocation by deliberately bombing cultural sites in Iran. Theyre allowed to kill our people. Theyre allowed to torture and maim our people. Theyre allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And were not allowed to touch their cultural sites, he said. It doesnt work that way.

This disgusting threat is in many ways worse than his promises of fire and fury in North Korea. The punishment would fall not on the government, or on the military that tortures and maims, but on the whole Iranian people  and really all of humanity that has an interest in the preservation of great treasures of antiquity, of which there are many in Iran. These are jewels of ancient civilization that ought to outlast Irans current government, and that deserve a better custodian than the mullahs. That aside, the threat carries zero strategic value for us while offering infinite propaganda value for the Iranian regime.

Trump wasnt done. These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner, the president tweeted. In this, he reveals he has heard about language of proportionality but doesnt understand its place in just-war theory. Proportionality is not about returning an equal or ever-so-slightly more forceful slap to someone who slapped you. Proportionality is about using the appropriate amount of force to achieve the desired end.

This unhinged rhetoric is not just dangerous in itself, its unproductive. NATO members put out statements supporting Americas decision to strike at Soleimani, statements that read as if a stage director had scrawled the word cringe in the margins. They are tempered precisely because the publics of our various European allies find Trumps rhetoric crazy, and unlike Americans, they are not inclined to lower their standards of sanity to accommodate his. They may also remember that the last two expansions of American hostilities in the Middle East created the refugee crisis and a wave of terrorism headed their way.

If Trump wants our allies and the American public to back his Iran strategy, he needs to show that he has one  and he has to pursue it in a mode that doesnt look like a tantrum.

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2020 is going to be a very good year in New York State  for criminals. As of January 1, the states new criminal-justice reforms took effect, including a law that compels judges to free thousands of arrested defendants, many of whom have committed violent crimes or are serious flight risks. The goal is to reduce incarceration in jails, but the methods are arbitrary and put the public at risk.

The new law prohibits arraignment judges (the ones that handle an arrested persons first court appearance) from demanding bail for certain defendants or remanding them to jail. Instead, they must release the defendant on his own recognizance (ROR). This release order supposedly does not apply to violent felony offenders. However, numerous crimes of violence or potential violence are found among the states so-called nonviolent felonies, including certain robberies, rapes, and assaults. And judges in New York  unlike judges in 46 other states  may not take public safety into account when deciding whether or not to release someone.

While New York law directs arraignment judges to focus on the likelihood of return when ruling on release, it does not provide for an assessment of the risk of nonappearance. This is especially puzzling, as the New York City Criminal Justice Agency (CJA), which screens virtually every arrested person in the city, provides a fairly accurate assessment of the risk of release. Where CJA recommended release only 7 percent of the discharged defendants failed to appear. Thats a 93 percent success rate.

Instead of encouraging judges to follow CJA recommendations the new law establishes rigid categories based on the type of crime committed. So defendants accused of crimes labeled violent felony offenses (VFOs), with exceptions, remain eligible for bail or jail. However, misdemeanants and those deemed nonviolent felons  even if actually violent or high flight risks  must be released.

Why structure the law this way? Probably to head off public outrage if the most obviously violent felons, VFOs, had to be compulsorily released. But if public safety were the main concern then why not let judges make release decisions on a case-by-case basis, and why not let them take dangerousness into account the way judges do in nearly every other state? On the other hand, if promoting court appearances is the goal then why exempt violent felons from the release edict? The data show (anomalous as it may seem) that violent felons are among the least likely to abscond.

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What will be the impact of the new law? Most obviously, thousands of offenders who would have been admitted to bail or remanded to jail before the reforms will now be released. Among those arrested for misdemeanors the effect may be small in percentage terms, but big in absolute numbers. In 2018, before the law went into effect, 87 percent of New York City misdemeanor arrestees were released. Presumably, the remaining 13 percent will be RORd as the law takes effect. In sheer numbers this will be significant since misdemeanors represent nearly three-quarters of all arraigned cases. Judging by data from recent years, we could see an additional 23,400 misdemeanants released in 2020. And that number is for the Big Apple alone; it doesnt include the thousands of upstate offenders.

The second biggest impact will be on the so-called nonviolent felons. Forty-five percent of such defendants in New York City were admitted to bail or remanded to jail in 2018. The new law changes this. The statute prohibits judges from demanding bail for nonviolent felony defendants or sending them to jail, even though their crimes may be serious, and even if they have records of numerous failures to show up for their court dates. Going by past figures we are speaking of roughly 12,000 felony arrestees who would have been jailed or released on bail under the old rules.

The no-bail-or-jail rules do not apply to certain qualifying offenses, including most of the crimes identified in the New York Penal Law as violent felony offenses (VFOs). But even here there are exceptions written into the new law, notably for certain second-degree robberies and burglaries.

Worse still, I found at least 25 felonies that are violent or create the potential for violence but are nevertheless exempt from the bail or jail option because they are not VFOs. These include certain aggravated assaults on a child, aggravated harassments, prisoner escapes, rapes, riots, robberies, and vehicular manslaughters. If public safety were uppermost in the minds of reformers, judges would be empowered to impose bail or jail in each of these crimes  to say nothing of the dozens of violent misdemeanors not listed among the 25.

It is true that defendants who have been arrested but not yet convicted should not be punished. It is also true that without some security  cash deposits, bail, or jail  many thousands of these defendants will never show up for their day in court, and some will commit additional crimes once freed. The balance between individual rights and public safety is best achieved by letting the judges determine on a case-by-case basis who is a flight risk or a danger to the public and helping them make this determination through data-based assessments. Top-down, arbitrary decision-making by state government simply wont work.

More from National Review
In this March 1, 2017, file photo, a mixture of Hershey's chocolates is displayed in the company's Times Square store in New York. Read more

This article originally appeared in The Inquirer on June 24, 2001.

Hershey Foods Corp., the nations largest chocolate-maker, is shocked and deeply concerned that its products, such as Hersheys Kisses, Nuggets, chocolate bars and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups may be tainted by slave labor, a company official said.

Hershey said it would help fund a study of labor practices on 2,000 cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast and 1,000 farms in Ghana. There are more than 600,000 cocoa farms in Ivory Coast.

The study will be coordinated by the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Revelations of indirect involvement with child slavery could be deeply embarrassing to Hershey, which has a long history of aiding children in this country. Hershey Foods is controlled by a school for orphaned and disadvantaged children, established in 1909 by company founder Milton S. Hershey and his wife, Catherine.

The Milton Hershey School in Derry Township near Harrisburg is a nonprofit residential school with about 1,000 students. It holds a controlling interest in Hershey Foods, which has a market capitalization on Wall Street of $8.4 billion.

Hershey Foods officials, who initially said they were unaware of slave labor in the cocoa trade, acknowledged recently that Ivory Coast slave labor was used to harvest some cocoa beans shipped to the United States.

"We're not going to sit here and say that it's not happening if the Ivorian government says that it is happening," said Robert M. Reese, Hershey Foods senior vice president. "It does change our focus a bit. "

The Ivorian government reported about a week ago that it had uncovered a slave-labor smuggling ring in the Ivory Coast central city of Bouake.

The government report confirmed a British television documentary broadcast in autumn on the widespread use of slaves.

"No one, repeat, no one, had ever heard of this," Reese said in an earlier interview. "Your instinct is that Hershey should have known. But the fact is we didn't know. "

Hershey buys cocoa beans from international traders and has no employees in the Ivory Coast, the company said.

After the British documentary was broadcast, Hershey asked U.S. and World Bank officials about slave labor in West Africa and were told that they were not aware of slaves in the cocoa fields, Reese said.

Hershey has not sent its own employees to the Ivory Coast to investigate slavery allegations because the U.S. government warned against traveling to the politically unstable nation, Reese said.

The study of cocoa-labor practices will be paid for by Hershey and other chocolate companies. It is expected to cost between $1 million and $2 million, said Larry Graham, president of the Chocolate Manufacturers Association. Chocolate companies will contribute through the World Cocoa Foundation in Vienna, Va., Graham said.

"We think this will go beyond what anybody else has done," he said. "As soon as we can get people in to do it, we will do it. "

"As an industry, we strongly condemn abusive labor practices, and our goal is to be part of the worldwide effort to solve this problem," Graham said in a prepared statement, as the trade association publicly announced its plan to study cocoa-farm conditions in Ivory Coast. "If one child is affected, that is one child too many. "

The Ivory Coast is the world's largest producer of cocoa beans, and many of the beans make their way into the United States - and ultimately into the hands of consumers - through the ports of Philadelphia and Camden.

In recent years, Philadelphia regained its position as the nation's leading port of entry for cocoa beans after port officials invested about $1 million in modernizing Pier 84, an abandoned fruit terminal in South Philadelphia.

Harvey Weiner, who operates the cocoa terminal, invested an additional $500,000 into Pier 84. Weiner owns or leases about 10 warehouses in the Philadelphia area for cocoa-bean stocks.

Weiner said the chocolate industry should consider building schools and hospitals, or provide other social services in those countries where it obtains cocoa beans.

According to the New York Board of Trade, the Philadelphia and Camden area had 1.7 million bags of cocoa beans in warehouses available for chocolate processing on Thursday. In the New York borough of Brooklyn, there were 893,691 cocoa-bean bags in warehouses; in Norfolk, Va., 553,055 bags were in inventory.

From the Philadelphia area, cocoa beans are shipped by rail or truck throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In addition to Hershey, two large chocolate processors in the region are Blommer Chocolate in East Greenville, Montgomery County, and Mars Inc., in Hackettstown, N.J., and Elizabethtown, Pa.

Hershey has not considered boycotting Ivory Coast cocoa beans because that would hurt the legitimate cocoa-bean farmers who need to sell their produce, John C. Long, Hershey vice president for corporate communication, said.

Lower cocoa-bean prices helped Hershey earn higher gross profits in 2000, the company said in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in April. Hershey produced a gross margin in 2000 of 41.4 percent, compared with 40.7 percent in 1999.

Reese did not believe that slave labor in the Ivory Coast was tied to the collapse of cocoa-bean prices. Those prices are set by world supply and demand, he said. He said political turmoil in West Africa and mounting poverty were more likely culprits in the emerging slave trade.

Bob Fernandezs e-mail address is bob.fernandez@phillynews.com.
NEW YORK - Joe Biden stood before a row of American flags on Tuesday and did something that hasn't always been his first instinct: He warned against American military engagement.

Biden, blasting President Donald Trump as "dangerously incompetent" for his handling of the crisis with Iran, said Trump's "impulsive decision" to order the killing of a top military official from that country put the United States at risk of greater international conflict.

"A president who says he wants to end endless war in the Middle East is bringing us dangerously close to starting a new one," said the former vice president, who is among the top contenders battling for the Democratic presidential nomination. He added, "This outcome of strategic setbacks, heightened threats, chants of 'Death to America' once more echoing across the Middle East, Iran and its allies vowing revenge - this was avoidable."

Biden's comments were striking for someone who has spent much of his political career with a reputation as a foreign policy expert who has often embraced American use of power in the world. As a senator, he voted in 2002 to authorize the use of force in Iraq - a vote that has become a point of contention in the Democratic race as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., presents himself as the true antiwar candidate in tune with rising public skepticism of drawn-out military intervention.

Sanders has been among the most aggressive critics of Trump's Iran strike, declaring the killing an "assassination" and referring to it as "a dangerous escalation that brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East." He has also seized on the moment to step up his criticism of Biden's Iraq vote, needling him Monday night on CNN for his role in the "most dangerous foreign policy blunder in the modern history of this country."

Biden's toughened rhetoric on Trump and Iran on Tuesday seemed designed to present Biden with a more nuanced position - more sharply critical of Trump's decision than his previous comments but not as black-and-white as Sanders' stance.

Biden stopped short of saying that the killing of Iran's Qasem Soleimani was the wrong decision, saying that he was deeply skeptical but holding out the possibility that he would agree with Trump's call if given more information. Instead, the former vice president called on Trump to explain his decision to the American public, saying, "If there was an imminent threat that required this extraordinary action, we're owed an explanation and the facts to back it up."

Biden referred to this as "possibly the most dangerous time in recent American history" and accused Trump of creating the conditions.

"Trump's impulsive decision may well do more to strengthen Iran's position in the region than any of Soleimani's plots would have ever accomplished," he said.

Biden's remarks Tuesday offered some contrasts in what has emerged as a burgeoning foreign policy debate between him and Sanders.

Biden said the current turmoil was triggered by Trump's decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, which was crafted under the Obama administration and provided sanctions relief in return for Iran curbing its nuclear ambitions. Sanders has said the turmoil is rooted much earlier - in the U.S. decision to invade Iraq.

Sanders on Friday introduced legislation that would block funding for any military actions against Iran without congressional authorization. A Biden aide would not say whether Biden supported that measure but noted that he did back a war-powers resolution sponsored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. That legislation would mandate military hostilities to cease within 30 days if no congressional action is taken.

Foreign policy observers said that Sanders and Biden are still promoting distinctly different worldviews - but that, in the heat of the primary, Biden appeared to be trying to showcase his ability to appeal to those wary of U.S. involvement abroad.

While some see him as a hawk, Biden has also held dovish positions in the past, opposing the Persian Gulf War under President George H.W. Bush and counseling his boss, President Barack Obama, against a surge of troops in Afghanistan.

"Biden is a believer in American leadership and engagement, no question. He comes from that school," said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former State Department Middle East analyst. "But these remarks also suggest he's trying to appeal to the noninterventionists in the party, too, by suggesting we need to be smarter and more disciplined in how and when America engages."

"It's finding a balance," Miller added. "It's the Goldilocks approach. It's not too hot, not too cold."

Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said Sanders remains to the left of Biden when it comes to the broader debate about the United States' role in the world.

"I don't really sense Biden is moving toward Sanders - he sees an opportunity to hit hard against Trump," O'Hanlon said. "I still think Sanders leans more toward pacifism, Biden more toward engagement."

Biden delivered his remarks in a banquet hall on a pier in Chelsea, standing in front of a large blue curtain and four American flags, an attempt to re-create the tapestry of a presidential speech in front of dozens of journalists and a handful of advisers.

He spoke after a morning fundraiser in New York in which he also talked extensively about the situation in Iran.

Trump "has to understand that he cannot take this nation to war with Iran without the informed consent of the American people," Biden said during a morning fundraiser on the 37th floor of a Manhattan office building that houses the Skadden law firm.

He said he arrived late because he was on a phone call with his national security team.

"The idea that he can take us into a conflict potentially with a country of 80 million people in the Middle East, without the consent of American people - and doing it by tweet - is just preposterous," he added.

In his speech, Biden also accused Trump of getting closer to an overreach of presidential power.

"The American people do not want, and our Constitution will not abide, a president who rules by fiat and demands obedience," Biden said.

"We need to restore the balance of powers between the branches of government," he added.

Biden has in the past been supportive of limited military action that did not require congressional approval. He sponsored legislation in 1995 that would authorize the president to use force in the absence of congressional approval to "forestall an imminent act of international terrorism directed at US citizens or nationals or to retaliate against the perpetrators of such an act."

His presidential campaign website in 2008 said, specifically about Iran, that the Founding Fathers were clear that a president needs congressional approval "to initiate war, except to repel an imminent attack on the United States or its citizens."

It also noted: "If the President takes us to war with Iran without Congressional approval, I will call for his impeachment. I do not say this lightly or to be provocative. I am dead serious."
A drunk woman who asked male fliers to join her in the 'mile high' club then attacked cabin crew during a four-hour rampage has been jailed for six months.

Demi Burton, 20, propositioned two men while intoxicated on red wine before boarding the eight-hour flight from Abu Dhabi to Manchester.

When she was refused any more alcohol, she raised her fists at cabin crew before shouting: 'You may as well just land the plane now then.'

Staff on the Etihad flight tried to calm Burton down only for her to headbutt, maul and kick out at them during a violent struggle.

It took six crew members and passengers to restrain her and she was arrested when the plane touched down after a nightmare 4,500-mile journey.

Demi Burton is pictured outside Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester

Staff on the Etihad flight tried to calm Burton down only for her to headbutt, maul and kick out at them during a violent struggle

A consultant anaesthetist travelling on the flight who was bitten on the elbow and headbutted as he helped restrain Burton claimed it was worse than working in A&E.

One stewardess was bitten on the forearm and was headbutted on the chin, while passengers where kicked to the ribs and face.

Burton, from Carrington, near Manchester, had been travelling home from a three-month trip to Australia where she had been visiting family.

She claimed she had been drinking because she had a fear of flying, Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard.

She was jailed for six months after she admitted being drunk on an aircraft and five charges of assault.

The incident began on May 9 shortly after flight EY21 had taken off from the United Arab Emirates.

Claire Brocklebank, prosecuting, said: 'It appears she was drunk before getting on the flight and she started making a number of inappropriate sexual comments to a number of male passengers on the flight.

It took six crew and passengers to restrain her and she was arrested when the plane touched down after a nightmare 4,500-mile journey (shown is a stock image of an Etihad flight cabin)

'Two remember hearing comments and at first they laughed it off but it then became increasingly inappropriate and she asked them to join the mile high club.

'Both tried to end conversation with her but she carried on. One said he felt quite shocked by her comments and people around her started to ask her to be quiet.

'She shouted to one "shut up, you specky four-eyed b*****d" and other abusive comments and swore at other passengers.'

Burton then asked cabin crew for more red wine, claiming she suffered from panic attacks while flying, and demanded to speak to the pilot when they refused.

Miss Brocklebank added: 'Attempts where made to calm her down but she got up from her seat and in the direction of one of the crew members raised her fists towards her in a threatening manner.

'The decision was made here to physically restrain her but they had to be assisted by as many as six passengers to help restrain her by holding her down.

'She carried on being difficult and abusive for a number of hours some say up to four hours and some say up to one hour until she tired herself out.

Burton (pictured outside court), from Carrington, near Manchester, had been travelling home from a three-month trip to Australia where she had been visiting family

The 20-year-old was jailed for six months after she admitted being drunk on an aircraft and five charges of assault

'Another passenger who happened to be a prison warden had a word and it seemed to have an effect on calming her down.'

Defence lawyer Martin Callery said: 'She is thoroughly ashamed of herself and because she is remorseful, she is utterly embarrassed at the way she behaved.

It is completely out of character as far as she is concerned.

'She went to Australia to get away from her family who have behaved towards her from her early years in a very controlling and very abusive way.

'She thought it was right fly back but was apprehensive about the arrival home and apprehensive about flying itself and had more to drink then was appropriate.

'She is 20 years old and you only need imagine the trepidation and feelings at the prospect of going to prison.'

But sentencing Burton, Judge John Edwards said: 'Your behaviour was unpleasant, violent and persistent over a lengthy period.

'So that a doctor, an anaesthetist by profession remarks in all his dealings in A&E had not witnessed such aggressive behaviour before.

The matter is too serious to be dealt in any other way other than immediate custody.'
WASHINGTON  Bay Area Rep. Mark DeSaulnier is throwing another jab in Californias battle with the Trump administration over climate change policy.

The Concord Democrat is introducing a bill this week that would require federal agencies to buy vehicles only from manufacturers that meet Obama-era emissions standards  essentially, Californias tougher rules that President Trump has moved to revoke.

The bill aims to harness the federal governments buying power to punish automakers that have sided with Trump in favor of more lenient emissions rules.

DeSaulniers measure is almost certain to be unsuccessful this year, given Republicans control of the Senate. But he said he hopes to start laying the groundwork if a Democrat wins the White House in the fall.

He also hopes the bill will be a blueprint for cities and other states to adopt similar laws. Gov. Gavin Newsom has already implemented such a policy for state agencies in California.

If you dont want to work with us, were not interested in buying your product, DeSaulnier said of automakers that have backed the revised emissions standards that Trump wants to impose. Thats a pretty strong economic incentive for them to come to us.

The fight between California and Trump over fuel-emissions rules erupted last summer, when the state reached a deal with four companies  Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW  to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from their cars and light-duty trucks.

Under the deal, car companies agreed to increase their overall mileage to roughly 50 miles per gallon by model year 2026, close to targets set by former President Barack Obamas administration. Trumps proposal would require automakers to reach 37 mpg.

Trump, who has sought to roll back Obama-era emissions standards, responded to Californias deal with the four automakers by moving to revoke the states nearly 50-year-old waiver under the 1970 Clean Air Act, which allows it to set stricter emissions standards than the federal government.

He argues that Californias stricter tailpipe rules could drive up the cost of vehicles and lead some drivers to hang onto older, less safe cars.

There will be very little difference in emissions between the California Standard and the new U.S. Standard, but the cars will be far safer and much less expensive, Trump tweeted in September.

The administration has also argued that automakers should have to adhere to one national standard, not a patchwork of state rules.

General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Toyota and several smaller manufacturers have sided with the Trump administration. Multiple lawsuits have been filed and could take years to resolve.

DeSaulnier said California and the 12 states that follow its rules should use their economic heft to pressure the automakers in the meantime. His bill, which his office shared with The Chronicle, could cost those manufacturers hundreds of millions of dollars.

From 2011 to 2015, federal agencies spent more than $1.6 billion to buy about 64,500 cars and light-duty trucks, according to his office.

Gil Tal, director of the Plug-in Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Research Center at UC Davis, said that although the federal government makes up a small share of the overall industry  about 17 million vehicles are sold in the U.S. annually  its a secure market that car companies court heavily.

There is already a good push from the state, he said.

Newsom has already excluded automakers that have sided with Trump from state contracts. He announced the move Nov. 15, saying, Car makers that have chosen to be on the wrong side of history will be on the losing end of Californias buying power.

DeSaulnier said that although Republicans are unlikely to support his bill, hes optimistic some Bay Area cities will soon follow suit, though he said those talks are still in the early stages.

He said the best argument for the bill is economic: If U.S. automakers dont transition to clean cars, they could lose business to other countries that are producing electric-battery vehicles more rapidly.

We are anticipating the end of the fossil fuel economy, DeSaulnier said. If you dont prepare for the transition, youre going to be left behind.

The Environmental Protection Agency, which revoked Californias waiver last fall, declined to comment on DeSaulniers bill. So did the National Automobile Dealers Association, which has sided with Trump in the emissions dispute.

Another Trump ally in the dispute, the Coalition for Sustainable Automotive Regulation, did not respond to a request for comment.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
[January 07, 2020] 24-7 Intouch Announces Expansion into Greece

WINNIPEG, Jan. 7, 2020 /CNW/ - 24-7 Intouch is proud to announce it will continue its global scale growth with an expansion into Athens, Greece. This will be the first location in Europe and 18th campus internationally for the Winnipeg-based global customer care and technology company, which currently operates in the United States, Canada, Guatemala, Colombia, Jamaica and the Philippines. The 50,000+ square foot campus will be home to some of the most recognized brands in the world. This new space will emulate the corporate culture, client partner branding, and unique design elements of 24-7 Intouch's current locations. "Our global footprint, including expanding into Europe for the first time, is intentional and allows us to move quickly and anticipate future growth of our client partners," said Greg Fettes, Co-Founder & CEO of 24-7 Intouch. "span >Greece has a thriving BPO industry, and we look forward to bringing over 600 jobs, innovative customer care solutions, and our unique culture to the Athens area."



Athens is one of the biggest economic centers in southeastern Europe and is home to a young and educated workforce. Greece holds the second global position in skilled labor, with a large population of bilingual residents. Not only are English and French widely spoken across Athens, this expansion will also allow 24-7 Intouch to enhance their language capabilities to include German, Latin, Italian, Eastern European, and Middle Eastern languages. The expansion to another continent makes 24-7 Intouch a true global provider. Greece provides an exciting BPO opportunity, with an increasing GDP, high levels of bilingualism, and an influx of qualified workers.

"Our approach to global growth is driven through regional and local evaluations," said Mitul Kotecha, President of 24-7 Intouch. "Athens is a perfect fit for us from a service culture and community perspective, and we are excited to create new partnerships in the European market." The Athens campus is set to open in early 2020. About 24-7 Intouch 24-7 Intouch is a global customer care and technology company that provides value-driven, future-forward solutions. For over 20 years, we have been the people and technology behind the world's biggest brands, empowering human potential through our artificial intelligence division, Laivly, and driving change for our client partners through actionable insights and analytics. Media Contact: Jaime Dzikowski, Director, Marketing, 24-7 Intouch, [email protected]

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(PHOTO: Interior of People's Park Centre/Google Streetview)

SINGAPORE  While strolling at a mall in Chinatown, a man elbowed a womans breast in full view of her husband.

When Poh Seng Khian was detained by the womans husband, he offered the couple $10 to be let off the hook.

The 84-year-old Singaporean was given 18 weeks jail on Tuesday (7 January) after he pleaded guilty to one count of molesting the 47-year-old woman along the second floor of Peoples Park Centre. The wife and her husband cannot be named to protect her identity.

On 12 May last year, the woman and her 48-year-old husband were walking in the mall in the direction of the overhead link bridge that connects to Upper Cross Street. The man walked ahead of his wife and later turned around to wait for her to catch up.

Poh, who was in the same mall to have breakfast and do some shopping, approached the woman from the opposite direction. As he walked past the woman, he extended his right arm and bumped her breast with his elbow deliberately.

The area was not crowded at the time and Poh was able to pass the woman without making any contact, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Melina Chew. The woman was stunned and shocked by the act.

Her husband immediately stopped Poh and the police were alerted. While awaiting the arrival of the police, Poh apologised for the molesting the woman and offered $10 to put the matter to rest. The husband refused the money.

Poh was later arrested by the police.

For molest, Poh could have been jailed up to two years, and/or fined. He cannot be caned as he is above 50 years old.

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A requirement that U.S. citizens get visas for travel in the Philippines would hobble the Southeast Asian country's tourism industry to ease a pair of high-level political spats, analysts say.

U.S. citizens can enter the beach-studded archipelago now on a visa-free landing stamp, saving time and any application fees before travel.

"If we look at the situation of the Philippines in relation with the U.S., of course the Philippines will lose more with that kind of option (a visa rule) than Americans," said Maria Ela Atienza, political science professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman "Americans will have other options."

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said last month via his office's website that Americans would be required to apply for tourist visas if the United States bars entry by officials from Manila who are linked to the imprisonment of Leila de Lima, a Philippine senator who's at odds with Duterte.

The visa requirement would dim resentment among Filipinos who believe today's rules are unfair. Filipinos need $160 visas for the United States but do not always qualify.

Tourism impact

The tit-for-tat would bite into a tourism industry that generated $4.78 billion in the first half of 2019, analysts say, because the United States is the third largest source of arrivals after South Korea and China.

Americans asked to spend time and money on a visa could go instead to half a dozen other Southeast Asian countries either visa free or with with a visa payable upon landing.

International tourist arrivals to the Philippines rose by 7.7% to 7.1 million visitors in 2018 over 2017, Philippine Department of Trade and Industry figures show. Of those visitors, 1,587,959 came from South Korea, 1,255,258 from China and 1,034,396 from the United States.

Americans often travel to the Philippines for beach holidays and tours of old Spanish architecture.

Filipino-Americans who still hold Philippine passports could still get back into their old homeland without visas. "It will probably be the tourists (who are affected), American tourists who are not from here," said Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Metro Manila-based advocacy group Institute for Political and Electoral Reform.

Senator vs. Duterte

A visa requirement would answer the Philippine government's opposition to a U.S. budget proposal to ban entry to the United States by certain officials linked to the De Lima case.

De Lima, a harsh critic of Duterte, was charged in 2017 with orchestrating a drug-trafficking ring while justice secretary before 2015. Some believe her arrest was politically motivated.

The 2020 U.S. budget contains a provision authorizing the Secretary of State to ban Philippine officials from entry if the U.S. side finds "credible information" that they "have been involved in the wrongful imprisonment" of De Lima."

"We have explained repeatedly that the subject provision is ineffective given that the Filipino Senator is not wrongfully detained," presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said via his office's website. If the U.S. goes ahead, he said, "This government will require all Americans intending to come to the Philippines to apply and secure a visa before they can enter Philippine territory."

The U.S. Embassy in Manila did not answer a request last week for comment.

Reciprocity issue

A visa rule for Americans might also set a stage for negotiations on visa rules from both sides, Casiple said. Filipinos must apply for visas to enter the United States and not everyone gets approval.

"I think it will be within the context of renegotiation, not a policy immediately," he said. "Particularly, it will raise the question of reciprocity."

Filipinos have historically seen the wealthier United States as a place to find high-paid work and remit money to family back home. Tourist visa applicants pay a $160 fee and must pass a consular interview to be approved. U.S. Department of Homeland Security data show that 5,276 Filipinos overstayed non-immigrant "pleasure" visas in 2018.

Duterte might not act on his threat, some caution.

"I don't take Duterte's visa threats too seriously, as he has a history of just spouting off," said Sean King, vice president of the Park Strategies political consultancy in New York. "Our countries' relationship will long outlast Duterte's reign. We can't overreact to every little thing he does."

If the United States hits back, King said, it should avoid hurting an overall U.S.-friendly Filipino public and instead "personally needle Duterte."
Shocking details alleged in Heidi Broussard, baby Margot kidnapping case originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Newly released court documents allege shocking details surrounding the case of slain Austin, Texas, mom Heidi Broussard and her friend, Magen Fieramusca, who was charged with kidnapping.

Broussard, 33, and her infant daughter, Margot, had been missing for a week when Broussard was discovered strangled to death near Houston on Dec. 19, according to officials.

Margot was found alive and was reunited with her family, while Fieramusca was arrested for kidnapping.

PHOTO: Magen Fieramusca was charged with tampering with a human corpse and kidnapping. (Harris County Sheriff's Dept.)

A decade-long friendship

Fieramusca, 33, had been friends with Broussard for 10 years, ever since they attended the Texas Bible Institute together, according to court documents.

Broussard's fiance, Shane Carey, said Broussard and Fieramusca got pregnant around the same time and were both due in late 2019, according to court documents. Carey said the two friends talked about the possibility of delivering on the same day.

Broussard was already mom to a young son.

MORE: Missing baby Margot reunites with dad after mom's murder

Baby Margot is born

Broussard's water broke on Nov. 25, and the next day, Fieramusca -- who would have then been about 37 weeks pregnant -- drove from her Houston area home to the hospital in Austin, the arrest affidavit said.

Fieramusca was in the room when Broussard delivered baby Margot, the arrest affidavit said.

PHOTO: Police have released this photo of Heidi Broussard and 2-week-old Margot Carey after they were reported missing. (Austin Police Department )

Court documents stated that "immediately after Shane Carey's father was handed his grandchild, Magen Fieramusca interjected herself and asked to hold the newborn."

Broussard and Carey gave Fieramusca a key to their apartment, court documents said, and Fieramusca left the hospital and went to Broussard's apartment, where she stayed until Nov. 27, before then driving back to Houston.

Carey said he could never find that key again, court documents said.

MORE: Slain Austin mom was friends for years with suspected kidnapper: 'I hope she rots'

Story continues

Another baby?

Carey said that on Dec. 8 or 9, Broussard told him that Fieramusca delivered a baby girl, court documents said. Carey said he had seen her visibly pregnant, the documents said.

Fieramusca's ex-boyfriend, Christopher Green, told investigators that "he never saw Magen Fieramusca's bare stomach during the pregnancy," but he believed she was pregnant with his child, according to the documents.

The two still lived together, although they were broken up, the documents said.

Fieramusca later told investigators that she went into labor on Dec. 12 and went to a Houston area birthing center, but she could not remember the center's name, according to the arrest affidavit.

Fieramusca told investigators she brought her baby home on Dec. 12, the affidavit said.

MORE: Austin mom strangled to death, baby found alive; friend arrested on kidnapping charge: Official

The case moves to Houston

On Dec. 12 -- the day Broussard and baby Margot were reported missing in Austin -- surveillance video showed a car which looked like Fieramusca's heading toward Broussard's Austin home, the arrest affidavit said. Fieramusca's phone also pinged near Broussard's apartment the day she went missing, documents said.

When investigators back in Houston spoke with Green, they showed him a flyer of missing baby Margot -- and Green replied, "that's the baby at my house," according to the arrest affidavit.

PHOTO: An ambulance responds to the scene outside Houston where authorities discovered an infant child believed to be connected to the case of missing Austin mother Heidi Broussard, Dec, 19, 2019. (KTRK)

Investigators say they went to Fieramusca's Houston area home where they smelled the "unmistakable odor of decomposing flesh" coming from the trunk of Fieramusca's Nissan Versa.

A woman's body was found in a duffel bag in the trunk, documents said.

Fieramusca is being held in Travis County on two charges of kidnapping and one count of tampering with a human corpse. Her first court appearance is set for next month.

The district attorney's office is "exploring every appropriate charge based on facts and circumstances in the case, up to and including capital murder," Travis County prosecutor Guillermo Gonzalez said in a statement.

Prosecutors have 90 days from the arrest to present a case to the grand jury, he said. No one has been charged with Broussards murder at this time.

Fieramusca's attorneys said Monday that the "cursory information" in the affidavit "is nothing more than mere allegations."

"We call upon patience and resisting the rush to judgment until all the facts are in," her attorneys said in a statement provided to ABC News.

The defense attorneys said Texas prosecutors aren't required to give the defense all evidence until a grand jury indictment, but "Travis County has maintained a policy to provide pre-indictment discovery/evidence to the Defense team."

Fieramusca's attorneys claim Travis County prosecutors are refusing to comply with that policy in this case, "citing case complexity."

"Due process requires fair dealing and full disclosure of ALL facts and mitigating circumstances no matter how complex, and time is of the essence," the defense attorneys said. "We are exploring all options at our disposal to vigorously represent Ms. Fieramusca, considering the prosecutions refusal to provide us with information at this time."

The district attorneys office declined to comment on the defenses statement.

ABC News' Gina Sunseri and Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 07:32:14|Editor: ZD

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NEW YORK, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices continued to rise on Monday after the U.S. military killed a senior Iranian commander, sparking concerns that the heightened Middle East tensions could disrupt energy productions in the region.

The West Texas Intermediate for February delivery rose 0.22 U.S. dollar to settle at 63.27 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for March delivery increased 0.31 dollar to close at 68.91 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.

The international benchmark Brent crude topped 70 dollars a barrel earlier in the session, reaching a more than three-month high.

The United States killed Major General Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Quds Force, in an airstrike in Baghdad on Friday, escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Market participants feared that the rising Middle East tensions could impact energy production in the oil-rich region, which accounts for almost one third of global oil supply, analysts said.

But analysts also noted that despite the geopolitical tension, spare capacity in oil may remain adequate.

"We still expect an oversupplied oil market this year due to non-OPEC supply growth outpacing modest oil demand growth," UBS Global Wealth Management's chief investment officer Mark Haefele and his team said in a note on Monday.

While oil prices are likely to build in a larger risk premium amid heightened political tensions, Brent prices will struggle to hold above 70 dollars a barrel in the first half of 2020, UBS analysts said.
DUBLIN (BCN)

A Vallejo man was charged on Monday with special circumstances murder for the shooting death of his female accomplice in what authorities allege was a plot to conduct a home invasion robbery at the home of her ex-boyfriend in Dublin last week.

Rickey Tyrone White Jr., 28, was charged with murder and the special circumstance of murder during an attempted robbery for the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Adrianna Marie Navarro of Vallejo in the 3400 block of Monaghan Street in Dublin at about 11:30 p.m. last Wednesday.

White, who has prior convictions in Clark County in Nevada for attempted burglary and attempted grand larceny of a person over 65 years old, was also charged with attempted murder for allegedly firing shots at Navarro's ex-boyfriend, who wasn't injured.

In addition, White was charged with attempted first-degree residential robbery, first-degree residential robbery and being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm.

Navarro's ex-boyfriend told police that at 11:30 p.m. last Wednesday he was asleep at his condominium when he was awakened by someone banging on his front door, Dublin police Sgt. John White wrote in a probable cause statement.

Based on the time of night and the loud banging the man grabbed his 9mm Glock pistol, according to Sgt. White, who isn't related to Rickey White.

The man looked out his door's peephole, only saw Navarro and cracked his door open slightly but it was forced open by a man in all black clothing who was later determined to be Rickey White, according to the probable cause statement.

An investigation after the shooting indicates that Rickey White allegedly waited in the shadows while Navarro knocked on the man's door, Sgt. White wrote.

Rickey White was armed with a black handgun with an extended magazine that was pointed at Navarro's ex-boyfriend so the ex-boyfriend, who feared for his life, started shooting while running out of his condo away from White, according to the probable cause statement.

White ran further into the man's condo and up the stairs away from the man's gunshots and the man told police that he heard additional gunshots as he ran away, Sgt. White wrote.

The man called 911 and officers who responded to the scene initially detained him because they didn't know what had occurred, although the man was visibly distraught, according to the probable cause statement.

Officers heard screaming coming from the ex-boyfriend's condo and found Rickey White, who was suffering from a gunshot wound to his right leg, the police report said.

As White was being detained he asked officers to help Navarro, who was unresponsive in the entryway with a gunshot wound to her chest, Sgt. White wrote.

Paramedics responded to the condo but Navarro was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rickey White was transported to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley to be treated for his wound but he was later released.

Sgt. White wrote that the investigation into the shooting indicates that Navarro and Rickey White conspired to commit a home invasion robbery at her ex-boyfriend's home because she knew that he had "numerous high-valuable items, including designer valuables."

Sgt. White said Navarro was struck in her chest when her ex-boyfriend and Rickey White exchanged gunfire but at this point police don't know whether she was shot by White or her ex-boyfriend.

Although it's not clear if White fired the shot that killed Navarro, Alameda County prosecutors charged him with murder for her death under the provocative act doctrine.

The doctrine applies when someone commits a dangerous act, such as firing or brandishing a gun or committing an armed robbery, which provokes a third party into killing someone else.

The ex-boyfriend was released and wasn't charged because the evidence in the case, including a search of his cellphone, supported his statement to police, Sgt. White wrote.

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.
Is Nordea Bank Abp (STO:NDA SE) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can be highly rewarding in the long term. On the other hand, investors have been known to buy a stock because of its yield, and then lose money if the company's dividend doesn't live up to expectations.

In this case, Nordea Bank Abp likely looks attractive to investors, given its 9.4% 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. There are a few simple ways to reduce the risks of buying Nordea Bank Abp for its dividend, and we'll go through these below.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

OM:NDA SE Historical Dividend Yield, January 6th 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. Nordea Bank Abp paid out 221% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. 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.

We update our data on Nordea Bank Abp 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 Nordea Bank Abp's dividend payments. During this period the dividend has been stable, which could imply the business could have relatively consistent earnings power. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was 0.20 in 2010, compared to 0.69 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 13% a year over that time.

Story continues

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. Nordea Bank Abp's earnings per share have shrunk at 17% a year over the past five years. With this kind of significant decline, we always wonder what has changed in the business. Dividends are about stability, and Nordea Bank Abp's earnings per share, which support the dividend, have been anything but stable.

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 a bit uncomfortable with its high payout ratio. Moreover, earnings have been shrinking. While the dividends have been fairly steady, we'd wonder for how much longer this will be sustainable if earnings continue to decline. To conclude, we've spotted a couple of potential concerns with Nordea Bank Abp that may make it less than ideal candidate for dividend investors.

Given that earnings are not growing, the dividend does not look nearly so attractive. Very few businesses see earnings consistently shrink year after year in perpetuity though, and so it might be worth seeing what the 16 analysts we track are forecasting for the future.

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.
Europe's biggest photovoltaic plant has already been finalized. Iberdrola has completed in record time, in just one year, construction of the Nunez de Balboa project, which recently obtained its commissioning permit from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and for which Red Electrica de Espana (REE), the national grid, has started energisation tests. Based on these processes, the plant is forecast to start operations in the first quarter of 2020.

With the completion of Nunez de Balboa, with an installed capacity of 500 megawatts (MW) and an investment of nearly 300 million euros, Iberdrola moves forward in its plan to relaunch green energy in Spain, which envisages the installation of 3,000 MW by 2022, with Extremadura at the centre of its strategy.

Nunez de Balboa extends over an area of some 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres) straddling the municipalities of Usagre, Hinojosa del Valle and Bienvenida in the province of Badajoz. The plant, promoted in collaboration with Ecoenergias del Guadiana, is a flagship renewable project that has broken records:

Millions of components: with the installation of 1,430,000 solar panels,115 inverters and two substations involving delivery of a total of 3,200 containers. See more here

with the installation of 1,430,000 solar panels,115 inverters and two substations involving delivery of a total of 3,200 containers. Job creation: it requires more than 1,200 employees during peak-work periods; 70% of them from Extremadura; See more here

it requires more than 1,200 employees during peak-work periods; 70% of them from Extremadura; Revitalising the industrial fabric: its construction has contributed to the development of the value chain, with purchases from some thirty suppliers, many of them local, worth 227 million euros. See more here

its construction has contributed to the development of the value chain, with purchases from some thirty suppliers, many of them local, worth 227 million euros. Action against climate change: the plant will generate clean energy to supply the needs of 250,000 people a year - equivalent to the populations of Caceres and Badajoz combined - and will avoid the emission of 215,000 metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere per year. See more here

the plant will generate clean energy to supply the needs of 250,000 people a year - equivalent to the populations of Caceres and Badajoz combined - and will avoid the emission of 215,000 metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere per year. Project funded by green financing: for its development, Iberdrola received green financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Instituto de Credito Oficial (ICO), Spain's state financial agency. See more here

Promoting sustainable consumption: A pioneer in Spain, with long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in place, the project will supply clean energy to major clients committed to sustainable consumption in the banking, telecommunications and retail sectors.

A pioneer in Spain, with long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in place, the project will supply clean energy to major clients committed to sustainable consumption in the banking, telecommunications and retail sectors. Education and training on renewables: Iberdrola and the Municipalities of Usagre and Llerena are working together on training students of the Campina Sur Vocational School in Extremadura, with educational site visits and practical plant experience. See more here

Another 1,300 MW in renewables in the pipeline in Extremadura

Iberdrola has placed Extremadura at the centre of its renewable strategy in Spain, where it plans to install more than 2,000 MW of photovoltaic energy by 2022.

In addition to Nunez de Balboa (500 MW), the company has more than 1,300 MW in renewables in six pipeline photovoltaic projects: Francisco Pizarro (590 MW), located in Torrecillas de la Tiesa; Ceclavin (328 MW), in Alcantara; Arenales (150 MW), in Caceres; Campo Aranuelo I, II and III (150 MW), in the district of Almaraz; and Majada Alata and San Antonio (50 MW each), in Cedillo. Furthermore it has 300 MW grid access available with which to plan another photovoltaic project.

Thanks to the regional administration's agility in processing renewable projects, construction of the next plant, the Campo Aranuelo complex (Aranuelo I, II and III), with 150 MW, will be able to start in early 2020. This development, which could create another 200 jobs during its construction. has a high level of local involvement, the engineering and environmental works having been awarded to Badajoz-based Ecoenergias del Guadiana and the power transformers being supplied by Faramax, of Caceres. The project also includes an energy storage system involving the use of an innovative battery.





Plan to relaunch clean energy in Spain

Iberdrola's plan to invest in renewable energies in Spain includes the installation of 3,000 new MW by 2022. By 2030, company forecasts point to the installation of 10,000 new MW. These actions will enable jobs to be created for 20,000 people.

Currently, the company's projects in construction and at the detail design stage - wind and photovoltaic - amount to more than 4,000 MW in Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Navarre, Aragon, Murcia, Cantabria and Andalusia.

In Spain, Iberdrola is the leader in renewable energies, with an installed capacity of 16,000 MW (over 30,300 MW worldwide), making its generation facilities some of the cleanest in the energy sector.

Iberdrola's commitment to a decarbonised economic model has led it to earmark 10 billion euros a year for investment in renewable energies, smart electricity distribution networks and storage technologies, on top of the 100 billion already invested since 2001.
A shopkeeper has released shocking footage showing a 'distraction thief' who asked staff to translate a Spanish document so he 'could steal a mobile from the counter'.

It is a trend sweeping across the UK, where suspects divert their victims' attention to steal valuables.

Shop CCTV footage shows a young man dressed in a multi-coloured jacket and navy blue cap entering the dessert parlour Fabio's Gelato in Letchworth, Hertfordshire on January 6 at around 3.20pm.

A shopkeeper has released shocking footage showing a 'distraction thief' stealing a mobile phone (circled)

The man asked staff to help him translate a document with Spanish writing - but it was merely a distraction technique.

As employees were busy trying to translate the document for him, the culprit can be seen eyeing a mobile phone located in the corner just above the till.

One of the workers then hands him back the slip of paper, which he uses as a cover up to sneakily grab the phone before running out of the store.

The man uses the piece of paper as a cover up to sneakily grab the phone before leaving the shop

Fabio's Gelato has since published the video online in the hope it will identify the culprit and has urged shop owners to beware of distraction theft.

They said: 'This member of the public has just stolen our member of teams phone in Letchworth.

'If anyone knows him or spots him now in Letchworth please drop us a message.

'The white paper had some form of Spanish writing on it. He was asking for it to be translated.'
Mumbai police will take legal action against the woman who was carrying a placard saying Free Kashmir during protest, said Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh.

The Mumbai police have identified the woman as one Tejal Prabhu aka Mahek Mirza Prabhu, 37. She is a poet and storyteller.

While speaking with Hindustan Times, Deshmukh clarified that Gateway of India is not the venue where people protest can be held, as it creates problem for other Mumbaiites, and impacts traffic movement.

We will not book any student protesting at Gateway of India. We have only relocated the venue to Azad Maidan, Deshmukh added.

Police have also spotted a woman protesting with a placard written free kashmir. We have identified her and will take legal action against her. We have requested the protesters to not carry any such placard that will land them in trouble, said Deshmukh.

The Mumbai police on Tuesday morning forced out hundreds of protesters from Gateway of India and asked them to shift their protests to Azad Maidan.

The Occupy Gateway protest at the iconic Gateway of India had kicked off hours after students and teachers were attacked in JNU on Sunday night by a masked mob, which went on a rampaging spree for more than two hours.

Around 50 people, taking part in the Occupy Gateway protest, were taken away from outside the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai earlier in the day to Azad Maidan, the default protest area for Mumbai, two kilometres away.
A Delhi judge on Tuesday issued the black warrant to execute the four men who raped and tortured the 23-year-old physiotherapy student on a cold December night in 2012. They shall be hanged at 7 am on 22 January, the court ordered.

The victims mother said the black warrant and the execution of the four convicts will empower women and strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system.

The black warrant, formally called the warrant of execution of a sentence of death, would, however, be put on hold or cancelled if the convicts exercise their right to appeal or file a mercy petition.

The court has given the convicts 14 days to use their legal remedies that could include a curative petition in the Supreme Court or a mercy plea to the President.

Also Read: 2012 gang rape verdict: The men who killed the Delhi braveheart

The trial court had delivered its guilty verdict within a year of the young para-medic students brutal gang-rape that had provoked nationwide outrage and led to the first overhaul of the countrys rape laws in years. But it was much later that the high court confirmed the death penalty.

In 2017, the Supreme Court rejected the first set of appeals against the conviction.

Judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the warrant at the request of the police and the victims mother who had celebrated the top courts 2017 verdict rejecting an appeal against the death sentence as justice at last.

Still waiting for the four men to be sent to the gallows two years later, the victims mother was in tears last month when judge Satish Kumar Arora deferred the case, indicating that he wanted to wait for the mercy petition filed by one of the four convicts to be decided first.

Also read | My daughter got justice: Delhi gang-rape victims mother hails courts execution order

At Tuesdays hearing, he had heard the public prosecutor argue that the black warrant could be issued even before the convicts exercise their legal options. The suggestion that the court should wait for petitions to be filed by the convicts and decided was a delaying tactic, the public prosecutor argued.

After the December hearing, jail authorities had issued a notice to the convicts on December 18 - Akshay, Vinay, Pawan and Mukesh - who are on the death row for the gang-rape.

One of the six accused who were on the bus on which the woman was raped got off lightly because he was not an adult. Another allegedly committed suicide in jail. The remaining four were convicted and sentenced to death.

Three of them had filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against their execution, which was rejected last year. As Tihar jail authorities started preparing for their execution, the fourth convict filed a review petition in the Supreme Court which was rejected.
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HeartBeam, Inc., a cardiac diagnostic mHealth company, today announced it has expanded its Board of Directors adding two seasoned professionals, Rich Ferrari, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist and Marga Ortigas-Wedekind, a marketing executive in the cardiac monitoring space.

Rich Ferrari co-founded De Novo Ventures in 2000 and is managing director. De Novo Ventures has $650 million under management and is dedicated to Medical Devices and Biotechnology.



Prior to founding De Novo Ventures, Rich was a successful CEO of two publicly traded medical technology companies. Rich was a co-founder of CardioThoracic Systems (CTS), the market leader in disposable instruments and systems for performing minimally invasive beating heart bypass surgery, which was acquired by Guidant for $350 million in November 1999. He also led the company to its initial public offering. Prior to CTS, he was CEO at Cardiovascular Imaging Systems which he also took public. CVIS was the first and leading developer of ultrasound imaging catheters which was eventually acquired for $125 million by Boston Scientific. Rich remains very active as Executive Chairman and mentoring many first time CEO's.



Mr. Ferrari also serves as a faculty member of the Stanford Biodesign Emerging Entrepreneurs Forum, as well as a board member for the Stanford | Coulter Foundation for Translational Medicine. Mr. Ferrari is the recipient of the Mallinckrodt Award for Excellence in Medicine and has been a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Rich holds a BS degree from Ashland University and an MBA from the University of South Florida.

Marga Ortigas-Wedekind has 30 years of leadership experience in medical and health technology companies both large and small, public and private, with two significant ones in the cardiovascular space. She is currently Chief Commercial Strategy Officer at the Fogarty Institute, an educational nonprofit in the global MedTech ecosystem. Before that she was the EVP of Marketing and Payor Relations at iRhythm Technologies, a digital healthcare provider of cardiac monitoring services. Prior to that, she was the EVP of Global Marketing and Product Development at Omnicell, Inc., a developer of automated medication dispensing systems and analytics, heading up Marketing, International Sales and Operations and Engineering. Before then, she was the SVP of Marketing, Development and Clinical Affairs at Xoft, Inc., a start-up which developed and commercialized disruptive technology for cancer radiation therapy. She began her career at Guidant Corporation Vascular Intervention where she had various roles in Global Marketing, Strategic Planning and International.

Ms. Ortigas-Wedekind received an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BA in Political Economics from Wellesley College.

"We are truly excited about Rich and Marga joining our Board. They share our enthusiasm for our groundbreaking technology and have been making tremendous contributions from day one of joining the team. Their active involvement will make a huge positive difference as we approach FDA submission followed by the commercialization phase."  Branislav Vajdic, Ph.D., HeartBeam Founder and CEO.

HeartBeam is a Silicon Valley based development stage company with a proprietary cardiovascular mHealth technology. As a diagnostic software company, its focus - in terms of medical value - is to go well beyond many single-lead ECG technologies that are currently in the market. HeartBeam's iCardiologist comprises a credit-card-sized 12-lead capable ECG machine and a cloud-based expert software system that can detect a heart attack with accuracy that is indifferent from a cardiologist. The company's 3D signal-based technology addresses the totality of all cardiovascular patients, estimated to comprise 80 million individuals in the US only. Please visit www.heartbeam.com to learn more.

For media inquiries, please contact Jim O'Rourke at 925-719-4345 or [email protected]

Contact: Jim O'Rourke

Phone: 925-719-4345

Email: [email protected]



SOURCE HeartBeam, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.heartbeam.com/


One of the detectives managing the crime scene where Ciara Glennons body was found has said journalist Adrian Barich was arrested for allegedly entering the police cordon through sand dunes.

In giving evidence on Tuesday, former officer-in-charge of Joondalup detectives, Charles Carver, recalled the intense media interest that ensued after a man looking for cannabis plants made the grim discovery of the 27-year-olds body on April 3, 1997.

Bradley Robert Edwards is facing trial over the Claremont serial killings. Credit:Stephen Kiprillis

Ciaras body was found in Eglinton bushland partly concealed by branches 19 days after she vanished off the streets of Claremont.

Mr Carver recalled how a member of the public escorted him and another detective to the site, but was too distressed and in shock to get closer than 50 metres.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2020) - EMX Royalty Corporation (TSXV: EMX) (NYSE American: EMX) (the "Company" or "EMX"), through its wholly owned subsidiary Eurasia Madencilik Ltd. Sti., is pleased to announce the transfer of the Company's Balya polymetallic1 royalty property in Turkey (the "Property") from Dedeman Madencilik San. ve Tic. A. S. ("Dedeman") to Esan Eczacibasi Endustriyel Hammaddeler San. ve Tic. A.S. ("Esan"). Esan is a private Turkish company that operates 40 mines and eight processing plants, and is one of Turkey's leading producers of raw materials and base metals (see https://www.esan.com.tr/en/about-us/history for more information). Most importantly, Esan operates a lead-zinc mine and flotation mill on the property immediately adjacent to EMX's Balya royalty property. EMX retains a 4% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on the Property that is uncapped and cannot be repurchased.

As previous owner and operator of the Property, Dedeman commenced pilot-scale production in 20152, and reached an agreement to sell the Property and mining facilities to Esan in late 2019. As part of the transaction, EMX has executed a revised royalty agreement with Esan that provides for the blending of materials mined from the Esan property and EMX's royalty property, and provides detailed guidelines regarding royalty payment calculations.

The Balya royalty property is a prime example of the execution of EMX's royalty generation business model. EMX initially acquired Balya from a government auction in Turkey, having recognized the potential for new discoveries of mineralization on the Property. EMX then conducted several phases of exploration on the Property and subsequently established a royalty partnership with Dedeman (and now Esan), who funded further advancement of the project through the exploration and development phases. Esan expects to combine production from the EMX royalty property and its own mining operation on the adjacent license to feed its mill and processing facilities in the Balya mining district. This would represent enhanced royalty revenue from an organically generated EMX royalty asset.

EMX thanks Dedeman for its years of cooperation and partnership with EMX at Balya, and looks forward to Esan's further advancement of the project.

Balya Royalty Property Overview. The Balya royalty property is an EMX brownfields discovery that contains extensive zones of polymetallic carbonate replacement deposit ("CRD") style lead-zinc mineralization, with silver being enriched in the lead sulfide phases (argentiferous galena). The Property is located in the historic Balya mining district of Western Turkey, one of Turkey's oldest and most prolific base metal mining districts. Since originally acquiring the Property from EMX in 2006, Dedeman conducted over 59,000 meters of diamond drilling in addition to underground mine development, with a production shaft and two working levels at 45 and 75 meters below the surface. This work focused on the Hastanetepe Zone of CRD-style mineralization.

The Hastanetepe Zone is a moderately dipping, 750 by 450 meter zone that extends from depths of 10-20 meters to 200-300 meters as multiple stacked horizons of CRD mineralization primarily developed along contacts between limestone and dacitic intrusions. Mineralization is present nearest the surface in the northern portion of the Property, and dips downward and extends toward the current property boundary with Esan's holdings to the southwest (see attached map). Mineralization at Hastanetepe remains open for expansion in multiple directions, and several additional exploration targets remain effectively untested on the Property.

Materials extracted from the Property will be processed through Esan's nearby mill and concentrator facilities. As a result of the transfer, EMX expects royalty payments from the Property to ramp up significantly over the next 1-2 years.

Dr. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release.

____________________

1 Zones of mineralization on the Property are enriched in lead and zinc with byproduct silver and other metals.

2 See EMX news release dated December 23, 2015.

About EMX. EMX is a precious and base metals royalty company. EMX's investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American Exchange under the symbol EMX. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information.

For further information contact:

David M. Cole

President and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (303) 979-6666

Dave@EMXroyalty.com

Scott Close

Director of Investor Relations

Phone: (303) 973-8585

SClose@EMXroyalty.com

Isabel Belger

Investor Relations (Europe)

Phone: +49 178 4909039

IBelger@EMXroyalty.com

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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain "forward looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "believe", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to: unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 (the "MD&A"), and the most recently filed Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the 20-F and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov.





Figure 1. Balya PbEq% Grade x Thickness Drill Map (January 2020).



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1508/51188_ba478258e41978d7_002full.jpg

See www.EMXroyalty.com for further information on the Property and location.

Comments on Sampling, Assaying, QA/QC, Grade x Thickness Calculation, and Adjacent Properties. Dedeman's Balya drill samples were collected in accordance with industry standard best practices. The samples were submitted to ALS laboratories in Izmir, Turkey and Vancouver, Canada (ISO 9001:2000 and 17025:2005 accredited) for sample preparation and analysis. Elemental concentrations were determined by four acid digestion and ICP MS/AES techniques. Over-limit analyses are performed by atomic absorption, and in some cases (>30% Pb and >30% Zn) by volumetric titration techniques. Dedeman performed routine QA/QC analyses on their assay results, including the utilization of certified reference materials, blanks, and duplicate samples.

* Grade x Thickness (PbEq x Meters) calculated from intervals > 2% PbEq. PbEq calculated as Pb%+Zn%+(Ag g/t x 0.026), and assumes that recoveries and net smelter returns are 100%. Assumed metal prices are $1/lb for Pb and Zn, and $17.50/oz for Ag. True widths vary from 60-95% of the drill intercepts.

Esan's project provides context for EMX's Balya royalty property, which occurs in a similar geologic setting. However, this is not necessarily indicative that Balya hosts mineralization with similar tonnages or grades.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51188
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A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was arrested in Madhya Pradesh after a Dalit woman accused him of raping her, the police said on Monday. The leader, Devendra Tamrakar, is media in-charge of the party in Ashok Nagar district, 269 kilometres from state capital Bhopal.

Tamrakar was arrested on Sunday by a police team from Singrauli district, where the crime was reportedly committed.

The woman claimed in her police complaint that Tamrakar raped her on November 30, 2019, and the case was lodged on December 31. The woman said she knew Tamrakar as her husband used to work as a labourer in his agriculture fields, according to the police.

Giving details of the incident, the woman further said in her complaint, On the day of crime he reached my home. He told us that he was going to Varanasi and that we should accompany him as he would help us get a job at his friends mine in Singrauli district. We reached Singrauli in his car the next day. He offered liquor to my husband at a dhaba. He later told me that since my husband was drunk I should accompany him to his friends mine for the job. He took me to a secluded place and raped me despite my resistance. He also threatened me with dire consequences if I reported the incident to police or shared the same with anyone.

Sub-divisional officer of police (SDoP) in Singrauli Kripashankar Dwivedi said, On Monday, the accused was produced before a court from where he was remanded to police custody for further interrogation.

Meanwhile, state BJP media in-charge Lokendra Parashar led a delegation to meet the Superintendent of Police in Ashok Nagar on Monday and submitted a memorandum, which said that Tamrakar was implicated in a false charge.

Parashar said, Devendra Tamrakar was instrumental behind a complaint against a local Congress MLA who is having a fake caste certificate. This is why the police acted against him at the behest of the government.

The Congress has, however, denied the BJP charge.
After making negative public comments regarding the LGBTQ community, several Conroe ISD community members have filed several civil rights complaints against board member Dale Inman with the U.S. Department of Education.

In October, Willis High School invited Houston-area drag queen performer Lynn-Adonis to come speak to the schools cosmetology class about makeup application. In response, Inman, whose daughter attends Willis ISD, posted comments on his public Facebook page in the following days accusing the district of promoting Harris County alternative lifestyles in Montgomery County schools.

In his comments, Inman argued that it is conservative Christian students who need to be protected in schools and that inviting the drag queen performer was unacceptable.

The community reacted to these comments by filling the November Willis ISD Board of Trustees meeting. According to past Conroe Courier coverage, commenters at the meeting were split on the issue.

The comments continued at the November and December meetings of the Conroe ISD board of Trustees, where several community members called on Inman to step down. At the December meeting it was announced that several community members had filed civil rights complaints against Inman as a CISD board member with the U.S. Department of Education.

The Courier is aware of two complaints against Inman. One was filed by a community member who does not want their name shared publicly, the other will be re-filed by Ann-Marie Kennedy, whose daughter attends high school in CISD.

When contacted, Dale Inman chose not to comment for this story.

The basis for the discrimination, according to the complaint, is sex.

Discrimination on the basis of sex is prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as stated on the Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights website. This includes discrimination based on pregnancy, parental status, and sex stereotypes (such as treating persons differently because they do not conform to sex-role expectations or because they are attracted to or are in relationships with persons of the same sex).

Once a complaint is filed, the office will review the submitted information to determine if the complaint is subject to further processing. The Office of Civil Rights must determine that it has all the necessary information and holds jurisdiction over the entity alleged.

If the OCR determines that the received information is appropriate for further processing it will establish a file and assign a case number, letters of notification will be sent to the recipient and the complainant. As of Jan. 6, CISD said it had not been notified by the Office of Civil rights about a complaint. If multiple complaints of the same nature against the same entity are sent around the same time they will be put under the same case number.

Ann-Marie Kennedy will need to re-file her complaint, but decided to file in the first place because she believes that Inmans comments are making LGBTQ students of CISD feel unsafe and discriminated against. She herself is a member of the LGBTQ community.

His position is a position of power and his views are not inclusive to all students within Conroe ISD, Kennedy said.

If LGBTQ kids dont feel supported, Kennedy said, they are more likely to commit suicide or run away from home. She knows that her daughter would be supported at home but she doesnt believe thats the case for all other CISD students.

I dont really care what he thinks, I care what he says in his position, Kennedy said.

jamie.swinnerton@chron.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 15:49:04|Editor: xuxin

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- A Senate trial of U.S. President Donald Trump's impeachment is still in limbo as Republicans and Democrats remain locked in an impasse over its rules while former National Security Advisor John Bolton's offer to testify on Monday made the standoff more awkward.

Trump was impeached by the Democrat-led House last month for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. But the articles of impeachment haven't been delivered to the Republican-controlled Senate, which has thrown the trial into uncertainty.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who initiated an inquiry in September 2019 that led to Trump's impeachment, has tried to give Democrats more leverage in negotiations with Republicans for setting rules for the trial.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had proposed hearings from several witnesses, including Bolton and acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, during the Senate trial, while the Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has rejected the demand.

Bolton's announcement on Monday that he's willing to testify in the impeachment trial if subpoenaed added heat to the standoff.

"I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify," said Bolton, who left the White House before the start of the impeachment inquiry, in a statement.

Bolton also said he has weighed the issues of executive privilege and that after "careful consideration and study" he has decided that he would comply with a Senate subpoena.

Pelosi seized upon Bolton's statement, urging Republicans to agree to Schumer's proposal.

"The President & Sen. McConnell have run out of excuses. They must allow key witnesses to testify, and produce the documents Trump has blocked, so Americans can see the facts for themselves," the California Democrat tweeted. "The Senate cannot be complicit in the President's cover-up."

Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff, who led the House's impeachment inquiry into Trump, called Bolton "an important witness," who refused to voluntarily provide testimony before impeachment investigators.

"Now he is willing to come forward. The Senate must allow testimony from him, Mulvaney and others. The cover-up must end."

A 51-vote majority will be required from the Senate in order to obtain the subpoena for Bolton to testify. Currently, the Senate has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents.

McConnell didn't weigh in on Bolton's offer on Monday. Instead, he said the Senate should follow the "precedent" of then-President Bill Clinton's 1999 impeachment trial.

McConnell has previously said he wants to pass two resolutions, one at the outset of the trial about the rules, and the other passed after opening arguments and questions from senators, which would determine who will be called as witnesses, similar to the Clinton trial.

"The Senate has a unanimous bipartisan precedent for when to handle mid-trial questions such as witnesses - in the middle of the trial," McConnell said on Monday. "That was good enough for President Clinton, so it ought to be good enough for President Trump. Fair is fair."

Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing, on Monday slammed his impeachment case as a "hoax" and "witch hunt."

"The Impeachment Hoax, just a continuation of the Witch Hunt which started even before I won the Election, must end quickly," he tweeted. "It is a con game by the Dems to help with the Election!"

In an anonymous complaint last summer, a whistleblower raised concerns about the White House's interactions with Ukraine, including a phone call between Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump was alleged to have pressed Zelensky into launching investigations that could politically benefit him. Furthermore, the White House allegedly tried to cover it up.

Laurence Tribe, professor of constitutional law at Harvard University, said on Monday that it won't be easy for Bolton to produce testimony in the Senate trial of Trump's impeachment.

"What makes anyone think Trump won't run to court to get an injunction against Bolton, claiming executive privilege and national security, if Bolton receives a subpoena?" Tribe tweeted. "Any competent court would rule against Trump, but Trump would appeal. That litigation could last until Fall."
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Tuesday staged a protest over violence that took place on January 5 at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi.

Protestors were seen carrying placards that read-- 'Yesterday-Jamia, Today-JNU, Tomorrow YOU', 'Oppose Left violence'.

Earlier in the day, nearly 10 people were injured after a clash broke out between NSUI and ABVP workers that took place outside the latter's office in Ahmedabad.

The NSUI workers were protesting against the violence at JNU outside the ABVP office in the city when the clash happened.

Meanwhile, the Delhi police have filed an FIR against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh for allegedly vandalising server room of the JNU and attacking staff members.

More than 30 students of the university, including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, were injured and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the varsity and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Trump hosted Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman in the Oval Office Monday - and didn't tell the press about it.

A photograph tweeted out by the prince - who is the brother of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman - shows him sitting alonside Jared Kushner, Robert O'Brien, Trump's national security adviser, and Victoria Coates, O'Brien's deputy.

Trump is seated at the Resolute Desk.

The meeting was not on the president's schedule, nor was the press pool informed that Prince Khalid was at the White House.

The White House Correspondents' Association slammed the White House for keeping it off-the-books.

'It is disturbing to see the government of Saudi Arabia have more transparency than the White House about a meeting with the president in the Oval Office,' said WHCA President Jonathan Karl in a statement.

Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman (left) tweeted that he had met with President Trump (right) on Monday in the Oval Office

Prince Khalid tweeted about the meeting, which the White House kept off the president's schedule. The pool reporters who covered the president Monday were not informed the Saudi prince was there

Prince Khalid (second from right) tweeted three photos from the meeting including one where you can see President Trump (left) seated at the Resolute Desk, talking to Jared Kushner (right), National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien (center) and his deputy Victoria Coates (second from left)

The third photo shows President Trump listening to the meeting participants. Reporters did not know about the meeting until Prince Khalid's tweets

The WHCA is an organization that represents the interests of the journalists who cover the White House.

Karl said the Trump White House had violated 'long-standing precedent for presidents of both political parties' by keeping reporters in the dark.

'A meeting with a foreign leader in the Oval Office should, at the very least, be on the public schedule with a read-out of the meeting released after it is over,' Karl said.

The White House has yet to respond to DailyMail.com's inquiry about the meeting.

The Trump administration's continued cozy relationship with the Saudis has ruffled feathers with members of Congress, who point to the war in Yemen and the death of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

'Upon directives from HRH the Crown Prince, I had the pleasure of meeting with [President Trump] yesterday to deliver a message from the Crown Prince, and review aspects of our bilateral cooperation, including efforts to confront regional and international challenges,' read Prince Khalid's tweet, which featured three photos from the Oval Office.

In one, he's shaking hands with Trump. The others show the prince seated during the meeting.

Other tweets indicate that Prince Khalid met with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted Monday night that he had met with the Saudi prince.

Pompeo said they met to discuss Trump's 'defensive actions to safeguard U.S. personnel abroad.

'The U.S.-#Saudi relationship remains critically important to counter the Iranian regime's destabilizing behavior and bring about stability in the Middle East,' Pompeo also tweeted.

Pompeo had been in touch with the crown prince a week ago, the same day supporters of an Iranian-backed militia attacked the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

President Trump decided to respond to the siege by killing Iranian general Qassem Soleimani as he was leaving the Baghdad airport.

The Saudi prince was photographed as he arrived at the Department of State Monday in Washington for a sit-down with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (right) also met with Saudi Prince Khalid (left) on Monday, volunteering the information in the form of a tweet

This move has further escalated tensions in the Middle East, with Iraqi parliament members voting they wanted U.S. troops out - though only in a symbolic vote - and Iran vowing revenge.

The Khashoggi death has complicated the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. As did a December shooting, when a Saudi national who was being trained as a pilot by the U.S. shot three people dead and injured eight others at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.

In November 2018, the CIA concluded that the crown prince ordered Khashoggi's assassination in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

Khashoggi needed papers to marry a Turkish woman and Prince Khalid, then the Saudi ambassador to the United States, had told the journalist to go to the consulate in Istanbul to pick them up, assuring him he'd be safe, according to the Washington Post's account of the CIA assessment.
Foreign Ministers of the UK, France, Germany and Italy will hold talks at Brussels with EU diplomatic chief to discuss the raging issues of Iran and Libya. British foreign ministry reportedly said that the latest crisis in the Middle East after the death of Qassem Soleimani will be on the agenda of talks.

"The foreign secretary is travelling to Brussels today for talks with his European counterparts on the situation in the Middle East following the death of Soleimani and on the escalating conflict in Libya," said the foreign ministry. It added that the three European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal will hold discussions on the heightened tension between the US and Iran.

Read: US-Iran Tensions: Know About The Laws Governing The Acts Of War

Haftar's army in Sirte

All four foreign ministers will meet to discuss the Libyan crisis as the self-styled Libyan National Army, headed by Khalifa Haftar, has seized Sirte, a coastal city. Libya is currently going through a severe political and humanitarian crisis after Haftars Army launched a battle against the Tripolis U.N.-recognised government. Thousands of Tripoli residents have been displaced due to the shelling that started earlier this year targeting the outskirts of the Libyan capital.

Read: Death Of Iran General Spurs Anxiety Over Fate Of US Hostages

More than 1,40,000 Libyans have reportedly fled their homes to take shelter at a safer place. Many of those displaced Libyan citizens have taken refuge in various abandoned buildings and even on streets. But their plight has been compounded by the unavailability of running water, electricity, and even sewage pipeline. They complain that the government has provided no help, not even moral support, in these tough times.

Meanwhile, the US-Iran relations have taken an ugly turn after attacks on the American embassy in Baghdad followed by drone strike that killed top Iranian commander. The Iranian parliament has approved a motion to designate the US Military and Department of Defense as terrorist organisations. Last year, the United States had designated Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

Read: Geopolitical Tensions At Their Highest Level This Century: UN Chief Amid US-Iran Tension

Read: NATO Chief Tells Iran To Avoid 'further Violence And Provocations'

(With inputs from agencies)
ALBANY  Greg Floyd, a television reporter for WRGB-CBS6, claims he was "repeatedly assaulted" by a staff member accompanying state Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie at the Capitol on Tuesday  an assertion Heastie's office denied.

"A first for me covering the Assembly at the state Capitol," Floyd tweeted Tuesday afternoon. "I was repeatedly assaulted by this man as I tried to interview Speaker Carl Heastie."

Attached to Floyd's tweet was a still picture that had apparently been captured from a CBS-6 camera. The frame shows an unidentified man holding Heastie's arm with his right hand, with a CBS-6 microphone in the frame. Nothing in the picture indicates the man touched Floyd.

Asked for comment Tuesday, Heastie spokesman Michael Whyland described Floyd's description as "absurd" and "ridiculous."

"He wasnt assaulted and he is completely over-exaggerating," Whyland said in an email. "Any member of the press who has dealt with the Speaker knows he is always respectful and courteous. The Speaker repeatedly told him to reach out to the press office and a staff member had to step in between them in order to allow the speaker to continue walking after the reporter had blocked his path."

Whyland did not respond when asked what position the unidentified man has in Heastie's office.

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

WRGB's news director did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the State Police said they were aware of the tweet but did not "have any information that it was reported to us."

Michael.Williams@timesunion.com or 518-454-5018.
Press Release

7 January 2020

Sustainability is a megatrend in tourism due to the negative environmental, social and economic impacts the industry creates on a global scale. Ralph Hollister, Travel and Tourism Analyst at leading data and analytics company GlobalData, looks at the key sustainability trends that will shape the industry in 2020, ranging from the eradication of single-use plastics to the growing scepticism surrounding offsetting.

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Eradication of single-use plastics

"Due to highly publicized campaigns from environmentalists and consumers against single-use plastics, the tourism industry has started to discard it from day-to-day operations. The startling amount of plastic in the world's oceans has driven this initiative to the forefront of many corporate sustainability strategies."

"Major players in the hotel and airline sectors are vying to become leaders in the reduction of plastic waste. The Akaryn Hotel Group aims to become the first single-use, plastic free hotel company in Asia by 2020. As a provider of luxury, it is vital that the elimination of plastic does not deduct from the guest experience at these resorts."

Eco-friendly aircraft fuel

"The range of pollutants emitted by aircraft engines is a key contributing reason as to why tourism is currently unsustainable. Airlines operating in Norway will have to use a minimum amount of lower-carbon fuels mixed with biofuel from 2020, and more countries may follow suit in order to meet emission targets."

"Schiphol airport and KLM are currently taking part in a number of studies and pilot projects to explore options for developing the biofuels market. Partnerships between major airports and flag carriers may start to become more commonplace in 2020. Many governments own national airlines, meaning they could be used to trial and test bio-fuel in order to reduce national emissions."

Scepticism of offsetting

"Many airlines are focusing on creating impactful offsetting initiatives instead of investing in biofuel due to the perceived costs. Most initiatives do not neutralise the damage caused by air travel in the first place."

"Scepticism around these sustainability strategies may grow in 2020, especially in the millennial segment where transparency is highly important."

Closures of natural attractions

"Honeypot destinations such as Maya Bay and Boracay have shut in recent times due to overtourism. Other locations famed for their natural beauty currently experiencing visitation numbers that exceed carrying capacitymay suffer a similar fate."

"Cano Cristales in Columbia is an example that may become under threat due to the country's growing reputation as a tourist destination. Visitation numbers have been restricted, but human presence can harm the plants' reproduction processes at the natural attraction, which could force at least temporary closure in the near future."

Sourcing locally

"Tourism-related companies are beginning to source locally in a number of different aspects. Tourism leakage creates socially and economically unsustainable impacts as the money does not stay in the destination's economy, instead it goes back to the economy in which the recipient company is based."

"Corporations are now realizing the unsustainable nature of economic leakage and are attempting to help retain some of the money in the destination economy, especially in less developed locations. UK based Tucan Travel is a prime example. The tour operator ensures customers that all destinations benefit from its business by using locally owned accommodation, local tour guides and food sources from nearby locations."
Chairing the first meeting of the ASCC in Hanoi, Dung laid a stress on four priorities of the ASCC in the ASEAN Year 2020, including enhancing regional connectivity, raising public awareness of the ASEAN Community and identity, promoting partnership for peace and sustainable development, and improving ASEANs response capacity and operation efficiency.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) will engage in 33 activities within the ASEAN Year 2020, comprising 10 of the ASCC, 15 in the labour sector, five in social welfare, two in women, and one of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC).

Particularly, the ASCCs coordinating conference held in Da Nang city in April, and the 21st ASCC Council Meeting scheduled in Ho Chi Minh City for October will look to recommend two high-level announcements on human resources development and social works in ASEAN, Dung added.

He asked competent sub-committees to pen detailed plans, organise events at rational costs, and work to ensure safety for participants.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung, who is also Secretary General of the National ASEAN 2020 Committee and head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam, said that the MoLISA plays an important coordinating role in the ASCC in 2020, describing the ASCC as a decisive factor in the development of the ASEAN Community.

The ministry has been on the right track, showing its thorough understanding of ASEAN and knowing how to optimise available resources, he said.

Vietnam has selected the theme Cohesive and Responsive for the ASEAN Year 2020, and received strong support from ASEAN member states and partners, Dung said, holding the two elements are interdependent and complimentary.

Under the theme, Vietnam will promote five priorities during its chairmanship year, including strengthening ASEAN solidarity and unity, promoting regional connectivity and adaptability to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, fostering awareness of the ASEAN community and identity, stepping up partnerships for peace and sustainable development, and improving the adaptability and operational efficiency of the ASEAN apparatus.
New Delhi: Selling national carrier Air India to private players is anti-national and the disinvestment cannot be justified given the losses incurred by the state-run airline, senior CPI leader and Rajya Sabha member Binoy Viswam said. A vocal critic of the Modi government and its economic policies, Viswam said that government needs to find out the reasons for the airline's losses instead of putting it on the block.

He vowed to oppose the government's privatisation overdrive in the upcoming budget session of Parliament that is expected to begin in the last week of January.

"Any Indian citizen with national pride will oppose it. I wonder why BJP, which always talks of nationalism from the rooftop, is selling the national assets like Air India and BPCL. All of them are now on sale. They (government) are looking at foreign capital also for the sale to go through. They are rolling out the red carpet for foreigners to come and occupy Indian playing ground," he told IANS.

"The Left will not allow this. We will oppose it," Viswam added.

The government has decided to sell Air India lock, stock and barrel by the end of current financial year and may come out with preliminary information memorandum (PIM) inviting expression of interest (EoI) from private players in the current month.

"We are in the process of completing the work for inviting EoI. We should be able to do it shortly," said a top Aviation Ministry official.

Cash-starved Air India has stayed afloat on massive bail-out package cleared by the UPA-II government in 2012. While fund infusion was linked to operational and financial performance, the airline has barely improved its position. Stating that government would prefer putting in public money into social sector, the Modi 1.0 government started the sale process, but failed with not even a singly private player showing interest.

In the second attempt, the government has decided to sweeten the deal for successful disinvestment.

CPI MP Viswam is, however, not convinced with the reasons put forward by the government for Air India's sale. On the perennial loss posted by the airline, the Left MP said that the government needed to find the reasons for it noting the reasons were not at the bottom but at the top.

"What they are doing is that in the name of loss-making they want to kill the prestigious and established Air India which has great brand name all over the world," he said.

A Ministerial panel headed by Home Minister Amit Shah is tasked to finalise the contours of Air India sale. In its first meeting, the panel had decided to sell the entire 100 per cent government holding in the airline to private companies instead of 76 per cent in the previous attempt.

(Nirbhay Kumar can be contacted at nirbhay.k@ians.in)




EUGENE, Ore. -- Congressman Peter DeFazio held a press conference Monday, reacting to rising tensions with Iran.

Following the recent U.S. drone strike that killed one of Iran's top military leaders, General Qasem Soleimani, DeFazio shared his thoughts about a potential war.

He said President Donald Trump's decision to leave the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 gave them the opportunity to move forward on developing a nuclear weapon.

DeFazio said he can't even begin to imagine how this will unfold, but he did call on his constituents to take action.

"You see the protests in the Middle East over the killing of Soleimani, where hundreds of thousands of people in Iraq and Iran and elsewhere turned out, well, we need hundreds of thousands of people to turn out here in the United States and protest the idea of going to war with Iran," said DeFazio.

He also called Trump's rationale for the attack in the first place misguided, saying that when Trump said Soleimani played a part in the 9/11 attacks, that wasn't true.

"ISIS is Sunni," he said. "Soleimani is famous for eradicating ISIS and nowhere in the 9/11 or any other intelligence is there any hint that there is any involvement by Iran in the 9/11 attacks."

He said he believes Congress will try and take away the "weak read" the Trump Administration is relying upon to go to war.

He also said that the decision to kill Soleimani was rejected by the Obama and George W. Bush administrations.

"Both President Bush and President Obama both considered and rejected taking out Soleimani," said DeFazio. "He was a bad guy. But they rejected it because they knew the consequences would be extraordinary."
Standard Chartered Bank Korea CEO Park Jong-bok delivers an opening remark during a New Year's meeting with staff at its headquarters in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Standard Chartered Bank Korea



By Lee Min-hyung



Standard Chartered (SC) Bank Korea CEO Park Jong-bok has expressed willingness to expand partnerships with Toss  a mobile money transfer app operated by Viva Republica  and other fintech players, as part of its major management strategy in 2020.



"We are going to enhance international competitiveness along with fintech companies by enabling them to create more opportunities and innovate the ecosystem," he told reporters while participating in a New Year's meeting with finance leaders, Jan. 3.



Viva Republica, a Seoul-based fintech startup, is set to open an internet-only bank, Toss Bank, in 2021 after receiving a preliminary license to operate the bank in December. SC Bank Korea participates in the Toss Bank consortium for its full-fledged operation.



"(In 2020), we will enhance ties with Toss for the joint internet-only bank project," Park added.





Standard Chartered (SC) Bank Korea CEO Park Jong-bok, front row fourth from left, poses with the lender's employees who were awarded for their achievements in 2019, at the bank's headquarters in central Seoul, Monday. The award ceremony was held on the sidelines of a "town hall meeting" Park held with executives and employees the same day. / Courtesy of SC Bank Korea
ValvTechnologies takes first place at the 2019 Fall Fit Company Challenge.

The Fit Company Challenge, presented by Fit Company Institute, is a bi-annual fitness competition designed to encourage employees to be active in the office and on the field. ValvTechnologies, Inc. the global leader in the design and manufacturing of zero-leakage valve solutions, took first place overall in the medium division at last years fall event.

Challengers from companies in the Houston area exhibited their mental and physical stamina as they competed against each other in a three-course fitness event designed to test their strength, agility and endurance.

ValvTechnologies fit team trained over the course of three months, exercising together to complete a variety of obstacles that incorporated weightlifting, running and core strength, said Julie Bodine, ValvTechnologies Director of Global Marketing. Every year, we look forward to participating in the Fit Challenge. Its an opportunity to highlight ValvTechnologies commitment to wellness and challenge ourselves to be the best.

To learn more about the Fit Company Challenge and view the wall of champions, visit: http://www.fitcompany.com.

About ValvTechnologies

Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, ValvTechnologies is the leading manufacturer of zero-leakage, high-performance isolation valve solutions providing an unsurpassed level of severe service isolation services and reliability to customers in the fossil power, nuclear generation, upstream oil and gas, downstream and chemical processing, mining and minerals, pulp and paper and other specialized industries.

Employing more than 400 people worldwide, ValvTechnologies has offices in Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Malaysia, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.

In addition, ValvTechnologies partners with stocking distributors, independent representatives and authorized repair centers to service customers around the world.

To find out more about the products and services offered or to locate a representative, visit our website at http://www.valv.com. Connect with ValvTechnologies on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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Leni Robredo said only 1 percent of the estimated supply of methamphetamine has been seized in the last three years.

Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes campaign against illegal drugs has failed to substantially eradicate the menace and ensnare important drug lords, and should be reformed to prevent further bloodshed, the countrys vice president said late on Monday.

Vice President Leni Robredo, who leads the opposition, also called for a stop to the police practice of home inspections that have led to the killings of petty drug suspects.

The vice president has been a longtime critic of Dutertes drug crackdown and her latest comments are likely to deepen the political divide between the two leaders.

Presidents and vice presidents are elected separately in the Philippines, resulting in candidates from rival parties like Duterte and Robredo ending up in the countrys top leadership and often disagreeing on policies.

Robredo said only about 1 percent of the estimated supply of methamphetamine, a powerful banned stimulant known locally as shabu, has been seized in the last three years.

Duterte launched the crackdown  his signature policy  when he took office in mid-2016.





Very clearly, based on official data, despite the killings of Filipinos and all the money spent, the amount of shabu and drug money weve seized has not gone beyond 1 percent of those in circulation, Robredo said at a news conference.

If we really want to end the scourge of illegal drugs, we need to run after the big suppliers and not just the small-time pushers, she added, saying that the campaign would not succeed unless it was reformed to be more strategic, better organised and closely supervised in all aspects by the president.

Mounting death toll

In December, the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) announced that an estimated 5,552 people had been killed during government operations between July 1, 2016, and November 30, 2019.

But authorities had already released data in June 2019 saying that the death toll was 6,600 as of May 2019, raising questions about the governments handling of the data.

Human rights advocates argue the number of deaths reached at least 27,000 as of June 2019.

A mass is held during the wake of three-year-old Myca Ulpina, who died in crossfire between police and illegal drugs suspects in June 2019 in Rizal province just outside of Manila [File: Rolex dela Pena/EPA]

The Philippine vice presidents latest remarks were largely based on information gathered during a brief stint in a government anti-drugs committee, which Duterte asked her to help lead last year after her constant criticisms of his bloody crackdown.

Robredo surprised many by accepting the offer, but Duterte fired her after 18 days after she started seeking confidential information about the campaign.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo dismissed Robredos statements, saying Dutertes campaign had succeeded in closing many drug laboratories and forcing the surrender of a large number of drug suspects.

Big-time drug lords have also been neutralised, Panelo said, although he failed to immediately provide a list of names.

If you noticed, when she was threatening to release this report, she implied that there were some irregularities discovered, a bomb that would explode on your face. Its a dud, Panelo told reporters.





Robredo, a 54-year-old former human rights lawyer and political newcomer, has openly criticised the campaign against illegal drugs launched by Duterte, a longtime city mayor and state prosecutor known for his extra-tough approach on crime and brash speaking style.

She said she accepted Dutertes offer to help oversee the crackdown despite warnings by her advisers and allies so that she could help save lives.

One of her first moves was to request confidential documents from law enforcers, including a list of key drug suspects singled out under Dutertes campaign.

Duterte warned Robredo about sharing confidential information about the anti-drug campaign with his foreign critics, including human rights advocates.

At least two complaints about mass murder have been filed before the International Criminal Court over the deaths, but Duterte and the police have denied condoning extrajudicial killings under the crackdown.

Duterte has warned that his bloody campaign will continue up to the last day of his presidency in June 2022.
Trade unions call nationwide strike on 8 January against govt policies

Trade unions have given a nationwide strike call on 8 January to protest against the policies of the central government, including labour law changes and the proposed bank mergers. Unions claim about 250 million working people would participate in the nationwide strike.

The unions are also demanding a hike in the minimum wage to Rs21,000-24,000 per month, a halt to privatisation of public sector undertakings, and the repeal of the Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register for Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR).

The strike is likely to hit banking sectors, including ATM services, as bank unions have asked their employees to boycott their work.

Meanwhile, Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) is reported to have said that union labour minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar had invited leaders of the central trade unions to inform them that the government has been taking all the steps for the welfare of workers.

However, the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal has directed that all the state government offices shall remain open on the day. "In view of call given by different trade unions and others for a 24 hours All India Industrial strike on January 8, it has been decided that all state government offices including those provided grants-in-aid by state government shall remain open and all the employees shall report for duty on that date," a memorandum issued by Finance (Audit) Department of West Bengal government said.

It said no casual leave for absence either in the first half of the day or in the second half or for the whole day nor any other leave shall be granted to any employee on the said date.

The government said that employees who are on leave 7 January, shall have to report for duty on the day. The government said that the absence of employees on those days will be treated as `dies-non` and no salary will be admissible unless such absence is covered by reasons such as hospitalisation and bereavement in the family.
Iran said it is evaluating 13 possible ways to inflict a "historic nightmare" on the U.S. for killing a powerful Iranian general, whose burial was postponed after dozens of mourners died in a stampede.

General Qassem Soleimani's exploits in conflicts from Syria to Yemen made him a national hero, and hundreds of thousands have turned out this week as his funeral procession stopped in various cities, first in Iraq, where he was killed in a drone strike, and later Iran. But the masses that met the cortege ahead of his burial overwhelmed his southeastern hometown, leaving more than 50 dead and 213 injured, state TV reported.

The burial was postponed indefinitely, state-run Islamic Republic News Agency said. Some of those hurt as two large crowds merged at an intersection were in a critical condition, emergency officials said.

The tragedy unfolded after Iran served notice that it was assessing 13 scenarios for reprisal.

"Even if the weakest of these scenarios gains a consensus, its implementation can be a historic nightmare for the Americans," Ali Shamkhani, the head of Iran's National Security Council, was cited as saying by Iran's semi-official Fars news agency. "For now, for intelligence reasons, we cannot provide more information to the media."

Iranian officials have previously said that U.S. forces in the region will be targets, and the Iranian parliament on Tuesday designated the Pentagon and affiliated companies as terrorists. The U.S. issued a warning to shipping in the Middle East over the possibility of Iranian action against U.S. maritime interests, the Associated Press reported, citing a statement.

The menacing comments from Shamkhani, which were later denied by the security council, briefly roiled markets. But U.S. equity futures edged higher, and stocks in Europe and Asia later jumped as investors set aside fears about escalating tensions in the Middle East.

In Brussels, the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the U.K. are holding an emergency meeting to discuss their options to try and defuse tensions.

A German lawmaker, Roderich Kiesewetter, said some German troops would temporarily be withdrawn from Iraq, and in Lebanon, the U.S. embassy tightened security in anticipation of retribution, according to a local news report.

The general directed the foreign operations of Iran's military, and was instrumental in extending Tehran's influence across the Middle East through a network of proxy militias. His death near Baghdad's airport has rippled through the region, with the U.S. and its allies on alert for retaliation and questions swirling about the continued U.S. military presence in Iraq, deployed there to combat Islamic State and serve as a counterweight against Iran's formidable influence.

U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien told Fox News on Tuesday that Soleimani was in Iraq planning attacks on "facilities" that contained American diplomats and troops.

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.

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister, said earlier in Tehran that the U.S. would suffer consequences for the killing of Soleimani "at a time and place of Iran's choosing." The countdown has begun for the U.S. exit from the Middle East, he said, warning of a multi-generational war should the region continue to rely on the U.S. presence.

The Pentagon dispatched additional forces to the Middle East, even as conflicting signs emerged about Washington's commitment to remaining in Iraq.

The three-ship Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group was ordered to move to the Persian Gulf region from the Mediterranean, where it has been exercising, according to a U.S. official. The group, which includes about 2,200 Marines and a helicopter unit, follows the deployment of about 3,500 soldiers from the Army's 82nd Airborne to Kuwait late last week.

The show of force followed reports of a letter telling U.S. military officials in Baghdad that American personnel were repositioning in preparation to leave Iraq. Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Monday that a letter to that effect was a draft and should never have been sent. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, at a briefing alongside Milley, said "there is no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave."
The last lawsuit by the parents of Kate Steinle  against the U.S. government for employing a ranger who left the fatal handgun unlocked in a car on a downtown San Francisco street  was dismissed by a federal magistrate.

Ranger John Woychowski, and by implication the U.S. Bureau of Land Management that employed him, may have been negligent by leaving the handgun unlocked in a backpack on the passenger side of his private sport utility vehicle, vulnerable to a thief who smashed the vehicles windows one night in June 2015, said Chief U.S. Magistrate Joseph Spero.

But it was 3 days later, on July 1, that Steinle, 32, was fatally wounded by a bullet from the gun that had bounced off the pavement and struck her as she was walking along Pier 14 with her father. Too much time had passed, and too many events had intervened, to make any negligence by the government a cause of her death, Spero said last week.

The gun wound up in the hands of Jose Inez Garcia Zarate, an undocumented immigrant. He denied intentionally shooting it and said he had found it wrapped in a towel and immediately dropped it as it went off.

A San Francisco jury acquitted Garcia Zarate of murder and assault charges and convicted him only of being a felon in possession of a gun. A state appeals court overturned that conviction and said the jury should have been allowed to decide whether he held only momentary possession of the weapon, which would not have been a crime.

Local prosecutors then dropped that charge. But Garcia Zarate, 46, who had been behind bars since the shooting, remains in custody facing federal charges of being a felon and an undocumented immigrant in possession of a gun and ammunition.

Garcia Zarate had been deported five times to his native Mexico and had just spent 46 months in federal prison for illegal re-entry when federal officials turned him over to San Francisco in March 2015 to face an old marijuana charge. City prosecutors dropped that charge, and then-Sheriff Ross Mirkarimis office released Garcia Zarate without notifying immigration agents, who had requested detention until they could pick him up. Mirkarimi cited San Franciscos sanctuary policy, which allowed local officials to disregard such requests.

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.

Steinles parents, Jim Steinle and Elizabeth Sullivan, sued both the city and the federal government for damages. Spero dismissed their claims against San Francisco in 2017, saying there had been no evidence that Garcia Zarate was dangerous and federal law did not require the city to inform the government of his release. The magistrate allowed the parents to gather more evidence in their suit against the government, but dismissed that case last Monday.

Carelessness that leads to a theft can sometimes be grounds for a lawsuit, Spero said  for example, the owner of a truck or a bulldozer who leaves the key in the ignition can be sued for the havoc caused by thieves. But in this case, he said, there is no evidence that Garcia Zarate stole the gun and, other than the identity of the weapon, no evidence that the shooting was in any way connected with the theft.

Alison Cordova, a lawyer for Steinles parents, said they would appeal the ruling. Woychowski could have stored the gun in a locked glove compartment or the trunk, she said, and without the rangers carelessness, Kate would be alive.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
An author who spent a year researching at the college where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's nanny of choice trained has revealed the types of tips and skills students are taught there.

Maria Borrallo, who was hired by Kate Middleton and Prince William, both 37, to help look after Prince George, six, when he was eight months old, now cares for Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince Louis, one, too.

The 'Spanish supernanny' trained at the prestigious Norland College which has been producing childminders for the rich and famous since 1892.

Now, Louise Heren, author of Nanny in a Book, has told of the rules she is likely to have learned - including spotting signs of tantrums before they unfold and why they must never use the word 'kids.'

'I've spoken to nannies who have worked with other royal families and life is pretty normal,' Louise explained, speaking to Mirror Online.

Author Louise Heren spent a year at the college where Maria Borrallo trained and has revealed the skills she is likely to have learned. Pictured, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Prince Louis, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Cornwall, on the balcony of Buckingham Place watching the flypast after the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

Prince George plays with the wheels of Princess Charlotte's pram as the Queen and nanny, Maria Borrallo looks on as they leave the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate for the Christening of Princess Charlotte on July 5, 2015 in King's Lynn

Prince George of Cambridge is held by his nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo as he waves from the window of Buckingham Palace as he watches the Trooping Tthe Colour on June 13, 2015 in London

'You get up, have breakfast, you go to school and you wear your school uniform whether you like it or not. It would be quite like the average British school children.'

INCLUDE THE CHILDREN

When the children reach a certain age, Norland Nannies encourage them to play a part in organising each day.

If they're allowed an option to pick what's on the agenda, they're more likely to get on board with the activity.

'It means that the nanny has got some control but the child has chosen what to do and is happy that they got the choice,' Louise told the publication.

GIVE A RUN DOWN OF THE DAY AHEAD BEFORE STEPPING OUT

Unlike day-to-day nannies, Maria has the added pressure of raising a future king and preparing the children for royal outings.

Louise believes the Duchess of Cambridge helps to prepare the young royals ahead of any tours or events by giving them a breakdown of the day and what they can expect.

This includes anyone they may encounter and how they should respond with their actions - such as waving back.

Louise added: 'Her job is to keep them happy, safe and well but equally they need to be presentable and well behaved when they are on parade.'

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hired Maria in 2014, when Prince George was eight-months-old. Pictured, leaving the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London, with newborn Prince George

Charlotte waving as she arrives for her first day at school with her brother Prince George and her parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on 5 September 2019

Former Private Secretary to the Duchess of Cambridge Rebecca Deacon, and Nanny Maria Borrallo arrive at Sydney Airport on on April 16, 2014 in Sydney

MEAL ETIQUETTE

There's one main word that Norland nannies swear by when it comes to meal time - and that's 'routine.'

The time of day where the young royals sit down and eat is also seen as an opportunity for them to learn.

This includes everything from them practising their math skills by counting out the cutlery and china, to developing their knowledge of colour when selecting certain items.

To avoid a disgruntled child, nannies are also taught to give the children a choice when it comes to food - as that way, if the child says 'no,' you're granted a valid response.

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE YOUNG ROYALS

Louise believes Maria is likely to take a 'nurturing and loving' approach when it comes to the children, but is also capable of dishing out discipline when necessary.

'It is about training the children by example rather than just telling them,' she added. 'It's about saying "why did you do that? Think about how that would have been received".'

Meanwhile, Louise says the college also banned the word 'kids,' meaning Maria probably refers to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as 'children' instead.

ABOUT MARIA BORRALLO William and Kate were said to be 'delighted' that the full-time nanny decided to join their royal household back in 2014. She joined them on their tour of Australia and New Zealand - and will have been specially trained in self defence as well as how to 'skid pan' a car in poor weather conditions. At the time, a Kensington Palace spokesman said: 'Maria is a full-time nanny, who started work with us recently, and will be accompanying the Duke and Duchess and Prince George to New Zealand and Australia. He added: 'We will not be giving further details on Maria or her employment, except to say that the Duke and Duchess are of course delighted she has chosen to join them.' The institution's students are known for their distinctive uniforms and are schooled in all aspects of looking after youngsters during their three-year degree course. The training costs 36,000 in total and the college in Bath recently added martial arts training and stunt driving to its curriculum to cater for modern clients - many of whom are celebrities and the super-rich. Tae Kwon-Do is believed to be the martial art of choice - which has been specially adapted to include how to dodge a potential kidnapper with a pram. Nannies are also trained in how to deal with paparazzi and are taken to Castle Combe Racing Circuit in Wiltshire to perfect their driving skills and learn how to drive at high speed in any weather condition. Driving away from pursuing photographers being the main reason for the training. Advertisement

SLEEPING PATTERNS

It seems routine is key no matter what time of day, as similarly to meal times, it's just as important when it comes to bedtimes, too.

Louise points out that bath, pyjamas and a nighttime story are all indicative to a child that it's soon time for some shuteye - and will help them learn to relax and unwind beforehand.

She added that another part of the job is helping the young royals feel comfortable on their own in the dark, so they're happy to stay the night in their own beds.

In her book, Louise commented: 'Although a nightlight is not necessary for helping your baby go off to sleep, a low lamp you can switch on when checking on him that does not create a blaze of light could be useful.'

TODDLER TANTRUMS

With every child embodying different traits, it's near impossible for students to be taught one specific rule on how to go about a child throwing a tantrum.

Instead, those who go to the prestigious Norland College are taught to pick up on any early signs that may take place before a meltdown occurs.

Learning what may cause a tantrum will not only ensure it is dealt with sooner, but can also help it to be prevented from happening again in the future.
Hunt received the award for the solar panels installed on 284 homes at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, S.C. In collaboration with Duke Energy, Hunt installed 1,350 kilowatts DC (kWdc) of generating capacity that is helping reduce utility bills for the housing project. Duke Energy performed extensive feeder studies to ensure that the solar panels integrated well into our system. The project was enabled by a Duke Energy rebate of more than $1 million.

"This is a great example of Hunt's internal capabilities as well as our commitment to our external partnerships with the Air Force, Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), Shaw base leadership, and Duke Energy," said John Hoyt, Vice President for Hunt Military Communities. "Moreover, this project is helping to offset approximately 40% of the total annual electrical consumption at Shaw Military Housing and all of those savings are kept at the project and will benefit the sustainment of the houses for our airman."

"This is part of our ongoing effort to support the U.S. Air Force in meeting its long-term energy goals across the country," explained Abe Weiner, Vice President at Hunt. "The Shaw Solar project exemplifies how public-private partnerships are able to enhance energy sustainability and resiliency greatly."

Other award-winning organizations included:

Walmart Stores, multiple locations

Category: Solution Innovations, Enterprise

Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, N.C.

Category: Storm Restoration

Lake Wales Care Center, Lake Wales, Fla.

Category: Community Excellence

First Quality Tissue, Anderson, S.C.

Category: Economic Development

Bon Secours, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Category: Solution Innovation, Mid-Market

"The businesses and organizations selected for this award are truly outstanding," said Chris Edge, Duke Energy vice president of large business customers. "Each one is determined to serve customers and stakeholders in ways that benefit their companies and their communities, and delivers value to Duke Energy as well."

About Hunt Military Communities

Hunt's Military Communities division is a 50-year partnership created between the Department of Defense and Hunt through the Military Housing Privatization Act. As part of the partnership, Hunt owns approximately 52,000 units spread across more than 40 military installations on Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army installations and is the largest privatized military housing developer in the nation. For more information, visit www.huntmilitarycommunities.com.

About Duke Energy

Duke Energy, a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.

Duke Energy is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit's regulated utilities serve approximately 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states  North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to more than 1.6 million customers in five states  North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid projects.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2019 "World's Most Admired Companies" list, and Forbes' 2019 "America's Best Employers" list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

SOURCE Hunt Military Communities

Related Links

http://www.huntmilitarycommunities.com


Reynhard Sinaga, 36, was yesterday jailed for a minimum of 30 years having been convicted of raping dozens of men and filming the attacks on his mobile phone

A man who went on a 'bizarre' Tinder date with Britain's most prolific rapist described how he thought the man was 'just a bit weird'.

Reynhard Sinaga, 36, was yesterday jailed for a minimum of 30 years having been convicted of raping dozens of men and filming the attacks on his mobile phone.

The man, who was not attacked by Sinaga said he went on a date with the Indonesian student in Manchester's Gay Village having been matched on Tinder.

The man told the Manchester Evening News that he stopped the date with Sinaga because he had a strange feeling about him - even though the post-graduate student seemed friendly and non-threatening.

According to the man, who does not wish to be named, he corresponded with Sinaga for around a week before finally agreeing to meet up.

He revealed: 'He was saying nice, sweet things. Just normal conversations - a little bit about our days and our interests and our coffee orders. Stupid stuff like that.

'He said he was working on his thesis in a coffee shop. He was having a soy latte.'

At one stage Sinaga told the man that he likes to make sure his 'drunken friends are all okay'.

The pair met on a Wednesday night at a venue on Canal Street. However, the man felt unconfortable after meeting Sinaga for the first time.

He claimed: 'I ended up leaving after about an hour. It was just a bit weird.

'When I met him I remember thinking he looked a but older than I was expecting him to look because he had made himself look a bit younger on photos. I thought he looked a bit older.'

He admitted he did not feel comfortable with Sinaga and decided to bring the date to a close.

The man said on April 1, 2017 police contacted him as they had recovered messages between him and Sinaga on the rapist's mobile phone.

The man told officers about their encounter but assured them that he had not been attacked as he had gone home early from the date.

Sinaga matched with a man over Tinder and they agreed to go on a date in Manchester's Gay Village. Luckily for the man, he decided to go home after deciding that the Indonesian student, pictured, was 'a bit weird'

Churchgoer Sinaga lived in Manchester city centre for more than a decade while studying various university courses.

A gay man who looks younger than his age of 36, he chose to live close to the gay village and the Canal Street area where attitudes to homosexuality were very different than in his home nation of Indonesia.

Sinaga is said to have had a small, close-knit group of friends who believed him to be friendly and good-natured.

Born in the Jambi province of Indonesia into a relatively wealthy family, Sinaga arrived in the UK on a student visa in 2007 financed by his parents and remained in the country on those terms for the next 10 years.

Sinaga graduated from the University of Manchester in 2009 with an MSc degree in Planning and again in 2011 with an MA degree in Sociology.

No concerns of a sexual nature, or of any other matters, were ever raised with the university, confirmed officials.

Sinaga, pictured, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years having been convicted of 159 offences - including 136 rapes. Police have not yet identified all of Sinaga's victims

From 2012 he commuted monthly to the University of Leeds as part of his studies for a PhD.

Sinaga attended regular supervision meetings to help with his thesis entitled 'Sexuality and everyday transnationalism. South Asian gay and bisexual men in Manchester'.

The university said he did not appear to spend much time in the city, other than for the monthly supervision sessions, and did not take an active part in research groups or societies.

In June 2017 he was suspended immediately after his arrest and his student status was officially rescinded following conviction.

Greater Manchester Police said there is no indication that his research was used as a basis for his crimes.

During a previous sentencing hearing the court received references from Sinaga's mother and sister but Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said both knew nothing of 'the cold, cunning and calculated rapist'.

Police believe Sinaga would 'spike' drinks in his Manchester apartment so he would be able to sexually assault his victims while also filming them

A character testament was also received from St Chrysostom's Church, in Victoria Park, Manchester - an Anglican church of the Catholic tradition - where Sinaga had attended.

The judge said: 'It is almost beyond belief that someone who could profess some Christian faith could at the same time have been committing such wicked and evil crimes.'

In a statement, the Diocese of Manchester said: 'Reynhard Sinaga is guilty of the most appalling crimes.

'We utterly condemn his actions and our thoughts and prayers today go out to his victims.

'Clergy, and others in our churches who work with those affected by abuse, are ready to offer support to any affected by these horrific revelations.

'We can confirm that Reynhard Sinaga did worship occasionally at a city centre church and it appears that nobody who came into contact with him had any inkling of his crimes.'
By PTI

SRINAGAR: Accusing her security personnel of manhandling her to stop her from visiting her grandfather Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's grave on his fourth death anniversary, Iltija Mufti, the daughter of jailed PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, on Tuesday said she will seek the removal of her security cover.

Iltija said she was stopped by the security personnel posted at her house from leaving the premises when she wanted to visit her grandfather's grave at Bijbehara in Anantnag district.

"Not only was I stopped but I was also manhandled by the security personnel who are supposedly posted for my protection. I have suffered bruises on my arms and legs," Iltija told PTI.

She said she will write to the Special Security Group's director to withdraw her security cover.

ALSO READ | SC asks Centre to look into PIL on RBI branch exchanging currency defaced by Kashmiri separatists

"If the security is not withdrawn within a couple of days, I will move court (for it)," she added.

Iltija said it was ironic that the Centre was making claims about normalcy in Kashmir but she could not visit the grave of her grandfather, a former home minister of the country.

The PDP had applied for permission to hold a prayer meeting at the Bijbehara grave of the former chief minister but it was denied.

Asked if anyone from the family was allowed to visit Sayeed's grave, Iltija said she did not know.

"Myself and my uncle Tassaduq Mufti were not allowed," she added.

Sayeed died on 7 January 2016 at AIIMS in Delhi after being admitted there briefly.
High-profile authors are raising money for the nation's bushfire crisis by auctioning-off rare copies of their books, offering writing advice and even dangling a sneak-peek at their latest manuscript.

Young Adult writers Emily Gale and Nova Weetman came up with the idea for an "Authors for Fireys" fundraiser a fortnight ago. The concept, which launched on Sunday, involves writers selling their work on social media to the person who pledges the biggest donation to Victoria's Country Fire Authority.

Australian author Hannah Kent.

Ms Gale said the idea of a Twitter auction was borrowed from fellow author Zana Fraillon, who has raised money for refugees in the past, because it distributes the fundraising workload. Instead of a centralised fundraising committee or donations website, anyone can offer an item for auction on social media and promote it using the "Authors for Fireys" hashtag. The auction winner will then have to send their donation receipt before being sent the prize.

Ms Gale said she and other authors were urging people to donate to the CFA given comedian Celeste Barber's multi-million dollar fundraiser for NSW's Rural Fire Service. (By Monday afternoon, the comedian's bushfire appeal had raised $30 million  more than 10 times the total amount of donations the RFS received in 2019.)
Alliance councillor Kate Nicholl brought her seven-week-old son Cian to her first full Belfast City Council meeting since giving birth.

It wasn't the first time baby Cian was at council business, having attended a committee meeting when he was just four-weeks-old.

Although councillors do not get maternity leave, Ms Nicholl said she was ready to go back to meetings.

Im not complaining, she told the Belfast Telegraph.

Its not a normal job, its part time and you fit it around your own schedule.

However, she said she was considering how she will fit her new commitments as a mother around her role as a Belfast City Council representative for Balmoral in the south of the city with her full-time job in Queen's University.

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At the end of last year former Lord Mayor and Alliance councillor Nuala McAllister said she would bring a motion before Belfast City Council to allow representatives maternity leave.

She said she had been forced at times to take her newborn and toddler to meetings less than six weeks after giving birth. Ms McAllister gave birth to her first son Finn in 2016, while second son Art arrived in November 2018.

Ms Nicholl added: "What Nuala was specifically talking about was recording absences and being able to give maternity leave as the reason.

"So if you miss any meeting, it's just recorded as your apologies but if you've just had a baby, for it to be recorded as maternity reasons.

"I don't know if a specific maternity policy would be needed for me but Nuala wants to look into it in a bit more detail and how we could have a proxy system like Westminster," she said.

"Then you avoid having articles written about how you've missed loads of meetings when you've actually just had a baby."

Last year, the Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy said MPs were being forced to choose between carrying out their duties to their constituents and becoming parents.

Ipsa - the body which regulates MPs' pay - does not automatically provide paid cover for MPs on parental leave.

MPs are paid in full for the whole period.

Ms Nicholl said: "It's difficult anyway being a woman in politics but especially when you suddenly have childcare responsibilities. Because it's a part-time role, most of the meetings are in the evening so it can be hard to find childcare.

"What I'm already thinking about is when I go back to my day job which is full-time, how I juggle a full-time job, my council responsibilities and wanting to spend time with my child.

"I have a very supportive husband but how do you balance it?"

Ms Nicholl said she felt more comfortable at Monday night's full council meeting three weeks on from the first committee meeting she and baby attended.

"I took him to be Strategic Policy and Resources committee last month and he didn't enjoy it so I spent most of the meeting next door trying to calm him down. I actually breast-fed him in that meeting, which soothed him, but I'm a new mum and I was a bit flustered."

She said she's been attending the Belfast Trust breastfeeding support group, which had helped her confidence for Monday night's meeting.

"I had him in a sling and he was quite comfortable. It was a nice meeting - maybe the baby was a good influence," she said.
Both Democrats and Republicans have stressed that Soleimani  who led an Iranian paramilitary force that supported militias responsible for the deaths of more than 600 American troops since the 2003 invasion of Iraq  was a bad guy with blood on his hands. But the parties have largely split over whether killing him was a legitimate act of self-defense allowed under the presidents constitutional power and existing authorizations, or what some have labeled a reckless decision pushing the legal bounds of his authority and threatening to plunge the region into chaos.
A criminal investigation has been opened after a seven-month old baby froze to death after being put to sleep in a buggy on an outside balcony in eastern Russia on Sunday morning.

Officials said the baby boy was exposed to temperatures of -20C for five hours in the far-eastern Khabarovsk region, after his parents put him outside to 'sleep in the fresh air'.

A file image shows a scene by a river in the Khabarovsk territory, in far eastern Russia. Temperatures in the region go well below freezing at this time of year. On the morning the baby was found dead authorities said temperatures were -20C

Local media reported, the 40-year-old mother from Nikolaevsk-on-Amur, put her son out on the balcony, expecting to pick him up within a few minutes.

She reportedly forgot about her son and only remembered where he was five hours later.

However, when she brought him inside, the baby was no longer showing any 'signs of life' and was unable to be revived.

Russian media reported the boy's cause of death was hypothermia, which happens when a body's core temperature is lowered as a result of exposure to cold.

File footage shows an image of a baby carriage in the snow. Over the weekend a baby was left in a buggy on his parents balcony in sub-zero temperatures. He died as a result of hypothermia and a criminal investigation into his death has been launched

Local authorities have inspected the scene and will be looking into what exactly happened in the lead up to the baby's death.

The BBC reported, the region's health ministry later advised, via Instagram, that people should not to leave young children outside unattended.

'Always know where and with whom [your child] is,' the ministry said. 'Do not pass by if another child is in danger - in winter a child who is lost or injured on the street can very quickly become a victim of low temperatures,' it added.

It also said that children in the Khabarovsk region were more frequently becoming victims of parental 'ignorance' and negligence of 'basic safety measures'.

The Ministry said there appeared to be a noteable increase over the New Year holidays in young children being injured, commonly from falls, fireworks and burns.

Doctors advised parents to drink less alcohol and keep a close eye on their children.
In response to the Republican agenda, GiaQuinta in a statement, said that he was pleased about the bills to hold schools harmless from ILEARN and to decouple student test scores from teacher pay. But, he said, that wasnt enough, given that the state has paid $133 million on standardized tests in the last two years.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By Fakhri Vakilov - Trend:

Uzbekistan plans to sell a controlling stake in Asia Alliance Bank to the Japanese company Sawada Holdings by mid-2020, Trend reports citing Uzbek media.

The transaction value is estimated at $32 million. Negotiations with the Japanese side should start in January this year, by the end of April it is planned to prepare documents for the sale and close the deal in May 2020.

The private Asia Alliance Bank was founded on August 15, 2009. In October 2018, 45 percent of the shares of a commercial bank were transferred to the state. At the end of 2018, the bank became fully state-owned by conducting additional issues and attracting new shareholders represented by state institutions.

Sawada Holdings is a Japanese public finance corporation whose shares are listed on the JASDAQ Tokyo Stock Exchange. It was founded in 1958.

The company operates in the securities market, is engaged in banking, brokerage, insurance and tourism development. It has banking assets, is a controlling shareholder in Khan Bank, the largest bank in Mongolia, and a major shareholder in the Russian SOLID Bank.

---

Follow author on Twitter:@vakilovfaxri
Pricing Kansas City Junk

Expert from 'Antiques Roadshow' appraising collection at KC's Arabia Steamboat Museum KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A celebrity appraiser with an expert eye is helping curators at Kansas City's Arabia Steamboat Museum estimate a value for the collection while also setting the stage for a potential new home for the recovered artifacts.

Rock Chalk Cancer Science

KU Medical Center to add proton beam cancer therapy center KANSAS CITY, KS (KCTV) -- A well-known building at the University of Kansas Medical Center is coming down to make way for the area's first proton beam therapy center. Crews this week will start tearing down the Spencer Chapel on the west side of the KCK campus to replace it with the center.

Hottie Tech Rising

Lindsey Pelas Snaps Racy Selfie While Flashing Her Colossal Cleavage In A Plunging Jumpsuit Lindsey Pelas looked smoking hot in a revealing jumpsuit on New Year's Eve, and she's got the picture to prove it. On Thursday, the model took to her Instagram account to share a selfie which saw her rocking a sexy ensemble as she prepared to celebrate the turning of a new decade.

World At War?!?!

Trump's strike against Iran could present an opportunity to China Located thousands of feet up in the Central Asian mountains, Bishkek is not usually considered a place where international policy is made.

Putting Out Fires Everywhere

Trump offers Australian PM assistance in fighting widespread fires President Trump Donald John Trump Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais to celebs: Don't get political Trump says he'll sanction Iraq if US troops forced to leave Trump doubles down on threat to Iran cultural sites MORE on Monday offered to assist the Australian government in combatting fires that have ravaged swaths of the continent during a call with the country's prime minister.

Game Week Agenda Revealed

Kansas City gearing up for playoff game with events this week Kansas City and Chiefs Kingdom are READY for the playoffs.Turn the town red at one of several fun events planned to celebrate the upcoming Kansas City Chiefs playoff game on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium against the Houston Texans. PATRICK MAHOMES BOBBLEHEAD:See and have your photo taken with a MASSIVE 7-foot-tall Patrick Mahomes bobblehead at several locations across Kansas City this week.Mon.

Storm Check

2020's first storm may turn wintry 2020 is off to a warm and dry start. I know It's early, but we haven't had any snow or rain so far this year and temperatures are running about 11 degrees above average over the first week of the new year.

Today's quick peek at pop culture, community news and all manner of captivating content. Checkit:is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . .
At this point, the consequences of Trumps declaration of war on Iranian civilization are up for grabs. Maybe he will quietly shelve it, just as he did his bid to buy Greenland. Or maybe there could be a tug of war between Trump and his advisers and Secretary Esper and the generals. If so, someone should read Trump a letter that Gen. Dwight Eisenhower sent to his field commanders when U.S. troops were battling the Nazis in Italy during World War II.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday took a jibe at BJP president Amit Shah over the installation of CCTVs in the capital.

"Amit Shah is questioning where the CCTVs we promised. Well, I would like to assure you that you don't have to look through 'durbeen' (binocular) just raise your eyes and find it on every lane. You are also being recorded while doing door to door campaigns don't worry," Sisodia told reporters here.

After the Election Commission announced the poll schedule for Delhi, Shah accused the AAP government of making empty promises.

"In the last 60 months, the Aam Aadmi Party government made only promises and now in the last 3 months, the public development money was spent on advertisements for its announcements. People of Delhi are still looking for free wifi, 1.5 million CCTV cameras, new colleges and hospitals," Shah tweeted.

Delhi, where 70 seats are at stake will go to polls on February 8 while the counting of votes will take place on February 11.

In 2015 assembly polls, the AAP won 67 of 70 seats while the BJP could win only three seats. The Congress, which was in power for 15 years in between the years 1998 and 2013, failed to get any seat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SPRINGFIELD  Businesses seeking tax liens and releases filed by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) can now search and use the State Tax Lien Registry.

Prior to the migration, businesses looking for tax liens filed by IDES had to search separate records in individual Illinois counties, which was time consuming and costly to taxpayers.
Welcoming the Japanese official, PM Phuc said he is impressed with the newly-appointed ministers efforts and sense of responsibility towards the two countries relations.

He affirmed Japan is always a strategic partner of leading importance to Vietnam, especially in the fields of economy, trade and investment.

Pledging concerted efforts to contribute to bilateral diplomatic ties, Motegi once again thanked Vietnam and PM Phuc for promoting the consensus on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) at the APEC summit in Da Nang city in 2017.

He noted that as Vietnam serves as the ASEAN Chair and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2020, he chose the country as the first destination to visit this year.

At the meeting, PM Phuc voiced his support for Japan to strongly bring into play its role in the region. He also asked his guest to convey his thanks to the Japanese PM for paying continuous attention to promoting the countries friendship and cooperation.

Vietnam has always made efforts to effectively realise the high-level commitments between the two nations, he added.

To boost the substantive development of bilateral ties, the host leader suggested both sides strengthen political trust via mutual high-level visits. He also asked the Japanese Government to cooperate more closely to reinforce the two economies connectivity, encourage Japanese firms to continue expanding operations in Vietnam, and create favourable conditions for agricultural and aquatic products of Vietnam to access the Japanese market.

On this occasion, he invited the Japanese PM to visit Vietnam and attend ASEAN summits in the country in 2020.

PM Phuc also highly valued locality-to-locality links and asked Japan to keep assisting Vietnam in administrative reforms, e-Government building, and high-level official training.

The countries should coordinate more closely at international forums and work together to promote international economic connections, especially the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), according to the leader.

He spoke highly of Japans viewpoint and called on the country to continue supporting ASEAN and Vietnams stance on ensuring peace, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as to comply with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, in the East Sea.

Minister Motegi affirmed his countrys commitment to cooperating closely with and supporting Vietnam to fulfil the roles of the ASEAN Chair and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. He also thanked PM Phuc for his attention to the removal of difficulties facing bilateral cooperation, including Japans official development assistance and projects in Vietnam.

Japan believes that with Vietnams efforts, the RCEP will be promoted strongly and the CPTPP implemented effectively, he said, adding that Japan welcomes and will seek ways to facilitate Vietnamese farm produces entry into its market. It is also ready to help Vietnam with e-Government building.

Regarding the East Sea issue, he stated Japan always supports the viewpoint of resolving disputes by peaceful means, along with the need to respect ASEANs role and abide by international law.

Appreciating the foreign ministers opinions, PM Phuc shared the view on the necessity to further diversify bilateral relations, enhance mutual support at regional and international forums, and cooperate closely with each other as well as with other countries to ensure peace and stability in the Asian-Pacific region.

* On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with visiting Japanese FM Motegi Toshimitsu, during which they expressed their delight at the impressive development of the Vietnam - Japan extensive strategic partnership over the past years.

Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh (R) and Japanese FM Motegi Toshimitsu. (Photo: VGP)

They agreed to further enhance political trust via maintaining regular visits, exchanges and dialogues at all levels while bringing into full play the efficiency of the existing cooperation and dialogue mechanisms.

Informing his guest of Vietnams priorities for internal and external relations during 2020, Minh affirmed the countrys consistent policy of taking Japan as a partner of top significance. He also invited his guest to ASEAN-related meetings in Vietnam this year.

Toshimitsu, for his part, wished to further deepen the Japan - Vietnam extensive strategic partnership.

Japan supports and will work closely with Vietnam to help the country successfully undertake the role of the ASEAN Chair 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020 - 2021 tenure.

Both sides vowed to intensify collaboration across trade, investment, official development assistance, human resources development and climate change response.

Minh asked the Japanese government to encourage firms to help Vietnamese counterparts join the global supply chain, increase investment in hi-tech agriculture and support industry, soon allow the import of Vietnamese longan, and assist Vietnam in environment issues and climate change response.

Host and guest promised to partner in receiving workers and trainees, removing unhealthy labour and student brokerage firms so as to ensure their legitimate rights in Japan.

The host said the Vietnamese Government has approved Japans proposal of opening a consular office in the central city of Da Nang. He also proposed that the Japanese government should simplify procedures to issue visas for Vietnamese citizens.

The two sides agreed to continue working closely together at regional and global forums, discuss the promotion of global economic linkages, including the early implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

They exchanged ideas on regional and global issues of shared concern. As for the East Sea issue, they agreed on the importance of ensuring peace, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom, complying with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

On the occasion, they held a ceremony to exchange diplomatic notes on water drainage and wastewater treatment projects in Ha Long city signed by Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung and Japanese FM Toshimitsu, and on dioxin and environment analysis equipment worth 2.7 million USD as a non-refundable aid signed between Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Umeda Kunio.

The same day, Japanese FMs spouse Motegi Emi visited Chu Van An elementary school in Hanoi.
The opposition parties on Monday initially tried to block the passage of the bill by challenging Speaker Asad Qaiser's ruling on a voice vote allowing Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan to move the bill, but after a 87-83 vote defeat it participated in the process and moved four minor amendments, reports Dawn news.

Islamabad, Jan 7 (IANS) The Pakistan National Assembly (NA) has passed a crucial bill - for exchange of information and criminals with countries - to meet a requirement of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

As soon as the minister took the floor to present the Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matter) Bill 2019, parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Syed Naveed Qamar termed the legislation against the fundamental rights of the citizens of Pakistan, claiming that after its passage, the government would be able to seek information from foreign countries and extradite its own citizens on the demand of the other nations even without signing a treaty.

Qamar said presently the countries did not entertain any request from the Pakistan government to hand over any wanted person to it because of the perception that cases were filed on a political basis in Pakistan.

But, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry lashed out at the opposition for opposing the bill, alleging that it was the previous two governments which were responsible for putting Pakistan into the "FATF trap".

He said all the countries shared information on criminal matters under FATF.

Monday's development comes after Pakistan last month submitted its progress report on 22 points out of a total 27 before the joint group of the FATF in a fresh bid to avoid falling into the global watchdog's blacklist.

The FATF's plenary review is expected to take place in February where it will decide on Pakistan's position.

A face-to-face meeting of the FATF is scheduled to take place in Beijing from January 21 to 24 where the Pakistani side will be given an opportunity to defend each and every point.

Pakistani authorities were expecting that the FATF might grant another relaxation probably up to June 2020 in its upcoming plenary review meeting as the current February deadline was too short a period for Islamabad to comply with the remaining 22 action plans.

ksk/
The government on Tuesday said it has launched a special drive for removal of speed breakers from national highways to ensure hassle free movement of vehicles, specially at toll plazas.

Electronic toll collection through FASTag has been implemented from December 15, 2019 to provide commotion-free movement on highways.

"A special drive has been initiated for removal of all sorts of speed breakers on National Highways. The step comes in a bid to ensure smooth and hassle-free traffic movement, especially at toll plazas. With the effective implementation of FASTag on toll plazas and conversion of cash toll lanes to FASTag lanes, the speed breakers/ rumble strips constructed at toll plazas are being removed with immediate effect for smooth vehicular movement," the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement.

Roads of different categories and under different situations are designed for designated speeds at which vehicles can travel with convenience and safety, the statement said.

At certain locations, control of speed becomes necessary to promote orderly traffic movement and improved safety, it said, adding considering the fact that national highways are designed to cater to high speed traffic without any hindrance, the drive to remove speed breakers has been initiated by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

"The speed breakers result in considerable delay, damage to the vehicles and significant discomfort to vehicle occupants and more fuel consumption due to acceleration and deceleration. This initiative will save time, money and facilitate smooth vehicular movement especially to ambulances, elderly and unwell people commuting on National Highways," the statement said.

In the larger context, this will also ensure avoidable wastage of transportation fuel for which country is heavily import-dependent, and will also result in lesser pollution, it added.

The government said positive effects of electronic toll collection (ETC) are being realised by the commuters on toll plazas.

Introduction of speed breakers-free highways is another step in commitment to provide safe, smooth and seamless journey to commuters on national highways, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
07.01.2020 LISTEN

An AK-47 assault rifle loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition, in possession of a police officer stationed at a checkpoint at Yendi in the Northern Region, has allegedly gone missing under very bizarre circumstances.

Earlier reports suggested that the weapons were stolen when the said officer fell asleep while at the checkpoint last Sunday.

The Yendi Divisional Command denied knowledge of the incident when Citi News contacted the command but a source within the service confirmed the incident.

The source told Citi News that within a week two riffles have been stolen from some officers and investigations are ongoing.

The first one allegedly happened at the Yendi-Zabzugu checkpoint.

Three policemen have allegedly been detained over the missing weapons and are to be subjected to a service inquiry.

According to the source, the three officers; Corporal Frank Mapram, Lance Corporal Heloo Dennis and Lance Corporal Noel Kumadzi, stationed at the Yendi-Bimbilla checkpoint returned to their station to report that the rifle and ammunition had gone missing.

All three duty officers were subsequently detained for further interrogation.

The Public Relations Officer of the Northern Regional Police Command, DSP Yussif Tanko told Citi News that they are aware of such report but failed to give further details.

citinewsroom
By Veronica Torres

Vaping among among high school students rose nearly 80% from 2017 to 2018, and almost 50% for children in middle school, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Currently, it is a nationwide health crisis and we should not ignore multiple people are dying from this, especially due to the fact that young adults and children are the major victims.

The actual vapor used comes in different flavors such as mint, bubble gum, and even Sour Patch, just to name a few. Manufacturers use these fun flavors to target children and young adults by using sweet or candy-like flavors for the e-juice. As a country, we are taking the right steps by banning all flavors of vaping. But, is that enough? Lets take this health crisis to the next level and ban vaping as whole for good.

Recently, there have been many stories in the media about vaping and dangerous effects it has on young adults. One example of this was reported on ABC News, a story on Simah Herman, an 18-year-old from California, who was hospitalized because she could no longer breathe on her own. She was placed on a ventilator and shortly afterward, she was put in a medically induced coma. After emerging from her coma, the first thing Simah did was to ask for a piece of paper in which she wrote I want to start a no vaping campaign.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaping has killed at least 55 people and has affected more than 2,500 people, and the numbers keep growing. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker temporarily banned vaping products to give users alternatives to vaping such as nicotine treatment and low-cost nicotine that is offered by the pharmacies. Flavored vaping continues to be banned. New Jersey should look to Massachusetts as an example, and begin steps to banning vaping altogether.

New Jersey hospitals expect to see 16,000 vaping cases this year, which is very alarming. Although New Jersey Senate bill S-3265 would ban flavored vapes and bill S-4224 would place penalties on retailers caught selling to a minor. Senate President Steve Sweeney, however, has said that hes in favor of eliminating all vaping products, while Gov. Phil Murphy only wants to ban flavored vaping products.

If this health crisis is not addressed, we are going to continue to see an increase in life-threatening cases and more deaths, especially among the youth. At this point in time, it is in the best interest of the public to ban vaping altogether and not just the flavors. Parents also should remain vigilant to ensure that their child has not fallen victim to the life-threatening trend sweeping the nation.

We should support Sweeney in his fight against the serious public health risk that is vaping.

Veronica Torres is a junior at Kean University majoring in special education.

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
The Uttarakhand High Court on Tuesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to not file charge-sheet without its permission in the 2016 sting video case against former chief minister Harish Rawat.

Justice Shudhanshu Dhuliya slated the matter for hearing on March 2.

Before the hearing, Rawat today took to Twitter seeking the blessing of the people.

"Some black sheep were stolen from my house and they are still at my friends houses. My friends have accused me of this. CBI has filed an FIR against me in the matter. The case will be heard in the Nainital High Court today. I hope your support and blessing are with me," Rawat tweeted in Hindi.

The court had on November 1 postponed the hearing in the matter till today.

In October 2019, CBI registered a case against Rawat, former cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat and Samachar Plus Channel CEO Umesh Kumar for allegedly attempting to indulge in horse-trading in 2016. The entire episode was allegedly captured in a video.

The case came in line with the investigation agency's probe into the purported 2016 video, which showed him negotiating a deal to bring nine rebel MLAs back into Congress' fold.

The CBI stated that the 2016 video has been indicated to be genuine.

The High Court had on September 30, permitted the CBI to register an FIR and commence investigation into the matter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the nation awaits the final batch of the 48 ambulances, the National Ambulance Service has come out with a justification for the delayed release of the Ambulances.

The ambulances were due to be commissioned on January 6th, 2020 but has been suspended.

According to the Ambulance Service, the postponement of the commissioning of ambulances for distribution nationwide was to make sure there was no gap between the commissioning and utilisation of the said ambulances.

The CEO of the service, Professor Ahmed Zakaria, on the Citi Breakfast Show, said the final batch of 48 ambulances will arrive in the country on January 18.

There are currently 211 ambulances in the country, with 48 of them expected on January 6, according to him.

The government procured 307 ambulances in total in line with a promise by the Akufo-Addo administration to improve emergency healthcare in all Ghanas constituencies.

Ninety-six of these ambulances have already been cleared and are undergoing processes like labelling, installation of a tracking system and comprehensive insurance.

It is some of these processes that have resulted in these delays, Prof. Zakaria explained.

The reason we are requesting for the postponement for the commissioning is that because we don't want to commission for the sake of it but to make sure the ambulances are deployed immediately after the commissioning. We don't want a situation where you do the commissioning but still have to wait to get these processes completed before the vehicles can be dispatched into the various constituencies. If you look at all these processes, there are different industry players involved in the different processes and definitely, we don't have control over some of the processes Unfortunately, there were challenges and delays that were not predicted.

In an earlier five-point explanation, that was backed by the Health Ministry , the service argued that the training of staff and paramedics on the usage of the ambulances and medical equipment.

The first batch of ambulances arrived in September 2019 and have been parked at the State House since then prompting criticism from observers.

The Minority in Parliament accused the government of insensitivity in refusing to distribute the ambulances and further said the government was taking Ghanaians for granted following the latest postponement of the commissioning date.

Pressure Group Occupy Ghana also expressed its disappointment with the delays saying it was a sign of gross irresponsibility .

The Ministry of Health has suggested January 28, 2020, as the new date for the commissioning.

---CitinewsRoom
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 16:32:09|Editor: ZX

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Photo taken on Jan. 7, 2019 shows a passenger plane which skidded off the runway after landing at Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey. A Boeing 737 airplane with Turkey's Pegasus Airlines slid off the runway at 09:05 local time after arriving from Sharjah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates, according to the Sabah daily. No injuries were reported. (Ihlas News Agency/Handout via Xinhua)

ISTANBUL, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A passenger plane on Tuesday skidded off the runway after landing at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, but no injuries were reported.

A Boeing 737 airplane with Turkey's Pegasus Airlines slid off the runway at 09:05 local time after arriving from Sharjah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates, according to the Sabah daily.

The passengers were immediately evacuated after the plane stopped on a soil area near the runway, the daily noted.

The state-run Anadolu Agency said the airport was closed to all flights until 11:20 local time (0820GMT) due to the incident, while Bilal Eksi, CEO of the Turkish Airlines, announced on his Twitter account that the flag carrier canceled all its flights until 15:00 local time (1200GMT).

The cause of the incident was not immediately clear, but Istanbul has been battered by heavy wind and rain for two days.
For over two decades, forests in Kashmir have been mercilessly chopped ever since political turmoil gripped the region in the 1990s. In the absence of any monitoring, the timber-smuggling industry, involving ministers, their relatives, bureaucrats and smugglers has thrived in the Valley

Srinagar: For over two decades, forests in Kashmir have been mercilessly chopped ever since political turmoil gripped the region in the 1990s. In the absence of any monitoring, the timber-smuggling industry, involving ministers, their relatives, bureaucrats and smugglers has thrived in the Valley.

As a result, large patches of coniferous forests simply vanished from Kashmir's landscape.

While the government says it has succeeded in curbing the illegal felling of green cover, the forest department is now confronting another challenge of an even bigger magnitude  every year, hundreds of hectares of forest land are lost to infrastructure building.

The vanishing forests

According to data accessed by the author, 13,902 hectares of forest land have been diverted to government departments for infrastructure projects over the years. This diversion cost around 17 lakh trees including deodar, chir, kail and fir. In the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, the chief secretary-headed Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) would approve the use of forest land for non-forest purposes.

A former member of the committee described the diversion as the "slow poisoning" of green cover. "We know it is happening, but we can't do anything to stop it," he said, "It is a compulsion since we can't overlook development requirements."

Under the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Conservation Act, which stands abolished after the implementation of the Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Act of 2019, along with the FAC, the departments taking over forest land had to fund compensatory afforestation. The Act provided that fresh plantation be carried out outside the forest in an area equal to the green cover lost to a project or on twice the area diverted outside the forest.

But, a report by Comptroller and Auditor-General of India in 2015 revealed that funds allocated for afforestation were spent on decorating offices of bureaucrats and ministers with furniture and gadgets including LEDs, air conditioners etc.

Also, the non-availability of state land to compensate the forest area lost was resulting in gradual shrinking of the once-thick forests. "In reality, we keep losing the forests, but strangely the title of the area lost to infrastructure boom remains that of the forest," said the official. The chief conservator of forests, Kashmir, Farooq Geelani acknowledged that the forest area diverted no longer remains part of the forest. But he said the land approved for non-forest purposes was "minuscule".

According to Geelani, the department was taking measures for the long-term conservation of green gold, and to back his claims, he referred to the latest study by Forest Survey of India which showed an increase of 371 square kilometres in the erstwhile state's forest cover.

"This is the sign of healthy forests in Jammu and Kashmir," said Geelani. The study, however, doesn't mention the loss of forest area.

The development pressure

The deforestation is largely driven by an ever-increasing demand for housing and infrastructure development as a result of the population explosion and expansion of villages and towns.

The data shows the forest area lost has increased five times between 2010 and 2019. In 2019, a record 961.93 hectares of forest land was diverted for construction of roads, water reservoirs, laying transmission lines and optic fibres, setting up new hydropower projects and military installations.

It involved chopping down 4,735 trees and "un-enumerated" felling of trees in Kishtwar forest for the 1000-MW Pakal Dul power project and 3-MW power project in Daksum forest of southern Kashmir.

Interestingly, days before it was abolished, the FAC rushed to allow the diversion of 728.7 hectares of forest land in just four meetings between 18 September and 21 October.

The forest area lost in 2019 was more than double the 474.06 hectares diverted in 2018; the figure stood at just 282.03 hectares in 2016.

Conservator of forests, northern Kashmir, Irfan Rasool Wani said the forests cover 47 percent of the total land in Jammu and Kashmir, which is higher than the national average of 33 percent.

"We don't have land banks or wasteland left anymore for compensatory afforestation outside forests," said Rasool, describing it as the reason for the department focusing on fresh plantation within forests only. Over the past decade, as the government has focused on the exploitation of Jammu and Kashmir's vast hydropower resources, more proposals to build power infrastructure deep inside the green cover are vetted silently.

In 2015, the FAC quietly approved two proposals for chopping more than 60,000 forest trees on 523 hectares of forest land to pave the way for setting up two transmission lines.

The 414-kilometre Samba-Amargarh transmission line, connecting Kashmir with Jammu and beyond, cuts through forests in eight districts of the former state. It cost 373 hectares of forest area and 40,035 trees. The 330-kilometre Kashmir-Leh transmission line led to the chopping of 14,600 conifers, 3,500 poles, saplings and bushes on 150 hectares of forest area in Kashmir. The power corridor aims to improve the power scenario in the cold desert.

While the projects led to the large-scale plundering of the forests, they were approved without any detailed survey, an official disclosed.

Last year, 17.7 percent of the total forest area diverted was used for building new power infrastructure.

Although the forest land lost in Jammu and Kashmir over the years is only 0.68 percent of the total 20.19 lakh hectares or 20,194 sq kilometres, it is the ever-increasing demand for expanding human habitation and building new projects that is costing the region its green cover.

Since 2016, land diversion proposals have gone up from 44 to 351 last year.

Threat of encroachment persists

While the national forest policy lays focus on maintaining around 60 percent forest cover in the hilly regions, Jammu and Kashmir has much less  19.95 percent tree cover of the total 42,241 square kilometres of geographical area, according to the 2017 Economic Survey by the Jammu and Kashmir government.

Encroachment has substantially eaten into the forest area. The government told the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in February 2018 that 50,459 acres of forest land have been encroached upon in different forest divisions across the erstwhile state. In its report, the CAG said encroachment grew up to 82 percent between 2002 and 2014. During the same period, Jammu and Kashmir's forest department spent more than 85 percent of its total budget on administrative affairs, leaving negligible funding for conservation programs.

The expanding housing sector has also triggered a rising demand for timber. Between 2015 and 2018, at least 95 lakh cubic feet of timber was extracted from the forest to meet the growing demand for timber in the housing sector.

The maiden study

Experts argue while completely doing away with the environmental cost was impossible, the damage, however, could be minimised. The environmental impact assessment ordered before clearing projects is mostly driven by the need to fulfil procedural requirements rather than the protection of the forests. Waking up to the challenge, Srinagar had ordered a survey to assess the impact of the power lines, which cut through forests, on fauna and flora.

"The power development department may engage consultants/experts such as those from the Wildlife Institute of India for the purpose," read the minutes of the 117th FAC meeting.

This will be the first study of its kind to assess impact of transmission lines on the wildlife. In 2017, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had pulled up the government for damage to Hirpora wildlife sanctuary, known for endangered Markhoor, in southern Kashmir's Shopian district during the construction of the Samba-Amargarh line.

The Wildlife Trust of India, an NGO has been working on a project dubbed 'Markhoor Recovery' in the sanctuary. Riyaz Ahmad, the project head, said transmission corridor has led to fragmentation and "liner intrusion" of Markhoor's habitat. The trust has found that the sanctuary suffered more damage when mountain slopes were cut for construction of roads to ferry material deep into the forests. This "unpardonable act" led to the vanishing of many species of vegetation and forced migration of wild animals.

The power line running through the sanctuary creates high-decibel noise which has disturbed the habitat of the wild animals and birds like the vulture and golden eagle.

"This noise is so loud that even humans can't tolerate it," Ahmad said, adding the focus of project executing agencies remains on "saving time and money" and less on minimising the damage, due to a lack of monitoring by the concerned departments.

Geelani, however, said there was no study available to prove any long term impact of infrastructure building on wildlife inside the forests. He, however, said the study was ordered as an "additional safeguard" after certain concerns were raised by experts on the impact of the power lines on fauna and flora.

"Only a detailed study will bring to the fore if there is any impact," Geelani said.
Foreign investors can choose several legal structures to build a successful Vietnam sourcing strategy.

Investors should choose the most suitable business model and compare each option against their primary sourcing needs.

The optimal choice of structure comes down to two key factors: local hiring needs and cost-effectiveness.

While Vietnam has several legal structures that can be used as a necessary building block to a successful Vietnam sourcing strategy, it can often be difficult for companies (particularly those new to Vietnam) to decide on the optimal solutions needed to support their mainland sourcing activities.

With so many quality control and trading agents available offering one-stop sourcing services and business-to-business (B2B) online platforms that allow direct contact with suppliers, many will argue that it could be just as effective to utilize a subcontracting agreement and intermediate parties to get the job done.

Although this can be true and is a perfectly workable option, to be more competitive in global supply chains, many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) now require an on-the-ground presence either to gain better control of their supply chain or to be able to continue servicing their international customers who have also entered the Vietnamese market.

Therefore, to select the most suitable business model, it is important to carefully balance the capability of each option against the primary needs of the sourcing activities.

For example, foreign SMEs that consider Vietnam an unknown market may prefer the low capital risks associated with a Representative Office (RO). However, at the same time, the wider business scope and operational flexibility that a Limited Liability Company (LLC) offers may also be tempting.

At the other extreme, an overseas company that has been purchasing directly from Vietnam for many years may wish to take full control of the supply chain through a trading company, but may be deterred by the heavy operational complexity of such an entity  a trading company involved in exporting goods is directly involved with Vietnams complex Value Added Tax (VAT) system and has to comply with customs requirements.

Since Vietnam does not require a set amount of money to be invested, SMEs usually do not put a large amount of registered capital into the subsidiary company. However, companies must ensure that they put in enough money to handle any business expenses arising from operations. The main question is what scale the business scope will take and what level of capital is required to fund this?

Below, we address some of the common concerns facing foreign buyers that are choosing a formal structure in Vietnam and compare the operational differences between the structures.

The balance between registered capital and business scope

Many traditional buyers tend to lean towards the RO structure, purely driven by the preference of not having to inject registered capital into Vietnam. For this reason, the RO structure is often recognized as the safe and cheap model, and the best option for a Vietnam office whose primary purpose is to explore market possibilities and help get the overseas head office more value for their purchases.

For ROs, expenditures are funded directly by the overseas headquarters at regular intervals. For a service company or a trading company, most of this funding would instead come from the registered capital, which is committed right at the beginning. Registered capital can be used for ongoing operational expenses and is much closer to the definition of working capital.

Moreover, the costs of financing the ongoing activities of an RO are very different than an LLC, since the RO cannot deduct input VAT while the LLC will deduct costs and pay tax on profits.

With this in mind, companies are advised to consider at least their short to medium-term strategy for the Vietnam market  the expected expenditure level and desired scope of expansion for the next few years should be fully evaluated.

An RO is generally seen as a good starting point for entry. However, the added benefits of a wider business scope provided by a service company or a trading company could prove much more valuable and self-sustainable than the traditionally safe and cheap RO.

For these businesses, usually a trading company model is preferred since this structure allows for the widest possible scope for sourcing. Since the business scope is wide, the level of acceptable registered capital required by the Vietnamese authority will often be higher than that for a service company (typical minimums vary depending on the type of project and its location).

The service company model also has its own merit and may be more suitable for companies that want a simpler LLC model. Since the service company cannot trade products directly, the compliance involved is quite low and it can also play the role of an intermediate quality control and service agent for the parent company. Although the same effect can be achieved with an RO, this model does have the added capability of being able to receive commissions or other service revenues in Vietnamese Dong (VND). As such, this model can be more tax-efficient than an RO.

Supply chain control versus human resources risks

To obtain a comfortable level of control and assurance over the quality and delivery of products ideally, foreign investors would need to employ reliable staff on the ground to manage quality control, supplier liaison activities, price negotiations, supplier selection, and market research.

As Vietnamese markets mature and price competition intensifies, foreign companies not yet in Vietnam will need to continually assess whether it is still affordable to function via long-distance relationships with their Vietnamese suppliers, or whether more substantial operational control is needed to ensure that competitive pricing is achieved. In particular, adequate control of local HR risks is usually one of the main concerns for companies hoping to strengthen their supplier networks in Vietnam.

Due to the limited business scope of an RO, the amount of staff that it is feasible to employ is less than that of an LLC. There is little reason to employ vast amounts of people in an RO due to the fact that it cannot engage in the types of activities that would require a large staff.

Another factor that affects the determination of the scope of the supply chain is the product the supplier wishes to source in Vietnam. Some types of products will necessarily require more complex supply chains than others. LLCs are thus the model of choice for projects with longer and more complex supply chains. An RO is best for those companies which have small and simple supply chains.

Under the laws of Vietnam, an RO, a service company, and a trading company can hire foreigners and local staff as long as the procedures to hire them are well documented and accepted by the competent authorities. A key consideration for any business is the amount of staff required to ensure a smooth operation of the supply chain and keep HR risks to a minimum.

However, it is not always easy to hire foreigners to work in local entities since the Vietnamese government has strict regulations controlling the employment of foreign employers and employees.

Many companies may also require staff to be based at multiple locations around the country (e.g. on-site at the factory or traveling for quality control purposes). These types of practical issues must be fully addressed before committing to the appropriate structure.

Complexity, compliance, and tax efficiency

The changing globalization trends in procurement processes and the growing competitiveness of other supplying nations means that the trading company model has become much more pertinent, as it allows for two-way traffic in both the inbound and outbound sourcing of products.

The trading company model also makes it possible for companies to explore the potential to adapt their products or services for domestic consumption. It is very common for foreign companies that have been sourcing through a trading company for a few years to restructure in order to catch the opportunities offered by the local market.

However, it should be noted that with the added flexibility and complexity of a trading company, the operational and tax compliance requirements are also higher than the other two models. Activities such as managing invoices issued and VAT deductions, warehouse and inventory control, dealing with customs duties, and keeping track of logistics all become the trading companys responsibility once a direct sourcing model is employed. Competent internal staff, as well as the support of reliable external consultants is key to establishing a successful business.

Remaining tax compliant is also important because Vietnamese authorities tend to keep a closer eye on the activities of foreign companies. Therefore, foreign companies should note the different types of taxes and filings that can apply for various trading, commission and service activities.

With regard to bank accounts, an RO is limited to certain types of banking activities. The laws only allow them to open an account (in foreign currency and/or VND) to pay, but not receive, money. This account is only to be used for the ROs activities. LLCs are not limited to this type of restriction.

Conclusion

The optimal choice of structure really comes down to two key factors: local hiring needs and cost-effectiveness. If it is not a requirement to have employees based in the mainland, then dealing from overseas is likely to be the most tax-efficient option for SMEs sourcing from Vietnam.

However, this approach also has the highest risks in terms of quality and price control. If employees are needed on the ground, then (assuming that the total number of employees needed is still relatively low) an RO becomes a very relevant structure due to its simplicity and low compliance requirements.

For companies that need more from their Vietnam office, the trading company model would generally be the best option for businesses that are focused solely on sourcing activities. The trading company model offers the greatest potential to maximize supply chain control and minimize risks. The service company model is not as useful in this regard, however it can still be a good interim solution for companies that are not yet ready to tackle the Vietnamese VAT system and other operational compliance requirements.

There is no single successful sourcing strategy, and your business can be structured as simply as an RO or as elaborately as a multinational sourcing plan that uses a combination of the above mentioned legal structures. The most appropriate strategy may be a progression between the different models over time. Regardless of the strategy, to ensure that the chosen structure adds sufficient value, parent companies will need to regularly monitor the performance of their sourcing offices and continually develop existing and new supplier sources to remain competitive.

Note: This article was first published in June 2014, and has been updated to include the latest developments.
Photograph: Ebrahim Noroozi/AP

Donald Trump has defended his threat to target Iranian cultural sites  widely seen as a war crime  if Tehran retaliates for the killing of General Qassem Suleimani.

On bellicose form, the US president also lashed out at Iraq following its parliaments demand for American troops to be expelled from that country, and vowed to respond with crippling sanctions.

Trumps comments suggest he was making no idle threat when, on Saturday night, he tweeted that the US has targeted 52 Iranian sites ... some at a very high level & important to Iran & Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One a day later, he sought to offer a justification. Theyre allowed to kill our people, Trump said, according to a pool report. Theyre allowed to torture and maim our people. Theyre allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And were not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesnt work that way.

Targeting cultural sites is prohibited by international conventions signed in Geneva and at the Hague. In 2017, the United Nations security council passed unanimously a resolution condemning the destruction of heritage sites. The action previewed by Trump would almost certainly involve the deaths of civilians.

The Pentagon, however, sought to distance itself from Trumps threats, with defense secretary Mark Esper saying on Monday that the US will follow the laws of armed conflict, including those that ruled out targeting cultural sites.

Espers public comments reflected the private concerns of other defense and military officials, who cited legal prohibitions on attacks on civilian, cultural and religious sites, except under certain, threatening circumstances.

Trumps statements come after secretary of state Mike Pompeo defended the assertion that the drone strike against Suleimani in Baghdad prevented an imminent attack on US interests. We would have been culpably negligent had we not taken this action, he told NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday. When host Chuck Todd asked if retaliation against US citizens should now be expected, Pompeo admitted: It may be that theres a little noise here in the interim.

Story continues

US-Iran tensions are escalating following last Fridays drone strike  ordered by Trump without congressional authorisation  in Iraq that killed Suleimani, commander of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force.

Related: Diplomacy over Iran is still possible  if only to avoid an all-out war

On Monday morning in Tehran, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei presided over prayers for the slain general, and Suleimanis daughter Zeinab told a huge crowd at his funeral ceremony that the US and its ally Israel faced a dark day for his death.

Crazy Trump, dont think that everything is over with my fathers martyrdom, Zeinab Suleimani said in an address broadcast on state television. The families of US soldiers in the Middle East will spend their days waiting for death of their children.

Ayatollah Khamenei, centre, leads a prayer in Tehran over the coffins of Qassem Suleimani and others killed in a US drone strike on Friday. Photograph: AP

Before the ceremony, mourners had packed the streets around Tehran university, chanting Death to America and Death to Israel. One man held up a placard reading hardrevenge.

Qassem Suleimani, killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad, had become well known among Iranians and was sometimes discussed as a future president. Many considered Suleimani to have been the second most powerful person in Iran, behind supreme leader of Iran Ali Khamenei, but arguably ahead of President Hassan Rouhani. He was commander of the Quds Force, the elite, external wing of the Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which the Trump administration designated as a terror organisation in April last year.

He was born in Rabor, a city in eastern Iran, and forced to travel to a neighbouring city at age 13 and work to pay his fathers debts to the government of the Shah. By the time the monarch fell in 1979, Suleimani was committed to the clerical rule of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and joined the Revolutionary Guards, the paramilitary force established to prevent a coup against the newly declared Islamic Republic.

Within two years, he was sent to the front to fight in the war against the invading Iraqi army. He quickly distinguished himself, especially for daring reconnaissance missions behind Iraqi lines, and the war also gave him his first contact with foreign militias of the kind he would wield to devastating effect in the decades to come.

By the the time the Iraq government fell in 2003, Suleimani was the head of the Quds force and blamed for sponsoring the Shia militias who killed thousands of civilian Iraqis and coalition troops. As fighting raged on Iraqs streets, Suleimani fought a shadow war with the US for leverage over the new Iraqi leadership.

Once described by American commander David Petraeus as a truly evil figure, Suleimani was instrumental in crushing street protests in Iran in 2009. In recent months outbreaks of popular dissent in Lebanon, Iraq and Iran were again putting pressure on the crescent of influence he had spent the past two decades building. Violent crackdowns on the protests in Baghdad were blamed on militias under his influence.



Eighteen months before his death, Suleimani had issued Donald Trump a public warning, wagging his finger and dressed in olive fatigues. You will start the war but we will end it.

Michael Safi

The ceremony followed a turbulent weekend that saw the Iraqi parliament pass a resolution calling on the government to expel US troops, of which about 5,000 remain, most in an advisory capacity. On Sunday, Irans government said the country would no longer observe limitations on uranium enrichment, stockpiles of enriched uranium or nuclear research and development. The statement noted that the steps could be reversed if Washington lifted its sanctions on Tehran.

Iranian general Qassem Suleimani. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

On Sunday, Human Rights Watch condemned the presidents latest threat to Irans culture sites: President Trump should publicly reverse his threats against Irans cultural property and make clear that he will not authorise nor order war crimes, said Andrea Prasow, its acting Washington director. The US Defense Department should publicly reaffirm its commitment to abide by the laws of war and comply only with lawful military orders.

She added: Trumps threat to attack Irans cultural heritage shows his callous disregard for the global rule of law. Whether refusing to condemn the brutal murder of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi or pardoning convicted war criminals, Trump has shown little respect for human rights as part of US foreign policy.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Trumps drone strike provocative and disproportionate and said legislation would be introduced this week to halt the presidents military actions regarding Iran unless Congress is involved.

She told Democrats: We are concerned that the administration took this action without the consultation of Congress and without respect for Congresss war powers granted to it by the Constitution.

Trump spoke to reporters on Sunday as he flew back to Washington from another eventful holiday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. He showed no hint of regret. Asked about vows of vengeance from Iran, the president said simply: If it happens it happens. If they do anything, there will be major retaliation.

He also turned his ire on Iraq after that countrys parliament passed a resolution calling on the Iraqi government to expel US troops. We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base thats there, he said. It cost billions of dollars to build. Long before my time. Were not leaving unless they pay us back for it.

If they do ask us to leave, if we dont do it in a very friendly basis, we will charge them sanctions like theyve never seen before ever. Itll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame.

Trumps remarks look set to trigger another political firestorm amid concerns that he has not considered the consequences of the strike against Suleimani and may even be seeking to distract from his upcoming impeachment trial.

Brett McGurk, the former US presidential envoy to the global coalition to counter Isis, tweeted: Trumps comments tonight regarding Iran and Iraq are not only unacceptable, theyre unAmerican. American military forces adhere to international law. They dont attack cultural sites. And theyre not mercenaries. Reckless and unprecedented words from a commander-in-chief.

The Associated Press contributed reporting
The Iranian Parliament unanimously voted on Tuesday to designate the US Army and Pentagon as terrorist entities in the wake of the killing of Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, the country's Tasnim news agency reported.

The motion passed at an open parliament session also obliges the government to allocate 200 million euros from the National Development Fund for the elite Quds Force.

Last week, a US drone strike in Iraq killed Soleimani in an operation ordered by US President Donald Trump, who claims that the top Iranian general was a "murderer" and terrorist who plotted attacks on Americans. The Iranian leadership has pledged that Soleimani's death will not go unavenged.

Trump, in turn, threatened that the US would strike over 50 Iranian targets, including cultural sites, should Iran retaliate. The statement prompted criticism since targeting cultural sites is considered a war crime under international law. The US leader yet reiterated his threat.

Iran and the US have long been accusing each other of using terrorist methods.

Back in April, Washington formally designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), of which the Quds Force is a part, as a foreign terrorist organisation. Tehran responded by designating the US Central Command as a terrorist organisation and the American government as a sponsor of terrorism.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"The Goop Lab" is Gwyneth Paltrow's latest Netflix series.

On Monday, Netflix released a promo for the show, featuring a photo of the 47-year-old star standing in what looks like a house mirror of vaginas and a trailer that promises not only energy healing and psychic mediums but also orgasms.

In the traailer for the series, the priestess of bougie wellness gets together with different people that test out different experimental practices such as cold therapies, exorcisms and discovering the female genitalia.

On one part of the trailer, Paltrow asked her "Goopies" (a mixture of the word group and 'Goop'): "Are you guys ready to go out in the field and make a ruckus? We're here one time, one life, how can we milk the s*** out of this?"

The show will be a six-part series set to launch on January 24 and will be hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow and Elise Loehnen, Goop's Chief Operating Officer.

Despite the controversies, beauty retailer Sephora said that it would offer Goop's wellness products online and sell its skincare products at select stores across North America.

In a statement, Goop's beauty and wellness general manager, Erin Cotter, said in a statement that Sephora is creating an exciting new category of business for the modern consumer who is looking for the beauty that fits in their wellness-oriented lifestyle.

Gwyneth Paltrow welcomes you to The Goop Lab on January 24 pic.twitter.com/o83H2OvzEV  Netflix US (@netflix) January 6, 2020

What is Goop?

Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop is driving millions of people all over the world crazy.

It is a wellness brand. The website features the actress's top recommendation on different things that help women live better and healthier lives.

According to the company's website, Goop was created to organize Paltrow's "unbiased travel recommendations, health-centric recipes and shopping discoveries for friends, and also a place to get her questions - about health, fitness, and psych - answered."

They also included some of Gwyneth's favorite things like cookware, feminine hygiene products, books, vitamins and clothing.

Is it a Scam?

Huffington Post recently published an article and told readers that Paltrow's brand "Goop" brings "bad health advice."

While the Oscar-winning actress appears to be keeping things loose, many critics wonder if it is wise to allow a platform as big as Netflix to promote the 11-year-old wellness empire of Goop.

In September 2018, Goop settled a $145,000 lawsuit with the state of California after claiming items like rose quartz and jade eggs -- that were said to be inserted in one's vagina -- had medical claims.

Twitter users, including doctors, could not help but call out the show's potential red flags and the controversy surrounding the company's past health advice.

One doctor said, "Ideas like bras cause breast cancer? Or that supplements don't increase all mortality?"

"Way to give Pseudoscience another way to lure gullible people in. Paltrow is a danger to people's health."

However, according to the Huffington Post, it is not all Goop's fault since Netflix has a history of producing irresponsible health programs that could affect viewers.

Considering the platform has over 150 million subscribers, the publication believes it is dangerous for Goop to be featured and spread irresponsible advices.
A Colorado woman was arrested Dec. 30 in Montana for planning a raid to kidnap her child, police say.

A warrant for the arrest of Cynthia Abcug, 50, was issued in September after police learned that her daughter had told a caseworker that Abcug had a number of weapons in her Parker home and that an armed man was living there, KUSA reported.

Parker is located in the Denver metropolitan area.

Officials say they also learned that Abcug had become interested in conspiracy theories and was spiraling down, according to KUSA.

The daughter told officials that Abcug was planning a raid with members of the right-wing conspiracy group QAnon in an attempt to kidnap Abcugs other child whod been taken from her custody, the Daily Beast reported.

Cynthia Abcug, 50, was arrested after police in Colorado say she planned to kidnap her child in a raid.

The daughter told police she feared people would be injured because those people are evil Satan worshipers, KUSA reported.

The QAnon conspiracy theory is associated with the far-right and based on the belief that a mysterious and unnamed government official called Q is revealing secret information with cryptic clues called breadcrumbs, according to the Daily Beast.

Many QAnon members believe theres a deep state left-wing plot to take down President Trump, NPR reported.

Last Monday, police in Kalispell, Montana, pulled over Abcug after the FBI tipped off area officials that she was in the area, KPAX reported. The child was not in the car with Abcug but a man was briefly detained before being released, according to the outlet.

Abcug is charged with felony conspiracy to commit kidnapping and was taken Flathead County jail where she was held on $250,000 bond from Colorado, KPAX reported.
A new breast surgery marker device, developed by a company founded by three UW-Madison faculty, is expected to be used by about 15 hospital systems by the end of January.

The system, approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration in April, uses wireless technology, instead of a protruding wire, to help surgeons locate and remove breast tumors. UW Health and SSM Health Dean Medical Group are using it.

The technology was developed by Elucent Medical, based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The company was founded by Dr. Lee Wilke, director of the UW Health Breast Center; Dr. Fred Lee Jr., a UW-Madison professor of radiology; Daniel van der Weide, a UW-Madison professor of engineering; and CEO Laura King, of Milwaukee.

The UW-Madison faculty and a few of Elucents 30 employees are in Madison, but most are in Minnesota.

Lee and Van der Weide co-founded, and King led, NeuWave Medical, a microwave ablation start-up in Madison sold in 2016 to Johnson & Johnsons Ethicon division.

Elucents technology presents a new way to locate tumors and remove them through breast cancer surgeries known as lumpectomies.

For years, during biopsies, doctors have left behind a small metal clip to mark the location of a suspicious lesion. Later, if the lesion is going to be surgically removed, a hook wire is inserted through the skin to the clip. The surgeon follows the wire to remove the lesion and clip.

Elucents two-part system uses a SmartClip, placed during biopsy or anytime before surgery, which emits a high frequency signal. Using a handheld navigational tool called EnVisio, surgeons can find the clip, and the lesion, without a wire. Up to three clips can mark multiple targets.

The patient lies on a special mattress with radiofrequency antennas that capture signals from the SmartClip. In a manner similar to GPS position finding, a computer calculates the markers position. The location is shown in Elucents guidance device.

Wilke, a breast surgeon, came up with the idea for the technology to eliminate the need for wires and improve the surgery process for surgeons and patients. Elucent won the 2014 Wisconsin Governors Business Plan contest.

The company is offering a cost-effective solution that addresses a key challenge for breast surgeons: how to easily find the location of a malignant biopsy during surgery, especially in tissue that lacks anatomical landmarks, Wilke said in a statement. We developed a system designed by surgeons to be intuitive, efficient, and precise, eliminating the need for a localization procedure.

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T he father of the UK's most prolific serial rapist Reynhard Sinaga said his son deserves to be jailed for life.

Sinaga, a 36-year-old PhD student from Indonesia, was found guilty of 159 sexual offences against 48 men on Monday

He searched drunk men around nightclubs near his flat in Manchester, before luring them to his home on and sexually assaulting them.

The victims  who were mainly heterosexual  had little or no memory of the hours that followed as Sinaga filmed the sessions on his mobile phone. They later left the apartment unaware they had been violated.

Bottles of alcohol which were used to spike victims / PA

The rapist was only caught when one of the men regained consciousness and fought him off before he went to the police and crucially handed in Sinagas phone.

He has been found guilty of a total of 159 offences committed between January 2015 and May 2017.

These include 136 counts of rape, 13 counts of sexual assault, eight counts of attempted rape and two counts of assault by penetration.

The bedroom floor, where dozens of rapes took place, in the home of Sinaga / PA

Speaking for the first time to BBC Indonesia, the student's father said: "We accept the verdict.

"His punishment fits his crimes.

CCTV of the serial rapist Reynhard Sinaga on Princess Street, Manchester / PA

"I don't want to discuss the case any further."

Sinaga must serve a minimum of 30 years in custody before he can be considered for parole.

At a sentencing hearing at Manchester Crown Court heard Judge Suzanne Goddard QC,told the defendant: "You are an evil serial sexual predator who has preyed upon young men who came into the city centre wanting nothing more than a good night out with their friends.

One of your victims described you as a monster. The scale and enormity of your offending confirms this as an accurate description.
The UKs departure from the EU will be less fractious if its policies stay close to EU policy, but if it prioritises deals with, say, the US, disputes will be inevitable, writes John Bruton.

The UK government will shortly begin the negotiation of a free trade agreement with the European Union.

The deal that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar made with the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, on the location of border controls will be vital in keeping the UK close to the EU.

Before the negotiations start, the EU will have worked out a detailed negotiating mandate, drawing on the many previous international trade agreements into which it has entered.

Once finalised, the EU mandate will become public, making any departure from its terms difficult.

This is especially important if, as is likely, the final agreement has to beapproved by the national parliaments of each of the 27 member states.

If it goes beyond a bare bones trade agreement covering goods and includes services as well, ratification by all national parliaments will likely be required.

On the UK side, it is assumed that similar work is now underway. But the UKs task is bigger than the EUs.

The UK will also need to negotiatereplacement agreements with all the other countries that are now fellow EU members. Their current agreements will lapse once the UK leaves the EU.

In addition, the UK will also be hoping to negotiate an agreement with the US.

The demands of other countries, with which the UK will be negotiating trade agreements later, will not necessarily be compatible with what the EU will want in its agreement with the UK.

Chlorinated chicken from the US is a case in point.

The UK will probably have to conclude its deal with the EU first, because of the very tight timelines that the UK has imposed on itself in the withdrawal agreement.

The UK may have to make concessions to the EU at the expense of other potential future trade partners.

Alternatively, the UK may gamble on getting a better deal from the US or someone else, and thus sacrifice markets in the EU, in favour of a yet-to-be-agreed deal with the US or with someone else. In this, agriculture will be a key battleground, with Irish interests at stake.

It will be high-stakes poker played against a tight deadline. Until the negotiations are underway, it will not be clear where all the difficult choices may be.

The agreement that the EU has with Canada could be a model. This provides for free trade in most goods, but notservices.

It has detailed chapters, accompanied by principles and dispute settlement mechanisms, on issues as diverse as technical barriers to trade, dumping, subsidies, public contracts, state enterprises, competition policy, intellectual property, environmental standards, telecoms, water quality, fisheries, and agriculture.

As an EU member, the UK has settled understandings, on all these matters, with its 27 EU partners. At the end of this month, that will change.

Outside the EU, the UK will have the freedom, unilaterally, to depart from its present EU-based standards, and to make its own rules. Mr Johnson has said this is the whole point of Brexit.

The EU has no way of knowing what changes this, or a future, UK government might make in social, environmental, or product rules.

Political assurances from the present UK government will be of little value. The EU side will demand legally binding assurances that will tie the UK down, no matter who is in power in Westminster.

All sorts of hypothetical situations will have to be anticipated. Appropriate penalties will have to be agreed inprinciple. Both sides will need to make new rules from time to time, as new challenges emerge.

As an EU member, the UK has had a democratic say in new EU rules. Outside the EU, the UK will have to rely on diplomacy, rather than democracy, to protect its interests.

If the EU/Canada agreement is a guide, a multiplicity of permanent committees of EU and UK officials will have to be set up, on a permanent basis, to iron out disputes, if standards diverge. Arbitrators and judges will be needed.

Taking back control will not turn out to be as clean or as simple as Brexiteers expected.

A huge challenge will be ensuring that there is a level playing field between UK and EU firms, doing business in one anothers markets. If either side changes its labour, social, or environmental standards in a way that reduces costs for its firms, there are liable to be complaints that the playing field is no longer level. The playing field will not be level if the value of sterling is keptartificially low, or if the UK allows the importation of cheap inputs that the EU had banned.

Level playing field issues such as these arise in every trade negotiation, especially between close neighbours. For instance, the US recently insisted on changes to Mexican labour rules to protect US carmakers from Mexican competition. It has complained about Chinese currency policy.

Permanent adjudication mechanisms will need to be established to decide if the playing field has, in fact, been skewed unfairly.

Issues that are now ironed out informally in the EU Council of Ministers, or inside the Commission, may, in future, become the subject of high-profile disputes.

This will mean more uncertainty for business and may inhibit investment. Many of these disputes may involve Ireland.

The best hope of reducing disputes is if UK policy stays close to EU policy. The more UK rules diverge from EU rules, the more severe will be the controls that the UK will have to impose, not only within the UK, but across the Irish Sea, on goods entering the North that might eventually enter the EU Single Market through Ireland.

The UK will want to avoid this. The UK government will have a strong political incentive to minimise the scale of these barriers within the UK.

So, thanks to Mr Varadkars deal with Mr Johnson in the Wirral last October, the UK will have a strong incentive to adopt standards close to, or the same as, those of the EU.

That will be the only way to avoid trade barriers within the UK.

If so, Leo Varadkar will have earned an important place in European history.

John Bruton was taoiseach from 1994 to 1997 and led Fine Gael from 1990 to 2001.
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the reversal of the suspension of the immediate past Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency, Damilola Ogunbiyi.

Mr Buhari ordered the reversal of the suspension on Tuesday, in clear overrule of an earlier directive given by the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman.

Last December, Mr Mamman suspended Mrs Ogunbiyi over perceived infractions and poor performance in the agency.

Mrs Ogunbiyi has since joined the United Nations.

Background

PREMIUM TIMES reported how two key agencies under the power ministry have been dogged by controversies in the past weeks. This newspaper exclusively reported the appointment 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).

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.

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.

Similarly, there has been palpable tension at the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC after its embattled Managing Director, Marilyn Amobi, was suspended. PREMIUM TIMES reported how nine top officials of the bulk trader were arrested and detained by the State Security Services.

On Monday, Mr Mamman came under attack after a press statement reacting to reports of the controversial appointments made by the minister described many Nigerians as wailers.

The press statement, signed by Aaron Artimas, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister of power, also described officials affected by the ministers decision as people who are not susceptible to relinquishing public office even after exhausting their welcome or in the face of apparent failure to perform.

Mr Artimas also argued that the decisions were taken by the minister because, despite the huge resources President Muhammadu Buhari poured into the power ministry for over four years, there has been no tangible result. He attributed the failure to the poor performance of the officials affected by the ministers new decision, calling on Nigerians to ask question on why there has been no improvement in the sector.

Presidency Counters Minister

But on Tuesday, Mr Buhari overruled Mr Mamman on his decision to remove the former REA boss.

The presidency in a tweet directed that the suspension of Mrs Damilola Ogunbiyi from her role as Managing Director of @realREANigeria, be reversed.

Her resignation, effective December 31, 2019, has been accepted to enable her take up her new appointment at the United Nations, the statement said.
Condoling the JNU attack, Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said that violence and politics on the premises of some of the universities are disturbing trends. Taking part in the silver jubilee celebration of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru on Tuesday, the Vice President said that he was disturbed by what has been happening at a couple of universities in recent times.

Elaborating further the Vice President said, "There is a need to ensure that politics should be kept out of the campuses of educational institutions and universities. There is nothing wrong with discussing ideologies but the implementation shall be done outside the campus. Universities are places of higher learning."

It can be recalled that while Jamia Milia in New Delhi was on the boil after violent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is in the news after masked men and women attacked students and faculty members on Sunday.
Comedian Ricky Gervais hosted the 77th Golden Globes for his fifth timeand possibly the last, as he constantly reminded uson Sunday.

Not everyone was amused by the jokes in his opening monologue (Tom Hanks, for one, was unimpressed), but regardless of ones enjoyment of Gervais shtick, his monologue was comfortingly on-brand, a mixture of lightweight jabs (James Corden is fat, Leonardo DiCaprios girlfriends are young) and body blows (jokes about Apples sweatshops and Jeffrey Epsteins suicide), topped off with the forceful suggestion that celebrities should keep their noses out of politics. It was also hugely popular with conservative media, which hailed him as a preacher of moral truth rather than a peddler of jokes.

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Brendan ONeill at the Spectator wrote that through our very own Ricky Gervais, Hollywood has received the thrashing it so richly deserves, and described the monologue as a takedown of Hollywood hypocrisy. He expressed the hope that the monologue would be a turning point in woke nonsense.

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The Daily Mail called the monologue a glorious kick to virtue-signaling hypocrites with Piers Morgan writing: But these selfless do-gooders left three hours later feeling abused, insulted, broken and shell-shocked thanks to a host who couldnt give a damn about their hurt feelings.

Others were similarly triumphant and earnest. Kyle Smith at the National Review compared the monologue to a smart bomb in a video game and singled it out as the evenings only bright spot: The entire show was, as youd expect, worthless. Except for Gervais hosting. According to Gateway Pundit, Gervais came armed with many barbs and eviscerated Hollywood. Breitbart praised Gervais for having skewered Hollywood hypocrisy. And Dan Gainor of Fox News wrote of the monologue, It was the comeuppance that woke celebrities deserved, but werent able to prepare for enough. Hollywood was notably uncomfortable in response.

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In one of the more overwrought expressions of joy, Ben Shapiro celebrated on Twitter:

The hilarity of Gervais taking a massive dump all over these self-aggrandizing Hollywood know-nothings while they try to ignore him and weepily virtue signal to each other...it's just the BEST THING EVER.  Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) January 6, 2020

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Candace Owens got in on the action:

Finally, a celebrity with the balls to clue Hollywood in on the painstakingly obvious truth that we DO NOT CARE WHAT THEY THINK. #goldenglobes2020  Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) January 6, 2020

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While Paul Joseph Watson praised Gervais mass red-pilling:

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British comedian Ricky Gervais is dropping red pills at the Golden Globes, joking about Epstein didnt kill himself while telling woke virtue signaling celebrities to stop talking about politics.#GoldenGlobes https://t.co/bOpfxXP6uT  Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) January 6, 2020

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He was joined by Rep. Mark Walker, who lightened the mood with a little drone-strike humor:

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Did Rick Gervais get approval from Congress before he blew up Hollywood last night?  Rep. Mark Walker (@RepMarkWalker) January 6, 2020

Even Donald Trump Jr. chimed in with a few fire emoji.

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OMG If you watch one thing today watch this. Its about time someone in Hollywood says is it. RT!!!pic.twitter.com/DhGeMvyWNZ  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 6, 2020

Gervais repeatedly said it was his last time as host, and ratings for the broadcast were down, but if it was really his final appearance on the Golden Globes stage, he ended it with heartfelt words to the audience: Get drunk. Take your drugs. Fuck off.

Read more in Slate about the Golden Globes.
Iran has launched missile strikes aimed at US troops in Iraq in what it said was retaliation for the killing last week of the top Iranian general Qassem Suleimani.

The Pentagon confirmed that al-Asad airbase in Iraqs Anbar province, and Erbil base in northern Iraq, which both host a US contingent, had been hit by a salvo of more than a dozen missiles launched from Iran.

Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), of which Suleimani was a member, issued a statement saying: The brave soldiers of IRGCs aerospace unit have launched a successful attack with tens of ballistic missiles on Al Assad military base in the name of martyr General Qassem Suleimani.

Related: Iran launches missiles on US airbase in Iraq  live updates

Iranian news sites showed video footage of missiles being launched into the night sky.

The White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said: We are aware of the reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq. The president has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team.

At approximately 5.30pm [Washington time, 1.30am in Iraq] on January 7, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against US military and coalition forces in Iraq, a Pentagon statement said. It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US military and coalition personnel at Al Asad and [Erbil].

Following the assassination of Qassem Suleimani, Irans Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed Suleimani's deputy, Esmail Qaani, as the new commander of the Revolutionary Guards elite Quds Force.

Little is known about his role in the Quds, a special operations force responsible for projecting Iranian military power overseas.

Like Suleimani, the 62-year-old from Mashhad joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a young man in the wake of the 1979 Islamic revolution.



He worked for IRGC counterintelligence before being appointed as Suleimanis second-in-command in 1997.



Story continues

The pair are said to have been close friends. Both veterans of the brutal 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, Iranian media quoted Qaani as saying their bond came from being children of war.

Comments from an IRGC political deputy this week suggested the division of labour between the two meant while Suleimani focused on Quds operations in the Middle East in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, Qaani handled more bureaucratic affairs as well as relationship building with groups in Africa and Afghanistan.

He was sanctioned by the US over funding international Quds Force activity and proxy forces in 2012.

While Qaani is believed to be weaker and less charismatic than his predecessor, he has already echoed Khamenei in promising revenge for Sulemanis death.

Quds Force operations are likely to continue unchanged, as the groups structure means it can rely on its institutional power rather than individual leaders. Bethan McKernan

The statement said the bases had been on high alert and that all appropriate measures had been taken to safeguard US troops and partners, and that the Pentagon was still working on initial battle damage assessments.

As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend US personnel, partners, and allies in the region.

Due to the dynamic nature of the situation, we will continue to provide updates as they become available.

The al-Asad base has previously been a target of an Iranian-backed Shia militia, Kataib Hezbollah, whose attacks on US and coalition troops triggered tit-for-tat strikes that culminated in the drone strike

Earlier in the day, the secretary of Irans national security council, Ali Shamkhani, said 13 revenge scenarios were being considered in the wake of the assassination of Qassem Suleimani, the head of Irans elite Quds force, and that even the most limited options would be a historic nightmare for the US.

Ali Shamkhani told the Tasnim news agency: The 27 US bases that are closest to Irans border are already on high alert; they know that the response is likely to include medium-range & long-range missiles.

Trump responded to Iranian threats in remarks to the press at the White House Were totally prepared. And likewise, were prepared to attack if we have to, he said.

But he appeared to draw back from his earlier threats to target Iranian cultural sites, a potential war crime.

If thats what the law is, I like to obey the law, he said, but he added: They kill our people, they blow up our people and then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions. But Im OK with it  I will say this, if Iran does anything that they shouldnt be doing, theyre going to be suffering the consequences and very strongly.

Trump said his long-term intention was withdraw the 5,200 US troops currently in Iraq, but not right away as the Iraqi government and parliament have demanded.

I think weve done a fantastic job but eventually, we want to be able to let Iraq run its own affairs, he said. We want to get out. But this isnt the right point.

When the US did leave, the president insisted, Iraq would have to reimburse Washington for the infrastructure investments Washington has made over a nearly 17-year presence.

Related: Germany cuts troop numbers in Iraq after Suleimani killing

US allies have already begun leaving Baghdad, which was buzzing as night fell with helicopters flying in and out of the citys fortified diplomatic district, known as the Green Zone. Canada, which currently leads the Nato training mission, said it was pulling out some of its 500 troops, and Germany said its presence in Iraq would be temporarily thinned out. Most of the Nato troops withdrawing were reported to be heading for Kuwait.

The US-led coalition to counter Isis is also repositioning its forces to lessen their vulnerability to attack. Britains defence secretary, Ben Wallace, said that non-essential personnel were being moved from Baghdad to Taji, about 19 miles (30km) to the north.

Mike Pompeo speaks to members of the media as National Security Adviser Robert OBrien listens on Tuesday. Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, earlier insisted the Iranian response to US state terrorism would be proportionate, and not conducted by surrogate forces.

This is an act of aggression against Iran, and it amounts to an armed attack against Iran, and we will respond. But we will respond proportionately  not disproportionately  We are not lawless like President Trump, Zarif said, adding that the attack would occur at the time of Irans choosing.

Unlike the United States, we do not take cowardly terrorist acts, he said. When we do it, we will declare it.

The US defense secretary, Mark Esper, said the US would prefer a diplomatic solution.

Were prepared for the worst. We hope that cooler heads in Tehran will prevail and de-escalate the situation, Esper told CNN. We are not looking to start a war with Iran but we are prepared to finish one  What we would like to see is the situation de-escalated and for Tehran to sit down with us and begin a discussion about a better way ahead.

In a further sign that the Trump administration was anxious to find a way of defusing the brewing conflict, Bloomberg News reported that Pompeo sent a cable to all US embassies on Tuesday ordering diplomats not to meet Iranian opposition groups without permission, explaining that it could jeopardise diplomacy with Irans government.

Related: Future of US military presence in Iraq in question amid confusion in Washington

The Trump administration did little to clarify the confusion that arose on Monday over its intentions in Iraq. Pentagon officials had said that a letter sent to the Iraqi government from the US taskforce commander in Iraq, announcing a troop departure, had been a draft released by mistake.

Iraqs acting prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, however, insisted that the letter had been signed and that it had initially been sent back to the US commander over a translation query, and then it had been redelivered with a corrected translation.

They said its a draft. OK, its a draft. But we received it. As a state, how are we supposed to act? We should get a second letter to clarify so we can clarify to our people too, Abdul Mahdi, who resigned in November but has stayed on in a caretaker role, said, according to Agence France-Presse. If I dont trust you and you dont trust me, how are we supposed to proceed?

In a prerecorded television address he insisted the US would have to leave.

We have no exit but this, otherwise we are speeding toward confrontation, Abdul Mahdi said, adding that Iraq would have to take a historic decision to implement the expulsion. Otherwise we will not be taken seriously, he added.
Stephen Booth is Acting Director of Open Europe.

The Prime Minister returns from his festive break faced with a lively start to 2020. Today, his government will start the process of steering the EU Withdrawal Agreement through parliament. A comfortable majority means this will be largely a formality ahead of the UKs departure at the end of January.

On Wednesday, Downing Street will host Ursula von der Leyen, the new European Commission President, for her first official visit to the UK, and Michel Barnier, who will continue his role as the EUs chief Brexit negotiator. This will be an important opportunity for both sides to put down markers for the formal negotiations on the future UK-EU relationship that will only begin formally once the transition period commences in February.

There are unlikely to be any major surprises at this stage. The Political Declaration establishes a series of nominal deadlines, which are likely to see the substantive talks concertinaed towards the second half of 2020. As with the Article 50 negotiations, we can expect the first few weeks and months to be dominated by haggling over the process and for the parties initial positions to be staked out and briefed against.

The UK has already ruled out extending the transition beyond the end of the year. However, the EU might well wait until after the formal deadline to ask for such an extension passes on 1st July before it seriously engages with the 31st December 2020 deadline for trade talks. Indeed, Phil Hogan, the EU Trade Commissioner, speculated just last week that Johnson might drop his pledge.

Meanwhile, in parallel to the trade negotiation, there is the matter of bilaterally agreeing fishing rights (by 1st July 2020), and the EU is committed to taking unilateral decisions to determine UK equivalence arrangements for financial services (end of June 2020) and data (end of December 2020). It may ultimately suit both sides for all these issues to be bundled up together at the end of the year.

Reaching a deal in 11 months will be challenging, but not impossible. The tight timescale will narrow the options for both sides, and is likely to point towards a looser economic relationship. If more time is required to ratify and implement a deal, there may well be options available to the UK and EU to smooth over any potential cliff edges.

We know that the UK is likely to seek Canada-style zero-tariff access along with zero-quota trade in goods and, in return, the EU is likely to demand the UK signs up to level playing field obligations to ensure fair competition on issues such as environmental and social standards and state aid.

Technical negotiations over the rules of origin framework will be important in determining how effectively UK and EU businesses can actually take advantage of tariff-free trade, and the exact details of level playing field commitments will matter for the UKs ability to diverge from EU rules in future.

The extent to which UK exporters are able to align unilaterally with EU regulation as against being bound to do so by treaty is also likely to be a source of contention. EU demands for access to UK fishing waters, a key priority for some member states, will be controversial. Finally, there will need to be overarching provisions on the governance and implementation of the agreement.

Together, these six issues  market access, rules of origin, level playing field, regulatory alignment, fishing, and governance  are likely to form the building blocks of a UK-EU deal. Implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol will be another important issue to address over the next 12 months. However, other issues such as services could be subject to very limited provisions at this stage or be left for future negotiations.

Of course, one of the reasons for the short timetable is that Downing Street is keen to talk about things other than Brexit, such as investment in public services and the regions, reforming the machinery of government, and implementing a new immigration regime. Events in Iran have also seen to that.

The backdrop of a potentially major international crisis with Iran reminds us that, whether we like it or not, some of the choices we make about our relationships following Brexit, particularly with the major players such as the EU and/or the US, are likely to be as much about international relations as they are about trade.

At the weekend, the Sunday Times reported on differences of opinion within Cabinet about whether the government should open trade negotiations with the US in parallel with the EU talks, in order to increase leverage with Brussels. It is certainly important that the UK considers its trade interests in the round before finalising terms with the EU and there is good reason to think that the UK can make significant progress on trade deals with economies such as Australia and New Zealand in the coming year.

However, the UK has always sought to strike a delicate transatlantic balance and, given the current circumstances, any strategy that either the US or the EU perceived as being played against one another would be very high risk indeed.

The Franco-German approach to Iran has long been at odds with that of the Trump administration and, rightly or wrongly, many in the EU regard the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal as its first major foreign policy achievement. The UK has consistently spoken up in favour of the Iran deal despite the USs withdrawal, and it is significant that the UK this week joined France and Germany in a statement calling for a de-escalation of tensions in the region.

Transatlantic divergence is not only limited to foreign policy. US tariffs to be levied in retaliation against Frances digital services tax on the likes of Google and Amazon threaten to spill-over into a low-level trade war.

Equally, there is a strong logic that suggests closer relations with the US should play a role in the UKs economic rebalancing away from the EU. This will be a delicate tightrope to navigate and Britain will need to tread very carefully.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Tuesday again implored homeowners to purchase flood insurance, regardless of whether they live in a mapped floodplain.

Hidalgo made her remarks after meeting with acting FEMA director Peter Gaynor, who is in Texas for a series of meetings. She praised the federal government for providing more than $10 million in aid to help around 2,000 families recover from last Septembers Tropical Storm Imelda, but said flood insurance is the best way for homeowners to protect themselves.

That is a life vest, in a way, but its not insurance against future disaster, Hidalgo said. Its not the best protection, so I ask folks, as a new years resolution, to resolve to purchase flood insurance.

Hidalgo noted that the majority of swamped homes in recent storms have been outside the 100-year floodplain. Of the 3,990 homes flooded by the remnants of Imelda in September, 62 percent were outside that high-risk flood zone.

In Harvey, the wettest storm in U.S. history, almost three quarters of the more than 200,000 county residences that flooded were outside the 100-year floodplain. Only about 20 percent of these properties were covered by flood insurance, FEMA calculated.

Since that devastating storm in August 2017, county leaders repeatedly have urged residents to purchase flood insurance. An additional 89,000 homeowners have purchased policies, according to FEMA.

The county judge also reminded residents that the current 100- and 500-year floodplain maps are outdated and inaccurate. When new maps are complete in 2020, county engineers estimate 162 square miles  an area the size of Philadelphia  may be added to the 100-year floodplain.

Residents can view the current maps using an interactive tool on the Harris County Flood Control website. Residents inside the 100-year floodplain with federally backed mortgages are required to purchase policies, which they can do through the National Flood Insurance Program.

The county does not track how many homeowners have flood insurance, though Hidalgo estimated a large number remain uninsured, and therefore vulnerable. Residents should not wait until hurricane season before purchasing insurance, Hidalgo said, because policies typically take 30 days to take effect.

She also encouraged homeowners to take buyouts if they are in eligible areas. The flood control district has concluded some neighborhoods are too deep in the floodplain for any practical mitigation, and is seeking to raze homes in these areas.

Hidalgo said she wanted to meet Gaynor to build a relationship with the acting FEMA head outside of emergencies and show how Harris County is being proactive on flood protection. Since Harvey, Commissioners Court has passed stricter floodplain building standards and drafted a $2.5 billion bond program for protection projects, which voters approved in August 2018.

zach.despart@chron.com
NEW YORK, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NetworkNewsAudio  PLUS Products Inc. (PLUS.CN) (OTCQB: PLPRF ) today announces the broadcast of its exclusive audio interview with NetworkNewsAudio (NNA), a NetworkNewsWire (NNW) solution that delivers clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness in the investment community.



The interview can be heard at http://nnw.fm/Y6Nnx .

Blake Brennan, Head of Investor Relations for PLUS, joins NNWs Stuart Smith to explain the Companys highly successful business approach and discuss its corporate milestones. PLUS is a branded cannabis-infused products manufacturer of edibles created to support the modern cannabis consumer.

Strategically headquartered in California, the nations largest and most competitive cannabis market, PLUS is focused on producing compliant, dosable and delicious products that provide a consistent cannabis experience.

In Californias cannabis market, PLUS is currently the No. 1 gummies brand with the best-selling cannabis product across all categories, Brennan said. Were excited about the commercial success weve seen in the market there.

Company management deliberately chose California for its initial operations, knowing that if they could succeed in that market, they could then successfully move into other markets, as the Company is now doing in Nevada and online with its Hemp CBD line.

We recently launched into Nevada, our second adult-use cannabis market, and have been excited about our success there, Brennan explained. Were in over half the dispensaries within a month and a half of being in market, and already have a Top-10 selling edibles product.

Additionally, the PLUS CBD product line is now available in 43 states, a move that highlighted the efficiency of Company leadership. This is particularly important, Brennan said, in the cannabis industry, Where youre navigating a hyper-growth industry and a newly regulated industry where no one sees the full picture clearly. Everyone is trying to sort of jump through new hoops or avoid certain risks. It really requires nothing short of a world-class management team, and we think thats what weve put together.

Story continues

Brennan also recapped the Companys plan to replicate the market dominance achieved in California to pursue opportunities in the adult-use and recreational cannabis markets outside the Golden State.

We are a hyper-focused consumer packaged goods cannabis company focused on making great food in the form of edibles, Brennan said. How we expect to grow moving forward is to build a brand and a product in the largest and most competitive market  currently California  and make it a winner there, as weve done with the best-selling product and the best-selling gummies. Our plan is to then introduce our products to new markets. We started that in Nevada and then going to Hemp CBD, and the early return in those markets is that this is an effective strategy of growth.

Listen to the full interview, visit http://nnw.fm/Y6Nnx .

About PLUS

PLUS is a hemp and cannabis food company focused on using nature to bring balance to consumers lives. PLUSs mission is to make cannabis safe and approachable, beginning with high-quality products that deliver consistent consumer experiences. PLUS is headquartered in San Mateo, California, and has 80 employees.

For more information, visit the companys website at www.PlusProductsInc.com .

About NetworkNewsAudio

NetworkNewsAudio (NNA), one of 40+ brands within our InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN), allows you to sit back and listen to market updates, CEO interviews and a company AudioPressRelease (APR). These audio clips provide snapshots of position, opportunity and momentum. NNA can assist your company by cutting through the overload of information in today's market, NNA brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. IBN is where news, content and information converge. IBN is a comprehensive provider of news aggregation and syndication, enhanced press release services and a full array of social communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and distribution company with an extensive team of journalists and writers, IBN has the unparalleled ability to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public with an ever-growing distribution network of 5,000+ key syndication outlets across the nation.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

Corporate Communications:

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Judge Judy has ruled that Michael Bloomberg is the presidential candidate for her.

After first endorsing him in an October op-ed  before the billionaire businessman had officially entered the 2020 election race  the TV judge, whose real name is Judy Sheindlin, discussed her decision on Mondays The View. During the show, a commercial she made in support of the Democratic candidate aired as well.

Sheindlin, who had not previously shared any political stances before supporting Bloomberg, told the co-hosts that shes backing Bloomberg because Ive never seen America so angry with each other as a family. Because of that, I felt as if it was time for America, which is the greatest country in the world, to have the greatest president.

Judge Judy on endorsing former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg for president: There was no other voice for me other than a voice of someone who has experience in governance." https://t.co/f8u2wbJuik pic.twitter.com/u2oiwe20Ya  The View (@TheView) January 6, 2020

Sheindlin said in looking at the field of 2020 candidates ready to take on President Donald Trump, there was no other voice for me other than a voice of someone who has experience in governance second only to the president of the United States. (The New York City native disagreed with Joy Behar that Joe Biden has more experience as former VP and decades in the Senate.)

Sheindlin went on to say that New Yorkers had a good feeling during his 12 years as mayor. (Bloomberg infamously won a third term in office after pushing to change term limits.) She said she herself felt that way when he was the mayor because she felt he was running the city effectively and efficiently. She went on to call him an honest man and a brilliant, self-made guy who runs and manages thousands of people and has for 30 years. She also cited his philanthropy and his support of things that we all care about  gun control and climate change and spending his money to do it in all sorts of ways across America.

Story continues

Photo: Getty Images

She also defended his wealth, saying defining Bloomberg as just another rich guy is one of the greatest injustices... If he's successful and happened to have made money being successful, that, folks, is the American dream. (Sheindlin has achieved the American dream by her standards. Shes the highest-paid TV host and worth a reported $420 million.)

During her interview, she also defended his stance on gun control (He's not taking away people's Second Amendment rights ) and said she believes his about-face on the NYPDs stop and frisk policing policy was genuine. However, she noted, I am not a Michael Bloomberg surrogate.

Though, thats debatable. Now perhaps his best-known backer, she is appearing in a new political ad for him which debuted today and ran on the show.

She is also expected to appear on other networks  including CNN  to support him. Shell also join him this weekend on the campaign trail in Texas.

Mondays appearance on The View, however, could make her campaigning a rough road. Commenters on The Views own tweet showing her interview were largely negative  both for Bloomberg and her support of him.

Judy Sheindlin with then-NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg  as well as Cyndi Lauper  at the 2009 Koman New York City Race for the Cure in in 2009. Sheindlin said New Yorkers loved when Bloomberg was mayor and should vote for him as president. (Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

In October, Sheindlin wrote an op-ed for Bloomberg in USA Today though he didnt confirm he was running until the following month.

"I realize I am taking a personal and a career risk," she wrote. "I have carefully stayed away from politics for 50 years, except to vote. But times have changed in our country, and I believe the moment has come for me to step out from behind the curtain. I want to speak honestly and from the heart  regardless of the consequences."

She continued, "Our American family has been fractured in recent years. Were hopelessly divided, and a bitterly divided family cannot thrive. The only way we can begin to come together again, I said, is if Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City, becomes our next president."

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Members of the banned neo-Nazi group National Action were hellbent on waging a 'White Jihad', a court has heard.

Alice Cutter, 23, Mark Jones, 25, Garry Jack, 24, and Connor Scothern, 18, all deny being members of the proscribed far-right organisation.

The extremist group was outlawed following National Action members' celebration of the murder of MP Jo Cox by extremist Thomas Mair in June 2016.

The four are charged with membership of the group between December 17, 2016 and September 5, 2017 after it was banned by then-Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

Opening the case today, prosecutor Barnaby Jameson QC warned jurors the trial would lead them into a 'world as dark as a black sun'.

He told Birmingham Crown Court how the defendants vowed to wage a white Jihad - a 'holy war' in favour of ethnic cleansing and eradication of the Jews.

Alice Cutter is pictured arriving at Birmingham Crown Court today where she faces a charge of being a member of the proscribed far-right organisation National Action

Jones was known as 'Grand Daddy Terror' among the die-hard group who had the 'unapologetically racist' ideology that 'Hitler was right', jurors were told.

Mr Jameson said nothing as extreme as National Action had emerged since the 1930s as it advocated the Holocaust and believed all Jews should be 'annihilated'.

The court was told Cutter, Jones, Jack and Scothern were all members of the terrorist group who were united by the 'fellowship of hate'. Mr Jameson said: 'Terrorists have many faces, some more obvious than others.

'They can be unremarkable-looking people on the surface. Scratch a little deeper and you would be astonished to find terrorists leading straight lives.

'There are individuals with terrorist goals and individuals with warped ideologies that will be shocking to all of you if not all.

'We are entering the neo-Nazi world of white Jihad.

'We are talking about a secretive group of die-hard neo-Nazis with no compunction whatever of obtaining their objectives through terror.

'A group with admiration for Hitler and advocation of the Holocaust. A group with a shared enthusiasm for ethnic cleansing and eradication of the Jews.

Mark Jones (pictured) was known as 'Grand Daddy Terror' among the die-hard group who had the 'unapologetically racist' ideology that 'Hitler was right', jurors were told

'This is a case about a fellowship of hate, immovable hate. Hate so defiant that the accused would rather break the terrorism laws than their bonds of hate.

'There was a time when a European nation sunk so low that the architectures were convicted of crimes against humanity.

'The Nuremberg Trials were to hold those to account. The list of men, women and children who suffered under the Nazis may be never truly understood.

'The Jews suffered on an unthinkable level. You will be forgiven for thinking that the ideology of Hitler had died out at Nuremberg. You would be wrong.

'For the accused, Hitler's work will always be unfinished. This is a group for which the final solution to the Jewish question remains to be annihilation.'

Mr Jameson described National Action's ideology as 'anything but innocuous'.

He added: 'It is unapologetically racist.

'It advocated the same Nazi aims and ideals. It advocated the removal of people who did not fit that ideology. Jews, Blacks and others.

'When Jo Cox was murdered, one NA member, Jack Coulson, declared her killer 'an absolute f***ing legend'

'The ultimate aim of the group is the all-out race war. This is not a talking shop.

'Members of NA were equipping themselves with weapons and the ability to produce explosives.

'Jack Coulson once constructed a pipe bomb. This case will by its nature will lead you, the jury, into a world as dark as a black sun. These words are chosen for a reason.

'It is a world that will transport the world back to Nazi German and the horrors of the concentration camps, the gas chambers and the crematoriums.

Garry Jack (left) and Connor Scothern (right), shown arriving at court in Birmingham today, both deny being members of the proscribed far-right organisation

'You will be exposed to the language of shocking racial hatred, humour beyond sick, photos of victims of the Nazi regime.

'It is there to give you insight into the mindset of each of the accused.'

Mr Jameson explained how National Action was set up in 2013 by two undergraduates Ben Raymond and Alex Davies.

He said: 'While other far-right groups were fragmenting, National Action marched into this vacuum.

'Nothing as extreme had emerged since the 1930s. Whatever the group lacked in size, it made up for in vehement extremism.

'It spread into small cells across the UK. They were active in terms of screening and recruitment. It spread via the web.

'By 2016 it was staging flash demonstrations. The locations were kept secret until the last minute in a way to keep the authorities on the back foot.

'These often turned violent. However, 2016 ended in a way that you may think was inevitable with the banning of this group.

'Mark Jones is known as Daddy Terror, Grand Daddy Terror and other names on messaging groups.

'There was a flash demonstration on January 23, 2016 by National Action. There is a banner that will be familiar as the case unfolds.

'It says 'Refugees not welcome. Hitler was right'.

'The expression of 'Hitler was right' is one we will return to again and again, often with his image on the banner.

'On this photo, you can see a banner with a black background and a white symbol. That is the symbol of National Action. This is a symbol you will become very familiar with.

'There was a National Action demo on February 6, 2016. An individual by the name of Jack Renshaw made a speech on something called the York Forum.

'During the speech, he called Jews 'parasites'. On February 27, 2016, there was a flash demonstration in Liverpool, which lead to something called the Battle of Liverpool.'

Footage from this demonstration and the subsequent violence is due to be shown in court during the trial.

All defendants are charged with being members of the proscribed organisation contrary to section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Jones and Cutter, of Halifax, West Yorks., Jack, of Shard End, Birmingham and Scothern, of Nottingham, deny the charges.

The trial, which is expected to last for six weeks, continues.
WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that he would not run for an open Senate seat in Kansas, despite McConnell's repeated entreaties, according to a source close to the GOP leader.

McConnell spoke with Pompeo Monday, "where he indicated he will not be running for Senate," confirmed the source, who was not authorized to talk publicly about the conversation. "Leader McConnell believes Secretary Pompeo is doing an incredible job as Secretary of State and is exactly where the country needs him to be right now."

The New York Times and Washington Post first reported the news.

Pompeo had been toying with a Senate bid for months, courting GOP donors and highlighting his longstanding ties to Kansas.

President Donald Trump even seemed to confirm the possibility in November, when he told "Fox & Friends" that Pompeo  a former House member  might consider a return to electoral politics if he feels another Republican cannot win the open Senate seat in Kansas in 2020.

"If he thought there was a chance of losing that seat, I think he would do that," Trump said. "Mike would win easily in Kansas. Great state. And it's a Trump state. He'd win easily."

It's not clear why Pompeo ruled out a bid now but his decision comes just days after the U.S. killed a top Iranian military leader, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the leader of Iran's elite Quds Force. The killing has exacerbated U.S. tensions with Iran, whose leaders have threatened to retaliate, and stoked fears of another Middle East war.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo holds a press conference at the State Department in Washington, Dec. 11, 2019.

Pompeo has spent hours since last week's airstrike trying to rally and reassure rattled U.S. allies, and he spent Sunday appearing on all five network news shows justifying Trump's surprise decision.

More: What you need to know about the escalating situation with Iran

McConnell had been pressing Pompeo to run for the seat now held by GOP Sen. Pat Roberts, who is retiring.

Story continues

Pompeo took the helm of the State Department in April of 2018, and he has been one of Trump's staunchest defenders amid a series of foreign policy crises  from Afghanistan to North Korea to Syria.

On Ukraine, Pompeo has come under intense fire amid allegations that he knew about  and approved of  the efforts to pressure Ukraine's president to investigate Joe Biden and his son, as well as a debunked theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 presidential election.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Pompeo will not run for Kansas Senate seat despite McConnell plea
He observed that unrest in academic institutions in the state would have to be sorted first.

Kolkata: Taking a dig at West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday indirectly questioned her silence on the recent agitation against him at Jadavpur University in sharp contrast to her criticism of the BJP over the violent attack on the students and faculty at the Jawaharlal Nehru University two days ago.

He observed that unrest in academic institutions in the state would have to be sorted first. Acts of violence, anarchy in educational institutions is worrisome and should not be tolerated. Silence of those in authority (who severely condemned JNU violence) over what happened at Jadavpur University a fortnight ago is painfully worrisome, the governor tweeted in the morning.

Mr Dhankhar, who is also the chancellor of JU, alleged, The position of chancellor was compromised by omission and inaction of state and university authorities. Why this selective approach to violence and disruption on JU campus ! Fire at home ought to be first priority. Am sure there will be soul searching (sic).
Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/07/2020 -- The report presents a highly detailed, comprehensive, and scientific research study on the Global Agricultural Fumigant market. The Research report presents a complete valuation of the Market and contains a forthcoming trend, current growth factors, attentive views, facts, and industry-validated market data. The report provides the historical as well as present growth parameters of the global Agricultural Fumigant market. The report features salient and unique factors, which are expected to significantly impact the growth of the global Agricultural Fumigant market throughout the forecast period.

Scope of the report:

The report commences with a scope of the global Agricultural Fumigant market that includes the key findings and vital statistics of the market. This market research report also consists of the market value of the major segments of the global Agricultural Fumigant market. QY Research has found a detailed taxonomy and the definition of the global market that helps the readers to better understand the basic information of the Agricultural Fumigant market. It also highlights the exclusions and inclusions that help the client to understand the scope of the Agricultural Fumigant market.

The report consists of key market trends, which are likely to impact the growth of the market over the forecast period. Evaluation of in-depth industry trends is included in the report, along with their product innovations and key market growth.

Competitive landscape and key vendors: DowDuPont, AMVAC, ADAMA Agricultural, FMC Corporation, BASF, Lianyungang Dead Sea Bromine, Syngenta, UPL Group, Detia-Degesch, Ikeda Kogyo, ARKEMA, Lanxess, Eastman, Solvay, ASHTA Chemicals, Jiangsu Shuangling, Dalian Dyechem, Shenyang Fengshou, Jining Shengcheng, Nantong Shizhuang, Limin Chemical >>>For more details, Get a Sample Copy of this Report (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures) @ https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/1088213/global-agricultural-fumigants-market QY Research report also includes the macro-economic factors, which are likely to influence the growth of the global Agricultural Fumigant market during the forecast period. Along with the factors, the report also analyzes the growth opportunities of the global Agricultural Fumigant market. It sheds light on the trends, restraints, and drivers to understand the growth prospects followed by the key players in the global Agricultural Fumigant market.

Geographical Outlook:

In 2018, the global Agricultural Fumigant market size was increased to xx million US$ from xx million US$ in 2014, and it will reach xx million US$ in 2025, growing at CAGR of xx%% between 2019 and 2025.

QY Research report provides a detailed information to the clients about the various factors that are impacting on the growth of the regions across North America (United States, Canada and Mexico), Asia Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam), Middle East and Africa (Turkey, GCC Countries, Egypt and South Africa), and South America (Brazil and others).

Segment Analysis:

The report provides detailed segments based on product type and applications so that the readers can better understand each segment that influences the Agricultural Fumigant market growth.

By the product type, the market is primarily split into

1, 3-Dichloropropene

Chloropicrin

Methyl Bromide

Metam Sodium

Phosphine

Others

By the end users/application, this report covers the following segments

Soil Consumption

Warehouse Consumption

Competitive Landscape:

The report provides a list of all the key players in the Agricultural Fumigant market along with a detailed analysis of the strategies, which the companies are adopting. The strategies mainly include new product development, research, and development, and also provides revenue shares, company overview, and recent company developments to remain competitive in the market.

The Agricultural Fumigant key manufacturers in this market include:

DowDuPont

AMVAC

ADAMA Agricultural

FMC Corporation

BASF

Lianyungang Dead Sea Bromine

Syngenta

UPL Group

Detia-Degesch

Ikeda Kogyo

ARKEMA

Lanxess

Eastman

Solvay

ASHTA Chemicals

Jiangsu Shuangling

Dalian Dyechem

Shenyang Fengshou

Jining Shengcheng

Nantong Shizhuang

Limin Chemical



For Further Detailed insights and 'Any Query About Agricultural Fumigant Market', Place your Query Here!- https://www.qyresearch.com/customize-request/form/1088213/global-agricultural-fumigants-market



Table of Contents



1. Introduction

2. Research Methodology

3. Report Summary

4. Agricultural Fumigant Composites Market Overview

-Introduction

-Drivers

-Restraints

-Industry Trends

-Porter& Five Forces Analysis

-SWOT Analysis



5. Agricultural Fumigant Composites Market Review, By Product

6. Agricultural Fumigant Composites Market Summary, By Application

7. Agricultural Fumigant Composites Market Outline, By Region North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa

8. Competitive Overview

9. Company Profiles: DowDuPont, AMVAC, ADAMA Agricultural, FMC Corporation, BASF, Lianyungang Dead Sea Bromine, Syngenta, UPL Group, Detia-Degesch, Ikeda Kogyo, ARKEMA, Lanxess, Eastman, Solvay, ASHTA Chemicals, Jiangsu Shuangling, Dalian Dyechem, Shenyang Fengshou, Jining Shengcheng, Nantong Shizhuang, Limin Chemical

10. Appendix



About QYResearch

QYResearch established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, data base and seminar services. The company owned a large basic data base (such as National Bureau of statistics database, Customs import and export database, Industry Association Database etc), expert's resources (included energy automotive chemical medical ICT consumer goods etc.
Uber and Hyundai Motor Co. announced they will develop Uber Air Taxis for a future aerial ride share network. The companies unveiled a new full-scale aircraft concept at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

In this partnership, Hyundai will produce and deploy the air vehicles, and Uber will provide airspace support services, connections to ground transportation, and customer interfaces through an aerial ride share network. Both parties are collaborating on infrastructure concepts to support take-off and landing for this new class of vehicles.

Hyundai is the first automotive company to join the Uber Elevate initiative. Hyundais air vehicle concept was created in part through Ubers open design process, a NASA-inspired approach that jump-starts innovation by publicly releasing vehicle design concepts so any company can use them to innovate their air taxi models and engineering technologies.

Our vision of Urban Air Mobility will transform the concept of urban transportation, said Jaiwon Shin, executive vice president and head of Hyundais Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Division. We expect UAM to vitalize urban communities and provide more quality time to people. We are confident that Uber Elevate is the right partner to make this innovative product readily available to as many customers as possible.

Eric Allison, head of Uber Elevate, cited Hyundais experience with manufacturing passenger cars on a global scale. We believe Hyundai has the potential to build Uber Air vehicles at rates unseen in the current aerospace industry, producing high quality, reliable aircraft at high volumes to drive down passenger costs per trip. Combining Hyundais manufacturing muscle with Ubers technology platform represents a giant leap forward for launching a vibrant air taxi network in the coming years, said Allison.

Hyundais S-A1 model unveiled at CES reflects some previous designs Uber Elevate has released in the following ways:

It is designed for a cruising speed up to 180 miles/hr (290 km/hr), a cruising altitude of around 1,000-2,000 feet (300  600 mt) above ground, and to fly trips up to 60 mile (100 km).

The Hyundai vehicle will be 100% electric, utilizing distributed electric propulsion and during peak hours will require about five to seven minutes for recharging.

The model is designed to take off vertically, transition to wing-borne lift in cruise, and then transition back to vertical flight to land.

The Hyundai vehicle will be piloted initially, but over time they will become autonomous.

The cabin is designed with four passenger seats, allowing riders to board / disembark easily and avoid the dreaded middle seat with enough space for a personal bag or backpack / rider.

Uber has announced a goal of flight demonstrations in 2020 and Elevate commercially available to riders in 2023.

Uber and Hyundai are not alone in the race to have vehicles operating in the clouds.

In May, German startup Lilium conducted its first flight with vertical takeoff and landing of its all-electric vertical passenger jet near Munich. Lilium hopes to have a fleet of the five-seat aircraft  which can operate with a pilot or in drone mode  flying in cities worldwide by 2025.

Boeing Co. took its flying car prototype for inaugural test flight last January. Boeing is one of several planemakers including Airbus SE working to manufacture =small self-flying vehicles capable of vertical takeoff and landing.

Japan wants to become a leader in flying cars. A test vehicle made by NEC Corp., powered by a battery, recently flew skyward but only hovered for a minute or so.

Transporting freight using the technology is a much nearer term possibility than humans at this point, according to analysts.

Related:

Topics Auto Aviation Sharing Economy Ridesharing
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA)  The spate of attacks by Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in northeast Nigeria continues unabated as they ambushed the convoy of the Commander of the fight against the terrorism, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi on Monday evening
Impeachment standoff continues as McConnell says Senate impeachment trial will go forward without decision on witnesses originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday held her position in the impeachment standoff with the GOP-led Senate, telling colleagues she would not transmit the articles to the Senate to kick off the trial until Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell shares more details about how proceedings would work.

Earlier in the day, McConnell announced that President Trump's impeachment trial would begin without deciding on witnesses, as Democrats had demanded, claiming they lacked the four GOP senators needed to give them the 51-vote majority required to subpoena witnesses.

"We have the votes," McConnell said, for the Senate to follow the precedent of the Clinton impeachment trial in which the question of whether to call witnesses was voted on after arguments from the prosecution and the defense.

PHOTO: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tells reporters he has secured enough Republican votes to start President Donald Trump's impeachment trial and postpone a decision on witnesses and documents Democrats want, at the Capitol, Jan. 7, 2020. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

"What's good for President Clinton is good for President Trump," he said. "We'll get around to a discussion of witnesses."

Pelosi, in a letter to colleagues Tuesday night, called on McConnell publicly to outline the trial and release the resolution the Senate would approve to begin the process.

"It is important that he immediately publish this resolution, so that, as I have said before, we can see the arena in which we will be participating, appoint managers and transmit the articles to the Senate, Pelosi wrote, echoing sentiments she shared in a closed-door meeting with members of party leadership earlier in the evening.

"She wants to know what the procedures are. Fair question," Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said of Pelosi's position. "She's making the point that in order to appoint our managers, we need to know the lay of the land."

Pelosi and McConnell's back-and-forth followed a surprise statement from Bolton on Monday. The former White House aide, a key player in events at the center of the Ukraine impeachment inquiry who did not cooperate with the House investigation, announced that he would appear before the Senate to testify if subpoenaed to do so.

Story continues

The news prompted new questions for some Senate Republicans thought to favor bringing new evidence into the trial. But key moderate Republican senators willing to hear from Bolton, including Utah's Mitt Romney and Maine's Susan Collins, said they favored McConnell's plans to postpone any votes to do so.

MORE: Bolton emerges as impeachment trial wild-card, putting pressure on GOP to allow witnesses: ANALYSIS

Schumer insisted that it made no sense to have senators hear arguments before all the witness and documentary evidence had been presented.

PHOTO: Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer speaks about impeachment to reporters after a weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Jan. 7, 2020. (Leah Millis/Reuters)

Speaking after McConnell, Schumer said Democrats will force each senator to go on the record on the question of witnesses. Beyond Bolton, Democrats have sought to bring acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, his deputy Robert Blair, and White House budget office official Michael Duffey to Capitol Hill to testify.

"There will be votes on the four witnesses we have asked for," Schumer said. "We Democrats have the ability to get votes in an impeachment trial."

"The eyes of America -- the eyes of the Founding Fathers looking down upon us -- are on our Republican colleagues," Schumer continued, referring to the four Republicans senators Democrats were hoping would support their position and help them form a voting majority.

MORE: Trump calls for speedy end to impeachment amid escalating tensions with Iran

If they vote against witnesses and documentary evidence, Schumer said, "they will be engaging in a cover-up. The next few weeks will be very, very telling," he said.

"We will not let them avoid the vote. They can delay it -- they can't avoid it," he said of the Republican strategy to put off the witness question.

PHOTO: U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) talks about the remaining legislative business and the House of Representatives vote to impeach U.S. President Donald Trump during her final weekly news conference of 2019 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Aurora Samperio/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

At the White House, President Donald Trump, who repeatedly called for former Vice President and Democratic candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, to testify, said he would defer to the Senate on the question of whether Bolton should testify, adding, "he would know nothing."

"That's going to be up to the lawyers. It'll be up to the Senate, and we'll see how they feel," Trump said during an Oval Office photo op. "He would know nothing about what we're talking about, because, as you know, the Ukrainian government came out with a very strong statement -- no pressure no anything and this from the boss. That's from the President of Ukraine," he said.

ABC News' Katherine Faulders contributed to this report.
[January 06, 2020] Ziyen Energy CEO Interviews President of Old Texas Land and Energy Corporation about the ZiyenCoin acquisition of 2% Non-Operated Working Interest in the Priour Oil Prospect, Saxet Field, Texas

BOOM, ITS ON THE BLOCKCHAIN PODCAST: Wayne Ozzie Rea III, joins Alastair Caithness to discuss in detail about oil tokenization of the Priour Oil Prospect.

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the latest installment of Ziyen Energys Podcast, BOOM! Its on the Blockchain, Wayne Ozzie Rea III, President of Old Texas Land and Energy Corporation discusses the difference between non-operated interest and operating interest as applied to oil assets. Listen to the podcast  Also Featured in Apple and Google Podcast Alastair Caithness, Ziyen Energy CEO, added: Our discussion gives investors insight into Ziyen Energys recent dealings with a historical company such as Old Texas Land and Energy. Ozzie discusses in detail about the Priour Prospect, Saxet Field, Texas and what specifically Ziyen Energy owns through our acquisition of 2% Non-Operated Working Interest for 2,900,000 ZiyenCoins. Ozzie provides years of insight and we are looking forward to working on more projects with Old Texas Land and Energy Corporationin the future.



CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRIOUR OIL PROJECT Learn more about Ziyen Energy and ZiyenCoin by reading our 2019 Ziyen Inc. Corporate Overview.

If you would like a copy of ZiyenCoins Security Token Offering (STO), email [email protected] or visit www.ziyen.com for more information. About Ziyen Energy: Ziyen Energy. is a technology-driven energy company incorporated in the State of Wyoming, U.S.A. in April 2016. Originally formed as a software company providing information on the oil, gas, power and energy sectors, Ziyen specializes on business information, contracts, news and information by developing cutting edge procurement and supply chain software to provide clients with intelligence on industry specific government and private contracts. In addition, Ziyen Energy currently owns interests in oil assets based in Texas and the Illinois Basin, which covers Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. The equity of Ziyen Energy has been tokenized and issued as ZiyenCoin which is offered for sale as a Security Token pursuant to SEC Rule 506(c) of Regulation D. For more information visit www.ziyen.com Forward Looking Statements: Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements related to anticipated commencement of commercial production, targeted pricing, performance goals, and statements that otherwise relate to future periods are forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail in reports filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements are made and based on information available to the company on the date of this press release. Ziyen Inc. assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release. Contact: Alastair Caithness Media Relations [email protected]

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his partner Matt Barrett have passed up on a chance to be 'godparents' to a new ferry.

The offer was made in a letter to the Taoiseach ahead of the launch of Stena Line's new vessel the Estrid, which will begin serving the Dublin-Holyhead route this month.

Others who have held the honorary role for previous vessels include TV presenter Kathryn Thomas.

However, Stena Line has confirmed the offer was not accepted. A spokesman said it "wasn't possible" to arrange for the couple to be godparents of the ferry but added Stena Line are still hopeful it could happen with a future vessel. The Department of the Taoiseach did not respond to queries.

The offer came in a letter from senior executive Ian Hampton. He said he was writing on behalf of Stena Line owner Dan Sten Olsson and chief executive Niclas Martensson and they wanted to meet to discuss "overall Brexit readiness".

Sincerity

"We would like to formally ask yourself and your partner to be the godparents of the vessel that will operate [the] Holyhead and Dublin route," he wrote.

"We ask out of sincerity for our important relationship with the Republic of Ireland whilst ensuring we live our values."
By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan's National Carpet Museum has been named the country's most visited museum. 2019 was marked by many important events for the National Carpet Museum.

First of all, this cultural center broke its own record for the number of visitors, bringing their number to 122,143 last year, Trend Life reported.

In 2019, the Carpet Museum started operating as the country's first inclusive museum accessible for all to visit.

Thus, people with disabilities can visit the museum and get acquainted with the exposition. It should be noted that statements about the museums inclusive programs were submitted to such prestigious international museum organizations as ICOM and NEMO.

The museum's successful experience was highly appreciated by international experts and organizations such as ICOM Canada, ICOM International Committee for Museum Management (INTERCOM),NEMO and CAMOC.

In addition, several amendments were made concerning Azerbaijani exhibits at the Russian State Museum of Oriental Art.

In particular, in the information about the carpets, the place of their production was indicated Azerbaijan. A catalog of Azerbaijani carpets at the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art in Istanbul was also published.

In 2019, the museum's collection was enriched with six new exhibits. Among them are two female jewelry of the Qajar era, purchased from Sotheby's Auction House.

U.S. citizens Dumas Jones and Jay Jones presented the museum with a 19th-century Gonagkend rug, while the State Customs Committee donated six valuable carpets.

Notably, these carpets were confiscated during an attempt to smuggle abroad. All of these exhibits will be presented to the public next year.

The exhibitions held by the museum last contributed to the country`s cultural life. The museum itself hosted ten exhibitions and three more were organized in Russia, China and France.

Especially worth noting is the exhibition "Azerbaijan Heritage in Louvre Museum" - the first joint project of two museums. As part of the exhibition, the Carpet Museum displayed three unique Azerbaijani carpets included into the Louvre's permanent collection.

In 2019, the museum continued to expand international relations with foreign partners. Memoranda of understanding were signed with the Ichan-Kala State Museum-Reserve, Bukhara State Art-Architectural Museum-Reserve, Ankara University, Tabriz University of Islamic Art, etc.

Last year was also notable for the fact that the museums activity was highly appreciated by the state - it received national status.

In addition, the museum received the" Quality Certificate of 2019" from TripAdvisor, for the third year in a row.

The National Carpet Museum is proud of its efforts to preserve and promote the national heritage and will continue to work with great returns in the future.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The funeral of broadcaster Marian Finucane has taken place in Co Kildare.

The RTE broadcaster died last Thursday at the age of 69.

Her funeral is taking place at St Brigids Church in Kill before a private burial.

Those attending the service included Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, as well as RTE colleagues and broadcasters Joe Duffy, Clare Byrne, Ryan Tubridy, Brendan OConnor, Miriam OCallaghan and RTEs Director General Dee Forbes.

Government ministers including Minister for Children, Katherine Zappone, and Minister for Communications Richard Bruton also attended.

The chief celebrant of the mass Monsignor Ciaran OCarroll said the news of Finucanes death was a dreadful shock.

She was such an icon of Irish broadcasting and will always be remembered for her outstanding journalistic abilities, her keen intellect, warmth, wit, thoughtfulness, compassion and kindness, he said during the service.

The broadcaster died at the age of 69 (RTE/PA)

The contribution Marian made to advancing and shaping our nation and its peoples through her professional work as a courageous broadcaster, and her determination to facilitate conversation without fear or favour, was repeatedly and wonderfully captured in countless public tributes paid over recent days.

We have also come here this morning to offer our sympathy and express our solidarity with all the members of her family  especially her husband John, her son Jack, her daughter-in-law Jenny, her sisters, brothers, in-laws, family members, relatives, colleagues and friends.

Thousands always enjoyed her programmes and she will be missed on the radio. Publicly the nation has lost a skilled broadcaster.

He added that the nation has lost a skilled broadcaster.

She had great empathy and sense of fairness and treated everyone with courtesy and respect, Monsignor OCarroll added.

A generous and determined woman, and a thoughtful and kind friend whose keen sense of humour enriched the lives of many, her charity work at home and abroad was simply outstanding.

Thousands always enjoyed her programmes and she will be missed on the radio. Publicly the nation has lost a skilled broadcaster.

Privately John has lost a soul partner, Jack a loving mother and Jenny a cherished mother-in-law.

A woman signs a book of condolence at RT Radio Centre in Donnybrook, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

He said the broadcaster was blessed with an indomitable spirit which she had to call on often in her full, dynamic and fruitful life.

Blessed with energy and dynamism, determined and persistent, she had boundless curiosity about life and the world, he continued.

Throughout her eventful life she was privileged to experience many changes and received the grace to confront various, sometimes demanding, challenges.

She had to carry the cross of bereavement with the death of her beloved daughter Sinead  a bereavement she bore with tremendous dignity.

In the face of Sineads death, Marian mobilised all of her formidable strengths and skills by dedicating a whole chapter of her life to supporting the hospice movement at home and establish a hospice charity in South Africa.

Through her various popular programmes Marian became a presence in thousands of homes each week, as listenership figures consistently revealed.
Bonchon, a Korean fried chicken chain with more than 300 locations world-wide, will open its first in Oregon later this year, the company confirmed Monday.

As first reported by Eater PDX, the Busan-based chain has signed a lease for a 1,256-square-foot location in Clackamas Town Center. According to a press release, the new restaurant will be one of 15 new Bonchon locations across America.

Founded in Busan, South Korea in 2002, the fine-casual chain is best known domestically in the New York-New Jersey area, where it first touched down in 2006. Besides its signature double-fried chicken wings, boneless strips and house sauces including soy-garlic, spicy and newcomer sweet crunch, the restaurant offers a menu of Korean specialties including kimchi, bulgogi and japchae, as well as fusion dishes including pork buns and Korean tacos.

(Portland) pretty much fits exactly what were looking for in terms of location, said Bonchon marketing manager Victor Chang. And Happy Valley in particular is such a fast-growing city. We love to appeal to fast-growing populations.

Look for Bonchon to open its first Oregon location in August at 12000 S.E. 82nd Ave., unit H127

-- Michael Russell

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Cold Chisel's concert at All Saints Estate in Victoria's Rutherglen wine region, with special guests Birds of Tokyo and Magic Dirt, has been cancelled due to bushfires.

Air quality at the site has been rated as "hazardous" by EPA Victoria due to bushfires in Albury, Wodonga and surrounding areas, with wind conditions unlikely to improve before Tuesday night's open-air gig.

Cold Chisel have been forced to cancel their first show of 2020 due to the bushfire crisis. Credit:Louise Kennerley

The show's promoter, Roundhouse Entertainment's Michael Newton, said he was "extremely disappointed" to cancel the event but the unsafe conditions couldn't be ignored.

"Our first priority is the safety of patrons, staff and artists and with air quality on the site and in surrounding areas now at a hazardous level, we have no other option but to cancel today's show," said Newton.
Tania Maduro and Syngin Colchester have had one conflict after another on TLCs 90 Day Fiance Season 7. Syngins arrival in the U.S. from South Africa only seemed to make things between the international couple, both 29, worse.

90 Day Fiance fans were surprised at many of Tanias actions on the show, from pushing Syngin to have a child with her right away to lying about the unfinished shed behind her moms backyard where the couple had to stay when he arrived. But what many viewers found most shocking was Tanias sudden monthlong trip to Costa Rica in the middle of their first 90 days together.

Reddit users were able to find the herbalism school where Tania completed a 30-day intensive in order to launch a business creating natural remedies. Tanias workshop included courses on indigenous herbal medicine, plants native to the South Caribbean region, and more.

Tania Maduro | Tania Maduro via Instagram

Tania made headlines for her choices to leave Syngin in the U.S. during her trip

Tania and Syngin clashed about Tanias decision to leave for a full month in the middle of their first 90 days before marriage in the United States. In particular, Syngin worried that Tania might be unfaithful while she was away. He also said he felt abandoned by Tanias lack of communication during her trip.

On a 90 Day Fiance episode, Tania admitted she sometimes liked to flirt with guys in Costa Rica when she went out drinking and dancing with her roomies. I like to flirt, and I like to talk to other guys that I think are cute. I cant really do anything more than look. But I can still look, she told TLC producers.

The couple also argued over their very different communication styles. Syngin wanted Tania to call him at least once a day and to let him know when she got home after a night out, while Tania thought that was excessive. You keep asking for more commitment than I can give, she told him during a FaceTime session.

The 90 Day Fiance star allegedly crowdsourced for the tuition

Her troubles with Syngin werent the only reason that some fans were scandalized by Tanias Costa Rica trip.

Soap Dirt reported that, in Feb. 2019, Tania asked for donations for her Costa Rican adventure. Her Facebook appeared to include crowdsourcing posts as she asked her friends and family to help her pay for the trip. Its my birthday yall! Tanias post read. And the charitable foundation Im raising funds for- is myself and some healing! But anything I ever do, I always bring back to the community- so its really a family affair!

If real (as the 90 Day Fiance star has never confirmed the posts are legit), it looks like the course wasnt exactly cheap. My next journey is a monthlong herbal intensive in Costa Rica, a second Facebook post said. The cost, including a BIPOC discount, is $2,488 including housing and 5 days a week meals. Flight is also extra. Please donate if youre able and share, share, share. Thank you so much and I cant wait to share what I learn!

Some fans saw nothing wrong with Tanias reported attempts to solicit donations, while others thought she should have saved up the money herself, especially when she was leaving her fiance behind for the class.

Courses included herbalism, plant walks, astrology, social justice, and more

A Reddit user claimed to have found the herbal center where Tania completed her apprenticeship in 2019. Sure enough, Tania appeared in some of the schools photos after she completed her Tropical Herbal Medicine Apprenticeship at the Wild Ginger Herbal Center, off the Talamancan Coast in Costa Rica.

On the centers website, a related intensives course description reads, Our immersion program focuses on providing a strong foundation in folk herbal medicine, and includes an engaging balance between field studies to local indigenous and traditional herbalists and farms, practical and theoretical classes at our center, and time spent exploring plants with amazing teachers who have dedicated their lives to plant medicine both local from Costa Rica as well as those who have immigrated here.

At the herbal center, participants like Tania live in rustic lodging with classmates. Along with five days a week of classes in subjects like tropical herbal medicine making, herbal first aid, social change, astrology and herbalism, tropical flower essences, and starting your own natural medicine business, students go on field trips to learn about the regions plants. On weekends, students can do as they please, which is probably when Tania went dancing with her roommates on 90 Day Fiance episodes.

Students are also required to produce a final project once they successfully complete the course. Tania posted about her final presentation on Instagram, sharing that shed made her botanical creation for Syngin. For part of my final project, I made Marigold Essence for Syngin. I also made a salve for muscle aches, bitters to help with digestion, and a lip balm, she wrote alongside a short video of her presentation.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 8, 2020 - 01:24 | All, World

Japan urged Iran on Tuesday to stick to a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, expressing its strong concern over Tehran's recent decision not to abide by the deal's limits following a U.S. airstrike that killed a key Iranian commander.

"Iran's latest announcement is disappointing and leaves us strongly concerned," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference.

"We ask Iran to return to (observing) its commitments under the agreement immediately and cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (that carries out inspections)," the top government spokesman said.

His remarks came after Iran said Sunday it is no longer adhering to uranium enrichment limitations under the 2015 multilateral agreement, which has been at the heart of rising tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Japan, which is not a member of the accord, has consistently supported the deal in hopes of bringing stability to the Middle East.

(Yoshihide Suga)

Related coverage:

U.N. warns of highest tensions after U.S. kills Iranian commander

Japan PM Abe calls for easing Mideast tensions with SDF dispatch eyed

U.S. airstrike kills Iranian commander in Baghdad

Iran has been reeling from economy-crippling sanctions reinstated following the 2018 U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal. The agreement was designed to reduce Iran's nuclear activities in return for the lifting of sanctions against the Middle East country.

Stability in the Middle East is vital for Japan, which relies on the region for most of its crude oil imports. Tensions have spiked in recent days since the U.S. killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike last week. Tehran has vowed to retaliate.

Japanese business leaders said the tensions between the United States and Iran again underscored the Middle East as a major risk factor to the global economy. They called for restraint from both sides to avert an accidental clash.

"There are so many unforeseeable events going on in the world including the Iran issue so we need to push for dialogues," Hiroaki Nakanishi, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, the country's largest lobby, said at a press conference following a New Year party.

Akio Mimura, chief of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said at the same press conference, "Given the possibility that unexpected accidents could happen in the Middle East, we need to seriously discuss and reformulate our energy policy that is dependent on imports from the region."

Shunichi Kito, president of Japanese refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co., acknowledged the need to make efforts to diversify crude supply sources.

"But the reality is difficult as we need to make substantial investments," he told reporters at a separate New Year party hosted by the Petroleum Association of Japan.

Japan has been seeking to leverage its good relations with the United States and Iran to promote dialogue. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has asked all parties involved to exercise restraint and stressed the importance of diplomacy to prevent the situation from escalating.

Although Abe appears to be counting on his close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump in steering diplomacy, Suga revealed during his press conference that Tokyo was not notified by Washington ahead of the drone strike that killed Soleimani.

Despite the heightened tensions, Japan will go ahead with its plan to send Self-Defense Forces personnel to the Middle East, Defense Minister Taro Kono said at a separate press conference on Tuesday.

Japan has decided to deploy a destroyer and patrol planes to certain areas, excluding the Strait of Hormuz near Iran, to ensure the safe navigation of Japan-related commercial ships in the region. It will not join a U.S.-led maritime security initiative near the strait, a key waterway for crude oil shipments.

Kono also discussed the Middle East situation with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper over the phone late Tuesday, with the Japanese minister briefing his counterpart on Tokyo's plan to send troops to the region, according to Japan's Defense Ministry.
In my previous article, I discussed the wickedness of women in Ghana towards men abroad. This article, on the other hand, throws light on the wickedness and ingratitude of men abroad towards ladies in Ghana. There are a lot of instances where abroad Ghanaians have tricked, deceived, punished, stressed and extorted sums of money from ladies in Ghana.

There are several reasons why Ghanaians abroad decide to marry women in Ghana. Very often Ghanaian men abroad are reluctant to marry Ghanaian women living abroad because these women are hard to succumb, control or overpower. They have learnt about the rights they have as women in marriage. When the men prove too hard and dictatorial, the women lose nothing because they have their residence and work permits.

Daniel lived in Ghana with his girl-friend. For all the five years they lived together it was the lady who provided for the house because Daniel was jobless. The lady's father was a bank manager. One fine day, Daniel came home with good news. His friend had helped him to obtain a Canadian visa.

In fact, their excitement was irrepressible. Daniel knew he had no money to buy a ticket and travel insurance. He was able to convince her girlfriend to see her father for a loan and he promised her that he would come back to marry her and take her to Canada. The father granted her a loan which was enough to buy a ticket and travel insurance for Daniel. He was in Canada for three months and failed to call his girl-friend because he found a Canadian girl-friend a week on arrival. He finally called her girl in Ghana and told her to find another person who would marry her.

The lady wept and demanded a refund of her money. The lady did not stop there. She contacted a juju man in Benin and for more than two years Daniel remained jobless. His white girlfriend left him because he became sexually impotent. Now, will her former girlfriend be satisfied?

Mike lived in Finland. He had a friend in Italy who has lived there for so many years without residence permit. She asked Mike if could help bring her sister, who is in Ghana, to Finland. Mike agreed but he charged her 4000 euros and 1000 euros which would enable him to travel to Ghana for a contract marriage with his friend's sister.

The lady paid the money in full with the hope that Mike would be able to help her sister. For six months, Mike did not take any action towards going home to contract a marriage with the friends sister. The lady in Italy was getting worried and suspicious when he called Mike's phone and a voice message replied that the number does not exist. Beloved, what should this woman do to this wicked man, Mike?

Let us compare the above to what happened in London. A legally resident Ghanaian woman in London promised to help a Ghanaian man named Max, who lived illegally in London. The lady told him that he was going to contract a marriage with him at a cost of 4000 pounds. Since he badly needed to regularise his stay in London, he paid the amount. The lady put the date for marriage three months forward. A few days before the three months expired, the lady called him to tell him that her company had transferred her to Leeds and as soon as she got settled she would give a date for the marriage. As fate would have it, Max was walking around Tottenham when she saw the lady entering the same factory she used to work. He shouted and called her, "Mabel, you deceived me. I am no longer interested in your help, just give me my money." Mabel scornfully looked at him. This is what she said: "Max, I don't owe you. I will frame you up and get you deported to Ghana.

Max called her sisters in Ghana and told them about the treatment Mabel meted out to her. Her sisters were very angry. They consulted a powerful juju man. Soon Mabel's tongue began to pop out. Her situation defied orthodox cure so the doctor advised her to seek herbal treatment in her country. She tried herbal medicine but all to no avail. It came out that the man she owed did that to her. Her relatives consulted Mama Efe at the OBRA show on Nhira Fm. Mama Efe called Max to plead with him to accept 2000 pounds from Mabel's brother as part payment and ensure that Mabel's health was restored. Max replied bluntly that he would accept nothing less than full payment. He added that if she died no one would be able to take her body from the mortuary for burial unless his money was paid in full.

She died two weeks after the case was taken to Nhyira Fm. Her senior brother dared Max and drove to the hospital. As soon as he reached the hospital, the car caught fire. The family wised up and paid the debt to Max in full.

Patricia had to wait for five years in Ghana before joining the husband, Ben, in Germany. Ben bought a villa and completed payment within twenty-five years. He told his wife who had lived in Germany for a year that he had two sisters in Ghana and he wanted to bring them to Germany. He suggested they should divorce merely on paper while they still continued to be husband and wife. This would enable him to "marry" her sisters and bring them to Germany. His wife agreed, albeit reluctantly. Ben went home and "married" one of her sisters at the metropolitan authority. With the marriage certificate, he was able to apply for her to go to Germany.

He divorced her and through the same process, he brought the other sister to Germany. Patricia also brought her brother to Germany through a similar process. At a construction company where Ben worked, the pre-fabricated blocks dislodged from their former position and fell on four workers. Ben and one other worker died instantly. The construction company compensated the families of the deceased. Ben's sister who on paper was the wife received 100,000 dollars. She also inherited the villa and the amount Ben had in his account was given to his "wife". Patricia was not able to complain because on paper her brother was the husband.

Columnist: Stephen Atta Owusu

Author: Dark Faces at Crossroads

Email: [email protected]
Feeling reverse culture shock after China

By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-01-07 17:57

Recently, a video about an Australian mans reflection on reverse culture shock went viral on Douyin, a short-video app in China. His video has received more than two million likes so far. According to the man, whose ID reveals that he is called David, returning home after living in China can come with some reverse culture shock.

(A screenshot of Davids video)

In his video, which is shot on a beach in Australia, David said with a mix of English and Mandarin, Im very used to the Chinese lifestyle. I came to Australia, it's very. Making comparisons between life in Australia and China, he used the Chinese word for inconvenient to describe living in Australia, especially after youve spent so much time in China.

As he said, he has been used to using shared bikes and the subway in China, if he doesnt want to drive his car; but back in Australia, that is not so convenient, and Uber is expensive!

I love both places, both countries are my home. I love my country, Australia is a beautiful place but so is China. And I really miss China, said David. As his social media reveals, David has lived in China for over ten years, and now he is an English teacher in Inner Mongolia.

(People are used to paying by phone in China.)

Reverse culture shock refers to the emotional and psychological distress suffered by people when they return home after a number of years overseas.

Having lived in Shanghai since 2002, Phillip, who is a musician, photographer and artist, goes back to his hometown once or twice every year. Now he is used to his life in China. After he returns to the U.S, he finds it difficult to adjust to using cash or credit cardbecause he has got used to the methods of payment in China. I don't use cash in China anymore. Pay everything by phone, both WeChat and Alipay.

The traffic condition, in the U.S., is another thing that he has to re-adjust to. American drivers seem extremely tense in traffic. They have no patience. If you pause for a few seconds, they push you in a stressful way, blowing the car horn, or making demanding gestures. This happens in a few seconds. Or if you are uncertain where you are, and need to think for a minute this could cause someone to lose their mind, and kill you. It feels threatening, in a way that you can fear for your life.

(A traffic jam in the U.S.)

On the contrary, he finds traffic in China to be totally different. On the point of patience, Chinese drivers on the whole are very patient. They are very reckless in many ways, but people seem to adjust to that and do not react. They just go with the flow of it, stopping and moving out of the way of impolite drivers, said Phillip, who has had a Chinese driving license since 2005, and drives every day.

(Michael Hurwitzs article online)

Michael Hurwitz, an American man who has spent six years in Shanghai, has written about his reverse culture shock moments after returning to his hometown. He found that there are a million articles out there on the culture shock Westerners experience in China, but he also observed that the reverse culture shock you experience upon returning to the West is just as profound, if not more so. For example, food. Chinese food in China is pretty different from American Chinese food as well. However, as Michaels article said, its not only the food itself, its the way you eat it. Living in China for so many years, Michael is so used to ordering a bunch of dishes and then sharing them with everyone that he instinctively forked some pasta off of his sisters plate at a restaurant and she thought hed totally lost his mind.

About food, Nicolle, who has been living in Shanghai for a couple of years with her family, also has something to say. After returning to her home country, the U.S., she felt it was a bit overwhelming that there is so much abundance in America....tons of products line, the huge grocery stores everywhere, and restaurant portions are huge. She also found how many Americans are overweight or obese. Its surprising, said Nicolle.

(For Nicolle, restaurant portions in the U.S. are bigger than in China.)

Besides, back in the U.S, theres an undercurrent feeling of violence. Nicolle is from a safe area in Tennessee, but she is still agitated, One never knows who might have a gun and an evil disposition.

Whats more, Nicolle has been used to the fast pace of Shanghai. Nothing really changes back home. Shanghai is constantly growing and expanding and building and improving, yet things (and most of the people) remain the same at home.

(Security personnel on the Bund)




Regular season La NFL It ended up being one of the most exciting matches offered throughout the entire campaign, and that was it Riders vs. Chasers He came to this fight with the obligation to win yes or no Playoffs,
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 11:32 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c32129ddc 1 National flood,Jokowi Free

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has ordered his subordinates to speed-up disaster relief and rescue efforts in the areas that were hit by severe flooding that began on New Years Eve, including Greater Jakarta and Banten. At least 67 have died in the floods with more than 30,000 displaced.

The ministries that handle flood-related matters should continue to reach down to [the people] in the affected areas, Jokowi told state officials at the first plenary Cabinet meeting to discuss the 2020-2024 Mid-Term National Development Plan (RPJMN) on Monday.

He called on Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto to handle health-related issues and Social Affairs Minister Juliari Batubara to handle issues over social aid. Jokowi also asked State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir to oversee the management of aid by SOEs.

"Even though I have seen their actions, I need to remind them about this again, Jokowi said.

As of Monday afternoon, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) recorded that the death toll had increased to 67 casualties, with 36,419 residents taking refuge in shelters away from their homes.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) previously issued a warning about possible heavy downpours until early February.

Addressing the warning, Jokowi ordered the Home Ministry to encourage all regional leaders to be alert and better prepare for potential disasters that might occur during the rainy season.

Jokowi also made a similar order to the Indonesian Military, the National Police, the BNPB and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), instructing them to be prepared for rescue efforts and to provide an immediate response to victims should disaster strike again.

I believe I dont have to repeat the order again, he said.

According to the BMKG, the severe flooding in Jakarta and its satellite cities was largely triggered by the heaviest rainfall in the citys history in over a decade.

The agency recorded rainfall intensity of 377 millimeters per day at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in East Jakarta on New Years Eve. The previous heaviest rainfall in the city was in 2007, when rainfall intensity reached 340 mm per day. (sau)

Topics : flood Jokowi
Through the British tabloids, before her sentencing, the woman made a direct appeal to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. I am 19 and all I want to do is clear my name and come home to my family, the Sun reported her saying. Time is running out for me. Please, please help.
False. As lawmakers in Washington and allies around the world grappled with President Trumps decision to launch a strike that killed Irans most important general, an Arizona Republican, Representative Paul Gosar, shared a fake image from his personal Twitter account on Monday purporting to show President Barack Obama shaking hands with President Hassan Rouhani of Iran. The two men have never met in person.

Whats more, Mr. Rouhani is still the president, contradicting Mr. Gosars suggestion that he is no longer in power. The Iranian flag in the background of the photoshopped image also appears to be incorrect, as it is missing the white Arabic script on its top green bar and a red emblem of a tulip in the central white bar.

The original photograph was taken in 2011 and showed Mr. Obama meeting with Manmohan Singh, then Indias prime minister.

No one said this wasnt photoshopped. No one said the president of Iran was dead. No one said Obama met with Rouhani in person, Mr. Gosar tweeted after an outcry over his post, arguing that his point was that Obama coddled, appeased, nurtured and protected the worlds No. 1 sponsor of terror.
The fish kill "was related to the primary water discharge point at the mill, Steers said Tuesday. We sample this water on a daily basis and the mill has been in compliance with our cyanide and ammonia limits every day since the August 2019 event concluded.
SCHENECTADY  History was made Monday when John Mootooveren became the first person of Guyanese descent appointed City Council president.

Mootooveren took the post after fellow council member Leesa Perazzo nominated City Councilwoman Marion Porterfield for the position.

I make this amendment because as her record demonstrates, Miss Porterfield meets very high standards and insights for the people of Schenectady and for us, we deserve no less, Perazzo said.

In the end, Mootooveren won out with the four votes he needed to secure the presidency on the all-Democratic, seven-member panel. He'll serve a two-year term.

Mootooveren's selection happened amid years of growth in the city's Guyanese population. People with ties to Guyana have been moving to the city for more than two decades with many leaving homes in Queens for cheaper real estate in Schenectady and the promise of jobs that pay enough to allow them to live in their new home. Democrats and Republicans have both made efforts to recruit the newcomers to work in city politics.

Please know that I will be looking out for your best interest everyday and I look forward to working with all of because my priority is to work side by side with the mayor and council to improve the lives of our people, our neighborhoods, and welcome new business, Mootooveren said.

Councilman John Polimeni held onto his position as the council's majority leader.

He, Perazzo, and Council member Ed Kosiur, and newcomer Carmel Patrick were sworn in for new terms on Monday. Mayor Gary McCarthy also took the oath for a third term leading the city. The city council chamber was packed with family, friends, city employees and several judges who were called on to administer oaths of office.

McCarthy delivered a state of the city address, touting the city dropping crime rate and recent cuts on property taxes that were fueled by revenue from Rivers Casino & Resort. McCarthy said he was encouraging technology to improve city life and pointed to development in the city's downtown and residential neighborhoods.

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

McCarthy lauded his Smart Cities project, a multi-phase partnership with National Grid where he said the goal was "to enhance public safety, improve transportation and mobility, environmental, sustainability, and connectivity with public wi-fi.

McCarthy also urged residents to take part in the coming Census to ensure to a full count of the city's residents.

Crime is down, taxes are down, he said. Investments in our city continue. The state of our city is very good.
A Rosebush man will spend at least seven years in prison for the sexual victimization of a child that the Isabella County Prosecutors Office said went on for years.

Brandon Haggart, 32, was sentenced to 86 months to 15 years in prison by Circuit Court Judge Mark Duthie Tuesday morning. Duthie went for the highest end allowable under sentencing guidelines, siding with Principal Trial Attorney Mark Kowalczyk and rejecting an argument from Haggarts attorney, Ryan Maesen.

This was a horrible thing that you did, Duthie told Haggart while handing down his sentence. He went on to say that the child may never recover from what Haggart did to her. Her identity and any information that could be used to identify her is being withheld to protect her privacy.

Haggart pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct on Nov. 22, Maesen said. In doing so, the prosecutors office reduced one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and dropped a charge of accosting a child for immoral purposes. The difference between first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct is that first degree involves penetration of the victim while second involves touching.

Maesen had asked for a sentenced on the lower end of the sentencing guidelines, which stipulate a minimum of 43 months in prison, based on the fact that Haggart has small children, that available work opportunities mean he can be a productive member of society and that he has the support of his family.

Does he have any members of his family here, Duthie asked. Four of the five people sitting in the front row behind Haggart raised their hand.

Duthie asked Haggart if he had anything to say. Haggart said he didnt. Duthie asked Kowlaczyk if the victims family had anything to say.

Kowalczyk said that the victim wasnt in court Tuesday morning because she didnt want to see Haggart. He did say that the abuse had gone on for years, from the time she was five until she was 10.

He also told Duthie that the victims mother was one of the two rows of people sitting behind him  where victims and victims family members and other supporters normally sit during court proceedings  but that she didnt want to speak. A woman sitting in the front row shook her head no in agreement.

When Duthie completed sentencing Haggart, three members of his family present burst into tears. As he was being moved out for processing to prison, Haggart looked over at the victims family and then at his own, blowing a kiss to them before being escorted out.

READ MORE:
New Delhi: Hours after a Delhi court issued death warrants against the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case and declared they will be hanged at 7 am on January 22, a senior Tihar Jail official said the men will be executed in Jail No 3.

The death warrant, also known as black warrant, addressed to the office of the Tihar jail chief, was issued by Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora against Mukesh, 32, Pawan Gupta, 25, Vinay Sharma, 26, and Akshay Kumar Singh, 31.

"We have received the court order and will plan the execution of the four accordingly. The convicts will now be put in isolated cells and wont be allowed to have any interaction with other prisoners, a jail source said.

Another source said the prison authorities in Uttar Pradesh will be approached to make available a hangman from Meerut to carry out the execution in the biggest prison complex in Asia.

The source said that in all likelihood, the four men will be hanged simultaneously amid reports that a new gallows frame is being readied for this purpose.

"Our team of doctors will conduct regular medical check-ups to keep a tab on their physical and mental health. We will also take care of their safety. Also, the families of the men can come and meet them during this period," he said.

Heres a list of the preparatory measures the jail authorities are likely to undertake over the next few days:

- Write to UP Prisons authorities again informing them of the date of execution as decided by the lower court. This is the second letter written by Tihar. The earlier one was a request to allow them a hangman on short-information basis. This time, it is being written to inform them of the date of execution.

- Tihar officials say the hangman from Meerut would be able to execute all the four men simultaneously.

- Three of the accused are in Jail No. 2 and the fourth in Jail No. 4. One of the convicts, who was earlier lodged at Mandoli jail, was shifted back to Tihar in December.

- Although they will be kept in separate cells, Tihar has made an arrangement that they can see and hear other prisoners. However, they wont be allowed to interact with them.

- Tihar will prepare a case history of each of the four convicts.

- The four convicts will be checked daily in the presence of a deputy superintendent. They will also be checked every time they are taken out of or return to their cells.

- The prison officer will observe their behaviour with a focus on mental health.

- All the four are now under observation of a guard 24x7. The guard will not be given more than two hours of duty. None of the convicts will be taken out of their cells unless there is proper security.

Facilities to the four convicts from hereon

- Religious books, religious pictures, other religious emblems subject to security check, newspapers and books.

- The authorities will also ask the convicts if they want to meet any family member or relative or friend before the execution. If desired, arrangements will be made accordingly.

- The convicts will be allowed to meet relatives, friends, lawyers twice a week. The frequency could be increased if the jail authorities think it is going to be beneficial and bring solace to the convicts. During such meetings, jail authorities will ensure all the security measures are followed.

Communications with special marking

An official said, A distinctive red envelope with the words Death Sentence and immediate marked on the top left and right hand corners respectively, shall be used.

The superintendents have been directed to ensure special arrangements to ensure details of any communication received in these envelops, be it any time of the day, is maintained in the register.

Arrangement for execution

The Tihar prison authorities have already inspected the gallows in December. The inspection was done by an executive engineer of PWD along with Tihar officials. On Wednesday, another inspection will be conducted. The final round of inspection will be on the evening before the execution date.

During the inspection gallows are checked, ropes are tested. For this, a dummy sand bag weighing 1.5kg times the weight of the convict is hanged and dropped between 1.830 m and 2.440 m.

Two spare ropes for each of the convicts (meaning eight spare ropes) will be kept in reserved on the scaffold in case of any eventuality.

The medical officer will report the drop and on that basis, its length will be decided. The drop and length of the rope is decided on the basis of the height and weight of the convict.

Wax or butter will be applied to the loop of the rope. After the ropes and other equipment are tested, the items will be securely locked and sealed in a steel box under the supervision of the deputy superintendent.

Who all will be present during the execution?

The superintendent, deputy superintendent, medical officer in-charge and resident medical officer along with the district magistrate. In case the district magistrate cannot come, additional district magistrate would be present. A priest of the convicts faith can be allowed, if the latter wants.

Relatives of the convicts will not be allowed to witness the execution. Ten constables or warders and two head constables or head warders will be present at the execution.

All other prison inmates will remain locked till the execution is over and the bodies removed from prison.

Process of execution

The superintendent will first go to his office to ensure there is no pending communication from competent authorities in connection with the execution. The superintendent, DM/ADM, medical officer and deputy superintendent will visit the convicts in their cell before 7am. If there is any document pending for attestation of the convicts, it will be done before the DM. It is mostly the convicts will or any other declaration.

Only the superintendent, DM/ADM and medical officer will be present near the scaffold.

While taking the convicts out from their cells, they will be guarded by the deputy superintendent, head warder and six warders. Two of them will walk in front, two behind and two holding the arms.

When the convicts will come near the scaffold, the superintendent will identify the convicts in front of the magistrate. (Its like the test identification parade where the superintendent confirms to the magistrate that he has identified the convict and he is the same who is supposed to be hanged.)

The convicts will not be allowed to see the gallows enclosure and hence, they will be brought with a cotton cap and a flap on their face. Their hands would also be tied behind them.

The executioner will tie the legs of the convicts together and adjust the rope around the neck tightly.

The superintendent will supervise the hang room before the hanging and check the rope around the neck of convicts are adjusted properly and knot is placed in the proper position.

The warder will hold the convicts arm till the signal is given. It is only after receiving the signal from the superintendent, that the hangman will push the lever to release the trap-door.

After the execution, the body will remain hung for 30 minutes. It will be taken down only after the resident medical officer confirms that convict is dead.

Arrangement of the disposal of the body

According to Tihar authorities, the body is disposed of according to the religion of the convict. If a relative or family member of the prisoner wants to perform the last rites, that individual will have to give in writing that that no public demonstration would be done. The request could be cancelled if the officials apprehend otherwise.

(With inputs from PTI)
GREENWICH, Conn., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HFM Global, a world-leading hedge fund manager's association, has announced its short list of nominees for the 2019 US Technology awards. Greenwich-based Cognivo was one of a handful of companies to earn multiple nominations from HFM's leading hedge fund industry publication, HFMWeek.

Cognivo Founder and Managing Director, Hardeep Mehta

This annual US Technology Award seeks to recognize hedge fund products and solutions that have provided exemplary service and innovation for hedge fund management clients. Its prestige and integrity are earned by convening a panel of active leading hedge fund executives who rigorously judge nominees based on success in delivering results for their clients.

HFM evaluates nominations in 21 categories, ranging from traditional areas like accounting and workflow management, to public cloud management, cybersecurity, and disruptive technology. This year HFM shortlisted 45 companies as finalists in those areas. Each written submission was judged based on the company's unique technology offering, innovation, and how it fit the sector to meet the hedge fund's specific needs. Simply making the carefully crafted list was an accomplishment that demonstrated excellence. It is HFM's practice to not disclose the number of applicants in each category.

Fewer than half of the finalists made the list in more than one category, marking these providers as the best of the best. Cognivo was recognized as an industry leader and nominated for two awards: Best IT Consultancy Service, and Best IT Service for Small and Start-up firms.

Cognivo founder and managing director Hardeep Mehta says he used his sixteen years of experience in providing strategic technology advice, combined with innovative, scalable, software and data solutions to both buy and sell side firms within the capital markets industry, to solve problems that trouble all hedge fund management corporations.

Mehta believes it is their personal and confidential immersion in their hedge fund clients' front and middle-back office processes that has helped Cognivo earn their sterling reputation providing bespoke software and data aggregation, management and reporting solutions to emerging and established funds. "Our experience and deep understanding of hedge fund markets, as well as the needs of fund managers to have an automated and efficient fund operations, allows us to create individualized solutions. Our highly tailored solutions and service helps our clients aggregate and manage their data to minimize risk and achieve greater operational efficiency."

The winners, as selected by a panel of seven active fund managers, will be announced at a gala at the Metropolitan Club on the evening of February 5th.

Media Contact:

Hardeep Mehta

[email protected]

1 646-434-1938

www.cognivoft.com

SOURCE Cognivo

Related Links

http://www.cognivoft.com


The Department of Justice will seek the death penalty against a member of MS-13 that is accused of being the ring leader in the killings of two teenage boys in Virginia.

Elmer Zelaya Martinez - nicknamed 'Killer' - could face execution for the slayings of Edvin Escobar Mendez (E.E.E.M.), 17, and Sergio Arita Triminio (S.A.A.T), 14.

Mendez vanished at the end of August 2016, and his family reported him missing on September 1.

Using information on Facebook, his brother was able to track down Triminio, who said Mendez had been 'abducted or killed' by MS-13 criminals who believed he was a spy for a rival gang.

Triminio himself disappeared two days later on September 27. Police dug up the boys' remains, at Holmes Run Park in March 2017 after receiving a tip off about their whereabouts.

Martinez, 27, is one of 12 people accused from the Fairfax County gang but a Monday court filing noted his 'substantial planning and premeditation' and 'lack of remorse for his violent acts'.

Elmer Zelaya Martinez aka 'Killer' could face execution according to a Monday court filing noting his 'substantial planning and premeditation' and 'lack of remorse for his violent acts' in 2016. Last July, the Trump admin announced it was resuming federal executions in December

A defense lawyer claimed Monday that President Trump was looking to 'gain with his base by appearing to be tough on illegal immigrants'.

Attorney General William Barr unexpectedly announced in July that the federal government would begin resuming executions starting December 9, ending an informal moratorium on federal capital punishment as the issue receded from the public domain.

But in November, a federal judge temporarily halted the first federal execution in 16 years due to a lawsuit on how the government intends to carry it out.

Edvin Escobar Mendez (left) 17, was killed in a Virginia park in 2016 and Sergio Arita Triminio (right), 14, who reported that killing to his family was murdered after that

Other defendants in the Virginia case are: Elmer Zelaya Martinez, Erick Palacios Ruiz, 20; Ronald Herrera Contreras, 20; Josue Vigil Mejia, 21; Henry Zelaya Martinez, 24; Oscar Contreras Aguilar, 20; Yonathan Melgar Martinez, 21; Anderson Villatoro, 21; Francisco Avila Avalos, 20; Fredys Baires Abarca, 20 and Oscar Contreras Aguilar, 20.

They are charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder in aid of racketeering activity, conspiracy to kidnap, murder in aid of racketeering activity, and kidnapping resulting in death.

The men were all illegal immigrants except for one, who had a green card.

A defense attorney for Elmer Zelaya Martinez noted his client had not been alleged to have delivered the deadly blows that killed the teens - and claimed Donald Trump's government was eager to appear tough on immigrants.

'I strongly suspect politics is playing a significant role rather than whether or not this is the appropriate thing to do to serve justice,' defense attorney Robert Jenkins said, according to the Washington Post.

'Whether or not they truly believe that justice would be served by seeking the death penalty I think is maybe a secondary concern versus what political chips they can gain with his base by appearing to be tough on illegal immigrants.'

The gang members were charged in June 2018 after police dug up the remains at Holmes Run Stream Valley Park in March 2017 following a tip off about their whereabouts

MS-13 was formed in prisons in Los Angeles in the 1980s, primarily to protect Salvadoran immigrants from other gangs.

Last July the president praised ICE for deporting thousands of gang members over the years.

Last February, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging death-eligible offenses against 11 members of MS-13's Park View Locos Salvatrucha for their role in the kidnapping and murder of the two juveniles.

According to allegations in the indictment, in August and September 2016, Edenilson Misael Alfaro, aka 'Lil Sicario,' originally from El Salvador authorized numerous lower-ranking members of PVLS to lure, kidnap, and murder two juveniles, E.E.E.M. and S.A.A.T.

It was after Alfaro was told that E.E.E.M. posted a photograph of a masked man to his Facebook account with the number 666 superimposed above his head, and he took that as evidence E.E.E.M. was a member of the rival 18th Street gang.

The indictment further alleges that the defendants videotaped the murder to prove to gang leadership that the murder had been completed and that they were worthy of promotion within the gang.

Attorney General William Barr unexpectedly announced in July that the government would begin resuming executions starting December 9, ending an informal moratorium on federal capital punishment as the issue receded from the public domain. But in November, a federal judge temporarily halted the first federal execution in 16 years due to a lawsuit on how the government intends to carry it out

Using information on Facebook, the first victim's brother was able to track down Triminio, who said Mendez had been 'abducted or killed' by MS-13 criminals who believed he was a spy for a rival gang.

He was on probation wearing an electronic tag, which stopped working the day he vanished.

The gang members were charged in June 2018 after police dug up the remains at Holmes Run Stream Valley Park in March 2017 following a tip off about their whereabouts.

The case was also investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force's (OCDETF) Operation Devil's Playground.

The DoJ said February 2019 that if convicted of the substantive counts, the defendants may face the death penalty but noted actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.

They said a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

In 2014, following a botched state execution in Oklahoma, President Barack Obama directed the Justice Department to conduct a broad review of capital punishment and issues surrounding lethal injection drugs.

Attorney General William Barr said in July that the Obama-era review had been completed, clearing the way for executions to resume.

He approved a new procedure for lethal injections that replaces the three-drug combination previously used in federal executions with one drug, pentobarbital.

This is similar to the procedure used in several states, including Georgia, Missouri and Texas.
The home on the 5000 block of Walton Avenue is blocked off with police tape the day after a quadruple shooting. Maurice Louis, 29, is charged with four counts of murder. Read more

Maurice Louis, the 29-year-old man accused of killing four family members in West Philadelphia, has been deemed incompetent to stand trial after a psychiatrist concluded he was too mentally troubled to assist in his defense.

Louis was charged with four counts of first-degree murder in October after police said he confessed to shooting his mother, Janet Woodson, 51; stepfather, Leslie Holmes, 56; and half-brothers Sy-eed Woodson, 18, and Leslie Woodson-Holmes, 7.

Officers found the family dead inside their West Philadelphia home on Oct. 30 after they were called for a wellness check. Louis was found sitting naked in a chair, holding a bottle of vodka, authorities said. Messages in the familys blood were on the walls.

Louis had a mental-health examination on Dec. 20, according to court records, and the psychiatrist declared him mentally unfit. Louis, who is in custody at the Philadelphia Detention Center, will be re-evaluated within 30 days. Such evaluations are meant to ensure a suspect understands the charges against them and can assist with their defense; once Louis is deemed mentally fit, the case can proceed.

Louis court-appointed lawyer, Fred Harrison, could not be reached for comment Tuesday morning.

Louis, who grew up in Philadelphia, has a history of mental health troubles, which family members have said worsened after he left for college at Towson University in Maryland.

In 2018, shortly after moving back home, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia following an eight-day stay at Mercy Catholic Medical Centers Mercy Philadelphia Campus in West Philly.

Then, the night before the killings, documents obtained by The Inquirer show, Louis mother, brought her son to the Mercy Fitzgerald Campus crisis intervention center in Darby Borough and asked for help. But Louis said he was mentally sound, had no suicidal urges, and didnt want to talk to a psychiatrist. The hospital sent them on their way.

The next morning, police say, Louis rode the subway to a gun store, bought a shotgun, and killed his family.

(In Pennsylvania, people who have been deemed mentally incompetent or ordered committed to a mental institution by a judge are barred from purchasing a gun. Its unclear whether Louis 2018 stay at the West Philly facility was voluntary or in response to a court-commitment order.)

Mercy Fitzgeralds crisis center, which provided immediate and short-term psychological care, had failed five consecutive inspections from the Department of Human Services and was closed a day after a team from the state visited, seeking information about how it had handled the mother and son.

Then on Dec. 27, Mercy Catholic announced plans to close its Philadelphia crisis center as well. The hospital relinquished its license after its center failed a November inspection and was cited by the state for overusing restraints. Also, on Dec. 15 police had been called to the hospital after an altercation between a nurse and a patient in the crisis center. No charges were filed, police said.

The hospital confirmed the anticipated closure but said the center would have a longer transitional period" would provide inpatient behavioral health care to its patients.
The Kebbi State Hisbah Committee has said it recovered 11 abandoned babies and 20 abducted single and married women in 2019.

Abubakar Muhammad, the state Director of Sharia/Hisbah, told the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday, that 63 cases of missing children were resolved and reunited with their parents.

He added that the committee also resolved 210 disputes between spouses, friends, parents and children, among others within the year in review.

Mr Muhammad said the committee also recorded 19 unwanted pregnancies, buried  alive baby, two homosexual case, six forced marriages and two cases of Hajj fraud.

I appeal to parents to monitor the whereabouts of their children at all times and to be mindful of their activities among peers.

He also revealed that 12 youth were arrested for camping young girls in hotels, while 25 women were also arrested for prostitution.

He said 11 youth and women were arrested for drug addiction, 19 women for abortion and three other women married with pregnancy.

We have a huge task and could not have been successful without the support of the state government and collaboration with other security agencies, Mr Muhammad said.

The director appealed to the state government to resuscitate the 21 local government Hisbah offices for smooth operations.

(NAN).
Acting on a piece of information, the Narcotic Cell succeeded to apprehend a notorious drug peddler from Kolkata's Amherst Street on Monday.

The accused has been identified as Mohammed Shamim (36) and the police has seized a huge quantity of brownish powder said to be heroin weighing about 800 grams from his possession, for which he could not render any satisfactory account.

The banned drug was kept inside eight separates transparent polythene packets by the accused.

A case has been registered against Shamim under Amherst Street Police Station after observing all legal formalities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The conviction rate in the city has gone up by 64% in the year 2019 compared to 2018, according to statistics released by Pune police on Tuesday.

However, the number of murder cases also went up, although by a count of two in 2019 compared to 2018. While 2018 witnessed 72 murder cases, 2019 saw 74 cases.

Of the 74 in 2019, 71 were solved. Of the 72 in 2018 as well, 71 were solved.
By Trend





Tajik Prime Minister Mahmadtohir Zokirzoda is visiting Uzbekistans capital of Tashkent on January 7 to sign an interstate protocol on the final demarcation and delimitation of the Tajik-Uzbek border, Trend reports with reference to the Tajik Asia Plus IA.

The document from the Uzbek side will be signed by Deputy Prime Minister Elyor Ganiev.

The protocol will confirm the full agreement of the parties on the clear passage of the state border of the two states.

The complete delimitation of the state border between the two states was completed last year.

Even then, the parties agreed on the border line; now, as a result of demarcation of the state border, the exact border line of the two states will be indicated on the maps.

The agreement between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on separate sections of the Tajik-Uzbek state border was signed on March 9-10, 2018, as part of the state visit of Uzbekistans President of Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Tajikistans capital of Dushanbe.

The Tajik parliament ratified the treaty on April 19, 2018.

The agreement on the most controversial part of the border, in particular, at the the Farhad hydroelectric power station, was reached at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Delimitation and Demarcation of the State Border in Dushanbe on January 10, 2018.

It was decided that the territory on which the Farhad hydroelectric power station is located will be recognized as the territory of Tajikistan, and the hydropower facility itself will be recognized as the property of Uzbekistan. The facility will be protected by the Tajik side, and Uzbekistan will be engaged in its maintenance.

According to the State Committee for Land Management and Geodesy of Tajikistan, the length of the Tajik-Uzbek border is 1,332 km. Of the total length, the river border is 105 kilometers, and land - 1,227 km.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : A Delhi court on Tuesday issued death warrants against all four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case with the convicts to be hanged on January 22.

Patiala House Court Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora while issuing the death warrants directed the convicts to be hanged on January 22 at 7 a.m. at Delhi's Tihar Jail.

The four convicts are Pawan Gupta, Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur. The convicts' lawyers have said that they will move a curative petition in the Supreme Court.

The convicts can also submit a mercy petition to the President.

A 23-year-old woman was brutally gangraped and tortured on December 16, 2012, which led to her death. Six accused were arrested and charged with sexual assault and murder. One of the accused was a minor and appeared before a juvenile justice court, while another accused committed suicide in Tihar Jail.

Four of the convicts were sentenced to death by a trial court in September 2013, and the verdict was confirmed by the Delhi High Court in March 2014 and upheld by the Supreme Court in May 2017 which also dismissed their review petitions.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Miami Cocktail Co.'s newest offering, a single-serve "Organic SPRITZ" handcrafted canned cocktail line, complements its existing "Small Batch Originals" organic bottled cocktails and is positioned to lead the premiumization charge in the exploding hard seltzer and ready to drink (RTD) canned beverage market. Its first-class credentials offer key differentiation in the category led by its organic certification, low ABV percentage of 4.2%, as well as its low-calorie content of only 110 calories per can with no added sugar, additives, or preservatives. Using only the finest all-natural ingredients, the Miami Cocktail Co. wine-based Organic SPRITZ collection is non-GMO and gluten-free and comes in five vibrant pastel BPA-free cans and varieties, including Organic Bellini, Margarita, Mimosa, Paloma and Sangria SPRITZ.

The low calorie RTD category has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years as consumers have turned their eyes towards lighter, 'better-for-you' alcoholic beverages. However, unlike other alcoholic beverage categories, RTDs have yet to undergo a premiumization phase. With Organic SPRITZ, Miami Cocktail Co. aims to lead this transition with a distinctively premium product line. "We are excited about launching with Miami Cocktail Company across many of our markets in 2020," said Tom Day, CEO at Reyes Group Beer Division.

Created by Miami spirits industry and hospitality veterans Ross Graham and Simon Benstead, Organic SPRITZ represents a true wellness-conscious option that intends to drive the premium advancement of the category. "People today are far more conscious of what they consume," said Miami Cocktail Co. Co-Founder & CEO Ross Graham. "There are more and more ready-to-drink alcohol brands claiming to be 'better for you' but they all start  and stop  with a simple caloric claim. We go well beyond that with transparency of ingredients, true quality, real organic certified cocktails that deliver what ultimately matters most - taste. Authentic cocktails that are light and refreshing, with lower calories and no added sugar, with real ingredients, that active, health-conscious individuals will enjoy and feel better about drinking."

Miami Cocktail Co. will be expanding throughout Florida, California, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Texas, and Tennessee in early Q1 2020 lead by a highly experienced team, who brings with them decades of experience and an excellent network within the beverage industry. Joining the team is Michael Rieck, Senior Vice President of Sales in North America formerly of Schieffelin & Somerset, Bacardi, Charmer Industries NY, Blackheath Beverage Group and Stillhouse Spirits Co., who adds over 25 years of industry experience and expertise to the company. In addition, Chester Brandes is joining as Senior Advisor. Having been the President of Finlandia Vodka, SVP Global Sales of Cruzan Rum, and President & CEO of Imperial Brands, Brandes brings over 45 years of industry experience to Miami Cocktail Company.

ABOUT MIAMI COCKTAIL COMPANY

Founded by spirits industry and hospitality veterans Ross Graham and Simon Benstead, Miami Cocktail Co. has evolved into a leading ready-to-serve organic craft cocktail company based in Wynwood, Miami. Made with organic, authentic and wholesome ingredients, Miami Cocktail Co. beverages are wine-based, all natural and gluten-free cocktails with no additives, preservatives, artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or negligible sulfites. Miami Cocktail Co. Small Batch Originals are available in 750-ml. bottles of three distinct delicious varieties  Sunset Sangria, Blood Orange Mimosa and Copper Pot Margarita  using wine as each cocktail base and only real fruit and fruit juices to finish the cocktails. 100 calories per serving, SRP $14.99. The ready-to-drink, wine-based Organic SPRITZ line comes in five vibrant pastel BPA-free cans, including Organic Bellini, Margarita, Mimosa, Paloma and Sangria SPRITZ. 110 calories per serving, SRP $12.99 per 4-pack of 8.4 ounce cans.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Website: www.miamicocktail.com | Instagram: @miamicocktailcompany

SOURCE Miami Cocktail Co.

Related Links

https://www.miamicocktail.com


[January 07, 2020] Pear Therapeutics Expands Pipeline with Machine Learning, Digital Therapeutic and Digital Biomarker Technologies

Pear Therapeutics, Inc., the leader in Prescription Digital Therapeutics (PDTs), announced today that it has entered into agreements with multiple technology innovators, including Firsthand Technology, Inc., leading researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Winterlight Labs, Inc., and NeuroLex Laboratories, Inc. These new agreements continue to bolster Pear's PDT platform, by adding to its library of digital biomarkers, machine learning algorithms, and digital therapeutics. Pear acquired two clinical-stage digital therapeutics for treatment of acute and chronic pain from Firsthand Technology, a leader in virtual reality for healthcare. These product candidates employ virtual reality pain relief through a combination of distraction, active physical engagement, mindfulness and biofeedback with wearable sensors. In a clinical trial the virtual reality treatment demonstrated a reduction in pain of more than 30% from baseline [1]. Pear licensed content for a clinical-stage digital therapeutic that has demonstrated clinical utility in four randomized studies in over 600 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) from leading researchers from the Karolinska Institute, a world-renowned academic institution in Stockholm, Sweden [2-5]. This product candidate employs cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other methods for treating IBS. This collaboration also includes plans to develop PDT product candidates for the treatment of other gastrointestinal and autoimmune disorders. Pear licensed a clinical-stage digital therapeutic for the treatment of migraine headaches from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, a nonprofit academic medical center and one of the oldest pediatric teaching hospitals in the United States. This solution employs CBT and patient education. Cincinnati Children's has recently completed a clinical trial evaluating its digital therapeutic. Pear licensed machine learning-based voice digital biomarkers from Winterlight Labs, an innovator of technology that analyzes and assesses cognitive health. Pear licensed the technology to develop and clinically validate digital biomarkers for a variety of diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, depression, insomnia, schizophrenia, opioid us disorder, and substance use disorder. Pear is collaborating with NeuroLex Laboratories to collect structured voice data in patients with depression, as well as healthy volunteers. Neurolex is the developer of SurveyLex, a pioneering platform to create and distribute voice surveys. Pear intends to develop a library of real-world data from which insights may be derived to enhance the efficacy of Pear's PDTs.



"We are excited to announce these agreements, which expand the leading PDT platform," said Corey McCann, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of Pear. "Accessing external technologies allows us to continue to broaden the scope and efficacy of PDTs."

"The field of digital health is evolving rapidly, and PDTs are going to increasingly play a big part because they are designed to allow doctors to treat disease in combination with drug products more effectively than with drugs alone," said Alex Pentland, Ph.D., a leading expert in voice analytics and MIT (News - Alert) Professor. "For PDTs to make their mark in healthcare, they will need to continually evolve. Machine learning and voice biomarker algorithms are key to guide that evolution and personalization." About Pear Therapeutics Pear Therapeutics, Inc. is the leader in prescription digital therapeutics. We aim to redefine medicine by discovering, developing, and delivering clinically validated software-based therapeutics to provide better outcomes for patients, smarter engagement and tracking tools for clinicians, and cost-effective solutions for payers. Pear has a pipeline of products and product candidates across therapeutic areas, including severe psychiatric and neurological conditions. Our lead product, reSET, for the treatment of Substance Use Disorder, was the first prescription digital therapeutic to receive marketing authorization from the FDA to treat disease. Pear's second product, reSET-O, for the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder, received marketing authorization from the FDA in December 2018. For more information, visit us at www.peartherapeutics.com. ________________________________ 1. Jones, T., Moore, T., & Choo, J. (2016). The Impact of Virtual Reality on Chronic Pain. PloS one, 11(12), e0167523. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0167523 2. Ljotsson B, Hesser H, Andersson E, Lackner JM, Alaoui El S, Falk L, Aspvall K, Fransson J, Hammarlund K, Lofstrom A, Nowinski S, Lindfors P, Hedman E. Provoking symptoms to relieve symptoms: A randomized controlled dismantling study of exposure therapy in irritable bowel syndrome. Beh Res Ther. 2014 Feb 10;55C:27-39. PMID:24584055 3. Ljotsson B, Hedman E, Andersson E, Hesser H, Lindfors P, Hursti T, Rydh S, Ruck C, Lindefors N, Andersson G. Internet-delivered exposure-based treatment vs. stress management for irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized trial. Am J Gastroenterol. 2011 Aug;106(8):1481-91. PMID:21537360 4. Ljotsson B, Andersson G, Andersson E, Hedman E, Lindfors P, Andreewitch S, Ruck C, Lindefors N. Acceptability, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of internet-based exposure treatment for irritable bowel syndrome in a clinical sample: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Gastroenterol. 2011;11(1):110. PMID:21992655 5. Ljotsson B, Falk L, Vesterlund AW, Hedman E, Lindfors P, Ruck C, Hursti T, Andreewitch S, Jansson L, Lindefors N, Andersson G. Internet-delivered exposure and mindfulness based therapy for irritable bowel syndrome - a randomized controlled trial. Beh Res Ther. 2010 Jun;48(6):531-9. PMID:20362976 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005354/en/

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A mental health nurse who told a suicidal former client not to kill herself on his birthday has been allowed to keep practising.

Andrew Michael Moses also told the woman while he was working at the Lake Macquarie Mental Health Service, where she was also a patient, that he didn't want her to die but if she decided "to do anything to yourself", to delete the messages between them as "I don't want them found".

A mental health nurse has been reprimanded after telling a former patient not to kill herself on his birthday.

"I want you to understand that if you went through with it and our conversations were found, there would be consequences for me," Mr Moses said in a text message on September 4, 2015, the day of his and the woman's birthday.

On the same date he wrote, "don't do anything to yourself tonight because it's my birthday too and I don't want my birthday to be the day you died".
In Nigeria, the Islamic Movement (IMN) or Shiites has strongly condemned the provocative airstrike, ordered by US President Donald Trump.

The airstrike led to the death of Iranian top General and Guards Commander, Quaseem Soleimani and Iraqi Commander, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Nigerian Police have been placed on a heightened state since the incident.

The Shia sect in Nigeria, led by the jailed Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, pledges allegiance to Iran.

In a statement released over the weekend and signed by its spokesperson Ibrahim Musa, IMN said it received the very sad news of the killing of Soleimani. We strongly condemn this provocative air strike ordered by President Trump.

It added that the US killing of Soleimani is a declaration of war on Iran, which has now dangerously made the world on the edge of a very destructive war. For quite some time now, President Trump has been looking for ways to drag the Iranian nation to a senseless war.

IMN vowed that the crime will be avenged by Hajj Qassems brothers, children, and students from resistance men and mujahideen from all the peoples of the world that reject humiliation and submission to the tyrants of this century.

Soleimani masterminded Irans regional strategy for more than 20 years. He led Iranian overseas operations, building military and political alliances that allowed Iran to wield greater clout in the region.

The Iranian government announced Sunday it would no longer abide by the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, lifting restrictions on centrifuges, uranium enrichment and more. President Trump pulled the US out of the deal in 2018.

The Iraqi Parliament approved a resolution calling on the government to expel some 5,000 US troops from the country. President Trump said Sunday we are not leaving unless they pay us back for an air base in Iraq.

President DonaldTrump said Sunday that his administration may discuss releasing the intelligence on Soleimani.
H uge numbers of mourners have gathered to pay their final respects to Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani ahead of his burial.

His body has arrived in his hometown of Kerman in south-eastern Iran, where he is to be buried on Tuesday morning.

It comes after large crowds turned out for a funeral procession in Tehran and as tensions rose following's Soleimani killing in a US drone strike in Iraq on Friday.

A crowd of thousands gathered in a central square in Kerman, the hometown of the Soleimani. Mourners dressed in black and carried posters bearing the image of the top general.

The outpouring of grief was an unprecedented honour for a man viewed by Iranians as a national hero for his work leading the Guard's expeditionary Quds Force.

The US blames him for the killing of American troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death Friday in a drone strike near Baghdad's airport.

Soleimani also led forces in Syria backing President Bashar Assad in a long war, and he also served as the point man for Iranian proxies in countries like Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

His slaying already has pushed Tehran to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers as his successor and others vow to take revenge.

In Baghdad, the parliament has called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil, something analysts fear could allow Islamic State militants to mount a comeback.

On Monday, authorities brought Soleimani's remains and those of the others killed in the airstrike to a central square in Kerman, a desert city surrounded by mountains that dates back to the days of the Silk Road.

The leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Hossein Salami praised Soleimani's exploits and said as a martyr he represented an even greater threat to Iran's enemies.

General Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike / AP

"We will take revenge. We will set ablaze where they like," Salami said, drawing the cries of "Death to Israel!" Israel is a long-time regional foe of Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran's parliament passed an urgent bill declaring the US military's command at the Pentagon in Washington and those acting on its behalf "terrorists," subject to Iranian sanctions.

Qasem Soleimani funeral in Iran 1 /24 Qasem Soleimani funeral in Iran An Iranian man reacts during a gathering to mourn General Qasem Soleimani VIA REUTERS Mourners wave flags as they gather during the funeral procession of slain Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani AFP via Getty Images Mourners gather during the funeral procession of slain Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (image), Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and eight others in the Iraqi central city of Karbala AFP via Getty Images Thousands of Iraqis chanting "Death to America" today as they mourned an Iranian commander and others killed in a US drone attack AFP via Getty Images Mourners gather in the Iraqi central city of Karbala AFP via Getty Images Mourners take part in the funeral procession of slain Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani AFP via Getty Images Iranians gather to mourn General Qasem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, in Tehran, Iran VIA REUTERS A mourner holds up a picture AFP via Getty Images Thousands of Iraqis chanting "Death to America" today as they mourned an Iranian commander and others killed in a US drone attack AFP via Getty Images Mourners chant slogans against the U.S. during the funeral of Iran's top general Qasem Soleimani, AP Iran has vowed "harsh retaliation" for the US airstrike near Baghdad's airport AP Mourners carry the coffins of Iran's top general Qasem Soleimani AP Mourners carry the coffin of slain Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis AFP via Getty Images People attend a funeral procession for Iranian Major-General Qasem Soleiman VIA REUTERS An aerial view shows mourners attending a funeral ceremony for Gen. Qasem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani and his comrades who were killed in Iraq by a U.S. drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners AP Mourners carry the coffins of Iran's top general Qasem Soleiman AP Iran has vowed "harsh retaliation" for the U.S. airstrike near Baghdad's airport AP

The measure appears to mirror a decision by President Donald Trump in April to declare the Revolutionary Guard a "terrorist organization."

The US Defence Department used the Guard's designation as a terror organisation in the US to support the strike that killed Soleimani.
Lucknow, Jan 7 : The 11th edition of the Defence Expo, scheduled to be held here from February 5 to 8, promises to be the biggest in terms of area and revenue.

The exhibition will also highlight emergence of Uttar Pradesh as an attractive destination for investment in the defence sector and act as a platform for alliances and joint ventures in the defence industry.

Uttar Pradesh already has a strong defence industrial infrastructure. It has four units of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd at Lucknow, Kanpur, Korwa and Naini (Prayagraj), nine ordnance factory units, including Kanpur, Korwa, Shahjahanpur, Firozabad and one unit of Bharat Electronics Limited at Ghaziabad.

One of the two Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) in India, is in Uttar Pradesh. The Corridor will encourage Defence Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including Indian defence industry and promote Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). The other DIC is proposed in Tamil Nadu.

The DefExpo will provide an opportunity to the major foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to collaborate with the Indian defence industry and help promote the 'Make in India' initiative.

According to a government spokesman, the event will offer an opportunity for the Indian defence industry to showcase its capabilities and promote its export potential.

The main theme of the DefExpo India-2020 will be 'India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub' and focus will be on 'Digital Transformation of Defence'.

The DefExpo will also provide a unique platform for Defence industry OEMs, exhibitors and private industry to display their latest innovations and capabilities.

The spokesman said that ministerial level delegations from the foreign countries and visitors from all over the country as well as abroad are expected to visit DefExpo and witness India's emergence as a major manufacturing hub providing attractive opportunities for co-development and co-production of defence equipment and systems not only for our defence forces but also for export to the world.

So far, 925 exhibitors have registered for the event, of which 150 are from other countries.

Meanwhile, the state government is making massive preparations for the DefExpo and the entire state capital is being spruced up A tent city is coming up at Vrindavan Development Scheme on the outskirts of Lucknow. The tent city will have 1,000 super deluxe and deluxe tents for guests. The government is also preparing for different events on the banks of the Gomti River.
Police are braced for dozens of fresh victims to come forward after an Indonesian student was unmasked as Britain's most prolific rapist - responsible for attacks on at least 195 men in Manchester.

Reynhard Sinaga (36) preyed on young straight men in bars and clubs close to his city centre apartment, spiking their drinks with the party drug GHB before attacking them while they slept and filming the rapes on his mobile phone.

Following four trials - which could only be reported for the first time yesterday - Sinaga was convicted of 159 sex attacks, including 136 rapes on 48 victims.

But it is feared the number of victims could run into hundreds, as the vast majority of men he targeted were unaware they had been attacked.

When contacted by police, none of the victims wanted to know the details of what happened to them and two went on to attempt suicide.

Sinaga, who moved to Britain in 2007, operated out of his Manchester flat, which was just yards from many of the city's popular clubs and bars.

Leaving the apartment late at night, he would prey on those who looked drunk or vulnerable, luring them back to his flat with offers of drinks or to charge their phones.

Sinaga would then spike their drinks and rape or sexually assault them, often numerous times, filming the attacks on his phone. His youngest victim was 17 and the oldest 36.

The true scale of Sinaga's offending may never be known. Police have established that at least 195 men were attacked and filmed, but more than 70 have yet to be identified.

All but three of the 48 men who could be identified were heterosexual.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

Over 7,510 tons of petroleum products were sold at Iran Energy Exchange (IRENEX), Trend reports with reference to IRENEX.

The monetary value of the sold petroleum products was over 350 billion rials (roughly $8.3 million)

Transactions are conducted on IRENEX according to SANA system, under which $1 equaled to 133,000 rials.

According to IRENEX, Isfahan Oil Refining Company sold ISO recycle, solvent 400, 402, 406, 410 and 503, while Tabriz Oil Refining Company sold solvent 402 and Abadan Oil Refining Company sold CO and light naphtha.

Meanwhile, Shahid Hasheminejad Gas Processing Company (Khangiran refinery) sold gas condensates.
Garrison Brothers Distillery is looking for the best mixologist in Texas to compete in its second annual Bourbon Brawl.

Motivated by redemption, one local bartender was looking forward to the competition after coming in second in 2019. A rule this year, however, doesn't allow past participants to join.

A veteran of the annual event, Raimond Cordero, a mixologist at the North Side's Green Lantern, wanted to compete in March for a $10,000 prize awarded to the bartender who makes the best cocktail using Garrison Brothers Whiskey.

Good bourbon can change the world, and good bourbon is conducive to good story-telling and lasting friendships, said Dan Garrison, founder of Garrison Brothers Distillery.

Cordero, however, wasn't looking to make friends. She wants to win.

I just want to bring the gold back to San Antonio, Cordero said after finishing as the runner-up in 2019. I should have done it (last year), and Im going to do it. I have been thinking about what I want to do for this year since I won the silver.

The San Antonio native and 12-year bar veteran expects the competition to be fierce and already had an idea for an alcoholic concoction for the 2020 competition, adding she was inspired after watching TV.

She did not want to share the secret ingredients.

And if you have a vision for a cocktail, you need to do everything you can to make it work," she said. "If you believe in it, you can do anything with it.

Last year, one of her drinks featured a polaroid picture and was served in a light bulb, paying homage to the Edison Experiment, the bar she worked for during the 2019 competition. For her final round cocktail, she presented a drink with sparklers in it while Katy Perry's "Firework" was playing in the background. Her regional-winning cocktail was a green tea whiskey, inspired by her heritage.

Presentation, materials and the overall concept play a huge role in the competition, with smoke, pyrotechnics and music usually accompanying the drinks.

I always want to think outside of the box, and if someone thinks youre overdoing it, then thats what I want to do, Cordero said. I like to be extra.

Creativity and freedom are the best parts about crafting cocktails and is one of the reasons she enjoys entering competitions like the Bourbon Brawl, Cordero said.

Not a lot of people necessarily think about how creative you can be, but originality is a huge thing, she said. You can have a classic cocktail, but then you can put some kind of spin to make your own idea stand out and its really rewarding to see people enjoy it.

For the brawl, Garrison and his team of cocktail experts find the best mixologists from Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio who then go on to compete against each other until a winner from each region is crowned. Those five then battle it out in Austin for the top prize.

Garrison said the Bourbon Brawl is more than just who can sling a drink, it is about who has a heart and passion behind their craft. In addition, the bartenders attitude, charm, camaraderie with customers, and concern for the well-being of their community will also be taken into account during the judging process.

We want the story behind the cocktail because we are interested in the story of the person who is making the drinks, Garrison said.

Last year, one mixologist made a root beer float-like drink, complete with an old-time ice cream parlor uniform and set up. Another, a former body-builder, started doing pushups while mixing her cocktail.

I expect them to bring the heat again," Cordero said about the competition.

Garrison Brothers is still taking applicants for the brawl and anyone can sign up, even the at-home mixologists who want a chance.

This is all fair game, if you can make a cocktail, you need to participate, Garrison said. Our goal is to change the world with the prize money.

The San Antonio regional semifinals will be held March 26. The Bourbon Brawl finals are set for May 7 in Austin with the winner announced on May 8.

Taylor Pettaway 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 | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway

EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story was written when Raimond Cordero was expected to be a part of the competition. A rule does not allow previous contestants to take part.
The Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF) is launching a new initiative to reward early-career researchers, within the fields of taxonomy, biodiversity and geodiversity science, who base their research on natural science collections. E-SCORE  Excellence in Scientific Collections-based Research, is a celebration of the new generation of scientists who have shown dedication to the use of collections that help document, describe and understand life on earth, and the processes that have shaped it. The award also celebrates the United Nations endorsed International Day for Biological Diversity, which falls annually on the 22nd of May to commemorate the 1992 adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity. CETAF will award E-SCORE for the first time in 2020 to mark the end of the UN International Decade of Biodiversity.

The foundations of E-SCORE are the natural-scientific collections that are hosted, preserved and curated in research organisations across the European Community and in associated countries with CETAF member institutions. The research staff of these institutions explore and document diversity in nature. The knowledge they collectively build provides a foundation on which policies and initiatives for nature conservation and the protection of natural resources are based. By awarding E-SCORE, CETAF wishes to highlight the significance of collections-based research in the fight against biodiversity loss and climate change.

FEATURES

The prize will be given annually and consists of three parts:

A cash prize of 1,000 ;

Financial support (up to 1,000 ) to facilitate a scientific visit of the Award Winner to one of the CETAF institutes

An invitation to the next CETAF Governing Board meeting for a (virtual) presentation of the winning research.

Young researchers from all over the world are eligible; affiliation with a CETAF member is not mandatory. For those without current affiliation, their application shall include a nomination from a member of a CETAF institution.

Applications are due by 31 January 2020. For more information, including eligibility criteria and the application form, go to the CETAF website.

Please spread this great opportunity widely in your networks and encourage all deserving young researchers to participate!

CETAF and BHL have been reciprocal partners since 2018.
Liberal MP Craig Kelly has hit back at critics after he was lambasted on British television as a climate denialist.

The Liberal member for Hughes, NSW, appeared on morning TV in England defending the prime minister for holidaying during the recent bushfire crisis and denying the link between heightened bushfire danger and climate change.

The appearance has created a firestorm in the already politically-charged debate in Australia and comes less than 48 hours after Prime Minister Scott Morrison tried to reassure the public that his government does not deny the science of climate change.

However Mr Kelly has dug his heels in, calling a meteorologist who dressed him down on air as an ignorant pommy weather girl in a Facebook post on Tuesday morning.

Good Morning Britain weather presenter Laura Tobin accused the MP of being a climate denier.

You have the second highest carbon emission on earth and you are burying your head in the sand. You're not a climate sceptic - you're a climate denier, she said.

He also claimed there was no evidence to suggest a long-term trend towards a warming climate.

During the TV appearance, Mr Kelly repeated the disputed claim that high fuel loads were mainly to blame for the scale of the fires.

There was no evidence of warming, Kelly says

"You have to look at the science and what our scientists are telling us," he said. He also claimed there was no evidence to suggest a long-term trend towards a warming climate.

Mr Kelly also happens to be the chair of Parliamentary Friends of Coal Exports.

Craig Kelly referred to the accredited meteorologist as a "pommy weather girl". Source: Good Morning Britain

Scientists have disputed claims a lack of hazard reduction burns have led to the size of the bushfires, with ex-fire chiefs blaming the effects of climate change.

Despite being scolded by presenter Piers Morgan who told him to wake up, Mr Kelly has continued to double down on his dubious claims.

"You are facing now one of the greatest crises you have ever faced, and there is you... who still doesn't think this has anything to do with a heating up planet," Morgan said.

Story continues

"Climate change and global warming are real and Australia right now is showing the entire world just how devastating it is."

Mr Kelly claimed Morgan "didn't want to hear the facts" and "the weather girl had no idea what she was talking about".

Ms Tobin, who has a degree is physics and meteorology took issue with the suggestion.

Yes Im a Meteorologist

-A degree in Physics & Meteorology

-4 yrs as an aviation forecaster at the RAF

-12 yrs as a broadcast meteorologist

-Attended a @WMO Climate course last year & upto date with all the science #NotAWeatherGirl #IKnowWhatImTalkingAbout#DoYou?#ClimateChange https://t.co/fvwTpzftTI  Laura Tobin (@Lauratobin1) January 6, 2020

Mr Kelly also defended his appearance on ABC radio this morning, shrugging off suggestions that he embarrassed his government.

You were schooled by a weather reporter, host Tom Tilley said to Mr Kelly.

The weather girl had no idea what she was talking about, the Liberal MP responded.

Accused of embarrassing Coalition

Asked whether he thinks he embarrassed the Coalition government, and its leader, who has recently repositioned himself as more concerned about the affects of climate change, Mr Kelly remained defiant.

Dont you think you embarrassed the prime minister rather than defending him? Tilley asked. What do you think your colleagues will make of your performance?

Mr Kelly said he was simply doing his job during a national crisis and accused others of trying to score political points during the ongoing disaster.

Australia has continued to politicise the issue while a majority of countries accept and take action.

We have had these disasters in the past. Everybodys got behind the leader. Unfortunately, during this disaster, weve seen people trying to exploit it for political advantage.

Prior to last years federal election, Mr Kelly looked set to lose pre-selection for his seat but was saved when Scott Morrison intervened to ensure he held his position.

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.
The Daily Beast

Fox News White House correspondent and perpetual nemesis of Jen Psaki thought he had Joe Bidens press secretary cornered on Monday when he asked her why the president is still referring to COVID-19 as a pandemic of the unvaccinated when so many people are getting breakthrough infections. He was wrong.I understand that the science says that vaccines prevent death, Doocy began, before undercutting that basic truth. But Im triple-vaxxed, still got COVID. Youre triple-vaxxed, still got COVI
Breaking a 5-day silence over its response for the US killing of General Qassem Soleimani, on Tuesday Iran said it was assessing 13 scenarios to inflict a "historic nightmare" on the US. "Even if the weakest of these scenarios gain a consensus, its implementation can be a historic nightmare for the Americans," Ali Shamkhani, the head of Iran's national security council, was cited by Fars news agency, adding that, "For now, for intelligence reasons, we cannot provide more information to the media."

Iranian officials previously said that U.S. forces in the region will be targets, and overnight the Iranian parliament on Tuesday designated the Pentagon and affiliated companies as terrorists. In response, the U.S. issued a warning to shipping in the Middle East over the possibility of Iranian action against U.S. maritime interests, the Associated Press reported, citing a statement.

Soleimani's death has rippled through the Middle East, with the U.S. and its allies on high alert for a retaliation attack by Iran.

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister, said Tuesday that the U.S. would suffer consequences for the killing of Soleimani "at a time and place of Iran's choosing." Zarif added the U.S. must leave the Middle East and warned that if they don't, a new multi-generational war could erupt.

The leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Major General Hossein Salami, told tens of thousands on Tuesday for the burial of Soleimani in the city of Kerman that Iran was ready to "set ablaze those places Americans hold dear" over the killing of the former commander. Thousands chanted "revenge, revenge," as the IRGC leader declared "we will take revenge. The revenge will be vigorous and unwavering, woeful, and terminal."

"We will surely take revenge, but if America dares takes any action, we will set alight those places Americans hold dear. They know where those places are." Related: US Urges All Americans To Leave Iraq After Soleimani Assassination

"We will burn the places they love"

IRGC Commander Hossein Salami reaffirms Iran's vow to avenge the death of Qasem Soleimani pic.twitter.com/bCqxco1nsL  BBC Monitoring (@BBCMonitoring) January 7, 2020

Earlier, President Trump outlined 52 Iranian sites that U.S. forces would attack if Iran dares to retaliate.

And while the world await for Iran to pick one or more of the 13 scenarios, on Monday the Pentagon dispatched additional forces to the Middle East, even as conflicting signs emerged about Washingtons commitment to remaining in Iraq.

The three-ship Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group was ordered to move to the Persian Gulf region from the Mediterranean, where it has been exercising, according to a U.S. official. The group, which includes about 2,200 Marines and a helicopter unit, follows the deployment of about 3,500 soldiers from the Armys 82nd Airborne to Kuwait late last week.

By Zerohedge.com

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By ANI

NEW DELHI: Actor Deepika Padukone on Tuesday joined students protesting against the recent violence on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus.

The Bollywood actor was seen standing with students as the demonstrators raised the slogan of "Jai Bhim-Jai Bhim". She did not issue any statement nor address the students.

Delhi: Deepika Padukone greets Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union (JNUSU) President Aishe Ghosh at the university, during protest against #JNUViolence. (earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/89P9ixwmAh  ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2020

#WATCH Delhi: Deepika Padukone greets Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union (JNUSU) President Aishe Ghosh at the university, during protest against #JNUViolence. (earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/aFzIF10HI2  ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2020

Deepika is currently in the national capital promoting her upcoming film 'Chhapaak'.

More than 30 students were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the JNU and attacked the students and professors with sticks and rods.

Several Bollywood celebrities have condemned the violence which took place in JNU on Sunday.

Bollywood star #DeepikaPadukone on Tuesday joined students protesting against the recent violence on the #JNU campus. The actor was seen standing with students as the demonstrators raised the slogan of 'Jai Bhim-Jai Bhim'.#ISupportDeepika pic.twitter.com/lAMttlA1YD  The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) January 7, 2020

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and lyricist Vishal Dadlani joined the protests organised by students at the Gateway of India, Mumbai against the violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on January 5.

While Kashyap said that he was there at the protest site to show his solidarity with the students and blamed the government for the attacks in JNU campus, Dadlani said that he was there in support of a secular India.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  The Philippine National Police will intensify the security around embassies of Iran, the United States and their allies in the country amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington.

"Lahat-lahat ng embassy, we'll be meeting with their liaison or protocol officers so we will be able to place what's supposed to be done in their embassies." PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Lieutenant General Camilo Cascolan said.

[Translation: We will be meeting the liaison or protocol officers of all embassies so we will be able to place what's supposed to be done in their embassies.]

Aside from the Metro Manila police, the Special Action Force, the Police Security and Protection Group, and the Anti Cybercrime Group are involved in the planning and execution of the intensified security protocols.

The US and Iran have been trading threats since Washington assassinated Tehrans top general, Qasem Soleimani last week.

The continued escalation of tensions between the two countries have elicited fears from the government, which has moved to secure Filipinos living in the Middle East.

President Rodrigo Duterte has sent a team of top Philippine officials to the region to lay the groundwork for the evacuation of the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos in the conflict areas.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, who is also serving as the special envoy to the Middle East, has recommended a mandatory evacuation of Filipinos in Iraq, where Soleimani was killed by an airstrike.

CNN Philippines Correspondent Gerg Cahiles contributed to this report.
Democratic leaders are demanding more information on President Donald Trumps decision to assassinate top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani last week as Congress convened for its first full week of the New Year on Monday.

Mr Trumps surprise decision to kill Soleimani  one of the most important figures in the Middle East  sent shockwaves throughout the world and has pushed foreign policy into the debate surrounding the presidents looming impeachment trial.

In a letter to Mr Trump on Monday, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Robert Menendez said Mr Trump has no legitimate justification for classifying the administrations reasoning for the killing.

It is critical that national security matters of such import be shared with the American people in a timely manner, the senators said in a letter to Mr Trump on Monday.

Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the Democrats in the House, said late Sunday that the lower chamber would introduce legislation this week to limit the presidents ability to conduct military actions against Iran without congressional approval.

Mrs Pelosi called the attack a provocative and disproportionate military airstrike that endangered our service members, diplomats and others by risking a serious escalation of tensions with Iran.

In a series of tweets on Monday, Mr Trump blasted the Democrats for focusing on impeaching him in a trial in the Senate while we have so many important matters pending.

Read more:

Republicans have used the strike on Mr Soleimani to defend Mr Trump as taking action against enemies while Democrats try to remove him from office.

Iraqs parliament called for U.S. and other foreign troops to leave as the backlash against the U.S. killing on Friday of a top Iranian general grew, and Mr Trump doubled down on threats to target Iranian cultural sites if Iran retaliates.

Mr Trump also threatened sanctions against Iraq and said if U.S. troops were required to leave, Iraqs government would have to pay Washington for the cost of a very extraordinarily expensive airbase there.

Similarly, Mr Trump is confident he could still renegotiate a new nuclear deal with Tehran, White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said on Monday.

This was a day after Iran announced it would retreat further from the 2015 nuclear pact.

Asked if Trump believes he can still get Iran to renegotiate a new nuclear agreement, Conway said at the White House: He said hes open.

If Iran wants to start behaving like a normal country  sure, absolutely.

(dpa/NAN)
The first annual Elsie Enduro Trail Ultra will take place Saturday, Feb. 29, at Catoosa Countys Elsie Holmes Park in Ringgold.

Runners will complete the 2.5-mile trail loop every 40 minutes until only one runner remains. Runners will endure just over a 400-foot elevation gain in the short 2.5-mile course.

Once a runner completes their laps, participants are invited to celebrate their achievements in the Creature Comforts Cooldown Tent, featuring brews by the Athens-based brewery.

Many runners in our local trail running communities are not familiar with Elsie Holmes Park, said race coordinator Marcy Cirlot Kernea. This race provides an opportunity to promote the beauty of Catoosa County, enjoy some friendly competition, support a great cause and enjoy some amazing Creature Comforts Classic City Lager.

All proceeds from the Elsie Enduro will benefit the Evitt Foundation, a 501c3 charity which promotes child welfare and education. In 2019, the Evitt Foundation, in partnership with Ringgold Telephone Company and the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, provided fresh groceries to approximately 2,000 local families suffering from food insecurity.

For more information or to sign-up, visit elsieenduro.com.




Japanese startup FPV Robotics is leveraging drone technology to address a growing global need: inspecting aging infrastructure in an effort to avoid major issues like unexpected bridge collapses. FPV Robotics CEO and founder Masaki Komagata showed me his company's production Waver drone, which is debuting for the first time ever at CES 2020 in Las Vegas this week.

Waver is an amphibious drone, which can fly thanks to eight rotors, and also speed along the surface of bodies of water using its floats. This dual nature makes it particularly well-suited to solving a very specific task -- a problem Komagata set out specifically to solve after observing that Japan Railways (JR) needed this addressed.

This specific problem was rail bridge collapse, including damaged and destroyed bridges along the Tadami River in 2011 due to floods in Niigata and Fukushima. Many of the spans that JR relies upon for its Shinkansen and other local trains in Japan are considerably old, and beginning to show their age. That wear can be further exasperated by environmental disasters -- which are occurring with greater frequency as a result of climate change.

FPV Robotics can't magically repair this aging infrastructure or prevent natural disasters, but it can deliver on-demand, flexible monitoring and inspection at a greatly reduced cost compared to current methods. Komagata partnered with JR and with sensor company OKI on development of the Waver to custom-design it specifically for this use, which is where it got its amphibious abilities and attached multibeam sensor array.

This multibeam technology, provided by OKI, is installed on the bottom of the Waver drone and provides sonar imaging capabilities that allow the drone to accurately map the bottom of a river or seabed from the water's surface. This information, Komagata tells me, can be used to help predict when infrastructure, including bridges and roads, might need to be replaced or reinforced, prior to any actual collapse or damage.

Story continues

Waver can autonomously map a predetermined section of riverbed, moving like a Roomba across the water in segment sweeps to build the full picture. It's also equipped with eight rotors, more than your average VTOL drone, which Komagata tells me is for added redundancy so that it can continue to operate effectively even in the unlikely event that it loses power to multiple rotors at once.

In addition to the sea and river bed inspection, the Waver can do a visual inspection of the bridge itself from up close using a more traditional camera, as well as the supporting land from which it extends. Komagata points out that this kind of multi-part inspection can require specialized boats, many hours of trained personnel time, things like temporary scaffolding for a close-up eyes-on approach and a lot more. He estimates based on studies FPV has done that their drone could reduce inspection costs to as little as 1/20th the cost of existing methods. That means it would be possible to monitor much more frequently than can be done currently, and in circumstances where risk to human inspectors on the ground might be a necessary component of using more traditional means.

Waver estimates that just taking into account bridges alone, there's a roughly $25 million per year total addressable market, and it's aiming to acquire around 4% of that (roughly $1 million in revenue) in 2020, and then to grow that by about $2 million per year in the next two fiscal years. It's currently mostly bootstrapped, with 90% of the startup's existing 30,700,000 ($300,000) in seed funding coming from Komagata himself. With that capital, the company has already gone from working prototype (which you can see in the GIF above) to the much more polished production version debuted at CES.

Komagata, an engineer with a focus in drone development, envisions Waver being able to address challenges with aging infrastructure not just in Japan, but globally, though FPV's initial focus is on the market opportunity at home. Ultimately, he hopes that Waver and other drone technology FPV Robotics brings to market helps to "make the world a better place," and addressing challenges like infrastructure inspection is definitely a good place to start.
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A top Facebook employee who ran the platforms ad organization during the 2016 election dismissed claims that President Trump won the election because of Russian misinformation campaigns, stating that he got elected because he ran the single best digital ad campaign Ive ever seen from any advertiser.

Andrew Bosworth, now the head of Facebooks virtual and augmented reality division, wrote in an internal memo published December 30 and obtained by The New York Times, that while he felt Facebook was responsible for Trumps election, it was not due to Russian meddling.

They werent running misinformation or hoaxes, Bosworth said of the Trump campaigns efforts. They werent microtargeting or saying different things to different people. They just used the tools we had to show the right creative to each person. The use of custom audiences, video, ecommerce, and fresh creative remains the high water mark of digital ad campaigns in my opinion.

Following the aftermath of the 2016 election, Democrats were quick to jump on claims that nefarious actors had swung the election towards Trump, after Facebook revealed it had shut down several hundred accounts believed to be created by a Russian company linked to the Kremlin, which was used to buy $100,000 in ads to exacerbate social divisions in the electorate.

In a September 2017 letter to the FEC, Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and other lawmakers urged the agency to create new guidelines to stop disruption in our democratic process and to preserve the integrity of our election law and our elections.

Hillary Clinton told MSNBCs Rachel Maddow after the release of the Mueller report, which found claims of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to be unfounded, that the real story is the Russians interfered in our election.

But Bosworth  who caveated that he is liberal and donated the max to Clinton in 2016  argued that Russian meddling only reached an infinitesimal fraction of the overall content people saw in the election and was mostly economically motivated.

Story continues

$100,000 in ads on Facebook can be a powerful tool but it cant buy you an American election, especially when the candidates themselves are putting up several orders of magnitude more money on the same platform, he said.

Bosworth also dismissed allegations that opposition-research firm Cambridge Analytica, which improperly used Facebook data to reach voters, had any effect on Trumps victory, calling its 2016 efforts a total non-event.

They were snake oil salespeople. The tools they used didnt work, and the scale they used them at wasnt meaningful, he wrote.

Bosworth closed his post by endorsing Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerbergs defense of political advertising on the platform, after hundreds of employees criticized the decision.

If we change the outcomes without winning the minds of the people who will be ruled then we have a democracy in name only, Bosworth wrote. If we limit what information people have access to and what they can say then we have no democracy at all.

More from National Review
IAM systems integrator enables digital transformation for Germany's top companies

LONDON, Jan. 07, 2020, the identity platform for application builders, today announced a partnership with systems integrator iC Consult Group . The specialist in Identity and Access Management (IAM) is Auth0's first partner covering the German market and works with 50% of major German companies on the DAX stock index. iC Consult Group also operates globally with 12 offices across the UK, Europe, America, and Asia.

The addition of iC Consult Group and Auth0's overall growth in DACH indicates demand for cloud-based identity management solutions that balance security and customer experience. According to a recent survey from Germany's digital association Bitkom and KPMG, cloud is an important driver of digital transformation with 73% of German companies using some form of cloud computing. iC Consult Group introduces a tremendous opportunity for Auth0 to help German customers increase their efficiency in managing user identities across digital apps and services.

"In the area of identity management, we're seeing more of our customers deviate from on-premise to cloud-based alternatives. Auth0 addresses this need by providing a lightweight solution that is quick to implement and does not tie up unnecessary development resources. Because at the end of the day, it's all about accelerating the digitisation of services," said Andre Priebe, Chief Technology Officer at iC Consult Group.

In addition to the classic enterprise IAM topics of governance, provisioning, Single Sign On, and Device Flow for the Internet of Things.

"We are thrilled to welcome iC Consult Group to our programme. The move to the cloud requires a new approach and specific expertise. Combining Auth0's flexible and extensible identity platform with iC Consult Group's experience moving businesses into the cloud can be a true source of competitive advantage for our mutual customers," said Bill Lapcevic, VP of business development at Auth0.

Expansion to Germany follows the recent growth of Auth0's global partner programme and brings the total number of European partners to 30. Learn more and join the Auth0 Partner Program here .



About iC Consult Group

iC Consult Group and its companies - iC Consult, xdi360, IAM Worx, and Service Layers - specialize in Identity and Access Management (IAM). The services we provide include IAM Business Consulting, Architecture and Design, Implementation and Integration, Managed Services, and our Identity as a Service offering: Service Layers. With over 300 consultants, 30 IAM product partners, and more than 1000 successful projects, we have demonstrably achieved customer success.

For more than 20 years, we have been inspiring our renowned global customers from the automotive, logistics, pharmaceutical, and financial sectors - but not only with classic IAM. We are also at the forefront of innovative topics such as Customer IAM, Internet of Things, and API Management.

For more information, please visit https://ic-consult.com.



About Auth0

Auth0, the identity platform for application builders, provides thousands of enterprise customers with a Universal Identity Platform for their web, mobile, IoT, and internal applications. Its extensible platform seamlessly authenticates and secures more than 2.5B logins per month, making it loved by developers and trusted by global enterprises. The company's U.S. headquarters in Bellevue, WA, and additional offices in Buenos Aires, London, Tokyo, Sydney, and Singapore, support its customers that are located in 70+ countries.

For more information, visit https://auth0.com or follow @auth0 on Twitter .

Media Contacts:

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Iran has dropped spying charges against a French-Iranian academic, who has been in jail in Tehran for months. With the charged lifted, Fariba Adelkhah avoids the death penalty, she still faces other accusations.

Said Dehghan, Adelkhah's lawyer, welcomed the decision to drop the espionage charge, which carries the death penalty.

Two more charges are levelled against Adelkhah: spreading "propaganda against the political system" of the Islamic Republic, and "conspiracy against national security".

Dehghan said the prosecution had dropped its case against her for "disturbing the public order".

Adelkhah, an expert on Iran and Shia Islam with Sciences Po University, was arrested in Tehran in June last year.

Her colleague Roland Marchal was arrested the same month while visiting Adelkhah.

Iran does not recognise dual nationality and has repeatedly rebuffed calls from foreign governments for consular access to those it has detained during legal proceedings.

It accused France of "interference" in December after the French foreign ministry summoned Iran's ambassador to Paris to protest the imprisonment of Adelkhah and Marchal.

Their detention added to distrust between Tehran and Paris at a time when French President Emmanuel Macron has been seeking to play a leading role in defusing tensions between Iran and the United States.

The French pair are not the only foreign academics behind bars in Iran  Australia's Kylie Moore-Gilbert from the University of Melbourne has been imprisoned since October 2018, and was being held in the same cell as Adelkhah.

Canberra expressed "deep concern" over the Australian's case when she, along with Adelkhah, began a hunger strike on Christmas Eve after losing an appeal against a 10-year jail sentence.

In December, Xiyue Wang, an American scholar who had been serving 10 years on espionage charges, was released by Iran in exchange for Massoud Soleimani, an Iranian who had been held in the US for allegedly breaching sanctions.
It didnt take long for World War III to become a trending topic on Twitter in the hours after news broke that a drone strike by U.S. forces resulted in the death of a top Iranian military commander.

Almost simultaneously, those whod never heard of the now-late Qasem Soleimani until cable news and social media blared his name began debating whether the latest escalation in tensions between the United States and Islamic Republic of Iran would inevitably result in a hot war between the two countries.

There is bipartisan agreement that the airstrike personally ordered by President Donald Trump meant that there was one fewer terrorist in the world. And there is some wisdom to that, considering Soleimani was believed responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans during the Iraq War.

But  and this is a significant but  Congressional leaders had not been briefed on the attack, and expressed fears that the White House was moving toward yet another undeclared war in the region.

While the administration has made positive noises about wanting to draw down the American presence in the Middle East, as was the case during last years disastrous withdrawal from northern Syria, its actions have not matched the rhetoric.

The Washington Post reported late last week that the U.S. was deploying an additional 3,500 service people to the region in the wake of that Iranian vow to extract severe revenge. Thats on top of the battalion of 750 soldiers sent to Kuwait.

The additional security is undoubtedly necessary, as American installations across the Middle East brace for retaliation. But its also a reminder of how easy it would be for the United States to slide into another conflict in a part of the world thats claimed thousands of American lives and trillions of dollars in American resources.

As president, Trump has broad latitude to prosecute foreign policy. But the War Powers Act requires the executive branch to brief Congress within 48 hours of unauthorized military action.

New York Mags Ed Kilgore writes that the administration is likely to claim it had grounds to act under the congressionally enacted Authorizations of Military Force in 2001 and 2002 that, respectively, gave the nation the Forever War on Terror, and an Iraq War that doesnt seem to want to ever end.

Not surprisingly, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, raised serious questions about the legality of the attack, saying it had been carried out without legislative authorization. In reality, Republicans and Democratic administrations have been abusing their war-making authority for decades. That includes the Obama administrations pernicious preference for drone strikes.

Think about this: The United States last issued a formal declaration of war after the bombs fell on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Every military action since has come without a formal declaration of war. Though some, such as the Korean War and the 1990 Gulf War, have come with congressional authorizations or through United Nations resolutions, as was the case with the Bosnian War under President Bill Clinton in 1992-93.

It might be too late to get the genie back into the bottle. But this slow creep of executive power is one that badly needs to be reversed. Which means its a mistake to dismiss Democratic complaints about White House overreach.

The president wields no power more terrifying  nor more broad reaching  than the ability to wage war. But he (and someday she) wields that power in all our names, not just his own.

Thats what declarations of war  and congressional authorizations  are for: To ensure we speak, as a nation, with one voice.

Its a quaint notion, perhaps, but its one worth remembering before we blunder into another endless war.

John Micek is the opinion editor and political columnist for PennLive/The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pa.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday discussed the regional security situation against the backdrop of an escalation in tensions in West Asia following the killing of a top Iranian general in an American air strike last week.

The phone conversation between the two leaders came three days after Qassem Soleimani, head of al-Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed while leaving the Baghdad airport on Friday.

Today, President Donald J Trump spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to exchange New Years greetings. The leaders discussed ways to further strengthen the US-India strategic partnership in 2020, and they also reviewed the regional security matters, a White House readout said.

A statement issued by the external affairs ministry made no mention of security issues, and said Modi expressed his desire to continue working with Trump to enhance cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

As tensions have escalated following Soleimanis death, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has threatened severe revenge and Trump has warned the US will strike 52 specific targets if Iran retaliates.

On Sunday, external affairs minister S Jaishankar spoke to US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and Irans foreign minister Javad Zarif and expressed concern at developments taking a very serious turn. The Indian side had reached out to key players in West Asia, including the UAE, Oman and Qatar, to discuss ways to reduce tensions.

India has been put in a difficult position because on the one hand, it has a growing strategic partnership with the US and, on the other, Iran is crucial to its plans to access landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asian states. It has been watching the escalation with growing concern as any flare up could hit crude oil prices and supplies and also affect nearly 8 million Indian expatriates in West Asia.

According to the external affairs ministrys statement, Modi conveyed New Years greetings to Trump and said the India-US relations, which are built on trust, mutual respect and understanding, have grown from strength to strength.

Modi highlighted significant progress made in deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries in the previous year and expressed his desire to continue to work with President Trump for enhancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

Trump wished the people of India prosperity and progress and expressed satisfaction at achievements in the relationship in last few years and reiterated his readiness for further deepening bilateral cooperation, the statement said.
It was Boris Johnsons first major House of Commons moment since his stunning election victory and, in fairness, he didnt put a foot wrong.

He didnt put a foot right either, of course. He didnt put any kind of foot at all. He didnt even so much as put a foot through the door of the chamber.

The assassination of a key Iranian leader by a cavalier US president, putting UK forces stationed overseas in direct danger, is the sort of thing you imagine might push the winner of a stunning general election result to the dispatch box, not the loser.

But  and this really wont surprise you  you would imagine wrong. Boris Johnson was nowhere to be seen.

It was, in its way, a shrewd move. The last time he answered questions on Iran, he accidentally extended the jail term of a British woman wrongly incarcerated there. And he was only foreign secretary then. Now things were really serious.

Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Show all 24 1 /24 Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions Iranian mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of top general Qasem Soleimani during the final stage of funeral processions, in his hometown Kerman. Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with Iran which has vowed "severe revenge" AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranian people carry a coffin of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani during a funeral procession in Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions The assassination of the 62-year-old heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile, oil-rich Middle East and rattled financial markets AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Mourners packed the streets of Tehran for ceremonies to pay homage to Soleimani, who spearheaded Iran's Middle East operations as commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force and was killed in a US drone strike on January 3 Iranian Supreme Leader's Office/EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranians set a US and an Israeli flag on fire during the funeral procession AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, centre, with Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, second left, and President Hassan Rouhani, third left, standing next to him as he leads a prayer over the caskets of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Tehran University Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, openly weeps as he leads a prayer over the coffin of Qassem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Mourners holding posters of Qassem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Coffins of Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a US drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession, at the Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions An Iranian mourner holds a placard AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Downtown Tehran was brought to a standstill as mourners flooded the Iranian capital Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Former Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps chief Mohamad Ali Jafari prays on the coffins of Qasem Soleimani and of other victims during their funeral ceremony EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Satellite image Maxar Technologies/AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA

And serious times, even Boris Johnson knows, are not the times for Boris Johnson. Now would not be the time for loltastic banter, like his previous material about dead bodies on beaches. Now would be the time for somebody else. And that somebody else was the defence secretary Ben Wallace.

Ben Wallace, after all, is a safe pair of hands. Admittedly, it was the same Ben Wallace who accidentally admitted on camera last August that parliament had, very obviously, been prorogued to try and force through no-deal Brexit, which was not the governments official position at the time.

(Its official position at the time was to lie about its official position, as the Supreme Court ultimately found. Unfortunately, for Ben Wallace he was caught on camera not lying, which, when youre working for Boris Johnson, is very much a no-no, so dont expect him to keep his job come the reshuffle next month.)

But Mr Wallace ranks higher on the Safe Pair of Hands Scale than his predecessor, Gavin Williamson, who was sacked because he was deemed to be a danger to national security. Mr Williamson became, along with Priti Patel, one of only two government ministers to be sacked for being a danger to national security and then return to the cabinet within a year. What times.

Anyway. We digress. Ben Wallace did a sort-of-passable job at explaining away the impossible position into which Donald Trump has forced us, of admitting that he was both right and wrong to have assassinated the Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

That they had every right to assassinate him, but they maybe shouldnt have assassinated him, but that now they had assassinated him, the right thing to do would be to de-escalate the situation, all the while sounding never more like Sick Boy in the Trainspotting pub scene, quietly telling Begbie to leave it, but crucially after, not before, he has glassed the man who accidentally spilt his pint.

Jeremy Corbyn was there, obviously. If the Iran situation does escalate to nuclear conflict, who of us can say with any certainty that Mr Corbyn will not survive it? The worlds most pious cockroach, creeping into the noontime darkness to reassert his moral superiority?

In theory, he will cease to be Labour leader in April of this year, but  just as Hugh Grant ponders in About a Boy the certain fact that soon, the mad woman and her weird son will stop standing round the piano singing Killing Me Softly and he will be able to go home  it has begun to stop feeling like such a thing can ever possibly happen.

There he was again, not listening to a word that has been said, insisting that all avenues should return to his solitary sound bite about a Trump trade deal.

This was embarrassing enough during an election campaign which he had not, at that point, lost by miles. That it is all he can come out with after Sedgefield, Blythe Valley, Don Valley, Wakefield and God only knows I could go on all voted Tory for the first time since people used to tweet pictures of woolly mammoths at polling stations, is truly the measure of the man.

Still, theres a good 10 years of this to come. There will be no shortage of days in which Boris Johnson will be found utterly wanting: 3,650 of them, give or take.
Spanish remains the language most frequently spoken by English-learners in U.S. schools by a wide margin, with roughly 76 percent of the nations 5 million English-learners speaking Spanish, but the numbers for several other languages are surging.

Overall, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Somali were the top five languages spoken by English-language learners in the nations K-12 public schools during the 2016-17 school year, according to recently released data from the U.S. Department of Education .

The percentage of Arabic-speaking English-learners, the second-largest group, has increased 75 percent over the past eight years to 122,000. But even with the rapid growth of native Arabic speakers in U.S. schools , this group still accounts for only about 2.5 percent of the entire English-learner population.

Roughly 1 in 6 of the Arabic-speaking English-learners, about 21,000 students, attend schools in Michigan, which has a large Arab-American population. Schools in the states of Illinois, New York, and Virginia all enrolled more than 5,000 Arabic-speaking English-learners during the 2016-17 school year.

Data show that Arabic bypassed Chinese as the second most common language for English-learners during the 2013-14 school year.

Despite the change, the number of Chinese speakers is also on the rise , increasing 35 percent over the past eight years to 104,000. The report did not distinguish between Cantonese and Mandarin speakers. More than one-third of the Chinese-speaking English-learners attend schools in California, while close to 20 percent attend school in New York.

Heres a look at the data from the 2016-17 school year:

Altogether, almost 83 percent of the nations English-learners are native speakers of one of the five top languages, but there is plenty of linguistic diversity among the nations English-learners: The Education Department report found that 50 languages were represented among individual states top five most commonly spoken languages.

Spanish was the most commonly spoken English-learner language in 46 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. In the remaining states, the top English-learner languages were:

In Alaska, almost 39 percent spoke Yupik indigenous languages.



In Hawaii, 18 percent spoke Iloko, a native language of the Philippines.



In Maine, 31 percent spoke Somali.



In Vermont, 24 percent spoke Nepali.

Heres a look at the full fact sheet from the office of English language acquisition.

Related Reading

Students Taking Spanish, French; Leaders Pushing Chinese, French

Schools Tap Talent for Home Languages

Photo Credit: Joshua Chee answers questions in Chinese during Chinese-language class at Herricks Middle School in Albertson, N.Y. as teacher Elizabeth Yu Ellsworth listens. --Mustafah Abdulaziz for Education Week

Graphic Credit: U.S. Department of Education office of English language acquisition
With the start of the criminal trial of Harvey Weinstein, the pervasiveness of sexual assault is back in the public eye. We have heard people make comments that the #MeToo Movement has gone too far.

But it seems the movement hasnt gone far enough to help survivors of sexual assault be believed when they find the strength to say this happened to me too.

According to recent Statistics Canada opinion data, only 47 per cent of men agree that people who report sexual assault are almost always telling the truth. At 62 per cent, women who agree with that statement is higher  but not by much.

This finding speaks volumes about our inaccurate cultural beliefs about sexual assault, even after the revelations of #MeToo, when thousands of survivors said they faced this violence, and many said they couldnt tell anyone what happened.

The reality is that people who report sexual assault are indeed almost always telling the truth. The rate of false reports of sexual assault are low and consistent with false reports for other crimes. In fact, sexual assault is hardly reported to authorities at all. According to 2014 data, its only reported to police 5 per cent of the time.

Women are at such high risk of this violence, as well as trans and non-binary people, and some are at even higher risk, like young women and women with disabilities. Can we blame them for hardly reporting what happened to them? Especially when the myth of rampant false accusations is so lodged in our national imagination?

Canada gets kudos for having some of the most progressive sexual assault laws in the world. But this opinion data means that a lot of us still dont believe people when they say Me Too, even when the evidence tells us we should.

It seems to be our culture to first doubt, to presume lies, to say, did that really happen to you?

This is a testament to the sad fact that writing great laws on the books doesnt necessarily fix up cultural attitudes and beliefs. When it comes to sexual assault and believing survivors, our judgment is downright clouded.

It affects us all, right up to people in powered roles. In recent years, some judges inappropriate and inaccurate comments about gender, consent, and sexual violation have prompted calls for mandatory judicial education on sexual assault. In the court of law, the clouding effects of rape myths have particularly troubling consequences.

All of this may be one of the reasons why all other violent crimes have been on a downward trend in this country  with the glaring exception of sexual assault. The rate of that crime is steady.

So how do we change our culture?

We invest in prevention education in schools and outside of schools that builds a better understanding of what true consent is, what healthy relationships look like, and what it means to intervene and challenge the normality of sexual violence in our communities.

It means we teach and mentor children and young people on how to respect all genders and how to live out their gendered selves in a way that is soaked through with deep care and respect for each other.

Its not happening naturally on its own. A 2018 survey by the Canadian Womens Foundation revealed that only 28 per cent of people in Canada fully understand consent  and that was a drop in understanding since our 2015 survey. We cant rely on people to do this work alone in their own spheres of influence at home, at work, and in communities. They are not well-equipped.

And many of us know this. In that same 2018 survey, 44 per cent of people agreed that education is the most important next step to create a cultural tidal change. This is very much in line with what advocates and survivors have called for over the years: a national action plan on gender-based violence that prioritizes, amongst other things, prevention education.

Now that the action plan has been promised by the government, its up to all of us to push hard and get it going now. Survivors of sexual violence, silenced by a culture that cant handle the tough truth about sexual assault, simply cannot wait.
Kate Middleton will turn 38 this week, and she has been seen hosting a party for friends over the weekend. However, the absence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in these celebrations has been rather notable.

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, has spent the weekend with family and friends to celebrate her upcoming birthday. Prince William and Kate were seen walking to church in Sandringham over the weekend, along with some family and friends.

They are gathered together to have an early celebration of the Duchess' birthday. However, the royal pair seem to have overlooked and forgot to invite the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The Royal Rift

Last year, Kate's 37th birthday celebration, the couple had two royal celebrations. But Prince Harry and Meghan were not seen in both.

Instead, Kate and William invited their long-time friends Laura Meade and Emilia Jardine Patterson to a getaway in Norfolk. The godparents to both Prince George and Prince Louis marked the Duchess' birthday the weekend before the actual day itself.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, then, had a quiet yet lovely celebration of Kate's birthday with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The absence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the celebrations only fueled the rumors of a rift between the two royal families that circulated last year.

However, in the succeeding months, news about the falling out of the brothers began to surface. In October, during his interview with Tom Bradby for ITV, Prince Harry dealt with the issue head-on. He admitted that he and his brother were not in a very good place back then and confirmed that there is a lot of pressure on him and his role in the royal family that made things happen.

However, Prince Harry said that no matter what is between them at the moment, he assured that he will always be there for his brother as much as he was sure that he will be there for him too.

Kate's Birthday Weekend

This weekend, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have once again opted to have an advanced celebration with their chosen friends in their Sandringham estate. The royal couple hosted a feast for Ms. Meade and her husband, Carole, and Michael Middleton, Kate's parents, and Thoman Van Straubenzee, the lifelong friend of Prince William. The Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley joined them as well.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were still not in attendance though. The pair are thought to still be in Canada after the New Year celebration they had there.

Although they are expected to have come back from their six-week leave, there is still no news as to when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be back in the U.K.

The actual birthday of Kate Middleton is on January 9. Some royal watchers have speculated that the royal couple may consider taking some time off in the exclusive Carribean island called Mustique. They were there on a holiday with the whole family last summer.

The Court Circular, the diary of all the engagements of the members of the royal family, does not come with a list of engagements for Kate's birthday week.
A 24-year-old Mississippi elementary school teacher who was eight months pregnant tragically lost her baby when she fell victim to a hit-and-run over the weekend involving a driver with an extensive history of DUIs.

Mashayla Harper had been celebrating the impending arrival of her first child with family members and friends at a baby shower in Soso on Saturday, but her jubilation was brought to a tragic and shattering halt when her car was struck head-on by a 2005 Nissan Titan as she was driving home.

Driven by James Cory Gilbert, 33, the Nissan plowed into Harper's Honda Accord on Welch Road at 6pm.

Gilbert, a father-of-two, then got out from his vehicle and fled the scene on foot, leaving a lifeless Harper fighting for her life slumped behind the wheel of her badly wrecked car.

Harper, a fourth-grade math teacher at South Jones Elementary School, was rushed to the South Central Regional Hospital in Laurel in a critical condition after a man hunting near by spotted her car in the middle of the road and dialed 911.

Mashayla Harper had been driving home after celebrating the impending arrival of her first child with family members and friends at a baby shower in Soso on Saturday, but her jubilation was brought to a tragic and shattering halt when she was struck head-on by a 2005 Nissan Titan

Driven by James Cory Gilbert, 33, the Nissan plowed into Harper's Honda Accord on Welch Road at 6pm. Gilbert then got out from his vehicle and fled the scene on foot, leaving an lifeless Harper fighting for her life slumped behind the wheel of her badly wrecked car

Harper's Honda Accord is pictured after the crash. Harper, a fourth-grade math teacher at South Jones Elementary School, was rushed to the South Central Regional Hospital in Laurel

Gilbert, meanwhile was located by authorities hours later and arrested. Police say he admitted he'd been drinking prior to the crash and a small amount of marijuana was also found inside his abandoned pickup truck.

His arrest was secured after newly elected Sheriff Joe Berlin called Gilbert's wife and told her to contact him and get him to 'do the right thing', the Leader Call reported.

When asked by a reporter why he ran away Gilbert replied, 'I was scared. I'm very sorry: so sorry,' as he was being hauled away in cuffs.

According to court records, Gilbert has at least three DUI convictions dating back to 2008, including a felony DUI and possession of methamphetamine in 2015.

He has now been charged with leaving the scene of an accident that caused death or injuries and he is being held in the Jones County Adult Detention Center on $100,000 bond.

Gilbert's attorney had tried to argue that his client's bail should be set at $50,000 during his initial court appearance Monday, citing a similar incident in Bridgewater last year.

However, Judge Billie Graham denied the motion, saying: 'This one is more egregious because the suspect knew he struck someone and caused life-threatening injuries...[Gilbert truly fled].'

Harper, a fourth-grade math teacher at South Jones Elementary School, was rushed to the South Central Regional Hospital in Laurel in a critical condition after a man hunting near by spotted her car in the middle of the road and dialed 911

According to court records, Gilbert has at least three DUI convictions dating back to 2008, including a felony DUI and possession of methamphetamine in 2015. He has now been charged with leaving the scene of an accident that caused death or injuries and he is being held in the Jones County Adult Detention Center on $100,000 bond

When Judge Graham read out the affidavit and confirmed Harper had 'lost her unborn child', Gilbert and his family members burst into tears, the Leader Call reported.

Gilbert could still yet face additional criminal charges when the results from a subsequent blood test are confirmed and when an accident reconstruction is completed.

Harper has since been transferred from South Central Regional Medical Center to Forrest General, where she underwent emergency surgery. Doctors have officially upgraded her condition from critical to stable.

In an emotional message on Facebook, Harper's father Maurice Pruitt Sr. expressed his heartbreak at the tragic outcome of the day that had just hours earlier been one of 'the happiest days' of her life.

'To see our baby go from this being the happiest day of her life to I.C.U. in a matter of minutes was a complete tragedy. That idiot hit her head on and left her out there on that road to die,' Pruitt began.

'Thanks to everyone that's praying and has called to check on the status of Mashayla... She's a very strong woman and she continue to fight for her life.'

Another family member, Alondria Hampton, also shared an emotional message of encouragement for Harper as she recovers in hospital.

'I have looked at this picture 1000 times praying that it wouldnt be anything more then a beautiful picture of us,' she began, alluding to an image of her and Harper, showing the expectant mother sat on a thrown, dressed in white and surrounded by balloons.

'We were suppose to be talking about the baby shower right now not visiting you in ICU...you were born into a family of fighters. Keep fighting Mashayla Harper, you didnt leave us when we needed you and I promise well never leave you.'
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Multiple wildfires continue to burn across Australia and are expected to worsen over the busy Australian summer travel season. Travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth, breaks down what travelers with trips to Australia need to know now.

It Is Too Late to Buy a Policy with Coverage for Wildfires

Travelers with pre-planned trips to Australia may be concerned about traveling as scheduled. Unfortunately, for those looking into travel insurance now, new policies can no longer provide benefits for the current and ongoing fires, as travel insurance policies only provide coverage for unforeseen events.

While policies can still be purchased to provide cancellation coverage and other benefits for future, unrelated events, they must be completely independent of the current fires, which are expected to continue over the next month.

If You Already Purchased a Policy, You May be Covered to Cancel Your Trip

Most cancellation-style travel insurance policies include coverage for natural disasters, including wildfires. Travelers who had a travel insurance policy in place before the fires began, may be covered to cancel. For this situation specifically, it can be hard to identify a singular cutoff date as there are multiple fires, so insurance providers may take the stance that they became a foreseen event when the fires were widely known about as early as October.

In order for a traveler to be reimbursed by their policy, their trip must be reasonably impacted or prevented - specifically, their accommodations must be rendered uninhabitable due to the fire damage or evacuation orders, or they must be unable to reach their destination entirely, due to evacuation, an airport closure or smoke in the area, preventing inbound flights. Travelers with future trips to Australia may be understandably concerned, as many pre-planned excursions are no longer available, however, simply not wanting to go anymore, even if they fear for their safety, isn't a covered reason to cancel.

If You Recently Booked Your Trip, Cancel for Any Reason Upgrade May Be Available

For travelers who booked their trip within the last three weeks, there is one option available if they want to be able to cancel their trip. The Cancel for Any Reason upgrade is time sensitive and only available within 21 days of the first trip booking. This upgrade costs 40% more than a typical cancellation policy and will only reimburse up to 75% of their trip cost, but it is the only option that allows travelers to cancel if they no longer want to go on their trip.

Squaremouth launched the Australian Wildfire Travel Insurance Information Center to keep travelers informed about coverage for this event. While coverage may be limited today, it can change as the situation evolves.

ABOUT SQUAREMOUTH

SQUAREMOUTH compares travel insurance policies from every major travel insurance provider in the United States. Using Squaremouth's comparison engine and third-party customer reviews, travelers can research and compare travel insurance policies side-by-side . More information can be found at www.squaremouth.com .

Available Topic Expert:

Kasara Morison

[email protected]

SOURCE Squaremouth

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Linkedin M. Taufiqurrahman (The Jakarta Post) Las Vegas, United States  Tue, January 7, 2020 09:15 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3211a1f7 1 Science & Tech trump,IvankaTrump,Consumer-Electronics-Show,Las-Vegas Free

In the Trump era, it appears nothing is free from controversy, even for humdrum tech show Consumer Electronic Show (CES), which runs in Las Vegas, Nevada from Jan. 7 to 10.

Days before the annual event, dedicated to unveiling new products and technologies from flat screen televisions, noise-canceling headphones to 3D mapping software, CES organizer had to defend its decision to invite Ivanka Trump, daughter of United States President Donald Trump, to give a keynote speaker at the event.

The daughter and adviser to President Trump is scheduled to deliver a keynote address soon after the CES opening on Tuesday with the theme of "The Path to the Future of Work." President and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which organizes CES, will make an appearance with Ivanka.

As a business leader and entrepreneur, Ivanka Trump is an advocate for creating family-sustaining jobs through workforce development, education and skills training, said Shapiro, defending his decision to give Ivanka a slot at the prestigious event.

Many have expressed outrage over the CTA's decision, saying that it further shows that the tech industry continues to sideline women leaders in the sector.

Many have expressed outrage on Twitter with the hashtag #boycottCES.

"The day I go to Las Vegas for the consumer electronics trade show and pay to hear daddys little princess speak about yet another subject with which she has no background or experience, is the day I lose my mind," Twitter user Alex Bartos said from his handle @itsreallyalexb.

Forbes columnist Carolina Milanesi pointed out that both in the 2017 and 2018 CES, the organizer failed to include a single women to give a keynote address.

In a statement, Ivanka said she would use the CEO platform to discuss ways to help students and workers thrive in the digital economy.

CES has consistently proven to be one of the most influential technology events in the world and I am excited to join this year for a substantive discussion on the how the government is working with private sector leaders to ensure American students and workers are equipped to thrive in the modern, digital economy, said Ivanka.

Ivanka has often taken the opportunity to represent her father at a number of international events.

In July last year, a viral video showed Ivanka trying to insert herself into a conversation and appeared to be ignored by leaders involved in the talk; French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Theresa May, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Christine Lagarde, the French head of the International Monetary Fund.

Ivanka will join a big delegation dispatched by the White House to appear at this year's CES,

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, and US Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios will be among more than 150 other government officials from the US and around the world expected to attend CES.

In recent years, only one Cabinet official would show up for CES.
A woman born and raised in Spring has been named the new executive director of the Texas Psychological Association, with the intent of ensuring Texans have access to high-quality mental health care.

Jessica Magee started her new position Jan. 2, and has been in the middle of the onboarding process, going through membership, and watching the upcoming races for the March primary.

Im incredibly excited and I think that we are looking at 2020 as an opportunity to make TPA more forward-thinking, growing our membership and promoting the science behind the discipline of psychology, Magee said. There are a lot of opportunities for growth and Im looking forward to being a part of that.

Related: Therapist talks mental health at Concordia Lutheran in Tomball

Magee brings experience in public policy, working on Texass Capitol Hill. She previously served five members of the Texas House, including as a chief of staff and caucus policy director. She also worked for the Texas Health and Human Services Commissions Office of Inspector General providing government relations support.

Having worked for all three branches of state government and served in leadership positions at the Capitol for six legislative sessions, Im ready to bring my unique skillset to TPA, Magee said.

It was Magees experience with governmental relations which led to her appointment, she said, as that was what they were trying to bring into the association to have a strong legislative agenda.

I think this is a unique opportunity, Magee said. Behavioral health is a growing field that deserves to be available to everyone in the same way that we think of traditional health care benefits, and I think that there are unique needs that need to be fostered so I hope that my particular skills can track with these strategic objectives of TPA.

Mental health care services like therapy were stressed as important needs by Magee, who said parity is an important issue when comparing mental health services to other health care services.

Related: Mental Health Match helps more than 500 Houston-area residents find help

After growing up in Spring, Magee graduated from Texas State University with an English degree, and then acquired her law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Magee was appointed unanimously by the TPA board following a competitive search process, TPA Board President Alice Ann Holland said.

TPA will benefit from Jessicas extensive legislative, legal and public policy experience, Holland said. She brings a breadth and depth of professional experience to our association at a critical time, as we work to elevate and expand the role of the association in addressing policy, patient access and professional concerns facing psychologists today.

paul.wedding@hcnonline.com
President of Ukraine informs U.S. Secretary of State about plans to restore peace in Donbas

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in a telephone conversation informed U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo about the plans to restore peace in Donbas, the presidential press service has said.

"Volodymyr Zelensky informed Michael Pompeo in detail about the results of the agreements achieved during the Normandy meeting, as well as about the plans of the Ukrainian government to restore peace in eastern Ukraine," the report says.

Pompeo emphasized the release of prisoners and welcomed the signing of an important contract for gas transit to Europe, according to a press release.

The parties discussed the aggravation of the situation in the Middle East after attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and attacks on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

"The parties agreed that any further aggressive steps could be a threat to stability in the region and global security. The president of Ukraine expressed concern about the possible aggravation of the situation in Iraq and the region if U.S. and coalition forces leave the country prematurely," the report says.

In addition, Zelensky thanked for the continued support of the United States in restoring peace in eastern Ukraine and returning Crimea.

The Ukrainian president expressed special gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. Congress for their decision to grand financial and material aid to Ukraine's security and defense sector.

"The parties reached an agreement that this and other issues will be discussed in depth during a meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and the U.S. Secretary of State," the press service said.

Additionally, the parties exchanged holiday greetings.

The U.S. Department of State said earlier that Pompeo and Zelensky had had a telephone conversation.

In light of the situation in Iraq, U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo made the decision to postpone his visit to Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Cyprus scheduled for early January to a later date.
The Supreme Court will hear on January 10 the petition by Private Ltd (TSPL) challenging the decision restoring as executive chairman of the Tata Group.

The apex court website on Tuesday showed the plea to be listed before a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant.

TSPL has challenged the December 18 decision of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) that gave a big relief to Cyrus Investment Pvt Ltd and Mistry, restoring him as the executive chairman of TSPL. The also ruled that the appointment of N Chandrasekaran as head of the holding company of the USD 110-billion salt-to-software conglomerate was illegal. The Tatas have submitted that the verdict by the "undermined corporate democracy" and the "rights" of its board of directors.

While the petition is pending in the apex court, Mistry came out with a statement on Sunday saying that he is not interested in returning to the Tata Group and the decision was made in the interest of the Group, whose interests are far more important than the interests of any individual.

"To dispel the misinformation campaign being conducted, I intend to make it clear that despite the NCLAT order in my favour, I will not be pursuing the executive chairmanship of Tata Sons, or directorship of TCS, Tata Teleservices or Tata Industries.

"I will however vigorously pursue all options to protect our rights as a minority shareholder, including that of resuming the thirty-year history of a seat at the Board of and the incorporation of the highest standards of corporate governance and transparency at Tata Sons," he said.

In the last three years, both in conduct and in their statements to the world at large, Tata Group's leadership has shown scant respect for the rights of minority shareholders, Mistry said, adding that it is time the Group's management introspects and reflects on its conduct as it embarks on future actions.

"I am humbled by the NCLAT order, which after review of the enormous material on record, recognized the illegal manner in which I was removed and the oppressive and prejudicial conduct of Mr. Tata and other Trustees," he said.

TSPL, formerly known as Limited, in its petition, has sought "setting aside of the impugned judgment in toto" of NCLAT, alleging it was "completely inconsistent with the annals of corporate law" and reflected "non-appreciation of facts", which was "untenable in law".

NCLAT held that the group's chairman emeritus Ratan Tata's actions against Mistry were oppressive and the appointment of a new chairman was illegal.

It, however, stayed the operation of its order with respect to Mistry's reinstatement for four weeks to allow TSPL to file an appeal in the top court.

In its appeal, filed through Karanjawala & Co, TSPL sought a stay on NCLAT's verdict as an interim relief.

"In other words, far from putting an end to the alleged acts complained of, the judgment (of the NCLAT) has sown the seeds for a never-ending discord and conflict between the shareholders of the appellant (TSPL), creating a recipe for an unmitigated disaster," it said.

The plea raised questions of law and said the order restoring Mistry to his "original position" as the executive chairman of TSPL for the "rest of the tenure" was illegal as his tenure "stood extinguished in March 2017".

The plea termed "illegal" NCLAT's declaration that Chandrasekaran's appointment as the chairman of TSPL was wrong and claimed he was appointed "in accordance with the articles and duly approved by the board and shareholders".

It alleged the NCLAT granted reliefs to Mistry which were not even sought.

"Respondent nos 1 (Cyrus Investment Pvt Ltd) and 2 specifically pleaded before the NCLAT that they are not seeking reinstatement of Mistry. The tenure of Mistry as the chairman and director of Tata Sons expired in March 2017 and thus, for good reason, the respondents did not seek such reinstatement," the plea said.

"Mistry was replaced as the chairman of Tata Sons on October 24, 2016, by the majority of its board of directors (all directors voted in favour of the replacement, except one who abstained from voting and the remaining one was Mistry himself) for loss of confidence and the impugned judgment, by restoring Mistry to the position as chairman, has undermined corporate democracy and rights of the board of directors," the plea said.

It said Mistry was removed following the procedure applicable to corporate appointments, as envisaged in law.

The plea alleged it was nobody's case that Mistry's removal had resulted in any serious prejudice being caused to the working of Tata Sons and it "violated law or any contract".

Mistry, scion of the wealthy Shapoorji Pallonji family, had in December 2012 succeeded Ratan Tata as the executive chairman of Tata Sons, a post that also made him the head of all Tata Group-listed firms such as Tata Power and Tata Motors.

The NCLAT directed Tata Sons to not take any action against Mistry, whose family owned some 18 per cent interest in the company. The remaining 81 per cent is held by Tata Trusts and Tata Group companies, along with members of the Tata family.
Police are teaming up with universities to stop county lines gangs infiltrating campuses to sell drugs.

Officers have already caught some criminals signing up for courses as a front. They also fear the gangs are recruiting hard-up students on the promise of making money.

Jon Aspinall of North Wales Police said students have been found with large quantities of drugs and cash.

Police are joining up with universities to stop county lines infiltrating university campuses to sell drugs (file image). A police officer in Wales said students have been found with large quantities of drugs and cash

The force has now assigned a community support officer to Bangor University to root out offenders.

The region has been blighted by county lines crimes, named for the phone lines used to arrange deals in cities and smaller towns.

Last October physiotherapy student Seif Hashim, 20, was jailed for 30 months for running an operation from his dorm at the University of Kent.

A community support officer has been assigned to Bangor University in Wales to try to root out other offenders (file image)
A 49-year-old Burlington County man pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Camden to his role in an international scheme to steal millions of dollars from the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Hurriyet Arslan, a resident of Willingboro and native of Turkey who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2011, conspired with foreign nationals from Turkey in 2018 to steal money from a Defense Department contract worth more than $23 million for aviation fuel that was to be supplied by a company in South Korea.

Arslan operated Deal Automotive Sales in Florence and used a bank account for that business to fraudulently receive the contract funding. He also created a shell company and opened bank accounts for that company as part of the scheme. For his participation, Arslan was to be paid $20,000, according to the indictment.

The conspirators were able to redirect the contract funding using a phishing ploy in which an employee of the South Korean company was fooled by fake emails into providing vital information to fraudulent web pages.

Arslan pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and bank fraud, one county of bank fraud, and one count of money laundering. His admission was part of a plea deal. His charges carried maximum penalties of decades in prison.

His sentencing is scheduled for April 13.
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) speaks to embers of the media after walking out of Federal Courthouse on December 3, 2019 in San Diego, California.

Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican who represented the state's 50th Congressional district, resigned from Congress on Tuesday after pleading guilty to a single felony count of misuse of campaign funds in December.

His resignation is effective Jan. 13.

In his resignation letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Hunter touted his accomplishments in Congress, saying he "had the privilege of helping thousands of individuals in my district."

"Perhaps the contribution I am most proud of is giving a voice to our men and women in uniform," he wrote in his letter. "As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I brought attention to inefficient military programs and worked to make sure our war fighters had the resources they needed to carry out their mission."

The governor will not call a special election to replace him, his office said, meaning California's 50th Congressional district will go unrepresented until November.

"The Governor's office received Rep. Hunter's resignation letter," said Vicky Waters, deputy director of media and public affairs at Newsom's office. "Based on the timing of the resignation, a special election will not be called."

Hunter had teased for weeks that he would resign "shortly after the holidays" but never specified a date. The House Ethics Committee sent him a letter on Dec. 5 advising him to avoid voting in the House of Representatives going forward.

The panel's letter said his guilty plea brought a rule into effect that says any member who's convicted of a crime whose sentence may be at least two years "should refrain from voting on any question at a meeting of the House."

Hunter has yet to be sentenced, but he faces up to five years in jail.

The House committee also threatened disciplinary action if Hunter ignored the warning and tried to vote.

Even after submitting his guilty plea, Hunter continued to receive his taxpayer-funded salary, which is about $477 per day, according to the Huffington Post.

Hunter, who represented California's 50th Congressional District, and his wife were charged with 60 criminal counts of campaign finance violations in August 2018. They faced allegations of spending campaign funds on personal items such as vacations, gas and groceries.

Federal Election Commission finance rules prohibit spending campaign funds for personal use. Hunter initially denied any wrongdoing, pleading not guilty and labeling his prosecution a "witch hunt."

In an interview with KUSI News when he announced his plan to change his plea, Hunter said, "I think it's important that people know that I did make mistakes. I did not properly monitor or account for my campaign money. I justify my plea with the understanding that I am responsible for my own campaign and my own campaign money."

Margaret Hunter, his wife and former campaign treasurer, took a plea deal earlier this year. She admitted to her role in the scandal and agreed to testify against her husband. That put pressure on the congressman to strike his own deal.

Hunter, 43, was first elected to his seat in 2008. He won again in November 2018 with 51.7% of the vote, despite facing indictment.

His family has served in Congress for decades. Hunter's father was in the House for 28 years before him.
Food and consumer affairs minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Tuesday said the Union government would release 36,000 tonne of imported onions this month, depending on quantities demanded by states.

The move that comes in the backdrop of a major shortfall in summer supplies of the widely consumed vegetable.

A third of the shipments have already landed and some of it is being dispatched to states, the minister said. The imported onions would be sold on a no-profit-no-loss basis, costing consumers between Rs 49-58, he said.

Consumer affairs secretary Avinash Srivastava said states had initially submitted a requirement of 33,000 tonne. However, some states, such as Assam, Maharashtra, Haryana and Karnataka, withdrew their demand.

Average prices of the vegetable are still high with rs 78 in Delhi and Rs 80 in Mumbai, but they have softened from about Rs 100-115 last month, following imports and fresh harvests.

As on December 31, 2019, the Centre had received a total demand of 14,000 tonne of onion from states, Srivastava said.

We have imported 12,000 tonne of onion from countries like Turkey and Afghanistan so far, Paswan said.

According to an assessment of the agriculture ministry, the countrys summer output fell short by 25%.

While the government has deployed the Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation, the countrys largest public sector trading body, to contract imports, private traders have imported about 75,000 tonne since the crisis unfolded, Srivastava said.

Onion cultivation is concentrated in states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, regions which witnessed several spells of flooding this summer.
The Morningstar US Basic Materials Index has slightly underperformed the broader market by roughly 170 basis points over the past year (Exhibit 1). As a result, 30% of stocks now trade in 4- and 5-star territory (Exhibit 2).



U.S. Materials Index vs. U.S. Equity Index. - source: Morningstar



Underperformance has led to 30% of coverage in 4- or 5-star territory. - source: Morningstar

However, a closer look reveals that most of the discount is concentrated in just a few industries. Few opportunities exist among those with heavy U.S. exposure as the economy continues its extended expansion. Rather, we see discounted valuations in sectors facing idiosyncratic challenges. Market prices imply that these issues are here to stay, but we think the headwinds are temporary and ultimately surmountable.

As a result of flooded fields in North America and weak palm oil prices in Southeast Asia, potash demand declined significantly in 2019, falling an estimated 2.5 million metric tons to 64.5 million metric tons. In response, all major potash producers reduced supply, nearly in line with the demand decline (Exhibit 3). While prices will remain under pressure in early 2020, we expect an eventual rebound in demand will balance the market, driving prices up to our long-term price forecast of $310 per metric ton.



Potash producers have reduced capacity in response to demand shock. - source: Morningstar

At one point in 2019, uranium spot prices had fallen 17% to roughly $24 per pound, weighed by still-weak purchase activity. The market has begun to show life, with prices recovering to $26 per pound and, more critically, enrichment demand increasing. The market-implied price suggests little recovery left, but we expect production discipline and rising demand will lead prices to recover to $65 per pound by 2022.

We are bullish in our long-term outlook for lithium. Although lithium carbonate prices currently sit below $10,000 per metric ton, we are well above consensus implied prices of $7,500 due to our above-consensus electric vehicle adoption forecast of 20% in 2030 versus consensus of 15% (Exhibit 2d).

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Consensus underestimates future electric vehicle penetration rates. - source: Morningstar

Top Picks

NutrienNTR

Economic Moat: Narrow

Fair Value Estimate: $68

Fair Value Uncertainty: High

Nutrien is our top potash pick. As a fertilizer producer and the largest U.S. agriculture retailer, 2019 profits have been hurt by the lowest U.S. acres planted in over a decade. However, we forecast a full recovery in retail profits in 2020 as agriculture demand is restored. Further, as a low-cost potash and nitrogen producer, Nutrien should benefit from a recovery in prices over the next several years. Meanwhile, the company also continues to reduce its unit production costs in both businesses, driving higher profits.

CamecoCCJ

Economic Moat: Narrow

Fair Value Estimate: $16.50

Fair Value Uncertainty: High

The uranium market remains plagued by subdued activity, which has continued to weigh on the uranium price. However, at today's prices, significant production would be operating at a loss and only continues to operate due to long-term contracts signed at higher prices. Current supply would fail to meet existing demand without significant losses, let alone meet future demand arising from China's continued nuclear fleet expansion. The still-improving supply/demand balance should help increase uranium prices, allowing Cameco to eventually resume full operations at more attractive margins.

AlbemarleALB

Economic Moat: Narrow

Fair Value Estimate: $120

Fair Value Uncertainty: High

Narrow-moat Albemarle currently trades at a more than 40% discount to our $120 fair value estimate, as the market is concerned that lower lithium prices will weigh on profits. With low-cost lithium production, Albemarle is well positioned to maintain decent profit margins even as lithium prices fall. Over the long term, we contend that higher lithium prices will be needed to encourage lower-quality supply to meet demand from growing adoption of electric vehicles. The current share price is an attractive entry point for a quality lithium producer.
Six death anniversary of Aitzaz Hassan

HANGU: Six death anniversary of national hero Aitzaz Hassan was observed on Monday to pay rich tribute to him for his immense sacrifice in saving hundreds of lives on his fifth death anniversary. Student of grade IX, Aitzaz Hassan sacrificed his life to save hundreds of children as a suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the gate of his school in Hangu in 2014.



In an attempt to stop suicide bomber from entering the school, the brave teenager ran towards him and grabbed him. In the scuffle between Hassan and the bomber, the explosives went off, killing the terrorist and Hassan. He was later awarded the Sitara-e-Shujaat for the act of bravery.
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Four people - a teacher, two pupils and a child - were killed early on Tuesday when the Al Shabaab terrorist group launched an terror attack on a boarding school near Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya
British University Vietnam celebrates its first decade in Vietnam

On January 5, British University Vietnam (BUV) celebrated its 10-year anniversary at its Ecopark Campus in the northern province of Hung Yen with the participation of 1,000 guests.

Established in 2009 with 100 per cent foreign-invested capital, BUV has implemented its mission to create an international education environment meeting UK standards for students. As of now, it offers 11 programmes for graduates and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), which are trained in English. All programmes comply with UK standards and are managed by the UK government. Especially, BUV has partnered with two high-quality UK institutions: Staffordshire University and University of London who award students their final degree upon graduating from BUV.

Speaking at the ceremony, British Ambassador Gareth Ward said, There are three factors contributing to BUVs growth in the short time, including international partners, workforce, and success in building a model combining international university standards and technology to increase interaction between lecturers and students. Thus, BUV trained a student generation who are dynamic, creative, and willing to look for new opportunities for themselves.

British Ambassador Gareth Ward

On this occation, BUV received the Bristish Ambassador's scholarship worth VND700 million ($30,434) per scholarship, which is equal to 100 per cent of the tuition fee of graduate courses.

Along with the commitment to contribute to the development of Vietnams education, in late 2018, BUV took the first phase of Ecopark campus into operation with a total investment of $25 million. In the future, after finishing construction on a total area of 6.5 hectares, the campus will be able to accommodate more than 7,000 students.

Prof. Raymond Gordon, president of BUV, said, Our mission is to provide UK-standard education degree and international-standard education environment for Vietnamese students. BUV will build a young generation with the ambition to study and exploit knowledge, creativity, and people who will contribute to changing the world.

Prof. Raymond Gordon, president of BUV

In 2019, BUV became the first education facility in Vietnam and one of the first facilities in Asia that supplies digital learning materials to students. These materials integrate digital content from the worlds leading publishing houses Pearson, Oxford University Press, Taylor & Francis, and Cambridge University Press.
The teenager arrives in court prior to being sentenced - Paul Grover for the Telegraph

A British teenager convicted of lying about being gang-raped by a group of Israeli tourists in a Cyprus holiday resort was on her way home to the UK on Tuesday after the judge in the case gave her a four-month suspended sentence.

But her lawyers vowed to appeal the conviction at the Cyprus Supreme Court and said they were determined to clear her name  a process that could take years.

The 19-year-old shook her head as the sentence was read out, looking nervous and tearful.

She was put on trial after Cypriot police accused her of lying about being gang-raped in the hedonistic resort of Ayia Napa in July.

Last week the judge found her guilty of a charge of causing public mischief with the allegedly false claim.

As judge Michalis Papathanasiou read out the sentence, protesters outside chanted Cyprus justice, shame on you, and Blame the rapist, not the victim.

The Cypriot and Israeli protesters, most of them women, held up placards saying they believed the British teenagers account of being pinned down and raped by an unknown number of Israelis in an Ayia Napa hotel room on July 17.

Activists take part in a demonstration, after a British woman was found guilty of faking a rape claim, outside the Famagusta courthouse in Paralimni Credit: Reuters

In his sentencing remarks, the judge said the charge of public mischief was a serious crime, saying the young woman had falsely incriminated 12 Israeli men, who were arrested immediately after the alleged attack.

He insisted that there had been no rape at all and that the testimony she gave the court was false.

But he said he had decided to hand down a suspended sentence after taking into account the womans young age, her fragile emotional state and the fact that she had no criminal record before coming to Cyprus in the summer.

The womans family says she suffered panic attacks after the alleged gang rape and now suffers from acute PTSD.

"I admit, I have been troubled over this. All the evidence shows that she had lied and prevented the police from their other duties, the judge told a packed court room in the town of Paralimni, a few miles from Ayia Napas beaches and bars.

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"Because of her testimony, 12 people were arrested and seven of them were there for at least 10 days. That was also a serious offence. They were deprived of their liberty."

But he said the young woman from Derbyshire deserved a second chance.

He also took into consideration the fact that she had spent more than a month in prison in Nicosia, the capital, after retracting her initial rape claims, and that since then she had been compelled to remain on the island after her passport was confiscated.

That meant she had to forego a university place in the autumn.

"This has led me to decide to give her a second chance and Im suspending the sentence for three years."

The judge also said the teenager had suffered grievously because of the intense publicity surrounding the case.

But these factors are not so big as to not apply the law, said Mr Papathanasiou.

If the woman committed another crime within three years in Cyprus, then she would find herself back in court, he said.

The British teenager outside the court complex where she was found guilty of public mischief Credit: AP

The teenagers mother appeared on the steps of the court complex after the sentence was handed down, facing a scrum of cameramen, photographers and journalists from Britain, Israel and Cyprus.

Initially she could barely be heard above the chanting of activists, who shouted We believe her and Mr Judge, shame on you, dont you have a daughter too?

Braving wet and windy weather, they held placards which read Israelis believe you, You are not alone and No means no.

The mother said she was immensely relieved by the suspended sentence but insisted her daughter had not made up the rape claim.

Were just very relieved that she can go home and get the treatment she needs (for PTSD). It was impossible to know what to expect, she told The Telegraph.

On the steps of the court complex, she told the crowd of protesters: I want to thank you for having belief and faith in her. You all turning up here is so appreciated.

As the young woman was driven away in a car, protesters chanted We believe you, yes we do, we will always stand with you.

The teenager told the court she retracted her initial statement because she was placed under immense pressure by Cypriot detectives.

She said much of it had been dictated to her by an investigating officer and pointed out that it was written in poor, ungrammatical English.

No part of the seven-hour questioning was recorded by the police. She said officers threatened to arrest all her friends in Cyprus if she did not sign the statement.

The case has strained relations between Britain and Cyprus, with campaigners in the UK calling for a boycott of the island as a holiday destination.

British tourists account for nearly a third of the 3.9 million tourists who visit Cyprus each year.

Lewis Power QC, one of the teenagers lawyers, said the investigation and trial had exposed a gaping chasm in how Cyprus deals with rape cases.

The teenager said she was gang-raped in the beach resort of Ayia Napa in July Credit: AFP

He said there were international ramifications for how police and prosecutors deal with alleged victims of serious sexual assault.

The teenager had been happy and gregarious when she arrived in Cyprus last summer but had within days found herself being transformed from being victim to being accused.

She is adamant of her innocence and that she has told the truth. Whilst we welcome the fact that the sentence imposed today allows her to go home, we strongly contest the conviction and the fight for her innocence will go on regardless.

We will be appealing the conviction and will take this case to the Supreme Court of Cyprus and are prepared to fight this case all the way to the European Court of Human Rights.

The case had highlighted a gaping chasm in the compassionate treatment of sexually assaulted female victims, Mr Power said.

In this case there was a failure which led to a catastrophic situation with the victim finding herself as the accused. This case has far-reaching repercussions for women travelling abroad and has highlighted the need for appropriate representation.

Supporters said the fact that the woman was convicted of lying about the gang-rape was a a disgrace.

Its a problem we face across the island, Mine Atli, a Turkish Cypriot lawyer and womens rights activist, told The Telegraph outside court. Theres a belief that women are lying and that even if they are not, rapists dont deserve long sentences.

This case should never have gone to court. Its a disgrace that she was prosecuted and even more of a disgrace she was convicted. The police should be investigated for their conduct in the case, and in particular their failure to record the teenagers seven-hour questioning, she said.

Irad Martsiano Tsaiger, an Israeli womens rights activist, said: This is still not justice. This case will not go away quietly.

Protesters chant in support of the teenager outside the court house in Paralimni Credit: AP

She said many people suspected that the strong commercial links between Cyprus and Israel, particularly in the exploration of oil and gas reserves in the Mediterranean, played a role in the swift release of the Israeli men.

The boys were released very fast. They were not even investigated for uploading a video of one of them having sex with the girl. The police in Cyprus and Israel did nothing about that. The boys should have been prosecuted for revenge porn.

Sigal Kook Avivi, an Israeli human rights activist, said: We are very worried that the conviction stands because it opens the door for the Israelis to sue her if they want to.

This is not an isolated case. We believe it has lessons for what happens to women all around the world.
A Canadian family, who took refuge from fires in Australia in a movie theater for six days, was finally rescued.

Meaghan Wegg and her family are part of the 4,000 people who fled to beaches as fires ripped through the Australian town of Mallacoota, which is a family camping spot in the state of Victoria.

"We got here and it felt like a death trap, to be honest," Wegg, a mother who sought refuge with her Australian-born husband Tim Buckley and her two children Georgia, 3, and Jackson, 5, told CNN.

For six nights, the family slept on a crash mat with 100-200 other people. The movie theater played movies like "Frozen" and "Happy Feet" to keep all of the kids calm.

While trapped in the theater, the family not only celebrated New Year's Eve but also their daughter's birthday.

"January 3 was my daughter Georgia's third birthday," Wegg told CNN. "We made it as fun as we could, we gathered up 12 kids from friends and family and played games."

Eventually, authorities began evacuation lists for the refugees.

"We had to line up to get our name on a list, then they took kids under 5 and families to be in air-evacuated lines  and the rest on the boat. Helicopters kept trying to land but it was too smokey," Wegg said.

The family drove through brushfires to the airport, where they believed they were going to be taken to safety, but "by 11 p.m. they delivered sad news" that they wouldn't be able to leave yet.

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After two more failed attempts, the family was finally brought to a relief center, where Georgia and Jackson were greeted with toys.

"We are all very tired and overwhelmed with the last week being stuck in the (Mallacoota fires)," Wegg wrote on Instagram. "We are in shock and will take some time to rest and heal mentally."
On January 6, border guards of the Lviv region, together with operational officers, detained two illegal immigrants, who were trying to illegally enter Poland. The press service of the State Border Service of Ukraine reports.

"The violators, Turkish citizens, born in 1980 and 1996, apparently hoped that on Christmas Eve border guards would lose their vigilance. When the Ukrainians traditionally sit down to try kutya (special Christmas dish,- ed.) and start caroling, the Turks decided to try their luck. Foreigners did not take into account that more than five thousand border guards are at Christmas in the border guard service. Illegals were stopped 200 meters from the EU border. As it turned out, they arrived in Ukraine legally about a month ago," the statement said.

The men were detained administratively. The punishment will be determined by the court. Instead of a visit to the European Union, they are expected to return to their country of origin

As we reported, the state border service has already received 7 French helicopters. Among them are five H225 helicopters and two Airbus H125 helicopters.
J ury summonses were sent out to 2,000 people as selection to serve on former movie mogul Harvey Weinsteins New York rape trial was set to begin on Tuesday.

The process is expected to take prosecutors, Weinsteins lawyers and the judge weeks.

Weinstein, who has denied all accusations of unlawful, non-consensual sex, faces possible life imprisonment if found guilty of five charges including rape and sexual assault related to allegations made by two women.

His legal team has vowed to mount an aggressive defence against the allegations.

Harvey Weinstein in New York / AFP via Getty Images

After Weinstein appeared at the New York State supreme court for a pre-trial hearing yesterday, his lawyer Donna Rotunno said: In this great country, you are innocent until proven guilty.

The hearing came as prosecutors in Los Angeles charged him with sexually assaulting two women in 2013.
NetDragon Aids Smart Education Construction in Serbia

HONG KONG, Jan 6, 2020  (ACN Newswire)  NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited (\NetDragon\ or \the Company\, Hong Kong Stock Code: 777), a global leader in building internet communities, is pleased to announce that NetDragon and Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia (\MOESTD of Serbia\) signed a memorandum of understanding (\MOU\) on cooperation in smart education program for Serbia. Leveraging the Company\-\-s advanced educational information technologies, NetDragon will work with MOESTD of Serbia to set up a smart learning environment including SaaS cloud platform, education software and hardware, value-added services, to achieve smart education, information connectivity as well as comprehensive education equality.

Serbia plays a prominent role in countries along the \The Belt and Road\. In recent years, Serbia has valued technological innovation and development, and has committed to digital education reform. Mladen Sarcevic, Minister of MOESTD of Serbia commented that Serbia is willing to learn from Chinese internet companies and will strongly support NetDragon in promoting nation-wide smart education construction in Serbia. Meanwhile, the Country will also cooperate with NetDragon to cultivate technical talents in order to upgrade Serbia\-\-s innovation capabilities.

In accordance with the MOU, NetDragon will leverage advanced technologies such as cloud computing and AI to help Serbia build a national management and teaching system and a national development and service system for smart education. At the same time, NetDragon and Serbia will jointly build a smart education demonstration center to showcase leading education technological applications. In future, the center will serve as an example of a localized model, which includes experience center, content production center, R&D center, service center and informatized training center, and will represent the outcome of the joint effort between the Serbian Government, enterprises, universities and research institutions from Serbia. Through this smart education center, NetDragon will demonstrate to educators and the society different learning scenarios and will also provide resources and platform services for technological information and knowledge sharing in Serbia, in order to enhance user experiences from educators and learners, and to meet the needs of the public for smart education.

In addition, NetDragon will leverage and combine advanced technologies including Promethean\-\-s education solutions including ActivPanel, smart classroom, VR classroom and STEAM classroom, to build an integrated digital learning platform that comprises teaching management, environment and resources & application for Serbia. And based on the Company\-\-s learning platform, management platform (One Stop Learning) and mobile device management platform (MDM), NetDragon will build a national cloud platform for education services for the Country. On the other hand, Serbia plans to purchase tens of thousands units of smart classroom solutions in the next 2 years, which may become one of the collaborations between NetDragon and Serbia.

Liu Dejian, Founder and Chairman of NetDragon, and Advisor to Minister without Portfolio of Serbia in charge of Innovation and Technological Development said that the Company will continue to work on R&D with the Serbian Government, enterprises, universities and scientific research institutions, to foster research and application of smart education, and to fully assist in the development of smart education in Serbia via collaboration in education training and services.

NetDragon and Serbia have multiple interactions in recent years. NetDragon invited Mr. Nenad Popovic, Minister without Portfolio of Serbia in charge of Innovations and Technological Development, to participate in the Digital China Summit in the past two consecutive years, and Liu Dejian was hired as Advisor of Minister. In October 2019, NetDragon, Ministry for Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia and Cabinet of the Minister in charge of Innovations and Technological Development signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in developing the Serbian Public Innovation Platform at the \The Fourth China-CEEC Conference on Innovation Cooperation\.

Under the \Belt and Road Initiative\, NetDragon, as a leading enterprise in Internet + Education, integrates advanced technologies including AI and VR to help developing countries upgrade smart education and promote digital education innovation based on the countries\-\- specific circumstances and needs. Up till now, NetDragon has been working with countries along \The Belt and Road\ including Russia, Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya. The signing of this MOU with MOESTD of Serbia marks another new step for the Company which will act as the starting point for international digital education cooperation for the 17 countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

About NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited

NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited (HKSE: 0777) is a global leader in building internet communities with a long track record of developing and scaling multiple internet and mobile platforms that impact hundreds of millions of users. These include China\-\-s number one online gaming portal, 17173.com, and China\-\-s most influential smartphone app store platform, 91 Wireless, which was sold to Baidu for US$1.9 billion in 2013 as the largest Internet M&A transaction in China.

Established in 1999, NetDragon is one of the most reputable and well-known online game developers in China with a history of successful game titles including Eudemons Online, Heroes Evolved and Conquer Online. In recent years, NetDragon has also started to scale its online education business on the back of management\-\-s vision to create the largest global online learning community, and to bring the \classroom of the future\ to every school around the world. For more information, please visit www.netdragon.com.

For investor enquiries, please contact:

NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited

Ms. Maggie Zhou

Senior Director of Investor Relations

Tel.: +852 2850 7266 / +86 591 8390 2825

Email: maggie@nd.com.cn

Website: ir.netdragon.com
Police are hunting two robbers who threatened a shop worker with an axe and a hammer.

The two masked men were caught on CCTV in GMP Off Licence in Wednesfield, West Midlands.

They entered the shop just before 10pm on December 17 and confronted the member of staff behind the counter.

The robbers stormed into GMP Off Licence in Wednesfield, West Midlands, on December 17 (Picture: SWNS)

The men smashed up the till with an axe (Picture: SWNS)

One of the men hit the worker twice on the arm with a harmer, causing significant bruising and swelling.

They threatened to strike him with the axe before using it to crack open the till.

They stole cash and cigarettes before fleeing the scene.

Read more

Finsbury Park stabbing: Police hunt van driver after killing of delivery rider

Nigel Farage planning 100,000 party in London to celebrate Britain leaving the EU

Israeli man accused of gang rape of British teen in Cyprus vows to sue her

West Midlands Police have released CCTV footage of the incident in an effort to track down the pair.

PC Mark Turner, of Force CID at Wolverhampton, said: "This was a nasty robbery where the men involved had weapons and were not afraid to use them.

"Fortunately, the shop worker wasnt seriously injured but we dont underestimate the distress of being in such a situation.

The men wore masks to carry out the robbery (Picture: SWNS)

"I would urge anyone who can help our enquiries to come forward."

Officers say they want to hear from anyone who recognises the men or has any information about the robbery.

Anyone with information can contact police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk, or via 101, quoting crime reference number 20WV/298053G/19.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 00:07:09|Editor: huaxia

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YAOUNDE, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least six civilians were killed in incursions by the terror group Boko Haram that took place Monday night in Cameroon's Far North region, according to local sources.

The localities that Boko Haram have targeted are Moudoukoua and Hitere, both in the Mayo-Moskota sub-division. Three people were also kidnapped, according to local villagers who asked not to be named.

Boko Haram has been active recently in the Far North region of Cameroon bordering Nigeria and Chad.

Last week, in the Kolofata sub-division, at least two villagers were killed by the jihadists. In late December, about 50 people, mostly fishermen, were also killed on Lake Chad by the group in this restive region.

More than 2,000 people have been killed since Boko Haram launched attacks in the Far North since 2014, according to security reports. EnditemEnditem
Epic Change

St. Joe's staffers await their new electronic health records system with anticipation and dread.

by Cynthia Furlong Reynolds

From the January, 2020 issue

Physicians throughout the Trinity Health system in Michigan are recommending that patients not make appointments for the week of January 27. The reason: at precisely one minute before midnight on Friday, January 24, the electronic health record (EHR) system Trinity uses to schedule appointments, record medical histories, track test results, and issue bills at St. Joe's and its other Michigan hospitals will shut down. Nurses, IT staff, and administrators will transfer data to an all-new system known as Epic, which will go live in the wee hours of January 25.



Jackie Lapinski has been working toward this day for two years. "Our network will have the biggest changeover in Epic history," says Lapinski, who's overseeing the Epic transition in southeast Michigan for Trinity.



Many patients love the EHR portals that let them view their records and contact their caregivers online. Many doctors, nurses, and other health professionals also look forward to Epic's enhanced charting and networking abilities. But others are expecting some major headaches and glitches until Epic becomes fully operational--and some find the change so daunting they're planning to retire.



Physicians around the country are frustrated by demands for documentation that have them working overtime and typing on computer keyboards in the exam room. (See "The Trouble with EHR," March 2017 Observer, or the November 2018 New Yorker article "Why Doctors Hate Their Computers.") Patients say they feel the difference, too.



A local resident who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident says EHR impaired his relationship with his physiatrist. "At first, he gave me all the time I needed for questions and examinations, but as soon as the computer came into his office, our relationship changed," the young man says. "I had visits where the doctor didn't look into my eyes once."



Some specialists use a "scribe" to sit in on visits and make notes so they can focus on their patients. Many more may do so during the

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early weeks of the new system. Unlike specialists, though, few primary care physicians can afford assistants.Lapinski stresses the benefits of the new system: Cerner requires "nearly fifty other products to perform all the functions Epic will offer," she says. "The reason for the changeover is a combination of evolving technology and the fact that the current system doesn't connect all the pieces of a patient's history in one comprehensive file ... Right now, it's like a person trying to coordinate four different calendars. There are better, far more efficient ways of handling records--and for us, Epic is the best."The switch to Epic (which is also used by Michigan Medicine) is indeed epic.Trinity employs 24,000 doctors and nurses, more than 20,000 support staff, and 400 people at its headquarters in Livonia."Epic has very high standards for training," Lapinski says, and everyone at SJMH and Trinity will be retrained. The level of training varies from two to three hours for those in housekeeping services to as many as sixteen hours for doctors."Last spring we started recruiting doctors and nurses to serve as trainers and internal experts," Lapinski explains. Starting January 1, sessions will run seven days a week, days and nights.As the January 24 deadline nears, "we'll have people from all across the U.S. here to help us and answer questions," Lapinski says. "We've structured help for the first two to four weeks, to ensure the records are all safe and everyone is comfortable with the new system."For Trinity, this is just the beginning. "Our Michigan sites are leading the way," Lapinski says. Facilities elsewhere will switch to Epic "in waves, over the next three years," she says.[Originally published in January, 2020.]
San Francisco is making 151 units in two residential hotels available for formerly homeless people, a more affordable and faster option than creating new units in a city where subsidized housing costs $700,000 a unit and five years to build.

City officials and two nonprofits are putting the finishing touches on leases for the 62-unit Abigail Hotel on McAllister Street in Civic Center and 89-unit Post Hotel on Post and Taylor streets. The city will pay to subsidize the units and the nonprofits will oversee day-to-day operations.

There are more than 8,000 homeless people living in San Francisco, according to the latest point-in-time count.

Mayor London Breed said she plans to tour the Abigail Hotel, which is just a stones throw away from City Hall, on Tuesday.

The city hopes the first occupants at both hotels will be able to move in by April. The Post will charge $1,300 a unit per month and the Abigail will charge $1,400. Residents will be expected to pay 30% of their income  whatever it may be  toward rent, with the city subsidizing the remainder.

While we will continue to do the work to add new shelter beds, we know that housing ends homelessness, Breed said in a statement. These new units at the Abigail and the Post will not only provide new homes for those who are in need, but they will free up space in our shelter system to help people move off the streets who are struggling today.

The Post Hotel will be run by Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco, which will provide a range of on-site services and counseling to residents, most of whom will be coming from the streets, shelters or Navigation Centers.

Jeff Kositsky, director of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, said the most chronic cases will be prioritized.

Sixty-five of the 89 total units in the building are ready to be occupied immediately. The remaining 24 are currently occupied, but once those residents leave, theyll be made available to formerly homeless clients.

The Abigail is the latest city-funded housing to be folded into San Franciscos Moving On Initiative, which aims to provide apartments and single-resident-occupancy units for people able to move out of permanent supportive housing. That housing, in turn, can be opened up for people whove recently come off the streets and could benefit from more intensive, on-site services.

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.

Shelters and Navigation Centers only solve the problem of sleep, to quote Gavin Newsom, Kositsky said.

Housing  and other types of services that help people get into housing  thats what we need as well. Otherwise, Navigation Centers and shelters just become dead ends for people.

The Abigail will be operated by the Tenderloin Housing Clinic. The opportunity to oversee the hotel carries some personal significance for the clinics executive director, Randy Shaw. In the early 1980s, he helped organize 20 of the hotels residents who successfully fended off the then-owners attempt to turn the building into a bed and breakfast.

At the time, that really symbolized the struggle to preserve SROs (single-room occupancy hotels) in the Tenderloin, Shaw said. Making this supportive housing in 2020 is just amazing.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa
Finland's new prime minister (PM) has suggested the idea of a four-day working week with six-hour business days. Sanna Marin who is world's youngest sitting PM added that this plan if adopted will allow workers to give more time to their families.

The 34-year-old mother-of-one is of the view that the flexible working arrangement could be the "next step" in contemporary, healthy living.

Marin called for a trial-run of the new working set-up in the event of the 120th anniversary of SDP in Turku.

Also Read: Finnish leader Sanna Marin, 34, becomes world's youngest prime minister

"A four-day workweek, a six-hour workday. Why couldn't it be the next step?" Marin suggested in her speech.

"Is eight hours really the ultimate truth? I believe people deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture. This could be the next step for us in working life," she added.

Marin leads a centre-left coalition along with five other parties which are all headed by women. The Finnish PM is the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). She took over as the prime minister in December 2019.

Also Read: From Oxford to Harvard, universities abroad see protests against police crackdown in Jamia, AMU

Currently, Finland has normal working-hours of eight hours per day, five days a week.

Finland and its Scandinavian neighbours have for long been proposing socially-focused approaches to work.

In the year 2015, Sweden went ahead and adopted a six-hour working day. The outcome of this set-up showed happier employees who were more productive.
The United States has denied a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that would have allowed him to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday, a US official said. Monday's comments by the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, came as tensions escalate between the two countries after the United States killed Iran's most prominent military commander, Qassem Soleimani, in Baghdad on Friday. Under the 1947 UN "headquarters agreement," the United States is generally required to allow access to the United Nations ...
Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said Iran must directly attack American interests in response to the killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.

Soleimani, killed Thursday in a precision drone strike ordered by President Trump, was the architect of Iranian war efforts in Syria. The Pentagon considers the general responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers following the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Khamenei attended a meeting of the Iranian National Security Council shortly after Soleimanis death. During the meeting, Khamenei said Iran must respond directly to the killing with its own forces, instead of proxy militias, according to the Times.

The Ayatollah also said that the response must be proportionate to the killing of Soleimani, one of the most powerful figures in the country. And even Iranian hardliners reportedly expressed their desire to temper the response to avoid all-out war with the U.S.

Khamenei openly wept while leading prayers over Soleimanis casket at the generals funeral on Monday. Hundreds of thousands of Iranians turned out for the funeral, and 32 were killed and 190 injured in a stampede during the funeral procession in Soleimanis hometown of Kerman, according to Iranian state television.

President Trump on Friday told reporters that the killing of Soleimani was not meant as a prelude to war.

We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war, Trump said. We do not seek regime change. However, the Iranian regimes aggression in the region  must end, and it must end now.

More from National Review
New Delhi, Jan 7 : Even as Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), here on Tuesday, to show solidarity with students, the JNUSU president was unmoved and targeted the actor for not speaking at the meet.

"When you are in a position you should speak up," JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh said after the actor left without addressing the meet.

Deepika was spotted standing with students at the Sabarmati T-point, where a public meeting had been called by JNU alumni over Sunday's violence. She also met Ghosh who received injuries. Padukone didn't address the meeting and left after an hour.

Amid drones flying over the meeting to keep an eye on students, Aishe targeted the JNU administration for filing complaints against her. "There are 3 FIRs against me, but I am not scared of the V-C. Even if you file 70 FIRs for all the 70 days of struggle against fee hike, we will continue our struggle" The meeting was also attended by former JNU students, including Sitaram Yechury, Yogendra Yadav, D. Raja and Kanhaiya Kumar.

Kumar, who was targeted for allegedly raising anti-national slogans in JNU few years ago, said, "I am called the leader of tukde-tukde gang. I take it as an honour." "Hatred for the JNU is not hatred for a university or ideology, but the thought as how a country should be," Kanhaiya. "The government is making a mistake. They have chosen an enemy that is intelligent and studies," he remarked.
Growing up, Christian Bello Escobar watched his parents, who immigrated to the United States from Mexico for a better life, work two jobs each to provide for their family.

"My parents worked first shift in the mornings at factories, and they cleaned offices in the evening," said the director of migrant programs and services who leads the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) at the University of North Georgia (UNG).

When he grew older, Bello Escobar joined his parents as they cleaned professional office buildings, which is where he saw the benefits of higher education.

"I would walk into these offices and see enough degrees to cover the wall. I thought, 'That's what I want for myself,'" he said. "I knew cleaning people's offices was an honorable job, but I didn't want to do it for the rest of my life. That pushed me to do well in high school and to succeed in higher education."

Now, Bello Escobar is living his dream. Two degrees adorn his office wall at UNG's Gainesville Campus. One is a bachelor's degree from Georgia State University. The second is a master's degree from University of West Georgia. He also has a post-graduate certificate in diversity from UNG.

In 2021, Bello Escobar will earn a third degree for his wall. The UNG instructor of University College is working on his doctorate in leadership with a concentration in higher education leadership from Valdosta State University.

"I started in the fall 2017, and I'm working on my last coursework and will soon start my dissertation," Bello Escobar said.

During his higher education journey, the Lawrenceville, Georgia, resident found a job he loves. As a director of HEP and CAMP, he helps students whose parents were migrants and seasonal farm workers earn a GED or transition and succeed in college.

"It allows me to be a servant leader," Bello Escobar said. "The programs also focus on students who are under-represented in higher education, and that's my passion."

The native of Acapulco, Mexico, discovered his passion when he was a member of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity at Georgia State University. With his fraternity brothers, Bello Escobar volunteered to work with high school students and other college students, becoming a role model for them.

"I was doing things I liked to do and enjoyed it," he said. "My fraternity adviser noticed and said, 'You know you can do that for a living.'"

The revelation changed Bello Escobar's trajectory. Instead of pursuing a terminal degree in psychology, he switched to an education post-graduate degree.

"I wanted to help people like myself obtain their degrees and find their dream career and realize that their dream is possible through education," he said.

Since then, Bello Escobar has pursued his goal and passion. While earning his bachelor's and master's degrees, he worked in undergraduate admissions at Georgia State and in housing and residence life at the University of West Georgia, which led him to work in residence life at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Then he came to UNG in early 2014 to serve as coordinator of Multicultural Student Affairs & Latino Success.

About a year and a half later, he learned the university was establishing a CAMP program. Currently 50 CAMP programs are on campuses across the nation, and UNG is one of three institutions in Georgia with a CAMP program. Bello Escobar applied to lead the program and has been its director for the past four years.

"We provide these students a chance to break the cycle of poverty through education," he said. "I do believe that by changing one individual's world, they can change their world in the manner they see fit."
When I speak at the Chicago rally, I am always inspired by all the young people  especially young women  who march because they understand that being pro-life is being pro-woman, and we must all do our part to support both women and their babies, he said.
Sources confirmed that the situation arising from Iran-US tension was discussed between the two leaders.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump discussed the Iran situation over a phone call, on Tuesday, after serious escalation in tension between Tehran and Washington in the past few days.

The recent developments have alarmed India owing to the possible fallout in its strategic port development project at Chabahar in Iran, which provides sea-land connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing Pakistan.

Sources confirmed that the situation arising from Iran-US tension was discussed between the two leaders.

Apart from the spiralling oil prices that are a global concern, any adverse impact of the current tensions on the Chabahar project may badly hit Indian strategic interests and connectivity to the Central Asian region.

Both leaders may have, therefore, put forth their respective national positions.

While the United States is seeking the isolation of Iran and support for the recent American actions, New Delhi is instead pushing for peace, stability, and security in this region which is of utmost importance to India and reduction in tensions so that the Chabahar project is not jeopardised.

A statement issued by the White House mentioned that regional security matters were reviewed while a statement during the phone call issued by New Delhi mentioned only the strategic partnership between the two nations and the bilateral ties built on trust, mutual respect, and understanding (that) have grown from strength to strength.

In its statement from New Delhi, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with His Excellency Mr Donald Trump, President of the United States, to convey New Years greetings. President Trump expressed satisfaction at the achievements in the relationship in the last few years and reiterated his readiness for further deepening of bilateral cooperation.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will hear on January 10 the petition by Tata Sons Private Ltd (TSPL) challenging the NCLAT decision restoring Cyrus Mistry as executive chairman of the Tata Group.

The apex court website on Tuesday showed the plea to be listed before a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant.

TSPL has challenged the December 18 decision of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) that gave a big relief to Cyrus Investment Pvt Ltd and Mistry, restoring him as the executive chairman of TSPL.

The NCLAT also ruled that the appointment of N Chandrasekaran as head of the holding company of the USD 110-billion salt-to-software conglomerate was illegal.

The Tatas have submitted that the verdict by the NCLAT "undermined corporate democracy" and the "rights" of its board of directors.

While the petition is pending in the apex court, Mistry came out with a statement on Sunday saying that he is not interested in returning to the Tata Group and the decision was made in the interest of the Group, whose interests are far more important than the interests of any individual.

"To dispel the misinformation campaign being conducted, I intend to make it clear that despite the NCLAT order in my favour, I will not be pursuing the executive chairmanship of Tata Sons, or directorship of TCS, Tata Teleservices or Tata Industries.

"I will however vigorously pursue all options to protect our rights as a minority shareholder, including that of resuming the thirty-year history of a seat at the Board of Tata Sons and the incorporation of the highest standards of corporate governance and transparency at Tata Sons," he said.

ALSO READ | Tata-Mistry case: NCLAT dismisses RoC plea, refuses to modify its judgement

In the last three years, both in conduct and in their statements to the world at large, Tata Group's leadership has shown scant respect for the rights of minority shareholders, Mistry said, adding that it is time the Group's management introspects and reflects on its conduct as it embarks on future actions.

"I am humbled by the NCLAT order, which after review of the enormous material on record, recognized the illegal manner in which I was removed and the oppressive and prejudicial conduct of Mr.Tata and other Trustees," he said.

TSPL, formerly known as Tata Sons Limited, in its petition, has sought "setting aside of the impugned judgment in toto" of NCLAT, alleging it was "completely inconsistent with the annals of corporate law" and reflected "non-appreciation of facts", which was "untenable in law".

NCLAT held that the group's chairman emeritus Ratan Tata's actions against Mistry were oppressive and the appointment of a new chairman was illegal.

It, however, stayed the operation of its order with respect to Mistry's reinstatement for four weeks to allow TSPL to file an appeal in the top court.

In its appeal, filed through Karanjawala & Co, TSPL sought a stay on NCLAT's verdict as interim relief.

ALSO READ | Not interested in taking up chairmanship of Tata Sons: Cyrus Mistry

"In other words, far from putting an end to the alleged acts complained of, the judgment (of the NCLAT) has sown the seeds for a never-ending discord and conflict between the shareholders of the appellant (TSPL), creating a recipe for an unmitigated disaster," it said.

The plea raised questions of law and said the order restoring Mistry to his "original position" as the executive chairman of TSPL for the "rest of the tenure" was illegal as his tenure "stood extinguished in March 2017".

The plea termed "illegal" NCLAT's declaration that Chandrasekaran's appointment as the chairman of TSPL was wrong and claimed he was appointed "in accordance with the articles and duly approved by the board and shareholders".

It alleged the NCLAT granted reliefs to Mistry which were not even sought.

"Respondent nos 1 (Cyrus Investment Pvt Ltd) and 2 specifically pleaded before the NCLAT that they are not seeking reinstatement of Mistry. The tenure of Mistry as the chairman and director of Tata Sons expired in March 2017 and thus, for good reason, the respondents did not seek such reinstatement," the plea said.

"Mistry was replaced as the chairman of Tata Sons on October 24, 2016, by the majority of its board of directors (all directors voted in favour of the replacement, except one who abstained from voting and the remaining one was Mistry himself) for loss of confidence and the impugned judgment, by restoring Mistry to the position as chairman, has undermined corporate democracy and rights of the board of directors," the plea said.

It said Mistry was removed following the procedure applicable to corporate appointments, as envisaged in law.

The plea alleged it was nobody's case that Mistry's removal had resulted in any serious prejudice being caused to the working of Tata Sons and it "violated law or any contract".

Mistry, the scion of the wealthy Shapoorji Pallonji family, had in December 2012 succeeded Ratan Tata as the executive chairman of Tata Sons, a post that also made him the head of all Tata Group-listed firms such as Tata Power and Tata Motors.

The NCLAT directed Tata Sons to not take any action against Mistry, whose family owned some 18 per cent interest in the company.

The remaining 81 per cent is held by Tata Trusts and Tata Group companies, along with members of the Tata family.
By Bill Hughes Jan. 07, 2020 | 12:13 PM | KUTTAWA

At the Kuttawa City Council meeting on Monday night, Barbara Campbell was nominated and elected to fill the vacancy left by her late husband, Jimmy. He passed away on December 11 after an illness.





On Tuesday morning, Barbara told West Kentucky Star she never had political aspirations until she was asked if she would be willing to serve.



Campbell said, "I was always alongside my husband, he was in public office. I never had considered it until this opportunity came about, but like I said, I was beside him and knew what it involved."





Regarding her new position as Kuttawa's first woman mayor, Campbell said it's a bittersweet situation.





"First of all, that the position was even open and available is a sad thing for me and for the people here, too. He was really well-liked and known and it's been pretty sad," she said.





As for plans in her term, Barbara wants to begin by finishing what her husband started.





She said, "Some things that we wanted to do to continue on with Jimmy's legacy and fulfill the things that he had going on."





Campbell said the city is checking with the Secretary of State's office to determine if she will serve all of her late husband's s term, which would expire at the end of 2022, or if voters will choose a new mayor along with city council members in an already-scheduled November election.

The city of Kuttawa has a new mayor, and the name is familiar to citizens.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  Grab Philippines announced it was looking to offer motorcycle taxi rides again, three years after its GrabBike service was shut down.

In a statement, the car-hailing app bared plans to revive the GrabBike service given the popularity of motorcycle taxis under a pilot run conducted by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

"In light of the recent conversations around motorcycle taxis in the Philippines, Grab would like to reiterate its interest in participating in the motorcycle taxi space to help provide affordable and agile transport solutions to hundreds of thousands of Filipino commuters," Grab said on Tuesday.

The announcement comes in the middle of a three-month extension in the pilot run of motorcycle taxis, now dominated by Angkas and with new entrants JoyRide and MoveIt offering trips around Metro Manila in Cebu. The trial period ends March 23.

Grab used to offer bike hitching services when it entered the Philippine market, but had to drop GrabBike mid-2016 given the directive from LTFRB.

READ: Grab asks LTFRB, DOTC for motorcycle taxi service regulation

Angkas founder Angeline Tham headed Grab's two-wheel service for a year until it was shut down, according to her corporate profile.

With motorcycles now viewed as the commuter hack to the worsening Manila traffic, Grab said it is "seriously considering to re-invest" and relaunch GrabBike "with the blessing of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Department of Transportation." The company said it is ready to make its pitch to authorities when it is asked to do so.

Grab offers a similar service in Thailand and Vietnam.

Once the LTFRB's pilot run ends, Congress must pass a law that would legalize motorcycle taxis so that they will officially be recognized as a commuter service.
A day after the Centre announced additional flood relief assistance, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Tuesday said that the amount released was not enough and expressed hope that more funds will be sanctioned in phases.

There were also differences with regard to the actual amount of funds released under the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF).

While the chief minister maintained that Rs 1,869.85 crore was released, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah ridiculed the ruling BJP, saying that the additional assistance was only Rs 669 crore, and the figure stated by the saffron party included Rs 1,200 crore the Centre had given earlier.

Speaking to reporters, Yediyurappa thanked the Centre for releasing the additional assistance. The funds released will never be enough considering the extent of losses. They are releasing such large amounts in phases, he said.

While officials say the actual release is just Rs 669 crore, Yediyurappa maintained that the Centre had now given Rs 1,869 crore, apart from the earlier Rs 1,200 crore.

Siddaramaiah attacked the Yediyurappa government for projecting wrong figures. Reports from state government officials tell that only Rs 669 crore of additional funds are released in the 2nd installment as opposed to the claim of Rs 1,870 crore. At a time when manufacturing industries are closing, BJPs fake news factory is running at full potential!

A high-level committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah had sanctioned the release of NDRF funds on Monday. While a PIB release had claimed that Rs 1,869 crore was

approved on Monday, the government officials clarified that the figure was inclusive of Rs 1,200 crore released in October.

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister R Ashoka did not clarify on the amount released by the Centre. Were yet to receive official communication regarding this, Ashoka said.
By Rasana Gasimova

The trade turnover between Turkey and Azerbaijan increased by $25.610 million in November 2019, compared to the same period last year, amounting to $189.128 million.

In November 2019, Turkish exports to Azerbaijan amounted to $158.163 million, and imports from Azerbaijan to $30.965 million, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told local media.

In January-November 2019, trade between Turkey and Azerbaijan increased by $106.541 million compared to the same period in 2018, exceeding $1.798 billion.

During the reporting period, Turkish exports to Azerbaijan reached $1.445 billion, and imports from Azerbaijan amounted to $353.478 million.

Turkey is one of the main trade partners of Azerbaijan. In 2018, the turnover between the two countries amounted to $3.4 billion. Turkish companies completed work within 300 projects in the public sector of Azerbaijan in the amount of $15.5 billion.

Turkeys investments in the Azerbaijani economy have reached $12.2 billion so far, and Azerbaijans investments in the Turkish economy have reached $15 billion.

In October 2019, the two countries signed a draft preferential trade agreement that provides for the introduction of a zero rate of customs duty on mutual deliveries of goods between Turkey and Azerbaijan. In October 2017, Turkey also exempted goods supplied from the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan from duties. In total, the list includes 43 names of products (13 agricultural, 30 industrial goods).

Earlier, Vice President of Turkey Fuat Oktay said that Turkey intends to increase mutual trade turnover with Azerbaijan to $15 billion by 2023.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Why arent all the presidents men testifying?

Some of the presidents closest aides, official and unofficial, past and present  Robert Blair, Michael Duffey, Rudy Giuliani, Don McGahn, Mick Mulvaney and Mike Pompeo  invoke a presidential order to refuse to give evidence about delays in Ukraine aid. But government officials like Gordon Sondland, William Taylor, Alexander Vindman and Marie Yovanovitch all ignored such orders and gave valuable testimony. After weeks of tweeting, giving interviews and writing his memoirs, John Bolton has let it be known that he will testify before the Senate, if he is subpoenaed by the Senate. But what gives him the right to dictate terms?

Mr. Boltons statement Monday claims that he is trying to resolve the serious competing issues between his obligations as a citizen and a former national security official. In fact, those obligations point in the same direction. Like jury duty or paying taxes, testifying under oath about facts we know is not optional; it is a fundamental obligation of citizenship. As a government official, Mr. Bolton held high office under an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Testifying at a Senate impeachment trial fulfills that constitutional oath.

Anyone who served in high public office knows that testifying before Congress about matters you worked on in government is part of your solemn public duty. If legislators questions impinge upon legitimate concerns about executive or national security privilege, you still must appear, declining to answer only those questions that call for information legally protected from public disclosure.

It does not matter that these witnesses have successfully withheld their testimony until now. The Houses impeachment vote should overrule any ethical or legal objection these witnesses now have to testifying before the Senate. How can senators vote on Mr. Trumps removal without the testimony of any of his closest advisers? And if Mr. Bolton ends up testifying, dont the Senate and the public need the others testimony to flesh out the full story?
Drivers & Machine Operators Jobs 2020 For Saudi Arabia

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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.
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HER2 testing offers the advantage in determining and validating the biopsy by screening the sample for HER2 test offering advantage to the physicians in treatment and operating. The conventional method involves histochemical screening. However more advanced breast cancer screening such as (Fish) are utilized to offer total patient diagnostic satisfaction although HER2 fish based testing is costly than traditional IHC method. ICH HER2 testing is one of the commonly used testing and denotes significant share in the HER2 testing market. The growth rate of the HER2 testing market is propositionally related to the research and development in the cancer diagnostic technology, ensuing more advanced application in the cancer screening and HER2 diagnostic. According to the data from American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) United States alone has enormous patient pool of breast cancer where approximately 62800 cases for in situ breast cancer including 1980 men and nearly 15% of cases will result in fatality owing to increasing Brest cancer. The prevalence of breast cancer drastically decreased after year 2002 once the results from woman health initiative (WHI) study cited the relation among hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer. The response of the results marked a drastic reduction in HRT user and held 8% reduction in breast cancer.

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According to a recent data from breast cancer research foundation (BCRF) it is anticipated that in 2019, around 272000 new patients of breast cancer is projected to be diagnosed in US woman population alone. The rapidly growing patient pool of normal and amplified level of HER2 in breast cancer is fuelling the growth of the HER2 testing market. Signifying high growth opportunities for the HER2 testing kit manufacturers and HER2 testing service providers. Subsequently the increase in adoption of histopathology testing is anticipated to boost the market share of HER2 testing market. The growing aid from nongovernment and government organizations, reimbursement policies for breast biopsy and diagnosis is estimated to surge the adoption of HER2 testing for breast cancer screening. The addition of SPoT-Light HER2 CISH test and Inform HER2 Dual ISH test is anticipated to offer accuracy and cost effective solution for Breast HER2 testing. However, lower rate of regulatory approvals for HER2 testing and higher cost is anticipated to impede the growth of the HER2 testing market.

The global HER2 testing market is segmented on the basis product type, material, and end user

Based on Product Type, the HER2 testing market is segmented into:

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) test

Fluorescence/chromogenic in situ hybridization (FISH/CISH) test

Based on End users, the HER2 testing market is segmented into:

Hospital

Diagnostic Centers

Specialty Clinics

The key manufacturers in HER2 testing market are primarily working on introduction of new reagents and markers, additionally training end users.

Furthermore, the substantial demand for HER2 testing is arising from diagnosis centers and tertiary healthcare facilities is anticipated to propel the growth of global HER2 testing Market. Manufacturers in HER2 testing market are considering cost effective solutions and occupied on the technological foreground of the HER2 testing performance and results. The growing demand for HER2 testing is primarily arising from developed nations such as UK U.S., Australia, and Germany concerning to high level of awareness about HER2 positive breast cancer and advanced breast cancer diagnostic standards. The increasing demand for HER2 testing is primarily attributed to growth in the woman healthcare sector and is anticipated to propel the demand for the global HER2 testing market.

The global HER2 testing market is segmented into the following regions - North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, south Asia, Oceania and the Middle East & Africa. North America is anticipated to be the prominent regional market for HER2 testing due to the high adoption rate and higher product penetration. Additionally huge HER2 testing demand in the region. In North America, the U.S. is the dominating HER2 testing market due to the increasing number of breast cancer cases in the country. Europe HER2 testing market is expected to show high growth rate concerning to higher prevalence of breast cancer and introduction of new test and services. China and India is anticipated to grow at high rate in reference to continuous adoption of new technologies and research form companies in HER2 testing research. Growth in Middle East and Africa and Latin America is substantially lower due to lack of manufacturers presences.

Some of the major key players competing in the global HER2 testing Market are

DAKO

Ventana Medical Systems Inc

Biogenex Laboratories Inc

Leica Biosystems

Abbott Molecular Inc

Life Technologies Inc. Among others.

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Regional analysis includes

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia

Oceana

Middle East & Africa

Report Highlights:
Spains caretaker Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was voted back in to power by Congress at the second round of an investiture debate on Tuesday.

As expected, the leader of the Socialist Party (PSOE) won a simple majority of just two more yes than no votes. In the end, 167 deputies voted in favor (PSOE, Unidas Podemos, the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), Mas Pais, Compromis, Nueva Canarias, Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) and Teruel Existe); 165 against (Popular Party (PP), Vox, Ciudadanos (Citizens), Together for Catalonia, Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), Navarra Suma, Coalicion Canaria, Foro Asturias and the Regionalist Party of Catalonia (PRC)); and there were 18 abstentions: (Catalan Republican Left (ERC) and EH Bildu).

Sanchez will now head the first coalition government since the days of the Second Republic (1931-1939). Sources at La Moncloa, the seat of the Spanish government, said that he could be sworn in and appoint his Cabinet as early as Wednesday.

The new PSOE-Unidas Podemos administration is planning to introduce tax hikes for higher earners and large corporations, and to increase the minimum wage. But the coalition government falls short of an absolute majority in Congress, and will require bill-by-bill support in order to get legislation passed.

Sanchez had been trying to form a government since the general election of April 2019, and again after the repeat election in November, which gave him an indecisive victory. In the meantime, far-right Vox surged to become the third-largest force in Congress, prompting Sanchez and Unidas Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias to quickly clinch a leftist coalition deal that had previously been rejected by the PSOE leader.

The difficulties faced by Sanchez reflect the political fragmentation in Spain, where new parties emerged on the back of the economic crisis, breaking the traditional two-party rule by the PSOE and the conservative Popular Party (PP). Spaniards have voted at four general elections since 2015.

A weekend session

The investiture session to confirm Pedro Sanchez in office began on Saturday and was put to a first vote on Sunday. As expected, the bid did not prosper: 166 deputies voted in favor, short of the 176 required for an absolute majority. But the second round only needed more yes than no votes, something that Sanchez secured after weeks of negotiations with regional parties.

Chief among these was the Catalan Republican Left (ERC), a separatist group that agreed to abstain at the second round in exchange for opening talks between the central and Catalan governments regarding the ongoing situation in Catalonia.

The fact that the investiture session was scheduled on a weekend and in the middle of the Kings Day celebrations reflects the sense of urgency felt by the PSOE, which wanted to have a government up and running before the end of the year.

Coalition or deadlock

Tuesdays debate was shorter than the first round, and began with a 10-minute speech from the prime ministerial candidate, Pedro Sanchez. In the last four years we have had a government with full powers for a year and a half, he said to the assembled deputies. It would be unacceptable for something like this to happen in the future. We have to find mechanisms so that this vacuum is not repeated. I promise, my group and I, to find formulas to facilitate government majorities rather than majorities of deadlock.

Sanchez also had a message for the opposition parties that have been questioning the legitimacy of the coalition government. The first principal of a democracy is to accept the result at the polls, he said. There are only two options: a progressive coalition or more deadlock for Spain.

Sanchez ended his speech with a quote from the prime minister of the Second Spanish Republic, Manuel Azana, words that were also cited by his predecessor, PSOE Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, in 2007: No one has the right to monopolize patriotism.

The leader of the conservative PP, Pablo Casado, began his response to Sanchez by asserting the maximum authority of the state, our King Felipe VI. This was greeted by applause from his deputies, who stood up to clap and shouted Long live the king!

Casado went on to argue that todays debate was not a vote on an investiture, but rather a regime change. The PP leader said that the PSOE had strayed outside the confines of the Constitution and was forming a government against the state. The PP leader said that the extremists are Sanchez and his partners. Your disguise as a moderate has slipped thanks to all of your lies, he added.

Now you have the problem, Casado continued. If you serve your anti-system partners, Spain will be broken up. If not, they will cast you into the street.

English version by Susana Urra.
Over the past two decades, Victorias Secret models have been getting thinner while the average waistline of American women has been expanding, according to a new study.

The lingerie maker and other fashion brand names continue to promote unattainable standards of beauty, according to a group of researchers from Boston Universitys School of Medicine.

The results of the study, which was published in the latest issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal, were announced just weeks after Victorias Secrets parent company announced that it had canceled its annual end-of-the-year fashion show.

The decision was made in light of recent trends in the fashion industry that show consumers tastes evolving to include more plus-sized brands that empower women of all body shapes.

The Boston University researchers compared bust size, waist and hip measurements of Victorias Secret models from 1995 - the year Victorias Secret debuted its annual fashion show - until 2018.

A new study claims Victoria's Secret models have become progressively thinner in the last 20 years while the average waistline of American women has expanded. From left: Taylor Hill, Jasmine Tookes, Elsa Hosk, Adriana Lima; Behati Prinsloo, and Candice Swanepoel in 2018

The study compared Victoria's Secret models from 1995, the first year the lingerie brand staged its famous annual fashion show. The above image from 1995 shows model Veronica Webb on the runway during the first show at The Plaza Hotel in New York

They also gathered data on hair and eye color, height, dress size, race, and age.

The study found that Victorias Secret fashion models have become thinner with smaller busts, waist, hips, and dress size.

Conversely, the average American womans waist circumference and dress size has increased and varies between a misses size 16 and 18, said Neelam Vashi, an assistant professor of dermatology at BUSM who was one of the co-authors of the study.

One metric used by the researchers is WHR - or waist to hip ratio.

Most women seek enhancements through cosmetic surgery to attain the ideal WHR - meaning a more narrower waist set against fuller hips, according to the study.

The study found that the WHR among Victorias Secret models remained constant from 1996 until 2018.

The average bust size for Victorias Secret models fell from 32.9 in 1995-1998 to 32.0 in 2015-2018.

Waist circumference for the models from 1995 to 1998 was 24.7 inches. But in the years 2015 to 2018, that figure fell to 23.6 inches, according to the study.

Hip circumference dropped from 34.9 inches to 34.4 inches.

Dress size also fell from 5.2 in the mid-to-late 1990s to 3.7 in the years spanning 2015 until 2018. The dress size figures fall in between the industry standard sizes because they represent an average of all the models measured.

The study also found that the average age of Victorias Secret models has decreased.

Between 1995 and 1998, the mean age of Victorias Secret models was 23.4 years.

Between 2015 and 2018, that number fell to 22.0 years.

The study found that Victoria's Secret models from recent years have progressively smaller bust, hip, waist, and dress sizes compared to models from the 1990s. Magdalena Wrobel (left) and Catherine McCord (right) are seen at the fashion show in New York in 1995

The study also found that Victorias Secret has become more diverse in selecting its models.

In the years between 1995 and 1998, there were just 27.1 per cent of non-white models.

That figure increased to 43.5 per cent in the years 2015 until 2018.

Since 2000, the number of lift procedures done on the buttocks has increased by 4,295 per cent.

The number of lower body lifts have jumped by 256 per cent since 2000, according to the researchers.
While steps to expel US troops may be straightforward, some experts say neither party is in favour of such a move.

Despite apparently simple procedural measures required to end the presence of foreign troops in Iraq, some experts argue that a withdrawal of US soldiers is unlikely to happen soon as neither side appears fully supportive of such a move.

In an extraordinary session on Sunday, two days after a US air strike killed Iranian and Iraqi commanders in Baghdad, the Iraqi parliament called on the government to end all foreign troop presence in Iraq and to cancel its request for assistance from the US-led coalition in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) armed group.

A day later, the US secretary of defence, Mark Esper, was forced to clarify that the United States has no plans to pull out militarily from Iraq, following reports citing a letter by the US military that it was preparing for movement out of Iraq.

Sarkawt Shams, a member of the Kurdish Future bloc in the Iraqi parliament, said the implementation of parliaments non-binding resolution relates to whether or not both sides  actually want to end the US presence in Iraq.

If theres a political will to expel US troops, then the process wont be complicated, he said, adding, however, that an imminent withdrawal appeared unlikely.

The resolution was only passed in an attempt to calm down public anger following the US air strike, while still maintaining US presence, Shams told Al Jazeera, referring to Fridays attack that killed Qassem Soleimani, the head of Irans elite Quds Force, and Iraqi paramilitary commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis near Baghdads international airport.

Simple procedures

The steps required for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq are straightforward, according to experts, who said the presence of the about 5,000 US troops  most of whom are in Iraq in an advisory capacity  is tied to an arrangement dating back to 2014.

Unlike earlier deployments, US troops currently in Iraq arrived as part of a request to the US from the Iraqi government to help train its security forces in the battle against ISIL, which in 2014 captured large swaths of Iraqi territory.

The understanding was that the US troops would help Iraqis defeat ISIL. Following Baghdads victory in 2017, theyre no longer needed, said Abbas Kadhim, director of the Iraq Initiative at the Atlantic Council.

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Before the vote in parliament, caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi told parliamentarians in the hall that it was in the interests of both Iraq and US to end foreign troop presence in the country, urging them to support the motion.

According to Kadhim, Abdul Mahdis move was unnecessary, but it gave him a sense of legitimacy and consensus.

Theres no treaty that needs to be cancelled nor a new law needed to be drafted, Kadhim said.

The presence of US troops is based on an executive request for US troops which can be cancelled by an executive decision at any time, he explained, saying that with a stroke of a pen, the undisclosed terms outlined in letters between former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and former US President Barack Obama, can be annulled.

The only reason Abdul Mahdi went to parliament was because hes in a caretaker role and didnt want to seem like he was acting unilaterally.

Abdul Mahdi stepped down in November amid months-long mass anti-government protests but remains in a caretaker position, a point which some observers have raised concern over.

But according to Iraqi legal expert Tareq Harb, the presence of a caretaker government is not an obstacle.

The parliaments vote gives Abdul Mahdi the authority and legitimacy to take measures to expel foreign troops in Iraq. All it requires is time and will, Harb said, adding that the vote solidified the parliaments support for him to proceed with such a measure.

Now that the draft has passed, the implementation is in the hands of the current prime minister and whoever comes after him.

Kadhim agreed: As the commander-in-chief, Abdul Mahdi has full authority according to Iraqi law to carry out this decision until a new prime minister is voted in.

Calming the anger

Following the parliamentary vote, Abdul Mahdi announced that the government was preparing the legal framework for the implementation of the resolution.

According to a statement by his office, the prime minister also met US Ambassador Matthew Tueller on Monday to discuss measures to facilitate a roadmap for an amicable military withdrawal, while keeping the bilateral diplomatic relations intact.

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Despite the apparent simplicity of the matter, however, analysts believe the move is unlikely to take place due to opposition within Iraq and the US to the move.

Neither Iraq nor the US really want the troops expelled, unless the situation continues to escalate, said Shams, who boycotted the vote along with many Sunni and Kurdish parliamentarians who oppose the move.

The assassination of Soleimani and al-Muhandis came after an attempt by hundreds of members and supporters of the pro-Iran paramilitary Hash al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Forces or PMF) to storm the US embassy in Baghdad amid rising anger over US air attacks against positions of Kataib Hezbollah  a member of the umbrella organisation  in Iraq and Syria.

Since the killings, rival Shia political leaders have called for the expulsion of US troops from Iraq, in an unusual show of unity among factions that have disagreed for months.

Despite the anger, Iraq analyst Zeidon Alkinani argued neither party wanted a withdrawal.

With Iranian influence at its feet, the US is unlikely to leave Iraq. That would only provide for unilateral dominance from Iran in the region, Alkinani said. It would be symbolically harmful for Trump, who is facing an election and impeachment, to be kicked out of Iraq with a parliamentary vote.

For the Iraqis, the vote was just a cost they had to pay the Iranian government to show neutrality in the aftermath of the killing of Soleimani, he added.
Scrotal swelling refers to swelling of the scrotum. The scrotum is the sac of skin that holds the testicles. Sometimes, scrotal swelling may affect the entire scrotum. At other times, there may be swollen lumps on one or both sides of the scrotum. Scrotal swelling may be painless or very painful. Although it can be alarming, most causes are benign and highly treatable. In very rare cases, scrotal swelling may indicate cancer. It is therefore essential to have any swelling checked out by a doctor. This article outlines the causes and symptoms of scrotal swelling, as well as the treatment options available.

Causes and symptoms Several conditions may cause the scrotum to swell. The sections below outline some of these potential causes. Hydroceles and hernias Share on Pinterest Scrotal swelling may be painful, but most causes are benign. Hydroceles and hernias are among the most common causes of scrotal swelling. A hydrocele is a collection of fluid that builds up around a testicle. Hydroceles sometimes occur during early development. In such cases, the testicles descend into the scrotum and leave behind an irregular opening that does not close. This opening causes fluid to accumulate in the scrotum and around the testicles. Around 10% of males have a hydrocele at birth. Hydroceles can also occur later in life and may be the result of an injury or infection. However, many hydroceles occur for no apparent reason. Hydroceles often do not cause symptoms. However, some males may notice a sense of heaviness or fullness in the scrotum. Hernias, meanwhile, develop when a portion of the intestines passes through the same opening that a hydrocele can pass through. The primary symptom of a hernia is an unexplained swelling. Around 15% of males have a hernia at birth, and it is particularly common among premature babies. Older males may develop a hernia when a weakness in the groin causes the bowels to drop down. Regular straining during bowel movements and lifting can increase this risk. Hernias are also more common among males with obesity, as the extra weight puts pressure on the weak spot in the groin. Cysts A cyst is a small, enclosed collection of fluid. It may feel similar to a pimple deep beneath the skin or in the scrotum. Some cysts are around the size of a pea, while others can grow large enough to put pressure on the scrotum. Sometimes, a cyst can develop in the epididymis. This is a tube that connects the testicles to a gland called the vas deferens. Doctors refer to these cysts as epididymal cysts, or spermatoceles. They can sometimes develop following an injury or infection. However, in most cases, doctors are unable to determine a specific cause. Varicoceles A varicocele is a swollen collection of veins in the scrotum. If a varicocele develops during puberty, it may slow the growth of one of the testicles. Most varicoceles do not cause any symptoms. However, some males report pain or swelling. In some cases, males with a varicocele can also experience reproductive difficulties. Injury Sustaining an injury to the groin can cause swelling that may feel tender or very painful to the touch. Swelling that is very painful or lasts more than a day or two may signal a serious injury. Males who experience such swelling should see a doctor as soon as possible. Tumors Rarely , a swelling in the scrotum may indicate a tumor. Tumors in the testicles are particularly rare among children under 15 years of age and account for only 2% of childhood cancers. Testicular cancer is more likely to occur among males aged 2034 years . However, it is still one of the less common types of cancer. Nonetheless, it is important to have a doctor investigate any swelling or other changes to the scrotum. According to the National Cancer Institute , most testicular cancers are curable, even when a doctor diagnoses them at an advanced stage. Idiopathic swelling Idiopathic swelling refers to swelling that a doctor has been unable to identify a reason for. This is more common among children, but it can affect males of any age. This type of swelling may appear suddenly. It is painless and usually goes away on its own within around 36 days .

Diagnosis In order to diagnose the cause of scrotal swelling, a doctor will carry out a physical examination of the testicles and scrotum. They may also take a full medical history and ask about any other symptoms or recent injuries. In some cases, an ultrasound or other imaging test may help rule out certain causes of scrotal swelling. If a doctor suspects a tumor, they may recommend a biopsy or the removal of the tumor. A laboratory technician will then analyze the biopsy or tumor for signs of cancer.

Treatment In many cases, a doctor will prescribe pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications to reduce scrotal swelling and discomfort. However, other treatments for scrotal swelling will depend on the exact cause. The following sections list some potential treatment options by cause. Hydroceles Hydroceles do not always require treatment, especially when they develop in a newborn baby or young child. They will usually close up on their own. In some cases, a doctor may recommend a procedure to suction fluid from the hydrocele. However, it may still come back, requiring further treatment. A hydrocele that causes pain may require surgical treatment. Some surgical repairs are possible on an outpatient basis using only local anesthetics. Hernias A hernia will not go away on its own. As a result, most doctors recommend surgery to repair the hole, especially if the hernia is large or causes symptoms. Cysts Some cysts do not require any treatment. However, a doctor can drain a cyst that is particularly large or painful. Varicoceles Varicoceles usually only require treatment if they cause symptoms or affect fertility. There are several different surgical options a doctor can recommend to repair the veins. It is important to discuss these options with a doctor before deciding on an approach. Tumors The treatment options for testicular tumors depend on the type of cancer and its stage. Some males need surgery only, while others require chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other cancer therapies.

Risks and complications Most causes of scrotal swelling are relatively harmless. The main symptoms tend to be pain or a feeling of fullness in the scrotum. If a person does not seek treatment, some causes of scrotal swelling may damage the testicles and cause infertility. Tumors may spread to other areas of the body, potentially becoming life threatening. For this reason, it is important that males who notice any signs of scrotal swelling see their doctor for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Undergoing surgery to repair swelling in the scrotum is generally safe, though all surgeries carry some risks. It is important to talk to a doctor or surgeon about the potential risks and benefits of a surgical treatment.

When to see a doctor Males should see a doctor if they experience any swelling in the scrotum. Scrotal swelling is rarely an emergency, but untreated swelling could injure the testicles, scrotal blood vessels, or other important structures within the scrotum. In some cases, this may also affect fertility. A doctor might refer someone with scrotal swelling to a urologist. Urologists specialize in treating conditions of the urinary tract and the male reproductive organs. These healthcare professionals will work with a person to diagnose the cause of scrotal swelling and explore appropriate treatment options.
Brent is trading in the neighborhood of $70 per barrel, a price not seen since the spring of 2019.

The unexpected assassination of one of the most important figures in the Iranian government set off fears of a hot war between the U.S. and Iran. Iran has vowed revenge. Trump has vowed more attacks, including potential war crimes, if Iran does anything in response to the killing. Iran has withdrawn completely from the 2015 nuclear deal. Iraq has begun laying the groundwork to force U.S. troops to exit the country. Trump has threatened Iraq with harsh sanctions if they follow through. Needless to say, these are dangerous times in the Middle East.

A long list of analysts have speculated that Iran could target oil installations. The U.S. State Department warned of a heightened risk of missile/drone attacks in Saudi Arabia. The shipping industry is warning of more risk to oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. Brent has already added about $4 to the price of a barrel of oil.

We are going to grind through the $70s up toward $80 Brent as Iran calibrates and executes its retaliation, Bob McNally of Rapidan Energy Group told Bloomberg.

This geopolitical price support comes at a time when fundamentals are beginning to increasingly point in the same direction, JBC Energy said in a note. For example, our global inventory indicator showed a build of some 50 million barrels for Q4-18, while the last quarter came it at only 9 million barrels, indicating that the market is anyway in an already tighter situation. Related: US Urges All Americans To Leave Iraq After Soleimani Assassination

[W]e would certainly not be surprised if prices were to go higher still, JBC Energy added.

Others agreed. If Iraq were to plunge into chaos, up to 4 million barrels per day could be at risk. Even Saudi Arabia could not plug such a big hole. A risk premium on the oil price is therefore justified, Commerzbank wrote in a note on Monday. On that note, the WSJ reported that oil companies in Iraq are stepping up security. The State Department told all Americans to leave Iraq, although its not clear that operations at Iraqi oil fields will be affected. Chevron is reportedly evacuating its non-Iraqi staff from Kurdistan.

In short, all of the elements for higher oil prices are in place.

But not everyone sees the rally continuing. Oil prices have already shot up since last week due to the prospect of war, but no oil has actually been knocked offline. While tensions in the Middle East have undeniably escalated with Iran reportedly committing to retaliating, we believe that the current risk premium embedded in Brent prices (through timespreads) is already elevated, with an actual supply disruption now necessary to sustain oil prices near current levels of $69/bbl, Goldman Sachs said in a note. Absent a major supply disruption, we therefore believe that price risks are skewed to the downside in coming weeks, with oil prices already trading above our fundamental fair value of $63/bbl ahead of the recent events. Related: Goldman Sachs: This Oil Rally Wont Last

Goldman also noted that the range of scenarios is wide. In fact, a regional war could also lead to curtailed demand, thus putting downward pressure on prices. Global equity markets were obviously rattled by the conflict. Moreover, any surge in crude prices could be met with weaker demand, undercutting the rally.

Goldman Sachs added that the sudden spike in spot prices relative to long-dated futures  creating a backwardation in the forward curve  reflects the market concerns about short-term disruption. No surprise there, given the fear of war. But the bank put specific numbers on the impact, calculating that the backwardation structure can be interpreted as the market immediately and pre-emptively pricing in an outage of 800 kb/d for three months or a 30 percent change of a much larger 2.7 mb/d outage for three months.

In other words, oil already has a big disruption priced in; if no disruption occurs, prices could fall back. Meanwhile, OPEC is still sitting on a large degree of spare capacity, with around 2 mb/d immediately available. Higher prices could also set off more drilling in U.S. shale, although there would be a lag time in response.

Oil traders arguably recognize this perspective. During midday trading on Monday, prices fell back from their recent highs. But the U.S.-Iran conflict, and potential war, will surely last more than a few news cycles.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
David M. Roeder, a retired Air Force colonel, was at home last week in Pinehurst, N.C., when he first saw the news flash on his television: An American embassy was under attack by protesters in the Middle East.

I said, Uh-oh, here we go again, said Colonel Roeder, who was among more than 50 Americans who were taken hostage at the United States Embassy in Tehran in 1979, in a crisis that ruptured relations and set off 40 years of intense hostilities between Washington and Tehran.

There are fires. They are attacking the embassy, said Colonel Roeder, now 80. Thats deja vu.

The latest attack  on the embassy in Baghdad  came days before a United States drone strike killed a top Iranian commander, quickly escalating tensions in the region. President Trump later referred to the hostage crisis in a warning to Iran not to retaliate, saying in a tweet that the United States had pinpointed 52 Iranian sites as potential targets, to represent the 52 Americans held by Iran from 1979 to 1981.

The presidents threat thrust the hostages back into the spotlight, at a time when some say they feel that their ordeal has largely been forgotten by the American public. Of 53 hostages, which includes an additional diplomat who was released early, an estimated 18 have died. The remaining 35, who are of retirement age, have moved on as best they can. Still, their 444 days of captivity hang like a shadow in the background of their lives, returning in their dreams, when Iran surfaces in the news and in their decades-long fight for monetary compensation.
[January 07, 2020] BEST Inc. Holds Annual Franchisee Conference for BEST Express - Full Year 2019 Express Parcel Volume Grew to 7.58 Billion

ZHUHAI, China, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BEST Inc. (NYSE: BEST) ("BEST" or the "Company"), a leading integrated smart supply chain solutions and logistics services provider in China, held the annual franchisee conference for its BEST Express business yesterday in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China. In his remarks at the conference, Johnny Chou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BEST, expressed appreciation to the many BEST Express franchisee partners and summarized the business unit's results over the past year. In full year 2019, BEST Express saw its parcel volume grow by about 38.5% year-over-year to 7.58 billion. According to latest statistics from the State Post Bureau, China's total parcel volume increased by 24% to 63 billion in full year 2019. "Looking back at 2019, we further enhanced our operating efficiency through strengthened automation and information systems," said Mr. Chou. He continued, "We have improved our service quality and delivered greater value to our customers. In an increasingly competitive and fast-developing industry, we are very proud that we achieved rapid and strong growth in parcel volume, especially in lower-tier markets." Mr. Chou also highlighted the wide variety of initiatives that BEST Express has taken to promote sustainability and environment-friendly practices across the express delivery industry: "Last year, BEST Express started to utilize eco-friendly express satchels and RFID-equipped sorting bags, adopted one-copy digital waybills and helped the livelihood of farmers through our Agricultural Excellence project." He added, "Green logistics will remain a key focus for us in 2020." Discussing BEST Express's strategies for 2020, Mr. Chou said, "We will concentrate on enhancing service quality and improving every aspect of customer experience. Meanwhile, we will speed up our expansion in Southeast Asia as we see tremendous e-commerce needs and increasing cross-border opportunities created by China's Belt and Road Initiative in the region. We will also continue to build out our integrated service platform and focus on increasing operating efficienc through optimized operation and upgraded automation. We believe that our technology-enabled, integrated service platform and strong execution capability will position us to succeed in the long-term."





SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as BEST's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. BEST may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about BEST's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: BEST's goals and strategies; BEST's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; BEST 's ability to maintain and enhance its ecosystem; BEST 's ability to continue to innovate, meet evolving market trends, adapt to changing customer demands and maintain its culture of innovation; and fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in BEST's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and BEST does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. ABOUT BEST INC. BEST Inc. (NYSE: BEST) is a leading integrated smart supply chain solutions and logistics services provider in China. Through its proprietary technology platform and extensive networks, BEST offers a comprehensive set of logistics and value-add services, including express and freight delivery, supply chain management and last-mile services, truckload capacity brokerage, international logistics and financial services. BEST's mission is to empower business and enrich life by leveraging technology and business model innovation to create a smarter, more efficient supply chain. For more information, please visit: http://www.best-inc.com/en/. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/best-inc-holds-annual-franchisee-conference-for-best-express---full-year-2019-express-parcel-volume-grew-to-7-58-billion-300982579.html SOURCE BEST Inc.

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A Google artificial intelligence system was as good as expert radiologists at discovering which women had breast cancer in a new study. The system made the findings from thousands of mammogram images, researchers in the United States and Britain reported.

This is the newest study to show that artificial intelligence, or AI, may improve the accuracy of mammograms. Breast cancer affects one in eight women around the world. The study was published in the journal Nature.

The American Cancer Society says radiologists miss about 20 percent of breast cancers in mammograms. And many women who get the tests have a false positive result at some point. A false positive result shows a woman with cancer even though she does not have it.

The findings of the study were developed with DeepMind AI, which joined with Google Health in September.

The study results represent a big step toward the possibility of early breast cancer detection, said Mozziyar Etemadi. He is one of the study writers and based at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.

The team included researchers at Imperial College London and Britain's National Health Service. Together, they trained the AI system to identify breast cancers on tens of thousands of mammograms.

They then compared the AI system's performance with the actual results from a set of 25,856 mammograms in the United Kingdom and 3,097 from the United States.

The study showed the AI system could identify cancers with a similar level of accuracy to expert radiologists. At the same time, it reduced the number of false positive results by 5.7 percent in the American patients and 1.2 percent in the British patients.

It also cut the number of false negatives, where tests are wrongly listed as normal, by 9.4 percent in the American group, and 2.7 percent in the British group.

These results show differences in how mammograms are read. In the U.S., only one radiologist reads the results and the tests are done every one to two years. In Britain, the tests are done every three years, and each is read by two radiologists. When they disagree, a third radiologist reads it.

Seeing the signs

In a separate test, the researchers put the AI system against six radiologists and found it performed better at correctly detecting breast cancers.

Connie Lehman is chief of the breast imaging department at Harvard's Massachusetts General Hospital. She said the results agree with findings from many groups using AI to improve cancer detection in mammograms, including her own work.

The idea of using computers to improve cancer detection has been around for years. And computer-aided detection or CAD systems are common in mammography health centers, but CAD has not improved performance in health practice.

The issue, Lehman said, is that current CAD programs were trained to identify things human radiologists can see. But with AI, computers learn to find cancers based on the actual results of thousands of mammograms. So AI has the possibility of going beyond human ability to identify small signs the human eye and brain cannot.

Mozziyar Etemadi added that the study has shown, in tens of thousands of mammograms, that AI can make a very well-informed decision.

A few limitations

The study has some limitations. Most of the tests were done using the same type of imaging equipment, and the U.S. group had a lot of patients with confirmed breast cancers.

Importantly, the team has not yet shown that the tool improves patient care, said Dr. Lisa Watanabe. She is chief medical officer of CureMetrix, a company whose AI mammogram program won U.S. approval last year.

She noted that AI is only helpful if it creates noticeable progress for radiologists.

Etemadi agreed that those studies are needed, as is regulatory approval, a process that could take many years.

Im Alice Bryant.

Reuters News Service reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

Quiz - Google System Could Improve Breast Cancer Detection Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

radiologist  n. a doctor whose expertise is using some forms of radiation (such as X-rays) to diagnose and treat diseases

mammogram  n. a photograph of a woman's breasts made by X-rays

accuracy  n. the quality of having no errors or mistakes

detection  n. the act or process of discovering, finding, or noticing something

false positive  n. a test result which incorrectly indicates that a particular condition is present

false negative  n. a test result which incorrectly indicates that a particular condition is absent
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low around 10F. NNW winds shifting to ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low around 10F. NNW winds shifting to ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
CINCINNATI, Ohio  A Medina native arrested in April after authorities say he pretended to be an Illinois boy missing since 2011 will plead guilty to federal charges on Wednesday, according to reports.

U.S. District Court records show Brian Rini, 24, has signed a plea agreement, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. The details of the plea agreement were not available Monday, according to the Enquirer.

In April, Rini was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of making false statements to the FBI and aggravated identity theft. Federal authorities said Rini claimed he was Timmothy Pitzen, a missing Aurora, Illinois, boy, when police in Newport, Kentucky, approached him on April 3.

Rini told an officer he was kidnapped as a child and he just wanted to go home, according to an affidavit written by a Cincinnati police officer in April.

The officer took Rini to Cincinnati Childrens Hospital after Rini complained of abdominal pain. He reiterated his story to FBI agents and said he had been held captive by two men, who sexually abused him for years while being held captive, according to the affidavit.

Rini told the agents he escaped from a nearby motel. But he refused to provide the agents with fingerprints, the affidavit said. He did allow investigators to take a swab from his cheek for DNA testing. That testing showed he wasnt Timmothy, the affidavit stated, but it was used to identify him as Rini, who had previous felony convictions in Medina County.

According to the Enquirer, Rini could be sentenced to up to eight years in prison for lying to federal agents. If he pleads to an aggravated identify theft charge, he would face an additional mandatory two-year sentence, the Enquirer reports.

WKRC Channel 12 reports that Pitzen disappeared in 2011 when he was 6 years old. His mother took him out of his school, when killed herself days later, leaving a note saying Pitzen would never be found.

Police in Aurora, Illinois, told CNN in April that despite the hoax, investigators are still hoping to search for Pitzen.

To comment on this story, please visit Mondays crime and courts comments page.

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Several new naval, air and land systems will be added to Turkey's defense forces' inventories in 2020. Crucial projects in the defense industry will continue in the new year, the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) announced Monday, Jan.6, 2019. Several aerial, naval and land systems will enter Turkish forces' inventory, Ismail Demir, the head of SSB, told a press conference in the capital Ankara.

Several new naval, air and land systems will be added to Turkey's defense forces' inventories in 2020. Crucial projects in the defense industry will continue in the new year, the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) announced Monday, Jan.6, 2019. Several aerial, naval and land systems will enter Turkish forces' inventory, Ismail Demir, the head of SSB, told a press conference in the capital Ankara.

TCG Anadolu (Picture source: Facebook/Random Turkish)

Speaking at a yearly evaluation meeting, Demir said the first domestic maritime missile ATMACA and Turkey's largest-ever warship, the TCG Anadolu, are some of the indigenously produced systems to be added to the inventory of the Turkish military throughout the course of this year.

Carrying out successful and custom-made projects to diminish the dependency on imported products and platforms, the Turkish defense industry has maintained its significant momentum in exports for the last couple of years.

As a result of expedited research and development activities and a range of products, the Turkish defense and aerospace industry carried its export performance to the top in 2019. According to the data obtained from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), the sector's exports soared 34.6% and hit $2.7 billion last year from $2.03 billion in 2018  the first time defense exports surpassed $2 billion. Defense sales abroad, which totaled $360.3 million, observed the best monthly performance last year.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low 9F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph, becoming ESE and decreasing to less than 5 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low 9F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph, becoming ESE and decreasing to less than 5 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
Millions of Americans in the path of a winter storm are bracing for a wintry mix of precipitation throughout the weekend.

Forecasters said the storm will bring snow and ice across a 1,700-mile stretch from the Central to Northeast regions beginning on Friday.

According to AccuWeather, there may be a corridor from northeastern Oklahoma, eastern Kansas into northern Missouri where atmospheric conditions allow for freezing rain to fall.

'Any roads left untreated, especially along the northern edge of this system, are likely to become covered in ice,' AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert said.

'Even a glaze of ice on roadways may lead to increased spin-outs or even multi-vehicle accidents,' she added.

Millions of Americans in the path of a winter storm (file image, Pennsylvania) are bracing for a wintry mix of precipitation throughout the weekend

Forecasters said the storm will bring snow and ice across a 1,700-mile stretch from the Central to Northeast regions beginning on Friday

According to AccuWeather, there may be a corridor from northeastern Oklahoma, eastern Kansas into northern Missouri where atmospheric conditions allow for freezing rain to fall

The storm will then expand into the Great Lakes Friday night and into Saturday.

Residents in Chicago and Detroit will likely see a wintry mix of precipitation Friday night.

Forecasters said some areas may end up encased in ice and still see accumulating snow afterward.

Parts of Michigan may see snow totals of six inches or more on Saturday.

The storm will then continue on its path to the Northeast where New England, western New York and parts of Maine may see similar weather.

By Sunday, the storm will makes its way out of the Northeast.

On Tuesday, Washington, DC, received snow as well as parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Meanwhile, West Virginia officials were warning drivers to stay off snow-slickened roads if possible.

Authorities in Kanawha and Raleigh counties issued the warnings as the number of traffic accidents mounted.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a winter weather advisory for areas of West Virginia through Tuesday afternoon.

The forecast calls for 1-4 inches of snow.

The storm will then expand into the Great Lakes Friday night and into Saturday. Residents in Chicago and Detroit will likely see a wintry mix of precipitation Friday night

The storm will then continue on its path to the Northeast where New England, western New York and parts of Maine may see similar weather

By Sunday, the storm will begin to make its way out of the Northeast (depicted above)

Kanawha County Emergency Management Director C.W. Sigman said that if motorists have to be out to 'please slow down'.

Several crashes have been reported on multiple roadways.

Meanwhile, Raleigh County 911 Director John Zilinski had the same advice for drivers there.

He said about 20 wrecks or stranded vehicles had been reported in 20 minutes.

Wintry weather also forced the postponement of a groundbreaking Tuesday for a new West Virginia high school to replace one destroyed by 2016 floods.

The ceremony had been scheduled for the new Herbert Hoover High School in Elkview about 13 miles northeast of Charleston.

West Virginia Gov Jim Justice, state and local education leaders and Herbert Hoover students had been planning to attend. The groundbreaking was rescheduled for January 22.

In Washington, DC, a mix of rain and snow fell outside the White House on Tuesday afternoon

David Brock shoveled snow along Court Street in Fayetteville, West Virginia, on Tuesday

Carol Brown, who lives in the Raleigh Court neighborhood, walks along Grandin Road for a morning stroll in the snow under her parasol, on Tuesday in Roanoke, Virginia

A Blacksburg patrol car stands by at the scene of a weather related crash on US Route 460 at Prices Fork Road in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Tuesday

Herbert Hoover students have attended school in portable classrooms near a middle school since the June 2016 floods.

The Elk River rose 10 feet high in some buildings, destroying bridges and ripping homes from their foundations. Six people in Kanawha County died, and 23 were killed statewide.

The old high school was torn down last year. The new school is expected to open in fall 2022.

On Tuesday morning, multiple people were injured in a major pileup involving about 30 vehicles on a highway in Maine, state troopers said.

There were no fatalities, but several ambulances and a medical helicopter were dispatched to the crash site on Interstate 95 near Bangor, according to Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

Meanwhile in Maine, multiple people were injured in a major pileup (pictured) involving about 30 vehicles on a highway in Maine, state troopers said Tuesday morning

There were no fatalities, but several ambulances and a medical helicopter were dispatched to the crash site on Interstate 95 near Bangor, according to Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety

Initial reports were that some motorists were blinded by the morning sun, contributing to the chain-reaction pileup as a stream of motorists headed toward Bangor, he said.

It was initially reported that up to 60 vehicles were involved, but the figure was revised downward, McCausland said.

The weather didn't appear to be a factor in the crash, which was reported at about 7.45am.

There had been some slight snow that ended at midnight, hours before the pileup, the NWS said.

There was a massive backup up of cars, and troopers were trying to sort out the best way to reroute the vehicles off the highway.

The northbound lanes were closed for more than three hours.
ALTON  Lisa Yanick Litwiller has been named Director of Audience for the Hearst Community Newspapers, including The Telegraph in Alton, The Intelligencer in Edwardsville, and several newspapers in Illinois, Michigan and Texas.

In her new position, Litwiller will develop and execute an audience strategy for the community newspapers working with digital producers, editors and writers on innovative, new ways of storytelling.
NEW DELHI: Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone left her fan club and the national capital buzzing on Tuesday evening, when she decided to drop in on the students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, two days after a masked mob attacked students and teachers on the campus, leaving 34 injured and provoking nationwide outrage.

She visited JNU around 7.45 pm and stayed on campus for about 10 minutes.

Padukones visit instantly triggered calls by the ruling BJP to boycott her movies.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga said, Boycott movies of Deepika Padukone for her support to #Tukde TukdeGang and Afzal Gang.

Though Padukone did not speak at the university, she was seen standing with a group of students who were attacked, including president of the students union Aishe Ghosh. Former student leader Kanhaiya Kumar was also present.

The actress, who is in Delhi to promote her upcoming film, was in all-black  also a symbol of solidarity with the students  while visiting the university.

Chants of azadi are said to have welcomed the actress to the university.

The move by Padukone, one of Bollywoods top stars, stood out amid conspicuous silence by film industry A-listers on student protests and the demonstrations across the country against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.

On Monday, Padukone had spoken to a TV channel about the protests, saying that she was proud people are not scared.

I feel proud that we are not scared. I think to be able to express ourselves. I think the fact we are thinking about this and about the future of our country. It is nice to see people are coming out on the streets to voice this and express (themselves). Because if we want to see change, this is very important, she said

Bollywood star Ajay Devgn on Tuesday said violence is not a solution to any problem and the Jawaharlal Nehru University attack is very sad.

The actor said he was not clear about what transpired inside the university campus on Sunday as news reports gave conflicting accounts.

I have been watching the news since morning. Its very conflicting. Till now, we do not know who has done what. So till the time this is not clear, I do not know how to comment. It is all very sad whats happening, Ajay Devgn said, in response to a question on his views on the JNU attack.

Whoever is doing it, is wrong. Violence is not a solution to anything. It is just harming our country. What is the agenda behind it, if you know, then please tell me because whatever there is in the news is not clear, he added.

On Monday night, a slew of Bollywood celebrities such as directors Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar and actors Taapsee Pannu and Richa Chadha turned up at Carter Road in Mumbai, in solidarity with those protesting against the violence at the JNU. In a peaceful gathering of hundreds, the film fraternity was at the forefront, with prominent personalities, including actors Swara Bhasker, Dia Mirza and Ali Fazal as well as Sudhir Mishra, Anubhav Sinha, Rahul Dholakia and Neeraj Ghaywan.

However, none of the Bollywood biggies such as Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan among others have reacted on the ongoing protests against the attack on students of JNU.
[January 07, 2020]

Green Rush Consulting Launches Application Accelerator for Illinois Craft Grower Licensing

OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Rush Consulting , a premier national cannabis consulting firm, is offering a fully automated Application Accelerator package for Illinois Craft Grower licenses.

With the application set to be released on Jan. 7, 2020, cannabis entrepreneurs seeking a craft grow license in Illinois must submit their applications as soon as possible  a process that can be timely and costly. Green Rush Consulting is offering customizable Application Accelerator templates to speed up the process for developing a comprehensive license application fully compliant with Illinois marijuana laws .

All sections of the Illinois application, known as "Exhibits," are fully compliant and vetted by Subject Matter Experts with decades of industry experience and more than 100 competitive state license wins. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is scheduled to release the Craft Grower Oganization License Application on Jan. 7, 2020, through its adult-use cannabis program page .







The full Illinois Craft Grower Application Accelerator Bundle is available for a special pre-sale 50% discount. Individual templates for Exhibits such as the Security Plan, Environmental Plan, and Diversity Plan can still be purchased a la carte.

The Application Accelerator was featured at a Dec. 15, 2019, Hackathon in Chicago hosted by Good Tree Capital . The event was developed to help social equity applicants learn how to open a dispensary in Illinois.

"We recently hosted a hackathon for Illinois social equity applicants seeking to complete their dispensary license applications due in just a couple weeks," said Seke Ballard , founder and CEO of Good Tree Capital. "We couldn't have done it without the help of our partner, Green Rush Consulting . Their dispensary application accelerator was incredibly valuable and essential to getting our dispensary applicants over the finish line."

Media Contact:

Sarah Ceti

[email protected]

510-479-7372

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/green-rush-consulting-launches-application-accelerator-for-illinois-craft-grower-licensing-300982198.html

SOURCE Green Rush Consulting
Fifty-six people have been killed and more than 200 injured in a stampede as Iranians attended the funeral procession of a top Iranian general slain in a U.S. air strike, state media report.



The deaths in Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Qasem Soleimani's hometown of Kerman led to the January 7 ceremony being delayed.



The cause of the stampede was not immediately clear.



The powerful commander's burial went ahead in the early evening in the cemetery's "martyrs section," the semiofficial ISNA news agency reported, the last in a series of funeral events that have brought hundreds of thousands of mourners on to the streets in Iran.



The January 3 assassination in Baghdad of the 62-year-old major general who helped orchestrate Tehrans overseas clandestine and military operations has carried already tense U.S.-Iranian relations to uncharted territory, with vows of revenge and retaliation emanating from both sides.



Speaking from the White House Oval Office, President Donald Trump defended his order to kill Soleimani, saying the Iranian was planning a "very big attack and a very bad attack for us and other people."



"He was a monster. And he's no longer a monster. He's dead," Trump said.



Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters that Washington was seeking a diplomatic solution with Iran but that Tehran must de-escalate tensions.



However, Esper said that the United States should expect Iran to retaliate for the attack on Soleimani "in some way, shape, or form."



"We're prepared for any contingency. And then we will respond appropriately to whatever they do," he warned.



Domestic critics of Trump's decision to kill the Iranian commander have said the move has brought the United States closer to a potentially devastating war with Iran, while Canada and some U.S. allies in Europe have begun moving troops at least temporarily out of Iraq.



NATO said it had "temporarily suspended our training on the ground" and was taking "all precautions necessary to protect our people."



This includes the "temporary re-positioning of some personnel to different locations both inside and outside of Iraq," the alliance added.

The Iraqi parliament has demanded the expulsion of foreign forces from Iraq in response to the drone attack that killed Soleimani, but Trump said that a U.S. troop withdrawal at this stage would be the "worst thing" for the country.



"At some point we want to get out, but this isn't the right point," he said.



There are roughly 5,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.



Stampede Aftermath



Videos posted online showed victims of the stampede in Kerman lying lifeless on a road while survivors shout and try to help the injured.



Thousands of black-clad mourners had gathered earlier in the central square of Kerman carrying posters bearing the image of Soleimani.



At the start of the funeral procession, the IRGCs top commander Hossein Salami threatened to "set ablaze'" unspecified locations supported by the United States over Soleimani's killing.



"We will take revenge. We will set ablaze a place they like, and they well know where it is," Salami said, drawing the cries of "Death to Israel."



On January 6, crowds filled the streets of the capital, Tehran, to mourn Soleimani in a funeral procession during which Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept over the slain commanders casket.

Washington blames Soleimani for the killing of American troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death.



Soleimani also led forces in Syria backing President Bashar al-Assad in a long war, and he also served as the point man for Iranian proxies in countries like Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen.



During a press briefing, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected suggestions Soleimani was on a "diplomatic" mission when he was assassinated.



"Is there any history that would indicate that it was remotely possible that this kind gentleman, this diplomat of great order -- Qasem Soleimani -- had traveled to Baghdad for the idea of conducting a peace mission?" Pompeo said during a press briefing.



"We know that wasn't true, he added, responding to remarks by Iranian officials that the slain general was attempting to conduct peace talks in Iraq.



The state secretary also accused the Iranian government of "actively working to undermine" the peace process in Afghanistan by "continuing its long global effort to support militant groups there."



Iran has "relationships" with the Taliban and other militant groups in Afghanistan, Pompeo told reporters.



Diplomatic Maneuvering



Amid heightened regional tension and diplomatic maneuvering, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit on Orthodox Christmas Day on January 7 to Syria's capital, Damascus, where he met with Assad and held consultations with Russian military officials. Assad is closely aligned with Iran.



Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the United States had refused to issue a visa that would have allowed him to attend a UN Security Council meeting on January 9 in New York.



In response to a question during his news briefing, Pompeo said the United States does not comment on individual visa maters.



"We will always comply with our obligations under the UN requirements, the headquarters agreement, and we will do so in this particular instance and more broadly, he added.

A U.S. official told AP that the application could not be processed in time and it was not immediately clear if the visa request had been formally denied.



Separately, Reuters reported that U.S. administration officials would brief congressional and Intelligence Committee leaders on the Iran situation later on January 7 and then brief the full House of Representatives the next day.



Democrats have bitterly complained that Trump has kept them out of the process and that he did not properly consult or notify Congress as required by U.S. law.



Iran's parliament, meanwhile, passed a piece of legislation labeling the U.S. military's command at the Pentagon in Washington and those acting on its behalf "terrorists," subject to Iranian sanctions. The measure appears to mirror a decision by Trump in April to declare the IRGC a terrorist organization.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters
OAKLAND (BCN)

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and other officials on Monday introduced the first permanent chief of the city's Department of Violence Prevention, which will aim to reverse a 7 percent increase in violent crime in Oakland from 2018 to 2019.

The 2019 data show that there were about 400 more cases of violent crimes and seven more homicides compared with the previous year.

"While it is unacceptable to see any increase in crime, we do want to recognize that we are seeing the longest sustained period of homicides under 90 and under 7,000 total violent crimes in six consecutive years," Schaaf said.

The overall crime rate in Oakland also increased driven largely by an increase in property crimes, including laptop thefts and auto burglaries, Oakland police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said.

A recent laptop theft in the city's Montclair District took a man's life when he tried to stop the thieves.

Kirkpatrick has formed a task force with other police chiefs from Berkeley, Alameda, San Leandro, Emeryville and Piedmont, where each city will provide two officers per month to work within these cities to focus on auto burglaries and laptop thefts.

Guillermo Cespedes, the first permanent chief of the Department of Violence Prevention, will continue the city's mission to prevent violent crimes in the new year.

The Department of Violence Prevention was created by the City Council to work directly with the victims and those who may likely be future victims or perpetrators of violent crimes. The department's goal is to bring forward community-led strategies and a public health approach to end the cycle of trauma for those involved with violent crimes.

"I am very pleased that the city has invested in developing a department of crime violence reduction and have met with Chief Cespedes on several occasions," Kirkpatrick said.

Cespedes started his career as a social worker in Oakland during the 1980s and 90s and then moved to Los Angeles in 2000. He has worked in violence prevention with the U.S. Agency for International Development to reduce crime in South America and North Africa.

"Oakland is not Honduras or El Salvador, it has its own unique personality and sets of characteristics that we have to address," Cespedes said.

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News is spreading that Fantasy Flight Interactive, the branch of Fantasy Flight Games in charge of the tabletop game company's digital games, will close in February after an unspecified number of employees were laid off.

This is a notable failure for Fantasy Flight Interactive, which opened its doors in 2017 with a mission to both adapt Fantasy Flight's physical games for digital platforms and develop its own original games based on the company's library of franchises.

But in a LinkedIn post published yesterday, studio head Tim Gerritsen (formerly of Human Head) wrote that "the decision has been made to close Fantasy Flight Interactive next month."

"I'm going to do my best to get my team placed in new positions. I have programmers, designers, artists, QA staff and a producer to get placed in new roles and will do my best to do so quickly," he added. "Additionally, I'm now open to new opportunities myself since I will also be out of a job."

Gamasutra has reached out to company representatives for further details and comment on the layoffs. If you or someone you know has been affected, you can email Gamasutra to share your story confidentially.

Update: A source close to the situation estimates that over 10 people have been let go from Fantasy Flight Games, and that the customer service department and tabletop RPG department are also expected to shutter as a result.
BOSTON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vesper, a leading provider of intelligent sensors, today announced that its ZeroPower Listening microphones were chosen to bring extended battery life and durability to the lifesaving fire safety devices from LifeDoor. Founded and funded by firefighters, LifeDoor has pioneered an entirely new class of home safety product that protects people and property in the event of a fire. The brands will demonstrate the technology at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), taking place in Las Vegas this week.

Triggered by the sound of a smoke alarm, LifeDoor's smart sensing technology automatically closes a home's interior doors in the event of a fire to prevent it from spreading. The device also lights up the room and sounds a secondary alarm to alert occupants. Vesper's microphones register the sound of the smoke detector, prompting the door closure. The door is then easily reopened if that's the safest way to exit the home.

"Vesper's ZeroPower Listening technology has enabled an entirely new class of smart home products that use audio event detection in battery powered devices," said Vesper CEO Matt Crowley. "Embedding Vesper's ZeroPower Listening microphones in an innovative device like LifeDoor's literally saves lives. We are proud to support the founders of LifeDoor in this important mission."

"80% of children sleep through a smoke alarm," said LifeDoor Co-Founder and Firefighter, Joel Sellinger. "LifeDoor automatically closes bedroom doors when triggered by the sound of a smoke alarm, protecting the family. Unfortunately, house fires are increasing in frequency and spread 600% faster today as compared to 40 years ago. Ten years of research by the Underwriters Laboratories Firefighters Safety Research Institute shows that fire is getting faster and that a closed door makes a 900-degree difference. We're committed to utilizing the most advanced and robust technology available to develop disruptive products that decrease fire danger in entirely new ways."

Vesper is the leader in piezoelectric MEMS technology and has developed the market's most reliable and intelligent sensors and MEMS microphones. Using the piezoelectric effect, Vesper microphones can use sound to activate devices from a deep sleep mode that uses virtually zero power.

Backed by Amazon Alexa Fund, Vesper's microphones solve a critical need for stable, reliable and long-lasting microphone arrays that operate in environmentally harsh surroundings. All Vesper microphones are natively immune to environmental contaminants such as dust, water, moisture, oil and particles.

About Vesper

Vesper is a privately held advanced sensor company based in Boston, Mass. With origins at the University of Michigan, Vesper's award-winning microphones are driving a new era of pervasive voice interfaces and acoustic event-detection products via a proprietary piezoelectric MEMS technology. For more information, visit vespermems.com, the Vesper Blog or follow on Twitter and YouTube.

About LifeDoor

LifeDoor is an innovative technology that protects people and property in the event of a fire.

Triggered by the sound of a smoke alarm, LifeDoor automatically closes the door it's mounted on, lights up the room and sounds an alarm. Founded and funded by firefighters, LifeDoor will help people everywhere, SLEEP SAFELY. For more information, visit lifedoor.io.

Press Contact:

Natasha Desai, Hollywood Agency

[email protected]

SOURCE Vesper

Related Links

https://vespermems.com


A new exhibition exploring the intersection of art and science is opening to the public Saturday, Feb. 1, in the newly renovated and enlarged Science Gallery at Greenwichs Bruce Museum.

Under the Skin highlights a dozen recent scientific discoveries through a combination of stunning imagery and real biological specimens, the museum said in a news release.

The exhibition, on view through Sunday, July 19, showcases images made possible by an array of technologies  CT scanning, infrared and UV imaging, scanning electron microscopy and more  that reveal the beauty of nature that often lies just below the surface. All of the images, from a section of a dinosaur bone photographed in cross-polarized light, to a CT scan of a hog-nosed snake engorged with prey, were captured in the last five years, thus representing the cutting edge of modern imaging.

A number of the images highlight new scientific discoveries that were undreamt of a decade ago. Specimens from the Bruce Museum Collection and on loan from other collections complement each image, reinforcing museums role as natural-history stewards.

Nature is full of beauty, at scales great and small, Daniel Ksepka, Curator of Science, said in the release. While each represents a research breakthrough, these striking and, in many cases, prize-winning images can be considered art in their own right.

Visitors will peer into the inner ear of a tiny frog, marvel at a chameleon whose bones glow in UV light right through its skin and learn how we can trace the growth rate of a 10-ton dinosaur from microscopic structures in its bones. Exploring the relationship between light and nature, visitors will discover that flying squirrels glow a fluorescent pink in UV light, pelican pouches burst into color when viewed with infrared imaging and fossil cells transmit a kaleidoscope of color under polarized light.

The dozen images highlighted in the exhibition have been specially printed on metal to provide more detail and depth. Its taking the images to the next level, giving them a polished, almost luscious look, Anne von Stuelpnagel, Director of Exhibitions, said. The photos themselves are from the researchers, and they deserve credit for taking photographs of such tiny or intricate things and at such high resolution. We wanted to do them justice.

As part of the exhibition, the museum will invite world-renowned scientists, whose work will be highlighted in the exhibition, to share their discoveries through a series of lectures at the Bruce. A scholarly research symposium will bring together faculty, postdocs, and graduate students from regional museums and universities. Updates about the Under the Skin research symposium and related programs will be posted at the museums website.

One day prior to the public opening, mMuseum members at the Patron level and above are invited to an Opening Celebration on Friday, Jan. 31, 7-8:30 p.m. An All Members Reception will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 5:30-7 p.m. To RSVP or to join, contact Membership Manager Laura Freeman at 203-413-6764 or lfreeman@brucemuseum.org.

The Bruce Museum said it is grateful for exhibition support from a Committee of Honor Co-Chaired by Sue Baker, Ingrid Delson, Lisette Henrey, Gale and Bob Lawrence, and Dr. Kim Nichols. Additional support for Bruce exhibitions is provided by the Charles M. and Deborah G. Royce Exhibition Fund and the Connecticut Office of the Arts.
A common journalistic practice in order to create sympathy for someone is to invite readers or viewers to share that person's grief. We watch or read about crying parents, spouses, children, and friends as they describe in heart-wrenching detail the wonders of the person who died and the deep emotional pain they're experiencing. What's weird is to see the AP applying that technique to the pain Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-Khamenei is experiencing now that President Trump literally blew apart his friendship with General Qassem Soleimani.

From the article's very first paragraph, we're invited to feel Khamenei's pain:

In a rare display of emotion from the typically reserved and measured supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cried openly Monday at the funeral of slain Gen. Qassem Soleimani, his most important military commander with whom he shared a deep bond. "Oh Allah, they are in need of your mercy, and you are exalted above punishing your servants," Khamenei said in prayer as he stood over a flag-draped casket with the remains of Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq on Friday. Khamenei's voice cracked under the weight of the moment during a funeral procession unlike any in Iran's recent history.

That poor, poor man. He lost his best friend and chief terrorist to violence, and now he's alone, all alone. The article acknowledges that this dear friend had a little blood on his hands (he was "overseeing Iran's proxy militias abroad, ranging from Hezbollah in Lebanon to armed factions in Iraq, Syria and Yemen"), but that's nothing. What matters was the bond that Khamenei and Soleimani had:

Their relationship was so close that Khamenei was photographed more than once embracing Soleimani in ways that are customary in Iran for fathers and their beloved sons. In one such photo from 2018, Khamenei, seated on an elevated platform, leans down and kisses Soleimani's forehead. In another image from 2017, Khamenei is seen kissing Soleimani's cheek during Ashoura, a religious day of mourning among Shiites. Unlike other military commanders in the Revolutionary Guard Corps., the 62-year-old general answered only to the 80-year-old Khamenei. Khamenei so revered him that he awarded the general Iran's highest military order in March. Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported that Soleimani is the only Iranian military official to receive the Order of Zulfaqar since the revolution. When pinning the medal on Soleimani, the Iranian leader said he hoped God would reward the general and help him live a blissful life that ends with martyrdom. "Of course, not any time soon," Khamenei said, adding that the "Islamic Republic needs him for years to come."

Lest you think Khamenei's deep love for his young employee was unrequited, it was a two-way street. Soleimani revered Khamenei to the point of a higher spiritual bond:

To Soleimani, Khamenei was a venerated spiritual figure whom he referred to as his "dear and honorable leader." In 2015, Soleimani was quoted saying: "I ask God to sacrifice my life for you." They were so close that Iranian media described the slain general as Khamenei's own Malik al-Ashtar, a reference to the most loyal companions of the first Shiite leader, Imam Ali.

Reading all this, it's difficult to tell if the article's author, Aya Batrawy, is trying to get people angry at President Trump for severing this relationship in such a heart-rending way or whether he's trying to get people to appreciate Trump even more than before for having killed a mass murderer and left his mentor curled up in unrelieved mental anguish.

Whether the article reflects the media's usual anti-Trump bias or not, it's really funny  and that's not just because of the passionate purple prose quoted above. Whether wittingly or unwittingly, Batrawy slipped in a little joke about the funeral obsequies:

And in death, Soleimani has received what no man before him has in modern Iran. His funeral processions have been spread over several days and cities, marking the first time Iran has ever honored a single man with such ceremonies.

Given that Soleimani was sent home in a cardboard box, rather like a disassembled jigsaw puzzle, one can only wonder whether each of the funeral processions that will be "spread over several days and cities" got its own special Soleimani pieces to revere.
Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.
Michael Marks, SVP of business development, wears an "AlwaysOn" safety alert device at SPACES in Philadelphia on Nov. 27. The team worked on "AlwaysOn," a safety device to be used by employees like hotel housekeepers. Read more

Nationwide, theres a push to make hotel, casino, and restaurant workers safer from on-the-job sexual harassment, thanks to expanding passage of legislation that requires companies to provide individual panic buttons to its workers.

One Philadelphia business  ROAR for Good  is part of that movement. Its cofounder, Yasmine Mustafa, knows firsthand the vulnerabilities faced by workers in the hospitality industry. She spent 14 years in low-end jobs, many as an undocumented worker. What she encountered instilled in her a passion to work for the underserved.

In 1990, Mustafa, then 8 years old, and her family were evacuated from Kuwait when Saddam Husseins troops invaded. One of her brothers had been born in the United States and was therefore a U.S. citizen, which allowed the family to immigrate here. It wasnt until Mustafa applied to college that she realized she was not a U.S. citizen. Without a Social Security number, she could only get jobs at places whose employees were paid under the table.

I experienced a lot of unsafe conditions at the restaurants where she worked, said Mustafa, 37, who is now an American citizen and Temple University alumna. Sexual harassment was at the top of the list.

When the pressures from the harassment became too much, Mustafa would hop from one restaurant to another. At one now-defunct area eatery, the manager demanded sexual favors from female workers in exchange for being given good shifts on the schedule. Workers were expected to kiss him, perform a sexual act, or have intercourse. When Mustafa refused, she found herself out of a job.

I got written off the schedule, she said.

Memories of those experiences stayed with her through college, where she studied information technology, and inspired her to cofound ROAR for Good, a tech company that has focused on the creation of wearable safety devices. Its first product was Athena, a piece of jewelry worn as a pendant or pin, that users could activate to sound an emergency alarm or text their location to others.

The product was discontinued at the end of 2019, and ROAR for Good is now focusing on AlwaysOn," a panic button that allows hospitality workers to summon help from management when they encounter trouble on the job. It sends a push notification that pinpoints the exact location of the user to an iPad-like mobile console kept either at the hotels front desk or in the security area. Loud beeps let staff know that an alert has been sounded, and management can quickly respond.

The call for such technology was born in 2016, when a Hands Off Pants On worker-safety campaign was launched by United Here Local 1  the Chicago branch of the labor union representing more than 300,000 workers in hotel, food service, laundry, warehouse, and casino gaming industries. The campaign helped advocates win passage of a panic button ordinance in Illinois.

As part of its campaign, the union surveyed nearly 500 women who worked in 13 metropolitan-area hotels, three casinos, and one convention center in the Chicago area. Fifty-eight percent of respondents had experienced some form of sexual harassment from guests, including being kissed, grabbed, groped, pressured for dates or sexual favors, or being cornered. Forty-nine percent of those who worked as housekeepers reported that a guest would answer the door naked, expose themselves, or flash them.

Of those who experienced sexual harassment or assault from a guest, only one-third reported the incident to a supervisor or manager. Those who didnt stated that they believed little would be done to address the inappropriate behavior.

In 2018, major U.S. hotel chains  including Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Wyndham  made a voluntary pledge via the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) to provide safety devices to employees by the end of 2020 and to enhance policies, trainings, and resources aimed at preventing and responding to sexual harassment and assault. AlwaysOn is one of the few options on the market. So far, six hotel companies have committed to provide the devices, according to the AHLA.

In June 2019, New Jersey became the first state to actually require the panic buttons. While there is no legislation in Pennsylvania requiring the devices, some unions have the requirement in their contracts, said Mustafa.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide, a time-share company, purchased AlwaysOn more than a year ago, said David Bareno, the companys assistant vice president of global safety and security. Currently, the device is in use in its Miami Beach and Galloway, N.J., locations, with more properties expected to soon follow suit. (So far, no employee at either location has had to use the device.)

AlwaysOn was chosen because it was more accurate and less expensive compared than other products on the market, he said.

Our CEO wanted to provide this protection. Anyone who has to go into guest rooms by themselves gets the device. They can easily push the button and get help," said Bareno. If a housekeeper encounters a guest having a medical problem, they are still instructed to call 911 to summon an ambulance, he added.

Companies using AlwaysOn are cautioned not to activate the system for nonemergency situations, like calling for extra linens. But it has been used to summon help for falls, injuries, and  in one case  when a worker felt faint after her blood-sugar level abruptly changed, said Mustafa.

The possibilities for its use, in other words, can "span beyond sexual harassment, Mustafa said.

As for the future, Mustafa is speaking with management at a handful of area hotels about implementing use of AlwaysOn at their properties. Shes also looking to partner with a local boutique hotel to use its property as a testing ground for new features. Also on the horizon are discussions with schools that would benefit from having panic buttons in classrooms or dormitories.

We have been looking at cracking the university market for a while, she said.
Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Lorenzo L. Dominguez, 38, of 603 Water Tower Road, Murrayville, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 1:43 p.m. Saturday on charges of driving while license is revoked or suspended, following too closely and operating an uninsured motor vehicle after the vehicle he was driving and one being driven by Brian L. Bergman, 24, of Jacksonville collided at 12:36 p.m. Saturday in the 1900 block of West Morton Avenue.

 April L. Little, 29, of 1003 W. Morton Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 10:21 p.m. Saturday on a charge of filing a false police report.

 Sarah R. Parker, 31, homeless, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 11:30 p.m. Saturday on a charge of obstructing justice and an out-of-county warrant accusing her of failing to appear in court.

 Brett A. Turner, 28, of 301 W. Beecher Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 1:56 p.m. Sunday on a retail theft charge.

 Austin D. Sims, 42, of 602 Jordan St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 8:39 p.m. Sunday on a charge of resisting a peace officer.

 Vanessa N. Rupe, 33, of P.O. Box 36, Woodson, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 2:02 a.m. Monday on a charge of criminal trespass to vehicle.

 Korbin A. Smith, 27, homeless, was arrested at 4:19 p.m. Monday on charges possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal trespass to land

ACCIDENTS

 Jonathan A. Warren, 39, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of failure to yield after the vehicle he was driving and a vehicle being driven by Kaye E. Glazer, 68, of South Jacksonville collided at 1:01 p.m. Sunday at Ivywood Drive and Locust Street.

 Tieson B. Wheatley, 20, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of failure to reduce speed after a vehicle he was driving with a passenger named Skylar J. Parish, 18, of Jacksonville and a vehicle driven by Allison D. Rouland, 24, of Jacksonville with a passenger that was a 17-year-old girl collided at 12:17 p.m. Monday on the 500 block of West Morton Avenue.



Brown County

Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Kimberly N. McGill, age unavailable, of Mount Sterling was cited on a charge of illegal transportation of alcohol after being stopped at 2:44 a.m. Friday on U.S. 24 at County Road 1425E.

A passenger in the vehicle, Shannon Coultas, age and hometown unavailable, was cited on charges of resisting/obstructing a peace officer and manufacture or delivery of cannabis. Coultas was also arrested on an unspecified Brown County warrant.



Pike County

Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Korrie A. Williams, 33, of South Holland was arrested at 1:48 p.m. Sunday on charges of driving while license is revoked or suspended and speeding and a Cook County warrant.

 Benjamin A. Booth, 31, of Pearl was arrested at 12:41 a.m. Saturday on a driving under the influence charge.

 Kevin T. Romez, 42, of Springfield was arrested at 6:14 p.m. Thursday on charges of delivery of cannabis and driving while license is revoked or suspended.

 Travis H. Allen, 28, of New Canton was arrested at 11:51 p.m. Thursday on charges of domestic battery, resisting arrest, unlawful restraint and endangering the life of a child.

 Sean A. Roberston, 24, of New Canton was arrested at 9:24 a.m. Thursday on a petition to revoke.

 Ashley R. Merrick, 34, of Barry was arrested at 8 a.m. Thursday on a battery charge.

 David W. Starner, 26, of Barry was arrested at 5:48 p.m. Jan. 1 on a charge of possession of adult-use cannabis in a motor vehicle.

 Natalie R. Williams, 24, of Pittsfield was arrested at 2:46 a.m. Dec. 29 on a driving under the influence charge.

 Brian K. Robbins, 50, of Barry was arrested at 1:25 a.m. Dec. 26 on a driving under the influence charge.

 Jamaal L. Clinton, 19, of Jacksonville was arrested at 7:24 a.m. Dec. 25 on charges of driving under the influence, improper lane use and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

 Jonathon C. Moore, 20, of Pittsfield was arrested at 1:10 a.m. Dec. 25 on a driving under the influence charge.

 Lawrence E. Nolan, 63, of New Canton was arrested at 9:07 p.m. Dec. 25 on an aggravated battery charge.

 Christopher D. Wood, 34, of Barry was arrested at 12:48 a.m. Dec. 24 on a petition to revoke.

Compiled by Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree, David C.L. Bauer and Marco Cartolano
A Redland City councillor has again been found guilty of misconduct by the state's local government watchdog, after sending "threatening" text messages to a woman who complained about his behaviour last year.

Division 9 councillor Paul Gleeson, who took a leave of absence from the council in November, was found by the Office of the Independent Assessor to have sent "an intimidating text message" to the woman in June last year.

Redland City Council Division 9 councillor Paul Gleeson.

Cr Gleeson told Brisbane Times he was still monitoring his division's needs and had returned to council for a special meeting to debate a development application on January 7.

The messages were sent while the woman's complaint against the councillor was still being assessed.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : The horrific December 16, 2012 Nirbhaya rape-murder case transformed much in India. From laws on rape to relief and rehabilitation measures for rape survivors and the very mindset of the people, everything went for a sea change.

But as the case reaches its inevitable end with the issuance of warrants for the hanging of the four convicts on January 22, the execution chamber of Tihar Jail will also see a major change.

For this, it is necessary to revisit the previous few decades, back to the 1970s, when towards the end of that tumultuous decade, the kidnapping and brutal murder of the teenage Chopra children (Geeta and her brother Sanjay) in August 1978 had shook the nation, and the then Janata party government of Prime Minister Morarji Desai.

The two convicts of that case, Kuljit Singh alias Ranga and Jasbir Singh alias Billa, were caught soon after their dastardly crime and were hanged to death in Tihar in 1982.

After them, the executions of Kartar Singh and Ujagar Singh, the convicts in India's purported contract killing -- the sensational Vidya Jain murder of 1973 (1983), Kashmiri militant Maqbool Bhat (1984), Indira Gandhi's assassin Satwant Singh and conspirator Kehar Singh (1989), and finally 2001 Parliament attack case conspirator Afzal Guru (2013) have been the eight people who have undergone capital punishment in Tihar's gallows court.

While three of the executions were double, the Nirbhaya convicts' execution will be the first time that Tihar Jail has been directed by a court to execute the death penalty on four people.

On Tuesday, Patiala House courts' Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the death warrants, directing the convicts to be hanged on January 22 at 7 a.m.

The four convicts are Pawan Gupta, Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur.

The 23-year-old woman was brutally gang-raped and tortured on December 16, 2012, which led to her death. Six accused were arrested and charged with sexual assault and murder. One of the accused was a minor and appeared before a juvenile justice court, while another accused allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail.

The four were convicted and sentenced on the basis of the testimony of the sole eyewitness, the victim's friend, who was badly injured in the incident, and the painstaking police probe that followed.
01/06/2020

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu





This is a notice of upcoming events, photo opportunities and story ideas at UMass Lowell. In case of inclement weather, call UMass Lowells weather hotline at 978-934-2121; if the university is closed, on-campus events are canceled. For more, visit www.uml.edu/pressroom





Sources of the week:

UMass Lowell faculty experts are available to discuss:

The U.S.-Iran crisis, including foreign policy, domestic and constitutional concerns;

Whos up, whos down in the race for president among Democrats, one month before the primaries begin.

Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.





Upcoming events:





Art and Design Majors Exhibit Work, Share Inspiration





When and where: Exhibit runs through Wednesday, Jan. 8. University Gallery, Mahoney Hall, South Campus, 870 Broadway St., Lowell





What: UMass Lowell students pursuing bachelor of fine arts degrees are displaying their senior thesis projects at a free exhibit for the community and campus. The show features a variety of media, including drawing, painting, sculpture and 3D interactive installations, by artists who hail from Framingham, Lowell and Methuen, along with Pelham, N.H. Members of the public who wish to view the exhibit should email UMass Lowell students pursuing bachelor of fine arts degrees are displaying their senior thesis projects at a free exhibit for the community and campus. The show features a variety of media, including drawing, painting, sculpture and 3D interactive installations, by artists who hail from Framingham, Lowell and Methuen, along with Pelham, N.H. Members of the public who wish to view the exhibit should email Deborah_Santoro@uml.edu





Innovation Hub Hosts Co-Working Day for Small Business Owners





When and where: Wednesday, Jan. 8, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. UMass Lowell Innovation Hub, Harbor Place, 2 Merrimack St., Haverhill





What: Entrepreneurs throughout the region interested in learning about the resources available at UMass Lowells Innovation Hub in Haverhill are invited to Community Co-Working Day, a free event during which participants can try out the centers fabrication lab, hold a meeting in a conference room and network with other small business owners. Members of the public who wish to attend should register at Entrepreneurs throughout the region interested in learning about the resources available at UMass Lowells Innovation Hub in Haverhill are invited to Community Co-Working Day, a free event during which participants can try out the centers fabrication lab, hold a meeting in a conference room and network with other small business owners. Members of the public who wish to attend should register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-coworking-day-tickets-87972509143 or contact Stephanie_Guyotte@uml.edu for more information.





Free Event Traces History of Famous Shipwreck





When and where: Wednesday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m. OLeary Library Mezzanine, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell





What: The history behind the 1816 sinking of the French frigate La Medusa, the famous painting it inspired and the discovery of the ships wreckage more than a century later will be recounted by Charles Mazel, the technical director of the expedition that found the vessels remains off the coast of Africa. The event will be presented by UMass Lowells Learning in Retirement Association (LIRA), which offers free enrichment classes and activities. Free parking will be available in the nearby Wilder Lot. Members of the public who would like more information should email The history behind the 1816 sinking of the French frigate La Medusa, the famous painting it inspired and the discovery of the ships wreckage more than a century later will be recounted by Charles Mazel, the technical director of the expedition that found the vessels remains off the coast of Africa. The event will be presented by UMass Lowells Learning in Retirement Association (LIRA), which offers free enrichment classes and activities. Free parking will be available in the nearby Wilder Lot. Members of the public who would like more information should email lira@uml.edu





Entrepreneurs, Venture Capitalists to Lead Forum on Funding





When and where: Tuesday, Feb. 4, 5:30 p.m. Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2), UMass Lowell Innovation Hub, Fourth Floor, 110 Canal St., Lowell. Note: This event is rescheduled from Wednesday, Jan. 8.




OTTAWACanada is moving some of the troops deployed to help improve security in Iraq out of that country to ensure their safety amid rising regional tensions following Washingtons targeted killing of a prominent Iranian general.

Canada joined other allies such as Germany, Romania and Croatia in promising to shift personnel as concerns mounted over the threat of regional violence.

Those fears were realized just hours after the plan was announced when Iran fired a barrage of missiles targeting U.S. and coalition forces at Iraqi military bases at at Al-Assad and Irbil.

It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran ... We are working on initial battle damage assessments, the Pentagon said in a statement.

Military sources told the Star that Canadian personnel were in the area of the Iranian attack on the base in Irbil.

Vance confirmed late Tuesday that all Canadians were safe.  I can assure you that all deployed CAF personnel are safe & accounted for following missile attacks in Iraq. We remain vigilant, he said on Twitter.

A contingent of Canadian soldiers had been based in the Irbil area on an advise and assist mission to train local security forces.

Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of the defence staff, announced the decision to move some troops out of Iraq Tuesday morning in a letter addressed to the families of those deployed overseas.

First and foremost, let me assure you that all necessary force protection measures that can be taken have been taken. The safety and security of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel is my priority, as it is the priority of my senior leadership, Vance said in the note, which was posted on social media.

Vance was at defence headquarters in downtown Ottawa Tuesday night as reports came in from Iraq. With him were senior military leaders and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan.

Canada has some 800 military personnel deployed in the region, including about 500 in Iraq assigned to two missions  Operation Impact, to advise and assist local forces, and a NATO training mission.

Activities on both missions have been paused as coalition nations assess the fallout from the Friday airstrike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

The situation in Iraq is complex and it is best to pause our work there in order to fully concentrate our attention and efforts toward the safety and security of our personnel while the situation develops, Vance said before Iran launched its attack on Tuesday.

Vance said some personnel will be temporarily moved to Kuwait, where Canada also has operations.

Simply put, we are doing this to ensure their safety and security, Vance said, adding that the move will disrupt schedule leaves and the rotation of people in and out of the region.

Department officials refused to say how many troops were being moved out of Iraq, citing operational security.

On Monday, NATO held an emergency meeting to discuss the situation and confirmed a decision to halt its own mission to train local security forces.

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary-general, said that NATO would be ready to restart its training mission when the security situation permits, a message echoed by Vance.

Naturally, the work we are doing on these missions, and the future of operations in Iraq, remain conditional on maintaining a sufficiently secure and productive operational environment, he said.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Jordans King Abdullah II about the situation in Iraq and the implications for the region.

The two leaders discussed the need to encourage all parties to take steps toward de-escalation. They emphasized the importance of continuing support for stability in Iraq and the ongoing fight against Daesh, according to a statement from Trudeaus office about his conversation with Merkel.

That followed discussions that Trudeau had Monday with Charles Michel, president of the European Council, and Stoltenberg.

Read more about:
Enzo Traverso, Trumps Savage Capitalism: The Nightmare Is Real, World Policy Journal, vol. 34, no. 1, spring 2017

In November 2016, Donald Trump was elected president of the United States, against a backdrop of rising far-right nationalist parties in Europe and a resurgence of street-level racism and white supremacy in the United States fueled by his campaign. Before and after his election, the combination of fascist dimensions of Trumps rhetoric and persona with their relationship to new white nationalist movements posed a plausible public question: Was Trump a fascist?

While some have argued yes, Enzo Traverso (1957) here answers no. Trump, he notes, is a businessman, not a mass leader; a television celebrity, not political ideologue. His essay provides a nuanced analysis of pitfalls of arguing for fascism through historical analogy, while positing a new term for thinking through the potential lineaments of a new fascist movement fueled by Trump: post-fascism.

Traversos numerous scholarly monographs on Europes history of anti- Semitism are vital companions to this piece, as is his 2017 book Left-Wing Melancholia: Marxism, History, and Memory.

Smoke by werner22brigitte (Pixabay License / Pixabay)

During the US presidential campaign, most opinion polls and news outlets predicted a Hillary Clinton victory. At the time, it seemed naturalinescapable, eventhat Clinton, a candidate supported by Wall Street, political elites, and the media, would defeat Donald Trump, a reality TV star. When the final results came in, the triumph of an indecent, semi-fascist monster over a former secretary of state produced a vast and prolonged trauma. Prepared for a Democratic victory, many now feel thrown into a counterfactual story, like the postwar America dominated by Nazi Germany and imperial Japan in the television series The Man in the High Castle. The verdict was written in advance, and, as a result, the presidency of Donald J. Trump seems like a transgression of the laws of history. If one thinks that things should have happened differently, it is difficult to accept that this nightmare is real.

Coming from Italy, a country that experienced twenty years of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconia billionaire TV tycoon, our TrumpI tend to be more blase, though I recognize that the consequences of Trumps victory are incomparably bigger. But what the media failed to foresee was not a Trump landslidewhich did not take placebut the decline of the Democratic vote. Trump received fewer votes than Clinton and fewer votes than Mitt Romney in 2012; it is the Democratic candidates founderingClinton lost many millions of votes that Barack Obama won in 2008 as well as several traditionally Democratic statesthat explains his victory. We are not facing the transformation of the United States into a fascist community embodied by a charismatic leader; what occurred is the rejection of the political establishment through mass abstention and a protest vote captured by a populist demagogue in a few key states. In other words, Trump signifies an upheaval at the political level, not a sudden, dramatic change in American society (as the Nazi Party did in Germany, shifting from 2.6 percent to 37.27 percent of the popular vote between the elections of 1928 and 1932).

Sketching Trumpisms resemblance to fascism involves speculation about what the latter would look like in the twenty-first century. Historical parallels allow us to draw analogies rather than homologies; we cannot simply impose the profile of Trump upon a fascist paradigm that appeared in the years between the two world wars. Trump is as far from classical fascism as Occupy Wall Street, Los Indignados, and Nuit Debout are from twentieth-century communism. Nevertheless, Trumpism and the Occupy movement represent a social, political, and even class polarity as deep as the conflict between fascism and communism nearly a century ago. This comparison seems legitimate, even if the modern-day subjects of this opposition reject the historical filiation. Unlike Senator Bernie Sanders, who professes a form of democratic socialism, Trump does not inscribe himself into a fascist tradition. His fascist inclinations can only be deduced from his acts and declarations, not from a political culture he would consciously defend.

During the electoral campaign, many observers highlighted Trumps fascist features in the pages of reputable newspapers. Last May, Robert Kagana neoconservative political thinker and one of the ideologues of George W. Bushs invasion of Iraqwrote an article in the Washington Post titled This Is How Fascism Comes to America. In the New York Times, Ross Douthat bluntly asked: Is Donald Trump a Fascist? and listed traits that bring him close to the fascist leaders of the 1930s: a charismatic conception of politics, authoritarianism, hatred for pluralism, radical nationalism, racism, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, Islamophobia, and a populist style that considers citizens only as a crowd to mesmerize, manipulate, and mislead.

In many ways, Trump does behave like a twenty-first-century fascist. Trump presents himself as a man of action, not a thinker; he despises intellectuals and does not accept criticism; his misogyny is outrageous; he exhibits his virility with vulgarity and aggression; and he uses racism and xenophobia as propaganda weapons. He wants to expel Muslims and Latino immigrants, depicting them as terrorists and criminals; he defends the police when they kill African Americans, and, by expressing doubts about Obamas birth in the United States, he suggests that African Americans cannot be true Americans. He pretends to defend the popular classes that have been deeply affected by the economic crises of 2008 and the deindustrialization of the countrynot by denouncing the main culprit, financial capitalism, but by offering them a scapegoat. His campaign reproduced features of old anti-Semitism, which defined a mythical, ethnically homogeneous national community against its enemies: the Jews. Trump took this model and enlarged the spectrum to include African Americans, Latinos, Muslims, and nonwhite immigrants.

The incredible split between urban and rural America reveals the persistence of a connection between economic crisis and xenophobia. It seems to me that, in Trumps rhetoric, his condemnations of the establishment reproduce the anti-Semitic cliche of a virtuous agrarian community rooted in land and tradition, opposed to an anonymous, corrupted, intellectual, and cosmopolitan metropolis. It is not that he dislikes Jewish politicians or representatives of the economic elite today, his Islamophobia is certainly stronger than his prejudice against the Jewsbut rather [that] he portrays the cities as realms of an abstract and ungraspable power generated by media, finance, and culture, which anti-Semitism codified during the past century. Of course, this portrayal does not acknowledge Trumps roots in New York, a city that epitomizes the urban landscape he renounces, nor does it hinder him from having excellent relations with Wall Streethis administration is a gathering of billionaires. The fascists and the Nazis acted similarly in the 1930s, despite vilifying the parasitic Jewish elite.

Trump plays the strong, captivating leader who alone is able to save the country through his exceptional, almost demiurgic, faculties. In the purest tradition of charismatic, authoritarian politics, he pretends both to represent a national community and to transcend it as its savior and redeemer. His speeches and meetings recall fascist aesthetics: one could not view the images of his aircraft landing at a rally, surrounded by a cheering crowd, without remembering the opening sequence of Leni Riefenstahls Triumph of the Will, with Hitler flying over Nuremberg to join his waiting disciples at the Nazi congress. Temperamentally Trump is a decisionista leader who decides and acts without any parliamentary constraints and ignores procedural rulesthough he has certainly never heard the name of Carl Schmitt, the theoretician of decisionism. We can also suppose that many people gathering at his campaign rallies probably exhibit the marks of what Erich Fromm and Theodor W. Adorno called the authoritarian personalitythe proclivity to submit themselves to an arbitrary, tyrannical rulebut fascism is reducible neither to the character of a political leader nor to the psychological predispositions of his followers.

The fact is, there is no fascist organization behind Trump. He does not lead a mass movement; he is a TV star. From this point of view, he is much more reminiscent of Berlusconi than Mussolini. Unlike Mussolini, he does not come from the left, and unlike Hitler, he is not a lumpen, a marginal figure who discovered politics in a society devastated by war. But like Berlusconi, he is a billionaire (or at least claims to be) whose political activities will permanently collide with his private business. Thus, he would never think to lead a march of black and brown shirts on Washington, simply because he couldnt; there are no sizable organized groups behind him. He was able to channel the dissatisfaction and anger of ordinary people against Washington and Wall Street, but his only tools to oppose the establishment are his supposedly unparalleled faculties. The Republican Party he now leads is precisely the opposite of a radical, subversive movement.

Nobody knows what Trumps full program will be, though weve all heard his promises to deport Muslims and Latinos and build a wall at the Mexican border. He announced several authoritarian measures against Muslims, refugees, Mexican immigrants, abortion rightsthat put into question both democracy and the state of law. His cabinet choices for the new administrationnotably the extreme-right nationalist Steve Bannon as chief strategistclearly confirm this trend. Economically, though, he merges protectionism and neoliberalism: on the one hand, he wishes to annul the free trade agreement with Mexico; on the other, he wants to deregulate finance and privatize social services, which means abolishing the modest achievements of Obamas health care policies. From this point of view, Trump is much more open to neoliberal policies than the European radical right opposed to the euro and supportive of socialized health care, and far away from classical fascist corporatism (which in many cases established forms of national security). In France, Italy, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and even Germany, the far-right movements claim a kind of xenophobic welfare state. Trump defends a form of authoritarian neoliberalism in domestic policy. Like a populist demagogue, he sets up ordinary people against a so-called establishment, but he does not propose any social policy (even a xenophobic or racist one) to defend them.

Classical fascisms worshipped the state, defended imperialism, and promoted military expansionism. Their foreign policies were oriented toward war and the conquest of the so-called vital space (spazio vitale, Lebensraum). Trump, by contrast, seems more oriented toward isolationism insofar as he criticizes the war in Iraq and supports an alliance with Vladimir Putins Russia. In the field of foreign policy, his vision does not transcend his own business interests. Instead of fascism, which strongly affirmed the idea of a national or racial community (stirpe, Volk), Trump preaches individualism. All in all, he embodies a xenophobic and reactionary vision of Americanism: a social Darwinist self-made man, the avenger bringing arms, the resentment of a white population that cannot accept ever becoming a minority in a country of immigrants. He won the votes of only a quarter of eligible American voters, and his success gives a voice to the fear and frustrations of a minority, like WASP nationalism did a century ago, when its targets were the Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe.

Fascism was a product of the Great War and the collapse of the nineteenth-century European order. Its radical nationalism came out of this global continental crisis, and it adopted a form of militarized politics inherited from the trenches and sharpened in a violent confrontation with Bolshevism. In this cataclysmic content, fascism proposed, in spite of an ideological eclecticism, an alternative to the decaying liberal order. In short, it offered a new project of society and civilization, causing many scholars to speak of a fascist revolution or a third way opposed to both liberalism and communism. Trump belongs to a different time, and proposes no new model of society or civilization. He can only offer slogans: Make America Great Again or America First. He does not wish to change the American social and economic model, if only because he has enormous private interests to defend in it.

Trump emerges in an age of financial capitalism, competitive individualism, and social precariousness. He does not organize and mobilize the masses; he attracts an audience in an atomized society of consumers. He does not wear a uniform, like Hitler and Mussolini, but instead exhibits his luxurious lifestyle like a stereotype of a Hollywood star. More than a new political project, he represents a neoliberal anthropological model: market, competition, and private interests adopted as a conduct of life. While the United States has never had a president as reactionary and right wing as Trump, fascist ideas are also less widespread in America today than they were seventy or one hundred years ago, during McCarthyism or the Red Scare. The Bolshevik threat no longer exists, and the specter of terrorism isnt sufficiently frightening for Americans to readily give up their freedoms in exchange for the promises of security.

Finally, Trumps victory has to be inscribed within an international context, between the European refugee crisis, Brexit, and the next French presidential elections. It belongs to a wave of right-wing, anti-globalization movements. Riding a tide that could upend the transatlantic order, Trump is a danger, and we should prepare for a period of social and political conflict.

Nevertheless, I am not convinced that interpreting him through the old category of fascism can help us to understand the novelty of the Trump era. We tend to depict new political phenomena and objects through the lens of preexisting concepts, but Trumps rise is not a sudden return to barbarism, nor is it a meteor crashing down onto a peaceful country. Rather he is the product of the transformations of capitalism in recent decades. With his nationalist, populist, racist, and authoritarian tendencies, he personifies a form of savage capitalisma capitalism without a human face. It is not a resurgence of fascism, but something new and not yet realized. For now, we might call it post-fascism. Since Trump does not respect the rule of law, traditional politics risks are becoming obsolete or, at the very least, largely inadequate. Politics, therefore, is returning to the streets.
Press release

Brussels, January 7, 2020

Orange Belgium's Board of Directors has validated the nomination of Christophe Dujardin as Chief Consumer Officer, starting February 1st, 2020.

Christophe Dujardin, age 48, has over 18 years of experience in telecom sales, customer relations, transformation and finance. Christophe is a recognized leader in the industry, with a successful track record in the Belgian market. He was until September 2019 responsible for Consumer Sales at the Consumer Business Unit of Proximus.

Christophe Dujardin succeeds Cristina Zanchi, who decided to seek for new opportunities after 9 years of passionate contribution within Mobistar/Orange Belgium.

Michael Trabbia, CEO of Orange Belgium, reacts: "I am thrilled to welcome Christophe in Orange Belgium's management team. Thanks to his extensive experience and his leadership capabilities, he will be of great value for the further development of our activities on the residential market.I would also like to thank Cristina Zanchi for her strong commitment and impact on our results for the past 9 years."

Regarding his nomination, Christophe Dujardin declares: "I look forward to joining Orange Belgium's team and I would like to thank the CEO and the Board for their confidence. I am delighted to further build on Orange's bold challenger position on the Belgian market."

About Orange Belgium

Orange Belgium is one of the leading telecommunication operators on the Belgian market, with over 4 million customers, and in Luxembourg through its subsidiary Orange Communications Luxembourg.

As a convergent actor, we provide mobile telecommunication services, internet and TV to private clients, as well as innovative mobile and fixed line services to businesses. Our high-performance mobile network supports 2G, 3G, 4G and 4G+ technology and is the subject of ongoing investments.

Orange Belgium is a subsidiary of the Orange Group, one of the leading European and African operators for mobile telephony and internet access, as well as one of the world leaders for telecommunication services to enterprises.

Orange Belgium is listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange (OBEL).

More information on: corporate.orange.be, www.orange.beor follow us on Twitter : @pressOrangeBe.

Press contact

Annelore Marynissen - annelore.marynissen@orange.com - +32 (0) 479 01 60 58

Younes Al Bouchouari - younes.albouchouari@orange.com - +32 (0) 477 69 87 73

press@orange.be

Contact investors

ir@orange.be

Attachment
Trump Threat to Destroy Iranian Cultural Sites Condemned Internationally

By Steve Herman January 06, 2020

Threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to destroy Iranian cultural sites are generating widespread international condemnation and accusations it would be a war crime.

It is also seen as a reversal of an American code of conduct dating back to the Civil War administration of Abraham Lincoln.

"The history of the American military of protecting cultural sites when possible, goes back over 150 years. The military and the United States, more broadly, is rightly proud of that," according to Depaul University Law Professor Patty Gerstenblith, director of the school's Center for Art, Museum and Cultural Heritage Law.

"Both at the U.S. national level and internationally, the thought of using an attack on cultural heritage as a form of retaliation and reprisal  which is what this would be  is really abhorrent," Gerstenblith, a former chair of the President's Cultural Property Advisory Committee in the Obama administration, told VOA.

Some of the criticism of Trump's threats is coming from among America's closest allies.

"We've been very clear that cultural sites are protected under international law and we would expect that to be respected," said British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab.

Speaking to reporters Sunday evening on Air Force One, Trump doubled down on an earlier tweeted threat to attack sites of cultural importance if Tehran retaliates for last week's lethal strike by a U.S. military drone on Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who was blamed for numerous terrorist attacks internationally.

"They're allowed to kill our people," said the president during the flight to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland from Florida. "They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people and we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way."

Opposition to threat

A former director of national intelligence, James Clapper, said he believes such attacks by the United States would violate international law.

"We would incur the wrath of the international community if we did so and potentially put such targets in the United States at risk from attack by sleeper cells," Clapper told VOA. "I'm sure his list of targets is news to the Pentagon, whom I'm sure has done no serious planning for such targets."

Before becoming DNI under former President Barack Obama, Clapper served as under-secretary of defense for intelligence in two different administrations.

Clapper said attacking cultural targets "would only serve to heighten the emotions of the Iranians, and, ironically, galvanize them to support the regime  the exact antithesis of what we've allegedly been pursuing with our 'maximum pressure' campaign, which has shown itself to be an abject failure."

A former senior director of the White House situation room agreed.

"This can only increase the threat to Americans. When the U.S. President makes it open season on cultural sites, he offers false justification to adversaries to do the same," Larry Pfeiffer, also a former chief of staff to the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, told VOA.

"These threats sound like something that would be issued by an autocratic regime like North Korea," added Pfeiffer, director of the Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy and International Security at George Mason University. "This is not how America should behave and likely would violate international conventions and norms. This is what the Taliban did to universal condemnation. And this targeting makes it difficult for our western allies to support U.S. goals."

The Taliban, while in power in Afghanistan in 2001, dynamited giant Buddha statues that dated back to the 6th century.

"Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo said yesterday that we will be within the law, and I think that Iran has many military, strategic military sites, that you may cite are also cultural sites," Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, told White House reporters on Monday.

Asked if she was accusing the Iranians of camouflaging military equipment within cultural sites, Conway replied: "No, I wouldn't say that," before adding, "I mean, maybe. Who knows?"

'War crime'

The Hague Convention recognizes situations where an attack on cultural property may be lawful, such as when the site has been turned into a military objective and an attack would be required by "imperative military necessity," according to international law experts.

The law, however, prohibits the destruction of cultural property as a means of intimidating people under occupation or as a reprisal, as is implied by Trump's statements, according to scholars.

Iran foreign minister, Javad Zarif, tweeted on Sunday "targeting cultural sites is a WAR CRIME."

During a Monday meeting between the director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Audrey Azoulay, and Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Jalali, the U.N. agency head noted both the United States and Iran had ratified two legal instruments protecting world cultural sites in armed conflict.

Azoulay also pointed out that U.N. members in 2017 unanimously approved a resolution condemning acts of destruction of cultural heritage.

Trump's administration withdrew the United States from UNESCO in 2018.

An al-Qaida-linked extremist was convicted of war crimes in 2016 by the International Criminal Court for destroying historic and religious artifacts in Mali.

The United States, however, does not recognize the jurisdiction of the court based in The Hague.

WWII targets

In the closing days of the Second World War, the U.S. military placed Japan's former capital of Kyoto at the top of its list to be the target for the first atomic bombing.

Secretary of War Henry Stimson persuaded President Harry Truman to spare the city dotted with thousands of sites of religious and cultural importance.

Stimson, in his diary, recalled telling Truman in July of 1945 he "did not want to have the United States get the reputation of outdoing [Nazi party leader Adolf] Hitler in atrocities."

The Allies, months earlier, conducted a heavy bombardment of Dresden, a German cultural landmark. Military officers defended the raids, noting the city's major rail hub, communications centers and 100-plus factories in support of the Axis war effort.

A special U.S. Army unit during the war in Europe sought to redirect Allied bombing raids away from German cathedrals and recovered thousands of valuable items of art looted by the Nazis.

Their mission was dramatized in a 2014 movie "The Monuments Men," starring George Clooney.

Gerstenblith, author of "Art, Cultural Heritage, and the Law," said she hopes Trump will take inspiration from the tradition of "The Monuments Men" and that his threats to destroy artifacts of history will turn out to be "just bluster."

Asked on Monday by a reporter at the Pentagon whether the United States would strike cultural sites in Iran, Defense Secretary Mark Esper replied, "We will follow the laws of armed conflict."

Jeff Seldin, Patsy Widakuswara and Carla Babb contributed to this report.

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Grandparent visits over the festive season helped push up the spread of flu, as older people caught the infection from children who are super spreaders.

As families socialised in homes over Christmas, the risk of the flu virus being picked up  particularly by vulnerable grandparents  increased.

The Irish Independent has learned the National Immunisation Advisory Committee is now considering whether the vaccine should be made available for all children, for their own protection and to help ease the spread of flu to vulnerable groups like older people.

Prof Shaun OKeeffe, a geriatrician in Merlin Park Hospital Galway, said: People together in confined spaces are more likely to pick it up from each other.

It comes as hospitals saw a record 760 patients waiting on trolleys yesterday.

Nearly five times more patients have been hospitalised with flu so far this winter, compared to the same weeks during last year's season.

A spokeswoman for the Royal College of Physicians' advisory committee on vaccinations confirmed it will examine if all children should be offered the flu vaccine.

"The committee will look at the impact of influenza on children, the potential benefits of the vaccine, as well as the safety of the vaccine.

"It would also look at the impact of the influenza vaccine on children in other jurisdictions where it has been introduced," she said.

Read More

"The expansion of the flu vaccination would have significant cost implications, which would have to be evaluated."

Dr Cillian de Gascun, director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory in UCD, said: "Once infected, children shed more virus for longer periods of time than adults."

The combination of plenty of virus and "plenty of human contact over time" constitutes an ideal setting for flu transmission, he explained.

Prof Sam McConkey, an expert in infectious diseases at the Royal College of Surgeons, agreed the authorities should examine if there is benefit in offering the flu vaccine routinely to all children.

This is the practice in the UK to protect children and also vulnerable people, including older people and those with underlying illnesses.

Asked if these grandparents' visits should be reduced, he said: "You need to balance the infection risks against the social benefit of visits for young and old."

If a child has symptoms it is worth keeping a distance until they have recovered and good hand hygiene habits should be observed, he added.

People who have the flu can self-treat at home, but "if they are very sick and need oxygen they should go to hospital", he added. "If breathing fast and distressed breathing need to be checked by a doctor or a nurse."

The worst hit hospital yesterday was University Hospital Limerick where 92 patients were on trolleys.

A spokesman said: "There are 28 inpatients with flu in the hospital and demand is high for beds for patients with specific infection prevention and control requirements.

"A ward at St John's Hospital has been identified to cohort flu patients from University Hospital Limerick."

Read More

Liam Woods, of the HSE, said another 190 hospital beds will be opened in the first three months of the year.

Health Minister Simon Harris said the flu outbreak may have peaked, but he will not know for sure until later in the week. Mr Harris said "everything that can be done is being done" to reduce the number of people on trolleys.

He said 99 of the new hospital beds will be available before the end of the month.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government will support the HSE in taking any emergency measures necessary and he blamed the "severe flu season" for the spike in the number of patients on trolleys.

"While it was predicted, predicting a severe flu season is a bit like predicting a storm. It doesn't stop it happening. It still happens and we have to try manage it and prepare for it as best we can," he said.

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File photo: American and Turkish leaders (photo source: Xinhua News Agency)

TASS reported that the US Department of Defense (DoD) has signed contracts with multiple Turkish companies to update the infrastructure and complete construction projects at facilities of the Americas Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, where the US presently stores approximately 50 B61 nuclear bombs. Why did the US take this step while the two countries have seen escalating frictions recently?

Incirlik Air Base upgraded as planned

The Turkey-US alliance had a rift due to the formers procurement of Russias S-400 system, and the latter has suspended the delivery of F-35 warplanes to Turkey unless the country drops its deal with the Russians.

Turkey, on the other hand, insisted on completing the deployment of the S-400 air defense missile system, and said it might close down Americas Incirlik Air Base and NATOs Kurecik radar station based on Turkish territory in response to possible sanctions.

However, just when tension was piling up between Istanbul and Washington, the Pentagon announced on its website confirming that the US DoD had signed contracts worth USD95 million in total with eight Turkish construction companies on the facilities and construction of its Incirlik Air Base, which is scheduled to be completed by December 2024.

The long contract term indicates the air base expansion is a long-term project, which implies Washington doesnt believe Istanbul will act on its threat to close down the base and plans to station in the country for a long time to come.

Hard exit from Middle East

Why did the US decide to fortify its air base in Turkey at such a moment? Li Shaoxian, Director of Arabian Nations Research Institute of Ningxia University, pointed out that the Middle East is a strategic region that the US will never give up, and it still has to rely on Turkey regarding the South Caucasus and Syria issues.

Its main consideration is how to maintain the control over Middle East with the least possible input, and a powerful proxy and more consolidated military base in the region are necessary to achieve that goal.

Moreover, the Incirlik Air Base and Kurecik radar station located in the east and west of Turkey are important bases for the US and NATO to keep an eye on the Middle East.

American media reported that the Incirlik Air Base participated in the military operations against the extremist organization ISIS in Syria and Iraq and is equipped with about 50 nuclear weapons.

Kurecik radar station, on the other hand, is fitted with anti-missile early warning radar system and is closely connected with NATOs missile defense system.

US-Turkey alliance remains intact

According to Li Shaoxian, Turkeys position as an ally is elevated in the US-lead western bloc, without which there would be a rift in NATO's eastern front.

Bloomberg News recently published an article, saying that Turkey, as a stronghold in the Middle East and the second largest military power in NATO, has no intention to go counter to NATO. Its escalated tension with the US is only about the purchase of S-400 air defense missile system.

That Turkey considers itself a western ally hasnt changed. It wont leave the western bloc or NATO regardless of its tension with the EU, US or NATO, said Li Shaoxian.

Turkeys Daily Sabah said in an article about US-Turkey relations in 2020 that pro-Turkey and against-Turkey forces in the US are neck and neck, which decides the complexity of bilateral ties, but the relationship between Ankara and Washington will remain generally stable in 2020.

There is a strategic foundation for US-Turkey alliance, which wont change. Like in NATO, although the two sides have intense confrontation from time to time, the alliance wont be affected in general, said Li.

Disclaimer: This article is originally published on haiwainet.cn, which is the website of Overseas Edition of the People's Daily. The article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
Napa resident Maxine Maas has two drawers full of 29 aprons  one for each year she has volunteered for Auction Napa Valley.

She has been a volunteer for the annual Napa Valley Vintners-sponsored wine auction for many years, starting the year after she moved to Napa in 1986, although along the way, Maas has missed three years. This year, shell receive her 30th apron.

Maas is one of some 500 people who volunteer for Auction Napa Valley, but she also volunteers each Tuesday at the St. Helena office of the Napa Valley Vintners. On a recent Tuesday in December, she was in the office, rolling posters and doing name tags, after she had brought Christmas ornaments for each person on the NVV staff.

Why the ornaments? Its an annual kind of thing, she said. Its a thank you, because theyre like family to me. I was here when they only had five people (in the office) and five volunteers.

When asked what Maas means to the trade organization, Linda Reiff, NVV executive director, said, She is the most important part of the NVV family. Shes been here longer than me. She comes every Tuesday to help us and shes at every major endeavor. We couldnt do what we do without her. Shes incredible.

Reiff said all of the ladies at the NVV agree when we grow up, we all want to be Miss Maxine.

When asked, Why do you volunteer? Maas had a simple answer: Its fun. Yeah, it really is. I miss work, actually, which is part of it.

Auction Napa Valley is held annually the first weekend of June and brings people from all over the world to Meadowood Napa Valley. Proceeds are used to fund childrens education and health nonprofits in the Napa Valley. It started in 1984.

Maas remembers those early auctions, when Margrit Mondavi and Veronica diRosa and others would show off and sell their art in a meadow, along with selling Napa Valley wines. For a number of years, before cellphones and copiers, Maas said she was where they served the volunteer meals and ran errands throughout the Meadowood property, carrying hand-written notes and messages back and forth.

More recently, she has been at Suite 16, which is the Napa Valley Vintners office during the auction. What does she do there? I sort of hang out, I man the telephones and make sure people are authorized to go in, Maas said. She is one of several door guards, who also hands out Cokes or water or whatever to the emergency personnel manning their ambulances  which, hopefully nobody will need.

29 aprons, 29 tablecloths

Besides owning 29 aprons, Maas also has 30 ANV tablecloths and you can bet theres a story behind them.

Years ago, ANV ended with a big formal party. People would come dressed for the occasion, she said, and one year there was a group of Texans sitting at one table who started a bean fight.

I dont know what started it, but some guy was picking up the beans and using a rubber band to shoot other people, she said.

Its quite possible that chili was part of the menu, and there was an awful mess after the bean fight ended.

At that point, the NVV was not renting tablecloths; instead, they were part of what was sold on Sunday, along with whatever was left over from the store, along with linens, art pieces, aprons and T-shirts and flower arrangements. Maas said the bean-soaked tablecloths were beyond washing. NVV employee Stacy Dolan put them on a porch  because they couldnt be in the NVV office  and told Maas, If you want them, why dont you take them?

Maas took them home, soaked them and ended up with 30 tablecloths, which she offered back to the Vintners, but they wouldnt take them.

Believe it or not, I use them at (the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art), where I volunteer every Thursday, she said.

Working at age 13

Miss Maxine was born in 1925 in San Diego and after her father passed away, she went to work at age 13, which she says is not unusual to help support her mother and two brothers. Talk to any other 95-year-old person and youd get the same answer, Maas said.

At 13, Maas said she had several really interesting jobs, adding that she was going to be this great and wonderful actress, so I took whatever job would promote my career. Her favorite job, one of the first ones, was being a parade girl at San Franciscos Palace Theater.

You wore a full body stocking and a sandwich board and you walked out between acts. Applaud was on one side, and then youd turn around, wiggle your rear end. The other side of the sandwich board would tell you what the next act was. That was my big job and it included a pair of sequined colored silver pumps.

She was 14 and the job paid well. She earned $7 a night, plus tips  whatever the crowd threw at you  three nights a week, Friday through Sunday, because she was still in school. You could make more money in a week than a man did in a month. It turned out really very well.

Maas said when the plumber was paid and the family was up to date on its bills, her mother would come down to the theater and ask the owner, Do you know how old that girl is? Maas added her mother embarrassed her terribly, and then she quit. The owner sent Maas home with her mother. I had several jobs like that, she said.

At one point, Maas ended up in musical comedies, both in San Francisco and went on a road trip to New York, where she stayed for 18 months, performing in several Broadway musicals during World War II. Those included Bloomer Girl, Up in Central Park, and Marriage Is For Single People, with Cesar Romero, which Maas said was banned in Boston and closed rather quickly in upstate New York.

It was funny, but it was ahead of its time, she said. Her last performance was in 1953.

Marriage and a career

Then marriage happened  she was a Republican and her husband a staunch Democrat  and Maas said she wanted to go to a dinner for President Dwight Eisenhower that was held in San Francisco. She was volunteering at a childrens center in Contra Costa County and her husband told her: If you got paid for all the time you spend with those children, you could take me to Eisenhowers dinner. Today, Maas said simply, Needless to say, we didnt go.

But from volunteering came another job that became a full-time career for Maas. After graduating from UC Berkeley, she worked at a juvenile hall in Contra Costa County, ending up as superintendent, in charge of 96 employees and up to 103 kids. She said she obviously enjoyed it, because she spent 41 years there before she retired.

You may reach David Stoneberg at 967-6800 or editor@sthelenastar.com

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US President Donald Trump (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron (R) meets ahead of a working lunch, at the US ambassador's residence, on the sidelines of the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) summit, in Brussels, on May 25, 2017.

France and the United States have given themselves 15 days to settle a dispute over the taxation of digital companies, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Tuesday.

Both countries have been at odds over a French decision to impose a 3% tax on sales generated by tech firms in the European country. Paris is of the opinion that tech giants pay too little or no corporate tax where they do not have a large physical presence. However, the United States has argued that the digital tax unfairly discriminates against U.S. firms, such as Google and Facebook, and has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 100% on French imports.

Le Maire spoke with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Monday over the phone, with the French minister telling reporters Tuesday they had agreed "to try to find a compromise about digital taxation within the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development)."

"We have given ourselves exactly 15 days," he said.

The French finance chief is due to meet Mnuchin at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, at the end of the 15-day deadline.

During this period, France should not be subject to tariffs, Le Maire also said Tuesday. U.S. tariffs could target $2.4 billion of French products, including key exporting goods such as cheese, wine and luxury handbags.

"I think a full agreement is unlikely in the next couple of weeks, even though the OECD has been working on the issue for several months," Dexter Thillien, a senior industry analyst at Fitch Solutions, told CNBC Tuesday via email.

"However, it's possible that an overall framework can be agreed and announced at Davos, with the details being finalized over the coming weeks and months," he added.
Harvey Weinstein uses a walker as he arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court, on January 7, 2020 on the second day of his criminal trial on charges of rape and sexual assault in New York City.

Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was threatened Tuesday with being jailed for contempt of court by a judge who spotted him using a cellphone in the courtroom during the first day of jury selection in his New York rape case.

"Mr. Weinstein, I cannot implore you more to not answer the following question  that means don't say anything," Judge James Burke told Weinstein, according to The New York Post.

"Is this really the way you want to end up in jail for the rest of your life by texting and violating a court order?" Burke asked before the jury selection process began.

Tweet

Burke has previously warned Weinstein against using his cellphone in Manhattan Criminal Court. The judge has said that all electronic devices are not allowed and must be turned off in the room.

Weinstein actually surrendered two other cellphones to security when he entered the courtroom, BuzzFeed News reported.

But "court staff informed the judge that Weinstein had surrendered two phones and that he had pulled out two more  one of which he was using when Judge Burke entered the room," BuzzFeed reported.

Weinstein's spokesman, Juda Engelmayer, emailed CNBC a statement Tuesday afternoon:

"Mr. Weinstein never had any intention of upsetting the court. The use of his phone prior to the start of the proceeding, before the judge walked in, and from the gallery, was due to the misunderstand[ing] of the Judge's requirement by Mr. Weinstein's team. This whole scene could have been avoided had the bailiff, who saw his attorneys handing Mr. Weinstein his phones and reported it to the judge prior to his walking in, would have simply advised him then not to use it."

Also Tuesday, the lead prosecutor in the case, Joan Illuzzi-Orbon, reportedly asked Burke to revoke Weinstein's bail and jail him pending the trial's outcome because of new sexual assault charges that were filed against him Monday by prosecutors in Los Angeles.

Weinstein is accused in the case pending in New York of raping one woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and of forcibly performing a sexual act on another woman in 2006.

Burke declined to jail Weinstein.

Later, a 16-page questionnaire for prospective jurors was released.

The questions include one asking if jurors had "seen, read or heard about the defendant," whose case "has been widely publicized over the last year."

Upwards of 100 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct.

In the indictment unsealed Monday in Los Angeles, the 67-year-old film producer is charged with raping one woman and sexually assaulting a second one in separate attacks over a two-day period in 2013.

He has pleaded not guilty in the New York case and will be arraigned in the Los Angeles case in the future.

Weinstein has said that all sexual contact he had with women was consensual.

The Los Angeles prosecution and the New York trial come more than two years after allegations of serial sexual misdeeds by Weinstein sparked the #MeToo movement.
President Donald Trump, a self-described germophobe, has made no secret of his disgust with California's growing homeless problem, which he has called a "disgrace" and "inappropriate" and equated to "living in hell."

"We should all work together to clean up these hazardous waste and homeless sites before the whole city rots away," Trump tweeted about San Francisco on Oct. 26. "Very bad and dangerous conditions, also severely impacting the Pacific Ocean and water supply."

San Francisco officials were quick to dispute Trump's claims. But some of California's most prized rivers, beaches and streams are indeed contaminated with levels of fecal bacteria that exceed state limits, threatening kayakers, swimmers  and the state's reputation as a bastion of environmental protection.

The presence of fecal bacteria in water is usually the result of problems with sewer systems and septic tanks. But water quality officials agree that the source of at least some of the fecal bacteria is California's growing homeless population, most of whom don't have reliable access to toilets.

"I've carried 5-gallon buckets that were unambiguously being used as toilets," said David Gibson, executive officer of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, describing his experience cleaning up homeless encampments. "They were taking it to the San Diego River, dumping it there, and rinsing it out there."

Fecal contamination of waterways is a widespread problem and becoming more urgent in states with large homeless populations. In Seattle, homeless people living in RVs are accused of dumping raw sewage straight into storm drains, which flows directly to local waterways. In Oregon, workers cleaning up homeless camps along the Willamette River in Eugene routinely find feces and needles.

California has the largest homeless population in the nation, estimated at more than 151,000 people in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. About 72% of the state's homeless slept outside or in cars rather than in shelters or temporary housing.

The Trump administration has fixated on California's homeless population in particular as a potent source of pollution.

In addition to Trump's tweets, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sent a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 26 alleging that the state's lack of urgency on homelessness threatens public health by polluting nearby water with untreated human waste. It then issued a notice to San Francisco accusing it of violating the federal Clean Water Act.

Jared Blumenfeld, secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, responded by accusing the federal EPA of retreating on clean water protection, and called the administrations focus on the environmental impact of homelessness "sensationalized" and "misguided."

But concerns extend beyond the Trump administration. A record number of Californians  about 1 in 4  believe homelessness and housing is the top issue facing the state today, up from 1% in 1999, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

When it comes to water, scientists look for E. coli and other bacteria to determine levels of fecal contamination. While E. coli is present in both human and animal feces, human fecal contamination is particularly dangerous because it can transmit diseases that affect people, including hepatitis A and cholera.

Most people are not at risk of getting sick unless they drink the water, or if pathogens enter open cuts or sores, said Richard Ambrose, a professor in the department of environmental health sciences at UCLA. Homeless people face the highest risk because they are more likely to wash or wade in the water and have less access to toilets and showers, he said.

In the city of San Francisco, Trump's favorite punching bag on the issue, fecal pollution on the streets gets swept into the storm drains after it rains and is routed to the same treatment plants as toilet water, which means Trump's claims about the city's water were inaccurate, officials say.

But that isnt the case for most of the state's cities and sewage systems. In San Diego, the state's second-most populous county, dozens of homeless encampments line the 52-mile-long San Diego River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean. Officials have for decades recorded high levels of fecal bacteria in the river that exceed state standards, Gibson said.

Last year, the regional water board ordered San Diego County, several cities and municipal agencies to determine the source of the contamination. In addition to investigating the condition of leaky sewage infrastructure, which fails when it rains, the order requires municipalities to evaluate how homeless people living on riverbanks, in parking lots, trailers and RVs may be contributing to the problem, Gibson said.

Farther north, in Sacramento, regulators have been measuring elevated fecal bacteria levels in the lower American River for more than three years. Located near downtown Sacramento, it is a popular destination for water sports, even as hundreds of homeless people camp nearby.

Some recreational areas, including Tiscornia Beach, where families picnic, BBQ and wade in the river, had E. coli levels so high in the past year that they hit the upper limits of what the water board's laboratories could measure  more than seven times higher than the state standard, said Adam Laputz, assistant executive officer of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The board is conducting a three-year DNA analysis to determine whether the bacteria comes from people, birds or dogs, he said. "That source could be from a sewage collection that's leaky, or it could be from leaky septic systems," in addition to homeless encampments, he said.

If the source is human, the water board will embark on a new study to determine whether the source is an infrastructure failure or individuals.

In the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California, which have the largest homeless populations in the state, some cities conduct routine water monitoring. But the regional water boards, which make key water quality decisions for their regions and take enforcement actions when necessary, aren't testing to determine if and how homeless encampments affect water quality.

Contamination from homeless camps is so easy to observe  and smell  that there is no "need to monitor to know there's a problem," said Thomas Mumley, executive officer of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, which stretches from Napa County to Santa Clara County.

If there are no bathrooms in or near a homeless encampment, "we can assume there's a discharge of waste" where there shouldn't be, he said.

Bay Area regulators are working with some cities that are conducting pilot projects, such as offering free RV dump stations and providing sanitation services for encampments.

The board could one day require municipalities to adopt such projects or face fines, Mumley said.

"We're cautious about using that authority," he said. "We want public dollars going toward solutions, not just paying penalties."

The Central Coast Water Board has already issued an order to the city of Salinas to map homeless encampments and focus more resources on their sanitation needs.

In Los Angeles, hundreds of homeless people camp within the Los Angeles River channel itself and thousands live nearby.

Along a stretch of the river that runs through Atwater Village north of downtown, one man, who called himself P. Dogg and said he had been homeless for three years, said that he bathes in the river when the water is "clear, not murky."

Asked if he's ever gotten sick from bathing in the river, he answered proudly: "Never once."

While local testing of the Los Angeles River, San Gabriel River and the Ventura River Estuary wasnt designed to measure the effects of homelessness, results suggest there have been significant impacts in some areas due to homeless encampments, said Renee Purdy, executive officer of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Purdy is working with area communities that have installed portable toilets and organized trash cleanups with money initially budgeted for water infrastructure maintenance.

"The long-term solution is really to address the societal issue of homelessness," she said.
New Delhi [India], Jan 7 (ANI): Actor Deepika Padukone on Tuesday joined students protesting against the recent violence on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus.



The Bollywood actor was seen standing with students as the demonstrators raised the slogan of "Jai Bhim-Jai Bhim". She did not issue any statement nor address the students.

Deepika is currently in the national capital promoting her upcoming film 'Chhapaak'.

More than 30 students were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the JNU and attacked the students and professors with sticks and rods.

Several Bollywood celebrities have condemned the violence which took place in JNU on Sunday.

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and lyricist Vishal Dadlani joined the protests organised by students at the Gateway of India, Mumbai against the violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on January 5.

While Kashyap said that he was there at the protest site to show his solidarity with the students and blamed the government for the attacks in JNU campus, Dadlani said that he was there in support of a secular India. (ANI)


J apan has issued an arrest warrant for Carlos Ghosn's wife Carole following the ex-Nissan chief's escape from the country while on bail.

Tokyo prosecutors obtained the warrant for Mrs Ghosn saying they suspect her of perjury.

The move against Mrs Ghosn followed her husbands clandestine escape to Lebanon last week.

Ghosn was out on bail and awaiting trial when he caught a private jet out of the country and joined his wife in Beirut.

Reports said Ghosn hid inside a musical instrument case and had the help of special forces members.

Wanted in Japan, Ghosn fled the country in a musical instrument case to join his wife in Beirut / REUTERS

A Ghosn family spokeswoman said the arrest warrant for Mrs Ghosn was "pathetic" and was linked to a news conference by Mr Ghosn due to take place on Wednesday.

Last time Carlos Ghosn announced a press conference and got re-arrested. This time, the day before he is announced to speak out freely for the first time, they issued an arrest warrant for his wife Carole Ghosn, the spokeswoman told Reuters.

The issuance of this warrant is pathetic, she added.

Japan is seeking Mr Ghosn's extradition from Lebanon, where he is now staying as a fugitive, despite the country not having a treaty with Lebanon.

Mrs Ghosn is suspected of giving false evidence to a Tokyo court last year in her husbands case about the transfer of money from one company to another that allegedly caused losses to Nissan.

Mrs Ghosn is suspected of perjury by Japanese prosecutors / AFP via Getty Images

She also denied knowing various people or meeting them, they said. The allegations cited were unrelated to Ghosns escape.

Carole Ghosn was not immediately available for comment but earlier told the Associated Press after her questioning in court that she considered the questions trite and unsubstantial.

She was banned from meeting her husband after his release on bail because of fears she might help tamper with evidence.

Japanese justice officials acknowledge it is unclear whether the two can be brought back to Japan to face any charges.

The Lebanese presidential palace said Lebanons president met the Japanese ambassador and they discussed the case, but did not provide any other details.

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun meets with Takeshi Okubo and discuss Ghosn / REUTERS

This is the first known meeting between the president and a Japanese diplomat since Ghosn arrived in the country on December 30.

Japans chief government spokesman said Japanese officials have told Lebanon that Ghosn left the country illegally and they are seeking co-operation in finding out what happened.

Prosecutors have said they did not want Ghosn to be granted bail because they saw him as a flight risk.

With his abundant financial power and multiple foreign bases worldwide, it would be easy for the defendant Ghosn to flee from Japan, they said in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ghosns former employer, Nissan, said it was still pursuing legal action against him despite his escape.

Ghosn insists his wife did not help in his escape / AP

The Japanese car manufacturer said that he engaged in serious misconduct while leading the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance.

The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan, it said.

Ghosn managed to escape from the country despite surveillance while he was staying at a home in Tokyo.

Japanese news reports have given new details of that escape, saying he left his residence alone, met two men at a Tokyo hotel, and then took a train to Osaka before boarding a private jet, hidden inside a case for musical equipment.

Japanese business daily Nikkei reported that dozens of people in various countries helped to plan his clandestine departure.

Nissan and Japanese prosecutors allege Ghosn misstated his future compensation and diverted company assets for personal gain. He says he is innocent.
Class Resumes at Hong Kong University That Fought Back Against Riot Police

2020-01-06 -- Students at a Hong Kong university where riot police fired hundreds of rounds of tear gas and were met with petrol bombs hurled across makeshift barricades in November, returned to class on Monday after police made dozens more arrests during a protest at the weekend.

Students returned to the Shatin campus of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) for the first time after the authorities ended the last semester early following the campus battle, which saw police fire some 1,000 rounds of tear gas in an assault on the main campus.

While the majority of damage to campus facilities had been repaired, including widespread protest graffiti, a Goddess of Democracy statue remained near the college entrance, bearing a banner with the words "Five demands, not one less."

Workers were still resurfacing the No. 2 bridge, where the conflict between police and protesters had been most fierce, and debris from the siege including spent tear gas canisters, umbrellas and gas mask filters remained strewn around a nearby grassy slope, the Apple Daily newspaper reported.

"Several CUHK school buses damaged during the conflict are still parked in the campus, looking like a school bus cemetery," the paper reported.

Security was tight, with newly installed checkpoints requiring a current student ID card to get in, university president Rocky Tuan announced in an open letter to students.

"For security reasons, access to the University remains restricted and controlled for the time being," Tuan said. "I must ask for your patience and understanding in allowing time for the campus to ease back to its former state of diversity and vibrancy."

'Negligible' levels of chemicals

Tuan said the authorities had taken soil, air and water samples and tested them for harmful materials, "including dioxins and cyanide," in a reference to widespread public health concerns over the effects of lingering tear gas residue on public health.

"All test results have been received, and I am pleased to report that the levels of the harmful chemicals tested are all negligible and do not pose danger to human health," he wrote.

As the city began its eighth month of protests, Beijing replaced its envoy to Hong Kong with an official who reminded the city's seven million people that its most powerful supporter was "the motherland."

"Over the last six months, Hong Kong's situation has been worrying," Luo Huining said as he took over the directorship of Beijing's Central Liaison Office in Hong Kong.

"I sincerely wish Hong Kong and Hong Kong compatriots well," said Luo, who replaces Wang Zhimin, who had only been in post for a couple of years.

Luo's arrival coincided with renewed clashes between between police and protesters in Sheung Shui district on Sunday following a protest over the sheer number of cross-border shoppers from neighboring mainland Chinese cities who use the city as a source for trusted brands in essential household goods, including infant formula milk.

Brands made in China have been hit by a string of public health scandals including the tainted milk scandal that left unknown numbers of babies and toddlers affected by melamine added to the powder to resemble protein.

"Parallel traders" also take advantage of duty-free goods -- especially medicines and medical supplies -- bought in bulk under Hong Kong's separate status as a free port, lugging them back across the border to sell.

Parallel trading

Parallel trading has affected local communities by spawning large numbers of similar shops and large-scale facilities to cater to mainland shoppers who pile into neighborhoods in buses, prompting growing tensions with local residents.

Some 10,000 people took to the streets of Sheung Shui on Sunday, with the majority dispersing at the end of the march, before police launched a baton charge at the remainder with no apparent provocation.

More than a million people took to the streets of Hong Kong on New Year's Day in a resounding reminder to the city authorities that the past six months of pro-democracy protests will continue into 2020.

Protesters continue to call on the administration of chief executive Carrie Lam to meet all five demands of the protest movement, which include full democracy and an independent inquiry into police violence against protesters.

While Lam has formally withdrawn widely hated plans to change Hong Kong's extradition laws, she and her officials have repeatedly ruled out meeting the other four demands.

Rights groups have criticized the Hong Kong authorities for fueling violence with excessive force in their treatment of protesters, as well as limiting and prevent legitimate and non-violent protest and assembly since the anti-extradition movement took off in early June.

There are growing calls from rights groups, pro-democracy politicians and overseas officials for an independent public inquiry into police violence and abuse of power.

Campaigners have demanded that police make public the provenance and chemical composition of the tear gas they use, to enable medical practitioners to formulate treatment plans accordingly. But police have refused, saying that doing so could compromise their operations.

They also have called on police to refrain from using disproportionate and deadly force, but police have repeatedly reviewed their own tactics and found them to be "appropriate."

Hong Kong police have arrested nearly 6,000 people since the anti-extradition movement broadened into a city-wide pro-democracy movement in early June, with hundreds of rioting and public order prosecutions currently in the pipeline.

The bodies of a number of young people have been found in the sea in recent months, amid speculation that a growing number of missing persons have been "disappeared," possibly to mainland China, since protests began.

Reported by RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.

Copyright  1998-2020, 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 January 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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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 10:30:30|Editor: ZX

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LISBON, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- About 100 Uber drivers held protest on Monday in Lisbon due to a company's fare reduction announced after the New Year, which cut their margins of profit, according to the Lusa News Agency.

This is the third price reduction made by the electronic platform and it goes against Law No.45 regarding passenger transport services, said a Uber driver quoted by Lusa, "which says you cannot make trips below cost price."

According to a petition created online on Thursday, "Uber reduced its cut to pay to the drivers in 10 percent." The measure took place six hours after the fare reduction announcement was made.

More than 100 Uber drivers rode their cars in a slow march from Belem district to Uber green hub in Amoreiras neighborhood, Lisbon. Noting that the company's action is against the law, protesters ask for the intervention of the government and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.7

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

From January through November 2019, Turkeys export from Ankara and Istanbul to Kyrgyzstan amounted to $286.9 million, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend .

During this period, export from Ankara to Kyrgyzstan increased by 19.7 percent compared with the same period of 2018, amounting to $12.3 million, the ministry said.

In the first 11 months of 2019, export from Istanbul to Kyrgyzstan increased by 5.3 percent compared with the same period of 2018, amounting to $274.6 million.

In November 2019, export from these cities to Kyrgyzstan amounted to $32.3 million.

At this time, export from Ankara to Kyrgyzstan increased by 9.3 times compared with November 2018, amounting to $2.6 million.

Export from Istanbul to Kyrgyzstan increased by 29.1 percent compared with November 2018, and amounted to $29.7 million, the ministry said.

From January through November 2019, Turkeys export increased by 1.3 percent compared with the same period of 2018, amounting to $151.8 billion.

In November 2019, Turkeys export dropped by 0.7 percent compared with October 2018, and amounted to $14.8 billion.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Prince Philip got caught on camera having temper issues at a royal photographer one day. The photographer had been taking pictures at Windsor Park when the Duke ordered him to go away.

It should be noted that Windsor Great Park is for royals to enjoy as much as it is for the public. Well, part of it. The park is managed by the Crown Estate and all necessary upkeep and beautification are funded by the Crown Estate.

Prince Philip Gets Conscious

It remains though that a large part of the park is open to the public. It is free for the public to visit from dawn to dusk. It was a regular day for royal photographer Kent Gavin then who was shooting a documentary at the Royal Park.

It was for the 2013 Amazon Prime documentary entitled "Royalty, Up Close: The Photography of Kent Gavin." The photo-documentary was to feature the Duke of Edinburgh who had been the royal who was visible.

However, the Duke did not feel comfortable with his every movement being photographed. It was then that he approached the photographer. Gavin revealed how he was there to take pictures but Philip demanded that he does not want the photographer on the site.

The Duke was angered and screamed a few more obscenities which Gavin did not detail. The documentary had Prince Philip on an Easy Rider motorbike, going straight past them. The photographer had been click-clicking away when Prince Philip just lost it. It was then he told the photographer to get off his property.

Queen Knows Her Husband Gets Grumpy

The British monarch avoids getting her husband grumpy. The Duke has been known to become disappointed and stern even with the press and photographers.

The Queen revealed how the Prince would sometimes go on occasions and be the one unhappy soldier around them.

Queen Elizabeth II revealed that the Duke is keen on keeping his privacy. Furthermore, he is said to want to keep to himself as often as he can.

Prince Philip Did Oblige

It was not that the Duke did not allow pictures to be taken, but that he may have felt conscious over having too many photographs taken. Gavin unveiled that while Prince Philip does give the picture, he is the kind of man that would only "leave his privacy" when it is called for.

However, the royal photographer believes that there is a thin red line between private and public. When one is part of the royal family, the line gets thinner.

Not His First Episode

Previously, Prince Philip was also captured shouting curse words on camera. A photograph was to be taken at the RAF club during the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

The Duke of Edinburgh was to be photographed with his grandson Prince William, his son and daughter in law, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. The Duke became impatient and cried out, "Just take the F***ing picture!"

Prince Philip is currently being treated for a pre-existing condition. He did get to celebrate the holidays with his wife of 72 years, the Queen and his family who came to Sandringham for Christmas.

READ MORE: Royal Heartache: Queen Elizabeth II Did Not Visit Prince Philip at The Hospital Because of This
Williams loses major sponsor Rexona

Amid a deep performance crisis, Williams has lost yet another major sponsor.

PKN Orlen, the Polish oil company backing Robert Kubica, has departed for Alfa Romeo, and Sportowe Fakty reports that Symantec, Omnitude and Tata have also recently left.

And now, the same Polish source says Rexona, a highly visible presence on the Williams livery in past seasons, has not renewed its contract for 2020.

The Australian deodorant brand is owned by Unilever, which switched its backing from Lotus to Williams ahead of the 2015 season.

Spain's AS newspaper claims the Rexona deal was worth EUR 15 million to Williams, making it the team's second biggest sponsor behind title backer Rokit.

Also, on Christmas Eve, Williams announced that it has sold the majority of its engineering arm, Williams Advanced Engineering, to a private equity firm.

Williams' loss of sponsors will also be compensated by the arrival in 2020 of Nicholas Latifi, the son of Michael Latifi who bought a $350m stake in McLaren in 2018.

"He's become a really great part of the team," Claire Williams, referring to Nicholas Latifi who was a test driver in 2019, said.

"He's got a great personality, he did a good job in Formula 2, and I think he'll be instrumental in driving the team forward."

(GMM)
Iraqi President Barham Salih received a phone call from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday in which they discussed regional developments, Iraqi state TV and state news agency (INA) reported.

Guterres expressed concern over the escalation that threatens international peace and security, and he stressed the necessity of self-restraint and wisdom in resolving the crises, Iraqi state TV said.

On his side Salih affirmed in the phone call that Iraq is keen to become an arena for regional and international peace, the state TV added.

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Burma Myanmar's Ex-President Tells Voters to Protect Race, Religion, Military in 2020 Election

Ex-president U Thein Sein seen at an event at the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) headquarters in Naypyitaw on Jan. 5. / USDP / Facebook

YANGONMyanmars former president U Thein Sein has warned that the country is facing growing threats to territory, race and religion and called on citizens to vote for candidates who will protect the country in the upcoming general election.

The ex-president said Sunday that Myanmar would face both internal and external threats in 2020. Its because our country is likely to be devoured by outsiders, under excuses of democracy and human rights. It is as if the country is unknowingly approaching the den of a wild beast, said the ex-president at an annual event organized in his honor at the headquarters of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in Naypyitaw.

It is also a known fact that every effort is being made to weaken the military that protects the country, the retired general told his supporters at the event.

He said it is time to take care of race and religion as well as the military, which tirelessly fulfills its national duties.

U Thein Sein, chairman of the military-backed USDP, took office in 2011 following the flawed 2010 election, which was boycotted by the National League for Democracy (NLD) and many ethnic political parties. He served as head of state until March 2016. After being soundly defeated by the NLD in the 2015 general election, he stepped down as USDP chair.

The ex-president said on Sunday that looking back on 2019, the year was full of unpleasant thingsarmed clashes, violence, killing, abductions, rapes, thefts and robberiesbut in 2020, the country is facing continuing threats against its race and religion and the loss of its territories.

We also have a good opportunity in 2020, that this year, there will be a multiparty general election, he said.

A vote can be for the good of the country but it can also create negative impacts. It is important that the person we choose needs to be someone with good morality, good education and goodwill for the country. More than that, the person must be someone who will protect our race and religion and look out for the military, he said.

The USDP has positioned itself as a protector of Buddhism as the countrys majority religion. After the 2010 general election, the USDP-led government adopted a package of four controversial race and religion laws. The Association for the Protection of Race and Religion, better known by its Burmese acronym, Ma Ba Tha, which was banned under the NLD government but is now called the Buddha-Dhamma Parahita Foundation, applauded the USDPs laws as a success for nationalism.

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Energy stocks have lagged the S&P 500 for the past year and the past decade. But that story could change in the years ahead. And for one analyst, energy is his trade of the decade.

What energy had been missing is a catalyst, said David Mazza, managing director and head of product at Direxion, a mutual fund and ETF manager. Certainly, the news that we heard on Friday [that the U.S. had killed Iranian General Qassem Suleimani] is a sign that we need to maybe have a higher geopolitical risk premium placed in the oil markets.

Those kinds of risks have arisen before, most notably in September, when drones attacked a Saudi Aramco oil processing facility. The attack triggered a nearly 15% one-day spike in WTI (CL=F), but it wasnt sustained, and oil quickly fell back below $60 a barrel. Mazza points out that if investors do buy energy stocks for the long term, they have to be prepared for volatility that echoes swings in the commodity.

Separately from the price action in the oil market, Mazza said there are cyclical factors that could benefit the energy sector. Many energy companies, particularly small- and mid-caps, invested heavily in the shale revolution and got over-leveraged, resulting in poor credit quality and bankruptcies.

As some companies actually begin to go through their bankruptcy cycle, and get a bit healthier, the overall market will continue to be able to generate revenue and cash flow that was needed, Mazza said. So there is the potential for the short term to be volatile.

Ironically, he also points to big oils exposure to alternative energy.

Exxon (XOM) is a great example of this, they've been investing a significant amount of capital to help diversify their business, and not just be a one trick pony when it comes to oil, Mazza said.

Iraqi workers are seen at the Rumaila oil refinery, near the city of Basra, 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo/ Nabil al-Jourani, File)

Another source of demand, or at least support, for energy stocks has been the relatively high dividend yield. Paul Schatz, President of Heritage Capital, told Yahoo Finances On the Move that Schlumberger (SLB) is one of his top stock picks for 2020 -- a selection he made before the recent rearing of U.S.-Iran tensions.

I thought, crude is going to have a decent year. If crudes good, look for leveraged plays. Schlumberger, huge international oil driller. Theyre paying a 5% dividend yield to wait, even if youre wrong, he said.

Story continues

Energy stocks in the S&P 500 have a dividend yield of about 3.8%, compared to 1.8% for the broader index. Schlumberger yields nearly 5%.

The S&P 500 Energy Index rose 7.6% in 2019, lagging the next-worst performer  health care  by more than ten percentage points. For the last decade, it gained a measly 6.2%, compared with 190% for the S&P 500. Even accounting for the sectors relatively rich dividend yield, its total return in the 2010s was 36%.

If you're looking for one area that's been completely out of favor, fund managers have forgotten about it. It really is the energy space, Mazza said.

Julie Hyman is the co-anchor of On the Move on Yahoo Finance.

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit.
Michigan recreational marijuana retailers sold nearly $1.8 million of products between Dec. 30 and Jan. 5, the fifth week since recreational sales became legal.

This is the highest weekly sales total to date by about $2,000 and resulted in $177,300 in excise tax and $117,018 sales tax revenue for the state, the Marijuana Regulatory Agency said.

Week 1, $1.63 million

Week 2, $1.47 million

Week 3, $1.6 million

Week 4, $1.77 million

Week 5, $1.77 million

While sales remain brisk, theyre not as robust as in Illinois, where recreational marijuana sales went live Jan. 1 and generated $10.8 million in sales over the first five days, the Chicago Tribune Reports.

Illinois kicked off sales with more than 30 licensed existing medical marijuana dispensaries, while Michigan only had three active recreational retailers during the first week. There are now 27 licensed retailers and growing in Michigan.

Since Dec. 1, Michigan marijuana shops have sold $8.3 million worth of recreational marijuana, generating $1.4 million in combined excise and sales taxes.

There currently 53 recreational marijuana business licenses, including 27 retailers, 14 class C marijuana grower licenses held by six 6 different businesses, five processors, four secure transporters, two event organizers and a safety compliance lab.

Collected license and application fees are expected to be enough to repay a $10 million general fund loan the Marijuana Regulatory Agency received to start up when it was created in March 2019 and to fund agency costs in the future.

As of last week, the state had collected at least $1 million in application fees, which are $6,000, from a minimum of 165 applicants, and nearly $1.4 million in licensing fees from approved businesses.

The 2018 voter-passed law requires the first $20 million collected in excise taxes over the first two years of the program be spent on medical research involving marijuana.

The breakdown of the remainder is: 15% to cities, townships or villages that allow recreational business, proportioned to the total number of micro-businesses and retailers; 15% to counties, proportional to the total number of micro-businesses and retailers; 35% to the School Aid Fund for K-12 education and 35% to the Michigan Transportation Fund for road and bridge repair.

State budget officials have projected the recreational marijuana market to pace near $1.5 billion in annual sales by the latter half of 2021.

Based on forecasts released by Anderson Economic Group, an economics, research and consulting firm that analyzes marijuana markets across the U.S., it will likely be 2022 or later before the industry eclipses $1.5 billion in annual sales.

Recently legalized states have relied on overly-optimistic projections, with California misjudging demand by over 50%" and it would be wise to evaluate lofty figures with a critical eye, said Anderson Economic Group CEO Patrick Anderson.

The 2018 voter-passed law requires the first $20 million collected in excise taxes over the first two years of the program be spent on medical research involving marijuana.

The breakdown of the remainder is: 15% to cities, townships or villages that allow recreational business, proportioned to the total number of micro-businesses and retailers; 15% to counties, proportional to the total number of micro-businesses and retailers; 35% to the School Aid Fund for K-12 education and 35% to the Michigan Transportation Fund for road and bridge repair.

The below map, which MLive is updating as new licenses are issues, includes all known retail marijuana stores.

More on MLive:

Monthly recreational marijuana sales near $6.5 million

Recreational market poised to boom in 2020

Michigan wants Weedmaps to stop advertising for unlicensed marijuana businesses

Michigan not collecting personal information on customers

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Int'l travellers who test COVID positive at the airport will not be allowed to go to their destinations

BJPs Bengali version booklet on CAA mentions NRC next

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

Kolkata, Jan 07: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Bengal had earlier vowed that they will implement National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state if they come to power, on Sunday the BJP Bengal unit had launched a booklet in Bengali version on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Kolkata.

The book is a part of the BJP's campaign to spread awareness about the amended citizenship law across the nation.

On the same day, Union Home Minister and BJP's national president Amit Shah led the party's door-to-door 10-day campaign to dispel misinformation about CAA and spread awareness about the newly amended citizenship law with top party leaders reaching out to people across the country.

Delhi elections: Confident that BJP would form govt says Amit Shah

Although, the Hindi version of the booklet was launched there was one difference in both the versions and that is in the Bengali version it was mentioned that citizen's register NRC will be implemented after CAA. However, the Hindi version does not mention anything on NRC.

JNU violence: No arrests yet, FIR filed against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh | OneIndia News

The Indian Express reports suggest, in the 23-page booklet, on the last page some question reads- "Will it be NRC after this? How much it is needed? And if there is NRC, will Hindus have to go to detention centres like in Assam?"

And the answer reads- "Yes, after this NRC will be implemented. At least the central government's intention looks like that. Before that, we would like to clearly mention that no Hindus will have to go to detention centre due to NRC. Those 11 lakh Hindus who are in detention centres in Assam are staying there because of the Foreigners Act."

BJP leader seeks action against news channel for violating MCC

Followed with this the booklet gives a description on implementation of NRC in Assam was according to Supreme Court's direction, and as per the Foreigners Act that was passed by the then Congress government in the state.

According to the booklet, the BJP government Assam did not bring the NRC.

Regarding the mentioning of NRC in the Bengali version of the party's CAA awareness booklet the general secretary in the Bengal unit of BJP, Sayantan Basu said that the Bengali version is not the translation of Hindi. In West Bengal people have confusions over the CAA and NRC, hence the NRC point has been mentioned, along with which it is also mentioned that exercise of NRC is the Centre's prerogative.
Ukraines Permanent Representative to the UN Volodymyr Yelchenko Ukrinform

Now Yelchenko officially heads the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in the United States.



On December 19, he was appointed ambassador of Ukraine to the United States.



In 2010-2015, Volodymyr Yelchenko was the ambassador of Ukraine to the Russian Federation, since December 2015, he has been Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN.



Zelensky fired the ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Valeriy Chaly on July 19, but the position remained vacant until December.
The original version of this story said that 1,200 people remained in Agadez. The number should be 400. This has been corrected.

Authorities in Niger have arrested at least 335 Sudanese refugees, accusing them of burning down a refugee camp just outside the city of Agadez in the north of the country.

Officials said the camp was burned down after nearly 1,000 refugees protesting in front of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Agadez were forcibly dispersed.

For the last 20 days, these refugees and migrants, including women and children, said they had camped in front of the office, demanding better conditions, including healthcare and education. According to the UNHCR, these people were demanding relocation to Europe.

The sit-in was part of ongoing protests in Niger since early 2019.

On January 2, Nigers High Court ruled the sit-in was unlawful and ordered the refugees to move before it was too late.

According to witnesses, the security guards tried to disperse protesters on Saturday by shooting in the air. However, more force was applied and injuries were reported in the ensuing violence after the refugees and migrants refused.

Video footage sent to Al Jazeera showed a man thrown off the roof of a building. The video was filmed by a Sudanese refugee who was loaded on a truck.

The sit-in outside the UNHCR office started in December [Al Jazeera]

Following their arrival back at the camp, about 15km (nine miles) outside Agadez, security forces fired tear gas to disperse crowds. A camp official said violence escalated again as people protested. UNHCR officials said the asylum seekers then set fire to the facility and a photographer on site said 290 out of the 331 shelters were gutted.

It was very violent, they were beating people up. We have many injured here with us, Daoud, a refugee from Darfur, told Al Jazeera by phone.

In a news conference held at the High Court of Agadez on Monday, where only state-run newspapers were invited, procureur general Seyni Saidou confirmed that security agents had to force people to disperse, citing municipal bylaw violations.

During the removal operation, 162 mobile phones were confiscated, 31 knives and 12 iron bars were also taken from the demonstrators and 335 people are now in custody, Saidou said.

80% of the reception centre destroyed by a minority of refugees from Darfur in Agadez who only want to hear about resettlement to Europe. Destroying the asylum space in #Niger or elsewhere is easier than building & protecting it. It is a sad day for refugee protection in Niger. pic.twitter.com/Uf2nK6cxed  vincent cochetel (@cochetel) January 4, 2020

What's striking is that you called them "#refugees" yourself, so they're not asylum seekers under process. Which not only gives them the right to ask for resettlement in #Europe, but to also hold accountable anyone denying them this.  Amera Markous (@MarkousAmera) January 4, 2020

Sources told Al Jazeera that the government is considering shutting down the camp.

One of the refugees at the camp told Al Jazeera that many asylum seekers had been waiting at the camp, located in a desert where temperatures often reached 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer, for more than two years without any clear update on their status.

The group protesting outside the UNHCR office travelled to the city on foot to submit a letter detailing deteriorating conditions at the camp.

Alessadra Morelli, UNHCR representative in Niger, said she is meeting the local governor to express solidarity and find a solution for the victims of this tragic and absurd situation.

We are discussing with all humanitarian actors to find a permanent solution, Agadez mayor Maman Boukari said on Tuesday.

Following the crackdown on protesters, Daoud said he realised abandonment and lack of hope prevailed with the camp almost completely burned after he was brought back.

For two days now, we are left in the middle of the desert without any assistance, only water. The camp has been burned, another refugee told Al Jazeera by phone.

The burned-down refugee camp just outside Agadez in Niger [Al Jazeera]

According to an aid worker in Agadez, dire conditions in the camp and slow asylum procedures have resulted in people leaving the city for Libya or Algeria or searching for other alternatives. Last year, hundreds left, including those who decided to return to Sudan.

Im not surprised that people are thinking of returning to Libya. Many have also left in the past and that includes unaccompanied minors, the aid worker added.

An aid worker in Agadez said 1,200 people remained for months at the camp, frustrated at UNHCRs handling of the situation. About 400 are still there.

According to UNHCRs Morelli, in September 2018, after long discussions involving local authorities, the Regional Directorate for Civil Status, Refugees and Migration started to process asylum claims.

To date, 184 refugee cards have been distributed. All the asylum-seekers are registered under UNHCR and can benefit from temporary protection in Niger.

In 2015, Niger adopted an asylum law and signed an agreement with UNHCR to host refugees and migrants from Libya as part of the Emergency Transit Mechanism project.

Agadez has been at the crossroads for trade and transit of migrants northwards to Libya, Algeria and the Mediterranean.

Niger, situated on the edge of the Sahara, hosts hundreds of thousands of Nigerians fleeing violence in the northern states of Nigeria as well as refugees from Mali.
Gresham police say a driver who struck and killed an 11-year-old this morning may have been impaired at the time of the crash.

Police arrested Garret Bergquist, 26, after he allegedly ran a red light and hit an 11 year-old boy who was walking to his nearby middle school and had the right of way.

Bergquist was lodged in the Multnomah County Jail and is charged with first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving.

Police said Bergquist pulled over after the crash and complied with officers.

Court records show that Bergquist pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in 2015, and that after completing treatment in 2016, the DUII citation was dismissed.

The child, a student at Dexter McCarty Middle School, died at the scene. Police said they have informed the childs family, but are not releasing his name.

The crash was at the intersection of Hogan Road and Southeast Fifth Street, just a few blocks from Dexter McCarty Middle School and East Gresham Elementary School. The school is surrounded by houses and apartments.

Dexter McCarty Middle School Principal John George wrote in a Facebook message to families that the school would have counselors available on both Monday and Tuesday to help support students and staff. He asked parents to watch their children for signs of distress, reminding parents that children may not know how to deal with the tragedy.

Windy Simila, who lives across the street from the school, said she had been worried something like this would happen.

Its a dangerous corner, she said. Its a problem all the time. At the beginning of the year there was a car doing 100 miles per hour down our street at 5 p.m.

Monday was Dexter McCartys first day back from winter break. The school serves more than 575 students in the Gresham-Barlow School District in grades six through eight, according to 2017 data.

A fundraising site set up to help the family of the victim had raised more than $2,000 by Tuesday morning.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Boyer will draw on more than 25 years of experience in fund-raising and a personal dedication to animal welfare to help drive support for and expand vitally important programs touching the lives of some one billion animals each year. In his new position, he will help drive mission-focused growth at American Humane, which since 1877 has worked to create many of the nation's landmark protections for animals.

"Since my early childhood, animals have always been an important and necessary part of my life," said Mr. Boyer. "I am thrilled to join American Humane, where I can blend my professional skills and personal passion to help make a meaningful difference for animals and the people who love them."

Mr. Boyer has a long history of success in helping advance philanthropic causes, most notably those involved in working to promote conservation. An avid lover of nature and wildlife, Boyer has been a key player in supporting some of the most notable organizations engaged in preserving our wild heritage. He has served as a vice president of development for the National Parks Conservation Association and American Forests, national director for the National Park Foundation. He has also used his skills to bring in critical resources for the World Wildlife Fund, one of the most recognized and respected animal charities in the world, and served in senior positions for high-profile advocacy groups including Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and the National Foundation for Alternative Medicine.

Boyer holds a BS in Business Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, is a graduate of the Leadership Development Institute Association of Fundraising Professionals, and has served on several nonprofit boards.

Boyer owns a small farm in Virginia's horse and wine country where he breeds goats and miniature horses. He spends his free time riding his rescued Tennessee Walking Horse through the Shenandoah mountains and surrounding areas. He is an avid camper and national park enthusiast, having visited more than 225 national park sites. An explorer by nature, he has traveled to some of the most remote places in the United States, studying a wide range of wildlife from the bears of Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska to Monarch butterflies during their migration to Mexico.

Throughout his life Boyer has found his greatest peace when surrounded by animals whether it be his pack of dogs, herd of goats, or his horse. He feels his work at American Humane is not just a job, but a calling.

"Matthew's personal passion and professional experience will help further accelerate our growth so that we can help even more animals in need," said American Humane President and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert. "We are very grateful to have him join our team."

About American Humane

American Humane is the country's first national humane organization. Founded in 1877, American Humane is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare, and well-being of animals, and our leadership programs are first to serve in promoting and nurturing the bonds between animals and people. For more information or to support our work, please visit www.americanhumane.org.

SOURCE American Humane

Related Links

http://www.americanhumane.org


Boeing Co. is moving workers from its jet engine parts plant in North Charleston across town to its 787 Dreamliner campus while West Coast production of the aerospace giant's idled 737 Max commercial planes is at a standstill.

Boeing said it will suspend production of the 737 Max by mid-January. The plane has been grounded worldwide since March after a pair of deadly crashes. The site in North Charleston  called Propulsion South Carolina  designs and builds engine nacelles for the 737 Max, which is built in Renton, Wash.

No one is being laid off at any of Boeing's sites because of the production shutdown, which affects about 3,000 workers in Renton.

Boeing spokeswoman Libba Holland said all of Propulsion South Carolina's workers involved in the 737 Max program will move to the Dreamliner plant adjacent to Charleston International Airport. Propulsion South Carolina also does work for Boeing's 777X wide-body program. Those workers will remain at the engine plant.

Holland said the workers who are moving to the Dreamliner site will not displace any other employees or contractors. She said they will be assigned various duties depending on their expertise throughout the assembly plant's four buildings.

It's not clear how long the 737 Max will remain grounded or when Boeing workers will return to their normal workplaces. The Federal Aviation Administration continues to investigate safety issues linked to the plane's design and other countries have said they will conduct their own reviews before allowing the 737 Max to return to flight.

Once there is a decision, loaned employees will start returning to their regular assignments in a phased approach, according to an internal email obtained by The Post and Courier.

"We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible, and returning all of our teams to their home organizations once production starts again," Mark Jenks, vice president and general manager of the 737 program, said in the email.

Most of the Renton workers will be transferred to 767 and 777 production sites in Everett, Wash., near Seattle. Others will be sent to 737 Max storage sites in Moses Lake, Wash., and Victorville, Calif., to maintain the parked planes.
"Our industry has traditionally focused on people who already have significant wealth. Our goal is to broaden the pool of people who have access to Financial Education regardless of their net worth, said Bryan Koslow, President of Clarus Group.

For Clarus Group, LLC 2019 was a year to remember. The Financial Planning Firm, headquartered in Freehold, NJ with offices in Caldwell, NJ and New York City, added two new Financial Advisors to their team. Chuck Rose, CIMA, CFP brings nearly 20 years of financial services experience to the firm, including 15 years at Asset Management firm Lord Abbett. Kaysi Gordon, CPA, CFP, CDFA also brings more than 20 years of financial services experience having spent the past 14 years as a member of one of the largest teams at UBS.

One of Claruss core values has always been Community and the launch of the Compound Kindness initiative formalized the firms commitment to supporting local non-profit organizations. In 2019, Compound Kindness supported CASA of Monmouth County, Head for the Cure, the Foundation for Manalapan-Englishtown Regional Schools, Breaking the Chain Through Education and Ramah Junior Academy. Compound Kindness is about more than just writing checks. There is an emphasis on service as well. Chuck Rose joined the Board of Trustees for the Essex County Chamber of Commerce and Bryan Koslow joined the Board of Trustees for the Foundation for Manalapan-Englishtown Regional Schools. Bryan was also sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate working with children in Foster Care.

Another of the firms core values, Lifelong Learning, was front and center in 2019. Kaysi Gordon earned the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst certification , Chuck Rose earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Professional and Bryan Koslow passed the Series 24 exam and became a Supervising Principal.

Lastly, the firm continued its focus of bringing Financial Literacy and Planning to the people who need it most. Our industry has traditionally focused on people who already have significant wealth. Our goal is to broaden the pool of people who have access to Financial Education regardless of their net worth, said Bryan Koslow, President of Clarus Group. To make this education more accessible, Kaysi Gordon travels around the country delivering Faith and Finance seminars at churches. She introduces attendees to budgeting techniques and retirement planning as well as how to manage risk. In 2019, Clarus also launched a subscription pricing model for clients in the early stages of their financial planning journey.

About Clarus Group

Clarus Group LLC is an integrated wealth management firm with offices in Freehold and Caldwell, New Jersey and in New York City. The firm provides financial planning, asset management, insurance, and tax preparation services to individuals and families. For more information, visit http://www.clarusfinancial.com. 4400 Route 9 South, Suite 1000, Freehold, NJ 07728. 732-325-0456. Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser
The Centre on Tuesday informed the Madras High Court it has two years ago rejected a Tamil Nadu government's proposal of March, 2016 for release of all seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case as it would set a "dangerous precedent".

Noting that the CBI, which probed the case, had also opposed the proposal, the Centre in its April 18, 2018 letter to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary had said in pursuance of section 435 of CrPC it do not concur to the proposal for grant of further remission of sentence to the seven convicts.

Release of the four foreign nationals who had committed the gruesome killing of a former prime minister along with 15 others in connivance with three Indians will set a "dangerous precedent and lead to international ramifications by other such criminals in the future," the Union Home Ministry had said in the letter.

Additional Solicitor General G Rajagopalan submitted a copy of the letter to a bench of Justice R Subbaiah and Justice R Pongiappan during the hearing of a petition by Nalini Sriharan, one of the seven convicts, claiming that she was illegally detained in Vellore Prison as the state cabinet has recommended the release of her and others.

Taking note of the letter, the bench impleaded the Union Home Secretary as a respondent and directed the official to file a counter affidavit by January 28 and adjourned the matter till then.

The convicts are V Sriharan, T Suthendraraja, Jayakumar Robert Payas (all Sri Lankans), A G Perarivalan, Ravichandran and Nalini.

All the seven were convicted by a special TADA court for their role in the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on May 21, 1991 during an election rally at Sriperumbudur near here and sentenced to death but later it was commuted to life imprisonment.

The Union Home Ministry's communication was in response to a March 2, 2016 letter by the state government conveying its decision to remit the sentences of life imprisonment and to release the seven convicts since all of them have already served imprisonment for 24 years.

The state government had sought the views of the Centre under CrPC section 435 on its decision, recalling that the then union government had gone to the Supreme Court after the state decided in February, 2014 to grant remission to the convicts.

The Home Ministry's letter said the trial court had given cogent reasons such as the diabolical conspiracy, the use of female human bomb and a number of lives lost in the incident among others to justify the death penalty awarded to the accused.

Later hearing an appeal, all three judges of the Supreme Court had highlighted the conspiracy and the horrific nature of the crime and held that the case fell under the category of rarest of rare cases (warranting death penalty), it said.

The apex court had also held the assassination of the former prime minister was an act of exceptional depravity on the part of the accused and an unparalleled act in the annals of crimes committed in the country.

The CBI has also opposed the state government's proposal to release the convicts, citing interest of justice.

"Therefore, the central government in pursuance of section 435 of CrPC do not concur to the proposal of the government of Tamil Nadu... for grant of further remission of sentence to these seven convicts," the letter said.

Nalini in her petition filed last year has contended she was illegally detained in the Vellore Prison from September 10, 2018 since the Tamil Nadu Governor has not acted on the cabinet decision of September 9, 2018 to release her under Article 161 of the Constitution.

Citing a Supreme Court judgement, she claimed the governor had no discretion but to act on the advice of the Council of Ministers under Art 161 as it was binding.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One of the reasons libertarianism is losing its grip is because libertarians are a heterogeneous, hardly a homogeneous, population. That is true for Democrats as well, which is why, in my opinion, they keep losing to Republicans. Many libertarians disagree on the proper role of the state. Many libertarians believe that when it comes to the myth of mental illness, psychiatrist Thomas Szaszs seminal argument, a therapeutic state is desirable. The writings of Szasz were eschewed by some libertarians I know at the Cato Institute and elsewhere: We all think Dr. Szasz is a great libertarian, but his views on mental illness are crazy. Their understanding of Szasz is incomplete and in fact consistent with their other first premises.
The European Unions top diplomat and the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany and Italy will meet on Tuesday afternoon in Brussels to discuss Libya, an EU spokesman said, Trend with reference to Reuters reports.

Separately, Britain, France and Germany may discuss their position on the Iran nuclear deal before a meeting of all EU foreign ministers on Friday, the spokesman said.
Most people standing at the shore of Lake Constance in southern Germany look up to admire the snow-blanketed Swiss Alps across the water. But while skating along its frozen northwest edge three Januaries ago, aerial photographer Tom Hegen discovered an equally awesome sight looking down, notes Wired. The structures in the ice fascinated me and the patterns changed all the time, Hegen says. I wondered how it might look from a greater perspective. That perspective came from a homemade remote-controlled quadcopter.
Federal offices in Washington closed at 1 p.m. ET due to an expected winter storm on Tuesday, said the Office of Personnel Management in an alert.

All employees are required to leave their offices four hours before their normal departure time and can leave no later than 1 p.m., the office said on its website.

Employees of Federal offices in the Washington, DC area are authorized for early departure. Employees should depart 4 hours earlier than their normal departure time and may request UNSCHEDULED LEAVE to depart prior to their staggered departure time. All employees MUST DEPART at no later than 1:00 pm at which time FEDERAL OFFICES are CLOSED, its website says.

It says: Emergency employees are expected to remain at their worksite unless otherwise directed by their agencies.

According to local station WJLA, a mix of rain, sleet, and snow will hit the area during the afternoon. Several school systems were closed for the day or closed early, and Smithsonian museums are closing at 3 p.m.

The National Weather Services local office is forecasting rain and snow, becoming all snow after 3 p.m. before adding that the snow could be heavy at times.

It added: Total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible. Another half-inch of snow is possible overnight, the NWS said.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is slated to arrive at the White House to meet with President Donald Trump later in the afternoon.

From The Epoch Times
Actor-producer Ajay Devgn is on cloud nine as the 100th film of his career, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, is all set to hit the theatres this Friday. He sheds light on walking a tight rope and striking a balance between fact and fiction in this magnum opus. The budget of this film is nowhere more than any big film, the producer in him says without divulging too much detail. He also talks about watching his wife, Kajol, grow over the years as an actor.

Excerpts:

Ahead of the release, whats your headspace like?

The promotions are hectic. But whats keeping me busy is the final touches of the film.

An actor wants to push the envelope but a producer knows that there are budgetary constraints

Its vice-versa. As a producer, I push more boundaries. Not everything is about money. To make a big film like Tanhaji, you need intelligence and you need to be technically savvy. The budget of this film is nowhere more than any big film. But if you see the visuals and the special effects, itll look like a huge film. And thats only because weve been working on it for four years.

I own a VFX company too. The way in which we would shoot the film and design it was envisioned four years ago. We had created all the assets back then. Weve worked hard at it. Anybody can make a film if theyve money. If you have Rs 2,000 crore, you can make a film thats on par with any Hollywood film. I take great pride in saying that weve pulled similar effects in this film. The 3D, the VFX and the technology used in it are a first and made in India.

Watch: Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior - Saif Ali Khan & Rohit Shetty are all praise for Ajay Devgn

Do the actor and producer in you ever have conflicting views?

Not at all! Thats because even as an actor, I think like a producer. Theres no wastage of resources and theres no compromise either. I dont do that for only my productions but also for films produced by others.

The VFX used in Indian films tend to get a little gimmicky and in-your-face. What was your brief to the special effects team for Tanhaji?

The VFX in Tanhaji isnt like that. Look at Shivaay (2016) for that matter. Was it in-your-face? The CGI and the VFX werent gimmicky either. We kept it very real. I dont just brief them, but I also work with them. We work together keeping both the realism and larger-than-life elements in mind. We aim to strike a good balance.

How do you make a film like Tanhaji that doesnt have the adequate data required?

Most of the history lacks adequate information in the chapters of the history books. Different books are written from different point of views. So its very difficult to tread that thin of realism, justify the characters and still be imaginative enough to dramatise the characters so that the audience enjoys it. Youve to be careful and try to achieve all three.

Ajay Devgn and Kajol in a still from Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior.

Tahanji is your 100th film. Do you still feel scared before the release of your film?

(Smiles) It doesnt scare me. But Im anxious to know about what will happen to it because we all work so hard and the whole team puts in so much of effort. I expect people to watch and like the film. What if you went wrong and people dont like the film? Its like youre awaiting your results after an examination. You dont know how the audience is going to react and that makes me anxious.

You and Kajol have worked together in so many films. How have you seen her grow as an actor?

She has always been a fabulous actor. We feel amazed that she suddenly becomes someone else in front of the camera. She can effortlessly switch on and off. With experience, comes maturity, and she has matured as a person. Her understanding of things has become better. She has gone beyond what she was as an actor.

Are you also anxious about becoming a new character before you start shooting for a new film?

I do think for some time till I give my first shot before the camera. That anxiousness lies between reaching the set and facing the camera. I keep wondering if Ill be able to pull it off.

You began editing and directing films since you were a teenager. Do you remember those days?

Of course, I do. I cant forget those days. I used to make ads using my camera. My dad used to shoot. He used to teach me the technicalities associated with filming and the basics of editing. He was technically very savvy and was way ahead of his time. He used to create the same effect without the use of CGI. Ive learnt all of that from him. He used to show me his process of taking a shot. I used to learn it from him, do it at home and then show it to him. Thereafter, I started shooting my own films. I used to make sets, trolleys and cranes and so every other thing on a set. I really enjoyed it. And thats how I started working as an assistant to Shekhar Kapur (filmmaker) and then Deepak Shivdasani (filmmaker). Thats how it all started. But Ive lost all the shots and sequences that I took and edited.

When did you become serious about acting then?

I became serious when I started shooting for Phool Aur Kaante (1991). I believe that if you want to do something, you should do it right or you might as well not do it. I got serious the day I reached the set. Once the film released and it worked, came the responsibility. Since people liked me, I had to make sure that I keep up the good work.

Ajay Devgn in a still from Bhuj: The Pride of India.

Post Tanhaji, youve Bhuj: The Pride Of India and Maidaan. Is it a coincidence that all these films are based on real life events?

Ive started thinking about this and I think its a coincidence. I want to break the chain and so, Im doing Golmaal 5 after that. Having said that, I think real life characters really fascinate me. As actors and producers, we look for scripts that excite the audience and that has a storyline peppered with ample drama and emotions. When you see a character onscreen thats based on a real life person, you start wondering as to what their mindset would be like, how they made the sacrifices that they did, what was going in their minds when they fought and how strong they were. These are the things that excite a viewer. As a result, I like telling such stories.

Youre a private person. But your children, Nysa and Yug, are constantly snapped by the shutterbugs every time they step out. How comfortable are you with that?

Im not comfortable with that. But I cant do anything about it. And so my children, Kajol and I choose to ignore it because you cant fight these things.

Also read: Taapsee Pannu, Dia Mirza turn emotional as they join protest against JNU violence, Anurag Kashyap says We arent fools, we are watching

How do you think has the concept of stardom changed over the years?

I think the stardom that we all knew of back in the day has faded away. With the influx of social media, one knows everything about a star. Every tiny detail about them is out there for the people to read and know. Earlier, you didnt know much about a star. You only knew them from afar. So there was a sense of intrigue surrounding stars. You wanted to know more about them and their lives. But thats over now. People keep asking me about who I think is the next superstar. I tell them that the term superstar doesnt hold any relevance today. Therell be stars but no superstars anymore. But these stars will change every Friday. I really believe that the era of the superstars is over now.

A while back, you had said that you would want to get into full-time production and cut down on your acting projects.

Im trying to strike a balance. But eventually, Im going to become a full-fledged producer. I know that theres a limit as an actor. After a couple of years, I might not be a mainstream actor anymore and get into character roles. So my focus will slowly but obviously divert to production.

But isnt the limelight very addictive?

It is, but I cant keep holding onto it. Before Im kicked out, I want to walk out myself (smiles).

Follow @htshowbiz for more
While the number of ads about property sales increased by 40 percent in 2019, the number of ads about house and room leasing increased by 50 percent. The rent also increased sharply by 30-35 percent.

According to Dang Hung Vo, a respected real estate expert, who was Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, the growth of the real estate market in 2019 slowed down.





The legal review campaigns caused a series of projects to become stagnant. Meanwhile, the collapse of Cocobay project made investors shrink back and the market cool down. As a result, the house supply has become short, which pushed the prices up. Experts all said house prices will increase sharply in the next 2-3 years.



A report of DKRA showed that the land and house prices soared rapidly in 2013-2017 and the price escalation is believed to continue as the land bank in urban areas is getting scarcer.



CBRE Vietnam reported that the supply in 2019 decreased by 52 percent in HCM City and by 24 percent in Hanoi. Meanwhile, the house price increased by 6 percent in Hanoi and 12 percent in HCM City.



Observers can see the serious imbalance in the market supply and demand. In inner districts of HCM City, especially district 1, the land price is hovering around $10,000-50,000, or VND232 million-1.15 billion per square meter. In some projects, the prices are higher, at $70,000-80,000, or VND1.6-1.8 billion per square meter.

The land and house prices soared rapidly in 2013-2017 and the price escalation is believed to continue as the land bank in urban areas is getting scarcer.

The figures are much higher than the $30,000 (VND696 million) per square meter in 2018.



They believe that the decision by local authorities to raise the official land price frame will make the market prices escalate further.



According to Le Hoang Chau, chair of the HCM City Real Estate Association, the property prices comprise different components, including the expenses to fulfill the obligations to the state. The expenses account for 10 percent of the cost prices of apartments, 30 percent of houses on streets and 50 percent of villas.



Cost price is the basis for realtors to determine the selling prices of products. Therefore, the decision by local authorities to adjust the land price frame will surely have impact on the market price, Chau concluded.



Meanwhile, some real estate experts estimate that in housing projects, expenses on land account for 10-14 percent of cost price. Therefore, the selling prices will increase once the land prices increase.



Nguyen Quoc Anh, deputy director of batdongsang.com.vn, said investors now buy houses to rent instead of buying for reselling. The number of offers to sell real estate on the website increased by 40 percent in 2019, while the number of offers to rent increased more sharply, by 50 percent.

Kim Chi

Vietnam real estate market faced difficult year in 2019 The market was quiet most of the time in 2019 though it witnessed many transactions in some segments in the first months of the year.
It is not yet known how much the campaign has spent on the ads because Facebooks public ad database does not immediately report such figures. But Advertising Analytics, an ad tracking firm, said the Trump campaign had spent at least $8,000 on the ads so far.

The advertising campaign is running as tensions between the United States and Iran ramp up. Irans supreme leader is vowing retribution against the United States, the Pentagon is at odds with Mr. Trump over threatening Iranian cultural sites, and some Democrats have suggested that the president may have ordered the strike to take attention away from the looming Senate impeachment trial.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

These types of ads, known as acquisition ads, are intended to help campaigns gather more information about internet users with the goal of turning them into online donors.

Most of the Trump campaigns Suleimani ads work the same way. First, potential voters are shown the ad. Clicking on it brings them to a brief survey on the Trump campaigns website, which asks questions like, Do you believe America has the greatest military in the world? The survey also asks for a name, email address and phone number, which the campaign can then add to its database of potential donors.

Users who submit the survey are also prompted to donate right away, with a message that says, President Trump is keeping AMERICA SAFE! Now its time to step up and stand behind him. Donation buttons ranging from $42 to $2,800 appear below the text.
Mumbai, Jan 7 : Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar has been at his sarcastic best on Twitter lately, taking jibes at the rapacious elements of society who are out to make profits out of the pervading environment of unrest and insecurity in the country.

"Hello all Business tycoons best time to loot a country is when half of countries population is blinded.. loot as you like.. loot infrastructure/ mines//rivers/ jungles/airports etc.. you have a free hand to loot as country is clueless what's happening up there," tweeted Sircar.

In another tweet, the filmmaker expressed that God should create human beings without a stomach, because if there is no hunger then there will be no fights for survival.

"When I meet God, I will ask to create humans without stomach... (stomach is the root cause of all human suffering ) ..So no hunger therefore no survival issues .. no fights:)," he wrote.

On a serious note, he also tweeted: "It's actually time for all citizens to forget everything right away and concentrate making the country self sufficient.. look around the world what's happening.. we should forget all differences and hatred and create a self sufficient strong country."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
[January 07, 2020] Triple Crown Consulting Expands to Southeast, Opens Raleigh-Durham Office

Triple Crown Consulting, a technology recruitment firm filling hard-to-find senior tech roles through its vast talent network, today announced the opening of its new Raleigh-Durham office. The company has nearly tripled its revenue in the last three years, and its client roster has grown 63 percent in the same time. This is the third office opening in two years. The new office will be led by Kyle Raymond, Regional Vice President, who opened and built the Portsmouth, New Hampshire office in 2018. "Since opening our Northeast office two years ago we have been growing our business down the East Coast," said Dave Smith, Triple Crown Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder. "The Raleigh-Durham tech market continues to explode, and the time is right to establish an official presence there. We know the power of technology talent in North Carolina - CompTIA just ranked Raleigh the no. 2 area in the U.S. for tech jobs, and Durham-Chapel Hill moved up to no. 13. We want to have boots on the ground to work more closely with the area's best tech companies and connect them with the exceptional talent we've already seen there."



Raymond's work in Portsmouth has been instrumental in growing Triple Crown's East Coast business to the point of needing to establish a North Carolina office. Since opening doors in Portsmouth less than two years ago, Raymond has grown the office's revenue by 270 percent. Smith added, "Raymond is the right person to build and lead our North Carolina office. We look forward to continuing to become part of the Raleigh-Durham community and helping tech companies win the war for talent."

Joining Raymond in Raleigh-Durham is Jake Bjornberg, Lead Recruiter, to manage the company's work with contractors. Filling Raymond's previous position is Site Manager Ryan Rooney, who has worked in Portsmouth since its opening. All three have been promoted from within the company after achieving top performance in their respective areas. Triple Crown has hired recruiters and managers to its North Carolina team and plans to hire several more. The new office is located at 411 W Chapel Hill Street, Suite 102, Durham, North Carolina, 27701. Reach Raymond at [email protected] or 919.276.4613. About Triple Crown Consulting Triple Crown Consulting fuels the digital economy with senior, project-based software and hardware technology professionals. We specialize in filling software and hardware roles across all high-tech industries, from military technology development to consumer electronics, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, machine learning, aerospace, automotive, medical devices and more. Giving us speed no recruiting agency can match and relationships no recruiting technology can form, our unique, unrelenting recruiting model results in ready access to sought-after technology innovators. Software and hardware experts nationwide turn to Triple Crown to work on challenging projects where trails are blazing and ground is breaking. Businesses and technology teams, from Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging startups, rely on our ability to rapidly place the developers, architects, coders, analysts and designers who engineer digital transformation and growth. Triple Crown is headquartered in Austin with offices in Scottsdale, San Jose, Costa Mesa, Portsmouth and Raleigh-Durham. For more information, visit www.tripleco.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005894/en/

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LONDON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On 10 December, House Democrats announced their support on a revised version of the USMCA, a deal that was signed by all three countries in November 2018. The revised deal, which includes changes made to labour and environmental standards and enforcement thereof, was quickly signed by Mexico, but must now pass through US Congress and Canada's Parliament for approval.

The US Aluminium Association was quick to endorse the new USMCA but stated that "strong import monitoring and trade enforcement are vital to effective USMCA implementation." Of particular concern is a massive increase in Chinese aluminium sheet and plate exports to Mexico, which are up 94% YTD October 2019 compared to the same period in 2018, and up more than 220% compared to 2017.

One area of concern among US producers is transshipment of aluminium products from China through Mexico and into the US. However, this is not happening in the form of unwrought aluminium and semis, where US imports from Mexico have declined in recent years. The larger and more tangible concern lies within automotive components and finished vehicles, where Mexico is a major exporter to the US. When comparing USMCA to the existing NAFTA, there are some significant changes and new requirements as it relates to automotive rules of origin. These requirements differ by vehicle type and will be implemented using a phased approach as shown in the table below.

In addition to the vehicle and part specific content requirements, USMCA also includes a new requirement that auto OEM must source 70% of their aluminium and steel from North America, certified on an annual basis. A point of concern raised by the US and Canada is the absence of a "melted and poured" requirement for aluminium, which was a last-minute addition for the steel industry. Under the new rules, steel must be melted and poured within North America, while no such clause was added for aluminium. Aluminium industry officials fear that Mexico will become "a back door for China to push aluminium into the US." It's important to note that the "melted and poured" requirement was not part of the existing NAFTA and will only enter into force seven years from the USMCA implementation date. Nonetheless, the 70% aluminium requirement includes direct purchases, purchases through service centres, and purchases contracted through a supplier. This requirement is applied on a fleet-wide, company/account basis for the auto OEM, and pertains specifically to purchases of aluminium and aluminium products classified under the HS Chapter 76.

Read the full story:

https://www.crugroup.com/knowledge-and-insights/insights/2020/usmca-should-support-regional-aluminium-demand-but-not-without-complications-and-risks/

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CRU offers unrivalled business intelligence on the global metals, mining and fertilizer industries through market analysis, price assessments, consultancy and events.

Since our foundation by Robert Perlman in 1969, we have consistently invested in primary research and robust methodologies, and developed expert teams in key locations worldwide, including in hard-to-reach markets such as China.

CRU employs over 280 experts and has more than 11 offices around the world, in Europe, the Americas, China, Asia and Australia - our office in Beijing opened in 2004 and Singapore in 2018.

When facing critical business decisions, you can rely on our first-hand knowledge to give you a complete view of a commodity market. And you can engage with our experts directly, for the full picture and a personalised response.

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Four members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Helena and Calistoga have been recognized for their personal and academic achievements, their contributions to the clubs, and one outstanding youth will be awarded Youth of the Year on Thursday.

Those members are Fernando Rios and Sabrina Wells, both of Calistoga; and St. Helenans Naomi Fernandez and Erik Martinez.

These four teens were interviewed by judges Monday, and will give a speech in front of 150 people at a dinner at the Gallery at Brasswood Estate in St. Helena on Thursday, where a winner will be chosen.

The Seventh Annual Youth of the Year celebration will be from 6-8 p.m.

Every week, the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Helena and Calistoga recognizes members who excel in the program in areas of character and leadership, education and technology, health and life skills, the arts, sports, and fitness and recreation. Of those, a Member of the Month is chosen, and from there a Youth of the Year is named.

The Youth of the Year will then go on to Sacramento, and if selected, will go on to represent the clubs in the national competition.

You can reach Cynthia Sweeney at 942-4035 or csweeney@weeklycalistogan.com.

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Javad Zarif, Irans foreign minister, has vowed a response to the drone strike ordered by President Donald Trump that killed top military general Qasem Soleimani, which he called a lawless act of state terrorism."

In an interview with CNN Tuesday, Zarif said Trump had destroyed stability in the Middle East by pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal Tehran had negotiated with the Obama administration and instituting harsh sanctions on Iran. He added that the U.S. previously undermined security in this region by starting the Iraq war.

The killing of Soleimani, Zarif said, amounted to an act of aggression and an armed attack against Iran.

We will respond. But we will respond proportionally, not disproportionally, he said. We will respond lawfully. We are not lawless people like President Trump."

Zarif was referencing Trumps warning that retaliation from Iran could lead to strikes against 52 targeted sites including some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture.

....targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2020

Many Iranians and Democratic critics of the president described attacks on cultural sites as potential war crimes. Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper contradicted Trump on Monday, saying in a Pentagon news briefing that the U.S. would follow the laws of armed conflict," the New York Times reported.

CNN reported that the interview with Zarif came as the Iranian parliament voted unanimously in favor of a motion declaring all U.S. forces as terrorists," according to a state news agency.

Zarif, a key player in the 2015 nuclear deal, argued the region had improved under the agreement, with reductions in tensions and normal elections in Iraq, normal elections in Lebanon, CNN reported.

Trump has argued the attack on Soleimani will save the lives of Americans and allies because, as head of Irans Quds Force, the longtime general had killed hundreds of Americans and planned imminent attacks.
Bloomberg to Promote Charter Schools, Diverging From Leading Democratic Rivals

In his anticipated education plan, Democratic presidential primary contender Michael Bloomberg will absolutely promote charter schools, his campaign spokesperson told the New York Post on Monday.

Although Bloomberg has yet to fully reveal an education platform, he is expected to be consistent with his legacy during his tenure as mayor of New York City. Under his direction, low-performing schools were closed and privately managed charter schools flourished. Research completed by the Brookings Institution (pdf) in 2013 found that the number of charter schools in the city had grown from a mere 22 in 2003, when Bloomberg took office, to 159 in 2012.

Mikes education plan will absolutely promote charter schools, said Stu Loeser, a spokesperson for the former New York City mayors campaign.

The record number of charter schools opened under Mayor Bloomberg is clear. That isnt changing, he added. Few if any people in the country have opened more charter schools than Mike Bloomberg.

A supporter of expansion of charter schools, Bloomberg might find himself more aligned with some Democratic rivals include New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who embraced pro-school choice policies as mayor of Newark, and Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, who backed charters when he worked as a superintendent for Denvers public schools.

Many Democratic primary forerunners, however, decry charter schools, arguing that expanding charter schools undermine public schools rather than offering students and their parents more education choices. Elizabeth Warren, in her education plan, pledges to eliminate federal Charter Schools Program, a fund to support new charter schools across the United States. Bernie Sanders has also called to end public funding for charter growth and a ban on for-profit charters. Joe Bidens education plan does not even touch on charter schools, but in an interview with the National Education Association (NEA), he said, No privately funded charter school or private charter school would receive a penny of federal moneynone.

While certainly appealing to powerful teacher unions including the three-million-strong NEA, Democratic candidates who jump on the anti-charter bandwagon risk alienating black and Hispanic voters, plenty of whom have been benefited from the expansion of high-quality charter schools in low-income urban-center neighborhoods. In fact, Warrens Atlanta rally that aimed to highlight the importance of female black voters was interrupted when a loud group of black parentsmostly mothers and grandmothersshout her down as they chanted our child, our choice, a pro-school choice slogan.

The latest average from polling data aggregator Real Clear Politics shows that Bloomberg has driven his rating up to 5.8 in just two months after entering the Democratic presidential primary race. His self-funded advertising campaign surpassed $100 million in just a month, according to NPR.
Yangon, Myanmar  A year ago, four police stations in the conflict-ridden western Rakhine State of Myanmar came under attack from the Arakan Army (AA) leaving an estimated 13 officers dead and nine injured.

The response was swift.

Myanmars military (also known as the Tatmadaw) promised to crush the terrorists, marking the beginning of the latest bloody chapter in the countrys never-ending conflicts, waged primarily between the Tatmadaw and various ethnic rebel groups.

Rakhine has become notorious as the location of the militarys brutal campaign against the mostly Muslim Rohingya, which led to the exodus of 740,000 people and accusations of genocide.

What the military called clearance operations were partially justified by claims that the Muslims posed a threat to Rakhine Buddhists and their way of life, but the AA, founded in 2009 is an ethnic Rakhine, religiously Buddhist armed group.

Its move against the central government is rooted in Myanmars history, recent and ancient, experts say.





David Brenner, who researches ethnic armed conflict in Myanmar, met AA commander-in-chief Tun Myat Naing in 2014 when the group was still operating in Kachin State, along the Chinese border in northern Myanmar.

At that time, the AA was receiving support and training from another ethnic armed group, the Kachin Independence Army.

They were looking for a kind of united front against the Tatmadaw, they offered training to armed movements around the country, said Brenner, now a lecturer in International Relations at Goldsmiths, University of London, in a recent interview with Al Jazeera.

The AAs presence in Kachin was always meant to be temporary, and in 2018 they returned to Rakhine, precipitating the escalation of the conflict.

Specific incidents of Tatmadaw aggression helped stoke tensions, including a violent crackdown that year on an event commemorating the ancient Arakan kingdom, which left seven civilians dead and led to the arrest of popular Rakhine politician Aye Maung for treason. Last year he was found guilty and jailed for 20 years.

Rakhine has been rocked by violence between the Myanmar military and the rebel Arakan Army. The military has vowed to crush the terrorists. [File: Nyunt Win/EPA]

Rakhine, an independent kingdom from 1429 to 1782 with its own rich history and culture, has long been overlooked by the central government and excluded from national peace talks, according to analysts.

That is partly because, as the British colonialists, it sees the ethnic Rakhine as similar to the majority Bamar.

The British appeared to regard the Rakhine people as close cousins of the majority Bamars and therefore not sufficiently distinct for separate representation, wrote ethnic affairs expert Martin Smith in his 2019 publication, Arakan (Rakhine State): A Land in Conflict on Myanmars Western Frontier.

When Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi came to power following the 2015 election, she pledged to make peace with the countrys ethnic groups a cornerstone of her new administration.





She revived the Panglong Peace Conference, first held in 1947 between her father General Aung San and ethnic minority leaders. But, like her father, she found establishing peace easier said than done.

Her lack of control over the military and inability to satisfy the demands of ethnic armed groups means fighting continues even as ceasefires are signed.

Aung San Suu Kyi herself has also been accused of exacerbating the issue by forcibly erecting statues of her father in ethnic minority states and appointing members of her own party to serve as state ministers, rather than representatives from ethnic parties.

Excluded from the peace talks and without any territory of its own, the AA has sought to expand its territory and force the military into negotiations.

They need a strong army and they need territory first otherwise theyre not being taken seriously at the negotiation table, Brenner said. That, of course, entails very fierce escalation in Rakhine. Getting territory means that territory needs to be conquered first.

The unrest has forced tens of thousands from their homes and into temporary camps [File: Nyunt Win/EPA]

According to Brenner, the Rohingya crackdown, while initially supported by many ethnic Rakhine, has led to destabilisation, violence, and greater poverty  and the presence of the military.

Arakanese nationalists are not happy with that because now the Tatmadaw presence in Rakhine is much heavier than it was before, Brenner explained.

During Myanmars decades of military rule, Rakhine became the second-poorest state in the country and continues to suffer even as enormous Chinese and Indian projects are approved in the area. Many fear they are being left behind as Myanmar develops.

Underpinning these struggles is a belief  as in many other ethnic nationality areas of the country  that the political and economic interests of the local peoples are being marginalised and neglected by the central government, Smith said in an email.

Smith added that while Arakan political groups are consistently the most popular in the state, they do not win enough votes for significant representation nationally, leaving people feeling excluded from the political process.

In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Khaing Thu Kha, the spokesman for the AA, blamed the Tatmadaw for the increased fighting.

We are not invading Mandalay or Yangon. Rakhine is our land, we have the right to be there, he said.

Khaing Thu Kha also accused the military, which is under international scrutiny for its human rights abuses, of attacking civilians. Sometimes they just blatantly attack a Rakhine village with the excuse that the AA is using civilians as cover to ambush army columns, which is baseless, he said.

In one high-profile incident in December, the Tatmadaw attacked a village, leaving three dead.

Rakhine locals said soldiers stormed the village, executing two and taking another eight people hostage. One was later found dead with his throat slit and arm cut off. The military acknowledges two died, saying the villagers were AA fighters killed in a shoot-out, It denied there was a third victim.

Rakhine State is in Myanmars far west and one of the countrys poorest areas [Al Jazeera]

Smith said the AA have very obviously been able to find popular support among large sections of the community and the Tatmadaws heavy-handed response had only deepened sympathy.

At a time when the international community has been expressing concern over these tactics, the Tatmadaw has resumed its long-standing strategies against armed opposition groups, he said, including shelling whole villages and arresting and summarily executing suspected AA members or supporters.

Ma Khin Than Shwe, a resident of Kyaukpyu township in Rakhine, said she feels inequality is the root cause of the internal conflict. Rakhine used to be a sovereign kingdom, not even a state. Rakhine State is rich in natural resources, she said.

Even so, she does not want the return of an Arakan Kingdom, only that the people of Rakhine benefit from economic development. If the government used as small as five percent for Rakhine, not even 10 or the whole 100, our state wouldnt be that poor, she said. We feel oppressed and discriminated against.

Many prisoners have been taken on both sides, including the brother, sister, and brother-in-law of AA commander Tun Myint Naing. His wife and children were detained by Thai immigration authorities when Myanmar annulled their passports.

While being oppressed and colonised by the English, you Bamar staged a revolution. But now, you're doing the exact same thing to ethnic people including Rakhine. Khaing Thu Kha, Arakan Army

On the other side, the AA has taken and released many of its prisoners, including two politicians from the ruling National League for Democracy.

MP Hawi Tin remains in custody, while the AA claims that Buthidaung Township chairman Ye Thein was killed when the Tatmadaw shelled the area. The military could not be reached for comment, but previously denied engaging in conflict that day, saying they believe Ye Thein died much earlier.

Khaing Thu Kha denied that any of the arrests have been retaliatory. He says the AA is only taking potential military spies and that any deaths are due to the dangerous situation created by the Tatmadaw.

I want the Bamar society to think about this. While being oppressed and colonised by the English, you Bamar staged a revolution. But now, youre doing the exact same thing to ethnic people including Rakhine. Is it fair? Khaing Thu Kha asked.

For now, there are no indicators that a peaceful solution is near, but Smith said if the ruling NLD revived the peace process and made it genuinely inclusive, ethnic armed groups would respond favourably.

It is the local peoples who above all want peace, he said.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration appears to have softened its threat to withhold Californias federal highway funding over a backlog of air-pollution control plans.

Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Michael Stoker said in a letter dated Dec. 30 to Californias top air-quality official that the federal and state governments have made great progress to reduce a backlog of reports mandated under the Clean Air Act.

The letter, first reported Monday by McClatchy news service, is an unexpected sign of cooperation between the EPA and Californias Air Resources Board as they battle over pollution standards.

In September, the EPA accused California officials of failing to submit pollution-reduction plans required under federal law. The agency said that if the state didnt fix the problem, the Trump administration could freeze funding for highway projects.

The EPA said the state is responsible for a disproportionate share of backlogged State Implementation Plans, blueprints for how states will improve air quality.

But Stoker, in his recent letter to California Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols, said the state has made significant progress by withdrawing 43 of its 130 pollution reports because they were outdated, unnecessary or deficient.

Through our mutual commitments, I hope to either approve or have withdrawn all California (air-quality plans) in the very near future, Stoker wrote. Of course, the next step will be to develop replacement (plans) that protect human health and the environment.

A spokeswoman for the Air Resources Board said it has been helping U.S. EPA to resolve its administrative backlog for years, adding that this ongoing work is nothing new.

California officials had previously called the EPAs funding threat politically motivated. In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom said it was a threat of pure retaliation.

The EPAs warning came as President Trump and California leaders clashed over climate change policy, a separate but related fight. Last fall, Trump moved to revoke the states decades-old waiver to adopt stricter vehicle emissions standards.

California officials have filed multiple lawsuits fighting the decision, arguing it will harm the health of tens of millions of people already living with poor air quality.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
U.S. Army paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade are preparing to deploy to the Middle East to beef up U.S. military ground forces in the region amid threats of military action by Iran, an Army official has confirmed to Military.com.

The Pentagon continues to tap available ground forces to send to the U.S. Central Command region in the wake of escalating tensions with Iran. The Iranian government has made bold threats against the U.S., promising to retaliate after President Donald Trump ordered a drone strike Thursday that killed Iran's Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.

Maj. Chris Bradley, a spokesman for the Italy-based 173rd, told Stars and Stripes on Monday that 173rd soldiers "are deploying to posture to defend U.S. personnel and property as directed" but did not discuss the size of the deployment.

The 173rd Airborne is the Army's rapid-response unit for Europe and, like the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is capable of deploying the first of its two infantry battalions and support units in 18 hours.

Related: Emergency Paratrooper Deployment Is First for New Army Response Force

On Friday, the Pentagon ordered about 3,000 paratroopers from the 82nd's 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment to deploy to the Middle East, three days after the emergency alert and deployment of the 504th's 2nd Battalion as part of the joint Immediate Response Force (IRF).

The short-notice deployment of the IRF came in response to hundreds of Iranian-backed militia members breaching the U.S. Embassy compound last week.

In addition to conventional Army forces, the entire Bataan Amphibious Ready Group has been ordered to the region. The group includes the amphibious assault ship Bataan, amphibious transport dock ship New York, dock landing ship Oak Hill and about 4,500 Marines and sailors.

Army Special Operations Command is also deploying a contingent of forces to the area that includes a company-sized element from the 75th Ranger Regiment, Politico recently reported.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

-- Military.com's Gina Harkins contributed to this report.

Read More: Army Rangers Deploy to Join US Force Buildup in Middle East
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[January 06, 2020] Air Lease Corporation CEO to Speak at Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2020 Defense Outlook & Commercial Aerospace Forum

Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) announced today that John L. Plueger, Chief Executive Officer and President, will be speaking at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2020 Defense Outlook & Commercial Aerospace Forum in New York City on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 12:20 p.m. Eastern Time. This speaking engagement will be broadcast live through a link on the Investors page of the Air Lease Corporation website at www.airleasecorp.com. Alternatively, virtual attendees may access the webcast directly via this link: 2020 Defense Outlook & Commercial Aerospace Forum. Please visit the website prior to the webcast to register, download and install any necessary audio software. Any materials utilized for this speaking engagement will be posted 15 minutes prior to the speaking time.



About Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) ALC is a leading aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, California that has airline customers throughout the world. ALC and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline customers worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions. ALC routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the "Investors" section of ALC's website at www.airleasecorp.com. Investors and potential investors are encouraged to consult the ALC website regularly for important information about ALC. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, ALC's website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

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REGINAHackers have made it through the first level of security surrounding Saskatchewans electronic health records and have locked the government out of some systems.

Jim Hornell with eHealth Saskatchewan told CTV News the hackers are demanding the government pay an unspecified ransom to regain control.

The electronic information warehouse stores the personal health data of Saskatchewan residents, but the government says it believes nothing has been stolen.

Hornell says staff cant get access to some administrative files, so cant do their daily work, but he says patient information hasnt been compromised.

He says eHealth officials are monitoring the situation closely.

eHealth says it will not pay the ransom and the case has been turned over to police for investigation.

Hornell says Saskatchewans health records are attacked about 100,000 times a day.

Cybersecurity and cybercrime is a huge enterprise and we are constantly under attack, Hornell told CTV.

The Opposition feels the government bears some responsibility for the attack.

The Ministry of Health has a responsibility to ensure that eHealth is supported, so that it can do its job, but, unfortunately, weve seen a consistent inability to provide that support on behalf of the government, said NDP legislature member Vicki Mowat.
The chief priest of Kapil Muni temple, Mahant Gyan Das has criticised the contentious amended Citizenship Act, saying "humanity is the religion".

Speaking to reporters, the chief priest of the temple located at Ganga Sagar in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district said no one should be discriminated based on religion.

"You pray to God in different ways but humanity is the religion," he said on Monday.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 seeks to grant Indian citizenship to religious minorities of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh fleeing persecution there.

Asked about the recent violent protests against the CAA, Das said, "(Prime Minister) Modi Ji and (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah can reply to your questions."



Speaking on the annual Ganga Sagar Mela, he said no visitor is discriminated based on religion.

"There is no difference between Hindus, Muslims and Christians in the mela (fair)," Das said.

Terming Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who visited the temple on Monday, as a 'Virangana' (brave woman), Das said she is working for humanity.

"Is development work undertaken here only for Hindus? It is for all," Das added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A $30m portion of the compensation money will be used for the airliness 2019 employee profit-sharing programme: AA.

American Airlines Group Inc (AA) said on Monday it had reached a confidential agreement with Boeing Co to address damages the airline incurred in 2019 due to the continued grounding of its fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

While the amount of money that Boeing will pay the airline is unknown, AA said the compensation will be received over several years. American Airlines also says a $30m portion of the compensation money will be used for the companys 2019 employee profit-sharing programme. American Airlines is the largest United States airline.

American said it does not expect any material financial effect of the agreement to be realized in its fourth-quarter 2019 earnings, and it will continue talks regarding compensation for damages related to the MAX grounding beyond 2019.

Boeing said it does not comment on discussions with airlines.

Boeings best-selling 737 MAX has been grounded since two fatal crashes in five months killed 346 people. The company is halting production this month. Several airlines have struck confidential settlements with Boeing in recent weeks.
Aston Martin has warned it will miss its profit targets after tough headwinds continued into December, a key month, even as fellow luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce posted a record year.

The business said that challenging trading conditions it flagged up in November have not eased and, as a result, it has registered fewer sales, higher costs for selling each vehicle and lower margins.

Aston Martin chief executive Andy Palmer said: Our underlying performance will fail to deliver the profits we planned, despite a reduction in dealer stock levels.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) is now expected to be around 130m to 140m, the company said.

Shares in the company fell around 14 per cent to 448p after the stock markets opened on Tuesday morning.

Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Show all 5 1 /5 Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Jaguar Land Rover Britain's largest automotive manufacturer announced in January that it plans to cut 4500 jobs from its 40,000 workforce Getty Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Nissan The Japanese car company announced early in February that it would no longer be making the new X-trail model at its Sunderland factory Getty Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Honda Honda has announced that it is planning to close its Swindon plant with the loss of 3,500 jobs PA Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Michelin Michelin announced in November that it will close its Dundee tyre factory which employs over 800 people by 2020 PA Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Schaeffler Shchaeffler's Llanelli plant is to close by the end of 2019. The company provides automotive and and industrial parts worldwide and the Llanelli plant employs over 200 people. Juergen Ziegler, chief executive for Europe, said that while Brexit was not the only factor, it has "brought forward" the decision to relocate Google

On top of having to support customers to finance their buys more than expected, Aston Martin was also hit by a jump in the value of the pound after Decembers general election.

Dr Palmer said: We are taking a series of actions to manage the business through this difficult period. This will include a cost-saving programme alongside a focus on returning dealer stock levels to those more normally associated with a luxury company; winning back our strong price positioning is a key focus.

Aston Martins troubles put it in stark contrast to fellow luxury brand Rolls-Royce, which sold more cars last year than at any point in its 116-year history.

It exceeded 2018s record of 4,107 cars, to sell 5,152, a 25 per cent jump.

Both brands launched new SUVs over the period, with Rolls-Royces Cullinan making a major contribution to growing sales. Aston Martins new DBX showed very encouraging signs after launching earlier in the year, according to its boss.

Rolls-Royce chief executive Torsten Muller-Otvos said: This performance is of an altogether different magnitude to any previous years sales success. While we celebrate these remarkable results, we are conscious of our key promise to our customers  to keep our brand rare and exclusive.

However, he warned that the growth may not last into 2020, as sales of the Cullinan stabilise.

Rolls-Royce cars were sold at record rates in Russia, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Qatar and Korea, the company revealed. It has 135 dealerships worldwide.

PA
The American killing of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, a hero at home but a terrorist to the United States government, has scaled into one of the most dangerous confrontations between the two countries in the four decades of animosity that have followed the Islamic Revolution.

Irans firing of ballistic missiles from inside its borders  not relying on rockets from Iranian-backed proxies  at two of the main military bases where many of the more than 5,000 American troops in Iraq are stationed was a significant escalation of force that threatened to ignite a widening conflict throughout the Middle East.

It was also a stark message from Tehran that it has the will and the ability to strike at American targets in neighboring Iraq.

It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and coalition personnel at Al Asad and Erbil, Jonathan Hoffman, the Pentagons chief spokesman, said in a statement.

Iranian news media reported the attacks hours after the remains of General Suleimani were returned to his hometown in Iran for burial amid a huge outpouring of grief and rage at the United States. The funeral procession was so huge and unwieldy that more than 50 people died in a stampede, state news media reported, forcing a delay in the burial.

Iranian officials said the attacks began at 1:20 a.m.  the time General Suleimani was killed Friday by an American drone at the Baghdad International Airport.
Is it culturally permissible to date monogamously while also visiting sex workers to enjoy an expressive sex life?

An anonymous letter writer recently posed this question in Slate magazine.

If theres anything Id want my new partner to understand, the missive reads, its that I believe seeing a sex worker can make me a better partner. . . . Getting certain sexual needs taken care of elsewhere would allow me to better focus my attention and invest in our relationship.

Of course, its not just anonymous letter writers advocating for loosening cultural chastity belts. Evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller recently wrote favorably about a related, albeit slightly different, form of openness: polyamory, which, he argues, is going mainstream, like it or not. Assuming that such open arrangements are in fact growing (and its worth noting the strong disagreement about the scope of the phenomenon), Miller and others tout polyamory, or consensual non-monogamy, as allowing more honesty regarding our true desires.

Polyamory is not defined by sex but rather honesty, writes one polyamorist in USA Today. Miller, in fact, characterizes polyamory as radical honesty, claiming that it allows once impermissible desires to be articulated and pursued more openly and truthfully.

This is perhaps one of the main arguments advanced by advocates of polyamory and consensual non-monogamy. After millennia of deceiving ourselves and others, were told, polyamory finally permits us to say what we really think and to act as we really feel.

Not attracted to your spouse anymore? Polyamory gives you license to say so and begin the conversation about moving from monogamous to monogamish. Want two partners instead of one, or three instead of two? Polyamory lets you be honest about that desire and to act accordingly.

But before polyamorists congratulate themselves too much over their honesty, its worth investigating what they mean by radical honesty. It turns out that, in practice, this kind of honesty more often deals in half-truths and plays the role of legitimizing a self-centered form of sexual consumerism. Ironically, radical honesty not only undermines our ability to live true to our commitments. It also evades the many ways widespread acceptance of polyamory could make society worse off.

Story continues

Proponents often tout polyamory as an ethical, consensual form of non-monogamy. However, a recent survey, co-sponsored by the Wheatley Institution and Brigham Young Universitys School of Family Life, found that less than half of women who had been in a consensual non-monogamous relationship said that both partners desired the arrangement equally.

And, among all survey respondents, it turned out that men desired an open sexual relationship almost four times more than their female counterparts. To be sure, plenty of male respondents in the survey reported that their female partner wanted an open relationship more than they did; but, no matter the direction of the data, the findings suggest that the mainstreaming of polyamory would likely result in many individuals (particularly women) feeling pressured to enter arrangements that would not be their first choice. And, as others have observed, these findings should encourage an appropriate dose of doubt regarding the consensual nature (for all affected parties) of so-called consensual non-monogamous relationships.

Another study (referenced here) on this topic found that commitment emerged as a central concept in polyamorous relationships but that when rule violations of commitment occurred they were not generally interpreted as cheating but rather as opportunities to renegotiate agreements. In other words, even in polyamorous relationships, there are rules and violations of rules. The main difference, it appears, is that in radically honest relationships the dishonest partners  those who dont play by the rules  face few consequences.

How can this be considered honest?

To paraphrase Bill Clinton, it depends on what the meaning of the word honesty is. Certainly, a realistic approach to human sexuality would acknowledge the existence of non-monogamous sexual desire, but its not clear why honesty requires us to privilege such desires over our commitments and our moral obligations to other people.

Spouses and partners believe (quite reasonably) that when they promise to be faithful, they mean it. Indeed, living up to ones word, contract, or solemn vow has long been the quintessence of honesty. Honest people do what they promise; they make good on their commitments. But thats not, evidently, how honesty appears to function in contemporary polyamorous relationships, in which rule violations are merely opportunities to renegotiate agreements.

What happens if such renegotiated agreements are violated over and over again? When does such a relationship cease to be radically honest? And, if the answer is never, isnt a more apt description radical mendacity?

Radical honesty, as defined, is particularly pernicious because it not only allows an individual to void prior moral commitments but also seeks to give the individual a moral justification for doing so  one is doing the right thing by following ones honest desires. Many commitments can be canceled, and many responsibilities evaded, with this kind of honesty.

Commitments made in the shadow of radical honesty seem to always have an implicit escape clause attached to them: I will do X, at least as long as I feel like it. Ultimately, radical honesty just means being honest about your desires, and in particular your sexual desires, even if you fall short of honesty in your commitments.

But again, radical honesty fails to be fully forthcoming even in this. Polyamorist boosters can claim honesty here only by importing a great deal of loose assumptions about right and wrong, human nature, and what it means to live a worthwhile and fulfilling life. In this view, humans are defined primarily by their felt desires, and the only way to live honestly and authentically is to obey them. Desire is most core to the self.

But these assumptions bear a strong affinity to a dehumanizing consumerist approach to life  one in which other people and relationships are means of achieving self-satisfaction. Partners will be around as long as they are useful, attractive, or desirable but then can be discarded (or reprioritized) when they are no longer sexually or emotionally satisfying. With honesty defined as allegiance to desire, all things are measured by the extent to which they conform to our wants. Its tempting to say that polyamory is the working out of consumerism at the level of intimate relationships.

Of course, humans are not reducible to desires alone.

We also have the capacity to reason, voluntarily enter into commitments, and make moral judgments. Desires are often not in harmony with our commitments or moral judgments, and when they are not, it should be our highest moral judgments that prevail. Even ethical polyamorists have to concede this point  they would agree, for example, that a base desire to engage sexually with another person without his or her permission, or who is under the age of consent, does not justify acting on that desire.

Advocates of polyamory might say that they dont mean those kinds of desires, but that is precisely the point: The mere experience of a desire does not tell us much about whether the desire would be appropriate to act on. Radical honesty too often conflates the experience of desire with the moral judgment that acting according to the desire is a good and appropriate moral choice.

Advocates of radical honesty downplay the ways in which the widespread acceptance of polyamory will further threaten certain valuable institutions and vulnerable groups. Scholar Rob Henderson recently wrote about a conversation he had with a student at an elite institution of higher learning. The student observed that when he sets his Tinder [dating app)]radius to five miles, about half of the women, mostly other students, said they were polyamorous in their bios. Then, when he extended the radius to 15 miles to include the rest of the city and its outskirts, about half of the women were single mothers.

He went on to observe that

the costs created by the luxury beliefs of the former are borne by the latter. Polyamory is the latest expression of sexual freedom championed by the affluent. They are in a better position to manage the complications of novel relationship arrangements. And if these relationships dont work out, they can recover thanks to their financial capability and social capital. The less fortunate suffer by adopting the beliefs of the upper class.

As the noted religious leader and former jurist Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has observed, while some can pretend to neutrality on questions of right and wrong, . . . society cannot survive on such neutrality.

University of Virginia sociologist Bradford Wilcox has demonstrated that people in the upper class often still enter into and benefit from monogamous marriages but that marriage norms have seriously deteriorated among the poor, with serious consequences for single parents and children: Children born to working-class mothers are almost three times as likely to be born outside of wedlock, compared with children born to middle- and upper-class mothers. Children born to poor mothers are about five times as likely to be born out of wedlock. If were being honest, polyamory is often the unchosen and unwanted reality for far too many families, and its social consequences have been devastating for the most vulnerable. Of course, we are not claiming that polyamorists are uniquely responsible for the breakdown of marital norms among the poor, but we are arguing that the spread of radically honest views of commitment and relationships will make family stability increasingly unlikely.

Any honest culture would confront such realities and seek to remedy (not exacerbate) them.

Those who advocate radical honesty, however, are right about this much  we should be candid with ourselves about our internal mental and emotional life. If we have a thought or a feeling, we should be honest about it. But we should always ask: Is this a good thought or feeling to act on? Will this desire, if acted on, have positive outcomes for myself, those I love, or my community?

We are not obligated to be obedient to every desire, or even every desire that another consenting adult is willing to accommodate or encourage. Moral truth should come first. If we want to reach sound conclusions about polyamory, it would seem that old-fashioned honesty  the kind that keeps commitments, accepts responsibility, and cares about the vulnerable  is better than a radical honesty that seems interested only in half-truths about human happiness.

Daniel Frost and Hal Boyd teach in the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences at Brigham Young University and are fellows of the Wheatley Institution. Their views are their own.

More from National Review
Most of those involved in Sunday's violence in JNU are suspected to be insiders who went knocking on specific doors of certain hostels, a senior police official said on Tuesday.

With no arrests made even after two days of the incident, Delhi Police's Crime Branch sought details from the varsity administration of students and faculty members who were injured in the violence to record their statements and requested for a separate room in the campus for carrying out investigation related to the attack.

It also issued a public appeal seeking pictures, footage or any information related to the violence.

According to preliminary investigation, "most of them involved in the violence were students (insiders) and they went knocking on the specific doors of certain hostels", the official said on the condition of anonymity, adding the involvement of friends of the JNU students in the violence is also being probed.

The main focus of the investigation will be on the Periyar and Sabarmati hostels where the violence was reported, the official said.

The Crime Branch team probing the JNU violence spoke to the warden and some boys (students) of the Periyar hostel where young masked people unleashed mayhem on Sunday.

The team also met JNU Vice Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar to discuss the events that unfolded on Sunday.

According to police, its team has not been able to get in touch with the 34 people which includes students and teachers who were injured in the attack as they have returned to their respective hostels.

"We have been told that some of them have gone home while others seem to have residences of their friends, relatives or acquaintances," the officer said.

Police said they have also asked for contact details of those injured in the attack so as to record their statements.

Besides, police have also sought list of wardens of specific hostels and their contact details in connection with the probe.

The Crime Branch has written to the JNU administration requesting for a separate room in the Administrative block of the University where they can interact with the witnesses and victims of the incident, the official said.

"Since there are no CCTV cameras installed inside the hostel, we are relying on the accounts of the witnesses and the videos that were shot by the witnesses on their mobile phones. We will also have to verify the authenticity of the videos that went viral on social media platforms," the officer said.

According to the official, the Crime Branch has not yet identified those involved in the violence since they have not been able to speak to the injured yet.

The investigation into the violence so far, has not revealed use of any "code words" by the perpetrators to communicate with each other during the attack, the officer said.

Meanwhile, the two FIRs registered in connection with the vandalism at JNU campus were on Tuesday transferred to the Crime Branch.

The two FIRs were filed by Delhi Police on the night of January 5, within a span of few minutes, after taking cognisance of complaints filed by JNU authorities naming office bearers of student union including its injured president Aishe Ghosh in connection with the vandalism.

Teams from Physics, Chemistry and Biology divisions of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) visited the university and looked for clues, sources said.

The Physics team will collect evidence such as rods and stones used by the masked mob to attack students and teachers at the university, while the Chemistry team will collect samples of chemicals, if there are any. The biology team will collect DNA samples, among other evidence.

A team of photo experts from the FSL was also present at the campus.

Delhi Police has requested the FSL to also send a computer forensics team to analyse CCTV footage and it is likely to visit the university on Wednesday, according to the sources.

"A Crime Branch team of Delhi Police is probing the case in a scientific and professional manner and evidence is being collected and are probing all the angles," said Anil Mittal, Additional PRO of Delhi Police.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Crime Branch is headed by Joy Tirkey.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Western Range) Shalini Singh, who is heading a fact-finding committee to probe the incident, also visited the JNU campus and spoke to students and teachers.

Singh visited all the spots and interacted with the students on campus.

Delhi Police's Crime Branch issued a public appeal urging "all those who are witnesses to the incident or have any information about the incident or have captured any activity on their mobile phones or camera" to "come forward and give their statements/footage/picture in their possession to the SIT".

On Sunday, a mob of masked young people stormed the JNU campus in south Delhi and targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings. They also attacked a women's hostel.

Security has been strengthened in the campus following the violence. Police personnel in large numbers are present near various gates of the university to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.

Police has barricaded the gates and only visitors with valid identity cards are being allowed entry.

An FIR has been registered against unidentified people in connection with the violence.

The Crime Branch, along with the local police team, had visited the campus on Monday to collect evidence, including CCTV footage.

The agency is scanning all CCTV footage of the incident and also the video clips uploaded on social media and circulated on WhatsApp, according to police.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TROY, N.Y.  Aurelius Coworks, a socially-responsible development company based in Troy, announced its first out-of-state coworking community project to be established in Providence, Rhode Island: Westwey Club.

Final designs are being drawn for the new coworking and flexible office space, with an expected opening in early 2020.

Westwey Club, located on the 11th floor of the Turks Head Building in downtown Providence, will be a coworking community focused on supporting the creative economy, startup tech, small businesses and government sectors in Rhode Island. The nearly 10,000-square-foot space will feature a mix of private office suites, open coworking spaces, conference rooms and meeting areas for its members.

Aurelius Coworks currently owns and operates two coworking communities  the award-winning Troy Innovation Garage and the newer Bull Moose Club that serves the political and governmental sector  both of which are located in New Yorks Capital Region. The communities are home to more than 60 companies and more than 300 members.

Startups, soloprenuers, associations, remote and enterprise teams, small businesses, and venture capital-backed tech companies occupy Aureliuss Upstate New York locations. Companies and founders located in Aurelius communities in New York have attracted more than $70 million in venture capital or strategic investments.

Buoyed by the success of these locations and Aureliuss work to expand flexible office space in New Yorks Capital Region for other real estate owners and operators, Aurelius Coworks founder and CEO Tom Nardacci has turned his focus to middle-market cities that have a need for more flexible commercial real estate options in order to support robust and growing startup sectors.

Zac Conley, managing principal of Cresa Albany, and his team represented Aurelius Coworks in the search for new spaces, including this location in Providence.

Westwey Club location is a perfect match for the mission of Aurelius Coworks and our desire to play an important role in contributing to the development of a livable, walkable city and a downtown that is clearly on the upswing, Nardacci said in a news release.

Aurelius is working on plans to build communities in middle markets around the Northeast, and it makes perfect sense for us to invest in Providence. Just like we have seen in New York, Westwey Club will have a direct positive impact on Rhode Islands creative economy and startup sector, Nardacci added.

Nardacci helped put coworking on the upstate New York map with the launch of Troy Innovation Garage in 2017 in the heart of a resurgent downtown Troy. The building once housed an automobile dealership, which sold Buffalo-built Pierce Arrows in the 1920s and sat mostly vacant for 30 years until Nardacci bought it and invested more than $1.5 million to gut renovate the building to create the Innovation Garage as a home to startup tech and creative sector companies. It is now home to more than 125 members. The project was named Innovative Development of the Year by the Capital Region Building Owners & Managers Association.

Following the opening of Troy Innovation Garage, Nardacci introduced coworking to an underserved sector in need of flexible office space in New Yorks Capital City. Bull Moose Club, located in the heart of downtown Albany, features picturesque views overlooking the New York State Capitol. Bull Moose has a mix of companies with business at the State Capitol, including software developers, health care technology, trade associations and unions, public affairs and marketing firms.

For information, including about office suite reservations or coworking memberships, visit westweyclub.com, call (401) 244-7093 or email info@westweyclub.com.
Good day,

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) is developing a helium-filled airship that can move goods and is powered by renewable energy, writes Harry Valentine in The Maritime Executive. Aircraft builders such as Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) and Lockheed Martin have designed and built modern prototype versions of airships, using heated air for buoyancy, that offer future applications in heavy lift operation.

Lockheed Martin is believed to have secured an order from an oil and gas exploration company interested in leasing the "LMH-1" helium airship with 20-ton carrying capabilities in a roadless Arctic region, Valentine writes. There is interest in France in using airship technology in the forestry sector to carry logs from regions difficult to access through traditional means, he writes.

The same technology could be used in mountainous areas of Western Canada, the United States, the Andes Mountains of South America and across Mongolia, Valentine says.

Did you know?:

Puerto Rico far outpaces any U.S. state or territory in producing the most pharmaceutical exports, according to Pharma Boardroom. The island's 2018 export output of $13.2 billion was almost double that of second-place Indiana at $7 billion.

Quotable:

"There's a scenario where [U.S. trucking] could be as robust, or more, than 2018. Even if freight volumes don't improve materially from 2019, it's going to be less trucks chasing the freight."

 Brian Fielkow, president of Jetco Delivery, giving FOX Business his 2020 predictions

In other news:

Plug Power jumps on fuel cell deal

Shares of Plug Power Inc. jumped in early trade Jan. 6 after the hydrogen and fuel cell technology company said it received a $172 million order for fuel cell deployment from an unidentified Fortune 100 customer. (Marketwatch)

FIBRA Prologis buys infill land in Mexico City

FIBRA Prologis, an owner and operator of industrial real estate in Mexico, said it has acquired 41,779 square feet of urban "infill" logistics space in the affluent Santa Maria section of Mexico City for US$53 million. (PR Newswire)

Story continues

Jordan piloting TradeLens initiative

The country of Jordan's customs agency announced last month a pilot of the TradeLens blockchain supply chain platform, a joint initiative between IBM Corp. and Maersk Line. A pilot zone will be set up in the Aqaba Customs Center to transport goods through the Aqaba Container Terminal using the TradeLens platform. (Ledger Insights)

Fire at trucking firm destroys seven semis

A fire at a Pasco, Washington, trucking company, Harms, destroyed seven semi-trucks Jan. 4, said fire officials and sheriff's deputies. The cause is still unknown. (Tri-city Herald)

DOT unveils map showing `Opportunity Zones' investments

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Jan. 6 rolled out a map highlighting federal investment in major infrastructure projects located in and around "Opportunity Zones," created under the 2017 tax law to encourage economic investment and job creation in underserved communities, especially rural areas. (USDOT)

Final Thoughts:

The Washington Post ran a story Jan. 4 on U.S. railroads' cost-cutting measures centered on the newly popular model of Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR), in which the carriers follow their schedules no matter what the scenario.

Wall Street loves PSR because it pushes the railroads to reduce dwell times and cut labor costs (i.e. workers), thus fattening their bottom lines. Lost in all of this was a comment several years ago by then-BNSF Railway Chairman Matt Rose that the railroads were using PSR to turn away undesirable traffic, violating their statutory obligations as common carriers.

No one ever paid much attention to Rose's comments, and the executive has since retired. With PSR spreading through the industry like wildfire (save for BNSF), maybe folks should now take heed.

Hammer down, everyone!

Image Sourced from Pixabay

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If you breathed a sigh of relief upon reading the news that the British teenager found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus and convicted of causing public mischief has now walked free after being handed a four-month suspended sentence, please dont. This is not a win. This is not what justice looks like.

The 19-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, alleged that she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party resort of Ayia Napa on 17 July 2019. Shortly afterwards, she revoked her complaint in a written statement  a statement she claims Cypriot police dictated to her and coerced her to sign, following 10 hours without legal representation.

The teenager maintains she was gang-raped by the men, following consensual sex with one member of the group.

The young woman was detained on 28 July and forced to remain on the island. Her alleged attackers were released without charge, and were reportedly filmed singing the Brit is a whore as they were reunited with their families in Israel.

Meanwhile, a video that purports to show several men having sex with the woman went viral, and the woman was trolled online. She has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Throughout this case, the hashtag #IBelieveHer has trended on Twitter. The debate over who does believe the woman and who does not rages on. Yet whatever you believe, one thing is unmistakably clear about the case: a young womans life has been irreparably destroyed by her encounter with the Cypriot justice system.

A woman convicted following an entire case that relied upon a confession taken after hours of questioning, without the assistance of a solicitor, and then having her identity compromised  its enough to make your blood boil. And yet this harrowing story isnt unheard of.

It brings to mind the similar experience that Marie Adler endured in America when she reported her rape, and was then treated as suspect by police, who subjected her to hours of questioning without a lawyer. The case also recalls that of the Stanford sex attacker, sentenced to just six months in prison for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. Or what about the Parole Board for England and Wales, who recently deemed black cab rapist John Worboys  convicted of 19 sex offences against 12 victims  fit for release after serving just 10 years of his indefinite sentence, and following a hearing that the High Court later ruled didnt to any extent probe the credibility and reliability of his account?

If you think the Cyprus story is horrific, dont think a similar miscarriage of justice couldnt happen here in the UK. It can, and probably has. For as a country in the European Union (at least at the time of writing), the UK is subject to the same Human Rights Convention Cyprus seems to me to have ignored throughout this case.

 British teenager found guilty of lying about Cyprus gang-rape

In this country, alleged rape victims routinely report being made to feel like perpetrators by the police. It is not coincidental that rape convictions in England and Wales are in steady decline; nor that many women dont report their assaults at all.

If this womans allegations are true, she has been assaulted  not just by 12 men, but by the police, revenge porn, internet trolls, and a conviction for a crime she did not commit.

Real false allegations  extremely rare as they are, accounting for an estimated 0.62 per cent of all rape cases  ruin peoples lives. Just look at the case of Carl Beech, who was recently jailed for 18 years after being convicted of false accusations of child sex abuse and murder against several high profile public figures.

Yet if this teenagers allegation was genuinely considered false by the Cypriot courts, a mere one-month suspended sentence (for a crime that in Cyprus usually carries a years custodial sentence) would be considered not only lenient, but absurd. Is this an admission by the Cypriots that they lost sight of justice? That they want it all to pass quietly?

The womans mother is now backing calls for tourists to boycott Cyprus in protest, saying she believes the country is unsafe for women. This case has proven her right. But then again: where are we safe? And who is looking out for us?
Women hold pictures of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, during a funeral procession and burial at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Mourners attend a funeral ceremony for Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and his comrades, who were killed in Iraq in a U.S. drone strike on Friday, in the city of Kerman, Iran, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (Erfan Kouchari/Tasnim News Agency via AP)

At least 56 people were killed in a stampede as tens of thousands of mourners packed streets for the funeral of a slain Iranian military commander in his hometown on Tuesday, forcing his burial to be delayed by several hours.

At least 56 people were killed in a stampede as tens of thousands of mourners packed streets for the funeral of a slain Iranian military commander in his hometown on Tuesday, forcing his burial to be delayed by several hours.

General Qasem Soleimani's burial went ahead in the early evening in the southeastern city of Kerman, four days after his killing in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq that plunged the region into a new crisis and raised fears of a wider Middle East war.

Soleimani, who commanded the elite Quds Force, was responsible for building up Tehran's network of proxy armies across the Middle East. He was a pivotal figure in orchestrating Iran's long-standing campaign to drive U.S. forces out of Iraq.

Expand Close Iranian people attend a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY / Facebook

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Whatsapp Iranian people attend a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY

A senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering several scenarios to avenge his death. Other senior figures have said the Islamic Republic would match the scale of the killing when it responds, but that it would choose the time and place.

U.S. officials have said Soleimani was killed because of solid intelligence indicating forces under his command planned further attacks on U.S. targets in the region, though they have provided no evidence.

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper told CNN on Tuesday: "We are not looking to start a war with Iran but we are prepared to finish one. What we'd like to see is the situation de-escalated."

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday Washington had singled out 52 Iranian sites, including ones that are very important to Iranian culture, as targets if Iran attacks Americans or U.S. assets in response to Soleimani's death.

On Tuesday, however, Trump told reporters he would obey international law against attacking cultural sites in military conflicts.

Soleimani was a national hero to many Iranians, whether supporters of the clerical leadership or not, but viewed as a dangerous villain by Western governments opposed to Iran's arc of influence running across the Levant and into the Gulf region.

Expand Close Iranian people attend a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY / Facebook

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Whatsapp Iranian people attend a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY

Iran's opponents say its proxies have fuelled conflicts, killing and displacing people in Iraq, Syria and beyond. Tehran says any operations abroad are at the request of governments and that it offers "advisory support".

U.S. LETTER

Tuesday's stampede broke out amid the crush of mourners, killing 56 people, state television said. More than 210 people were injured, an emergency services official told the semi-official Fars news agency.

"Today because of the heavy congestion of the crowd unfortunately a number of our fellow citizens who were mourning were injured and a number were killed," emergency medical services chief Pirhossein Kolivand told state television.

Soleimani's body had been taken to holy Shi'ite Muslim cities in Iraq and Iran, as well as the Iranian capital Tehran, before arriving in Kerman for burial in the cemetery's "martyrs section", according to the semi-official news agency ISNA.

In each place, huge numbers of people filled thoroughfares, chanting "Death to America" and weeping with emotion. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept as he led prayers in Tehran.

Prompted by a strong public backlash over the killing of Soleimani on Iraqi soil, lawmakers in Iraq voted on Sunday to demand a removal of all foreign forces from the country.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said the Iraqi military joint operations command had received a letter from the U.S. army concerning a possible U.S. withdrawal. But he said the letter's English and Arabic language versions were not identical and so Iraq had requested clarifications.

U.S. Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had said on Monday that a leaked letter from the U.S. military to Iraq that created impressions of an imminent U.S. withdrawal was a poorly worded draft meant only to underscore an increased movement of forces in the region.

Abdul Mahdi has told the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad that the parliamentary resolution must be implemented.

U.S. Defense Secretary Esper, however, told a Pentagon news conference on Tuesday that he had not received a request from Iraq to withdraw U.S. troops from the country and noted that the resolution was non-binding.

About 5,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, where there has been a U.S. military presence since the toppling of Saddam Hussein in a U.S.-led 2003 invasion, with Washington and Tehran vying for the upper hand in the country.

Foreign forces have been in Iraq mainly as part of a U.S.-led coalition that has trained and backed up Iraqi security forces against the threat of Islamic State militants.

Trump also said on Tuesday that if U.S. forces departed Iraq it would leave Iran with a much bigger footprint in the country, although he would like to withdraw U.S. troops at some point since Washington wanted Baghdad to provide for its own security.

'DEFINITIVE REVENGE'

"We will take revenge, a hard and definitive revenge," the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, General Hossein Salami, told the throngs in Kerman before the stampede.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said 13 "revenge scenarios" were being considered, Fars news agency reported. Even the weakest option would prove "a historic nightmare for the Americans", he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron, in a phone call to his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday, urged Tehran to avoid any actions that could worsen regional tensions.

Iran, whose coastline runs along a Gulf oil shipping route that includes the narrow Strait of Hormuz, has allied forces across the Middle East through which it can act. Representatives from those groups, including the Palestinian Islamist Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, attended funeral events in Tehran.

Despite its strident rhetoric, analysts say Iran will want to avoid any conventional military conflict with superior U.S. forces.

Friction between Iran and the United States has risen since Trump withdrew in 2018 from a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, approved by his predecessor Barack Obama, and reimposed sanctions on Tehran slashing its vital oil exports.
Iranians attend the funeral ceremony of slain Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Lieutenant general and commander of the Quds Force Qasem Soleimani and of other victims in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 6, 2020. EPA-Yonhap



By Wendy Wu





China said it will "take relentless efforts" to salvage the Iranian nuclear accord and reduce tensions in the Middle East after the killing of Qassem Soleimani in a US drone attack.

Tehran announced early on Monday that it would no longer abide by the uranium enrichment restrictions it agreed in 2015.



Iranian state media reported that the country's nuclear programme will now be based solely on its "technical needs", but it also said that the country would continue to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and it could return to the deal if sanctions are lifted and its interests are respected.



Geng Shuang, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, told a daily press conference on Monday that Iran had been forced to end its commitment due to external factors but had showed restraint and a willingness to implement the deal so it "does not violate its [non-proliferation] obligations".



The deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is "an important pillar" for global nuclear non-proliferation and peace and stability for the Middle East, Geng said.



He also called for all sides in the deal to remain calm and to "stick to political and diplomatic solutions" to avoid further escalation.



"The global community should bear in mind the general and long-term picture, firmly maintain the deal and push for the de-escalation of the Iran nuclear and Middle East situation," Geng said.



"China will continue to maintain close communication and coordination with all related parties, and will take relentless efforts."



China said it will "take relentless efforts" to salvage the Iranian nuclear accord and reduce tensions in the Middle East after the killing of Qassem Soleimani in a US drone attack.





Pakistani Shiite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite Quds Force, during a protest against the U.S., in Islamabad, Pakistan, Jan. 5, 2020. EPA-Yonhap



Tehran announced early on Monday that it would no longer abide by the uranium enrichment restrictions it agreed in 2015.



Iranian state media reported that the country's nuclear programme will now be based solely on its "technical needs", but it also said that the country would continue to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and it could return to the deal if sanctions are lifted and its interests are respected.



Geng Shuang, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, told a daily press conference on Monday that Iran had been forced to end its commitment due to external factors but had showed restraint and a willingness to implement the deal so it "does not violate its [non-proliferation] obligations".



The deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is "an important pillar" for global nuclear non-proliferation and peace and stability for the Middle East, Geng said.



He also called for all sides in the deal to remain calm and to "stick to political and diplomatic solutions" to avoid further escalation.



"The global community should bear in mind the general and long-term picture, firmly maintain the deal and push for the de-escalation of the Iran nuclear and Middle East situation," Geng said.



"China will continue to maintain close communication and coordination with all related parties, and will take relentless efforts."



Wang Jin, an associate professor with the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwest University in Xian, said Iran's announcement would send "a very dangerous signal" that could lead to "misjudgments and misunderstandings".



"International intervention and mediation is urgently needed," he said.



Wang also said that Iran had been more transparent than India and North Korea over its nuclear programme and by signalling its willingness to cooperate with the international community there had not been a "complete falling out".





Spokesman for China's foreign ministry Geng Shuang. South China Morning Post
The past 12 months have seen plant-based meats, blue light glasses, jade rollers and acupressure mats take over the beauty and wellness world.

But according to leading Australian nutritionist Michele Chevalley Hedge, there are a host of powerful new health trends set to sweep the nation in the coming year.

'Poor lifestyle choices cause pebble pooping, moobs, cortisol cravings and tired but wired humans; but now everyone from the busy mum to the productive CEO is reading the research on nutritional power and feeling the impact when they adopt changes,' she said.

Here Michele, who has collaborated with more than 130 Fortune 500 companies on their wellness initiatives over the past year, shares the 10 'unstoppable' wellness trends that everyone should know about in 2020.

According to leading Australian nutritionist Michele Chevalley Hedge (pictured), there are a host of powerful new health trends set to takeover the nation in the coming year

1. Food as an Internal Cosmetic

According to Michele, people are using food for function as much as flavour to improve their skin, cleanse their livers and heal themselves from the inside out.

'Trendsetting consumers of all ages are asking themselves "if I eat this how will it benefit me? Will I be calmer? Will it help me think clearer? Assist my sleep? Will I look healthier if I feel healthier?".'

'My go-to botox barriers are sweet potatoes, avocado, olive oil, lemons and eggs because they are full of vitamin A, C, E, good fats and strengthening proteins with no sugar.'

'My go-to botox barriers are sweet potatoes, avocado, olive oil, lemons and eggs because they are full of vitamin A, C, E, good fats and strengthening proteins with no sugar,' Michele said

2. Junkless Power Foods

More than ever, consumers have become 'label readers'.

'People know if they can pronounce and recognise the ingredient they are more likely to eat it,' Michele said.

'If sugar is in the first three ingredients, the wellness warrior within will look for an alternative power food - one that sustains their energy and their brainpower that includes fibre and protein.

'A perfect example of this is pea protein smoothies with protein powders that simply just consist of clean protein without all the additive fanfare.'

3. Food Wearables

All kinds of gadgets will help consumers make healthy choices this year - from apps to devices such as smartwatches, contact lenses, scanners and implants.

'Soon there will be wearables on the market that not only track how hydrated we are but which apple is the freshest and has the highest fibre or antioxidant content,' Michele said.

'Smart voice-activated food logging will be commonplace.'

All kinds of gadgets will help consumers make healthy choices this year - from apps to devices such as smartwatches, contact lenses, scanners and implants

Michele's Glossary of Australian Symptoms Pebble Poopers - no explanation necessary, a case of not enough fibre, dehydration and too much sugar. The Slender Ruster - healthy looking on the outside, rusting on the inside. Leanish women, running on cortisol who eat fast processed food on the go. Eventually catching up, their poor diet can cause polycystic ovaries, adrenal exhaustion, chronic fatigue and thyroid dysfunction. Light Lunchers and Afternoon Munchers - people suffering from sitting person syndrome, working too hard and making regular visits to the vending machine. Moobs - a sudden appearance of female breasts on males, caused by too many grab and go foods and not enough planning for real nourishment. Cortisol Cravers - the addiction to cortisol from high sugar foods, excessive caffeine, or stress - real or perceived - causing belly fat. Wired but Tired Humans - going to bed early because they know sleep is important but as they are full up on food, monkey chatter, and blue lights the quality of their sleep is impacted. Advertisement

4. Bio-Individual Diets

As we all have unique genes and individual metabolism, nutritional plans personalised to your own DNA and gut are most effective.

'Taking time to seek professional guidance for your own bespoke lifestyle regime will become as mainstream as a trip to the hairdressers,' Michele said.

'At home, the new wave of consumer DNA tests which analyse genetic makeup and propensity to different kinds of cancer, heart conditions and obesity will be normalised.'

5. Ethical Eating

Consumers are demanding more sustainable and natural ingredients, less meat and more plants so locally sourced food will be a priority this year along with limited packaging.

'Expect to see more wonky vegetables in the supermarket as conscious consumers want to do their bit to reduce waste and buy from more responsible businesses,' Michele said.

Consumers are demanding more sustainable and natural ingredients, less meat and more plants so locally sourced food will be a priority this year along with limited packaging

6. Puffed Snacks

In 2020, expect to see an abundance of puffed up crunch snacks with ingredients like chickpeas, beets, quinoa and kale.

'These protein-packed vegan snacks are touting less puff in the tummy and are appearing front and centre at cafe counters globally,' Michele said.

7. Gluten-Free Flours

This year, gluten will remain 'guilty until proven innocent' in the eyes of the wellness seeker as consumers continue to use it as a scapegoat for distressed, bloated digestion.

'While the world is waiting on more research, consumers are eating less wheat and seeking out gluten-free alternatives,' Michele said.

'Lupin, once only used as animal fodder, is a great source of gluten-free plant protein in flour or flake form will become more readily available.'

8. Real Vegan Foods

From beetroot burgers to hoisin 'duck' rolls, hot dogs and 'chick' nuggets, imitation meats are everywhere.

'True vegans are seeking proteins from real, whole foods, not ones crafted from soy isolates and additives,' Michele said.

'Fake meats will be passe and foods made from tofu, mushrooms, legumes, nuts, seaweeds and nutritional yeasts will trend along with an increasing number of flexitarians.'

From beetroot burgers to hoisin 'duck' rolls, hot dogs and 'chick' nuggets, imitation meats are everywhere

9. Hard Hydration

Australians are always seeking ways to reduce sugar and calorie intake without feeling dusty the next day.

'This has led to a lower alcohol consumption across the board, with brands developing a variety of hard seltzers, spiked sodas, and hard kombuchas,' Michele said.

'Hard seltzers usually have between 5-7 per cent alcohol content making them a more responsible choice compared to wine, some beers and cocktails.'

10. Collagen craze

Although research is still in its infancy the current studies on edible collagen are promising a reduction in wrinkles, relief from joint pain, improved bone health and sleep.

Powder supplements are poured into coffee, yoghurt, smoothies or packed into cereal bars.

In Micheles recently published book, Eat, Drink & Still Shrink, she advocates that adopting micro-changes to your lifestyle are vital to health and happiness long term.
There was no immediate reaction from the police on Chaudhurys claims.

New Delhi: A fringe right-wing Hindutva group, Hindu Raksha Dal, purportedly took responsibility for the attack on JNU students in a video posted on social media on Monday.

The video, which was posted early on Monday and has gone viral since, shows a man identifying himself as Pinki Chaudhary saying, For several years, JNU has been a bastion of communists and we will not tolerate it. Hindu Raksha Dal, Bhupendra Tomar, Pinki Chaudhury take the responsibility of what has happened in JNU... All of them were our volunteers. Those who cannot do such work for Mother India dont have the right to live in this country.

Mr Chaudhary also says in the video that those who resort to anti-national activities will be treated in the same way that JNU students and faculty were.

We are always ready to sacrifice our lives for Mother India. We will not tolerate anyone who speaks against the religion, he adds.

There was no immediate reaction from the police on Mr Chaudhurys claims.

Talking with this newspaper, Sanket Katara, the spokesman and legal advisor of the Hindu Raksha Dal, said that the group is proud of its JNU adventure.

This place (JNU) had become intolerably anti-national. There were student rallies in favour of Parliament terror attack convict Afzal Guru and in favour of the freedom of Kashmir from India. These activities are enough to boil any true nationalists blood. We decided that enough was enough and planned to teach JNU people a lesson, Mr Katara said.

He said that the Hindu Raksha Dal is a registered organisation that is devoted to protecting Hindu interests in India.

Though we have pan-India network, we largely operate in the National Capital Region. We have two offices, one in Delhi and other in Ghaziabad. There are over one lakh active members of the group, he told this correspondent.

The Hindu Raksha Dal was reportedly formed in 2013 in Ghazibabad. It shot to limelight in 2014 when its members barged into Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwals office and indulged in vandalism. Later, the group was said to be involved various cow vigilante incidents in Delhi and UP.

The group reportedly has no direct connection with the BJP, RSS or ABVP. But we are ideological children of these organisations. We support BJP candidates during elections and many of our cadres are RSS workers too, said Mr Katara.

He denied that the group is funded by any political party or business house and claimed that members of the group donate money themselves to run the organisation.

We all are employed and contribute some share from our own salaries, he said.

The Hindu Raksha Dal doesnt have a portal but many of its members run Facebook pages to advertise the group. Plus, we run membership drives on Facebook, said Mr Katara.

Reminded on JNU violence and whether the group believes in violent method, Mr Katara said that the group will and does resort to methods that suit the purpose of Mother India.

When asked what could be next on their agenda after JNU, Mr Katara said in a terse tone, Whoever works against the interest of the nation. You in media will get to know soon.

The JNUSU has accused the RSS-affiliated ABVP volunteers of attacking students and professors on Sunday in which more than 35 were injured.
I saw my Iranian refugee friend Kaveh in church this morning and asked him what he thought of the killing of Qasem Soleimani.

Im a little unhappy with it, he said. My wifes unhappy, too. So are our parents in Teheran.

Why

Because he didnt suffer.

Youre a Christian, right?

Right.

Trust me, brother, hes suffering, I said.

Im an ex-pat living next door to the Middle East, and I dont think most Americans understand what a significant historic event this is. Most Iranians are completely fed up with the oppressive reign of the mullahs, and most Middle East countries are completely fed up with the organized terrorism being exported by Iran, which has been destabilizing the region for the last four decades.

It all began when a rather gullible peanut rancher from Plains, Georgia, who occupied the White House for a mostly unfortunate four years, allowed the foxy old cleric to convince him that a Khomeini-led Iran would be friendly to the United States. Not long after that the U.S. embassy fell to an organized Iranian mob. To be fair, Khomeini wasnt behind the embassy seizure, but he quickly understood that he held a huge bargaining chip in the face of the Carter-led USAs lack of resolve.

Mark Steyn, substituting for Rush Limbaugh last Friday, said that Soleimani arrived at Bagdhad Airport, collected his luggage, and then about five minutes later collected his seventy-two virgins. The reason he got seventy two virgins, Steyn quipped, was because he was blown into seventy-two pieces.

Victor David Hanson accurately observes in the National Review that Iran deeply erred in thinking that Trumps restraint was permanent, that his impeachment meant he had lost political viability, that he would go dormant in an election year, that the stature of his left-wing opponents would surge in such tensions, and that his base would abandon him if he dared to use military force.

Why, pray tell, did Iran miscalculate so badly? Could it be that the mullahs were reading the same leftist propaganda the mainstream media has been spewing about Trump for years now, and, observing the recent vote for impeachment in the U.S. House of Representatives, grossly underestimating both Trumps strength, and his huge popularity among the vast swathe of the United states sandwiched between the left and right coasts who pound nails, install tile, ride both farm and long-haul tractors, style hair, clean bedpans in hospitals, and wait tables?

As you know, the Left, which owns and controls popular culture, academe, and the arts, has been working hand in glove with the mainstream media to spread disinformation about Trump, his supporters, and his agenda. Most normal, sane, balanced people see, given the natural corruption every president is heir to, a pretty clean guy who is being excoriated on what are essentially style points, like the nouveau riche Al Czervic, played by Rodney Dangerfield, stinking up the clubhouse in his fire red polyester slacks, Kelly green shirt, and rainbow-colored cardigan.

For those of us who are reasonably sane and normal, Trumps just fine. He loves the country, he looks out for her best interests, and he loves the working man. Hes hired enough of them over the years. And what hes just done, given Irans escalating provocations towards the U.S. in recent years, including the humiliating seizure of a naval vessel complete with pictures of cringing, weeping American sailors, shows a remarkable level of prudence and patience.

The Iranians crossed two red lines, almost simultaneously: they killed an American contractor and wounded several U.S. military personnel in a rocket attack on a military base in northern Iraq on December 27th.

Now the Left is predictably quaking at the thought of Iranian retaliation. It wont happen -- not in a really damaging way. The Iranians might not even take credit. Think of it this way: what if Iran killed VP Mike Pence with a Hellfire missile fired from a helicopter a couple miles away from Pences motorcade? Trust me: the small circle of men running that country are in shock, and suddenly feel very, very vulnerable.

My friend Kaveh talks to his father in Teheran practically every day -- or at least those days when Iran doesnt suspend the internet. People in Iran are suffering. But they fully understand what is happening is progressively weakening the regime, and Persians are a patient people with a long, long history to look back on.

General David Petraeus, the former commander of the Multinational Force-Iraq, among other positions of high leadership in Iraq and Afghanistan, said recently on Face The Nation, this is bigger than bin Laden. It's bigger than Baghdadi. He should know.

The mainstream media is ignoring the ongoing protests that have been rocking Iran for the last two years. Soleimani was responsible for many of the over five-hundred protestors killed during that time. The end is, however faintly, in sight for this odious, cruel, insane regime.

Perhaps a few years from now we will look back on this event and say, as Churchill did in 1942, This is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Valluvar Kottam was lit on Monday evening after about 400 residents of Chennai gathered to hold a candlelight rally condemning the violence against students from JNU that happened the previous night. Extremists have shown what frightens them the most, its education, said one of the placards at the candlelight protest.

Lead by lawyers and activists, the gathering comprised of people from all walks of life. Advocate Sudha Ramalingam, speaking at the protest said that it was the right of every student to peacefully protest and express dissent against governments decision. When one of the protesters shouted, My daughter is going to JNU next year. Will she be safe even if she dissents? The entire crowd said, my daughter is going to JNU next year.

The protest started like any other with sloganeering and moved into lawyers leading people to read the preamble to the Indian Constitution together. People also sang songs including Faizs Hum Dhekhenge and Bharathiyars Acham Illai. While protestors planned to observe an overnight solidarity, they dissolved peacefully, after police officers verbally promised to let them continue on Tuesday noon.

As the protest came to an end, G Dharmarajan IPS, the Deputy Commissioner, Triplicane, was celebrated and cheered by the public. He verbally gave permission to come back at 3pm to Valluvar Kottam on Tuesday, said Jayaram Venkatesan, the convenor of Arappor Iyakkam, who participated in the protests. Many protestors said that Dharmarajan himself was an alumni of JNU.

Polite DC, a JNU alumni, wins hearts

Loud cheers for G Dharmarajan, Deputy Commissioner, Triplicane, rent the air at the protest venue after he politely requested the people to leave with a promise that they would be to allowed to continue on Tuesday afternoon. The cheers grew louder after a few protestors said that Dharmarajan was an alumni of JNU. Protestors said Dharmarajan was a welcome change from other police officials who have always treated protesters with hostility.

Parties condemn JNU attack

Chennai: Various political parties of the State have condemned the attack on JNU students that occurred on Sunday. CPI State secretary R Mutharasan, condemned the attack and urged for the accused to be arrested. AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran tweeted, The brutal attack on the students of JNU at Delhi is highly condemnable. Stringent action be taken immediately.

400 protestors detained

Chennai: Around 400 members of the Makkal Athigaram, who staged a protest at Chepauk demanding action against attackers at JNU, were detained by police on Monday. The detaineees are lodged in community hall at Chindatripet and will be released in the night, said a senior police officer. Sources said juveniles were also part of protest, who were produced before child welfare committee and later let off.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 04:48:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TEHRAN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned on Tuesday that U.S. interests in the region are "in danger" following the assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.

Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), was killed in a U.S. airstrike near the Baghdad International Airport in Iraq on Friday.

Iran has repeatedly warned the U.S. that it would take "severe revenge" over the murder of Soleimani, which Tehran called an "act of terrorism."

"If it was not for the great hero's (Soleimani) measures against Daesh (Islamic State), Europeans would have been facing big threats," Rouhani said during a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron.

"The Americans committed a big strategic mistake" by killing Soleimani, Rouhani said, adding that "Americans should know that their security and interests across the region are at risk and they will not remain immune to repercussions of the big crime."

The Iranian president also urged all countries to take "decisive stance against the U.S. terrorist attack."

For his part, Macron expressed his concerns about escalating conflicts in the region, adding that he was ready to help ease the tensions.
Many licenced producers have not released their full suite of new products to retailers. (GETTY)

Clouds hanging over Canadas cannabis industry could begin to part in 2020 as pricier products and more stores in sparsely-served Ontario translate to stronger quarterly results, according to analysts at Stifel GMP Research. The optimistic take on the legal pot sector departs from the prevailing gloom after a rash of stumbles in 2019.

Only a handful of companies managed to report a profit last year as illegal dealers proved a tough opponent armed with much cheaper prices. The unlicenced pot scandal at CannTrust (TRST.TO)(CTST) cast widespread suspicion over the industry. Ontario, Canadas largest province by population, ended the year with just 24 retail stores to serve more than 14 million residents. Meanwhile, legal producers grew enough cannabis to satisfy 81 per cent of total weed demand in Canada when their sales amounted to just 14 per cent of the market, according to one analysis.

The Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences ETF (HMMJ.TO) ended 2019 more than 37 per cent lower than it started the year. Steve Hawkins, president and CEO of Horizons ETFs, said its a survival of the fittest world for cannabis in a year-end release announcing the removal of seven companies from the HMMJ portfolio.

Mackie Research analyst Greg McLeish said in a recent report that of the 52 publicly-traded cannabis companies the firm tracks, 13 of them have less than six months of cash left on their balance sheets.

For Stifel GMP analyst Justin Keywood, the cannabis reckoning of 2019 was largely the result of transitory factors within the nascent industry.

We believe licenced producers quarterly results should improve in 2020 (likely H1), which should bolster investor sentiment, he wrote in a note to clients on Tuesday.

The new wave of edible, vape, topical and beverage products beginning to trickle into the market underpin his optimism. So-called cannabis 2.0 items officially began to hit the market in mid-December, but the actual rollout has proven slow.

Story continues

Many licenced producers have not released their full suite of new products to retailers. Canopy Growth (WEED.TO)(CGC), for example, is staggering deliveries to provincial wholesalers, beginning with chocolate and vapes in January followed by its distilled cannabis beverages in February.

Retail cannabis sales increased at a pace of about 10 per cent month-over-month, according to data up to September. Keywood expects that momentum to continue. He also anticipates cannabis companies will see four to six months of accelerating sales to provincial wholesalers as retailers stock their shelves with new products that sell for significantly more than dried flower, and appeal to a broader range of consumers.

Cannabis 2.0 effectively opens access to 50 per cent of consumer demand, potentially doubling the addressable market, he wrote.

We estimate that vapes could be priced about 3.5 times higher than dry flower... while edibles could be even more attractive with about nine times higher average pricing than 1.0 products.

Keywood believes the gross margin boost from edibles and vapes will be about 10 and 25 per cent, respectively.

ONTARIO RETAIL SLOWLY CATCHING UP

Frustration over Ontarios lack of physical stores compared to other provinces has been a common refrain on quarterly earnings calls as executives attempt to explain weaker-than-expected results.

At the risk of oversimplifying, the inability of the Ontario government to license retail stores right off the bat has resulted in half of the expected market in Canada simply not existing, Mark Zekulin, then-CEO of Canopy Growth, told analysts in November.

Ontarios approach to cannabis has suffered major growing pains. The province changed course from plans for a fully-government operated system to a public-private hybrid model. It initially capped the number of stores at 25 due to supply concerns, before abandoning its cap and lottery-based licence system in December.

Thats resulted in 24 stores open today, compared to roughly 300 in Alberta, a province with about one-third the population. The new open allocation system is expected to see 20 new stores opening per month beginning in April.

We see the changes as late but necessary to take share from the illegal market, Keywood wrote.

Fitting with the optimistic view on retail, Stifel GMP chose Fire & Flower Holdings (FAF.TO) as its top Canadian cannabis pick for 2020.

The retail-focused company operates a network of about 30 cannabis stores, mainly clustered in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and plans to grow to 135 locations in 2021.

Last July, convenience store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard (ATD-B.TO) announced plans to invest nearly $26 million for a 9.9 per cent ownership stake in the pot retailer, with the option of purchasing 50.1 per cent.

Fire & Flower CEO Trevor Fencott said the relationship will help fuel the companys aggressive growth. Keywood sees the company as an emerging player in Ontario, where it currently operates two stores.

We expected a move to a more privatized model in Ontario and see FAF as being a large beneficiary with already 13 strategic lease locations in high traffic areas (mainly in Toronto) ready to go, he wrote.

Fire & Flower could supply both its own stores and potentially many other retailers, leading to a very strategic position. We see the Ontario government favouring FAF for this functionality over other companies that do not have a similar operating history.

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.
ITHACA, N.Y. and DAVIS, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global demand for cacao is expected to grow at an annual rate of approximately 5% for the foreseeable future1. In the past, increasing demand has been met by increasing the total acreage under cacao cultivation. However, this approach has come at a high cost in terms of deforestation and environmental degradation. As part of its Cocoa for Generations strategy, Mars Incorporated has committed to meeting its future cacao needs through a 100% sustainable supply-chain. Cocoa for Generations is how Mars intends to step-change efforts, lead the way and invite others to partner with them in a new approach to increase farmer income, protect children and preserve forests today, and crack the code on a model of modern sustainable cocoa farming for tomorrow. Achieving a 100% sustainable supply-chain will not be an easy task  especially since the cacao crop will increasingly compete with other crops such as oil palm and rubber for available farmland. Improved agronomic practices will help achieve this goal, but alone will not be sufficient. The key will be to significantly increase the genetic potential of cacao to produce higher yields and improved quality on the same or even less farmland. With this goal in mind, Mars has engaged Nature Source Improved Plants (NSIP) in a collaborative project to accelerate the development of new cacao varieties with higher yields, increased disease resistance and improved quality.

About Nature Source Improved Plants (NSIP)

Nature Source Improved Plants (NSIP) is an advanced optimization analytics company located in New York, USA and Chiapas, Mexico; and dedicated to the conservation, evaluation and utilization of natural genetic resources to deliver high performing plant materials and creating value and efficiency through innovative and sustainable cutting-edge technologies for the global community. NSIP is focused on maximizing genetic performance via a unique pipeline of new breeding technologies based on genomics, operations research and other advanced fields of mathematics and computer science. NSIP's advanced genetics and breeding technologies have resulted in a multifold increase in productivity and quality across a wide variety of field, vegetable, perennial and orphan crops, while minimizing R&D costs. NSIP is also focused on the development of high throughput and high fidelity in vitro propagation techniques to meet the needs of growers  especially those involved in the production of perennial plantation crops.

Dr. Steven Tanksley (Chief Technology Officer, NSIP):

"NSIP is excited to be providing both its expertise and advanced analytical tools in this collaboration with Mars to develop and offer higher yielding, more resistance and higher quality cacao varieties for the benefit of farmers and consumers worldwide."

For more information about NSIP, please visit NSIP, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With more than $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world's best-loved brands: M&M's, SNICKERS, TWIX, MILKY WAY, DOVE, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, WHISKAS, EXTRA, ORBIT, 5, SKITTLES, UNCLE BEN'S, and COCOAVIA. Mars Associates proudly take care of half of the world's pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitals, BluePearl, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCA and Pet Partners. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles  Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom  inspire our more than 115,000 Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.

Dr. David Mackill (Director of Genetics and Breeding, Mars):

"Developing improved cacao varieties through field breeding is expensive and requires decades before new planting materials can reach the farmers. Through our new partnership with NSIP we anticipate greatly accelerating the effort to develop new productive and disease resistant cacao planting materials for the benefit of cocoa farmers worldwide. Using science to improve the productivity of cocoa is just one of the many ways we're bringing to life our Mars Cocoa for Generations Strategy"

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

1 Cocoa demand (2019) Cacao Oro Group (https://cacaooro.com)

SOURCE Nature Source Improved Plants, LLC

Related Links

https://nsiplants.com


Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia:

HIG WhiteHorse, the credit affiliate of global alternative asset management firm HIG Capital (HIG), has closed the HIG WhiteHorse Principal Lending Fund with capital commitments of approximately USD1.1 billion.

The direct lending fund, according to a press note from the alternative asset management firm with over $35 billion of equity capital under management, invests in "tailored senior secured financing solutions" to North American companies.

Sami Mnaymneh and Tony Tamer, Co-CEOs of H.I.G., said: "The strong response from our investors reflects their confidence in the capability of our team and our differentiated strategy. The team has been very active in the market, having already invested in 24 transactions from the Fund."

Jordan Peer, Head of H.I.G. Capital Formation said: "The Fund attracted a diverse group of long-standing H.I.G. investors, as well as welcoming some new limited partners to the platform. The investor base includes sovereign wealth funds, public and private pensions, endowments, foundations, consultants, and family offices and across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Middle East."

Investors include the $883 million Ohio Highway Patrol Retirement System, Columbus.

"We believe the next several years will present a compelling opportunity to partner with off-the-run, sponsor owned companies seeking private credit capital solutions," said Stuart Aronson, Head of U.S. Direct Lending.

Aronson added: "We wil......................

To view our full article Click here
New Delhi :

Bajaj Auto on Thursday reported a 3 per cent decline in total sales at 3,36,055 units in December 2019. The firm had sold a total of 3,46,199 units in December 2018, Bajaj Auto said in a statement. Total domestic sales were down 15 per cent at 1,53,163 units as compared to 1,80,351 units in the year-ago month, it added.

Motorcycle sales in domestic market were 1,24,125 units last month as against 1,57,252 units in December 2018, down 21 per cent, it added. Exports were, however, up 13 per cent at 1,60,677 units as compared to 1,41,603 units in the same month a year ago, Bajaj Auto said.

Total commercial vehicle sales were at 51,253 units as against 47,344 units in the year-ago month, a growth of 8 per cent. Domestic commercial vehicle sales were at 29,038 units last month as against 23,099 units in the corresponding month last year, a growth of 26 per cent, it added.

Commercial vehicle exports were down 8 per cent at 22,215 units as compared to 24,245 units in December 2018, the company said.

Two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto, which had recently re-entered the scooter segment with an electric version of its iconic Chetak brand, is planning to share its e-scooter platform with KTM and Husqvarna. The city-based company had discontinued the scooter business in 2005 after the segment saw a demand slump amid growing popularity of motorcycles.

The company will start deliveries of the new Chetak from January initially in Pune and Bangalore. The best way to be a global company is to produce platforms which are modular and flexible on one hand and on the other should be leveraged by different brands.

(With inputs from PTI)
FORT BRAGGFor many of the soldiers, it would be their first mission. They packed up ammunition and rifles, placed last-minute calls to loved ones, then turned in their cell phones. Some gave blood.

The 600 mostly young soldiers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, were headed for the Middle East, part of a group of some 3,500 U.S. paratroopers ordered to the region. Kuwait is the first stop for many. Their final destinations are classified.

Were going to war, bro, one cheered, holding two thumbs up and sporting a grin under his close-shorn red hair. He stood among dozens of soldiers loading-trucks outside a cinder block building housing several auditoriums with long benches and tables.

Days after President Donald Trump ordered the drone killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, raising fears of fresh conflict in the Middle East, the men and women of the U.S. Armys storied 82nd Airborne Division are moving out in the largest fast deployment since the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

U.S. Army Major General James Mingus waded through the sea of camouflage-uniformed men and women as they prepared to leave the base near Fayetteville on Sunday. He shook hands with the troops, wishing them luck.

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division prepare to board an aircraft bound for the U.S. Central Command area of operations from Fort Bragg, N.C., on Jan. 5, 2020. (U.S. Army/Spc. Hubert Delany III/Handout via Reuters)

One soldier from Ashboro, Virginia, said he wasnt surprised when the order came.

I was just watching the news, seeing how things were going over there, said the 27-year-old, one of several soldiers Reuters was allowed to interview on condition they not be named. Then I got a text message from my sergeant saying dont go anywhere. And that was it.

Risks seemed to be pushed to the back of the minds of the younger soldiers, though many packed the base chapel after a breakfast of eggs, waffles, oatmeal, sausages and 1,000 doughnuts.

One private took a strap tethered to a transport truck and tried to hitch it to the belt of an unwitting friend, one last prank before shipping out.

This is the Mission

The older soldiers, in their 30s and 40s, were visibly more somber, having the experience of seeing comrades come home from past deployments learning to walk on one leg or in flag-draped coffins.

This is the mission, man, said Brian Knight, retired Army veteran who has been on five combat deployments to the Middle East. He is the current director of a chapter of the United Service Organizations military support charity.

Theyre answering Americas 911 call, Knight said. Theyre stoked to go. The president called for the 82nd.

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, walk toward an awaiting aircraft prior to departing for the Middle East from Fort Bragg, N.C., on Jan. 5, 2020. (Bryan Woolston/File Photo/Reuters)

There was lots of wrestling holds as the troops tossed their 75-pound (34 kg) backpacks onto transport trucks. The packs hold everything from armor-plated vests, extra socks and underwear, to 210 rounds of ammunition for their M-4 carbine rifles.

A sergeant pushed through the crowd shouting for anyone with type-O blood, which can be transfused into any patient.

The medics need you now. Move, he said before a handful of troops walked off to give a little less than a pint each.

Uncertainty Prevails

While members of the unitconsidered the most mobile in the U.S. Armyare used to quick deployments, this was different, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Burns, an Army spokesman.

The guys are excited to go but none of us know how long theyll be gone, Burns said. Thats the toughest part.

Soldiers were ordered not to bring cell phones, portable video games or any other devices that could be used to communicate with friends and family back home, out of concern that details of their movements could leak out.

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division board an aircraft bound for the U.S. Central Command area of operations from Fort Bragg, N.C., on Jan. 5, 2020. (U.S. Army/Spc. Hubert Delany III/Handout via Reuters)

Were an infantry brigade, Burns said. Our primary mission is ground fighting. This is as real as it gets.

A sergeant started rattling off last names, checking them off from a list after heres and yups and yos.

For every fighter, there were seven support crew members shipping outcooks, aviators, mechanics, medics, chaplains, and transportation and supply managers. All but the chaplains would carry guns to fight.

A senior master sergeant, 34, said: The Army is an all-volunteer force. We want to do this. You pay your taxes and we get to do this.

The reality of the deployment wouldnt sink in until the troops walk out that door, he said, pointing to the exit to the tarmac where C-4 and C-7 transport planes and two contract commercial jets waited.

His call came when he was on leave in his hometown of Daytona Beach, Florida, taking his two young daughters to visit relatives and maybe go to Walt Disney World.

We just got there and I got the call to turn right around and head back to base, he said. My wife knows the drill. I had to go. We drove right back.

On a single order, hundreds of soldiers jumped to their feet. They lined up single file and marched out carrying their guns and kits and helmets, past a volunteer honor guard holding aloft flags that flapped east in the January wind.

By Rich McKay
Brexiteer hopes of Nigel Farage becoming the UK's new US ambassador have been dashed after it emerged the government is only accepting applications from existing civil servants.

The Brexit Party leader had been floated as a potential successor to Sir Kim Darroch who resigned last year in the wake of a diplomatic row over leaked memos.

Mr Farage was viewed by some as an ideal candidate for the job given his friendship with US President Donald Trump, amid speculation that Boris Johnson could make a political appointment.

But Downing Street today announced that a job advert had been placed on the civil service's internal jobs portal - meaning only current civil servants can apply.

Nigel Farage, pictured in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on December 18, had been tipped as the UK's next US ambassador

Mr Farage is a well known ally of Donald Trump, pictured in Miami, Florida on January 3, but the UK government is only accepting internal applications for the vacant US ambassador job

Sir Kim quit in July saying his position had become 'impossible' following the leak of diplomatic cables in which he described Mr Trump's White House as 'inept' and 'dysfunctional'.

Mr Trump responded to the memos by effectively vowing not to work with Sir Kim.

The post has been vacant since his departure, but UK representation in Washington DC has since been bolstered with additional staff.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman told a Westminster briefing this afternoon: 'The Foreign Office has this afternoon begun the process of recruiting the UK's ambassador to the United States and has published the job advertisement today on the civil service's own jobs portal.

'Ministers believe that the right candidate will be a successful leader with proven experience of working with government on the broad range of issues that our bilateral relationship with the US covers and therefore can be found from within the civil service.'

The spokesman was unable to say when the government aimed to have the new ambassador in place.

Sir Kim Darroch resigned as the UK's ambassador to the US last July amid a storm over leaked diplomatic memos

Number 10 also said that Madeleine Alessandri had been made the new permanent secretary of the Northern Ireland Office, following Sir Jonathan Stephens' announcement last year that he would be retiring from the civil service.

She said: 'This is a critical time to be joining the Northern Ireland Office as the hard work continues to restore devolved government at Stormont.'

Ms Alessandri is currently the UK's deputy national security adviser and the Prime Minister's adviser on national resilience and security.
2 Moderate GOP Senators Agree on Starting Impeachment Trial Without Voting on Witnesses

Two Republican senators aligned themselves with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in recent days, saying they approve of his plan to vote on initial impeachment trial guidelines while waiting to vote on the issue of witnesses until later in the process.

The Senate is expected to hold an impeachment trial after the House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump last month.

I think we need to do what they did the last time they did this  and that was to go through a first phase, and then they reassessed after that, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told reporters Monday after leaving McConnells office in Washington.

I think what we need to do is get to the first step.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), another moderate Republican considered a possibility to side with Democrats on trial guidelines, also said Monday she approves of McConnells plan.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is surrounded by reporters as she heads to vote at the Capitol in Washington on Nov. 6, 2019. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Collins made a similar statement on Dec. 31, 2019, telling Maine Public Radio: I am open to witnesses. I think its premature to decide who should be called until we see the evidence that is presented and get the answers to the questions that we senators can submit through the chief justice to both sides.

I think that the model and the precedent established by the trial for President Clinton is one that our leaders should take a hard look at, she said.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), another possible swing vote, told reporters on Monday he wants to hear from former National Security Adviser John Bolton but said hed leave it up to Senate leaders to decide on the trial process.

Asked about Bolton potentially testifying, Murkowski said, I think first we have to get to basically the first phase, which is having articles to deal with.

Collins added to reporters about Bolton, There are a number of witnesses that may well be appropriate for the Stage 3, of which he would certainly be one.

During the impeachment trial against President Bill Clinton, lawmakers heard from the prosecution and defense before submitting questions. They then voted on whether to hear from witnesses and try to get additional documents. The GOP wanted witnesses but most Democrats did not.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 17, 2019. (Susan Walsh/AP Photo)

Three witnesses were ultimately called but sat for depositions, as opposed to testifying to the Senate.

McConnell has repeatedly referred to the precedent set by Clintons trial, which saw a Democratic president impeached by a Republican-held House, the opposite of what took place last month. He reiterated his position Monday on the Senate floor.

The Senate shouldnt deviate from a unanimous bipartisan precedent set in the 1999 trial of President Clinton and write new rules for President Trump, he said, adding, The Senate does not just bob along on the currents of every news cycle.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has pushed for including witnesses in the initial vote on trial guidelines, calling over the weekend for four Republicans to join Democrats to gain a simple majority for the vote.

We have the ability to require votes on the four witnesses we have asked for, whether theres an agreement or not. We have the ability to ask for the documents. And I hope, pray, and believe theres a decent chance that four Republicans will join us, Schumer said on ABC.

He reiterated his call on Monday even as it appeared there could be zero GOP members siding with Democrats. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate.
The Sussexes are back! After a lengthy hiatus where they stepped away from the spotlight to spend time as a normal family on Vancouver Island in Canada, Duchess Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have returned to the U.K.

Things were a bit bumpy for the duke and duchess in 2019. The pair welcomed their first child, a son named Archie Harrison. Despite their euphoria surrounding their new addition, things werent exactly blissful for Markle and Prince Harry. The U.K. press and public have been relentless with their scrutiny of the duchess, criticizing her for everything from her style to her activism.

Though many people assumed the Sussexes might leave royal life behind, it looks like they have returned to their royal duties for 2020.

This is how Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will approach royal life differently in 2020

Since they couldnt make any headway with their old strategy, the duke and duchess used their break to revamp their royal approach. It looks like they will focus on their passions while building the Sussex Royal Foundation and reaching out to the public. The constant negativity will be ignored this year.

They are very valuable to the Royal Family, they are wonderful ambassadors, royal commentator Juliet Rieden told Nine News Australia. They are very, very popular and they are very engaging when you meet them. I have been watching the Royal Family for a long time now and Harry and Meghan have a very tactile connection with the public. 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.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will make a major announcement about Sussex Royal this year

In addition to their new approach to royal life  the Sussexes have just trademarked Sussex Royal. Some royal fans are convinced they are set to build a global charity. We await the launch of Harry and Meghans Sussex Royal Foundation to discover their intentions, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Express U.K. It all depends on what they mean to do with the Sussex Royal Foundation, where it will be based, what celebrity links there will be and whether it will have a branch in the USA. They are expected to make their plans clear soon. There are likely to be important celebrity links to their future charitable work such as Harrys collaborating with Oprah Winfrey for a TV documentary series on mental health due to be aired this year.

This is Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys first royal engagement of 2020

Now that the Sussexes have returned from their vacation, they are getting right back to work. On Jan. 7  the couple will visit Canada House in London to meet with Janice Charette, High Commissioner in Canada to the U.K. and her staff. The Sussexes spokesperson announced that the visit will be to thank them for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada.

While they are at Canada House, the duke and duchess will also view a special exhibition by Indigenous Canadian artist Skawennati and visit with the High Commission team who work to maintain partnerships between Canada and the U.K.

It looks like the Sussexes will be booked and busy all 2020.
TSX: RMX |OTCQX: RBYCF

TORONTO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Rubicon Minerals Corporation (TSX: RMX |OTCQX: RBYCF) ("Rubicon" or the "Company") is pleased to report updated mineral resource estimates (collectively, the "2020 Mineral Resource Estimate") for the Phoenix Gold Project (the "Project"), prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 43-101"). An updated NI 43-101 technical report for the Project will be filed on www.sedar.com within 45 days. Rubicon has commenced a Feasibility Study on the Project and anticipates its completion in the second half of 2020.

Table 1: 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate1 at 3.0 grams per tonne of gold ("g/t Au") Cut-Off Grade

Classification Quantity

(000'tonnes) Grade

(g/t Au) Contained

Gold Ounces Measured (M) 665 6.53 140,000 Indicated (I) 3,243 6.44 671,000 M + I 3,908 6.45 811,000 Inferred 2,073 6.97 464,000

 The 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate is contained entirely within the Project's F2 Gold Zone  Effective date is December 6, 2019  Mineral Resource Estimate uses a break-even economic cut-off grade of 3.0 g/t Au based on assumptions of a gold price of US$1,400 per ounce ("oz"), an exchange rate of C$/US$ 1.35, mining cash costs2 of C$88.14/tonne ("t"), processing costs of C$32.70/t, G&A of C$7.82/t, sustaining capital C$39.25/t, refining, transport and royalty costs of C$59.43/oz, and average gold recoverability of 95%  The 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate reported from within an envelope accounting for mineral continuity  All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates and totals may not add correctly

________________________________ 1 There is no certainty that the Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimates will be converted to the Proven and Probable mineral reserve categories and there is no certainty that the 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate will be realized. There is no guarantee that Inferred mineral resource estimates can be converted to Indicated or Measured mineral resources, or that Indicated or Measured mineral resource estimates will be converted to mineral reserves. Mineral resource estimates that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant risks, uncertainties and other factors, as more particularly described in the Cautionary Statements at the end of this news release. 2 Mining cash cost components include in-stope mining costs, underground utilities, material handling, and development costs.

Table 2: Comparison between 20201,3 and 20194 Estimated Quantities at Reported Cut-Off Grades 

3.0 g/t Au, 3.5 g/t Au and 4.0 g/t Au

Cut-off

Grade/ Quantity (000 tonnes) Grade (g/t Au) Contained Gold Ounces (000) Classification 2020 2019 Change 2020 2019 Change 2020 2019 Change 3.0 g/t Au

















Measured (M) 665 442 50% 6.53 6.99 -7% 140 99 41% Indicated (I) 3,243 2,485 31% 6.44 6.13 5% 671 490 37% Total M+I 3,908 2,927 34% 6.45 6.26 3% 811 589 38% Inferred 2,073 2,570 -19% 6.97 6.53 7% 464 540 -14% 3.5 g/t Au

















Measured (M) 515 335 54% 7.48 8.18 -9% 124 88 41% Indicated (I) 2,581 1,954 32% 7.26 6.92 5% 602 435 38% Total M+I 3,096 2,289 35% 7.30 7.11 3% 726 523 39% Inferred 1,713 2,038 -16% 7.75 7.39 5% 427 484 -12% 4.0 g/t Au

















Measured (M) 411 267 54% 8.44 9.32 -9% 111 80 39% Indicated (I) 2,128 1,575 35% 8.01 7.69 4% 548 389 41% Total M+I 2,539 1,842 38% 8.08 7.92 2% 659 469 41% Inferred 1,417 1,671 -15% 8.59 8.19 5% 391 440 -11%

Key Points:

2020 Mineral Resource Estimate metrics, based on a 3.0 g/t Au cut-off grade:

Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimates increased 38% to 811,000 ounces of gold compared to the 2019 estimate of 589,000, reflecting an increase in the estimated average grade of 3% to 6.45 g/t Au as compared to 6.26 g/t Au for the 2019 estimate;





As a result of the successful net conversion to Measured and Indicated mineral resources, Inferred mineral resource estimates decreased 14% to 464,000 ounces of gold compared to the 2019 estimate of 540,000 ounces of gold, reflecting an increase in the estimated average grade of 7% to 6.97 g/t Au compared to 6.53 g/t Au for the 2019 estimate;





The increase in the Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimates is mainly attributable to the Company's successful oriented infill drilling program in 2019, with the primary objective to improve confidence in the mineral resource estimates above the 976 metre (" m ") Level with all Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimates sitting above this elevation; and





") Level with all Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimates sitting above this elevation; and Rubicon has commenced a Feasibility Study on the Project and anticipates its completion in the second half of 2020 ("H2/2020").

________________________________ 3 Base case scenario for the 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate is at the 3.0 g/t Au cut-off. Other scenarios are shown for comparison purposes. Numbers may not add up due to rounding. 4 The 2019 mineral resource estimates are not current and should not be relied upon.

General observations and commentary on the 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate

The Company continues to observe the relatively robust conversion rate of Inferred mineral resource estimates to the Measured and Indicated categories. The current Inferred mineral resource estimate extends down to the 1,403 m Level presenting an opportunity to further expand the Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimate at depth with additional drilling;





Level presenting an opportunity to further expand the Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimate at depth with additional drilling; The geological and structural model, as developed in 2018, continues to be observed at depth throughout the F2 Gold Zone;





The F2 Gold Zone remains open along strike and at depth;





Sparsely-drilled "Explore Target" 5 areas (greater than 80-metre drill centres) have the potential for an upgrade of between 1.0 to 1.6 million tonnes of mineralized material grading between 5.5 to 7.5 g/t Au (based on a 3.0 g/t Au cut-off) at depth to a mineral resource estimate with future infill drilling; and





areas (greater than 80-metre drill centres) have the potential for an upgrade of between 1.0 to 1.6 million tonnes of mineralized material grading between 5.5 to 7.5 g/t Au (based on a 3.0 g/t Au cut-off) at depth to a mineral resource estimate with future infill drilling; and The parameters and methods used were similar to the prior 2019 mineral resource estimate4.

Update on the Feasibility Work

Feasibility Study initiated; completion anticipated in H2/2020: The Company has initiated a Feasibility Study on the Project;





The Company has initiated a Feasibility Study on the Project; Surface infrastructure: work to upgrade the tailings management facility (" TMF "), including the design of an ammonia treatment plant and tailings analysis for final paste backfill design for the underground, has begun. Other ongoing work include finalizing the geomechanical design parameters for underground excavations. The Company currently has a fully operational hoist, civil and earthworks in place, electric substation and distribution system, a 200-person camp, an existing TMF which includes a water treatment plant;





work to upgrade the tailings management facility (" "), including the design of an ammonia treatment plant and tailings analysis for final paste backfill design for the underground, has begun. Other ongoing work include finalizing the geomechanical design parameters for underground excavations. The Company currently has a fully operational hoist, civil and earthworks in place, electric substation and distribution system, a 200-person camp, an existing TMF which includes a water treatment plant; Potential underground ramp development : The 2020 Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimates have a depth down to the 976 m Level. The Company anticipates the underground ramp development bottom in the Feasibility Study to be well above the underground ramp bottom development of 1,403 m Level contemplated by the 2019 Preliminary Economic Assessment (the " 2019 PEA ") 6 . This could result in a lower total underground sustainable capital development in the Feasibility Study when compared to the New PEA; and





: The 2020 Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimates have a depth down to the Level. The Company anticipates the underground ramp development bottom in the Feasibility Study to be well above the underground ramp bottom development of Level contemplated by the 2019 Preliminary Economic Assessment (the " ") . This could result in a lower total underground sustainable capital development in the Feasibility Study when compared to the New PEA; and Infill drilling between the 976 m and 1,098 m Levels: Rubicon believes it has the potential to upgrade a portion of the 190,000 ounces of the Inferred mineral resource estimate between the 976- and 1,098-m Levels to at least the Indicated mineral resource category, which could be added to the mine plan in the Feasibility Study. The Company has initiated the drilling at depth and intends to include any potential increase to the Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimate in the Feasibility Study.

________________________________ 5 The potential quantity and grade of "Explore Target" areas are conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration of the "Explore Target" areas to define a mineral resource estimate and that it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the "Explore Target" being delineated as a mineral resource. 6 See the Company's news release dated August 19, 2019 and the NI 43-101 technical report dated September 23, 2019, both filed under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com and available on its web site at www.rubiconminerals.com.

CEO's Comments

Rubicon President and Chief Executive Officer George Ogilvie, P.Eng., stated, "The expansion of the Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimate above 800,000 ounces has given us the confidence to begin mine planning and engineering work at the Phoenix Gold Project, with the goal of demonstrating the Project's commercial viability. We have accordingly initiated a Feasibility Study on the Project, and anticipate its completion in the second half of this year. We have commenced feasibility work on the surface infrastructure, primarily with respect to TMF upgrades and geomechanical work relative to future underground excavations."

"The updated Mineral Resource Estimate reflects all drilling information up to September 30, 2019. We have since completed more than 3,000 m of drilling and anticipate providing an update on the related assay results soon. We are continuing infill drilling at the F2 Gold Zone 2, targeting the high-grade Inferred mineral resource estimate blocks between the 976- and 1,098-m Levels, where we see a strong possibility of upgrading a portion of the 190,000 ounces of the estimated Inferred mineral resource to the Indicated category, at a minimum. Any incremental expansion of the Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimate will be factored in the Feasibility Study."

"I am also encouraged to see that the Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimate currently only extend down to the 976 m Level, which could mean significantly lower sustaining capital development requirements in the mine plan of the Feasibility Study compared to the 2019 PEA."

2020 Mineral Resource Estimate Details

The 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate1 (see Table 1 above) benefits from 557,030 m of core drilling in 1,644 drill holes. The F2 Gold Zone at the Phoenix Gold Project covers a strike length of approximately 1,200 m and depths down to 1,403 m Level and remains open along strike and at depth. The 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate excludes the crown pillar and depletion from test trial mining.

The 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate was evaluated using a geostatistical block modelling approach constrained by mineral and lithologic domains  high-titanium basalt units, felsic intrusive units, and ultramafic units  interpreted from the drill hole and mapping data. The block model grades were interpolated using inverse distance cubed ("ID3"), which the Company evaluated as the most representative method. Rubicon assessed other grade interpolation methodologies, including ordinary kriging ("OK"), and determined that the ID3 estimates controlled grade smoothing and achieved an appropriate grade-tonnage profile relative to the characteristics of the deposit. A nearest neighbour ("NN") model was interpolated to support model validation. Density data was assigned based on average values for each lithologic unit.

The block model was classified in accordance with Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May 2014). Drill spacing for the 2020 Mineral Resource Estimates, where geology and grade continuity were reasonably understood, is well within the CIM specified minimums. Measured mineral resource estimates are supported with proximity to sub-level development, mapping, chip samples and supported by the bulk sample reconciliation data, where available. Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimates are predominantly located near existing underground infrastructure and development.

The 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate is sensitive to the selection of reporting assumptions. The sensitivity of the 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate to the selection of cut-off grade is summarized as grade tonnage data in Table 3 below. Please refer to Table 4 at the end of the news release for further details on the geological modelling and high-grade treatment strategies, including top-cut values and coefficients of variation for each sample population. The 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate by underground level is tabulated in Table 5 (at the end of this news release). Please see Diagrams 1, 2, and 3 (at the end of this news release) showing the conceptual plan and longitudinal views of Zones 1 and 2 (the two main mineral domains) of the 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate blocks in the Measured, Indicated, and Inferred categories, and Explore Target5 areas.

Table 3: 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate  Sensitivity Analysis at Potential Mining Cut-off Grades1,3



Measured + Indicated Inferred Cut-off Grade

(g/t Au) Quantity

(000't) Grade

(g/t Au) Contained Gold

Ounces (000) Quantity

(000't) Grade

(g/t Au) Contained Gold

Ounces (000) 2.0 6,911 4.71 1,046 3,329 5.25 562 2.5 5,133 5.56 918 2,559 6.16 507 *3.0 3,908 6.45 811 2,073 6.97 464 3.5 3,096 7.30 726 1,713 7.75 427 4.0 2,539 8.08 659 1,417 8.59 391 4.5 2,138 8.80 605 1,193 9.41 361 5.0 1,820 9.51 556 1,013 10.24 333

Lower Level Infill Drilling and Explore Target5 Potential

Between the 976- and 1,098-m Levels, the Company estimates approximately 190,000 ounces of Inferred mineral resources. The Company intends to infill drill this area with the goal of upgrading the ounces to the Indicated category, at a minimum. If successful, Rubicon could potentially include a portion of these upgraded mineral resource estimates in the mine plan contemplated by the anticipated Feasibility Study.

The 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate has a current depth of down to the 1,403 m Level. Rubicon has identified Exploration Target5 areas (greater than 80-metre drill centres) of potentially between 1.0 to 1.6 million tonnes of mineralized material with grades between 5.5 to 7.5 g/t Au. The Company intends to infill drill the Explore Target areas in the future with the goal of determining its mineral resource potential.

Structural Geology

The Company has observed that the main components of the Project's geological and structural model developed in 2018 continues to be reflected at depth of the F2 Gold Zone. Rubicon has updated the structural interpretation with a remodelling of the East Bay Deformation Zone ("EBDZ"), one of the primary gold-bearing fault structures in the Red Lake Gold Camp that runs alongside the western portion of the F2 Gold Zone north-south (mine grid). The EBDZ has been remodelled to show it as a broader zone of high strain in the Ultramafic Flow unit, rather than as a discrete feature that is often offset by the east-west brittle faulting described by the previous model. This understanding has implications with respect to future drilling and mine planning.

Feasibility Study

Based on the 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate of greater than 800,000 ounces of gold in the Measured and Indicated categories, the Company believes that the Project has a sufficiently well-defined mineral resource base on which to commence mine planning and additional engineering work to determine the Project's commercial viability. Rubicon has accordingly initiated a Feasibility Study on the Project, with the completion anticipated in H2/2020. The Company had previously already commenced feasibility work on upgrading its surface infrastructure.

Qualified Persons and Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC)

The content of this news release has been read and approved by Michael Willett, P.Eng., Director of Projects for Rubicon, and Isaac Oduro, P.Geo., Manager of Technical Services for Rubicon, and Tim Maunula, P.Geo. for T. Maunula & Associates Consulting Inc. All are Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101.

Underground drilling was conducted by Boart Longyear Drilling of Haileybury, Ontario and was supervised by the Rubicon exploration team. All assays reported are uncut unless otherwise stated. Samples reported herein were assayed by SGS Mineral Services of Red Lake, Ontario and Activation Laboratories Ltd., Dryden, Ontario. All NQ core assays reported were obtained by fire assay with AA-finish or using gravimetric finish for values over 10.0 g/t Au.

Intercepts cited do not necessarily represent true widths, unless otherwise noted, however drilling is generally intersecting interpreted mineralized zones at angles between -30o and +30o. True width determinations are estimated at 65-80% of the core length intervals for the 305 m Level drilling, and estimated at 75-95% of the core length for the 610 and 685 m Level drilling. Rubicon's quality control checks include insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates to ensure laboratory accuracy and precision.

About Rubicon Minerals Corporation

Rubicon Minerals Corporation is an advanced gold exploration company that owns the Phoenix Gold Project, located in the prolific Red Lake gold district in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Additionally, Rubicon controls the second largest land package in Red Lake consisting of over 285 square kilometres of prime, strategic exploration ground, and more than 900 square kilometres of mineral property interests in the emerging Long Canyon gold district that straddles the Nevada-Utah border in the United States. Rubicon's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (RMX) and the OTCQX markets (RBYCF). For more information, please visit our website at www.rubiconminerals.com.

RUBICON MINERALS CORPORATION

George Ogilvie, P.Eng.

President, CEO, and Director

Table 4: Further Details on Geological Modelling and High-Grade Treatment Strategy

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Geological Modelling

Geological domains were modelled based on broad low-grade mineralization envelopes associated with the three main high-titanium basalt lenses defined on the property (from mine grid West-to-East including Hanging Wall Basalt, West Limb Basalt, and F2 Basalt). TMAC used block model techniques to estimate gold grade into 2 m x 2 m x 2 m blocks using Geovia GEMS software. All as logged rock types were grouped into three main stratigraphic units consisting of ultramafic units (UM), high-titanium basalt units (HTB) and felsic intrusive units (FI) as determined by grade distribution analysis of the rock types present. These stratigraphic units were then used as mineralization domains to constrain the gold grade estimates. The HTB was treated as a hard boundary with the other lithologies. Grade estimation was completed using ID3 interpolation using 1.0 m composite samples, with additional search controls based on variography and trends of mineralization. A 4-pass search strategy was used where gold estimates required a minimum of 5 and maximum of 11 samples for the first 2 passes, a minimum of 4 and maximum of 8 samples for the 3rd and a minimum of 3 and maximum of 8 samples for the 4th passes. The majority of blocks (>99%) were estimated using two drill holes. Search distances were factored for each successive search. Average density values were assigned to the model based on lithology.

High-Grade Treatment Strategy

High-grade composite samples (outliers) were controlled during the estimation process using a combination of distance restriction and capping (composites capped to a defined maximum value). Within the first pass, samples were capped and limited to the first pass search range. For Passes 2 to 4, the outlier samples were removed from the grade estimation. Cap values were assessed based on cumulative probability, disintegration analysis and decile analysis for each lithology within mineral envelopes for Zones 1 to 4 as summarized below. CVs of uncapped and capped composite grades for Zones 1 to 4 are summarized below.

Cap Values for Zones 1, 2, 3, and 4: Zones Lithology Cap Value (g/t Au) Number Capped Metal Loss (%) Zone 1 UM 49 10 18 HTB 96 21 15 FI 16 5 10 Zone 2 UM 50 39 39 HTB 96 19 18 FI 62 16 9 Zone 3 UM 14 18 29 HTB 4 none 0 FI 18 3 0 Zone 4 UM 5 7 56 HTB 16 7 20 FI 3 4 10

Descriptive Statistics and Coefficient of Variation ("CV") for Zones 1, 2, 3, and 4 Capped: Zone Rock

type ZR

Code Count Minimum

(g/t Au) Maximum

(g/t Au) Mean

(g/t Au) Standard Deviation CV 1 UM 107 5776 0.003 49.00 0.76 3.27 4.29 HTB 109 13201 0.003 96.00 1.91 5.78 3.02 FI 117 1871 0.003 16.00 0.47 1.29 2.74 2 UM 207 57539 0.003 50.00 0.24 1.84 7.71 HTB 209 24802 0.003 96.00 1.10 4.23 3.85 FI 217 38733 0.003 62.00 0.56 2.13 3.83 3 UM 307 20180 0.003 14.00 0.05 0.53 9.83 HTB 309 33 0.003 3.21 0.14 0.56 3.93 FI 317 4914 0.003 18.00 0.36 0.82 2.27 4 UM 407 4121 0.003 5.00 0.05 0.29 6.30 HTB 409 1580 0.003 16.00 0.41 1.43 3.48 FI 417 456 0.003 3.00 0.22 0.46 2.08

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Table 5: Classified 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate by Underground Level at 3.0 g/t Au Cut-off Grade

(Numbers rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates and totals may not add correctly)



Measured and Indicated Inferred Below surface

(m) Tonnes (000s) Grade (g/t Au) Contained Au

oz (000s) Tonnes (000s) Grade

(g/t Au) Contained Au

oz (000s) 122 24 8.42 7 6 3.15 1 183 195 5.53 35 8 3.82 1 244 234 6.14 46 13 5.40 2 305 299 6.79 65 8 4.57 1 366 374 7.42 89 27 4.36 4 427 378 6.79 83 23 4.12 3 488 383 6.32 78 82 5.23 14 549 278 5.77 52 57 7.01 13 610 285 5.60 51 48 8.18 13 671 396 6.60 84 166 8.06 43 732 370 6.05 72 97 6.41 20 793 327 6.18 65 21 4.62 3 854 164 5.76 30 102 5.36 18 915 107 6.54 23 236 5.29 40 976 97 9.97 31 272 6.10 53 1,037





287 11.00 102 1,098





145 7.47 35 1,159





143 6.27 29 1,220





156 6.40 32 1,281





49 4.10 7 1,342





81 8.46 22 1,403





48 6.24 10

Cautionary Statement regarding Forward-Looking Statements and other Cautionary Notes

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipates", "assumption", " "confidence", "believe", "conceptual", "contemplate", "conversion", "demonstrate", "estimate", "expect", "exploration", "factors", "feasibility", "forward", "future", "goal", "implications", "intend", "may", "mineable", "model", "objective", "opportunity", "PEA", "plan", "possibility", "potential", "preliminary", "profile", "project", "projected", "risk", "sensitivity", "slated", "strategies", "study", "target", "upgrade", "viability" and "will", or variations of such words, and similar such words, expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results can, could, may, should, will (or not) be achieved or occur in the future. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations and assumptions, and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding mineral resource estimates, the anticipated timing of the delivery and details of an updated technical report and/or Feasibility Study for the Project, the results of the 2019 PEA (including any anticipated economics, such as return on capital (including IRR) and NPV, free cash flow, gold production (payable or otherwise), capital and operating costs, life of mine (or LOM), estimated tonnes and grade, mineable inventory, construction period and other results of the 2019 PEA, all of which are estimates only), impact of infrastructure on the economics of the 2019 PEA or any Feasibility Study for the Project, the potential impact of the data from the 2019 drilling program after September 30, 2019, the potential tonnage of mineralized material and its grade from the Project (including, but not limited to, any Explore Target areas), the potential to improve mineral resource estimates (including but not limited to expanding the quantity and converting or upgrading the classification) and any further steps necessary to do so (including the anticipated outcome of further drilling of the Project) and mine plans.

Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and represent management's best judgment based on facts and assumptions that management considers reasonable. If such opinions and estimates prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Rubicon to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery or throughput rates; uncertainty of mineral resource estimates, inability to realize exploration potential, mineral grades and mineral recovery estimates; actual results of exploration activities; delays in completion of exploration plans for any reason including insufficient capital, delays in permitting, and labour issues; conclusions of economic or geological evaluations including but not limited to the 2019 PEA and any Feasibility Study for the Project; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents and other risks of the mining industry; delays and other risks related to operations; timing and receipt of regulatory approvals; the ability of Rubicon and other relevant parties to satisfy regulatory requirements; the ability of Rubicon to comply with its obligations under material agreements including financing agreements; the availability of financing for proposed programs and working capital requirements on reasonable terms; the ability of third-party service providers to deliver services on reasonable terms and in a timely manner; risks associated with the ability to retain key executives and key operating personnel; cost of environmental expenditures and potential environmental liabilities; dissatisfaction or disputes with local communities or First Nations or Aboriginal Communities; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; market conditions and general business, economic, competitive, political and social conditions; our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or obtain adequate financing to fund our capital expenditures and working capital needs and meet our other obligations; the volatility of our stock price, and the ability of our common stock to remain listed and traded on the TSX.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Rubicon disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Readers are advised to carefully review and consider the risk factors identified in the Company's annual information form dated March 22, 2019 under the heading "Risk Factors" and in other continuous disclosure documents of the Company filed under its profile at www.sedar.com for a discussion of the factors that could cause Rubicon's actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Readers are further cautioned that the foregoing list of assumptions and risk factors is not exhaustive and it is recommended that prospective investors consult the more complete discussion of Rubicon's business, financial condition and prospects that is included in this news release. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Readers Regarding Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources

This news release uses the terms "Measured" and "Indicated" mineral resource and "Inferred" mineral resource. The Company advises U.S. investors that while these terms are recognized and required by the Canadian Securities Administrators, they are not recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The estimation of "Measured" and "Indicated" mineral resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of a "Reserve". The estimation of "Inferred" mineral resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of mineral resources. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "Inferred", "Measured", or "Indicated" mineral resource estimate will ever be upgraded to a higher category.

Under Canadian rules, estimates of "Inferred" mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility studies, pre-feasibility studies or other economic studies, except in prescribed cases, such as in a preliminary economic assessment (or PEA) under certain circumstances. The SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "Reserves" as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "Reserve" unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the Reserve determination is made. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of an "Inferred", "Measured" or "Indicated" mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Information concerning descriptions of mineralization and mineral resources contained herein may not be comparable to information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

SOURCE Rubicon Minerals Corporation

Related Links

www.rubiconminerals.com


Rohingya men carry a child injured in an explosion on a hill near Htikehtoopauk village, Buthidaung township, in Myanmars northern Rakhine state, Jan. 7, 2020.

Four Rohingya children were killed and six other people injured in an explosion Tuesday in Myanmars northern Rakhine state, villagers said, though it is unclear whether the blast was caused by a landmine or shelling by the government military or the rebel Arakan Army, which have been engaged in hostilities since late 2018.

The explosion occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time while a 25-year-old teacher named Ali Kuharl and some children climbed atop a hill near their school in Htikehtoopauk Rohingya Muslim village in Buthidaung township to look for firewood, residents told RFAs Myanmar Service.

I heard the blast around 10:30 a.m. while I was in the village, said one resident who declined to be named for fear of his safety. The blast came from the hill west of the village. It was very close to the village.

Residents said those who died in the blast include Hussein Allah, 10; Abdul Raman, 10; Mahmad Armein, eight; and Arraf Ullah, eight.

The six other persons who were injured, including Ali Kuharl, were taken to Buthidaung Hospital for emergency treatment. Two of the six were badly wounded and are in critical condition, they said.

Four children died. The injured ones were taken to Buthidaung hospital. The children were killed on the spot, said a local village elder who requested anonymity for fear of his safety.

The man also said it is unclear which army was responsible for the explosion.

We dont know if the military or the AA is responsible, he said. Some people assume it was a blast from a falling mortar shell, and others think it was landmine explosion.

Residents told RFA that Myanmar military troops were stationed a month ago on the hill where the explosion occurred and that they now have moved to another hill near the village.

One of them said officials from the military outfit came to inspect the explosion site.

AA spokesman Khine Thukha said the Arakan force had nothing to do with the deadly blast.

Weve got no connection to this incident, he told RFA.

What weve learned from our past experiences is that the Myanmar military has always planted landmines in areas where they are stationed, he said. After they go, they sometimes leave these landmines behind. One of them must have killed these villagers.

Military blames AA

RFA tried several times to reach Colonel Win Zaw Oo, spokesman for the Myanmars militarys Western Command which is responsible for Rakhine state, but could not get through to him for comment.

Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun confirmed that troops had inspected the site of the blast.

We have inspected the site and assume it was a mine explosion, he said. It was a pretty big mine. It was a big one like the one they [the AA] used to plant.

We have released information on this issue very often. We assume these are the kind of mines they planted along the Yangon-Sittwe highway, he said, referring to deadly explosions caused by the AA on the main roadway between Myanmar's commercial hub and the Rakhine capital.

Two police officers were killed and two others were injured when vehicles in a police convoy hit a mine on Feb. 27 along the highway in Rakhines Ponnagyun township.

That landmine was created by putting explosives and iron pieces into a plastic bucket that was designed to explode when it was stepped on or hit, Zaw Min Tun said. The military was never stationed in that area.

Since 2016, there have been several instances of homemade mines exploding along the Yangon-Sittwe highway which runs through Ann, Myebon, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, and Ponnagyun townships in Rakhine state. Most of the incidents occurred when military vehicles passed through the areas.

Northern Rakhine state has been rocked by an escalation in hostilities between the Myanmar military and the AA, an ethnic insurgent group fighting for greater autonomy in the state, since late November 2018.

The government instructed the military to crush the AA after its fighters carried out deadly coordinated attacks on four police outposts in Buthidaung township a year ago.

Dozens of civilians have been killed, and a local relief group estimates that more than 100,000 people have been displaced during the uptick in hostilities.

Northern Rakhine was also the site of a brutal military-led crackdown on Rohingya communities that began in 2017, which left thousands dead and drove more than 740,000 across the border and into Bangladesh.

About 600,000 Rohingya still live in the region, with more than 120,000 Rohingya and other Muslims housed in crowded displacement camps in the state since 2012 when their homes were destroyed during a spate of communal violence with ethnic Rakhine Buddhists.

Reported by Min Thein Aung for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
SSC CHSL Registration 2020: The last date to register for Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Combined Higher Secondary Level 2020 examination is 10 January. Aspirants can visit the official website  ssc.nic.in to apply.

SSC CHSL Registration 2020: The last date to register for Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Combined Higher Secondary Level 2020 examination is 10 January. Aspirants can visit the official website  ssc.nic.in to apply.

As per the official notice of SSC CHSL, the recruitment exam for Lower Division Clerk (LDC)/Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Postal Assistant (PA), Sorting Assistant (SA), Data Entry Operator posts in different ministries/department/offices of the government of India will be held between 16 March, 2020, to 27 March, 2020.

Candidates will be able to pay registration fee of Rs 100 on or before 12 January. Applicants from the reserved category and females are exempted from paying the fee.

Steps to apply online for SSC CHSL Registration 2020:

Step 1: Visit the official website of the commission  ssc.nic.in

Step 2: On the homepage, click on 'One-time Registration Form' and 'Application Form'

Step 3: Create your login account

Step 4: Log in to the online system through your 'Registration Number' and 'Password'

Step 5: Click 'Apply' link in the 'Combined Higher Secondary Level (10+2) Examination 2019' Section under 'Latest Notifications' tab

Step 6: 'Modify Registration' and suitably edit your one-time registration data

Step 7: Give your preference for examination centers

Step 8: Select the medium of typing test

Step 9: Complete your declaration by clicking on "I agree" checkbox, fill up captcha code

Step 10: Preview and verify the information provided by you and 'Submit' the application

Step 11: Proceed to make fee payment if you are not exempted from payment of the fee

Education qualification: For the post of LDC/JSA, PA/SA, DEO (except DEOs in C&AG), candidates must qualify Class 12 examination from a recognised Board.

For Data Entry Operator (DEO) in the Office of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG), candidates must clear Class 12 exams from Science stream with Mathematics as a subject from a recognized Board.

Age limit:

Candidates must fall under the age group of 18-27. While, applicants from the reserved category will get the age relaxation as per the government rules.

About SSC:

The Estimates Committee of the Parliament, in its report (1967-68), recommended the setting up of a Service Selection Commission (SSC) for conducting examinations for recruitment to lower categories of posts.

Pursuant to this, and as an interim measure, an examination wing was initially added to the Secretariat Training School, subsequently renamed as the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM).
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan's National Carpet Museum has been named the country's most visited museum. 2019 was marked by many important events for the National Carpet Museum.

First of all, this cultural center broke its own record for the number of visitors, bringing their number to 122,143 last year, Trend Life reported.

In 2019, the Carpet Museum started operating as the country's first inclusive museum accessible for all to visit.

Thus, people with disabilities can visit the museum and get acquainted with the exposition. It should be noted that statements about the museums inclusive programs were submitted to such prestigious international museum organizations as ICOM and NEMO.

The museum's successful experience was highly appreciated by international experts and organizations such as ICOM Canada, ICOM International Committee for Museum Management (INTERCOM),NEMO and CAMOC.

In addition, several amendments were made concerning Azerbaijani exhibits at the Russian State Museum of Oriental Art.

In particular, in the information about the carpets, the place of their production was indicated Azerbaijan. A catalog of Azerbaijani carpets at the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art in Istanbul was also published.

In 2019, the museum's collection was enriched with six new exhibits. Among them are two female jewelry of the Qajar era, purchased from Sotheby's Auction House.

U.S. citizens Dumas Jones and Jay Jones presented the museum with a 19th-century Gonagkend rug, while the State Customs Committee donated six valuable carpets.

Notably, these carpets were confiscated during an attempt to smuggle abroad. All of these exhibits will be presented to the public next year.

The exhibitions held by the museum last contributed to the country`s cultural life. The museum itself hosted ten exhibitions and three more were organized in Russia, China and France.

Especially worth noting is the exhibition "Azerbaijan Heritage in Louvre Museum" - the first joint project of two museums. As part of the exhibition, the Carpet Museum displayed three unique Azerbaijani carpets included into the Louvre's permanent collection.

In 2019, the museum continued to expand international relations with foreign partners. Memoranda of understanding were signed with the Ichan-Kala State Museum-Reserve, Bukhara State Art-Architectural Museum-Reserve, Ankara University, Tabriz University of Islamic Art, etc.

Last year was also notable for the fact that the museums activity was highly appreciated by the state - it received national status.

In addition, the museum received the" Quality Certificate of 2019" from TripAdvisor, for the third year in a row.

The National Carpet Museum is proud of its efforts to preserve and promote the national heritage and will continue to work with great returns in the future.




Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 20:38:43|Editor: xuxin

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TRIPOLI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The forces of Libya's UN-backed government on Tuesday withdrew from the strategic coastal city of Sirte to "save civilian lives" after the rival eastern-based army took over it on Monday, spokesman of the protection force of Sirte said.

"Our operations chamber examined the situation and estimated that Sirte would be turned into a battlefield that would expose 120,000 citizens to death and displacement," Taha Hadid said.

"Our forces could have continued fighting for two weeks with their current capabilities and without any external support, but the consequences would have been disastrous for the civilians," Hadid added.

Sirte, located some 450 km east of the capital Tripoli, used to be dominated by Islamic State militants. Forces allied with the UN-backed government, who mostly come from the nearby city of Misurata, took over the city and expelled the terrorists in December 2016.

Spokesman of the eastern-based army, Ahmad al-Mismari, on Monday announced that the army had taken over Sirte.

Hadid said that "terrorism has returned to Sirte," confirming that "criminal gangs pillaged and burned people's houses."

The eastern-based army has been leading a military campaign since early April in and around the capital Tripoli, attempting to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government.

Thousands have been killed and injured in the fighting, and more than 120,000 civilians fled their homes away from the violence.
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has denied permission to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hold a prayer meet at the grave of partys founder and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on his 4th death anniversary on Tuesday. However, the deceased leaders granddaughter was allowed to visit his mausoleum to offer prayers.

The leader died on January 7, 2016, as serving CM of then PDP-BJP coalition government, which was formed a year earlier. As per his will, Muftis body was buried in his hometown Bijbehara in south Kashmirs Anantnag.

The party had been holding meetings every year on the day to pay homage to the party founder.

PDP Secretary Abdul Hamid Kohsheen said the party had sought permission from Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to hold congregational prayer meeting at Muftis grave. It is unfortunate that we were not given permission, he said.

The party, he said, would now hold a prayer meeting at PDP headquarters in Srinagar.According to another party leader, some second-rung leaders and senior activists of party from south Kashmir, especially Anantnag, may attempt to visit Muftis grave tomorrow to offer tributes. It remains to be seen whether they will be allowed to visit the grave, he said.

However, the administration has allowed Muftis granddaughter Iltija Mehbooba to visit his grave tomorrow.I have been verbally told by officials that I can visit, Iltija told this newspaper, adding that she is still unsure if the visit will actually take place.

The authorities, earlier, disallowed National Conference from holding a prayer meeting at the grave of partys founder and former CM Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in Srinagar on December 5 by enforcing restrictions in the area.

Immediate statehood unlikely

Senior BJP leader and former J&K Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta said statehood should be restored only when security concerns are addressed and Assembly elections take place. Till normalcy is restored, J&K will be a UT, he said
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has signed a State Council decree to publish a regulation on guaranteeing payments of wages to rural migrant workers, which will go into effect on May 1.

To ensure that rural migrant workers get their wages on time and in full, the regulation has clauses on clarifying the responsibilities of employers and related government departments, detailing rules for special areas and strengthening supervision.
CNN agreed on Tuesday to settle a lawsuit brought by Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandmann.

Sandmann sought $275 million from CNN over its coverage of the confrontation he and his classmates had with an elderly Native American man while visiting Washington, D.C., on a school trip in January of last year. The amount of the settlement was not made public during a hearing at the federal courthouse in Covington on Tuesday, according to a local Fox affiliate.

CNN brought down the full force of its corporate power, influence, and wealth on Nicholas by falsely attacking, vilifying, and bullying him despite the fact that he was a minor child, reads the suit, which was filed in March 2019.

Sandmann and his family still have lawsuits pending against NBC Universal and the Washington Post over their coverage of the incident. The Sandmann family sought a combined $800 million in damages from CNN, the Post, and NBC Universal.

This case will be tried not one minute earlier or later than when it is ready, Sandmanns attorney Lin Wood said of the remaining lawsuits.

Numerous national media outlets painted Sandmann and his classmates as menacing  and in some cases racist  after an edited video emerged of Sandmann smiling, inches away from the face of Nathan Phillips, an elderly Native American man, while attending the March for Life on the National Mall. A more complete video of the encounter, which emerged later, showed that Phillips had approached the Covington students and begun drumming in their faces, prompting them to respond with school chants.

The lawsuit filed by Sandmanns attorneys in the Eastern District of Kentucky claimed that 53 statements included in CNNs coverage of the incident were defamatory. One such statement, included in a CNN opinion piece, accused the students of acting with racist disrespect towards Phillips. Meanwhile, Bakari Sellers, a CNN contributor, publicly mused about assaulting the 16-year-old Sandmann, and HBO host Bill Maher called him a little prick.

Story continues

CNN filed a motion to dismiss the suit in May on the grounds that accusations of racism are not actionable in defamation cases because the allegation cant be proven true or false. They similarly argued they could not be held liable for uncorroborated claims that Sandmann and his classmates chanted build the wall during the encounter.

It is not defamatory to say the Covington students expressed support for the President or that he echoed a signature slogan of a major political party, CNNs motion to dismiss claims.

An investigation conducted by an outside firm contracted by the Diocese of Covington found no evidence that the students performed a Build the wall chant and that Phillipss account of the incident contain some inconsistencies that could not be explored because investigators were unable to reach him.

Phillips initially claimed that the boys approached him but later admitted that he walked into their group after a video emerged disproving his initial claim. According to his second account, Phillips was attempting to defuse a confrontation between the students and a group of Black Hebrew Israelites, who can be heard on video shouting racial and homophobic slurs at the boys.

Roger J. Foys, the bishop of Covington, celebrated the report as a vindication of the students. Our students were placed in a situation that was at once bizarre and even threatening, he said in a statement. Their reaction to the situation was, given the circumstances, expected and one might even say laudatory.

More from National Review
In Noida, petrol is retailing at Rs 76.83 a litre, while diesel price is Rs 69.09 a litre. The price of petrol in Gurugram is Rs 75.03 a litre while diesel was selling at Rs 67.66 a litre. (Photo Credit: File Photo)

New Delhi:

Fuel Rates Today: Petrol and diesel prices rose for the sixth straight day on Tuesday as global oil prices jumped after the US killed a top Iranian general, fanning fresh fears of conflict in the crude-rich Middle East. According to the Indian Oil website, the price of petrol increased by up to 10 Paise per litre. Whereas, the price of diesel increased by up to 25 paise per litre. As per the revised prices, the petrol rates are Rs 75.74 per litre in Delhi, Rs 81.33 per litre in Mumbai, Rs 78.33 per litre in Kolkata, and Rs 78.69 per litre in Chennai, respectively. On the other hand, the diesel prices in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai remained at Rs 68.79, Rs 72.14, Rs 71.15, and Rs 72.69 per litre, respectively.

In Noida, petrol is retailing at Rs 76.83 a litre, while diesel price is Rs 69.09 a litre. The price of petrol in Gurugram is Rs 75.03 a litre while diesel was selling at Rs 67.66 a litre.

India is 84 per cent dependant on imports to meet its oil needs and any spike in global prices has a direct bearing on its economy. Not just imports but even domestic crude oilwhich forms the raw material for making petrol, diesel and other petroleum productsis priced according to international benchmarks.

Middle East accounts for more than two-thirds of the countrys oil imports, with Iraq and Saudi Arabia being the top suppliers. Even though the import basket has been sought to be diversified with oil being contracted from nations such as the US, pricing in all the regions is governed by international benchmarks and rates went up everywhere following Fridays strikes.

Officials said there is no immediate threat of any supply disruption to India and the only impact would be felt in 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.
A St Petersburg clinic that is run and partly owned by people with ties to president Vladimir Putin has provided medical treatment to Russian mercenaries injured abroad, according to three people with knowledge of military contractors being treated, a clinic employee, a reporters witness account and company records.

The previously unreported medical treatment for private military contractors wounded in combat overseas, including in Libya and Syria, shows fighters have received indirect support from the countrys elite even as the Kremlin denies they fight abroad on its behalf.

Under Russian law, all medical organisations are obliged to report combat injuries to the police for investigation and its illegal for a Russian citizen to participate in armed conflict as a mercenary.

The clinic is owned by large insurance company AO Sogaz, which counts among its senior officials and owners relatives of Mr Putin and others linked to the president, according to the SPARK database, which aggregates data from business registries.

The clinics general director, Vladislav Baranov, also has a business relationship with Mr Putins elder daughter, Maria. Reuters has no evidence of the daughters involvement in the treatment of military contractors.

Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Show all 32 1 /32 Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Activists of opposition parties burn flares during a rally demanding to break an agreement with Russia on the use of the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait, in front of the parliament building in Kiev Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Volunteers with the right-wing paramilitary Azov National Corps light flares during a rally on the snowy streets in front of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev after Russia seized two of their armored artillery vessels and a tug boat in the Black Sea AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Ukrainian Nationalists demand to break the diplomatic relations with Russia and nationalization of Russian property in Ukraine EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Ukrainian activists burn flares during their rally in front of Russian Consulate in Kharkiv EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Seized Ukrainian ships, small armoured artillery ships and a tug boat, are seen anchored in a port of Kerch Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, announced, on 25 November, at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council that they will introduce martial law in Ukraine for a period of 60 days and appeal to the Parliament to consider the move Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Russia seized two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats. The 'Yany Kapu' tugboat has forcibly been stopped Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Children from an orphanage volunteer to help the city defenders strengthen trenches on Ukraine's Army positions near the village of Rybatske 25 km from Mariupol AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Policemen guard at Russian consulate during a protest action in the Black Sea Ukrainian city of Odessa AFP/Getty Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 AFP/Getty Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 With relations still raw after Russias annexation of Crimea and its backing for a pro-Moscow insurgency in eastern Ukraine, the capture of three Ukrainian naval vessels risks pushing the two countries towards a wider conflict. Graphic explains how the naval incident unfolded on a map Graphic News Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Activists of far-right parties burn flares in front of the parliament building in Kiev during a rally to support the Ukrainian navy Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A Ukraine army APC moves toward on position at an undisclosed location in eastern Ukraine AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Ukrainian Nationalists sign a banner with a slogan reading like 'Not retreat and not surrendering!' EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 AFP/Getty Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Activists glue Ukrainian flag on the fence of Russian consulate AFP/Getty Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A volunteer with the right-wing paramilitary Azov National Corps during a rally on the snowy streets in front of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A National Guard serviceman extinguishes a torch thrown by a protester during a rally against the seizure by Russian special forces of three of the Ukrainian navy ships Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A protester throws a smoke grenade during a rally in front of the embassy of Russia in Kiev AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Protestors set up paper ships on the tires during their rally near of Russian embassy building in Kiev EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A man extinguishes a burning car of the embassy of Russia Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Paper boats are seen placed during a protest Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 EPA

Reached by phone, Mr Baranov told Reuters: Forget about our clinics, thats my advice for you. In response to written questions, he said: I dont want to communicate with you.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: We have no information on this at all. The defence ministry, Sogaz and Mr Putins daughter did not respond to requests for comment.

Russian private military contractors have clandestinely fought in support of Russian forces in Syria and Ukraine, Reuters and other media have previously reported. The contractors are recruited by a private military group known as Wagner Group whose members are mostly ex-service personnel.

Wagner fighters were also deployed in Libya to support eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, according to two former Wagner military contractors. Mr Haftar is battling against the internationally recognised government in Tripoli.

The Russian state denies it uses mercenaries and has said those fighting in Ukraine and Syria are volunteers. Putin has said that Russian private military contractors were present in Syria, but that they provided security services and that they have nothing to do with the Russian state or its army and have the right to work in any country as long as they dont violate Russian law by taking part in combat.

Mr Putin, when asked at his annual news conference on 19 December about the presence of Russian mercenaries in Libya, said: Do you believe what Western media report? Do you believe everything?

Putin: Do you believe what Western media report? Do you believe everything? (Getty)

Russia, he added, was in contact with both Libyas internationally recognised prime minister, Fayez al-Serraj, and Khalifa Haftar.

Wagner Groups founder, Dmitry Utkin, couldnt be reached for comment.

Wounded Commander

Smoking a cigarette in the clinics backyard in late October, Alexander Kuznetsov said he had been to Libya and that Russians there were fighting international terrorism to protect Moscows interests.

He sported bandages and attached to his arm was a metal device that is an external metal fixation device of the type used to treat complex bone injuries. He declined to discuss his injuries.

A former Wagner fighter who was treated at the clinic and another private military contractor, when presented with a photograph of Mr Kuznetsov, identified him as the commander of a Wagner Group assault unit who had been injured while fighting in Libya.

The Sogaz clinic has offered services to Wagner fighters since at least 2016 (Reuters)

Mr Kuznetsov confirmed he was a private military commander, but didnt specify for which group.

The clinic, which opened in 2010, is one of a string of private medical facilities Sogaz has opened across Russia, according to the companys website.

The Sogaz clinic has offered services to Wagner fighters since at least 2016, according to the former Wagner fighter who was treated at the clinic.

He said he had been treated for an injury in recent years in the same clinic along with five or six other wounded mercenaries. He had sustained the injury in Syria, he said.

Another Wagner contractor had received medical treatment at the Sogaz clinic after also being severely wounded in Syria, his mother told Reuters.

Russian private military contractors have clandestinely fought in support of Russian forces in Syria and Ukraine (AFP)

In both cases, medical services were free of charge for the fighters, the contractor and the mother said. They said they did not know who covered the expenses.

The mother said that one of the medical services her son had received cost $10,000 (7,600), something she learned from medical documents. Reuters didnt review these documents and was unable to confirm this.

Asked who was paying for his treatment, Mr Kuznetsov, the injured commander, also said he did not know.

Sogaz provides Russian army personnel and members of Russias National Guard with life and health insurance, according to an official government database of state contracts.

Ties to Putin

Putins elder daughter is co-founder and a board member of another business that the clinics general director Mr Baranov is also general director of, a medical company called AO Nomeko, according to company records in the SPARK database and the companys website.

Nomeko lists the Sogaz unit that runs the clinic treating mercenaries as one of its partners on its website, without providing more specifics.

She has previously pursued a biomedical career specialising in the endocrine system and did so using a married name, Faassen, Reuters has reported.

Putins daughter now uses Vorontsova as her last name, according to references to her previously published research articles on the website of the medical research institute where she works.

Maria has not publicly confirmed being Putins daughter and the Russian president says little about his family life.

A police department in charge of St Petersburg did not respond to a request for comment about whether the clinic had reported treatment of fighters injured overseas.

Sogazs deputy chief executive is Mikhail Putin, who according to local media is a son of one of Putins cousins. The Kremlin has confirmed he is a distant relative of the president.

A son of another Putin cousin, Mikhail Shelomov, owns a 12.5 per cent stake in Sogaz through a company called Accept, according to official company records.

Yuri Kovalchuk, whom Mr Putin has publicly referred to as a friend, and his wife hold a stake in Sogaz indirectly, according to company records. The couple own nearly half of a company that controls 32.3 per cent of Sogaz through another firm called OOO Akvila, the records show.

And, Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller, who worked at the St Petersburg mayors office in the 1990s with Mr Putin before he became president, chairs Sogazs board of directors, according to the companys website and company records.

Mikhail Putin, Mr Shelomov, the Kovalchuks, and Mr Miller didnt respond to requests for comment about the clinic treating private military contractors injured in combat overseas. Gazprom declined to comment in response to questions addressed to Mr Miller and Mikhail Putin.

Akvila and the company the Kovalchuks indirectly hold their stake in Sogaz via couldnt be reached for comment.

Reuters
MADISON  The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is looking for the 73rd Alice In Dairyland.

This years Alice in Dairyland competition is being held in Walworth County.

The DATCP seeks a communications professional eager to help Wisconsin residents make meaningful connections with state agriculture, and those interested in the position can apply between now and Monday, Feb. 3.

Applying to serve as Alice in Dairyland is one of the best decisions Ive ever made, said Abigail Martin, the current Alice In Dairyland.

The person serving as Alice in Dairyland will cultivate relationships with television, radio, and print media outlets; write and deliver speeches at events; and leverage social media to promote Wisconsin agriculture.

Martin said being Wisconsins agricultural ambassador has allowed her to share the story of Wisconsins $104.8 billion agriculture industry with many diverse audiences across the state.

Its also broadened my own view of agriculture and deepened my appreciation for the industry, she said.

Applicants should have:

Considerable knowledge or work experience with Wisconsin agriculture.

At least three years of experience, education or training in communications, marketing or public relations.

Public speaking experience.

A willingness to attend an extensive number of work-related events on evenings and weekends.

Applicants must be female Wisconsin residents who are 21 years old.

The one-year, full-time contractual position starts June 1.

The position is headquartered in Madison and travels extensively throughout the state. The salary is $45,000 annually and includes holiday, vacation and sick leave as well as use of a vehicle for official business.

Reimbursement is provided for health insurance as well as travel expenses for official purposes.

Interested individuals should submit an application form, cover letter, resume, three professional references, and a summary of their qualifications by 4:30 p.m. Feb. 3. Application materials are available at datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Growing_WI/BecomingAlice.aspx.

In contrast to previous years, preliminary interviews will be held on a Saturday  Feb. 22  and may be conducted via Skype or in person.

Following these preliminary interviews, up to six top candidates will be required to attend a two-day program briefing and press announcement on March 13 and 14.

Top candidates must also attend the three-day final interview process May 14 to 16 in Walworth County, which culminates in the selection of the 73rd Alice in Dairyland.

Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to Debbie Vine (Gegare) at 608-224-5116 or Debbie.Gegare@wisconsin.gov.
Mumbai: Those protesting against violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus at the Gateway of India have been relocated to Azad maidan by the Mumbai Police on Tuesday morning (January 7). The police appealed to organisers to evict the place as the ongoing sit-in will affect the visit of tourists.

According to the police, the protesters were evicted from the Gateway of India as roads were getting blocked and common Mumbaikar was facing problems.

Sangramsingh Nishandar, DCP (Zone 1) told ANI that "protesters are evicted from Gateway of India as roads were getting blocked and common Mumbaikar and tourists were facing problems. We had appealed to protesters many times, and have now relocated them to Azad Maidan."

The protests at the Gateway of India was organised by students against the violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on January 5.

Live TV

Several celebrities including filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and lyricist Vishal Dadlani joined the ongoing protests. Kashyap reportedly said that he was at the protest site to show his solidarity with the students and blamed the government for the attacks in JNU campus, while Dadlani said that he was there in support of a secular India.

"I watched the protests which were going on here and decided to join the students. The government does not want to arrest the perpetrators because they are their own people. The police did not enter JNU to stop the violence but entered the Jamia Millia Islamia where they beat up the students," Kashyap told reporters on Monday night.

Scores of students from different colleges were sloganeering against the Central government exhibiting solidarity with the JNU students injured in the violence that broke out at the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi on January 5.

Ther were holding placards with "We stand with JNU", "Stop attacks on students" at the Gateway of India.

Notably, politicians, cutting across party lines, condemned the attack on students which had taken place in JNU on Sunday, urging the administration to take strict action against those found guilty.

As many as 30 students were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the JNU and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.
Shark Tank Buys Every Man Needs

Take the Bait - Snatch Up These 'Shark Tank' Gadgets

The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service.

Whether or not you regularly watch Shark Tank, youre probably familiar with many of the products the show made famous. Inventions such as the Squatty Potty, Bombas and Scrub Daddy are now ubiquitous  not to mention valued at millions of dollars  but there are many other just-as-great pitched items you might not be so familiar with (there have been close to 1,000 brands featured on the show, after all).

RELATED: AskMen's Gear of the Year

Heres a look at some seriously cool "Shark Tank" buys to upgrade your everyday life.

Cut Board Pro

After New York firefighter and chef, Keith Young, passed away due to health complications caused by 9/11 cleanup, his three children vowed to make their fathers dream come true by pitching his innovative cutting board on Shark Tank. But theres more than just a touching story here.

This product is truly fantastic, which explains why, in a rare move, all of the Sharks came together to make a deal with the Young family. The board is eco-friendly, reversible and it comes with a detachable tray that hangs over a counter's edge, so that it's easy to separate prepped ingredients from food scraps. Its also durable, easy-to-clean and part of the proceeds go to help firemen who fell ill after 9/11.

$69.95 at WilliamsSonoma.com

Ring 2

When entrepreneur Jamie Siminoff first went into the tank in 2013 with his idea for a video doorbell, he didnt leave with an offer in hand, but things didnt stay sour for the entrepreneur for long. Five years later, the company sold for more than $1 billion. In the half-decade since his appearance on the show (he has since appeared as a guest Shark), Ring has continued to innovate and they recently released the Ring Video Doorbell 2.

The second-generation product has a removable and rechargeable battery, up to 1080p HD video, infrared night vision, two-way audio and motion detection (meaning users can speak to visitors from anywhere in the world via the free Ring app), built-in motion sensors that trigger instant mobile alerts, and Ring 2 can connect to existing wired doorbells.

$199 at Amazon.com

Frywall

Heres another buy that will ease your clean-up. Frywall is a silicone splatter guard that will keep oil and sauces from spritzing all over your stovetop. It's dishwasher safe, can withstand sustained temperatures of up to 450F, rolls up for easy storage, and comes in three sizes to fit a variety of pans.

Prices vary at Frywall.com

Butter Cloth Men's Dress Shirts

Created by immigrant entrepreneur Danh Tran, Robert Herjavec has said that Butter Cloth, a mens dress shirt brand, is one of his personal favorite investments. In fact, after a deal was struck with Herjavec, Butter Cloth created a business casual collection inspired by him.

So what sets Butter Cloth apart from other mens clothing companies? The Vietnam-born Danh has spent decades in the design industry, which ultimately led him to create his line of shirts made from a unique blend of 100 percent long fiber cotton that perfectly mix fashion with function. Stretchy and breathable, they look like dress shirts, but feel like T-shirts. Butter Cloth now has a wide range of colors, patterns and styles to choose from.

Prices vary at Buttercloth.com

Terra-Core

Whether or not getting fitter was one of your 2020 resolutions, odds are youd take the opportunity to lose fat and gain muscle, and thats just what Terra-Core facilitates. Its basically a fancier, more versatile Bosu ball that combines tools for weight, cardio and functional training for all levels.

One side is a rubber dome, meaning youll engage added core strength when performing exercises like squats, while the other is flat and has handles and sidebars so you can comfortably do things like push-ups and burpees. A whopping four Sharks made offers, but ultimately Lori Greiner sealed the deal.

$199 at TerraCoreFitness.com

Wurkin Stiffs Magnetic Collar Stays

This is one of those Shark Tank items that you see and think, "Why didn't I think of that?" Whether you rock a collared shirt on the daily or only for special occasions, you'll know the struggle of maintaining a sleek stiff collar. Wurkin Stiffs set out to change that with these simple yet effective magnetic bands that slip right under a collar and keep it from going limp.

$40 at Amazon.com

EverlyWell

Do you suspect that you have a food sensitivity or too many heavy metals in your body? Or maybe you feel as though youre suffering from a vitamin D deficiency or an inflammation issue? You can test for all these and more via EverlyWell, which sells at-home lab testing kits.

Dozens of custom panels are available and test results (provided within days) are easy to read and understand, and said to be as accurate as the ones youd receive from your doctors office. All of the results come from certified lab facilities and are reviewed by board-certified physicians. If thats not enough to convince you to bypass the waiting room at the doc's office, Lori Greiner believed in founder Julia Cheek so much that she invested $1 million in the company.

Find out more at EverlyWell.com

TaDah Foods

When youre looking for a burrito break, head to the frozen foods aisle and look for TaDah Foods. All the Sharks agreed that the on-trend, plant-based East Mediterranean brands products taste amazing. While the Sharks looked as though they were chowing down on burritos, they were actually enjoying Falafel Wraps  a blend of chickpeas, herbs, spices and hummus, available in flavors like Feta Salsa and Sweet and Spicy Harissa.

TaDah also makes Falafel Poppers, which are basically falafel fritters with a creamy dip in the center. If you want proof that these are worth considering for your next meal  founder John Sorial went into the tank asking for $300,000 and left with a $500,000 investment.

Find out more at TaDahFoods.com

Hair Ties for Guys

Rocking a man bun or a ponytail? It's about time you got into Hair Ties for Guys. Created by two long-haired dudes who were tired of shopping in the women's hair aisle, this brand creates hair ties that are not only durable and snug against the hair, but they don't leave creases either.

$12 at Amazon.com

Plop Star

You might be familiar with Poo-Pourri, a popular smell-masking toilet spray made of essential oils and other natural compounds, that works by coating the surface of the water to hold in bad odors. Plop Star takes this idea to the next level with added convenience. The brand makes individually packaged tablets that you simply toss in the toilet prior to your performance (their words, not ours!) so you can rock the bowl with confidence.

The packages are compact, so you can easily slip one into your wallet for when youre at work, at your significant others apartment, or anywhere else you might not want to leave the bathroom with a stench. The catch? Despite not inking a deal with one of the Sharks, Plop Star blew through their inventory several times over since appearing on the show and the product is now back-ordered through the spring.

Find out more at PlopStar.com

Table87

Frozen pizza doesnt tend to taste great, and if you live in a city like New York or Chicago theres very little reason to opt for it. Table 87 is an exception to the rule. It has been nearly five years since Tom Cucco appeared on "Shark Tank" and made a deal with Lori Greiner to take his coal oven pizzas to the masses and his company, Table 87, is deservingly more popular than ever.

Not only does this pizza come sold by the slice (Hello, portion control) but you get coal oven taste without an actual coal oven  and it only takes minutes. The vacuum seal packaging also means it takes up very little space in the freezer.

$4.99 at FreshDirect.com

Beard King

Whether youre shaving or trimming youll undoubtedly end up with hair all over your countertop and/or sink. That is, until you put on this bib designed to catch hair clippings  and yes, it looks as ridiculous as you think. Its a small price to pay, however, to avoid the nuisance of cleaning up facial hair. Even though the deal with Lori Grenier fell through after the show aired, Beard King still has reportedly gone on to sell millions of dollars worth of product.

$23.99 at Amazon.com

Supply

Weve been taught to believe the more blades the better, but Supply is dispelling that myth with their single blade razors, designed with aerospace-grade engineering to prevent ingrown hairs and irritation. The brands founders scored a deal with Robert Herjavec and their booming business now includes an ever-growing assortment of razors, shaving cream, after-shave, and a variety of accessories such as trays and marble tumblers.

Prices vary at Supply.co

Bug Bite Thing

We can all agree that bug bites are a nuisance wed love to live without, so it makes sense that Bug Bite Thing received a lot of offers from the Sharks. Unlike most bug fighters, this one doesnt come with a noxious smell or cumbersome application process, rather it works by removing the saliva that is left beneath the skin's surface after a bite to eliminate itching and swelling. It works like a suction tool in a quick, easy and totally painless way.

$9.95 at Amazon.com

Budsies Selfie Dolls

When you cant be there to cuddle with your gf at night, surprise her with a Budsies selfie plush toy. Its one of those ridiculously cute gifts no one can forget. Basically you upload an image of yourself and add in any design details (think your favorite sports team T-shirt or holding an engagement ring) and the dolls will be custom designed in a matter of weeks.

For new parents, you can also turn your childrens drawings into plush toys  or even have a plush toy made that looks like your pet! While founder Alex Furmansky didnt walk away with a deal his company has gone on to produce more than 80,000 custom plush toys.

Find out more at Budsies.com

You Might Also Dig:

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Somalia's al-Shabaab attack on US-Kenya base leaves 3 Americans dead

Iran Press TV

Monday, 06 January 2020 5:56 AM

One American military service member and two US Department of Defense (DoD) contractors have been killed in an attack on a Kenyan base used by US troops.

The Somalia-based al-Shabab terrorist group claimed responsibility for the Sunday attack which also left two DoD members wounded, according to the US military command for Africa (AFRICOM).

The names of the killed soldiers are being withheld pending notification of next of kin, AFRICOM noted.

Meanwhile, Kenya's army spokesman Colonel Paul Njuguna, in a statement, described as abortive the attempt "to breach security at Manda Air Strip," located on Kenya's coast near the border with Somalia.

"Arising from the unsuccessful breach a fire broke out affecting some of the fuel tanks located at the airstrip. The fire has been put under control," he said.

Al-Shabaab militants stormed the base, using indirect and small-arms fire, AFRICOM reported. It added that the militants overran the base, but were repelled by US forces after an initial penetration, which led to the deaths of at least five militants and the seizure of weapons including four AK47 rifles.

Al-Shabaab said in a statement that "seven aircraft and three military vehicles were destroyed in the attack."

The terror group later posted photos of the aircraft ablaze and an al-Shabaab militant standing nearby.

Meanwhile, an internal Kenyan police report said two fixed-wing aircraft, a US Cessna and a Kenyan one, were destroyed in addition to two US helicopters and multiple US vehicles.

The al-Qaeda-linked militants have been waging an insurgency for more than a decade in neighboring Somalia.

In September, they launched two separate attacks on a US military base and a European Union military convoy in the country.

In 2011, the terrorist group was pushed out of Somalia's capital city with the help of African Union forces.

However, al-Shabaab still wields power in rural areas across the country, and every now and then launches deadly terrorist attacks against government, military, and civilian targets in the capital, as well as regional towns.

Al-Shabaab militants have fought successive Somali governments as well as neighboring governments in Uganda and Kenya, the latter of which sent troops to Somalia in 2011 to fight the Takfiri group as part of the African Union forces.

Somalia has faced instability and violence since 1991, when the military government was overthrown.

Three arrested for trying to breach British army camp

Also on Sunday, three men tried in vain to break into a British army camp in Laikipia in central Kenya, according to a report seen by Reuters.

The attempt captured on a security camera was foiled by officers who arrested the men, police said in the report, noting that they were being questioned by anti-terrorism officers.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Las Vegas Metro Police say a 93-year-old man shot a maintenance worker at his apartment complex, then a responding officer opened fire on the 93-year-old.

Two officers were responding to the suspect, Robert Thomas with a gun at the management office on Thursday, Jan. 2 when they rushed to the office doors.

"And through a glass door saw Thomas holding a firearm as he stood over a male who was lying on the floor," said Assistant Sheriff Brett Zimmerman.

Officer Hornyak, one of those two responding officers, fired one round at Thomas but did not injure him.

Police say Thomas was upset with management about water damage and flooding in his apartment.

After making threats, police say Thomas went to the office and shot a maintenance worker twice in his legs before police shot at him.

"It turned out that the round that was fired by Officer Hornyak through the glass door went through the lapel of Thomas' jacket but did not penetrate his skin," said Zimmerman.

Police say Thomas had no criminal history but it was the quick decision by officers that saved lives.

"They heard the shot and the key was the officer told his partner they had to make entry due to the possibility of any more people being injured or killed while inside that apartment complex office not knowing what they had," Zimmerman continued.

Police say the victim was treated and released from the hospital and is doing okay.

Thomas was treated for head injuries from glass, suffered when he was taken down to the floor during the arrest.

He faces felony charges, including attempted murder with a deadly weapon.
Photo: ignacio sagone/Flickr

On January 2, two people suffered life-threatening injuries in separate traffic collisions. Both victims were transported to a hospital, police said Friday.

At Ocean and Harold. | Photo: Google Maps

A pedestrian, identified only as a woman, was hit by a 41-year-old man near the City College of San Francisco, and San Francisco Fire Department Station 15, in the Ingleside neighborhood at Ocean and Harold avenues. Police said the driver made contact with the pedestrian, who suffered life-threatening injuries from the encounter. The collision occurred at 7:37 a.m. and remains a pending investigation.

At 43rd and Fulton. | Photo: Google Maps

Then, at 6:01 p.m. on the same day, an 18-year-old man who was riding a bicycle was struck by a driver while walking at 43rd Avenue and Fulton Street near Golden Gate Park, causing life-threatening injuries. The driver remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation. No arrests were made in both cases.

Neither intersection is identified as a high-injury corridor under the city's Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2024. Last year, 29 people were killed on San Francisco streets, including 18 pedestrians and one bicyclist. The city is currently not meeting its Vision Zero target, according to Vision Zero's website.

Anyone with information about the hit-and-run is asked to call the SFPD 24-hour tip line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.
[January 07, 2020] SOFIA Reveals How Swan Nebula Hatched

COLUMBIA, Md. and HONOLULU, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Universities Space Research Association today announced that SOFIA revealed a new view of the Swan Nebula showing that parts of it formed separately to create the swan-like shape seen today. The results were presented at a press briefing at the American Astronomical Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. Though astronomers have been studying swan nebula for 250 years, the new SOFIA image reveals never-before-seen details of the Swan, or Omega Nebula. This is the most detailed infrared view of the nebula, revealing features that previous observations with space telescopes could not see including massive stars at their earliest stages of evolution. Scientists found nine areas where the nebula is collapsing and will one day form stars, called protostars, that had never been seen before. The study also found evidence that the nebula was not all formed at the same time, but has undergone multiple eras of formation that are responsible for its present, swan-like appearance. One of the brightest and most massive star-forming regions in our galaxy, the Omega or Swan nebula, came to resemble the shape resembling a swan's neck we see today only relatively recently. New observations reveal that its regions formed separately over multiple eras of star birth. The new image from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, is helping scientists chronicle the history and evolution of this well-studied nebula. According to, Wanggi Lim, a Universities Space Research Association scientist at the SOFIA Science Center at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley, "The present-day nebula holds the secrets that reveal its past, we just need to be able to uncover them. SOFIA lets us do this, so we can understand why the nebula looks the way it does today." Uncovering the nebula's secrets is no simple task. It's located more than 5,000 light years away in the constellation Sagittarius. Its center is filled with more than 100 of the galaxy's most massive young stars. These stars may be many times the size of our Sun, but the youngest generations are forming deep in cocoons of dust and gas, where they are very difficult to see, even with space telescopes. Because the central region glows very brightly, the detectors on spac telescopes were saturated at the wavelengths SOFIA studied, similar to an over-exposed photo.



SOFIA's infrared camera called FORCAST, the Faint Object Infrared Camera for the SOFIA Telescope, however, can pierce through these cocoons. The new view reveals nine areas where the nebula's clouds are collapsing, creating the first step in the birth of stars, called protostars, that had not been seen before. Additionally, the team calculated the ages of the nebula's different regions. They found that portions of the swan-like shape were not all created at the same time, but took shape over multiple eras of star formation. The central region is the oldest, most evolved and likely formed first. Next, the northern area formed, while the southern region is the youngest, and was created most recently. Even though the northern area is older than the southern region, the radiation and stellar winds from previous generations of stars has disturbed the material there  preventing it from collapsing to form the next generation.

"This is the most detailed view of the nebula we have ever had," said Jim De Buizer, a Universities Space Research Association senior scientist at the SOFIA Science Center at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. "It's the first time we can see some of its youngest, massive stars, and start to truly understand how it evolved into the iconic nebula we see today." Massive stars, like those in the Swan nebula, release so much energy that they can change the evolution of entire galaxies. But, less than one percent of all stars are this enormous, so astronomers know very little about them. Previous observations of this nebula with space telescopes studied different wavelengths of infrared light, which did not reveal the details SOFIA detected. SOFIA's image shows gas in blue as it's heated by massive stars located near the center, and dust in green that is warmed both by existing massive stars and nearby newborn stars. The newly-detected protostars are located primarily in the southern areas. The red areas near the edge represent cold dust that was detected by the Herschel Space Telescope, while the white star field was detected by the Spitzer Space Telescope. The Spitzer Space Telescope will be decommissioned on January 30, 2020, after operating for more than 16 years. SOFIA continues exploring the infrared universe, studying wavelengths of mid- and far-infrared light with high resolution that are not accessible to other telescopes and helping scientists understand star and planet formation, the role magnetic fields play in shaping our universe, and the chemical evolution of galaxies. About USRA Founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is a nonprofit corporation chartered to advance space-related science, technology and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities, and conducts other major research and educational programs, under Federal funding. USRA engages the university community and employs in-house scientific leadership, innovative research and development, and project management expertise. More information about USRA is available at www.usra.edu. About SOFIA SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, is a Boeing 747SP jetliner modified to carry a 106-inch diameter telescope. It is a joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center, DLR. NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley manages the SOFIA program, science and mission operations in cooperation with the Universities Space Research Association headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, and the German SOFIA Institute (DSI) at the University of Stuttgart. The aircraft is maintained and operated from NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703, in Palmdale, California. About Spitzer JPL manages the Spitzer Space Telescope mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Science operations are conducted at the Spitzer Science Center at Caltech in Pasadena. Space operations are based at Lockheed Martin Space. Data are archived at the Infrared Science Archive housed at IPAC at Caltech. Caltech manages JPL for NASA. About Herschel

Herschel is a European Space Agency mission, with science instruments provided by consortia of European institutes and with important participation by NASA. While the observatory stopped making science observations in April 2013, after running out of liquid coolant as expected, scientists continue to analyze its data. NASA's Herschel Project Office is based at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California. JPL contributed mission-enabling technology for two of Herschel's three science instruments. The NASA Herschel Science Center, part of IPAC, supports the U.S. astronomical community. Caltech manages JPL for NASA. PR Contact:

Suraiya Farukhi, Ph.D.

[email protected]

410-740-6224; 443-812-6945 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sofia-reveals-how-swan-nebula-hatched-300980175.html SOURCE Universities Space Research Association

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[January 07, 2020] PKF Texas Promotes New Director and Adds Shareholder

Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. (PKF Texas) is pleased to announce Sam Razmandi, CPA, has been promoted to Entrepreneurial Advisory Services Director. Additionally, Tax Director, Martin Euson, JD, has been added to the shareholder group. These promotions were effective as of January 1, 2020. "It is an honor to have Sam and Martin on the PKF Texas team," said Byron Hebert, CPA, CTP, Chief Growth Officer and Entrepreneurial Advisory Services Practice Leader. "We are proud to recognize their contributions to the firm and watch them grow in their careers alongside the firm's continuing success." Mr. Razmandi joined the firm in 2012 and works closely with owners and CFOs to help them achieve their company goals by providing reliable and timely financial information, improving processes and procedures and helping identify and understand key performance indicators. Throughout his career, he has workd with companies in the manufacturing, distribution, retail and wholesale, and professional services.



Mr. Euson's experience includes advising businesses and their owners on U.S. federal income tax matters, and he also provides strategic buyers and private equity investors with U.S. tax due diligence and tax structuring services in connection with acquisition and divestiture transactions. He joined the firm in 2016. About Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. (PKF Texas)

PKF Texas is a premier middle-market CPA firm in Houston, with a 33-year history focused on assisting entrepreneurial-minded businesses. We provide services in audit, accounting, domestic and international tax, entrepreneurial advisory, outsource and co-source accountancy, profit enhancement, employee benefit plan audits, fraud and forensics, internal audit and internal controls, state and local tax, incentives and credits to emerging and middle market companies across many industries. Through PKF International and the Leading Edge Alliance, we have access to worldwide resources. To learn more, visit www.pkftexas.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107006025/en/

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Eight labor migrants from Vietnam have been killed by a fire at a farm in the Moscow region.

Initial Russian media reports on January 7 quoted officials from the Emergency Situations Ministry as saying the victims were from Tajikistan.

But authorities at Tajikistan's embassy in Moscow told RFE/RL that their representatives sent to the scene of the fire determined that all of those killed in the blaze were Vietnamese.

A ninth migrant worker also was injured by the fire at the structure where the workers were living. The injured man's citizenship was not disclosed.

The early morning fire was at the village of Nesterovo in the Ramensky district of the Moscow region. The ministry said the blaze was extinguished by firefighters at about 6 a.m.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.

With reporting by Interfax, TASS, and RIA Novosti
Photos: Petfinder

Interested in adopting a pet  or just taking a peek at some cuddly canines up for adoption? There are dozens of great puppies up for adoption at animal shelters in and around Miami.

Animal shelters and pet rescue groups work hard to care for unhoused pets and connect them to loving homes. Hoodline used data from Petfinder to power this roundup of puppies currently available for adoption.

(Details like pet availability, training, vaccinations and other features are based on data provided by Petfinder and may be subject to change; contact the shelter for the latest information.)

Jett, Jack Russell terrier mix

Jett is a sweet male Jack Russell terrier puppy being cared for at Just Jacks Rescue, Inc. Just Jacks Rescue, Inc. recommends he be placed in a home without small children. Good news: He's already house-trained and has been vaccinated. From Jett's current caretaker: Apply to adopt Jett today at Petfinder.

Jett is sweet, calm and cuddly. He's about six to eight months old and weighs eight pounds. This fun-loving guy loves to play tug of war and will get along great with your other dogs. If you've got a doggie playmate at home, please consider adopting him.

Lucy, Yorkshire terrier

Lucy is a lovable female Yorkshire terrier puppy in the care of Saving Paws 4 Love. Lucy loves other dogs. Saving Paws 4 Love, however, thinks she will do best in a home without small children. She has been vaccinated. Apply to adopt Lucy today at Petfinder.

Daisy Mae, Yorkshire terrier

Daisy Mae is a charming female Yorkshire terrier puppy staying at United Yorkie Rescue. Daisy Mae loves to socialize  she'll get along great with other dogs. She is vaccinated. Apply to adopt Daisy Mae today at Petfinder.

Mia, American bulldog

Mia is a sweet female American bulldog puppy currently residing at Saving Paws 4 Love. She has had all her shots. Notes from Mia's caretakers: Read more about how to adopt Mia on Petfinder.

Mia is as friendly as can be. This 7-month-old puppy likes to play with other dogs and kids.

This story was created automatically using local animal shelter data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
DUSHANBE -- Tajik police have detained 27 people on suspicion of being members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group.

Police sources in Dushanbe, speaking on condition of anonymity, told RFE/RL on January 6 that members of the banned Islamist group were detained in the Tajik capital and in the regions of Sughd and Khatlon during the previous week.

They said those detained included students, Islamic clerics, and local officials.

The police sources told RFE/RL that there were no initial charges filed against the detainees. But they said the detainees were still being questioned as part of an ongoing investigation.

They said additional arrests were possible as a result of the investigation.

Relatives of some detainees told RFE/RL that their homes had been searched during the weekend.

The Muslim Brotherhood is a Sunni Islamist organization founded in Egypt in 1928 by the Islamic scholar Hassan al-Banna.

The group's teachings have spread internationally and have influenced various Islamist groups, movements, and parties around the world -- some of which do not use the same name.

The group claims to be peaceful but has been banned in many countries as an extremist organization. Tajikistan banned the group as such in 2006.

In 2016, an imam in Tajikistan's northern region of Sughd was sentenced to five years in prison for being a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Detectives have found the boat used to take a gunman along the Brisbane River on Monday morning to shoot up Howard Smith Wharves bar Mr Percival's.

Police confirmed the vessel, believed to be a dinghy, was found on Tuesday but the exact time and location were not yet released.

Bullet holes at the back of Howard Smith Wharves bar Mr Percival's. Credit:Nine News Queensland

Howard Smith Wharves chief executive Luke Fraser said there was a "small amount of damage" to the venue following the shooting, but the bar was open for business on Monday evening.

"No one was injured as the incident occurred when the venue was closed and no guests were present. One staff member was inside at the time and thankfully was unharmed," he said.
Simon Sproule

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has named Simon Sproule chief communications officer, effective Feb. 3. Sproule will also serve as head of North America communications.

He succeeds former CCO Niel Golightly, who joined Boeing as senior VP-communications on Jan. 1.

Sproule was previously vice president and chief marketing at Aston Martin Lagonda, leading an integrated marketing and corporate communications function as well as overseeing the company's corporate affairs and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

His prior positions included VP marketing and communications at Tesla. He also served as a corporate vice president at both Nissan and Microsoft.

"Simon brings a wealth of automotive experience including a deep understanding of both mass-market and luxury brands," said FCA chief executive officer Mike Manley.
Kerman : , Jan 7 (IANS) Hundreds of thousands of mourners on Tuesday took to the streets of Kerman in Iran, the hometown of Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian Major General who was killed in a US attack, to attend the funeral of the top commander.

The remains of Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy leader of the Iraqi militia Popular Mobilization Forces who was also killed in the January 3 attack ordered by US President Donald Trump, arrived in Kerman on Tuesday morning, following massive funeral processions in the Iraqi cities of Baghdad, Karbala and Najaf as well as the cities of Ahvaz, Mashhad, Tehran and Qom in Iran, reports Press TV.

An estimated seven million mourners took part in Monday's funeral in Tehran, according to the Coordination Council for Islamic Propagation.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Soleimani's daughter Zeinab also participated in Monday's procession.

From the early hours of Tuesday, large crowds of black-clad mourners began filling the streets of Kerman.

Chants of "Death to America" have been ringing out across the city, with mourners carrying the portraits of the national hero.

The late commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) will be laid to rest later in the day following the funeral procession.

A separate mass procession was also underway for Muhandis in Abadan, from where his body will be taken to Khorramshahr and Shalamcheh in Iran's Khuzestan province.

Later in the day, the remains of the senior commander will be taken back to Iraq.

Soleimani, 63, had been on the ground in Syria and Iraq supervising militias backed by Tehran.

The Quds Force holds sway over a large number of militias across the region ranging from Lebanon to Syria and Iraq, reports Efe news.

The Iranian authorities have called for "harsh revenge" over the killing of the commander and believe that the incident marks a turning point and will lead to the withdrawal of the US troops from the region.

Amid threats of retaliation from Iran, Trump on Sunday warned in a tweet that "the US will quickly and fully strike back, and perhaps in a disproportionate manner".
New Delhi [India], Jan 7 (ANI): A large group of people held a protest near the United States embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday over the killing of top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in a US airstrike in Baghdad last week.



The demonstrators gathered at the Teen Murti Lane in the national capital, carrying the posters of Suleimani and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and raising slogans of 'Down with America and Israel'.

Soleimani, who was Iran's most powerful military commander, was killed on Friday in a US airstrike carried out near the Baghdad international airport. His assassination has triggered a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East and marked the most significant confrontation between the US and Iran in recent years.

"General Suleimani always helped in enhancing the relations between India and Iran. He backed New Delhi on a number of significant issues, be it the negotiations on the Chabahar port or the Kulbhushan Jadhav case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)," said a protester.

Soleimani's killing had earlier triggered protests in Shia dominated Kargil in Ladakh UT, and Budgam in central Kashmir.

The protests at New Delhi have come at a time when tens of thousands of mourners have poured into the streets of the Iranian city of Kerman to attend the funeral of Soleimani. (ANI)


Zara Tindall couldn't wipe the smile off her face at the Magic Millions Racing Carnival in Queensland on Tuesday morning, after helping to raise more than $300,000 for firefighters battling raging bushfires across Australia.

Queen Elizabeth's famously down-to-earth granddaughter, 38, grinned from ear to ear as she fulfilled her duties as Magic Millions Racing Women Ambassador at Surfers Paradise beach on the Gold Coast.

An accomplished equestrian since childhood, Zara beamed from the saddle of a chestnut horse wearing white riding gear and brown boots, as she took part in a race along the sand.

While the mother-of-two, who is 18th in line to the British throne, entertained spectators along the foreshore, her husband Mike Tindall, 41, proudly announced the Magic Millions event has already raised hundreds of thousands for bushfire relief.

Zara Tindall couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she rode a chestnut horse at the Magic Millions Racing Carnival in Queensland on Tuesday morning

Queen Elizabeth's famously down-to-earth granddaughter, 38, grinned from ear to ear as she posed for a photo with her husband Mike Tindall, 41, on Surfers Paradise beach

'Great work to the Magic Millions family for raising over $300,000 for the rural firefighters,' the former England rugby player posted on Instagram.

'Hopefully more to come over the week!'

The Tindalls have vowed to help those affected by the bushfires in any way they can.

Zara joined champion jockey Frankie Dettori and Argentinian polo player Nacho Figueras for a charity polo match to raise money for victims of the out-of-control blazes on Monday.

'We just want to do something to help in any way possible,' Zara, who is the only daughter of Princess Anne, 69, told The Daily Telegraph.

'Some of the images we have seen...are just indescribable'.

Last week, the Tindalls vowed to help those affected by the bushfires in any way they can, calling pictures of the devastating blazes 'indescribable'

The Magic Millions Racing Carnival followed suit by tying fundraisers for bushfire relief to each of its big ticket events over the past few days.

The week-long meet includes a polo tournament, yearling sales and a sell-out race day, each of have been linked to special fundraisers in aid of victims of the bushfires which have raged across Australia over the past four months.

It's believed more than half a billion animals have been lost in the devastating blazes.

Magic Millions have confirmed they are providing temporary homes to horses in the stables on their property, for those affected by the raging infernos.

Zara poses with model Delfina Blaquier, jockey Michelle Payne and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Surfers Paradise beach during the 2020 Magic Millions official draw on January 7 2020

Zara is in Australia with Mike (pictured together on Tuesday, January 7 2020) and their two young daughters Mia Grace, five, and Lena Elizabeth, one

Zara and Mike are in Australia with their daughters Mia Grace, five, and Lena Elizabeth, one.

The family have been regular visitors to the country since 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.

The Tindalls celebrated 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.

Zara recently revealed she would 'consider' moving to Australia with her family once she retires from eventing, after falling in love with the laid-back banter and relaxed pace of life Down Under.


On a freezing night in 2017, two white Boston police officers were searching for a shooting suspect. They drove up to a black teenager in Roxbury, determined he was acting suspiciously, and tried to question him. When they got out of their cruiser, the teenager fled.

The Supreme Judicial Court on Tuesday will hear a case, Commonwealth v. Tykorie Evelyn, about a 17-year-old charged with murder and unlawful possession of a firearm, that centers on questions related to racial bias in policing.

The police can only stop and detain someone if they have reasonable suspicion to do so. But can the police determine what behavior gives rise to a reasonable suspicion from the perspective of a white male, or do they have to take into account the perspective of a black youth, given a history of racially biased policing?

Black youth have been accustomed to  and therefore expect  to be treated with suspicion by police, regardless of whether they committed a crime, attorneys for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law School wrote in an amicus brief in support of Evelyn. And Black youth are confronted regularly with the potentially deadly consequences of noncompliance, or even perceived noncompliance, with police.

Katherine Naples-Mitchell, an attorney at the Houston Institute, said in an interview that black youth in segregated, poor communities like Roxbury, which bear the brunt of Boston policing, experience suspicion as a default in police encounters, a position learned from individual, family and societal experiences. Race ends up being a factor in how people are policed and how policing happens, Naples-Mitchell said.

The case stems from an incident on Jan. 9, 2017. Officers Joseph Abasciano and Brian Garney, who are white, were on patrol in the Roxbury/Dorchester area, a largely black area which the officers knew had a history of violent crime. Around 7:30 p.m., shots were fired, critically wounding a victim, and the officers began searching for suspects.

A few minutes later, they saw a tall, young, black man  Evelyn  walking by himself, and pulled alongside him.

According to testimony from the officers, laid out in court filings, Evelyn was walking briskly with his hands in his jacket pockets, appearing to hold something in his pocket. Evelyn did not look at the officers, and the officers testified that he turned away from them, an action known as blading.

Abasciano called out, Hey, can I holler at you? Evelyn asked why, and Abasciano said something happened in the area, and they wanted to know if Evelyn saw anything. Evelyn said no, and the police kept following him. Evelyn appeared nervous.

The police concluded based on his behavior that he may be armed, and got out of their car, intending to frisk him. Evelyn ran away, and the police chased him. Abasciano commanded him to stop and show his hands. Evelyn ran by a parked car, then stopped and lay down. The officers arrested him and found a gun near the parked car.

Evelyn said the stop was unconstitutional because the officers did not have reasonable suspicion to stop him. His attorney filed a motion to suppress evidence obtained from the stop. His attorney also sought to introduce testimony from an expert about whether the behavior shown by Evelyn was enough to predict whether he was carrying a weapon.

The Supreme Judicial Court will consider at what point during the incident the seizure, or stop, occurred, and whether that should be determined from the perspective of a reasonable African American boy; whether Evelyns blading and presence in the vicinity of the crime is enough to provide reasonable suspicion; and whether a judge should consider expert testimony about whether Evelyn might have been behaving a certain way out of fear of being stereotyped, rather than out of guilt.

Evelyns attorney, Kathryn Hayne Barnwell, says the courts must consider whether someones behavior was enough to create a reasonable suspicion of criminal behavior taking into account their age and race  and Evelyns behavior was not. Even his flight might be simply a wish to avoid being racially profiled.

Given recent police killings of black men and the Boston Police Departments recent track record of disproportionately targeting young black men create a far different and painful reality for black men interacting with police on the Boston streets than it does for white people, Barnwell wrote in a court motion.

Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins said in a court brief filed by her office that Evelyn was near the shooting scene, acted nervously and appeared to be holding something heavy out of view of the police. Prosecutors argue that the judge ruled appropriately, and that by the time Evelyn was seized after he stopped running, the police had reason to suspect him of criminal behavior.

Attorneys from Rollins office write in their court brief that Evelyn has no factual basis for asserting that race played a part in the case. But several criminal defense and minority advocacy groups argue that the court must take race into account.

Black youth face persistent surveillance, violence and arrests from police, which influence how Black youth respond to police contact, said Kate Burdick, an attorney with the Philadelphia-based Juvenile Law Center, in an email.

Burdick said when courts analyze the constitutionality of a police stop, they consider how a purported reasonable person would have felt and acted under the circumstances. This case gives the SJC the opportunity to clarify that the analysis must account for the experiences of black youth whose interactions with law enforcement so often reflect harassment rather than safety, she said.

The Juvenile Law Center and the Massachusetts public defenders office argue in a court brief that black men are frequently racially profiled by police, and this could justify flight. Studies have shown that blacks are more likely to distrust the police  and are more likely to be arrested, searched and shot by the police.

The NAACP and Houston Institute write similarly that neighborhoods like Roxbury are over-policed and racially segregated, where police encounters are more likely to lead to wrongful arrest or bodily harm.

In Boston specifically, a court brief filed by the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, the public defenders office and the New England Innocence Project said that, between 2007 and 2010, 63% of police-initiated civilian encounters, or stop and frisk incidents, involved a black person. Blacks represent 25% of the citys population, and the disparity cannot be explained solely by crime rates, the groups argue.

In the context of a black teenager being tailed by a cruiser driven by two armed white police officers on an empty Boston street, attorneys for the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and other groups wrote, the fact that Tykorie did not make eye contact, turned his body away, and kept walking may indicate nothing more than a desire to avoid engaging with the police, and the fact that he ran when the police encounter escalated may indicate nothing more than fear for his safety.

The case is similar to a 2016 SJC case, Commonwealth v. Jimmy Warren, which addressed whether the police had reasonable suspicion to stop a black man in Roxbury while searching for a suspect accused of breaking and entering. The SJC held in that case that flight is not evidence of guilt, citing studies showing that Boston police disproportionately stop and frisk black men and suggesting that a black man who does not want to talk to the police might simply be trying to avoid racial profiling.
Court issues death warrant for four men convicted in rape and murder of woman on a bus that galvanised mass protests.

A court in India has set a date for the execution of four men convicted of the infamous 2012 gang rape and murder of a university student.

New Delhi courts judge Satish Kumar issued the death warrant on Tuesday, ordering the four on death row to be executed on January 22 at 7am (01:30 GMT).

Indian media reports said Tihar prison in the capital, where the four are incarcerated, recently held a dummy execution to test the gallows.

The warrants were anticipated since the Supreme Court of India rejected one of the mens final review pleas last month.

The convicts lawyers said they will file a fresh appeal against their execution. AP Singh, who represents convict Akshay Singh, said he will file a curative petition in the Supreme Court within a day or two.

Originally six people were charged with taking part in the brutal attack aboard a city bus, but one was released after a brief detention as a juvenile, while another committed suicide in prison while awaiting trial.

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The condemned men still have one avenue of appeal remaining, and they can also petition Indias president for mercy.

The family of Jyoti Singh, the victim, said they were pleased with the ruling.

This judgement will reinstate womens faith in the judiciary, Jyotis mother Asha Devi told journalists. My daughter will finally get justice.

Her father Badrinath Singh described it as a good decision for the entire country.

But our struggle will continue for many other daughters who are in a similar situation across India, he added.

Swati Maliwal, the chair of the Delhi Commission for Women, also applauded Tuesdays court announcement on Twitter.

I salute her mother who has fought for so long, she tweeted. It is a victory for all the fearless people of this country. This is the time to punish every rapist in the country so that a strong message is sent out.

December 2012 rape

Jyoti Singh, 23, was attacked in December 2012 while returning home after visiting the cinema with a male friend.

Her assailants took turns to rape and violate her with a metal rod as the bus drove around the capital, before dumping her and her beaten-up friend in a roadside ditch.

Singh died of her injuries nearly two weeks after the attack in Singapore, where she had been flown for specialist treatment.

Tens of thousands of Indians took to the streets in protest, and the case led to a major overhaul of laws surrounding sexual assault.

It also spawned an award-winning documentary as well as a Netflix miniseries.

Revived debate over sexual violence

The scheduled executions came amid a revived debate over sexual violence in India after several headline-grabbing cases in recent months.

A woman in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh was doused with gasoline and set on fire by five men  including two who were out on bail after she had accused them of gang rape  on her way to attend a court hearing in her case. She died last month at a hospital in New Delhi.

In late November, the burned body of a 27-year-old veterinarian was found near the city of Hyderabad in southern India.

Police later fatally shot four men being held on suspicion of raping and killing the woman after investigators took them to the crime scene.

The police killings drew praise from people frustrated by the pace of the 2012 New Delhi case and condemnation from those who decried it as extrajudicial.
LONDON (Reuters) - British luxury carmaker Bentley returned to profitability in 2019, helped by a 5% sales increase after a strong performance in Europe and the Americas, the Volkswagen-owned brand said on Tuesday. Sales reached 11,006 vehicles last year, boosted by the new Continental GT Convertible model and a series of derivatives and limited edition models. 'This result secures Bentleys return to profitability, demonstrates the successful implementation of our turnaround, and sends a clear signal for the potential of Bentley for 2020,' said Chief Executive Adrian Hallmark

LONDON (Reuters) - British luxury carmaker Bentley returned to profitability in 2019, helped by a 5% sales increase after a strong performance in Europe and the Americas, the Volkswagen-owned brand said on Tuesday.

Sales reached 11,006 vehicles last year, boosted by the new Continental GT Convertible model and a series of derivatives and limited edition models.

"This result secures Bentleys return to profitability, demonstrates the successful implementation of our turnaround, and sends a clear signal for the potential of Bentley for 2020," said Chief Executive Adrian Hallmark.

The firm did not disclose its profit figure for the year but in the first nine months of 2019, operating profit stood at 65 million euros (55.4 million pounds)), according to previously released figures from Volkswagen.

In 2018, the marque reported a loss of 288 million euros due to delays in the start of the Continental GT model and the effect of exchange rates.

Sales in China fell by just over 12% to 1,940 models, which Bentley said was due to the lack of availability of cars as the Continental GT only arrived in December.

(Reporting by Costas Pitas, Editing by Kylie MacLellan)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
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Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was killed by U.S. forces in Iraq Friday morning after violating a travel ban prohibiting him from entering Iraq and for allegedly planning attacks against U.S. diplomats.

President Trump ordered the strike against Soleimani, a popular, top commander in Irans military, as a decisive, defensive action after repeated attacks by Iranian-backed forces on U.S. troops in Iraq.

But now Soleimanis death is causing alarm in countries throughout the Middle East and here in the United States. Retaliation is expected by Iran and its allies. Iraq has condemned the strike by the U.S., as well.

Gen. Soleimani, 62, was over Irans Quds Forces, which are said to aid terrorist organizations in countries like Iraq. He was once referred to by Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, as a living martyr of the revolution and was the second most powerful man in Iran. It is believed many organizations will want to avenge his death. All Americans currently in Iraq have been advised to leave the country immediately.

Thats why we should take the most powerful action possible in the face of this volatile situation  pray.

Heres how you can pray for the current rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran:

Pray for our leaders. Ask God to grant discernment to our government leaders as they navigate this tense situation and seek a solution thats peaceful yet protects our national security.

Pray for our U.S. troops. With military bases being the most likely targets for retribution, we need to pray for the wisdom of our military officials and for the safety of every soldier on the ground.

Pray for the Christians in southern Iraq. Local Christians may also come under fire because of Christianitys association with the U.S. and the West in the mind of local Islamic extremists.

Pray for the citizens of the Middle East. Airstrikes have become a constant occurrence in the Middle East, and this added tension will only cause them to escalate. Remember, also, the innocent civilians who are in grave danger.

Having spent decades working to deliver humanitarian aid to some of the most volatile corners of our world  including Venezuela, Syria, Iraq and Nigeria  I have learned that prayer is key for any effort to achieve peace. Prayer reminds us of our dependence on God and helps us see beyond ourselves to the needs of others.

Please continue praying for those affected and those who could potentially be in harms way in the coming weeks and months. May God protect us and help us find a peaceful way forward.
PHILIPSBURG:--- As residents prepare to go out and cast their votes on election day, Thursday, January 9th, 2020, the Public Prosecutors Office Sint Maarten reminds the public at large about the countrys law on vote buying or selling.

This practice is considered illegal by law and therefore the Public Prosecutors Office strongly advises residents to refrain from engaging in this practice. Article 2:44 in the law book of country Sint Maarten highlights vote-buying as a felony and Article 2:45 elaborates on vote selling also as a felony.

The Public Prosecutors Office encourages residents to learn the dos and donts before voting.

Use your right to vote in the best interest of Sint Maarten.

Press Release Prosecutor's Office.
The government intends to take groups of foreign envoys and senior diplomats to Kashmir in the coming weeks, thereby meeting the world communitys key request to be allowed into the region to assess the situation there, people familiar with developments said on Tuesday.

The governments plan is to take groups of senior diplomats representing different regions, including West Asia, and groupings such as the European Union (EU) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to Kashmir. These will be the first such visits organised by the government for diplomats since Jammu and Kashmirs special status was revoked last August, the people cited above said.

The first batch of some 20 envoys and senior diplomats was expected to travel to Srinagar as early as this week but the leak of the dates for the trip in the media has triggered a rethink within government circles because of concerns that a shutdown or protests could be organised to coincide with the visit, said two people who declined to be identified.

ALSO WATCH | Situation complex, support Indian government: EU MPs after J&K visit

The governments plan was to organise the visits quietly, without any fanfare, and to allow the diplomats to interact with grassroots politicians, local businessmen, academics and journalists. The ministries of external affairs, home affairs and defence and the army were involved in planning the visits and organising the logistics and security, the people said.

The first batch of diplomats was to be briefed on the security situation and Pakistans role in fomenting unrest and backing cross-border terrorism by the army and security agencies in Srinagar, the people said. The batch was also expected to travel to Jammu to meet Lt Gov GC Murmu and senior officials, they added.

Officials in Srinagar, who declined to be named, said the delegations will be hosted by the Jammu and Kashmir government during their stay.

Yes, a delegation will be coming to Kashmir this month and will be hosted by the government, said a senior officer privy to the details. The officials said the delegation will staying at one of the high end hotels close to the Dal Lake, which will also be the venue for most of the meetings.

The EU mission in New Delhi is discussing with the external affairs ministry a planned visit for envoys of EU member states, such as France and Germany, the dates for which are yet to be fixed, said two diplomats of European countries who declined to be identified. Diplomats from the EU states were not part of the first batch.

It is believed the EU diplomats are keen on greater access to Kashmiri political leaders, civil society organisations and the public and to be allowed to visit more locations and these issues are part of the ongoing discussions.

This is being done to ensure that their visit does not face the sort of criticism that was directed towards a controversial trip to Kashmir in October by a group of some 20 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). That trip was organised by the International Institute for Nonaligned Studies, a Delhi-based think tank, and it later emerged that many of the MEPs were from far-right parties.

The EU had distanced itself from the visit by the MEPs and minister of state for home G Kishan Reddy too told Parliament they were on a private visit.

Several key members of the EU, including Germany, have described the communications blackout and security lockdown in Kashmir as not sustainable and made several requests for their diplomats to be allowed into the region.

On August 5 last, the government scrapped Jammu and Kashmirs special status and decided to split it into the union territories of Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir. Top political leaders, including three former chief ministers, continue to be detained.

The diplomats are set to visit at a time when business activities have resumed after four months and the government has restored internet facilities at hospitals and some offices. The Kashmir Valley had observed a shutdown during the visit of the MEPs, who had met only people close to the administration and security forces.
Harvey Weinstein was seen shuffling into a doctor's office using his walker for a 20 minute appointment after appearing in court in New York City for the first day of his rape trial, exclusive DailyMail.com photos show.

The 67-year-old slowly made his way inside the building on the Upper East side on Monday afternoon. The location houses several doctors, including neurological surgeon Dr. Robert B. Snow, who specializes in spine conditions.

Weinstein said last month he had to have surgery on his back after being injured in a car crash in August 2019.

His visit came after meeting with his legal team for four hours following the first day of his trial, where he's accused of raping a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing a sex act on another woman in the city in 2006.

The trial is expected to last weeks as the disgraced movie producer has claimed any sexual activity was consensual.

Harvey Weinstein was seen shuffling into a doctor's office using his walker for a 20 minute appointment after appearing in court in New York City for the first day of his rape trial, exclusive DailyMail.com photos show

The 67-year-old slowly made his way inside the building on the Upper East side on Monday afternoon. The location houses several doctors, including Dr. Robert B. Snow, who specializes in spine conditions

After his appointment on Monday afternoon, Weinstein headed out of the city escorted by his team

Across the street from the courthouse, women who claim they were sexually harassed or assaulted by Weinstein branded him a villain undeserving of anyone's pity. Accusers Rosanna Arquette, Sarah Ann Masse, Rose McGowan, Paula Williams and Lauren Sivan spoke at a press conference during Weinstein's first day in court on Monday

After his appointment on Monday afternoon, Weinstein headed out of the city and was escorted by his team.

Weinstein first appeared with the walker at a court appearance in December. He hobbled into court for a bail hearing, then looking distinctly more frail and unsteady on his feet than in months past.

Weinstein has been accused of faking his frailness in court, by using a walking frame, to win sympathy.

In early December, his lawyer Imran Ansari asked for a $45 million civil lawsuit against him to be paused because the 'weight' of multiple legal proceedings and dealing with health problems was 'too much'.

Ansari wrote in a letter to a judge: 'Already encumbered with preparation for his impending criminal trial, coupled with the pain of orthopedic injuries causing significant ambulatory issues and requiring surgery, the weight is too much to bear all at once for Mr. Weinstein.'

His visit came after meeting with his legal team for four hours following the first day of his trial, where he's accused of raping a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing a sex act on another woman in the city in 2006

Jury selection could take weeks as prosecutors, Weinstein's lawyers and the judge find people to serve on a lengthy trial in a high-profile case that has fueled societal pressure for accountability for sexual misconduct

Still, his criminal case is proceeding and potential jurors in his Manhattan sexual assault trial are expected to fill a courtroom on Tuesday as the former movie titan's legal problems deepen with new charges in Los Angeles.

Jury selection could take weeks as prosecutors, Weinstein's lawyers and the judge find people to serve on a lengthy trial in a high-profile case that has fueled societal pressure for accountability for sexual misconduct.

'In this great country, you are innocent until proven guilty,' his lawyer Donna Rotunno said on Monday.

Across the street from the courthouse, women who claim they were sexually harassed or assaulted by Weinstein branded him a villain undeserving of anyone's pity.

'This trial is a cultural reckoning regardless of its legal outcome,' said Sarah Ann Masse, a performer and writer who said Weinstein once sexually harassed her in his underwear during a job interview.

Weinstein has been accused of faking his frailness in court, by using a walking frame, to win sympathy. (Weinstein is pictured in his New York hospital room in December)

Los Angeles prosecutors charged Weinstein on Monday with sexually assaulting two women there on successive nights during Oscar week in 2013. Pictured: Weinstein heading into court on Monday in New York City. Weinstein is expected to appear in court in California after his New York trial

Once one of Hollywood's most powerful producers, Weinstein has now been accused of sexual assault, harassment and misconduct by dozens of women, from famous actresses to assistants at his former company. The allegations began surfacing publicly in October 2017 and sparked the #MeToo movement, as well as investigations in multiple cities.

Los Angeles prosecutors charged Weinstein on Monday with sexually assaulting two women there on successive nights during Oscar week in 2013.

Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey said the timing of the charges was unrelated to the New York trial. She said the case took more than two years to build because the women were reluctant to provide all the information necessary, and the filing happened on the first business day when all the necessary people could gather.

There is some connection between the cases, though: One of the Los Angeles accusers is expected to testify in the New York case to help prosecutors establish what they say was Weinstein's pattern of forcing himself on young actresses and women trying to break into Hollywood.

Weinstein is expected to appear in court in California after his New York trial, Lacey said.
Union Minister Smriti Irani on Monday hit out at Gandhi family by stating that the post of Congress president is a "family matter".

Being asked if Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi who has been very active in will become Congress president, Irani told media, "Only Sonia Gandhi (Congress interim president) could answer. Because we all know that the post of the Congress president is a family matter."

The Union Minister on Monday visited her parliamentary constituency Amethi to inaugurate various development projects, including skill programmes for girls.

Irani, who was also asked about Priyanka's continued attacks on the BJP, she said: "Amethi and its people can tell everything about this and the result given by Amethi in Lok Sabha polls is an example for them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
He recently admitted that it took him 'a couple of years' to get over his split and subsequent divorce from Billie Piper.

And Laurence Fox, 41, appeared to be in the most upbeat of moods on Monday night, when he was spotted holding hands with a mystery brunette beauty as he departed an exclusive soiree in London.

Cutting a dapper figure in a grey three-piece suit, the actor was seen making an exit from the English capital's upscale Edition Hotel, where he had attended the star-studded GQ Dinner, held in partnership with J.P. Hackett, No.14 Savile Row.

I wanna hold your hand: Laurence Fox was spotted holding hands with a mystery brunette beauty as he departed the GQ Dinner, held at London's Edition Hotel on Monday night

His companion stepped out in style for the occasion, sporting a flowing black dress under a matching coat, which she teamed with suede booties and opaque tights.

Accessorising with a pair of oversized gold earrings, she was seen smiling as she held hands with the former Lewis star during their departure.

Laurence's outing comes two months after he admitted it took him 'a couple of years' to get over the demise of his marriage to Billie, 37.

Chic: His companion stepped out in style for the occasion, sporting a flowing black dress under a matching coat, which she teamed with suede booties and opaque tights

Speaking to Lorraine Kelly on her eponymous morning show, he revealed that he's finally 'on the other side' following his difficult split from the actress in 2016.

The star visited the show to chat about his album A Grief Observed, which he said was inspired by the fallout of his split from Billie more than three years ago.

When asked how he was doing now the dust had settled on his divorce, the Victoria star said: 'I've been out the other side I think it takes a couple of years and then you're like, ''Hello! what's your name?'''

Dapper: The actor cut a dapper figure for the exclusive soiree, sporting a grey three-piece suit

The actor also said that he's used the new album as a 'diary of sorts' to document life after his divorce, which came after he and Billie had been married for eight years.

Billie and Laurence were involved in a lengthy custody battle over their two sons Winston, 11 and Eugene, seven, which finally ended in 2018.

'I can't remember the last time I listened to music that made me really sad it's not a force for bad music, it's a diary for me essentially,' he told Lorraine.

Over: The actor split from Billie Piper in 2016 after eight years of marriage, but a bitter custody battle followed which was finally settled last year (pictured together in 2014)

'I can't remember the last time I listened to music that made me really sad it's not a force for bad music, it's a diary for me essentially.'

The former couple embarked on a romantic relationship in 2006, when they appeared together in the play Treats.

They eventually tied the knot on 31 December 2007 during a romasntic ceremony in a 12th century parish church in Easebourne, West Sussex.
Helping Your Child Succeed

Do you have children who can read, but do not enjoy reading, and almost never pick up a book or anything else to read for pleasure? Would your Read more
Police have located human remains in a national park in Victoria's west after hikers made the grisly discovery while bushwalking.

The hikers reported the find to police on Monday afternoon after finding what they believed to be remains at Bellfield in the Grampians National Park.

SES and police searching for human remains in the Grampians. Credit:Stawell SES

A search involving police and the State Emergency Service was launched on Monday night and continued on Tuesday.

A police spokesman said the remains were located about 12.50pm. They will be taken to the coroner's office for examination and the investigation remains ongoing.
Several students organisation, civil society groups and parties cutting across political lines took out rallies in various parts of Kolkata and the state to protest against the violence that rocked the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi on Sunday night.

Protests against the attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University students rocked various parts of West Bengal on Monday as police had to baton charge supporters of the Left and the Bharatiya Janata Party when the two sides engaged in a face-off in south Kolkata.

Earlier in the day, students of Jadavpur University joined the nationwide protests by raising slogans, burning tyres and singing songs against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and BJP government at the centre.

Beginning at the JU campus, the rally proceeded towards the Jadavpur Police Station, took a U-turn and again moved towards the Sulekha More.

Several eminent personalities like filmmaker Anik Dutta and music director Debojyoti Mishra joined the rally.

Shouting slogans like 'Nathuram Godse in your heart while (revolutionary) Khudiram Bose is in our heart', the students slammed the RSS-affiliated ABVP for allegedly attacking the JNU students, including students' union president Aishe Ghosh and professor Sucharita Sen.

"Yesterday (Sunday) was the darkest day of Indian democracy because of what happened inside the JNU campus.

"Beating up of students and teachers by goons and attacking girls' hostel by ABVP activists brought shame to our democracy.

"But, such attacks will not deter us from continuing our fight against fascist forces," a JU student said.

Later in the evening, Communist Party of India-Marxist and other Left parties also took out a rally from Jadavpur 8B Bus stand to Sulekha More.

The students of Jadavpur University, activists of the SFI and members of other Left outfits took out a rally from 8B Bus Stand to Sulekha More in the evening.

A march was taken out by the BJP from Bagha Jatin More to Jadavpur Police Station over the JNU issue and also ransacking of its party office in the area on Sunday night.

The two sides came face to face at Sulekha More, leading to a brawl.

BJP activists allegedly pelted stones at the Left activists, prompting them to burn the flags of the BJP and ABVP.

Police put up barricades and blocked both the rallies, but abuses were allegedly hurled and slogans and counter-slogans raised.

Students' Federation of India supporters claimed that BJP workers used expletives against women activists.

After repeated attempts to calm the situation, police baton-charged supporters of the Left and the BJP as the two sides engaged in a face off, in order to disperse the protesters.

Police personnel were seen brutally beating up the protesters, including students and women.

Later on, South Suburban Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Sudip Sarkar said the intention of the baton charge was not to beat up the students.

"Our intention was not to beat up the students. It was due to a confusion that some students were hurt. We wanted to disperse the BJP and ABVP supporters. If any student is hurt, we are ready to apologise," Sarkar told reporters.

Students of the Presidency University took out a rally on College Street expressing solidarity with the JNU students.

"We condemn such violence inside the JNU campus, which is a cradle of free and liberal thinking. The ABVP and BJP want to curb free thought and want to impose their fascist ideology on us. But we will continue our fight till the last breath," a Presidency University student said.

The Congress students' wing, Chhatra Parishad , burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on College Street.

The Trinamool Congress student's wing -- Trinamool Chatra Parishad -- also took out rallies in various parts of the state.

College and university students took out rallies across the state condemning the attack on JNU campus.

Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, termed the attack on students and teachers at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University as a 'fascist surgical strike' by the BJP.

The saffron camp was quick to return fire and asked Banerjee to stop shedding 'crocodile tears'.

On Sunday, a mob of masked young people stormed the JNU campus in south Delhi and systematically targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings. They also attacked a women's hostel.

The attack triggered protests across the country on Monday and the clamour grew for the resignation of the vice chancellor, who is being blamed for inaction during the violence that left 34 people injured.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Timing Belt Market is estimated to grow at a higher CAGR by the completion of the forecast period. It is a ridged belt used to harmonize the revolution of the crankshaft and the valves of the engine to facilitate the opening and the closing of the valves at a suitable interval. The timing belt is fixed beneath a timing cover located ahead of the engine. It is usually factory-made from the top quality rubber along with inside nylon covered strings to lengthen the life of the belt. It is likewise utilized to drive some other mechanisms such as balance shaft, oil pump, water pump, etc.

Increasing sales of new-fangled vehicles followed by the growing demand with respect to the spares is estimated to trigger the demand for timing belts all over the world. There is a solid sale of the vehicles in developing and the developed nations. Due to the global economic slowdown many parts of the world have observed a slow-moving rate of development. The surge in the demand for the vehicles is observed after the period of slow moving development. This has generated the demand for timing belts from the OEMs.

Classification

The global Timing Belt Market can be classified by Application, Type of Drive, Component, Type of Vehicle, Type of Hybrid Vehicle, and Region. By Application, Timing Belt Market can be classified as Industrial, Automotive. By Type of Drive, it can be classified as Belt in Oil, Dry Belts, and Chain. By Component, Timing Belt Market can be classified as Idler Pulley, Timing Cover/Shield, Sprocket, and Tensioner. By Type of Vehicle, it can be classified as Commercial Vehicle, Passenger Cars. By Type of Hybrid Vehicle, it can be classified as Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

Download PDF to know more details about "Global Timing Belt Market" Report 2028.

Regional Lookout

By Region the global Timing Belt Market can be classified as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa. In the North American region, the U.S.A pushes the development because it is the biggest market within the region. North America is projected to be the topmost for timing belt within the region. The extraordinary vehicular parc and normal kilometers run by each automobile have steered to the development of the aftermarket in North America. Thus, the greater vehicle parc will clearly affect the aftermarket within the region.

The Asia-pacific region proposes a significant prospective for the development of the due to speedy development of the nations such as China and India. Asia Pacific is expected to be the biggest and speedily developing place for timing belt within the duration of the forecast. Nations like Japan, India, and China are the foremost markets within the region by means of the manufacture of the vehicle. The manufacture of passenger cars is the uppermost in the Asia Pacific region. The region has funded the maximum percentage of share of the worldwide manufacture of passenger car during the historical years. The obtainability of low-cost manual labor is one of the principal causes for the greater manufacture of the vehicle within the region. These reasons have assisted Asia Pacific to turn out to be the biggest market for the timing belt.

Companies

Some of the important companies for Timing Belt Market are SKF AB, NTN Corporation, Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Fenner PLC, Borg Warner Inc., Tsubakimoto Chain Co., Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd., and Continental AG.

This report provides detailed historical analysis of global market for Timing Belt from 2013-2018, and provides extensive market forecasts from 2019-2028 by region/country and subsectors. It covers the sales volume, price, revenue, gross margin, historical growth and future perspectives in the Timing Belt market.

Access 134 page research report with TOC on "Global Timing Belt Market" available with Radiant Insights, Inc. @: https://www.radiantinsights.com/research/2013-2028-report-on-global-timing-belt-market

Market Segmentation:

Leading players of Timing Belt including:

Gates



Continental



BANDO



DAYCO



Tsubakimoto



Forbo



Hutchinson



OPTIBELT



Bosch



Mitsuboshi



Timken



Schaeffler



Habasit



ACDelco



SKF



Megadyne



Federal-Mogul



Wuxi Belt



DRB



Ningbo Jiebao



Shanghai Wutong



Ningbo Fulong



Zhejiang Kaiou

Market split by Type, can be divided into:

Rubber Belt



PU Belt

Market split by Application, can be divided into:

Automotive



Industrial



Others

Market split by Sales Channel, can be divided into:

Direct Channel



Distribution Channel

Market segment by Region/Country including:

North America ( United States , Canada and Mexico )

( , and )

Europe ( Germany , UK, France , Italy , Russia and Spain etc.)

( , UK, , , and etc.)

Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , Korea, India , Australia and Southeast Asia etc.)

( , , Korea, , and etc.)

South America Brazil , Argentina , Colombia and Chile etc.)

, , and etc.)

Middle East & Africa ( South Africa , Egypt , Nigeria and Saudi Arabia etc.)

Browse reports of similar category available with Radiant Insights, Inc.:

Servo Motor Market

Emergency Lights Market

Intelligent Cash Counter Market

Hydro Turbine Generator Unit Market

About Radiant Insights, Inc.:

At Radiant Insights, we work with the aim to reach the highest levels of customer satisfaction. Our representatives strive to understand diverse client requirements and cater to the same with the most innovative and functional solutions.

Contact:

Michelle Thoras.

Corporate Sales Specialist

Radiant Insights, Inc.

Phone: +1-415-349-0054

Toll Free: 1-888-928-9744

Email: sales@radiantinsights.com

Web: https://www.radiantinsights.com

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Groups want more support but say changes for better may be on the way.

The announcement of the arrival of Visma to Kosice. (Source: TASR)

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In 2007, there were less than 1,000 people working in the IT industry in Kosice, Slovakias second largest city, and many young people were leaving it to head either to the west of the country or abroad for work.

Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement

Today, there are more than 15,000 people employed in the sector, which plays a key role in the development of the wider Kosice Region, thanks largely to the Kosice IT Valley cluster  a joint initiative between local IT companies, schools, and municipal and regional authorities.

Were trying to bring investments with added value to eastern Slovakia, Pavol Mirossay, executive director of Kosice IT Valley, told The Slovak Spectator.

What are clusters?

Kosice IT Valley, which recently lured Norwegian IT company Visma to the region to open a new business service centre in the city, which will create nearly 200 new jobs, is just one of several successful clusters active in Slovakia.

A cluster is a group of independent companies and institutions concentrated in regions which specialise in a certain field. They usually involve companies, schools, research institutions, municipal or regional authorities, and non-governmental organisations linked by technology and knowledge.
[January 07, 2020] Say Announces Addition of ETF Industry Leader Jennifer Grancio to Advisory Board

NEW YORK, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Say is pleased to announce the addition of Jennifer Grancio to its advisory board. Ms. Grancio will provide guidance to Say as it further expands its Shareholder Communication Platform to provide improved shareholder voting and engagement tools for broker-dealers, issuers, institutional investors, and retail shareholders.

Ms. Grancio brings over twenty years experience in the financial services industry to her role at Say, having worked as a founder and executive in BlackRocks iShares business for eighteen years. At BlackRock, Ms. Grancio led U.S. and European distribution efforts for iShares and acted as Global Head of Marketing and Partnerships for BlackRocks index business. She received her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and her MBA from Columbia Business School. Ms. Grancios expertise will be particularly applicable to Says efforts with respect to ETFs and mutual funds. Says platform for public funds lowers regulatory communicatio costs, creates new investor engagement experiences, and is currently being piloted with some of the worlds largest ETF issuers and retail broker-dealers.



I am pleased to advise Say as it enters its next phase of growth, said Grancio. I have spent my career analyzing client and investor demand at the intersection of finance and technology and I look forward to helping Say create new, high-impact ways for investors, intermediaries, and other stakeholders to communicate, especially in the fund space where there is so much opportunity. Were very proud to add an expert like Jennifer to our advisory board as we scale across shareholder communications, brokerage operations, and investor relations, said Laurent Paulhac, CEO of Say. Were grateful to have her valuable perspective and look forward to working with her.

About Say:

Say provides brokers, companies, and funds cost-efficient tools to enable high-value digital shareholder interactions. Says innovative Shareholder Communication Platform disrupts the world of investor communications by making it more transparent and secure, from powering full-service proxy processing solutions, to connecting investors with the companies and funds they own for new leverageable forms of engagement. For more information visit saytechnologies.com

Contact: [email protected]

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New Delhi [India], Jan 7 (ANI): Nirbhaya's mother, Asha Devi on Tuesday said that they are waiting for the court's order on execution of death warrants of convicts.



"We are waiting for the court's order on execution of death warrants. The convicts have no appeals pending now," she told ANI.

A Delhi court, earlier in the day, reserved the order on the plea of parents of Nirbhaya seeking issuance of death warrant against all the four convicts in the case.

Additional Session Judge Satish Kumar Arora reserved the order which would be pronounced soon.

The court heard the plea of parents of 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim seeking to expedite the procedure to hang all four convicted in the case and also seeking issuance of death warrant against them.

It was informed by the lawyers of the convicts that they are in the process of filing the curative plea.

Four convicts - Akshay, Mukesh, Akshay and Pawan are facing the gallows for rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012. (ANI)


New Delhi, Jan 7 : India is slated to be the guest country at the Paris book fair -- Livre Paris -- in March, third time after 2002 and 2007.

As part of a reciprocal invitation, France will be the guest of honour at the New Delhi World Book Fair in 2022.

"We don't hear the voices of India enough. The French don't know Indian literature enough. This effort will try to represent the vastness and depth of Indian literature in France," said Bertrand de Hartingh, Counsellor for Education, Science and Culture, Embassy of France, and Director of the French Institute in India.

Around 15 Indian publishers and 30 leading and budding Indian authors from most Indian languages, will be invited to Paris to meet French readers and participate in events, talk and debates.

"Livre Paris will aim at creating a special 'Indian moment' in France, with cultural and lecture side programmes in libraries, bookshops and cultural landmarks in Paris and other cities in France." The Paris Book Fair, dubbed Europe's most important literary and publishing appointment, will be a showcase of the country's new authors, works and the large publishing industry.

France is keen to engage with India in the publishing sector in all its diversity, through translations, publishing incentives, literary exchanges and more, the French spokesperson said.

The Indian contingent at the Fair will be represented by the iconic Oxford Bookstore pavilion led by Priti Paul, Apeejay Surrendra Group. The partner is National Book Trust, while the India pavilion will be designed by the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.
Washingtons cold-blooded murder of Iranian General Qassem Suleimani, who led forces fighting US-backed Al Qaeda-linked militias in Syria and ISIS in Iraq, has staggered the Turkish government.

Ankara took 10 hours to react to this illegal act of war carried out by its decades-long NATO ally, specifically by President Donald Trump, whom Erdogan has described as a friend of mine. Turkish Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kaln said on Friday that Turkey once again calls on all parties to act with common sense and avoid steps that will further escalate tensions.

Later the same day, the Turkish Foreign Ministry declared its deep anxiety about the escalating US-Iranian tensions in the region. It added, Turkey has always been opposed to foreign intervention, assassinations and sectarian conflict in the region.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/rt_erdogan/18825560029/in/photostream/)

This statement came from a government that supported the illegal US invasion of Iraq in 2003, backed violent Islamist sectarian forces in the war for regime-change against the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, and has waged a decades-long war against Turkeys Kurdish population. Nonetheless, it reflects Ankaras fear of a possible US war against Iran that would engulf Turkey, as well as of the outrage among workers across the Middle East at Suleimanis murder.

President Erdogans first reaction to the killing was cited by Irans IRNA news agency after a phone call between Erdogan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday. Rouhani reportedly said, [W]e expect that all our friends and neighbors should explicitly condemn this crime, adding that if we remain silent against the US, it will become bolder and more aggressive. He reportedly thanked the Turkish president for his sympathizing with the Iranian government and nation on the sad occasion of the loss of the top Iranian general.

Erdogan replied: Foreign interference and fighting in the region prevent the region from attaining calm and stability, and we should not allow such measures to endanger regional peace and stability.

He gave a televised interview Sunday night to repeat his position, saying that Turkey always stands against foreign intervention and regards the recent US attack in Baghdad with this same understanding.

Erdogan said he had a phone conversation with Trump only a few hours before the assassination of Suleimani, adding, So the matter was planned. We were shocked to hear the news. I specifically advised him not to increase tensions with Iran.

Significantly, Turkeys Islamist proxy force in Syria, the Syrian National Army (SNA, formerly the Free Syrian Army), a militia consisting largely of former members of Al Qaeda and other Islamist groups recruited by the CIA and Saudi Arabia to fight in Syria, congratulated Trump for assassinating Suleimani, whom they slandered as a terrorist and murderer in a statement Friday.

On his Twitter account, pro-government Yeni Safak columnist Ibrahim Karagul echoed them, calling Suleimani a war criminal and adding, He did in Syria what the United States did in Iraq.

Despite the repulsive joy of its proxies and media attack dogs at a murder that could easily trigger a regional and even global war involving nuclear-armed powers, Ankara has appealed for calm between the US and Iran and tried to maintain its fragile relations with both states.

While supporting the SNA in its war to drive the US-backed Kurdish nationalist Peoples Protection Units (YPG) from the Turkish-Syrian border, Ankara is still in a shaky alliance not only with Moscow but also with Tehran, based on limiting US power in Syria. On the other hand, despite objecting to US sanctions on Iran, Turkey halted all oil purchases from Iran last May.

The assassination of Suleimani will only weaken the already fragile position of Ankara in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean. Erdogan is in a more fraught situation than ever. None of the major conflicts between Ankara and its Western allies, which culminated in a Washington- and Berlin-backed coup attempt against Erdogan in 2016, have been resolved in the intervening years. On the contrary, they have intensified.

Despite the objections of Washington, Ankara has purchased and deployed Russian S-400 missile systems. Because of this, Washington has barred Turkey from participation in the development and deployment of its F-35 fighter jets and imposed sanctions on the TurkStream pipeline, which runs from southern Russia across the Black Sea to Turkey. At the beginning of the new year, Moscow reportedly began European gas deliveries through the new pipeline.

In December, Erdogan reacted to the actions of the Trump administration with threats to close Incirlik and Kurecik, two air bases that have played a major role in US military operations in the Middle East. Washington stores nuclear weapons and maintains critical radar facilities at the bases.

With the US having effectively launched an undeclared war with Iran through the assassination of Suleimani, it is unclear how Ankara would respond if Washington tried to use these bases to attack Iran, or, conversely, if Iran bombed the bases in an attempt to prevent further US attacks.

In the same television interview on Sunday, Erdogan announced that Turkish troops were being dispatched to Libya to back Fayez el-Sarrajs Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. This followed a vote in the Turkish parliament last Thursday in favor of armed intervention in Libya, giving Erdogan full powers to decide on the scope of the deployment. Our soldiers duty there is coordination, Erdogan said. They will develop the operation centre there. Our soldiers are gradually going right now. He did not give any precise information on the number of troops to be deployed.

Turkey and the GNA signed agreements at the end of November covering military assistance and a delineation of maritime boundaries. These are being invoked by the Erdogan government to lay exclusive claim to vast gas and oil reserves under the eastern Mediterranean. The US, the European Union and a number of states in the region have condemned these moves.

On Thursday, Israel, the Greek Cypriot regime and Greece signed a rival eastern Mediterranean energy deal, opposed by Turkey, for a pipeline to transport natural gas from waters off of Israel and Cyprus to Greece, Italy and beyond.

Turkey appears to be fairly isolated in actively backing the GNA, and its military intervention threatens to escalate a conflict with far-reaching implications. While the GNA is recognized as Libyas legitimate government by the United Nations, it controls little territory outside of the capital, Tripoli, which is now under siege.

The deployment of Turkish troops to Libya could trigger a confrontation with Russia, which is backing General Khalifa Haftars Libyan National Army, which is linked to a rival government based in Libyas eastern port city of Tobruk. Last week, Haftar reacted to Turkeys imminent military deployment by declaring, We accept the challenge and declare jihad and a call to arms.

In advance of a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Turkey on Wednesday, the UN Security Council, at Russias request, will meet behind closed doors on Monday to discuss the situation in Libya. Erdogan has charged that mercenaries from the Kremlin-linked Wagner security firm are on the ground backing Haftars forces, which Moscow has denied.
Matthew Wright claimed that he's been branded 'racist' for criticising the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's public spending.

The Talk Radio host, 54, from London, believes that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have a 'bizarre disconnect' with the British public and says that he has been dubbed a racist on Twitter for airing criticisms of the couple.

The presenter said he took issue with the couple spending '20 million of public money' for their wedding security, while being hesitant to show pictures of their six-month-old son Archie, who was born in May last year.

Appearing on This Morning today, alongside Trisha Goddard, he claimed that the royal couple have a 'different set of rules for themselves', and believes they shouldn't be preaching on the environment while frequently traveling abroad themselves.

Matthew Wright claimed that he's been branded 'racist' for criticising the Duke and Duchess (pictured) of Sussex's public spending

Appearing on This Morning today, alongside Trisha Goddard (pictured right), Matthew (pictured left) claimed that the royal couple have a 'different set of rules for themselves'

He said: 'I'm fascinated by the bizarre disconnect.

'That they love lecturing people on saving the planet, you know every drop of water is precious, don't take airplane travel and yet they'll happily fly off to Canada, come back again.

'It just seems to me, there's a set of rules for them and set of rules for everyone else.'

Trisha, 62, interjected to explain that she feels the couple, especially Meghan, have had a lot of 'vitriol towards them'.

Matthew continued: 'You can understand, to take 20 million of public money to pay for the security of your wedding.

The presenter takes issue with the couple spending '20 million of public money' for their wedding security, while being hesitant to show pictures of their six-month-old son Archie last year

'Then you don't supply say pictures of your baby, you can see why they're miffed off.'

Trisha weighed in, arguing that there's a difference between being 'a bit miffed' and making racist and misogynistic comments.

'Look at publications like Hello! magazine, who say for the first time they've had to employ someone to take racist and misogynistic stuff and I think that includes a lot of the issues', said Trisha.

Matthew argued: 'You don't think taking 20 million quid off the public and not giving the public the thing the public want'.

Before he could finish, Trisha interjected: 'So then you call them a racist name'.

He quickly replied: 'No, but I've seen on Twitter that when I raise issues like that like them taking 20 million from the public to provide security for their wedding and then not feeling any burden to show the public any photos of the baby - then I get called a racist.'

Meghan and Harry did have a photocall with Archie a few days after he was born, but kept details surrounding his birth and christening private, as well as refusing to name his godparents.

Trisha weighed in, arguing that there's a difference between being 'a bit miffed' and making racist and misogynistic comments

Elsewhere in the show, the presenters also discussed whether or not the Duke and Duchess had broken royal protocol by thanking Canada after their Christmas getaway

Elsewhere in the show, the presenters also discussed whether or not the Duke and Duchess had broken royal protocol by thanking Canada for their hospitality during their stay.

After spending their Christmas in Canadian Christmas hideaway of Vancouver Island, a statement from Buckingham Palace said the royals will meet with Canadas high commissioner to the United Kingdom at Canada House on Tuesday.

Matthew understood the couple were thanking the country for their 'freebie' holiday, while Trisha felt the couple could have handled the situation in a different way.

'It was a private holiday, it was a freebie as I understand it so they're going round saying thank you very much for that.', said Matthew.

Trisha went on: 'I think it's nice to say thank you.

'I wonder if there's not an alternative thing, you know if you don't get invited to your mother-in-laws for Christmas, and you go to your aunties and say "thank you very much", publicly on social media.

'It's a way of saying, this is where we felt happy and we felt safe and in kind of brackets, home is not that place at the moment.'
Brett Kepley is a lawyer with Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Inc. Send questions to The Law Q&A, 302 N. First St., Champaign, IL 61820.
Trenton police officers arrested a 21-year-old city man Friday on charges he was toting a handgun loaded with an illegal number of bullets. Its his second such arrest since August.

James Diggs III, 21, ran from officers moments after someone reported a man with his description apparently carrying a large handgun on the 800 block of East State Street at about 12 p.m., police said.

Patrol Officer James Bruins was the first to see Diggs and arrested him with Officer Gianni Zappley, a member of the Violent Crime Rapid Response unit, who also responded to the call. According to police, the officers saw Diggs toss a firearm as he ran, moments before Zappley caught and tackled him in the 900 block of East State Street.

Officers located the 9-millimeter handgun and found it loaded with a magazine that can hold up to 40 bullets, a crime in New Jersey.

Diggs is charged with illegally possessing a firearm, possessing a large-capacity magazine and possessing hollow-point ammunition, as well as eluding police and obstructing justice.

On Aug. 22, 2019, a New Jersey State Police trooper pulled over a vehicle Diggs was driving on Chambers Street in Hamilton and found him with a .40-caliber handgun, the state police said last year. That gun also a large-capacity magazine.

That case is still pending in Superior Court, records show. Diggs is currently jailed at the Mercer County Correction Center awaiting a court appearance.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @kevintshea.

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This is the heart-stopping moment an elderly woman dangled her seven-year-old grandson from a five-storey balcony by a rope to save her trapped cat.

It is said the pensioner's pet had been stuck on the balcony one level below, so she decided to lower the boy to the edge of the platform for him to reach the animal.

The child put the feline into a bag before being precariously pulled up by his grandmother. Both the boy and the cat were unhurt, according to reports.

The boy stands on a tiny ledge to reach the cat after being dangled down from his five-storey home by his grandmother using a rope. Both the child and the cat were unhurt, it is reported

The risky rescue operation took place on Sunday in Peng'an, a county of Sichuan Province in south-western China, reported BJ News.

Trending footage shows the boy, known as Hao Hao, standing on a tiny ledge while being attached to the homemade safety equipment.

He appeared to be putting the bag into a bag while his grandmother held onto the rope from her balcony. The boy's uncle helped pulling the rope.

Moments later, the pensioner, known by her surname Tang, started to haul in the rope to pull Hao Hao and the pet back to their flat.

Worrying about the boy's safety, onlookers shouted and urged the grandparent to stop the perilous act, but the retiree refused.

The pensioner hauls in the rope to pull up her grandson after he put the cat in a bag which he is carrying. The risky rescue operation reportedly took place on Sunday in Peng'an, China

The grandmother was widely criticised after footage of her act went viral on social media yesterday.

A spokesperson at the local residential committee, Wang Ying, told BJ News that they had criticised and educated Ms Tang. She insisted that Hao Hao was not hurt.

The spokesperson added that the boy was a first-grade pupil and that his parents were working in another city, leaving him to live with his grandparents.

Ms Tang said that she did not feel her act was dangerous at the time, but after watching footage of it she felt scared, according to Chengdu-based Red Star News.

She told the news outlet: 'It is not that I would rather risk my grandson's life to save my cat. I did it because I was certain (of his safety)'

The elderly woman then expressed regret.

'I know what I did was wrong and will never do that again,' she said.

The boy told the reporter that he did not feel scared at the time.

The whole operation lasted for 10 minutes and did not cause any injuries, according to eyewitnesses.
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Apples Intelligent Tracking Prevention feature has made it difficult for online advertisers to use cookies to target Safari users based on their browsing habits, according to The Information, which cited data from The Rubicon Project.

Third-party cookies serve as the foundation for almost all advertising use cases, noted Jordan Mitchell, head of consumer privacy, identity and data at the IAB Tech Lab.

The blocking negatively affects the ability for brands to target audiences, and therefore the revenue earned by website properties, he told the E-Commerce Times.

I think much of what were seeing is specifically focused on advertising retargeting and clamping down on the bad actors who are leveraging tracking techniques to execute more bad spray-and-pray tactics pretending to be personalization, suggested Constellation Research Principal Analyst Liz Miller.

Serving me an ad that shows me the shoes I bought yesterday now, for a lower price, doesnt enhance the customer experience or foster trust and loyalty among customers, but it sure moves targeted ad units, she told the E-Commerce Times.

The Scourge of Advertisers

Safari users tend to be more affluent, and thus more attractive to users. Safari claimed nearly 53 percent of the mobile browser market in the U.S. last month, while Google Chromes share was about 40 percent.

Only about 9 percent of iPhone Safari users allowed outside companies to track their activity on the Web, versus 79 percent of Google Chrome browser users, Nativo told The Information.

Blocking tracking cookies has sent ad prices on Safari falling by more than 60 percent. Meanwhile, the cost of ads on the Google Chrome browser has risen slightly.

However, Apple is not alone in blocking tracking cookies.

Firefoxs Enhanced Tracking Protection blocks third-party cookies by default. Microsoft announced it will do the same with its Edge browser; and Google will add cookie blocking controls to its Chrome browser.

This news of more hurdles and roadblocks to profit and margin isnt good for ad agencies, media firms and publishers, Constellations Miller remarked. Ad units are shrinking while ad costs are increasing by as much as 6 percent, so everything could start costing more.

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

That said, focusing on first-party data  the data gleaned after getting permission from consumers  is becoming more and more important to both advertisers and pubishers, observed Constellation Research Principal Analyst Nicole France.

Apple, FireFox, and Microsoft have all figured out that their browser users expect to have better data privacy and protection, she told the E-Commerce Times. Successful businesses are starting to come to the same conclusion.

Alternatives to Cookie Tracking

Personalization will remain a key issue for both advertisers and the ad industry. Members of the Association of National Advertisers selected personalization as the ANA 2019 marketing word of the year.

However, marketers should use caution with their personalization strategies and tactics because they might not be well received by consumers, advised the ANA, and because some believe that more personalization does not necessarily provide a better experience.

Advertisers are turning from tracking cookies to contextual advertising and other technologies.

Large-scale blocking of cookies, without a privacy-forward alternative for the industry, further undermines consumer privacy and results in unintended consequences, the IAB Tech Labs Mitchell cautioned.

For example, its encouraged misdirected innovation around more opaque tracking techniques such as fingerprinting, which cannot be detected or controlled by the consumer, or used in ways that preserve and respect their privacy choices, he pointed out.

Browser fingerprinting tracks Web browsers by the configuration and settings information they offer websites, creating profiles of consumers based on various factors. It is difficult to detect and thwart.

If advertisers move to platforms such as Facebook, Google or Amazon, consumer privacy could take a huge hit.

Amazon, Facebook and other platforms collect their own internal data from their customers, regardless of browser, so consumers might end up surrendering more of their online privacy than they might think, noted Keri Rhodes, marketing director at Etailz.

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

Amazon has seen explosive growth in its ad revenue over the last few years, she told the E-Commerce Times. More companies are taking their own search engine marketing knowledge and moving over to Amazon and Walmart through these companies software solutions.

Tokens May Be the New Key

The drive to limit tracking is accelerating marketing and advertising towards an alternative of tokenized networks where consumers are given more control over their data and what is shared in exchange for transparent value, Constellations Miller said.

Such networks are blockchain-based, and create a trusted connection between advertiser, publisher and user.

The IAB Tech Lab has issued a Proposal for Enhanced Accountability, which suggests the use of an encrypted, revocable token for ad delivery that builds consumer privacy into the fabric of the ad ecosystem.

We are calling for collaboration across industries to rethink the HTTP cookie as the only technical mechanism available for storing and respecting consumer privacy settings, Mitchell said.

Part of getting personalization right means understanding when, where and how to advertise in a way thats useful rather than invasive, France remarked. Thats where thoughtful advertisers and publishers can take the lead.
Decluttering your home can feel like a never-ending task, especially after Christmas when you need to find space for new possessions but struggle to part with old belongings.

If you've made a new year resolution to tackle your clutter, while also aiming to keep your home cleaner and tidier, you may want to take inspiration from the experts.

From Marie Kondo to Mrs Hinch, here we bring you five inspiring books to help you maintain a clutter-free, clean and tidy home in 2020.

Marie Kondo took the nation by storm with her 2019 Netflix series 'Tidying Up with Marie Kondo', inspiring many viewers to organise and declutter their homes using the Japanese organising consultant's KonMari method.

Marie Kondo's bestsellling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying details her simple, effective way to banish clutter forever, using six simple steps and tackling your belongings in five categories.

In addition to this book, you may also want to check out Marie Kondo's second book Spark Joy. It's described as 'an in-depth, line illustrated, room-by-room guide to decluttering and organising your home'.

Buy now on Amazon

The Complete Book of Home Organization by Toni Hammersley is packed full of inspiration, tips and shortcuts to kickstart your decluttering journey, covering everything from smart storage solutions to cleaning tips.

It features step-by-step instructions, detailed illustrations, and handy checklists to help you manage a clutter-free life.

From cluttered small spaces to big, messy homes and apartments, The Complete Book of Home Organization is packed full of projects and expert strategies to suit your space and design taste.

Buy now on Amazon

A must for Mrs Hinch fans and those looking to stay on top of their cleaning routine this year. Hinch Yourself Happy is filled with tidying tips, Hinch must-haves and step-by-step guides to cleaning - aka hinching your home.

From daily dusting to monthly deep cleans, you'll discover how cleaning your home can also help cleanse your soul.

With an impressive average star rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, Hinch Yourself Happy will not only help you transform your home and make it sparkle, but also show you how cleaning can soothe anxiety and stress.

Buy now on Amazon

Founder and editor of website Becoming Minimalist, Joshua Becker has also released a book that helps you recognise the benefits of owning less possessions.

With empowering tips on cleaning, managing and organising, the book is packed full of personal and practical guidance to keep your home decluttered and tidy.

The More of Less is here to help you find greater fulfilment in life by minimising your belongings, while also discovering what matters most in your life.

Buy now on Amazon

Whether you struggle with clutter in a small flat or a big house, Simply Clean is here to help you keep your home tidy, as well as build daily cleaning habits and organisational skills to stay on top of it all.

Written by popular blogger and cleaning expert, Becky Rapinchuk, the 'Clean Mama' shares her famous step-by-step schedules for tidying your home in just ten minutes a day, along with checklists and habit trackers.

Inside Simply Clean, you'll also find a seven-day Clean Kick Start and 28-day Simply Clean challenge to help you create a cleaner, tidier home.

Buy now on Amazon

Check out our discount section for Amazon deals and offers.

MailOnline may earn commission on sales from the links on this page.
A teenage neo-Nazi terrorist who identified possible targets in his home city has been locked up for six years and eight months.

The 17-year-old boy drafted his own manifesto which listed Areas to Attack in Durham such as schools, pubs and council buildings.

He also wrote of planning to conduct an arson spree with Molotov cocktails on local synagogues.

Various handwritten documents were seized from his bedroom in March by police who also found a collection of far-right literature, Manchester Crown Court heard.

One of the sketches shown to the court / Press Association Images

Analysis of his computer devices and mobile phone uncovered numerous internet searches on firearms, explosives and knives.

In November, jurors found him guilty of preparation of terrorist acts between October 2017 and March last year.

The youth was also unanimously found guilty of disseminating a terrorist publication, possessing an article for a purpose connected with terrorism and three counts of possessing a document or record containing information likely to be useful to a terrorist.

The teenager from Durham wrote about an "inevitable race war" in his diary / PA

The defendant said he had no intention of carrying out any attacks and claimed he adopted a fake right-wing persona for shock value.

In the month before his arrest in March the defendant repeatedly searched for and visited websites related to "lone wolf" attacks by the likes of Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh, the Norwegian far-right terrorist Anders Breivik and Columbine High School shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.

He had also purchased the manifestos of Breivik and another terrorist, Ted Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber.

In journal entries the youth wrote of his admiration for Adolf Hitler - "a brave man to say the least", Moors murderer Ian Brady - "how wonderful it is to be an amoral individual" and murderous cult leader Charles Manson.

A handwritten note which contains things to do list including an instruction to 'shed empathy' and a quote from Charles Manson / PA

In August 2018 he wrote a things-to-do list, which included the instruction "shed empathy" and referenced a shooting at a video gaming tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, where two people were killed.

Alongside the list was a quote from Manson: "When I stand on the mountain and say do it, it gets done. If it don't get done then I'll move on it and that's the last thing in the world you want me to do."

The youth also wrote of his dislike of school, spoke disparagingly of Durham having a Jewish MP and described the North East as a "s***hole", stating "the people are loathable, the sights forgettable and the police laughable".

A written list of firearms to buy / PA

Opening the case, prosecutor Michelle Nelson QC said the seized material had revealed the defendant had been a follower of a right-wing ideology since 2016.

By late 2017 his views hardened as he became an adherent of neo-Nazism, she said.

In October 2018 he wrote "in journal format I hope to record events from now all the way to the inevitable race war" and by December 2018 had joined an extreme right-wing website forum, said to be an online meeting ground for fascists who wrote about "direct actions".

On the first day he accessed the forum, the defendant downloaded a manual which contained a viable recipe for the highly explosive chemical ammonium nitrate, and later posted on the site a publication which contained instructions on the making of homemade firearms, ammunition and silencers.
The American obsession with Iran is about oil and natural gas. If these two resources had been absent, it is hard to imagine such an intense American focus on the country from the time of a U.S. Central Intelligence Agency-backed coup of Iran's elected government in 1953 to today. The Foreign Policy magazine piece linked above is based on declassified CIA documents and summarizes the coup this way: "Known as Operation Ajax, the CIA plot was ultimately about oil."

This should come as no surprise. Iran was an oil power back in 1953 and it remains one today. Iran is presumed to have the third largest oil reserves in the world and the second largest natural gas reserves. Even if the numbers cited are somewhat inflated, Iran's reserves are not small, and the country is likely to play a large role in world energy markets for many years to come.

The recent escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran because of the U.S. assassination of a prominent, popular and by all accounts highly effective Iranian general will allow the advocates of war to trot out all manner of excuses for such a war: terrorism, regime change, the credibility of the United States, Iran's nonexistent nuclear weapons, and the United States' geostrategic posture vis-a-vis big power rivals such as Russia and China. (Does anyone really know what the last one means?)

What won't be discussed are the deep historical antagonisms which have developed starting with the 1953 CIA-backed coup. For example, few people remember that the United States supplied economic aid, dual-use (both civilian and military use) technology, training and arms through other countries to Saddam Hussein in the Iran-Iraq War. Saddam invaded Iran thinking he could take advantage of the chaos in that country right after the 1979 revolution. In this war Iraq attacked major Iranian cities including Tehran with ballistic missiles and used poison gas on the battlefield. Iran is said to have suffered over 1 million deaths during the eight years of conflict which also created a large class of disabled people. Related: Goldman Sachs: This Oil Rally Wont Last

It turns out that the Iranian focus on America and its worldwide military, intelligence (covert and otherwise) and diplomatic operations is but a mirror image of the American focus on Iran and its worldwide network of intelligence and allied surrogates that Iran uses to strike at the United States and its allies.

Behind it all are the vast stores of hydrocarbons that make Iran's power possible and its importance substantial in the world. What is strange about this American obsession is that successive American administrations, both Republican and Democratic, have told us that soaring domestic production of oil and natural gas from shale deposits in the United States would free us from foreign sources and lighten our military and security burden abroad. "Energy dominance" became the watchword in the U.S. oil and gas industry.

U.S. net imports of crude oil have dropped from 10 million barrels per day (mbpd) 15 years ago to around 3 mbpd today. And, because of its vast refining capacity, the United States exports about 3 mbpd of refined petroleum products. While the United States remains connected to world markets, the country is far less dependent on foreign sources of oil than in the past.

For natural gas U.S. marketed production now exceeds U.S. consumption. The United States has become an exporter of natural gas.

So, why is the U.S. government and national security establishment still obsessing over Iran? Here are three possible energy-related explanations:

There isn't as much U.S. shale oil and natural gas as we are being told.

This is a real possibility. This independent reportactually an update of previous reportsconcludes that forecasts of abundance by the U.S. Energy Information Administration are "extremely optimistic" and "highly unlikely to be realized." The report is based on actual well histories and not industry hype about future resources.

Others who have started to look closely at the data agree that the industry has overblown the potential from shale. And, investors have finally wised up to the fact that the shale industry as a whole has done nothing but destroy their capital over the last decade, losing 80 percent of its market value as of the middle of 2019. Related: Iran's Retaliation Could Cause A Middle East Oil Shock

Free cash flow has been consistently negative for almost all the major players which has forced them time and time again to raise money through the bond and equity markets. Unfortunately for investors, these infusions didn't stabilized shale players. Investors were just throwing good money after bad. Now those investors are finally pulling back.

In short, the shale boom is not sustainable financially or technologically. The "miracle" technology that is bringing oil and natural gas not previously available out of the ground has never been able to make the industry as a whole profitable. Eventually, that will be reflected in production numbers as investors only finance those few players and few prospects that can actually make money.

Iran is a competitor of the U.S. oil industry.

Despite Iran's vast oil and natural gas reserves, its exports have fallen dramatically due to sanctions placed on it by the United States and forced on other countries whose companies do business in America.

The cuts in Iranian oil exports have kept low prices in the oil markets from getting even lower and affecting U.S.-based oil operations negatively. By keeping sanctions in place and continually working toward zero exports from Iran, the U.S. administration is also helping to keep oil prices higher than they otherwise would be and this helps the domestic U.S. oil industry whether the administration intends this result or not.

Iranian energy exports are a way for Iran to extend its influence.

Pakistan backed out of a pipeline project last year because of sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran. The pipeline would have brought Iranian natural gas into the country. The pipeline was originally planned to bring natural gas to India as well before that country pulled out of the project. The U.S. government clearly wants to prevent Iran from using its energy exports to give it leverage with other countries.

No one can say for certain whether current tensions between the United States and Iran will spiral into war. But remember: When they tell you it's not about oil (and natural gas), you can be certain that these resources are at the center of American motives. Absent these resources it would be difficult to understand the United States' decades-long obsession with Iran.

By Kurt Kobb via Resourceinsights.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Rajes conspicuous absence from Home Minister Amit Shahs pro-CAA rally in Jodhpur last week is creating a big buzz in Rajasthan. Shahs mega show in favour of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) had attracted all the BJP bigwigs in the state ranging from Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Kailash Choudhary and Arjun Mehwal to state BJP President Satish Poonia who were all present on the stage.

While Shah came from Delhi to hold the huge rally in CM Ashok Gehlots home district, Raje was missing and reportedly stayed in Delhi on that day. Moreover, Raje was missing even from the posters and hoardings created for the Jodhpur rally though other BJP leaders in Rajasthan were visible on them. Sources say the key organizer for the Amit Shah rally was Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and his problems with Raje have been well-known ever since Vasundhara opposed his elevation as state BJP President in the summer of 2018.

But this is not the first time when Raje has been ignored. In fact, Rajasthan's former CM Raje seems to be struggling to find a space in the opposition lobby in Rajasthan as she is reportedly not a favourite of the powerful Modi - Shah duo who now dominate the BJP. Even at a recent pro-CAA Rally in Jaipur, Raje was given little prominence and was missing from the posters for the event. At the insistence of state BJP President Satish Poonia, she did attend the event but Raje went and sat among ordinary party workers rather than on the stage. Raje is also absent from all the multiple efforts that the BJP is making in favour of the Citizenship Amendment Act in Rajasthan. Though Raje skipped a pro-CAA event with ex-Armymen in Rajasthan, on the same day she participated at a similar event in Haryana where she pointed out that she understood the pain of migrants and thats why in her tenure as CM, she ensured citizenship for over 13,000 Hindu migrants from Pakistan living in Rajasthan.

Officially this has given an opportunity to defend Rajes glaring absence from the Amit Shah rally. As party spokesperson Mukesh Pareek says, "It is unfair to say that Raje was not invited or that she stayed away from Amit Shah rally. She is still campaigning for the party in Haryana because she is a national leader. Who all will be present in a rally of Prime Minister or our party President is all decided by the party high Command."

However, Raje and her loyalists are reportedly angry at the way she is being gradually sidelined from state politics. They point out that the appointment of RSS-backed Satish Poonia as the Rajasthan BJP chief in September 2019 was a sign of how the BJP top brass was trying to marginalize Raje in the state BJP. On condition of anonymity, one senior leader close to Raje remarked, "Vasundhara Raje has been a two-time CM in Rajasthan and is still very popular with people and party workers in the state. The Central leadership may be in a strong position today but if BJP has to return to power in Rajasthan, it will be a mistake for the party to ignore Raje."

While the Amit Shah rally went off successfully in Jodhpur last week, it is Vasundhara Rajes absence that continues to be the big buzz among political circles in Rajasthan.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 22:11:53|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Residents residing along the borders with Israel in southern Lebanon now fear a new military confrontation between the Shiite militant group Hezbollah and Israel amid the increased tension between Iran and the United States following the U.S. assassination of a top Iranian commander.

Chadi Abdallah, a citizen from Kafarkila village in southern Lebanon, told Xinhua that residents in villages and border towns are very cautious despite the apparently calm situation on the borders with Israel.

"The frequency of escalating threats warn of unpredictable consequences in the event of military operations," he said.

Hassan Jomaa, a farmer who works in al-Wazzani village located a few meters away from the border fence, said peace in the area may turn at any moment into sudden violence.

"We do not see any Israeli patrols touring the area anymore while farmers in the Israeli settlements have not been working on their lands lately. All we can see are Israeli drones flying regularly over the area," he said.

Lebanon has in the past seen several military confrontations with Israel, the last of which being the 2006 war after which the borders between the two countries have witnessed calm under the supervision of the UN Interim forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

However, the Lebanese expressed their fears from the re-occurrence of military conflicts after the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces, in Iraq's capital Baghdad on Friday by the United States, the main ally and biggest supporter of Israeli interests in the region.

The assassination has sparked anger among Iranian officials and Iran's allies in the region which all vowed strong retaliation for the "heinous crime."

Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, on Sunday threatened to send American soldiers fighting in the Middle East back to their homeland in their coffins.

The U.S. assassination serves the interests of Israel which "considers Soleimani as the most dangerous man in Iran and a threat to its existence," Nasrallah said.

On Monday, Herzi Halevi, chief of the Israeli Southern Command, voiced his concerns about the negative repercussions of Soleimani's killing on Israel.

"The Israelis have nothing to do with this incident," he stressed.

Kamal Yaziji, a political analyst, sees a higher chance of war between Lebanon and Israel especially if Hezbollah's retaliation involves casualties of important American and Israeli figures.

"Lebanon will most probably be involved in retaliation, as Hezbollah cannot afford not to hit back when the prestige of the Iranian regional empire is at stake," he explained.

On a positive note, the UNIFIL continues to be deployed along the Blue Line which separates Lebanon and Israel, where its soldiers watch around the clock movements on the Israeli side.

A captain working with the Indonesian battalion at the UNIFIL told Xinhua that the situation on both sides of the border is calm and no disturbing incidents had been recorded so far.

The captain, who spoke to Xinhua on condition of anonymity, said he hopes the calm prevails on the border although no one can predict what will happen in the future.

The border line between Lebanon and Israel extends about 120 km and witnesses occasional tension between the Lebanese and Israeli armies, amid efforts by the UNIFIL to maintain calm in the region.
A 20-year-old man was killed early Monday in South Carolina while trying to defend his mother, police said.

Officers were called to a home in Anderson, South Carolina, just before 1 a.m. for a shooting, according to the coroner.
Farmers in Rajasthan's Nindar village on Tuesday launched an agitation over the alleged land acquisition by the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) for a housing project.

Demanding that their land be acquired as per the revised Land Acquisition Act and compensation be given accordingly, around 20 people from the village located on the outskirts of state capital Jaipur have started the 'Zameen Samadhi Satyagrah'.

As part of the protest, five people will take 'Zameen Samadhi' (burying themselves neck-deep in the ground) tonight, said Nagendra Singh Shekhawat, a leader of Nindar Bachao Yuva Kisan Sangarsh Samiti.

"We have launched a satyagrah from today as JDA has once again started land acquisition without giving compensation as per the revised Land Acquisition Act, which was implemented in the country six years ago," Shekhawat said.

"We will not let the government acquire the land," he added.

The farmers had launched a similar protest in October 2017 and some of them had even gone on a hunger strike.

The protesters are against the acquisition of more than 1,300 bighas of land for a housing project.

The JDA has taken possession of 600 bighas of land so far and deposited Rs 60 crore in a local court as compensation for it after villagers refused to accept the amount, claiming it did not hold up to the prevailing market rates.

Around 10,000 houses will be built under the scheme announced in January 2011.

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



By Kim Bo-eun



Major banks that were hit by the "DLF fiasco" last year involving the mis-selling of financial derivative options now face the same allegations over the sale of options-based funds of the troubled hedge fund Lime Asset Management.



Investors of Lime's troubled funds that are set to cause them losses contend that the banks did not properly notify them of the associated risks. They are preparing for a suit against the banks.



The exact amount of losses to be incurred have yet to be confirmed. Financial authorities have been conducting a months-long inspection into Lime.



Investors are likely to take action when results of the inspection are unveiled, which is expected to be within this month.



Authorities may launch a separate investigation of banks if investors file a complaint, which appears likely.



Banks contend that they were only involved in selling the options, and were not aware of irregularities of Lime.



Banks sold 34.5 percent or 2 trillion won of Lime's options-based funds amounting to 5.7 trillion won as of July last year. This was when the sale of Lime's funds reached its peak, and when the suspicions over the firm's irregularities began to grow.



The percentage of Lime's options-based funds sold at banks is about five times the average percentage of private equity funds sold by banks, which is around 7 percent.



Among the banks, Woori topped the list, selling 1.06 trillion won worth of the troubled funds. It was followed by Shinhan, KEB Hana, Busan, KB Kookmin, NH NongHyup, Kyongnam Bank, Industrial Bank of Korea and Korea Development Bank.



The rest were brokerages including Daishin Securities and Shinhan Investment.



Among the banks that sold Lime's funds, Woori and KEB Hana face sanctions by authorities over the DLF case. Sanctions are likely to be imposed on the CEOs as well as the bank.



They are also set to proceed with compensation for the victims of the fraud, after the Financial Supervisory Service directed the banks to compensate as much as 80 percent of investors' losses.



Banks have drawn up taskforces to deal with the Lime case and are reviewing legal action against Lime.



Concerning allegations of mis-selling, an official of a financial firm said, "This is what some customers claim, but investigations will determine whether (or not) this is true."



An official of another bank said, "We are waiting for results of the investigation into Lime to be unveiled. We will decide on what to do afterward."



"We have found, however, some differences in the structure of options that Lime initially proposed and the options that were actually sold. We are seeking legal advice on the matter and may take legal action in the case this is deemed necessary."



Lime is suspected to have sold certain options-based funds to clients despite being aware of the fact that the options invested involved a U.S. hedge fund that engaged in fraud. It is also seen to have engaged in the practice of paying investors returns with funds from new investors.


A Liberal backbencher has branded a British meteorologist an 'ignorant Pommy weather girl' after she called him a climate change denier on television.

Craig Kelly, a climate change sceptic, was interviewed on Good Morning Britain on Monday by Piers Morgan and weather presenter Laura Tobin about the bushfire crisis.

Mr Kelly said there was 'simply no' evidence to suggest a long-term trend towards a warming climate and also said it was 'nonsense' that lower carbon dioxide emissions could reduce bushfires.

Morgan said he needed to 'wake up' before Miss Tobin said he was burying his 'head in the sand and called him a 'climate denier'.

On Tuesday morning, the federal MP for Hughes in Sydney's south hit back, before later apologising.

On Tuesday morning, the federal MP for Hughes in Sydney's south hit back with this post

Miss Tobin responded in a scathing Twitter post saying she was a qualified meteorologist with a degree in physics

He shared Daily Mail's article about the interview on Facebook and wrote sarcastically: 'Oh no! Ignorant Pommy weather girl calls me a 'climate change denier'.'

Miss Tobin responded in a scathing Twitter post saying she was a qualified meteorologist with a degree in physics.

'I know what I'm talking about, do you?' she wrote.

Mr Kelly is on the right wing of the Liberal Party and heavily criticised former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull's controversial plan for a national energy and emissions policy.

During the interview on Monday, he said that the fires were caused by poor forest management rather than climate change.

Mr Kelly said: 'You have to look at the science, but one of the factors contributing are the fuel loads. Every commission post bushfire says we need to reduce them, but we always fail to do so.

'Our lifestyle depends on fossil fuels, it can't be done without it. Some politicians have hijacked the debate to push their ideological barrow but what causes fires? Drought and build-up of fuel loads.'

Meteorologist Miss Tobin told Mr Kelly that Australia had experienced its hottest and driest year ever year on record 'with forecasts records that go back more than 100 years'

Fire crews put out spot fires on January 4 in Sarsfield, Victoria

Meteorologist Miss Tobin hit back, telling Mr Kelly that Australia had experienced its hottest and driest year ever on record 'with forecasts records that go back more than 100 years'.

She said: 'We want everyone in the world to lower the global temperature rise by 1.5C, you [Australia] can't even commit to 2C.

'You have the second highest carbon emission on earth and you are burying your head in the sand. You're not a climate sceptic - you're a climate denier.'

During the interview, Piers Morgan told the MP to 'wake up'.

Climate change and global warming are real and Australia right now is showing the entire world just how devastating it is Piers Morgan to Craig Kelly

'You are facing now one of the greatest crises you have ever faced, and there is you... who still doesn't think this has anything to do with a heating up planet,' Morgan said.

'Climate change and global warming are real and Australia right now is showing the entire world just how devastating it is.'

Talking to the ABC on Tuesday, Mr Kelly claimed Morgan 'didn't want to hear the facts' and said 'the weather girl had no idea what she was talking about'.

He also defended Prime Minister's Scott Morrison's holiday in Hawaii while the fires were underway.

'The ultimate responsibility for fighting fires is the state premiers and the state emergency services,' Mr Kelly said.

'The only thing the national leader can actually do on this is basically wait until he gets response from those state premiers asking for more resources.'

Mr Kelly denied embarrassing the government with the interview, despite his comments putting him at odds with the prime minister.

'A sideshow': MPs slam Craig Kelly Senior government ministers are distancing themselves from Liberal MP Craig Kelly who dismissed the link between climate change and bushfires. As recently as Sunday, the prime minister claimed his government had always made the connection between climate change and extreme weather conditions. Mr Kelly, who strongly denies the link, made his views known to an international audience. Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud described his comments as a 'sideshow'. 'He doesn't represent the views of the government,' Mr Littleproud told reporters on Tuesday. 'I couldn't give a rats what he said, it's irrelevant, let's just focus on those people that are out there that need our help.' Treasurer Josh Frydenberg also put Mr Kelly at arms length from the government. 'Our view of climate change is that it's real. We accept the science,' Mr Frydenberg said. While Mr Frydenberg said fuel loads had been a factor in the bushfires, he said climate change was causing hotter, drier summers. Labor leader Anthony Albanese said he was despaired by Mr Kelly's comments. 'The tragedy is that he's imposed those views along with a few others to ensure that Australia isn't taking action,' Mr Albanese said. After being panned for the 'train wreck' interview, Mr Kelly has defended his decision to go on air, saying he needed to defend the government because it was under attack. Advertisement

'The only people who are denying things are those that think ... these bushfires could have been stopped if we had sent more money to China to buy more solar panels,' Mr Kelly told ABC.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mr Kelly apologised to Ms Tobin, after his Facebook post criticising her attracted unfavourable comments.

'I apologise to Ms Tobin to referring to her as the weather girl, as I understood that this was her position on the TV show,' he told News Corp.

'However I now understand that she is a meteorologist who reads the weather for that station.'

Earlier, Mr Kelly had said Australia's resources were limited and needed to prioritise resources towards hazard reduction rather than renewable energy infrastructure.

The prime minister claimed on Sunday his government had always made the connection between climate change and extreme weather conditions.

Scientists have disputed claims a lack of hazard reduction burns have led to the size of the bushfires, with some ex-fire chiefs blaming the effects of climate change.
There have been recent discussions going on between the ministry of external affairs and certain European countries regarding a programme for the visit, a source told this newspaper.

New Delhi: With requests coming in from foreign diplomatic missions based in New Delhi to visit Jammu and Kashmir so that top foreign diplomats can see the situation for themselves first-hand, the government is understood to be working on a plan to take foreign diplomats to the Valley in the near-future.

There have been recent discussions going on between the ministry of external affairs and certain European countries regarding a programme for the visit, a source told this newspaper.

Speculation is rife that January 9 is being looked at as a possible date for the visit although it could take place a little later as well. Sources told this newspaper that as and when the government decides, the envoys would be taken at short notice.

There has also been speculation that diplomats of certain Gulf nations could also be taken to J&K as part of the proposed delegation.

It may be recalled that a delegation of MPs belonging to the European Union had visited Kashmir a few weeks ago in their individual capacity with the permission of the Indian government but that visit had been organised by a private body and not the MEA.

It has been over five months now that India revoked Article 370 that granted autonomy to J&K besides splitting the state.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 19:49:38|Editor: Wang Yamei

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ULAN BATOR, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Mongolian government has decided to build a second fuel processing plant here this year, the government's press office said Tuesday.

The decision is part of the government's efforts to improve air quality in the capital, Ulan Bator, which suffers severe air pollution, by increasing access to processed fuel, it said.

On May 15, a government ban on domestic use of low-grade coal in Ulan Bator came into force, with the aim of reducing air pollution. Since then, households in the city have been supplied with processed fuel, instead of raw coal.

Currently, there is only one fuel processing plant in Mongolia. The plant, with an annual capacity of processing 600,000 tons of fuel, is barely meeting demand in Ulan Bator.

The construction of the new plant is scheduled from March to August, with the same processing capacity as the existing one, according to the press office.
A dog has been rescued after it was tied to a rock and abandoned in a river in Nottinghamshire, police have said.

The drowning animal was spotted in the River Trent by a passerby, who dragged the brown Belgian shepherd to safety.

The dog  whose name according to her microchip is Bella  had a carrier bag containing a heavy rock attached to her lead, Nottinghamshire Police said.

Bella was taken to a local vet after her rescue, where she is being treated.

The dog was pulled out the water in Farndon, a small village in Nottinghamshire, on Monday morning, according to a police appeal for more information.

Animals rescued during Australia fires Show all 25 1 /25 Animals rescued during Australia fires Animals rescued during Australia fires Wildlife rescuer Simon Adamczyk is seen with a koala rescued at a burning forest near Cape Borda on Kangaroo Island, southwest of Adelaide AAP Image/Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires Rural Fire Service volunteer firefighter Pat Smith pouring water onto a possum's feet with burns from fires on the outskirts of the town of Tumbarumba in New South Wales Greenpeace Australia-Pacific/AFP Animals rescued during Australia fires Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education volunteer and carer Tracy Dodd holds a kangaroo with burnt feet pads after being rescued from bushfires in Australia's Blue Mountains area Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires Grey-headed Flying Fox bats prepared for a feeding at the Uralla, Australia, home of Jackie Maisey, a volunteer with Northern Tableands Wildlife Carers. The bats are swaddled in flannel wraps similar to those being made by thousands of crafters worldwide who are using their sewing, knitting and crocheting skills to make items for wildlife injured in the Australian brush fires Jackie Maisey/AP Animals rescued during Australia fires Sara Tilling takes care of a young injured Kangaroo which she and her partner Gary Henderson are nursing back to health in Cobargo EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires Humane Society International Crisis Response Specialist, Kelly Donithan holds a baby Koala she just rescued on Kangaroo Island AFP via Getty Images Animals rescued during Australia fires Tracy Burgess holds a severely burnt brushtail possum Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires Fire-impacted, orphaned pouch-rescued Eastern Grey Kangaroo joeys are seen at the property of WIRES Carers Kevin and Lorita Clapson in East Lynne, South of Sydney EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires A koala receives water from a cyclist during a severe heatwave that hit the region, in Adelaide Instagram/BIKEBUG2019 via Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires An orphaned Flying-Fox is fed at the property of WIRES Mid-South Coast Bat Coordinator, Janet Jones, in Tuross Head EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires Humane Society International Crisis Response Specialist, Kelly Donithan checks an injured Koala she had just rescued on Kangaroo Island AFP via Getty Animals rescued during Australia fires A wallabie eating a carrot dropped by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife services over the bushfire affected areas along the South Coast for wallabies NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services Animals rescued during Australia fires A dehydrated and injured Koala receives treatment at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital AFP via Getty Animals rescued during Australia fires Gary Henderson holds the young injured kangaroo he and his partner are nursing back to health EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires A koala drinks water offered from a bottle by a firefighter during bushfires in Cudlee Creek, south Australia Oakbank Balhannah CFS via Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires WIRES Mid South Coast wombat coordinator Tony De La Fosse with two orphaned pouch-rescued Wombats at his property in Malua Bay EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires Qantas, an orphaned Eastern Grey Kangaroo joey whose feet were burned in recent bushfires, is held by WIRES Carer Kevin Clapson at his property in East Lynne EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires Various completed animal pouches for animals affected by Australia bushfires hang on clothing racks in Regents Park, Queensland Kim Simeon via Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires An orphaned pouch-rescued Eastern Grey Kangaroo joey hangs in a makeshift pouch at the property of WIRES EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires A rescued koala injured in a bushfire in Kangaroo Island, South Australia Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park/AP Animals rescued during Australia fires WIRES Mid-South Coast Bat Coordinator Janet Jones weighs a rescued Grey-Headed Flying-Fox at her home in Tuross Head EPA Animals rescued during Australia fires A weary kangaroo shelters on a patch of green grass surrounded by burnt bushland along the Princes Highway near in Milton Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires Various animal wraps for bats affected by bushfires Simone Watts via Reuters Animals rescued during Australia fires A staff member moving a rescued koala to a temporary shelter at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney Taronga Zoo/AFP via Getty Animals rescued during Australia fires A kangaroo jumps in a field amidst smoke from a bushfire in Snowy Valley AFP via Getty Images

PC Adam Pace from Nottinghamshire Police, said: "This was an evil and nasty thing to do to this poor dog and we are making every effort to find out who is responsible.

He said: We are lucky that the kind member of the public found and rescued her.

Nottinghamshire Police said they are looking into Bellas microchip, but reminded the public the dog may have been known by another name.

PC Pace said: "If anyone recognises her and knows who owns her please get in touch on 101, quoting incident number 103 of 6 January 2020."

This rock was found tied to the dog drowning in the River Trent (Nottinghamshire Police)

The dog was pulled out the water near Long Lane in Farndon at around 8.45am on Monday, police said.

They have also asked for anyone with dashcam footage of the area at the time of the incident, or anyone who saw anything suspicious, to come forward.

Last month, a dog was found abandoned in a church in Lancashire along with a note saying "I'm sorry".

The Staffordshire terrier was found tied next to the altar with a message from the former owner saying they could no longer look after their pet as they had no home or money now for him.
Why has the news media been so enamored with the Iranian terrorist Soleimani? Holly Williams of CBS called him inspiring, revered and a military genius. The New Yorker Magazine went gaga describing him as the former body-builder with snowy-white hair and a dapper beard. Others like Ryan Cooper lavished syrupy praise on the deadly bully while declaring George Bush, Dick Cheney and General Petreaus blood-drenched warmongers.

Given all that convoluted fawning, its no surprise to see Martha Raddatz in Tehran ominously warning America of retaliations while wailing Iranians were panning to the ABC cameras. Iran is a totalitarian dictatorship full of people who have been chanting Death to America for 40 years. They force their people into the streets to protest America but then shoot their people when the Mullahs dont like what else they protest. Raddatzs gullibility is no different than CNN reporter Jim Acosta in 2018 claiming the mass of humanity attempting to illegally cross our southern border represented no danger only a week later to have hundreds of males from that caravan storm the border, throwing rocks and being repelled by tear gas. See a pattern there by the news media?

Also consider some of the Democrats reactions to Soleimani. Rep. Ilhan Omar tweeted about what she called the assassination of a foreign official. In 1984 Iran was officially designated by the U.S. government as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. But of course Omar wouldnt be expected to know that being an immigrant and only three years old in 1984. But isnt she a member of Congress?

Later the State Department identified Qud, the militant force headed by Soleimani, to be a terrorist organization. Omars pal, Democrat Rep. Rashida Tlaib tweeted Trump was trying to start a war. Remember the left used to say we started wars to control oil? Wake up Democrats, we are no longer dependent on Middle Eastern oil, no thanks to Barrack Obama, Joe Biden or Tom Steyer. So its not about their oil. Its about the War on Terror and attacks on Americans.

Trump is not trying to start a war. Again these Democrats let their made up facts get in the way of the truth. Some may see this as still another article of impeachment they can withhold instead of the War on Terror which Democrats dont like to talk about.

What they do like talking about is portraying Trump as the villain. Now instead of turning over the impeachment articles to the Senate, Nancy Pelosi wants to limit the presidents ability to battle terrorists, Americas enemies. But their political maneuvering could turn the bloodthirsty Soleimani into some kind of martyr. So what should we expect next from the Democrats? Will Speaker Pelosi invite Soleimanis family to be their guests in the Congressional Gallery at the State of the Union Speech?

Ralph Miller

* * *

Thank you, Ralph Miller, for speaking the truth. And may I also add the fact that back on Dec. 22, 2011, a federal district court in Manhattan entered a ruling that revealed facts about Irans support of al Qaeda in the 9/11 attacks. U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels ruled that Iran and Hezbollah materially and directly supported al Qaeda in  the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and are legally responsible for damages.

The recently deceased terrorist (General Soleimani) was and has been a major influence in Irans military since before the 9/11 attacks. He did in fact lead an unconventional war against the U.S. called Shaitan dar Atash (Satan in Flames) He should have been taken out years ago.

James A Bolt
A second man has been arrested in connection with a shooting at a St. John the Baptist Parish party last month that left four people injured.

St. John detectives obtained a warrant for Derrel Talan Dibartolo, 31, of Killona, and he turned himself in Monday to the New Orleans Police Department, the St. John Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

Dibartolo was being held in lieu of posting $300,000 bail, the Sheriffs Office said.

+2 Video captures frightening shooting at weekend birthday party at St. John Parish school In a chilling video released Friday, at least two gunmen can be seen shooting toward the parking lot during a recent birthday party held at an

The shooting occurred around 11:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at a crowded party being held in a rented hall at West St. John Elementary School in Edgard, on the parishs sparsely populated west bank. Surveillance video showed at least two people firing guns as party-goers scrambled to hide behind posts and vehicles.

Four people were treated for gunshot wounds, the Sheriffs Office said.

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Two days after the shooting, deputies arrested Marcus Isom, 34, of Edgard and booked him with two counts of aggravated second-degree battery and illegal use of a weapon.

Though there were numerous witnesses to the shooting, none came forward with information, the Sheriffs Office has said.

St. John Sheriff Mike Tregre has said at least three shooters were involved. The motive remains unknown, authorities said.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to call the St. John Parish Sheriffs Office TIPS line at (985) 359-TIPS, Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111, Detective Basil Trepagnier at (504) 494-3592 or Detective Gilberto Castellanos at (504) 494-4170.
A health surveillance officer monitors passengers arriving at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong on Jan. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Pneumonia Outbreak in Central China Stirs Further Panic Across Asia

Chinas Asian neighbors are on guard as the country continues to investigate a mysterious strain of pneumonia.

On Jan. 7, hospitals in Hong Kong, which borders southern China, admitted nine more patients who had symptoms of fever, respiratory infection, or pneumonia, bringing the total number of suspected cases to 30. All patients have recently visited Wuhan, a bustling commercial city in central China, where the illness first broke out.

The Hong Kong patients, aged 2 to 65, remain in stable condition; 13 have been discharged.

The Hong Kong government said it would amend its health law this week to add the mysterious Wuhan pneumonia to an official list of infectious diseases, which means medical staffers are required to report all suspected or confirmed cases to health authorities.

Wuhan health authorities reported that the illness was initially detected on Dec. 12. Chinese health authorities said they are closely monitoring people who had contact with the infected, but have yet to identify the strain of pneumonia or confirm the source of the illness. It remains unclear whether the virus is contagious.

One of the patients, a 44-year-old seafood market worker surnamed Wang, incurred medical bills as high as 43,000 yuan ($6,191), according to China Business Journal, a Chinese language newspaper affiliated with the Chinese regimes cabinet-like State Council. Wang suffered from high fever for over a week before going to the hospital on Dec. 24. CT scans found white shadows looming over two-thirds of Wangs lungs, Wangs relative told the outlet.

Health authorities suspect that the outbreak originated from the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market and have temporarily shut it down since the New Year.

Wuhan Central Hospital, where some patients are receiving treatment, declined to comment when contacted by the Chinese-language Epoch Times.

Health surveillance officer use device to check temperature of passengers before the immigration counters at International airport in Hong Kong, on Jan. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told The Epoch Times on Jan. 6 that it is coordinating closely with the World Health Organization and will issue any developments as they arise.

Multiple nearby countries and regions took measures to prevent the viral illness from spreading.

Chuang Jen-hsiang, deputy director-general for Taiwans Centers for Disease Control, suggested that a new type of coronavirusa family of viruses that produce SARS and MERS might be the source. Chuang said that if new cases continue to surface after Jan. 14which is 14 days after the markets closureit might suggest that the virus is transmissible from person to person. The incubation period for a coronavirus is up to 14 days, Chuang said.

In Thailand, authorities kept three Thai nationals and a three-year-old Chinese boy in quarantine after they appeared feverish following a visit to Wuhan, local media Bangkok Post reported.

Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, head of the countrys Department of Disease Control, said on Monday that the young boy had a flu, while a 22-year-old Thai student had a respiratory syncytial virus infection, according to the newspaper. Suwanchai said they are still waiting on the lab test results of the other two patients, aged 24 and 44 respectively.

The Thai government has stepped up its alert to level 2 following the rise in suspected infections.

Major airports in Thailand such as Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, and Phuket airports, have set up infrared thermal scanners at arrival halls for screening body temperatures of incoming passengers. Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau have also adopted similar measures.

Taiwan has reported eight people who had light respiratory symptoms or fever after traveling to Wuhan.

Phillipines Secretary of Health, Francisco Duque, advised residents to avoid traveling to China and postpone any trip plans to Wuhan until theres a clear advisory from the Chinese health authorities, according to major local newspaper Manila Bulletin.

Duque urged the public to seek immediate medical consult if experiencing any flu-like symptoms, particularly if they recently went to China, he said in a Jan. 5 press release.

Taking note of the Wuhan outbreak, Japans health ministry also issued a statement on Jan. 6 advising nationals with suspected pneumonia symptoms after visiting Wuhan to inform medical institutions.
Jet Airways, an important player in the Indian air cargo market before Indian aviation authorities shut it down, is receiving renewed interest from potential buyers.

Authorities grounded Jet, which operated 37 routes across India and 19 international routes, in April because of an acute cash crunch. The carrier handled about 10-15% of air cargo in India, according to India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The flight ban affected the entire Indian air cargo market, spurring increased pricing for shippers over the short and medium term. Some forwarders initially had to either route cargo through multiple flights to a destination city or opt for slower surface transport.

Synergy Group, which owns a portfolio of airlines in South America, recently placed another bid for the carrier. Also expected to show interest in acquiring Jet are Hyderabad-based aviation ground handler Turbo Aviation, a Dubai-based fund and London-based conglomerate Hinduja Group, according to press reports in India.

Synergy had emerged as the sole potential buyer for Jet prior to November. A major sticking point on the proposed sale is clarity on Jet's slots. In late August, India's civil aviation agency extended the temporary allocation of Jet's slots and bilateral foreign flying rights to other airlines until December, pending the outcome of a proposed sale of the carrier.

After several previous extensions, Jet's lenders have drawn a line in the sand, setting Jan. 15 as the final deadline for submitting expressions of interest. Lenders were considering liquidation if they did not receive bids by the deadline.

India's foreign direct investment laws cap investment in a local airline by a foreign carrier at 49%. Also, control of the airline must rest with Indian promoters, and a majority of board members must be Indian citizens.

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

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NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GenNx360 Capital Partners ("GenNx360") is pleased to announce that it has acquired a majority interest in AeroRepair Corp ("the Company"). Headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, AeroRepair is a leading provider of wheel and brake maintenance, repair and overhaul services to the commercial, corporate and general aviation industry. The Company also provides landing gear, battery and miscellaneous component maintenance and repair services and through its sister company, Hemico, provides Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) engineering services and Designated Engineering Representative (DER) approved repairs. The Company benefits from a broad North American footprint of six locations in Manchester, New Hampshire, Atlanta, Georgia, Indianapolis, Indiana, Phoenix, Arizona, Montreal, Quebec and Calgary, Alberta. Through growth and diversification, AeroRepair has become the largest independent Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) platform in North America with focus on wheels, brakes, batteries and landing gears. The Company was founded in 1994 and is supported by a workforce approaching 200 employees. The current management team will continue to operate the business going forward.

"We are excited about our partnership with GenNx360. Its expertise in business services and deep industry knowledge in this space will be a great asset as we continue to build our portfolio and expand into new markets," said Daniel Bell, AeroRepair's Chief Executive Officer. "With extensive experience in airline MRO, GenNx360 has a team of talented professionals with strong technical and operational backgrounds. Together, we will drive the growth of the Company," he added.

"We are excited to make this investment in AeroRepair. There is immense growth potential in the airline MRO sector and we have already identified several organic and inorganic growth initiatives along with AeroRepair's management," said Daphne Dufresne, the GenNx360 Managing Partner who led the transaction.

About GenNx360 Capital Partners

GenNx360 Capital Partners is a private equity firm focused on investing in middle market business services and industrial companies. GenNx360 partners with companies having proven and sustainable business models in expanding industries, with the objective of implementing and supporting value-enhancing organic and inorganic initiatives to accelerate growth, deliver efficiencies and generate strong financial returns. Target industries include packaging, industrial machinery and components, logistics and supply chain solutions, industrial and environmental services, food and agricultural products and services, infrastructure equipment and services, specialty chemicals, and aerospace and defense. GenNx360 was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in New York City. For more information on GenNx360 Capital Partners, please visit www.gennx360.com

About AeroRepair Corp

AeroRepair Corp is the largest independent Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul ("MRO") platforms in North America with a focus on wheels, brakes, batteries and landing gears, serving a highly attractive and diverse group of regional and mainline airlines as well as corporate fleets and narrow and wide body aircraft. AeroRepair's sister-company, Hemico, provides Parts Manufacturer Approval engineering services as well as Designated Engineering Representative approved repairs. AeroRepair offers its customers complete wheel and brake management solutions including high-quality workmanship, leading turn-times, asset management and logistics services. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, AeroRepair benefits from a broad North American footprint with additional five locations in Atlanta, Georgia, Indianapolis, Indiana, Phoenix, Arizona, Montreal, Quebec and Calgary, Alberta.

For more information on AeroRepair Corp, please visit www.aerorepaircorp.com

For media inquiries about this press release, please contact:

GenNx360 Capital Partners

Carmen Rojas, Director of Investor Relations

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 212.257.6772

SOURCE GenNx360 Capital Partners

Related Links

http://www.gennx360.com


New Delhi, Jan 7 : The Congress on Tuesday attacked the government for not arresting the miscreants who were involved in the violent attacks on the JNU campus on Sunday and instead filing an FIR against JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh, who suffered head injuries in the attack, and other victims.

The party said on its official Twitter handle: "40 hours since the violent attacks in JNU & the Delhi Police has failed to arrest a single perpetrator, despite glaring evidence. Is the police so incompetent under Amit Shah? Instead they file an FIR against a victim of the attack. Disgraceful." The Congress also condemned the attack on NSUI students in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. "A deplorable act by ABVP goons & clearly reflective of their violent tendencies. We strongly condemn this act of terror & demand swift action against the perpetrators. How can the BJP stand idly as innocent students are brutalised? They have turned India into a war zone," the Congress tweeted.

In Ahmedabad, at least 10 people were reportedly injured in clashes between the ABVP and the NSUI, the student wing of the Congress. The incident occurred when NSUI activists had gathered in front of the ABVP office to protest against the violence on JNU campus.
China, Pakistan kick off "Sea Guardians-2020" naval drill in Karachi

PLA Daily

Source: China Military Online

Editor: Li Jiayao

2020-01-06

By Dong Zhaohui

KARACHI, Pakistan, Jan. 6 -- The PN-PLAN Bilateral Exercise, code-named Sea Guardians-2020, kicked off at the Pakistan Navy Dock Yard in Karachi, Pakistan on the morning of January 6, local time.

According to the consensus reached between Chinese and Pakistani Navies, the joint drill will be held from January 6 to 14 in waters of northern Arabian Sea, with the purpose of enhancing security cooperation between the two countries, consolidating the development of the all-weather strategic partnership, and promoting the joint construction of a safe marine environment.

The joint drill also aims to innovate the methods of conducting China-Pakistan joint naval drills and enhance the capabilities of the two navies to jointly cope with maritime terrorism and crime. The drill has nothing to do with the regional situation and is not targeted at any third party.

Vice Admiral Dong Jun, general director of the Chinese side and deputy commander of PLA Southern Theater Command, and Vice Admiral Asif Khaliq, general director of the Pakistani side and commander of the Pakistani Naval Fleet delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. VA. Khaliq then announced the start of the drill.

The Chinese participating troops mainly consist of the naval forces under the PLA Southern Theater Command. The PLA Navy deployed five warships including destroyer, frigate, supply ship and submarine rescue vessel with two ship-borne helicopters and dispatched more than 60 special operations soldiers.

The Pakistani participating troops mainly include two Zulfiquar-class F22P/F21 frigates, two fast attack craft (FAC), one fixed-wing anti-submarine patrol aircraft, two ship-borne helicopters and more than 60 special operations soldiers.

The drill consists of two phases including port training and maritime joint drill. The drill covers subjects including discussion and exchange, tactical deduction, formation movement, joint patrol, air-defense and anti-missile, maritime interception and temporary inspection, visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations, joint anti-submarine, maritime live-firing, and joint marine training.

The Chinese participating naval ships, including the guided-missile destroyer Yinchuan (Hull 175), the guided-missile frigate Yuncheng (Hull 571), the comprehensive supply ship Weishanhu (Hull 887), and the submarine rescue ship Liugongdao (Hull 865) have already docked at Karachi military port on January 4 and 5 local time.

The Pakistan Navy held a grand welcoming ceremony for the Chinese naval fleet at the dock on the morning of January 5. Over 200 people including Commander of the Pakistan Navy Fleet Vice Admiral Asif Khaliq,President of the Pakistan Navy Tactical School Commodore Zafar Iqbal, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing, Chinese Military Attache to Pakistan Chen Wenrong, staff member of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and representatives of Chinese-funded institutions, Chinese students and local overseas Chinese welcomed the Chinese warships at the dock.

Vice Admiral Asif Khaliq, Ambassador Yao Jing and Rear Admiral Huang Fengzhi, commanding officer of the Chinese participating forces and deputy chief of staff of the Navy under the PLA Southern Theater Command, all spoke at the welcome ceremony.

VA. Asif Khaliq said that the Sea Guardians drill is a strong witness to the continuous development of relations between the two countries and the continuous deepening of maritime cooperation between the two navies. The concept of the "Sea Guardians"bilateral naval exercise is to provide a platform for the two navies to share information, enhance understanding and deepen their common interests. This concept will eventually become the basis for the two navies to test and improve their technical and tactical capabilities, maintain regional marine security, learn from each other and enhance the level of cooperation and synergy.

Ambassador Yao Jing said that the peace of the oceans is related to the safety of each country and region. The name of the joint drill, Sea Guardians, fully reflects the good wishes of the Chinese and Pakistani navies in jointly building a community of shared maritime destiny, and demonstrates the confidence and capability to jointly guard marine peace and security. This is the sixth time that the two navies hold bilateral joint drill. Yao Jing believes that the Sea Guardians series will be another famous brand of cooperation and exchange between the Chinese and Pakistani armed forces along with the Warrior series between the two ground forces and the Eagle series between the two air forces.

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In an industry mostly ruled by white, black, and generally Western race, it is very rare for others who belong to a minority race to stand out. That is why the whole Asian community must be rejoicing after Awkwafina's win at the 2020 Golden Globes.

It was the 31-year-old actress' first time to get a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the 2019 film "The Farewell." She was nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy alongside Beanie Feldstein (Booksmart), Emma Thompson (Late Night), Cate Blanchett (Where'd You Go, Bernadette), and Ana de Armas (Knives Out).

Taking home the award made the rapper-turned-actress the first Asian-American to ever win in the said category. Awkwafina is the sixth female lead role who was nominated for the same category next to Machiko Kyo, Miyoshi Umeki, Yvonne Elliman, Hailee Steinfeld and Constance Wu.

Overall, there are only six Asian performers who have won a Golden Globe: Yoko Shimada, Ben Kingsley, Haing S. Ngor, Sandra Oh (who won different awards in 2006 and 2019), Aziz Ansari and Darren Criss.

Awkwafina played the lead role of Bili in Lulu Wang's drama-comedy film, which talks about a family who reunites in China dealing with their ailing grandmother who is not aware that she is dying.

In true Awkwafina fashion, the comedienne who had her breakout role in "Crazy Rich Asians" and "Ocean's Eight" joked about her gold trophy.

"'This is great. If I ever fall on hard times, I'm gonna sell this, so that's great," Awkwafina said during her acceptance speech.

She then expressed gratitude to the Holywood Foreign Press Association, The Farewell's distributor A24, Shuzhen Zhao -- the actress who played as her grandmother -- and her director Lulu Wang.

"Most importantly, to Lulu Wang, our incredible director. You gave me this chance, this chance of a lifetime and taught me so much. Filming this story was incredible," Awkwafina said.

Awkwafina also made a special shout out to his father, Wally, saying: "I'd like to dedicate this to my dad, Wally. I told you I'd get a job, dad." She then thanked her grandmother, who she described as her best friend.

Awkwafina ended her speech by thanking her mother, who died when she was just four years old.

In a backstage interview a few minutes after she accepted her award, the Asian-American actress talked about her "insanely crazy" winning moment and said she was genuinely shocked by her victory.

"I think a part of you just detaches from your body, and you see yourself like looking down at yourself, and then you don't. Then you go black, but then you look at all, you're the people that you're celebrating with, and you realize that you're all in it together," Awkwafina explained.

The 31-year-old added that she looks forward to calling her dad to share the good news. In her Instagram account, Awkwafina shared the intimate screen-time moment with her dad as she proudly showed off her first and historic Golden Globes.
01/07/2020

Photo (c) metamorworks - Getty Images For the last decade, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has been a launchpad for digital health technology, with the introduction of devices and innovations that help both consumers and healthcare providers improve outcomes.

From wearables to telemedicine and virtual reality, technology has helped advance wellness and overall health. CES 2020, which opened today in Las Vegas, will offer plenty of examples this week.

A recent study by Digimind, a company that develops market intelligence software, analyzes

trends in digital health to predict where things will go next. The study predicts that artificial intelligence-powered digital health services will be a dominant theme in the immediate future.

The study estimates that digital health was a $144 billion industry in 2018, and it is growing rapidly. The analysis of key social media posts concerning health suggests that artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, blockchain, robotics, and fintech are high on the agenda.

Digital Health is the long-awaited game-changer for the healthcare industry, said Aurelien Blaha, CMO of Digimind. The potential for technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data to make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and safe for everyone is undeniable.

Healthcare, technology, and pharmaceuticals

The authors of the study predict an increase in partnerships between the technology, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries to achieve a creative synergy that could ultimately have a huge impact on peoples health.

Technology not only brings innovation to health systems but also investment capital. In the last decade, tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Tencent have started focusing more efforts in the area of digital health.

That, the authors contend, provides traditional healthcare companies with increased partnership options that can help companies grow and meet new healthcare challenges. These partnerships have resulted in practical improvements, such as better appointments scheduling and immediate test results, along with new technologies capable of improving lives.

Among these trends are technologies like Exosystems, which combine robotics and machine learning with medical science to create wearable devices that help patients recover lost mobility of arms or legs.
[January 07, 2020]

KP Performance Antennas Debuts New 11 GHz ProLine Parabolic Antennas in 2-foot and 3-foot Sizes

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KP Performance Antennas, an Infinite Electronics brand and a manufacturer of wireless network antennas, has just released a new series of ProLine 11 GHz parabolic antennas that are ideal for high-density, point-to-point backhaul applications or client-premises.

KP's new high-performance ProLine parabolic antennas operate in the 10.7 GHz to 11.7 GHz frequency range. They are offered in 2-foot and 3-foot diameters and deliver gain performance of 34.4 dBi and 39 dBi respectively. These antennas are engineered to suppress side-lobes and back-lobes and are excellent at rejecting interference. They feature rugged construction with a patented 6-point mounting connection for set-and-forget installation.

These antennas deliver SISO or 2x2 MIMO for increased capacity and boast 155 mph survival wind speed. They are offered with dual-polarized N-type connector options. The 2-foot model is a high-performance ETSI Class 2, FCC Cat B antenna and the 3-foot model is an ETSI Class 3, FCC Cat A antenna. Both models include an Ubiquiti airFiber 11FX mounting kit.

"Our new 11 GHz ProLine parabolic antennas combine durability, ease of installaion and quality. They come pre-assembled from the factory for simple installation, ensuring factory tested quality and reducing deployment costs," said Ken Izatt, Antenna Product Line Manager.







KP's new 11 GHz ProLine parabolic antennas are in-stock and can be ordered directly from any of KP's authorized distributors or from the KP Performance Antennas website at https://www.kpperformance.com/pages/new-wisp-antennas-and-accessories/proline-11-ghz-parabolic-antennas.html?utm_source=KPAntennas&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=11_ghz_parabolic_antennas_2019

For inquiries, please call 1-855-276-5772.

About KP Performance Antennas:

With decades of in-the-field expertise as former WISP operators and Ph.D. antenna engineers, KP Performance Antennas helps wireless internet service providers maximize ROI with products engineered to exceed industry expectations by delivering superior throughput, greater service coverage, dependable performance and reduced maintenance costs, while also providing responsive service, expert technical support and same-day shipping. KP Performance Antennas is an Infinite Electronics brand.

About Infinite Electronics:

Based in Irvine, Calif., Infinite Electronics offers a broad range of components, assemblies and wired/wireless connectivity solutions, serving the aerospace/defense, industrial, government, consumer electronics, instrumentation, medical and telecommunications markets. Infinite's brands include Pasternack, Fairview Microwave, L-com, MilesTek, Aiconics, KP Performance Antennas, PolyPhaser, Transtector, RadioWaves, ShowMe Cables and Integra Optics. Infinite Electronics serves a global engineering customer base with deep technical expertise and support, with one of the broadest inventories of products available for immediate shipment.

For more information about this release, please contact:

Peter McNeil

KP Performance Antennas

17792 Fitch

Irvine, CA

978-682-6936

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kp-performance-antennas-debuts-new-11-ghz-proline-parabolic-antennas-in-2-foot-and-3-foot-sizes-300974670.html

SOURCE KP Performance Antennas
PI Industries fell 1.79% to Rs 1,419.35 after the company informed that an accident had occurred at its chemical manufacturing plant located in Gujarat.

The agrochemicals manufacturer said a factory accident that happened in one section of a Multi-Product Plants (MPP) at Jambusar fine chemicals manufacturing site in Gujarat. This accident unfortunately resulted in two fatalities and nine others are injured. The accident did not result in any fire or hazardous emissions but was limited to one MPP and has not affected operations of the other MPPs at the site.

PI Industries is engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of agro chemicals. The firm manufactures agrochemicals, plant nutrients and plant protection, specialty fertilizers and hybrid seeds.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  Environment Secretary and Special Envoy to the Middle East Roy Cimatu said Tuesday that he has recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte a mandatory evacuation of Filipinos from Iraq.

Cimatu, who Duterte tasked to lead the possible evacuation of Filipinos from conflict areas areas in the region, said Tuesday that he suggested during the Cabinet meeting Monday evening to raise the alert level in Iraq from 3  which means repatriation is only voluntary  to 4  which means mandatory evacuation.

Asked for Dutertes response to his proposal, Cimatu said the President allowed him to make any decision he felt to be necessary.

Cimatu, a former military chief of staff, also served as special envoy to the Middle East under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He helped repatriate Filipinos caught in the 2003 Iraq war and negotiate the release in 2004 of a kidnapped Filipino driver.

Cimatu said he plans to fly to Qatar within 24 to 48 hours.

We have to move out immediately the Filipinos out of Iraq because I believe that this could be the target, initially, dito sa US facilities inside Baghdad. Almost the same area where the Iranian general was killed, Cimatu told reporters.

Cimatu said they plan to evacuate Filipinos to Saudi Arabia using a Philippine Coast Guard vessel, which is currently in Malta.

Duterte told reporters Tuesday in Malacanang that he has ordered the Department of National Defense to study possible evacuation routes, while he has asked the Department of Finance to earmark funds for the possible evacuation of Filipinos in the Middle East.

He added that the Philippines should move "physically" if any Filipinos is caught in the crossfire between the US and Iran, but declined to specify what that move could be. His spokesperson earlier said that Duterte would take the side of the US in case any Filipino gets hurt as a result of the rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.

"Kung sabi mo may masaktan o may mga casualty, then I would not like it. Then I would have to rethink my position," Duterte said without elaborating.

[Translation: If there would be any Filipino who would be hurt or would be among the casualties, then I would not like it. Then I would have to rethink my position.]

Duterte had ordered top Philippine officials to travel to the Middle East and check the welfare of Filipinos in the region amid the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran.

He also directed Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Abdullah Mamao to head to Iran and Iraq on Tuesday to talk to their governments and deliver an urgent message to keep all Filipinos safe.

Philippine troops are already preparing to bring home Filipinos from the affected countries in the event conflict between US and Iran esclates. Tensions between the two countries are rising following Washingtons assassination of Tehrans top general Qasem Soleimani.

A special working committee was also created to draw up measures for the repatriation of Filipinos. Included in the group are Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Interior Chief Eduardo Ano, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddyboy Locsin, Labor Chief Silvestre Bello III, and Transportation head Arthur Tugade. Duterte instructed concerned government agencies to prepare for back up plans for those who will be displaced due to the conflict.

There are 1,006 registered Filipinos in Iran, who are mostly permanent residents with their family members, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. It added there are also 50 documented Filipino workers in the country. In Iraq, there are currently 1,190 documented and 450 undocumented Filipinos. Meanwhile, there are 237,615 Filipinos in Kuwait.

Cruise ship for OFWs?

"But in Iran, most of those Filpinos there are maried to Iranians. So uuwi ba 'yun? Baka hindi uuwi [Will they come home? Maybe not,]" said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who chairs the special committee laying out emergency plans to bring home Filipinos from the Middle East.

The Philippine Embassy in Baghdad will have to check on who among the Filipinos are ready to come home.

Once the government gets a clearer picture on the number of Filipinos willing to come home, it can deploy its C-130 planes and Navy ships.

But if military assets would not be enough, officials are eyeing chartering at least two cruise ships.

The Philippine National Police said it beefing up security in the embassies of Iran, the United States and their allies in the country amid the escalating conflict between Washington and Tehran. Lorenzana has also ordered his men to be on alert to help secure US interests in the country.

CNN Philippines Senior Correspondent David Santos contributed to this report.
Two Bangladeshis among 5 arrested for anti-CAA violence in Delhi's Seemapuri

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police today arrested five men, including two Bangladeshi nationals, for alleged involvement in arson and violence in the name of protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act passed by Parliament. Protestors damaged property and set fire to several buses and other vehicles during an anti-CAA protest show at Seempuri in North East Delhi recently.

Police officials also revealed that of the five arrested two are Bangladeshi nationals, while two other arrested have come all the way from Uttar Pradesh.

The two Bangladeshi nationals have been identified as Mohammad Azad and Mohammad Subhan. The accused have been identified as Ghaziabad resident Mohammad Shoiab (19), Pilibhit resident Mohammad Amir (24) and Seemapuri resident Yusuf (40).

Police have also detained two juveniles in connection with the case and the two have been sent to the Juvenile Justice Board.

A Special Investigating Team (SIT) of Delhi Police had earlier said that illegal Bangladeshi immigrants were involved in the violence that erupted in East Delhi's Seemapuri and Seelampur areas few days ago.

At 15 Bangladeshi infiltrators were identified by SIT who were involved in causing damage to public properties during anti-CAA stir in Seemapuri.

JNU students block police flag march

A day after widespread violence and vandalism inside the JNU campus, students today blocked a police flag march, shouting 'Delhi Police, go back.' A video in which a large number of JNU students can be seen shouting 'Delhi Police, go back' and blocking a police flag march led by Special Commissioner of Police, (Law and Order), RS Krishnaiah after the violence.

The students blocked the police path at the Sabarmati T-point. However, the police managed to dodge the students' blockade and continued to march towards the convention centre. But even before they could cover some distance, the flag march was once again blocked by the protesting students.
President Donald Trump delivers remarks following the U.S. Military airstrike against Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, Iraq, in West Palm Beach, Florida on Jan. 3, 2020. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

Trump: Now Isnt the Right Point to Pull Out US Troops From Iraq

President Donald Trump addressed reports alleging the United States would pull several thousand soldiers out of Iraq, saying its not going to happen in the near future while stressing that the country would suffer following the death of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Its the worst thing that could happen to Iraq for the U.S. to withdraw now, Trump told reporters in the White House as he met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

That would mean that Iran would have a much bigger foothold in the country, Trump said, adding that he believes the Iraqi people wouldnt want to see Iran overseeing their affairs. Theyre neighbors, he said.

Trump, who has long been a critic of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, again said that his administration would like to see the country handle its own security.

Protesters chant anti-U.S. slogans during a demonstration against the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, close to United States consulate in Istanbul on Jan. 5, 2020. (Lefteris Pitarakis/AP Photo)

At some point, we want to get out, but this isnt the right point, the president added. He said the United States would want to be reimbursed for the cost of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad as well as other costs related to fighting the ISIS terrorist group.

There were questions about whether the U.S. would leave Iraq after a letter surfaced that appeared to tell military officials in Iraq that American forces were moving to depart the country. But Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, both stressed on Monday and Tuesday that it was a draft letter that should have never been sent.

Trump said he knew nothing about the letter but suggested it was a hoax.

Esper said Tuesday he hasnt received any request from Iraqi leaders to withdraw troops. He said that Soleimani was just days away from attacking American assets in the region.

To the best of my knowledge, I havent received any communication from (Iraqs prime minister) or the Iraqi government about the legislation, or about an order or a request to withdraw U.S. forces, Esper said.

Soleimani was the head of the Iranian Quds Force, an intelligence agency that was labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of State. He has been blamed for the deaths of numerous Americans over the years.

In response to pushback from Democrats in Congress and 2020 presidential candidates, the White House did Americans and a lot of countries a big favor by taking out Soleimani, Trump told reporters.
In the Netflix world of Frank Underwood, war was the only option when journalist Tom Hammerschmidt exposed his misuse of authority, a scandal that put him on the verge of impeachment.

The president didnt hesitate. He declared war on the terrorist organisation ICO and aired scenes of ICO members killing American hostages. He needed a powerful distraction, and he got one.

The parallels between that House of Cards plot and Donald Trump's style of leadership are not hard to find. The president's instinct for recklessness is always there with political gains and keeping his supporter base happy always top of his agenda. Trump sees his Impeachment as itself a distraction from his mission to "Make America Great Again" and in turn he wants to distract the public away from proceedings in Congress. Whether it it was meant this way or not - the killing of Qassem Soleimani achieves this aim and the fact that it is an election year will not hurt.

The impeachment hearings are a nuisance for Trump in a year where he wants essentially a procession back into the White House. But now he has thrown himself into a fight with Tehran. Democrats in Congress are complaining that the legislative body was not informed about the airstrike that killed Soleimani ahead of time - as rules dictate, and this Iran crisis may just end up extending rather than curtailing a push for impeachment. If the situation with Tehran escalates too far, Trump may end up paying with his career at the ballot box.

Thanks to Trump's move, it is now US - not Iran - who is standing on its toes, waiting for a hit that could drag the country (whether you like it or not, and whether you want it or not) to war. Iran owns all the cards, the US and its allies (including the UK, of course) are pleading for a de-escalation, with their hands essentially tied.

US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early Friday 3 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures The wreckage of the car in which general Soleimani was travelling when a targeted US airstrike struck outside Baghdad International Airport on 3 January Ahmad Al Mukhtar via Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Demonstrators burn the US and British flags during a protest in Tehran after general Soleimani was killed in a targeted airstrike by American forces Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of Donald Trump AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn Israeli and US flags as thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of general Soleimani at the hands of America EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of Donald Trump pray at an 'Evangelicals for Trump' campaign event held on the day following the killing of general Soleimani. At the event, the president praised the "flawless strike that eliminated the terrorist ringleader" AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A huge procession of mourners gather in Baghdad for the funeral of general Soleimani on 4 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani during an anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iraqis perform a mourning prayer for slain major general Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the Great Mosque of Kufa AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A billboard reading 'Death to America and Israel', installed by Iran-backed shiite armed groups at a street in Jadriyah district in Baghdad, Iraq EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him visiting the family of Soleiman KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US flag as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Feiruznia, looks to a portrait of Soleimani, as he receives condolences at the Iranian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures People make their way on the street while a screen on the wall of a cinema shows a portrait Soleimani in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Aziz Asmar, one of two Syrian painters who completed a mural following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani poses next to his creation in the rebel-held Syrian town of Dana in the northwestern province of Idlib AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A demonstration in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures An anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Mujtaba al-Husseini, the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in the holy shrine city of Najaf AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US and Israeli flags as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters demonstrate in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shi'ite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters, holding a photograph of the leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Massoud Rajavi, outside Downing Street in London PA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn a US flag in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A Syrian man offers sweets to children to mark the killing AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers attend a mourning prayer for Soleimani in Iran's capital Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti American and anti Israel slogans during a protest AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshipers chant slogans during Friday prayers Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A protest against the USA, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranians burn a US flag in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin, Germany Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol a road in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel. Following morning's killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement called for the missile strike by Israel's closest ally, to be avenged AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian women take to the streets in Tehran EPA

If Iran hits hard (and I believe they almost certainly will) the US will be compelled to respond, because if it doesnt, the administration will look weak. And recent history has shown us that is not a position Trump enjoys. This edges the whole Middle East closer to war, although it is clearly not something any nation involved would want.

While Trump's voter base don't want the president to look weak, nor would most of them want the country in another costly war. A poll conducted by the University of Maryland in September 2019 shows that the majority of Americans dont want a conflict with Iran. Three-quarters of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, said that war with Iran would be unwarranted. The public mostly blames the Trump administration for heightened tensions with Iran and disapproves of Trumps Iran policy - but Americans are deeply divided in assessing Trumps goals in Iran.

Trump has been strident in his tweets, but his administration has struggled at times to justify the airstrike. Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, keeps arguing that the Middle East is "unstable" and the US is "creating a place and an opportunity for that stability." However, that ignores the fact that war, unlikely but still possible, is actually the least stable condition in which the region can be. And thanks to Trump, who once thought war could win Obama the elections, war is one step closer.

Unpredictability is a feature of this conflict. Starting one is the easiest part of the job, and the only part you can control. Killing Qassem Soleimani is widely seen in Iran an act of war, and many in the West seem to share the same view, including Sir John Sawers, the former MI6 chief. This puts the US in war stance, at least from Tehrans viewpoint.

This unpredictability is rocking the US allies in the Middle East. They dont know what the outcomes might be, and if American troops will leave Iraq soon - the country that is most likely to become a proxy battleground. Weakening the US influence in the country or departing it altogether will give Tehran a boost when it comes to influence in the region.

 Huge crowds surround funeral procession of Soleimani as it moves through Kerman, Iran

Washington will hope that killing Soleimani could still have a silver lining: a significant degradation in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) effectiveness in continuing the assassinated commander's policy. Managing to maintain the US military presence in Iraq, and avoiding an all-out military clash would also be positives. The US is not in a position to gain more than those minimum strategic objectives.

The US just did a great service to the Iranian regime, with the public response to Soleimani's funeral rites papering over the fact there had been mass civil unrest recently and distracting attention from the outrage at the economic and political situation in the country. While there is this - at least temporary - show of unity in Iran, Trump has left his allies guessing all while the nuclear agreement signed between Tehran and a number of global powers slowly falls apart.

Such division is trouble. Frank Underwood was unable to unite the nation in House of Cards, and Trump is rushing the United States in the same direction.
The UK and Irish governments are poised to make public a proposed deal to restore Stormont powersharing as they urge the region's politicians to sign up.

There is an expectation the document will be tabled to the parties at some point on Wednesday.

It is understood the proposals will then be published more widely, either on Wednesday or later in the week.

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The planned timetable had still to be confirmed on Tuesday evening as Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith and Irish Foreign Affairs minister Simon Coveney held talks to discuss the text.

They were expected to be involved in lengthy discussions through the evening.

Publishing a draft text prior to securing a deal among the Stormont parties would represent a new approach for political negotiations in Northern Ireland.

If the document is made public on Wednesday, offering voters the chance to assess what compromises are on offer, it would coincide with the latest strike action by workers in the region's crisis-hit health service.

Nurses will be on the picket lines in an ongoing protest over pay and staffing shortages.

Proposed legislative protections for Irish language speakers and reform of a contentious Stormont voting mechanism called the petition of concern are the key issues at the heart of talks to restore powersharing three years after it imploded.

On Tuesday, DUP leader Arlene Foster said all the main Stormont parties were in the space where they wanted to deliver a deal.

The DUP leader said her party stood ready to sign up to agreement, if "fair and balanced" resolutions to the outstanding issues were achieved.

Expand Close Arlene Foster leader of the DUP MLA speaking to the media in the great hall of Stormont Parliament buildings in Belfast. Credit: Liam McBurney/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Arlene Foster leader of the DUP MLA speaking to the media in the great hall of Stormont Parliament buildings in Belfast. Credit: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

"I do think a deal is possible," she said. "It should be a deal, as I have said all along, that is fair and is balanced and I hope that is what we can achieve."

Earlier on Tuesday, the Sinn Fein leadership briefed a packed meeting of party representatives on the state of negotiations.

Ms Foster said once her party had sight of the governments' text, she and colleagues would assess whether it addressed their concerns on the outstanding issues.

"I think everybody is in the space where they want to do a deal, let's get down, let's focus and make sure we do that deal," she said.

Asked about reports of angry exchanges during a meeting of the party leaders on Monday she denied relations had deteriorated, and claimed things had been blown out of proportion by the media.

Ms Foster also highlighted mental health as a "key priority" for the new executive.

"I hope that we can reflect that in the work that we do, if and when we get an executive back up and running again," she added.

Ulster Unionist Assembly member Robbie Butler said the talks process lacked urgency.

"There really does need to be a refocusing of minds and a more concerted effort to get these talks to a conclusion," he said.

"The problems and difficulties are well rehearsed. There have been three years of intensive and non-intensive talks and, as we can see today, there is no real intensity. We would like to see that stepped up within the next 24 hours."

Expand Close UUP MLA Robbie Butler UUP (right) speaking to the media with party colleague Andy Allen (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp UUP MLA Robbie Butler UUP (right) speaking to the media with party colleague Andy Allen (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Butler said parties needed to get into powersharing to address a range of urgent social problems, including what he described as a "mental health epidemic", citing a recent spate of suicides in the region.

The UUP MLA said he wanted to see a new Stormont administration deliver a comprehensive mental health strategy.

Sinn Fein has demanded a stand-alone Irish Language Act as a prerequisite of any deal to restore devolution.

The DUP has expressed a willingness to legislate to protect the language, but only as part of broader culture laws which also include the Ulster Scots tradition.

So the dispute essentially boils down to whether new laws are contained in a stand-alone Bill or as part of a wider piece of legislation.

The Orange Order, which is among a range of interest groups who have met the Secretary of State to give their views, has restated its "implacable" opposition to a stand-alone act.

Grand Secretary Mervyn Gibson said the language had been used as a "blunt instrument" to push an Irish identity.

"The Irish language has been weaponised in the past," he said.

Mr Gibson said a stand-alone act could be subject to future legal challenges aimed at making it more comprehensive than initially intended.

"It could grow and grow into a situation where people across the province are forced into a situation where they have to endure Irish, and that shouldn't be the case," he told BBC Radio Ulster.

While opposing a stand-alone act, Mr Gibson did not rule out a broader piece of legislation that encompassed Irish and other traditions, such as Ulster Scots.

"We would look at it," he said.
best cities to work from home



The average U.S. worker travels about 27.1 minutes to work and spends $2,600 annually on commuting costs, according to 2018 Census Bureau estimates and the Citi ThankYou Premier Commuter Index. Working from home represents an opportunity for workers to save both time and money while additionally allowing greater flexibility for working parents.

In this study, we looked at some of the best cities to work from home by comparing the 100 largest cities in the U.S. across seven metrics. Those metrics include the percentage of employees working from home, five-year change in percentage of employees working from home, unemployment rate, poverty rate, housing costs as a percentage of earnings, coffee shop density and bar density. For more information on our data sources and how we put all the information together to create our final rankings, check out our Data and Methodology section below.

This is SmartAssets second annual study on the best cities to work from home. Check out the 2019 rankings here.

Key Findings

Working from home is becoming more common. From 2014 to 2018, the national percentage of workers working remotely increased by almost 1% from 4.5% to 5.3%. In fact, of the 100 cities in our study, only 17 saw decreases in the percentage of employees working from home over the past five years.

Cities in the West and South rank well. Six of the top 10 best cities to work from home are cities in Western states while the remaining four are located in Southern states. All 10 cities rank in the top 15% of the study for the percentage of the workforce working from home in 2018 and the top 40% of the study for their low poverty rate and unemployment rate.

1. Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale, Arizona ranks as the top city to work from home because of its strong job market and high percentage of remote workers. According to Census Bureau estimates, in 2018, the unemployment rate in Scottsdale was 3.6%, well below the national average of 4.9%. Additionally, 14.4% of workers, or more than one in eight, worked from home. This is almost 5% more employees working from home than any other city in our study and well above the national average of 5.3%.

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2. Denver, CO

Slipping from its rank as the number one city to work from home in last years study, Denver, Colorado takes second place in our 2020 edition. In the county of Denver, coffee shops and bars, both good options for remote workers who want to get out of their house or apartment, are prevalent. Coffee shops make up more than 1% of all establishments and bars closely follow, making up 0.74% of all establishments. Additionally, working from home is becoming more common in Denver. From 2014 through 2018, the percentage of remote workers increased by 2.6%, the eighth-highest increase across all 100 cities for which we looked at data.

3. Arlington, VA

Unemployment and poverty rates are often correlated, and in 2018, Arlington, Virginia had low rates for both metrics. Just 2% of the population over the age of 16 was unemployed and 9.9% of residents fell below the poverty line. Relative to the other cities in the study, this is the second-lowest unemployment rate and the lowest poverty rate overall. Beyond its strong performance on those two figures, Arlingtons culture of working from home is strong. Almost 9% of working residents had no commute in 2018.

4. Boise, ID

From 2014 through 2018, the percentage of employed persons who worked from home in Boise, Idaho increased by 3.6%. This was the largest increase over that five-year time period compared to any other city in our study. As a result, 7.4% of workers over the age of 16 worked from home in 2018, a top-15 rate.

5. Portland, OR

Portland, Oregon does particularly well for the metrics of percentage of employees working from home, concentration of coffee shops and concentration of bars. About 9.6% of employees work from home, the third-highest rate for this metric in the study. Coffee shops comprise 1.53% of all establishments and bars comprise 1.22% of all establishments, the second-highest and fifth-highest rates for these metrics overall, respectively. Good news for millennials who want to work remotely and be surrounded by their peers: Portland ranks as No. 3 in our study of cities where millennials are moving.

6. Gilbert, AZ

Like in Boise, workers are increasingly able to work remotely in Gilbert, Arizona rather than go into the office. Over the five-year period from 2014 through 2018, the percentage of remote workers grew by 3.2% so that in 2018, almost 10% of working residents in Gilbert worked from home. Gilbert ties with Scottsdale, our No. 1 city, for the metric of five-year change in that percentage and ranks second only to Scottsdale for percentage of people working from home. However, the city ranks sixth overall because of its high housing costs relative to earnings. Median annual housing costs in 2018 were more than 40% of 2018 median individual earnings, meaning that Gilbert ranked in the bottom half of the study for this metric.

7. St. Petersburg, FL

Part of the Tampa Bay area, St. Petersburg, Florida ranks in the top third of the study for five of the seven metrics we considered. With an increase of more than 3% over the past five years, 7.8% of employed residents worked from home in 2018. On the three socioeconomic factors that we considered  unemployment rate, poverty rate and housing costs as a percent of earnings  St. Petersburg ranks 26th, 14th and 31st, respectively.

8. Raleigh, NC

About 8.6% of workers in Raleigh, North Carolina do not commute, the ninth-highest rate for this metric across all 100 cities in our study. Additionally, housing costs as a percentage of earnings here are relatively low, ranking in the top third of the study. However, Raleigh may be a better city for employees intending to work directly from their house or apartment rather than a coffee shop or bar. It ranks in the bottom fourth of all 100 cities we considered for the metrics of coffee shop and bar density.

9. Chandler, AZ

Chandler, the third Arizona city in our top 10, has a lower percentage of remote workers than Scottsdale and Gilbert, but a high rate for this metric across the study overall. Specifically, 7.8% of employees in 2018 worked from home, tying for the 12th-highest percentage for this metric across all 100 cities in the study. Median housing costs as a percentage of median earnings in Chandler are also relatively low. Census data from 2018 shows that Chandler has the 27th-lowest ratio for this metric of all 100 largest U.S. cities.

10. Austin, TX

Austin, Texas state capital, ranks as our No. 10 city to work from home. Austin ranks in the top fifth of cities for its high percentage of employees working from home and its low 2018 unemployment and poverty rates. Additionally, according to data from the 2017 County Business Patterns Survey, in Travis, the greater county encompassing Austin, coffee shops and bars made up 0.90% and 0.83%, respectively, of all establishments. This is the 39th-highest concentration of coffee shops and 21st-highest concentration of bars overall, giving remote workers a variety of options to choose from.

Data and Methodology

To find the best cities to work from home, we looked at data on the 100 largest cities in the U.S. We compared them across the following seven metrics:

Percentage of employees working from home. This is the percentage of workers 16 years and older who work from home. Data comes from the Census Bureaus 2018 1-year American Community Survey.

Five-year change in percentage of employees working from home. This is the difference between the percentage of employees working from home in 2014 and the percentage of employees working from home in 2018. Cities with an increase in the percentage of employees working from home over that five-year period ranked higher. Data comes from the Census Bureaus 2014 1-year American Community Survey and Census Bureaus 2018 1-year American Community Survey.

Unemployment rate. Data comes from the Census Bureaus 2018 1-year American Community Survey.

Poverty rate. Data comes from the Census Bureaus 2018 1-year American Community Survey.

Housing costs as a percent of earnings. This is median annual housing costs divided by median earnings for workers 16 years and older. Data comes from the Census Bureaus 2018 1-year American Community Survey.

Coffee shop density. This is the number of coffee shops divided by the total number of establishments. Data comes from the 2017 County Business Patterns Survey.

Bar density. This is the number of bars divided by the total number of establishments. Data comes from the 2017 County Business Patterns Survey.

First, we ranked each city in every metric, giving a full weight to all metrics except coffee shop density and bar density, both of which were half-weighted. We then found each citys average ranking and used this average to determine a final score. The city with the highest average ranking received a score of 100. The city with the lowest average ranking received a score of 0.

Tips to Save for Retirement While Working Remotely

Make a plan. One of the easiest ways to save is to cut out the expense of commuting. But beyond reducing public transportation costs or gas and parking expenses from your life, an effective way to save is through disciplined budgeting. Our budget calculator can help with this. In addition to letting you see how much of your monthly and annual income goes towards your commute, you can see how cutting back on discretionary expenses can increase your savings rate.

Invest early. Working from home can give you extra time to be strategic about your daily tasks without burning so much time in transit. If you use some of that stolen time to budgeting and saving, more money can go toward investments and retirement. Take a look at our investment calculator to see how your investment can grow over time.

Consider professional help. If you work from home, youre often in charge of how you compartmentalize your time and often function, effectively, as your own boss. But when it comes to planning your financial future, its best to hand the reins to a professional. A financial advisor can help you make smarter financial decisions to be in better control of your money and get previous debt under control. Finding the right financial advisor that fits your needs doesnt have to be hard. SmartAssets free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. If youre ready to be matched with local advisors that will help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Questions about our study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com

Photo credit: iStock.com/Eva-Katalin

The post Best Cities to Work From Home  2020 Edition appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE), has completed and energized the Mark Twain Transmission Project, a 96-mile, 345,000-volt transmission line and substation in northeast Missouri. The line travels west from Palmyra to Kirksville, Missouri then north to the Iowa border.

The Mark Twain Transmission Project is now providing local and regional benefits, including improved energy grid reliability, increased transmission capacity and greater access to lower cost energy, including renewable sources, such as wind.

"The Mark Twain Transmission Project benefits are many," said Shawn E. Schukar, chairman and president of ATXI. "In addition to making the energy grid more reliable and promoting renewable and affordable energy such as wind, it will meet energy needs not only for today but well into the future."

The $267 million project, which includes the Zachary substation in Adair County, Missouri, was placed into service as expected on Dec.19, 2019. Efficient project execution, which included the use of helicopters to install the transmission line, reduced landowner impact and improved construction efficiency.

"The speed and efficiency with which this line was developed and constructed can be attributed to the ongoing collaboration and strong communication efforts we had with landowners, community representatives and Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative," Schukar said. "Because of our focus on communication, our contract partners were able to quickly move forward on key construction phases, meet crucial deadlines and now energize this important infrastructure project that bolsters the energy grid."

The Mark Twain Transmission Project has helped enable wind projects under development in Missouri that will provide lower cost energy to the grid, allowing the benefits of this project to far exceed the project costs.

In January 2018, The Missouri Public Service Commission granted ATXI a certificate of convenience and necessity for the project that is now a critical link in the region's energy infrastructure.

The Mark Twain Transmission Project was approved in 2011 by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO), a regional transmission organization. The project is part of a coordinated, multi-state group of transmission projects - known as Multi-Value Projects - being developed by transmission owners in MISO to improve and strengthen the regional energy grid. Other ATXI Multi-Value Projects include the Spoon River Project in Illinois, which was completed in February of 2018, and the Illinois Rivers Project, with an anticipated in-service date of December 2020.

About Ameren Corporation

St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation powers the quality of life for 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois provides electric distribution and transmission service and natural gas distribution service. Ameren Missouri provides electric generation, transmission and distribution service, as well as natural gas distribution service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois develops, owns and operates rate-regulated regional electric transmission projects. For more information, visit Ameren.com, or follow us on Twitter at @AmerenCorp, Facebook.com/AmerenCorp, or LinkedIn/company/Ameren.
A Houston man is being held in the Fort Bend County Jail on charges of felony child sex trafficking and felony sexual assault of a child.

Related: Fort Bend County officials ramping up anti-human trafficking efforts

Dewayne Demarcus Cook, 29, was arrested Sept. 29 for allegedly trafficking a 15-year-old girl found earlier that month in his Fort Bend County home during an investigation related to a missing underage girl believed to be a runaway. He is being held on bonds totaling $175,000.

Related: Fort Bend County Judge KP George helps increase county efforts to combat human trafficking

According to Fort Bend County criminal court documents, Houston Police officers went to a residence in the 5100 block of Shadowridge in southwest Houston to investigate reports Cook was harboring a runaway. Officers located the victim hidden in a bedroom closet during a search of the residence. The case was referred to the human trafficking investigations department at the Fort Bend County District Attorneys office.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Fort Bend County DA Brian Middleton brings change to diverse county in first year

Court documents indicate a search of Cooks cell phone revealed evidence he had befriended the girl via Facebook and later met up with her at Club Yakum, an after-hours club in southwest Houston.

Cook is no stranger to law enforcement and has an extensive criminal history that includes a felony family assault conviction in 2017. According to a charging instrument filed in Harris County Court records, Cook attacked his ex-girlfriend, who was six-months pregnant at the time, and tried to strangle her. He also bit her on the forehead. Cook pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to two years in prison. After serving six months of his sentence, Cook was released on parole in September 2019. Previously, Cook also pled guilt to misdemeanor assault charges after he punched his ex-girlfriend in the mouth in 2016 and was sentenced to eight days in the Harris County Jail.

Related: Elijah Rising opening restoration campus in Fort Bend County for survivors of sex trafficking

Cook is scheduled to appear before Fort Bend County Judge Frank J. Fraley in the 434th District Court on Feb. 24. A Fort Bend County Grand Jury is expected to consider the evidence at an indictment hearing in the coming weeks.
A collapsed building with car crushed underneath, following an earthquake in Yauco, Puerto Rico, on Jan. 7, 2020. (J. Miguel Santiago Twitter via AP)

Puerto Rico Declares State of Emergency Following Earthquake

Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vasquez declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard on Jan. 7 after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit just south of the island, leaving widespread damage in southern towns and killing at least one person.

Vazquez said all public sector offices except for emergency services would remain closed Jan. 7 while emergency plans were implemented. The emergency order and activation of the National Guard were later published on an official government website.

Initially reported as having a 6.6 magnitude, the quake was the latest and most powerful in a series of that started on Dec. 28, 2019. It hit at 4:24 a.m. at a depth of about 6 miles, and was centered 5.4 miles south of Indios.

A tsunami alert was issued for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands after the initial quake but was later canceled. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported a small tsunami measuring about 7.9 inches.

The energy provider for the island stated there was an island-wide blackout. Pictures showed damage to buildings and vehicles.

We want everyone to be safe. That is why the work in the public sector is suspended for today, so that they can be with their families, implementing their emergency plans, she said. First responders were still working, she added later.

Albert Rodriguez, who is from the southwest town of Guanica, said there was widespread damage near his house.

The road is cracked in the middle and it lifted up, he said.

Victor Huerfano, director of Puerto Ricos Seismic Network, added that an official in Ponce told him there was widespread damage there.

We expect that this will be the largest quake for now, he said. The aftershocks will continue for some time.

A 73-year-old man died in the southern city of Ponce after a wall fell on him, El Nuevo Dia reported. Teacher Rey Gonzalez said the man, Nelson Martinez, was his uncle. Eight people were injured in Ponce, Mayor Mayita Melendez told WAPA.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Caribbean area involves no fewer than four major tectonic plates and a number of inclined zones of deep earthquakes.

Further east, from the Dominican Republic to the Island of Barbuda, relative motion between the North America plate and the Caribbean plate becomes increasingly complex and is partially accommodated by nearly arc-parallel subduction of the North America plate beneath the Caribbean plate. This results in the formation of the deep Puerto Rico Trench and a zone of intermediate focus earthquakes (70300 kilometers depth) within the subducted slab, it stated.

Although the Puerto Rico subduction zone is thought to be capable of generating a megathrust earthquake, there have been no such events in the past century. The last probable interplate (thrust fault) event here occurred on May 2, 1787, and was widely felt throughout the island with documented destruction across the entire northern coast, including Arecibo and San Juan.

Since 1900, the two largest earthquakes to occur in this region were the Aug. 4, 1946, M8.0 Samana earthquake in northeastern Hispaniola and the July 29, 1943, M7.6 Mona Passage earthquake, both of which were shallow thrust fault earthquakes.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Sterling Bank's founder and chief exec Anne Boden has ambitions to float the digital-only lender as soon as 2022

Starling Bank is planning to become the UK's first digital-only lender to be listed on the stock market.

Its founder and chief executive Anne Boden has ambitions to float Starling, best known for its turquoise debit cards and flashy mobile phone app, as soon as 2022.

The digital bank has so far raised 263million from start-up investors since it was founded in 2014, which it has used to build its banking app and a payments platform used by top-tier lenders and the Government.

When those investors want to cash in, Boden plans to list her business on the London Stock Exchange through an initial public offering (IPO) rather than selling it to a major High Street banking rival.

This would give normal savers the chance to buy shares in Starling and take a punt on the digital bank's success.

Boden told the Mail: 'I didn't do all of this to sell out to a big bank. I think the future for us will be an IPO in two to three years' time.

'We're demonstrating a path to profitability that other digital banks have not, and we plan to break even at the end of next year.'

Boden, who has previously worked at a roster of traditional banks including Lloyds, Standard Chartered, UBS and RBS, said that breaking even, and finally making a profit, is one of the hurdles which Starling must cross before listing.

In the year to November 30, 2018, the last period for which Starling filed accounts, it made a loss before tax of 26,856.
In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, Navy's combat ship USS Independence (LCS-2) arrives at Mole Pier March 29, 2010 at Naval Air Station Key West in Key West, Florida. (Nicholas Kontodiakos/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)

2 More Chinese Nationals Arrested for Taking Photos at US Navy Base

Two Chinese nationals have been arrested for illegally entering and taking photos at a U.S. Navy base in Floridaless than two weeks after a Chinese man was charged with the same offenses.

Wang Yuhao and Zhang Jielun, both Chinese citizens, were arrested Jan. 4 after they drove onto Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida, and took pictures of the base, according to court records.

An FBI affidavit said Wang and Zhang drove to a guard station at an entrance to the Sigsbee Annex within the base, and were asked to provide military identification, which they couldnt provide. They were then told they werent authorized to enter, but they proceeded anyway, the affidavit stated.

After 30 minutes in the restricted area, the pair were apprehended by Navy security personnel who found that they had taken photos of military structures on the base, court documents show. They also took videos with their cellphones.

Wang and Zhang, according to the documents, told FBI agents they read and understood English, and acknowledged that they were asked to make a U-turn when they couldnt provide military identification, but continued driving.

The pair made their first court appearance on Jan. 6 and are due for a bail hearing on Jan. 10 at the District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Their attorneys did not respond to requests by The Epoch Times for comment. The southern district U.S. attorneys office declined to comment on the case.

Similar Cases

Their arrests come just weeks after another Chinese national, Liao Lyuyou, was arrested on Dec. 26 for illegally taking pictures at another annex of the same naval air station.

According to court records, witnesses observed Liao, 27, walking along the secure fence line of the military base. He walked around the perimeter fence and entered the facility from the rocks along the water. Despite witnesses numerous warnings against trespassing, Liao proceeded to enter and took multiple photos with his camera.

When U.S. military police came to question Liao a few minutes later, Liao explained in broken English that he was trying to take photographs of the sunrise, according to court documents. The officers, however, found photographs of the restricted Truman Annex area on his camera.

Liao is currently being held without bail. According to The Associated Press, his lawyer argued at a recent hearing that the 27-year-old was taking pictures while on vacation and that evidence of any crime is scant.

In another case, Zhao Qianli, then a 20-year-old from Chinas Shanxi Province, was arrested in September 2018 for illegally taking photos of the same Navy base and surrounding military facilities.

According to a court document, Zhao walked directly toward the Joint Interagency Task Force South Antenna Field and took multiple photographs with his phone, as well as a camera. A search of the photos showed that Zhao also photographed the restricted warning signs.

Zhao told investigators at the time that he was lost and that he was a dishwasher from New Jersey, but later claimed he was a music student at a Chinese university during a December 2018 debriefing.

FBI officials also found a police shirt and belt buckle at the hotel where Zhao was staying that belonged to a Chinese government ministry, court records said. Zhao said he had obtained the items from his father, who wanted him to have nice clothes while in the United States.

Zhao was sentenced in February 2019 to a year in federal prison after pleading guilty to photographing defense installations. He will be deported after serving the sentence.

In December 2019, The New York Times reported that the U.S. government secretly expelled two Chinese embassy officials who allegedly drove onto a military base in Virginia.

The two were accompanied by their wives as they drove through the entry checkpoint of the base despite being denied permission, evading military personnel who pursued them.

Epoch Times staff Eva Fu contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in their first interaction this year, discussed mutual respect and understanding and regional security matters over a phone call on Monday.

According to a statement released by the Indian government, PM Modi said on the call that India-US relations, which are built on trust, mutual respect and understanding, have grown from strength to strength.

The Prime Minister highlighted the significant progress made in deepening strategic partnership between the two countries in the previous year and expressed his desire to continue to work with President Trump for enhancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, the statement said.

In a statement issued here in Washington, the White House said that the two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership in 2020, and they also reviewed the regional security matters.

It could not immediately be ascertained if the two leaders also discussed Iran in the aftermath of a US drone strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on Friday. The strike was ordered by US President Trump, who has since threatened Iran with very fast and very hard reprisals for retaliatory actions. Trump has highlighted 52 targets in the cross-hairs, including cultural sites which are protected by international laws.

The drone strike and the escalating tensions in the region were discussed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with his American counterpart Mike Pompeo on Sunday. Had a telephonic discussion with Secretary of State @SecPompeo on the evolving situation in the Gulf region, S Jaishankar had Tweeted, adding, Highlighted Indias stakes and concerns.

Pompeo also tweeted about the meeting, saying the two officials discussed Irans continued threats and provocations and added that, The Trump Administration wont hesitate to act to keep American lives, and those of our friends and allies, safe.

Jaishankar had spoken to Iranian foreign minister Javed Zarif earlier.
The victims of spinal cord injuries Osun State have expressed gratitude to the state government, the World Bank and the Osun Agency for Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) for their supports on the construction of a support center for the affected persons.

The affected persons under the auspices of Spinal Cord Injuries People of Nigeria (SCIPON), while speaking with our correspondent said the support center at Edunabon community has alleviated their suffering and make life better for them.

Some of the victims, Olayemi Lucky Adeleye, Adeyemi Said, Ayodeji Damilola, Olatoye Yusuf and Olakusibe Olanrewaju said they go to the support center regularly to get free medical materials and seek common solutions to their problems.

The Chairman of SCIPON, Mr Olayemi Lucky Adeleye explained that the support center was built by SCIPON members with the support of Osun CSDP as a way of addressing some of the basic challenges of the affected persons.

"With this support center, the victims are encouraged to come out with their wheelchairs and we get medical materials for our treatment here. We contributed money to build this center, furnish it and equipped it with necessary medical materials for our treatment. CSDP assisted us to achieve this."

"The center was constructed and furnished with 4,451,885.00. We contributed 222,544.25 and CSDP supported it with 4,229,340.75. The medical materials at the center 3,780,000.00. We contributed 189,000.00 and CSDP supported us with 3,591,000.00", he added.

He said the victims get free medical material from the center which also served as a rallying point for the to chat a way forward for their lives. He added that this has really alleviated their suffering and give them the hope that they are alive and living.
CALGARY - Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he hopes to see concrete action in short order after meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney meets with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland in Calgary, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol

CALGARY - Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he hopes to see concrete action in short order after meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.

"We've identified some urgent priorities for Alberta," Kenney said before the two headed into a meeting in Calgary on Tuesday.

He reiterated that his United Conservative government is looking into ways  potentially its own pension plan and police force  for Alberta to have more autonomy from Ottawa.

The Liberals held on to power in October's federal election, but were reduced to a minority mandate and were shut out of Alberta and Saskatchewan. There is anger in the oil-producing prairie provinces over what some believe is their outsized contribution to Confederation and a lack of federal support for the petroleum sector.

Freeland, who has Alberta roots and is also the minister of intergovernmental affairs, has been tasked with helping smooth Ottawa's relationship with the West.

"I'll be conveying to minister Freeland that I appreciate the continued outreach by the government of Canada," Kenney said. "However, Albertans do want to see some concrete action early in 2020 to demonstrate that we can find common ground in the federation."

Freeland said she expected the two would talk about the provincial carbon tax on large emitters, methane regulations and the new North American free trade agreement.

"We've really started to roll up our sleeves and get some concrete things done," she said.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he and Freeland had a "terrific conversation" during their own meeting at his office Tuesday.

He said his being able to speak with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and five ministers in Ottawa when the new federal cabinet was announced in November shows the Liberal government is taking Alberta's concerns seriously.

"That said, the proof is always in the pudding and it really is clear that there are some things that we need from the federal government."

He said he pressed Freeland on economic development opportunities that could arise from the new free-trade deal. He is also urging more federal investment in infrastructure, housing and innovation.

"There's a lot that could be done beyond the stuff that's grabbing the headlines about fights between the province and the feds, and that's really where I'm focused," said Nenshi.

"Fundamentally, this is a question that transcends politics. It's not about, 'You lost all your seats in Alberta.' It's about, 'If the Alberta economy doesn't work, then the nation doesn't work.'"

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2020
A team of scientists has revealed evidence that human brains may be even more powerful than we anticipated. The findings of a new study have uncovered a unique form of cell messaging that has not been seen before, which may give humans the ability to understand and solve incredibly complex problems.

Image Credit: Yurchanka Siarhei / Shutterstock.com

Single neurons alone are capable of processing complex computations

This year, a team of international researchers from institutes in Germany and Greece conducted a groundbreaking study, the results of which were published last week in the journal Science.

Slices of brain tissue removed during surgery on epileptic patients were investigated by the team, who found unexpected and unknown electrical activity occurring within the dendrites of human pyramidal neurons, cells that make up the outer cortex of the brain where more complex cognitive functions take place.

This activity was then investigated further, leading the team to conclude that single neurons were capable of making complex computations, making it possible for the brain to solve problems with a single neuron, rather than the larger networks that were assumed to be required. The findings have significant implications for how neuroscientists understand brain function and potential.

Previously unseen use of calcium ions generates huge energy potentials

The imaging technique of fluorescent microscopy was used to view the activity of the individual cells in the cortex of the tissue slices. This revealed that the cells were using calcium ions to fire and not just sodium ions, which are known to allow neurons to function.

Researchers observed how the calcium ions, in combination with sodium, generated unprecedented levels of energy. This effect is referred to as the calcium-mediated dendritic action potential.

Samples of tissue from patients with brain tumors were also looked at, confirming that this effect was not unique to those with epilepsy.

Searching for the key to the capacity of human brains

Although the last century has seen a huge amount of studies looking into how the brain working, and a vast number of theories created by psychologists and neuroscientists, the physiology underlying the essence of human thinking is still foggy.

While great advances in knowledge have been made, experts are still looking to understand exactly how the human brain is so different from that of other species, giving it the capability of making incredibly complex computations.

One major theory as to how humans manage such complicated computations suggests that the cortical layers that make up the outer region of the brain, particularly layers two and three, allow for these processes to occur due to their high proportion of brain matter in comparison to the brains of other species.

However, most of what we know about how dendrites work has come from studying rodent brains because of the difficulties of studying them in vivo.

The researchers in the current study investigated the active properties of layers two and three, finding that there were multiple distinct types of electrical activity occurring here that had previously been unreported. These activities were found to be unique to the pyramidal neurons in these layers, demonstrating far more complex physiology than had previously been assumed.

Lead researcher Matthew Larkum and his colleagues modeled the unique electrical activities that they found, and this was where they gained evidence to show that just a single neuron had the capacity to solve complex computational problems. Previously, it had been believed that for these computations to take place, entire multi-layer networks of neurons were required.

The findings of the research are exciting, as they suggest an updated model of the workings of the human brain, potentially advancing our knowledge of how complex thinking occurs. However, it should be taken with caution, as currently, it is unknown whether these activities also exist in other species. More research is required to determine the significance of these findings.
The Samsung Galaxy Fold is now receiving a January security patch, the same day as Googles Pixels and the Essential PH-1. This time around, Pixels and the Essential PH-1 were not the first devices to receive this update.

In fact, some of Samsungs devices got it quite recently. The company had started rolling out this update to the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 series devices a few days ago.

Now, the January security patch is not the same for the Galaxy Fold, Googles Pixels, and the Essential PH-1. While most of it is the same, Essential and Samsung also threw in some changes specific to their devices. For the Galaxy Fold, its sporting the model number F900FXXS2ASL6. For the Essential PH-1, it comes as Build QQ1A.200105.007.

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As far as Googles Pixel phones are concerned, each of them has a different build number. Consult the image below the article for more info.

January security patch for the Galaxy Fold brings some Samsung-specific fixes

In its report, Samsung said that the update fixes critical vulnerabilities discovered in the Android operating system, along with a number of high and moderate-risk vulnerabilities. It also fixes 17 Samsung Vulnerabilities and Exposures (SVE) items, specific to Galaxy smartphones and tablets.

Samsung also noted that one of such vulnerabilities allowed attacks on the lock screen password on devices with the Exynos 7885, 8895, and 9810 processors.

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Now, in terms of the Essential PH-1, the changelog lists only the January security patch, and some audio improvements for the device.

Google is rolling out its security update to eight Pixel phones

This security update is currently rolling out to the Google Pixel 2, 2 XL, 3, 3 XL, 3a, 3a XL, 4, and 4 XL. So, Google is seeding this update to eight devices at the moment.

Changes are not the same for all devices, though. Each group of devices received their very own set of changes. Some of those changes are available for more Pixel phones, some are exclusive for one generation.

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So, for example, a fix for color shifting at lower brightness has been released for the Pixel 4 and 4 XL. That is the only phone that this change is available for. It is not the only change that was released for the device.

If youd like to know exactly what changes Google made for each of its Pixel smartphones, check out the image down below. It details everything that this security patch has fixed.

Updates for the Google Pixel phones, the Essential PH-1, and the Galaxy Fold are rolling out as we speak. In all three cases, these are staged updates, though. In other words, these updates may not be available for your devices straight away.
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnavicom, a South Korean automotive supplier producing an array of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) components used in automotive markets, will be participating at the CES 2020 for the fourth consecutive year. The supplier will be showcasing its latest development of LiDAR sensors at the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Plaza  booth #61305.

Carnavicom 16-channel Scanning LiDAR Sensor

Carnavicom's new LiDAR scanning sensors have achieved an average of a 26% decrease in costs thanks to local procurement of parts and key components such as brushless direct current motor (BLDC), laser diode (LD) and avalanche photodiode (APD). Such efforts have enabled LiDAR sensors to be more affordable to integrate into other LiDAR products and applications.

While more technical details of Carnavicom's latest development LiDAR sensors will be revealed during the CES 2020, the supplier will showcase their advanced VL-AS16 LiDAR sensor, which is a 16-channel based scanning unit suitable for autonomous driving environments. In addition, the supplier will also reveal their newly developed 3-channel LiDAR and announce its plans to introduce affordable 1550nm wavelength solid-state LiDAR units and versatile industrial specific units. With the assistance of LiDAR sensors, autonomous vehicles will be able to travel safely and avoid collisions by detecting any obstructions such as pedestrians and cyclists ahead of its course.

"Our continuous development of advanced LiDAR sensors shows our philosophy that puts the vehicle occupants and pedestrian safety first," said CEO Jeremy Chong, under whose leadership Carnavicom has been growing since 2001. In order to achieve such deployment of ADAS technologies, Carnavicom has invested 4 billion KRW this year to construct an SMT line with an annual production capacity of over 1.8 million units.

Carnavicom is currently the supplier of Driving Video Recorders (DVR) and Electronic Toll Collect Systems (ETCS) to Mercedes-Benz Korea and is also the parent company of VUGERA, one of the largest aftermarket dash cam brands in the South Korean market, which plans to launch in North America within the second quarter of this year.

Related Images

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VL-AS16 LiDAR Sensor

Carnavicom 16-channel Scanning LiDAR Sensor

Related Links

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Vugera website

SOURCE Carnavicom

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 21:05:46|Editor: Xiang Bo

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SHANGHAI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Museum signed a cooperation agreement Monday with China's leading AI company iFLYTEK, to jointly build the country's top-notch "smart museum."

iFLYTEK will provide core technical support such as artificial intelligence, big data and information security services to the Shanghai Museum.

Li Feng, deputy director of the Shanghai Museum, said AI technology will help the museum provide smarter services to visitors, and also assist in cultural-relics restoration projects as well as research of ancient Chinese books and documents.

Two other companies, Axess (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. and Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd., will also join the program, according to the agreement.

Founded in 1999, iFLYTEK is a Chinese enterprise well-known for its intelligent voice and artificial intelligence technology.
CHESTER  A standing-room-only crowd filled council chambers and spilling out into the rear vestibule Monday morning for the citys reorganization meeting.

Chester City Democratic Committee Chairwoman Livia Smith provided welcoming remarks before District Justice Dawn Vann swore in Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland, Councilman William Morgan, Councilwoman Elizabeth Williams and Controller Edith Blackwell to four-year terms in office. All four Democrats ran as incumbents in the November general election.

God has blessed me with the best team of elected officials anyone could hope for, Kirkland said during the ceremony. We are committed to making this city the best, the number-one city  not just in the commonwealth but in the United States.

Following the opening ceremony, council passed a series of resolutions establishing a new police command staff under Commissioner Otis Blair. Following the year-end exit of former Chief James Nolan to lead the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division, council ratified the appointment of Major Steven Gretsky, a 17-year department veteran, to acting deputy commissioner. Sgt. Katrina Blackwell, who has 16 years with the department, was appointed to the position of acting major and Sgt. Mathew Goldschmidt, with 13 years in the department, was promoted to acting captain.

Chester runs through me all the time. I love my city  I call it my city because Im born and raised in Chester, Gretsky said to the audience. To the men and women in blue that are here, I appreciate your support and believe me, Im going to give it my all to put this place in better times.

Gretsky said following the meeting there is now a clearer delineation in rank by retiring the chiefs position after Nolans departure. Ill oversee all special units and internal investigations. Major Blackwell will be in charge of the patrol division, he said. Were just looking to progress and move forward.

Council also approved a resolution reappointing each member to their director positions from prior years, with Kirkland heading public affairs; Morgan, accounts and finance; Portia West, streets and public improvements; Williams, parks, public property and recreation; and William Al Jacobs, public safety. Candice Thompson was reappointed as city clerk, with Joan Neal reappointed as acting clerk in Thompsons absence. Morgan was reappointed deputy mayor and Kenneth Schuster reappointed city solicitor.

Following the meeting, Kirkland said councils 2020 agenda will continue prior goals of economic development, reduction in violent crime, and working with Chester Upland School District officials to promote positive activity among youth.

Job creation is one of the big goals. We want to make sure we can bring in industries and businesses suitable for our city and our residents, and who will become partners with this administration, he said.

I think that businesses are seeing that were a business-friendly community. They look at how council has held the line on (reductions in business privilege taxes), he said.

Regarding violent crime, Kirkland said the creation of a gun task force is one project on the agenda. Following successful collaborations with prior county District Attorney Katayoun Copeland such as targeted crime reduction in the Sun Hill neighborhood, Kirkland the gun task force is a planned effort with newly installed D.A. Jack Stollsteimer.

I think (Philadelphia) Mayor Kenney said the same thing  were not really getting a lot of help from the federal government (on gun control legislation), so we sometimes have to do things ourselves, he said. Im hoping to be able to work with the new D.A. to find out how we can track and find those individual who are making guns available to young persons; where those guns are coming from; confiscate those guns and eliminate their source and their path in coming into communities such as Chester.

Kirkland said the new police command staff installed at Mondays meeting was established with an eye towards leadership and that it will take our department to higher heights.

Regarding collaboration with the school system, I think its important that this mayor and council work hand in hand with our school officials, he said. Weve been having some meetings with the current (school district) leadership. I think we have to step it up and do more.

Kirkland said the administration is obligated to youth and to adult residents to do a better job of not just monitoring (youths) activities here in the community but creating positive activities for them.
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(ANSA) - Rome, January 7 - Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio called for an end to foreign interference in Libya before flying to Turkey to meet his Turkish opposite number after an extraordinary meeting with several European counterparts in Brussels on Libya.

Di Maio called for an end to all interference in Libya after the European talks.

"All interference must cease", he said before flying off to Turkey.

Ankara is sending troops to reinforce the beleaguered Tripoli-based, UN-recognised government, which has been under sustained attack since April by eastern Libyan military strongman General Khalifa Haftar.

Di Maio discussed the situation in conflict-ravaged Libya with his counterparts from France, Germany and Britain and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell. "The situation on the ground in Libya is highly delicate but that does not mean the EU should be immobile," Di Maio said on Facebook.

"I talked about it yesterday evening with EU High Representative Josep Borrell, with whom we addressed the Iranian question too. "I will be in Brussels shortly for an extraordinary meeting with my European counterparts from France, Germany and Great Britain and with Borrel".

Haftar's forces were reported to be heading off from Sirte to the west of Misrata, the second biggest city after Tripoli which is loyal to the UN-Backed government.

Di Maio will meet Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday evening, sources said.


Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], Jan 7 (ANI): The United Muslim Action Committee (UMAC) on Tuesday announced that it will organise a silent protest in the city against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) on January 30.



UMAC members, President of Jamat-e-Islami Hamed Khan and AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi and religious scholars were present at the meeting.

"On January 30, the day on which Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, there will be a silent protest between Mohammadi line flour mill and Bapu Ghat. There will be a human chain in which every participant will hold each others' hands. This is not a programme being held by a single party or organisation but it is being done to save the soul of our country and save the Constitution of India. This will be a tribute to the founding fathers of our country," Owaisi told reporters here.

Hamed Khan said: "On January 10 at 2 pm, a peaceful rally will be held from Eidgah Mir Alam till Shastri Puram. The rally will end at 5 pm and a public meeting will be held at Shastri Puram. On January 25, in front of the historic Charminar, there will be a protest meeting and also a Mushaira by poets. At 12 am, the National Flag will be hoisted at Charminar."

This meeting comes amid widespread protests against the newly-enacted citizenship law across the country. (ANI)


She famously claimed she had 'no connection' to Australia, despite being born in Sydney and raised in Mullumbimby, NSW.

But Iggy Azalea has since changed her tune, revealing on Tuesday that she has raised more than $100,000 for bushfire relief.

The 29-year-old made the announcement on Twitter while responding to a troll who had claimed Australia isn't America's problem and that Aussies like Iggy should 'do something to help'.

Helping out: Iggy Azalea (pictured) has raised more than $100,000 for bushfire relief

The troll wrote: 'Honestly the Australian Fires is sad and I hope they recover, but the fact that [people] are mad at Kendall Jenner for just commenting emojis and not helping is stupid.

'We're in America, we need to focus on America. Iggy Azalea is Australian, she can do something to help.'

Iggy then responded: 'I've raised over $100,000 already to help. And climate change is everyone's problem. You sound so ignorant'.

'You sound so ignorant': She made the announcement on Twitter while responding to a troll who had claimed Australia isn't America's problem

On Saturday, Iggy helped an Australian animal hospital raise money for koalas and other wildlife injured by the bushfires.

Taking to Instagram, the blonde bombshell shared photo of herself cuddling up to a koala she had met at the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital in Queensland.

She wrote in the caption: 'Got to visit this cutie yesterday, as well as so many animals injured and rehabilitated at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.

'Thank you guys for letting me hang out!'

'Anything helps!' On Saturday, Iggy helped an Australian animal hospital raise money for koalas and other wildlife injured by the bushfires

She then addressed her followers directly, adding: 'Did you know over 30 per cent of the Koalas' natural habitat in NSW has been destroyed by the bushfires Australia is currently battling?

'The saddest part is, that's not even the biggest threat to their survival. Please donate if you can guys, anything helps.'

The bushfires have so far claimed at least 25 lives, destroyed 2,000 homes and killed approximately 500 million animals.
MANILA, Philippines  A Senate panel has set a hearing next week to discuss bills seeking to regulate the use of motorcycle as safe and alternative public utility vehicles.

In a statement, Senator Grace Poe said the Senate committee on public service will hold the public hearing on January 14, Tuesday to tackle four bills on motorcycle taxi regulation.

Poe, who heads the panel, said she would also ask for updates from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on the pilot implementation of motorcycle taxis which started in June 2019.

The results of the pilot run will be an important guide for the committee in crafting the final version of the bill, she said.

Our ultimate goal is availability, safety and comfort for our riding public, she added.

Poe also said that the cap set by the regulator on the number of motorcycle taxis and issues concerning ownership will also be tackled in the hearing.

The DOTr Technical Working Group (TWG) on motorcycle taxis earlier announced the extension of the pilot run of motorcycle-ride hailing services.

Aside from Angkas, the extended pilot run will now include JoyRide and Move It.

A cap of 39,000 registered bikers  10,000 bikers per Transport Network Company (TNC) for Metro Manila and 3,000 bikers each TNC for Metro Cebu operations  was also set.

Angkas questioned the set limit, and claimed there was politics involved in the inclusion of JoyRide in the pilot run.

Poe hopes the hearing will find solutions to issues hounding motorcycle taxis, as well as other problems on the countrys transport system.

The long lines of commuters waiting for rides leave no doubt that we need alternative public utility vehicles. We hope this hearing will help find solutions to issues on safety, legality and other questions that need to be threshed out towards an efficient transport system as a whole, she said.

The post Senate panel hearing on motorcycle taxi issues set on January 14 appeared first on UNTV News.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2020) - Getchell Gold Corp. (CSE: GTCH) ("Company or Getchell") announces that it has executed the Definitive Agreement (Agreement) with Canarc Resources Corp. (TSX: CCM) (OTCQB: CRCUF) (FSE: CAN) ("Canarc"), whereby Getchell will have the option to acquire 100% of the Fondaway Canyon and Dixie Comstock properties located in Churchill County Nevada. The Agreement replaces the binding letter agreement (the "Binding Letter Agreement") which Getchell previously disclosed in its news release dated November 17, 2019. The Company is in the process of delivering the initial cash and share payments as required by the Agreement.

Fondaway Canyon was the subject of a 2017 Technical Report commissioned by Canarc Resources Corp. with a historical estimate of Indicated resources of 409,000 oz. Au grading 6.18 g/t and Inferred resources of 660,000 oz. Au grading 6.4 g/t. Canarc drilled 7 holes in 2017 which all intersected multi-gram mineralization, both within the area of the historical estimate and outside, that have not been included in the Technical Report. In addition, there are multiple untested exploration targets, including near-surface oxide gold that are located along structure and in favorable host rock.

Dixie Comstock has a historic resource estimate, and mineralization remains open down-dip and to the east.

"The acquisition of these two properties, boasting significant gold in the ground, dramatically transforms and elevates Getchell in prominence which is further enhanced by the recent strength in the price of gold" states Mr. Bill Wagener, CEO of Getchell.

Definitive Agreement

Under the terms of the Agreement and consistent with the Binding Letter Agreement, Getchell can acquire 100% of the projects at any time on or before the 4th anniversary of the agreement by paying Canarc a total of US $2.0M in cash and US $2.0M in Getchell shares and granting Canarc a 2% NSR in the Fondaway Canyon and Dixie Comstock projects (one percentage point of the NSR can be bought out for US $1,000,000 on each project).

Payment Terms:

Within five (5) days of the signing of the Agreement:

- US $100,000 in cash and US $100,000 in shares

- US $100,000 in cash and US $100,000 in shares 1st Anniversary - US $100,000 in cash and US $200,000 in shares

2nd Anniversary - US $100,000 in cash and US $300,000 in shares

3rd Anniversary - US $100,000 in cash and US $400,000 in shares

4th Anniversary - US $1,600,000 in cash and US $1,000,000 in Getchell shares

Work commitments:

Year 1 - US $300,000

Year 2 - US $400,000

Year 3 - US $500,000

Year 4 - US $250,000

Property Descriptions

Fondaway Canyon is an advanced stage gold property located in Churchill County, Nevada. The land package contains 136 unpatented lode claims. The property has a history of previous surface exploration and mining in the late 1980's and early 1990's.

The 2017 Technical Report commissioned by Canarc and authored by Techbase International Ltd. has a historical estimate of Indicated resources of 409,000 oz. Au contained in 2,050,000 tonnes grading 6.18 g/t and Inferred resources of 660,000 oz. Au contained in 3,200,000 tonnes grading 6.4 g/t, using a 1.8 m width cut-off and a cut-off grade of 3.43 g/t Au.

The Fondaway Canyon mineralization is contained in a series of 12 steeply dipping en-echelon quartz- sulphide shears outcropping at surface and extending laterally over 1,200 m, with drill- proven depth extensions to > 400 m. The deposit is hosted by Mesozoic age sediments and minor volcanics and is classified as "orogenic", ranging from mesothermal to epithermal in depositional environment. Mineralization is hosted within shears, spatially- and temporaneously-related to certain dykes that occupy the shears, but mineralization also permeates into the hosting sediments. Additional exploration targets include near-surface oxide gold along favorable structural and host rock targets and deeper extensions of the sulphide zones.

This historic resource estimate was completed by Techbase International Ltd of Reno, Nevada, and it is contained within a NI 43-101 report dated April 3, 2017 that was commissioned by Canarc Resource Corp of Vancouver, B.C., Canada. The resource estimate was compiled only from drill holes that could be validated (591 holes @ 49,086 m), a sufficient amount to deem the historic resource as reliable. Using Techbase software, a method of polygons was used along each vein. With a minimum 0.10 opt Au and 1.8 m horizontal vein width used as cut-off parameters, twelve veins had sufficient composited intercepts within the sulfide mineralization for the estimate. No capping or cutting of grades was applied. The historical resource estimate used classifications in accordance with NI 43-101 standards, namely, "indicated" and "inferred". A review and/or re- calculation of the historic resource is required by an independent Qualified Person to confirm these as current resources as defined by NI 43-101. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources; and the issuer is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources.

Dixie Comstock, also located in the Churchill County, Nevada, consists of 26 unpatented lode claims and has a historic resource estimate. The Company is not relying on the historic estimate. There is also evidence of some historic mining, but no records of production are available.

The Dixie Comstock deposit is classified as a low-sulfidation epithermal system localized along an east-dipping range-front normal fault. The mineralization is hosted by Jurassic gabbro and mafic tuff in the footwall of the fault, by silicification within the fault zone, and within tuffaceous sediments in the hanging wall of the fault.

Qualified Person

John Nebocat, PEng., is the Qualified Person (as defined in NI 43-101) who reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

About the Company

Getchell Gold is a CSE listed gold and copper exploration company. The Company's exploration projects are located in the highly mineralized Northern Nevada Rift. Drill targets have been identified through field work, surface sampling and geophysical surveys. The Company is now in the process of drill testing the identified targets. For further information visit www.getchellgold.com or contact the Company at +1 303 517 8764.

William Wagener, Chairman & CEO

Getchell Gold Corp.

info@getchellexploration.com

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States.

This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking statements as they relate to the Company, the Agreement and the payments required to exercise the option underlying the Agreement. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but represent management's current expectation of future events, and can be identified by words such as ""will", "intent", "anticipates", "can"and similar expressions. Although management believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct. The Company's ability to exercise the option to acquire the Fondaway Canyon and Dixie Comstock properties is uncertain and depends upon known and unknown risks and uncertainties including Gethcell's ability to obtain financing, the potential dilution as a result of such financing, the results of future exploration on the properties, the ability to confirm the historic resource estimates, title, future legal proceedings, environmental, and political risks.

By their nature, forward-looking statements include assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future results, conditions, actions or events to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by applicable securities laws, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51204
Eleven prisoners have died since the start of the year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, staff and NGO sources said, blaming shortages of drugs and food in the prison.

We have recorded 11 deaths since January 1. The latest three died yesterday (Monday) because there were no medicines to treat them and their families lacked the resources, an official at the Makala prison told the AFP news agency on Tuesday, asking not to be named.

Since last October, the state has disbursed no funds to supply the prison with medicines and food, he added.

Makala prison is the biggest in the capital, housing nearly 9,000 inmates in a colonial-era facility with an intended maximum capacity of 1,500, according to official figures.

Makala and almost all prisons around the country are no longer being supplied with food and medicine, said Emmanuel Cole, head of a DRC NGO active in jails across the vast central African country.

Its true, there was a delay in paying suppliers and this explains the break in supplies to Makala, Justice Minister Celestin Tunda Ya Kasende confirmed to the AFP.

But the situation was put to right yesterday [Monday]. The figure of around 10 deaths may be understandable. But the doctors also need to tell us if these deaths were caused by the break in drugs or food supplies.

Cole put Makalas population at 8,618 inmates, of whom only 500 had been tried and convicted.

Work is underway to renovate at least three wings of the large jail, but the activity has forced the prisoners to live in increasingly cramped and unhealthy conditions.
Iranian Revenge Will Be a Dish Best Served Cold By Scott Ritter January 06, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The assassination by the United States of Qassem Suleimani, a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps general and commander of the Quds Force, an Iranian paramilitary force specializing in covert operations on foreign soil, has sent shock waves through the Middle East and around the globe. The Trump administration has justified its action, citing unspecified intelligence that indicated Suleimani was in the process of finalizing plans for attacks on U.S. personnel and interests in the region, claiming that Suleimanis death saved American lives. This narrative has been challenged by Lebanese officials familiar with Suleimanis itinerary, noting that the Iranian general had been in Beirut on diplomatic business, and had travelled to Baghdad via a commercial air flight, where he had been diplomatically cleared to enter. These officials claim Suleimani was killed while riding in a convoy on his way from Baghdad International Airport into the city of Baghdad. In any event, Suleimanis death resonates in a region already on edge because of existing tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, has announced three days of mourning for Suleimani, an indication of his status as national hero. Khamenei also vowed revenge on those who perpetrated the attack. Concern over imminent Iranian retaliation has prompted the State Department to order all American citizens to leave Iraq, and for U.S. forces in the region to be placed on the highest level of alert. Hundreds of American soldiers have been flown into the region as reinforcements, with thousands more standing by if needed. For many analysts and observers, Iran and the U.S. are on the cusp of a major confrontation. While such an outcome is possible, the reality is that the Iranian policy of asymmetrical response to American aggression that had been put in place by Qassem Suleimani when he was alive is still in place today. While emotions run high in the streets of Iranian cities, with angry crowds demanding action, the Iranian leadership, of which Suleimani was a trusted insider, recognizes that any precipitous action on its part only plays into the hands of the United States. In seeking revenge for the assassination of Qassem Suleimani, Iran will most likely play the long game, putting into action the old maxim that revenge is a dish best served cold. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter In many ways, the United States has already written the script regarding major aspects of an Iranian response. The diplomatic missions Suleimani may have been undertaking at the time of his death centered on gaining regional support for pressuring the United States to withdraw from both Syria and Iraq. Of the two, Iraq was, and is, the highest priority, if for no other reason that there can be no sustained U.S. military presence in Syria without the existence of a major U.S. military presence in Iraq. Suleimani had been working with sympathetic members of the Iraqi Parliament to gain support for legislation that would end Iraqs support for U.S. military forces operating on Iraqi soil. Such legislation was viewed by the United States as a direct threat to its interests in both Iraq and the region. The U.S. had been engaged in a diplomatic tug of war with Iran to sway Iraqi politicians regarding such a vote. However, this effort was dealt a major blow when Washington conducted a bombing attack Sunday which targeted Khaitab Hezbollah along the border with Syria, killing scores of Iraqis. The justification for these attacks was retaliation for a series of rocket attacks on an American military base that had killed one civilian contractor and wounded several American soldiers. The U.S. blamed Iranian-backed Khaitab Hezbollah (no relation to the Lebanese Hezbollah group), for the attacks. There are several problems with this narrative, first and foremost being that the bases bombed were reportedly more than 500 kilometers removed from the military base where the civilian contractor had been killed. The Iraqi units housed at the bombed facilities, including Khaitab Hezbollah, were engaged, reportedly, in active combat operations against ISIS remnants operating in both Iraq and Syria. This calls into question whether they would be involved in an attack against an American target. In fact, given the recent resurgence of ISIS, it is entirely possible that ISIS was responsible for the attack on the U.S. base, creating a scenario where the U.S. served as the de facto air force for ISIS by striking Iraqi forces engaged in anti-ISIS combat operations. ISIS has emerged as a major feature in the Iranian thinking regarding how best to strike back at the US for Suleimanis death. The Iranian government has gone out of its way to announce that, in the wake of Suleimanis assassination, that Washington would be held fully responsible for any resurgence of ISIS in the region. Given the reality that Iran has been at the forefront of the war against ISIS, and that Iranian-backed Iraqi militias such as Khaitab Hezbollah have played a critical role in defeating ISIS on the ground, there is no doubt that Iran has the ability to take its foot off of the neck of a prostrate ISIS and facilitate their resurgence in areas under U.S. control. Such an outcome would serve two purposes. First, U.S. forces would more than likely suffer casualties in the renewed fighting, especially since their primary proxy force, the Syrian Kurds, have been diminished in the aftermath of Turkeys incursion late last year in northern Syria. More importantly, however, is the political cost that will be paid by President Trump, forced to explain away a resurgent ISIS during an election year after going on record that ISIS had been completely defeated. But the real blow to American prestige would be for the Iraqi government to sever relations with the American military. The U.S. bombing of the Iraqi bases severely stressed U.S.-Iraqi relations, with the Iraqi government protesting the attacks as a violation of their sovereignty. One of the ways the Iraqi government gave voice to its displeasure was by facilitating access by protestors affiliated with Khaitab Hezbollah to gain access to the highly secure Green Zone in downtown Baghdad where the U.S. Embassy is situated, where they set fire to some buildings and destroyed property before eventually dispersing. While commentators and politicians have described the actions targeting the US Embassy as an attack, it was a carefully choreographed bit of theater designed to ease passions that had built up as a result of the U.S. attack. Getting the Iraqi Parliament to formally reject the U.S. military presence on Iraqi soil has long been a strategic objective of Iran. As such, Iran would be best served by avoiding direct conflict with the US, and letting events take their expected course. If Iraq votes to expel American forces, the Trump administration will be tied up trying to cope with how to manage that new reality. Add to that the problems that will come in confronting a resurgent ISIS, and it becomes clear that by simply doing nothing, Iran will have already gained the strategic upper hand in a post-Suleimani world. The Trump administration will find it hard to sustain the deployment of thousands of troops in the Middle East if there is no Iranian provocation to respond to. Over time, the American presence will lessen. Security will lapse. And, when the time is right, Iran will strike, most probably by proxy, but in a manner designed to inflict as much pain as possible. Trump started this fight by recklessly ordering the assassination of a senior Iranian government official. The Trump administration now seeks to shape events in the region to best support a direct confrontation with Iran. Such an outcome is not in Irans best interests. Instead, they will erode Trumps political base by embarrassing him in Iraq and with ISIS. Iran will respond, that much can be assured. But the time and place will be of their choosing, when the U.S. expects it least. Scott Ritter is a former Marine Corps intelligence officer who served in the former Soviet Union implementing arms control treaties, in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm, and in Iraq overseeing the disarmament of WMD. He is the author of several books, most recently, Deal of the Century: How Iran Blocked the Wests Road to War (2018). This article was originally published by " The American Conservative " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here
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. Its a showdown of global proportions, so dont miss all our exclusive coverage on how these factors could impact your 2020 investment decisions.

(Kitco News) The biggest risks to financial stability in 2020 revolve around geopolitics and trade, according to analysts.

Part of the reason why people are getting bullish is the idea that a lot of the grey clouds [from 2019] are starting to get answers and the year 2020 could be when we get the answers, said Pepperstone head of research Chris Weston.

But political events make trading difficult, especially when it comes to the pricing of risks, added Weston, noting that he expects to see a highly volatile performance in the markets in 2020.

Through lowering rates and through massive re-establishment of balance sheet expansion, a lot of central banks are taking performance from the future. And to get anywhere near close those financial gains going forward will be very difficult.

A lot of the global growth uncertainty going forward centers around trade agreements and tariffs, said Kevin Rich, consultant for The Perth Mint. That is the top risk we see in 2020.

U.S.-China trade war

One of the biggest risks of 2020 remains the U.S.-China trade negotiations, analysts told Kitco News.

The key downside risks are really around trade negotiations, said Standard Chartered precious metals analyst Suki Cooper.



As the new year begins, the U.S.-China trade war concerns seem to be hiding under the radar.

The U.S.-China trade talks have clearly left center-stage in the face of the developments in the Middle East, but a team from China is expected to arrive in the United States for a signing ceremony on January 15, said INTL FCStone head of market analysis for the EMEA and Asia regions Rhona OConnell.

If trade negotiations with China were to fall apart, risk of a recession would exacerbate, OConnell told Kitco News.



That would continue to build uncertainty into economic outlook and will have an extended effect of fixed investment, which has already been struggling, she noted. [But], China needs the U.S. and the U.S. needs China, so I suspect that trade pact will be signed.

Some analysts see the phase one deal as a temporary measure that stopped additional tariffs from coming into effect.

"What seemed to have been agreed upon was just enough to delay the Dec. 15 tariffs. Nothing of the sort that was lauded to be a phase one trade deal, Blue Line Futures president Bill Baruch told Kitco News back in December.

Going forward, the phase two trade deal negotiations could also be used as a carrot when the stock market sells off, added Baruch. And any time there are worries, they will dangle this carrot of a phase two trade deal now because the idea of a phase one trade deal worked so well, he said.

U.S.-Iran tensions

The new risk in 2020 is the rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran following last weeks news that the U.S. killed Qassem Soleimani, the top commander of the elite Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, in a military airstrike.

Geopolitical risk is probably concentrated more in the Middle East than it is anywhere else apart from the obvious exception of Hong Kong and China, said OConnell.

In the latest geopolitical move, the U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that the U.S. has 52 Iranian sites set for attack if Iran retaliates against the U.S. for the killing of its general.

At the same time, Iraq voted on Sunday to expel U.S. troops, while the U.S. threatened sanctions against Iraq if the vote was to be carried out. Also, Iran announced on Sunday that it will abandon limitations on enriching uranium, taking a major step back from the 2015 nuclear deal.

2020 was supposed to be the year where the global economy bounces back to life after the US and China trade tensions thawed and investors got more clarity around Brexit. Events over the last week have undoubtedly put this outlook at risk, said FXTM chief market strategist Hussein Sayed when commenting on the U.S.-Iran tensions.

Investors will remain on the defensive as everyone now awaits a possible retaliatory response by Iran. This may not be an immediate one, but rather a protracted event which investors need to carefully calculate when determining their portfolios risk, Sayed added.

U.S. presidential election

Another key risk facing the markets in 2020 is the U.S. presidential election that will take place on November 3.

The U.S. presidential election needs to be closely monitored as it directly impacts the financial markets, said the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) in its 2020 outlook.

With several possible outcomes, we see room for market volatility. This should set the stage for safe-haven assets to perform through 2020, wrote ANZ senior commodity strategist Daniel Hynes and commodity strategist Soni Kumari.

The U.S. presidential election could potentially inflate recession fears, according to analysts.

"We still see scope for U.S. election to perhaps be a key turning point for the global economy next year as well," Cooper said.

However, Capital Economics chief U.S. economist Paul Ashworth noted that the U.S. election is more likely to impact the equity markets rather than the real economy.

"We've heard a lot about the rising popularity of so-called progressive Democratic candidates ahead of the primaries  Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. I'm still not convinced that if either of them became president, it will necessarily be negative for the real economy. And that's because the fiscal stimulus at the end of the day is still fiscal stimulus. If it is party funded by bigger deficits, you could still expect to get stronger economic growth in the short-term," Ashworth explained.

Another potential hiccup in 2020 could be the Senate impeachment trial turning "ugly," said Capital Economics senior economist Andrew Hunter.

So far, market reaction to the U.S. President Donald Trump impeachment news has been muted with analysts saying it bears little significance for investors because the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate is likely to vote against removing Trump from office.

While this scenario is very likely, the problem could arise with "further Ukraine-related mudslinging between Trump and Joe Biden," said Hunter last month.

This could potentially damage both candidates' chances of winning and leave an opening for a more progressive Democratic candidate like Elizabeth Warren, Hunter added.

"The prospect of a big fiscal stimulus means we wouldn't necessarily expect Warren to be bad news for the economy, but her plans to go after the banks, tech firms, pharma, and energy sectors could hammer the stock market," he said.

Global economic growth

Should investors be worried about a possible recession next year? The looming recession risk is much lower at the end of 2019 than mid-year, according to analysts. But, any breakdown in the U.S.-China trade talks could change everything.

Recession fears were at their highest levels in mid-2019, when the yield curve inverted for the first time since 2008. The inversion is usually viewed as an indicator of a pending downturn by many economists. It happens when yields on short-term bonds are higher than those on long-term bonds.

The macro-environment is looking up in 2020, including the phase one U.S.-China trade deal, improving economic data, and the effects of global monetary policy easing across the globe.

"We are likely to see some stabilization next year as the impact of monetary policy easing around the world is felt. We saw a number of dovish surprises from central banks globally in 2019. This should add some support to growth generally," Cooper said.

"Our 2020 global growth forecast is 3.3% up from 3.1% in 2019. While 2019 was a year of central banks turning accommodative and delivered a wave of dovish surprises, we do not expect the U.S. or global economy to move into recession in 2020. The growth benefits are likely to be felt in 2020 as rate cuts have a positive impact on the economy with a lag of about one year," Cooper said.

The probability of a recession is now, added Weston. As it stands at the moment, Id say the chance of a recession in the U.S. next year is probably somewhere around 10-15%, so its pretty low, Weston said last month. Everything that we are seeing in economic trends is suggesting that the chance of recession is low.

It is also important to keep in mind that even though we are likely to see a recovery in 2020, it will be a fragile process, said Asia-headquartered financial services group Nomura in its annual outlook.

"We expect world GDP growth to hold steady at 3.1% in 2020 but, beneath the surface, the expansion is a fragile one, with growth weakening in the US (2.3% to 1.8%), China (6.1% to 5.7%), the euro area (1.1% to 0.9%) and Japan (1.0% to 0.2%), offset by a handful of smaller EMs  Brazil, Mexico, India, Turkey, and South Africa  rebounding from tepid growth in 2019," the economists said.

One remaining major concern for 2020 is that theres still about $17 trillion worth of negative-yielding bonds, said OConnell. It is not very likely that we are going to see all that negative-yielding debt move back into positive space, she added.
HOUSTON, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Three astronaut candidates with ties to Pennsylvania, including two that call Pennsylvania home, will be honored as part of the first class of astronaut candidates to graduate under the Artemis program Friday, Jan. 10, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

After completing more than two years of basic training, these candidates will become eligible for spaceflight, including assignments to the International Space Station (ISS), Artemis missions to the Moon, and ultimately, missions to Mars.

The ceremony will air live at 10:30 a.m. EST on NASA Television and the agency's website . The new graduates also will be available for in-person and remote media interviews following the ceremony.

The class includes 11 NASA candidates, as well as two Canadian Space Agency (CSA) candidates, selected in 2017. The NASA candidates were chosen from a record-setting pool of more than 18,000 applicants. The CSA candidates have been training alongside their NASA classmates.

To participate, Pennsylvania media must submit requests for credentials and interviews to Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. Those following the briefing on social media may ask questions using #AskNASA.

Bob Hines, U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, attended high school in Mountaintop, Pennsylvania and now considers Harrisburg, Pennsylvania his hometown. He has a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from Boston University and a master's degree in flight test engineering from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Hines served as a developmental test pilot on all models of the F-15 while earning a master's in aerospace engineering from the University of Alabama. He has deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Prior to being selected as an astronaut, he was an FAA flight test pilot and a NASA research pilot at Johnson.

Warren Hoburg is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a doctorate in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a commercial pilot, and spent several seasons serving on the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit and Yosemite Search and Rescue. Hoburg came to NASA from MIT, where he led a research group as an assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics.

Zena Cardman calls Williamsburg, Virginia, home. She completed a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's degree in marine sciences at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Cardman was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow working at The Pennsylvania State University. Her research focused on microorganisms in subsurface environments, ranging from caves to deep sea sediments. Her field experience includes multiple Antarctic expeditions, work aboard research vessels as both a scientist and crew member, and NASA analog missions in British Columbia, Idaho and Hawaii.

All astronaut candidates have completed training in spacewalking, robotics, ISS systems, T-38 jet proficiency, and Russian language. At the ceremony, each candidate will receive an astronaut pin, marking their graduation from basic training and their eligibility to be selected to fly in space.

As astronauts, they'll help develop spacecraft, support the teams currently in space and ultimately, have the opportunity to join the ranks of only about 500 people who have had the honor of going into space. NASA continues its work aboard the space station, which is preparing to mark the 20th consecutive year of humans living onboard in November 2020. The agency also is on the verge of launching Americans from American soil aboard commercial spacecraft and is preparing to send humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis program.

Find additional photos of the astronaut candidates and their training here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/albums/72157698260056092

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


HERNDON, Va. and OSCEOLA, Fla., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Osceola School District in Florida needed to develop an online space where stakeholders could ask safety questions and report bullying, threats, or acts of violence and found a solution with K12 Insight's Let's Talk! customer experience platform. Let's Talk! is an innovative cloud-based communication solution that reaches more than four million parents, students, teachers and staff nationwide.

With more than 68,000 students and 8,200 staff and administrators, as well as 50 district schools and 21 charter schools, Superintendent Dr. Debra Pace and the school board made a strategic commitment to improving customer service and communication.

Part of that commitment involved the creation of Keep Osceola Safe. The online portal, powered by K12 Insight's Let's Talk! school customer experience solution, is a dedicated space for students, parents, and staff to ask important safety questions, report instances of bullying, or report potential physical or social-emotional threats. A special Critical Alerts feature makes it possible to flag messages that include potentially troubling keywords, such as "bomb," "gun," or "suicide," and fast-track those messages for immediate review and investigation.

"With school safety and security being top of mind and a top priority for our district  like with every district  we needed to have a reporting system," explains Dana Schafer, the district's public information officer. "People needed to feel comfortable reporting any threat or act of violence that they became aware of. We knew there had to be a better way to do it. Let's Talk! helps us track, monitor, and look into any type of threat or bullying situation."

With Let's Talk!, students, parents, teachers and other community members can easily report concerns 24/7, from any device, directly through the school district website. A back-end dashboard provides district leaders with real-time data including number and type of inquiries, response time, and a customer experience score. Let's Talk! allows students and others to reach out 24/7 from their favorite device.

"With the Let's Talk platform we'll get bullying messages from parents reporting something that happened with their child," shares Heather Kahoun, the district's community relations specialist. "Our district bullying coordinator will work in conjunction with the assistant superintendents, school principals, counselors, and others to quickly address those concerns." Because Let's Talk! tracks inquiries from submission through resolution, there is also a clear "paper trail" of actions taken by the district and community member.

By using Let's Talk! to ensure school safety and improve the customer experience, the district has been able to create a positive school culture based on trust.

"We have had far less disruptions to our school days through lockdowns and those types of things than ever before, because we've been able to use this tool to be proactive and get in front of potential threats or issues on our campus," says Dr. Pace.

K12 Insight is headquartered in Herndon, VA and partners with U.S.-based school systems, primarily serving preschool to 12th grades, with the recent addition of undergraduate and graduate schools. Let's Talk! won the SIIA 2019 CODiE Award for Best Collaborative Solution for Educators. For more information about K12 Insight or Let's Talk!, please visit www.K12Insight.com .

Press Contact:

Christian Parrish

(404) 310-4727

SOURCE K12 Insight

Related Links

https://www.k12insight.com


TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  The latest on U.S.-Iran tensions in the wake of the U.S. airstrike that killed Iran's top general (all times local):

12:10 a.m.

At the United Nations, Russia and China say they strongly oppose the New Year's Eve attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

But Moscow and Beijing say they have decided to block a U.N. Security Council statement condemning that attack because it doesn't address the subsequent U.S. killing of Iran's top general.

The U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad had been stormed by Iran-backed Shiite militias.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Monday that Moscow agreed with the proposed U.S. statement condemning the embassy attack.

But he says it would be "impossible" not to take into account the U.S. killing of Gen. Qassam Soleimani inside Iraq last Friday. Mideast tensions have since reached a boiling point.

Nebenzia says the focus must now be to prevent developments going down the drain in the direction of a major conflict.

___

11:00 p.m.

The U.S. Embassy in Israel has issued a warning to Americans to stay on the alert in the event of mortar or rocket fire.

The embassy's website said it posted the security alert Monday out of an abundance of caution. The warning addressed U.S. citizens in Israel, Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Tensions in the Middle East have been at a boiling point since the U.S. killed a top Iranian last week in Iraq.

Israel, a key U.S. ally and longtime foe to Iran, has kept a low profile since the killing.

The U.S. has said it will bomb Iran if Tehran retaliates.

A former Iranian Revolutionary Guard leader then suggested the Israeli city of Haifa and others could be targeted should the U.S. attack Iran.

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9:30 p.m.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is warning of the risk of any miscalculation amid global tensions "at their highest level this century."

The U.N. chief says these tensions are leading more and more countries to take unpredicted decisions with unpredictable consequences."

Story continues

Guterres told reporters Monday that his message is simple: Stop escalation. Exercise maximum restraint. Re-start dialogue. Renew international cooperation, and avoid a new war.

He did not mention any countries by name. But his comments follow the U.S. killing of top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad. The U.S. has threatened airstrikes inside Iran if Tehran retaliates for the killing.

If the U.S. were to directly bomb Iran, it could spark a war and lead to region-wide violence, potentially drawing other countries into a global conflict.

___

9:15 p.m.

NATO's secretary-general is calling for restraint as tensions mount sharply between the United States and Iran, after Iran's top general was killed in a U.S. airstrike.

Jens Stoltenberg chaired emergency talks between NATO ambassadors in Brussels on Monday. He says the 29 allies called for restraint and de-escalation. A new conflict would be in no ones interest.

Stoltenberg says the members underlined their long-held concern about Irans destabilizing activities in the wider Middle East region.

He says several U.S. briefers explained the rationale behind the Trump administration's decision to kill Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, but he declined to provide details.

Asked about concern within NATO over the unilateral U.S. move, Stoltenberg said only that the airstrike was a U.S. decision.

The United States is by far the biggest and most influential member of NATO.

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8:50 p.m.

Iraq's caretaker prime minister has met with the U.S. ambassador to say cooperation is key to prevent sliding towards an open war between the U.S. and Iran.

Adel Abdul-Mahdi said the U.S. must also work with Iraq to bring about the withdrawal of American troops from Iraqi soil.

He told U.S. Ambassador Matthew Tueller on Monday that relations with Washington must be built on a "sound basis."

Tensions in Iraq and the wider Middle East are at a boiling point, after the U.S. killed Iran's top general last week in an airstrike in Baghdad.

Iraq's parliament voted Sunday to expel U.S. and foreign troops in the wake of the killing.

Baghdad has for years worked to balance its alliances with both the U.S. and Iran.

U.S. forces were in Iraq to help fight against Islamic State militants and train Iraqi forces.

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8:05 p.m.

The United States has sharply criticized Russia and China for blocking the United Nations Security Council from issuing a statement protesting last month's attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

The U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad was stormed by Iran-backed Shiite militias on New Year's Eve.

Days later, the U.S. killed Iran's top general in an airstrike at Baghdads international airport. The killing has sparked heightened tensions across the wider Middle East.

The U.S. Mission to the U.N. said Monday it should not be controversial or warrant courage to underscore the obligations of a host country under the 1961 Geneva Convention to protect diplomatic premises.

The U.S. statement says it would not tolerate attacks on U.S. personnel and facilities and will respond decisively to protect our interests, citizens, and allies.

The U.S. said the council's failure to issue a statement calls its credibility into question.

___

7:50 p.m.

The United Nations cultural agency is calling on governments to remember that cultural sites are not targets.

President Donald Trump has recently tweeted that the United States would bomb Iranian cultural sites if Tehran retaliates for the America's recent killing of a top Iranian general.

UNESCOs director-general, Audrey Azoulay, says both the U.S.and Iran have ratified treaties protecting cultural sites during war. She met with the Iranian ambassador to the Paris-based organization on Monday.

Targeting cultural sites is a war crime under the 1954 Hague Convention for the protection of cultural sites.

Iran is home to two dozen UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They include the ancient ruins of Persepolis, the grand mosque of Isfahan, and the Golestan Palace in Tehran, where the last shah to rule Iran was crowned in 1967.

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7:25 p.m.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is putting some distance between London and Washington over President Donald Trumps threat to bomb Iranian cultural sites.

Trump's warning came as Tehran has vowed to retaliate for a recent U.S. airstrike that killed Iran's top military commander.

James Slack, Johnsons official spokesman, told reporters during a briefing Monday that: There are international conventions in place that prevent the destruction of cultural heritage."

Trump tweeted a day earlier that the U.S. has selected 52 targets that are important to Iran & the Iranian culture to be bombed, should Iran hit back.

British officials stress that Britain and the U.S., a vital ally, remain in constant dialogue at multiple levels. That's even though Johnson was not told ahead of time of Trumps plan to attack the Iranian general inside Iraq.

Johnson and other European leaders are seeking to calm tensions.

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6:45 p.m.

The United Nations' atomic watchdog agency says its inspectors are continuing to monitor and verify Iran's nuclear activities.

That's even after Tehran announced it would no longer abide by the limits of a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, in response to the U.S. killing of its top military commander.

The International Atomic Energy Agency told The Associated Press on Monday that Iran's statement a day earlier says cooperation with the agency will continue as before.

Iran insists its atomic program is for peaceful purposes.

The U.S. withdrew from the nuclear deal last year and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.

Tehran has since broken some of the deals limits as part of a step-by-step pressure campaign to get sanctions relief.

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6:20 p.m.

Russia's Foreign Ministry is urging all parties "not to create additional tension and uncertainty" regarding Iran's nuclear deal with world powers.

Tehran has abandoned the remaining limits of the agreement in response to a recent U.S. airstrike that killed its top military commander.

Monday's statement from Moscow said the 2015 deal "remains a global asset." Russia is among the countries that signed the agreement.

Russia's statement adds that Iran's refusal of the deal's restrictions on uranium enrichment "does not in itself pose any threat from the point of view of the proliferation of nuclear weapons."

It says Iran "is carrying out all its activities in close cooperation and under the constant supervision" of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Also Monday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke by phone with Iran's chief of general staff Mohammad Bagher. The Defense Ministry says they discussed steps to prevent escalation of the situation in the Middle East.

___

6:00 p.m.

Thousands of people are demonstrating in Yemen's capital with posters bearing anti-American slogans to protest the recent U.S. killing of Iran's top military commander.

The protests were organized Monday by Yemens Shiite Houthi rebels, who are allied with Iran and control large parts of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.

The protests coincide with a massive turnout in Tehran to mourn Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was the architect of many of Iran's regional military campaigns in recent years.

Iran has supported the Houthis in Yemen's nearly five-year civil war, which pits them against the countrys internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led military coalition.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are longtime foes.

___

5:15 p.m.

Irans foreign minister has challenged President Donald Trump in a tweet, sharing photos from the massive crowds in Tehran mourning an Iranian commander killed by a recent U.S. drone.

Mohammad Javad Zarif asks: Have you EVER seen such a sea of humanity in your life, @realdonaldtrump?

He urged Trump to distance himself from his advisers who seek confrontation with Iran: Do you still want to listen to the clowns advising you on our region? And do you still imagine you can break the will of this great nation?"

Monday's tweet also reiterated Iran's stance that the U.S. military should be expelled from the Middle East.

The huge processions for the slain Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani mark the first time Iran has honored a single man with a multi-city ceremony. He will be buried in his hometown of Kerman on Tuesday.

___

4:20 p.m.

French President Emmanuel Macron is committing to continue the fight against the militant Islamic State group, including through France's military presence in the Middle East.

Macron said during a Cabinet meeting on Monday that he also condemns Irans aggressive intentions" and its decision to abandon the 2015 nuclear deal. That's according to government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye. She said the French leader called for a deescalation of tensions over recent events, including the U.S. airstrike that killed Iran's top military commander last week in Baghdad.

France has over 1,000 troops involved in the military operation against the IS group in Iraq and Syria.

In a phone call with President Donald Trump on Sunday, Macron expressed his full solidarity with the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq and Frances determination to work with partners to ease tensions. Iraq's parliament on Sunday called for U.S. troops in the country to leave.

3:30 p.m.

Iraq's top leadership has gathered to receive condolences for militia leaders killed along with top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in a U.S. airstrike last week.

The gathering in Baghdad on Monday comes a day after parliament voted in a favor of a bill requesting the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.

The non-binding vote to end the presence of 5,200 troops requires the approval of the Iraqi government. It highlights the sharp deterioration in relations between the Americans and Iraq in recent weeks amid soaring tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

Iraqi officials have denounced the airstrike a violation of the country's sovereignty. The strike also killed Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and several other Iran-backed fighters.

Outgoing Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi thanked all the mourners who attended the condolences at his office, calling al-Muhandis a heroic leader with a pure soul.

2:15 p.m.

Pakistan's foreign minister says his country will not let its soil be used against any other state and the Islamic nation will not become part of any regional conflict.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi's comments followed his contacts with the foreign ministers of Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Turkey. He called for restraint and de-escalation as tensions rise over the U.S. killing of Iran's top military commander.

Qureshi in a Twitter post on Monday added that Pakistan's position is very clear in standing for peace and stability and that violence must be avoided."

Pakistan has been a key ally of the United States in its war on terror since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. It is also closely allied with Saudi Arabia but tries to maintain a diplomatic balancing act between Riyadh and Tehran.

1:45 p.m.

China says it believes Iran was "forced" to reduce its commitment to the 2015 nuclear deal and says the "recent military adventures by the U.S. violated the basic norms governing international relations."

Iran on Sunday abandoned the remaining limits of the agreement in response to the U.S. airstrike that killed its top military commander. The country mourned him Monday.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang added that "there is no way out by military means, and extreme pressure will not work." He said "power politics is unpopular and unsustainable."

China is among the countries that signed the nuclear deal. The spokesman asserted that Iran has demonstrated restraint under the agreement and did not violate its obligations.

1 p.m.

Frances finance minister says the current tensions in the Middle East could affect global economic growth and reinvigorate Islamic State group extremists.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Monday on France-Inter radio that you must always ask who is served by and who profits from this instability. The instability in the Mideast today benefits only one organization: the Islamic State group."

Le Maire added that the instability will increase the terrorist threat over France and Europe.

And he said that all tensions always affect global economic growth."

12:35 p.m.

The leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas is in Tehran attending the funeral of an Iranian general killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq.

Ismail Haniyeh in an address to Iranian mourners described the slain general, Qassem Soleimani, as the martyr of Jerusalem.

Haniyeh vowed that Palestinian militant groups, including his Islamic group that controls Gaza, will walk Soleimanis way to confront the Zionist project and the American influence.

Haniyehs visit to Iran was surprising. In December, Egypt allowed him to travel for his first regional tour since his 2017 election into the Hamas leadership on the condition that he not visit Iran, according to Arab and Israel media reports.

12:20 p.m.

Germanys foreign minister says European powers will respond this week to Irans announcement that it will no longer abide by the limits contained in the 2015 nuclear deal.

France, Britain and Germany, along with Russia and China  the two other remaining signatories  have been trying to keep the agreement alive after President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out in 2018. Tehran in recent months broke some of the deal's limits as part of a step-by-step pressure campaign to get sanctions relief.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Monday the Europeans will talk to Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog and take a coordinated decision. He noted that the agreement contains procedures to respond to such situations.

He told Deutschlandfunk radio that this could be the first step toward the end of this agreement, which would be a great loss  and so we will weigh things up very, very responsibly.

12 p.m.

Germanys foreign minister says its not very helpful to threaten Iraq after its parliament voted to expel U.S. troops from the country.

President Donald Trump said after Sundays vote that the U.S. wouldnt leave without being paid for its military investments in Iraq over the years. He said if the troops do have to withdraw, he would hit Baghdad with economic penalties.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told Deutschlandfunk radio Monday that the international community has invested a great deal in helping stabilize and rebuild Iraq and that all risks being lost if the situation continues to develop this way.

Maas added: I think the right way is to convince Iraq not with threats but with arguments, and there are plenty of those, but of course Iraq itself has the last word.

Germany has a small contingent of soldiers in Iraq training Iraqi forces.

11:45 a.m.

South Africa's ruling party has condemned the U.S. airstrike that killed Iran's top military commander as an "act of international terrorism."

The statement appeared in a Facebook post over the weekend and was issued by party secretary-general Ace Magashule. The ruling party is the former liberation movement African National Congress once led by Nelson Mandela.

South Africa's foreign ministry released a more measured statement Friday supporting Iraq's sovereignty and calling for dialogue and calm.

The ANC party statement called the raw aggression" an attack on Iran's sovereignty and it called for maximum restraint.

9:40 a.m.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has prayed over the caskets of the top Iranian general and others slain in a U.S. airstrike near the Baghdad airport last week.

The general's successor, Esmail Ghaani stood near his side, as did Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and other top leaders in the Islamic Republic.

Khamenei wept at one point during the traditional Muslim prayers for the dead. The crowd and others wailed. Afterward, the crowd screamed: Death to America!

Earlier on Monday, the slain general's daughter threatened U.S. military forces in the Middle East at a funeral procession for her father.

8 a.m.

An Iranian general who replaced the leader killed by a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad has vowed to take revenge as Tehran abandoned the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in response to the slaying.

Esmail Ghaani's threat comes as the blowback over the U.S. killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. Separately, Iraqs parliament has called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil.
A CHEF, who has cooked at Aras an Uachtarain, has been spared a criminal record and a prison sentence for cultivating cannabis.

Albert Hayes (54), with an address at North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7 pleaded guilty in November to Misuse of Drugs Act offences.

He admitted unlawful possession of cannabis and cultivating cannabis at his home address where gardai found five plants during a search.

Dublin District Court heard the value of the plants, if they had reached full growth, would have been 4,000.

Defence solicitor Tony Collier pleaded for leniency. He asked Judge Bryan Smyth to note the value of the plants was 100 because they had not been fully grown.

He said his client had been smoking cannabis but did not want to be involved with drug dealers so he grew the plants instead.

The court heard Hayes was in a stable relationship.

He has quit smoking and gardai arriving at his home had been a significant shock.

Mr Collier said his client needed Garda vetting for some of his work, when he cooks at nursing homes and other locations.

He has had cooked at various venues including Aras an Uachtarain, the solicitor said.

Judge Smyth had said the court needed a probation report on Hayes and urine analysis had to be carried out.

The report was furnished to the court today.

Mr Collier asked the judge to note the report was positive and stated his client was in a low risk category. He had shown significant awareness and engaged well with his probation officer, the solicitor said.

Pleading for leniency, he told Judge Smyth his client had a long work history since he left school. He had lived a productive life in the UK and the USA.

Hayes did not want to come to any more attention, and the Probation Service suggested no further involvement with him, Mr Collier said.

Judge Smyth applied the Probation of Offenders Act on the two charges, sparing him a conviction and a possible sentence.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 13:24:47|Editor: ZX

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ULAN BATOR, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Mongolian government has revoked a total of 14 companies' special licenses for producing alcoholic beverages due to their violation of relevant laws and rules, the government's press office said Tuesday.

"The decision was made after a recent joint inspection by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry and the State Professional Inspection Agency on 32 companies which hold licenses for alcoholic beverage production," it said in a statement.

The decision is part of the government's efforts to tighten regulatory controls on alcohol producers and reduce alcohol intake in the country.

With a population of 3.2 million, Mongolia is said to be one of the countries with the highest consumption of alcoholic beverages.

According to latest statistics, a Mongolian adult consumes an average of 53 liters of alcoholic beverages per year, including around 13 liters of vodka, Ayush Ariunzaya, the head of the Asian country's National Statistics Office, told Xinhua.
[January 07, 2020] Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance joins BEYOND Consortium to bid for Singapore's digital full bank licence, marking a major step forward in its digital ambition

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd., has joined BEYOND Consortium, led by V3 Group and EZ Link, to bid for a digital full bank licence in Singapore

The unmatched connectivity and consolidation of strengths of the Consortium are expected to create a comprehensive ecosystem that will deliver new digital experiences

MSI's general insurance arm in Singapore - MSIG Insurance - will customise a range of affordable insurance products to widen financial inclusion SINGAPORE, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The BEYOND Consortium comprising Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance ("MSI"), V3 Group Limited, Far East Organization, Singapore Business Federation, EZ-Link Pte Ltd and Heliconia Capital Management has announced on 5 January 2020 on its submission of a bid to the Monetary Authority of Singapore for a Digital Full Bank Licence. MSI holds a minority stake in the Consortium and will support BEYOND through its general insurance arm in Singapore - MSIG Insurance ("MSIG Singapore"). Mr. Alan Wilson, CEO of MSIG Asia, said, "This partnership is strategically important to MSI as a group as well as to us in the region. We look forward to the opportunity to help and to support the under-served in Singapore through our extensive expertise, customised service and offerings, and strong regional network. Being the largest general foreign insurer with a presence in all of the ASEAN markets puts us in a unique position to be part of this joint ambition through the Beyond Consortium." Mr. Craig Ellis, CEO of MSIG Singapore added, "As a major financial centre, Singapore is an ideal launch pad and a natural springboard to the region for digital banking. The digital bank licence will enable MSIG to strengthen its industry-leading position in Singapore's general insurance market. This is a very exciting phase for MSIG, and we are extremely pleased to have found like-minded partners whose vision is aligned with our Group's global ambition to expand its digital footprint." Besides being a key market for the Group, Singapore is also the base for MSI's Global Digital Hub, which was set up last year to drive digitalisation across businesses with a focus on ASEAN markets. MSIG Singapore was most recently named the 'Most Transformative Insurer of the Year' by IDC Financial Insights and the 'Digital Insurer of the Year' by The Asset, for its outstanding digital initiative in using robotics process automation to achieve significant business improvements. MSIG is one of few general insurers in Singapore with the expertise to underwrite and distribute both commercial and personal insurance. The company will leverage advanced technologies and analytics to drive innovation and customise products for BEYOND in the form of micro-coverages, modular and usage-based insurance. The product range which MSIG will develop for BEYOND will cover the protection needs of the under-served including SMEs, the siler segment and the gig economy.



"Key to the Consortium's ethos is to serve and to elevate communities. Affordability is therefore crucial to drive better outcomes and enhance financial inclusion. Besides empowering individuals to lead fulfilling lives through adequate risk protection, MSIG will support the growth aspirations of local businesses by lowering cost barriers and providing them easier access to insurance covers," said Mr. Ellis. As one of the leading property, cargo and employer liability insurers, MSIG has strong links and inimitable understanding of the SME market. MSIG's over a decade-long experience in bancassurance distribution has also established the company as a dominant player in the retail and SME segments.

Mr. Ellis added, "Our deep appreciation of the insurance needs of the SMEs and consumers across segments are distinct competitive advantages that puts us in a strategic position to support the Consortium. Given our regional connectivity and global resources, we are well placed to support the Consortium's expansionary plans beyond the Singapore shores." Please refer to the joint release by the Consortium here. About MS&AD Insurance Group ("MS&AD") Awarded 'General Insurance Company of the Year' by the Asia Insurance Review in 2011, MS&AD was formed in April 2010 from the business integration of the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group Holdings, Inc., Aioi Insurance Co. Ltd., and Nissay Dowa General Insurance Co., Ltd. Today MS&AD is one of the largest general insurance groups in the world with presence in 47 countries and regions, 19 of which are in Asia and Oceania. Based in Japan, MS&AD is active in five business domains, namely domestic (Japanese) non-life insurance, domestic (Japanese) life insurance, overseas business, financial services business and risk-related business. ms-ad-hd.com About Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance ("MSI") MSI was formed in October 2001 through a merger between the former Mitsui Marine & Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. ("Mitsui Marine") and the former Sumitomo Marine & Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. ("Sumitomo Marine"). Mitsui Marine and Sumitomo Marine were leading Japanese non-life insurance companies with proud and long histories, having been established in 1918 and 1893, respectively. MSI also benefits from being a member of MS&AD Insurance Group  one of the largest general insurance groups in the world. ms-ins.com About MSIG Holdings (Asia) Pte Ltd ("MSIG Asia") For over 100 years, MSIG has been Asia's leading general insurance brand. With our wealth of experience and commitment to this region, we are able to leverage on our multi-channel distribution, strong partnerships with intermediaries and extensive geographical network to offer a wide range of insurance solutions across personal and commercial lines. MSIG is represented in all markets in ASEAN, and also in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Korea, India and Taiwan, with over 10,600 employees. Located in Singapore, MSIG Asia is the regional holding company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited, within the wider MS&AD Insurance Group  one of the top five non-life insurance groups in the world. msig-asia.com About MSIG Insurance ("MSIG Singapore") MSIG Insurance (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of MSI and a member of the MS&AD Insurance Group, is Singapore's leading general insurer. With a local presence of over 100 years, MSIG Singapore offers an extensive range of insurance solutions for commercial and personal risk protection, enabling the security and safety of individuals and businesses. MSIG Singapore holds an A+/Stable financial rating by Standard & Poor's. A testament to its growing strength and influence, MSIG Singapore has garnered numerous awards for delivering digitally innovative and customer-centric solutions. MSIG Singapore was named Asia's Most Transformative Insurer (2019) by the IDC Financial Insights and The Digital Insurer of the Year (2018) by The Asset, an independent financial research publication in Asia. Other notable awards from leading publications include the Best Electronic Solution (2018) by The Asset; Travel Insurance Initiative of the Year for Singapore (2019) by Insurance Asia; Claims Initiative of the Year for Singapore (2018) by Insurance Asia; New Insurance Product of the Year for Singapore (2018) by Insurance Asia; and Insurer Claims Team of the Year (2016) by Insurance Post. msig.com.sg SOURCE MSIG Insurance

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A teenage neo-Nazi terrorist who identified possible targets in his home city has today been locked up for six years and eight months.

The 17-year-old boy drafted his own manifesto which listed 'Areas to Attack' in Durham such as schools, pubs and council buildings.

He also wrote of planning to conduct an arson spree with Molotov cocktails on local synagogues.

Various handwritten documents were seized from his bedroom in March by police who also found a collection of far-right literature, Manchester Crown Court heard.

The boy was 16 years old when he drafted his own manifesto which listed 'Areas to Attack' in Durham such as schools, pubs and council buildings

A sketch drawn by the schoolboy, saying: 'When they are dead they can't judge you, ha ha ha'

Analysis of his computer devices and mobile phone uncovered numerous internet searches on firearms, explosives and knives.

The list of 'Areas to Attack' in the teenager's 'manifesto' The schoolboy wrote: 'There are several areas in Durham worth attacking, and here is why: 'Post offices - cuts of communication 'Telephone wires - the same reason 'Pubs - prevents degeneracy, scares/angers laymen 'Passport office - Responsible for immigration 'Bus station -large model of transport for government workers 'Schools - serve as indoctrination for the youth 'Council buildings - weakens their grip over the city 'Banks - obvious reasons 'These areas will maximise the impact of the attacks and damage the system the most.' Advertisement

In November, jurors found him guilty of preparation of terrorist acts between October 2017 and March last year.

The youth was also unanimously found guilty of disseminating a terrorist publication, possessing an article for a purpose connected with terrorism and three counts of possessing a document or record containing information likely to be useful to a terrorist.

According to CPS guidelines, the boy faced life imprisonment for the preparation of terrorism acts.

He faced a maximum sentence of seven years for disseminating a terrorist publication and a further ten years for possessing information likely to be of use to terrorists.

The defendant said he had no intention of carrying out any attacks and claimed he adopted a fake right-wing persona for 'shock value'.

In the month before his arrest in March, he repeatedly searched for and visited websites related to 'lone wolf' attacks by the likes of Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh, the Norwegian far-right terrorist Anders Breivik and Columbine High School shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.

He had also purchased the manifestos of Breivik and another terrorist, Ted Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber.

In journal entries the youth wrote of his admiration for Adolf Hitler - 'a brave man to say the least', Moors murderer Ian Brady - 'how wonderful it is to be an amoral individual' and murderous cult leader Charles Manson.

The cover and an excerpt taken from the 16 year old's 'manifesto' shown to the jury at court

The youth was charged and found guilty of a range of terrorism offences The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of the preparation of terrorist acts between October 2017 and March 2019. He was also charged and found guilty of: Disseminating a terrorist publication

Possessing an article for a purpose connected with terrorism

Three counts of possessing a document or record containing information likely to be useful to a terrorist Advertisement

In August 2018 he wrote a things-to-do list, which included the instruction 'shed empathy' and referenced a shooting at a video gaming tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, where two people were killed.

Alongside the list was a quote from Manson: 'When I stand on the mountain and say do it, it gets done. If it don't get done then I'll move on it and that's the last thing in the world you want me to do.'

The youth also wrote of his dislike of school, spoke disparagingly of Durham having a Jewish MP and described the North East as a 's***hole', stating 'the people are loathable, the sights forgettable and the police laughable'.

It is understood that the boy had initially been referred to Prevent, the government's anti-extremism mechanism, but failed to engage fully.

Jenny Hopkins, head of Special Crime and Counter Terrorism at the CPS, said: 'This teenager chose to engage in terrorist activity after reading neo-Nazi propaganda and has now been handed a prison sentence.

'He was mentally prepared and had researched different methods including how to make ammonium nitrate and a Molotov cocktail.

'The threat from far-right terrorism is very real and the CPS is working with the police to ensure the public is kept safe.'

Detective Chief Superintendent Martin Snowden is head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East said: 'This has been a protracted and challenging investigation not least due to the age of the subject.

A handwritten note by the boy which contains a to do list including an instruction to 'shed empathy' and a quote from Charles Manson

A list of firearms to buy belonging to the 16-year-old who wrote about an 'inevitable race war'

'The decision to investigate, arrest and prosecute a young person is never an easy one; however we will always take necessary and proportionate action to keep our communities safe.

'Cases such as this highlight the dangers our young people face today online.

'The negative influence and powerful manipulation that takes place by those who seek to radicalise them cannot be underestimated.

'Prevention is always better than cure, and we would always seek to reach out and engage with people before they are drawn down the path to criminal activity.'

DCI Snowden said everyone in society has a role to play in preventing people from becoming radicalised.

He said it had been a protracted and challenging investigation not least due to the defendant's age.

In the lead up to the arrest, officers monitored the boy's online activity and identified an increase in concerning online activity that included neo-Nazi white supremacy ideology.

In the month before his arrest, he repeatedly searched for and visited websites related to 'lone wolf' attacks by the likes of Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh, the Norwegian far-right terrorist Anders Breivik and

The teenager researched information online about far right terrorists such as Timothy McVeigh, who bombed the Alfred Murrah Building in Oklahoma City in April 1995 killing 168 people

Columbine High School shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.

Det Ch Supt Snowden said protecting young people is not something that can be done by the police alone.

He added: 'We all have a part to play in keeping vulnerable teenagers safe from a potentially dangerous path to radicalisation.

'We want to empower all communities to speak out and counter poisonous, hateful narrative to help keep our children and those who are vulnerable safe.'

Det Ch Supt Snowden said it is vital to know and understand the content young people are reading and engaging with the help protect them from hate and toxic rhetoric and ideologies.

He added: 'Recognising changes in attitude and behaviour which could indicate they have been drawn to the principles and ideologies held by others and seeking support and advice from professionals could save a young person from a potentially destructive path.

'If concerns about someone's behaviour are raised early, we can, along with our strategic partners look to offer bespoke, appropriate support to help safeguard that individual.

'Anyone worried about someone they know can make a referral in the confidence that it will be assessed and where deemed appropriate, support offered.'

DCI Snowden said society cannot escape the use of technology in modern times, but it must be aware of the dangers that can surround children and young people.

He added: 'Prevent is the most important strategy we have to safeguard young people from radicalisation and it is always better reaching people before they're drawn into criminal activity.

'Unfortunately, there are those who elect not to engage and refuse the support that is offered. In these cases, or where their behaviour has already gone too far, intervention may no longer be an option and we will take robust action.'
In the wake of a series of anti-Semitic attacks in and around New York City, the issue of bail reform is front and center. State lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have proposed at least a dozen bills to amend the 2019 law, most of them introduced before the law took effect on Jan. 1. The bills range from outright repeals to cosmetic changes. With Democratic leaders expressing an openness to changes, some revisions are possible  but short of an explicit push from Gov. Andrew Cuomo for an expansive overhaul, sources say any amendments will likely be minor, such as revisions to the list of bail-eligible offenses and limited expansions of judicial discretion.

Cuomo this week called for changes to the bail reform law. Theres no doubt this is still a work in progress, and there are other changes that have to be made, Cuomo said on Monday. He did not specify any changes he had in mind, but whether they appear in his budget proposal will signal how serious he is about amending the law.

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and her second-in-command, state Sen. Michael Gianaris, did not go as far as calling for changes, but expressed a willingness to consider fixes. Their wait-and-see position reflects a middle ground between the moderate and progressive factions of the Senate Democratic conference.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has so far declined to weigh in on potential changes to bail reform, and his spokesman did not return a request for comment from City & State. Heastie was among the Democrats seeking the complete elimination of cash bail. The Assembly could also serve as a bulwark against wholesale changes that Republicans, local prosecutors and even some Democratic lawmakers are calling for.

Under the new state law, anyone accused of a misdemeanor or most non-violent felony will be automatically released prior to trial. Only a specific list of more serious offenses enumerated in the law for which judges can impose bail or pretrial detention. Judges in many instances have the ability to impose non-monetary restrictions upon a defendants release to ensure he or she returns to court. Thats what bail ostensibly is for  to make sure a defendant returns for trial. But in practice, its often viewed as a way to keep accused perpetrators in jail. Criminal reform advocates argue that bail simply penalizes poor and often minority defendants who cant afford to pay, while those with money accused of the same crime can walk free.

However, many local prosecutors warned that the Democratic-backed law went too far and would result in the release of thousands of criminals onto the street. Republican officials and lawmakers blasted the new law as well, highlighting certain cases, like an accused bank robber with two prior robbery convictions who was released without bail. Many Republicans have focused on the perceived danger of automatically releasing certain people accused of crimes. It's an assault on civilized society, public safety and law enforcement, and on criminal victims and the people and the taxpayers of the state of New York, state Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy said at a recent press conference.

Ultimately, the new laws list of crimes that are bail eligible spurred debate over which offenses did not make the cut. For example, critics complained last month when a woman was released twice in quick succession after alleged attacks  including hate crime assaults on Orthodox Jews that did not fall onto the list of offenses for which she could have been held on bail.

Democratic Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein introduced legislation this year that would allow judges to set bail for or remand those accused of hate crimes. According to one longtime Albany observer, Eichensteins bill is one that has a decent chance of getting approved, possibly as part of Cuomos budget.

The observer said that there is no apparent appetite among most Democratic lawmakers for major changes that go beyond adding a few new charges to the list of bail eligible offenses, and maybe adding limited discretion for judges in certain circumstances. Another bill sponsored by state Sen. Monica Martinez would allow judges to set bail for those accused of animal cruelty. Legislation from state Sen. Todd Kaminsky would give judges discretion to set bail or detain a handful of non-violent offenses when the accused is a Level 2 or 3 registered sex offender. In the greater scheme of things, youre talking about dozens of defendants who might be impacted by changes, not hundreds or thousands, the Albany observer said.

State Sen. James Gaughran has legislation that perhaps constitutes the most extreme changes proposed by a Democrat. The Long Island lawmaker would add a slew of new offenses to the list of those that qualify for bail, including a variety of violent misdemeanors, additional violent felonies currently not eligible for bail and Class A felony drug offenses. But the sweeping nature may be too much to get passed by his progressive colleagues and in the Assembly, even as part of the budget, since it would effectively redefine bail reform.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has also expressed the need to add a so-called dangerousness clause. Such an addition would allow judges to assess a defendants risk to the community when to make a determination regarding bail or whether to hold jail someone pretrial, regardless of the crime he or she has been accused of. Under current state law, judges cant directly consider the threat a defendant may pose when setting bail. But states like California added a risk assessment provision for judges in determining pretrial detention when it eliminated bail, much to the chagrin of progressive activists. Many criminal justice advocates say that allowing judges to consider dangerousness would be too prejudicial and would still disproportionately affect poor defendants of color due to bias.

Nonetheless, Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, a Hudson Valley Democrat, is introducing dangerousness legislation that would give judges very broad discretion to impose bail, detain a defendant or impose other pre-trial restrictions based on their individual determination of danger to the community. Paulins bill is identical to another measure introduced last year by Republican state Sen. Sue Serino.

Cuomos original proposal last year included a provision that would allow judges to consider the potential threat a defendant may pose to a specific person or group, rather than general dangerousness. It ultimately was removed in the final version when the issue of dangerousness became a major sticking point during negotiations last year.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A Syracuse man was stabbed in the back Monday morning on South Salina Street, city police said.

The 23-year-old victim went to Crouse Hospital for treatment after he was stabbed, Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Matthew Malinowski said. Syracuse police responded to the hospital at 10:15 a.m.

The man told police a male he didnt know stabbed him in the 1500 block of South Salina Street, Malinowski said. Police say they have limited suspect information at this time and that the victims injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.

Syracuse police ask anyone with information about the stabbing to call them at (315) 442-5222.

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.
Democrats are accusing President Trump of committing, or contemplating, war crimes against Iran. This grows out of the killing of arch-terrorist Qasem Soleimani. Specifically, it has to do with this series of tweets by President Trump:

.targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2020



The hot button was the presidents reference to striking sites that are at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture. That provoked outright hysteria on the left.

For example, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted:

This is a war crime. Threatening to target and kill innocent families, women and children  which is what youre doing by targeting cultural sites  does not make you a tough guy. It does not make you strategic.

It makes you a monster. https://t.co/IjkNO8BD07  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 5, 2020



Of course, Trump didnt threaten to target and kill innocent families, women and children. Ocasio-Cortez, not one for details, just made that up.

Fellow squad member Ilhan Omar joined in:

The President of the United States is threatening to commit war crimes on Twitter. God help us all! #25thAmendment https://t.co/nYZSvpo8rG  Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 5, 2020



The actual war crimes were committed by Iran under the direction of General Soleimani, who killed hundreds of American servicemen with explosive devices planted in Iraq. But the concern here seems to be not about human life, but rather culture.

President Trump was asked about his reference to Iranian culture by reporters on Air Force 1. Left-winger Maggie Haberman reported his response in shocked tones:

NEWS from AF1  POTUS doubled down on cultural sites in Iran as appropriate sites for retaliation.  Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 6, 2020



What did Trump say? Haberman quotes him:

Theyre allowed to kill our people. Theyre allowed to torture and maim our people. theyre allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And were not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesnt work that way," POTUS SAID.  Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 6, 2020



Some would say that sounds pretty reasonable. But the whole thing, obviously, is a typical teapot (or Twitter) tempest. Trump hasnt bombed any cultural sites. Or anything else, other than the vehicle that contained General Soleimani. The Democrats hyperventilate endlessly over hypothetical offenses that President Trump hasnt committed and, I venture to say, wont commit. Meanwhile, there is no reason to assure the mullahs that anything if off limits if they continue to kill Americans, something about which no prominent Democrat, to my knowledge, is expressing any concern.

Wouldnt it be great if the Democrats were pro-America, rather than pro-Iran and pro-terrorist? That is a world that we once knew, but is now hard even to imagine. I dont expect we will see it again in our lifetimes, unless the Democrats are dealt electoral defeats so crushing as to dictate a total realignment of their party.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  Almost 80% of Filipinos believe that there are so-called ninja cops in the police force, according to the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

In its survey conducted on December 13-16, 78% of Filipinos believe the accusation that there are ninja cops or policemen who sold illegal drugs they seized from operations. Seven percent do not believe the accusations, while 15% are undecided about the matter.

The survey showed that the net belief in the accusation that there are ninja cops in the police force is highest in Metro Manila at +77, followed by Balance Luzon at +71, the Visayas at +69 , and Mindanao at +65. Balance Luzon refers to areas in Luzon outside of Metro Manila.

The SWS poll also showed that 50% of respondents believe that former Philippine National Police chief General Oscar Albayalde was a protector of the scalawag policemen. Meanwhile, 13% do not believe the accusations and 37% were undecided.

SWS said that the net belief in the accusation that Albayalde protected the ninja cops is highest in the Visayas at +43, followed by Metro Manila at +40, Balance Luzon at +3, and Mindanao at +33.

Albayalde was put into hot seat last year following the Senates investigation into the alleged involvement of active policemen in the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison. The former police chief was accused of blocking the dismissal of the 13 policemen involved in an anti-illegal drug operation in Pampanga.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron Aquino testified that Albayalde asked him not to dismiss the policemen involved in the controversial anti-drug raid in 2013.

Albayalde eventually resigned from his post amid the allegations.

SWS also said that 23% think that there are many cops involved in illegal drug trade, while 44% answered somewhat many. Twenty-eight percent of the respondents, on the other hand, believe that the number of ninja cops in the police force are little and 3% said there were no ninja cops.

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte said in a chance interview with reporters that PNP has always been problem to any administration due to corruption.

"Historically, the police, the PNP has always been a problem for any administration. Alam ninyo yan. And I think that with the remaining two years, if I can just fix a third of whats bugging the PNP, and that is corruption," said Duterte.

The non-commissioned survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide. It has sampling error margins of 3% for national percentages, and 6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Veteran businessman Michael Spencer has been made chairman of the Centre For Policy Studies

City tycoon Michael Spencer has been made chairman of the Centre For Policy Studies.

The veteran businessman will take over at the think-tank from ad mogul Lord Saatchi.

Spencer, 64, founded financial services firm ICAP, which was at one stage the world's biggest inter-dealer broker.

When the company  later renamed NEX Group  was sold to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for nearly 4billion in 2018, Spencer's stake netted him 650million.

The father of three is also a Conservative Party donor and was at one stage its treasurer.

His appointment at the right-leaning Centre For Policy Studies  which was founded in 1974 by Margaret Thatcher and Sir Keith Joseph  continues the think-tank's close-knit relationship with the Tories.
It may be a sign of public discontent with returning to work after Christmas that news of supposed plans for a four-day week in Finland spread so rapidly around the world yesterday.

Reports from national publications across Europe, regrettably including this website, noted support from Sanna Marin, Finlands prime minister, for the introduction of a shorter working week.

The only problem is a four-day week is not part of the Finnish government's plans and is not expected to be government policy in the near future.

An official from Ms Marins office told The Independent that the policy was more of a future vision and a potential future goal for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Nevertheless, the story spread so widely that the government was forced to issue an official correction on social media, pointing out that there are no mentions of a four-day week in the governments programme and insisting the issue is not on their agenda.

Even Paivi Anttikoski, the Finnish governments communication director, has said it is a complete mystery how the story ended up being published by so many websites.

Heres where the story came from and how it spread around the world.
Bengaluru, Jan 8 : The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Canada-based University of Saskatchewan's Global Institute for Water Security will jointly conduct a research for water security, an official said on Tuesday.

"We have signed a five-year agreement with the Canadian institute to partner on joint research, training and academic exchanges related to water security, climate science and policy issues," IISc professor Pradeep Mujumdar said in a statement here.

University of Saskatchewan (USask) President Peter Stoicheff and IISc in-charge Registrar Indumati Srinivasan signed the agreement for collaboration in the research projects.

"This is an exciting research collaboration as Canada and India are facing water security and climate change challenges," Stoicheff said on the occasion.

USask topped in water resources research in 2019, while the state-run IISc ranked number 1 in India for post-graduate research.

Both institutes have national and global network of scientists, policy makers, business leaders and practitioners to collaborate in the joint research projects.

"We laud the efforts of Mujumdar, who leads our inter-disciplinary centre for water research, and Anjula Gurtoo, who leads our centre for society and policy, an interdisciplinary centre for science and technology policy," said Srinivasan.

As part of the partnership, the institutes will provide access to their research facilities and pursue bi-lateral and/or global funding opportunities.

"We will also share research expertise and hydrological models at the local and global scale to predict water futures as affected by both climate change and humans," said Mujumdar.

Both the institutes will also explore short and long-term exchanges of faculty members and qualified personnel, including graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and scientists.

"At USask, we strive to be the university the world needs. A key global need is to better understand glacier decline, snowmelt and groundwater movement, critical to sustainable water supplies and builds upon research in the Canadian Rockies and the Himalayan regions," said Stoicheff.

USask's institute is a global leader in water science for cold regions and home to the global water futures programme, the world's largest freshwater research project.

The joint research goal is to transform the way communities, governments and industries in Canada and other cold regions the world over prepare for and manage increasing water-related threats.
What are the flashes of light patients report seeing during brain radiotherapy? Dartmouth scientists capture this phenomenon for the first time and provide an explanation.

LEBANON, NH - For decades, theories have existed to explain patient reports of seeing light flashes during radiation therapy, even with their eyes closed. However, no one has been able to secure evidence of this sensation in humans to prove their theory. A team of researchers at Dartmouth's and Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center led by radiation oncologist Lesley Jarvis, MD, PhD and Irwin Tendler, MEng, have collected real-time data to show that during head and neck radiation therapy, enough light is produced inside the eye to elicit such a visual sensation. This evidence, and their explanation of it, "Experimentally Observed Cherenkov Light Generation in the Eye During Radiation Therapy," is newly published in The Red Journal (International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, & Physics).

"Overall, the idea of imaging light emission from humans undergoing radiotherapy is novel and was also first suggested and developed at Dartmouth," says Tendler. "Our newest data is exciting because for the first time, light emission from the eye of a patient undergoing radiotherapy was captured. This data is also the first instance of evidence directly supporting that there is enough light produced inside the eye to cause a visual sensation and that this light resembles Cherenkov emission."

Light emission from the eye is very subtle, hard to detect, and likely why no one has been able to record evidence of this phenomenon. To accomplish this, the team leveraged special technology called the CDose camera imaging system, an engineering innovation manufactured by Dartmouth spin-off company, DoseOptics, LLC. The camera provides live views of light emission from biological systems (animal and human) during radiotherapy. "As the radiation beam passes through the eye, light is generated within the vitreous fluid. Our real-time data rigorously showed that the amount of light produced is sufficient to elicit a visual sensation--a topic that has been debated in the literature," explains Tendler. "By analyzing the spectral composition, we also show that this emission can be classified as Cherenkov light--again, another contested point in the literature."

The benefits of the team's finding to cancer treatment are several-fold:
Mainpuri : , Jan 7 (IANS) An accused in a triple murder case allegedly shot himself in the leg using a country made pistol inside the district court in Uttar Pradesh's Mainpuri.

The incident happened on Monday.

The accused, Manish, was inside the courtroom when he bent down and took out the firearm from his shoe and shot himself before anyone could realise what was happening.

Five constables have been suspended for the lapse.

It is not yet known how Manish got the firearm and whether it was given to him by someone in the court.

The incident comes barely a fortnight after a shoot-out within a courtroom in Bijnor district in which an alleged history-sheeter was shot dead while he was appearing in a murder case.

The incident has set the alarm bells ringing over security arrangements in district courts in the state. The Allahabad High Court had directed the state government to draft a security plan for district courts after the Bijnor incident.

Meanwhile, the police said that Manish, in connivance with two others, Kallu and Jitendra, had shot dead his father Sukhram, stepmother Sushma Devi and brother Abhishek over a property dispute on October 9, 2012 under the Karhal police station area of the district.

Manish, along with Kallu and Jitendra, were produced in the court of Additional District Judge-IV, Tarun Kumar Singh for hearing on Monday.

Police circle officer (Mainpuri city) Abhay Narain Rai said that when Manish was asked to personally explain the circumstances on the day of the crime by the court, he took out a country made weapon and shot at his right foot.

Manish was sent to the district hospital and is out of danger. His statement is yet to be recorded by the police.
COCODRIE, La.  A marine laboratory 85 miles southwest of New Orleans was designed to be a fortress against extreme weather. But it might be defeated by climate change.

Sitting at the end of Louisiana State Highway 56, where dirt dissolves into wetlands and then the Gulf of Mexico, the laboratory, the W.J. DeFelice Marine Center, has successfully weathered many hurricanes since it opened its doors in 1986. It stands 18 feet above the ground on pillars with pilings that extend more than 100 feet underground. Its walls can withstand winds of up to 250 miles per hour.

But the water is coming. Around the country, from New Jersey to Massachusetts, Virginia to Oregon, education centers and marine laboratories like this one are bracing against rising seas and a changing climate. The assault from climate change is slower but more relentless than any storm, and will ultimately do more damage. It threatens researchers ability to study marine environments up close at a time when its more vital than ever to understand them.

Bob Cowen, head of the National Association of Marine Laboratories, sees climate change as a challenge, but also a scientific opportunity. Were feeling it, and were also studying it at the same time as best we can, he said. If labs like this one have to shut down, decades of on-site measurements could be disrupted  and, researchers say, academic budgets might not allow replacements to be built, or built on a comparable scale.
Tokyo prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant Tuesday for former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn's wife on suspicion of perjury, adding to the couple's legal troubles in the country where he once was revered as a star executive.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 6/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Private security guards stand outside of the house of ex-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. Japan's justice minister vowed Monday to strengthen border departure checks and review bail conditions after Ghosn fled the country despite the stringent surveillance imposed as a condition of his release.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

Tokyo prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant Tuesday for former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn's wife on suspicion of perjury, adding to the couple's legal troubles in the country where he once was revered as a star executive.

The move against Carole Ghosn, who is not in Japan, followed her husband's flight to Lebanon last week while he was out on bail awaiting trial for alleged financial misconduct.

Prosecutors said in a statement that Carole Ghosn gave false testimony to a Tokyo court last year in her husband's case about the transfer of money from one company to another that allegedly caused losses to Nissan.

She also denied knowing various people, or meeting with them, and the statements were false, they said. The allegations cited were unrelated to Ghosn's escape.

Carole Ghosn was not immediately available for comment but earlier she told The Associated Press after her questioning in court that she considered the questions trite and unsubstantial.

She was banned from meeting with her husband after his release on bail because of fears she might help tamper with evidence.

Lebanon and Japan do not have an extradition treaty. Japanese justice officials acknowledge that it's unclear whether the two can be brought back to Japan to face charges. They said they were still looking into what could be done.

The Lebanese presidential palace said Tuesday that President Michel Aoun met with Japanese ambassador Takeshi Okubo, the first known meeting between the president and a Japanese diplomat since Ghosn arrived in the country on Dec. 30.

A statement released by Aoun's office said Okubo called for more co-operation from Lebanese authorities in order to avoid "negative repercussions" on relations between the two countries. Okubo said the Japanese government and people "are extremely worried" about the case, especially the way Ghosn left Japan and entered Lebanon, according to the statement.

Japan's chief government spokesman said Japanese officials have told Lebanon that Ghosn left the country illegally and that they are seeking co-operation in finding out what happened. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the situation must be handled carefully.

Lebanese Justice Minister Albert Serhan told the state-run National News Agency that Ghosn entered Lebanon legally and therefore his "stay on Lebanese territories" is legal. Serhan said Lebanon has not yet received any requests from Japan regarding an arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn.

FILE - In this May 12, 2016, file photo, then Nissan Motor Co. President and CEO Carlos Ghosn speaks during a press conference in Yokohama, near Tokyo. Japanese Justice Minister Masako Mori vowed Monday, Jan. 6, 2020 to strengthen border departure checks and review bail conditions, given the flight of Ghosn. Mori told reporters at the ministry action has already been taken to prevent a recurrence, while declining to give details. Ghosn skipped bail while awaiting trial on various financial misconduct allegations and appeared in Lebanon. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

Prosecutors in Japan have said they did not want Carlos Ghosn to be granted bail because they saw him as a flight risk.

With his abundant financial power and multiple foreign bases worldwide, it would be easy for the defendant Ghosn to flee from Japan, they said in a statement.

Earlier Tuesday, Ghosn's former employer, Nissan Motor Co., said it was still pursuing legal action against him despite his escape.

The Japanese automaker said in a statement that Ghosn engaged in serious misconduct while leading the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance.

The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan, it said, without giving details.

Ghosn managed to skip bail and leave the country despite surveillance while he was staying at a home in Tokyo.

Japanese news reports Tuesday gave new details of that escape, saying he left his residence alone, met two men at a Tokyo hotel, and then took a bullet train to Osaka before boarding a private jet hidden inside a case for musical equipment.

Japanese Justice Minister Masako Mori told reporters that measures were being taken to make sure all cargo and luggage are inspected at regional airports, including those for private jets, to prevent a recurrence.

Japanese major business daily Nikkei reported, without citing sources, that dozens of people in various countries helped to plan Ghosn's clandestine departure.

Nissan's statement was the first word from the company since Ghosn's flight last week. The automaker and Japanese prosecutors allege Ghosn misstated his future compensation and diverted company assets for personal gain. He says he is innocent.

Ghosn has not appeared in public since arriving in Lebanon. He is expected to give his side of the story in a news conference planned for Wednesday in Beirut.

Earlier, he said the allegations against him were concocted by Nissan, Japanese authorities and others who wanted to block efforts toward a fuller merger between Nissan and its French alliance partner Renault SA.

Ghosn said in a statement last week that he wanted to escape injustice. Critics of the Japanese judicial system say his case exemplifies its tendency to move too slowly and keep suspects in detention for too long.

Nissan said in its statement that an investigation is ongoing in France, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has found some wrongdoing.

Ghosn has not been charged in France or the U.S.

Mori and other Japanese officials have defended the nation's judicial system and denounced Ghosn's escape as an unjustifiable" crime. Mori said each nation's system has its own way of making arrests and granting bail.

The scandal over Ghosn's case has tarnished Nissan's image and created a leadership vacuum at a time when the automaker's profits and sales are tumbling. Ghosns successor Hiroto Saikawa also resigned last year amid financial misconduct allegations related to questionable income.

Nissan will continue to do the right thing by co-operating with judicial and regulatory authorities wherever necessary, the Yokohama-based company said.

Although Ghosn is unlikely to face trial in Japan, Greg Kelly, another Nissan former executive, is still facing charges of under-reporting Ghosn's future compensation. He says he is innocent.

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Kelly, an American, who is out on bail, has not been charged with the breach of trust allegations Ghosn is also facing.

Nissan has also been charged as a corporate entity. The company says it won't fight the charges and will pay the required fines.

___

Associated Press Writers Zeina Karam and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

___

Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama
Nearly 222,000 people are employed at Enterprise Ireland-backed firms, a net gain of 4,700 jobs from a year ago and a record high.

Enterprise Ireland, which launched its end of year statement today, said nearly two-thirds of the jobs are located outside Dublin.

The business development agency reported strongest growth in employment at cleantech firms, up 9pc from a year ago.

Jobs were 6pc higher at EI-backed life sciences and fintech firms, and 5pc at electronics firms.

But Enterprise Ireland said employment at its food sector clients was only 1pc higher, with feared Brexit disruption of Irish food exports to the UK cited as a key reason why.

Business Minister Heather Humphreys said Brexit, sluggish eurozone growth and US-China trade tensions all were creating challenges for Ireland as a small, open economy.

Against this backdrop, we need to focus on what we can control domestically, and be the masters of our own destiny.  We need to constantly evolve to remain competitive.

Enterprise Ireland chief executive Julie Sinnamon said the agency was close to reaching its four-year goal of spurring 60,000 new jobs by 2020.

She said client firms had created 57,881 jobs in the 2017-19 period, though this was partially offset by job losses elsewhere in EI-sponsored firms.

We are seeing a moderation in the pace of job growth reflecting the impact of Brexit uncertainty, as well as wider skills and talent recruitment and competitiveness challenges for SMEs, Ms Sinnamon said.

To ensure that our companies continue to grow and create jobs, we need to see an increase in investment in innovation. Our research shows that companies that invest in research and innovation generate 67pc more in global sales than those that dont.

She said two-thirds of the agencys Brexit-exposed client companies have reduced their dependency on the UK, in part by opening 442 new EI-sponsored sales and marketing points overseas and striking 1,554 new foreign contracts in the past year.

Enterprise Ireland today also published its 2020 Action Plan for Women in Business, which seeks to boost the number of women who lead companies and hold strategic management posts.

Ireland will never reach its full potential without increasing the participation of women in entrepreneurship and business leadership, Minister Humphreys said.

Increasing gender diversity is the right thing to do, but it also makes sense because the research tells us that it leads to better decision-making, improved productivity and increased profitability.
The Justice Department (DOJ) has dropped its probe into whether Uber Technologies Inc. violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the ride-sharing company said on Monday.

The DOJ opened an investigating in 2017 into whether managers at Uber violated U.S. laws against bribery of foreign officials, specifically the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The probe focused on allegations of improper payments in Indonesia, Malaysia, China, and India.

In a prospectus published in May 2019, the company said, We received requests from the DOJ in May 2017 and August 2017 with respect to an investigation into allegations of small payments to police in Indonesia and other potential improper payments in other countries in which we operate or have operated, including Malaysia, China, and India, the prospectus said. It added that the company was cooperating with the investigation.

But on Monday, Uber announced that the department has dropped its probe and would not be pursuing FCPA charges against the company.

The Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justices Criminal Division recently informed the company that the Fraud Section has closed its inquiry and will not be pursuing enforcement action against the company in relation to  possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the company announced in the K-8 filing.

Under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, it is unlawful for U.S. companies to make payments to foreign government officials in order to obtain and maintain business there.

The drop of the probe comes as the San Francisco-based company completed an acquisition of Careem Networks FZ., a Middle Eastern ride-share company. The company will be able to operate in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, where the acquisition was approved. Uber is still seeking regulatory approval in Pakistan, Qatar, and Morocco, the company said.

CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement: Working in parallel. Our two platforms will be able to build upon the unique strengths of each, to the benefit of drivers, riders, and the cities we serve across the greater Middle East.

Reuters contributed to this report.
A man has pleaded guilty to assaulting two police officers in east London by spraying a substance at them, leaving them needing hospital treatment.

Terrance Nelson, 29, of Stratford, admitted two counts of assaulting a police officer by spraying them with "a substance" at Thames Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

He also admitted possession of a section 5 firearm.

The court heard officers from Met Police were called at 7.30pm on Thursday to reports of an argument at the defendant's address in Stratford.

Officers attended and Nelson was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.

Nelson will be sentenced on January 15 / Google Maps

During the arrest he sprayed a substance at two police officers.

The officers did not sustain lasting injuries but did require hospital treatment.
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Light snowfall is expected Tuesday night across Western and Southeastern Massachusetts before a warm front moves into the state later this week.

A hazardous weather outlook was issued for Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes and Plymouth Counties, where one to two inches of snowfall is likely. Similar amounts of snow will be seen in areas near Boston, Gloucester and Newburyport.

A winter weather advisory was issued for the Cape and Islands Tuesday night through Wednesday morning, as two to four inches of snowfall is likely.

Much of Hampden County, including Springfield, should receive no snow, and less than one inch of snowfall is expected in the rest of the state.

Snow showers and scattered snow squalls will hit Western Massachusetts on Wednesday. There is a low probability for hazardous weather in Berkshire County.

Any snow squalls will produce near zero visibility, brief periods of heavy snow and gusty winds resulting in hazardous travel conditions, the National Weather Service said.

Tuesday nights snowfall will be followed by a cold blast Wednesday night and Thursday, with temperatures dipping to the low teens, as blustery northwest winds move across the state.

Western Massachusetts should feel the brunt of the chilly weather. Temperatures are expected to plummet to below 10 degrees in northern Berkshire and Franklin Counties as well as western Hampshire and Hampden County.

Springfield and Worcester should feel temperatures close to 15 degrees. Lows just under 20 degrees are expected in Boston and much of Eastern Massachusetts.

Rain and snow will return early Friday, which may cause hazardous driving conditions in the Berkshires. The wintry mix is likely to become mostly rain Friday afternoon, as the warm front moves in.

The weather will feel unseasonably warm Saturday, with Boston, Springfield and Worcester reaching record highs of around 60 degrees.
Workers at the country's largest local authority, Dublin City Council, miss an average of 10 to 12 days a year through absenteeism.

That is according to senior HR official at the council Gerry Geraghty, who told the Labour Court the average absenteeism in the council is approximately 5pc a year.

Mr Geraghty was giving evidence in an alleged unfair dismissal case in which the Labour Court has found that the sacking of outdoor worker and street cleaner Stephen Maguire was fair.

Mr Maguire was dismissed in December 2016 for continuous absenteeism constituting a failure to provide the council with a regular and efficient service.

The dismissal letter issued to Mr Maguire told him the "point of no return" had been reached concerning his absenteeism. Mr Maguire had incurred excessive sick leave of 17 days between April 26, 2016, and October 11, 2016, in circumstances where he was the subject of a live final written warning relating exclusively to excessive sick leave.

Excessive

Administrative officer at the council's HR department Debbie McLoughlin told the hearing that when she asked Mr Maguire about the 17 days' absence, he said that when the children got sick, he got sick. Ms McLoughlin said Mr Maguire had five final warnings and had paid no attention to them as his absence record continued to be a problem.

She said despite the fact Mr Maguire was an outdoor worker and there were approximately 450 outdoor workers in similar conditions, his absence rates were excessive.

Mr Geraghty gave evidence of Mr Maguire's absenteeism - 89 days on five occasions in 2011; 12 days on six occasions in 2012; 25.5 days on 11 occasions in 2013; 41 days on 10 occasions in 2014; 19 days on eight occasions in 2015 and 46 days on five occasions in 2016.

Counsel for Mr Maguire said the decision to impose a final written warning and two-day suspension was disproportionate when account was taken of the average absenteeism level of the public service, which in 2016 was 8.9 days and the average level among local authorities is 10.1 days a year.
Australias government has promised to pay whatever it takes to help communities recover from ongoing wildfires.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Monday an additional $1.4 billion in government aid for recovery efforts. Officials had already promised tens of millions of dollars to help rebuild from the fires.

About 200 wildfires have burned more than 6 million hectares of land in the southern Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria. At least 24 people have been killed. More than 2,000 homes have been destroyed by the fires.

The fires are still burning. And theyll be burning for months to come, Prime Minister Morrison said, in announcing the new aid. He added, If more is needed and the cost is higher, then more will be provided.

The government assistance is to be used to help rebuild towns and repair infrastructure damaged by the fires. Morrison said the military was now attempting to get food, fuel and water to burned-out communities. Engineers were working to reopen roads and resupply evacuation centers.

Officials said dry conditions and strong winds were feeding more than 135 fires burning across New South Wales. The fires hit earlier than usual this year after a severe lack of rain led to Australias hottest and driest year on record. Scientists partly blame global warming caused by human activity for creating a high fire danger.

On Monday, rain and cooler temperatures provided a short break to some communities battling the wildfires. But the rain also made it more difficult for fire crews attempting to carry out controlled burning operations.

The latest weather was welcomed in Victoria state. However, emergency officials there noted that at least 20 centimeters of rain would be needed to put out the fires. That is about 20 times the amount of rain that fell during the past day.

Drier conditions and higher temperatures were expected to return to the area later this week.

Weve got big fire danger coming our way toward the end of this week, Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters in Melbourne. We are by no means out of this. And the next few days, and indeed the next few months, are going to be challenging.

The wildfires led Australias capital, Canberra, to experience the worst air quality of any major city in the world for most of Monday. Officials urged people in the city to remain indoors to avoid the thick smoke covering the area.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 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

infrastructure  n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) needed for an area to operate

evacuation  n. the act of removing (a person or people) from a dangerous place

challenging  adj. difficult in a way that is usually interesting or enjoyable
Japanese ambassador to Lebanon asks for greater cooperation on Ghosn to avoid negative repercussions for relations.

Japanese officials are stepping up efforts to bring former Nissan boss turned international fugitive Carlos Ghosn back from Lebanon to face trial on financial misconduct charges.

On Tuesday, Japanese prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Ghosns wife for alleged perjury, while Japans ambassador to Lebanon asked for greater cooperation on the Ghosn affair.

The warrant issued by Tokyo prosecutors accuses Carole Ghosn of falsely claiming not to know, or to have met, people connected to a company that received payments from Nissan Motor Company, part of which it subsequently transferred to a firm owned by Ghosn.

A senior Japanese Ministry of Justice official said staff were poring over Lebanese laws to find a way to bring back Ghosn and that Japan will do whatever it can to put him on trial.

In Beirut, the justice minister confirmed that prosecutors had received a red notice arrest warrant from Interpol in respect of Ghosn and would take the necessary action. Nothing had been received from Japanese prosecutors relating to an arrest warrant for his wife, who is in Beirut.

Ghosn is a Lebanese citizen and has the right to be treated on this basis in terms of the competent judiciary and applicable laws, and his entry into Lebanese territory is legal, the Lebanese justice ministry said.

As Japan stepped up efforts to get hold of Ghosn, its ambassador to Lebanon, Takeshi Okubo, held talks with President Michel Aoun to request greater co-operation on this in order to avoid negative repercussions for our friendly relations, according to Aouns office.

Ghosn, formerly chairman of Nissan and Renault SA, is scheduled to hold a news conference on Wednesday, his first such appearance since his arrest in November 2018 and his dramatic flight last month to Lebanon, his childhood home.

Speak freely

Last time Carlos Ghosn announced a press conference and got rearrested. This time, the day before he is announced to speak out freely for the first time, they issued an arrest warrant for his wife Carole Ghosn, a spokeswoman for Ghosn told Reuters in Beirut. The issuance of this warrant is pathetic.

Ghosn is expected to detail some of the claims he has made against Nissan since his arrest.

Citing an interview with Ghosn, Fox Business reported that he said he has actual evidence and documents to show there was a Japanese government-backed coup to take him out. He plans to identify those he believes responsible, the broadcaster said.

In earlier court filings seen by Reuters news agency and statements released by his lawyers, Ghosn says he was unseated to destroy any possibility of a merger between Nissan and Renault, accusing Nissan executives of colluding with prosecutors and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry officials.

Ghosns legal team also said prosecutors withheld evidence, citing concerns voiced by Nissan that it included sensitive information about operations and employees.

Nissan said that despite Ghosns flight from Japan the company still held him responsible for serious misconduct.

The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan, the automaker said in a statement.

Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, on Tuesday, described Ghosns escape to Beirut as regrettable and said Tokyo had asked Lebanon for help.

Its necessary to carefully consider the legal systems of both countries, he told a news conference,

Lebanon does not normally extradite its citizens.
When Vladimir Putin visits Istanbul on January 8, the Russian president will be doing more than officially opening a new export pipeline -- he will be getting some more closure on his longstanding dream to end Moscow's dependence on archrival Ukraine in getting natural gas to Europe.



Russia has been seeking to cut gas transit through Ukraine since the mid 2000s, and the $7.8 billion TurkStream pipeline project is a big part of that strategic goal.



The pipeline, which transits the Black Sea and surfaces outside Istanbul, took five years to complete and is one of two major new natural-gas export routes totaling nearly $20 billion that Russia expects to go on line this year.

TurkStream also marks a major achievement for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has long sought to turn his country into an energy hub and will stand alongside Putin at the January 8 inauguration ceremony.



The pipeline will carry 31.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Russian natural gas annually to Turkeys western province, with half of that volume to be further exported to the Balkans and Central Europe, including Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary.



Russia, which exported nearly 200 bcm to Europe in 2019, had been supplying gas to the Balkans and Turkey through an overland route transiting Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania. That gas will now be rerouted through TurkStream, which consists of two lines stretching 930 kilometers each under the Black Sea from just outside the Russian town of Anapa.



South Stream Rejected



Russia twice shut off gas to Ukraine -- in the dead of winter in 2006 and 2009 -- amid price disputes that erupted after pro-Western leaders came to power in Kyiv.



Ukraine had been earning about $3 billion annually in transit fees from Moscow, providing a key source of revenue for the country's struggling economy even as its relations with the Kremlin deteriorated sharply following the 2014 Euromaidan protests and Russia's subsequent seizure of the Crimean Peninsula and support for a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine.



Russia first sought to build a more ambitious export project to Europe via the Black Sea prior to TurkStream. The South Stream project, proposed in 2007, would have carried 63 bcm a year to Bulgaria via four lines under the sea.



The European Parliament adopted a resolution in 2014 opposing the project on the grounds it violated European Union energy rules. Bulgaria is a member of the EU.



Russia completed Nord Stream 1 under the Baltic Sea to Germany in 2011 to reroute gas around Ukraine and is expected to launch the $11 billion Nord Stream 2 project before the end of the year. The two pipelines have a combined capacity of 110 bcm.



Washington last month imposed sanctions on Nord Stream 2, putting its launch date in doubt.

With the start of TurkStream and Nord Stream 2 on the horizon, the Kremlin last month renegotiated a new gas-transit contract with Kyiv guaranteeing 65 bcm this year and then 40 bcm over the following four years, a drop from nearly 90 bcm in 2019.



TurkStream "directly undermines Ukraine as a gas-transit country and directly undermines Ukrainian security," Margarita Assenova, a senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation and an energy analyst at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, told RFE/RL.



Alluding to the nearly six-year conflict in the Donbas that has killed nearly 14,000 people since 2014, and which Kyiv and Moscow have recently taken steps to resolve, Assenova said that "Russia would have a freer hand to try to submit Ukraine, to extract a better deal in peace negotiations."



Bulgaria Delay



Russia is likely to ship just a little more than half of the 31.5 bcm through TurkStream in 2020 as Bulgaria has not completed the pipeline that will enable exports to Serbia and beyond, Thierry Bros, an associate at Harvard Universitys Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies focusing on energy, told RFE/RL.



Putin last month criticized Bulgarias government for falling behind on the project.

The future split of TurkStreams volumes between Turkey and the Balkans will likely vary depending on developments within the regions, said Nikos Tsafos, an energy analyst at Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.



If Turkeys economy slumps, more of TurkStreams gas volumes may go to the Balkans and beyond, Tsafos told RFE/RL.



During Putin's January 8 visit, Erdogan plans to present his counterpart with a specially prepared book on Turkish-Russian relations, which have been hot and cold in recent years.



The two sides have differed over Syria and Libya, both of which will be a major topic of discussion amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and North Africa. But Russia and NATO-member Turkey have also found room for cooperation, and bilateral projects and the delivery of Russian S-400 missile-defense systems will also be on the agenda.

Tsafos said, however, that Turkey will not be able to use its role as a transit state for Russian gas to Europe as leverage over Moscow.



"If Turkey wanted to play politics with this and try to get clever, Russia will switch more gas to Ukraine. Russia having options means no particular route can push too hard," he said



Turkey already imports 16 bcm of Russian gas annually through Blue Stream, another pipeline running under the Black Sea. Blue Stream began operations in 2003.



Azerbaijani Gas, U.S. LNG



Russia is facing increasing competition for the Turkish and Balkan gas markets from competing pipeline projects and liquefied natural gas (LNG).



The U.S.- and EU-backed Trans Adriatic Pipeline will launch later this year carrying Azerbaijani gas across Turkey to Greece, Albania, and Italy. That pipeline has an initial capacity of 10 bcm that can be expanded to more than 20 bcm.

Greece is completing an interconnector pipeline to Bulgaria that would enable Sofia to receive Azerbaijani gas and cut its dependence on Russia.



"Putin was in so much of a hurry to build TurkStream to preempt the Azeris and book capacities," Assenova said.



Bulgaria has been importing nearly all of its gas from Russia. Last year, it received its first shipments of U.S. LNG via a terminal in Greece.

Washington has made LNG exports to Eastern Europe a priority in its foreign policy toward the region.



In September, Energy Secretary Rick Perry inked an agreement to improve infrastructure and secure U.S. natural-gas supplies to Poland and Ukraine, allowing them to lessen their dependence on Russian energy.



The first U.S. LNG cargo destined for Ukraine arrived at a Polish port in November. That same month, U.S. President Donald Trump discussed more LNG exports with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov at the White House.

Washington is also backing plans to export Mediterranean gas to Europe to reduce dependence on Moscow.



Cyprus and Israel have discovered huge natural-gas deposits off their shores in recent years.



Those two countries on January 3 signed an agreement with Greece to construct a 1,900-kilometer undersea pipeline to carry natural gas from Israeli and Cypriot waters to Crete.

The three countries hope to have the pipeline -- which could carry 10 bcm to Europe annually -- completed by 2025.



Analysts have said such a pipeline would be expensive and difficult to complete with many states involved.



Turkey doesnt recognize Cypriot international waters and is opposed to the project.



European markets could be saturated by then with natural gas as well. LNG would offer Israel and Cyprus greater export flexibility in a rapidly changing energy market environment.



"Why would you put a huge amount of money into a pipeline that will need to operate for 40 years to be profitable if you have no real view of what your gas market is going to be" over that time frame, Bros said of the Mediterranean pipeline.



"You can do easier, cheaper stuff that doesnt entail having to work with companies and member states," he said.
"I said to my wife: 'I think we are gone,' because we looked around and there was just no help in sight. "I just kept yelling 'stick together, stick together.' People were crying, they were panicking and the water was freezing cold." "The N'Gluka on Soldier's Point slips yesterday. January 10, 1990." Credit:Peter Rae Another survivor, Garry Ludlou, 34, of Newcastle, described his efforts to save a young baby. "I was just holding her above the water, trying to give her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation ...

"I was trying to pick up the baby. I tried to save her but I just couldn't do it. "The mother came with me on the boat back to Soldiers Point." Mr Ludlou said he had no idea why the boat had gone down. "We were just going slow, just punting across. Nobody was doing anything silly. There was no bang, nothing. We were just in the water." He said the skipper had behaved well.

"He was very responsible ... The ones who had lifejackets were the ones who needed them." The N'g-Luka had been on a cruise since 10am yesterday morning. According to Inspector Ralph Parkes, the fibreglass Steber vessel was heading across Lemon Tree passage from Swan Bay where the party had had lunch at Moffat's Oyster Barn. Inspector Parkes said the party included members from as many as five local families. "Everybody knew everybody on board," he said. It is still not known how the accident occurred, and police said last night an investigation into the accident could take weeks.

Inspector Parkes said there was no may-day call. "It happened all quite suddenly. There were other vessels in the water that got on to the Coast Guard after they saw what happened." Police will today interview Dennis Warner, the N'g-Luka's owner, who was skippering the cruiser. The two youngest victims, girls aged six weeks and 2 years, were from Sydney. The other victims, a boy, 3, and two girls, 5 and 7, were from Nelson Bay. Local pleasure boats and rescue helicopters were called to pick up survivors from the water. Divers from local diving schools retrieved the bodies of those trapped inside the hull.

Inspector Parkes said several vessels in the water carried out the rescue and plucked all the survivors from the sea before the police launch arrived. Three Sydney holidaymakers who were among the first to arrive at the scene last night said it was "total panic" as the survivors tried to scramble aboard. The skipper of the 44-foot The Caramor, Steve Windon, 30, of Lane Cove, said: "We were just throwing safety equipment, even senders to help them get up on the boat. All the people were in total shock ... they were all shaking, wet and cold." Rescue services, already stretched to the limit by the December 28 earthquake in Newcastle, rushed to the Soldiers Point Marina and Black Marlin Marina where survivors were brought in. Survivors were ferried by police rescue craft to nearby Soldiers Point about 7.30 and transferred to the Nelson Bay Poly Clinic about 8.30pm.
Impossibles pork char siu buns at the Consumer Electronics Show. Photo: David Becker/Getty Images

First, they came for the cows. Now, flashy alternative-meat company Impossible Foods is coming for pigs  or, rather, attempting to rescue pigs from humans. Either way, Impossible Pork has arrived at this years Consumer Electronics Show, and theres a lot to wrap our collective heads around. Heres everything you need to know about what will very likely be the hottest new meat alternative on the market.

So its new meat at an electronics show?

Yeah. Impossible Foods seems to love the idea that they make tech products instead of traditional food.

What exactly is the Impossible Pork made of?

Its soy-based. Impossible Foods makes all their products with a product called heme, which is made by injecting genetically engineered yeast with soy DNA. Its all very uncanny valley.

Alright  but how does it taste?

The only people who have gotten to try it are at CES right now. The Verge reporter Elizabeth Lopatto describes the Impossible Pork she was served as very salty and a little spongy. But shes been a vegetarian since 1996. So, she had a meat-eater try it, and that tester agreed that the texture was off but the flavor was there. Lopatto tried a banh mi sandwich, char siu buns, dan dan noodles, katsu, and sweet, sour, and numbing meatballs all made with Impossible Pork.

Wait, those are all Asian foods.

Oh, didnt you know? Impossible Pork is Impossible Foods very transparent attempt to break into the global market, and more specifically, the Chinese market. Pork is the most widely consumed protein in the Far East country and Impossible Foods wants  those  yuans!

Why so thirsty for Chinese money?

Hey, Alexa, whats the population of China? As of 2017, the population of China is estimated to be 1.386 billion people.

Noted. But in North America, we love bacon. Did Impossible Foods announce bacon?

No, unfortunately they did not. CEO Pat Brown told USA Today, Were not going to release a bacon product until we feel like anyone who is the most hard-core bacon-worshipper thinks its awesomely delicious. Which is Silicon Valley speak for Were nowhere close to creating alternative bacon.

But surely Impossible Sausage is on the way.

You bet your fast foodloving ass it is. On January 13, Burger King, home of the Impossible Whopper, will introduce the Impossible Croissanwich at 139 locations in Savannah, Georgia; Lansing, Michigan; Springfield, Illinois; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Montgomery, Alabama.

I dont live in any of those places.

Youll just have to wait. Or you can always grab Beyond Meats plant-based sausage, introduced nearly two years ago, at any Dunkin in America.
A junior Marine got his artillery unit into a serious bind after snapping a photo during a massive force-on-force training exercise in California's Mojave Desert.

Ten thousand troops recently descended on Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms for the biggest training event of its kind in decades. The Marines, sailors and NATO forces faced drone attacks, cyber breaches and other high-tech challenges during the free-play exercise.

But one team was taken out by a different kind of threat, Lt. Gen. Lori Reynolds, the Marine Corps' deputy commandant of information, told reporters at the Pentagon.

"A Marine in that exercise took a selfie of him being bored," she said. "It showed in that selfie it was an artillery unit. You could go geo-locate him, and you could see what unit it was.

"They were like, 'OK, you guys are dead.'"

Related: The Days of Secret Military Operations May Soon Be Over. Does That Matter?

It's a tough lesson for a young Marine to learn, Reynolds said.

"And I'm sure that lance corporal was not happy," she said. "But it's OK to learn those things in Twentynine Palms -- we don't want to learn those elsewhere."

Last week, the Army barred about 100 paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division from deploying with cellphones and other personal electronic devices, CNN reported. The North Carolina-based soldiers were sent to the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran after the U.S. killed one of the country's prominent military leaders in an airstrike in Iraq.

The Iranians have sophisticated cyber capabilities.

Military leaders have for years been warning troops that their cellphones and other personal devices could give away their positions overseas.

Now-retired Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said in 2017 he wanted to end leathernecks' technology addiction. Cellphones, he said, were creating vulnerabilities.

"You're going to dig a hole, you're going to camouflage, you're going to turn off all your stuff," he said. "... Because if you can be seen, you can be attacked."

In 2018, troops' fitness trackers were also found to have shared sensitive information location data from military bases around the world.

Reynolds is leading some of the Marine Corps' biggest cultural shifts in decades as the service tries to prepare for sophisticated new threats in the information space that can take down networks, locate troops and remove battlespace awareness.

Maj. Gen. William Mullen, head of the Marine Corps' Training and Education Command, said Marines must rethink the way they fight.

"We saw this out there at Twentynine Palms in an electronic warfare-type environment," Mullen said. "You can't do the normal command and control we're used to from Iraq and Afghanistan ... where you pick up the radio, everything's clear and you can always check on things."

Every time Marines do that, he said, they risk being targeted or jammed.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Read more: 5 Scary Things About Artificial Intelligence That Worry Military Brass
Denis Castillo Hernandez's cellphone was recording when a prosecutor said he issued a chilling, final message to his victim in May 2018: "You raped me. You are not going to rape me today. Today you are going to die."

Alexander Alfaro Castillo, 40, of Herndon, Virginia, was found dead the next day inside his mother's Herndon home in a bizarre scene: underwear was stuffed into his mouth, salt was sprinkled over his body, letters were carved into his face, and signs in English and Spanish were propped on his body next to a woman's photo.

"He raped me when I was drunk so I killed him," the sign in English read.

Castillo Hernandez, 21, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Fairfax County Circuit Court on Monday in connection with the strange slaying, as part of a deal with prosecutors. He will face up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced in April.

Although there was no question about who carried out the killing, substantial mystery remains about the motive. Fairfax County Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney David Gardy offered no explanation in court, and Herndon police previously said the apparent revenge killing appeared to be staged to throw off police.

Herndon police have alleged that Castillo Hernandez was an MS-13 gang member, but they said the killing did not relate to gang activity. They have declined to offer a motive since the case is still pending in court, but they said they had uncovered no evidence that a sexual assault had occurred.

Castillo Hernandez's attorney, Crystal Meleen, added a wrinkle on Monday, telling a judge she had more to offer about the circumstances of the slaying but not until her client faces sentencing. "There is a lot I would like to say," Meleen said in court. She declined to elaborate after the hearing.

Police said the men knew each other, but they did not detail the relationship.

Maria Ines Alfaro, Alfaro Castillo's sister, previously told The Washington Post that her brother was "sweet and supportive." She said her brother was openly gay.

The family did not know Castillo Hernandez, Ines Alfaro said.

Gardy said in court that roommates heard Alfaro Castillo screaming and saying his head hurt between 2 and 3 a.m. on May 25, 2018. The next day a roommate discovered Alfaro Castillo dead, Gardy said in court. He was found on the floor of a basement bedroom.

Police initially responded with hazmat gear because of the white substance sprinkled on Alfaro Castillo's body, before it was determined to be salt. The markings on the man's face initially appeared to read "MS," but an autopsy indicated that they read "MX and 3S," Gardy said. The prosecutor did not explain any possible meaning.

Gardy said Alfaro Castillo had texted his address to Castillo Hernandez that night and had called the man's cellphone. A fingerprint on one of the signs found on Alfaro Castillo's body matched Castillo Hernandez, Gardy said. Castillo Hernandez's cellphone was recording video during the slaying, but it was not pointed at the scene and only audio of Alfaro Castillo's final moments was captured.

Castillo Hernandez was arrested on May 31, 2018, after he was involved in a stabbing, Gardy said. Police found Alfaro Castillo's permanent resident card in Castillo Hernandez's wallet.

Castillo Hernandez called his mother twice about 3 a.m. on the day of the slaying, Gardy said. Castillo Hernandez was crying.

"He said 'I don't want anything from you' and hung up," Gardy said.
In UP, Nadda explains all the good PM has done for farmers

Delhi elections: BJP only party with neta and neeti

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 07: BJP working president J P Nadda on Sunday said his party is the only one that is free from dynastic politics and based on ideology.

Addressing party workers, Nadda said the BJP is also the only party with a leader and policy. He also urged the party workers to at least visit a household thrice to send across the message of the BJP.

The Delhi assembly elections would be held on February 8 and counting will take place on February 11, the Election Commission of India has said.

Notification will be issued on January 14 and the last date of nomination is January 21.

Delhi elections on February 8, counting on Feb 11

Scrutiny of nominations will take place on January 22 and the last date of withdrawal of candidature is January 24.

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 7th, 2020

The model code of conduct has come into effect immediately. All must ensure that it is properly implemented, the EC said.

The ECI while making the announcement today also said that counting will take place on

The ECI said that the total number of voters in the final electoral roll in Delhi as on January 6, 2020, is 1,46,92,136. Polling will be held at 13,750 polling stations.

Delhi elections: BJP faces uphill task to oust AAP

There will be 90,000 officials deployed to ensure the conduct of the elections, the EC also said. At a high-level meeting all aspects were discussed and measures have been taken to ensure that security would be tight, Chief Election Commissioner, Sunil Arora said.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Round, the first digital investment consultant providing non-accredited investors with easy access to institutional fund managers, today launched an investment platform for individuals seeking to build long-term wealth.

Round is a direct pipeline to the powerhouses that invest for institutions and high net worth investors. Investors can join Round to receive a dynamically curated portfolio with funds from asset managers such as Guggenheim Partners, DoubleLine, Gabelli Funds, PIMCO, Brookfield, Cohen & Steers, Aberdeen Standard Investments and Highland Capital Management.

Round will appeal to investors who have relied heavily on passive ETFs and robo-advisors during the long-term bull market and are now focusing on active management as a way to seek outperformance and accumulate wealth.

"Round provides simple access to the most sophisticated human portfolio managers who actively work to manage risk and grow assets  not robots with algorithms designed to just ride the waves of the market," said Saul Cohen, Round's co-founder.

When investors join Round  available online or on mobile  they start by answering questions about their income, assets, risk tolerance, financial goals and desired timeline to meet their goals. Round's technology dynamically matches the investor with a mix of fund managers who invest the member's capital across various asset classes. Portfolios may be reallocated based on the investors' needs, performance and market conditions.

Round's investment minimum is just $500, with a 0.5 percent advisory fee for brokerage, custodial and investment advisory services, but only if returns are positive  Round waives its fee if returns are negative.

Cohen, a former portfolio manager at Guggenheim, and software engineer Ron Rojany co-founded Round in 2016 to provide guidance and actively managed investing opportunities to investors who may not have the time or resources to invest with high-end fund managers on their own. The platform automates all the processes associated with trading, portfolio construction, active management and distribution into one system.

"Round unlocks a world once exclusively reserved for the ultra-wealthy and large institutions, including not only equity and fixed income, but also alternative assets and strategies," said Cohen. "As a digital investment consultant providing dynamic allocation, Round is leveling the playing field and closing the gap in investment offerings."

Round members can track investment performance, learn about fund managers and receive content about their portfolios and the markets on desktop and in the app.

Round is a registered investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Visit www.investround.com to learn more, create an account, or download the Round app on the Apple app store.

About Round

Round is the only institutional-grade digital investment consultant for everyday investors. Round gives investors direct access to premium investment portfolios with world-class active fund managers. Round's proprietary technology curates an active investment portfolio comprised of top-tier fund managers such as Guggenheim Partners, DoubleLine and Gabelli. Round is backed by industry leaders, including former portfolio manager at PIMCO John Brynjolfsson and the founder of ClickSoftware Moshe Ben Bassat. Learn more at www.investround.com.

Media Contact:

Siobhan Nolan

JConnelly

(862) 217-9585

[email protected]

SOURCE Round
A storm will serve as a reality check for millions of Americans this weekend, following a stretch of springlike warmth expected to challenge records. Wintry precipitation is forecast to overspread a 1,700-mile corridor of the United States, spanning from the Central to Northeastern regions.

The same storm system that will bring the threat for severe thunderstorms and flooding rain across the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys will also pose a threat for accumulating snow and ice beginning this weekend.

After the weather system tracks through the Northwest at midweek, it will intensify and tap into the available energy from an unusually warm and humid air mass surging out of the Gulf of Mexico.

A heavy rain threat will first expand across the mid-Mississippi Valley on Friday, then the threat for accumulating snow and ice will soon thereafter threaten portions of the Plains and Midwest while colder air seeps southeastward.

"The setup will result in a very tight weather contrast zone, where rainy conditions, snow and/or ice can all occur," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

"Temperatures over this same 100-mile cross section can range from the balmy 50s and 60s F to the 20s and 30s," he added.

Beginning around the Friday evening commute, there may be a narrow corridor from northeastern Oklahoma, eastern Kansas into northern Missouri where atmospheric conditions allow for freezing rain to fall.

"Any roads left untreated, especially along the northern edge of this system, are likely to become covered in ice," AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert said. "Even a glaze of ice on roadways may lead to increased spin-outs or even multi-vehicle accidents," she added.

Topeka, Kansas, as well as both Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri, could face this threat Friday afternoon and evening. Travelers along interstates 29, 35 and 70 in this area will want to monitor the forecast closely.

Story continues

The threat for ice and snow will continue to expand northeastward into the Great Lakes Friday night into Saturday as the storm continues along its path.

Chicago and Detroit may face the threat for a wintry mixture of precipitation beginning Friday night.

The storm is expected to track eastward through the Ohio Valley on Saturday, and cold air filtering into the storm will gradually shift precipitation modes from ice to snow across the Midwest.

Some areas that may end up encased in ice may then see accumulating snow afterward, adding additional stress to tree limbs and power lines.

The storm will pivot and precipitation will transition to snow, burying portions of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan under totals in excess of 6 inches Saturday into Saturday night.

The snow and ice threat will continue to expand into the eastern Great Lakes as well as northern New England Saturday night into Sunday. Similar threats will exist across a corridor from western New York to Maine.

The threat for wintry precipitation could make travel treacherous across interstates 81, 87, 89, 90, 91, 93 and 95 across New York and New England over the latter half of the weekend.

"Exactly where the temperature and weather contrast zone ends up is key to the forecast," Sosnowski added. "The zone could shift farther to the north and west or perhaps farther to the south and east in the coming days."

The storm system will continue to track right off the Atlantic coast by the end of the weekend, bringing a return of dry weather early next week.

Download the free AccuWeather app to check the precipitation type expected and storm timing in your area. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to coverage on the AccuWeather Network.
The British teenager, who cannot be named, and her mother (left) outside Famagusta District Court in Paralimni (Henry Vaughan/PA)

A British teenager faces sentencing after she was found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus.

The 19-year-old woman, who has not been named, could be jailed for up to a year and fined 1,700 euro (1,500) at Famagusta District Court in Paralimni on Tuesday.

Her lawyers asked Judge Michalis Papathanasiou to consider a suspended prison sentence after she was convicted of public mischief last week.

And local media reports suggest she will be pardoned by Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades if the judge does impose an immediate jail term, allowing her to go home.

The teenagers family have said they fear for her mental health if she is sent back to prison and hope she will be allowed to return to the UK to be treated for PTSD.

Expand Close The verdict has sparked protests (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp The verdict has sparked protests (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Speaking to ITV News, her mother said the teenager was terrified of being sent to jail.

She has been in Nicosia state prison before, she knows what it is like, she said.

Shes going to go in there for a conviction for this offence, and people will know what she has been saying about Cyprus.

I cant even begin to describe how upsetting that is.

The teenagers English lawyer, Michael Polak, from the Justice Abroad group, said: We are worried that the teenager will be given an immediate custodial sentence, which would cause permanent damage to her mental health.

As our psychologist Dr Christine Tizzard said, she needs to have proper care in the UK immediately.

Any further time spent in custody would cause more damage to her.

The teenager claimed she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party town of Ayia Napa on July 17.

She was charged, while the 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 spent around a month in prison before being granted bail in August.

She maintains she was raped after having consensual sex with one of the Israelis but forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police.

We are confident we will succeed on appeal if not in Cyprus then at one of the European courtsMichael Polak, Justice Abroad

The case hinged on a retraction statement signed by the teenager following hours of questioning alone and without legal representation.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he has raised concerns over the treatment of the teenager with the Cypriot authorities after her conviction provoked outrage in Cyprus and the UK.

Her lawyers are poised to launch an appeal and hope to fast-track proceedings in Cypruss supreme court, which could take three to four years.

Mr Polak said: We think we have strong grounds for appeal. For example, the way the trial was conducted and the admission of the retraction statement, as well as the fact she didnt have a lawyer when the statement was taken.

We are confident we will succeed on appeal if not in Cyprus then at one of the European courts.
President Trump said Tuesday that former national security adviser John Bolton "would know nothing about what we're talking about" if he testified in the Senate impeachment trial, adding that it will be "up to the lawyers" and the Senate to decide whether he appears.

Reality check: A number of witnesses told the House impeachment inquiry that Bolton was present in several meetings and conversations related to President Trump's decision to withhold military aid to Ukraine. Axios also reported in November that current and former administration officials believe Bolton was the most prolific note-taker at the top level of the White House.

Former National Security Council official Tim Morrison told impeachment investigators Bolton met privately with the president in August to convince him to release nearly $400 million in frozen military aid to Ukraine.

told impeachment investigators Bolton met privately with the president in August to convince him to release nearly $400 million in frozen military aid to Ukraine. Former White House official Fiona Hill recounted an episode during which Bolton told her, I am not part of whatever drug deal [EU Ambassador Gordon] Sondland and [acting chief of staff Mick] Mulvaney are cooking up, and asked her to relay that message to White House lawyers.

recounted an episode during which Bolton told her, I am not part of whatever drug deal [EU Ambassador Gordon] Sondland and [acting chief of staff Mick] Mulvaney are cooking up, and asked her to relay that message to White House lawyers. Bolton's lawyer confirmed in November he was a "part of many relevant meetings and conversations" that would be significant to the impeachment inquiry.

The state of play: Bolton said on Monday that he would testify in Trump's impeachment trial if the Senate subpoenaed him. However, that would require four GOP senators to vote with Democrats to call him as a witness, and it's unclear whether enough moderate Republicans would be willing to break ranks.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he plans to move forward on approving rules for the trial without negotiating with Democrats.

McConnell has expressed no interest in subpoenaing Bolton, but Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will still likely bring votes on witnesses after each side makes its opening arguments.

Of note: Trump tweeted in November about Bolton and his dealings with Ukraine, stating, "John Bolton is a patriot and may know that I held back the money from Ukraine because it is considered a corrupt country, & I wanted to know why nearby European countries werent putting up money also."

Go deeper: Key GOP senators don't want to subpoena John Bolton
JCRE Department Heads "We made the determination to decentralize our program so that the agent is empowered to serve the client even better." - Jeff Cook

At a company-wide meeting held in Charleston, SC, Jeff Cook, CEO, announced the new structure to agents and viewers from a live webstream.

"We made the determination to decentralize our program so that the agent is empowered to serve the client even better," said Jeff Cook.

JCRE now has 3 different models for agents to choose from when they decide to team up with the #1 team in South Carolina and the #10 team in the nation. Real estate agents from all levels of expertise will now have the option to choose from becoming an Expansion Partner, a Core Agent, or an Express Agent with JCRE.

As an Expansion Partner with JCRE, agents will have the opportunity to grow and cultivate a team of agents beneath them. This program is a perfect fit for those individuals who can inspire and encourage a group of agents to achieve their goals. With access to the model used at JCRE, Express Agents can create their own team and make a name for themselves in real estate.

For those looking to make their mark in real estate, choose the Core Agent Program. Perfect for agents of all experience levels, the Core Agent program allows you access to JCREs convenient resources to grow your business.

As an Express Agent, agents will have the independence to go their own path but with the full support of the strong Jeff Cook Real Estate brand.

As a Jeff Cook Real Estate agent, individuals will have the opportunity to become a part of something larger than themselves and create their own legacy in real estate. JCRE is challenging agents of all levels of their career to come into the company under the new structure. JCREs main priority is to better serve the public and by shifting perspective to focus in on the agent JCRE will be able to make our clients happier than ever before.

About Jeff Cook Real Estate

Jeff Cook Real Estate focuses on leveraging each other's strengths to provide exceptional service while maximizing each team member's talents. In a company where entrepreneurship and out-of-the-box thinking are the driving factors of our success, we welcome industry leaders who challenge the norms and are looking to take their business to new heights. To learn more about joining Jeff Cook Real Estate visit http://www.JoinJCRE.com.

For Media Inquiries:

Megan Garrell

Jeff Cook Real Estate

Megan.Garrell@JeffCookRealEstate.com
When the recently elected Virginia General Assembly convenes on Wednesday, Democratic and Republican members should make a New Years resolution to elect the finest possible judges to deliver justice. Nearly 220 years ago, Democrat Thomas Jefferson defeated incumbent Federalist John Adams and became the third president. However, before Jefferson could assume office, Adams nominated, and the Federalist Senate majority confirmed, numerous federal judges, whom many observers disparagingly characterized as the Midnight Judges. Since then, the appointment of Midnight Judges has been controversial, even though lame duck presidents and U.S. Senates often confirm them.

On Nov. 18, the Virginia General Assembly majority reconvened in a special session that was originally intended to address gun safety and potentially to conduct business that it did not complete during earlier sessions. However, in the Nov. 5 statewide elections, the people had voted to replace slim Republican majorities with new Democratic majorities in the Senate and House of Delegates for the first time in a generation. This meant that the lame duck Republican majorities in both chambers properly deferred to the will of the people by eschewing the election of judges to vacancies on the Virginia Court of Appeals, the State Corporation Commission (SCC), as well as seven circuit, six general district and seven juvenile and domestic relations district court openings.
Tarrytown, NY, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quality Medical Management Services, LLC (QMMS USA), an affiliate of ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP (ENTA), announced today it has expanded and strengthened its management team by hiring Mary Paladino as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - NY Metro. Mary Paladino will oversee ENTAs NY Metro region finance operations and work in conjunction with Arthur Schwacke, who is now the EVP - Chief Financial Officer of QMMS USA. Arthur Schwacke, who joined ENTA in 1998, will work jointly with Robert Glazer, EVP  Chief Executive Officer, to grow QMMS USA nationally.

Mary joins QMMS USA from Citrin Cooperman & Company LLP and brings with her more than 25 years of practical experience, providing audit, accounting, and advisory services to multinational clients in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. She has served a variety of industries, including health care, manufacturing and distribution, technology and life sciences, and not-for-profit. Mary graduated magna cum laude from the State University of New York at Oswego with a Bachelor of Science in Business and Accounting, and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mary is currently a partner and co-manages the audit and assurance practice for Citrin Coopermans White Plains, New York office.

The expansion of the QMMS USA management team is a direct response to the forecasted business growth going into the next decade. The company also announced other organizational changes/additions in its accounting, finance, marketing, business development, human resources and legal teams in preparation for future growth.

Click here to take a virtual tour of ENTA / QMMS USA Corporate Headquarters

Accounting and Finance:

Camille Kuciej, CPA, who joins QMMS USA from Phelps Hospital, is now Sr. Accountant.

Jewel McKinney, who was previously employed by KPMG, LLP, is now Sr. Accountant.

Legal/Human Resources:

Lalenya Siegel, Esq., who was previously employed by Milbank Tweed Hadley and Mcloy, LLP, is now Of Counsel.

Jorge Lugo, M.S. HRM, SHRM-CP, PHR, who currently serves in the Navy Reserve, joins QMMS USA from Paychex, and is now Payroll Manager.

Business Development / Marketing:

Jason Campbell, Director of Marketing and Business Development, was promoted to Senior Director of Marketing and Business Development.

Steven Borzoni, who joins QMMS USA from Citigroup, is now Senior Marketing Manager.

Michael Komendowski, Senior Business Development Analyst, was promoted to Business Development Manager.

John Sweet, PRRC Supervisor, was promoted to Business Development Analyst.

Information Technology:

Anthony Venuto, Senior Director of Information Technology, will now oversee Application Development.

I am very excited to be joining the QMMS USA team, said Mary Paladino. I believe QMMS USA has a great business model and talented management team. The group is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the changing healthcare environment and provide leading edge healthcare business management services to organizations regionally and nationally.

What makes QMMS USA truly special is the top-tier talent throughout the organization. Each member of our team brings a strategic and critical set of skills to the table that will be integral as we prepare to advance our pipeline regionally and nationally, commented Robert Glazer, EVP - CEO of QMMS USA, LLC. We have the right people in the right positions to harness the tools and techniques that have allowed ENT and Allergy Associates LLP to become the industry leader in back-office management strategies and services. Adding Mary to our organization brings an elevated level of corporate proficiency to the team that will directly impact the practice in a very positive way.

"We've cultivated a best-in-class team with more than 60+ years of collective industry experience. It is important for us to maintain a strong, energetic and integrated management team regionally and nationally, noted Robert Green, MD, Chairman of the Board and President of QMMS USA. "Mary is eager to join our growing management team, and we could not be more excited.

To learn more about QMMS USA, LLC, visit www.qmmsusa.com or call 914-490-8880.

About QMMS USA, LLC: Backed by over 20 years of experience, Quality Medical Management Services USA (QMMS USA) offers healthcare consultancy services in the area of medical staff operations, practice management, ancillary service revenue enhancement, compliance, records management, and business applications. QMMS USA provides a seasoned team to offer leading edge healthcare business management. QMMS USA implements best practices throughout to ensure success.

To learn more about ENTA, find a local office or book an appointment, download the ENT and Allergy Associates mobile app, visit www.entandallergy.com or call 1-855-ENTA-DOC.

About ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP: ENT and Allergy Associates LLP (ENTA) has more than 220 physicians practicing in 46 office locations in Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as New York City and northern/central New Jersey. The practice sees over 90,000 patients per month. Each ENTA clinical location provides access to a full complement of services, including General Adult and Pediatric ENT and Allergy, Voice and Swallowing, Advanced Sinus and Skull Base Surgery, Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, Disorders of the Inner Ear and Dizziness, Asthma, Clinical Immunology, Diagnostic Audiology, Hearing Aid dispensing, Sleep and CT Services. ENTA has clinical alliances with Mount Sinai Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, Northwell Health, and a partnership with the American Cancer Society.
WASHINGTON - Ten Republican senators have signed onto Sen. Josh Hawley's proposal to change the Senate rules to enable the chamber to dismiss President Donald Trump's impeachment.

The Missouri Republican's proposed rules change would empower the Senate to dismiss articles of impeachment if the House fails to deliver them within 25 days of its impeachment vote.

Hawley's resolution, unveiled Monday, is a response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision to withhold the articles of impeachment against Trump in an effort to compel the GOP-controlled Senate to call witnesses when it holds its trial of the president. Pelosi's strategy prevents the Senate from voting to acquit Trump from the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

A change to the Senate rules requires a two-thirds majority of 67 votes. Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate, so Hawley's proposal stands little chance unless majority Republicans take the "nuclear option" to bypass the rules and pass the measure with 51 votes.

Hawley's proposal may be more useful to Republicans as a rhetorical hammer to hit Democrats with in the short-term.

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The former Missouri attorney general has argued that a criminal prosecutor would have a case dismissed against a defendant for using similar tactics. Hawley's proposal is meant to pressure Pelosi, a California Democrat, to hand over the articles or to give the Senate an option if the delay continues.

"In a normal courtroom, in a real world, if the prosecutor does not try his or her case, if they don't actually bring it forward to the court, the defendant can say, all right, then we're dismissing the case," Hawley said Monday on Fox News. "The court can say, we're dismissing the case. In this instance, the Senate is the court and it's time for us to take action."

Laurence Tribe, a Harvard Law School professor who advised House Democrats during the impeachment process, said if Hawley's proposal received the 67 votes required to change a Senate rule it could apply to future impeachments but not necessarily Trump's impeachment.

"Attempting to apply it retroactively to the Articles voted on December 18 and thereby changing the rules in midstream would be another matter altogether and might well be unconstitutional," said Tribe, who has advocated for delaying delivery of the articles.

Tribe warned that any efforts to bypass the 67-vote requirement would be "not just nuclear but thermonuclear. As long as there are any cloture rules at all, a simple majority cannot suffice to amend the Senate's standing rules. Without cloture rules, the Senate would cease to be the Senate."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has yet to say whether Hawley's proposal will receive serious consideration, but two members of McConnell's Republican leadership team, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa and Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, were among the 10 senators to co-sponsor Hawley's proposal.

"Speaker Pelosi and her squad need to send over the articles so that we can get back to the people's business. This resolution sets an important timetable that will allow us to do just that," Ernst said in a statement.

Ernst's decison to sign onto Hawley's proposal could put pressure on other members of GOP leadership, including Sen. Roy Blunt, the Missouri Republican who serves as Senate Rules chairman.

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Lauren Gepford, the executive director the Missouri Democratic Party, said Republican senators have made it clear they won't serve as impartial jurors during a Senate trial. She questioned Hawley's proposal to avoid a trial by dismissing impeachment.

"Perhaps Senator Hawley isn't as confident in the President's eventual acquittal as the rest of his party is," Gepford said.

---

(c)2020 McClatchy Washington Bureau

Visit the McClatchy Washington Bureau at www.mcclatchydc.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Odds On Amethyst found himself in the role of the spoiler in Monday evenings feature trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park thanks to his come from behind tally in a $28,000 conditioned event.

Heavily favoured Royal Witch stepped to the front and got away with facile fractions of :29.4 and :58.4 in the opening half, but she was then pressed hard around the final turn by On The Ropes.

Those two battled to the three-quarter pole in 1:26.1, with Odds On Amethyst riding cover from second over for trainer/driver Pat Hudon. Royal Witch put away On The Ropes, but she couldnt fend off the late-rushing Odds On Amethyst who powered home in :27.3 to win by 2-1/2 lengths over B Yoyo in 1:54.2. Royal Witch weakened late and settled for third.

Hudon shares ownership on the nine-year-old son of Muscle Hill-Mystical Sunshine with William Cripps, Charles Gazzola and Adam Kean. The former OBrien Award winner notched the 35th win of his career while pushing his career cash stash to $672,462.

To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results  Woodbine Mohawk Park.
STAMFORD  In response to Fotis Dulos seeking to end his acrimonious divorce with his missing wife, an attorney appointed to represent the best interests of the couples children is calling for a hearing before a judge.

Attorney Michael Meehan, a court-appointed guardian ad litem for the five Dulos children, is asking the judge overseeing the two-year divorce to hold a status conference to discuss his fees and his future role in the case.

Meehan filed the request Thursday, one week after attorney Richard Rochlin, representing Fotis Dulos, filed papers seeking to end the divorce because Jennifer Dulos May 24 disappearance has stalled the proceedings.

Rochlin also sought to move custody proceedings for the five children to juvenile court to challenge a New Canaan Probate Court judges recent decision to grant Jennifer Dulos mother, Gloria Farber, guardianship of the children.

Farbers attorneys have claimed Fotis Dulos owes Meehan $43,000 in unpaid fees. Both parents were responsible for paying for Meehans services.

Attorney Reuben Midler, representing Jennifer Dulos in the divorce, filed papers this week opposing Fotis Dulos push to end the legal action on the grounds he is the prime suspect in his estranged wifes disappearance and has been charged in the missing persons case.

Midler contends the divorce is still hotly contested and there are several issues that still need to be decided, including custody of the children who have been staying with Farber since their mother disappeared.

Midler also wants Fotis Dulos to pay his attorney fees and legal costs associated with defending the motion to dismiss the divorce and any other actions he files.

Rochlins motion to dismiss coincided with his request to appeal the guardianship ruling. 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 the disappearance.

Fotis Dulos intends to seek access to the children during the hearing, according to Rochlin who contends Meehans services have not been used for months.

According to Midler, there is no record of Meehan being removed from the case. Meehan indicated in his request for a status conference that the matter was not urgent, but he wanted to discuss his fees and his role as the childrens guardian ad litem.

In his motion to dismiss the divorce, Rochlin contends the dormant status of the divorce could lead to different judges issuing conflicting orders on the same issues, including in custody matters.

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.

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.

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.
American Airlines said Monday it had reached a confidential settlement with Boeing over the grounding of its 737 MAX fleet.

American Airlines Group Inc, the largest US airline, said the compensation will be received over several years and more than $30million will go to its 2019 employee profit-sharing program.

Boeing's best-selling 737 MAX has been grounded since two fatal crashes in five months killed 346 people. The company is halting production this month.

American said it does not expect any material financial impact of the agreement to be realized in its fourth-quarter 2019 earnings and it will continue talks regarding compensation for damages related to the MAX grounding beyond 2019.

grounded Boeing 737 Max jets belonging to American Airlines are stored at Tulsa International Airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma in May last year

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents American Airlines' 28,000 flight attendants, said it welcomed the news about compensation, and was evaluating the details.

Boeing said it does not comment on discussions with airlines.

A number of airlines have struck confidential settlements with Boeing in recent weeks.

The first disaster happened in October 2018 in Indonesia, when a MAX flying as Lion Air flight JT 610 fell into the Java Sea 15 minutes after taking off from Jakarta.

All 189 aboard the plane died, including 180 Indonesians, one Italian and one Indian.

Shoes found during the search for victims from the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT 610 are collected at the Jakarta International Container Terminal in Jakarta on October 31, 2018

Investigators with the US National Transportation and Safety Board examine debris from Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 at the site of the crash

The second crash occurred in March when Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 took off from Bole International Airport in the Ethiopian capital and crashed.

All 149 passengers and eight crew members died.

The crisis has cost Boeing $9 billion, and has hurt suppliers and airlines like American, United and Southwest.
"It's our way of saying thank you for your service," explained Brian Smith, president and co-founder of Showcase Agency, Inc.

Today, Showcase Agency, Inc. announced the launch of Vets Sell Free - a new program to help Veterans save money when they sell a home.

Vets Sell Free is available to currently serving or retired/honorably-discharged U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard and surviving spouses who are selling a primary residence located within 15 miles of Showcase Agency's Irvine office.

"Karin and I have a soft spot for Vets. A lot of our clients are Vets, my dad was in the Army for 21 years, and I feel all Vets make sacrifices for our country, with some of those Vets making huge sacrifices, some even giving their lives," explained Brian Smith, president and co-founder of Showcase Agency, Inc. "We're a small company so we can't afford to give a Vet a house or pay off their mortgage like I've seen bigger companies do, but we can waive our listing commission and still deliver excellent results and a fun experience. It's our way of saying thank you for your service."

Data shows that listing commissions are often 2% to 3% of the sale price, and with Southern California home prices being one of the nation's highest, Vets Sell Free could save a Veteran thousands of dollars when they sell their home.

About Showcase Agency, Inc.

Showcase Agency, Inc. is a California corporation licensed by the California Department of Real Estate as a Real Estate Broker (DRE 02058997) and Mortgage Broker (NMLS 1762262).

Brian Smith is the co-founder and president. Brian got his start as a loan officer in 2005, has held mortgage licenses in 48 states and is currently licensed by the State of California as a real estate broker and mortgage broker. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, the California Association of Realtors, the Pacific West Association of Realtors and the National Association of Mortgage Brokers.

Showcase Agency helps people to buy and sell homes, and offers all types of home loans including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA loans, VA loans and jumbo loans for purchase or refinance.

To learn more, visit https://showcaseagency.com/.
soleimani funeral crowd

Nazanin Tabatabaee/West Asia News Agency via Reuters

The UK is stepping up contingency plans to evacuate troops and other British personnel from Iraq.

The news comes amid growing fears that reprisal attacks from Iran on the US and its allies are imminent.

It follows the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the influential Iranian military commander, who was killed by a US airstrike in Baghdad last week.

The US was forced to deny on Monday that it was planning to withdraw soldiers from Iraq after a leaked draft letter from a senior military official suggested it would be preparing troops for "movement out" of the country.

The UK has stepped up emergency plans to evacuate British troops and other military personnel from Iraq amid growing fears of revenge attacks by Iran.

The Ministry of Defence sent around 20 senior military planners and liaison officers to the Baghdad embassy on the weekend, according to a report in the Times.

Defence sources told the newspaper that the risk of reprisal attacks would increase on Tuesday following three days of mourning to mark the death of Qassem Soleimani, the powerful Iranian commander who was killed in a US airstrike at Baghdad airport on Friday.

The British advisers are drawing up plans to evacuate soldiers quickly, the Times reported, and the strategies will be used for diplomats and other civilians if necessary.

The report came as the United States denied that it had plans to withdraw troops from Iraq, despite a leaked draft letter from a senior military official which indicated withdrawal plans were underway.

The letter, drafted by Brigadier-General William Seely, head of the US Military's Task Force Iraq, said it would be "repositioning" troops to prepare for "movement out" of the country.

But US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said: "There's been no decision whatsover to leave Iraq."

"There's no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave."

He insisted that the US had instead been repositioning troops due to increased security threats from Iran.

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Detectives are on the hunt for a distinctive Holden Commodore after the death of a 35-year-old man.

Tuan Tran was found dead in the backyard of a home in Young Street, Mt Pritchard, in Sydney's south west, on October 30 following a disturbance.

Mr Tran had severe injuries and lacerations on the back of his head but a coroner was unable to determine his cause of death.

Tuan Tran (pictured) was found dead with severe wounds to the back of his head by police in the backyard of a home in Sydney's south-west last year

Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said several people were seen at the home at the time of the assault.

'Strike force investigators believe at least two people forced entry to the Mt Pritchard home and stole property about 6.40am that day, and at the time, five people were at home,' he said.

'There has been an altercation that has resulted in fatal injuries to Mr Tran.

'The other four occupants were able to flee uninjured and have since been spoken to by detectives.

'Our investigations have revealed Mr Tran had been associating with people involved in drug-related activities,' he said.

CCTV footage captured a white Holden Commodore with a black stripe and roof passing through the area just before 7am.

Police released footage of a white Holden Commodore that was seen in the area at the time of the assault

The distinctive car featured a black stripe and roof along with modified wheels and bodywork

The vehicle also had modified wheels and bodywork.

'We are keen to speak to anyone in the area at the time or any motorists with dash cam vision who may have been driving in the area of Mt Pritchard,' he said.

Anyone with information is asking to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
As the Hong Kong protest movement has escalated, Taiwan pastor Ng ChhunSeng has been quietly engaged in collecting goods and financial donations to support protesters fleeing to Taiwan for fear of arrest for "rioting," a charge that carries a penalty of up to 10 years' imprisonment and which has been brought against large numbers of peaceful protesters since last June. To date, he has raised some 15 million Taiwan dollars (around U.S.$500,000) at a time when donated funds in Hong Kong itself are being seized by the authorities. He spoke to RFA's Mandarin Service about his reasons for getting involved:



RFA: How much have you raised so far?



Ng ChhunSeng: By about October ... we had raised about 10 million Taiwan dollars, but we received another five or six million in donations immediately after the [siege and assaults by riot police] on the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in November and December. So that adds up to about 15 million Taiwan dollars.



RFA: Was all of that raised in Taiwan?



Ng ChhunSeng: About 90 percent of it was, but there were also some donations from the United States, Canada, Japan, and even two from China.



RFA: What supplies were donated from China?



Ng ChhunSeng: They were both gas masks and respirators, and they included a note saying "Go Hong Kong!"



RFA: A report in The New York Times in early December said that some protesters whose passports had been confiscated by the Hong Kong authorities were smuggled into Taiwan. Is this true?



Ng ChhunSeng: The reporter for The New York Times is a serious journalist. She spent more than two months in Hong Kong and Taiwan. She came to our church several times. At that time, I never said that we had smuggled people in, so I don't think that came from me. It probably came from interviews she got in Hong Kong. I know a lot of friends in Hong Kong who needed to find any way they can to leave, because they know they will be prosecuted for rioting. Have they succeeded? I have no information about that.



RFA: So, the Hongkongers who were helped by your church all arrived through legal channels?



Ng ChhunSeng: They all came by plane.



RFA: Is it the case that many of them have returned to Hong Kong already?



Ng ChhunSeng: Most of them have gone back now. But some people have been told by their families not to go back because the police have come knocking on their door while they were away, to arrest them. Since they are all young people, we have arranged for them to go to school here.



RFA: I heard that you also helped dissidents in mainland China before you came back here from Hong Kong. Can you tell us more?



Ng ChhunSeng: In the past few years [Chinese dissidents] in Taiwan, needed to get a United Nations refugee card, and we would help them to do that through the church system, particularly in the United States. Bob Fu and the ChinaAid group have been very helpful. They have told us about similar cases, and we help if we can.



RFA: So you and Bob Fu ...



Ng ChhunSeng: We work together.



RFA: Can you give some examples? How about Huang Yan, the Chinese activist who traveled to the U.S. after staying in Taiwan for more than eight months in 2019?



Ng ChhunSeng: Huang Yan was one of them, and her case has already been made public. But I can't talk about the others.



RFA: As a Christian pastor, why do you care so much about dissidents in China and Hong Kong?



Ng ChhunSeng: We don't just care about them in China and Hong Kong. In Taiwan, we used to care about our own victims of political persecution. Working for human rights and caring about injustice is actually a core value of [the Christian] faith. China has more than 2,000 missiles aimed at Taiwan, so we have a sense of crisis here. Faith is supposed to bring hope, not to suppress it. All we can do is focus on humanitarian care. As Jesus said, to love our neighbor.



RFA: Wang Yi, a pastor of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, was recently sentenced to nine years in prison for inciting subversion of state power. What is your comment on this?



Ng ChhunSeng: The day he was tried was Dec. 26, which was a very politically sensitive date, as it was Mao Zedong's birthday. It seems to me intentional. Rev. Wang Yi wrote a statement beforehand saying that he had no intention of subverting the government, and that he submits to the Almighty, not to any temporal kingdom, and that he hoped to build a better future by obeying the dictates of the kingdom of Heaven. I think any government with a conscience should move in this direction. When I see the church being persecuted in China, it makes me feel that I should pray more, in the hope that China will be filled with the peace of God.



RFA: So what do you think of Taiwan's experience of democratization as a model for mainland China?



Ng ChhunSeng: Two things. During the Taiwan Wild Lily Student Movement [the 1990 pro-democracy protests], students protested against the lack of elections for the National Assembly, which they called the 10,000 year-old assembly. They wanted it returned to the people. There were only about 10,000 students protesting at the time, which is a really small number compared to the current Hong Kong movement. The student struggle lasted less than a week, during which President Lee Teng-hui invited student representatives to the presidential palace. He told them that he had heard, and agreed with, their four main demands. But he told them that they should give him time to implement them, and that they should go home and be good students in the meantime. I believe President Lee Teng-hui was able to act this way because of his Christian faith. He is a member of our church in Jinan.



RFA: Did he go on to implement the students' demands?



Ng ChhunSeng: All four major demands have been implemented. The other thing is that ... social change is usually driven by young people who have ideals and enthusiasm, and put their ideals into action. The church plays the role of companion in this process. We do not take the initiative, nor do we lead these student movements. The same is true of the role played by the church in Taiwan in the past. The Presbyterian church is always involved in social movements in Taiwan, letting them know that the love of God is with them.



RFA: But in mainland China, another mass movement is being suppressed, and the church can't even carry out basic religious activities. Do you think there is hope in mainland China?



Ng ChhunSeng: Of course there can't be hope if things carry on like this. But human history is constantly on the move. If a regime has no respect for human life and no desire for the higher values, it will eventually be consigned to the ashes of history. It may seem in a time of darkness that there is no hope, but China will change.



Reported by Shen Hua for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The Shekau faction of the terrorist group Boko Haram has released a video of the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Adamawa state, who was declared missing following a raid on Michika town on 3 January 2020.

In the video, sent to Nigerian journalist and Boko Haram expert Ahmed Salkida, Rev. Lawan Andimi speaks in Hausa and English, stating he is not discouraged because all conditions [in which one] finds himself is in the hands of God, whom he credits for the fact that he is being treated relatively well by the terrorists.

The reverend goes on to ask his colleagues and particularly to the president of the Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN  Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), Rev. Joel Billy, to speak to Adamawa state governor Ahmadu Umoru Fintri and other relevant officials in order to secure his release. While expressing confidence that he might return to his wife, children and colleagues by the grace of God, he adds that if this is not possible, then maybe it is the will of God. Pastor Andimi concludes by stating: dont cry, dont worry, but thank God for everything.

CSWs Founder and Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said: We are deeply concerned by Pastor Andimis abduction and call for his unconditional release. We echo his plea for Governor Ahmadu Umoru Fintri and any other officials with influence to intervene to secure the release of this courageous man.

Rev Andimi was abducted after terrorists, reportedly dressed in military fatigues, descended on Michika town on the evening of 3 January in a convoy of vehicles and ransacked the town for food and valuables. Prior to the release of the video, the pastor was last seen being forced into a Toyota Hilux.

The attack on Michika is part of an upsurge in violence by both factions of Boko Haram since December 2019.

On 22 December, during an attack on two passenger buses on Munguno road in Borno state, Muslim passengers were released while the Christians were held back and separated by gender. Three men, including a pastor from Deeper Life Bible Church, were killed on the spot, while the pastors relative Hannatu Sabastin Ishaya, and two humanitarian workers called Jennifer Ukambong and Asabe, were abducted.

On 23 December, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) killed several people when they attacked the outskirts of the Yobe state capital Damaturu for the third time in two months, as well as Biu town in southern Borno state, using rocket-propelled grenades.

On 24 December, the Shekau faction attacked Kwarangulum village, situated 10 miles from Chibok, killing at least six people and injuring three. On the same day, two people were killed and around 12 injured on the outskirts of Biu during the second ISWAP attack in less than 24 hours.

The beheadings of 10 Christians and shooting of one Muslim caught international attention after a film of the executions was released by ISWAP to coincide with Christmas. Shekau himself released a video on the same day reiterating threats to Christian and to Muslims espousing liberal views, and disputing the divinity of Christ.

On 26 December, bride-to-be Martha Boulos was killed in an ambush by the Shekau faction, along with six members of her bridal party, as they travelled to Adamawa state for her wedding, which was due to take place on 31 December. Her sister Zainab was reportedly among the victims.

Mr Thomas added: The sheer scale and pace of attacks by terrorist groups over the Christmas period should cause alarm worldwide. We urge the government of Nigeria, assisted by its allies, to formulate a comprehensive solution to the alarming rise in violence and abduction that is afflicting the lives of Nigerian civilians. In addition, given the general rise in jihadi activities in the West African region, we also urge the United Kingdom, France and other members of the international community to assist the Economic Community of West African States in formulating a coordinated regional response that will prevent this threat from metastasizing further.

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press and Public Affairs Team Leader at CSW on +44 (0)782 332 9663 or email [email protected].

CSW is a human rights organisation specialising in freedom of religion or belief. We work on over 20 countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. www.csw.org.uk
ANN ARBOR, MI  Ann Arbor is partnering with DTE Energy to explore creating a massive solar farm on an old landfill site, one that could power nearly all of the citys municipal operations.

The area abutting the citys Wheeler Service Center off Ellsworth and Stone School roads in Pittsfield Township has potential for a series of arrays totaling nearly 24 megawatts, preliminary estimates show.

That would be more than 400 times larger than the 52.5-kilowatt solar array the city just installed atop a city fire station.

The citys staff has been exploring opportunities to meet the citys climate-action and clean-energy goals and identified the old landfill as a very strong location for a large solar installation, Missy Stults, the citys sustainability manager, told City Council in a memo.

A resolution to partner with DTE Energy on an engineering analysis and distribution study is expected to go to council for approval Jan. 21, requiring the city to pay up to $90,000, Stults said.

Details on how much the installation might cost or how it would be funded havent been released yet.

There will be a public meeting to get feedback on a concept design at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, at the Pittsfield Township Administration Building, 6201 W. Michigan Ave.

The project is being described as a solar farm, as it would be a large field of panels harvesting the suns energy.

The city recently declared a climate emergency, setting a goal to make the entire community carbon-neutral by 2030.

In partnership with the city and Black and Veatch engineering consultants, DTE already completed a preliminary assessment for a solar farm on the old landfill site, Stults said.

Preliminary site designs were created that maximized the amount of solar on site, the amount of land preserved for ground nesting birds, and optimized proximity to existing power lines, she wrote in her memo. During this analysis, care was taken to ensure that designs allowed for ground vegetation and pollinators habitats.

The project would require Pittsfield Townships blessing. The city has applied to the township for approval of a planned unit development amendment for the site and the townships Planning Commission is expected to consider the matter in the near future.

The city tried partnering with DTE on a smaller solar array at the citys municipal airport in Pittsfield Township five years ago, but DTE backed out due to opposition from the township.

The city had agreed to allow DTE to use about 14 acres of the city-owned airport property for a solar array that would have been about 1.1 to 1.6 megawatts initially, with a potential second phase bringing it up to 2.15 megawatts.

At a meeting in February 2015, the township board raised concerns about the proposal, including its potential visual impact and affect on the Lohr-Textile Greenway. The array would have been built more than 600 feet east of Lohr Road. Township officials said the proposal was too vague and they wanted more details.

Pittsfield Township Supervisor Mandy Grewal said at the time it was too bad DTE dropped the project. She said the township just wanted more information from the city and DTE about the proposal.

For the solar farm thats now proposed on the old landfill, the engineering analysis could take up to 45 business days, Stults said, indicating that will provide an understanding of how much renewable energy can be integrated into the grid at the site.

If the study finds no fatal flaws, the next step is to complete a distribution study and pay the associated fees, she wrote, adding that could take up to another 60 business days.

Once complete, Stults said, the city and DTE will know what system upgrades are needed, and depending on the findings, the city and DTE could then move forward on the project, pending approval from City Council and the township.

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A stampede erupted on Tuesday at a funeral procession for a top Iranian general killed in a U.S. airstrike last week, killing 35 people and injuring 48 others, state television reported.

According to the report, the stampede took place in Kerman, the hometown of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, as the procession got underway. Initial videos posted online showed people lying lifeless on a road, others shouting and trying to help them.

Iranian state TV gave the casualty toll in its online report, without saying where it obtained the information. Pirhossein Koulivand, the head of Iran's emergency medical services, earlier spoke by telephone to state TV and confirmed the stampede took place.

"Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions," he said.

A procession in Tehran on Monday drew over 1 million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main thoroughfares and side streets in Tehran.

Soleimani's death has sparked calls across Iran for revenge against Americafor a slaying that's drastically raised tensions across the Middle East.

Early Tuesday, the leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened to "set ablaze" places supported by the United States over the killing of a top Iranian general in a U.S. airstrike last week, sparking cries from the crowd of supporters of "Death to Israel!" Hossein Salami made the pledge before a crowd of thousands gathered in a central square in Kerman before a casket carrying Soleimani's remains.

The outpouring of grief was an unprecedented honor for a man viewed by Iranians as a national hero for his work leading the Guard's expeditionary Quds Force. The U.S. blames him for the killing of American troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death Friday in a drone strike near Baghdad's airport. Soleimani also led forces in Syria backing President Bashar Assad in a long war, and he also served as the point man for Iranian proxies in countries like Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

His slaying already has pushed Tehran to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers as his successor and others vow to take revenge. In Baghdad, the parliament has called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil, something analysts fear could allow Islamic State militants to mount a comeback.

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The Branchville TOD  transit oriented development  project has expanded to include a second bridge reconstruction, and is expected to get under way in the coming year.

Originally, there was only one bridge planned for replacement, that one being the Portland Avenue Bridge, First Selectman Rudy Marconi said. Subsequent to all the necessary approvals, allocation of grant money from both the federal government and state of Connecticut, we were informed the Depot Road Bridge had to be closed  which has happened.

Since the closing of the Depot Road Bridge last fall, the reconstruction of that bridge  the more northerly of the two bridges into Branchville Train Station from Route 7  has moved up on the towns agenda.

The plan now is for that project to be done first, and voters will be asked to approve $455,000 for the project at a town meeting Wednesday, Jan. 8, starting at 7:30 lower level Town Hall.

The replacement of 109-year-old Depot Road Bridge will be part of a two-bridge repair package that will cost local taxpayers close to $800,000 or $900,000.

More than a year ago, voters approved $442,000 as the towns share of a projected $2.2 million replacement of the Portland Avenue Bridge at the south end of the train station  and it is there that a new traffic light will be added to Route 7 in Branchville.

Money for a new bridge at Depot Road is figured as potentially a $455,000 town cost  representing a 20 percent local share of a job projected to cost a total of $2,275,000.

The hope is that the bridge will still only cost the town $354,000  a 20 percent share based on just the construction cost of $1,770,000.

The good news is that that bridge replacement of Depot Road will take place as part of the entire Portland Avenue Bridge replacement project, so under this new project both bridges will be replaced, Marconi said.

And theyre both part of the longer-range Branchville TOD project  under which the town is fixing up Branchville to accommodate envisioned future growth that officials hope will prove to be a cushion against future tax increases by boosting the towns tax base.

The most important thing  its all private property. We dont own any of the land, Marconi said. We lease the Branchville Train Station. The only thing we own down there is Branchville Elementary School.

We need to look at the nonresidential part of our community and how do we grow it, Marconi said. And when you look at that today, there are types of housing that can fill that void with a relative high profit if you want to look at it that way, for the taxpayers: age-restricted housing is one such way of achieving revenue growth with a minimal amount of expenses.

So that might be what eventually hits Branchville, although problems of sewage disposal will have to be solved if major growth is to take place.

The Branchville TOD might be viewed as table-setting for that private development.

Therell be mixed housing and therell be retail development probably beyond my years, Marconi said. Ill be at that position of: Rudy who?  well gone. What were doing today is building the foundation for that possibility,

This involves replacing the two bridges, and also a variety of street amenities that were part of the Branchville TODs original vision.

To create a more pedestrian-friendly community in Branchville. That includes sidewalks, street lamps much the same as we have in downtown Ridgefield today, Marconi said.

Therell be a rebuilding of the Route 102-Route 7 intersection recognizing the need for pedestrian movement in and around that area, Marconi said, as well as the planned replacement of both the Depot Road and Portland Avenue bridges.

Portland Ave. gets widened, with a new bridge and new traffic light  not only the bridge, but the rail crossing is wider, allowing for left-hand turns onto West Branchville Road, Marconi said..

Among the pedestrian-friendly improvements will be sidewalks, a short way up Branchville Road (Route 102) on the west side of Route 7 from Branchville Center south down to the Wilton town line.

The cost is around $8 million  both projects, Marconi said,project one being the sidewalks .

The towns share of the $8 million Branchville TOD is projected to be something over $1 million.

Its a total cost of approximately $8 million, Marconi said. Itll be approximately $1,172,000, or around 15% of the total project. The rest will be grants mainly from the federal government and the state of Connecticut.
The Iraqi parliament voted on Sunday to expel US troops out of the country but so far, it appears that nobody in the US got the memo. In fact quite the contrary.

According to the US Naval Institute, amid rising tensions with Iran, the US Navy is scrapping an exercise with Morocco as it redirects the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit with roughly 2,000 marines on board to the Middle East, a defense official confirmed to USNI News.

#UPDATE: 2,000 US Marines en route to the Middle East onboard USS Bataan Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, USS New York San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock & USS Oak Hill Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship



4,000 US troops from 82nd Airborne also being/been deployed https://t.co/gxYG8qcDNi  ELINT News (@ELINTNews) January 6, 2020

Members of the 26th MEU and Bataan crew were slated to train with members of the Moroccan military as part of the joint Exercise African Sea Lion. Indeed, the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group had just arrived off the coast of Morocco this week before its new tasking, according to the USNI Fleet tracker. The ARG deployed quietly from the East Coast in December. Now, Bataan and the 26th MEU are moving closer to the Middle East, as shown in the most recent map of naval deployments.

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unita force of more than 2,000 Marines, including infantryman, artillery and aircraftis expected to pass through the Suez Canal within days, U.S. officials said. On board the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship, the force could be put ashore for combat operations and also specializes in protecting and evacuating embassies.

USS Bataan and embarked Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are underway conducting routine operations, demonstrating the inherent flexibility of our naval forces, Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Comer, a U.S. 6th Fleet spokesman told USNI News. For operational security reasons, we do not discuss future operations. ARGMEUs operate continuously across the globe to provide commanders with a forward-deployed, flexible and responsive sea-based Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

The Marines will join soldiers from the Fort Bragg, N.C.-based 82nd Airborne who have been sent to Iraq as a security measure following the U.S. operation that killed a top Iranian military leader on Thursday. In total when the 5,000 sailors and marines from the Bataan arrive in Iraq, the US will have added roughly 10,000 troops in Iraq in the last week.

When the USS Bataan, carrying 5K sailors and Marines, arrives, the U.S. will have added roughly 10K troops to Iraq in the last week. https://t.co/lBVrKjqTSb via @WSJ  Nancy Youssef,   (@nancyayoussef) January 6, 2020

On Friday, several news organizations reported the Pentagon was sending up to 3,500 more 82nd soliders to the region, in case Iran or Iranian-backed forces attempted retaliation attacks following Soleimanis death. ABC News first reported to 3,500 additional troops.

The deployments come just the Iraqi parliament voted to expel US forces operating in the country. In response, on Sunday the U.S. Central Command said it had suspended, at least temporarily, efforts to train Iraqi forces and help them fight Islamic State extremists.

If expelled from all of Iraq, the U.S. would still be able to do airstrikes from bases outside the country and carry out covert raids. But that would be much less effective than operating on the ground in concert with Iraqi security forces against Islamic State militants, who still number in the thousands and are striving to rebuild their capabilities following the loss of their self-declared caliphate.

If the final Iraqi decision means all U.S. troops have to come out, it would effectively end the U.S. capability to deal on a moment-to-moment basis with fleeting targets, said retired Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, who helped organize the international coalition of more than 70 countries, a handful of which have played an active role in Iraq and Syria in helping local partners fighting Islamic State, also known as ISIS.
Charlotte Crosby has been the centre of attention since entering the jungle on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia.

And on Tuesday, the Geordie Shore star, 29, seemed to suffer an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction during the Elephant Snot Trial.

By the end of the challenge, Charlotte's shorts had fallen down and her derriere was on full display with only her blue underpants covering her modesty.

Scroll down for video

No accident! On Tuesday, Charlotte Crosby (pictured) was EXPOSED for pulling down her own shorts and showing her underpants on Im A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

While it looked like a wardrobe malfunction, it appears Charlotte had intentionally pulled down her shorts in a cheeky grab for attention.

Right before she seemingly exposed herself, there is a split second where Charlotte can be seen pulling down her own shorts in order to expose her underwear.

After the challenge, Charlotte lingered on the steps, making sure her derriere was seen across the nation while Miguel immediately slid down.

'Me pants are coming down!' Charlotte said shortly afterwards.

Wardrobe malfunction? Charlotte seemed to suffer an embarrassing blunder during the Elephant Snot Trial

Caught out! Right before she seemingly exposed herself, there is a split second where Charlotte can be seen pulling down her own shorts in order to expose her underwear

Co-host Dr Chris Brown sheepishly replied: 'Yeah... I know.'

'Don't worry about your pants! Miguel, will you help her down?' co-host Julia Morris chimed in.

Eventually, Miguel climbed the stairs to help Charlotte down but the Geordie Shore star hilariously tumbled down on her buttocks and landed in the slime.

Charlotte has turned heads since the first episode of I'm A Celebrity where she refused to do a bungee jump out of a helicopter for a trial.

That's got to hurt! Eventually, Miguel climbed the stairs to help Charlotte down but the Geordie lass hilariously tumbled down on her buttocks and landed in the slime

Making a splash! Charlotte has turned heads since the first episode of I'm A Celebrity where she refused to do a bungee jump out of a helicopter for a trial

The Geordie Shore star cried: 'No. Come on. I can't do it. I can't do it. I won't be happy. This will kill me. I can't. I just.'

She was later hailed as a 'genius' by fans after clamping two metal dishes together to create a makeshift hair straightener.

On Monday night's episode, Charlotte stood up for herself against Australian TV host Tom Williams after he suggested 'partying' was her job.
An explosion took place in a market on a bridge in Nigeria that killed a lot of people and injured dozens of others, according to the reports. The blast occurred on the afternoon of January 6 on the El Beid bridge near the border with Cameroon, according to a Nigerian daily.

An army officer gave a statement to the media on Monday that at least 30 were killed in the explosion and over 35 others were injured. According to the reports, Boko Haram a militant group that backs the Islamic State terror organisation could be behind the attacks. The El bridge connects the Nigerian town of Gambaru with the town of Fotokol in Cameroon.

READ: ISIS Claims Execution Of 11 Nigerian Christians After Christmas

30...kill...dead...northeast...Nigeria...Niger...bomb...blast...crowd...bridge...explosion...Borno...Gamboru...Gambaru...Cameroon...El Beid...improvised...explosive...device...IED...detonated...Reuters...5...16...market...town...Witness...35...injured...local...hospital...Chad  Le Nam Giang (@kizu91) January 7, 2020

Militants killed 10 in Nigeria

Earlier, in a bid to avenge the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the terror group released a video on December 26, a day after Christmas, in which its militants killed 10 Christian men in Nigeria. The footage was posted on the ISIS online Telegram news channel a day after Christmas, with Arabic captions but no audio. In the video, 11 captive men are seen blindfolded of which ten are beheaded and the 11th is shot dead by militants in beige uniforms and black masks.

READ: Maha: Two Nigerians Held With Drugs Worth Lakhs

As per news reports, there was earlier footage in which the captives had been taken from Maiduguri and Damaturu in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno, where militants have been fighting for years to set up a separate ISIS. The captives were seen pleading to the Christian Association of Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari to save them in the previous video. It is unknown if the videos are authentic or foul play. President Buhari condemned the killings over Twitter on December 28. He wrote that he was saddened and shocked by the death of innocent hostages. He called the terrorists remorseless, godless, callous gangs of mass murderers that have given Islam a bad name through their atrocities.

READ: Nigeria Condemns Executions Of Captives Held By Extremists

READ: IS Claims Execution Of 11 Christians In Nigeria
NASA has announced that its planet hunter satellite TESS discovered an Earth-sized world within the habitable range of its star, which could allow the presence of liquid water.

The planet, named TOI 700 d, is relatively close to Earth: only 100 light years away, NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on Monday during the annual American Astronomical Society meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.

TESS was designed and launched specifically to find Earth-sized planets orbiting nearby stars, said Paul Hertz, NASA astrophysics division director.

TESS initially misclassified the star, which meant the planets appeared larger and hotter than they actually are. But several amateur astronomers, including high school student Alton Spencer  who works with members of the TESS team  identified the error.

When we corrected the stars parameters, the sizes of its planets dropped, and we realised the outermost one was about the size of Earth and in the habitable zone, said Emily Gilbert, a graduate student at the University of Chicago.

The discovery was later confirmed by the Spitzer Space Telescope.

Habitable zone

A few other similar planets have been discovered before, notably by the former Kepler Space Telescope, but this is the first one discovered by TESS, which was launched in 2018.

TESS stabilises on one area of the sky to detect whether objects  planets  pass in front of stars, which causes a temporary drop in the stars luminosity. This allows TESS to infer the presence of a planet, its size and orbit.

Star TOI 700 is small, about 40 percent of the size of the Earths Sun and only about half as hot.

TESS discovered three planets in orbit, named TOI 700 b, c and d. Only d is in the so-called habitable zone, not too far from and not too close to the star, where the temperature could allow the presence of liquid water.

It is about 20 percent larger than Earth and orbits its star in 37 days. Planet 700 d receives 86 percent of the energy that Earth receives from the Sun.

It remains to be seen what 700 d is made of. Researchers have generated models based on the size and type of star in order to predict 700 ds atmospheric composition and surface temperature.

In one simulation, NASA explained, the planet is covered in oceans with a dense, carbon dioxide-dominated atmosphere similar to what scientists suspect surrounded Mars when it was young.

The planet is tidally locked to the star, meaning that one side always faces the star, as is the case with the Moon and Earth.

This synchronous rotation meant that, in another model, one side of the planet was constantly covered in clouds.

A third simulation predicted an all-land world, where winds flow from the planets dark side to its light one.

Multiple astronomers will observe the planet with other instruments, in order to obtain new data that may match one of NASAs models.
A Pakistani jet crashed during training on January 7 in the eastern Punjab Province, killing the two pilots, the military said.



The FT-7 jet trainer went down in an open area and caused no damage on the ground, the air force said in a statement.



It said a probe had been opened to determine the cause of the crash, which occurred close to the district of Mianwali, 300 kilometers from Lahore.



Pakistani authorities rarely release details of military training crashes, which are relatively common.



In October, a trainer aircraft crash-landed in a field near Wazirabad in Gujranwala district. Both pilots aboard the plane survived.



In July, 19 people died when a Pakistani military aircraft crashed into a residential area on the outskirts of the garrison city of Rawalpindi.



Pakistan's air force has been on high alert since February, when Indian jets struck targets inside Pakistan.

The strikes targeted Pakistan-based militants responsible for a suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian troops in the Indian-administered portion of Kashmir.



At the time, Pakistan retaliated and shot down two Indian Air Force planes. One Indian pilot was captured and later released. But tensions have continued to remain high between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.



Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over the Kashmir region, claimed by both sides since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.

With reporting by AP and dawn.com
(Newser)  Fugitive Carlos Ghosn will have a new complaint to discuss at his Wednesday press conference in Beirut. On the eve of that press conference, Tokyo prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Ghosn's wife, accused of perjury. Fashion entrepreneur Carole Ghosn is suspected of making false statements during a witness examination at a Tokyo court last April, reports the Japan Times. And her husband is not happy. "The issuance of this warrant is pathetic," a Ghosn rep tells Reuters. "Last time Carlos Ghosn announced a press conference and got re-arrested. This time, the day before he is announced to speak out freely for the first time, they issued an arrest warrant for his wife," who voluntarily traveled to Japan to answer prosecutors' questions.

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Ghosn has insisted that his wife played no role in his escape last week from Japan to Lebanon. But she was there waiting for him and said it was the "best gift of my life." Ghosn, facing charges of financial wrongdoing in Japan, was barred from contacting his wife while on bail. The pair have since been photographed dining out in Beirut on New Year's Eve, per Business Insider. Ghosn is expected to speak with journalists Wednesday about what he's called a "rigged" justice system in Japan. But Nissan is seeking to counter the former chief executive's narrative early. "The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused," reads a Tuesday statement, per CNN. (Here's how Ghosn boarded a private plane unnoticed.)
It is hard to understand Iran supreme leader Khamenei's blunder in attacking the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. He either believed that Trump was weakened by his impeachment, as Western liberal media breathlessly and continuously reported, or might have been misled by John Kerry's incompetent advice (apparently, Kerry met again with Khamenei's emissaries in Paris just few weeks ago). Whatever the reasons, his goal of triggering a limited war with America to rally his people around the regime has failed miserably.

Iran desperately wanted a war  drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's heart of oil production, false-flag hits on oil tankers, unrest in Yemen  all aimed at this goal. Trump restraint in responding to these provocations must have been disappointing. But as Tehran resorted to attack the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, it must have realized that it had overplayed its hand when the reaction was surgical, devastating, and unexpected: the elimination of the mass murderer Qassem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC's Quds Force, Khamenei's right-hand man and chief executioner.



Supreme Leader Ali Khameni (photo: Fars News Agency).

Channeling Lenin, Khamenei must be asking himself: What is to be done? Contrary to doomsayers' forecasts, his options are limited.

His first reaction in fact was to declare: "Iran will stop abiding to the terms of the 2015 Nuclear Deal," by which it had never abided (inadvertently revealing that his fatwa against nuclear weapons was false). As face-saving measures go, it verges on pathetic.

Any way you look at it, we are here because Obama and Europe forgot or preferred to ignore that Iran is an apocalyptic messianic regime bent on exporting terrorism and Shi'itism to intimidate its enemies and should never be allowed to develop or possess nuclear weapons.

If the regime wants to avoid its demise, it must stop its nuclear program development, which never slowed despite gullible media informing us daily that they will break this or that limit unless Europe paid up, or bamboozled journalists telling the public about Iranian moderate or reformist presidents. Europe must also realize that its shortsighted appeasing of the mullahs for the sake of doing business at all costs might be a dangerous game to play, especially considering a possible American reaction.

Iran can and must be stopped  first, because the Iranians' program is not yet developed to the point of representing a current risk, and second because, once developed, the regime and its proxies would have no qualms about using nuclear weapons against their perceived enemies, including fellow Muslims and even their own citizens. An additional bonus is that Iran's people are young, educated (Iran is no "Hermit Kingdom"), oppressed, and aware of what they are missing out on and despise the mullahs. They'll free themselves with a little encouragement (had Obama supported the Green Revolution in 2009, the Middle East today would be very different).

Soleimani was not respected by the Iranians, especially for his targeted assassinations and for having squandered Iran's limited resources on proxies to conduct the regime expansionist revolutionary wars in distant countries.

However, many liberals chose to have a different opinion. Let's have a look:

Trump wanted to distract attention from the impeachment. Why should he? The farce has driven his approval sky-high.

The timing is suspicious. Such an operation requires months of planning and wagonloads of intelligence, and when a small window of opportunity presents itself, there is no time to lose.

The strike is illegal. Obviously false, or Obama would be in jail.

They'll block the Strait of Hormuz! So what? Only 2% of world oil transits there. Besides, the U.S. is energy independent and might even benefit from it.

Soleimani's funeral proves he was revered. Only idiots trust totalitarian regimes' mass demonstrations; participation is mandatory "or else." Furthermore, the recent horrible killing of 1,500 peaceful demonstrators did nothing to increase their love for Soleimani or the regime.

Forget the irrelevant objections above; had Churchill managed to have Heinrich Himmler killed in 1939, they would have said the same things about him. Traitors exist in every age. Furthermore, they miss the big picture: most of the Middle East (including Iranians and Iraqis) is celebrating the demise of one of the main architects of its misery. Critics motivated only by their obsessive orange man bad mantra can take a breather; Trump is doing the right thing, and Iran has only to lose if antagonizes America. Alas, for all their protestations, what they really resent is a regained U.S. world leadership.

Every country should pay close attention to such a destabilizing presence in the Middle East before it's too late and the mullahs' reckless behavior drags the world toward another devastating war, which only Iran wants.

Giuliano Maciocci, Sr. has worked as manager and head of corporate support services for private and international organizations, including the U.N., in many countries.
The mayhem at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, engineered by a group of masked men on the evening of January 5, has grim portents for the future. It shows the Delhi Police in poor light, and the JNU administration in a state of pathetic ineptitude. It also reflects on the quality of politics played out in university campuses for petty gains.

For over three hours, a group of masked men went around unleashing violence on the campus, terrorising students and teachers alike, while the JNU security and the Delhi Police, deployed around the administration block, remained mute spectators. Amid charges and counter-charges, the police spokesperson, in a press conference, asserted that they responded with alacrity once information about violence inside the campus was received. Operating in a politically surcharged atmosphere, in the wake of the lawyer-police clash, and the action inside the Jamia campus, the Delhi Police top brass have started vacillating even when a legitimate intervention is called for.

A number of questions remained unanswered. How did the masked men enter the campus in which the JNU security commands access control? How did they escape through the main gate again in the presence of the Delhi Police, where, by a strange coincidence, the street lights were not working?

The moot point is that when the campus was going through unrest for the last five days, and the police was duly apprised, what preventive action was taken? A particular group wanted to prolong the agitation against the fee hike, and was forcibly preventing those who wanted to appear for examinations. This group was preventing students from doing online registrations, and even disturbing classes. The situation was clearly getting out of hand, warranting immediate intervention.

The police spokesman said they entered the campus after permission at 7:45 pm, while the FIR clearly says that information was available around 3 pm. Did the police need a certificate to enter when a cognisable offence was being committed inside? The same police entered Jamia in pursuit of miscreants creating trouble on the streets, while in JNU, the goons were right inside, vandalising property and attacking students.

Perhaps the biggest share of the blame can be apportioned to the vice-chancellor (VC) and the administrative officers of JNU, who merely watched from the sidelines. If the students wanted a dialogue, why didnt the VC involve them in negotiations or explain clearly the inability of the university to undo the fee hike? It would have, then, cleared the way for taking action against those students who were forcing the majority of peaceful students from pursuing their studies.

But VCs today rarely step down from their exalted academic pedestal to soil their hands with the daily grind of administration. They allow things to drift till they come to a boil. As a result, universities today are in a state of disquiet, with myriad issues waiting to be resolved. If only the VC, proctor or dean were persistent enough in calling for timely police intervention on that fateful evening, the appalling incident could have been averted.

The Union education minister stated that JNU is meant to be an educational centre and not a political hub. Unfortunately, in a university where even teachers forge alliances with political parties, it cannot escape from being a political cauldron at times like this. In a politically sensitive environment, it is incumbent upon VCs to act as both counsellors and administrators.

The incident on Black Sunday will leave a deep imprint on the minds of the students and public alike, and cast a long shadow on the role of the police, JNU administration, and political parties.

First, the police has to redeem itself by bringing all the goons involved in the incident to book. Considering they may

be aligned with political groups, it will require tough resolve and determination to pursue the case to its logical conclusion. The police investigation will lay bare the real facts and the people behind the mayhem. Further, the enquiry being conducted by a joint commissioner will reveal the whole background of the case. If the Delhi Police now rises to the occasion, carrying out both these duties, without favour or fear, it will give a clear road map for future interventions in such cases.

Second, JNU students and teachers will have to reflect on the image and future of their institution  as an academic centre of excellence or of political apprenticeship. No university of India ranks in the first 100 in the world  a fact to ponder upon. Shouldnt there be more debates on improving the quality and content of our academic institutions?

And, last, political parties must stop playing low grade politics on campuses, and stop treating them as breeding grounds for their future players. Even the Mahatma had despaired of the decision of roping students into the freedom movement.

Yashovardhan Azad is former IPS officer and Central Information Commissioner

The views expressed are personal
A total of 10 central trade unions has claimed that approximately 25 crore people will partake in the nationwide strike to be held on January 8. This strike will be held to protest against the "anti-people" policies of the government. Trade unions like INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC and several independent federations and associations had adopted a declaration in September 2019 to hold a nationwide strike on January 8, 2020.

According to a joint statement issued by the 10 CTUs (central trade unions), it is anticipated that not less than 25 crore working people will participate in this strike. The strike will also be followed up by demanding the reversal of the "anti-working class, anti-people and the anti-national policies" undertaken by the government. Apart from this, the joint statement also read the labour ministry did little to assure the workers regarding their demands.

Also read: Bharat Bandh on January 8: Around 25 crore expected to join all-India strike, claim trade unions

The CTUs' joint statement stated the attitude of the government towards workers and labourers is that of contempt, as can be understood through the many policies of the government, it said. In order to raise their voices against increased fees and commercialisation of education, approximately 60 students' organisations and elected representatives of some universities have decided to partake in the strike.

The trade unions have also condemned the violence on JNU campus and several such incidents in many university campuses across the country. Besides condemning the violence in college campuses, they also expressed dissatisfaction over no Indian labour conference being organised since July 2015, codification of labour laws and also the privatisation of PSUs.

Also read: Bharat Bandh for next 2 days: Farmers join 10 trade unions to protest against Modi govt policies

The joint statement also read that 12 airports have already been sold to private players, 100 per cent sale of Air India is in pipeline, the decision to sell BPCL is also being taken, and BSNL-MTNL merger has already been made public. Under the garb of Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), as many as 93, 600 telecom workers have already lost their jobs, it added.

Apart from opposing privatisation of PSUs, the trade unions are also opposing the privatisation in railways, corporatisation of 49 defence production units and forced merger of banks. It is also expected that more than 175 farmers and agricultural worker unions will extend support to the demands pressed by workers' unions.

Also read: Bank strike on January 8: ATMs, branch services likely to take a hit

Edited with PTI inputs
Industry Leader Reaffirms Commitment to Safeguarding the Privacy of its Users

SAN JOSE, Calif. and LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Arlo Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ARLO), the #1 internet connected camera brand[1], announced today the introduction of the Arlo Privacy Pledge, underscoring its long-standing promise that puts users' privacy first. Since day one of Arlo's inception, Arlo's products and services have been designed with an inherent commitment to protect and connect people to the things they love most, which Arlo believes includes a user's right to privacy of their personal information. Arlo's Privacy Pledge can be viewed now at Arlo.com/PrivacyPledge.

"Recent news reports have called some companies into question surrounding their real-world behavior versus their stated privacy policy," said Matt McRae, CEO. "At Arlo, we believe privacy is crucial and central to the concept of a security solution. As such, our only business is providing security and peace of mind. We don't capture user data for advertising or sell it to third parties, we don't view or keep data without consent, and we don't volunteer user data to law enforcement. These are standards that were established since the launch of our first Arlo camera, and we're proud to reaffirm our user privacy commitment with the Arlo Privacy Pledge."

Details surrounding the commitments outlined in Arlo's Privacy Pledge include:

OWNERSHIP  Your personal data belongs to you and you alone.

Your personal data belongs to you and you alone. We don't sell your data.



We never sell your information to third parties. Your data is used to deliver the Arlo services, Arlo functionality, and any related services or functionality that you affirmatively choose and nothing else.



We don't share your data.



We never share your data, including videos, without your consent or a court order to do so. If there is a request by law enforcement for your videos, we require a legally enforceable search warrant or other equivalent court order mandating that Arlo turn over the videos to law enforcement.

CONTROL  Your data is for your eyes only.

Your data is for your eyes only. We give you all the control.



We store your videos in the Arlo cloud only for the duration of your chosen Arlo plan. After that, your videos are automatically and permanently deleted or cleaned from the Arlo cloud. 2



We support privacy legislation



Our comprehensive privacy policy is built to empower you to make decisions about your data and determine who has access. Our policy and practices generally implement the controls and concepts of various new privacy legislation, including the California Consumer Privacy Act and the General Data Protection Regulation.

PROTECTION  We protect your private moments.

We protect your private moments. We keep your data safely secure.



We support industry-leading methods and practices to ensure your account is completely secure, such as two-factor authentication and access approval for all new devices to verify it's really you. Your videos are encrypted to protect against malicious intent.



We made security part of our culture



We have implemented strict company-wide information security policies and procedures to ensure your privacy is protected. We support compliance with industry regulations and we also work with independent organizations to audit our services to help ensure we continue to meet the ever-evolving standards for cybersecurity.

For more information on Arlo's privacy policy please visit Arlo.com/PrivacyPledge.

About Arlo Technologies, Inc.

Arlo is the award-winning, industry leader that is transforming the way people experience the connected lifestyle. Arlo's deep expertise in product design, wireless connectivity, cloud infrastructure and cutting-edge AI capabilities focuses on delivering a seamless, smart home experience for Arlo users that is easy to setup and interact with every day. The company's cloud-based platform provides users with visibility, insight and a powerful means to help protect and connect in real-time with the people and things that matter most, from any location with a Wi-Fi or a cellular connection. To date, Arlo has launched several categories of award-winning smart connected devices, including wire-free smart Wi-Fi and LTE-enabled cameras, audio and video doorbells, advanced baby monitors and smart security lights.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "anticipate," "expect," "believe," "will," "may," "should," "estimate," "project," "outlook," "forecast" or other similar words are used to identify such forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements represent Arlo Technologies, Inc.'s expectations or beliefs concerning future events based on information available at the time such statements were made and include statements regarding Arlo's cameras, Arlo's security lights, Arlo's video doorbell, Arlo Smart, and future Arlo products. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including the following: future demand for the Company's products may be lower than anticipated; consumers may choose not to adopt the Company's new product offerings or adopt competing products; and product performance may be adversely affected by real world operating conditions. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements. Further information on potential risk factors that could affect Arlo and its business are detailed in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, those risk factors described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. Given these circumstances, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Arlo undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

1 The NPD Group, Inc., U.S. Retail Tracking Service, Security Cameras, Security Camera Systems. Type: excludes not remote viewing ready, based on Dollars, Jan 2018-June 2019

2 Once videos reach the end of their storage duration, they no longer exist within 24 hours.

SOURCE Arlo Technologies, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.arlo.com


ROSEVILLE, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PASCO Scientific announced today that it has joined the Google for Education Integrated Solutions Initiative. This collaboration integrates PASCO solutions with Google products to improve the efficiency of classroom experimentation and science learning.

PASCO Scientific has collaborated with Google throughout the development process to deliver users a fluid experience. "Teachers and students have been using SPARKvue to collect and analyze data on their Chromebooks and Android devices for years. Partnering with Google feels like a natural step forward in our mission to provide educators with a centralized solution for teaching science. We plan to continue improving global access to science education and data literacy alongside Google," said Richard Briscoe, President and CEO of PASCO Scientific.

The Google for Education Integrated Solutions Initiative features education apps and tools optimized for integration with Chrome OS, Google Classroom, or G Suite for Education. PASCO's more than 55 years of experience in science education has made them a well-known leader in STEM education and an ideal partner for the advancement of powerful teaching and learning solutions.

The first set of integrations with Google's offerings include the ability to connect PASCO sensors to the Google Science Journal app on Android, export data directly to Google Sheets on Android, and easily share lab resources from PASCO.com through Google Classroom.

The partnership extends accessibility to educators by providing them with an affordable and compatible sensor solution. Science Journal app users will now enjoy the same plug-and-play sensor experience as SPARKvue users when using PASCO wireless sensors. A new "Share to Classroom" button exports digital experiments from the PASCO Experiment Library to courses setup in Google Classroom. This feature enables educators to export any of PASCO's free experiments to their entire class with a single click.

Briscoe is confident in the partnership's potential saying, "At PASCO, we are excited to be partnering with Google in our mission to promote accessible science learning and data literacy. We are consistently striving to provide educators with innovative teaching solutions that improve the efficiency of their classroom. Hundreds of thousands of learners around the world use Google Science Journal. By enabling PASCO sensors to work with Google Science Journal, we are expanding educators' tools and helping students engage with science learning."

For more information about the integration of PASCO solutions into Google products, please visit https://www.pasco.com/resources/google.

SOURCE PASCO Scientific

Related Links

http://www.pasco.com


The D.C. election board will schedule a special election to fill Evanss seat for the remainder of the year. In recent weeks, as he mulled whether to resign, Evans also considered running for a new term, according to two people who spoke to him before the holidays. Six candidates are competing for the Ward 2 seat in the June 2 Democratic primary, which is tantamount to the general election in a deep-blue city. The filing deadline is March 4.
TEHRAN, Iran, Jan.7

Trend:

Iran's national work group for implementation of Iran-India-Afghanistan trilateral transit agreement held a meeting in Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar to review the related suggestions, said Director General of Ports and Maritime Organization in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

"The meeting was held on Jan. 7 to review India's suggested protocol in trilateral transit agreement between Iran, India and Afghanistan alongside process of implementing the agreement," said Behrouz Aghaie, Trend reports citing IRNA.

"The Iranian work group is to provide expertise and comments on the protocol to India and Afghanistan," Aghaie said.

"The agreement draft has been finalized in 2016 and eventually signed by transportation ministers of Iran and Afghanistan and India's prime minister in 2017," the official added.

"The first trilateral meeting over the transit agreement has been held at Chabahar last Iranian year (began March 21, 2018) while India hosted the second meeting in December 2019, during which good decisions were made over the agreement and the protocol that was suggested by India," Aghaie said.

The official noted that transportation of goods and passengers will facilitate the access of these three countries to international markets and secure safety of the transportation, while increasing cooperation between three countries in international transportation.

The trilateral transit agreement signed by India, Iran and Afghanistan allows Indian goods to reach Afghanistan through Iran. It links ports in the western coast of India to the Chabahar port in Iran and covers the road and rail links between Chabahar and the Afghan border.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By Nargiz Ismayilova  Trend:

The results of Azerbaijans rating indicators have been disclosed in the updated Passport Index, which stipulates an analysis of the visa rules of 200 countries and their ranking by the number of the visa-free countries, Trend reports referring to Henley & Partners company.

In accordance with the rating indicators, Azerbaijani citizens may visit 67 countries without a visa. During the year, Azerbaijan received an opportunity of visa-free travel to Pakistan, Senegal and Serbia.

Japan still ranks first in the index for the third year in a row. Japanese citizens may visit 191 countries without visa (or visa upon arrival), which is by one country more than last year.

Singapore maintained the second place (190 visa-free countries). During the year South Korea decreased by one step and presently, together with Germany, ranks third (189 visa-free countries).

The ranking positions of the US and UK continue to fall. Compared to last year's figures, they moved from the sixth position to the eighth position (184 visa-free countries). Both countries ranked first five years ago.

Finland and Italy shared the fourth place (188 visa-free countries), Denmark, Luxembourg and Spain  the fifth place (187 visa-free countries). The UAE has risen by 47 steps over the past 15 years and ranks 18th (171 visa-free countries), which is the historic success in the index.

----

Follow the author on Twitter:@IsmailovaNargis
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 23:14:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TAIPEI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's total exports in 2019 fell 1.4 percent year on year to 329.34 billion U.S. dollars, while its imports increased by 0.4 percent to 285.86 billion dollars, according to the island's finance department Tuesday.

Taiwan's exports to the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong fell by 4.1 percent from 2018 to 132.23 billion dollars in 2019, but still accounted for over 40 percent of its total exports, the authority said in a press release.

Meanwhile, the island's imports from the mainland and Hong Kong increased 5.9 percent to 58.44 billion dollars, taking up over 20 percent of the total imports.

The island's exports to ASEAN and Europe dropped 7.2 percent and 4.8 percent, while its exports to the United States and Japan increased by 17.2 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively.

In December, Taiwan's total exports climbed 4 percent year on year while its imports increased 13.9 percent year on year.
Donald Trump

Getty

US allies raise their warnings against war with Iran as Trump increases his threats to Iran.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says that terrorists "would be the only winners" of a full-blown conflict.

France also warns that war would benefit the Islamic State in the region.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also warned Trump that targeting Iranian cultural sites would be a war crime.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The UK and France have warned Trump that launching an all-out war with Iran would hand victory to terrorist groups in the region.

Speaking after the president threatened a "disproportionate" response to any future attack by Iran, the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab warned that a full-scale war would only benefit the Islamic State.

"We are concerned that if we see a full-blown war it would be very damaging and actually the terrorists... would be the only winners," Raab told the BBC on Tuesday.

Watch Dominic Raab: Terrorists would be only winners of Iran war

Raab's comments reiterated those made by French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who said on Monday that "the instability in the Mideast today benefits only one organization: the Islamic State group."

Le Maire added the conflict would "increase the terrorist threat over France and Europe".

US allies have also distanced themselves from Trump's repeated threats to target Iranian cultural sites.

A spokesperson for Boris Johnson indicated on Monday that any attempt to attack such sites would amount to a war crime.

"There are international conventions in place that prevent the destruction of cultural heritage," a representative for Johnson said on Monday, adding, "You can read the international conventions for themselves. It is the 1954 Hague Convention for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force -- Operation Inherent Resolve rush to a berm to establish a hasty fighting position during a live-fire training exercise near Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Sept. 26, 2018. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Leland White)

US-Led Coalition Halts Training for Iraqi Military to Focus on Protecting Iraqi Bases: Pentagon

The U.S.-led coalition to protect and train Iraqi security forces was placed on hold as tensions between Washington and Iran escalated in the wake of a top Iranian generals death.

Our first priority is protecting all Coalition personnel committed to the defeat of Daesh. Repeated rocket attacks over the last two months by elements of Kataib Hezbollah have caused the death of Iraqi Security Forces personnel and a U.S. civilian, the U.S.-led coalition to defeat the ISIS terrorist group said in a statement. Daesh is an Arabic term used to describe ISIS, which once ruled over swaths of Iraq and Syria.

As a result we are now fully committed to protecting the Iraqi bases that host Coalition troops. This has limited our capacity to conduct training with partners and to support their operations against Daesh and we have therefore paused these activities, subject to continuous review, the statement added.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced on Monday that some American forces are being repositioned inside Iraq, but stressed theyre not leaving the country.

Following a vote by the Iraqi Parliament to expel U.S. troops from Iraq, Esper noted that the resolution is nonbinding. I think Iraqior some have categorizedcharacterized it as a nonbinding vote. So its nonbinding right now. We  this has to play out. I think theres some more action that has to happen, he said.

The Pentagon press office underscored Espers message, writing on Twitter: There has been no change in US policy with regard to our force presence in Iraq. We continue to consult with the Iraqi government regarding the defeat-ISIS mission and efforts to support the Iraqi Security Forces.

The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, Gen. Qassem Soleimani is seen in Tehran on Sept. 14, 2013. (Mehdi Ghasemi/ISNA/AFP via Getty Images)

There were reports Monday claiming that the United States would pull out of Iraq amid the tensions with Iran, but Esper that there has been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq  there has been no decision made to leave Iraq, period.

A letter from Marine Corps Brigadier General William H. Seely III, commanding general of Task Force Iraq, was purportedly leaked to media outlets late on Monday and appeared to suggest that U.S. forces were pulling out.

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staffs, told reporters that the letter was real but wasnt meant to be sent out to the media.

That letter is a draft, it was a mistake, it should not have been released, he said.

The rising tensions between Tehran and Washington were triggered by a U.S. drone strike that killed high-level Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and several others last week. Iran said that it was an act of war and vowed to take revenge.

The bellicose statements from Iranian officials, including its Supreme Leader, drew warnings from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Donald Trump, who wrote that more than 50 Iranian targets could be hit should Iran retaliate against American citizens or assets in the region or elsewhere.

The airstrike drew criticism from top Democrats in Congress, who said that the entirety of the White Houses notification to Congress should be declassified. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also said Monday that her caucus would attempt to vote to limit the Trump administrations war powers in Iran.
A British woman has been sexually assaulted after falling asleep in a taxi in Dubai.

The 31-year-old said she was attacked by the 25-year-old Pakistani driver as he drove her home following a night out in November last year.

The woman told a court in Dubai that she climbed into the taxi at 11.35pm and asked the man to take her home to the Silicon Oasis area of the city.

A 31-year-old British woman said she was sexually assaulted by a 25-year-old Pakistani taxi driver after falling asleep in his car as he took her home from a night out in Dubai (file image)

She then fell asleep, and woke up to find that the driver had parked in a secluded area near her home full of under-construction buildings.

'He touched my body and kissed me. I was shocked and pushed him away asking him to stop,' she said.

The woman said she screamed, at which point the driver returned to his seat and drove her the rest of the way home.

After the incident, the driver allegedly claimed he could have reported the woman for drinking alcohol 'but instead wanted to please me'.

When the driver dropped the woman at her address, she took the licence plate number and contact police, who subsequently arrested the man.

The woman said that, instead of taking her home to Silicon Oasis (file image), the man pulled up in a construction area nearby, disconnected his car's security camera, and attacked her

According to local media, the taxi driver has admitted taking the woman home and telling her that he was aware she had been drinking alcohol.

A police officer from the Rashidiya station told the court: 'He claimed that she flirted with him and touched his face while he was driving before she fell asleep.

'He was excited and parked the vehicle in an empty area and disconnected the cable of the vehicle's camera before trying to kiss her.'

Reports said that the defendant has admitted a charge of sexual abuse and a verdict is expected on 13th January.

The taxi driver will remain in police custody until that date. Neither the defendant nor the victim have been named.
Farmers Insurance has expanded its relationship with Uber by providing commercial automobile insurance to its ridesharing drivers in 12 additional states and the District of Columbia.

In addition to the District of Columbia, Farmers will insure Uber drivers in Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia. These states are in addition to Pennsylvania and Georgia where Farmers already offers the coverage.

Farmers is the second insurer within weeks to announce or expand an Uber program, helping to fill a gap in Ubers insurance that was exposed in the Oct. 8 announcement by James River Group that it was dropping Uber, its largest client, and cancelling all Uber policies as of Dec. 31.

Liberty Mutual Insurance last week said it started providing coverage for Uber drivers and passengers on Dec. 31, 2019. The Liberty Mutual program is available to drivers in Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Having been in the commercial automobile insurance business for more than 80 years, we are proud to have leveraged our talent and insights to develop an innovative commercial auto insurance solution that helps Uber and drivers using the Uber App, said Sharon Fernandez, president of business insurance for Farmers Insurance.

Generally, states require drivers for transportation network companies like Uber to have insurance policies covering bodily injury liability, property damage and first party medical benefits.

Under the policies offered by Farmers and Liberty Mutual, coverage begins when drivers turn on their Uber App and coverage applies through ride acceptance, rider pick-up, and trip completion.

Farmers was one of the first insurers to offer an endorsement that extended some personal automobile insurance coverages to rideshare drivers while they were logged into their TNCs smart phone application and waiting to be matched with a rider. The Farmers rideshare endorsement is now offered to drivers in 29 states.

James River said it dropped Uber because the account did not meet its expectations for profitability. The insurer acknowledged that it mispriced policies in its first few years with Uber. The insurer also indicated that it believes that Californias new gig worker law governing contract workers such as ride-hailing drivers will increase claims for ride-share companies.

After St. James announced its exit, Uber told the Wall Street Journal it expected other insurers to replace James River as part of its insurance program. In addition to Farmers and Liberty Mutual, other insurers including Allstate and Progressive also provide coverage for Uber drivers. Uber also has a captive insurance subsidiary to cover certain risks.

Related:

Topics Personal Auto Agribusiness Sharing Economy Ridesharing
Prague, Czech Republic, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IDG Communications, Inc.  the worlds leading tech media, data, and marketing services company  announces the sale of IDG Czech Republic to Internet Info as of January 1, 2020. This agreement encompasses the licensing of several IDG brands, including Computerworld, CIO Business World, Security World and Channel World as well as retaining IDG Czech Republic employees.

IDG Czech Republic was founded in 1993 and was always one of the cornerstones of IDGs Eastern European strategy. Jana Pelikanova, the country manager of IDG Czech since 2006, will retire in February this year. Jana was a tremendous asset to the success of IDG Czech. She started in 1999 as editor in chief of PC World. In her job as country manager Jana developed lucrative new areas of business and built a broader range of products.

Internet Info is well suited to maintain the quality content of these brands as they are one of the oldest purely internet companies on the Czech Internet. The company already provides professional services and events in the region and connects key audiences in the IT (both B2B and consumer insights), finance and e-commerce fields. Internet Info publishes professional Internet magazines, including Lupa.cz, Mesec.cz, Podnikatel.cz, and organizes dozens of conferences, including Czech Internet Forum, E-Business Forum, WebTop100. Additionally, IDG and the founder of Internet Info, Marek Antos, have a long history together as he has previously written articles for PC World Czech in the 1990s and has had the opportunity to work with many of IDG Czech Republics employees.

We are happy to have found a great partner who is highly committed to IDG and our strong brands as well as the media industry overall, shared York von Heimburg, President of International, IDG Communications, Inc. We are sure that Internet Info will continue to advance our existing business into a new exciting phase.

Readers and advertisers of the IDG Czech Republic brands will see no changes to the content and customer service they have come to expect, as this agreement includes the retention of IDG Czechs employees, as well as intellectual property for continuing successful advertising programs.

I have respected IDG Czech Republic for a long time and strongly believe that uniting will allow all brands to grow as we navigate the transforming media landscape, said Marek Antos, CEO, Internet Info. We are excited to embrace the marketing services that they offer across our brands, providing more opportunities for advertiser to reach their customers.

About IDG Communications, Inc.

IDG Communications connects the world of tech buyers with insights, intent and engagement. We are the worlds largest media, data and marketing services company that activates and engages the most influential technology buyers. Our premium brands, including CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld, Macworld, Network World, and PCWorld engage a quality audience of the most powerful audience of technology buyers providing essential guidance on the evolving technology landscape.

Our global data intelligence platform activates purchasing intent, powering our clients success. IDG Marketing Services creates custom content with marketing impact across video, mobile, social and digital. We execute complex campaigns that fulfill marketers global ambitions seamlessly with consistency that delivers quality results.

About Internet Info, s.r.o.

Internet Info provides content with added value. We offer expertise through the internet, conferences, seminars and training. We introduce unique topics and provide context, basing our content on the individuality of personalities and objectivity of information with a precise impact. This is precisely why more than 3.5 million people in the Czech Republic read the news servers of Internet Info every month.

Internet Info publishes specialized servers about IT, the internet, telecommunications, new technologies, business, finance, taxes, digital broadcasting and lifestyle. We organize dozens of educational events and operate the TUESDAY Business Network, a social network in the real world for companies and professionals.

###






Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Malian teachers, heeding calls from their different unions, began a five-day strike on Monday, demanding a 20% increase in their salaries
These are the responsibility of the editor and convey the newspaper's view on current affairs-both domestic and international

Gibraltars international airport on the border with Spain. JON NAZCA (REUTERS)

Spain and the United Kingdom will this month begin an important round of talks about the future of Gibraltar after Britains impending exit from the European Union, known as Brexit, specifically on the anticipated agreement that will regulate future relations between Europeans and Britons after the transition period.

Faced with the possible outcomes, our country must be prepared for the best (a full-reaching agreement), the worst (a disagreement that leads to a hard Brexit) and of course, something in between. And also for the most complex: any of these options, but adding a disagreement between the British government and the executive of Gibraltar. Spain must also be aware that it has good, although difficult, bargaining chips to negotiate with.

Spain must be aware that it has good, although difficult, bargaining chips to negotiate with

London would be making a mistake if it tries to debate concrete aspects of the Spanish-Gibraltar relationship and forgets that it is a part of a whole, and that Spain forms part of this whole that is unequivocally loyal to the European Union, an organization that the United Kingdom is leaving.

For the sake of principles and interests, it is better to negotiate issues such as fishing and the export of fruit and vegetables, which involve both Spanish sectors of the economy and from other EU partners, within the ranks of Europe than to negotiate them alone.

Moreover, Britains volatile positions could change depending on the level of irresponsibility of those who establish them. In contrast, Spain has the indelible right to veto any unwanted agreement between the EU and UK regarding Gibraltar.

The specific relations between The Rock, as the British Overseas Territory is popularly known, and the neighboring Spanish region of Andalusia (and Spain more broadly) were agreed to at the end of 2018 in four Memorandums of Understanding that address the most sensitive areas  tobacco, citizens, the environment, customs and policing cooperation. A preliminary tax agreement is yet to be ratified. The task now is to adapt them, if necessary, to the new perspective. But the fact that the current British government has taken up a harder stance than its predecessor  from the same party  does not mean that Spanish interests will be harmed. Spain is remaining firm and consistent in its position.

Couldnt the people of Gibraltar perchance prioritize their relationship with Europe over their colonial links to a solitary metropolis?

Nor should it hurt the residents of Gibraltar, who voted overwhelmingly (95.91%) to remain in the EU in the Brexit referendum.

It is right for the Spanish caretaker government  without launching into antiquated nationalist crusades  to reiterate that Spain will not renounce anything in the medium or long term, not even the sovereignty of The Rock. The primary national interest in this issue is to allow people on both sides of the border to easily cross over to improve their economic and social wellbeing, and this is an objective interest that is wholly supported by the other side. Cutting off The Rock would be more problematic to a United Kingdom that is isolated, in a precarious situation, and without any trusted international friends: Donald Trumps United States is not one.

Even more so if internal tensions between separatists in Scotland and Northern Ireland worsen. Couldnt the people of Gibraltar perchance prioritize their relationship with continental Europe over their colonial links to a solitary metropolis?

English version by Melissa Kitson.
I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia host Dr. Chris Brown claims his pal Miguel Maestre could unleash his 'fiery' side in the jungle.

Speaking to Perth Now on Monday, the TV presenter, 41, said the passionate celebrity chef, 40, won't hold back if anyone says the 'wrong thing to him'.

'He is very passionate, [and] if people say the wrong thing to Miguel, they'd better watch out  he will not suffer fools,' the veterinarian explained.

'They'd better watch out!' I'm A Celebrity host Dr. Chris Brown (above) reveals chef contestant Miguel Maestre's 'fiery' side could shock campmates on the series

Apart from appearing on I'm A Celebrity, Chris and Miguel have been co-presenters on The Living Room alongside Barry Du Bois and Amanda Keller since 2012.

Dr. Chris Brown said people didn't really know the real Miguel, as he 'has so many layers'.

He continued: 'They see this big personality, massive hit of energy and his accent, but he's a complex guy, he's got real depth and he's got real heart.'

'They see this big personality and the accent': Dr. Chris Brown said people didn't really know the real Miguel (above), as he 'has so many layers'

Miguel was the first celebrity confirmed to appear on this season of the hit Channel 10 show - filmed in South Africa.

Prior to arriving in the jungle, the chef took to Instagram to share some of the key fashion pieces he would be bringing with him.

Miguel showed off a belt bag, a pair of personalised Blue Steel boots, cheetah-print underwear and a gold jewellery chain.

'Spanish flare': Prior to arriving to the jungle, Miguel took to Instagram to share some of the key fashion pieces he would be bringing to South Africa

'A little bit of a Spanish flare,' he described the necklace in his post.

During his chef career, he worked in some of Sydney's premier kitchens, including Bather's Pavilion, Bel Mondo, Cru and Minus 5 at Circular Quay

The father-of-two, who hails from Murcia in south-eastern Spain, moved to Australia in his twenties and became a citizen in 2013.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: As tension between Baghdad and Washington continues to escalate after the US forces killed top Iranian military man Major General Qasem Soleimani in a strike on Friday, India gears up to face the brunt.

Though an Iranian minister has assured that New Delhi will remain unaffected, oil prices have already seen an increase. India imports a large quantity of oil from the Middle East and prices have escalated after the US imposed sanctions on the Middle Eastern country following President Donald Trump backing out of a nuclear deal.

According to research scholars at the Institute of Conflict Management, things could take a downward spiral if Iran decides to retaliate. One thing Iran can do is to block the Strait of Hormuz. It is the channel through which most of the global oil trade takes place, said a scholar from the institute, who did not want to be named.

A few months ago, India had turned to the US and Venezuela for oil after it stopped imports from Iran following Washington-imposed sanctions. Oil bought from the Middle Eastern region is cheaper than the one imported from the US as Iran, among other Gulf countries, offer waivers on insurance and freight charges.

Experts opine that another aspect that can take a hit is the development of the Chabahar Port.

The port, which is being developed as a joint venture between Iran, India and Afghanistan, would largely be unaffected.

However, it cannot be ruled out that the development of the port can be hit in the future, he said. If affected, it would be a significant development as the Chinese are looking to leave a footprint in the region through the development of the Gwadar Port in Pakistan, which is less than 100 km from Chabahar.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 15:23:00|Editor: xuxin

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A laborer does height determination work at the construction site of an integrated petrochemical complex in Atyrau, Kazakhstan, Dec. 21, 2019. As a key cooperation project between Kazakhstan and China, the integrated petrochemical complex in Atyrau will produce up to 500,000 tonnes of polypropylene per year. Construction began in June 2018 and is expected to complete by 2021. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua)

by Xinhua writers Ren Jun, Zhang Jiye

ATYRAU, Kazakhstan, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- In milky silk dress and butterfly-shaped earing, Aijamal Nasybullina was making last preparations for being the host of her company's year-end gala of 2019 in west Kazakhstan's Atyrau city.

It was one of the most important nights for the Chinese company she works for. All guests were decked out, including nearly 300 Kazakh and Chinese colleagues.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our big party!" Nasybullina, 33, who now works as the chief of office for the Kazakh branch of the China National Chemical Engineering Group, made the opening remarks in both Kazakh and fluent Chinese.

The Chinese company is now constructing an integrated petrochemical complex in Atyrau, with the contract totaled about 1.9 billion U.S. dollars.

As a key cooperation project between Kazakhstan and China, it will produce up to 500,000 tonnes of polypropylene per year. Construction began in June 2018 and is expected to complete by 2021.

"Today's event is significant for those who have worked hard for the project throughout the year 2019, the biggest of its kind in Kazakhstan," Nasybullina said.

The five-hour gala was a big feast and included a lucky draw, Kungfu performance, Chinese pop songs, and Kazakh dance pieces. Chinese and Kazakh colleagues wished each other a blessed New Year.

"We hope this gala, a twist of Chinese and Kazakh culture, would bring Kazakh and Chinese colleagues closer to each other like one family," Nasybullina told Xinhua.

While studying at the Beijing Language and Culture University, Nasybullina met her Russian husband. The two have been married for seven years and have a four-year-old daughter. "I am very grateful to China where I met my fate."

"When I studied in China, my Chinese teacher told me that I was like a bridge between the two nations. Even a bite of knowledge in language and culture would help improve bilateral ties," she said.

Currently, Nasybullina's daily work is to communicate between Kazakh and Chinese colleagues and "smooth out their relationship."

"I started to understand that every word of my teacher is right," she said

Nasybullina joined the Chinese company one and a half years ago and her position was raised from secretary to chief of office.

"Both Chinese and Kazakhstanis are very hospitable, they honor traditions and respect people. This is the most important thing that unites us. I don't see any big difference between us," said Nasybullina.

"I am extremely grateful to work for this key cooperation project between Kazakhstan and China. It is very important for the development of my country. I witnessed how fast the project is being implemented and how professional my Chinese colleagues are," she said.

According to Nasybullina, the project will enable Atyrau to firstly produce polypropylene and even export it to other countries.

"Back in China, I got to know that China is the future not only of Kazakhstan, but also that of the whole world," said Nasybullina.

"Kazakhstan and China are important partners and neighbors. China has a lot of experience in development. Chinese technology is helping Kazakhstan build up its industrial might," she said.

With the music blaring, Chinese and Kazakh guests continued to stream in and move to the music.

Nasybullina joined them, enjoying the tail of 2019 and welcoming the new year. "I wish our project all the success, wish my Chinese colleagues and all Chinese people prosperity, happiness and health!" Nasybullina said.
Maharashtra minister Jayant Patil and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis engaged in a Twitter spat over a 'Free Kashmir' poster during protest at the Gateway of India here against the JNU violence.

A poster with the message "Free Kashmir" was carried by one of the protesters at the Gateway of India on Monday.

Tagged a picture of the poster on his Twitter account, Fadnavis asked what exactly was the protest for and if Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will tolerate this "anti-India campaign" right under his nose.

"Protest is for what exactly? Why slogans of "Free Kashmir"? How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai? 'Free Kashmir' slogans by Azadi gang at 2km from CMO? Uddhavji are you going to tolerate this free Kashmir anti India campaign right under your nose???" Fadnavis asked.

The BJP leader also tagged the Twitter handle of his successor Thackeray after the tweet.

Respond to Fadnavis, Patil accused him of trying to confuse people by "decoding words" in a hateful manner.

"Devendraji, it's 'free kashmir' from all discriminations, bans on cellular networks and central control. I can't believe that responsible leader like you trying to confuse people by decoding words in such a hatred way. Is it losing power or losing self control?" he asked.

Fadnavis hit back saying for them nation comes first and that he did not expect "vote bank politics" from Patil.

"What a pity! Now separatist tendencies get a Government advocate," he said.

"Jayantrao, this vote bank is not expected from you. Kashmir has already been freed from discrimination and certain curbs have been there since decades for security concerns. Be it in Govt or opposition, for us, the only principle is NATION FIRST!" Fadnavis tweeted.

Later, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told reporters here that those holding the "Free Kashmir" poster wanted freedom from restrictions on internet, mobile services and communication.

"I have read that those holding the poster wanted Kashmir to be freed from restrictions. If slogans are about freeing Kashmir from India, that will not be tolerated," the Rajya Sabha member said.

Hundreds of people, including students, women and senior citizens - who assembled at the Gateway of India at Sunday midnight - demanded action against the culprits and called for Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation.

Violence broke out at JNU on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in police that conducted a flag march.

At least 34 people, including JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured as chaos reigned on the campus for nearly two hours.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
* Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to prepare for a possible evacuation of 7,600 Filipinos in Iran and Iraq in case security situation worsens in the Middle East following the US assassination of a prominent Iranian general in Baghdad.

* India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held phone conversations with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as well as foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, respectively, on Sunday night, over the evolving situation in the Gulf amidst escalated tensions between Washington and Tehran.

* Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday recognized the newly elected board of directors of the National Assembly, and president of the legislative body, Luis Parra.

* US President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened to impose harsh sanctions on Iraq after the war-torn country's parliament passed a resolution urging the government to expel foreign troops.

* The Iraqi parliament on Sunday passed a draft law requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in Iraq and prevent them from using Iraqi airspace and water.

* Pakistani army said on Sunday the country will remain neutral in the current conflict between the United States and Iran after a US airstrike killed an Iranian commander in Iraq. Pakistan's military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said Pakistan will not become part of any action that undermines the regional stability.

* Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Sunday that Europe should urge both the United States and Iran not to escalate current hostility. He said this after an official luncheon with President Milos Zeman.

* Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday evening that Turkey is "gradually" sending troops to Libya under a deal inked with its UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).

* Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah urged on Sunday its fighters to attack US soldiers in the region in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian top commander Qassem Soleimani by the United States.

* Iran on Sunday announced the fifth and final step to end its commitments to the landmark 2015 nuclear deal, official IRNA news agency reported.

* Bangladesh's total exports in the first half of the current 2019-20 fiscal year (July 2019-June 2020) reached over US$19 billion, down 5.84 percent year on year, official data showed Monday. According to the country's Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, Bangladesh fetched US$19,302.16 million from exports in the first six months of the current fiscal year.
The authorities have charged an 18-year-old accused of lighting an incendiary device and throwing it at a Planned Parenthood building in Delaware.

The teenager, Samuel James Gulick, of Middletown, Del., was charged on Monday with three counts: maliciously damaging a building used in interstate commerce through the use of fire or destructive device; intentionally damaging a facility that provides reproductive health services; and possession of an unregistered destructive device under the National Firearms Act, according to a news release from the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Delaware.

About 2:16 a.m. on Friday, Mr. Gulick drove to a Planned Parenthood building in Newark, Del., according to court documents.

Video surveillance recorded Mr. Gulick standing on the porch of the building and spray-painting in red letters the Crusader slogan Deus vult (God wills it).
Two former United Kingdom foreign ministers have weighed in on the debate over the assassination of prominent Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.

Jeremy Hunt said the killing exposed cracks in the Western alliance, while Jack Straw called it a gamble linked to US President Donald Trumps re-election bid.

Hunt, foreign secretary for a year in Theresa Mays Conservative government, said Washingtons lack of consultation with countries including Britain reflected a growing disregard within the US government towards Europe.

Hunt called for an increase in military spending to stem American disenchantment and claimed the US was subsidising the defence of Europe.

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European countries invest around two percent of GDP on defence, whereas the US is the worlds largest military spender, handing over four percent of GDP to the military each year. Annual US military spending is roughly equivalent to the combined spending of China, Saudi Arabia, India, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, according to data compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

If the best the Europeans can manage is half the proportion spent by the US it hardly reassures the hawks in Washington, Hunt wrote in the Conservative-supporting Daily Telegraph.

In the end, money matters. If were not prepared to cough up we should not be surprised if we are not consulted ahead of big decisions such as the taking out of General Soleimani. Nor should we be surprised if the Western alliance slowly starts to fracture as resentment builds up at European free-riding. To allow that would be a historic mistake.

Wider consequences

Straw, Labours foreign secretary from 2001-06, the years which included the build-up, the invasion and the occupation of Iraq, said in killing Soleimani, Trump had done what other major stakeholders had decided was not worth doing.

Predecessors George W Bush and Barack Obama, along with Israel, had judged the costs of doing so far outweighed any benefits, Straw wrote in The Times.

They were right, he continues. Aside from any deaths of American, Israeli, or other Westerners in reprisal for Soleimanis killing, there will be wider consequences adverse to US and Israeli interests, and beneficial to Iran.

We should not pretend that we are a significant political player. We are not consulted by the United States and we have no influence over Iran. We can only watch and wait Sir Paul Lever

Rather than a pre-emptive strike against the killing of Americans by Iranian-backed forces, Straw linked the strike to Trumps re-election bid, and called it a gamble which would play into the hands of the hardliners in Iran.

Whether it all helps President Trumps re-election remains to be seen, he wrote. But if so, what a price to pay.

Meanwhile, retired diplomat Sir Paul Lever, former chairman of the UKs Joint Intelligence Committee, concurred with Hunt that Britain  like France and Germany  should not expect to be involved in the USs manoeuvrings regarding Iran.

We have interests to protect in the region (by regrouping our forces in Iraq to more defendable locations and by reinstituting convoys in the Strait of Hormuz), Sir Paul wrote in a letter to The Times.

But we should not pretend that we are a significant political player. We are not consulted by the United States and we have no influence over Iran. We can only watch and wait. This is the reality of being a middle-sized power.
Coles and Woolworths have donated truckloads of food, water and essential supplies to bushfire victims - and their relief operation is set to increase.

Since Sunday, Woolworths has delivered 132 pallets to south coast evacuation centres in Bega, Merimbula and Batemans Bay.

The deliveries include bottled water as well as non-perishable food such as baked beans.

A convoy of Coles trucks is pictured heading south on the Pacific Highway on January 5

Zoo director Chad Staples (pictured), who took red pandas and small monkeys home on New Year's Eve to save them from the smoke, thanked Coles on Tuesday morning

Coles has worked with charity Foodbank to deliver 28 pallets to centres in Cobargo, Bega and Bermagui.

The supermarket has also donated four pallets of fruit and vegetables to feed animals Mogo Zoo, which is just 7km from a firefront.

Zoo director Chad Staples, who took red pandas and small monkeys home on New Year's Eve to save them from the smoke, thanked Coles on Tuesday morning.

'Coles did a delivery for us with fresh fruit and vegetables,' he said on the Today Show.

Meanwhile, Coles staff at the Batemans Bay store baked roast chickens and loaves of bread to feed firefighters and people who had to leave their homes, reported the AFR.

Coles regional manager for the south coast, John Appleby, said the relief effort was huge.

'We were baking over 24 hours for emergency services, the evacuation centre, and customers on Sunday when it became safe to open the store after the danger warning on Saturday,' he said.

'We baked 14,000 loaves of bread, which is 167,000 slices.'

Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci said the relief effort is just beginning.

Pictured: Animals at Mogo Zoo enjoy the vegetables delivered by Coles

'It is not possible to do enough to help these communities. It's still early in the fire season and there's still a lot to do,' he said.

In terms of cash, Woolworths has donated $1million to the Salvation Army bushfire appeal.

In December Coles donated more than $3million in gift cards to over 6,000 rural fire brigades across Australia.

Coles Group Chief Executive Steven Cain said: 'We want to acknowledge the amazing courage and dedication of volunteer firefighters who continually put their hand up to protect their communities at all times of the year.

'With a long, hot summer ahead of us, we wanted to show our appreciation of the enormous contribution these firefighters have already made and will continue to make. We are so grateful for their bravery and commitment.'
By Jon Healey

After a U.S. drone blew up a top Iranian general last week, my 13-year-old son asked me if it was true that President Donald Trump was reinstituting the draft. Hed heard that online, as had many of his friends; in fact, so many internet users sought to check out what was happening with the draft that they brought down the website for the Selective Service System.

Theres no indication that Trump is, in fact, planning to ask Congress to end the all-volunteer military and conscript young Americans again. The rumor that reached my son and his classmates was just a rumor  or rather, fake news.

That sort of thing might happen with any president in office, given the internets ability to spread outrageous news rapidly, regardless of whether its true. But one of the worst aspects of the situation were in right now is that the current president doesnt have the power to dispel the reckless speculation and fearmongering that arises during tense times. He just doesnt have the credibility.

Trump is, after all, the guy who claimed he was preventing a war by engaging in an act of war. He followed that up over the weekend with over-the-top threats against Iran and Iraq, saying that the U.S. would exponentially expand its response (and commit war crimes) if Iran retaliated against the U.S. for the drone strike and that the U.S. would not comply with an order to remove its troops from Iraq unless Iraq repaid us for the multibillion-dollar airbase we built there.

As weve seen repeatedly since January 2017, Trump is the anti-Teddy Roosevelt. He speaks loudly and doesnt use the stick he brandishes. Sometimes, the simple act of making a threat works  for example, he bullied a handful of U.S. allies into agreeing to alter their trade deals with the United States. But the bigger the stakes, the less effective the tactic appears to be. Witness the lack of progress in the talks with North Korea.

Just to be exceptionally clear, Im not arguing that Trump needs to carry out the threats he makes in order to restore his credibility. His threats are the problem, not the lack of follow-through.

But Trumps history of empty threats is just part of the issue. The bulk of his credibility problem is the relentless spouting of half-truths, untruths and who-knows-whether-its-trues. The Washington Posts tally of Trumps misleading and false statements hit 15,413 in mid-December, which translates to 15 per day hes been in office.

So when the administration refuses to divulge the imminent threat that prompted the drone attack on Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Trump doesnt get the benefit of the doubt. We dont reflexively assume hes protecting intelligence sources; we wonder if Trump simply took the most headline-grabbing option in front of him.

Its well documented that Soleimani was responsible for multiple attacks on U.S. forces and interests; the former commander of U.S. forces in Iraq once called him a truly evil figure. But we dont assure ourselves that he was killed at this particular moment because he was on the verge of committing another attack; we wonder if Trump was trying to shift attention away from his impeachment.

Regardless of whether you think killing Soleimani was a good thing, its undeniable that the president has steered us to the brink of war with Iran. At a time like this, Americans crave an administration thats as forthcoming as it can be about its thinking and the risks we face, and that has a track record of believability. Instead, were left in a fog of tweeted threats from a president who started squandering his credibility the day after his inauguration.

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- machineVantage (www.machinevantage.com), a global leader in artificial intelligence and advanced neuroscience-powered solutions for product innovation and marketing effectiveness, announced that it will unveil its full suite of new products at the 2020 CES event in Las Vegas.

"This marks machineVantage's debut on the world stage, after being largely in 'stealth mode' until now," said Dr. A. K. Pradeep, the company's founder and CEO. "What we will be showcasing at CES is a full range of products based on our proprietary artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced neuroscience methodologies. Our comprehensive suite is designed specifically for companies seeking to deploy the latest and most powerful technologies to drive innovations in product development and marketing effectiveness."

Headquartered in Berkeley, Calif., with operations in Europe, the Asia/Pacific region, and Latin America, machineVantage is unique in its combination of artificial intelligence expertise and the latest advances in neuroscience. Backed by investments from Unilever Ventures and IRI, the firm counts major corporations who are leaders in their categories worldwide among its clients. Its work formed the basis for one of those clients to win a top award from the Advertising Research Foundation in 2019.

Along with co-authors Stan Sthanunathan, Global EVP of Consumer and Market Insights for Unilever; and Andrew Appel, President and CEO of IRI, a global leader in technology solutions for consumer, retail, and media companies, Dr. Pradeep wrote the preeminent guide to AI-based solutions for consumer-focused businesses, "AI For Marketing And Product Innovation", published by Wiley (https://amzn.to/2QfmQF5).

Visitors to CES 2020 are invited to meet senior members of the machineVantage team at the company's booth, # 43573 in the Sands A-D venue during January 7-10.

SOURCE machineVantage

Related Links

http://www.machinevantage.com


(CNN)  As refugees from devastating bushfires crowded into a cinema in the Australian town of Mallacoota, "Frozen" and "Happy Feet" were playing to keep the kids calm.

Ash was falling from the building's air vents, covering around 500 people inside -- they were exhausted and overheated from fleeing the approaching fire.

"We got here and it felt like a death trap to be honest," said Canadian Meaghan Wegg, 34, who sought refuge in the small theater along with her Australian-born husband Tim Buckley, 37, and her two children Georgia, 3, and Jackson, 5 on New Year's Eve.

Wegg is one of the 4,000 people who fled to beaches as bushfires raged in Mallacoota, a family camping spot on the eastern edge of the state of Victoria.

After six days sheltering in the cinema, Wegg and her family got evacuated to safety on January 5. But it will take a while for them to recover from the shock of their experience, she told CNN.

No time to flee

The family flew to Australia on December 27 from Montreal, Canada, to visit some relatives and friends at the Mallacoota Campground, a popular tourist destination.

"On December 31, we woke up and it was already 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) which is a danger watch and fire ban for campers, so we decided to take the kids to the beach to get some water play," Wegg said. "We had a blast and stayed longer than we usually would have to keep cool in the water, took our time to get back in the air conditioning and as soon as we got there we had a 10-minute 'get out ASAP' call and the sirens were going off."

The family packed quickly and drove to another beach. They set up a tent and mattress on the sand, and waited.

At 1 a.m., the sky was bright and orange, with a glare from the fire that meant it was coming their way, Wegg said.

"It kept us up as it was also really cold which was odd from the hot day we had. The fire was heading in the direction of the parking lot. We all left our cars because the fire was coming to the campground," she said.

The wind started picking up around 4 a.m., and it became a sandstorm on the beach, Wegg said. "We quickly tried to pack things up but had to leave lots ... ended up grabbing the kids and ... running through water to get to another shelter point, a campsite," she said.

Inside the cinema

Trucks were taking people to another shelter -- the cinema.

"After the ... wind passed we had a few more hours of waiting before they asked us to go outside with a mask to cool down as we were overheating," Wegg said.

Wegg's husband left to help the firefighters take down the fires threatening the campsite near their tent. "They ran out of water and he was filling up buckets from the campsite taps and running them into the bush with his friends, she said.

Eventually, the family moved the tent and belongings close to the cinema, which then became the main shelter for about 100-200 people.

"That night we counted our blessings and it happened to be New Year's Day," Wegg said.

For six days, the family slept on a crash mat, spending their time trying to keep the kids occupied. "We managed to get our iPad plugged in and the kids had some games and shows to play," she said.

"I hand-washed all of our clothes and hung to dry (but) couldn't get rid of the fire smell," Wegg added.

"January 3 was my daughter Georgia's third birthday. We made it as fun as we could, we gathered up 12 kids from friends and family and played games," she said.

Waiting to be evacuated

Local authorities drafted evacuation lists for the refugees.

"We had to line up to get our name on a list, then they took kids under 5 and families to be in air-evacuated lines -- and the rest on the boat. Helicopters kept trying to land but it was too smoky."

The family drove through bush fires to get to the airport and waited. A helicopter circled for 40 minutes, but failed to land and went back to refuel before trying -- and failing -- again, Wegg said.

Meanwhile, the fire trucks that were there received an urgent call to go battle more fires. Wegg and her family found themselves lying on the floor of the tiny airport with no power, waiting in the dark.

"By 11 p.m. they delivered sad news. Took us back in the shuttle to get to the shelter. We slept on the floor at the cinema but the Red Cross ladies were super-supportive and helpful," she said.

After two more failed attempts, a Chinook helicopter finally managed to land and the family to safety.

"We are all safe and rested. A bit in shock, but good," she said.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Family finally rescued from Australian bushfires after being trapped in a cinema for 6 days"
51 entities owned by Chennai residents booked by CBI for black money remittance

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 07: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked 51 entities for allegedly remitting Rs 1,038 crore of black money to Hong Kong during the years 2014-15.

It is alleged that 51 entities mostly owned by residents of Chennai had remitted the money to Hong Kong in connivance with unidentified officials of three state-owned banks, CBI sources told OneIndia.

The source further added that the agency had received information that 51 current accounts of 48 firms were opened in four branches solely to effect outward remittances to the tune of Rs 1,038 crore. 24 accounts were used for outward foreign remittances in USD equivalent to Rs 488.39 crore as advance payment of goods imported. 27 were used to remit Rs 549.95 crore towards foreign travel of Indian tourists.

DRI ADG arrested in Rs 25 lakh bribery case, CBI suspects a huge scam

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 7th, 2020

Out of the 24 companies, 10 had made imports in small quantities. The goods imported and the value of imports did not match with the invoices submitted by the firms to the banks. The CBI FIR stated that the accused and others who were involved were paid commission on the basis of the amount transferred and duration for which the bank accounts remained active and the officials concerned were also bribed in cash.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area announced that it will receive $31,000 in grant funding from Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee to assist in the building of two new homes in Chattanooga.

The funding comes as part of a $500,000 grant from the Tennessee housing Development Agency. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area and its sister organizations throughout the state will apply the grant toward the construction of 30 new homes for qualified first-time homeowners.

In Chattanooga, the funds will be used to support building efforts for Vanester Steeles home located on Kirkland Avenue while the remaining funds will be used in the home for Tempestt Jordans family on Hoyt Street.

Local Habitat President and CEO Dave Butler said, THDA has been a strong supporter of Habitat for many years and these latest grants show once again their high level of commitment not only to Habitat on a statewide level, but on a local more personal level. The funds we are receiving will assist in transforming the future of two Chattanooga families and were very grateful for the support.

THDA allocates the funds to Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee with local Habitat chapters being encouraged to apply for $15,500 per home build. When construction is complete in June 2020, more than 100 children and adults will be living in affordable, energy-efficient homes built in part from this funding.

THDA is a strong statewide partner helping us make homeownership a reality for more Tennesseans, said Colleen Dudley, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee. This grant provides us with a solid foundation to spur our larger fundraising efforts, which will reach over $4 million from individuals, churches, foundations and businesses to complete these builds.

Funding for the grant came from the Tennessee Housing Trust Fund which receives no state tax dollars but is instead funded by revenue from THDAs mortgage loan program. Since 2006, THDA has provided more than $75 million in THTF grants.

We share Habitats mission and its passion for creating new homeownership opportunities for Tennessee families, so its a very natural partnership, said THDA Executive Director Ralph M. Perry. Were always confident that Habitat is going to put our funding to good use, and Im sure more than few THDA staffers will be among the volunteers at build sites across the state.

In addition to supporting Habitat for Humanity with grant funding, THDA also provides zero-interest home loans to qualified Habitat homeowners. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage that, in turn, helps fund future Habitat builds.






President Ram Nath Kovind with his wife and daughter in Kochi

Reportedly, President Kovind is accompanied with his wife Savita and daughter Swati in Kochi. He will be addressing the people in Kavarati and lay foundation stone for the first Super Speciality Hospital at Kavaratti.

President Kovind saves a couples wedding in Kochi hotel

The President was seen enjoying a ride on a luxury boat In Kochi along with his wife and daughter. The President rescued a US based couple from wedding venue cancelation following security arrangements during President's stay, as per the protocol. The US based couple who planned for a destination wedding at the same hotel eight months ago in Kochi where President had stayed were given only 48 hours to find another venue for there wedding but after the bride's tweeted, Kovind's office responded and made them to held the wedding in the same place, same day.

President Kovind meets Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan

Kovind also called on Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan during his luxury boat ride in Kochi. He will visit the Lakshadweep for a day-long.

President Kovind will visit Bangaram Island

He will visit Bangaram Island along with his family. On Thursday, he is scheduled to return to Kochi from there and leave for New Delhi on the same day.
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The global aloe vera extract market size is expected to reach USD 2.67 billion by 2025 registering a CAGR of 7.6%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Rising importance of herbal extracts owing to their potential benefits in preventing various health disorders is driving the product demand. Moreover, shifting consumer preference for natural and organic products over chemical-based products is expected fuel the demand further.

Juice/liquid product segment held the largest share in the global market in 2018 due to increased consumption of juice for the treatment of obesity and diabetes in countries, such as India and China. Gel segment is witnessing a significant growth due to rising demand for gel-based products, such as soaps, shampoos, and moisturizers. Online distribution channel segment is expected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period. In Europe, around 50% of cosmetic manufacturers have their own online distribution channel.

Various small-scale organic product manufacturers sell their products through their own websites. These factors are driving the segment growth. Moreover, increasing penetration of smartphones coupled with the digitalization has increased the scope of online channels. In the European market, Germany account for the highest share of this segment. Asia Pacific led the global market accounting for 30.6% of the overall market share. The region is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period owing to increasing demand for herbal cosmetics in the region.

China held the major share of Asia Pacific market in 2018 and is likely to expand further at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2019 to 2025. Aloe Vera juice is used for the treatment of diabetes, cancer, and obesity. Increasing prevalence of diabetes in the country is expected provide growth opportunity for the market over the forecast period.

To request a sample copy or view summary of this report, click the link below:

https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/aloe-vera-extracts-market

Further key findings from the study suggest:

Product demand in North America is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% over the forecast period owing to rising consumer preference for natural products over synthetic or chemical-based goods

China led the Asia Pacific aloe Vera extract market on account of higher population and demand for herbal products and is expected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period

Manufacturers are aiming to achieve optimum business growth by implementing strategies including acquisition, joint venture, capacity expansion, new product development, promotion of crucial product brands, and significant investments in R&D

Some of the major companies in the market are Terry Laboratories, Inc.; Cady products LLC.; Pokonobe Inc.; Lily of the Desert; Aloe Farms, Inc.; Houssy Global; Aloecorp, Inc.; Natural Aloe Costa Rica S.A.; Foodchem International Corporation; and Pharmachem Laboratories, Inc.; Aloe Laboratories, Inc.; and Organic Aloeceuticals

Application Insights

Food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic are the major application segments. Cosmetics segment led the market in 2018 and accounted for 41.9% of the global market share. Increasing use of herbal extracts in cosmetics, such as skin, hair, and body care products, is driving the segment growth. Moreover, consumer preference for herbal and organic products is fueling the demand in this segment. Rising geriatric population base and cases of skin problems are several other factors driving these segment growth.

Pharmaceutical segment is expected to register a CAGR of 7.5% from 2019 to 2025. Increasing use of herbal products for the treatment of various health issues, such as diabetes, is propelling the product demand in the segment. Moreover, rising awareness about healthy lifestyle practices is expected to boost the product demand in pharma sector, as aloe Vera juice is widely used for weight loss and to strengthen immunity and improve digestion.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.
Chaotic scenes unfolded at Venezuelas National Assembly on January 7 as opposition leader Juan Guaido and supporters forced their way into the legislative building after a standoff with armed forces.

Guaido was later sworn in for another term as speaker after the incident, which came two days after allies of disputed incumbent president Nicolas Maduro swore in Luis Parra as head of the assembly when Guaido was prevented from attending the vote.

Guaido and his supporters denounced the appointment as illegitimate, as did several countries, including the United States.

Video filmed by National Assembly member Nora Bracho shows Guaido addressing the crowd outside the legislative building before they gained access on Tuesday. In Venezuela, and in the world, it is not the soldiers who decide who is a representative and who isnt. It is the people of Venezuela, Guaido said. Credit: Nora Bracho via Storyful
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 16:51:14|Editor: xuxin

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GARISSA, Kenya, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Four children were killed after a Somalia-based extremist group al-Shabab attacked a Kenyan village near the Somali border early Tuesday, said a Kenyan government official.

Kibet Bowen, Garissa deputy county commissioner, said al-Shabab blew up a communication mast near Saretho police patrol base within Dadaab area but the police responded in time and killed two of the attackers.

Bowen said the four children living near the police camp were killed by stray bullets fired by about 12 al-Shabab militants during the fighting.

"The militants were targeting the police officers manning the police barrier at Saretho ... The police recovered two AK 47 riffles and two improvised explosive devices," Bowen told Xinhua.

He said security operation is under way to search for other militants who escaped towards the Somali border.

Al-Shabab militants usually smash telecommunication masts to disrupt police response and communication in the area before they could inflict damage on the local population.

A number of security personnel have died along the border with Somalia as a result of the attacks, some of which include improvised explosive devices placed on roadsides by al-Shabab militants.

The police have stepped up security around the country since al-Shabab stormed a U.S. military training base in coastal Kenya and killed three Americans.
A fruit seller packs mangoes imported from Vietnam in a logistics park in Pingxiang, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. (Photo/Xinhua)

The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) sets a great example for global free trade, as the world currently experiences a rise in protectionism.

In the first three quarters of 2019, China and ASEAN countries witnessed rapid growth in their bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Their total import and export volume was up 11.5 percent from a year ago, four times higher than the growth of China's foreign trade in the same period.

Over 90 percent of the commodities under the China-ASEAN FTA framework are duty-free.

The trade of fruit is an important part of the China-ASEAN FTA. In the first half of 2019, China imported nearly 4 million tons of fruit worth $5.6 billion.

Pham Thi Ngu Hoa is a Vietnamese woman who sells fruit near the Dongxing Border Port, a major trade channel between China and Vietnam. She told Economic Information Daily that her fruit business was thriving at the border region, and her products were also sold to many other regions through online channels, and gave credit for her success to the China-ASEAN FTA.

ASEAN became China's second largest trading partner in the first half of last year. Yu Miaojie, vice president of the National School of Development (NSD) at Peking University, attributed the rising trend of China-ASEAN trade amid prevalent protectionism to the tariff cuts and exemptions between the two regions.

In the past decade, the two sides have exempted tariffs for over 7,000 commodities, which has continuously promoted bilateral trade.

Chinese and ASEAN commodities are highly complementary, Yu said, adding that China exports industrial products to ASEAN countries and imports farm produce from them. "China-ASEAN FTA has grown into a successful model of free trade," he said.
Local tradespeople from communities devastated by bushfires are concerned out-of-town businesses will take the lion's share of rebuilding work worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

If that happens, locals say, they will be unable to employ subcontractors and spend money in towns already reeling from the drought and the loss of tourists during what is usually peak season.

Builders in fire-hit communities say locals should get the first chance at rebuilding work. Credit:James Brickwood

"It's probably the worst thing that can happen," builder Tony Lawson told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age from Narooma on the NSW South Coast. "You'll have people coming in from out of town trying to capitalise on the situation".

Mr Lawson, whose apprentice and plasterer lost their homes in the fires, said he was ready to do rebuilding work and could employ up to 20 subcontractors and two permanent staff but was afraid insurers would give jobs to their preferred building companies.
[January 06, 2020] ASUS ROG Announces New Lineup of Esports-Ready Strix Gaming Desktops

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced a new lineup of Strix gaming desktops, the GA35, GT35, GA15 and GT15, that offer tournament-ready performance for competitive esports and beyond. Debuting at CES 2020, the ROG Strix gaming desktops are engineered to sustain smooth gameplay under serious pressure, and offer the flexibility to do everything from producing top-quality streams to developing games. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200106006006/en/ ROG Strix GA35/GT35 and GA15/GT15 gaming desktops (Photo: Business Wire) The Strix GA35 and GT35: Boosted by RTX Graphics Armed with up to a ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080 Ti graphics card, the GA35 and GT35 delivers reliably high frame rates for the latest games. The GPU in this top-of-the-line card is based on the NVIDIA (News - Alert) Turing architecture, which mixes CUDA cores for traditional rasterization with RT cores for ray tracing, and Tensor cores for accelerated AI, including noise removal. When paired with compatible games, this combination enables faster antialiasing and higher-quality lighting, shadows, and reflections. ROG Strix elevates the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti's graphics prowess with a huge 2.7-slot heatsink capped by three Axial-tech fans that help the card maintain high clocks in the heat of battle. Serious 16-core power with the Strix GA35 The Strix GA35 offers powerful 3rd Generation AMD (News - Alert) Ryzen processors up to the Ryzen 9 3950X CPU, with its cutting-edge 7nm technology doubling the number of cores of the previous generation. With 16 cores and 32 threads, the additional cores make the system more responsive under strenuous loads, and accelerate heavily multithreaded work like video encoding and 3D rendering. The Strix GT35 will feature the latest 10th generation of Intel (News - Alert) Core processors for users looking for multitasking mastery when it comes to gaming and streaming. The CPU sits in a ROG Strix X570-F Gaming motherboard with a fine-tuned VRM that delivers clean and reliable current. Substantial heatsinks keep the VRM cool, while closed-loop liquid cooling channels heat from the CPU to a dual-fan radiator that exhausts out the top of the chassis. The processor is unlocked for overclocking, so gamers can push for even higher performance. With up to 64GB of high-performance DDR4-3200 memory, the GA35 can simultaneously handle smooth gameplay while live-streaming, recording, and multitasking. A NVMe SSD with up to 1TB of capacity offers plenty of space, and the Strix GA35 further accelerate throughput using the latest PCI (News - Alert) Express 4.0 interface. For additional upgrades, GA35's two PCIe x16 slots are connected directly to the CPU and support multi-GPU configurations. External hot-swap bays simplifies storage upgrades and allows for easy SSD removal in tournament settings, while one of the motherboard's dual M.2 slots is available for a second SSD for more space. The chassis also has room for two 3.5-inch HDDs that can increase total storage capacity. Superb gaming and streaming on the Strix GA15 and GT15 To run the latest titles at high resolutions or faster refresh rates, the Strix GA15 and GT15 are available with powerful graphics cards up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER. This performance is due in part to the NVIDIA Turing architecture behind the GeForce RTX series. The GA15 uses the latest 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen CPUs, while the GT15 leverages the upcoming 10th Gen Intel Core processors. The Strix GA15 is available with up to an AMD Ryzen 7 3800X CPU that has 8 cores and 16 threads to easily handle demanding and varied workloads. Top configurations add up to 32GB of high-performance DDR4-3200MHz RAM (News - Alert), ensuring responsiveness even under heavy loads.



Storage options include a superfast M.2-based NVMe SSD up to 1TB, offering ample room for apps. For larger game libraries, the system is available with 2TB of mechanical storage. Users can download AMD StoreMI Technology to accelerate dual-drive configurations. StoreMI caches the frequently accessed data on the SSD, melding the responsiveness of solid-state storage with the massive capacity of mechanical drives to speed up load times. Next-level cooling carries performance for latest ROG Strix gaming desktops

The newest lineup of ROG Strix gaming desktops combine robust component cooling with a chassis optimized for superior airflow. The Wind Shear design on the GA35 and GT35 features widened air vents that help draw more air through the internal cooling system. The internal storage also has dedicated cooling to facilitate reliable performance. The motherboard's dual M.2 SSD slots feature heatsinks that can improve sustained throughput and long-term reliability. For even more strenuous storage loads, the Strix X570-F Gaming motherboard has a header for an M.2 fan that enables direct airflow through active cooling. The GA15 and GT15 chassis is a more compact variation with a dual-chamber design of the airflow-enhancing Wind Shear design featured in the high-end Strix GA35 and GT35. The cooling is efficient enough that the Strix GA35 and Strix GA15 generated noise levels under 35 dB in an internal gaming test with Metro Exodus. The full lineup of ROG Strix gaming desktops elegantly integrates a carrying handle into the top of the chassis that's strong enough to bear sustained force of up to 30kgf, making them easier to carry. The slick hidden headphone hook helps keep tournament setups and battlestations clean; it's tested to hold headsets up to 3kg, and can survive momentary force up to 10kgf. Personalize to perfection The Strix GA35 is the first ROG system to feature new Keystone II technology. Introduced with the ROG Strix III and Hero III gaming laptops introduced in spring of 2019, the Keystone is an NFC-enabled key can be docked in compatible devices to quickly access customized settings linked to a user's ROG ID. Keystone II can also be configured to switch the system to a specific operating mode, launch an individual game or application, or unlock a hidden Shadow Drive for private files. In terms of personalized lighting, the full lineup of new Strix gaming desktops feature customizable RGB lighting inside and out. Aura Sync lets users coordinate colors and effects across all compatible components, including ROG peripherals and components. The internal lighting showcases the components through the transparent EMI-shielded glass side panel. ROG Armoury Crate software offers tons of tuning options for lighting, Keystones and other system settings. Users can create Scenario Profiles that automatically load personal preferences when they launch specific games and applications. Scenario Profiles detect the active application and adjust system performance, cooling, lighting, and other settings to ensure an ideal configuration for the task at hand. And for a more personalized audio experience, Sonic Studio III supports manual customization and offers five specially tuned modes for different kinds of games in addition to more immersive audio. Gear up and go While most peripherals connect around the back, front-panel ports provide convenient access for select devices. The GA35 and GT35's dual USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports provide fast access to speedy external storage, while dual USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports are ready for more conventional devices. Around back, there are 6 additional ports, including one more USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C. Dual HDMI 2.0b ports on the graphics card allows gamers to run a VR headset alongside a 4K monitor or TV for immersive virtual experiences. On GA35 and GT35 configurations with GeForce graphics cards, DisplayPort 1.4 outputs offer connectivity for NVIDIA G-SYNC gaming monitors that make gameplay even smoother. Intel I211-AT Gigabit Ethernet offers a lower latency connections for multiplayer gaming, while Wi-Fi 5 provides fast wireless access for everyday streaming and web browsing. The Wi-Fi card also integrates Bluetooth 5 for compatible devices. The GA15 and GT15 also offer fast charging and data transfer via one reversible Type-C (USB-C) port with peak interface bandwidth of 10Gbps via USB 3.2 Gen 2. Five Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports make space for preferred peripherals and any other devices that benefit from fast data transfers. There's an HDMI 2.0b port for gaming or streaming 4K video on the big screen at up to 60Hz. DisplayPort 1.4 outputs are also available to drive high-refresh gaming monitors, including those compatible with NVIDIA G-SYNC technology. Gigabit-class networking manifests in two ways on the GA15 and GT15. Gigabit Ethernet offers a lower latency connection for multiplayer gaming, while Wi-Fi 5 provides fast wireless access for everyday streaming and web browsing. The Wi-Fi card also integrates Bluetooth 5 to cut the cord for compatible devices. PRODUCT IMAGES & SPECIFICATIONS https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=kZMkPjkZzV3F3caDo845wpd6iBh2W7jkHcuk AVAILABILITY & PRICING The ROG Strix GA35 and GA15 will be available starting from Q1 2020. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information. The ROG Strix GT35 and GT15 launch timing will be announced later in 2020. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information. ASUS at CES 2020: If you're interested in seeing any products or taking a tour of the ASUS and ROG showrooms at CES, please reach out to the press contacts listed below. ASUS AND ROG AT CES 2020 To access all ASUS and ROG CES 2020 press releases and collateral, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/ASUS-AT-CES-2020. For all ASUS and ROG CES 2020 news, please visit: https://www.asus.com/us/News/. About ROG Republic of Gamers (ROG) is an ASUS sub-brand dedicated to creating the world's best gaming hardware and software. Formed in 2006, ROG offers a complete line of innovative products known for performance and quality, including motherboards, graphics cards, laptops, desktops, monitors, audio equipment, routers and peripherals. ROG participates in and sponsors major international gaming events. ROG gear has been used to set hundreds of overclocking records and it continues to be the preferred choice of gamers and enthusiasts around the world. Learn more about the choice of champions at http://rog.asus.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200106006006/en/

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Posted on: January 7, 2020 1:56 PM

[ACNS, by Staff Writer] The leaders of 36 of the Anglican Communions 40 member churches will gather in the Middle East next week for what has been described as a very strategic meeting. The chief pastors of the Communion  the senior archbishops, moderators and presiding bishops of the Anglican provinces  will meet from Monday 13 January to Wednesday 15 January in formal session. A preliminary meeting will be held on Sunday 12 January for new Primates, elected or appointed to their position since the previous Primates Meeting in October 2017.

On Thursday 16 January, the primates will take part in separate pilgrimages, beginning together at the site of Jesus baptism with a Eucharist and reaffirmation of baptism vows, before one group heads to Salt and Mount Nebo while another crosses to the west bank of the River Jordan for visits to Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

The Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani, is hosting the meeting in his diocese which includes Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

Next weeks meeting is part of a considerably thought-through and evolving process, right from when Archbishop Justin became Archbishop of Canterbury, a spokesman said during a media briefing organised by the Anglican Communion Office. It began the day after his installation in Canterbury Cathedral when he met with the primates in various groups and then went and visited them all in their homes. It is a practice he continues to try to do when new primates are appointed.

He was able to bring together a Primates Meeting where everyone was present in 2016 and build a consensus to hold a Lambeth Conference, to have a follow-up [meeting] to that in 2017, then to meet in regional meetings of the primates  which is what has been happening over the past two years rather than one big meeting, which has been very successful in both helping them develop their regional identities and the potential that offers for collaborative working  and now we come to this, the last full Primates Meeting before the Lambeth Conference.

The spokesman said that while primates dont have a veto on the Lambeth Conference, Archbishop Justin was committed to consulting, hearing their views and receiving their input.

He added: That will be a process that culminates at the Primates Meeting; it doesnt start at it. The Archbishop is very committed to his communication with the primates . . . he will have phoned all 40 of them and will have spoken to them about the meeting and some of the issues that need to be addressed.

The Primates Meeting will be a key pivotal moment at which the main item of business will be sharing with the primates . . . the proposed programme for the Lambeth Conference that the Design Group has been working on, the approach that will be taken at the Lambeth Conference, to inform them, to get further feedback from them when they are all together.

They have all had a sense of it in the phone calls, so this is gathering it up in the collegial spirit in which the Primates Meetings are designed to foster.

Some members of the Community of St Anselm  the youth-focused new monastic movement based at Lambeth Palace - will maintain a praying presence during the Primates Meeting, which is being held near the baptism site.

Another item on the agenda will be a report from the Task Group that was established following the 2016 Primates Meeting to maintain relationships within the Anglican Communion. The spokesman said that the Task Group has been considering what impaired communion and distance looks like and will present its thinking on how the Communion can continue to walk together.

Despite the commitment to walk together at a distance made by the primates at their 2016 meeting, the Primates of Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda  Archbishops Nicholas Okoh, Laurent Mbanda and Stanley Ntagali  have said that they will not take part in next weeks gathering in Jordan. The Moderator of the Church of South India, Bishop Thomas Oommen, is unable to attend as his provincial synod will be meeting at the same time as the Primates Meeting to elect a new Moderator.
Violent attacks against Jews have rattled tight-knit communities throughout the country in recent weeks. Six people were killed, including a police officer, in a shooting targeting a Kosher grocery store in New Jersey last month. The day before Christmas, a Jewish man in Brooklyn, New York, was hit with a chair and punched in the face while walking down the sidewalk. And several people were stabbed last month after a man broke into the suburban New York home of a Hasidic rabbi and attacked people inside who were celebrating Hanukkah.
The building looks ridiculously thin from the front (SWNS)

Here is a property that definitely warrants a second viewing.

At first glance, this block of flats in Bristol looks like it is only 2ft deep, with barely enough space to set a foot in the door.

But a closer inspection reveals its skinniness is down to its unusual triangular shape.

When viewed from the rear on the northern side, the building is just like any other. In fact, there is more than enough space for a front door and a window on each side.

From the southern end, however, the three-storey property in Fishponds, Bristol, doesnt look big enough to fit any people inside it at all.

The building widens out when viewed from the back (SWNS)

Only a small part of of the quirky building is really narrow, with its wider end tapering down to the rest of the property.

One of the buildings tenants, Andy Watson, has rented a flat in the building for 19 years, but only noticed the strange facade three years ago when his brother pointed it out.

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"The thing is I rarely walk from that direction, said Mr Watson, 59. I usually come from the other side, from Fishponds Road.

"My brother found it quite amusing because its a weird shape. I was a bit annoyed with myself for not noticing it, because its part of where I live.

The true shape of the building can be viewed from above (SWNS)

"I have noticed that kind of architecture elsewhere in Bristol. The corners of some streets are very narrow.

"I have seen a few like that in Easton. Ironically, the only one I didnt see, at least not for a long time, was the one where I live."

The thin part of the block contains a narrow utility room with four washing machines for tenants.

Mr Watson said: "I think a business selling spare parts might have been in this building before they turned it into flats."

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK
A large sea bream object, made from colourful debris found drifting at sea, such as plastic tanks, toys and wires, and produced by Japanese art group Yodogawa Tecnique, is displayed at the Setouchi Triennale art event at the port of Uno, Okayama prefecture in western Japan on May 19, 2013.

One of the many challenges that Japan faces is rural depopulation amid a fast decline in birth rate  but a recent trend may help revitalize some local economies.

In the last two decades, sleepy islands and towns in Japan have been hosting a new wave of contemporary art and design set-ups attracting tourists and new residents, some of whom are staying for good.

"The rural arts festivals tended to have local and regional regeneration and revitalization as their main aim, hoping to solve social problems of depopulation, and an aging population, whilst urban arts festivals were aimed largely at cultural development and regeneration," wrote Naoko Takahashi, an arts events manager and writer in a 2015 discussion paper on the subject published by the Arts and Festivals Management department at De Montfort University in Leicester, England.

Japan held more art festivals in 2015 than any other country studied, Takahashi found.

The small island of Ogijima in the Seto Inland Sea has been held out as an example of being particularly welcoming to younger people relocating there. Those moving include artists, families or people seeking a quieter life.

The population growth even spurred the reopening of a kindergarten and school for children, the Japan Times reported in 2016. That is a big step up from 2013, when there were no children residing on the island at all, a new resident wrote on the Setouchi art triennale's official blog in 2018.

The Setouchi Triennale 2019 received 1.2 million visitors in its entire duration over six months, its organizer said.
HYDERABAD, India, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mr. K.T. Rama Rao, Hon'ble Minister for IT, Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Industries, and Commerce, Government of Telangana inaugurated the state of the art 60,000 sq. ft. Development Center of Cyient, a global engineering and technology solutions company, in Warangal today. State ministers Mr. Errabelli Dayakar Rao Hon'ble Minister for Panchayat Raj & Rural Development and RWS, Mr. Etela Rajendra Hon'ble Minister for Medical & Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Satyavathi Rathod Hon'ble Minister for ST Welfare, Women & Child Welfare and Mr. Dasyam Vinay Bhasker Chief Whip, TSLA, Mr. Banda Prakash Hon'ble Member of Parliament, Mr. Pasunuri Dayakar Hon'ble Member of Parliament, Mr. Gunda Prakash Rao, Mayor, Mr. Bodakunti Venkateswarlu, MLC, Mr. Pochampally Srinivas Reddy, MLC, Mr. Aroori Ramesh, MLA, Mr. EV Narasimha Reddy Vice Chairman & MD, TSIIC Ltd., Mr. BVR Mohan Reddy, Founder and Executive Chairman, Cyient and Mr. Krishna Bodanapu, Managing Director & CEO, Cyient with other senior officials of the company and dignitaries were present at the occasion.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1062657/Cyient_s_Warrangal_Development_Centre_inauguration.jpg

With this launch, the historic city of Warangal gets the largest Development Center, paving the way for development of commercial and business infrastructure and attracting IT and other investments.

While inaugurating the campus Mr. K.T. Rama Rao, Hon'ble Minister for IT, Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Industries, and Commerce, Government of Telangana said, "It is a momentous occasion for us that Cyient has set up this state-of-the-art campus that will benefit the talent pool of Warangal. It sends out a signal that Warangal is ready to partner with companies like Cyient to support their engagements with customers around the world. We thank Cyient for placing Warangal on the technology map."

Commenting on the occasion Mr. BVR Mohan Reddy, Founder and Executive Chairman, Cyient said, "As a prime mover in Warangal, it is a proud moment for Cyient to inaugurate Warangal's largest development center and partner in the growth story of this culturally rich city. The talent pool of Warangal will now have access to work opportunities with large, global customers. The addition of this center to Cyient's global operations will help spur the growth of its Communication business."

The new state-of-the-art facility can accommodate 600 Cyient engineers on a total built-up area of around 60,000 sq. ft. The company is also constructing a second tower to accommodate an additional 200 engineers.

Cyient's Warangal Development Center supports telecom customers globally with plan & design and engineering services for their mobile and fixed-line networks. The company works with several of the largest communications service providers in the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific region helping them accelerate the deployment of 5G networks, expand fiber-to-the-home coverage and implement digital solutions to enhance customer experience.

About Cyient

Cyient (Estd: 1991, NSE: CYIENT) is a global engineering and technology solutions company. As a Design, Build, and Maintain partner for leading organizations worldwide, Cyient takes solution ownership across the value chain to help customers focus on their core, innovate, and stay ahead of the curve. The company leverages digital technologies, advanced analytics capabilities, and its domain knowledge and technical expertise, to solve complex business problems.

With over 15,000 employees globally, Cyient partners with customers to operate as part of their extended team in ways that best suit their organization's culture and requirements. Cyient's industry focus includes aerospace and defense, healthcare, telecommunications, rail transportation, semiconductor, geospatial, industrial, and energy.

For more information, please visit www.cyient.com

Follow news about the company at @Cyient

Media Relations

Perfect Relations Vishal Thapa Mobile: +91 9701834446 Email: vthapa@perfectrelations.com Perfect Relations Sagar Kumar Mobile: +91 7376406057 Email: sagar.kumar@perfectrelations.com







Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/289359/cyient_logo.jpg
An Argor-Heraeus SA branded two hundred and fifty gram gold bar, center, sits in this arranged photograph at Solar Capital Gold Zrt. in Budapest, Hungary.

Gold prices slipped further on Tuesday from the previous session's near seven-year high, as Middle East tensions cooled and investors booked profit, while palladium touched a new high.

Spot gold fell 0.4% - its biggest daily percentage decline in about a month - to $1,559.11 per ounce by 0341 GMT.

In the previous session, prices had touched $1,582.59, the highest since April 2013.

U.S. gold futures dipped 0.5% to $1,561.00.

"With no immediate retaliation from Iran, some of the tensions have simmered. Also, we've seen some profit-taking coming in," said Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst for the Asia-Pacific region at OANDA.

"If things de-escalate (with Iran), then gold will hit lower quite quickly. We would see it go down below $1,500."

Gold, considered a safe asset in times of political and economic uncertainty, had jumped in the last two sessions on concerns of a wider conflict after a U.S. air strike killed Iran's top military commander Qassem Soleimani last week.

Markets were worried about conflicting reports about American military repositioning troops in preparation for leaving Iraq.

Further weighing on gold, Asian shares rebounded on ebbing Middle East tensions.

Additionally, oil prices relinquished gains on speculation that Iran might not strike against the United States in a way that would disrupt supplies.

However, risks of escalating tensions persisted, with the United States denying a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that would have let him attend a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday.

"With $15-$20 setbacks the new intraday norm (in gold), look for volatility to remain elevated," Stephen Innes, a market strategist at AxiTrader, said in a note.

Holdings of the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Trust, rose 0.10% to 896.18 tonnes on Monday, their highest since Nov. 27.

Speculators increased their bullish positions in COMEX gold and silver contracts in the week to Dec. 31, data showed.

Elsewhere, spot palladium fell 0.3% to $2,024.75, off an all-time peak of $2,032.94 an ounce hit earlier in the session.

The industrial metal, suffering from sustained supply woes, gained about 54% in 2019.

Silver slipped 0.5% to $18.05 an ounce, after touching a more than three-month high at $18.50 in the previous session, while platinum advanced 0.3% to $965.76.
Mexicans seeking asylum in the United States could be deported to Guatemala, part of a controversial migration deal between the Central American nation and Washington, the US Department of Homeland Security told AFP Monday.

The agreement designated Guatemala a "safe third country" -- allowing US authorities to deport some El Salvadoran and Honduran asylum seekers there -- and was condemned by international human rights groups.

"Certain Mexicans seeking humanitarian protections in the United States may now be eligible to be transferred to Guatemala and given the opportunity to seek protection there," a spokesperson for Homeland Security said in a statement.

The Mexican foreign ministry said it "disagreed" with the measure that could affect roughly 900 of its citizens from February.

In a statement, the ministry said it would closely monitor "human rights set out in the international agreements signed and ratified" by both countries.

Washington's move is the latest tightening of immigration regulations under President Donald Trump, who has pursued a broader crackdown on undocumented migrants.

Under the agreement with Guatemala, migrants who want to seek asylum in the US but travel through Guatemala must first request protection in the Central American country.

Many international observers say the country -- with 60 percent poverty -- is in no shape to welcome refugees but simply signed the agreement under intense US pressure.

Washington has reached a similar deal with El Salvador.

In October, the US said border agents at the southern frontier with Mexico had arrested or stopped nearly one million undocumented migrants over the previous 12 months.

The increase was attributed to groups or families of Central American migrants fleeing poverty and violence to seek asylum on US soil.

Most migrants who reached the border are processed by immigration officials and then released to await a hearing on their claim -- but they usually disappeared into the US, hoping to settle.

In a bid to stop the new arrivals, the US has asked Mexico to slow migrants' travel, and ordered the expulsion of asylum seekers back to Mexico.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridge Bank today announced its Life Sciences Group (LSG) has expanded its presence in the San Francisco Bay Area by hiring Derek Scalf as vice president, relationship manager in its San Francisco office. Derek will be responsible for leading business development and growing existing client relationships. Additionally, Bridge Bank's Life Sciences Group, led by Rob Lake, announced a return to this year's 38th Annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference taking place January 13  16 in San Francisco.

"I look forward to being a valuable member of the Life Sciences team," said Derek Scalf, relationship manager. "I am excited to hit the ground running during this year's JP Morgan Healthcare Conference."

"In recent months, we've made key hires and realigned existing roles as we've expanded the presence and capabilities of LSG," said Rob Lake, senior director of Bridge Bank's Life Sciences Group. "I am excited for the impact that Derek will have on our team during the 38th Annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference and look forward to him being an integral part of our team in serving and growing our Bay Area-based portfolio."

Derek joins Bridge Bank with nearly 10 years of experience in working with small to mid-market companies and has served as vice president at Silicon Valley Bank, and most recently at Wells Fargo Bank, in the Life Sciences and Healthcare practice where he managed a portfolio of client relationships and lead business development. Derek holds a Bachelor of Science from the Ricciardi College of Business at Bridgewater State University.

Derek Scalf can be reached at (415) 500-9786, or [email protected]. To request an appointment to meet with a member of the Life Sciences team during the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, please contact Rob Lake at (858) 523-4686, or [email protected].

About Life Sciences Group

Bridge Bank's Life Sciences Group understands the unique challenges and opportunities companies face in bringing their products from lab to market. Whether biotechnology, medical device or pharma, companies benefit from experienced, knowledgeable lenders  along with sophisticated products and services  to help their enterprises succeed. The team provides term and revolving credit facilities to life sciences companies for a variety of purposes, including growth capital, working capital, refinancing, restructuring, recapitalization, as well as mergers and acquisitions. Bridge Bank is a division of Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, the primary subsidiary of Phoenix-based Western Alliance Bancorporation, one of the country's top-performing banking companies. Western Alliance is ranked #1 regional bank by S&P Global Market Intelligence for 2018 and in the top 10 on the Forbes "Best Banks in America" list for four consecutive years, 2016-2019. A national presence with a regional footprint, Western Alliance Bank operates individually branded, full-service banking divisions and has offices in key markets nationwide. For more information, visit bridgebank.com.

SOURCE Bridge Bank

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Mike Pompeo, President Donald Trumps secretary of state, has a long record of deception. In 2017, he falsely claimed that according to a U.S. intelligence assessment, Russian interference did not affect the outcome of the 2016 election. In 2018, he carefully misled reporters about the Saudi governments role in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Last year, after listening in on Trumps corrupt phone call with the president of Ukraine, Pompeo pretended not to know about it.

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Now Pompeo is defending Trumps lethal drone strike on Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Irans top military commander. The secretary gave several interviews on Friday and Saturday, appeared on six Sunday morning shows, and followed up with a press conference on Tuesday. We wont know the full extent of Pompeos deceit until we see more of the intelligence that supposedly warranted the strike. But we have enough evidence to prove that once again, hes lying.

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Like Trump, Pompeo denies even the most obvious facts. On Sunday Morning Futures, a Fox News program, host Maria Bartiromo asked Pompeo about complaints that Trump was targeting cultural sites in Iran. Pompeo insisted that wasnt true. President Trump didnt say hed go after a cultural site, he told Bartiromo. Read what he said very closely.

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OK, lets read what Trump said. On Saturday, the president tweeted, Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites  some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. In case that wasnt clear enough, Trump repeated his threat on Sunday: Theyre allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And were not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesnt work that way.

Pompeo also misrepresented the words of Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In four Sunday interviews, Pompeo claimed that Milley, in a conversation with reporters on Friday, had said the United States would have been culpably negligent if it hadnt gone after Soleimani and taken that strike to kill him. But that isnt what Milley said. According to every reporter who witnessed the generals remarks, Milley said it would have been negligent, in view of Irans provocations, to do nothing at all.

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This distinction is important because the central dispute about Soleimani isnt whether he was a vicious orchestrator of violence (he was) or whether Irans recent aggressions warranted a forceful response (they did). The dispute is over whether, among the available options, it was necessary, wise, or rash to kill him. Pompeo claims there was no such dispute, either within the administration or among congressional leaders who were briefed on the intelligence. That claim is a lie.

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On Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace asked Pompeo about statements from congressional leaders that U.S. intelligence, contrary to the administrations assertions, didnt show an imminent attack that was bigger, more worrisome than Soleimanis usual schemes. Pompeo dismissed the question, denying that such a quarrel even existed. I havent heard any of the congressional leaders who have seen the full set of intelligence make the comments that you just described, he told Wallace.

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Thats risible. By the time Pompeo made this statement, the press was full of quotes from congressional leadersincluding those who had attended classified briefings with U.S. intelligence officials on Fridayabout the paucity of evidence to support the strike. Furthermore, on the same Sunday shows on which Pompeo was speaking, three members of the Gang of Eightthe lawmakers who get the most complete intelligence briefingsrejected his account. On ABCs This Week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the administrations explanations unsatisfactory. On NBCs Meet the Press, Sen. Mark Warner said he had yet to receive adequate evidence of an imminent threat. On CNNs State of the Union, Rep. Adam Schiff cited a lack of detail in terms of the plotting that supposedly justified the strike.

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Pompeo also lied about differences of opinion within the administration. He told ABCs George Stephanopoulos that among the senior leaders who had access to all of the intelligence, there was no skepticism about the need to kill Soleimani. On Face the Nation, Margaret Brennan asked the secretary: Were all of the presidents national security advisers in full agreement that Qassem Soleimani needed to be killed? Pompeo replied, Yes. He assured Brennan that there was unanimity that we were making the right decision.

By the time Pompeo made this statement, the press was full of quotes from congressional leaders about the paucity of evidence to support the strike.

You can argue about whether it was the right decision. But Pompeos claims of unanimity are simply false. The Washington Post has spoken to defense officials who said Pompeos claims of an imminent and direct threat were overstated. The New York Times, in its report on disputes in the administration, cites officials who have called the intelligence thin and normal. The in-house skeptics point to intelligence that Irans leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hadnt approved any plans for an upcoming attack. Both the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times have reported that top Pentagon officials were stunned by Trumps decision.

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Pompeo is lying about our allies, too. On Friday, after a French official said the strike had made the world less safe, Pompeo snapped that the French are just wrong. On Saturday, he complained to Sean Hannity that The Europeans havent been as helpful as I wish that they could be. The Brits, the French, the Germans all need to understand that what we did, what the Americans did, saved lives in Europe as well. But that didnt stop Pompeo from asserting on Sunday that Trump had assembled an unprecedented alliance. He told Bartiromo, Iran has never been in a place where theyve been challenged not only economically, but diplomatically, with a global coalition that in May of last year put out a united statement against Iran.

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Meanwhile, Pompeo slandered former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden. The Obama-Biden administration essentially handed power to the Iranian leadership and acted as a quasi-ally of theirs, Pompeo told Wallace. He claimed that Obama and Biden provided them $150 billion as part of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, underwriting the very militias that killed Americans. On Meet the Press, Pompeo said Obamas policy was designed to guarantee that the Iranian regime would have power, authority, capacity to take Americans hostage.

These are allegations of treason. To the extent that they impugn Obamas motives, theyre baseless and vile. But to the extent that they can be checked against evidence, theyre provably false. Every news organization that has examined the $150 billion claim found that none of that money came from the United States. It was Irans money, released from frozen bank accounts, and it was more like $30 billion to $50 billion.

At his press conference on Tuesday, Pompeo was asked for evidence that Iran had been preparing an imminent attack. He said U.S. intelligence showed continuing efforts by Soleimani to build out a network of campaign activities that were going to lead, potentially, to the death of many more Americans. In other words, the attack wasnt imminent. But the contradiction didnt faze Pompeo. The strike on Soleimani was necessary to save American lives, he insisted. He just goes right on lying.
Banking services at public sector banks are likely to be hit on Wednesday due to a nationwide strike called by 10 central trade unions.

Most of the lenders have already informed stock exchanges about the January 8 strike and its impact on banking services.

Various bank employee associations, including AIBEA, All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), BEFI, INBEF, INBOC and Bank Karmachari Sena Mahasangh (BKSM), have expressed their willingness to participate in the strike.

Banking services like deposit and withdrawal, cheque clearing and instrument issuance are expected to be impacted due to the strike.

However, services at private sector banks are unlikely to be impacted.

Nearly 25 crore people are likely to take part in an all-India strike on Wednesday to protest against the government's "anti-people" policies.

Trade unions INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with various sectoral independent federations and associations had adopted a declaration in September last to go on a nationwide strike on January 8, 2020.

"The Ministry of Labour has failed to assure on any of the demands of workers which called a meeting on January 2, 2020. The attitude of the government is that of contempt towards labour as we construe from its policies and actions," the 10 CTUs said in a joint statement.

"We expect participation of not less than 25 crore of working people in the forthcoming National General Strike on January 8, 2020, to be followed by many more actions seeking reversal of the anti-worker, anti-people, anti-national policies of the Government," it said.

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

Four burglary suspects were arrested after fleeing an attempted traffic stop in San Francisco's Russian Hill neighborhood and colliding into a city vehicle in the Cow Hollow neighborhood on Monday afternoon, according to police.

The series of events started at 4:26 p.m. in the area of Hyde and Green streets when officers spotted a vehicle known to be involved in auto burglaries in the area, police said.

As the officers tried to pull the vehicle over, the driver fled, police said. Officers didn't pursue it. The suspect's vehicle then crashed into an occupied city vehicle at the intersection of Union and Franklin streets.

Following brief foot pursuits, all four suspects were taken into custody. Their names haven't been released.

The city employee was transported to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.

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.
She'll be returning to small screens for another season of her reality show, Very Cavallari, in just a few days.

But Kristin Cavallari was already the center of attention as she continued promoting the series on Monday.

The MTV vet, 33, looked fabulous in a lime green dress with silver high heels at the Extra studios in Burbank, California.

Going green! Kristin Cavallari was already the center of attention as she continued promoting the series at Extra on Monday

The former Laguna Beach star rocked a head full of elegant, beachy waves that danced atop her shoulders.

Kristin looked absolutely picture perfect with a bronze coat of eye shadow and pink hue of blush atop her cheeks.

She added a dressy touchy with her gold chain necklace and hoop earrings, which were a nice contrast to her metallic heels.

Radiant smile on her face, Kristin showed no signs of slowing down.

Lights, camera, action! The reality star strode through the studio alongside Billy Bush

Say cheese! The actress had a radiant grin plastered across her face

The star has had a very busy few days, from hosting the Golden Globes red carpet to promoting Very Cavallari.

Though she seems to be balancing everything seamlessly these days, that doesn't seem to be the case on her reality show.

Season three of Very Cavallari is promising more drama than ever.

Busy, busy! The star has had a very busy few days, from attending the Golden Globes to promoting Very Cavallari

Va va voom: The star's green dress showed off plenty of cleavage

In a new trailer, Kristin is seen trying to balance life as a mom, business owner and friend in Nashville, Tennessee.

Things got tense in one scene with husband Jay Cutler, where they're seen sitting down to a fancy dinner and discussing their personal life.

'We speak two different languages when it comes to conflict,' Kristin cried as Jay's face fell with disappointment.

Very Cavallari will be returning to E! January 9.

Not on the same page: Things get tense in one scene with husband Jay Cutler, where they're seen sitting down to a fancy dinner and discussing their personal life
(Newser)  Jennifer Farber Dulos' estranged husband was arrested and charged with her murder on Tuesday, reports the Hartford Courant. The Connecticut mother of five hasn't been seen since May 24, and her body has not been located. The husband, Fotis Dulos, wasn't the only one arrested: Police also collared his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, and his former lawyer, Kent Mawhinney, who were both charged with conspiracy to commit murder, the New York Times reports. Dulos, who has denied harming his wife, was arrested at his Farmington home this morning.

story continues below

Dulos' attorney, Norm Pattis, says he managed to speak to Dulos for about 10 minutes before police arrived, though he did not share details of their conversation beyond saying "you can imagine what it's like to say to someone, prepare for the bottom to fall out of your world." His bond was set at $6 million; he has a Wednesday court date. The 52-year-old has been arrested twice in connection with the case, and is out on bail on charges of tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution. State police will give an update on the case Tuesday afternoon. (Read more on the case thus far here.)
KYODO NEWS - Jan 7, 2020 - 11:15 | Feature

[Supplied photo]

LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Toyota Motor Corp. said it plans to build a fully sustainable prototype city in central Japan with its employees and those of its industry partners making up most of the resident population.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda unveiled the project, to be built in Shizuoka Prefecture, at a press preview event ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Called the Woven City, it will be a fully connected ecosystem powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Ground is scheduled to be broken in early 2021, according to the Japanese automaker.

"I believe it is up to all of us, especially corporations like Toyota, to do our part to help make the world a better place. This Woven City is one small, but hopefully significant step toward fulfilling that promise," Toyoda said.

The new community will be built on a 175-acre site at the foot of Mt. Fuji, starting with a population of around 2,000. In the city, only fully-autonomous, zero-emission vehicles will be allowed to travel on main streets.

Related coverage:

China fines local unit of Toyota $12.5 mil. for antitrust violations

Toyota union to propose larger focus on performance in pay increases

Toyota employee's suicide caused by workplace harassment

Residents in the city will have in-home robotics to assist their daily lives, with sensor-based AI systems monitoring their health.

In designing the experimental city, Toyota partnered with Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, who was involved in the 2 World Trade Center in New York City, among other notable projects.

[Supplied photo]
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 6, 2020) - Gravitas Financial Inc. (CSE: GFI): Further to its news release dated September 27, 2019 and October 29, 2019, Gravitas Financial Inc. ("Gravitas") announces that it has closed its previously announced transaction relating to the sale to Mobile Telecommunication Group LLC and Global Business Services for Multimedia (collectively, the "Purchasers") of common shares in the capital of The Mint Corporation ("Mint") registered and beneficially owned by Gravitas and certain outstanding loans and other indebtedness owed to Gravitas by Mint and certain of its affiliates ("Mint Indebtedness") pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement dated September 26, 2019, as amended by amending agreements dated October 7, 2019 and December 31, 2019 (the "Transaction"), among Gravitas, the Purchasers and the fiduciary acting on behalf of the beneficial holders of substantially all of Gravitas' secured debt (the "Debtholder") for aggregate cash consideration of $1,098,099.30.

None of the proceeds from the Transaction shall be distributed to shareholders of Gravitas. As disclosed in Gravitas' management information circular dated September 30, 2019 (the "Circular"), Gravitas intends to use all of the proceeds of the Transaction to repurchase all of the Secured Debt (as defined in the Circular) in order to satisfy and discharge its obligations under the Indentures (as defined in the Circular), other than such portion of the proceeds that the Debtholder has approved for use to pay Gravitas' operating expenses. A copy of the Circular is filed under Gravitas' profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Upon completion of the Transaction, Gravitas will have sold, directly and indirectly, all of its security interest in Mint. Before the Transaction, Gravitas owned, directly and indirectly, 103,957,827 common shares of Mint, representing approximately 53% of the outstanding common shares of Mint (on a non-diluted basis) as at May 30, 2019.

In connection with the completion of the Transaction, Gravitas filed an early warning report ("Early Warning Report") pursuant to the requirements under National Instrument 62-103 The Early Warning System and Related Take Over Bids and Insider Reporting Issuers ("NI 62-103"). This press release is issued pursuant to NI 62-103 in connection with the filing of the Early Warning Report regarding the Transaction. A copy of the Early Warning Report is filed under Gravitas' profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking" statements. These statements relate to future events and, in certain cases, can be identified by the use of word such as "shall", "intends", "will", or the negative forms of any of these words and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include the use of proceeds of the Transaction. All such statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of Gravitas believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, Gravitas cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in Gravitas' ongoing filings with the securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Gravitas disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws.

ABOUT GRAVITAS FINANCIAL INC.

Gravitas Financial Inc. is a platform company that creates businesses in key traditional and emerging sectors with strong industry partners. Our industry focus includes financial services and fintech. We leverage our unique platform to develop a continuous pipeline of new ventures with significant blue-sky potential. Our platform is complimented by strong investment research and digital investment media groups.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact:

Vikas Ranjan, President, Gravitas Financial Inc.

Email: vikas@gravitasfinancial.com

Phone: 647-352-2666

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DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51203
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Nobody can predict the future with any degree of certainty. But The New Indian Express is certainly going to give it one credible shot. We're going to try and understand what India is going to look like when we turn 75. Vision 2022, if you will.

We've taken Abdul Kalam's futuristic proposition and moved it forward a couple of years - and asked India's best minds to draw us a picture of what the future will look like, and what we need to get there. ThinkEdu Conclave will run across January 8-9. The day two session will start at 10 am tomorrow.

Here are the highlights of Day 1

The tukde tukde gang is the one ruling us: Shashi Tharoor

Speaking at the ThinkEdu Conclave organised by The New Indian Express (TNIE), Congress MP Shashi Tharoor slammed the ruling government and called them the tukde tukde gang.

. @ShashiTharoor says, " Dissent is very much in the air. Democracy is a process and not an event. Elected leaders have to be accountable." #ThinkEdu2020 @PrabhuChawla @gsvasu_TNIE @Xpress_edex pic.twitter.com/hVW8aqVWPP  The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) January 8, 2020

Tharoor also shared his views on the topic 'Why dissent matters and silence is not an option.' He said, "Dissent helps public evaluate all points of view. It's a reflection of freedom of expression and constructive criticism of the government."

Teachers must ensure students don't drop out: Banwarilal Purohit

Class teachers must be made responsible to ensure that students do not drop out from schools, said Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Wednesday.

Speaking at the ThinkEdu Conclave organised by The New Indian Express (TNIE), the Governor said that when he had visited many parts of Tamil Nadu and had discussions with education officers, he advised them that if a child drops out, the class teacher must go to the house of the child and find out why and ensure they come back. (READ MORE)

Dyslexia not just a mental health problem, it's a social problem, says expert

A study in prisons in the United States found that one-third of the social delinquents there had learning disabilities.

The founder of the Madras Dyslexia Association (MDA), D Chandrashekhar, quoted this while stating that no such research has been done on the implications of conditions like dyslexia, its identification or the lack of appropriate treatment in India. In Tamil Nadu alone, two million children have been diagnosed with the condition. (READ MORE)



Indians are resolved to realise a new India by 2022: PM lauds ThinkEdu theme

Appreciating The New Indian Express' choice of themes - India at 75: Vision for 2022 - for the ThinkEdu Conclave as being 'extremely relevant', Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished that discussions at the Conclave would be "enriching and thought-provoking and would provide a roadmap for a sectoral growth trajectory", in a message sent to Prabhu Chawla, Editorial Director, The New Indian Express.

Reflecting on India's timeless tradition of valuing education, Modi said, "Weaved with the guru-shishya parampara an enabling environment of imparting education and learning has been an integral part of our society and culture since ancient times." (READ MORE)

National Education Policy will be responsive to feedback, says Dr K Kasturirangan

The National Education Policy (NEP), which is likely to be released soon, will be responsive to feedback from the implementation, stated Dr K Kasturirangan, NEP Drafting Committee Chairperson, speaking at TNIE's ThinkEdu Conclave 2020, organised in Chennai on Wednesday.

The new draft of the policy, which the Government of India would like to bring out to meet the changing dynamics of the population's requirement with regards to quality education, innovation and research, was at the centre of contention when it was released in 2019. (READ MORE)

ALSO READ: Think India, Think Edu: Here's the schedule for Day 2

Those who deny knowledge to others are enemies of Saraswati: Kerala Governor

It isn't enough to be seekers of knowledge, one should also help those who are seeking knowledge, Governor of Kerala Arif Mohammad Khan said at the ThinkEdu Conclave 2020 held in the city on Wednesday.

The Governor reflected on the fact that India has always been a knowledge destination and that our Indian values have been a thing of wonder even before Europe's renaissance. People who documented the world's history identified major civilisations for specific contributions - Iran for its culture, Roman for its gallantry, China for its people's obedience to law and India for its knowledge, he said. (READ MORE)

There is no class or mass in music: Violinist Sunita Bhuyan

Eyes closed and exuding simplistic grace, Sunita Bhuyan smiled as she gently touched her bow to the tuned strings of her violin, and what ensued was pure musical bliss for a packed house. From the get-go, the violin maestro was immersed in her performance, even as she exchanged pleasantries with eminent personalities and greeted the audience as she opened The New Indian Express' two-day ThinkEdu Conclave 2020 with her session titled 'Making Music, Changing Minds on January 8 in Chennai. (READ MORE)

We are in the middle of a massive loss of knowledge and culture: Rohan Murty

In India we do not have to make up history, we simply have to read it, said Rohan Murty from the Harvard Society of Fellows, speaking at the Think Edu Conclave 2020 on Wednesday.

Recalling the literature he studied at school, he said that the syllabus that's prescribed for students leads to a "systemic deprivation of the good, bad and ugly of our own culture." "Growing up I learned about the American civil war and we haven't had anything like that in India for decades. So our children have been forced to read and understand literature that is foreign and unfamiliar to them," he said adding that our literature needs to be more relatable. (READ MORE)

Don't turn India's learning crisis into a govt vs private school fight: Sandhya Rani

It is important to recognise and address the fact that the learning crisis in India is not just an issue in government schools alone, said former Commissioner of School Education, Andhra Pradesh, Sandhya Rani K, on Wednesday.

Speaking at the ThinkEdu Conclave 2020 organised by The New Indian Express (TNIE) in Chennai, Sandhya said that we should concentrate on making all schools work for children rather than just focusing on government or private schools separately. (READ MORE)

You can watch the live stream of the entire Conclave at www.newindianexpress.com/thinkedu2020
President Rouhani to Trump: Never Threaten the Iranian Nation

Sputnik News

20:57 06.01.2020(updated 21:40 06.01.2020)

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump said that if Tehran attacks US assets in retaliation for the killing of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Washington will strike 52 sites in Iran "very fast and very hard."

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani took to Twitter to respond to President Trump's threat to attack 52 targets in Iran.

The figure '290' refers to the number of people who were killed when Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down on 3 July 1988 by a surface-to-air missile fired from the USS Vincennes, a guided-missile cruiser of the United States Navy. According to the US government, the crew of USS Vincennes had incorrectly identified the Airbus as an attacking F-14 Tomcat, a US-made jet fighter that had been part of the Iranian Air Force since the 1970s. 

On 5 January, US President Donald Trump warned Iran against retaliating for the killing of its top military commander Soleimani, saying that otherwise Washington would strike 52 sites in the Islamic Republic "very fast and very hard." He explained that the targets represented the 52 Americans who were held hostage in Iran in 1979.

Last Friday, the US carried out a drone strike on Baghdad international airport, killing Iran's Major General Qasem Soleimani, Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and 10 more people who were in the convoy.

A Sputnik

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" " Han Solo, we missed you in "The Last Jedi"! Here's everyone's favorite smuggler in a scene from "Star Wars" in 1977. Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi," is the first time we've seen a "Star Wars" film open immediately after the previous one. The longest gaps between films spanned decades, the shortest gaps less than a year, but time had always passed.

"The Last Jedi" picks up moments after "The Force Awakens" ended, and that ending was bleak. The center of government in the galaxy was destroyed. An entire sun was consumed, and a planet blown up. But most devastating of all was the death of Han Solo.

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The death of Han Solo, murdered at the hands of Kylo Ren, his own son, was a seismic event in terms of "Star Wars." From the 1977 debut of the first film, Han Solo has been one of the most popular characters in the franchise. Brought to life by Harrison Ford, Solo was a charming rogue and smuggler who reluctantly joined the Rebellion against the Empire. But for the characters in the "Star Wars" universe, the pace of "The Last Jedi" leaves them no time to mourn.

"The Last Jedi" opens moments after "The Force Awakens" ends, and Oscar Isaac, who plays the pilot Poe Dameron, said at the press conference that there was just no time for worrying about Han's death. "It's a dire situation and the Resistance is on its last legs. We're trying to survive, and the First Order is right on top of us. It's like war, and you have to keep moving and fight to survive. Everything that happens in 'The Force Awakens' just keeps pushing and reaches a critical mass."

John Boyega, who plays Finn, agreed. "We're just keeping it moving. The pressure is on. That was the thing that was unique to me about this movie is the commentary on war. There hasn't been a 'Star Wars' movie yet that handles war like this one does. It's messy. In terms of Han, we all feel sentimental, but Finn has a back injury, he's got stuff to do."

But Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey, had a different perspective, insisting that Solo's death profoundly affected her character. "Rey is very much affected by Han's death. Rey has been alone for a very long time and Han without trying to, she seeks something in him because there's an intimacy and something there she never dreamed of, and it's snatched away. For Rey, she has some time to ask some questions and wonder what it is that would lead someone [like Kylo Ren] to do something like that."

For General Leia, it won't be the first time she'll have to shelve her mournful feelings to fight the war. In the original "Star Wars," after watching the destruction of her home planet of Alderaan, she still has to get the Death Star plans to the Rebels. "There are no time for our sorrows," she told Commander Willard once she arrived on Yavin. And with the First Order bearing down on her at the end of "The Force Awakens," she'll have to find another time to deal with them as well.

But there's every chance that "The Last Jedi" will end in an even more dire situation than "The Force Awakens" did. And these characters might have so much more to mourn later  when they finally find the time.

NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Harrison Ford advocated for the death of Han Solo in "Return of the Jedi" to offer more emotional resonance to the end of the film. George Lucas said no.
(ANSA) - Rome, January 7 - The defence ministry said Tuesday that "no hypothesis of a withdrawal of Italian military personnel in Iraq" was being considered. La Stampa reported on Monday that Italian soldiers who were stationed at the American 'Union 3' base in Baghdad moved out overnight. The compound has come under mortar fire after last week's US attack near Baghdad airport in which Iranian general Qassam Soleimani was killed. Around 50 Carabinieri officers engaged in training Iraqi security forces were stationed at the base.

Italian defence officials decided to withdrawn them in agreement with NATO chiefs, according to the report.


The lawful killing of arch terrorist Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Irans Quds Force, should be welcomed by all who applauded the liquidation of Osama bin Laden by President Barack Obama.

Soleimani, like bin Laden, murdered and maimed thousands of Americans. He also destroyed hundreds of thousands of lives in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Israel, Gaza  and in Iran itself.

A debate about the wisdom of the strike has predictably erupted in Washington along partisan lines. But the chatter obscures a crucial question. Does President Donald Trump have a coherent Iran strategy?

He does. Its called maximum pressure. It wields all instruments of national power to weaken the Islamic Republic of Iran. For three years, this strategy has relied primarily on sanctions. Those sanctions have precipitated a severe recession in Iran, depriving the regime of the money it needs to destabilize the region, as well as a political crisis with mass demonstrations against the mullahs and their proxies in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon.

For the administration, if that strategy led to negotiations that improved upon the fatally flawed 2015 nuclear agreement (a deal that enriched the regime and gave it patient pathways to nuclear weapons as restrictions disappeared) that was desirable. If it led to regime collapse, and a less hostile government, even better. If it simply weakened the regime, leaving it fewer resources to perpetrate violence, that would be fine, too.

OUR VIEW: After killing Soleimani, Trump needs to spell out endgame

President Donald Trump

What the strategy lacked was military deterrence. The regime in Iran has been wreaking havoc across the Middle East with impunity. But there was a logic to Trumps approach.

While wary of conflict, his red line was American blood. Tehran attacked U.S. allies and global energy assets for the past year without a response. Then Soleimani killed an American and wounded four others in Iraq, and was reportedly plotting additional attacks. Trump responded unequivocally.

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With the Islamic Republic on its back foot, theres little doubt the regime will escalate. Trump has warned, however, that shedding more American blood will prompt direct strikes against 52 targets across Iran.

Maximum pressure continues. If the regime isnt careful, Trump could further escalate pressure and even threaten the survival of the regime.

Trump has been remarkably consistent even if the rest of Washington hasnt. Its now Tehrans move.

Mark Dubowitz is CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iran strategy of 'maximum pressure' continues after Soleimani killing
French economy minister Bruno Le Maire warned the US yesterday that any retaliation to France's new digital services tax could "deeply and durably" damage relations.

Washington has threatened to impose duties of up to 100pc on imports of champagne, handbags and other French products worth $2.4bn (2.1bn), after a US government investigation found the tax would harm its technology companies.

"If the Americans decide to go ahead and impose sanctions against the digital tax ... in this case we would retaliate," Mr Le Maire told France Inter radio.

"If there were to be sanctions, and it is a possibility that we will take sanctions, we would immediately contact the WTO (World Trade Organisation)," he added.

Mr Le Maire said he had sent a letter on the issue to US trade negotiator Robert Lighthizer and was also going to discuss it with US treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin by phone. "If the US were to decide to impose trade sanctions against the EU over the French digital services tax, it would deeply and durably affect the transatlantic relationship at a time when we need to stand united," the minister wrote in the letter seen by Reuters.

Mr Le Maire also said in the letter that France was "in touch with the European Commission and other EU member states on the subject", and that they were "contemplating the various options to defend our trade rights in a proportionate and determined manner, as we have in the past".

Paris has long complained about US digital companies not paying enough tax on revenues earned in France.

In July, the government decided to apply a 3pc levy on revenue from digital services earned in France by firms with more than 25m in French revenue and 750m worldwide. The EU has said it will stand by France in the dispute.

Reuters
Sara Ali Khan made her way back from her enviable Maldives vacation with brother Ibrahim Ali Khan and mom Amrita Singh on Monday, but she was quick to post a last sneak peek into her vacation on her Instagram. And we have to say we are digging the view as much as the cute combo Sara is wearing in the picture.

While the Kedarnath and Simmba actor has been spamming her feed with pictures from her beachy vacation, not that were complaining, the latest one took the cake. Sara can be seen lounging like a true Nawab on a yacht, several images show her posing while some videos show Sara jumping into the crystal clear blue waters as Ibrahim captures the moment and mom Amrita looks on gleefully. Saras white bikini with its high-waisted bottom looked great and was an interesting change from all the printed and striped ones she has been wearing on her vacation. However, it was her cute floral print overlay in white that we absolutely loved.

Sara made her way back from the Maldives along with brother Ibrahim and mom Amrita, she was looking her casual best in her denim hot shorts and orange T-shirt, flip flops and a Puma tote, while Ibrahim wore white shorts and a black tee.

Sara was spotted today looking adorable as always in her classic white Lucknowi kurta pants and dupatta as she headed to Anand L Rai. She wore lots of golden coloured bangles in her left arm and it added the perfect touch to her ethnic look. Her hair was tied neatly in a pony, no make-up and mojris.

Also Read: Sara Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra Jonas soak up the sun in style at their beachy vacations

On the professional front, Sara will be seen in David Dhawans remake of his own Govinda-starrer Coolie No. 1 with the same name alongside Varun Dhawan. And she will also play the female lead in the sequel of father, Saif Ali Khan starrer, Love Aaj Kal, along with Kartik Aaryan. Sara has also been taking meetings with director Anand L Rai, and media reports suggest a script is underway starring Sara and South star Dhanush.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alfea Jamal 'Ask no questions, hear no lies.' Alfea Jamal is a fashion, culture, travel and food writer. She also dabbles in video journalism, multimedia production, the culinary arts, design and is modestly decent with canvas. ...view detail
Parents of a six-year-old girl in Cambodia have been left heart-broken after their daughter was stung to death by a swarm of hornets at the weekend.

Her mother, Ah Len, paid tribute to her daughter who she described as a beautiful and lovely little girl.

'I cry every time I think of the awful pain my poor little girl went through before she died. She was so beautiful and lovely, my heart is broken,' she said.

Ah Len, paid tribute to her daughter who she described as a beautiful and lovely little girl. She said she cries every time she think of how her daughter died

Riem Lina's parents have been left heart-broken after their six-year-old daughter died as a result of a severe reaction to being stung by ferocious wasps in the Cambodian province of Svay Rieng

Her daughter, Riem Lina had been riding her bike home from school when she stopped at a grocery store store in Svay Rieng Province on Saturday afternoon.

Moments later a swarm of hornets emerged from a bush which she had parked her bicycle next to.

Locals heard her screaming in pain but by the time they arrived to help the school girl she was no longer conscious.

Riem's parents, who were in the nearby village, arrived shortly after and rushed their daughter to the local hospital.

The young girl can be seen in this picture (left) with dozens of bites across her back and arms as she lies in hospital. On the right Riem Lina is seen happily posing for the camera as she stands in a field of grass

This photo shows the hospital where Riem Lina died in the early hours of Sunday morning

Her mother, Ah Len said it was something her daughter always did, and she never imagined any misfortune could befall the young girl.

However, she passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning after being transferred to the larger Svay Teap Referral Hospital.

'My daughter always rode to the local shop for food. It is so close to our home that I did not think anything could happen,' she said.

Riem's family said that the staff at the hospital seemed to be unaware of the severity of the girl's injuries.

Her uncle, Sam Veng, said: 'The doctors waited until Riem was in the worst pain before they decided to send her to a bigger hospital. But by then it was too late.'
Listen to the this weeks episode below or on your favorite app including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Google Podcasts. Be sure to subscribe/follow and rate us in the app to make sure to get the latest episodes as soon as they are published.

Episode 11 | Battleground Iran

Are we going to war with Iran after Suleimanis killing and what does it mean to Pennsylvanians? Were joined by Iranian scholar Dr. Mehdi Noorbash, a professor of International Affairs at Harrisburg University, John Micek, the Editor-in-Chief at the Pennsylvania Capital Star and by Jeffrey Lord, a former CNN pundit and Trump supporter. Joyce Davis leads the discussion which includes a background on Iranian American affairs.

Join the conversation on Twitter by following us @battlegroundpa and use the hashtag #BattleforPA. Or if you prefer, join us on Facebook. Have an idea for an episode or a guest we should have? Email us at topics@battlegroundpa.org.

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Battleground PA is produced by Penn Studios Salim Michel Makhlouf and edited by Martin Boutros.
YouTube will today move to make its online video platform safer and less commercially exploitative of kids, by stopping all comments and personalised advertising on videos aimed at children.

The move, which is the result of a 154m fine with US regulators over having improperly collected personal data on children, is an extension of YouTubes action last year to ban comments from videos featuring younger children. That was part of an effort to crack down on predatory behaviour from paedophiles targeting kids by leaving coded comments.

YouTube now treats personal information from anyone watching childrens content on the platform as coming from a child, regardless of the age of the user, said the company in a blog post.

This means that on videos made for kids, we limit data collection and use, and as a result, we need to restrict or disable some product features. For example, we no longer serve personalised ads on this content or support features such as comments, live chat, notification bell, stories, save to playlist, and others.

YouTubes move is likely to financially hit so-called influencers and creators who make videos aimed at children, as the videos wont be as lucrative without personalised advertising, comments and notifications.

Videos focused on teen and child audiences attract billions of monthly views, earning some YouTube videographers millions of euro per year through sponsorship and ads.

In Ireland, Meath-based brothers Ryan and Scott Fitzsimons recently filed accounts for their firm Little Lizard showing they shared a pay packet of 1.7m last year, based on a fan base of over 4m YouTube followers. The brothers play Minecraft and post the videos online.

Their sister, Kelly Fitzsimons, has a similar business through her child-friendly YouTube channel, Little Kelly Minecraft. Her daily videos sometimes hit very high viewership figures, up to 28m views each. This has netted her six figures annually in ad income.

We still recommend parents use YouTube Kids if they plan to allow kids under 13 to watch independently. In fact, tens of millions of people use YouTube Kids every week, and recently we saw an all-time high of weekly viewers since the apps launch, said the YouTube blog post.

YouTube is putting in place measures to stop YouTube creators getting around the new rules.

In order to identify content made for kids, creators will be required to tell us when their content falls in this category and well also use machine learning to find videos that clearly target young audiences, for example those that have an emphasis on kids characters, themes, toys, or games, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki recently said.

Last year, Google was hit with a $170m (154m) fine by the US Federal Trade Commission to settle allegations that it broke federal law by collecting personal information about children.

YouTube had been accused of tracking viewers of childrens channels using cookies without parental consent and using those cookies to deliver million of dollars in targeted advertisements to those viewers.

The settlement with the FTC and the New York attorney generals office, which will receive $34m (31m), is the largest since a US law banning collecting information about children under age 13 came into effect in 1998. The law was revised in 2013 to include cookies, used to track a persons internet viewing habits.
HAMDEN  The fraternity being sued by a former Quinnipiac University student who was allegedly sexually assaulted by three of its members is fighting to keep the defendants names out in the open.

The woman who sued the university and the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, claiming they are responsible for her being attacked during a 2017 party, has asked the court not to reveal the names of her alleged assailants because she has resolved the action against them.

The lawyer for the national fraternity, however, said that is not a reason to protect their identities.

The alleged assault took place Oct. 27, 2017, during a party given by the fraternitys Theta Tau chapter, according to the complaint. The student, who has since transferred from Quinnipiac, accused four members of sexually assaulting her after she fell ill during the party. The lawsuit was filed Nov. 26.

This story was first reported by the Hartford Courant.

On Dec. 16, the plaintiff filed a motion to seal the original complaint of alleged rape against three defendants, saying they are no longer parties to this action. She asks that the court documents be sealed given the sensitivity of the allegations as brought against each individual Defendant.

The fraternity, which is based in Carmel, Ind., filed an objection Dec. 27 to sealing the lawsuit. The plaintiff has apparently reached some sort of settlement agreement with the alleged assailants, states the motion, filed by Paul D. Meade of Halloran & Sage in Hartford.

An argument on the motion to seal the plaintiffs complaint and other court documents is scheduled for Feb. 3, online records show.

While the plaintiff claims to have been the victim of a rape, the plaintiff doesnt seek to protect her own privacy as an alleged victim, but rather inexplicably seeks to protect the purported interest of the alleged rapists, Meade wrote. The plaintiff demonstrates no such concern for the reputations of the defendant Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity or Quinnipiac University, whom the plaintiff claims to have facilitated such conduct.

Meade claims that deposing the plaintiff and defendants and preparing a defense will clearly involve cumbersome procedures if the defendants identities are sealed. He also writes that if the alleged victim has agreed to a settlement with the three defendants, it is presumed that the compensation paid to the plaintiff for such voluntary settlement is commensurate with the harm committed by the perpetrators, and that the plaintiff has been fully compensated.

According to Meades motion, the document posted online as the complaint is an amended complaint, with the word amended redacted.

While the complaint describes four attackers, the original complaint apparently named three defendants. However, none of the three appears in the complaint posted on the state judicial branch website, which lists only the university and fraternity as defendants.

The plaintiffs name appears in the complaint, but the New Haven Register does not publish the names of sexual assault victims. The only other name in the complaint is that of the fraternity chapters president, whom the plaintiff claims failed to report incidences of sexual abuse and sexual assault reported to the fraternity. He is not named as a defendant, however.

The lawsuit claims that Quinnipiac aided in the organization and recruitment of fraternitys [sic], rented houses to fraternity members and encouraged students to join the fraternities. It claims the university knew or should have known that Alpha Sigma Phi held parties where underage drinking occurred and had a long history of sexual abuse allegations. It also claims that Quinnipiac failed to monitor and properly regulate its fraternities because doing so would have revealed the dangerous nature of the fraternity and its members.

The complaint also alleges that Quinnipiac did not warn students about the danger of sexual assault at fraternity events and failed to create a confidential means of reporting sexual assault by fraternity members.

Quinnipiacs policies for reporting and investigating sexual assault are posted on its website.

Quinnipiac spokesman John Morgan said the university does not comment on pending litigation. However, he said that, while the university owns the house at 114 New Road where the alleged sexual assault took place, the university does not have designated housing for fraternities and sororities.

The alleged victim claims to have suffered extreme trauma, mental anguish, and psychological injuries, which are permanent in nature, and has had to pay for medical treatment, trauma therapy and medications.

She is represented by Brooke Goff of the Goff Law Group in Hartford. A message left for Goff was not immediately returned.

A message seeking comment also was left with Hamden police Capt. Ronald Smith. The Courant reported police are investigating a criminal complaint into the incident.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
WASHINGTON - North American residents of Iranian descent and their advocates were sounding the racial-profiling alarm Monday after scores of them were subjected to intensive questioning and long delays while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border over the weekend.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 6/1/2020 (735 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., left, looks on as Negah Hekmati speaks about her hours-long delay returning to the U.S. from Canada with her family days earlier, at a news conference Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, in Seattle. Civil rights groups and lawmakers were demanding information from federal officials following reports that dozens of Iranian-Americans were held up and questioned at the border as they returned to the United States from Canada over the weekend. In a statement Sunday, the Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said more than 60 Iranians and Iranian-Americans were detained and questioned at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, Washington. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

WASHINGTON - North American residents of Iranian descent and their advocates were sounding the racial-profiling alarm Monday after scores of them were subjected to intensive questioning and long delays while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border over the weekend.

Len Saunders, an immigration lawyer whose practice in Blaine, Wash., specializes in cross-border issues, said several of his clients  some living in Canada, all of Persian descent  were made to wait for upwards of five hours and answer unusually intrusive questions Saturday before being allowed into the U.S.

They include an Iranian-born naturalized U.S. citizen and a Canadian resident who holds a green card in order to work south of the border, Saunders said in an interview.

"'The room was full of Persians  people like me,'" Saunders quoted one of his clients as telling him. "I said, 'What do you mean, people like me?' She goes, 'Iranians. We're all talking and we're all being asked the same questions.'"

At one point, she asked to be allowed to leave and return to Canada, where she had been visiting family members in Vancouver. She was told she was not allowed to leave the building, he said.

"She goes to me, 'I'm an American. What was the point of me naturalizing and becoming an American? Do I have no rights here?'"

Posts on social media reported delays that lasted as long as eight to 10 hours.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat who represents a district in Washington state, said she believes the delays were fallout from last week's seismic U.S. airstrike in Baghdad, which killed Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a senior Iranian military leader whose death triggered vows of retaliation, an outpouring of Middle East fury and renewed fears of deadly conflict involving U.S. troops.

Jayapal hosted a news conference in Seattle with Negah Hekmati, a Seattle-area interior designer and mother of two, who was held up at the border for five hours on Saturday on her way home from a family holiday in Canada.

Hekmati, 38, a regular visitor to Canada who usually cruises past the border kiosk with the help of her Nexus card, described spending five hours at the Peace Arch crossing, her children fearing all the while that they might be taken to jail.

"My daughter was saying, 'Please don't speak Farsi. If you don't speak Farsi maybe they won't take you,'" Hekmati said. She said she decided to speak out for the sake of her kids, who she fears could face backlash at school if the U.S. goes to war with Iran.

"For me as an immigrant, I'm used to it, unfortunately, but for my kids it shouldn't be OK and I'm afraid that's the slippery slope," she said. "My kids should be proud of their ancestors, their heritage."

Hekmati, who has Iranian, Canadian and U.S. citizenship, lived in Canada for eight years before moving to the United States in order to enjoy what she thought would be even more freedoms in the American "melting pot." She said she was asked to share her Facebook and email login details and pressed about uncles and cousins living in the U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials at the Peace Arch attributed the long delays to staff shortages, Hekmati said  a claim she dismissed because employees did not appear to be overly busy. And she praised the patience and tolerance of others who were made to wait, noting that there was little complaining or outcry.

"This is not what it means to be a U.S. citizen," Jayapal said. "You have to make it clear from the beginning that this is unacceptable. We have to stand up and say what we stand for as a country."

Customs and Border Protection has denied detaining or refusing entry to any Iranian-Americans at the border as a result of their country of origin. It does, however, acknowledge operating under an "enhanced posture" as a result of the current threat environment.

Saunders, who visited the facility on Saturday afternoon and saw between 75 and 100 people waiting to be processed, said he doesn't believe anyone was denied entry to the U.S. But Customs and Border Protection may be splitting hairs when it comes to what constitutes being detained, he suggested.

"I don't think anyone was denied entry. But that there was not people being detained  when you're held for eight to 10 hours and you're told as an American citizen that you can't leave the building  that's detained, in my mind."

Bruce Heyman, a former U.S. ambassador to Canada, said in an interview Monday that U.S. border personnel operate under broad guidelines and have a lot of latitude when it comes to deciding who is allowed into the country.

"I think that given the circumstances over the last week I think that they're probably operating at a heightened sense of concern right now relative to activities that might take place," Heyman said. "I wouldn't be surprised if there were additional interviews, additional time taken to understand the background of everyone who crosses the border at this moment.

"That's just, unfortunately, the outcome of what has taken place in Iraq."

Jayapal said she will be re-introducing an access-to-legal-counsel bill to better protect the rights of all American citizens to representation when they're being held for hours without probable cause.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 6, 2020.

 With files from Mike Blanchfield in Ottawa and Camille Bains in Vancouver; follow James McCarten on Twitter @CdnPressStyle
EDMONTONAlberta plans to spend $30 million a year to promote the provinces oilsands through its energy war room. But the corporation says it has no plans to tell taxpayers how their money is being spent.

Known as the Canadian Energy Centre since being incorporated by Albertas United Conservative government, but previously dubbed the Energy War Room, its budget is ostensibly used to promote the provinces oil and gas industry.

On Monday, the Star requested a breakdown of the operations expenses through its first month since launching in early December, but the breakdown wasnt provided. Critics of the war room have said there are better uses for its $30 million annual budget, and that by not disclosing its expenses on the public dime, the corporation is undermining democracy.

The Canadian Energy Centre has a strict budgeting process that involves the directors of the CEC, a business plan and expenditure reports that are in line with the Fiscal Planning and Transparency Act, said Grady Semmens, a spokesperson for the war room.

As part of the Alberta governments fight back strategy, the war room aims to dispel what it says are myths about the provinces energy sector spread by alleged foreign funded environmental activists. Officials say the war room also wants to advocate on behalf of the industry and correct what it calls misinformation in the media.

Kavi Bal, press secretary to Albertas Energy Minister Sonya Savage, told the Star in an emailed statement that the war room will not be publicly posting their line-by-line expenses to ensure the effectiveness of our overall fightback strategy.

Bal said that for years, theres been an alleged effort to target the energy sector and stymie its growth.

While it is subject to a provincial Auditor General audit, the CEC is not open to freedom of information requests from the public.

Every year, the operation gets $20 million from a large emitter levy put in place by the government, as well as $10 million in public advertising spending. The Alberta government has also launched a separate $2.5 million public inquiry into what it says are foreign funded interest groups allegedly working to landlock the provinces resources.

When it comes to disclosing expenses, the CEC could certainly do it, said Duff Conacher, co-founder of the non-profit advocacy group Democracy Watch. He added that theyre undermining a principle of democracy by choosing not to disclose.

I think theyre coming up with lame excuses and it smells very badly.

The inner workings of the war room are shrouded in secrecy by design because the provincial government accepts the controversial theory that a foreign funded campaign of misinformation has been deployed in Canada specifically to landlock Alberta oil  hamstringing the economy.

That explanation doesnt hold water with Conacher, who said that not informing taxpayers about how their money is spent, at least annually, is dangerously undemocratic.

Youre essentially saying, we want to hide what were doing with the money, and that smells, for obvious reasons, he said.

Critics of the war room have also begun tallying recent missteps made by the CEC.

Last month, it had to replace its initial logo after it was revealed that it closely resembled another U.S. companys logo.

Recent reports also suggest that CEC employees havent been up front about their government funding when interviewing people for articles they publish on their website.

After these instances were reported, the Canadian Association of Journalists released a statement, calling on the CEC to tell its writers to stop identifying themselves as journalists when speaking to the public.

Government agency public relations staff are neither independent nor unbiased, the statement said. We ask that they end this misleading practice immediately.

After keeping a tab of some of the war room blunders through December, the Opposition NDP held a press conference Monday, calling on the government to shut it down.

Every Albertan can think of a better use for $82,000 a day, said Irfan Sabir, the NDPs energy critic. The opposition arrived at the daily number by dividing the CECs annual budget by 365 days.

Before Premier (Jason) Kenney imposes any new fees, or cuts, or sneaky tax increases, he can find a quick $30 million saving for this year by scrapping this failed war room.

With files from The Canadian Press

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Boris Johnson has championed the building of a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland. (PA)

Transport officials have been asked to review proposals for a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Transport minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton confirmed in the House of Lords on Tuesday that inquiries were being made about the feasibility of such a scheme.

She even told peers the government was considering a potential tunnel, since tunnelling costs have drastically come down in recent years.

But she cautioned peers at question time not to hold their breath about any quick outcome to the investigations.

Leo Varadkar has previously insisted the UK would have to pay for the infrastructure project. (PA)

Boris Johnson raised the possibility of building a bridge last month, saying it was a very interesting idea.

Engineering experts poured cold water on the proposal, warning it was potentially fraught with problems and costs could spiral.

Initial estimates put the cost of such a project at around 15 billion although the Institution of Civil Engineers suggested on Monday a tunnel under the Irish Sea would be a more practical solution.

The issue was raised at Lords question time by Labour former minister Lord Foulkes of Cumnock as peers pressed the minister over repairs to Londons Hammersmith Bridge.

Lord Foulkes said: During the general election Boris Johnson pledged to consider building a bridge from Northern Ireland to Scotland even though there are hundreds of tons of explosives in Beauforts Dyke, which were put there supposedly because its a safe place to put them.

READ MORE FROM YAHOO NEWS UK:

If the Government cant keep Hammersmith Bridge open how on earth are they going to manage to do that? he demanded, to laughter.

Is this going to go ahead?

Lady Vere replied: Youre quite right.

We have asked officials to look at various options for bridges which would strengthen our union.

Story continues

I understand there is some talk of a potential tunnel, now that tunnelling costs are much cheaper than they used to be.

I will say watch this space but perhaps dont hold your breath.

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---
Mike Pompeo told Mitch McConnell Monday that he does not plan to run for a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas in 2020, according to multiple media reports.

The Secretary of State sat down with the Republican Senate Majority leader amid rising tensions between Iran and the U.S., claiming he couldn't leave his post while things are so 'volatile.'

'He loves doing the job he's doing right now and feels that things are too volatile with the various situations around the world, particularly with Iran and Iraq, and he wants to make sure he's in the best spot to serve his country,' a source close with Pompeo told The Washington Post. 'He believes that is secretary of state.'

Speculation has swirled for months over whether Pompeo, a former Republican congressman from Kansas, would run for the seat in his home state.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo put an end Monday to months-long rumors that he is considering a Senate run in Kansas. A source said he didn't want to leave at such a volatile time in U.S.-Iranian relations

Pompeo sat down with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (pictured) on Monday. McConnell has urged Pompeo to run for the seat to help keep the party's majority after Republican Senator Pat Roberts announced last year he would retire

In the past Pompeo has both denied and dodged questions on if he will make a run, but has insisted he loves his job and will stay with the administration as long as the president would have him.

In the past, Donald Trump has said he could see Pompeo changing his mind about the Kansas Senate if he thought there was danger that GOP would lose that seat.

He boasted that his secretary of State 'would win in a landslide because they love him in Kansas.'

Pompeo, according to another report in The New York Times, told senior party officials Monday he is officially ruling out the possibility of a run this year.

The decision came in the aftermath of a U.S. drone attack on an Iraqi airport that took out Iranian top military General Qassem Soleimani  contributing to continued rise in tensions between Tehran and Washington in the last few weeks.

During his conversation with McConnell, Pompeo brought up the attack and the events leading up to it, an aide to the majority leader told The Times.

Donald Trump directed the attack a few days after protesters who support Iran-backed Shia militia raided on New Years Eve the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, which has never been breached before.

An individual briefed on the decision also told the NYT that it would be 'irresponsible' for Pompeo to leave the State Department at this time. The same person also mentioned it wouldn't do Pompeo any favors to leave if he has any aspirations to run for president in 2024.

McConnell has urged Pompeo to run for the opening Kansas seat to help keep the party's majority after Republican Senator Pat Roberts announced last year he would retire.

The Senate seat might also have been a good fit if Pompeo, who is believed to harbor presidential ambitions, chooses to run for the Republican nomination in 2024.

The deadline for filing to run for the Senate seat is in June.

Rumors that Pompeo was considering or had already decided to run for Senate even more vigorously at the end of last month began circulating last week when reports indicated Trump was already mulling who would replace his secretary of State.

When Trump's National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien was asked if he was being considered as Pompeo's replacement amid the reports, he denied that the Secretary was leaving his post.

'I hope and expect that Secretary Pompeo will stay,' he told ABC News in December.

'I spoke with him about this two nights ago,' O'Brien continued. 'He said he's not running for Senate. He said he's staying in as secretary of state. And I'm  this is one American who's very pleased that the president picked Mike and that Mike is committed to staying.'
Egypt's flag carrier has suspended flights to the Iraqi capital for three days for security reasons, the civil aviation ministry said Tuesday.

The suspension takes effect Wednesday and comes after the killing of Iranian commander General Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad airport in a US drone strike last week.

EgyptAir suspended flights until Friday "for the safety of passengers and planes", the ministry said, adding they would resume after "the security situation stabilises" in Baghdad.

Bahrain's Gulf Air halted flights to the Iraqi capital after Soleimani's killing, while Royal Jordanian has resumed its Amman-Baghdad service after a suspension on Friday.
Profit before tax dipped more than 20% over the year to 147.3 million (Dominic Lipinski)

Safestore saw revenues drive up last year, even as profits dived because of a change in the valuation of its property portfolio.

Revenue grew by 5.5% to 151.8 million across 2019.

Occupancy rates also increased from 73.6% to 77%, the company revealed.

It meant that Safestore now rents out 4.98 million square feet of space, a 6.2% increase on 2018.

On a like-for-like basis, which strips out new sites opening or old ones closing or being sold, it leased 4.68 million square feet, a 4.5% rise.

The unoccupied space is a big opportunity to grow, said Safestore chief executive Frederic Vecchioli.

As far as traders are concerned, Safestore continues to be a safe pair of handsDavid Madden, CMC Markets

As ever, our top priority remains the significant low cost organic growth opportunity represented by the 1.5m square feet of currently unlet space in our existing fully invested estate, he said.

The business saw a major drop in profits last year as the value of its property increased at a slower rate than in 2018.

Profit before tax dipped more than 20% over the year to 147.3 million, the company revealed.

It said that operating profit  down 17% to 163.7 million  took a 37.9 million hit from lower gains from the investment properties it owns.

On a like-for-like basis, Safestore did particularly well in Paris, with revenue spiking 5.6%, against 4.7% for the UK.

The company is in a very strong position and we are encouraged by early trading in the new 2019/20 financial year, Mr Vecchioli said.

He added: Our leading market positions in the UK and Paris combined with our resilient business model enable us to look forward to the future with confidence.

Over the year, the company bought two storage units in London for 14 million, bought a Heathrow site for 6.6 million, and bought into the Dutch market in partnership with Carlyle, a private equity company.

On Tuesday, it announced a 17 million euro deal (15 million) to enter the Spanish market.

The groups outright acquisition of OhMyBox and the investment in M3 through our joint venture with Carlyle represent excellent platforms for entry into the attractive Barcelona and Netherlands self storage markets, Mr Vecchioli said.

He also said the company plans to open new stores in London, Gateshead, Sheffield and Paris, adding 175,000 square feet to its estate.

As far as traders are concerned, Safestore continues to be a safe pair of hands, said David Madden, an analyst at CMC Markets.
UK financial services paid 75.5 billion in taxes last year, according to a new report by the City of London Corporation (Victoria Jones / PA)

British-based banks and financial services handed over 75.5 billion in taxes last year, accounting for more than 1 in every 10 paid to the Government, according to new figures.

The total was made up of 33.4 billion of direct taxes including corporation tax and business rates and 42.1 billion through indirect ones such as employee National Insurance contributions, the City of London Corporation said.

This was slightly up on the previous years 75 billion, despite the political and economic uncertainty, although corporation tax on profits fell for the first time since 2014.

With Brexit looming ... the UK must remain competitive to safeguard the sectors employment base and significant tax contribution. It will play a critical role in fuelling our economic success after we leave the European UnionCatherine McGuinness, City of London Corporation

The report, by PwC and commissioned by the corporation, added that financial services firms employ 1.1 million people across the country  around 3% of all UK employment  making taxes on workers the highest contributing factor in the industry.

It means 10.5% of all taxes collected in the year to March 31 were paid by the sector, the Total Tax Contribution of UK Financial Services report added.

Analysts also discovered that challenger banks  which tend to have smaller workforces  saw 34% of their total tax bill being handed over in corporation tax, compared with 15% across the entire banking sector.

Challengers employment tax contribution was just 37%, compared with the sectors overall average of 50%.

Catherine McGuinness, policy chair at the City of London Corporation, said: Despite a challenging economic climate and uncertainty around Brexit, the sector has maintained its tax contributions from the record high of last year.

It is only right that the City continues to make a fair contribution to support the wider economy and public services.

With Brexit looming, however, the UK must remain competitive to safeguard the sectors employment base and significant tax contribution.

It will play a critical role in fuelling our economic success after we leave the European Union.

Andrew Kail, head of financial services at PwC, added: New ways of working, operational business models and technological disruption have the potential to change the employment profile  and therefore the tax profile  of firms across the sector.

Its important that we look closely at our tax system to ensure its fit for new ways of working and doing business while optimising the competitiveness of the sector post-Brexit.
Details have emerged of the gradual realisation that something was very wrong at the campsite of a West Australian couple who went to the Mid West in 2015 searching for gold, but instead met their deaths.

The WA Coroners Court on Monday began examining the mystery of a couple described as inseparable since marrying in 2007, but who vanished only eight years later outside the tiny town of Sandstone, during their second prospecting trip.

Ray and Jennie Kehlet had five children between them from previous relationships. Credit:9 News Perth

Brendyn Nelson, counsel assisting Coroner Ros Fogliani, described in his opening how a local found the couples beloved great Dane, Ella, wandering and thirsty after her owners disappeared in late March.

And how successive manhunts reached enormous scale across the area of Tabletop, riddled with disused mineshafts.






BERLIN  Luxury German carmaker Daimler and Volvo, owned by China's Geely, are considering cooperating to cut the costs of developing combustion engines, a magazine reported on Sunday, citing unnamed company sources.

The Automobilwoche weekly cited a Volvo manager as saying there were initial talks with Daimler, but no concrete plans, while a company spokesman said it was too early to talk about firm projects, although it was not excluding anybody.

A Daimler spokesman said the company's cooperation with Geely, which owns a 10% stake in the German carmaker, was developing in a positive way, but declined to comment further.

Global tariffs, accelerated by a trade war between China and the United States, as well as higher investment requirements for electric and autonomous vehicles, are forcing carmakers to seek new ways to cut and share costs.

In October, Volvo said it would merge its engine development and manufacturing assets with those of Geely, creating a division to supply in-house brands and also potentially others with next-generation combustion and hybrid engines.

Automobilwoche said this new division would start operating by the end of March, which could be a possible starting point for cooperation with Daimler, while a further step could be a partnership to develop electric power trains.

Geely and Daimler have said they plan to build the next generation of Smart electric cars in China through a joint venture and the two companies are also cooperating on a premium ride-hailing service in China.

Geely bought Volvo Cars in 2010 from Ford, allowing the Swedish brand to operate on an arms-length basis. But in recent years, it has deepened cooperation between the two brands.

Volvo already supplies engines to some Geely-branded vehicles, sharing technology through Geely's Lynk brand. Both companies share and develop common vehicle platforms.

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The 1918 Mexican Revolution was a bloody conflict that spanned two decades and resulted in the death of almost 900,000 people. Most of the remains of these deceased persons have not been claimed until today.

Over the years, Mexico has seen its most violent time. Even though Sinaloa, a state in Mexico, claimed that it has dropped its homicides by 61 percent in the last ten years, it is a fact that there are many states in Mexico where violence is still rampant.

Some states in Mexico cannot control the violence and could not even stabilize their state. One of the results of this brutal violence is the death of many, but most bodies of these individuals have not been claimed until now. As a result, there are many unmarked graves across the country.

This situation led one state in Mexico to build a mega-cemetery for unclaimed and unidentified bodies. The government of Chihuahua announced that they will build the mega-cemetery on more than 12-acres in Ciudad, Juarez.

In a published article from Mitu, Ciudad Juarez is the most violent city in Mexico. It is located just across the border from El Paso, Texas and the city has an estimated population of 1.5 million. According to the Chihuahua state most of the murders, or around 58 percent, occur in Ciudad, Juarez. There were 17,000 recorded homicides victims just in Ciudad alone.

Moreover, the state-operated mega-cemetery will have total control in the burial process that includes the exhumation of bodies. According to the state's Attorney General Cesar Augusto Piniche that there is a need to build the mega-cemetery because the unclaimed and unidentified bodies and remains are currently buried in a regular cemetery. However, they are not taken care of as should be.

Piniche stated during an interview, "We intend to comply with the highest standards and we intend to have a dignified space, to manage remains professionally and [to have] strict control on the entry, location, and removal [of bodies]," He also said that the International Red Cross participated in the design of the mega-cemetery.

Moreover, before the burial, the State Forensic Internment Center will be located in San Isidro Zaragoza, a state government-owned area that is capable of storing up to 800 bodies. The construction of the mega-cemetery is estimated to cost $2.65 million and that includes ossuary, a bone room, and six refrigerated morgue chambers.

A detective in Nuevo Leon said that lots of cases "aren't filed or closed, but there is also no follow-up police work, just the report with the crime scene information and the victim's identification ... and that's how they stay."

This refers to the cases of deceased individuals according to Insight Crime. It is not surprising anymore why 9 out of 10 crimes across the 27 out of 32 states in Mexico go unpunished and the cases remain unsolved.

Statistically, it is said that the conviction rate in Mexico is 5 out of 100, while America has 24 out of 100 convictions. Meanwhile, Asia has 48 out of 100 and Europe has 81 out of 100 convictions. This data is from the United Nations.

Since Governor Javier Corral took office between October 2016 and 2019, the state authorities have buried 818 unidentified bodies and 207 corpses of people and 57 percent of the bodies were killed in Ciudad, Juarez. Crimes like homicides in the border cities like in Ciudad, Juarez has increased over the years.
Two people were injured after a firework exploded inside the cafeteria of Klein Forest High School on Tuesday afternoon, according to officials.

Crews were called to the school sometime Tuesday afternoon after the firework went off, authorities said.
Pakistan's lower house of parliament has approved legislation that would extend Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa's term by another three years.

Passage by the chamber on January 7 came despite the objections of some political parties that accuse Pakistan's military of heavy-handed tactics in its anti-militant operations along the border with neighboring Afghanistan.

The extension must still be approved by the upper house of parliament in Islamabad, which is expected to support the measure.

Prime Minister Imran Khan's government approved the extension for Bajwa in August, citing a worsening national-security situation with neighboring India to justify the extension at the end of Bajwa's initial three-year term.

But in November, the Supreme Court struck down the extension -- ordering the government and army to produce legal provisions and arguments for the reappointment.

Khan's government responded by drafting legislation that the lower house approved on January 7, clearing the way for the extension after the expected approval by the upper house.

Pakistan's two main opposition parties have a long history of clashing with the military, but backed the extension in an apparent attempt to avoid a politically damaging confrontation.

Two smaller parties and some members of parliament from Pakistan's northwestern districts along the Afghan border opposed the extension.

They accuse Pakistan's military of committing rights abuses during its anti-militant operations. The army rejects such accusations.

Based on reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal and Reuters
(Newser)  In 2015, a gunman fatally shot 35-year-old pediatric dentist Kendra Hatcher in a Dallas parking garage and took her purse. The murder and robbery shook the Uptown neighborhood where Hatcher had lived among other well-to-do young adults, writes Skip Hollandsworth at Texas Monthly. Young women were suddenly leery about strolling at night. Hatcher had a serious boyfriend named Ricky Paniagua, a doctor who'd come to Texas to complete his residence in dermatology. The night Hatcher was killed, he texted a close friend with the news, a woman named Brenda Delgado. They'd once been in a relationship, but it ended amicably, at least in Paniagua's view. Delgado offered comfort and support and even offering to bring groceries to his place. As the story explains, however, it turned out to be Delgado who'd orchestrated the killing.

story continues below

"What exactly had flipped inside Brenda?" wonders Hollandsworth. "Was she afflicted with something called obsessive love disorderan actual term that some psychologists use to describe someone who is fixated on possessing another person?" It's clear that Delgado never got over the breakup. She stalked Paniagua online and tracked his whereabouts, all the while maintaining a friendly demeanor with him when she "accidentally" ran into him. Eventually, she paid a new acquaintance to help her with the plot to kill Hatcher, and the two of them paid a gunman for the actual shooting. It didn't take long for the amateurs' scheme to be exposed, thanks to incriminating texts and surveillance camera images. Delgado is serving life without parole, the woman who helped her struck a deal for lesser time, and the gunman was sentenced to death. (Read the full story.)
This Sunday, 12 January 2020, Anglicans and Episcopalians around the world will be praying for the Anglican Church of Australia as part of the Anglican Cycle of Prayer. From Monday to Saturday each week, the Anglican Cycle of Prayer lists different dioceses in the Anglican Communion for prayer. On Sundays, it is usual for a whole province to be the focus of prayer. In this second post of a new weekly series, Archbishop Philip Freier introduces his province and provides some specific prayer pointers.

The Province of Australia faces a testing 2020, with challenges inside the church and from without, but I believe we are well-placed to meet them thanks to our strong desire for unity and to carry out the work of the Kingdom.

External challenges include ongoing drought and the horrific bushfires  scores of them burning out of control for weeks and months, with millions of hectares burned, loss of life and huge property damage  which bring consequences for the Church requiring both compassion and practical help. Climate scientists suggest the 2019-20 experience is the precursor to longer and more intense fire seasons.

We share challenges with much of the church in the West: declining attendance, ageing congregations, lack of finances, and rural decline. Yet many parishes are thriving, including new ethnic congregations catering to the highly multi-cultural population of our larger cities.

Same-sex relationships and marriage will be an important focus for the church, with a day and a half of the three-yearly national synod in May set aside to discuss the Churchs response. Some Anglican dioceses in Australia have expressed a desire to bless same-sex marriages, and others are resolutely opposed. Please pray that good will and unity prevail, and that the Church finds a way forward while being a safe place for people of differing experiences and views.

Australias bishops met in November and identified the highest priorities in their shared leadership of the national church as working on a mixed economy and discerning boundaries of unity; responding to LGBTIQA+ people and their needs; further theological work on the doctrine of marriage and blessing; and building trust as a college of Bishops.

The bishops will meet again in March, before the General Synod, to reflect further on these issues. We will be blessed by the presence of Bishop Ric Thorpe, the Bishop of Islington (London), who will speak to us about church planting.

As Christianitys long cultural legacy slowly begins to fade in Australia, it is essential for the Church to provide a coherent and generous moral voice, to continue its advocacy, social endeavours and community building which have been so valuable over more than two centuries. Please pray that many of those who come to church seeking community  be it worship services, play groups or other pursuits for which church buildings are often used  may be touched by the Spirit and brought to salvation in Jesus Christ. Pray that the Church will hold fast to its vision, and grant us the energy and desire to serve the Lord as we should.

By the national synod in May, I will have concluded my term as Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia. I have decided not to seek re-election for another three years, and am therefore stepping down on 31 March to allow my successor to prepare for the synod. I will continue as Archbishop of Melbourne.

Please pray for Gods guidance in the election process of the new Primate and for Gods wisdom and blessing in the exercise of that role.

Grace and peace,

+Philip
Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via The New York Times

Early Monday morning, Patricia Castillo dialed U.S. Sen. John Cornyns office, ready to express how upset she is that U.S. troops are being shipped out to fight a war on the other side of the world  this time against Iran.

Fresh off the heels of a season promising peace on earth, Castillo takes her role as a San Antonio peacemaker seriously.

Its central to her work on domestic violence, and as an activist, her views on nonviolence follow the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr., whose national holiday will be celebrated in San Antonio soon. Hundreds of DreamWeek events will culminate with a MLK march thats considered one of the nations largest.

Castillo is executive director of the PEACE Initiative and one of the citys outgoing peace laureates, so her call to Cornyn was both personal and professional. It went to voicemail.

She figures Cornyn and other members of Congress have been bombarded with calls since President Donald Trump ordered a drone strike that killed Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard and one of Irans highest-ranking leaders.

She saw the presidents decision as provocative rather than defensive, as Trump contends. She doubts an attack on U.S. forces or interests was imminent, as the presidents men claim.

Trumps move was unconstitutional and driven by domestic political considerations, she said.

I dont buy all the lies, she said. They dont want to be talking about impeachment.

But what Castillo most worries about are the ways in which race and class will become intertwined in war. Theyre always involved, she says.

The adult children of millionaires and billionaires arent likely to be among the 3,000 U.S. troops who will be shipped to the volatile region.

Nor are they likely among the 5,000 U.S. troops currently in Iraq who could eventually be withdrawn. While the U.S. denies it is pulling out of Iraq, the Iraqi parliament voted Sunday to force the Americans out.

Lets not forget about another war in Iraq that was blamed on a nonexistent imminent threat  weapons of mass destruction.

For a local Iranian-American, the attack on a hard-line Islamic official inspired a mix of hope and fear.

Mojgan Panah, a 41-year-old real estate agent who graduated from MacArthur High School and the University of the Incarnate Word, is less definitive about issues of war and peace but is nonetheless hopeful tensions wont escalate to all-out war.

The Iranian people are divided on the events of the last week, both here and in Iran, she said.

Some supported Soleimani, and some were against him, said Panah, who immigrated at age 6 and whose family fled Iran because of its links to the regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

For me, the most important thing is the hope that Iran can be a democracy and free of the Islamic regime, she said.

She supports Trumps move if it leads to an overthrow of Irans theocratic government, but she was most upset by Trumps Twitter threats to attack Iranian cultural sites.

Iran, the seat of an ancient Persian civilization, has more than 20 UNESCO World Heritage sites and hundreds more of religious and historic significance. Destroying such sites is a war crime.

There are people who will support this president at all costs. Theyll find justification for killing foreign government officials and accept the presidents justification for the attack.

Some Americans have rightfully wondered why Trump didnt retaliate against North Korea for killing Otto Warmbier, the U.S. college student imprisoned in 2016 and released, comatose, a year later. He died soon thereafter.

Others have asked why the president didnt retaliate against Saudi Arabia when Saudi officials associated with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman killed and dismembered Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

We need to look inward, Castillo said. We need to pick up a mirror. I hope its a wake-up call to get out and vote.

Congress returns to Washington this week.

Elaine Ayala is a columnist covering San Antonio and Bexar County. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | eayala@express-news.net | Twitter: @ElaineAyala
CNBC's Jim Cramer flags that it's not the right moment for investors to get back in the market aggressively, despite positive trading on Monday. The "Mad Money" host unveils his ideal portfolio to hedge against conflict uncertainty and chances of higher tensions between the United States and Iran. Later in the show, the former hedge fund manager says it may be an ideal time to make a bet on Nordstrom.

Proceed with caution

Thousands of mourners pay homage to assassinated Iranian Major Geneneral Soleimani in US Airstrike. Mazyar Asadi | Pacific Press | Getty Images

Stocks bounced back from Friday's sell-off, but it's not the opportune time for investors to jump back in the market at full force, CNBC's advised Monday. "The market's rebound today may not be as crazy as it looks. Every other time we've had major conflict under the Trump administration, it's been a buying opportunity," the "Mad Money" host said after observing the gain 0.24%, the expand 0.35% and the grow 0.56%. The major indexes, however, are all still within a percentage point of their Thursday closes, which preceded a U.S. airstrike that killed Iran's top general. The attack in Baghdad jolted Friday trading on Wall Street. "I'm still recommending proceeding with caution, at least until we get a clearer sense of Iran's next move," Cramer said.

U.S.-Iran conflict playbook

This picture taken on November 18, 2019 shows a US Air Force McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet multirole combat jet on display during the 2019 Dubai Airshow. Karim Sahib | AFP | Getty Images

Cramer laid out a basket of investment plays to hedge against the growing conflict between the United States and Iran. "If we really get the conflagration that so many people seem to be expecting ... you have to be ready for the market to take a beating, at least in the short-term," he said, adding "if you think a genuine war with Iran is inevitable, you want cash, you want gold, utilities, oil, defense and cybersecurity."

Turning the key on Nordstrom

Shoppers enter the Nordstrom store April 1, 2003 on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Scott Olson | Getty Images

Investors might be wise to give another look after the holiday season, Cramer said. While the conventional wisdom might be negative toward the department store company, the host said a new report from top retail analyst Matthew Boss of J.P. Morgan shines light on why it might be an attractive buying opportunity. "If any of these pan out, you could get a rocket ship effect ... with Nordstrom being the best way to play the holiday season renaissance," Cramer said. Given Boss' track record, "I think you'd be crazy, crazy, to bet against him," Cramer said.

Cramer's lightning round
Prophet T.B Joshua, the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN has shared his 2020 prophecy as revealed to him by God.

One worrying revelation is when the respected cleric asked vice-president Yemi Osinbajo to be prayerful over impending pressure.

He made this known during a live program at his church on Sunday, 5th December.

Agriculture will help the economy because the economy will have a backlash. People should invest in agriculture. Let us farm to help the economy

This year will be a year of HUMILITY. This year, the Lord will humble us with our challenges. Challenges can be affliction, arrogance, pride, wickedness or bad habits. To humble us with these is for those things to destroy us or expose us. Let us move closer to God.

The cleric further warned that There will be a common medicine that will cause people to be high to die, to commit suicide, to think of what can lead to death. The governments of each nation should watch out and put a check on pharmaceutical drugs that come to their country.

Other revelations by the prophet reads; America should invest more in agriculture because their economy will be affected. The economy they see today will be affected, so they should invest in agriculture and encourage their farmers. Also, approach to the security issue will affect the candidates and swing voters in the next election. It will be tough in the election. They should pray against a recount. It may be too tight.

Let us pray for the Nigerian government to be able to finish this year without an interlude that will cause a situation of for and against. Join me in praying for my nation.

Vice President, it is not yet over. Expect much more pressure. The pressure will be so much. I pray you will be able to stand the pressure. We join you in prayer.

Many sicknesses and diseases that leaders have been treating privately will surface this year. They will become bedridden and many will not make it

Russia should pray for their leader to avert his being on the sickbed. Something will surface. There is a ladder to go up  if this is averted.

An incident will happen to the nation Iran that will cause panic throughout the world. We are praying to know the mind of God concerning this

Work of God  people will be getting tired this year because the work of God is not by power and might; because of so many challenges, tribulations and burdens they will not be able to bear.

United Kingdom  there will be agitation from a section that wants to leave; that will become an issue. Also, pray for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh against going in and out of the hospital; pray for God to give them revival. Pray for unity and understanding among the Royal Family  because of what I am seeing. Brexit needs more time to stand on its feet  with more co-operation of the EU leaders. If not, there will be economic repercussions and the cost of things will become unbearable. With time and preparation, all will be well.
BRIDGEPORT  City officials confirmed that a Bridgeport police officer who died in his home Saturday had a heart attack.

On Monday, Scott Appleby, Bridgeport director of emergency management, confirmed that Bridgeport police officer Jarah Matthews-Dixon suffered a fatal heart attack at his residence. Appleby was unable to provide further details on Matthews-Dixons medical condition because per policy we cannot provide any personal information to the media or public as it relates to an employee.

The death of Matthews-Dixon shook the law enforcement community. He became a Bridgeport police officer on April 21, 2008, and had previously received the Distinguished Service Medal and the Medal of Merit.

In 2018, he also received the Courage of CT award from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union that represents the police officers. According to Larry Dorman, union spokesman, the award stems from an event that took place on April 2, 2018, when Matthews-Dixon was working the midnight shift.

More News Decorated Bridgeport police officer dies suddenly in Stamford

Dorman said Matthews-Dixon, along with other members of the team, attempted to stop a motor vehicle for an infraction.

After activating lights and sirens, the suspect continued operating his vehicle engaging Matthews-Dixon in a pursuit. The vehicle threw out a large amount of what was later identified as marijuana and many other unknown objects before stopping for Matthews-Dixon, Dorman said in a release.

He said inside the vehicle were a black ski mask, a pair of binoculars and a container filled with gasoline. Eventually, an investigation found that the suspects had planned to commit arson to a local business and murder the owner, police said.

Matthews-Dixon and K-9 Officer Marie Cetti were lauded for their involvement in the incident.
JNU violence: Shiv Sena defends Free Kashmir poster in Mumbai protests

Shiv Sena has defended the 'Free Kashmir' poster that was seen during protests in Mumbai saying that the poster sought freedom from restriction imposed in Kashmir. Sena leader Sanjay Raut added that the country would not tolerate if anyone was asking for freedom from India. A woman was seen holding a poster which read 'Free Kashmir' during protests in Mumbai over the violence in JNU on Sunday evening. ...read more
New cutting-edge technology that uses artificial intelligence along with optical imaging is providing neurosurgeons a near real-time method of diagnosing brain tumors during surgery, according to a recent study.

The collaborative study, co-authored by neurosurgeons with Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, was published on January 6 in the journal Nature Medicine.

Its really a step forward in providing rapid intraoperative diagnoses of malignant and benign tumors, which is essential information needed to make critical decisions during safe and effective brain tumor surgery, said Sylvester neurosurgeon and study co-author Michael Ivan, M.D., M.B.S., who played a major role in developing the Stimulated Raman Histology (SRH) technology with leading collaborators at New York University and the University of Michigan. This digitized process provides surgical teams a diagnosis in less than three minutes as opposed to a 20-30 minute wait time during a traditional process.

Accurate histopathologic diagnosis is crucial for planning during the actual surgical removal of brain tumors. Conventional methods for intraoperative histology are time consuming and require sectioning and freezing and necessitate tissue transport to a pathology laboratory, specimen processing, slide preparation by highly trained technicians, and interpretation by pathologists, with each step representing a potential barrier to delivering safe, timely, and effective surgical care.

Titled Near Real-time Intraoperative Brain Tumor Diagnosis Using Stimulated Raman Histology and Deep Neural Networks, the study examined the diagnostic accuracy of brain tumor image classification through machine learning, compared with the accuracy of conventional histologic images interpreted by pathologists. The results for both methods were comparable: the AI-based diagnosis was 94.6% accurate, compared with 93.9% for the pathologist-based interpretation on a frozen specimen.

One of the most significant advantages of Stimulated Raman Histology is ensuring more precision in completely removing cancerous brain tumors, said Dr. Ivan, who is leader of the Neuro-oncology Site Disease Group at Sylvester and assistant professor of neurological surgery at the Miller School of Medicine.

In many of our surgeries on malignant tumors, the ability to remove all of the tumor makes a difference in a patients overall survival, said Dr. Ivan. Artificial intelligence provides more rapid and frequent information to the surgeon while operating to ensure the boundaries of the surgical resection are clear of cancer.

This game-changing technology is an exciting step forward in the management of brain tumors, said Sylvester neurosurgeon Ricardo Komotar, M.D., who also served as a study co-author and is the director of surgical neuro-oncology and the Brain Tumor Initiative at Sylvester.

How Stimulated Raman Histology Works

The pioneering imaging technique reveals tumor infiltration in human tissue by collecting scattered laser light that illuminates essential features not typically seen in standard histologic images.

The microscopic images are then processed and analyzed with artificial intelligence, and in under two and a half minutes, surgeons are able to see a predicted brain tumor diagnosis. Using the same technology, after the resection, they were able to accurately detect and remove otherwise undetectable tumor.

This is a very complex AI system, which looks at patterns, intensity, and coloration of the specimens digital image to provide an instantaneous diagnosis, said Dr. Ivan.

How The Study Was Conducted

To build the tool, researchers designed an artificial intelligence model trained on over 2.5 million images  a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) composed of 415 patient samples to classify tissue into 13 histologic categories that represent the most common brain tumors, including malignant glioma, lymphoma, metastatic tumors, and meningioma.

In order to validate the CNN, Dr. Ivan and researchers and neurosurgeons at two other sites enrolled 278 patients undergoing brain tumor resection or epilepsy surgery in the clinical study. Brain tumor specimens were biopsied from patients, split intraoperatively into sister specimens and randomly assigned to the control or experimental arm.

Specimens routed through the control group  the current standard practice  were transported to a pathology laboratory and went through conventional specimen processing. The experimental group was performed intraoperatively, from image acquisition and processing to diagnostic prediction via CNN.

The study showed that the diagnostic errors in the experimental group were unique from the errors in the control group, suggesting that a pathologist using the novel technique could achieve close to 100 percent accuracy. The systems precise diagnostic capacity could also be beneficial to centers that lack access to expert neuropathologists.

As surgeons, were limited to acting on what we can see; this technology allows us to see what would otherwise be invisible, to improve speed and accuracy in the OR, and reduce the risk of misdiagnosis, said senior author Daniel A. Orringer, M.D., associate professor of neurosurgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, who helped develop SRH and co-led the study with colleagues at the University of Michigan. With this imaging technology, cancer operations are safer and more effective than ever before.

In addition to accelerating the workflow of pathologists, researchers conclude that the technology can be used in other medical settings that depend on the expert analysis of tumor samples obtained during surgery.

The combination of artificial intelligence and surgical experience is an example of what separates Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center from other centers in the state of Florida, said Dr. Komotar.

Miller School of Medicine
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Linkedin Inforial (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia  Wed, January 8, 2020 00:02 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c32145546 4 Inforial Free

Lintasarta looks ahead with optimism to remain the leading information and communication technology (ICT) service leader as Indonesia is set to enter the digital era.

The digital transformation, marked by the planned implementation of 5G internet connections and last years launch of the Making Indonesia 4.0 industry road map, will indispensably prompt the urgency for a well-managed IT network as supporting business infrastructure.

The super-speed 5G mobile network is expected to create new business models and industries.

Companies are required to choose and implement effective and efficient information and communication technology to support their business in order to be competitive in the Industry 4.0 era.

Lintasarta has been operating for more than 30 years to provide corporate solutions involving data communications, internet and IT services.

The complexity of IT infrastructure, as a companys business develops, requires a simplified cloud computing system that is secure, flexible and affordable.

For Lintasarta, which has built a wide network in the country and is already serving 2,400 clients in its three decades of operations, the quality of services has also become one of the companys commitments.

The simplified and efficient IT operations are believed to contribute to corporate productivity and competitiveness.

Inspired by its SAFE (secure, affordable, flexible, excellence) motto, Lintasarta is pursuing efforts to give the clients the best cloud computing solutions.

Being in the business for more three decades, the company has built a reputation that has earned it a string of domestic and international recognitions with the most recent honor coming at this Frost & Sullivan: Asia Pacific Best Practices Award 2019 as Indonesia Cloud Infrastructure Services Provider of the Year.

The award, which is the companys second since 2017, was received by Lintasarta corporate service director Bramudija Hadinoto during a ceremony at St. Regis Hotel, Singapore, on Nov. 14.

Lintasarta has been recognized for its revenue growth, capabilities and contributions to the advancement of the industrys technology.

Bramudija says the award was recognition for the companys hard work and commitment to providing the best services to customers.

Lintasarta as an ICT total solution company with the best cloud services will always deliver innovative IT service products, supported by infrastructure and professional IT experts, to national business stakeholders, he says.

Established in 1990, Lintasarta has been growing rapidly with local support in 44 cities in Indonesia.

Bramudija says technology innovation is crucial in order for Lintasarta to maintain its business sustainability.

Besides cloud computing, Lintasartas service products include Data Communication, Internet Dedicated, Data Center, Managed Security Services and Artificial Intelligence.

Lintasarta cloud services solutions look to help simplify the complexity of IT operations by harnessing visualization technology offered in the forms of public cloud, private cloud, cloud backup and cloud disaster recovery.

Lintasartas efforts toward competence and commitment to maintaining quality of the products and services have also been rewarded with international certifications, which include ISO 9001 quality management system, ISO 2700-1 information security management system, ISO 20000-1 IT service management system, OHSAS 18001 occupational health and safety management system, ISO 14001 environment management system and PCI DSS payment card industry data security standard.

PCI DSS certification for cloud computing services, according Bramudija, has further bolstered the conviction over Lintasartas cloud safety.

He says Lintasarta is committed to becoming the best corporate partner in information and communications technology services to help Indonesia accelerate digital transformation.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  A lawmaker from the House of Representatives lost more than 200,000-worth of belongings after thieves broke into her car in a Quezon City malls parking lot on Monday.

Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Rep. Nina Taduran is the latest victim of the basag-kotse gang.

The group stole Tadurans government-issued laptop worth more or less 60,000; one iPhone 11 Pro Max with an estimated cost of 97,000; one Chanel gold necklace worth around 40,000 and one gold pendant worth about 5,000, PMaj Bernardo Pascua said in a spot report.

Pascua added the basag-kotse gang also took the legislators ATM cards, USD 500 and P5,000, identification cards (IDs) and two cellphone chargers.

According to Taduran, her companions proceeded to the SM City Sta. Mesa in New Manila after dropping her off at the Malacanang for the 2020 budget signing by President Rodrigo Duterte.

When they returned to the car, the vehicle's window was smashed.

Taduran already lodged a complaint before the police.

In a Facebook post, the ACT-CIS representative urged to the public to be cautious because criminals are everywhere.

Tayo po ay mag-ingat sa lahat ng oras, sapagkat wala na pong sinisino ang mga masasamang loob. Maging mapagmasid, mapagbantay at maging alisto sa lahat ng oras at sa lahat ng lugar.

[Translation: Lets be careful at all times because criminals spare no one. Be aware, careful and alert at all times and places.]

Following the incident involving her, Taduran said she will file a House resolution seeking to investigate thefts in buildings with guarded parking.

The lawmaker argued that parking establishment owners should be held responsible in case there are crimes committed within their properties.

Parking establishments should be liable for the losses and damage to vehicles inside their guarded premises, Taduran said.

The lawmaker then slammed the establishments for failing to secure the premises despite charging costumers fees for a parking space.

We pay exorbitant fees for parking and yet these establishments cant provide the assurance that our vehicles will be safe from theft and damage, Taduran said in a statement on Thursday.
The ballot box is going to be where a lot of decisions are made in 2020 in the State of Indiana, Henry said. If nothing does get done here at the Statehouse for cannabis reform, youre going to see a change ... in these offices with new people standing up for the right thing and doing the right thing for their constituents.
The academic and research accolades achieved by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, (IIT-Delhi) makes it look like everything is hunky-dory at India's premier engineering institute. But, one of its key concerns at the institute is a sustainable revenue generation model, says IIT Delhi Director V Ramgopal Rao. "Internal revenue generation has become a very critical need for our institution right now," he says.

IIT-Delhi has a total loan of Rs 580 crore under the Higher Education Finance Agency (HEFA) Scheme, of which it needs to pay Rs 58 crore every year. As per the policy, these funds can't be utilised from the money coming from the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) but its own internal revenue sources. "In addition to the loan repayment, the grants from the MHRD are never sufficient. We have to add on at least Rs 100 crore of our internal revenue to run the campuses and that is an issue," says Rao.

IIT-Delhi needs a minimum of Rs 700 crore every year to run its campus, maintain utilities, pay compensation, amongst others, he says. To meet the shortfall, it is now exploring new models to generate revenue. Among all, one is to launch an online certificate programme for the working professionals in the new age areas of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital marketing, strategic innovation.

The university authorities are also working with the MHRD to finalise a mechanism to ensure the overhead expenses for research projects get funded. The faculty members come up with research ideas, submit their proposal and receive funds from the Department for Science and Technology (DST), the main funding agency for IITs. But, the problem is once the project is over, there is no monetisation of those research facilities and the institute has to pay for its upkeep and maintenance.

The DST pays 5 per cent as an overhead cost, which is not sufficient, says Rao. For instance, the sponsored research projects worth Rs 1,172 crore are currently undergoing at IIT-Delhi but its overhead funding is just 4.67 per cent when the actual overhead cost to the institute is 10 per cent. "We are in discussions with the MHRD to convince funding agencies to give overheads or they pay the balance that the institute doesn't receive," says Rao.

In the US, it's a common practice for institutions to charge 50 to 60 per cent as the overhead cost for any research project. In India, that model doesn't exist. "DST gives overheads, but that money is so small that it doesn't help us to build any kind of a corpus," he adds. IIT-Delhi launched its global alumni endowment fund in October 2019 with an initial commitment of Rs 250 crore by over 10 founder alumni.

It also started looking at generating revenue by intellectual property licencing. In 2019, IIT-Delhi filed 150 patents. While patents in themselves don't generate revenue but they open up the possibility of their commercialisation. When the faculty member starts the company, institute licences the patents to that company and holds equity in the firm. IIT-Delhi does that through its Section 8 firm, Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), and holds equity at least in 50 companies right now.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 6, 2020) - Fremont Gold Ltd. (TSXV: FRE) (FSE: FR2) (OTC Pink: USTDF) ("Fremont" or the "Company") is pleased to provide shareholders with an overview of 2019 and the Company's plans for 2020.

Fremont made the following announcements at the end of 2018 and in 2019:

Closed an oversubscribed financing to drill the Gold Bar project (see news release dated December 6, 2018);

Appointed Douglas Hurst to the Advisory Board (see news release dated December 11, 2018);

Commenced drilling at the Gold Bar project (see news release dated February 6, 2019);

Appointed Andy Wallace to the Advisory Board (see news release dated July 23, 2019);

Sold the Company's rights and interests in the Gold Canyon project to McEwen Mining Inc. (see news release dated August 16, 2019);

Entered into a purchase option agreement with Clover Nevada II, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Contact Gold Corp., to acquire a 100% interest in the Cobb Creek gold project (see news release dated September 30, 2019); and

Entered into a purchase option agreement with Pilot Gold (USA) Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Gold Corp., to acquire a 100% interest in the Griffon gold project (see news release dated December 18, 2019);

"2019 was a year of transition for Fremont," said Blaine Monaghan, CEO of Fremont. "Following disappointing drill results from the Gold Bar project, the Company made the strategic decision to exit the Gold Bar camp and monetize any related projects, which was accomplished by the sale of Gold Canyon to McEwen Mining Inc. This prompted a search for new gold projects to augment its remaining property portfolio. The Company's search criteria focused on advanced-stage gold projects with the potential to host an economic deposit with a minimum of 1.0 million ounces of gold in the Western United States. Fremont looked at dozens of gold projects and conducted numerous site visits. Cobb was the first acquisition meeting the Company's search criteria and Griffon was the second. Both properties were acquired in the latter part of 2019.

Story continues

By adding Cobb and Griffon to its existing property portfolio, which includes the highly prospective North Carlin project, Fremont has built an exceptional portfolio of brownfield and greenfield gold projects located within Nevada's most prolific gold trends. Fremont looks forward to advancing this portfolio in 2020 with the goal of making a new discovery."

Figure 1: Location of Fremont's projects





To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/51171_642cf22f640fea13_002full.jpg

Cobb Creek highlights

Location: Cobb Creek is comprised of 167 unpatented mining claims and is located at the northern end of the Independence Trend, close to Highway 225. Western Exploration's new gold discovery, Gravel Creek, is located approximately 6 kilometres to the southeast. It has been reported that Gravel Creek "contains an in-place unclassified mineral inventory of 1.4 million ounces of gold and 21 million ounces of silver". (Muntean, Davis, and Ayling, 2017, p. 22)1.

Historical mineral resource estimate: The McCall deposit, one target area within Cobb Creek, contains a historical mineral resource estimate (not NI 43-101 compliant) which is set out in the table below.

Resource Mineralized Cut-Off Grade Ounces Classification Zone (opt) Tons (opt) Gold Indicated Oxide 0.01 1,362,233 0.04 54,864 Indicated Sulphide 0.01 2,378,000 0.05 118,134

The historical mineral resource estimate ("Historical Estimate") was performed by and reported in a technical report prepared by Michael R. Pawlowski for Stacatto Gold Resources Ltd. and dated October 30, 20041. The Historical Estimate is based on a total of 72 drill holes with continuous zones of gold assays above 0.01 opt gold that could be reasonably interpreted to be continuous in three dimensions based on the construction of nine cross sections, 200 feet apart. The methodology employed in the Historical Estimate is detailed in the 2004 technical report by Pawlowski2. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the Historical Estimate as a current mineral resource or mineral reserve and Fremont is not treating the Historical Estimate as a current mineral resource or mineral reserve. In order to consider the Historical Estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves, Fremont needs to retain a qualified person to verify historical drilling and assaying methods and validate historical results, add any drilling and assaying or other pertinent geological information generated since the last estimation, and complete an updated resource estimate and a new technical report.

Past exploration: Cobb Creek has not been drilled since 1992 and most of the historical drilling (over 140 drill holes) was very shallow. Some of the better drill results include drill hole COBRC-3, which returned 15.3 metres of 2.86 g/t gold (from 13.7 metres to 29.0 metres), and COBRC-84, which returned 33.5 metres of 1.92 g/t gold (from 18.3 metres to 51.8 metres), including 12.2 metres of 4.09 g/t gold.

Exploration potential: Cobb Creek is underexplored. It has been almost thirty years since Cobb Creek was last drilled. Fremont believes that there is significant potential to expand the McCall deposit and also for the discovery of a Carlin-type target unrecognized by prior workers. Additionally, a number of exploration targets (Beaver, Silica Ridge, O, and Van Duzer Ridge) have not been drilled or were not followed up despite returning very anomalous gold values (see Figure 2).

Opportunity: Underexplored and last drilled in the 1990s, there is good potential to expand the McCall deposit and for the discovery of a Carlin-type gold deposit.

Figure 2: Cobb Creek exploration targets





To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/51171_642cf22f640fea13_003full.jpg

Griffon highlights

Location: Comprised of 89 unpatented mining claims, Griffon is located at the southern end of the Cortez Trend, approximately 75km southwest of Ely, and is accessed via paved highway and forest service roads.

Mineralization: Carlin-type and comparable to the mineralization found at the Emigrant/Rain mine and the Alligator Ridge mine (incorporated into Kinross Gold Corporation's Bald Mountain mine in the mid-1990s).

Past exploration: First drilled in 1988, a limited amount of shallow drilling (214 drill holes in total) focused on delineating the Discovery Ridge and Hammer Ridge deposits, leaving the remainder of the property essentially untested.

Past production: From 1997-1999, Alta Gold Co. ("Alta") produced approximately 90,000 ounces of gold (at an average grade of 1.03 grams/tonne) from Discovery Ridge and Hammer Ridge in an oxide heap-leach operation. Alta reported a number of unmined drill intercepts to the southwest of Hammer Ridge, including drill hole GR97-175 which returned 57.9 metres at 0.86 g/t gold, and proposed expanding Hammer Ridge before operations ceased.

Metallurgy: Heap leach recovery tests conducted by Alta indicated that gold recovery from crushed material averaged 87.7%, versus 65% for run of mine material, over a six-month leach time.

Exploration potential: Griffon hosts numerous gravity, soil, and stratigraphic targets. The Pilot Shale horizon - the primary gold host at Fiore Gold Ltd.'s nearby Pan Mine - has not been adequately tested, and the Joana/Chainman transitional horizon, which hosts gold at Griffon, may be concealed underneath and within the Blackrock fault. Lastly, there is also potential in and around the pits, as demonstrated by drill hole GR97-175.

Permitted: A Plan of Operations has been approved for 26 drill sites.

Opportunity: Underexplored and last drilled in the 1990s, Griffon offers multiple opportunities for the discovery of a Carlin-type gold deposit.

Figure 3: Griffon's location





To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/51171_642cf22f640fea13_004full.jpg

Qualified person

The content of this news release was reviewed by Dennis Moore, Fremont's President, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Fremont Gold

Fremont's mine-finding management team has assembled a portfolio of high-quality gold projects in Nevada's most prolific gold trends. Fremont's gold projects include Griffon, Cobb Creek, North Carlin, Goldrun, and Hurricane. We are aligned with our shareholders: Insiders own more than 20% of Fremont.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Blaine Monaghan"

CEO

Telephone: +1 604-676-5664

Email: blaine@fremontgold.net

www.fremontgold.net

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.

1 Muntean, J.L., Davis, D.A., and Ayling, B., 2017, The Nevada Mineral Industry 2015, Special Publication MI-2015, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology.

2 Pawlowski, M.R., 2004, Technical report on the Cobb Creek Property, McCall Area, Elko County, Nevada.

Forward looking statements

Certain statements and information contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which are referred to collectively as "forward-looking statements". The United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements and information regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that are based upon assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action. All statements and information other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "seek", "expect", "anticipate", "budget", "plan", "estimate", "continue", "forecast", "intend", "believe", "predict", "potential", "target", "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", "hope", "will be", "expected" and similar words or phrases (including negative variations) suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking statements in this and other press releases include but are not limited to statements and information regarding a new Cobb Creek technical report, the potential to expand the McCall deposit or the potential for the discovery of a Carlin-type deposit at either Cobb or Griffon. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Fremont undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this press release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51171
Swiss Post Solutions Vietnam has not only been a Top 100 Sustainable Enterprise in Vietnam for three consecutive years, it's achieved a Top 10 ranking this year.

The Top 100 Sustainable Enterprises Award in Vietnam is given by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD).

This year, 10 businesses in Service category and 10 businesses in Production received the title of Top 20 Sustainable Businesses in Vietnam, while 80 others were listed in the top 100.

Among 500 local and foreign-invested companies, Swiss Post Solutions Vietnam (SPS Vietnam) was honored as one of the Top 10 Sustainable Businesses thanks to its constant efforts to improve working facilities and benefit schemes as also give back to the local community. It has also invested in research and development.

The charity activities organized by SPS Vietnam include Walk for Charity, Earth Hour, Mid-Autumn Festival for Brittle Boned Children and raising funds for charity organizations run by Ho Chi Minh City's District 12 administration.

Swiss Post Solution Vietnam CEO, Anatolijus Fouracre, said: "Receiving this award of Top 100 Sustainable Businesses for 3 consecutive years and specially being named in Top 10 in 2019 is evidence and recognition of SPS Vietnams commitment to implement sustainable strategies in all aspects of business and our goodwill in supporting the community".

The representative of SPS Vietnam received award of The Top 100 Sustainable Enterprises.

The Top 100 Sustainable Enterprises Award in Vietnam is one of the most anticipated awards of the year for the enterprise community. The award evaluates and ranks each business by using 98 criteria in a Corporate Sustainability Index (CSI). The criteria are grouped in three main areas: economic growth, societal contribution and environmental protection.

It is jointly compiled by the VCCI, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

SPS Vietnam, established in 2004, is located in the IT Park of Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Trung Software City and operates as a focal offshore 24/7 operations centre and a global IT hub of Switzerland-based SPS group. It is an outsourcing provider for business processes solutions and innovative services in document management.

SPS Vietnam envisions, designs and provides end-to-end solutions and advice for the key value drivers in BPO: offshore and near-shore capabilities, process optimization and technology, including intelligent automation (artificial intelligence and robotic process automation).

Headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, the SPS Group has 7,500 employees and specialized partners spanning a wide range of industries in more than 20 countries, with particular focus on banking, insurance, telecommunications and healthcare.
Australians have begged for Jacinda Ardern to stay and run their country after she spotted having dinner at a top restaurant on the New South Wales north coast.

The New Zealand prime minister and her partner Clarke Gayford appeared relaxed as they dined at Fins Restaurant and Bar, in Kingscliff, on Monday night.

And it wasn't just celebrity chef, Steven Snow who was happy to have the pair stop by.

Many people were thrilled to see the leader in Australia after a picture was shared on Facebook - and some even suggested she move there indefinitely to take over Scott Morrison's job.

Jacinda Ardern (pictured second left) had dinner at Fins Restaurant and Bar, in Kingscliff, on Monday night with partner Clarke Gayford (pictured far right with staff)

'Don't let her leave, I've got a job for her,' one person wrote.

'Jacinda there is an opening for you in Canberra hun, just head on down there,' wrote another.

'Run down and grab her please. I'll get Scomo on a flight to NZ,' another wrote.

Ms Adern has received praise for her leadership skills during the catastrophic bushfires that have ravaged Australia this month.

Fins Restaurant and Bar, in Kingscliff is a popular seafood restaurant run by celebrity chef Steven Snow

Many people were thrilled to see the popular leader in Australia after a picture was shared on Facebook - they even suggested she move there indefinitely to take over Scott Morrison's job

Whereas, Mr Morrison, the Australian prime minister, has faced a onslaught of backlash for his handling of the crisis.

Last week Ms Ardern announced an additional 22 firefighters will be deployed from to help tackle Australia's bushfire crisis.

This comes on top of the rotation of more than 150 New Zealanders who been working at the fire fronts in Australia since October.

Mr Morrison was heavily criticised before Christmas when he took a Hawaiian holiday as bushfires destroyed communities.

He was forced to flee a NSW town destroyed by bushfires after furious residents hurled abuse at him during a visit.
The United States has denied Irans foreign minister Javad Zarif a visa to visit New York for a UN Security Council meeting and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed the Iranian official as a propagandist for his claim Qassem Soleimani was on a diplomatic mission in Iraq when he was killed.

Pompeo also doubled down on the Trump administrations resolve to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, which was most reiterated by President Donald Trump in a tweet in all-caps Monday, following Tehran announcing suspending its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal.

The top American diplomat joined other US officials, such as defense secretary Mark Esper, in tamping down controversy kicked up Trumps threat to target Iranian cultural sites insisting the United States will abide by all international laws and commitments, without directly disputing the president.

ALSO WATCH | Iran tags all US forces as terrorists over military commanders killing

Zarif tweeted about the refusal of US visa to him Tuesday, taunting the United States, What are they really afraid of? Truth?

Pompeo refused answer in the affirmative when asked at a news briefing about the denial of visa, but the National Security Adviser Robert OBrien told Fox News, I dont think Secretary Pompeo thought that this was the right time for Mr. Zarif to come to the United States.

In a string of interviews to US news networks, Foreign Minister Zarif accused the United Stated and President Trump of breaking international law, and threatened a proportionate response to the killing of Soleimani, the general who headed Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Quds Force.

In in interview, the foreign minister said Soleimani was on a diplomatic mission when he was killed by the American drone strike outside the Baghdad airport.

Asked about this claim, Pompeo said Zarif was a propagandist of the first order who was peddling lies and propaganda. The United States has said Soleimani was planning imminent attacks on American facilities and personnel in the region, but it has not presented any proof of it, despite mounting calls from US lawmakers.

If youre looking for imminence you need only look at the days that led up to the strike that was taken against Soleimani, Pompeo said, referring to the killing of an American contractor late December.

The secretary of state was scheduled to brief lawmakers on Capitol Hill later in the day, when he is expected to be as asked for evidence of the attacks that forced the Trump administrations to kill the Iranian general, plunging the region into a deepening crisis with prospects of military conflict.
A U.S. Marine with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines that is part of a quick reaction force

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kyle C. Talbot via AP

The US military mistakenly sent a draft letter to the Iraqi government, specifically the Ministry of Defense, on Monday that appeared to announce a troop withdrawal.

The unsigned letter, dated Jan. 6, 2020, from Marine Brig. Gen. William Seely III states that the US military would be "repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement," specifically "movement out of Iraq."

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told reporters Monday afternoon that "there's been no decision made to leave Iraq."

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley clarified to reporters that the letter was a "mistake" and should not have been released.

See Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Department of Defense says it is not pulling US troops out of Iraq after a draft letter was mistakenly sent Monday to the Iraqi military suggesting otherwise.

"There has been no change in US policy with regard to our force presence in Iraq," the Pentagon said in a statement.

An unsigned draft letter from Marine Brig. Gen. William Seely III that began circulating Monday afternoon, states that the US military will be "repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement," specifically "movement out of Iraq."

The letter, a copy of which was posted on Twitter, said that the US was taking these steps "in due deference to the sovereignty of Iraq."

Dated January 6, 2020, the letter appears to have been drafted following a vote by Iraqi lawmakers the day before to kick US troops out Iraq, a response to a US drone strike days earlier that killed Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian general who commanded the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force.

Story continues

"We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure," the letter says.

The Pentagon initially expressed confusion about the letter's origins. "I don't know what that letter is," Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told reporters Monday afternoon after the letter surfaced on social media. "We're trying to find out where that's coming from, what that is. But there's been no decision made to leave Iraq. Period."

Following Esper's comments, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley clarified to reporters that the letter "was a mistake  an honest mistake."

"It was sent over to some Iraqi military guys in order get things coordinated for air movement, etc. And it went from that guy's hands into another guy's hands and then it went into your hands and now it's a kerfuffle. It's all over the news," he explained, according to a transcript from Task & Purpose.

Telling reporters that the letter was "poorly worded" in that it "implies withdrawal, the general said "that letter is a draft. It was a mistake. It was unsigned. It should not have been released." While the US is repositioning forces, it is not pulling troops out of the country.

US officials responding to concerned Iraqi officials, according to The Daily Beast, told them "not to worry about it."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A launcher for a Patriot surface-to-air missile battery is seen on Mount Bukak near Cheong Wa Dae, central Seoul, Monday. The missile system was recently deployed there to defend the capital area, according to political sources. Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon



By Jung Da-min



A Patriot surface-to-air missile battery has recently been installed on Mount Bukak near Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, according to political sources, Tuesday. The battery system reportedly consists of a launcher for PAC-2 (Patriot advanced capability-2) missiles and another one for PAC-3 missiles.



The deployment of the unit in Seoul is aimed at strengthening the defense of the capital. The plan was devised after South Korea allowed the United States to deploy a terminal high-altitude area defense (THAAD) battery in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province in 2017. While the THAAD system has strengthened the defense of the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, concerns have been that defense of the capital area was relatively weak.



A photo taken Monday by the Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Times, showed the launchers, but the military has refused to officially confirm the battery's presence, saying it could not talk about military assets due to security reasons.






KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Business growth, especially sustainable profitable growth, is highly desired and very elusive. Margaret Reynolds, formerly lead strategic office of Hallmark Cards and now known as America's Business Growth Catalyst, set about to determine why similar companies have very different levels of growth. She captured her results in a new book, "Boost Your GrowthDNA" which explains the invisible markers in a company that constrain or enable growth.

"Growth is rarely the result of working harder or having a strategic plan. It requires a company to be "growth-minded", to look at business opportunities differently than they do todaywith an 'outside-in' lens. When companies change how they think about growth, they can be so much more effective in generating it. The great news is that the changes needed don't have big price tags -It is about changing the questions asked and the ways people work together," says Reynolds.

A company's invisible growth markers are much like human DNAa genetic imprint that determines outcomes. There are four essential DNA strands, or components, of GrowthDNA. Each of these strands is distinct, but also interconnected. All four GrowthDNA strands must be boosted to achieve sustainable and significant growth results. Leaders need to know their organizational DNA to understand their "genetic code" that constrains or enables growth, which can be proactively managing to change outcomes. Those companies who have boosted their GrowthDNA score 26% higher and are seeing 2-10x growth.

Marshall Goldsmith, bestselling author of numerous business books, including Mojo and What Got You Here Won't Get You There, says, "Margaret Reynolds is a true expert with a fresh and powerfully effective results-oriented business growth philosophy. If you are a growth-minded business leader, this is a must-read book."

The book shares the limitations of traditional growth tools, like strategic planning, and why they fail to produce the intended results more often than not. Reynolds has organized the book into four sections:

Why Growth Matters which includes startling information such as a 1% increase in long-term growth generates 4-5x greater increase in equity value than a 1% increase in pretax operating profit.

What is GrowthDNA introduces the GrowthDNA framework and the four strands that contribute to GrowthDNA. A company's ability to grow is defined by the strength of their genetic code in these four strands.

How GrowthDNA Works covers how leaders can apply the framework to their businesses. It is focused on helping them change how they approach opportunity identification, strategy development, organizational commitment, and developing a growth-minded culture.

The GrowthDNA Experience provides case studies of how leaders have successfully applied the book's concepts. These leaders represent businesses of different sizes and industries as the principles are universally adaptable.

Because it is important for leaders to understand their GrowthDNA, Reynolds has developed a no-charge GrowthDNA Scorecard Assessment which can be accessed at www.dnascorecard.com. The book is available at Amazon.com in softcover and kindle versions https://www.amazon.com/Boost-Your-GrowthDNA-Sustainable-Performance/dp/1947480685 or at this website https://www.breakthroughmaster.com/boost-your-growthdna/

January 6th-15th you can get a copy of the book at a special price of $9.99 for soft cover or the Kindle version for $0.99.

About Margaret Reynolds

Margaret Reynolds is a nationally acclaimed strategic business advisor, professional speaker, and author known for her uncanny ability to see opportunities for growth where others don't and help companies attain them. In addition to advising companies, she speaks to groups of executives and entrepreneurs who are frustrated with the status quo. Her website is https://breakthroughmaster.com/

Margaret has been working at the intersection of market intelligence, strategy, leadership and culture for over 3 decades. Her past clients include Hallmark Cards, Inc., Tractor Supply Company, Andrews McMeel Universal, Travel and Transport, Halma, CSC Network, Children International and hundreds of other firms and associations from midmarket to Fortune 500 companies.

Media Contact:

Margaret Reynolds

Breakthrough Masters Unlimited

816-622-8843

[email protected]

SOURCE Margaret Reynolds

Related Links

https://www.breakthroughmaster.com


An Australian shopper has shared how she buys designer look-a-likes for under $35 with the help of a fast fashion retailer - and the accessories rival bags and shoes available at Louis Vuitton and Net-A-Porter.

Jasmine Hand, from Perth, Western Australia, relayed her best tips for scoring the bargains in a YouTube video, saying plenty of the stock was near identical to ensembles pieced together for Paris Fashion Week.

The 25-year-old fashionista visited online store Boohoo to swipe up a $17 micro bag, $9.50 lock necklace, $30 strappy mule heels and an LV-inspired backpack the likes of which would normally retail for $3,050.

The bubbly blonde started her video by referencing the mini bag, which looked very similar to Jacquemus' $725 Le Chiquito mini bag

A match made in heaven? The $17 micro bag from Boohoo (left) looks remarkably similar to Jacquemus' $725 Le Chiquito mini bag (right)

The bubbly blonde started her video by referencing the mini bag, which looked very similar to Jacquemus' $725 Le Chiquito mini bag.

They both had a press stud to seal the clutch together and came in identical jet black designs that favour a glamorous night out on the town.

'To me, these bags looked designer at first. I know you probably can't fit much in this one but I'm obsessed with mini things at the moment,' she said.

'If you don't want to spend $1,000 on the real deal than this is the way to go.'

The $9.50 lock pendant necklace excited Jasmine because she had been seeing the 'trend' circle her social media platforms of late

Spotted! The black heels are a steal on Boohoo, where designer brands charge far more

Further along in the footage Jasmine shows off a pair of $30 strappy high heel mules, the likes of which have been heavily coveted from brands like Bottega Veneta

The $9.50 lock pendant necklace excited Jasmine because she had been seeing the 'trend' circle her social media platforms of late.

A similar design can be picked up for $242 from Blue Nile Australia, the difference being that it's sterling silver over metal-made.

Further along in the footage Jasmine shows off a pair of $30 strappy high heel mules, the likes of which have been heavily coveted from brands like Bottega Veneta.

This particular style, which features a toe strap to secure your foot in place, is almost the same as Neous' Venus Faille Sandals, which retail for $765.17 on Net-A-Porter.

'They just slip on and have a short heel, which I prefer when I go out,' she said.

Finally Jasmine showcased a mini backpack (left) for less than $30 that looked almost indistinguishable from a Louis Vuitton graphic check print (right)

Boohoo also has a checkered print bag that rivals the design by Louis Vuitton

Finally Jasmine showcased a mini backpack for less than $30 that looked almost indistinguishable from a Louis Vuitton graphic check print.

'I was drawn to it. Move over Louis Vuitton, this is the Boohoo version,' she said.

While the prints are slightly darker in the designer make it nonetheless bears a striking resemblance the YouTuber could easily see.

Her 599,000 subscribers loved the video, with it reaching almost 21,000 views in a matter of months.
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has warned farmers that blocking city traffic with tractor protests only alienates urban-dwellers who they really need as allies.

He said 2019 was in many ways the year of the pop-up farmer union with some of them resorting to disrupting Dublin traffic to draw attention to their cause.

At a time when we need friends, and we need to influence people in all the debates  not least on how to meet our obligations in the fight against climate change  that kind of activity is counterproductive, Mr Creed said.

In an interview, Mr Creed said the deep divisions among farmer unions were a matter of serious concern for the country generally.

The Irish Independent now understands that another tractor protest in Dublin is being planned for next week, on January 15.

Mr Creed said that in last September's beef crisis talks, three separate groups laid claim to the title of 'Independent Farmers of Ireland'.

"So, you have three iterations of the 'Independent Farmers of Ireland' and then you have a group called the 'Individual Farmers of Ireland'. It's just bizarre and it's wildly counterproductive," he said.

"We need to consolidate and get coherence back to farmers' voices - but that's an issue for the farming leaders."

The Agriculture Minister said it was not reasonable that groups were claiming to be national representatives of farmers on the basis of a meeting or two. But he acknowledged that 2019 was a tough year for farmers generally, and for beef farmers in particular.

Mr Creed also warned the meat processors that unless "there is a sea-change in the attitude to relationships with farmers", it was very hard to see the industry surviving.

He said the beef factory managements must take a leaf from the dairy co-operatives' playbook, which have a very sophisticated level of engagement with their suppliers.

Meanwhile, he insisted Ireland would not take a Brexit cheque and instead focus on the best possible trade deal.

He insisted he would not discuss compensation for Irish losses. "Doing that would risk compromising Irish interests. It risks supporting the view in the EU that 'sure, look, Ireland will take a cheque'," he said.

"We're going hell for leather for the optimum trade deal that we can get."

His comments come as a group of farmers are planning another tractor protest, potentially for January 15.

Supporters of the protests are understood to be buoyed by what they see as the success of past demonstrations.

They have claimed their actions highlighted the plight of farmers to the public, forced Mr Creed into a meeting, and got injunctions removed against farmers involved in protests last summer.

It is as yet unclear how many tractors will be involved in the planned protest next week, and gardai have yet to be notified. The protests to date have caused significant disruption but have not been supported by traditional farm groups.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of Toastmasters and Rotary will enhance their skills, broaden their networks and increase their positive impact in communities through a new collaboration.

The ongoing relationship between the two organizations will begin at the grassroots level with local club members learning and working together. Additionally, Toastmasters will create a set of eight structured communication and leadership development courses for Rotary with a phased rollout that will be available in English in 2020, and in more languages in 2021.

Toastmasters and Rotary partner to help members grow professionally and make a difference in their communities

"The strategic alliance with Rotary is exciting and allows both organizations to leverage our unique and similar strengths," says Deepak Menon, Toastmasters' 2019-20 International President. "We look forward to providing our current and prospective members with ongoing additional offerings that meet their evolving needs."

With its first unofficial meeting held in Bloomington, Ill., in March 1905, Toastmasters is a global nonprofit organization with more than 16,800 clubs in 143 countries. Its members attend club meetings where they learn how to be more confident speakers, communicators and leaders. Toastmasters' vision for the ongoing collaboration with Rotary is to change more lives for the better, and positively impact communities around the world.

"Collaborating with Toastmasters will provide our members with even more opportunities to develop and improve their leadership and communication skills," said John Hewko, general secretary and CEO of Rotary International. "In turn, members of Toastmasters can connect with more people, take advantage of new speaking and learning opportunities, and make a difference in their communities through Rotary."

Rotary provides its members opportunities to develop professionally, gain world understanding, and make lifelong friendships  all while volunteering to improve lives and bring lasting, positive change to communities.

Founded in 1905 in Chicago, Ill., Rotary is a global network of people committed to improving lives and bringing positive, lasting change. Each year, Rotary members contribute millions of dollars and volunteer hours to promote health, peace and prosperity in communities across the globe. Through volunteering, they make lifelong friendships that transcend political, cultural and generational boundaries and foster global understanding and respect.

For FAQ and to learn more about this partnership, please visit www.toastmasters.org/Rotary.

About Toastmasters International

Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization's membership exceeds 358,000 in more than 16,800 clubs in 143 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators and leaders. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter.

About Rotary: Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. See www.rotary.org.

SOURCE Toastmasters International

Related Links

http://www.toastmasters.org


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  Authorities are beefing up their security operations for the upcoming Traslacion 2020 to ensure the safety of the devotees and the solemnity of the event on Thursday.

Around 16,000 personnel, composed of officials from the Philippine National Police, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), the Bureau of Fire Protection, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Philippine Coast Guard, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and volunteers will secure the procession from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.

READ: Everything you need to know about Traslacion 2020

Acting National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas said Monday that a total of 2,144 policemen will form an andas wall to secure the andas or the vehicle which will carry the Black Nazarene.

These policemen will be part of the 13,573-strong personnel who will man the route as early as 5:00 p.m. of January 8.

The procession will begin at the Quirino Grandstand at Luneta Park and will end at Quiapo Church in Plaza Miranda.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said Tuesday that it will set up first aid stations along the route of the Traslacion. They will be positioned in the following areas:

- Aquino Monument

- Round table (Manila City Hall)

- Liwasang Bonifacio

- Plaza Mexico (Post Office)

- Lacson (Sta. Cruz area)

- San Sebastian

- Jones Bridge

- Near Quiapo Church

50 ambulances and a thousand volunteers will be deployed on the ground to provide assistance, the PRC said. It had also coordinated with the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and other nearby hospitals along the route.

The agency will set up an emergency medical unit which will function as an outdoor hospital to give special services to the devotees including emergency childbirth and basic surgery.

Since this years procession will cross Ayala Bridge, it will be closed as early as 3 a.m. on Thursday, as well as the bridges of Del Pan, Jones, McArthur, and Quezon.

To minimize accidents, barbed wires, 20-feet-high concrete barriers, and container vans will be placed in some parts of the procession route, according to the MMDA and the NCRPO.

"These containers would be placed to the routes that are not part of the original routes," MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago told CNN Philippines.

MMDA said barbed wires will be placed along Ayala Bridge to prevent the participants from jumping off the bridge.

PRC chair Sen. Richard Gordon, however, said that their agency will offer anti-tetanus shots, and ambulances on the ground should there be any reported injury from these barbed wires.

It's not about the length of the procession, but the preparation and prevention involved to avoid injuries. As early as today, PRC will set up stations in Manila to be ready for the procession, Gordon said Tuesday.

Last year's Traslacion lasted for around 21 hours.

READ: Traslacion 2019 ends after 21 hours
KENDRAPARA: Union Minister of State for Steel Faggan Singh Kulaste on Sunday met a few Bangladeshi Hindu refugees settled in the district and assured them Indian citizenship soon.

The Minister visited the house of 57-year-old Nishikanta Sanna at Sarakarapada village in Mahakalapada block. He is one of the 1,551 Bangladeshi Hindu refugees, who in 2005, was issued Quit India notice under Citizenship Act, 1955. Nishikanta said the spectre of deportation has been haunting him for the last 15 years.

My father came to the village in 1970 from Khulna district of East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh) as a registered refugee. But in 2005, the district administration illegally issued the Quit India notice, branding me an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh. We have no right to vote as the authorities deleted our names from the voters list. We are not getting any assistance from the Government, he said.

Kulaste assured Nishikanta that he along with other Hindu refugees from Bangladesh, who have settled in the seaside villages of the district will be granted Indian citizenship under the amended Citizenship Act.

Niranjan Sarakar of Hariabanka, Sarat Majumdar of Kharinashi and Ramesh Manna of Ramanagar, who were served Quit India notices in 2005, also met Kulaste and lauded the Union Government for passing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in both houses of Parliament.

Orissa High Court-appointed Amicus Curiae Mohit Aggrawal had filed a report on November 26, 2018 seeking a directive to the Central and State Governments to update the National Register of Citizens in Kendrapara as a large number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have been destroying the mangrove forest and the ecology of Bhitarkanika National Park known as India's second-largest mangrove forest after Sundarbans of West Bengal.

Acting on the order of the court, Shakti Prakash, Assistant Commandant (Legal), Ministry of Home Affairs had directed the Registrar General of India last year to take further action as per the order of the court. But the CAA has besmirched all the hopes of the authorities to deport us, said 55-year-old Niranjan Sarkar of Hariabanka village.

Now, I will become an Indian citizen. It has been possible because of the efforts of Modi-led NDA Government. Political parties opposing CAA are enemies of our country, said Ramesh Manna (60) of Ramanagar whose father fled Rajshahi district of Bangladesh in 1972.
If it wasnt bad enough watching the action unfold surrounding unconstitutional gun laws and the militias being formed to fight against them, now it seems like Virginia is trying to pull yet another move threatening the rights of law abiding gun owners.

They want to shut down every gun range in the state that isnt owned by the government.

According to House Bill 567, any indoor shooting range would be prohibited by law  UNLESS it was inside of a building owned or leased by the state.

And any business owners who decided to defy the law could be facing up to a $100,000 fine and potential additional civil penalties.

According to the bill, which has not yet been voted on or approved, would prohibit the operation of an indoor shooting range, defined in the bill, in any building not owned or leased by the Commonwealth or federal government.

For those that would be staying open, the state appears to want them to act as a data collecting operation, creating a state-controlled list of who is using the range as well as their photo ID and home address.

Lets be clear. This is a very real threat against the rights laid out in the Constitution. Americans have the right to defend themselves. And the state is literally trying to stop gun owners from training and improving their skills.

This is an attack on our liberties.

And not only is it unfair to those who wish to train, its also a blow to small business owners across the Commonwealth.

Staff writer and retired officer Leah Ayana brought you more about the Commonwealths unreasonable moves to restrict gun owners rights to bear arms.



The NRA created a website with a countdown representing the number of days until Virginia Governor Ralph Northams gun confiscation.

As I write this, the time left is just under 20 hours.

Of course, thats not exactly accurate, but the impending doom the organization and other Virginians are feeling is obvious.

The legislative session for Virginia begins later this week, and the first hearing of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee is January 13th, where a vote is likely for Northams new gun laws. The NRA has been hosting town hall meetings, activating grassroots representatives, and is holding Lobby Day in Richmond on the 13th.

The groups message is clear: Dont try to take our guns.

Dont violate our constitutional rights.

Dont threaten the commonwealth with the National Guard and police officers to take our guns.

The pro-gun organization isnt the only entity or person speaking out against these proposed laws.

Virginian Delegate Dave LaRock has sent a letter to Governor Northam asking him to deescalate the entire situation.

LaRock advocates that the proposed legislation and budget appropriations connected to gun confiscation, as well as the message to the public that the National Guard and local police will be the ones enforcing these laws, have the potential to:

place neighbor against neighbor in possibly violent confrontations.

Earlier this week, LaRock received a letter from the wife of an active duty Virginia Guardsman, Michaela Claywell. Mrs. Claywell informed LaRock of threats of severe violence that had been posted on Facebook, which appear to condone violence against Guard members and their families if they attempt to take their guns.

These threats are obviously criminal and are being investigated according to Col. Gary Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, but they also lend evidence to LaRocks fear of turning neighbor against neighbor.

This all came about in the wake of Representative Donald McEachin publicly encouraging Governor Northam to activate the National Guard to enforce the gun confiscations they seek, after many members of the law enforcement community spoke out saying that they wouldnt.

The only problem is, the National Guardsmen dont want to, either.

And the threat of doing just that is undermining the safety and peace-of-mind of families across Virginia, according to LaRock.

Mrs. Claywell and several other wives signed the letter to LaRock, which was also sent along to the governor, some members of Congress and state legislators. In it, Mrs. Claywell expressed concern over Rep McEachins statements, as well as the lashing out Guardsmen and their families have endured in the time following.

In her letter, Mrs. Claywell asked 2 things:

1. Hold accountable the people that have used hate speech and made criminal threats against our soldiers and our families.

2. Use your media relations teams in a coordinated effort to de-escalate the current situation but also monitor this situation as the 2nd Amendment issue in Virginia progresses.

She went on to say:

Please use your collective influence to protect our soldiers and our families. Our children should never be the focus of death threats or hate speech because of politics. Our soldiers have given more than many Virginians could ever appreciate; this treatment is not what they deserve.

In LaRocks letter, he told Governor Northam:

The safety of our citizens and the security of the Virginia National Guard members and Law Enforcement members and their families is of utmost importance.

He also asked the governor to meet with Mrs. Claywell and the other concerned wives and family members regarding the legislation to discuss the specific actions related to gun legislation which you intend to propose or support.

Wiseley, LaRock has noticed evidence of unwavering resolve being communicated to us through individual Virginians and through local governments that an overreach involving Constitutionally-protected Second Amendment rights will be resisted with strong determination.

In other words, the 91% of municipalities in the state who have declared themselves Sanctuaries for their 2nd amendment rights, as well as organizations like the NRA, and individuals such as Mrs. Claywell and her fellow Guard families, arent interested in hearing any more about your unconstitutional legislation proposals. So stop it.

LaRock continued in his letter to Northam:

It is incumbent upon you and me, as well as all elected officials, to avoid words or actions that unnecessarily increase fear and or the potential for harm to Virginians whose safety and wellbeing we are entrusted to protect.

The matter has become unsettling to Virginians who are unsure how such gun restrictions would be enforced and by whom. Without knowing the ultimate disposition of the legislation, I can only reassure those concerned that it would not benefit the safety and security of our Commonwealth to have State Police or Virginia Guardsmen actively enforce new gun laws, as such a scenario could have the potential to place neighbor against neighbor in possibly violent confrontations, a scenario I hope you and I agree would be totally unacceptable.

LaRock continued:

For these reasons and many more, I am asking you to act immediately, as requested by the signers of the attached letter, to take public and very visible steps to Deescalate this situation by reassuring Virginians, being very clear about your intentions, and to further confirm that there will be no orders made to the National Guard or Law Enforcement to confiscate firearms from Virginians.

At this time, there has been no response to LaRock or Mrs. Claywell.

Aside from Mrs. Claywell, signers of the letter from Guardsman wives are as follows:

Cheryl Williams, Wife of Major General Timothy Williams

Porter Kobernik, Wife of Lieutenant Colonel Kurt Kobernik

Bethany Price, Wife of Major Brandon Price

Michaela Claywell, Wife of First Sergeant Denver Claywell

Jessica Turner, Wife of Sergeant First Class Brandon Turner

Sarah Springer, Wife of Sergeant First Class Wayne Springer

Ashley Bosserman, Wife of Sergeant First Class Paul Bosserman

Bethany Jesse, Wife of Former Guardsman Sergeant Eric Jesse

Ladies, we at Law Enforcement Today are with you, and thank you all for your families service to our great nation.

Delegate LaRock and other politicians with your heads on straight, NRA, Virginia Citizens Defense League, Gun Owners of America, 91% of municipalities all across Virginia, and thousands upon thousands of Virginians who do not want their rights infringed upon: Keep fighting the good fight. The whole nation is watching.

In the meantime, in his infinite wisdom, Governor Ralph Northam has proposed legislative criminal justice reforms that he is seeking to be passed this year.

Hes not only proposing the changes. Hes promising them.

Amidst the impending doom of democratic control in both houses of the General Assembly set to take over next week, Northam declared that he is fully behind reforms that would make the system more equitable and compassionate in his state.

Included in these reforms so far is decriminalizing marijuana possession, raising the threshold for felony larceny, and seeing less people with suspended licenses in the state.

Possession of marijuana would no longer be punishable by incarceration, it would be only a $50 fine. The Governor doesnt just want to decriminalize marijuana possession. He also wants to expunge past records for people who were charged with the crime. According to Northams plan, this is because:

Studies show marijuana arrests have disproportionately impacted people of colorthis legislation clears the records of individuals who have been previously convicted of simple possession.

Dealing with theft, he would like to see the threshold turning the crime into a felony increased from its current $500 to $1,000.

As far as drivers licenses, the governor wants to stop the suspension of the licenses when people fail to pay fines, or non-driving related crimes like not paying jail fees or not paying for their gas at the pumps.

Youth accused of crimes will no longer be eligible to be tried as adults at age 14, if Northams legislation is passed, as the new age minimum would be 16. An interesting choice, due to the violence of crimes being committed by younger and younger suspects these days.

Additionally, the governor seeks to bring changes to the states parole system, which is essentially nonexistent save for a few circumstances right now. If he gets the changes he seeks, an inmates age will be a consideration, in hopes of keeping them out of jail. His plan is to solely punish offenders with parole when arrestees are 50-years-old and have already served 20 years in prison or are 55 years old and have already served 15.

It also retroactively allows parole to be considered for prisoners who were sentenced from 1995-2000 who are still behind bars, due to juries not being properly advised of the option of parole available during that time.

And lets not forget prisoners who are incapacitated or terminally ill. If they are deemed to not pose a threat to public safety, Governor Northam wants them to be released.

In the budget proposed, $4.6 million is set aside for pre-trial and probation services, funding for a new public defenders office in Prince William County, and more public defenders. There is also $2 million budgeted for pre-release and post-incarceration services.

Governor Northams reasoning is:

All Virginians deserve access to a fair and equitable criminal justice system.

Thats a joke, right Governor?

All Virginians also deserve to know theyre going to get justice when crimes are committed against them. And to know that offenders arent going to just be slapped on the wrist and let back out to do the same thing all over again.

They deserve to have communities whose streets arent littered with criminals walking past their children, all in the name of equality.

Governor Northam said:

My proposed criminal justice reform legislation and budget initiatives will combat mass incarceration, increase supports for returning citizens, and ensure meaningful second chances for those who have paid their debts to society. This is a bold step towards a more just and inclusive Commonwealth, and I look forward to working with the General Assembly to pass these measures into law.

Giving second chances is one thing. Following New Yorks footsteps with a get out of jail free card is a different story.

The Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, Brian Moran, also made a statement regarding the proposal:

This administration continues to demonstrate its dedication to comprehensive criminal justice reform. The impact of this legislative package is substantial and transformative.

Our parole reform bills will make many more offenders eligible for discretionary parole and the elimination of drivers license suspensions for unpaid fees and fines and non-driving related offenses will affect hundreds of thousands of people.

Substantial and transformative, indeed. Dangerously transformative.
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce has banned hard alcohol aboard its annual Walk to Washington lobbying event in response to a recent report that quoted women saying they do not feel safe attending the important affair for politicians and lobbyists.

The Chamber also said it will hire more security officers and establish a direct phone line that would immediately and discreetly report an incident of harassment directly to security personnel and the organizers, according to a statement from Chamber President Tom Bracken.

The phone number will be printed on the name badges given to all registered guests and be available on the smartphone event guide which all attendees can access, the statement said.

Bracken said he was responding to a Dec. 29 story published on NJ.com and The Star-Ledger and in its affiliated newspapers that included interviews with women who said they were groped, assaulted or sexually propositioned over the years on the job in state politics. The women also identified the problems with the Chamber of Commerces annual Walk to Washington train trip, which includes crowded cars of people drinking and networking from Newark to Washington D.C.

The next chamber train is scheduled for Feb. 27-28.

Some women said they refuse to ride the Chamber train because of its reputation as being uncomfortable for women. Some said they take an earlier train to Washington or drive themselves to the banquet and other receptions that they say they must attend in order to make contacts or lobby for their clients.

Last week, The Star-Ledger published an article about the environment of sexual harassment in Trenton and the Walk to Washington was mentioned. While we have worked hard to make guests at all of our events feel safe, comfortable and respected, the Star-Ledger story showed we need to do more, according to Brackens statement. The State Chamber believes that harassment of any kind is unacceptable behavior."

Chamber spokesman Scott Goldstein said Amtraks concession car will sell only beer and wine, along with snacks, sandwiches and soft drinks. Attendees may also bring their own beer and wine, he added.

We will be checking to make sure our guests follow the restrictions. New Jersey Chamber staff, as well as additional security that we will have on board, will be doing that, Goldstein said. We will let people know in advance of the trip that these restrictions apply so they wont be surprised when they arrive on the train on Feb. 27.

Following the original story, state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg announced she was forming ad hoc committee to look for ways to change the toxic culture" in state politics. The veteran Bergen County legislator said she expected cooperation from the Chamber of Commerce, as well as the League of Municipalities, which hosts an annual three-day convention in Atlantic City that draws dozens of midday and late-night parties. Two women interview by NJ Advance Media said they had been raped at these parties.

The chamber train, as it is unofficially known, also puts women in uncomfortable situations, according to women who spoke with NJ Advance Media but declined to be identified, fearing they would alienate clients.

Lets say, people are free with their hands. Its not great for women, said one public affairs consultant who got her start in Republican politics.

Another veteran public affairs consultant who rode the Chamber train in the 1990s and recently returned said she was surprised to see some men on this years trip stationed at the end of the train cars, loudly commenting about womens bodies as they passed through. Were there men on there who saw the corridor as a runway with women walking up and down as they were making comments? Yes, she said. I was shocked.

Weinberg, D-Bergen, said the committee will look for solutions to the climate of misogyny, harassment and sexual assault described in the NJ Advance Media report.

Weinberg offered a sarcastic reply to the chambers offer to ban hard alcohol.

So we cant expect the kids to behave unless we take (the candy) away from them, she said. What happens when they get to D.C.?

Patricia Teffenhart, executive director for the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, who is working with Weinbergs committee, also expressed disappointment with the Chambers solution.

Alcohol is a convenient scapegoat for people and institutions looking to avoid true reform and responsibility. Alcohol does not assault people. People assault people," Teffenhart said.

Anyone whos ever been on the Chamber train knows alcohol is not the issue  the issue is entitled men creating toxic environments for women. The issue is, for example, that theyre rating womens bodies - not that theyre doing it with a vodka in their hand, Teffenhart said.

Tell us your experiences with allegations of sexual harassment in New Jersey: Heres how to share your story.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.
Qualcomm isnt the only chip maker looking to bring 5G connectivity to mid-range smartphones this year. MediaTeks new Dimensity 800 5G chipset is an octa-core processor designed for mid-tier and mass market phones.

MediaTek first teased the new chip a few weeks ago, but now the company is providing more details about what to expect.

The Dimensity 800 is a 7nm octa-core processor with:

4 x ARM Cortex-A76 CPU cores (up to 2 GHz)

4 x ARM Cortex-A55 CPU cores (up to 2 GHz)

ARM Mali-G57 MP4 GPU

In terms of wireless connectivity, the processor has a MediaTek 5G modem with support for sub-6GHz 5G networks in North America, Europe, and Asia. It can support two carrier aggregation, and falls back to 4G, 3G, or 2G networks when needed.

Other features include an AI processing unit capable of performing 2.4 TOPs, an image signal processor that can support 64MP cameras or multi-camera systems with up to 32MP + 16MP. And theres support for AI-enhanced HDR image capture and 4K HDR video recording.

MediaTek says the Dimensity 800 series chips can also support phones with up to a FHD+ 90Hz display.

In other words, its the latest example of mid-range hardware supporting features that used to be exclusive to high-end devices.

press release
Instability returns to the Middle East after the removal of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani. He was the commander of Irans elite Quds Force. US President Donald Trump had ordered the airstrike that killed the military figure in order to prevent him from directing attacks on Americans. Teheran vowed to take revenge for what they see as an assassination and, Trump ordered the deployment of additional troops to the region to reinforce existing ones.

The POTUS also indicated that if Iran continues to threaten the United States, there would be retaliation.

It could be in the form of strikes on 52 locations that have cultural significance. The number 52 is significant. It represents the 52 Americans who Iran had taken as hostages many years ago. It happened in 1979 during Irans Islamic Revolution. A group of armed Iranian students took 52 hostages from the US Embassy in Teheran. They remained in captivity for 444 days until they were released in 1981.

Huffington Post says the destruction of sites that have a cultural heritage falls in the category of war crimes as per the United Nations Security Council. It is criminal for any military to intentionally target or destroy such sites. The list includes museums and religious and archaeological sites.

In a series of tweets, Pres. Trump said there was a list of 52 sites the US would target if Iran retaliated for the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, including sites "important to Iran & the Iranian culture."https://t.co/iayTZjKmK8  MSNBC (@MSNBC) January 5, 2020

Teheran vows to take revenge

Many Iranians revered Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani and his sudden death has shaken the leadership.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the supreme leader and the Supreme National Security Council has vowed to take forceful revenge for the death. The council indicated that it had decided on the mode of response to American aggression but haven't disclosed details. It seems the country wants to keep up the suspense. Donald Trump justified the killing of Soleimani by saying it was to prevent him from directing attacks on Americans.

In the opinion of experts, an action of this nature could have an adverse effect on the presence of the US military in the region.

Trump warns Iran that if it retaliates against Americans or American assets, the US has 52 Iranian sites targeted for attack https://t.co/mxKGvy5Hn1 pic.twitter.com/fF56AFXmIP  CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) January 4, 2020

Huffington Post adds Iran has links with militia groups in countries like Iraq and Syria and many of them were empowered by Soleimanis leadership. They could also pose problems and in the world of today, attacks can come from the most unexpected quarters. Obviously, the US security mechanism is aware of the challenges involved. The president has already ordered the deployment of additional troops to the region to reinforce the present strength.

The USA wants no more threats

According to Fox News, President Donald Trump took to Twitter to warn Iran to forget retaliation against the U.S.-ordered airstrike that eliminated Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike in Baghdad. The president described the slain leader as a terrorist leader who had just killed an American, & badly wounded many others. Trump added that Soleimani attacked the US Embassy and was targeting other locations. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei mentioned about "harsh retaliation while the countrys President Hassan Rouhani promised to "take revenge for this heinous crime."
(Natural News) Tiger parenting entered mainstream consciousness when Chinese-American writer Amy Chua used the term to describe her approach to raising her children in her 2011 book. Researchers elaborated that the parenting strategy is both severe and warm.

Chua based her approach on the strict way her parents raised her. Chinese parenting got their children ready for the future by making them do things to a high standard, which supposedly instilled self-confidence, skills, and work habits.

Today, Asian-Americans use the term tiger parent to describe the behavior of their immigrant parents. The latter is deeply involved in their childrens lives, driven by love, and prefer raising their kids using coercion instead of positive parenting.

Tiger parenting draws from Asian values of independence. It also places considerable importance on building a robust and dedicated relationship between the parent and the child.

Experts say that Asian and Asian-American parents often get their children to see their connections and obligations to other people. A good child lives up to the expectations of the parents.

Proper education is one of the most significant obligations. An educated person supports the family and helps society. (Related: Knowledge IS power: Teaching teens about junk food promotes healthy eating habits.)

Tiger parenting sets high standards while also giving plenty of encouragement

Western parents and children may find tiger parenting to be severe. After all, a tiger parent arranges very high standards for the child and badgers the kid nonstop until the goal gets reached.

Furthermore, once a child hits a goal, the parent sets a new requirement. There is no rest period.

Since it insists on family obligations and meeting high standards, tiger parenting may appear authoritarian. But proponents point out that the parents also give their kids plenty of support, such as keeping their children company during homework and making sure they absorb the lessons correctly.

A team at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) evaluated tiger parenting. They found that it used a lot of shaming, which other parenting strategies didnt use.

The UT Austin researchers theorized that Chinese-Americans might consider a reasonable level of shaming as part and parcel of being a supportive and successful parent.

Authoritarian parenting generally has a negative connotation, like the parent is the ruthless dictator, using a my way or the highway or children are to be seen not heard approach, explained researcher Kim Parker. Tiger parenting utilizes some traits of authoritarians, but it can also involve parental sacrifice rooted in selfless love for the child.

This strict yet warm parenting strategy is not suitable for every kid and parent

Parents who want to try out tiger parenting must realize that their children may not approve of it. While the parenting style improves the performance of Asian and Asian-American students, it doesnt work that well for American kids.

In one study, Asian-American participants who failed to answer a problem experienced increased motivation when they thought about their tiger parents. Conversely, American students from European backgrounds did not feel very motivated.

Furthermore, students with tiger parents earn their higher academic standing at a price. Researchers noted that these Asian-American children displayed signs of high stress even as they made impressive achievements.

Some kids may even reject tiger parenting. As a result, their academic performance suffers.

Anytime a child  especially a teenager  loses a sense of control or a sense of agency, it has a really dramatic effect on their motivation, which will affect their outcomes related to academics, explains Dr. Christine Carter. If you try to externally motivate them with threats or bribes or any controlling parenting style, their self-motivation will falter.

Do you agree with this parenting style? Learn more about the benefits of different parenting strategies at Homeschooling.news.

Sources include:

GoodHousekeeping.com

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov
America's sweetheart veteran actor Tom Hanks says he is set to play a "bad guy" in the Elvis Presley biopic and he hopes to prove the naysayers wrong that he can only play the good guy.

The actor, who was feted with the Cecille B DeMille award at the recently concluded Golden Globes ceremony, is playing Presley's shifty talent manager Colonel Tom Parker in Baz Luhrmann's untitled biopic on the legendary musician.

Newcomer Austin Butler is playing Presley.

"If all goes according to plan, I'll be playing Colonel Tom Parker to Austin Butler's Elvis Presley and hopefully I will then finally have an answer to all your stupid questions about why I will never play a bad guy.

"I think I'm about to do that. That's who I am playing next," Hanks, 63, said backstage after accepting the honour.

The actor, who will be flying to Australia to shoot the biopic, also sent out "good thoughts to Australia for what's going on down there" in the wake of the devastating bushfires.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A part of Trung Ha IP in Phu Tho Province. The IP has reported full land occupancy with 14 foreign-invested projects capitalised at US$162.6 million. - Photo chothuexuong.com.vn

Once established, the 100ha Phu Ninh, 350ha Tam Nong and 400ha Ha Hoa parks would open up opportunities for the province to lure new domestic and foreign investors, contributing to the provinces socio-economic development, it said.

Currently, Phu Tho is calling for businesses with sufficient capacities and experience to pump investment into developing infrastructures at its IPs. It said it would offer land rental exemptions for investors that build basic infrastructure facilities.

The province is now home to four operational IPs including Thuy Van, Trung Ha, Cam Khe and Phu Ha. Spanning a total area of nearly 2,000ha, the parks have to date attracted 175 foreign-invested projects, and 134 of them are already operational.

Trung Ha IP has reported full land occupancy with 14 foreign-invested projects capitalised at US$162.6 million, while Thuy Van IP has 96 per cent land occupancy with 97 domestically and foreign-financed projects valued at $787 milllion.

In 2019, IPs businesses generated an estimated revenue of VND40 trillion ($1.7 billion), up 33 per cent year-on-year, contributing VND1.6 trillion to the State budget.

The province is offering incentives for investment projects in its IPs including corporate income tax exemption for the first two years and a 50 per cent break for the four following years.

For projects involved in the high-tech and supporting industries, the province provides exemption stretches to 100 per cent over four years and 50 per cent for the following nine.

It will also foster administrative reform and create an open business environment with favourable conditions offered to businesses, while solving their difficulties in a timely manner.
The PM is taking a more cautious tone over the crisis than his US counterpart. File pic

Britain has reduced staff at its embassies in Iran and Iraq to a minimum level amid security concerns after the killing of a top Iranian general in a US airstrike, Sky News understands.

The withdrawal of the diplomats from both countries is a precautionary step rather than based on specific intelligence of a threat, according to diplomatic sources.

The respective ambassadors - Rob Macaire in Tehran and Stephen Hickey in Baghdad - will remain in place.

A spokesperson for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "The safety and security of our staff is of paramount importance and we keep our security posture under regular review. Both our embassies in Baghdad and Tehran remain open."

Boris Johnson has been trying to distance Britain from the US as Donald Trump ramped up his rhetoric against Iran, threatening to target cultural sites.

Britain and its allies are bracing for possible retaliatory attacks in the region by Iran and its proxies in revenge for the assassination of Major General Qassem Soleimani as he was being driven out of Baghdad airport last week.

:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker

Iran's supreme leader vowed "severe revenge" but first declared three days of national mourning, which concluded on Monday night.

It is also understood that the Foreign Office has entered "crisis mode" in the wake of Maj Gen's Soleimani killing. This is a formal status that typically happens during an emergency situation.

In this instance, it means staff working on the Iran-US situation are operating out of a crisis centre at the Foreign Office's headquarters in Whitehall.

A special command structure has been activated and diplomats are working on shifts to be able to man the office for longer periods.

Mr Johnson went against US President Donald Trump on Monday by pointing out the international rules of war and supporting the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran - which the US pulled out of in 2018.

Story continues

Mr Trump has threatened to target 52 Iranian sites, including ones of cultural importance, after Tehran threatened to retaliate over Friday's killing of Maj Gen Soleimani in a US drone strike.

Iran's foreign minister said the targeting cultural sites would constitute a war crime and likened it to Islamic State's tactics.

:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker

The US president defended his threat and said if the Iranians were allowed to "torture and maim our people... use roadside bombs and blow up our people" then the US could target cultural sites.

However, Mr Johnson's spokesman said the UK had a different opinion.

"There are international conventions in place which prevent the destruction of cultural heritage," he said.

He added that the government was urgently speaking to its allies about the nuclear deal after Iran said it would abandon limitations on its uranium enrichment.

"Iran's announcement is clearly extremely concerning. It is in everyone's interests that the deal remains in place," Mr Johnson's spokesman said.

"It makes the world safer by taking the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran firmly off the table.

"We have always said the nuclear deal is a reciprocal deal, and in light of Iran's announcement we are urgently speaking to partners about next steps."

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab echoed the prime minister's statements later, after a meeting of senior ministers to discuss the crisis.

He said: "We have been very clear that cultural sites are protected under international law and we would expect that to be respected.

"Clearly our first priority is to make sure that UK nationals, citizens, shipping, diplomatic missions and military personnel are safe.

"We've changed our travel advice, we are going to be reinforcing in due course the Royal Navy protection for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

"On a diplomatic front our overwhelming message that the Prime Minister and I are conveying to our European and American counterparts, and also critically our partners in the Middle East, is the importance of deescalating the tensions and finding a diplomatic way through this crisis."

Mr Trump later tweeted: "IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!"

The president has threatened to impose sanctions on Iraq after its parliament voted to expel all 5,000 US troops from the country - but the prime minister's spokesman said the UK had no such plans.

Defending Mr Johnson's failure to return from his Caribbean holiday early to deal with the crisis, the spokesman said the prime minister was in contact with senior officials the entire time.

In Tehran, the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had a close relationship with the general, wept over the casket during Monday's funeral.

Iranian police said more than a million people were on the streets, many sobbing loudly, as they mourned the man who guided Iran's proxy militias abroad, ranging from Hezbollah in Lebanon to armed factions in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

Analysis by Deborah Haynes, foreign affairs editor

Analysts warned on Monday that Britain could be deemed a soft target by Iran and its proxy forces seeking revenge for the killing of Maj Gen Soleimani.

The UK is seen as intrinsically aligned with the US, they said, noting that the Iranians might calculate that hitting a British target would send a message but might not provoke the same kind of retaliation from President Donald Trump.

While, mindful of this risk, the UK - which unlike the US has a functioning embassy in Tehran - is still keeping lines of communication open with the Iranian authorities.

In Iraq, Britain has a team of diplomats operating out of its embassy inside Baghdad's fortified green zone.

There are also some 400 British troops across Iraq. The military personnel are deployed as part of a US-led mission to counter Islamic State.

But all operations to train and support Iraqi forces fighting IS were suspended on Sunday as British and other coalition troops switched to focus on bolstering protection at the compounds where they are located from the threat of militia attack.

They had already been receiving rocket fire over the past couple of months blamed on Iraqi militiamen supported by Iran.

The death of Maj Gen Soleimani as well as senior Iraqi militia leader, Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, who was also killed in the US attack at Baghdad airport, has significantly ramped up anti-American sentiment in Iraq and across the region.

A number of rockets have since been launched at coalition bases as well as towards the US embassy inside the fortified green zone in Baghdad.

A mass protest on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day at the US embassy, which also sits inside the green zone, demonstrated the area's vulnerability.

Only authorised personnel are supposed to be granted access to the green zone and yet thousands of protesters were able to march inside and attack the American mission.

Iraq's collection of militias are sanctioned by the state and played a significant role in the fight against Islamic State, including working alongside US, British and other coalition forces.
Services at various bank branches and ATMs are likely to be affected as hundreds of employees will go on a bank strike across the country on Wednesday.

The bank strike is part of the Bharat Bandh call given by trade unions to protest against the labour reforms and economic policies of the Central government, according to reports.

The protestors' main demand during the Bharat Bandh is that the Centre should drop the proposed labour reforms.

A Bill in this regard was passed and proposes to merge 44 labour laws into four codes -- wages, industrial relations, social security, and safe working conditions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EMMET COUNTY, MI  A Michigan State Police troopers heroic actions likely saved a mans life in Northern Michigan.

The incident occurred when trooper Ryan Zamarron of the MSP Gaylord Post was working in Emmet County when he responded to a dispatch call of an unresponsive man at the D&W Fresh Market located at 1163 N US-31 Hwy in Petoskey just before 10 p.m. on Dec. 21.

Upon arrival, Zamarron found an employee attempting CPR on the subject, a 40-year-old man from Charlevoix. Quickly, Zamarron connected an automated external defibrillator (AED) to the man while the employee continued CPR.

A shock was advised and delivered, according to police. Zamarron then took over CPR and continued until the AED advised to shock again.

Further EMS help soon arrived, and a pulse was obtained. The man was transported to McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital for further treatment.

He was reported to be in stable condition, police said.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2020) - NetCents Technology Inc. (CSE: NC) (FSE: 26N) (OTCQB: NCCTF) ("NetCents" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Daniel-Carl Eigenmann has joined the Company's Board of Advisors.

Mr. Eigenmann is a founder and the President of the Board of Directors for Iko Capital AG, a leading Wealth Management firm based in Zug, Switzerland. In his role at Iko Capital AG, Mr. Eigenmann is responsible for compliance with FINMA, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, as well as regular review of their portfolio for money laundering and compliance within the investment guidelines of managed accounts for ultra-high net worth individuals (UHNWI).

Prior to founding Iko Capital AG, Mr. Eigenmann was the Executive Director of DE Investment and Consulting AG until its acquisition. As part of Mr. Eigenmann's 36-year career in the financial markets, Mr. Eigenmann held the position of Vice President of Investment Banking at UBS Zurich and St. Moritz for 15-years as well as Vice President of Wealth Management at Liechtensteinishce Ladesbank Vaduz.

Mr. Eigenmann has served on the board of multiple corporations and lead product development and tailoring within evolving legal and market landscapes. Mr. Eigenmann has a degree from the University of Cambridge and a Business Economist diploma from the Graduate School of Business Administration- Zurich.

"It's with great pleasure that I have accepted to join NetCents' Board of Advisors," stated Mr. Eigenmann. "Since I've been involved with the Company, I've been impressed by both their platform and recent growth. I believe that they have positioned themselves to disrupt the payments industry and become a global leader driving cryptocurrency adoption and innovation."

The Company would also like to announce the retirement of Gordon Jessop as President and COO of NetCents Technology effective December 31, 2019. Mr. Jessop will also retire from NetCents Technology's Board of Directors. Over the past several months, the Company has been working on and implementing a continuity and transition plan in anticipation of Mr. Jessop's retirement. The Company would like to thank Mr. Jessop for his tenure at NetCents and the Company wishes him all the best in this new adventure.

"Over the past 6-years, playing a key role in taking the Company from a privately-held traditional payment processor to a leader in cryptocurrency payment processing has been both challenging and rewarding, as well as the highlight of my career," stated Mr. Jessop. "The decision to retire is never an easy one but the decision was made easier by my confidence in the NetCents leadership team, technology, and growth trajectory. I am certain that NetCents will continue to thrive."

The Company is also pleased to announce that the Company's CFO, Christopher Cherry, has been appointed to the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Cherry joined the Company in October 2018 as CFO. Mr. Cherry is a CPA having obtained the Chartered Accountant designation in February 2009 and the Certified General Accountant designation in 2004. He has over 15 years' of corporate accounting and audit experience and has acted as Director, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary for multiple public companies. In his former experience as an auditor, he held positions with KPMG and Davidson and Co. LLP in Vancouver, where he gained experience as an IPO specialist and auditor for public companies.

About NetCents

NetCents is a next-generation online payment processing platform, offering consumers and merchants online services for managing electronic payments. The Company is focused on capturing the migration from cash to digital currency by utilizing innovative Blockchain Technology to provide payment solutions that are simple to use, secure and worry-free. NetCents works with its financial partners, mobile operators, exchanges, etc., to streamline the user experience of transacting online.

NetCents Technology is integrated into the Automated Clearing House ("ACH") and is registered as a Money Services Business (MSB) with FINTRAC, which ensures our consumer's security and privacy. NetCents is available for deposits from 194 Countries around the World, providing you with the freedom to choose to Pay. Your Way.

For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.net-cents.com or contact Sonja Bakgaard, Investor Relations: sonja.bakgaard@net-cents.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

NetCents Technology Inc.

"Clayton Moore"

Clayton Moore, CEO, Founder and Director

NetCents Technology Inc.

1000 - 1021 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC, V6E 0C3

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51211
LEAMINGTON, ON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Aphria Inc. ("Aphria" or the "Company") (TSX: APHA and NYSE: APHA), a leading global cannabis company, today announced its participation in the 2020 ICR Conference on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 in Orlando, FL.

In addition to pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings, Irwin D. Simon and Carl Merton will participate in a fireside chat at 2:30 p.m. ET.

There will be a simultaneous, live webcast available on the Investors section of Aphria's website. The webcast will be archived for 30 days.

We Have A Good Thing Growing

About Aphria Inc.

Aphria Inc. is a leading global cannabis company driven by an unrelenting commitment to our people, the planet, product quality and innovation. Headquartered in Leamington, Ontario  the greenhouse capital of Canada  Aphria Inc. has been setting the standard for the low-cost production of high-quality cannabis at scale, grown in the most natural conditions possible. Focusing on untapped opportunities and backed by the latest technologies, Aphria Inc. is committed to bringing breakthrough innovation to the global cannabis market. The Company's portfolio of brands is grounded in expertly-researched consumer insights designed to meet the needs of every consumer segment. Rooted in our founders' multi-generational expertise in commercial agriculture, Aphria Inc. drives sustainable long-term shareholder value through a diversified approach to innovation, strategic partnerships and global expansion.

For more information, visit: aphriainc.com

SOURCE Aphria Inc.

Related Links

http://aphria.com/


Canada and the other countries in the Global Coalition against Daesh (the Islamic State, or IS) are now caught in the middle of a quarrel between the government of Iraq, where most of the anti-IS operations are conducted, and the United States, which provides much of the military muscle.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 6/1/2020 (735 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canada and the other countries in the Global Coalition against Daesh (the Islamic State, or IS) are now caught in the middle of a quarrel between the government of Iraq, where most of the anti-IS operations are conducted, and the United States, which provides much of the military muscle.

Canada should try to keep the joint effort going, but should prepare for a quick exit in case Iraq and the U.S. break it up.

The Iraqi parliament on Sunday voted to ask the government to revoke its request for international military aid against IS, an Islamist terrorist organization, and end the presence of foreign troops on Iraqi soil. The vote was provoked by the Jan. 3 U.S. military drone strike that assassinated Iranian Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani near Baghdad airport.

Pedro Portal / Miami Herald U.S. President Donald Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump replied that if Iraq kicks U.S. troops out, he will make Iraq pay for U.S. military bases in Iraq.

This exchange of threats should lead to a negotiation. Iraq should recognize that it needs the presence of U.S., Canadian and other anti-IS military forces to keep its country whole and its people safe. The U.S. should recognize that it was invited into Iraq to fight IS and that it played a dirty trick on its hosts by making war against Iran on Iraqi territory.

Canada should mobilize its partners in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and in the Global Coalition against Daesh to press Iraq and the U.S. into an agreement along those lines that will allow the joint operation in Iraq to continue.

It is possible that no such agreement can be reached. The Sunday vote in the Iraqi parliament shows the extent of Iranian political influence in Iraq. Iran is using every available tool to hit back against U.S. economic sanctions, and may do all in its power to get Iraq to kick the Americans and their allies out. If the Americans are driven out, Canadian police and military trainers could not safely remain.

Canadas interests are best served by a peaceful, stable Iraq that will not be a safe haven for IS nor a happy hunting ground for Iranian agents.

Since the Shia and Sunni populations of Iraq are unwilling to live together or to serve in the same army, that goal is still a long way off. Since the U.S. has once again proven to be an undisciplined, untrustworthy ally, the Global Coalition effort is likely to suffer more clumsy missteps and frustrate its own purposes.

But what other path is open for Canada to advance its interests in Iraq? We must either give up on pulling Iraq together or else work alongside the Americans.

Our first choice should be to try to teach America how to be an ally in a joint operation. That teaching work can never end, because Americans are conditioned to believe that they are tougher and smarter than everyone else and free to make their own rules as they go along. They are not a good ally, but they are the best weve got.

Canadas 850 military personnel on the ground in Iraq, along with police training staff and economic development staff, give this country standing to offer advice to our partners and to take a large role in repairing the damage.

If, however, the Iraqis really want all foreign military forces to leave, we should take the hint.
This story originally appeared in The Guardian . It is republished here as part of The Guardian's partnership with Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of more than 250 news outlets to strengthen coverage of the climate story.

SYDNEYAfter years studying the climate, Ive come to Sydney, where Im studying the linkages between climate change and extreme weather events.

Prior to beginning my sabbatical stay in Sydney, I took the opportunity this holiday season to vacation in Australia with my family. We went to see the Great Barrier Reefone of the great wonders of this planetwhile we still can. Subject to the twin assaults of warming-caused bleaching and ocean acidification, it will be gone in a matter of decades in the absence of a dramatic reduction in global carbon emissions.

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We also traveled to the Blue Mountains, another of Australias natural wonders, known for its lush temperate rainforests, majestic cliffs and rock formations, and panoramic vistas that challenge any the world has to offer. It too is now threatened by climate change.

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I witnessed this firsthand.

I did not see vast expanses of rainforest framed by distant blue-tinged mountain ranges. Instead I looked out into smoke-filled valleys, with only the faintest ghosts of distant ridges and peaks in the background. The iconic blue tint (which derives from a haze formed from terpenes emitted by the eucalyptus trees that are so plentiful here) was replaced by a brown haze. The blue sky, too, had been replaced by that brown haze.

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The locals, whom I found to be friendly and outgoing, would volunteer that they have never seen anything like this before. Some even uttered the words climate change without any prompting.

The songs of Peter Garrett and Midnight Oil I first enjoyed decades ago have taken on a whole new meaning for me now. They seem disturbingly prescient in light of what we are witnessing unfold in Australia.

The brown skies I observed in the Blue Mountains this week are a product of human-caused climate change. Take record heat, combine it with unprecedented drought in already-dry regions, and you get unparalleled bushfires like the ones engulfing the Blue Mountains and spreading across the continent. Its not complicated.

The smoke is so thick in Katoomba tourists are opting for photos with billboards, rather than the Three Sisters themselves. @abcsydney pic.twitter.com/MOWvH8UBgs  Tom Lowrey (@tomlowrey) December 30, 2019

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The warming of our planetand the changes in climate associated with itare due to the fossil fuels were burning: oil, whether at midnight or any other hour of the day; natural gas; and the biggest culprit of all, coal. Thats not complicated either.

When we mine for coal, like with the controversial planned Adani coal mine, which would more than double Australias coal-based carbon emissions, we are literally mining away at our blue skies. The Adani coal mine could rightly be renamed the Blue Sky mine.

In Australia, beds are burning. So are entire towns. Irreplaceable forests and endangered and precious animal species such as the koala (arguably the worlds only living plush toy) are perishing in massive numbers due to the unprecedented bushfires.

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The continent of Australia is figurativelyand in some sense literallyon fire.

Yet the prime minister, Scott Morrison, appears remarkably indifferent to the climate emergency Australia is suffering through, having just vacationed in Hawaii as Australians were left to contend with unprecedented heat and bushfires.

Morrison has shown himself to be beholden to coal interests, and his administration is considered to have conspired with a small number of petrostates to sabotage the recent U.N. climate conference in Madrid (known as COP25), seen as a last-ditch effort to keep planetary warming below a level (1.5 degrees C) considered by many to constitute dangerous planetary warming.

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But Australians need only wake up in the morning, turn on the television, read the newspaper, or look out the window to see what is increasingly obvious to many: For Australia, dangerous climate change is already here. Its simply a matter of how much worse were willing to allow it to get.

Australia is experiencing a climate emergency. It is literally burning. It needs leadership that is able to recognize that and act. And it needs voters to hold politicians accountable at the ballot box.

Australians must vote out fossil-fueled politicians who have chosen to be part of the problem and vote in climate champions who are willing to solve it.
Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400

Flickr/Tomas Del Coro

An airline's paint scheme offers onlookers a taste of a carrier's values or its culture's ethos.

Some airlines update paint schemes once every few years while others remain unchanged for decades.

A successful design can make an airline instantly recognizable. Think Pan Am.

Sign up for Business Insider's transportation newsletter, Shifting Gears, to get more stories like this in your inbox.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

As airlines and airplanes have evolved, so have their "liveries"  the exterior designs, including paint colors and logos, on the aircraft.

As planes crisscross the globe, their exterior graphics not only represent the companies that operate them but in many instances also serve as visual ambassadors for their respective homelands.

A great airline livery gives onlookers a taste of a carrier's values or its culture's ethos in an attractive and effective color scheme.

Airlines like Southwest, Spirit, and American have updated their liveries in recent years, with mixed results.

Others have hit home runs. Here's a selection of 16 airline exterior designs that look simply amazing.

This article was originally published by Benjamin Zhang in June 2017. It was updated by David Slotnick in December 2019.

16. Nok Air. The low-cost Thai airline paints its planes with a distinctive and fun bird face, with a friendly little creature on the tail.

Nok Air

Thitisan/Shutterstock15. British Airways: With a waving Union Jack adorning the tail, British Airways delivers a modern take on traditional British elegance.

British Airways Airbus A380-800

Flickr/airwolfhound14. Malaysia Airlines: Even though the A380's future in the airline's fleet remains uncertain, the plane's blue and white livery is unquestionably beautiful.

Malaysia Airlines A380

Malaysia Airlines/OneWorld13. Etihad. Over the past decade, the Etihad has become a global aviation powerhouse and one of the Persian Gulf's trio of mega-carriers. The Abu Dhabi-based airline's sandy paint scheme features multi-colored geometric shapes representing the shifting desert dunes surround the emirate.

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Etihad Airbus A380

Airbus/Etihad12. China Southern Airlines: Based out its hub in the city of Guangzhou, China Southern is the Middle Kingdom's largest airline. Its elegant exterior design features a combination of multiple hues of blue with its tail dominated by a brilliant red kapok flower.

China Southern Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Flickr/byeangel11. Virgin Atlantic Airways: As with all Virgin Group companies, Virgin Atlantic carries Richard Branson's signature corporate logo. Even though it's been around in various iterations for a few of decades now, the design still looks as modern and stylish as it did on the day it debuted.

Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-400 G VAST

Wikimedia Commons/Tomas Del Coro10. La Compagnie: The trendy upstart airline may be all about delivering luxury on a budget, but the Parisian carrier's blue-and-black paint scheme is stylish at any price point.

Boeing 757 La Compagnie

La Compagnie9. Swiss International Airlines: Swiss International's white-and-red design is pure understated style.

Swiss International Airlines Airbus A330-343X

Flickr/Aero Icarus8.Fiji Airways: The recently re-branded Air Pacific is the national airline of Fiji. Its tribal-esque exterior is evocative of the island's rich native culture.

Fiji Airways Airbus A330-243

Flickr/Alan Wilson7. All Nippon Airways (ANA): Japan's ANA painted a few of its jets with Star Wars themed liveries to coincide with the release of the latest films in the franchise. One of the most famous is a 787-9 painted to look like R2D2.

All Nippon Airways Boeing 787 Star wars

Flickr/Brussels AirportAnd this Boeing 777-300ER in BB-8 livery.

All Nippon Airways ANA Boeing 777

Flickr/Oliver Holzbauer6. Air Seychelles: Air Seychelles is the national airline for the eponymous small island nation situated off the coast of Africa. Its stunning livery consists of a pair of 'fairy terns' flowing amid a sea of tropical colors.

Air_Seychelles Boeing 767-300ER

Wikimedia Commons5. Kulula: This South African low-cost carrier has built quite a reputation for interesting liveries, but its best effort so far is the 'Flying 101' design that doubles as a teaching tool for anyone interested in the different parts of an airliner.

Kalula Boeing 737-800

Wikimedia CommonsHere's the view from the other side.

Kalula Boeing 737-800

Wikimedia Commons4. Air New Zealand: The airline's new white and black livery, dominated by New Zealand's silver fern symbol and the Maori Koru logo on the tail, is a pleasure to look at.

Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER

Air New ZealandHowever, Air New Zealand's specialty jobs are even better. Like its Boeing Dreamliner painted in honor of the country's all-conquering rugby squad  the 'All Blacks.'

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Air New Zealand

APOr this Hobbit-themed design that promotes the movies filmed in the country.

Air New Zealand Boeing 777-319ER

Flickr/Simon_seesAnd as the 'Official Airline of Middle Earth,' it's only fitting that the fearsome dragon Smaug adorns the sides of some of Air New Zealand's planes.

Air New Zealand Boeing 777-319ER

Flickr/Alan Wilson3. Hawaiian Airlines: More than four decades after its debut, Hawaiian's trademark Pualani (Flower of the Sky) logo is still one of the most beautiful and distinctive in the business.

Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330

Hawaiian Airlines2. Icelandair: Icelandair has long been a proponent of its homeland's natural beauty. Which is why the airline painted one of its Boeing 757s with stunning images of the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights.

Icelandair Boeing 757 Hekla aurora

Flickr/Transport PixelsTo celebrate its 80th anniversary, the airline decorated another 757 with a livery depicting the Vatnajokull glacier in southeast Iceland.

Icelandair Boeing 757 8th anniversary TF-FIR

Flickr/Markus Eigenheer1. WestJet: The winner is WestJet! Over the past couple of years, the Canadian low-cost carrier has painted a couple of its Boeing 737-800 jets with Disney-themed liveries featuring Sorcerer Mickey and ...

West Jet Boeing 737

Flickr/JTOcchialini... the characters from 'Frozen'.

West Jet Boeing 737 Frozen livery

Flickr/BriYYZBonus: No livery is quite as evocative and effective in projecting American power as the one on Air Force One. Operated by the US Air Force's 89th Airlift Wing, the pair of Boeing 747-200-based VC25As that ferry the President around will literally bring any airport in the world to a screeching halt.

Air Force One

AP

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Lehigh Valleys food scene is a bit less diverse after the closing of a Middle Eastern food chain.

The Eat Egyptian brand announced Monday night on Facebook that they would be ceasing operation of its truck, The Taza Truck. The brand cited shortcomings from its Philadelphia operation, Kamoon, as the reason for the closure.

Dear patrons, We sincerely thank you for your patronage over the past 6 years. Unfortunately, the Eat Egyptian brand... Posted by Eat Egyptian on Monday, January 6, 2020

The brand was also planning to open a brick-and-mortar location in Bethlehem. Taza Egyptian Cuisine and Sagra Beans Coffee House & Roastery were slated to come to the new Gateway at Greenway Park at Third and New streets. Co-owner Tim Bonner announced the plans in July 2018.

Bonner and co-owner Hala Rihan-Bonner had previously run a location at the Easton Public Market, but closed it in 2018 to shift their focus to the Bethlehem store as well as their location in the Philadelphia Bourse.

Fans of the brand mourned the closing in the comments on the Facebook post, citing 40th birthdays and weddings as their fondest Taza Truck memories.

Bonner and Rihan-Bonner replied to old customers that they would be moving onto the real estate business.

The Bethlehem Farmers Market Facebook page put it most succinctly in its comment: The tastebuds of the Lehigh Valley collectively weep at this news.

Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ConnorLagore. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
While on the one hand, Congress is trying to reinforce its strength across the country, signs of growing factionalism have emerged in the Uttarakhand unit of the party with few lawmakers voicing their concern against the functioning of state unit.

Congress MLA from Dharchula, Harish Dhami, had earlier accused the state Congress Committee of ignoring its senior leader and former chief minister Harish Rawat.

"The PCC in Uttarakhand is sidelining Harish Rawat, if the situation remains the same then it will lead to very difficult for the Congress in Assembly elections due in 2022," Dhami said.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Karan Mahara also targeted PCC chief Pritam Singh and Opposition Leader in the Uttarakhand Assembly, Indira Hridayesh through his statements.

Senior party leader Govind Singh Kunjwal has also expressed his displeasure over the treatment being meted out to the former chief minister.

On the other hand, Pritam Singh has refuted the accusations and said that the party is treating Rawat and other senior leaders with the utmost respect and denied charges of factionalism being on the rise.

According to sources, voices of dissent have come to the fore in the state unit since the party conducted the "Save Constitution, Save India" campaign on December 28 where Rawat's name or his pictures were reportedly not seen in the posters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Tahidi High actor Jackie Matubia has left Switch TV where she worked as a presenter for about a year and a half.

Matubia, who was host of ChatSpot, made the announcement Monday in a post on social media. While she did not disclose the reason behind her exit, the actress promised to be back on the screens soon.

Good morning lovely people it was an honour gracing your screen #Chatspot serving you tea and interacting with you guys. Thank you @switchtvke for the platform. To my fans I love you guys and will be gracing the screens soon bigger and better Tuzidi, she wrote on Instastories.

Matubias departure from the Kenya Red Cross owned station comes days after she became the talk of the town over her breakup with her pilot husband, Kennedy Njogu alias Nyogz.

Following reports that infidelity by both parties left their marriage on its death bed, Matubia confirmed they split in March, 2019 but denied the cheating allegations from her end.

She confirmed she was seeing someone but it was after they went their separate ways.

On his part, Nyogz played down the breakup and wondered what the fuss was all about.

I do not know, there is nothing to say really. People come together, people separate, people heal. I really do not get what the fuss is about. You should probably talk to Matubia. She is the celeb and more talkative. She might give you more info. I am not involved with anyone, your people can say what they want. I told you all I need to, he said.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) today awarded the 15,000th designation in its FORTIFIED Home program for resilient living to a home in Tuscaloosa, Ala., which has a new roof funded by Strengthen Alabama Homes and installed by Habitat for Humanity Tuscaloosa. FORTIFIED is the national standard for construction that is resilient to severe weather and is part of a rapidly growing trend to build stronger homes across the country. Alabama currently leads the nation in FORTIFIED designated buildings and is home to nearly 80 percent of all FORTIFIED Homes.

"As homeowners across Alabama are keenly aware, severe weather disrupts lives, displaces families and drives financial loss," asserts IBHS President and CEO Roy Wright. "For nearly three decades we've worked to identify solutions to help property owners prevent avoidable losses. In recent years, we've seen our FORTIFIED program and resilient building, in general, pick up momentum. The number of FORTIFIED Homes has more than doubled in the past two years, and Alabama's Gulf Coast has been at the center of adopting these construction methods. With FORTIFIED now taking hold across the State it is fitting that the 15,000th home be dedicated here today."

The State of Alabama first recognized IBHS's building standards in 2009 by passing legislation requiring insurers to provide discounts for homes with a FORTIFIED designation. In 2016, Strengthen Alabama Homes began issuing grants to help homeowners retrofit roofs to the FORTIFIED standard. On Jan. 1, 2020, new state legislation became law ensuring every homeowner in Alabama is offered a FORTIFIED endorsement. Homeowners with this extra protection can now have their roof upgraded to FORTIFIED standards if it is being replaced due to a claim.

"For every home that is FORTIFIED, a family is safer, their lives are less disrupted from the effects of a destructive storm, a damaged roof is not filling up a landfill and the cost of wind insurance is lower," said Alabama Insurance Commissioner Jim Ridling. "Fortification keeps workers in their homes and at their jobs, allowing employers to maintain their productivity, thus reducing the storm's impact on the local economy. Our collaboration with IBHS makes Alabama a safer place to live and work."



Understanding the importance of helping people make their homes more resilient against severe weather, during the event State Farm announced a $150,000 contribution to support the Strengthen Alabama Homes program. According to State Farm's counsel for Alabama, Steve Simkins, the company is excited to help Alabama homeowners gain the peace of mind that comes with a FORTIFIED Roof, and they are hopeful the donation will encourage other companies to support the program.

"FORTIFIED provides achievable property protection for any family," stated Julie Shiyou-Woodard, President and CEO of Smart Home America. "Dedicated public-private partnerships between IBHS, State Farm, Smart Home America, Habitat for Humanity, the Department of Insurance, and many others, have allowed FORTIFIED to take root here (Alabama). Across the nation, we are all working to grow and integrate FORTIFIED and resilient construction at the community and state levels."

Using the FORTIFIED Home standards as a guide, Habitat for Humanity has created its own resilience program for new construction and also partners with Strengthen Alabama Homes to retrofit homes, like the one designated today, to the FORTIFIED standards.

"All of us at Habitat Tuscaloosa are excited about the opportunity to offer FORTIFIED Roofs to our homeowners," added Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa Executive Director Ellen Potts. "The additional safety and durability this adds to a home provides families with peace of mind. And, through discounts on their homeowners insurance, it will save them money over the long term."

The 15,000th home in the FORTIFIED program was dedicated at a special ceremony held at the Tuscaloosa home. Jim Ridling, Commissioner, Alabama Department of Insurance; Brian Hastings, Director, Alabama Emergency Management Agency; Brian Powell, Director, Strengthen Alabama Homes; Steve Simkins, Counsel for Alabama, State Farm; Julie Shiyou-Woodard, President and CEO, Smart Home America; Ellen Potts, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa, were in attendance.

For more information about the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety or for tips and information about making your home more resilient visit www.disastersafety.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About FORTIFIED Home

Please visit www.fortifiedhome.org to learn more about the IBHS FORTIFIED Home program, including the designation process, how to identify a certified FORTIFIED Evaluator and other valuable resources.

About the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)

The IBHS mission is to conduct objective, scientific research to identify and promote effective actions that strengthen homes, businesses and communities against natural disasters and other causes of loss. Learn more about IBHS at DisasterSafety.org.

SOURCE Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)

Related Links

http://www.disastersafety.org


Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

Ring says its developing a new privacy and security dashboard aimed at making it easier for consumers to keep their Ring accounts secure. The announcement comes just a few weeks after the company revealed that thousands of Ring doorbell and security cameras could be vulnerable to hackers.

The company warned that usernames and passwords for many accounts could have been acquired by criminals, who could then access Ring smartphone apps and view live camera feeds, phone numbers, and other information.

In one highly publicized incident, hackers managed to access the Ring account of a Mississippi family in December, taking control of a security camera to harass an 8-year-old girl while she was alone in her bedroom.

The new privacy dashboard will let Ring consumers manage their connected mobile, desktop, and tablet devices to ensure that hackers and other unauthorized users do not have access to their Ring accounts or devices.

The new dashboard will be part of the Ring mobile app for Android and iOS and is expected to be released later this month.

The goal was always to build for our customers what I call digestible transparency, Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff said in a phone call. We started this a while ago by making our privacy policy in a digestible form with sentences that people could actually understand. This [dashboard] supercharges that both on a security-privacy side as well as on the control side.

Ring, which was bought by Amazon in 2018, will soon also enable two-factor authentication (2FA) by default for new accounts as well as new devices for existing accounts.

Two-factor is a security mechanism that typically requires users to input a secondary, temporary password when logging into a device or service. That means that if someone else tries to use your username and password, theyll be blocked from accessing your account unless they have that additional piece of information.

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In Rings case, this is a code delivered by text message to the users smartphone. Consumers can opt out if they dont want to enable 2FA, but doing so may lessen the security of their account. Consumer Reports recommends that people use 2FA whenever its available, especially for email, financial, shopping, and other critical accounts.

Ring says that in the recent incidents, it found no evidence that hackers had managed to break into Ring servers. Instead, Ring says, hackers used account credentials compromised in data breaches from other companies. The technique is known as credential stuffing, and its one of the primary reasons that security experts warn consumers to never reuse passwords and to consider employing password managers.

More Fixes Could Be Coming

Privacy advocates say they welcome the changes but encourage Ring and other security camera and video doorbell companies to do more to protect consumers.

We're glad to see Ring make these changes that allow consumers more transparency and control over their data, in addition to pushing new users and users of new cameras to put two-factor authentication in place, says Katie McInnis, a policy counsel at Consumer Reports. However, in order to more fully protect consumers, Ring should also take other heightened security measures."

Consumer Reports is urging all video doorbell makers to take a number of specific steps, McInnis says. For instance, the companies should ensure that user passwords havent been exposed in previous data breaches, a step already taken by password managers. Additionally, companies should adopt measures to guard against hackers entering large numbers of usernames and passwords to try accessing customer accounts.

A Ring spokesperson says that the company already takes such steps. "We now cross-reference account credentials from external breaches drawn from records out of the dark web to our Ring database and proactively send an email to all that are a match for both username and password," the spokesperson said in an email. She did not specify when that practice began, but said the company had previously monitored accounts for suspicious activity.

Ring said in December that 3672 account credentials had been compromised; according to the spokesperson the list came from multiple non-Ring, third-party data breaches.

Ring CEO Siminoff said the company was always evaluating additional security measures while weighing them against customer convenience. If you dont continue to look at security and adjust it, then youre not doing security properly, he added.

Everything that theyre doing with this dashboard is a good step, but its very much just thata step, said Hannah Quay-de la Vallee, senior technologist at the Center for Democracy & Technology, a digital rights advocacy group. I hope its part of a larger process about improving consumers ability to manage this stuff.

Ring also said it would make it easier for consumers to opt out of having local police request their security camera footage.

As news outlets including Vice Motherboard and Gizmodo have reported, Ring has partnered with police departments across the U.S. to make it easier for police to request Ring footage to help solve crimes. Privacy advocates and other civil liberties groups have suggested that these partnerships encourage a culture of fear at a time when serious crime, including violent crime and property crime, is at historically low levels.

The fact is that even if Ring fixed all of its security flaws, these devices would still be dangerous, said Evan Greer, deputy director of Fight for the Future, a digital rights advocacy group. Crime has been steadily falling for decades. But Amazon wants you to be afraid. They want you to distrust and spy on your neighbors. These devices are corrosive for our society.

The exposure of Ring account credentials is just the latest in a series of hacks and vulnerabilities that have affected security cameras and video doorbells, from multiple manufacturers.

In November, it was revealed that Ring video doorbells contained a vulnerability that exposed WiFi network names and passwords. Last May, a vulnerability was discovered that let individuals stay logged in to Ring accounts even after a password change. And last January, there were reports of Nest cameras, which are owned by Google, being hacked through credential stuffing.

Correction: An earlier version of this article quoted Ring CEO as discussing "digestible security; the correct quote is "digestible transparency." In addition, the article has been updated with additional information on how Ring protects user accounts.





More from Consumer Reports:

Top pick tires for 2016

Best used cars for $25,000 and less

7 best mattresses for couples





Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2020, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Vietnam Railways has launched the Hanoi-Beijing railway line on January 1, 2020 in a move to facilitate peoples travel demand.





Accordingly, the transnational passenger train from Hanoi to Beijing will run two trips a week. The train departs from Gia Lam railway station of Hanoi on Tuesday and Friday and arrives in Beijing West on Thursday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, the train departs from Beijing West on Thursday and Sunday and then arrives to Gia Lam station on Tuesday and Saturday.

The Hanoi-Beijing train will stop to let passengers on and off at Dong Dang, Bac Giang, and Gia Lam stations of Vietnam and Pingxiang, Chongzuo, Nanning, and Zhengzhou of China.

Passengers can buy a ticket to a third country by rail when they arrive in Beijing. VIR

Bich Thuy

Railway development yet to overcome legal hindrances The path for domestic and international investors like Saigon Newport and Lotte to join railway projects in Vietnam remains arduous, urging authorised agencies to make more positive changes to unlock private investment.
Kissimmee, Ocala, the Round Rock-Pflugerville market, and West Palm Beach round out the top five growth cities for 2019. Florida, the leading growth state for 2019, boasts five of the top seven growth cities and seven of the top 25. Texas claims four cities on the list, while California has three.

U-Haul Growth Cities are calculated by the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks entering a state versus leaving that state during a calendar year. Migration trends data is compiled from more than 2 million one-way U-Haul truck-sharing transactions that occur annually.

Neighboring cities in certain markets are packaged together, and NYC boroughs are listed as independent cities for U-Haul migration trends purposes.

"Raleigh-Durham is growing, thanks in large part to the Research Triangle," stated Kris Smith, U-Haul Company of Raleigh president. "North Carolina State University, Duke University, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill serve as a major anchor in this region and attract an educated workforce."

Arrivals of one-way U-Haul trucks in the Raleigh-Durham market were up more than 3% while departures dropped more than 2% compared to the market's 2018 numbers. Durham locations alone saw a 7% spike in arrivals. Arrivals accounted for nearly 51.4% of all one-way U-Haul traffic in the Raleigh-Durham area.

"We have tons of businesses coming here, bringing new residents in U-Haul trucks," Smith added. "Raleigh-Durham is rivaling Austin (Texas) for attracting tech businesses and young professionals. We're seeing Silicon Valley talent and companies flock to the area. With a competitive cost of living, good wages and job growth, Raleigh-Durham is experiencing a boom in population."

While U-Haul migration trends do not correlate directly to population or economic growth, the Company's growth data is an effective gauge of how well cities and states are attracting and maintaining residents.

Visit myuhaulstory.com to view the top 50 U.S. Growth States (released Jan. 6) and top 25 Canadian Growth Cities (Jan. 8).

U-Haul is the authority on migration trends thanks to its expansive network that blankets all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The geographical coverage from more than 22,000 U-Haul truck- and trailer-sharing locations provides a comprehensive overview of where people are moving like no one else in the industry.

Find local U-Haul stores and neighborhood dealers at uhaul.com/locations .

2019 U-HAUL GROWTH CITIES

1. Raleigh-Durham, N.C. 2. Kissimmee, Fla. (10) 3. Ocala, Fla. 4. Round Rock-Pflugerville, Texas 5. West Palm Beach, Fla. 6. Port Saint Lucie, Fla. (21) 7. Bradenton-Sarasota, Fla. (17) 8. Coeur D'Alene, Idaho 9. Manhattan, N.Y. (3) 10. Harrisburg, Pa. (4) 11. New Braunfels, Texas 12. Auburn-Opelika, Ala. 13. Huntsville, Ala. 14. Spring-The Woodlands, Texas (2) 15. Boca Raton, Fla. 16. Henderson, Nev. 17. McKinney, Texas (11) 18. Temecula, Calif. (19) 19. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (8) 20. St. George, Utah (15) 21. Murfreesboro, Tenn. 22. National City, Calif. 23. Chandler, Ariz. 24. Wilmington, N.C. 25. Santa Barbara, Calif.

* Ranking from Top 25 U-Haul Growth Cities of 2018 in parentheses, if applicable.

About U-Haul

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of 22,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 167,000 trucks, 120,000 trailers and 43,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 697,000 rooms and 60.7 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry, and is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S.

Contact:

Jeff Lockridge

Sebastien Reyes

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 602-760-4941

Website: uhaul.com

SOURCE U-HAUL

Related Links

https://www.uhaul.com


by Nirmala Carvalho

The congregation was among the first in India to include Tribals in the religious order. The nuns live simple lives with simple people, among the poor, like the poor. They teach the catechism, serve the poor and the sick, and educate young people. They are a gift of the Church of Odisha to the Church in India and the Universal Church.

Mumbai (AsiaNews)  The Handmaids of Mary (HM) in Odisha held celebrations on Saturday to mark the first 75 years of their congregation.

Mgr John Barwa, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, concelebrated the Mass along with six bishops in the presence of hundreds of priests and nuns. The prelate praised the nuns for their stupendous growth and service to society.

Fr Edmund Joseph Harrison, a Jesuit, founded the congregation in 1944 in Kesramal parish, Roukela, western Odisha. Fr Herman Westermann, of the Society of the Divine Word, later took them under his care in Sambalpur.

The consecrated womens goal was to offer support to the missionaries' work helping the poor, women and children.

The Congregation has been selflessly serving the Church. The Sisters are at the service of women and children, Mgr Barwa told AsiaNews.

Their primary purpose is the teaching of religion and catechism to both children in schools and people in the villages in a concrete, practical, adapted and appealing way, so that all may learn to love and practise well their religion.

The Sisters are also involved in the health care ministry, serving the poor, the marginalised, Tribals and Dalits. They are also providing vocational training to the youth, to enable them to become self-reliant through skills. This congregation works for the uplift of all.

At a time when the Church hesitated to accept tribal people into religious congregations, Fr Westermann did not. What he did was revolutionary, the archbishop explained.

At present, the Sisters are a congregation of pontifical right and are present in Germany as well. They are a gift of the Church of Odisha to the Church in India and the Universal Church. The nuns live simple lives with simple people, among the poor, like the poor.

Sister Meena Barwa, the archbishop's niece, joined the congregation in 1995. She survived a brutal sexual attack during the anti-Christian pogroms in Kandhamal in 2008. She spoke about the support she received from the congregation after that terrible incident.

In 2009, my superiors made me do a bachelors degree. I was staying outside Odisha, without revealing my identity to friends and teachers. I lived as one of the girls in a convent hostel. Except for the Sisters, no one knew my identity. What was challenging was the freedom to be myself as a student sister.

Soon after she was raped by Hindu radicals, two of the sisters reached out to me risking their lives. My congregation didnt send me back home. They saw to the minute details of my well-being along with my physical, emotional and spiritual healing.

They gave me full support by telling to the world the truth of what happened to me and in Kandhamal. I got equal treatment like others; in fact, they loved me more than before.
GRONINGEN, The Netherlands, January 07, 2020 / B3C newswire / -- Polyganics, a medical technology company developing, manufacturing and commercializing bioresorbable medical devices, announced today that it has obtained CE marking for LIQOSEAL, its easy-to-use and innovative dural sealant patch, and will launch the device in Europe with immediate effect.

Approval of the CE mark is based on outstanding data from Polyganics ENCASE I clinical trial, evaluating the safety and performance of LIQOSEAL in reducing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage after elective cranial surgery. 3-month follow-up results showed the absence of CSF leakage, as confirmed by MRI, no clinically significant swelling, and no device-related adverse events following surgery.

Initially, Polyganics will commercialize LIQOSEAL in selected European countries with renowned distribution partners which have extensive experience in neurosurgical products. During 2020, the Company will then grow its network with the addition of multiple distributors throughout Europe.

Polyganics is also preparing to launch LIQOSEAL in selected non-European countries. In addition, arrangements are well underway for the start of ENCASE II, a randomized controlled trial, which will enable the Company to submit the patch for pre-market approval to the US Food and Drug Administration.

Rudy Mareel, CEO of Polyganics, commented: CSF leakage remains a devastating complication of neurosurgical procedures and represents a significant patient burden with high associated cost. The CE approval of this product is testament to the strength and quality of the clinical data from ENCASE I, showing that LIQOSEAL establishes effective and enduring watertight dural closure. This is a key milestone in our journey to deliver our dural sealant patch to surgeons and patients in Europe and ultimately worldwide.

About Polyganics

Polyganics is a medical technology company with multiple versatile polymer platforms. The company develops, manufactures and commercializes innovative bioresorbable medical devices that facilitate tissue repair and regeneration.

Polyganics portfolio comprises of products developed in-house and in collaboration with leading medical technology companies and academic centers of excellence. The portfolio includes marketed products in the fields of Peripheral Nerve Repair (PNR) and Neurosurgery: VIVOSORB, for minimizing unwanted tissue adhesions after surgery; NEUROLAC, for supporting PNR following hand surgery; NEUROCAP, for the management of symptomatic neuromas; and LIQOSEAL, a dura sealant patch for the effective control of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Products in development include a Liver and Pancreas Sealant Patch in the field of General Surgery.

In 2014, Polyganics sold its Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) surgery business unit (the NASOPORE product family including HEMOPORE, SINUPORE and OTOPORE and NASOPORE-FD) to Stryker, one of the worlds leading medical technology companies. Polyganics continues to manufacture the NASOPORE product range for Stryker. To date, Polyganics has produced and delivered more than 5 million devices.

Polyganics is a privately held company based in Groningen, The Netherlands, a center of biomedical engineering excellence, where it has an ISO 13485-certified manufacturing facility. The companys polymer platform technologies are protected by a broad portfolio of patents and its products have received clearance from the US FDA, CE-approval, and approval from CFDA and other international authorities.

For more information, visit: www.polyganics.com, or follow us on LinkedIn: Polyganics BV

About CSF leakage

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is a widely recognized complication of neurosurgical procedures. It represents a significant patient burden, resulting in increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, possible surgical revisions, and enhanced costs.(1,2) Incidence rates vary depending on age, indication, location of surgery and underlying pathology, but in total CSF leakage occurs in 4-32% of surgical cases.(3,4)



About LIQOSEAL

LIQOSEAL is a safe and easy-to-use patch indicated for use as an adjunct to standard methods of cranial dural repair during surgery. By ensuring watertight closure of the dura mater, the patch provides effective control of CSF leakage throughout the critical healing period, as well as supporting regeneration of the dura mater by acting as a scaffold for new fibrotic layer formation (neodura). The patch uses Polyganics proven proprietary synthetic bioresorbable polymer technology. It is commercially available throughout Europe via a network of experienced distributors.

About ENCASE I

ENCASE I, the first-in-human trial of LIQOSEAL, is a single-arm, open-label study evaluating the safety and performance of LIQOSEAL in reducing CSF leakage following elective cranial surgery. 40 adult patients have been recruited at three sites across the Netherlands and Switzerland, with follow-up due to span a period of 12 months. The protocol for the ENCASE I study was published in 2019 in Neurosurgery.(5)

Contacts

Polyganics

Paul Roos, Chief Financial Officer

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Keywords: Absorbable Implants; Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak; Neurosurgical Procedures; Elective Surgical Procedures; Skull; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Surgeons

References

Hutter G, von Felten S, Sailer M, Schulz M, Mariani L. Risk factors for postoperative CSF leakage after elective craniotomy and the efficacy of fleece bound tissue sealing against dural suturing alone: a randomized controlled trial. Neurosurgery. 2014. Sep; 121:724-744 Grotenhuis J. Costs of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage: 1-year, retrospective analysis of 412 consecutive nontrauma cases. Surg Neurol. 2005, Dec; 64(6)|:490-3 Kinaci A, Algra A, Heuts S, O'Donnell D, van der Zwan A, van Doormaal T. Effectiveness of Dural Sealants in Prevention of Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage After Craniotomy: A Systematic Review. World Neurosurg. 2018 Oct;118:368-376 van Doormaal T, Kinaci A, van Thoor S, Redegeld S, Bergmann W, van der Zwan A.Usefulness of Sealants for Dural Closure: Evaluation in an In Vitro Model. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2018 Oct 1;15(4):425-432. van Doormaal TPC, Germans MR, Sie M, Brouwers B, Fierstra J, Depauw PRAM, Robe PA, Regli L. Single-Arm, Open-Label, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Safety and Performance of Dura Sealant Patch in Reducing Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage Following Elective Cranial Surgery: The ENCASE Trial Study Protocol. Neurosurgery. 2019 Oct 1. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31574157.

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Observations with the 8-meter Gemini North telescope, a program of the NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory, have allowed astronomers to pinpoint the location of a Fast Radio Burst in a nearby galaxy -- making it the closest known example to Earth and only the second repeating burst source to have its location pinpointed in the sky. The source of this burst of radio waves is located in an environment radically different from that seen in previous studies. This discovery challenges researchers' assumptions on the origin of these already enigmatic extragalactic events.

An unsolved mystery in astronomy has become even more puzzling. The source of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) -- sudden bursts of radio waves lasting a few thousandths of a second -- has remained unknown since their discovery in 2007. Research published today in the scientific journal Nature, and presented at the 235th meeting of the American Astronomical Society, has pinpointed the origin of an FRB to an unexpected environment in a nearby spiral galaxy. Observations with the Gemini North telescope of NSF's Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (OIR Lab) on Maunakea in Hawai'i, played a vital role in this discovery, which renders the nature of these extragalactic radio pulses even more enigmatic.

The sources of FRBs and their nature are mysterious -- many are one-off bursts but very few of them emit repeated flashes. The recently discovered FRB -- identified by the unpoetic designation FRB 180916.J0158+65 -- is one of only five sources with a precisely known location and only the second such source that shows repeated bursts. Such FRB's are referred to as localized and can be associated with a particular distant galaxy, allowing astronomers to make additional observations that can provide insights into the origin of the radio pulse.

"This object's location is radically different from that of not only the previously located repeating FRB, but also all previously studied FRBs," elaborates Kenzie Nimmo, PhD student at the University of Amsterdam and a fellow lead author of this paper. "This blurs the differences between repeating and non-repeating fast radio bursts. It may be that FRBs are produced in a large zoo of locations across the Universe and just require some specific conditions to be visible."

Pinpointing the location of FRB 180916.J0158+65 required observations at both radio and optical wavelengths. FRBs can only be detected with radio telescopes, so radio observations are fundamentally necessary to accurately determine the position of an FRB on the sky. This particular FRB was first discovered by the Canadian CHIME radio telescope array in 2018 [1]. The new research used the European VLBI Network (EVN) [2] to precisely localize the source, but measuring the precise distance and local environment of the radio source was only possible with follow-up optical observations with the Gemini North telescope. The international Gemini Observatory comprises telescopes in both the northern and southern hemispheres, which together can access the entire night sky.

"We used the cameras and spectrographs on the Gemini North telescope to image the faint structures of the host galaxy where the FRB resides, measure its distance, and analyze its chemical composition," explains Shriharsh Tendulkar, a postdoctoral fellow at McGill University in Montreal, Canada who led the Gemini observations [3] and subsequent data analysis. "These observations showed that the FRB originates in a spiral arm of the galaxy, in a region which is rapidly forming stars."

However, the source of FRB 180916.J0158+65 -- which lies roughly 500 million light-years from Earth -- was unexpected and shows that FRB's may not be linked to a particular type of galaxy or environment, deepening this astronomical mystery [4].

"This is the closest FRB to Earth ever localised," explains Benito Marcote, of the Joint Institute for VLBI European Research Infrastructure Consortium and a lead author of the Nature paper. "Surprisingly, it was found in an environment radically different from that of the previous four localised FRBs -- an environment that challenges our ideas of what the source of these bursts could be."

The researchers hope that further studies will reveal the conditions that result in the production of these mysterious transient radio pulses, and address some of the many unanswered questions they pose. Corresponding author Jason Hessels of the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) and the University of Amsterdam states that "our aim is to precisely localize more FRBs and, ultimately, understand their origin."

"It's a pleasure to see different observing facilities complement one another during challenging high-priority investigations such as this," concludes Luc Simard, Gemini Board member and Director General of NRC-Herzberg, which hosts CHIME, as well as the Canadian Gemini Office. "We are particularly honored to have the opportunity to conduct astronomical observations on Maunakea in Hawai'i. This site's exceptional observing conditions are vital to making astronomical discoveries such as this."

"Understanding the origin of FRBs will undoubtedly be an exciting challenge for astronomers in the 2020s," said Chris Davis of the US National Science Foundation, Program Officer for Gemini. Davis adds, "We're confident that Gemini will play an important role, and it seems fitting that Gemini has made these important observations at the dawn of the new decade."

###

Notes

[1] The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) collaboration operates an innovative radio telescope at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory in Canada. The CHIME telescope's novel construction makes it particularly adept at discovering FRBs such as FRB 180916.J0158+65.

[2] Radio observations were made using eight radio telescopes of the European Very Long Baseline Interferometry Network (EVN) following the discovery of FRB 180916.J0158+65 by the CHIME/FRB Collaboration.

[3] The Gemini observations were made between July and September of 2019 using the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) on the Gemini North telescope on Hawaii's Maunakea.

[4] Prior to the observations announced today, the evidence hinted at the possibility that repeating and non-repeating FRBs were formed in very different environments. The only repeating FRB apart

from FRB 180916.J0158+65 with a precisely determined location was found to inhabit a region of massive star formation inside a dwarf galaxy. Conversely, the three localized non-repeating FRBs were all found in massive galaxies and appear not to be associated with star-forming regions, leading to speculation that there were two separate types of FRB.

More information

This research was presented in a paper in Nature entitled "A repeating fast radio burst source localized to a nearby spiral galaxy".

NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory, the US center for ground-based optical-infrared astronomy, operates the international Gemini Observatory, Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), the Community Science and Data Center (CSDC), and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). It is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with NSF and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. The astronomical community is honored to have the opportunity to conduct astronomical research on Iolkam Du'ag (Kitt Peak) in Arizona, on Maunakea in Hawai'i, and on Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachon in Chile. We recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that these sites have to the Tohono O'odham Nation, to the Native Hawaiian community, and to the local Communities in Chile, respectively.

The research team was composed of B. Marcote (Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC, The Netherlands), K. Nimmo (Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, The Netherlands and Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands), J. W. T. Hessels (Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, The Netherlands and Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands), S. P. Tendulkar (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), C. G. Bassa (Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, The Netherlands), Z. Paragi (Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC, The Netherlands), A. Keimpema (Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC, The Netherlands), M. Bhardwaj (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), R. Karuppusamy (Max-Planck-Institut fur Radioastronomie, Germany), V. M. Kaspi (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), C. J. Law (Department of Astronomy and Owens Valley Radio Observatory, California Institute of Technology, USA), D. Michilli (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), K. Aggarwal (Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology, West Virginia University, USA), B. Andersen (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), A. M. Archibald (Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands and School of Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics, University of Newcastle, UK.), K. Bandura (Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology, West Virginia University, USA), G. C. Bower (Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Hawai'i, USA), P. J. Boyle (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), C. Brar (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), S. Burke-Spolaor (Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology, West Virginia University, USA) B. J. Butler ((National Radio Astronomy Observatory, USA) T. Cassanelli (Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Canada), P. Chawla (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), P. Demorest (National Radio Astronomy Observatory, USA), M. Dobbs (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), E. Fonseca (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), U. Giri (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo, Canada), D. C. Good (Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Canada), K. Gourdji (Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands), A. Josephy (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), A. Yu. Kirichenko (Ioffe Institute, St Petersburg, Russia and Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden), F. Kirsten (Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden), T. L. Landecker (Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada), D. Lang (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Canada), T. J. W. Lazio (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, USA) D. Z. Li (Department of Physics, University of Toronto and Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, Canada), H.-H. Lin (Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, Canada), J. D. Linford (National Radio Astronomy Observatory, USA), K. Masui (MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research and Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA), J. Mena-Parra (MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA), A. Naidu (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), C. Ng (Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Canada), C. Patel (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), U.-L. Pen (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University; Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics; Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Canada), Z. Pleunis (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), M. Rafiei-Ravandi (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Canada), M. Rahman (Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Canada), A. Renard (Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Canada), P. Scholz (Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto, and Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada), S. R. Siegel (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada), K. M. Smith (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Canada), I. H. Stairs (Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Canada), K. Vanderlinde (Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Canada), and A. V. Zwaniga (Department of Physics and McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Canada).

Contacts

Peter Michaud

NewsTeam Manager

NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory

Gemini Observatory, Hilo HI

Desk: +1 808-974-2510

Cell: +1 808-936-6643

Email: pmichaud@gemini.edu

Jason Hessels

University of Amsterdam & ASTRON

Email: j.w.t.hessels@uva.nl

Phone: +31 610260062

Shriharsh Tendulkar

McGill University

Email: shriharsh@physics.mcgill.ca
US Denies Iranian Foreign Minister a Visa to Attend UN Event

The United States has denied Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif a visa to attend an upcoming United Nations event in New York City, national security adviser Robert OBrien confirmed on Jan. 7.

I dont think Secretary Pompeo thought that this was the right time for Mr. Zarif to come to the United States, and whenever he comes to New York, he spreads propaganda, OBrien said during an appearance on Fox & Friends.

I actually find it somewhat ironic that Mr. Zarif wants to take advantage of the diplomatic niceties of being able to come to New York and come to the U.N., when his revolution was born in the taking of 52 American diplomats hostage in Iran and holding them for 444 days.

That undermined every principle of democracy, OBrien added. So, I think he will be fine missing that meeting.

National security adviser Robert OBrien listens as President Donald Trump speaks about Syria in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House in Washington on Oct. 23, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Zarif can call in or participate via video teleconference, OBrien said.

Zarif complained that his visa was denied, claiming on Jan. 7 that the United States was violating the 1947 UNHQ agreement, which outlines rules governing the U.N. headquarters in New York. While one of the rules lets foreign officials into the country to conduct U.N. business, Washington says it can deny visas for security, terrorism, and foreign policy reasons.

What are they really afraid of? Truth? Zarif wrote on Twitter.

The U.N. Security Council will meet Jan. 9 to discuss the organizations charter. Zarif traveled to New York in September 2019 when world leaders gathered at the United Nations, meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and several other leaders.

We dont comment on visa matters, those traveling to the United States on visas, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters in Washington on Jan. 7. Ill say only this: We will always comply with our obligations under the U.N. requirements and the headquarters agreement. We will do so in this instance and, more broadly, every day.

The site where top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed along with eight others in a U.S. strike the day before, outside the international airport road in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 4, 2020. (Ali Choukeir/AFP via Getty Images)

The decision came several days after a U.S. airstrike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.

OBrien told reporters outside the White House that there was strong evidence that Soleimani was planning attacks on U.S. interests.

Strong evidence and strong intelligence. Unfortunately, were not going to be able to get into sources and methods at this time, OBrien said. But I can tell you it is very strong.

He was planning to kill, to attack American facilities, and diplomats, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines were located at those facilities, he added.

Asked if the threat was gone, OBrien said: As long as there are bad actors in the world, there are always threats to Americans. And the Iranians have been making many, many threats to the United States over the past several days. We take those seriously and were watching and monitoring them.
HK office's role enhanced

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing and Leng Shumei Source:Global Times Published: 2020/1/6 22:38:41

New head comes with changing roles, more engagement

The liaison office of the Chinese central government in Hong Kong is expected to play a more active role in engaging with Hong Kong society in a more creative way instead of simply being a channel of communication as its new head took office on Monday to help the city engulfed in violent protests to return to the right path.

Luo Huining, the new director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, came under the spotlight as he spoke with reporters in Hong Kong on Monday morning for the first time since he was appointed by the State Council, China's cabinet. The 65-year-old, who previously served as Party chief of Northwest China's Qinghai Province and North China's Shanxi Province, is considered politically mature and capable of working with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government to handle the city's dilemma.

Located in Sai Wan district, the liaison office was first established as the Hong Kong branch of the Xinhua News Agency. After Hong Kong returned to China, the central government renamed it in 1999 and gave it more functions, such as coordinating authorities like the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, helping relevant authorities to manage Chinese institutions and acting as a bridge to promote cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong in different areas.

However, it has come under tremendous pressure since the outbreak of anti-government protests in mid-June 2019. Radical protesters not only defaced and vandalized the office building on July 21, but also challenged Beijing's authority and posed as a blatant threat to safety of all employees of the office. The office, which was criticized for misjudging the situation in Hong Kong, has been blamed for isolating itself from the majority of Hong Kong society, Reuters reported in November 2019.

The criticism, which came not only from Hong Kong society but also from the mainland society, also gives a hint to challenges while carrying out the "one country, two systems" principle - a political arrangement with no parallel in history.

Dealing with the relations between "one country" and "two systems" has led to major divergences between the mainland and Hong Kong, as the city has been pursuing a higher degree of autonomy while the mainland upholds the country's sovereignty over it, and the liaison office has been exploring how to reach a balance between them, analysts said.

Some office employees who talked to the Global Times on condition of anonymity said they have been anxious, heartbroken sometimes, working day and night in the past few months.

"A lot of reflection has been done, especially in some areas we have not done enough," an employee said, noting that growing challenges, however, have not deterred them from working together and finding a way out together with the HKSAR government.

Another employee said Luo's remarks on Monday morning represented a shared vision and hope of all liaison office staff. At a short press briefing, the new chief expressed strong willingness to get his job done with sincerity and true feelings for the city, firmly believing that the Constitution and the Basic Law are fully enacted in Hong Kong.

Luo also noted that "one country, two systems" will be implemented stably in the long run, and the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong will be ensured.

Although he has not been engaged in Hong Kong and Macao-related work, Luo has rich experience in local administration, Tang Fei, a member of the Council of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, told the Global Times on Monday.

"His assignment shows the central government hopes to make a breakthrough while moving steadily in Hong Kong-related work," Tang noted.

Changing role

Compared to former heads of the liaison office, Luo came to Hong Kong as an "outsider" who has little connection with the city and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, but with abundant experience in political affairs, as the situations in both Qinghai and Shanxi were complicated, especially the latter, which had seen a massive anti-corruption campaign before his tenure, analysts said.

While Jiang Enzhu, the first director of the liaison office in the 1990s was a diplomat, which helped facilitate the handover of the city from Britain to China, and Wang Zhimin, Luo's predecessor, who had been dealing with the months-long social unrest, have worked with Hong Kong and Macao-related authorities, Luo is expected to play a more active role in considering Hong Kong affairs from a larger picture by integrating local demands with the motherland's development.

"Previously, the liaison office had put too much focus on 'two systems' to ensure the city's high degree of autonomy. It's now time to reiterate 'one country,' as it always goes first," Li Xiaobing, an analyst on Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan studies at Nankai University in Tianjin, told the Global Times on Monday.

How to strengthen a relatively weak presence of the liaison office in Hong Kong society also remains a major task for the office's future work. While "one country, two systems" is a new political arrangement, the role of the liaison office could be creative, analysts said.

"It will make some adjustments under Luo's leadership, including their changing relationship with the Hong Kong SAR government, for example, to be politically responsible for the government's decision," he said.

For example, Hong Kong public servants continue to uphold the principle of 'political neutrality,' which means they are not responsible for any side. This inherited from the British occupation period. Such a political stance could not meet the demands of "Love the Country, Love Hong Kong," as work principles, and the liaison office could give more instructions on this aspect, Li explained.

Future work

Luo's appointment was also the first personnel change since anti-government protests began, which was hailed as "the most significant one" in media reports.

It also signals the central government's system of governance over the city in accordance with the "one country, two systems" principle and the Basic Law.

"'One country, two systems' is Hong Kong's biggest advantage," Luo stressed at Monday's press briefing.

In some domains where the liaison office has not done enough, including fully reaching out to different social spheres and talking to the young generation, more efforts should be made, analysts noted.

"It's necessary to promote national education and engage more Hong Kong youngsters in the development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to increase their sense of national identity," Tang said.

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Spain is in for a congressional cliffhanger today, as lawmakers assemble for the second round of the investiture vote to confirm the caretaker prime minister, Pedro Sanchez of the Socialist Party (PSOE), in his post.

Never before in the history of Spanish democracy have the margins been so tight: Sanchez is expected to win by a simple majority of just two more yes than no votes. His PSOE predecessor Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was confirmed in office by a lead of 11 votes in 2008, and in 1989 Felipe Gonzalez won by 12 votes.

After losing the first round of the vote on Sunday, Sanchez is expecting a victory today thanks to the abstention of the 13 lawmakers for the Catalan Republican Left (ERC), a separatist party that has negotiated the opening of talks on the political conflict in the northeastern Spanish region in return for its indirect support.

The Socialist Party leader, who is planning to head a leftist coalition government with Unidas Podemos, has also secured endorsement from several small regional parties with congressional representation. Some of these lawmakers have reported being subjected to tremendous social pressure in recent days from opponents of a PSOE-Podemos administration.

If Sanchez is successful, he will head the first coalition government since the days of the Second Republic

The sole representative for Teruel Existe, Tomas Guitarte, had received 8,800 messages in his congressional email account on Sunday asking him to vote no on Tuesday, and his Facebook page is filled with insults over what critics are calling his betrayal of Spain. Guitarte has filed a complaint for threats that have appeared via graffiti in his home town, calling him a traitor for voting in favor of Sanchezs investiture, according to a party spokesperon.

The party says there is no chance that Guitarte will switch allegiances on Tuesday. Theyve focused on us because they think that being a citizen movement makes us more fragile, but its the other way around, said a spokesperson for Teruel Existe, a party that was born out of a citizen movement aimed at drawing attention to the lack of funding and investment in the province of Teruel, in the region of Aragon. It is very difficult for a group of citizens to make it into Congress. We are not here to advance political careers, but to solve the problems of the depopulated areas of Spain. Nobody can buy us off.

But the fact remains that if any lawmaker who has pledged support were to back out, or simply fail to show up in time for the vote, it would effectively end Sanchezs bid for confirmation in office.

Teruel Existe lawmaker Tomas Guitart. Alvaro Garcia

PSOE leaders are so worried about this possibility that they have been contacting their congressional representatives to make sure that they would be spending Monday night in Madrid, physically close to the lower house of parliament, to avoid possible delays due to traffic or other such reasons.

Sanchez has been trying to form a government since the general election of April 2019, and again after the repeat election in November, where he won the most seats but fell short of an absolute majority. In the meantime, the far-right Vox party surged to become the third-largest force in Congress, prompting Sanchez and Unidas Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias to clinch a leftist coalition deal that still falls short of the 176 seats required for an absolute majority in Spains lower house.

The difficulties faced by Sanchez reflect the new political fragmentation in Spain, where new parties emerged on the back of the economic crisis, breaking the traditional two-party rule by the PSOE and the conservative Popular Party (PP). Spaniards have voted in general elections four times since 2015, and could be facing a fresh vote if no government emerges from todays congressional session, which began at 12pm.

If Sanchez is successful, he will head the first coalition government in Spain since the days of the Second Republic (1931-1939). Sources at La Moncloa, the seat of government, said that he could be sworn in and appoint his Cabinet as early as Wednesday.

Voxs false claims Verne The investiture debate to confirm Pedro Sanchez in office began at the weekend, when there were angry scenes inside the lower house of parliament. One of the most tense moments took place on Sunday, when Mertxe Aizpurua, a representative for the Basque far-left party EH Bildu, took the podium. Her address triggered constant jeers from the right-of-center PP, Ciudadanos (Citizens) and Vox, who told Aizpurua that her party's hands are "stained with blood," a reminder that EH Bildu has its roots in parties that were once connected to now-disbanded terrorist group ETA. On two occasions, congressional speaker Meritxell Batet told the house to respect Aizpuruas right to express herself, and PSOE lawmakers applauded Batets remarks. But Vox has since shared a 10-second video on social media that alleges that the Socialists were applauding the EH Bildu lawmaker instead. The PP has also shared the video, and Ciudadanos has commented on it.

Pedro Sanchez submits to the closest investiture vote of Spains democracy Socialist Party deputies applaud speaker Meritxell Batet. An edited version of this video has been distributed by the PP and Vox accusing the Socialists of applauding a deputy from the Basque parte EH Bildu (Spanish captions).

English version by Susana Urra.
(Newser)  The Vikings' disappearance from Greenland in the 15th century came not in an epic battle but with a decline in the walrus ivory trade, according to researchers, who may have cracked "one of history's big mysteries," per Newsweek. Walrus ivory was a hot commodity in medieval Europe. Indeed, pre-1400s walrus tusk artifacts, from crucifixes to chess pieces, have been found across the continent. In studying 67 rostrathe skulls and snouts from which tusks were removed in medieval workshopsresearchers found almost all came from walruses in seas accessible only to Norse colonies, meaning the Vikings basically had a monopoly, per a release. But that changed as elephant ivory flooded Europe in the 13th century. Researchers say rostra from this period came only from small walruses, perhaps females and infants, sourced farther north than before.

story continues below

"We suspect that decreasing values of walrus ivory in Europe meant more and more tusks were harvested to keep the Greenland colonies economically viable" since Norse seafarers "mainly had walrus products to export in exchange" for iron and timber, Cambridge University's James Barrett tells AFP. But longer journeys deeper into the Arctic Circle "for increasingly meager ivory harvests" would have only "exacerbated the decline of walrus populations," says Barrett, lead author of the new study in Quaternary Science Reviews. As there's little evidence of walrus ivory reaching mainland Europe after 1400, researchers believe overexploitation eventually meant the end of the Vikings' main source of income. A previous study examined the downfall of the trade without linking it to the Vikings' disappearance, also attributed it to climate change. (Read more Vikings stories.)
An awareness of what certain tenants are craving is part of what led Alicia Driskill to found EvolveHer, a women-only co-working space in the Loop that offers events to help women mentor and be mentored, child care through a partnership with another business and a podcasting studio. Co-working "is just going to continue to grow, Driskill said. Giant corporations and organizations and gyms, hotels ... everyone is building out workspace toward saturation and theres a demand for personalization.
Iran has called the January 3 killings of Soleimani and its other military officials "state terrorism" and threatened to retaliate against the US.

Though the general population among Sunnis, who constitute to around 90 per cent of the Muslim population, expressed sympathy for Iran following the killing, but except for Malaysia, no other Sunni country has come forward to stand publicly by Tehran against the US.

While the Shia Iraq's Parliament passed a resolution, in protest against the killings, asking the US to withdraw its forces from the country, Saudi Arabia, the leader of the Sunni Islamic nations, asked for "self-restraint" and didn't hesitate to blame Iran for "terrorism" in the Middle East.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who aspires to assume the leadership that the Saudi Arabia kingdom enjoys in the Muslim world, has offered to de-escalate tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Erdogan recently attended an Islamic summit hosted by the Mahathir Mohamad government in Kuala Lumpur and criticized Saudi Arabia for arm-twisting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and holding him back from attending the conference.

Pakistan initially remained silent but has also supported the de-escalation of tensions and dialogue between the two countries after having negotiated a deal with the US itself.

In exchange of its support for the US airstrike against Iran, Pakistan secured resumption of military to military cooperation with America.

Only Malaysia, among the Sunni dominated countries, came out in support of the Shia Iran.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad described the killing of Soleimani as immoral and illegal.

On Tuesday, hey urged Muslim countries to unite to "protect themselves against external threats".

During, what is probably his last term, Mahathir, 94, has been the staunchest voice of Muslim political unity.
[January 07, 2020] Novexco Inc. announces acquisition of S.P. Richards Canada in order to further broaden its Canadian footprint

This acquisition will double Novexco Inc. supply chain and distribution network across Canada MONTREAL, Jan. 7, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Canadian leader in the office supply industry, Novexco Inc., announces the acquisition of S.P. Richards Co. Canada Inc., (S.P. Richards Canada), the Canadian operations of U.S. based S.P. Richards, effective January 1, 2020. Novexco Inc. (Novexco) has been broadening activities to help reach clients from coast-to-coast. Adding five additional warehouses to Novexco's existing network will provide a faster delivery service to all customers of the group by being able to reach them within 24 hours, no matter where their location in the country. "This acquisition is complementary to our current distribution channel. The acquired warehouses in Western Canada will help us serve our customers in the West, whereas our existing warehouses in Eastern Canada will help reduce the delivery time to S.P. Richards Canada's customers in the East. We are pleased to expand our presence in Canada and offer an array of products and a robust coast-to-coast distribution service" says Denis Mathieu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Novexco. "The sale of S.P. Richards Canada allows us to focusour business on the U.S. market. In undertaking this process, it became clear that Novexco was the best partner for our Canadian customers and our employees. I want to thank the entire S.P. Richards Canada team, whose hard work and dedication have made this transaction possible. We will be working very closely with the Novexco management team to help ensure a smooth transition for our employees, customers, and supplier base," said Rick Toppin, President and Chief Executive Officer of S.P. Richards.



A larger catalog for new and existing clients S.P. Richards Canada is a distributor of over 16,000 products of both branded and private label office products. This acquisition will enable customers' access to a broader selection of products and brands. Furthermore, a long-term agreement has been put into place with S.P. Richards for continued access to their private brands across all Novexco customer channels and markets in Canada.

"As the office supply industry is rapidly evolving we need to continue to be on the forefront of the needs of our clients, and in addition to our current assortment of products we will continue to deliver all products currently provided to Canadian customers by S.P. Richards Canada," continues Denis Mathieu. Novexco Inc.

Novexco, founded in 1996 and owned by its merchant members, is the largest Canadian owned distributor of office supplies, technology products and furniture. Since March 2018, its commercial activities, the national sales division, the transactional website and the 109 Eastern-Canadian stores, have been grouped under the trademark Hamster. The company also serves Canadian wholesalers under the Chestwood division. Novexco supplies Canadian consumers and businesses from its distribution centers in Vancouver BC, Calgary AB, Edmonton AB, Markham ON, Brampton ON, Toronto ON, Laval QC, Montreal QC and Dartmouth NS. Novexco is part of the Platinum Club of the Best Managed Companies in Canada. For more information, visit the Novexco website at www.novexco.com. S.P. Richards

S.P. Richards, the Business Products Group of Genuine Parts Company, is a leading business products distributor throughout the U.S. and Canada, with 2018 revenues of approximately $2.0 billion. S.P. Richards equips reseller customers with an expansive offering of general business products, including everyday essentials like office, paper, and printer supplies, as well as office furniture, jan/san, facility, breakroom, and safety supplies. S.P. Richards distributes more than 98,000 items to over 9,700 resellers and distributors from a network of 54 distribution centers across North America. SOURCE Novexco Inc.

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Pakistani writer Mohammed Hanif, author of the book A case of exploding mangoes claimed that intelligence officials raided the offices of his Urdu publisher and confiscated all copies of the translated version of his 2008 bestseller.

Hanif tweeted that persons, claiming to belong to the Inter-services Intelligence (ISI), barged into the offices of Maktaba Daniyal. They threatened its manager and sought information about our whereabouts. He said they would come back tomorrow to get lists of booksellers selling the novel.

Published in 2008, the book is a comical account of General Zia-ul-Haqs final days and conspiracies behind the plane crash which killed him in 1988. Despite the widespread praise, more than a decade passed before the novel was translated into Urdu.

Hanif, in another tweet, said they had last week received a defamation notice from Gen Zias son demanding Rs 1 billion for maligning the former military rulers name.

Our lawyers are preparing a reply. Is ISI acting on Ejazul Haqs behalf? he asked.

Hanif said: Nobody has ever bothered me. Why now? I am sitting here, wondering when they will come for us. ISI is Worlds No 1 spy agency. I am sure they have better things to do. I have my school run tomorrow.
Lesotho's police chief has accused Prime Minister Thomas Thabane of involvement in the killing of his estranged wife ahead of his inauguration in 2017, according to court documents seen on Monday.

Unknown assailants gunned down Lipolelo Thabane on the outskirts of Lesotho's capital Maseru two days before her husband's inauguration.

The killing of Thabane's 58-year-old wife shortly before he took office shocked the tiny poverty-stricken country, which is completely surrounded by South Africa.

Alleged evidence that Thabane was involved in his wife's murder surfaced from court documents filed by police commissioner Holomo Molibeli -- who is challenging Thabane's attempts to sack him.

The file contains a letter from Molibeli to the prime minister saying that communication records from the day of Lipolelo's murder picked up Thabane's mobile phone number.

In the letter -- dated December 23, 2019 -- Molibeli asks Thabane to disclose who he spoke to.

"The investigations reveal that there was a telephonic communication at the scene of the crime in question ...with another cell phone," said the letter.

"The cell phone number belongs to you."

Thabane has accused Molibeli of overseeing a wave of police brutality against civilians and last week launched attempts to remove the police chief.

In an explosive affidavit, Molibeli claims Thabane sought to suspend him because investigations show the prime minister was "implicated" in his wife's murder.

The prime minister's spokesman Relebohile Moyeye said Thabane had not received the letter.

"We are very much surprised to have seen such letter trending on social media. It is therefore not easy to comment on anything as we can't verify the authenticity of such letter," he said.

In his inaugural speech, Thabane described his wife's murder as a "senseless killing".
A Matter of Conscience

7. 1. 2020 / Marie H Kurfirtova

cas cteni 7 minut

Karen von Kunes, Milan Kunderas Fiction: A Critical Approach to Existential Betrayals, Lexington Books of Rowman and Littlefield, 2019 Milan Kundera, a Franco-Czech writer and Nobel Prize nominee, needs no introduction. Known as an intellectual who, after the Prague Spring of 1968, critiqued and defied the communist regime of his native Czechoslovakia (currently the Czech Republic), Kundera chose to live in exile in France. Literary critics have often considered him a dissident, a label he categorically refused. He declared himself to be a proud Frenchman, claiming: I am not an emigre. France is my only real homeland now. i





In her lucid and detailed scholarly work, Milan Kunderas Fiction: A Critical Approach to Existential Betrayals, published by Lexington Books of Rowman and Littlefield in 2019, the Yale Professor Karen von Kunes points out that some critics, such as Brian Ward and Adam Thirwell have been puzzled by Kunderas refuting the exile identity.ii One of their theories suggests that the internationally famed novelist did not intend to profit from a dissident status. But their attempts to clarify Kunderas rejection of the dissident identity went astray the day Vera Kunderovathe devoted wife and literary agent of the writerexpressed aversion towards dissidents. In her interview conducted in Czech (Host, November 2019), she claimed that the dissidents, who came to power after the Velvet Revolution of 1989, had hated her husband even before the Revolution because they were afraid that Kunderas fame (that was exceeding Vaclav Havels fame) would catapult him to the leadership position of the anti-communist opposition. She identified the dissidents hatred as the culprit that prevented her husband, and her as well, to return to their homeland.iii

To a large extent, this is all tied up with the topic of von Kuness painstakingly researched and documented monograph. It centers around the Kauza Kunderathe police report of March 1950 that came to public view in 2008, and that was interpreted single-mindedly: Kundera denounced a person, who was then declared an enemy of communist Czechoslovakia and sentenced to hard labor in one of the notorious communist prisons. Kundera denied this report; however, Professor von Kunes evidences his unusually fascinating entanglement in the 1950 event. She not only claims, but also proves by means of researching archived documents of the period together with dissecting each of Kunderas novels and plays, that twenty-year old Kundera informed the police of a suitcase that had been brought in by an acquaintance of a college student residing in the dorm of which Kundera was in charge at that time. His responsibility was to report anything unusual.

Using an interdisciplinary analysis and approaching the topic from various anglesnot only literary and psychology-applicable theories but also with a detective eye and a conduct of personal interviews, Karen von Kunes made a remarkable discovery: the brief episode of bringing the suitcase to the attention of the Prague police initiated Milan Kunderas career of prolific novelist and writer. Each of Kunderas works is dominated by the themes of randomness, betrayal, guilt and death; the suitcase became an ominous symbol that influenced his career, appeared in all his fictional works and made him an internationally celebrated writer. And not only that. If carefully read and analyzed (including reading in between lines that was commonly practiced under the communist regime), one discovers that Milan Kundera indirectly (through his characters) talks about his involvement in the 1950 reporting, leading the reader step-by-step to what-how-why it happened. He also tells his readers, why he would publicly deny his involvement in the episode (as he did when interviewed in 2008), and why he would deny knowing (or would claim not remembering) additional participants in the events. One can say that von Kunes interprets Kunderas novels and drama in the light of his ethical failure, the fateful events remaining imprinted in and driving his subconscious mind. Inevitably, von Kuness monograph contains a crucial evidence, shedding new light on interpretation of Kunderas whole canon. His involvement is undeniablehow could it manifest in his novels if he had no knowledge of anything?

Karen von Kunes, an author of many publications, hardly needs an introduction as well. Having taught Kunderas novels at Yale for over 20 years, she draws on her in-depth familiarity with his entire oeuvre. Her direct experience of growing up during the communist era allows her to masterfully portray the intricate psychologies of the political climate in which public figures and ordinary folks collaborated with police, either out of fear, jealousy, revenge, or in exchange for personal benefits. The times were brutal, and many Czechs attempted (and succeeded) to escape.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Kundera regained their Czech citizenship a few months ago. In her recent interview, Mrs. Kundera called emigrating a stupid error, and contradicted her husbands feelings by stating that in 2008 (once the article about her husbands denouncing came out in Prague Respekt), she realized for the first time that there was no return for them. At the same time, she also realized how much she had missed her native land, alluding to a daring (in the current political correctness climate) metaphor: I feel like a slave at a plantation who returns in his night dreams to his homeland,iv and concluding her statement with verses of a Czech nationalist poet, Viktor Dyk about homeland: If you leave me, I wont perish. If you leave me, you will perish.v Furthermore, she stated that the 2008 denouncement ruined her husbands health and no one has so far apologized to him.

It is unlikely that an apology will come. To understand why, one needs to read von Kuness excellent book (and not skipping a single lineusing Kunderas rhetoric) that contains most of the answers. Professor von Kunes does not pronounce any definitive judgements nor does she, in the spirit of Kundera, draw ultimate conclusions. This in itself inspires many thought-provoking questions that are left for a reader to answer. She stresses that the goal of her monograph is not to diminish Kundera, but to reveal his literary genius and his deep insight into human interactions. She playfully expresses her fondness for the author remarking that: As many coincidences as govern Kunderas works, it is not a coincidence that he has become one of the greatest novelists on the international stage.vi Her narrative treads a fine line between faithfully analyzing historical evidence and interpreting Kunderas novels in a way that brings out the brilliance of his literary contributions. Her insight into Kunderas psyche is remarkable; her book offers innovative ways of reading and interpreting Kundera and may contain the secret key to understanding the mind of this reclusive author.

Von Kuness book is an engaging scholarly publication that reaches across the fields of literary criticism, philosophy, psychology and history. Unlike some scholarly publications that tend to be dry, von Kuness surprises with clarity of presentation and a suspenseful and accessible style that can be enjoyed by anyone. In her monograph, Professor von Kunes has achieved what no one dared to see or admit. Milan Kunderas Fiction: A Critical Approach to Existential Betrayals is an absolute must to read in order to understand Kunderas complex genius.





i Karen von Kunes, Milan Kunderas Fiction: A Critical Approach to Existential Betrayals, p. 63

ii Karen von Kunes, Milan Kunderas Fiction, pp. 8-9

iii Vera Kunderova: Emigrace je blbost, navrat nebyl mozny kvuli disidentum, Novinky.cz, 25. 11. 2019: https://www.novinky.cz/kultura/clanek/vera-kunderova-emigrace-je-blbost-navrat-nebyl-mozny-kvuli-disidentum-40304810

iv Vera Kunderova: Emigrace je blbost.

v Ibid.

vi Karen von Kunes, Milan Kunderas Fiction, p. 90





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Internationally known for worship anthems like Death Was Arrested, Abundantly More and Love Come Down, the worship band from North Point Ministries is changing its name from North Point InsideOut to North Point Worship . Originally formed out of North Point Community Churchs high school ministry, InsideOut, the band now serves over 42,000 people that attend the multi-campus, metro Atlanta area church every week. As a part of North Point Ministries, North Point Worship is also connected to a global network of more than 90 partner churches and seeks to create songs that inspire people to follow Jesus.

With all new songs organically sown in the local church, and written, recorded and led by the North Point Worship team of songwriters and musicians, the band plans to release as many as 12 new songs internationally from North Point Music and Centricity Music in 2020. The first two of these songs, Just Getting Started (feat: Lauren Anderson) and Nothing Else Matters (feat. Heath Balltzglier and Desi Raines), will release Feb. 21.

While the band started out of the churchs student ministry, North Points worship team and the reach of its music has grown significantly over the years, extending not only to students, but also to a diverse, multicultural group of worshippers well-beyond our network of local churches, says Kevin Ragsdale, Director of North Point Music at North Point Ministries. The new name, North Point Worship, like the music ministry and its resources, is meant to embrace the wider Christian community of believers.

As part of its mandate to resource the Church with music and lyrics meant for both congregational and personal worship, North Point Worship records its songs in both English and Spanish. The team also began touring for the first time in 2019, leading its worship favorites, headlining its own events and joining artists like Jordan Feliz and Hannah Kerr on tour nationally.

For all the latest North Point Worship tour, music, song tutorials and more news, visit http://northpointmusic.org/, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music.

About North Point Worship:

North Point Worships first recording, No One Higher, released in 2012 and hit the Top 20 on Billboards Christian Albums chart. The album was followed by 2015s Hear that soared to No. 2 on the chart while further hitting the Billboard Top 200 for the first time. Signing with Centricity Music in 2017, North Point Worship released the EP Nothing Ordinary, which featured its song Death Was Arrested that is being heard across the globe and has been re-recorded by artists like Aaron Shust and Laura Story. Five more EPs have released to critical acclaim, including Nothing Ordinary, Pt. 1 (Live)and Pt. 2 (Live), the Christmas offering Ring The Bells (2018), North Point InsideOut (2018) and Abundantly More (2019).

About North Point Music:

In 2010, North Point Ministries launched North Point Music as a way to share the songs and talents of its unique collection of gifted worship leaders, musicians and songwriters. The Alpharetta, GA-based record label and music publishing company offers music publishing services, including but not limited to licensing, royalty collection, copyrights, and translations. Their publishing services are administered through Music Services, Inc. and Capitol CMG Publishing.

About North Point Ministries:

North Point Ministries, Inc., was founded in 1995 with the vision of creating churches that unchurched people love to attend. Led by best-selling author, communicator and pastor Andy Stanley, the ministry has grown from one church to seven in metro Atlanta and has developed a global network of more than 90 partner churches. Each week, an average of 42,000 people attend services at NPM churches. Each month, sermons and leadership messages are accessed over one million times via North Point websites. The ministrys broadcast television show, Your Move, airing on NBC after Saturday Night Live, CBS after The Late Late Show with James Corden (Fridays), Daystar and UP networks, reaches well over one million viewers every week in 39 markets.

About Centricity Music:

Centricity is an independent Christian music company based in Franklin, Tenn. Founded in 2005 with a commitment to artist development and stylistic diversity, its artist roster includes Aaron Shust, Andrew Peterson, Caitie Hurst, Carrollton, For All Seasons, Jason Gray, Jonny Diaz, Jordan Feliz, Lauren Daigle, Neon Feather, North Point Worship, Peabod and Unspoken. Providing label and publishing services, Centricity is a family-owned organization, and they like it that way. The committed work of its staff and artists has yielded successes such as Grammy nominations, Billboard Awards, Dove Awards, K-Love Fan Awards, a Gold Album and Gold Singles. For more information on Centricity Music, visit www.centricitymusic.com.

###
Al Sumaria TV channel on Tuesday reported that the United States planned to build an airfield for B-52 strategic bombers in Al Asad airbase in the Iraqi province of Anbar.

The U.S. military intends to build a massive international high-performance airfield for B-52 strategic bombers in Ayn Al Asad airbase in the Al Baghdadi area of the Hit district in the west of Anbar province, it stated.

It added that the present U.S. forces had expanded infrastructure to build an airstrip for bombers.

Earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported the Pentagons plans to send B-52 bombers to the country, which remains outraged over the extrajudicial killing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards elite Quds Force commander, Qasem Soleimani, by the U.S.

The situation in Iraq has become much more complicated after the U.S. assassination of Mr Soleimani on Friday.

On Sunday, the Iraqi parliament voted to expel U.S. troops from the country in response.

(Sputnik/NAN)
The information was revealed by French Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery at a press conference in the capital city on January 7.

The diplomat said this years event will feature about 40 pavilions set up by prestigious hotels, restaurants, and food and wine importers from France such as Press Club, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Red Apron, Chocolat Marou, Saint Honore, Lu, and Fabrik.

Many artists of Vietnam and France will perform at the event, creating a music party for visitors, he said, adding that the organisers will also screen French movies, and hold a number of other activities such as street music, painting, and games.

Models of French well-known architectures like the Eiffel Tower and Pond des Arts will be set up at the event, according to the ambassador.

He said the festival will not only honour French culture but also offer high-quality food and products from France at reasonable prices.

The first "Balade en France" was held in Hanoi in 2018.
07.01.2020 LISTEN

On 31st December 2019, The Auditor General through a circular indicated his readiness to include as part of his maiden Audit, Assets and Liabilities of public officer holders in consonance with Article 286 of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana as well as Public Office Holders(Declaration of Assets And Qualification Act,1998(Act 550).

The communique from the Auditor General sounds refreshing and pleasing to the ears of admirers of probity and meticulous accountability. It must, however, be noted that, for so many years, we have never had the calibre of the current Auditor General who is determined enough to ensure that, public office holders are held in check. For the first time in the history of this country, we are going to have ASSETS AND LIABILITIES DECLARATION AUDIT.

The current Auditor General, Mr Daniel Domelevo must be commended for this bold exercise. Inasmuch as this exercise seeks to ensure strict adherence to the dictates of the statute in force hereinafter referred to as "PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS( DECLARATION OF ASSETS AND QUALIFICATION ACT,1998(ACT 550), some of us are of the opinion that, some public officers who were left out in the catalogues of officers enjoined by law to declare their Assets and Liabilities must be added to the list to efficiently achieve the intent and objective of the framers of the law.

Article 286 of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana is supplemented by Act 550 which inter alia, provides in clear terms the characteristics nature of a public office and by virtue of same, those who fall within the said domain are required by law to declare their Assets pursuant to section 1(4) of Act 550.

It is trite learning that, an office created by the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana or an Act of Parliament is a public office and so, those who man the affairs of these offices are qualified within the ambit and purview of the law to be described as Public Office Holders.

By chapter 22 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and Act 2008(Act 759), Chiefs in Ghana are public Officers. It must also be noted that Article 275 talks about certain things which makes an individual unfit to be a chief. Same Article 275 is applicable to anyone who seeks to occupy any public office in Ghana including "member of parliament and office of president".

Article 275 reads and I quote " A person shall not be qualified as a chief if he has been convicted for high treason, treason, high crime or for an offence involving the security of the State, fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude.

Paramount Chiefs in Ghana receive an allowance from the government, It is against this background that, Nana Akufo Addo in April 2017 announced to the National House of Chiefs a hundred per cent increment in their allowances. Act 550(Act 1998) defines what exactly public office means without ambiguity. Public office is defined by section 9(2)(a) of Act 550 as"

An office of the Republic or the Government or an office in a capacity the emoluments,

remuneration, or allowances attached to which are paid from the Consolidated Fund or public fund provided by the Government or by Parliament or under an Act of Parliament; or

(b) an office in a statutory corporation, a public corporation or on a board or council established by or under an enactment; or

(c) an office in a company wholly owned by the Republic.

The allowance(s) paid to Paramount Chiefs in Ghana are part of public funds or directly paid from the consolidated fund. The law says that an office in a capacity the emoluments, remuneration or allowances attached to which are paid from the consolidated fund or public fund provided by government or by An Act of parliament, the said officer by implication directly falls under the Asset Declaration regime and failure to do so constitutes a patent violation of Article 286 of the constitution of Ghana as well Act 550.

I would like to end this piece by quoting the famous dictum of Wuaku JSC in Owusu And Others v Agyei And Others [1991]2 GLR 493-517

"The fear of embarrassment to a chief should not be the ground for a chief not to account when a genuine demand for an account is made by his subjects ... it was Mensah Sarbah who enunciated the principle of immunity of the head of family from accountability which was later extended to cover occupants of stools. Now that by the Head of Family (Accountability) Law, 1985 (PNDCL 114), a head of family is made accountable to his family, I would recommend a similar law to be made by the legislature to cover occupants of stools . . ."

Indeed, the time has come for occupants of stool lands who by Article 267(1) of the constitution of Ghana are custodians of stool properties to be held in check and accountable in accordance with our solemn declaration and affirmation of our commitment to;

Freedom, Justice, Probity and Accountability;.

Dawda Eric(Equity)

Citizen Vigilance For Justice

[email protected]

6th January,2020
St. Albert Catholic Schools welcomed its youngest students back from break Monday with a lesson on the importance of handwashing to reduce the spread of germs.

The lesson came during an assembly for students in pre-K through third grade sponsored by Omaha Compound, which distributes hand sanitizer and other cleaning products.

School officials wanted to help students get a jump on the flu, said Jake Driver, facilities director at St. Albert. Teaching them healthy habits will continue to benefit them in the future, and holding an assembly on the subject on students first day back after winter break should help them remember, he said.

Speaker Carl Klein and his furry sidekick, a six-foot dog named Biscuit, reminded students to wash their hands after using the restroom, wash or sanitize their hands before eating, cover their mouths with their elbows when coughing or sneezing and build other healthy habits. John Larchick, also of Omaha Compound, showed a series of short videos to see if students could spot the unhealthy things people in the videos did.

People should wash their hands for 20 seconds, which is about how long it takes to sing Mary Had a Little Lamb, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star or Happy Birthday, Klein said. It happened to be Biscuits birthday, so students sang Happy Birthday to him while he demonstrated washing his hands throughout the song.

Germs tend to accumulate on several surfaces in a restroom, including door handles, light switches, toilet seats and faucet handles, Klein said. He suggested that, if there are paper towels for people to dry their hands with, students use the same paper towel they dry their hands with to turn the water off and open the door to leave.

As children left the gym where the assembly was held, they used hand sanitizer from a dispenser with Biscuits face on it.

As of the week ending on Dec. 28, 2019, influenza was widespread across Iowa, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. About 24% of rapid tests for influenza (696 out of 2,876) were positive. Influenza B was the dominant type, but a couple strains of influenza A were also identified. Out of 6,011 patients surveyed, 58 were hospitalized in connection with influenza.

With influenza so prevalent, St. Albert wanted to encourage students to practice a little prevention, Driver said.

We actually have sanitizer (dispensers) being installed around the school, he said.

The dispensers will be placed inside each entrance, in restrooms and in the cafeteria, among other spots, Driver said. Meanwhile, he and his crew are trying to keep the school as clean as possible.

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Bengaluru, Jan 8 : The city police stepped up security and heightened vigil to maintain law and order and prevent untoward incidents during the day-long all-India shutdown on Wednesday, a top police official said.

"The trade unions and others will not be allowed to take processions or disrupt normal life, including taxis, bus and metro rail services, suburban trains, opening up of shops, markets, malls, theatres, hotels and eateries," Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao told reporters here.

The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Indian National Trade Union Congress and Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) have given an all-India shutdown (Bharat Bandh) call on Wednesday to protest against the Central government's anti-labour policies and attempts to privatise state-run undertakings.

The trade unions, however, will be allowed to stage protests, demonstration and public meetings at the Freedom Park in the city peacefully.

Many social and civic organisations, including a pro-Kannada front are supporting the shutdown in protest against the CAA, NRC and NPA and extending their solidarity to the trade unions.

"The unions will not be allowed to disrupt normal life, stop buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws from plying, prevent opening up of shops, commercial establishments, offices, hotels, restaurants, eateries, cinema theatres and petrol bunks," asserted Rao.

State Education Minister Suresh Kumar said all government and private schools and colleges will function and exams due on Wednesday would be held as scheduled.

"Police has been directed to provide security and deploy their personnel outside colleges and universities to ensure students are not stopped from attending classes," Kumar told reporters here.

Thousands of workers from across the sectors, including women in the garment industry will join the shutdown and stage demo against the state and central government in support of their demands and against anti-labour laws.

"We want the state and central governments to raise the minimum wage to Rs 24,000 per month as cost of living and expenses on basic needs such education, health and housing have become prohibitive," AITCU leader Ananth Subbarao told IANS.

Several state-run bank employees, excluding those of State Bank of India (SBI) are set to participate in the shutdown to protest against the merger of banks and closure of their branches across the country.

"Pro-farmers organisations will also join us in the shutdown to highlight the agrarian crisis gripping the farm sector. Similarly, hundreds of workers in the unorganised sector will participate in the protest rally," said Subbarao.

Agricultural markets, wholesale market yards, Peenya industrial area and hundreds of small and medium enterprises will remain shut, affecting daily wage workers and employees.

Essential supplies, including milk, vegetables, commodities, hospitals, medical shops and provision stores are exempted from the shutdown to avoid affecting normal life.

The state government has, however, invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to prevent disruption of public transport and emergency services.
Nearly 80 per cent of medical students may feel a low sense of personal achievement, according to a study which may lead to better mental health interventions among people training to be doctors.

The researchers, including those from Ohio University in the US, surveyed 385 medical students in the first- through fourth-year, and assessed their levels of burnout -- a psychological syndrome resulting from prolonged exposure to stressful work.

According to the study, published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, burnout has three dimensions -- emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and low sense of personal achievement.

"That 80 percent feel a low sense of achievement is a bit ironic, considering that these are all high-performing individuals," said Elizabeth Beverly, study co-author from Ohio University.

"However, it also makes sense in that they have gone from an environment where they were standouts to one where they are now on an equal academic playing field," Beverly said.

Each year of medical school has its own unique and significant stresses preventing students from fully adapting to the challenge, the study said.

In the first year, it noted, students are overwhelmed by the vast amount of knowledge they have to learn.

And in the second year, they begin studying for board examinations.

During year three, the study noted, students are sent on clinical rotations to begin real world application of their knowledge.

The fourth year is focused on graduation, and matching into a residency program, the researchers mentioned.

"Throughout medical school there is always another test or requirement for students to prove themselves in a new way. Over time that can feel quite discouraging," Beverly said.

Only 2.3 per cent of participants reported high levels of emotional exhaustion, while nearly a fifth of the survey respondents reporting high levels of depersonalization, a form of clinical detachment.

According to the scientists, both these dimensions of burnout are associated with higher perceived stress, poorer sleep quality, and higher smartphone addiction scores.

On the other hand, only higher perceived stress is associated with feeling a low sense of personal achievement.

Beverly said smartphone addiction among medical students is concerning since 22 per cent of participants met the basic score qualifying for this condition.

"I think the findings warrant additional research into how smartphone addiction can exacerbate burnout. Increasingly, medical incorporates smart devices, so we want to be mindful of how much we condition students to rely on them," Beverly said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
More than 50 homes have been destroyed by bushfire on Kangaroo Island in South Australia, where two people have already died.

Over the past three days, more than 230 properties have been assessed, the government said on Tuesday, with 56 homes destroyed.

Adelaide wildlife rescuer Simon Adamczyk with a koala near Cape Borda on Tuesday. Credit:AAP

Emergency Services Minister Corey Wingard said 167 homes survived the blaze, which has destroyed more than 160,000 hectares.

There are five bushfires burning elsewhere in the state.
Moments after a Delhi court issued death warrant against all four convicts in 2012 Nirbhaya Delhi gang-rape case, Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi on Tuesday expressed satisfaction over the judgement saying that her daughter has got justice and the order will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system.

IMAGE: Nirbhaya's parent flashes the victory sign along with lawyers after a court issued death warrants against the four convicts in the case. Photograph: PTI Photo

"Absolutely. Execution of the four convicts will empower the women of the country. This decision will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system," she said.

She was responding to a question whether the order will serve as a deterrent.

"January 22 will be a big day for us. My daughter has got justice," she added.

She also thanked the judge and the judiciary for the verdict.

The victim's father said that the order will instill fear in people who commit such crimes.

"I am happy with the court's decision. The convicts will be hanged at 7 am on January 22. This decision will instill fear in people who commit such crimes," Badrinath Singh said.

All four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya case will be hanged on January 22, Delhi's Patiala House court ruled on Tuesday.

Additional Session Judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the death warrant to the convicts who were produced before the court through video conferencing.

The convicts will be hanged at 7 am on January 22.
Big Tech and Big Oil have one very important thing in common: Big Business. And the ultimate goal of any business is to make a profit. That means that despite all of its outspoken support for climate change mitigation initiatives and renewable energy, Big Tech is openly working to make Big Oils life easier and its output greater.

In a recent example, Schneider Electric listed the benefits of Microsofts machine learning and its internet of things products for oil and gas companies. These tech products make the oil and gas industry a better managed, safer industry through remote monitoring of production and infrastructure assets and predictive capabilities allowing for pre-emptive action before something breaks down.

This actually doesnt sound that bad. Who wouldnt want a safer oil industry? In the meantime, Microsoft is also utilizing its artificial intelligence and machine learning expertise to help advance climate research aimed at tackling the environmental challenges we are facing, as the company puts it.

Google is another Big Tech major that feels perfectly fine with doing business with the oil and gas industry while setting itself ambitious emissions goals. Schlumberger for example has created a data-processing platform on top of the Google Cloud Platform to provide agility to its customers and accelerate oil and gas discovery. As the company says, oil and gas companies like Schlumberger rely on Google Cloud to scale workloads, such as seismic interpretation, regression analysis and classification, and fast basin modeling and simulation. With Google Cloud Platform, these workloads scale up in minutes, including clusters with several hundred (or thousand) cores and are billed based on the compute seconds used.

Last year, Google made headlines when The Guardian reported it had made donations to conservative think-tanks that deny climate change. The company defended itself by saying it was not unique.

Were hardly alone among companies that contribute to organisations while strongly disagreeing with them on climate policy, a spokesperson for the company told The Verge in October. Related: These Oil Stocks Are Soaring As Middle East Risk Explodes

Indeed, there is nothing particularly unusual about doing business with companies or funding organizations, with which you disagree on some topics, if there is some mutual benefit somewhere. With oil and gas, this mutual benefit is obvious: Big Tech provides the products, Big Oil pays for them. With think-tanks, its pro-Big Tech regulation that is motivating the donations.

Amazon is yet another case in point. Like its peers, it has a line-up of products specifically targeting the oil industry. These, Amazon says, can help Oil and Gas companies can accelerate digital transformation, unleash innovation to optimize production and profitability, and improve cost and operational efficiencies necessary to compete under the pressures of todays global energy market.

Like Google, Amazon is under pressure from critics, but while for Google these come from inside the company, Amazon is being criticized by outsiders for the environmental impact of its services, which, it turns out, is pretty sizeable. Just last week the Washington Post reported that the company had threatened to fire two employees who had voiced environmental criticism against their employer. This will no doubt be added to Amazons negative score in environmental protection by those inclined to keep scores, right next to its doing business with Big Oil.

However, the marriage of Big Tech and Big Oil is not necessarily an evil one. On the contrary. While a lot of new technology products and services for the oil industry seek to improve production, they do not seek to do that through more drilling. In fact, machine learning and AI help Big Oil drill less and extract more as they make exploration results more accurate and reliable and improve drilling efficiencies. Related: US Urges All Americans To Leave Iraq After Soleimani Assassination

Besides that, technology is helping the oil industry become safer. Smart tech for oil field workers and site inspectors and drone deployment for pipeline monitoring are but a couple of the ways in which technology can be good not just for the oil industry but for the environment.

So, on the face of it, Big Tech is being hypocritical, not least because it doesnt seem as willing to advertise its business with Big Oil as it is its renewable energy purchasing plans. Yet, its worth noting it again: Big Tech companies are businesses and as such they will look for opportunities to sell their products and services to those who need them and can pay for them.

There is no pragmatic reason for Big Oil to be an exception to this rule and despite what many might imagine in these climate panic-fraught times, pragmatism is how business is done, not ideology. Whatever Goldman Sachs says, it didnt pull out of Arctic drilling because of its ideological beliefs. It is a lot more likely it pulled out of Arctic drilling because for now, Arctic drilling is not really a profitable investment area in the places where Goldman can invest in it. Selling cloud services and AI capabilities to Big Oil is a profitable business for Big Tech. There is no pragmatic reason they should stop doing it just as there is no respectable reason they should be that shy about it.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Indonesias sovereignty over waters off the Natuna Islands cannot be negotiated, President Joko Jokowi Widodo said Monday, after local media reported that Chinese ships, which had entered Jakartas Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea, were refusing to leave.

The Indonesian military was dispatching four ships to the region in addition to three warships and two aircraft deployed there last week, Vice Adm. Yudo Margono, chief of the Joint Regional Defense Command, said on Sunday. On Friday, dozens of Chinese fishing boats and a trio of Chinese coast guard ships had been spotted in Natuna area waters, according to an Indonesian news report.

On the Natuna issue, I think all statements [from Indonesian officials] so far have been good, that the sovereignty of our territory is non-negotiable, Jokowi said during a cabinet meeting.

In addition to the military ships, about 120 fishermen from the northern coast of Java island would be sent to the Natunas to strengthen the Indonesian presence in the region, according to Mohammad Mahfud, the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs.

We want to mobilize fishermen from the northern coast and maybe from other areas too to fish and conduct other activities there, Mahfud said.

Officials said that about 30 Chinese ships had been sighted in Indonesian territory and refusing to leave, the national news agency Antara reported on Sunday. Government officials could not be reached on Monday to report on the status of the Chinese ships in the region.

They were accompanied by two coast guard vessels and one Chinese fishing surveillance vessel, Margono, the vice admiral, told Antara. We are also actively communicating with Chinese coast guard vessels so that they immediately leave the waters.

Margono said the Indonesian ships would stay in the region until China left the EEZ.

China is Indonesias biggest trading partner and third-largest foreign investor.

A diplomatic row between the two countries erupted last week after Indonesian officials complained that dozens of Chinese fishing boats and coast guard ships had trespassed since Dec. 19 into the economic zone off the Natunas, a group of Indonesian islands in the southern reaches of the disputed South China Sea.

Foreigners cant enter our territory even an inch without the governments approval, Mahfud told reporters. We are not at war, we are simply protecting our sovereignty, but theres no negotiation because the area is ours and its final under international law.

told reporters. We are not at war, we are simply protecting our sovereignty, but theres no negotiation because the area is ours and its final under international law.

Last week, the Indonesian government dismissed as legally baseless Chinas historical claims to the waters off the Natunas on the grounds that Chinese fishermen have long been active in those waters. Jakarta summoned Chinese Ambassador Xiao Qian to lodge a protest over alleged violations, but Beijing officials insisted they had a legitimate right to sail ships in the area.

Overlapping claims

In 2016, after a series of encounters with Chinese ships in Indonesian waters, including one where the Indonesian Navy fired warning shots at Chinese-flagged vessels, Indonesia irritated Beijing by renaming the maritime region the North Natuna Sea.

Jakarta then launched an ambitious five-point plan for developing the Natunas involving military facilities, fisheries, tourism, oil and gas, and preservation of the environment.

Indonesia has traditionally not been involved in territorial disputes over the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which about U.S. $5 trillion in trade passes annually.

China, through its so-called Nine-Dash Line, claims almost all of the sea, while Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan have their own overlapping claims to portions of those waters.

A South China Sea analyst based in the United States said Beijings Nine-Dash Line overlaps with Indonesias EEZ in waters off the Natunas.

A half of one of Chinas nine dashes in the South China Sea lies within the EEZ claimed by Indonesia based on its Natuna Islands, Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.

And the imagined Nine-Dash Line significantly overlaps with the waters claimed by Indonesia as its EEZ around the Natuna Islands, although China does not claim the Natuna Islands.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
The U.S. Air Force is sending six B-52 Stratofortress bombers to Diego Garcia, a military hub that acts as a strategic location for operations in both the Middle East and the Pacific.

Citing a U.S. official, CNN on Monday reported that the Cold War-era bomber will be "available for operations against Iran if ordered."

However, the latest "deployment does not signal that operations have been ordered," CNN reported.

"For operational security, we are not discussing forces flowing into or out of the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility at this time," Pentagon spokeswoman Cmdr. Rebecca Rebarich told Military.com in response to a request for comment.

Related: US Military Bases Ramp Up Security Measures Amid Threats from Iran

Diego Garcia -- like Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and Al Udeid Air Force Base, Qatar -- has the ability to house B-52s with flight lines and airfields that can accommodate the aircraft's size.

B-52s frequently deploy to those bases for continuous bomber presence missions, or to act as a reassuring overwatch and sit alert in case of conflict. B-52s also routinely launched from Diego Garcia to conduct missions in Afghanistan following 9/11.

But following President Donald Trump's order for an airstrike that killed Quds Force Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani last week, Iran has threatened to retaliate by striking U.S. forces in the Middle East.

Rocket attacks on Saturday hit Baghdad's "Green Zone," which houses the U.S. Embassy; another rocket attack hit Balad Air Base where U.S. troops are stationed, according to Iraq's military and state media. No U.S. injuries were reported.

Soleimani was killed at Baghdad's International Airport last week in what U.S. officials called a "decisive defensive action" to protect American personnel and diplomats in the Middle East. He has been charged by the U.S. as the mastermind behind attacks that killed hundreds of U.S. troops since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

While the latest deployment may act as extra support, it's not the first time the Defense Department has sent a B-52 bomber task force to the region in recent months as a response to Iran.

Four long range, heavy bombers from the 20th Bomb Squadron, out of Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, arrived at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, on May 8, 2019.

The bombers conducted patrols over the Perisan Gulf alongside F-15 Eagles and F-35A Joint Strike Fighters for weeks before more firepower was added to the region in subsequent months.

Once the amphibious assault ship Bataan, which is moving toward the Middle East, arrives, the U.S. will have added roughly 10,000 personnel to the area within the last week, according to The Wall Street Journal.

-- Richard Sisk contributed to this report.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Read more: Letter Appearing to Signal US Iraq Pullout Was 'Honest Mistake,' Top General Says
A Republican congressman has shared a doctored photo of Barack Obama supposedly shaking hands with Irans president Hassan Rouhani in an attempt to criticise the former US leader.

Paul Gosar, a member of Congress for Arizona, tweeted the fake photo with the caption The world is a better place without these guys in power in a series of posts about the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

However, Mr Obama and Mr Rouhani have never met in person and the original picture shows the former US president shaking hands with Manmohan Singh, then-prime minister of India, instead.

When multiple reporters pointed out that the image was fake, Mr Gosar responded by insisting he knew the photo was doctored before he posted it and criticising people who suggested he did not know Mr Rouhani is still in power.

To the dim witted reporters no one said this wasnt photoshopped. No one said the president of Iran was dead. No one said Obama met with Rouhani in person, he tweeted.

US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early Friday 3 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures The wreckage of the car in which general Soleimani was travelling when a targeted US airstrike struck outside Baghdad International Airport on 3 January Ahmad Al Mukhtar via Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Demonstrators burn the US and British flags during a protest in Tehran after general Soleimani was killed in a targeted airstrike by American forces Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of Donald Trump AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn Israeli and US flags as thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of general Soleimani at the hands of America EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of Donald Trump pray at an 'Evangelicals for Trump' campaign event held on the day following the killing of general Soleimani. At the event, the president praised the "flawless strike that eliminated the terrorist ringleader" AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A huge procession of mourners gather in Baghdad for the funeral of general Soleimani on 4 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani during an anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iraqis perform a mourning prayer for slain major general Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the Great Mosque of Kufa AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A billboard reading 'Death to America and Israel', installed by Iran-backed shiite armed groups at a street in Jadriyah district in Baghdad, Iraq EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him visiting the family of Soleiman KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US flag as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Feiruznia, looks to a portrait of Soleimani, as he receives condolences at the Iranian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures People make their way on the street while a screen on the wall of a cinema shows a portrait Soleimani in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Aziz Asmar, one of two Syrian painters who completed a mural following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani poses next to his creation in the rebel-held Syrian town of Dana in the northwestern province of Idlib AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A demonstration in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures An anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Mujtaba al-Husseini, the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in the holy shrine city of Najaf AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US and Israeli flags as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters demonstrate in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shi'ite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters, holding a photograph of the leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Massoud Rajavi, outside Downing Street in London PA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn a US flag in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A Syrian man offers sweets to children to mark the killing AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers attend a mourning prayer for Soleimani in Iran's capital Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti American and anti Israel slogans during a protest AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshipers chant slogans during Friday prayers Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A protest against the USA, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranians burn a US flag in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin, Germany Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol a road in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel. Following morning's killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement called for the missile strike by Israel's closest ally, to be avenged AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian women take to the streets in Tehran EPA

The post is the latest example of Mr Gosar spreading misinformation on his Twitter account, which has repeatedly promoted conspiracy theories.

In November, the Republican congressman shared a series of 23 tweets which used the first letter in each post to spell out the phrase Epstein didnt kill himself in reference to the death of serial sexual abuser and convicted trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

In the same month, he retweeted a post by congressman Steve King which falsely suggested Alexander Soros, the son of billionaire philanthropist George Soros, was the whistleblower whose complaint started the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump.

Mr Gosar has also suggested without evidence that the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville in 2017 was funded by George Soros  a claim which was spread by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

The Arizona congressman rose to national attention during the 2018 midterms when the Democratic candidate in his district ran an advert that featured damning criticism of his time in office from his siblings.

He's not listening to you, and he doesn't have your interests at heart, Tim Gosar said in the ad, as he endorsed his brothers opponent David Brill.

Despite the rebuke, Mr Gosar won the district, which has been a safe Republican seat since 2012, with more than 68 per cent of the vote.
(Reuters) - American Airlines Group Inc , the largest U.S. airline, on Monday became the latest carrier to reach a settlement with Boeing Co for compensation for damages the airline incurred in 2019 from the ongoing grounding of its fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Earlier in the day, Mexico's Aeromexico said it had reached a compensation deal with Boeing over the MAX 737

(Reuters) - American Airlines Group Inc , the largest U.S. airline, on Monday became the latest carrier to reach a settlement with Boeing Co for compensation for damages the airline incurred in 2019 from the ongoing grounding of its fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

Earlier in the day, Mexico's Aeromexico said it had reached a compensation deal with Boeing over the MAX 737.

Neither airline disclosed the size of the payment to be received from Boeing.

Boeing's best-selling 737 MAX has been grounded since last March, following two fatal crashes in five months that killed 346 people, and there is no date set for when it will be able to return to use. Boeing is halting production in mid-January.

A number of airlines have struck confidential settlements with Boeing in recent weeks.

Boeing said it does not comment on discussions with airlines.

American said the compensation from Boeing will be received over several years, and of the total amount, more than $30 million (22.8 million pounds) will be used for the airline's 2019 employee profit-sharing program. It said it does not expect any material financial impact to be realized in its fourth-quarter 2019 earnings and it will continue talks regarding compensation for damages related to the MAX grounding beyond 2019.

Aeromexico said it remains in talks with Boeing and regulatory authorities.

Southwest Airlines Co , the world's largest 737 MAX operator, said in December it had reached a confidential agreement with Boeing for a portion of a projected $830 million hit to operating income in 2019.

Turkish Airlines last week agreed to a compensation deal with the planemaker and also did not specify the size of the payment. European charter airline TUI has said it was still in talks with Boeing.

Earlier on Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Boeing is considering plans to raise more debt to bolster its finances after the grounding of the 737 MAX.

Boeing is also considering deferring some capital expenditures, freezing acquisitions and cutting spending on research and development to preserve cash, the report https://www.wsj.com/articles/boeing-considers-raising-debt-as-max-crisis-takes-toll-11578308401?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=3 said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the WSJ report.

Boeing shares ended the day up 0.29% at $333.74.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Sanjana Shivdas and Shanti S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
THE Shannon Group, which controls Shannon Airport has made two key appointments to its top team.

Paul MacNamara is joining the semi-state firm as group chief finance officer and Rachael Leahy is the new company secretary and head of legal.

Both roles report directly to Shannon Group chief executive Mary Considine, and will assist in the delivery of the companys strategic plan.

Mr MacNamara, a Limerick native, joined Shannon Group in August 2014 and held a number of senior finance roles including head of finance. He was appointed acting chief financial olfficer in June 2019.

In his new role as chief financial officer, he will have overall responsibility for the groups fiscal activity. The role also incorporates responsibility for the groups IT function.

Prior to joining the Shannon Group, Paul held both credit and commercial roles with a property focused asset manager. Before this, Paul worked with a Big 4 accountancy firm in its transaction services practice. Paul holds a Bachelor of Business Studies from the University of Limerick, a Master of Accounting from University College Dublin and is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland.

A native of Limerick, Ms Leahy joined the Shannon Group in November 2014 as head of legal and is also responsible for the Groups procurement function and she retains these functions.

In her new role, she will have responsibility for the efficient administration of the group, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

We would like to welcome Rachael Leahy & Paul MacNamara to our Executive Management Team. Rachael has been appointed as Company Secretary & Head of Legal and Paul as our Chief Finance Officer.



Read more here: https://t.co/Rza4ehLvlo#snngroup pic.twitter.com/Fy5YpDA19N  Shannon Group plc (@snngroup) January 7, 2020

Prior to joining Shannon Group, Rachael was a partner with Michael Houlihan and Partners solicitors in Ennis. Rachael is a practising solicitor, and trained and worked with Matheson, one of the top five law firms in Ireland. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and an LL.B degree.

Ms Considine said: Both Paul and Rachaels extensive experience working in the Group to-date will be invaluable as we embark on the next chapter in our evolution.
A herd of runaway cows were rounded up by military police after they went AWOL near an RAF base.

Around 20 of the animals were spotted blocking roads and stomping over a play park outside RAF Shawbury, Shropshire, on Tuesday morning.

Humorous pictures of military police rounding up the rogue cows emerged on social media.

A herd of runaway cows were rounded up by military police after they went AWOL near an RAF base

Around 20 of the animals were spotted blocking roads and stomping over a play park outside RAF Shawbury, Shropshire, on Tuesday morning

Humorous pictures of military police rounding up the rogue cows emerged on social media

All the cows were eventually returned to the nearby farm from which they escaped.

A spokesperson tweeted: 'Residents near RAF Shawbury woke up to an unusual alarm this morning - a herd of cows!

'Having been alerted, the RAF Police and MPGS rounded up the suspects with @WMerciaPolice stopping traffic to assist the farmer in safely getting them back to the farm.

'Happy Moo Year!'

Twitter users were quick to comment underneath the post. 'Just an udder day at the office.....' RAF valley replied.

One person joked: 'I reckon they'll be milking this for all its worth :-).'

'Udderly amoosing,' said another.
THE Irish unit of Norwegian utility Statkraft has completed its 30m wind turbine and battery storage project in Co Kerry.

Located at Kilathmoy on the Kerry-Limerick border, the project features seven onshore wind turbines capable of generating up to 23MW of electricity, and an 11MW battery storage solution.

Power from the battery will be held in reserve and released on to the national grid when required. The project is Statkraft's first in Ireland, and it partnered with Fluence, a joint venture between Siemens and AES, to deliver the scheme. Statkraft plans to invest 1.5bn in Ireland's renewable energy market by 2025. It acquired Irish renewable energy company Element Power in 2018. Among the projects it hopes to progress is a 1bn wind farm about 30km off the Dublin coast that could generate as much as 500MW of power. Much of that development cost is expected to be shouldered by a partner. Statkraft Ireland managing director Kevin O'Donovan said Ireland was "not very far off" having a grid system that could be run almost exclusively by renewable energy. Up to 65pc of Ireland's power currently comes from renewables.
A second Dundalk councillor has confirmed to the Dundalk Democrat that they have put down an emergency motion for this evening's Dundalk Municipal District, calling for a boycott of the Government's RIC commemoration on January 17.

Fianna Fail councillor Erin McGreehan confirmed to the Democrat that she has put down the motion but it has not yet been told whether it will be accepted under standing orders.

Cllr McGreehan's proposed motion is as follows:

"That Dundalk Municipal Council supports the boycotting of the Governments RIC Commemoration on January 17th, and to state collectively that Dundalk Municipal Council purports that commemorations of RIC, Dublin Metropolitan Police and by association the Black and Tans who were the enforcers of British occupation on this Island should not be held.

"Their acts are remembered by their victims/victims families and by the Nation who fought for the right to govern themselves."

The Dundalk Municipal District January takes place in the Town Hall in Dundalk this evening.

Earlier today, Sinn Fein councillor Ruairi O Murchu confirmed that he has also put down a motion protesting the planned commemoration.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Core Gold Inc. ("Core Gold" or the "Company") (TSX-V: CGLD, OTCQX: CGLDF) is pleased to provide an update on its 100%-owned Dynasty Goldfield Project (Dynasty Goldfield or the Project) located in the province of Loja in Southern Ecuador. As previously announced by the Company on September 9, 2019, Core Gold renewed exploration efforts on the Dynasty Goldfield Project, specifically drilling in the Cerro Verde Target area (Cerro Verde) with future plans to expand over the adjacent Dynasty Goldfield targets.

Highlights*:

 Hole CDH-100 - Iguana Vein: 5.70m @ 3.43 g/t Au ; 38 g/t Ag (True width: 3.89m)  Hole CDH-101 - Foto Vein:

1.95m @ 3.56 g/t Au; 34 g/t Ag, (True width: 0.92m) - Hydrothermal Breccia: 25.68 @ 1.01 g/t Au; 9 g/t Ag (True width: n/a**)  Hole CDH-102 - Brecha Vein:

6.15m @ 4.13 g/t Au; 13 g/t Ag, (True width: 3.89m) - Comanche Vein: 9.31m @ 2.31 g/t Au; 14 g/t Ag (True width: 9.11m)

* Intervals correspond to drilled vein intervals; but figures (2 to 4) show the true widths of structures.

** Note: True width not applicable as the shape of this mineralized breccia body is unknown.

In the 2019 drilling campaign, 3,850 metres (m) of shallow near-surface diamond core holes (37) were completed, primarily directed for mine planning in Cerro Verde target with depths ranging from 26.4m to 200.65m. Three drill holes (CDH-100, CDH-101, CDH-102  see Table 1 and Figures 1 to 4) within Cerro Verde were designed to extend previously identified mineralization in the Cerro Verde. Samples from these three holes were assayed by a certified, independent lab (Bureau Veritas - Inspectorate) to provide certified assaying. All 3 holes successfully intercepted mineralized structures at Cerro Verde Prospect showing open mineralization to the northeast-southwest direction and at depth.

Comprehensive exploration drilling and geochemical sampling has been restricted due to the Companys limited financial resources. Mineralized intervals from 15 additional holes completed in 2019 have been sent to an independent lab for certified assaying and are expected in early Q1 2020.

Shallow drilling has been executed to both, facilitate ongoing mine planning and extend and identify new mineralized targets. Drill holes CDH-100, CDH-101 and CDH-102 were targeted to extend mineralization down dip and test veins over 2km of the Cerro Verde prospect. Drill hole CDH-101 extended the Foto Vein 60m beneath the present mine level and confirmed the occurrence of a deeper hydrothermal breccia zone previously identified in CV19-28. Drilling was terminated in mineralization at 120.68m with the last two sample intervals assaying 6.69 g/t and 3.23 g/t gold. Dynasty Goldfield has obtained positive results in this years program. Plans and budget for the 2020 exploration drilling at Dynasty Goldfield have not been finalized, said Mark Bailey, CEO and Director of Core Gold.

Overview of Cerro Verde

Located at the western extent of the 9km long zone of veining at Dynasty Goldfield, Cerro Verde is a 1.8km by 1.8km drilled vein array with high grade quartz hosted gold & silver mineralization associated with localized stockwork, breccia, and disseminated style gold mineralization proximal to veining, which remains open along strike to the east and southwest. Current mining from the Dynasty Goldfield Project is focused on a small portion of the Cerro Verde area with this small-scale open-pit production from the Cerro Verde area.

Drilling at Cerro Verde

The following Table 1 indicates the assay intervals from holes CDH-100, CDH-101, CDH-102:

Drill Hole Vein From (m) To (m) Inclined Width (m) True Width (m) Au Grade (g/t) Ag Grade (g/t) CDH-100 Iguana Vein 111.90 117.60 5.70 3.89 3.43 38 including 111.90 113.10 1.20 0.82 5.47 27 113.10 114.25 1.15 0.78 1.31 17 114.25 115.50 1.25 0.85 4.75 95 116.20 117.60 1.40 0.95 3.79 31 CDH-101 Foto Vein 82.58 84.53 1.95 0.92 3.56 34 including 82.58 83.53 0.95 0.45 5.52 49 83.53 84.53 1.00 0.47 1.69 20 Breccia Zone* 95.00 120.68 25.68 n/a 1.01 9 including 104.75 105.55 0.80 n/a 1.27 1 109.15 110.22 1.07 n/a 2.60 10 110.22 111.68 1.46 n/a 2.26 60 115.00 116.30 1.30 n/a 4.35 33 116.30 117.68 1.38 n/a 2.50 40 119.18 119.93 0.75 n/a 6.69 5 119.93 120.68 0.75 n/a 3.23 5 CDH-100 Brecha Vein 51.11 57.26 6.15 3.89 4.13 13 including 53.73 55.76 2.03 1.38 11.70 16 Comanche Vein 97.07 106.38 9.31 9.11 2.31 14 including 99.01 99.46 0.45 0.44 1.02 4 99.46 101.09 1.63 1.59 6.90 16 101.09 102.65 1.56 1.53 3.27 37 102.65 104.38 1.73 1.69 1.57 12 Table 1  Assay Results from Diamond Drill Holes at Cerro Verde at Dynasty Goldfield

*Note: True width not applicable as the shape of this mineralized breccia body is unknown.



Overview of Dynasty Goldfield

The Dynasty Goldfield Project covers an area of 13,909 hectares within 5 mining concessions. According to the NI 43-101 report from Maynard A. (2018), the project area hosts 201 historical drill holes totaling 26,734 m of diamond core drilling (excluding the 2019 drill campaign of 37 holes for 3,850 m). Historical drilling was completed on variable spacing extending over 9 km of mineralized strike as mapped and defined from surface soil, rock chip and channel sampling work completed from 2004 through 2007 by Dynasty Metals & Mining. In early 2017 the Company completed a name change to Core Gold Inc. and commenced small-scale production at the Dynasty Goldfield Project.

The Dynasty Goldfield Project is part of the larger Dynasty copper-gold belt extending north from Peru. The Dynasty copper gold belt lies within the compressional Inter-Andean Graben that is bounded by regional scale faults. The graben is composed of thick Oligocene to Miocene volcano-sedimentary sequences that cover the Chaucha, Amotape and Guamote terrains. This structural zone hosts several significant epithermal, porphyry, mesothermal, S type granitoid, VHMS and ultramafic/ophiolite precious metal and base metal mineral deposits.

The western side of the Dynasty concessions include volcanic rocks (breccias and andesitic lavas) belonging to the Cretaceous to Palaeocene Pisayambo Volcanics and Celica Formation which has been intruded locally by dioritic rocks and mesothermal-epithermal gold bearing quartz veins and veinlets with occasional calcite-barite veins to the south, southeast and west. As many as 110 mineralized veins of varying thicknesses and without preferred orientation have been identified at the Dynasty Goldfield.

The mineralized veins in the volcanics mainly occur along a faulted zone near and sub-parallel to the contact with the Cretaceous Tangula Batholith outcropping to the east and south of the concessions.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:



https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/07fcf8b3-f98b-40b5-9c86-e3bf4b5451c4

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/037830ef-4078-43c3-98b0-cdc18112fc52

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f0214144-8d93-4629-b41c-22810fd8b09a

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ec46f2e-e165-48af-914a-861c1e1b1340

Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA & QC)



The drilling program for 2019 was designed to intersect the mineralized structures mapped on surface, with the objective to understand the mineralization at depth. QA & QC procedures and protocols have been implemented by a certified lab to secure accuracy for these drill holes. Core samples have been shipped to Bureau Veritas Mineral Lab (Inspectorate) in Peru a certified international qualified laboratory as complying with ISO 9001:2008 (Certificate FS 34143). Fifty grams fire assay for gold (FA350-Au) and a Multi-Acid digestion ICP-ES for a package of 23 elements (4A370) were also exceuted.

Qualified Person

Mr. John E. Bolanos, who is a qualified person under NI 43-101 regulations, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. Mr. Bolanos is a technical consultant to the Company, with a M.Sc. Mining Geologist (U.K.) and a Professional Geologist Eng. from The Central University of Ecuador (honours degree). He is a registered member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) of the United States; Director of the Ecuadorian College of Engineers in Geology, Mines, Oil and Environment; and a member of the Mining Chamber of Ecuador. He has 29 years of experience in the exploration and mining industry throughout the Americas.

About Core Gold Inc.

The Company is a Canadian based mining company involved in the mining, exploration and development of mineral properties in Ecuador. The Company is currently focused on gold production at its wholly-owned Dynasty Goldfield Project. Mineral is treated at the Companys wholly-owned Portovelo treatment plant. The Company also owns other significant gold exploration projects including the Linderos and Copper Duke area in southern Ecuador all of which are on the main Peruvian Andean gold-copper belt extending into Ecuador.

For further information please contact:

Mr. Mark Bailey, CEO, Director

Suite 1201  1166 Alberni Street

Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3Z3

Phone: +1 (604) 345-4822

Email: info@coregoldinc.com

Cautionary Notice:

This news release contains statements which are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking information which are prospective in nature. Such information in this news release includes statements regarding the Company's interpretation of exploration results and the potential geological merits of the Dynasty Goldfield Project. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Core Golds actual results, revenues, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Important risks that could cause Core Golds actual results, revenues, performance or achievements to differ materially from Core Golds expectations include, among other things, risks relating to the actual results of additional exploration activities; fluctuating prices in metals and other commodities; possibility of accidents, equipment breakdowns, labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in operations; exploration cost overruns; the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; currency fluctuations; availability of capital and financing to maintain the Company's operations and plans; general economic, market or business conditions; regulatory changes; timeliness of government or regulatory approvals; and other risks detailed herein and as disclosed in the Companys filings as available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Other than in accordance with regulatory obligations, Core Gold is not under any obligation and Core Gold expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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.
Delhi's Patiala House Court on Tuesday (January 7) issued Black warrant, also called death warrant, for all four men sentenced to death in Nirbhaya gangrape-murder case. The court ordered that the four convicts will be hanged to death on January 22 at 7 AM. The court said the convicts can use their legal remedies within 14 days. The convicts' lawyer AP Singh said that we will file curative petition in Supreme Court.

What is a Black Warrant and when it is issued?

A Black Warrant, which is also called death warrant, is a kind of notice issued by a court announcing the time and the place of the execution for a convict, who has been awarded death sentence. In simple words we can say that a black warrant is a warrant which is issued when a hanging has to take place.

How Black Warrant is issued?

The proceedings for the issuance of black warrant are started after the end of all the options of mercy petitions by a death row convict. The convict "be hanged by the neck until he be dead" is printed on the black warrant.

What Black Warrant says?

The Black Warrant is addressed to the office in-charge of the jail where the death row convict is behind bars. The warrant also identifies the convict who has been sentenced to die, the case in which the person was convicted, the day he/she was awarded the death penalty and the confirmation of death sentence by the court.

The Black Warrant delivers the final instruction: "This is to authorise and require you [the jail officer] to carry the said sentence into execution by causing the said [name of convict] to be hanged by the neck until he be dead..."

The Black Warrant then provides the time and place of the execution and it also asks the concerned jail officer to respond with a certificate of the execution of the death row convict. The Black Warrant carries the signature of a judge of the trial court that had awarded the death penalty and it also has the seal of the court.
Early Rain Covenant Church vows to 'keep on fighting' despite imprisonment of pastor Wang Yi

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Members of Early Rain Covenant Church have vowed to keep fighting despite escalating persecution of Christians in China and the recent sentencing of their pastor, Wang Yi, to nine years in prison.

The 5,000 member church issued an exhortation and protest against the severe sentence and expressed hope that God will be glorified throughout the ordeal after Wang was sentenced to prison Dec. 30 on charges of subversion of power and illegal business operations.

Do you government officials not know that this is a sin against God? Do you not know that this is an abuse of your authority (Rom. 13:3)? the statement began. Even so, we do not hate you. On the contrary, our merciful and righteous God wants us to love you and to pray for you.

We desire that those public officials and law enforcement officers who are involved in this case would quickly repent and believe in the Lord, that you would know the atonement and forgiveness of sins which the Lord Jesus extends to all through his suffering on the cross, and that you would obtain eternal life and hope.

The church invited all sojourners throughout the world who belong to the universal church to pray for both Wang and church leader Qin Defu, who was sentenced to four years in prison for the charge of illegal business operations.

Pray for all of us. We will also pray for you, the church said. In this eschaton, which Jesus Christ brought about through his incarnation, through his perfect life, through his betrayal and trial, through his substitutionary death, through his resurrection and ascension, through his gift of the Holy Spirit  in this eschaton, may we testify, through our suffering, that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn. 14:6) and that he is the light of the world.

Early Rain Covenant Church was first raided during a Sunday evening service in December 2018 after authorities claimed the church had violated religious regulations because it was not registered with the government. Wang was detained along with his wife, Jiang Rong, and more than 100 members of the congregation.

Chinas Communist Party requires that Protestants worship only in churches recognized and regulated by the officially sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement.

Most Early Rain members were released after enduring various degrees of interrogation and torture. However, Wang was detained by authorities for more than a year without charge. He was later sentenced in a closed-door legal proceeding in which his lawyer wasnt allowed to defend him.

In addition to jail time, Wang will be deprived of his political rights for three years and the Chinese government will confiscate about $7,200 of his personal assets.

According to Bob Fu, president of China Aid, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization advocating for the basic rights of Chinese Christians, Wangs sentence is the harshest of any house church leader in China.

In its statement, Early Rain invited other persecuted churches to likewise fix their eyes together with us upon the crucified and risen Jesus Christ.

Through the Holy Spirit, may we be united to the King of Kings who ascended to the right hand of the Majesty on high, who is our eternal high priest and prophet of the last days, the church said. May we be strong in his grace as we keep on fighting despite repeated setbacks. We do this to fulfill the Great Commission and to spread the Gospel, that the glorious name of the triune God might be praised.

May God help us and allow us to experience together the breadth, length, height, and depth of the love of God until the day we see him face-to-face, it concluded. May blessing and honor and wisdom and wealth and glory and power and authority be to our holy Father who is in Heaven, to the Lord Jesus Christ who obtained our salvation, and to the Holy Spirit our Helper who continually helps us. Amen!

A lawyer by training, Wang had become known for taking high-profile positions on politically sensitive issues, including forced abortions and the massacre that crushed the Tiananmen Square democracy movement in 1989.

Before his arrest, Wang released a letter titled My Declaration of Faithful Disobedience. In it, the pastor said he wasnt interested in changing any political or legal institutions in China, because the goal of disobedience is not to change the world but to testify about another world.

Regardless of what crime the government charges me with, whatever filth they file at me, as long as this charge is related to my faith, my writings, my comments, and my teachings, it is merely a lie and temptation of demons, he wrote. I categorically deny it. I will serve my sentence, but I will not serve the law. I will be executed, but I will not plead guilty.

Persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA ranks China 27th on its list of 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
Uber and Hyundai Motor have announced a partnership to develop Uber Air Taxis for a future aerial ride share network and unveiled a new full-scale aircraft concept at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, USA.



Hyundai is the first automotive company to join the Uber Elevate initiative, bringing automotive-scale manufacturing capability and a track record of mass-producing electric vehicles.



In this partnership, Hyundai will produce and deploy the air vehicles, and Uber will provide airspace support services, connections to ground transportation, and customer interfaces through an aerial ride share network. Both parties are collaborating on infrastructure concepts to support take-off and landing for this new class of vehicles.



Our vision of Urban Air Mobility will transform the concept of urban transportation, said Jaiwon Shin, executive vice president and head of Hyundais Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Division. We expect UAM to vitalize urban communities and provide more quality time to people. We are confident that Uber Elevate is the right partner to make this innovative product readily available to as many customers as possible.



Hyundai is our first vehicle partner with experience of manufacturing passenger cars on a global scale. We believe Hyundai has the potential to build Uber Air vehicles at rates unseen in the current aerospace industry, producing high quality, reliable aircraft at high volumes to drive down passenger costs per trip. Combining Hyundais manufacturing muscle with Ubers technology platform represents a giant leap forward for launching a vibrant air taxi network in the coming years, said Eric Allison, head of Uber Elevate.



Hyundais S-A1 model unveiled at CES reflects previous eVTOL designs Uber Elevate has released in the following ways:



 It is designed for a cruising speed up to 180 miles/hr (290 km/hr), a cruising altitude of around 1,000-2,000 feet (300 - 600 metres) above ground, and to fly trips up to 60 mile (100 km).



 The Hyundai vehicle will be 100% electric, utilizing distributed electric propulsion and during peak hours will require about five to seven minutes for recharging.



 Hyundais electric aircraft utilizes distributed electric propulsion, powering multiple rotors and propellers around the airframe to increase safety by decreasing any single point of failure. Having several, smaller rotors also reduces noise relative to large rotor helicopters with combustion engines, which is very important to cities.



 The model is designed to take off vertically, transition to wing-borne lift in cruise, and then transition back to vertical flight to land.



 The Hyundai vehicle will be piloted initially, but over time they will become autonomous.



 The cabin is designed with four passenger seats, allowing riders to board / disembark easily and avoid the dreaded middle seat with enough space for a personal bag or backpack / rider.  TradeArabia News Service
A group of Laurel Heights residents has filed a lawsuit against a massive development project that would revamp the UCSF Laurel Heights campus into a 744-unit housing and retail complex.

The case, filed last week in San Francisco Superior Court by the Laurel Heights Improvement Association of San Francisco, argues that the city failed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act in approving the project at 3333 California St.

According to the lawsuit, the development at the 11-acre site would cause needless significant environmental impacts to the area. It also takes issue with plans to renovate the existing complex at the site.

The project  which was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors and San Francisco Planning Commission  includes 186 units of on-site housing for low-income seniors. That would be the largest addition of affordable homes to the area in a decade, said Supervisor Catherine Stefani, whose district includes the site.

Blanchard; John

I worked with neighbors, community groups and the project sponsor for years to come up with a project that fits our community, she said in a statement. I am eager to break ground to provide housing for our aging population.

Doug Shoemaker, president of Mercy Housing, which is working closely with market-rate developers the Prado Group and SKS Partners to build the affordable units, said it was a shame that the lawsuit was filed.

Its a pretty clear indication that there is a need for CEQA reform, he said. Were in a moment where no matter how much work you do and how much consensus gets built  this is the option that is available to anyone who can scrape together enough money to file a lawsuit.

The developers anticipated legal action and took a big step ahead of time to prepare for a lawsuit. They won approval for the project to be deemed an environmental leadership development under AB900. That state law speeds legal challenges to large developments, meaning the lawsuit over 3333 California St. will go directly to an appeals court and must be resolved in 270 days.

Prado Group and SKS Partners

The lawsuit comes just as state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, revives a state bill, SB50, to legalize greater residential density around public transit. The Laurel Heights project sits on one of the citys busiest Muni lines: the No. 1 bus.

The proposal also includes a child care facility and streetscape improvements like a new park, public walkways and expanded sidewalks. It will also include 857 underground parking spots and 35,000 square feet of retail.

While some neighbors are supportive of the foot traffic the project could bring to the area, others are wary of how it would transform the quiet neighborhood with more congestion and add new retailers that would compete with existing businesses at the struggling Laurel Village up the street.

We have Target and Trader Joes, and the merchants in Laurel Village are very concerned about the impact on their strip, resident Christina Ortega Morris said in September.

Clay Street resident Krisanthy Desby also previously said this is not a downtown construction zone and 15 years of noise, construction dust and congestion is simply unacceptable.

Others took issue with the idea of touching one of the buildings on the campus  once the Firemans Fund Insurance Co. home office  which the Laurel Heights Improvement Association nominated for historic status in May 2018. Under the current proposal, part of the historic building would be reconstructed to allow for more public access.

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 association is calling for changes on the proposal that would allow substantial expansion while avoiding needless impacts to the historic 1957 Firemans Fund Insurance Company complex, according to a press release.

Much of the natural green landscaping and landmark building can be preserved and adapted to residential use under state-sanctioned historic design guidelines, Association President Kathryn Devincenzi said in a statement. We support sustainable development complying with the citys general plan policies, responding to site constraints, and compatible with the historic locale.

Devincenzi and a lawyer for the association could not be reached for further comment Tuesday.

Developers have been working on the plan for more than five years. They have held more than 100 meetings in the community, though only a handful were open to the public. In response to community feedback, the original plan was amended to include less retail than initially proposed and adds on the on-site affordable housing for seniors.

The lot is currently cut off from the neighborhood by a private green space and brick fence. The Prado Group and SKS Partners hope that the development will better integrate the complex with the surrounding community.

We have worked diligently to ensure that we deliver affordable and family-friendly housing without unnecessary delays and as promptly as possible, Dan Safier of the Prado Group said in a statement.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani
Catwoman reunites with an old flame (and meets a new mystery man) as Tini Howard takes over DC ongoing comic

Catwoman returns to Gotham City, with a nod to Les Miserables
Two friends flip their off-road vehicle as they try to power up a steep hill in shocking footage.

The men are sent flying as they fail to conquer the slope in Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia.

The adrenaline junkies were out looking for hills to climb in their buggy and are seen racing up the first one of the day in their Kawasaki.

The adrenaline junkies were out looking for hills to climb in their buggy and are seen racing up the first one of the day in their Kawasaki

But the machine does not seem powerful enough to make it past a hump and it takes numerous attempts to defeat it.

After taking a long run up, the pair get over it but are chucked around by the uneven turf on the other side.

They ram into a particularly large bump and the buggy is tossed backwards, before slowly tipping over vertically.

They ram into a particularly large bump and the buggy is tossed backwards, before slowly tipping over vertically

The friends roll over backwards and on their side as the machine catapults down the hill, with tires and cans launching out of it.

One man shouts 'everyone all right', as a girl seems to be crying in the background.

The ATV's roll bar appears to have protected the men, who were not wearing helmets, as they sit in a dazed state and switch the vehicle off.

The friends roll over backwards and on their side as the machine catapults down the hill, with tires and cans launching out of it

The driver says: 'The tire blew out and it just went whoosh.'

He adds: 'I tell you what, it's a good just we had our seatbelts on. I'm f***ing glad we did.'

One of the men's daughters says through tears 'dad you're bleeding,' to which he replies: 'I'm okay.'

The friends appear unscathed, apart from a few cuts and bruises, as they stand around and discuss the crash on December 30

The friends appear unscathed, apart from a few cuts and bruises, as they stand around and discuss the crash on December 30.

But damage to the Kawasaki included a snapped-off rear wheel, wrecked cage and broken suspension mounts.

It is being repaired by the friends ahead of another attempt.
The Palestinian factions reactions came in rapid succession following the Jan. 3 assassination of Qasem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force. Hamas immediately denounced the killing of Soleimani, who it praised for his prominent role in supporting the Palestinian resistance in various fields.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad mourned Soleimani and stated that it will continue to face US and Israeli aggression and that the resistance axis will move ahead on the path toward freeing Palestine. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) took the assassination as a qualitative shift in US aggression against the armed factions that requires a coordinated and comprehensive response targeting the US and Zionist presence and interests in the region.

While the majority of the factions condemned Soleimanis assassination, the Fatah movement, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which is not on good terms with Iran, remained silent.

It is only natural for the Palestinian factions to express condolences for Soleimanis assassination and solidarity with Iran. There were close ties between Palestinians and Soleimani, who served as liaison officer with the Iranian leadership and communicated with their political and military leadership around the clock. Yet will the reactions be limited to statements or will they turn into military moves against Israel?

Mahmoud Mardawi, a member of Hamas National Relations Office, told Al-Monitor, Soleimanis assassination is a major event that will have considerable repercussions on the regional landscape and the Palestinians will not be spared. Although the US killed Soleimani, Israel is a beneficiary of the assassination that is strategically in its interest in the region.

Our condolences for Soleimanis assassination are out of loyalty to him and to Iran, which helped us financially and militarily, and are not generated from any political pressure exerted by Iran to express our solidarity with them, he added. Mardawi went on, Although the Palestinians will be affected by the assassination, I don't think that there is coordination among the Palestinian factions to [react], in light of a common perception that the coming developments will be difficult in the region.

Many Palestinians feel that the United States has crossed a red line with Soleimanis assassination, given his prominent stature in the Iranian state. It could encourage Israel to carry out similar assassinations against Palestinian leaders and escalate an Israeli-Palestinian face-off. Some Palestinian leaders may have decided to increase their security measures since Israel assassinated Islamic Jihad commander Bahaa Abu al-Atta Nov. 12 in Gaza.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees Mohammad al-Baryam, said, We expect Soleimanis assassination to whet the Israelis appetite to assassinate the Palestinian resistances leaders. Nevertheless, we will not stand idly by and will respond firmly. Soleimanis assassination is a loss for the Palestinian resistance, as he provided it with needed military and logistic support and helped mobilize it against the US 'deal of the century.'"

Based on that, retaliating for his killing is the duty of the resistance axis parties, wherever they are. Any response by the Palestinian resistance would be subject to arrangements [with other groups], although Iran did not ask us, he added.

Herzi Halevi, chief of the Israeli Southern Command, told Yedioth Ahronoth Jan. 6 that Israel is prepared to respond to any moves by Gazas multiple Palestinian factions that worked with Soleimani.

The London-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper quoted Palestinian sources as saying Jan. 5 that Hamas is not concerned with an escalation linked to Soleimanis assassination, and that had agreed with Egypt to preserve the present truce and moving forward on the truce understandings with Israel. Hamas will not turn Gaza into a battlefield for external conflicts, the sources added to Asharq Al-Awsat.

Israels Walla! News reported Jan. 3 that Israel warned, through Egypt, the Palestinian factions against taking action in response to Soleimanis assassination from Gaza, where calm currently prevails.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, former PLO artillery commander Wassef Erekat in the West Bank said not to expect the Palestinian resistance to respond to Soleimanis assassination, "at least for the time being.

Yet, if a comprehensive battle were ignited in the region, the resistance could find itself involved. As long as Israel is disassociating itself from the assassination, the Palestinians are required to follow suit. Yet, if Israel attacks the resistance forces, it would be logical and legitimate for Palestinians to respond, Erekat said. He went on, What is important is that the Palestinians do not initiate a unilateral response to the assassination, although some will see it as a test of their loyalty to Iran and appreciation of the support he provided.

Hamas led by Ismail Haniyeh and Islamic Jihad led by Ziad al-Nakhaleh, along with their accompanying delegations, took part in Soleimani's funeral in Tehran Jan. 6. A mourning tent was set up in the central Gaza Strip, where Soleimani's photos were hung with the Iranian and Palestinian flags.

Kayed al-Ghul, a member of the PFLP's political bureau, told Al-Monitor, Soleimanis assassination is a big loss for the Palestinian resistance. This is because he posed a major threat to Israel, as he moved from one arena to another in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.  In addition, he provided the resistance with military support, armament and combat equipment.

He added, Soleimanis absence will not reduce Irans support for us, which is a central decision by Irans sovereign institutions. Avenging his assassination will require strategic cooperation between the Palestinian resistance and regional powers, as a swift reaction would be temporary, not a long-term thing.
Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vu Chien Thang and Deputy Secretary of State at the corresponding Cambodian ministry Min Chandyneth Min Chandyneth chaired the event.

According to the Vietnamese official, the four-day conference was an opportunity for the two sides to share their experience and practical lessons on the state management of religious affairs. This was done in order to improve the management capacity and efficiency in the field, while significantly contributing to social stability and the development of the country.

He also noted that the Vietnamese Government Committee for Religious Affairs will make more efforts to proactively implement the cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Religions and Cults of Cambodia, contributing to consolidating and enhancing the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two States.

For her part, Deputy Secretary of State at the Cambodian Ministry of Religions and Cults, Min Chandyneth, recalled the great support from the Vietnamese Party, Government, Fatherland Front, soldiers and people during the fight against the Pol Pot genocidal regime, bringing peace to Cambodia.

The Cambodian Ministry of Religions and Cults and the Vietnamese Government Committee for Religious Affairs signed a memorandum of understanding on religious cooperation on December 6, 2007 and a cooperation agreement on religious affairs on February 2, 2015, contributing to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two sides for the sake of the two peoples as well as maintaining the stability in the region and the world, she added.
TORONTO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dealer-FX, the leader in digital transformation and customer experience management for automotive retailers and OEMs, today announced that CEO and Founder Gary Kalk will be moving to a new role as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at Dealer-FX. Bill Lucchini was named CEO after having served as COO for the past six months.

"As a business founder and entrepreneur, your role is always evolving, and becoming Chairman is just the latest step on this journey," said Kalk. "Dealer-FX is at a natural inflection point in its growth, where it makes sense to bring in new leadership. When Bill joined as COO the intent was that he would take over as CEO, and I'm happy to see this transition come at a time when Dealer-FX is really poised to accelerate growth in its next chapter."

"I am excited and honored to be a part of the Dealer-FX team," said Lucchini. "Since joining last year, I've seen first-hand the tremendous benefit that our platform delivers to OEMs and dealers. With the continued support of Gary and HGGC, we are poised to broaden that impact, accelerate growth and increase profitability."

Lucchini, who joined as COO in July 2019, brings over a decade of senior executive experience. Immediately prior to Dealer-FX, he was SVP and General Manager at global cybersecurity firm Sophos, where he led the transformation to a cloud-centric security company with the creation of Sophos Central  the fastest growing business in the company's history. Previous executive roles included COO at OnForce, a marketplace for leading IT talent, and Vice President at Intuit where he led several high growth businesses, including the QuickBooks Mid-Market Division, QuickBase, and the Intuit Partner Platform.

"The Board and I want to thank Gary for the tremendous job he has done in creating Dealer-FX, building it into a leader, and quadrupling revenues over the past 3.5 years," said Steve Young, President and co-founder of HGGC and member of the Board of Directors at Dealer-FX. "Bill brings a wealth of experience and an extraordinary talent for leading high-growth technology businesses, and we could not be more excited to have him step into the CEO role. We're confident that Bill is the right person to build on the Company's success and bring new energy and ideas as Dealer-FX continues its progress, and we're very happy to have both Gary and Bill on the team as we enter into 2020."

2019 was a strong year for Dealer-FX marked by

New OEM partnerships including with Kia Motors America, Hyundai Auto Canada Corp, Mitsubishi Motors of North America , Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Caribbean , Nissan Canada and Volkswagen Group Canada

, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of , Nissan Canada and Volkswagen Group Canada Service appointments up 64 percent and completed inspections up 153 percent over the year prior

Numerous new product innovations

Innovative new collaboration system for dealers and their customers called Dealer Messenger



Enhanced integrations with DMS vendors for parts information



Managed marketing services, making ONE Platform a complete marketing and communications solution



Various telematics integrations and workflow enhancements designed to enhance the user experience

The addition of new executive talent including CFO George Kypreos and CTO Alan Fong

and CTO The launch of a new regional service model providing local experts to support dealers with the advice and help to drive increased retention and profits

Dealer-FX invites its current and prospective clients to visit them at NADA 2020 in Las Vegas this February to learn more about the exciting enhancements the company has planned for its strategy and platform in 2020.

About Dealer-FX

Dealer-FX is transforming how automotive retailers manage their service operations and how they interact with consumers. Through advanced data integrations and mobile technology, Dealer-FX streamlines processes and communication for automotive service departments while delivering convenience, transparency and trust to consumers. From service scheduling to vehicle write-up, through to delivery, the Dealer-FX ONE Platform helps dealerships increase efficiency, profitability, retention and brand loyalty.

Dealer-FX is the exclusive, or preferred service technology provider for many leading OEMs including FCA, Nissan, Infiniti, Toyota, Lexus, Mitsubishi, Audi, GM, Kia and Hyundai in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, and has more than 2,500 dealership clients. Dealer-FX is based in Toronto, ON, and is backed by the strength and resources of HGGC.

About HGGC

HGGC is a leading middle-market private equity firm with $4.3 billion in cumulative capital commitments. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., HGGC is distinguished by its Advantaged Investing approach that enables the firm to source and acquire scalable businesses through partnerships with management teams, founders and sponsors who reinvest alongside HGGC, creating a strong alignment of interests. Over its history, HGGC has completed more than 130 platform investments, add-on acquisitions, recapitalizations and liquidity events with an aggregate transaction value of over $20 billion. More information, including a complete list of current and former portfolio companies is available at www.hggc.com.

SOURCE Dealer-FX

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HARRISBURG  Someone appears to have deliberately tried to release bedbugs in a Walmart store in Pennsylvania, and police are searching for whoever was behind it, authorities said Monday.

Troopers have made no arrests and do not have any suspects, said Trooper Cindy Schic, a state police spokeswoman.

A manager from the Walmart store in Edinboro, in northwestern Pennsylvania, contacted police Saturday after store employees found pill bottles with bugs in them.

Some elements of the story, including whether the bugs were alive, are in dispute.

Bed bugs force western Pennsylvania school district to close MUNHALL, Pa.  Bed bugs have forced a school district in western Pennsylvania to close.

It started Thursday, when store staff found a closed pill bottle containing live bugs, authorities said. The bottle was found in a boy's jacket for sale in the clothing department and thrown out in the trash, police said. A day later, a hygiene services contractor contacted by Walmart found bugs crawling in the men's fitting room and identified them as bedbugs, police said.

However, a Walmart spokeswoman contended Monday that the contractor, Ecolab, told Walmart that it had found no live bugs.

On Saturday, a store worker found a second pill bottle on the floor of the mens department. It was closed and contained several dead bugs, police said.

Troopers were testing for fingerprints on the bottle while store officials were reviewing surveillance video, police said. Walmart said it was taking the matter seriously, including cooperating with police

A Walmart spokeswoman said she did not know whether the store had to throw away any merchandise.

Any criminal charge would be disorderly conduct stemming from public inconvenience, annoyance and alarm, a misdemeanor, Schic said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say bedbugs live off the blood of people and animals, and can hide for long periods of time, even without a meal. They are usually transported by travelers, stowing away in luggage and clothes and otherwise hiding in bedding and furniture, the agency says.

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Following the discovery of a torso in an Idaho cave 40 years ago, a forensics lab in The Woodlands recently helped authorities identify the remains of a man who murdered his wife and was himself killed more than a century ago.

Joseph Henry Loveless, born in 1870 in the Utah Territory and murdered around 1916, was identified by genealogists at the nonprofit DNA Doe Project through the work done at Othram, a firm whose forensics lab is located off New Trails Drive. Othram digitized DNA extracted from Loveless remains, mapping it out in a process known as genome sequencing.

This is the oldest or one of the oldest law enforcement cases using this technique, said Othram CEO David Mittelman.

Genelogists working with the lab were able to make a match with Loveless, a bootlegger and counterfeiter, who escaped custody after being jailed for the May 1916 ax dismemberment of Agnes Octavia Caldwell, his second wife and the mother of his four children.

RELATED: Can you help solve some of Houston's most infamous cold cases?

Findings were released Dec. 31, making this is the first case Othram has worked on to be publicly disclosed.

Benchmark moment

The unraveling of Loveless sordid life and demise began in August 1979 when a family digging for arrowheads at the Civil Defense Caves in Dubois, Idaho found a burlap-wrapped male torso. A little more than a decade later, the unidentified mans arms and legs were found in the same cave. Loveless head has yet to be recovered.

Anthropological researchers at Idaho State University, working with Idahos Clark County Sheriffs Office, got involved and reached out to Othrams lead forensic genealogist, Anthony Redgrave. He and wife Lee Bingham Redgrave, also an Othram forensic genealogist, work with the DNA DOE Project, which identifies remains through DNA data.

Through funding from the DNA Doe Project, the Redgraves and their team built a genealogical tree using the genetic data from Othrams sequencing, which was achieved after DNA was extracted from a bone found within the cave remains. The sequenced DNA was digitized and an electronic file was then available for the Redgraves, who are based in Massachusetts, to cross reference with potential matches in genealogy databases.

ON HOUSTON CHRONICLE.COM: Woodlands forensics lab uses human genome to solve crimes, ID people

You cant ask a skeleton to spit in a tube. We have to go through this lengthy process of different lab steps to get the same kind of file that you would get if you spit into a tube and sent it in, Bingham Redgrave said.

After three and a half months, they made a positive ID on Loveless.

This is a benchmark moment for Othram, which has been operating since April. The FBIs forensic teams effort to identify the headless man yielded no results. The Smithsonian worked on the case and also came up short.

Its one thing to kind of pitch the technical achievements that you can make in analyzing DNA, its another to apply it to practice. Thats why everyones so excited about the case, Mittelman said. It really showcases the power of this advanced DNA testing.

Othram is growing its client base, currently helping sequence the DNA of 95 black prison laborers buried in a Sugar Land cemetery. Mittelman is urging people to visit DNASolves.com, a website Othram launched in November, where DNA information can be shared to help solve more cases of unknown identity like the that of the headless man in the cave.

Completing the puzzle

Loveless lay hidden in the genealogy tree the Redgraves team was sketching out.

To zero in on him, Bingham Redgrave explained the research team traced biolgocial family by finding multiple DNA matches with cousins of his, indicating ancestry from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pioneers to Utah.

Common ancestors is really the key puzzle pieces that you need to find in genetic genealogy, Bingham Redgraves said.

The aha moment for researchers came when they realized a cemetery stone marker bearing Loveless name and birthday had no one buried under it  likely a reserved spot in the family plot.

The research team found Loveless wife had been killed with an ax and the man wanted for the killing had an alias Loveless commonly used. Existing arrest records corroborated all this. Furthermore, a newspaper article from the time stated Loveless escaped jail. Loveless was known for fleeing jail custody multiple times with the help of a saw he secretly kept in his shoe.

ON HOUSTON CHRONICLE.COM: The Woodlands-based Othram applies DNA sequencing to aid investigations

Additionally, the torso found in the cave was outfitted in a dark red sweater and Loveless was reportedly wearing a maroon sweater under overalls when he escaped.

DNA confirmation is usually done through the FBIs Combined DNA Index System. But it would only work with a full sibling, parent or child of Loveless, all of whom are no longer living. However, a living grandson of Loveless from his union with the wife he stood accused of butchering was located. The 87-year-old had his DNA tested to affirm the genealogical findings.

As satisfying as the confirmation was for the genealogists on the case, Bingham Redgrave understands the work is in service of bringing closure to others.

Its somebody elses puzzle. Somebody has a mystery in their family. Somebody has a missing person. Some question marks that are in their family stories, she said. We always know were working to solve it for somebody else.

Untimely deaths

Due to the multiple implements used to dismember him and the remote location where his body was disposed, authorities are confident Loveless was murdered and the case remains open until a suspect is determined. A leading theory the sheriffs office has pushed forth about Loveless death, Bingham Redgrave said, is he died through an act of retaliation for murdering his wife.

SOLVED: La Porte man arrested in 1983 cold case murder of Conroe woman

Likely part of the reason Loveless whereabouts were never questioned could be blamed on family lore. An obituary on his youngest daughter from his second marriage stated both he and his wife were slaughtered when a deranged Indian looking for gold attacked them in their tent home, Bingham Redgrave explained.

Another element of strangeness to this Old West outlaw saga is that more than one person close to Loveless appears to have suffered an untimely death.

The Redgraves team was able to find some accounts about Loveless and his brothers being involved in criminal activity, possibly moonshine production, when they were younger. One of Loveless brothers drowned in the Snake River in Utah, presumed a suicide and then ruled a homicide. Loveless was thought to have also drowned, but then showed up alive at his brothers funeral.

And the first woman he married, it turned out, faced an unnatural end just as his second wife had. Bingham Redgrave said his first wife reportedly killed herself with lye, a metal hydroxide.

jose.gonzalez@chron.com

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ISTANBUL - Iran said Sunday that it is suspending its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal it had struck with world powers and will abandon the accord's "final restrictions" on uranium enrichment and other activities unless U.S. sanctions are lifted.

The government announced the move in a statement carried by state news agencies.

"Iran's nuclear program will now be based solely on its technical needs," the statement said. The move includes breaching the deal's caps on uranium production and enrichment capacity, as well as nuclear research and development.

"If the sanctions are lifted  the Islamic Republic is ready to return to its obligations," the statement said. It added that Iran will continue to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog.

The announcement came as the region continued to grapple with the fallout of a U.S. drone strike that killed Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran's elite Quds Force, as he traveled in a convoy near the Baghdad airport Friday. The strike also killed a key Iraq militia leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Iraq's caretaker prime minister urged parliament on Sunday to take "urgent measures" to force the withdrawal of foreign forces following the strike. In an address to the legislature, Adel Abdul Mahdi recommended that the government establish a timetable for the departure of foreign troops, including the members of the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State militant group, "for the sake of our national sovereignty.""What happened was a political assassination," Abdul Mahdi said.

Lawmakers responded by passing a nonbinding resolution calling on the government to end the foreign troop presence in Iraq. But Abdul Mahdi, who resigned in November and has been serving in a caretaker role, is not legally authorized to sign the bill into law.

As a result, the vote Sunday did not immediately imperil the U.S. presence in Iraq, but it highlights the head winds the Trump administration faces after the strike, which was seen in Iraq as a violation of sovereignty and as a dangerous escalation by governments across the Middle East.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, President Donald Trump said the United States would put "very big sanctions on Iraq" if the country forced out U.S. troops.

"If they do ask us to leave, if we don't do it in a very friendly basis. We will charge them sanctions like they've never seen before ever," Trump said. "It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame."

Trump also warned that he expected Iraq to compensate the United States for an air base there.

"We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that's there," Trump said. "It cost billions of dollars to build. Long before my time. We're not leaving unless they pay us back for it."

In a sign of the spiraling consequences, the U.S.-led coalition said it had paused its training mission in Iraq because of "repeated rocket attacks over the last two months" by the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia. It will now focus on protecting its bases from attack, the coalition said in a statement.

"This has limited our capacity to conduct training with partners and to support their operations" against the Islamic State, it said. "We have therefore paused these activities."

But in appearances on morning talk shows Sunday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo dismissed calls for U.S. troops to leave Iraq, saying on "Fox News Sunday" that Abdul Mahdi is "under enormous threats from the very Iranian leadership that it is that we are pushing back against."

"We are confident that the Iraqi people want the United States to continue to be there to fight the counterterror campaign," Pompeo said. "And we'll continue to do all the things we need to do to keep America safe."

State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Washington was "disappointed" by the Iraqi lawmakers' move, and urged them to reconsider as the United States seeks "further clarification on the legal nature and impact of today's resolution."

"We believe it is in the shared interests of the United States and Iraq to continue fighting ISIS together," she said, using an acronym for the Islamic State.

Iran, meanwhile, said Sunday that it would limit its response to the drone attack to U.S. military targets.

"The response for sure will be military and against military sites," Hossein Dehghan, the military adviser to Iran's supreme leader, said in an interview with CNN. "The only thing that can end this period of war is for the Americans to receive a blow that is equal to the blow they have inflicted."

Deghan's remarks came as Trump threatened Saturday on Twitter to strike "52 Iranian sites  some at a very high level & important to Iran and the Iranian culture" should Tehran retaliate against Americans or U.S. interests in the region. Iran has 24 locations on the U.N. list of cultural world heritage sites.

If Trump were to carry out his threats, Dehghan said, "no American military staff, no American political center, no American military base, no American vessel will be safe."

Trump later tweeted: "These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner."

"Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!" he wrote.

The Iraqi military said late Sunday that six rockets had landed in Baghdad, including three inside the Green Zone, a fortified neighborhood housing many foreigners and the U.S. Embassy.

A U.S. diplomat said rockets apparently hit a vehicle lot in the embassy compound.

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, echoed Deghan's statement, declaring Sunday that as retribution for Soleimani's death, U.S. troops in the Middle East, and not U.S. civilians, should be targeted.

"It is the U.S. military that killed Haj Qasem, and they must pay the price," Nasrallah said, referring to Soleimani. "Touching any civilian anywhere in the world will only serve Trump's policy."

U.S. allies widely share concerns about the consequences of Soleimani's death. NATO will convene an emergency meeting of its ambassadors on Monday to discuss the situation in Iraq. NATO suspended its training programs in the country, and several member nations have scrambled to protect their troops and citizens here.

In Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Embassy released a security alert Sunday advising Americans of "the heightened risk of missile and drone attacks" against both civilian and military targets.

The United States blamed Iran for a drone and cruise missile attack on Saudi state oil facilities in September, a strike that knocked half of the nation's oil production offline.

While Saudi officials have long urged the United States to take stronger action against what they say is Iran's unchecked expansionism in the region, they have also expressed discomfort at the rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Abdul Mahdi suggested Sunday that Iran and the Saudis had been engaged in dialogue to tamp down their feud, with Iraq playing the role of mediator. Abdul Mahdi said he had been expecting to meet with Soleimani on the day he was killed. "He came to deliver me a message from Iran, responding to the message we delivered from Saudi Arabia to Iran," the prime minister said, without providing details.

In Iran, Soleimani's body was flown in a flag-draped coffin to the southwestern city of Ahvaz, following a funeral procession in Baghdad and Iraq's twin Shiite shrine cities, Karbala and Najaf. It was later carried to the northeastern city of Mashhad, home to the shrine of Imam Reza, a revered figure in Shiite Islam. Iran is ruled by a Shiite theocracy.

Footage broadcast on Iranian state television showed tens of thousands of black-clad mourners waving flags and chanting religious slogans. Iran's state-run Islamic Republic News Agency described the scene as "glorious."

"All schools and businesses are closed today - he was popular here and even more popular now," said Farnaz, 33, a computer engineer and resident of Ahvaz, referring to Soleimani. Like other Iranians contacted Sunday, she spoke on the condition that her full name not be used so she could speak freely.

"People here  saw Soleimani as an important and charismatic commander who was protecting their security," she said.

Still, Ahvaz and other cities in oil-rich Khuzestan province, home to a large ethnic Arab minority, have a history of anti-government unrest. On Sunday, an unverified video posted online showed masked youths setting fire to a billboard commemorating Soleimani.

The slain commander's procession will continue Monday to the holy city of Qom and the capital, Tehran, where Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, will lead prayers at the ceremony. Soleimani will be buried in his hometown, Kerman, on Tuesday.

- - -

The Washington Post's Mustafa Salim in Baghdad, Kareem Fahim in Istanbul, Michael Birnbaum in Antwerp, Belgium, and Siobhan O'Grady, John Hudson and Marisa Iati in Washington contributed to this report.
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic today announced that they are collaborating with Drop, the leading smart kitchen platform, to simplify the lives of home cooks using their appliances. With customized navigation, users will have access to advanced features like resizing recipes or offering substitutions for missing ingredients.

"Meal preparation can be a daily challenge," said Fumi Usuki, IoT Business Development Senior Manager at Panasonic. "This collaboration offers an articulated solution, providing adjustable step by step instruction and an additional value proposition to consumers using our appliances."

The first step in this relationship is a number of microwave ovens utilizing Drop's guided cooking recipe format. The Panasonic microwave ovens offer uniquely superior heating elements that, when used alongside the Drop Recipes app, enrich the consumer's dining experience and results in better food.

"We're excited to work with a company like Panasonic and find its focus on food and thoughtful design inspiring," said Ben Harris, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Drop. "We share a vision for a unified experience in the smart kitchen, and this collaboration is the first step in showing how that can happen for the consumer."

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Based in Newark, NJ, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation. The company offers a wide range of consumer solutions in the U.S. including LUMIX Digital Cameras, Camcorders, Blu-ray players, Home Audio, Technics, Cordless Phones, Home Appliances, Beauty, Grooming, Wellness and Personal Care products and more. Panasonic was featured in Fortune Magazine's 2016 ranking of 50 companies that are changing the world and doing well by doing good. Specifically cited were its smart and sustainable technologies, including its contributions to smart cities and the electric vehicle revolution.

About Drop

Drop is the leading smart kitchen platform specializing in recipe and kitchen appliance technology to connect the whole cooking journey. Over 100 different appliance models from brands like Instant Brands, Bosch, Electrolux, GE Appliances, Kenwood, LG Electronics and Thermomix can now be controlled from the Drop Kitchen OS platform and the Drop Recipes app at the center of it all. With offices in San Francisco, Dublin, Ireland, and Zaragoza, Spain, a love for great food is at its core. Each recipe and appliance partner added to the platform makes for an even stronger Kitchen OS, inspiring home cooks to make food more. To learn more visit https://kitchenos.com

Follow Press Updates for Panasonic Consumer Products:

Internet - http:// us.panasonic.com/news

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SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America

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France and the United States have given themselves two weeks to try and resolve a row over a French digital tax, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday, Trend with reference to Reuters reports.

I had a long talk with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. We have decided to step up efforts to try and find a compromise, within the OECD, on digital tax, Le Maire told reporters after a meeting in Paris with EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan.

We gave each other precisely 15 days, until our next meeting, which is planned on the sidelines of Davos at the end of January, the minister said, referring to the World Economic Forum that is held in the Swiss ski resort.
The impact of violence in the campus of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Sunday spread to other parts of the country with the left and right-wing student organisations blaming each other for the attack. A similar situation ensued in Rohtak's Maharshi Dayanand University on Monday with both wings getting into a heated debate on Monday.

Students of ABVP had first carried out a protest and burnt an effigy, symbolising Communism, on gate number 2 of the university and blamed the left-wing parties for the violence in JNU campus. This was followed by a march by the left-wing students who blamed ABVP and the Centre for the attacks in JNU.

Members of both the parties, raised slogans targeting each other and a heated argument ensued, however, the police intervened at the right time before the situation could worsen.

Talking to reporters on Monday, ABVP's Sunny Nara said, "We demand an unprejudiced investigation in the attack on JNU campus. Many of our students were injured in the attacks against which we are demonstrating here today."

Student leaders from the left-wing parties, however, alleged that the ABVP's demonstrations proved that they wanted to disturb the peace of other universities too.

"While we are protesting against the attack on JNU campus, the ABVP's protest proves that they want to disturb peace and harmony in other universities too. Our demonstrations will continue against any attempt to silence the youth of the country," Lokesh, a student leader told reporters.

On Sunday evening, more than 30 students of the university including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh were injured and were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the varsity and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.

According to sources in the Delhi Police, the investigation has revealed that some insiders and some outsiders were involved in the violence.

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




By Park Si-soo







KT&G plans to pay the biggest dividend on record as the South Korean tobacco maker posted impressive growth at home and abroad last year.







The company will hold its board of directors' meeting next week to decide on the dividend. Analysts expect 4,200-4,400 won per share, about 4.5 percent of the current price (92,900 won as of 10 a.m.)







"I can't give confirmation about the size of the dividend and other details," a spokesman said. "The decision will be made in the light of our mid-term and long-term dividend payout policy designed to ensure mutual growth between the company and shareholders."







KT&G's 2019 sales are expected to surpass 5 trillion won, up from 4.47 trillion won in 2018. Net profit is also forecast to reach 1.13 trillion won, up 26 percent from 2018.







Data shows KT&G's domestic market share reached its highest in a decade, accounting for 64 percent of the conventional cigarette market and 30 percent of the e-cigarette market. It also yielded higher-than-expected profits from overseas markets and real estate investments.


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  Congress is ready to hold a special session to tackle the governments possible response to the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran as requested by President Rodrigo Duterte.

House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez points out, however, that Duterte should first send formal communication to both chambers of Congress.

Such communication is needed to guide us on what is expected of Congress during the special session, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said in a statement Tuesday.

But even without formal communication from the Malacanang yet, Romualdez said House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has asked the House Secretariat to make the necessary preparations for a special sesison.

We agree with the Presidents pronouncement that the rising tension in the Middle East is a major concern that needs urgent legislative attention. We are ready to clothe the executive with all the powers needed to make sure that every Filipino is safe and secure in these trying times, Romualdez said.

Duterte has floated the idea of calling a special session in Congress, which is on break from December 21 until January 20 for the holiday season, to pass a supplemental budget for the possible repatriation of Filipinos in the Middle East, which is now on edge as tensions continue to rise between the US and Iran following Washingtons assassination of Tehrans top general, Qasem Soleimani.

Even though you cannot spend it, it has to be budgeted. Only Congress can order the national treasury to set aside a certain amount and that is not enough. That is no reason, really, for you to spend it. You have to get the permission from Congress to use the money, Duterte told reporters Tuesday in Malacanang.

For his part, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Migz Zubiri said the Senate is ready to hold a special session if Duterte asks Congress to pass a supplemental budget for the repatriation of Filipinos from the Middle East.

However, Zubiri also pointed out that Duterte can also use billions of pesos in the contingency funds of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for this.

Meanwhile, Senator Richard Dick Gordon said Duterte should convene the National Security Council as soon as possible.

Gordon said the council needs to come up with an action plan regarding the safety of Filipino workers in the Middle East.

The continued escalation of tensions between the two countries has elicited fears from the government, which is now moving to secure Filipinos living in the Middle East where they have job contracts

Duterte has sent a team of top Philippine officials to the region to lay the groundwork for the evacuation of the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos in the conflict areas.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, who is also serving as the special envoy to the Middle East, has recommended a mandatory evacuation of Filipinos in Iraq, where Soleimani was killed by an airstrike.

CNN Philippines Correspondents Xianne Arcangel and Joyce Ilas contributed to this report.
STATEN ISLAND -- The Staten Island Republican Party endorsed Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn) in her bid for Congress on Monday evening in what is already shaping up to be a hotly contested congressional race against freshman Democratic Rep. Max Rose.

The partys decision to endorse the five-term assemblywoman was made unanimously by its 30-member executive committee after they interviewed two other candidates for the seat, including Malliotakis only Republican opponent in the June primary race, Brooklyn prosecutor Joseph Caldarera.

Nicole Malliotakis is a proven leader who will stand with President Trump in securing our borders, fighting the socialist, progressive policies of House Democrats, and continuing the pro-growth policies that bring jobs to Staten Islanders, said Staten Island Republican Party Chairman Brendan Lantry. We will spend every day working to defeat Max Rose on November 3rd with Nicole Malliotakis as our nominee.

The Party said it did not interview Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) or former GOP Rep. Micheal Grimm for the congressional seat -- two Republicans many believed would jump into the race at some point.

The Republican Partys endorsement essentially clears the field for Malliotakis, who currently has just one opponent in the upcoming June primary race -- Joseph Caldarera -- after controversial Youtube prankster Joey Saladino folded his congressional bid in December.

Though the full party endorsed Malliotakis, the Islands five other Republican elected officials have not yet said whether they personally plan to endorse their GOP colleague in the NY-11 race.

No Island elected officials serve on the partys executive committee, however, they do have allies on the committee, GOP Party spokesman Bill Cortese said.

If any of them wanted to create an issue they could have, Cortese said. The vote was unanimous in support of Nicole.

GOP Chairman Lantry pointed out that endorsements from other political parties and Republican political leaders on and off the Island would come at a later date.

In accepting her endorsement, Malliotakis, took a jab at Rose for recently changing his position on President Donald Trump impeachment, accusing the freshman congressman of joining the ranks of more progressive Democrats despite claiming to be a moderate Democrat.

Malliotakis filed with the Federal Election Commission to run in the NY-11 race just days after Rose was sworn into his first term in Congress.

"I want to thank Chairman Brendan Lantry and the men and women of the Staten Island Republican Executive Committee for their endorsement and support. Nearly a year ago, I entered the race for the 11th Congressional District seat and during that time I have laid the groundwork, assembled a campaign team and raised over $1 million that will be used to defeat Congressman Max Rose. The past year has been a tumultuous one, especially in the halls of Congress. Sadly, Max Rose has proven he simply isn't up to the job, Malliotakis said.

During his campaign and in office, Max Rose claimed that he's a moderate. But in reality, he votes with Nancy Pelosi over 95% of the time, and he has caved to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and the socialist squad. What's even more disturbing is the way Max flipped-flopped and joined the ranks of Reps. Jerry Nadler and Adam Schiff in voting for their dubious Articles of Impeachment, Malliotakis continued. My New Year's resolution is to make Max Rose a one term congressman and return the 11th Congressional District to a Republican who will vote with President Trump to secure our borders, create jobs, improve healthcare, and deliver an infrastructure package that benefits our community.

On Tuesday morning, Rose fired back at Malliotakis.

While Ive already passed laws to stop the flow Chinese fentanyl, permanently fund the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, increase counterterrorism funding and decrease congestion  the former lobbyist Nicole Malliotakis has spent 10 years in Albany office-shopping without a single legislative accomplishment, Rose said.

So far, Rose only has one Democratic opponent in the upcoming primary race, Democratic Socialist Richard-Olivier Marius of the North Shore, who has run a quiet congressional bid.

The Islands Democratic Party has yet to make official endorsements in the NY-11 race but in September, its new Chairman Assemblyman Michael Cusick stressed the importance of getting Rose re-elected to Congress come 2020.

Malliotakis GOP opponent called the Republican Partys endorsement as an example of the Party being in lockstep with the Washington, D.C. political establishment, which he has tried to distance himself from.

I am clearly not the choice of the Establishment, but I am not running to represent them, I am running to represent the people of Staten Island and South Brooklyn," Caldarera said. "It speaks to our dignity as New Yorkers, will we pick someone who represents our values or will we let Kevin McCarthy pick for us?

Malliotakis has received support from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Whip Steve Scalise and House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney. The Washington Post has ranked NY-11 as one of the top 10 House races to watch in the country.

FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER.
Poundland has released an 'ask him ring' to encourage women to propose this leap year.

The 1 'man band' is the budget retailer's first foray into men's engagement rings and follows the success of its 'bling ring' collection for women.

Announcing the release, Poundland cheekily suggested it wanted to encourage women to pop the question on 29 February 'because he might never get around to doing it'.

Poundland has released an 'ask him ring' to encourage women to propose this leap year. The 1 'man band', pictured, is the budget retailer's first foray into men's engagement rings

The ring comes in four styles (pictured) and finger sizes and is presented in a sumptuous navy velvet presentation box - meaning he might not ever notice that's its not designer

The ring comes in four styles and finger sizes and is presented in a sumptuous navy velvet presentation box - meaning he might not ever notice that's its not designer.

However it can also be used as a 'placeholder' ring that can be replaced with a more expensive version once the lucky man says 'yes'.

A photo of the ring divided opinion after it was shared by a British shopper on the Extreme Couponing & Bargains UK Facebook group

The post, which has already racked up an impressive 2,800 comments, has left the internet divided. Some claimed they would never accept such a cheap band, pictured

A photo of the ring divided opinion after it was shared by a British shopper on the Extreme Couponing & Bargains UK Facebook group.

Some users claimed they would never accept such a cheap band, but the majority claim the price shouldn't matter when it comes to true love.

One posted: 'I would be happy with an onion ring for an engagement ring tbf.'

The majority of Facebook users insisted price shouldn't matter when it comes to true love

Another added: 'Rings dont have to be expensive the ring is the symbol as never ending as one and eternal. I wouldnt personally want a Poundland ring as "keep" engagement ring but ok as something until can pick out something more her or his taste.'

A third wrote: 'Rings dont have to be expensive at all.. I paid 15 for both mine and my husbands rings.

'Best thing is they wont ever rust or go a funny colour turn our fingers green etc etc as they are stainless steel. We wouldnt change them for the world!'

A number of Facebook users argued that it's the thought - not the price - that counts

The rings have been released ahead of 29 February, which is traditionally a day when women propose to their boyfriends.

It comes after Poundland unveiled its 'Bling Ring' range - a number of engagement rings perfect for popping the question.

The rings come in a range of sizes, styles and colours and can either be bought as a 'keep' ring or as a placeholder for a more expensive replacement.
Michael Taylor, a former Green Beret commando from Boston, led the team who helped former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn pull off his daring escape from house arrest in Japan last week

The ex-Green Beret who smuggled former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn out of Japan in a music case is a security contractor who was once hired to rescue an American reporter taken hostage in Afghanistan and was later jailed in the U.S. for wire fraud.

Michael Taylor, a former Green Beret commando from Boston, led the team who helped Ghosn pull off his daring escape from house arrest in Japan last week.

Taylor, who used to be a U.S. Special Forces counter-terrorism specialist, is now a private security contractor who has protected powerful people and companies, as well as secretly helping the U.S. government.

The 59-year-old has previously rescued hostages and is said to be well known in the private security contractor world.

Taylor's company, American International Security Corp., was once hired by the New York Times to help rescue one of its reporters, David Rohde, after he was kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The reporter was held in Pakistan for seven months before managing to escape himself in 2009.

Taylor also served a 14-month prison sentence in Utah in 2012 after pleading guilty to wire fraud in a multimillion-dollar military-fraud scheme.

He was arrested after allegedly calling an FBI agent and asking him to stop a federal investigation into his security company.

Taylor was being investigated over a bid-rigging scheme to get $54 million Defense Department contracts.

Taylor made headlines last week when it emerged he had been hired to help Carlos Ghosn (above) flee Japan where the ex-Nissan boss was awaiting trial on multiple counts of financial misconduct

Taylor, who is now a private security contractor, served a 14-month prison sentence in Utah in 2012 after pleading guilty to wire fraud in a multimillion-dollar military-fraud scheme

Taylor, who denied any wrongdoing and claimed he was a legitimate businessman, took a plea deal.

When he was released from prison in 2015, the government gave him back the $2 million they had seized from him.

Taylor made headlines last week when it emerged he had been hired to help Ghosn flee Japan where the ex-Nissan boss was awaiting trial on multiple counts of financial misconduct.

The security contractor is believed to have been on the private plane that flew out of Japan with Ghosn hidden in the music case.

His partner in the operation was Lebanese-born George-Antoine Zayek, who was a member of a a Christian militia in his home country during the 1980s, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Zayek has previously held positions in security firms linked to Taylor.

Taylor's company, American International Security Corp., was once hired by the New York Times to help rescue one of its reporters, David Rohde, (left) after he was kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan

Members of the team made more than 20 trips to Japan and surveyed at least 10 airports before noticing a security loophole at the terminal reserved for private jets at Osaka

Months of planning went into plotting the ex-CEO's bid for freedom, that saw lax airport security exploited as well as a route through Russia used to aid a smooth passage to Lebanon.

Members of the team made more than 20 trips to Japan and surveyed at least 10 airports before noticing a security loophole at the terminal reserved for private jets at Osaka.

As a result Ghosn was able to launch a 300-mile dash from Tokyo to Osaka on board a bullet train before being smuggled on to a private plane hidden in a large crate used to carry speakers with small holes drilled in the bottom so that he could breathe.

A jet then carefully traveled though Russian airspace for as much of its 12-hour journey as possible to avoid South Korea, which has an extradition treaty with Japan, China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan.

Ghosn was reportedly wearing a hat and a surgical mask when he was smuggled out of his home in Tokyo and onto a bullet train to Osaka.

Japanese authorities seemed to have no idea Ghosn was no longer in the country, and the Bombardier jet landed in Istanbul's Ataturk Airport at around 5.30am local time on December 30.

He changed planes in Turkey to avoid arousing suspicion as a direct flight from Osaka to Beirut could have been flagged to authorities.

Taylor did not travel to Beirut with Ghosn. The former Green Beret has close ties to Lebanon because his wife is originally from there. Two of his sons are also believed to now live in Lebanon.

Ghosn has not appeared in public since arriving in Lebanon. Private security guards in Beirut stand near a house said to belong to Ghosn where he is staying after his flight from Japan

Ghosn has not appeared in public since arriving in Lebanon.

He is expected to give his side of the story in a news conference planned for Wednesday in Beirut.

Japan said it is still investigating how he slipped past strict security measures imposed as part of his bail conditions.

Citing sources close to the investigation, public broadcaster NHK said Monday that Ghosn left his residence by himself on the afternoon of December 29 and met two men - believed to be Taylor and Zayek - at a Tokyo hotel.

The three men then boarded a Shinkansen bullet train together from Tokyo's Shinagawa station to a station in western Osaka and arrived around 7.30pm.

The trio then checked into a hotel near Kansai Airport but only the two men accompanying Ghosn were caught on security camera leaving the hotel later in the evening.

They were carrying 'two big boxes' that were not checked by customs staff at the airport.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Ghosn was loaded onto the flight from Osaka in a large case for audio equipment, which was later found at the back of the cabin.

The newspaper cited unnamed sources close to the investigation in Turkey as saying that holes had been drilled into the bottom of the container to ensure the businessman could breathe.

Japan's transport ministry said that luggage checks are not mandatory for private jets.
OROVILLE, Calif. - County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, Candace Grubbs, is reminding voters that the Presidential Primary is coming up on March 3, 2020.

Voters who are registered with a political party will be mailed a ballot with that party's candidates for President. Ballots will be mailed on February 3, 2020, Grubbs said.

"No Party Preference" voters will receive a non-partisan ballot by default, Grubbs said. This ballot will not have the Office of the President on it. However, Grubbs said, a "No Party Preference" voter may request a ballot for any party that has chosen to allow "crossover" voting. Three parties have chosen to allow this option: Democratic, Libertarian, and American Independent.

Voters are encouraged to make their selection as soon as possible. Voters can make this choice by returning the postcard that was mailed to every "No Party Preference" voter, or by contacting the Elections Office.

To check your voter status, CLICK HERE.

Grubbs added, the Republican, Green, and Peace and Free parties do not allow crossover voting. If you're registered as "No Party Preference" and wish to receive a ballot for these parties, you must re-register to vote with the party of your choice. You can do so, HERE.

If you're planning to go back to Paradise and used a former address in Paradise, you will vote with Paradise ballot. If you're temporarily in Chico or Oroville and not planning to move back, your ballot would be for the place you're living in.
Bollywood star Deepika Padukone on Tuesday visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University to express solidarity with the students who were attacked by a mob, but she did not address the crowd.

The actor reached the university campus at around 7.40 pm and attended a public meeting, called by JNU Teacher's Association and Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union in response to Sunday's attack on students and teachers by a masked mob armed with sticks and rods.

Deepika stood as former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was raising azaadi slogans and left by the time current president Aishe Ghosh started speaking.

The actor's decision to not address the crowd prompted Ghosh to comment, "when you are in a position, you should speak up".

"There are many people in Bollywood who do not put forth their views when they are not be aired. They are considered role models. I appeal to them: Make inspiring films after something has happened but when you are in that position, also talk about the story that is currently happening," she said.

WATCH: Deepika Padukone greets JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh

Later, Ghosh said that Deepika expressed solidarity with the JNU students.

Deepika is in the capital to promote her upcoming release, Meghna Gulzar-directed Chhapaak.

On Monday, the 34-year-old actor told a news channel that she feels proud that people have come out and raised their voice without fear, in reference to the protests against the amended Citizenship Act, the National Register of Citizens and violence in JNU.

"I feel proud to see that we aren't scared to express ourselves... I think the fact that we are thinking about the country and its future.... Whatever may be our point of view, it's nice to see," Deepika told NDTV India.

"I feel proud about it that people are coming out -- be it on the streets or wherever they are -- they are raising their voice and expressing themselves as it is important. If we want to see change in life and society, it is important that a point of view be put forward," she added.
Using Speedcast's 4G LTE Network Infrastructure and Backhaul Solutions, the Operator Can Deliver Faster Broadband Speeds and Advanced Mobile Services

SYDNEY, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Speedcast, the world's most trusted provider of remote communication and IT solutions (ASX: SDA), announced today that it has been awarded a US$3 million project to modernize the network infrastructure of Norfolk Island Telecom in Australia. Speedcast has partnered with Blue Arcus Technologies, a leading supplier of turnkey network solutions, to provide Norfolk Island Telecom with a cutting-edge 4G LTE mobile network, associated support systems, and PSTN soft-switch with fibre backhaul and multi-service access nodes. Using Speedcast's 4G LTE network infrastructure and satellite backhaul solutions, the operator is empowered to deliver faster broadband speeds and enhanced mobile services.

"Our customers' data requirements are growing significantly, and to ensure business continuity it is critical that we deliver faster, reliable internet connections and advanced mobile services at a competitive price," said Alistair Innes-Walker, Manager Commercial Services at Norfolk Island Regional Council. "Speedcast and Blue Arcus Technologies were the Council's unanimous choice to provide us with an end-to-end turnkey, carrier-grade solution complying with all international standards. Leveraging this modernized infrastructure, the people who live on and travel to Norfolk Island can rest assured that they have access to a high-speed 4G LTE network."

As a provider of cloud-based 2G, 3G and 4G LTE mobile services and solutions, Speedcast plays a critical role in helping operators around the globe address the need for increased connectivity.

"Partnering with Speedcast, the world's largest remote communications and IT services provider, we're helping Norfolk Island Telecom deliver world-class internet connectivity and mobile service to the entire island, including remote and lowly populated areas," said Naren Yanamadala, President and CEO at Blue Arcus Technologies. "We're proud to offer a full turnkey solution, making the switch from 2G to 3G+4G LTE affordable and seamless for our customers."

Blue Arcus Technologies is a world leader in 4G LTE deployments and has developed an EPC (Evolved Packed Core) and IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem), with services and features that are second to none globally.

"The number of global mobile devices is accelerating rapidly, and Norfolk Island Telecom is smart to stay ahead of this trend by offering leading-edge broadband and mobile services," said Erwan Emilian, EVP Enterprise & Emerging Markets at Speedcast. "Thanks to the partnership between Blue Arcus Technologies and Speedcast, two companies with extensive 4G LTE network deployment experience, we are confident we will complete this project in record time and deliver an industry-leading service to Norfolk Island Telecom customers."

About Speedcast International Limited

Speedcast International Ltd (ASX: SDA) is the world's largest remote communications and IT services provider. The company delivers critical communications solutions through its multi-access technology, multi-band and multi-orbit network of 80+ satellites and an interconnecting global terrestrial network, bolstered by extensive local support from 40+ countries. Speedcast is uniquely positioned as a strategic partner, tailoring communications, IT and digital solutions to meet customer needs and enable business transformation. The company provides managed information services with differentiated technology offerings, including cybersecurity, crew welfare, content solutions, data and voice applications, IoT solutions and network systems integration services. With a passionate customer focus and a strong safety culture, Speedcast serves more than 3,200 customers in over 140 countries in sectors such as Maritime, Energy, Mining, Enterprise, Media, Cruise, Humanitarian and Government. Learn more at www.speedcast.com .

Speedcast is a trademark and registered trademark of Speedcast International Limited. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective owners.

 2020 Speedcast International Limited. All rights reserved.

Speedcast Contact Agency Contact Peggy Stalhut Netra Ghosh Global Marketing Director 202 Communications Tel: +1 631 457 1198 Tel: +1 801 349 2840 Email: peggy.stalhut@speedcast.com Email: netra@202comms.com

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JGI/Jamie Grill

Americans have been contributing a greater share of their salaries to their 401(k) plan accounts  and that could have a substantial impact on retirement savings over time. Savers stashed away an average 7.7% of pay in 2018, up from 6.8% just two years earlier, according to the most recent figures published by the Plan Sponsor Council of America. That increase may not sound huge, but it can have a noticeable impact on a saver's nest egg decades down the road. A 35-year-old earning $60,000 a year would save an extra $85,500 by retirement age by increasing 401(k) contributions by just 1%, according to a Fidelity Investments estimate. A 45-year-old earning $70,000 a year would have an additional $43,000. "It's definitely a significant jump," said Hattie Greenan, director of research at the Plan Sponsor Council of America.

At the same time, businesses have been raising the amount of match and profit-sharing money they share with 401(k) savers. Employers contributed an average 5.2% of workers' salaries into their 401(k) accounts in 2018 (the most recent year for which data is available), up from 3.6% a decade earlier. When employer and employee contributions are combined, 401(k) savers are stockpiling an average 12.9% of their salaries annually. Retirement experts typically recommend a total savings rate of between 10% and 15%. The interesting thing is, employers  not the workers  appear to be the primary cause for the overall savings increase. Sure, employees may be contributing more to their 401(k) accounts as a result of a strong economy, according to Greenan. More from Personal Finance:

Think twice about early withdrawals from retirement savings

How to get a bigger tax refund from the IRS in 2021

More people may soon have annuities in their 401(k) plans But a tight labor market has also helped fuel greater 401(k) contributions from employers out of a need to be more competitive, Greenan said. The current unemployment rate of 3.5% is at its lowest level in roughly five decades. Trends in the design of 401(k) plans have helped buoy savings, as well. More companies have been automatically enrolling workers into workplace retirement plans over the past decade. Automatic enrollment uses Americans' inertia to their own advantage, by enrolling workers into 401(k) plans and deducting a portion of their pay for retirement automatically if workers do not take any voluntary action to save. Business owners have also raised the contribution rates at which they automatically enroll workers over time. More than 60% of 401(k) plans automatically enroll individuals, up from 38% a decade ago.
Pakistan Parliament has passed an important bill for the exchange of information and criminals with countries to meet a key requirement of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which has placed the country on the Grey List for an extended period till next month.

The FATF, which kept Pakistan on the Grey List for an extended period till February 2020, had warned in October that Islamabad would be put on the Black List if it did not comply with the remaining 22 points in a list of 27 questions.

Pakistan submitted a report comprising answers to 22 questions to the FATF on December 6.

The Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matter) Bill 2019 was passed on Monday evening after the treasury overcame the Opposition's customary resistance in the National Assembly, the lower house.

Under the law, the government would be able to make mutual legal assistance request to a country to "inquire about the location and identification of witnesses, suspects, perpetrators and offenders" and subsequently after due process may transfer the person in custody of Pakistan.

Pakistan may also locate suspects or as "permissible under the domestic law of that country believed to be located in that country and if found, to seize them as permissible under the domestic law of that country and also freeze or seize properties that may be the subject of investigations or proceedings through relevant legal process in that county.

After Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan took the floor to present the bill, parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Syed Naveed Qamar termed the bill against the fundamental rights of the citizens of Pakistan.

He claimed that after passage of the bill, the government would be able to seek information from foreign countries and extradite its own citizens on the demand of the other countries even without signing a treaty.

Qamar said, presently the countries did not entertain any request from the Pakistan government to hand over any wanted person to it because of the perception that cases were filed on a political basis in Pakistan.

He said the bill had given "unfettered powers" to the federal interior secretary to seek information about foreign bank accounts and transactions made by any citizen.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) also opposed the bill and alleged that efforts were being made by international financial institutions to colonise countries like Pakistan which were financially dependent on them.

Ali Muhammad Khan said no Pakistani would like to see the country being blacklisted by the FATF.

He explained that the main purpose of the bill was to nominate the interior ministry as the focal point as previously a number of ministries and institutions like the foreign ministry and the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta) were dealing with such matters on their own.

Now, he said, no department or institution could make a direct contact with any country without the approval of the interior ministry.

Pakistan was placed on the Grey List by the FATF in June last year and was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019, or face the risk of being placed on the blacklist with Iran and North Korea.

The FATF said Pakistan must demonstrate effective implementation of targeted financial sanctions against all UN designated terrorists like Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, Jaish-e-Mohammad founder Maulana Masood Azhar, and those acting for or on their behalf.

The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
France has warned it will retaliate with the full backing of the European Union if the United States imposes tariffs on up to USD 2.4 billion worth of French products, including Champagne, Roquefort cheese, handbags, and lipstick.

The US is considering 100 per cent tariffs on some French goods in response to France's decision to tax the local digital business of major tech companies like Google and Facebook.

With a decision on the tariffs expected in coming days, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire met Tuesday with EU trade chief Phil Hogan in Paris.

We believe that the American project of sanctions against the French digital tax is unfriendly, inappropriate and illegitimate," Le Maire said.

If US tariffs were to be imposed, we would bring the case to the World Trade Organization and we would be ready to react," Le Maire said.

Hogan said the question of the digital tax is a very major bone of contention with the United States. The EU commission will stand together with France", he added.

France has since last year been imposing a 3 per cent annual tax on revenues in France of digital companies with yearly global sales worth more than 750 million euros (USD 830 million) and French revenue exceeding 25 million euros.

France is pushing for a global agreement on how to better tax digital operations, which are typically reported in the company's home country instead of the place where it does business.

Asked about potential retaliation measures from France, Le Maire said the country is considering all options." He did not further elaborate.

The U.S. are expected to announce the potential tariffs by next week, but France called on the Trump administration to refrain from taking a decision while negotiations are ongoing at the Paris-based the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

In a phone call with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Monday, Le Maire said the sides had agreed to intensify efforts in the coming days to try to find a compromise."



In talks with President Donald Trump last August, French President Emmanuel Macron vowed France would abandon its digital tax if an agreement to better tax digital businesses was found at the OECD, which comprises 134 countries.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
More Victorians will almost certainly be forced from their homes by bushfires this week when the return of the hot weather drives the risk level back up on Friday.

Premier Daniel Andrews warned that the state still faced a life and death bushfire threat and that he expected evacuation advice would be going out again within days.

This is not over by a long shot, the Premier said on Tuesday.
The Oluwo of Iwo, Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has expressed his readiness to join the league of critics of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration should the proposed federal college of education in Osun State not be located in his town.

The monarch said taking the proposed higher institution to a town other than Iwo is tantamount to betrayal of unalloyed support he had given the government since he ascended to the throne of the Oluwo in 2016.

He said he ranked top among traditional rulers in the country who publicly identified with President Buhari during what he described as his trying period, recalling how he had organized special prayer for his improved health condition in his palace while President Buhari was recovering in the UK.

The king also said that the anti-corruption policy of the government was also supported based on his conviction that the president was on a rescue mission of the country, clarifying that it is fair enough for him to protest against the government which fails to recognize and appreciate his concern for it.

I am saying it with authority that I control the direction to which my peoples votes go during elections because my people love me with passion. They know I also love them with passion. So, they listen to me when elections matter comes.

They demonstrated this during the 2019 elections when we delivered bloc votes for the ruling government. In other words, I can tell them to change their vote pattern, and they wont look back. President should know that one good turn deserves another, he said.

The traditional ruler also reaffirmed the long history of his town with progressive political parties from the First Republic era of the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, to the Second Republic of the late, Bola Ige, and the Alliance for Democracy of Bisi Akande, saying there is no reason to not compensate his towns loyalty.

The history is there to know that Iwo is home for the progressives. During the 1983 elections, my people stuck out their neck for Chief Bola Ige and lost some of them during the clash which followed. I am calling on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chief Bisi Akande, Ogbeni Rauf Aeregbesola and Governor Gboyega Oyetola to ensure justice is done on this matter and give my town the federal government college, he stated.
Now Open

7 January 2020

The Adagio hotel on the Great Central Square development in Leicester city centre, has opened its doors early to reveal an exclusive first look ahead of the official opening on 16 January 2020.

Designed by Koncept ID in partnership with the owners, the hotel has been built with high-end luxury and comfort in mind and the designs feature many bespoke fittings commissioned exclusively by its owners, including marble columns, atlas carpets, solid brass knobs on the doors, designer lighting and rugs imported from America.

Situated within Leicester's Great Central Square development, the hotel offers stunning views of Leicester city centre and is interconnected with seamless transition. The exterior of the hotel is built in keeping with the rest of the city to blend in with the history of Leicester.

The Adagio, designed for short and long-term stays has 98 apartments, including 73 two-person studios and 25 two-room apartments for up to four people. All rooms are complete with fully-fitted kitchens including microwaves, dishwashers, hobs, fridge freezers and coffee machines and are designed for travellers to live and work comfortably.

Each apartment is kitted out with modular furniture and fold-out and slide-out components, including beds that fold up into the wall, sliding kitchen counters and movable bedside tables. All Adagio apartments have high-spec technology, including USB alarm clocks, wireless chargers and 43-inch televisions and are fully-fitted, fully-serviced apartments perfect for those who need a longer stay in the city.

Prints and photography on the walls of the Adagio are all Leicester scenes as well as historic Charles Street Buildings Group buildings.

Its bright and airy reception area will have self-service iPad check-ins and a welcoming breakfast area called The Circle - an area for guests to meet and eat and is the only Adagio in the UK which serves a hot breakfast. Guests can also go downstairs and dine in the NineB restaurant, which will be open for all-day dining and modern British cuisine.
Congress worker Sadaf Jafar and former IPS officer S R Darapuri, arrested in connection with violence during anti-CAA protests in the Uttar Pradesh capital, were released from jail on Tuesday.

Soon after their release, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacked the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh and said "lies can never win."



A Lucknow court on Saturday last granted bail to Jafar, Darapuri and 13 others arrested in connection with anti-CAA protests in Lucknow. However, the two could be released only three days later as some formalities could not be completed, sources said.

Congress Lucknow president Mukesh Singh Chauhan told PTI that both walked out of jail at about 10 am.

"I was there along with other office party office bearers to receive them. Our party is against the CAA and against police brutality meted out to peaceful protestors," he said.

Jafar was arrested on December 19, while 76-year-old Darapuri was arrested the next day.

Soon after their release, Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi, "Ambedkarite thinker and former IPS SR Darapuri and Congress leader Sadaf Jafar released from jail today. When court had asked for proof, the state police appeared clueless. BJP showed its real ideology by arresting innocents and those taking forward the legacy of Baba Saheb Ambedkar".

In another tweet, she said, "..but lies can never win."



She also posted pictures of Darapuri and Jafar on her twitter account.

On December 28, Priyanka Gandhi had alleged that she was manhandled by police personnel when she tried to resist their attempts to stop her from visiting the Lucknow residence of Darapuri.

Later, the Congress leader met the family of party worker Jafar and alleged that she was arrested on "baseless" charges by the police.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Herndon police have alleged that Castillo Hernandez was an MS-13 gang member, but they said the killing did not relate to gang activity. They have declined to offer a motive because the case is still pending in court, but they said they had uncovered no evidence that a sexual assault had occurred.
There are times when we hear companies talk about the future and they leave it to us to envision what that means. And then there are times when they actually build the future. And that's exactly what Toyota is doing.

Onstage at CES this week, Toyota announced plans to build the "city of the future" at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan. The city will have everything Toyota believes the future holds, including smart homes, smart cars, and much more.

According to Reuters, Toyota is calling the futuristic city Woven City. The company told Reuters in an interview that it'll be a full-fledged, working city and not just a single city block. Toyota believes a full city is needed to really identify what the future holds.

And, yes, people will be living there. In fact, there will be 2,000 residents, including law enforcement and a fire department serving the city. There will also be retired people living there. Toyota plans to put researchers there as well. It chose the location because it's the site of a Toyota car factory that's closing down later this year.

So, what will Woven City have?

According to Toyota, it plans to power the entire city with hydrogen fuel cells. It'll also be alive with smart homes and autonomous cars cruising the streets.

Not surprisingly, artificial intelligence will play a major role in the city. Computer-generated intelligence will inform when lights go on, handle traffic, and much more. The city will also feature lights and electricity powered by renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions.

Needless to say, it's an ambitious project, and one that could cost quite a bit. But it's potentially feasible. That's because Toyota has its own housing division in Japan that has sold more than 100,000 homes across the country over the past 37 years. In other words, Toyota might be best known as an automaker, but in Japan, it's also heavily involved in housing.
The global candidiasis drugs market is poised to grow by USD 638.67 million during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of almost 4% during the forecast period. Request Free Sample Pages

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005650/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled global candidiasis drugs market 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Read the 131-page research report with TOC on "Candidiasis Drugs Market Analysis Report by Type (Azoles, Echinocandins, and Other drugs), by Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW), and Segment Forecasts, 2019 2023"

https://www.technavio.com/report/global-candidiasis-drugs-market-industry-analysis

The market is driven by the rising awareness about candidiasis. In addition, advances in diagnosis of antifungal-resistant pathogens are anticipated to positively impact the growth of the candidiasis drugs market.

The signs and symptoms of candidiasis are very broad, and they also depend on the type of candidiasis infection. Therefore, to create awareness about the disease and treatment options and avoid delay in diagnosis, the CDC is providing information about candidiasis, and its causes, risk factors, transmission, diagnosis, and treatment. Furthermore, organizations and institutes are also contributing to create awareness about candidiasis among people. For instance, the Fungal Infection Trust, in partnership with the University of Manchester, is providing detailed information about the fungal diseases caused by Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus. The site is free to use by doctors, scientists, and patients. Thus, the rising awareness about candidiasis will increase the demand for candidiasis drugs, which in turn, will boost the market growth.

Also, advances in the diagnosis of antifungal-resistant pathogens will positively impact the global market. The currently available antifungal drugs are killing various species of candidiasis; however, some fungi can develop the ability to defend these drugs. Advanced technologies are being developed to diagnose fungal diseases caused by antifungal resistant pathogens. These technologies will help in the early diagnosis of such infections, which in turn, will propel the candidiasis drugs market growth.

Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free.

View market snapshot before purchasing

Major Five Candidiasis Drugs Market Companies:

Astellas Pharma

Astellas Pharma operates the business under its pharmaceutical segments. Some of the products offered by the company are AmBisome and MYCAMINE. AmBisome is a sterile, non-pyrogenic lyophilized product for intravenous infusion. Each vial contains 50 mg of amphotericin B intercalated into a liposomal membrane. Amphotericin B is a macrocyclic, polyene, antifungal antibiotic produced from Streptomyces nodosus.

Bayer

Bayer operates its business under four segments, which include pharmaceuticals, consumer health, crop science, and animal health. The company's key offerings include GYNE-LOTRIMIN and MYCELEX.

Fresenius

Fresenius has business operations under various segments, namely Fresenius Medical Care, Fresenius Kabi, Fresenius Helios, and Fresenius Vamed. The product offered by the company is Caspofungin acetate.

Merck

Merck operates the business under four segments, which include pharmaceutical, animal health, healthcare services, and alliances. The company's key offerings include CANCIDAS and NOXAFIL.

Pfizer

Pfizer operates the business under the following two segments: innovative health and essential health. The company's key offerings in the candidiasis drugs market include DIFLUCAN, ERAXIS, and VFEND.

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Candidiasis Drugs Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2019 2023)

Azoles

Echinocandins

Other Drugs

Candidiasis Drugs Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2019 2023)

Asia

Europe

ROW

North America

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She was 15 and recovering from rape, when she realized she was pregnant. She knew right away that she wanted to terminate the pregnancy. But as in many states, Massachusetts required  and still requires  minors to get a parents consent before an abortion.

I knew I couldnt tell my mom or my immediate family members because my pregnancy was the result of a sexual assault from a family friend, the now 23-year-old woman said. (KHN and NPR agreed to withhold her name.) Her home, she added, wasnt necessarily a safe or healthy one at the time.

So the teenager pursued her only legal alternative: obtaining permission for the procedure from a state judge. She remembered staring up at a man who never made eye contact with her during a short conversation about grades and whether she played sports. She said the judge never asked her about the assault or her planned abortion.

And then, right before I was leaving, he just encouraged me to think harder next time, before I had sex, she recalled. That was tough to hear.

The judge issued an order granting her request. But the additional time it took to get that permission pushed the 15-year-old past the point that would allow her to take pills to induce an abortion. Research shows going to court typically delays an abortion for minors in Massachusetts by six days  delays that are most common among nonwhite teenagers from low-income families.

So, instead of a medical abortion, she had to have the more invasive surgical procedure. But thats not what weighs heavily on the young woman, who is now 23, has a masters degree and works for a nonprofit in Boston.

The feeling that I had  from seeing the judge and those last words he said to me about being more responsible'  is what has stuck with her.

Required parental consent is one of the main reasons Massachusetts, often viewed as a bastion of liberal laws, gets only a grade of C for abortion access from the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights think tank. Now, theres an ongoing, vigorous debate in Massachusetts about whether to keep or remove this restriction.

Its part of a larger process, in which both supporters of abortion rights and groups that oppose abortion are reexamining  and often changing  state-level policies in the wake of Brett Kavanaughs ascension to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018. Both sides believe the appointment of Kavanaugh could lead to Roe v. Wade being overturned, which would mean the power to determine abortion policy would return to states.

Abortion-rights opponents say that when minors seek an abortion, having a parent or judge involved is supposed to help protect a vulnerable person, such as the 15-year-old who was raped. (That young woman said she believed her lawyer told the judge how she got pregnant, but she cant be certain whether he knew or not. The judge did not address her rape.)

In our laws, we need to do as much as we can  especially given the kind of epidemic abuse that were facing  to interrupt that cycle, said David Franks, chairman of the board of the anti-abortion group Massachusetts Citizens for Life.

And requiring parental consent works to cut down on the procedures, opponents of abortion rights say. The restriction has prevented at least 10,000 abortions since it was enacted in Massachusetts, according to calculations by Michael New, a visiting professor at the Catholic University of America. That takes into account the hundreds of Massachusetts teenagers who travel to neighboring states every year where parental consent for minors is not required. New said Massachusetts residents have traditionally backed some abortion limits for teenagers.

Even in these more liberal states, some of the existing pro-life laws still enjoy a lot of support, New said. I think most people are uncomfortable with minor girls obtaining abortions without their parents knowledge.

Still, a poll out last summer found that a plurality of Massachusetts voters favor letting minors decide on their own.

Removing parental consent is a key element in a bill called the Roe Act thats pending in the Massachusetts Legislature. It would also allow abortions in the third trimester  if a doctor diagnoses a fatal fetal condition  and, in anticipation of a post-Roe world, would establish the right to an abortion in state law.

The bills sponsor, state Sen. Harriette Chandler, argues that abortion is more widely accepted these days as general medical care. Chandler, 82, remembers when it wasnt.

I think if people realize what a post-Roe world would be, that would make it even more reasonable to do this bill, Chandler said.

Her proposed legislation is still in committee, and its ultimate fate is unclear. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, said he generally supports access to abortion, but not Chandlers proposed expansions to state law.

Massachusetts, a heavily Catholic state, was among the first to pass limits on legal abortions in the 1970s, including required parental consent for minors. Twenty-five other states enforce a similar law for minors. No state has repealed the restriction.

Its really been difficult to repeal barriers across the country, said Rebecca Hart Holder, executive director at the abortion rights group NARAL Massachusetts. This is a moment for us to take back that narrative and say those barriers are not acceptable.

The prospect of eroding or overturning Roe v. Wade is triggering a flurry of legislative actions in states across the country. The Guttmacher Institute reports that 17 states have passed abortion restrictions or bans this year, while nine states have confirmed or expanded access to abortion.

The recent rush in many states to restrict abortion rights is part of what propels Chandler in Massachusetts: Were going in a different direction than the rest of the country, she said.

Before Kavanaughs arrival on the Supreme Court created a five-member conservative majority, abortion access wasnt an urgent priority in left-leaning states, said Guttmachers senior state issues manager, Elizabeth Nash.

People felt that they were OK, Nash said, that their state was safe because they werent seeing the same kinds of attacks as, perhaps, in states like Texas or Louisiana.

In Massachusetts, abortion-rights opponents are lobbying to dilute or defeat the Roe Act and then focus on their long-term goal: a state constitutional amendment to limit abortions.

Meanwhile, supporters of abortion rights say passage of the Roe Act would help Massachusetts cement its commitment to abortion access  and become a legislative haven for women who cant obtain abortions in other states. With that message, they have stepped up fundraising appeals with the plea that even more women are going to need help with abortions in a post-Roe future.

This story is part of a reporting partnership that includes WBUR, NPR and Kaiser Health News.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a surprise visit to Syria's capital, Damascus, where he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and held consultations with Russian military officials.



The visit on Orthodox Christmas Day on January 7 comes at a time of heightened regional tension, when Assad's other main military ally Iran has said it will retaliate for the killing of a top Iranian commander killed in a U.S. drone strike last week.



As head of Irans elite Qods Force, Major General Qasem Soleimani was the architect of the country's military operations across the Middle East and one of the key figures in Syria's civil war.



Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists in Moscow that Putin traveled in a vehicle on the streets of the Syrian capital from Damascus International Airport to the headquarters of the Russian Armed Forces group in the country.



Peskov said Putin was met by Assad at the headquarters building.



"The leaders heard military reports on development in various regions of the country," Peskov said.

Putin and Assad listened to a military presentation by the commander of Russian forces in Syria, said Syria's presidential office, which posted a picture of the two leaders shaking hands.

The two leaders also paid a visit to Damascus's Greek Orthodox Mariamite Cathedral, according to Syrian state media.



It was Putin's first visit to Damascus and only his second visit to Syria since Russia began offering military support to Syrian government forces in its long-running conflict.



The Russian president's last trip to Syria was a visit to the Russian military base of Hmeimim, in the coastal city of Latakia, in 2017.

Late on January 7, Putin landed in Istanbul for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country has backed rebel groups in the Syrian conflict and sent forces into northern Syria to push back Kurdish-led fighters.



The two leaders are also due to inaugurate on January 8 the Turkstream gas pipeline that will carry Russian gas to Turkey.

With reporting by Reuters, Interfax, TASS, and AFP
A coalition of law firms representing more than 1,500 men who say they were sexually abused as children in scouting filed a lawsuit on behalf of eight of their clients Monday in what is believed to be the first federal complaint of its kind against one of the nations oldest organizations for youth.

The attorneys, who have formed a coalition of member firms called Abused In Scouting, represent what they say is the largest group of former Boy Scouts alleging abuse in the United States and spoke to Hearst Televisions National Investigative Unit in a nationwide television exclusive.

The complaint accuses the Boy Scouts of America of rampant sexual abuse at the hands of BSA scoutmasters and other scout leaders and efforts to cover up the extensive evidence in its files documenting that abuse.

BSA created, maintained, and promoted programs that attracted pedophiles by the tens of thousands and gave these predators unsupervised access, and therefore opportunities, to prey on boys who had been entrusted to BSAs custody and care, the lawsuit alleges. BSAs programs were tailor-made for pedophiles to forge trusting relationships with boys of their desired age ranges, to exploit their positions of authority and control over the boys to commit horrific acts of sexual abuse, and to discourage boys from reporting that abuse by enforcing BSAs core values of obedience and loyalty to scout leaders.

In a statement, the Boy Scouts, while not responding to this lawsuit specifically, wrote that it is outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our program to abuse innocent children and that one incident of abuse is one too many.

It added, We believe victims and remove individuals based on only allegations of inappropriate behavior.

Law Firm Database Alleges Abuse Spanning Generations

According to an extensive database of the 1,500 individuals represented by the law firms and given to the National Investigative Unit ahead of the lawsuits filing for analysis, the ages of the boys at the time of the alleged incidents ranged from five to 19, all of whom who say they suffered varying degrees of abuse from 1945 to as recently as last year.

The allegations of sexual abuse and assault span troop numbers, states, decades, and generations, the review found.

Most of the individuals in the database provided have not filed a complaint in court due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in their states.

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One of those who accuse a former Scout troop leader of abuse is Rick, who rose to become an Eagle Scout  the most prestigious rank  in northern Florida and who is now identified in Mondays complaint as a John Doe plaintiff. The National Investigative Unit is not reporting his last name because of his anonymity in the filing and at his request.

I do feel the pain

Rick said he was abused while on Scouting trips and activities for about three years while part of a church-based troop.



He said he absolutely trusted his accused abuser and claims other scout leaders failed to stop or prevent the repeated incidents of sexual assault.



Now 38, Rick said in his first-ever interview about his allegations that even a quarter-century later, I do feel the pain because while what happened to me was wrong and absolutely not OK, I am confident in my mind with 100 percent certainty that much worse happened to many others, which breaks my heart for them.



Tip of a much, much larger iceberg

In the same interview, Ricks attorney, Aitan D. Goelman, warned the allegations presented in the complaint Monday are the tip of a much, much larger iceberg.

Asked whether he thinks the Boy Scouts of America knew about allegations of sexual abuse in its ranks years ago, Goelman answered, Oh, there's no question that they did They've known about it for generations.

I think that the evidence is overwhelmingly clear that the Boy Scouts knew about the extent to which they were really a magnet for child predators, Goelman alleged.

The case filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is number 1:20-cv-00017.

Goelman said more plaintiffs could be added to the lawsuit or more complaints could eventually be filed in the District of Columbia jurisdiction with additional names from the law firms database of 1,500 men.

Several states have recently passed into law legislation that opens a limited window for those old claims, such as New York, which had such a period open Aug. 14, and California, whose legal window opened Jan. 1.

One of those windows is also currently open in the District of Columbia, where Congress chartered the Boy Scouts, an organization that says it currently has more than 2.4 million youth participants. Because of that century-old charter, Goelman and his legal team believe such suits can still be brought in the nations capital, regardless of where the original abuse may have occurred  or when.

The attorneys decided to file now on behalf of nine plaintiffs listed as John Does 1-9 amid speculation the BSA may be preparing to declare bankruptcy. If the organization were to file for bankruptcy, the lawyers say it would be much harder to bring new litigation while the group is under court protection.

Boy Scouts Apologize

A spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America sent the National Investigative Unit a statement it has used when responding to such cases in the past several months, although it did not address the latest lawsuit specifically.

The statement reads, in part: "First and foremost, we care deeply about all victims of child abuse and sincerely apologize to anyone who was harmed during their time in Scouting. We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our program to abuse innocent children."



It points readers to a webpage listing youth safety and protection policies, along with a phone and email 24/7 Scouts First Helpline it has now established: 1-844-726-8871 or scouts1st@scouting.org.

The statement added: We steadfastly believe that one incident of abuse is one too many and we are continually improving all of our policies to prevent abuse. This is precisely why we fully support and advocate for the creation of a national registry overseen by a governmental entity, similar to the national sex offender registry, of those who are suspected of child abuse or inappropriate behavior with a child, thus allowing all youth-serving organizations to share and access such information. We call upon Congress and other youth- serving organizations to support this initiative.

Hundreds of Lawsuits Filed Against Trusted Organizations

Organizations entrusted with the well-being of youth  both secular and religious  have been hit with hundreds of lawsuits alleging past sexual abuse in states where statute of limitations deadlines have recently been waived.

In a recent four-part investigative series, Silent No More, the National Investigative Unit reported on one of the first lawsuits to be filed under New Yorks current window for claims, one of at least dozens of allegations of sexual abuse and decades-long cover-ups in the Jehovahs Witnesses religious organization. In a court filing, the organization denies the allegations in the lawsuit that was the subject of the National Investigative Unit story on Aug. 14, 2019.

Since New Yorks Child Victims Act window opened nearly five months ago, 1,333 lawsuits have been filed, according to the New York state Court of Administration.



Mark Albert is the chief national investigative correspondent for the Hearst Television National Investigative Unit, based in Washington D.C. Travis Sherwin and April Chunko contributed to this report.



Know of abuse, fraud, waste, or other stories of national importance? Send investigative tips, information, and documents to the National Investigative Unit at investigate@hearst.com.
It's been four days since the U.S. precision drone strike that killed Iran's Quds army commander Qasem Soleimani. Thankfully, we have not seen the outbreak of World War III as of yet. But we have learned three valuable lessons.

1) The Democrats have no pause button

Democratic presidential candidates and Congressional leaders wasted no time in bashing President Donald Trump for ordering the Soleimani takedown. Some of the criticism was based on the complaint that the president did not consult with Congress before the drone strike. But the key argument from the Democrats is that the move is likely to provoke a direct war with Iran.

The irony of that position is that while the Democratic presidential candidates are going after Trump for allegedly being rash and impatient in the Soleimani move, they are demonstrating a great example of rash and impatient political strategy.

The Democrats' response shows just how much has changed when it comes to the way partisan rivals act in the face of our conflicts with Iran and other enemies. After President Jimmy Carter's failed attempt to rescue U.S. hostages in Iran in 1980, not only did his election opponents not attack him, but then-candidates Ronald Reagan, George Bush, and Edward Kennedy simply called for national unity and sympathy for the U.S. servicemen killed in the aborted mission. Bush even went out of his way to say he supported Carter's plan without reservation.

Again, this was after a failed rescue mission as opposed to this operation which was successful and did not cost one American life in its execution. It should be noted that despite not bashing Carter over this plan, the Republicans still swept to a major election victory about six months later. No political harm was done by laying off the president.

23 years later in the lead up to the second Iraq War, Democrats in Congress generally supported President George W. Bush's war efforts. The wiser Democrats waited years before launching their full-on bashing of the Iraq War.

Looking at this situation, it would have made more sense for the Democrats to wait just a bit before acting so indignantly about taking out Soleimani. If the situation with Iran does sadly descend into escalated hostilities, there will be plenty of opportunities to criticize President Trump then. But as it stands now, every day without a major Iranian response or a major deployment of new U.S. troops to the region makes the Democrats look hysterical in addition to appearing unsupportive in the longstanding conflict with Iran.

2) Europeans need to wake up

It was just last month that the anti-government protests heated up in Iran and reports began to surface that the regime was killing those protesters in the streets. One Reuters assessment pegs the number of Iranian demonstrators shot or otherwise killed by the government at more than 1,500. Yet even as that was happening, more European countries joined in a program to help Iran skirt new U.S. economic sanctions.

Now many of those same European countries are being critical of the U.S. decision to kill Soleimani as opposed to pursuing non-violent methods. That is, the same countries who are actively undermining the non-violent U.S. sanctions efforts are also now criticizing the U.S. military option of taking out the leader of Iran's international terrorist forces. If we all didn't know better, we might say the Europeans don't want Iran to be bothered at all. Or do we?

Whatever it is that the Europeans want, they need to decide whether it's still a good idea to be running interference for an Iranian regime that has increased its belligerence in the past year while also withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal. Right now, their position is contradictory and unhelpful.

3) This is an opportunity for peace, yes peace

When President Trump announced his intention to pull U.S. troops out of Syria last year, Democrat and Republican critics decried the move as destabilizing and an abandonment of our allies in the region. But with the operation against Soleimani, the idea that the U.S. is leaving the Middle East to its own devices should be thoroughly debunked.

With that in mind, this could be a good chance to advance some level of relative peace. Even the fiercest critics of the decision to kill Soleimani have had to acknowledge that he commanded militias and terror groups in many parts of the Middle East from Iraq to Syria, to Lebanon, to Yemen, and Gaza, etc.

Even before the Soleimani takedown, citizens in Lebanon and Iraq had begun angry protests against that Iranian intrusion into their countries. They should now be emboldened to push back even harder against Iranian proxies that don't care for the local people, but only use their territory as a staging area for attacks against Israel, Saudi Arabia, and U.S. troops. Iran's mayhem-making machine just got its head cut off by America, perhaps its body will be taken out now by countries that have previously been too afraid to expel it.

Of course, the common theme here is that a little patience would do everyone some good in light of the Soleimani operation. If war is truly what we want to avoid then ramping down the panic and doomsday predictions is the way to do it, not the other way around.

Jake Novak is a political and economic analyst at Jake Novak News and former CNBC TV producer. You can follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny.
Passengers have spoken of their fury after their plane aborted take-off at the final second - not once, but twice.

Travellers were just setting off on a Malaysia Airlines flight vrom Kuala Lumpur to Auckland on New Year's Day when their journey came to a sudden halt.

The passengers were put on another flight the following day only for the plane to stop once more, sending passengers into a frenzy with one so distressed an ambulance was called.

Serjit Singh, who lives in Red Beach, Auckland, said passengers jolted forward in their seats after the pilot slammed on the brakes, calling the ordeal 'harrowing'.

He feared the plane was going to be hit by another aircraft that was landing.

Footage at the airport taken by Mr Singh shows passengers frustrated with staff after they were removed from the plane.

After the first flight was aborted passengers were placed on another - but on the exact same aircraft.

Passengers braced for take-off but once again the plane halted in the middle of the runway.

'I was in utter shock and disbelief. The exact same issue that was meant to have been fixed was not and the lives of all passengers and crew on board were risked,' Mr Singh told the New Zealand Herald.

'I told the head steward that I wanted to get off the plane immediately.'

Passengers were furious with Malaysia Airlines staff after their plane abruptly stopped on the runway twice

Mr Singh claimed staff assured them the problems were being fixed but passengers refused to board the plane again.

'We refused and said we are not getting on the same plane and we are not to be used as crash test dummies. This was the collective view of the entire flight,' Singh said.

He said after spending hours at the airport waiting they were finally put on another flight back to Auckland that afternoon.

They landed 24 hours later than they were expected and Mr Singh said he is still waiting for the airline to apologise.

A spokesperson for Malaysia Airlines told Daily Mail Australia: 'Malaysia Airlines apologises to passengers of flight MH145 that was scheduled to depart Kuala Lumpur for Auckland on 1 January 2020 at 8:45pm.'

'The flight was retimed twice due to an unexpected technical issue involving the aircraft system. In the interest of safety, the operating pilots decided to discontinue takeoff during low speed.

'After the second retiming, the airline deployed a different aircraft to service the flight.

'Hotel accommodation, meals and transportation were organized for all passengers affected while some were transferred on other available carriers.

'Safety is Malaysia Airlines' number one priority at all times and it regrets the inconvenience caused to its passengers.'
TEHRAN, Iran  Iran's supreme leader wept Monday over the casket of a top general killed in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad, his prayers joining the wails of mourners who flooded the streets of Tehran demanding retaliation against America for a slaying that's drastically raised tensions across the Middle East.

The funeral for Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani drew a crowd -- aerial footage and Associated Press journalists suggested a turnout of at least 1 million.

It was an unprecedented honor for a man viewed by Iranians as a national hero for his work leading the Guard's expeditionary Quds Force. The U.S. blames him for the killing of American troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death Friday. Soleimani also led forces in Syria backing President Bashar Assad in a long war.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei prayed over the caskets of Soleimani and others at Tehran University after a brief mourning period at the capital's famed Musalla mosque, Khamenei, who had a close relationship with Soleimani and referred to him as a "living martyr," broke down four times in tears while offering traditional Muslim prayers for the dead.

Soleimani's death has brought together people from across the country's political spectrum, temporarily silencing that anger. Demonstrators burned Israeli and U.S. flags, carried a flag-draped U.S. coffin or displayed effigies of Trump. Some described Trump himself as a legitimate target.

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She's set to host this year's Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour, which will kick off next week.

And Stacey Dooley ensured she brushed up on her presenting skills as she headed to rehearsals with 2019 contestants Karim Zeroual and Saffron Barker in London on Tuesday evening.

The documentary filmmaker, 32 - who won 2018's edition of the BBC competition series - displayed her edgy sense of style as she opted for comfort in brown tie-dye print co-ords.

Preparations: Stacey Dooley ensured she brushed up on her presenting skills as she headed to rehearsals ahead of the Strictly live tour in London on Tuesday evening

Shielding her figure, the media personality kept cosy in a baggy jumper and matching joggers, which she teamed with classic black trainers.

The journalist injected some glamour into her casual look with a pair of gold hooped earrings.

With her tresses worn in her signature bun, Stacey - who arrived at the show without her professional partner-turned-boyfriend Kevin Clifton - displayed her make-up free complexion.

Host Karim, 26, and YouTuber Saffron, 19, appeared in great spirits as they posed for snaps outside the danced studios.

Cheery: The journalist, 32 - who won the 2018 edition of the series - was in good company as she joined 2019 contestants Karim Zeroual and Saffron Barker

Over the moon: Katya Jones (L) flashed a hint of her legs in a black T-shirt dress and thigh-high boots and she arrived at the studios with her VERY excited celebrity partner, Mike Bushell (R)

Great spirits: Strictly finalist Emma Barton grinned from ear-to-ear as she also made an appearance

Happy: Pro AJ Pritchard also made a beaming entrance

Over the weekend, Ian 'H' Watkins and Matt Evers made history as they debuted their same-sex partnership on Dancing On Ice, which reduced new judge John Barrowman to tears.

And professional skater Matt, 43, insists Strictly bosses will be 'under pressure' to follow suit, after pros Johannes Radebe and Graziano Di Prima performed a same-sex dance on last year's edition.

He told The Sun: 'It has been so emotional. The highlight of my career. Strictly has die-hard fans who will want to see a same sex couple on the show.

'What we did was amazing and there will definitely be pressure for them to follow suit.

Out in full force: Dianne Buswell showcased her tanned complexion as she returned from her festive Australian break, while Karen Hauer sported a kooky slogan tee

Together again: Neil Jones and Alex Scott reunited for the upcoming string of performances

'Now Strictly fans will want to see an inclusive line-up that represents the LGBT community too.'

Last month, the creators behind the annual extravaganza revealed the names set for the string of performances.

Set to raise the roof, winner Kelvin Fletcher and Karim will be joined by professional dancers Janette Manrara and Amy Dowden respectively.

Ready to go! Graziano Di Prima flashed a thumbs up sign as he headed into the venue

Also featuring will be Saffron and AJ Pritchard, Emma Barton and Graziano Di Prima, Mike Bushell and Katya Jones, and Catherine Tyldesley and Johannes Radebe.

The celebrities will be joined by professional dancers Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer, Dianne Buswell, Joshua Keefe, Jake Leigh and Robbie Kemetoni.

2019 champ Stacey will be hosting the events, while Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli join fellow judge and director Craig Revel Horwood on the panel.

The tour kicks off on January 16 in Birmingham and will run for 33 sequin-filled shows across the UK, ending in London on February 9.

As part of the live shows, there will be a special Relaxed Performance in association with the National Autistic Society at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena on February 5 at 2pm.

The performance is created to be accessible to those with autism, learning disabilities or additional sensory needs.
Coffins of General Qassem Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a US drone strike are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession in the city of Kerman, Iran (Erfan Kouchari/Tasnim News Agency via AP)

A stampede has erupted at a funeral procession for a senior Iranian general killed in a US air strike last week, killing 56 people and injuring more than 200 others, according to reports.

The stampede took place in Kerman, the home town of Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani, as the procession began, said the semi-official Fars and ISNA news agencies, citing Pirhossein Koulivand, head of Irans emergency medical services.

There was no information on what set off the stampede. Online videos showed people lying apparently lifeless, their faces covered by clothing. Emergency crews performed CPR on others.

Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions, Mr Koulivand said.

State TV reported the death toll of 56, with 213 injured, citing Mr Koulivand,

Gen Soleimanis burial was delayed with no new time given. Authorities cited concerns about the massive crowd as a reason for the delay, ISNA said.

A procession in Tehran on Monday drew over a million people in the Iranian capital.

Gen Soleimanis death has sparked calls across Iran for revenge against America for a killed that has drastically raised tensions across the Middle East.

Expand Close Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fourth from left, leads a prayer over the coffin (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fourth from left, leads a prayer over the coffin (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP)

Early on Tuesday, the leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard threatened to set ablaze places supported by the US over the killing, sparking cries from the crowd of supporters of Death to Israel!

Hossein Salami made the pledge before a crowd of thousands gathered in a central square in Kerman before a coffin carrying Gen Soleimanis remains.

The outpouring of grief was an unprecedented honour for a man viewed by Iranians as a national hero for his work leading the Guards expeditionary Quds Force.

The US blames him for the killing of American troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death on Friday in a drone strike near Baghdads international airport. He also led forces in Syria backing President Bashar Assad in a long war, and served as a go-between for Tehran in countries like Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

Expand Close The funeral procession in Tehran (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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His killing has pushed Tehran to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers as his successor and others vowed to take revenge. The Baghdad parliament has called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil, something analysts fear could allow so-called Islamic State militants to mount a comeback.

Speaking in Kerman, Mr Salami praised Gen Soleimanis exploits, describing him as essential to backing Palestinian groups, Yemens Houthi rebels and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria. As a martyr, Gen Soleimani represents an even greater threat to Irans enemies, he added.

According to a report on Tuesday by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Iran has worked up 13 sets of plans for revenge for Gen Soleimanis killing. The report quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, as saying that even the weakest among them would be a historic nightmare for the US, but declined to give any details.

The state-run IRNA news agency later published a statement from the Supreme National Security Council denying Mr Shamkhani made the comment.

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If the U.S. troops do not leave our region voluntarily and upright, we will do something to carry their bodies horizontally out, Mr Shamkhani said.

Irans parliament passed an urgent bill declaring the US militarys command at the Pentagon and those acting on its behalf in Gen Soleimanis killing as terrorists subject to Iranian sanctions.

The measure appears to be an attempt to mirror a decision by President Donald Trump in April to declare the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organisation.

The US Defence Department used the designation to support the strike that killed Gen Soleimani.

He will be buried later on Tuesday between the graves of Enayatollah Talebizadeh and Mohammad Hossein Yousef Elahi, two former Guard comrades. The two died in Operation Dawn 8 in Irans 1980s war with Iraq in which Gen Soleimani also took part.
'What stood out at these meetings between industry representatives and government leaders was how the equation between the ministers and industry had undergone a subtle and qualitative change,' points out A K Bhattacharya.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi addresses ASSOCHAM's centenary celebrations in New Delhi, December 20, 2019. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

The Union government's engagement with industry leaders is always a keenly watched development.

Two national chambers of industry and commerce held their annual functions in New Delhi last month.

Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Commerce/Industry Minister Piyush Goyal were among the senior government leaders who attended these events.

There were no fireworks from industry leaders this time, unlike those witnessed at a meeting in Mumbai in November, where veteran businessman Rahul Bajaj raised some apparently uncomfortable questions on why industry leaders did not have the confidence of openly criticising the government.

Perhaps a key difference was that the venue of last month's meetings was New Delhi and, given the adverse impact of a slowing economy on businesses, industry leaders were restrained in their response to the suggestions made by government representatives to improve the economy.

So restrained were industry leaders in New Delhi that the prime minister had to exhort them on more than one occasion to applaud with more enthusiasm his announcement on the reforms that his government had initiated by decriminalising penal provisions in the companies law and by slashing the corporation tax rates.

And industry leaders assembled there indeed fell in line and clapped more loudly in response to the prime minister's suggestion.

At the same meeting, he urged Indian industry to make bold investments to help the economy reach the goal of attaining the size of $5 trillion.

Giving a hint of what industry could expect from the forthcoming Budget, Modi talked about his government's plans to invest more in infrastructure.

He also assured industry that he was confident that his government would come out with steps to rescue the economy from the current slowdown.

But he was obviously keen that industry must appreciate that his government was focused on the need to improve the economy and address the business leaders's concerns about growth.

Hence, he made no secret of his desire that industry must recognise the government's intention to reform and revive growth.

He thus asked industry to clap a little louder on what his government had already done instead of remaining focused only on what the government would do in the coming months. Clearly, this was a different Modi.

The finance minister too held out an olive branch to industry when she addressed the same forum of industrialists.

She reiterated the government's commitment to help revive businesses.

Sitharaman said: 'This government does not want businesses to close. We want to help them to be revived by legislative and other administrative changes... we are with you. I want this mood of self-doubt to be completely removed from your minds.'

Such a statement may reflect the concerns of a government that, unlike in the past, is eager to be openly friendly with industry, recognising that industry's cooperation in reviving investments and growth is crucial.

But it also raises questions on whether a government should make any commitment on not allowing businesses to be shut down.

Doesn't that defy the spirit of economic reforms where both the entry to undertake economic activity and exit from it should be subject to market disciplines?

In a similar vein, Goyal sought the cooperation of industry in identifying countries and markets that had created non-tariff barriers for Indian exports.

The objective of that exercise was to help the government take retaliatory action against countries that imposed such barriers to trade.

Goyal said: 'Our government is willing to stand by you and look at retaliatory actions and impose similar trade remedial measures.'

However, it was not clear if that meant India's trade policies would introduce a fresh dose of protectionism, citing the need for retaliation.

More significantly, Goyal assured business leaders that he and his office would always be available to address industry's concerns, as he believed that a 'responsible and listening' government can have a positive impact on businesses.

What stood out at these meetings between industry representatives and government leaders was how the equation between the ministers and industry had undergone a subtle and qualitative change.

The government appeared to be unusually keen on making itself more accessible to and understood by industry.

It was trying to impress upon the assembled business leaders that the government was keen to understand industry's problems, address its grievances and revive growth through legislative or administrative measures.

This is perhaps a new phase in the Modi government's relationship with the Indian industry.

It is possible that this is a temporary phase and an outcome of the current economic slowdown.

It could have also been a fallout of the problems of law and order in the wake of country-wide protests over the recent legislation on citizenship and the associated plan to launch a National Register of Citizens.

Industry will, of course, hope that the new equation results in more sustainable industry-friendly policies, increased investments in infrastructure and steps that can revive demand in the economy, which could then boost economic growth.
It's been nearly seven years since the model joined forces with the British retailer.

And Rosie Huntington-Whiteley couldn't resist teasing her new M&S collection as she shared some sneak peek snaps of herself on Tuesday.

The supermodel, 32, looked incredible as she showed off her jaw-dropping figure in a racy pink underwear set.

New collection: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley couldn't resist teasing her new M&S collection as she shared some snaps of herself to Instagram on Tuesday

Rosie displayed her washboard abs and ample assets in a plunging bra which she teamed with a pair of matching high-waisted knickers.

The beauty styled her blonde locks into a blow-dried straight hairdo, she added a slick of glamorous make-up and a thin necklace.

The model knew how to work her best angles as she posed up a storm in the lingerie, captioning the photo, 'Feminine, romantic, and soft. Lace set from Rosie for Autograph #ad'

And taking to her story, she shared another new piece, this time with an intricate floral print.

Rosie's post sent her fans into a frenzy as they flocked to the comments section to share their thoughts.

'Touch of lace': And taking to her story, she shared another piece, this time with an intricate floral print

'Beautiful,' fellow model Kimberley Garner wrote alongside a love heart emoji while another fan mused, 'this is hot.'

Marks & Spencer launched its first Rosie Autograph lingerie range in 2012, it is both designed and modelled by the star.

Rosie has been in a long-term relationship with Jason Statham since 2010 and the engaged couple welcomed son Jack, two, into the world in June 2017.

In June, the model spoke candidly about the impact of motherhood on her confidence as she graced the June cover of Harper's Bazaar magazine.

She said: 'Since becoming a mum, I've felt so much more confident within my own skin and much more confident about who I am. It's been life-changing.'
HappyHotel , a Japanese search engine used to find and book rooms in love hotels, announced to have suffered a security breach in December.

HappyHotel is a popular Japanese search engine for love hotels, it is used by married couples and unfaithful spouses, it allows users to book rooms in love hotels in Japan.

Almex , the company that operates HappyHotel , published a data breach notice on the website.

Apology and announcement regarding the possibility of leaking personal information due to unauthorized access to the Happy Hotel service operated by our company reads the notice.

According to Almex , the incident was discovered on December 22 when the company discovered unauthorized access to its service.

User data compromised in the data breach includes names, email addresses, usernames , passwords, birth dates, gender information, phone numbers, home addresses, and payment card details.

In response to the incident, the company launched an investigation and suspended its service, it also suggested users change the passwords.

In cases like this, users are exposed to the risk of blackmail, crooks could threaten them of revealing data of their escapades.

Almex also suspended Loveinn Japan, another love hotel search engine it operates but did not reveal the reason.

In 2015, the popular online cheating site Ashley Madison was hacked, and a big amount of data was stolen by hackers who posted part of this information online as proof of the attack.

The hackers claimed to have completely compromised the Ashley Madison company accessing users data, including financial records, and other personal information.

The hack had a terrible impact on its users, some of which committed suicides.

Pierluigi Paganini
A former Melbourne podiatrist could face the death penalty after he allegedly murdered his wife at their home in Singapore.

Paul Leslie Quirk, 48, has been charged with one count of murder after his wife Christina Khoo Gek Hwa, 43, was found dead in a third floor condo in the residential estate of Compassvale Bow last Friday.

'On 3 January 2020 at 12.07pm, the Police received a call for assistance at a residential unit at 125 Compassvale Bow,' a police statement read.

Paul Leslie Quirk is accused of murdering his wife Christina Khoo Gek Hwa in Singapore

'Upon arrival, a 43-year-old woman was found unresponsive in the unit and was subsequently pronounced dead at scene by paramedics.

'Preliminary investigations revealed that both the deceased and the man are known to each other. Police investigations are ongoing.'

Quirk was charged with murder the following day.

Dressed in a red shirt and black shorts, Quirk showed no emotion when he briefly faced court, Channel News Asia reported.

District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan ordered Quirk to be remanded at Changi Prison's medical centre for psychiatric observation.

He will reappear in court on January 24 and potentially faces the death penalty if he's found guilty, according to local media reports.

Paul Quirk (pictured with his wife) has been charged with one count of murder and remanded in custody to reappear in court later this month

According to his Facebook profile, Quirk moved to Singapore in 2016, where he worked as a senior podiatrist at Tan Tock Seng Hospital until November 2017.

He has 17 years of experience as a podiatrist, according to his LinkedIn bio.

'I decided to venture to Singapore with my passion in podiatry, hoping to share my experience and knowledge to the local community,' the bio states.

Registry of Marriages records showed Quirk and his wife married in August 2017, the Strait Times reported.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was aware of an Australian arrested in Singapore.

'The department is aware an Australian man has been arrested in Singapore and stands ready to provide consular assistance in accordance with the Consular Services Charter,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia

Owing to our privacy obligations we will not provide further comment.'
Authorities have released the name of a woman who was shot to death Sunday night in east Birmingham.

The Jefferson County Coroners Office on Tuesday identified the victim as Stacey Flournoy. She was 32 and lived in the Birmingham area.

East Precinct officers were on patrol when they heard shots fired about 10 p.m. Sunday. As they were investigating, they received a call about a person shot. They found the victim on the front porch of a home at 3838 39th Court at 10:21 p.m.

Flournoy was taken to UAB Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 11:09 p.m.

Sgt. Johnny Williams said detectives were also advised that another person was transported to UAB Hospital by private vehicle with non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The second person is expected to recover from his injury.

Birmingham police have not announced any arrests. Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Indonesia mobilizes fishermen in stand-off with China

January 07,2020 | Source: Reuters

Indonesia will mobilize fishermen to join warships in the South China Sea to help defend against Chinese vessels, the government said on Monday, as the biggest stand-off with China for years escalated off Southeast Asia's largest country.



In an unusually strong statement, President Joko Widodo told reporters: "There is no negotiation when it comes to our sovereignty."



The stand-off since last month in the northern Natuna islands, where a Chinese coastguard vessel has accompanied Chinese fishing vessels, has soured the generally friendly relationship between Jakarta and Beijing.



Indonesia's chief security minister, Mahfud MD, told reporters that around 120 fishermen from the island of Java would be sent to the Natuna islands, some 1,000 km (600 miles) to the north.



"We want to mobilize our fishermen from the north coast and maybe in turn from other areas to operate by fishing there and other things," Mahfud said.



Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, said last week it was sending more warships to the area. Six Indonesian ships were there now and four more were on the way, Imam Hidayat, the head of the Maritime Security Agency's sea operations sub-directorate, told Reuters.



China claims much of the South China Sea, a global trade route with rich fishing grounds and energy reserves, as its own based on what it says its historic activity. But Southeast Asian countries - and the United States and much of the world - say such claims have no legal basis.



On Tuesday Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing has "opened diplomatic channels" with Indonesia since the latest incident, and said "both countries shoulder responsibility for maintaining regional peace and stability."



Speaking in Beijing last week, Geng said China had sovereignty over the Spratly islands and their waters and that both China and Indonesia have "normal" fishing activities there. He did not specifically mention the Natuna islands, which are southwest of the Spratlys.

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For Gov. Phil Murphy, it was another stop in his New Years stretch of supporting fellow Democrats who won local races in November.

At a packed Fanwood Borough Hall on Sunday morning, Murphy swore in Mayor Colleen Mahr to her fifth term, surrounded by local leaders including U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist.

I found myself in the fortuitous position on the agenda today between two of my heroes, two rock stars, Murphy said. The woman who just introduced me.  Bonnie Watson Coleman, and the woman I have the honor of swearing in, Colleen Mahr, as your mayor yet again.

Murphys appearance in Fanwood is part of his effort to support local Democrats and build unity within the party going into 2020.

Murphy, the new leader of the Democratic Governors Association, has already been to nine swearing-in ceremonies, with more scheduled this week. They include stops to support local Democrats in Cranford, Wayne, Madison, and Clinton, and freeholders in Union, Somerset, Atlantic and Burlington counties.

The party building ritual comes as the party is fractured, with Murphy often clashing with state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester. As recently as last month, New Jersey Democrats brokered a deal to ensure Murphys pick for the chairmanship for the state party wouldnt be challenged, saving the governor from a significant blow to his ability to control his party.

And the cheerful ceremonies on the swearing-in tour also allow Murphy to highlight Democratic gains in local and county races, something he has touted as more important than his partys loss of three seats in the state Legislature in November.

For example, one of his appearances was for Dover Mayor Carolyn Blackman, who unseated longtime mayor James Dodd in Republican-controlled Morris County.

In Fanwood, Mahrs re-election was never in doubt. She ran unopposed in 2019 and won with 1,453 votes, according to Union Countys Board of Elections. Three council members were also sworn in to the all-Democratic, six-member Fanwood council.

Mahr thanked her family, her three sons and her allies in remarks at the conclusion of the meeting.

To my three sons, Liam, Daniel and Collin, I want to thank you for putting up with me, for my countless meetings, for when I forget that you might have a half day at school. Thank you, she said. I love you. Youve grown up knowing nothing other than your mother is the mayor. And I know sometimes its not easy. But thank you  thank you for the love.

Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr is among the Democrats sworn-in recently by Gov. Phil Murphy.

Murphy often touts Democrats like Mahr as part of a farm system he believes will keep the party strong in years to come.

Mahr lost a bitter fight for the Union County Democratic Committee chair to state Sen. Nick Scutari in 2018, but has agreed to remain as vice-chair. She is also a former president of the New Jersey League of Municipalities.

Mahr and Murphy have developed a working relationship, too.

The two have been collaborating on the One Seat Ride coalition, of which Mahr is co-chair of the Raritan Valley Mayors Alliance. The movement aims to bring one seat service from the NJ TRANSIT Raritan Valley train line to New York City, instead of forcing passengers to transfer in Newark.

Murphy and Mahr appeared together alongside other local and state leaders in Westfield in October to announce the resumption of off-peak direct train service on the Raritan Valley line.

The issue was brought up again at Sundays event.

Mahr said she believes full one-seat service is closer than ever.

Let me just say this on the record before I swear you in: We will fix NJ TRANSIT if it kills me  and it might, Murphy quipped.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Matt Arco contributed to this report.
WHEATLEY, ONT.Police in southwestern Ontario are appealing to the public for help in identifying suspects in a recent bee hive theft.

Chatham-Kent police say 13 hives disappeared from a property near Wheatley, Ont., sometime in November or December.

Const. Renee Cowell says the hives belonged to a local resident who tends bees as a hobby and had 380 hives on the property.

Cowell says the people responsible for the thefts clearly had knowledge of how to safely transport hives.

Police have not made any arrests or identified suspects in the case.

Anyone with information on the case is being asked to come forward.
New Delhi:

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday broke his silence over his American counterpart Donald Trumps warning of targeting 52 Iranian sites and reminded him of the Iran Air flight 655 incident where 290 passengers lost their lives. Rouhani further said, "never threaten the Iranian nation".

In a tweet, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said, Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290. #IR655 Never threaten the Iranian nation.

In a series of tweet, US President Trump on Saturday said, Iran is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets as revenge for our ridding the world of their terrorist leader who had just killed an American, & badly wounded many others, not to mention all of the people he had killed over his lifetime, including recently.

He further said, ....hundreds of Iranian protesters. He was already attacking our Embassy, and preparing for additional hits in other locations. Iran has been nothing but problems for many years. Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have.....

....targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!, President Trump added.

Earlier, Iran unfurled a 'red flag of revenge' on an important mosque in after vowing to avenge the killing of its top general in an airstrike by US drones. The red flag was hoisted above the Jamkaran Mosque which is on the outskirts of the holy city of Qom, about 100 miles south of Tehran. In Shiite tradition, red flags symbolise both blood spilled unjustly and serve as a call to avenge a person who is slain. The text on the flag says: "Those who want to avenge the blood of Hussein".

The flag can be seen as a clear warning that Iran is getting ready to strike back at America. General Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds force and mastermind of its regional security strategy, was killed in an airstrike early Friday near the Iraqi capital's international airport. Soleimani and Mohandis were killed along with eight others in a precision drone strike early Friday as they drove away from Baghdad international airport in two vehicles.

Also Read: Will Send Brand New Beautiful Equipment To Iran: Trump Warns If Tehran Retaliates

The death of Quds Force commander Major General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad was the most dramatic escalation yet in spiraling tensions between Iran and the United States, despite President Donald Trump's insistence he did not want war.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
A Navajo mining company has been given 65 more days to acquire bonding for Spring Creek Mine, Montana's largest coal producer.

The Navajo Transitional Energy Company has been granted an extension by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. The mine was one day from shutdown had the extension not been granted. It has been operating under temporary conditions since a brief October shutdown.

Spring Creek mine is Montanas largest coal mine, employing 300 people. In late October, the mine briefly shut down over concerns that Montanas Department of Environmental Quality would not be able to hold accountable a company that has tribal sovereignty rights. NTEC has been asked to waive its tribal sovereignty before receiving an operating permit. The mine continues to run under the permit and bond of Cloud Peak Energy.

Since October, the Navajo Nation has chosen not to financially back the bonds for NTEC coal mines in Arizona, Montana and Wyoming, saying the coal investments were too risky.

NTEC needs $400 million in reclamation bonds to assure cleanup of Spring Creek Mine in Montana and Antelope and Cordero Rojo mines in Wyoming. The company has said it is confident it can get the money without the support of the Navajo Nation.

Montana officials said in a press release that NTEC must provide $108 million to cover reclamation bonds and mineral lease transfers for Spring Creek.

NTEC bought the mines from Cloud Peak Energy, through bankruptcy auction.

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TEHRAN, Iran - Japan says it will urge governments to do their utmost to help ease tensions following an Iranian missile strike at bases in Iraq used by U.S. forces. Japanese Chief Cabinet spokesman Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday that his government will co-ordinate with the related governments to collect intelligence while we ensure the safety of Japanese citizens in the region. He added: Japan will also urge all related nations to do their utmost diplomatic effort to improve the relations. He said Japan remained on track to soon deploy a warship to the Gulf to help safeguard Japanese vessels and oil tankers transiting the area.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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NEW HAVEN  Jason Bartlett, the citys youth services director who was placed on leave from his job June 27 after the FBI began investigating city grants and a long-delayed teen center, has filed a complaint charging discrimination against him because he is a gay, black man.

The complaint was first reported by the New Haven Independent.

Among the issues Bartlett raises in his complaint to the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, filed Nov. 19, is that Mayor Justin Elicker stated during his Democratic primary campaign against then-Mayor Toni Harp that she should fire Bartlett.

In a statement Aug. 5, Elicker said the city had paid Bartlett $15,000 that would be better spent on the citys youth.

I am calling for Mayor Harp to terminate the director of youth services, Elicker wrote. Leadership is about doing the right thing, even when the people impacted may be your friends. We could have spent this $15,000 giving 12 more young people summer jobs through the Citys Youth@Work program. Not only are we paying tens of thousands of dollars to someone who is doing no work for the City but our Youth Department has one less employee working to support the young people of our City. We have so many important challenges to address in New Haven; City Hall should spend money helping the youth be more active, not on adults being inactive.

Elicker said Tuesday he would not comment on a personnel matter.

Bartlett also quotes former Superintendent of Schools Carol Birks saying in a meeting, l grew up loved. I am not like Jason Bartlett, a bi-racial; adopted; gay male. Birks, whose contract was bought out by the Board of Education, also left Bartlett out of meetings related to the city schools, even though he was the citys liaison to the Board of Education, according to the complaint.

Bartlett accuses Martha Okafor, former administrator of community services and his supervisor, of giving him a poor evaluation and calling him unethical. He was then transferred to working for then-Chief Administrative Officer Michael Carter.

However, he claims Carter challenged him when he arrived for a supervision meeting, that he was unceremoniously thrown out of his office, and the next few days were a week from hell. Carter told then-Chief of Staff Tomas Reyes that Bartlett had molested a minor at Criscuolo Park and filed a police report, according to the complaint, but that the police chief told Harp there was no incident reported.

Harp then had Bartlett report directly to her, which he says caused animosity in City Hall. The damage and personal harm that I faced every day of my life following that reign of terror, initiated by Okafor and carried out by Carter, is something that no one should ever have to endure based on their protected class, something that they cannot change, he says in his complaint.

Bartlett also had been chairman of Harps campaign committee before he was placed on leave. His contract as youth services director runs until Jan. 31, 2022. In his complaint, he says his salary was increased from $85,000 to $105,000 in 2017, due to my outstanding job performance and additional job duties, but that the Board of Alders reverted his pay back to $85,000 until 2018.

While he was put on paid leave pending an investigation, Bartlett claims that no investigation has been conducted and that he and his departments staff have suffered as the result of his absence.

To date, I have not been presented with any investigative report, charges or other documents relative to my return to work, he says in his complaint. No other individuals working for the City of New Haven, have been faced with this indecisive, humiliating, and unjust lack of respect. This discriminatory hurtful treatment and gross violation of my civil rights has caused me extreme emotional distress. It has affected how I am viewed within the city, and it has given pause for others to speculate as to exactly what I have done to receive this type of treatment.

Bartlett has said he was not named in the FBI subpoena, but that it sought documents related to the proposed Escape Teen Center, which was planned for property owned by Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church at 654 Orchard St. Escape would serve as a drop-in center and include a 15-bed homeless shelter for young people.

However, the development has been stalled since a lease was signed in October 2015. The building required $250,000 in repairs. No developments in the FBI investigation have been announced.

Bartlett claims that in the months in which he has been in limbo from his job he has suffered the real effects of segregation in all aspects of my work life and public life.

I am demanding that I be immediately returned to work, and that the entire administration cease and desist in this racist, homophobic scenario where I am the ultimate scape goat, Bartlett writes. My civil rights have been continually violated, and I am looking for immediate reinstatement into my job.

Bartlett said Tuesday that everything thats in there [the CHRO complaint] refers to discrimination against him and that I dont have to show that every statement made is biased because of his race or sexual orientation. He referred further questions to his attorney, Cynthia Jennings, who could not be reached.

A voicemail message was left for Birks. Okafor and Carter could not be reached.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
The UK is "trading a Rolls Royce for a second-hand saloon" by leaving the EU, European Commissioner Phil Hogan says.

Mr Hogan, the EU's trade chief, has set down conditions the British side will have to meet to strike a Brexit trade deal.

He said leaving the single market would have major consequences for the UK.

"This move still baffles me because the full consequences of that decision are still not understood in the United Kingdom.

"Why would they trade a Rolls Royce, which would be very familiar to the UK, for a second-hand saloon?" he said.

Addressing Ireland's ambassadors, who are gathered in Dublin for their annual new year's conference, Mr Hogan said any new trade agreement would require "firm and fair rules".

"Prime Minister Johnson said he wants a best-in-class free trade agreement. And from our side in the EU, best in class means a trade agreement that is not just about economic and financial gains, zero tariffs, zero quotas, but is also an agreement which is the interest of our people, their environment and respectful of their quality of life.

"So, we will require solid guarantees of a level playing field in relation to state aid, labour laws, environmental protections and taxation arrangements. None of us is under any illusion about how difficult this part of the negotiations will be," he said.

Flexibility

Mr Hogan said new European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would soon be meeting Mr Johnson. But he remains dismissive of the British deadline of this summer for concluding talks.

Mr Hogan said the future trade agreement would be a major issue for the current and next government.

He declined to speculate on general election timing, but said it would be helpful if the Northern Assembly was up and running.

Mr Hogan said Ireland must remain unified with the EU. He said the Government and diplomats now needed to agree with other countries, where previously there would have been differences.

He encouraged a policy of "maximum flexibility without selling your soul".
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mexicans seeking asylum in the United States could be sent to Guatemala under a bilateral agreement signed by the Central American nation last year, according to documents sent to U.S. asylum officers in recent days and seen by Reuters.

In a Jan. 4 email, field office staff at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) were told Mexican nationals will be included in the populations amenable to the agreement with Guatemala.

The agreement, brokered last July between the administration of Republican President Donald Trump and the outgoing Guatemalan government, allows U.S. immigration officials to send migrants requesting asylum at the U.S.-Mexican border to apply for protection in Guatemala instead.

Trump has made clamping down on unlawful migration a top priority of his presidency and a major theme of his 2020 re-election campaign. His administration penned similar deals with Honduras and El Salvador last year.

Democrats and pro-migrant groups have opposed the move and contend asylum seekers will face danger in Guatemala, where the murder rate is five times that of the United States, according to 2017 data compiled by the World Bank. The countrys asylum office is tiny and thinly staffed and critics have argued it lacks the capacity to properly vet a significant increase in cases.

Guatemalan President-elect Alejandro Giammattei, who takes office this month, has said he will review the agreement.

Acting Deputy U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Ken Cuccinelli said in a tweet in December that Mexicans were being considered for inclusion under the agreement.

USCIS referred questions to DHS, which referred to Cuccinellis tweet. Mexicos foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Alejandra Mena, a spokeswoman for Guatemalas immigration institute, said that since the agreement was implemented in November, the United States has sent 52 migrants to the country. So far, only six have applied for asylum in Guatemala, Mena said.

On Monday, an additional 33 Central American migrants arrived on a flight to Guatemala City, she said.

Unaccompanied minors cannot be sent to Guatemala under the agreement, which now applies only to migrants from Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico, according to the guidance documents. Exceptions are made if the migrants can establish that they are more likely than not to be persecuted or tortured in Guatemala based on their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

Numbers of Central American migrants apprehended at the border fell sharply in the second part of 2019 after Mexico deployed National Guard troops to stem the flow, under pressure from Trump.

Overall, border arrests are expected to drop again in December for the seventh straight month, a Homeland Security official told Reuters last week, citing preliminary data.

The U.S. government says another reason for the reduction in border crossings is a separate program, known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, that has forced more than 56,000 non-Mexican migrants to wait in Mexico for their U.S. immigration court hearings.

With fewer Central Americans at the border, U.S. attention has turned to Mexicans crossing illegally or requesting asylum. Around 150,000 Mexican single adults were apprehended at the border in fiscal 2019, down sharply from previous decades but still enough to bother U.S. immigration hawks.
BENZIE COUNTY  Richard Coates has officially taken over as the executive director for the Benzie County Chamber of Commerce.

His first day on the job was Dec. 6.
Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the White House (Alex Brandon/AP)

US President Donald Trump has welcomed the prime minister of Greece to the White House, saying the United States was very proud of the country and the comeback it is making.

From 2010 to 2018, Greece survived on bailout loans from its European partners and the International Monetary Fund.

It exited the rescue programme more than a year ago, but remains under strict supervision from lenders and has committed to achieving stringent budget targets for years to come.

Mr Trump and prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met at a time of high stakes in the Mediterranean region.

Harvard-educated Mr Mitsotakis said his country was following a recipe that has worked in the US, including lower taxes, and the Greek economy has reacted positively.

Mr Mitsotakis said he was looking for Mr Trumps support in calling on American companies to invest in Greece.

Mr Mitsotakis won office pledging to make the country more-business friendly, cut taxes and modernise Greeces antiquated bureaucracy.

Leading up to the White House meeting, Trump administration officials described Greece as transforming itself from being a source of problems to becoming a source of solutions and stability.

The officials noted that Greece recently signed a deal with Israel and Cyprus to build an undersea pipeline to carry gas from new offshore deposits in the south-eastern Mediterranean to continental Europe.

The race to claim offshore energy deposits in the southern Mediterranean has created new tensions between Greece and Cyprus, on one side, and rival Turkey.

The Trump administration said it supports Greeces emergence as a regional energy hub and said reliable access to energy is critical to economic development and stability in the region.

Mr Trump said Tuesdays meeting would also cover trade and military issues.

It comes as the world grapples with heightening tensions in the Middle East after a US strike killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani.
As promised, Lenovo plans to launch its first Windows tablet with a foldable pOLED display this year. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold is a 13.3 inch tablet when folded flat, but thanks to a flexible display and a hinge, you can close it up like a book for portability.

You can also hold it like a book and view two different pages side-by-side but since its a Windows device and not just an eReader, you can also use the portable computer to view one app on the left side and another on the right, span apps across the full display, or bend the ThinkPad X1 Fold and place it on a table, desk, or lap and use the bottom as a keyboard while viewing content on the top.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold will be available in the second half of 2020 for $2500 and up.

Thats a steep price if youre comparing the tablet to other Windows laptops and tablets. But its not all that surprising when you consider the high price tag of foldable smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Motorola Razr.

Under the hood, the ThinkPad X1 Fold will be powered by an unspecified Intel Core processor with Intel UHD 11th-gen integrated graphics. The tablet, which is said to have been co-designed with Intel also features 8GB of LPDDR4X 4267 MHz RAM, up to 1TB of NVMe solid state storage, a 50 Whr battery, and two USB Type-C ports.

While the ThinkPad X1 Fold will likely ship with Windows 10, the plan is to offer Windows 10X after Microsoft releases its new operating system optimized for dual-screen and foldable devices later this year.

Lenovo will ship the ThinkPad X1 Fold with a leather folio cover (with a built-in kickstand), an active pen, and a Lenovo Fold Mini keyboard.

The tablet has a 2048 x 1536 pixel, 300-nit display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, and the computer measures 11.8 x 9.3 x 0.3 when unfolded without the cover. Put the cover on and the tablet is .45 inches thick unfolded, or 1.1 thick when folded in half like a book.

Lenovo will also offer an optional ThinkPad X1 Fold stand, and optional support for 4G LTE and/or 5G.
World UN Says Global Tensions Worst in Years After US Kills Iranian Commander

Antonio Guterres

NEW YORKUN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Monday that geopolitical tensions are at their highest level this century as the situation in the Middle East appears to be deteriorating in the wake of a US airstrike that killed a key Iranian commander last week.

Referring to trade and technological conflicts as well as other global concerns such as climate change, Guterres said in a statement, My message is simple and clear. Stop escalation. Exercise maximum restraint. Restart dialogue. Renew international cooperation.

Read more.

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In the News: Revisions for 2020
By GENE JOHNSON Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP)  Civil rights groups and lawmakers demanded information from federal officials Monday following reports that dozens of Iranian-Americans were held up and questioned at the border as they returned to the United States from Canada over the weekend.

The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said more than 60 Iranians and Iranian-Americans were detained and questioned for hours at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, Washington. The delays followed security warnings that Iran might retaliate for President Donald Trump's decision to kill a top Iranian general last week.

Some of the travelers were returning from a concert by an Iranian pop star in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday night, while others had been vacationing or visiting relatives over the holidays.

Unusual delays in clearing travelers of Iranian descent continued until Sunday afternoon but appeared to have ended by Monday, the civil rights groups said. It was not immediately clear if travelers had been similarly delayed elsewhere.

Border agents typically have discretion to refer a traveler for additional inspection, such as when a traveler's paperwork is not in order or if something raises the agent's suspicion. But immigrant rights groups and lawmakers said singling out Iranian-Americans absent such factors was wrong and violated their right to equal protection under the law.

In this Oct. 9, 2019 photo, traffic enters Canada from the United States at the Peace Arch Border Crossing, in Blaine, Wash. The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations says more than 60 Iranians and Iranian-Americans were detained and questioned at the border crossing over the weekend. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman, however, said no Iranian-Americans were detained or refused entry because of their country of origin. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)AP

Negah Hekmati, 38, told a news conference at the Seattle office of U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal on Monday that she and her husband were detained, along with their 8-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter, from midnight to 5 a.m. Sunday as they returned from a ski trip. They are all U.S. citizens, though she and her husband were born in Iran.

The family is in the NEXUS program  an expedited border-crossing program for low-risk travelers  and visits relatives in Canada about once a month, she said. They had never previously been detained for so long.

My daughter was telling me, Please dont speak Farsi. Maybe if you don't speak Farsi they won't take you,' said Hekmati. This is not OK."

Border guards took their passports, NEXUS cards and car keys, she said. They questioned her about her parents, her education and her Facebook and email accounts, she said, and asked her husband about the military service he was required to perform in Iran as a young man.

Another family they were traveling with was similarly detained, and they said they saw about two dozen other families  all of Iranian descent  in the same waiting area, Hekmati said. Only one white family passed through the area while they were there, she said, and that family was allowed to leave within minutes.

Michael Friel, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said reports that Iranian-Americans were detained or refused entry because of where they were born were not true.

Based on the current threat environment, CBP is operating with an enhanced posture at its ports of entry to safeguard our national security and protect the America people while simultaneously protecting the civil rights and liberties of everyone, Friel said in a statement.

He said border wait times increased to an average of two hours Saturday evening at Blaine, Washington, because of increased traffic and reduced staffing because of the holiday season.

Jayapal and others rejected the assertion that low staffing levels had anything to do with the singling out of Iranian or Iranian-American families. She suggested the Department of Homeland Security, which includes Customs and Border Protection, was lying.

DHS was the same agency that denied family separations were happening on the southern border, she noted.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., center, addresses a news conference as she stands with Masih Fouladi, left, Negah Hekmati, Diane Narasaki and Jorge Baron and talks about Hekmati's hours-long delay returning to the U.S. from Canada with her family days earlier, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, in Seattle. Civil rights groups and lawmakers were demanding information from federal officials following reports that dozens of Iranian-Americans were held up and questioned at the border as they returned to the United States from Canada over the weekend. In a statement Sunday, the Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said more than 60 Iranians and Iranian-Americans were detained and questioned at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, Washington. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)AP

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, tweeted Sunday that his office was trying to speak with people who experienced problems and was asking federal government officials for more information.

Jorge Baron, executive director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, said he went to the border crossing at Blaine on Sunday in response to the reports. He tweeted that he spoke with one legal permanent resident of the U.S. who was detained for 11 hours overnight in secondary screening along with about 40 other people who had been born in Iran.

Bottom-line: despite CBP denials, this was definitely happening, Baron wrote.

He reported meeting with three families  all U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents  who had been delayed as long as 2 1/2 hours.

 @CBP claims that they were not detaining people but this is only true if you define detain to mean only to be placed in a locked room, Baron tweeted. These individuals were in a waiting area and could walk to the parking lot but were not free to go: They were not being allowed to enter the U.S. (their only home) and CBP was holding their passports so they couldnt back to Canada even if they had wanted to.
Bangladesh witnessed more than 1,000 students and activists gather at a public university campus and protest after a second-year student was raped. According to reports, protesters gathered and held hands, shouted slogans and marched through the university campus. The victim was rescued and taken to the Dhaka Medical College hospital on December 5.

A heinous crime

The police said that the second-year student was on her way to a friend's house after getting off from the university bus on December 5. They further added that after getting off the bus, she was grabbed by someone from behind and then taken to an isolated place, where she was attacked by the perpetrators.

According to reports, both students and activists were protesting for the arrest of the people who were responsible for such a heinous crime alongside demanding safety for women. A few protesters were seen carrying placards that talked about wanting the highest punishment for the perpetrators and a few talked about wanting things such as justice and zero tolerance for a crime such as rape.

Read: Woman Accuses Police Officer Of Rape In Odisha

Read: Women Stage Unique Protest Against 'rape Culture'

Anti-rape Chilean protest song

Female members of the Turkish Parliament recently sang the anti-rape Chilean protest song in the Parliament to protest against femicide. According to unofficial data compiled by an advocacy group, men were responsible for taking the lives of 440 women in the year 2018. During Las Tesis protest, named after the Chilean feminist collective, nearly seven demonstrators were detained in Istanbul.

It was the protests in Chile that inspired a song and dance called 'The rapist is you' prompting rallies in several other countries. Reportedly, more such marches were planned on December 15 in Izmir and Istanbul. On December 14, nearly eight members of the Turkish parliament's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) pounded on the tables in the premises in Ankara. The MP's also sang the Turkish version of the song, while other colleagues held at least 20 pictures of the faces of women who are reportedly said to be killed due to domestic violence.

Read: Teenage Girl Gang Raped In Aravalli Mountain Range On New Year Eve

Read: UP Police Submits Charge Sheet In Connection With Death Of 23-yr-old Unnao Rape Victim

(With inputs from agencies)
There were words of condemnation after a purported video of the incident went viral on social media. (Photo Credit: Still from the video clip)

Shillong:

Meghalaya Home Minister James K Sangma on Monday confronted a journalist of a leading daily when the latter was waiting in front of his room at the state secretariat in Shillong.

The incident occurred around 5.30 pm when the minister, who is also the spokesperson of the ruling National Peoples Party, came out of his room and accused the journalist of blocking his way.

Accompanied by two of his security personnel, James, who acted in a hurry, walked down the stairs at first, but later climbed back and confronted the journalist.

The journalist, E M Jose, is a news editor at The Shillong Times, a leading English daily in the state. There were words of condemnation after a purported video of the incident went viral on social media.

Eight journalists were waiting to have a word with the minister on issues concerning the state and the departments he holds charge. The journalists had also sent a requisition slip seeking for an official appointment with the home minister, who also holds the charge of power and district council affairs.

When he stormed out of his office, the journalists greeted New Year wishes to the minister, who reciprocated and then tried to walk ahead without responding to further questions.

He accused the journalists of blocking his way and allegedly pushed the journalist. What the hell are you doing? Why are you blocking my way like that? the minister shouted.

Jose clarified that he did not block the way, but retorted by asking the minister who he think he is. Who the hell you think of yourself. Who are you? the journalist asked.

James, who was five-six stairs down, returned to repeatedly ask: What is your problem?

At this time, the ministers personal assistant stood in between even as security guards were also present at the scene.

Jose said his intention was to ask questions the minister ought to answer for the people and that he was not interested in blocking the minister.
Burma Myanmar Ethnic Armed Groups' Peace Negotiators and Govt to Meet Soon

General Yawd Serk (right), the chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State, addressed the opening of the Peace Process Steering Team meeting in Naypyitaw on Jan. 7, 2020. / NCA-S EAO / Facebook

The long awaited Joint-Ceasefire Implementation Coordinating Meeting (JICM), which will be joined by State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and leaders of 10 ethnic armed groups, will be held in Naypyitaw on Wednesday.

The meeting follows discussions between the government and representatives of the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) in late December.

On Tuesday, the leaders of 10 EAOs that signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement held a meeting of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) in Naypyitaw and their agenda focused on preparations for the upcoming JICM.

General Yawd Serk, the chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State, urged his colleagues to try to work on achieving good results to move the peace process forward, saying that all those interested in the countrys politics, peace process and military affairs, are waiting to see the results of the JICM.

He said in his address on Tuesday that the JICM is an important meeting to formally resume the peace process. It is our responsibility to establish the process and [make] decisions which are acceptable to both sides, and then we have to implement them.

After being subjected to a travel ban in late October by the military, which caused the postponement of the JICM, Gen. Yawd Serks presence in Naypyitaw this time was a sign that the informal negotiation process on logistics and discussions was proceeding smoothly.

Khun Myint Tun of the Pa-O Nationalities Liberation Organization, one of the NCA signatories, told The Irrawaddy that representatives of both sides agreed during preparatory discussions that Jan. 8 would be the date on which they would finally hold the JICM, which is seen as a gateway allowing the formal peace process to move forward.

The latest preparatory discussions for the JICM were held on Dec. 22 at Yangons National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC).

The 8th JICM was postponed after formal peace negotiations between the government and the EAOs stalled in late 2018. Without the JICM, the peace negotiations and conferences that are considered the stepping stones to establishing genuine federal principles for the future Myanmar are unable to convene.

The third session of the Union Peace Conference was held in July 2018, but key federal principles, including autonomy and the right of secession, were left out of the discussions.

We all want the  21st Century Panglong [Union] Peace Conference to resume, as this year Myanmar will be holding the 2020 general election and we need to lay out federal principles and the outline of how to build a federal Union beyond 2020, Khun Myint Tun said.

Gen. Yawd Serk said NCA signatories must uphold the NCAs principles, and that everyone needed to participate in building a federal union that ensures ethnic equality, self-determination and democratic principles.

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Scaling access to medical diagnostics will be necessary to improve global health  novel tools and technologies like wearable textiles holds the potential value to democratize healthcare in a way that has never previously been imagined.

Myant Inc., the pioneers in Textile Computing, will be showcasing a line-up of textile products that enable continuous and ambient heart health management at CES 2020 (January 7-10, Las Vegas), including apparel from the Skiin Connected Health & Wellness line which was honored as a winner in the Health & Wellness category of the CES 2020 Innovation Awards.

While electrocardiography, or the study of the electrical activity of the heart, has long been recognized as a crucial diagnostic modality in the management of overall health, access to cardiac diagnostics has long been restricted within the context of clinical settings, and offered only to those suffering from, or at significant risk of cardiac disease. Factors such as high cost of care and complexity in diagnostic devices have led to an approach towards heart health management that is largely reactive in nature as opposed to truly preventative.

Enabling Access to Heart Health Management for All via Everyday Clothing

Heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the world, and there is no current way to monitor the heart in an ambient, passive, seamless, and reliable manner - essential to preventative care. Myants mission is to create that connection to the human body, through everyday products that are already pervasive in our lives and continuously being used, in order to connect everyone, regardless of their age, gender or ability, and throughout all facets of their lives (i.e. sleep, work, play/fitness, etc.).

Leading healthcare experts like Dr. Suraj Kapa, a cardiologist and medical innovation expert from the Mayo Clinic who advises on healthcare strategy for Myant, agree on the potential for textile to transform the way care is delivered and managed. Scaling access to medical diagnostics will be necessary to improve global health  novel tools and technologies like wearable textiles holds the potential value to democratize healthcare in a way that has never previously been imagined, noted Dr. Kapa.

Myant has been working to develop textiles that can sense the electrical activity of the heart, and deploying these textiles in different form factors (i.e. clothing, furniture, car seats, etc.). By distributing the data captured by these interfaces through a cloud-based, AI-enabled platform, Myant is ushering in a model for heart health management that is continuous, ambient, preventative, and democratized. This will create continuous access to best-in-class heart health machine learning algorithms, something that is currently confined to leading hospitals and cardiologists.

Myant will be bringing these products to market under its connected brand Skiin. The line-up of apparel can record ECG data from multiple points of the body to obtain different ECG vectors resulting in more accurate and continuous heart monitoring. The Skiin line-up of interfaces to be showcased at CES 2020 includes:

Interface Details

Underwear



2-lead electrocardiogram (ECG)

Includes activity and temperature monitoring, plus more

Launching in Q1 2020

Bra



3-lead ECG recording garment

Includes activity and temperature monitoring, plus more

Launching in Q1 2020

Undershirt



3 to 5-Lead ECG shirt with multiplexing capability between electrodes

Includes activity and temperature monitoring, plus more

Launching in Q2 2020

Polo Shirt



Single-lead ECG recording polo shirt

PPG sensor for ECG-PPG cuffless blood pressure measurement

Launching in Q4 2020

Baby Onesie



3 to 5-lead ECG onesie with multiplexing capability between electrodes

Includes activity, position and temperature monitoring, plus more

Launching in Q4 2020

Pregnancy Band



12-lead maternal ECG and fetal ECG monitoring abdominal band

Lead selection capability from 16 electrodes for optimal fetal ECG recording

12-Lead Holter Monitor



12-lead medical grade cardiac Holter monitor

Utilizing Myant proprietary fully textile dry motion-resistant active electrodes

ECG recording with continuous mechanical/electrical electrode contact monitoring

Devices are under pre-submission process with the FDA and are not currently for sale under any jurisdiction.

Distributing ECG and Other Biometric Insights via Social Connectedness App, Deepening Connection with Circle of Care to Address the Social Determinants of Health:

Human interaction and social connectedness are fundamental human needs, and an individuals health and wellbeing are known to be intrinsically connected to these social determinants. While people in the past lived in tighter knit communities and thus were able to stay more connected and better care for each other, our social connections in the modern world are less physically connected and more dispersed. Myants mission is to use technology to help alleviate this problem, and connect people to themselves, their communities, AI and the world around them.

In light of this, ECG data and other biometric data gathered by Skiin garments will be distributed via the Skiin app (powered by the Myant Platform) which promotes sharing of information between the user and their Care Circle. The aim of the app experience is to create a continuous, ambient, and more meaningful bond between the user and their caregivers (e.g. loved ones, healthcare professionals, etc.), providing the user with the support they need to achieve better health outcomes. Members of the Care Circle can check-in on the user via the app to understand their physical and emotional state at a glance, providing greater peace of mind. AI on the Myant Platform works with a nudge system build into the app to alert the user and their Care Circle of important changes to the users state, suggesting meaningful actions to help improve wellbeing. The end result is the redistribution of care, from isolated episodes in clinical contexts to a continuous, distributed community-based model in which the user, their loved ones, healthcare providers, and AI all work together to promote better outcomes.

Myant at CES 2020

The democratization of heart health management through connected textiles is just one of the many possibilities enabled by the Myant Platform, which provides a continuous, ambient and passive connection between people and their bodies, their communities, and their environments across all aspects of daily life (i.e. home, work, and play). Myants presence at CES 2020 was designed to encourage others to envision these possibilities, inspiring the world to challenge the way they see everyday textile and to reimagine the value that these objects can provide. Myant invites you to visit their booth at CES 2020 (Booth #43925, Sands Expo, Health & Wellness) to discover more about a world connected by textiles.

For more information or to schedule a meeting with Myant at CES 2020, please contact:

Brian Fung

Marketing Strategist at Myant

brian.fung@myant.ca, 416-423-7906 x401

Frank Florio

VP, Strategy & Business Development at Myant

frank.florio@myant.ca, 416-423-7906 x421

About Myant Inc.

Myant has created the worlds first platform that continuously and ambiently connects people to their bodies, to each other, and to the world around them. Using connected textiles that can sense and react to the human body and a platform that enables machine learning driven health and performance outcomes, Myant is on a mission to transform human connectedness. With an extensive patent portfolio, key exclusive relationships within the textile computing industry, a multidisciplinary team of researchers, engineers, data scientists, fashion designers and knitting specialists, and over 80,000 ft of manufacturing capacity, Myant is changing the way people across society connect. Connect with us to find out how we can help you create innovative solutions powered by connected textiles and the Myant Platform. Visit https://www.myant.ca to learn more.
A young woman in China has been detained after posing naked at a children's park and then posting the risque pictures onto social media to flaunt her 'hot body'.

The 20-year-old model, known by her surname Zhang, hired a male photographer to snap the photos on a ride at the Fengling Children's Park in the city of Nanning on New Year's Eve, according to police.

The photographer, 31, also uploaded the X-rated pictures onto his social media account and was subsequently detained for spreading pornography.

A 20-year-old woman (pictured) has been punished for posing naked at a park in China

Ms Zhang, from the city of Nanning, had the risque photos taken to flaunt her physique

Ms Zhang claimed that she had the pictures taken because she thought she had a good figure and hoped the images could document her youth, according to Nanning Legal Online.

She said she did not realise that posing in public naked was illegal.

Pictures and footage circulating on Chinese messaging app WeChat show a nude Ms Zhang displaying different postures on a gondola which resembled a parachute with the city's neon-lit skyline in the background.

The photographer, known by his surname Xue, was on another gondola while taking the pictures and filming the scenes.

The park's management said the pair took the 1-per-ride attraction twice in order to complete the photo shoot.

The X-rated pictures were snapped on a ride at the Fengling Children's Park (left). The playground (right) is popular with children in the capital of the Guangxi Autonomous Region

A statement from the business claimed that neither the model or the photographer had sought permission for the photo shoot and that the park's workers were not aware of the situation on the day.

The park condemned their behaviour in a statement released on Friday.

'This type of indecent photo shoot not only goes against the public order and good morals promoted by the General Principles of the Civil Law of the China, but also seriously damages the family friendly atmosphere of Fengling Children's Park,' it criticised.

The park called the police on Saturday after the pictures in question had gone viral.

Officers at the Nanhu Branch of the Nanning Public Security Bureau said that Ms Zhang and Mr Xue shared the lewd pictures on their respective online platform after finishing the photo shoot which took place between 7pm and 8pm on December 31.

In a statement yesterday, the police said they had given Ms Zhang a five-day detention for exposing her naked body in public. Mr Xue was also detained for five days for spreading pornography.

Under Chinese law, anyone who exposes his or her body in public or behaves indecently can be detained for five to 10 days; while anyone who spreads pornography for commercial interests can be given a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Fluence Corporationhas achieved Financial Close on the $265 million Ivory Coast water treatment plant.This was helped by the execution of the financing agreement by the Ministry of Finance of Ivory Coast and the Israeli Discount Bank.Fluence will start construction to fully erect the water treatment plant over the next 24 months.Achievement of Financial Close allows Fluence to immediately recognize no less than $29 million of revenue for work that has already largely been completed.Shares in Fluence Corporationclosed 0.3 per cent higher at 45 cents yesterday.
Haftar's Forces Seize Key Libyan Coastal Town

By VOA News January 06, 2020

Forces loyal to Libyan General Khalifa Haftar say they have captured the strategically-important city of Sirte from the Western-backed government in Tripoli.

A spokesman for Haftar's Libyan National Army said Monday the city fell within hours and has been "totally liberated."

Tripoli has yet to comment and no other details of the fighting are available.

Sirte is located on the Mediterranean coast and is a key city because Haftar's LNA controls the area to its immediate east while Tripoli controls the region to the immediate west.

The city is also close to the oil fields. Sirte was longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi's hometown and was once in the hands of Islamic State before the government, backed by U.S. airstrikes, drove out the extremists.

Libya has been in constant chaos since Gadhafi was toppled and killed in 2011. Efforts at hammering out a political settlement have failed.

Both sides have been battling for control of Tripoli since April, with hundreds of thousands of civilians caught in the middle. Turkish troops are being deployed to Libya to support the GNA.

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Each year's batch of Love Island contestants boast the same hallmarks - shiny teeth, taut abs, honed physiques, dazzling tans and a perfectly polished appearance.

Yet some of the stars' similarities run a little bit deeper, as illustrated by the newly-unveiled batch of contestants for the 2020 winter edition of the show, who were revealed on Monday ahead of the sixth season.

A number of the 12 hopefuls heading to Cape Town to look for love in the series' first ever winter edition bear an incredibly striking resemblance to former stars of the show, including Mike Boateng's likeness to 2017 star Marcel Somerville and Ollie Williams' similarities to 2018's Charlie Frederick.

Matching: Each year's batch of Love Island contestants boast the same hallmarks - shiny teeth, taut abs, honed physiques, dazzling tans and a perfectly polished appearance

Woah! Miss Ghana UK 2016 contestant Leanne Amaning, 22, who works as a customer service advisor, seems to have borrowed her look from last year's star Yewande Biala, as she prepares to enter the show

Love Island's first ever winter season has already made a name for itself with its plentiful dollopings of drama, mostly due to the removal of host Caroline Flack after her arrest for assault last month.

But now the ITV2 reality show is back - months earlier than usual - and a new roster of sexy singletons will be landing on screens in a matter of days. And in this first look at the maiden voyage of winter Love Island, there's much to digest when it comes to the new cast - starting with their looks.

Twitter was flooded with comments from fans who noted the similarities with past contestants, with some musing if they had been 'made in a factory' or being 'BTEC versions' of former contestants.

Miss Ghana UK 2016 contestant Leanne Amaning, 22, who works as a customer service advisor, seems to have borrowed her look from Yewande Biala, as she prepares to enter the show.

Who's who?! Coffee Bean Salesman and part-time naked butler Connor Durman, 25, is a dead ringer for last year's victor Greg O'Shea, 24, with just tattoos seeming to set them apart

The Annual Pocket Rocket: Siannise Fudge joins a legion of petite brunettes, who appear to grace screens every season - as she follows on from 2017 winner Amber Davies, last year's Maura Higgins and 2018 star Kendall Rae Knight (left-right)

Stunning Shaughna Phillips, 25, who is a democratic services officer from London, looks to have borrowed the look of 2018 winner Dani Dyer - with tumbling locks falling from a centre parting and strikingly similar features.

When Kady McDermott entered the show in 2016, she was given the term 'Pocket Rocket', due to her petite stature, lengthy brunette locks and dazzling eyes.

Each year since, there has been a replica - and it seems Bristol-based 'eyebrow queen' Siannise Fudge, 25, is this year's offering - thanks to her svelte frame and dark tresses.

She follows on from 2017 winner Amber Davies, last year's Maura Higgins and 2018 star Kendall Rae Knight.

The Original: The name pocket rocket sprung from 2016 star Kady McDermott, who was said to have spawned the onslaught of lookalikes in subsequent years on the show - with Siannise being the latest to bare a striking resemblance

Who's who? Fans soon noted the similarities between both old and new cast members

Here come the girls! Stunning Shaughna Phillips, 25, who is a democratic services officer from London, looks to have borrowed the look of 2018 winner Dani Dyer - with tumbling locks falling from a centre parting and strikingly similar features

Ollie Williams, 23 - an heir to the Lanhydrock estate and land Owner - is next to cause a double take, with his bright blonde hair and sparkling eyes nearly looking identical to 2018's Charlie Frederick, 24.

Coffee Bean Salesman and part-time naked butler Connor Durman, 25, is a dead ringer for last year's victor Greg O'Shea, 24, with just tattoos seeming to set them apart.

Mike Boateng, 24, a police officer from London looks incredibly similar to 2017 star and Blazin' Squad member Marcel Somerville, who was a show hit before cheating on his co-star girlfriend Gabby Allen.

Blonde boys: Ollie Williams, 23 - an heir to the Lanhydrock estate and land Owner - is next to cause a double take, with his bright blonde hair and sparkling eyes nearly looking identical to 2018's Charlie Frederick, 24

Noted! One fan insisted your success on the show was based on nepotism or similar looks

Too similar? Fans insisted the likenesses meant the series all became too similar

Precautions: The latest batch of Love Islanders are set to be protected by armed guards, as the show's bosses parry kidnap concerns in South Africa (pictured)

Check us out! Mike Boateng, 24, a police officer from London looks incredibly similar to 2017 star and Blazin' Squad member Marcel Somerville, who was a show hit before cheating on his co-star girlfriend Gabby Allen

With more Islanders set to be added after the show debuts on Sunday, Love Island's winter edition is sure to keep fans warm during the long nights ahead.

The latest batch of hopefuls are set to be protected by armed guards, as the show's bosses parry kidnap concerns in South Africa.

The singletons will live in a luxurious 5.3million villa in Cape Town, one of the world's most dangerous cities, for six weeks. As well as TV crews being given training on dealing with any potential security, breach guards will be on constant watch.

A Love Island Spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'The safety and security of our Islanders and crew are of the utmost importance.'

Buxom blondes: Lewis Capaldis ex Paige Turley, 22, is a dead ringer for last year's contestant Belle Hassan

Last month, Love Island host Caroline Flack stepped down from her 1.2million a year contract with ITV after she was charged with assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27.

For now, the presenter, 40, is only standing down from the sixth series, which will be hosted by her pal Laura Whitmore.

Breaking her silence on social media about her decision, the media personality told fans: 'There have been a significant number of media reports and allegations in regard to my personal life.

'While matters were not as have been reported I am committed to co-operating with the appropriate authorities and I can't comment further on these matters until the legal process is over.
Banks and financial services paid a record 75.5billion in taxes last year, figures have revealed.

The sum accounts for more than 1 in every 10 paid to the Government, according to a report by accountants PwC for the City Of London Corporation.

The total was made up of 33.4billion of direct taxes, including corporation tax and business rates, and 42.1billion through indirect ones such as employee National Insurance contributions.

Britain's banks and financial services paid more than 1 in every 10 of taxes collected by the Government

This was slightly up on the previous year's 75billion, despite the political and economic uncertainty, although corporation tax on profits fell for the first time since 2014.

The report, Total Tax Contribution Of UK Financial Services, added that finance firms employ 1.1m staff across the country  around 3 per cent of all UK employment  making taxes on workers the highest contributing factor in the industry.

It also revealed that 10.5 per cent of all taxes collected in the year to March 31 were paid by the sector.

Catherine McGuinness, policy chairman at the City of London Corporation, said: 'Despite a challenging economic climate and uncertainty around Brexit, the sector has maintained its tax contributions from the record high of last year.

'With Brexit looming, however, the UK must remain competitive to safeguard the sector's employment base and significant tax contribution.

'It will play a critical role in fuelling our economic success after we leave the EU.'

Andrew Kail, PwC's head of financial services, said: 'It's important we look closely at our tax system to ensure it's fit for new ways of working and doing business while optimising the competitiveness of the sector post-Brexit.'
Rather than self-defense, the Suleimani killing seems like the dreadful result of several intersecting dynamics. Theres the influence of rapture-mad Iran hawks like Pompeo and Vice President Mike Pence. Defense officials who might have stood up to Trump have all left the administration. According to Peter Bergens book Trump and His Generals, James Mattis, Trumps former secretary of defense, instructed his subordinates not to provide the president with options for a military showdown with Iran. But with Mattis gone, military officials, The Times reported, presented Trump with the possibility of killing Suleimani as the most extreme option on a menu of choices, and were flabbergasted when he picked it.

Trump likely had mixed motives. He was reportedly upset over TV images of militia supporters storming the American Embassy in Iraq. According to The Post, he also was frustrated by negative coverage of his decision last year to order and then call off strikes on Iran.

Beyond that, Trump, now impeached and facing trial in the Senate, has laid out his rationale over years of tweets. The president is a master of projection, and his accusations against others are a decent guide to how he himself will behave. He told us, over and over again, that he believed Barack Obama would start a war with Iran to save face and because his poll numbers are in a tailspin and he needed to get re-elected. To Trump, a wag-the-dog war with Iran evidently seemed like a natural move for a president in trouble.

Its hard to see how this ends without disaster. Defenders of Trumps move have suggested that he might have re-established deterrence against Iran, frightening its leadership into restraint. But Vali Nasr, a Middle East scholar at Johns Hopkins University and former senior adviser to Obamas State Department, tells me that Iran likely believes that it has to re-establish deterrence against the United States.

If they dont do anything, or if they dont do enough, then Trump will get comfortable with this kind of behavior, and that worries them, said Nasr. To Iranians, after all, America is the aggressor, scrapping a nuclear agreement that they were abiding by and imposing a punishing maximum pressure sanctions campaign. Just like militarists in the United States, theyre likely to assume that weakness invites attacks. I dont think they want to provoke war, but they do want to send a signal that theyre prepared for it, said Nasr.
FILE PHOTO: Former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn sits inside a car as he leaves his lawyer's office after being released on bail from Tokyo Detention House, in Tokyo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Former Nissan <7201.T> and Renault <RENA.PA> boss Carlos Ghosn began his astonishing escape from Japan with a bullet train ride from Tokyo to Osaka, possibly accompanied by several people, Japanese news agency Kyodo reported Monday.

Japanese authorities also said on Monday they may still press for Ghosn's extradition from Lebanon to face multiple charges of financial wrongdoing, even though the country does not normally extradite its nationals.

Security cameras captured Ghosn leaving his home on Dec. 29 at about 2:30 p.m. (0530 GMT) and arriving some hours later at Tokyo's Shinagawa Station, where he took the train to Shin Osaka Station, Kyodo said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The international fugitive then went by car to a hotel near Osaka's Kansai International Airport, where he boarded a private jet at 11:10 p.m., according to the media report.

Ghosn was forbidden from leaving Japan while awaiting trial on charges of financial misconduct, which he has denied, but he fled at the end of last year to escape what he called a "rigged" justice system.

Prosecutors are now working with police to piece together Ghosn's route and find out who helped him, Kyodo said.

In the government's first briefing since Ghosn skipped bail, Justice Minister Masako Mori said on Monday that as a general principle, Tokyo could request the extradition of a suspect from a country with which it has no formal extradition agreement.

Such a request would need to be carefully examined based on the possibility of "guaranteeing reciprocity and the domestic law of the partner country", Mori told reporters in Tokyo.

Mori did not say what would guarantee reciprocity - the idea that benefits or penalties extended by one country to citizens of another should be reciprocated. She also did not say if there were any Lebanese nationals in Japan wanted in Lebanon.

RED NOTICE

According to a Lebanese judicial source, Lebanon has yet to receive a formal notice from Interpol requesting Ghosn's arrest and will not take any steps until it does.

Story continues

The source said on Monday that the so-called red notice it received last week had been sent directly from Japan rather than via Interpol's headquarters in Lyon, France.

"There are questions in Wiesbaden and Lyon over the legality of sending the notification directly from Tokyo to Lebanon without passing through Interpol headquarters," the source said, referring to Interpol offices.

When Lebanon has received red notices in the past, suspects have not been detained but their passports have been confiscated and bail has been set, a judicial source said last week.

Mori offered little insight into the events of Ghosn's escape to his ancestral home, repeatedly saying she could not comment on specifics because of an ongoing investigation.

Japanese officials broke days of silence about the Ghosn case on Sunday, saying they would tighten immigration measures and investigate his escape thoroughly. The authorities have also issued an international notice for his arrest.

Mori also defended Japan's justice system against Ghosn's charges that it was "rigged" and discriminatory.

In Japan, suspects who deny charges against them are often detained for long periods and subject to lengthy questioning without a lawyer present, a system critics call "hostage justice".

"Various comments about Japan's justice system and this unjust departure are two different things," Mori told reporters, saying criticism of the justice system could not be used to justify Ghosn's escape.

"Departure in an unjust way without proper procedure is tantamount to smuggling, an illegal departure amounting to a crime."

(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka and Kevin Buckland; Additional reporting by Laila Bassam in Beirut; Writing by David Dolan and Eric Knecht; Editing by Christopher Cushing and David Clarke)
China-Indonesia fisheries issue calls for joint mechanism

by Yan Yan

January 07,2020 | Source: Global Times

It has been reported recently that Indonesia protested over Chinese fishing vessels and coastguard presence in the waters near the Natuna Islands, claiming that "China's claims to the exclusive economic zone on the grounds that its fishermen have long been active there... have no legal basis and have never been recognized by the 1982 UNCLOS." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang replied on Dec 31, stating that China has sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters near the Nansha Islands. In the meantime, China has historical rights in the South China Sea. Therefore Chinese fishing activity and coastguard vessels' presence is legal and legitimate.



The Natuna Islands are located on the southern tip of the South China Sea with abundant natural resources such as fisheries, oil and gas. China has recognized Indonesia's sovereignty over the Natuna Islands for many years. In 2015, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei clearly stated that China has no objection to Indonesia's sovereignty over the Natuna Islands. However, Indonesia claimed EEZ from the Natunas overlaps with the waters of the Nansha Islands. To Chinese fishermen, this part of the South China Sea has been known for decades as the southwest fishing grounds. Thus the two states have had a dispute over maritime jurisdiction in the waters.



Since the 1990s, Indonesia has sought through diplomacy to manage this issue with China over sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the waters of the southern part of the South China Sea while not disturbing its overall relationship with China.



Indonesia continues to insist that it has no territorial claims over areas in the South China Sea. While being a non-claimant, it has expressed many times that it would be happy to be "an honest broker" in the dispute by not siding with any party.



Nevertheless, it is sometimes trapped in the dilemma of neutrality and self-interest. On one hand, the Indonesia-led Workshop on Managing Potential Conflicts initiated in the 1990s aims at managing conflicts by exploring areas of cooperation among coastal states that used to be an essential mechanism of conflict management. Indonesia is also one of the main promoters of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, which was passed on Jun 23rd, 2019, in the ASEAN Regional Forum, strengthening inclusiveness and consensus-building.



On the other hand, Indonesia attempts to reframe the issue with China by insisting there are no overlapping claims. In July 2017, Indonesia showed a stronger posture by renaming the southern tip of the South China Sea, the "North Natuna Sea," to enhance its maritime claims.



Since Jakarta has decided to fortify its claimed maritime borders north of the Natunas, there have been quite a number of clashes between Indonesia and other countries bordering the South China Sea such as Vietnam and China. In March 2016, an Indonesian Maritime Affairs and Fisheries patrol ship intercepted a Chinese trawler in this section of the waters. In April 2019, the Indonesian navy arrested a dozen Vietnamese fishermen and came into conflict with Vietnamese coastguard vessels. Indonesian President Joko Widodo launched an aggressive campaign against so-called illegal fishing shortly after he took office.



In all, the dispute between China-Indonesia is mainly about fishing rights, and it should not be escalated to a political and territorial one. With the Code of Conduct negotiations progressing on a fast track, it is time for the two nations to sit down and find an amicable solution to this decade-long issue. China and the Philippines inaugurated the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea since 2016 and so far conducted five meetings. China and Malaysia also set up a bilateral dialogue mechanism to deal with maritime issues in September 2019. Both of these mechanisms established technical working groups to work on maritime issues of mutual concern and possible cooperation initiatives. It is time for China and Indonesia to consider a similar agreement to guarantee that maritime issues will not disturb the overall cooperation and relationship between the two countries.



The year 2020 marks the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between China and Indonesia. Widodo is also planning to pay a state visit to China this year. It is time for the two to make joint efforts to find a way out of this conundrum to ensure peace and stability in the South China Sea.

 2019 Global Times

Theme(s): Others.
For nearly four years, Stephanie Tolino, a yoga and meditation instructor, has been coming to SupplyHouse.com twice a month to provide employees with 20-minute meditation and/or yoga sessions. Yoga and meditation are known to have many health benefits including improved focus, creativity, stress management, mental wellbeing and more.

"Yoga and meditation make great resolutions because they are the practice of continuous self-reflection," said Tolino. "We are constantly evolving and require the proper attention from ourselves to remain motivated and productive. These reflective practices give people the opportunity to unwind, regain clarity, and remember that we are one piece of a larger puzzle. Yoga and meditation practices increase innovation because of the vulnerability and empathy that the practice builds. It allows us to work towards the best version of ourselves, both in the office and at home," Tolino continued.

With the new year just beginning, several employee's resolutions revolve around the commitment to their yoga and meditation practices.

"The meditation room at SupplyHouse.com has provided a perfect avenue for me to break up my day," said Krystle Remington, SupplyHouse.com Product Support Specialist. "Many of us, including myself, carry full schedules and finding a good time to focus on our mind, body and health can be difficult. Having a place to go before the work day begins, or even fitting in a quick session during my lunch break removes the stress of having to find time. I always come back to my desk with renewed energy and positivity to carry out the rest of my day," Remington continued.

SupplyHouse.com prides itself on creating an enjoyable and positive work environment which fosters innovation and creativity. They have a total of 370 employees across their four locations in Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. With their core values and unique company culture, SupplyHouse.com strives to make a positive impact on its customers, employees, and greater community every day.

SOURCE SupplyHouse.com

Related Links

http://supplyhouse.com


DUBLIN, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The Global Smart Cards Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global smart cards market (contact, contactless, hybrid, and dual-interface cards) is highly competitive.



Manufacturers are adding features such as biometric security and looking to expand into the emerging sectors Internet of Things and eSIM spaces. The market is vast and mature, and the top 5 market participants are leaders across one or more of these product segments, though they face stiff competition from smaller and medium enterprises. Because the market is mature with leading participants offering similar products and solutions, innovation is a key competitive factor. Market leaders also focus on inorganic growth to expand their product portfolio and customer base.



Global market revenue in 2018 stood at $8.17 billion. Revenue is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3% between 2018 and 2025, reaching $10.03 billion. Asia-Pacific is the dominant region, accounting for 35.1% of global revenue and 47.8% of unit shipments. Revenue is expected to witness a 3.3% CAGR between 2018 and 2025.



The contact card is the most popular card type, with 2018 revenue of $5.07 billion. It will continue to contribute the largest revenue share during the forecast period. Dual-interface card revenue is likely to grow fastest, at a 5.2% CAGR between 2018 and 2025.



The banking and financial services vertical is the top revenue contributor, at 39.4%. The SIM card vertical is the leader in terms of units, at 49%.



The use of contactless smart cards globally for identification, ticketing, and payments is driving growth. Radio frequency identification (RFID) and near-field communication (NFC) contactless smart cards offer higher speed and convenience. Enhanced security makes them ideal for payments, ID, passports, and visas.



This report reveals the market positioning of companies in an industry using their Growth and Innovation scores as highlighted in the report methodology. The document presents competitive profiles on each of the companies in the report based on their strengths, opportunities, and a small discussion on their positioning. The publisher analyzes hundreds of companies in the industry and benchmarks them across 10 criteria on the report, where the leading companies in the industry are then positioned. Industry leaders on both the Growth and Innovation indices are recognized as best practice recipients.

Key Topics Covered



1. Industry Overview



2. Global Smart Cards Market

Description of Companies Plotted

3. C2A - Market Participant Profiles

IDEMIA

Gemalto

Giesecke+Devrient

VALID

Watchdata

Wuhan Tianyu (Tianyu)

Eastcompeace

ABCorp

CPI Card Group

CardLogix Corporation

KONA I

Versatile Card Technology (VCT)

4. The Last Word

The Last Word - Key Takeaways

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6m3t2o

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

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Weeping over the coffin of slain Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad, Iran's supreme leader vowed severe revenge on America, echoing the anger of more than a million mourners in the streets of Tehran. "Harsh revenge" awaited the "criminals" who killed Soleimani, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared. The U.S. assassination of Soleimani, the leader of Iran's elite Quds force, the foreign arm of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has prompted "13 revenge scenarios," Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary announced Tuesday. "Even if there is consensus on the weakest scenario, carrying it out can be a historic nightmare for the Americans," Ali Shamkhani said.

And the world appears to be taking it seriously: Markets fell on the news and money is moving into safe havens like gold in the face of potentially greater conflict in the Middle East. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has warned of "homeland-based plots" against infrastructure targets including cyberattacks by Iranian proxies like Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. "The Trump administration has essentially thrown a hand grenade into already extremely tense region," Ellie Geranmayeh, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told CNBC. "This move has exposed every American boot on the ground to a possible retaliatory attack."

Thousands of mourners pay homage to assassinated Iranian Major General Soleimani in US Airstrike. The Pentagon announced that Iran's Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed on 03 January 2020 following a US airstrike at Baghdad's international airport. Mazyar Asadi | Pacific Press | LightRocket via Getty Images

Soleimani's killing followed the storming of the American Embassy in Baghdad by Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite militias in the last week of December, reportedly at the Soleimani's direction. The violent demonstration was prompted by U.S. airstrikes that killed 25 of those militia members in retaliation for the group's launch of rockets that killed an American contractor on Dec. 28. Washington has called on all U.S. citizens in Iraq to leave the country immediately, and it's sending 3,500 additional troops to the region.

Revenge versus war

But as speculation mounts over Iran's next moves, analysts say Tehran does not want to provoke an actual war with the U.S. despite it calls for vengeance. Iran "will still try to avoid provoking an all-out war, but it will be challenging for them to retaliate in a way that allows them domestically to save face without at the same time triggering some sort of military response," Aniseh Tabrizi, a Middle East research fellow and Iran expert at London's Royal United Services Institute, told CNBC on Monday. She noted that with an economy buckling under American sanctions and a military far less equipped than that of the U.S., the country is not in the position economically or militarily to fight a conventional war.

Demonstrators burn the U.S. and British flags during a protest against the assassination of the Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis who were killed in an air strike in Baghdad airport, in Tehran, Iran January 3, 2020. Nazanin Tabatabaee | Reuters

The drone strike on Soleimani on Friday (late Thursday ET) was a blow to Iran  not just because the general was revered across much of the country for his role in leading Iran's regional expansion and resistance against the U.S., but also because it now completely upends Iran's calculations in terms of prospects for U.S. military confrontation, Tabrizi said.

Potential proxy violence and cyberattacks

Khamenei "has to respond in a way which is pretty forceful or else they risk losing face," Karim Sadjadpour, a Carnegie Endowment senior fellow, told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday. "But with the erraticness of Trump, they have to be very careful how they respond," he said, describing the supreme ayatollah's approach as "calibrated." "Iran's responses could come across a spectrum of measures, whether that's on the Middle East or on its nuclear program, or through covert direct actions like cyberattacks on U.S. territory," Geranmayeh said, highlighting the risk of attacks in third-country territory like Iraq and noting that Iran and the U.S. are practically neighbors in their theaters of operation in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Former CIA acting director John McLaughlin issued the same warning, writing in intelligence newsletter the Cipher Brief: "Iran will retaliate in some major way and probably turn loose its proxies such as the terrorist wing of Hezbollah and its militias in Iraq and Syria."

Iran will retaliate in some major way and probably turn loose its proxies such as the terrorist wing of Hezbollah and its militias in Iraq and Syria. John McLaughlin Former acting director, CIA

Iran's cyber capabilities have increased rapidly in recent years, and while the state has never been publicly tied to an attack on industrial control systems, cybersecurity professionals warn it is likely working to develop those capabilities. Iranian hackers have already carried out destructive digital attacks, paralyzing computer networks around the Middle East like Saudi Arabia's state oil giant Aramco in 2012 and hitting several U.S. targets, including banks, a dam and a major Vegas casino.

The last year has seen a series of escalations including attacks on commercial tankers and oil facilities in the Gulf widely blamed on Iran. It also saw Washington's designation of the Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group, Iran's seizures of foreign tankers and its shooting down of a U.S. drone amid mounting U.S. sanctions. "We're dealing with an actor like Iran that has proven to be very capable at executing kinetic responses across the field," Geranmayeh said, citing the drone downing and the Sept. 14 attack on Saudi Aramco that instantly knocked out half of the Saudis' oil production. "We're not just dealing with a third-rate country that's incapable of responding."

...But WWIII hype is 'asinine' and 'hyperbolic'

Regional experts maintain that the Iranian state's response is likely to remain somewhat measured and gradual, as war is in neither country's interest and regime survival is paramount for Tehran. The hashtag "WW3" was trending on Twitter on Friday and through the weekend, but is "one of the most hyperbolic, stupid things I've heard," according to Phillip Smyth, a Washington Institute expert on Shiite militarism. "This isn't World War 3," he told CNBC. "That's not how any of this works ... it's asinine." And Iran's supreme leader didn't stay in power for the last 30 years by getting into impulsive wars with the U.S., noted Ray Takeyh, an Iranian-American former U.S. diplomat now at the Council of Foreign Relations.

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

"For all the fears already circulating that the United States just started World War 3, Iran's reaction is likely to be a calibrated one," Takeyh wrote in a Politico piece on Friday. "The Islamic Republic had already pledged to retreat further from its nuclear obligations by next week. A move in that direction seems more likely at this point, as opposed to blowing up American diplomatic and military outposts." Indeed, the most immediate action from Iran was the announcement Sunday that it would suspend its compliance to 2015 Iranian nuclear deal. But notably, Tehran maintained that it would keep working with the International Atomic Energy Agency's inspectors, and left the door open for a return to full compliance if economic sanctions are lifted. "My guess is they will be very careful in calibrating whatever decisive move they make," former Defense Secretary William Cohen, who served under the Clinton administration, told CNBC. "The Iranians will want to get their amount of blood back in terms of striking the U.S., but I don't think it will be a major strike because they'd be inviting a much more overwhelming strike against them."

What about attacks in the US?

DHS said in a bulletin Saturday that "At this time we have no information indicating a specific, credible threat to the Homeland," but added that "Iran and its partners, such as Hizballah, have demonstrated the intent and capability to conduct operations in the United States." But the experts surveyed by CNBC believe operations on the U.S. mainland outside of cyberattacks are highly unlikely, as Iran doesn't want to draw attacks on its own mainland. The regional proxy risk, however, remains very real especially since Tehran doesn't always have control over those groups  like the Shiite militias in Iraq or the Houthi rebels in Yemen  and they have acted out on their own in the past.
Regarding Dont Mess with Texas cities, (A25, Jan. 5): Robert Kaplan, who is president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, clearly makes a point of how important trade and immigration are for Texas. He says, If you believe youre going to cut the number of immigrants and grow GDP, those two things dont go together

Why cant the White House have experts like Kaplan to give such advice at the highest level? I appreciate Richard Parker for such excellent reporting.

Toy Halsey, Houston

Iran

In regards to Iran warned: U.S. will respond, (A1, Jan.6): In 2011 and 2012, Donald Trump is on video saying, because of his inability to negotiate, President Obama would possibly start a war with Iran to enhance his reelection prospects. Using those statements as a background, we have to look at President Trumps recent military actions against Iran. Were these statements against Obama in reality the thinking of Donald Trump and are we now seeing implementation of his own prediction?

We have no doubt the target of the strike was evil in many ways, but a reasonable question now, taking into consideration Trumps prior statements, has to be: Does this mean President Trumps negotiation skills are faulty or is there some behind-the-scenes purpose for his actions?

Ron Curtis, Houston

Houston landmark

Regarding Land sale paves way for new Montrose library in mixed-use development, (A3, Dec. 12): The piece did not reflect the significance of the librarys current building.

The structure is not just an old church. The former Central Church of Christ was the last church designed by William Ward Watkin, the architect who oversaw construction of the Rice University campus.

City officials say the move is part of a longer-term goal to incorporate city facilities into mixed-use developments. The Freed Montrose Library has been part of a landmark mixed-use development for decades. In 1981, developer John Hansen began repurposing the church property. He converted the former education building, now owned by the University of St. Thomas, into offices and retail/restaurant space, part of which was long occupied by The Black Labrador pub. Hansen eventually donated the sanctuary to the city for conversion into a branch library.

In AIA Houston Architectural Guide, architectural historian Stephen Fox describes Hansens redevelopment of the former Central Church of Christ as an urbanistically responsible reuse of existing buildings that renews the city and its fabric instead of ripping it to shreds.

The Chronicles article states that the city wants its new facilities integrated into neighborhoods. The librarys current location is already an integral part of its neighborhood.

We strongly support designating the entire property as a city of Houston protected landmark to ensure its future after the library moves. We are eager to discuss the economic benefits of historic preservation with the University of St. Thomas or any potential new owners so that this significant historic property is reused as a vibrant part of Montrose and the Museum District.

David Bush, Executive Director, Preservation Houston
Irish Naval Service divers are due to help search for the body of one of two fishermen who died off the Wexford coast at the weekend.

Gardai, who are now co-ordinating the search and recovery operation, requested the Naval Services Diving Section (NSDS) earlier today.

It is understood that while they have a general idea of where the trawler might be, its exact location is not known yet.

Whether or not the RLNI resume their role in the operation, which was assisted by the LE Samuel Beckett today, will be decided this morning.

The NSDS has the capability to conduct subsurface searches with divers an Autonomous Underwater Vesicle (AUV), a Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV) and Side Scan Sonar.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board has launched a probe into why the vessel vanished late Saturday evening.

Alize, which was up for sale for more than 200,000 and in pristine condition, sank so quickly in 50 metres of water its two crew didnt have time to raise the alarm.

Instead, it was the automatic activation of the vessels Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon that alerted emergency services around 10.30pm Saturday.

Not long after being dispatched, the R117 spotted and rescued Joe Sinnott in the water about four miles off the Duncannon coast. Despite efforts by medics to save him, he was pronounced dead later in hospital.

The funeral of the 65-year-old married father-of-four, from Seaview, Kilmore, will be held tomorrow at St Marys Church, Kilmore, Co Wexford.
A cybersecurity company has set up in Belfast creating nine new jobs.

Angoka has established a cybersecurity development centre in Catalyst at Titanic Quarter.

Belfast will be the headquarters for the company, which is a spin-out from a London-based firm.

Angoka specialises in managing cybersecurity for machine to machine communication, which has uses including self-driving vehicles and 'internet of things' devices.

The company has been offered 45,000 of support from economic development agency Invest NI towards the creation of nine new jobs, four of which are in place.

It's now seeking to fill engineering and business analyst posts.

Angoka has already worked with the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) at Queen's University.

Steve Berry, the US-born executive chairman of Angoka Ltd, said: "We are hugely excited to be joining the excellent ecosystem for cybersecurity that has grown in Northern Ireland over the last number of years.

"Our location in Belfast will enable us to make the most of our partnership with CSIT and RISE, the UK Research Institute for Security Hardware and Embedded Systems at Queen's University.

"We are also looking forward to recruiting and working with high-quality engineering and cyber security candidates who have graduated from local universities."

Steve Harper, executive director at Invest NI, said: "Angoka's decision to establish its headquarters in Belfast is testament to Northern Ireland's renowned expertise and talent within the global cybersecurity sector."

Mr Berry has worked in finance, capital and securities markets and later set up venture capital company Waterbridge Capital.

He is also chairman of Clima Investments Ltd and CyNation Ltd.

A notice seeking a junior software engineer for Belfast mentions that the company offers free tea and coffee and is near "public transit". "Easy access and treehugger friendly workplace," it adds.
HONOLULU  For the second time ever, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) has spotted two ultradense stellar remnants known as neutron stars violently crashing together. The gravitational wave event seems to have been generated by particularly massive entities that challenge astronomers' models of neutron stars.

LIGO made history two and a half years ago , when the observatory detected its first pair of neutron stars  city-size objects left behind when a giant star dies  spiraling around one another and then merging. When extremely heavy objects spiral and smash in this way, they create ripples in the fabric of space-time, and LIGO was specifically built to pick these up.

The new event was observed on April 25, 2019, during LIGO's third observing run, which is ongoing. The LIGO team determined that the total mass of the neutron star pair was 3.4 times that of Earth's sun.

Video: Watch the 2nd Known Neutron Star Crash in Animation

Related: Hunting Gravitational Waves: The LIGO Project in Photos

Telescopes have never seen a neutron star pair with a combined mass greater than 2.9 times that of the sun.

"This is clearly heavier than any other pair of neutron stars ever observed," Katerina Chatziioannou, an astronomer at the Flatiron Institute in New York City, said during a press conference Monday (Jan. 6) here at the 235th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Honolulu.

Researchers can't rule out that the merging entities were actually lightweight black holes or a black hole paired with a neutron star, she added. But black holes of such small stature have never been observed before, either.

Why previous telescopes have failed to detect neutron star pairs this massive remains a mystery, Chatziioannou said. But now that astronomers know that such beasts exist, it will be up to theorists to explain why these objects seem to show up only in gravitational wave detectors, she said. A paper with her team's findings is set to appear in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Whenever LIGO senses a potential detection, the observatory sends out an alert to the wider astronomical community, and those researchers immediately train available telescopes on the spot in the sky the facilities identify in the hopes of capturing an electromagnetic flash. After LIGO's first identification of a neutron star merger, a burst of gamma-ray light told scientists that the merger occurred in an old galaxy around 130 million light-years from Earth. This opened up an era of multimessenger astronomy , in which researchers have access to many sources of information about celestial happenings.

But this newly detected event appears to have occurred without an accompanying visible explosion. So far, no other teams have found a flash of light that burst out at the same time as the neutron star merger.

One reason for this is because, out of the world's three operational gravitational wave detectors, only one  the LIGO facility in Livingston, Louisiana  was able to spot the event. LIGO's Hanford, Washington, observatory was temporarily offline at the time, while the European Virgo detector, located near Pisa, Italy, was not sensitive enough to catch the faint gravitational waves, researchers said.

The LIGO-Virgo network normally uses the three detectors as a check on one another to make sure an event is real and to triangulate and pinpoint the event on the sky. So, with only one facility, the best that scientists could determine was that the merger happened more than 500 million light-years away from Earth in a region covering roughly a fifth of the sky.

Nevertheless, the three facilities have been working for long enough now that researchers can accurately distinguish between a fake signal and a real one, even with only one detector. The team understands its sources of noise well enough that it is "confident that this is a real signal of astrophysical origin," Chatziioannou said.

When the neutron stars merged, they collapsed into a black hole, and so Chatziioannou suggested that the giant black hole was created so quickly that it sucked up any outgoing flashes of light, potentially explaining the lack of a visible component. Another possibility is that any jet of energy was simply oriented away from Earth when it shot out from the system, she said.

Astronomers will continue to study the event, as well as subsequent gravitational wave occurrences. In a few weeks, a new detector is expected to come online in Japan, helping scientists detect and pinpoint even more gravitational waves .

Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook .
A glass flower at the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

It is nearly impossible to preserve a dead specimen in a pristine manner. Large vertebrates can be taxidermied, but invertebrates such as sea anemones and jellyfishes when sealed in a jar of alcohol or formaldehyde, lose their color and shape, eventually becoming little more than colorless blobs of floating jelly. Preserving botanical specimens also poses a challenge.

Flowers were traditionally pressed between two sheets of papers until they dried out. These, along with wax and papier-mache models, were the only botanical specimens available before the development of modern materials such as plastic and fiberglass allowed the creation of accurate 3D models. But 19th museum curators had access to one wonder material, which, under the dexterous hands of a skilled craftsman, could be shaped into any form a naturalist desires. That material is glass.

In 1853, Leopold Blaschka, a glassmaker from Dresden boarded a ship for a trip to the United States. Leopold had suffered two devastating losses. In 1850, his first wife died of cholera. Two years later, his father died. The grieving Leopold decided that a vacation to the United States would help his heart heal. On the outward journey, his ship became becalmed for two weeks near the Azores, and Leopold passed the time collecting and drawing jellyfish and other marine invertebrates. The glasslike transparency of these animals, especially the bioluminescence fascinated him. He wrote:

It is a beautiful night in May. Hopefully, we look out over the darkness of the sea, which is as smooth as a mirror; there emerges all around in various places a flashlike bundle of light beams, as if it is surrounded by thousands of sparks, that form true bundles of fire and of other bright lighting spots, and the seemingly mirrored stars. There emerges close before us a small spot in a sharp greenish light, which becomes ever larger and larger and finally becomes a bright shining sunlike figure.

Blaschka's glass models of sea anemones. Image credit: Australian Museum

Upon returning to Europe, Leopold focused on his family business which was the production the glass jewelry, costume ornaments, lab equipment, and other such fancy goods. In his free time, Leopold made glass models of plants for his own amusement. These models came to the attention of Prince Camille de Rohan, an aristocratic horticulturist in Brittany. Prince Rohan commissioned Leopold to make one hundred models of orchids and other exotic plants, which he displayed on two artificial tree trunks in his palace in Prague. These models came to the attention of another man Professor Ludwig Reichenbach, director of the natural history museum in Dresden.

Thrilled at the craftsmanship, Reichenbach asked Leopold to make glass models of sea creatures that he found it so difficult to preserve in his museum, and in due course managed to convince Leopold to drop his current family business of making glass fancy goods in favor of glass marine invertebrates for museums, aquaria, universities, and private collectors. Leopold agreed, and within a short time Leopolds mail-order enterprise became a successful venture. The timing was just right. The aquarium craze had begun in England, fueled by the availability of inexpensive plate glass and the discovery that seaweed could be used to oxygenate the water in aquariums. With Blaschkas models, it was possible to create fake aquariums with sea anemones and other invertebrates that required little or no maintenance. Aside from zoos, natural history museums from all across the world ordered thousands of these models. For the first time curators were able to display creatures in their living forms and colors that were permanent.

Glass model of lathyrus splendens, a low shrub native to southern California, at the Harvard Museum of Natural history.

Acer rubrum, or red maple, from the Glass Flowers collection at the Harvard Museum of Natural History

In 1886, Leopold, who was now assisted by his son Rudolph, was approached by Professor George Lincoln Goodale, who was in the process of setting up the Harvard Botanical Museum. Goodale requested them to make a series of botanical models for the new museum. At first Leopold was unwilling as his current business of selling glass sea creatures was hugely successful, but eventually he agreed. For the next fifty years, the Blaschkas made over four thousand glass models representing more than 780 plant species for Harvard. They are still one of Harvard's most treasured collection.

In 1889, in a letter to Mary Lee Ware, one of Leopolds patrons, the master glassmaker wrote:

Many people think that we have some secret apparatus by which we can squeeze glass suddenly into these forms, but it is not so. We have tact. My son Rudolf has more than I have, because he is my son, and tact increases in every generation. The only way to become a glass modeler of skill, I have often said to people, is to get a good great-grandfather who loved glass; then he is to have a son with like tastes; he is to be your grandfather. He in turn will have a son who must, as your father, be passionately fond of glass. You, as his son, can then try your hand, and it is your own fault if you do not succeed. But, if you do not have such ancestors, it is not your fault. My grandfather was the most widely known glassworker in Bohemia.

References:

# Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_and_Rudolf_Blaschka

# Blaschkas Glass Models Of Invertebrate Animals, https://www.cmog.org/article/blaschkas-glass-models-invertebrate-animals-1863-1890

# The Glass Flowers, https://www.cmog.org/article/glass-flowers

# These 100-Year-Old Glass Flowers Are So Accurate, They Rival the Real Thing, https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-100-year-old-glass-flowers-accurate-rival-real-thing

Blaschka's glass models of sea anemones. Image credit: Australian Museum

Blaschka's glass models of sea anemones. Image credit: Australian Museum

Blaschka's glass models of sea anemones. Image credit: Australian Museum

Blaschka's glass models of sea anemones. Image credit: Australian Museum

Blaschka's glass models of sea anemones. Image credit: Australian Museum

Blaschka's glass models of sea anemones. Image credit: Australian Museum

Glass flowers at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Image credit: Massachusetts Office Of Travel & Tourism

Glass flowers at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Image credit: Massachusetts Office Of Travel & Tourism
Taapsee Pannu is known for being quite vocal when it comes to voicing her opinions in public and she is also famous for shutting down trolls through her savage replies on Twitter.

Recently, when she was asked if she was an Indian by a Twitter user she responded saying, Ab tumhaare ko bhi paper dikhaane hai kya? (Do I have to show my documents to you also?).

Ab tumhaare ko bhi paper dikhaane hai kya ? https://t.co/cinxcQ3x7y  taapsee pannu (@taapsee) January 6, 2020

Well, damn. Taapsee, clearly, shut down the troll and is surely not ready to take any nonsense that comes her way.

The Twitter user questioned Taapsee's nationality after she shared the article about the arrest of the main accused in the violence at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, the site of Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev's birth, in Pakistan.

Chalo ab humaari baari, the actor wrote, making a reference to the attack that happened in JNU wherein masked people entered the university and brutally thrashed students and professors and even vandalized the university property.

Chalo ab humaari baari. https://t.co/6kb42IqQyi  taapsee pannu (@taapsee) January 6, 2020

Taapsee also joined the protests against the JNU attack in Mumbai.

After she shut the Twitter user with her savage response, a lot of people appreciated her for the befitting reply.

Slayyyyyyyyyyed like a boss! What a befitting reply! Taapsee shut up a vicious abusive troII with her wit! Taapsee owned the internet today once more! Taapsee is a staaaaa! Yolo, swag, xoxo, faaaaaaak!  THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) January 6, 2020

Bhaj swara , Sonam , Alia , Sab ki atma ek hi reply me aa gaya...Chhaa gaye guru...  Manthan Modi (@iammanthanmodi) January 6, 2020

Befitting. Xoxo. You are Slayer. You rokkkkk. Fakk. And few more equivalent adjectives. Thanks.  Sailor (@sailorsmoon) January 6, 2020

Taapsee to keh ke le ri h aaj !!!!  Nostraasaurus_Rex (@nostraasaurus) January 6, 2020

Taapsee also seemed to be indirectly taking a dig on the whole CAA issue with her tweet.

What's your say on the whole matter? Let us know in the comments section below.
"When you are in a position you should speak up," JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh said after the actor left without addressing the meet.

Even as Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), here on Tuesday, to show solidarity with students, the JNUSU president was unmoved and targeted the actor for not speaking at the meet.

Deepika was spotted standing with students at the Sabarmati T-point, where a public meeting had been called by JNU alumni over Sunday's violence. She also met Ghosh who received injuries. Padukone didn't address the meeting and left after an hour.

Amid drones flying over the meeting to keep an eye on students, Aishe targeted the JNU administration for filing complaints against her. "There are 3 FIRs against me, but I am not scared of the V-C. Even if you file 70 FIRs for all the 70 days of struggle against fee hike, we will continue our struggle"

The meeting was also attended by former JNU students, including Sitaram Yechury, Yogendra Yadav, D. Raja and Kanhaiya Kumar.

Kumar, who was targeted for allegedly raising anti-national slogans in JNU few years ago, said, "I am called the leader of tukde-tukde gang. I take it as an honour."

"Hatred for the JNU is not hatred for a university or ideology, but the thought as how a country should be," Kanhaiya. "The government is making a mistake. They have chosen an enemy that is intelligent and studies," he remarked.
New Delhi:

Indian Space Research Organisation has identified four Indian Air Force pilots for its ambitious Gaganyaan manned space mission programme. Before leaving for the mission, they would take astronaut training in Russia which is likely to begin in the third week of January. Now, some more information related to this mission has been made public. According to latest information, Gaganyaan Astronauts would get to cherish some 'desi' foods in space. "For the Indian astronauts scheduled to go into Space in Mission Gaganyaan, food items including Egg rolls, Veg rolls, Idli, Moong dal halwa and Veg pulav have been prepared by the Defence Food Research Laboratory, Mysore. Food heaters would also be provided to them," reported ANI.

Apart from this, special containers have been made to help astronauts drink liquids in zero gravity.

For the Indian astronauts scheduled to go into Space in Mission Gaganyan, food items including Egg rolls, Veg rolls, Idli, Moong dal halwa and Veg pulav have been prepared by the Defence Food Research Laboratory, Mysore. Food heaters would also be provided to them. pic.twitter.com/gDgt9BJpb2  ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2020

Earlier, ISRO chief K Sivan said that the activities for the mission were going on very smoothly and the take-off may shift to next year. "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 had said.

Gaganyaan is India's Human Space Mission which aims to send Indians to space by 2022. The programme envisages demonstrating human space flight capability with three crew members for 5-7 days in Low Earth Orbit and safely recover them after the mission.

The overall configuration of GSLV-MK III, crew escape system, crew module and service module for Gaganyaan have been finalised, an ISRO official said, adding that the work for short-listing crew members is underway.

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.

With Agency Inputs

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
T he mother of a British teenager found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus yelled "she's coming home" as she expressed her relief after her daughter avoided jail.

The 19-year-old woman hugged her family and legal team and left court weeping, head in hands, after she received four months jail suspended for three years for public mischief.

The sentence meant she would be free to return home immediately, and her lawyer, Lewis Power QC, confirmed that she would return home on Tuesday.

Outside Famagusta District Court in Paralimni, the teenager's mother addressed a crowd of cheering supporters.

The woman covered her face as she attended court each day / PA

She said: "On behalf of the family, I would like to say we are very relieved at the sentence that has been passed down today.

"I would also like to say thank you for all the support we have received throughout the globe."

As supporters applauded, she added: "I just want to thank each and every one of you for turning up today, having belief, having faith and making sure we get justice."

Mr Power QC told reporters that they will continue to contest the teenager's conviction.

"Whilst we welcome the fact that the sentence imposed today allows her to go home, we strongly contest the conviction and the fight for her innocence will go on regardless", he said.

"We will be appealing the conviction and will take this case to the Supreme Court of Human Rights.

"We say and will maintain that this young girl was stripped both of her dignity and her basic human rights.

"She has been diagnosed with severe PTSD and this case has resulted in the deterioration of her mental health."

Protesters took to the streets of London in support of the teen / AFP via Getty Images

The teenager has been stuck on the island after claiming she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party town of Ayia Napa on July 17.

She was charged and spent about a month in prison before being granted bail in August.

The dozen young men and boys, aged between 15 and 20 arrested over the incident were freed after she signed a retraction statement 10 days later.

She maintains she was raped after having consensual sex with one of the Israelis, but forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police.
HYDERABAD: Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Tuesday underlined that agriculture will play a key role in helping the country achieve the goal of becoming a five trillion dollar economy. For the purpose, the central and state governments are focusing on formulating cash crop and export-centric farming systems, she said.

The Governor was inaugurating the 110th Foundation Course for Agriculture Research Service (FOCARS) at the National Academy of Agricultural Research Mana-gement (NAARM) in Rajendranagar area of the city.

The course, which involves three-month training, is being attended by 135 young scientists from as many as 22 states.

Tamilisai Soundara-rajan pointed out that to make the $5 trillion economy a reality, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government has already started emphasising on agriculture.

The support extended by central and state governments to agriculture sector, particularly to small farmers, has been immense, she stated.

The Governor said like credit cards, soil cards for farmers have turned out to be a great achievement. Soil cards carry crop-wise recommendations with regard to nutrients and fertilisers required at individual farms, which would help farmers of the country to improve productivity through judicious use of inputs.

Stressing on innovation in the agriculture sector, she pointed to the shortage of human resources in agriculture.

Agricultural education, research and extension services should be extended to the field to overcome this aspect, she remarked.

Tamilisai Sounda-rarajan asked the young scientists to work towards a second green revolution. Every scientist should strive to double the income of farmers, as there are enormous opportunities in the agricultural sector, she said.

The Governor also expressed happiness that India has become a leading player in milk exports.
President Donald Trump pulled back from the brink of war with Iran on Wednesday, saying that Tehran appeared to be "standing down" after firing missiles -- without causing casualties -- at US troops based in Iraq. In a televised address to the nation from the White House, Trump emphasized there were "no Americans harmed" in the ballistic missile salvo aimed at two bases. While he promised to immediately impose "punishing" new economic sanctions on Tehran, Trump welcomed signs the Islamic republic "appears to be standing down" in the tit-for-tat confrontation. The comments cooled what threatened to become an uncontrolled boiling over of tensions after Trump ordered the killing last Friday of a top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani. In New York, the Nasdaq stock market index surged to a record high of 9,129.24. However, the US president, facing both an impeachment trial in Congress and a tough reelection in November, defended his targeting of a man seen by many as Iran's second most influential official. Soleimani, a national hero at home, was "the world's top terrorist" and "should have been terminated long ago," Trump said. And although Trump ended his remarks with a call for peace, he opened by stating that he would never allow Iran to procure a nuclear weapon. It was Trump's 2018 withdrawal from a multinational agreement aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions, and the reimposition of crippling economic sanctions against Tehran, which began an intensification of tensions between the two countries. - Missiles blast bases - Iran's missiles targeted the sprawling Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq and a base in Arbil, both housing American and other foreign troops from a US-led coalition fighting the remnants of the Islamic State jihadist group. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who earlier promised "revenge" for Soleimani, called the missiles a "slap in the face" against the United States. He indicated there was more to come. "The question of revenge is another issue," Khamenei said in a televised speech. Iraq's military said it also sustained no casualties. But the strike highlighted the difficult position of Iraq, caught in an ever-deepening conflict between Trump and Iran. The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, dismissed suggestions that Iran did not mean to kill Americans with the missile barrage. "I believe, based on what I saw and what I know, is that they were intended to cause structural damage, destroy vehicles and equipment and aircraft and to kill personnel. That's my own personal assessment," Milley told reporters. Iraqi President Barham Saleh rejected Iraq being a "battlefield for warring sides." At the United Nations, Iran's ambassador said in a letter to Secretary General Antonio Guterres that despite the missile firing, Iran respects Iraq's territorial integrity. Iran has powerful militia allies in Iraq and they said they intended to take revenge for Friday's US drone attack, in which top Iraqi paramilitary commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis died alongside Soleimani. Muhandis was the deputy head of Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi, a military network incorporated into the Iraqi state whose factions are backed by Tehran. Late Wednesday two rockets, fired by unidentified forces, landed in the supposedly high-security Green Zone, where US and other embassies are located, security sources said. AFP correspondents heard two loud detonations. - Unusual brazenness - The brazenness of Iran's ballistic missile strike was unusual. But as the dust settled, it appeared that Iran's attack -- coming soon after the burial of Soleimani at a funeral in front of vast crowds -- might have been more symbolic than anything. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif indicated Iran was satisfied for now. "Iran took and concluded proportionate measures in self-defense," Zarif said on Twitter. Reflecting deep concerns among Trump's domestic opponents, the Democratic-led US House of Representatives scheduled a vote for Thursday on limiting the Republican president's ability to wage war against Iran without congressional approval. "The president has made clear that he does not have a coherent strategy to keep the American people safe, achieve de-escalation with Iran and ensure stability in the region," House speaker Nancy Pelosi said. But US Defense Secretary Mark Esper insisted the United States has restored some deterrence against Iran in the wake of the Soleimani killing. "But we will see. Time will tell," Esper said. - US headaches in Iraq - The apparent de-escalation in Iran did not remove pressure from approximately 5,200 US troops stationed across Iraq, where they face pro-Iranian Shiite militias and political opposition. Paramilitary chief Qais al-Khazali -- blacklisted as a "terrorist" by the US -- said his side's response to the United States "will be no less than the size of the Iranian response." But US Vice President Mike Pence told the CBS Evening News that "we're receiving some encouraging intelligence that Iran is sending messages to those very same militias not to move against American targets or civilians." Angered at the US drone strike, the Iraqi parliament has called for expulsion of American troops, sparking embarrassing confusion at the Pentagon over how to respond. - Airliner crash kills 176 - Separately, a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 crashed just outside Tehran after taking off bound for Kiev, killing all 176 people on board shortly after Iran launched its missiles towards Iraq. There was no immediate suggestion of any link with the strikes but carriers including Air France, Royal Dutch Airlines and Lufthansa announced they were suspending flying though Iranian and Iraqi airspace as a precaution. The US aviation regulator banned civil flights over Iraq, Iran and the Gulf, citing the potential for "misidentification" of aircraft. burs-sms/dw/it US President Donald Trump emphasized there were "no Americans harmed" in the Iranian ballistic missile salvo aimed at two bases in Iraq Map showing the ranges of Iran's ballistic missiles, according to the US Defense Intelligence Agency. This satellite image reportedly shows damage to the Ain al-Asad airbase housing US troops in western Iraq, after being hit by missiles from Iran A picture taken near the northern Israeli town of Malkiya shows a billboard with a portrait of slain Iranian general Qasem Soleimani near the Lebanese village of Aitaroun, vowing: "His terror will continue" A child's shoe is pictured at the scene of a Ukrainian airliner crash in Iran which killed all 176 people on board, just after Iran fired missiles at bases in Iraq housing US troops
by Steve Ellwanger , January 7, 2020

Pasture-raised egg brand Vital Farms is responding to the rising consumer desire for food sourcing transparency with a program that lets people see which farm their eggs come from.

The company this week launched a national advertising campaign titled Traceability featuring Vital Farms farmer Stuart Dill. In long- and short-form videos, Dill explains how shoppers can enter the farm name printed on a Vital Farms egg carton into vitalfarms.com/farm and see a 360-degree video view of the family farm where the eggs were laid.

Some companies like to paint a beautiful picture of what theyre doing, and sometimes they even add it to their package, Dill says. But as soon as you try to get a little peek behind the curtain, they hide quicker than a hen in a hailstorm.

advertisement advertisement

Pecking at competitors, Dill adds, With Vital Farms traceability, you can rest easy and breezy, knowing your foods coming from the pasture and not some dark and dingy warehouse like most other eggs.

Asked to explain the genesis of the campaign, Vital Farms brand manager Heather Fitzpatrick tells Marketing Daily, We discovered that the majority of well-meaning egg-lovers were actually being duped by an oversaturation of empty claims and false idyllic pictures. We knew that we had to enlighten them to the fact that sometimes, what was on the package didn't always match up to reality, and encourage them that there is a bullsh--t-free alternative that they can trust.

The target audience for the campaign is conscious consumers who are interested in ethical food brands. Our customers are savvy, they strive to do the right thing in regards to animal welfare and want to give their families the best option out there.

The Traceability videos launched yesterday. They will run on Amazon Fire TV and on digital, social and rich-media mobile platforms.

Austin-based Preacher is the agency of record for Vital Farms.

Privately held Vital Farms was founded in 2007 by a husband-and-wife team with 20 chickens and a pasture in Austin, Texas. It claims to be the leading U.S. brand of pasture-raised eggs and butter by retail dollar sales, with distribution in approximately 13,000 stores. It also sells hard-boiled eggs, ghee (a form of highly clarified butter) and liquid whole eggs.

Other notable examples of food traceability initiatives include that of Dutch retailer Plus, which last September implemented blockchain-technology mapping for bananas. Each piece of the fruit sold by Plus carries a sticker with a QR code that traces the journey from plantations in the Uraba region in Colombia to supermarket shelves.
CHICAGO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Courte Partners, LLC announced today that its fourth investment fund, Green Courte Real Estate Partners IV, LLC and its affiliates ("GCP" or the "Company"), acquired its tenth senior living community, The Aspens at Bedford Falls, a 182-unit property located in Raleigh, North Carolina. GCP, with its wholly owned senior living operator, True Connection Communities ("TCC"), is continuing to build a high-quality portfolio of active adult apartments and independent living communities to meet the growing needs of older Americans seeking an active lifestyle. The Aspens at Bedford Falls, a newly constructed community delivered in August 2019 and acquired by GCP on December 11, 2019, is an important addition to the portfolio. TCC will manage the community.

Relying on its value-add expertise, GCP will convert the community from an active adult focus to a full-service independent living community. Post-conversion, the community will total 181 units, increasing the GCP/TCC portfolio to 1,608 units. With the conversion, GCP will make a number of significant enhancements including expanding the dining and kitchen areas and adding a billiards/game room, library/business center, and third-party-operated home health office. The conversion and enhancements will position the property to be one of the most attractive independent living communities in the Raleigh market.

Matt Pyzyk, Managing Director of Acquisitions at GCP, said, "We are very excited about the completion of this acquisition, which marks a significant step forward in the expansion of our rapidly growing senior living portfolio. Not only does this newly constructed property continue to diversify our portfolio, it also demonstrates our commitment to sourcing and executing deep value-add and conversion opportunities."

Jim Pusateri, Chief Executive Officer of TCC and Managing Director at GCP, added, "This acquisition will be a perfect platform for us to continue leveraging technology and innovation to provide an exceptional customer experience throughout our senior living portfolio."

About Green Courte Partners, LLC

Green Courte Partners, LLC is a Chicago-based private equity real estate investment firm focused on building industry-leading companies within niche real estate sectors, including near-airport parking facilities, land-lease communities, and active adult/independent senior living properties. The firm combines focused investment strategies with a disciplined approach to transaction execution, operations, and asset management. Green Courte's goal is to invest in high-quality real estate assets that will generate attractive risk-adjusted returns over a long-term holding period. For additional information, please visit Green Courte's website at www.GreenCourtePartners.com.

SOURCE Green Courte Partners, LLC

Related Links

http://www.GreenCourtePartners.com


A lawmaker in Virginia has submitted a resolution that calls on the state government to study the use of blockchain in elections.

The bill, pre-filed just before the end of the year by State Delegate Hala S. Ayala, calls for the state's Department of Education to "study the use of blockchain technology to protect voter records and election results."

As it further explains:

"In conducting its study, the Department of Elections shall (i) determine the kinds of blockchain technology that could be used to secure voter records and election results, (ii) determine the costs and benefits of using such technology as compared to traditional registration and election security measures, and (iii) make recommendations on whether and how to implement blockchain technology in practices affecting the security of voter records and election results."

The bill, if passed, would further request that the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, which serves as the state's primary IT office, provide assistance during the study.

"The Department of Elections shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2020, and for the second year by November 30, 2021, and the Department of Elections shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document for each year," the bill further states.

Similar legislative efforts have emerged in the past, including a proposed bill in New York back in 2017.

A small group of people took part in a blockchain-based voting pilot in West Virginia during the 2018 U.S. Congressional election, though an unsuccessful attack on the platform reportedly triggered an inquiry by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
[January 07, 2020] Symetra Financial Corporation Launches Investment Management Company

Symetra Financial Corporation today announced that it has established an investment subsidiary, Symetra Investment Management Company (SIM). The standalone entity will initially focus on facilitating the ability of Symetra's Japan-based parent, Sumitomo Life Insurance Company, to invest in U.S.-based assets utilizing the expertise of the SIM team. Sumitomo completed its first investment of $500 million through a corporate bond fund in December 2019. The initiative positions Symetra to expand its investment capabilities and assets under management. "Symetra's guiding principles of Value, Transparency and Sustainability define our commitment to our customers. Managing our investments with an eye toward long-term sustainability is central to our investing philosophy. Symetra Investment Management helps us advance this approach and maintain the financial strength and resilience our customers, and parent company, can rely on," said Margaret Meister, president and chief executive officer, Symetra Financial. Mark E. Hunt oversees SIM's portfolios and strategy as president. He continues to serve as executive vice president and chief investment officer for Symetra Financial. SIM's investment management operations include a fixed income team based in Farmington, Connecticut, and a commercial mortgage loans team based in Bellevue, Washington. "Today, SIM's team manages nearly $40 billion in assets, generating strong returns to support our obligations to policyholders and advance the long-term success and sustainability of Symetra. We will continue to build on those strengths through Symetra Investment Management to deliver strong investment returns for Symetra and Sumitomo," said Mark Hunt. In addition to Mr. Hunt, the SIM team includes Colin Elder, senior managing director and head of commercial mortgage loans; Nicholas Mocciolo, senior managing director and head of structured bonds and derivatives; and Evan Moskovit, senior managing director and head of corporate fixed icome.



Symetra Investment Management Team Mark Hunt, president of SIM and executive vice president and chief investment officer of Symetra Financial Corporation and its insurance subsidiaries, directs the company's investment policy and strategy, and oversees Symetra's nearly $40 billion investment portfolio. Mr. Hunt joined Symetra in January 2015 from White Mountains Advisors, LLC, a financial investment advisory firm headquartered in Guilford, Connecticut, where he was managing director responsible for all life company portfolios and alternative investments for all clients, including Symetra. Prior to White Mountains, Mr. Hunt headed portfolio risk management and alternative investments at Hartford Investment Management Company. His more than three decades of experience in the insurance industry also includes actuarial and investment management roles at State Mutual Life and Connecticut Mutual.

Colin Elder, senior managing director and head of commercial mortgage loans, has over 33 years of commercial real estate experience in the areas of loan origination, underwriting, closing and servicing. Mr. Elder oversees Symetra's approximately $7 billion commercial mortgage loan portfolio. Prior to joining the company in 2007, he managed the nationwide real estate originations team as a vice president and production manager with Genworth Financial. Mr. Elder's background includes roles with Seattle-based life insurer GNA and its successors, GE Financial Assurance, GE Asset Management and Genworth. Nicholas Mocciolo, senior managing director and head of structured bonds and derivatives, oversees Symetra's approximately $12 billion derivatives and nearly $7 billion structured finance portfolios. Mr. Mocciolo joined Symetra in January 2015 from White Mountains Advisors, LLC, where he led the derivatives sector and participated in Symetra general account portfolio management. Prior to White Mountains, Mr. Mocciolo was senior vice president, senior portfolio manager, derivatives, at Hartford Investment Management Company, where he was responsible for The Hartford's enterprise-wide derivatives hedging activities. Evan Moskovit, senior managing director and head of corporate fixed income, oversees Symetra's approximately $20 billion corporate bond portfolio. Mr. Moskovit joined Symetra in August 2016 from NN Investment Partners in New York, formerly ING Investment Management, where he was head of global investment grade credit and lead portfolio manager. His prior roles include head of fixed income for Sun Capital Advisers, LLC, the registered investment management subsidiary of Sun Life Financial. Mr. Moskovit's 25-year investment management career also includes senior roles at Shepherd Financial Partners. Symetra Investment Management Company is not currently soliciting or accepting investment advisory clients. About Symetra Symetra Financial Corporation is a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Washington. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions, and independent agents and advisors. For more information, visit www.symetra.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005895/en/

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PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. ("Alexandria" or the "Company") (NYSE: ARE) announced today the pricing of its public offering of 6,000,000 shares of common stock at a price of $155.00 per share in connection with the forward sale agreements described below. The Company also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 900,000 additional shares. The offering is expected to close on or about January 9, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Citigroup and J.P. Morgan are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Baird, BBVA, BTIG, Evercore ISI, Regions Securities LLC, Scotiabank, SMBC, Wells Fargo Securities, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Barclays, BNP PARIBAS, Capital One Securities, Fifth Third Securities, Mizuho Securities, PNC Capital Markets LLC, RBC Capital Markets, TD Securities, and Ramirez & Co., Inc. are acting as co-managers for the offering.

The Company has entered into forward sale agreements with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Bank of America, N.A., Citibank, N.A., and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch (the "forward purchasers") with respect to 6,000,000 shares of its common stock (and expects to enter into forward sale agreements with respect to an aggregate of 6,900,000 shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). In connection with the forward sale agreements, the forward purchasers or their affiliates are expected to borrow and sell to the underwriters an aggregate of 6,000,000 shares of the common stock that will be delivered in this offering (or an aggregate of 6,900,000 shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). Subject to its right to elect cash or net share settlement, which right is subject to certain conditions, the Company intends to deliver, upon physical settlement of such forward sale agreements on one or more dates specified by the Company occurring no later than April 6, 2021, an aggregate of 6,000,000 shares of its common stock (or an aggregate of 6,900,000 shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full) to the forward purchasers in exchange for cash proceeds per share equal to the applicable forward sale price, which will be the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions, and will be subject to certain adjustments as provided in the forward sale agreements.

The Company will not initially receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of its common stock by the forward purchasers or their affiliates in the offering. The Company expects to use the net proceeds, if any, it receives upon the future settlement of the forward sale agreements to fund pending and recently completed acquisitions, and the construction of highly-leased development projects, with any remaining proceeds to be used for general working capital and other corporate purposes, which may include the reduction of the outstanding indebtedness under the Company's commercial paper program, if any, and the outstanding balance on the Company's unsecured senior line of credit, if any. Selling common stock through the forward sale agreements enables the Company to set the price of such shares upon the pricing of the offering (subject to certain adjustments) while delaying the issuance of such shares and the receipt of the net proceeds by the Company until the expected funding is required.

The offering is being made pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-3 that was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

Copies of the prospectus supplement relating to this offering, when available, may be obtained by contacting: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, at 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: 866-471-2526, or email: [email protected]; BofA Securities, NC1-004-03-43, Attn: Prospectus Department, at 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, or email: [email protected]; Citigroup, Attn: Broadridge Financial Solutions, at 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or telephone: 800-831-9146; or J.P. Morgan, Attn: Broadridge Financial Solutions, at 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or telephone: 1-866-803-9204.

Alexandria, an S&P 500 urban office real estate investment trust, is the first and longest-tenured owner, operator and developer uniquely focused on collaborative life science, technology and agtech campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations. Founded in 1994, Alexandria pioneered this niche and has since established a significant market presence in key locations, including Greater Boston, San Francisco, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland and Research Triangle.

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's offering of common stock (including an option to purchase additional shares of common stock), its intended use of the proceeds and the expected closing date of the offering. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's present intent, beliefs or expectations, but forward-looking statements are not guaranteed to occur and may not occur. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by the Company's forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties detailed in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update this information. For more discussion relating to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the Company's forward-looking statements, and risks and uncertainties to the Company's business in general, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

CONTACT: Sara Kabakoff, AVP  Corporate Communications, (626) 788-5578, [email protected]

SOURCE Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.are.com


The day after a U.S. airstrike took out a prominent Iranian general in Iraq, the Selective Service System's website crashed.

"World War III" was trending on Twitter. Young people on social media were wondering whether ignoring that fine print on their federal student loan applications was going to land them in boot camp.

"We fat guys are safe. For now," one person joked on Twitter.

Some apparently flooded the Selective Service's website to see if they'd registered for the draft.

Related: Can You Really Be Recalled to Active Duty at Any Time?

"Due to the spread of misinformation, our website is experiencing high traffic volumes at this time. If you are attempting to register or verify registration, please check back later today as we are working to resolve this issue," the Selective Service tweeted Friday. "We appreciate your patience."

Veterans were musing about orders coming down to pluck them out of the Individual Ready Reserve. Others worried stop-loss orders, which have required some troops to stay in uniform beyond their end of contract date, would be making a comeback. One person said stop-loss orders "kept military families in turmoil" after 9/11.

Military.com checked in with a military personnel expert and historian to help cut through the confusion and find out what is -- and what isn't -- likely when it comes to the draft, stop-loss and recalling veterans to service.

1. The Draft Isn't Coming Back Without an Act of Congress.

The authority to draft men into the military ran out in 1973. Now, Congress would have to pass a measure to bring it back and the president would need to sign it into law, said Debra Wada, a former Army manpower leader serving as vice chair of the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service.

Congress tasked the commission with looking at a host of issues concerning the Selective Service, including whether it's needed anymore and if women should be required to register.

"The House and Senate would both have to pass a piece of legislation and, as we've seen in the last couple of years ... I'll let people make their own personal determination of whether that is likely to happen," she said.

2. Registration Doesn't Mean You're Headed to War.

Men between the ages of 18 and 25 are required by law to register for the Selective Service. Failing to do so comes with lifelong penalties, such as a prohibition from getting federal jobs and ineligibility for some student loans.

Most men who register do so through "passive means," Wada said, such as getting a driver's license or applying for federal student aid. Drafting these individuals into the military would not only take that act of Congress to put the policy back into place, but would also require their number to be called during a lottery system.

Wada added that her commission found evidence of a lot of confusion and misinformation about the draft. Having the Selective Service's website crash as misinformation spread online indicates that more clarity is needed on the registration process, she added. That's one of the topics she and the other members of the commission have been weighing.

"Maybe we can help educate the American public as to what selective service is and the differences between the registration portion of it and then the actual draft itself," Wada said.

3. The Draft Would Be a Last-Resort Option.

Richard Kohn, a history professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who studies war and the military, said any proposal to reinstate the draft is likely to be "one of the most unpopular proposals presented to the Congress in many years."

If the U.S. were facing a serious threat that required large numbers of ground troops, Kohn said it's possible support for a draft could grow. But the U.S. is "nowhere near that now," he added, even after Iran vowed retaliation for the killing of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

The military also lacks the infrastructure to train a bunch of new recruits, Kohn said.

Wada's committee hasn't decided whether it'll recommend the Selective Service remain in place, but she describes the draft as a "break glass in case of emergency" option.

4. Stop-Loss Orders Are Possible, But Likely Not for Everyone.

In times of conflict, the military has been able to hold onto some troops past their contractually agreed-to separation dates.

The measure is called a stop-loss order, which leaders have used after 9/11, during the Gulf War and in other recent times of conflict.

Wada, who served as the Army's assistant secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs from 2014 to 2017, said the orders remain a "tool in the toolbox." The reason military leaders are likely to turn to those forces before tapping veterans in the IRR or calling for a draft, she said, is because they're the most ready of the bunch.

"You want to keep the people who currently have the skill sets and have been training," Wada said.

Unless there's a massive war though, Kohn said it's likely the Defense Department would only turn to troops in certain specialties, such as those serving in intelligence or surveillance units.

5. An IRR Recall Would Also Likely Target Certain Specialties.

That's also likely to be the case should military leaders ever turn to the IRR to bulk back up, Wada said. Those in the IRR have left active service, but aren't assigned to any sort of drilling Reserve units.

Wada said military leaders are likely to leverage other military personnel first, though, before turning to the IRR. And it would likely only be to fill shortages in certain communities.

They might need cyber warriors, for example, she said, to combat the types of threats coming from a country such as Iran.

"But they would call up the Reserves and the National Guard before they call up the people in IRR," she added.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Read More: Air Force Sends B-52 Bombers to Diego Garcia Amid Middle East Buildup
At least 35 mourners were killed and dozens of others sustained injuries on Tuesday in a stampede during the funeral for Iranian general Qasem Soleimani at his hometown in Kerman, according to the Iranian television.

Soleimani, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force, was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq last Friday, Anadolu agency reported.

His death marked a dramatic escalation in tensions between the US and Iran, which have often been at a fever pitch since President Donald Trump chose in 2018 to unilaterally withdraw Washington from a 2015 nuclear pact powers struck with Tehran.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who gave Soleimani the country's highest honour last year, vowed "severe retaliation" in response to his killing.

The Pentagon accused Soleimani of plotting the earlier embassy attack in Iraq and planning to carry out additional attacks on US diplomats and service members in Iraq and the region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SYLMAR, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Guide Dogs of America and Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs (TLCAD) today announced the merger of their organizations. This merger combines their respective service dog programs into a single organization operating under the Guide Dogs of America umbrella. The merger is effective immediately.

A visually impaired guide dog user, hugging his black lab guide dog.

Founded in 1948, Guide Dogs of America empowers people who are blind and visually impaired to live with greater independence, confidence and mobility by providing expertly matched guide dog partners. TLCAD gives the gift of independence to veterans and individuals with autism by providing highly skilled service dogs. TLCAD also pairs facility dogs with professionals who serve populations that benefit from animal assisted intervention or therapy. Their prison-based dog training program also helps rehabilitate incarcerated individuals.

"TLCAD shares our goal to transform the lives of people through partnerships with highly trained assistance dogs," said Russell Gittlen, President of Guide Dogs of America. "This merger will allow us to put more dogs into the hands of people who need them -- which is our ultimate mission."

"TLCAD is very excited to join the Guide Dogs of America family and we look forward to the new opportunities our combined efforts bring to those in need of service dogs," said Victoria Cavaliere, Executive Director of TLCAD.

Although TLCAD will maintain its name and local offices in San Diego, California, the newly merged organization will be headquartered in Sylmar, California, on Guide Dogs of America's 7.5-acre campus.

All programs and services are provided at no cost and are available to individuals throughout the United States and Canada.

SOURCE Guide Dogs of America

Related Links

http://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/


Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 07:21:13|Editor: ZX

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MEXICO CITY, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Mexican government will invest 20 billion Mexican pesos (about 1 billion U.S. dollars) in bringing banking and internet access to impoverished areas of the country, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced on Monday.

At a press conference, Lopez Obrador said that the Bank of Well-Being project will require an investment of 10 billion pesos to open 2,700 small bank branches across the country by 2021.

"It needs to be taken into account that of the 2,500 towns (in the country), there are bank branches only in approximately 1,000 of them; that is, in 1,500 towns, there are no bank branches," the president told journalists at the National Palace.

The Bank of Well-Being is a new institution that seeks to provide banking resources for the nation's poorest, many of whom, due to their remote locations, often face three-to-four-hour journeys just to reach a financial institution.

The government will invest another 10 billion pesos in a telecommunications company that will bring internet access and phone service to remote areas of the country.

The president said that 3 billion pesos has already been allocated to the new company, which could complete its project by 2022.

According to figures from the Lopez Obrador government, 80 percent of Mexican territory does not have adequate telecommunications services. The president's campaign promises included increasing internet use across the country.
'We Are the Radical Monarchs' kicks off a series of films about women's activism and advocacy at Images Cinema.

Images Cinema Presents 20th Century Women in Film Series

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in the United States. In celebration of that historic expansion of voting rights, Images Cinema is presenting a series of films about women's activism and advocacy from then until today.



From January through May, Images will present both narrative and documentary films that highlight woman activist stories. Each film is paired with a woman activist guest speaker or speakers. Regular admission prices apply unless otherwise noted. Images Cinema is located at 50 Spring St.



"I was inspired to put this series together by the confluence of the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage and all of the vital activism by young people happening right now, including the March for Our Lives, Greta Thunberg and Sunrise," Images Cinema Managing Director Janet Curran said. "We're in a moment with the simultaneous need to appreciate both the past and activate the present in order to move into the future with any kind of integrity. That is why we are opening the series with 'We Are the Radical Monarchs,' to celebrate our current and future activists."



This project has been supported by a grant from the Fund for Williamstown of the Berkshire Taconic Community.

The lineup includes:



* "We Are the Radical Monarchs" (2019), Monday, Jan. 13, 7 p.m. The guest speaker will be Director Linda Goldstein Knowlton via Skype. Set in Oakland, a city with a deep history of social justice movements, "We Are the Radical Monarchs" documents the Radical Monarchs, an alternative to the Scout movement for girls of color, ages 8 to 13. Its members earn badges for completing units on social justice, being an LGBTQ ally, the environment, and disability justice. The group was started by two queer women of color, and their work is anchored in the belief that adolescent girls of color need dedicated spaces and that the foundation for this innovative work must also be rooted in fierce inter-dependent sisterhood, self-love and hope.



* "One Woman, One Vote" (1993), Saturday, Jan. 18, 2 p.m., free admission. The guest speaker will be Bette Craig of the Northern Berkshire Suffrage Centennial Coalition. This PBS documentary is a sweeping look at the women's suffrage movement, from Elizabeth Cady Stantons famous Seneca Falls call to arms to the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women voting rights. Narrated by Susan Sarandon, the documentary features historical photos and video clips of the suffrage movement, as well as a number of historians who provide needed context. The film also delves into the deep divisions within the suffrage movement. The New York Times called the film "inspiring without being rhapsodic," saying it tells viewers "as much about the exigencies of American politics as about the heroism of three generations of American women."


Coffee exports from India rose marginally to 3.50 lakh tonne in 2019 as compared to 3.48 lakh tonne in the previous year, according to the Coffee Board.

India is the third-largest producer and exporter of coffee in Asia.

Italy, Germany and Russia were the major export destinations for Indian coffee last year. India ships both Robusta and Arabica varieties, besides instant coffee.

Robusta coffee exports rose 4.10 per cent to 1,86,360 tonne in 2019 from 1,79,004 tonne in 2018, the Board data showed.

Export of Arabica coffee however declined 10.75 per cent to 47,341.82 tonne from 53,049 tonne in 2018.

The outbound shipment of instant coffee fell to 27,339 tonne in 2019 from 29,146 tonne in the previous year, the data showed.

Of the total coffee exports, India exported 72,267 tonne to Italy, 37,175 tonne to Germany and 28,573 tonne to Russia last year.

Some of the major exporting companies include CCL Products India, Tata Coffee, NKG India Coffee, Allanasons Pvt Ltd, Olam Agro and Coffee Day Global Ltd.

Coffee production is estimated to be slightly higher at 3,19,500 tonne for the 2018-19 crop year (October-September), as per the post monsoon forecast by the Board.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The premier Fort George Island Marina in Jacksonville, FL will be offered at auction on February 26, 2020. The marina facility, considered hurricane-safe, is strategically located at the mouth of the St. John's River and is Jacksonville's closest commercial marina to the Atlantic Ocean. The marina also offers quick access to downtown Jacksonville and the Mayport Naval Station.

The current property, with its large building and river frontage is ideal for a number of alternative uses, including warehousing, marine maintenance, vessel repair, and retrofitting. The property sits on nearly three acres and includes a 37,760 sq. ft. storage building, 138 indoor dry slips, 17 wet slips and fueling dock. An additional building is ready for buildout as a clubhouse or restaurant.

The location is appealing to tourists, boaters and commercial entities. "The marina location even comes with a little history," Eric Sarff, Vice President for Murray Wise Associates LLC said. "A historical marker at the marina's street-side entrance notes the significance of St. John's River to river trade in the late 1800s." The sign also shares information on the origin of Pilot Town and the story of Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, Jr. who after working on local boats was eventually elected Florida's 19th governor in 1905.

"This is a rare investment opportunity because of the marina's location and the ongoing work to increase St. John's River's navigation toward JAXPORT," Murray Wise, CEO/Chairman of Murray Wise Associates LLC, said.

The Fort George Island Marina is located at 9954 Heckscher Drive (Highway A1A) in Jacksonville. MWA Auctions & Real Estate will be conducting the live auction at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, FL beginning at 10am on the day of the sale. Bidders unable to attend the live auction may register to bid online.

To learn more about the property, inspection dates, and auction process, contact an MWA representative; or online at FGIMAuction.com; by phone at 800-607-6888 or by email [email protected].

Murray Wise Associates LLC (MWA) has offices in Florida, Iowa and Illinois. Over the last 20 years MWA has acted as advisors for a variety of clients  including family offices, institutional investors and trusts and estates  growing from a traditional farm management and brokerage firm to be considered one of the top land auction companies in the U.S.

SOURCE Murray Wise Associates LLC

Related Links

http://www.mwallc.com


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A powerful storm whipping up winds of nearly 70mph raged across parts of Britain today, raising fears of power cuts and a week of transport chaos  with more strong gusts on the way later this week.

Strong gusts hit North East England and western Scotland today as ferries remained tied up in port due to the giant waves around the coasts, meaning some island communities could be cut off until the end of the week.

Buses and high-sided vehicles faced restrictions on road bridges, with a top gust of 67mph recorded on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides - and 59mph being the highest mainland reading at Aultbea in the Highlands.

The Met Office said a second storm later this week will bring gusts of up to 70mph to parts of England and Wales, with a spell of very strong winds spreading from the South West across the country through Thursday morning.

In the first storm of 2020, buses and high-sided vehicles faced restrictions on road bridges, Edinburgh Castle was shut due to the winds - and the A1 trunk road was closed between Haddington and Thistly Cross in East Lothian.

A train passes through Saltcoats in North Ayrshire today as the Met Office issues a yellow 'be aware' warning for high winds

 Slide me  The images above show the Cairngorm Ski school 10 years apart. The left shows it in 2010 covered in snow and right is today

Strong winds saw this trailer fall on its side on a road in West Yorkshire today. Top gusts reached 67mph in parts of the UK

A woman struggles in a storm in Edinburgh today as Scotland faces a powerful storm whipping up winds of nearly 70mph

edestrians on Edinburgh's Princes Street battle high winds. Scotland was hit with strong winds with gusts up to 75mph

Flooding on a road in the Partick area of Glasgow today as heavy rain and high winds batter parts of Scotland

A woman's umbrella is blown inside out as Edinburgh faces strong winds and rain which has seen Edinburgh Castle closed

A Met Office yellow 'be aware' warning is in place today until 9pm tonight, with the zone covering the far West of Scotland as well as an eastern coastal area from Edinburgh down to Scarborough and inland to Leeds.

A second warning will run from 3am to 6pm on Thursday, alerting people across England to 'very strong winds potentially bringing some disruption' and a 'small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris'.

The Met Office added that there was a chance of some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, and the possibility of longer journey times or cancellations as road, rail, air and ferry services are affected.

There is also a chance that some roads and bridges could close, and power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage

Forecasters said gusts of 50mph to 60mph are possible for many areas, with gusts of 70mph in places. Winds will begin to ease across Wales through the late morning, and across the rest of the area by the evening.

A top gust of 67mph was recorded on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides today - while 59mph was the highest mainland reading

Met Office wind warnings are in place for parts of western Scotland and North East England today, running until 9pm

Temperatures are mild for the time of year today (left) - especially in the Highlands - but they will fall tomorrow (right)

Further rain is expected for parts of the country tomorrow (left), while Thursday will bring strong winds for many areas (right)

Last night, Police Scotland said the A1 trunk road will be closed from 5am today between Haddington and Thistly Cross, East Lothian. A diversion via the A199 will be in place.

Nicky Maxey of the Met Office said: 'It will be a very breezy day, wherever you are in Scotland. But in the warning areas, you will see the very worst of the winds.

'These winds have the capacity to impact on the transport network, so high-sided vehicles could be banned from road bridges and we expect disruption to ferry services and flights.

'Drivers will also have to cope with wintry conditions, especially on higher ground, where we expect a mixture of sleet, snow and hail.

'In parts of the Highlands, Stirlingshire and Perth and Kinross, precipitation totals could reach between 40mm and 60mm. It will also be a very mild day, at 14C (57F) or 15C (59F) but it won't feel like it due to the wind and rain.'

Stormy weather in Edinburgh today as people try to take cover from the rain as they walk through the streets

A Range Rover is driven through a huge puddle during flooding in the Partick area of Glasgow today

A woman tries to take a selfie in high winds in Edinburgh today as the city's castle was closed due to the weather

A train passes through Saltcoats today after the Met Office issued a yellow be aware warning for high winds

Sunrise at the Herd Groyne lighthouse in South Shields on the North East coast this morning

Yesterday, as the winds picked up, ferry operator CalMac began cancelling services on routes between Barra and Eriskay, Oban to Castlebay, Oban to Coll and Tiree, Mallaig to Armadale, and Ardrossan to Brodick.

Hundreds of passengers hoping to leave Arran were stranded in the morning when bad weather saw the crossing to Ardrossan and the alternative route from Lochranza to Tarbert both cancelled - although sailings resumed later.

CalMac director of operations Robert Morrison said: 'There has been severe weather-related disruption since New Year with gusts of up to 60mph impacting on our ability to deliver services to Arran and elsewhere.

'In such conditions, ships' masters will take a decision on whether it is safe to sail or not based on wind speed and direction, sea swell and tidal conditions combined with their experience of sailing in West Coast waters.'

NorthLink Ferries, which sails to Orkney and Shetland, warned that services could be disrupted from today until Thursday. The Scottish Government said it is 'monitoring potential impacts' of the weather.
[January 07, 2020] Rogers to Participate in CJS Investor Conference

Rogers Corporation (NYSE:ROG) will be presenting at the 20th Annual CJS Securities "New Ideas for the New Year" Investor Conference, on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 in New York City. Mike Ludwig, Chief Financial Officer, who will be joined by Bob Daigle, Chief Technology Officer, will provide an overview of the company; discuss its competitive position and its strategies for growth. AboutRogers Corporation





Rogers Corporation (News - Alert) (NYSE:ROG) is a global leader in engineered materials to power, protect, and connect our world. With more than 180 years of materials science experience, Rogers delivers high-performance solutions that enable the company's growth drivers-- advanced connectivity and advanced mobility applications, as well as other technologies where reliability is critical. Rogers delivers Power Electronics Solutions for energy-efficient motor drives, e-Mobility and renewable energy; Elastomeric Material Solutions for sealing, vibration management and impact protection in mobile devices, transportation interiors, industrial equipment and performance apparel; and Advanced Connectivity Solutions for wireless infrastructure, automotive safety and radar systems. Headquartered in Arizona (USA), Rogers operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, China, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, and South Korea, with joint ventures and sales offices worldwide.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005987/en/

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PITTSBURGH, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT) today provided an update on its progress toward previously announced restructuring actions. These actions are part of the Company's ongoing Simplification/Modernization initiatives to enable a leaner structure and optimize its operations globally, including footprint rationalization and consolidation.

FY20 Restructuring Actions

The Company recently completed the full closures of its manufacturing facilities in Lichtenau, Germany and Irwin, Pennsylvania, and consolidated those operations into other lower-cost and newly modernized Kennametal facilities. Additionally, it has completed negotiations with the employee representatives of the Neunkirchen, Germany, distribution center. Distribution activities have been transitioned to a third-party logistics provider.

"We have made good progress on our restructuring actions and reducing structural costs while also improving efficiency, consolidating plants and driving increased shareholder value," said President and Chief Executive Officer, Christopher Rossi. "Throughout the process we have maintained a focus on serving our customers and supporting our employees while we work through these transitions."

As expected, these actions will begin to reduce structural costs beginning in the second half of fiscal 2020. The closures and corresponding savings are part of the previously announced FY20 Restructuring Actions that are expected to result in annualized savings of $35 to $40 million with pre-tax-charges of $55 to $65 million.

FY21 Restructuring Actions

The Company also expects to deliver the FY21 Restructuring Actions with the original estimated annualized savings of $25 to $30 million but with lower estimated pre-tax charges of approximately $55 to $65 million, down from $60 to $75 million.

Following negotiations with local employee representatives, the Company has agreed to downsize the Essen, Germany facility instead of the previously proposed closure. The facility will be substantially smaller with considerably lower operating costs. Additionally, a significant reduction in labor will take place as products are moved to other lower-cost Kennametal facilities. The agreement between Kennametal and the Essen employee representatives is effective through June 30, 2022. The Company is also evaluating the acceleration of other facility closures as part of these restructuring activities.

"Our decision to maintain a much smaller presence in Essen was the result of a compelling proposal offered by the local employee representatives," said Rossi. "The facility will be more competitive globally with improved productivity from increased work hours, lower costs and a smaller, but more profitable, product portfolio. We recognize the effect these changes will have on our employees, and we will continue to work closely with their representatives to assist them."

About Kennametal

With over 80 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Every day approximately 10,000 employees are helping customers in more than 60 countries stay competitive. Kennametal generated nearly $2.4 billion in revenues in fiscal 2019.

Learn more at www.kennametal.com.

Follow @Kennametal: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

SOURCE Kennametal Inc.

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T ourists on safari in South Africas Kruger National Park have been urged to not share photos and selfies of rare wildlife on social media.

Experts have said poachers are using the geotagged locations from the photos and selfies to track and kill rhinos and elephants.

To combat this, officials at Kruger National Park are considering jamming phone signals so that tourists cannot add locations to their photos.

Kruger National Park spokesperson, Ike Phaahla, told ABC News: I think people would be shocked to know that their tips on sightings are being monitored by poachers.

We are talking to experts to see what can be done to curb irresponsible behaviour. Cutting off the signal might end up being the answer.

In the first half of 2019, 190 rhinos were lost to poaching in Kruger National Park and an estimated 8,889 black and white rhinos have been killed by poachers in South Africa between 2006 and 2018.

Elephant poaching has also been on the rise in the park, with 71 being killed in 2018  an all-time high.

Working Wilds Karen Trendler told ABC: Its mind-blowing how sophisticated these syndicates are. Youll find some poachers who have several social media profiles, just to track posts about endangered wildlife.

Im not saying dont take that once in a lifetime picture, but if you do, switch off your geotagging, dont say when and where and what time the photo was taken. You never know what information youre unwittingly passing along to someone with nefarious intent.

Trying to get that all-important picture has resulted in several animal deaths over the past few months.

Three antelope were killed by speeding motorists in recent weeks and in November a giraffe was killed when it was hit by a minibus  also killing a Swiss tourist.
She's the Geordie Shore starlet who is making a splash on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia.

And on Tuesday night's episode, Charlotte Crosby, 29, finally competed in her first challenge after refusing to bungee jump from a helicopter on Sunday.

Charlotte was voted by viewers to do the Elephant Snot Trial along with Love Island Australia's Erin Barnett and TV chef Miguel Maestre.

'I am so scared I'll break me nose!' Charlotte Crosby (pictured) finally competed in her first challenge during Monday night's episode of I'm A Celebrity...

The celebrities were tasked with climbing a slippery staircase that was being sprayed with green slime by a model elephant named Kevin - aptly titled 'Stairway to Kevin'.

'I've got to do this because I was so bad at the helicopter, I've gotta do this. It's my chance to shine,' Charlotte said before the trial, referring to Sunday's failed attempt.

The Geordie Shore star, who had a nose job in 2016, then expressed concern that the challenge could damage her cosmetic surgery.

Not the nose! Charlotte was scared the green yoga ball obstacles would break her 'fragile' sniffer as she had a nose job in 2016

Road to redemption: 'I've got to do this because I was so bad at the helicopter, I've gotta do this. It's my chance to shine,' Charlotte said before the trial

'I am so scared I'll break me nose. I had a nose job, it is very fragile, it could be on the other side of me face after this!' she said.

'Be inspired by that nose!' host Dr Chris Brown cheekily replied, referring to the elephant's trunk.

Charlotte was first up to complete in the trial but was quickly knocked back by a 'snot ball', which appeared to be a green yoga ball.

Star player: After several attempts, the Geordie lass eventually managed to bag all three stars

After several attempts, the Geordie lass eventually managed to bag all three stars after which Miguel and Erin also bagged three each.

For the final part of the challenge, all three celebrities tried to nab the remaining three stars.

Miguel quickly managed to nab his star while Charlotte and Erin struggled to climb the stairs as an increasing amount of snot and snot balls were thrown at them.

Charlotte made one last attempt to get her star with Miguel helping her at the very last second.

Cheeky! It appears the slime had pushed Charlotte's shorts down as her blue underpants were on full display

It appears the slime had pushed Charlotte's shorts down as her blue underpants were on full display,

'Me pants are coming down!' Charlotte said.

The 29-year-old struggled to descend the staircase before hilariously tumbling down on her buttocks and landing in the slime.

Overall, the group managed to get 11 out of 12 stars, giving the rest of their group a sizable meal for dinner.
President Trumps threats come as Iraq backs a resolution calling for US troops to leave the country.

Iraqis have expressed fear over US President Donald Trumps threat to impose sanctions on Iraq after Baghdad passed a non-binding resolution to get US troops out of the country.

On January 3, a US air attack killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.

But the country is divided between those who want US troops to stay, and those that do not.

Al Jazeeras Simona Foltyn reports from Baghdad.
Morari Medical Introduces Wearable Solution for Premature Ejaculation at CES 2020

Sexual Wellness Company Creates a Wearable Solution to Premature Ejaculation

Morari Medical is set to unveil an early-stage prototype for its wearable premature ejaculation solution at CES 2020 in Las Vegas.

The sexual health and wellness company developed this innovative, first-of-its-kind treatment for the most common sexual issue experienced by men. In fact, up to 30 percent of adult males will experience premature ejaculation at some point in their lives. Morari Medical's discreet and easy-to-use solution, however, employs neuromodulation to return men's confidence to the bedroom without affecting their partners enjoyment of the experience either.

RELATED: Everything You Need To Know To Last Longer In Bed

"The use of neuromodulation is a common modality that has been proven to treat a variety of different medical conditions," said Jeff Bennett, founder of Morari Medical.

To develop the groundbreaking solution, Bennett  a veteran in the medical device industry  compiled a team of experts with more than 75 years of experience in the fields of urology and sexual health. The team includes Harvard-based urologist Dr. Dicken Ko.

Premature ejaculation is a serious quality-of-life issue that most men don't see a doctor about and doctors lack good treatment options, said Dr. Ko. There has been no innovation in the treatment of premature ejaculation for more than 20 years.

For more great CES coverage, check out our sister sites, PCMag, IGN, Mashable and Geek.

Early testing has proven to be incredibly promising, but Morari Medical wants to ensure the utmost effectiveness of their revolutionary sextech solution before they offer it to the public. That's why they've also announced that they will team up with San Diego Sexual Medicine and Dr. Irwin Goldstein to conduct a study of their wearable solution and the results that it provides.

As many as 60 percent of men wish to delay an ejaculation at some point and rapid ejaculation is one of the most common complaints of couples seeking sex therapy, yet few solutions exist to address this problem, noted Dr. Goldstein, a world-renowned sexual medicine expert. I have been disappointed in the available treatments as they can be inconvenient, messy, and have a negative impact on a partners experience.

Morari Medical is set to begin testing their wearable early this year, with a commercial release expected in 2021.

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PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- A 19-year-old Pascagoula resident is in custody after robbing a fast food restaurant at gunpoint early Tuesday morning.

According to Pascagoula police chief Matt Chapman, officers responded to a call of a man with a gun at the Hardees restaurant about 6:13 a.m. When they arrived, officers found Travis Marshawn Jones Jr. holding a 9mm handgun and atempting to leave the restaurant.

An officer drew his weapon and ordered Jones to the ground. After a few moments, Jones finally complied with the officers command and was taken into custody by another officer.

Jones is charged with armed robbery and was transported to the Jackson County Adult Detention Center, where he is awaiting an initial court appearance.

Chapman said more details will be forthcoming once the investigation is complete.
MANZINI  Hardly a week into the new year, PSAs are beginning their mission to demand a cost-of-living adjustment (CoLA) from government.



The national executive committee (NEC) of the four unions, which form public sector associations (PSAs), has since called a general council (GC) meeting to discuss a way forward regarding the issue of CoLA.



According to the statement which was released by the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General, Sikelela Dlamini, as PSAs NEC, they were inviting all members of the GC to a joint meeting which would be held at SNAT Centre on Friday. He said the meeting would start at 9:30am. He said the items on the agenda would include a discussion about their strike which took place last year, between September 23 and October 2. This strike action was for the CoLA for 2017/19, which was 7.85 per cent.



We will also discuss the issue of CoLA for 2018/19 as the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC) had issued a certificate of unresolved dispute, Dlamini said.



In this matter, he said their demand was at 6.55 per cent and the GC members were expected to come up with a way forward. The unions that form part of PSAs are SNAT, National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) and Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP).



Demanded



Civil servants in the country last got CoLA in the 2016/17 financial year and this was when a salary review was done. In 2017/18 and 2018/19 they demanded 7.85 per cent and 6.55 per cent respectively. However, on the other hand, government offered them zero per cent and CMAC issued a certificate of unresolved dispute.



In the current year, PSAs vowed to table a demand of 5.5 per cent CoLA but they have not got that chance yet as the issue of CoLA has not been discussed at the round table. In fact, government asked that they should discuss issues that did not have financial implications.



These developments come at a time when the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, when delivering his maiden speech, said CoLA was the most contentious economic issue in the country at this moment and he was compelled to address it.



He said the growing wage bill was placing insurmountable pressure on the budget and government had been under immense strain to pay salaries due to the cash flow crisis. He said despite the current hiring freeze, wages and pensions, expenditure would increase from E8.2 billion in 2018/19 to E8.5 billion in 2019/20. Given the state of the economy, the minister said it was not prudent or possible to budget for CoLA in 2019/20 as the country simply could not afford it.

He then appealed to the public service associations and its members to appreciate the current financial strain and to join them in actively addressing these challenges



Meanwhile, prior to the budget speech, Prime Minister (PM) Ambrose Dlamini offered PSAs a minimum of three per cent as CoLA. However, he said this increment, which he guaranteed as a minimum offer, could be more depending on how the economy performs in the next 14 months, paid with effect from April 2020/21.
The Macys at the Mall at Whitney Field in Leominster will close within about three months, representatives from the companys communications office confirmed on Tuesday.

After careful consideration, Macys has decided to close Macys Mall at Whitney Field in Leominster, Emily Hawkins, director of Northeast communications said.

Hawkins added that Macys is proud to have served the Leominster community over the past 18 years and all employees have been notified of the closure.

Regular, non-seasonal colleagues who we are unable to place at nearby Macys stores, said Hawkins. Will be eligible for severance, including outplacement resources.

The Mall at Whitney Field in Leominster opened in 1967 as the Searstown Mall and has faced the loss of a detached Toys "R" Us and the announcement that the malls Sears would close as well.

In the email, Hawkins said that Macys and its staff will continue to serve customers at nearby stores including Solomon Pond, Nashua, Auburn and Natick
Quarantine officers check the temperatures of passengers arriving at Incheon International Airport, on flights from Dubai, in this Sep. 10, 2018 file photo. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are taking preventive measures against the spread of a mysterious pneumonia from China, although no suspected cases were reported in Korea yet. Korea Times file



By Bahk Eun-ji



Health authorities are stepping up precautionary measures to prevent possible spread of a mysterious pneumonia from China as nearly 1,800 people entered Korea via the Chinese city of Wuhan, the site of the first outbreak, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said Tuesday.



The KCDC said it has been taking necessary quarantine steps, including tightened control at immigration booths and temperature screening on all flights from Wuhan, the capital of China's central Hubei Province. The health authority has been on high alert as it was when Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) hit the nation in 2015, the KCDC said.



According to the disease control center, there are eight flights a week from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport to Incheon International Airport, operated by Korean Air and China Southern Airlines.



Given that the outbreak of the illness was first identified Dec.31, at least nine flights carried passengers from Wuhan to Korea. The number of inbound passengers to the country by flights from Wuhan is around 200 per flight, meaning about 1,800 people entered Korea via Wuhan.



However, no suspected cases of pneumonia in Korea have been reported so far.



"No serious pneumonia cases linked to the Wuhan outbreak have been reported in Korea so far," said Kwak Jin, a deputy director of the KCDC's infectious disease control bureau.



But the problem is that the cause of the outbreak of pneumonia still remains a mystery, although Chinese officials said it is not the deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus, which was first discovered in China in 2003, it does not appear to spread quickly between people.



The cause of the disease, as well as epidemiological investigations, remain unknown at all, with the possibility of the virus entering Korea.



"At the moment, we are working on monitoring of the disease in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) China Country Office. Investigations are still being carried out, but Chinese health authorities cannot yet confirm what pathogen is causing the illness," Kwak said.



As of Jan. 5, there were 59 cases reported in Wuhan, according to an update from Wuhan's municipal health commission. Seven of the patients are seriously ill, and no one has died. Separately, Hong Kong has reported 21 possible cases.



The health authority in Wuhan said it will seeking the cause but have so far ruled out influenza, avian influenza, adenovirus and coronaviruses SARS and MERS.






More potential victims of the man thought to be the UKs most prolific rapist have come forward after he was unmasked on Monday.

Reynhard Sinaga drugged, rendered unconscious and assaulted men who he met outside bars and clubs in Manchester. Police believe there are more than 195 victims.

The 36-year-old Indonesian lured his victims back to his city centre flat with the promise of a phone charger, after-party or somewhere warm to wait for a taxi  before he spiked their drink and attacked them while they slept.

He was jailed for life with a 30-year minimum term on Monday.

Now, after long-standing reporting restrictions were lifted allowing the Leeds University student to be identified, investigators say more men have come forward believing themselves to be possible victims.

Reynhard Sinaga: Most prolific rapist in UK history jailed Show all 11 1 /11 Reynhard Sinaga: Most prolific rapist in UK history jailed Reynhard Sinaga: Most prolific rapist in UK history jailed Reynhard Sinaga was jailed at Manchester Crown Court for life and must serve a minimum of 30 years after he was convicted of offences against 48 men Greater Manchester Police/PA Reynhard Sinaga: Most prolific rapist in UK history jailed The bedroom floor, where dozens of rapes took place, in the the home of Reynhard Sinaga Sinaga, who was convicted on 159 sexual offences including 136 counts of rape in Manchester between January 2015 and May 2017, drugged 48 men and filmed himself sexually violating them while they were unconscious in his city centre apartmen Greater Manchester Police/PA Reynhard Sinaga: Most prolific rapist in UK history jailed A general view of the night club Fifth in Manchester where Reynhard Sinaga watched and picked up men that he later raped Greater Manchester Police/PA Reynhard Sinaga: Most prolific rapist in UK history jailed CCTV grab of Reynhard Sinaga on Princess Street The Indonesian student posed as a good samaritan, offering the men a place to sleep or more drink, the court heard Greater Manchester Police/PA Reynhard Sinaga: Most prolific rapist in UK history jailed Reynhard Sinaga, middle, appearing in the dock at Manchester Crown Court on the day he was charged Julia Quenzler /SWNS.COM Reynhard Sinaga: Most prolific rapist in UK history jailed A general view of the apartment Montana House next to the night club The Factory Greater Manchester Police/PA Reynhard Sinaga: Most prolific rapist in UK history jailed The living room at the home of Reynhard Sinaga His victims  who were mostly heterosexual  had little or no memory of the assaults, which Sinaga filmed on his mobile phone. The men left the flat unaware they had been violated. Greater Manchester Police/PA Reynhard Sinaga: Most prolific rapist in UK history jailed The iPhone 4 taken by a victim and used to convict Reynhard Sinaga Sinaga was caught after one of the men regained consciousness and fought him off, before taking his phone to the police Greater Manchester Police/PA Reynhard Sinaga: Most prolific rapist in UK history jailed Bottles of alcohol which were used to spike victims in the home of Reynhard Sinaga Sinaga is thought to have laced alcoholic drinks with a drug such as GHB, known as liquid ecstasy, to incapacitate his victims Greater Manchester Police/PA Reynhard Sinaga: Most prolific rapist in UK history jailed Greater Manchester Police has urged anyone who believes Sinaga may have approached them on a night out to come forward. Officers say he may have been committing crimes for 10 years Greater Manchester Police/PA Reynhard Sinaga: Most prolific rapist in UK history jailed Mobile phones found in the home of Reynhard Sinaga When Greater Manchester Police examined the attackers multiple digital devices, they found 3.29 terabytes of graphic material  the equivalent of 250 DVDs  depicting sexual assaults. Jurors who had to watch some of the mobile phone footage were later offered counselling Greater Manchester Police/PA

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: For operational reasons we are unable to give out specific numbers of calls made to the incident room or information made online via the major incident public portal at this time.

However, we can confirm that some of these reports relate to potential further victims of Sinaga.

Investigators have already said that while Sinaga has been officially found guilty of crimes against 48 men, they are certain the number of victims is far higher.

Footage discovered on his mobile phone shows at least 195 different men being brutalised by him while apparently unconscious.

But investigators have so far been unable to identify all of them.

They believe those involved would almost certainly have woken up in the morning without realising they had been drugged and assaulted. Most would likely have attributed their blackout to their own over-indulgence.

All but one of the victims currently identified had no idea Sinaga had attacked them until police identified them after seeing the footage.

Separately on Tuesday, home secretary Priti Patel called for an urgent review into whether more stringent controls are needed for date rape drugs such as GHB  which it is believed Sinaga used.

The minister urged the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to expedite a review into whether current controls are tough enough.
On May 8, 1967, North Vietnamese Army commandos attacked the Marine Corps base at Con Thien, using flamethrowers for the first time in the war. The Marines, forced out of their positions by streams of burning fuel, came under machine gun and mortar fire. Although the attack failed, the Chinese-built Type 74 flamethrowers appearance was a harbinger of unpleasant things to come for those on the receiving end.

The Type 74 was a license-built copy of the Soviet LPO-50 that entered service in 1953. It had three tanks, each containing a pressure cartridge and about a gallon of special diesel fuel. The tanks were topped by a pressure relief valve and a filling aperture with screw cap. They were mounted in a canvas backpack-style harness.

Each tank connected to a manifold via a fuel line with a one-way valve to prevent flare back. A hose connected the manifold to the flame gun, which contained four 1.5-volt batteries. The trigger was near the muzzle and had a safety catch to prevent accidental discharge. Squeezing the trigger sent an electric current to the tanks release valves and the ignition cartridge in the muzzle, creating a 1,200-degree Fahrenheit stream of burning fuel. With its three tanks, the LPO-50/Type 74 could fire three shots lasting 2 to 3 seconds.

Two-man NVA teams employed flamethrowers against key enemy positions during an assault. The flamethrowers were also used to drive enemy soldiers from cover in a firefight. The NVAs integration of flamethrowers, machine guns and mortar fire was a rare but deadly combination. NVA flamethrower teams figured prominently in attacks on firebases during the communist offensives in 1972 and 1975. The Type 74 remains in service with Chinese and Vietnamese forces to this day.

This feature originally appeared in the April 2020 issue of Vietnam magazine. To subscribe, click here.
Cotton Closes Black on Monday Barchart - Mon Jan 10, 4:48PM CST Cotton futures were off their high at the closing bell on Monday, but were still 10 to 40 points in the black. New crop cotton also bounced on Monday, ending the session 40 to 76 points firmer. The Seam... CTH22 : 115.22s (+0.09%) CTK22 : 113.07s (+0.17%) CTZ21 : 111.55s (+0.25%)

Wheat Markets Close Mixed Barchart - Mon Jan 10, 4:48PM CST Mondays wheat market ended with winter wheat gains to HRS weakness. Spring wheat futures ended the session a nickel to 9 cents in the red. March MPLS wheat has posted losses in 9 in the last 11 sessions... ZWH22 : 760-0 (-0.26%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.2051 (+0.47%) KEH22 : 777-0 (-0.16%) KEPAWS.CM : 7.5951 (+0.45%) MWH22 : 914-4 (unch)

Corn Weakens out of Weekend Barchart - Mon Jan 10, 4:48PM CST Mondays corn trading session left prices 5 1/2 to 7 cents weaker. May futures were able to hold above the $6 mark, while Marcha and July closed less than a penny under. New crop futures were fractionally... ZCH22 : 600-6 (+0.17%) ZCPAUS.CM : 5.8670 (-1.13%) ZCK22 : 602-0 (unch) ZCZ21 : 588-6s (+0.77%) ZCPZ21US.CM : 5.7930 (-0.49%)

Chart of the Day: KLA-Tencor - A Tech Stock Still Worth Looking At Barchart - Mon Jan 10, 4:37PM CST I wanted to find out if there were still any tech stocks that were worth buying so I screened the NASDAQ 100 Index stock for the highest Weighted Alpha and technical buy signals and found one. My Barchart... KLAC : 418.73 (+0.44%)
A man was killed and another injured Monday during a drive-by shooting in west Houstons Alief neighborhood, police say.

The men were sitting in the garage of a house in the 6300 block of Gladewell Drive around 8 p.m., according to Houston Police Department Lt. Larry Crowson. A gunman inside a car drove by and opened fire, striking both men, Crowson said.
Analysts have warned Pakistan that the multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will provide little benefit to the locals, especially those in the marginalised and volatile province of Balochistan.

"The Belt and Road Initiative, with CPEC as its flagship, is based on infrastructure and energy projects, aimed at enhancing trade through this particular route. It is not a humanitarian intervention designed to benefit the masses. All those who perceive it that way should correct themselves," Senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, the former spokesperson of the Balochistan government was quoted as saying by Asia Times.

The escalation of activity on CPEC projects comes after the incumbent Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) government started its tenure in August 2018 with scepticism about Islamabad's agreement with Beijing.

The Hong Kong-based media in its report stated that during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Islamabad and Imran Khan's visit to Beijing in 2018, Pakistan was looking for a rejig of the CPEC agreements, which had been shared with China.

Prime Minister's Advisor on Commerce, Industry and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood had then reportedly expressed the government's desire to put the CPEC "on hold" while the terms were renegotiated.

This caused major embarrassment to Khan and his team during his November 2018 visit to Beijing, government officials had revealed.

A year later in October 2019, Khan arrived in Beijing seeking China's support on Kashmir and the looming blacklisting at the hands of counter-terror watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The Pakistani government formally agreed to the terms laid out by China for the second phase of the CPEC.

"Instead of reviewing the terms of the first phase of the CPEC, Beijing has actually enforced its will on the second phase as well. There have been no changes in the execution of the projects and the road map for the corridor. In fact, China has explicitly expressed displeasure of the lack of activity over the past year and a half," revealed a senior diplomat.

Meanwhile, officials have also revealed that in addition to the CPEC power projects being "economically more expensive" for Pakistan, Beijing has the entirety of a similarly skewed plan laid out.

Immediately after Khan's visit to Beijing last year, Wang Zhiqing, China's Chief Planner of the Ministry of Transport, arrived in Islamabad to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pakistani Minister for Communications Murad Saeed, regarding the transport infrastructure of the second phase of the economic corridor.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority (CPECA) was formally unveiled in October 2019.

The terms require Islamabad to return USD 21.8 billion in commercial loans and USD 7.75 billion in bilateral debt to Beijing over the next three years.

After Pakistan continued to pursue CPEC, Washington had also warned the former dubbing it as a "debt trap."

However, analysts have maintained that Islamabad rebuking the remarks clearly underlines that Imran Khan's PTI government knows that it cannot afford to offend Beijing anymore.

With Khan recently inaugurating the second phase of the multi-billion dollars project including nine SEZs, it is to be seen how the CPEC upgrade Pakistan's infrastructure and strengthen its economy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fires have swept through 8 million hectares and some blazes are so large only sustained rainfall will extinguish them.

Firefighters in Australia took advantage of cooler weather on Tuesday to try and strengthen containment lines about almost 200 fires burning in the countrys southeast, as two more people were reported missing.

Fires that started in September have swept through more than 8 million hectares (19.8 million acres) of land, an area nearly the size of Austria, killing 25 people and destroying or damaging thousands of homes across the countrys southeast.

Smoke from the fires has been spotted more than 12,000 kilometres (7,400 miles) away in Chile and Argentina, weather authorities in the South American countries said.

On Tuesday, two men were reported missing in New South Wales. Police did not reveal the identities of the men but said one was a 70-year old male.

Recovery fund

The Insurance Council of Australia increased its estimate for damages claims from the fires to more than 700 million Australian dollars ($485.59m) on Tuesday, with claims expected to rise significantly as people are able to return to areas damaged by the fires.

Building Impact Assessment teams continue working through fire affected areas, to assess damage to properties. So far this season 1,588 homes destroyed & more than 20,000 buildings saved. Since 1 Jan, 672 homes have been lost. This figure is likely to increase. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/FLjafbZccv  NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 6, 2020

Thousands of people have been left homeless, while many in rural towns have spent days without electricity, telecommunications and, in some cases, drinking water. Military-coordinated rescue and support efforts are continuing.

Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has been criticised for his handling of the crisis, on Monday pledged 2 billion Australian dollars ($1.4m) for a newly created National Bushfire Recovery Agency to help devastated communities.

Black ash and fire debris is washed up on Boydtown Beach and the banks of the Nullica River in Eden, Australia [Tracey Nearmy/Reuters]

On the ground, firefighters were working to get as much control over the huge blazes as possible before the expected return of high temperatures and strong winds later this week.

Rain on Monday offered modest relief, but it was not heavy enough to extinguish the fires, and in some places, it hampered firefighters preparations by making back-burning more difficult.

They are trying to secure fire lines where they can to try and minimise where these fires will burn again when conditions do warm up, Rob Rogers, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Deputy Commissioner told reporters in a morning briefing.

Many of the fires have become so big only sustained rainfall will put them out.
Eminent economist and JNU professor CP Chandrasekhar on Monday said he had withdrawn from the newly constituted 28-member Standing Committee on Statistics (SCES), chaired by former chief statistician Pranob Sen, citing the situation in the university.

The committee was constituted last month to improve the quality of data amid criticism of the government over political interferences and is scheduled to meet on Tuesday.

I regret to inform you that because of the situation in JNU, where I stay, I will be unable to attend tomorrows meeting.

Further, I feel that under the current conditions, this committee is unlikely to be able to restore the credibility of the statistical system, which has been undermined in the recent past,

Chandrasekhar wrote in an email to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) and the members of the committee.

Violence broke out at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) here on Sunday night as a mob of masked men, armed with sticks, attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in police.

Many sustained injuries and were admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre here. They were discharged on Monday. JNU Students Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh suffered a head injury.

Chandrasekhar, an eminent economist, however, added that he wished to record his appreciation of the sustained efforts of a large number of colleagues within the statistical system, whom he had greatly valued working with in the past, to build a robust and credible statistical base.

It is unfortunate that political pressures have reduced their autonomy now and efforts to consolidate a well-designed system are being subverted. In these circumstances, I will not be able to serve on this committee, he wrote in the email.

Last year in March, expressing concerns over political interference in influencing statistical data in India, as many as 108 economists and social scientists had called for restoration of institutional independence and integrity to statistical organisations.

Their statement had come in the backdrop of a controversy over a revision of the gross domestic product (GDP) numbers and withholding of employment data by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO).

In November also, the MOSPI had decided not to release the Consumer Expenditure Survey results of 2017-18, citing data quality issues.
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Yes Bank: ED summons Anil Ambani in connection with money laundering probe against Rana Kapoor

Own one car, sold jewellery: Anil Ambani tells UK court

Government to refund Rs 104 crore to Anil Ambani-led RCom

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 07: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the Centre's plea challenging the Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT)'s order directing refund of around Rs 104 crore to Reliance Communication.

A bench of justices RF Nariman and S Ravindra Bhat said, "We don't find any merits in the appeal."

The TDSAT had on December 21, 2018 directed the Centre to return around Rs 104 crore after encashing bank guarantee of Rs 908 crore against spectrum charges of Rs 774 crore.

JNU violence: No arrests yet, FIR filed against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh | OneIndia News

Anil Ambanis evidence in case filed by Chinese bank incomplete: UK HC

The Department of Telecom has already adjusted Rs 30.33 crore.

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Story first published: Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 11:26 [IST]
Good morning.

(Heres the sign-up, if you dont already get California Today delivered to your inbox.)

On Friday, we took a close look at one of the highest profile laws to take effect in California at the start of the year, aimed at giving consumers new rights to know what personal data companies are collecting and how theyre using it.

But at the beginning of the year, lots more laws officially went into effect. Hundreds of them.

(To be more specific, 870 laws were enacted in last years regular session, according to a state report. But some of them  like Assembly Bill 420, which established a cannabis research program  went into effect immediately, while others wont go into effect until later.)

As Ive mentioned, well dig into some of the more complicated new rules in coming weeks.

The states new rent cap, a major step meant to address the housing crisis, is one of those.
[January 07, 2020] TEGNA Announces Offering of Senior Notes

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) (the "Company") announced today that it intends to offer $1 billion of senior notes due 2028 in a private offering to persons reasonably believed to be "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act, subject to market and other conditions. The notes will be guaranteed on a senior basis by certain subsidiaries of the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds to redeem a portion of its outstanding senior notes and repay borrowings under its revolving credit agreement. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the notes or any other securities. The notes and the related guarantees have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such rgistration requirements.



Certain statements in this press release may be forward looking in nature or "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to a number of risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual performance to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. A number of those risks, trends and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's SEC (News - Alert) reports, including the Company's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. TEGNA is not responsible for updating the information contained in this press release beyond the published date, or for changes made to this press release by wire services, Internet service providers or other media.

About TEGNA TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. With 62 television stations in 51 markets, TEGNA is the largest owner of top 4 affiliates in the top 25 markets among independent station groups, reaching approximately 39 percent of all television households nationwide. TEGNA also owns leading multicast networks Justice Network and Quest. TEGNA Marketing Solutions (TMS) offers innovative solutions to help businesses reach consumers across television, email, social and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Premion, TEGNA's OTT advertising service. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005545/en/

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Libya Rebels Say They Seized Key Coastal City

By RFE/RL January 06, 2020

Rebel forces in Libya say they have taken control of Sirte following what media reports describe as a rapid advance on the strategic coastal city.

The UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) has not yet commented on the January 6 announcement, which comes amid an offensive by the east-based forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar to capture Tripoli.

The Libyan capital is the seat of the GNA.

Sirte has been controlled by GNA- aligned forces since fighters of the Islamic State extremist group were expelled in 2016.

Libya has been torn by violence since longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011.

The North African country has two rival administrations, the UN-backed one based in Tripoli, and Haftar's one in the eastern city of Tobruk.

Reuters quoted an unidentified resident as saying that convoys of troops belonging to Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) could be seen inside Sirte.

"They control large parts of the city now. We also hear gunfire," the resident said.

The reports come a day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced he had dispatched military elements to Libya to ensure stability for the GNA, after parliament approved the move last week.

Ankara has given no details about the scale of its military deployment, but Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on January 6 that Turkey would send military experts and technical teams, adding: "How and when this will happen is to be decided by the government, under the president's leadership."

The UN-backed government is supported by NATO-member Turkey and its ally Qatar.

Haftar is backed by the United Arab Emirates, and others, including what is believed to be a force of Russian private military contractors.

Also on January 6, the UN's Libya envoy said that a country supporting Haftar's forces was likely responsible for a deadly drone attack on a military academy in Tripoli.

Speaking after briefing the UN Security Council, Ghassan Salame called on foreign powers to "keep out of Libya."

At least 30 people were killed in the January 4 air strike.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, and the BBC

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/un-to-meet-on-libya- at-russia-s-request-as-turkey-sends-troops -to-tripoli/30362275.html

Copyright (c) 2020. 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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The FBI is pressing Apple for help opening iPhones that belonged to the Saudi military student who killed three people last month at a naval base in Pensacola, Fla., signalling a potential revival of the fight between the federal government and Silicon Valley over encryption technology.

On Monday, FBI General Counsel Dana Boente wrote a letter to Apples top lawyer, Katherine Adams, seeking the tech giants assistance.

Even though the shooter is dead, the FBI, out of an abundance of caution, has secured court authorization to search the contents of the phones in order to exhaust all leads in this high priority national security investigation, Boente wrote.

Unfortunately, FBI has been unable to access the contents of the phones, the letter said, even after asking private technology experts if they could help agents crack them. None of those reachouts has shown us a path forward.

The letter was first reported by NBC News.

In a statement, Apple said it had already helped FBI agents on the Pensacola case by sharing relevant data in its cloud storage. Apple and other companies have argued that encryption on phones is an important safeguard protecting millions of consumers against hackers and other criminals.

The circumstances of the request  a dead killers phone that FBI experts say they cannot crack  is reminiscent of the high-stakes legal standoff four years ago over the iPhone of a San Bernardino, Calif., County employee who along with his wife killed 14 people in a shooting rampage.

That legal battle between the Justice Department and Apple sparked a national debate about the competing interests of national security, law enforcement, personal privacy and giant tech firms. But the larger legal question of whether the government could force companies to provide access to electronic devices was never answered by the courts because, amid their fight, the FBI found a private firm that could access the gunmans phone.

Since that case, others have popped up in which the FBI could have gone to court to try to force Apples hand, including with the phone of a Texas man who killed 26 people in 2017. But none of those investigations ultimately became a test case on encryption.

Attorney General William Barr and other law enforcement officials have argued that widespread encryption on consumer devices makes those devices effectively off-limits to investigators even with a court order, hampering investigations into terrorism, child abuse and a host of other crimes.

We have the greatest respect for law enforcement and have always worked cooperatively to help in their investigations, Apples statement says. When the FBI requested information from us relating to this case a month ago we gave them all of the data in our possession and we will continue to support them with the data we have available.

Boentes letter notes that the phones at issue in the Pensacola case are older models, one an iPhone 7 and the other an iPhone 5. That would suggest at least the possibility that software engineers would be able to find a way to access the devices data without the passcode, because the technology used in older devices is sometimes easier to crack.

There is another complicating factor to the request  one of the phones was struck by a bullet, according to people familiar with the case. Its unclear how significant that damage is to accessing the data, but investigators are particularly interested in accessing that device in case the gunman shot it deliberately to keep investigators from seeing the information it contains, these people said.

The Pensacola gunman, a Royal Saudi Air Force member named Ahmed Mohammed al-Shamrani, was training at the base when he used a legally purchased 9mm handgun to go on a rampage, authorities have said. He was shot dead by a sheriffs deputy.

Shamrani left hints that he was motivated at least in part by his hatred of American foreign policy and military might. Investigators said they believe Shamrani was the author of an anti-American screed posted on Twitter shortly before the shooting, according to a law enforcement official. The Saudi government has pledged to co-operate with the FBI investigation.

In the San Bernardino case, which appeared headed for a precedent-setting Supreme Court showdown between Silicon Valley and the federal government, the FBI went to court seeking a judges order to compel Apple to help them open the phone.

Then, as the case was working its way through the legal system, the FBI announced that an outside firm had found a solution. That unexpected development solved the FBIs immediate problem, but it set back the Justice Departments efforts to pressure tech firms into providing a means of access to suspects phones. A Justice Department inspector general review of the FBIs handling of the San Bernardino case later found that key elements of the FBIs technology division were not communicating well internally to try every possible way to open the phone.

James Baker, who served as the FBIs general counsel during the encryption battle over the San Bernardino phone, said there are similarities to the new case, even though he now has a more favourable view of encryption than he did then.

It strikes me that the government today is in a similar position that we found ourselves in, in terms of owing a duty to the victims and their families to try to pursue every logical lead, said Baker, now the director of national security and cyber security at the R Street Institute, a nonpartisan right-leaning think tank.

When it comes to the debates over encryption and constitutional protections against unreasonable searches, Baker said, the problem is not the Fourth amendment, the problem is our U.S. statutes. No court has found that they empower the government to do what the government wants them to do.
The digital olfaction solution is ideal for the automotive and consumer markets due to its cost effective, robust, and miniature nature; Enables organizations to continuously improve the customer experience

Aryballe (www.aryballe.com), the pioneer in digital olfaction, today announced a new high-volume, low-cost universal odor sensor, capable of detecting any odor in near real-time. Built on a silicon photonics platform, Aryballe's new sensor is ideal for the automotive and consumer appliances industries due to its miniature enabling companies to develop innovative solutions for new consumer application challenges.

Featuring the same sensitivity as Aryballe's NeOse Pro, the new sensor device is smaller than a paperclip in size, more durable, and can be integrated more easily into existing smart sensor networks. This is especially important for companies developing smart home appliances as consumers more frequently demand a more seamless experience in the smart home.

The automotive industry is also experiencing a fundamental shift as the shared economy trend continues to gain momentum, and all aspects of consumer interaction and experience with cars have become important. Integrating Aryballe's new sensor device into vehicles will enable fleet providers and vehicle manufacturers to continuously assess the impact of smell in a car to prevent a negative customer experience.

In fact, Hyundai Motor Company has already teamed up with Aryballe to use its sensors to better inform drivers of the interior conditions of their vehicles after investing in the company earlier this year. International Flavors Fragrances Inc. (IFF) has also invested in the company, both in January 2019 and in the company's most recent funding round in July, to refine and further develop the applications of Aryballe's technology in the food, fragrance, cosmetics and other industries.

"Aryballe has been a leader in digital olfaction since our founding with a commitment to delivering products that enable our customers to make smarter and more informed business decisions," said Sam Guillaume, CEO, Aryballe. "We dramatically reduced the size and cost of our newest device to further provide companies in consumer-facing industries with options they never had before. Now, our customers benefit from a much wider range of potential use cases, all of which improve the user experience as well as their bottom line."

The new device is equipped with a silicon photonics biosensor, making it vibration resistant and less sensitive to outside influences. The sensor is functionalized with Aryballe's proprietary combination of biosensors, which capture unique odor signatures in mere seconds. Once captured, Aryballe's software then interprets those signatures based on a database of previously collected and analyzed odors, effectively mimicking the human sense of smell.

The new device will be available later this year, with the first samples shipping in Q2 2020. Aryballe will be showcasing the device at CES 2020 from January 7-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Attendees are invited to visit Suite 30-102 in the Venetian Hotel to further explore each of Aryballe's products and their use cases.

Please also visit the Aryballe website or contact us for more information.

About Aryballe

Based in Grenoble, France, Aryballe combines biochemistry, advanced optics and machine learning to mimic the human sense of smell. Founded in 2014, Aryballe released its first product, the digital nose NeOse Pro, in early 2018. Fast, portable and sensitive to hundreds of odors, NeOse Pro captures odor signatures for display and analysis via software solutions that enable better decision making for R&D, quality control, manufacturing and end user experiences. With operations in France and the USA, Aryballe works with global leaders in automotive, consumer appliances and flavor fragrances.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005524/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Tracey Workman for Aryballe

pr@aryballe.com

781-366-1789
Washington: Due to the increasing gun culture throughout the US, there are frequent firing incidents, even after people have sought to stop it many times, the US government is not taking steps in this direction, the result is that firing incidents Are increasing The case has come to light from the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Yogi's government gives gifts to employees, proposal to increase allowances continues

One person was killed and another was injured after firing at a Walmart here by an unknown person. Police have given information in this regard. New Orleans Police Chief Shawn Ferguson said a man went to the Walmart on Monday evening and began firing swiftly, injuring two people, Xinhua reported.

US to deploy 6 fighter aircraft in Indian Ocean amid tension from Iran

According to information, the store had hundreds of customers during the incident. Ferguson told the media that one of the Walmart personnel died on the spot due to the bullet, while the other person was shot in the leg and his condition is stable. A Walmart security guard stopped the suspect. After this, he was rushed to the police headquarters for investigation. Police said that it was not immediately known whether the attacker suddenly targeted people or that he already knew them.

Pakistan Parliament passed mutual legal assistant criminal matter bill
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 22:30:56|Editor: ZX

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TOKYO, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo prosecutors on Tuesday obtained an arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn, the wife of former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn, for making a false statement last April at her husband's trial for alleged aggravated breach of trust.

Prosecutors suspected that during an examination of a witness last April at the Tokyo District Court, Carole Ghosn denied knowing one of Ghosn's acquaintances whom she had previously contacted.

According to the prosecutors, the former auto tycoon is believed to have channeled Nissan funds through the acquaintance's private account to a firm in whose management his wife was involved.

Carlos Ghosn violated his bail conditions and fled to Lebanon late last month.

Carole Ghosn is now believed to be in Lebanon with her husband. The prosecutors are expected to ask Interpol to put her on an international wanted list. As Japan has no extradition treaty with Lebanon, the possibility of Carole Ghosn being arrested is low.

Carlos Ghosn, who holds Brazilian, French and Lebanese nationality, is accused of under-reporting his remuneration for years and for embezzling company funds. He has denied all the charges, claiming that company insiders conspired against him.

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Japanese Ambassador to Lebanon Takeshi Okubo on Tuesday met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun at his office on the outskirts of Beirut.

According to a statement of the ministry, Okubo said that Ghosn's illegal departure from Japan and arrival in Lebanon is deeply regrettable and can never be overlooked by the government of Japan. He requested the government of Lebanon to provide all necessary cooperation on this matter.

Aoun explained that the government of Lebanon did not have any involvement whatsoever in the incident, stating that Lebanon attaches importance to the relations with Japan, and, in response to the request for cooperation from Japan, promised that Lebanon would spare no effort in providing unstinting cooperation, the statement said.
By Lee Seong-hyon





China is paying keen attention to what kind of "new path" Kim Jong-un will take in 2020.



First, China believes that South Korea and the U.S. "overreacted" to North Korea's reference to the "Christmas gift," which heightened the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. The very idea of this so-called gift drew wide attention to the point that Trump also mentioned it publicly.



The U.S. media began to report it as Kim's "Christmas gift." Advanced U.S. reconnaissance planes and surveillance aircraft were deployed on the Korean Peninsula one after another. Tensions rose.



However, the term "Christmas gift" was not Kim's wording, but that of Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-sung. In his Dec. 3 statement, Lee said, "What remains is America's choice and what it chooses for the upcoming Christmas gift depends entirely on the U.S. decision."



Lee, as a specialist on the U.S., may have succeeded in drawing attention by mentioning the special American holiday. But the deadline set by Kim was the "year's end," not Christmas. In other words, the foreign ministry official uttered "Christmas" and insinuated it to be a deadline, which was different from the wording from the supreme leader. Given the nature of the North Korea's political system, in which people recite the words of the nation's top leader almost verbatim, the mistake of by Lee warrants reprimanding, a Chinese observer said. It partially explains why China was relatively "calm" about the situation on the Korean Peninsula, unlike South Korea and the U.S.



The different threat perception by China regarding the "Christmas gift" also influenced the Chinese interpretation of Kim's seven-hour remarks at the Workers' Party plenum. It was de facto served a longer version of Kim's New Year's address that he didn't deliver this time.



For example, the word "shocking real action" was mentioned by Kim. Is Kim in the mood for causing provocations in the New Year? Not necessarily, according to the Chinese. The Chinese side seems to understand the word from an "ideological" perspective rather than as an actual action. In other words, it does not mean that the North will automatically launch shocking provocations, rather, the North will make real efforts to improve its defense capabilities, including the development of strategic weapons, and prove it in actuality.



Here, China may be right. North Koreans often uses rhetorical words. This tends to confuse analysts who are from a different political and cultural norm.



There is a debate among South Korean experts on whether Kim is returning to the "byeongjin" strategy. The Chinese side believes that it looks similar to byeongjin at a glance, but not quite the same. They view that strengthening the North's defense capability has been added to the current North Korean policy that prioritizes "economic construction" which remains unchanged.



The word "frontal breakthrough" surfaced as many as 23 times. That does not mean physical force, either. On Jan. 6, North Korea's state-run media clarified it as the "economic front." Good to know North Korea sometimes makes such effort to avoid misinterpretation. But often it doesn't.



Still, the possibility of North Korean provocations is a concern for China. For now, China sees a low possibility of North Korea's likelihood for conducting nuclear tests. Given the North's deepening reliance on China, the Chinese don't think North Korea will easily violate the Chinese "bottom line." That would thrust China into a position to sign up for punitive U.N. sanctions against the North.



In the bigger scheme of things, China does not see the North Korea-U.S. talks as a complete failure. They noted that Trump takes a 180 degrees opposite stance in how he deals with North Korea and Iran, and that Trump is also (at least so far) using expressions favorable to Kim. Against this backdrop, if Trump proposes dialogue to Kim in a "top-down" fashion, there is still a possibility of reopening the North-U.S. dialogue. On the contrary, there seems hardly any possibility that the North will be responsive to the proposals of working-level talks.



Overall, China believes Kim's message should be approached without overreaction. The main message is that North Korea should not rely on powerful nations to decide its fate. North Korea should not rely on negotiations with the U.S. to change its economic conditions, but be responsible for its national defense and economy in the spirit of "self-reliance" (juche) and "socialist construction." The centrality of "economic development" as the North's main policy remains unchanged. In that vein, Kim said that "self-reliance and self-sufficiency have the same power as nuclear bombs."





Lee Seong-hyon (sunnybbsfs@gmail.com), Ph.D., is director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the Sejong Institute.


Nairobi woman representative Esther Passaris found herself in Twitter users bad books after revealing that she underwent successful Spinal surgery in India.

She made matters worse when she revealed she had spent Sh50 million to be elected. This she did while responding to a Twitter user who had criticised her for seeking treatment abroad as the health system in the country continues to deteriorate.

READ: Passaris: I Invested Sh50 Million To Get Elected

Amid the overwhelming backlash, popular Twitter figures  David Ndii and Ezekiel Mutua- jumped to Passaris defense urging Kenyans to be more considerate, given the woman reps condition.

The Kenya Film and Classification Board (KFCB) boss Dr Mutua suggested there are better ways to demand for better health care.

You know that we are a sick society when people attack Esther Passaris for posting about her surgery in India. Listen, while we need universal health care, hating on leaders and posting bile does not improve the situation.

Therere better ways of pushing for better policy. Get well soon Mheshimiwa. May God grant you total healing and peace of mind, tweeted Mutua.

On his part, political strategist and economist  Ndii  posed a couple of thought-provoking questions for Passaris critics.

Why are you so mean? Esther had two back surgeries in Kenya last year. Are you suggesting people in public life should sacrifice their wellbeing for political correctness?

1. Is that news? 2. Shes been an MP for two years, how is she responsible? 3. If her health insurance covers treatment abroad (as mine does) and her doctors recommend it, should she object because she is an MP? wrote Ndii.
BOSTON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ClimaCell, a weather technology company based in Boston, announced today a strategic collaboration with Google Cloud to deliver free access to high fidelity weather forecasting models in geographies that currently lack such services. The models' outputs will be made accessible through Google Cloud's public dataset program.

ClimaCell is committed to making critical data free and accessible, fostering innovation. Starting in India, ClimaCell's models will be available to the general public, including developers, scientists and business users alike.

The ClimaCell Bespoke Atmospheric Model ("CBAM") feeds from its proprietary "Weather-of-Things" inputs, which add millions of new observations that have not been previously used for weather forecasting. From wireless signals to cars sensors, ClimaCell leverages the connected world to bridge the large sensing gap and to help improve forecasting anywhere in the world.

Until today, the developing world had to rely on weather forecast generated by global models with course resolution and lower refresh time. Now with CBAM, ClimaCell and Google Cloud will bring high resolution and refresh time to levels exceeding mesoscale models in developed countries, beginning in India. CBAM India applications are of high impact and broadfrom the ability to predict flood events to optimizing farmers and enterprise decisions.

As the world's first cloud-native Numerical Weather Prediction model, CBAM uses Google Cloud Platform to reach unprecedented scale and provide unprecedented flexibility. Google Cloud will contribute cloud resources to support the massive computational effort associated with running such a high performance model.

CBAM India will be provided at 2km resolution and 15-minute timestep, and will provide a 48-hour forecast. This model will serve as the foundation for a new generation of environmental prediction models, such as floods, air quality and more.

CBAM India will be available through the Google Cloud Public Datasets program under the name: ClimaCell - CBAM India Weather Forecasts. ClimaCell plans to provide free access to new CBAM domains in more geographies in the near future and to foster economic development and increase safety.

Shimon Elkabetz, CEO and Co-Founder of ClimaCell: "For the first time in history, a private company is offering a full-blown operational numerical weather prediction model for an entire country, working continuously and providing high resolution forecasts for up to 48 hours ahead. Not only is it an historical milestone, we are providing it completely free of charge. We invite others to join us in making weather data free and accessible for everyone".

About ClimaCell

ClimaCell is revolutionizing weather forecasting by providing the accuracy and reliability that weather-sensitive industries need to succeed in the 21st century.

Unique to the weather industry, ClimaCell fuses a proprietary big data collection and analysis platform with exclusive modelling techniques to create MicroWeather OS - an array of products that are providing clients hyper local weather data and invaluable business insights to create the best weather intelligence engine for businesses.

ClimaCell's patented MicroWeather technology engine is powered by Weather of Things data - wireless signals, connected cars, airplanes, drones and IoT devices. This data is combined with proprietary AI-driven models to help industries such as aviation, construction, energy, on-demand, outdoor events, transportation, UAS and utilities to make better decisions that impact everything from operational efficiency to profitability, safety and the bottom line.

SOURCE ClimaCell

Related Links

https://www.climacell.co


Temperatures are set to spike across bushfire-devastated swathes of south-east NSW and Victoria on Friday, as wind gusts sweeping through after dark bring "problematic" conditions for firefighters.

Milder weather has given fire crews a reprieve after soaring temperatures and gusty winds fanned flames that destroyed homes and bushland on the NSW South Coast, the Southern Highlands and the Snowy Mountains on the weekend. But hotter temperatures are expected to return on Friday.

Rain is predicted over parts of Australia's northern tropics and western interior between now and Sunday, with stormy conditions across parts of NSW. Credit:Weatherzone

Weatherzone meteorologist Graeme Brittain said cooler weather would remain for the next few days before climbing above 30 degrees across fire zones in south-east NSW and eastern Victoria.

The mercury is expected to soar past 40 degrees in parts of inland NSW towards the end of the week, while temperatures in western Sydney are expected to also reach the mid-30s.
Where do we look for safety? When libraries of universities are no longer pristine zones of silence, when mobs can enter womens hostels inside campuses? That too with the police force watching on as enablers, being agent provocateurs, or itself acting as a rogue militia let loose on citizens, young and old.

Campuses around the world, and here in India, have routinely risen in protests, sometimes in carnivalesque enthusiasm, sometimes filling a vacuum in politics. Student politics is its own folklore. From our prime minister, who cut his teeth in politics during the Navnirman Andolan in Gujarat, to the late Arun Jaitley during the Emergency in Delhi University, they have all been there. Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee too has seen the inside of Tihar, as a protesting JNU-ite. In fact, student movementswhether on internal institutional matters or on broader issuesare as old as the university system. Theres no democracy or nation that has not seen young minds rise up in agitation: for civil rights, against war, fighting dictatorships. Does that mean universities should be disbanded? Or tamed into producing thoughtless robots?

Crackdowns on student movements too are global. Hong Kong now, Tiananmen Square back in the day. But not such brutality in a democracy, on students asking for a rollback of a fee hike that many from the underprivileged sections cannot afford. Its up to the administration to reduce or temper the areas of confrontation. If the idea is to shut down non-science faculties and make higher education more classist, there exists a legitimate ground for dissent. Masked goondas roaming freely in campuses with sticks and iron rods, beating up boys and girls and their teachers, causing bloodshed in front of a mute police, is unheard of. Whatever the politics of it, the JNU V-C has entirely failed in his administrative duties, and would be better eased out.
(Natural News) Researchers from India designed a randomized clinical study to evaluate the effectiveness of darchini (cinnamon) in managing polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The results of their study were published in the Journal of Herbal Medicine.

PCOS is a complex syndrome that affects 15 percent of women of reproductive age.

Due to the lack of standard therapy for PCOS, the researchers decided to conduct a clinical study to evaluate the effects of cinnamon treatment.

The randomized, single-blind, controlled trial involved women aged 18  42 who fulfilled the Rotterdam criteria for PCOS.

The test participants received 1.5 grams of powdered cinnamon bark in capsule form twice a day, while those who belonged to the control group received 500 milligrams of metformin twice a day for 60 days.

Changes in fasting blood sugar levels, resumption of normal menstrual cycle pattern and ovulation were considered the primary outcomes, while changes in body mass index and waist/hip ratio were considered the secondary outcome measures.

The researchers observed a marked improvement in the menstrual cycle pattern of 51.9 percent of the participants in the test group and 61.3 percent in the control.

However, neither cinnamon nor metformin improved any of the participants insulin resistance.

The researchers also found that post-ovulatory progesterone values at baseline and outcome remained the same for both the test and the control groups.

On the other hand, they observed remarkable changes in the ovarian size, as well as complete amelioration in six participants from the control group and seven participants from the test group.

Cinnamon improved the menstrual pattern of the participants in the test group. It was also well-tolerated.

Based on these results, the researchers concluded that, despite the small metabolic and hormonal changes it induced, cinnamon therapy may be clinically useful for treating menstrual disturbances and can be used as an alternative therapy for the management of PCOS.

Read the full study at this link.

Journal Reference:

Khan AA, Begum W. EFFICACY OF DARCHINI IN THE MANAGEMENT OF POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL STUDY. Journal of Herbal Medicine. March 2019;15:100249. DOI: 10.1016/j.hermed.2018.11.005
The Nigerian army has reacted to the accusations by Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state, that soldiers extort commuters on Damaturu-Maiduguri road while Boko Haram is on rampage in the state.

According to the army, such accusations could have a negative impact on the success recorded by the troops fighting Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east.

Aminu Iliyasu, army operations media coordinator, in a statement said the army would investigate the govenrors allegations, but blamed the governor over the outburst.

He said, In the said publication, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum was alleged to have accused soldiers of Operation LAFIYA DOLE deployed along Maiduguri  Damaturu Road of extorting commuters and causing them unnecessary hardship. 

Read Also: IPOB Doctored Video Of Boko Haram Fighters Killing Soldiers: Army

The Nigerian Army as a professional and disciplined institution views such allegations seriously, particularly coming from a State Executive. It is on record that, whenever such allegations of troops misconduct were made in the past, the Nigerian Army never reneged in conducting thorough investigations to establish them and where any infractions were established against any personnel, appropriate sanctions were applied in line with extant rules and regulations as provided for in the Armed Forces Act CAP A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Thus, the Nigerian Army wishes to assure the good people of Borno State and indeed the nation at large that any allegations of misconduct by Nigerian Army troops will be duly investigated and culprits will be dealt with accordingly.

However, it is important to unequivocally observe that public outburst particularly by eminent personalities such as a State Executive could be counterproductive and indeed capable of reversing the gains recorded so far in the ongoing fight against insurgents and other criminal elements across the nation.

However, Isa Gusau, the governors spokesperson, in a statement issued after the governor visited the army headquarters, said: Yesterdays encounter does not and will not change the very high regard the Governor has for all the security personnel operating in Borno, particularly soldiers who give up their lives and safety in finding peace for Borno.
Based in Massachusetts, TripAdvisor Inc. (TRIP) is one of the biggest online travel research companies, providing a platform for users to share reviews, ratings, and opinions on hotels, destinations, attractions, and restaurants. The company also helps with bookings between hotels and customers.

Q3 Earnings Disappoint

Back in November, TripAdvisor reported third quarter results that disappointed analysts and investors.

Total revenue came in at $428 million, falling 7% year-over-year and missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $456 million. The companys Hotel, Media, and Platform segment revenue decreased 12%.

Even though operating expenses also decreased in Q3, it couldnt offset TRIPs worsening revenue patterns, and adjusted EPS fell to 58 cents a share.

One bright spot, however, was Experiences and Dinning, where revenue rose 19%.

TRIP is now a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

Company management called the results frustratingparticularly considering we entered 2019 with such great momentum in the quarterly conference call.

Shares of the travel company are down about 37% in the last six months, and slumped almost 20% the day of its earnings release. The S&P 500, on the other hand, was on a tear last year, soaring more than 30%.

Bottom Line

For fiscal 2019, seven analysts cut their earnings outlook, and the consensus estimate has fallen nine cents from $1.84 to $1.75 per share. Seven analysts also slashed their estimate for next fiscal year, but earnings could see nearly 10% growth.

Competition from Google (GOOGL) is definitely hurting TRIPs business right now, but its not the only travel company being negatively affected. Expedia (EXPE) and Trivago (TRVG) are also losing users and revenue to the search giant. TripAdvisors latest results only showcase one of the many issues facing businesses like theirs.

Investors who are interested in adding an online travel peer to their portfolio could consider Booking Holdings (BKNG). BKNG is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, and shares have gained 19% in the last year.

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The award-winning January Series of Calvin University is coming to Midland. From Jan. 8-28, Midland Reformed Church will be one of 60 remote webcast locations worldwide to broadcast one of the nation's leading lecture and cultural arts series.

The 2020 edition features New York Times best-selling authors, Billboard-topping musicians, and a 41-year veteran of the White House press corps.

For a full list of speakers and topics, visit http://www.calvin.edu/january

A few of the notable names in the 2020 lineup include: Ann Compton, who covered seven presidents; Mitch Albom, an author, columnist, radio host, and philanthropist whose books have sold over 39 million copies and been translated into more than 45 languages; and Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at NYU whose last two books were New York Times best-sellers.

The 15 speakers will provide insight on issues like poverty and hunger, the global water crisis, immigration, mass incarceration, religious freedom, and big data's inequality and threat to democracy.

Kristi Potter, director of the January Series, says the goal of the series is to cultivate deep thought and conversations about important issues of the day so as to inspire cultural renewal and the shaping of better global citizens in God's world.

"Gaining knowledge is the first step to making a difference," said Potter. "If we don't know about these topics, then we don't know how we can actually make a difference."

Potter says this work starts with listening, even to those with whom we may disagree. She says day two of the January Series will provide a great opportunity for attendees to see what this looks like.

"We have the opportunity to hear from two respected scientists who hold opposing viewpoints on the topic of origins. One is a six-day creationist, the other a theistic evolutionist, and both feel strongly about their views. Both actually feel the other person's view is harming the church," said Potter. "And yet, the two have learned to talk to rather than past one another, using respectful dialogue with the understanding that they are both Christians. This moderated conversation will serve as a model for us for how to have difficult conversations -- something we aspire to foster through this series and in all of our work at Calvin University."

While Potter says the series will dig deep into some of the complex issues facing the world today, it will also highlight the great progress being made in some of these areas. She expects it will inspire hope.

"It's not all doom and gloom, positive things are happening. I hope those who tune into the series this coming year will leave hopeful for the future and understand how they can take steps to make a difference. And maybe that step is just being more willing to listen to one another and acknowledging one another for who they are."

The January Series lectures will be video streamed live from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Midland Reformed Church, 1100 N. Saginaw Road, Midland, Monday through Friday. The lectures are free and open to the public.

In 2020, 60 remote locations will carry the January Series, spanning 22 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces and one site in Europe.

For more information about the January Series, email Cheryl Albee Heal at office@MidlandReformed.org or call 989-835-4000.
A traveller puts himself through a train station's X-ray scanner because he was 'too lazy' to remove his coat and bag in astonishing footage.

The bizarre move was caught on CCTV at Beijing West Railway Station in China after a man - named only as Mr Fu - and his wife prepared to travel home.

The footage starts as they arrive at the security checkpoint shortly after entering the building.

A man, named only as Mr Fu, and his wife had arrived at the station preparing to travel home. Mr Fu appears to put one small bag through, but the nearby female officer holding a wand reportedly instructs him to remove his messenger bag too

Mr Fu appears to put one small bag through, but the nearby female officer holding a wand reportedly instructs him to remove his messenger bag too.

The lazy traveller then shocks security staff when he climbs onto the X-ray machine conveyor belt and puts himself through the luggage scanner.

Despite the protests of station staff, Mr Fu re-emerges out the other side and nearly trips while standing back up.

The lazy traveller then shocks security staff when he climbs onto the X-ray machine conveyor belt and puts himself through the luggage scanner

Station police detained Mr Fu and his wife for questioning shortly after, reports said.

A female officer told local media: 'The passenger claimed he was wearing too many clothes, and that it would've been too troublesome to remove his thick clothing [to reach his bag], so he decided to climb into the X-ray machine with his bag.'

Authorities at Beijing West said Mr Fu was given a warning after the January 2 incident, but no fines are believed to have been issued.
T he US Air Force put on a huge display of jet fighter power as Iran promised to respond "proportionately" to the assassination of Qasem Soleimani.

Relations between the US and Iran have been tense after General Soleimani was killed in a US drone attack in Baghdad last week.

President Donald Trump warned that his country was ready to strike back in a disproportionate manner if the Iranians hit US targets.

Around 400 UK troops are stationed in Iraq in the fight against IS, while the US has 5,200.

The jets were said to have reached 'full warfighting capability' / Reuters

The 388th Fighter Wing, a US Air Force unit based in Utah, shared a photo of the exercise on Facebook on Tuesday.

They captioned the photo: "The active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings conducted an F-35A Combat Power Exercise with 52 aircraft at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Jan. 6, 2020.

"The exercise, which was planned for months, demonstrated their ability to employ a large force of F-35As  testing readiness in the areas of personnel accountability, aircraft generation, ground operations, flight operations, and combat capability against air and ground targets.

"A little more than four years after receiving their first combat-coded F-35A Lightning II aircraft, Hills fighter wings have achieved full warfighting capability."

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the killing of Soleimani amounted to 'state terrorism' / Reuters

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an interview with CNN that the killing of Soleimani amounted to "state terrorism".

"This is state terrorism," he said.
MANILA, Philippines  The Department of Energy (DOE) is monitoring the movement of fuel prices in the international market in view of the ongoing tension in the Middle East particularly between the United States and Iran.

Though the Philippines has a different fuel source other than Iran, the DOE said the conflict has hugely affected other Gulf nations where the country buys oil.

One effect, the DOE fears, is the delay in crude deliveries which will likely affect the prices of oil in the country.

Ang Iran kasi napaka strategic ng location niya lalo na doon sa dadanan ng ating mga vessel o yung nga barges  iyong (Irans location is very strategic. Our vessels or barges pass through its territory, the) Strait of Hormuz, explained DOE-OIMB Assistant Director Rodelo Romero.

If you will notice in the past, once na magkaroon ng threat, yun ang target nilang sarahan (once theres threat, thats the first target for closure), he added.

Among the countries in the Middle East that supply oil to the Philippines include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.

Meanwhile, the DOE confirmed that no oil company has yet imposed the additional excise tax on oil.

The Department has ordered all oil companies to submit their respective inventory reports until January 8, 2020.

They are also required to put up advisory in their respective oil stations before they impose the third tranche of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law on their products.  MNP (with details from Joan Nano)

The post US-Iran tension definitely impacts local fuel prices  DOE appeared first on UNTV News.
Two people, including a 17-year-old boy, have been charged over their alleged intent to break into homes in fire-ravaged communities on NSWs south coast.

The teenager was allegedly stopped with a screwdriver and bandana in Bangalee, north of Nowra, on Sunday, while a 30-year-old man on Monday was allegedly stopped with a knife, jemmy bar, pliers and other objects in North Nowra.

Both were charged with possessing housebreaking implements, while the man was also charged with knife possession and other offences.

The boy will appear at a NSW children's court on January 23, while the 30-year-old was granted bail to appear at Nowra Local Court on January 13.

Burnt-out and abandoned communities have been targeted by alleged thieves. Pictured is a destroyed home in the Southern Highlands town of Wingello. Source: AAP

A third man, 30, was charged with high-range drink driving and entering closed land without a lawful excuse after he was spotted acting suspiciously on private land in Moruya.

He will appear in court on February 7.

NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Worboys told 2GB that such alleged acts wouldnt be tolerated.

Its disgusting behaviour, but we know that people behave like this at these times, he said.

Well continue to make communities the safest places we can, even in these circumstances.

Every single report, I can guarantee the community will be taken seriously.

While people evacuated areas surrounding Nowra (pictured) in recent days, this has created an opportunity for thieves. Source: Getty

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said anyone who takes advantage of vulnerable bushfire-affected communities should face the full force of the law.

Its unthinkable that anyone would seek to exploit those who most need our support, Mr Elliott said.

They are the lowest of the low and the Government will continue to back our police in their efforts to keep criminals out of communities devastated by fire during these difficult times.

Rain brings brief relief before temps rise again

While rain has brought a period of respite for exhausted fire crews in some fire-affected areas, NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned the threat was far from over.

Temperatures are expected to rise once again on Friday, and while they wont reach the unprecedented conditions seen on Saturday, Mr Fitzsimmons said crews were working to ensure they are prepared.

Story continues

Areas in south NSW will again reach the 40s on Friday where fires continue to burn. . Source: NSW RFS

"While we want to bring a lot of the fires under control, what we're still focusing on primarily is shoring up protection to limit the potential for fire fronts to continue to impact more communities," Mr Fitzsimmons told the ABC.

The 310,000-hectare Dunns Road fire, which has been threatening to merge with the Corryong fire on the Victoria border to create a mega fire spanning roughly half a million hectares, will be hit hardest by the spike in temperatures.

In Tumut, 20km north of the Dunns Road fire, temperatures will reach 41 degrees on Friday. Corryong will rise to 39.

Predicted temperatures across Australia at 4pm on Friday. Source: Windy

NSW Transport Minister and Bega MP Andrew Constance, meanwhile, called on the government to get support staff into fire-ravaged areas as soon as possible as communities grapple with "unimaginable grief".

Save The Children says it will roll out more child-friendly spaces to allow kids up to 12 to process their experiences with early childhood specialists.

Bundanoon couple Dianne Ross and Michael Hutchinson said evacuating on Saturday helped them become determined to make a plan to defend their home.

"We're not going to play 'we're going to defend until the place is on fire' but we'll defend it as much as possible," Mr Hutchinson told AAP.

Ten people have died battling or trying to escape bushfires since December 30 in NSW, part of the 19 lives lost in the state since the bushfire season started in September.

An estimated 2800 livestock are among millions of animals believed to have been killed.

Some 4.8 million hectares  equal to the metro areas of the five mainland state capitals  have been burned in NSW this season, taking with it at least 1588 homes, 153 facilities and 3122 outbuildings such as sheds.

A person from south of Bombala in southern NSW remains missing.

Building Impact Assessment teams continue working through fire affected areas, to assess damage to properties. So far this season 1,588 homes destroyed & more than 20,000 buildings saved. Since 1 Jan, 672 homes have been lost. This figure is likely to increase. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/FLjafbZccv  NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 6, 2020

Victoria fires continue to burn

Two people have died in Victoria and three in South Australia, taking the national death toll to 24.

There are still 15 'Watch and act' warnings' in Victoria and emergency supplies are being flown into the state's 18 cut-off communities.

Fire crews are also preparing for hotter conditions on Friday with large parts of the fire-affected areas to swelter once more.

Bairnsdale, which has been at the heart of the East Gippsland fires, will reach 38.

Some pix from Monday north of Bairnsdale. Nothing was going to stop this. pic.twitter.com/fsRjYgtAtH  Glen MOREY (@somers3927) January 1, 2020

There are around 300 people waiting to be evacuated from the coastal town of Mallacoota where aircraft have been grounded by smoke.

South Australia's tourist hotspot Kangaroo Island is one of more than 100 fires still burning across the country.

In an unprecedented move, almost 500 Army reservists have been called to help in the bushfire response and that number could reach 3000.

A smoke haze sits above Melbourne and Canberra  which recorded the worst air quality of any major city in the world on Monday - and the smoke has even made its way to New Zealand and South America.

Some estimates suggest 500 million animals have died in the fires.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledged to spend whatever amount necessary to get Australians "back on their feet" after announcing a $2 billion relief package on Monday.

With AAP

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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WASHINGTON  The Trump administration will deport some Mexicans seeking asylum at the United States border to Guatemala as part of a deal that had been praised by Department of Homeland Security officials as a way to deter migration from Central America.

The agreement with Guatemala, which was signed in July, was described by Kevin K. McAleenan, the acting secretary of homeland security at the time, as a way to encourage families to apply for protections closer to home. The deal made migrants such as Hondurans and Salvadorans ineligible for asylum in the United States if they had traveled by land through Guatemala and did not first apply for asylum there, homeland security officials said at the time.

But two homeland security officials said on Monday that asylum officers were told over the weekend that Mexican migrants were now amenable to being sent to Guatemala under the agreement. In theory, an asylum seeker from Juarez, Mexico, could be deported from the El Paso, Texas, border crossing a mile from his home to the Guatemalan border nearly 2,000 miles away.

A homeland security spokesman later confirmed that certain Mexicans could be sent to Guatemala under the agreement  a pivot from the original plan for the deal.
A Magistrate Court in Osogbo, Osun State today sentenced a 22-year-old bricklayer, Wakili Ganiyu to 8 months imprisonment for stealing property of Dream Center of the Life Oasis International Church.

The police prosecutor, Mr Olayiwola Razaq told the court that the accused person stole iron sheets belonging to the church on 5th of January, 2020 at about 9:30am at Osun-Jela community in Osogbo.

He said the item stolen by the accused person was valued at N80,000.

The prosecutor stated that the offence committed by the accused person was in contrary to and punishable under Section 516 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, volume II, Laws of Osun State Nigeria, 2002.

The accused person pleaded guilty to the offense levelled against him. The accused person did not have a legal representative.

The Magistrate, Mr. Opeyemi Badmus convicted and sentenced the accused person to 8months imprisonment.
Telecom companies are being accused of using the 2017 Telecommunications Act to drive down the prices farmers are paid for having masts on their land.

Farmers in Northern Ireland have been approached by companies using the Act to justify a lower compensation offer as existing arrangements come to an end, according to Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU).

The group says this is unfair and risks damaging what has in the past been a good relationship based on fair pricing for access to land.

UFU deputy president, Victor Chestnutt, says farmers must be ready to respond quickly with a sound financial case against the Act being used to justify a change in compensation arrangements.

While we expect current agreements to be honoured, what is happening stems directly from the Act, introduced in December 2017.

This is rooted in significantly reducing rent and compensation payments. Farmers must respond to correspondence in a reasonable time, so that they do not lose out by default, he said.

They must make clear the costs to their farm business for accommodating a mobile phone mast on their land. Potential issues over which a case can be made include inconvenience and access.

Current agreements will be honoured but taking advise after may be a prudent course of action, Mr Chestnutt said.

The deputy president urged farmers affected to contact the union for advice and help.
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is slated to deliver remarks on Tuesday, amid questions over President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not yet delivered the impeachment articles to the Senate, but McConnell and other Republican leaders have indicated that they will proceed with establishing impeachment rules despite Democrats' objections, according to a new report.

The impeachment inquiry was triggered by Trump's July 25 phone call with newly elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Trump pressed his counterpart to announce an investigation into the U.S. president's political rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

McConnell's remarks come days after the U.S. decision to take out Iran's top commander, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, in an airstrike in Baghdad.

Soleimani led an elite branch of Iran's armed forces, the Quds Force, and has been blamed for the deaths of many Americans across the Middle East.

The killing has been met with criticism from members of Congress and 2020 candidates for president, who argue that the move could trigger a major conflict between the United States and Iran. Iranian officials also rebuked the decision, calling it "extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation."

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News and information about crimes is more accessible than ever thanks to the internet. But there are crimes that a reader opts not to read as they may be deemed too gruesome.

There are crimes of the decade that are unforgettable and made their mark in history. These are crimes that no one expected to happen. Meanwhile, this will give people the idea that there is actually people who are capable of killing in such a gruesome way.

In an article published in Mitu, there are crimes of the decade that have been talked about by people around Latin America and these are some of it:

1.The Angels of Death of Montevideo

This is one of the most unforgettable crimes in Latin America. This crime involved two male nurses namely Marcelo Pereira Guzzo and Juan Acevedo Agriela, who proclaimed themselves as the "Angels of Death." They worked in Uruguay's capital city as public hospital nurses. They were charged with murder after it was found that they killed patients who were terminally-ill. They also said that they could not bare to see patients suffer. The modus of the nurse is to inject an excessive dose of morphine or plain bubbles to the victims' veins. It was also found out that the murderers texted each other and brag about how they kill the patients.

2. The Argentine Vampire's Thirst for Blood

This crime involved Florencio Fernandez who killed victims like a vampire. He would sneak into houses during summer nights. It was said that most of his victims were young women during the 1950s. He would bite his victims' throat and drink their blood. Meanwhile, he was arrested in 1960 by the authorities. At first, people were doubtful about his insanity but they changed their mind after the authorities announced that Fernandez has been living in a cave and psychiatric reports state that he has developed a sexual attraction to blood. He was sent to the psychiatric ward after being declared insane and died years after.

3. Special Agent Kiki's Brutal Murder in Guadalajara

Special Agent Kiki was on his way to meet his wife. However, he has abducted by corrupt policemen who were hired by the well-known drug lord Miguel Angel Felix. Agent Kiki became an eyesore to Felix because he has information about the vast marijuana plantation that Felix owned. The killing of Agent Kiki was gruesome because he was forced to take marijuana to remain conscious during the process of torture. Meanwhile, a campaign called Red Ribbon Week was initiated to honor the agent. This event attracted the international media.

4. The Apostle of Death in Lima, Peru

This crime involved Pedro Pablo Nakada Ludena who is also known as "The Apostle of Death." He claimed that God told him to clean Lima street. He killed drug addicts, homeless people, homosexuals, a 50-year-old lady who was smoking marijuana, and a man he thought was gay. He killed a total of 17 people and got arrested in 2006. He was sent to the psychiatric ward where he served 35 years. His brother was also arrested in Japan in 2015 after he murdered six people.

5. El Chapo's Reign in Sinaloa, Mexico

Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is one of the most notorious leaders of a drug cartel in the world. Forbes even included him in 2009 as one of the most powerful persons where it was estimated that he has a fortune of around $1 billion. Mexican officials believed that he is the culprit of the death of no less than 70,000 which is said to be related to the drug trade and underground economy.
Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda delivers a speech presenting the Toyota Woven City, a futuristic city where new technologies will be tested, during the Toyota press conference at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Monday (local time). EPA-Yonhap



By Nam Hyun-woo



LAS VEGAS  Hyundai Motor and Toyota are expected to stage a fierce competition over the future of highly-lucrative mobility services, as the two automotive giants each demonstrate cityscapes powered by ecosystems comprised of self-driving and electrified vehicles during the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Tuesday (KST).



During a press conference, Toyota Motor CEO Akio Toyoda unveiled the company's plan to set up a hydrogen-powered prototype city with autonomous vehicles, smart homes and other connected peripheral infrastructure as a testing site for a slew of technologies the carmaker is pursuing.



The prototype city, named Toyota Woven City, will be constructed on a 708,200 square meter Toyota site near Mout Fuji in Japan, with a plan to break ground in 2021.



"The prototype town for the future will be where people live, play, participate as a living laboratory," Toyoda said. "In Woven City, researchers and engineers can freely test technologies, autonomy, robotics, mobility services and AI in a real world environment. It is a unique opportunity to create an ecosystem."



"Building a complete city from the ground up, even on a small scale like this, is a unique opportunity to develop future technologies, including a digital operating system for the city's infrastructure. With people, buildings and vehicles all connected and communicating with each other through data and sensors, we will be able to test connected AI technology."





Hyundai unveils blueprint for air mobility services Samsung Electronics unveils 'human-centric' AI at CES LG Display seeks turnaround, next year An artist's impression of Toyota Woven City / Courtesy of Toyota

The city will be equipped with the latest technologies, such as sensor-based AI checking occupants' health and other robotics assisting household chores. Transportation inside the city will be available only with full-autonomous and zero-emission vehicles, such as the Toyota e-Palette autonomous vehicle.



Announced at the 2018 CES, the e-Palette has changeable mobile modules for various services including restaurants, stores and a slew of other facilities.



An artist's impression of Hyundai Motor's future mobility ecosystem / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

While Toyota was focusing on the mobility and surrounding ecosystem on the ground, Hyundai Motor is tapping into an ecosystem involving air mobility.



An hour after Toyota's unveiling, Hyundai Motor Group showcased a mobility ecosystem concept, comprised of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft called the S-A1, a shuttle-like vehicle called a Purpose Built Vehicle (PBV) and the Hub, which works as a place to connect the air taxis and the PBVs.



Of note were Hyundai's PBVs, which have a concept similar to the Toyota e-Palette. According to Hyundai, its PBVs are fully electric and self-driving and have various cabin modules functioning as "living spaces on wheels."



Since the two companies' ground mobility concepts are currently based on similar ideas, competition over the filing of patents and other technologies are expected.





"We came up with the S-A1 and the Hub together because we believe air mobility services also require accessibility to the service," said Lee Sang-yup, Hyundai Motor senior vice president of design, told South Korean media. "Hyundai's future mobility vision has its point when the three concepts are linked organically and provide a seamless connection of the mobility services in a city."


LONDON - Facebook says it is banning deepfake videos, the false but realistic clips created with artificial intelligence and sophisticated tools, as it steps up efforts to fight online manipulation. But the policy leaves plenty of loopholes.

The social network said late Monday that its beefing up its policies to remove videos edited or synthesized in ways that arent apparent to the average person, and which could dupe someone into thinking the videos subject said something he or she didnt actually say.

Created by artificial intelligence or machine learning, deepfakes combine or replace content to create images that can be almost impossible to tell are not authentic.

While these videos are still rare on the internet, they present a significant challenge for our industry and society as their use increases, Facebooks vice-president of global policy management, Monika Bickert, said in a blog post.

However, she said the new rules wont include parody or satire, or clips edited just to change the order of words. The exceptions underscore the balancing act Facebook and other social media services face in their struggle to stop the spread of online misinformation and fake news while also respecting free speech and fending off allegations of censorship.

The U.S. tech company has been grappling with how to handle the rise of deepfakes after facing criticism last year for refusing to remove a doctored video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi slurring her words, which was viewed more than 3 million times. Experts said the crudely edited clip was more of a cheap fake than a deepfake.

Then, a pair of artists posted fake footage of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg showing him gloating over his one-man domination of the world. Facebook also left that clip online. The company said at the time that neither video violated its policies.

The problem of altered videos is taking on increasing urgency as experts and lawmakers try to figure out how to prevent deepfakes from being used to interfere with U.S. presidential elections in November.

The new policy is a strong starting point, but doesnt address broader problems, said Sam Gregory, program director at Witness, a non-profit working on using video technology for human rights.

The reality is there arent that many political deepfakes at the moment. Theyre mainly nonconsensual sexual images, and the bigger problem is videos that are either shown without context or lightly edited, which some have dubbed shallow fakes, he said. These include the Pelosi clip or one that made the rounds last week of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden that was selectively edited to falsely suggest he made racist remarks.

Gregory, whose group was among those that gave feedback to Facebook for the policy, said that while the new rules looked strong on paper, there are questions around how effective the company will be at uncovering synthetic videos.

Facebook has built deepfake-detecting algorithms and can also look at an accounts behaviour to get an idea of whether its intention is to spread disinformation, so the company will have an edge over users or journalists at sniffing them out, Gregory said.

But those algorithms havent been used widely for deepfakes in the wild. So it is an open question how effective detection will be, he said. This is an algorithmic kind of game of cat and mouse, where the forgeries will get better alongside the detection.

Facebook said any videos, deepfake or not, will also be removed if they violate existing standards for nudity, graphic violence or hate speech. Those that arent removed can still be reviewed by independent third-party fact-checkers and any deemed false will be flagged as such to people trying to share or view them, which Bickert said was a better approach than just taking them down.

If we simply removed all manipulated videos flagged by fact-checkers as false, the videos would still be available elsewhere on the internet or social media ecosystem, Bickert said. By leaving them up and labelling them as false, were providing people with important information and context.

Twitter, which has been another hotbed for misinformation and altered videos, said its in the process of creating a policy for synthetic and manipulated media, which would include deepfakes and other doctored videos. The company has asked for public feedback on the issue. The responses its considering include putting a notice next to tweets that include manipulated material. The tweets might also be removed if theyre misleading and could cause serious harm to someone.

YouTube, meanwhile, has a policy against deceptive practices but does not appear to specifically ban deepfakes. Google did not immediately respond to a message for comment on Tuesday.

___

For all of APs tech coverage, visit https://apnews.com/apf-technology

___

Follow Kelvin Chan at www.twitter.com/chanman

___

AP Technology Writer Barbara Ortutay contributed to this story from San Francisco.
Business man on stock market financial trade indicator background.

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Hardly a market-share loss

Fortis (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS) belongs to the top 15 utility companies in North America. This $25 billion St. Johns, Canada-based electric and gas utility company invests only in safe, clean, and reliable energy solutions.

Currently, it oversees 10 utility operations in Canada, the U.S., and the Caribbean. This utility stock is extremely enticing due to several reasons. Fortis boasts of a lengthy 45-year dividend-growth streak.

Likewise, there is limited competition because the sector in which it operates has high barriers for new competitors to enter. Theres no risk of a market-share loss whatsoever.

Fortis expects to grow its consolidated rate base to $32 billion and $35.5 billion by 2021 and 2023, respectively. This guidance translates into a 6.3% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) within the next five years.

Over the last five years, the stock has gained over 53%. The current dividend is a respectable 3.54%, with a payout ratio of 49.6%.

Large-scale oil and gas company

Imperial Oil (TSX:IMO)(NYSE:IMO) has been operating since 1880. Today, this $26 billion oil and gas company is a top explorer for crude oil and natural gas, which it sells to customers. Its downstream, upstream, and chemical operations enable the company to produce, refine, and transport petrochemical products.

The companys massive investments are mostly in big projects such as the Kearl Lake and Cold Lake facilities. The recent removal of oil curtailments should lead to the resumption of the construction of its Aspen project.

Imperials dividend track record is one of the strongest in Canada. The company has been raising dividends for 24 consecutive years. The 2.56% yield today is not as high and very safe, considering that its only about 23% of Imperials free cash flow.

Story continues

The recent 18% dividend increase is a positive sign the gas industry is starting to pick up. Hence, higher increases are possible in the coming years.

Building wide global exposure

Brookfield Infrastructure (TSX:BIP.UN)(NYSE:BIP) is well known around the world for its investments in infrastructure projects. This $19 billion company is mainly responsible for providing transport (toll roads and railways), pipelines, port terminals, cell towers, data centres, and power transmission, among others.

The company has a penchant for acquiring distressed assets and turning them into profitable businesses. Also, Brookfield Infrastructure invests in counter-cyclical assets. Its acquisition of the Reliance Jios cell tower asset made the company a significant player in the infratel market of India.

Its extensive global exposure is the result of owning valuable assets in growing economies in the world. Brookfields purchase of railroad operator Genesse & Wyoming is an example of a fantastic infrastructure asset.

The inclusion of BIP.UN in the TSX60 index was in recognition of the stocks potential to deliver both growth and income to would-be investors. It currently yields 4.12%.

Income producers in any market environment

You can build a dividend-producing portfolio in the next decade by owning shares of Fortis, Imperial Oil, and Brookfield Infrastructure. The companies are likely to hold up regardless of market scenarios.

More reading

Fool contributor Christopher Liew has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends BROOKFIELD INFRA PARTNERS LP UNITS and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners.

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
As part of an effort to stay his execution, a Hamilton County man on Death Row has filed a motion seeking DNA testing. Marlon Kiser, 49, was convicted of shooting and killing Hamilton County deputy Donald Bond in 2001. He has been on Death Row since 2003.

Defense attorney Ben McGowan is seeking to have a laboratory perform DNA analysis on a fingerprint attributed to Kiser. He said the analysis will be of any cellular material present on the latent print."

Attorney McGowan said the testing will destroy any extant ridge detail, and the defense wishes to preserve any ridge detail evidence prior to DNA analysis. According to the notice, there is no DNA analysis technique in existence that will not destroy the latent print ridge detail.

The notice also sought to ensure that there was a proper chain of custody during the process. In the scenario that Kisers DNA is not a match for the genetic material on the latent print, the Petitioner will seek a comparison against the Combined DNA Index System. Petitioner may also move the court for genetic genealogy DNA testing of any profiles.



Authorities said in 2001, Kiser murdered Deputy Bond after the deputy tried to stop Kisers arson attempt at a fruit stand on East Brainerd Road. The defendant was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2003 and sentenced to death.



Kiser then filed an appeal for a new trial, citing ineffective counsel from the public defenders office, an appeal that was denied in 2005. In 2009, the Tennessee Supreme Court upheld his death sentence and set his execution for 2010.



In 2010, Kisers attorney filed a petition to review the evidence in the case, one that was granted. In 2015, fingerprints on Deputy Bonds flashlight and car were tested and found to belong to Kiser.

The notice said the DNA test would cost $1,800 and be paid out of funds in the Indigent Defense Fund.
London: British MPs have been told the Australian bushfire disaster is a "wake-up call for the world" ahead of a parliamentary debate on the crisis that could place fresh international scrutiny on the Morrison government's climate change policies.

In a statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said the United Kingdom was shocked by the blazes "laying waste to so much".

Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle said the magnitude of the disaster "should shock us all". Credit:AP

Meanwhile, Prince Charles has recorded a video on behalf of himself and Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall in which he said the "appalling infernos" were "not to be believed".

"Both of us have been in despair at the last several weeks watching this appalling horror unfolding in Australia and witnessing so much of what you're having to go through from this distance," the heir to the throne said in the most expansive comments on the catastrophe yet from a member of the royal family.
China, Pakistan hold joint naval exercises in North Arabian Sea

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/1/6 22:53:40

China and Pakistan kicked off a nine-day joint naval exercise in the North Arabian Sea on Monday, a move that will boost cooperation, build a safe maritime environment and enhance the two navies' capability to deal with maritime terrorism and crime together.

The exercise, dubbed "Sea Guardians-2020," started in the port city of Karachi, Pakistan and will be held in the North Arabian Sea until January 14, the PLA Daily reported on Monday.

The Chinese troops mainly come from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command Navy, including guided missile destroyer Yinchuan, guided missile frigate Yuncheng, comprehensive supplement ship Weishanhu, submarine rescue ship Liugongdao and two vessel-based helicopters.

Pakistan will have two frigates, two missile boats, a fixed-wing anti-submarine aircraft and two vessel-based helicopters in the drills.

They will conduct joint cruising, air defense, maritime interception, anti-submarine and live-fire shooting exercises at sea.

The goal of the Sea Guardians-2020 drills is to boost the two countries' military cooperation, enhance their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, build a safe maritime environment and enhance the two navies' capability to deal with maritime terrorism and crime together, the PLA Daily report said.

This joint exercise is not related to regional affairs and is not aimed at any third party, the PLA Daily said.

It is a part of the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Pakistani military forces, said Ren Guoqiang, a defense ministry spokesperson, at a routine press conference in November 2019, when announcing the exercise.

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Directors Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar and actors Taapsee Pannu and Richa Chadha were among the host of Bollywood personalities who turned up at Carter Road in Mumbai in solidarity with those protesting against the violence at the JNU.

In a peaceful gathering of hundreds, Bollywood was at the forefront with prominent personalities from the fraternity, including Swara Bhasker, Sudhir Mishra, Rekha Bhardwaj, Anubhav Sinha, Dia Mirza, Rahul Dholakia, Ali Fazal, Neeraj Ghaywan, Reema Kagti, Hansal Mehta, Vikramaditya Motwane, Saurabh Shukla, Rajkumar Gupta, joining the protesters.

Watch : JNU: Anurag Kashyap slams Centre; Zoya Akhtar, Taapsee Pannu & others protest

Taapsee Pannu, Shagun Pannu, Anubhav Sinha, Dia Mirza, Zoya Akhtar protest at Carter road, Mumbai against JNU attacks. (Satyabrata Tripathy/Hindustan Times)

Anurag Kashyap protests at Carter road, Mumbai against JNU attacks. (Satyabrata Tripathy/Hindustan Times)

Gauahar Khan protest at Carter road, Mumbai against JNU attacks. (Satyabrata Tripathy/Hindustan Times)

Anurag Kashyap stands with a placard during protests at Carter road, Mumbai against JNU attacks. (Satyabrata Tripathy/Hindustan Times)

Bollywood celebrities protest at Carter road, Mumbai against JNU attacks. (Satyabrata Tripathy/Hindustan Times)

On Sunday, a mob of masked young people stormed the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus in south Delhi and systematically targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings.

The attack triggered protests across the country on Monday and the clamour grew for the resignation of the vice chancellor, who is being blamed for inaction during the violence that left 34 people injured.

We are with the students of all the three universities (Aligarh, Jamia and JNU) who were attacked, Sinha said. We want to tell them, we are with them and we will stand for them every time. Pointing out how students have been at the forefront of the protests against the amended Citizenship Act, Kashyap said students across India woke up the country and he takes inspiration from them.

I condemn the way police are controlled. Common man has been intimidated so much that now he is not afraid, the director said. We stand by the students and they are our inspiration.

He added, I ran away from Twitter and was busy in my work. I was like, Why should I bother? I am earning money and doing my work. Students have shown me the way, they have woken me up, he said. I returned because of them. I stand with them. I stand behind them. I am learning from them. The filmmaker said his message to the government was clear: focus on real issues and stop dividing people in the name of religion.

We arent fools. We are watching. We know how riots are caused, how these situations are created. We can see what you want to do and whats your intention and where you are taking us. We wont let you take us there, Kashyap said At the protest, people recited poems, sang songs and held placards criticising the government.

Music composer Ankur Tewari sang a new track as the crowed tagged along. Tere khauf kay keher se khamosh hum rahe, woh hum nahi. Tere khauf kay kay darr se zulmo sitam hum sahe, hum woh nahi (We are not the ones to stay silent because of you. We are not the ones to tolerate injustice because of you), the lyrics went.

Actor Swara Bhasker hoped everyone in the country would now break their silence as its enough. Theres a saying in Hindi, Bahut hua sammaan (Enough of showing respect), she said. So, we have reached that stage in this country where we have shown enough respect to the government, the law and order machinery, which have repeatedly failed to fulfil their responsibility.

As the evening proceeded, people sang songs like Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna, Ho Gayi Hai Peer Parvat Si, We Shall Overcome, Tu Zinda Hai Tu Zindagi Ki Jeet Mein Yakeen Kar. The crowd also chanted Mumbai Police Zindabad, as Sinha quipped: Thank you for not detaining us. Sinha asked Bhardwaj to lead in reciting Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faizs Hum Dekhenge, which was recently dubbed anti-Hindu and was the subject of much debate. The filmmaker then recited Hum Dekhenge as the crowd joined in, clapping to every beat.

Also read: Malang trailer: This Disha Patani and Aditya Roy Kapur film is all about killing and adventure. Watch

Bhardwaj was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarks: I want this government to be criticised. Criticism makes democracy strong. Bhardwaj followed it up by singing Ao Na from his acclaimed political drama Haider as the crowd cheered.

Lyricist Swanand Kirkire said they were there to protest against the violence at JNU, which they are calling a clash which it wasnt. He then recited a poem, Hindustan Kehte Hai Mujhe Main Gandhi Ka Desh Hu. Later, the crowd and Mishra sang Bawra Mann from his acclaimed political film Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. The two-hour long protest ended with the crowd singing the national anthem and chanting Inquilab Zindabad.

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Against the backdrop of attack on JNU students, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that what they wanted was happening, and said such "brutal politics" was never seen before in the country.

An editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' further alleged that the BJP wanted to see "Hindu-Muslim riots" over the Citizenship Amendment Act, but that did not happen.

Since the BJP has been cornered over the issue of CAA, several things are happening out of "revenge", it said.

Comparing the attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students to the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, the Shiv Sena said "divisive politics" was dangerous for the country.

It said the Union Home Ministry's decision to file cases against "unknown" attackers at JNU was laughable. "Those who entered JNU with masks are not unknown," it claimed.

On Sunday, a mob of masked young people stormed the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus in south Delhi and targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings.

Nearly 34 people were injured in the violence.

"The fallout of JNU attack is being seen elsewhere in the country...what Modi and Shah want is happening. The country is in danger. Divisive is dangerous for the country," the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said.

Terrorists who attacked Mumbai on November 26, 2008 were also masked and the same was seen at JNU. Such elements need to be exposed, it said.

"Allowing blood stains in universities, colleges and beating up of students and indulging in over the burning situation...such brutal was never seen before," the Marathi publication said while terming the attack on JNU students as a "blot" on the law and order situation.

Lashing out at Amit Shah, the Sena said he his in Delhi and busy distributing official pamphlets door-to-door to promote the Citizenship Amendment Act.

There is "confusion and unrest" in the country over the new citizenship law, it pointed out.

"The BJP wanted to see Hindu-Muslim riots over the issue, but that did not happen. The nationwide protests are not being done by Muslims alone. Hindus will also be affected due to the new Act," the Shiv Sena said.

It said the BJP has been cornered over the CAA issue.

Since the prevailing situationis "BJP versus the rest", hence "out of revenge", several things are happening, the Marathi daily said, adding that "there is room for doubt if the JNU attack was part of the revenge."



The BJP has condemned the violence and said universities should stay away from politics, it noted.

"Who brought violence and politics in universities in the last five years? Who is implementing the policy of destroying those who don't agree with your ideology by use of power?" it asked.

Without taking any name, the Sena said those who call students opposing the CAA as anti-nationals, are themselves anti-national.

"When Amit Shah accuses Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi of inciting violence, he admits that the Gandhi siblings have that much power to create mass awareness against a law brought in by the Centre and bring people to streets," the Sena said.

One cannot say if the Gandhi siblings incited violence, but one thing is sure that the Union Home Minister and his party are forced to distribute pamphlets to "clarify" on the new citizenship law, it said in sarcastic comments.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAGHDAD, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-led international coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS) militant group announced on Monday its preparation to exit Iraq after the resolution of the Iraqi parliament to withdraw foreign forces.

"In deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi parliament and the Prime Minister, CJTF-OIR (coalition forces, known as Operation Inherent Resolve) will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement," said a letter from U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier General William H. Seely III, commanding general of Task Force Iraq.

The authenticity of the letter, which was addressed to the Iraqi Joint Operations Command and carried by Iraqi media, could not be immediately verified by the Iraqi military.

The statement came a day after the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in Iraq and prevent them from using Iraqi airspace and waters.

On Friday, a U.S. drone struck a convoy at Baghdad International Airport, killing Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces.

Over 5,000 U.S. troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the Iraqi forces in the battles against IS militants, mainly providing training and advising for the Iraqi forces.
In 2019, when Wolf Cukier finished his junior year at Scarsdale High School in New York, he joined NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, as a summer intern. His job was to examine variations in star brightness captured by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and uploaded to the Planet Hunters TESS citizen science project.

"I was looking through the data for everything the volunteers had flagged as an eclipsing binary, a system where two stars circle around each other and from our view eclipse each other every orbit," Cukier said. "About three days into my internship, I saw a signal from a system called TOI 1338. At first I thought it was a stellar eclipse, but the timing was wrong. It turned out to be a planet."

TOI 1338 b, as it is now called, is TESS's first circumbinary planet, a world orbiting two stars. The discovery was featured in a panel discussion on Monday, Jan. 6, at the 235th American Astronomical Society meeting in Honolulu. A paper, which Cukier co-authored along with scientists from Goddard, San Diego State University, the University of Chicago and other institutions, has been submitted to a scientific journal.

The TOI 1338 system lies 1,300 light-years away in the constellation Pictor. The two stars orbit each other every 15 days. One is about 10% more massive than our Sun, while the other is cooler, dimmer and only one-third the Sun's mass.

TOI 1338 b is the only known planet in the system. It's around 6.9 times larger than Earth, or between the sizes of Neptune and Saturn. The planet orbits in almost exactly the same plane as the stars, so it experiences regular stellar eclipses.

TESS has four cameras, which each take a full-frame image of a patch of the sky every 30 minutes for 27 days. Scientists use the observations to generate graphs of how the brightness of stars change over time. When a planet crosses in front of its star from our perspective, an event called a transit, its passage causes a distinct dip in the star's brightness.

But planets orbiting two stars are more difficult to detect than those orbiting one. TOI 1338 b's transits are irregular, between every 93 and 95 days, and vary in depth and duration thanks to the orbital motion of its stars. TESS only sees the transits crossing the larger star; the transits of the smaller star are too faint to detect.

"These are the types of signals that algorithms really struggle with," said lead author Veselin Kostov, a research scientist at the SETI Institute and Goddard. "The human eye is extremely good at finding patterns in data, especially non-periodic patterns like those we see in transits from these systems."

This explains why Cukier had to visually examine each potential transit. For example, he initially thought TOI 1338 b's transit was a result of the smaller star in the system passing in front of the larger one -- both cause similar dips in brightness. But the timing was wrong for an eclipse.

After identifying TOI 1338 b, the research team used a software package called eleanor, named after Eleanor Arroway, the central character in Carl Sagan's novel "Contact," to confirm the transits were real and not a result of instrumental artifacts.

"Throughout all of its images, TESS is monitoring millions of stars," said co-author Adina Feinstein, a graduate student at the University of Chicago. "That's why our team created eleanor. It's an accessible way to download, analyze and visualize transit data. We designed it with planets in mind, but other members of the community use it to study stars, asteroids and even galaxies."

TOI 1338 had already been studied from the ground by radial velocity surveys, which measure motion along our line of sight. Kostov's team used this archival data to analyze the system and confirm the planet. Its orbit is stable for at least the next 10 million years. The orbit's angle to us, however, changes enough that the planet transit will cease after November 2023 and resume eight years later.

NASA's Kepler and K2 missions previously discovered 12 circumbinary planets in 10 systems, all similar to TOI 1338 b. Observations of binary systems are biased toward finding larger planets, Kostov said. Transits of smaller bodies don't have as big an effect on the stars' brightness. TESS is expected to observe hundreds of thousands of eclipsing binaries during its initial two-year mission, so many more of these circumbinary planets should be waiting for discovery.

###

TESS is a NASA Astrophysics Explorer mission led and operated by MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Additional partners include Northrop Grumman, based in Falls Church, Virginia; NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley; the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts; MIT's Lincoln Laboratory; and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. More than a dozen universities, research institutes and observatories worldwide are participants in the mission.?

Banner: TOI 1338 b is silhouetted by its host stars. TESS only detects transits from the larger star. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith

By Jeanette Kazmierczak

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

Media contact:

Claire Andreoli

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

(301) 286-1940




Haiti - Politic : No fuel shortage to fear affirms the Prime Minister





On Monday, Prime Minister a.i. Jean Michel Lapin said there was no fear of a fuel shortage. An affirmation confirmed by the National Authority of Regulation of the Energy Sector (ANARSE) which indicated the availability of a stock of fuels in Varreux, Thor and Martissant : that is to say precisely 146,410 barrels of diesel (2 weeks of supply) and 55,726 barrels of gasoline (1 week supply), distribution to major provincial towns began on Monday morning.



Lapin said the state had just finalized payment to a supplier who needs to import 351,000 barrels of product in the next few days and had upgraded with 3 other suppliers to import an additional 200,000 barrels.



With these 500,000 barrels to come, of which the first tanker is expected on January 9, Haiti will have a month of supply, stressed the Prime Minister, insisting that there is no reason to fear, a rarity, a shortage see fuel rationing as some rumors suggest...



SL/ HaitiLibre


















NEW YORK, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NetworkWire  NetworkNewsWire, a multifaceted financial news and publishing company, today announces its sponsorship of and participation in NobleCon16, an emerging growth investor conference hosted by Noble Capital Markets , taking place Feb. 16-18, 2020, at the new Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. NetworkNewsWire will be in attendance as the official newswire and a platinum sponsor of the conference, in addition to heightening the events online visibility via thousands of downstream partners and the InvestorBrandNetwork .



As NobleCon continues to grow, we have worked hard to ensure greater opportunities for the guests and companies attending our yearly conferences, says Mark Pinvidic, managing partner of Noble Capital Markets We are very pleased to collaborate with NetworkNewsWire and InvestorBrandNetwork for NobleCon16, our 16th annual emerging growth conference. Their impressive news coverage, direct connections with large investor audiences and outstanding array of communication services will provide valuable exposure for this years attending companies.

Our team is excited to partner with Noble Capital Markets to provide coverage of NobleCon16. As a leading financial news outlet, content distributor and provider of corporate communications solutions, we take great pride in shining the spotlight on emerging companies, says Jonathan Keim, communications director for NetworkNewsWire and InvestorBrandNetwork. NobleCon16 provides a prime opportunity to do just that and bring attention to the companies that will be participating in the conference. We look forward to leveraging our robust network of downstream partners and investor-oriented brands on behalf of NobleCon and its participants.

NobleCon16 will take place at the luxurious, newly constructed Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, which is a jaw-dropping venue boasting incredible accommodations and amenities, including 19 high-end restaurants; 20 bars and lounges; a 13.5-acre recreational water experience featuring swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding; the 42,000-square-foot Rock Spa; a lush, Bora Bora-style lagoon with private cabanas and butler service; 120,000 square feet of premier meeting and convention space; and a first-of-its-kind, 450-foot guitar-shaped tower at the center of the resort. In the midst of these opulent surroundings, conferencegoers attending NobleCon16 will enjoy invigorating panel discussions, valuable one-on-one meetings, endless networking opportunities, an exciting after-party and much more.

NobleCon16 is an exclusive event, with attendance limited to 1,000 guests and 125 emerging growth public companies in order to preserve the intimate atmosphere NobleCon events have become noted for. As a way to enhance awareness of the emerging growth companies attending, NobleCon will provide worldwide access by livestreaming the conference on Channelchek.com , an investor data and news portal operated by Noble Capital Markets.

For additional information about NobleCon16, including registration details, visit https://nobleconference.com/sixteen#home .

About Noble Capital Markets

Noble Capital Markets (Noble) is a research driven boutique investment bank that has supported small & microcap companies since 1984. As a FINRA and SEC licensed broker dealer Noble provides institutional-quality equity research, merchant and investment banking, wealth management and order execution services. In 2005 Noble established NobleCon, an investor conference that has grown substantially over the last decade. In 2018 Noble launched www.channelchek.com - a new investment community dedicated exclusively to small and micro-cap companies and their industries. Channelchek is tailored to meet the needs of self-directed investors and financial professionals. Channelchek is the first service to offer institutional-quality research to the public, for FREE at every level without a subscription. More than 6,000 emerging growth companies are listed on the site, with growing content including webcasts, podcasts, and balanced news.

About InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)

The InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN) consists of financial brands introduced to the investment public over 14+ years. With IBN, we have amassed a collective audience of 1+ million social media followers. These distinctive investor brands aim to fulfill the unique needs of a growing base of Client Partners. IBN will continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients.

Through NetworkNewsWire (NNW) and its affiliate brands, IBN provides: (1) access to a network of wire services via NetworkWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets; (3) enhanced press release solutions to ensure maximum impact; (4) full-scale distribution to a growing social media audience; (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions; and (6) a total news coverage solution.

For more information, please visit https://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: http://IBN.fm/Disclaimer
MCKINNEY, Texas, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BankPoint, a leading provider of enterprise banking software, announces the production release of the BankPoint Loan Review system at CenterState Bank.

BankPoint is pleased to announce that CenterState Bank, a $17B bank in Winter Haven, Florida, has adopted the BankPoint Loan Review system for use in its production loan review process. The system was chosen in 2019 after an exhaustive survey of leading loan review systems. "We looked at other systems but couldn't find a solution that fit our process," said Tom Sheffield, SVP  Loan Review Manager at CenterState Bank. "The BankPoint system fit most of our process out of the box and was flexible enough to adapt in other areas," said Sheffield.

"Our loan portfolio has grown from $8B to $12B in the last year, and as a result our loan review volume has grown dramatically. We were using a manual process before adopting BankPoint  I can't imagine how we would be keeping up without the BankPoint Loan Review system," said Sheffield.

Tom Heruska, the CEO of BankPoint, said the BankPoint Loan Review system has been developed over the last 10 years by working closely with banks like CenterState to refine and enhance the system. "While every bank is different, most banks follow a similar process. The key is matching the bank's existing templates," said Heruska. "Most banks use a manual process involving Microsoft Word or Excel to draft each review. BankPoint integrates with the bank's core system and automatically populates the template, allowing the manual process to be automated while preserving the look and feel of the reviews," said Heruska.

"The BankPoint team has been great to work with, and was very responsive to our needs," said Kristen Castro, VP of Loan Review at CenterState. "We're happy to be up and running on the BankPoint system and feel confident we can handle the continued growth of the portfolio and associated reviews."

BankPoint provides fintech solutions for banks and non-bank lenders throughout the U.S, Europe, and Asia. The company is based in McKinney, Texas.

For more information, contact

Tom Heruska [email protected] 855.712.7677

www.getbankpoint.com

SOURCE BankPoint

Related Links

https://www.getbankpoint.com


Iranian people attend a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Dozens of people were killed in a stampede as mourners packed streets for the funeral of a slain Iranian military commander in his hometown on Tuesday, forcing his burial to be postponed, state-affiliated media reported.

Tens of thousands of people had gathered in the southeastern city of Kerman to pay tribute to General Qassem Soleimani, whose killing in a US drone strike in Iraq on Friday plunged the region into a new crisis and raised fears of a broader conflict.

Expand Close Coffins of General Qassem Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a US drone strike are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession in the city of Kerman, Iran (Erfan Kouchari/Tasnim News Agency via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Coffins of General Qassem Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a US drone strike are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession in the city of Kerman, Iran (Erfan Kouchari/Tasnim News Agency via AP)

A senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering several scenarios to avenge his killing. Other senior figures have said Iran will match the scale of Soleimani's killing when it responds but that it will choose the time and place.

Tuesday's stampede broke out amid the crush of mourners, killing at least 40 people and injuring about 213, an emergency services official told the semi-official Fars news agency.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close An Iranian guard holds a Hezbollah flag during a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Women hold pictures of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, during a funeral procession and burial at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Iranian people attend a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Men hold pictures of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, during a funeral procession and burial at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Women hold pictures of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, during a funeral procession and burial at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Iranian people attend a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Iranian people attend a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS People pray during a condolence ceremony for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a airstrike near Baghdad, outside the Embassy of Iran in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, January 7, 2020. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng Iranian people attend a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS A girl holds a sign reading Trump is a murderer during a condolence ceremony for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a airstrike near Baghdad, outside the Embassy of Iran in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, January 7, 2020. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng A man kisses a picture of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a airstrike near Baghdad, outside the Embassy of Iran in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, January 7, 2020. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng A Pakistani man signs a condolence book for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a airstrike near Baghdad, at the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Peshawar, Pakistan January 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fayaz Aziz A woman holds a picture of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a airstrike near Baghdad, during a condolence ceremony outside the Embassy of Iran in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, January 7, 2020. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng Iranian people attend a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS A girl holds a sign reading Trump is a murderer during a condolence ceremony for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a airstrike near Baghdad, outside the Embassy of Iran in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, January 7, 2020. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng A woman offers flowers during a condolence ceremony for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a airstrike near Baghdad, outside the Embassy of Iran in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, January 7, 2020. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng / Facebook

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Whatsapp An Iranian guard holds a Hezbollah flag during a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020. Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Iran's ISNA news agency said the burial of Soleimani had been postponed, but did not say how long any delay would last.

"Today because of the heavy congestion of the crowd unfortunately a number of our fellow citizens who were mourning were injured and a number were killed," emergency medical services chief Pirhossein Kolivand told state television.

The body of Soleimani, a national hero whose death has united many Iranians, had been taken to Iraqi and Iranian cities before arriving in Kerman for burial.

In each place, huge numbers of people filled thoroughfares, chanting "Death to America" and weeping with emotion. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shed tears when leading prayers in Tehran.

Soleimani, who commanded the elite Quds Force, was responsible for building up Tehran's network of proxy armies across the Middle East. He was a key figure in orchestrating Iran's long-standing campaign to drive U.S. forces out of Iraq.

The US defense secretary denied reports the American military was preparing to withdraw from Iraq, where Tehran has vied with Washington for influence since the 2003 US invasion.

Expand Close A crowd said by Tehran police to be in the millions turns out for Mondays funeral service for General Suleimani in Tehran (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A crowd said by Tehran police to be in the millions turns out for Mondays funeral service for General Suleimani in Tehran (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP)

"We will take revenge, a hard and definitive revenge," the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, General Hossein Salami, told the crowds in Kerman before the stampede.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said 13 "revenge scenarios" were being considered, Fars news agency reported. Even the weakest option would prove "a historic nightmare for the Americans," he said.

Expand Close A mourner holds a poster of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani as she passes a satirical US flag after a ceremony for the general and colleagues killed in Iraq in a US drone attack (Vahid Salemi/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A mourner holds a poster of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani as she passes a satirical US flag after a ceremony for the general and colleagues killed in Iraq in a US drone attack (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Iran, whose coastline runs along a Gulf oil shipping route that includes the narrow Strait of Hormuz, has allied forces across the Middle East through which it can act. Representatives from those groups, including the Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, attended funeral events in Tehran.

Despite its strident rhetoric, analysts say Iran will want to avoid any conventional conflict with the United States and will likely focus on asymmetric strikes, such as sabotage or other military action via proxies.

Trump has promised to target 52 Iranian sites if Iran retaliates.

Reuters and other media reported on Monday that the US military had sent a letter to Iraqi officials informing them that US troops were preparing to leave.

"In order to conduct this task, Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner," it said.

But U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper denied there had been any decision to leave. "I don't know what that letter is," he said.

US Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the letter was a "poorly worded" draft document meant only to underscore increased movement by US forces.

About 5,000 US troops are still in Iraq, where there has been a US military presence since Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003.

Iraq's parliament, dominated by lawmakers representing Muslim Shi'ite groups who have been united by Friday's killing of Soleimani alongside an Iraqi militia leader, passed a resolution on Sunday calling for all foreign troops to leave the country.

Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister Abdel Abdul Mahdi told the US ambassador to Baghdad the two sides needed to implement the resolution.

Friction between Iran and the United States has risen since Washington withdrew in 2018 from a nuclear deal between Tehran and other world powers.

The United States has imposed economic sanctions on Iran, slashing Iranian oil exports, and Tehran said on Sunday it was dropping limitations on uranium enrichment, in its latest step back from commitments to the deal.

Washington denied a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to allow him to attend a U.N. Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday, a US official said.

Trump's U.S. political rivals have challenged his decision to order the killing of Soleimani and questioned its timing in a US election year. His administration said Soleimani was planning new attacks on U.S. interests without giving evidence.

US general Milley said the threat from Soleimani was imminent. "We would have been culpably negligent to the American people had we not made the decision we made," he said.

Trump administration officials will provide a classified briefing for US senators on Wednesday on events in Iraq after some lawmakers accused the White House of risking a broad conflict without a strategy.
ANN ARBOR, MI  Frustrated with how things were going in court, an Ypsilanti Township man facing multiple felony charges rose from his wheelchair Monday afternoon and flipped the heavy table in front of him, sending legal papers flying.

As he yelled profanities, sheriffs deputies promptly wheeled Jeremy Schuh, 39, out of Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge David Swartzs courtroom during his final pretrial hearing Jan. 6.

Schuh is charged with one felony count each of first-degree home invasion, car theft, theft from a building, identity theft and possession of a controlled substance, court records show. He is also charged with seven misdemeanor theft charges and one misdemeanor obstruction charge.

The bulk of the charges stem from a string of thefts and vehicle break-ins reported to the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office in summer 2018 near the 1500 block of E. Michigan Avenue, records show.

Schuhs attorney, Walter White, argued Monday that Swartz should recuse himself from the case based on Schuhs prior court interactions with him.

Saying he found no valid reason to do so, Swartz denied the motion. White then asked to withdraw from the case, arguing Schuh has been uncooperative and would be better served by another attorney.

Schuh demanded he be allowed to represent himself after Swartz denied Whites request. Swartz told Schuh that was a bad idea, but ultimately approved the request with the addition of White as backup council.

Schuh rose from his wheelchair and flipped the table after being told he would not receive additional time to prepare for his Jan. 23 jury trial.

White, who has represented Schuh on previous cases, had made note of him being confined to a wheelchair minutes before Schuh stood up and flipped the table.

Hes had a series of strokes. I dont know what his physical health is, but having represented him back in 2013, I know that hes in a situation where hes maybe not as strong as he used to be, White said.

Additional cases on the days court docket were briefly delayed while a microphone broken during the incident was repaired.

Schuh remains in the Washtenaw County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Schuh was on probation from Wayne County where he pleaded guilty to a breaking and entering charge, according to Michigan Department of Corrections records. He has multiple prior convictions on more than 10 theft, fraud and home invasion charges, records show.
A Class 10 student died and three people were injured on Tuesday when the car they were travelling in collided with a police vehicle in this district of Jammu and Kashmir, leading to a protest by local residents who hurled stones at police personnel

Srinagar: A Class 10 student died and three people were injured on Tuesday when the car they were travelling in collided with a police vehicle in this district of Jammu and Kashmir, leading to a protest by local residents who hurled stones at police personnel, an official said.

Three protesters were injured as the police used force to disperse the crowd, he said.

He said traffic in Nowgam area of the district was disrupted due to the protest.

The student who died in the accident has been identified as Tehseen Nazir Bhat, a police officer said, adding a case has been registered and the driver of the police vehicle arrested.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  After his son told him he killed and mutilated Ashley Young, James Chance tried to turn Jared Chance into police, not cover up the crime, his attorney told jurors.

James Chance, 77, a retired Rock Island, Illinois, police sergeant, brought his son to Grand Rapids Police Department after his son told him about the killing and mutilation of the 31-year-old Kalamazoo-area woman.

The father, however, told police that he wanted an attorney for his son before any questioning.

He and his son soon left.

Later that day, on Dec. 2, 2018, police found Youngs torso in the basement of Jared Chances home in the 900 block of Franklin Street SE.

28 Jared Chance sentenced in murder, mutilation of Ashley Young

The father is accused of accessory after the fact. He is also facing two perjury charges for statements made under oath to investigators.

His attorney, Laura Joyce, said Tuesday, Jan. 7, that her client didnt help his son avoid prosecution. He was confused on details after hearing his son confess to such a horrific crime.

There is one person who is responsible for the murder of Ashley Young. There is one person who is responsible for the mutilation of Ashley Young. And there is one person responsible in the attempt, to, I guess, get rid of the evidence, and that person is not here in the courtroom, and that person is Jared Chance.

Jared Chance, 30, is serving at least 100 years in prison for second-degree murder.

He called his parents Dec. 1 and asked them to pick him up. He suffered mental-health problems and substance abuse, so it was not an unusual request.

Assistant Kent County Prosecutor Lawrence Boivin said the son loaded a box containing the victims limbs, a mop, bucket, latex gloves and ammonia into his parents car to go to their home in Holland.

On the way, cellphone records showed, they stopped at an apartment complex near Kalamazoo Avenue SE and 44th Street. The prosecutor suggested evidence was thrown into one of the many garbage containers outside of the complex.

The victims head, hands and feet have not been found.

Boivin said that days after the killing was discovered, when Grand Rapids police used a search warrant at his home, James Chance told police that hes glad hes not investigating this.

When asked why, he allegedly said it was a tough case.

His wife pleaded no contest Monday, Jan. 6, to charges of accessory after the fact and perjury. She faces up to one year in jail under advisory sentencing guidelines.

Kristine Young, the victims mother, began contacting her daughters friends and police when she could not reach her daughter on Nov. 29, 2018. She was supposed to co-sign for an apartment for her daughter in Kalamazoo.

She said she was in a panic when she couldnt reach her daughter. She eventually learned that she was with Chance the night before she went missing.

Mario Nelson, who lived below Chance in the two-story rental home, saw blood in the basement on Dec. 2, 2018, while investigating an overwhelming odor. Police found the victims torso in a tarp.
YORK, Pa., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, PrivacyCheq is launching Privacy UX for CCPA, its new SaaS operational compliance solution for enterprises that gather private consumer data from citizens of California and therefore must comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

PrivacyUX for CCPA turns CCPA's required notices and opt outs into a positive consumer experience, turning CCPA compliance into a market advantage. Consumers can quickly get an understandable CCPA Notice simply by scanning with their phone apps or sending a text (send "CCPA" to 717-467-3214)

Built with PrivacyCheq's flagship ConsentCheq platform, PrivacyUX for CCPA is designed to delight consumers with an optimal privacy management experience. By focusing on the consumer, trust and engagement are built on a daily basis while the service facilitates CCPA operational requirements for transparency, preference and rights management, and downstream opt out verification.

PrivacyCheq's CEO Roy Smith said "The product name "Privacy User Experience" expresses our focus on turning CCPA-required privacy activity into a positive thing for consumers, which ultimately translates into competitive advantage for companies that deploy PrivacyUX. With well over 60% of all consumer interaction now being done on mobile devices, PrivacyUX for CCPA delivers trust-building experiences that look great on mobile devices while fully complying with both the spirit and letter of CCPA."

Smith continued "Beyond consumer-facing transparency, our mission here is streamlining and reducing the burden, complexity and cost of day-to-day CCPA operational compliance. Many enterprises are just becoming aware of CCPA's daunting daily requirements. Every day after January 1, 2020, consumers' privacy preferences must be gathered and conserved so they can be honored in the future each time data is "sold". Since private data is gathered from a wide variety of touchpoints, not just websites, so-called "cookie" opt out services offer a risky, incomplete solution. Modern enterprises must be able to process opt out requests from websites, mobile apps, Internet of Things devices, email, telemarketing and even from physical locations like hospitality and retail sites where private data is ingested. PrivacyUX for CCPA elegantly handles each of these tasks with aplomb."

By conserving consumer opt out preferences in a secure database with restful API, PrivacyUX allows the enterprise to fulfil the CCPA requirements to honor consumer opt-out requests instantly, and the managed API fully supports downstream opt out notification of third parties, a poorly understood compliance issue for modern enterprises that utilize many third party services.

A live demonstration of PrivacyUX for CCPA's Notice At Collection can be viewed on any smartphone simply by texting "CCPA" to 717-467-3214 in the US or 44-19423-16305 in the UK.

The PrivacyUX for CCPA service is available immediately and can typically be fully implemented in 4-6 weeks. PrivacyUX for CCPA interoperates with other PrivacyCheq services to deliver a one-stop operational solution for COPPA (US Federal Child Privacy), SB220 (State of Nevada) and GDPR (EU) regulations.

For a live demonstration and quote, contact PrivacyCheq's sales offices in San Francisco and London or at https://www.privacyux.com/.

About PrivacyCheq

Since its founding in 2013, PrivacyCheq has been a leader in the regulatory compliance tech industry with innovative cloud-based privacy solutions, managing privacy consent for global enterprises. The company offers a variety of cloud services facilitating transparent notice and consent/opt out compliance with GDPR, CCPA, COPPA, PIPEDA, LGPD and other similar privacy regulations worldwide. For more information visit http://www.privacycheq.com/.

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Swathi Moorthy

Infosys will on 10 January come out with the results for the quarter ending December 2019, an announcement that will be made in the shadow of investigations into accusations of irregularities against its top bosses, say experts and stakeholders.

Though two probesone by an Infosys-appointed Indian law firm and other by the US Securities and Exchanges Commissionstill continue, investors seem to be awaiting the findings more keenly than the numbers.

Financials are irrelevant without the results of the investigation in the light of circumstances, an expert said, talking about the in-house probe.

The allegations that surfaced in a letter in late October accused CEO Salil Parekh and CFO Nilanjan Roy of accounting irregularities in a bid to show a profit.

The whistleblowers, said to be an anonymous group of Infosys employees, had filed a complaint with the US Securities and Exchanges Commission, which is investigating the case.

The Bengaluru headquartered company appointed the law firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co to investigate the matter.

In early November, the company said it had not received any evidence to support the allegations made in the letter. No deadline was set and the company has not said anything about the status of the probe.

The share price had tanked 16.21 percent on BSE, wiping out Rs 50,000 crore of investors wealth in a day after reports of the whistleblower claims emerged.

Investor concerns

Investors are still worried. After the company said there is no prima facie evidence in November, we heard nothing from the company, Vinay CS, a chartered accountant and a shareholder who lost over Rs 1 lakh, said.

That is why dividends aside, we, investors, are anxious about what the company will say regarding the allegations.

Typically, quarterly results are not so closely watched. There are always ups and downs every quarter. So we are not usually keen on the quarterly performance, said an investor.

But, in the light of allegations, which raise issues of corporate governance, the upcoming results assume significance.

For one, the companys credibility is at stake. Without the result of the investigation, doubts over accounting practices will linger.

Then there is the leadership churn. Deputy CFO Jayesh Sanghrajka had quit before the allegations surfaced but returned recently.

This does raise suspicions, said Pareekh Jain, founder, Pareekh Consulting, a technology consulting firm. So we expect more clarity to come from Infosys in their Q3 results.

Impact on business

It remained to be seen if the allegations have had an impact on the business, Jain said. That will be interesting to see, he said.

In both the first and the second quarters, Infosys beat industry estimates and is upbeat about the upcoming quarter despite the macro-economic volatility.

Infosys reported its biggest-ever quarterly deal  at $2.8 billion  for the period ending September 2019.

The IT player increased its guidance from 8.5-10 percent in the first quarter to 9-10 percent in the second. In the second quarter, most of the verticals reported double-digit growth in constant currency, whereas its nearest rival, TCS, disappointed investors.

Despite a strong pipeline, it is unclear if it will reflect in the quarter ended December, which is usually a soft one for IT majors. Financials are likely to be more conservative and realistic in the light of allegations, Jain added.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy has kept mute over the hike in the Right of way for Telecom operators.

About 14 states across the federation have increased charges on telecom operators, despite the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantamis directive issued late last year.

In his letter to the governors across the 36 states, he cautioned the governors to reduce the charge of the Right of Way (RoW).

The RoW charge is the levy paid to state governments for the laying of optic fibre by telecoms operators.

According to a report from THIS DAY newspaper, Lagos, Kano, Anambra, Ondo, Cross River, Kogi, Osun, Kaduna, Enugu, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Imo, Kebbi and Gombe, have hiked the cost of Right of Way (RoW) for telecoms infrastructure.

Mr Pantami, on January 3, said he had written to state governors to comply with the reduction of RoW. I have written to all the governors in Nigeria on the need to comply with the National Economic Council (NEC) resolution on the Right of Way (RoW).

All the governors had agreed to the harmonisation on the RoW charges and efforts are being made to ensure the policy is respected.

Disobedience

Investigations revealed that agencies and ministries of some of these states have increased the cost of RoW from the initial fee of between N300 to N500 per linear metre to between N3,000 and N6,000 per linear metre.

However, the cost of RoW on federal roads is N142 per linear metre.

Some of these agencies and ministries include: the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), State Information Technology Agency (SITA) of Ondo, Cross River State Infrastructure Safety and Regulatory Agency (CRISRA), Kogi State Environmental Protection Board and Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority.

Others are Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KSIRS), Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA), Osun State Ministry of Environment and Sanitation, Anambra State Internal Revenue Services, Enugu State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Adamawa State Ministry of Environment, Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (Imo ENTRACO), Kebbi State Ministry of Environment and Solid Minerals and Gombe State Internal Revenue Board.

It was also learnt that some of the states refused to collect the old rates for RoW and are no longer issuing RoW licences in their various states.

The new management of the LASIMRA recently increased RoW fee from N500 per linear meter to N5, 000 per linear meter.

A telecoms operator, however, needs RoW covering thousands of kilometres, to operate.

The ministers spokesperson, Uwa Suleiman, when contacted, refused to speak on the development.

When she was contacted, Ms Uwa ended the call without saying a word. And she did not respond to text and WhatsApp messages sent to her.

Reasons for the hike

The Commissioner for Information, Cross River State, Asu Okang, when contacted, said it was prepared to go into negotiations with telecommunication companies on the possible adjustment of charges they pay for RoW to install infrastructure, particularly telecommunications masts.

However, the state government did not state if the negotiations with the telecommunications service providers would lead to a reduction in the cost they are currently being charged for the location of their masts.

The official revealed the state was open to negotiations on the issues raised by the companies.

The commissioner said despite the complaints from telecommunications service providers, the rates charged by Cross River State was lower than those charged by its neighbouring states.

He said the rates charged by the state was within those prescribed by the federal government, adding that the telecommunications companies, of recent, had not been building new masts, but rather adopted the policy of co-location.

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Also, the Senior Special Adviser to the governor of Ondo State on Information and Telecommunications Technology, Olumbe Akinkugbe, said the agency had designed a policy that could reduce cost of operations for the telecommunication companies.

Mr Akinkugbe, who is in charge of State Information and Technology Agency (SITA), however, said the companies had to be opened on their infrastructural needs and their plans to achieve same.

He said at the national level, the federal government had also established Broadband Infrastructure Rollout Plan, which has resulted in infrastructure companies being given concessions for RoW nationally, that had been broken into regions.

What we are planning to do is to encourage what we call One Dig Policy, he said.

One dig policy is a situation whereby we partner with reliable organisation to actually develop a fiber rollout plan on these right of way at a discounted rate such that when various telecoms operators are coming in there is already a laid down path as well as dug, he explained.

What that will do is that it will prevent a situation where MTN wants to expand their fibre infrastructure, they come and apply for right of way and dig; that Airtel wants to come, they come again, they open up the ground and start digging, he explained.

In Kano State, the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Muazu Magai, said the state had extended some reliefs and waivers to telecommunication operators and offered them suitable places to erect their masts.

On this issue of telecommunication companies and fees, basically across the whole country, the cost of erecting (a) mast is the same as in Kano State, he said.

But in special circumstances, we granted some discounts to some operators regarding the total cost they pay especially if that mast is within a government facility.

We always encourage telecom operators to identify suitable places within government premises to erect their mast that will provide good coverage in the area. Not only that, the state government has engaged NCC and telecom operators to have access corridor for infrastructure network of telecommunications, he said.

He said the state government had given waiver to MTN regarding the access corridor fibre of their network.

According to him, the waiver is for their access corridor fibre which is new telecom infrastructure, which NITDA and NCC are trying to provide high speed broadband internet network in Kano.

The Director General of Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA), Ismaila Dikko, said he was not aware of complaints by the telecoms operators over high cost of RoW.

Telecoms operators across networks had blamed the poor telecoms service currently being experienced by subscribers on the refusal of the federal and state government agencies to grant the operators the RoW licence to lay more fibre optic cables in cities.

Telecoms subscribers have continued to face networks challenges, ranging from incessant dropped calls and poor connectivity to delays in delivering text messages, among others.

The operators said they had envisaged heavy surge at festivity periods like Christmas and New Year seasons and had long requested for RoW licence that would enable them to expand their networks by laying more broadband fibre optic cables.

They, however, stated that their request was rejected by the various government agencies, forcing them to maintain the available network, which is not sufficient to manage the peak periods.

Reacting to the allegation, the Special Adviser on Innovation and Technology to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Tunbosun Alake, said there was need for smart regulation of telecoms operations in the state without having negative effect on service quality in telecoms delivery.

According to him, The issue of Right of Way has always been a challenge between state governments and telecoms operators who seek permission on RoW to expand their networks and infrastructure. I have a private sector background because I came from the private sector, and now that I am in the public sector, I understand the feelings of both sectors.

Mr Alake said there is an errorneous belief surrounding the telecoms sector that state governments see them as cash cows to be milked dry.

In Lagos, the government sees telecoms as critical source of infrastructure for the state, which needs smart regulation so that telecoms operators do not take undue advantage of the citizens, hence the need for balancing, he said.

The Lagos State government, through its agency, the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Authority (LASIMRA), has been equipped to enforce regulation and compliance of telecoms mast installation and digging of roads for the laying of fibre cables by telecoms operators. LASIMRA has the mandate of Lagos government to smartly regulate the installation of telecoms mast and the installation of other telecoms infrastructure in the state.

With the new management of LASIMRA, I believe they will grant RoW to telecoms operators to enable them expand their networks and infrastructure in such a way that it will not hinder network expansion that will address poor service quality, and at the same time, it will not inconvenience the citizens that are expected to benefit from the telecoms services, Mr Alake said.

Implications

The President Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said the action by the states is detrimental to the wheel of progress.

He said the state government regard telecommunications as source of generating internal revenue and pleaded for the federal governments intervention.

They are not looking at the socio economic benefit offered by the services we provide, he said.

The industry is concerned and this will discourage investment, he said.
BREA, California, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Beckman Coulter, a global leader in clinical diagnostics, announced today that South West London Pathology (SWLP) has implemented DxH 900 haematology analysers and the Early Sepsis Indicator across the SWLP network.

SWLP is an award-winning NHS pathology partnership set up by St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust and Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The installation enables SWLP laboratories to provide a single, integrated pathology service to more than 3.5 million people across South West London via three hospitals, 200 general practitioner practices and 30 community healthcare sites.

Beckman Coulter's DxH 900 haematology analysers enable clinical laboratories like SWLP to perform complete blood count and white blood cell differential tests. Demonstrating an industry-leading 93% first-pass yield, the DxH 900 reduces the number of manual slide reviews, helping to generate reportable results as quickly as possible. In addition, the DxH 900 features the Early Sepsis Indicator, the only CE marked and FDA-cleared haematologic biomarker that aids the diagnosis of sepsis in adult patients.

"Emergency departments across our network see 370,000 patients a year. And, with conditions like sepsis becoming more and more prevalent, it is mission critical to have the tools and technology to identify, diagnose and begin treatment as early as possible," said Simon Brewer, Managing Director at South West London Pathology. "We believe that Beckman Coulter's DxH 900 and Early Sepsis Indicator will help us detect and the clinical teams manage sepsis more effectively. Our staff is looking forward to seeing the benefits that the technology brings to the growing population being served by SWLP."

"We are proud to partner with South West London Pathology on their mission to reduce the impact of sepsis," said Peter Soltani, Ph.D., senior vice president and general manager of the haematology business unit at Beckman Coulter. "Our partners count on Beckman Coulter to provide a broad menu of solutions that impact the treatment of the most prevalent and costly health conditions. And in cases like sepsis where every minute counts, having a biomarker included as part of a routine CBC blood test enables detection earlier in the critical care pathway which can make a huge difference."

For more information regarding Beckman Coulter's full suite of solutions for sepsis diagnosis and management, visit www.BeckmanCoulter.com/Sepsis.

About Beckman Coulter

Beckman Coulter is committed to advancing healthcare for every person by applying the power of science, technology and the passion and creativity of our teams to enhance the diagnostic laboratory's role in improving healthcare outcomes. Our diagnostic systems are used in complex biomedical testing, and are found in hospitals, reference laboratories and physician office settings around the globe. Beckman Coulter offers a unique combination of people, processes and solutions designed to elevate the performance of clinical laboratories and healthcare networks. We do this by accelerating care with a menu that matters, bringing the benefit of automation to all, delivering greater insights through clinical informatics and unlocking hidden value through performance partnership. An operating company of Danaher Corporation since 2011, Beckman Coulter is headquartered in Brea, Calif., and has more than 11,000 global associates working diligently to make the world a healthier place.

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"I think the feeling is, if we make a change here, we're opening ourselves up to have this brought in in other land developments, and it's not something we really want to see in the village overlay district," said board...
Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly calls for standardised cement tax

07 January 2020

Members of Costa Ricas Legislative Assembly have called for the government to standardise municipal taxes on both local cement manufacturers and importers.



In this case, a new five per cent tax would be imposed on all locally-produced and imported cement. Whereas, at present taxes are only applied on companies operating in San Jose, Cartago and Guanacaste.

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Sempra Energy and its potential partner in the Port Arthur LNG facility being developed in the Sabine Pass community in Port Arthur could start creating plans for a final investment decision on the export terminal.

The California-based natural gas giant and Saudi Aramco announced Monday that their respective subsidiaries have signed an Interim Project Participation Agreement (IPPA), which they say paves the way for the companies to start necessary financial activities.

Todays announcement is a reflection of the growing alignment between our companies interest in the overall success of the Port Arthur LNG project, Jeffrey W. Martin, chairman and CEO of Sempra Energy, said in a statement.

An estimated value for the facility, expected to produce 11 million tonnes of liquid natural gas per year, hasnt been announced yet, but Martin said the multibillion-dollar initiative was one of the biggest export projects being developed in the world.

Paul Patterson, an analyst with Glenrock Associates, said the announcement is a sign of progress but not a promise for a coming agreement.

Its a step in the right direction, Patterson said. Its good to see some progress, but its never a sure thing until you have the deal.

Both companies signed an agreement last May for the eventual purchase of 5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of liquefied natural gas and Aramcos 25% equity investment in the Port Arthur LNG project.

Saudi Aramcos President and CEO Amin H. Nasser said the companys investment into U.S. natural gas was a part of its assumption that liquid natural gas will continue to grow in importance as a viable energy asset.

Port Arthur LNG, along with a similar possible deal with Houstons Tellurian, would help diversify Saudi Arabias portfolio as OPEC+ countries experience fluctuating prices in crude, trade uncertainties between the U.S. and China, and geopolitical instability.

This agreement with Sempra Energy is another step forward for Saudi Aramcos long-term gas strategy, and toward becoming the global leading integrated energy and chemicals company, Nasser said.

Saudi Aramco enjoyed a record-breaking stock market debut in December, but shares dropped by 2% as of Monday in the wake of the killing of Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani. Meanwhile, crude oil prices reached around $70 per barrel.

Patterson said fluctuations in the market, financial pressures on either of the companies or other issues could always impact a potential deal, but Port Arthur LNGs position on the Gulf Coast gives it some advantages.

Everything has changed with fracking, Patterson said. Whats going on in the Middle East is hard to say... but when you look at the parts of the world, some have less risk than others. The U.S. is viewed as a less risky investment.

Work started in early winter 2019 to shift about 3.5 miles of Texas 87 away from the Intracoastal Waterway to create stable space for the Port Arthur LNG project. That work is expected to be completed in 17 to 19 months.

The initial phase of the Port Arthur LNG project is expected to include two liquefaction trains and as many as three LNG storage tanks, allowing it to export approximately 11 million tonnes per year, but Sempra has already made plans to expand that scope.

The company has initiated filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to potentially add two additional liquefaction trains, doubling its possible output.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

Twitter.com/jdickjournalism
Sourcebooks announced on Tuesday that the Chicagoland independent publishing company has acquired Dawn Publications, a Nevada City, Calif., press that is known in the school and library market for publishing picture books about nature and the environment. Effective January 1, Dawn, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this past year, become part of the Sourcebooks Kids division. All operations will transfer to Sourcebookss headquarters in Naperville, Ill., though Dawns co-publishers, Bruce and Carol Malnor, will remain involved with Dawn as consultants; two Nevada City-based employees, who were both part-time, have been laid off.

Sourcebooks declined to disclose the financial terms of the deal, but disclosed that it has acquired 88 Dawn titles in print, including two of its evergreen bestsellers, A Drop Around the World by Barbara Shaw McKinney, which received a 1998 Benjamin Franklin Silver Award, and The Dandelion Seed by Joseph Anthony, which received a 1997 Benjamin Franklin Silver Award.

The 88 titles will henceforth be published as an imprint under Sourcebooks three-year-old eXplore juvenile nonfiction imprint, which is headed by editorial director Kelly Barrales-Saylor. Four new releases are scheduled for publication in 2020 under the Dawn imprint: Whats This Tail Saying? by Carolyn Combs, illustrated by Cathy Morrison, and Nature Did It First: Engineering Through Biomimicry by Karen Ansberry, illustrated by Jennifer DiRubbio, will be published in March, while Plants Fight Back by Lisa Amstutz, illustrated by Rebecca Evans, and If Animals Built Your House by Bill Wise, illustrated by Rebecca Evans, will be published in the fall. Four titles are scheduled for release in 2021.

Adding Dawns authors and illustrators to our current list elevates us on a literary level, Barrales-Saylor said. Dawn is so highly respected; it has such a vast and prestigious list. These books are not your basic nonfiction: theyre creative nonfiction; its a great match for us.

According to Carol Malnor, the two co-publishers and their late colleague, co-publisher Richard Rodrigue, had been working on a succession plan for several years, with a 2022 target date for selling the press. The three co-publishers consulted with publishing strategist Mike Shatzkin to find a new owner and were introduced by Shatzkin to Sourcebooks publisher Dominique Raccah last spring.

From the first phone call with Dominique, it unfolded so beautifully, Malnor said, She told us, Youre a mission-driven company, were a mission-driven company. Sourcebooks recognized Dawns mission of cultivating a love of nature and the environment in children with its focus on education. We told Dominique we wanted to do this in 2022, and she told us shed wait.

After Rodrigue died unexpectedly in August while hiking in Yosemite National Park, however, the date to transfer ownership of Dawns assets to Sourcebooks was pushed up.

Dawn Publications, which was founded in 1979 with the publication of Sharing Nature with Children by Joseph Bharat Cornell, expanded into childrens books in 1992 with A Walk in the Rainforest by Kristin Joy Pratt. The Malnors and Rodrigue took over ownership of the press in 2015 from Glenn Hovemann and Muffy Weaver.

Dawn Publications is the largest, the most successful, and most award-winning nature conservancy [childrens book] publisher, Raccah said. Its such a great fit, in terms of our already robust eXplore juvenile nonfiction list, which includes the Baby University series by Chris Ferrie and Little Pickle Press. Our mission is to honor and continue the exceptional work that Dawn Publications has done in using storytelling to illuminate environmental issues for young readers. Were going to bring these books further into the public space, to more readers, librarians, and educators.

While Sourcebooks has experienced a 28% growth company-wide in 2019, Raccah said, its childrens book division has grown by 30%, with much of that growth in juvenile nonfiction. Sourcebooks is conducting a search for an educational marketing specialist to help execute its strategy to expand further into the school and library markets; Julie Larsonwho comes with an educational backgroundwas just hired as an eXplore assistant editor to work on Dawn projects.
TINLEY PARK, Ill., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lift Truck dealerships will have a strong, streamlined digital presence thanks to a new partnership between Eliftruck and digital agency partner Dealer Spike. Dealers in the material handling industry now have a solution for industry-leading custom-built websites and digital marketing solutions to drive increased leads and sales.

With Dealer Spike as a partner, Eliftruck can offer a full suite of professionally designed digital tools with full Eliftruck.com integration. Dealers have access to custom responsive websites, inventory management, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Marketing Automation, Targeted Digital Advertising, statistics and analytics, and more. From small to high-end equipment dealerships, this partnership benefits those specifically focused on the material handling industry.

"We look forward to a strong partnership with Eliftruck," says David Mitchell, Vice President  OEM Relations at Dealer Spike. "Our goal is to enhance value and drive more sales in the material handling industry. Consumers will benefit from a streamlined shopping process and overall improved user experience. Bottom line - we make it easier for not just the dealers to list and sell equipment, but also far easier for the consumer to buy."

Dealers will have the assurance that all digital solutions delivered through Dealer Spike are up to date with the latest software and platform requirements, featuring current OEM showrooms and exceeding expectations in driving online leads. New dealers are guaranteed a 30% increase in leads (minimum) after the first 90 days on the Dealer Spike platform.

"This partnership will provide the material handling industry a dedicated marketing platform that provides all the necessary tools for equipment dealerships to compete online," says Art Arellano, President of Eliftruck. "The industry has long needed a one-stop solution for digital needs, and now we have one."

ABOUT DEALER SPIKE

Dealer Spike is focused on driving online leads and in-store sales for dealerships in selected vertical markets. The company is the leading digital agency focused on OEM and dealerships and provides powerful and distinctive web solutions and digital marketing tools to thousands of dealers worldwide. Dealer Spike's expertise comes from real-world dealership experience and a passion for listening and responding to dealers' needs.

https://www.dealerspike.com/

ABOUT ELIFTRUCK

Headquartered in Tinley Park, Illinois since 1999, Eliftruck.com has one of the largest selections of new, used, and rental forklifts online. Material handling equipment buyers can easily search forklifts and related equipment including components, attachments, batteries, chargers, and much more. Material handling equipment dealers now have a dedicated marketplace to buy, sell, or rent equipment using custom designed tools specific to the material handling industry. From the Forklift Router to the industry-leading Email Blast tool, dealers can be assured that Eliftruck.com is dedicated to the material handling industry. Eliftruck.com is focused on material handling.

https://www.eliftruck.com/

SOURCE Dealer Spike

Related Links

http://www.dealerspike.com


Rouhani slams Trump: Never threaten the Iranian nation

In a post on his Twitter account on Monday, Iranian President Rouhani dismissed Trumps threat to attack dozens of Iranian targets.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday nobody should threaten his nation, responding to a tweet from US President Donald Trump.

"DON'T FORGET THE NUMBER 290"

Rouhani called attention to the 290 people killed when a US Navy cruiser shot down a civilian plane in 1988 after Trump said the US has targeted 52 sites to strike in Iran for the 52 US citizens taken hostage by Iran in 1979.

Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290 Rouhani tweeted, referring to the 1988 shooting down of an Iranian airline by a US warship in which 290 were killed. Never threaten the Iranian nation.
[January 07, 2020] Luigi Franciosi to Advise on New Asthma & COPD Drug Development Programs for Vicenna Pharmaceuticals Inc.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Franciosi Consulting Ltd. (FCL) is pleased to announce that its President and CEO, Dr. Luigi Franciosi, has been retained as a pharmacology consultant to advise Vicenna Pharmaceuticals Inc., a new private drug discovery company in Vancouver, British Columbia, on their preclinical and clinical development programs targeting patients with asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Dr. Luigi Franciosi commented: I am very pleased to assist Vicenna Pharmaceutical with their new research projects. Having spent a lot of time in both academia and industry investigating the disease progression of asthma and COPD as well as the effects of drug therapies on these diseases, I think that I can provide them with valuable knowledge and insight on potential new drug therapies. Dr. Luigi Franciosi also brings a wealth of experience as a pharmacologist and an executive in the pharmaceutical industry within Canada, Europe and Asia. He has developed many important relationships with leading academics, industry experts and regulators on various continents, whom could be called upon to assist with any particular problem, project or operation when necessary. Currently, Dr. Luigi Franciosi is an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine at The University of British Columbia. About Franciosi Consulting Ltd. (FCL).

FCL is a B company legally incorporated in 2015 by Luigi Franciosi (Lui) to advise on the operational and research needs of the pharmaceutical and seniors care industries. Lui has a PhD from The University of British Columbia and has been performance-driven and goal-oriented senior executive for many years. His past academic work focused on the use of pain medications as well as respiratory diseases, in particular, Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and Cough. Luis industrial experiences have been executive roles overseeing drug development programs and managing seniors care homes. His adopted mantra in searching for new drugs has been Fail quickly, fail cheaply with the best science possible, quickly obtain clinical proof-of-concept (POC), limit investment in infrastructure and put managerial effort only into projects that meet previously assigned milestones. He uses a supportive style of leadership in any role undertaken. He encourages staff and colleagues to think first before doing. Lui likes a solutions approach when dealing with any daily issues that arise. His favourite quote is Don't complain, dont explain, just do it!



For more information, please visit Dr. Franciosis company website at https://franciosiconsulting.com , his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/luifranciosi/ , his Twitter @luifran7 feed at https://twitter.com/luifran7 , or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Luigi-Franciosi-101111588060828 "Dr. Luigi Franciosi"

Dr. Luigi Franciosi, President and Chief Executive Officer

Public Relations Contact

Dr. Luigi Franciosi

Franciosi Consulting Ltd.

Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

Telephone: +1.778.998.6260

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://franciosiconsulting.com

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Portland has more screen time coming up, thanks to the Disney+ movie, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, an adaptation of the best-selling book by Stephan Patsis. Today, Disney+ released the first trailer for the movie, which filmed on location in the Portland area in 2018.

The trailer is pretty charming, as it shows the young Timmy (Winslow Fegley), operating his own detective agency, with the help of his partner, Total, a 1,500-pound polar bear. Though the agency is named Total Failure, Inc., in their honor, that name is misleading, Timmy informs us, because hes anything but a failure.

Disney+ can be ordered now.

In the trailer, Timmy tells us that he lives in the shadow of a water tower, in Portland, Oregon, a place where things get strange. Illustrating that, we see a brief image of bare-chested bicycle riders, including a yelling Wallace Shawn.

Hey, at least the riders arent nude, in Portland Naked Bike Ride fashion.

Update: We just received a nice email from an officer in the Overlook Neighborhood Association, who says the water tower shown in the trailer is located in North Portland, in the Overlook neighborhood, with Beach Elementary School visible in the background.

Here are more details about the Timmy Failure filming in the Overlook neighborhood, from the neighborhood association newsletter:

Overlook residents might have noticed a drone flying overhead, cameras on corners or even a polar bear wandering down the street. Its all part of filming for a new Disney motion picture titled Timmy Failure. The production team has been shooting at a few neighborhood spots including the pedestrian bridge over N. Going Street, and the painted intersection at the painted Concord-Failing-Overlook intersection.

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made may be aimed toward a young audience, but its directed by actor/filmmaker Tom McCarthy, who directed the Oscar-winning feature, Spotlight, and who played a newspaperman (who also made plenty of mistakes) in Season 5 of HBOs The Wire.

As the press materials say, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made focuses on a quirky, deadpan hero, whose world includes his mother (played by Ophelia Lovibond), her boyfriend (Kyle Bornheimer), a teacher whos also a nemesis (thats the role Shawn plays), and a guidance counselor (Craig Robinson).

You can stream Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made on Disney+, beginning Feb. 7.

The film will also show in the Kids section of the Sundance Film Festival, which takes place from Jan. 23-Feb. 2, in Park City, Salt Lake City and the Sundance Mountain Resort, in Utah.

More of our coverage:

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
At the meeting, The Deputy PM expressed his belief that with the rich experience in the ASEAN region, the ambassador will heavily contribute to promoting the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Malaysia to continue to develop strongly in all fields.

Chiefly, the Deputy PM expressed his great appreciation for the role of the ambassador in coordinating preparations for the successful official visit to Vietnam of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, thereby strengthening the friendship and cooperation for the benefit of the two countries people for peace, cooperation and prosperity in the region and the world.

The Deputy PM asked the ambassador to further strengthen delegation exchanges, especially high-ranking delegations especially when Vietnams assumes the role as the ASEAN Chair and Malaysia as the host of the APEC 2020; while maintaining and promoting effective bilateral cooperation mechanisms; and also accelerate the signing of an action programme on implementing the strategic partnership for the period 2020-2025.

Although the economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries have been developing positively in recent years, the two sides should make more efforts to realize the goal of raising the bilateral trade turnover to US$ 15 billion, Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh stated.

On this occasion, the Deputy PM also asked Malaysia to continue creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese people to work and study in Malaysia as well as humane treatment to Vietnamese fishermen, affirming that Vietnam resolutely handleillegal fishing in foreign seas.

The Malaysian Ambassador congratulated Vietnam on the occasion of Vietnams assumption of the roles as the ASEAN Chair for 2020 and as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2020  2021 tenure, affirming that Malaysia strongly supports Vietnam in successfully undertaking the two responsibilities.

The ambassador also affirmed that she would make an effort to continue boosting the momentum for bilateral relations, especially the implementing result of Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad's visit to Vietnam.
Former national security adviser John Bolton said Monday he would testify if subpoenaed as part of the Senates impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

Bolton, who was asked to testify as part of the House's impeachment inquiry but refused to appear for a deposition, said in a statement he wants to meet his obligations both as a citizen and as a former top presidential adviser.

Since my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study, Bolton wrote. I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify.

Boltons surprise offer comes as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer remain at an impasse over the parameters for the chambers trial. Schumer has been pushing McConnell to allow additional witness testimony and document production as part of the trial, but McConnell has maintained that those issues should be considered after the trial begins.

From left, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

It is now up to four Senate Republicans to support bringing in Mr. Bolton, Schumer said in a statement, renewing his demand for three other witnesses to appear for testimony: acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, top Mulvaney aide Robert Blair and senior budget official Michael Duffey. All three refused to appear for testimony before House impeachment investigators.

If any Senate Republican opposes issuing subpoenas to the four witnesses and documents we have requested they would make absolutely clear they are participating in a cover up, Schumer added, noting that Boltons lawyer has already said his client has information to share with investigators that has not been previously disclosed.

The statement from Bolton  who has remained relatively quiet since Trump fired him last year  hands Senate Democrats a new weapon as they seek to exert pressure on Republicans to call witnesses and seek documentary evidence to add to the House's articles of impeachment. A Senate subpoena requires at least 51 votes, and four Republicans would need to vote with Democrats.

Story continues

One of those potential GOP votes, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, said he would of course want to hear from Bolton. But he stopped short of declaring he would vote in favor of subpoenaing Bolton, adding, Whats important is that we hear from him.

Before his announcement, Bolton, who has been described as a central witness to the alleged behavior the House described in its articles of impeachment against Trump, gave a heads up to McConnell, according a source familiar with the matter.

GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas did not rule out voting to subpoena Bolton but said the question of witnesses should be left for later in the trial, echoing McConnells position. He suggested if that occurred, it could actually help Trumps case.

What I think Bolton could say, this is a disagreement over the way foreign policy is being conducted. Theres no crime being judged, Cornyn told reporters. I have no objection to his testifying either through his deposition or some pre-recorded testimony. To me it amounts to an admission that what theyve presented so far is pretty thin gruel.

Boltons move also unleashes new and complicated constitutional questions, including whether the House will attempt to subpoena Bolton now that he has acknowledged his willingness to comply with a congressional subpoena. Boltons pronouncement also raises the question of whether Trump could intervene to block his testimony.

Amid the clashes between McConnell and Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has refused to transmit the impeachment articles to the Senate. The House impeached Trump on Dec. 18, but Pelosi has said she wants to wait until the parameters of the Senate trial become clearer. Senators expect Pelosi to send the articles later this week.

The president & Sen. McConnell have run out of excuses, Pelosi tweeted. They must allow key witnesses to testify, and produce the documents Trump has blocked, so Americans can see the facts for themselves. The Senate cannot be complicit in the presidents cover-up.

Bolton was not subpoenaed as part of the Houses impeachment inquiry, and he did not say in his statement whether he would comply with a subpoena from the lower chamber. A spokeswoman for Bolton declined to comment on whether he would honor a House subpoena.

Bolton indicated that he had planned to decide whether to testify based on the outcome of a court case brought by his former deputy Charles Kupperman. Kupperman  who had been subpoenaed to testify in the Houses impeachment inquiry but was ordered by Trump not to appear  sought a federal court ruling to resolve the conflicting demands.

But the House, seeking to disentangle its impeachment push from ongoing litigation, withdrew its subpoena and promised not to punish Kupperman for refusing to testify. The White House, too, urged the court to drop the case, claiming Kupperman was immune from testifying. Last week, Judge Richard Leon agreed, ending the short-lived court battle. Bolton acknowledged that decision, saying Leon issued a carefully reasoned opinion.

It now falls to the Senate to fulfill its constitutional obligation to try impeachments, and it does not appear possible that a final judicial resolution of the still-unanswered constitutional questions can be obtained before the Senate acts, Bolton said Monday.

Boltons testimony would be a major break for impeachment investigators.

Senior State Department and White House officials described Bolton as a central witness to Trumps effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rivals. According to former National Security Council aide Fiona Hill, Bolton bristled at Trumps reliance on his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani to conduct back-channel talks with Ukrainians in service of Trumps efforts. Hill recalled that Bolton referred to the matter as a drug deal, adding that Bolton called Giuliani a hand grenade who threatened to blow up U.S. foreign policy goals.

A lawyer for Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine adviser on the National Security Council, said Vindman would definitely support Bolton's testimony.

It will corroborate [Vindmans] testimony as well as Dr. Fiona Hill's testimony," lawyer Michael Volkov said. Vindman and Hill, the NSC's former top Russia adviser, told lawmakers that Bolton was opposed to Trump's withholding of military aid to Ukraine.

Vindman does not harbor any resentment toward Bolton for refusing to testify in the House inquiry, Volkov said. He admires Bolton and followed his directions at all times.

Democrats say the aid was frozen to pressure Ukraines new president to launch Trumps desired investigations. The White House has blocked several central witnesses to the decision on military aid from testifying before impeachment investigators.

Natasha Bertrand, Burgess Everett, Daniel Lippman and Meridith McGraw contributed to this report.


Joshua Jackson couldn't hide his affection for his wife Jodie Turner-Smith when the two stepped out in Los Angeles on Monday for some pizza.

The 41-year-old Dawson's Creek star embraced the 33-year-old Queen & Slim actress while going for a stroll afterward.

Jodie stunned in a black off-the-shoulder dress, while Joshua opted for a more casual look with a shirt and weathered jeans.

Loved up: Joshua Jackson, 41, couldn't hide his affection for his wife Jodie Turner-Smith, 33, when the two stepped out in Los Angeles on Monday for some pizza

Jodie showcased her growing baby bump in the figure-hugging black dress, which also highlighted her fit arms and legs.

The British model accessorized with a pattern Gucci handbag featuring red and green stripes and she blocked out the sun with a pair of cat-eye sunglasses.

She had her natural dark locks in a close-cropped style and added some flair with a pair of black and white loafers.

Revealing: Jodie showcased her growing baby bump in the figure-hugging black dress, which also highlighted her fit arms and legs

Joshua contrasted his new wife in a faded purple shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

He rocked some ripped acid wash jeans and had on a pair of navy blue trainers.

Two lovebirds held hands, and Jodie even wrapped her arms around his neck while they went for a walk.

Us Weekly reported in December that the two had secretly tied the knot. They were previously seen leaving a Beverly Hills courthouse in August with what appeared to be a marriage license, which is valid for 90 days.

It was revealed at the same time that the couple were expecting their first child together.

Stylish: The British model accessorized with a pattern Gucci handbag featuring red and green stripes and she blocked out the sun with a pair of cat-eye sunglasses

The couple made their red carpet debut as a married couple Saturday night at W Magazine's Best Performance pre-Golden Globes party at the Chateau Marmont.

Jodie and Joshua made their red carpet debut as a married couple on Friday evening as part of the W Magazine's Best Performance pre-Golden Globes party at LA's Chateau Marmont.

The two 'seemed to be in good spirits,' according to a source who spoke to Us Weekly, and they were seen chatting with Armie Hammer, Grey's Anatomy's Ellen Pompeo, and Uncut Gems actor Lakeith Stanfield.

Keep it secret: Us Weekly reported in December that the two had secretly tied the knot. They were seen leaving a Beverly Hills courthouse in August with a marriage license; shown in August

It's official: They made their red carpet debut as a married couple on Friday evening as part of the W Magazine's Best Performance pre-Golden Globes party at LA's Chateau Marmont

So far, the couple have stayed mum on their new marriage or child, though Jodie at least alluded to Joshua's presence in a stunning nude photo posted to her Instagram on New Year's Day.

'Happy New Year & Happy New Decade. the last 10 years have been quite the ride!!! i laughed, i cried, and, most importantly, i LEARNED,' she captioned the image. 'keep going. may we all see that our wildest dreams *continue* to come true .'

She concluded with the cheeky hashtags '#LiveFootageOfMeInMyElement' and '#ItsNotAThirstTrapIfYourManTakesThePhoto.'

Low key: The couple have stayed mum on their new marriage or child, though Jodie at least alluded to Joshua's presence in a nude photo posted to her Instagram on New Year's Day

Joshua first came to public attention as a teenager in the 1990s when he starred in the Might Ducks film series with Emilio Estevez.

He officially became a heartthrob when he starred on Dawson's Creek from 19982003.

He was featured from 201412018 on the dark Showtime drama The Affair, and he played a lawyer in Ava DuVernay's Netflix miniseries When They See Us, about the Central Park Five.

He'll be seen next in the Hulu miniseries Little Fires Everywhere, based on the bestselling novel and also starring Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon.

Iconic: Joshua officially became a heartthrob after starring on Dawson's Creek from 19982003. He'll next be seen in Little Fires Everywhere on Hulu

Rising star: After a career as a model, Jodie scored her highest profile role to date as one of the title characters in Queen & Slim

Jodie, who was born in England to Jamaican parents, moved to Los Angeles in 2009 after N.E.R.D. mastermind Pharrell Williams talked her into starting up a modeling career.

Since then, she has transitioned into acting work with small roles in The Neon Demon and the independent comedy Lemon.

Her most high-profile role to date was in the Bonnie And Clyde-style film Queen & Slim.

The film, about a pair of new acquaintances who go on the wrong after killing a police officer in self-defense, currently boasts an 82 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The administration has cited, as legal authority, the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution, which approved the invasion of Iraq. The resolution is still in place, granting legal powers as if the war had never ended.

If the administration can demonstrate that Mr. Suleimanis activities in Iraq made him an adversary in that conflict, it can call on broad wartime authority to target him, Mr. Anderson said.

The administration has mostly emphasized claims that Mr. Suleimani posed an imminent threat to American lives, hinting at legal precedents set by past presidents.

The Bush and Obama administrations concluded that they could, under certain conditions, lawfully kill someone who posed an imminent threat  or whose past actions suggested they could pose a future threat. Their findings, which drew on interpretations of domestic and international law as permitting attacks to halt imminent threats, formed the basis of much of their targeted killing programs. However, there is evidence that the United States government uses an expansive definition of imminent, and many dispute whether it actually meets international legal standards.

Mr. Anderson said that killing Mr. Suleimani would almost certainly have met legal standards used by the Obama administration, calling him targetable for his role in overseeing past proxy attacks against American forces.

The Trump administration, however, initially said its strike was to deter future attacks, not to stop one. It has provided little evidence for its claims of an imminent threat, and some officials privately say that the case is thin and may not represent Mr. Trumps actual motivation.
Houston pipeline company Enterprise Products Partners has renewed and expanded its lease in 1100 Louisiana, downtown's glass and rose granite tower the company's late founder purchased some 15 years ago.

The 500,000-square-foot lease -- including a 22,000-square-foot expansion -- is for floors 4 through 25. Enterprise plans to renovate the space.

"In Houston, recruiting and retaining the best talent are critical to our success, and our space has to serve that purpose, Enterprise Vice President of Facilities Rob Johnson, said in a statement. "Our corporate headquarters has been and will continue to be here for the foreseeable future. Our decision to stay at 1100 Louisiana reflects our commitment to providing a stable, healthy, and highly functional environment for our employees."

The building is owned by Fantome Tower, an entity formed by late billionaire and Enterprise Chairman Dan Duncan to purchase the property from Houston-based Hines in 2005. At that time, Enterprise relocated its offices into the 55-story tower from a complex on the North Loop near T.C. Jester.

RELATED: Boston buyer spends $373M on Bank of America Tower

The companies did not disclose the purchase price, but Hines had taken out a $110 million loan on the property in 2003, a few years after buying it. Hines developed the 1.3 million-square-foot building designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill in 1980 before selling it and reacquiring it prior to the Fantome acquisition.

The property is appraised for $308 million, according to the Harris County Appraisal District.

As primarily a renewal, the new lease offers little help to downtown's sluggish office market. While downtown's $38.22 per square foot per year asking rent is the highest among all Houston submarkets, it has the second highest office availability rate (after Greenspoint) at 25.8 percent, according to fourth-quarter data from real estate brokerage Savills.

Savills' Matthew Dickson represented Enterprise in the lease, which has a 17.5-year term.

RELATED: Houston billionaire buys nearly 1 million shares of Enterprise Products Partners

Chip Colvill, Paula Bruns, Vince Strake and Win Haggard of Colvill Office Properties represented Fantome in the lease transaction.

Other large tenants in 1100 Louisiana include Enbridge Midcoast Energy and King & Spalding.
Patricia "Pat" Ann (Cooper) Quill, 85, of Lake City, died on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, at the Bluffs of Lake City of natural causes and surrounded by her loving family.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 11 at the First Lutheran Church of Lake City. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. with service at 11 a.m. and a luncheon will follow.

Patricia was born on Sept. 10, 1934, to John and Myrtle (Dahlberg) Cooper in Rochester. She graduated from Rochester High School and attended the University of Minnesota, where she joined Alpha Xi Delta and met her husband, Harold Quill, from Hayfield.

The couple married in 1957 and moved to Bettendorf, Iowa and later Rock Island, Ill., of the Quad Cities, where they started their family and Hal began his lifetime career at RSM (formerly McGladrey & Pullen). Pat loved people and was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, the Junior League, PEO, AAUW, and the VNA (Visiting Nurses Association). She enjoyed sewing, her quilting group and boating on the Mississippi River with friends and family.

As her children began to leave the nest, Patricia returned to college and graduated with a BA from Mary Crest College in Davenport, Iowa in 1977. Patricia had a heart for the displaced people seeking refuge from the Vietnam War. As a volunteer for Catholic Social Services, she taught English and assisted numerous Hmong and Vietnamese families relocate to the U.S. Pat loved her students and provided financial sponsorships to a number of families to expedite their U.S. citizenship. Through these experiences, she became interested in travel and later became a travel agent.

In 1986, Hal's work relocated the couple to Charlotte, N.C., where Pat engaged herself in volunteer work at Trinity Presbyterian Church, playing bridge, quilting, sewing, swimming at the Y, and educational travel. To maintain their connection to their family in Minnesota, Hal and Pat purchased a summer residence at Pepin Lodge in 1986 and divided their time between Lake City, Minn., and Charlotte, N.C.

It is said, "Behind every good man, is a good woman" and this was true of Pat. In 2017, Patricia was honored when she accepted her husband's posthumous induction to the RSM Hall of Fame. An award that not only honored Hal's contribution to the success of the firm but also did not let Patricia's sacrifices and contributions go unnoticed.

Patricia is survived by her two sisters, Marilyn Dee Kothenbeutal of Louiseville, Colo., and Christine Lagarde Cooper of Ashland, Wis.; and her three children: daughter, Monica Kusakabe Quill and her two sons, Kei and Gen Kusakabe, her son, Matthew Harold Quill and his children, Thomas, Victoria, Henry and Margreta Quill, and daughter, Martha Sara McDade and her two children, Conor and Katherine McDade. She is preceded in death by her parents; Harold Quill (her husband of 46 years); and her dear sweet partner, Ken Hastings of Lake City.

Online Condolences may be placed at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma makes a speech as he attends the Electronic World Trade Platform in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on November 25, 2019. (PHOTO: Minasse Wondimu Hailu/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

By Andy Mukherjee

(Bloomberg Opinion) -- The much-anticipated arrival of virtual banking in Singapore is unlikely to be an aha moment for consumer finance, but corporate banking will be different. One should expect disruption.

The application period for Singapores first internet-only lenders ended last week with five known hopefuls, so far, for as many licenses on offer. The move mirrors the grant of eight licenses in rival financial center Hong Kong. The idea is to introduce fancy fintech tools  big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence  into local banking systems to make them more competitive. The Singapore winners will be known by mid-year.

Gaming company Razer Inc. is leading one bidding consortium; ride-hailing superapp Grab Holdings Inc. is spearheading another. Both are seeking full bank licenses, which require S$1.5 billion in capital and local control. Billionaire founder Jack Mas Ant Financial wants a wholesale bank permit. So does a consortium of locally based wealth management platform iFast Corp., China's Yillion Group and Hande Group. Singapores Business Times reported that Chinas ByteDance, which owns the video-sharing app TikTok, is also making such a bid.

The difference with full banks is that the wholesale versions wont be allowed Singapore dollar savings deposits, but can take current-account deposits from businesses. The capital required is just S$100 million, and foreign players can be in the drivers seat.

Razer, backed among others by Sheng Siong Holdings Pte, a Singapore grocer, and Hong Kong tycoon Richard Lis insurance firm, will woo millennial customers. Grab, which is partnering with Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., may target its ride-hailing customers and drivers as well as small and midsize firms.

Grabs financial ambitions arent exactly new. Early last year, it hooked up with Chinas ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance Co. to create a digital insurance distribution business in Southeast Asia. Chubb Ltd. was the first to sign up, offering Grabs Singapore drivers protection against loss of income from illness or accidents.

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Still, a fully fledged bank is a different proposition. Start with deposits. How will Grab or Razer convince Singaporeans to switch allegiance from the three homegrown banks, DBS Group Holdings Ltd., Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., and United Overseas Bank Ltd.? The wealthy Asian city-state of 5.6 million people isnt exactly teeming with unbanked multitudes. And even if there are some under-served segments, such as small firms, is it really worth writing a $1 billion-plus check to sign them up?

Competition will be fierce. DBS, the default choice of Singapore depositors, has built up formidable digital-banking capabilities of its own. Its a stretch to imagine that virtual challengers will offer add-on services like innovative insurance products while bricks-and-mortar Singapore banks look on helplessly.

Among the new entrants, Ant, which is part-owned by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., has the most well-rounded expertise in finance. And it seems to be pursuing a cautious strategy. Ma wants to do better than compete for retail deposits  or, for that matter, to use a virtual bank to drive e-commerce.

Alibabas Lazada, which operates online stores in Singapore and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, has enough payment options to support commerce. The site signed a co-branded credit card deal with Citigroup Inc. just three months ago. DBS and OCBC cards also offer installment payment plans to consumers buying from Lazada, which jostles with another Asian website, Qoo10, for the top spot in the citys online retail market.

Bringing wealth management services  including financial advice generated by algorithms  to the not-so-rich may make for a more lucrative foray, but the real bet for Ma lies elsewhere, and is a longer-term gamble. As my colleague Nisha Gopalan and I wrote last year, corporate cash management is where the potential of digital disruption is the largest and most profitable.

Take just one part of that: moving funds. The Asia-Pacific region generates $85 billion in annual fees for banks for such transfers, according to McKinsey & Co., with two-thirds coming from what businesses send to each other and to individuals. If the Monetary Authority of Singapores Project Ubin, an exploration into central bank digital currencies, pans out, its entirely conceivable that a clunky and costly chain of correspondent banks will be bypassed. Cross-border payments will be settled using cryptocurrency tokens, which offer the advantage of atomicity: all parts of a blockchain transaction will succeed or fail together. Money wont get stuck somewhere in the middle.

As Chinas largest online financial platform, Alipay will be entrusted to propagate the digital yuan, which the Peoples Bank of China may start offering as early as this year. Being able to push these digital tokens into corporate and institutional use at a major global trading and banking hub such as Singapore is a much bigger opportunity than accepting retail funds or using analytics to make small-ticket loans to millennials.

By forsaking the privilege of taking small deposits, Ma will have to deploy only a fraction of the capital that other challengers must bring. Even if Ants payday in the backroom of Singapores banking takes time, he can afford to be patient.

 2020 Bloomberg L.P.
India is in a difficult spot with United States (US)-Iran tensions spiralling in West Asia after the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Al-Quds Force of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iraq. Iran has vowed harsh retaliation, while US President Donald Trump has threatened a disproportionate response against it, including cultural targets. In the last three days, Iraqs parliament called for US expulsion, and Iran announced it was ending the final limitation in the nuclear deal on the number of centrifuges. It has, however, not exited the deal.

Indias initial statement on Soleimanis killing was very restrained. It did not mention the US, but called for de-escalation in a region of the utmost importance. This measured response masks serious concerns if tensions flare further in West Asia. The fallout has strong implications on the safety of eight million Indians living there, Indias own energy security given its high dependence on oil and gas from the region as well as its burgeoning security, and investment partnerships with the Arab Gulf countries, among other considerations. India also worries about its strategic connectivity interests that include the port of Chabahar in Iran, linking India to Afghanistan and Central Asia, which received a rare exemption from US sanctions. In fact, just weeks before Soleimanis death, the external affairs minister visited Washington, followed by Tehran and Muscat, to accelerate the much-delayed project. Regrettably, India is now caught in the crossfire that puts its interests in Iran at risk.

To be sure, the India-Iran relationship has not been without its complications. Officials often cite historical and civilisational links that distract from its limited, present-day engagement. For starters, their engagement on energy has never run smooth. Iran has often reneged on assurances to Indian companies. Tehran would hint at competing interests from China or Russia on deals being negotiated with India. This was the case with the gas field, Farzad B, discovered by ONGC Videsh Ltd, and under discussion for over a decade. India reduced oil imports in mid-2017 to show its displeasure over the delay. This was after the nuclear deal when Tehran could have capitalised on the thaw and accelerated projects. Yet, it chose to play hardball.

This pattern continued with the Chabahar port project, where fresh terms were sprung on India from the get-go when Iran introduced a new firm at the signing of the MoU in 2015. India holds Iran partly responsible for delays, as it changed terms in very fundamental ways at least about three times in the last three years. With Trump violating the nuclear deal, and sanctions slapped on several Iranian entities, including the IRGC, these changes frustrated India further. Every little modification demanded due diligence to safeguard the project from US ire, with no room for error. To complicate matters, the US waiver for Chabahar did little to improve things on the ground.

A third disconnect between the two is Afghanistan. Iran views American presence as part of the problem, and the possibility that it may now go after US assets there cannot be entirely ruled out. Additionally, Tehrans support to the Taliban went against Indian interests. These are but a few bilateral problems between India and Iran. Add to them the moments when India was caught in the middle of a disagreement that Iran had with, say, Afghanistan, when it attempted to sabotage the Salma Dam that India was constructing (2011-12) or, with Israel, when the IRGC targeted an Israeli diplomats vehicle in New Delhi (2012). India has always chosen to react to these irritants bilaterally without public fuss, feeding the romanticisation of strong ties with Iran.

In reality, India has met the US halfway on most things Iran-related in the last decade, largely by its own strategic calculus. And this was much before going to zero on imports last year. As ties stand today, India-Iran engagement on energy has shrunk significantly, and security interactions are limited. The only arena left is connectivity, where there is just enough regional consensus from Central Asia to Russia and Oman (Ashgabat Agreement and INSTC) to keep Chabahar alive, but heavily reliant on existing infrastructure and limited spending. A written assurance from the US on the exemption was set to change that, but Trump had other plans.

While India mulls its options, here are three things to finally consider. India has always opposed a nuclear Iran. Tehrans decision to not exit the deal (IAEA inspections intact) is telling and leaves room for dialogue with the European Union. Staying engaged with France, a close Indo-Pacific partner, along with Iran would go a little way. If reports on Saudi displeasure at Trump, and Israels cautious response calling Soleimanis killing an American event, hold water, there is certainly room for India to manoeuvre in this crisis even with the US. With the government engulfed in domestic firefighting, however, whether Indian diplomacy has the bandwidth to do so is a different matter.

Sumitha Narayanan Kutty is associate research fellow with the South Asia Programme at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

The views expressed are personal
What Iran's latest nuclear deal announcement really means originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

One day after Iran's government announced the country will no longer abide by any of the operational restraints on its nuclear program under the nuclear deal, President Donald Trump issued a new all-caps warning to Tehran.

"IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!" the president tweeted on Monday.

Iran has just issued a New Warning. Rouhani says that they will Enrich Uranium to any amount we want if there is no new Nuclear Deal. Be careful with the threats, Iran. They can come back to bite you like nobody has been bitten before!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2019

It's a red line he has issued before, at times scolding Iran for recent steps to violate the nuclear deal from which he withdrew the U.S. and even warning Iran its moves could "come back to bite you like nobody has been bitten before."

The nuclear showdown threatens to exacerbate sky-high tensions between the U.S. and Iran just days after Trump ordered a drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran's elite Quds Force and perhaps the second most powerful official in Iran's government. Iran's leaders have vowed to exact "vengeance," while Trump has promised to fire back and sent thousands of more troops to the region.

MORE: Iran announces most provocative step yet since US withdrawal from nuclear deal: injecting uranium gas into centrifuges

In a statement released on Sunday, Iran announced it would no longer limit the number of centrifuges it has in production, calling it the "last key item of its operational limitations in the JCPOA," or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the nuclear deal is formally known. After withdrawing the U.S. in May 2018, Trump reimposed crippling U.S. sanctions, fully enforcing them in April 2019 with an end to any oil sanctions waivers.

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PHOTO: This is a satellite image of the uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, Iran, dated Jan. 7, 2013. (DigitalGlobe via Getty Images, FILE)

Sunday's announcement does not mean Iran is withdrawing from the deal, to which China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and Germany also remain parties. Iran said it will continue to participate in the deal's periodic meetings and allow for international inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit its nuclear sites. Iran had already breached other restrictions under the deal -- and while Iran hasn't specified what nuclear activities will now come next -- some analysts worried the move means the death knell for the deal and any restraints on Iran's nuclear program.

MORE: Trump warns cultural sites could be targeted if Iran retaliates for Soleimani strike

In July, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced the country had broken the cap on how much enriched uranium it can stockpile -- the first of several steps that violate the agreement, but that Iran says are reversible should the U.S. again lift sanctions that it agreed to lift under the JCPOA or European countries find a way around them.

"If the sanctions are lifted and Iran benefits from the JCPOA interests, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to return to its JCPOA obligations," according to the government's statement on Sunday.

PHOTO: Iranians set U.S. and Israeli flags on fire during a funeral procession organised to mourn the slain military commander Qasem Soleimani, Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and others in the capital Tehran on Jan. 6, 2020. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)

European powers have struggled to provide Iran the economic benefit it was supposed to get under the deal, with U.S. sanctions scaring away most business. The European Union created a financial mechanism to skirt those sanctions, but it hasn't made a difference, particularly for Iran's economic lifeblood -- oil exports -- which have dropped precipitously.

MORE: World leaders made last-minute push to get Trump to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani

Instead, every few months since July, Tehran has announced a new violation of another limit -- at what level uranium is enriched, the kind of centrifuges it has installed and, most recently, where those centrifuges were active.

In November, it took the controversial step to reinstall some at Fordo, what was once a secret underground facility the U.S. feared was at the heart of Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions.

PHOTO: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pray near the coffin of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 6, 2020. (Government of Iran via Reuters)

There's no indication that Iran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapon now. Its government, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, has said it will not do so, although a trove of secret Iranian documents obtained by Israeli spies in 2018 showed Tehran was previously working on it. Iran remains a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, or NPT, although Iran has threatened to withdraw from it in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA.

Experts estimate that if Iran were to take the necessary steps towards nuclear weapon production, the so-called "breakout time" would still be closer to one year -- although a bit less than under the deal, given Iran's steps in the last eight months. Iran is still enriching uranium at about 4.5%, but if it increased to 20%, which is considered highly enriched, it is a quick step to 90%, which is weapons-grade.

But with the violations compounding, European countries may move to launch a dispute resolution under the deal's framework, arguing that Iran had violated its commitments and eventually leading to renewed United Nations sanctions on Tehran.

ABC News' Somaye Malekian contributed to this report.
The first lung transplant in Florida using this system was performed at Tampa General Hospital on October 22, 2019. The new Organ Care System (OCS) technology allows a donated heart to keep beating for several hours outside a human body as it is transported to the hospital. This process, called normal temperature perfusion, keeps organs functioning almost as if they were still inside human bodies. During this process, hearts beat, livers produce bile and lungs breathe, all inside portable machines.

"We can maintain the organs for longer periods, which means we can retrieve them from a wider geographic area," said Dr. John Dunning, surgical director for Heart and Lung Transplantation at Tampa General Hospital and a professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. "And, the condition of the organs at the time of transplant is better," compared to traditional methods.

Tampa General Hospital is the only hospital in Florida and among a handful in the United States to be using or formally studying the process for all three of these organs using the Organ Care System technology. TGH is one of the busiest transplant centers in the nation, having performed more than 10,000 transplant operations. The OCS machines are manufactured by TransMedics, Inc., of Massachusetts.

"At TGH, we use technology and innovation to meet the needs of our community," said Dr. Kiran Dhanireddy, executive director of the TGH Advanced Organ Disease and Transplantation Institute. "OCS allows us to expand the organ pool by having access to a wider geography of donors, which allows us to save more lives through transplantation."

The normal temperature perfusion process has already been approved by the FDA for use in lung transplant patients. TGH has conducted five liver perfusion transplants as part of a clinical trial.

"We are continually innovating to provide our patients with optimum care, and cutting-edge technology such as the OCS machine allows us to do that," said Dr. Amy Lu, a transplant surgeon who is the principal investigator on the TGH clinical trial.

At times, organs are transported to Tampa General from other cities. The traditional method is to use medical coolers for these journeys, which can sometimes take hours. The organs do not perform their normal functions while being transported in cold storage, but their health is preserved for several hours.

The OCS uses a different approachtransporting organs at near body temperature.

In OCS machines, blood, oxygen and nutrients constantly flow through the organs, just as they would inside a human body. So instead of merely being preserved, the organs continue functioning inside the machines. The flow of blood through the heart prompts it to continue beating. The liver produces bile  one of its essential activities. A ventilator puffs air into the lungs. A computer tablet-like device allows surgeons to monitor the health of the organs en route to the hospital.

Organs can survive longer in OCS machines than in traditional coolers. All organs must have blood flowing through them in order to continue as living, functioning organs. While a heart can survive in a medical cooler without a blood supply for roughly four hours, muscle cells will start to die as time goes on. But in the OCS, the heart still pumps and receives blood, so cells can survive longer.

The process has been shown to reduce the number and severity of rejection episodes in lung transplants, and organs in some cases actually get healthier after being placed in the OCS machines. For example, a potential donor who is on a ventilator in a hospital might develop fluid in their lungs as a side effect. But this can clear up when the lung is placed in the OCS. This improvement means more organs are likely to become medically suitable for transplantation. "We can actually monitor their function on the machine and see their function improving prior to transplantation," Dunning said.

The new technology increases organs available for donation. Currently, lungs are transplanted from patients who have become brain dead. But the OCS also allows transplants from patients whose deaths are classified as cardiac death, which has the potential to expand the donor pool by about 25 to 30 percent.

TGH's overall goal is not only to provide more life-saving transplants to meet the needs of our community by expanding the available donors, but also to continue to deliver the highest quality of care.

Tampa General has now performed more than 10,000 transplant operations, placing it among the top 10 busiest transplant centers in the nation. Numerous studies have shown that patients do better when they undergo surgeries in large surgical centers where the teams perform complex procedures more often.

Organ Care System (OCS) Fact Sheet

Heart, liver and lung transplants:

Lungs

People who need transplants include those with emphysema, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease or other severe conditions. Traditionally, lungs come from deceased donors who have suffered brain death. The OCS also allows the use of lungs from those who have suffered cardiac death.

In the OCS machine, air is ventilated into the lungs while they are being transported, allowing them to "breathe" almost as if they are inside a body.

The FDA has approved the use of the OCS for lung transplants. And Tampa General Hospital performed the first such lung transplant in Florida on Oct. 22.

Livers

People who need transplants include those with diseases that prevent the liver from performing its essential body functions. Livers come from deceased donors who have suffered brain death or cardiac death. Partial liver transplants sometimes come from living donors.

In the OCS machine, blood, oxygen and nutrients flow through the donated liver and it produces bile, one of its essential functions, almost as if it is inside a body.

Tampa General Hospital is participating in a multicenter national clinical trial to evaluate efficacy of the OCS for liver transplantation. After the conclusion of the study, the results will be used to obtain FDA approval for clinical use.

Hearts

People who need transplants include those who have advanced heart diseases but are healthy enough to be well with a transplanted heart.

Currently, hearts come from deceased donors who have suffered brain death. The OCS is being used to explore the potential for using hearts from patients who have died a cardiac death.

In the OCS machine, blood is sent into the heart, which prompts the heart tissue to activate electrical impulses and begin beating.

Tampa General Hospital will participate in a clinical trial on the use of OCS for heart transplantation.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL

Tampa General Hospital, a 1007-bed non-profit academic medical center, delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center and its 32-bed Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to an 82-bed Level IV neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes 14 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Brandon Healthplex, TGH Virtual Care and 15 outpatient Radiology Centers. Tampa Bay residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics, and they can even receive home visits in select areas through TGH Urgent Care at Home, powered by Fast Track. As one of the largest hospitals in Florida, Tampa General Hospital is first in the state to open a command center in partnership with GE Healthcare. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

ABOUT TRANSMEDICS

TransMedics was founded to address the growing need for healthier organs for transplantation. We are focused on transforming the standard of care  increasing organ utilization, improving patient outcomes, and reducing transplant costs.

The Organ Care System (OCS) platform is a revolutionary technology for preserving organs used in the treatment of end-stage heart, lung, and liver failure.The OCS is the first and only multi-organ platform to leverage proprietary core technologies across multiple organs.The OCS Lung, OCS Heart and OCS Liver are all CE marked devices.

The OCS Lung is an FDA-approved device for standard and expanded criteria donor lungs.

The OCS Heart and OCS Liver devices are investigational devices and, therefore, are limited by federal law to investigational use in the US.OCS is the only technology that can be utilized with multiple organs.

Media Contact: Curtis Krueger

Senior Public Relations Editor

(o) (813) 844-7322

(c) (727) 580-1813

[email protected]

SOURCE Florida Health Sciences Center, Inc. d/b/a Tampa General Hospital

Related Links

http://www.tgh.org


CARBONDALE  Frost lingers on car windows as the glow of streetlights illuminate a quiet Carbondale West Main Street. The sound of a nearby locomotive rumbles the ground as Daris Herrera adjusts her apron as the clock inches toward 6 a.m.

Herrera runs La Unica Bakery alongside her sister Karina, her brother-in-law Oscar and their family friend Domingo. She opened her bakery nine years ago, nearly to the date, in hopes of providing something different to the bakery scene in Southern Illinois.

Herrera said when she and her family arrived in Southern Illinois by the way of California, to be closer to her mother, she realized there was not a bakery serving Latin American styles of bread and pastries. At that point, the idea for the La Unica Panaderia was born  translating to the the only bakery.

She doesnt typically work on weekends, but all hands are on deck as the Dia de Los Reyes Magos, or the Three Kings Day, quickly approaches.

La Unica plays into the celebration through the Rosca de Reyes pastries they make by hand. This year, Herrera estimates they will make anywhere from 200 to 300, to be delivered and sold to over 20 shops across Southern Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana.

The Rosca de Reyes is a traditional pastry in Latin American culture made to commemorate the arrival of the three wise men to an infant Jesus in Bethlehem, marked by the Feast of the Epiphany in Western Christianity.

Unlike the cake-like version of the kings cake made in the Louisiana region, the Rosca de Reyes is more of a bread than a cake, with a flour-based dough that is formed into the shape of a ring. It is also larger than your standard kings cake, designed to accommodate sharing with many people.

The dough is then coated with an egg wash and topped with frosting, sugar and dried fruit, which is made to look like jewels and adornments of a crown.

Across cultures, a small plastic baby is hidden in the bread, which is a reference to the infant Jesus in the story of the Epiphany and the Holy Familys flight from King Herods Massacre of the Innocents.

The amount of figurines can vary based on the pastry you buy, but Oscar Bran, head baker at La Unica, says they always attempt to place six in each larger Rosca de Reyes.

In Mexican culture, the person who finds the figurine is responsible for hosting a dinner party on Feb. 2  the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. The individual is also responsible for buying the next years Rosca de Reyes.

Laura Leal, owner of La Galeria Mexican Cuisine & Creamery in Marion, said she remembers putting out her shoes the night before the holiday and being excited to wake up the next morning to find her shoes filled with candy and gifts.

In Mexico, gifts are typically given out during Three Kings Day instead of Christmas Day, Leal said.

Parents want to teach their children the lessons and background behind the three wise men and make Christmas Day not about just about getting presents, she said.

Bran said the Rosca de Reyes brings family together each year, and he believes the tradition continues to be strong, even in younger generations of Latin Americans who may have grown up outside of their parents' countries.

Leal shared similar sentiments, and said she wanted to spread the tradition to the people of Southern Illinois. So, she decided to give out Rosca de Reyes during the holiday Monday at her restaurant.

Ive worked in Mexican restaurants for 12 years and no one has done something like this, Leal said. Our slogan is tradition, culture, authenticity, so I wanted to bring the culture here and show Southern Illinois what Mexico is about.

Ashley Zhao, a doctoral candidate at Southern Illinois University, gave a perplexed look at her slice of Rosca de Reyes as she pulled out a small figurine, then began smiling once a restaurant staffer explained what she had found.

I didnt know what it was at first, Zhao said. I had heard of the three Magi before, but wasnt aware of the Mexican tradition behind it.

Zhao said she enjoyed learning about Mexican culture and shows it is more than chips and tacos.

Im excited to be able to bring a little taste of Mexicos 'magical' culture to Southern Illinois, Leal said. The party will go on to Feb 2.

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Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - A man has appeared before the Lobatse court for an unusual gender based violence (GBV) case, after murdering a two-year-old girl following a misunderstanding with the child's mother
Enemy troops used weapons banned under the Minsk peace deal.

Two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in action in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, on Monday, January 6.

"Yesterday, January 6, two members of the Joint Forces were wounded in enemy attacks," the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Headquarters said on Facebook in a morning update on Tuesday, January 7.

Russia-led forces violated the ceasefire five times over the period under review.

Enemy troops used proscribed weapons, namely 82mm mortars, as well as grenade launchers of various types, large-caliber machine guns, and rifles.

Read alsoDonbas war update: Two Ukrainian soldiers killed, one wounded on Jan 5

Two of the attacks were recorded near the village of Pisky in the Skhid (East) sector, where Russia-led forces opened fire from grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns, small arms.

There were three attacks near the village of Krymske in the Pivnich (North) sector. Enemy troops used 82mm mortars, which are banned under the Minsk agreements, as well as grenade launchers, and large-caliber machine guns.

No shelling was reported from 00:00 to 07:00 on January 7.

As UNIAN reported earlier, one Ukrainian soldier was killed in action on January 5. There were four enemy attacks on that day. Also, one soldier was killed and another one was heavily wounded when their GAZ-66 truck involved in a logistic support mission hit a TM-62 anti-tank blast mine near the village of Khutir Vilny.
T he defence secretary said the UK is not going to rule out anything when quizzed on the prospect of a UK military strike on Iran.

He told MPs if British citizens or armed service personnel were killed by Iranian actions, the UKs response would no doubt be proportionate, though gave no details on what it might be.

Mr Wallace was in the Commons answering questions from MPs on Tuesday, amid rising tensions in the Middle East following the US killing of Irans top military general Qasem Soleimani in an air strike on Baghdad Airport in Iraq last week.

Acting Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey asked if the Defence Secretary would rule out any British military action in Iran.

He said: Given how damaging the Iraq War was to security in the Middle East and given the Governments support for reducing tension, will the Secretary of State now rule out any British involvement in any attack on any site in Iran?

Mr Wallace replied: Im not going to rule out anything.

The UK will do what it has to do to defend its persons, its citizens and wherever it needs to do that.

That is our duty.

We cannot say what is in the minds of Iran or anybody else in the future and thats why we will always reserve our right to take that decision at the time of it.

General Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike / AP

Former Labour minister Derek Twigg asked what the UK Governments response would be if British citizens or armed forces personnel were killed by Iran.

In response, Mr Wallace said: If British civilians were killed, or even military personnel, as a result of Iranian or terrorist action we would look at the response.

The response would no doubt be proportionate and we will, of course, look at it at the time, if it happened.

Qasem Soleimani funeral procession in his hometown of Kerman 1 /22 Qasem Soleimani funeral procession in his hometown of Kerman A huge crowd gathers in Kerman, Qasem Soleimani's hometown, ahead of his burial later on Tuesday AFP via Getty Images Mourners gather for the burial of Soleimani in Kerman AFP via Getty Images Iranian mourners gather for the burial of slain top general Qasem Soleimani in his hometown Kerman AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AP VIA REUTERS AFP via Getty Images VIA REUTERS AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images VIA REUTERS AFP via Getty Images AP

SNP MP Tommy Sheppard asked if there are any other members or officials of the Iranian Government whose assassination the United Kingdom would find acceptable?

Mr Wallace responded: I mean, I dont know how to start on that question.

Look, I think the United Kingdom would always seek to follow international law in dealing with threats against it.

Qasem Soleimani funeral in Iran 1 /24 Qasem Soleimani funeral in Iran An Iranian man reacts during a gathering to mourn General Qasem Soleimani VIA REUTERS Mourners wave flags as they gather during the funeral procession of slain Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani AFP via Getty Images Mourners gather during the funeral procession of slain Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (image), Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and eight others in the Iraqi central city of Karbala AFP via Getty Images Thousands of Iraqis chanting "Death to America" today as they mourned an Iranian commander and others killed in a US drone attack AFP via Getty Images Mourners gather in the Iraqi central city of Karbala AFP via Getty Images Mourners take part in the funeral procession of slain Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani AFP via Getty Images Iranians gather to mourn General Qasem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, in Tehran, Iran VIA REUTERS A mourner holds up a picture AFP via Getty Images Thousands of Iraqis chanting "Death to America" today as they mourned an Iranian commander and others killed in a US drone attack AFP via Getty Images Mourners chant slogans against the U.S. during the funeral of Iran's top general Qasem Soleimani, AP Iran has vowed "harsh retaliation" for the US airstrike near Baghdad's airport AP Mourners carry the coffins of Iran's top general Qasem Soleimani AP Mourners carry the coffin of slain Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis AFP via Getty Images People attend a funeral procession for Iranian Major-General Qasem Soleiman VIA REUTERS An aerial view shows mourners attending a funeral ceremony for Gen. Qasem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani and his comrades who were killed in Iraq by a U.S. drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners AP Mourners carry the coffins of Iran's top general Qasem Soleiman AP Iran has vowed "harsh retaliation" for the U.S. airstrike near Baghdad's airport AP

Earlier, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of hiding behind his Defence secretary by not making the Commons statement himself.

Mr Corbyn said: Could he tell us where the Prime Minister is and what is he doing thats so much more important than addressing Parliament on the assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani  an extremely dangerous and aggressive act that risks starting yet another deadly war in the Middle East.

Responding, Mr Wallace said: This Prime Minister actually believes in a Cabinet Government and letting the members of the cabinet who are responsible for the policy to come to the House to be able to answer the questions around the policy matter.

The Defence Secretary also said the UK Government would call out any attacks on cultural sites in Iran from friends or foe.

SNP defence spokesman Stewart McDonald raised the prospect following a tweet from US President Donald Trump suggesting such a course of action.

He asked Mr Wallace if he agreed such a move would be unlawful under international law.

Responding, Mr Wallace said: We, of course, would condemn any attacks on heritage sites and do recognise that would be against international law.

My counterpart Secretary Mark Esper, the US defence secretary, has already clearly said that the US will not target heritage sites.
Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall put on a stylish display as they attended the Magic Millions cocktail party in Queensland today.

The Queen's granddaughter, 38, who took part in a charity polo match to raise money for victims of the devastating Australian bushfires over the weekend, joined Mike, 41, to pose for pictures.

The Tindalls have been regular visitors to Australia since 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.

Zara is currently in the country with her rugby star husband and their two children, daughters Mia, five, and Lena, one.

Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall put on a stylish display as they attended the Magic Millions cocktail party in Queensland today

The Queen's granddaughter, 38, who took part in a charity polo match to raise money for victims of the devastating Australian bushfires over the weekend, joined Mike, 41, to pose for pictures

Cutting a glamorous display, Zara opted for a sleeveless black dress, cinched in at the waist with a sparkling belt.

The equestrian teamed the LBD with a pair of high heels featuring ankle cuffs, accessirosing with a black chain bag and diamond bracelet.

Wearing her hair in a sleek blow dry, she beamed as she cosied up to Mike.

Meanwhile former rugby player Mike looked dapper in a pair of black trousers and a crisp white shirt, posing for pictures at the event.

The Tindalls have been regular visitors to Australia since 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

Cutting a glamorous display, Zara opted for a sleeveless black dress, cinched in at the waist with a sparkling belt, while Mike joined Ronan Keating on stage for a spot of singing

The 38-year-old was one of many celebrity ambassadors helping to raise funds for those affected by the out-of-control blazes.

Equestrian silver Olympic medalist Zara joined fellow ambassadors Prince Harry's close friend Argentinian polo player Nacho Figueras, as well as jockey Frankie Dettori and Winx jockey Hugh Bowman at the event.

The week-long event includes an annual polo tournament, yearling sales and a raceday - with each event including a fundraising initiative.

It's believed almost half a billion animals have also been lost in the devastating blazes.

The equestrian teamed the LBD with a pair of high heels featuring ankle cuffs, accessirosing with a black chain bag and diamond bracelet

Wearing her hair in a sleek blow dry, she beamed as she cosied up to Mike

Magic Millions have confirmed they're also providing temporary homes to horses in the stables on their property, for those affected by the horror fires.

Zara and Mike saw 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.

Zara recently revealed 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.
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The Fourth Industrial Revolution is now bringing immense prospects to Vietnamese enterprises to conduct digital transformation and smart production.

Kieu Nguyen Viet Ha, vice head of the Planning and General Affairs Division under the Ministry of Industry and Trades Department of Science and Technology, writes about the businesses opportunities in this hallmark revolution and support from the state.

Smart production requires highly-skilled and properly trained employees in order to prosper

Over the past few years, Vietnams industrial production has been developing quantitatively and qualitatively, with industrial sectors structures changing positively. The industrial sectors competitiveness has gradually improved, with the lead of some key products. There have been some strong economic groups that could compete on the global stage.

Kieu Nguyen Viet Ha, vice head of the Planning and General Affairs Division under the Ministry of Industry and Trades Department of Science and Technology

However, the sector is also facing some problems. For example, the labour productivity of the economy in general and of the sector in particular remains low, especially in manufacturing and processing.

Industrial production depends largely on foreign-invested enterprises and on a big volume of imported goods. Meanwhile, technological transfer from these enterprises to Vietnamese businesses is also limited.

Reports from the Ministry of Science and Technology show that the majority of technological transfer contracts are focused on technological process transfer (73 per cent), technical assistance (77 per cent), training (71 per cent), and technological transfer (13 per cent). The total factor productivitys contribution to the countrys GDP is about 29 per cent only.

Vietnamese enterprises are facing increasing pressure in competition and development amid the trend of developing and applying achievements of Industry 4.0. In fact, Vietnams readiness for Industry 4.0 remains limited now, both in the whole economy and in enterprises.

According to the Readiness for the Future of Production Report 2018, by the World Economic Forum and consultancy firm A.T. Kearney, Vietnam was ranked 40th in tech and innovation in the list of nascent nations with Industry 4.0.

In terms of human resources, Vietnam was ranked 70th, in which the indexes on high-skilled labourers and the university quality were also low, at 81st and 75th.

Regarding enterprises, a recent survey by the Ministry of Industry and Trade showed that the majority of industrial enterprises are at the starting point towards an Industry 4.0 future.

Enterprises ability in accessing Industry 4.0 is constrained by some obstructions. For example, they have no specific strategy on approach to Industry 4.0, including strategies on their own development and on digital transformation, investment, and technological renovation. Moreover, the ability in data digitalisation and connectivity within businesses and between them and their partners remains limited.

Also, not many can develop their own smart products, which are the basic foundations for them to collect information and then develop new products and business models. Corporate and technological governance models from Industry 4.0 are applied on a very small scale.

Besides, enterprises are also limited by a lack of a strong ecosystem that can help them conduct digital transformation, while their own capacity for this job is weak. Also, consultancy units lack the tools and standards to provide enterprises solutions.

Effective tactics

To weather all difficulties and turn challenges into opportunities for development, Vietnamese enterprises need to increase their readiness for Industry 4.0, in addition to support from state agencies.

Firstly, they need to build up their own digital transformation strategy, which needs to take into account their current capacity and the requirements of smart industrial development. Besides, the strategy also needs to specify priorities and identify challenges of enterprise development, and take into account the effectiveness of digital transformation.

To support enterprises in this digital transformation, many nations and international organisations have built up sets of indexes on assessing enterprises readiness for Industry 4.0.

For example, while Singapore has devised its Smart Industry Readiness Index and Indonesia has its Industry 4.0 Readiness Index, the German Engineering Federation has developed the Smart Industry 4.0 Readiness Online Self-Check. In addition, PricewaterhouseCoopers also has the Industry 4.0/Digital Operations Self-Assessment.

These tools will help raise enterprise awareness, assess their development situation, and propose digital transformation roadmaps. The construction or selection of an approach method or a tool suitable to Vietnamese enterprises is one of the big priorities for the state. This process needs to be conducted based on specific experiments and assessments for different enterprises in different sectors. This is also an urgent need for consultancy firms that provide digital transformation solutions for enterprises.

Secondly, businesses need to materialise their digital transformation strategies soon by focusing on technological investment and renovation, in which digital transformation is one of the first steps in constructing a smart factory.

Enterprise investment should be focused on enhancing digitalisation in collecting, linking, sharing, and processing data. The application of new technologies and establishing governance systems based on data in the whole factorys operation process and supply chain is necessary to improve enterprises operations.

The states support for enterprises in this stage is creating a fairer and more favourable business and investment climate, so that enterprises can further develop. Policies on financial support in enterprises investment and innovation activities need to create breakthroughs that can assist enterprises in applying high technology from Industry 4.0.

Enterprise-support programmes via information provision and connecting businesses with able solution providers, creating big models in digital transformation, and developing smart factory models are important tools to spur the development of enterprises across the country.

Besides, the state would need to introduce solutions to improve the capacity of scientific and technological organisations, developing innovation centres, and then forming a network to support enterprises in digital transformation.

Specifically, such a network is aimed to support enterprises in human resources training, provide them with consultancy in digital transformation, and to implement scientific research activities with a focus laid on researching, applying, and transferring Industry 4.0 technology to industrial manufacturing sectors.

A flexible foundation

Thirdly, businesses also need to develop smart products and new business models based on data which can create new values. This is a higher level of enterprises. Via the integration and supplementation of new functions to collect information and data from users and customers, enterprises can grasp changes in product consumption, and therefrom can perform timely and suitable adjustments.

Industry 4.0 technology is creating numerous opportunities for enterprises to form a flexible production model in which products can be customised for each individual customer. With this strong foundation, services that are based on data and new business models will be formed and developed, helping further promote enterprises development.

Here in Vietnam, the states role is to develop a management mechanism suitable to the digital business climate, making it favourable for innovation. The state needs to soon enact a pilot institutional framework which can control technologies, products, services, and new business models created by Industry 4.0. Furthermore, the state should also construct experimental areas for technological firms based on advanced models in the world.

Lastly, it is necessary to develop highly-skilled human resources that can meet the requirements of smart production at businesses. There should also be a suitable organisational structure in enterprises in order for them to supervise and implement their digital transformation plans and strategies.

Enterprises must be prioritised in training with the supplementation of new skills suitable to Industry 4.0. Such skills include data analysis, software usage, information security, automisation, IT, and a good command of systems.

In addition, businesses also need to develop a system with indexes used for following and assessing digital transformation.

New requirements from enterprises will force educational and training activities to renew both in content, curriculums, and form. The state needs to give incentives and favourable mechanisms to individuals, organisations, and enterprises engaging in educational and training activities which can create products in service of the digital economy. Besides that, the state also needs to boost vocational training and support labourers in skill training when they change their jobs.

Thus it can be said that Industry 4.0 is bringing enterprises both challenges and opportunities. Whether they can lag behind or move forward largely depends on their mindset and actions.

Actively joining Industry 4.0 is both an objective requirement and an urgent and long-term strategic duty for the whole political system and the entire society. It closely links with the countrys international integration, and is now being materialised by concrete actions from the government and localities. VIR

Kieu Nguyen Viet Ha

Improving frameworks in order to reach the Industry 4.0 peak New disruptive technologies associated with Industry 4.0 are changing how companies do business, and so finding a mechanism to adapt these new technologies to modern development needs is imperative.
1. The Warrior (2001)

2. Haasil (2003)

3. Maqbool (2004)

4. The Namesake (2006)

5. Yeh Saali Zindagi (2011)

6. Paan Singh Tomar (2012)

7. The Lunchbox (2013)

8. Talvar (2015)

9. Piku (2015)

10. Hindi Medium (2017)

Today, Irrfan Khan is considered as one of the finest actors in the industry. But, many might not know that things could have been a lot different for the actor. Irrfan first came into the spotlight with Mira Nairs Salaam Bombay in 1988. While he did have a significant role, it was cut short to a large extent in order to keep the film crisp. This obviously took a heavy toll on him and he reconsidered his decision for his career. But, were glad that he decided to stick to his gut or else Hindi cinema wouldve missed out on a serious talent. So, as Irrfan Khan brings on his birthday today, we list some of theHelmed by the critically acclaimed director of Amy and Senna, Asif Kapadias, who begins to question the purposeless killings of innocent people which he has carried out for a living and decides to abandon the path of violence. However, he finds out that leaving behind such a gruesome past isnt easy. He barely has any lines in the film. In fact, expressions convey the emotions for the most part of the Irrfan Khan movie.After the films release, Irrfan had revealed that he was fed up with monotonous and unimaginative roles that he was being offered. So much so, that he even considered wrapping things up in the field. But, he went on to receive an offer for the. Ranvijay was a character who had shades like a chameleon. One moment hes a friend, philosopher and the next hes an abductor and murderer. Ranvijay was a ticking time bomb and thats what got Irrfan intrigued.In an interview,revealed that he approachedseveral times for the Irrfan Khan movie. Come to think of it, maybe Manoj would have been the safer choice for Vishal. He was proven in his craft and this was something that seemed right up his alley. But, Vishal Bhardwaj stuck to his guns (gladly) and cast. The character of Miyan Maqbool was extremely well written and Irrfan Khan did complete justice to it. He portrayed intensity and charm through the character and managed to win everyone ever.also featured several reputed actors like Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri.Two talented actors likecoming together on screen is something that in itself will grab your attention. In Namesake, Ashima (Tabu) and Ashok (Irrfan Khan) have an arranged marriage and are shown to move to the United States. The film follows their life for 25 years and some of the poignant issues that they encounter. This Irrfan Khan movie is a must-watch for anyone struggling to forge his or her own identity and finding difficulty embracing their past.Sudhir Mishras Yeh Saali Zindagi has everything the audience is looking for - an amazing cast, fast-paced storyline and stellar direction. It also is a lesson for everyone out there to learn how you can infuse comedy without going over the top. In the Irrfan Khan movie, we see a bunch of gangsters kidnap the prospective son-in-law of a politician in order to secure the release of an imprisoned gang-member. Irrfan Khans scenes with Saurabh Shukla are probably the best part of the film.Irrfan is one actor who you can cast in a role belonging to any part of India and hell seem like the perfect fit. Such versatility is rare to find but Irrfan somehow manages to get it spot on every time. Despite getting rave reviews from film festivals all over, the Irrfan Khan movie managed to hit the screens after a delay of 2 years. In the film,of a steeplechase runner who ends up resorting to arms in his revolt against the corrupt system and structure. It was a highly unconventional choice for Irrfan but he managed to pull it off convincingly.that kickstarted thanks to a mistaken delivery from the famously efficientdelivery system of Mumbai. It is a delightful story of love blossoming a little more each day, each letter between two unlikely characters. A frustrated housewife prepares a lovely meal for her husband but it ends up at a retiring officers desk, whose wife passed away long back. Both feel that theyre leading a lonely life and end up finding a way to express themselves through these little letters. The performances by the 3 leading actors, Irrfan Khan,andare on point. It is also hard to believe that it was Ritesh Batras debut film considering how layered the method of storytelling in the film was.was a thriller based on 2008 Noida double murder case in which a teenager and her family servant were murdered. The Irrfan Khan movie follows the investigation which took place post the incident in order to catch the culprit., the man leading the charge of the investigation. Ashwin takes up the controversial case while going through bit of a personal turmoil himself. Irrfans portrayal of the character helps you back him and share the same disgust he expresses for the people behind such a heinous act.was a sweet portrayal of a dysfunctional yet adorable father-daughter relationship. In the film, Deepika plays the titular role of Piku, a strong independent woman who firmly believes in taking a stand for whats right. On the other hand, her father Bhaskor Banerjee () is a grumpy old man obsessed with the disorders of his body. Rana (Irrfan Khan), an owner of a travel agency joins the two as they set out on a road trip from Delhi to Kolkata. Filled with light humor and some brilliant acting, This Irrfan Khan movie makes for a really fun watch.In India, English is not a mere language but a status symbol. If you cant speak English, youre looked down upon by others. Apart from the already existing class divides in the country like religion, caste, race and sex, language too is very much a part of the list. The Irrfan Khan movie tries to bring about that message forward with the story of a couple from Chandni Chowk aspiring their daughter to have the best education in order make her a part of the so-called elite group.
A man is in hospital in stable condition after being stabbed outside a Main Street hotel early Tuesday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man is in hospital in stable condition after being stabbed outside a Main Street hotel early Tuesday.

Police were called to the New West Hotel at 786 Main St. at about 7:30 a.m. after receiving reports that an injured man had walked into the business.

Large splotches and pools of blood, mixed with garbage and debris, stained the sidewalk and trickled up the front steps and into the lobby of the New West Hotel on Main Street in Winnipeg. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

Officers found the man suffering from a stab wound and was taken to hospital.

The Winnipeg Police Service major crimes unit is investigating. There is no word of any arrests.

Evidence of violence was clearly visible outside the hotel Tuesday morning.

Large splotches of blood, mixed with garbage and debris, stained the sidewalk and trickled up the front steps and into the hotel lobby, where two men worked to clean up blood staining the floor, trading a single mop back and forth between them.

Shortly after police took down the yellow crime-scene tape that had cordoned off the sidewalk and entrance to the hotel, a female employee opened the hotel restaurant for business.

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She told the Free Press that one of the hotel cleaners heard a pounding at the front door as she went about her work at 7 a.m. When the cleaner went to the door, she found a man covered in blood who told her to call 911, the woman said.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe
Bharat Bandh on 27th September 2021: What is Open, What is Closed

Bharat Bandh: Bank services to be hit; what will be open, what is closed

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 07: Normal life is likely to be crippled on Wednesday as trade unions have called a nationwide strike Bharat Bandh.

As many as 25 crore people are expected to take part in this all-India strike to protest against the government's "anti-people" policies. Banking services, transport and industries likely to be affected.

Trade unions like INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with various sectoral independent federations and associations have called on to go on a nationwide strike on January 8, 2020.

Banking services to be hit

Banking services like deposit and withdrawal and cheque clearing are likely to be affected due to the strike. SBI in a note said that the strike would have minimal impact on its operations. The SBI said very few of its employees will be part of the strike.

In view of the strike, normal banking services and ATMs are likely to be get affected. Net banking services are unlikely to get affected.

Transportation to be hit

According to reports, commercial taxis, barring Ola and Uber, auto-rickshaw associations will participate in the bandh.

Emergency services will not be hit

The emergency services like availability of medicine, supply of milk, ambulance and hospital services will not be affected.

Are schools closed?

No school holidays have been announced due to Bharat Bandh as of now.

The JEE Mains, UPTET 2019 and ICAR NET exams are likely to be held as per the schedule. The ICAR NET 2019 will be conducted between January 8 and January 10 across the country. The examination scheduled on January 8 will be postponed only in case of "unforeseen circumstances", according to the official notification by the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB).

There is no official notice regarding postponing UPTET 2019 and JEE Mains 2020 as of now. The exams are expected to be conducted as per the schedule.

If the examination on January 8 is not conducted in case of any untoward law and order situation, then it would be conducted on January 11. However, the examination venue, slot and timing of the examination would remain unchanged.
KERRVILLE  Aircraft manufacturer Mooney International Corp. here is out of business once again.

Company employees returned to work Monday from a two-week holiday break only to learn a buyer for the financially troubled company had fallen through, said Devan Burns, Mooneys human resources director.

Its very disappointing, she said.

On ExpressNews.com: Mooney closes its Kerrville aviation headquarters and plant

Mooney had furloughed its remaining employees, which Burns said had dwindled to about 55, on Nov. 12, The company reopened Dec. 2 after its owner, the China-based Meijing Group, told employees that negotiations were underway with a potential buyer.

Burns said the company promised employees paychecks before they left Dec. 20 for the holiday shutdown. On Monday, the workers learned the company had run out of money and that they wouldnt receive their holiday paychecks, she said.

Mooney had about 260 employees about a year and half ago, but the manufacturer cut its workforce in several rounds of layoffs.

At one time, Mooney built more than 300 planes a year, but production has fallen sharply. The company sold eight planes in the first eight months of 2019.

Mooney is known for its custom-built, piston-engine aircraft and has been in business more than 90 years.

During that period, Mooney experienced more than its share of boom and bust times. The past few years have been particularly challenging as plane sales dropped.

The company stopped making planes in 2008, keeping only a skeleton crew of about 10 workers on-site. In 2013, it resumed operations after an investment of more than $100 million from the Meijing Group.

Burns said employees hopes were raised when Mooney officials reopened the plant Dec. 2. The Meijing Group expected to sell the company to a group of investors with aviation experience.

The human resources director said the latest bad news came in an email Monday announcing the company again would cease operations, as the sale had fallen through.

The email came from Albert Li, the companys executive director, whos based in California.

Efforts to reach Li were unsuccessful.

Burns said workers had accepted the reality that they need to find new jobs to support themselves. Shes one of the employees now looking for work.

I am a single mom with two children, she said.

Since mid-November, employees have received one paycheck, and the disappearance of the promised holiday pay has hit workers hard.

We were counting on the last paycheck, she said.

Mooney occupies a 100,000-square-foot building at Kerrville Municipal Airport. The company has a long-term lease on the building, said Walt Koenig, president and CEO of the Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce. He said the building is owned by the city and Kerr County, which jointly own the airport.

Koenig, who also serves as executive director of the Kerr Economic Development Corp., has been working with Mooney officials in efforts to revive the company, but said: It was a challenging situation.

randy.diamond@express-news.net
Mehak Mirza Prabhu, the woman who held up a Free Kashmir placard at the Gateway of India protest over violence at JNU and sparked a political firestorm, on Tuesday came up with her explanation and an apology.

In a video put out on Facebook, Mirza Prabhu said she had picked up the placard lying at the venue that she felt implied the freedom of people in Kashmir to express themselves and from the internet lockdown that started in August last year.

The placard held up by the 37-year-old has been at the centre of the Bharatiya Janata Partys attacks targeting the Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra, particularly after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays sharp criticism of Sunday evenings violence at the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Also Watch l JNU violence: Shiv Sena defends Free Kashmir poster in Mumbai protests

The BJPs Devendra Fadnavis led the counter-offensive over the placard on Twitter on Monday: How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai?... Uddhav ji are you going to tolerate this Free Kashmir Anti India campaign right under your nose???

On Tuesday, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh told Hindustan Times that the police had taken cognisance of the woman with the free Kashmir placard and will take legal action against her.

We have requested the protestors to not carry any such placard which will land them in trouble, he said.

Shiv Senas Sanjay Raut also weighed in, declaring that his government would not tolerate anyone talking of freedom of Kashmir from India.

In her Facebook post that she called the truth behind the Lady holding the placard Free Kashmir, Tejal Prabhu said the impression being created on social media about the placard had come as an absolute shock to her.

The placard meant freedom to express themselves, freedom from the internet lockdown which many people have been voicing for. I was voicing my solidarity for basic constitutional rights, she wrote on Facebook.

In the 3-minute video, she outlined the sequence of events at the Gateway of India protest and her thoughts.

So I was moving around and saw a bunch of people painting placards of all sorts like NRC, CAA, JNU students, etc. One more placard reading a message Free Kashmir was also kept there. So let me tell you that I am not a Kashmiri, my surname is Prabhu and I am a Maharashtrian. I am born and brought up in Mumbai. So the narrative which has been put out is absolutely wrong.

So when I saw the placard, the first thing that came to my mind was we are here to talk about the freedom of basic constitutional rights. And right now the internet is shut down for the last five months for the people of Kashmir. If we say that they (the Kashniris) are like us, so they should be equally treated like us, they should also get basic rights which we are getting. They should also have freedom to express themselves. So keeping this thing in mind, I picked up the placard, she said.

I was quietly standing and having flower (red rose) in my hand to spread a message saying lets offer peace, lets make peace together. It was the only intention to pick up the placard. That has been blown out of proportion and I dont know how to deal with it as I have been branded as if I am a member of a gang, she added.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Longtime state Sen. Richard Martinez will serve five days in jail before the start of New Mexicos legislative session, under a drunken driving sentence handed down Tuesday by a state judge.

Martinez, a Democrat from Rio Arriba County, tearfully apologized for his actions before being sentenced by District Judge Francis Mathew, while also saying he has been sober for six months and is seeking help for a drinking problem.

Im truly sorry, Martinez said at one point during the sentencing hearing, while looking back at the Espanola couple he injured in the June crash. I never wanted or intended this to happen.

I just made a wrong choice, your honor, Martinez later told the judge.

However, Mathew said the veteran senator had already made a statement to his constituents  one of disregard for their well-being  on the night he plowed into another vehicle that had stopped at a red light in Espanola, injuring both occupants of the other vehicle.

It was only by the grace of God that you did not kill someone on that June 28, 2019, evening, Mathew said after announcing his sentence.

Under the terms of the sentence, Martinez will have to report to the Santa Fe County jail by next Tuesday to serve his sentence. The states 30-day legislative session begins Jan. 21, meaning Martinez would then be free to participate in the entire session.

Once released, Martinez will face 85 days of probation and have to pay $500 in fines, along with victim restitution costs. He will also have to attend DWI school and have an ignition interlock device installed in his vehicle for one year, among other requirements.

Martinez was facing a minimum sentence of two days in jail and a maximum of 180 days after being convicted of aggravated drunken driving and reckless driving. Attorney General Hector Balderas office had asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence, saying Martinez had openly flouted laws he knew better than most.

Drunk driving continues to plague our communities, and anyone who risks the lives of New Mexican families by getting behind the wheel while drunk will be held accountable, AGs Office spokesman Matt Baca said in a statement. While the judge disagreed with our proposed amount of incarceration, we are grateful that justice was served for the victims.

Reelection bid planned

Martinez, who has served in the Senate since 2001, was found guilty last month after a 1-day bench trial.

After being convicted, Martinez resigned from his post as Senate Judiciary Committee chairman. But he has ignored calls  including from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham  to also resign from the Legislature and has indicated he plans to run for reelection this year to his Senate District 5 seat.

He told reporters while leaving the Santa Fe courthouse with his attorney and supporters that he believes media coverage of his trial was unfair. He also said he still has widespread support in his northern New Mexico district.

Ive heard a very strong message from my constituents that they want me to continue serving, Martinez said.

Martinez, who is also a retired Rio Arriba County magistrate judge, said during the sentencing hearing that he has made major changes to his life since the June 2019 incident, saying he has regularly attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in recent weeks.

After the crash, Martinez could not successfully perform two sobriety tests, as shown on police lapel-cam video, and refused to take a breath test to determine blood alcohol content. The refusal to submit to a breath test is grounds for an aggravated DWI charge under New Mexico law.

However, Martinezs defense attorney described the crash as an accident during the trial and suggested Martinezs poor performance on field sobriety tests was due to his being temporarily dazed from hitting his head on the windshield.

The attorney, David Foster, asked the judge Tuesday for a lenient sentence for Martinez, citing various health issues that could be exacerbated in jail and accusing the AGs Office of trying to make an example of him.

One of Martinezs sisters and a niece also spoke in his behalf, describing the senator as a good man who made a poor decision.

We did nothing wrong

Johnny Sisneros, the driver of the other vehicle, expressed a different sentiment. He described the crash as a life-changing event for his family and said Martinez never apologized or expressed remorse for his behavior.

There are a lot of things I cannot do anymore as a result of this crash, Sisneros testified during Tuesdays sentencing hearing, saying he is still dealing with neck, back and hip injuries that have prevented him from resuming work as a security officer.

We did not ask for this, Sisneros added, while his wife stood silently by his side. We did nothing wrong. In fact, we followed the letter of the law.

Martinez is the latest in a string of legislators to be charged with drunken driving over the past several decades in New Mexico, a state with one of the nations highest rates of impaired driving fatalities as recently as 2017.
Amid the ongoing tussle between Iran and the US, the Indian exporters to Iran are worried. Indian exporters may find their payments getting blocked over the next three to four months. They are concerned about the rupee-denominated bilateral trade mechanism put in place by both the countries a year ago, as the rupee kitty with Iran, through which the payments to Indian exporters happen, is fast depleting. Unless an alternate mechanism is put in place, the Rupee-Rial trade might come to a grinding halt in a few months.

The rupee kitty with Iran began to shrink soon after India completely stopped crude oil imports from the country around six months ago. As per the agreement, India was supposed to import oil from Iran using a rupee-based payment mechanism where 50 per cent of the payment towards oil imports will be earmarked for clearing off the payments due to the exporters of other goods from India.

Also Read: Gold price today: Yellow metal rises above Rs 41,000 amid US-Iran tension

With the rupee flow in lieu of oil import payments drying up, it is only a matter of time before Indian exporters start experiencing payment problems.

"The biggest issue which is challenging India, irrespective of the new development in the Middle East, is the fact that we have stopped importing oil from Iran, which has limited the money available in the rupee account. We have been told that the money lying there will suffice our exports for the next three to four months. What happens thereafter is an issue," says Ajay Sahai, director general and CEO of Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).

India's main exports to Iran include rice, tea, steel and pharmaceuticals. The main import used to be crude oil as India used to meet about 10 per cent of its oil requirement from imports from Iran until recently.

India's oil imports in 2018-19 stood at $111.9 billion. As much as $13.52 billion came from Iran during this period. By comparison, India's exports to Iran during this period stood at $3.51 billion.

Also Read: US-Iran conflict: Trump vows to hit 52 Iranian targets in case of retaliation

However, Iran-US tension is also having its own problems for Indian exporters. "The kind of posture that the US President and the Iranian authority have adopted, it makes long-term commitment little difficult for exporters. So far neither the insurance company nor the shipping companies are backing out, so there is no disruption either of the insurance or the shipping," Sahai says.

The exporters are watching the situation as any escalation in tension resulting in attacks on ships or the shipping lines could see the shipping insurance premium skyrocket, thereby disrupting the trade. The association of rice exporters is known to have issued an advisory to their members to be a little cautious in dealing with Iran.

"I spoke to tea exporters because tea is a new commodity going in pretty large numbers, and it seems right now there are no concerns. They are keeping their fingers crossed as what will happen next," Sahai adds.

Also Read: US decision to end Iran oil waiver to affect India's exports: TPCI
NASA's Terra satellite provided before and after imagery that showed the extent of the fires that have been ravaging Australia's Kangaroo Island. Kangaroo Island lies off the mainland of South Australia, southwest of Adelaide. About a third of the island is made up of protected nature reserves which are home to native wildlife which includes sea lions, koalas and diverse and endangered bird species, including glossy black-cockatoos which have been brought back from the brink of extinction over the last two decades.

The left image is from Dec. 16, 2019 and the right image was taken on Jan. 07, 2020. The devastation can clearly be seen as one-third of the island (155,000 hectares/383,013 acres) shows burn scars as well as areas that are still on fire. These images were captured by NASA's Terra satellite using its MODIS instrument. The MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) instrument is able to overlay reflective bands of color to highlight areas burned and distinguish them from areas of regular vegetation.

Burned areas or fire-affected areas are characterized by deposits of charcoal and ash, removal of vegetation and/or the alteration of vegetation structure. When bare soil becomes exposed, the brightness in Band 1 may increase, but that may be offset by the presence of black carbon residue; the near infrared (Band 2) will become darker, and Band 7 becomes more reflective. When assigned to red in the image, Band 7 will show burn scars as deep or bright red, depending on the type of vegetation burned, the amount of residue, or the completeness of the burn. Vegetation is very reflective in the near infrared (Band 2), and absorbent in Band 1 and Band 7. Assigning that band to green means even the smallest hint of vegetation will appear bright green in the image.

NASA's satellite instruments are often the first to detect wildfires burning in remote regions, and the locations of new fires are sent directly to land managers worldwide within hours of the satellite overpass. Together, NASA instruments detect actively burning fires, track the transport of smoke from fires, provide information for fire management, and map the extent of changes to ecosystems, based on the extent and severity of burn scars. NASA has a fleet of Earth-observing instruments, many of which contribute to our understanding of fire in the Earth system. Satellites in orbit around the poles provide observations of the entire planet several times per day, whereas satellites in a geostationary orbit provide coarse-resolution imagery of fires, smoke and clouds every five to 15 minutes. For more information visit: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/fires/main/missions/index.html

NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Worldview application provides the capability to interactively browse over 700 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and then download the underlying data. Many of the available imagery layers are updated within three hours of observation, essentially showing the entire Earth as it looks "right now." Actively burning fires, detected by thermal bands, are shown as red points. Image Courtesy: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS).

In the western part of Kangaroo Island, specifically in Flinders Chase National Park, penguin colonies and famous coastal rock formations are found. Kangaroo Island is Australia's third largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. In addition to it being a very popular tourist destination for both Australians and nature lovers, the island even boasts a colony of Ligurian honey bees which are the world's only pure-bred and disease-free population of this type of bee.

Which makes the devastating bushfires that have laid waste to almost one-third of the island not only just a major tragedy for the island but an ecological tragedy as well. The bushfires began as lightning strikes within Flinders Chase National Park. Ecologists within the park put estimates of the number of koalas that have perished in the fire at 25,000 which is half the island's population of the popular animals. NASA's fleet of satellites are able to monitor from their various satellites the extent of the damage and the areas continuing to burn which assist firefighters in fighting these major disasters. Below is a slider of two images that show Kangaroo Island both before and after the bushfires.

###
RICHMOND, Va. - Democratic presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg voiced strong support Tuesday for enacting new gun regulations in Virginia a few months after groups he backs spent millions of dollars helping Democrats win full control of state government.

But the former New York City mayor said confiscating the military-style assault rifles already in circulation would be unworkable. And Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said he has no plans to confiscate guns or cut electricity to gun owners who refuse, responding to what he called misinformation spreading online about his gun control plans.

Nobodys trying to take away anybodys handguns ... or rifles or shotguns, Bloomberg said. What were trying to do is have sensible gun regulations.

The mens comments Tuesday at separate news conferences came as Virginias new Democratic legislative majority prepares to take up a series of gun control measures that has prompted massive pushback.

Gun owners are descending on local government offices to demand that officials establish sanctuaries for gun rights. More than 100 counties, cities and towns have declared themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries and vowed to oppose any new unconstitutional restrictions on guns.

The National Rifle Association has placed an ad on an interstate billboard in Richmond warning of a Northam/Bloomberg Confiscation Plan. The group has a confiscation countdown timer linked to the start of the legislative session on its website.

Gun confiscation is central to the Bloomberg-Northam gun control scheme. When you make commonly owned firearms illegal, that is the very definition of confiscation, NRA spokeswoman Catherine Mortensen said.

The Second Amendment sanctuary movement began after Democrats promising new gun control laws won control over both chambers of the state legislature in the Nov. 5 election.

Gun control proposals gained momentum after a shooter killed 12 people and injured four others at a Virginia Beach municipal building in May. But a special legislative session called by Northam after the mass shooting failed to produce any new gun control bills when Republicans shut it down after just 90 minutes.

Gun control advocates are now proposing an array of new restrictions, including universal background checks and red flag laws that would allow authorities to temporarily take guns away from people deemed dangerous to themselves or others.

Gun control and clean-energy groups affiliated with Bloomberg spent several million dollars helping Democrats win in November. The billionaire businessman came to Richmond to tout his involvement in helping flip Virginia blue and to promote his presidential bid.

Bloomberg said the NRAs attacks against him showed that were getting through.

The debate on gun control in Virginia and around the country has focused in particular on assault-style rifles like AR-15s that have been used in mass shootings. Some initial pieces of Virginia legislation filed by Democrats that would outlaw AR-15-style rifles have not included any grandfather clauses allowing current owners of the popular rifle to keep them.

But Northam and other top Democrats in Virginia have said they dont want to confiscate guns. And Bloomberg said Tuesday such a plan isnt feasible.

Its probably impossible to get all of those back. One can only hope that when people see the damage they can cause, and the danger of having them in their houses, theyll decide to just take them to the local police station and say, Please, get rid of this, Bloomberg said.

Around the time that Bloomberg was speaking Tuesday morning, Northam and state Democratic legislative leaders held their own press conference to outline their top priorities for the session that opens Wednesday.

The governor used his speech to rebut what he called misinformation that has spread about gun control measures newly empowered Democrats have pledged will pass.

We have no intention of calling out the National Guard. Were not going to cut off peoples electricity. Were not going to go door to door and confiscate individuals weapons, Northam said.

His comments came after The Washington Post published a story earlier in the week highlighting some of the rumours being spread by far-right websites and commentators, including a blog post that claimed Northam planned to cut electricity, phones and internet to thwart gun supporters.

Saying things like that were going to cut off peoples electricity  I dont know where things like that come from but theyre intimidating, they provoke fear, theyre not necessary.

___

Associated Press writer Denise Lavoie contributed to this report.
Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido took his place in the parliament speaker's seat on Tuesday after a stand-off with the armed forces who initially prevented him from entering Congress. While Guaido was barred from entering the building by the National Guard for around half an hour, his rival claimant to the speaker position, Luis Parra, occupied the chair. By the time Guaido was allowed in, alongside allied deputies, Parra had already left. Lawmakers sang the national anthem but electricity to the chamber was cut off, leaving deputies to use the torches on their mobile phones to provide light. Earlier, dozens of National Guard troops wearing helmets and carrying riot shields blocked Guaido from entering the building. "These are not barracks!" shouted Guaido at troops, who had set up a check-point at the building's entrance before the opposition leader arrived. Inside, Parra, an opposition legislator accused of corruption, was already installed in the seat Guaido has occupied for the last year. Parra caused a storm on Sunday when he declared himself parliament speaker after the armed forces had prevented Guaido from entering the building. A year ago, Guaido used his position as speaker to declare himself acting president in a direct challenge to the authority of socialist leader Nicolas Maduro. He claimed on Sunday to have been re-elected to his post after holding a legislative session alongside loyal deputies at the offices of an opposition-leaning newspaper. In the parliament building, Parra sat in the speaker's seat while burly men appeared to stand guard at the steps leading up to his seat. Parra was kicked out of his opposition party last month after an online news site accused him of corruption linked to the over-pricing of food imported for the Maduro regime. But he remains a deputy and Maduro recognized Parra's election in a television address on Sunday. The move was denounced by many countries, including the United States and even Maduro's left-wing allies Argentina and Uruguay. Guaido vowed on Monday to hold Tuesday's parliamentary session and branded Parra "an accomplice to dictatorship." Parra said Guaido would have the right to attend his session, but as just "another deputy." Both men claimed on Sunday they had the support of enough deputies to be elected president of the legislature. Parra's support mainly comes from deputies loyal to Maduro while the opposition holds 112 of the 167 seats in the assembly. Guaido said 100 deputies voted for him, Parra claimed the support of 81 lawmakers. The National Assembly is the only branch of government in opposition hands. Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido shouts on his way to the National Assembly, in Caracas, on January 7, 2020, where he claimed the speaker's chair Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido speaks on a loudspeaker as helmeted security forces try to block his entry to the National Assembly Venezuela's opposition lawmaker and self-proclamied parliament speaker Luis Parra attends a session at the National Assembly, in Caracas, on January 7, 2020 before the arrival of opposition leader Juan Guaido A caravan carrying Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido to the National Assembly, followed by journalists on motorcycles
By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S.

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers have few options for tamping down any escalation by President Donald Trump of tensions with Iran, despite Democrats' outrage over his failure to inform Congress in advance about a strike against a top Iranian military commander.

Members of Congress began returning from their year-end holiday recess on Monday, and Democrats said they would attempt quickly to pass legislation to bar Trump - or any future U.S. commander-in-chief - from conducting a campaign against Iran without obtaining Congress' approval.

Late on Sunday, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the Democratic-led chamber would introduce and vote this week on a War Powers Resolution that would force Trump to stop military action against Iran within 30 days.

A similar resolution was introduced in the Senate on Friday, by Democratic Senators Tim Kaine and Dick Durbin. "Every member of Congress should vote and then be accountable for whether another war in the Middle East is a good idea," Kaine said in a Senate speech on Monday.

But with Trump's fellow Republicans in control of the Senate and showing little inclination to break from their party's leader, there is scant expectation any legislation could win enough support to become law.

There was no word on when, or if, the chamber would even debate the measure.

Longtime foes Tehran and Washington have been in a war of words since Friday, when Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike at Baghdad airport. The attack stoked concerns about all-out war if Tehran retaliates.

On Sunday, Trump doubled down on his threats to target Iran for any retaliatory attacks, and Iran said it was stepping back from commitments to a 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers.

Trump broke precedent by failing to inform congressional leaders before the attack on Soleimani, and making classified his formal notification to Congress of the attack on Saturday.

The full Senate will receive a classified briefing on Wednesday on the Iran-Iraq situation from top Trump administration officials including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, CIA Director Gina Haspel and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley, according to Senate aides.

Administration officials are expected to hold a similar briefing for the House, although House aides said the timing had not been made final.

Pompeo was also seen in the Senate on Monday, entering a room where lawmakers hold classified meetings. Journalists saw some other senators, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, enter. The State Department and McConnell aides did not respond to requests for comment.

Under the War Powers Act, the president must inform Congress within 48 hours of introducing military forces into armed conflict abroad. Those notifications normally detail the justification for the intervention.

The act also bars a president from committing armed forces from any foreign action lasting more than 60 days without Congress' approval.

By making the War Powers notification classified, Trump limited lawmakers' ability to talk about it, and sidestepped the law's goal of keeping Americans informed about military action.

"It may be in formal compliance with the war powers resolution, but it is inconsistent with the general goal of providing transparency and information to the American people," said Oona Hathaway, a professor at Yale University's law school.

WAR AND TWITTER

Trump took to Twitter on Sunday to say his posts would serve as notification to Congress that the country "will quickly & fully strike back" if Iran attacks any U.S. person or target, and that he had no legal requirement to inform Congress.

Legal experts disagreed, saying the war powers law required a formal report to Congress, and did not allow such a blanket clearance ahead of time, especially not via social media.

The War Powers Act was passed in 1973, largely in response to President Richard Nixon's secret bombing of Cambodia.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Bob Menendez, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged Trump to declassify the notification.

"An entirely classified notification is simply not appropriate in a democratic society, and there appears to be no legitimate justification for classifying this notification," they wrote in a letter to Trump.

Administration officials said they doubted Trump would declassify the notice out of concern it would reveal sources and methods.

Congress' main power over the president is its control of federal spending. The House could pass legislation barring Trump from spending taxpayer dollars on a conflict with Iran.

However, Republicans removed a similar measure from the annual National Defense Authorization Act last year before it was passed with overwhelming support from both parties and signed into law by the president last month.

Congress can also refuse to pass bills the White House supports, and the Senate could block the president's nominees. But Senate Republicans have shown little appetite for opposing Trump that way.

"The Republicans control the Senate, and they're not asking questions," said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association.

The Democratic-led House impeachment of Trump has spurred his party to rally more closely around him, further complicating efforts to rein him in on Iran.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by Paul Simao and Jonathan Oatis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Luo Huining waves his hand to media at a press conference at the lobby of Chinese central governments Liaison Office in Hong Kong on Jan. 6, 2020. (Huang Xinzhen/The Epoch Times)

New Head of Hong Kong Liaison Office Strikes Conciliatory Tone in First Public Speech

The new head of Hong Kongs Liaison Office, Beijings representative agency in the territory, met with local media for the first time on Jan. 6.

Commentators believe his speech suggested that Beijing authorities wish to relieve the current tense relationship with Hongkongers, but that, ultimately, theyre not going to change policies toward the city.

Luo Huining, 65, was the first personnel change among Chinese officials in charge of Hong Kong since the city saw mass protests due to public anger over Beijings encroachment into city affairs. Many are dissatisfied that the Chinese regime reneged on its promise to preserve Hong Kongs autonomy and freedoms after Hong Kong was transferred from British to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

Analysts also believe Luos appointment marks the beginning of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings reshuffling of Beijings Hong Kong management team.

Luo Hops Onboard

In the early morning hours of Jan. 6, a group of journalists had already lined up in front of the Liaison Office, located in Sai Wan, Hong Kong.

Shortly before 10:30 a.m. local time, Luo arrived and invited all media to enter the lobby, saying: Today is quite windy. I  invite our journalist friends to enter the building.

In a three-minute speech, Luo struck an affable tone, complimenting Hong Kong reporters for working hard, and noting that Hong Kong has contributed to the development of the Chinese economy.

Luo then quoted a sentence from Chinese leader Xi Jinpings New Year speech, when talking about Hong Kong: Without a harmonious and stable environment, how can people work and live joyfully?

In his speech, Luo also endorsed Hong Kong leader Carrie Lams administration, saying he believed she would maintain the citys one country, two systems model.

After delivering his speech, Luo left the lobby without answering reporters questions.

At the start of the press conference, Luo held up his right hand to greet the journalists. Hong Kong netizens noted that this is the same hand sign Hongkongers use during protests to represent their five demands. They suspected Luo wasnt thinking about this meaning of the gesture.

Xis Policy

New York-based China affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan told The Epoch Times that Luos repeating of Xis words likely signals his intention to follow Xi and try to ease tensions in the city.

In the past six months of pro-democracy protests, Xi has reprimanded protesters for engaging in violent crime. During a visit to Nepal on Oct. 13, 2019, Xi alluded to the Hong Kong crisis in a televised statement, saying that any attempt to split China in any part of the country will end in crushed bodies and shattered bones.

But in his televised New Year speech, Xi toned down his rhetoric: I sincerely hope for the best for Hong Kong and our compatriots in Hong Kong.

Xi using a soft tone to Hongkongers means that he wants to have Hongkongers unified [with the mainland], Tang said.

Luos Background

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has two main factions: one loyal to Xi and the other loyal to former Party leader Jiang Zemin.

Luo previously worked under Hui Liangyu in Anhui Province and Zhao Leji in Qinghai Province. Both Hui and Zhao were previously aligned with Jiangs faction but announced their allegiance to Xi after he rose to power in November 2012. Zhao is also a member of the CCPs top decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee.

Luo replaced Wang Zhimin, who together with Zhang Xiaoming, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office within the cabinet-like State Council in Beijing, were Jiang faction members. Insiders previously told The Epoch Times that the Liaison Office had proposed the extradition bill that sparked the current unrest.

Though Luo and Zhang are both minister-level officials, because Luo has more work experience, Tang analyzed that Luo is likely to heed Xis direct orders instead of Zhangs.

Xi appointed Luo to lead the office, and is asking Luo to deal with the Hong Kong issue by only consulting his [Xis] opinions, Tang said.

Bruce Lui, senior lecturer in journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University, told The Epoch Times that Luo is likely to follow Xis wish to use moderate means to deal Hong Kong protests, but that ultimately, the Party would not change its desire to meddle in the citys affairs.

Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting told the Chinese-language Epoch Times on Jan. 6 that Hongkongers should not have any expectations for Luo.

The CCP has always been about absolute discipline. There are no moderates, Lam said. Lam doesnt believe Beijings regime will allow Hong Kong to enjoy true freedom.

Commentator Johnny Lau also told The Epoch Times that Beijing would not change its high-pressure policy in Hong Kong, but that international pressure and the U.S.China trade deal had forced the Party to make some strategic adjustments [to be less hardlined] on its Hong Kong policy.

In October, a Party insider had told the Chinese-language Epoch Times that Xi would replace top Beijing officials in charge of managing Hong Kong affairs, including Wang and Zhang, after failing to report the real situation in Hong Kong to the leadership.

Recently, the same insider said that Xi planned to replace Zhang in the near future.
A pathbreaking study reports success in disabling an important gene that is responsible for inducing the sensation of pain. This discovery could be of invaluable assistance to millions of patients with chronic pain, helping them to manage their condition better and live with a vastly better quality of life.

Image Credit: nobeastsofierce / Shutterstock.com

The tool - CRISPR

The gene therapy was brought out by scientists from a California startup called Navega Therapeutics. The basis of this technique is gene therapy, making planned and selective alterations in the patients DNA to repress the expression of a gene that is responsible for sending the pain signals up the nervous network in the spine.

The tool used to alter the DNA is the powerful CRISPR editor. This has already proved its worth in a host of laboratory gene-editing procedures, but clinically, its use has largely been restricted to rare inherited medical conditions.

For instance, last month, a patient suffering from sickle cell anemia due to the production of abnormal hemoglobin because of a gene defect was successfully reverted to having normal hemoglobin using this method.

CRISPR functions by means of homing molecules that identify and zoom in on a designated or target gene to be edited. Once identified, the target gene is removed neatly, the normal copy is inserted, and the cut ends spliced with the inserted sequence. In effect, a find-and-replace routine has been used.

The study

In the current study, the scientists were able to avoid the potential dangers of cutting out a gene altogether, which include inadvertently removing or interfering with normal neighboring regulatory or coding DNA. This could affect many functions in the body. Instead, they concentrated on regulating the expression of the gene of interest rather than removing it.

To achieve this, they used CRISPR to edit molecules attached to the basic DNA strand, called epigenetic molecules. These molecules are not part of the genetic information in the DNA but have an immense influence on the way the genes are expressed.

This is called epigenome editing and does not carry the same risk of permanently altering the genetic blueprint of the individual. The advantage is that the target gene can be prevented from being activated, or can be activated, according to need, while still remaining intact.

We can repress the gene thats known to cause sensitivity to pain. Ana Moreno, CEO Navega Therapeutics

The target

The gene is called SCN9A. It was back in 2006 that certain mutations in this gene were found to deprive the affected individual of the ability to feel pain. This was because the mutated gene downregulated the passage of the pain signals across the neural pathway, by controlling certain molecules involved in this process, found on the cell surface of the neurons.

The researchers then focused on using this to treat pain without the risks and adverse effects of opioid medication. They tried to edit the epigenetic marker that activated this pathway using CRISPR inserted into a viral vector. The virus used is a harmless one.

These treated viral particles were inserted into the spine so that they can enter the nerve cells there. The scientists hoped that once inside the cell, the virus would release the CRISPR tool as it disassembled itself in preparation for replication. The gene editor would then, presumably, carry out its task of editing the epigenetic marker that activates the SCN9A gene.

The results

The first round of testing of the therapy on mice has successfully concluded, says Moreno. We are really excited because we have seen, in three different pain models, a decrease in overall pain. Though the researchers found that they could not completely silence the pain because not all nerve cells were penetrated by the viral vector, there was a significant reduction.

Moreover, the degree of pain reduction was tunable, as with conventional pain medication. The more virus they injected, the greater was the pain relief, but it lasted much, much longer than with a painkiller.

The big benefit of the current therapy is that unlike current approaches that focus on relieving pain by administering opioid-based medication, it doesnt carry the risk of addiction. At present, the US is facing an unprecedented two million-strong caseload of opioid addiction due to improper and over-zealous prescription of opioids for the treatment of pain.

Moreno cites the case of cancer patients who are unable to tolerate chemotherapy because of the intense associated pain, even though they know it could save their lives. The paradox with chemotherapy for cancer is that higher doses of these cytotoxic drugs increase the chances of surviving cancer-free for a longer time  but may leave the survivor with chronic pain.

In many centers, therefore, patients on chemotherapy are given morphine to dull their pain. This may, however, leave them unable to function normally because of the associated somnolence and tiredness.

In the US, 70 000 people a year die of overdoses from painkilling narcotics. So having a non-narcotic way to address cancer pain would be a huge benefit. Fyodor Urnov, University of California, Berkeley

On the other hand, the effect is reversible, which is important in allowing people treated in this way to feel pain normally once their need for dulled pain is no longer present, such as following the termination of chemotherapy.

The future

The American scientists now want to begin testing it in human patients from the next year. If it is proved to be medically safe and clinically effective, these researchers could have helped to bring about a dramatic reduction in suffering for a vast army of people with terminal painful illnesses and with chronic pain. However, the earliest date at which approval is envisaged is five years from now.

The other side of the discovery was also raised by Urnov: what if people used it to produce humans who could no longer feel pain and could, therefore, fight to the death without fear? In the current world scenario, such a terrifying possibility also needs to be considered for this exciting new discovery a point not missed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.




Haiti - FLASH : The National Disarmament Commission issues an ultimatum





Following the arrest of the arms dealer Arby Frantz Larco on December 24, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29607-haiti-flash-dismantling-of-a-large-network-of-weapons-and-ammunition.html and the seizure of a list of buyers https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29651-haiti-flash-a-list-of-buyers-seized-from-the-arms-trafficker-larco.html , Jean Rebel Dorcenat, the spokesperson of the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (CNDDR), had asked the buyers to voluntarily hand over the illegal weapons and ammunition purchased, giving the assurance of total confidentiality.



Monday, January 6, Jean Rebel Dorcena took stock of this voluntary appeal and presented to the media a small arsenal bought from Larco, voluntarily handed over by an entrepreneur whose identity remained confidential, who acquired it to protect his business, said Dorcena.



An arsenal which included in particular : 4 M4 assault rifles, one of which has the capacity to launch grenades, 240 cartridges of caliber 7.62 mm, 703 cartridges of caliber 5.56 mm, 150 cartridges of caliber 9 mm, 11 magazines for M4, capacity 30 cartridges, 3 capacity magazines 100 cartridges, lifejackets, 15 37 mm grenades for M4 and 7 stun grenades.



However, a single surrender of weapons is an insufficient result for the Commission, which issued a one-week ultimatum to all buyers who obtain arms and ammunition from the trafficker Larco to return these materials, ensuring their anonymity and that they will not be reported to the police.



The Commission recalled that it has enough information about the buyers to bring justice to justice if they refuse to voluntarily hand over illegally purchased weapons and ammunition within a week.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29651-haiti-flash-a-list-of-buyers-seized-from-the-arms-trafficker-larco.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29607-haiti-flash-dismantling-of-a-large-network-of-weapons-and-ammunition.html



SL/ HaitiLibre


















Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone, who is in Delhi to promote her new film, on Tuesday (January 7) visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus to express solidarity with the students who were beaten up in the violence two days ago. However, she left without addressing the crowd. (Image: Twitter)
Brian Middleton became the face of change when he took office as the first African-American district attorney in Fort Bend County.

Defeating Republican candidate Cliff Vacek in the 2018 election made Middleton the first person of color elected and the first Democrat to hold the office in 26 years. His historic election coincided with a win by Democrat KP George, who became the first minority county judge.

We bear the title of being the most diverse county in the United States, and we should act like it, said Middleton, 47. Our governments should reflect that. Our attitudes towards one another should reflect that.

Middleton has brought new energy and changes to the courthouse, with a renewed focus on bail reform, human trafficking and the juvenile justice system.

Even with the progress and his new title, Middleton said he still faces stereotypes.

There have been instances where people are openly hostile, he said. People have been very overt in some of their criticism. But Ive also encountered a lot of people who have provided encouragement, who I didnt expect to provide me with encouragement. There were certain stereotypes, certain expectations from a black DA that I think are being dispelled.

Tough decisions

The first few days of Middletons term in January brought anguish, as he decided to fire 15 staffers to make room for new employees. All 70-plus staff members were encouraged to reapply for their jobs or other positions.

Middleton lost sleep over the decisions, saying he had to fire friends.

Every now and then I run into some of these people, and it still hurts, said Middleton. The decision came because I realized I needed to do what was best for the office and for the community.

Middleton sought diverse hires, noting that their experiences and cultural backgrounds help better serve the criminal justice system. Among his hires were veteran attorneys, experienced judges and Republicans.

It was very painful walking in and out of these offices and seeing no diversity, Middleton said. It was important for me to come in and increase diversity, increase awareness, increase training so we can eliminate some of the disparities and inequalities that were existing.

Ibrahim Khawaja, who was hired as first assistant district attorney, described Middleton as a humble public servant.

Hes just focused on every resident, no matter what walk of life, what diverse background, what political party. Thats all irrelevant to him, said Khawaja, who worked as a Harris County prosecutor and a defense lawyer with his own firm. To him, the most important thing isnt to score political points, its to keep the citizens of Fort Bend County safe and make sure hes getting the most out of each and every individual prosecutor.

Very visible in communities

Before becoming district attorney, the Houston native ran his own law firm in southwest Houston and worked as a municipal prosecutor for the cities of Meadows Place, Jersey Village and Wallis.

He worked in the Fort Bends District Attorney Office as a prosecutor under his predecessor, Republican John Healey. During his campaign, Middleton promised criminal justice reform.

He started by tackling bail reform. His office is recommending personal recognizance bonds for low-level, low-risk offenders and offering four new diversion programs for marijuana, cannabis oil, retail theft and driving-while-intoxicated offenses.

Those efforts have lowered the countys jail population from 854 inmates in 2018 to 722 in 2019.

Healey, who declined to comment specifically on Middletons first term, applauded his community outreach efforts. He said Middletons strong background in criminal law, both as a prosecutor and defense attorney, will benefit Fort Bend County residents.

He has been very visible in the communities, Healey said, and has implemented good outreach programs to many communities that will serve the public pretty well in feeling connected to their district attorneys office.

Middleton has created community impact committees with leaders in mental health, criminal justice reform, immigration, domestic violence and other areas. He is also passionate about juvenile justice reform, implementing diversion programs for marijuana and THC offenses, as well as for those who commit assaults at school.

In 2019, Middleton asked the governors office for more than $630,000 in grant funds to start a human trafficking division in his office, but his request was denied.

Still, Middleton said, the office plans to continue to apply for any grant available from the governors office to deal with the countys human trafficking problem.

The district attorneys office also worked alongside other agencies to complete Operation Freedom, which brought 64 arrests related to human trafficking and rescued five adults and two teenage girls.

Constable Wayne Thompson for Precinct 3 worked closely with Middletons office for the operation. Thompson, a Republican, said his office has worked seamlessly with Middletons office to fight human trafficking.

Thats a perfect example of the way it should be, Thompson said. We dont enforce the laws based on a political party view.

In the past, Middleton said human trafficking was viewed as something that didnt happen in the county, but he thinks perceptions are changing.

The result of our operations has muted the criticism or the claim that it doesnt exist, Middleton said. Even the sheriff at this point has not denied that it exists.

Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls has said there is little evidence of human trafficking within the county, but this year his office established a human trafficking tip line.

Nehls declined to discuss the seriousness of human trafficking in Fort Bend County but said they have two detectives in the sheriff offices criminal investigations division who work human trafficking cases.

Our offices are working together, said Nehls, a Republican now running for Congress. I dont see theres an enormous amount of friction. I hope that we can continue to do the right thing for the criminal justice system and the people of Fort Bend County.

Doing the right thing

Middletons win also signalled a political shift in the county.

Middleton and George, the new Democratic county judge, joined forces on issues such as human trafficking but also spoke about the discovery of more-then-century-old remains of 95 African Americans at a school district construction site in Sugar Land. Last February, they signed a letter urging school officials to keep the remains at the site and not build over the cemetery, as they had originally planned.

George said that he and Middleton usually meet monthly to talk about their plans for the county and have a good working relationship.

Im so honored to see a district attorney who is tough and compassionate at the same time, doing the right thing by the Fort Bend County residents, George said.

In his second year, Middleton has more plans to improve the district attorneys office, including applying for additional grants and providing staff training. His office plans to use a data analysis program through New York University to determine whether the offices practices are making an impact on criminal justice reform.

Middleton, who has three daughters ranging from middle school to college, said he is still figuring out how to balance the demands of being a district attorney and a parent.

But he said hes proud to be in the role and lead the next generation, saying he gets emails from young people who are inspired by his historic election.

It becomes a realistic goal to see people who look like them in these positions, Middleton said. It raises awareness, not only for the people who look like us, but also for the people who may not look like us to see that we are all equal and capable.

brooke.lewis@chron.com

twitter.com/brookelewisa
Democratic efforts to rein in President Donald Trump on Iran could fall short amid a lack of overt support from Senate Republicans.

After Trump ordered a drone strike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week, Democrats have called for Congress to assert its authority to greenlight the use of military force. A handful of Republicans had previously joined Democrats to restrict Trumps broad war powers, but its unclear whether they will do so again when it comes to military intervention in Iran.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced a measure on Friday that would force the Trump administration to stop hostilities with Iran that are not authorized by Congress  unless the United States faces an imminent attack. Because the resolution was filed under the War Powers Act, Kaine can force the Senate to take up the matter on the floor as soon as next Monday.

While most Senate Republicans favor broad executive authority on military intervention, a handful have broken ranks with the caucus and joined Democrats when it comes to the United States military posture on Iran or in Yemen.

Last summer, four Republicans broke with their party to support an amendment offered by Kaine and Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) to require congressional approval for military action against Iran: Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah.

In the months since the unsuccessful Senate vote, tensions in the Middle East have reached a boiling point.

Paul said on Monday he supports the concept of Kaines resolution and plans to discuss the details with the Virginia Democrat.

The death of Soleimani, I think, is the death of diplomacy, Paul said. There are people who do believe that Congress should declare war, and theres more than just me on that.  There have also been some people on both sides who have been consistent in saying that we cant give up this power.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., responds to reporters at the Capitol after he threatened to reveal the name of the Ukraine whistleblower who helped initiate the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump by providing details ofTrump's call with the Ukrainian president, in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Collins said she wants to look at the specifics of Kaines proposal, but added that it is important he not infringe on the presidents role as commander in chief to respond to an imminent threat.

Story continues

This is one where the language really matters, she said.

The Democratic-led House, meanwhile, is slated to pass its own War Powers resolution this week that is similar to Kaines proposal.

Democrats see the measure as a way to force senators to go on the record with whether they support a war with Iran. Democratic lawmakers were quick to call for further military action to be authorized by Congress, warning that the situation could spiral out of control. Iranian leaders have threatened retaliation after Soleimanis death, and the Iraqi Parliament on Sunday approved a nonbinding resolution calling for the removal of U.S. troops.

The Senate and House resolutions come after top Democrats were not given advance notice from the Trump administration about the strike that killed Soleimani in Iraq. The White House sent a classified War Powers notification to Congress after the attack, which Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), have requested that the administration declassify.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley and CIA Director Gina Haspel are slated to brief senators on Iran on Wednesday afternoon, according to a Senate staffer.

Most Republicans have praised the administration for Soleimanis killing, and many argue that the U.S. was responding to an imminent threat from Iran. Trump, they say, acted within his authority.

The Constitution authorizes the president to defend the United States and our service members and our interests without coming to Congress, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said.

But Senate Democrats remain optimistic they can peel off Republicans who either supported the Iran amendment or voted to end U.S. support for the Saudi-backed war in Yemen. Among the Senate Republicans who backed the Yemen resolution are Lee and Todd Young of Indiana. Lee has not indicated whether he would support Kaines resolution but described Soleimanis death as a big victory for the safety of the American people.

Young said Monday he has a lot of respect for Sen. Kaine and that hell take a look at whatever hes drafted.

Kaine said he has yet to survey his colleagues but that the Senates recent votes on Iran and Yemen are cause for optimism.

Nobody was interested in it when I came here in 2013, except me, Kaine said. Were getting my votes on these things now. More people are interested.  We should be the ones declaring war, not the president."

Burgess Everett and John Bresnahan contributed to this report.
United States supplied 54 new HUMVEES M1151 light tactical vehicles to Djibouti in December 2019, as part of a $31-million train-and-equip partnership between the U.S. government and the Djiboutian military.



54 new Humvees M1151 arrived in Djibouti in December 2019, as part of a $31-million train-and-equip partnership between the U.S. government and the Djiboutian military. (Picture source: US Embassy in Djibouti Twiter account)

The HUMVEE M1151s were delivered to Djibouti seven months ahead of schedule to the Armed Forces of Djibouti (FAD) for use by their Rapid Intervention Battalion (RIB), an advanced infantry battalion being trained and equipped by the U.S. military.

The M1151 Enhanced Armament Carrier is an improved version of the standard Humvee (HMMWV). has a heavier chassis and improved engine to handle add-on armor. It is built on an Expanded Capacity Vehicle chassis, which allows for more passengers or additional supplies up to 1,050 kg.

The $31 million train-and-equip partnership, facilitated by U.S. Embassy Djibouti, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Army Africa and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, reflects the strong, enduring and cooperative relationship enjoyed by the United States and the Republic of Djibouti.

Centered around a cadre of experienced Djiboutian officers and non-commissioned officers, RIB recruits receive multidimensional skills training as the battalion evolves and grows in capability. Training provided by the U.S. includes, but is not limited to, light infantry tactics, mission planning, weapons training, first aid, land navigation, communication exercises, and additional advanced instruction.

AFRICOMs commitment to growing the defense capabilities of its Djiboutian partners includes increasing its naval patrol capacity through logistics, maintenance and seamanship training. Djibouti also hosted two iterations of AFRICOMs Exercise Cutlass Express in 2019, both of which improved combined maritime law enforcement capacity and promoted regional security in East Africa.

Other support arrangements include engineering and construction support to improve base facilities and local roadways.

The U.S. military presence in Djibouti affords our partners an implicit security guarantee, in addition to economic benefits. The U.S. militarys direct and indirect payments total over $200 million annually, equivalent to around 10 percent of Djiboutis gross domestic product. The U.S. government is also Djiboutis second-largest employer, behind only the government of Djibouti, including its port operations.
The Delhi police have filed two separate FIRs against Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union president Aishe Ghosh for allegedly vandalising server room of Jawaharlal Nehru University and attacking staff members.

IMAGE: JNU student union president Aishe Ghosh leaves JNU campus after addressing the media. Ghosh was on Sunday allegedly beaten by a group of masked men and women armed with sticks, rods who unleashed violence on the campus of the University. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo

Both the FIRs were filed against Ghosh on January 5.

According to the JNU security department, a group of students wearing masks on their faces forcibly entered the office of the centre for information system located in a building near the Administration Building on January 1.

The police have also filed FIRs against eight students, identified as Aishe Ghosh, Geeta Kumari, Vivek Kumar Pandey, Surya Prakash, Satish Chandra Yadav, Saket Moon, Sarika Chaudhary and Ameksha Priyadarshini, in connection with the case.

"They switched off the power supply and evicted all the technical staff working there and made servers dysfunctional. They obstructed and stopped the public servants from doing the duties they pushed, threatened, abused, and chased the staff out of the office ad server room. Subsequently, they locked the room and squatted at the door and did not let the staff enter the server room," the university officials alleged in the complaint.

The second FIR was filed against Ghosh and 19 others for allegedly attacking security guards and vandalising the server room of the Jawaharlal Nehru University on January 4.

SEE: Every iron rod used against students will be given back by debate, discussion, says JNUSU president

In the complaint filed by the JNU administration, the University alleged that the accused were involved in physical violence and pushed the women guards, verbally abused them and threatened them of dire consequences if they opened the lock of university's communication and information office.

"They illegally trespassed on university property with the criminal intention to damage public property. They damaged servers and made it dysfunctional. They also damaged fibre optic power supplies and broke the biometric systems inside the room," the university officials alleged.

This incident allegedly occurred a day before Aishe Ghosh, other JNU students and teachers were attacked by a masked mob inside the campus.

Edited by Roshneesh K'Maneck
[January 07, 2020] Appcast Named Exclusive U.S. Partner by The Network

LEBANON, N.H., Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Appcast, the leading technology provider for programmatic job advertising, announced it has been selected by The Network as its exclusive U.S. partner. Unifying more than 60 of the worlds leading job boards in 138 countries, The Network is the worlds leading single point of contact for online recruitment. With this new partnership, employers in the United States can utilize Appcast and The Network to fulfill their global hiring needs.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. unemployment rate remains unchanged at 3.5 percent, and the number of job openings has edged up to 7.3 million in the U.S., forcing organizations to compete for qualified talent. At the same time, the hiring criteria for many companies has expanded beyond the U.S., necessitating the ability to recruit talent in new regions without market representation or country-level experience. Appcasts partnership with The Network enables U.S.-based multinationals to recruit effectively, whether the job opening or the candidate is in Singapore, Finland, Costa Rica or Kenya. Instead of taking a one size fits all approah, the local recruitment websites under The Network offer individual solutions via a single point of contact.



Chris Forman, Appcasts CEO, commented, By centralizing global hiring through Appcast and The Network, our clients benefit from a highly efficient and effective approach. The Network brings global recruiting to the local level, ensuring that the nuances of different markets and cultures are considered as part of the overall hiring strategy." Pierre Antebi from The Network noted, The synergies between Appcast and The Network are significant. Weve created a single point of contact for a recruiters ultimate convenience; no matter where you need to recruit, The Network is your global expert.

Forman concluded, Were thrilled to have been selected as The Networks U.S. partner, and we look forward to helping US companies solve their global hiring challenges. To learn more about how Appcast can support international hiring efforts for employers, visit: https://appcast.io/product/solutions-for-international-hiring . About The Network

The Network enables recruiters who have a global recruitment need to fill a wide range of job roles across different industry sectors worldwide. As a powerful alliance comprised of 138 countries and 60+ market-leading job boards, The Network serves as one solution for international hiring needs. About Appcast

Using real-time data and programmatic technology, Appcast is advancing the recruitment advertising industry, enabling employers, agencies, recruitment firms, and job boards alike to improve recruitment outcomes, ROI, and attract high-quality job seekers. To learn more, visit https://www.appcast.io . Note to editors: Trademarks and registered trademarks referenced herein remain the property of their respective owners. Media Contact: Heather Salerno Appcast [email protected]

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T his is the battered face of the hero police officer who was mown down while trying to stop a car in north-east London.

Jon Casey, who is in his 30s, was rushed to hospital following the incident in the early hours of Monday morning.

His wife, Donna, posted the picture of her husbands injuries on social media in an effort to get witnesses to come forward.

The car in question, which was seen speeding away from the scene on Chigwell Road, Woodford Green, was a grey Mini Cooper.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police are still hunting for the driver, having previously arrested a 29-year-old and 24-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender. Both have been released under investigation.

The officer also suffered injuries to his legs (Metropolitan Police) / Twitter/@pc_squirrel

A statement from the Met said: Officers indicated for a grey Mini Cooper to stop in Chigwell Hill, near Saint Barnabus Road at about 12.10am. It failed to do so and a pursuit was authorised.

Officers positioned themselves on Chigwell Road, near Gaynes Hill Road and the M11 overpass, in wait of the vehicle.

As the vehicle approached, one officer attempted to deploy a Stop Stick (stinger) when he was struck by the car. The vehicle then sped away from the scene.

The London Ambulance Service attended and the officer, Police Constable Jon Casey was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition. His injuries are not life-threatening.

Police are looking for a grey Mini Cooper / Met Police

The grey Mini - which bears false 67 number plates, was found at 12:45am nearby on the same morning.

Detective Sergeant Jose-Paulo Qureshi said: The officer was simply doing his duty when he was struck by the vehicle and was seriously injured  hes lucky not to have been killed.

The suspects fled the scene, despite knowing they had hit an officer, leaving him seriously injured in the road. We are working around the clock to find the people responsible. I

Would appeal to those who were involved to do the right thing and hand yourself in.

Id also appeal to members of the public to help us with our investigation.

If you have any information about this vehicle, or dash cam footage, please get in touch with us as a matter of urgency.
URBANA, Ill. - Like most plants, soybeans pair up with soil fungi in a symbiotic mycorrhizal relationship. In exchange for a bit of sugar, the fungus acts as an extension of the root system to pull in more phosphorus, nitrogen, micronutrients, and water than the plant could on its own.

Mycorrhizal fungi occur naturally in soil and are commercially available as soil inoculants, but new research from the University of Illinois suggests not all soybean genotypes respond the same way to their mycorrhizal relationships.

"In our study, root colonization by one mycorrhizal species differed significantly among genotypes and ranged from 11 to 70%," says Michelle Pawlowski, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Crop Sciences at Illinois and co-author on a new study in Theoretical and Applied Genetics.

To arrive at that finding, Pawlowski grew 350 diverse soybean genotypes in pots filled with spores of a common mycorrhizal fungus. After six weeks, she looked at the roots under a microscope to evaluate the level of colonization.

"It was a little bit of a gamble because we didn't know much about soybean's relationship with mycorrhizae and did not know if differences in colonization among the soybean genotypes would occur. So when we screened the soybean genotypes and found differences, it was a big relief," Pawlowski says. "That meant there was a potential to find genetic differences, too."

The process of root colonization starts before fungal spores even germinate in the soil. Roots exude chemicals, triggering spores to germinate and grow toward the root. Once the fungus makes contact, there's a complex cascade of reactions in the plant that prevents the usual defensive attack against invading pathogens. Instead, the plant allows the fungus to enter and set up shop inside the root, where it creates tiny tree-like structures known as arbuscules; these are where the fungus and plant trade sugar and nutrients.

The study suggests there is a genetic component to root colonization rates in soybean. To find it, Pawlowski compared the genomes of the 350 genotypes and honed in on six genomic regions associated with differing levels of colonization in soybean.

"We were able to use all the information we have on the soybean genome and gene expression to find possible causal genes within these six regions," she says.

According to the study, the genes control chemical signals and pathways that call fungus toward roots, allow the plant to recognize mycorrhizal fungus as a "good guy," help build arbuscules, and more. "For almost every step in the colonization process, we were finding related genes within those regions," Pawlowski says.

Knowing which genes control root colonization could lead breeders to develop soybean cultivars with a higher affinity for mycorrhizal fungus, which could mean improved nutrient uptake, drought tolerance, and disease resistance.

"This environmentally friendly approach to improving soybean production may also help reduce the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides and promote more holistic crop production systems," says Glen Hartman, plant pathologist in the Department of Crop Sciences and crop pathologist for USDA-ARS.

###

The article, "Whole-genome resequencing identifies quantitative trait loci associated with mycorrhizal colonization of soybean," is published in Theoretical and Applied Genetics [DOI: 10.1007/s00122-019-03471-5]. Authors include Michelle Pawlowski, Tri Vuong, Babu Valliyodan, Henry Nguyen, and Glen Hartman. Funding was obtained from the United Soybean Board and the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

The Department of Crop Sciences is in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 08:12:16|Editor: ZD

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PHNOM PENH, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The number of people arrested in Cambodia for allegedly involving in illicit drugs increased by 24 percent in 2019, according to the country's anti-drug department report on Monday.

The authorities had nabbed 20,113 drug-related suspects in 9,572 cases last year, up 24 percent and 19 percent, respectively compared to a year earlier, the report showed.

Last year, some 10,950 people were arrested for alleged drug trafficking and 9,163 were caught for drug use, it said, adding that 401 of them were foreigners in 12 nationalities.

"A total of 720 kilograms of illicit drugs and 99.9 kilograms of dry marijuana as well as 94,441 marijuana plants had been seized from those suspects," the report said.

Cambodia has no death sentence for drug traffickers. Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit drugs could be jailed for life.
A rendition of the new unified terminal. Aena

The Spanish airport authority Aena is planning to invest around 1.5 billion in remodeling its Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas facility as part of its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan.

Recently approved by the Aena board of directors, the operation consists of merging Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and expanding Terminal 4 and its satellite 4S to optimize the overall functionality of the airport while raising passenger capacity from 70 to 80 million.

The total planned investment is spread out almost equally between the two refurbishment projects.

A mock-up of the future unified terminal. Aena

As separate units, Terminals 1, 2 and 3 fail to match T4 in efficiency, hence the idea of merging the three terminals to produce one building with one single entrance and a new processing area for passenger distribution, check-in, baggage reclaim and security, to be located in the old parking lot.

With the merging of the three terminals, there will be just one access point and one passenger processing area within a high-tech sustainable building. The new passenger distribution area will cover 140,000 square meters spread over three different levels. This area will lead into the existing terminal buildings that, after passing security, will become what is termed the air zone with an expanded shopping area.

The redesign will also include a new three-story car park for rental companies and VTC (chauffeured vehicle-for-hire services), with a 1,100-vehicle capacity, to be located just outside the new processing area. On the other side, there will be a new five-story parking lot for private vehicles, with around 2,250 spaces to complement the existing one. Once the roads and accesses have been designed, a gas station may be added.

Licenses and red tape

Aena, in which the Spanish state has a 51% share, plans to include the project in the Airport Planning and Regulation Document (DORA) for 2022-2026 once the latter has been approved by the government. But if the project is to be ready for presentation within two years, there is no time to lose: the design and engineering work has already been put up for tender and the contract won by a joint venture made up of Typsa and Vidal. Airlines have also been informed of the proposal, given that they will be funding the investment through taxes.

Maurici Lucena, president of Aena. Jaime Villanueva

The project must also secure the mandatory reports from the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) and the General Directorate of Economic Policy, in addition to being submitted to the Airport Coordination Committee. Subsequently, the proposal will be sent to the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, which answers to the Public Works Ministry. According to Aenas timetable, this report must be ready by March 2021 so it can move to the Cabinet for approval before September of that year. Only then can work on the as-yet unnamed terminal begin.

Another pending task is the demolition of the ghost building that stands at the entrance to T2, originally meant to accommodate the Sampol Hotel. The stalled 2007 project ended in a lawsuit that was won by Aena in which hotels investors were ordered to pay 9 million in damages, though the question of who is responsible for the building demolition was not addressed.

Meanwhile, plans for the expansion of T4 include extending the main building and the satellite northwards to solve passenger capacity issues, while simultaneously helping to develop the hub that the Iberia group aims to establish once it has completed the takeover of Air Europa, which is currently based in T2. The ultimate goal is to reach 120 operations per hour between T4 and the merged 1, 2 and 3 terminal, compared to the current average of 100.

The Madrid airport makeover is not the only one that Aena has in the pipeline. The company also plans to invest significantly in other airports around Spain, including El Prat in Barcelona.

Going solar

Madrid, a EU travel hub The European air transportation sector beat all previous records in 2018 with 1.1 billion passengers passing through EU airports. Recent data published by Eurostat show that the number of travelers rose in all EU countries by 6% with respect to 2017. With the fifth biggest population in Europe, Spain ranks third in passenger transit with 221 million passengers, just behind Germany with 222 million and some way behind the UK, with 272 million. Heathrow, Londons main airport, has the most passengers with 80 million, followed by Charles de Gaulle in Paris with 72 million, Schipol in Amsterdam with 71 million, Frankfurt with 69 million, Spains Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas with 58 million and Barcelona-El Prat with 50 million.

In a bid to make the most of its undeveloped land lying close to Spains airports, Aena launched a real-estate scheme to build office space in 2018 while simultaneously boosting commercial and logistics activity on the back of public and private investment.

In March 2019, a solar-power project was approved with a proposed investment of 250 million, which will bring an estimated saving of 70% on Aenas annual 75 million electricity bill. With the first phase already being developed by Cyme-Insae for 8.2 million, the solar initiative will cut the carbon footprint by 40%.

Besides Madrid and Barcelona, Aena also aims to install solar panels in around 20 of its 46 airports, selecting those with the most unexploited land and the most sun. The remainder of the real-estate scheme is still under development and is expected to be presented next year.

The 2022-2026 Strategic Plan includes the replacement of 100% of Aenas cars with clean-energy vehicles by 2025, as well as the replacement of vehicles used for ground handling, which is contracted out. It also proposes an initial installation of 2,300 charging points for electric cars in the parking lot and sockets for aircraft.

English version by Heather Galloway.
TEHRAN, Iran - A researcher with dual French-Iranian nationality held for months in a notorious Tehran prison will not be tried on espionage charges, her lawyer said Tuesday. But she and another French researcher still face other security-related charges.

Iranian prosecutors dropped the spying charges against Fariba Adelkhah after an hours-long hearing, Saeid Dehghan told The Associated Press. Both Adelkhah and Roland Marchal will remain in custody on charges of spreading propaganda, their lawyer said.

Iranian officials disclosed in July that Adelkhah, a prominent anthropologist who often travelled to Iran for research on post-revolutionary Iranian society, had been arrested on espionage charges. Her friend and fellow researcher Marchal was arrested as he tried to visit her, France revealed in October. He is being held in a mens ward.

In December, France summoned Iranian envoy to Paris, saying it considered the months-long detention of Adelkhah and Marchal unacceptable and sought permission for consular officials to visit them.

Iran does not recognize dual nationality for its citizens.

Also in December, Adelkhah and Kylie Moore-Gilbert, an academic and co-prisoner from Australia, went on hunger strike to protest their detention. The strike was revealed by the Center for Human Rights in Iran. They were confirmed by Sciences Pos research centre CERI, where Adelkhah works.

Abdekhahs lawyer said she remained on hunger strike.

Moore-Gilbert, a University of Melbourne scholar on the Middle East, has been jailed since October 2018.

Two Australians were freed from Iran in October while Australia freed an Iranian in what appeared to be a prisoner swap.

Meanwhile, Iran had indicated a willingness to make prisoner exchanges with the United States after freeing a Chinese-American scholar from Princeton held for three years in a prisoner swap.

However, these moves all came prior to the U.S. killing of Irans top general last week, which has dramatically increased tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Overtime alerts allow small business owners to take control of their company. We designed this new feature to improve the success of small businesses by allowing them to have a complete and full understanding on their employees overtime hours. In return, this helps a company to stay in budget by providing an economic analysis of overtime payouts.

Employee time tracking company, OnTheClock, has recently added a new overtime alerts feature. This allows small business owners to save time and apply it to work that matters most by getting notified when an employee is approaching overtime. These alerts are conveniently received via text messages and emails so employers never miss an overtime update. Alerts can also be sent to employees for them to be notified when he or she is nearing their allotted hours for the week.

We designed this new feature to improve the success of small businesses by allowing them to have a complete and full understanding on their employees overtime hours. In return, this helps a company to stay in budget by providing an economic analysis of overtime payouts, said an OnTheClock spokesperson.

With overtime laws changing and updating constantly, it is important for small businesses to maintain proper documentation for employee records. According to the Department of Labor, 1.3 million American workers are newly eligible for overtime pay. This rule that takes effect in 2020 will update the necessary earning thresholds to exempt executive, administrative, and professional employees from the FLSA minimum wage and overtime pay requirements.

This new feature by OnTheClock offers a variety of benefits that is helping to shape the business industry when it comes to managing employees time and record data.

Additional benefits for small business owners to track and receive employee overtime alerts include:



Reduced payroll expenses.

Understand when overtime is necessary and when it is not.

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Stevensvilles Dave and Golda Webers Christmas season was temporarily shattered this year after someone painted anti-Trump graffiti on their garage wall.

But the kindness of strangers helped soften the blow.

Golda Weber found the graffiti on the wall of the couples garage that faces River Road on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 28.

The Webers had posted a small wood cutout that read "Trump" on the wall several years ago. In May 2018, someone spray-painted profanity around the cutout.

When I first saw it, I thought, Oh no. Not again, Golda Weber said. It made me really nervous that someone would come up on our property and do that while were sleeping. It makes you feel violated.

In this case, the person had included Goldas name in the graffiti.

I dont know if they have something against me personally or if they are just mad at our president, she said. If they are against our president, which a lot of people are, they have that right. But they dont have the right to come and express it on our garage.
Lucknow, Jan 7 : The much-awaited Lucknow Mahotsav, scheduled to be held from January 17, has been indefinitely postponed due to 'unavoidable circumstances'.

The postponement came barely hours after the district officials held a press conference to release the posters and logo of the Mahotsav, which has been an annual event for the past four decades.

District Magistrate, Abhishek Prakash said that the decision has been taken after meeting with higher officers later in the evening. He, however, did not cite any specific reason, while other administrative officers said the event has been postponed due to security reasons.

"We are preparing for the Defence Expo scheduled in February. Then, we are also hosting the 23rd National Youth Festival from January 12 to 17. In such a situation, it would not have been possible to host the Mahotsav too," said an official.

However, it is beyond comprehension that the officials were not aware of other events till the last minute when the dates of the Youth Festival and the Defence Expo had been finalised months ago.

Names of celebrities to take part in cultural programmes along with the itinerary of other indoor and outdoor events had also been released. Shops for various artisans and craftsman had been auctioned and all arrangements were already in place.

"The postponement has cost us considerable money and rearranging the dates will not be easy because the booking of Bollywood stars and other artists is done months in advance. Besides the event which is held in an open space, cannot be organised in the summer due to heat," admitted an official.

The ten-day Mahotsav which showcases food, culture and heritage of Avadh, is held every year from November 25 to December 5, but it had to be postponed in November 2019 due to the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya.
A churchgoing PhD student was unmasked yesterday as the world's worst serial rapist.

Reynhard Sinaga, 36, preyed on at least 195 young men and police admit the true figure may be higher.

Jailing him for 30 years, a judge called him a 'monster'.

Sinaga incapacitated victims with the date rape drug GHB before filming his attacks.

Last night Home Secretary Priti Patel ordered a review into whether tougher controls are needed for the Class C drug widely used recreationally among the gay community.

Police have linked Reynhard Sinaga to more than 190 potential victims in total - 70 of whom they have not yet been able to identify

A map of Manchester city centre shows where Sinaga's flat (in red) is located along with the nightclubs Factory and Fifth Avenue, which many of the complainants had earlier been to

Sinaga hunted for drunk young men around nightclubs near his flat in Manchester (above)

Sinaga (left) claimed the men consented to being recorded playing a sex game in which they pretended to be dead to fulfil his fantasies at his flat (right, where blood was seen on the door)

Spirit bottles at Sinaga's flat are pictured. He is thought to have drugged the men when giving them a drink from his selection of alcohol

Sinaga, who mostly targeted heterosexual students in Manchester, was convicted of 159 attacks, including 136 rapes, eight attempted rapes and 15 indecent assaults against 48 victims.

How police trawled through the equivalent of three miles of lorries filled with A4 paper Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Zed Ali, of Greater Manchester Police, said Sinaga's prosecution follows a long and complex investigation by his team. Detectives had to examine hours and hours of graphic and disturbing photographs and videos taken by Sinaga. In total they trawled through 3.29 terabytes of information  the equivalent of three miles of lorries filled with A4 paper. Officers also had the unfortunate task of knocking on doors to explain to victims that they believed they had been targeted by the rapist. All were devastated by the revelation. Many of the men were traced using Facebook profiles, wallets, and identity cards which Sinaga stole from his victims and kept in a box by his bed. Advertisement

Four trials were held over 18 months.

Footage was found of him assaulting up to 195 different men, 70 of whom have not been traced.

'He would almost certainly be the most prolific sex offender to have gone through the British courts and quite possibly any court in the world,' said Ian Rushton, North West deputy chief crown prosecutor.

The videos of the attacks Sinaga was charged with are believed to date from 2015 to 2017 and Sinaga arrived in Britain in 2007. A source said: 'What he did in the intervening years is unknown and it is possible there are many more victims.'

As the authorities faced questions about how Sinaga was able to get away with his crimes for so long:

Manchester University and police set up support helplines;

Detectives appealed for other victims to come forward;

It emerged that two men targeted by Sinaga attempted suicide;

Jurors were offered counselling after having to watch videos of Sinagas rapes.

The shocking case can finally be reported after the lifting of court reporting restrictions.

Indonesian-born Sinaga was already serving a minimum of 20 years after being found guilty at trials in July 2018 and May 2019. Trials in October and December saw further convictions.

He posed as a 'good Samaritan' to men who had become separated from their friends on nights out in central Manchester.

A large part of Sinaga's offending took place in the bedroom but some did take place in the living room. The final victim was raped in the bathroom before he woke up during the ordeal

The living room at the home of Sinaga, who has been jailed at Manchester Crown Court for life

The front door and the hallway at the home of Sinaga, who has been jailed for life, is pictured

The slightly-built sex attacker, who described himself in court as an effeminate gay man, would strike up conversation and invite them to his nearby flat.

How police trawled through the equivalent of three miles of lorries filled with A4 paper Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Zed Ali, of Greater Manchester Police, said Sinaga's prosecution follows a long and complex investigation by his team. Detectives had to examine hours and hours of graphic and disturbing photographs and videos taken by Sinaga. In total they trawled through 3.29 terabytes of information  the equivalent of three miles of lorries filled with A4 paper. Officers also had the unfortunate task of knocking on doors to explain to victims that they believed they had been targeted by the rapist. All were devastated by the revelation. Many of the men were traced using Facebook profiles, wallets, and identity cards which Sinaga stole from his victims and kept in a box by his bed. Advertisement

His victims ranged from 18 to 36 but the average age was 21, Manchester Crown Court was told.

Most were students and some were still at school, including a sixth-former whose escape from his vile clutches led to Sinaga being arrested.

Passing sentence, Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said Sinaga was a dangerous offender who had committed evil crimes.

She added: 'I'm not aware of any other case of sexual offending on this scale and magnitude. This was a campaign of rape which, in my judgement, justifies the highest of sentences.

'One of your victims described you as a monster. The scale and enormity of your offending establishes that is an accurate description.' She called Sinaga a 'highly dangerous, cunning and deceitful individual who will never be safe to release'  also pointing out that he could have killed or seriously injured his victims by spiking their drinks.

She said she would have imposed a whole life term  a UK first for a case not involving murder  but for the fact that Sinaga did not torture his victims.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the investigation was the largest rape case it had ever handled.

BREAKDOWN OF OFFENCES REYNHARD SINAGA HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF Number of victims Rape Attempt Rape Assault by Penetration Sexual Assault Total Trial 1 12 31 3 0 6 40 Trial 2 13 49 5 1 0 55 Trial 3 10 26 0 1 5 32 Trial 4 13 30 0 0 2 32 TOTAL 48 136 8 2 13 159

Sinaga's iPhone 4 (left) and iPhone 6 Plus (right) are pictured in CPS evidence photos

Sinaga (centre) is pictured in a sketch of him appearing at Manchester Crown Court today

Jurors had to watch the mobile phone footage as Sinaga persisted with his defence and all were later uniquely offered counselling

The Factory club in Manchester where Sinaga watched and picked up men that he later raped

Fifth nightclub in Manchester where Sinaga watched and picked up men that he later raped

Mr Rushton said: 'His extreme sense of sexual entitlement almost defies belief and he would no doubt still be adding to his staggering tally had he not been caught.

Timeline of Reynhard Sinaga's sexual assaults January 2015 to May 2017: The period over which Reynhard Sinaga was said to have committed sex assaults against 48 men in Manchester June 1 to July 10, 2018: Sinaga goes on his first trial which sees him convicted of 31 counts of rape, three counts of attempted rape and six counts of sexual assault. April 1 to May 7, 2019: Sinaga goes on trial for the second time and is convicted of 49 counts of rape, five counts of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault. He is jailed for 20 years after the first two trials. September 16 to October 4, 2019: Sinaga goes on his third trial and is convicted of 26 counts of rape, one count of assault by penetration and five counts of sexual assault. December 2, 2019 and December 20, 2019: Sinaga goes on his fourth trial and is convicted of 30 counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault. Today: Sinaga is jailed for at least 30 years over the third and fourth trials. In total, he was found guilty across all four trials of 159 offences - 136 rapes, eight attempted rapes, 14 sexual assaults, and one by penetration. Advertisement

'He used victims as objects purely for his own gratification.'

Sinaga, who came to Manchester as a student funded by his wealthy Indonesian family, boasted to friends about using 'black magic potion' and 'secret poison' to have sex with straight men.

He denied all the offences, claiming his victims had agreed to play dead during sex in a 50 Shades of Grey fantasy.

Sinaga had two degrees from Manchester University and was taking a PhD in geography at Leeds University at the time of his arrest in June 2017.

Although raised a Catholic, he attended a liberal Anglican church close to his flat.

The court heard that Sinaga's victims had suffered 'deep and lasting psychological harm'.

Two of the men attempted suicide, while others told how the trauma of what happened had ruined their lives and forced them to take to drink.

Nazir Afzal, a former North West chief crown prosecutor, said law enforcement agencies were being 'overly reactive'.

He added: 'They wait for brave victims to come forward. They don't look for patterns, join the dots or assume the worst.

'It's better that we presume that predators exist in every environment and go looking for them.'

Greater Manchester Police urged other potential victims of Sinaga or anyone requiring support to come forward.

'I want him to suffer for what he has done': Victims respond to the rapist's crimes A series of harrowing statements from different victims in the case of Reynhard Sinaga were given. Some victims told how their life had changed 'forever', while others said they wanted him to 'spend the rest of his life in prison'. A third has 'periods where I can't get up and face the day'. Here is what the victims said as they responded to the rapist's crimes: 'I felt numb; I was totally shocked, embarrassed, betrayed and very angry.'

'His actions were disgusting, unforgiveable, he has massively abused my trust in humanity.'

'The events of the night have a lasting impact on me, it affects my confidence in being able to trust people or to approach people in a normal public setting.'

'I was very anxious giving evidence, it was very traumatic for me because I knew I had to face up to reality of what had happened. I also knew I was going to get asked questions that would make the night a reality and that would haunt me.'

'I want Sinaga to spend the rest of his life in prison. Not only for what he has done to me but for what he has done to the other lads and the misery and stress he has caused them.'

'I remember the day the police contacted me, it is a day I will never forget because it changed my life forever.'

'I could recall the events of the evening the police were talking about but had no memory of any offences committed against me due to a complete lack of memory.'

'I know I have the support I need in place to help me no matter how long it takes.'

'I would like to thank the police, they couldn't have dealt with me any better.'

'I want Reyhnard Sinaga to suffer for what he has done to me and the other victims.'

'I don't think I will ever be OK with what has happened.'

'I have had the support of my ISVA from St. Mary's and I really could not have got through it without her. I have periods where I can't get up and face the day.'

'I wish the worse for him, I want him to feel the pain and sufferance I have felt. He has destroyed a part of my life.'

'No prison sentence is long enough for what he did to me.'

'I would like Sinaga to get an indefinite prison sentence because it has had such a big effect not only on my life but my friends and family and the other victims.'

'I have never been in such a bad place in my life and I didn't know how to get out of it. I was diagnosed with severe depression and put on anti-depressants, I also started counselling.'

'I will never forget the day the Police attended my home address. I did not know why they needed to see me, but I was devastated when I was told that I had been a victim of serious sexual offences, also that I have been drugged and the appalling sexual act was filmed.'

'I hope he never comes out of Prison and he rots in hell.'

'This assault has had a serious impact on my mental health and my relationships.'

'The perpetrator has taken a part of me that I will never get back, and deserves the largest sentence possible.'

'I will never forget the day the Police came to see me, I did not know why they needed to see me but I can say I was absolutely devastated to hear that I had been a victim of rape, after being drugged and this sexual act was filmed by a man, I now know to be Sinaga.' Advertisement

'Cunning rapist' worked on thesis about gay and bisexual men in Manchester

Churchgoer Reynhard Sinaga lived in Manchester city centre for more than a decade while studying various university courses.

A gay man who looks younger than his age of 36, he chose to live close to the gay village and the Canal Street area where attitudes to homosexuality were very different than in his home nation of Indonesia.

Sinaga is said to have had a small, close-knit group of friends who believed him to be friendly and good-natured.

Specialist police officers and victim support services are on standby to hear from anyone who believes Sinaga (pictured) may have approached them on a night out

Born in the Jambi province of Indonesia into a relatively wealthy family, Sinaga arrived in the UK on a student visa in 2007 financed by his parents and remained in the country on those terms for the next 10 years.

Sinaga graduated from the University of Manchester in 2009 with an MSc degree in Planning and again in 2011 with an MA degree in Sociology.

No concerns of a sexual nature, or of any other matters, were ever raised with the university, confirmed officials.

From 2012 he commuted monthly to the University of Leeds as part of his studies for a PhD.

Sinaga attended regular supervision meetings to help with his thesis entitled 'Sexuality and everyday transnationalism. South Asian gay and bisexual men in Manchester'.

The university said he did not appear to spend much time in the city, other than for the monthly supervision sessions, and did not take an active part in research groups or societies.

In June 2017 he was suspended immediately after his arrest and his student status was officially rescinded following conviction.

Greater Manchester Police said there is no indication that his research was used as a basis for his crimes.

During a previous sentencing hearing the court received references from Sinaga's mother and sister but Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said both knew nothing of 'the cold, cunning and calculated rapist'.

A character testament was also received from St Chrysostom's Church, in Victoria Park, Manchester - an Anglican church of the Catholic tradition - where Sinaga had attended.

The judge said: 'It is almost beyond belief that someone who could profess some Christian faith could at the same time have been committing such wicked and evil crimes.'
NATO is removing some of the trainers who have been working with Iraqi soldiers battling the Islamic State, in the aftermath of the American killing of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani of Iran in Baghdad.

The NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, announced on Monday that the training had been temporarily suspended.

For the security of NATO personnel, the organization said in a statement that it would be taking precautions  including the temporary repositioning of some personnel to different locations both inside and outside Iraq.

NATO, which has been running the training operation since 2018, will continue to maintain a presence in Iraq and remains committed to fighting international terrorism, an official said, while refusing to divulge details about troop movements.
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said the State created "unnecessary controversy" by announcing a commemoration of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP), which he believes could have been avoided in an "all-inclusive event".

A State commemoration of the RIC takes place in Dublin Castle on January 17 and has received much negative backlash, with a number of mayors and other politicians refusing to attend the event.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has defended the decision to commemorate the RIC in Dublin, saying all traditions should be respected.

Mr Varadkar said that the commemoration is not a celebration.

Its about remembering our history, not condoning what happened, he said.

We will also remember the terrible burning of Cork, Balbriggan, partition and the atrocities of the Civil War.

We should respect all traditions on our island and be mature enough as a State to acknowledge all aspects of our past.

His comments come after the Dublin City Council voted on Monday night to boycott the commemoration service.

Councillors described the event as obscene.

However, Mr Martin said a model of inclusive commemoration was implemented successfully in the past, including the 1916 commemorations four years ago.

"Over the last twenty years a model of inclusive commemoration has been developed and implemented by successive governments," he said.

"Central to this has been the role of public consultation and expert advice. The government has caused an unnecessary controversy around this RIC/DMP event by abandoning this approach."

Mr Martin said recommendations were submitted to and accepted by the government, but they did not suggest an appropriate way to remember the RIC.

"An all-inclusive event, remembering all who died during the War of Independence is already scheduled and it was understood by all involved that this would be an appropriate moment to demonstrate that we also remember those who did not support the struggle for national independence which was secured by the men and women who are the focus of many other events.

It is important to explore every element of this period and use this time as an opportunity to properly discuss every aspect of a complex history.

He added he understands many members of the RIC "found themselves on the wrong side of history" after joining the force for "legitimate reasons" but he is concerned a mishandling of the commemoration would be negatively received in Northern Ireland.

He believes "a calm and mature discussion" is needed. Mr Martin said the planned event "is not the appropriate vehicle to explore such complex themes" and called on Mr Varadkar, Simon Coveney and Charlie Flanagan to withdraw recent statements.

"It was an error of judgement compounded by the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste and their reaction to those who have decided not to participate. They should withdraw their accusation that, to quote Minister Flanagan, those who choose not to attend this event are abandoning 'mutual understanding and reconciliation'."

Mr Martin said he hopes the Government consults a cross-party committee on commemorations ahead of similar events in the future.

"The years ahead will have many anniversaries that will pose difficulties and confront us with challenging questions about the countrys journey to independence. It is critically important that we come through this process in a spirit of honesty and reconciliation. We need to rediscover the generosity that informed the 1916 commemorations and return to the open engagement and consultation of that process," he said.

"This event will go ahead, and those who wish to participate in it should be fully respected in doing so. However, I also believe that the special cross-party committee on commemorations should be reconvened to consult on future commemorations and that it be asked to look again at the question of how we appropriately appraise and remember the activities of the RIC and the DMP over the course of the coming years."
New Delhi, Jan 7 : Activists of the Bajrang Dal, Durga Vahini protesting against the mob attack on Nankana Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan on January 3 clashed with the security forces near the Pakistan High Commission here on Tuesday.

As the protestors started moving towards the high commission, police stopped them and took scores of activists into custody. As many as 141 men and 31 women protestors were detained by the security forces.

Indians have been furious ever since the attack took place in Pakistan's Nankana Sahib shrine near Lahore.

Hundreds of agitated Muslim residents of Nankana Sahib had allegedly pelted the Gurdwara with stones. Video clips on social media showed the mob was led by the family of a youth, Mohammad Hassan, who was earlier accused of abducting and forcibly converting a Sikh girl for marriage.
Iraq's caretaker premier Adel Abdel Mahdi contended Tuesday that he received signed copies of a letter the US had said was only an unsigned draft describing steps America's military would take to leave Iraq. Here is AFP's look at what shape a withdrawal could take. - How could troops withdraw? - A senior US military official had told AFP that a hypothetical withdrawal would take weeks, but could be shortened to days in an emergency situation -- like being ordered out immediately by Iraq's government. Cargo planes would transport equipment by air while troops would likely drive out through the south to Kuwait. The Monday letter apparently mistakenly sent by US Brigadier General William Seely to the Iraqi government said the US-led coalition would be "repositioning forces in the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement." Jack Watling of the Royal United Services Institute told AFP: "The coalition would need to map out travel routes, sequence evacuation plans for troops, civilians and contractors and decide what equipment and documents to bring, abandon or destroy." - What is happening on the ground? - The Pentagon swiftly denied there was a plan to leave Iraq, saying the letter was still a draft and was unsigned. But Iraqi premier Adel Abdel Mahdi said late Tuesday he had received the previous day signed and translated copies discussing "redeploying with an aim to withdraw from the country." "The expressions were very clear," he told his cabinet. He also noted that preliminary versions of the letter received in Arabic and English contained spelling mistakes, which were duly corrected by the US, at the behest of the Iraqis. The letter said helicopters would be flying around Baghdad's Green Zone where the US embassy is located as part of the departure arrangements. AFP could hear helicopters flying low over Baghdad throughout the night on Monday and Tuesday night. On Tuesday, Germany said 30 soldiers based in Baghdad and a nearby airbase would "shortly" be moved to Jordan and Kuwait, "together with soldiers from other countries". Canada said some of its estimated 500 troops in Iraq will be moved temporarily to neighbouring Kuwait. A French government source told AFP on Tuesday it had no plans to withdraw its forces. But a European diplomat told AFP a withdrawal of US troops would necessitate all coalition forces leaving Iraq. NATO on Tuesday announced it was temporarily taking "some personnel" out of Iraq for safety reasons. Iraq's parliament has voted in favour of foreign troops leaving and Abdel Mahdi has told US ambassador Matthew Tueller and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg that the government wanted to see its vote through. - Why are troops still in Iraq? - Thousands of foreign troops are deployed across Iraq as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led coalition formed to fight the Islamic State group. In 2014, the Iraqi foreign ministry issued an urgent appeal to the United Nations Security Council for help to roll back IS, which was sweeping across Iraq. The coalition sent troops and special forces to Iraq to "advise and assist" Iraqi forces as they fought IS. Their deployment was based on an executive-to-executive agreement that was never ratified by Iraq's parliament. It was not governed by a detailed arrangement like the 2008 Status of Forces Agreement that expired in 2011. NATO's mission was separately established in late 2018 to train Iraqi troops. - Who is deployed, and where? - The bulk of the coalition is made up of 5,200 US soldiers stationed at Iraqi bases, the largest of which is Ain al-Assad in the west. More are based at Al-Balad and Taji north of Baghdad, as well as four bases in northern Iraq, near the US embassy in Baghdad and in the Kurdish regional capital Arbil. They are joined by about 400 British, 200 French, and 120 German forces, as well as dozens of other international troops. There are also thousands of civilian contractors and support staff in Iraq for logistical operations. Troop numbers have fluctuated recently as US officials said they would deploy up to 4,000 more troops to the region in the wake of tensions with Iran. At least 150 US troops arrived in Baghdad last week to reinforce security at the US embassy following an unprecedented attack by a pro-Iran mob, and hundreds more have been flown to Taji.
Damascus, Jan 8 : Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a surprise visit to Damascus where he met his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Both officials met at the Russian troops' headquarters in the Syrian capital, according to the Syrian presidency and state-run SANA news agency.

The pair watched a military demonstration by the Russian troops deployed in the country, the presidency said on Tuesday, reported Efe news.

Putin sent Orthodox Christmas wishes to the Russian troops stationed in Syria, according to the source.

Russian troops have been deployed in Syria since September 2015, fighting in favour of al-Assad.

Al-Assad, for his part, said he appreciated the role of the Russian troops in the Arab country and "the Syrian people for the sacrifices they have done," alongside the army.

During the meeting they discussed recent developments in the region and plans to eradicate terrorism in Idlib, according to the source.

The Syrian troops, with Russian support, have launched an offensive in the northwestern province of Idlib, the last opposition stronghold.

They also addressed the situation in northern Syria, where Turkey launched an offensive to establish a safe zone.

Putin and al-Assad toured the Syrian capital, where they visited the Umayyad Mosque and its John the Baptist's mausoleum, according to SANA.

This is the first surprise visit the head of state has made to Russian troops since December 2017, when Putin visited an air base in the western province of Latakia.

The visit came amid escalating tensions in the Middle East after a US strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.

As the head of the elite Quds Force, a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Soleimani had for years wielded his country's influence across the wider Middle East, strengthening Shia militias from Lebanon to Iraq and coming to the aid of Tehran's allies, like Bashar Al Assad in Syria.

Putin is scheduled to head next to Istanbul, where he will meet on Wednesday his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Both are scheduled to take part in the launch of the Turk Stream natural gas pipeline, which will supply Turkey with Russian gas through the Black Sea.
Australian shoppers have opted for a creative new way to protest against prime minister Scott Morrison as they take to the aisles of Kmart to make a statement.

Messages slamming the prime minister have been created using water bottles branded with letters in stores all over the country.

The passionate displays have caught the eye of several well known Australian mother's groups.

Multiple photos have been posted to social media, with amused shoppers finding the messages and sharing pictures of them.

Australian shoppers have opted for a creative new way to protest against prime minister Scott Morrison

Messages slamming the Prime Minister have been created using water bottles branded with letters in Kmart stores all over the country

One particular mum's page with over 130,000 users posted a picture of the vibrant bottles which read 'SCOMO IS A C***' alongside a message reading: 'Kmart is now being used to voice political opinions/concerns.'

Another group uploaded a photo which saw the $6.75 bottles rearranged to read 'F*** SCOMO' and another reading 'QUIT SCOMO'.

One mother took to the page to brag about her daughter's creation, with a picture of the bottles spelling out SCOMO IS A POO.

One of the messages read 'F**** SCOMO' as users took to social media to express their divided opinions

The controversial displays have caused a massive stir on social media and left commenters divided.

Many found the stunt amusing, with one commenting 'I find this hilarious. Lighten up everyone!'

One dad showed his support for the display, writing: 'Hey Kmart Dads think hes a cu** also to be fair #equality'.

The photos were also described as 'bloody glorious' and 'bloody brilliant' with many users branding the creator their 'new hero'.

On the other hand, many users were disgusted by the 'obscene language' used in such a public outlet.

One wrote: 'All well and good to have your thoughts on someone. Thats fine. But I shop at Kmart with my children just like thousands of others. Id rather them not learn that putrid word. Thanks'

Another commented: 'Really. Has Australia stooped this low'

And another, 'If I see someone do that I will report them & photograph them for the police!'

A huge number in fact branded the protest 'disgusting,' with many finding it 'immature' and 'pointless'.

The bold messages come as the Federal Government faces scrutiny for its response to the bushfire crisis.

Many shoppers were disgusted by the language used in the messages and many voiced concerns over children exposed to profanity




New Delhi [India], Jan 7 (ANI): A scuffle broke out between Bajrang Dal, Durga Vahini workers and security forces near Pakistan High Commission during a protest against mob attack on Nankana Sahib Gurdwara on January 3.



Police detained the protesters after the incident took place.

A group of local residents had pelted stones at the holy Sikh shrine in Pakistan on January 3. The group was led by the family of a boy who had abducted a Sikh girl, Jagjit Kaur, from her home in August last year.

India had strongly condemned the vandalism at the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and called upon the Pakistan government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of the Sikh community in the neighbouring country. (ANI)


Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to chair a meeting of the National Security Council (House of Commons/PA)

Boris Johnson is to chair a meeting of the National Security Council as Britain continues to urge all sides in the Gulf crisis to draw back from all-out conflict.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab spoke on Monday to his Iranian counterpart, Mohammed Javad Zarif, to stress the need for a diplomatic resolution to avoid a renewed conflict in the region.

Mr Raab is travelling to Brussels on Tuesday for talks with his European counterparts on the situation in the Middle East, the Foreign Office confirmed.

As he left RAF Northolt, he told reporters: We want to de-escalate the tensions. We are concerned that if we see a full-blown war it would be very damaging and the terrorists  and in particular Daesh (Islamic State)  would be the only winners.

Tehran has vowed severe revenge for the killing of its top military commander, Qassem Soleimani, in a US drone strike last week.

President Donald Trump in turn warned that the US was ready to strike back in a disproportionate manner if the Iranians hit US targets.

The Ministry of Defence refused to comment on reports that it is stepping up contingency plans to evacuate military and civilian personnel from neighbouring Iraq amid fears they could be targets for Iranian reprisals.

Expand Close Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has urged his Iranian counterpart to push for a diplomatic resolution (Kirsty OConnor/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has urged his Iranian counterpart to push for a diplomatic resolution (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

The Times reported that a team of around 20 senior military planners and liaison officers had been dispatched to the embassy in Baghdad over the weekend.

The Foreign Office was coy over reports that it was scaling back staffing at British embassies in the Middle East.

A spokesman said: The British embassies in both Baghdad and Tehran are open.

The safety and security of our staff is of paramount importance and we keep our security posture under regular review.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is due to update MPs  returning to Westminster following their Christmas break  on the latest situation in the region.

The Prime Minister has faced criticism that he was slow to respond to the crisis  only returning to the UK at the weekend following his new year break on the private Caribbean island of Mustique.

Former national security adviser Lord Ricketts said ministers should have been quicker to react to the escalation.

Lord Ricketts said he would have expected the National Security Council to have met on Friday, when the killing of General Soleimani took place, to co-ordinate measures to ensure British nationals were protected.

Im glad to see that the wheels are now in motion and things are happening but we are four days downwind of this sudden and dramatic escalation, he said.

Expand Close Protesters demonstrate outside the US Embassy in London following the drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani (Gareth Fuller/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Protesters demonstrate outside the US Embassy in London following the drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Mr Johnson has sought to tread a delicate diplomatic path  joining with French and German allies in calling for calm in the region.

At the same time, he is anxious to maintain good relations with the Trump administration ahead of talks with the US on a post-Brexit trade deal.

Mr Raab is due to fly to Washington later this week to meet Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after he criticised the lack of support by the Europeans  including the UK  for the US action.

The Foreign Secretary echoed Mr Johnson in saying the UK would not lament the passing of General Soleimani, whom he described as a regional threat.

However he also warned that a threat by Mr Trump to target Iranian cultural sites would be a breach of international law.

Expand Close President Donald Trump warned that the US would react with a disproportionate response to any Iranian revenge attacks (Steve Parsons/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp President Donald Trump warned that the US would react with a disproportionate response to any Iranian revenge attacks (Steve Parsons/PA)

Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper was forced to deny that America was about to withdraw its troops from Iraq where the strike on General Soleimani took place.

A leaked letter from a US Marine Corps commander said: We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure.

It followed a vote in the Iraqi parliament on Sunday, backed by Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, calling for the withdrawal of all foreign troops including British forces.

The Pentagon said the letter, addressed to the Iraqi defence ministry, had been a poorly worded draft which should never have been released.

Mr Esper told reporters in Washington: Theres been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq. Theres no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave.

Mr Johnson emphasised the need to maintain a coalition presence in Iraq against Islamic State when he spoke by telephone to Mr Abdul-Mahdi on Monday.

Around 400 UK troops are stationed in Iraq in the fight against IS, while the US has 5,200, prompting fears of a withdrawal that could cripple the battle against the terror group.
(TNS)  The state can review applications for poles that will hold equipment for the new 5G cellular wireless technology to see whether they will negatively affect the historic character of neighborhoods.But state officials still can't prevent companies from putting them up."If we feel like there is going to be an adverse effect, is there a way to design (it) so it's less intrusive, to put (the equipment) on an existing pole rather than a new pole?" said Joy Williams, project reviews manager of the State Historic Preservation Office.On Dec. 23, Verizon began 5G service in Columbus, along with Cleveland and Hampton Roads, Virginia. Verizon's 5G mobile service is now available in 31 U.S. cities.Here, the service is available Downtown, at Ohio State University, Italian Village, Easton, Polaris, and the Lewis Center area in Delaware County.The Columbus Department of Public Service has received 666 excavation permit applications for cell tower poles to be placed in city rights-of-way, said Debbie Briner, department spokeswoman.The city also has received 175 permit applications to mount 5G equipment on existing poles. Most of the applications are from Verizon, with others from AT&T and American Cell, Briner said.So far, a total of 458 permits have been issued, she said. The city's planning division is reviewing another 87. It cannot prevent poles from going up, but can review applications to see if poles should be wood or metal, or be moved slightly so they don't block entrances, she said."Because of state law, we don't have a lot of leeway," she said.According to Columbus regulations, the city can require a metal pole rather than a wood pole based on the neighborhood's character. New wood poles are strongly discouraged in Downtown, East Franklinton, the University District, German Village, Italian Village, Victorian Village, and other historic districts. Metal poles are considered to be more decorative, Briner said.Jason Sudy, who chairs the Italian Village Commission, said his preference would be placing the equipment on existing poles."We want to respond to the historic care of the village," Sudy said."I know that this technology is inevitable," he said. "We've kind of weathered the satellite dish storm."Jack Decker, of the Victorian Village Commission, said he would like public service officials to at least reach out to area commissions to get feedback."At least we could correct some obvious errors," Decker said.Since 2013, the State Historic Preservation Office has reviewed about 100 small-cell installations. Some were installed in areas such as Polaris and Easton where there are no historic properties.A section of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires federal agencies consider the effects of projects on historic properties that receive federal funding, permits, licenses or approvals. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation works with the State Historic Preservation Office on reviews.The new 5G technology will boost cellphone speeds and bandwidth. But it requires transmitters to be placed closer together  every few hundred feet  than 3G or 4G networks. That's because 5G's high-frequency waves don't travel as far as the older frequencies.Residents of the Olde Towne East neighborhood near Downtown were stunned in December when they learned that a 40-foot-tall 5G tower was going up along Bryden Road and that they had no say in it. The city created the Bryden Road Historic District in 1989.The State Historic Preservation Office does not have any application for that tower.The office said that most of the towers that have been installed up to now have been near hospitals and the Ohio State campus. But it is beginning to see more submissions for neighborhoods such as Bryden Road, Victorian Village, German Village and Italian Village.
[January 07, 2020] Antitrust Boutique Law Firm Bona Law Adds Former GM Antitrust Counsel to Ranks with New Detroit Office

Bona Law PC, a global antitrust and competition law firm headquartered in La Jolla, California, announced that Detroit-based veteran antitrust lawyer Steven Cernak joined the firm as a partner on January 2, bringing with him 30 years of experience in global antitrust compliance, merger reviews, consumer protection issues, and antitrust litigation for clients large and small. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005138/en/ Steven Cernak (Photo: Business Wire) Bona Law boasts its ability to offer big-law quality in a small boutique with a team of lawyers who studied at top schools and worked at top international law firms. Cernak's addition to the team will expand the growing boutique's ranks to more than a dozen lawyers across four offices-San Diego, Minneapolis, New York, and, now, Detroit. The firm will also open an office in Los Angeles in 2020. Cernak's significant experience in advising and guiding clients through merger reviews, developing and implementing global antitrust compliance programs, joint venture participation, pricing and other marketing policies, distributio, and antitrust-related labor issues will improve Bona Law's ability to provide a full spectrum of antitrust and competition solutions to its clients.



Bona Law CEO Jarod Bona lauded Cernak as an "antitrust superstar whose addition will make every member of our team better and is an important step toward our goal of becoming the best antitrust practice in the country. I look forward to not only working alongside him but also learning from him." Before joining Bona Law, Cernak was of counsel at Schiff Hardin in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he worked for seven years counseling clients on a wide variety of competition and consumer protection issues, including compliance programs, joint ventures, pricing strategies, distribution issues, and merger reviews. Before that, he served for more than 20 years as General Motors' (News - Alert) in-house antitrust counsel, an experience that allowed him to tackle some of the toughest antitrust issues and master the art of explaining those issues in a way that everyone at the company-from CEO to factory worker-could understand.

Cernak's profile as an antitrust authority is well-established. He has published hundreds of articles, blog posts, and commentaries for The Antitrust Lawyer Blog, WoltersKluwer's AntitrustConnect Blog, Law 360, LexisNexis, Thomson (News - Alert) Reuters/West, and other publications. He recently published a second edition of his textbook, Antitrust Simulations (West Academic 2020), and also annually publishes updates to his Antitrust in Distribution and Franchising in the LexisNexis (News - Alert) Antitrust Law & Strategies Series. He frequently provides commentary on antitrust developments in both mainstream and social media. He also regularly teaches antitrust courses to law students at his alma mater, the University of Michigan Law School, and students in Thomas M. Cooley Law School's corporate and finance LLM program. Cernak is also active in the antitrust law community, having held leadership roles at the American Bar Association's Antitrust Section for more than 20 years, currently as its chief marketing officer. Cernak graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School. He also earned his bachelor's and masters degrees, both in economics, from the University of Michigan. He has been named in Best Lawyers in America and Leading Lawyers. "Bona Law is uniquely positioned to help clients grow their businesses effectively," said Cernak. "I'm thrilled to join this talented and growing team of antitrust experts." Cernak will serve Bona Law clients globally from the firm's new Detroit, Michigan office. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005138/en/

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Saudi Arabia's deputy defense minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, revealed on Twitter that he delivered a message to President Trump yesterday from his brother, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Why it matters: Saudi Arabia is deeply concerned it could become engulfed in uncontrolled escalation between the U.S. and Iran following President Trump's decision to kill Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani. That explains the decision to urgently dispatch Prince Khalid to Washington.

The White House did not announce the meeting in advance or issue a readout afterward.

Senior adviser Jared Kushner, national security adviser Robert O'Brien and deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates also attended the meeting.

Prince Khalid, a former ambassador to Washington, also met yesterday with Secretary of State Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Esper.

Pompeo told him the U.S. does not seek war with Iran and remains committed to de-escalation, a State Department statement said.

According to a report in Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Pompeo and Esper discussed with the Saudi official the U.S. plans to secure American embassies and American interests in the region from an Iranian retaliation.

What they're saying: Jonathan Karl, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, said in a statement:

"A meeting with a foreign leader in the Oval Office should, at the very least, be on the public schedule with a read-out of the meeting released after it is over. This has been the long-standing precedent for presidents of both political parties. It is disturbing to see the government of Saudi Arabia have more transparency than the White House about a meeting with the President in the Oval Office."

Go deeper: Netanyahu tells Security Cabinet Israel must not be dragged into Soleimani killing
LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. (UPDATE) -- Firefighters and rescue crews discovered a non-responsive man early Tuesday morning while fighting a fire in Little Falls.

Little Falls Fire Department Chief Rob Parese says the man was found in the third-floor hallway, and was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Photo courtesy of Mohawk Valley Funerals and Cremations - Timothy D. 'Nimmer' Regan Photo courtesy of Mohawk Valley Funerals and Cremations - Timothy D. 'Nimmer' Regan

The victim was later identified as Timothy D. Regan, 60, of Little Falls.

There were no immediate signs of the cause of death, according to Parese. He says an autopsy will likely be performed.

The fire happened just before midnight on Tuesday, inside the Snyder Apartments at 8 West Main St., in Little Falls.

At least three adults were rescued from the third floor and treated on-scene, according to Assistant Fire Chief Dave George. Several other residents were evacuated from the rest of the building.

The Red Cross is providing financial assistance for shelter, food and clothing to the 12 adults displaced.

George says the fire was mainly confined to the west end of the hallway. Most of the apartments on that floor are still intact, but heavy smoke damage remains.

George says state fire investigators will likely step in to determine a cause.

Fire agencies from Little Falls, Herkimer, East Herkimer, Frankfort and Salisbury responded, as well as MOVAC Ambulance.
Stilwell said the project would be designed with the community in mind, and that the group doesnt use a cookie-cutter design for its projects. She also said the company would remain involved in the project after it was developed, not flip it to another group.

The last survey of housing needs of this type was done seven years ago and called for 400 units, Stilwell said. The income limit would be about $24,500 for one person, and a little more than $29,000 for two people, Stilwell said.

She estimated that, if financing is awarded as hoped, the property would close around April 2021, with construction lasting about 14-15 months.

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Since the council voted to adopt the resolution of intent to enter the contract, the city will now advertise the offer from Mosaic for 10 days to give a chance for an upset offer to be made, Sandy said.

The council called for a special meeting Jan. 22 at 8:15 a.m. in the council chambers to either make a decision on any other offers the city receives or to enter into the option contract with Mosaic.

Council members also voted to make some changes to pay ranges and classifications for some positions throughout the city.
ORLANDO, Fla. - A former death row inmate who was in prison for 14 years before prosecutors dropped charges that he murdered two neighbours sued a Florida sheriffs office Tuesday, accusing it of conducting a biased and negligent investigation that led to his wrongful arrest and conviction.

Clemente Aguirre-Jarquin filed the civil lawsuit in federal court against the Seminole County Sheriffs Office.

Clementes nightmare was the direct result of the failure of the Seminole County Sheriffs Office to conduct a constitutionally adequate investigation, free of ethnic stereotypes and false assumptions, the lawsuit said.

Bob Kealing, a spokesman for the sheriffs office, said he was unable to comment because the offices legal team hadnt yet seen the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, the sheriffs office ignored evidence implicating a woman who was the daughter of one of the victims and the granddaughter of the other. The victims, Cheryl Williams and Carol Bareis, were found stabbed to death in their home in an Orlando suburb in 2004. Williams had 129 stab wounds.

The previous evening, Williams had a ranting and raving argument with her daughter, Samantha Williams, who had a long history of mental illness and related violence, the lawsuit said.

Aguirre, a neighbour and undocumented worker from Honduras, found the bodies just hours after the slayings.

Instead of focusing on Samantha Williams, investigators motivated consciously or unconsciously by their bias against undocumented immigrants from countries in Central America, focused instead on Clemente, who had found the bodies of Cheryl and Carol when he went to their trailer early that morning, the lawsuit said.

Samantha Williams was a key witness at Aguirres trial, and he was sentenced to death in 2006.

After Aguirres conviction, his attorneys, including lawyers from the Innocence Project, asked to have crime scene blood samples tested, and the results showed blood at key locations belonged to Samantha Williams, the lawsuit said.

In 2016, the Florida Supreme Court vacated Aguirres convictions and sent the case back for a new trial. During a deposition of Samantha Williams, she conceded that she may have killed her mother and grandmother but blocked out the memory, the lawsuit said.

The state attorneys office initially sought to retry Aguirre, but prosecutors eventually dismissed the case in 2018 and he was released from prison. Aguirre is seeking asylum in the United States.

Clemente Aguirres incarceration should have never occurred, the lawsuit said.
Iranian prosecutors have dropped espionage charges against Franco-Iranian academic Adelkhah Fariba - AFP

The UK has been accused of not doing everything possible to free its nationals held in Iran after the country dropped espionage charges against an Iranian-French academic but offered no such clemency against British detainees.

Iranian prosecutors have withdrawn the charge of espionage, which carries the death penalty, against Sciences Po University academic Fariba Adelkhah, according to her lawyer and Paris-based support committee, which said it had received confirmation from the French foreign ministry.

She has been moved out of solitary confinement and is permitted regular family visits.

The announcement came amid simmering tensions with the West in the wake of the death of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike last Friday.

However, there has been no such positive development for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a dual British and Iranian citizen who was arrested in Tehran in April 2016 and sentenced to five years in jail by Tehrans Revolutionary Court on espionage charges that her family insist are "utter lies.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian woman jailed in Iran, and whose husband said is going on hunger strike to protest her detention Credit: PA

Speaking to the Telegraph the charity worker's husband Richard Ratcliffe said: "The French seem to be having some success - despite everything going on. It shows (Foreign Secretary Dominic) Raab that he is evidently not doing everything, despite the briefing.

He has previously said he believed his wife's release was dependent on the interest on a 450 million debt the UK has owed to Iran since the 1970s for a cancelled arms deal.

Last week he said she would join Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a British-Australian academic, in going on hunger strike.

Ms Adelkhah, an expert on Iran and Shiite Islam, was arrested in Tehran in June last year and went on hunger strike on December 24 after she was refused bail.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, slammed her detention as intolerable and called for her release "without delay", prompting Iran to castigate France for "unacceptable interference" in internal affairs.

Story continues

Mr Ratcliffe said Frances decision to meet with the Iranian ambassador over Christmas appears to have helped and that she may have been picked up for a prisoner swap, as was the case with the British-Australian tourists caught flying a drone last year.

British-Australian national Jolie King and her partner Mark Firkin were released from Iranian arrest in October Credit: Instragram

The prosecution also dropped its case against Ms Adelkhah for "disturbing the public order".

She still faces two other charges: spreading "propaganda against the political system" of the Islamic republic; and "conspiracy against national security, said her lawyer Said Dehghan.

Her Sciences Po colleague Roland Marchal was also arrested last June while visiting Ms Adelkhah and charged with"collusion against national security".

Mr Ratcliffe said: "Last Wednesday evening Fariba was moved out of solitary and joined the womens ward, which is always a good sign.

"Our understanding is that Roland (Marchal) was also moved out of 2A at the same time. When she came into the ward a few days back she was still on hunger strike.

"She still is on hunger strike - and everyone is getting pretty worried. Only drinking water. And her weight had dropped below 40kg.

Mr Ratcliffe said she is now in a bad state, which might concern Iran.

"The Iranian authorities will be thinking through their options at this point," he said.

He added: "Our top priority at the moment is just to keep people safe. Which means getting them out of direct IRGC control, Even if only to the public wards. Otherwise Nazanin and the others are going to become for the IRGC human shields."

Sherri Izadi, 56, says hopes of her husband Anoosheh Ashoori being released from jail in Iran on espionage charge had been destroyed Credit: Telegraph

Sherry Izadi, the wife of a British-Iranian engineer Anoosheh Ashoori - also held in prison in Tehran - has said she fears he no longer stands a hope in hell of being released after the US strike on Soleimani.

Mrs Izadi, 56, said the Foreign Office had not been much help in her husbands case, telling her there was little it could do as Tehran does not recognise dual nationalities.

It all depends how British government will react to this situation now, she said. Im hoping there will be a rational reaction.

There are as many as five people with British connections or nationality that are being held in Iran.

Jean-Francois Bayart, a friend and colleague of Ms Adelkhah and member of a Paris-based support group, welcomed the dropped charges, which he said was confirmed by French diplomats.

He said it was encouraging that the court chose not to harden its position in light of the US airstrike, instead ruling that the case against her was empty, as we knew all along.

But he said he remained vigilant and prudent given Irans tough track record of holding on to dual nationals.
Wahed Invest, a global provider of Halal investments, has assigned Shariyah Review Bureau (SRB) to manage its Sharia compliance affairs from client agreements to investment universe, including Islamic ETFs and virtual advisory terms.



The announcement was made after a series of strategic positioning that Wahed has made to tap Islamic investors globally.



Wahed is seeking to expand geographically from its historical focus on clients in the US and now has offices strategically located in USA, UK, India, Dubai, Kazakhstan and Malaysia.



We expect the majority of growth to come from the Middle East and Asia - which, in 2019, cumulatively accounted for a significant value of our total growth, said Owais Gore, head of Global Operations at Wahed.



"We have also made good headway in diversifying services with the addition of Islamic ETFs and fixed income investments (sukuk). With new offices set-up in key financial hubs around the world we are focused on exporting a demonstrated track record that reduces management fees, brokerage requirements, and transactional costs," he added.



Aris Pervaz, head of Wahed North America & UK, said: Waheds assignment underlines our commitment to delivering the very best outcomes in Sharia compliance for our customers around the world. Through their supervisory reviews and Sharia audits they will further strengthen our Sharia controls, which blends top Sharia compliant indices to facilitate market efficiencies and pricing opportunities.



SRBs dedicated team of in-house scholars and Sharia auditors are well positioned to monitor, review and engage our business affairs in UK, US, GCC, Malaysia and beyond.



Currently, Wahed serves thousands of clients from over 100 countries and with its geographical expansion and service diversification is expected to enhance its market share.



We firmly believe in the transformative potential of robo-advisory technology in the new sectors we are tapping in the Middle Eastern and South East Asian region. Our platform has successfully established its ability to promote inclusion in listed investments by serving more customers, even in regions where many dont even have a basic bank account, let alone the ability to invest in such opportunities. Our services eliminate the high costs associated with traditional fund-based solutions, outlays that often create a significant market barrier for many people, he added.



Islamic financial institutions are facing high Sharia Board costs, increased Sharia compliance scrutiny, and advanced expectations in Sharia audit reporting. All these factors are driving new opportunities for Sharia Board efficiency and Sharia audit management.



Shariyah Review Bureau provides comprehensive Sharia advisory solutions from setting-up Sharia Boards to providing product consulting to Sharia review implementation and Sharia audit planning. As a pioneer in the Sharia advisory and Sharia audit industry, SRBs services has a first-mover advantage and has amassed a significant base of technical Sharia expertise and direct experience working on some of the leading profile institutions globally.



We are more than a Sharia advisory company  were a partner that helps institutions manage Sharia Board and Sharia audit functions and help build this capacity as they grow and expand to new markets, said Yasser S Dahlawi, CEO at Shariyah Review Bureau.



Our appointment by Wahed is intended to become a meaningful resource for Sharia supervision on their global equity exposure over time, with the goal of driving Sharia audit performance and reducing Sharia compliance management costs.



We are excited to partner with one of the worlds leading robo-advisory investment firm because it shares our vision for making Sharia compliance opportunities transparent and accessible to communities around the world, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
On the same day that Harvey Weinstein was set to face trial in New York over alleged sex crimes, authorities in Los Angeles charged the former movie mogul with raping and assaulting two women in two days in 2013.

According to Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey, Weinstein forced his way into a womans hotel room and raped her on Feb. 18. The next evening, he allegedly sexually assaulted another woman in a hotel suite.

The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office charged Weinstein with rape, forcible oral copulation, and sexual penetration by use of force for the first alleged assault. For the second, he was charged with sexual battery by restraint, according to a press release. The long delay between the alleged crime and charges occurred because the women had been hesitant about reporting all the information, Lacey said.

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We believe the evidence will show that the defendant used his power and influence to gain access to his victims and then commit violent crimes against them, Lacey said in a statement. I want to commend the victims who have come forward and bravely recounted what happened to them.

The charges are separate from those Weinstein already faces in New York. Prosecutors there have accused Weinstein of raping a woman in a hotel room in Manhattan in 2013 and performing a forcible sex act on another woman in 2006 when she sought him out to ask for work. His trial on those charges began Monday, with jury selection to come Tuesday. Prosecutors plan to call four other women who have accused Weinstein of assault to testify to his pattern of abuse. Weinstein has maintained that all of his sexual activity was consensual.

Lacey told reporters at a press conference Monday that Weinstein would be brought to California to face his charges there after his New York trial. She also said that her office was weighing three other allegations against Weinstein but had not yet made a decision about those potential charges.

More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual assault and misconduct.

According to the press release, prosecutors in Los Angeles are seeking a $5 million bail. Weinstein could be sentenced to up to 28 years in prison. In New York, Weinstein faces a mandatory life sentence.
Palestinian policemen stand guard next to pictures of senior Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani during a mourning ceremony held in Gaza City, Jan 4, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

Tensions escalated in the Gulf region over the weekend as Iran distanced itself from the 2015 nuclear deal amid growing threats and pressure from the United States.

The Iranian cabinet said in a statement on Sunday that the country would "take the final step to reduce commitments to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action", and would not observe restrictions in operational areas, including uranium enrichment capacities, enrichment percentage, the volume of enriched material and research.

Teheran will abandon the last key restriction in the operational field put up in the 2015 nuclear deal regarding "the limitations in the number of centrifuges", and will proceed solely based on the country's technical needs, Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

As an important party to the nuclear deal, China is highly concerned about the current situation in the Middle East, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Monday, adding that the region's peace and stability is of vital importance for the entire world.

Geng said that Iran has exercised restraint, although it was forced to end its commitment due to external factors. "Iran has clearly expressed its political willingness to comprehensively and effectively implement the 2015 nuclear deal and does not break obligations as stipulated by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons," he said.

Iran's 2015 nuclear accord with the United Kingdom, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US has been hanging by a thread since Washington's unilateral withdrawal in May 2018.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng said the withdrawal was "the root cause of the Iran nuclear tensions".

"It should also be the basic starting point for all related parties to deal with the Iran nuclear issue in an objective and fair way," he said.

Iran's announcement was another sign of the fallout from Friday's assassination of senior general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump.

On Monday, hundreds of thousands of people in Teheran mourned the death of Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Geng said at a regular news conference in Beijing that the risky military behavior of the US "goes against the basic norms governing international relations as well as aggravates the tensions of the regional situation", and the power politics "are neither popular nor sustainable".

The deadly strike has caused an unexpected stir in Iran and even the entire Persian Gulf region and limits opportunities to resume the suspended talks on the nuclear deal, said Zhu Weilie, director of the Center for China-Arab States Cooperation Forum Studies at Shanghai International Studies University.

Iran's decision indicated the rapid escalation of tensions, and under such circumstances it will be difficult to avoid some regional conflicts, Zhu said.

Meanwhile, Zhu said the announcement also shows Iran's disappointment with European countries.

"The solution of establishing a special payment system led by the European countries has failed to meet Iran's expectation to break the economic blockade caused by US sanctions," he said. "Iran is pressing the Europeans by calling off its commitment to the nuclear deal."

The leaders of Germany, France and the UK reacted by urging Iran to rethink its announcement.

"We call on Iran to withdraw all measures that are not in line with the nuclear agreement," German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a joint statement.

They also urged Iran to refrain from taking "further violent actions or support for them" and called on all parties involved to "show utmost restraint and responsibility".

"It is crucial now to de-escalate," they said.

Zhu emphasized that although Iran said it reduced its commitments, it still "plays within the frame and hasn't crossed the line".

"We should see that Iran's non-compliance does not mean that it will begin to resume the development and use of nuclear weapons."

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif referred to Iran's final remedial step under the 2015 nuclear deal and said that Iran will continue its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In comments posted on social media, Zarif said the latest step taken by Iran was within the remit of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and "all five steps are reversible upon effective implementation of reciprocal obligations".

The cabinet statement also said Iran will be ready to return to its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal once the sanctions are removed and the country gets benefits from the agreement.

Meanwhile, Trump insisted on Sunday that Iranian cultural sites were fair game for the US military, dismissing concerns within his own government that doing so could constitute a war crime under international law.

"These media posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any US person or target, the United States will quickly and fully strike back, and perhaps in a disproportionate manner," he said on social media.

The president claimed on Saturday that the US had targeted 52 Iranian sites, including cultural sites, and would hit them "very fast and very hard" if Iran retaliates, raising questions about the legality of attacks against significant world heritage sites.
China: Authorities cite Hong Kong protests as reason for intensifying persecution of Christians

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Chinese Christians involved in Hong Kongs pro-democracy protests have been subject to heightened persecution at the hands of the Communist government that continues to view people of faith as a hostile force endangering its regime.

According to religious liberty magazine Bitter Winter, many Hong Kong Christians have been active in the regions ongoing anti-government demonstrations calling for democracy, amnesty for more than 6,400 people arrested so far, and an independent investigation into police actions.

In response, some local authorities in mainland China are using Hong Kongers' participation in the protests as an excuse to oppress all Christians, even those who belong to the state-sanctioned Three-Self church. Under Chinese law, places of worship must register and submit to government oversight.

On Oct. 28, 2019, when a Three-Shelf church in Anyuan county under the jurisdiction of Ganzhou city in the southwestern province of Jiangxi came to the local Religious Affairs Bureau to renew the church's permit, they were informed by an official that It was decided at a meeting that all religious meetings should be banned and churches must be shut down.

The official further argued that because many Christians had reportedly been involved in the Hong Kong "riots," and because Christianity has been brought to China from the West, Communist authorities are concerned that people of faith in mainland China might have contact with believers in Hong Kong and the United States, so all churches must stop their activities, he said.

Also in October, the Religious Affairs Bureau officials in Wuning county under the jurisdiction of Jiangxis Jiujiang city raided the meeting venue of a local Three-Self church. They destroyed its cross, removed the words Christian Church from the wall, and took down all religious symbols, for the reason that Christians in Hong Kong were involved in the riots.

After the raid, a Chinese national flag was left flying on top of the church.

Two house church believers from Xuzhou city in the eastern province of Jiangsu who planned to travel to Hong Kong for sermons during Chinas National Day in October were also told they would lose their welfare benefits if they did so.

At the worst, youll go to prison, the police officers said, warning that traveling to Hong Kong amounted to going against the Communist Party, and those who do so are deemed as anti-China forces.

Similarly, in September, a preacher and the leader of a house church in Jiangxis Ganzhou city were summoned by the State Security Bureau and ordered to sign a statement promising not to go to Hong Kong. Their Hong Kong-Macau travel passes were then confiscated.

America Magazine notes that the Chinese government has also intensified rhetoric against Christian churches in Hong Kong in recent weeks, identifying them as part of the foreign hostile forces that seek to create political unrest.

A video titled Chaotic Hong Kong religious groups abandon Gods will, posted on a Peoples Dailys microblog, states, Churches that stir chaos in Hong Kong have become political organs. Lets strip them of their religious cloaksthose religious con artists who meddle in politics and poison young people!"

Now in its seventh month, Hong Kongs demonstrations began as a protest against a since-withdrawn extradition bill. It has since turned into a pro-democracy fight against authorities, the erosion of civil liberties, and Chinas ruling Communist Party.

The protesters demands now include an independent inquiry into how police have handled protests; amnesty for arrested protesters; removal of the designation of protests as riots; and universal suffrage for the office of Hong Kongs chief executive and its lawmaking body, the Legislative Council.

To welcome in the new year, hundreds of thousands of protesters flocked the streets of Hong Kong, warning authorities that they wouldnt back down until their demands were met. The initially peaceful protests eventually turned violent, resulting in clashes between police and protesters, The Wall Street Journal reports. An estimated 400 people were arrested following the protests.

Carrie Lam, the chief executive of Hong Kong, said in her new years address that months of protests had brought sadness, anxiety, disappointment and even rage" and vowed to listen humbly to the protesters to prevent demonstrations. However, she highlighted the importance of the one country, two systems framework, notes the Times.

Hong Kong, which has a population of approximately 7 million people, has been part of China since 1997, yet still operates with its own currency, legal system, and police force.

A hub for Christian missionaries under British rule, Hong Kong is now home to about 850,000 Christians and more than 1,500 churches.

Many Christians engaged with the social movement fear that losing Hong Kongs autonomy and subjecting citizens to Chinas legal system will erode religious freedom. Chinas human rights abuses against Uighur Muslims, Christians, Falun Gong, and other religious minorities are well-documented.

In addition to participating in the demonstrations, many churches have opened their doors to protesters, allowing them to seek refuge and rest.

In October, Joseph Ha Chi-shing, the auxiliary bishop of Hong Kongs Catholic Church, asked participants at a prayer meeting to remain peaceful as they demonstrated for democracy.

Many people think because our opponents provoke us and dont respond to us, we can harbor hatred and anger, he said. But Hong Kongs Christians, even in resistance, are also responsible to remain nonviolent, Bishop Ha said.
by Stefano Caprio

In his Christmas message to the bishops, priests, monks and faithful of the Orthodox Church, Kirill mentions the contradictions of man before the birth of Christ who was born in a cave, in extreme poverty. Yet there is a worse place: the desert scorched by the sin of man who has moved away from God, presently neither hot nor cold, empty and enslaved by passions.

Moscow (AsiaNews)  The Patriarch of Moscow Kirill (Gundyayev) issued in a message for Orthodox Christmas on 7 January, 2020, addressed to the bishops, priests, monks and all the faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church. In it, he calls for conversion in the face of the discord that is dividing the Church, and the enmities that ruin human relationships. What follows are some excerpts from the message.

Beloved in the Lord,

Inconceivable is the Lords humility: in being the omnipotent Master, he appears to people as a helpless infant; in being God, he assumes corruptible flesh and endures the afflictions of earthly life; in being the Immortal One, he goes voluntarily to his tortuous and shameful death. And he does all of this not for the select few  the prophets, righteous and his faithful servants. Christ comes for each one of us, he desires salvation for all without exception  the sinners and the evildoers, the indifferent and the neglectful, the cowardly and the angry, even his murderers!

The Lord turns nobody away, never disdains anyone; on the contrary, he assumes our human flesh, renews it through his divine incarnation, his sufferings on the cross and his life-bearing resurrection; he raises it up into the bosom of the Holy Trinity and sanctifies it by his presence rightward the throne of God. And it is of the life-creating body of Christ, his most pure blood shed for each one of us that we partake in the sacrament of the Eucharist  and we become one with the same body and the same blood of not only with the Saviour but also with each other.

However, today we unfortunately see the waves of discord rocking the ship of the Church, the storm of arguments and contradictions undermining the unity of the Orthodox faithful, people, overpowered by the darkness of the enemy and tempter, discarding the Fount of living water in favour of the the murky fount of ungodly heresies that is unfit to drink from (Canon to the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council). At this difficult time, we must all recall that the Lord was born, crucified and rose from the dead for each one of us, that he founded on earth the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. In belonging to the Church, we are called upon to overcome discord, confrontation and conflict, to heal divisions, to help those who endure the horrors of war and suffer from oppression and injustice.

The Lord was born not in a royal palace but in a lowly cave in abject poverty. What, it would seem, could be worse than a cavern and poorer than a manger for cattle? Yet such a place does exist  it is the desert of the human heart scorched by sin, alienated from God, neither cold nor hot, wasted and enslaved by the passions. It is, however, within our power to make our soul a dwelling-place for God, to remember that the Lord is near, at the very gates, and that he humbly waits for us to finally see him with the eyes of faith, admit him into our lives, hear his words and respond to his love and allow him to act within us.

Let us reflect for a moment: it is only the embittered heart of Herod, full of envy, that does not wish to accept the divine truth, does not rejoice, yet trembles not from the fear of God but from cowardice. Let us ponder whether we too are not like him in our deeds, whether we do not make our priority our own well-being and comfort, whether we are not afraid that someone may be better than us, more talented, kinder, whether we do not do evil to such a person in trying to hurt or humiliate him before others, cast him down from his pedestal so that we may raise ourselves up a step higher. Is it not the case that the source of truth for us is not the Lord and his sacred commandments, but our very own selves? Do we not tempt others in passing off as truth our own self-serving fantasies, do we not rend asunder Christs robe through our ambitious actions, do we not sow the seeds of discord and discontent among our brothers and sisters in the faith?

Let us also remember on this solemn day those who are close to us: let us visit our parents and friends, devote our attention to them, find kind words, and thank them for all they do for us. May our hearts, filled with love of God and neighbour, become the abode for the All-Merciful Christ, who is Pre-eternal and Inconceivable, and Co-eternal with the invisible Father. Amen."
TOKYO (AP)  Tokyo prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant Tuesday for former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn's wife on suspicion of perjury, adding to the couple's legal troubles in the country where he once was revered as a star executive.

The move against Carole Ghosn, who is not in Japan, followed her husband's flight to Lebanon last week while he was out on bail awaiting trial for alleged financial misconduct.

Prosecutors said in a statement that Carole Ghosn gave false testimony to a Tokyo court last year in her husband's case about the transfer of money from one company to another that allegedly caused losses to Nissan.

She also denied knowing various people, or meeting with them, and the statements were false, they said. The allegations cited were unrelated to Ghosn's escape.

Carole Ghosn was not immediately available for comment but earlier she told The Associated Press after her questioning in court that she considered the questions trite and unsubstantial.

She was banned from meeting with her husband after his release on bail because of fears she might help tamper with evidence.

Lebanon and Japan do not have an extradition treaty. Japanese justice officials acknowledge that it's unclear whether the two can be brought back to Japan to face charges. They said they were still looking into what could be done.

The Lebanese presidential palace said Tuesday that President Michel Aoun met with Japanese ambassador Takeshi Okubo, the first known meeting between the president and a Japanese diplomat since Ghosn arrived in the country on Dec. 30.

A statement released by Aoun's office said Okubo called for more cooperation from Lebanese authorities in order to avoid "negative repercussions" on relations between the two countries. Okubo said the Japanese government and people "are extremely worried" about the case, especially the way Ghosn left Japan and entered Lebanon, according to the statement.

Japan's chief government spokesman said Japanese officials have told Lebanon that Ghosn left the country illegally and that they are seeking cooperation in finding out what happened. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the situation must be handled carefully.

Story continues

Lebanese Justice Minister Albert Serhan told the state-run National News Agency that Ghosn entered Lebanon legally and therefore his "stay on Lebanese territories" is legal. Serhan said Lebanon has not yet received any requests from Japan regarding an arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn.

Prosecutors in Japan have said they did not want Carlos Ghosn to be granted bail because they saw him as a flight risk.

With his abundant financial power and multiple foreign bases worldwide, it would be easy for the defendant Ghosn to flee from Japan, they said in a statement.

Earlier Tuesday, Ghosn's former employer, Nissan Motor Co., said it was still pursuing legal action against him despite his escape.

The Japanese automaker said in a statement that Ghosn engaged in serious misconduct while leading the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance.

The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan, it said, without giving details.

Ghosn managed to skip bail and leave the country despite surveillance while he was staying at a home in Tokyo.

Japanese news reports Tuesday gave new details of that escape, saying he left his residence alone, met two men at a Tokyo hotel, and then took a bullet train to Osaka before boarding a private jet hidden inside a case for musical equipment.

Japanese Justice Minister Masako Mori told reporters that measures were being taken to make sure all cargo and luggage are inspected at regional airports, including those for private jets, to prevent a recurrence.

Japanese major business daily Nikkei reported, without citing sources, that dozens of people in various countries helped to plan Ghosn's clandestine departure.

Nissan's statement was the first word from the company since Ghosn's flight last week. The automaker and Japanese prosecutors allege Ghosn misstated his future compensation and diverted company assets for personal gain. He says he is innocent.

Ghosn has not appeared in public since arriving in Lebanon. He is expected to give his side of the story in a news conference planned for Wednesday in Beirut.

Earlier, he said the allegations against him were concocted by Nissan, Japanese authorities and others who wanted to block efforts toward a fuller merger between Nissan and its French alliance partner Renault SA.

Ghosn said in a statement last week that he wanted to escape injustice. Critics of the Japanese judicial system say his case exemplifies its tendency to move too slowly and keep suspects in detention for too long.

Nissan said in its statement that an investigation is ongoing in France, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has found some wrongdoing.

Ghosn has not been charged in France or the U.S.

Mori and other Japanese officials have defended the nation's judicial system and denounced Ghosn's escape as an unjustifiable" crime. Mori said each nation's system has its own way of making arrests and granting bail.

The scandal over Ghosn's case has tarnished Nissan's image and created a leadership vacuum at a time when the automaker's profits and sales are tumbling. Ghosns successor Hiroto Saikawa also resigned last year amid financial misconduct allegations related to questionable income.

Nissan will continue to do the right thing by cooperating with judicial and regulatory authorities wherever necessary, the Yokohama-based company said.

Although Ghosn is unlikely to face trial in Japan, Greg Kelly, another Nissan former executive, is still facing charges of under-reporting Ghosn's future compensation. He says he is innocent.

Kelly, an American, who is out on bail, has not been charged with the breach of trust allegations Ghosn is also facing.

Nissan has also been charged as a corporate entity. The company says it won't fight the charges and will pay the required fines.

___

Associated Press Writers Zeina Karam and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

___

Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama
Kind-hearted Balinese locals have re-enacted Australia's famous Bunnings sausage sizzle to raise funds for bushfire victims.

The Botanica Bali restaurant in Seminyak assembled a pop-up stall on Saturday offering tourists and locals an opportunity to make a donation in exchange for food and beer.

In three days, the establishment has already raised almost $14million Indonesian Rupiah - $1400 Australian dollars - for the Red Cross Fire Relief Fund in Australia.

A stall setup outside a Seminyak restaurant is mimicking the iconic Australian Bunnings sausage sizzle to raise funds for bushfire relief

Boasting elements from both cultures, donors can purchase the traditional sausage sandwich for 25k rupiah ($2.58) or Indonesian beer, Bintang, for 35k rupiah ($3.62) or both for 50k rupiah ($5.17).

The sausages are supplied by an Australian butcher and pay homage to the warehouse fry-up with onions, tomato sauce and mustard.

All proceeds are donated to charity.

Australian Brenton Banner, 30, has been the executive head chef and general manager of Botanica Bali since he moved there 13-months ago.

Originally from Warrnambool in Victoria, Mr Banner said he came up with the idea after feeling helpless to the situation back home.

He said the stall has drawn both locals and tourists, but has been particularly popular with Australians.

The sausage sizzle emulates the Bunnings snag with onions and sauce but integrates Indonesian beer

'I just wanted to help out back home. It's so far away. I wanted to be able to do something.'

'It's been really good, people are happy with it and coming down with us putting in donations into our tin.'

'Hopefully we can get a few more people down this week and get a few more donations.'

The stall, which was originally intended to only operate over the weekend, will stay open until the end of this week, with the potential to continue for longer depending on demand.

The fundraiser has been a hit with holidaymakers, with many praising the restaurant's charity effort since a photo of the operation went viral on Monday.

'A restaurant has put together a mock Bunnings sausage sizzle to raise funds for the bushfires!,' the Australian tourist wrote.

The Balinese fundraiser has been applauded online since an image of the stall went viral on Monday

'Whilst comical, you know whats amazing? When the world comes together as one in times of need.

'Just like we care and assist other countries in times of need, they also come together to assist us.'

One person commented: 'Brilliant show of support and i would expect nothing less from our beautiful Bali friends.

'Good job guys! Appreciated so much from everyone affected by the fires here at the moment, it's heartbreaking,' another read.

The Bunnings warehouse hosted sausage sizzle is a national icon, which is operated by various organisations outside stores on weekend.
To the Editor:

Re Trumps Choice of Killing Stunned Defense Officials (front page, Jan. 5):

I was appalled to read that military aides included the option of killing Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani of Iran simply to make other options look more reasonable. That may work when the president is actually a mature adult, but not when he has the mind of, and acts like, a 12-year-old boy.

I hold the military and Pentagon responsible for all of the innocent lives that I fear will be lost as a direct result of this irresponsible action. What happens the next time when the aides put on the list the option of dropping a nuclear bomb on Tehran, with the hope that the president will choose a different option?

Our system of government works only if there are some actual, thinking adults in the room. It doesnt appear that our current system has a built-in mechanism for anyone to review, advise or consent before this president makes even worse choices in the days to come.

Steve Fox

Columbia, Md.

To the Editor:

You report that an American official describes the evidence supporting the Suleimani assassination as thin. That assessment echoes what the head of British intelligence secretly told his government, nearly 20 years ago, about President George W. Bushs excuse for invading Iraq: the case was thin and the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy of going to war.
Spatial Networks, the creator of Fulcrum, the leading geospatial data collection and analysis platform for field operations, today announced that is has closed an investment of $42.5 million led by Kayne Partners, the growth equity group of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P., and Kennet Partners, Ltd. The funding will primarily be used to scale the companys sales and marketing capabilities, accelerate its product development roadmap, and further expand the Fulcrum data collection platform into international markets. The company has appointed Jim Grady CEO to oversee all aspects of the companys strategy and execution globally.

Spatial Networks drives digital transformation of field workforces via Fulcrum, an AI-powered data collection platform for commercial field workers. A market-leading platform built on multiple decades of expertise in mobile field data collection and geospatial analytics with adoption by more than 30,000 users and 2,100 customers in field-intensive industries such as utilities, construction, environmental services, and engineering, Fulcrum optimizes field operations by enabling rapid deployment of mobile applications using a low-code development environment. Using Fulcrum, field workers can rapidly gather a vast range of data typesincluding audio and videousing user-built forms with geotagging capabilities. Key decision-makers gain real-time insights into field operations efficiency and performance through visualization, quality assurance and data management tools, and flexible reporting.

With the completion of the deal, Jim Grady will assume the role of CEO, effective immediately. Grady brings more than 25 years of general management and leadership experience in high-growth technology companies to Spatial Networks. As CEO of Cellebrite, Inc., a leading provider of cyber/digital intelligence software solutionsincluding mobile phone forensic extraction and AI-driven analytics product lines for law enforcement, enterprise, and intelligence sectorsGrady scaled revenue from $5M to $100M while consistently expanding profit margins.

Spatial Networks is uniquely positioned to transform the way organizations deploy and manage field workforces to better deliver superior customer experiences while increasing efficiency and profitability, said Jim Grady, CEO, Spatial Networks. I look forward to building on the companys impressive product and market position as we deliver even greater insight and workflow automation through next-generation innovations that harness AI, low-code/no-code deployment, geospatial data collection and analytics, and an advanced reporting engine to establish Fulcrum as the industrys dominant field force data intelligence platform.

Nate Locke of Kayne Partners commented, We are thoroughly impressed by Spatial Networks rapid growth and user adoption. The company provides incredible value both for users in the field who now have a streamlined, robust data-collection process, and for decision makers who now have access to contextually relevant information and geospatial insights.

We are excited about the potential of Spatial Networks to build on its core capabilities in workflow automation, no-code development and geospatial data to optimize field-work forces using AI in a broad range of markets,'' said Javier Rojas, Managing Partner, Kennet Partners. We believe the combination of Spatials founding team, executives from Jims prior successes and Jims leadership will enable the company to scale rapidly and build a category leader.

About Spatial Networks:

Headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, Spatial Networks, Inc. develops and provides AI-powered geospatial data intelligence solutions that transform field force operations. Since its inception, the Company has offered products and services to collect, analyze, and manage ground collected geospatial data. The Fulcrum software platform allows customizable, fast, and flexible data collection, reporting, and analysis for fieldworkers and managers to enhance their customers experiences, increase efficiency, and maximize performance. For more information, please visit: spatialnetworks.com

About Kayne Partners Fund:

Kayne Partners, the Los Angeles-based dedicated growth private equity group of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P., is a leading provider of capital and connections to privately held, high growth, enterprise software and tech-enabled service businesses in North America. Kayne Partners seeks to partner with driven entrepreneurs and provide capital to high growth companies at a transformative point in their life cycle in the following industries: security & compliance, supply chain & logistics, financials, business process automation, healthcare, and media & telecom. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. is a leading alternative investment management firm focused on niche investing in energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit, and growth equity. Kayne manages over $30 billion in assets and employs 400 professionals in five offices across the U.S.

For more information, please visit: kaynepartners.com

About Kennet Partners:

Founded in 1997, Kennet Partners is a Silicon Valley and London-based growth equity investor with $900 million under management. Kennet focuses on partnering with bootstrapped and fast-growing SaaS and tech-enabled services businesses with a focus on predictive analytics and AI and has a track record of building global market leaders and achieving high-value exits. For more information, visit kennet.com


Resets Growth Strategy with Gold Production in 2020

Perth, Jan 7, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ) ("Horizon" or "the Company") is pleased to provide an update on its growth strategy and outline key production and resource growth milestones for 2020 and beyond. The Company is focussed on gold in the Western Australian goldfields and has assets covering 850km2 on major geological structures in close proximity to the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder (Figure 1*). An updated global Mineral Resource Estimate is expected in the June Quarter 2020.Bringing Boorara Stage 1 into productionThe 18,000m grade control drilling program as announced to the ASX on 29 October 2019 was completed in December 2019 with results expected in the current March Quarter 2020. The drilling was conducted on an average 5m x 10m drilling spacing to a maximum depth of 54m (Figure 2*). Boorara is a geologically complex mineralised system with a main NNW striking zone and multiple stacked flat lying conjugate vein sets.A small scale trial pit to 20m depth was mined in the Royal (previously Southern Stockwork) area at Boorara in 2016, with ore up to 15m wide mined on 2.5m high flitches 1. A close spaced grade control program undertaken prior to mining yielded planned trial pit grades well above the in-situ resource grade estimate of 1g/t. Ore mined from the trial pit was processed at FMR Investments' Greenfields Mill which reconciled at 30,239 tonnes at 1.73g/t Au of high grade ore, with an additional 13,095 tonnes at 0.68g/t Au of low grade material still stockpiled at Boorara.The aim of the current grade control program is to further test the grade uplift potential and enable a new geological model to be compiled for mine optimisation, design and economic analysis. On completion, expected in the current March Quarter 2020, the aim is to mine up to three starter pits and process the ore at a third party toll mill in close proximity. Statutory approvals and toll milling negotiations with multiple potential milling partners are well advanced enabling mining to commence in the June Quarter and milling in the September Quarter 2020.The resultant mine and mill reconciliation data will then be used to compare to the global resource model ahead of the larger scale mine development assessment being undertaken as part of the Feasibility Study due for completion in the December Quarter 2020.Production guidance and project economics will be provided on completion of the Stage 1 evaluation in the current March Quarter 2020.Growing the production pipelineA number of 100% owned projects have the potential to add significant mining inventory as per Figure 3* below. Three projects have been prioritised based on current resource status, grade and open pit and underground upside potential.Further stages of Boorara mine development will be determined by the outcome of the mining, pit mapping and mill reconciliations of Stage 1. The Boorara resource model will be updated during this period and fed into the Feasibility Study.The Crake project, part of the Binduli project area (Figure 1*) has grown significantly in 2019 after a number of highly successful drilling programs. Internal optimisations have generated positive results and provided extensional drill targets along strike and at depth. Further infill and extensional RC and diamond drilling is planned in H2 2020.The Rosehill project, recently acquired through an asset swap with Northern Star Resources Ltd, is a high priority open pit and underground deposit in Coolgardie. The most recent resource information on Rosehill was compiled by Westgold Resources Ltd in its ASX release titled "2017 Annual Update of Mineral Resources & Ore Reserves" dated 4 September 2017. The Company has now commenced an internal and independent review of the geological models for Rosehill, Gunga West and Golden Ridge (Figure 1*) projects and expects to provide a resource update on these projects in the current March Quarter 2020.Resource growth through exploration and acquisitionHorizon has developed priority resource growth and new discovery targets for drilling in 2020. These include Boorara near mine (including Balagundi, Kanowna South, Golden Ridge and Boorara South), Coote, Darter and Honeyeater within the Binduli gold camp, Capricorn, Baden Powell and Teal.Priority is to target areas hosting free milling ore within a 75km radius of Boorara with grade above 2g/t Au and strip ratio below 10:1 for open pit and grades above 4g/t Au for satellite underground projects.Drilling in the March Quarter will be limited to Rosehill as the Company focusses on Boorara mine development. The majority of the planned drilling will commence in H2 2020 with the aim for this drilling to be funded from cash flow, consistent with the development and cash generation strategy implemented for the successful Teal gold mine in 2017-2018.The Company will continue to pursue value accretive acquisitions that meet the disciplined criteria of value, continuity with existing tenure, location on major geological structures and proximity to a potential centralised mill at Boorara. Consolidation across the sector needs to continue and the Company will continue discussions with neighbouring companies and collaborate where mutual gain can be achieved.Joint venturesThe Company's strategy for non-gold projects is typically to divest or farm out to avoid management distraction, reduce costs and to retain future upside exposure. The current joint venture with Richmond Vanadium Technology (RVT) covering the 2.6Bt Richmond vanadium project in central north Queensland is in its second stage of earn in whereby RVT spends A$6m by March 2021 to earn up to 75%.Other projects in the portfolio include the Nanadie Well copper-gold-PGE project and the Nimbus silver-zinc project. The Company is currently assessing options for these projects and holding preliminary discussions with interested joint venture partners.News flow and milestonesAs the strategic plan is put in to action, significant news flow can be expected throughout 2020 as per below:March Quarter - Boorara infill drilling results, new geological model, mine optimisation, design and economic modelling results, drilling results from Rosehill, updated resource estimates for Rosehill, Gunga West and Golden Ridge.June Quarter - decision to mine stage 1 of Boorara and mine commencement, Richmond vanadium JV update, updated Mineral Resource EstimateSeptember Quarter - Aiming for first gold production and cash generation from Boorara, commencement of large scale resource and reserve growth drilling program.December Quarter - drilling results, resource and reserve update, consolidated Feasibility Study results including options for stand-alone or collaborative centralised processing plant.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Horizon Minerals Limited

Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed.

Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline.

Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage.
Sam Mendes's "1917," an innovative and deeply personal portrayal of World War I, has exploded into Oscar contention following its dramatic wins at the Golden Globes. The movie -- inspired by tales Mendes's military veteran grandfather told him as a child -- follows two British soldiers on a perilous mission across no man's land. They must risk near-certain death to deliver a vital message ordering a calamitous planned attack on German lines be aborted. The film won best drama, the Globes' most prestigious prize, on Sunday as well as best director for Mendes -- fending off frontrunners such as Martin Scorsese ("The Irishman") and Quentin Tarantino ("Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.") "It's the biggest team effort ever," co-lead actor George MacKay told AFP moments after the top prize was announced, adding that he was "thrilled, proper thrilled." In a radical filmmaking experiment, Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins shot footage that glides from trenches to crater-filled battlefields and through a devastated French town, in what appears to be almost one continuous shot stretching for two hours. "They've never made a film in one continuous take. None of us have," Dean-Charles Chapman, the film's other leading actor, told AFP at a Beverly Hills event hosted by BAFTA, Britain's version of the motion picture Academy. Chapman and MacKay described how they rehearsed the scenes for six months, "reading the scenes in an open field" as they paced out their movements and dialogue until they became muscle memory. Meanwhile, an intricately detailed set of exactly the right scale was constructed around them. "We're walking along stabbing stakes along the floor to mark out -- there's the wall, there's the start, there's the finish," recalled Chapman. "Slowly the set would become a trench, and then we'd adjust the size of the set around the scene. And we'd do that with every single scene -- it took six months to do." - Keep viewers guessing - The bold approach clearly paid off as victory at the Globes, which open Hollywood's award season, has seen odds for "1917" at next month's all-important Oscars slashed. It is expected to compete for best picture, best director and multiple technical categories -- although its relatively unknown stars are not in the awards conversation. Mendes said he deliberately cast actors who were not "big movie stars" to help audiences empathize with them -- and keep viewers guessing about whether they would survive. "Maybe both of them will be killed -- I don't know. Whereas if it's Leonardo DiCaprio, then perhaps you know he's going to survive," Mendes told AFP in Paris last month. Chapman is best known for playing child king Tommen Baratheon in "Game of Thrones," while MacKay had a supporting role in 2016 comedy "Captain Fantastic." While "1917" does feature British stars including Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch and Andrew Scott, they are confined to smaller roles. - 'Most personal movie' - The basis for the plot was a particular story Mendes' grandfather Alfred told him about serving as a messenger on the Western Front. This was supplemented with other real accounts of the war taken from letters, diaries and other research. "I suppose it is my most personal because it comes directly from me, although I feel that I never made a movie that wasn't personal at some level," said Mendes. The film turned out to have personal connections for its actors too. Chapman told AFP how his research for the role of Lance Corporal Blake led him to uncovering his own great-great-grandfather's journal entry in a book called "The Western Front Diaries." The actors also visited France and Belgium to see the actual war sites. The film was shot in England. The collaborative nature of shooting "1917" mirrored the subject matter, as the actors learnt about the appalling experiences their ancestors had endured together in the trenches, they explained. "There was lots of themes emotionally and literally, about the story and what the characters go through, that were entwined in the making of the film," said MacKay. "It's a wonderful thing where the specialness of that experience aligns with it being received so positively," he added.
Sagar Island:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said she was all in favour of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, but her party will not resort to the cheap politics of bandhs.

The Left parties had on December 26 last year called for a nationwide strike on January 8 and a seven-day protest from January 1 against the CAA, National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Banerjee, speaking at an administrative meeting in Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas district, said she will not back any bandh, as it causes trouble for people and loss to the exchequer.

Later in the day, while talking to reporters at Gangasagar, Banerjee said the Trinamool Congress has been protesting against the CAA, NRC and the NPR, but it is against the call for strike, as it is cheap politics.

We are not in favour of bandh, but extend our support to the issues for which the strikes are called. We will continue our protests but dont support cheap politics.

Why should we call a bandh when the country is going through an economic disaster and unemployment is increasing, the CM said.

Ten central trade unions on Monday said around 25 crore people will participate in a nationwide strike on January 8 to protest against the governments anti-people policies.

Banerjee also asked state government officials to take measures to ensure normalcy on January 8.

Reacting to Banerjees remarks, Anandi Sahu, senior CPI(M) leader and the state general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), said that any attempt to foil the strike would be met with resistance.

There is no difference between the economic policies of the the Narendra Modi government and the Mamata Banerjee government, and that is why attempts are being made to foil the strike, Sahu said.
In recent times, the binary between what we are and what we do has largely collapsed. This, in turn, is due to the fact that rather than a people-driven republic, we are a state-driven one: our sense of what we are has very significantly been provided by the political leadership in power.

Editor's note: As India heads into the 2020s, theres reason to believe we are heading into a new age of anxiety. Economic growth has been crippled; many economists argue recovery will take years of painful reform. Ethnic and religious tensions have sharpened. Even Indias core Constitutional values and institutions, many commentators have argued, are besieged.

In this series, Firstpost examines what the 2020s will mean for India: for everything from politics and the economy, to our culture and communities.

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The apparent death of visionary politics  where civilisational dreams of change and justice have been obliterated by the scythe of self-interest and inertia  lies at the heart of liberal despair. The cupboard is bare of all the imagined allies: Dalits are no more against caste than the upper castes; the Buddhists have no particular sympathy for Muslims; and the working classes care much more about consumerism than the relations of production or those of a secular polity. However, have we really, over just six years, become a completely different people, swapping a world of far-reaching constitutional morality for the pulp-fiction of petty intent masquerading as national interest? Most likely not. The fault might be the manner in which we have imagined India: as a textual democracy, rather than a performative one.

Performative national life  where everyday acts of the people are statist and authoritarian rather than nationalist and egalitarian  hardly receives any interest from social analysts. Perhaps it doesnt live up to our expectations of an imaginary national life. This latter, after all, is the stuff from where our movies draw inspiration, literary themes seek stimulation and familial morality is derived. It is always so much with us that, notwithstanding what we do, it shapes our sense of what we are.

In recent times, however, the binary between what we are and what we do has largely collapsed. This, in turn, is due to the fact that rather than a people-driven republic, we are a state-driven one: our sense of what we are has very significantly been provided by the political leadership in power. What we are witnessing is not a fundamental change in either the nature of the national character or civilisation values. Its just a change in the manner of telling the story of our national life.

Lets begin with nationalism itself. This mighty idea that earlier overthrew colonial empires and produced notions of justice for the majority is now  ironically  at the heart of a new, inward-looking politics of belonging and home. How has it happened that in an age of vast transnational movement of concepts and people, territorial nationalism  that which ties identities to soil and produces ideas of foreigners and enemies of the nation  has found such remarkable hold? The trick has been to produce a nationalism which is about a heightened sense of territory but also positioned within a sense of global cosmopolitanism. We might call this post-nationalism.

Post-nationalism is not the end of nationalism. Rather it is the re-packaging of the national emotion within a consumer culture that has no precedence. Perhaps the easiest way of thinking about this is through the appeal of Narendra Modi. The figure of Modi offers a nationalism that is about control over home (territory) simultaneously as it offers the opportunity of engaging with the world through hyper-consumerism. We are hence both intensely local as well as global. It is the perfect storm and we love it. What better than being able to be at home in the world? Is it not a fine thing to be able to identify enemies of the nation at the same time as we preen as participants in performances of global life? We have moved some distance from the nationalism that characterised the anti-colonial variety.

The second change in the manner in which we narrate the idea of the Republic consists of the redefinition of the idea of the ordinary person. In the new performances of national life, the ordinary person is no longer  as was the case earlier  the socially and economically marginalised citizen. The common man is now the Hindu middle-class person. It is this person that is the object of political address: the common citizen has been historically discriminated through appeasement of the poor and the minorities and now is the time for righting historical wrongs. This means that the state must formulate policies so that the common citizen is no longer disadvantaged and discriminated. The Citizenship Amendment Act, the National Register of Citizens, the building of a temple in Ayodhya and the abrogation of Articles 370 are invoked in the name of this new common citizen.

The new fiction of the people is not an act of magic. Rather, it is a deliberate counterpoint to another version, that which has populated a great deal of the textual understanding of the Indian character. In this version, Indians are essentially tolerant, liberal, questioning and able to accommodate multiple modes of being in their midst. In this version also, a contemporary desire for a particular kind of community is projected into the distant past; as far as is possible to in turn provide a lineage for the present. Politicians, however, have a better understanding of the people who elect them to office as compared to historians and others who produce an image of the people in their own image. The careers of politicians depend upon knowing their voters minds. To be wrong is to be jobless. Our politicians  and those whose task it is to utilise identity politics to secure political power  have known very well that under the flesh of the imagined India lay one that had other ideas about itself. Our ideological positions have not changed. Its only the manner of mining them that has.

As long as the state was the kind of ruling apparatus that  at least in principle  frowned upon violence as a form of community interaction, we were a Gandhian-kind of people. When the nature of the state changed  to one that either encouraged such violence or struck tacit arrangements with lynch-mobs  we became something which has never seriously been addressed as part of quotidian Indian life: a violent people. This did not happen in a span of five years, however. Indeed, given the long and intensive history of Gandhianism as serious scholarship and fashion, we should have been ingesting the principles of ahimsa with mothers milk. Rather, neither state-led Gandhigiri nor the voluminous writings on the Mahatma have actually addressed the relationship between Gandhian ideas and everyday lives and thinking. There is very little. However, the discovery that we might be Gandhians manque continues to shock us.

By making the actually existing present a footnote to an imagined one, not tackling the issue of how people engage with ideas and assuming an easy fit between ideas and practice we produce caricatures of identity. We continue to neglect the important question regarding what is to be done? in favour of the spurious belief that our underlying nature is admirable and present behaviour is an aberration. The frequent assertion that Hindutva can be tackled if only we returned to authentic Hinduism is a good shorthand for this position; our core is fine and cleansing of surface accretions will do the job. This, as Ambedkar recognised, is part of the problem and not the solution. It is not that progressive visions of the future have died among us. Rather we have been returned to our un-reconstructed core.
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A former head of the SAS has warned that the targeted US killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani threatens to engulf the Middle East in a devastating new war.

Major General Jonathan Shaw, who was the commander of UK forces in Iraq when Iranian-backed militias carried out lethal attacks against British and American troops, writes in The Independent that Soleimani may be missed now that he is gone, with the risk of uncontrolled violence erupting in the void he leaves behind.

Maj Gen Shaw led the forces based in Basra during some of the most violent times following the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Militias in the region, such as the Badr brigade and the Mahdi army, carried out a sustained and bloody bombing campaign, with Iranian support from across the border.

Major General Soleimani, head of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, was viewed as Maj Gen Shaws direct opponent during the vicious strife that defined the period.

Donald Trumps decision to order the killing will not eliminate the potency of the forces he had created but will become the catalyst for a wider conflict, Maj Gen Shaw believes.

The one thing this assassination will not be is decisive in the sense of being the conclusion to anything, Maj Gen Shaw said. The fear is that it will be decisive in marking a turning point, an escalation of conflict into open war that no one in the region, or Trump himself, for electoral reasons, wants.

Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Show all 24 1 /24 Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions Iranian mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of top general Qasem Soleimani during the final stage of funeral processions, in his hometown Kerman. Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with Iran which has vowed "severe revenge" AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranian people carry a coffin of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani during a funeral procession in Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions The assassination of the 62-year-old heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile, oil-rich Middle East and rattled financial markets AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Mourners packed the streets of Tehran for ceremonies to pay homage to Soleimani, who spearheaded Iran's Middle East operations as commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force and was killed in a US drone strike on January 3 Iranian Supreme Leader's Office/EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranians set a US and an Israeli flag on fire during the funeral procession AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, centre, with Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, second left, and President Hassan Rouhani, third left, standing next to him as he leads a prayer over the caskets of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Tehran University Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, openly weeps as he leads a prayer over the coffin of Qassem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Mourners holding posters of Qassem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Coffins of Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a US drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession, at the Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions An Iranian mourner holds a placard AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Downtown Tehran was brought to a standstill as mourners flooded the Iranian capital Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Former Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps chief Mohamad Ali Jafari prays on the coffins of Qasem Soleimani and of other victims during their funeral ceremony EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Satellite image Maxar Technologies/AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA

The former Director Special Forces continues: One of the dangers of the focus on ... Qassem Soleimani, is that it obscures the deeper truth that he was the embodiment of an ideology rather than the ideology itself; killing Soleimani will not kill his cause.

His death had been expected and prepared for; Supreme Leader Khamenei referred to Soleimani, when alive, as a living martyr and as he said while announcing [Soleimanis] successor, the plans of the Quds Force will remain exactly the same.

Giving examples from the fighting and negotiations in Iraq, Maj Gen Shaw pointed out that the Iranian commander primarily used combat for political ends and his killing may remove that constraint.

I would judge him as notable for the judgement shown in his use of military action for political purposes, said the former head of the SAS. This strategic judgement on tactical action made him perversely a moderating force who may prove to be missed now he is gone.

Recommended The world will miss Soleimani if his judgement is replaced by emotion

His comments contradict the UK governments reaction to Soleimanis death.

While calling for de-escalation, foreign secretary Dominic Raab said that the UK understands the position the US found themselves in before Soleimanis killing  an attack the US said was carried out based on unspecified intelligence that the Iranian general was plotting attacks against American interests.

Defence secretary Ben Wallace told parliament on Tuesday that the US was confident about this intelligence, and said: The UK will always defend the right for countries to defend themselves.
Des elements de la gendarmerie nationale Liliane Ndangue

Some 350 gendarmerie officials have been sent to Buea, South West region where they are expected to maintain security throughout the electoral period, next month.

They were received on Monday by Colonel Nchinda Henry, commander of the Legion who later told the press, the elements were in Buea to secure elections.

" These elements are here to do everything so that the elections will be held in safe conditions. What I can say to the population is to be confident in the National Gendarmerie, knowing that they are for the population, and to protect them.", said the colonel. He reminded the soldiers to respect core human rights values, while carrying out their job.

Cameroon is preparing to hold a municipal and legislative elections on the 9th of February, despite several calls for it to be postponed due to continuous insecurity trends reported from the North West and South West regions.

Government is bent on seeing a successful organisation of elections, reasons why there have been carrying out reinforcements in most parts of the English-speaking regions.

The gendarmerie officers enterred the City of Academic Excellence in the late afternoon hours, escorted in military trucks and a 70 seater Bus. They were received at the National Gendarmerie, second region, in Buea. In the coming days, they will be dispatched to other parts of the region.

This is the second election that will be taking place amidst gun exchanges. The last presidential elections of October 2018, recorded some violent and intimidating incidents. Armed Separatists are pushing for the independence of the nation they call, "Ambazonia".
My partner and I booked a short break in New York from December 15 to 20 to celebrate my 50th birthday.

At the beginning of August, my son, who was 15 at the time, was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma blood cancer. He had been misdiagnosed by our surgery for almost five years.

We had to cancel our summer holiday to Malaga. Ryanair was brilliant and refunded our money without quibble.

Our New York holiday was booked via lastminute.com on Virgin and Delta flights. At the time I cancelled, I had paid a 395 deposit, but a further 1,185 was taken from my account four days afterwards.

A reader was forced to cancel a holiday after his 15-year-old son was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma blood cancer

I have provided all the evidence requested, including a letter from my son's specialist, but I've heard nothing from lastminute.com.

We were planning to take out travel insurance before the trip but had not done so at the time of the diagnosis. I need this money back to help care for my son.

C. L., by email.

I first contacted lastminute.com, which confirmed the hotel booking would be refunded but said: 'Virgin's position is that the refund is not possible as ultimately this is an insurance claim.'

It added: 'Unfortunately, there are no guarantees in terms of cancellations based on medical conditions or emergencies.

'We always make every effort to help our customers in these cases. However, we are bound by the rules of our suppliers.'

It said that only the taxes from the flights would be refunded.

Overall, I did not find the firm particularly helpful. Its press office would communicate only by email and my requests for a phone conversation to discuss the issue further were ignored.

So I went directly to Virgin. There was an initial delay which transpired to be a result of its email system blocking the information I was sending through, which included scans of your supporting documents.

However, once Virgin was aware of the severity of the case, it acted swiftly and agreed to a full refund of the outstanding 572.

It has also sent its sincere apologies that this was not sorted out sooner. A spokesman says: 'Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines are extremely sorry to hear about your son's illness and we send our thoughts and best wishes to him and the family.

'Our customers are at the heart of everything we do and we regret the delay in refunding the family's booking.'

Why your refund was initially turned down remains a mystery, but this does suggest that it can be far better to book directly with an airline than via a third party.

You and your partner can now concentrate on supporting your son. My very best wishes to all of you for the coming year.

As a final note to all those reading this, please buy your travel insurance on the same day or very soon after booking your holiday. It's not enough to wait until a week or so before travelling  you need cover in case you are forced to cancel by cruel circumstances such as these.

You have YOUR say Every week, Money Mail receives hundreds of your letters and emails about our stories. Here are some responding to our tips on how to make the most of your money in 2020: I've already started saving money this year. My home insurance quote arrived and just one phone call cut 25 per cent off my premium. I do the same thing every time I get a renewal quote. Always pick up the phone. S. W., Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. Never, ever make any financial decisions on the basis of what you've been told by a cold-caller. More often than not, these people are after one thing and one thing only: your money. S. T., Suffolk. Always remember to keep your receipts. I work in retail and there was once a time when we would exchange anything at this time of year. Not any more. No receipt usually means no exchange  and certainly no refund. L. A., Plymouth. Taking pictures of your valuables is a great idea. I've photographed bikes, jewellery, tools and even make-up. Their values can add up to a significant sum if you ever need to make a claim on your contents policy. S. R., Sussex. I never pick up incoming calls from people I don't know. If someone needs to speak to you, they will leave a voicemail message. So many people use your phone as a route to your bank account nowadays. I. M., Cambridgeshire. Whenever I see something I want to buy, I always walk away and think about it first. Do your research and you may find the same thing for a lower price. P. T., Croydon. Spend only 50 per cent of what you earn and save the rest. If you have a mortgage, overpay as much as you can. If you don't have a mortgage, save for a deposit. Don't follow fashions and do be cynical when shopping in the sales. T. B., Newcastle.

My son was given a Disney share for his Christening in 2010. Since then, we have received small cheques for dividend payments of various amounts, most recently $0.62 in July.

We have never banked these as they are for such small amounts and because my child's bank, Nationwide, said it could not accept cheques in dollars.

We were contacted by Broadridge last year to check whether the account was still active.

We confirmed that it was and explained the reason for not depositing the cheques. It said it could only issue cheques in dollars and cannot transfer money electronically outside the U.S. We feel stuck. Would it be easier to sell the share?

S. B., by email.

Your son's share is currently worth around $145 (110) so I don't think you should just write it off.

It seems the gift was purchased as a direct holding via Broadridge, a US based financial company which runs an investment plan for Walt Disney shares, so it is probably your best port of call if you decide you do wish to sell it.

Andy Parsons, head of investments and product proposition at The Share Centre, says that, usually, US listed shares can be bought via a traditional investment account with any dividend received being paid in sterling after the reduction of the appropriate tax.

'Purchasing a share through this route means the holding is normally acquired in a format known as Crest Depository Interest (CDI), which allows a straightforward and cost-effective way to trade overseas.'

Mr Parsons says that, unfortunately, it is not possible to request a change from a direct holding to that of CDI.

'The investment would need to be sold, thereby incurring costs, and then repurchased as a CDI, incurring further costs.

'Any US holding acquired through an account with a UK stockbroker will require the customer/holder to complete a W-8BEN form as an official record for the US Internal Revenue Service,' he says.

Hargreaves Lansdown's Danny Cox concurs: 'UK stockbrokers don't have easy ways to help. You'll need a specialist broker to deal with the certificate, and even then the stamping process could be a considerable proportion of the value of the share.

'One option would be to donate the share to ShareGift (sharegift.org), which should be able to cash it in for you and donate the value to charity.'

This wouldn't solve the problem of how to have your son benefit from the gift, but hopefully will help a charity and reduce the headache for you, he adds.
Juan Fresnada, (pictured), was attacked as he walked down the street with his 29-year-old partner, Bayron Caceres, in the Bronx

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder in a brutal Christmas Eve attack that killed a 61-year-old man who was robbed of just $1 after leaving a McDonald's in New York City.

Juan Fresnada was attacked as he walked down the street with his 29-year-old partner, Bayron Caceres, at 1.28am in the Bronx on December 24.

He was beaten so badly that he suffered swelling to his brain and a fractured skull. Caceres was not seriously injured.

The unnamed teen is the second suspect to be charged in the attack.

Authorities announced the murder and gang assault charges against the 15-year-old on Monday.

On New Year's Eve, New York police arrested 18-year-old Abu Conteh.

He was also charged with murder, gang assault and robbery for the brutal attack which saw Fresnada robbed of just $1.

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.

Scroll down for video

On Monday, police arrested a 15-year-old suspect who allegedly attacked Fresnada (left) while he tried to defend his partner Bayron Caceres, (right) on Christmas Eve

On the night of the assault, Fresnada took several blows to the head as he tried to protect Caceres from his assailants outside a McDonald's on Third Avenue in Concourse Village

Cops have also identified other attackers and are working to track them down.

On the night of the assault, Fresnada took several blows to the head as he tried to protect Caceres from his assailants outside a McDonald's on Third Avenue in Concourse Village.

Surveillance footage captured the horrific incident and even shows a moment where a third suspect prepares to hit Fresnada with a trash bin.

Fresnada was rushed to the hospital but he was pronounced dead four days after the assault.

Conteh's mother, Isataturay Conteh, claimed her son did not assault Fresnada.

'He saw people fighting and he knows those people in the video but he never touched that man.

'I don't know all his friends. Abu goes to school and comes home. We expect him always around 7 or 8 pm.'

'He's stubborn. Even when the cops came for him this morning he was being stubborn. He's stubborn but a good kid,' she told the New York Daily News.

Surveillance footage captured the horrific incident. One suspect was seen stomping on Fresnada and kicking him

This surveillance still shows two suspects attacking Fresnada near the McDonald's

'It's not him who killed this man. We go out like a family. We cook together, we eat, He's close with his siblings.'

Caceres told the newspaper how Fresnada protected him. He refers to him as his husband but the pair were not legally married.

He claimed: 'I'm nervous about it. I'm 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: 'I'm skeptical. I don't 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 said he did not believe the assault was a hate crime as they were called no homophobic names.

The couple have lived in the Bronx's Morrisania neighborhood since 2016.

The NYPD released this surveillance footage still image in a bid to identify the other suspects
[January 07, 2020] Mynd Property Management More Than Triples Its Size in 2019

Mynd Property Management, a property management firm serving the small residential sector with a combination of on-the-ground experts and innovative technology, announced today that it has achieved a number of significant growth milestones in 2019. The company has tripled its size through M&A and organic sales, debuted its Think Like an Investor Fund, and improved the resident and renter experience through technology advancements. Here are Mynd's key accomplishments of 2019: Over the past year, Mynd has acquired or merged with eight real estate companies, more than tripling its size to more than 9,000 units under management. The firm merged with RentVest in May, which doubled Mynd's management footprint nationwide. The partnership also created one of the largest small residential property management companies in the U.S. In July, Mynd acquired Irvine, Calif.,-based HomeUnion, a real estate investment company that enables small residential investing via its online home valuation tool, INVESTimate. The tool allows individual investors to invest in rental property nationwide, regardless of their geographic location.

The firm merged with RentVest in May, which doubled Mynd's management footprint nationwide. The partnership also created one of the largest small residential property management companies in the U.S. In July, Mynd acquired Irvine, Calif.,-based HomeUnion, a real estate investment company that enables small residential investing via its online home valuation tool, INVESTimate. The tool allows individual investors to invest in rental property nationwide, regardless of their geographic location. Mynd's executive team, led by co-founders Doug Brien and Colin Wiel, placed an emphasis on gowth companywide to provide best-in-class customer service. The company grew to more than 247 employees nationwide year-to-date, marking a 116.7% year-over-year increase. These new hires help Mynd provide more and improved local resources to both residents and owners. Mynd has also achieved a significant direct sales milestone, reaching the $1 million market in Q3. As part of its push to double-down on growth, Mynd has invested in many educational resources to help investors build wealth through real estate investing, including appointing Alex Osenenko as chief growth officer and launching the first season of The Myndful Investor podcast show. The podcast explores the benefits and challenges of real estate investing through interviews with industry experts.

The company grew to more than 247 employees nationwide year-to-date, marking a 116.7% year-over-year increase. These new hires help Mynd provide more and improved local resources to both residents and owners. Mynd has also achieved a significant direct sales milestone, reaching the $1 million market in Q3. As part of its push to double-down on growth, Mynd has invested in many educational resources to help investors build wealth through real estate investing, including appointing Alex Osenenko as chief growth officer and launching the first season of The Myndful Investor podcast show. The podcast explores the benefits and challenges of real estate investing through interviews with industry experts. Mynd launched Think Like an Investor Fund (TLIF) for employees . To reward employees and to help them think like real estate investors, Mynd launched the Think Like an Investor Fund. Administered by Mynd, the fund invests in rental properties with healthy returns. Mynd expects to hold the fund for four years. Upon liquidation, all of Mynd's employees will receive a distribution that includes an initial grant, plus gains/income. Currently, properties in the TLIF feature IRR of between 10% and 15%.

. To reward employees and to help them think like real estate investors, Mynd launched the Think Like an Investor Fund. Administered by Mynd, the fund invests in rental properties with healthy returns. Mynd expects to hold the fund for four years. Upon liquidation, all of Mynd's employees will receive a distribution that includes an initial grant, plus gains/income. Currently, properties in the TLIF feature IRR of between 10% and 15%. Tech-driven solutions to improve the resident and renter experience debuted in 2019. Mynd created a completely digital leasing experience that enables residents to pay rent and submit R&M (News - Alert) requests online. It also allows renters searching for a property to lease that unit faster than normal with self-showings. The use of self-showings eliminates the need for real estate agents, giving renters a competitive edge in markets like the Bay Area, Seattle, San Diego and Sacramento.



"Since founding this company three years ago, we have worked diligently to scale the small residential sector, and made it more efficient for private investors to own and acquire real estate. We did this by applying a modern, data-driven approach to management, which helps optimize the performance of our owners' rental assets and provides residents with more responsive customer service," Brien concludes.

www.mynd.co About Mynd Property Management Mynd Property Management serves the small residential real estate sector with a combination of on-the-ground experts and innovative technology that empowers investing in any market in the U.S. Headquartered in Oakland, Calif., Mynd manages over 9,000 units in 16 markets and offers small residential rental properties for sale in 20 metro areas. Mynd's end-to-end management and real estate investment solution is powered by INVESTimate, a home-valuation tool that determines the investment potential of any home in the United States using AI and machine learning. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005949/en/

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Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Name recognition could give longtime KRQE-TV chief meteorologist Mark Ronchetti a leg up in a crowded Republican field in a bid to replace Democrat Tom Udall in the U.S. Senate.

But pollster Brian Sanderoff said its no guarantee that hell be the one representing the party in a campaign in which well-funded Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan has long been viewed as the favorite to win the seat.

Ronchetti announced his candidacy Tuesday, one day after stepping down from his position at KRQE. His campaign did not respond to a Journal request for an interview.

He has to make the transition from popular TV weatherman to a candidate who is up on the issues, said Sanderoff, president of Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc. If he can do that, then he has a realistic shot of winning the nomination. Any Republican has an uphill fight against Ben Ray Lujan, if Lujan is the Democratic nominee.

Sanderoff said other television personalities have made successful runs for public office in New Mexico.

Ken Schultz won the Albuquerque mayors race after years on television in car sales advertisements, he said. Casey Luna won lieutenant governors race after being on television for years with advertisements for his car dealership.

Sanderoff said Ronchetti has the most name recognition of the five Republican candidates, with Albuquerque contractor Mick Rich  who was the partys nominee in the race against Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich in 2018  second. Former New Mexico State University professor Gavin Clarkson, anti-abortion activist Elisa Martinez and businessman Louie Sanchez are the other Republicans in the race.

Lujan  who raised more than $1 million in each of the second and third quarters of fundraising in 2019  is being challenged by accountant Andrew Perkins on the Democratic side.

Like all New Mexicans, I want my kids to grow up in an America where opportunities are created right here in New Mexico  where the American dream is as strong today as its ever been. Im concerned that Washington is standing in the way of that bright future, Ronchetti said in a news release announcing his candidacy. Sadly, politicians like Congressman Ben Ray Lujan are focused more on fighting one another than fighting for us  and thats why I couldnt sit on the sidelines anymore.

He was chief meteorologist at Albuquerques CBS-affiliated news station for 13 years. Ronchetti has worked in television news for more than 23 years.

New Mexicans are fed up with the petty partisan politics that has gotten in the way of progress for New Mexicans, Ronchetti said. Hatred for your political opponents can never be stronger than your love of New Mexico  when it is, nobody wins. When partisanship is all that matters, its the people that get left behind  I will always put New Mexicans first.

Rochetti touted his views as a pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment conservative Republican who believes in low taxes.

Governments No. 1 job should be to protect freedom and liberty and keep our families safe, he said.

In his campaign video, he voiced concern about increasing crime, saying he couldnt remember it being this bad in his almost 20 years in New Mexico. He also voiced support for President Donald Trump. I dont agree with every tweet or sound bite, but I support the president, he said. Many of his policies are improving the lives of New Mexicans.

He credits Trumps energy policies for creating jobs and adding to the states surplus in revenue and said he cheered the addition of federal muscle in fighting the states crime problems.

Lujans campaign pushed back on Ronchettis criticism of the 3rd Congressional District representative. Lujan campaign manager Brad Elkins said Lujan has delivered for New Mexico.

His strong record of advocating for economic opportunities, investments in our state, and resources for our families resonates with our communities, Elkins said. New Mexicans know Ben Ray and trust him to do whats right for New Mexico.
As the 2020 primaries approach, delegates from the Nebraska Democratic Party will convene in Milwaukee this July to bring the vote of Nebraska to the Democratic National Convention.

Since December, the NDP has held Delegate 101 Training throughout the three congressional districts to walk people through the process of becoming a delegate.

The tour will stop in Fremont this Saturday at Keene Memorial Library from 2 to 3 p.m. Prior to Fremont, training will be held in Hastings and Grand Island, with future stops in Omaha, Kearney and Lincoln.

While the NDP sent 30 delegates in 2016, it plans to send 33 delegates this year. Automatic delegates are NDP Chair Jane Kleeb, First Associate Chair Richard Register, National Committeeman Ron Kaminski and National Committeewoman Patty Zieg.

The additional 29 national delegates will be selected at the NDP State Convention, which will be held June 5-7 in Omaha. Those who are interested must vote in the Democratic presidential primary this May and attend their county and state conventions.

Constituency Director Precious McKesson said the trainings will also provide information on how to become a county delegate or national delegate, as well as a block captain or member of the State Central Committee, the governing body of the NDP.

A lot of times, people dont understand how they can be involved in the party and make changes and basically assist in really building the party, she said. So these trainings will basically give them input on how they can become a delegate on the State Central Committee, as well as how they can get involved with their county party.

The training will include a presentation and possible appearances from automatic delegates. It will also include handouts that people can take home with them.

So this is information that they can always refer back to, McKesson said.

McKesson said shes seen great response from the previous delegate training meetings, which she said also has gotten attendees familiar with the structure of the party.

Thats something that we really have found they were saying, Wow, I can do that. I know I can see myself in that role, she said. So I think thats been a really good thing that weve seen so far, is that people have really been receptive to it.

McKesson said the training has also taught people that the goal doesnt just stop at being a delegate.

We want them to understand that they can run for party leadership at the state convention that we hold every two years, she said. They can run to be a part of the exec as well as just giving them time to just review the structure and the organization of the party so that they can find their place in the party or where their talents can be best used.

With this training, McKesson said the goal was ultimately to show people that becoming a delegate is not hard to do.

It might seem hard just from the outside looking in if you dont know and you might automatically get kind of discouraged, she said. So we wanted to make sure they knew this is the easiest process.

Those interested in training at a caucus or county meeting can contact McKesson at precious@nebraskademocrats.org or Gina Frank at gina@nebraskademocrats.org.

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AVIATION policemen have been ordered to beef up security operations in the countrys airports amid the escalating tension between Iran and the United States (US) following the killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani during a US strike.

"Prior to my assumption, (PNP officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Archie Gamboa) has a directive strengthening security in airports. This is a frontline measure for the (members of the) international community, for all passengers from different countries. This is for them to feel confident and secure in coming to the Philippines," Brigadier General Crizaldo Nieves, newly-appointed PNP Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) chief, said during the turnover ceremony Tuesday, January 7, 2020.

Crizaldo replaced Brigadier General Arnel Escobal, who was named as the new head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations- Eastern Mindanao.

Nieves said 200 police officers are currently undergoing training. They also plan to recruit an additional of 500 personnel.

Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, PNP chief of the Directorial Staff, said it is important that the Avsegroup is on alert even though the conflict in the Middle East has no direct effect on the country.

Eleazar noted that the Avsegroup serves as the first line of defense against anything that threatens public safety and security.

He said all airports must be well secured in order to deny sympathizers of Iran any opportunity to infiltrate the country.

No threats that are directly connected to the said conflict have been monitored, but Eleazar said it would be better for the PNP to be on guard and take preemptive actions against possible attacks.

Our Avsegroup should start coordinating with appropriate government agencies in order to further fortify our defense mechanism from all these threats to safety and security of our people, Eleazar said.

On Monday, both the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said they were strengthening their respective intelligence monitoring particularly against terrorist sympathizers who may carry out attacks to express support for Iran. (SunStar Philippines)
The committee was constituted last month to improve the quality of data amid criticism of the government over political interferences and is scheduled to meet on 7 January, 2020

New Delhi: Eminent economist and JNU professor C P Chandrasekhar on Monday said he had withdrawn from the newly-constituted 28-member Standing Committee on Statistics (SCES), chaired by former chief statistician Pranob Sen, citing the situation in the university.

The committee was constituted last month to improve the quality of data amid criticism of the government over political interferences and is scheduled to meet on Tuesday (today).

"I regret to inform you that because of the situation in JNU, where I stay, I will be unable to attend tomorrow's [7 January, 2020] meeting. Further, I feel that under the current conditions, this committee is unlikely to be able to restore the credibility of the statistical system, which has been undermined in the recent past," Chandrasekhar wrote in an email to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) and the members of the committee.

Violence broke out at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) here on Sunday night as a mob of masked men, armed with sticks, attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in police.

Many sustained injuries and were admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre here. They were discharged on Monday. JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh suffered a head injury.

Chandrasekhar, an eminent economist, however, added that he wished to record his appreciation of the sustained efforts of a large number of colleagues within the statistical system, whom he had greatly valued working with in the past, to build a robust and credible statistical base.

"It is unfortunate that political pressures have reduced their autonomy now and efforts to consolidate a well-designed system are being subverted. In these circumstances, I will not be able to serve on this committee," he wrote in the email.

Last year in March, expressing concerns over "political interference" in influencing statistical data in India, as many as 108 economists and social scientists had called for restoration of "institutional independence" and integrity to statistical organisations.

Their statement had come in the backdrop of a controversy over a revision of the gross domestic product (GDP) numbers and withholding of employment data by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO).

In November also, the MOSPI had decided not to release the Consumer Expenditure Survey results of 2017-18, citing data quality issues.

Read LIVE updates on JNU Violence here
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Linkedin Devina Heriyanto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 17:07 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c32139955 1 Books isabel-allende,fiction,historical-fiction Free

Historical fiction A Long Petal of the Sea does not only owe its title to Pablo Neruda, but also much of its plot. The Chilean poet coined the phrase "long petal of sea and wine and snow" to describe his motherland, whose people championed him and whose tumultuous politics in the 20th century drove him out of his own country.

Just like Neruda's best-known poems, at its core, A Long Petal of the Sea tells a romance between men and states. To be exact: of political struggle, war and unrequited nationalism of those who are exiled.

The novel begins in Europe, in the midst of the Spanish Civil War which split the country and later saw the rise of dictator Francisco Franco. Victor Dalmau, a young doctor at the Republican front line, finds himself on the verge of life and death, dragged into a political quagmire that will catch him again and again for the rest of his life.

During the war, Victor lost his father to old age and his brother Guillem to the Nationalist force. Now the head of the family, he must guarantee the safety of his mother and Guillem's lover Roser, who is pregnant. The fact that the Dalmau family are Catalan forces them to uproot their lives in order to survive.

Read also: 5 books for your next getaway

After Franco seizes power, the Dalmau family seeks exile in France, which treats the refugees as pests. However, thanks to Neruda's intense lobbying, the government of Chile decides to welcome the refugees in the country.

And so the Dalmau family begins a new life in Chile. Equipped with years of experience as a doctor on the frontline of the war, Victor obtains a post in Chile's prestigious hospital. Roser finds company in music.

In a letter to the readers, Allende wrote that much of the story owed its existence to a real Spanish refugee named Victor that she knew. This Victor also boarded the Winnipeg, a ship commissioned by Neruda, and lived in Chile for 34 years.

The lives of the two Victors were upended by the 1973 military coup in Chile, which marked the beginning of junta leadership led by General Augusto Pinochet. For the Dalmau family, it was as if the Spanish Civil War followed them through the decades and across the ocean.

A Long Petal of The Sea neatly captures the political turmoil in the 20th century through the story of one man and his family, beginning with the Spanish Civil War, World War II, the Cold War and the revolution in South America. Again and again, Allende shows how politics, while most times distant and elitist, can be unflinchingly brutal to the laypeople.

The novel's strength lies in the perseverance of its characters, who persist amid all difficulties. At times, the story of Victor lends a glimmer of hope to the readers: If he could survive war, revolution and exile, then we too can hopefully face whatever is coming in the years ahead. (wng)

__________

A Long Petal of the Sea is available in Periplus and Kinokuniya Indonesia.
She is known for her showstopping curves and envy-inducing figure.

And Victoria Silvstedt looked incredible as she flaunted her toned pins and washboard abs while enjoying a day on the beach in St Barts on Monday.

The Swedish socialite, 45, donned a pale pink bikini that showcased her svelte frame as she strode into the azure sea.

Stunning: Victoria Silvstedt looked incredible as she flaunted her toned pins and washboard abs while enjoying a day on the beach in St Barts on Monday

The former model was in high spirits as she danced with friends after arriving at the beach wearing a crocheted white cover-up over her bikini.

Her blonde tresses cascaded down her back but were pinned up ahead of her quick dip in the water.

She kept her oversized sunglasses on as she submerged herself in the cooling waves, before gesturing for her friends to join her.

Toned: The Swedish socialite, 45, donned a pale pink bikini that showcased her svelte frame as she strode into the azure sea

Beauty: Her blonde tresses cascaded down her back but were pinned up ahead of her quick dip in the water

Cooling: She kept her oversized sunglasses on as she submerged herself in the waves, before gesturing for her friends to join her

Fun: She raised her arms in the air as she encouraged her friends to join her in the water

Antics: The star seemed to enjoy herself as she floated in the water and chatted to a friend

Stylish: The former model was in high spirits as she danced with friends after arriving at the beach wearing a crocheted white cover-up over her bikini

At one point, as she headed back out of the water, a friendly dark golden retriever dog approached her.

The friendly pooch stole the show as it frolicked in the waves.

Victoria has enjoyed a lengthy stint in the spotlight after being chosen to represent her country in the Miss World pageant in 1993.

After her pageant days, the Scandinavian stunner was spotted by Hugh Hefner and went on to become a Playboy Playmate.

Accessories: Victoria added gold bracelets, a watch and a matching necklace to complete the stylish ensemble

Incredible: Victoria looked stunning as she displayed the results of her intense gym workouts

Pageant queen: Victoria has enjoyed a lengthy stint in the spotlight after being chosen to represent her country in the Miss World pageant in 1993

Bunny: After her pageant days, the Scandinavian stunner was spotted by Hugh Hefner and went on to become a Playboy Playmate

High-class: Since her career rocketed, Victoria has modelled for some of the world's most prestigious fashion houses, including Chanel, Dior and Valentino

Downside: Despite the glamorous veneer to her lifestyle as a young model, she revealed there was a dark side in a recent interview with Female First

Victoria said: 'I started very young to model in Paris when I was 18, I remember like starving myself to fit into the clothes'

Since her career rocketed, Victoria has modelled for some of the world's most prestigious fashion houses, including Chanel, Dior and Valentino.

Despite the glamorous veneer to her lifestyle as a young model, she revealed there was a dark side in a recent interview with Female First.

Victoria said: 'I started very young to model in Paris when I was 18, I remember like starving myself to fit into the clothes and it was an amazing experience but you know I did shows for Valentino, Chanel, so it was really prestigious.

'But it never felt like it was my thing, I'm not like a runway skinny model, I'm more curvy. It was torture, I put myself through starvation, you know torturing myself.'

Sun-soaked: She looked tanned and healthy as she walked through the water

Sweet: At one point, as she headed back out of the water, a friendly dark golden retriever dog approached her

Adorable: The friendly pooch stole the show as it frolicked in the waves

Injury: Victoria's friend appeared to hurt her foot as they walked back onto the beach

Muscular frame: The results of an intense fitness regime were on full display

Age-defying: Victoria looked gorgeous during her outing at the beach
For more than 200 Western Canadian pulse producers, the role of the Canadian Grain Commission in protecting producers rights and ensuring the integrity of grain transactions has probably been appreciated more than usual over the past few months.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 6/1/2020 (735 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For more than 200 Western Canadian pulse producers, the role of the Canadian Grain Commission in protecting producers rights and ensuring the integrity of grain transactions has probably been appreciated more than usual over the past few months.

Thats because the CGCs regulatory regime has ensured that theyll be receiving about $11 million in unpaid invoices after pulse handler ILTA Grain Inc. was put under creditor protection in July 2019, resulting in unpaid invoices to farmers.

B.C.-based ILTA sought and received creditor protection after experiencing disruption to its international trading business resulting in reduced revenue and increasing inability to service and repay its sizable debt load. As of its filing for protection under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA), it had assets of $224 million and liabilities of $152 million.

Among those liabilities was close to $14 million it owed to farmers who had delivered their grain to ILTA facilities but were never paid.

Grain handlers in Canada have to be licensed by the Canadian Grain Commission, and as part of the licensing criteria companies must provide some form of security to ensure payment to producers. ILTA secured an insurance policy from Atradius for a maximum of $12 million, making $92,340 in annual premium payments.

But when the CCAA filing took place, there was a challenge by Atradius to the manner in which available funds were being distributed. HSBC and Farm Credit Corporation were the primary secured creditors that were owed a total of $135 million. Several of the companies facilities were sold off to handle that secured debt.

In its filings on the case, PWC, the court appointed monitor, made it clear that the $3 million owed to unsecured creditors would likely not be realized.

Eventually, the insurance issue was hammered out and the CGC was able to enure that 100 per cent of the eligible claims will be paid totalling $11 million.

It is the largest compensation process the CGC has experience in its history, going back to 1912.

"The Canadian Grain Commission is committed to ensuring Canadian grain producers are fairly compensated for their deliveries," said Patti Miller, chief commissioner and deputy head of the Canadian Grain Commission in a prepared statement. "The ILTA Grain Inc. situation has been a difficult one for everyone involved, and we are very pleased to be able to deliver over $11 million in payments to producers who were owed money."

Of the 271 claims that were made, 222 were deemed eligible. Remi Gosselin, a spokesman for the CGC, said ineligible claims were likely as result of producers failing to make claims within a prescribed time period after grain is delivered. As well, cheques that grain handlers send out in payment for grain received must be cashed in a certain period of time. (Some farmers defer payment for tax reasons.)

Among the ineligible claims, only three were from Manitoba farmers. Of the ineligible claims, some were related to canary seed deliveries, but since that is not a commodity regulated by the CGC, no insurance payments were forthcoming in those cases.

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Gosselin said its testimony to the role the CGC plays in the grain industry

"We have never seem something on this scale before," he said. "It is certainly something we are proud of."

In the past 35 years there have been 24 licensed grain handling business failures and the CGC has been able to provide compensation to producers amounting to 94 per cent of the total claims over the years.

"We vie for 100 per cent each time but unfortunately that is not always possible," Gosselin said.

"Producers tend to do business with companies that are licensed and secured with the CGC program."

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
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Linkedin Duncan Graham (The Jakarta Post) Canberra  Tue, January 7, 2020

It would be funny if it wasnt such a floundering for relevance.

Indonesian universities are staging international conferences headlined by overseas academics told to use English even when they are fluent in Indonesian. Often, theyre addressing a largely bewildered audience.

Its the response by some campus administrators to President Joko Jokowi Widodos demands that tertiary educators lift their game and make Indonesia a clever country.

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Tuesday, January 7th, 2020 (2:41 pm) - Score 1,750

ITS, which runs 24 alternative full fibre and hybrid (wireless and fibre) networks across the United Kingdom (current contracts enable access to over 70,000 premises), has today announced a new 45m deal with Aviva Investors to help fast track its plans to build new full fibre data and broadband ISP networks.

Under the new plan ITS will use the extra funding from the global asset management firm (Aviva) to move into several new areas across the UK, where they intend to build full fibre networks that will pass at least 200,000 premises (both homes and businesses). At present ITS is still more focused upon the business connectivity market, although some of their networks do include residential properties too.

Apparently some of this work will also involve an extension of coverage for their existing networks, although exact details have yet to be unveiled. The providers gigabit-capable networks are typically open access and a number of ISPs make use of them via ITS wholesale channel.

ITS said they would continue to reuse public and private infrastructure to accelerate their rollout, and will also collaborate with its partner network(s) to identify where the greatest demand for full fibre services exist in order to prioritise build plans (demand-led).

Daren Baythorpe, CEO of ITS, said: I took over the reins of the business in early 2018 and focused on reshaping the business; strengthening all aspects of our operations and strategic approach. This has created a strong foundation for this next phase of our growth. We are really excited to be working in partnership with an investor of Avivas calibre. It gives us considerable financial backing to further flex our reuse muscles and continue to take advantage of the opportunities ahead. This approach allows us to connect more customers to full fibre far quicker than the industry norm. With BTs public switched telephone and copper network switch off plans now in progress, the race to build alternative futureproof full fibre IP-based networks is on to ensure coverage and choice for end-users  ITS is proud to be playing our role in achieving the UKs ambitious plans.

Sean McLachlan, Senior Director at Aviva Investors, said: Aviva Investors is pleased to support the rollout of ITSs full fibre broadband network. There is a clear and growing demand for this essential infrastructure across the country. The funding from Aviva Investors will allow ITS and its management team to build on its existing infrastructure and brand to accelerate its network expansion and to provide world-class infrastructure across the country.

The most recently completed full fibre network at ITS came from their new infrastructure along the Fylde Coast in Lancashire, although they currently also operate various other networks across areas including Bristol, East Midlands, Greater Manchester, North Wales, the North East and South East including London. Sadly no timetable has been provided for them to achieve the 200,000 premises target.

Otherwise todays deal means that former investor Maven Capital Partners has exited along with a number of other shareholders. Oakley Advisory, advised ITS, supported by its new institutional investor, Aviva Investors.
Deepika Padukone visits JNU campus as students protest against violence by masked miscreants which had left many injured. (Image: ANI)

Top Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone on January 7 visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus in Delhi to express solidarity with those who were protesting against the violence that was unleashed by masked miscreants on students and professors late on January 5.

She was seen sharing the stage with JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, who was seriously injured in the violence, as well as former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, who was seen raising slogans in a video that went viral. According to news agency PTI, she left without addressing the crowd.

Padukone joins a list of top Bollywood actors and film makers who have spoken out against the violence.

On January 6, directors Anurag Kashyap who has been vocal against the Narendra Modi dispensation and Vishal Bhardwaj joined a protest against the violence at Mumbai's Carter Road. Prominent faces from the Hindi film industry such as Tapsee Pannu, Rekha Bharadwaj, Richa Chadha, and Dia Mirza among others, were present at the peaceful public gathering.

Reacting to the development, BJP spokesperson from Delhi Tajinder Singh Bagga called for a boycott of the actor.Others, however, have lauded the superstar for "showing spine".
Are You A Digital Nomad? Here are 4 Affordable Cities You Can Live in

The Internet has given people the opportunity to make a living using telecommunication technologies, work remotely from foreign countries and move from city to city on a whim. "Digital nomads", mostly self-employed writers, artists, programmers, consultants or even stock traders/investors, are people who have taken advantage of these opportunities. Unrestricted by traditional office spaces, they can be found moving from place to place to gain a solid client base and experience. For young workers living in an expensive city like Singapore, where monthly living expenses cost a total average of S$1,210 before rent, becoming a digital nomad and escaping the high costs can be tempting. If youre a digital nomad whos looking for an affordable city as a temporary homebase, weve rounded up 4 cities where the cost of living, including rent, is less than S$1,300.

1. Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi, Georgia

If you love nature and want the conveniences of modern city life, Tbilisi is the place to be. With rugged mountains as its backdrop, Tbilisi attracts those who want a slower pace of life without sacrificing their standard of living. In the Republic of Georgia, nationals of 66 countries are exempted from any visa requirements and are allowed to stay for up to a year. This policy applies to holders of Singapore passports too, giving you ample time to settle in comfortably while making plans for your next move.

This table shows the average cost of day-to-day expenses in Tbilisi, Georgia

According to Numbeo, a single person cost of living per month in Tbilisi, Georgias capital city, is just under S$520 per month without rent. Renting an apartment is also relatively affordable as a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages to S$458 a month, while a 1-bedroom apartment outside of the city centre costs 40% less. This means that for S$800-S$1,000 a month, you can live a normal life, pay rent and reduce your cost of living by about S$200-S$400 compared to what youd spend in Singapore.

2. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Full of honking motorbikes and streetside stalls, Ho Chi Minh City draws travellers who like to live life on the edge. Holders of Singapore passports can stay in Vietnam for 30 days, but if you decide to extend your stay, you can apply for a single-entry 3-month tourist visa in the country, and then renew it for another 3 months for multiple entry if you wish to stay even longer. Even though Ho Chi Minh City is the most expensive city in Vietnam, its still significantly cheaper than Singapore. For instance, you can get a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre for around S$635 per month (or outside the city centre for S$418 per month), the internet costs less than half of what it does in Singapore and you can get a mid-range meal at a restaurant for an average of S$10. All of this equates to an average monthly cost of living, including rent, to S$1,000 to S$1,200 which is close to the average single person cost of living in Singapore without rent.

Story continues

This table shows the average cost of day-to-day expenses in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

3. Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City is an important cultural and financial centre for adventurers who want to live in a cosmopolitan city. Being a holder of a Singapore passport, you dont need a visa to enter Mexico, and you can stay for up to 180 days. As Mexico City is densely populated, you can expect a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre to set you back about S$831 per month, while a 1-bedroom apartment outside of the city centre costs S$507 per month. Despite the higher rents, day-to-day expenses are fairly affordable. Transportation is fairly cheap, with a taxi ride starting from a third of what it would in Singapore and you can find meals that cost less than S$10 per person.

This table shows the average cost of day-to-day expenses in Mexico City, Mexico

In total, you can get by on S$654 a monthhalf of what youd spend in Singapore. Including rent, your monthly expenses will total to S$1,200-S$1,400 depending on which part of the city youre living in. This cost is slightly higher than other cities mentioned in this article, but it's still cheaper than living in Singapore in an HDB flat with roommates in the cheapest district.

4. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is the expat centre of Thailand. Its laid back atmosphere attracts digital nomads and travellers looking for a place to escape the hustle and bustle of big city life. For singles, the cost of living in Chiang Mai is S$737. A 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre is affordable at S$527 a month, while an apartment outside of the city centre is even cheaper at about S$391 a month. Like most cities in Southeast Asia, street food is cheap, costing about S$2 a meal. Holders of Singapore passports are allowed a 30-day visa-free travel to Thailand. But if youd like to stay for a longer period, you can apply for a multiple-entry visa at the Thai embassy in Singapore before your trip. The visa is valid for 6 months and you can enter and exit as many times as you like, giving you up to 270 days stay in a 6-month period. In Chiang Mai, you can live on S$1,100-S$1,400 including rent.

This table shows the average cost of day-to-day expenses in Chiang Mai, Thailand

How to Choose the Best City for You

All of these cities provide facilities for a modern middle-class lifestyle, like gyms, supermarkets, Internet, hip cafes with free WiFi, mobiles with data connectivity, and ridesharing apps. However, quality of life is a subjective matter as it mostly depends on what is important to you, what you need for your lifestyle and how affordable things are. For instance, when it comes to pace of life, Chiang Mai is more laid back while Ho Chi Minhs hectic traffic makes it a little chaotic. Furthermore, all of these cities will require cultural adjustments, including learning the local language, adjusting to customs and being aware of local laws.

Besides cost of living, you might also want to consider air quality, health care options and safety of the city youre contemplating so you can make a more informed decision on your move. We also highly recommend getting an international health insurance plan so you'll be covered in the event of medical emergencies no matter where you go.

The article Are You A Digital Nomad? Here are 4 Affordable Cities You Can Live in originally appeared on ValueChampion's blog.

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While her cousin lured 21-year-old Shania Chartrand outside a Spence Street rooming house, two of her killers circled the block in a car, waiting to shoot, prosecutors alleged Monday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 6/1/2020 (735 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While her cousin lured 21-year-old Shania Chartrand outside a Spence Street rooming house, two of her killers circled the block in a car, waiting to shoot, prosecutors alleged Monday.

Tyrone Anthony Chippeway, 24, Lacy Sorokowski, 24, and Christopher Ryan St. Paul, 26, are on trial for second-degree murder in the March 12, 2017, killing.

(FACEBOOK) Shania Chanel Chartrand, 21, was killed on March 12, while in the 200 block of Spence Street.

"Each had a part to play in the shooting of Shania Chartrand, and all are guilty of murder," Crown attorney Rustyn Ullrich said in an opening address to the jury.

Ullrich alleged Chippeway, who he identified as Chartrands cousin, communicated with the victim through Facebook Messenger, and convinced her to exit the Winnipeg home around 10 p.m.

Sorokowski and St. Paul, Ullrich alleged, "circled the block in a Chrysler 300, waiting for her to come out so she could be targeted and shot And she was shot  once in the chest  ending her life."

Winnipeg Police Service Const. Kyle Pradinuk and his partner were dispatched to the scene, after a 911 report of shots fired in the area.

Pradinuk testified Monday they found Chartrand slumped over and unresponsive on the front steps, but with no visible signs of injury. Pradinuk performed CPR, while his partner administered a dose of anti-opioid Narcan, in case she had suffered a drug overdose.

"We only did this because we didnt see any injuries on her," he said.

Pradinuk said it was only when paramedics arrived several minutes later, and cut away Chartrands shirt he noticed a dime-sized entry wound to her chest. Chartrand was transported to Health Sciences Centre, where she was pronounced dead shortly before 11 p.m.

Pradinuk said he was working on an unrelated case weeks later, when he noticed a man he was interviewing had a copy of Chartrands obituary. A discussion with the man led Pradinuk to search Facebook for two suspects in the Chartrand case.

The WPS officer said one of the suspects, identified on Facebook under a different name, had prominent facial tattoos, a characteristic he used to search the police services database.

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The search yielded a match to Christopher St. Paul, Pradinuk said.

"I believed them to be one and the same person," he said.

The trial continues Tuesday, and is set for four weeks.

Ullrich likened the Crowns case to a jigsaw puzzle, telling jurors when all the pieces are put together they will be left with "only one rational, undeniable conclusion."

"The whole case is really just a matter of common sense," he said. "There will be a number of pieces of the puzzle, and it will be all there for you, and more importantly, they will all fit."

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca
Personal experience





Ambassador Hugo de Zela holds a degree in International Relations from the Diplomatic Academy of Peru.





He has studies in Economic and Administrative Sciences at the Universidad de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay, as well as doctorate studies in Political Sciences at the Universidad del Salvador (Argentina).





A career diplomat with 42 years of service, he has served as permanent representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), Peru's Ambassador to Brazil and Argentina, Peru's national coordinator in the Rio Group, as well as a member of Peru's delegation in border negotiations with Ecuador (1997-1998).





He has also served as chief of staff of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States on two occasions (1989-1994 and 2011-2015).





From April 5, 2018, to April 21, 2019, he served as Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister.





Since April 22, 2019, he is Ambassador of Peru to the United States.
Jeenah Moon/Reuters

As Harvey Weinstein sat silently in court on the first day of his highly anticipated rape trial, several of his accusers blasted the disgraced movie mogul outside the Manhattan courthouse.

Dear Harvey, no matter what lies you tell yourself, you did this. Today Lady Justice is staring down a super predator. You, said actress Rose McGowan, whos accused Weinstein of rape. I came here today to see this through.

Seven women in red, including actresses Rosanna Arquette and Dominique Huett, rallied together outside of Manhattan Supreme Court to stand for women who have survived sexual assault. The group represents just a handful of the over 80 women who have lobbed sexual-abuse accusations against Weinstein in the last two years.

About a dozen protesters stood outside court Monday as Weinstein, 67, showed up using a walker. He appeared slightly disheveled in a black suit and tie.

Weinstein faces five charges, including predatory sexual assault and first-degree rape, for allegedly performing a sex act on his former production assistant in 2006 and raping another woman in 2013. Prosecutors allege the Oscar winner used the power and prestige of his production empire, The Weinstein Company, to cover up his decades-long predatory behavior. He has repeatedly denied all allegations of sexual assault.

Harvey Weinstein Arrives at Court as Long-Awaited Rape Trial Kicks Off

He doesnt realize what hes done at all, and I dont think he ever will, McGowan said. He has something sick in his head like many serial rapists.

That weve come to this moment of justice is staggering. The trial means so much to so many, but itll mean the most to the brave women testifying & to all of us Silence Breakers, she added.

Other accusers who attended Mondays press conference included Louise Godbold, Sarah Ann Masse, Lauren Sivan, and Paula Williams.

During final pre-trial motions on Monday, Weinsteins defense team argued they have not been given enough access to the prosecutions list of accusers. Prosecutors hit back by saying they are not in the business of providing wholesale information about alleged sexual assault victims.

Story continues

The two sides also discussed how to keep inevitable media attention surrounding the trial from influencing the jury, as well as the possibility that jurors may see embarrassing photos.

There are 72 photographs taken, and were going to be asking for the admission of seven of them, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon said, adding that while the photos are very, very important for the jury to see, the prosecution has taken steps to minimize any undue prejudice toward Weinstein.

Justice James M. Burke delivered a blow to Weinsteins defense team when he denied a motion to sequester the jurors throughout the trial and ruled that a detective who was accused of withholding evidence from prosecutors cannot be called as a witness.

Harvey Weinstein to Be Arraigned on New Indictment

That detectives handling of actress Lucia Evans case ultimately led to the dismissal of one of the charges in the October 2018 indictment against Weinstein. Evans had accused Weinstein of forcing her to engage in oral sex at his downtown Manhattan office in 2004though a friend later told authorities she claimed the encounter was consensual, a conflicting statement of which prosecutors were never made aware.

Jury selection, for which over 200 New Yorkers have been summoned, begins Tuesday and is expected to last two weeks.

He seemed like a very broken man, McGowan said of Weinsteins courtroom entrance Monday morning. I think hes taken some good acting tips. He seemed cowardly, he wouldnt look at us.

Arquette, who alleged the disgraced movie mogul forcibly came on to her in a hotel room in the early '90s, had one message on behalf of other Weinstein accusers: We arent going anywhere. The Pulp Fiction actress garnered cheers as she insisted times up on sexual harassment and the culture of silence on sexual abuse and abusers.

Unfortunately, there are so many people who feel sorry for the rapist, especially in Hollywood, Arquette said.

The actress, who said she suffered multiple career setbacks after she rejected the Hollywood titan, was one of the first to come forward against him in an interview with The New Yorker in 2017.

Although the two actresses will not speak in the anticipated six-week trial, jurors will hear from six of Weinsteins accusers. The prosecutions case, however, will largely rest on the two alleged victims who made the initial 2018 charges: Mimi Haleyi and an unnamed woman.

Prosecutors allege Weinstein forcibly ripped out Haleyis tampon and performed oral sex on the former production assistant at his Soho home in 2006. The second woman, who has remained anonymous, was allegedly raped by Weinstein in a New York hotel room in 2013.

The whole world is going to watch whats going on, its an important day for women, Gloria Allred, who represents the two Weinstein accusers, told The Daily Beast outside the courtroom Monday.

Sex-Trafficking Lawsuit Against Harvey Weinstein Can Proceed, Judge Rules

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The Duchess of York has resigned as director of a troubled Chinese-backed West End company which she previously borrowed 90,000 from.

Sarah Ferguson, 60, stepped down from the executive role at Gate Ventures to focus on 'other business and charitable ventures,' the firm said on Tuesday.

Gate was founded in 2015 by songwriter and entrepreneur Geoff Morrow, and has backed West End theatre shows including 42nd Street and Sunset Boulevard.

Sarah Ferguson, 60, stepped down from the executive role at Gate Ventures to focus on 'other business and charitable ventures,' the firm said on Tuesday (Ferguson pictured with the Duke of York in June 2019)

The duchess had worked 'tirelessly alongside the board to secure the future of the business' in some 'very challenging conditions', Lord Grade of Yarmouth, 76, the former BBC boss who chairs Gate, said in a statement on the company's website before Christmas.

Gate said Fergie would continue on as global ambassador, The Times reported.

The company, which refused to reveal how much the duchess was paid for her role, has endured a difficult financial period, culminating in a dispute with a Chinese shareholder over failed fundraising.

In August it had to fend off administration attempts by the investor, Zheng Yongxiong.

However, at a hearing at the end of September, the High Court in London threw out the lender's application to put the company into administration.

The ruling allowed the firm to resume its search for new investors. Gate later said it had a 'potential agreement' from an unnamed backer.

The firm posted a 2.7million loss for the year ended June 30, 2019.

Prince Andrew's ex wife joined Gate in 2017 as an executive director 'to assist with the branding and marketing of its products and productions. Sarah Ferguson Duchess of York Discover Film party at the Ivy Club, London

Prince Andrew's ex wife joined Gate in 2017 as an executive director 'to assist with the branding and marketing of its products and productions'.

Her tea company, Ginger & Moss, had an online joint venture with Gate, which was founded by Mr Morrow, who has penned hits for stars including Elvis Presley.

Gate's shares, listed in Copenhagen, have dived 99 per cent since floating in 2016.

The Daily Mail reported last August that the duchess had invoiced the Gate in April 2017 for 200,000 for marketing and promotion and had been given a 90,000 loan in July.

It is understood that the 90,000 has been paid back.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with visiting Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 6, 2020. [Xinhua/Liu Weibing]

BEIJING, January 6 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday that as good neighbors, friends, comrades and partners, China and Laos enjoy a shared future.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with visiting Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi said the leadership of the communist parties and socialist systems of the two countries define their political nature.

He called on the two countries to work "hand in hand and side by side" to maintain close high-level exchanges, enhance exchanges on governance, jointly improve the ability to govern and safeguard the common interests of both countries and the developing world.

"China will continue to firmly support Lao efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and dignity," said Xi. "Next year is the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos, and therefore the bilateral relationship will enter a critical stage."

Xi said China is willing to work with Laos to promote the building of a community with a shared future between the two countries, advance the alignment of development strategies, accelerate the construction of the China-Laos economic corridor, advance major cooperation projects in areas such as railways and economic parks, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges as well as coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs, so as to lift bilateral ties to new heights.

Thongloun conveyed to Xi the greetings of Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit, who is also general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, and congratulated the People's Republic of China on its achievements since its founding 70 years ago.

Thongloun expressed the belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi at the core, the Chinese people will definitely achieve the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

He also offered his congratulations for the success of the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee held in October, saying that China's experience in upholding and improving socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing governance is worthy of study.

Thongloun said the action plan reached by the two sides on building a community with a shared future pointed out the direction for bilateral ties, and Laos is implementing the plan seriously.

Thongloun added that Laos will actively work for the completion of important Belt and Road projects such as the Laos-China railway as scheduled, and thus contribute to the economic development and improving people's livelihood of Laos.

(Source: Xinhua)
The devastating impact of Australia's bushfire crisis can be seen around the world as smoke drifts as far away as South America and Antarctica.

The UN World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said smoke has made its way across the Pacific Ocean, turning the sunsets in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires an eerie shade of red.

'The fires have led to hazardous air quality, which has affected human health, in major cities in Australia, spreading to New Zealand and sent smoke drifting thousands of kilometres across the Pacific to South America,' WMO spokeswoman Clare Nullis said.

She said smoke had 'probably' reached Antarctica.

Scroll down for video

In New Zealand, hikers captured photos on the Franz Josef glacier where snow had turned light brown as a result of thick smoke travelling over the Tasman Sea.

A thick haze of smoke blanketed the Tasman Glacier in New Zealand

The UN World Meteorological Organisation said smoke has made its way across the Pacific Ocean, turning the sunsets in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires an eerie shade of red (pictured)

Across the ditch in New Zealand, hikers captured photos on the Franz Josef and Tasman glaciers where snow had turned light brown as a result of thick smoke travelling over the Tasman Sea.

Smoke has also filled the skies of Chile's capital Santiago, more than 11,000km away.

At least 25 people are dead and six million hectares of land have been destroyed nationwide - an area similar to size of the Republic of Ireland.

On Monday, Canberra's air quality was the worst of any major city in the world after winds carried in smoke from bushfires in New South Wales.

While milder conditions on Tuesday have given emergency crews temporary relief, the weather is set to turn on Friday and climate experts believe the hottest and driest days are yet to come.

Temperatures could hit the mid-30s on the south coast and soar to into the 40s in other parts of NSW by Friday.

Smoke travelled more than 11,000 kilometres away to Chile (pictured)

Thick plumes of smoke tower into the sky as fires ravage East Gippsland in Victoria

Data from Monday shows the aerosol from the bushfires has now reached South America

Fire season usually peaks in February - the hottest and driest month when the nation has been hit by the likes of Black Saturday and Ash Wednesday - the worst bushfire disasters in national history.

The Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) long-range climate outlook predicted above average temperatures and below average rainfall for much of the east through until at least the end of March.

Weatherzone meteorologist Tom Hough said: 'Warmer than average and drier than average is the trend that looks to be continuing.

'Based off the climate outlooks it doesn't look like we're going to see any significant rainfall.'

In a piece for The Conversation, Monash University emeritus professor Neville Nicholls said Australia has already suffered through severe heatwaves this summer, but it may get worse.

'They usually peak in the middle and end of summer, so the worst may be yet to come.'

Billions of animals are believed to have perished in the blazes and experts fear some may now be extinct.

As the unprecedented crisis worsens with warnings of power brown outs, NSW transport minister and MP for the fire-ravaged south coast, Andrew Constance, compared the fires to 'an atomic bomb'.

'I've got to be honest with you, this isn't a bushfire it's an atomic bomb,' he said, as he revealed he had been defending his own home from embers.
Heads of state of the E3 group of countries: (L) French President Emmanuel Macron during a news conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris on April 25, 2019. (Philippe Wojazer/Reuters), (C) German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a press conference after the board meeting of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Berlin, Germany, June 18, 2018. (Reuters/Hannibal Hanschke), (R) Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is seen on Downing Street in London, Britain on Oct. 29, 2019. (Toby Melville/Reuters)

E3 Leaders & NATO Urge Iran to Refrain From Violent Action and Respect the Nuclear Deal

France, Germany, and the UK condemned the recent attacks on Coalition forces in Iraq. They emphasized the negative role played by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Quds forces previously led by assassinated General Qassem Soleimani. They also urged Iran to to refrain from further violent action, and abide by the 2015 nuclear deal, in a joint statement issued on Jan. 6.

In the joint statement, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on all parties to de-escalate. The current cycle of violence in Iraq must be stopped, they said.

Another crisis risks jeopardizing years of efforts to stabilize Iraq, says the statement.

The three countries also reaffirmed their determination to fight ISIS.

We also reaffirm our commitment to continue the fight against Daesh [ISIS], which remains a high priority. The preservation of the Coalition is key in this regard. We, therefore, urge the Iraqi authorities to continue providing the Coalition all the necessary support, the three countries said in the statement.

We stand ready to continue our engagement with all sides in order to contribute to defuse tensions and restore stability to the region, they said.

Macron also expressed Frances solidarity with its allies during a telephone conversation with President Trump on Jan.5 and said Iran must avoid destabilizing actions, reported EurActiv.

Technicians work at the Arak heavy water reactors secondary circuit, as officials and media visit the site, near Arak, 150 miles southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran, on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019. (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP)

Iran Nuclear Deal

The three countries commonly referred to as E3, which are also the signatories of the JCPOA (The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actionan agreement signed in 2015, also known as Iran nuclear deal,) urged Iran, in the statement, to reverse all measures inconsistent with the deal.

It was in response to the announcement made by an Iranian government spokesman on Jan. 5 that Iran would no longer abide by the limits of the 2015 nuclear deal intended to curb its burgeoning nuclear program.

According to the statement from the Iranian regime, The Islamic Republic of Iran will end its final limitations in the nuclear deal, meaning the limitation in the number of centrifuges, the statement reads. Therefore, Irans nuclear program will have no limitations in production, including enrichment capacity and percentage and number of enriched uranium and research and expansion.

However, Iran would still cooperate with the International Atomic Agency if sanctions were lifted, according to the NY Times.

In 2018, the U.S. withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and re-imposed tight sanctions on Iran previously lifted as a part of the deal.

Spoke w Iranian FM @JZarif about recent developments. Underlined need for de-escalation of tensions, to exercise restraint & avoid further escalation. Also discussed importance of preserving #JCPOA, which remains crucial for global security. I am committed to role as coordinator.  Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) January 4, 2020

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also urged Iran to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East in his conversation with the Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif, according to the EU statement. He also stressed the importance of adhering to the 2015 nuclear deal, offering his continued engagement in coordinating the efforts of the remaining participants to implement the agreement to completion, and invited Zarif to Brussels to further discuss these matters, said the EU statement.

A headquarters building of Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) burns after being torched by demonstrators during ongoing anti-government protests, in Nassiriya, Iraq on Jan. 5, 2020. (Stringer/Reuters)

Stability in the Middle East

On Jan. 5 members of the Iraqi parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling for foreign troops to leave the country.

Iraq has been torn between its close relationship with Iran and its relationship with Washington after a drone strike killed Soleimani.

According to EurActiv mostly Shiite parliamentarians backed the resolution, as the special session was boycotted by most Sunni Muslim and Kurdish lawmakers, who believe that kicking out United States-led forces would leave Iraq vulnerable to insurgents, undermine security and heighten the power of Iranian-backed Shiite militias.

In response to the resolution, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended the U.S. militarys presence in Iraq and told Fox News that the United States has been supporting Iraqi sovereignty. Weve been continuing to take down the terrorist threat against the Iraqi people, Pompeo said.

On Jan. 5, President Donald Trump threatened harsh sanctions against Iraq if United States troops are expelled from the country, according to White House media pool reports.

Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary-General of NATO talks at a press conference while attending the NATO summit at the Grove Hotel in Hertford, England on Dec. 4, 2019. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called an extraordinary meeting of NATOs North Atlantic Council on Jan.6 to address current tensions in the Middle East and implications for NATOs training mission in Iraq.

Stoltenberg said in the press conference after the meeting that NATO Allies take part in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS at the invitation of the Iraqi government. An important part of NATOs mission in Iraq is to train local forces and build local capacity to ensure that ISIS is defeated and is not able to return. However, the training activities have been suspended for the time being to ensure the safety of personnel.

Stoltenberg said that NATO Allies called for de-escalation, condemning Irans support for a variety of different terrorist groups and their attacks on Coalition forces, as well as Irans activities to destabilize the Middle East region. The Allies are also against Irans obtaining nuclear weapons, he said.

Allies  [are] extremely concerned about the recent attacks we have seen against civilian energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, or against Coalition bases in Iraqbases which are important for our efforts to fight international terrorism in Iraq and in Syria, he said.

We remain strongly committed to the fight against international terrorism, Stoltenberg said.

In answer to a reporters question, Stoltenberg explained that the airstrike on Soleimani was solely a United States decision and was not a decision taken by either the Global Coalition nor NATO.

Reuters and Epoch Times reporters, Petr Svab, and Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
Even as Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), here on Tuesday, to show solidarity with students, the JNUSU president was unmoved and targeted the actor for not speaking at the meet.

When you are in a position you should speak up, JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh said after the actor left without addressing the meet.

Deepika was spotted standing with students at the Sabarmati T-point, where a public meeting had been called by JNU alumni over Sundays violence. She also met Ghosh who received injuries. Padukone didnt address the meeting and left after an hour.

Amid drones flying over the meeting to keep an eye on students, Aishe targeted the JNU administration for filing complaints against her. There are 3 FIRs against me, but I am not scared of the V-C. Even if you file 70 FIRs for all the 70 days of struggle against fee hike, we will continue our struggle

The meeting was also attended by former JNU students, including Sitaram Yechury, Yogendra Yadav, D. Raja and Kanhaiya Kumar.

Kumar, who was targeted for allegedly raising anti-national slogans in JNU few years ago, said, I am called the leader of tukde-tukde gang. I take it as an honour.

Hatred for the JNU is not hatred for a university or ideology, but the thought as how a country should be, Kanhaiya. The government is making a mistake. They have chosen an enemy that is intelligent and studies, he remarked.

--IANS

rag/pcj
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Linkedin Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 18:35 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3213fb7a 1 National BMKG,flood,Banten,West-Java,Jakarta-great-flood-2020 Free

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned people in Banten and West Java to remain vigilant as heavy rainfall is expected to hit the area in the coming days.

Agency head Dwikorita Karnawati said heavy rainfall on Wednesday was forecast to occur in the west of Banten.

Rainfall with high intensity on Jan. 8 is forecast to occur in the west of Banten. Banten still needs to remain alert, she told reporters after a coordination meeting on flood-rescue efforts in Jakarta on Tuesday.

[Heavy rain will also occur] in the center and west of Central Java, as well as in Gorontalo on Wednesday until Thursday.

Meanwhile, rainfall with high intensity from Thursday until Friday is forecast to occur in West Java, especially in its central and western areas.

Thus, the only expansion in the predicted area is the west of Banten, she said, adding that the seas from West Sumatra to Lampung were likely to experience similar rainfall. So please, everyone be prepared, she said.

The agency also forecast that rainfall of moderate to heavy intensity could potentially occur throughout the country in the week ahead, namely in southern Sumatra, the whole of Java Island, Bali, almost all of East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua.

The severe flooding that hit Greater Jakarta and Banten has affected over 500,000 people and claimed 67 lives, 31 in West Java, 20 in Banten and 16 in Jakarta.

About 14,535 people remained in shelters as of Tuesday at 6 a.m., according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).
TORONTO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company today announced that it has appointed Pawel Dangel to its Board of Directors.

The Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company acts as a guardian of the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Established in 1941, the Trust Principles are designed to preserve Thomson Reuters independence, integrity and freedom from bias in the gathering and dissemination of information and news. The new appointment takes immediate effect.

Pawel Dangel is currently the Artistic Director at Theatre Ateneum, one of Warsaw's leading dramatic theatres, and a Member of the Advisory Council for the Department of Liberal Arts at the University of Warsaw. With extensive experience in financial services and the insurance industry, Mr. Dangel most recently served as CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of Allianz Insurance Group of Companies in Poland. Prior to joining Allianz, he was Vice President of the Management Board, Sales and Marketing Director of Nationale-Nederlanden Polska (ING Group). In addition to his business expertise, Mr. Dangel has a strong interest and background in theatre, having worked as a theatre producer, director, broadcaster and lecturer across Poland and in London for the Rose Bruford College of Speech & Drama, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Riverside Studios, The Polish Speaking Theatre, BBC Radio and Radio Free Europe.

Kim Williams, Chairman of the Founders Share Company's Board, said, "On behalf of my fellow directors, I am delighted to welcome Pawel Dangel to the Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company board and to have him as a Trustee of the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. As an experienced member of the creative community in Poland and also with extensive commercial knowledge from a variety of roles, Pawel will enrich our board skill sets and discussions from a unique perspective."

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of business information services. Our products include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the world's most global news service  Reuters. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com.

CONTACT

Andrew Green Senior Director, Corporate Affairs +1 646 223 4228 [email protected]

SOURCE Thomson Reuters

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Damon Motorcycles doesn't want to become the Tesla of e-moto companies. But the startup does believe its EV two-wheeler is the first to capture the ethos of Tesla owners.

That's the target market for Damon's new $24,995 Hypersport, according to CEO Jay Giraud.

The Vancouver-based startup unveiled the e-motorcycle today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, after offering a teaser in December.

Damon's Hypersport has a 200 mph top-speed, 200 miles of highway range, 147 ft-lbs of torque, charges to 80% in 20 minutes and weighs less than 500 pounds, Giraud told TechCrunch on a call.

The company's new EV is cloud-connected, manages performance through digital riding modes and will get riders from 0-60 mph in less than 3 seconds.

These specs alone would make the Hypersport impressive in an increasingly competitive e-moto market, but they're only part of the Damon package. The seed-stage company also creates proprietary, digital safety technology engineered to overcome (what it sees as) common flaws in motorcycle design.

Damon Motorcycles Hypersport Sensors

Were trying to change the industry by addressing the issues of safety and handling and comfort and the problems that have persisted with everyone in the industry, including all the e-moto companies today," Giraud told TechCrunch in December.

To that end, Damon has positioned its Hypersport as an ultra-fast, smart and safe motorcycle by infusing it with unique tech features. To start, the EV is equipped with the companys CoPilot system, which uses sensors, radar and cameras to detect and track moving objects around the motorcycle  including blind spots  and alert riders to danger.

Damon Motorcycles CoPilot

Damon has also addressed the one-size-fits-all problem in motorcycle design, integrating a system on its Hypersport for adjustable ergonomics. The startups debut EV allows riders to electronically shift the motorcycles windscreen, seat, foot-pegs and handlebars to accommodate different positions and conditions  from upright city riding to more aggressive high-speed runs.

Story continues

Damon is taking pre-orders for its Hypersport and will skip dealers, opting for a direct-to-consumer sales and service model.

The company enters a stagnant American motorcycle market that's becoming crowded with EV offerings. New motorcycle sales in the U.S. have dropped by roughly 50% since 2008  with sharp declines in ownership by everyone under 40  and have never recovered, according to Motorcycle Industry Council stats.

In a bid to revive sales and the interest of younger riders, in 2019 Harley-Davidson became the first of the big gas manufacturers to offer a street-legal e-moto for sale in the U.S.  the LiveWire  which is a forerunner to an HD product-line of electric-powered two-wheelers.

Harley Davidson Livewire static 1

Harley-Davidson's LiveWire

Harley's entry followed several failed electric motorcycle startups  Alta Motors, Mission Motors and Brammo  and put it in the market with existing EV ventures, such as Zero  which debuted its $19,000, 120 mph SR/F in 2019.

High-performance Italian EV company Energica has expanded marketing and sales in the U.S., and 2020 should also see e-moto debuts by California-based Lightning Motorcycles and Fuell, a French and American-founded company with plans to release the $10,000, 150-mile range Fllow.

Hows does Damon Motorcycles scale in a contracting U.S. motorcycle market with expanding EV entrants?

The company's CEO, Jay Giraud, believes the startup's melding of superior performance and safety features will give Damon a comparative advantage over other offerings.

He also sees Damon's Hypersport (and planned subsequent models) as the first motorcycles that can sell to an existing but largely untapped e-moto market segment: Tesla owners.

"They know electric drive...they know what insane acceleration feels like...and they appreciate tech that makes the safety of the EV, on top of the unbelievable performance," said Giraud  who co-founded Damon with fellow Canadian Dominique Kwong.

Damon Founders Jay Giraud and Dominique Kwong

Jay Giraud and Dominique Kwong

But are four-wheel Tesla owners really potential motorcycle buyers?

"Sure they are," said to Giraud. "Tons and tons of Tesla owners own motorbikes and over 1,700 people who filled out an interest form on our website told us they were [Tesla] owners."

Damon is banking on what Giraud referred to as the Tesla-effect. "Within about six months of owning a Tesla...people start looking around for what else in their home and garage should be electric. And those are the customers we're going after first," Giraud said.

So time and sales stats will tell if Damon can attract affluent four-wheel EV owners to buy $25,000, 200 mph electric motorcycles.

We'll also see if the company's innovative design can create a Damon effect  shifting market expectations on OEMs and e-moto startups to offer both high-performance and extensive digital-safety features on motorcycles.
CEIPAL, a SaaS platform for the front and back-office business operations of staffing companies, today announced that it has acquired Zoniac, an ATS platform for recruiting and consulting firms. CEIPAL is investing heavily in its market-leading platform and is growing fast, gaining market share thanks to its superior product, competitive pricing and AI (artificial intelligence) technology. This acquisition creates a larger, more experienced software engineering team with an unparalleled capacity to grow and develop these platforms as the company expands its operations in India and the global market.

The desire to join with Zoniac was driven by the shared purpose of both teams: to revolutionize and enhance the staffing and recruiting industry. The Zoniac team adds expertise and manpower to support CEIPAL's aggressive growth and development goals, setting the stage to better serve customers and further the advanced and AI-driven work for which both companies are recognized.

Were thrilled to bring on the Zoniac teams ATS expertise, experience, and insights, said CEIPAL Founder Sameer Penakalapati. Were confident that the move will enhance CEIPALs offerings, grow our position in the staffing industry, and better serve our shared customer base.

Once the existing Zoniac team is harmonized with CEIPAL in the Chennai area, CEIPAL plans to make additional local hires for sales and other key positions. By building on Zoniacs success, the goal is to make its location the seat of CEIPALs new Chennai operations. A strong presence founded on Zoniacs sterling reputation will only further CEIPALs growth plans, as the company continues to serve and grow both of its customer bases. These new hires will be in addition to aggressive growth in sales, engineering, and customer support staff and expertise in Rochester, NY, where CEIPAL is headquartered.

We are excited about the opportunities this partnership opens for the team at Zoniac to achieve even greater success in the staffing and recruiting industry, said Vittal Srimushnam, President and CEO of Zoniac. Our team will have immediate access to a national sales force, some of the worlds most innovative engineers, and a plethora of financial, marketing, and development resources worldwide.

To learn more about CEIPALs acquisition of Zoniac and how customers of both companies will benefit, please visit our FAQ page at (https://ceipal.com/zoniac-acquisition-faq) for a complete list of our most frequently asked questions and answers.

About CEIPAL

CEIPAL provides a SaaS platform that automates both the front- and back-office business operations of staffing companies. CEIPAL offers a complete workforce management platform including a fully integrated applicant tracking system (ATS) and human resource information system (HRIS). Founded in 2015, CEIPAL now serves over 1,400 customers and 20,000 recruiters globally. For more information visit ceipal.com.

About Zoniac

Founded in 2000 Zoniac, Inc. is an IT consulting firms lifecycle operations systemfrom resume to invoicing. The systems are delivered in the (SaaS) cloud and the Zoniac solution automates and integrates all core processes of recruiting, marketing, deploying, and managing consultants on a temporary basis. The systems are designed to satisfy the needs of candidates, consultants, account managers, recruiters, resource managers, and accounting and HR departments, as well as management teams.
MBABANE - Swazi Gases (Pty) Ltd, trading as Air Liquide is demanding a sum of E480 658.38, from Applied Gas Swaziland (Pty) Ltd.



The plaintiff (Air Liquide) in its particulars of claim filed at the High Court, alleged that on June 27, 2018 at Nelspruit, South Africa it entered into a partially oral and partially written agreement of sale and delivery of goods and rental (right to use) of equipment.



This allegedly was done on the written terms and conditions as contained in the Applied Gas Swaziland (Pty) Ltd signed written application to Air Liquide for credit facilities.



During the meeting, the plaintiff claimed that it was represented by Bruno Schroeven and Applied Gas Swaziland (Pty) Ltd, being represented by Kenneth Prentice (second defendant).



Agreement



The alleged terms of the agreement that the two companies reportedly entered into are said to have included that Air Liquide would from time to time, at the specific instance and request of the first defendant, sell and deliver or rent goods to Applied Gas Swaziland (Pty) Ltd.

This was purportedly to be done at the plaintiffs prevailing prices and charges from time to time alternatively as reasonable prices.



Air Liquide also alleged that both companies, through their representatives had agreed that payment of the goods thus sold or rented to the first defendant would be due and payable without deduction or off-set within 30 calendar days from the date of the invoice alternatively within a reasonable time.



All costs incurred in any action by the plaintiff against the first defendant in any competent court, including costs on the attorney/client scale and attorneys collection commission, would be payable by the first defendant, submitted Air Liquide.



These are allegations contained in the plaintiffs particulars of claim whose veracity is still to be tested in court and the respondent is yet to file its detailed papers in the event it is disputing the claim against it.



Also, the plaintiff alleged that the pair had agreed that a certificate signed, inter alia by the secretary/ manager or any director/member of the credit reflecting the amount owing by Applied Gas Swaziland (Pty) Ltd to Air Liquide would be prima facie proof of the amount therein stated.



The plaintiff further claimed that contemporaneously and on or about June 27, 2018 while at Nelspruit, the second defendant executed a deed of suretyship in favour of Air Liquide and therein bound himself, in writing, as surety and co-principal debtor with the first defendant of all its obligations to the plaintiff.

Following this deed, Air Liquide alleged that the terms of the suretyship included that Prentice renounced the benefits of excussion, cession of action, division of debt and revision of accounts.



They allegedly also consisted that all costs incurred in any action by the plaintiff against the first defendant in any competent court, including costs on the attorney/client scale attorneys collection commission, would be paid by him.



Resquest



Pursuant to the agreement, Air Liquide performed fully in terms of the agreement and at the fist defendants instance and request, delivered and rented to the first defendant the goods and duly invoiced the Applied Gas Swaziland (Pty) Ltd in respect thereof, Air Liquide submitted.



The plaintiff further alleged that at the time when the first defendant had become liable for payment to Air Liquide, failed to make payment in accordance with the agreement, and since August 2019 has made a payment of E10 000, leaving a balance of E480 658.38.



Air Liquide claimed that despite demand, both defendants had failed and or refused and or neglected to make due payment to it of the said outstanding balance which remained owing, due payable and payable to the plaintiff by the defendants.

The prayers of Air Liquide are that judgment against the defendants, jointly and severally, the one paying the other to be absolved for the payment of the sum of E480 658.38.



The plaintiff demanded that its compensation should incur an interest of 9 per cent per annum as from the dates of summons to date of final payment. The summons was filed on December 12, 2019.

Air Liquide further sought that the costs of suit be incurred by the defendant.



In the event the defendants were disputing the claim, Applied Gas Swaziland (Pty) Ltd and Prentice were advised to within 10 days of receiving the summons to file their notice of intention to oppose and serve a copy thereof to the plaintiff.



Thereafter, the defendants were further advised that they should within 21 days after serving notice of intention to defend, file with the registrar of the High Court and serve upon the plaintiffs attorneys, a plea, and exception, notice to strike out with or without a counter-claim.



Air Liquide is represented by attorneys from Currie-Wright Attorneys.








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Andhra Pradesh government whip and Macherla MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy has accused Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supporters of attacking him while he was on his way to Vijayawada and termed it a part of the political game of Chandrababu Naidu.

"Some persons under the guise of farmers attacked my car. TDP is taking the cover of farmers to create law and order problems. This is part of the political game of Chandrababu Naidu. He, for his political needs, dragged some youth into this," Reddy said according to a press release on Tuesday.

The Macherla MLA further said that Naidu was trying to divert the people's attention from the prestigious 'Amma Vodi' scheme which is to be launched on January 9.

"He is trying to divert the attention from the govt's prestigious scheme 'Amma Vodi' which Jagan will launch on 9th January. Naidu is worried and wants to divert attention from that. Dharna was going on the highway, I was going to Vijayawada. My car was going through a service road, some people came from a distance, pelted stones on my car and attacked," he added.

The minister added that he had lodged a complaint with the Director-General and Superintendent of Police demanding strict punishment for the culprits.

He also urged people to keep faith in Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's decision regarding Amaravati and not fall in TDP's trap.

Meanwhile, Guntur range Inspector General Vineet Brijal informed that cases have been filed against those who took part in highway blockade at Chinna Kakani and on those who attacked the MLA's vehicle.

"The agitators caused trouble to many commuters on the highway which has heavy traffic. The Rasta Roko or Dharna programs caused severe troubles to the commuters due to traffic interruption. Stern action will be taken on the responsible", he said in an official statement.

Police also informed that section 144 CrPC and section 30 Police Act are imposed keeping law and order in mind and violators will face stubborn action.

Reddy's car was vandalised on Highway 16 near Chinna Kakani village in Guntur district during farmers' protest demanding Amaravati to be retained as the only capital in Andhra Pradesh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sanjay Raut, however, clarified, 'if anyone talks of freedom of Kashmir from India then it will not be tolerated.a (Photo Credit: File Photo)

New Delhi:

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut while reacting to the controversial poster Free Kashmir" which was displayed at Mumbai's Gateway of India said, the protesters meant Kashmir free of restrictions not otherwise. "I read in newspaper that those who held 'free Kashmir' banner clarified that they want to be free of restrictions on internet services, mobile services and other issues, news agency ANI quoted Raut as saying.

Nationwide outrage over the violence in the JNU campus in New Delhi found its expression in Maharashtra on Monday where protests were organised to denounce the attack on students, teachers and vandalism inside the prestigious university.

Sanjay Raut, however, clarified, 'if anyone talks of freedom of Kashmir from India then it will not be tolerated.

Reacting sharply to the poster, former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis took to Twitter and wrote: "Protest is for what exactly? Why slogans of 'Free Kashmir'? How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai? 'Free Kashmir' slogans by Azadi gang at 2km from CMO? Uddhav ji are you going to tolerate this Free Kashmir Anti India campaign right under your nose??? (sic)," he tweeted.

On Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that the mob attack reminded him of 26/11 Mumbai Attacks. Thackeray termed those masked goons as coward. He also said that such people cannot be backed at any level. Thackery also demanded that the identities of the masked thugs must be revealed.

Protests against the violence - that had left at least 34 people, including JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh, injured - were held in Mumbai, Aurangabad and Pune among other cities. Political leaders led by state Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also condemned the attack.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore. Photo: Al Seib/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag

Californias gang database, CalGang, contains anywhere from 90,000 to 150,000 names, many belonging to people who arent gang members at all. A haphazard approach to inclusion is at the root of this controversy: Police can add you because you gave a suspected gang member a ride in your car, for example, or grabbed lunch with them, or falsely claimed gang membership as a way to shield yourself from violence in a neighborhood where being unaffiliated is perilous. And the legal consequences can be steep. People labeled as gang members face harsher sentencing guidelines in criminal trials and can be subjected to gang injunctions, which are basically restraining orders that make otherwise legal activities  walking down a certain street, wearing certain colors, interacting with certain people  illegal and subject to criminal prosecution.

The database is roughly 90 percent people of color (who comprise 45 percent of the states population) and is notoriously opaque. Before reforms were enacted in 2017, only minors were required to be notified when they were added to it, and a process for getting a name removed  if you were lucky enough to know it was there in the first place  had been nonexistent and remains arduous to this day. (Your name would have been deleted automatically only if your file hadnt been updated in five years  but police could update it simply by seeing and stopping you in an area where gangs were known to operate.)

Over CalGangs more than two decades of operation, officials have defended it by praising its usefulness and integrity. They say it provides crucial information for criminal investigations  its largely a ready-made list of suspects, potential informants, and witnesses, after all  and can be accessed only by specifically trained law-enforcement officers and support staff. It cannot, they insist, be used to screen people for employment purposes or immigration status, a claim the public has few concrete means of verifying. Its a convenient feature of CalGang that believing in its putative limitations and pure intentions (and the veracity of the ways California police designate gang membership in general) hinges almost entirely on whether youre willing to trust that law-enforcement officials, when presented with a powerful, opaque, and largely unaccountable surveillance tool, will simply choose to do the right thing.

This week, the Los Angeles Police Department went a long way toward affirming the concerns of the systems skeptics. The L.A. Times reported on Monday that several officers with the citys Metropolitan Division  an elite cadre that includes the LAPD SWAT team  are being investigated by the department for falsifying field-interview cards, the bureaucratic precursor to being added to CalGang, and labeling nongang members as gang members in an effort to boost the officers stop statistics. The scheme was uncovered in early 2019 when the LAPD notified a woman living in the San Fernando Valley that her son had been officially designated as a gang member; she contacted a local police-station supervisor to dispute the allegation, prompting a review of the body-camera footage from her sons stop. It turned out that the information the officer had used to draw this conclusion was fabricated, according to the Times, which led to a wider investigation that found multiple officers were doing the same thing. Three of these officers were suspended this week, and investigations into others remain ongoing. The Valley womans son, meanwhile, had his gang designation rescinded.

Its unclear whether the names of the people these officers had designated as gang members were specifically added to CalGang  though it seems likely, since the database is the most centralized, widely used system into which a person could be uploaded and then officially notified from. In any case, the revelations demonstrate the staggering latitude the police possess to mark people as criminals and unleash upon them all of that labels attendant consequences. And this problem is not limited to Los Angeles: New York City boasts its own version of CalGang in the NYPD gang database, which ensnares nongang members with similar abandon and has ballooned of late with more than 70,000 new names added since 2014. The enthusiastic use of these systems belies the inconclusiveness of their law-enforcement merits. Many of their functions remain cloaked in secrecy.

For every story about an investigation that police solved because a nickname overheard by a rape victim happened to match one in CalGang and led to an arrest, theres a countering experience like that of Aaron Harvey, who was prosecuted for conspiracy to commit murder in 2014 for supposedly benefitting from a shooting in San Diego  hundreds of miles from his home at the time, Las Vegas  which had been committed by members of a gang that police had falsely accused him of belonging to. Injunctions like those justified by using information in CalGang can reduce gang violence in the short term within specific geographic confines, but they do so primarily by relocating it. A 2009 report in the Michigan Review of Race and Law found that injunctions were often accompanied by spikes in violence in neighboring areas where the injunction didnt apply.

Potential solutions to the systems overreach are many. The burden of proof for inclusion in such databases could be much higher, their contents and uses could be more transparent, and the process for having ones name removed could be much easier. But none of these address the fundamental concerns: first, that gang membership is a socioeconomic issue that cannot be solved through law enforcement; and second, that police across the country have responded to being seen as the de facto solution to a range of social ills (by lawmakers and voters alike) by expanding ad infinitum their standards for who can be labeled as a criminal, to the point of lying outright to criminalize more people. Police criteria for designating gang membership and affiliation have become so sprawling as to be often meaningless. Its a crisis that dogs law-enforcement efforts on both coasts and likely in many places in between. The LAPD investigation reveals the true function of such an approach: giving police more power to mark primarily black and brown people  who are often guilty of little more than living in neighborhoods left in dire straits by government abuse and neglect  for surveillance, condemnation, and criminalization. If this is what passes for enhancing public safety, its worth asking ourselves if the price is too steep.
Brazilian state lender Caixa Economica Federal has chosen the bank syndicate that will manage the initial public offering (IPO) of its insurance unit, three sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Morgan Stanley will lead a 10-bank syndicate including the investment banking units of Banco Bradesco SA, Itau Unibanco Holding SA, Banco Plural, Banco BTG Pactual, Banco do Brasil SA, Credit Suisse AG, Banco Santander Brasil SA, Bank of America and Caixa Economica Federal, the sources added, requesting anonymity.

Insurance unit Caixa Seguridade will be listed in Brazil, although the banks expect to market the offering in the United States also. The banks expect to value it at around 60 billion reais ($14.77 billion), the sources said.

Caixa Economica Federal did not reply to a request for immediate comment.

Caixa plans to sell a stake of about 10 billion reais [$2.5 billion] in the insurer. Caixa Seguridade will not raise cash by issuing new shares, the sources said.

Caixa CEO Pedro Guimaraes wants an IPO in the short term, in March or April, but Caixa Seguridade still needs to sign agreements with private insurers to sell different kinds of insurance to its clients.

Caixa on Monday announced an agreement with Japans Tokio Marine to sell home insurance to its clients. Tokio Marine will pay 1.5 billion reais to Caixa.

Caixa Seguridade posted a net income of 1.2 billion reais for the first nine months of 2019.

The company will join BB Seguridade, controlled by state-controlled lender Banco do Brasil, on Brazils B3 stock exchange.

($1 = 4.0619 reais) (Reporting by Carolina Mandl and Tatiana Bautzer; editing by Jason Neely)
There is another complicating factor to the request  one of the phones was struck by a bullet, according to people familiar with the case. It is unclear how significant that damage is in regard to accessing the data, but investigators are particularly interested in accessing that device in case he shot it deliberately to keep investigators from seeing the information it contains, these people said.
The past year has seen a remarkable rise in the quality and quantity of deepfakes  realistic-looking images and videos produced with artificial intelligence that portray someone doing or saying something that never actually happened, such as Nixon delivering an alternate moon landing speech . As the tools to produce this synthetic media advance , policymakers are scrambling to address public concerns, and state lawmakers in particular have put forth several proposals this year to respond to deepfakes.One of the top concerns is that deepfakes will be used as part of a misinformation campaign to influence elections. For example, researchers at an MIT conference demonstrated how they could use the technology to create a real-time fake interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In response to such concerns, Texas passed a law in September to criminalize publishing and distributing deepfake videos intended to harm a candidate or influence results within 30 days of an election. California passed a law in October that makes it illegal for anyone to intentionally distribute deepfakes intended to deceive voters or harm a candidates reputation within 60 days of an election. The law excludes news broadcasters from its rules, as well as any videos that are made for satire or parody and videos that are clearly labeled as being fake. These laws are good steps toward preventing campaigns from using deepfakes to attack their opponents, but they will do nothing to stop foreign political interference. And some First Amendment activists are concerned these laws might unduly restrict free speech Another major concern is that deepfake technology is used to create pornographic images or videos of individuals  mostly female celebrities  without their consent. In a September 2019 study, Deeptrace , an Amsterdam-based company that detects and tracks deepfakes on the Internet, found 14,678 deepfake videos on popular streaming websites  double the number from December 2018  and discovered that 96 percent of the fake videos involved nonconsensual pornography. These videos are popular, having received approximately 134 million views. So far only one state, California, has passed a law addressing this issue. In October, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that allows individuals to sue someone who has created a deepfake that makes their likeness appear in pornographic images or videos, even if the content is labeled as fake. The law tries to balance free speech concerns by excluding materials that have legitimate public interest, such as being newsworthy. While this law will provide victims with some recourse, it will not help them if the source of the material is anonymous or out of the states jurisdiction, nor will it stop the distribution of the content.The last major issue lawmakers are grappling with is how to protect the rights of individuals to control the commercial use of their image and identity. Deepfake technology is advancing to the point that performers may have their likeness fully re-created in digital form, allowing their image to be used in projects they have no direct involvement in, even after their death . Celebrities typically charge for commercial use of their likeness, and these rights can be enormously valuable , so many want to ensure that they maintain these rights even with emerging technology. The New York state Legislature considered, but ultimately did not pass, legislation supported by the Screen Actors Guild that would have established a new right of publicity for individuals. In particular, it would have extended this right of publicity to 40 years past an individuals death, and it would have prohibited non-consensual use of a digital replica of an individual without their (or their heirs) consent.Most of these laws generally take the right approach: They make it unlawful to distribute deepfakes with a malicious intent, and they create recourse for those in their state who have been negatively affected by bad actors. However, it is important that lawmakers carefully craft these laws so as not to erode free speech rights or undermine legitimate uses of the technology. As other states consider whether to pursue these types of laws, they should proceed cautiously, recognizing that deepfake technology is changing rapidly. And state laws will only be a first step  websites will also need to take down this content, and the rules for this may need to be decided at the federal level.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

The Iranian parliament has adopted a resolution in third reading on Irans reciprocal steps against the US, Trend reports citing IRNA.

The decision was unanimously made Jan. 7 at the parliamentary session attended by 233 MPs. According to the decision, within the next two months, Quds Force of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will receive 200 million euros from Irans National Development Fund.

Delivering speech in the Iranian parliament, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Ali Larijani said that the staff of the Pentagon of the US Department of Defense and all the related agencies and companies are to be considered members of terrorist groups.

Ali Larijani added that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) and all forces and organizations subordinate to CENTCOM are also to be considered terrorist groups.
A sessions court in Delhi on January 7 issued death warrants to the four convicts in the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, paving the way for their death sentence. The execution has been scheduled for 7 am on January 22 at Tihar Jail.

The decision comes seven years after the gruesome rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical student in Delhi on the night of December 16, 2012.

Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora, who issued the death warrants, said the convicts can use their legal remedies within 14 days. The four death row convicts are Mukesh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Singh and Pawan Gupta.

Rajiv Mohan, counsel for Nirbhaya's parents, had earlier told the court today that there are no petitions (curative or mercy) from the convicts pending before the court, adding that it was enough for the judge to issue a death warrant.

However, AP Singh, counsel for the convicts, claimed that they are in the process of filing curative petitions with the Supreme Court and that they should be given more time for the same.

On December 18, Nirbhaya's parents and the Delhi government had approached the Patiala High Court in the capital city for issuing the death warrants, to expedite the process to hang the four convicts.

The move had come after the Supreme Court had dismissed a review petition filed by Akshay Kumar Singh  one of the four convicts in the case  the same day.

The court had given a week's time to the convicts to file their mercy petitions against their executions with the President of India, and adjounrned the hearing for issuing death warrants for January 7.

Nirbhaya's parents have welcomes the court's ruling, with her mother Asha Devi saying, "My daughter has got justice. Execution of the 4 convicts will empower the women of the country," and her father Badrinath Singh saying, "This decision will instill fear in people who commit such crimes."

Delhi Commission of Women also welcomed the decision, with its chairperson Swati Maliwal telling media persons, "Strongly welcome this decision. It is a win for all the 'Nirbhayas' living in this country. I salute Nirbhaya's parents who fought for 7 long years.

"Why has it taken 7 years to punish these people? Why can't this time period be reduced," Maliwal pointed out.
Hana Financial Group Chairman Kim Jung-tai



This is the fourth and last in a series of interviews with chairmen of the nation's top four financial groups  Shinhan, KB, Woori and Hana  to mark the beginning of New Year 2020.  ED.



Chairman vows to turn group into data-based digital firm



By Lee Kyung-min



Hana Financial Group Chairman Kim Jung-tai has vowed to pursue a two-pronged growth strategy in 2020 by putting equal weight on organic and inorganic growth in a bid to perfect the group's strategy to become a digital, global leader.



Kim plans to increase spending on manpower and resources to strengthen IT capabilities, a prerequisite for the group to become a data-based information services firm run by digitally savvy workers.



At the same time, Kim said that he will pursue inorganic growth by pushing for aggressive mergers and acquisitions (M&As) of payment service providers, securities firms and insurers.



Boosting those non-banking business will help Hana diversify its business portfolio by reducing its reliance on KEB Hana Bank, the group's largest and most lucrative subsidiary.



The group plans to increase non-banking business income to 30 percent of its total revenue by 2025.



"The 10 years starting from 2020 will be a fundamentally different from the past decade," Kim said.



"Customer priorities and technological development will change at a rapid pace. Hana's growth strategy will seek to best meet consumer needs while increasing our capabilities in the process."







Internet-only bank



The group's innovation initiative will gain momentum once the nation's third internet-only bank Toss Bank will launch its business in July. KEB Hana Bank, the flagship of the group, has a 10 percent stake in the consortium led by Toss, a mobile money transfer app owned by Viva Republica.



"Toss, an online platform operator with 16 million users, taking advantage of KEB Hana's various digital businesses will create the most optimal environment for creative innovation, promoting mutual growth," Kim said.



This will be further boosted by the groups' Global Loyalty Network (GLN), a digital platform set up using blockchain-based technology that enables customers to make digital transactions regardless of their location, via the decentralized system.



The integrated platform network allows financial services firms, retailers and card point management firms to use shared digital platforms to exchange digitally convertible commodities including points and mileage.



Hana plans to launch the GLN service in Japan, Vietnam and Singapore, a move to strengthen its global network in 17 countries.







Cooperation with fintechs



Apart from Toss, the scope of cooperation will be broadened to include a greater number of financial service providers including fintech startups, and capital-heavy investors among many other strategic partners.






The press adviser for the Tunisian president has said that her country has refused a Turkish request "to be cooperative in transporting Turkish arms and troops to Libya," Sky News Arabia said on Tuesday.

Rashida Elnefar told the pan-Arab news channel that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had last month asked his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied to use Tunisian territory for the countrys planned military deployment to neighbouring Libya.

Turkey's president visited Tunis two weeks ago and met with Saied to discuss the conflict in Libya.

Saied refused the request, Elnefar said on Tuesday, saying that Erdogan was annoyed at the results of the talks, which ended with President Saied refusing to use Tunisian land, airspace and maritime territory in any intervention in Libya."

Erdogan had told reporters he and Saied discussed steps towards a ceasefire in Libya and a return to political dialogue.

The Tunisia visit followed two agreements Erdogan struck with the Libyan government that controls the capital, Tripoli, and some of the country's west.

The maritime and military agreements were condemned by the rival Libyan government in the east and the Libyan National Army, (LNA) led by commander General Khalifa Haftar.

The maritime agreement, which could give Turkey access to a contested economic zone across the eastern Mediterranean sea, has also been condemned by Greece, Cyprus and Egypt.

Saied, whose country shares a 400 kilometre (250 mile) border with Libya, had said that the Turkish-Libyan agreement delimiting the maritime borders between the two countries, "does not concern Tunisia," adding that it is a Turkish-Libyan issue.

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has waded into the tension between the United States and...





The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has waded into the tension between the United States and Iran.





UNESCO said that both the United States and Iran must observe conventions obliging states to protect cultural sites after US President Donald Trump threatened to target Irans cultural heritage.





Trump on Sunday issued a strong warning to Iran, vowing to hit 52 Iranian sites very hard if the Middle East country attacked Americans or United States assets.





His threat came after Iran earlier said it had identified 32 US sites to strike in retaliation for the killing of Soleimani.





In another terse response from Iran, multiple rockets were launched near the US embassy in Baghdad Iraq on Sunday.





The move by the US has drawn condemnation from leaders and officials who fear that tensions in the region could escalate drastically.





UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay at a meeting with the Iranian ambassador on Monday said provisions of the 1954 and 1972 conventions, ratified by both the US and Iran, should be observed.





According to Al Jazeera, the conventions says the signatory states should not undertake any deliberate measures that might damage cultural and natural heritage on the territory of other states, party to the conventions.





Azoulay said: The universality of cultural and natural heritage as vectors of peace and dialogue between peoples which the international community has a duty to protect and preserve for future generations.





Iran boasts 22 cultural sites and two natural sites on UNESCOs World Heritage list.





The US withdrew from UNESCO in 2019, along with Israel, over accusations of anti-Israel bias.




Pioneer Japan sent out a press release today, announcing two new external 16x Blu-ray Disc writers, the BDR-X12J-UHD And BDR-X12JBK. Both drives are equipped with a USB 3.1 Gen.1 interface and are capable of 16x BD-R, 14x BD-R DL, 8x BD-R LTH, 2x BD-RE and 2x BD-RE DL writing speeds and a maximum BD-ROM read speed of 12x. The BDR-X12J-UHD And BDR-X12JBK also write to triple-layer (100GB) BD-R media at 8x, quad-layer (128GB) BD-R media at 6x and triple-layer (100GB) BD-RE media at 2x.

The BDR-X12J-UHD ups the ante even further with its ability to play back Ultra HD Blu-ray content. When connected to a Windows 10 PC with the included PowerDVD software and an i7 or i5 Kaby Lake (or higher) processor, users can play back movies at 4K resolutions. The drive also features Pioneer's PureRead 4+ and RealTime PureRead technologies which improve the reading performance of scratched and dirty discs and reproduce the original sound quality of a CD.



The BDR-X12J-UHD And BDR-X12JBK both come bundled authoring and playback software from CyberLink and are expected to hits stores in mid-January.
Germany

Jan. 7, 2020

France

Karlheinz Spenny

Germany

Stefan Gei



BIBERACH/HEIDELBERG,/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The German pharma company Boehringer-Ingelheim (BI) and AI software startup Kairntech from Grenoble inhave announced their cooperation on tasks around the analysis of text-based information. The foundation of the cooperation is the licensing of Kairntech's software platform Sherpa by Boehringer-Ingelheim."Drug Discovery is a knowledgedriven business," explains Dr., Head of the Scientific Information Center at Boehringers R&D site in. "Much of what we know today resides as unstructured text in scientific publications, patents, conference abstracts or on websites. Making sense of (hidden) relations e.g. between genes and cellular targets. Such knowledge is crucial for discovery research scientists. Powerful AI and NLP (natural language processing) software is vital to accomplish knowledge discovery in an efficient and fast manner for our scientists."Boehringer has therefore decided to license the Kairntech AI platform Sherpa. Kairntech and BI have assessed the performance of the software on a number of tasks such as document categorization and the recognition of domain specific entities in explorative projects with Boehringer-specific requirements. A key aspect of the platform is the fact that while powerful machine learning methods are implemented under the hood, the handling of the platform is kept simple and intuitive such that domain experts can train and tune new document processing models without having to engage in complex rule writing or programming."We are living in exciting times in the area of NLP and AI," saysler, Cofounder at Kairntech. "The field is progressing with relentless speed and use cases that would have required extensive manual efforts until recently, today can be addressed with appropriate methods such as Deep Learning and others." Details of the deal have not been disclosed.About Boehringer Ingelheim Boehringer Ingelheim with its three business areas human pharmaceuticals, animal health and biopharmaceuticals is one of the top 20 innovative Pharma companies worldwide and family-owned since 1885. Some 50,000 employees create value on diseases for which no satisfactory treatment option exists to date. The company concentrates on developing innovative therapies that can extend patients' lives. More information about Boehringer Ingelheim can be found on http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com or in our annual report: http://annualreport.boehringer-ingelheim.com.About Kairntech Kairntech is a French AI and NLP startup from Grenoble, created in 2018. The team has a long joint history of developing and applying AI software to industry challenges. More on Kairntech at http://www.kairntech.com, email: info@kairntech.comSOURCE Kairntech
Pune Investors-cum-depositors who have been allegedly duped by Shivajirao Bhosale Co-operative Bank, Kothrud staged demonstrations outside the bank amidst heavy police presence on Tuesday.

The depositors carried out the protest under the aegis of Shivajirao Bhosale Co-operative Bank Kruti Samiti and stated that the bank administration was violating rights stated in the constitution by denying them access to their money.

Armed with placards, the protestors condemned Anil Bhosale, bank chairman and his wife Jyotsana.

Anil Shivajirao Bhosale, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) member and a former member of the legislative council, has been a key promoter of the bank and is named in the police complaint.

Bhosale said, The matter is subjudice and I cannot comment on the same. The facts in the case will emerge once the entire investigation and inquiry are completed. Persons with vested interests are trying to give a different direction to the case.

The Kothrud police prevented depositors from burning an effigy of Bhosale and refused permission for a protest march.

Senior citizen Sulabha Dnyandeo Marne, a resident of Kothrud and bank depositor said,  I had deposited Rs 5 lakh as A fixed deposit in the bank. Today, I am in dire need of money for medical expenses and the only money left with me and it now in the banks custody. Every time, I go to the bank they tell me that they will be releasing the FD soon, but nothing has happened FOR the past one year. These days, bank officials are flatly denying us entry and their behaviour has become arrogant and abusive. We demand a police investigation into the case.

Savita Anant Mohol who had deposited Rs 2 lakh in A fixed deposit, said, We have no hope as the bank administration is completely against the depositors. I need the money for my daughters marriage now, but the bank is not returning my money.

Hemant Shedge, in charge, Kruti Samiti Kothrud Depositors, said  There are at least 1,400 depositors who have run the risk of losing out on their hard-earned money that has been invested with the bank as fixed deposits. We demand a separate FIR into the case and the Kothrud police have promised action.

Mrudula Thite, a depositor claimed that she has lost lakhs of rupees as FD in the bank,  We want the entire bank management to be arrested and government take strict action against this mammoth financial fraud done by a powerful politician to favour his near and dear ones..

GRAPHIC

According to the audit report of the state cooperative department of the bank, there is a shortage in cash balance of Rs 72.62 crore.

The bank has 12 branches in Pune district

The bank was promoted by Shivaji Bhosale, the late member of the legislative council (MLC) from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

FIR was lodged by the cooperative department at Deccan Gymkhana and Shivajinagar police station for cash shortage of Rs 72.62 crore in the bank.

Deposits siphoned off from other banks are Rs 27. 62 crore and loans are given to close associates and relatives without due collateral.

Restrictions by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are imposed on one lakh depositors for only withdrawal of Rs 1,000 per year.

Two FIRs have already been lodged against the bank management including the director Anil Bhosale at Shivajinagar and Deccan police stations.

Depositors have demanded immediate arrest of Bhosale and other top management officials and release of funds of the depositors.
Researchers from King's College London have shown that the brains of young adult Romanian adoptees who were institutionalised as children are around 8.6% smaller than the brains of English adoptees who have not suffered this form of deprivation.

According to the research, the longer the time the Romanian adoptees spent in the institutions, the smaller the total brain volume, with each additional month of deprivation associated with a 0.27% reduction in total brain volume. Deprivation related changes in brain volume were associated with lower IQ and more symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the study analysed the MRI brain scans of 67 young adults, aged 23-28 years, who were exposed to severely depriving conditions in Romanian institutions under the Communist regime and subsequently adopted into nurturing families in the UK. They were compared to the MRI brain scans of 21 English adoptees aged 23-26 years who had not suffered this institutional deprivation.

MRI scans were conducted at the Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences at King's College London, as part of the Medical Research Council (MRC) funded English and Romanian Adoptees Brain Imaging Study (ERABIS). This is part of the larger ERA project that has collected information from Romanian and English adoptees over time including measures of mental health and cognitive performance.

This is the first time research has examined the impacts of severe early childhood deprivation on the brain structure of young adults.

Statistical analysis showed that, in this group of young Romanian adults, those changes in brain volume that were related to deprivation were also associated with lower IQ and more ADHD symptoms. This implies that changes in brain structure could play a mediating role between the experience of deprivation and levels of cognitive performance and mental health.

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The research investigated other possible factors that could have influenced the results but found the results were unaffected by level of nutrition, physical growth and genetic predisposition for smaller brains.

The principle investigator of the study, Professor Edmund Sonuga-Barke from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London said: 'The English and Romanian Adoptees (ERA) study addresses one of the most fundamental questions in developmental psychology and psychiatry -- how does early experience shape individual development? It's essential to recognise that these young people have nearly always received great care in loving adoptive families since they left the institutions. However, despite a lot of positive experiences and achievements there remain some deep-seated effects of deprivation on these young adults.'

First author, Dr Nuria Mackes from the IoPPN said: 'Previous research on the English and Romanian Adoptees (ERA) study has suggested that the emergence and persistence of low IQ and a high level of ADHD symptoms involves structural changes in the brain but, until now, we have not been able to provide direct evidence of this. Showing these very profound effects of early deprivation on brain size and then showing that this difference is associated with low IQ and greater ADHD symptoms provides some of the most compelling evidence of the neuro-biological basis of these problems following deprivation.'

The study also investigated where these changes were occurring in the brain and what localised features contributed to the differences. In comparison to the UK adoptees, the young Romanian adults who had suffered deprivation as children had markedly smaller right inferior frontal regions of the brain both in terms of volume and surface area.

In contrast the right inferior temporal lobe was larger in volume and surface area and thickness for the Romanian young adults and this was associated with lower levels of ADHD symptoms. This implies that this increase in volume and surface area in this region may play a compensatory role in preventing development of ADHD symptoms. In the right medial prefrontal region, the longer the duration of deprivation, the larger the volume and surface area.

The neuroimaging lead for the study, Professor Mitul Mehta from the IoPPN said: 'We found structural differences between the two groups in three regions of the brain. These regions are linked to functions such as organisation, motivation, integration of information and memory. It's interesting to see the right inferior temporal lobe is in fact larger in the Romanian young adults and that this was related to fewer ADHD symptoms, suggesting that the brain can adapt to reduce the negative effects of deprivation. This may explain why some individuals appear less affected than others by deprivation. We believe this is the first time that research has shown such compelling evidence of compensatory effects around deprivation.'

The Romanian young adults in the study had entered into institutions in the first few weeks of life, where they were often malnourished with minimal social contact and little stimulation. The time spent in institutions before adoption into families in the UK varied between 3 and 41 months.

Reflecting on the implications of the study Professor Sonuga-Barke said: 'By investigating the long term impact of deprivation our research highlights the need for a life-span perspective on the provision of any help and support, especially during the transition to adulthood. More speculatively the evidence of neural compensation in the inferior temporal lobe provides encouragement to look for ways that might help the brain adjust to deprivation and to improve outcomes. For example, it would be interesting to see if targeting this area directly through cognitive training might reduce ADHD symptoms.'

The research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and funded by Medical Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council and NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre.
Mumbai: AR Rahman, the music legend known across the globe for his genius creations, turned 53 on Monday.

The maestro spent his pre-birthday in Chennai and returned to Mumbai late on Sunday night.

Born Hindu (originally Dileep Kumar), Rahman took up Islam in his 20s and got renamed as Allarakka Rahman. His family and children are also into the sphere of the Indian music scene.

The legend, who has given our nation some of the most brilliant and heart-touching musical pieces like Ishq Bina (from 'Taal'), Khwaja Mere Khwaja ( from 'Jodha Akhbar), Maa Tujhe Salam, 'Dil Se' title track and innumerous more, had recently collaborated with Sami Yusuf for a bi-lingual soulful piece 'Light Upon Light' in 2019.

The netizens and his social media fan-followers have shared their love and wish through numerous posts and comments on the auspicious day.

Rahman is scheduled to perform in Pune early in February, which he announced himself post New Year on his Twitter handle.

He captioned the post along with a picture, stating, "Dear #Pune delighted to announce that my band & I will be performing live in your city on February 22nd of 2020 as part of my @OneHeartTour!"
Universities in Vietnam have had an increasing number of scientific articles published in prestigious international journals.

This is thanks to a recent policy offering financial bonuses to researchers.

Three years ago, HCM Citys Economics University started offering money to lecturers who had articles published internationally, reported Tuoi Tre (Youth) Newspaper.

With the rewards of up to VND200 million (US$8,650) in cash per article, the university witnessed the number of publications increasing steadily each year, with 44 in 2016, 57 in 2017, 60 in 2018 and 82 this year.

Along with the compulsory regulations on scientific research, the incentive policy helped increase the number of internationally-published scientific articles in recent years, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trong Hoai, vice rector of the HCM City Economics University, told the paper.

Our universitys fund of bonus money is about VND2 billion (US$87,000) per year, Hoai said.

Published articles by lecturers from HCM Citys Open University increased to 62 in 2018, from just 16 in 2017, after the university introduced the bonus policy.

The university started the incentive policy in 2017, with rates ranging from VND40 million to 100 million (US$1,700-4,300) per article, said Prof. Nguyen Minh Ha, rector of the Open University.

The rates would increase next year, he said.

The bonus was not much, but motivated lecturers and graduate students to pay more attention to doing scientific research and publishing their articles in international scientific journals as well as co-operating with professors at universities abroad, Ha said.

At present, the bonuses offered by universities in HCM City range from VND6 million to 200 million (US$259 to US$8,650).

The Ministry of Education and Training paid a total of VN6 billion (US$259,000) to 1,718 writers of scientific articles published in international journals in 2018.

In 2018, the number of internationally-published articles increased 26 per cent compared to previous years.

Side effects

However, financial rewards have exposed some shortcomings.

One problem was that some lecturers were naming other universities in their work to get higher bonus pay-outs.

This is because the bonus at our university was low. So, many lecturers published their articles under names of other universities, said Nguyen Duc Chung, vice rector of HCM Citys Banking University.

Some universities pay VND100 million (US$4,300) for an internationally-published article, Trung said.

In fact, this method helped them buy scientific articles, he said.

In scientific research, the collaboration of lecturers from many different universities was very common, Trung said.

But being a full-time lecturer at one university but receiving money from another was a form of fraud, he said.

According to Prof. Ha, in other countries, universities had their own funds for scientific research but professors were very active in finding external financial sources to carry out work.

The financial sources would be used to buy equipment which became property of the universities after the research was completed, Ha said.

That is a form of doing research we need to learn, he said.

In the short term, universities in Vietnam will still continue offering incentives to motivate researchers, but in the long term, universities should encourage lecturers to find external financial sources to undertake their work, he added.  VNS
In today's programme we cover the commemorations here in Paris to mark the 5th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in which 12 people died.

As at least 35 people are killed during the mass funeral ceremony for assassinated Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani we ask what comes next amid threats of retaliation from Tehran.

We also go live to Istanbul ahead of tomorrow's scheduled meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart who, despite much improved relations, appear on a collision course increasing support for opposite sides in the conflicts in both Libya and Syria.

A look at today's French newspapers and a space oddity that's hitting the headlines.

In Focus on Africa we take stock of yesterday's protests against Liberia's President George Weah and the grievances felt by some Liberians over the state of the country.

And a look at innovative new programme in Mombassa to prevent the increase in gang membership and the tackling gang-related crime in the Kenyan port city.
DETROIT  As Tesla CEO Elon Musk showed off his dance moves Tuesday to celebrate the launch of the Model Y in China, no such festivities were likely occurring in Detroit.

Shares of Tesla have roughly doubled in the last six months, giving the Silicon Valley automaker a market capitalization of roughly $84.5 billion  about $2 billion shy of General Motors and Ford Motor, combined.

That's despite record profits and significant efforts by the Detroit automakers in recent years to restructure operations and cut costs, while Musk has unprofitably danced his way into Wall Street's good graces.

Tesla's stock rose 3.88% on Tuesday after Musk's presentation at the company's new Gigafactory in Shanghai. That compares to GM at $35.15 per share with a market cap of roughly $50.2 billion and Ford at about $9.25 per share with a market cap of about $36.7 billion as of Tuesday night.

"They caught their competition in the U.S. just dead flat-footed," Paul Holland, a general partner at Foundation Capital, said Tuesday regarding Tesla on CNBC's "Squawk Alley." "I don't think it's quite going to be the same in China  but nonetheless, terrific day for Tesla and well-deserved because they've innovated with a product that many of us love."
Lake County Sheriff Frank Leonbruno said at a Jan. 6 news conference that no motive has yet been established for a double homicide that occurred Jan. 3 in Concord Township.

Leonbruno identified the suspect in that shooting as 27-year-old Blake Edward Sargi, a Concord Township resident. Sargi was arraigned in the hours after the press conference on two counts of murder. Each carries a penalty of 15 years to life in prison. He entered not guilty pleas to both charges.

Painesville Municipal Court Judge Paul Malcheksy set bond at $10 million with a 10 percent cash option.

The shooting victims were identified later in the day by the Sheriffs Office. They are Heavenly Goddess Murphy-Jackson, 38, and William Larondez Jackson Jr., 39, both of Euclid.

Dispatchers received a call shortly after 11 p.m. Jan. 3, from Sargis stepmother. She said her stepson had shot and killed two people. She said the victims were in a white vehicle parked on Andrea Drive in Concord Township.

The stepmother also told the dispatcher that Sargi was in a house on Oakridge Drive in the township with his father and biological mother. The dispatcher was told that there were multiple guns in the home, and it was feared if police showed up there would be shooting.

Leonbruno said at the news conference that deputies were immediately dispatched to both scenes. Due to the nature of the call and threat of armed violence, the Lake County Sheriffs Office SWAT team was dispatched.

When deputies arrived in the 7500 block of Andrea Drive they found two victims  a male and a female  inside of a 2019 White GMC Yukon. Leonbruno said both appeared to have been shot in the head and were dead. They were in the front drivers side and front passenger seat of the vehicle.

Deputies secured that scene; detectives and the Lake County coroner were called.

Other deputies responded to the Oakridge Drive home where Sargi lives with his mother. Leonbruno said the father came out of the home and told authorities the mother was trying to convince Sargi to come out of the house and she feared what would happen to him.

As the SWAT team arrived they began negotiating with him inside of the home. Leonbruno said negotiations lasted about 45 minutes. The negotiators were able to convince Sargi to come out of the house, and he surrendered at the scene.

Sargi was arrested and taken to the Lake County Jail where he is being held.

Leonbruno said investigators are continuing to follow leads and are conducting interviews. He said that Sargi does not have a criminal history of note.

The locations on Andrea Drive and Oakridge Drive are about a half-mile apart, Leonbruno said. The Sheriffs Office has not determined whether the suspect left the scene of the shooting on foot or by vehicle.

Sargis vehicle, a Chevrolet Trailblazer, was taken from the Oakridge Drive home.

Leonbruno said no weapons were pointed or fired at responding units at the Oakridge Drive home. A search warrant for the vehicle is being obtained, he added.

The sheriff added they are tracking down who the gun belonged to. They recovered the 9 mm handgun believed to have been used in the shooting.

Sargi is represented by attorneys Ian N. Friedman and Brad Wolfe.

Friedman told gathered news media after the arraignment that he expects that theres a lot more to the story. He said those details will come to light when the case moves to the Lake County Common Pleas Court where it will be tried.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14 in Painesville Municipal Court.
FELTON, California, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With reference to the report published by the experts the scope of the global Chia Seeds Market size was priced at US$ 1.14 billion in 2018 and anticipated to reach US$ 4.7 billion by 2025. It is expected to develop by a CAGR of 22.3% during the forecast period. The chia seeds are resulting from the plant called Salvia Hispanica. This is an associate of the mint family. The seeds of Salvia Hispanica is frequently traded with its communal designation as 'Chia'.

Chia originates in Guatemala. It can be easily produced in an extensive, dehydrated type of weather of South American nations, such as Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and others. Almost all of the chia supply to the world originates from Latin American nations. Additional nations, such as Australia, and to a minor amount, certain nations from Asia-Pacific regions, are taking production of chia, to satisfy the demand.

The big claimed paybacks of chia seeds on cardiac fitness takes one of the important stimulating substance for demands in the market. These tiny seeds are full of nutrients. It ranges protein, minerals and antioxidants. A series of human centered along with animal centered readings shows repeatedly the fitness profits of these seeds.

Get Sample PDF and read more details about the "Chia Seeds Market" Report 2025.

Drivers:

Consciousness regarding the fitness paybacks of chia seeds, usage of omega 3 in animal feedstuff and growing demand for gluten-free products are some of the noticeable features motivating the development of the chia seeds market.

Yet, these seeds are full of fibers and comprise a number of nutritious essentials. These are an exceptional basis of omega-3 fatty acid. Similarly it furthermore comprise zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron. Therefore, greater nutritious standards increase their demand in a number of foodstuffs & beverages. The product is likewise consumed such as a foodstuff enhancement.

Restraints:

Chia seeds are minute in size having white and or black colored. These are the seeds of the plant Salvia Hispanica. The plant is finely developed in dry climate of Mediterranean area, using oceanic effects. Therefore, inadequate growing of the plant and the production of seed may possibly hamper the development of the market to some point.

Classification:

The global chia seed market can be classified by Type, Form and Region. By Type, it can be classified as White, Black and Brown. By Form, it can be classified as Chia Oil, Ground/Milled Chia, Pre-hydrate Chia, and Whole Chia.

Regional Lookout:

By Region the global chia seeds industry can be classified as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa. In 2018, Europe was the major provincial market. The most important shares of the European market was detained by Germany due to the greater ingesting of the product. On the other hand, the consumption of chia seeds has been constrained by the European Union Noble Food Regulation in industrialized uses. This may possibly obstruct the development of the market. Because of growing ingestion of the products in the nations like Japan, China and India, Asia Pacific market is likely to record the speedy rate of development during the period of 2019 to 2025. Furthermore, increasing circumstances of sicknesses due to the way of life, for example asthma, diabetes and blood pressure, have caused in augmented demand for hale and hearty refreshments, which, sequentially, will boost the development of the provincial market.

Companies:

Maximum of the companies required to depend on the importation, because the production of chia seeds is largely concerted in Central & South America. Growing demand for biological products is powering the competition in the industry. The inventions and the development of the new-fangled product are the important approaches carried out by the companies to maintain their share in the market. In recent times, The Chia Co. added three new-fangled tastes comprising Coffee Bean, Strawberry and Dark Cacao to its Chia Pods products, and four new-fangled selections comprising Banana Mango, Mixed Berry, Blueberry Lemon and Apple Spice to its Oats & Chia range of product.

Some of the important companies for chia seed industry are: Maya Chia, Mamma Chia, Grenera Nutrients, and Organic Denmark. Additional notable companies are: Spectrum Naturals, Sesajal SA De CV, Vega Produce LLC, Nutiva Inc., Chia Corp., Benexia, Bob's Red Mill Chia Seeds, Corporacion Kunchia, Best ground International, and The Chia Company.

Browse 80 page research report with TOC on "Global Chia Seeds Market" at: https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/chia-seeds-market

Market Segment:

Chia Seeds Form Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)

Whole Chia



Milled/Ground Chia



Pre-hydrate Chia



Chia Oil

Chia Seeds Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)

Black



Brown



White

Chia Seeds Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)

North America



U.S.



Europe



Germany





Netherlands



Asia Pacific



China





India



Central & South America



Brazil



Middle East & Africa

Browse reports of similar category available with Million Insights:

Rice Bran Oil Market

Healthy Snacks Market

Canned Seafood Market

Meat Substitutes Market

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BAGHDAD - A push led by pro-Iran factions to oust U.S. troops from Iraq following the U.S. airstrike that killed a top Iranian general is gaining momentum, bolstered by a Parliament vote calling on the government to remove them.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 6/1/2020 (735 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BAGHDAD - A push led by pro-Iran factions to oust U.S. troops from Iraq following the U.S. airstrike that killed a top Iranian general is gaining momentum, bolstered by a Parliament vote calling on the government to remove them.

But the path forward is unclear, and in Iraq's deeply divided terrain, with a resigned prime minister and raging proxy war between Iran and the U.S., ending America's 17-year military presence in Iraq is a risky undertaking.

A photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office shows Iraqi acting Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, praying at a condolence ceremony for Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, at the prime minister's office in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. (Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office, via AP)

Iraq was barely starting to recover from a devastating four-year war against the Islamic State group when a mass uprising against the country's ruling elite erupted on Oct. 1, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi two months later. He hasn't been replaced.

A pullout of U.S. troops could cripple the fight against Islamic State militants and allow the extremists to make a comeback. Militants affiliated with IS routinely carry out attacks in northern and western Iraq, hiding out in rugged desert and mountainous areas. Iraqi forces rely on the U.S. for logistics and weapons in pursuing them.

An American withdrawal could also enable Iran to deepen its influence in Iraq, which like Iran is a majority Shiite country.

A photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office, shows Iraqi acting Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, right, meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller at the prime minister's office, in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. (Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office, via AP)

"It is not that simple," Lebanese political analyst Ibrahim Bayram said of any withdrawal. "This will increase the complications inside Iraq, the conflicts and contradictions ... and the clash, both political and non-political, between the Iranians and Americans."

U.S. Defence Secretary Mark Esper, meanwhile, said Monday the United States "has made no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq," adding that the U.S. remains committed to the campaign to defeat the Islamic State group in Iraq and the region.

The Iraqi parliamentary vote Sunday calling for the ouster of the 5,200 American troops in Iraq requires Iraqi government approval. But it highlights the sharp deterioration in relations between Washington and Baghdad amid soaring tensions between the U.S. and Iran following the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad airport .

American forces withdrew from Iraq in 2011 but returned in 2014 at the invitation of the government to help battle the Islamic State group. The extremists had seized vast areas in the north and west of the country after Iraq's armed forces collapsed, including the second-largest city, Mosul. A U.S.-led coalition provided crucial air support as Iraqi forces, including Iran-backed militias, regrouped and drove IS out in a costly three-year campaign.

Unlike the previous U.S. deployment, which was governed by the Status of Forces agreement that clearly spelled out the rules of termination, American troops in Iraq are now in the country based on a less formal request by the then prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki.

Pressure has been escalating for a U.S. troop withdrawal since the defeat of IS in 2017, particularly among factions loyal to Iran. But calls for their removal grew louder amid outrage over the U.S. strike last week that killed Soleimani along with senior Iraqi militia leaders.

In this Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, photo, released by the U.S. military, a U.S. Marine with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines that is part of a quick reaction force, carries a sand bag during the reinforcement of the U.S. embassy compound in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 4, 2020. The blowback over the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general mounted Sunday, Jan. 5 as Iraq's Parliament called for the expulsion of American troops from the country  a move that could allow a resurgence of the Islamic State group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kyle C. Talbot via AP)

Abdul-Mahdi asked parliament on Sunday to take "urgent measures" to ensure the removal of foreign forces from the country. In a sign of the divisions, the parliament session was boycotted by many Sunni and Kurdish legislators who oppose abolishing the deal with the Americans, and most of the lawmakers who voted were Shiite.

It was not clear what steps Abdul-Mahdi would take following the parliamentary vote. Experts were split on whether, as a resigned prime minister, he has the authority to request the termination of the U.S. presence.

Thafer al-Aani, a Sunni lawmaker, said Abdul-Mahdi doesn't want to risk aggravating the Americans too much by acting alone, which is why he turned to Parliament for backing, adding that the vote was mostly for a domestic audience.

"He feels that America isolated his government by siding with the protesters. ... He decided to side completely with the Iranians after the killing of Soleimani and because of the U.S. position toward the protests," he said.

The U.S. government repeatedly called on the Iraqi government to stop using excessive force on peaceful protesters. Nearly 500 people were killed by security forces in three months of protests against the country's top political and religious leaders. The protests have also turned into a revolt by the country's Shiites against Iranian influence in the country, with protesters burning Iranian interests in the southern provinces.

On Monday, Abdul-Mahdi met with U.S. Ambassador Matthew H. Tueller and stressed the need for the two countries "to work together to execute the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq," according to a statement from his office.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, file photo, U.S. Army soldiers from the 82nd Airborne board a C-17 aircraft at Fort Bragg, N.C., to be deployed to the Middle East. In addition to these troops, the United States is sending nearly 3,000 more soldiers to the Mideast as reinforcements in the volatile aftermath of the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, defense officials said Friday, Jan. 3. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/The Fayetteville Observer via AP, File)

In their meeting, Abdul-Mahdi said relations with Washington must be built on a "sound basis." He didn't elaborate, but said the situation in Iraq was "critical" and that all efforts were being exerted to prevent "sliding towards an open war."

Speaking in Washington, Esper said the U.S. was not pulling troops out of Iraq.

"Theres no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave," the defence secretary said. He spoke to reporters in response to a letter from a senior U.S. commander that seemed to suggest a withdrawal was underway.

The Iraqi parliament vote angered President Donald Trump, who promptly warned Iraq that he would levy punishing sanctions if the government expelled American troops. He said the U.S. wouldnt leave without being paid for its military investments in Iraq over the years

"We will charge them sanctions like theyve never seen before, ever. Itll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame," Trump said.

The alarming rhetoric by the two allied nations comes amid a recent series of unclaimed attacks targeting military bases that host U.S. troops in Iraq. One attack killed an American contractor in Kirkuk late last year, and was blamed on an Iran-backed militia. That attack sparked a deadly U.S. airstrike targeting that militia, which in turn led to a New Year's Eve assault by militias loyal to Iran on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Abbas Kadhim, head of the Washington-based Atlantic Council's Iraq Initiative, said because Abdul-Mahdi has resigned as prime minister, he didn't want to give the impression that he was acting unilaterally and wanted Parliament to be on board, although he has the right to approve the U.S. troop removal himself.

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He said there was no reason the Americans should stay now that the mission to defeat IS is over.

"The troops are there and its called the coalition to defeat ISIS not the coalition to re-occupy Iraq," Kadhim said. "ISIS was defeated and they have no reason to be there now." Kadhim added that an agreement could be worked out whereby some U.S. trainers can stay behind.

Bayram, the Lebanese analyst, said, however, that Trump's reaction shows that the Americans have no intention of exiting smoothly from Iraq.

"The United States considers its presence in Iraq fundamental, especially since it rid Iraq in 2003 from Saddam Hussein. America also considers itself an essential partner in Iraq," he said.

___

Karam reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers A.J. Naddaff in Beirut and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], Jan 7 (ANI): Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad has celebrated its Alumni Day here and gave away its alumni awards.



As Sai Chandra Teja R (M. Tech.- E. E., 2012 batch) was awarded 'Excellence in Alumni Relations' during the event on Sunday, Pranay Ramesh Patil (B. Tech. - E. E., 2013 batch) bagged 'Excellent Services to the National Programs' award.

Excellence in Entrepreneurship award was awarded to Ankit Mishra (B. Tech. - E. E., 2014 batch), while 'Excellence in Academics' awards was given to Dan Sathiaraj (PhD - MSME., 2016 batch) and Bhavesh Garg (PhD - L. A., 2018 batch).

Prof. BS Murty, Director of IIT Hyderabad, had announced the first weekend of every year as Alumni Day for the institute from this year onwards.

Regarding the need for training and development of alumni, he has agreed to support alumni with a certified course in their field of work.

Prof. K Siva Kumar, Dean International and Alumni Affairs, said: "Being a second-generation IIT, we are proud to say that we have at least an alumnus in each continent now".

Speaking about the initiatives of Alumni Association, S Shalu Kumar, President of IIT Hyderabad Alumni Association, said, "Alumni undertake a Mentorship Programme where they mentor first-year students. An Alumni does an exclusive mentoring session for one new student."

"To increase the Alumni-connect, alumni are meeting as often and wherever possible. The Alumni Association will also launch a website where success stories of those who had a hard time in life will be shared," he added.

The association has also made the following commitment to the current batch of students; "You Propose" (A project or initiative) and "We will Support" (fund it), read a statement. (ANI)


OncoLens, an Atlanta, GA-based provider of tumor board and cancer treatment planning software solutions, raised $2.5m in Pre-Series A funding.

The round was led by BIP Capital, with participation from Atlanta Technology Angels, and the Robbins Fund.

The company intends to use the funds to expand the capabilities of its solutions and grow its sales and marketing resources.

Led by Anju Mathew, co-founder and CEO, OncoLens develops technologies that improve cancer treatment planning, simplify tumor board management, facilitate survivorship care planning, and automate accreditation and quality reporting through an intelligent workflow engine that streamlines business processes and enables more informed clinical decision-making.

The company utilizes proprietary algorithms to decrease the workload around multidisciplinary case discussions by bringing together clinical, radiological, and pathological data required for collaboration. It automatically matches the patient with relevant clinical trials and potential targeted therapies while also providing quality improvement considerations for the care team.

The company currently serves several large integrated delivery networks (IDNs) and hospitals across the country.

FinSMEs

06/01/2020
Sonos, the electronics company that sells home speakers, is suing Google for allegedly stealing its technology.

Sonos on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing the company of infringing on five patents in developing its own speakers, The New York Times reports.

"Google has been blatantly and knowingly copying our patented technology," Sonos CEO Patrick Spence said. Despite our repeated and extensive efforts over the last few years, Google has not shown any willingness to work with us on a mutually beneficial solution. We're left with no choice but to litigate." A Google spokesperson told the Times that "we dispute these claims and will defend them vigorously."

Sonos is accusing Amazon of stealing its speaker technology as well, although the Times reports it didn't file a lawsuit because it didn't want to risk taking on two major tech companies in court simultaneously. Although the lawsuit concerns five, Sonos reportedly believes Google and Amazon violated 100 of its patents.

One piece of technology Sonos accuses Google of stealing allows wireless speakers to sync with each other. Sonos says that in 2013, it shared with Google how its speakers interact after Google agreed to integrate Google Play Music with Sonos' products. Google later came out with its own speakers, and the Times reports Sonos executives "discovered that Google's devices used Sonos' approach for solving a variety of technological challenges," also discovering the same of Amazon's Echo devices. An Amazon spokesperson denied the accusation.

Sonos also complains that Google and Amazon are undercutting its prices and, as the Times writes, "are flooding the market with cheap speakers that they subsidize because they are not merely conduits for music, like Sonos' devices, but rather another way to sell goods, show ads and collect data." In the lawsuit, Sonos is seeking financial damages and a ban on sales of Google's speakers, smartphones, and laptops. Read the full report at The New York Times.

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The Trump administration is considering two new tariffs on European wines of up to 100%. On the surface, the tariffs are intended to target European companies. But Bay Area importers, wine sellers and restaurateurs say the measures would also hurt American businesses as well as consumers, who could see the price for their favorite Chateauneuf du Pape and Provencal rose doubled.

Members of the local wine industry, one of the Bay Areas most important business segments, say the proposed tariffs  one on French wine and other products, one on goods from the European Union  would threaten their supply chain and could result in employees losing their jobs, or in entire companies going out of business. And while one might assume that the taxes could benefit domestic wineries, many American vintners say the opposite is true.

The actuality is its going to hurt small American businesses like us who employ salespeople, truck drivers and warehouse workers, said Harmon Skurnik, president of importer-distributor Skurnik Wines, which has headquarters in San Francisco and New York.

Skurnik Wines, which employs 180 people nationwide, including 25 in California, sells wines to restaurants and stores. European wine comprises nearly 60% of its portfolio, and its unclear if the company will be able to continue stocking it. Should the tariffs go into effect, were going to have to retrench, Skurnik said. If we have to cut off 60% of our revenue, we have to lay off people.

The rationale behind the tariffs the U.S. trade representative is considering is that they would hinder the European businesses as payback for European measures that are seen as hurting American companies.

One proposed tariff is a reaction to Frances Digital Services Tax, on the grounds that it unfairly burdens American technology companies. Hearings for that measure, which would apply to wine, cheese and other products specifically from France, are scheduled to take place Tuesday. The other possible tariff is related to European Union subsidies for the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, and it would target wines and other products from throughout the European Union. The comment period for that proposal ends Jan. 13.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle 2019

Somewhat counterintuitively, the American wine industry has come out in force against the tariffs. More than 700 American winemakers, including Pax Mahle of Pax Wines in Sonoma County, have signed a petition on Change.org to express their opposition. While on the surface these tariffs would seemingly benefit our businesses, the petition reads, we strongly assert that these benefits will be mitigated by the devastating effects these tariffs will have on our customers, meaning the restaurants, retailers and distributors.

The new proposed tariffs follow a 25% tariff on European beverage and food products that went into effect in October and has already impacted Bay Area wine importer Nadia Dmytriw.

For the most part, weve figured out collaborative measures to deal with the 25% tariff, said Dmytriw, owner of Floraison Selections, which imports wines from mostly French wineries for Bay Area restaurants and wine stores. So far, she has been able to keep her prices steady: After the October increase, she was able to negotiate reduced prices from her suppliers, and then she absorbed part of the cost herself.

But to shoulder a 100% increase? No one has those kinds of margins, Dmytriw said, especially not a tiny business like hers, which has three part-time employees. To pay the duty when the wine passes through customs would bankrupt me, basically, she said.

When the 25% tariffs took effect, Kristen and Ted Talley, owners of Oakland importer Terra Firma Wine Co., already had a container of wine in transit from Europe. The shipment was valued at $200,000, so Terra Firma was slapped with a $50,000 fee that it couldnt have anticipated when it made the order. (Wine shipments from Europe travel to the West Coast by boat via the Panama Canal and can take up to two months.)

The fee was due within one week of arrival, even though the Oakland importer wouldnt see the revenue from those wine sales for several months.

That already stretched us thin, said Kristen Talley. The 100% tariffs? I just dont know how we would survive that.

If European wines double in price, wouldnt that be a boon for American wineries? Actually, no, say many California vintners.

Its not a clear win for domestic wineries, and for smaller boutique wineries like us, its more likely to be a loss than a win, said Jason Haas, general manager of Tablas Creek Vineyards in Paso Robles. If they want their wines to be sold in restaurants or wine shops, American wineries are legally required to sell their wines through distributors. This means that any major disruption to distributors is a disruption to the wineries, too, since there isnt a separate distribution system for domestic wineries and foreign wineries.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

The same wholesaler that distributes Tablas Creek also sells European wines. Under a 100% tariff system, that distributor might have to stop buying the European wines, or allocate more of its margin toward keeping their costs down. In my experience, when you have a distributor that loses a big chunk of their business, Haas said, they tend to lose salespeople, they tend to be distracted at the management level and everything just gets uncertain.

Wine retailers would feel the impact of tariffs, too. It would seriously limit our selections, said Ceri Smith, owner of Biondivino, a wine shop in San Francisco and Palo Alto that sells only Italian wines and French Champagne from small-scale family wineries. These special-production wines just arent going to arrive in the U.S. anymore. Its basically saying to me, the little guy, We dont care about you.

Without European or other imports, American wineries would not be able to satisfy American wine consumption on their own. U.S. wine drinkers consumed 959 million gallons in 2017, while U.S. wineries produced only 889 million gallons, according to Wine Institute data.

The thought of European wine imports may conjure an image of snooty, high-end Burgundy and Bordeaux bottles. But these tariffs would equally change the look of the bargain-priced section at the wine store. Theoretically, that $10 bottle of French rose could now cost $20, and the affordable-sounding $25 Cotes du Rhone could suddenly look like a splurge at $50.

Or, Harmon Skurnik said, you just might not see those wines at all because importers dont want to order wines that wont sell because theyre prohibitively priced.

What the American consumer will see, he said, is a drastic reduction of what is available on the shelf.

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob
[January 07, 2020] SIMON Markets LLC Expands InsurTech Platform; Introduces Great American Life as Second Carrier to Deliver Annuity Products to Market

SIMON Markets LLC ("SIMON") is pleased to introduce Great American Life Insurance Company ("Great American")-a leading provider of annuities in the U.S.-as the second insurance carrier to offer products on SIMON's new annuities platform for wealth managers. With the belief that sophisticated tools don't need to be complex, SIMON recently launched its InsurTech platform for annuities to reshape how advisors use annuities for retirement planning in today's digital world. The new partnership is an exciting and natural next step to expand offerings available on SIMON's platform, which sits on the desktop of more than 30,000 financial professionals who serve more than $3 trillion in assets. With the addition of Great American, advisors on SIMON's platform gain access to a selection of innovative solutions, supported by the depth of analytics they seek to effectively serve their clients. Great American's annuity offerings-including fixed-indexed annuities and structured variable annuities-provide a unique solution for managing financial risk. Joe Maringer, Great American Life's National Sales Vice President, played an integral role in the development of the new partnership. "SIMON has demonstrated its leadership in the structured investments space with cutting-edge technology and the delivery of an end-to-end solution that it is now bringing to annuities," said Maringer. "Providing financial professionals with a unique solution for the ever-growing retirement planning needs o their clients is a vision Great American shares."



Jason Broder, CEO of SIMON, commented: "This new partnership highlights Great American's forward-thinking focus on product education and client-advisor transparency, and is a natural next step in SIMON's efforts to radically simplify wealth management. Ultimately, we aim to create a more robust market structure for the entire industry-reducing complexity and increasing transparency so advisors can focus on running and growing their businesses with differentiated, leading-edge technology." About SIMON Markets LLC

An award-winning fintech company, SIMON is committed to transforming the digital experience for financial advisors, enabling them to better serve their clients. SIMON's intelligent and innovative platform delivers an end-to-end digital suite of tools, empowering advisors with on-demand education, an intuitive marketplace, real-time analytics, and lifecycle management. With a focus on reshaping the advisor experience, SIMON is setting new industry standards, simplifying the complex, and delivering structured investment and insurance solutions to investment professionals, centralized within one unique ecosystem. www.simon.io. About Great American Insurance Group The annuity operations of Great American Insurance Group (GAIG) offer retirement solutions through the sale of traditional fixed, fixed-indexed and variable-indexed annuities in the retail, broker-dealer, financial institutions, registered investment advisor and education markets. Annuity subsidiaries include Great American Life Insurance Company and Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company. GAIG's roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company. The members of GAIG are subsidiaries of American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG). AFG's common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFG. AFG is a Fortune 500 Company with more than $65 billion in assets. Learn more at GAIG.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005146/en/

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Continuing with its ceaseless commitment of giving back, Ramagya Foundation has launched inspiring new CSR initiatives 'Donation Locker' and 'Happy Fridge'.

Worthy of praise and imitation, both these initiatives have been gaining momentum over the past few weeks with winters just around the corner. Under the aegis of "Purusharth Charitable Society", Ramagya Foundation has launched these initiatives with the aim to help the poor, needy and homeless people, braving the chill of the night.

Ramagya Foundation has also launched a new web portal 'ramagyafoundation.org/donation/' through which anyone can contribute one's bit to these philanthropic moves.

Ramagya Foundation has initiated 'Donation locker' to promote the habit of giving some necessities to the ones in need. Ramagya's Donation Locker has been installed at various locations in NCR where books, clothes, footwear, toys or any other wishful items can be donated with the assurance that the collected proffers will be used judiciously.

'Happy Fridge' is another unique CSR campaign by Ramagya Foundation which highlights the most relevant message, "A nation could eat off the food we waste".

Launched in association with Feeding India, Happy Fridge campaign by Ramagya Foundation calls for donating the excess food items in Happy Fridge located at three different locations in Noida. The collected food is being alternatively offered to the needy and helpless.

"Ramagya Foundation has launched both these campaigns to help the homeless people and moving labourers who remain in dire need of food, clothing and other necessary items even to sustain their lives," said Dr Sanjay Gupta, Chairman, Ramagya Group.

"While Donation Locker is aimed at providing them with the much-needed care and support through clothes and other necessary items, Happy Fridge is aimed at offering them sumptuous food with dignity. We aim to bring this initiative at PAN India so that neither any human sleeps on an empty stomach nor any food is wasted," added Gupta.

In the progressive path of society development, Ramagya Foundation is contributing through several attractive programs, including UMEED, UNNATI, SANGANAK, ARADHYA, URJA and PANKH focusing on four core areas including education, skilling, physical and mental health of underprivileged children.

Giving back to the society is the primary motive of Ramagya Foundation which aims to contribute towards creating educated and developed society by unleashing talent and sculpting each individual soul by imparting values. More than 1,05,000 lives have been impacted through these programs.

Ramagya Foundation also runs another most commendable initiative called 'NISHABD' that seeks to sensitize the society towards dogs and provide loving, caring and responsible shelter for them. NISHABD has been instrumental in the rescue and rehabilitation of the street dogs that have been starved to emaciation, beaten, confined in their own waste, shot, or struck by cars.

This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's order to take out a top Iranian general may do what his withdrawal from the "horrible, one-sided" Iran nuclear agreement did not: kill the deal.

The 2015 accord between Iran and six countries has limped along since 2018, when Trump made good on his pledge to yank the United States out of the deal. European powers and Iran worked to preserve at least the framework of the agreement, frustrating Trump and his hawkish foreign policy advisers who had assumed it would fall apart without its cornerstone member.

Amid rising threats between the United States and Iran and the possibility of a new war in the Middle East sparked by the killing of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Iran announced Sunday that it would no longer be bound by some of the deal's most important safeguards.

Iran's announcement alone does not render the agreement moot, and at least one important element of it - U.N. inspection power - remains in force. But Iran has less incentive now to abide by the agreement and Trump appears to have less leverage to hash out the better deal with Tehran that he says President Barack Obama failed to get.

That leaves Trump in the position of owning how to deal with any attempt by Iran to build a nuclear weapon, with no clear answers of how he would do so after scrapping and deriding what world leaders believed was their best chance to keep the nation's nuclear ambitions at bay.

Trump responded to the announcement emphatically Monday but without offering any details of what he plans to do in response.

"IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!" Trump thundered on Twitter.

With its announcement, Iran could now return to stockpiling enriched uranium, the raw material for a bomb. Depending on the pace of that effort, Iran could amass nearly enough material for a bomb within a matter of several months.

Pushing back the tipping point when Iran could "break out" and make a quick drive for a viable weapon was the central goal of the 2015 deal. If Iran reconstitutes its abilities to roughly the status quo in place before negotiations, there is little left to save, analysts said.

"It's getting harder and harder to say you could return to the deal as is," said Richard Johnson, an analyst at the Nuclear Threat Initiative who implemented the deal as a State Department official under Obama.

"I call it the zombie deal. It's 'not dead yet' to quote Monty Python, but we all know how that turned out," said Johnson, referring to a sketch by the comedy troupe in which a Black Plague victim protests that he hasn't quite succumbed to the disease. He is then hit over the head and dumped onto a cart filled with corpses.

Richard Nephew, a former top sanctions official at the State Department and an Iran adviser for Obama at the National Security Council, said the deal known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) may no longer serve much purpose for Iran.

"The JCPOA was already on the verge of collapse. The killing of Soleimani makes it thoroughly implausible that the JCPOA can be sustained for the rest of the year," said Nephew, a scholar at Colombia University's Center of Global Energy Policy. "Iran may agree to implement some parts of it related to inspections, but mainly to keep on the diplomatic offensive that its nuclear program is completely civil and legitimate."

Some argued that the death of Soleimani does not make it more likely that Iran drives for a bomb and there is some hope tensions will cool.

Scott Ritter, a former U.N. chief weapons inspector who led the 1990s search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, noted that Iran has said the steps it takes to back away from the deal are reversible, particularly if the United States lifts economic sanctions hurting the Iranian economy.

"I have a modicum of optimism that at least one major party hasn't shut the door, but the problem is the United States and whether or not a Trump administration is capable of returning to an Obama administration deal," Ritter said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Obama for setting conditions that led to the current war footing. Speaking Sunday on ABC's "This Week," Pompeo said Obama had allowed Tehran to fund regional terrorism using economic benefits gained under the nuclear agreement.

"We're trying to correct for what was the Obama administration's appeasement of Iran," Pompeo said. "This is a regime that has been acting against America for an awfully long time. And we are suffering from eight years of neglect, and we're trying to push it back. We're trying to contain them."

Iran's announcement on uranium enrichment had been expected in some form, analysts said, even before the drone strike on Soleimani's convoy in Baghdad in the wee hours of Friday.

The escalating tensions now make it difficult for Iran to leave the threat of further enrichment as a mere option, a familiar tactic for Tehran, analysts said. It also reduces the leeway for Iranian moderates to argue that even the shell of the deal should remain, and may sour the ground for a new agreement, Johnson said.

European allies who failed to persuade Trump to keep the deal have said talk of a new negotiation is premature.

"We specifically call on Iran to refrain from further violent action or proliferation, and urge Iran to reverse all measures inconsistent with the JCPOA," German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement. Russia and China were also party to the deal.

Of the European allies critical of the Soleimani strike, Britain has shown more restraint in publicly breaking from the United States, though the country remains supportive of the 2015 nuclear deal, and British foreign secretary Dominic Raab is expected to raise the topic of restraining Tehran's nuclear program in a post-Soleimani environment in his meetings in Washington this week, said a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the upcoming private talks.

Writing in The Washington Post before Iran's announcement, Washington Institute for Near East Policy executive director Robert Satloff said the killing of Soleimani could hasten a replacement nuclear deal if Trump handled it right.

"What if U.S. officials took advantage of the moment to ask a trusted third party - say, the Omanis or the Swiss - to test whether Tehran's leaders were ready for a quiet diplomatic initiative to achieve what the White House has long said was the objective of its 'maximum pressure' campaign: a better, broader agreement?" he wrote Friday. "A U.S.-Iran negotiation can't be conducted the way Trump has tried to do it so far, in the failed North Korea model of face-to-face, one-on-one, leader-to-leader summits."

Iran has repeatedly rejected overtures for face to face meetings, or even a phone call that Macron tried to arrange during the United Nations General Assembly meetings in September.

"If it has any chance of success, such an initiative would require deft, nimble diplomacy, a minimum of bombast (read: tweets) and a maximum of discretion," Satloff wrote. "To say that none of these have so far been the hallmark of Trump's three years in office is an understatement."

Trump is not the only one given to Twitter bombast.

"Have you EVER seen such a sea of humanity in your life, @realdonaldtrump?" Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wrote Monday, alongside photos of masses of Iranians mourning Soleimani in the streets. "Do you still want to listen to the clowns advising you on our region? And do you still imagine you can break the will of this great nation & its people? End of malign US presence in West Asia has begun."

- - -

The Washington Post's Ashley Parker and John Hudson contributed to this report.
Legal Aid of East Tennessee announces that Chattanooga attorney Stephanie Rogers has been appointed to LAETs board of directors. Ms. Rogers was nominated for the position by the Chattanooga Bar Association, and LAETs board unanimously approved her appointment at its final meeting of 2019.



Ms. Rogers owns her own law practice in Chattanooga and specializes in family law, criminal defense, wills and estates and landlord/tenant law. She earned her law degree from New England Law in Boston, Ma, and her bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She also serves as a member of the board of directors of the Young Lawyers Division of the Chattanooga Bar Association.



I have been involved with Legal Aid from nearly the moment I began law school at New England Law | Boston in 2010, said Ms. Rogers. I went to NELB because their clinical department was robust, and I looked forward to serving the community through my work there. My first summer, I worked with one of the most prestigious legal aid services in the country, Greater Boston Legal Services. I was assigned to their telephone intake system and specifically a call-in line for veterans with legal issues.

In that role, Ms. Rogers learned about the wide range of legal issues faced by low-income Bostonians and gained an appreciation for the hard work and dedication Legal Aid lawyers and staff provide despite limited resources, she said.



"When she moved to Chattanooga immediately after graduating from law school, one of the first things Ms. Rogers did was seek out and meet with an LAET staff attorney to discuss ways she could contribute to LAETs work," officials said. "Ever since that first meeting, Ms. Rogers has been an active volunteer at LAET. She has accepted pro bono cases for LAET clients, participated in legal clinics and served on the planning committee of LAETs Pro Bono Night Community Justice fundraising event. Now she is looking forward to serving on LAETs Board of Directors to ensure that the mission-driven work of LAET continues and grows stronger."



I believe it is our duty as attorneys to use our privilege, knowledge and power to serve others, said Ms. Rogers.

"LAET looks forward to the amazing work Ms. Rogers will continue to do for LAET and her entire community," officials said.
Investing.com - Oil prices retreated on Tuesday in Asia despite continuing tension between the U.S. and Iran.

U.S. Crude Oil WTI Futures dropped 1.1% to $62.59 by 11:40 PM ET (03:40 GMT). International Brent Oil Futures also fell 1.1% to $68.12.

Oil prices surged on Monday following the news that a U.S. airstrike killed a top Iranian general, sparking an escalation in conflict between the two countries.

On Monday, the U.S. has ordered more troops to the Middle East after Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenesaid it will retaliate against the attack that killed General Qassem Soleimani.

The market is recovering from the initial shock and closely monitoring how Tehran will respond, said Will Sungchil Yun, commodities analyst at VI Investment Corp in a Bloomberg report. As current signals indicate traders and investors dont see a full-blown war coming, prices are likely to remain relatively steady without a significant development.

Prices were also supported this week by higher compliance among the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on meeting production quota curbs aimed at reducing supply.

OPEC members pumped 29.50 million barrels per day (bpd) last month, down 50,000 bpd from November's revised figure, according to a Reuters survey.

The American Petroleum Institute will release its snapshot of U.S. oil inventories later in the day.

The API numbers arent perfectly correlated to the official government stockpile numbers, which come out Wednesday, but they do offer a glimpse of how they may be trending.

The API reported a drop in oil inventories of 7.9 million barrels last week.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 07:36:29|Editor: yhy

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Photo taken on Dec. 20, 2019 shows fire trucks working at Lexton bush fire site in western Victoria, Australia. The Australian government launched the National Bushfire Recovery Agency which would be funded with an initial two billion Australian dollars (1.38 billion U.S. dollars) on Monday. (Wayne Riggs/CFA/Handout via Xinhua)
Mitch McConnell announced on Tuesday he has the votes from his Republicans senators to begin Donald Trump's impeachment trial with no witnesses as Chuck Schumer suggested Nancy Pelosi should transmit the articles to the Senate.

'We have the votes, once the impeachment trial has begun, to pass a resolution essentially the same, very similar to the 100-0 vote in the Clinton trial,' McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, announced after having lunch with the members of his party.

The support of his party allows McConnell to set up trial proceedings without the Democratic demand for witnesses to be called.

And Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer suggested it was time for Speaker Pelosi to transit the articles of impeachment so the president's trial can begin.

'The speaker has said all along she wanted to see the arena in which she was playing when it came to a trial so she could appoint impeachment managers. Now its becoming clear that Mitch McConnell wants to do everything he can to avoid a fair trial so she has some idea of whats happening,' he said.

By not sending the articles immediately she has already accomplished two things,' he added. 'One, Mitch McConnell could not do what some thought he might want to do: right before or after Christmas just dismiss. And second in two weeks theres been a cascade of evidence that bolsters the case  strongly bolsters the case  for witnesses and documents. So now we have a greater feel for where were headed and Speaker Pelosi  I have great confidence in the decision she will make. But shes accomplished a great deal already.'

Mitch McConnell announced he has the votes from his Republicans senators to begin Donald Trump 's impeachment trial with no witnesses

Speaker Nancy Pelosi would not answer questions about when she plans to formally transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate

He also said Democrats will push to hear from the additional witnesses they want to call, including former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

'We are telling our Republican colleagues you can run but you cant hide. There will be votes on the four witnesses weve asked for. There will be votes on the three sets of documents weve requested,' he said.

It takes 51 votes to establish the parameter of the president's impeachment trial and, with a 53-seat majority, McConnell couldn't afford to lose support.

Moderate Republican senators, the ones most likely to defect, indicated they are backing McConnell.

'I'm comfortable with that,' Sen. Mitt Romney told reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday when asked about McConnell's proposal to call on additional witnesses after opening arguments are made in the president's impeachment trial.

That model would follow the same one used in Bill Clinton's 1999 impeachment trial.

But Clinton's trial rules were set by an unanimous vote on senators - 100 to zero.

McConnell left the door open to calling witnesses later in the process: '51 senators determine what we do and there will be I'm sure intense discussion, once we get past phase one, about the whole witness issue,' he said.

And Schumer expressed optimism enough Republicans - it would take four - would join Democrats to subpoena witnesses.

'I think theres a pretty decent chance we're going to get Republicans to vote for witnesses and documents,' he said.

Fellow GOP moderate Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins have also indicated they will support McConnell - votes he will need as Trump's trial begins.

'The process moved to a period during which the Senate debated and voted that three witnesses should be deposed. I believe that this process  the Clinton approach  worked well,' Collins said Monday night.

Murkowski also backed following the procedure used for Clinton's trial.

'I think we need to do what they did the last time they did this unfortunate process and that was to go through a first phase and then they reassessed after that,' she said Monday evening.

Trump on Tuesday said he was ready for the Senate trial to begin.

Yeah, he told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if he was prepared. Whatever it is, it's a hoax, the impeachment is a big hoax. It's become a laughingstock all over the world. There was nothing done wrong.

In the meantime, Speaker Pelosi didn't answer questions about when she will transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate when she arrived on Capitol Hill Tuesday. Nor would she address the subject later in the day when she left her office for a classified briefing on the situation with Iran.

Trump's trial cannot begin until she makes such a move.

Senate Republicans attacked her for not sending them over.

'It's time for Speaker Pelosi to get on with it or out of the way,' Sen. John Barrasso said Tuesday afternoon.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer suggested it was time for Speaker Pelosi to transmit the articles of impeachment

Senator McConnell left the door open to calling witnesses later in the trial process

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley proposed legislation on Monday that would let the Senate begin the trial even without the articles if Pelosi waits longer than 25 days to send them.

It's been 20 days since the House approved the two articles of impeachment - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress - against the president.

'We're going to have to do something or we could be here on day 200 or day 400,' he told reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday. 'I mean, really, there's no end in sight.'

Schumer wants to hear from four additional witnesses, including acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

His case was bolstered on Monday when Bolton said he was willing to testify in the Senate.

'If every Senate Republican votes to prevent witnesses and documents from coming before the Senate, if every Republican Senator votes for a rigged trial that hides the truth, the American people will see that the Republican Senate is part of a large and awful cover-up,' Schumer said on the Senate floor Tuesday.

Donald Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton said Monday he will comply with a congressional subpoena if the Senate compels him to testify in the impeachment trial

Bolton confirmed Monday that he would appear before the Senate if he is subpoenaed to testify.

'[S]ince my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study. I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify,' Bolton said in a statement posted to his Political Action Committee website.

Trump's ex-national security adviser, who parted ways with the administration on a sour note in September, revealed he would comply if he was served with a legal notice.

But it would take 51 votes in the Senate to subpoena him, requiring Democrats to bring four Republican senators to their side.
New Delhi: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday (January 07) came out in defence of Maharashtra Chief Minister and party chief Uddhav Thackeray after 'Free Kashmir' poster was seen during a protest at the Gateway of India against Sunday's violence in Jawaharlal Nehru (JNU) in Delhi.

Speaking to ANI, Raut said, "I read in the newspaper that those who held 'free Kashmir' banner clarified that they want to be free of restrictions on internet services, mobile services and other issues. Also, if anyone talks of freedom of Kashmir from India then it will not be tolerated."

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis launched a scathing attack on the Uddhav Thackeray government saying 'Free Kashmir anti-India campaign' was held just 2-kilometres away from CMO's office. Taking to Twitter, Fadnavis tweeted, "Protest is for what exactly? Why slogans of Free Kashmir? How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai? Free Kashmir slogans by Azadi gang at 2km from CMO? Uddhav ji are you going to tolerate this Free Kashmir Anti India campaign right under your nose???"

Protest is for what exactly?

Why slogans of Free Kashmir?

How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai?

Free Kashmir slogans by Azadi gang at 2km from CMO?

Uddhav ji are you going to tolerate this Free Kashmir Anti India campaign right under your nose???@OfficeofUT https://t.co/zkWRjxuTqA  Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) January 6, 2020

On January 06, a poster reading 'Free Kashmir' was seen at the Gateway of India during a protest against the recent violence in JNU in the national capital. During the protest, a girl was seen holding the poster which read - Free Kashmir. The demonstrators were seen with several other placards with objectionable and abusive languages. Some posters called for 'Ban on ABVP', while some others read -- 'Stand with JNU'.

Students from various colleges had gathered at the Gateway of India on the intervening night of January 5-6 to protest against the violence on the JNU campus on Sunday.

On January 5 evening, more than 30 students of the university including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh were injured and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the campus and attacked them and some professors with sticks and rods.
UBS is overhauling its flagship wealth management business, including shrinking its senior staff, in the first big strategic move under the division's new co-head Iqbal Khan as the bank looks to revive flagging profits.

UBS is cutting up to three layers of management in the division, splitting up its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) business and giving local teams more autonomy, according to a staff memo seen by Reuters and confirmed by the Swiss bank.

About 400-500 jobs are likely to go, or roughly 2% of the unit's workforce, a source briefed on the matter said.

The revamp mirrors changes Khan, who joined the world's largest wealth manager three months ago, made as an executive at rival Credit Suisse.

"We're moving our advisers closer to senior management than they ever have been before," Khan told Reuters in a phone interview.

UBS benefited from a shift to the traditionally steady wealth management business almost a decade ago, years ahead of Credit Suisse. However it has been hit by sliding profits and sluggish activity among its wealthy clients over the past year, prompting questions from some investors and analysts over whether it needs to refresh its strategy.

The changes announced on Tuesday mark the first big shakeup since the bank appointed Khan to lead its wealth management business alongside Tom Naratil in October, replacing former Commerzbank boss Martin Blessing as co-head.

Khan and Naratil are also looking to boost collaboration with asset management and the investment bank to extend more complex financing to wealthy clients and increase access to private and capital markets.

Similar strategies helped Khan turn around Credit Suisse's international wealth management business, more than doubling profits in the unit serving rich clients outside Switzerland and Asia-Pacific during his tenure from 2015 to June last year.

FINANCING FOR RICH CLIENTS

UBS wants to provide more financing to rich clients by taking on loans that are secured against riskier collateral - including single stocks, private equity and anticipated future cash flows - and managing the risks in the investment bank.

"We're giving them a broader variety of solutions which are available to our corporate and institutional clients through the investment bank," Naratil told Reuters. "And we're making them available for Global Wealth Management clients across the globe."

In 2018, UBS set a goal to boost new loans for rich clients by a net $20-$30 billion a year. Loan volumes, however, have yet to pick up, and managers pointed to lingering risk aversion and complicated bureaucracy.

The bank's EMEA wealth management business will be split into three regions, with Caroline Kuhnert appointed head of Central and Eastern Europe and Ali Janoudi head of the Middle East and Africa. Christl Novakovic, formerly responsible for the full EMEA region, will lead its main European business.

UBS also said it was expanding its global family office group, aligning coverage of ultra high net worth clients to regional business units and enhancing its offering.
President Muhammadu Buhari has responded to a recent statement by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, over allegations of persec...





President Muhammadu Buhari has responded to a recent statement by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, over allegations of persecution of Christians under his administration.





CAN had in a statement on Monday raised the alarm over persecutions of Christians in Nigeria under the Buhari administration.





President of CAN, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, urged the Buhari government to deploy every necessarily available resource at its disposal to ensure that all Christians in the captivity of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists were freed.





He recalled the recent kidnap of Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Michika, Adamawa State, Rev Lawan Andimi by Boko Haram terrorists last week when they invaded the predominantly Christian community.





Reacting, Buhari in a statement signed by his Spokesman, Garba Shehu, assured CAN and other Nigerians that the security forces were working endlessly to secure the release of hostages in Boko Haram captivity.





The president appealed to Nigerians not to see terrorist attacks and plans as a religious fight or persecution of Christians, adding that Not seeing terrorists as they should be is exactly what they wish to divide Nigerians.





The statement read: The security forces of Nigeria are working continuously to return those taken hostage by Boko Haram to their families, friends and communities. In doing this, the government has full confidence in their ability to accomplish the task.





On its own part, the government has condemned some of the appalling acts of terror, especially following the festive period.





Yet, to continue to see these happenings solely in religious terms  removed from social, economic and environmental factors  simplifies complexities that must be heeded.





Not seeing them as they should be is exactly what the terrorists and groups wish: they want Nigerians to see their beliefs as a reason to turn against one another.





On the contrary, Christians and Muslims alike are united in their opposition to Boko Haram and the hatred for decency that the infamous group stands for.





Nigerians must continue to be united in ensuring that they do not subscribe to the terrorists message of division. Unfortunately, some leaders and politicians seek to make political capital from our religious differences.





As we fight Boko Haram on the ground, so too must we tackle their beliefs: stability and unity in face of their hatred is itself a rejection of their worldview.





This government shall never tolerate religious intolerance. We clearly and unambiguously restate our support for the freedom to practice whichever belief you wish.





The politicization of religion  as forbidden by the constitution  has no place in Nigeria.




STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Hell get us into a war.

That was one of the biggest knocks against Donald Trump when he was running for president.

Opponents said Trump couldnt be trusted in an international crisis. Hell fly off the handle, they said.

For those people, the predictions have come true.

But have they?

Trump last week ordered the airstrike that killed the Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, Iraq. Trump acted after members of Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah attacked the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

Trump has said that Soleimani was planning imminent attacks against America, and that the president acted to stop such attacks.

And Irans fingerprints were all over the embassy attack. Killed along with Soleimani was Kataib Hezbollah founder Abu Madhi Muhandis. Coincidence that they were together following the embassy attack?

Its put Democrats in a tough spot.

Even they dont argue that Soleimani was a bad guy, and that the generals Quds Force has had a hand in the killing of hundreds of American servicemen over the years. Even so, Dems cant bring themselves to support anything that Trump does.

And you can debate whether the U.S. was legally permitted to assassinate Soleimani, a member of a foreign government and not a terrorist leader in the traditional sense of the phrase.

My take? A terrorist is a terrorist, even if he wears a uniform.

The Dem-led House, which has already impeached Trump, is looking to limit the presidents ability to launch military action in Iran under the War Powers Act.

Good luck. The president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and has wide constitutional latitude to act. Maybe the Dems will add warmongering to the articles of impeachment.

President Barack Obama took plenty of military action in the Middle East.

Obama vastly increased drone strikes in Pakistan. The U.S. led airstrikes against Libya in 2011. The administration used armed drones against terrorist targets in Yemen. U.S. drones killed terrorist leader Ahmed Godane in Somalia. Obama launched anti-ISIS airstrikes in Iraq. He hit Syria with airstrikes.

President Bill Clinton launched missile strikes against Al Qaeda targets in Afghanistan and Sudan in 1998. When he launched airstrikes against Iraq later that year, Clinton was accused of trying to distract the country from his own impeachment travails. Sound familiar?

Sometimes the president deploys the military. People can disagree, as many Republicans did with Obama and Clinton. Dems disagree with Trump today, but what Trump did was well within the framework of what past presidents have done in the region.

Sometimes the president needs to show other countries that he or she will take military action. The bad folks need to see our resolve. We rely on the president to make the right judgement call. Thats why whom we vote for is so vitally important. We have to trust that decision-making process.

Trumps action is not without risk. The Iranians have vowed to hit us back. Theres no downplaying that threat, even if Mayor Bill de Blasio went too far when he said that we were basically at war with Iran already, and that the possibility of revenge strikes meant the city faced an unprecedented threat.

Unprecedented? Where was de Blasio on the day that Al Qaeda terrorists flew hijacked planes into American targets, including the World Trade Center, killing 3,000 people? That was unprecedented.

Ask yourself this: Should Trump have stood down when our embassy was attacked, like President Jimmy Carter did when Iranians stormed our embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held Americans hostage for 444 days? Should Trump have downplayed the Baghdad attack, like the Obama administration downplayed the attack on our embassy in Benghazi? Would that have made America safer?

Nobody wants a war with Iran. Theres already been too much bloodshed by American service members in the Middle East. But an attack on our sovereign embassy cant be ignored.

Hopefully, Iran got the message.
The shadow business secretary and ally of Jeremy Corbyn cited a lack of trust over Brexit and the anti-Semitism crisis for the partys devastating electoral defeat last month.

She said that while Labour MPs triangulated over Brexit, they had taken their eye off the ball in developing a coherent argument that resonated with voters.

Ms Long-Bailey told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that her comments were not a covert attack on shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir, who had pushed for a second referendum.

Keir Starmer (L) arrives with Rebecca Long-Bailey at the cabinet office / AFP via Getty Images

But she added: We did spend an inordinate amount of time on those parliamentary manoeuvrings, making sure that we were taking No Deal off the table and we took our eye off the ball in developing our argument within our communities.

When I knocked on a remain voters door they thought we were a leave party, when I [knocked] on a leave voters door they thought we were a remain party so it was quite clear that everything we were trying to say in the media was confusing voters.

The MP for Salford and Eccles said she had been focused on making the point that Labour was trying to get a good Brexit deal.

Sir Keir is the early frontrunner in the race to succeed Mr Corbyn after a YouGov poll put him ahead of Ms Long-Bailey.

However, she is considered the favourite on the Left of the party and was dubbed the continuity candidate by departing deputy leader Tom Watson yesterday.

She and Sir Keir are set to join fellow candidates Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips, Emily Thornberry and Clive Lewis at a hustings for parliamentary colleagues tonight.

Sir Keir Starmer / PA

Asked about Mr Corbyns leadership, Ms Long-Bailey said: I supported Jeremy, I still support Jeremy because I felt that he was the right man with the right moral integrity to lead the party and the right ideas.

She said Mr Corbyn had developed some of the most exciting and innovative policies that weve seen in a generation.

"I think he will go down in history as being remembered as the leader thats done that.

TODO: define component type apester

Asked about immigration, she said Labour needed to set out the case why it was a positive force.

In an article for socialist magazine Tribune, Ms Long-Bailey called for an ambitious socialist vision and said that to win an election, the party needed to rebuild as an insurgent force.

She wrote: Youre as likely to see me on a picket line as you are at the dispatch box, and you can trust me to fight the establishment tooth and nail.

Listen to today's episode of The Leader:
Crustless Basque Burnt Cheesecake was baked at high temperature to achieve that burnt top outer layer.

Basque burnt cheesecake has made its round in the blogsphere last year.



Invented and made famous by Santiago Rivera of La Vina cafe in San Sebastian, Spain.

Started out as an experiment in his cafe and now, after 3 decades, everyone wants a piece of this burnt cheese cake.



Burnt cheese cake has become a sensational cheesecake of 2019!!





How to bake Basque Cheesecake?

Pictorial on How to bake the Basque Burnt Cheesecake

How to serve Basque Cheesecake?

How to make that perfect cut?

How long can I keep this burnt cheesecake in the refrigerator?

Burnt cheesecake, basque cheesecake, basque burnt cheesecake, cheesecake recipe. Yield: 12

Author: Lisa Ho Print

With Image Without Image Basque Burnt Cheesecake This crustless Basque Burnt Cheesecake was baked at high temperature to achieve that burnt top outer layer. prep time: 15 M cook time: 1 hour total time: 1 H & 15 M ingredients: 500g | 2 cups of cream cheese at room temperature

300g | 1 1/2 cups caster sugar

310g | 6 large eggs

480g | 2 cups thickened cream

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

50g | 1/3 cup all purpose flour instructions: How to cook Basque Burnt Cheesecake Pre heat oven to 200C. Line 10" loose base cake tin with 2 greaseproof paper. Make sure that the paper extend at least 2 inches above the cake pan. Beat cream cheese and sugar on low until sugar dissolves and no lumps in the cream cheese-sugar mixture. Add one egg at a time and mix. Add thickened cream, salt and vanilla essence Sieve in plain flour and hand mix until combine. Strain the mixture into the baking pan. Bake 50 to 60 mins until the top is deep golden colour. Leave it the pan for the burnt cheesecake to cool before removing from the pan. Slice and serve. NOTES: 1. This Basque burnt cheesecake will rise in the oven hence you require the extra 2 inches of extended baking paper. We don't want any of those gorgeous mix to spew in our oven!! 2. Peep into the oven to make sure that the 'burnt' is uniform, otherwise rotate the cake. 3. Just like souffle, this Basque burnt cheese cake will rise in the oven and collapse while cooling down. This is how it is suppose to be. So don't panic! 4. This is most important step for me... 'to strain the mixture into the pan' for a smooth cheesecake. Calories

602.14 Fat (grams)

42.40 Sat. Fat (grams)

21.80 Carbs (grams)

32.00 Fiber (grams)

0.09 Net carbs

31.91 Sugar (grams)

28.19 Protein (grams)

23.33 Sodium (milligrams)

528.82 Cholesterol (grams)

660.48 https://www.mykeuken.com/2020/01/basque-burnt-cheesecake.html Lisa's Lemony Kitchen

Did you make this recipe? Tag @lisas_lemonykitchen on instagram and hashtag it # Created using The Recipes Generator

It's pretty straight forward, really.I listed all the ingredients and its methodology in the recipe card below.The only stumbling block in baking this type of cheese cake is the equipment, ie oven.In my humble opinion, the degree of 'burnt' very much depend on your oven.As you can see my burnt cheesecake below, the top is not quite 'burnt' but the bottom is already few notches towards very burnt and bitter aftertaste.I am still trying and playing with the temperature to get the right amount of baking and 'burning' for the top and bottom layer.Will update this page when I strike the balance.1. Cream the caster sugar and cream cheese till smooth2. Make sure to scrape the side:D3. Add egg one at a time4. Add in thickened cream5. Sieve in plain flour6. Strain into baking pan7. Un-mould only after the cheesecake has cooled down to room temperature.You can serve the cheesecake, once it has completely cooled, but I prefer my cheesecake to 'mature' overnight in the fridge.I swear they tasted better when chilled!A point to note when slicing the cheesecake, to always use clean hot knife at every cut and every slice!!!Using a clean knife, either dip the knife in a hot water (use tall heat proof container), wipe clean and slice.Or place the knife under running hot water, wipe off the water and slice.I wish I can keep this cheesecake as long as I wanted to, but, no!Since we are using diary products here (cream cheese and thickened cream).Its best to eat within 3 days.I have not tried to freeze them yet!!!May be next bake or when everyone in the house has had enough of Basque Burnt Cheesecake, I could try to freeze and I will update my findings here :)Other Cheesecake that you might want to give it a try
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 09:47:23|Editor: ZX

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon said on Monday that there was no policy change regarding its force presence in Iraq after media reported earlier that U.S. troops are preparing to withdraw from the country.

"There has been no change in U.S. policy with regard to our force presence in Iraq. We continue to consult with the Iraqi government regarding the defeat-ISIS mission and efforts to support the Iraqi Security Forces," Pentagon Press Secretary Alyssa Farah said in a statement.

Multiple media reported on Monday that U.S. forces are preparing to leave Iraq, citing a letter sent from William Seely, the commander of the U.S. task force in Iraq, to the deputy director of the Iraqi defense ministry's Combined Joint Operation Baghdad.

"In due deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister, CJTF-OIR (Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve) will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement," the letter wrote.

Mark Milley, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that the letter was a draft and a mistake, adding "that is not what's happening."

The episode came a day after the Iraqi parliament passed a nonbinding resolution requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in Iraq and prevent them from using Iraqi airspace and waters.

On Friday, a U.S. drone struck a convoy at Baghdad International Airport, killing Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said that U.S. attacks "constitute a serious violation of Iraqi sovereignty and violate the conditions for the presence of the American forces in Iraq."

Over 5,000 U.S. troops have been deployed in Iraq to support Iraqi forces in battles against the Islamic State, mainly providing training and advising for them.
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as Shiites on Monday led a procession and protest in Banex, Wuse Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The Shiite members were protesting over the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani following an airstrike by the United States of America.

They also demanded the release of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat who are currently in detention.

The angry protesters marched the streets of Abuja chanting hate songs and slogans like Death To America.



They also burnt a flag of the United States of America and carried placards condemning the killing of the top Iranian general.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
NORWALK  The 18-year-old man accused of trying to stab a woman to death in Westport has been ordered to undergo a competency evaluation, based on the recommendation of his own attorney.

I am strongly concerned for my client, said Wesley Mead, an attorney representing Ellis Tibere, a senior at Guilford High School. Mead also recommended Tibere be placed on suicide watch while in custody.

Tiberes mother, Denise Paley, held back tears as she watched her son get escorted out of the Norwalk courtroom Tuesday afternoon.

We love you, she mouthed as her son turned around for one last glance before he was returned to jail.

Tibere was charged with criminal attempt at murder, first-degree assault and possession of a deadly weapon after he stabbed a woman multiple times outside of a Westport beauty salon on Monday afternoon.

The 18-year-old scholar athlete told police he waited for more than three hours in the parking of New Beauty Wellness at 1137 Post Road E., before donning a black mask and attacking the unsuspecting Greenwich woman, according to an arrest affidavit.

More News Guilford teen accused of attempted murder in Westport stabbing

Police said Tibere walked up to the womans car, opened her door and began stabbing her. Tibere told detectives he only stopped stabbing the woman when a man exited the beauty salon, according to the affidavit.

When police arrived, they found two men trying to staunch the victims bleeding. Officers applied a tourniquet to the womans leg. She was later transferred to Norwalk Hospital and is now in stable condition, police said. The victim remained hospitalized as of Tuesday.

Weve been keeping up with her medical condition to determine the extent of the charges, Westport police information officer Anthony Prezioso said.

Police found Tibere driving south on the Sherwood Island Connector shortly after the incident, where he surrendered to police without incident.

The affidavit said police found a black knife sheath inside Tiberes car, which is registered under his mothers name. The report made no mention of the knife itself, however.

Superior Court Judge William Wenzel upheld a $1 million bond that Tibere has been held on since his arrest.

Wenzel also ordered that if Tibere posts bond, he would need to forfeit his passport. Tibere was also ordered to have no contact with the victim or her family.

A neighbor of the family who asked to not be named said the incident was alarming, and this alleged behavior was uncharacteristic of Tibere.

This kid is a model student. This is a tragedy, the neighbor said. ... He is a mild-mannered sweet kid. This makes no sense to me. This is not in any way, shape or form consistent with the family.

Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe said he was proud of the work done by the towns police and EMS team to handle the incident.

The combination of a brave response by a civilian to intervene, and the quick response of our police certainly brought a quick end to what couldve become a much more difficult and frightening situation, he said Tuesday. While I certainly view the incident as an aberration, the response of our public safety personnel demonstrates why Westport is a safe community to live and work in.

Tibere is next scheduled to appear Jan. 21 in state Superior Court in Stamford.
MPC has earned a strong reputation for gathering the industrys sharpest minds and delivering thought leadership.

Mobile Payments Conference organizers are seeking thought leaders to join the expert lineup at MPC20, the 10th annual conference on the future of mobile and digital payments, Aug. 24-26, 2020, at the Swissotel Chicago. The call for speakers is open now through Jan. 31, 2020.

Experts from Google, PayPal, Grubhub, Lyft, Kount, Mastercard, First National Bank, Verizon and many other innovative companies have taken the stage at MPC over the past decade.

MPC has earned a strong reputation for gathering the industrys sharpest minds and delivering thought leadership, said Marla Ellerman, Executive Director of the Mobile Payments Conference. Were continuing that tradition in 2020 as we engage FinTech pioneers in in-depth conversations about whats next.

Hot topics on deck for MPC20 include:



5G Revolution

Contactless Cards

Voice-Enabled Commerce

Connected Cars

Non-card Payments

Cardless Cash

Digital Wallets

Cryptocurrency

Blockchain

Security

Internet of Things (IoT)

International Markets

Emerging Payments

B2B Applications

Loyalty Programs

High-Risk Markets

More!

Were issuing an open call for experts to tackle these subjects as well as ways to remove friction from the payments process, said Ellerman. Every creative submission will receive serious consideration so we can make MPC20 our best event yet!

Interested parties may apply online at https://mobilepaymentconference.com/speaker-application/ by Jan. 31, 2020.

Year after year, payment industry innovators count on MPC to connect them with key decision-makers at financial institutions, venture capitalists, retailers as well as channel sales partners, analysts and press. Get your brand and message in front of executive-level buyers and dealmakers with a sponsorship or exhibit. For more information, visit https://mobilepaymentconference.com/become-a-sponsor/

Early registration also is open. To secure special pricing, reserve your spot today at https://mobilepaymentconference.com/register-now/

About the Mobile Payments Conference

In its 10th year, the Mobile Payments Conference is the premier annual conference and exhibition on the future of alternative payments worldwide. MPC is known for bringing together thought leaders, innovators and decision-makers from financial, technology, government, retail, marketing and mobile industries to discuss the evolution of the payments industry. Attendees benefit from access to the worlds foremost experts in emerging payments and commerce, blockchain and digital currencies, cybersecurity and consumer privacy, customer experience and loyalty, and customer engagement and marketing.

About MPC20

MPC20, the 10th annual Mobile Payments Conference, is set for Aug. 24-26, 2020, at the Swissotel Chicago. This years theme, The Future of Mobile & Digital Commerce is Here, will focus on the impact that alternative payment solutions will have in 2020 and beyond. For more information or to register, visit http://www.mobilepaymentconference.com

Media Contact

Khali Henderson

BuzzTheory (for MPC)

480.999.5297

khenderson@buzztheory.com
Despite the U.S. government saying a letter describing plans for a mass troop withdrawal was a premature draft, Iraq's prime minister says he has received the missive and will hold the Pentagon to it.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper insisted Tuesday during a press briefing that 'our policy has not changed. We are not leaving Iraq.'

The letter described 'repositioning' of U.S. troops and a plan to shift forces 'out of Iraq.' Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Monday that it should not have been released.

But an unnamed senior Iraqi official told The Washington Post that Milley's statement mattered little to Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi.

'We don't deal with statements in the media,' the official told the newspaper. 'As a state, we deal with the official letters that we receive, and we will act in accordance with this letter.'

At the White House, President Donald Trump said he's open to a troop pullout, but not now. ' At some point we want to get out, but this isnt the right point,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. He added that a mass evacuation would be 'the worst thing that could happen to Iraq' with an aggressive Iran on its doorstep.

'If we leave that would mean that Iran would have a much bigger foothold, and the people in Iraq do not want to see Iran running the country,' Trump added.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, pictured Monday in Baghdad, expects the United States to provide a timetable for withdrawing all American troops from his country, following receipt of an unsigned message on Pentagon letterhead that the Trump administration says was a draft that should never had been sent

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told the press on Tuesday that 'there is no signed letter, to the best of my knowledge,' and 'we are not leaving Iraq'

Some 5,200 U.S. soldiers are stationed across Iraqi bases to support local troops preventing a resurgence of ISIS; they could all be pulled out if the White House decides to

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that while he's open to withdrawing the U.S> military from Iraq, it's not the right time to do it

Esper leaned on Milley's explanation, emphasizing Tuesday at the Pentagon that Monday's message was 'a draft, unsigned letter' and said 'there is no signed letter, to the best of my knowledge.'

He added that 'there may be people trying to create confusion.'

Iraq is now expected to ask the Pentagon for a withdrawal timetable. The nation's parliament voted Sunday to ask Abdul-Mahdi to evict American forces, which are training Iraq's military to fight the ISIS terror army.

Multiple media accounts of Monday's letter kerfuffle describe the Operation Inherent Resolve joint task force command center sending the English-language message on Defense Department letterhead, along with an Arabic translation.

But Abdul-Mahdi said during a televised Cabinet meeting that his office sent the Arabic version back for revisions because it didn't match the English precisely.

He also said that if Monday's letter was sent in error, the Pentagon should send another one to clarify its position in writing.

The issue of America's role in Iraq suddenly jumped to the global front-burner late last week after President Donald Trump ordered a drone attack on Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani on Iraqi soil.

Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of more than 600 U.S. servicemen and women, and was the subject of UN restrictions that should have prohibited his travel outside Iran.

The Pentagon said on Monday that this letter, informing an Iraqi military leader the the U.S. and other coalition forces are pulling up stakes, was a draft and should never have been sent

Despite the Pentagon's insistence, a copy of the letter emerged overnight that was translated into Arabicsuggesting its language was final; but Abdul-Mahdi's office sent back the Arabic version because the two didn't match precisely

Esper told the press on Monday that there was no plan to withdraw U.S. forces. Milley said the letter was 'a draft' that 'should not have been released.'

But the existence of a translation on Defense Department letterhead suggests the missive's wording was considered final.

Before Esper and Milley addressed reporters in off-camera gaggles, an aide in the Pentagon's policy office responded to questions from the House Armed Services Committee with a message: The letter was phony propaganda.

Annie Dreazen wrote in an email that Operation Inherent Resolve, the ISIS-fighting coalition, 'has confirmed with us at the working level that this is active disinformation.' The Defense Department is 'fairly certain that this is a fake,' Dreazen added, according to a right-leaning newsletter called The Dispatch.

Esper spoke to journalists 20 minutes later.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told reporters on Monday that the letter was only a draft that should never have been released; Milley is pictured last week at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort; Iraq's prime minister appears to prefer the errant message in writing

'There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq, period,' Esper said, adding that he and his staff were 'trying to figure out' the meaning of a letter signed by a brigadier general that suggested the opposite.

'There are no plans to leave,' he emphasized, suggesting discussion of a massive troop movement could be merely a signal that forces are being repositioned inside Iraq's borders.

Milley followed. The draft was 'poorly worded' and 'implies withdrawal. That is not whats happening,' he declared.

Pentagon policy aide Annie Dreazen reportedly told a congressional committee on Monday that the military believed the letter was a fake

The U.S. had appeared to inform Baghdad that it was preparing for 'movement out of Iraq,' a day after the Iraqi parliament urged the government in a non-binding resolution to oust foreign troops.

The head of the Pentagon task force in Iraq, Brigadier General William Seely, appeared to have sent the letter to the head of Iraq's joint operations command.

'Sir, in deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister, [the coalition] will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement,' the letter from Seely said. He added: 'We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure.'

President Donald Trump said Sunday aboard Air Force One that troops would not leave Iraq unless the country compensated the U.S. for the costs associated with building and maintaining military facilities there.

'We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that's there. It cost billions of dollars to build. Long before my time,' he said. 'We're not leaving unless they pay us back for it.'

Trump also said he would punish Baghdad economically if U.S. troops were evicted.

'We will charge them sanctions like they've never seen before ever. It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame,' he warned.

Yet Iraqi premier Adel Abdel Mahdi met with the U.S. Ambassador Matthew Tueller on Monday, telling him it was 'necessary to work together to withdraw foreign forces from Iraq.'

A Pentagon official said Monday evening he was not surprised Seely was working on a draft of the letter that was released prematurely.

The official explained that military commanders who are stationed inside foreign countries routinely inform their host nations about troop movements.

Trump said Sunday that he would only withdraw troops if Iraq paid the U.S. for building and maintaining the main air base the coalition uses

Iran is considering its options against America in retaliation for the killing of Quds commander Qassem Soleimeni in Baghdad. The conflict could quickly spiral out of control, dragging in other world powers including Russia, Turkey and China

Seely's letter, he said, was likely part of a contingency plan initiated when the Defense Department first contemplated the possibility of a troop pullout.

The president ordered a withdrawal from Syria in October with little notice, catching commanders in the field by surprise.

The Pentagon source said that experience has weighed on some generals' minds and informed their decisions about executing practical tasks, like notifying local officials about near-term plans, that go along with tactical movements in the field.

Seely's letter was designed mainly to alert Iraqi commanders about nighttime helicopter flights that would ferry Marines and soldiersout of Baghdad in the event the White House were to order a mass evacuation.

On Sunday, Iraq's parliament voted in favor of the Baghdad government rescinding its permission for all foreign troops to remain in the country.

That came in reaction to a U.S. precision drone strike on Baghdad that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and top Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, among others.

The resulting chaos has made some in Iraq fear a new civil war, and drew millions to crowd streets in Tehran to see Soleimani's coffin paraded through the city.

Key figure: The letter from the Marine general in charge of coalition forces fighting ISIS and training the Iraqi army comes after the drone strike which killed Iran's Qassem Soleimani, its most senior commander who the U.S. designated a terrorist

And tensions betweeen Washington and Tehran aren't going away: The U.S. will send six B-52 bombers to the Diego Garcia air base on an island in the Indian Ocean, accordign to CNN, to prepare for the possibility of military action against Iran.

Gen. Seely wrote on Monday in order to reposition thousands of troops elsewhere, 'Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner.'

Some 5,200 U.S. soldiers are stationed across Iraqi bases to support local troops preventing a resurgence of the ISIS terror group.

They make up the bulk of the broader coalition, invited by the Iraqi government in 2014 to help combat the jihadists.

Soleimani's death has galvanized Iranians around revenge for the 'martyr'; Hundreds of thousands crowded into Tehran streets to see his coffin on Monday
PORTLAND, Maine - A tribal attorney arrested for possessing marijuana while fighting for Passamaquoddy tribe land rights in 1968 was granted a posthumous pardon on Tuesday.

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills had tears in her eyes after signing the pardon for the late Don Gellers on Tuesday, telling a group including tribal leaders that justice was a long time coming.

Mills office said it is believed to be the first posthumous pardon issued in the state.

Supporters of Gellers, who died five years ago, contend law enforcement officers arrested him in 1968 to quash his tribal land claims and advocacy for the tribe. Gellers early work laid the groundwork for Maines tribal land claims settlement act, which happened in 1980.

Theres merit to the idea that he was singled out and basically targeted, the governor told reporters.

The facts of the case were unusual.

The attorney general prosecuted Gellers under a felony statute that derailed his legal career after police found six marijuana cigarettes in his home. The felony conviction stood even though lawmakers had made minor possession a misdemeanour by the time of his appeal and his disbarment from the legal profession in Maine, Mills said.

The Portland Press Herald called attention to the circumstances surrounding Gellers fall from grace in a 2014 series, Unsettled: Triumph and tragedy in Maines Indian country.

Gellers was denied a new trial even after a prominent Boston attorney said a state prosecutor, John Kelly, told him Gellers had been set up, the newspaper reported. Kelly told the newspaper that he didnt remember the events that way but agreed that law enforcement officers were out to get Gellers.

After his legal appeals were exhausted, Gellers informed the state attorney general that he was immigrating to Israel, where he adopted his Hebrew birth name, Tuvia Ben-Shmuel-Yosef. He fought and was wounded in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

Later, he studied to become a rabbi and moved to New York City. He died in 2014 at age 78.

While this pardon cannot undo the many adverse consequences that this conviction had upon Mr. Gellers life, it can bestow formal forgiveness for his violation of law and remove the stigma of that conviction, the governor said Tuesday.

Joining the governor at the ceremony were Donna Loring, a Penobscot Indian who serves as her senior adviser on trial affairs, Passamaquoddy Vice Chief Darrell Newell from Indian Township, and Rena Newell, Passamaquoddy representative in the Legislature.

People even today are respectful for him being an advocate for native folks, Darrell Newell said. He was a warrior for the Passamaquoddy tribe.

Don Gellers never sought a pardon from a governor of Maine on his own behalf. A few months before his death, a Press Herald reporter asked whether he would want one. Well, yes, Gellers replied. Yes, that would be nice.
She demanded that JNU vice-chancellor Jagadesh Kumars resignation for the sake of the students safety.

Kolkata: Sharmishtha Ghosh, mother of injured Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union president Aishe Ghosh, on Tuesday evening blamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for the pre-planned violent attack on the students and faculty at the university.

Hitting the streets in a protest rally organised by the CPI(M) at Durgapur Thermal Power Colony in Burdwan West, she demanded that JNU vice-chancellor Jagadesh Kumars resignation for the sake of the students safety.

I have nothing say on the RSS because it is such a dirty outfit. The JNU V-C is also not looking into anything. So I do not expect anything from them. They are hogging the limelight, smashing their heads by themselves. We are worried about allowing our children to stay there if the present V-C continues. We will give a second thought to allow our children to stay at the campus if the present V-C does not resign. As a mother, I feel it a preplanned incident, Ms Ghosh alleged.

She recalled, When I visit JNU to meet my daughter, I have to sign four times, talk to her four times and get permission from her also even after giving providing her hostel details and room number to the authorities. It is elaborate criteria. But the way a gang of 50-60 youth with faces covered stormed the campus, it appeared that the police remained a mute spectator. So if this is not pre-planned, it can not be possible in JNU environment where our children move freely.

Ms Ghoshs comments came after West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh called the JNU violence a staged incident, wondering if Aishes head had become red due to blood or paint.
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and lyricist Vishal Dadlani joined the ongoing protests being organised by students at the Gateway of India against the violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on January 5.

While Kashyap said that he was there at the protest site to show his solidarity with the students and blamed the government for the attacks in JNU campus, Dadlani said that he was there in support of a secular India.

"I watched the protests which were going on here and decided to join the students. The government does not want to arrest the perpetrators because they are their own people. The police did not enter JNU to stop the violence but entered the Jamia Millia Islamia where they beat up the students," Kashyap told reporters on Monday night.

"We are here in support of a secular India, there is no other motive behind me joining this protest. One India for all," Dadlani told reporters here," Dadlani said.

Scores of students have continued their protest at the Gateway of India here on Monday against the violence which broke out at the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi on January 5.

The students who are from different colleges were sloganeering against the Central government and are exhibiting solidarity with the JNU students injured in yesterday's violence.

The students and activists had gathered here on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, soon after the reports of violence in JNU became public.

Placards with "We stand with JNU", "Stop attacks on students" written on them were also seen at the Gateway of India.

Politicians, cutting across party lines, had condemned the attack on students which had taken place in JNU on Sunday. They had urged the administration to take nab the culprits and take strict action against those found guilty.

More than 30 students have been taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the JNU and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, on Monday, granted an ex-parte injunction restraining the Kwara State Government from further demolition of late Olusola Sarakis property.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the controversial demolition of the building, also known as Ile Arugbo, last Thursday.

Ile Arugbo served as the political home of the late Kwara politician during his lifetime and after his demise.

This newspaper reported that the demolition was done in the morning amid protests by residents of the area.

The judgement was delivered on Monday in Ilorin, the state capital.

The court also said the state government should not go near the land, either to construct or do anything on the land pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.

However, according to TheNation newspaper, one of the familys lawyers, Abdulazeez Ibrahim, said that the order is yet to be served on the parties concerned because the injunction was secured almost at the close of work on Monday.

It was true that we secured a court injunction against the state government, but it took place at the closing hours, so no enroll order was available for the concerned parties, he was was quoted to have said.

State reacts

Also, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, the Kwara State Government said it has not been served any court order.

The Communication Commissioner, Murtala Olanrewaju, stated this when making some clarifications on Monday night.

He said the property demolished was a shed occasionally used for political gathering and not any home belonging to old people.

Contrary to the claims by the opposition, the physical reclamation of the property by the government on 2 January 2020 was without any incident. Nobody was met on the property. It was never a place where people lived in, so the question of ejecting, maltreating or deploying violence against anyone did not arise. No court process has been served on the government.

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Mr Olanrewaju alleged that the whole narrative about government demolishing old peoples home was a fabrication by the opposition to cover up for their lack of any document confirming their ownership of the property bordering the civil service clinic in Ilorin, the state capital.

The property is one of the over 100 government assets in GRA, Ilorin Kwara State, Victoria Island Lagos, Kaduna, and Abuja investigated by the Asset Recovery Committee led by Senator Suleiman Ajadi, which were unlawfully converted to private use. Until its physical reclamation, the property comprised only of sheds, Mr Olanrewaju said.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the state governor, had last month, announced the decision to revoke the late Olusola Sarakis property owing to an alleged illegality in its acquisition.

He said the land was originally designated for the construction of a secretariat and parking lot of the civil service clinic, but that it was unlawfully allocated to a private firm  Asa Investments Limited  without any record of payment to the state government.

Nevertheless, the son of the late Saraki, Bukola Saraki (ex-Senate President) had earlier countered the statement, saying his late father lawfully acquired the land from the state government.

Mr Saraki, in his reaction, vowed that justice would prevail in no distant time.

Also, Gbemisola Saraki, the transportation minister and daughter of the late Saraki, also chided the action of Mr AbdulRazaq.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 16:12:06|Editor: xuxin

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TEHRAN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran's parliament on Tuesday announced U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon, as "terrorist organization," official IRNA news agency reported.

"According to the vote by the Iranian lawmakers, all members of the Pentagon, the affiliated institutions and companies, and the U.S. commanders who planned and perpetrated assassination" of Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), are blacklisted, the report said.

The vote of the parliament also obliged the Iranian government to allocate 200 million euros (223 million U.S. dollars) to the IRGC's Quds Force to strengthen its defense power.

The generalities and details of the "emergency motion" were unanimously passed during an open session of the parliament on Tuesday.

On Friday, Soleimani was killed in a U.S. airstrike at Baghdad Airport.

In April 2019, Iran's Supreme National Security Council also announced U.S. Central Command forces in West Asia as "terrorist group" in retaliation for designation of the IRGC as "a foreign terrorist organization" by the United States.
GOSHEN  Finding ways to start the year on a positive note isnt always easy, and often people turn to their faith to find answers.

So members of the Church of Christ Congregational celebrated Epiphany with a family event, recognizing the arrival of the three kings to Bethlehem. It was also a way to welcome the new year and give people a special tool for the journey  a single word on a star.

The Epiphany party drew members of the congregation Sunday, mostly families. Its an event the church held last year for the first time, and is one of several events held throughout the year that are intended to build relationships  with stories from the Bible, as well as each other.

We started the program by mixing everyone up, by generations, so people could meet each other in a different way, said the Rev. Sara Krhla, pastor of Church of Christ Congregational. It helps build new relationships.

The groups then decorated crowns to honor the three kings, had lunch, and discussed a passage of scripture about the kings following the star to Bethlehem.

We try to get people thinking, about how to apply ancient texts to life today, Krhla said. We talked about the three kings faith and trust in the star, and how the kings might have felt, following that star.

After that, the group marked doorways in the church hall and parish house with a symbol using chalk, C+B+M, which represents a phrase in Latin asking Jesus to protect all who enter.

Then people took chalk home, to do it in their own homes, Krhla said.

The exercises bring the group together, the pastor said.

I wanted people to have something to take with them, she said. Lifes a journey, and we all follow Jesus, as the star and the light.

Finally, each person was given a paper star with a word on it, and were encouraged to place the star in a prominent place, where it would be seen every day.

Then, throughout the year, see how that word affects them, Krhla said. People who did this last year shared their star word for 2019, and how it impacted their life ... last years words were empowerment, family and change. So its interesting to hear how people reacted to those words.

Krhla learned about the star words from a blog she follows, called revgalblogpals, where female pastors exchange ideas. The idea is to give people an epiphany word to use all year long.

I think it gives people something to think about, something positive, Krhla said. I remind them, during the year to think about their star word. I keep mine on my desktop, so I see it all the time. You can tape it to your bathroom mirror, or the car visor ... places where youll come across it.

Krhla has served the Goshen church for two years. Its her first parish, she said, and she loves it.

Im not looking to go anywhere, she said. Im happy to be where I am.

Church of Christs programs are open to everyone, though members are usually the only ones to attend. But everyones always welcome, the pastor said. As we do more and more programs, more people might come.

Church of Christ, Congregational, UCC, is located at 5 Old Middle St., Goshen. To reach the church, call 860-491-2793 or visit https://goshenchurch.com/
Yves here. I must confess to having missed that negotiations in Venezuela were underway. But as a finance and economics site, we cant give geopolitical developments the same level of coverage as topics more central to our beats.

Having said that, and readers closer to the action may beg to differ, but the very fact of negotiations looks like an admission of the obvious, that the US-backed coup effort has failed. However, the fallback seems to be to wrest some concessions from the Maduro government, presumably in return for a relaxation of sanctions. The wee problem is, as the US demonstrated with exiting the JCPOA, that the US is not-agreement-capable, so it isnt clear what benefits Venezuela would actually derive even if the two sides were to come to a deal.

By the International Crisis Group. Originally published at openDemocracy

This is a short version of the latest briefing of the International Crisis Group on Venezuela, entitled: Venezuela: Is there life after the Barbados talks? Read the full briefing here

Whats new? At least for now, Norwegian-facilitated negotiations to end Venezuelas presidential showdown have collapsed. Meanwhile, President Nicolas Maduros government has forged an agreement with minority opposition parties. Together with regional powers decision to define Venezuela as a threat to hemispheric security, these developments could complicate a resolution of the crisis.

Why does it matter? Failure to restore political stability and socio-economic well-being in Venezuela fuels South Americas worst-ever refugee crisis, risks a low-intensity internal conflict, propagates tensions across the region and threatens to trigger military clashes with neighbouring Colombia.

What should be done? Allies of the two sides should press them to overcome their reluctance and return to the negotiating table, possibly under a new format, where they should show the necessary flexibility to reach a workable agreement.

Overview

After seven rounds of formal talks in Oslo and Barbados, facilitated by the Norwegian government, negotiations between representatives of President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition led by Juan Guaido  now recognised as the legitimate acting president by 58 countries, including the U.S.  broke down in mid-September. The talks had centred on a six-point agenda, agreed upon in April, to which the Maduro government had contributed just one point  the lifting of U.S. sanctions.

The remaining five were the restoration of constitutional checks and balances; conditions for the holding of elections (understood by the opposition to mean a presidential election, though that was not made explicit); the terms of a transition away from Maduro; peace and reconciliation; and post-electoral guarantees for both sides.

Both sides had reportedly accepted, at least in principle, close to 80 per cent of the action points based on this agenda. Though the talks have been suspended, their resumption remains the best hope for averting a worsening humanitarian emergency and the risk of violence in and around Venezuela.

While both sides have left open the possibility of returning to talks, each has proceeded to activate alternative strategies that undercut the Norwegian initiative. As soon as the opposition made public its conclusion that the negotiations current phase was at an end, the Maduro government and a group of smaller opposition parties unveiled an agreement of their own, which contemplates the release of some political prisoners, fresh faces on the electoral authority board and the return of government legislators to the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

A week later, on 23 September, sixteen governments from across the Americas that recognise opposition leader Guaido as acting president agreed to activate a regional defence pact known as the Rio Treaty (formally, the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, or TIAR in Spanish) and announced their intention to impose sanctions as well as pursue, capture and extradite Venezuelan officials involved in human rights abuses and other international crimes. They defined the Venezuelan crisis as a threat to the security of the region as a whole.

On both sides there are those who reject the idea of resuming substantive negotiations. For some in the opposition there can be no dialogue with a government that has repeatedly failed to keep its word and that is, in their view, running not only a dictatorship but what amounts to a mafia state.

On Maduros side, some argue that the forces arrayed against them seek to destroy the government and the chavista movement  named after the late president Hugo Chavez  as a whole. For them, the only adequate response is to resist as, for example, Cuba has done over the past six decades in the face of U.S. efforts to topple communist rule on the island.

Prospects for a swift return to the table now seem poor. Still, a Norway-type process, albeit with certain modifications  such as more concerted international support and the inclusion of more voices at the negotiating table, above all those of the Venezuelan military  continues to offer the best framework for a deal that would lead to a peaceful, sustainable transition.

If the two sides want to reach a sustainable settlement, the best course is to return to more structured negotiations

Conclusion

Improbable as it seems at present, if the two sides want to reach a sustainable settlement, the best course is to return to more structured negotiations similar to those conducted by Norway. So far neither party has closed off this possibility, and both have even explicitly talked about it.

President Maduro expressed willingness to resume the talks in a speech he gave on his return from a visit to Russia, while the opposition made a similar pledge in a National Assembly resolution on 1 October, in which it defined negotiations as a necessary mechanism backed both by the international community and by Venezuelans.

Difficulties that led to the talks suspension, as well as other issues that have arisen since then, would need to be addressed. In particular, the parties should consider reaching partial agreements even as they negotiate a more comprehensive deal, not only as a means of generating public support and bolstering the talks legitimacy but also in order to address the humanitarian emergency.

The inclusion of additional constituencies  notably, delegations representing the Venezuelan armed forces and minority opposition parties  would also strengthen the process. The organiser  optimally still the Norwegian government, which both sides trust for its discretion and integrity  ought to consider including international players that, while physically and formally absent from the negotiations, have enjoyed significant influence from afar.

One option might be to create an outer ring of participants, such as the U.S. and Russia, as well as regional players including Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. The EUs International Contact Group could play a role in assembling and participating in this circle of diplomatic support.

Lastly, successful talks will require the two sides and their main allies to make further compromises. As our forthcoming companion briefing details, these compromises will be easy neither for the government nor for the opposition to strike or sell to their respective constituents. But they are essential if a viable, sustainable agreement that reverses Venezuelas catastrophic course and averts a worsening regional crisis is to be reached.
Partnership will advance both firms' positions in the field of molecular dynamics-based drug discovery

NEW YORK and SANTA FE, New Mexico, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Redesign Science and OpenEye Scientific are pleased to announce that they have entered into a strategic partnership to integrate OpenEye's pioneering Orion computational platform into Redesign's drug discovery platform.

The practice of drug discovery has radically transformed in recent decades as advances in computational power and simulation methods have thrown open the doors to "rational" drug discovery, which focuses on discovering new pharmaceuticals through an intentional, first-principles approach that contrasts with the trial-and-error approaches favored by previous generations.

OpenEye is a recognized leader in the field of cheminformatics software for drug discovery, providing a reliable API customers use to build highly customizable programs and workflows. Its newly released Orion computational platform, built on AWS, extends this capability by serving as a highly scalable cloud-based computational analysis system, bringing together all of OpenEye's previously developed tools in a single, customizable and massively scalable interface.

Redesign Science will integrate these tools into its own molecular dynamics platform, allowing it to scale its drug discovery efforts more rapidly. According to Redesign cofounder and CTO Haotian Li: "At Redesign, we develop highly customized workflows for each project, and leveraging Orion brings reproducibility, flexibility, and speed to key parts of our development process as we deploy these workflows on the cloud. This technology means we can scale up our business without having to scale up human costs and development times at the same rate - it is a major key to Redesign's growth."

OpenEye sees not just economic benefit but also strategic rationale in this partnership and took an equity stake in Redesign during its recently-closed seed investment round. "OpenEye is committed to advancing rational drug discovery by providing an evolving platform of state-of-the-art methods for pharmaceutical development and analysis. We are excited by Redesign's vision and how we might help them achieve their goals. We see cloud computing as central to the future of our industry, and investing in Redesign is a part of our broader strategy of engagement with dynamic, revolutionary enterprises," says OpenEye CEO, Anthony Nicholls.

Redesign is currently advancing drug discovery programs with multiple biotech partners through the integration of the Orion platform with its existing molecular dynamics and virtual screening technologies.

About Redesign Science - Founded in 2017, Redesign Science is focused on delivering novel chemical matter to biotech partners. Redesign's mission is to develop and optimize new therapeutics for novel or poorly understood targets, and to drastically reduce its partners' time investment in early-stage drug discovery.

About OpenEye Scientific - OpenEye has built a reputation as a scientific leader in the field of molecular design based on two decades of delivering useful applications and programming toolkits. Our scientific approach has focused on the power of molecular 3D structure to inform and guide, in particular via the concept of shape similarity. We have changed industry perception of what is possible with the speed, robustness and scalability of our tools and have recently built these into a ground-up, cloud-native platform, Orion. Combining unlimited computation and storage with powerful tools for data sharing, visualization and analysis in an open development platform, Orion offers unprecedented capabilities for drug discovery and optimization. OpenEye Scientific is a privately held company headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with offices in Boston, Massachusetts, Cologne, Germany, Strasbourg, France and Tokyo, Japan. For further information on the company and its products, see www.eyesopen.com.

Media contacts - Redesign Science: press@redesignscience.com

OpenEye: marketing@eyesopen.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1062779/OpenEye_Scientific_Logo.jpg
New Delhi:

A Delhi Court on Monday issued death warrants against four death row convicts in the sensational 2012 Nirbhaya Gangrape and murder case. Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora said he will pronounced the order.

During the hearing, the prosecution said there was no application pending before any court or the President right now by any of the convicts and the review petition of all the convicts was dismissed by the Supreme Court.

While urging the court to issue the death warrants, the prosecution said, "In between issuance and execution of death warrants of the convicts want to file curative petitions they can do so."

The counsel for two of the convicts -- Mukesh and Vinay -- said they were in process of filing curative petition in the apex court.

Heres the timeline of the Nirbhaya case

December 16, 2012: Paramedical student gangraped and brutally assaulted by six men in a private bus and thrown out of the moving vehicle along with her male friend. The victims admitted to Safdarjung Hospital.

December 17: Widespread protests erupt demanding stringent action against the accused.

Police identify four accused - bus driver Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, besides Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta.

December 18: Ram Singh and three others arrested.

December 20: Victim's friend testifies.

December 21: Delinquent juvenile nabbed from Anand Vihar bus terminal in Delhi. Victim's friend identifies Mukesh as one of the culprits. Police conduct raids in Haryana and Bihar to nab the sixth accused, Akshay Thakur.

December 21-22: Thakur arrested in Aurangabad district of Bihar and brought to Delhi. Victim records statement before the SDM in hospital.

December 23: Protesters defy prohibitory orders, take to the streets. Delhi Police Constable Subhash Tomar, on duty to control protests, rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

December 25: Girl's condition declared critical. Constable Tomar succumbs to injuries.

December 26: Following a cardiac arrest, victim flown to Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital by the government.

December 29: Victim succumbs to injuries and other medical conditions at 2:15 A.M. Police add murder charge in the FIR.

January 2, 2013: Then Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir inaugurates fast track court (FTC) for speedy trial in sexual offence cases.

January 3: Police file charge sheet against five adults accused of murder, gang rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, unnatural offences and dacoity etc.

January 5: Court takes cognisance of the charge sheet.

January 7: Court orders in-camera proceedings.

January 17: FTC starts proceedings against the five adult accused.

January 28: Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) says minority of juvenile accused is proved.

January 2: FTC frames charges against five adult accused.

January 28: JJB frames charges against the minor.

March 11: Ram Singh commits suicide in Tihar Jail.

March 22: Delhi HC allows national media to report trial court's proceedings.

July 5: Inquiry (trial) in JJB against the juvenile in concludes. JJB reserves verdict for July 11.

July 8: FTC completes recording of testimonies of prosecution witnesses.

July 11: JJB holds minor also guilty of illegally confining and robbing a carpenter on December 16, night before allegedly taking part in the gang rape. Delhi High Court allows three international news agencies to cover the trial in the case.

August 22: FTC begins hearing final arguments in trial against four adult accused.

August 31: JJB convicts the minor for gang rape and murder and awards three-year term at probation home.

September 3: FTC concludes trial. Reserves verdict.

September 10: Court convicts Mukesh, Vinay, Akshay, Pawan of 13 offences including gang rape, unnatural offence and murder of the girl and attempt to murder her male friend.

September 13: Court awards death penalty to all 4 convicts.

September 23: HC begins hearing the convicts' death sentence reference sent to it by the trial court.

January 3, 2014: HC reserves verdict on convicts' appeals.

March 13: HC upholds death penalty to the 4 convicts.

March 15: SC stays execution of 2 convicts, Mukesh and Pawan, after they file appeals. Later stays execution of other convicts also.

April 15: SC directs police to produce the dying declaration of the victim.

February 3, 2017: SC says it would hear afresh the aspect of awarding death penalty to the convicts.

March 27: SC reserves verdict on their appeals.

May 5: SC upholds death penalty to four convicts, says the case falls under the category of 'rarest of rare' and the offence created "tsunami of shock".

November 8: Mukesh, one of the four death row convicts in the case, moves SC seeking review of its verdict upholding the capital punishment awarded to him.

December 12: Delhi Police opposes Mukesh's plea in SC.

December 15: Convicts Vinay Sharma and Pawan Kumar Gupta move SC for review of its verdict.

May 4, 2018: SC reserves order on review plea by two condemned convicts--Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta.

July 9: SC dismisses review pleas of three convicts.

December 10, 2019: Akshay moves plea in SC seeking review of his death penalty.

December 18: SC dismisses his review plea.

Delhi court directs Tihar authorities to issue notice to convicts to avail their remaining legal remedies.

January 7, 2020: A Delhi court issued death warrants against four convicts -- Mukesh (30), Pawan Gupta (23), Vinay Sharma (24), Ram Singh (22), Akshay Kumar Singh (27). They will be hanged on January 22 at 7 am.

(With PTI inputs)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez narrowly won parliamentary backing on Tuesday for Spains first coalition government in decades, ending a long political stalemate but leaving him reliant on a fragile patchwork of alliances to pass laws.

After nearly a year of caretaker governments, Sanchez won the simple majority he needed by two votes thanks to the support of lawmakers from smaller regional parties.

He and coalition ally Pablo Iglesias, the leader of left-wing Unidas Podemos, now want to roll back some of the labour reforms passed by a previous conservative government and push for tax increases on high-income earners and companies.

But the two parties between them hold just 155 of the 350 seats in a deeply fragmented parliament, where antagonism between left and right was further inflamed by a deal the Socialists struck with Catalan nationalists to get the coalition voted through.

I trust that we can overcome the atmosphere of irritation and tension and that we can recover a space for consensus and for agreement, Sanchez told parliament prior to the vote.

The session was interrupted by shouts and insults, with politicians from the right accusing Sanchez of betraying Spain over Catalonia, whose independence drive has triggered a political crisis.

In the run-up to the vote, politicians also accused each other of pressuring lawmakers, in particular from small regional parties that said they would back Sanchez, to change their minds.

Tensions

But in the end, the vote to install Spains first coalition government since its return to democracy in the late 1970s passed off as expected.

Sanchez won the backing of 167 of the 350 legislators, while 165 voted against.

The remaining 18 abstained, including the lawmakers of Catalan separatist party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), after Sanchez agreed to hold a dialogue over the future of Catalonia and submit its conclusions to voters in the region.

Mainstream right-wing parties have steadfastly refused to hold any such talks on the future of Catalonia, where a botched independence declaration in 2017 led to the jailing of separatist leaders, galvanising an at times violent protest movement.

Story continues

The rise of new parties in Spain over the past five years has ended decades of dominance by the Socialists and conservative Peoples Party over Spanish politics, making the process of forming governments and keeping them in power far harder.

The Socialists came first in two inconclusive national elections in 2019, and Sanchez has led a caretaker government that had little margin to push through policies. The minority government he previously headed was forced to throw in the towel after less than a year when Catalan separatists withdrew their support.

Portfolios in his new government have yet to be officially announced but will include Iglesias and Sanchezs economy minister Nadia Calvino as vice-presidents.

How the Socialists and Podemos will work together also remains an open question, as the parties were at odds for much of 2019.

The hard part starts tomorrow, said Aitor Esteban, a lawmaker and spokesman for the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), who voted for Sanchez.

(REUTERS)
Hard-left Labour contender Rebecca Long Bailey was ridiculed last night after giving Jeremy Corbyn 10 out of 10 for his leadership.

The partys business spokesman lavished praise on the outgoing leader during her campaign launch despite him overseeing Labours worst election defeat since 1935.

She refused to distance herself from his failed manifesto and insisted the party needed a proud socialist to take over.

Jack Straw, who served in the cabinets of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, said the party needed a loyal successor to Mr Corbyn (pictured) like a hole in the head

It came as former Labour home secretary Jack Straw warned the party would be signing a collective suicide note if it elected another far-Left leader like her.

Mrs Long Bailey insisted she was not anybodys continuity candidate.

But she told ITV News: I thought Corbyn was one of the most honest, kind, principled politicians Ive ever met. Id give him 10 out of 10, because I respect him and I supported him all the way through.

One Labour MP responded: 10 out of 10? How about minus 59: the number of MPs we lost?

What an insult to millions of people who felt let down by Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Straw, who served in the cabinets of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, said the party needed a loyal successor to Mr Corbyn like a hole in the head.

The partys business spokesman lavished praise on the outgoing leader during her campaign launch despite him overseeing Labours worst election defeat since 1935

The veteran politician added: If it goes for someone who says he or she is the continuity candidate, that is signing a collective suicide note. Weve tried that. We had four and a half abysmal years of this far-Left experiment of not compromising with the electorate.

Race for the top job SIR KEIR STARMER, 57. The pro-European shadow Brexit secretary and former Director of Public Prosecutions is seen as a centrist. Odds: 4/5 REBECCA LONG BAILEY, 40. The shadow business secretary is the chosen candidate of the hard-Left, and has been backed by John McDonnell. Odds: 5/2 LISA NANDY, 40. A shadow minister under Ed Miliband, she is from the partys soft-Left and wants party to take more notice of the North. Odds: 8/1 JESS PHILLIPS, 38. The outspoken backbencher from the West Midlands has long been a critic of Corbyns leadership. Odds: 12/1 CLIVE LEWIS, 48. A hard-Left candidate who argues Labour lost the election because it was too Right-wing. Odds: 33/1 EMILY THORNBERRY, 59. The Shadow Foreign Secretary represents Mr Corbyns neighbouring seat in north London. A prominent pro-European. Odds: 66/1 Advertisement

'Also a very authoritarian situation inside the Labour party coupled with this absolutely vile anti-Semitism which Corbyn didnt want to do anything about.

On the first official day of the leadership contest, Mrs Long Bailey blamed the catastrophic result of last months election on the media rather than the party leadership.

She told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I supported Jeremy. I still support Jeremy because I felt he was the right man with the right moral integrity to lead the party. The MP was immediately backed by shadow chancellor John McDonnell, a close ally of Mr Corbyn.

Mrs Long Bailey said she could be trusted to maintain our socialist agenda.

The comments will be seen as a thinly-veiled swipe at shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer, who is seen as a centrist.

Mrs Long Bailey insisted claims that immigration depresses wages were wrong.

But in a break from Mr Corbyn, she signalled she would be prepared to press the nuclear button if she became prime minister. If you have a deterrent you have to be prepared to use it, she told the BBC, but stressed she was not going to be a warmonger.

Last night Mr Corbyn declined to say who he would be backing, but he described Mrs Long Bailey as a wonderful colleague and brilliant member of the shadow cabinet.

The new leader is to be announced at a conference on Saturday, April 4.
Farmers are buckling their seatbelt. The end of the week will bring the U.S. Department of Agriculture's biggest report day of the year for moving the markets.

On Friday, the USDA will release its annual production summary for 2019 crops, the December 1 Grain Stocks report, and the winter small grain seedings report.

Additionally, the USDAs Office of the Chief Economist will update its Supply-Demand estimates for January. There is a lot of market momentum that numbers will change based on anecdotal information, but that could come to a screeching halt Friday if few changes actually occur when the USDA data is released.

Some of that anecdotal information suggests that 1.4 to 1.5 million acres of unharvested soybeans in North Dakota would tend to reduce the production estimates of past reports, at least in states where crops remain standing. Although Illinois corn and soybeans officially are all harvested, one does not have to look too hard to find corn and soybeans still standing.

The USDAs December 30 report on state harvest progress indicated in Iowa, "Corn and soybean harvest was nearly complete across the state with only a few fields left to be harvested. In Michigan, Soybean and corn harvest continued throughout (December). In Minnesota, There is still corn standing that will likely not be harvested until spring. And in North Dakota, Corn harvested 48%. South Dakota is 90% harvested.

The market will also focus on the USDAs estimates of sales of soybeans and other commodities to China, unless the USDA will wait for the purchases to actually occur like the rest of us.

Market observers began issuing their estimates over the weekend about the USDA projections, and Bloomberg summarized the reports of 28 of them. Compared to the USDAs December estimates, the market is looking for Fridays corn harvest to drop by 500,000 acres, yield to drop by 1 bushel and total production to drop by 160 million bushels.

The Bloomberg summary of analysts expectations for soybeans is for acreage to hold steady from the USDAs December numbers, for the soybean yield to drop by .4 bushels per acre, and for production to decline by only 37 million bushels.

Essentially, the commodity analysts are expecting the crops still standing in the field to either be abandoned or harvested with a much lower yield than what was projected last fall. If that is not the case, and the USDA raises its production estimate, the grain market will drop substantially.

There is more uncertainty within the market about what the USDA will report on Chinese purchases of U.S. commodities from the 2019 crop. The White House has announced China will spend $40-$50 billion over each of the next two years buying U.S. farm commodities. China has not specified any dollar figure or any volume, saying only it will buy what it needs and based on competitive pricing.

That does not give the USDAs statisticians much to go on regarding soybean exports to China, but it is doubtful the USDA will overestimate Chinese business, or U.S. farmers will pass down that faux pas for generations to come.

GALLERY: Farm Progress through the years

Stu Ellis is an observer of the Central Illinois agriculture scene. In addition to his weekly column, you can view his From The Farm and Harvest Heritage reports on WCIA 3 News.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allied Hotel Properties Inc. (Allied or the Company) (TSX-V: AHP), announced that it has completed the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to DVP Hotel Development LP for $102 million (subject to adjustments), as previously announced on October 23, 2019 and as approved by the Companys shareholders at a special meeting held on December 19, 2019. The assets sold include the business and related hotel property known as Toronto Don Valley Hotel and Suites, located at 175 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario, the adjacent development lands and certain other assets related to the operation of the hotel (the Transaction).



The net cash proceeds of the Transaction, after the effect of the transaction costs, closing adjustments and taxes arising from the Transaction, is estimated to be approximately $78 million. The Company has also reserved an amount of $4.5 million for purposes of a holdback and net equity maintenance arising from the Transaction. As a result of the aforementioned, the Company expects to have approximately $73.5 million cash reserves on hand (the Total Cash Reserves) following completion of the Transaction.

Management and the board of directors (the Board) of the Company have yet to fully consider how the Company will use the Total Cash Reserves, and may utilize those funds in any manner that the Board determines appropriate. However, the Company currently anticipates returning substantial portions of the Total Cash Reserves to shareholders by way of a dividend in due course, to be paid in one or more installments, as determined by the Board, at its sole discretion.

About Allied Hotel Properties Inc.

Allied is involved in the ownership, management and development of hotels and real estate in Canada, having a history of real estate development particularly where such development can be undertaken on hotel lands. Interested parties can find further information at www.alliedhotels.com .

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

(signed) Michael F. Chan

Michael F. Chan

President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Director

For more information please contact:

Allied Hotel Properties Inc.

Tel: 604-669-5335

Fax: 604-682-8131

e-mail: mikechan@alliedhotels.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 Information

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words anticipate, estimate, will and expect and similar expressions and statements are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Allieds current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information concerning: use of the Total Cash Reserves. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. The material facts and assumptions include, but are not limited to: the Board determining when and how the Total Cash Reserves will be returned to shareholders.

Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results to be materially different from the results that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information contained in this press release. Such factors include, without limitation, the following risks: the return of Total Cash Reserves to shareholders will not occur immediately. The Company cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive.

The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Due to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.
Some NATO countries are pulling their militaries out of Iraq because of security concerns, a move that comes after the alliance suspended a mission to train Iraqi forces, Stars & Stripes reports. Germany will send 30 of its 120 soldiers in Iraq to Jordan and Kuwait while others will remain positioned in the less volatile Kurdistan region.

Germanys defense and foreign ministries announced the moves in a letter to parliament Monday. When the training is able to resume, the military personnel can be reinstated, the two ministries said in a joint letter, Deutsche Welle reported.

Other countries have taken similar steps. Croatia has moved its 14 soldiers from Iraq, with seven bound for Kuwait and the rest headed home.

In accordance with the decisions of the NATO alliance about removing the mission from Iraq to Kuwait, members of the Croatian army were withdrawn from Baghdad to Kuwait and are now in a safe area, Croatias Defense Ministry said in a statement Monday. Croatia said it will continue to monitor the security decisions together with allies.

NATOs training mission in Iraq involves about 500 troops. The mission began in 2018 at Iraqs request, but tensions with Iran after the U.S. killing of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani have brought those efforts to a halt. The mission was focused on strengthening Iraqi security forces and military education institutions with an aim of helping them prevent the return of Islamic State.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday said the training mission could resume at some point. We are ready to restart the training when the situation on the ground makes that possible. We are in close contact with the Iraqi authorities, with the Iraqi government, Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels.

Other countries that have moved soldiers out of Iraq include Slovakia, which had seven troops in the country.
Presidential Press Corps Member Sammy Wiafe takes a look at how Bawumia is digitally transforming Ghana.

The coming of the Akufo-Addo government meant that Ghanaians had voted for change, not just for the sake of it but a change in the way things are done. And if there is anyone spearheading this change in the digitize world, then it's Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Since the government of President Akufo-Addo assumed office in January 2017, Dr. Bawumia, who has been nicknamed 'Digimia', because of his passion and drive to modernize processes, has led the charge to formalize the largely informal Ghanaian economy. He has also challenged ICT companies in Ghana to come up with technological solutions to address the challenges facing the nation.

I followed him to a number of ICT companies in Ghana where he met and interacted with these 'tech guys'.

Such a digitization drive has led to a drastic reduction in clearing and turn-around times at the country's ports through the introduction of a Paperless Port system.

Since its introduction in September 2017, many who are engaged in the country's port say it has brought tremendous transformation and efficiency.

The same can be said at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority-DVLA (DVLA). The use of technology has gradually eliminated the ''goro boys'' syndicate which hitherto was a problem for the DVLA.

Recently, the Vice President announced that the DVLA in collaboration with the National Insurance Commission will introduce a system where with the aid of a mobile phone a passenger of a public transport will be able to determine if the car he or she is boarding is insured or not.

That's not all, the Vice President led the introduction of the Digital Property Addressing System. This provides digital addresses for parcels of the land and properties in the entire country. Every land or property has been assigned a unique identifier to facilitate improved ownership data and unique identification of properties.

Though this move generated heated debate over the cost, gradually many have seen its usefulness.

Dr. Bawumia from day one since his assumption of office has been preaching financial inclusion in the country and the provision of banking services to every resident of Ghana through the innovative Mobile Payments Interoperability platform.

With this platform, one can do a Mobile Money transaction with different networks. This has reduced the headache of jumping from one vender to the other of a different network.

The push for a digitized economy has also been extended into the health sector: Ghana now has the world's largest medical drone programme, delivering critical blood supplies and other medical consumables to rural and hard to reach communities. The project which is being handled by Zipline Technology currently has offices in the Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra and the North East Region.

Also, citizens can now renew their National Health Insurance cards from the comfort of their homes within minutes instead of hours and sometimes, days. With a short code, this can be done with ease.

Dr. Bawumia recently announced that government was in the process of making the country's hospitals go paperless. Already, some public hospitals like the Legon Hospital have begun the process.

Business registration, procurement and justice delivery are also going digital, with efforts ongoing to digitise the entire economy in the shortest possible time.

That's not all, the Vice President last year called for a re-examination of land management and use in the country in order to add more value to the resource. He said this also allows for leveraging land to achieve other objectives. He announced government's determination to digitise the administration of lands.

Despite various government interventions, including Phases I and II of the Land Administration Project, the issue of land ownership and use has been a thorny one over the years.

The passport office cannot be left out. Now, application for a passport has gone online, no more ''goro boys'' and the passport syndicate which milks people who are in dire need of passports, has collapsed.

In my series of interaction with the Vice President he says the ultimate goal of government is to remove unnecessary procedures that allow stealing in public service.

When we said that you cannot pay for services with cash, you should pay electronically, what we have found out is that government collection went up by four folds. Four times in one ministry. Just the Ministry of Tourism, so where was the money going?

Government maintains that with digitisation, new and more efficient ways of doing business will be introduced to help attract investors.

The Vice President is also pushing for an instant issuance of biometric ID cards which will serve as the bedrock for all digital initiatives such as tax collection and business registration.

This is the first time we have biometric issuance of national ID cards in the world. We have implemented the digital address system, digital drivers' license and digital registration, mobile money interoperability, which is a major step to financial inclusion and cashless payment for public services, he told me.

Outlining more projects being done by government, Dr. Bawumia stated that critical institutions such as the Ministry of Health will soon coordinate all health records on a single platform to enable doctors and health officers access it anywhere in the country.

Technology is gradually changing the world and Ghana must not be left out. Today, we have a Vice President who has devoted a lot of his time to make Ghana fit into the ''new school''.

We should embrace this push and formalize things in this country of ours.

The writer, Sammi Wiafe, is Citi FM/Citi TV's Presidential Affairs correspondent.
Twitter can be a wonderful and fascinating venue, but also a dark and unpleasant one. It empowers the good as well as the malicious, giving voice to those who want to make the world a better place, and those who thrive on other peoples pain.

Last week I became the target of a very active bunch of ghouls because I tweeted this in answer to a question about my views on abortion: Make contraceptives freely available; provide good and modern sex-ed in every school; introduce socialized daycare for all; empower women; eradicate poverty. Abortion rates will plummet. Anti-abortion zealots dont want life, they want control.

The response was enormous and eclectic, and ranged from a far-right Catholic position that was severely anti-Semitic and homophobic, to people who were certainly not racist but obsessed with criminalizing abortion. We cant and mustnt, of course, judge the world by social media, but many of the people who responded to me were influential priests, and prominent anti-abortion activists.

It comes at a time when the demise of federal Conservative leader Andrew Scheer exposed what we surely already knew: that in Canada and most of the Western world  with the exception of the U.S.  laws restricting or even banning abortion are incredibly unlikely. But what of those of us who believe in a womens choice but would also like abortion rates to drop, especially in cases of gender or disability-based termination?

Let me emphasize that this is a universe away from those who argue that abortion in unacceptable, even in cases of rape and incest. That, believe it or not, is the usual stance of the anti-abortion movement, and women who claim that they were born to raped mothers are in great demand on the speaking circuit. Its all so morbid, and all so far from the reality and agony of the situation.

The most fundamental point is that this is, whatever the circumstances, always a womans choice. But what strikes me as particularly jarring is that the most aggressive of abortion foes seem to have no interest in reducing the numbers at all, and actually seem to want them to increase. Whether this is a conscious or subconscious position I simply do not know.

The movement is usually dominated or led by Roman Catholics, whose church teaches that contraception is intrinsically evil. This has gone so far as to lead to the rejection of condom use in parts of Africa where AIDS is endemic, let alone encouraging unwanted pregnancies, and thus more abortions, in the West.

In terms of female empowerment, the church is intensely patriarchal. Pope Francis may be refreshingly progressive of certain issues but he rejects female ordination. As for sex-ed, the campaign in Ontario, and other parts of North America, against a modern and updated curriculum was led by anti-abortion social conservatives.

These groups also usually oppose public daycare, because they fear state intervention would contradict their highly traditional, some would argue archaic, view of the family. In the U.S., and even in Canada, such activists also stand firm against economic policies designed to help the poor, especially women.

Remember, in the U.S. a woman with money can usually find a way to arrange an abortion, but those who are poor often have no option but to give birth, frequently raising that child in poverty.

So we have to ask what the anti-abortion culture genuinely believes and why its adherents behave so paradoxically. I think its about intent rather than result, and the self-regard that can come from commitment to cause, rather than an informed and thoughtful dedication to trying to change a situation.

The end is irrelevant, and the means inflate the ego. Its religion gone bad, where toy martyrdom is a badge of prestige. I recall a particular zealot who insisted on entering abortion clinics, knowing she would be arrested and, eventually, imprisoned. The police and courts had far better things to do, but had no choice. This person changed nothing but seemed to want, and need, the attention.

If were fortunate, the conservatives will move on, the conversation will change, and we can all be more adult about the whole thing. But not, I suppose, on Twitter.

Michael Coren is a Toronto-based writer and contributor to the Stars Opinion section and iPolitics. Follow him on Twitter: is a Toronto-based writer and contributor to the Stars Opinion section and iPolitics. Follow him on Twitter: @michaelcoren

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Days after masked men went on a rampage in JNU, Union Minister Nityanand Rai on Tuesday said no worker or leader of the BJP can incite violence and alleged that the Congress and the AAP was behind the attack.

More than 35 students were injured on Sunday when a masked mob attacked students and professors besides vandalising property.

The JNUSU has accused the RSS-affiliated ABVP volunteers of attacking the students. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has alleged that Left activists were involved in the attack.

"Bharatiya Janata Party believes in law and order. No worker or leader of BJP can think of such a thing or incite anyone. This is the work of the Communists, the Congress and Arvind Kejriwal.

"The violence in JNU is only part of a conspiracy by opposition parties. I would like to tell them that the students are the future of our country and therefore I will urge Congress leaders and the likes of Arvind Kejriwal (of AAP) to not mislead the students," Rai, who is the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, told reporters.

He along with senior BJP leader Vijay Goel took out a peace march in support of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The march started from Baratooti Chowk in Sadar Bazar area and culminated at the Jama Masjid.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- The National Police Service said two AK47 firearms and two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered during the incident

- The terrorists were targeting a communications mast in Saretho area before they were repulsed by the men in uniform

- Among the dead was a teacher and a small child

Four civilians and two suspected al-Shabaab militants have been killed after the attackers attempted to invade a police station in Dadaab, Garissa county.

The incident was confirmed by Paul Soi, the North Eastern regional police commander who said two AK47 firearms and two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered.

READ ALSO: Nakumatt creditors meet to decide fate of ex-retail giant

The fighters were targeting a communications mast in Saretho area.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Kenyans express gratitude to Raila Odinga as they wish him happy 75th birthday

The National Police Service said the police responded quickly to avert more deaths.

"The National Police Service wishes to inform the public that this morning at around 2.30am at Saretho centre, 25km from Dadaab in Garissa county, police officers on patrol thwarted an al-Shabaab attack and managed to neuralise two of the attackers," part of the statement read.

The terrorists were targeting a communication mast in Saretho area before they were repulsed by police officers.

"The criminal gang had targeted the nearby telecommunications mast and in the process four innocent lives were lost including that of a teacher and a small child before our team responded and contained the situation," the statement added.

A file photo of police responding to an a-Shabaab attack in the past. Photo: Capital FM.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Wakili Miguna Miguna azuiwa kuabiri ndege iliyokuwa ikijiandaa kwa safari ya JKIA

The sad incident came a few days after the militia attacked Manda Airstrip in Lamu killing one US. service member and two American private contractors.

"During an attack by al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida group in East Africa, earlier today, one (1) US service member and two (2) Department of Defense contractors were killed at a Kenya Defense Force military base in Manda Bay, Kenya," a statement issued by commander of the US-Africa command, General Stephen Townsend said.

Kenyans condemned the deaths of the innocent civilians on social media.

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.

The Blind Tailor, I don't want people to pity me. I want them to be encouraged by my story | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
January 07 : After the abrogation of Article 370, which gave special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, filmmaker Vidhu Vindo Chopra will soon release a timeless love story of worst times, titled Shikara, the first look poster is out and the trailer for the film will be out today.

1990, Kashmir - an entire community was made homeless. 30 years later, they still can't return to their homes.

Watch as the story of the Kashmiri Pandits finally comes to light #Shikara trailer out today at 1 PM#Shikara #VidhuVinodChopra @arrahman @VVCFilms pic.twitter.com/yNLRGo5RAD  Fox Star Hindi (@foxstarhindi) January 7, 2020

The official handle of Fox Star Hindi dropped the deeds on the project. It said, 1990, Kashmir - an entire community was made homeless. 30 years later, they still can't return to their homes. Watch as the story of the Kashmiri Pandits finally comes to light #Shikara trailer out today at 1 PM...#Shikara #VidhuVinodChopra @arrahman @VVCFilms

Directed, Edited and Produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra in association with Fox Star Studios, Shikara is the story of resilience in the face of insurmountable odds. Its also the story of a love that remains unextinguished through 30 years of exile. A timeless love story in the worst of times!

The year 1990 saw the biggest forced migration in independent India whereby more than 400,000 Kashmiri Pandits had to flee from the Kashmir Valley. Almost 3 decades later, most have been unable to return.

Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who is also producing the film along with Fox Star Studios, Shikara is set to hit screens on 7 February 2020.
A Derry woman has shaved her head and raised 1,699,96 for research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy because, as she says, hair grows back but muscles dont.



Laura before

Laura McCorristons hair raising scheme is the latest initiative for Team Callum, the family fund set up for Laura' eight-year-old son who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy on 25 February 2011.



#teamcallum is made up of Laura, Paul, Caitlin and Callum as well as their extended family and friends in the Limavady area and it has been raising awareness and funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK.



Callums family were told by his paediatrician that he had been diagnosed with a spontaneous mutation of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.



The paediatrician visited the family home to explain everything, which the family were grateful for, as sadly some families are given this news over the phone. Callum now does physiotherapy twice a day and is taking the steroid Deflazacort, which he is doing quite well on. Callum also takes Translarna after mum Laura led a fantastic campaign to make sure it was approved for use in Northern Ireland.



So far, they have raised over 20,000 since #teamcallum was set up, taking part in skydives, abseils, and holding their own events such as Fun Days and raffles.



To support Callums family fund follow #teamcallum on Facebook or follow @_laurasmith46 on Twitter to hear how Callum and his family are getting on  or donate here.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.  In 2013, Sonos scored a coup when Google agreed to design its music service to work easily with Sonos home speakers. For the project, Sonos handed over the effective blueprints to its speakers.

It felt like a harmless move, Sonos executives said. Google was an internet company and didnt make speakers.

The executives now say they were naive.

On Tuesday, Sonos sued Google in two federal court systems, seeking financial damages and a ban on the sale of Googles speakers, smartphones and laptops in the United States. Sonos accused Google of infringing on five of its patents, including technology that lets wireless speakers connect and synchronize with one another.

Sonos complaints go beyond patents and Google. Its legal action is the culmination of years of growing dependence on both Google and Amazon, which then used their leverage to squeeze the smaller company, Sonos executives said.

REVIEW: Apple's HomePod is great, if you're into Apple Music

Sonos advertises its speakers on Google and sells them on Amazon. It built their music services and talking virtual assistants directly into its products. Sonos workers correspond via Gmail and run the business off Amazons cloud-computing service.

Then Google and Amazon came out with their own speakers, undercutting Sonos prices, and according to Sonos executives, stealing its technology. Google and Amazon each now sell as many speakers in a few months as Sonos sells in one year.

Like many companies under the thumb of Big Tech, Sonos groused privately for years. But over the past several months, Patrick Spence, Sonos chief executive, decided he couldnt take it anymore.

ADAM AMENGUAL/NYT

Google has been blatantly and knowingly copying our patented technology, Spence said in a statement. Despite our repeated and extensive efforts over the last few years, Google has not shown any willingness to work with us on a mutually beneficial solution. Were left with no choice but to litigate.

Sonos executives said they decided to sue only Google because they couldnt risk battling two tech giants in court at once. Yet Spence and congressional staff members have discussed him soon testifying to the House antitrust subcommittee about his companys issues with them.

Jose Castaneda, a Google spokesman, said Google and Sonos have discussed both companies intellectual property for years, and we are disappointed that Sonos brought these lawsuits instead of continuing negotiations in good faith. We dispute these claims and will defend them vigorously.

A spokeswoman for Amazon, Natalie Hereth, said the company did not infringe on Sonos technology. The Echo family of devices and our multiroom music technology were developed independently by Amazon, she said.

RELEASE NOTES: Sign up for Dwight Silverman's weekly tech newsletter

Sonos sued Google in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles and in front of the U.S. International Trade Commission, a quasi-judicial body that decides trade cases and can block the import of goods that violate patents. Sonos sued Google over only five patents but said it believed Google and Amazon each violated roughly 100. Sonos did not say how much it sought in damages.

ADAM AMENGUAL/NYT

The evolving relationship between Sonos and the tech giants reflects an increasingly common complaint in the corporate world: As the biggest tech companies have become essential to reach customers and build businesses, they have exploited that leverage over smaller companies to steal their ideas and their customers.

After mostly keeping those grievances private for years because they feared retaliation, many smaller companies are now speaking out, emboldened in an age of growing scrutiny of Americas largest tech firms.

Dozens of companies have complained to regulators and lawmakers in the United States and Europe. Spotify has accused Apple of punishing Spotifys iPhone app as it increasingly competes against it. A company called Blix that helps people create anonymous email addresses recently sued Apple, accusing the iPhone maker of copying its technology and then kicking it off Apples App Store. And Elastic, which builds software that runs on Amazons cloud platform, sued Amazon for copying its branding to introduce a rival offering. Apple and Amazon deny the claims.

Spence and other Sonos executives said they agonized over the decision to sue Google, largely because Google still underpins their business. Sonos executives suspect that their pressure on the patent issue has complicated other areas of the relationship, though they cant say for sure.

ADAM AMENGUAL/NYT

After Sonos intensified its demands that Google license its technology, Google pushed Sonos to comply with stricter rules for using Googles virtual assistant. Those proposed rules included a mandate to turn over the planned name, design and targeted start date of its future products  which Google would compete directly against  six months in advance, up from 45 days in the current deal, Sonos executives said.

The fear of retaliation is a real fear. Any of these companies could bury them tomorrow. Google could bury them in their search results. Amazon can bury them in their search results, said Sally Hubbard, a former assistant attorney general in New Yorks antitrust bureau who now works at Open Markets Institute, a think tank. Its really hard to find any industry where corporations are not dependent on one of the big tech giants.

Fifteen years ago, home sound systems typically meant a tangled network of wires and speakers and complicated instructions on how to make it all work. Then Sonos came along in 2005, promising wireless sound throughout a house, seamlessly controlled from a hand-held device. Its early ads boasted: Any song. Any room.

Sonos quickly began patenting its innovations, a stockpile of intellectual property it now proudly displays on its website.

Its devices made life a bit more comfortable for consumers who could afford them, and they made for a nice little business for Sonos, which is based a few miles from the Southern California coast in Santa Barbara. Sales of its devices took off after the advent of the smartphone and music streaming. Sonos now employs about 1,500 people and sells more than $1 billion in speakers a year.

When Sonos teamed up with Google in 2013, it gave Google engineers detailed diagrams on how its speakers interacted wirelessly with one another. At the time, Google was not a competitor.

ADAM AMENGUAL/NYT

Two years later, Google released a small device that could turn an old speaker into a wireless one, much like Sonos original product. A year after that, Google released its own wireless speaker, the Google Home. The device, marketed around Googles talking virtual assistant, quickly began outselling Sonos offerings.

Sonos bought the Google devices and used a technique called packet sniffing that monitored how the speakers were communicating. They discovered that Googles devices used Sonos approach for solving a variety of technological challenges. Sonos executives said they found Amazons Echo speakers had also copied Sonos technology.

In August 2016, Sonos told Google it was infringing. Google had little response. As Google released more products, it violated more patents, Sonos executives said. Over the next three years, Sonos told Google four more times, eventually handing over a list of 100 patents it believed Google had violated. Google responded that Sonos was also infringing on its patents, Sonos executives said, though it never provided much detail.

When Sonos delivered a proposed model for Google to pay licensing fees, Google returned its own model that resulted in its paying almost nothing, Sonos executives said.

Sonos executives said their complaints were hardly just about patents, however. They are concerned that Google and Amazon are flooding the market with cheap speakers that they subsidize because they are not merely conduits for music, like Sonos devices, but rather another way to sell goods, show ads and collect data.

Sonos entry-level speaker is about $200. Amazon and Googles cheapest speakers are $50, and they often offer them at much steeper discounts.

In the third quarter of 2019, Amazon shipped 10.5 million speakers, and Google 6 million, according to Strategy Analytics. For the 12 months ending in September, Sonos said it had sold 6.1 million speakers.

Amazon and Google are making it a mass-market product at a price point that Sonos cant match, said Jack Narcotta, a Strategy Analytics analyst.

Amazon said it was focused on creating the best experience for customers and that its virtual assistant had generated billions of dollars for developers and device-makers.

To compete, Sonos has had to yield even more power to the companies. When consumers became hooked on Google and Amazons virtual assistants, Sonos also built them into its speakers.

But Sonos had a strategy to still stand out on store shelves. Instead of locking consumers into using just one of the assistants, Sonos customers could use both simultaneously. Sonos engineers patented the technology to enable the assistants to work side by side, and executives lobbied Amazon and Google to let it happen.

At first, the companies hated the idea. Hours before a New York news conference in October 2017, Sonos was preparing to unveil its first speaker with virtual assistants when Amazon product chief Dave Limp called Spence. Limp had just found out Google would also be onstage, and he said Amazon was now pulling out of the event as a result, according to two people familiar with the conversation. After negotiations, Amazon relented.

Sonos executives said Google and Amazon ultimately forced them to make users select one assistant when setting up their speaker.

Amazon later changed its position and joined an alliance with Sonos and other companies to make virtual assistants like Alexa function together. Google is the only major company that refused to join the alliance.

Google has maintained, Sonos executives said, that it will pull its assistant from Sonos speakers if it worked alongside any assistant from Amazon, Apple, Microsoft or Baidu, the Chinese internet company. Sonos has followed Googles orders.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Sleeping rough in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2018. Photo: Mark Williamson

Rough sleepers are being offered help to stay healthy over the winter months following the launch of a new service by Warwickshire County Council.

The physical health outreach project, delivered by the Out of Hospital team, will see two nurses recruited to work exclusively with people who are homeless and sleeping rough, using several Warwickshire hostels.

Funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Infrastructure was awarded to the project after a joint bid from Warwickshire District and Borough Councils and the South Warwickshire Foundation Trust.

Councillor Les Caborn, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health said: "Were delighted to be awarded this funding to develop a physical health outreach service for people who are homeless and find themselves sleeping rough in Warwickshire. We look forward to further developing our approach to tackling and preventing homelessness with our District and Borough colleagues, South Warwickshire Foundation Trust and wider partners. This project will compliment Warwickshire County Councils mental health outreach service for people sleeping rough, delivered in collaboration with Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust and P3."

Anne Coyle, Managing Director of the Out of Hospital Collaborative said: This is a wonderful example of strong partnership working to meet physical health needs of people sleeping rough in Warwickshire over the winter months. We are ready to launch this service in the New Year and Out of Hospital staff are looking forward to working with partners learning how together we better coordinate services, making positive steps as we work to improve access to services, for all.

Physical health remains a big challenge for people who find themselves homeless or sleeping rough on our Warwickshire streets, due to their significant health inequalities. The average age of death for homeless men in the UK is 44 and 42 for women, compared to 76 and 81 years in the general population.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosebud Woman has opened registration for its long-awaited Women's Wisdom Webinar  a free 9-week series and interactive Q&A hosted by wellness speaker and consultant Lisa Betts-LaCroix on various topics in women's health. Each session will be live every Wednesday starting January 8th at 12:00pm PST on Zoom for the first 100 participants and recorded for all to listen into the conversation.

Industry experts will guide, engage, and inspire new understandings of women's anatomy, sexuality, sensuality, reproduction, gender, self-love, and more. The live series will kick off with Your Amazing Anatomy with the "Pleasure Instigator" and anatomy expert Lucia Pavone. This webinar will cover everything in women's intimate anatomy from Bartholin's Gland to the Vulva.

Additional topics include:

3000 Days Bleeding: Period Basics, New Knowledge, Normalizing the Conversation, Talking to Our Daughters

Reproductive Intent: The New Questions of Having a Baby- From When to How

Radical Self Love: No Shame, More Creativity and Power

Spacious Sensuality in a Mad World: Feeling More Joy in Everyday Life

Hot Grandmas and Beyond: Sensual and Sexual Lives in Older Women

The Age of Freedom: Preparing For and Thriving in Menopause

A Life that Crosses Genders: The Basics on Transgender, and Life on a Continuum of Gender & Sexuality

Sex Without Babies: Current Thinking Birth Control and a Woman's Overall Health

Real Talk on Post-Partum Sexuality and Personal Care

Vulva, Vagina and Vaginome  Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Concerns and Treatments for Common Conditions

The series will be live at the following times (all times in PST):

Jan 8, 2020 12:00 PM

Jan 15, 2020 12:00 PM

Jan 22, 2020 12:00 PM

Jan 29, 2020 12:00 PM

Feb 5, 2020 12:00 PM

Feb 12, 2020 12:00 PM

Feb 19, 2020 12:00 PM

For more information and registration, visit Rosebud Woman's Zoom page.

About Lisa Betts-LaCroix

Lisa Betts-LaCroix is a speaker, writer, podcaster, dance performer and outspoken advocate for empowered living, learning and aging. She's been featured in Wired Magazine, CBS News and has appeared as a featured performer, guest star or series regular in over 100 television, film, radio and news pieces. She's presented on stages at the International WomanSpeak Festival in Sedona, SXSWedu in Austin, Under 20 Summit in NYC, PG Retreat in Colorado Springs and specializes in combining dance performance with an inspirational message to inspire audiences to embrace their vitality and passion, and reclaim empowered living in later life. In spite of taking up dance at age 50 she is a World Champion Pro-Am American Rhythm Ballroom dancer.

About Rosebud Woman

Rosebud Woman offers reverent intimate skincare and wellness for all stages of a woman's life. The company upholds the highest standards for personal care with impeccable plant-derived ingredients and OBGYN-approved formulas for daily and specialty use, each made to address women's specific concerns. Rosebud Woman is a family-owned, California based company, with customers and retail partners in all 50 states.

Media Contact

Karey Cavaney

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(310) 395-5050

SOURCE Rosebud Woman
Pentagon spending is, literally, out of control  and it is making America weaker, not stronger. Its time  past time  for a fundamental reorientation of the federal governments spending, with Pentagon spending slimmed and the resultant savings reallocated to address domestic and humanitarian priorities.

The almost three-quarters of a billion dollars in the annual Pentagon budget doesnt reflect any reasonable assessment of national security threats, common-sense priority setting or any kind of honest reckoning with the costs and benefits of an additional billion dollars for war-fighting. The result is that we are wasting hundreds of billions of dollars, fueling endless war and diverting money from other vital needs.

The Pentagon eats up more of the federal governments discretionary budget  $738 billion for the current fiscal year  than all other discretionary spending combined. Think about that for a moment: The Pentagon has been gifted more resources than our diplomatic and peace-building agencies, more than the Environmental Protection Agency, more than our education and housing programs, and more than we spend on scientific research  combined.

At the same time, the Pentagon is unable to pass an audit. For 2020, the Pentagon received a $20 billion budget boost despite being unable to explain how it spent the outlandish amount it received in 2019.

The endless sums thrown at the Pentagon arent commensurate with any threat we face. U.S. Pentagon spending is more than the next seven top military spending countries combined.

Even worse, bottomless Pentagon spending is intertwined with the endless wars that have left us and the world less safe. Military and political figures of all political persuasions agree with this basic assessment; and the Afghanistan Papers recently published by the Washington Post show that  despite public proclamations to the contrary  top political and military officials have recognized all along that the Afghan War was an unwinnable disaster.

We have spent and continue to spend unfathomable sums on endless war. Researchers at Brown University put the total at $6.4 trillion, including cost of caring for injured veterans. The wars have killed more than 800,000 people directly and many more indirectly  all while failing in their mission and leaving us less safe.

Our country can no longer tolerate bottomless Pentagon spending and endless war. We need to pull back from constant and ever-expanding war-fighting and instead invest much more energy (and resources) in diplomatic measures to reduce international conflict.

We need to focus on the great international challenges that create instability but are not amenable to military solutions: poverty, newly emergent diseases, wealth inequality and, above all, the climate crisis.

And we need to reallocate hundreds of billions every year away from the Pentagon to address problems at home that parallel those global challenges: ensuring health care for all, addressing economic inequality and transforming our economy to rely on efficiency and renewable energy in order to avert climate catastrophe.

There are plenty of opportunities for massive cuts  on the order of $200 billion a year or more  in Pentagon spending without damaging national security:

We can save $70 billion or more a year by eliminating a Pentagon slush fund, known as the Overseas Contingency Operations account, that is being used for programs that have no connections to emergencies or contingencies.

We can save more than $40 billion a year by ending reliance on expensive private contractors to do work that more affordable government employees should do, and by eliminating wasteful contracting strategies that skyrocket costs in the final month of a fiscal year.

There is a long list of super expensive weapons, like the F-35, that should be eliminated, cut back, or replaced with more cost-effective alternatives.

Cutting the number of troops in Afghanistan  or pulling them out altogether  would save tens of billions annually.

For far too long, Pentagon spending has been immune from the kind of scrutiny and common-sense analysis applied to other forms of government spending: Is the money properly accounted for? Are private actors profiteering at public expense? Does the spending address legitimate national priorities? Should we spend another dollar on this program at the expense of alternatives? Is this program achieving its objectives?

When you ask those questions about Pentagon spending, the answers all point in one direction: We are spending too much  far too much  on weapons and war, and on price-gouging and profiteering private contractors. And that spending is starving us of the monies we need to address key priorities, from education to climate. Its time to reallocate hundreds of billions of Pentagon spending and put people over the Pentagon.

Robert Weissman is president of Public Citizen. Public Citizen is a member of the People Over Pentagon coalition. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
Regulators in the country must have their own sources of income so that they do not have to depend on grants provided by the government, capital markets watchdog Sebi's former Chairman U K Sinha has said.

In his new book 'Going Public: My Time at Sebi', Sinha has said that financial independence is the basic requirement for the functioning of an independent regulator.

A regulator should have its own source of income and flexibility to utilise it without looking up to the government for funds, he has written.

"There have been some recent developments to take away this freedom and ask Sebi to park its income in the Consolidated Fund of India or in the Public Account, and to seek prior approval of government before incurring any capital expenditure. Such efforts are not conducive in creating a strong and independent regulatory environment," he said.

The Sebi Act provides for the regulator to levy fees and charges and create its own fund. The board of Sebi prepares its annual budget, where it can revise the rates of fees upwards and downwards based on its estimate of money required for its activities during the year. The Sebi board also has representation from the government.

The former IAS officer said all other regulators also must have their own sources of income and not survive on the receipt of grants from the government.

There have been reports that the government was pushing Sebi to transfer 75 per cent of its surplus to the Consolidated Fund of India, but Sebi is believed to have opposed the proposal on concerns about loss of autonomy.

There have also been concerns in the recent past about autonomy of another major financial sector regulator, the Reserve Bank of India.

In the book published by Penguin India, Sinha said independence of a regulator should not be defined only with regard to independence from the government and its officials.

It should also be seen in the context of independence from any outside influences, including those from market participants and business corporations, he said.

Sinha said there have been concerns about market capture of regulators in other parts of the world and the senior leadership and the boards of the regulators have to remain extra cautious on this account.

"Another dimension of independence is internal independence. Although the law permits this, the quasi-judicial function of Sebi needs to be separated from executive supervision," he said.

With regard to accountability, Sinha said independence and accountability go hand in hand.

"Today, there is no satisfactory arrangement for a performance appraisal of a regulator like Sebi. The media does it. The government does it through the presence of their representatives in the Sebi board or while answering questions in Parliament," he said.

According to Sinha, Parliamentary supervision over the regulators is a superior option to ensure accountability. The standing committee of Parliament for different ministries may have to take up this responsibility in a regular and structured way.

Regulations formulated by Sebi are required to be placed before Parliament at the earliest. The Parliament has the right to reject or modify, but the same never happens. Hardly any subordinate legislation gets modified or rejected, Sinha has mentioned in his book.

The Parliamentary committee on subordinate legislation has a huge task of reviewing not only the regulation framed by the multiple regulators but also the rules framed by various ministries under different laws.

"In order to help them perform this task on structured and continuous basis, substantial capacity has to be created in this committee and in other committees of Parliament, " he noted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, Jan 7 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia on Tuesday welcomed the Nirbhaya verdict, saying it will act as a deterrent to such heinous crimes.

Kejriwal also said the verdict will be a lesson for all those who mistreat women.

"People will be scared that, even though little late, the law will give them punishment and justice will be served," Kejriwal said while addressing a town hall meeting here.

He called it a victory and said it has fulfilled a big wish of the people.

"All were waiting very eagerly for the verdict," he said.

Speaking to the media separatly, Sisodia said people were looking at this case as a standard.

"The incident had shaken the entire nation. People were saying that if the convicts were not hanged in this case, what would happen in the rest (such cases)," he said.

He also said the efforts of Nirbhaya's parents and their lawyers had paid off.

A Delhi Court on Tuesday issued death warrants against the all four convicts in the Nirbhaya rape and murder case.

Issuing the death warrants, Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora directed that the convicts be hanged on January 22 at 7 a.m.

The 23-year-old woman was gangraped and tortured on December 16, 2012, which led to her death. All the six accused were arrested and charged with sexual assault and murder. One of the accused was a minor and appeared before a juvenile justice court, while another accused committed suicide in Tihar Jail.
NATO said on Tuesday it would take 'some personnel' out of Iraq because of the increased risk to their safety after the US killed a top Iranian general there.

The withdrawal is temporary but 'the safety of our personnel is paramount', a NATO official said.

The military alliance announced on Saturday it had suspended its training mission in Iraq.

The transnational organisation has been in the country advising Iraqi defence forces how to prevent the resurgence of ISIS after they were defeated in the early months of 2019.

NATO spokesman Dylan White said in an emailed statement on Saturday: 'The safety of our personnel in Iraq is paramount. We continue to take all precautions necessary.'

The statement did not explicitly say why the training had stopped.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is pictured during a press conference at a meeting in Belgium yesterday, which was focused on the situation in Iran

Iraqi acting Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi is pictured meeting with the UN special representative to Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert at his office in Baghdad yesterday. In a phone call with Abdul-Mahdi yesterday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tried to cool anger by stressing his commitment to 'Iraq's stability and sovereignty' after the Iranian commander was assassinated on his territory

Earlier today, French Defence Minister Florence Parly said France has 'no intention' of withdrawing troops from Iraq.

France has contributed around 200 soldiers to the US-led coalition fighting ISIS, of whom 160 are tasked with training Iraqi military personnel, according to the defence ministry.

'Since Friday we have reinforced security for our French soldiers deployed in Iraq,' she tweeted Tuesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron (centre) reviews French troops with French Defence Minister Florence Parly (left) during an official visit to the Ivory Coast at the end of December

'The priority today is the same as it was yesterday and should be tomorrow: the fight against Daesh and its resurgence on the ground in the Middle East, and its propaganda on the internet,' Parly added, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

The French refusal comes after Germany said 30 soldiers based in Baghdad and a nearby airbase would 'shortly' be moved to Jordan and Kuwait, 'together with soldiers from other countries'.

Overall, France has around 1,000 soldiers across the Middle East as part of Operation Chammal, the French component of the anti-IS coalition.

A European diplomat said that a withdrawal of US troops would necessitate all coalition forces leaving Iraq.

The UK has armed forces personnel deployed in a variety of locations across the Middle East

Soleimani (left), the architect of Tehran's overseas clandestine and military operations as head of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, was killed on Friday in a US drone strike (President Trump right) on his convoy at Baghdad airport

Soleimani's body was returned to Iran on Sunday. People are seen carrying his casket upon arrival at Ahvaz International Airport in Tehran. The casket was greeted by chants of 'Death to America' as Iran issued new threats of retaliation

Iraq's caretaker premier Adel Abdel Mahdi has told US ambassador Matthew Tueller and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg that the government wanted foreign troops out following a vote to that effect by the Iraqi parliament.

The urgency to rid the country of all foreign troops comes after a US airstrike, ordered by US President Donald Trump from his Mar-a-Lago Florida resort, killed Iran's chief warlord, Major General Qassem Soleimani.

Since the hit, international forces stationed in bases in Iraq, have begun to consider the withdrawal, including the US.

A senior US military official has said that a hypothetical withdrawal would take weeks, but could be shortened to days in an emergency situation - like being ordered out immediately by Iraq's government.

Some 5,200 U.S. soldiers are stationed across Iraqi bases to support local troops preventing a resurgence of ISIS

The Pentagon said on Monday that this letter, informing an Iraqi military leader the the US and other coalition forces are pulling up stakes, was a draft and should never have been sent

Cargo planes would transport equipment by air while troops would likely drive out through the south to Kuwait.

The Monday letter mistakenly sent by US Brigadier General William Seely to the Iraqi government said the US-led coalition would be 'repositioning forces in the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement.'

Jack Watling of the Royal United Services Institute said: 'The coalition would need to map out travel routes, sequence evacuation plans for troops, civilians and contractors and decide what equipment and documents to bring, abandon or destroy.'

The Pentagon swiftly denied there was a plan to leave Iraq, saying the letter was still a draft.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

At least 16 people including two Germans were killed and 40 others injured after a bus crashed into parked cars in the south of Peru, authorities confirmed

Lima (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Jan, 2020 ) :At least 16 people including two Germans were killed and 40 others injured after a bus crashed into parked cars in the south of Peru, authorities confirmed.

The accident happened early Monday on the main coastal highway used by many tour bus companies and linking the capital Lima with Arequipa in the south.

In a statement late Monday the prosecutor's office said there were two German citizens, 10 Peruvians, and four unidentified people among the 16 killed.

Among the injured were two Brazilians, two Americans and one Spaniard, according to the health ministry.

The crash occurred in the early hours of Monday when the bus left its lane and crashed into eight vehicles parked on the side of the road, at kilometer 571 of the South Pan-American route, in the Arequipa region.

Police and firefighters took the injured to hospitals in Arequipa and Nazca, cities that attract large numbers of tourists.

The bus had left Lima and was heading to Arequipa, a journey of around 16 hours.

Deadly traffic accidents are frequent in Peru, particularly during the rainy season at this time of year, but also due to poor road surfaces, insufficient signage and a lack of control by authorities.

In 2019, 1,123 people died in traffic accidents in Peru, the interior ministry said.
I will focus on the growing opportunity for digital health found throughout the show, from the connected car for health and wellness to the washing machine that bolsters social health for kids in schools. I'll discuss the internet of healthy things at home. Past News Releases RSS

Health economist, industry advisor and author Jane Sarasohn-Kahn takes the stage today at the 53rd Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2020) in Las Vegas, Nevada, to talk about the digital evolution of today's health consumer.

In her new book, HealthConsuming: From Health Consumer to Health Citizen, Sarasohn-Kahn describes the Amazon-"priming" of health consumers and tracks the growing expectations of consumer experience levels tied to digital tools and devices. Digital connections enable virtual care, telehealth and self-care, increasingly outside of bricks-and-mortar hospitals and doctors offices.

At CES 2020 today, "I will focus on the growing opportunity for digital health found throughout the show," says Sarasohn-Kahn, "from the connected car for health and wellness to the washing machine that bolsters social health for kids in schools. I'll discuss the internet of healthy things at home, like food making in kitchens, beds that promote good sleep, and smart mirrors that go beyond health trackers in watches and phones."

Sarasohn-Kahn says her book is a call to action to expand peoples' access to quality health care while ensuring privacy and security protections for all citizens. Her talk will be featured at CES 2020 Gary's Book Club on the Consumer Technology Associations Grand Lobby Stage today at 11:30 a.m. PST.

Sarasohn-Kahn founded the Health Populi blog in 2007 and is a long-time advisor to health/care ecosystem stakeholders. She has been named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Economists in the World, a Top Twitter Account to Follow in Digital Health, and one of 40 Healthcare Transformers.
A stampede erupted on Tuesday at a funeral procession for a top Iranian general killed in a US airstrike last week, killing 32 people and injuring 190 others, state television reported.

According to the report, the stampede took place in Kerman, the hometown of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, as the procession got underway. Initial videos posted online showed people lying lifeless on a road and others shouting and trying to help them.

Iranian state TV gave the casualty toll in its online report, citing Pirhossein Koulivand, the head of Iran's emergency medical services.

"Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions," he earlier said.

Authorities later delayed Soleimani's burial, citing concerns about the massive crowd that had gathered, the semi-official ISNA agency said. It did not say when the burial would take place.

A procession in Tehran on Monday drew over 1 million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main thoroughfares and side streets in Tehran.

Soleimani's death has sparked calls across Iran for revenge against America for a slaying that's drastically raised tensions across the Middle East.

The US government warned ships of an unspecified threat from Iran across all the Mideast's waterways, crucial routes for global energy supplies.

Early Tuesday, the leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened to "set ablaze" places supported by the United States over the killing of a top Iranian general in a US airstrike last week, sparking cries from the crowd of supporters of Death to Israel!



Hossein Salami made the pledge before a crowd of thousands gathered in a central square in Kerman before a casket carrying Soleimani's remains.

The outpouring of grief was an unprecedented honor for a man viewed by Iranians as a national hero for his work leading the Guard's expeditionary Quds Force.

The US blames him for the killing of American troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death on Friday in a drone strike near Baghdad's airport.

Soleimani also led forces in Syria backing President Bashar Assad in a long war, and he also served as the point man for Iranian proxies in countries like Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

His slaying already has pushed Tehran to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers as his successor and others vow to take revenge.

In Baghdad, the parliament has called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil, something analysts fear could allow Islamic State militants to mount a comeback.

Speaking in Kerman, Salami praised Soleimani's exploits, describing him as essential to backing Palestinian groups, Yemen's Houthi rebels and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria. As a martyr, Soleimani represented an even greater threat to Iran's enemies, Salami said.

"We will take revenge. We will set ablaze where they like," Salami said, drawing the cries of Death to Israel!



Israel is a longtime regional foe of Iran.

According to a report on Tuesday by the semi-official Tasnim agency, Iran has worked up 13 sets of plans for revenge for Soleimani's killing. The report quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, as saying that even the weakest among them would be a "historic nightmare" for the US. He declined to give any details, "If the US troops do not leave our region voluntarily and upright, we will do something to carry their bodies horizontally out," Shamkhani said.

The US Maritime Administration warned Tuesday ships across the Mideast, citing the rising threats after the US killed Soleimani.

"The Iranian response to this action, if any, is unknown, but there remains the possibility of Iranian action against US maritime interests in the region," it said.

Oil tankers were targeted in mine attacks last year the US blamed on Iran. Tehran denied being responsible though it did seize oil tankers around the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20 per cent of the world's crude oil travels.

The US Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet earlier said it could respond to any threat.

"Afloat or ashore, we remain vigilant to assess, mitigate and defeat threats to our forward-deployed forces and our interests," 5th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Joshua Frey said.

Iran's parliament, meanwhile, has passed an urgent bill declaring the US military's command at the Pentagon and those acting on its behalf in Soleimani's killing as terrorists," subject to Iranian sanctions.

The measure appears to be an attempt to mirror a decision by President Donald Trump in April to declare the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. The US Defense Department used the Guard's designation as a terror organization in the U.S. to support the strike that killed Soleimani.

The decision by Iran's parliament, done by a special procedure to speed the bill to law, comes as officials across the country threaten to retaliate for Soleimani's killing.

The vote also saw lawmakers approve funding for the Quds Force with an additional 200 million euros, or about USD 224 million.

Also Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the US had declined to issue him a visa to travel to New York for upcoming meetings at the United Nations. The US as the host of the U.N. headquarters is supposed to allow foreign officials to attend such meetings.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Deetjen told officers hed heard a vehicle to his left honk its horn and then felt an impact and saw something fly into the air, but continued driving in the belief it was a "barrel or barricade, according to police. Deetjen said he had just left a wake for a relative of an Oak Lawn village employee.
VINEYARD, Utah, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Grov Technologies today announced its indoor, fully-automated animal feed production system with the capability to revolutionize the $350 billion global animal feed marketplace. The system, called the Grov Pod, integrates sustainable technologies and science-based growing protocols into a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) system that uses less than 2 percent of the water and a fraction of the land needed for traditional farming. Grov will unveil its new technology at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on Jan. 7 to 10, 2020.

"Farmers around the world are concerned about feed security and are telling us they want dependable, sustainably produced feed for their animals. We believe our turn-key growing platform will allow for predictable and highly nutritious feed year-round, despite the effects of rapidly changing climates on traditional growing cycles," said Steve Lindsley, president of Grov Technologies.

Demand for local, sustainably-produced feed is expanding rapidly due to global water shortages, climate change and land degradation. The Grov Pod, which is in beta testing, produces a daily output of more than 2 tons of wheat or barley grass, equivalent to the annual approximate yield of at least 55 acres of farm land. The system has been designed to require minimal labor and utilizes patented low-heat LED technology, robotic seed-to-harvest systems and scientifically proven growing protocols.

"Today, more than ever, consumers care about food safety, animal welfare and sustainability," continued Lindsley. "Our science and technology solutions will give farmers the tools to potentially produce healthier animals, healthier foods and, in the end, a healthier planet."

Grov Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rhyz, Inc., will introduce the Grov Pod and other CEA technologies in the Resilience section of CES 2020 at booth #600 in the Westgate hotel ballroom.

About Rhyz

Rhyz, Inc. is the strategic investment arm of Nu Skin Enterprises (NSE), Inc. (NYSE:NUS). Rhyz was formed in 2019 as a dynamic family of companies bound by a collective desire to explore and share new areas of growth and opportunity. The company investments include personal care and nutritional product manufacturing and automated controlled environment agriculture technologies acquired by NSE to develop alternative sourcing for ingredients.

About Grov Technologies

Grov Technologies is pioneering the next generation of agricultural technology with integrated, proprietary science and technology to help meet the demands of global food security. The company is developing enterprise-scale, automated controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems to grow high-density nutrient animal feed, fresh produce and other crops using significantly less water and resources than traditional farming. These systems utilize patented low-heat LED technology, robotic seed-to-harvest systems and scientifically proven indoor growing protocols.

SOURCE Grov Technologies

Related Links

https://www.grovtech.com


Warsaw (AFP) - Poland's president on Tuesday pulled out of an event in Jerusalem marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp in protest at not being allowed to make a speech there.

World leaders are due to attend the January 23 ceremony at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial marking the anniversary, which falls four days later.

"I will be clear: we have decided that I as the Polish president will not participate in the event," Andrzej Duda said.

He had previously said he would attend if he was allowed to make a formal address. Other heads of state, including Russia's Vladimir Putin, are due to speak.

Duda said denying him the opportunity to publicly honour Polish citizens who perished in the Holocaust was tantamount to a "distortion of the historical truth".

Nearly six million Polish citizens, half of whom were Jewish, died in World War II that was triggered by Nazi Germany's 1939 invasion of Poland.

The ceremonies in Jerusalem come days ahead of a January 27 event organised by Poland at the site of the former Nazi death camp on the actual 75th anniversary of its liberation.

While the Soviet Red Army liberated the camp, Poland has not invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the event, which Duda is due to attend.

Polish leaders have expressed outrage over recent accusations by Putin that Poland colluded with Nazi Germany and shares responsibility for triggering World War II.

Part of Nazi German dictator Adolf Hitler's genocide plan against European Jews, dubbed the "Final Solution", Auschwitz-Birkenau operated in the then-occupied southern Polish town of Oswiecim between June 1940 and January 1945.

Of the more than 1.3 million people imprisoned there, some 1.1 million -- mainly European Jews -- perished, either asphyxiated in the gas chambers or due to starvation, exhaustion and disease.

In all, the Nazis killed six million of pre-war Europe's 11 million Jews.




Poultry farmers in Latvia called to take biosafety measures after Poland bird flu outbreak



While no poultry from Poland have been exported to Latvia, the Latvian Food and Veterinary Service has urged farmers to report any suspicious signs of bird flu infection, reported Xinhua News.

To prevent a bird flu outbreak, the Latvian Food and Veterinary Service has called on poultry farmers to take biosafety measures and report any bird flu symptoms, which include low food and water consumption, difficulty in breathing or large flock deaths.

Poultry farmers have also been advised to prevent unauthorised access into their farms and for their birds to avoid any contact with wild birds.

The country's veterinary authority said no domestic or decorative birds have been exported from Poland to Latvia last month. In addition, no bird flu infected turkeys from Poland have entered the food chain.

Latvia is free from bird flu.
English French

Quadient strengthens its management team

Geoffrey Godet, Chief Executive Officer, takes over direct responsibility of the Groups Solutions portfolio

Jean-Francois Labadie, who currently serves as Chief Financial Officer, is appointed to the new position of Chief Operating Officer

Christelle Villadary joins Quadient as CFO to replace Jean-Francois Labadie

Paris, January 7, 2020

Quadient, a leader in enterprise solutions that helps businesses to create personal and meaningful customer connections through digital and physical channels, today announced changes to its leadership team.

Geoffrey Godet , CEO, takes direct responsibility for the Solutions portfolio, including coordination of marketing, innovation and R&D to accelerate synergies between the Group's four major solutions (Customer Experience Management, Business Process Automation Solutions, Mail-Related Solutions and Parcel Locker Solutions). This function was previously occupied by Henri Dura who is retiring.

, CEO, takes direct responsibility for the Solutions portfolio, including coordination of marketing, innovation and R&D to accelerate synergies between the Group's four major solutions (Customer Experience Management, Business Process Automation Solutions, Mail-Related Solutions and Parcel Locker Solutions). This function was previously occupied by Henri Dura who is retiring. After having reorganized the Group's operations by geographic area and having supervised them himself, Geoffrey Godet now entrusts to Jean-Francois Labadie , currently Chief Financial Officer with more than two decades of experience within the Group, the newly created function of Chief Operating Officer . Jean-Francois Labadie will be responsible for ensuring the proper execution of the strategic plan and the rationalization of operations on a local level, including the development of commercial and back-office synergies.

, currently Chief Financial Officer with more than two decades of experience within the Group, the newly created function of . Jean-Francois Labadie will be responsible for ensuring the proper execution of the strategic plan and the rationalization of operations on a local level, including the development of commercial and back-office synergies. Finally, Quadient appoints Christelle Villadary as CFO to replace Jean-Francois Labadie. Christelle Villadary spent most of her professional career with Technicolor (ex- Thomson Multimedia) (2002-2010) and then Suez (2010-2019) after starting her career with Arthur Andersen. Christelle Villadary will take office on February 1, 2020.

Geoffrey Godet, Chief Executive Officer of Quadient, commented: First of all, I would like to thank Henri for his long and precious contribution to the management of the Group under various responsibilities and in particular for having effectively organized in the last few months the centralized management of our portfolio of solutions. By setting up unified marketing teams and a unique R&D, by changing the identity of the Group in favor of a brand common to all of our activities, we have gained in cohesion and been able to put back the management of the needs of our 500,000 customers at the heart of our organization.

I am also delighted to continue to rely, in a new role, on Jean-Francois and his perfect knowledge of the functioning of the Group's operations. We have recently moved from a holding company operating independent businesses to an integrated group. Jean-Francois will thus be able to continue to rationalize the organization of our operations within consolidated regions and locally create more commercial and back office synergies. This is essential to the success of our strategy.

Finally, I am delighted to welcome Christelle, who will bring her new perspective, her competence, as well as her broad expertise in the financial function acquired through the various positions she has held in large international groups.

The execution of our Back to Growth strategic plan is progressing in a satisfactory way, as evidenced by the fact that we have been growing organically in the last six quarters. We are continuing our efforts to grow our current operating income in the coming years and successfully transform Quadient.

Quadient is thus continuing the renewal of its management team undertaken notably with the implementation of the new organization in January 2019. While having promoted or added more specialized and more international profiles within its management team, Quadient benefits from new expertise and greater diversity. The arrival of Christelle Villadary follows in particular those of Jeff Crouse (Mail-Related solutions), Chris Hartigan (Customer Experience Management) and Brandon Batt (Transformation and Strategic Projects).

BIOGRAPHIES

Geoffrey Godet, aged 42, is a dual French and American citizen. Before joining Quadient as CEO two years ago, Geoffrey Godets entire career was spent with the Flatirons Jouve Group, a leader in digital solutions for banking, insurance, healthcare, manufacturing, aeronautics, publishing, media and education. Geoffrey Godet was appointed Chief Executive Officer of California-based Flatirons Solutions in 2004, and more recently was Chairman and CEO of Jouve, based in Paris. Prior to this, he was Marketing and Communications Director and Head of the Digitization and Cultural Heritage Division at Jouve. Geoffrey Godet is a graduate of HEC.

Jean-Francois Labadie, aged 53, is a French citizen. Jean-Francois Labadie joined Quadient in 1999 and has served as Chief Financial Officer since 2011. He was Chief Financial Officer of industrial operations in France until 2005 before taking the reins of Supply Chain management in France from 2005 to 2008 and for the entire Group from 2008 to 2011. Jean-Francois Labadie began his career at Schlumberger in 1992. He was controller for the Retail Production Systems France Division until it was taken over in 1998 by Tokheim, a leader in fuel retailing systems production and services. He was appointed CFO of Tokheims French subsidiary. Jean-Francois Labadie is a graduate of ISG.

Christelle Villadary, aged 45, is a French citizen. Christelle Villadary had a nine-year career with Suez, where she first sat on the Group Investments Committee in 2010, before being appointed CFO for Africa, the Middle East and India and then Director of M&A and Financial Engineering. She was promoted to Vice President Group Strategy and appointed to the Executive Committee in 2017. Before moving to Suez, Christelle spent eight years at Technicolor (ex- Thomson Multimedia) from 2002 to 2010, where she was Investor Relations Manager, then Corporate finance Manager, then Chief of Staff to the Chairman and CEO before being in charge of a program to reorganize and transform financial processes and tools, reporting to the Group CFO. Christelle Villadary started her career in auditing and consulting at Arthur Andersen in 1997. Christelle Villadary is a graduate of ESSEC.





CALENDAR

Fourth-quarter sales and 2019 annual results will be announced in our press release on March 31, 2020, after market close.

About Quadient

Quadient is the driving force behind the worlds most meaningful customer experiences. We focus on four key solution areas, including Customer Experience Management, Business Process Automation, Mail-related Solutions, and Parcel Locker Solutions, to help hundreds of thousands of businesses in their quest to forge lasting connections with their customers and offer exceptional customer experiences in a world of increasingly connected, personal and mobile interactions. Quadient is listed on Euronext Paris, compartment B, and included in the SBF 120 index.

More information on Quadient is available here: quadient.com/connections.

For more information, please contact:

Gaele Le Men, Quadient OPRG Financial Investor Relations Officer Isabelle Laurent / Fabrice Baron +33 (0)1 45 36 31 39 +33 (0)1 53 32 61 51 /+33 (0)1 53 32 61 27 g.le-men@quadient.com /

financial-communication@quadient.com isabelle.laurent@oprgfinancial.fr / fabrice.baron@oprgfinancial.fr

Attachment
Velodyne Lidar, Inc. today announced Anand Gopalan as its new CEO. Gopalan, who previously was Velodynes CTO, assumes the position from Velodynes legendary founder David Hall. Hall will continue as full-time Chairman of the Board and remain actively involved in directing the companys technology, product vision and business strategy.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200106006044/en/

Velodyne Lidar, Inc. announced Anand Gopalan as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). (Photo: Velodyne Lidar)

Gopalan is a distinguished engineer and technology executive with experience building and leading worldwide engineering organizations. He came to Velodyne in 2016 to form an advanced research and development team. Gopalan leads Velodynes customer-focused technology and product development teams to address market needs for lidar solutions designed for high performance, cost optimization and high-volume production.

Over the past three years, Gopalan has worked closely with Hall to develop the companys technological roadmap and strategic vision. Gopalan is recognized across the industry as a thought leader in business as well as in technology. Recently, Gopalan became more active as a spokesman for the company, expertly explaining the benefits and the workings of lidar to audiences around the world. It is the policy of Velodyne to promote from within the company and Gopalan was a natural choice, having proved himself in 2019.

Gopalan and the Velodyne team look forward to building on the companys growth trajectory. Due to the breadth and versatility of the Velodyne lidar portfolio, the company continues to make revolutionary contributions to the ever-expanding autonomous industry. Velodyne is a recognized leader in a wide range of markets including automotive, mapping, on-demand mobility, robotics, security, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and more.

Under Gopalans leadership alongside Hall, Velodyne brought to market a series of breakthrough lidar products, including the Alpha Prime, Velarray, VelaDome and a new game-changing lidar sensor, soon to be used for powerful Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Due to its low cost, this sensor will advance automotive safety for the everyday car owner. At CES 2020, Velodyne will unveil the new lidar sensor and Gopalan will discuss his vision for the company at a press conference in the Velodyne booth #7520 on Tuesday, January 7, at 11:00 a.m. PST.

David Hall invented groundbreaking 3D lidar sensor technology in 2005 which set the stage for revolutionizing the automobile industry and was the foundation for Velodynes market leadership. The idea of leveraging lidar technology for autonomous driving came to Hall while participating in the DARPA Grand Challenge for autonomous vehicles. Holding more than 30 U.S. patents, Hall is a technology visionary and serial inventor covering a variety of applications, including lidar, audio and marine. The Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation presented Hall with its 2018 Inventor of the Year Award.

Anand Gopalan and I have worked side-by-side on Velodynes technology roadmap. He is the right executive to lead Velodyne in its next growth phase, said Hall. His finger is on the pulse of customer and market needs while possessing the technical brilliance and leadership skills to innovate and deliver. As Chairman, Anand has my full support while I continue to provide vision, strategize and invent.

David Hall is more than the founder of Velodyne, he is also the founder of our industry. I am grateful for the trust he has placed in me and excited to lead a company with such a deep history in innovation as Velodyne. We are the forefront of our market, ready to drive the age of autonomy. Velodyne is bringing improved mobility and safety through versatility, responsiveness and agility, said Gopalan.

Elevating Gopalan to CEO will enhance the leadership team at Velodyne Lidar, running day-to-day business as the company addresses U.S. and global market opportunities. Gopalan and Hall will continue to be supported by a strong bench of Velodyne executive C-staff, including Marta Hall, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Rick Tewell, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mike Jellen, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Drew Hamer, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Barbara Rogan, General Counsel, and Mircea Gradu, Senior Vice President of Product and Quality.

About Velodyne Lidar

Velodyne provides smart, powerful lidar solutions for autonomy and driver assistance. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Velodyne is known worldwide for its portfolio of breakthrough lidar sensor technologies. Velodynes Founder, David Hall, invented real-time surround view lidar systems in 2005 as part of Velodyne Acoustics. Mr. Halls invention revolutionized perception and autonomy for automotive, new mobility, mapping, robotics, and security. Velodynes high-performance product line includes a broad range of sensing solutions, including the cost-effective Puck, the versatile Ultra Puck, the autonomy-advancing Alpha Prime, the ADAS-optimized Velarray and the groundbreaking software for driver assistance, Vella.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200106006044/en/
The British Royal Navy will escort British vessels through the Strait of Hormuz as tensions in the region remain elevated following a U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian general. Ben Werner reports on USNI News.

The British Royal Navy will escort British vessels through the Strait of Hormuz as tensions in the region remain elevated following a U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian general. Ben Werner reports on USNI News.

HMS Defender seen here with the dhow in the foreground, flanked by two Royal Marine Boarding Teams in 2016 (Picture source: Royal Navy)

Several media outlets reported the Royal Navys plan to protect UK-flagged ships. HMS Montrose (F236), a Duke-class Type 23 frigate, and HMS Defender (D36), a Daring-class Type 45 destroyer, were sent to escort British-flagged ships through the strategic choke maritime chokepoint, according to a report in The Guardian.

For now, the US military is not altering its efforts to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf or the Middle East, Department of Defense and Navy spokespeople told USNI News. The U.S. effort, dubbed Operation Sentinel, is a program providing allies with intelligence about potential maritime threats in the Middle East.

On Friday, Jan.3, USNI News learned the Navy was redirecting USS Bataan (LHD-5), its amphibious ready group and its embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Middle East. Bataan and the 26th MEU had been scheduled to take part in a naval exercise with the Moroccan military. Pentagon officials later said in a separate announcement, up to 3,500 additional troops were being sent to the region, after sending about 750 members of the 82nd Airborne to Kuwait on New Years Day.

The Strait of Hormuz is located between Oman and Iran and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. In 2018, an average of 21 million barrels of oil flowed through the narrow passage, equal to 21 percent of the global petroleum liquids consumption, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. There are limited options to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Only Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have pipelines that can ship crude oil outside the Persian Gulf and have the additional pipeline capacity to circumvent the Strait of Hormuz, according to the DoE. Combined, both pipelines from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have an estimated capacity to move 6.5 million barrels of oil per day, according to the DoE.

The increased security around British shipping was announced just after a U.S. drone attack killed Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani was the head of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps  Quods Force, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.

Just before the drone strike, Iran wrapped up a joint naval exercise with Russia and China. The four-day operation occurred in the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean, at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, according to an account in the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.

As a counter to the U.S.-led Operation Sentinel, Iran has partnered with Russia to create a naval patrol effort, called the Persian Gulf and Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE). In contrast to those who promote warmongering in the region, Iran and Russia have presented initiatives which are similar to each other aiming to maintain peace in the region, said Mohammad Javad Zarif, Irans Foreign Minister, just after the naval exercise with Russia started, according to IRNA.
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  A woman who embezzled more than $16,500 from a VFW post has been ordered to repay the money and serve three months in jail.

Debra Lou Wells, 58, of Laketon Township, pleaded guilty Nov. 1 to embezzling from the Don Rea Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8846, 1061 Witham Road in Laketon Township.

The Muskegon County Prosecutors Office indicated earlier that the money was proceeds from fish fry dinners the VFW held. Wells had been the bar manager for 10 years, according to the prosecutors office.

Wells was sentenced by Muskegon County Circuit Judge William Marietti on Dec. 16 and ordered to report to jail on Jan. 3. She also was ordered to pay $22,475 in restitution, including $16,555 to the VFW and $5,920 to Michigan Millers Insurance, according to court records.

She also was ordered to serve five years of probation.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 18:33:27|Editor: Xiaoxia

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TIANJIN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Du Xin, 32, picked up a calendar in a bookstore in northern China's Tianjin Municipality. Designed with a crimson and dark green cover and bound by two golden rings, the calendar features many traditional Chinese elements.

"Nowadays many people don't use calendars anymore, but I think calendars today have become more delicate, interesting and very different from those in the past," Du said.

Traditionally, calendars have played an important role in Chinese culture. They provide the lunar dates for guiding the agricultural life along with what is suitable to do on each day. Many people use them for selecting auspicious days for weddings, funerals, moving, or starting a business.

However, they had lost popularity, especially among young people as many turn to digital calendars on smartphones. The new decade has seen the market abounds with creative calendars with novel designs and interesting content that have regained popularity among young people.

Du's calendar is one of them. Nearly 300,000 such calendars had been sold nationwide by the end of December 2019, according to Wang Lei, shop manager of Sisyphe bookstore in Tianjin.

Apart from displaying dates on each page of the calendar, Du's calendar pages include a question related to people's lives or the specific date, as well as an excerpt picked from a classic book.

For example, on the page of Jan. 24, the Chinese New Year's Eve and a day for family reunions, the question asks "Have you returned home tonight?" It was accompanied by an excerpt describing people's celebration of the festival from Chinese writer Laoshe.

Zhou Xiaowei, product manager of Sisyphe Calendar, said customers buy the calendar more for its creativity than simply for checking dates. "They want the paper calendar to show their individuality," she said.

Wang, the shop manager, said apart from buying the calendars for themselves, many customers send them as gifts to their family members and friends.

Another creative product, Owspace Desk Calendar, is marketed as an old calendar for new generations due to its inspirations drawn from traditional calendars.

Like the old calendars, the black-and-white calendar requires people to tear off the date in order to move on to the next. It was also designed with dos and don'ts, but often in an interesting tone, such as "Don't do nothing today" or "Stop daydreaming."

Xue Jing, product director of Owspace, said that it usually takes eight to 10 months to design the look and edit the content of the calendars. The company sold 70,000 copies in 2015, and individual purchases surged to over 350,000 copies in 2018.

Creative and specific designs are seen on other calendars too. The Palace Museum's themed calendar for 2020 features the architecture of the Forbidden City, as well as related cultural relics and stories. It has become one of the museum's most popular souvenirs.

Another calendar, developed by Chinese movie-rating site Douban, shows a movie with film stills and classic lines every day, and the National Museum of China released its 2020 calendar featuring the information of cultural relics.

"Calendars can bring you personal feelings," Du said. "For me, I feel the moment slip away as I turn the pages."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 23:33:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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YAOUNDE, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Security forces have been deployed in Cameroon's two troubled English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest to ensure security before the country's general elections scheduled for February, a senior army officer said on Tuesday.

Legion Commander, Colonel Henry Nchinda, told reporters in Buea, chief town of Southwest, that the security forces will be deployed to "all parts" of the regions to ensure hitch-free elections.

He was speaking after a contingent of 350 gendarmes arrived in Southwest.

"These elements are here to do everything so that the elections will be held in safe conditions", Nchinda said.

Parliamentary and municipal elections will take place in Cameroon on Feb. 9 amid threats by separatists. On Friday, separatist leaders said they will be imposing a six-day lockdown from Feb. 7 to 12 in the regions in a bid to stop the elections from taking place.

Fighting between government forces and armed separatist groups has been going on since 2017 after the separatists declared the independence of a nation called "Ambazonia" in the two English-speaking regions.
Four children have been handed $1.2million each after a legal battle to get their estranged father's huge Lotto win.

David Wayde Carson, from Nelson, New Zealand, won the $16.7million prize in 2009, before his death in 2015.

Mr Carson left nothing to his children or grandchildren in his will and they didn't find out about their father's death until two-and-a-half-years later.

He claimed his children 'had been paid out many years prior' and had little contact with them since separating from their mother in 1974.

But after discovering they were discretionary beneficiaries under a trust, the children made a claim for part of Mr Carson's estate to the High Court.

Four children were able to receive more than $1million each after their late father won a staggering $16.7million in the Lotto (file image)

Toni Twomey, Keri Crossan, Wayde Carson and Melanie Brown who all moved to Australia battled for 20 per cent of their late father's estate.

His estate included his property, land, farming equipment and machinery.

Mr Carson had wished for his money to go towards cattle research and development.

Mr Carson's grandchildren also requested $200,000 for when they turn 20.

Justice Susan Thomas said that after the children grew up they received no financial support from their father.

'All the children spoke of a relatively happy early childhood ... In saying that, the older children had some not so fond memories of Mr Carson's behaviour, which, in hindsight, they attribute to his use of alcohol,' Justice Thomas said, the New Zealand Herald reported.

'None of the children is now in a particularly healthy financial position and retirement is not too far away.'

Mr Carson's niece and step-son were listed as specific beneficiaries who will receive $25,000 and $50,000 each year.

Justice Thomas awarded children the money which equates to NZ$1.25 million each.

'While a loving grandfather might well make some provision for his grandchildren in his will, that does not mean he fails in his moral duty towards them if he does not do so,' Justice Thomas said.

The grandchildren didn't receive anything from Mr Carson's estate.
India has announced plans to land an unpiloted space vehicle on the moon in 2020. The plans mark a continuation of Indias drive to expand its space program.

The head of Indias Space Research Organization, K. Sivan, made the announcement on January 1.

The planned mission, called Chandrayaan-3, aims to land an exploration vehicle on the moon's surface. Chandrayaan is the Sanskrit word for moon vehicle. Sivan recently told reporters that mission planning had progressed smoothly so far.

"We are targeting the launch for this year, but it may spill over to next year," Sivan said. Indian sources told the French news agency AFP that officials had set November as a target launch date.

India is seeking to become only the fourth nation to land on the moon's surface -- after Russia, the United States and China. Israel made an unsuccessful attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon last April.

India has worked to establish itself as a low-cost satellite launcher. It is seeking to become a world space power. However, the countrys space program suffered a failed moon-landing attempt last September. That mission, Chandrayaan-2, ended with the lander spacecraft crashing on the moon's surface.

Chandrayaan-2 had aimed to land on the south pole of the moon, where no other lunar mission had gone before. The area is believed to contain water because it is largely unaffected by the high temperatures of the sun.

Chandrayaan-3s explorer vehicle hopes to confirm the presence of water in the form of lunar ice, which it first discovered during a mission in 2008.

Sivan said the new unpiloted mission is expected to cost about $35 million, with additional launch costs.

Sivan also announced that India had chosen four candidate astronauts to take part in the country's first planned piloted mission into orbit. That mission is set for late 2021 at the earliest. The four candidates are expected to start training in Russia later this month. Up to three astronauts are to take part in the flight.

The piloted mission is one of Indias main planned projects to mark the 75th anniversary of India's independence from British rule.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from Reuters and Agence France-Presse. 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

mission  n. a task or job that someone is given to do

spill over  v. to have an effect on something else
[January 07, 2020] PopSockets Announces New Product Launch: PopPower Home Charger, Powered by NuCurrent at the Consumer Electronics Show

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Electronics Show -- PopSockets is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest lifestyle technology product, the PopPower Home Charger, at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show. The best-performing Qi-certified wireless charger on the market, PopPower uses technology developed by NuCurrent, the leader in wireless power innovation. PopPower is designed to optimize charging with a PopGrip on your phone, and is the only charger on the market that is capable of charging through both a PopGrip and a thick phone case. The recessed center perfectly aligns with your grip for fast, simple, charging and comes in three chic styles - Matte White, Mountainscape and Cosmic Cloud. PopPower is a Qi certified charger, which means it is compatible with all Qi certified devices. The charger supports the Qi standard's new Extended Power Profile (EPP), which enables continuous delivery of up to 15 watts of wireless power. PopPower is ready for next-generation fast charging mobile devices and is three times more powerful than standard chargers on the market. It also supports proprietary fast-charging modes from Apple and Samsung. PopPower simplifies charging for PopGrip users so you can charge up and go effortlessly. It works with any non-metallic PopGrips and is available on www.popsockets.com for $60.



About PopSockets

PopSockets was founded in 2010 by former philosophy professor David Barnett. Barnett was looking for a way to prevent his earbud cord from getting tangled, and he glued two buttons to the back of his phone and wrapped them around the buttons. In 2014, PopSockets was launched out of his garage in Boulder, Colorado and today has offices in Boulder, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Helsinki. More than 165 million PopSockets grips have been sold around the world. PopSockets exists to change the world for the better with innovative, magical products and community empowered activism. Products include the PopGrip, PopTop, PopWallet, PopThirst and PopMirror, all designed to increase the functionality of devices we use daily. In the fall of 2018, PopSockets premiered the Poptivism programa charitable giving platform where customers create their own PopGrip designs and PopSockets donates 50% of the sale price to the customer's charity of choice. The brand has donated over $3 million dollars in cash and product to 300 nonprofit partners. About NuCurrent

NuCurrent supplies Fortune 1000 companies and other high-potential product developers with wireless power technologies and sub-systems. Our core technologies span magnetics, software and systems simulation and have generated over 90 patents granted or pending globally. Our broad systems integration expertise supports manufacturers of appliances, smartphones, wearables, hearables, consumer electronics, medical devices, robotics, IoT, sporting equipment and other emerging product categories. NuCurrent solutions are based on inductive wireless power transfer which offers convenience, safety, efficiency, and great user experience. Founded in 2009, we are a venture-backed company based in Chicago with offices in Hong Kong and San Diego. More information at www.nucurrent.com.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/popsockets-announces-new-product-launch-poppower-home-charger-powered-by-nucurrent-at-the-consumer-electronics-show-300982382.html SOURCE PopSockets

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VANCOUVER - Sam Sadr's first trip to the United States from his home in North Vancouver was supposed to be a relaxing getaway but he says his birth in Iran made him a target at the border, where he was detained for over eight hours with his family.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VANCOUVER - Sam Sadr's first trip to the United States from his home in North Vancouver was supposed to be a relaxing getaway but he says his birth in Iran made him a target at the border, where he was detained for over eight hours with his family.

Sadr, 39, said U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials questioned him about everything from his sister's and brother's birth dates to where he'd gone to school. They also asked whether anyone in his family had a role in any army, navy or military service or Iran's political affairs.

Sam Sadr, shown in a handout photo, and his family were detained for more than eight hours at the U.S. border as they tried to take a day trip to Seattle from their home in North Vancouver. He says they won't go back until tensions ease between the United States and Iran following a recent U.S. drone attack that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad, triggering vows of retaliation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Sam Sadr MANDATORY CREDIT

"I'm a tourist, not a terrorist. I'm not a member of anything," he said in an interview, adding he left Tehran at age seven and grew up in Japan before moving to Canada about 18 years ago.

"I have a Canadian passport, but it says I'm born in Iran."

That was enough for border personnel to question him on Saturday, he said, as tensions rose between the United States and Iran following the recent death of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. drone attack in Baghdad, triggering vows of retaliation.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials have denied questioning Iranian-Canadian and Iranian-American travellers returning from Canada during a secondary screening process at the border. The agency does acknowledge operating under an "enhanced posture" as a result of the current threat environment.

Officials at the Peace Arch border crossing attributed the long delays to staff shortages.

Sadr said he twice asked why it was necessary for him and his family to be detained for so long.

"I just asked, 'Can I get my passport and go home, back to Vancouver?' They said, 'No, we have to get the order from head office.' "

By the time Sadr and his family were allowed to leave, it was too late to go to Seattle, he said.

Instead, they crossed into Washington for two hours, only to find a place to eat after not being offered any food during their 8 1/2 hours at the border, he said.

"This is the first time I tried to step into the U.S., so I'm not happy with this," he said.

Sadr said he won't return to the U.S. until there's a resolution of the political turmoil between the U. S. and Iran.

"I wish peace will come back so we can go without any discrimination," he said.

John Mohammadi, who moved to Canada from Iran about 20 years ago, said members of the Iranian-Canadian community want to be treated fairly after political unrest in their homeland forced them to move elsewhere.

"Right now, people there all want to move out. They're scared because they don't know what's going to happen," he said, adding he wants U.S. border personnel to stop questioning Iranians unnecessarily over political skirmishes that have nothing to do with them.

Mohammadi, who also lives in North Vancouver, said he will not travel to the U.S. for now, knowing he may be delayed for hours.

"I'm sure so many people are not going to go to the border if they're going to keep them there for that long," he said.

American immigration lawyer Len Saunders said Monday that several of his clients, including some from Canada and all of Persian descent, were made to wait for upwards of five hours and answer unusually intrusive questions Saturday before being allowed into the U.S.

Posts on social media reported delays that lasted eight to 10 hours.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2020.
DENMARK  Denmark Technical Colleges new president says he will focus on students.

The colleges area commission unanimously agreed to hire Dr. Willie L. Todd Jr. on Monday.

"As a student-centered leader, I work diligently to create innovative solutions to alleviate the financial burden on today's students while working to increase persistence, retention and overall graduation rates," Todd said.

Todd has served for the past four months as the college's vice president of academic affairs and students services. Hell become president on Jan. 13.

He was selected after a 24-minute closed-door meeting on Monday.

"Your resume was impressive," DTC Area Commission Chairman Kevin Whitt said. "We have had the opportunity to watch you work for the past four months. You have developed a significant rapport with faculty and staff."

"We look forward to working very closely with you to bring Denmark Technical College forward," Whitt continued.

Todd thanked the commission for hiring him, saying My hope is working collaboratively that we will be able to live up to the expectations that I know Denmark Technical College deserves.

"I am really excited about this collaborative approach with the faculty, staff, students and alumni and community going forward."

Todd will earn a salary of $128,769. Thats the minimum recommended by the S.C. Technical College System for technical college presidents.

About 75 individuals applied for the position in a national search conducted by a three-member search committee. The search began in September and applications were reviewed in November.

The search committee consisted of DTC National Alumni President James Bowden; Aiken Technical College President Dr. Forest Mahan; and Phil Homan of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education.

Whitt said, "Dr. Todd has experience with the college ... and he also has significant experience with the (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) committee and accrediting bodies and has extensive background in academics."

Todd holds a Ph.D. in English from Georgia State University; a masters degree in higher education administration with a concentration in student affairs from Regent University; a masters in education in English education from Albany State University and a bachelors degree in English from Albany State University.

Todd has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas; vice provost and associate vice provost at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia; executive director of student affairs, director of leadership and student development, English department undergraduate program coordinator and faculty at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia; adjunct faculty at Georgia Perimeter College in Decatur; director of developmental studies writing laboratory at Albany State University in Albany, Ga; and adjunct faculty at Darton College.

Todd will assume his new position from Denmark Techs interim president, Dr. Christopher Hall.

Hall became the college's interim president in January 2017 amid concerns about its financial viability.

"Dr. Hall has done an extraordinary job," Whitt said. He said Hall worked with the State Tech Board and state and federal lawmakers to continue Denmark Techs legacy.

"Hall was tireless in making those things happen, Whitt said.

One challenge Hall faced is the college's accreditation.

The college was placed on warning by SACSCOC in 2018 for significant non-compliance with the core requirements or standards of SACS.

Last month, SACS reviewed the college and maintained its accreditation for good cause and placed the college on probation for 12 months.

The SACS designation means Denmark Tech has demonstrated significant recent accomplishments in addressing non-compliance, has provided evidence which makes it reasonable to assume it will remedy all deficiencies within a year, and that the institution has provided assurance to the board that it is not aware of any other reasons, other than those identified by the board, why the institution cannot be continued for good cause.

It was uncertain Monday what Hall's future will be following his time at Denmark Tech.

Contact the writer: gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5551. Check out Zaleski on Twitter at @ZaleskiTD.

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Authorities are conducting an 'open and active criminal investigation' at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort following an unspecified incident on Monday night.

The Secret Service is leading the investigation with help from the Palm Beach Police Department.

No arrests have been made and officials have declined to discuss the nature of the incident.

Palm Beach police released a nearly entirely redacted incident report which indicated that officers were called to the resort in southern Florida at around 7pm Monday to 'assist' another law enforcement agency.

Authorities are conducting an 'open and active criminal investigation' at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort following an unspecified incident on Monday night (file photo)

Trump and his family were not at Mar-a-Lago at the time, having left for Washington, DC, the previous day after spending the holidays there

Trump and his family were not at Mar-a-Lago at the time, having left for Washington, DC, the previous day after spending the holidays there.

The incident comes as Mar-a-Lago is on heightened alert after Trump ordered a military strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani last Friday. The president was at the resort when he made the order.

An adviser to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tweeted a Forbes list of Trump's properties, including Mar-a-Lago, on Sunday. In a successive tweet he wrote: 'We have ZERO problems with the American people ... Our sole problem is Trump. In the event of war, it is he who will bear full responsibility.'

Mar-a-Lago has seen several security breaches since Trump became president.

A Chinese woman, Lu Jing, was arrested for trespassing at the property last month after investigators said she snuck in to take photos.

Another Chinese woman, Yujing Zhang, was arrested for trespassing in March, sparking a federal investigation into whether she was a potential foreign agent.

Zhang was convicted of entering a restricted federal area and making false statements.

In response to the breaches, the Secret Service reportedly added two new security checkpoints to screen members and guests entering the private club when Trump is there.
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!)
GEORGE AND ELIZABETH SPANGLER had worked hard to cultivate their farm south of Gettysburg. When they purchased the property in 1848, seven years after they married, it consisted of only 80 acres. By 1863, however, the farm had expanded to 166 acres. Their prosperitythe real estate was valued at $5,000 in 1860kept the elder Spanglers and their four children (two girls and two boys, ranging in age from 14 to 21) busy with innumerable chores.

Part of that prosperity was also due to the farms location. Good roads such as the Baltimore Pike, Blacksmith Shop Road, and Granite Schoolhouse Lane gave the Spanglers easy access to other areas of their community and the nearby agricultural hub of Gettysburg. But in July 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg, that same location made the farm a target.

Cemetery Hill and Culps Hill to the north, Cemetery Ridge to the due west, and Little Round Top to the southwest went from pleasant local landmarks to blood-soaked battlefields in the blink of an eye. And then horrible war came calling at the Spanglers front door on July 1 when surgeons from the Army of the Potomac rode down the lane and told the shocked family their farm was now the 11th Corps hospital.

The Spanglers world shrank to one upstairs room where they lived from that day until August 6 as moaning, wounded men replaced the lowing cattle in their barn, and troops and artillery pieces crushed their wheat and battered their fruit trees. By July 3, the mass of confusion and agony on the farm was overwhelming surgeons desperately sorting through the wounded in an attempt to find those who could be saved with immediate attention. Since the first days fight, the 11th Corps wounded had been joined by shot-up men who had drifted to the property or had been brought from other areas of the battlefield.

And then Confederate Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Armistead arrived in an ambulance. Despite the chaos, heads turned. Hospital workers and a few of the wounded who could walk crowded quickly in a circle around the ambulance. Although they likely had no idea what Armistead had accomplished during the charge that daythe way he had placed his hat on his sword and rallied his brigade of Virginians over a stone wall at the center of the Union line before being struck downthey were drawn to the generals presence.

Army of the Potomac surgeon Henry Van Aernam of the 11th Corps 154th New York Infantry estimated Armisteads arrival at the Spangler Farm at about duskroughly 8 p.m., more than four hours after the general had been mortally wounded near Gettysburgs famous Copse of Trees. Lying on a stretcher, he was placed on the ground near the Spanglers large bank barn. According to Privates Emory Sweetland and Edson Ames, hospital workers from the 154th New York, Armistead was, respectively, pretty bloody and covered with blood. Sweetland added that Armistead announced, You have a man here that is not afraid to die.

Dr. Van Aernam broke up the crowd of gawkers and had General Armistead carried away for treatment. The general would die the morning of July 5, however, in the Spanglers summer kitchen.

Ambulances spent July 4-5 picking up Union wounded who had been trapped behind Confederate lines or in Confederate hospitals, and the crowd at the 11th Corps hospital would grow to about 1,900 wounded or dying soldiers, including between 50 and 100 Confederates. The Granite Schoolhouse, on the Spanglers property about a quarter-mile from the barn, would become the home of a 1st Division, 2nd Corps hospital.

Located behind the center of the Army of the Potomacs line, the 166-acre Spangler Farm had plenty of land and buildings to accommodate the demand that had suddenly been placed on it. There was a kitchen, plenty of wood, and adequate streams and wells for water. The farm was located between the Taneytown Road and the Baltimore Pike, and combined with the aforementioned Blacksmith Shop Road and Granite Schoolhouse Lane, that meant wounded could be transported to the hospital quickly.

Also crucial was the Spanglers bank barn, a common feature of the farmland around Gettysburg and elsewhere in Pennsylvaniawhat one wartime newspaper reporter called great horse palaces for their size and beauty. Every inch of the bank barn would be needed during the battle and afterward, with one doctor estimating that 500 men were crammed onto both floors of the building at one point.

Medical staffers of the 11th Corps took control of the property during the mid-afternoon of July 1 and restricted George, Elizabeth, and their children to an upstairs bedroom in their house. That first day, 11th Corps wounded began to arrive by 4 p.m. from heavy fighting both north of Gettysburg and in the town.

rom the 1st of July till the afternoon of the fifth, I was not absent from the hospital more than once and then but for an hour or two, wrote Daniel G. Brinton, the 11th Corps, 2nd Division surgeon-in-chief. Very hard work it was, too, & little sleep fell to our share. Four operating tables were going night and day. Many of them were hurt in the most shocking manner by shells. My experience at Chancellorsville was nothing compared to thisI never wish to see such another sight. For myself, I think I never was more exhausted.

A fellow surgeon, excessively fatigued as well, called the commitment too much for human endurance.

At the doorway I saw a huge stack of amputated arms and legs, a stack as high as my head! said Private William Southerton of the 75th Ohio Infantry. The most horrible thing I ever saw in my life! I wish I had never seen it! I sickened.

Lamented Private Justus Silliman, 17th Connecticut: The barn more resembled a butcher shop than any other institution. One citizen on going near it fainted away and had to be carried off.

Most amputations and surgeries took place under the Spangler barns forebay. Under the 7-foot extension built for added storage, doctors had more light and fresh air away from the smells of infections and crowds inside the barn. It also was safer for flammable anesthesia use at night, when lanterns were burning. The surgeons worked under the forebay with their backs to the barn. A surgeon would finish one amputation or operation in 515 minutes and then move immediately to the next one. No washing was done of bloody or germ-infested hands or bloody equipment, because the physicians did not understand how proper sanitation could prevent infection and reduce the spread of disease. Sometimes, a Spangler surgeon with germ-covered hands would put his hands in a soldier and infect that soldier with a disease. The almost shoulder-to-shoulder crowding of the barn also encouraged the spread of such deadly infectious diseases as gangrene and typhoid fever. Many men died at the 11th Corps hospital not of their battle wound but from a disease contracted at the farm.

Major Generals George G. Meade and Winfield Scott Hancock had a battle and war to win so they banned all hospital wagons from Gettysburg except those carrying supplies for surgeries in order to keep the roads clear for fast troop movement. That had a direct, dramatic impact on the 11th Corps hospital during and immediately after the battle, leaving it without food, tents, hospital clothing, bedding, bedpans, blankets, and more. Men were placed outside in the open once the Spangler buildings filled.

Private Henry Blakeman of the 17th Connecticut, a patient at the barn, said: We saw pretty hard times lying on the ground.I was wet through and had not half enough to eat. I wore the same shirt that I was wounded in all bloody for nine days and half that time it was full of maggots & I wore the same pants.

Corporal William R. Kiefer, a hospital steward from the 153rd Pennsylvania, said of July 4: Hundreds were lying with but feeble, or in most cases with no shelter, exposed to a cold incessant rain against the sides of the barn, and in an orchard adjoining the sheds. Their moans were heard in every direction, and with a lantern I moved about from one to another during the long hours of the night. I searched in vain for blankets to cover the suffering and dying.

Unpaid nurses Marilla Hovey of Dansville, N.Y., and Rebecca Lane Pennypacker Price of Phoenixville, Pa., played important roles at the 11th Corps hospital. Hovey and her 17-year-old son, Frank, traveled with her husband, Dr. Bleecker Lansing Hovey of the 136th New York, and she nursed the wounded and wrote home to family members of the dead and dying.

In one letter from the Spangler hospital, Hovey informed a family of their sons death and told them: I have had a good deal of care of him and called him my Soldier Boy and tried to take the place of Mother Sister & Friend. I think I never had such a trial parting with one that I had no more acquaintance with. The Hoveys worked at the 11th Corps hospital the entire five weeks it was open before returning to New York for a three-week break.

With donations from Phoenixvilles Ladies Union Relief Society, Nurse Price rode to Gettysburg on a bench in a railroad cattle car shortly after the battle, then went to work at Spangler. The sad scenes would fill a volume, she said. So many times at night I lay on my stretcher weeping instead of sleeping. She tried to help 21-year-old 1st Lt. Joseph Heeney of the 157th New York. Price held an umbrella to protect him from the July sun as he was taken to the barn for a leg amputation. His wound proved mortal.

For a month, she helped to nurse 1st Lt. Thomas Wheeler of the 75th Ohio, before he died of wounds in his right side, right leg, left groin, and left arm. His parents were at his side and Nurse Price sang Rock of Ages to him as he passed away. Years after the war, she wrote that her Spangler Farm memories still filled her heart with sadness.

Assistant Surgeon William S. Moore of the 61st Ohio Infantry also died therethe only Army of the Potomac surgeon or assistant surgeon to be killed at Gettysburg. During the Confederate bombardment preceding Picketts Charge, Moore was mortally wounded by a shell fragment that struck his leg. He left behind a young widow, Sarah, and two children, ages 1 and 2. Sarah was so torn by grief that she mourned for the remainder of her life and never remarried.

Its not surprising that in a battle the size of Gettysburg, many wounded men did not reach their appropriate corps or division hospital. Sergeant Nelson W. Jones of the 3rd Maine, 20 or 21 years of age, was an example of that. The 3rd Corps soldier died at the Spangler Farm after being hit in both legs in the Peach Orchard by a cannonball on July 2. He made and applied tourniquets by himself on the battlefield to prolong his life, but they were not enough to prevent his death at the hospital.

The majority of 11th Corps hospital patients survived, however, including Captain Alfred E. Lee of the 82nd Ohio, who went home from Spangler Farm with a hip wound only to find his obituary printed in his hometown newspaper. He showed up at his funeral as it was taking place. Corporal James Brownlee of the 134th New York survived seven gunshot wounds at the Brickyard on July 1, one breaking four of his ribs. Brownlee had also been shot through the bowels and in the left thigh, right thigh, and lower back.T

Of the estimated 1,900 wounded men treated at the 11th Corps hospital, nearly 140 are known to have died there, and most were buried in the Spangler orchard. They were exhumed in later months and reinterred in the battlefields Soldiers National Cemetery, where President Abraham Lincoln famously delivered his Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. The four known Confederates buried at the Spangler Farm, in addition to Armistead, are believed to have been exhumed in 1872 and reburied somewhere in the South.

In addition to the two hospitals on their property, on July 2, George and Elizabeth Spangler hosted the Artillery Reserve of the Army of the Potomac, which consisted of the 106-cannon, 2,300-man Artillery Reserve and a 100-wagon ammunition train. The 11,000-man 5th Corps arrived on the Spangler Farm and nearby farmsteads at about noon and rested there before rushing through the heart of the Spangler Farm toward the desperate fighting on and around Little Round Top. The 6th Corps rested briefly on and near the farm after the 5th Corps departed and before elements of the 12th Corps passed through from nearby Culps Hill. Dozens of 11th Corps ambulances were also on the farm. The 4th New Jersey was there guarding the armys ammunition train, and there were several other smaller artillery and infantry bivouacs on the property. Powers Hill, a portion of which was on the Spangler Farm, overlooked the Baltimore Pike. It hosted a signal station, 12th Corps and Artillery Reserve cannons, the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Corps, as well as Maj. Gen. Henry Slocums 12th Corps headquarters July 1-5 and General Meades headquarters the night of July 3 and morning of July 4.

Other farms were the sites of more combat than the Spangler Farm, and some were literally destroyed. But no single farm played a more important role during the battle than the Spangler Farm. The family got its farm back on August 7, 1863, after all of the wounded were shipped off to Camp Letterman near Gettysburg and general hospitals in bigger cities, such as York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. They filed three damage claims totaling about $5,000 to the state and federal governments in the 1870s, but received only $90 for six tons of hay.

The U.S. quartermasters agent said: The Government of the United States is no more responsible for bringing on the battle fought there than it would have been had a tornado passed over that country causing as wide spread destruction as did that terrible engagement.That battle and hospital damage was his misfortune. All six Spanglers survived their Gettysburg ordeal. They undoubtedly received help from the Sanitary and Christian commissions and other Adams County farmers as they put their farm and lives back together. George said he rebuilt faster than expected, and by 1870 the Spanglers had added on to their house.

The Gettysburg Foundation purchased the 80 acres left of the property in 2008 and restored the barn, summer kitchen, and smokehouse. The Foundation opens the farm for visitors on June, July, and August weekends. The Spangler house has been turned into a modern education center, and the property and buildings have an 1863 feel. Visitors can see the farm where Armistead spent his final three days, where two hospitals saved so many lives, and where the Army of the Potomac set up the victory that helped preserve a nation.

_____

Schoolhouse Hospital

General Lewis A. Armisteads arrival at the 11th Corps hospital at the Spangler Farm on the evening of July 3 likely coincided with the arrival of decades-long friend Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, commander of the 2nd Corps, at what was left of the 1st Division, 2nd Corps hospital at the Granite Schoolhouse on the Spangler property. Hancock had been wounded by fragments from his saddle when it was struck by a bullet during Picketts Charge.

The schoolhouse had just opened in 1862 on a small plot of land the Spanglers had donated for such a purpose, no doubt in part because George Spangler was president of the Cumberland Township School Board

The road that serviced it, Granite Schoolhouse Lane, was also new, and neither it nor the structure were on the maps available to the Army of the Potomac. After the battle, Brig. Gen. Alpheus Williams of the 12th Corps remembered that he had moved his men on the lane that he did not find in the maps.My impressions are that it was a regular formed road.

Hancock had to wait for an ambulance after he was wounded during Picketts Charge, and he wanted to issue orders and communications before being carried from the field. The Union general could have stopped at Granite Schoolhouse for further treatment or observation, even though most of the hospital had been moved farther to the rear by the time he arrived, out of Rebel artillery range. Or he could have halted there to send more communications. A monument at the end of Spangler lane discusses the likelihood these two dear friends were unknowingly on Spangler property at the same time and only a quarter-mile apart.

The schoolhouse was a major hospital for two days for men of the 1st Division of the 2nd Corps, which fought July 2 in the Rose Farm woods and the famous Wheatfield. This was the division commanded by Brig. Gen. John Caldwell that the Rev. Father William Corby granted general absolution to moments before the three brigades, including the Irish Brigade, plunged into deadly action. The division lost about 1,300 casualties in mainly one day of fighting, and many of those injured men were taken to the Granite Schoolhouse.

The first Division caught the heaviest of the blow, many killed and wounded were the result, said Granite Schoolhouse hospital Surgeon-in-Charge Dr. William Warren Potter, 57th New York, many killed and wounded were the result, and the latter were now being brought to the hospital in great numbers.

In addition to Hancock, another Union general was treated at the Granite Schoolhouse. Brig. Gen. Samuel K. Zook was examined there on July 2 for a massive chest wound. He had been struck on the Stony Hill just west of the Wheatfield. A Granite Schoolhouse surgeon quickly deduced Zooks wound as mortal, the gaping hole in his chest was so large the doctor could see the generals heart beating, and he was carried to a house farther behind the lines along the Baltimore Pike where he died on July 3. A monument on Wheatfield Road marks where Zook was mortally wounded.

Fifth New Hampshire commander Colonel Edward Cross died July 2 at Granite Schoolhouse after being mortally wounded on the opposite side of the Wheatfield from Zook. Cross Avenue between Devils Den and the Wheatfield bears his name.

During the battle, the land east and west of the school were mainly open fields mixed with patches of trees. Union infantry and artillery units used open spaces west of the school for bivouacs. Today, the area is heavily wooded.

The hospital had to be moved to near McAllisters Mill on the Baltimore Pike on July 3 when Confederate overshots from the massive pre-Picketts Charge cannonade began to fall near the one-room schoolhouse.

Patient Lieutenant Charles Fuller of the 61st New York recalled on that afternoon his impending leg amputation was postponed when the enemy began to drop shells that exploded in and about the locality. It was not a fit place to pursue surgical operations.

Granite Schoolhouse was closed for health reasons by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1921 and torn down the same year. The hospital site is now largely forgotten, and most people likely cant find the site today along Granite Schoolhouse Lane. No sign marks it like other division hospitals around the battlefield, and its on National Park Service land covered in thorns and underbrush. Only a few stones from the foundation of the Granite Schoolhouse remain today, but they are buried by almost 100 years of wear and tear and weather. R.D.K.

Ronald D. Kirkwood is the author of Too Much for Human Endurance: The George Spangler Farm Hospitals and the Battle of Gettysburg (Savas Beatie, May 2019). His book contains the names, regiment, wound(s) and treatment for more than 1,400 men at the 11th Corps hospital.

This story appeared the April 2020 issue of Civil War Times.
Americans travelling in China should avoid animals and contact with sick people as the country grapples with a mystery pneumonia outbreak, the US embassy in China said Tuesday.

The viral illness was first reported last week in Wuhan, a central Chinese city with a population of over 11 million, and has since grown to at least 59 cases.

Chinese health officials have ruled out a resurgence of the highly contagious SARS virus, which killed hundreds more than a decade ago, after fears spread online that it had made a comeback.

"Be aware and practice usual precautions," said the health alert issued by the US embassy, which urged citizens to seek medical care "right away" if they felt sick after travelling to Wuhan.

The outbreak of pneumonia comes just a few weeks before China's busiest travel season of the year, when millions of people take buses, trains and planes for Lunar New Year.

The upcoming holiday has prompted concerns in Taiwan, where vice premier Chen Chi-mai has urged the island's health and welfare ministry to strengthen quarantine controls at airports and "plan properly".

On Monday, Taiwan's centre for disease control also advised residents planning to travel to or near Wuhan to wear masks and avoid contact with wild animals.

In Hong Kong, authorities say 21 people have been hospitalised after returning from Wuhan in recent days and displaying flu-like illnesses but none were confirmed to have contracted the mystery new strain.

Nonetheless officials have raised the alert level to "serious" and rolled out extra monitoring measures.

So far, none of the 59 patients infected with pneumonia have died though seven are seriously ill, according to Wuhan's health commission.

All are being treated in quarantine and no obvious evidence of human-to-human transmission has been found so far, it said Sunday.

The infection broke out between December 12 and 19, with some of the patients employed at a seafood market in the city that has since been closed for disinfection.

Avian flu and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) have also been ruled out alongside SARS, it added.

"The reported link to a wholesale fish and live animal market could indicate an exposure link to animals," the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Sunday.

"Pneumonia is common in the winter season," it added, and said the concentration of cases should be handled "prudently".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Local officials and neighborhood activists renewed their opposition to plans for a concrete batch plant in northwest Houston and vowed to work on all levels of government to keep such facilities away from homes and schools.

At a press conference across from the proposed batch plant, state Sen. John Whitmire, a Democrat, called on attendees to put a face on concerns about the companys permit application and to expose the "shameful attempt to permit a plant next to our residents and in our neighborhood.

He said he applauds the business owners efforts to grow, but not "putting a batch plant right next to residents who were there before the company and across from a active city park.

For two years, residents in Acres Homes, a historically black neighborhood in northwest Houston, have fought against an environmental permit for a small business, Soto Ready Mix, to build a concrete mixing plant in a residential area.

The plant would be at 3411 De Soto St. where the owner of the company, Armando Soto, has owned property since 2015.

MORE FROM ERIN DOUGLAS: Manufacturing activity in Texas rebounded in December

Making concrete is a notoriously dusty process that spews small particles into the air that can lead to asthma attacks, cardiac arrest and premature death, depending on how much is inhaled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Residents are concerned that the proposed batch plant will further contribute to health problems in the community. The area already has double the rate of cardiac arrests and six times the rate of ambulance-treated asthma attacks than average in Houston, according to a study of 911 call data by the city.

Soto, the owner of the business, did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. In a previous statement , he said the plant will meet all requirements by the states environmental agency.

Mayor Sylvester Turner said he has asked the citys legal department to look into what jurisdiction the city has over the location of such facilities.

Number one, these facilities shouldnt be anywhere close to residents, homeowners, parks, churches, Turner said Tuesday, and so Im going to ask them to take a look at whether or not we can put any geographical limits, just as we do with boarding homes or sexual-oriented businesses, and where they can be located.

MORE FROM PERLA TREVIZO: Worried about air quality, Pleasantville residents came up with a one-of-a-kind solution

The plant permit request in Acres Homes exists in a sort of blind spot in state and city policies. Houston lacks zoning laws, meaning businesses can locate almost anywhere, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has said its purview is limited to environmental impacts, such as allowable emissions. It does not consider factors such as locating in a residential area instead of an industrial one.

TCEQ, which approves air permit requests for concrete batch plants, most recently referred the issue to the State Office of Administrative Hearings for a hearing before a judge.

Commissioners granted six people who live within 440 yards of the proposed plant (the technical requirement to be considered an affected person) a state hearing, which will be held Jan. 23. However, theres no guarantee the judge will rule in their favor. And, the judge will simply make a recommendation of action to the three governor-appointed TCEQ commissioners for a final decision. Per state law, the commissioners are under no obligation to heed the judges advice.

perla.trevizo@chron.com

erin.douglas@chron.com

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Police today offered a 20,000 reward as they try to trace two men after a student was stabbed to death when masked muggers targeted him for his Rolex watch.

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Araimi, 24, was murdered on December 5, 2019 after being set upon as he strolled home from a restaurant in London outside Harrods.

The Omani national was stabbed in the back at about 1am after trying to resist his attackers outside the department store in affluent Knightsbridge.

Scotland Yard detectives have released CCTV footage of two men they want to identify who were seen walking together in London's Knightsbridge in the early hours of December 6

Today, Scotland Yard offered a reward of up to 20,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the people responsible for the attack.

Detectives also released CCTV footage of two men they want to identify who were seen walking together in Knightsbridge in the early hours of December 6.

King's College student Mr Al Araimi was stabbed along with his friend, a 20-year-old man who was taken to hospital for treatment but has since been discharged.

Mr Al Araimi, who was said to have lived in the UK for three years, was found unconscious after the attack at 11.55pm, and pronounced dead at 0.39am.

A friend of the victim told MailOnline last month: 'Mohammed was walking past Harrods with a friend from Bahrain when they were confronted by muggers.

'One of the thieves tried to steal Mohammed's expensive watch - I think a Rolex - but he fought back. There was a struggle and he was stabbed.

'His friend tried to help and was also stabbed. This is a truly awful, shocking crime to happen in the middle of London in front of such a famous department store.'

He had been out for a meal with a friend at a restaurant on Pavilion Road, before leaving and walking along Basil Street, heading towards Sloane Street.

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Araimi (pictured), 24, was murdered last month after being set upon as he strolled home from a restaurant in Knightsbridge outside Harrods

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge said: 'The attack on Mohammed and his friend was a planned robbery that was truly shocking and extremely violent.

'I am convinced that the public can provide names for those males featured in the CCTV images we have released today. My team have secured hundreds of hours of CCTV footage.

'The suspects involved in the attack travelled on foot from the Edgware Road / Marble Arch area of London to Knightsbridge prior to carrying out the attack.

'This location is therefore potentially very significant, with the persons we are seeking to identify having a connection to this area.

Mr Al Araimi was found unconscious after the attack at 11.55pm on December 5 last year

'There is a substantial reward being offered in this case and I ask that anyone who knows the identity of the two males makes contact with my team. All calls will be treated in the strictest confidence.'

A post-mortem examination took place at Westminster Mortuary on December 6 and gave the cause of death as a stab wound. There have been no arrests.

Police said anyone who might know who the two men are or has information that may assist detectives should contact the incident room on 020 8358 0300.

People can also police on 101 quoting reference Cad 3/6Dec, tweet @MetCC or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
BRIDGEPORT  A judge has ordered an 87-year-old Stratford woman evicted from her home of more than 50 years after her family testified she has become a burden to them after injuring her ankle.

Maria Michaels has until April to vacate her Rosebrook Drive home. In the meantime, she may now have to start paying rent to the nephew who now owns the house. He wants her to pay $1,000 a month to stay in her bedroom.

A hearing on the rent issue has been scheduled for Jan. 15.

While the defendant once had a right to occupy the premises, that right was terminated by both the notice to quit and the plaintiffs testified credibly that the defendant has become a burden to them, Superior Court Judge Walter Spader Jr. ruled. This finding sounds harsh, but the evidence demonstrates that certainly, the relationship between the parties has soured.

We disagree with the courts ruling and plan to take whatever legal action is necessary to protect our elderly client, said Michaels lawyer, Charles Kurmay.

Michaels and her husband owned and operated a small gift shop on Wilcoxson Avenue in Stratford, called Exclusively Yours, until her husbands death. In 1965, they purchased a lot on Rosewood Drive and built their dream house.

According to court records, in 1989, Michaels and her husband agreed to sponsor her nephew Jan Hlinka to come to this country from the Czech Republic. When Hlinka arrived, the couple took him into their home and gave him a job, records show.

Three years later, Hlinkas wife, Beata, arrived on the couples doorstep and the Michaels took her in, too.

The Hlinkas raised a family in the Michaels home and have four daughters, according to court records.

Their lawyer, Kevin Curseaden, did not return calls for comment.

In May 1999, without the benefit of a lawyer, Michaels, her husband now dead, agreed to sell her Rosebrook Drive home to the Hlinkas for $165,000 with the written agreement that she would reside there as long as she does not become a burden to her nephew and niece. At the time, the house was appraised by the town for more than $220,000.

But last February, the Hlinkas said they had enough and filed court papers to evict Michaels.

During a trial in October before Spader, Jan Hlinka testified that safety had become a concern. Since Michaels fell and broke her ankle in the kitchen in 2016, there have been several incidents of her burning food on the stove and in the microwave, almost causing fires in the house, as well as other incidents that speak to her health and safety, he testified.

Kurmay contended the Hlinkas just wanted to boot the elder woman to the street and enjoy their ill-gotten gains.

During the trial, Kurmay put Michaels on the witness stand.

I prepare my meals, I do my shopping, I do my laundry, I take my medications and I stay out of everybody's way, she testified.

And does anyone from the Hlinka family currently help you with any of your activities of daily living? Kurmay asked her.

No, not even a cup of tea, she replied.

Kurmay also said that Jan and Beata were purposely trying to make it difficult for Michaels to live in the house by lowering the temperature in her bedroom and stopping grocery deliveries to her.

Beata Hlinka testified she had gone to Shop Rite and told the manager they didnt want employees delivering groceries inside the house anymore.

Martha Marchelli, social worker for the state Elderly Protective Services, testified that she determined Michaels was the victim of emotional abuse and neglect by the Hlinkas. However, the judge pointed out that despite the finding, neither Marchelli nor the state Department of Social Services took any further action.

The judge continued that he did find it inexcusable for the Hlinkas to ask the supermarket to stop the inside deliveries.
Over 200 members of Congress urge Supreme Court to reconsider Roe v. Wade

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More than 200 members of Congress are urging the United States Supreme Court to "reconsider" the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.

In an amicus brief signed by 38 senators and 168 members of the House, the federal legislators urged the nation's highest court to revisit the core holdings in the cases that have enshrined abortion as a constitutional right for decades, particularly Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, a 1992 decision that upheld and reinforced Roe.



All but two of the signers of the brief were Republicans. Pro-life Democratic Reps. Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Dan Lipinski of Illinois also added their names to the document.

The amicus brief signed by these members of Congress comes ahead of an upcoming Supreme Court review of a contested Louisiana law in June Medical Services v. Gee. Oral arguments will be heard in March. Louisiana's Unsafe Abortion Protection Act, which has been on the books since 2014, requires abortionists to have admitting privileges at a hospital within a 30-mile radius.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has maintained that the Louisiana law is distinctly different from a near-identical Texas statute that was adjudicated a few years ago at the Supreme Court. In 2016, the high court ruled in a 5-3 decision in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt that the Texas law was not constitutional because it placed an undue burden on women seeking abortions.

The Fifth Circuit hears cases from both Texas and Louisiana and held last year that stark differences exist between the factual records in the two cases.

Lawmakers concur but go even farther, arguing in the brief that "the Fifth Circuit's struggle to define the appropriate 'large fraction' or determine what 'burden' on abortion access is 'undue' illustrates the unworkability of the 'right to abortion' found in Roe v. Wade ... and the need for the Court to again take up the issue of whether Roe and Casey should be reconsidered and, if appropriate, overruled."

The Texas case, they say, "created an overly subjective 'balancing' test, leading to confusion among Congress and state legislatures alike as to which laws might withstand constitutional scrutiny," and ask the high court to uphold the appellate court's 2018 ruling in favor of the Louisiana law.

Several notable Republican senators up for re-election this year  including those with extensive pro-life voting records  did not sign onto the brief, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

The Gee case is the first abortion rights case to be heard at the U.S. Supreme Court level since the confirmation of President Trump's nominees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, to the bench. Some speculate that with the addition of Kavanaugh, who replaced the frequent swing vote of Anthony Kennedy, pro-life advocates now have more reason to hope for a favorable ruling and for bolder steps against abortion precedent.

Former Alliance Defending Freedom attorney and conservative commentator David French warned against such hopes in a National Review op-ed last October, stressing that it's unlikely that the Supreme Court will tackle the larger issues that federal legislators are now asking the court to reconsider.

"Dont count on any language that casts doubt on the core holding in Roe or Casey," French said at the time, speaking of the high court's review of the Louisiana statute soon after the justices agreed to hear it.

"Louisiana is mainly fighting to keep its law alive, not to remake abortion jurisprudence in America, and the Court doesnt often give a litigant more than it asks for. And while pro-life Americans can be hopeful for a good outcome, Id caution against outright optimism."

He concluded: "For the abortion jurisprudence of a post-Kennedy court, the age of speculation is about to end. The age of analysis will soon begin."
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace today condemned Qassem Soleimani for 'fomenting instability' as he updated MPs on the Iran crisis - but Boris Johnson stayed away from the Commons.

Mr Wallace said the assassinated general had not been a 'friend' to peace, and said Tehran's actions had been stoking problems in the region.

Citing Washington's view that Soleimani had been plotting attacks on their assets when he was killed in a drone strike in Baghdad, he said: 'The UK has always defended the right of countries to defend themselves.'

He also dismissed criticism of the PM's handling of the situation, saying he had been 'engaging' with fellow world leaders. He said ships and helicopters were on high alert in the region to respond to any reprisals from Iran, and non-essential personnel were being moved out of the Iraqi capital.

But Jeremy Corbyn immediately questioned why Mr Johnson had not come to the House himself, swiping that he was 'hiding' after critics of the government had claimed the PM was 'caught short' by events in the region.

However, Mr Wallace accused the Labour leader of 'anti-American tripe' for his blanket condemnation of the US action.

'Funnily enough the PM is running the country, something the leader of the opposition failed to do,' he said.

Downing Street had earlier defended Mr Johnson's absence and said he was 'working from Number 10', chairing a meeting of the National Security Council on the issue at 5pm.

Ben Wallace said the assassinated general had not been a 'friend' to peace, and said Tehran's actions had been stoking issues in the region

Mr Wallace dismissed criticism of the PM's handling of the situation, saying he had been 'engaging' with fellow world leaders

Jeremy Corbyn immediately questioned why Mr Johnson had not come to the House himself

Boris Johnson has been desperately trying to ease tensions in the wake of the dramatic US strike that killed general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on Friday. He is pictured in St Lucia at the end of December - the last time he was photographed in public

UK pulls dozens of 'non-essential' personnel out of Baghdad and puts helicopters and ships on high alert amid fears of Iran revenge attacks Britain is pulling dozens of 'non-essential' personnel out of Baghdad and putting helicopters and ships on high alert amid fears of revenge attacks by Iran. The move was revealed by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace as he updated MPs on the mounting crisis this evening. Tehran has threatened to make British forces 'collateral damage' in reprisals against Donald Trump over the killing of Qassem Soleimani on Friday. Iraqi politicians have voted to kick out foreign forces from the country in protest at the drone strike on its territory. But the government in Baghdad has yet to follow through on the calls. Mr Wallace said the Government had taken 'urgent measures' to protect British nationals and interests in the Gulf. He said UK forces in the region including helicopters and ships were on standby to assist if needed, while non-essential personnel had been relocated from Baghdad to nearby Taji. 'At the same time, Defence are changing the readiness of our forces - including helicopters and ships on stand-by to assist if the need arises,' he said. Advertisement

The bruising exchanges between Mr Wallace and Mr Corbyn came after Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, warned that ISIS would be the 'only winners' from war with Iran.

As Britons brace for revenge attacks after the drone strike on Soleimani in Baghdad on Friday, Mr Raab stressed the need to 'de-escalate' tensions, saying it was crucial to keep hold of the 'hard-won gains' against the terrorist group in Iraq.

The comments came as Mr Raab headed to Brussels for talks with European counterparts on the mounting crisis.

But although Mr Johnson gathered Cabinet earlier and is taking stock with security chiefs this evening, he has still yet to be seen in public since returning from a Caribbean holiday on Sunday.

Asked why Mr Wallace was addressing MPs instead of the PM, Mr Johnson's spokesman said: 'The PM leads a Cabinet government and the response to events in the Middle East is a collective Cabinet response.'

Tehran has threatened to make British forces 'collateral damage' in reprisals against Donald Trump.

Mr Wallace said the Government had taken 'urgent measures' to protect British nationals and interests in the Gulf following the killing of Soleimani.

He said UK forces in the region including helicopters and ships were on standby to assist if needed, while non-essential personnel had been relocated from Baghdad to Taji.

'As part of prudent planning, a small team has been sent to the region to provide additional situational awareness and contingency planning assistance,' he told MPs.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab today stressed the need to 'de-escalate' tensions with Iran

Housing minister Esther McVey (left) and Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry were at the first Cabinet meeting since Christmas today

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (right), Zac Goldsmith (right) and Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers were among the ministers at Cabinet today

Soleimani's death has galvanized Iranians around revenge for the 'martyr'; Hundreds of thousands crowded into Tehran streets to see his coffin on Monday

Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom were in Downing Street as ministers were updated on the Iran situation

Jeremy Corbyn ridiculed after claiming he is a critic of the Iranian government Jeremy Corbyn was mocked by Tory MPs this afternoon after he claimed to have 'long spoken out against the Iranian government's human rights record'. The Labour leader demanded answers from the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in the Commons over the UK's response to rising tensions in the Middle East following the US killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. But he was interrupted by laughing Conservative backbenchers after he insisted he was no ally of the Iranian regime. Mr Wallace accused Mr Corbyn of talking the 'usual tripe' and 'anti-America, anti-imperialistic guff' after the latter slammed Donald Trump for what he described as the 'illegal' fatal drone attack in Baghdad last Friday. Mr Corbyn has faced repeated criticism in recent years for past paid appearances on Press TV, Iran's controversial state television broadcaster. The Labour leader told the Commons: 'As the Secretary of State for Defence will confirm, I have long spoken out against the Iranian government's human rights record, including when he and I visited Iran together in 2014.' His remarks prompted a wave of uproarious laughter on the Tory benches opposite the Labour leader as he had to raise his voice in order to continue. Advertisement

Mr Wallace said Iran's pattern of 'aggressive behaviour' including targeting dissidents in Europe and hijacking civilian ships 'was never going to go unchallenged'.

'Her Majesty's Government urges Iran to return to the normal behaviour of the country it aspires to be and resist the urge to retaliate.'

He repeated his calls for calm, adding: 'None of us wants conflict, none of us wants our citizens, our friends and our allies to be put at risk.'

He said the Government was looking at the implications of the vote in the Iraqi parliament which called for the expulsion of foreign troops but urged the Baghdad government to allow them to remain in order to fight ISIS.

'Our commitment to Iraq's stability and sovereignty is unwavering and we urge the Iraqi government to ensure the coalition is able to continue our work countering this shared threat,' he said.

Mr Raab will have a bilateral meeting with the French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, before they join their German and Italian counterparts and the EU High Representative for talks on Libya.

The so-called 'E3' - Britain, France and Germany - will then meet to discuss the tensions between the US and Iran, with all three pushing for de-escalation, a Foreign Office spokesman said.

Mr Raab spoke to his Iranian opposite number Mohammed Javad Zarif yesterday to stress the need for a diplomatic resolution to avoid a renewed conflict in the region.

Tehran has vowed 'severe revenge' for the killing of its top military commander Soleimani in a US drone strike last week.

Huge crowds have been gathering on the streets of Iran as the funeral of Soleimani takes place. His body is being buried in his home town.

Mr Trump in turn has warned the US is ready to strike back in a 'disproportionate' manner if the Iranians hit US targets.

Iran crisis exposes 'biggest ever cracks' in Western alliance, warns Jeremy Hunt The Iran crisis has exposed the 'biggest ever cracks', Jeremy Hunt warned today. The former foreign secretary said the killing of the general Qassem Soleimani without consultation from the US reflected a growing disregard toward Europe from Washington. This stemmed mostly from American disenchantment with defence spending by European countries, which invest 2 per cent of their GDP or less on defence whereas the US spends 4 per cent. 'In the end, money matters. If we're not prepared to cough up we should not be surprised if we are not consulted ahead of big decisions such as the taking out of General Suleimani,' he wrote in the Daily Telegraph, 'Nor should we be surprised if the Western alliance slowly starts to fracture as resentment builds up at European free-riding. To allow that would be a historic mistake.' Mr Hunt said many in Washington would happily abandon institutions such as NATO for an alternative scenario in which powers like the US, Russia and China 'carve up the world into spheres of influence'. If Britain did not want that, it had to behave 'like a real ally' to the US and pull its weight in global affairs, including making 'proper' contributions to world peace and security and persuading EU countries to do the same. Advertisement

The Prime Minister has faced criticism he was slow to respond to the crisis - only returning to the UK at the weekend following his new year break on the private Caribbean island of Mustique.

The former national security adviser Lord Ricketts said that ministers should have been quicker to react to the escalation.

'I think that the British Government were caught short by this,' he told BBC2's Newsnight.

'People were still on holiday, and there wasn't sufficient early recognition at the top level that this is a serious crisis and really dangerous for Western interests in the Middle East.

'Yes, I'm glad to see that the wheels are now in motion and things are happening but we are four days downwind of this sudden and dramatic escalation.'

Lord Ricketts said he would have expected the National Security Council to have met on Friday, when the killing of Gen Soleimani took place, to co-ordinate measures to ensure British nationals were protected.

'That may have been going on behind the scenes but there wasn't, as far as I could see, a collective discussion among senior ministers.'

Mr Johnson has sought to tread a delicate diplomatic path - joining with French and German allies in calling for a 'de-escalation' in the region.

At the same time, he is anxious to maintain good relations with the Trump administration ahead of talks with the US on a post-Brexit trade deal.

Mr Raab is due to fly to Washington later this week to meet Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after he criticised the lack of support by the Europeans - including the UK - for the US action.

The Foreign Secretary echoed Mr Johnson in saying the UK would not 'lament' the passing of Gen Soleimani who he described as a 'regional threat'.

Key figure: The letter from the Marine general in charge of coalition forces fighting ISIS and training the Iraqi army comes after the drone strike which killed Iran's Qassem Soleimani, its most senior commander who the U.S. designated a terrorist

Donald Trump has warned the US is ready to strike back in a 'disproportionate' manner if the Iranians hit US targets

However he also warned that a threat by Mr Trump to target Iranian cultural sites would be a breach of international law.

'We have been very clear that cultural sites are protected under international law and we would expect that to be respected,' he said.

Meanwhile US defence secretary Mark Esper was forced to deny the US was about to withdraw its troops from Iraq where the strike on Gen Soleimani took place.

A leaked letter from a US Marine Corps commander said that in 'due deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq', the coalition would be 're-positioning forces over the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement'.

It added: 'We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure.'

It followed a vote in the Iraqi parliament on Sunday, backed by prime minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, calling for the withdrawal of all foreign troops including British forces.

The Pentagon said the letter, addressed to the Iraqi defence ministry had been a 'poorly worded' draft which should never have been released.

Mr Esper told reporters in Washington: 'There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq. There's no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave.'

Mr Johnson emphasised the need to maintain a coalition presence in Iraq against Islamic State when he spoke by telephone to Mr Abdul-Mahdi yesterday.

Around 400 UK troops are stationed in Iraq in the fight against IS, while the US has 5,200, prompting fears of a withdrawal that could cripple the battle against the terror group.
by Zachary Hanshew | Hornets Correspondent | Tue, Jan 7th 6:53am EST

Terry Rozier went for 28 points (8-17 FG, 3-10 3Pt, 9-9 FT), six assists, a rebound and a steal over 40 minutes in the Hornets 115-104 loss to the Pacers on Monday.
Spain's parliament on Tuesday narrowly confirmed Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez as premier for another term, paving the way for the country's first-ever coalition government since its return to democracy in the 1970s. But it was a very tight vote in the 350-seat chamber, with 167 votes in favour and 165 against -- with 18 crucial abstentions by Catalan and Basque separatist lawmakers. Sanchez, who has served in a caretaker role since last year's inconclusive elections, will helm a minority coalition government with the radical leftwing Podemos in the first such power-sharing agreement in Spain since the death in 1975 of dictator Francisco Franco. After the results were announced, the pony-tailed leader of Podemos, Pablo Iglesias, broke down in tears as his lawmakers chanted the party's slogan "Yes we can!" "A period of moderation, progress and hope begins today," Sanchez tweeted after his victory, which came two days after he lost an initial vote of confidence in which he needed an absolute majority of 176. Tuesday's vote only required a simple majority. The investiture vote draws a line under nearly a year of political deadlock in the eurozone's fourth-largest economy following inconclusive elections in April and again in November. Sanchez will be sworn at the royal palace at 1000 GMT on Wednesday in the presence of Spain's King Felipe VI, a palace statement said. But he was not expected to unveil the lineup of his new government until early next week, party sources said, without giving a reason for the delay. - Crucial abstentions - Although Sanchez's Socialists won the November 10 election, they emerged weakened following a ballot which saw the far-right Vox party surge into third place. Sanchez moved quickly to strike a coalition deal with Podemos, which has never governed nationally, with the two parties pledging to raise the minimum wage and hike taxes on high earners and large businesses. They are also planning to repeal elements of the controversial 2012 labour market reforms that made it easier to fire workers -- prompting warnings from business leaders it would hurt job creation. With the two parties holding only 155 seats, 21 seats short of a majority, Sanchez had to seek support of smaller regional groups. And crucially, he needed to secure the abstention of Catalan separatist party ERC, which has 13 lawmakers, and Basque separatist party Bildu, with its five seats. In return for ERC's abstention, Sanchez agreed to open dialogue with Catalonia's separatist regional government on the future of the wealthy northeastern region and to submit the results of the talks to Catalan voters. The political situation there remains in flux following a failed 2017 independence bid that triggered Spain's worst political crisis in decades. - Very ill, but present - Spain's centre-right and the far-right Vox have accused Sanchez of risking national unity through his pact with the Catalan separatists. And conservative Popular Party (PP) leader Pablo Casado warned Sanchez he would struggle to rule. "Surrendering to the worst radicals may make you prime minister but you will not be able to govern," Casado said when the investiture debate began at the weekend. Sanchez's narrow victory was in part secured by the efforts of Podemos lawmaker Aina Vidal, who missed the first vote due to severe cancer-related pain, but turned up on Tuesday, prompting a round of applause from fellow lawmakers. The successful investiture drew praise on Twitter from new European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and EU chief Charles Michel. - EU congratulations - "My congratulations to @sanchezcastejon (Pedro Sanchez) and the new Spanish government. Spain is a crucial partner and we will work closely together for a strong, united and fair Europe," tweeted von der Leyen. "Sincere congratulations Prime Minister @sanchezcastejon on your re-election. This is good news for the #EU. Let?s build a greener and fairer Europe together," wrote Michel. But analysts warned there could be a long road ahead. ?While Spain has finally been able to form a government, its majority is tiny and the country lacks experience with multi-party coalition governments," said Moody's analyst Kathrin Muehlbronner. "As for any credit impact, the 2020 budget will be the first key indication of the new government?s economic policy direction," she said, while warning any reversal of earlier labour market reforms would pose "a key risk". However, the prospect of Catalan talks would offer a better chance "for a de-escalation of the conflict" although it would take some time. burs-hmw/boc After finally winning an investiture vote, Spain's Pedro Sanchez embraces his coalition partner Pablo Iglesias, head of the radical left Podemos It was a very tight vote with 167 in favour and 165 against and 18 crucial abstentions Invested at last but Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez knows it won't be an easy ride Composition of the Spanish parliament.
PM plans spending spree in first Budget

Boris Johnsons Brexit Britain has paved the way for a massive spending spree that will herald a decade of renewal, it was announced on Monday night. Chancellor Sajid Javid said he will use the first Budget after the UK leaves the EU to pump a colossal 100billion into much-needed infrastructure projects across the UK. He promised the unprecedented investment would help left behind parts of the country and unleash Britains potential. The economic set piece will take place on March 11  just six weeks after Brexit Day  Mr Javids first as Chancellor. The announcement comes as the UK economy continues to perform well amid renewed business optimism thanks to the so-called Boris Bounce following last months clear-cut Tory general election victory. Mr Javid had been due to deliver the economic set piece in November but it was postponed after parliament blocked Britains exit from the EU on October 31 and the Prime Minister subsequently called a general election.  Daily Express

Budget delayed as Johnson focuses on Middle East crisis  Daily Telegraph

Javid to level up UK regions  FT

And he is set to fly off to Davos despite ban for other ministers  FT

Johnson plans national celebration to commemorate EU departure  The Sun

Johnson adviser under fire for praise of Hungarys Orban  FT

Comment

Under Johnsons majority, there will be Tory MPs feeling snubbed, Mark Wallace  the i

>Today:

Iran crisis 1) National Grid on alert for possible revenge cyberattack

Britains electricity network has been put on alert for cyberattacks by Iran in retaliation for the killing of its senior general by the United States. National Grid, the company responsible for keeping the lights on, emailed all employees on Sunday to urge them to watch out for suspicious emails or unusual behaviour. The email, which has been seen by The Times, read: Iranian authorities and sympathisers are expected to retaliate, and government agencies are asking operators of critical national infrastructure and their employees to remain vigilant. Iran has been blamed for a series of cyberattacks in the past, including on parliament in 2017 and the Post Office a year later. Although the US is likely to be the main target for any Iranian retaliation over the death of Qasem Soleimani, Britain  Americas main ally  is also regarded as a potential target. National Grid, a FTSE 100 company, is the system operator for the UK power and gas grids. It told its employees: While there is no specific intelligence indicating a direct threat to National Grid, we are mindful there is a historical basis for correlating cyberattacks with political conflict, along with physical actions.  The Times

Trump trades threats with Iran in chilling social media battle  The Times

Confusion over letter suggesting US withdrawal from Iraq  The Times

Allies distance themselves from Trump decision  The Guardian

Pompeo was driving force behind drone assassination  The Times

Pentagon sights trained on Iranian missile bases  The Times

New man has Kurdish blood on his hands  The Times

Comment

>Today:

Iran crisis 2) MoD sends emergency evacuation team to Iraq

Britain is stepping up contingency plans to evacuate military personnel and civilians from Iraq amid growing fears of reprisal attacks from Iran. The Ministry of Defence dispatched about 20 senior military planners and liaison officers to the embassy in Baghdad over the weekend, The Times understands. Defence sources believe that the risk of a retaliatory assault will rise today after three days of national mourning to mark the death of Qasem Soleimani, the senior Iranian commander who was killed in a US airstrike at Baghdad airport in the early hours of Friday. The British advisers are mapping out routes to withdraw soldiers swiftly. The strategies will also be used for diplomats and other civilians if needed. Ministers are also considering formally warning British ships against travelling through the Strait of Hormuz. Two Royal Navy ships, HMS Montrose and HMS Defender, have been deployed to protect British-flagged vessels through the strait. The Department for Transport issued similar advice in July after the Stena Impero tanker was seized by forces from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.  The Times

Johnson ditches plans to axe foreign aid department

The foreign aid department will escape the axe as Boris Johnson scales back his proposed Whitehall shake-up, the Mail can reveal. Plans for a radical overhaul that would have seen a raft of departments created, merged or scrapped have been curtailed. Instead the Prime Minister will largely concentrate on improving performance in the existing ministries. The Department for International Development is expected to be given a reprieve and will not now be merged with the Foreign Office. The suggested creation of a borders and immigration ministry separate from the Home Office is also unlikely to happen. A pared down re-organisation of departments will take place next month as Mr Johnson carries out his much-awaited Cabinet reshuffle. Ministers facing the threat of losing their jobs include Andrea Leadsom. The Business Secretary is a Brexit stalwart, but was largely kept away from the national campaign ahead of the general election.  Daily Mail

>Today:

Michelle Ballantyne: Im up for the fight to become the next Scottish Tory leader

A businesswoman and former nurse has said she has the real world background and ability to lead the Scottish Tories from opposition to government at Holyrood. Setting out her platform to succeed Ruth Davidson, Michelle Ballantyne said she is not a career politician and described an array of positions she has held in which she said she had seen people at their best and at their worst. Writing in the Telegraph, she said the Scottish Tories need a leader with an ability to connect with voters and this means they need to see something of themselves in you. Ms Ballantyne, the partys Shadow Social Security Minister at Holyrood, concluded: Im up for the fight. Come and join me! Her intervention comes the day after nominations for the leadership opened and Jackson Carlaw, the partys interim leader, confirmed he is standing. His status as the overwhelming favourite to succeed Ruth Davidson in the role was underlined as a series of party big-hitters immediately announced their backing.  Daily Telegraph

Labour leadership race 1) Long Bailey joins Labour contest as the heir to Corbyn

Rebecca Long Bailey joined the contest for the Labour leadership last night, claiming to be the standard bearer of Corbynism and promising to go to war with the political establishment. The shadow business secretary became the sixth declared candidate to succeed Jeremy Corbyn and the strongest entrant from the partys left wing. She wrote in the magazine Tribune: We need a proud socialist to lead the Labour Party, driven by their principles and an unwavering determination to see democratic socialism in our lifetime. For all of these reasons and more, I have decided to stand for election to become the next leader of our party. Earlier, Ms Long Bailey, 40, had been denounced by Tom Watson, Labours former deputy leader, as representing Corbynism in its purest sense, but she brushed this aside in her article, insisting: I dont just agree with the policies, Ive spent the last four years writing them. Its true that one reason we lost the election was that Labours campaign lacked a coherent narrative. But this was a failure of campaign strategy, not of our socialist programme. Ms Long Bailey will vie with Clive Lewis, a shadow Treasury minister, for nominations from MPs on the left. Candidates need the support of 22 MPs or MEPs by next Monday afternoon to stay in the race. Ian Lavery, the party chairman who was thought a possible candidate, said last night that he would not stand and offered Ms Long Bailey his support.   The Times

Labour moderates fear Rebecca Long Bailey has huge advantage  Daily Telegraph

Murray launches deputy leadership bid  Daily Mirror

Comment

The party needs a Blair for the Twenties, Robert Shrimsley  FT

After years of division, Labour unity is now a real possibility, Polly Toynbee  The Guardian

>Yesterday:

Left Watch: Labour leadership contenders are lurching to the Left to placate Corbynistas

Labour leadership race 2) Pay 25 and help choose next Labour leader before Easter

Labour supporters will be able to vote for Jeremy Corbyns successor if they pay 25, the party has announced. Its ruling national executive committee (NEC) yesterday set the fee to become a registered supporter. Applications have to be made during two days next week. The party also announced a three-month timetable for the leadership election, with Mr Corbyns successor to be declared on April 4. It means that Mr Corbyn, who last month led Labour to its worst general election performance since 1935, will face Boris Johnson in about a dozen more sessions of prime ministers questions and respond to Sajid Javids first budget. It will also leave his successor with only a month in which to mould Labour in their image before local elections across England. Some moderates fear that the short timespan for becoming a registered supporter  who are not full party members  could hamper efforts to sign up backers of anti-Corbyn candidates, although others believe that they can use the week before the contest opens to drum up interest.  The Times

Two thirds have never heard of any of the contenders  Daily Telegraph

Corbyn will stay leader until 4 April  Daily Telegraph

More

Worlds worst rapist jailed  Daily Mail

British teen released on suspended sentence after accused of lying about Cyprus gang rape  Daily Express

News in Brief
By Trend





Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates may sign an agreement on cooperation in the field of international motor vehicle communication, Trend reports with reference to the press office of Kazakhstans Ministry of Internal Affairs.

This issue was discussed during a meeting of Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the UAE Madiyar Menilbekov with Director General of the UAE Federal Transport Authority H.E.Eng. Ahmed Al Khouri.

The parties considered the current state of bilateral cooperation in the field of international motor vehicle communication and discussed ways to enhance partnership. In this regard, the possibility of signing an agreement between the governments of the two countries was noted.

Following the meeting, parties agreed to continue negotiations on this issue.

Important steps in the development of Kazakh-Emirati relations in trade-economic sphere are meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC), the report said. As of now, six of the IGC meetings held, the last of which took place on 12-16 January 2017.

According to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, from 2005 through 1Q2016, total volume of direct investments attracted from the UAE to Kazakhstan reached $2 trillion.
BOONE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)  The truck driver accused in a deadly I-65 crash has penned a handwritten note to the affected families.

The Boone County Sheriff's Office says Matthew Small will not be speaking on camera about the crash, but they passed on a handwritten note from him.



Matthew Small, Courtesy of Boone County Sheriff's Office Matthew Small, Courtesy of Boone County Sheriff's Office

It said, "My heart and prayers are with the families. I am in agony over this whole ordeal."

Small faces reckless homicide charges for the crash. He told investigators he took his eyes off the road to set down his coffee cup and didn't see traffic slowing ahead.

Police say he hit eight vehicles before coming to a stop, sending 14 people to the hospital and killing two women and an infant who were all in the same car.
A Labor MP has called for school leavers to be forced to complete 12 months of civil service as the country faces ongoing destruction from bushfires.

Mike Kelly, member for Eden-Monaro, made his controversial remarks after visiting RFS stations and being 'struck by the ageing of the volunteers'.

'The bottom line is we need younger people getting on board along with much higher numbers generally,' he wrote on Facebook.

Mike Kelly, member for Eden-Monaro, has called for school leavers to be forced to complete 12 months of civil service as the country faces ongoing destruction from bushfires (Pictured: NSW Rural Fire Service volunteer shields her face during extremely gusty conditions)

He suggested using the 'Gap Year' system from ADF experience and offer payment of individual HECS or VET fees for members

'To deal with the climate change we cannot prevent and that is already here we must immediately begin work on the framework we need for effective mega-crisis management.'

He suggested using the 'Gap Year' system from ADF experience and offer payment of individual HECS or VET fees for members.

'If this doesnt deliver the response required we may need to prepare for the idea of re-instituting a non-military National Service scheme.'

Under his idea, all high school graduates would be absorbed into the Civil Defence Corps for a one year period, after which they would be required to render service as required and attend refresher training annually up until the age of 40, after which continuing service would be voluntary.

In his post, he admitted those ideas would be seen controversial but he said he raised them in the hope that there may be better ideas or improvements to these concepts.

RFS volunteers and NSW Fire and Rescue officers fight a bushfire encroaching on properties near Termeil on the Princes Highway between Bateman's Bay and Ulladulla south of Sydney,Tuesday, December, 3

Under his idea, all high school graduates would be absorbed into the Civil Defence Corps for a one year period

He said these were his personal views only and not purport to be Labor policy.

'In any event the climate change projections we are looking at may leave no other choice, and we must talk about this now. I believe the concepts I am presenting could be a valuable and rewarding experience for the young Australians involved and serve many other outcomes that would be of benefit to our nation.'

According to the Climate Council firefighter numbers will need to double within the next 20 years to cope with Australia's bushfire season.

His comments come as Australia battles some of the worst bushfires the nation has ever seen.

There have been 25 deaths confirmed since the bushfire season began in October.

Hundreds of homes are believed to have been destroyed across NSW, Victoria and South Australia after the catastrophic weekend - but that figure won't be confirmed until authorities can reach all of the affected communities.

Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia, Batlow and Talbingo in the Snowy Mountains of NSW were all but destroyed over the weekend, when warm weather and strong wind gusts fuelled raging firestorms.
SAN FRANCISCO  Since the 2016 election, when Russian trolls and a tsunami of misinformation turned social media into a partisan battlefield, Facebook has wrestled with the role it played in President Trumps victory.

Now, according to a memo obtained by The New York Times, a longtime Facebook executive has told employees that the company had a moral duty not to tilt the scales against Mr. Trump as he seeks re-election.

On Dec. 30, Andrew Bosworth, the head of Facebooks virtual and augmented reality division, wrote on his internal Facebook page that, as a liberal, he found himself wanting to use the social networks powerful platform against Mr. Trump. But citing the Lord of the Rings franchise and the philosopher John Rawls, Mr. Bosworth said that doing so would eventually backfire.

I find myself desperately wanting to pull any lever at my disposal to avoid the same result, he wrote. So what stays my hand? I find myself thinking of the Lord of the Rings at this moment.
DENVER, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Notion, the property protection system, announced an ongoing partnership with Brotherhood Mutual Insurance , a leading national property and casualty insurer of Christian ministries. Through the partnership, Brotherhood Mutual will provide its customers with access to discounted Notion Smart Property Systems and three complimentary months of NotionPRO, 24/7 professional monitoring.*

Brotherhood Mutual has more than 100 years of experience serving America's churches and related ministries, including Christian schools, colleges, and camps. Brotherhood Mutual will educate its customers on the benefits of installing sensors and provide access to the Notion Smart Property System in order to prevent incidents that are likely to happen when a church is unoccupied, such as water leaks from kitchens, mechanical areas, boiler rooms and other less trafficked areas of ministry buildings.

"While church facilities can be high risk for water leak issues and breaks-ins, those risks are amplified when these buildings are only in use a handful of days per week," said Matthew Parmerlee, Risk Strategy Specialist at Brotherhood Mutual. "There's nothing worse than walking into your property to see an issue that's taken place days before and the damage is already done. Using connected monitoring through Notion, our customers will prevent disastrous events from affecting their churches, and they'll be notified immediately  even when they're miles away."

According to the Insurance Information Institute , about one in 50 insured properties has a property damage claim caused by water damage or freezing each year, resulting in an average insurance claim of $8,000. In addition, properties without a security system are 300 percent more likely to be burglarized.

"The advantages of Notion are not just for homeowners. For church pastors, facility directors and owners of other commercial properties, connected technology has benefits that extend far beyond convenience  the ability to catch and mitigate issues before they become large insurance claims," said Brett Jurgens, CEO of Notion. "With Notion, property owners are able to have more control with a clearer picture of what's going on at the property, thus allowing them to make more informed decisions. Our goal is to empower proactive maintenance, avoid big losses, and extend the peace of mind for property owners."

Notion's easy-to-use system packs multiple capabilities into a single sensor, allowing property owners to monitor all aspects of their property directly from the Notion app. From water leaks to sounding alarms, Notion notifies property owners if something happens, even when they aren't there. Plus, property owners can expand the protection with NotionPRO and have their sensors' activities, from motion to water leaks to sounding alarms, be professionally monitored by certified dispatchers without the need of professional installation or a service contract.

The partnership with Brotherhood Mutual follows the release of Notion's third-generation sensor and partnerships with HomeAdvisor, Travelers Insurance, Hippo Insurance and Sheltr. Since its public launch in 2016, Notion has helped homeowners save more than $1 million in property damage in the last year alone. To learn more about Notion's total home security, please visit: http://getnotion.com/ .

*Offer not available where prohibited by law.

About Notion

Notion is a comprehensive property protection system that increases property safety and reduces property risk. Powered by an all-in-one smart sensor and app, Notion empowers property owners to be proactive in protecting their people, spaces, and most valued possessions. Notion's user engagement and analytics enables its partners, primarily the world's top insurance providers, to acquire and retain customers, increase engagement, reduce claims, and customize insurance products and pricing. For more information, please visit getnotion.com/

About Brotherhood Mutual

Celebrating more than 100 years in business, Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company is one of the nation's leading property and casualty insurers of Christian ministries. The company serves more than 60,000 churches, schools, colleges, camps, and related ministries in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Brotherhood Mutual is staffed by 500+ employees and works with 476 independent agents in 111 agencies nationwide. www.brotherhoodmutual.com

Contact: [email protected]



SOURCE Notion

Related Links

http://getnotion.com


Queensland SES volunteers will be able to claim for wages lost while they battle bushfires.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she's successfully lobbied the federal government to extend payments for volunteer firefighters to SES workers too.

The payments are up to $300 per person, per day, capped at a total of $6000.

Queensland SES volunteers will be able to claim for wages lost while they battle bushfires. An SES worker is seen helping a bushfire evacuee off MV Sycamore

Eligible volunteers who've lost income after working more than 10 calendar days of service from July 1 last year to June 30 this year can apply.

'It's only fair those that have suffered a loss of income as a result, are fairly and quickly compensated,' she said in a statement on Tuesday.

'This is an acknowledgement of the prolonged bushfire season our emergency services have battled, and the trying conditions they have faced.'

Queensland is managing payments from the federal government's Volunteer Firefighters Compensation Package, with payments expected to flow from Monday.
US Army paratroopers shipped out of Fort Bragg on January 5, bound for the Middle East amid increased tensions following the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, the army announced.

Video uploaded by the US Army on January 6 showed the soldiers preparing their kits and boarding planes at the base in North Carolina.

Soleimani was killed in a US strike near Baghdad International Airport in the early hours of January 3.

This month, the Pentagon announced plans to send thousands more troops to the region.

For more videos related to the killing of Soleimani and the subsequent reaction, see this collection. Credit: US Army via Storyful
Pune, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Military Antenna Market size is projected to reach USD 7.84 billion by 2026, thereby exhibiting a CAGR of 6.98% during the forecast period. However, the market was valued at USD 4.57 billion in 2018. Fortune Business Insights published this information in a recent report, titled, Global Military Antenna Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Frequency (High Frequency, Ultra-High Frequency, Super High Frequency, and Extremely High Frequency), By Type (Dipole Antennas, Aperture Antennas, Travelling Wave Antennas, Loop Antennas, and Array Antennas), By Platform (Airborne, Marine, and Ground), By Application (Communication, Surveillance, SATCOM, Electronic Warfare, and Telemetry), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026.

As per this report, the antennas are used for ground mapping to caution against aircraft and weapons. They are also used to maintain security and surveillance and for accurate tracking. These factors would increase the demand for the military antenna in the coming years.



Browse Detailed Summary of Military Antenna Market Report Enabled with 200 Premium Pages, Major Segmentation, Top Players Profile, Regional Analysis, and Forecast Details:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/military-antenna-market-101824





Fortune Business Insights profiles List of the significant organizations operating in the Military Antenna Market as follows;

Southwest Antennas

Terma A/S

Antcom Corporation

Cobham Plc

Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG

Comrod Communication AS

Mti Wireless Edge Ltd.

Eylex Pty Ltd.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Raytheon Company

Hascall-Denke

Harris Corporation

Other renowned market players



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Rising Upgradation of Military Systems and Equipment to Drive Growth

The number of new contracts between the U.S. government and other prominent defense companies is increasing day by day owing to the requirement for up-gradation of military systems and equipment. This consists of adopting light weapons and tactical communication with radios. Besides, operational centers of movable tactics and novel field supplies are also included. Apart from that, these antennas are being used by numerous armed forces across the world. It is resulting in the increasing production rate, thereby propelling the Military Antenna Market growth.

Highlights of This Report

In-depth information about the Military Antenna Market trends, growth drivers, obstacles, opportunities, and other challenges.

An elaborate analysis of every possible segment present in the market.

Details about the competitive landscape, such as new mergers, acquisitions, product launches, contracts, agreements, and joint ventures.

Ground Segment Will Dominate Stoked by its Ability to Adapt to Several Battlefield Situations

In terms of platform, the market is fragmented into ground, marine, and airborne. Out of these, the ground segment had acquired 44.66% Military Antenna Market share in 2018. It was considered to be one of the largest segments on account of the increasing utilization of ground military antennas in defense. These antennas aid in procuring situational awareness for the detection of threats. They further allow high bandwidth networking for handheld radios, security sensor systems, and airborne vehicles. Combined with this, they can adapt to various situations in the battlefield and are easy to deploy. Marine and airborne segments, on the other hand, are experiencing technological advancements.

North America to Lead: Rising R&D Activities to Develop Army Antennas Will Favor Growth

The market is geographically divided into Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, and North America. Amongst these regions, North America Military Antenna Market size was USD 1.77 billion in 2018. The region is expected to retain its dominant position throughout the forecast period. This growth is attributable to the rising research and development activities that are undertaken to develop new army antennas so that they are capable of handling harsh environmental conditions and undertake long-range function by consuming low power. Additionally, the increasing expenditure in defense is likely to augment market growth in this region.

The Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is expected to experience considerable growth in the coming years owing to the rising demand for military antennas from the emerging countries, namely, Japan, China, and India. These countries are also upsurging their military expenditure every year on account of the urgent need for innovative warfare techniques and battlefield management programs. It would accelerate the Military Antenna Market revenue in the near future in this region.



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Key Players Focus on Bagging Orders from Other Companies to Gain Competitive Edge

Companies present in the market are focusing on achieving new orders and entering into mergers and acquisitions to gain a competitive edge. Below are a couple of the key industry developments:

November 2019 : Rohde & Schwarz, an international electronics group, headquartered in Germany, announced that it has provided and commissioned a new communication suite to two of the Royal Malaysian Navys frigates named KD Lekiu and KD Jebat. They are considered to be the most innovative surface ships. The company also interfaces and integrates with third-party systems, such as ship telephone system, public address, message handling, and Datalink.

: Rohde & Schwarz, an international electronics group, headquartered in Germany, announced that it has provided and commissioned a new communication suite to two of the Royal Malaysian Navys frigates named KD Lekiu and KD Jebat. They are considered to be the most innovative surface ships. The company also interfaces and integrates with third-party systems, such as ship telephone system, public address, message handling, and Datalink. September 2018: GATR Technologies, a developer of inflatable satellite communication antennas, based in the U.S., bagged an order from the U.S. army worth USD 522 million. The company will provide inflatable satellite antenna systems that are easy to set up, lightweight, and mobile. They resemble giant rubber balls and are capable of operating and surviving from small-arms fire. These antennas also possess tie-downs for pointing them in the right direction.

Detailed Table of Content:



Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Key Industry Developments  Key Contracts & Agreements, Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships Latest technological Advancements Porters Five Forces Analysis Value Chain Analysis

Global Military Antenna Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Frequency High-Frequency Ultra-High Frequency Super High Frequency Extremely High Frequency Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Type Dipole Antennas Aperture Antennas Travelling Wave Antennas Loop Antennas Array Antennas Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Platform Airborne Marine Ground Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application Communication Surveillance SATCOM Electronic Warfare Telemetric Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Rest of the world



TOC Continued!



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View Related Market Research Reports:

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5G in Aviation Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Platform (5G Airport and 5G Aircraft), Technology (FWA, URLLC/MMTC, and eMBB), Communication Infrastructure (Small Cell, Radio Access Network (RAN) and Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS)), 5G Services (Airport Operations, and Aircraft Operations), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026

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Helicopter Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Civil & Commercial and Military), By Application (Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Corporate Services, Search and Rescue Operation, Oil and Gas, Defense, Homeland Security), By System (Airframe, Engine, Avionics, Landing Gear System, and Cabin Interiors), By Weight (Light Weight, Medium Weight, and Heavy Weight), By Point of Sale (OEMs and Aftermarket), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026

Aerostructures Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Component (Wings, Nose, Fuselage, Nacelle, Empennage & Pylon and Others), By Material (Metals, Composites and Alloys), By Platform (Fixed-wing aircraft (Commercial Aircraft, Military Aircraft, and UAVs) and Rotary-wing Aircraft (Commercial Aircraft, Military Aircraft, and UAVs)), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026





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Among the very first things I read after the U.S. military took out Gen. Soleimani was that President Trumps effort to initiate diplomacy with Iran is dead. See this piece, for example. Now, more sober analysts are saying something close to the opposite  that the attack makes it more likely such diplomacy will occur.

Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, makes that argument here. Satloff says:

With tensions high and emotions raw, the immediate aftermath of Soleimanis killing may seem an odd moment to propose diplomatic engagement. But the very brazenness of the act may have so unnerved Irans leadership that negotiating with the Great Satan, an option Tehran seemed to reject as it sought to extend its influence from Yemen to Baghdad, might become an attractive alternative to the possibility of direct confrontation. An episode from an earlier chapter of the U.S.-Iran contest may be instructive: the downing by the USS Vincennes of an Iranian civilian airliner in 1988, killing 290. Though it was an accident, the tragedy convinced the revolutionary founder of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, that America was about to throw its weight fully in support of Saddam Hussein in the Iran-Iraq War. Fearful of facing the full might of the United States, Khomeini swallowed hard and accepted a U.N.-brokered ceasefire, an act so painful he likened it to drinking a chalice of poison. Logic suggests that if Tehran blinked when confronted with an accidental use of American power, chances are even greater that it will blink when the use is purposeful, as was clearly the case with Soleimanis assassination. . . . In that respect, Soleimanis killing puts another potential carrot on the bargaining table beside the eventual lifting of economic sanctions  namely, a commitment from the United States not to use military force to threaten other top leaders or the regimes survival itself.

Steven Hadley, national security adviser under President George W. Bush, is less than enthusiastic about the killing of Soleimani. However, he agrees that it could. . .open the door to diplomacy.

This view is more sensible than the knee-jerk reaction that killing Soleimani has ended any hope of engaging in diplomacy with Iran. But thats not to say that the successful attack on the terrorist actually will lead to a renegotiation of the Iran nuclear deal.

If Iran renegotiates the nuclear deal it reached with the Obama administration, it will be for the same reason it reached that deal in the first place  because the regime is in a box from which it sees no escape.

Iran was already in a box before we took out Soleimani. But it hoped to escape following the 2020 election in which, perhaps, President Trump will be defeated.

The regime was doing more than just hoping. To help bring about Trumps defeat, the mullahs were escalating tensions in the Middle East and trying to make Trump look weak and ineffectual.

After taking out Soleimani, Trump doesnt look weak and ineffectual. However, the situation in the Middle East has, if anything, become more tense.

Irans best move now, it seems to me, is to keep things tense, while avoiding war, and continue to hope for the defeat of Trump in November. It would be foolish to negotiate with Trump before November because if Trump loses, it can expect sanctions to be lifted with no alteration to the Obama deal. Indeed, negotiating with Trump would be doubly foolish because it would improve his prospects for reelection.

But if Trump wins in November, the calculus changes. Assuming Trump has demonstrated that the killing of Soleimani wasnt a one-off muscle-flexing exercise (to borrow Satloffs phrase), one can imagine Iran renegotiating the Obama deal.

Is it likely to do so in this scenario? I dont think I would go that far. However, its clear to me that the killing of Soleimani hasnt ended the prospects for diplomacy between Trump and the mullahs. If anything, it has probably made such diplomacy more likely.
The younger half-brother of the hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd has been named a person of interest in the death of their stepfather, who was shot dead inside his home in Mississippi on Monday.

Officers from the Tupelo Police Department were sent to an address in the 500 block of Lumpkin Avenue at around 9.30pm and found 62-year-old Floyd Sullivan dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

Police spokesperson Capt Chuck McDougald said the preliminary investigation into the domestic shooting pointed to Sullivan's son as a person of interest.

Scroll down for video

Swae Lee (L) and Slim Jxmmi, of the Rae Sremmurd duo (left), lost their stepfather, Floyd Sullivan, 62, in a domestic shooting allegedly involving their younger brother, Michael

Police arrived at Sullivan's home in Tupelo, Mississippi, on Monday and found the man dead from multiple gunshot wounds

TMZ reported that 19-year-old Michael Sullivan, the younger brother of Rae Sremmurd rappers Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi, was detained and held for psychiatric evaluation.

McDougald said no other suspects are being sought at this time, reported WTVA.

The hip hop duo has not publicly commented on their stepfather's death as of Tuesday afternoon, but Sullivan's son from a previous relationship, Floyd Sullivan Jr, shared a photo of his dad on Instagram and wrote in the caption: 'RIP pops. Love you always. The greatest man Ive ever known.'

The elder Sullivan helped raise Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee, born Aaquil Iben Shamon Brown and Khalif Malik Ibn Shamon Brown, as well as their half-brother, from the time they were in middle school.

A year ago, Slim Jxmmi made headlines when he was involved in a bloody street brawl in Auckland, New Zealand, that left one man stabbed and rushed to hospital.

In September 2018, a home in San Fernando Valley, California, belonging to Rae Sremmurd, which is 'drummers ear' spelled backward, was broken into by armed robbers.

Sullivan (left), who has an older son from a previous relationship, helped raise Swae and Slim from the time they were children (pictured right)

On the day of their stepdad's death, Rae Sremmurd celebrated the fifth anniversary of the release of their debut album, Srummlife (pictured performing during Billboard Hot 100 Festival 2018)

After pistol whipping the on-site security, the criminals entered and took a safe before fleeing the scene.

One month earlier, Swae suffered an injured lip after a fan threw a phone at him on stage during a concert in Dallas.

The shocking news of their stepfather's killing came on the same day Rae Sremmurd celebrated the fifth anniversary of the release of their well-received debut album, Srummlife, which featured collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Young Thug and Big Sean.

The album, which featured the songs 'No Flex Zone' and 'Throw Some Mo,' entered Billboard's Top 200 chart t number 5 and was a number 1 debut on Billboard Hip-Hop.

They followed up in May 2018 with the album SR3MM, which includes tracks featuring such A-listers as The Weeknd, Travis Scott and Pharrell.
The Australian bushfires have been devastating for the animals and humans alike and many lives have been lost in the worst fires that have occurred in the continent, so far. Efforts are being made to restore and conserve whatever is possible right now, but even while activities to restore wildlife are happening, a lot of animals have lost their lives.

In order to help conserve the continent, a lot of people are making donations and one of them happens to be Chris Hemsworth.

 Instagram

The Hollywood actor, recently announced that he's donating $1million towards the damage and devastation the bushfires have caused all over the continent. The actor who plays 'Thor', shared a heartfelt video on Instagram urging people to donate and help in whatever they can, to help the country heal. The actor lives in Byron Bay, New South Wales, himself.

He wrote:

"Hi everyone. Like you, I want to support the fight against the bushfires here in Australia. My family and I are contributing a million dollars. Hopefully you guys can chip in too. Every penny counts so whatever you can muster up is greatly appreciated. In my bio I've added links to support the firefighters, organisations and charities who are working flat out to provide support and relief during this devastating and challenging time. Beyond appreciative to everyone around the world for their well wishes and donations. It really does make a difference, so dig deep! Love ya."

Hemsworth made the announcement a day after the 77th Golden Globe Award ceremony took place in Los Angeles, where many award winners, including Russel Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, used the platform to draw everyone's attention towards the tragedy.

 Twitter

Almost six million hectares have burned in Australia in the ongoing bushfire crisis, with over 20 deaths reported so far.

Well, we're grateful that a lot of people who are recognising the devastating effects of the fire are coming forward and making donations that can help restore some parts of the continent and give medical aid to its animals who're suffering in large numbers.
On Sunday evening when violence was at its peak inside Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, officers at the Vasant Kunj police station were initiating a process to book JNU students union president, Aishe Ghosh, and its other leaders.

The timestamp on the first information report or FIR shows it was filed by Delhi Police, which have been criticised for not acting on time to contain the violence, at 8.53pm when a masked mob went about beating students and teachers and vandalising JNU property.

Aishe Ghosh, who was hit by attackers on her head on Sunday, and other students have been booked for allegedly damaging the server rooms and manhandling security guards on Saturday.

ALSO WATCH | JNU violence: Injured student leader describes assault; wants VC sacked

The JNU campus comes under the jurisdiction of the Vasant Kunj police station and officers are tasked to ensure a smooth law and order situation in the campus.

The FIR has been filed on the complaint of the JNU security personnel. According to the complaint, the admission process was halted on January 3 and January 4 because of the lockdown of the Communication and Information Service (CIS) building by protesting students.

The complainant has said that when some of them along with CIS staff tried to enter the building they were allegedly manhandled and threatened by students, including Aishe Ghosh and vice-president of the students union, Saket Moon.

Aishe Ghosh and Saket Moon, along with others, have also been accused of breaking glass door and fiber optic cables.

More than 40 hours after the incident, police are yet to arrest a single person from the mob, which entered the campus and assaulted students and teachers.

A team of the crime branch, which has taken over the probe, visited the university campus as part of their investigation.

The police have said they got the written permission from vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar to enter the campus only at 7.45pm on Sunday.

However, in the FIR filed any another officer related to Sundays violence, the police admit they received a request letter from JNU at around 3.45pm, as soon as the first incident of violence was reported.

Ghosh has alleged that JNU administration colluded with the mob to disrupt the students movement against the hostel fee hike.

She also alleged that she had contacted the station house officer of the nearest police station, senior officers and the JNU security staff when she got to know about the mob entering the campus but got no response.

The Left-backed JNUSU and the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) have blamed each other for the violence that continued for nearly two hours on Sunday.

Ghosh alleged that while some of the ABVP men were from JNU itself, the others had been called in.

They first vandalised a car parked nearby before besieging us. My sister managed to escape, but my friend and I were caught by the mob. They first struck me on my head with a rod before kicking and thrashing me. I screamed at them that they couldnt do that, but they didnt stop, she said.

She also named Ashwini Mohapatra, chairperson of Centre for West Asian Studies (CWAS), and accused him of assaulting students during a protest last week, a charge denied by Mohapatra.

JNU VC Jagadesh Kumar issued a statement on Monday that blamed the violence on students, who were agitating over the fee hike and had boycotted the semester registration.
Accusing her security personnel of manhandling her to stop her from visiting her grandfather Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's grave on his fourth death anniversary, Iltija Mufti, the daughter of jailed PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, on Tuesday said she will seek removal of her security cover.

Iltija said she was stopped by the security personnel posted at her house from leaving the premises when she wanted to visit her grandfather's grave at Bijbehara in Anantnag district.

"Not only was I stopped but I was also manhandled by the security personnel who are supposedly posted for my protection. I have suffered bruises on my arms and legs," Iltija told PTI.

She said she will write to the Special Security Group's director to withdraw her security cover.

"If the security is not withdrawn within a couple of days,I will move court (for it)," she added.

Iltija said it was ironic that the Centre was making claims about normalcy in Kashmir but she could not visit the grave of her grandfather,a former home minister of the country.

The PDP had applied for permission to hold a prayer meeting at the Bijbehara grave of the former chief minister but it was denied.

Asked if anyone from the family was allowed to visit Sayeed's grave, Iltija said she did not know.

"Myself and my uncle Tassaduq Mufti were not allowed," she added.

Sayeed died on 7 January 2016 at AIIMS in Delhi after being admitted there briefly.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 14:24:53|Editor: ZX

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PHNOM PENH, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia kicked off a food safety campaign, which urges school principals across the kingdom to ensure that food served in cafeterias are safe, nutritious and of good quality, the Phnom Penh Post reported on Tuesday.

Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron launched the campaign at the Preah Norodom Primary School in the capital's Daun Penh district on Monday.

Ministry Spokesman Ros Soveacha said the campaign was meant to raise awareness among relevant stakeholders such as school committees, headmasters, and cafeteria vendors and encourage them to provide healthy and clean food to students.

He said the ministry recently issued a directive which bans the selling of six kinds of food at all private and state schools.

Among those that are banned is food that had expired, alcoholic drinks, tobacco products, food with unknown sources of origin, energy drinks and food and beverages with high sugar content.

"We expect to drive this campaign to food vendors. We want to make them care more about health and hygiene and inform them of the kinds of food that should not be sold to students, especially to young children," Soveacha was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

He said that the campaign had been positively received by parents and some private companies.

The campaign will be extended this month to primary schools of Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Preah Sihanouk and Kandal provinces.

Natascha Paddison, deputy representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Cambodia, commended the ministry's latest campaign, saying that good nutrition is essential to a child's survival, health and development.

"To build a healthy food environment for all children, we need to work together to mobilize supportive systems, such as health, water and sanitation, education and social protection - to scale up nutritional results for all children," she said.
Philadelphia Police Department bicycle officers move south on South Broad Street during the annual New Year's Day Mummers Parade on Jan. 1, 2020. City government is not the the only local institution complicit in bad behavior from Mummers, writes Camari Ellis. Read more

They say lightning never strikes twice  but that clearly isnt the case for the Mummers.

The racist history of the Mummers is well documented and persists annually. In 1963, Cecil B. Moore, head of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP, had to pressure the city to ban blackface during the event. Still, members continue the practice. At this years parade, two members of the Froggy Carr club were seen masquerading in blackface.

Now is the time to rekindle the fire and activism of Moore.

Recently, Solomon Jones Inquirer column reported that the city spent approximately $670,000 on the 2019 parade and expected to spend about the same amount for 2020.

Just under $700,000 is a lot of money  especially when the racial makeup of the city is 43.7% black, according to 2018 Census estimates. The math is clear: thats a problem. Given that the black community represents a plurality of the city, its fair to say they are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for these blackface embarrassments.

 READ MORE: After latest blackface incident, Mummers should break ties with racist groups | Editorial

Resisting this unjust demand was the spirit of the NAACPs petition, which argued that an event subsidized by taxpayers and blessed with an official permit should not ridicule a large constituency of the city.

Yet even today, Mummers are still not respecting the ban and should be held responsible by sectors beyond city government for not holding up their end of the bargain.

The Mummers Parade has access to quasi-governmental properties like the Pennsylvania Convention Center and the Independence Visitor Center, which are both also supported by black taxpayer dollars.

But more importantly, there are corporate sponsors to consider. Rivers Casino, formerly known as SugarHouse Casino and owned and operated by Rush Street Gaming, signed up in 2016 to be the title sponsor of the parade for four years.

When asked about the Mummers Parade performances in January 2019, a spokesperson for then-SugarHouse Casino told the Philadelphia Tribune that the company doesnt have any input on parade content. By claiming ignorance, they basically wanted to abdicate their responsibility. Yet Rivers Casino is patronized by black Philadelphians. Given the track record of the Mummers, the casino should be asked if they are going to continue to support an event that has included so many instances of blackface and minstrelsy.

If Rivers Casino discontinues support, the same question should be asked of any new sponsors, applying the divestment strategy used by companies and institutions in the 1980s and 90s who stopped doing business with South Africa to show opposition to the racist practice of apartheid.

Media and TV should also share in this responsibility of holding the Mummers accountable for their ongoing disrespect toward black Philadelphians. Networks such as 6ABC and PHL17, partnering with Facebook, have broadcast the parade live.

 READ MORE: Two Mummers who wore blackface are never going to be allowed to march again for Froggy Carr Wench Brigade

Black Philadelphians already face a host of systemic issues, including discriminatory policing, underrepresentation in hiring, and overrepresentation in mass incarceration. Amplification of an event that has historically belittled black people further highlights a lack of concern for the black community throughout the city at large.

Media outlets that broadcast this event are providing free advertising for any racism that occurs during it and making money from it via advertisements. It is not fair, nor civil, to profit from the pain of black Philadelphians. Until all Mummers get their act together, news outlets should stop broadcasting the event.

If there is continued support for Mummers by city government alongside corporate and media sponsors, I can only arrive at the conclusion that there is widespread complicity in any racism and insensitivity committed as part of this parade. By 2021, I hope this is not the message we will send the world about our city.

Camari Ellis is a tax adviser for the Philly Tax Team and board treasurer for the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. @CamariEllis
By PTI

BENGALURU: Days after the Jawaharlal Nehru University was rocked by violence, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said educational campuses must not become safe havens for the politics of hate and violence to thrive.

He also said academic endeavours and co-curricular initiatives must attain primacy in universities and not factionalism and divisive tendencies.

There is no doubt that there is space for every shade of opinion and every point of view in our universities, Naidu said in his address at the silver jubilee celebrations of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) here.

The Vice-President's comments come in the backdrop of the violence at the JNU on Sunday night when masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, leaving several injured.

"Our children, when they leave the portals of the educational institutions must be enlightened citizens who will take an abiding interest in protecting our democracy and preserving the fundamental values that are enshrined in our constitution.

But our campuses must not become safe havens for the politics of hate and violence to thrive.

Academic endeavours and co-curricular initiatives must attain primacy in our universities and not factionalism and divisive tendencies, Naidu said.

Stressing the need for focus on research and development, the Vice President said that at present India was spending less than 1 per cent of its GDP on R&D.

"This must change. Research, especially Science and Technology research, is resource-intensive, time-consuming and risky. We as a society must be prepared to bear with this risk," he said in his address, a copy of which was released to media.

Further noting that it was a matter of grave concern that Indian universities rank low in both research and teaching, Naidu said, "though the number of Higher Education Institutions has surged in India since the 2000s, the number of students undertaking PhDs has not shown a corresponding hike. There are over a one lakh India-born PhDs in universities around the world. We must attract at least some of this talent back home through better opportunities and incentives so that they may help fast-track the progress of our R & D sector," he said.

It was a matter of grave concern that the latest India Skills Report suggests that only 47 per cent of Indian graduates were employable, the Vice President pointed out and said, therefore, along with education, necessary skills, including life skills, should be imparted to the students.

Complementing the accreditation framework developed by NAAC, Naidu said he was certain in the time to come, NAAC will act as a friend, philosopher and guide to our Institutions of Higher Education, constantly raising standards and benchmarks for quality and excellence.

Earlier, the Vice-President visited Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha here, where Vishwesha TheerthaSwamiji of Pejawar Mutt, who passed away last month, has been interred and paid floral tributes.

The Swamiji was a true embodiment of the teachings of Srimad Bhagavadgita and his was a life dedicated to purifying the cultural, religious and social values of our present-day society, he said.

Naidu also visited the mechanised kitchen facility at "Adamya Chetana", that serves food to thousands of school children.

It was founded by late Union Minister Ananth Kumar and his wife Tejaswini.
Today, the streets of Kensington are quieter than normal. The cold spell hasnt snapped. Its freezing, and the sky is stark white, and theres a terrible wind at face level that leaves me breathless each time I have to step out of my vehicle.

Only the hardiest, or the most desperate, are outside today.

I turn the cruiser down a side street and pass six boardedup houses in a row. Abandos, they are called here. Forgotten, condemned, some of them containing within them, no doubt, several poor souls whove made a shelter of them. I think of the drafty insides of these houses, the furniture left behind, the pictures on the walls. I think how lonely it must be for their new inhabitants to look upon these possessions, the remnants of the families who lived there in decades prior. Textile workers. Metalworkers. Fishermen, if the houses are old enough.

Two winters ago, there was a terrible fire in an abandoned factory nearby. It began when two occupants, desperate for warmth, started a blaze in a tin trash can, right there in the middle of the factory floor. A firefighter died trying to put it out. This has become the latest in the long list of things we are to be alert for on patrol: the smell of wood smoke from any unknown source.

[Return to the column on Long Bright River.]

No calls in my PSA for an hour. At ten I park the car near Alonzos and go in for a cup of coffee.
UPDATE #2: U.S. Statement on Manda Bay Terrorist Attack

U.S. Africa Command's East Africa Response Force (EARF) arrived at Manda Bay, Kenya, Jan. 5, to augment security to secure the airfield after an attack by al-Shabaab terrorists.

By U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs, United States Africa Command Stuttgart, Germany Jan 06, 2020

U.S. Africa Command's East Africa Response Force (EARF) arrived at Manda Bay, Kenya, Jan. 5, to augment security to secure the airfield after an attack by al-Shabaab terrorists.

Al-Shabaab, a U.S. Government designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, attacked the Kenya Defense Force Military Base in Manda Bay, Kenya, early Sunday morning.

"The EARF provides a critical combat-ready, rapid deployment force," said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Gayler, director of operations, U.S. Africa Command. "The EARF's ability to respond to events spanning a vast area of responsibility provides a proven and invaluable on-call reinforcement capability in times of need."

The EARF, under the command and control of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, responds to a broad range of military operations including the protection of U.S. citizens and diplomatic facilities, support for non-combatant evacuation operations, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief operations, and other missions as directed.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack and was also responsible for the December 28 attack against innocent civilians in Mogadishu, Somalia, claiming more than 80 lives.

Contrary to various open source reports, U.S. Africa Command does not assess yesterday's attack by al-Shabaab is linked to Iran.

While Iranian involvement is not suspected in the attack, U.S. Africa Command has observed other nations, including Iran, seek increased influence in the Horn of Africa.

U.S. Africa Command's desired end state in East Africa is one in which terrorist organizations are not able to threaten the U.S. homeland, U.S. persons, international allies, or destabilize the region.

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by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 7, 2020

Online reservation company Booking.com shouldn't be allowed to monopolize the word booking by trademarking its name, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is arguing to the Supreme Court.

Just as no company could federally register 'Booking Company' or 'Booking Inc.' as a trademark, respondent should not be permitted to federally register Booking.com, the agency says in papers filed Monday.

Under established trademark law and policy, the addition of '.com' to a generic term does not create a protectable mark, the agency adds.

The agency is asking the Supreme Court to reverse a ruling issued last year by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which concluded that the website was entitled to trademark its name.

The legal dispute between Booking.com and the agency dates to 2016, when Booking.com sued over the agency's refusal to issue a trademark on the grounds that Booking.com was too generic.

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U.S. District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia sided with Booking.com, ruling that although the word "booking" is generic, adding the top-level domain ".com" entitled the company to trademark protection.

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision in February, writing that the agency had not proven that consumers view the term booking.com as referring in general to online hotel reservation services.

The trademark agency is now asking the Supreme Court to invalidate that decision. Among other arguments, the agency says that awarding the web company a trademark would have significant anticompetitive consequences by allowing companies to monopolize language by obtaining the contractual rights to 'generic.com' domain names, and then leveraging those domain names into protected trademarks.

The agency adds that trademark protection could preclude competitors from calling their products and services by their common names, thereby diminishing competition and harming consumers.

The website argued in the past that overwhelming evidence established that consumers view the term Booking.com as a company name.

The booking service specifically referenced a survey that it says indicates nearly 75% of consumers recognize Booking.com as a brand, and not a generic service.

But the agency counters that the survey results are irrelevant, given that booking is generic.

Just as survey evidence could not transform 'Grain Inc.' into a protectable trademark, it cannot render a 'generic.com' term eligible for federal trademark registration, the agency writes.

The 4th Circuit's ruling in favor of Booking.com appears to conflict with prior decisions issued by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. That court ruled in 2009 that "Hotels.com" and "Mattress.com" can't be trademarked because the words "hotels" and "mattress" are generic.
T he Duke and Duchess of Sussex will return to work tomorrow following a six-week festive break in North America.

In their first official engagement of the year, the couple will visit Canadas High Commission in London to thank staff for the warm hospitality they received during their time in the country over Christmas.

Harry and Meghan swapped the traditional royal celebrations in Sandringham for a trip to Vancouver Island for some "much-needed" family time with their eight-month-old son Archie.

Buckingham Palace said the couple wanted to meet Janice Charette, Canadas High Commissioner to the UK, and staff to thank them for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay.

Prince Harry cuddles baby Archie during the family's Christmas break (PA) / SussexRoyal

During their visit, the couple will tour the Canada Gallery and view a special exhibition by award winning indigenous Canadian artist Skawennati.

The duke and duchess will also meet different members of the High Commission team who work in a range of sectors supporting the partnership between Canada and the UK.

Meghan lived and worked in Toronto during her time starring in the popular US drama Suits, and the couple were famously pictured together when Meghan joined her then-boyfriend Harry at the 2017 Invictus Games in the Canadian city.

Tuesdays visit will be the first time the couple have carried out duties in the UK since Remembrance Sunday service in November.

Harry and Meghan release new photo of Archie in New Year message

The Queen was said to have been supportive of the Sussexes plans to spend Christmas abroad following a year dogged by public criticism and personal challenges, including reports of a rift between Harry and Prince William.

Despite their absence from the festivities at home, the couple still treated the eager public to two adorable new photos of Archie.

The first was a black and white snap on their Christmas card, showing a smiling Meghan and Harry sitting beneath a tree watching a curious Archie crawling towards the camera.
An RSE worker faced an indecent assault charge on a girl when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court. Ricky Wilson/Stuff
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 22:12:53|Editor: xuxin

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NICOSIA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A 19-year-old British girl was convicted of making a false claim that she had been raped by a group of 12 Israeli youths and was sentenced to four months in jail, suspended for three years, on Tuesday.

Her gang rape allegation on July 17, 2019, caused an international sensation and a guilty verdict against her issued by a court on Dec. 30, provoked a public rebuke by the British government and a campaign in the United Kingdom to boycott Cyprus as a tourist destination.

Judge Michalis Papanastasiou said in his reserved ruling that he took into account mitigating circumstances in deciding on a suspended sentence.

These, he said in a packed courtroom, included her clean police record, her mental health and her immaturity, her remorse and the fact that she had stayed in custody for a month, missing the current university academic year.

"All mitigating factors were taken into account," he said.

The team of lawyers who defended her said they were pleased with the fact that the jail sentence imposed on her was suspended, but warned that they would appeal the sentence at the Supreme Court.

One of her lawyers, Lewis Power, insisted after the sentencing that "she was the victim of a premeditated gang rape, and was also stripped of her dignity and human rights."

He added that the appeal would be intended to clear her name.

He said the girl would fly back to Britain later on Tuesday.

As the judge was reading his decision, a group of about 150 women, including about 50 who traveled to Cyprus from Israel, chanted slogans, including one that said "Judge, shame on you. Don't you have a daughter, too?" and "We believe you."

The latter chant was a reference to her claim made during her trial on a public mischief charge that the police had coerced her into retracting her original complaint and making an admission that she had consensual sex with some of the Israeli youths.

After retracting her complaint, the girl was charged with knowingly making a false allegation, for which the Cypriot criminal law provides of a sentence of up to one year in jail.

The judge said that this was a serious offence, noting that 12 individuals were briefly detained as a result of her accusation.

But he added that he decided to give the girl a second chance, taking into consideration all her personal circumstances.

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Monday that he had "very serious concerns" about the treatment of the woman, and urged the Cypriot government to "do the right thing."

His remarks brought a rebuke from Cypriot Justice Minister Georgios Savvides, who said that Cyprus was a law-abiding country and its government could not and would not interfere in any way with the court's work.
Police are searching for suspects after finding four firearms, including two handguns and a semi-automatic rifle, inside a Cadillac near Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue in late December.

In a news release Tuesday, police said they began an investigation on Dec. 21 involving a white 1992 Cadillac DeVille, where they found the firearms and ammunition.

A brown and silver sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun, a black semi-automatic rifle and two black semi-automatic handguns were found. The weapons may be linked to other offences, police say.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact police at 416-808-5300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.
Vijay Mahendran (pictured above) was jailed today

A senior doctor who repeatedly groped nurses and even carried out one assault in front of a dying patient has avoided jail.

Dr Vijay Mahendran, 53, from Liverpool, who was described as treating staff as though they were 'worthless', was found guilty of seven offences of sexual assault on two victims at Whiston Hospital, Merseyside.

However the father-of-two, who denied his guilt and has since undertaken safeguarding courses, was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months at Liverpool Crown Court today.

Describing Mahendran's 'arrogant' behaviour, which saw him take advantage of others and abuse his position as a senior doctor, Judge Denis Watson, QC, told him he displayed a 'real split' in his personality.

He said: 'Despite your clinical ability you have a deeply flawed sense of what is acceptable sexual conduct at work.'

The judge, who stated that his sentencing remarks would be sent to the General Medical Council, continued: 'You were in a position of authority which you completely betrayed and abused.'

Senior doctor Vijay Mahendran, 53, from Liverpool, was found guilty of seven offences of sexual assault on two victims at Whiston Hospital (pictured), Merseyside

'There is a real split in your personality. To those who you respect you can be kind and considerate and for those you have no respect you are utterly dismissive and treat them as worthless.'

During the case, the jury heard how the senior doctor repeatedly grabbed and squeezed the buttocks of two colleagues.

The doctor also groped one of the nurses as she attended to a patient and their family before he was 'dragged' away by a member of staff who saw the incident take place.

The father-of-two, who denied his guilt, was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months at Liverpool Crown Court (pictured) today

Christopher Stables, prosecuting, said the senior doctor's actions, which saw him carry out six of the offences on one nurse and one on another nurse, were an 'abuse on his position'.

The court also heard how the hospital doctor had previous convictions for common assault and battery after an attack on his ex wife in which he threatened to kill her with a pair of scissors.

In 2017, he was also fined 2,000 for hitting and leaving a bruise on a young child.

Following his trial, Mahendran was given a 12 month term suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 50 hours unpaid work and 60 days of rehabilitation activities.

The doctor will also have to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.




OTTAWABoeing is recommending simulator training for pilots of the Boeing Max jet as part of its efforts to safely return the aircraft to commercial service, 10 months after it was grounded following two fatal accidents.

That training would be in addition to computer-based training for Max pilots before the jets return to commercial service, the aircraft manufacturer said Tuesday.

Public, customer and stakeholder confidence in the 737 MAX is critically important to us and with that focus Boeing has decided to recommend MAX simulator training combined with computer-based training for all pilots prior to returning the MAX safely to service, interim Boeing CEO Greg Smith said in the statement.

Yet the new requirement, a reversal for Boeing, poses a hurdle for airlines and could further delay the jets return to service as pilots will have to be slotted into scarce simulators  only Air Canada has Max simulators in Canada, for example  for training sessions.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it would consider the request as part of its evaluation of the overall package of changes proposed by Boeing to address the design flaws cited in the crashes that killed 346 people.

In response, Transport Canada said it was encouraged to see that Boeing is signalling the importance of simulator training as part of the jets return to service.

Transport Canada said it laid out last April the concerns it wants addressed by Boeing and the FAA before it clears the jet to fly again in Canadian airspace.

It would be premature for Transport Canada officials to determine the final flight crew procedures and training requirements before all the criteria and concerns have been addressed, the department said in a statement Tuesday.

Transport Canada grounded the aircraft in March, along with aviation regulators worldwide. Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau has favoured simulator training and said last year that airlines would have to train Max pilots in simulators before resuming service. Simulators are the very best way, from a training point of view, to go over exactly what could happen in a real way and to react properly to it, he said in April, according to a Canadian Press report.

That view flew in the face of the opinions of Boeing and FAA, which maintained that pilots already trained to fly the 737 did not require additional simulator training to transition to the Max models.

But the two crashes  and the questionable performance of both flights crews during those in-flight emergencies  have made pilot training and human factors a key element of the jets safe return to service.

The crash of Lion Air Flight 610 in Indonesia in October 2018, followed by Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 at Addis Ababa last March have been blamed on the jets manoeuvring characteristics augmentation system (MCAS).

That system was installed on this latest version of the Boeing 737 to counter pitch characteristics of the new design. However, because of erroneous data, the system pitched the jets into a nosedive that the pilots were unable to recover from.

Boeing is working on design changes to ensure the system doesnt needlessly activate and ensure that pilots can override it. Yet there have been questions raised about the actions of the pilots in both crashes, prompting a call for improved training and procedures to deal with such emergencies.

In Canada, WestJet, Air Canada and Sunwing have the aircraft in their fleets.

At this point we are still waiting to see what determinations the regulators make with respect to the aircrafts return to service, so it is premature to comment on training requirements, Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick said in an email.

WestJet spokesperson Lauren Stewart said the airline, which does not have a Max simulator, was in touch with Boeing, Transport Canada and other regulators to understand how and when to safely reintroduce the MAX aircraft into service.

Correction - Jan. 15, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Air Canada has one Max simulator for training purposes. In fact, the airline has two.

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International Networking Leader-BNI Celebrates 35 Years of Helping Businesses Grow Through Referral Marketing

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BNI (Business Network International) celebrates 35 years of building referral generating relationships for its Members around the world.

In 1985, BNI held its first meeting in Arcadia, Calif., with 20 people in attendance. Since that time, it has grown to be the largest and most successful business networking organization in the world. Today, BNI has over 270,000 Members in more than 70 countries around the world attending weekly meetings in nearly 9,500 Chapters. From its inception, BNI has helped its Members generate over $100 Billion in closed business. With thousands of chapters worldwide, BNI provides a global business network that is unparalleled in scope, scale and performance. After 35 years, BNI remains the world's leading referral organization.

"It is very humbling to me to see what BNI has become," says Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI. "I simply had this nugget of an idea 35 years ago. If it was just me, BNI would be two chapters, not approaching 10,000. It was all our BNI Directors and Members that made the dream a reality. BNI's impact on the world of business and on individual lives continues to flourish. I feel so proud of how the Givers Gain philosophy has been embraced by millions of people and expanded around the world."

"The success of BNI is a tribute to our Founder Dr. Ivan Misner for having the vision, drive and determination to create an organization that is so simple in design and yet has had such an extraordinary impact on people's lives. It's also a tribute to all the BNI Leaders and Members past and present who have tirelessly supported and helped each other grow their businesses. I look forward reaching BNI's next milestone of 10,000 chapters," says Graham Weihmiller, Chairman and CEO of BNI.

For the 35th Anniversary Logo and photos: https://bni.canto.com/v/BNIAnniversary

For more information about joining BNI: https://www.bni.com/

About BNI

BNI is the world's largest and most successful business networking organization in the world. BNI has over 270,000 members who attend one of nearly 9,500 weekly chapter meetings in more than 70 countries around the globe. BNI's proven business networking platform provides its members the right environment, training and support to help them build strong referral generating relationships and business skills to grow their business. Visit BNI.com for more information

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Crude prices spiked over the weekend after the U.S. assassinated a top Iranian military official Friday in Baghdad, bringing additional volatility to the oil-rich region.

Brent crude, a global marker for oil, temporarily rose to almost $70 a barrel Sunday. West Texas Intermediate, a U.S. benchmark, exceeded $63 a barrel Sunday, a 3 percent uptick compared to the day before the strike.

The attack, authorized by the U.S., caused oil prices to leap to levels not seen since September, when drones struck a processing plant and oil field in Saudi Arabia.

Rep. Liz Cheney and Sen. John Barrasso both endorsed Fridays unprecedented attack against Gen. Qassem Soleimani, calling it a necessary defense of American interests and lives.

For Wyoming consumers, the uptick in oil prices could be noticeable at the gas pump. For oil producers, it could be a slight boost for business after months of lukewarm oil prices. But the disruption could also pass relatively quickly, as long as Iran does not dramatically disrupt international oil supplies, several analysts explained.

(The U.S.) produces more oil than Saudi Arabia, were the No. 1 producer in the whole world, so it doesnt have as much of an effect as you might think, said Mark Watson, supervisor for Wyomings Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

Technological advancements and investment in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling catapulted the U.S. into the upper echelons of oil producers internationally.

Ryan McConnaughey, communications director for the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, said he would be closely monitoring the situation, but remains confident in the countrys energy independence.

While a sustained disruption to the market would have a greater impact on oil prices, if this remains an isolated incident we expect oil prices to correct themselves in short order, he said in a statement. Americas shale boom has decreased Americans dependence on foreign sources of oil and mitigated some of the impacts an event like this may have had in previous years.

Wyoming is the eighth-largest oil producer in the U.S. The states oil production makes up a relatively small portion of nationwide oil supply, at least when compared to hot spots like the Permian Basin, which stretches across Texas and New Mexico, or the Bakken Formation in North Dakota. Wyoming contributes just 2 percent to the nations crude oil supply. In comparison, Texas supplies 37 percent, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Its too soon to tell if the recent geopolitical upheaval could fuel more drilling in Wyoming, Watson said. For now, the price spike isnt enough to instigate additional oil activity.

If it seemed to be a long-term (trend), people may be jumping into (drilling), but as of right now, I dont see anyone doing anything major, he explained.

Watson said hes waiting for the shoe to drop, to see how Iran responds.

Though the U.S. no longer relies on importing oil produced in the Persian Gulf for its energy needs, the escalation of geopolitical tensions in the region could still have ripple effects felt in Wyoming  especially if American interests or oil suppliers abroad are targeted, analysts said.

This is a pretty unprecedented strike, said Jim Krane, an energy analyst at Rice Universitys Baker Institute. The risk in oil is that there is a very strong chance that Iran is going to retaliate for the loss of this leading general.

There are a massive number of potential targets for a retaliatory attack, Krane noted, from oil fields and crude processing facilities to pipelines and critical routes, like the Strait of Hormuz.

If you think about how Iran might respond, one of the safest ways to respond without attracting another really massive attack or all out war is by hitting oil infrastructure and disrupting oil trade, he added.

But as long as a strike does not disrupt global oil supply, any follow-up price spikes in oil will likely be short-lived.

The strike came just months after about half of Saudi Arabias oil infrastructure was temporarily wiped out in September. The attack removed roughly 5 million barrels of oil a day from the market. But oil prices returned to previous levels shortly after.

The cause of the attack in Saudi Arabia is still debated, but some U.S. officials blamed Iran and Iran-backed militia groups for it. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani denied the allegations.

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No fewer than 1,177 teaching and non-teaching staff of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), on Tuesday, registered with the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Ebiere Ejikeme, who led some officials from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), made this disclosure after the completion of the first phase of the exercise.

Mrs Ejikeme said the registration was in conformity with the directive of the federal government.

She said a total of 1,177 staff, teaching and non- teaching have been captured.

A nationwide mop up exercise will continue very soon to accommodate members of staff, who were absent as a result of maternity leave.

Some are on leave of absence, authorised foreign leave, study leave or other health issues.

IPPIS has come to carry all staff along, therefore, the staff of the university should not be afraid because salaries and allowances will be paid promptly to enhance staff welfare, she said.

Mrs Ejikeme thanked the university management on behalf of her team for the warm reception and provision of necessary materials needed for the exercise.

The Deputy Director, Corporate Services of FUOYE, Adeyinka Ademuyiwa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the staff, who were absent would be present in the next exercise.

Mr Ademuyiwa expressed gratitude to the officials and the team leader for the good job.

(NAN)
France's Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire has cautioned the United States against any tit-for-tat levies on French exports in response to its new digital tax.

If the Americans decide to go ahead and impose sanctions against the digital tax ... in this case we would retaliate, Le Maire said during an interview on France Inter radio.

If there were to be sanctions, and it is a possibility that we will take sanctions, we would immediately contact the WTO [World Trade Organization], he added.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose near 100 percent retaliatory sanctions of French exports, including champagne, leather goods, makeup, and other luxuries manufactured in France.

"This trade war is in no one's interest and I call on our American friends to display wisdom, to return to their senses," Le Maire told the French radio.

The French digital tax includes up to three percent of online company revenue and advertising gained in France. The tech behemoths have previously paid very little because they do not take up actual physical space.

In August, France agreed it would refund any taxes collected that were more than the levy that still needs to be set.

But the Trump administration says that this new French tax punishes American companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon.

Le Maire said he would discuss the issue with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin by phone, and did not mince words when he mentioned that France could get backing on this from the 27 other members of the European Union.

"We'll study the possibility of commercial retaliation," added Le Maire as he said he would be meeting with EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan on Tuesday.

OECD trade talks back on?

Negotiations at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) regarding global revenue in online sales had been stalled by the US until last year. The US offered a proposal in December that France rejected.

Washington needs to work towards a compromise at the OECD to avoid extreme situations that benefit no one," added the French finance minister.

France was slapped with punitive US sanctions in October over European subsidies to European airline manufacturer Airbus 10 percent on EU aircraft and 25 percent on French foodstuffs, including wine.
Somebody screwed up big in planning that drone strike in Iraq last week, the one that killed a key member of another nations military forces.

No, not Qassim Suleimani of Iran.

Im talking about Abu Mahdi al-Muhandas of Iraq.

Al-Muhandas is the deputy head of militias allied with the Iraqi military who was also killed in the strike.

Killing an Iraqi militia leader on Iraqi soil was a huge blunder by any measure, according to the retired intelligence and military experts I like to discuss these matters with.

The proximate cause of the current kerfuffle in Iraq was the effort by some Iraqi irregulars to pressure U.S. forces to leave Iraq. But the immediate result of the raid was a decision by the Iraqi parliament to demand that U.S. forces leave ASAP. (Some reports say that the U.S. sent a letter to the Iraqis saying our troops will be leaving, but that was disputed by the Pentagon.)

That was a mistake of historic proportion, said Bob Baer, an ex-CIA agent who spent years in the Mideast.

You take out a member of the Iraqi military in Iraq? Baer said. How could they not have that reaction?

Back when Saddam Hussein was still running things, Baer was involved in all sorts of clandestine and nefarious plots against him, which he documented in his book Sleeping with the Devil. If the U.S. wanted to bump off Soleimani, he said, this was the wrong time and place.

Why didnt they do it in Syria? he said.

The Israelis carry out air strikes against Iranians in Syria regularly, he noted. If the U.S. had targeted Soleimani there, the Iraqis would have had little to say about it.

But Baer said he couldnt recall another instance of a country killing a military leader of an allied country on that countrys soil.

This is crazy, he said. We always rely on the host government for protection. And we just killed the guy whos ultimately supposed to protect us.

Whos responsible for this screw-up?

The buck stops with Trump, of course. But retired Army colonel Pat Lang, who spent a couple decades in the Mideast, said the root of this blunder lies in the decision by the military to present the president with a list of options that included staging a hit on Iraqi soil.

I blame Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for this, said Lang. Its his fault.

Lang was liaison to the Iraqi Army during that countrys war with Iran that began in 1979.

The Iranians lost 800,000 dead in the Iran-Iraq war and were gonna scare them? he asked.

Not likely. This strike leaves the U.S. with few options.

Theres no way were going to have a ground war in Iraq or Iran, he said.

That would take a massive sea-lift to transport all the equipment needed for another ground war to the Mideast. Then wed have to restore supply lines running hundreds of miles inland.

And all that effort would just get us back to where we were after the Second Gulf War, with our occupying army subject to nonstop attacks.

Perhaps well just bomb them instead. But that would require an airbase like the current base at Al-Asad.

At Al-Asad, the Iraqis defend the base, he said. Certainly they can deny us Baghdad international Airport as well.

The access road to that airport from Baghdad was so risky after the second Gulf War that most trips were made by helicopter, he said. The only reason its safe now is that Iraqi troops defend it.

Theres only one option that makes sense for Trump now that hes bagged Soleimani and ISIS chieftain Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Trump could say, I killed all the bad guys. Im leaving, Lang said.

I agree, and so does Baer.

Trump was right the first time when he said he would just get us out of the Middle East, he said. The only war we actually won in the Mideast is the Suez crisis.

That was way back in 1956, and the U.S. won when President Eisenhower told the French, British and Israelis to cease their war to take that canal from Egypt.

Ever since its been one debacle after another. But at least during the Cold War, when Baer was operating in Lebanon, we had a reason to be there: The Soviets threatened to take control of our oil supply.

But now that the U.S. is energy-independent, our only reason for meddling in the Mideast is the same regime-change strategy pushed by George W. Bush and attacked by Trump during the campaign.

The same people who said Iraq would go fine are still calling the shots, said Baer.

With this move, they just shot themselves in the foot.

ADD - PAT LANG ON WHO SUGGESTED THIS STRIKE:

Since I posted this, Mideast veteran Pat Lang posted this piece on the decision process that led to an airstrike that actually advanced the Iranian goal of increasing its dominance over Iraq. Please read it in full before commenting. An excerpt:

1. I had hoped that Trumps decision to kill an Iranian general engaged in a diplomatic mission (among other things) while the man was on the soil of a supposed ally of the US was something Trump pulled out of his fundament either inspired by war movies or on the recommendation of our greatest ally but I am informed that in fact some idiot in the DoD included this option in the list of possibilities that was briefed to the CinC in Florida. The decision process in such matters requires that when options are demanded by the CinC the JCS prepares a list supported for each option by fully formulated documentation that enables the president to approve one (or none) and then sign the required operational order. Trump himself chose the death option. I would hold General Milley (CJCS) personally responsible for not striking this option from the list before it reached the CinC.
Prestigious French publisher Gallimard is pulling controversial writer Gabriel Matzneff's writing from its shelves after details of his seduction of a young teen 36 years his junior emerged.

The publishing house said it was the first time in its 140-year history it had taken such a radical step.

The move comes as the award-winning essayist Matzneff, 83, is being investigated in France, after leading French publisher Vanessa Springora, 47, wrote a book detailing how he seduced her, 33 years ago, when she was just 14.

The elderly author, denies any wrongdoing, insisting there was an 'exceptional love' between him and Springora.

Vanessa Springora, 47, (right) a leading French publisher wrote a book detailing how at just 14 the Gabriel Matzneff (left) who was 36 years would take her home after school for sex

However, amidst a public outcry and the police investigation, Gallimard has decided to recall all the journals the octogenarian had written under its brand since 1990 to his latest;'The Lover at the Arsenal', which came out in November.

'The exceptional measure which we have taken is justified to make sure the suffering that Vanessa Springora recounts' in her book is heard,' the publishing house said in a statement.

The dramatic move comes a day after the French culture minister stripped the writer of his special state pension and the weekly magazine Le Point dropped him as a columnist.

Matzneff, who won the prestigious Renaudot prize in 2013, has never made any secret of his sexual preference for adolescent girls and boys.

In 1974 he published a notorious essay titled 'Les Moins de Seize Ans' (The Under 16s) in which he was frank about his obsessional 'taste' for underage partners.

The controversial writer has never made any secret of the fact that he preferred adolescent girls and boys and even wrote an essay in 1974 detailing his obsessional 'taste' for underage partners

He was even more explicit in his 1990 book, 'Mes amours decomposes' (My Loves Deconstructed), which describes sexual relationships with teenagers aged between 14 and 16.

It is illegal in France for an adult to have sex with anyone under 15.

He told French television at the time that he preferred 'to have people in my life who are not hardened and who are still kind.

'A very young girl is rather sweeter, even if she becomes very quickly hysterical and just as crazy as she will be when she is older,' he added.

Despite raising eyebrows, Matzneff continued to publish and there was little controversy when he picked up the Renaudot prize six years ago.

Vanessa Springora described in great detail her tortured relationship with the writer in a book titled ' Le Consentement [Consent]' published in the first week of the new year

The cover of the book in which the leading French publisher described how Matzneff, then 50, would wait for her outside school and then take her home for sex

Last week after publisher Vanessa Springora described in great detail her tortured relationship with the writer in a book titled ' Le Consentement [Consent]'.

In it she described how Matzneff, then in his fifties, would wait for her outside her school and then take her to his home for sex.

'At 14 you are not supposed to be picked up from school by a man of 50 and find yourself in his bed with his penis in your mouth (instead of a biscuit) at teatime,' Springora wrote.

Police subsequently opened its investigation, and there was significant public backlash against the elderly author.

Matzneff denies he did anything wrong and said the publisher had tried to portray him as 'a pervert, a manipulator and a predator'.

The case has shone a light on what many see as an overly permissive attitude towards sexual harassment and paedophilia in France.

Recently the French film establishment has also been rocked by rape accusations against directors Roman Polanski and Luc Besson, while star Adele Haenel said she was sexually harassed by the director of her first film when she was 12.

All three men deny the claims.
Josie Totah will star in the Saved by the Bell reboot. (Photo by Presley Ann/FilmMagic)

Get ready for the next generation of students at Bayside High.

The team behind the upcoming Saved by the Bell reboot has cast Josie Totah, an actress known for her work on Glee and the Mindy Kaling-created show Champions, as its star, according to The Hollywood Reporter and NBC News. The revived series will premiere this summer on NBCs streaming service, Peacock.

Totah will play Lexi, a Bayside cheerleader who is both admired and feared by her fellow students.

Read more: Brad Pitt calls himself 'trash mag fodder' while talking paparazzi

The actress, whose work includes the Disney Channel show Jessie and the Netflix comedy No Good Nick, started her career in male roles before she came out as transgender in a 2018 essay for Time magazine.

Her castmates include Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley, from the popular earlier version of the series, who will return as A.C. Slater and Jessie Spano.

In October, Tiffani Thiessen told Us Weekly that both she and co-star Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who played leads Kelly Kapowski and Zack Morris in the original Saved by the Bell, were unaware of the reboot until they saw it in the news. She said cameos are unlikely, because both are working on other projects.

Literally, Mark-Paul and I were like, Oh, wow! I didnt know that was happening, Thiessen said.

Still, Gosselaars character will be key to the reboots plot: When California governor Zack Morris gets into hot water for closing too many low-income high schools, he proposes they send the affected students to the highest performing schools in the state  including Bayside High. The influx of new students gives the over privileged Bayside kids a much needed and hilarious dose of reality.
CARACAS, Venezuela  Venezuelas National Assembly erupted into chaos on Tuesday as opposition lawmakers took their seats to begin the new years session, but only after forcing their way through a phalanx of government soldiers.

National Guardsmen in body armor initially prevented Juan Guaido, the leader of the countrys opposition, from entering the building along with his supporters.

Here the people rule! the legislators cried as they pushed through the heavy wooden doors and installed Mr. Guaido at the front of the assemblys main hall.

When it was all over, Mr. Guaido said he would continue to claim the countrys presidency and he called for a new round of protests, starting Thursday, designed to oust the countrys authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro.
Nobel Laureate Stefan Hell, while addressing the ongoing 107th Indian Science Congress in Bengaluru, said governments need to back blue sky science. He emphasised that real giant leaps in science were unplanned and were a result of curiosity.

Hell, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing fluorescence microscopy that allows for detailed observation of processes occurring inside living cells, said, All governments - not just Indian or German - usually are interested in short-term outcomes of science. They are interested in applied sciences, which is understandable. However, past experience shows that the big leaps usually do not come in a planned way. It is unplannable.

The German physicist who is also one of the directors of the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, further added, It is very important to understand that in order for science to flourish, it has to be free. We cannot give directions as to where to go. There must be room for, say, blue sky research or basic research.

Israeli chemist Ada E Yonath, who won the Nobel Prize in 2009 for her work on understanding the structure and function of ribosomes, which are minute particles in a living cell that links amino acids together to form various proteins in order specified by the RNA also pointed out that governments need to understand and like science.

First of all, we need a government that understands science and likes it. Thats not always the case. Governments are made of politicians, politicians who have a short-term existence and hence look for short term results, she said.

Yonath said that governments can help scientific attitudes flourish by increasing fundings across universities. She further added, Science is usually longer and not always something scientists thought about before the experiments. Scientists have to have curiosity. But governments can of course help by increasing the fundings and improving the atmosphere in the universities.

Yonath said that children should not be afraid to ask questions. She said, Curiosity and originality of thought have to be encouraged. Children have to be taught to not be afraid of their teachers, not be afraid to ask questions and challenge them.

Highlighting the role of parents in this process, she said, When children come back from school instead of asking how their day was and what their teacher taught them, parents should ask them what were the questions they asked. This will encourage them and teach them to ask what they need to understand.

Honorary president of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research Prof CNR Rao, while addressing the inaugural lecture of the Childrens Science Congress, said that dedication, doggedness, and tenacity is needed for one to become a good scientist.

Rao said that science only needs good human minds. He said, Science does not know religion, caste or colour, just good human minds. A degree is not important. Where you come from or how much money you have is not important. There are so many children in our villages and some of them must be brilliant, we have to find them.

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New Delhi: Workers belonging to 10 central trade unions have called for Bharat Bandh, a nationwide strike, on January 8 (Wednesday). The strike is against the labour reforms and economic policies of the Central government. The trade union include INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with various sectoral independent federations.

The unions said that more than 250 million workers will participate in the 'Bharat Bandh' to press for a 12-point common demand related to minimum wage and social security, among others. Along with the trade unions, the banking and agriculture sector will also take part in the strike.

Details here:

The 24-hour all-India strike will affect the first working shift as it will start from 6 am on Wednesday.

Number of workers expected to participate in Bharat Bandh: Over 25 crore

Bharat Bandh objective: The workers will protest against central government policies and press for 12-point common demands of the working class on pay hike, fixing of the minimum wage, social security, uniform five-day week, among others.

Live TV

List of Trade Unions participating in Bharat Bandh:

Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)

All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)

Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS)

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)

All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC)

Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC)

Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA)

All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU)

Labour Progressive Federation (LPF)

United Trade Union Congress (UTUC)

Sectoral independent federations and associations will be part of the Bharat Bandh.

The BJP-affiliated Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh is not participating in the Bharat Bandh tomorrow.

Affected services: Banking services, transport and other key services are likely to be disrupted in many states including Karnataka, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. However, services at private sector banks are unlikely to be impacted.

However, the government has warned employees against the strike and said that those who take part will have to face consequences. It has also advised PSUs to prepare a contingency plan to ensure the smooth functioning of the enterprises.
The estranged husband of Connecticut mom Jennnifer Dulos has been charged with her murder, nearly eight months after she first went missing.

Fotis Dulos was expected to be charged on Tuesday with the murder of his missing wife, alongside his former girlfriend, Michelle Troconis. Kent Mahwinney, an attorney, was expected to be charged with conspiracy to commit murder, according to the Hartford Courant.

Ms Dulos went missing on May 24, amid a contentious custody battle over the five children that she shared with her alleged killer.

She has not been seen since.

Mr Dulos was taken into custody by Connecticut State Police on Tuesday and his defence attorney, Norm Pattis, has said that his client contends that he was not involved.

This undated file photo from a missing persons flier provided by the New Canaan Police Department shows Jennifer Dulos, a mother of five who went missing in May 2019 (AP)

Man released from prison after 28 years for murder he did not commit Show all 6 1 /6 Man released from prison after 28 years for murder he did not commit Man released from prison after 28 years for murder he did not commit Corey Atchison, 48, is escorted into a courtroom at Tulsa County Courthouse in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 16 July 2019, where a judge ruled that he was wrongly convicted of the 1990 fatal shooting of James Lane in Tulsa. Mr Atchison was freed after serving 28 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit. Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP Man released from prison after 28 years for murder he did not commit Corey Atchison with his daughter Courtney Thomas, centre, and his niece Eyght Brown, two, as he is freed. Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP Man released from prison after 28 years for murder he did not commit Corey Atchison is greeted by his sisters, including Laura Scott, right, as he is freed from the David L Moss Criminal Justice Center. Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP Man released from prison after 28 years for murder he did not commit Ruthella Scott receives a hug from her son, and brother of Corey Atchison, after the hearing. Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP Man released from prison after 28 years for murder he did not commit Family members and supporters of Corey Atchison celebrate in front of the Tulsa County Courthouse. Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP Man released from prison after 28 years for murder he did not commit Corey Atchison smiles as he is freed from the David L Moss Criminal Justice Center after serving 28 years for a crime he did not commit. Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP

Ms Dulos, 50, was last seen in May driving a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban in New Canaan, Connecticut, according to police.

Authorities say her friends reported her missing around 10 hours after she began missing appointments and not returning phone calls or texts. Soon after she was reported missing, her car was found at a park near her home.

On that same day, Mr Dulos is believed to have borrowed a truck from one of his employees, which had been cleaned days later. Ms Troconis, the former girlfriend, later told investigators that he had the vehicle cleaned because the body of Jennifer at some point was in there, according to a warrant served in September when Mr Dulos was charged with evidence tampering.

The owner of the truck also told police that Mr Dulos had told him to replace the seats in his vehicle, and got pushy and angry when the replacement wasnt made. At the time, Mr Dulos reportedly told him he was worried about the seats because he had hugged his estranged wife the day before she disappeared.

The employee ultimately kept the seats and provided them to police, who found a blood-like substance that contained the missing mothers DNA, according to a warrant released by the Connecticut State Police in September.

The murder charges come even though the body of Ms Dulos has not been recovered.

On the day that she went missing, surveillance cameras captured footage of a man who looks like Mr Dulos getting out of his truck and placing multiple garbage bags into various trash receptacles in the Hartford area.

Detectives, searching through trash, later found clothing and household goods with Ms Dulos blood on them.

Mr Dulos had not been arraigned as of Tuesday afternoon, and the state has requested a $6 million bond. After their arrest in September, Mr Dulos and his former girlfriend were forced to turn over their passports.
A mother accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a parent teacher organization in Massachusetts is now facing additional charges after authorities say they found another fraudulent tax return.

Rebecca Craig pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning in Suffolk Superior Court to a false claim charge and a charge of making a false statement to a tax agency.

Craig was previously charged with stealing $14,000 from the Newton PTO and using her daughters identity to defraud insurance companies and file fraudulent tax returns.

The two new charges stem from an allegedly fraudulent 2018 tax return, according to the Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office. Craig had already been indicted earlier this year on charges that she filed 10 state income tax returns under two Social Security numbers between September 2014 and March 2018, court documents say.

Craig made headlines in August when she was arrested on a 27-count indictment. The former treasurer of the Newton PTO, she was accused of funneling $14,529.60 from the nonprofit. She was also charged in connection with a tax refund scheme, forgery and fraudulent insurance claims.

Authorities said she used various names for fraudulent claims, including versions of her own name and, in some cases her daughters name.

Craigs indictment was first returned in March, but she was arrested in August. She was staying in a Boston apartment under a different name, prosecutors said.

Craig had defaulted on 13 dates, court documents say.

Officers, carrying an arrest warrant, went to Craigs apartment and announced their presence. They didnt hear her. Officers entered the apartment and found her hiding under a pile of clothes in a closet, prosecutors said.

When she was asked why she hid, Craig told officers she wasnt hiding from them but got scared from something on TV, according to prosecutors.

Craig has been held on $100,000 bail since her arrest, but she asked to have her bail reduced to $1,000 bail on Tuesday. Judge Robert Tochka set her bail at $25,000.

Prosecutors raised concerns about Craigs credibility, arguing the evidence against her reveals a pattern of forging government documents and evading detection.

Among the allegations against Craig is that she took advantage of a 2016 incident where her daughter was hit by a cab. Craigs daughter experienced hip and ankle pain and might have fractured her ankle. But prosecutors said that Craig, using the name Rachel Craig, filed a claim for damages with the drivers insurance company demanding $100,000. Rachel Craig claimed to have demanded the money for medical bills, lost wages and tuition, saying her daughter couldnt go back to her private high school.

Commerce Insurance issued five checks for lost wages totaling $5,848, but denied the rest of the claim when it became suspicious about some of the documents Craig submitted, court records say.
Ikea will pay $46m (35m) to the parents of a toddler who died after being crushed by a chest of drawers that toppled onto him, the familys lawyers have said.

Jozef Dudek, two, died from suffocation in Buena Park, California, in 2017. His parents sued the Swedish home furnishings company in a Philadelphia court the following year.

Lawyers say it is the largest child wrongful death settlement in US history.

The Dudeks accused Ikea of knowing that its 32kg Malm drawers were unstable, and had already injured or killed a number of children, but said the company had failed to warn buyers that the chest of drawers must be anchored to a wall.

Joleen and Craig Dudek said in a statament: We never thought that a two-year-old could cause a dresser just 30 inches high to topple over and suffocate him.

Ikea aiming to spread its influence across China Show all 2 1 /2 Ikea aiming to spread its influence across China Ikea aiming to spread its influence across China 620055.bin All Rights Reserved Ikea aiming to spread its influence across China 620056.bin AFP PHOTO/LIU Jin

It was only later that we learned [it] was unstable by design. We are telling our story because we do not want this to happen to another family.

The Dudek family said they will donate $1m from the settlement to organisations advocating more rigorous stability testing for dressers.

Under the settlement, Ikea is required to meet advocacy organisation Parents Against Tip-overs and educate more consumers about the Malm drawers recall, the Dudeks lawyers said.

An Ikea spokeswoman said: While no settlement can alter the tragic events that brought us here, for the sake of the family and all involved were grateful that this litigation has reached a resolution.

We remain committed to working to address this very important home safety issue.

The suit noted that the drawers were recalled in 2016  the largest recall in Ikeas history, after three children were killed by tipped-over chests of drawers between 2014 and 2016.

Camden Ellis, two, Curren Collas, also two, and 23-month-old Ted McGee were all crushed by the chests of drawers. In December 2016, Ikea agreed to a combined settlement of $50m to the families of the three toddlers.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commissions latest advice said: CPSC and Ikea are urging consumers to inspect their Ikea chests and dressers to ensure that they are securely anchored to the wall.

Consumers should move unanchored chests and dressers into storage or other areas where they cannot be accessed by children until the chests and dressers are properly anchored to the wall.
Bryan Brulotte, who is entering the leadership race for the Conservative Party of Canada, is shown in Ottawa on Jan. 5, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

Bryan Brulotte Launches Effort to Win Conservative Leadership

OTTAWAWhen it comes to potential candidates for Conservative leadership, Bryan Brulotte isnt exactly an outsider. Hes been involved in conservative politics for nearly three decades.

But around those mostly volunteer efforts, he served in the military, got an M.B.A., and built what would become a multi-million-dollar staffing company.

Now he intends to leverage that insider-outsider status to make a bid for the federal partys leadership, starting in earnest on Monday, Jan. 6.

Though an election date for the new Conservative leader has been set as June 27, the race itself has yet to officially begin. But Brulotte says he is starting now because one of his greatest assets in the race is also a major challenge: hes not a career politician and he has virtually no national profile.

The only way we are going to win is to bring in new people, he said in an interview at a downtown Ottawa coffee shop, fresh from filming a promotional video with his wife, two daughters, and three dogs near their Chelsea, Que., home.

That video, a social media campaign, and newspapers ads all hit the public domain on Monday, aimed at drumming up the supporters hell need to formally launch a bid. The new members he hopes to recruit to the party in turn, he believes, will become the new voters the Conservatives need to form government.

He wants to draw them in with what he calls his vision for Canada, reflected in a policy document called A Country for All, that sets out ideas in eight areas.

Some are designed to get people talking, such as finding a Caribbean nation to become a new province or territory.

More broadly, the document is aimed at getting them to think, and then talk, about the issues at stake in Canada, including the countrys place in the world and the changing global and domestic economy.

As a society, there is a widespread misunderstanding that only socialists and Liberals care about people, he writes in his policy document. Im a capitalist and I care.

For example, Brulotte is proposing moving Canadas tax system towards a negative income tax, which sees the government top-up incomes for people who make less than a certain amount.

He is also proposing a luxury tax, but not because he believes the wealthy should pay higher taxes. His would be on second vehicles or luxury cars, as a bid to reduce carbon emissions as part of a climate strategy.

Brulotte calls carbon taxes an effective policy tool, but believes a federally-imposed one cant work, in part because natural resources are provincial domain. But he also thinks so because every local economy has different needs, and different abilities to manage emissions.

What works in downtown Toronto, doesnt work in Regina, doesnt work in Fort McMurray, doesnt work in St. Johns, he says. Its myopic to believe that we should have one-size-fits-all when it comes to the carbon tax.

A strong belief in a decentralized federal government goes back to his upbringing.

Brulotte, 55, grew up in Quebec, and was based in the province during most of his early military career.

By being a Quebecer, a bilingual Quebecer who has served across the country and internationally, I think that personifies what many Canadians would like to see in the leader, he says.

His military experienceamong other things he served in Cyprus, and later as the aide-de-camp for the Governor Generaland then his decades running his company MaxSys give him experience career politicians dont have, he says.

I have been through a lot of ups and downs, a couple of recessions, more successes than failures, but a few of those. I can bring that to the table.

Brulottes first taste of politics came in 1993, as deputy chief of staff to a Progressive Conservative cabinet minister. He also ran, but lost, as a PC candidate in 2000. He then volunteered for Peter MacKays bid for leadership of that party in 2003. He also helped raise money for Maxime Berniers attempt to lead the federal Conservatives in 2017.

Hes wanted to run again but was waiting for the right time on the home and business fronts. His daughters are in their early teens, he finally hired a president to run the company in his stead, and has committed to seeking a seat in the next election, no matter what.

But when Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer quit in mid-December, he decided to make the run for the top.

Ive been serving all my life, Ive been leading organizations and people all my life, and now its this conviction to serve the country in this role, he says.

By Stephanie Levitz
New Delhi, Jan 7 : The JNU Students Union has called for the immediate removal of Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar and an inquiry into his activities.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, JNUSU alleged that the "saffron nexus" of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and JNU administration stands exposed by the FIR filed by JNU authorities against 20 students who include the JNUSU President and General Secretary.

With conflicting accounts emerging over who is responsible for the violence, the JNUSU released its account of events that unfolded in the campus over the past two months. Stating that the students had been protesting peacefully for close to 70 days over the fee hike, the JNUSU claims that students were being targeted by ABVP activists, some right-wing teaching staff and campus security over the last four days.

Claiming that the university administration has silently watched over the events on campus, JNUSU also alleged that the FIR against the students is one more attempt to criminalise the democratic process and protect the ABVP activists.

The students are also blamed the police and Union Home Ministry accountable for the violent turn of events on the campus.

JNU has been on the boil since Sunday when groups of masked miscreants intruded into the campus and assaulted students in Sabarmati hostel with sticks and metal rods. The Leftist students and ABVP members have been accusing each other for the violence.

Police are investigating the matter.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: It is time for India to start a National Cancer Mission, similar to the ones started to eradicate certain communicable diseases, said Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist of World Health Organization (WHO), speaking at the Dr S Krishnamurthi Centenary Oration held here on Saturday.

A total of 8.3 per cent of deaths were due to cancer in 2016, which double its contribution in 1990, she said attributing the disease to tobacco consumption and lifestyle. She said that some of the major challenges the country faces in combatting cancer are access limited by capacity, social inequity and innovation stifled by distorted market.

Swaminathan said that it was important to analyse its incidence locally and come up with a decentralised solution to tackle it. We can see that the rate of breast cancer deaths in countries like Germany is coming down, but it is on the rise in countries like Ethiopia. So globally well see that cancer rates are likely to increase in low-income countries, she pointed.

A detailed analysis of data on cancer burden is the need of the hour, she remarked elaborating that India needs to increase the efficiency of screening and upskill healthcare workers, in addition to creating a registry of rare cancers and exceptional responder register. Only one in five countries has necessary data on cancer burden to constructively act on it. But owing to our large population, we have a large sample space making any kind of research feasible and scalable, she said.

However, she also pointed out that services associated with cancer are still extremely expensive and out-of-pocket expenditure is still high in most countries.Swaminathan said that among other projects India needs to take up, it needs to consider introducing at least a mandatory single-dose vaccine against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), as research has shown that even a single dose significantly reduces the possibility of developing cervical cancer.

Muthulakshmi Reddy started the Adyar Cancer Institute as a four-bed unit in 1954, and Dr S Krishnamurthy, her son, became her natural heir there. He took over as director in 1959 and the Institute has grown to 450 beds now. He has contributed immensely to the growth of the institute and medical technology in India. In 1970, the government awarded him the Padma Shri. From 1965, he was on one or more committees of the World Health Organization up until 1982. In 1983, he became a member of the Advisory Committee on Cancer Control and Planning of the Central government. He passed away on July 2, 2010.
Clair S. Tritt, 99, of Carlisle, passed away on Friday, January 3, 2020 at the Thornwald Home.

Born June 26, 1920 in Centerville, PA, he was the son of the late Albert C. and Elnora J. (March) Tritt. He was the widower of Geraldine (Smith) Tritt and Mary A. (Rohrer) Tritt, to whom he had been married for 61 years.

Mr. Tritt was retired from the former Ships Parts Control Center, Mechanicsburg after 31 years of service, where he was a Procurement Technician in the Nuclear Equipment Support Division. After graduating from Carlisle High School, Class of 1939, he honorably served his country in the U. S. Navy during WWII. During his service he became a certified electrician. After his release from active service he was employed by United Telephone, Carlisle, where he met his second wife, who was a telephone operator.

Clair was a 81 year member of the former Empire Hook & Ladder Company, Carlisle, where he was a relief driver on the weekends. Mr. Tritt served many years as a member and officer of the Carlisle Special Fire Police. He was also a 70 year member of Carlisle Lodge #260 F&AM (formerly Cumberland Star Lodge #197), Carlisle, the Harrisburg Consistory and Zembo Shrine, A.A.O.N.M.S. He was a life member of VFW Post #477, Carlisle and was a member of the Lazy Eight Club, serving as Vice President in 1938.

Mr. Tritt was also the former owner of Fire Extinguishers Sales & Service, Carlisle and ran his own sharpening service for many years. He also served as an instructor for fire extinguisher demonstrations.

He was a longtime member of the First Church of the Brethren, Carlisle.

He was preceded in death by two brothers: W. Wayne Tritt and Ray L. Tritt, a sister: Marie Mischitz and a grandson, Toby W. Mackey.

Surviving are his children: Adele Kay Miller, Robyn T. Wampler (David), Maralynn Molly Mackey and Clair R. Butch Tritt, all of Carlisle and Dwight A. Ike Tritt (Patrice) of Boiling Springs; eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 1:00 P. M. at the First Church of the Brethren, 1340 Forge Road, Carlisle with Pastor Jerry Underkoffler officiating, followed immediately by Fire Department Honors. Visitation will follow at 1:30 P. M. In the church social hall. Burial, with military honors, will be at the discretion of the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Carlisle Fire & Rescue Services, 177 Spring Road, Carlisle, 17013

To express an on-liine condolence, please visit www.ronanfh.com.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : Hitting out at the opposition on Tuesday, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar accused them of creating disturbance in the country, and asserted that there is peace in Kashmir and the world has accepted India's stance.

"Some people are spreading anarchy and misconceptions in the country. Soon these people will be exposed," Javadekar said in the wake of JNU violence followed by large scale protests across India.

He also claimed: "The Congress, which has been using the minorities as vote bank for decades, is now trying to divide the country on communal lines." He directly hit out at former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for his controversial tweet. He was referring to a tweet by Gogoi where the Congress leader made the "Hindu Jinnah" comment.

He added that Sunday's JNU violence was already being investigated. Amid the protests against the attack at the campus there were a few posters and slogans also raised on Kashmir.
ARENZVILLE  The body of a 57-year-old East St. Louis man was found north of Arenzville on Saturday in an apparent suicide.

The body of Corwyn Williams was found Saturday morning by Cass County Sheriffs deputies; the body was in a crashed vehicle and had suffered a gunshot wound, according to the Illinois State Police.
TENDER N 01/VSARL/2020

BIDDERS PACK

Instructions



SUPPLY OF MEDIUM AND LOW VOLTAGE ELECTRIC POLES

Nature of tender : Supplies contract

Date of publication : 07/01/2020

Date of contract signature : 27/01/2020

Procedure : International open tender



1. Context



The Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) has concluded a management contract with VIRUNGA FOUNDATION, an NGO under British law, to manage the Virunga National Park. It is a "Public-Private Partnership" lasting 25 years (until 2040). This contract assigns two main missions to VIRUNGA FOUNDATION namely the sustainable management of the Park and the economic and social development of the populations living around the Park.



As part of this second mission, VIRUNGA FOUNDATION has set up the Virunga Alliance, a development program supported by the Park, but also and above all by public authorities, civil society and the private sector within the province of North Kivu. This program is developed around three components: energy, tourism and agriculture.



In its energy component, the Virunga Alliance would target a future production of more than 100 MW of hydropower (included in the priority action plan and the five-year plan for growth and employment in the province of North Kivu) through the construction of eight hydroelectric power plants. To date, the Mutwanga I (1.4 MW) and Matebe (13.8 MW) power plants are operational. The Luviro power plant (14.6 MW) is under construction in Lubero.



To achieve this mission and in accordance with Congolese law that requires private companies involved in the electricity sector, VIRUNGA FOUNDATION has created the company VIRUNGA SARL, specializing in the construction and operations of hydroelectric power plants as well as the sale and distribution of electricity in the province of North Kivu. VIRUNGA SARL is a private company incorporated under Congolese law in 2013 and wholly owned by VIRUNGA SPRL, a Belgian company. VIRUNGA FOUNDATION wholly owns the latter. VIRUNGA SARL acts under an institutional framework of the 25-year management contract between ICCN and VIRUNGA FOUNDATION.



In accordance with this contract, a 50% share of Virunga SARL's profit is transferred to the ICCN General Directorate in order to pursue the conservation objectives at the Virunga National Park and other parks in the country. The other 50% share is allocated to the Virunga Community Fund which deals with economic and social development around the Park. As a result, VIRUNGA SARL is a social enterprise whose purpose is not to enrich its shareholders, but to realize its cause of conservation and development around the Park.



In accordance with the Congolese law, VIRUNGA SARL obtained from the competent authority (the Province of North Kivu) an energy production concession at the Matebe power plant and a distribution concession in the territories of Rutshuru and Nyiragongo. It has also obtained

the Certificate of Environmental Acceptance. Over the past years, VIRUNGA SARL has distributed electricity from the Matebe and Mutwanga power stations to more than 6,000 customers in companies and households. All "low voltage" customers are prepaid.



Furthermore VIRUNGA SARL has obtained a distribution concession in certain districts of the city of Goma. The concession area represents approximately 500,000 inhabitants of the northern districts of the city (Majengo, Kasika, Katoyi, North Mabanga, Ndosho) as well as in the Keshero district.



VIRUNGA SARL has also concluded an agreement with the Coordination and Management Unit of the Ministry of Hydraulic Resources and Electricity, which manages the World Bank projects: "Investment grant agreement relating to the deployment of the distribution network and the connection in electric power of 6,000 households in Goma City and Nyiragongo Territory ". The construction project of this new electricity distribution network in Goma is co-financed by the European Union and the World Bank.



It is within the framework of the implementation of this project that this international open tender is published in order to find a suitable supplier of medium and low voltage electric poles for the construction of the electricity distribution network in Kimbulu, Musienene and Lubero.



2. Financing

European Union and the World Bank



3. Contracting authority Virunga SARL



4. Brief description of the contract

The subject of the contract is the supply by the contractor(s) of medium and low voltage electric poles as per the minimum technical specifications accompanying this document.



To be delivered: Either CIF Dar Es Salam Tanzania or CIF Mombasa Kenya.



5. Eligibility and rule of origin As part of the co-financing of the European Union (EU) and the World Bank (WB) for the construction of an electricity distribution network in the city of Kimbulu, Musienene and Lubero, participation in this tender is open to all natural persons who are nationals of an EU Member State or of a country eligible for the financing instrument for which the activity is financed, and to legal persons actually established there.



In submitting their offers, natural persons must indicate the country of which they are nationals and legal persons must indicate the country in which they are established.



Note that bidders must be compliant with all relevant national and local regulations in order to not face exclusion from this tender and evidence of compliance may be requested by the contracting authority.

The goods supplied under this tender - co-financed by the EU and the WB - must come from an eligible country as designated by the applicable financing instrument. When submitting their bids, bidders must quote the country or countries of origin of the goods offered.



6. Grounds for exclusion

Bidders must submit the signed declaration to the effect that they are not in any of the exclusion situations listed in Annex 1.



Bidders included in the lists of EU restrictive measures (see www.sanctionsmap.eu) at the moment of the award decision cannot be awarded the contract.



The Bidders and, if they are legal entities, persons who have powers of representation, decision-making or control over them, are informed that, should they be in one of the situations of early detection or exclusion, their personal details (name, given name if natural person, address, legal form and name and given name of the persons with powers of representation, decision-making or control, if legal person) may be registered in the early detection and exclusion system, and communicated to the persons and entities listed in the above-mentioned decision, in relation to the award or the execution of a procurement contract.



7. Procedure and timetable



During this procedure, VIRUNGA SARL will send the Bidders Pack directly to potential bidders and it will also be published onto Congo Media and on the Virungas web site. Each Bidder will have the opportunity to request clarifications from VIRUNGA SARL via e-mail.



VIRUNGA SARL will treat all Bidders equally and ensure that any additional information relevant to the procedure arising as a result of requests for clarifications will be shared with all those who have received the Bidders pack, so as to not distort competition or have a discriminatory effect.



Timetable:

07 January 2020: Bidders receive the bidders pack with all the relevant information currently available regarding the tender.

07 January 2020  17 January 2020: Each bidder may request clarifications via e-mail. VIRUNGA SARL will respond to enquiries as soon as possible in order to allow bidders to finalize as quickly as possible their offers.

20 January 2020 at 17h00, DRC-Goma local time: Bidders submit their offers.

22 January 2020: Opening of offers by the evaluation committee at 09h00, DRC-Goma local time. Notification of award and negotiation with the successful bidder.

27 January 2020: Contract signature, payment of first invoice and project kick-off.

8. How offers may be submitted

Offers must be sent to VIRUNGA SARL before the deadline specified in article 7. They must include all the documents specified in article 10 of these Instructions and be sent to nkatshayi@virunga.org with fchaudoir@virunga.org and jcdonck@virunga.org and in copy, specifying the publication reference in the title of the email.

Click here to download the complete file - ZIP format
WASHINGTON - The National Academy of Engineering announced today that the 2020 Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering will be awarded to Jean Frechet and C. Grant Willson "for the invention, development, and commercialization of chemically amplified materials for micro- and nanofabrication, enabling the extreme miniaturization of microelectronic devices." The $500,000 biennial award is given to engineers whose accomplishments have significantly benefited society.

The Draper Prize will be presented at a gala dinner event in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020.

"I will be honored to present this year's Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering to Jean Frechet and C. Grant Willson for their groundbreaking invention," said NAE President John L. Anderson. "You can see the tangible impact of their work just by looking at your phone, computer, or many other digital devices made possible by the creation of this photoresist material."

The chemically amplified resist (CAR) materials created by Frechet and Willson are used in lithography to form the minute structures that make up today's semiconductor devices. These materials are now used to manufacture nearly all of the microprocessors and memory chips that enable electronic devices such as personal computers, mobile phones, and motor vehicles.

At the time of the invention of CAR materials, the semiconductor industry was approaching a limit. The existing lithography process and the available resist materials being used in the fabrication process could not form the smaller images required to continue improving devices. Use of light with shorter wavelengths were preferred to achieve higher resolution, but such light sources were very weak in output in those days. The method of chemically amplifying resist materials developed by Willson and Frechet provided higher sensitivity, which improved production efficiency by reducing photo irradiation time required for image formation, and enabled the production of much smaller structures.

Jean Frechet is an expert in polymers, well known for his work on dendrimers, separation media, polymer therapeutics, and other technologies. His work has garnered over 120,000 citations (Google Scholar). After retiring from the University of California, Berkeley, Frechet joined the newly created King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in 2010 as its first vice president for research. He retired in January 2019 as senior vice president for research, innovation, and economic development. A member of the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Sciences, Frechet has been selected for numerous international honors, including the American Chemical Society (ACS) Arthur C. Cope Award, Erasmus Medal, French Grand Prix de la Maison de la Chimie, Japan Prize (shared with Willson), and King Faisal International Prize in Chemistry. He received his B.S. in chemical engineering from the Institut de Chimie et Physique Industrielles, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in polymer chemistry from both the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Syracuse University.

C. Grant Willson is a professor of chemical engineering and chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, where he holds the Rashid Engineering Regent's Chair. His research, supported by grants from both government and industry, focuses on the design and synthesis of functional organic materials with emphasis on organic materials for microelectronics. He joined the faculty of UT Austin in 1993 after working at IBM for 17 years; when he left he was an IBM Fellow and manager of Polymer Science and Technology at the IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose. Willson's research has been recognized with numerous honors. He was presented with the National Medal for Technology and Innovation (2008) by the president of the United States and in 2013 shared the Japan Prize (with Frechet). He was the recipient of the NAS Award for Chemistry in Service to Society and from ACS he has received the Polymer Science, Applied Polymer Science, Chemistry of Materials, and Heroes in Chemistry awards, among others. Willson is a fellow of ACS, Materials Research Society, Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering, American Society for Engineering Education, and Society of Petroleum Engineers. He received both his B.S. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and his M.S. from San Diego State University, all in organic chemistry.

The Draper Prize was established and endowed in 1988 at the request of the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, Mass., to honor the memory of "Doc" Draper, the "father of inertial navigation," and to increase public understanding of the contributions of engineering and technology. The prize is awarded biennially.

###

The mission of the NAE is to advance the well-being of the nation by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and by marshalling the expertise and insights of eminent engineers to provide independent advice to the federal government on matters involving engineering and technology. The NAE is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, an independent, nonprofit organization chartered by Congress to provide objective analysis and advice to the nation on matters of science, technology, and health.

Contacts:

Randy Atkins

202-334-1508; email RAtkins@nae.edu

Brandon Green

202-334-2226; email BGreen@nas.edu
Prosecutors in Japan on Tuesday obtained an arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn, wife of former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, who last month jumped bail and fled the country.

The warrant was issued as the fallout from the escape of one of Japan's most high-profile criminal suspects continues, with authorities pledging tighter border controls and seizing the bail money that Ghosn forfeited by fleeing the country.

He had been facing trial in Japan on charges of financial misconduct, which he denies, before fleeing the country in late December for Lebanon, where he was reunited with his wife.

In a statement, prosecutors said they had obtained the warrant on suspicion that Carole Ghosn "made false statements" during April testimony to the Tokyo district court about meetings with an unnamed individual.

Carlos Ghosn had been freed on bail after agreeing to strict conditions, with prosecutors arguing he posed a flight risk.

The conditions included restrictions on contact with Carole, which was reportedly among the reasons he decided to jump bail and flee the country in an elaborately planned escape that has outraged Japanese officials.

A spokesperson for the Ghosn family called the warrant "pathetic" and implied it was a response to a press conference the tycoon is due to give in Beirut on Wednesday.

Ghosn's second wife, Carole vocally led the campaign for her husband's freedom, insisting on his innocence and slamming Japanese prosecutors for what she deemed ill-treatment after his shock November 19, 2018 arrest.

She was initially prevented from seeing her husband, who was held in detention for more than 100 days after his arrest, and petitioned everyone from French President Emmanuel Macron to the White House in seeking his release.

Ghosn, a globe-trotting auto mogul who was once a giant of the industry, accuses executives at Japanese automaker Nissan of manufacturing the allegations against him in a "plot" to prevent closer integration with alliance partner Renault.

The warrant for Carole's arrest comes as Japanese authorities piece together how Ghosn was able to evade surveillance and airport security.

Snippets have emerged suggesting he was aided by a security expert, and took advantage of loopholes in security at Japan's Kansai airport.

He appears to have left his residence in Tokyo, which was monitored by surveillance cameras under his bail conditions, alone. He reportedly later met up with two US citizens and boarded a bullet train to Osaka on December 29.

In Osaka, he is reported to have been put into a large box with holes drilled into it to ensure he could breathe and then loaded onto a private jet that flew to Istanbul.

Airport security rules meant large items loaded onto private planes were exempt from screening -- a loophole that appears to have allowed Ghosn to escape unnoticed.

In Istanbul, he boarded a second private jet that took him to Lebanon, where he entered on a French passport.

Under his bail conditions, his French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports were confiscated and held by his lawyers.

But he was allowed to retain a second French passport -- in a locked case with the key held by his lawyers -- so he could prove his short-term visa status if needed when travelling in Japan -- which was allowed in the terms of his bail.

His lawyers in Japan said they had no idea about Ghosn's plans to escape, with his lead attorney saying he learnt of the from the media.

Interpol, the international police cooperation body, has issued a "red notice" for Carlos Ghosn's arrest, but Beirut and Tokyo do not have an extradition treaty.

It was not immediately clear whether a similar notice would be issued for Carole Ghosn.

The shock arrest of the leading executive rocked the auto industry, where he was once a leading figure credited with turning around Nissan.

Ghosn alleges the case against him was manufactured by disgruntled Nissan executives and Japanese officials opposed to his plans to more closely integrate the firm with Renault. He is due to give a press conference in Beirut on Wednesday, and has told Fox Business that he has "actual evidence" that will prove the charges were a plot against him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Students For Life Ireland, a pro-life student group, have called on the Health Minister, Simon Harris, to prioritise the ever growing health crisis over legislation creating 'safe access zones' around hospitals.

Speaking in response to the Health Ministers recent remarks on exclusion zones, spokesperson for the group, 21-year-old Luke Silke, a student in NUI Galway, suggested the Minister would be better served dealing with the health crisis.

"Any time the Health Minister gets into political difficulty, whenever there is talk of no confidence motions or negativity of any kind, he immediately reverts back to the abortion issue and takes to twitter, as we saw during the week, to self-congratulate himself on successfully repealing all constitutional protection for the unborn child.

Mr Silke went on to say Students For Life Ireland felt the government wqere not doing enough to ensure that women in crisis situations do not feel that abortion is their only option.

"Supports must be put in place to ensure that women in crisis pregnancies do not feel pressurised financially to have an abortion, he said.

Mr Silke said the protests outside hospital were pro-life groups last chance people to offer women such supports.

"Exclusion zones would prevent us from doing this. Students For Life Ireland do feel that there is a deliberate attempt by the Minister and abortion campaigners to stereotype or pigeonhole us. The use of the term safe access zones by campaigners and the Minister is deliberately inflammatory  it implies that pro-life people are a dangerous threat, which is an incredibly unfair way to depict a sizeable chunk of the voting public.

"There is nothing safe about abortion, it is the only procedure performed by a doctor which is deemed a failure if the baby survives, and a success if the babys life is ended.

The group went on to say it has always been of the view that sensitivity is warranted during vigils outside abortion-providing clinics or hospitals, and that no woman should ever face harassment.

"We share the Garda Commissioners view, however, that the existing legislation around harassment is sufficient and we believe that an introduction of exclusion zones would be unconstitutional and undemocratic.

"Last year the government voted against some very humane amendments to the abortion bill, which were tabled by pro-life politicians. An amendment seeking to ensure that the unborn be granted pain relief prior to late term abortion was defeated. These zones are not safe zones for the human beings, no different to us but in size, whose lives are being ended within the zones, he concluded.
Yesterdaytwo years, three months, and one day after Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, of the New York Times, published the bombshell investigation of Harvey Weinstein that ignited the #MeToo movementWeinstein entered a courtroom in Manhattan for the first day of his criminal trial. The weight of expectation hung heavy: Weinstein remains a byword for an ongoing global reckoning with sexual abuse, and his is the first major #MeToo case to go before a US criminal jury. On the eve of the trial, Kantor and Twohey, writing with Jan Ransom, acknowledged this symbolism. But they urged circumspection. The outcome already is anticipated as a verdict on much more than one mans alleged wrongdoing, they wrote, yet the jurors will be hearing a narrow legal case, with an already-fraught back story and a highly unpredictable result.

Dozens of women have publicly accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct, but the trial will hinge on just two of them: Mimi Haleyi, a former production assistant who has accused Weinstein of forced oral sex, and an anonymous woman who says he raped her. A third alleged victim was dropped from the case. Others declined to participate, or couldnt, due to New Yorks statute of limitations and geographical jurisdiction. In their piece, Kantor, Twohey, and Ransom stressed that the trial could look very different from the picture weve built of Weinstein since the fall of 2017. I cant think of another case where the defendant comes into trial at a larger disadvantage in terms of perception, Mark A. Bederow, a former prosecutor, told them. But evidence in the courtroom very often is not the evidence that appears in the public realm.

ICYMI: Sleepwalking into 2020

The public realmled, importantly, by its pressis still in play, of course. This week, The Cut, a vertical at New York magazine, put Weinsteins victims front and center. As part of a special package, Amelia Schonbek listed the 100 women who have accused Weinstein of wrongdoing, and Irin Carmon spoke with several of them, to put the trial in perspective. A photo portfolio by Amanda Demme illustrates the package; it shows 21 of Weinsteins accusers, dressed in black, with their hands on their hips and their arms linked. I think were at a really interesting moment, Carmon told CNNs Brian Stelter on Sunday. Media and journalism is kind of how we got to this point, and I think that [Weinsteins accusers] are aware that by coming together, they can also fight back the narrative thats gonna be laid out by Harveys defense at the trial.

Carmon continued: I think its important to recognize at this moment that the press actually was a weapon that Harvey Weinstein used for a very long time toin their viewintimidate women, keep them silent, plant stories about them. The extreme tactics Weinstein used to impede damaging stories about him have been well documentednot least in books by Kantor and Twohey and by Ronan Farrow, whose New Yorker expose of Weinstein followed Kantor and Twoheys by a few days. Yesterday, Carmon made clear that she wasnt just talking in the past tense. When she approached Weinsteins publicist for comment on The Cuts package, she wrote, she was sent a 57-slide PowerPoint presentation, titled The Proper Narrative for Addressing the Harvey Weinstein Case; the file praised Weinsteins huge heart and dumped on the credibility of his accusers. As his trial neared, Weinstein also took to more conventional media channels to defend himself. Last month, he broke his long public silence with an interview with the New York Posts Page Six, in which he painted himself as a pioneering champion of women in Hollywood. Last week, he exchanged emails with CNNs Chloe Melas, in which he bashed the media. (As Melas notes, Weinstein may soon be silenced by a court gag order.)

As it progresses, Weinsteins trial will shed light on an interesting dynamic: what happens when the court of public opinion meets actual court. It calls to mind a piece from August 2019, in which Dahlia Lithwick, a legal writer for Slate, praised #MeToo-era reporting for righting legal failures, but argued that journalism is ultimately no substitute for due process. In the court of public opinion, those accused of wrongdoing are being punished according to their own thresholds for shame and their best guesses about what behaviors the public will toleratea situation that does no one any favors. The quantum of shame heaped on the accused is decreasing with time, Lithwick wrote. If all that happens as a result of #MeToo is public and journalistic opprobrium, it will go from being a pathway for meaningful justice that has eluded victims to a lose-lose scenario for truth and for change.

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As the first named perpetrator of the #MeToo moment, Weinstein continues to attract its greatest quantum of public shame. As we watch his trial unfold, we should keep in mind that that quantum may not always mirror what were witnessing, because journalistic and legal standards arent the same. And we should work to reconcile the tensions between two equally true propositions: that we should want people credibly accused of criminal conduct to face our judicial institutions, and that the outcome in Weinsteins casewhatever it iswont diminish what justice was achieved in the brilliant reporting of Kantor, Twohey, Farrow, and others.

Not that this trials outcome will be the end of Weinsteins legal woes. Yesterday, as he sat in court in New York, prosecutors in LA unexpectedly charged him with four further counts of rape and sexual battery. (As Kantor put it on Twitter, they allege that Weinstein literally raped and assaulted women day after day.) The district attorney in the LA case suggested it would not meaningfully proceed until the New York case has wrapped up. The glare of journalistic scrutiny will never leave Harvey Weinstein. It looks like the glare of legal scrutiny is here to stay, too.

Below, more on Harvey Weinstein:

Centering the victims: Yesterday, several of Weinsteins accusers, including the actors Rose McGowan and Rosanna Arquette, addressed a press conference outside court. The Financial Times put a big picture of McGowan on its front pagea break from the ubiquitous imagery of Weinstein entering court on a walker.

Yesterday, several of Weinsteins accusers, including the actors Rose McGowan and Rosanna Arquette, addressed a press conference outside court. The Financial Times put a big picture of McGowan on its front pagea break from the ubiquitous imagery of Weinstein entering court on a walker. Broadening the trial: While the trial centers on two alleged victims of Weinstein, one of the charges at issue is predatory sexual assault, which involves a broader pattern of wrongdoing, and carries a possible life sentence. In the run-up to the trial, prosecutors were granted the right to call three more women to testify to this pattern; they will include the actor Annabella Sciorra, who alleges that Weinstein raped her. As Carmon notes, such additional witnesses were a key element in the conviction of Bill Cosby in 2018.

While the trial centers on two alleged victims of Weinstein, one of the charges at issue is predatory sexual assault, which involves a broader pattern of wrongdoing, and carries a possible life sentence. In the run-up to the trial, prosecutors were granted the right to call three more women to testify to this pattern; they will include the actor Annabella Sciorra, who alleges that Weinstein raped her. As Carmon notes, such additional witnesses were a key element in the conviction of Bill Cosby in 2018. Global news: Megan Garber writes, for The Atlantic, that Weinstein haunted this years Golden Globes, which were awarded on Sunday, the eve of Weinsteins trial. Two years ago, the Globes insisted that changemeaningful, systemic, permanenthad come to Hollywood. This years message was different: Time may be up, but time also has a way of regressing to the mean. Vanessa Friedman, fashion critic for the Times, was more upbeat: Sundays red carpet, she wrote, signaled a break from the days of Weinstein, and opened a decade that could see awards show fashion finally break free.



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: The top words of 2019

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Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
Veronica Torres-Martinez As an employee, I feel supported by all levels of the business and have seen firsthand how we invest and grow leadership internally.

Bridgepoint Consulting, an Addison Group company and a leading management consulting firm that helps organizations drive innovation and successful business transformations, today announced it has promoted Veronica Torres-Martinez to Director in the Houston market.

In her new role, Torres-Martinez will help propel the companys growth strategy and rich network of high-quality consultants in the Houston market alongside Ross Goolsby. Together, they will provide a broad array of services including post-acquisition integration, business process improvement, data analytics, technical accounting, systems implementation & integration and revenue recognition, to help middle-market organizations achieve optimal scalability and operational efficiency.

Prior to her new role, Torres-Martinez was a Senior Consultant at Bridgepoint where she worked with clients to implement holistic technology solutions to improve their operations. As a Bridgepoint employee for nearly five years, she is familiar with the firms core values and her promotion upholds Bridgepoints desire to grow strong leaders from within.

At Bridgepoint, our focus has been on growth and innovation for both our own firm and our clients, so they can remain competitive in todays evolving digital economy, said Manuel Azuara, Principal of Bridgepoint Consulting. With our newest office opening in Denver this summer as well as expansions across Texas in the past years, our growth is evident, and we plan to elevate our potential even further in the future. With Veronica as the new Director in Houston, were laying the foundation to ensure this growth continues. Were eager for her to start her new position and are looking forward to whats in store for 2020.

Bridgepoint has marked the last 20 years with growth that spans acquisitions, industry vertical service offerings and geographic expansion. Throughout that time, the firm has served more than 2,500 clients and built a strong culture that prioritizes the learning and development of its employees. By giving employees access to different practice areas and industries, Bridgepoint has built a reputation for having a depth of knowledge in financial operations and, when combined with its full scope of technology expertise, helps organizations create holistic, long-term and scalable solutions.

Bridgepoint has built a collaborative and trusting environment with very talented individuals, said Torres-Martinez. As an employee, I feel supported by all levels of the business and have seen firsthand how we invest and grow leadership internally. Im excited to work with such a talented team in Houston to maintain our unique culture and to continue to deliver leading-edge solutions to help our clients transform their operations and amplify growth.

About Bridgepoint Consulting

Bridgepoint Consulting, an Addison Group company, is a leading management consulting firm that helps organizations throughout their business lifecycle. Offering a broad range of finance, technology and risk/compliance services, Bridgepoint supports clients from the startup phase all the way to IPO readiness and beyond. Since 1999, the firm has been helping executives and management teams reduce their business and operational risks, bridge resource gaps and improve overall performance. Whether an organization needs interim expertise to improve infrastructure and processes, or strategic management of a major transition or transaction, Bridgepoints team of over 170 industry leaders is able to provide the critical support needed to ensure success. The firm is headquartered in Austin, with offices in Dallas and Houston and the capability to deliver solutions across the US. To learn more about Bridgepoint Consulting and how it can help serve your organization, please visit https://bridgepointconsulting.com.
New Delhi: Central trade unions have organised a Bharat Bandh on January 8 to protest against the central government policies, but the West Bengal government has directed the state employees to desist from taking part in the strike.

A memorandum issued by Finance (Audit) Department of West Bengal government on Monday said, "In view of call given by different trade unions and others for a 24 hours All India Industrial strike on January 8, it has been decided that all state government offices including those provided grants-in-aid by state government shall remain open and all the employees shall report for duty on that date."

Notably, the nationwide strike is likely to hit banking sectors, including ATM services, as bank unions have asked their employees to boycott their work. Trade unions reportedly claimed that about 25 crore people would participate in the nationwide strike.

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The Bharat Bandh 2020 is being organised to protest against the Central government's recent banking reforms and policies. The other demands include a hike in the minimum wage to Rs 21,000-Rs 24,000 per month, stop the privatisation of public sector undertakings, and the repeal of the Citizens Amendment Act, National Register for Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR).

The Mamata government's memorandum also directed that no casual leave for absence either in the first half of the day or in the second half or for the whole day nor any other leave shall be granted to any employee on the said date.

Those employees who are on leave January 7, have also been asked to report for duty on the day. "It has also been decided that strike/bandh day, no leave for the day preceding the bandh day i.e January 7 and for the day following the strike/bandh day i.e January 9 shall be allowed," the memorandum said.

The state government has said that the absence of employees on that day will be treated as `dies-non` and no salary will be admissible unless such absence is covered by reasons such as hospitalisation and bereavement in the family.

The trade unions are also against the proposed merger of 10 PSU banks to create four entities as announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in August 2018.

Earlier in September 2019, the trade unions including INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with other sectoral independent federations and associations had adopted a resolution to go on a nationwide strike on January 8, 2020.

The strike is expected to draw huge numbers as about 60 student organisations and elected representatives from some universities will also take part to raise voice against increased fees and commercialization of education, besides raising the issue of JNU violence and similar incidents in university campuses in the country.
We start the year off with a focus on crisis communications, including profiles of 28 specialists plus advice and strategy from thought leaders. Also, check out the issue's PR Buyer's Guide to find the products and services you need in 2020.

O'Dwyer's magazine is in its 34th year. A different area of PR is examined each month. Issues include practice-area specific feature stories as well as profiles of PR firms with strengths in the focus area of the month.

The agency profiles constitute the ideal starting point for companies beginning their search for PR counsel.

2020 Editorial Calendar:

Jan., Crisis Comms. & PR Buyer's Guide

Mar., Food & Beverage PR

May, PR Firm Rankings

Jul., Travel & International PR

Aug., Financial PR/IR & Prof. Svcs. PR

Oct., Healthcare & Medical PR

Nov., Technology PR

O'Dwyer's magazine is available for free download to our 60,000+ visitors per month. Contact magazine editor Jon Gingerich, jon@odwyerpr.com, for info on any of our upcoming issues.
A seven-month old baby boy has frozen to death after his mother placed him in a buggy and left him outside in Russia.

The child was exposed to temperatures of -7C for around five hours in the far-east Khabarovsk region, officials said.

Local media said his 40-year-old mother placed him on the balcony so he could sleep in the fresh air in the town of Nikolayevsk-on-Amur.

She reportedly then forgot about him and only remembered to check on him five hours later.

He showed no signs of life when she brought him inside and could not be revived.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

A criminal investigation has been launched into the death.

A preliminary report suggested the cause was hypothermia.

The regions health ministry advised people not to leave young children outside unattended, the BBC reported.

Always know where and with whom [your child] is, the ministry said.

Do not pass by if another child is in danger  in winter a child who is lost or injured on the street can very quickly become a victim of low temperatures.

Leaving children to sleep outdoors is surprisingly common in some countries with colder climates. Some parents believe that children sleep better and for longer when left outside, and exposing children to the fresh air is thought to help prevent coughs and colds.
[January 07, 2020] CoreLogic Reports November Home Prices Increased by 3.7% Year Over Year

CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX), a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today released the CoreLogic Home Price Index (HPI (News - Alert)) and HPI Forecast for November 2019, which shows home prices rose both year over year and month over month. Home prices increased nationally by 3.7% from November 2018. On a month-over-month basis, prices increased by 0.5% in November 2019. (October 2019 data was revised. Revisions with public records data are standard, and to ensure accuracy, CoreLogic incorporates the newly released public data to provide updated results each month.) This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005313/en/ CoreLogic Home Price Change & MCI by Select Metro Area; Nov. 2019 (Graphic: Business Wire) Home prices continue to increase on an annual basis with the CoreLogic HPI Forecast indicating annual price growth will be 5.3% from November 2019 to November 2020. On a month-over-month basis, the forecast calls for home prices to increase by 0.2% from November 2019 to December 2019, which would mark a new peak in prices since the last U.S. recorded peak in April 2006. The CoreLogic HPI Forecast is a projection of home prices calculated using the CoreLogic HPI and other economic variables. Values are derived from state-level forecasts by weighting indices according to the number of owner-occupied households for each state. "The latest U.S. index shows that the slowdown in home prices we saw in early 2019 ended by late summer," said Dr. Frank Nothaft, chief economist at CoreLogic. "Growth in the U.S. index quickened in November and posted the largest 12-month gain since February. The decline in mortgage rates, down more than one percentage point for fixed-rate loans from November 2018, has supported a rise in sales activity and home prices." According to the CoreLogic Market Condition Indicators (MCI), an analysis of housing values in the country's 100 largest metropolitan areas based on housing stock, 34% of metropolitan areas have an overvalued housing market as of November 2019. The MCI analysis categorizes home prices in individual markets as undervalued, at value or overvalued, by comparing home prices to their long-run, sustainable levels, which are supported by local market fundamentals such as disposable income. As of November 2019, 27% of the top 100 metropolitan areas were undervalued, and 39% were at value. When looking at only the top 50 markets based on housing stock, 40% were overvalued, 20% were undervalued and 40% were at value in November 2019. The MCI analysis defines an overvalued housing markt as one in which home prices are at least 10% above the long-term, sustainable level. An undervalued housing market is one in which home prices are at least 10% below the sustainable level.



During the second quarter of 2019, CoreLogic, together with RTi Research of Norwalk, Connecticut, conducted an extensive survey measuring consumer-housing sentiment among millennials. The study showed that a significant number of older millennials (ages 30-38) are strongly considering moving within the next 12 months, with 64% of this cohort expecting to purchase a home, reinforcing this group's interest in the housing market. Meanwhile, 57% of younger millennials (ages 21-29) plan on renting their next home. Despite the purchase intent among older millennials, nearly half (43%) still view homeownership as unaffordable and out of reach. "We're continuing to see a split among older and younger millennials when it comes to their plans to purchase a home," said Frank Martell, president and CEO of CoreLogic. "While older millennials are looking forward to participating in the housing market in the future, their younger counterparts don't see themselves buying a home anytime soon. With home prices expected to rise just over 5% over the next 12 months, affordability remains a concern for most prospective buyers."

The next CoreLogic HPI press release, featuring December 2019 data, will be issued on Tuesday, February 4, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. ET. Methodology The CoreLogic HPI is built on industry-leading public record, servicing and securities real-estate databases and incorporates more than 40 years of repeat-sales transactions for analyzing home price trends. Generally released on the first Tuesday of each month with an average five-week lag, the CoreLogic HPI is designed to provide an early indication of home price trends by market segment and for the "Single-Family Combined" tier, representing the most comprehensive set of properties, including all sales for single-family attached and single-family detached properties. The indices are fully revised with each release and employ techniques to signal turning points sooner. The CoreLogic HPI provides measures for multiple market segments, referred to as tiers, based on property type, price, time between sales, loan type (conforming vs. non-conforming) and distressed sales. Broad national coverage is available from the national level down to ZIP Code, including non-disclosure states. CoreLogic HPI Forecasts are based on a two-stage, error-correction econometric model that combines the equilibrium home price-as a function of real disposable income per capita-with short-run fluctuations caused by market momentum, mean-reversion, and exogenous economic shocks like changes in the unemployment rate. With a 30-year forecast horizon, CoreLogic HPI Forecasts project CoreLogic HPI levels for two tiers - "Single-Family Combined" (both attached and detached) and "Single-Family Combined Excluding Distressed Sales." As a companion to the CoreLogic HPI Forecasts, Stress-Testing Scenarios align with Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR) national scenarios to project five years of home prices under baseline, adverse and severely adverse scenarios at state, metropolitan areas and ZIP Code levels. The forecast accuracy represents a 95% statistical confidence interval with a +/- 2% margin of error for the index. About the CoreLogic Consumer Housing Sentiment Study In the second quarter of 2019, 877 renters and homeowners were surveyed by CoreLogic together with RTi Research. This study is a quarterly pulse of U.S. housing market dynamics. Each quarter, the research focuses on a different issue related to current housing topics. This first quarterly study concentrated on consumer sentiment within high-priced markets. The survey has a sampling error of +/- 3.1% at the total respondent level with a 95% confidence level. About RTi Research RTi Research is an innovative, global market research and brand strategy consultancy headquartered in Norwalk, CT. Founded in 1979, RTi has been consistently recognized by the American Marketing Association as one of the top 50 U.S. insights companies. The company serves a broad base of leading firms in Financial Services, Consumer Goods, and Pharmaceuticals as well as partnering with leading academic centers of excellence. Source (News - Alert): CoreLogic The data provided are for use only by the primary recipient or the primary recipient's publication or broadcast. This data may not be resold, republished or licensed to any other source, including publications and sources owned by the primary recipient's parent company without prior written permission from CoreLogic. Any CoreLogic data used for publication or broadcast, in whole or in part, must be sourced as coming from CoreLogic, a data and analytics company. For use with broadcast or web content, the citation must directly accompany first reference of the data. If the data are illustrated with maps, charts, graphs or other visual elements, the CoreLogic logo must be included on screen or website. For questions, analysis or interpretation of the data, contact Allyse Sanchez at [email protected]. Data provided may not be modified without the prior written permission of CoreLogic. Do not use the data in any unlawful manner. The data are compiled from public records, contributory databases and proprietary analytics, and its accuracy is dependent upon these sources. About CoreLogic CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX), the leading provider of property insights and solutions, promotes a healthy housing market and thriving communities. Through its enhanced property data solutions, services and technologies, CoreLogic enables real estate professionals, financial institutions, insurance carriers, government agencies and other housing market participants to help millions of people find, acquire and protect their homes. For more information, please visit www.corelogic.com. CORELOGIC, the CoreLogic logo, CoreLogic HPI and CoreLogic HPI Forecast are trademarks of CoreLogic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005313/en/

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By Stanley Widianto

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia will mobilise fishermen to join warships in the South China Sea to help defend against Chinese vessels, the government said on Monday, as the biggest stand-off with China for years escalated off Southeast Asia's largest country.

In an unusually strong statement, President Joko Widodo told reporters: "There is no negotiation when it comes to our sovereignty."

The stand-off since last month in the northern Natuna islands, where a Chinese coastguard vessel has accompanied Chinese fishing vessels, has soured the generally friendly relationship between Jakarta and Beijing.

Indonesia's chief security minister, Mahfud MD, told reporters that around 120 fishermen from the island of Java would be sent to the Natuna islands, some 1,000 km (600 miles) to the north.

"We want to mobilize our fishermen from the north coast and maybe in turn from other areas to operate by fishing there and other things," Mahfud said.

Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, said last week it was sending more warships to the area. Six Indonesian ships were there now and four more were on the way, Imam Hidayat, the head of the Maritime Security Agency's sea operations sub-directorate, told Reuters.

China claims much of the South China Sea, a global trade route with rich fishing grounds and energy reserves, as its own based on what it says its historic activity. But Southeast Asian countries - and the United States and much of the world - say such claims have no legal basis.

On Tuesday Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing has "opened diplomatic channels" with Indonesia since the latest incident, and said "both countries shoulder responsibility for maintaining regional peace and stability."

Speaking in Beijing last week, Geng said China had sovereignty over the Spratly islands and their waters and that both China and Indonesia have "normal" fishing activities there. He did not specifically mention the Natuna islands, which are southwest of the Spratlys.

Story continues

Indonesian vessels often confront Chinese fishermen off the Natuna islands, but the presence of the Chinese coastguard vessel has marked an escalation this year over which Indonesia summoned the Chinese ambassador.

Last year, China engaged in a prolonged maritime stand-off in Vietnam's extended economic zone and jangled nerves with its naval presence off the Philippines and Malaysia.

The last peak in tensions between Indonesia and China over the South China Sea was in 2016, when a Chinese coastguard vessel rammed a Chinese fishing boat to free it after it had been intercepted for illegal fishing by Indonesian authorities.

(Editing by Matthew Tostevin and Alex Richardson)




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Arrest of a member of the "Kilikou" Gang

Sunday evening in Boudette (Croix-des-Bouquets) the police arrested Alcime alias "Schinaider" a member of the gang "Kilikou", of the Savannah actively sought and under arrest warrant for assault, association of criminals and destruction public goods.



Account settlement

Monday around noon, a taxi driver driving his vehicle, was shot several times in Nazon, by unidentified individuals who were traveling on motorbike. The thesis on account settlement is privileged.



Unions threaten to close schools

This Tuesday, January 7, day of school resumption throughout the national territory, teachers' unions (REPANE, UNNOH, FEHEE, UNNOEH) call a strike on January 7 and 8, demanding the appointment of all teachers in an irregular situation, payment of salary arrears and a salary increase. Threatening to close public and non-public schools, the School District Office (BDS) and the Northeast Departmental Direction of the Ministry.



90% of illegal constructions

90% of constructions in Haiti after the earthquake of January 2010, did not have a building permit. Another earthquake 10 years after that of 2010, would cause as much damage, as many deaths, according to architect Jeanine L. Millet of the Committee of Union and Support to Municipalities located in Petion-ville.



664 earthquakes between Puerto Rico and the DR in 30 days

According to the United States Seismological Institute, at least 664 earthquakes have been recorded between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic in the past 30 days. This seismic activity includes telluric movements of the last 24 hours at sea in Southwest Puerto Rico with an intensity of 6.6 and 5.8 on the Richter scale



PNH : Partial assessment of the operation at Village de Dieu

Commissioner Michel-Ange Louis Jeune, Spokesperson for the National Police of Haiti (PNH) revealed that following the operation of the PNH in Village de Dieu (South exit from Port-au-Prince) on January 1 against armed gangs https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-29655-icihaiti-security-muscular-operation-of-the-pnh-in-the-village-of-dieu-several-victims.html more than a half - dozen wounded armed men including the Head of Gang "Ti Joseph" were arrested in a hospital in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Richard Sneed, announced that his organization has reached an agreement to develop and operate a proposed Washington County, Va. casino. The casino will be part of a 350-acre tract that will include an outdoor concert venue, recreational facilities and a hotel featuring an indoor waterpark.I have visited the site along I-81 and I am impressed with its strategic, gateway location that serves a five-state area, says Chief Sneed.It is our wish to bring new tax revenue and jobs to Washington County and the Southwest Virginia region in a positive and impactful way.The EBCI is nationally known for operating the successful Harrahs Cherokee Resort Hotel and Casino in Cherokee, NC that includes more than 1,100 rooms with an additional 750 rooms planned for that location.The casino will be adjacent to The Pinnacle retail complex. The developer of The Pinnacle and the 350-acre Virginia tract is Steve Johnson.Our agreement with Chief Sneed of the EBCI is an extraordinary opportunity to bring an experienced casino owner-operator to Washington County and the Southwest Virginia region, Mr. Johnson said. We look forward to working with the Cherokee Nation, local leaders, and elected officials in Richmond to bring this massive opportunity to fruition.The location of the casino will be within the beloved ancestral home of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, says Chief Sneed. That is why this project has a special place in my heart and in the heart of our people. In addition to the casino and luxury hotel, the development will include a 15,000-seat outdoor concert venue, additional recreational facilities as well as a large hotel featuring an indoor waterpark. Negotiations are underway to finalize those plans.Our casino will be a powerful anchor for much needed economic development for Washington County, Bristol, and the region, says Chief Sneed. We look forward to working with community leaders to assure shared success for us all.
Gabriela Dow

Luke Fretwell

Cyd Harrell

Lauren Lockwood

Steve Ressler

The crux of gov tech is evolution  everybody wants government to improve. But change, if it will last, must come from all directions. Here are five leaders in gov tech on what they feel has  and hasnt  changed in the past five years, and how that compares to what they expected.Since launching my own startups in 2000 on, I expected the barrier to entry to continue to decrease and I have certainly seen this trend escalate over the past five years. Anybody, in any place on the planet, can be approached, engaged and sold to from anybody else  or perhaps a robot/machine learning script  from any other place on the planet. There are many positive developments with this ease of access, such as an increased quality of life for so many people that can become entrepreneurs. But there are also pitfalls in terms of security.I expected security to tighten and improve with more precise tracking and auditing available due to increased technology improvements and deeper, interconnected layers of data that could help corporations detect abuses and law enforcement detect and prevent threats that could lead to physical harm. It is troubling to see that security systems have lagged behind global criminal enterprises, and with the rise of deepfakes and wider spread of misinformation, it is deeply concerning to know that society may not have the tools to slow or stop this type of criminal activity.Definitely the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity given the steady venture and financial interest weve seen around ProudCity. The GovTech 100 list has played a critical role in the finance and investment industrys heightened interest in gov tech, and that was immediately obvious when we were included. I imagine the gov tech M&A activity has surpassed most industry insider expectations, but early on, it was obvious this was inevitable.I thought surely there would be an acceleration of technology, purchasing and delivery innovation, particularly at the local government level. Unfortunately, we still see the traditional vendors offering the same solutions with opaque pricing and much of government still following dated procurement processes. Theres a dire need for more awareness around modern technology best practices and why governments must move away from legacy thinking if were truly going to serve the communities of the future. If we dont, my fear is that well see an increase in dissatisfaction in government, but also a general ambivalence toward civic institutions, whether you want to work for or engage with them. Now, more than ever, we need an ecosystem that fosters civic innovation rather than stifling it.I very much expected and hoped that by 2019, user-centered design would be considered a critical discipline in government/civic tech. While theres still more work to do, this has largely come to pass. Both 18F and [the U.S. Digital Service] included design as a core capability from their founding, and as state and city innovation groups have launched, nearly all of them include designers at multiple levels. Achievements like the open source U.S. Web Design System also make great, accessible digital design more available to governments at all levels.I believed that the type of modern tech and design practices that have brought so much to public-facing government services (mostly on the Web) would have worked their way deeper into the stack. That by now, industry practitioners would have gained the trust of government partners to be invited to work on major database and back-end systems, as well as the Web, but that work is much less advanced. With the bigger systems (which could play a much larger role in saving taxpayer money on gov tech) theres lip service to agile in many places, but far less user-centered design and product management practice. Theres still much to prove and much to be gained, and Im optimistic for where well be in 2024.The number of talented, impact-driven people who have joined government ranks as procurement officers, engineers, etc., has far exceeded what I expected. I think this is due in large part to pioneers in the space evangelizing and building a brand for working in government (e.g., New Urban Mechanics, USDS, Code for America, Harvard Kennedy School and so many others).When I joined government five years ago, it felt like the Wild West in terms of experiments and various groups developing best practices. I thought wed arrive sooner at a more formal structure for capturing and disseminating what works. But in the last few years, Ive also seen how complex systems, processes and culture are. What we do seem to be seeing  which is very cool  is this happening in pockets around subject areas (e.g., integrated benefits) or layers of the service stack (e.g., technology, procurement, policy).Five years ago, it was clear that the future of technology delivery was cloud-first and now we are delivering on that promise. Legacy vendors have been moving their applications to the cloud and new cloud-first vendors are being adopted. Second, the mobile-first trend was clear five years ago and has happened, whether its new versions of legacy applications, new solutions for government workflows, new government-focused mobile devices or enabling a modern workforce. Third, I expected investors to increase interest in the gov tech SaaS market, and there has been significant movement there, especially from growth equity.I expected state and local governments to develop new R&D and investment models like DARPA and In-Q-Tel. While there have been launches of unique programs working on the problem like City Innovate, they are still limited in actual dollars allocated from governments directly to startups. I expected government to launch large-scale training initiatives to retrain employees on the newer technologies to improve service. However, training budgets still remain the first to be cut, and training is still primarily focused on legacy topics.
'If some people believe that the murder of Glen Quinn by UDA members in Carrickfergus at the weekend was an isolated incident, they need to think again.'

If some people believe that the murder of Glen Quinn by UDA members in Carrickfergus at the weekend was an isolated incident, they need to think again.

On January 27 last year, Ian Ogle was brutally murdered by UVF members in east Belfast, but his family is still being tortured by intimidation and threats.

Courageously the family refuses to be silent and in an article in todays paper Margaret Elliott  Ians mother  hits out at the graffiti and other threats.

She said: These people are graffiti cowards and some of them cant even spell.

If they think that they are going to lower us to their level, they wont. We will be strong and we will all stand together because we want our day in court.

We will put our head high and they wont intimidate us.

Ians mother described the continued grieving for her son and how much he was missed at Christmas by the entire family.

She said: We all loved him in a different way and we all miss him in a different way.

In April 2018 the UVF, the UDA and the Red Hand Commando made a grandiose statement in which they pledged themselves to walk away from crime.

So far they have not done so and their empty words are still there to shame them.

These despicable gangs continue to terrorise and to exploit the local communities which they hypocritically claim to protect and, despite their widely publicised claims to stop their criminality, they continue to carry out their appalling deeds.

At the moment there is no sign that the law and order authorities are making any significant headway in solving this grave social problem.

These thugs do not have the support of the vast majority of local people who loathe what they do and last year hundreds of people turned up publicly to support the Ogle family in their time of great need.

It is depressing that the police seem incapable of stopping such behaviour and the east Belfast thugs can continue to terrorise and leech their working-class Belfast communities apparently at will.

Against such a background the courage of Margaret Elliott and her family in speaking out is commendable.

Our thoughts are with them.
INDIANAPOLIS  Heres something you can be sure Franklin College wont be highlighting in its student-recruitment marketing: All three of the former Celadon Group Inc. executives charged this year in what prosecutors call a sweeping accounting fraud graduated from the tiny liberal arts school from 2002 to 2006.

That might sound like trivia, but critics of Celadon management say it points to deep-seated problems with the companys clubby culture that helped propel the Indianapolis-based trucking giant toward financial ruin.

Celadons years of struggle culminated on Dec. 9 with the companys announcement that it had filed for bankruptcy and was shutting down, eliminating nearly 4,000 jobs.

The business  which was founded by entrepreneur Stephen Russell in 1985 and grew into one of the nations largest trucking companies  didnt have to suffer this ignominious fate, CEO Paul Svindland said in an email.

Svindland, a turnaround expert hired in 2017 to right Celadon, soon found himself grappling with fallout from Securities and Exchange Commission and Justice Department probes into accounting practices by prior management.

The sole reason we werent able to close on a $200M refinance package back in June of 2018 was because we received a subpoena from the DOJ, Svindland said in his email. So yes I am 100% sure we would have made it. Deal was on the one yard line before we received the DOJ subpoena!

The Justice Department has accused three executives of using accounting chicanery in 2016 and 2017 to mask tens of millions of losses suffered by Quality Cos., a Celadon subsidiary that owned trucks and leased them to drivers.

Prosecutors in April charged former Quality Cos. President Danny Williams, 36, who immediately struck a plea agreement, and on Dec. 5 they announced indictments against former Celadon President Eric Meek, 39, and former Celadon Chief Financial Officer Bobby Peavler, 40. The court entered automatic not-guilty pleas for both men.

As early as the spring of 2017, the investment firm Prescience Point Research Group was publicly accusing the company of accounting fraud  and suggesting a dysfunctional corporate culture might have allowed it to fester.

We find it bizarre that CGI filled so many management positions with people from the same college, Prescience wrote in a 2017 report that identified five managers from Franklin College, which has only about 1,000 students. The alumni all were in their 30s, and some were former fraternity brothers at Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

Prescience added: Incestuous hiring practices and nepotism may have created an environment lacking in accountability and ripe for fraud.

Prescience  which specializes in short-selling, an investing strategy that derives profits from a stock falling in price instead of increasing  wasnt alone in raising alarms about Celadon.

Jay Yoon of Summit Ridge Partners began questioning Celadons accounting even earlier  July 2016  doing so on posts on the widely read investing website Seeking Alpha.

He told IBJ that former and current employees he spoke with described a culture that was very incestuous. There were a lot of people hiring their friends.

Yoon added: This is a very red flag. It suggests these people werent being hired because they were most qualified, but because they were friends of people at the company.

Tim Fort, a professor in the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University who researches ethical corporate cultures, said he wasnt familiar with Celadons inner workings.

However, he said the existence of clubby management teams can raise the risk that the teams will stop being accountable to outside constituencies and talk themselves into thinking inappropriate conduct is justified.

Human beings are known for having a lot of biases, he said. We can rationalize all kinds of behavior we think justifies what we are doing.

The accounting fraud allegations lodged by investigators focus on Celadons aggressive expansion of Quality Cos., Celadons truck-leasing division, from 750 tractors in 2013 to 11,000 in 2016.

That year, Quality began to struggle because of a slowdown in the trucking market. Another problem was that it owned a significant quantity of a model of truck known to have major mechanical problems, making it unappealing to lease.

By 2016, many of Qualitys trucks were idle, unleased and overvalued on company books by tens of millions of dollars, according to prosecutors.

They charge that, instead of owning up to that calamity, Quality engaged in four truck-swap transactions with an Indianapolis truck dealer that masked the losses.

The dealer is not identified in court records, beyond stating that it is headquartered in Iowa. However, the description matches up with Stoops Freightliner, part of Iowa-based Truck Country.

The invoices the parties created overstated the trade in value for the 1,000 trucks Celadon disposed of  wiping out the need for Celadon to record a loss. The dealer then tacked on the amount of that overstatement to the price of the 600 newer used trucks Celadon bought, according to prosecutors.

Celadons outside auditor, BKD LLP, stepped up its scrutiny of the transaction after a December 2016 post by Yoon on Seeking Alpha questioned the propriety of the trades. Yoon asserted that hed been tipped off to the transactions, which he said were with Stoops, and that hed filed a whistleblower complaint with the SEC.

In an attempt to put those questions to rest, Peavler signed a letter in February 2017 to BKD stating that the sales and purchases transactions were conducted at arms length and the prices at which the company bought and sold vehicles reflect fair market values at the time of the transactions. Each transaction was (discrete) in nature, and none were interdependent. There were no undisclosed side agreements related to these transactions.

In connection with that inquiry, BKD held a series of meetings with Celadon brass, including one on April 5, 2017, attended by Meek, Peavler and other Celadon executives.

At that meeting, the executives falsely represented that the transactions were legitimate, according to prosecutors.

Even so, BKD lost faith. On April 25, it notified Celadon that investors no longer should rely on the companys financial statements for the fiscal year that ended in June 2016 or the following two quarters.

Celadon never has released new financials. In fact, in April 2018, the company said its problems were much older and deeper than expected and that it had likely overstated earnings by as much as $250 million during a three-year period that ended in 2016.

Prosecutors allege Celadon executives went to extreme lengths to dupe BKD.

According to the indictment of Meek and Peavler, Celadon in September 2016 was at risk of violating a covenant on its bank loan that limited its ratio of debt to earnings. To avoid having that happen, Meek and Peavler persuaded Stoops to pay it $25 million just before the quarter ended and kept secret that Celadon would have to repay Stoops once the next quarter began.

At another point, Peavler persuaded Williams to delete certain emails to prevent BKD from learning the true nature of the Stoops transactions, according to the indictment.

Attorneys for Williams, Meek and Peavler did not return calls or declined to comment.

Throughout the period Quality Cos. was unraveling, Celadon also struggled on other fronts_all of which pushed the stock down from $27.22 in March 2015 to $3.95 in April 2017.

On May 2 of that year, the company announced a management shakeup, with Meek stepping down as president.

In a conference call with investors the next day, CEO Paul Will defended the companys rapid diversification into logistics and other fields, saying most of the acquired companies had performed reasonably well. Yet, he said it was time to refocus on the core trucking business.

Celadon Trucking had always been a solid operating company measured by the ABCs of trucking_superior customer service, strong safety performance, good utilization of our equipment and low cost per mile. This began to deteriorate, he said on the call. During the March quarter, we determined that change had to happen.

In a filing in bankruptcy court on Dec. 8, Celadon Treasurer Kathryn Wouters said the company had been experiencing negative cash flow for several years.

Celadon added to its financial strain in April of this year by entering into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department under which it agreed to pay restitution of $42.2 million. That same month, the SEC filed a civil accounting fraud suit against the company.

Its not clear whether additional criminal charges are in the offing. Jennifer Ross, the acting public affairs officer in the U.S. Attorneys Office, said only: The investigation is still ongoing and we will continue to follow the evidence.

So far spared has been Will, 53, who served as CEO of Celadon from 2012_when Russell retired_until Svindland replaced him in July 2017.

In the indictment of Meek and Peavler, Will is described only as Executive 1. Hes referenced just four times in the 29-page document and is not accused of illegal behavior.

Will did not respond to requests for comment.

Also unclear is whether Truck Country or any of its employees are in prosecutors sights.

Greg McCoy, CEO of the Truck Country dealerships, could not be reached. But in a statement last April, he said: Stoops has cooperated fully in the governments investigation, and will continue to cooperate with the appropriate agencies.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Given President Trumps unrelenting hostility towards Iran, it comes as no surprise that we face a serious risk of being drawn into another horrifying war in the region.

Iran will surely retaliate for the assassination of its top military commander, Qassem Suleimani. No nation on earth could ignore a blow that heavy, aimed that high.

The regime could use its proxies to attack American troops in Iraq, to launch missile strikes against Israel, to disrupt shipping in the Persian Gulf, or to destroy oil facilities in the Gulf states. Trump warns that his response will be disproportionate.

You can see the escalation going, and you can see the eventual military engagement of some sort, says Sen. Robert Menendez, D-NJ, the senior Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee. This is how we ultimately get into a war.

Where is the off ramp? Why stumble into a third war when we cant find a way to escape the two wars we started nearly two decades ago?

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that Suleimani was planning an attack on Americans at the time of the assassination. Maybe. He gave armor piercing bombs to militias fighting Americans in Iraq, resulting in the death of about 600 troops. He saved the murderous Assad regime in Syria, and smuggled thousands of missiles to Hezbollah in Lebanon, most of them now aimed at Israel. He was a bad guy.

But was he really planning an attack? After the lies our government told to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq, we need to see evidence this time. Trumps habit of lying only underscores that.

The killing may instead be an attempt to pressure Iran to modify its behavior. Or it could be an attempt to provoke a crisis that could lead to the downfall of the regime. We simply dont know. Trump didnt consult our allies, or leaders of Congress, nor has he addressed the nation to explain why he is risking another war.

If youre keeping score, we are losing. Suleiman is gone, yes, and that may degrade Irans campaign to expand its influence, at least for a while. But count that against our losses.

The operation against ISIS has been suspended, giving the worlds most dangerous terrorist organization a chance to regroup. The Iraqi parliament voted to expel U.S. troops. In Iran, huge crowds are rallying to support the regime. And Teheran announced that it will resume work on building a nuclear weapon.

Suleimani was a very bad guy, but we have to have a strategy, says Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th, a member of the Armed Services Committee. We want to end the nuke program, we want to end terrorism, and we want to create a more stable region. How does this promote that agenda?

Finally, the question of competence. Trump, like an adolescent boy, couldnt resist taunting the Iranians on Twitter, vowing that if the regime retaliates he will target 52 sites in Iraq, one for each of the hostages taken at the American embassy in 1979, and that he will include historic sites, which would be a war crime.

Theres nothing he could have said that would have rallied Iranians more passionately in defense of the regime, and against us, says Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-7th, a member of the Foreign Affairs committee. Its literally the stupidest thing he could say. I could support taking this kind of risk if I trusted the risk-takerBut these guys refuse to even admit the danger theyve created.

Who among us is ready to send a son or daughter into this fight, under this president? We are stumbling towards war, under the banner of an incompetent liar. If you thought this chapter of our nations history couldnt get worse, its time to think again.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or call (973) 836-4909. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
We are very delighted to work with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a precision medicine driven company. We have a shared vision of the critical role of liquid biopsy in revolutionizing personalized cancer treatments and clinical drug development.

Predicine, a molecular insights company headquartered in Hayward, California, with global footprints in China, today announced results from a collaborative biomarker study with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company operating its biopharmaceuticals business in the U.S. and Canada as EMD Serono, will be jointly presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) - Advances in Liquid Biopsies Conference, taking place from January 13 to 16, 2020 in Miami, Florida. The study explores the potential clinical utility of Predicines proprietary liquid biopsy platforms for detection of genetic alterations using plasma-derived circulated tumor DNA (ctDNA) and cell-free RNA (cfRNA) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC).

Highlights of this study include:



The clinical feasibility of simultaneous multiparametric profiling using a combined cfDNA and cfRNA liquid biopsy approach for molecular characterization in advanced CRC.

cfRNA-derived variant detection confirms the variants originally detected in cfDNA test and validates the high specificity results for report interpretation.

cfDNA-based detection of tumor mutation burden (TMB).

Data to be presented also support the role of clinical implementation of a combined cfDNA and cfRNA test that could provide holistic molecular insight for detecting cancer driver mutations, monitoring efficacy/disease burden, as well as identifying sub-clonal alterations that may be relevant to drug resistance and tumor heterogeneity.

We are very delighted to work with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a precision medicine driven company. We have a shared vision of the critical role of liquid biopsy in revolutionizing personalized cancer treatments and clinical drug development, said Dr. Shidong Jia, Founder and CEO at Predicine. Predicines next-generation sequencing-based comprehensive non-invasive liquid biopsy platform adds value by enabling biomarker-driven patient selection & enrollment, longitudinal disease monitoring and exploring the new paradigm for both targeted and combination therapies.

About Predicine

Predicine is a molecular insights company that is committed to advancing biomarker-driven precision medicine. Predicine has developed a breakthrough RNA- and DNA-based liquid biopsy technology for non-invasive cancer profiling, disease monitoring and assessing minimal residual disease. Through its CLIA and/or CAP facilities in the US and China, Predicine partners with leading biopharma companies and hospitals to support global clinical trials and personalized cancer therapy.


OTTAWAPierre Poilievre is expected to formally announce his bid to lead the Conservative Party later this month and already has the backing of two party heavyweights.

The Star has learned that John Baird, who held senior cabinet roles in Stephen Harpers government and at Queens Park, will chair Poilievres campaign.

Jenni Byrne, a veteran organizer who served as the Conservatives 2015 campaign manager, will have also have a senior role in Poilievres campaign.

Neither Poilievre nor Baird responded to a request for comment Monday. But Byrne touted Poilievres backstory  born in Alberta, fluently bilingual, representing an Ontario riding  when asked about her involvement with his campaign.

He has fought the fight for the conservative cause for years, Byrne said in a statement.

Poilievre has been rumoured to be organizing for months, but recently dodged questions about his ambitions for the partys leadership.

Speaking to reporters in December, he delivered a campaign-style statement about who outgoing Conservative Leader Andrew Scheers replacement needs to be.

We need someone who will stand up, fight back and win  stand up for our principles, fight back against the corrupt Liberal cabal, and win the next election, Poilievre said  repeating the statement in both official languages  outside the House of Commons on Dec. 16.

If Poilievre does toss his hat in the ring, Baird and Byrnes support could be a significant boost to his campaign.

Baird is broadly well-respected among the Conservative coalition, recently tasked by Scheer to run the external review into what went wrong with the partys 2019 campaign. Having served as a senior cabinet minister in both Ottawa and at Queens Park, he has deep roots within the party establishment.

Byrne is the federal partys best-known organizer; one of the architects of Harpers 2011 majority win and, more recently, served briefly as one of Ontario Premier Doug Fords top advisers. Once a backroom operator, Byrne has taken a more public-facing role in recent months as a media commentator and analyst.

The Conservatives were plunged into a leadership contest in December after Scheer, who faced sustained criticism about his campaigns failures in Ontario and Quebec, announced he would resign after his replacement was chosen. Conservative faithful will gather in Toronto this June to select their next leader.

The nascent leadership campaigns have been quiet as the party works out the rules of the contest. But behind the scenes, multiple camps have been forming  around Poilievre, fellow Ontario MP Erin OToole, former Quebec Premier Jean Charest, and Peter Mackay, the former Progressive Conservative leader and Harper-era cabinet minister. Speculation around former Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose is dismissed by insiders as wishful thinking, but Ambrose has yet to publicly rule out a bid. Bryan Brulotte, an Ottawa-area businessman, is the only candidate to officially declare so far.

Like Scheer, the 40-year old Poilievre has spent most of his adult life within the confines of Parliament Hill. Poilievre was first elected as an Ottawa-area MP in 2004 at the age of 25  the same year Scheer, then 24, won his Regina seat.

RELATED STORIES Federal Politics Ottawa MP Pierre Poilievre considering run for Conservative leadership

Like Scheer, hes known as a dyed-in-the-wool partisan, serving as Harpers parliamentary secretary before ascending to a cabinet post for democratic institutions. He stickhandled the Conservatives controversial electoral reform legislation, the Fair Elections Act, which was watered down after widespread criticism and later reversed by the current Liberal administration.

While he has a limited profile outside of Ottawa and Conservative circles, party insiders believe Poilievre is the candidate to beat in the upcoming leadership contest  at least at the outset. A Conservative source said both Poilievre and OToole have been furiously working the phones to try to drum up support for their as-yet unannounced leadership bids. The camp surrounding MacKay, who has been working on Bay Street since leaving politics, has been much more muted.

The Conservative Party is expected to announce the official rules for the leadership contest in the coming days. Byrne, along with other Conservative organizers, suggested that the buy-in would be $300,000 and 3,000 signatures of support from across the country  much higher than the bar for entry to the 2017 leadership race, which attracted 13 candidates.

The partys grassroots will select their next leader in Toronto on June 27.

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'Not afraid to look Muslim, not shy of flaunting her nationalism.'

'With a willingness to fight carrying the Constitution, the Flag, the Anthem, Ambedkar, Gandhi and the chant of 'Hindustan Zindabad',' notes Shekhar Gupta.

IMAGE: A protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act at the Jama Masjid in Delhi. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

This Republic owes a huge debt of gratitude to celebrity writer-activist Arundhati Roy.

She single-handedly saved India from armed Maoist insurgencies.

She did it when she described our Maoists as 'Gandhians with Guns'.

It was a great quotable quote forever.

It also buried whatever little sympathy the Maoists might have had as underdogs.

As the oldest truism goes in marketing, nothing fails faster than an obvious lie.

You couldn't be both Gandhians and Maoists at the same time.

Watching the pictures from the steps of Delhi's Jama Masjid, a brisk 15-minute walk or one metro station away from where I sit and write this on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, I'd wonder how she would have described thousands of Muslims spilling over Jama Masjid's 17th century steps.

These are Muslims, 'dressed' like Muslims.

We underline this since our prime minister just indicated that what clothes people wear signal their intentions.

They are 'armed' with the Tricolour, the Constitution, many framed portraits of Babasaheb Ambedkar, some of Gandhi, chanting Jana Gana Mana and 'Hindustan Zindabad'.

In the classical Left-liberal worldview, flaunting aggressive symbols of nationalism, the flag, the anthem and assertion of national identity are symptoms of exaggerated majoritarian nationalism, and the last step before jingoism.

What happens when the Republic's largest minority (one out of six to seven Indians) comes out on the steps of their holiest mosque to pronounce they are Indians first, believe in the Constitution, the Flag and the Anthem, and reject the idea that someone could now reimagine the basis of the Republic, whatever his majority.

Think hard to understand what has changed in India.

The Muslims are questioning the majority's first claim to Indian patriotism.

They are also saying something immigrants, dominated by those from India, chanted in Britain four decades ago when racism grew rampant: Come what may, we are here to stay.

No one can fight them.

No one can open fire at them with any justification.

Our country has changed.

Or, as the more contemporary line goes: Mera desh badal gaya hai, mitron.

You cannot even convince them of the nuance between the CAA and NRC, the citizen and the refugee.

You've said too much already, especially with the 2021 West Bengal election in mind.

You had gone out to achieve two things.

One, retrospectively protect the Bengali Hindus caught in the NRC net in Assam, expel Bengali Muslims.

And two, impress Bengali Hindus in West Bengal with the promise of a repeat.

In trying to put out a fire in Assam, and light another one in West Bengal, you now have the flames in Delhi.

The Jama Masjid is just about 7 km from Rashtrapati Bhavan, it is supposedly under Section 144.

See who is defying it and how.

Clothes -- caps, burkhas, hijab, the colour green -- have been the most visible aspect, and stereotype, about Muslims.

Also, their religious chants.

One such was picked up from the Facebook page of one of the two young women who drew nation-wide notice for saving a male friend by coming between him and police lathis.

The implication was, along with some other scribbles, that she is driven by orthodox Islam, not nationalism or any commitment to secularism.

There's been an even stronger symbolism of the angry Muslim, represented by the AK-47, RDX, the many Mujahideen and Lashkars, al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Those angry Muslims are also easy to fight and defeat.

Just as this column is written, a Jaipur court has sentenced four such to death for serial blasts there.

For almost three decades now, the concern has been: What if the Muslims get really frustrated and take to terror?

Tiny groups, from SIMI to the Indian Mujahideen, have confirmed this notion.

Even someone as liberal and far-seeing as Dr Manmohan Singh had said to a hall full of senior journalists at his 2009 election-time interaction at New Delhi's Constitution Club, that anyone complaining about special facilities for the Muslims, should be aware that even if 1 per cent of India's Muslims (about 200 million now) decided that that there was no future for them in India, the country would become ungovernable.

That was the flavour of the UPA decade. India had to be generous to Muslims so they won't go rogue.

Some young Muslims, in the odd pocket, did take to terror.

The UPA put these down as firmly as the NDA might today.

The Batla House encounter, in the heart of the troubled zone of Jamia Millia, was one such.

There can be many interpretations of these facts.

But the conclusion would be the same.

One side felt sorry for the Muslims and wanted to do something to 'assuage' them so they won't turn anti-national.

The other wanted both eyes for an eye, and even countenance terrorist vigilantism from the majority.

Both agreed on viewing the Muslims with suspicion.

The other negative about Indian Muslims was their clergy -- the Bukharis of Jama Masjid, the Madanis, the sundry beards who would appear on commando-comic channels issuing or defending one nutty fatwa or the other.

There are so many of them, you could always find a Bukhari or a Madani to take a position for and against anything.

Check out the Babri-Ayodhya judgment, for example.

Or a Bukhari pronouncing that the CAA-NRC was no threat to Muslims.

He wouldn't dare to come to the pulpit in the mosque he is the custodian of and say this to the thousands on its steps.

A perfect world has not been achieved yet.

But most of these negative images have been challenged today.

With Jana Gana Mana in place of the kalma, the Tricolour, not the green, for a flag, pictures of Ambedkar and Gandhi and not Ka'aba, and 'Hindustan Zindabad.'

The one thing not changed is the 'clothes'.

As we said earlier, these are Muslims dressed like Muslims.

They are reminding us there is no contradiction between how an Indian dresses and her patriotism or what the Constitution owes her as a citizen.

That larger stereotype is being broken by persisting with a smaller one.

Those who see the Indian Muslim in the usual 'Clash of Civilisations' binary make a terrible blunder.

In 1947, a majority of Indian Muslims walked away with Jinnah into their new nation, Pakistan.

In the 72 years since Jinnah, they've never trusted a Muslim as their leader.

It's always been a non-Muslim.

It isn't a perfect world yet because not everybody is as measured and astute as those on the steps of the Jama Masjid.

Cars have been burnt in old Delhi's Darya Ganj, abutting the Jama Masjid.

Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat are all seeing violent elements and West Bengal remains one spark away from a return of violence and arson.

But none of this can put in the shade the change India's Muslims have signalled in Delhi.

They are signalling the rise of a new Indian Muslim.

Not afraid to look Muslim, and not shy of flaunting her nationalism.

With a willingness to fight carrying the Constitution, the Flag, the Anthem, Ambedkar, Gandhi and the chant of 'Hindustan Zindabad'.

The immortal words of Urdu poet Rahat Indori are being quoted often in these fraught days: Sabhi ka khoon shaamil yahan ki mitti mein, kisi ke baap ka Hindustan thodi hai (Everyone has shed their blood on this soil, nobody can claim exclusive right over India).

He must be smiling.

With special arrangement with ThePrint.

Shekhar Gupta is the editor-in-chief, The Print.
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration took steps Tuesday to roll back an Obama-era rule intended to ensure that communities confront and address racial segregation in housing, saying local governments have been overburdened by the requirements.

The proposed Department of Housing and Urban Development rule would redefine fair housing standards to place more emphasis on improving housing choice rather than reducing discrimination. It would reduce regulatory burdens and eliminate the assessment tool used to map racial segregation under the 2015 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule.

According to HUD, simplifying the process for cities to meet fair housing requirements would help them meet their civil rights obligations. But housing advocates caution the plan would substantially weaken fair housing enforcement, leading to a resurgence of racial segregation across the country.

This proposal would dismantle efforts to combat ongoing racial segregation in the housing market and effectively allow jurisdictions free rein to discriminate without consequences, said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Housing Secretary Ben Carson, who previously criticized President Barack Obamas fair housing rule as social engineering, said the new rule would give people more affordable housing options in communities nationwide.

Mayors know their communities best, so we are empowering them to make housing decisions that meet their unique needs, not a mandate from the federal government, Carson said. If a community fails to improve housing choice, HUD stands ready to enforce the Fair Housing Act and pursue action against any party that violates the law.

The 2015 fair housing rule, put in place to strengthen enforcement of the landmark Fair Housing Act of 1968, for the first time required more than 1,200 jurisdictions receiving HUD block grants and housing aid to analyze housing stock and come up with a plan for addressing patterns of segregation and discrimination. If HUD determined that the plan, called a Fair Housing Assessment, wasnt sufficient, the city or county would have to rework it or risk losing funding.

The Trump administration in 2018 suspended the full implementation of the rule and withdrew a data tool designed to help cities analyze their housing, arguing it was too costly and burdensome for both local jurisdictions and the federal government. A group of housing and civil rights advocates unsuccessfully sued HUD over the suspension of the rule.

The proposal released Tuesday aims to replace the 2015 rule. The public will have 60 days to submit comments once it is published in the Federal Register.

It seeks to change the definition of fair housing from taking meaningful actions that, taken together, address significant disparities in housing needs and replacing segregated living patterns with truly integrated and balanced living patterns to advancing fair housing choice within the program participants control of influence.

Housing advocates say the consequences will be disastrous.

If the rule takes effect, ongoing housing discrimination and segregation will likely continue to be swept under the rug and HUD resources will do far less to reduce segregation and expand housing opportunities for people of colour, people with disabilities, and other protected groups, said Peggy Bailey, vice-president of housing policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

HUD officials emphasized a simpler process that focuses on achieving results.

In a shift from a 92-question checklist localities had to answer on housing desegregation, the proposed rule would require each jurisdiction to submit three goals it plans to reach to overcome obstacles to fair housing choice, and leaves the contents of those goals largely up to the cities themselves. According to HUD, 63% of localities had their fair housing plans either rejected or only accepted after substantial HUD-directed revisions, with proposals that averaged 204 pages.

The proposed rule also seeks to rank jurisdictions based on housing costs and market rates, and reward top-performing jurisdictions with incentives that could include additional program funds. Those localities where housing choice is relatively poor will be more closely scrutinized.

The goal is to boost the availability of affordable housing. But some housing advocates say it could put high-cost coastal cities with great housing needs, such as California, at greater risk of losing federal funds than smaller, less-expensive rural areas, which tend to be more supportive of Trump.
Harvey Weinstein leaves court on 6 January 2020 in New York City: Kena Betancur/Getty Images

Harvey Weinsteins criminal trial is officially underway. The proceedings opened on Monday as the producer arrived in Manhattan court, where lawyers and prosecutors argued on procedural matters. A crucial first step will now consist in selecting the 12 jurors who will ultimately rule on whether to convict or acquit Weinstein.

Jury selection in the Weinstein case is expected to last for up to two weeks, which is on the longer side for criminal proceedings such as this one. This projected delay suggests that the selection is expected to be a rather lengthy, complicated process. The main challenge for lawyers on both sides will be to select impartial jurors  a tricky task in a widely publicised case that is also tied to the #MeToo movement.

Moira Kim Penza, who was the lead prosecutor in the Keith Raniere case and is now a partner at Wilkinson Walsh + Eskovitz, a boutique law firm, says that selecting impartial jurors is almost always a challenge  especially in cases involving allegations like the ones brought against Weinstein.

There are a lot of people with very strong feelings regarding these issues and the #MeToo movement has also put a lot of this front and centre, she says in a phone interview with The Independent.

Certainly, finding people who are as unbiased as possible remains the goal. But that doesnt mean lawyers arent expecting prospective jurors not to have opinions, says Penza. Rather, they want jurors who can set their opinions aside as needed to follow due process.

All people come with biases, she says. So youre really looking for people who are willing to put aside those biases and who can be fair and impartial and follow the law.

It doesnt mean that you come in without any opinions or without any preconceived notions, but that you are willing to follow the judges instructions and come in to listen to the evidence and deliberations with that framework of setting aside whatever preconceived notions you have.

Story continues

Some people, however, might be too biased to be fair and impartial. Jury selection is meant to give both sides a chance to them and rule them out.

In Weinsteins case, bias can work both ways. Of course, youre going to have the publics perception of Harvey Weinstein, but youre also going to have this #MeToo backlash as well, says Penza.

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about sexual assault victims. And its pretty clear that Mr Weinsteins attorneys intend to pursue a very aggressive defence that will involve cross-examining the accusers. The prosecution is going to want to make sure that the jurors are going to be able to put aside any preconceived notions that they have about how a sexual assault victim should act.

During jury selection, lawyers can eliminate as many jurors as they want if those potential jurors demonstrate bias (positive or negative) towards Weinstein. They can also excuse up to three jurors through peremptory challenges, which dont need to be justified or motivated (unless it transpires that potential jurors are being excluded for discriminatory reasons).

Harvey Weinstein leaves court on 6 January 2020 in New York City. (Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

Some steps can be taken to help ensure the jurys impartiality. Weinsteins team previously tried to move the trial out of Manhattan in the name of neutrality. That request was previously denied. Jurors can also be sequestered, meaning their communications with the outside world are extremely limited. The practice is becoming less and less common, and on Monday Justice James Burke, the judge in charge of the Weinstein case, declined a request from his lawyers to sequester the jury over the next few weeks.

The former movie mogul is facing accusations of raping a woman in 2013 and performing a forcible sex act on another woman in 2006. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex. If convicted on the most serious charges, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

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Weinstein trial begins with protests, outrage and a call for respect
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday demanded the resignation Jagadesh Kumar, vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Delhi for his inability to prevent the brutal attack on the students Sunday night.

Owaisi told reporters here that the vice-chancellor had miserably failed to ensure safety to the students on the campus. He is like a father for the students of his university. If a father cannot take care of the safety of his children, what is the point in continuing in his job? If he has any shame, he should resign and go, he said.

The MIM chief wondered how masked men with iron rods could be allowed into a secured campus. May be, the attackers were aliens from Mars and Venus, who arrived at the Delhi police office in a spaceship. They attacked the students and went back, he ridiculed the Delhi police.

No one has yet been arrested for the violence on Sunday night at JNU that left almost three dozen students and teachers injured after a gang of masked men stormed the university.

On the statement made by the leader of a fringe group called Hindu Raksha Dal claiming responsibility of the attack, Owaisi asked: Who is this joker?

The MIM president said the attack on JNU students involved various offences including trespassing into the campus, carrying weapons, attempt to murder and damaging the university property.

Ironically, the Delhi police have remained helpless and have not been able to arrest anybody till now. The police should register the cases immediately and bring the culprits to book, he demanded.

The MP condemned the registration of a police case against JNU students union president Aishe Ghosh. This is injustice. She was injured in the attack and instead of arresting the culprits, the police booked a case against her, he regretted.

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LONDON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Measure Protocol , the ethical person-based data marketplace powered by blockchain, today announced 2 million in additional funding led by Dynata and Blockchain Valley Ventures (BVV), with Medicys Limited also joining the round. The new funding will support Measure's ongoing mission to use blockchain technology to address growing concerns around fraud, privacy, transparency and consumer participation rates in the market research and data industries. Specifically, the company will use the investment to accelerate audience growth, further developing its award-winning proprietary core technology, and expand the team.

Gary S. Laben, CEO of Dynata, said, "Dynata is committed to developing and investing in the next wave of technologies, such as blockchain, that have the potential to transform the future of insights, advertising and marketing. This investment is in line with our long-standing, member-centric approach to bringing transparency and fair value exchange with members to the forefront, while ensuring the quality and security of data for our clients."

Paolo Guida, Head of Investments at Blockchain Valley Ventures said, "We are very pleased to support Measure's highly experienced team, which extensively investigated how blockchain technology could be applied to solve real problems and to provide better and more efficient services to the market research industry. We think Measure's solution can improve certain business KPIs by a factor of 10 times."

Measure has built a blockchain-based marketplace where individuals take control of their data and monetize it directly with researchers, advertisers and brands. Consumers contribute data by completing surveys and other data-generating tasks or by providing access to existing data sources such as purchase and location. This new funding will help Measure continue to create a blockchain-powered ecosystem that is founded on principles of data sovereignty, privacy, transparency and fair compensation.

Owen Hanks, CEO of Measure Protocol said, "The new investment is a clear illustration that the industry is starting to pay attention to consumers' needs, both from a practical and ethical standpoint. The super-power of blockchain is its ability to build trust in a marketplace, and provide a foundation upon which to meet the consumer's needs for privacy and transparency - whether they are aware of the technology taking place in the background or not. Having the additional funding to work toward a fair model for both consumers and data buyers is a fantastic step forward for our team."

About Dynata

Dynata is the world's largest first-party data and insights platform. With a reach that encompasses 60+ million consumers and business professionals globally, and an extensive library of individual profile attributes collected through surveys, Dynata is the cornerstone for precise, trustworthy quality data. The company has built innovative data services and solutions around its robust first-party data offering to bring the voice of the customer to the entire marketing continuum - from strategy, innovation, and branding to advertising, measurement, and optimisation. Dynata serves nearly 6,000 market research, media and advertising agencies, publishers, consulting and investment firms and corporate customers in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Learn more at www.dynata.com .

About Blockchain Valley Ventures

Blockchain Valley Ventures is a Swiss based blockchain corporate finance advisor and venture capital firm with offices now in Zug, Zurich and Singapore and partnerships in London, Frankfurt, US and Israel. BVV backs ambitious teams with global ambition from through seed, Series A and B rounds. BVV follows a vertical industry approach, trying to identify key trends and strong founders who can use the blockchain technology to disrupt or make existing industries more efficient. BVV encourages cooperation with other strategic and VC investors to back businesses that have a minimum viable product and can show signs of early traction.

About Measure Protocol

Measure was founded in 2018 by a group of media, ad tech, and market research technology veterans. Created to help consumers take ownership of their data and address data quality issues for buyers, Measure is an open blockchain-based protocol that facilitates a marketplace for person-based data where individuals take control of their data and monetize it directly with researchers, advertisers and brands. Consumers contribute data by completing surveys and other data-generating tasks or by providing access to existing data sources such as health and location from within the company's MSR App for iOS. Founded on principles of data sovereignty, privacy, transparency and fair compensation, Measure provides an ecosystem that addresses challenges faced by the market research, advertising and AI industries. www.measureprotocol.com @measureprotocol

Media contacts:

Paul Neto, Measure Protocol, [email protected] , +1-289-200-1907

Christian Potts, Dynata, [email protected] , +1-203-567-7709

SOURCE Measure Protocol

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https://www.measureprotocol.com


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YouTube unveiled new privacy rules limiting data collection and advertising on content intended for kids.

The changes are part of a series of updates YouTube promised after action from federal regulators in 2019.

The video platforms parent company, Google, agreed to pay $170 million to settle claims that YouTube had violated the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by knowingly collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent and using that data to target youngsters with ads.

YouTube says it will now restrict data collection from anyone viewing childrens content and stop serving personalized ads with those videos.

Users may still see contextual ads based on the contents of the page or the video, though. The company says it will also turn off features such as comments and live chatting for kids content.

YouTube now treats personal information from anyone watching childrens content on the platform as coming from a child, regardless of the age of the user, the company said in a blog post.

To identify videos receiving the extra protections, YouTube will require content creators to tag videos for kids as childrens content.

Creators know their content best, and should set the designation themselves, the company said. According to YouTube, the platform will also use machine learning algorithms to help ensure that childrens content is being identified accurately.

This is a big win for kids privacy, says Josh Golin, executive director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Its unfortunate that it took this long, when YouTube was so blatantly violating COPPA, but its a really big deal that the No. 1 childrens site in the world is changing its data collection and advertising practices on child-directed content.

Despite the victory, some advocates say the new policy places an undue burden on content creators, many of whom have argued that limiting advertising will cause a dip in the revenue they earn from their videos.

Story continues

Google should be primarily responsible for ensuring that the privacy of children is protectednot the content creators, says Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, who reached Consumer Reports by email. Google has access to more data on who watches, what ads appear, and much more. While Google promises to use an AI tool to also identify child-directed content, to help supplement what creators tell them, its an insufficient response.

The announcement from YouTube comes as childrens privacy rights receive greater attention from companies and regulators alike.

The new California Consumer Privacy Act broadens privacy rules for children, extending special protections to kids as old as 16. (COPPA applies only to those younger than 13.) Apple introduced new guidelines for app developers last June, banning third-party advertising and analytics in the kids category. And shortly after Googles YouTube settlement last September, Epic Games, developer of the popular video game Fortnite, updated its privacy policy to clarify practices covered by COPPA.

Some privacy advocates worry, however, that the Federal Trade Commission, which has indicated that it may update COPPA rules in the near future, may be thinking about weakening the regulations.

Consumer Reports recently filed comments encouraging the commission to strengthen the restrictions and take greater steps to enforce them. The organization also joined 31 advocacy groups, including the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and the Center for Digital Democracy, in sending a letter calling on the FTC to conduct an investigation into the childrens digital media marketplace before proposing any changes to privacy protections.

For years, the FTC has been shirking its responsibility to enforce the protections promised to families under COPPA, leaving parents in a situation where they have to rely on gatekeepers like YouTube and Facebook to police digital services and products directed at children, says Katie McInnis, a policy counsel at Consumer Reports. The FTC should be doing more to ensure companies are following the rules that are already on the books.





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Top pick tires for 2016

Best used cars for $25,000 and less

7 best mattresses for couples





Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2020, Consumer Reports, Inc.
New data released by the Mexican government on Monday shows that more than 60,000 people have gone missing since officials unleashed its war on drug in 2006.

Under then-President Felipe Calderon, Mexico launched an offensive against drug cartels and other criminal groups in 2006, sending federal troops to clean up his home state of Michoacan.

The all-out offensive to root out organized criminal organizations has since left the country with more than 200,000 murders, which President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has blamed his predecessors for.

Stats dating back to 1964 show that a total of 147,033 missing persons have been reported in the country and that authorities found 85,396 bodies.

Of the 61,637 people that are still missing, 60,053 disappeared since 2006.

The Mexican government reported Monday that 60,053 people are missing since 2006 when then-President Felipe Calderon unleashed an offensive effort against criminal organizations. In September, residents alerted the local police of a foul odor emanating from a grass field (pictured) in La Primavera, a neighborhood in the municipality of Zapopan on September 3, 2019. Authorities from Jalisco Forensic Science Institute pieced together 41 bodies after locating 119 bags with human remains

Volunteer group searching for missing persons discovered 12 skeletons and one decomposed body in the western Mexico resort town of Puerto Penasco in October. Government stats dating back to 1964 show that a total of 147,033 missing persons have been reported in the country and that authorities found 85,396 bodies

'The official data of missing persons is 61,637 [since 1964],' Karla Quintana, head of the National Registry of Missing Persons (RNPED), told a news conference.

The commission reported that 11,072 of the victims are children and that an additional 25.7 per cent of the missing persons are women.

At least 9,164 people were reported missing in 2019, Lopez Obrador's first year in office. Authorities are still searching for the remaining 5,184 victims.

Officials also said that a national search effort to find tens of thousands missing people in the country has so far yielded 1,124 corpses in 873 clandestine mass graves.

Mexico's National Search Commission was only able to identify a third of the bodies during its first 13 months of work. Less than a quarter of the total had been turned over to relatives.

The government has set up DNA databases to help identify bodies, but the majority of bodies found in clandestine burial pits still go unidentified.



Historically, the highest number of missing - and largest number of body pits - have been registered in the northern border state of Tamaulipas.

Such unmarked pits are frequently used by drug and kidnapping gangs to dispose of the bodies of their victims or rivals.

The commission said about a third of the corpses found the last 13 months were located in just three of the country's 31 states: the northern state of Sinaloa, the Gulf coast state of Veracruz and the Pacific coast state of Colima.

Forensic experts located 119 bags with human remains in Zapopan, Jalisco, in September 2019

But many of the most recent cases of disappearances have been centered in the western state of Jalisco, home to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the most powerful criminal syndicate in the country.

In December, investigators discovered 16 bodies, including a missing 38-year-old former cop, buried in a secret grave near two schools in Irapuato, a city in the central state of Guanajuato.

The gruesome findings took place a day after the Jalisco State Attorney General's office announced the discovery of 227 chopped human remains buried on farmland in Tlajomulco de Zuniga, a municipality in the western state of Jalisco.

Searchers of Puerto Penasco, a volunteer group, discovered 13 bodies in the western Mexico resort town of Puerto Penasco in October.

In September, authorities came across 119 bags with human remains in Zapopan, Jalisco. Forensic experts were able to piece together 41 bodies.
Montreal, Canada  It has happened, it will happen again and Wetsuweten land defenders say it could be worse than before.

Canadas federal police force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), enforced an interim injunction in January 2019 against Wetsuweten group that had set up checkpoints and encampments on their traditional territories in northern British Columbia (BC) to block the construction of the contentious Coastal GasLink pipeline. That raid drew widespread criticism when it was recently revealed that the RCMP had authorised the use of lethal force to disperse the site.

Theyre clearly willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that this pipeline gets built, Wetsuweten land defender Sleydo (Molly Wickham) told Al Jazeera via phone.

Last week, a Canadian court granted an injunction to allow construction on the Coastal GasLink pipeline, prompting renewed fears of another violent raid.

The courts ruling instructs those Wetsuweten land defenders to allow Coastal GasLink to have undeterred access to build on their ancestral lands.

Sleydo was there when heavily armed RCMP officers descended on the Gidimten Access Point, a checkpoint and encampment over 1,000km (621 miles) north of Vancouver, on January 7, 2019.

Its new to the rest of the world, but its definitely an ongoing experience and reality for us, said Sleydo, about the RCMPs tactics.

Heavily armed RCMP officers descended on the Gidimten Access Point in January 2019, according to Wetsuweten land defenders [Michael Toledano/Al Jazeera]

The Guardian, citing RCMP strategy notes, reported last month that the federal police officers were instructed to use as much violence toward the gate as you want during the dispersal, and an RCMP officer said arrests would be needed for sterilising the site.

Sleydo, the spokeswoman for the Gidimten checkpoint, said she saw RCMP officers move in with a chainsaw to try to tear down the gate.

We were screaming and yelling for them to stop, she told Al Jazeera. You could just hear people screaming and yelling out in pain because their arms were about to be broken.

Land rights

The 670km (416 mile) Coastal GasLink pipeline will cut across vast swaths of traditional Wetsuweten territory, transporting natural gas from northeast BC to a terminal near the town of Kitimat, where it will be prepared for export overseas.

The company behind Coastal GasLink, TC Energy (formerly TransCanada Corp), has reached agreements with 20 elected First Nation bands along the pipelines route, and the project has provincial permits to build. Construction activities began in early 2019.

But the pipeline has been met with staunch opposition from some members of the Wetsuweten Nation, including the hereditary chiefs who represent the communitys various clans.

The hereditary chiefs have issued an eviction order to Coastal GasLink to vacate the area [File: Michael Toledano/Al Jazeera]

The hereditary chiefs  who under Wetsuweten law hold decision-making power over the nations traditional territories  say that Coastal GasLink doesnt have their free, prior and informed consent, a principle set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In a landmark 1997 case that involved the Wetsuweten Nation, the Supreme Court of Canada also found that indigenous claims to their traditional territories had not been extinguished in the area.

On Saturday, the hereditary chiefs issued an eviction order to Coastal GasLink to vacate the area. Over the past year, Coastal GasLink has operated on our territories despite our opposition to the project, they said in a letter to the company.

We must re-assert our jurisdiction over these lands, our right to determine access and prevent trespass under Wetsuweten law, and the right to Free Prior and Informed Consent  The denial of these rights has resulted in irreparable harm to the land and our people.

The Wetsuweten lay claim to 22,000 square kilometres of land, an area roughly the size of the US state of New Jersey.

Another encampment set up to reclaim and defend traditional Wetsuweten lands in the area slated for pipeline construction is the Unistoten Camp, which was established in 2009.

The camp sits about 20km (12 miles) from the Gidimten checkpoint, and it counts a healing lodge and bunkhouse, among other structures, said Freda Huson, the camps spokeswoman.

Huson said Wetsuweten law has largely been ignored in the ongoing dispute.

Theyve pushed us off a majority of our 22,000 square kilometres as Wetsuweten people and the last two remaining territories my clan has left is the one were protecting right now, said Huson about the camp.

Were not protesters and this is not a blockade, she added. Its a reoccupation of our traditional lands.

The raid

In its report, The Guardian said the RCMP during its January 2019 raid was prepared to use lethal overwatch  a term the newspaper said, citing an internal RCMP incident assessment, referred to an officer prepared to use lethal force  to dismantle the checkpoint in January of last year.

Sleydo told Al Jazeera she saw at least three police snipers during the raid; the officers were holding what she described as heavy duty, long-range weapons and they were watching everything through binoculars. Fourteen people were arrested that day.

Knowing that they were watching every move and that they had these huge weapons to use on our people  it was traumatic, she said.

Another RCMP document stated that with no exception, everyone will be arrested in the injunction area, The Guardian reported.

The threat of their extreme use of violence and force  hasn't gone away since the day of the raid. We're constantly under that threat and that pressure. Sleydo', Wet'suwet'en land defender

Shortly after the checkpoint was cleared, then-Coastal GasLink President Rick Gateman said the company was thankful that a peaceful resolution has been achieved that would allow it to begin construction on the project.

While the Gidimten checkpoint has since been re-established, Sleydo said RCMP officers regularly carry out surveillance activities and intimidate indigenous land defenders in the area.

The threat of their extreme use of violence and force  hasnt gone away since the day of the raid. Were constantly under that threat and that pressure, she said.

The RCMP I believe have no problem doing exactly what they did on January 7 again, Sleydo added. Any time that injunction order comes down, we could be facing the exact same situation that we did  or worse.

RCMP responds

The RCMP has faced a barrage of criticism since The Guardians report was published, with New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Parliament Charlie Angus calling for an investigation into the allegations and indigenous leaders urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to condemn the planned violence.

When contacted for comment, Indigenous Services Canada referred Al Jazeera to the RCMP.

In an email on December 23, RCMP Spokeswoman Janelle Shoihet said the RCMP requested but was denied access to the documents The Guardian based its report on, and it has been unable to verify the claims.

Whatever the source, the assertions made in the article do not in any respect reflect the spirit and intent of the direction of the RCMP commanders charged with planning and carrying out the courts direction, nor does it reflect what actually occurred, she told Al Jazeera.

The RCMP will make every effort to facilitate protests and demonstrations that are peaceful, lawful and safe, Shoihet said.

A spokesman for Canadas Ministry of Public Safety told Al Jazeera in an email that it has raised the matter with the RCMP.

We are committed to protecting the constitutional right to peaceful protest and are concerned by the unacceptable words and phrases that the Guardian reported were used, said the spokesman, Scott Bardsley.

The RCMP will make every effort to facilitate protests and demonstrations that are peaceful, lawful and safe. Janelle Shoihet, RCMP spokeswoman

Bardsley added that under Canadian law police officers are only allowed to use as much force as reasonable and necessary to enforce the law and the use of force is subjected to internal and external reviews.

In its December 31 decision, the BC Supreme Court authorised the RCMP to enforce the latest Coastal GasLink injunction order, a measure Justice Marguerite Church said aimed in part to inform the public of the consequences of non-compliance.

The plaintiff acquired the permits and authorisations to conduct the work that it seeks to undertake, Church said in her ruling, referring to Coastal GasLink.

The defendants may genuinely believe in their rights under indigenous law to prevent the plaintiff from entering Dark House [Unistoten] territory, but the law does not recognise any right to blockade and obstruct the plaintiff from pursuing lawfully authorised activities.

The company said in a statement on January 5 that the courts decision made clear that it is unlawful to obstruct or blockade Coastal GasLink from pursuing its permitted and authorised activities.

A day later, on January 6, Coastal GasLink said it anticipated that work on the pipeline right-of-way would resume and ramp up later this week.

So much to lose

For Huson at the Unistoten Camp, the issue comes down to a need to protect the nations traditional territories.

RCMP  has always been used to oppress our people and remove us off our land, and [so that] government can access the resources and do what their plans are, even if it means destroying our water, destroying our lands, destroying our way of life, she said.

If this is destroyed, we will be destroyed. We won't have places to go to practise who we are, to live as Wet'suwet'en people. We talk about genocide and coming at us with guns, but you destroy our land and our water, and we're as good as dead as Wet'suwet'en people. Sleydo', Wet'suwet'en land defender

Huson said she was especially concerned by how the pipeline could affect the waterways that flow through the area and that help sustain the community as well as local wildlife, including salmon.

We protect the headwaters that hit all the other Wetsuweten territory so thats what weve always been known for and were still doing that today  We have so much to lose, she said.

If this is destroyed, we will be destroyed, added Sleydo. We wont have places to go to practise who we are, to live as Wetsuweten people. We talk about genocide and coming at us with guns, but you destroy our land and our water, and were as good as dead as Wetsuweten people.
The North East Students' Organisation (NESO) and the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) on Tuesday demanded scrapping of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying they cannot allow "illegal Bangladeshis" to flood the region and rule over indigenous people.

Addressing a press conference here, NESO and AASU advisor Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya accused Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal of betraying the cause of the people of the state by supporting the newly enacted legislation.

"The CAA is communal, unconstitutional and it violates the Constitution. We will continue our non-violent agitation against the new law till it is scrapped," he said.

Bhattacharya said the CAA is a "ploy" of the Narendra Modi government to give citizenship to illegal immigrants.

"We can't allow illegal Bangladeshis to come, settle and rule over the people of Assam and the Northeast," he said.

Asked about the stand of Sonowal, his once comrade-in-arms, Bhattacharya claimed the chief minister has become "anti-indigenous people" and protecting the illegal Bangladeshis.

"Sonowal is running a killer government. Innocent students were killed by his government. He has completely isolated himself," he claimed.

Bhattacharya asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah whether they will allow illegal Pakistanis to enter Gujarat through Indo-Pakistan border "the way they are allowing Bangladeshis to come to Assam".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China said Tuesday it is "highly concerned" about the situation in the Middle East after the US killing of a top Iranian commander and criticised the US for not issuing a visa to the Iranian foreign minister to attend United Nations meetings.

"China urges the US to effectively fulfill its obligations as the host country and facilitate the participation of relevant countries' delegates in the UN meetings," said China's foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang.

Iran's foreign minister says the US has declined to issue him a visa to attend the UN in New York amid the tensions sparked by the killing of General Qassem Soleimani.

Mohammad Javad Zarif made the comment Tuesday as the country prepared to bury Soleimani.

Also on Tuesday Iran's parliament passed an urgent bill declaring the US military's command at the Pentagon and those acting on its behalf in Soleimani's killing as "terrorists," subject to Iranian sanctions.

The measure appears to be an attempt to mirror a decision by US President Donald Trump in April to declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a "terrorist organisation."

The US Defense Department used the Guard's designation as a terror organisation in the US to support the strike that killed Soleimani.

The decision by Iran's parliament, done by a special procedure to speed the bill to law, comes as officials across the country threaten to retaliate for Soleimani's killing.

The vote also saw lawmakers approve funding for the Quds Force with an additional 200 million euros, or about 224 million US dollars.

"China is highly concerned about the current situation in the Middle East," said Geng at Tuesday's news conference, adding that the "worsening of tensions in the Gulf region serves no party's interests."

He urged the US not to "abuse force" and called for restraint.

The United States has sharply criticised Russia and China for blocking the United Nations Security Council from issuing a statement protesting last month's attack on the US Embassy in Iraq.

Geng said China will work with other members of the Security Council for the peace and stability of the Middle East "in an objective and fair spirit" and will communicate closely with Russia, China's "comprehensive strategic partner".

At the new conference, Geng also said China and Indonesia are talking through diplomatic channels about maritime territorial disputes.

Indonesia had protested over China's violation last month of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near the Natuna Islands, which are located adjacent to the southernmost tip of the highly disputed South China Sea.

Geng said relations between the two countries are generally cooperative, and differences are just "a limited minor part."

China and Indonesia will mark the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year.
UN Chief Urges Leaders To 'Stop Escalation' Amid Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions

By RFE/RL January 06, 2020

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has joined a number of political leaders across the world in calling for restraint amid rapidly rising tensions between Washington and Tehran after the United States killed Iran's top military commander.

"The New Year has begun with our world in turmoil," Guterres said at the UN headquarters in New York on January 6.

"We are living in dangerous times. Geopolitical tensions are at their highest level this century. And this turbulence is escalating," he added, urging world leaders to "stop escalation, exercise maximum restraint, restart dialogue, renew international cooperation."

Earlier in the day, huge crowds packed the streets of Tehran for the funeral of General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq on January 3 on the orders of President Donald Trump.

Iran has vowed revenge for the commander's death and pulled back from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, while Trump threatened to strike Iranian sites -- including ones of cultural significance -- should Tehran carry out attacks on U.S. interests.

As head of the Quds Force, the foreign arm of Iran's hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the 62-year-old Soleimani helped orchestrate Tehran's overseas clandestine and military operations.

Trump said Soleimani was plotting "imminent" attacks on U.S. diplomats and military personnel, without providing evidence of specific threats.

The Quds Force has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States.

During the funeral ceremonies in the Iranian capital ahead of Soleimani's January 7 burial at his hometown of Kerman, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept as he led prayers over Soleimani's casket.

Iranian state television broadcast live footage of the funeral procession, which included a prayer for the dead at the University of Tehran and passed along a three-kilometer route to Azadi Square in western Tehran.

Major streets were closed to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of mourners.

In a speech broadcast by state television, the Quds Force commander's daughter, Zeinab Soleimani, criticized Trump for ordering the assassination of her father. She told mourners that the assassination would bring a "dark day" for the United States.

"Crazy Trump, don't think that everything is over with my father's martyrdom," Soleimani told the funeral procession.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rohani warned his U.S. counterpart on Twitter to "never threaten the Iranian nation," while Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif claimed the United States had created "global anti-US fury and a worldwide rancor."

On January 5, Iran's government said it would no longer abide by any of the restrictions imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which Trump abandoned in 2018.

The pact limited Iran's nuclear capacities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Trump, who wants to force Iran to renegotiate the nuclear agreement, arguing that the terms were not tough enough to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, tweeted on January 6: "IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!"

Iran has refused to renegotiate the accord, insisting that its nuclear program was strictly for civilian energy purposes.

\The so-called E3 group of countries comprising France, Britain, and Germany -- which have maintained the nuclear deal along with Russia and China -- have called on Tehran to respect the accord.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said early on January 6 that "this could be the first step to the end of this agreement, which would be a big loss, so we will weigh this up very, very responsibly now."

The Russian Foreign Ministry urged all parties in the deal to treat it as a "priority" and called on European partners to fulfill their obligations to ensure Iran stays committed to it.

In a statement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was "deeply concerned" by Iran's announcement.

"From a European viewpoint, it is important for Iran to return to the nuclear deal. We have to convince Iran that it's also in its own interest," Von der Leyen said.

EU foreign ministers are to hold an extraordinary meeting in Brussels on January 10 to discuss the situation in the Middle East.

As Tehran and Washington engaged in heated rhetoric, Iraqi lawmakers on January 5, passed a resolution calling for foreign troops to leave the country, prompting a furious response from Trump.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said that if U.S. troops are forced to leave Iraq "we will charge them sanctions like they've never seen before, ever."

The United States military wrote to Iraq on January 6 saying the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State extremist group "will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement."

"Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner," said the letter signed by Brigadier General William Seely, the commanding general of Task Force Iraq, according to AFP and Reuters.

They said the letter was addressed to the Iraqi Defense Ministry's Combined Joint Operations Baghdad.

However, Defense Secretary Mark Esper later told reporters in Washington that the United States had made "no decision whatsoever" about withdrawing troops from Iraq.

There are roughly 5,000 U.S. troops in the country.

During a meeting with China's ambassador in Baghdad earlier in the day, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi said: "We do not accept that Iraq becomes a scene to settle scores."

Abdul-Mahdi also held talks with the U.S. ambassador and told him that Iraq and the United States should work together on implementing the Iraqi parliamentary resolution.

"The prime minister stressed the importance of mutual cooperation on implementing the withdrawal of foreign troopsand to set relations with the United States on a proper foundation," according to his office.

After NATO ambassadors met in Brussels for emergency talks on the growing crisis in the Middle East, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the allies were "united in condemning Iran's support of a variety of different terrorist groups."

"At the meeting today, allies called for restraint and de-escalation. A new conflict would be in no one's interest. So Iran must refrain from further violence and provocations," Stoltenberg added.

NATO maintains a training mission in Iraq that involves several hundred personnel. The mission has been suspended since the strike on Soleimani.

'Still A Place For Diplomacy'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed with the Iraqi prime minister on the need to "de-escalate tensions" in the region and agreed to "work together to find a diplomatic way forward" when they spoke by phone on January 6, according to a statement from Johnson's office.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian urged Iran to "renounce any reprisals or retaliations" after Soleimani's killing.

"There is still a place for diplomacy, fortunately," Le Drian told BFM television.

In Riyadh, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal appealed for calm as the Middle East region faced a "very dangerous moment."

"We hope that all actors take all the steps necessary to prevent any further escalation and provocation," he told reporters.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara would work to de-escalate tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Amid fears of sectarian violence, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said his country would not take sides in the confrontation between neighboring Iran and the United States.

"Pakistan's soil will not be used against any other state, and nor will Pakistan become a part of this regional conflict," Qureshi told the upper house of parliament.

The Middle East "is volatile and this region can't afford another war. We are part of this region and when a fire erupts there, Pakistan can't escape," he said.

Pakistan -- an ally of Saudi Arabia, Tehran's arch regional foe -- is majority Sunni but has a large Shi'ite minority.

Thousands of Shi'a marched in several Pakistani cities on January 5 to show solidarity with Iran.

Some demonstrators clashed with police in the southern city of Karachi when they attempted to march on the U.S. Consulate.

Appearing on several U.S. television programs on January 5, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended Trump's actions and issued a further warning to Iran.

He said if Tehran used its proxy forces -- in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and elsewhere -- to strike U.S. targets, the United States could attack Iran's leaders.

"They will be borne by Iran and its leadership itself," Pompeo said. "Those are important things the Iranian leadership needs to put in its calculus as it makes its next decision."

In a series of January 4 tweets, President Donald Trump said he had ordered the strike on Soleimani because the Iranian commander had organized attacks on U.S. and Iraqi targets and that he was "preparing for additional hits in other locations."

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the killing of Soleimani was a breach of international law and that any targeting of cultural sites would constitute a war crime.

"Those masquerading as diplomats and those who shamelessly sat to identify Iranian cultural & civilian targets should not even bother to open a law dictionary," Zarif wrote in a January 5 tweet. "Jus cogens refers to peremptory norms of international law, i.e. international red lines. That is, a big(ly) 'no no'."

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-nuclear-deal-on-life -support-after-tehran-decides-to- ignore-restrictions/30363196.html

Copyright (c) 2020. 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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Valentino Rossi says he came tantalisingly close to switching to Formula 1 in 2006.

Last month, the MotoGP legend swapped his bike for Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes in a highly publicised event at Valencia.

Rossi, 40, told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he came close to being just a second off Hamilton's pace.

And Luigi Mazzola, the former head of Ferrari's test team, said that when Rossi did several serious tests for Ferrari years ago, Michael Schumacher was impressed.

"In the first test, he spun a dozen times, but over time he did some really amazing laptimes," he said.

"I remember looking at the data in the box with Michael and he had an astonished expression on his face. He was almost incredulous," Mazzola added.

Some 14 years later, Italian Rossi now reveals he came close to quitting two wheels and launching a serious Formula 1 career in 2006.

"I had completed a number of tests for Ferrari and we then sat down with the team management, who had worked out a very comprehensive plan to prepare me for a career in Formula 1," he said.

But Rossi said the deal fell over due to the details.

"The plan said that I had to drive a less fast car to prepare, and I was supposed to be a test driver at first. That's why I decided to decline the offer," Rossi said.

(GMM)
Arise AB (publ) ("Arise") has today (2019-12-11) entered into an agreement with funds managed by Foresight Group LLP ("Foresight"), a UK based leading independent infrastructure and private equity investment manager, for the sale of the 231 MW wind farm Skaftasen (the "Project"). Closing of the transaction will occur today.

At closing, Arise will receive a fixed consideration of approx. EUR 19.1 million. An additional EUR 6.4 million in variable consideration is expected to be received once construction of the Project has been completed. The sale is expected to have a positive impact on earnings of approx. SEK 210 million in total over the years 2019 to 2021, of which approx. SEK 140 million in Q4 2019. The variable part of the consideration is dependent on how construction of the Project proceeds versus plan and budget. The transaction also includes an additional production based earn-out mechanism amounting to up to approx. EUR 4.5 million.

The transaction will be implemented through a sale of the shares in Skaftasen Vindkraft AB (the company holding the project rights) from Arise AB to FW Skaftasen BidCo AB, a company controlled by Foresight.

Arise will manage the construction and once operational, manage the Project on behalf of Foresight through construction and asset management agreements.

Siemens Gamesa will be supplying 35 turbines with a capacity of 6.6 MW each from its new cutting-edge 5.X platform. Construction of the Project has already begun, and commissioning is expected late 2021.

Daniel Johansson, CEO, Arise AB said:

"We are very happy to introduce not only a significant new investor in the shape of leading independent infrastructure investment manager Foresight to the Swedish wind market, but also cutting-edge new technology provided by Siemens Gamesa. To launch this new technology on the Nordic market together with Siemens Gamesa and Foresight represents a landmark event for us. This great project is founded on strong relationships and collaboration from start to finish, and we look forward to realising this exciting project together with these renowned partners".

Daniel Cambridge, Senior Investment Manager, Foresight Group said:

"We are very pleased to announce our first greenfield onshore wind investment in Sweden. As a leading international infrastructure investor, Foresight is delighted to be partnering with an experienced developer in Arise and also to be deploying the latest innovations in onshore wind technology with Siemens Gamesa. The Skaftasen project will make a valuable contribution to renewable energy production and carbon reduction targets in Sweden, and also make a material contribution to the local community via the annual community contribution payment which is aligned to our ESG focused investment criteria".

Halmstad 11 December, 2019

ARISE AB (publ)

For further information, please contact

Daniel Johansson, VD Arise AB, +46 702 244 133

Linus Hagg, CFO Arise AB, +46 702 448 916

This information is such information as Arise AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 11.15 a.m. CET on 11 December 2019.

About Arise

Arise is one of Sweden's leading wind power companies, with the business concept to develop, build and manage onshore wind farms for its own account and on behalf of investors. The company is listed on NASDAQ Stockholm.
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 Generation Development Group Limited (ASX:GDG).

Do Insider Transactions Matter?

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, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required.

Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. 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 Generation Development Group

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Generation Development Group

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Non-Executive Director John Wheeler bought AU$276k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.55 per share. Although we like to see insider buying, we note that this large purchase was at significantly below the recent price of AU$0.72. Because it occurred at a lower valuation, it doesn't tell us much about whether insiders might find today's price attractive.

While Generation Development Group insiders bought shares last year, they didn't sell. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

ASX:GDG Recent Insider Trading, January 7th 2020

Generation Development Group is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Does Generation Development Group Boast High Insider Ownership?

Story continues

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It's great to see that Generation Development Group insiders own 42% of the company, worth about AU$39m. I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Generation Development Group 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. Judging from their transactions, and high insider ownership, Generation Development Group insiders feel good about the company's future. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

But note: Generation Development Group 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.

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.
By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: Twenty fishermen from AP, after spending 14 months in Pakistan jail, were finally released and handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border in Punjab on Monday evening. Minister for Fisheries Mopidevi Venkataramana along with officials from both State and Centre received the fishermen from Pakistan Rangers. On setting foot in India and seeing Mopidevi and others from the State, the fishermen broke down with emotions flying high.

The group of fishermen thanked Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, whose continuous efforts ensured their release from Pakistan jail. In November 2018, a group of fishermen hailing from Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and East Godavari districts, accidentally entered into Pakistan territorial waters, while fishing off the Gujarat coast.

Pakistan Coast Guard captured the Indian fishermen and since then they were lodged in Karachi Jail.

The minister, along with the group of fishermen, will arrive in New Delhi on Tuesday and are expected to address a press conference. The group will set out to AP on Tuesday night.
SHANGHAI, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (the "Company," or "JinkoSolar") (NYSE: JKS), one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, today announced that the Company has signed an MOU with Shanghai Institute of Space Power-Sources (SISP) to co-develop high efficiency solar cell technology for both space and terrestrial applications. Innovators and engineers from both sides will co-develop space-based photovoltaic cells with a more efficient, low-cost, robust silicon wafer as the supporting bottom substrate and bottom cell.

This high-efficiency solar technology takes advantage of inexpensive silicon wafers. It is easy to manufacture at large scale and can achieve a higher conversion rate. It has a more robust and rugged design, much lower degradation required for next-generation solar cells in space. Due to its unprecedented efficiencies, it could also be used in other applications like auxiliary power units in vehicles, solar roof tiles, power plants, and smart grid systems. This is an early-stage technology requiring additional development. This partnership between two elite solar companies will fuel much needed development.

This cooperation will not only set a good example of photovoltaic technology space application, but it will also bring new opportunities for Chinese photovoltaic industry to grow and develop abroad.

Dr. Jin Hao, Vice President of JinkoSolar commented, "The strategic cooperation with Shanghai Institute of Space Power-Sources has a great importance. In the future, we will continue to increase technical cooperation, leading our industry in the name of technical innovation and providing more efficient solar panels with a wider range of choices for global customers."

SOURCE JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
we would not move forward with the ratification of the border treaty, - Speaker of the Riigikogu Henn Polluaas

Open source

The ruling coalition of Estonia does not intend to give progress to the ratification of the state border agreement with Russia, signed in 2014. Speaker of the Riigikogu Henn Polluaas stated this in an interview with ERR.

"The position of the (government) coalition is that we would not move forward with the ratification of the border treaty," Henn Polluaas assured.

Answering the question of what Estonia should do if Russia ratifies the border treaty first, Polluaas said that in this case, nothing needs to be done.

"Nothing should be done. Undoubtedly, we should not ratify it. If we conclude a new border treaty and abandon those territories (Ivangorod and Pechora region that were transferred to Estonia under the Tartu Peace Treaty of 1920), this will have huge legal consequences. First, we will cancel the Tartu Peace Treaty. In this regard, our succession will also be canceled, which means an automatic change in the composition of our citizens, etc. This is an extremely dangerous path," the speaker of the Estonian parliament said.

The border treaty between the Republic of Estonia and the Russian Federation was signed on February 18, 2014. The agreement was signed by Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The first reading of the bill on ratification of border agreements took place in the Riigikogu on November 25, 2015. Russian State Duma has not ratified the bill on this treaty in the first reading yet.

As we reported, Estonia promises to keep the question of the occupation of Ukraine's Crimea by Russia alive. It will be brought up during the next session of the UN Security Council.
The high costs associated with getting an education in Kenya can deter many people from pursuing their dreams. But that should not stop you from enrolling. Whether you want to enrol or continue to pursue a degree, getting a scholarship will help you to pay for your full education. One way of getting the best scholarship in Kenya is through the Ministry of Education (MoE). The Ministry of Education scholarships in Kenya are available for those that want to pursue a degree, masters, or PhD program.

Image: pexels.com

Source: UGC

The Ministry of Education scholarships in Kenya offer an excellent way of affording college or university and decreasing student debt. These are availed through the official MoE website. Most of them are merit-based, which means you must satisfy their minimum requirements to qualify. You will also get grants that are brought by the government of Kenya, local and international colleges, and international private organisations.

List of Ministry of Education scholarships in Kenya

Here are the scholarships and their requirements:

1. Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships

The Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS) are fully funded scholarships for Kenyan students who want to create a change in their communities. Sponsorship is availed in the disciplines of:

Arts and humanities

Medicine, health, and life sciences

Physical sciences, engineering, and mathematics

Social sciences

READ ALSO: Top international scholarships offered to African students

As a Kenyan, you can be admitted to a university outside of Kenya, but which is in a Commonwealth country. Check out the list of universities on their official website. Also, you must fulfil the following to stand a chance of getting the scholarship.

Be a citizen or hold refugee status in a commonwealth country

An applicant should possess an undergraduate degree

Proficiency in English language or proof of your ability to speak the language

Applications are ongoing and will close at 4 pm (UTC) on 15 January 2020.

2. Scholarship for Masters & PhD in Embedded Mobile System

One of the many available local scholarships in Kenya is the CENIT@EA Scholarship Programme. It is an annual award that aims to establish a demand-driven Masters Degree Programme in Embedded and Mobile Systems.

It covers tuition fees, monthly allowances, financial assistance, and rent assistance. Qualifying applicants will have the opportunity to study at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology. To be eligible, you must:

Be a national of Kenya or the East African Community

Hold a second-class Bachelors degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics, Engineering, Information Technology, Telecommunications Engineering, or other related fields.

Have a mean grade of B in relevant fields or subjects

Be knowledgeable in both spoken and written English

To apply for the scholarship, visit the official CENIT@EA website or the NM_AIST website.

Image: unsplash.com

Source: UGC

3. Ashinaga Africa Initiative

The Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) is an academic leadership programme created to help African students to access international higher education. AAI caters for each successful applicant's financial and academic support to study abroad and access career and mentoring guidance. As an annual programme, applications for 2021 will be open from September 2021. Before then, you must have the following requirements to apply.

Have lost one or both parents

You have completed secondary school education and passed national, technical, or vocational training within the last two years

You are a citizen of Kenya or select African countries

You were born after 1 September 1998

You must also have the following documents when the 2021 applications begin.

National ID or passport

Term reports, including high school transcripts

KCSE or secondary school certificate

Academic transcripts, including diplomas

Death certificate or official documentation proving the death of your parent(s) or your orphan status

Your birth certificate

Visit the official AAI website for additional information.

4. Diplomatic Academy of Vienna/Vienna School of International Studies

The Vienna School of International Studies offers German classes for learners of all levels, leisure activities, and research projects. It allows students to learn more about Austrian culture, history, politics, and society. The Diplomatic Academy (DA) of Vienna only offers a limited number of scholarships to students.

READ ALSO: Chevening scholarships 2020 - requirements and applications

The availability of financial assistance will vary based on the postgraduate programme you choose. So, if you need diploma scholarships in Kenya, the chance to get one from the institution is available up to 1st March 2020. The college will offer the scholarship to those who want to pursue a one-year postgraduate course in the theory and practice of international relations. For more information, visit the DAs official website.

5. International IT Policy Programme

The College of Engineering, Seoul National University, awards scholarships for Kenyan students to study abroad and pursue Masters and PhD degrees. It is available for scholars who meet the following qualifications.

IT-related researchers or government officials working at National Research Centres

A Bachelors degree for masters applicants or a masters degree for PhD applicants

As a successful applicant, you will enrol for the Fall Semester, according to SNUs academic year. You must have the following documents for international admission.

Application form

Policy proposal and personal statement

Well written explanatory statement

Academic transcripts and notarised certificates (bachelors and masters)

Curriculum vitae

Two letters of recommendation from your professors or heads of organisations

Proof of employment

For more information on how to apply, visit the SNUs site.

6. IUCEA Scholarships

The Kyungdong University Global Campus, South Korea, invites applicants for undergraduate scholarships through IUCEA. You have the chance to study for a Bachelors degree in Smart Computing, Business Administration, or Hotel Management. Like other Ministry of Education Kenya scholarships, you must meet the following requirements to be eligible.

You must be a Kenyan or a national of the East African Community

Have completed a pre-university level of education in 2017 or 2018

You must have done Mathematics and English with a minimum mean grade of B.

Be proficient in spoken as well as written English

You must not be more than 22 years of age

The institution has up to 30 scholarships each year in the next five years starting from 2019. The list of scholarships can be found at education.go.ke.

READ ALSO: Scholarships in Canada for international students

7. Hungarian Government Scholarships

The Hungarian government is providing fully sponsored scholarships for students that want to pursue bachelors degree programmes in Hungarian universities. As one of the multiple scholarships in Kenya for undergraduates, it is open for those that want to study science degrees. The programme is available annually and covers:

Application and tuition fees

Dormitory accommodation

Subsistence costs

Health insurance

You should check out the Ministry of Education Kenya structure website to find out more information about eligibility and requirements for the coming 2020/2021 programme.

Image: unsplash.com

Source: UGC

8. Korean Government Scholarship

The Korean Government offers annual scholarships for students to undertake humanities and sciences degrees. You will be eligible for 100% of entrance fee, tuition fee, and dormitory fee. You must have a GPA of at least 3.5 or higher to apply. However, based on the course you want to undertake, a GPA of 4.0 or higher is necessary.

You can get additional information about the scholarships and the available programmes from their official website. Note that the eligibility criteria and application requirements change each year. Also, the scholarship benefits are only offered for the first semester after student enrolment. That indicates you should reapply selection towards the end of the semester.

9. Russian Government Scholarships

The Russian Federation offers annual scholarships to Kenyan students at both undergraduate and postgraduate degree levels. These masters scholarships in Kenya are for applicants who want to study in areas of:

Agriculture, Fishing, and Forest Industry

Applied Geology, Mining, Oil and Gas Engineering, Geodesy

Clinical Medicine

Electric Power Industry and Heat-Power Engineering

Computer and Information Technology studies

Industrial Ecology and Biotechnology

Computer Science and Computer Facilities

Economics and Management

Law (Jurisprudence)

Nuclear Energy and Technologies

Political Science

The minimum education requirements for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees will vary depending on the course you choose. Also, the eligibility for the award changes every year as you can see from their information page.

READ ALSO: List of the best diploma scholarships in Kenya

10. Partial Egyptian Grants and Scholarships Awards

The Arab Republic of Egypt and the British University in Egypt are offering partial annual grants and scholarships awards for Kenyan students in different domains. You can apply to enrol for an undergraduate or postgraduate programme:

Economics Dentistry

Energy Engineering and Environment

Engineering

Law

Business Administration and Political Science

Nursing

Informatics and Computer Science

Pharmacy

You can complete your online application and get more details on qualification and admission requirements via the BUE website. The available scholarships are for tuition fee and awarded for the first year alone.

The best place to find Ministry of Education scholarships in Kenya is on their website. You will find awards and grants from international governments as well as private institutions that will enable you to be educated either in Kenya or abroad. But you must ensure that you meet the minimum requirements and you are eligible for the awards before applying. If you failed to qualify for a scholarship, you can fill the Ministry of Education Kenya bursary application form to get a bursary.

READ ALSO: Top scholarships available in Kenya for Undergraduates

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Harvey Weinstein, the former movie producer, is facing new charges in Los Angeles. Accusations of sexual misconduct could put him in prison longer than he would want.

Weinstein has been charged with one count of rape and another count of sexual assault by two different women. The Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey made the public announcement on Monday.

Another Rape Victim

According to a report released by the D.A., the alleged crimes occurred over a two-day period back in 2013. In February of 2013, Weinstein, 67, allegedly forced himself inside the hotel room of the victim and raped her, as stated in the press release.

The following night, Weinstein is accused of being in a suite in a Beverly Hills hotel where he allegedly committed a sexual assault against a woman, the statement read.

The District Attorney added that they believe the evidence to be presented in court will find Weinstein guilty of using his influence and power to gain access to the locations where the crimes happened.

"He used his social stature to commit these violent crimes against these women," District Attorney Lacey said.

Further, the District Attorney expressed his commendation of the bravery of the victims to come forward. They had to recount everything that has happened to them despite the power possessed by the perpetrator of the crime. Lacey hopes that all the victims of sexual violence find the strength to move on and heal to be able to move forward.

On Trial for Sexual Abuse

As previously reported by RadarOnline, the selection for the jury in New York to take part in Harvey Weinstein's sex abuse trial will commence on Tuesday, January 7. There are more than 80 women who have filed a claim accusing the former movie mogul of sexual misconduct.

When the news of his misdeeds was exposed in October 2017, the former film company CEO lost everything. He lost his company, his job, and his most protected reputation. Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan were among the women who came forward and accused Weinstein of promising to advance their careers in exchange for sexual favors.

Although he has issued an apology for causing any pain, Weinstein has not admitted to harassing women employees for nearly three decades. Several other allegations have brought their stories to The New Yorker, and the magazine wrote about more sexual allegations that further pushed the former CEO down in the dumps.

When his wife Georgina Chapman announced that he was leaving him to take care of her younger children, Harvey Weinstein lost everything. And with the new allegations filed against him in Los Angeles, it seems he is looking at a longer prison time.

Will the length ever be enough to give back what the women have lost? It depends on a matter of perspective.
Salman Khan is well-known for his big and kind heart! He's often in the news for gifting expensive presents to his near and dear ones. About an hour ago, the Kannada superstar Kichcha Sudeep thanked his Dabangg 3 co-star, Salman, through his Instagram page for giving him the sweetest surprise of his life!

Sudeep shared a collage of pictures on his Instagram page, in which he can be seen posing along with Salman Khan and a brand new BMW M5 car, which was gifted to him by Salman.

He captioned the picture saying, "Good always happens when u do good. @beingsalmankhan sir made me believe this line further when this surprise landed at home along with him. BMW M5. A sweetest gesture. Thank u for the luv u have showered on me n my family sir. It was an honour to have worked with u n to have had u vist us."

Fans are as surprised as Sudeep by Salman's sweet gesture and praised the superstar.

@ethnicroyal: "Always has a good heart.. He's a humble soul  may he always be blessed by the Almighty."

@kannada_first: "Price of any gift doesn't matter.... as long as it's not worth 2 crore. BMW M5 ... OMG ."

@nahsik_kkg: "Wohhhhhh this is crazyyy."

@karnataka_films: "Wow sir  im speechless."

Salman Khan Brings Sunil Grover And Kapil Sharma Together At Sohail Khan's Birthday Bash

Sudeep, who had a negative role in Dabangg 3 was highly praised by the critics as well as the audience for his acting chops in the masala entertainer.

Dabangg 3 was released in 2019 and it also cast Sonakshi Sinha, Arbaaz Khan and Saiee Manjrekar.
Strong inbound migration along with scarce supply impelled home price and sales growth in the region. Bidding wars are also becoming the new normal, especially in the capital.

Each quarter, the properties have increased in value, Orleans-based agent Angelo Toscano told CBC News.

We started the year fairly stable. We were looking at about three buyers for each property. Now we have eight buyers per property.

As for Gatineau, CMHC data pointed to accelerated growth in demand, with 2019 representing the fifth consecutive year of sales increases in the city.

And this year is set to maintain these trends, with price growth in the 10% to 12% range, according to CMHC spokesperson Lukas Jasmin-Tucci.
The latest report on national and state population estimates was released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Dec. 30, 2019, indicating that the natural increase in the countrys total population dropped below 1 million for the first time.

Between 2018 and 2019, there were 3.7 million births and 2.8 million deaths. Natural increase (950,000) is calculated by subtracting the death rate from the birth rate.

Forty-two states had fewer births last year than in 2018, while eight states had more births.

The eight states are Washington (612), Utah (293), Nevada (232), Arizona (175), Idaho (166), Montana (66), Vermont (44), and Colorado (30).

While natural increase is the biggest contributor to the United States population increase, it has been slowing over the last five years, Dr. Sandra Johnson, a demographer/statistician in the Population Division of the Census Bureau said. 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.

(U.S. Census Bureau)

In 2019, the total population of the United States was 328 million, and between 2018 to 2019, the population grew by 0.5 percent or 1.5 million. Well down on the 0.73 percent growth between 2014 and 2015, indicating a 5-year growth slowdown.

According to the census report, the South, which is the largest of the four regions, saw the most significant growth due to the rise in natural increase and domestic migration. Meaning people moved from one location to another within the United States.

California lost over 200,000 residents to domestic migration between 2018 to 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

California was among the top states that had the highest numbers of people who left for other states, according to state population totals released on Monday, with minus 203,414 residents. New York state had a loss of 180,649, Illinois had minus 104,986, New Jersey had minus 48,946, Massachusetts had minus 30,274, and 26,045 left the state of Louisiana.

The report said that between 2018 and 2019, 27 states plus Washington lost population to domestic migration. Six of the 27 lost over 25,000 people, and three of the 27 lost more than 100,000.

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.

Epoch Times reporter Paul Liu contributed to this report.
In an effort to seize momentum on the issue, Bidens campaign announced late Monday that he would deliver a statement Tuesday in New York on the rising tension between the United States and Iran. Aides said he will emphasize the need for the United States to regain respected, responsible and dignified leadership internationally, expanding on the arguments he has been making in Iowa  that Trump is recklessly endangering Americas position and Biden is best qualified to remedy that.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. "got it right" by killing Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday amid questions about President Donald Trump's decision to authorize the airstrike that killed the military leader last week.

Pompeo, speaking to reporters at the State Department, also maintained that the U.S. will act in accordance with international law, after Trump repeatedly said that the U.S. could threaten Iranian "cultural sites"  a possible war crime.

The Trump administration contends that Soleimani, whom the U.S. blames for the deaths of hundreds of Americans, had been planning more attacks and posed an imminent threat. Iran has vowed "harsh revenge" against the U.S., and experts suspect that some form of retaliation from Tehran is likely.

Senators are reportedly set to be briefed on the airstrike by top administration officials on Wednesday, and some reports have already hinted of a coming dispute about whether Soleimani's purported threats justified Trump's drastic move.

"If you're looking for imminence you need to look no further than the days that led up to the strike that was taken against Solemani," Pompeo said Tuesday morning.

"[And then you have] what we can clearly see were continuing efforts on behalf of this terrorist to build out a network of campaign activities that were going lead potentially to the death of many more Americans," Pompeo said.

"It was the right decision. We got it right. The Department of Defense did excellent work. And the president had an entirely legal, appropriate and a basis as well as a decision that fit perfectly within our strategy in how to counter the threat of malign activity from Iran more broadly."

Soleimani, who led a special forces unit of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, has been a key figure in Iranian and Middle East politics. He and an aide were killed in a U.S. airstrike at Baghdad's international airport.

His death exacerbated already-high tensions between Iran and the U.S., and triggered concerns about retaliation from Iran and proxy forces.


Dear United States Trade Representative,

My name is Alder Yarrow, and I am a wine consumer living in Piedmont, California. I am writing to implore you to refrain from levying tariffs against European foodstuffs, wines, and alcohol in response to both the Digital Services Tax and the Large Civil Aircraft Dispute  Dockets No. USTR-2019-0009: Determination and Request for Comment Concerning Action Pursuant to Section 301: Frances Digital Services Tax and No. USTR2019-0003: Enforcement of US WTO Rights in Large Aircraft Dispute.

These tariffs will force me to pay higher prices for wine and will simply destroy the business of dozens, even hundreds of small, family-owned, American businesses who make their living (not to mention create jobs and pay a large amount of taxes) by importing and distributing alcohol and the other food products listed for consideration under these proposed tariffs.

While these proposed tariffs may penalize our European trading partners by reducing demand for their goods, the higher prices for these goods will be paid by American businesses, and by American consumers like me. The Europeans can find other places to sell their products. The Americans who have built businesses around selling these products will go bankrupt.

Faced with the doubling of the cost of the products they sell, many small businesses will simply be unable to purchase the goods they would normally sell in America. And for those goods they do sell, they will face the impossible choice of either dramatically raising their prices (to the point of all but erasing demand for their products), or taking a significant hit to their profit margins, which will be almost immediately unsustainable for all but the very largest companies. I know several small importers and retailers in both California and New York who believe that if the proposed tariffs are enforced, they will simply have to sell their inventory, lay off their employees, and close up shop for good.

In short, these proposed tariffs will eviscerate the wine industry, and severely cripple much of the alcohol and imported food industries. Were talking about restaurants, wine bars, wine shops, liquor stores, importers, distributors, and more. In the strongest terms possible, I urge you to oppose these tariffs and do everything that you can to protect American jobs and tax revenues.

Sincerely,

Alder Yarrow

* * *

Youd have to be living media-free or under a rock to not have heard of the disastrous tariffs that have been proposed on all manner of wines, alcohol, and food from the EU as a way of penalizing France in particular and the EU in general for two trade actions they have taken recently that have nothing to do with wine.

These proposed tariffs, which will levy taxes of up to 100% of the value of imported products are an attempt to hit the Europeans where it hurts by symbolically targeting key exports. But the only thing you have to know about the tariffs is that the people that pay them are American. When we levy a tariff of 100% on a bottle of European wine, that means the importer has to pay twice as much to buy it from abroad, and then we as consumers have to pay twice as much to buy it. Of course the likelihood that we will pay $50 for a bottle of wine were used to buying for $25 is about the same likelihood that the small importers, retailers, and wine bars have of staying in business in that situation: zero.

Plenty of folks with more patience and time than I have compiled extensive explainer guides on what these tariffs are and how they work, and MOST IMPORTANTLY: HOW YOU SHOULD MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD IN OPPOSITION.

I recommend visiting Christy Franks blog for the most thorough description of the issues and helpful content and links to help you send your comments to the government.

Whether youre a consumer concerned for the health of the wine, food, and hospitality industry, or a business owner who will be affected, you should take the five or ten minutes required to thoughtfully compose a personal message in opposition of these tariffs.

Hell, when Marvin Shanken and Eric Asimov agree on something, you know its important. Please do your part. The deadline to respond is January 13th.
Industry experts have revealed the 10 beauty products we'll be talking about and buying in 2020, with face palettes, eyeliner, a brow pencil and four types of fragrances making the cut.

Cosmetify shared the winners in its annual beauty report with James Charles, Maybelline, Urban Decay and Huda Beauty items chiefly among them.

Many of them have been on the market for awhile but makeup connoisseurs are only now dubbing them 'cult' products they can't live without.

Cosmetify shared the winners in its annual beauty report with James Charles, Maybelline, Urban Decay and Huda Beauty (pictured is Huda Kattan) items chiefly among them

The American-based 20-year-old James Charles has proudly been using the 39 dialed-up, deeply pigmented shades of his palette on his YouTube channel

In collaboration with Morphe brushes, James Charles released his own $59 signature palette that is set to make waves in the new year.

The American-based 20-year-old has proudly been using the 39 dialed-up, deeply pigmented shades on his YouTube channel, drawing attention to how easily they glide onto the skin.

It came in at number one on Cosmetify's coveted list, followed by Maybelline's $15 Tattoo Liner and Urban Decay's $83 Naked Cherry Palette.

In fourth place Maybelline appeared again with the $20 Super Stay Matte Ink, offering 30 lipstick shades with everything from a peppy pink to a neutral nude.

Huda Beauty is also offering its $35 Liquid Matte Lipstick - which was number five on the list - to customers shopping on Sephora

Huda Beauty is also offering its $35 Liquid Matte Lipstick - which was number five on the list - to customers shopping at Sephora.

Which beauty brands are set to be hot in 2020? 1. Florence by Mills 2. RUDE COSMETICS 3. FOREO 4. Bondi Boost 5. Bliss 6. Kristen Ess 7. SUVA Beauty 8. Jeffree Star Cosmetics 9. Drunk Elephant 10. Honest Beauty Advertisement

The owner, Huda Kattan, has received rave reviews from her loyal fans, with many saying they can wear the matte shades for a full 12-hour day without it transferring.

In sixth place is the Versace Eros men's fragrance ($89) which has notes of mint oil, vanilla, cedarwood and green apple.

Three other fragrances are said to make a resurgence this year in the form of Bleu de Chanel ($204), Chanel Chance ($240) and Lancome Hypnose ($111), which have all celebrated a long history in Australian stores.

To round out the list, iconic US label Glossier entered the fray with its $22 Boy Brow which is described as 'a brushable, creamy wax that visibly thickens, shapes, and grooms brows into place'.

To round out the list, iconic US label Glossier entered the fray with its $22 Boy Brow which is described as 'a brushable, creamy wax that visibly thickens, shapes, and grooms brows into place'

Three other fragrances are said to make a resurgence this year in the form of Bleu de Chanel ($204), Chanel Chance ($240 and pictured) and Lancome Hypnose ($111)

Cosmetify's Head of Digital, Isa Lavahun, has a good idea as to why lip and eye based products are making a comeback in 2020, over foundations and highlighters.

'Last year was populated with social influencers and celebrities releasing vibrant lip and eye products, all of which have gained cult-following,' she said.

'Colour cosmetics are one of the top three sectors in the beauty industry, so we expect this trend to follow through in 2020.

'With this in mind, healthy-looking skin is still a look that is consistently gracing the catwalks, meaning you can expect to see more natural, lighter makeup bases.'

While luxe is still on everyone's mind there is a push towards more affordable items so that everyone can trial beauty products at home.
Democratic presidential candidate and former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a forum held by gun safety organizations the Giffords group and March For Our Lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 2, 2019.

Joe Biden warned Tuesday that President Donald Trump is charging toward a crisis in Iran, as the Democratic presidential candidate cast himself as a steady hand best equipped to manage spiking tensions in the Middle East.

The former vice president has long described Trump as a reckless leader ill-equipped for foreign policy challenges. Biden has stepped up criticism of the president's decision-making since the U.S. on Thursday killed Iran's top general, Qasem Soleimani  an action he and his Democratic rivals warn could lead to another war in the region.

"A president who says he wants to end endless wars in the Middle East is bringing us dangerously close to starting a brand new one," Biden said during remarks in New York. He pointed to Trump sending thousands more troops to the Middle East despite saying he wants to leave the region.

Biden pointed to his own experience  eight years as vice president and more than three decades in the Senate  to argue for his ability to navigate the crisis. He said Trump opened the door to conflict by pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal  an international agreement meant to stop Tehran's development of weapons reached during the Obama administration.

Iran has stopped complying with major parts of the deal.

Biden said he has "no illusions" about Iran, which he said has "sponsored terrorism and threatened our interests." But he argued "there's a smart way" to counter Tehran, rather than a "self-defeating way."

The former vice president argued Trump should both rejoin the nuclear agreement and explain the "imminent threat" the administration cited in killing Soleimani. He also contended Trump does not have the authority to carry out war with Iran without congressional approval.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to CNBC's request to comment on Biden's criticism.

The top contenders for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination have used the deepening crisis in Iran to illustrate their foreign policy credentials. Biden's efforts to do so have opened him up to criticism.

The former vice president voted to authorize military force against Iraq in 2002  though he went on to harshly criticize the prolonged and destructive war. Biden has suggested on the campaign trail that he opposed the war from the beginning, which his campaign has called a misstatement.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of the top contenders to face Trump next year, has criticized Biden over Iraq in recent days.

"Joe Biden voted and helped lead the effort for the war in Iraq, the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in the modern history of this country," he told CNN on Monday in arguing Biden does not have the record to beat Trump.

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STOCKHOLM, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Swedish Armed Forces will remain in Iraq and there are currently no plans for the 70 Swedish soldiers and officers to leave the country, Swedish Television (SVT) reported on Monday.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven wrote on Facebook on Monday that he was following the developments in the Middle East closely and was ready to take action if necessary.

"Now we have to wait for official communication from Iraq to better understand the implications of the decision in parliament," Lofven wrote.

Iraq's parliament adopted a resolution on Sunday calling for the government to demand that the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS) withdraw from the country.

On Saturday, the Swedish Armed Forces suspended their operations in Iraq until further notice.

"At present, the Swedish force remains in place according to the mandate we have," SVT quoted Swedish Armed Forces Communications Officer Kristina Swaan.

Swaan said they were following developments and were in close contact with the Ministry of Defense.

"Our politicians will decide whether we should remain. If we are asked to leave, we have an action plan for how to bring the Swedish personnel home. For safety reasons, we cannot go into detail," she said.

On Friday, a U.S. drone attack killed Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, instantly inflaming the already strained ties between Washington and Tehran.

Iran has vowed to retaliate against the United States over Soleimani's death.
After six years and three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, Corey Michael Hadley returned home to Philadelphia in 2013.

As an Army rifleman in a leadership role, Mr. Hadley had spent many days traveling door to door to root out armed militia members and terrorists who had sworn to kill Americans. For his service, he won multiple military honors.

But his experience overseas left him anguished, he told his family. He struggled with depression and PTSD. And on Jan. 2, Mr. Hadley, 30, died by his own hand in his own home.

His wounds were slow-acting and invisible, but nonetheless crippling and fatal, the family said in a statement. We are unutterably heartbroken.

Nationally, the number of deaths by suicide has risen since 2000, according to a 2019 report by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. From 2005 to 2017, there was a 6.1% increase in such deaths among the veteran population, from 5,787 to 6,139. In 2017, veterans accounted for 13.5% of all deaths by suicide among U.S. adults.

Mr. Hadley was born in Detroit to Kevin and Rosalind Williams Hadley. He was raised in Mount Airy, where he was home-schooled until enrolling in W.B. Saul High School. He didnt always pick up on social cues in high school, which made for some funny situations.

Who can forget his teachers complaints when in the ninth grade he ate the apples needed for a fundraiser? his family said in their statement.

Active in scouting, Mr. Hadley achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at age 18 and demonstrated exceptional skill as a sharpshooter. It was no surprise when he enlisted in the Army.

During his three tours, he operated in an imminent danger area in Iraq, according to his military discharge paper. For his service, he received honors including the Iraq campaign medal with three campaign stars, the Afghanistan campaign medal with one star, and the global war on terrorism service medal.

He stared death in the face every day for six years, his family said.

When he returned home, his mental health deteriorated. He tried medicines and other measures to counter depression, but nothing worked, his family said.

During times when the depression lifted, he enjoyed riding his motorcycle and playing with his nephews. He had a penetrating intellect, a poetic soul, and a curious Christian faith, his family said.

Last spring, he suffered a mental-health crisis. He reached out to his siblings, telling them of his anguish in a cracked, tearful voice, the family said. We told Corey how much we all loved him, needed him, were here for him, they said.

Afterward, he adopted a gentle, white Maltese named Eevee, a dog he loved. We think Eevee bought us another six or seven precious months with Corey, the family said. The dog is now with his mother.

He told his family he was buoyed by the Christian belief that there is life on the other side of death, that we would see each other again, that death is not the ultimate reality.

We know that the same savior who cried out in the depths of his depression one lonely night in Gethsemane was with Corey last Wednesday night, his family said. Dont misunderstand. We wish with our whole hearts that this story had ended differently. But we understand and accept that this story was his to write.

He is survived by mother Rosalind Williams; father Kevin Hadley; his former wife, Lauren; two sisters; two brothers; a half-brother; grandmothers Rachel Lazarus and Jan Hadley; and three nephews.

A viewing starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, will be followed by an 11 a.m. memorial service at Second Baptist Church of Germantown, 6459 Germantown Ave. Interment with full military honors will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown.

Anyone in distress or facing a mental-health crisis can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. The line is answered 24 hours a day. Press 1 to speak to a veterans crisis counselor.
Community feedback is being sought on Tucson Electric Power Co.s pending request for a rate increase of nearly 8% at two upcoming meetings in Tucson.

The Arizona Corporation Commission will hold public-comment meetings on the TEP rate case at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 13, and at 6 p.m. on Jan. 28 in room 222 of the state building at 400 W. Congress St.

In April, TEP filed a request to raise its overall revenues by $76 million or 7.8%, including a $114.9 million increase in non-fuel revenues and a $38.9 million reduction in fuel revenues.

The initial request would increase the average TEP home customers bill by an estimated $7.61 per month starting in May.

Based on comments filed by the ACC utilities staff, the Residential Utility Consumer Office and consumer groups, TEP has offered to reduce its revenue request.

Evidentiary hearings on the rate case are scheduled to begin Jan. 16 and continue through mid-February. An administrative law judge will make a final recommendation that the full Corporation Commission can adopt, amend or reject.
Long after leaving the classroom and returning home, second-grade teacher Keisha Yearby of Chesapeake, Virginia, switches on a laptop in her spare bedroom to deliver to children a nighttime ritual she cherished as a little girl: a bedtime story.

On Tuesdays, the B.M. Williams Primary schoolteacher logs on for a new episode of "Ms. Yearby's Reading Adventures," broadcast on Facebook Live where viewers - often schoolchildren connecting through a parent's account - can interact with her in real time by posting comments.

"Happy Tuesdayyyy!" Yearby sang, stretching out the words with vibrato, during an episode Christmas Eve. "How are you, great ones?"

In an age when video games, television shows and devices vie for children's attention, Yearby's homemade show has developed a surprising following. She began the program in March for her own students but now has viewers in California, Florida and South Carolina who have no connection to B.M. Williams Primary. The shows, which last about 20 minutes, have drawn up to 800 viewers at times.

Study after study has extolled the value of caretakers reading aloud to children. Some experts advise starting the ritual when babies are as young as 8 weeks old, and continuing even after children have learned to read. Reading aloud can help bond a caretaker to a child, boost social and emotional development, improve children's literacy skills as they begin to read and even spur conversations about difficult topics, including race.

Yearby decided to start reading to students online after she met parents who said they were fearful that they did not know how to help their children keep up in school. B.M. Williams is a Title I school, which means many of the students come from low-income households.

Yearby was inspired by Belinda George, a school principal in Beaumont, Texas, who reads to students over Facebook Live weekly in a program called "Tucked-in Tuesday."

She also drew from her own love of reading, which began when she was a child. Growing up in Chicago, Yearby would tote a Fisher-Price cassette player around the house and listen to children's audiobooks.

"I loved the sound effects," Yearby said. "I can still hear them now."

Parents laud Yearby's ability to convey over the Internet the enthusiasm she displays in the classroom. Yearby said she aims to do more than just help children learn how to read. She closes each episode urging children to be good to their parents and classmates, and to be grateful for the things that make them happy. She said she worries that with the increased focus on standardized testing, teachers are losing out on the opportunity to teach students how to be good friends, and how to cope with challenges.

"We don't take the time to develop these kids. They have to learn how to be people," Yearby said. "They have to learn how to deal with their problems."

Quiana Thurston, a member of the B.M. Williams PTA, said all three of her children watch the show, even though only one, 7-year-old Jayden, is in Yearby's class. Jayden crowds around a laptop in the kitchen with his 10-year-old brother, Elijah, and 5-year-old sister, Amiyah, watching Yearby with rapt attention and tapping out responses to the questions she asks. Thurston said it heartens her to see that the show has created an opportunity for her children to bond, in addition to boosting Jayden's reading skills.

"They make it a big family thing," Thurston said. "My kids have really enjoyed watching her read the stories."

Monique Womack's daughter Zoe attended B.M. Williams Primary last year and now goes to Crestwood Intermediate. Even though the third-grader has never had Yearby as a teacher, she heard about the program and got hooked. She continues watching even though she is no longer at the school.

Womack said Yearby's program is not just for children learning to read. The stay-at-home mother has learned plenty from the way Yearby reads books online. The teacher will often cover up photos to teach children to focus on the letters, and she peppers her readings with questions for viewers, who can tap out their answers in a comments box in real time.

"As much as it's geared toward the children, the parents can pick up more than what you would think," Womack said. She has learned, for example, what kinds of questions to ask to ensure her daughter understands the book they are reading together.

On Christmas Eve, Yearby read the classic "The Night Before Christmas."

" 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse," Yearby read. Then, she paused: "What's that mean, 'stirring?' Give me another word for 'stirring.' "

And later, she read: "I heard on the roof / The prancing and pawing of each little hoof."

"What would you do if you were lying in bed, and you all the sudden hear that on your roof?" she asked.

On one Tuesday, she read "Ruby's Worry," an illustrated book about a little girl troubled by anxiety that follows her around in the shape of a yellow cloud. At the conclusion of the book, she asked students to name something that made them happy. "i am happy that i can see my dad agen," one student wrote.

"My daughter and how far she has come," a parent typed. "Makes me happy."

"You're beautiful," Yearby told the viewers at the end of the episode.

And then, she gave them homework: "I want you to do one thing today to make someone else smile."
The woman suspected of being involved in the murder of her friend Heidi Broussard in an elaborate plot to steal her newborn allegedly told her ex-boyfriend not to be mad when she returned home with a baby after faking her pregnancy.

Broussard was found strangled to death in the trunk of a car outside a home in Houston, Texas on December 20 after she disappeared with her newborn baby Margot Carey a week earlier.

The baby was found unharmed inside the home where Broussard's close friend Magen Fieramusca, also known as Maygen Humphrey, was living at the time with her ex-boyfriend.

Fieramusca has since been charged with kidnapping and evidence tampering in relation to her friend's death after police say she faked being pregnant in an elaborate plot to steal Broussard's baby.

No one has been charged yet with Broussard's killing and authorities say they are still investigating.

Heidi Broussard (right) was found strangled to death in the trunk of a car outside a home in Houston, Texas on December 20 after she disappeared with her newborn baby Margot Carey. Her close friend Magen Fieramusca (left) has been charged with kidnapping after police say she faked being pregnant in an elaborate plot to steal Broussard's baby

Court documents, obtained by KVUE, released on Monday have provided somewhat of a timeline in relation to Broussard's death and indicate why police have come to suspect her friend Fieramusca of being involved.

Authorities believe that Fieramusca faked being pregnant for months in an elaborate plot to kidnap her friend's baby in a bid to pass her off as her own, according to the affidavit.

Police said Fieramusca displayed suspicious behavior soon after her friend gave birth to Margot in an Austin hospital.

Fieramusca drove from Houston to visit Fieramusca a day after the baby was born, the affidavit said.

The baby's grandfather told police that he recalled Fieramusca asked if she could hold the baby first instead of him.

A nurse also told investigators that she overheard Fieramusca speaking to Broussard at the hospital about being 37 weeks pregnant.

The affidavit said that Fieramusca and Broussard were excited about being pregnant at the same time and had wondered if they would go into labor around the same time.

Fieramusca has since been charged with kidnapping and evidence tampering in relation to her friend's death after police say she faked being pregnant in an elaborate plot to steal Broussard's baby

Broussard was found strangled to death in the trunk of a car outside Fieramusca's home (above) in Houston on December 20. Her baby was found unharmed inside the home with Fieramusca

While she was visiting, Fieramusca stayed at the home Broussard shared with her fiance Shane Carey and they gave her a key on November 26, according to the affidavit.

She left the following day and told Carey she would leave the key on the counter but he told police that he never found it.

Broussard and her baby were reported missing on December 12.

Authorities started investigating Fieramusca after a woman who lived in the same apartment complex as Broussard reported seeing two women, one who was holding a baby, interacting the day the mother and daughter vanished.

The witness said she saw the woman who was carrying the baby walking towards a car being driven by the other woman before they all drove off together.

Police said that witness - when given a photo lineup - said she was about 70 percent sure that the woman driving the car was Fieramusca.

Authorities then conducted a review of Fieramusca's online searches between November 11 and December 18.

Among the search terms they uncovered were 'Heidi Broussard' and 'bodies in Austin Texas'.

Broussard gave birth to her daughter three weeks before she was killed. She is pictured above with her fiance Shane Carey who is also the father of her baby

Baby Margot was reunited with her father Shane Carey in Austin after she was found inside the Houston home on December 20

Investigators then began monitoring Fieramusca's house in Houston and interviewed her ex-boyfriend Christopher Green.

Green told them they had broken up in March but they still lived together.

The ex-boyfriend said he thought she had gotten pregnant around the time they split, he thought he was the father and that he had never seen her bare stomach during the pregnancy.

Fieramusca allegedly told him that she had given birth while she was out of town after going to the beach with a cousin.

When the ex-boyfriend saw Fieramusca at their home on December 13, she allegedly told him: 'Don't be mad, don't be mad'.

She then told him there was a baby on the bed, according to the affidavit.

Police showed her ex-boyfriend a photo of Margot and he responded: 'That's the baby at my house'.

Authorities searched Fieramusca's home on December 19 and noted they could smell the 'unmistakable odor of decomposing flesh' coming from the trunk of her car.

They noted the car had been parked in a bid to hide it.

Broussard's body was found inside the trunk stuffed into a black duffel bag.

Police said Broussard and Fieramusca had known each other for 20 years.

Fieramusca remains in prison on a $600,000 bond and is scheduled to face court on February 3.
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thundercomm, a world-leading Internet-of-Things (IoT) products and solutions provider, today introduced the company's E-cockpit Solution 4.0. Built on a 3rd generation Qualcomm Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platform from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., and with BlackBerry's QNX Hypervisor 2.1 technology running QNX 7.0 and Android P operating system, the new E-cockpit Solution 4.0 will be demonstrated at Qualcomm Technologies' automotive booth, located at LVCC North Hall, booth #5606 , during the 2020 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The E-cockpit Solution 4.0 reflects the full-stack cockpit built-in capability of Thundercomm, employing QNX Hypervisor 2.1 virtualization technology to achieve multiscreen and multisystem architecture in a single chip platform. The E-cockpit Solution adopts Rightware Kanzi's tool chain, including Kanzi Studio developer platform, Kanzi Map 3D navigation plug-in, Kanzi Connect technology, to accomplish interactive interface, and creates a custom 3D map and cross-screen interconnection system.

"With the rapid development of 5G networks, artificial intelligence and automobile telematics, next generation vehicles will be far more intelligent than ever before," said Hiro Cai, CEO of Thundercomm. "With the automobile cockpits rapidly transforming into fully digital cockpits, the E-cockpit provides the loaded features with greater integration along with critical and highly useful benefits. Our technologies provide the leading intelligent cockpit solutions for cars and provide rich and advanced intelligent driving experiences for both drivers and passengers."

"The beauty of Thundercomm's E-cockpit is that it maximizes advanced telematics and infotainment technology that helps automakers deliver upon promises to both drivers and passengers, all made possible by our Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platform," said Shyam Krishnamurthy, senior director, product management, Qualcomm Technologies. "Modern automotive cockpit designs require significant processing to power multi-screen systems, and by developing its E-cockpit on a single chip, Thundercomm is able to streamline system software development with the added benefit of minimal energy use."

Thundercomm E-cockpit Solution 4.0 key features:

Deeply optimized for the 3 rd generation Qualcomm  Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platforms.

generation Qualcomm Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platforms. Based on QNX Hypervisor 2.1 enables an infrastructure of single chip supporting multi- screen and multi-system.

Kanzi features advanced tool chain including Kanzi Studio and Kanzi Map for creative UI design and layout and a powerful runtime for high-performance graphics.

Single protocol in Kanzi Connect provides smooth multiscreen interactive experience of 3D Map navigation between cluster and central control screen, as well as a seamless connection of in-cabin devices as well as cloud-based devices.

Connect 6 cameras to realize vision-based functionality such as true 360 view, DMS, driving recording and face recognition in-vehicle.

MM Solutions imaging technology, embedded vision algorithm and AI engine integrated in the e-cockpit.

Thundercomm E-cockpit Solution 4.0 benefits:

Tier-one suppliers and carmakers can take advantage of a ready software platform to reduce efforts in developing and deploying cutting-edge cockpit products.

A flexible framework allows tier-one suppliers and carmakers to greatly reuse assets to extend a product family.

Early UI/UE simulation and validation with Kanzi Studio can separate the design work from development and cut more than 50% UI/UE development time.

An integrated AI engine, face recognition algorithm and on-the-fly changing user interface adjusted by drivers' attributes and habits can bring extremely personalized and emotionalized environment awareness and driver-centric driving experience.

Thundercomm E-cockpit Solution has been mass-produced in Lixiang ONE, launched by Lixiang Automotive, formerly known as CHJ. The smart cockpit, which is built in Lixiang ONE, is based on Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 automotive platform from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

# # #

About Thundercomm

Thundercomm, headquartered in San Diego, is a joint venture between Thunder Software Technology Co., Ltd and Qualcomm (Guizhou) Investment Co., Ltd. Thundercomm was established to accelerate innovation in the Internet of Things (IoT) and automotive industry, providing one-stop solutions powered by Qualcomm Mobile and Automotive platforms. Through its capability in operating systems including Android, Linux, and others, a broad software and on-device AI technology portfolio gaining from ThunderSoft, featuring advanced Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platform technology, and a global sales and support network, Thundercomm is a valuable and trusted partner to worldwide customers aiming to build high-quality of next generation products and shorten the time-to-market. Learn more at www.thundercomm.com.

Thundercomm is a registered trademark of Thundercomm Technology Co., Ltd. in China and other countries.

Qualcomm and Snapdragon are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. Qualcomm Snapdragon and Qualcomm Mobile and Automotive platforms are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

QNX is a registered trademark of BlackBerry Limited.

Kanzi, Kanzi Connect and Rightware are trademarks of Rightware, Inc. registered in Finland and other countries. Rightware is a ThunderSoft company.

SOURCE Thundercomm

Related Links

http://www.thundercomm.com


Funeral marks the end of a three-day mourning period for Quds Force commander, who was killed in US air raid in Iraq.

The remains of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani arrived in his hometown of Kerman for burial early on Tuesday, a day after millions of mourners gathered in the capital Tehran and the city of Qom in an emotionally-charged funeral procession.

State television showed tens of thousands of people on Kermans streets, carrying Iranian flags and images of the general, as hymns of mourning blasted from loudspeakers.

Tuesdays ceremonies mark the end of a three-day mourning period for the Quds Force commander, who was assassinated on Friday in a US air attack in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Al Jazeeras Assed Beig, reporting from Tehran, said the calls from the streets of Kerman are the same calls heard all over the country.

People on the streets are calling for revenge, Beig said.

Emotions are very high; it will be very difficult for the government not to listen to the thousands and thousands of people that are on the streets.

At the funeral in Kerman, Hossein Salami, leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard, made a pledge before the crowd to set ablaze places supported by the US.

Salami praised Soleimanis exploits and said as a martyr, he represented an even greater threat to Irans enemies.

We will take revenge. We will ablaze where they like, Salami said, drawing the cries of Death to Israel! from the crowd.

Soleimani, 62, was born into a poor family in Kerman province in the countrys southeast.

He started working as a 13-year-old to support his family, spending his free time attending sermons.

As a young man during the Iranian revolution in 1979, Soleimani began his ascent through the Iranian military, although he did not finish school.

Soleimani emerged from the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s a national hero for the missions he led across Iraqs border.

Ending US hegemony

Speaking to Al Jazeera from the Iranian capital, University of Tehran Professor Foad Izadi said the killing of Soleimani has rejuvenated the spirit of revolution, the spirit of resistance, and the spirit of fighting the oppressors in the country.

His legacy is going to be the goals that he had  one of the goals he had was to end US hegemony in the Middle East, Izadi siad, adding that there is going to be a wave of anti-American policies.

Soleimani opposed US governemnt policies in the region, as well as the support they provide Israel with, Izadi said.

Despite people in Iran facing economic pressures, what is more important to them is the security of the country, he said.

When you hit a general whose job was to protect the borders, theyre going to get upset, Izadi said, referring to the Iranian people rallying in the streets.

On Monday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept openly as he led funeral prayers in Tehran.

The assassination of Soleimani triggered a dramatic escalation of tensions in the region and marked the most significant confrontation between the United States and Iran in recent years.

The friction is rooted in the 2018 US decision to withdraw from a nuclear deal signed in 2015 between Iran and world powers.

Khamenei has pledged severe revenge for the killing while other pro-Iran figures in the region, including the head of Lebanons Hezbollah movement Hassan Nasrallah, have also promised retaliation.

Although it is unclear how or when Iran may respond, any response is likely to come once the mourning period comes to an end.

US President Donald Trump has defended the killing of Soleimani and threatened more retaliatory actions if Iran targets US citizens or assets.
One terrorist was killed in an encounter between security forces and terrorists in Awantipora, Pulwama.

The security forces have recovered arms and ammunition from the site of encounter.

"#Awantipora #encounter update: 01 #terrorist killed. #Arms and ammunition recovered. #Identity and #affiliation being ascertained. Search continues," Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.

Earlier, two Army soldiers were killed during an encounter with terrorists in Naushera sector on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1. They were identified as Naik Sawant Sandip Raghunath and Rifleman Arjun Thapa Magar.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the market warming up at the end of last year, the number of real estate deals has also been on the rise thanks to soaring remittances.



Remittance into Vietnam over the last 20 years (unit: billion dollars). Source: WB



With remittances hitting $17 billion, some investors and homebuyers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are expecting the market to warm up towards the end of 2019 and early 2020.

The expectations are quite reasonable because Vietnam has been one of the top ten recipients of remittance over the world for the last three years.

Moreover, as the financial and gold markets are undergoing turbulence, remittance money is finding its way into real estate projects.

Is soaring remittance good news for real estate?

The World Bank estimated remittances flowing into Vietnam in 2019 at $16.7 billion. This is the fifth time Vietnam has entered the top ten remittance-receivers over the world.

Remittance flows into Vietnam have risen 120-fold, from $0.14 billion in 1993 to $13.8 billion in 2017, and soared to $16 billion in 2018.

Experts said that the $16.7 billion of remittances in 2019, equivalent to 6.4 per cent of the GDP, was quite a boot for the socio-economic development of the country.

Luong Thanh Nghi, deputy head of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, said that there are 4.5 million Vietnamese living, working, and studying in 110 countries and territories over the world, and as many as 3,000 firms owned by overseas Vietnamese operate across 52 cities and provinces of the country with the total registered capital of $4 billion.

These overseas Vietnamese investors come from the US, Canada, Australia, Russia, France, the Netherlands, Japan, Poland, and Switzerland. Their projects and businesses usually specialise in trade, export, tourism, construction, real estate, farming and processing seafood, as well as software.

Experts said that remittances to Vietnam consistently rank in the top ten because most Vietnamese businesses and employees who do business and work overseas maintain close ties with their families, parents, brothers, and sisters in Vietnam.

Especially, Vietnamese people are keen to save money and send it home to their families so that they can buy a new house. Additionally, some of those working abroad had borrowed a lot before going abroad, so they had to send money back to repay.

Notably, although Ho Chi Minh City receives the most remittances in the country, a big part of this has been spread across the country, with great amounts spent on buying houses in Hanoi, markets that are more profitable than Ho Chi Minh City.

Chairman of Phu Quy Land Nguyen Manh Ha confirmed that based on more than 20 years of experience in real estate brokerage, remittance receivers have a distinct taste for real estate because they are inexperienced in other investment sectors. VIR

Nguyen Huong

Remittances to Vietnam estimated at $16.7 billion Remittance flows into Vietnam are expected to reach $16.7 billion in 2019, Vice Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOVA) Luong Thanh Nghi cited statistics of the World Bank at a meeting yesterday.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) called for a total deployment ban of household workers in Kuwait on Tuesday (January 6) after the death of another overseas worker in December.

Jeanelyn Villavende was allegedly killed by her female employer in December 2019.

READ: DFA confirms another Pinay killed in Kuwait

According to the report of the TUCP, there are 130,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) as of 2018, including skilled and household service workers. However, the TUCP said around 200 OFWs have died in Kuwait in the last four years while around 280 were runaway workers.

Its indicative that the government of Kuwait is not taking the plight of our workers seriously and thats why were calling for a total ban on deployment of household service workers, TUCP vice president Luis Corral said.AAC (with reports from Vincent Arboleda)

The post TUCP calls for total deployment ban of household workers in Kuwait appeared first on UNTV News.
In Sri Lanka, the Indie hip-hop scene lacks support from the media, but it is getting more popular, according to Hamdaan Hassan, the Sri Lankan rapper who goes by the name Hustler Bhai.

Sri Lankan indie hip-hop artiste Hustler Bhai opens up to DC on the hip-hop scene in the island republic, what it means to be a rapper in Sri Lanka, and more.

Hustler believes Sri Lankan artistes are going through the period India was in a few years ago. Thing are now going well for artistes in India. The film industry there has started giving a hand to Indian rap artistes. Here, there is no lack of talent but we need more platforms to thrive, he claims.

Speaking to DC, the rapper was philosophical about insufficient support. After all, rap in every part of the world started off like that. Even in USA it started underground. Ghettos were the breeding grounds for this genre of music. It takes time, he said. In neighbouring India, Indie rappers were struggling to get a grip on the popular music industry just a few years ago, he noted.

Though Sri Lankan artistes were not getting the kind of support that other genres got, the Indie hip-hop scene on the island was relatively large, he said.

While ruing that the media was not giving indie artistes much space, Hustler however said the BBC Asian Network gives us big support. They have already played some of my songs in Ashanti Omkars Radio Programme.

Quizzed about his style, he says I try to blend traditional and international music seasoned with the right instruments. I was never afraid of making new genres like Hip-hop, RnB, Metal Rap, etc.

Talking of artistes who have inspired him, he gives special credit to Harsha Fernando (known as Black Hunter) who brought him into the industry (2015), and Amila Wickramasingha (Jaya Records) who master-minded his first Mix tape recordings (2015).

Pursuing his music dreams Hustler came up with his first single Sallalayo produced by Ayeshmantha (Mouth Beats) and every combination the pair made was a successful record. Hes been associating with overseas artistes, especially from India, Nepal, France, Germany, Syria, UAE, Maldives, Malaysia and Jamaica, and hopes to work with Indian artistes soon.

Hustlers much-celebrated work Rowdy has just crossed one million views on YouTube and he is hoping to repeat the success with his all new songs - Race and Monster-KGF.
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After taking a knock in lat two consecutive sessions, the market recovered in early trade. Nifty50 rallied more than 100 points on January 7 morning recovering almost 50 percent of 233-point fall witnessed on January 6 that pushed the index below 12,000.

The S&P BSE Sensex also witnessed a bounce-back of more than 400 points.

The Sensex had fell nearly 1,000 points in two consecutive sessions as oil prices rallied sharply after US President Donald Trump issued a threat to impose sanctions on Iraq amid escalating tensions with Iran in the Middle East.

On Monday itself, the BSE Sensex plunged 787.98 points (the biggest single-day fall in nearly a year) or 1.90 percent to 40,676.63. The Nifty50 has broken its crucial support and psychological 12,000 mark, falling 233.70 points or 1.91 percent to 11,993 amid broad-based selling.

India Volatility index, which was hovering around 10-12 levels few days back, also surged over 16 percent, indicating some concerns over further buying interest.

"Indian market is reacting more negatively than other emerging markets due to crude oil impact. Since our dependence, crude imports as a percentage of consumption is the highest, the impact on economy and markets is also higher. Along with crude, the negative impact of currency is also weighing on Indian markets. The geopolitical tension has increased the risk of unknowns which is getting factored into the market," Rusmik Oza, Senior VP (Head of Fundamental Research-PCG), Kotak Securities told Moneycontrol.

But every expert feels that any fall like this can always be used as a buying opportunity for long term, in fact it is the time for cherry picking, as fundamentally, India and corporate earnings would be strong in coming years after the government's measures to revive economy.

"A 5-6 percent correction from the peak levels could be a healthy one for long-term market sentiment," Rusmik Oza said.

Moneyontrol collated a list of 10 stocks that could give double-digit returns in 2020. Returns are calculated based on the closing price of January 6:

Adani Ports: Buy | Target: Rs 450 | Return: 18.4 percent

Extending its acquisition spree, Adani Ports and SEZs (APSEZ) acquired 75 percent stake in Krishnapatnam Port (KPCL) in an all-cash deal of Rs 5,500 crore (EV of Rs 13,500 crore).

The KPCL acquisition will add 5 percent market share to APSEZs (22 percent) all-India cargo volumes. It is likely to fill a key gap in the companys portfolio due to its distinct hinterland, which is currently not serviced by it. Our calculation indicates that at Rs 5,500 crore equity valuation, the deal is value accretive by Rs 23 per share from long-term perspective. We maintain buy with target of Rs 450.

Phoenix Mills: Buy | Target: Rs 1,000 | Return: 16 percent

We remain positive on consumption and commensurate rental growth in its existing malls, generating robust free cashflow to fund growth. The company is a on a high growth path - addition of around 1 million square feet of retail space each year till FY23; significant jump in rental revenue from these under-construction assets once they become operational. We recommend buy with a target price of Rs 1,000 based on the SOTP of its assets.

Sobha: Buy | Target: Rs 540 | Return: 35 percent

With record sales volume in FY19 and 1HFY20, and steady Bengaluru residential market, the momentum is expected to continue. With its strong execution capabilities and robust pre-sales trend in a consolidating market, we find the stock attractive at its current valuation. We recommend buy with a target price of Rs 540 based on the SOTP of its assets.

Oberoi Realty: Buy | Target: Rs 630 | Return: 22.33 percent

We believe company is poised for strong growth in volume once Thane/ Goregaon projects are launched. Annuity portfolio set to become bigger with substantial progress in under-construction annuity assets (in Borivali and Worli) and commencement of construction in Commerz III. We maintain positive stance on the stock and recommend buy with target price of Rs 630.

KNR Constructions: Buy | Target: Rs 336 | Return: 32.3 percent

KNRC, with existing capacity can execute Rs 3,000 crore+ in revenue. However, with delay in obtaining appointed dates, company aims to execute Rs 2,300 crore in FY20. Including 3 HAM projects, KNRC has an order backlog of Rs 5,900 crore. To this, company will add Rs 2,500 crore of order inflow: (a) 2*Rs 800 crore irrigation project; and (b) Rs 900 crore HAM/EPC road project.

Company maintains its conservative 15 percent EBITDA margin guidance, while they clock 20 percent. In addition to 3 assets in forward transaction with Cube highways, KNRC anticipates Kerala BOT asset on block. Further, KNRC has plans to sell Bihar project too.

One could argue that the order book, inclusive of the newly won orders, is around Rs 6,600 crore, which translates into 3x TTM book-bills. Given the delay in appointed dates, we anticipate an 8 percent CAGR in revenue until FY21. With relatively lower EBITDA margin, we anticipate flat EBITDA in the next two years. With limited interest outgo and full taxes, we anticipate 5 percent CAGR in earnings. With a target price of Rs 336, based on 15x FY21 EPC earnings and assets at fair value, we maintain buy.

RITES: Buy | Target: Rs 387 | Return: 29 percent

Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), today, has emerged has the state-owned enterprise engaged in consultancy and engineering across infrastructure vertical. Using nominated orders from the ministry of rails, over the past nine years, the Gurugram-based company has grown steadily with revenue/net profit CAGR of 10/15 percent per annum. At the end of FY19, the company has a net worth of Rs 2,300 crore, with cash/cash equivalents of Rs 3,400 crore (which includes non-interest earning cash from clients). Thereby, headline return ratios do not reflect the true potential of this asset-light business. With Governments focus on $5 trillion economy, RITES stands as a proxy for railway/metro/road capex.

We remain cautious on the penetration rate for incremental consultancy orders. We build in higher revenue growth at lower margin. Thereby, we forecast 15 percent CAGR in revenue till FY21. While factoring in 10ppt/1 ppt erosion in PMC/project operating margin, we anticipate by 7/13 perent CAGR in EBITDA/net profit till FY21. We ascribe a PE-multiple of 13x for FY21 standalone PAT (multiple similar to ENGR IN Equity) and 10x for energy management vertical. With a target price of Rs 387, we maintain buy.

Ajanta Pharma: Buy | Target: Rs 1,265 | Return: 29.8 percent

The company is financially stable and well-diversified model with branded generics in India, Asia and Africa, generics in USA and institutional business in Africa, comprising a wide range of products, in more than 30 countries. Its India business continued to perform well steered by strong focus on high growth speciality segments. The company continues to strengthen product portfolio through new launches, many of them being first-to-market products, offering significant patient benefits.

Apart from new launches, many of the company's existing products continue to grow their market share. Thus, it is expected that the stock will see a price target of Rs 1,265 in 8 to 10 months time frame on current P/Ex of 22.05x and FY21 earnings of Rs 57.36.

Varun Beverages: Buy | Target: Rs 862 | Return: 22.86 percent

Varun Beverages is a key player in the beverage industry. VBL accounts for more than 80 percent of Pepsi Co's beverage sales volume in India.

As part of growth strategy, the company remains focused of product mix diversification, distribution expansion particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, cost reduction and technology leverage to improve overall efficiency. Regarding macro scenario, the domestic soft drinks industry has significant upside. Per capita consumption of soft drinks in India is much lower, compared to matured markets like US, Mexico and Germany, which provides room for substantial growth. Further, several factors including growing middle class, rising affordability and urbanization is likely to drive demand for beverages in India.

Positioned for continued growth and initiate coverage on Varun Beverages with a buy rating and a target price of Rs 862 per share.

Deepak Nitrite: Buy | Target: Rs 496 | Return: 34.89 percent

With the latest results (Q2FY20) reflecting positive outcome of companys increased focus on adding high value products and moving higher in the value chain to improve its profitability in long term bodes well for its base business which should continue to show improvement in margins.

The company's new Greenfield expansion plan at Dahej, Gujarat for manufacturing phenol (2,00,000 ton/year) and acetone (1,20,000T/year) has demonstrated successful operations and is currently operating at over 90 percent utilization levels.

The company is also incurring capex on development of downstream products for Acetone and same is expected to be commissioned towards the end of this financial year. All these should result in more sustained and profitable growth for the Company. We expect phenolic business to show improved profitability and any expected decline in temporary higher DASDA prices should offset the bottom line and also companys forward integration in form of Acetone derivatives opens up new value addition prospects for the company.

Relaxo Footwears: Buy | Target: Rs 744 | Return: 18.8 percent

The company has effectively increased its reach in rural India and has gained traction in urban India especially in the home wear and leisure segment. A significant proportion of its revenues comes from the north and east. It has a forayed into the south and west that is seeing good growth.

India is still an under penetrated footwear market with a per capita consumption of approximately around 1.7 pairs per annum against a global average of 3 pairs per annum. Developed countries average 6-7 pairs p.a. Incremental growth will come from deeper penetration of organised footwear in tier II and III cities.

The share of the organised segment is approximately 45 percent and its well positioned to benefit from introducing GST and an increase in aspirational spend as the price differential between the unorganised and the organised space closes in. With deep penetration and excellent brand recall, Relaxo has established itself in both, rural and urban India. We believe Relaxo will be the best performer in the listed footwear space.

: 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.
SINGAPORE (Jan 7): A total of 21 groups have submitted bids for Singapores digital bank licences as at the close of application on Dec 31, 2019, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced Tuesday.

This comprises 7 applications for the digital full bank (DFB) licences, and 14 applications for the digital wholesale bank (DWB) licences.

The DFB licences allows firms to serve all kinds of customers and require $1.5 billion in capital as well as local control, while the DWB licences have a capital commitment of $100 million and can see foreign firms holding majority stakes.

While MAS did not name the applicants, it said the new digital bank licences have attracted strong interest from a diverse group of applicants.

Over the past week, several companies had announced that they have applied for the digital bank licences.

Beyond Consortium, led by one of Asias largest massage chair makers V3 Group and stored-value card company EZ-Link, announced just two days ago that it has submitted a bid for a DFB licence.

The consortium is also backed by property developer Far East Organization, the Singapore Business Federation, Japanese insurer Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co and fund manager Heliconia Capital Management, a Temasek Holdings subsidiary.

See: Ron Sim, Far East, SBF and Temasek unit Heliconia set sights on SME market with digital bank license bid

Earlier, Grab, one of Southeast Asias largest operators of online businesses from finance to car-hailing, had revealed it is partnering with Singapore Telecommunications to apply for a DFB licence.

See: Grab and Singtel to jointly apply for digital full bank licence as application deadline nears

Meanwhile, a consortium led by the fintech arm of gaming hardware manufacturer Razer has also submitted its application for a DFB licence.

Razer Fintechs partners include insurance business FWD, privately-owned Internet company LinkSure Global, tech venture fund Insignia Ventures Partners, vehicle wholesale marketplace Carro, and Sheng Siong Holdings  the private vehicle of the Lim brothers behind supermarket chain operator Sheng Siong Group.

Story continues

See: Razer Fintech leads consortium including Sheng Siong's Lim brothers, FWD in bid for digital full bank licence

Other notable names to have put in a bid include wealth management platform iFAST Corporation, which is leading a consortium comprising Chinas Yillion Group and Hande Group to bid for a DWB licence.

Yillion operates one of four digital banks in China and counts Hong Kong-listed Internet firm Meituan Dianping as a shareholder, while Hande is a Chinese fintech company founded by Cao Tong, the former president of Webank, Chinas first digital bank thats also backed by Tencent Holdings

See: iFast confirms bid for digital bank license; AUA crosses $10 billion in 2019

Billionaire Jack Mas Ant Financial has also joined the race, and submitted an application for a DWB licence.

MAS on Tuesday noted that the majority of applicants are consortiums, with entities seeking to combine their individual strengths to enhance the digital banks value proposition.

MAS said it will evaluate all eligible applications based on their value propositions, and announce the successful applicants in June 2020.

Some of the value propositions MAS will be looking at include the innovative use of technology to serve customer needs, their ability to manage a prudent and sustainable digital banking business, and their contributions to Singapores financial centre.

Successful applicants are expected to commence business by mid-2021.
New York Assemblyman Brian Kolb, who tested at twice the legal alcohol limit after a New Years Eve crash, initially blamed the accident on his wife, according to court papers.

AAA worker Michael T. Scoville told authorities he got a request for help at about 9:50 p.m. New Years Eve. He showed up on Boughton Hill Road in Victor to find an SUV down an embankment, about 100 feet from the lawmakers driveway. He said he saw a man emerge from the SUV with his hands up, according to court papers.

My wife was driving! Kolb told Scoville, the documents show. You know how women drive, Kolb added.

The state-owned vehicle was against a utility guide wire, prompting the AAA worker to call 911. Scoville also said Kolb was the only person at the 2018 GMC.

By the time an Ontario County deputy showed up, Kolb changed his story, according to court papers.

Kolb, a Republican who was first elected to the Assembly in 2000, told the deputy hed had four to five cocktails at the Erie Grill, a Pittsford restaurant. Kolb then said he was the one driving, according to Deputy Ian C. Halls sworn statement.

Hall described Kolb as having glassy, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his breath, according to court papers. The lawmaker said he hadnt had anything else to drink after the crash, and he agreed to a chemical test of his breath.

At 11:33 p.m. New Years Eve, Kolb had a 0.16% blood-alcohol count, according to the court papers. The legal limit is 0.08%.

Kolb, 67, of Victor, was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. His arraignment is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Thursday, a day after Gov. Andrew Cuomos State of the State message in Albany.

Kolbs lawyer, Christopher Schiano, said his client was being treated like any other citizen. Schiano said he expected the court appearance to last five to 10 minutes.

A special prosecutor, Yates County District Attorney Todd Casella, has been appointed to the case to avoid a conflict of interest. The Ontario County district attorney has jurisdiction within the 131st Assembly District, which Kolb represents. Town Justice James Mulley, of Penfield, will hear the case.

Kolb has stepped down as minority leader in the New York State Assembly. Hes called the incident a terrible lapse in judgment.

I fully recognize the severity of the situation and I am profoundly sorry, he 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.

Assemblyman Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, was elected today to replace Kolb as minority leader.

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WASHINGTON - John Bolton complicated Senate Republicans' impeachment strategy on Monday, declaring his willingness to testify and upping the pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his party to summon the former national security adviser as a witness in President Donald Trump's trial.

Bolton last fall rebuffed House impeachment investigators' entreaties to testify about his concerns about Trump's demands that Ukraine investigate his political rivals as the administration delayed military aid. Bolton's surprise announcement changed the political calculus for McConnell's no-witness strategy and appeared to increase the likelihood of additional testimony that could embarrass the president.

"Since my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study," Bolton said. "I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify."

The announcement was a major boost for congressional Democrats, who have delayed transmission of the articles of impeachment for more than two weeks while seeking guarantees about the scope of the trial, including witnesses. Democrats have pressed for testimony from Bolton, as well as acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and several other of the president's men.

At least one Senate Republican, Mitt Romney of Utah, agreed Monday that it was imperative that Bolton testify, while Democrats insisted that Republicans' refusal to allow him to tell his story would be tantamount to a "coverup."

Bolton has firsthand knowledge of internal White House deliberations, and according to testimony in the House probe, reacted angrily to Trump's pressure on Ukraine to investigate former vice president Joe Biden, now a 2020 candidate, and a debunked theory about Ukraine interfering in the 2016 election.

The Bolton announcement came as lawmakers returned to Washington from a two-week congressional recess, with leaders still at loggerheads over the parameters of the impeachment trial.

Washington Post photo by Jabin Botsford

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has been holding the two charges - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress - in hopes of strengthening Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's hand in negotiating with McConnell, R-Ky., for witnesses. Bolton's statement seemed to create a shift in leverage in Democrats' favor.

"Will the United States Senate conduct a fair impeachment trial of the president of the United States? Will we search for all of the facts, or will we look for a coverup, a sham trial, on one of the most important powers the Founding Fathers gave the American people?" Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor.

McConnell, for his part, made clear that once the articles are transmitted to the Senate, he will move ahead on the first phase of the trial - opening arguments - without a decision on witnesses.

"That was good enough for President Clinton, so it ought to be good enough for President Trump," McConnell said in remarks on the Senate floor, citing the impeachment trial 21 years ago. "Fair is fair."

Two moderate Senate Republicans - Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska - have said they're open to hearing from witnesses. And Romney threw his support behind calling Bolton, increasing the likelihood that moderates may force McConnell's hand eventually.

"I would like to be able to hear from John Bolton," the 2012 GOP presidential nominee told reporters. "What the process is to make that happen, I don't have an answer for you. The leaders are trying to negotiate that process right now. . . . What's important is that we hear from him."

Still, the same centrist Republican senators signaled that they were willing to start the trial without a deal for Bolton's testimony, keeping McConnell in firm control for now as he works to delay any decision on additional witnesses until after House Democrats present their case and the president's defense team rebuts it.

"There are a number of witnesses that may well be appropriate for the stage three, of which he would certainly be one," Collins said of Bolton.

When Bolton emerged as a potential witness in the fall, he indicated that he was willing to defy the White House and testify in the House impeachment inquiry - but only if issued a subpoena and if a federal court cleared the way. His statement Monday that he would participate in the proceedings without a court decision marked a shift in his position.

The Bolton development comes just days after McConnell had used the holiday break to persuade Trump to back a quick, no-witness trial. The president, known for his scorched-earth approach, had wanted to use the proceedings to go after Biden.

But McConnell, according to aides who were not authorized to speak publicly, explained that if Trump called his own witnesses, Democrats would insist on theirs. "Mutual assured destruction," he called it, warning against summoning anyone.

The major question for McConnell is whether he can hold the line - particularly after Bolton says he's ready to tell his story. A subpoena requires a simple majority of 51 votes, and Democrats would need just four Republicans to break ranks.

Bolton's testimony could be damaging to Trump politically, according to a person close to him who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss private conversations. People familiar with Bolton's tenure at the National Security Council expect him to corroborate other impeachment witnesses' testimony that he was aghast that U.S. military aid was being held back as the president and his allies pressured Ukraine to open politically advantageous probes, according to people familiar with his views.

In recent months, Bolton has confided to friends that he was deeply troubled by his time at the White House and the president's behavior, but has declined to offer many details, the person said, adding that Bolton's support for Trump's hard line on Iran would not influence any possible testimony.

"Those are different issues. One doesn't affect the other," the person said.

Still, other Bolton associates have privately said that he wants a future in Republican politics and does not want to be seen as a turncoat on Trump or someone who is trying to ingratiate himself with the president's critics. They noted, for instance, that his statement Monday came from his political action committee's office as an example of how he's trying to build out his operation even as he deals with legal issues.

Additionally, people close to him note that Bolton also has an expansive view of presidential power. As a result, it is unclear whether he would testify that he believes Trump overstepped his constitutional authority in his dealings with Ukraine.

Democrats have sought Bolton's testimony for months, particularly after former National Security Council aides told impeachment investigators of his concerns regarding Trump's conduct toward Ukraine. Russian affairs director Fiona Hill testified that Bolton exploded in frustration after a White House meeting July 10 in which Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, pressed Ukrainian officials to open investigations into Biden and the 2016 campaign.

Bolton, Hill said, equated the discussions to a "drug deal" - and told her to immediately report it to John Eisenberg, the top lawyer for the National Security Council.

Additionally, William Taylor, the then-acting ambassador to Ukraine, testified that Bolton was "very sympathetic" when he expressed concerns to the then-national security adviser that military aid to Ukraine was being leveraged for political favors. Bolton recommended that Taylor send a "first person" cable to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about his worries to document the issue. And Taylor later heard from other State Department officials that Bolton was working to get the aid to Ukraine.

Senate Republicans appeared divided on the possibility of hearing from Bolton.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who is close with McConnell, told Guy Benson, the political editor for conservative Townhall.com, that Bolton's testimony could be "helpful to the president" and that he'd like to know more about what he'd say. Other Republicans, including Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, suggested that the Senate should only consider the evidence already gathered in the House, thereby precluding Bolton.

"I just don't think we're under any obligation to consider anything outside the record of what was created for the articles they sent us," Rubio told reporters.

Democratic officials last week predicted Pelosi would deliver the articles to the Senate as soon as this week, though the speaker has kept her plans close and her office has refused to detail her timeline.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and several other Republicans introduced a resolution Monday to dismiss the impeachment articles without a trial since Pelosi has yet to deliver the documents, though the measure appears unlikely to get a vote.
The DGP said that the idea is to make NH-44 world-class from the safety point of view so that it could be a role model for the entire country. With this the burden of road crash injuries and fatalities at NH-44 passing through five districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat and Sonipat can be reduced, he added.A multi-stakeholder meeting was held under the chairmanship of DGP Yadava at the Haryana Police Academy (HPA), Madhuban today.The meeting was attended by the Project Directors and other officials of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), PWD (B & R) Haryana, Transport Department, Haryana and Road Safety Engineers of (IRTE), Faridabad led by Dr Rohit Baluja.Range IGs of Ambala, Karnal and Rohtak Ranges, SPs of NH-44 districts - Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat and Sonipat - also attended the meeting.Under this initiative, Haryana Police has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IRTE under which the latter will conduct a detailed Road Safety Audit of this 187 KM stretch of NH-44 passing through Haryana and will submit a detailed action plan for road engineering-related improvements including fixation of speed limits and installation of road signages and road markings coupled with a plan for focused accident prevention through better enforcements and awareness of all categories of road users.On this occasion, Baluja informed that this portion of NH-44 had witnessed 743 deaths in 2018 which makes it the most accident-prone highway in India. "In fact, the number of people who died in these road accidents in one year is more than the total number of persons who die every year in the entire Netherlands and even in the UAE. The bulk of these people who lost their lives are either pedestrians, cyclists and two-wheeler drivers," Baluja said.Safety of people, the behaviour of people on road, faulty overtaking, identification of black spots, scientific construction approach, intensifying the enforcement measures, to hold road contractors, consultants or concessionaires accountable for faulty road design under section 198 A of MV (Amendment) Act were also discussed in the meeting.Addressing the meeting, the DGP informed that the most significant and the noblest tasks before the Police and other agencies were to carry out traffic awareness and traffic enforcement in a manner that serves to save lives of people who are dying in road accidents. The DGP said that for this purpose, the Police Department will work actively to implement the recommendations emerging out of the Road Safety Audit being done by IRTE with the help of NHAI and Transport Department, Haryana.He announced that a network of Speed Radars, Automatic Number Plate Readers (ANPRs) and Cameras will be installed on NH-44 which will be connected to a Centralized Control Room to initiate a crackdown on dangerous driving, over speeding and unsafe lane changing.Describing training of police personnel as an important aspect of road safety, the DGP said HPA will impart road safety and crash investigation training to 50 police personnel every month. He also sought cooperation from the IRTE team in this regard."A well-planned and co-ordinated awareness drive will be launched in association with Haryana Roadways, Punjab Roadways, Himachal Pradesh Roadways, Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) and more than 20 Transport companies to ensure that heavy vehicles use only the left-most lane which is meant for heavy vehicles. Further, all illegal and unauthorized cuts in the Central median on NH-44 will be closed as they are leading to multiple accidents," Yadava said.In addition, Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) or Under Passes will be constructed at points where a large number of pedestrians are required to cross the National Highway particularly at busy points in Sonipat and Panipat.This slew of initiatives will be started within next two months with a pilot project on the first 10 km of NH - 44 from Kundli to Rai to showcase the initiative and subsequently it will be extended to the entire NH - 44. (ANI)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 10:51:33|Editor: ZD

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TRIPOLI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The east-based army of Libya said on Monday they had captured the coastal city of Sirte, some 450 km east of the capital Tripoli, from the forces of the rival UN-backed government.

Ahmad al-Mismari, spokesman of the east-based Libyan National Army, announced the "liberation" of Sirte at a press conference in the eastern city of Benghazi.

Mismari also said the whole operation to control Sirte took no more than three hours, stressing that the operation was confidential.

FINAL BATTLE AGAINST CAPITAL

The announcement came as the east-based forces were launching the "final" battle to take Tripoli, which is controlled by the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).

Last month, Khalifa Haftar, commander of the east-based army, declared the launch of the final military campaign in and around the capital.

"Today, we declare the final battle and advancement into the heart of the capital," Haftar said in a televised speech on the local TV channel Libya Al-Hadath.

On Thursday, the east-based army announced that it had killed more than 20 members of the UN-backed government forces in south of Tripoli, one day after the UN-backed Libyan government's forces said they had captured 25 soldiers of the east-based army, bringing the total number of east-based army soldiers it captured in a week to more than 50.

Haftar's army has been leading a military campaign in and around Tripoli since early April, trying to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government.

Thousands have been killed and injured in the fighting, and more than 120,000 people fled their homes from the violence.

TURKEY'S PLEDGE

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday evening that Turkey is "gradually" sending troops to Libya under a deal inked with the GNA.

"Our soldiers are gradually going," Erdogan told the CNNTurk broadcaster in a televised interview, saying that "the duty of Turkish soldiers is to ensure ceasefire and not to fight."

"What we will do in Libya is to strengthen the legitimate government," he added, noting an operation center would be established in the North African country torn by the raging civil war.

The mission for Turkish troops in Libya is to make coordination at the operation center, said the Turkish leader.

The Turkish parliament on Thursday passed a motion authorizing the government to deploy troops to Libya in support of the GNA, as Ankara signed with it security and military cooperation agreements as well as a controversial maritime boundary memorandum at the end of November.

ESCALATING TENSIONS

In recent weeks there has been an escalation of fighting and airstrikes in the North African country. On Saturday, an airstrike hit a military academy in Tripoli, killing 30 students and injuring 33 others.

The forces of the UN-backed government blamed the rival east-based army for the airstrike, and the east-based army denied it.

The UN Support Mission in Libya also condemned the airstrike, saying increasing military escalation has complicated the situation and threatened chances to return to the political process.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Monday that it evacuated more than 2,000 refugees and asylum-seekers from Libya in 2019.

"But nearly 1,000 asylum-seekers under the age of 18 are still languishing in Libyan detention centers," the UNHCR said in a statement.

Libya has been suffering escalating violence and political instability ever since the fall of its leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Sackville Street (now OConnell Street) around the time of the 1916 Easter Rising (PA)

The Government has deferred a planned event to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police, it has been confirmed.

The Government had been facing mounting pressure to cancel the controversial event, which has been widely criticised.

A number of mayors and politicians have said they will not attend the event which had been planned for next week at Dublin Castle.

Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said: As a Government, we have at all times sought to have a national programme of commemorations that is authentic, sensitive and inclusive.

We very much support the recommendation that there should be specific State-led initiatives to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP).

However, given the disappointing response of some to the planned event on 17th January, I do not believe that the event, as planned, can now take place in an atmosphere that meets the goals and guiding principles of the overall commemorative programme. Therefore, I am announcing its deferral.

Earlier on Tuesday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had defended the decision to commemorate the RIC, saying all traditions should be respected.

Among the mayors who said they would not attend the now postponed event included Waterford mayor John Pratt and mayor for Galway Mike Cubbard.

Mr Pratt said that the appetite does not exist for representation at this event.

Its about remembering our history, not condoning what happenedLeo Varadkar

Mr Varadkar said that the commemoration is not a celebration.

Its about remembering our history, not condoning what happened, he said.

We will also remember the terrible burning of Cork, Balbriggan, partition and the atrocities of the Civil War.

We should respect all traditions on our island and be mature enough as a State to acknowledge all aspects of our past.

His comments comes as Kevin Boxer Moran, the Minister of State responsible for Dublin Castle, said on Tuesday morning that the event should be postponed.

He said that the public debate and calls for a boycott reflect the serious sensitivities and concerns that people have.

I believe it should be postponed to allow for greater reflection on how best to deal with the wider issue of such commemorations, he added.

We are at a very sensitive period in our historic 100-year anniversaries and the planned commemoration of members who served in the RIC and the DMP prior to independence while being led by good intentions, has failed to recognise the deep-seated feelings surrounding the force.

We must respect the sincerely held feelings of people on the matter and note the historical record of how policing was carried out in the State from when the RIC was formed in 1836 and which ultimately led to the declaration in April 2019 by Dail Eireann to boycott the police service.

I believe it would be wrong that this difficult period of Irish history that we are about to commemorate and which led to our independence to ignore the firmly held convictions by the general public.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said the event is not the appropriate vehicle to explore such complex themes.

It was an error of judgment compounded by the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste and their reaction to those who have decided not to participate, Mr Martin added.

They should withdraw their accusation that, to quote Minister (Charlie) Flanagan, those who choose not to attend this event are abandoning mutual understanding and reconciliation.

On Monday night, Dublin City Council voted to boycott the commemoration service.

Councillors described the event as obscene.

RIC and DMP upheld regime of oppression and exploitation in Ireland including the 1913 Lockout to repression of tenant farmers and landless labourers. They should not be commemorated or celebrated. #BlackandTans #dubw https://t.co/ePPYCD2fg2  Ruth Coppinger (@RuthCoppingerSP) January 7, 2020

The government said the event will commemorate those who served in the RIC and DMP.

Mr Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris will be among those attending the event.

The Socialist Party tweeted: Dublin Metropolitan Police engaged in brutal oppression of Dublin working class in interests of the Irish capitalist class in the 1913 lockout.

The RIC brutally evicted poor tenant farmers and landless labourers in the interests of British landlordism.

Sinn Fein has also called for the event to be cancelled.

Govt commemoration of RIC, Black&Tans, DMP a calculated insult to all who stood for Irish freedom. Nowhere else would those who brutally suppressed national freedom be afforded a state commemoration. Crass Fine Gael revisionism gone too far. Cancel this event @LeoVaradkar pic.twitter.com/YFiOi2eets  Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) January 6, 2020

Other mayors who confirmed they will not attend the event included Dublin Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe, Cork mayor John Sheehan and Clare mayor Cathal Crowe.

Mr Cubbard said attending the event would me hypocritical.

Attending this event would be hypocritical of me as they directly opposed those whose lives were lost creating the free Ireland we enjoy today.

History cannot be re-written.
Utica, N.Y. - A new law goes into effect in just nine days, on January 15th, here in New York State and there are many adoptees, as well as mothers who gave up their children for adoption years ago, who are all a little nervous.

On January 15th, adoptees will no longer need to have a court order to have the original birth certificate unsealed by the State of New York.

The new law means once adoptees turn 18, all they have to do is file a petition to get their original birth certificate unsealed.

Ryan Baum of Canastota was born in Utica in the 1970's. His mother gave him up for adoption and he's been trying to find the name of his birth mother for more than two decades since he was 18.

Baum says this new law means he will finally get the answers he's longed for for a very long time, "This is huge for me and all other adoptees from around New York State. Ive gone to ancestry.com, 23andMe, where you can look up, and I found some distant relatives, but no one close. I found a biological uncle that was also adopted and that was a dead end. So there were a lot of dead ends and the law basically is a lot of adoptees last hope, including mine, so its very good that it was approved."

The law was passed almost unanimously in both the Senate and the Assembly and signed into law in December by Governor Cuomo.

Sen. Joe Griffo says he was in full support of this new law. He says the ability to know who your birth mother is, is a basic civil right, "It's something that could be available now, but you would have to go through the courts in order to accomplish that and there's no guarantee that the court would grant that, so what this does is basically say, at 18, if you go and petition and you want that, you'll have that opportunity to have that access."

Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon says she too was in support of the law, but she lobbied to get the age changed from 18 to 21. She believes a young person should at least get through high school before going through this process and she says many young people are still be in high school when they turn 18, "I can say that initially my concern was that it should be 21 years of age, ensuring that someone has graduated from high school, so I did talk to the sponsor about that."

She says her lobbying didn't help, so the age is 18.

As far as drawbacks of the new law, Utica attorney Mark Wolber who has handled many adoption cases over the years, says there's a concern for him that some young women will now turn to abortion rather than adoption because of the lack of privacy in the future, "This may have a chilling effect on people who want to give up a child for adoption in New York State, so there may be other options. People may abort rather than electing to give up her child for adoption because they dont want 20, 30 years later to have the child come knocking at the door when they may be married and have family and have other children, and here is this other child that comes in and says Im your child that you gave up for adoption 30 years ago and that could be a little disruptive on a lot of peoples families."

Another issue some legislators who opposed passing the legislation brought up was the privacy of the birth mothers that was guaranteed all of these years up to now.

Baum says he understands that concern, but believes the right to know by adoptees should be more important, "These women were promised privacy when they were giving these children up for adoption, but I think a persons right to know where they came from, and who they are, and any medical issues, or their family."

As far as any concerns with finally making contact with his birth mother, Baum says whether it's good or bad, at least he is being given the opportunity.
Ripple has a proven history of accelerating research initiatives and saving clinical research sites significant time and money...

Today Ripple Science announced that it has completed a $2.5M equity financing round, led by Dundee VC, attracting more than $2M from a syndicate of out-of-state venture funds. The financing will be used to scale sales and marketing efforts, expanding the companys commercial reach among private and public clinical research organizations.

Ripple is a HIPAA compliant, SaaS platform that saves researchers time by effectively managing all levels of participant recruitment and retention for clinical trials. Ripple provides real-time analytics to track progress and mitigate risks and empowers research and clinical trial teams through data-driven insights and a centralized communication platform. With Ripple, researchers are automatically building their own participant registries which can be shared and leveraged for future trials.

Investors in this round include Dundee VC, Mercury Fund, SpringTime Ventures, Red Cedar Ventures, M25, Revolutions Rise of the Rest Seed Fund and previous investors including ID Ventures, Invest Michigan, and the MINTS fund out of the University of Michigan. Greg Beaufait, Partner at Dundee VC, will join the Ripple board.

We are pleased to partner with Ripple Science and lead their seed financing, said Greg Beaufait, Partner at Dundee VC. Ripple has a proven history of accelerating research initiatives and saving clinical research sites significant time and money, enabling researchers to complete studies much faster via their patient recruitment management software. CEO Peter Falzon and his team have the impressive experience and passionate knowledge of the customer required to scale the company to its full potential in this massive industry.

The Ripple team has hit our stride, with strong performance in development, marketing, sales and customer success both with public health and industry sponsored clinical trial users," commented Peter Falzon, Ripple Science President and CEO. "We are most proud of our 106% net retention rate that shows our customers not only renew but are also expanding Ripple utilization among their teams.

In 2019 the company increased annual recurring revenue (ARR) by 270% and is on track to triple ARR again in 2020. Ripple aims to release several new product features and expand its team in Ann Arbor, Michigan, during the current year.

About Ripple Science: Ripple Science accelerates clinical research with its secure, HIPAA-compliant suite of tools. By adapting sales and marketing automation to the process of patient recruitment, Ripple helps our customers recruit more participants, faster and reduces patients lost to follow-up.

Ripple Sciences flagship product, Ripple, is currently being used by research investigators at more than 100 academic and research centers around the world, including Johns Hopkins University, Pennsylvania State University, University of California Los Angeles, the Brain Research Foundation Canada, University of East Anglia (UK), Cognito Therapeutics (Boston, MA) and the University of Michigan.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.ripplescience.com
Sainsbury's customer, Rachael Stevens, and her guide dog Pippa, were mistakenly told they were not allowed into a store.

But what are people's rights under the Equality Act 2010? Our Consumer Fightback columnist explains where people stand on everything from guide dogs, to disabled access and what to do if you think something is wrong.

A Sainsburys store in Herne Hill refused entry to a customer with her guide dog, in a breach of the Equality Act 2010.

Sainsburys customer, Rachael Stevens, and her guide dog Pippa, were not allowed into the store, despite clear markings on the animals livery to indicate its assistance dog status.

Rachael, who is pictured with her guide dog and her son, was turned away from Sainsbury's

Rachael, her husband and their two children, Joseph, 7, and Leo, 4, had gone for a long walk and went to Dough Artisan Bakery on Herne Hill in London for a coffee and some cake on Saturday afternoon.

In the meantime, Rachael and her guide dog nipped over the road to get some milk from the Sainsburys store.

She had been able to go in and pay for the milk at the self-service till, but as she was leaving she was told by someone stacking shelves, You cant bring that dog in the shop.

She replied: Yes I can, shes a guide dog and walked out back to the cafe.

Rachaels husband tweeted about the incident and Sainsburys requested they send a direct message. Its response was an apology and a request for further information, including a description of the colleague.

Rachael says What was most disappointing was when I said to the member of staff that shes a guide dog, he seemed baffled, like hed never heard of one before.

'There seems to be an issue with training at Sainsburys. I know people make mistakes, but, every member of staff knows they cant sell alcohol to children, so, why dont they all know you cant ban guide dogs?

Pippa acts as my eyes. You wouldnt tell other shoppers they can only come in if they wear a blindfold.

'Its exhausting having to worry every time I step into a shop, bar or cab that I might get refused access, and this experience is just another example where it seems my concerns are justified.

Rachael has retinitis pigmentosa, which she was diagnosed at age 14. It is a degenerative condition which causes her vision to close in, meaning she has about 5 per cent visibility, a small circle in the centre of her visual field.

She has no peripheral vision and seeing at night time is also harder.

She got Pippa in May 2019 and says it has genuinely changed her life. She is now able to go to work in the rush hour on her own and has far more freedom as a result.

Sainsbury's apologised for the incident and asked Rachael for more details of the incident

Supermarkets repeatedly caught out

It is not the first time this has happened. Just seven months ago a Sainsburys store in Holborn, central London, refused entry to the double British and European ski champion John Dickinson-Lilley who was visiting with his guide dog.

After the incident was reported on the 8 June 2019 Sainsburys provided a statement to say: We have apologised to John for his experience and reassured him assistance dogs are welcome in all our stores and petrol stations.

However, it would appear that Sainsburys is still not doing enough to ensure its staff are abiding by the law.

The Equality Act 2010 legally protects all people from discrimination. A company must make adaptions for people with disabilities, where possible. Quite simply, in this case it means that an assistance dog must be allowed into the store.

Ironically, in 2017 Sainsburys renewed its sponsorship of the GB Paralympian team up to the Tokyo games in 2020.

Company Secretary and Corporate Services Director Tim Fallowfield was awarded an OBE for his services towards disability awareness. Perhaps he should be concentrating on the very basics of legality in the stores, as well as new initiatives?

When, in October 2014, a blind student and her guide dog were refused entry to a Tesco store in Swiss Cottage, Tesco apologised and made a donation of 5,000 towards training of a guide dog.

A spokesperson for Tesco told me at the time that staff who havent grown up in the UK dont have knowledge of assistance dogs. So it shows the clear need to ensure that all staff are suitably trained to ensure an understanding of what many of us take for granted.

Sainsburys has made no such gesture, not even after this second episode.

A Sainsburys spokesperson said: Assistance dogs are welcome in all of our stores and petrol stations and we have apologised to Rachael for her experience. We will remind all stores of our policy and hope to welcome Rachael and her assistance dog back into store soon.

I asked directly if Sainsburys would be making a donation and no response was received, as the time of publication, although the supermarket later said: 'We are in regular contact with Guide Dogs and donate to them through our local charity of the year initiatives as well as the proceeds from tickets sold for our Santa Paws pop-up in December.'

The Equality Act 2010 legally protects all people from discrimination, including guide dogs

Guide dog prejudice not uncommon

Many guide dog users have stories of access refusals. Simon says Weve had one refusal from a black cab, and certainly a few concerned looks from Uber drivers (I make sure to reveal her only once everyone else is in the car to avoid a drive away).

A Guide Dogs spokesperson said: Guide Dogs believes everyone who experiences sight loss deserves to able to live their lives the way they want and feel confident, independent and supported in the world. It is completely unacceptable for a retailer to illegally refuse entry to a customer with a guide dog.

Yet, sadly, this individuals experience is not a one off and discrimination is still so prevalent todays society. Three-quarters of guide dog owners are illegally turned away by businesses and services which is leaving people with sight loss left out of life.

Guide Dog user, Patrick, talks about his experiences in this video and says that the most common places where he is asked to leave because of his dog are supermarkets and high street stores.

Key rights under the Equality Act 2010, service provision and disability

The Equality Act, implemented on 1 October 2010, brought together 116 pieces of legislation into one Act.

1) It is illegal to discriminate against anyone on the grounds of; age, disability, mental health, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion/belief, sex and sexual orientation. On 3 January 2020 a court ruling extended this protection to ethical vegans.

2) The Equality Act is civil law not criminal. Therefore, police cant intervene when it happens and you would need to seek redress in the courts after the event. (It is only criminally illegal to refuse access to a taxi/cab because its a breach of their licence).

3) When using a service provider such as a retailer, every person is entitled to services that are provided free from discrimination, to have rights to accessibility and to be protected from harassment.

4) In some circumstances the law allows businesses to treat disabled people more favourably than non-disabled people. For example, this may be when a theatre gives a disabled person a free ticket to allow someone to assist them to attend the venue.

5) A business must consider implications for any disabled person and make reasonable adjustments (such as a ramp for wheelchair users) before they have a customer who may need one.

6) A business cannot stop providing a disabled person with services if they continue to provide them for other people in similar circumstances.

7) A business cannot charge more for a deposit or keep a customer waiting longer for a service than any other customer because of their disability (or any other protected characteristic).

8) Indirect discrimination is a breach of the Equality Act. For example, a restaurant may have a standard of expected behaviour. However, if someone with a disability is unable to meet this standard due to their disability the business must be able to object with justification.

So, if the standard has a worse impact on people with a particular protected characteristic than on people who do not have that characteristic, then the business needs to either make reasonable adjustments or provide objective justification for refusing to serve the person.

9) Everyone is covered by the Equality Act whether the service is provided for free or paid for.

10) It may sometimes be legal for an insurance provider to refuse a policy on the basis of age or disability, but this will depend on the terms of what is considered reasonable.

You can find out more about the Equality Act 2010 on the Equality and Human Rights Commission website.

What to do it your guide dog is turned away

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Legal Rights Officer, Anita Marshall says: 'Under the 2010 Equality Act it is illegal for an organisation to refuse entry to a person because they are a guide dog user.

'RNIBs legal rights team works tirelessly to challenge this kind of discrimination and ensure blind and partially sighted people are aware of their rights.

'Last year, we worked with Guide Dogs to launch the Challenging Discrimination Toolkit, which helps guide dog owners recognise unfair practice and challenge this behaviour should they encounter it.

'This toolkit is just one strand of support that RNIB has created to help end discrimination and create a world without barriers for blind and partially sighted people.'
Airlines cancelled flights to regional towns on Tuesday, including to fire-ravaged areas on the NSW South Coast, due to bushfire smoke making it too dangerous to fly.

Qantas and Virgin Australia cancelled one return service each between Sydney and Albury on the NSW-Victoria border because of reduced pilot visibility.

Regional Express (Rex) cancelled all flights to Cooma in southern NSW on Tuesday, and was struggling to operate into Merimbula and Moruya on the NSW South Coast.

Parliament House in Canberra engulfed in bushfire smoke. Credit:AAP

None of the three flights from Sydney to Merimbula were able to operate on Tuesday, with two flights taking off but forced to turn back to Sydney when they missed runway approaches due to low visibility.
The chief of Lebanons Iran-allied Hezbollah movement, Hassan Nasrallah, has warned that troops of the United States in the Middle Eas...





The chief of Lebanons Iran-allied Hezbollah movement, Hassan Nasrallah, has warned that troops of the United States in the Middle East would return home in coffins.





Nasrallah explained that the threat was in retaliation for the assassination of Major General Qassem Soleiman.





The Hezbollah chief stated that the response to the assassination of Soleimani was not only Irans responsibility but also that of the entire axis of resistance.





Speaking in Beirut, Lebanon yesterday, Nasrallah said: When the coffins of American soldiers and officers begin to be transported to the United States, President Donald Trump and his administration will realize that they have really lost the region and will lose the elections.

He stated that attacks on US military forces in the Middle East will be fair punishment for the crime, listing US bases, naval ships and military personnel.





The targeted killing of General Soleimani and Muhandis is the beginning of a new era not for Iraq or Iran, but for the whole region.





We are witness to a heinous crime whose perpetrators are well-known. US President Donald Trump said he had ordered the (drone) strike (on the airport in Baghdad, Iraq).





More than three years into his presidency, Trump has failed to accomplish the goals he had defined at the beginning of his tenure. Previous US attempts to assassinate General Soleimani had ended in failure. All of Trumps forms of pressure to subdue Iran have also failed to realize that goal.





A US-backed airstrike had killed Soleimani, who is the Revolutionary Guard General and head of the elite Quds Force, at Baghdad International Airport.





Soleimanis killing had sparked rumors of a third world war likely to start between the US and Iran.





Trump had disclosed that Soleimani was plotting to kill lots of American citizens but was caught in the process.





Also, Iran had threatened to attack the US White House, following warning of retaliation by Trump.




Mixed Picture on 5G Impact on Smartphone Upgrades, Smart Speaker Momentum Continues

The smartphone will remain the dominant consumer device into the new decade, but the arrival of 5G will not guarantee a surge in device upgrades, according to new GSMA Intelligence research. A new report, The Future of Devices, published at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020 in Las Vegas today, provides a wealth of insight on consumer technology adoption trends over the coming years, including the outlook for smartphones, smart speakers, wearables and other emerging categories.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005796/en/

When do you plan to upgrade to 5G? (Graphic: Business Wire)

Based on the results of GSMA Intelligence's 2019 Consumer Survey, the report found that smartphone ownership among adults in most high- and middle-income countries is at 85-95 per cent. However, only 30-40 per cent of survey respondents in significant markets such as the US, Europe and Australia said the arrival of 5G is likely to result in a smartphone upgrade in the short term. By contrast, markets such as China and South Korea will be early adopters; nearly 50 per cent of Chinese consumers say they will buy a 5G phone as soon as they are available.

"The device ecosystem will be critical in shaping the trajectory of 5G adoption," said Peter Jarich, Head of GSMA Intelligence. "However, it's a mistake to believe that consumers in every market will look at 5G upgrades in the same way. Operators and device manufacturers will need to understand consumer demand on a granular level if they hope to make the most of the 5G opportunity."

5G

Mixed picture for smart home and wearables

Fragmentation and a lack of compatibility between manufacturers hamper the adoption of smart home devices. However, this segment is being boosted by the growing popularity of smart speakers, such as Amazon's Echo devices, which are increasingly acting as a single control point within the home. Smart speakers were the fastest moving category in the 2019 survey, now owned by 21 per cent of households, up ten percentage points over the previous year. Speakers have become a key battleground in the broader development of AI. Amazon and Google are furthest ahead, but both face the challenge of getting customers to go beyond basic functionality to higher-value tasks such as purchasing goods.

Meanwhile, the adoption rates for fitness trackers and smartwatches also picked up in 2019, and are now owned by 21 per cent and 10 per cent of adults, respectively. Millennials show the most substantial ownership rates of these devices, being more tech-savvy than older generations and also benefitting from an employer or insurance-based subsidies. However, the report notes that connected health devices continue to be sorely underrepresented among older populations. Missing older people is a missed opportunity for tech companies and governments, given that such devices can facilitate remote monitoring for a range of conditions, reducing the volume of in-person consultations and the strain on national healthcare systems.

The 2020 edition of The Future of Devices report is available to accredited members of the press on request. This report is based on GSMA Intelligence's 2019 Consumer Survey, which surveyed 38,000 respondents across 36 key markets, using a blend of online and face-to-face sampling methodologies.

GSMA Intelligence CES2020

GSMA Intelligence will be hosting a seminar dedicated to IoT at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas during CES. During this session, GSMA Intelligence will feature its latest forecasts and expectations for both consumer and enterprise IoT.

Our senior analysts will be available on-site for one-to-one media interviews during the week. We can provide expert commentary across a range of industry topics and discuss all the key announcements and developments. Please contact us at: media@gsmaintelligence.com

-ENDS-

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators and nearly 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces the industry-leading MWC events held annually in Barcelona, Los Angeles and Shanghai, as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional conferences.

For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005796/en/

Contacts:

For the GSMA:

GSMA Press Office

Isobel Moseley

pressoffice@gsma.com
A World War II veteran from Massachusetts finally received the medals his service merited nearly 75 years after he returned home.

Peter Fantasia was awarded his medals Monday by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a fellow veteran.
Coalition Statement on Reports of Mass Detentions of Iranians and Iranian-Americans at the Washington/Canada Border

01/07/20

Press Release by Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA)



Iranian Alliances Across Borders (IAAB)

Iranian American Bar Association (IABA)

National Iranian American Council (NIAC)

PARS Equality Center

Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA)

Washington, DC -The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) and its Iranian American coalition partners today issued the following statement following the recent reports of mass detentions of Iranians and Iranian Americans at the Washington/Canada Border:

We write to share extremely disconcerting news and to share important information with you regarding new immigration incidents affecting Iranian Americans and Iranians in the U.S. Please read the below carefully and share this information with your friends and family.

What We Know And Don't Know

Over the last 36 hours, there have been alarming reports of more than 60 Iranians and Iranian Americans being detained at length and questioned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Peace Arch Border on the Washington State/Canadian border. Many of the individuals detained were U.S. citizens and permanent residents, including some individuals who were returning after a short day trip from Seattle to Vancouver. Upon arrival, individuals were given an orange card, had their passports taken away and were directed to wait. After being detained for extended periods of time, some for as long as 10 hours, the individuals were subjected to extensive questioning, during which they were asked invasive inquiries, such as their family and employment histories, and questions about the individuals' and even their parents' military service in Iran. In cases where families arrived together, and one family member was of Iranian origin, the entire family was kept for questioning. Some families detained for extended periods were told that they had to undergo a background check, which needed to be cleared by Washington DC. Due to the large number of individuals arriving at the Peace Arch Border, and the long delays in processing, individuals were turned away and asked to return at a later time.

While our investigation has revealed the foregoing, there is still much we do not know. Across the country, we are hearing conflicting reports of Iranians and Iranian Americans being detained and questioned at other airports, while others are being admitted with minimal questioning. As of now, it is unclear if there is a national directive from CBP to detain individuals with Iranian heritage. CBP has denied that there is a national directive and CBP officers have indicated that, due to heightened security, they are conducting full background checks on individuals who are "suspicious or adversarial." However, given the reports received, including both geographically and of individuals being detained, further confirmation is required to determine if this is a localized or national directive.

Community Resources

As we continue to investigate and gather information, if you, your family, or your friends are traveling, and have been detained and questioned, please fill out our confidential intake form.

Know Your Rights



Available in English and Persian

Despite the current political climate, Iranian Americans who are U.S. citizens, "green card holders" (also called "lawful permanent residents" or "LPRs"), and visa holders have rights at the border. Absent specific indicia of credible threats by specific individuals, your rights for being questioned and searched at the border have not changed. If you are traveling or have family and friends that are traveling, please review the Iranian American Community Advisory- Know Your Rights at the Border and Airport available in English and Persian. Please help us disseminate this information, as it may help your family, friends, and loved ones.

We Are Here To Help

As a coalition of Iranian American organizations, we are committed to the community of Iranians and Iranian Americans in the U.S. and your families. We will continue to investigate and monitor this troubling development, provide you information and updates, and continue to fight to protect your and your families' rights and interests. Additionally, we will continue working with, and advocating before, our elected representatives and allies, not only to get to the bottom of what is happening but to seek remedies to resolve it. Please stay tuned.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump backed off a threat Tuesday to target Iranian cultural sites if Tehran retaliates for a drone strike that killed its top military general last week.

During an Oval Office meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Trump said the administration is "supposed to be very careful with [Iran's] cultural heritage."

"And you know what, if that's what the law is, I like to obey the law," he said. "But think of it: They kill our people, they blow up our people, and then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions. But I'm OK with it."

Trump ordered the drone strike that killed Gen. Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Quds Force, last week after a series of escalating confrontations with Tehran and its proxy forces in the region.

Trump threatened to target Iranian cultural sites after Iran vowed to retaliate for Soleimani's death. In a tweet Sunday, he said the United States targeted 52 sites, some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture.

The president repeated the threat Sunday on Air Force One, saying, Theyre allowed to kill our people, theyre allowed to torture and maim our people  and were not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesnt work that way.

"I like to obey the law," President Donald Trump says.

The 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict makes it a war crime to target cultural sites.

In Iran, there are two dozen UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 22 of them cultural ones. The sites represent religious, economic, architectural and social achievements and history throughout Iran.

Even as he backed off the prospect of targeting cultural sites, Trump reiterated a threat of a strong response if Iran retaliates over Soleimani's death.

"I will say this: If Iran does anything that they shouldn't be doing, they're going to be suffering the consequences and very strongly," he said.

Story continues

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper insisted the administration would follow international laws on armed conflict.

The administration accused Soleimani in the death of hundreds of U.S. troops and said he planned an imminent attack against U.S. forces. Pompeo and Esper declined to elaborate on details of the threat.

Pompeo and other Trump administration officials are scheduled to brief members of Congress on the Soleimani attack Wednesday.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell joined other Republicans in distancing himself from Trumps threats to attack Iranian cultural sites, saying it was "not appropriate."

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., one of the president's closest allies, said the idea of targeting such sites undercuts the U.S. mission and would create more problems.

Were not at war with the culture of the Iranian people, Graham said. The cultural sites, religious sites are not lawful targets under the rule of war.

Graham said he conveyed that view to the president Monday.

Contributing: Deirdre Shesgreen, Christal Hayes

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump backs off threat to attack Iranian cultural sites
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 02:27:52|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BERLIN, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Germany could miss its national target to cover 65 percent of gross electricity consumption with renewable energies in 2030, according to an analysis published by the Institute of Energy Economics (EWI) at the University of Cologne on Monday.

"The calculations for the expansion of renewable energies and the development of electricity demand indicate that Germany will miss the 65 percent target in 2030," said Max Gierkink, manager at EWI.

According to EWI, gross electricity consumption could rise to 748 terawatt hours (TWh) by 2030. At the same time, electricity generation from renewables in Germany would increase to 345 TWh, resulting in a share of renewable energies of only 46 percent.

The current model used by the German government would assume a gross electricity consumption of only 595 TWh by 2030 which would be "slightly below" the current level, EWI pointed out.

"The assumptions of the German government regarding future electricity demand are untenable," Hermann Albers, president of the German Wind Energy Association (BWE) told Xinhua on Monday.

Gierkink stressed that "the central drivers" for the increase of gross electricity consumption in Germany were the "growing number of electric vehicles and heat pumps." The production of green hydrogen using the electrolysis process was "also gaining in importance."

According to the EWI analysis, transport alone would boost electricity consumption in Germany by 64 TWh by 2030. At the same time, the rising number of electric heat pumps would drive energy consumption in buildings by 17 TWh.

On the other hand, the electricity consumption by the German industry was estimated to fall by 15 TWh because of improvements in energy efficiency, according to the analysis.

"German industry is embarking on the path of decarbonization and investing in CO2-free production processes," Albers said, adding that "if renewable energies are not expanded quickly enough, there is a threat of a green electricity gap that will make investments in power-to-gas, electro mobility and renewable heating technologies absurd."
- Two of the suspects were arrested while allegedly surveying KDF base in Ruiru

- Two Ceska pistols and 52 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the suspects

- The other suspect was arrested at Kenya Air Force in Eastleigh

At least three terror suspects have been arrested at Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and Recce Company camps in Nairobi.

James Mburu Ikaba and Miriam Njoki were arrested while taking photos outside the General Service Unit (GSU) Recce squad camp in Ruiru on Saturday, January 4.

READ ALSO: Mike Sonko nominates Ann Kananu Mwenda his deputy governor

The dreaded Recce Company officers during a past combat. Photo: Strategic Intelligence Service

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Serikali yaagizwa na mahakama kufanikisha kurejea kwa Wakili Miguna Miguna

The third suspect, Abdinasir Abdullahi, a man of Somali-Canadian origin, was nabbed while allegedly conducting surveillance at the KDF air base in Eastleigh.

Njoki and Mburu were driving in a Land Cruiser vehicle and when they were flagged down by the police they failed to stop forcing them to open fire bursting one of the car tyre forcing them to stop.

Two Ceska pistols and 52 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the suspects' car and others from their house after they led police to where they stay.

READ ALSO: Mike Sonko nominates Ann Kananu Mwenda his deputy governor

Out of the 52 bullets, seven of them were found in the vehicle while the other 45 and the two pistols were recovered from the suspects house in Marurui estate, Kiambu county.

The two were arraigned in court on Monday, January 6, and the prosecution sought for 10 more days to complete the investigations.

They denied the charges and told the court they had only stopped to buy food but left immediately after they were asked to leave the area.

It is suspected that the respondents were conducting surveillance at the GSU Recce Company, Ruiru for purposes of carrying out a terrorist attack, the prosecution told the court.

KDF flag handover at Kenya Air Force Eastleigh base where a man was arrested. Photo: KDF

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Nyeri: Kidosho amwaga machozi akitaka kuolewa na pasta

The third suspects is yet to be arraigned after court ordered he be taken to hospital as he is asthmatic and diabetic. He will be charged with being in the country illegally.

As earlier reported, other three suspects were arrested on Sunday after they tried to forcefully enter the British army training base in Nanyuki.

On Sunday morning al-Shabaab terrorists attempted to attack a Kenya-US military base at Manda Bay in Lamu county.

Three American soldiers were killed and two others wounded during the attack. Five suspects were also killed and over five others have been arrested in connection to the botched attack.

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
CHICO, Calif. - The city of Chico is about to get a little bit sweeter now that a new bakery is open.

Lara and Keith Bussey said they are thrilled with the opportunity to open their bakery in Chico. As proud residents raising their two children in Chico, they believe that the growing city is a great place for these quality cakes.

"Bundt cakes conjure up a feeling of family and home baked goodness and that is what this community deserves, the Busseys said. We are all about coming together and giving back and we couldnt think of a better place to do it than where we are raising our children. To benefit the Chico Unified School District during our grand opening events is frosting on the cake.

The bakery opened just before Thanksgiving and grand opening festivities will be held at the bakery the second week of January.

Thursday, Jan. 9: Ribbon Cutting at 5 p.m. with the Chico Chamber of Commerce

Ribbon Cutting at 5 p.m. with the Chico Chamber of Commerce Friday, Jan. 10: Chico Unified School District Benefit Day, 20% of sales will be donated to the North Valley Foundation benefitting the Chico Unified School District, striving to offer a diverse curriculum, highly qualified teachers, and a dedicated staff placing students at the forefront of the learning process.

Chico Unified School District Benefit Day, 20% of sales will be donated to the North Valley Foundation benefitting the Chico Unified School District, striving to offer a diverse curriculum, highly qualified teachers, and a dedicated staff placing students at the forefront of the learning process. Saturday, Jan 11: Free Bundlets for a Year! At 9 a.m., the first 50 guests on this day will win free Bundlets for year (one per month for 12 months, one card per household)

Nothing Bundt Cakes is located at 2061 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., Suite 167. Their hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The luscious cakes are made with the finest ingredients, including real eggs, butter, and cream cheese, in 40 unique designs and 10 delicious flavors.

Four sizes are available, including full-sized Bundts perfect for sharing; small Bundtlets, great for gifting; and bite-sized Bundtinis by the dozen, the Busseys said.

Nothing Bundt Cakes was founded in Las Vegas in 1997 by friends Dena Tripp and Debbie Shwetz and offers premium, high-quality Bundt Cakes in a variety of sizes and classic flavors.

There are now more than 300 bakeries in 39 U.S. states and Canada. This bakery opening marks the 58th Nothing Bundt Cakes location in California, it's the first in the Chico-Redding market.

View their website, CLICK HERE.
WESTPORT  A 33-year-old woman sustained serious injuries after being stabbed repeatedly by a man in Westport Monday afternoon, police said.

Ellis Tibere, 18, of Guilford, was charged with criminal attempt at murder, first-degree assault and possession of a deadly weapon after the incident, police said.

Police said the woman, a Greenwich resident, was stabbed by a man with a knife in the parking lot of New Beauty Wellness on Post Road East around 1 p.m. Monday.

The man, later identified as Tibere, fled the scene in a vehicle, then was pulled over on the Sherwood Island Connector a short time later.

Statements obtained allege that Tibere opened the door to the victims vehicle as she was parked in the lot and seated inside of it awaiting an appointment. Tibere was reportedly wearing a mask and brandishing a knife when he opened the door, police said in a Monday night release. The victim attempted to kick the suspect in self-defense at which time he inflicted multiple stab wounds to her leg. Based on interviews conducted with Tibere, it appears the victim and location were chosen at random.

The woman, who suffered multiple stab wounds, was transported to Norwalk Hospital for treatment and is now in stable condition, police said.

Tibere confessed to his involvement in the incident, police said in the release.

He was held in lieu of a $1 million bond and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Norwalk on Jan. 7 or Jan. 16, police said.

Police continued to investigate the incident Monday night, according to the department.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 18:32 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3213fb1d 1 National Netherlands,Museum,artifacts,art,culture,national-museum,colonialism Free

The Dutch government has returned 1,500 historical artifacts to Indonesia, four years after an agreement was made with the Education and Culture Ministry.

Basically, there are 1,500 [objects] that used to be held in the Nusantara Museum in Delft, Netherlands, which were returned to Indonesia through the national museum, Education and Culture Ministry culture director-general Hilman Farid said at a press conference at the National Museum in Central Jakarta as quoted by tempo.co.

The 100-year-old Nusantara Museum was the only museum in the Netherlands dedicated specifically to art and cultural objects from Indonesia, a former Dutch colony, and it closed its doors in 2013 due to financial difficulties.

The museum had initially offered to hand over around 12,000 artifacts to Indonesia, but the culture director-general opted to accept a selection of 1,500 objects instead.

The repatriation process symbolically started in November 2016, when Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte presented President Joko Jokowi Widodo with a Bugis keris from the collection.

This is the first time in the history of Indonesia that Indonesian cultural objects or artifacts that were taken [to the Netherlands] are returned, Hilman said. This is very historic and we want to share it with the public. Hopefully, this paves the way for the return of objects in other European museums.

The ministry's culture directorate general also announced the news on its official Instagram account @budayasaya.

National Museum head Siswanto said the museum would present the artifacts to the public in an exhibition scheduled for June 2020.

He added that the returned artifacts would not just be limited to the National Museum.

Other museums will also have the opportunity to get back their cultural objects. This offer might encourage regional museums to improve the quality of their collection.

Golkar lawmaker Adrianus Asia Sidot of the House Commission X, which oversees art and culture, said he appreciated the Dutch governments decision to return the artifacts.

The return [of the artifacts] is a very meaningful New Years gift, Adrianus said in a statement on the official House of Representatives website.

Going forward, we have the responsibility to safeguard, secure and take care of these valuable historical relics. If other nations value Indonesias culture, we should value it even more. (kmt)
US Military Force Arrives Following Fatal Terrorist Attack on Base in Kenya

Following a terrorist attack by an affiliate to al-Qaeda, more U.S. military forces arrived in Kenya, according to a statement from Africa Command.

The U.S. Africa Commands East Africa Response Force (EARF) arrived at the Manda Bay base to augment security to secure the airfield after an attack by al-Shabaab terrorists, Africa Command said in a statement on Monday.

At least two Department of Defense (DOD) personnel and one Army soldier were killed in the attack on Sunday, said officials.

The EARF provides a critical combat-ready, rapid deployment force, said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Gayler in the statement. The EARFs ability to respond to events spanning a vast area of responsibility provides a proven and invaluable on-call reinforcement capability in times of need.

The attack on Sunday morning came after a Dec. 28 attack in Mogadishu by al-Shabaab, a Somalia-based organization that has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in the region over the past decade or so. In that incident, at least 80 people died, according to the military.

Henry Mayfield Jr. was killed in an attack launched by al-Shabaab at Manda Bay Airfield, his family told local media outlets in Chicago. His family said the military told them of his death.

Map showing the approximate location of the terror attack in Lamu County, Kenya. The U.S. military said an Al-Qaeda affiliated group attacked Manda Bay Airfield, Kenya, on Jan. 5, 2020. (OpenStreetMaps)

He loved his family and spending quality time with his siblings, Carmoneta, Mayfields mother, said in a statement. I last spoke with him New Years Day via FaceTime. We discussed him not having to go to Somalia and he told me everything was good and safe at his base. He told me everything would be okay. Those were his last words to me.

Contrary to various open-source reports, U.S. Africa Command does not assess yesterdays attack by al-Shabaab is linked to Iran, African Command added in the statement. While Iranian involvement is not suspected in the attack, U.S. Africa Command has observed other nations, including Iran, seek increased influence in the Horn of Africa.

On Friday, the U.S. carried out airstrikes that killed top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Top Iranian officials have vowed for revenge in the wake of his death, which prompted counter-threats from President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The military also issued a statement from its commanding officer, Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, about false rumors saying that he was killed by al-Shabaab.

Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated, Townsend said. This is yet another example of the lies, propaganda and fake news coming from al-Shabaab and other malign actors such as Iran and its proxies.
More than 1 billion animals are believed to have been killed in wildfires that have ravaged Australia since September, University of Sydney professor Chris Dickman told the Huffington Post in an update from his previous estimate of 480 million last week.

Why it matters: The fires have threatened Australia's wildlife, known for its rare animals and distinctive ecosystems. The environment was already imperiled by deforestation to support the country's growing agribusiness.

The scale of the damage remains unclear because of a lack of access to the burned areas and because it is difficult to document animal deaths, but scientists say "it is clear that the devastation is immense," per the New York Times.

Dickman explained that his earlier estimate was conservative and exclusive to the state of New South Wales  which he now estimates has more than 800 million dead animals alone.

What he's saying: "The original figure  the 480 million  was based on mammals, birds and reptiles for which we do have densities, and that figure now is a little bit out of date," Dickman told HuffPost.

"Over a billion would be a very conservative figure," he said of the deaths continent-wide, adding that the toll has exceeded 1 billion "without any doubt at all."

Zoom in: Experts say thousands of kangaroos and koalas have been killed on Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia, of which one-third has been destroyed, per the Times. They fear the worst for the island's subspecies of cockatoos, which only had a population of 300370 before the fires.

In a remote area of South Australia, aboriginal officials say they've approved a cull of up to 10,000 camels, as a drought has driven the thirsty animals to "threatening the APY [local government] communities and infrastructure," CNN reports.

Be smart: The estimated death toll is calculated by multiplying the number of estimated animals in a given area by the number of acres burned, according to Dickman.

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For the past six-weeks, Duchess Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been enjoying some much-needed time away from the spotlight. Right before Thanksgiving, the duo and their infant son, Archie Harrison, went on a royal hiatus retreating across the pond to Vancouver Island, Canada.

Aside from an adorable snap of the prince and his precious baby son, we havent laid eyes on the duke and duchess for weeks. This break was important for Markle and the prince since theyve been struggling to adjust to life as senior royals with a ton of public and media attention. In fact, now that they are set to return to the U.K., the pair are about to make a major announcement about their royal duties moving forward.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arent giving up their royal titles

Following their shocking ITV documentary, Harry and Meghan: An African Journey where the Sussexes admitted that they were struggling in their roles under the constant scrutiny, many people assumed the pair might be thinking of giving up their titles. However, that isnt the case  at least not right now.

I dont think we can say for sure that they never will renounce their duties, royal commentator Juliet Rieden told Nine News Australia. Certainly the Royal Family would not want them to, of course. They are very valuable to the Royal Family, they are wonderful ambassadors. They are very, very popular and they are very engaging when you meet them. I have been watching the Royal Family for a long time now and Harry and Meghan have a very tactile connection with the public.

In fact, the couples recent response to the devastating Australian wildfires, prove they are ready to jump back into royal life. The pair shared a heartfelt message of support to those affected. as well as links to where fans might consider donating.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have a new approach to royal life

While they were on hiatus, it was revealed that Markle and Prince Harry have filed to trademark Sussex Royal as they build their charity away from Prince William and Duchess Kate Middletons charity. There are even whispers that Markle is seeking to launch a Sussex Royal Magazine, editing it in a similar manner to her guest edit of September 2019s British Vogue.

This would continue to differentiate the Sussexes from the Cambridges while allowing Markle and Prince Harry to have a lifeline with the public. 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, Rieden explained. 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 are set to make a major royal announcement

When the duke and duchess officially return to their royal duties, they are expected to make an announcement about how and where they wish their work to continue. The pair have already kicked off 2020 by using their Instagram account to support charities and causes near and dear to their hearts.

Also, their Sussex Royal Foundation is officially set to launch this year. We await the launch of Harry and Meghans Sussex Royal Foundation to discover their intentions, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Express U.K. It all depends on what they mean to do with the Sussex Royal Foundation, where it will be based, what celebrity links there will be and whether it will have a branch in the USA. They are expected to make their plans clear soon. There are likely to be important celebrity links to their future charitable work such as Harrys collaborating with Oprah Winfrey for a TV documentary series on mental health due to be aired this year.

Were excited about this new Sussex era.
The U.S. military may have deployed in South Korea last year the same MQ-9 Reaper attack drone that was used recently to assassinate Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Quds Force.

The MQ-9 is capable of launching surgical attacks on people steered by a faceless operative sitting in a bunker somewhere in America. The U.S. Forces Korea already has the Gray Eagle attack drone, and the addition of the Reaper would send a powerful warning to North Korea.

A military source here said Monday that four C-17A military transport planes landed in Kunsan air base late last year via Alaska and Japan after stopping over at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, the site where it is speculated that the Reaper that assassinated Soleimani was stationed.

The MQ-9 is capable of flying at a maximum speed of 482 km/h carrying a weapons payload of 1,700 kg. Its main weapon is the so-called "ninja" bomb, formally known as the R9X Hellfire missile that is equipped with state-of-the-art target-tracking system.
COVENTRY, England and CINCINNATI, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Flooid, a highly specialized platform that delivers deep and resilient basket functionality across any sales channel and retail format, today announced the appointment of Didier Bench as its new chairman. Bench will succeed Tom Burnet, who had been chairman since 2017.

"Didier has over 30 years of leadership experience, within the international software and technology industry, and has helped many companies scale and achieve profitable growth. His proven operational aptitude and his hands-on style are a great fit for Flooid's continued evolution," said Flooid Global CEO, Tony Houldsworth.

"Didier has over 30 years of leadership experience, within the international software and technology industry, and has helped many companies scale and achieve profitable growth. His proven operational aptitude and his hands-on style are a great fit for Flooid's continued evolution," said Flooid Global CEO, Tony Houldsworth.

Bench has held senior management positions with a series of software companies and has successfully turned them into profitable and major players in their global markets. His key responsibilities have included Chairman of Lumesse, Chairman of Acision, Chairman of Deezer, Chairman & CEO of Cartesis and iMediation, Vice President and General Manager of Netscape EMEA and senior roles at the Paul Allen Group and MIPS Computer Systems. Bench has also lent his investment experience and vision to a number of major private equity and investment funds. In addition to Flooid, he is currently Chairman of the AtCore Group and member of the Board of NoteMachine.

Bench commented, "I am excited about the opportunity to work with Flooid. This company has tremendous momentum and potential. We will be focused on continuing to grow and scale the company appropriately, improving operational efficiency and meeting commitments to Flooid's customer base. With the combination of a strong platform of innovative commerce products and services, skilled personnel and a focus on our clients, there will be increased value for our shareholders, more new opportunities for Flooid and new opportunities for our workforce."

About Flooid

The Flooid platform delivers deep and resilient basket functionality across store and online sales channels. With high levels of multi-vertical capability, Flooid handles the sales operations for some of the world's most complex grocery, specialty, fashion and food and beverage retailers in their POS, self-checkout, mobile, eCommerce and social environments. Flooid is designed to handle both the high levels of throughput and resilience that a store demands, and the hyper-scalability required for mobile and online sales. With its powerful API set, developer toolkit and the growing community of partners, Flooid enables retailers to tap into the massive ecosystem of start-ups, innovators and IOT technologies to remove the limits of their innovations.

For more information about Flooid please visit https://www.flooid.com/

Media Contact:

Flannery Higgins, [email protected]

Dan Dyer, 513-478-7818

SOURCE Flooid
Members of the Nationalist Congress Partys (NCP) youth wing on Tuesday defaced a board outside the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) office to protest against Sundays attack on students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi.

According to NCP youth wing office-bearer, Vishal More, at least 20 NCP youth wing activists arrived at the ABVP office located in Sadashiv peth and smeared black ink on the ABVP board there. The NCP members also shouted slogans against ABVP accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-affiliated student wing of carrying out the attack on JNU students. Later, when the police arrived at the spot, NCP members dispersed.

The brutal assault on students at JNU has sparked nationwide protests with various students organisations agitating on streets, including Pune.

More alleged, The ABVP orchestrated the attack on JNU students and we demand an inquiry into the case.

ABVP functionary Anil Thombre said that their organisation will file a police complaint regarding the incident.

On Sunday night, masked men armed with sticks and rods ran riot on the JNU campus and attacked students and teachers leading to large-scale violence in the central university.

In Pune, students from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) plan to take out a protest march on Tuesday evening to condemn the attack.

Meanwhile , the BJP-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Tuesday staged a protest outside the Garware College vehemently condemning the "attack" on their members alleging that "left outfits" in JNU had masterminded them.

"The attack on common students and ABVP workers at JNU is a handiwork of Left outfits . They carried out extremely well coordinated attacks in a pre-planned way and later, put the blame on ABVP . We demand strict police action against them ," alleged Dayanand Shinde, ABVP Savitribai Phule Pune University president. Meanwhile, the ABVP has threatened to carry out a similar protest outside different colleges in the city against the JNU violence.
In 1954, the debut show of a young Indian artist was shut down within a day of its opening. The artist was Akbar Padamsee and Bombay Police charged him with obscenity for two paintings, which is how the magistrate ended up presiding over a case that involved a police inspector insisting only babies touch breasts and Padamsee presenting classical Indian sculpture as proof to the contrary. So began the career of one of Indian arts most fiercest and versatile legends.

Born in 1928 in Mumbai, Padamsee passed away after prolonged illness on Monday evening. He was 91. A contemporary of the legendary Progressive masters, including FN Souza, VS Gaitonde, MF Husain, Padamsee worked with a variety of mediums including oil painting, photography, sculpture, prints and film. His legacy spans more than the art he produced, said art and cultural critic Ranjit Hoskote, who described Padamsee as his mentor. He was a myriad-minded man. His pioneering spirit allowed him to experiment with a wide range of media, Hoskote said. He had a profound practical sense. He was engaged with how one makes ones way through life, preoccupied with an artists relation to the museum, culture, reading, and discussion.

Educated at Sir JJ School of Art, Padamsee lived and worked in Europe and the United Kingdom before returning to Mumbai. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2010. While his contemporaries became collectors favourites in the mid-2000s, Padamsee became the most expensive Indian artist in 2019 when one of his works was auctioned for 11.70 crore. Blunt, opinionated and erudite, Padamsee was a wonderful storyteller in addition to being one of the most respected artists of his time. Apart from Krishen Khanna, hes the last of a generation of artists who believe that art could transform consciousness. His legacy is his expansive artistic practice, said Hoskote.

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Several former Wells Fargo executives are reportedly under criminal investigation in connection with the lending giants fake-accounts scandal. The former executives could face indictments as early as this month.

Federal prosecutors have been considering criminal charges against multiple former high-level Wells Fargo execs, according to a report by American Banker, which cited sources familiar with the matter. Thousands of lower-level employees were fired in the wake of the 2016 scandal, in which it was revealed that the banks sales staff had opened more than 2 million unauthorized customer accounts in order to reach sales goals. Some high-level executives lost their jobs and had compensation clawed back, and the scandal  along with a parade of other public embarrassments  led to the ouster of two successive CEOs, John Stumpf and Tim Sloane. The bank also agreed to pay $185 million in fines over the scandal.

The federal criminal investigation is being conducted by Justice Department prosecutors with assistance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to American Banker. A source told the publication that the charges under consideration may include making false or misleading statements to investors and conspiracy to obstruct the examination of a financial institution.
Washingtons targeted killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Suleimani has evoked opposition and horror within the European population. This criminal act of state terrorism threatens to plunge the Middle East into yet another bloodbathone that could drag the entire world into a nuclear inferno. Trump issues new threats on a daily basis, which, like the threat to destroy Iranian cultural sites, are war crimes both under international and American law.

But the European governments have issued no criticism of the criminal actions of their alliance partner, which increasingly resemble those of Adolf Hitler on the eve of World War II. While these governments have called for de-escalation, they have refused to condemn as a war crime the targeted killing of a high-ranking representative of a sovereign country. Instead, they have directed their fire on Iran. Although they view Trumps action as a tactical mistake, they are preparing to support the United States in the event of war.

The first joint statement issued by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, released two days after the assassination, begins with an attack on Iran and the murder victim, Suleimani.

French President Emanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

We have condemned the recent attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and are gravely concerned by the negative role Iran has played in the region, including through the IRGC and the al-Quds force under the command of General Suleimani, states the opening paragraph.

This is followed by an appeal for de-escalation: We call on all parties to exercise utmost restraint and responsibility. The current cycle of violence in Iraq must be stopped.

But the murder of Suleimani, which amounts to a declaration of war by the United States on Iran, a country with a population as large as Germanys, is not even mentioned, let alone condemned. Instead, the statement continues: We specifically call on Iran to refrain from further violent action or proliferation, and urge Iran to reverse all measures inconsistent with the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actionthe 2015 nuclear accord with Iran which the US unilaterally abandoned in 2018].

Johnson rushed to assure Trump by telephone that Suleimani was a threat to all our interests, adding that we will not lament his death.

Macron telephoned Trump the same day and promised his full solidarity with our ally in light of the attacks carried out over recent months against coalition interests in Iraq, according to an official statement released by the Elysee Palace.

Macron expressed his concern about the destabilising activities of the al-Quds Force under the authority of General Qassem Suleimani and recalled the necessity for Iran to end them immediately and refrain from any military escalation that could deepen instability in the region. He also stressed Frances determination to cooperate with its regional and international partners towards an easing of tensions.

The German government issued similar statements. In the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas accused the murdered Suleimani of having left a trail of blood and devastation throughout the Middle East. He added, The EU had good reason to have him on its terrorist list.

Iran responded by summoning the German ambassador and complained of untrue, inappropriate and destructive statements, as well as support for Washingtons terrorist attack.

While Berlin, Paris and London justify US state terrorism, they seek to influence the course of events in their own interests. Macron telephoned the Iraqi president to assure him of Frances support for Iraqs security and sovereignty. He also consulted with the rulers of a number of Arab states and the Russian president. German Chancellor Merkel will fly to Moscow this Saturday to meet with Vladimir Putin for discussions on the situation in the Middle East.

The European governments ambivalent response is motivated by two factors.

First, they fear that an uncontrolled escalation of war between the United States and Iran would result in another disaster, which would hit Europe hard in the form of terrorist attacks, an increased flow of refugees, higher oil prices and political instability.

This concern was formulated most clearly by the former first lord of the British Navy, Lord West, in an interview with the Daily Mail. Britain and America want the same outcome in Iran, he told the tabloid. We both seek the removal of a hardline regime that poses a grave threat to global security, and its replacement with a more moderate government.

He went on to say that Britain is trying to ease tensions with Iran for as long as the Iranian people feel themselves under constant siege by the rest of the world, there is no hope for a more rational and civilised government taking over in Tehran. By contrast, Trumps strategy is to use harsh sanctions and ruthless military force.

He continued: However clinical its air strikes and drone attacks, America cannot defeat Iran and implement full-scale regime change. That would require at least a million pairs of boots on the ground, which would mean a return to conscriptionlast seen during the Vietnam Warand the likely loss of hundreds or thousands of American lives.

Trump will not be prepared to carry this out ahead of the elections in November, he went on. Instead, tensions will mount further. The world will teeter on the brink of war, not for days, but perhaps for months or even years.

Lord Wests interview concludes with the demand for a large rearmament programme for Britain so as to enable London to more aggressively assert its interests in the Middle East.

The second factor driving the response of the European governments is the mounting class tensions within their own countries. In 2003, millions of people in Europe and around the world took to the streets to protest against the impending Iraq war. No small role in this was played by the French and German governments opposition to the war and their public criticisms of US President George W. Bush.

The European governments want to avoid a similar mobilisation today at all costs. They fear that the widespread opposition to war could unite with the mass struggles against pension cuts in France and the seething opposition to job cuts and poverty in Britain and Germany.

Like the US government, they are responding to the social tensions, economic problems and international conflicts by strengthening the apparatus of domestic state repression, rearming for war and plunging into military adventures. This is why they defend Trumps war crime and why they are preparing to participate in a conflict they know will lead to disaster.

This is being rapidly reflected in the media. Symptomatic were two pieces in the German daily Suddeutsche Zeitung.

On January 4, Stefan Kornelius justified the Suleimani assassination in a piece titled Declaration of war, while at the same time noting that the reasons that may have driven Trump to give his order to kill... do not add up to a plausible strategy. Trump is now master of the battlefield, but he lacks a strategy and the understanding.

A comment two days later by Thomas Avenarius in the same newspaper already struck a different tone. In a piece titled The US should resume its role as a peacekeeping power, he wrote, Criticism of the US role in the Middle East is warranted more often than not But it could be different this time around with the killing of General Suleimani: in the best case scenario, the US will resume its role as the peacekeeping power. Because the Middle East is sinking into utter chaos.
CARACAS, Venezuela - Opposition lawmakers led by Juan Guaido will seek on Tuesday to retake the National Assembly chamber they were barred from on Sunday, setting up a showdown over President Nicolas Maduro's attempt to seize control of the last democratic institution left in this troubled South American nation.

Their bid to regain control of Venezuela's assembly building in central Caracas would come two days after what the opposition has decried as a "parliamentary coup." Maduro's forces on Sunday locked out Guaido along with other lawmakers. After a melee on the floor of the legislature, a lawmaker accused of taking bribes from the government was abruptly sworn in as head of the body.

The move appeared to be an attempt by Maduro to sideline Guaido - the U.S.-backed opposition leader who has unsuccessfully sought to unseat Maduro for the past year - by preventing his reelection on Sunday as head of the assembly. That title has served as the basis of his claim to be the nation's true interim leader, one that has been recognized by nearly 60 nations including the United States.

"The dictatorship will decide tomorrow if it will continue its farce, which no one recognizes," Guaido told reporters in Caracas. He suggested that if his entry was blocked, he would attempt to lead a session of the loyalist lawmakers elsewhere in the capital.

"We will take this risk because Venezuela deserves it," he said. "The dictatorship is now unmasked."

Whether Guaido and his loyalists will be allowed to pass - and, more importantly, to conduct official business - will be paramount to assessing the extent of the damage done on Sunday to what is left of Venezuela's democracy.

Luis Parra, the lawmaker who was abruptly sworn in as the body's new president on Sunday - and whom the opposition accuses of being bribed to switch sides - made a public display on Monday of moving into Guaido's presidential office in the assembly building. In a video posted to Twitter on Monday morning, Parra was shown shaking hands with a national guardsman and sitting in the chair reserved for the body's president. He also had a new Twitter bio up: "President of the National Assembly of Venezuela for period 2020-2021."

Parra suggested that Guaido would be allowed back into the chamber, as long as he is willing to participate in sessions in which Parra would preside as the body's new president.

"Juan Guaido will be permitted entry as any other lawmaker, and his rights will be respected," Parra told reporters in Caracas.

Speaking with the press, Parra insisted his swearing-in was constitutional and suggested that Guaido's attempts to convene official sessions outside the building were "not valid." He criticized Maduro and Guaido, saying the latter did not participate in Sunday's session because he knew he would lose reelection. He hailed his new "national reconciliation" agenda, saying his lawmakers would "establish a new model of doing politics for the people, not with extremes."

"What happened yesterday is already in the past," Parra said.

There is some chance, senior opposition figures argue, that Maduro may back off Sunday's action in the face of broad international condemnation. Even the leftist governments in Mexico and Argentina, generally seen as more tolerant of the autocratic socialists who rule Venezuela, joined a chorus of international criticism from Washington to Brasilia to Brussels.

"The events strengthen the position of the Venezuelan democrats, and the image of the serious and coherent opposition," said Edgar Zambrano, lawmaker and former vice president of the National Assembly. "To us and the world, there's only one National Assembly presided by Guaido. The rest is just a theater."

Others candidly concede that a Maduro climbdown is unlikely. Most probable, insiders say, is that a country of which two men already claim to be president will move forward with two or even three different bodies that claim to be the nation's true legislative branch.

Privately, some in the anti-Maduro ranks are portraying Sunday's move as a perfect example of the kind of shrewd, if highly undemocratic, tactics that has kept the 57-year-old socialist in power despite enormous U.S. pressure and multiple plots against him.

On Sunday, the opposition managed to hold a legislative session in a newspaper building; by a 100-to-0 margin, it voted to reelect Guaido as head of the National Assembly - albeit one much reduced in numbers and exiled from its chambers. In recent weeks, Maduro has proved able to woo - allegedly through bribes - 18 opposition lawmakers. In the days and weeks ahead, some observers fear that Maduro will gradually manage to bribe or intimidate more lawmakers into joining what is essentially a new puppet parliament.

As he does so, insiders predict, Maduro will seek to negotiate staged "breakthroughs" - including new parliamentary elections - with a "fake opposition" he more or less controls.

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.

"This is just starting," said one member of the anti-Maduro coalition who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak freely. "Was it smart? Of course it's a smart move by Maduro. Now he's fighting a battle using the other enemies' soldiers."

Yet, other opposition officials insist the move will backfire on Maduro. They have grown used to the government's aggressive tactics, which include the arrest, torture and exile of opposition members. In addition, some observers expect the United States - which has already imposed major sanctions on Venezuela - to slap additional individual sanctions on the 18 opposition lawmakers who stood with Parra on Sunday, adding a disincentive for others to defect.

The attempt to seize control of the National Assembly building and create a puppet parliament may ultimately prompt the United States to take more provocative steps to force Maduro out.

"We are looking at additional sanctions, personal sanctions, economic sanctions that we think will bring more pressure yet on the regime," Elliott Abrams, U.S. special representative to Venezuela, told reporters in Washington.

Leopoldo Lopez - a political mentor to Guaido and a prominent Venezuelan politician in his own right - predicted Maduro's latest move would backfire.

"The dictatorship will insist on this farce that has been widely rejected by democratic countries," said Lopez, who has sought asylum in the Spanish Embassy in Caracas. "Even Argentina, Mexico and the ruling socialist party of Spain rejected this violent action. But constitutional legitimacy in Venezuela and democratic countries will continue to recognize Guaido as president of the National Assembly and as interim president."

- - -

Faiola reported from Miami. The Washington Post's Carol Morello in Washington and Mariana Zuniga in Caracas contributed to this report.
50 killed in stampede at Soleimanis funeral

State TV reported that there had been a deadly stampede and it was believed 50 people have been killed and 213 people injured during the event.

At least 50 mourners were killed and dozens injured in a stampede during the funeral for Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Iran, according to the Iranian television.

HUGE CROWDS TAKE TO THE STREETS

His death marked a dramatic escalation in tensions between the US and Iran, which have often been at a fever pitch since US President Donald Trump chose in 2018 to unilaterally withdraw Washington from a 2015 nuclear pact world powers struck with Tehran.

35 killed in stampede at Soleimanis funeral WATCH

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who gave Soleimani the country's highest honor last year, vowed "severe retaliation" in response to his killing.

The Pentagon accused Soleimani of plotting the earlier embassy attack in Iraq and planning to carry out additional attacks on US diplomats and service members in Iraq and the region.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 16:53:14|Editor: xuxin

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NEW DELHI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting of experts at government's policy think tank -- National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog (commission) on Jan. 9, state-run broadcaster, All India Radio said Tuesday.

The meeting scheduled on this Thursday is likely to discuss the state of economy in the country.

"The meeting will also be attended by Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar, CEO Amitabh Kant and other senior officials of the think tank," the broadcaster said. "The meeting assumes importance as the government is in the process of formulating budget proposals for 2020-2021."

The period from July to Sept. 2019 showed growth rate slowing to 4.5 percent.

The economic data released by the government highlighted a prolonged slowdown in the economy. Experts attributed the slump to poor performance in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

With the slump in growth rate at present, analysts say India lost its position as the fastest-growing major economy.

On Monday, Modi interacted with country's top business tycoons to discuss issues facing the economy and measures needed to boost growth and create jobs.

India's Federal Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the country's budget on Feb. 1.

India plans to invest 1.4 trillion U.S. dollars in the infrastructure sector in the next five years to achieve the GDP target of 5 trillion U.S. dollars by 2024.
New Delhi: Hours after a Delhi court on Tuesday issued death warrants against all four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case, the Tihar jail officials said that it would write to Uttar Pradesh prisons to seek service of a hangman.

The jail officials added that it would also inform the UP prisons about the date and time of execution of all four convicts as decided by the court on January 7. Patiala House Court Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora while issuing the death warrants directed the convicts to be hanged on January 22 at 7 am at Delhi's Tihar Jail.

The four convicts are Pawan Gupta, Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur. The convicts` lawyers have said that they will move a curative petition in the Supreme Court. The convicts can also submit a mercy petition to the President.

Earlier on December 13, former legal advisor of Tihar jail, Sunil Gupta told IANS, "In 2013, during the execution of Afzal Guru it was not necessary that only a hangman will pull the lever. An experienced official pulled the lever and carried out the hanging but now as per the new Delhi jail manual of 2018 this can`t be done. A trained hangman is required to carry out the hanging as per the new manual."

Since it is a sensitive matter, sources said that the Tihar jail administration have been trying to contact all the prisons across the country to know if they have an 'experienced' and 'trained' hangman.

Speaking about the same, the UP Prison authorities had earlier told the IANS that they had received a request letter from the Tihar prison through fax on December 9 seeking services of the two hangmen of UP, as they do not have a hangman there. He had then added that the hangmen would be provided to the Tihar jail authorities as and when required. He said the date and timings were not mentioned by the Tihar jail authorities so the two hangmen have been told to remain prepared in case they were called for the execution of convicts anytime soon.

The Nirbhaya case, that shook the entire nation, took place on December 16, 2012, when six persons, including a juvenile, brutally raped a 23-year-old paramedic in a moving bus. She was accompanied by a friend who was also beaten up and later, both of them were thrown out of the vehicle. The girl had suffered critical injuries and later died during treatment. The brutality of the crime led to national outrage and a new legislation was formed to deal with such heinous crimes.


Iota Chi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in partnership with Delta College Black Faculty and Staff, is hosting the 24th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Unity March and Luncheon on Monday, Jan. 20, at The Dow Event Center, 303 Johnson St., Saginaw.

The theme for this year's celebration is "Dr. King's Dream - The Fight is Not Over."

The celebration will begin with a "Unity March" at 10 a.m. in Saginaw at Franklin and Hayden streets (there is a parking lot at this corner). Participants will march on Franklin Street to The Dow Event Center. It will conclude at The Dow Event Center around 10:30 a.m. Local K-12 and college students, staff and administrators, local politicians, law enforcement, civic organizations, churches and general public are usual participants in the Unity March. The Unity March will conclude with a rally at The Dow Event Center.

The 24th Annual "Unity Luncheon" will begin at 11 a.m. with the presentation of colors by the Michigan National Guard "Color Guards" unit. The keynote speaker for the luncheon is the Superintendent of Saginaw Public Schools Dr. Ramont Roberts.

Several community service awards will be presented to individuals and organizations for their efforts in the community.

Funds generated from this luncheon and other fundraising events support the Iota Chi Lambda Educational Foundation and our Dr. Martin Luther King Jr scholarship.

Tickets are still available and can be obtained by calling Smallwood Holoman at 989-631-7679 or George Adams at 989-797-4096. The cost is $40 per person.
Paris Hilton has a new man! Just a few months after ending her engagement with actor and model Chris Zylka, she was spotted cozying up with entrepreneur, Carter Reum. Hilton said that she was taking a break from love to focus on her career following her split from Zylka  but it looks like shes making room to date.

Paris Hilton 2018 | Jim Spellman/WireImage

Paris Hilton ends her engagement with Chris Zylka

Hilton was engaged to marry Zylka, they announced their engagement on Jan. 2, 2018. Zylka is known mostly for his roles on The CWs The Secret Circle, and the film The Amazing Spider-Man. He popped the question by giving the Hilton Hotel heiress a 20-carat $2 million engagement ring.

Paris Hilton and Chris Zylka 2017 | Pascal Le Segretain/amfAR2017/WireImage

After almost a year, they called it quits. Hilton opened up to the co-hosts of The Talk about why the relationship ultimately didnt work out.

Im just really having my me time. I just feel that when I fall in love, I fall in love fast and hard and it was this whirlwind romance, she said. I thought it was going to be my happy ending, and I just realized after time it wasnt the right decision.

Paris Hilton and Chris Zylka 2017 | David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

She said that she wished Zylka the best despite their split and still has hopes to get married and have children. It didnt take her long to move on.

Paris Hilton and Carter Reum debut their love at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards

Reum stepped out with Reum on the night of Jan. 5 at the 2020 Golden Globes. They attended the Golden Globes after-party thrown by InStyle and Warner Bros. Studios at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Insiders say the new couple were spotted holding hands while making their way through the crowd.

Carter Reum 2019 | Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for MAISON-DE-MODE.COM

Hilton and Reum apparently werent shy. Sources say they showed public affection by holding hands and kissing at the party with everyone around watching. Its alleged that theyve been dating for a little over a month.

Who is Carter Reum?

Hilton may come from generations of money but Reum has his own fortune. Hes an entrepreneur and an author. According to The Blast, Reum co-founded and built VEEV Spirits with his brother, Courtney.

VEEV co-founders Courtney Reum (L) and Carter Reum 2014 | Michael Kovac/Getty Images for VEEV

According to its website, VEEV is a neutral grain spirit distilled from Idaho Winter Wheat and infused with all-natural, organic acai from Brazil. VEEV is proud to be the first carbon-neutral spirits brand and is an active member of 1% of the Planet where 1% of VEEVs sales are donated to Rainforest Preservation and environmental causes. The company is listed as one of Inc. Magazines 500 fasting growing private companies in America.

Reum also co-founded the investment firm M13, which has made investments in companies like SpaceX, Lyft, and Pinterest.

Reum and his company are also mentioned in Richard Bransons book Screw Business As Usual, which is a manual that has experts from various industries giving their advice on how to become successful.

The two have only been dating for a few weeks and its unclear how serious they are but its known that Hilton is a hopeless romantic.
TORONTO - Canadian bank executives are sharing their 2020 priorities today after a year that saw them grapple with layoffs, an increase in insolvencies and talk of an impending recession.

Leaders from each of the countrys major banks are discussing their outlook for the year at the 2020 Canadian Bank CEO Conference in Toronto.

CIBC President Victor Dodig is predicting the growth of direct banking in Canada and the U.S. this year because of demand from millennials wanting to bank without brick-and-mortar branches.

His Royal Bank of Canada counterpart Dave McKay is keeping an eye on Canadas housing supply and the mortgage stress test because he says the country has to be careful of the ramifications if it relaxes the policy.

Finance minister Bill Morneau has been tasked by the prime minister with reviewing the test and considering changes that would make it more dynamic.

TD Canada Trust Chief Executive Officer Bharat Masrani says his bank will work on transitioning some financial service representatives into roles similar to financial planners.

Masrani says TD hopes to have about 400 or 500 of those workers selling products to U.S. customers over the next few years.

Scotiabanks Brian Porter is meanwhile looking forward to a better economic picture for the Latin American countries where it operates, boosting the banks non-Canadian business.

The Bank of Montreals Darryl White says a slowdown in the U.S. economy and market demand means he is not anticipating double-digit increases in the U.S. commercial lending business.

Companies in this story: (TSX:CM, TSX:RY, TSX:BNS, TSX:BMO, TSX:TD)
[January 07, 2020] Silver Peak Appoints Ian Whiting President of Global Field Operations

Silver Peak, the global SD-WAN leader, delivering the transformational promise of the cloud with a self-driving wide area network, today announced the appointment of Ian Whiting to the role of president, global field operations. Whiting will lead direct and indirect sales, sales operations and all aspects of the company's go-to-market strategy for channel and service provider partners. Whiting reports directly to Founder and CEO David Hughes (News - Alert). With a proven track record of scaling business operations in existing and emerging markets for leading technology companies, Whiting will draw on his extensive experience to formulate and advance the company's go-to-market strategy to accelerate and broaden partner engagement and increase the velocity of new customer acquisition. Silver Peak (News - Alert) was recently recognized for the second consecutive year as a Leader in the Gartner 2019 Magic Quadrant for WAN Edge Infrastructure.



"I am thrilled to join a company at the forefront of innovation in a rapidly growing and evolving market like SD-WAN," said Ian Whiting, president, global field operations at Silver Peak. "Having an industry leading product that meets and, in many cases, exceeds market expectations provides us with a strong foundation to accelerate and scale out our go-to-market activities with a balance of direct end customer engagements and an unwavering commitment to our global channel and service provider partners. Strategic partnerships are critical to our success and only by partnering with the best of the best will we fully capitalize on the enormous opportunity in front of us and assure our customer's WAN transformation initiatives are successful." Prior to Silver Peak, Whiting served as president of Ruckus Networks where he led worldwide sales, marketing, services and support during a time when the business doubled in size. Prior to that, Ian served in senior executive roles at Egnyte, Fusion-io (News - Alert), Riverbed, Brocade Communications and Compaq Computer. Ian holds a degree in French and German from the University of Wales and a master's degree in European business management from Cranfield University.

"While no one can match our top-down outcome-oriented approach to automation with Unity EdgeConnect, we must simultaneously focus our efforts toward scaling our ability to engage, enable and empower our sales teams and channels to bring the transformational value of our SD-WAN edge platform to the masses," said David Hughes, founder and CEO of Silver Peak. "Ian brings a unique combination of proven go-to-market expertise and success and a no-nonsense leadership style that we need to scale our go-to-market motions with partners and end customers to fully capitalize on the opportunity in front of us to lead the SD-WAN market." About Silver Peak Silver Peak, the global SD-WAN leader, delivers the transformational promise of the cloud with a business-first networking model. The Unity EdgeConnect self-driving wide area network platform liberates enterprises from conventional WAN approaches to transform the network from a constraint to a business accelerant. Thousands of globally distributed enterprises have deployed Silver Peak WAN solutions across 100 countries. Learn more at silver-peak.com.  2020 Silver Peak Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Silver Peak, the Silver Peak logo, and all Silver Peak product names, logos, and brands are trademarks or registered trademarks of Silver Peak Systems, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005024/en/

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Every year TidyChoice sponsors a competition to find the best housekeeper in London. Londoners nominate their cleaner and the cleaner with the most nominations and best reviews wins the award. Maria Helena won the award for 2019.

Maria Helena Fernandes with TidyChoice team members

PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-07 08:01:26

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Maria Helena Fernandes, a South West resident, has won the 2019 Housekeeper of the Year Award. The Award, sponsored by TidyChoice, celebrates the most professional and skillful housekeepers in London. Maria Helena beat several hundred professionals across the whole of London to win this prestigious award.Originally from Portugal, Maria Helena has almost 20 years of experience in domestic housekeeping and commercial cleaning. Maria Helena has built an outstanding reputation for high cleaning standards, professionalism and friendliness. She was nominated for the award by all her customers who endorsed her with excellent reviews. Many of her customers rate her as the best cleaner that they have ever had.Maria Helena Fernandes, award winner, said:Winning this award makes me extremely proud and happy. I remember reading about last years winner, Bilyana and wishing that it could be me one day. I am very grateful to my customers and TidyChoice for this award.I think that I won the award because I really enjoy the work which is why I give it my best. I like and respect my customers and treat their homes as I do my own. I also love working as an independent housekeeper because I find it very peaceful working alone!Ana Andres del Valle, co-founder of TidyChoice, said:We are delighted to present this award to Maria Helena. She is an outstanding housekeeping professional and a worthy winner. This year we had a huge number of customer nominations acknowledging the invaluable work that their housekeepers do. We are proud to sponsor this award honouring excellence in housekeeping. For full interview with Maria Helena, visit: https://www.tidychoice.com/blog/2020/housekeeper-of-the-year-2019 About TidyChoiceFounded in 2015, by Colin Weston and Ana Andres del Valle, TidyChoice is an online platform, offering home cleaning and childcare services for London residents. TidyChoice professionals undergo a careful vetting process, to ensure customers can choose from a trusted and reliable community of housekeepers. Customers can choose their preferred professional and professionals can choose their own rate, hours and areas of work.About Maria Helena FernandesOriginally from Lisbon, Maria Helena trained as a hotel room attendant and housekeeper in Portugal before moving to London. Maria Helena did commercial cleaning before becoming a private house cleaner. She joined the TidyChoice platform in June 2018. Maria Helena travels to Portugal a couple of times a year to visit her parents. Outside of work, Maria Helena going to the movies and having the occasional pint down the pub!
People travelling in central and eastern P.E.I. Wednesday and Thursday should be on the watch for reduced visibility in blowing snow.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Queens and Kings counties.

The storm is forecast to pass to the east of P.E.I. Eastern parts of Nova Scotia are under a snowfall warning with up to 25 centimetres expected.

CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland says parts of Kings County could see 15 to 20 centimetres of snow, with about 10 to 15 in Queens County, and five to 10 in Prince County.

Blowing snow could be the bigger issue. By Wednesday afternoon the wind will pick up to 40 km/h with gusts to 60, and those winds will continue into Thursday, when the snow is expected to taper off to flurries.

More P.E.I. news
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I dont want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all. - David Livingstone

We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light the candle that can guide us through that darkness to a safe and sane future. - John F. Kennedy

There comes a time in the trajectory of man, when man has to evaluate his relevance to humanity, to his environment. In the course of that evaluation, seismic decisions would have to be made; decisions that would seem weird while simmering in its irresistible relevance in juxtaposition to reality. Such decisions might be a run against the convention. It might be against the run of tradition. It might be against the run of expectations. But nevertheless, it has to be taken, based on conviction, driven by a vision, propelled by passion and mobilized as a mission for accomplishment.

History does not make men. It is men that make History. In the course of making History, men have to be courageous. They have to be bold. They have to be imbued with dazzling audacity. They have to troll in tantalizing temerity. They have to frolic with risky effrontery. They have to challenge the tradition. They have to be different and delineate a direction that is distinct, plod a path that is principally unpaved. Such men usually would not consider the sky as a limit but as a stepping stone to penetrating the heavens.

For some of us, who believe in fate, in our hearts and consciousness, well comforted is the concept of destiny. With this concept of destiny are intravenous variables of Providence and Divinity. They are the catalysts of what has to be, what will be and what must be. They are the tools of fate. The embryos of destiny. Providence and Divinity in collaboration with fate, come together to format destiny, to which we must all come in all our journeys on Earth. It is this destiny that is currently beckoning to the man, Kayode Abegunde.

In the History of Delaware, called the "First State," because it is the first State in the American Union of the first 13 Colonies to approve the November 1787 Constitution, no African American has ever won any statewide election into the office of Insurance Commissioner. This is the first time this office would have an African American aiming for the seat in a State where the first immigrants, the Dutch, first landed in 1631.

Kayode Abegunde, the man responding to the beckoning of destiny, who is making record as the first African to bell this cat and contest for this post deserves some kudos for treading this path. The interesting and beautiful thing is that in a State, where the Swedes took control in 1638, and lost to the Dutch in 1651, before the British finally took over in 1674, Abegunde, the man of destiny, has support base across the racial and gender lines for his bid.

The Department of Insurance in the State of Delaware, a small State that sent about 4,000 soldiers to the American Revolutionary war, has its mission and tasks clearly spelt out. These include the protection of insurance consumers, regulation of insurance companies to ensure ability to pay claims; review, approve and or disapprove rates submitted by insurance companies. They also include the prosecution of insurance fraud, license agents and brokers, save businesses money on premium costs, assist medicare-eligible seniors and advocate for residents through arbitration and legislation.

Abegunde who has two MBAs from Wilmington University, Delaware with one concentrating on Finance and another concentrating on Health Care Administration, has his vision clearly defined for the office he is contesting for. His primary goal is to seek and ensure protection for insurance consumers in the State and advocate for Cultural competence on the part of the Insurance Companies.

Determined to put the benefit of his experience to the services of the Delaware State that ratified the U.S. Constitution by a unanimous vote of 30-0 on December 7, 1787, Abegunde is promising the consumers a sense of inclusion that would help to deploy its diversity for the benefit of the average Delawarean without manacling the growth of insurance business in the State.

We want to protect insurance consumers in our State. That is our first and primary priority. But we want to do it in a manner that would not destroy business so as to protect employment of our citizens in the industry, Abegunde said, while explaining the thrust of his agenda, as the Delawares Insurance Commissioner.

Abegunde who traversed the Rocky City, where the University of Ado-Ekiti was domiciled from whence he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, had been part of the team that led Tax Audit for Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue in Nigeria. He attended Capella University for his Ph.D. in Human Services and Public Leadership, and later transfer to Wilmington University for Doctor of Social Science in Prevention Science. He is an Alumni of Delaware Citizens Academy under the United States Department of Justice.

As a State that had 5 signatories to the Draft US Constitution despite its being small compared to Georgia with only two signatories and the big expansive Pennsylvania with eight signatories, Delaware would benefit from Abegundes vision to ensure reliable insurance coverage at reasonable rates for Delaware consumers as well as encourage timeliness of claim decisions.

Over the years, Abegunde has served in various capacity as an Accountant, Marketing executive, Insurance Agent, Financial Analyst, Consultant, Tax specialist, Investigator, Auditor, Project Manager, Program Director, Human Service Practitioner and Health Care Administrator. He is a certified member of several professional bodies. Past member, Citizen Budget committee Charter School of New Castle, Delaware. He led the audit team of Llangollen Estate Civic Association as the chairman and currently elected as the Vice President of Llangollen Estates Civic Association in New Castle. He was appointed as a Commissioner, Behavioral and Mental Health Care and also appointed as New Castle County Financial Advisory Council by the County Executive. He is a Democrat committee member for 17th District.

Abegunde who is a good communicator is imbued with the ability to understand and effectively interact with people across cultures. He is an apostle of equity and justice for all. His dream as the Insurance Commissioner has a departure point from the purview of an average consumer, the ordinary citizen that is often trod upon by the powerful corporations.

The State of Delaware which was governed as part of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1701 but had continued to share the same Governor with Pennsylvania until 1776 when all ties were completely broken, would be richly blessed by the ascendance of Kayode Abegunde as the State Insurance Commissioner.

Kayode Abegunde would need your support to be able to reach this destiny that is beckoning to him. Your votes would be worth its value when you give him that push to become the Insurance Commissioner for the State of Delaware in and for our collective interest. Give him your support.

Let us not despair but act . Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past  let us accept our own responsibility for the future.  John F. Kennedy
By Daniel McConnell and Kevin ONeill

A defiant Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the Government stands over its decision to commemorate members of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), saying it is a shame some public representatives are boycotting events.

Mr Varadkar said he was disappointed at the decision of some public representatives to boycott the official centenary commemoration of the RIC in Dublin this month.

Controversy has arisen over the decision to commemorate Irish men and women who were officers in the British security forces, including police, 100 years ago, with several mayors refusing to attend.

Fianna Fails John Sheehan, the lord mayor of Cork, and Cathal Crowe, the partys mayor in Clare, both said they will not attend the event.

Paul McAuliffe, the lord mayor of Dublin, has indicated that he will not attend, as he is hosting a civic reception for the president of Greece on January 17, the same day as the RIC and Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) commemoration in Dublin Castle.

A motion was tabled last night by Independent members of Dublin City Council in opposition to the planned event.

We are firmly opposed to these murderous cretins being remembered in our city, said Independent councillor Noeleen Reilly.

The RIC and the DMP had an intolerable record of barbarism in this country while carrying out British rule in Ireland. This was the police force that brutalised and murdered workers in Dublin during the 1913 Lockout. This was the force that identified those to be executed after the Easter Rising.Speaking in Dublin,

Mr Varadkar said he was disappointed by the decision of some council leaders to stay away from planned events.

I have to say, Im disappointed to hear that some people are going to boycott the event. I think that is regrettable, he said.

I remember 10 or 15 years ago, it was very controversial to commemorate the deaths of soldiers in World War One, because some people felt that they shouldnt be remembered because they fought for the British. That has changed, thankfully.

It is right and proper to remember Irish soldiers who died in the First World War. And I think the same thing really applies to police officers. Police officers who were killed, Catholic and Protestant alike, who were members of the RIC in the DMP, many of whose families are still alive and remember them.

I think its a shame that people are boycotting but the Government stands over the decision to hold the event.

Mr Varadkar said those council leaders not attending should allow someone from their councils to attend in their place.

If they want to take a personal decision not to attend, thats their decision, but there may be other people in their city or in their county who feel differently and would like to have these men recognised and perhaps those mayors and those cathaoirligh who are not attending could ask someone to deputise, he said. or sure that would be good he added.

Mr Sheehan, as lord mayor of Cork, said it would be totally inappropriate for him to attend a commemoration for the RIC, due to one of his predecessors in the role having been killed by members of the RIC.

It would not be appropriate for me to attend while wearing the same chain that Tomas MacCurtain once wore, especially when he was killed by RIC officers, said Mr Sheehan.

I could not commemorate [the RIC] and then commemorate Tomas MacCurtains death a few weeks later. It would just not be appropriate.

Mr Crowe, the mayor of Clare, called the event historical revisionism gone too far.

Galway mayor Mike Cubbard, an Independent councillor, said he would not attend the event, which he described as an effort to rewrite history.

It has also been condemned by Independent TD Seamus Healy and Peadar Toibin, leader of Aontu, who said the Government is wrong to host the event.
The Mumbai Police on Tuesday evicted those protesting here at the Gateway of India against violence in the Jawaharlal Nehru University, and relocated them to Azad Maidan citing inconvenience to tourists and locals.

Before shifting the protestors, Sangramsingh Nishandar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) had appealed to protesters to relocate to Azad Maidan due to disruption in traffic at the Gateway of India.

"There is only one Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) toilet at the Gateway of India, Azad Maidan has all facilities. There is water. We have no objection against your slogans, posters and placards or anything. There were even posters of free Kashmir," the DCP said while appealing students and others to shift their protest to Azad Maidan.

"There are tourists coming here. Thousands of people going to hospitals and locals going to their offices using this route. There are several other andolans parallelly going on. Public peace was disturbed. Protestors also took out a march, which is against the court's order. Nothing was being followed for the two days. As rules were not followed, we sincerely appeal to you to relocate yourself. We have nothing against the peaceful assembly but I am declaring this assembly is unlawful," he added.

After relocating the protestors forcefully by putting them into buses, Nishandar said: "The roads were getting blocked and common Mumbaikar and tourists were facing problems. We had appealed to protesters many times. We have now relocated them to Azad Maidan."

The protestors while being evicted raised slogans of "Inqilab Zindabad" and "Mumbai Police Murdabad".

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and lyricist Vishal Dadlani had joined the protest being organised by students at the Gateway of India last night.While Kashyap had said that he was there at the protest site to show his solidarity with the students and blamed the government for the attacks in JNU campus, Dadlani had stated that he was there in support of a secular India. The students and activists had gathered here on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, soon after the reports of violence in JNU became public.Placards with "We stand with JNU", "Stop attacks on students" written on them were also seen at the Gateway of India.Politicians, cutting across party lines, had condemned the attack on students which had taken place in JNU on Sunday. They had urged the administration to take nab the culprits and take strict action against those found guilty.More than 30 students were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the JNU on Sunday and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Invesing.com  The U.S. dollar rose on Tuesday as better-than-expected non-manufacturing data suggested the economy remained on firm footing.

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, rose by 0.31% to 96.98.

ISM nonmanufacturing data for December showed a reading of 55, beating forecasts of 54.5. The services sector is a critical component of the U.S. economy, accounting for roughly 80% of U.S. private-sector gross domestic product (GDP).

The fall in both the euro and pound also underpinned gains in the greenback.

EUR/USD fell 0.43% to $1.1145 shrugging off firmer eurozone retail sales.

The single currency may yet fall furthe if the German government fails to consider increasing fiscal spending to boost its economy, Rabobank warned.

GBP/USD pared earlier gains, falling 0.27% to $1.3133 as Brexit returned to focus with U.K. lawmakers resuming their scrutiny of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal.

Opposition to the government's Brexit deal is expected to be limited as the ruling Conservative party secured a resounding victory in the general election last month.

Brexit aside, signs of U.K. economic growth are needed to underpin the rally in the pound seen since summer last year, MUFG's Fritz Louw said.

USD/JPY rose 0.16% to Y108.53 and USD/CAD rose 0.32%. The loonie was pressured by weaker Canadian economic data and a sharp drop in oil prices as traders reined in bets on supply disruptions in the Middle East despite ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions.

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Open Orphan, a Europe-focused pharma services company specialising in rare disease and so-called orphan drugs, has signed a contract with a German-based pharmaceutical group.

It is believed the firm in question may be the family-owned Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the pharmaceutical industry's top 20 companies.

In 2018, Boehringer had net sales of around 17.5bn, while it spent almost 3.2bn on research and development.

Open Orphan said the contract guaranteed "significant" annual income, with work under the deal to commence this month.

This contract will see Venn Life Sciences, part of Open Orphan, build upon its existing relationship with the German company, through a new three-year consultancy for pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis.

Pharmacokinetics is a branch of pharmacology that is dedicated to determining the fate of substances administered to the human body. PK models help pharmaceutical companies to decide upon dosage and potential adverse effects in new drugs under development.

Cathal Friel, CEO of Open Orphan, said: "This new contract is further evidence of Open Orphan delivering against one of its key objectives, transforming Venn by transitioning from ad-hoc short-term contracts to long-term contracts with high-quality customers - thereby delivering secured recurring revenues for the business."

The deal represents an extension of the relationship between the two firms, continuing the work currently undertaken by Venn of providing support in clinical trial data analysis, as well as earlier-stage projects.

Last month, Open Orphan and UK-based Hvivo agreed the terms of a merger, which will see the combined entity have a stake in what could be a $1bn-plus (894m) flu vaccine under development.

The Hvivo transaction should see Open Orphan shareholders secure a stake in Imutex, a firm that is developing a promising universal flu vaccine, now in late-stage development.

The universal flu vaccine differs from others in that it does not need to be altered every year to take account of new strains of the virus.

The takeover deal values Hvivo at 13m (15.2m) giving the combined business a valuation of about 28.5m.
A study of more than 250,000 women found that those who used talc or other personal-hygiene powders werent significantly more likely to develop ovarian cancer, news that will impact thousands of legal claims against drugmaker Johnson & Johnson over the products.

The U.S.-government-sponsored study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Tuesday, is one of the biggest to date to examine whether women who used the powder products on their genitals are at increased risk of developing the deadly cancer years later.

While the study has some limitations and couldnt rule out the powders as a cause, the findings suggests that if a risk exists its quite small.

Overall, women can be very reassured by this, said Dana Gossett, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco, who co-authored an editorial accompanying the new research. The use of genital powders is unlikely to cause a significant increase in ovarian cancer risk.

Johnson & Johnson shares, which gained briefly following the release of the report, were down 8 cents to $144.02 at 11:05 a.m. in New York.

Health products giant Johnson & Johnson is facing nearly 17,000 lawsuits contending that asbestos-tainted, talc-based personal hygiene products caused womens ovarian cancers and other malignancies. While the research wont eliminate the companys legal exposure, it may help bolster J&Js argument that the link between talc and ovarian cancer found in some previous studies isnt beyond dispute.

Another study has found there is no statistically significant association between use of talc for feminine hygiene and ovarian cancer, Kimberly Montagnino, a J&J spokeswoman, said in an emailed statement.

The lawsuits have hurt J&J shares as investors weighed the billions of dollars in potential legal risk to the New Brunswick, New Jersey-based company.

The new research pooled raw data from four epidemiology studies that followed more than 250,000 women for over a decade. Eventually, 2,168 of the women developed ovarian cancer.

Women in the analysis who reported ever using powder on their genitals had an 8% higher risk of developing ovarian cancer years later compared to women in the studies who said they never used powder on their genitals. This small difference was not considered statistically significant, meaning that under scientific standards theres a reasonable possibility the result could have been caused by chance.

When researchers looked at women who had used genital powder for long periods of time, or more frequently  questions that were asked in some but not all the component studies  there was also no evidence of a strong ovarian cancer risk.

We found a small positive, but not statistically significant association, said lead author Katie OBrien, an epidemiologist at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in North Carolina. Its pretty ambiguous.

Thousands of Cases

A federal judge is weighing whether the science backing up thousands of ovarian claims tied to baby powder is legitimate, a decision with broad ramifications for how the cases will proceed.

U.S. District Judge Freda Wolfson in Trenton, New Jersey, is overseeing a consolidation of more than 12,000 baby powder cases filed in federal courts across the U.S. Wolfson must decide whether experts hired by the women suing J&J used reliable methods to conclude the companys talc-based products contained asbestos, and that exposure could have caused their ovarian cancers.

According to court filings by J&Js lawyers, the idea that talc  even untainted by asbestos  can cause ovarian cancer isnt supported by science. J&J has maintained its talc-based products dont cause cancer.

The companys lawyers have sought to persuade juries that womens cancers were caused by other factors including genetics and lifestyle issues. J&J has been on a roll at trial recently, winning eight defense verdicts in talc cases last year while losing five.

Scientists and lawyers on both sides have pointed at multiple different potential causes of womens cancers. Some studies have suggested that the use of the powder products on the genitals can cause malignancies, while others have pointed to accidental inhalation of the powder as a cause of the cancer mesothelioma.

Study Limits

One limitation of some previous studies that had found a link between talc and ovarian cancer is that women were asked about what products they used only after they became sick. That raised the possibility that patients were more likely to remember using genital powder than healthy women in the control groups, whats known as recall bias.

The JAMA research eliminates that problem by following cohorts of women over a period of years, asking them before they got cancer about powder use, said Gossett. Gossett has no financial ties to either J&J or the plaintiff lawyers suing the company.

But the new analysis has its own significant limitations. Because the four cohort studies werent originally focused on studying talc and ovarian cancer, researchers didnt collect detailed information on what types or brands of powder products women used.

That makes it impossible to tell how many of the women have used non-talc products such as cornstarch-based powder, potentially muddying any talc-ovarian cancer link. Nor does the research shed light on whether any of the talc products were contaminated with asbestos, which plaintiff lawyers blame for causing ovarian cancer.

They dont know if they used powder with talc or if they used cornstarch, said David Egilman, a clinical professor of family medicine at Brown University, and a paid expert for plaintiff lawyers suing talcum powder makers. In addition, he said, talc use may cause ovarian cancer through inhalation through the lungs, a type of exposure that wasnt addressed by this study.

Overall, it is not great data, conceded OBrien, the study author. But given how hard it is to study rarer tumors like ovarian cancer, it may be the most detailed data researchers get anytime soon. It is the biggest study and probably will be for a very long time, she said.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
With a new year comes a new list of great series that you need to add to your binge fests! Over the years I have been sharing some of my favorite series to binge watch on Netflix and these posts always seem to bring up a ton of engagement and suggestions. For 2020 I am presenting my list a bit different. Instead of focusing just on Netlfix, I am going to share 20 Binge Worthy Series found on any network or streaming channel! Ready to cozy up and chill?

20 Binge Worthy Series in 2020

The Handmaids Tale

Based on the best-selling novel by Margaret Atwood, this series is set in Gilead, a totalitarian society in what used to be part of the United States. Gilead is ruled by a fundamentalist regime that treats women as property of the state, and is faced with environmental disasters and a plummeting birth rate. In a desperate attempt to repopulate a devastated world, the few remaining fertile women are forced into sexual servitude. One of these women, Offred, is determined to survive the terrifying world she lives in, and find the daughter that was taken from her.

You

What would you do for love? For a brilliant male bookstore manager who crosses paths with an aspiring female writer, this question is put to the test. A charming yet awkward crush becomes something even more sinister when the writer becomes the managers obsession. Using social media and the internet, he uses every tool at his disposal to become close to her, even going so far as to remove any obstacle including people  that stands in his way of getting to her.

Shrill

A struggling young journalist is determined to change her life without changing her body. While dealing with an unreliable boyfriends sick parents and a perfectionist boss, she begins to understand that shes just as good as everyone else.

Virgin River

Seeking a fresh start, a nurse practitioner moves from Los Angeles to a remote Northern California town and is surprised by what  and who  she finds.

The Politician

Wealthy high school student Payton Hobart has known since he was 7 years old that he is going to be the president of the United States. The first step toward that goal is to become his schools student body president. To do that, he will have to navigate the treacherous political landscape of Saint Sebastian High School. Hobart feels he needs to win the election to secure his spot at Harvard and continue on his projected path to success. To achieve his goals, hell have to outsmart his ruthless classmates without sacrificing his own morality and  most importantly  carefully crafted public image.

The L Word

This long-running Showtime series features intertwined stories about the lives and loves of a group of lesbians and bisexuals in Los Angeles. The characters date, get into committed relationships, consider having families, hook up, break up, question their sexuality, stay in the closet, come out or sleep around  sometimes all of the above.

In the Dark

A blind woman with vices finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation when her best friend turns up dead.

Atypical

This heartfelt comedy follows Sam, a teenager on the autism spectrum, who has decided he is ready for romance. In order to start dating  and hopefully find love  Sam will need to be more independent, which also sends his mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh) on her own life-changing path. She and the rest of Sams family, including a scrappy sister and a father seeking a better understanding of his son, must adjust to change and explore what it means to be normal.

Girlfriends Guide To Divorce

After Abby McCarthy, author of self-help books and guru to people with family issues, states that she and her husband have separated, her career screeches to a halt. The revelation puts Americas once-favorite girlfriend in free fall. Acclimating to being single in her 40s, she turns to friends for advice, including entrepreneur Phoebe, who has an odd relationship with her ex. For the divorce, Abby hires Delia, an associate of her friend, Lyla. The Girlfriends Guide book series inspired the dramedy  Bravos first original scripted series.

The Act

Dee Dee Blanchard is overprotective of her daughter, Gypsy, who is trying to escape the toxic relationship she has with her mother. Gypsys quest for independence opens up a Pandoras box of secrets, which ultimately leads to murder. The stranger-than-fiction true-crime series is based on a 2016 BuzzFeed article that detailed the shocking 2015 crime.

Castle Rock

The Stephen King multiverse is the setting for this psychological horror series that takes place in Castle Rock, Maine, which is a location familiar to fans of Kings work. Castle Rock explores themes and worlds that unite Kings canon, including the infamous Shawshank Prison. An anonymous phone call lures death-row attorney Henry Deaver back to Castle Rock. He is unsettled by his hometown, but he returns to help a sinister, mostly mute man being kept in a cage underneath Shawshank. Sissy Spacek and Bill Skarsgard, who starred in feature adaptations of Kings Carrie and It, respectively, are among the shows stars.

The Accident

Tragedy strikes the welsh town of Glyngolau when an accident on a construction site kills a group of trespassing children. Grief quickly turns to anger and the families cry for justice. But as the gears of justice slowly turn, challenging truths begin to emerge. It falls to the Council Leaders wife, Polly, to hold the community together, all the while also caring for a daughter  the only survivor of the collapse. And as those in charge fail to deliver closure for the town, its up to her to lead them on the march for justice, no matter what the cost.

Rectify

Rectify is an American television drama series exploring the life of a man after he is released from prison after nearly 20 years on death row following a wrongful conviction.

Gilmore Girls

Set in a storybook Connecticut town populated by an eclectic mix of dreamers, artists and everyday folk, this multigenerational drama about family and friendship centres around Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter, Rory. Lorelai owns the towns bed-and-breakfast, the Dragonfly Inn, with best friend/chef Sookie, and contends with weekly dinners with eccentric, well-off parents Richard and Emily Gilmore (who always have something to say about their daughters life). After high school, Rory attends Yale University but frequently returns to Stars Hollow to visit her mom.

Friends

This hit sitcom follows the merry misadventures of six 20-something pals as they navigate the pitfalls of work, life and love in 1990s Manhattan. Remember THE ONE that twitter broke when Netflix said they were not bringing Friends back to Netflix in 2019?

Big Little Lies

Based on the same-titled bestseller by Liane Moriarty, Big Little Lies weaves a darkly comedic tale of murder and mischief in the tranquil beachfront town of Monterey, Calif. Amidst doting moms, successful husbands, beautiful children, and stunning homes exists a community fueled by rumors and divided into haves and have-nots, exposing fractured relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and friends and neighbors. Told through the eyes of three mothers  Madeline, Celeste and Jane  the series narrative explores societys myths regarding perfection and its romanticization of marriage, sex, parenting and friendship.

Divorce

The story of a very, very long divorce. It stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church as Frances and Robert, the couple at the center of the titular separation.

Stranger Things

When a young boy disappears, his mother, a police chief, and his friends, must confront terrifying forces in order to get him back.

Dead To Me

Jens husband recently died in a hit-and-run, and the sardonic widow is determined to solve the crime. Optimistic free spirit Judy has recently suffered a tragic loss of her own. The ladies meet at a support group and, despite their polar-opposite personalities, become unlikely friends. As the women bond over bottles of wine and a shared affinity for The Facts of Life, Judy tries to shield Jen from a shocking secret that could destroy her life as she knows it. The dark comedy  which explores the weirdly funny sides of grief, loss and forgiveness  features a cast that includes TV veterans Christina Applegate and Ed Asner.

Russian Doll

Emmy-nominated actress Natasha Lyonne stars in this comedy-drama series as Nadia, a young woman who is on a journey to be the guest of honor at a party in New York City. But she gets caught in a mysterious loop as she repeatedly attends the same event and dies at the end of the night each time  only to awaken the next day unharmed as if nothing had happened. In addition to starring, Lyonne co-created the show with Saturday Night Live alum Amy Poehler and serves as a writer and director for the Netflix original series.

Make sure you see my 2018 Netflix binge picks, 2019 Netflix Binge picks , Cozy Up with Netflix and my favorite Netflix inspired Halloween costumes. I love a good binge!! We all deserve some time to just sit and enjoy a great series in 2020!

ID LOVE TO ADD MORE SERIES TO MY LIST! WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SERIES TO BINGE WATCH?
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Jan. 7

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

A regular meeting of the Turkmen-Austrian Society, in which business circles of European countries will participate, will take place in Vienna Jan. 10, 2020,Trend reports referring to Turkmen Orient news agency.

Heads of companies such as Sigmapharm Arzneimittel, DiproMed, BS Global, GessCon, Techcon, Gebruder Weiss East plus, Liebherr-Werk Nenzing, Kapsch TrafficCom, Bertsch-Laska Produktions-und Handels and Waagner-Biro are invited to the event.

The participants are interested in continuing fruitful cooperation with Turkmenistan and the further implementation of joint projects, the report said. Over the years, all these companies have been actively working with Turkmen partners in various sectors of the economy.

Negotiations on establishing business contacts between the Turkmen Rysgal joint-stock commercial bank and Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International leading corporate and investment bank are underway.

The cooperation with Austria may include the creation of joint innovative facilities in the Turkmen free economic zones and the construction of plants for production of mineral fertilizers and petrochemical and gas chemical products.

Among other promising spheres are the creation of high-tech manufacturing enterprises, cooperation in mining and paper industries and logistics as well as textile and leather production.

Furthermore, European technologies can be introduced in the chemical industry, the production of non-metallic mineral products such as glass and ceramics in Turkmenistan, the report said.

In turn, Austria is exploring projects in the field of agricultural processing and food production of Turkmenistan. The possibility of participation in the projects for the construction of livestock complexes in the country and the supply of equipment for the production of meat and dairy products is being considered.
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)- Needler's Market has been open for 5 months, and now one customer says, the grocery store is selling non-perishable foods that are expired. The store says this is the first time they have been notified that there has been expired food on their shelves. Customers say they like going to Needlers because it's easier to navigate than other grocery stores.

"Pay Less is always busy, Walmart is always a madhouse and so it was the perfect location and everything, said Nick Vester-Right a concerned customer.

Nick is a frequent shopper at Needler's Fresh Market, he says he was disappointed when he found expired non-perishable goods.

"Two times I found expired beef jerky, one time I found a bag of chips and another time I found can of soup, added Nick.

Nick sent a photo to WLFI in the first week of January. The photo showed beef jerky that had a best buy date of November. Representatives from Needler's Market said they took action as soon as they were notified about the situation.

"I did advise the store that there was an individual that brought it to our attention, so they are going to go back through and make sure they do a double-check," said Julie Anderson the director of marketing for Needlers Market.

According to the Tippecanoe County Health Department, it inspects grocery stores twice a year. Any time they get a complaint, they check the area of the store in which the complaint came from. However, grocery stores can't be written up for having expired non-perishable foods.

"It's more of a quality issue than a safety issue, said Craig Rich the Chief of Foods for Tippecanoe County. However if that's going on we would like to be called because that's usually an indication that there are some other things going on we can do something about."

The only thing the health department can write up for being expired is baby formula. Health officials say everyone should check expiration dates on all food items they buy.

"Everyone checks their milk, so you should just check everything, added Rich. "Everything is going to have a date on it.

People who shop at Needler's frequently tell News 18 they don't want anything to happen to the store, they just want the store to be more diligent about changing out non-perishable goods.

"As a grocery store you should know what you are buying and that the products are fresh, said Nick.

Needler's Market says their dry goods and non-perishables are checked when they are delivered. They say they perform daily and monthly rotations and that they are committed to giving their customers the freshest food possible.
Getty Images

A driver fired at least five rounds at a group of children who were throwing snowballs in a Wisconsin neighbourhood after one of them hit a passing vehicle.

According to the Milwaukee Police Department, officers responded to reports of a shooting in a residential area of the city around 8pm on 4 January to discover a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy suffering from "non-life threatening" gunshot wounds.

One of the snowballs struck a white Toyota, according to police, and the driver "fired shots into the group of kids striking the two victims."

The girl was shot twice, and the boy was shot once. Both children are being treated at a local hospital. The driver fired off as many as five rounds at the children, according to neighbours who heard the shots.

Police said that a "preliminary investigation indicates both victims were with a group of juveniles throwing snowballs at cars" that passed through the neighbourhood.

No arrests have been made, though police are combing through the neighbourhood's home surveillance footage that may have captured the shooting, according to Milwaukee ABC affiliate WISN.

One resident, Ravell Davis, told WISN that he made his family, including his wife and six children, get on the floor of their kitchen when he heard the sound of gunshots down the street.

He said: "It's getting bad. You know, it's ridiculous when you look outside and the front and side of your house is taped off. It's getting real crazy now."

Last February, a woman in Seattle was arrested for allegedly attempting to run over a group of people playing with snowballs after one hit her Jeep, according to the Washington Post.

In 2008, a teenager in Philadelphia was shot in the head after hitting a passing adult in the face with a snowball, and in 2009, a detective in Washington, DC pulled out his gun to threaten a group of people who hit his car with snowballs.

Police in Milwaukee counted 98 murders in 2019. More than 80 per cent of murders in the city over the last six years were the result of gunshots.

Milwaukee Alderman Cavalier Johnson pointed to the recent shooting to urge state officials to strengthen the state's gun laws.

He told CBS affiliate WDJT: "I'm asking for the people who control the legislature to do something about this so we don't have situations like this in our city or anywhere in Wisconsin.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 17:02:15|Editor: huaxia

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SHIJIAZHUANG, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Construction on 67 major projects has started in the Xiongan New Area, north China's Hebei Province, marking a new stage of the development of the new area, a provincial official said Tuesday.

Xu Qin, governor of Hebei, made the remarks when delivering a government work report at the opening of the local legislative session.

The 67 key projects include the Beijing-Xiongan intercity high-speed railway and Beijing-Xiongan expressway.

China announced in 2017 to establish the Xiongan New Area to move non-capital functions out of Beijing.

Xu said in 2019, the plan on major urban area of Xiongan was approved by the central authorities, and 11 supporting policies regarding finance, opening up and investment approval were issued. A number of enterprises and scientific research institutions including China Electronics Technology Group Corporation and Tsinghua University Intelligent Laboratory settled in Xiongan.

Xu said in 2020, the provincial government will speed up the construction projects and implement policies of household registration, education, medical care and housing in Xiongan. New platforms will be created for drawing scientific and technological innovation developers, higher education institutes and high-end industries.
EG Group, one of the world's largest independent gas station and convenience store chains, is considering a bid for Caltex Australia in a move that could start a takeover battle with Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard, people familiar with the matter said.

UK-based EG Group is working with a financial adviser as it evaluates making an offer for Caltex, which has a market value of $8.6 billion ($5.9 billion), the people said. No final decisions have been made, and there's no certainty that closely-held EG Group will proceed with a firm bid, the people said, asking not to be identified as the matter is private.

Acquiring Caltex would bring a network of about 2000 sites across Australia. Caltex last month rejected Couche-Tard's latest offer of $8.6 billion as too low, saying it undervalued the Sydney-based company.

Caltex in December rejected Couche-Tard's latest offer of $8.6 billion for being too low. Credit:Peter Braig

The Canadian convenience-store giant, which owns the Circle K chain, had already raised the bid to $34.50 per share in cash from its original proposal of $32. Still, Caltex left the door open to a deal, saying it would give Couche-Tard access to select non-public information to allow it to improve its offer.
Some of the people who were chasing Jaye Love for photos of her butt at the airport

07.01.2020 LISTEN

Jaye Love, an American club DJ and Instagram model, is the lady who got everyone screaming about her 'big-sized back' when she touched down at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra during the festive season.

A video of her which went viral on Ghanas social media space captured a lot of Ghanaians rushing to catch a glimpse of her butt and also take photos of it.

This created a scene at the airport, sources told NEWS-ONE.

The incident generated a lot of conversations both on social media and traditional media platforms over whether it was harassment or not. Some well-meaning Ghanaians registered their displeasure over the incident because they felt it was not the best way to welcome a visitor at a time Ghana is advocating people from the Diaspora to visit Ghana as part of 'Year of Return' programme.

Meanwhile, it appeared Jaye was not peeved at all. She also shared the viral video in which was seen being chased by some people at the airport to take photos of her butt on her Instagram.

Jaye Love is popular on Instagram because of her jaw-dropping backside.

The curvaceous model has been flaunting her well-endowed body on her social media handles, which always causes an uproar on the internet.

She has also denied several claims that her butt is 'fake'.

Like the many visitors, she expressed her happiness for spending her holidays in Ghana. She visited a number of clubs partying at Club Onyx and hanging out at the Labadi Beach, as well as meeting rapper Sarkodie.

Had a blast meeting my supporters and taking pics. It's crazy I never knew so many people knew me. That's an honor. Thanks to my Day1s @getfitwith_zamani for picking me up (300lbs) so I wouldn't be drenched from the water @tomjay0147 @stayclean93 and Graman, she wrote on Instagram after one of her hangouts.

---Daily Guide
The head of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Moyagh Murdock, is leaving to take over as CEO of Insurance Ireland, an industry body for insurance companies.

Ms Murdock will take over Insurance Ireland at a difficult time. The European Commission is investigating the body in relation to a possible breach of EU competition rules. There is also pressure on the wider insurance industry over high costs for businesses and consumers, and the Central Bank has a probe under way to look at so-called 'dual pricing', which is seen as punitive for loyal customers.

In a statement, RSA chairperson Liz O'Donnell confirmed that Ms Murdock would take up her new job at the end of March. She will take over from Kevin Thompson, who has left Insurance Ireland to join insurer RSA. Before joining the RSA in 2014, Ms Murdock was chief operating officer for Bus Eireann. She previously worked at Bombardier, Team Aer Lingus and Caterpillar, and is a graduate of Queen's University Belfast.
A deadly bus crash in Peru left 16 people dead and more than 40 others injured on Monday.

Among the dead were two German nationals, according to prosecuting investigator Javier Marino.

Earlier, different Peruvian agencies gave higher fatality figures after the bus from the company Cruz del Sur crashed into eight minibuses in the early hours of the morning in the Yauca district, in Arequipa region.

Some of the bodies were taken to a morgue in Arequipa, because in Yauca there weren't enough refrigerators to hold the bodies.

More than 40 people injured, among them a Spanish, two German and two Brazilian nationals were transported to a hospital in Nasca.

According to local authorities, the bus was travelling at a high speed on a steep road in Yauca when it collided with eight minibuses.
Iran Will Never Have a Nuclear Weapon - Trump

Sputnik News

17:54 06.01.2020(updated 18:21 06.01.2020)

On Sunday, Iran announced that it would be rolling back its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal amid escalating tensions with Washington over the killing of a senior Iranian military commander.

President Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to write an all-caps declaration stating that Iran would never be allowed to gain access to a nuclear weapon.

Trump did not immediately expand on what he meant by the statement.

The president made the comments after Tehran's announcement Sunday that it would continue to reduce its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal, and proceed to enrich uranium based on the technical requirements of its nuclear industry. Iran also emphasised that it would continue to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and voiced its readiness to return to its obligations under the JCPOA if sanctions against the country were lifted.

Iran's move prompted the JCPOA's European signatories Germany, France and the UK to call on Tehran to refrain from actions "that do not comply with the nuclear deal." Following the US's unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA in May 2018, the deal's European signatories tried to hammer out a way to shield Iran from the tough US energy and banking sanctions, including via the creation of a special trade and payment mechanism. These efforts proved insufficient, however, and in May 2019, Iran announced that it would begin to gradually reduce its commitments under the nuclear deal until its interests were accounted for.

Moscow, another signatory of the JCPOA, said Monday that it is not concerned by Iran's rollback on limitations set by the JCPOA. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that Iran's decision does not present any threat of nuclear weapons proliferation, because the country has maintained contact with the IAEA.

Iran began enriching its uranium stockpiles to the level of 5 percent, above the 3.67 percent limit outlined in the JCPOA, by November. However, this amount is well below the levels required to produce a nuclear bomb. Scientists classify uranium as 'weapons grade' once its U-235 concentration reaches above 80 percent. For example, the nuclear bomb the US dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 had a U-235 enrichment level of about 80 percent.

Iranian officials have also repeatedly said that they have no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons, or weapons of mass destruction of any kind, since these are said to run counter to the country's Islamic faith. Iran destroyed its stockpile of chemical weapons by 1997 as it ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention, and has repeatedly urged the US to do the same.

Tensions between Iran and the US and Iran have escalated over the past two weeks amid violence in Iraq, beginning with a rocket attack on a US base in Kirkuk and culminating in the US assassination of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force Commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad on Friday.

A Sputnik

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It is a matter of happiness that finally Nirbhaya has got justice but if it takes seven years for judgment, then it calls for introspection for the political class and legal community, said All India Mahila Congress president Sushmita Dev on Tuesday.

Speaking to ANI, Dev said: "I am very happy that finally, Nirbhaya has got justice. Her parents have fought a very long battle in the court. They have achieved what they could have many years back. In an open and shut case like Nirbhaya's, if it can take seven years, then what happens in other cases where evidence is not clear?"

"It calls for introspection for the political class and legal community to see where are problems and why should it take so long. There is a need to revamp the criminal justice system," she said.

The Congress spokesperson further said: "Right to appeal is a right, which cannot be taken away but even the appellate courts should be made to work in a time-bound. There was appeal after appeal and that took a lot of time for the final judgment to come. I also thank the lawyers, who have helped Nirbhaya's parents."

"I salute Nibhaya's parents, who fought this legal battle for seven years. They remained strong in situations. Today Nirbhaya's soul will get peace and her parents have got the victory in this battle," she added.

Earlier in the day, Delhi's Patiala House court said that all four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya case will be hanged on January 22. The convicts -- Pawan Kumar Gupta, Akshay, Vinay, and Mukesh -- will be hanged at 7 am.

Additional Session Judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the death warrant in the presence of all convicts, who were produced before the court through video conferencing.

The court said that convicts can use their legal remedies within 14 days. Lawyers of the convicts also informed the court that they are in the process of filing a curative plea.

The court gave the order while hearing the plea of the parents of Nirbhaya, who were seeking the death warrant against all the four convicts in the case.

The main accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in the Tihar Jail during the trial. Another accused was a minor and was sent to a reform facility. He was released after three years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In India, as in many other parts of the world, people are overworked and underpaid. Many of us have six-day weeks with more than eight-hour shifts. Hence we are stressed, depressed and unhappy. The government has not yet started taking conditions of the working class seriously, however that is not the case everywhere.

Finland became the centre of worlds attention after it chose 34-year-old Sanna Marin as the head of the state. She is the youngest female head of government, worldwide. The centre-left government she leads, has five government parties, all which have women on top.

Twitter

After becoming the worlds youngest Prime Minister she intends to set an example for the world by introducing a 4-day-week and the 6-hour-work day in Finland.

Marin has taken up the question of how long the Finns should work. According to a website, Scoop Me, she recommended shorter working hours on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Turku. She introduced this idea when she was a Minister of Transport and Communications - back then she had said, A four-day work week, a six-hour workday. Why couldnt it be the next step? Is eight hours really the ultimate truth? I believe people deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture. This could be the next step for us in working life.

Your Story

Just like in many countries, 8-hour-days for five days a week has been the norm in Finland. The left alliance with which Marin has recently formed a coalition has allegedly demanded a test run for a 6-hour-day.

6-Hours-Day In Sweden

If this working scheduled is passed, Finland will not be the first country to have six working hours.

In 2015, Gothenburg, Swedens second largest city, reduced working time to six hours a day in the old peoples homes and the municipal hospital, while making no change in the pay of the employees. Two years later, a study found that the employees were happier, healthier and more productive.

Shutterstock

Swedish Tech Industry as Pioneer

The tech industry in Sweden has been running on 6-hour-day for a lot of years. In 2003 the Toyota, Gothenburg plant switched to shorter working days with full pay.

Productivity of Toyota employees increased as they were satisfied and motivated.

4-Day-Week At Microsoft Japan

Last Year, Microsoft Japan experimented with shorter work weeks. In August 2019, 2,300 employees were given every Friday off for one month. The results showed a 40 percent increase in productivity as meetings were more efficient.

Reuters

So, there is statistical proof that shorter weeks and shorter working hours increase productivity and employee satisfaction. May be it's time companies in India started considering this too.
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Tue, January 7, 2020 18:04 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3213ebbd 1 National batak,North-Sumatra,UK,Jambi,rape-case,rape Free

The case of Reynhard Sinaga, an Indonesian student convicted of over 130 rapes in the United Kingdom, has shocked the Batak community in Indonesia.

Described by prosecutors as the UKs most prolific rapist, Reynhard was born in Jambi but his last name Sinaga is a marga or clan name of the Batak people of North Sumatra.

Lamsiang Sitompul, the chairman of the Horas Bangso Batak community, said that Reynhards actions had hurt and shamed the Batak community and that his crimes made it seem like the Batak people were sexual deviants.

That is not true, and honestly we are very ashamed of Reynhard Sinagas actions. His actions do not reflect the behavior of Batak people, Lamsiang told The Jakarta Post in Medan, North Sumatra, on Tuesday.

Reynhard, 36, first moved to the UK as a student in 2007, obtaining his masters degree in sociology from Manchester University, as reported by The Guardian.

Read also: Indonesian jailed for life as UK's most prolific rapist

In August 2012, he started to pursue a PhD in human geography at Leeds University, but did not finish before his arrest in 2017.

The UKs Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has called him "the worst-known sex offender in the country's history" for the assault or rape of at least 195 men and for attacking scores more since moving to Britain as a student, AFP reports.

Lamsiang said that news of Reynhards conviction had spread among the Batak community in Indonesia and people related to him felt shame and embarrassment.

We are all shocked and in disbelief that Reynhard would do that, since he is an educated person, he said, adding that the community was nevertheless confident that the legal process in the UK was fair and just. We leave [the case] to the legal process in the UK. We believe that everything will go on fairly. (kmt)
W hen the owners of a companys debt and equity are at war, it rarely ends well.

Yet thats the position Premier Oil has managed to get itself into with its biggest lender. ARCM lent Premier nearly $500 million when Premier refinanced in 2017. A lot of lolly, even for a major specialist energy financier like ARCM.

Understandably it wants its money back in 2021, as promised.

Premier, on the other hand, wants to grow the business and would rather delay repaying its debts and raise cash from shareholders to do that. It has identified $800 million of North Sea assets on which it wants to spend a rights issue.

ARCM has good reasons to worry. When you buy old assets like these, before too long, when the gas and oil runs out, you have to pay to dismantle them. Premier already has $1.2 billion of these decommissioning liabilities and the new assets would add hundreds of millions of dollars more. That, ARCM adds, is on top of its near-$2 billion debt.

Furthermore, the deals will increase Premiers exposure to the arguably oversupplied UK gas market, it says.

Premier shareholders disagree. As todays 14% surge in the share price suggests, they like the proposed acquisitions and will support the rights issue.

Added to which, 72% of ARCMs fellow creditors have agreed to the idea and will extend Premiers debt facilities by two years to make it happen. If Premier can get that up to 75%, it goes through.
Hipster Good Life Cont'd

Chiefs watch parties, KC Restaurant Week begins, plus more food and drink events to fill up your week (Courtesy Boulevard Brewing Company) Tuesday, January 7 Head to Boulevard Tours & Rec Center (2534 Madison Avenue) today from 5-7 p.m. for the first-ever release of Phantom Haze and Tank 7 beers in Tallboy cans. Free samples will be available in the gift shop, with additional specials including $5 featured flights, $5 pretzel dogs, and $5 off crowlers.

Elvis Is Everywhere

Elvis impersonators will descend on KC this month Photo by Zach BaumanJeff Bergen didn't set out to be an Elvis impersonator. As he toured the U.S. and Canada fronting a classic rock cover band, he found that the King drew louder applause than the Beatles or Stones. "I resisted because I didn't want it to become an Elvis show," Bergen says.

Teachable Improvement Moment

KCKPS sees 'unprecedented gains' toward proficiency KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools has made "unprecedented gains" in two academic categories, according to new assessment data. The district, which once was the lowest-performing district in the state, increased its scores on the Kansas Assessment Program by 2.7% in English language arts and 5.9% in math, according to the December KAP interim assessment.

Hotness Reconsidered

Abigail Ratchford Winks In A Sexy Sheer Bra In New Instagram Videos Abigail Ratchford just posted the latest addition to her titillating Instagram account: Two videos of the model wearing an extremely tight-fitting, cleavage-baring bra. To add to the sexy factor, the vixen blew a kiss and winked in the clips. The neckline of the top was a deep V, so low that Abigail's bust almost spilled out.

Bolton Against Prez Trump?!?

Republican senator suggests John Bolton testimony 'could help the president' Former National Security Adviser John Bolton grabbed headlines Monday when he somewhat surprisingly said he was 'prepared to testify' should the Senate call him as a witness in the upcoming impeachment trial. But Republican senators aren't quite sure if they want to hear from him.

Resolution 2020

Planet Fitness to open 2 more KC locations KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Planet Fitness will add two more locations to its Kansas City footprint in 2020. The fitness franchise expects to open sites in the Tremont and Waldo areas of Kansas City, Missouri. That is in addition to the recent openings in Independence, Olathe, Overland Park and the Plaza East area.

Bright Tuesday Ahead

More sunshine for your Tuesday Hide Transcript Show Transcript SKIES. I WILL BE SURPRISED IF WE SEE RAINFALL WHATSOEVER. HERE IS YOUR FIRST ALERT HOUR-BY-HOUR FORECAST. INTO THE 30'S AND CONTINUING TO DROP OFF. ESPECIALLY WITH CLEAR SKIES, WE WILL MAKE IT DOWN TO 29 DEGREES IN THE MORNING. 27 FORT LAURANN 10, OTTAWA.

Once again we take a peek a pop culture hotness, community news and all manner of interesting times. Take a look:And this is thefor right now . . .
By Albert Bender

People's World

Bolivia is greatly ignored by the corporate media, but the news reports that do filter out indicate state terror reigns. In November, President Evo Morales and other top leaders were, in effect, pushed out by a coup, as military and police leaders withdrew their support from his elected government. The replacement leader, Jeanine Anez, comes from a party that drew less than 4% of the vote in October elections.

On December 3, the Anez outlaw regime announced that it had instituted what it called an anti-terror unit. The unit was supposedly to combat foreign groups threatening the country. Actually, it is the anti-terror unit that is operating at the behest of a foreign group: it is operating as an agency of the U.S. government.

One of the leading members of the right-wing coup government is Arturo Murillo, its Interior Minister who is now responsible for public security in Bolivia. Murillo said this so-called antiterror group has the mission of dismantling those that are threatening our homeland. This is absurd. The threat to the Bolivian homeland is the imperialist behemoth, the United States. The threat is the puppet regime of Anez.

This anti-terrorism units purpose is not anti-terror, but rather the escalation of terror directed against the Indigenous and the poor, the supporters of Evo Morales. Morales was Bolivias first Indigenous president, and, indeed the first Indigenous president of any country in the Americas since Benito Juarez in Mexico in 1861. This regimes steps to suppress and massacre the Indigenous majority mean this unit should actually be characterized as an instrument of racist state terror, another Indian-killing unit.

Evo Morales in 2008. Morales was the first Indigenous president of Bolivia. He served from 2006 to 2019. Photo: Joel Alvarez

OAS has no credibility

The Organization of American States (OAS) published a 100-page report on Dec. 4, charging overwhelming evidence Bolivias October 20 election was rigged in favor of Morales.

Lets take a closer look at the OAS and its attempt to cover some tracks in the wake of the coup. Although OAS bills itself as a promoter of democracy and a defender of human rights, in reality it is a Cold War entity. It was founded in 1948 to stop the spread of progressive and leftist governments. It is anti-socialist and anti-communist. The majority of OAS funding comes from the U.S. government, so we need not guess on which side its decisions fall. In 1962, for example, it passed a resolution asserting that the Cuban government was  incompatible with the principle and objectives of the inter-American system . The OAS has no credibility in this matter. It is an instrument of U.S. imperialism, not an independent agency.

In Bolivia, U.S. embassy officials had conspired with right-wing so-called civic committees, earning themselves expulsion from the country under Morales, along with the Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Agency for International Development. The civic committees are made up of wealthy European-descended Bolivians and have frequently initiated violent provocations against both Bolivias Indigenous president and the poor and Indigenous communities. Embassy officials were believed by Bolivias government to be behind an assassination attempt against Morales.

The claims of election fraud in Bolivia have been debunked by independent sources. The Washington-based Center for Economic and Policy Research and others have made detailed examinations of the election and concluded there was no electoral fraud.

Even an op-ed in the New York Times, The Coup Temptation in Latin America by Steven Levitsky and Maria Victoria Murrillo, cut through all the inane absurdities and concluded: In effect, Mr. Morales fell prey to a coup.

Bolivia coup backers are burning the Wiphala flag, an symbol of Indigenous resistance. This is more than symbolic. These violent, racist groups want to rollback the historic gains made by Indigenous people. #thisisacoup



pic.twitter.com/uRc7e82W63  The Red Nation (@The_Red_Nation) November 11, 2019

Advances under Indigenous socialist government

Looking over the 14-year record of accomplishments of the Indigenous socialist government led by Morales, it becomes apparent why U.S. capitalist interests were chomping at the bit to see its demise. Morales had provided an example of what a socialist government can accomplish for its people. The growth rate of Bolivias economy was twice that of any other country on the continent. Millions had been lifted out of poverty . Resources were being put at the service of the people, especially the Indigenous and the poor, not capitalist parasites.

In particular, it had seized control of valuable natural resourcesmost notably lithium , the hallmark mineral for the advancement of many present-day-industries.

When natural resources are used to serve the people, look what happens to improve the lives of the Indigenous and the poor. [In fact, as noted below, Bolivia was far ahead of the U.S. in a myriad of social and economic categories]:

*In Bolivia, life expectancy has increased by nine years. [By contrast, life expectancy in the U.S. has decreased by three years.]

*The Morales government had instituted a universal health care system. [By contrast, the U.S. to this day has no universal health care system and the health of needy citizens is on the decline.]

*100% of all older Bolivian citizens receive pensions . [In 2011, the Morales government lowered the retirement age at a time when most capitalist countries were raising the retirement age.]

*Bolivia achieved a 100% literacy rate

*Morales promoted legislation seizing thousands of square miles of land that was unoccupied or illegally held and redistributed it to landless peasants. [By contrast increasing numbers of U.S. residents are homeless.]

*The natural gas, oil, electric, and telecommunications industries were placed under state control.

*Morales also continually raised the minimum wage; it tripled under his administration. [Where is the raise of the national minimum wage in the U.S.?]

*The constitution Morales had passed in 2009 officially recognizes 39 Indigenous languages and required school children to learn local Indigenous languages. [Where is this happening in the U.S.?]

*They advanced democracy by granting autonomy to Indigenous regions.

The U.S. oligarchy hated the model set by an Indigenous socialist government in this hemisphere. The popularity of the non-capitalist road of development exemplified by Bolivia was threatening to the world capitalist system. They looked desperately for a point of vulnerability. That point was found in the top ranks of the military.

The self-proclaimed president Jeanine Anez set the stage for massacres with her description of Indigenous religion as satanic. This far-right religious fanatic assumed the presidency holding above her head an enormous Bible standing beside an aide prominently displaying a large cross. This lame effort to establish theocratic rule in the country is a gross insult to all the Indigenous of the Western Hemisphere. It calls to mind the murderous conquistador Francisco Pizzaro who ravaged the Inca Empire and murdered its leader Atahualpa in 1533 and put it under Spanish rule with the same theocratic gestures.

Solidarity needed

Anezs latest pronouncements are that if Morales returns to Bolivia he will be charged with sedition, terrorism, and crimes against humanity. This is an attempt to provide a cover, a distraction if you will, for the atrocities her illegal regime is carrying out against the Indigenous and the poor of Bolivia.

The international community should:

1) refuse recognition to this murderous regime, and

2) demand the reinstatement of the rightful president, Evo Morales.

There should be demonstrations in support of these two demands, particularly in the U.S., in light of the fact that the impetus for this coup was orchestrated in the clandestine inner sanctums of the White House.

The role of the military

The question was raised in an earlier column and in this one of dealing with the military and police in relation to smashing capitalism and reaching socialism. In the Bolivia situation, and others, the military has been the Achilles heel of a peoples government, particularly in Latin America.

To address this issue briefly: The leftover military of the bourgeois state cant be trusted, in particular the top military brass. This is abundantly illustrated by the lessons of history. The top brass has to be dismissed or at least kept under surveillance as was done in the Bolshevik Revolution. Also, a peoples militia can be organized to replace the standing army and other security forces. To my knowledge, neither course, unfortunately, was followed in the Bolivian struggle.

Lenin had much to say on this matter. In 1917, he called for Replacement of the old organs of oppression, the police, the bureaucracy, the standing army, by a universal arming of the people, by a really universal militia. Speaking in 1918 on the refusal of the Constituent Assembly to recognize the land decrees issued by the Soviet government, he said , There is no doubt that the socialist revolution cannot be presented to the people at once in all its pristine, obvious, and flawless perfection; that it cannot but be accompanied by civil war and by the phenomena of sabotage and opposition. Socialist forces must be prepared for the possibility of civil war. This is the inevitability of the class struggle.

The resistance of the bourgeoisie, in fact, becomes more desperate after a seizure of power by the people. Moraless enemies, no doubt, were plotting against him from the very day he took office. In so many situations, attention is given to the technical and combatant side of the military, not to the political and ideological. The crux of the problem is in the highest military officers, not the rank and file, as the rank and file are drawn from the masses of the people. In Latin America, the armies have been used for the bloody suppression of the people.

That the armed forces asked [Morales] to resign is treason, that the police mutinied is treason, noted Bolivian Sen. Monica Eva Copa . The request by the commander of the armed forces to ask Mr. President resign is traitorous, she said. The senator disclosed that Morales used to meet with the military and police commanders every Monday. These commanders, the command staff, were all the while treacherously plotting behind his back.

With its multi-colored squares, the wiphala symbolizes Indigenous peoples in Bolivia and in some South American countries. Wiphala means flag in the Quechua language. Photo: Matias Garrido Hollstein

I am sure in Bolivia the rank and file are drawn from the Indigenous and the poor. There should be a rank-and-file revolt against their traitorous commanders and the illicit government officials, instead of slavish obedience. The highest command staff should be arrested for treason along with the members of the fascist Anez regime. Concomitantly, Evo Morales and his governments ministers should be reinstated to their rightful positions to resume the path of socialist development.

But, of course, what should happen is too often not what actually happens. There is so much confusing information from online news reports in regard to the current situation that it is very hard to determine what is credible and what is not. There are disturbing reports that Moraless party, the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), is reaching an agreement with the wealthy European-descended and mestizo elite that compose the fascist usurper government for elections without the exiled president, giving some legitimacy to the coup. Moreover, on December 12, it was reported that Morales had relocated from Mexico to Argentina for asylum.

To add further confusion, the MAS announced that Morales would be directing the electoral campaign from exile, but Argentine Foreign Minister Felipe Sola said his government wanted a commitment from Morales not to make any political statements while in the country. Then on Dec. 15, Argentine cabinet chief Santiago Cafiero contradicted Sola and said Morales would be allowed to make political statements.

There does seem to be some clarification, at this time, as on December 16 Morales announced that he would continue to be involved in Bolivian politics and would campaign to help MAS win new elections. However, the interim government so far has set no date for the next elections.

Albert Bender is a Cherokee activist, historian, political columnist, and freelance reporter for Native and Non-Native publications. He was an organizer and delegate to the First and Second Intercontinental Indian Conferences held in Quito, Ecuador and Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Recently, he has been an active participant and reporter in the Standing Rock struggle in North Dakota. He is an attorney and is currently writing a legal treatise on Native American sovereignty. He is also writing a book on the war crimes committed by the U.S. against the Maya people in the Guatemalan civil war of the late 20th century. He is also the recipient of several Eagle Awards by the Tennessee Native American Eagle Organization and a former Director of Native American Legal Departments and a Tribal Public Defender.

This article originally appeared on People's World . It is published under a Creative Commons license

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Who cared about Pamela George outside her family? Almost nobody. Who cares about her now? Almost nobody but her family and Indigenous people who are bitterly angry, thanks to poet George Elliott Clarke salting a terrible wound and making her Canadian horror story worse.

In 1995, George, a 28-year-old Indigenous woman, was murdered hideously in the Regina snow by two young white men. They were coddled at their murder trial and then sent to a prison system that is indifferent to victims and backstories. So heres a reminder: they kidnapped her, raped her, beat her brutally for trying to escape, and left her dead, face-down in a roadside ditch.

Her killers were Steven Kummerfield and Alex Ternowetsky, two white middle-class teens who, as reported by Macleans at the time, despised their victim, even after she was dead, even though she had caused them no harm.

A friend of theirs told the court he had asked them what they had done the night before. Not much, Kummerfield said. We drove around, got drunk and killed this chick. Later, separately, Ternowetsky told him, She deserved it. She was Indian.

George had an appalling life. A teen single mom, her two-year-old son drowned in 1989 and her mother was raising her other two kids. Shy, vulnerable and desperately poor, she worked the streets and died for it. Note this: she loved to write poems.

Astonishingly, the judge, Justice Ted Malone, who reminded the jury that George was a prostitute thus implying consent, sentenced the two men to 6.5 years for manslaughter. In 2000, after serving half that, Kummerfield got parole, even though the parole board noted you speak little about your victim and the suffering you caused her and the family she left behind.

He changed his name to Stephen Brown, and moved to Mexico, which has a large Indigenous population, and wrote poetry. (Ternowetsky studied film at Ryerson University, writes revoltingly about women, and has been arrested in Canada and elsewhere.)

And then George Elliott Clarke came along, a former Parliamentary Poet Laureate (there have been seven since the position was created in 2000, six of them male) and general honours magnet.

Clarke, a University of Toronto English professor, has promoted and mentored Kummerfield/Brown since 2005, claiming that he only learned of Kummerfield/Browns crime four months ago. If thats true, he had 14 years to ask.

Clarke told the CBC it was kind of immaterial anyway. He said he may or may not read Browns poems at a coming appearance at the University of Regina in the city where Brown beat Pamela George to death, and deplored those who had vindictive feelings toward the man who murdered their daughter/sister/friend/grandchild.

Just relax, he said. Kummerfield/Brown is a fairly kind man, who has paid his debt to society.

The university rightly defended his right to speak, but the problem wasnt free speech, it was a question of taste, of cruelty.

I have other questions. How can 3.5 years in jail be considered as payment for the largest moral debt any human can owe?

Why are murderers allowed to change their names? Paul Bernardo did as well, but we dont go along. Surely killers are the least worthy of that freedom. Other women years later need to be able to check on their safety. Canada made them unable to.

Did Mexico know he was a killer when they let him in? Did Canada tell them?

Clarke posted two of the killers poems  one of them appears to be about stalking a sex worker  on the Library of Parliament website. They have been taken down.

Clarke has since been backtracking. He cancelled the speech, saying amid beeping noises, I am a mixed Black and Indigenous writer and scholar, and my advocacy for justice for Indigenous Peoples and People of Colour in Canada must never be in doubt.

Men have killed so many Indigenous women. We dont know all the dead. We know very few of their killers. This is Canada.
Key West visitors always flock to the towns favorite tourist spots  Mallory Square, Duval Street, Ernest Hemingways home, and the Southernmost Point Buoy  to snap photos and record memories.

But apparently, not students visiting from China. For some reason, they seem to like taking pictures of military facilities in Key West.

The latest  a pair of Chinese nationals attending the University of Michigan  were arrested over the weekend and appeared in federal court in Key West on Monday on a charge of entering a U.S. Naval property for the purpose of photographing defense installations.

Since the fall of 2018, a total of four Chinese nationals have been arrested on charges of shooting pictures of military facilities in Key West, drawing the sharp interest of U.S. counterintelligence investigators who have been probing suspected Beijing-led spying activities in South Florida, including visitors to President Donald Trumps private club, Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach.

On Saturday, Yuhao Wang and Jielun Zhang, both 24, were arrested after they approached the guard station at Sigsbee Annex in the Naval Air Station, were told to turn around and instead drove onto the restricted property at 8:30 a.m. After a half hour, U.S. Navy Security Forces located the students in their blue Hyundai car and found they were carrying cellphones and a Nikon camera.

U.S. Navy Security Forces obtained consent to look at the devices and observed photographs taken on the Sigsbee Annex property, including U.S. military structures on Fleming Key, according to an FBI complaint affidavit.

After they were stopped, both acknowledged they were told by a guard at the Sigsbee Annex gate to make a U-turn and leave the area. Instead, Wang admitted that they drove onto the U.S. Naval property and parked their car. Wang voluntarily showed the agents photos that he took with his cellphone, the affidavit says.

Zhang gave a similar statement, indicating that he provided his Michigan drivers license to the guard. He also voluntarily showed the agents photos that he took with his camera and videos with his cellphone, according to the affidavit.

Story continues

Chinese student sentenced to one year for taking photos of Key West Naval base

The Sigsbee Annex is located on Naval property near the entrance to Key West in a residential neighborhood called Sigsbee Park.

At their first appearances in Key West federal court on Monday, the two defendants asked Magistrate Judge Lurana Snow to appoint lawyers to represent them.

I dont want to use my money to pay for a private attorney, Wang said through a Mandarin interpreter. I would prefer you order a public defender for me.

Snow granted a public defender for Wang and a private attorney for Zhang.

But since both said they had about $9,000 each in a U.S. bank account, the judge required them to contribute $7,500 each to the cost of their defense.

Snow also set their detention hearing for Friday in Key West federal court.

In a similar case, another Chinese student, Lyuyou Liao, was arrested the day after Christmas on a charge of entering the Truman Annex at the Naval Air Station for the purpose of photographing defense installations. In Liaos case, several witnesses told police they watched Liao trespass onto the military property and warned him not to go there, according to another criminal affidavit. He was later stopped by federal agents who found photos on his cellphone of military facilities.

At a detention hearing before Judge Snow on Monday, prosecutors described Liao as a 27-year-old college student in St. Louis, Missouri, who had a full scholarship from the Chinese government.

Federal prosecutor Jonathan Kobrinski asked Snow to detain Liao until his case is completed, saying he is a flight risk to China. Snow agreed, ordering his detention.

Liaos defense attorney, however, argued that he was simply on vacation taking snapshots of Key West and should be released.

Feds are investigating possible Chinese spying at Mar-a-Lago and Cindy Yang, sources say

The evidence here is very minimal, Miami attorney Daniel Rashbaum told the judge. It sounds like a tourist taking some pictures.

Snow disagreed.

If you believe that, Ive got a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn, Snow said. I doubt there will be a slew of sunrise pictures on the phone or camera.

Actually, Liao took lots of tourist-style photos with his cellphone, including some from Orlando and Miami as well as others from Key West sights, said Special Agent Michael Miller of the Naval Criminal Investigations Service. But Liao had also taken at least one photo of the military facility at the Truman Annex Naval base, Miller said.

I got to the picture of the [naval] base and I stopped right there, Miller said, explaining he had no search warrant at the time he stopped Liao. After a search warrant was obtained, investigators found more photos of the military facility on his cellphone.

The fourth Chinese national arrested at the Naval Air Station in Key West was Zhao Qianli in September of 2018. Qianli claimed to be a music student from China and got caught by the Key West police for trespassing onto the high-security Naval Air Station. He later told federal authorities that he lost his way on the tourist trail and did not realize it was a military base.

Investigators found photos and videos on Qianlis cellphone as well as on his digital camera that he had taken of government buildings and a Defense Department antenna field on the military base.

Qianli, 20, pleaded guilty last February to one count of photographing defense installations at the Key West military facility and was sentenced to one year in prison by U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore. The judge gave him the maximum sentence, which was higher than the sentencing guidelines of between zero and six months. The U.S. Attorneys Office sought nine months in prison.

In March of last year, a Chinese woman was arrested at President Donald Trumps private club in Palm Beach after she bluffed her way into Mar-a-Lago to attend a purported United Nations friendship event that she knew had been canceled before she left China.

Yujing Zhang, 33, was charged with trespassing in a restricted area and lying to a federal agent. In September, Zhang was convicted at trial and sentenced in November to eights months in prison  or the time she had been in custody since her arrest  by U.S. District Judge Roy Altman.

Another Chinese woman, Lu Jing, 56, was arrested in December after she had been reported trespassing and taking pictures at Mar-a-Lago.
Who among us has never accidentally clicked send on a draft and made an embarrassing faux paslike, say, prematurely ordering U.S. troops out of Iraq?

On Monday afternoon, Reuters and the Washington Posts Liz Sly reported that the U.S.-led military coalition in Iraq sent a letter suggesting that U.S. troops would soon be pulling out of the country.

Sir, in due deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister, CJTF-OIR will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement, read the letter signed by Marine Brigadier General William H. Seely III. The missive added: We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure.

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BREAKING: The US military sends a letter to the Iraqi military announcing the onward movement of US troops in due deference to the sovereignty of Iraq & as requested by the Iraqi Parliament & the Iraqi PM. Its a withdrawal. pic.twitter.com/tQHSsHTtez  Liz Sly (@LizSly) January 6, 2020

Huge if true! But Sly later followed up on Twitter, quoting Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as saying that the letter had been a draft and that releasing it had been a mistakebut that it had been sent to the Iraqi military and then released by the Iraqi prime ministers office. Whoops!

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Even if the U.S. didnt mean to send it, the letter is worth parsing. It refers to the Iraqi parliaments unanimous vote on Sunday calling for the countrys government to order the removal of U.S. troops from the country in the wake of the airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani as well as a senior commander of Iraqs state-backed Shiite militias. Theres no formal basing agreement between the U.S. and Iraq, like there was before the last troop withdrawal in 2011. U.S. troops returned to the country in 2014 to fight ISIS, and around 5,000 remain at the Iraqi governments invitation.

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Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi spoke in support of the measure, but the legislation isnt binding, and its not clear how he would proceed with forcing U.S. troops out or how much he even wants to. President Donald Trump reacted angrily to the vote, threatening sanctions against Iraq and to charge the country for the cost of building U.S. bases.

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Given that its not clear U.S. troops would actually be required to leave Iraq at this time, it would certainly be an odd decision for the U.S. to do it unilaterally. The U.S. has sought to keep troops in Iraq to continue fighting the remnants of ISIS, a task its far from clear that the Iraqi state is up for.

It would also be strange for the U.S. to accede to a major Iranian demand right now. The contest for influence in Iraq was, after all, the main reason for the recent round of tension and violence. Soleimani fought for nearly two decades to force the U.S. out of Iraq. Is the U.S. really going to grant him his wish just days after killing him?

The vagueness of the draft statement gives the U.S. a lot of wiggle room to avoid a full troop withdrawal. At this point, we should know better than to take troop withdrawal announcements from this administration at face value.

It seems more likely the Trump administration is considering calling the Iraqi governments bluff by keeping its troops in the country for the foreseeable future. It should probably figure out if thats what it actually wants to doand until it does, stay away from that send button.
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Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 17:43 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3213b806 1 Business state-budget,APBN,Sri-Mulyani-Indrawati,tax-revenue,shortfall,budget-deficit,state-revenue,state-expenditure Free

Indonesias 2019 state budget deficit totaled 2.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), wider than the governments target of 1.8 percent due a revenue shortfall of around Rp 207.9 trillion (US$15 billion).

The government collected Rp 1.96 quadrillion in state revenue last year, below its target of Rp 2.16 quadrillion, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said in Jakarta on Tuesday

The budget deficit has widened from the target of 1.8 percent of GDP but was far lower compared to other emerging markets [], she told reporters during a press briefing.

The tax office collected Rp 1.33 quadrillion in tax revenue last year, or 84.4 percent of the full-year target, causing a shortfall of Rp 245.5 trillion, the worst in at least the last five years.

Contractions in the manufacturing sector and mining industry have resulted in lower tax revenue, said the former World Bank managing director.

The manufacturing industry contributed Rp 365.49 trillion in tax revenue while the mining sector chipped in Rp 66.12 trillion. The tax contributions of the two industries were down 1.8 percent year-on-year (yoy) and 19 percent yoy, respectively.

Non-tax income, meanwhile, amounted to Rp 405 trillion last year, surpassing the state budget target of Rp 378.3 trillion.

Meanwhile, state expenditure totaled Rp 2.31 quadrillion, 4.4 percent higher compared to the previous year. In total, Rp 1.5 quadrillion was spent by the central government, while the remaining Rp 811.3 trillion was allocated to regional administrations and village funds.
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Celeno, a leading provider of smart, innovative Wi-Fi solutions announced today it is adding support of the 6GHz band to its Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) CL80xx dual-transceivers, PCIe interface product series. Celeno's announced Wi-Fi 6E products are available at different MIMO configurations - 8T8R, 6T6R, and 4T4R supporting up to 6 Gbps total aggregated speed over the two transceivers (up to 4.8Gbps per transceiver).

Wi-Fi is one of the most adopted technologies and greatest success stories of communication history. It carries today over half of the global data traffic and over 75% of mobile data traffic. Adding the 6GHz band for Wi-Fi usage is critical  it has been more than 20 years since the last spectrum enhancement to Wi-Fi. The currently available spectrum in 2.4 and 5GHz is becoming too congested and doesn't meet modern requirements for next-gen applications, services and scale requiring high speeds in a highly congested environment. The anticipated 6 GHz spectrum will nearly double the available spectrum for Wi-Fi communication.

In addition, operating Wi-Fi in the 6GHz band is expected to double the effective throughputs since it includes multiple 160MHz channels, compared to the practical 80MHz channels in 5GHz and 20MHz channels in 2.4GHz. Moreover, since legacy devices will not be permitted on the 6GHz band, it will be used exclusively for Wi-Fi 6 traffic which will improve performance further comparatively to the congested 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Also, it will allow for and effective operation of OFDMA, UL-MUMIMO and Wi-Fi 6 scheduling schemes to drive latency down.

Thus, Celeno's new Wi-Fi 6E devices will drive new applications requiring these throughput and latency benefits such as whole-home +1Gbps wireless fabric, mesh-nodes, 4K/8K wireless video distribution, AR/VR devices, wireless broadband access, 5G deployment and many more.

The family of chips fully supports the entire 6 GHz spectrum under regulatory evaluation: 5925-7125 MHz. The chips support Wi-Fi 6 with 160MHz, MU-OFDMA, MU-MIMO, Beamforming, 1024QAM, uplink scheduling, WPA3  with a single PCIe 3.0 (dual-lane) interface towards the host processor.

Leveraging its dual-transceiver architecture, the CL8000 Wi-Fi 6E product series will enable true concurrent operation of two independent channels in the wide 6GHz spectrum, thus enabling high utilization of the coming 6 GHz band. In addition, the chips inherently support Celeno's Wi-Fi Doppler Imaging technology launched earlier this year with true simultaneous operation of Wi-Fi connectivity and Radar in the 6GHz spectrum.

"We are excited about the tremendous promise of 6GHz to the Wi-Fi industry", said Gilad Rozen, CEO and Founder of Celeno. "We believe that the CL8000 unique architecture will enable our partners to design compact and cost-effective tri-band and quad-band access points, gateways and mesh nodes with the most compact and powerful Wi-Fi silicon subsystem."

Celeno believes that the 6GHz spectrum rules will be published in early 2020 with regulation in affect in early 2021.

Celeno's Wi-Fi 6E products will sample in Q2 of 2020.

The CL8000 Concurrent Dual Band Wi-Fi 6 2.4GHz/5GHz products are available to qualified customers. Celeno is demonstrating the Wi-Fi 6 products at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas starting January 7th, 2020.

About Celeno

Celeno offers advanced Wi-Fi chipsets, edge software and cloud technology to deliver smart, innovative Wi-Fi connectivity and Wi-Fi Doppler Imaging technology into the realm of high-performance home networks, smart buildings, enterprise and industrial solutions. Celeno's field-proven chips and software technologies have been successfully integrated into numerous OEM Wi-Fi devices and have been deployed in tens of millions of homes around the world. Celeno is headquartered in Raanana, Israel, with a global presence and offices. For more information, visit www.celeno.com .

Media Contact:

Tal Sacharov

Director of Marketing, Celeno

[email protected]

SOURCE Celeno

Related Links

https://www.celeno.com/


The picture shows Avangard hypersonic missile system unveiled by Russia. (Photo by TASS website)

By Meng Xiangqing

The Russian Defense Ministry recently announced the deployment of its first batch of Avangard hypersonic missiles to combat duty, while the speed of Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (Dagger) and 3M22 Zircon (Tsirkon) missiles will be flying at a hypersonic speed,10 times faster than the speed of sound, bringing the Russian military into a hypersonic era.

The development of hypersonic weapon system is also a priority for the US in order to enhance its long-range assault capability in the future, but US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper admitted that it would take years before the US master hypersonic capability.

Moscow recently released a series of latest progress on its hypersonic weapon development for considerations including countering Washingtons withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), boosting the national morale, etc.

First, it is a significant military countermeasure against Washingtons exit from INF Treaty. The Trump administration officially quit the treaty this year, which put Russia in front of a series of new challenges. According to a Russian export, if the US deploys intermediate-range missiles in Europe, it will take only 15-17 minutes for them to strike the Russian territory. Against this background, the Russian deployment of the hypersonic missile system constitutes one of the countermeasures against Americas military moves.

Second, the deployment of the weapon system further boosts the Russian public confidence. Russias military expenditure has been falling in recent years, which is interpreted, especially by western public opinions, as a sign of its economic difficulty. Against such a background, the announcement of the series of major breakthroughs in hypersonic weapon systems is to assure its people and demonstrate that Russias military modernization is well on track despite the shrinking military expenditure.

Third, it is a major diplomatic initiative. Its known to all that two of the three pillars of the US-Russia/US-Soviet nuclear disarmament have collapsed, leaving only the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which will be due to expire early in 2021. Russias intense announcement of new weapons, especially hypersonic weapon systems, imposes pressure on the US and forces it to the negotiating table on the renewal of the incumbent treaty.

The military gap between Moscow and Washington has widened after the end of the Cold War, and Moscow surpassing the latter in hypersonic weapon development is attributed to several reasons.

First, although the US was the first country to develop hypersonic weapons, it has experienced several setbacks and failures, even explosions, which have seriously shaken its confidence and resulted in the reduction of input in that field. On the contrary, Russia has taken the development of this kind of weapons as a priority all the time.

Second, the Russians have a keener sense of crisis than Americans. Their disparity in conventional military power after the Cold War is so immense that hypersonic weaponry offers an opportunity for Russia to outstrip the US at the curve. It is committed to this kind of weapon as a trump card of great deterrence.

Third, the US has too long a battle line and too massive military expenditure.

Arms race of any kind will bring a slew of impacts on international security situation, and the two major powers development of hypersonic weapon equipment will stimulate other countries to catch up too, thus forming a new round of competition among major countries.

In the meantime, hypersonic weapon equipment is likely to tilt the regional power balance. For instance, the US and Russia take a leading position in the world regarding a number of high-tech weapon equipment, leaving other regions far behind. Such an imbalance will prompt other countries and regions to develop new weapon equipment in other aspects, bringing new uncertainties to regional security.

(The author Senior Colonel Meng Xiangqing is the professor and director of the Institute of Strategy under PLA's National Defense University.)
New Delhi, Jan 7 : In a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that New Delhi will continue to work with Washington for enhancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

Though a Ministry of External Affairs Ministry statement said that the Monday call was made to convey New Year greetings, it came following the US airstrike, which was ordered by Trump, that killed Iranian intelligence chief and Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani and other military officials last week in Iraq.

Incidentally, Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar on Sunday held phone conversations with Foreign Ministers of Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Oman and also US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, sharing India's concerns about the escalation of tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Jaishankar told all the key players that India had high stakes in the stability and peace of the Gulf.

On Monday, Prime Minister Modi, after wishing Trump "good health, prosperity and success", talked about "the significant progress made in deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries in the previous year", the Ministry statement said.

It said that the Prime Minister stated that "India-US relations, which are built on trust, mutual respect and understanding, have grown from strength to strength".

Modi also "highlighted the significant progress made in deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries in the previous year and expressed his desire to continue to work with President Trump for enhancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest".

"President Trump wished the people of India prosperity and progress in the New Year. He expressed satisfaction at the achievements in the relationship in last few years and reiterated his readiness for further deepening bilateral cooperation," the statement added.
Appointment

7 January 2020

Fairmont Orchid, a luxury resort along the Kohala Coast of Hawai'i Island, is pleased to announce the appointment of Charles Head as General Manager as of December 13, 2019. Charles will oversee all operational, financial and strategic aspects of the 540-room luxury resort.

Bringing over 30 years of luxury hospitality experience to this position, Charles joins Fairmont Orchid from his most recent role as General Manager at Claremont Club & Spa, a Fairmont Hotel, a position he held since 2017. Charles was also General Manager of Fairmont Kea Lani from 2010-2017 and during his tenure at the all-suite and villa resort, the property was named Fairmont Hotels & Resorts' 2015 North America Hotel of the Year. Prior to assuming his role at Fairmont Kea Lani, Charles held the position of General Manager at Fairmont St. Andrews, Scotland. Charles also held executive-level positions with Fairmont Winnipeg, Fairmont Orchid and Fairmont Empress. He joined Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in 1996 at Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Charles participated in the Hotel and Restaurant Administration Program from Camosun College, Victoria. He and his wife, Lisa, reside on Hawai'i Island with their two golden retrievers, Koa and Kai.
[January 06, 2020] Velodyne Lidar Announces Anand Gopalan as New CEO

Velodyne Lidar, Inc. today announced Anand Gopalan as its new CEO. Gopalan, who previously was Velodyne's CTO, assumes the position from Velodyne's legendary founder David Hall. Hall will continue as full-time Chairman of the Board and remain actively involved in directing the company's technology, product vision and business strategy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200106006044/en/ Velodyne Lidar, Inc. announced Anand Gopalan as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). (Photo: Velodyne Lidar) Gopalan is a distinguished engineer and technology executive with experience building and leading worldwide engineering organizations. He came to Velodyne in 2016 to form an advanced research and development team. Gopalan leads Velodyne's customer-focused technology and product development teams to address market needs for lidar solutions designed for high performance, cost optimization and high-volume production. Over the past three years, Gopalan has worked closely with Hall to develop the company's technological roadmap and strategic vision. Gopalan is recognized across the industry as a thought leader in business as well as in technology. Recently, Gopalan became more active as a spokesman for the company, expertly explaining the benefits and the workings of lidar to audiences around the world. It is the policy of Velodyne to promote from within the company and Gopalan was a natural choice, havingproved himself in 2019.



Gopalan and the Velodyne team look forward to building on the company's growth trajectory. Due to the breadth and versatility of the Velodyne lidar portfolio, the company continues to make revolutionary contributions to the ever-expanding autonomous industry. Velodyne is a recognized leader in a wide range of markets including automotive, mapping, on-demand mobility, robotics, security, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and more. Under Gopalan's leadership alongside Hall, Velodyne brought to market a series of breakthrough lidar products, including the Alpha Prime, Velarray, VelaDome and a new game-changing lidar sensor, soon to be used for powerful Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Due to its low cost, this sensor will advance automotive safety for the everyday car owner. At CES (News - Alert) 2020, Velodyne will unveil the new lidar sensor and Gopalan will discuss his vision for the company at a press conference in the Velodyne booth #7520 on Tuesday, January 7, at 11:00 a.m. PST.

David Hall invented groundbreaking 3D lidar sensor technology in 2005 which set the stage for revolutionizing the automobile industry and was the foundation for Velodyne's market leadership. The idea of leveraging lidar technology for autonomous driving came to Hall while participating in the DARPA Grand Challenge for autonomous vehicles. Holding more than 30 U.S. patents, Hall is a technology visionary and serial inventor covering a variety of applications, including lidar, audio and marine. The Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation presented Hall with its 2018 Inventor of the Year Award. "Anand Gopalan and I have worked side-by-side on Velodyne's technology roadmap. He is the right executive to lead Velodyne in its next growth phase," said Hall. "His finger is on the pulse of customer and market needs while possessing the technical brilliance and leadership skills to innovate and deliver. As Chairman, Anand has my full support while I continue to provide vision, strategize and invent." "David Hall is more than the founder of Velodyne, he is also the founder of our industry. I am grateful for the trust he has placed in me and excited to lead a company with such a deep history in innovation as Velodyne. We are the forefront of our market, ready to drive the age of autonomy. Velodyne is bringing improved mobility and safety through versatility, responsiveness and agility," said Gopalan. Elevating Gopalan to CEO will enhance the leadership team at Velodyne Lidar, running day-to-day business as the company addresses U.S. and global market opportunities. Gopalan and Hall will continue to be supported by a strong bench of Velodyne executive C-staff, including Marta Hall, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Rick Tewell, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mike Jellen, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Drew Hamer, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Barbara Rogan, General Counsel, and Mircea Gradu, Senior Vice President of Product and Quality. About Velodyne Lidar Velodyne provides smart, powerful lidar solutions for autonomy and driver assistance. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Velodyne is known worldwide for its portfolio of breakthrough lidar sensor technologies. Velodyne's Founder, David Hall, invented real-time surround view lidar systems in 2005 as part of Velodyne Acoustics. Mr. Hall's invention revolutionized perception and autonomy for automotive, new mobility, mapping, robotics, and security. Velodyne's high-performance product line includes a broad range of sensing solutions, including the cost-effective Puck, the versatile Ultra Puck, the autonomy-advancing Alpha Prime, the ADAS-optimized Velarray and the groundbreaking software for driver assistance, Vella. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200106006044/en/

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A special court in Chennai on January 7 dismissed a discharge petition filed by Congress MP Karti Chidambaram and his wife Srinidhi in connection with a tax evasion case. When the plea came up, Special Court for MLAs and MPs judge D Lingeshwaran found merit in the evidence submitted by the prosecution and dismissed it.

The judge then ordered the prosecution to go ahead with the framing of charges and sought both the accused to be present in the court on January 21. He also said warrants would be issued if both failed to appear during next hearing.

The matter relates to the alleged non-disclosure of Rs 1.35 crore received by Karti Chidambaram, son of former union minister P Chidambaram, and his wife in cash for sale of land in Muttukadu near Chennai.

The petitioners submitted that the transaction was completed and returns of income were filed in 2015 when Karti was not a member of Parliament.

The deputy director of income tax Investigation, Chennai, had filed a complaint on September 12, 2018 against the petitioners before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court-II (Economic Offences) for offences under sections 276c(1) and 277 of the I-T Act.

The case was later transferred to the special court. During the hearing, the I-T department submitted that Karti received Rs 6.38 crore in cash while his wife received Rs 1.35 crore in cash for the sale of land near Muttukadu. It was alleged that Karti's mom Nalini Chidambaram received the payment in the form of cheque while their son and his wife received cash.

During a joint search conducted by officials from the IT department and Enforcement Directorate in connection with the case of Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd, on December 1, 2015, the department found several electronic materials related to the transaction of money, which was all seized. The department had submitted the entire devices and data to the court.
New Delhi: BJP president Amit Shah on Monday said that over 52 lakh missed calls from verifiable phone numbers have been received on a special number in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

"52,72,000 missed calls have been received on a special number in support of Citizenship Amendment Act from verifiable phone numbers, total 68 lakh calls have been received," Shah said.

The BJP had on Friday launched a campaign with a toll-free number that provides the facility to common people to give missed calls to register their support for the citizenship law.

"This campaign is aimed to do away with misgivings about the CAA. People can give a missed call to toll-free number 8866288662 and extend their support to the new law," BJP leader Anil Jain had said.

The party is also carrying out a 'door-to-door' reach-out campaign to explain the provisions of the citizenship law to the masses.
The targeted killing of General Qassem Soleimani by the United States was a back-breaking military and political blow to the clergy-dominated Iran, but the Islamic Republic is using his funeral to inject fresh blood into its propaganda machine by presenting him as a legendary heroic figure, a martyr.

For more than three decades the Islamic Republic has been promoting the Revolutionary Guard generals for their role in the Iran-Iraq war, advancing legendary stories about their heroism. But the propaganda campaign promoting their mind-boggling roles in the deadly eight-year war (1980-88) had become frayed and tedious. Almost nobody in Iran cares anymore about the battles fought more than three decades ago. Soleimanis targeted killing, however, created a chance for Tehran's propaganda machine to rev up its engine, hoping to recover the lost popularity of war heroes.

Presenting Soleimani as an imaginary knight immune to corruption started long before his fall in the U.S. airstrike in Baghdad. The Islamic Republic had somehow succeeded in giving Soleimani an aura that is traditionally reserved for mythical heroes and saints.

The reason behind the success was the fact that appearing humble and behaving like the man in the street is highly appreciated in Iranian society. And Soleimani indeed behaved like ordinary people, casting his image as a man devoid of any arrogance. He knew how the image he was presenting of himself helped him advance his goals.

He did interfere in political affairs behind the scenes but made sure not to leave any trace of his meddling, therefore, many Iranians were not aware of his interventions in politics.

Furthermore, besides some exceptional cases, he tried to keep a balanced relationship with all political factions in the Islamic Republic. Still, he made sure to stay away from political in-fighting and avoid political labels  reformist or conservative.

Meanwhile, being an Iran-Iraq war veteran, Soleimani was highly popular among the younger generation of IRGC members.

In the meantime, the Islamic Republic was quietly inundating people with stunning stories about Soleimani's military capabilities as a mythical commander who could also infiltrate the enemies' camp and safely return.

Based on one of these legends, Soleimani had attended a Friday prayer ceremony led by Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the notorious leader of the Islamic State group to weigh the forces loyal to the so-called Islamic Caliphate, in person.

Another aspect of Soleimani's popularity was based on the propaganda that presented him as a corruption-free character.

In Iran, as a rule, all public figures are in one way or another linked with corruption. Therefore, the exceptions are highly revered.

Nevertheless, Soleimani also had his share in at least two cases related to widely spread financial corruption in Iran.



Former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Soleimani early last year of mediating for the release of the Islamic Republic VP's brother, arrested for financial corruption.

In several letters addressed to Soleimani, the outspoken former president also indirectly accused him of pocketing $3.9 million intended for distribution among several leaders of African countries.

In the March 2018 letter, Ahmadinejad threatened to expose the details of a financial incident that created a dispute involving his former Deputy, Hamid Baqaei (Baghaei), and Soleimani.

"You are investing so much effort into an unjustified war in Syria and other places, so why are you silent when it comes to a bigger injustice occurring in your country?" Ahmadinejad demanded in one of the letters.

A court convicted Baqaei of receiving the sum of 3.5 million ($3.9 million) from Soleimani as the Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' Qods Force, in charge of Iran's extraterritorial military operations. The funds were intended for distribution among several leaders of the countries in Africa. Still, the court sentenced Baqaei to long-term prison for having made inappropriate use of the money.

Baghaei has repeatedly denied receiving the money.

Nonetheless, as media in Iran are officially banned from publishing stories related to Ahmadinejad and his close allies, the case against Soleimani was never publicized, and it is not yet clear who pocketed the missing euros.

In recent years two factors helped pave the way for presenting Soleimani as an invulnerable commander fighting to keep a brutal enemy outside Iran and demolish it: His involvement in the fight against ISIS and the aura of fame he gained in the West and among his enemies. When foreign media wrote about Soleimani, this was presented to Iranian audience as proof of his impoirtance.

Commander of United States Central Command (2008-10), the retired general and former CIA director, David Petraeus played a pivotal role in presenting Soleimani as an exceptional military figure.

"What I will say is that he is [a] very capable and resourceful individual, a worthy adversary. He has played his hand well," Petraeus told Washington Post, March 20, 2015. "But this is a long game, so let's see how events transpire."
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

PATNA: The BJP seems to have finally gone into poll mode in Bihar with a galaxy of top leaders from the party including Union Home Minister Amit Shah scheduled to visit the state from January 7 to 16 to address a series of public meetings on the CAA. The meetings have been finalised to raise awareness about the contentious legislation.

Party sources said that MP Sanjay Seth will be the first prominent leader to address a public meeting at Nawada on January 7 while Jayant Sinha will address another public meeting at Ara on January 9.

Dr Nikhil Anand, spokesperson of the BJP in Bihar, said, "The national vice president Prabhat Jha will also address two public meetings on January 9 in Darbhanga and Madhubani while former CM of Jharkhand Raghubar Das will address a public meeting in Nalanda on January 10 and CP Singh in Banka on January 10."

He said that the BJP has launched public campaigns in order to expose the opposition's nefarious designs on the CAA through which the people are being misled and a fear psychosis created among the people of a particular community.

"Besides them, Union minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai on January 11 in Motihari and the next day in Bettiah and UP CM Yogi Adityanath on January 14 in Gaya would be addressing public meetings on the CAA," he said. Yogi will be accompanied by Bihar's deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to address a mammoth public meeting in Vaishali district on CAA on January 16, near the historic ruins of the erstwhile Lichhavi dynasty, which was one of the first in the world to propound the concept of democracy.

Local observers say the series of public meetings is a poll strategy to counter those who oppose the CAA, NRC and NPR and allay apprehensions among the minorities.

"The BJP may not be admitting the fact on record but the party has geared up its political strategies into poll mode and launched a campaign as a prelude to the polls to be held later this year," said Dr RK Verma, a political analyst associated with the Bihar chapter of the institute of public administration.

On Monday, deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, addressing a public meeting in Gaya, said that Muslims in the state need not worry about the rumours created by the Congress and its allies in the state over the CAA, NPA or NRC.

Meanwhile, the dates of the first phase of the census in Bihar have been announced.

According to official sources in the PIB, the first phase of the census will be from May 15 to June 28 in 2020 and the second phase from February 9 to 20 in 2021.
Homeowners who flood do not just deal with the physical damage. They often also are hit with paying full property tax rates afterward, but a new law might give them some relief.

Texas Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, discussed House Bill 492 and how it will affect future disaster victims in the Houston area and across the state. The bill became Prop. 3, which voters approved as a constitutional amendment in November 2019 with by an overwhelming 85 percent margin.

Nothing makes taxpayers madder than paying full value on a home that was destroyed in a flood, said Bettencourt, giving the example of Hurricane Harvey, when those living upstream of Addicks Barker Reservoir flooded, followed by homeowners downstream when it was released.

He said the largest town hall meeting he had ever seen brought out about 1,400 people at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, concerned about their homes and the situation. About 95 percent of them had never flooded prior to Harvey, a survey at the meeting showed. If someone had a $200,000 home on top of their land value, they would be paying $5,000 in taxes in January, even if their home was not livable or was going to demolished, Bettencourt said.

After Harvey, some appraisal districts gave exemptions for damaged or destroyed homes, but others did not. House Bill 492 requires all appraisal districts to make an ad volorem (based on the proportion of property affected) exemption after a disaster declared by the governor.

To use Harvey as an example for how the new law works, Bettencourt said a homeowner that had total damage would have seen a 35 percent exemption on their taxes for that year because Harvey happened 65 percent of the way through the year. A homeowner that has less damage will receive a prorated amount of the 35 percent reduction. The exemption will end with that year.

Bettencourt said for the most part, the issue comes down to timing because hurricanes and tornadoes tend to happen in the summer or late summer, and tax rates have already been set in appraisal districts. He said the state needed a constitutional amendment to open up the code to say if you if you have a disaster, let the appraisal district do, you know, pick one of the four classes (of levels of damage) and then apply the exemption to do it automatically.

He said the new process will make it simpler for appraisal districts to get property tax relief to the people that have had the worst damage and are in the worst despair. By the next calendar year, Bettencourt said, a reappraisal would have seen the damage that was done and give a lesser assessed value.

Bettencourt said that in terms of property values, at least, he is impressed with how well the Houston area has bounced back from the storm.

Harvey may be the biggest natural disaster weve seen in our lifetimes, but the recovery from it is effectively complete. Just two years, you know, effectively two years as a rearview mirror, Bettencourt said. It was astonishing how fast we blew past that storm from a property value perspective. Not from the tragedy, you know, whether its peoples lives being disrupted or loss of life. Its amazing how fast we moved past the property damage.

Some homes in the Bellaire and Meyerland areas were hit hard not just by Harvey but by other storms like the Tax Day and Memorial Day floods. Bellaire Chief Financial Officer Terrence Beaman said time will tell how the new law will affect homeowners facing the terrible consequences of a disaster.

Those affected by a disaster may benefit by paying less in property taxes as a result of a temporary reduction in the assessed value, which may result in a lower amount of property taxes to be paid, Beaman said. But as stated by the new law, it is based on the assessed damage, which is unpredictable at this time.

tracy.maness@hcnonline.com
Actress defends

apology to Iran

Rose McGowans tweet that apologized on behalf of the U.S. to Iran for disrespecting their flag and people in the wake of an airstrike that killed the countrys top general was not anti-American, the actress said in the face of harsh criticism.

I dont support Iran over America. I want America to be better, McGowan said during an interview with The Associated Press.

Her tweet read: Dear #Iran, The USA has disrespected your country, your flag, your people. 52% of us humbly apologize. We want peace with your nation. We are being held hostage by a terrorist regime. We do not know how to escape. Please do not kill us.

The head of Irans elite Quds force and mastermind of its regional security strategy, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, was killed in a U.S. airstrike early Friday. The attack has caused regional tensions to soar.

She faced outrage over the Twitter post, with some suggesting she move to Iran. McGowan acknowledged that her tweet was unusual.

McGowan, 46, who is known for her role in the Scream movie franchise, was one of the earliest of dozens of women to accuse Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, making her a major figure in the #MeToo movement.

Diaz announce

daughters birth

Cameron Diaz is starting the new decade with a very important role: mommy.

The actress and her musician husband, Benji Madden, announced the birth of a daughter theyve named Raddix.

We are so happy, blessed and grateful to begin this new decade by announcing the birth of our daughter, Diaz wrote on Instagram. She has instantly captured our hearts and completed our family.

But dont expect a photo of the baby. Diaz wrote that while she and Madden are overjoyed to share this news they also feel a strong instinct to protect our little ones privacy. The Instagram post had no image attached.

We wont be posting pictures or sharing any more details, other than the fact that she is really really cute! Some would even say RAD, Diaz wrote.

Diaz, whose films include Theres Something About Mary and Bad Teacher, married Madden, a member of the band Good Charlotte, in early 2015.

Both parents posted the identical message on Instagram.

 Associated Press
Heritage Victoria has warned Central Pier in Docklands - which is more than 100 years old - cannot be demolished without a permit because it is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

And Melbourne City councillor Jackie Watts has called for staunch and urgent advocacy to halt the unjustifiable decision to demolish the historic wooden pier, which she says is the crown jewel of Victoria Harbour.

Development Victoria has announced the historic Central Pier in Docklands will be demolished. Credit:Tash Sorensen

More than 1000 jobs will be lost after Development Victoria made the shock announcement last week it would demolish Central Pier - which housed function spaces, offices and restaurants - due to safety concerns.

It said despite $7 million being spent on repair works over the past three years, the rate of deterioration to the piles that support the pier is accelerating due to rot, marine borer and termite attacks.
A local militant was killed on Tuesday in an encounter with security forces in Awantipora area of south Kashmir, police said.

The security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Churswoo village of Awantipora in the early hours of Tuesday following a information about the presence of the militant there, they said.

The militant been identified as Shahid, a resident of Bijbehara area of Anantnag district, the police said.

He was asked to surrender by the security forces but he chose to engage them in a gunbattle, they said, adding that the ultra was killed after a brief exchange of fire.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
We tried the American-made cheese named the world's best for 1st time originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com

For the first time in American cheese history, an Oregon-made blue was named the world's best.

Rogue River Blue was named World Champion Cheese at the 32nd annual World Cheese Awards in October in Italy.

"I was just filled with excitement and also just so awestruck," said cheesemaker and president of Rogue Creamery David Gremmels, when he heard the news that his cheese won. "I just had to sit down in the field with my cows and just take it all in."

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Rogue River Blue Cheese was named the world's best among 3,800 entries. Previous winners hail most recently from Norway, the U.K., Switzerland, and France, which has long been associated with prize-winning fromage.

"The whole world was turned on its rind [that day]," Gremmels said.

PHOTO: Rogue River Blue Cheese was named the world's best cheese in 2019 at the 32nd annual World Cheese Awards. (Beryl Striewski for Rogue Creamery)

Rogue Creamery makes the cheese in Central Point, Oregon, at a historic creamery, which has been practicing artisanal cheesemaking since 1933.

(MORE: Boost your immune system with these power spice recipes)

The cheese is made by hand from cow's milk.

"Rogue River Blue ticked all the boxes with our judging panel this year, delivering complexity, subtlety and a true sense of terroir," managing director John Farrand of the Guild of Fine Food, which organizes the awards, told "GMA."

"Our first American champion has really captured imaginations and sales have gone through the roof worldwide, with avid cheese lovers hunting down wedges and snapping them up as soon as they hit the deli counters," Farrand wrote.

Gremmels said he created the recipe in 2002 when he bought the creamery, and that it was the region which inspired the flavor.

PHOTO: President of Rogue Creamery David Gremmels with the cows at his creamery. (Beryl Striewski for Rogue Creamery)

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The blue cheese is organic and cave-aged for nine to 11 months.

Story continues

"I only produce it when my cows are eating luscious grasses, clover and a variety of greenery," Gremmels said.

He begins creating the cheese every September, and said that produces a "focused autumnal flavor."

Gremmels described the blue as rich and creamy, but also, spicy, peppery and holding fruit notes of the organic Syrah grape leaves that wrap the cheese's wheel.

Cost varies depending on location, but Gremmels said he's seen it from $42 a pound to about $70 a pound retail.

Although Gremmels will continue making the cheese, he said he would put it to rest from competition in order to "make room for other innovative cheeses that are being entered."
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tokyo in December 2019. Tokyo and Tehran have longstanding ties and Abe is hoping to help ease regional tensions with his trip to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE AFP/Du Xiaoyi

Abe "will make the trip from the 12th to 15th," a spokesman from the prime minister's Liberal Democratic Party told AFP.

The prime minister announced the details of the visit during a meeting with party executives.

"I'm deeply concerned about the tensions in the Middle East," he said, according to public broadcaster NHK.

"I hope to contribute to peace and stability in the region through diplomatic efforts to ease tensions."

The US assassination of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani last week has raised fears of an all-out conflict, with President Donald Trump threatening "major retaliation" if Tehran makes good on a pledge to avenge the killing.

Abe has in recent months tried to carve out a role as mediator between Japan's US ally and Iran, with which Tokyo has longstanding ties.

Tokyo and Tehran have maintained diplomatic relations for decades, even through the crisis with the West sparked by Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution and subsequent frictions over its nuclear programme.

In June, as tensions rose over Trump's decision to withdraw from a nuclear deal with Tehran, Abe visited Iran for talks with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani.

But his visit coincided with a suspected attack on two oil tankers in the Sea of Oman, off the Iranian coast, which again sent tensions in the Gulf soaring.

And Khamenei categorically ruled out talks with Trump despite Abe's efforts to smooth a path.

Abe later met Rouhani on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, and in December welcomed the Iranian leader to Japan - the first visit by an Iranian head of state in two decades.

Japan has walked a fine line in balancing its key alliance with Washington and its longstanding relations and interests with Iran.

It was formerly a major buyer of Iranian crude but stopped purchases to comply with US sanctions imposed after Washington unilaterally quit the nuclear deal in May 2018.
Pakistans Parliament has narrowly passed a bill that will allow the exchange of information and of criminals with countries - to meet a requirement of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). There was stiff resistance to the passage of the bill from the Opposition where the parliamentary leader of the main Opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Khwaja Asif, said that by approving the bill, they would be surrendering the countrys sovereignty.

He told the House that efforts were being made by international financial institutions to colonise countries like Pakistan which were financially dependent on them. Please do not rush the bill to meet someones deadline. Let us debate the matter, he said.

Pakistan Peoples Partys (PPP) Abdul Qadir Patel claimed that there was a clause in the bill which allowed the government to hand over individuals to countries even without demand. Another vocal PPP leader and member of Pakistans National Assembly (lower House of Parliament) Shazia Marri pointed out some drastic spelling mistakes in the draft, saying this showed that the bill was being passed in haste.

Besides the parliamentary affairs minister, newly-appointed Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar and Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry defended the bill and criticised the Opposition for creating unnecessary hurdles in the way of the passage of such an important legislation.

Meanwhile, in a related development, a senior official said that Pakistan hoped to win a largely-compliant rating from the FATF on the implementation of its 27 action points, which might help the government get more time from the watchdog for full compliance.

For the February plenary meeting of the FATF our target is to be largely compliant on most of the action points, Director General of Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) Mansoor Siddiqui told a parliamentary panel.

Siddiqui was speaking during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, which was convened to approve amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Act and the Foreign Exchange Regulations Act.

Siddiquis statement comes two days before the submission of Pakistans last progress report on the implementation of the FATF Action Plan to the Joint Group of the FATF. Pakistan and the Joint Group will meet in Beijing on January 21 and 22, Siddiqui said.
[January 07, 2020] Walton Acquires 245-acre Lee Farms Property in Loveland, Colo.

Walton Global Holdings Ltd. and its affiliates (collectively Walton), a real estate investment and land asset company with US$3.8 billion under management and administration, has acquired the 245-acre Lee Farms property located at 4300 Wilson Ave. in Loveland, Colo. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005268/en/ The 245-acre Lee Farms property in Loveland, Colo. is slated for a single-family residential master planned community of approximately 900 units. (Graphic: Business Wire) The pre-developed land is slated for a single-family residential master planned community of approximately 900 units, offering a variety of sizes and types of homesites. The parcel is located within close proximity to existing and actively selling new-home communities of Meadowbrook Ridge, Mariana Butte and The Lakes at Centerra. The property was acquired from The True Life Companies and the Lee Family. Located 14 minutes from Fort Collins, Colo., home to Colorado State University, the Loveland region boasts a strong economy featuring dozens of innovative businesses from tech start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, low unemployment, and a steady ppulation growth that is driving demand for residential construction.



Brett Limbaugh, Director of Development Services for the City of Loveland believes this is a good time to take advantage of the current market conditions stating, "We are excited to work with Walton on moving the Lee Farms development forward and seeing additional growth in the market area." Concurrent to the purchase of the Lee Farms property, Walton has secured interest from a top publicly-traded homebuilder with plans to begin development of the land in 2020. Negotiations are underway with an Exit Focused Letter of Intent that affords the builder a first right of refusal for a phased procurement of the property. It is anticipated the land will be developed in multiple phases, providing distributions to investors as the builder sells homes.

The Loveland, Colo. land acquisition adds to Walton's 85,000-acre portfolio located across the United States, providing a scalable land acquisition platform to support homebuilders with just-in-time inventory management. Walton's approach is an innovative response to secular shifts in the land development industry, which is increasingly challenged to finance acquisition with debt. Walton recently announced its first Builder Option Land Development fund (the BOLD Fund), that provides homebuilders with a land acquisition opportunity to work alongside an international real estate investment and asset management company for securing a land pipeline with minor upfront capital contribution. "The benefits of working with national builders through these Exit Focused Agreements by holding land for future development, is opening up tremendous opportunities for Walton in all markets where we research and acquire land," said Barry Dluzen, Senior Vice President - Land of Walton Global Holdings. For over 40 years, Walton has researched, planned, and structured pre-development land investments located in the major growth corridors throughout the U.S. and Canada. The evolution of Walton has opened the door to offering new products, like the BOLD Fund, creating new opportunities for investors and homebuilders. About Walton Global Holdings Walton Global Holdings is a privately owned, leading global real estate investment, land asset management and administration company that has focused on strategically located land in major growth corridors for over 40 years. The company manages and administers US$3.8 billion of real estate assets in North America, on behalf of its investors and business partners. Walton has more than 106,000 acres of land under ownership, management and administration in the United States and Canada. For more information visit Walton.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005268/en/

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Appointment

7 January 2020

Hilton Surfers Paradise has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Max Houri to the pivotal role of Commercial Director.

Having commenced his career with Hilton in 2006, Mr. Houri will manage a diverse portfolio that encompasses sales, marketing and revenue management.

A graduate of multiple Hilton leadership programs, he is transferring from the companies New Zealand Cluster where he oversaw commercial teams at three diverse properties; Hilton Auckland, Hilton Lake Taupo and Chateau on the Park Christchurch, a DoubleTree by Hilton.

Born and bred in France, Mr. Houri started his career with Hilton as Assistant Executive Housekeeper and Guest Relations Manager at the Caledonian Hilton in Edinburgh, Scotland.

This was followed by a seven-year stint at Hilton Brisbane where he initially worked in operating departments before being promoted to commercial roles including Conference & Events Sales Manager and Revenue Manager (F&B).

Mr. Houri then transferred to New Zealand in 2017 where he worked as a Commercial Director and Assistant Director of Business Development before accepting the crucial Cluster role.

Mr. Houri has relocated to the Gold Coast with partner Sophia and their six-year-old daughter.
Paratroopers assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division walk as they prepare equipment and load aircraft bound for the U.S. Central Command area of operations

Spc. Hubert Delany III/U.S. Army via AP, File

Thousands of US Army paratroopers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, are deploying to the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran, and these soldiers have been instructed to leave their cellphones behind.

"This is not a standard deployment," a division spokesman told Insider, adding that these measures were being implemented to ensure operational security.

The paratroopers are deploying as part of the new Immediate Response Force, a kind of quick-reaction force equipped with higher-end capabilities.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The US is sending 3,500 Army paratroopers to the Middle East on a snap deployment as tensions with Iran soar, and they have been told to leave their cellphones and other personal electronic devices behind.

"This is not a standard deployment," Lt. Col. Mike Burns, a spokesman for the 82nd Airborne Division, said, telling Insider that the decision was made to protect operational security as troops with the division deploy for the first time as part of the new Immediate Response Force.

Burns told CNN the division would keep families in the loop and that call centers would at some point be set up for soldier phone calls.

"This is not the normal kind of deployment," Maj. Gen. James Mingus, the 82nd Airborne Division's commanding general, told the outlet. "The decision 100% an operational-security and force-protection measure."

Burns told Insider that the purpose was not only to protect sensitive information, like the troops' locations and identities, from getting out but also to guard soldiers from other threats, such as cyberattacks. "All of that falls under operational security. All the threats," he said. "All the threats fall under operational-security concerns."

The spokesman said that while the order was unusual, soldiers were understanding because they do not want to bring anything with them that could put them at risk or get them killed.

Story continues

Troops with the 82nd Airborne Division deployed from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait. Their final destination, however, is classified.

Paratroopers began deploying to the region amid a rise in tensions after Iranian-backed Iraqi militias attacked the US Embassy in Baghdad, a response to airstrikes on militia positions after a rocket attack that killed a US civilian contractor and wounded several American service members.

Seven hundred and fifty soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, deployed to Kuwait as Marines with a special crisis-response unit rushed in to reinforce the embassy.

Tensions have spiked in the wake of a drone strike last week on Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who commanded the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force. The US decided in the wake of that strike to send in the rest of the 1st Brigade Combat Team amid Iran's threats and warnings after the attack.

The US military has sent more than 15,000 troops to the Middle East in response to concerns about malign Iranian activities since May.

Read the original article on Business Insider
PHILADELPHIA and CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HKA, the world's leading construction claims and dispute resolution firm, announced today that Rick Moffat has joined the firm as Partner, based in its Calgary office. Moffat will be responsible for growing operations throughout Canada and establishing HKA's client base in Western Canada. He will also focus on growing operations in Detroit through prior client relationships.

"Canada is a major focus of growth for HKA in 2020," said Frank Giunta, HKA Partner and President of the Americas Group. "Rick's connections and market savvy in combination with the momentum we have built in Canada along with HKA Partner Lorna Tardif, will ensure that we capitalize on opportunities that the region offers," he added.

Moffat has more than 25 years of consulting experience in the construction industry including extensive experience in risk management, project management and dispute resolution services on industrial, infrastructure, commercial and institutional projects. He has testified as an expert in both the United States and Canada on issues such as delay analysis, change order impact and loss of productivity.

Previous to joining HKA, Moffat was a Managing Director at Berkeley Research Group. Prior to working in the consulting field, Moffat helped to establish the U.S. office of a large masonry and concrete company and was directly responsible for the contract risk assessment, scheduling, change processing and close out of all the company's projects. Moffat also spent 10 years working for an international general contracting and construction management firm. In that role, he served as project manager, scheduler and field engineer on a number of commercial, industrial and institutional projects, where he prepared, updated and analyzed CPM schedules for both construction schedule maintenance and claim assessment.

About HKA

HKA is one of the world's leading privately owned, independent providers of consulting, expert and advisory services for the construction, manufacturing, process and technology industries. We also have experience advising clients on the economic impact of commercial and investment treaty disputes and in forensic accounting matters.

In addition, HKA supports companies that conduct business with the US Federal Government, providing them with consulting services on complex government contracting matters.

As trusted independent consultants, experts and advisers, we deliver solutions amid uncertainty, dispute and overrun, and provide the insights that make the best possible outcomes a reality for public and private sector clients worldwide. HKA employs more than 1,000 professionals (including more than 500 experts) operating in 50 offices in 19 countries worldwide.

Contact

John Paolin

HKA

One Commerce Square

2005 Market Street, Suite 320

Philadelphia, PA 19103

267 831 2913

[email protected]

www.hka.com

SOURCE HKA

Related Links

http://www.hka.com


Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Bharat Bandh tomorrow: Heres what you need to know about trade, bank unions strike

Millions of workers belonging to 10 central trade unions will go on a strike on Wednesday against the governments disinvestment, privatisation and labour reform policies. The unions have said more than 250 million workers will participate in the Bharat Bandh to press for a 12-point common demand related to minimum wage and social security, among others.

Read more.

My daughter got justice: Delhi gang-rape victims mother hails courts execution order

The mother of Delhi gang-rape victim has hailed the verdict given by a Delhi court, saying her daughter has finally got justice. My daughter has got justice. Execution of the four convicts will empower the women of the country. This decision will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system, the womans mother Asha Devi said after the verdict.

Read more.

December 16 gang rape case: Evidence SC relied upon to uphold death penalty

In April 2016, the Supreme Court began hearing the pleas of the four men sentenced to death for raping a paramedic in a bus in Delhi on December 16, 2012 and a year later upheld the death sentence. The woman died of her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012. Here are the main evidence the apex court took into account to decide that Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh.deserved no leniency.

Read more.

Odisha to begin 45-day exercise to update NPR from mid-April

Amid countrywide protest over the Citizenship Amendment Act, the Odisha government plans to start the process of updating the National Population Register (NPR) as well as houselisting from April 16, a senior census official said Tuesday.

Read more.

Time to address Muslim anxieties | Opinion

Has India succeeded in addressing issues related to the Muslim minority, notwithstanding the entire array of constitutional rights and guarantees? An honest response has to be necessarily in the negative. Modis massive victories in 2014 and 2019 gave the clear message to the Muslim community that governments with an absolute majority could be formed without its vote.

Read more.

Black Sunday: Questions for Delhi Police, JNU VC | Opinion

The mayhem at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, engineered by a group of masked men on the evening of January 5, has grim portents for the future. It shows the Delhi Police in poor light, and the JNU administration in a state of pathetic ineptitude. It also reflects on the quality of politics played out in university campuses for petty gains.

Read more.

Deepika Padukone reaches JNU Sabarmati T-point, expresses solidarity with students

Actor Deepika Padukone reached the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday evening to show solidarity with students protesting recent violence on the campus. She was spotted standing with the students at the Sabarmati T-point.

Read more.

WATCH | Virat Kohli copies Harbhajan Singhs bowling action to perfection in Indore

India skipper Virat Kohli copied out-of-favour spinner Harbhajan Singhs bowling action to perfection before the start of play in the second T20I against Sri Lanka at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Tuesday.

Read more.
[January 07, 2020] Receivables and Treasury SaaS Leader HighRadius Achieves Unicorn Status with $125 Million Series B Investment

HighRadius, the leader in Artificial Intelligence-powered Order-to-Cash and Treasury Management software, has raised $125 million in a Series B growth funding round led by ICONIQ Capital, with participation from existing investors Susquehanna Growth Equity and Citi Ventures. The new capital will be used to accelerate HighRadius' continuing platform development and expansion of the company's geographic reach. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005554/en/ HighRadius is headquartered in Houston, Texas and is trusted by more than 400 clients including more than 200 of the Forbes Global 2000. The HighRadius integrated platform for accounts receivables and treasury management leverages native AI capabilities to help companies optimize working capital. The HighRadius platform includes: Rivana AI engine with machine learning algorithms trained on over $1 trillion in receivables per annum to automate routine tasks and provide insights such as predicting invoice payment dates.

Autonomous Receivables, an industry-first enterprise software-with a touch and voice user interface powered by the Freeda Digital Assistant-that brings the first 'human + machine' real-time interaction experience to corporate users.

AI-powered cash forecasting to fundamentally shift treasurers away from sub-optimal financing decisions made due to a lack of confidence in current excel-based heuristic models.



"We're thrilled to support HighRadius' efforts to bring innovative AI capabilities to the financial side of the enterprise," said Will Griffith, Partner at ICONIQ Capital. "As we have seen in many of our portfolio companies and past investments, including BlackLine and Coupa, digital transformation is increasingly a CFO priority. The HighRadius platform is game-changing for CFOs and finance departments, and the company has earned tremendous customer loyalty by enabling receivables and treasury teams to perform more efficiently and effectively, and by delivering mission-critical ROI. HighRadius fits squarely into our commitment to invest in best-in-class, long-term technology businesses driven by incredible teams, and we look forward to working alongside Sashi and the rest of the HighRadius team through their next phase of growth."

HighRadius was advised by Atlas Technology Group for this transaction. About HighRadius Corporation HighRadius is a fintech enterprise SaaS (News - Alert) which automates Accounts Receivable and Treasury processes with AI-based Autonomous Systems. The HighRadius Integrated Receivables platform reduces cycle times in your order-to-cash process through automation of receivables and payments processes across credit, electronic billing and payment processing, cash application, deductions, and collections. HighRadius Treasury Management Applications help teams achieve touchless cash management, accurate cash forecasting and seamless bank reconciliation. Powered by the Rivana Artificial Intelligence Engine and Freeda Digital Assistant for order-to-cash teams, HighRadius enables teams to leverage machine learning to predict future outcomes and automate routine labor-intensive tasks. To learn more, please visit www.highradius.com. About ICONIQ Capital ICONIQ Capital is a privately-held financial advisory and investment firm, and a partner of choice for exceptional entrepreneurs, leaders and institutions around the world. The firm invests in technology growth equity, middle market buyout and real estate asset classes and employs a distinctive ecosystem to build enduring businesses. ICONIQ is a trusted advisor fostering meaningful strategic relationships across industries to source powerful ideas, magnify global impact and support a new generation of entrepreneurs and companies. For a full list of investments made by ICONIQ Growth, an affiliate of ICONIQ Capital, please visit here. About Susquehanna Growth Equity Susquehanna Growth Equity, LLC (SGE) invests in growth stage technology companies in the software, information services, internet and financial technology sectors. SGE is backed by a unique and patient source of capital, which enables the firm to give management teams and entrepreneurs freedom and flexibility to maximize growth. The firm has invested in over 50 companies globally over the last 13 years. To learn more, please visit www.sgep.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005554/en/

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The largest union in the United States, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), recently came out swinging against the new North American Trade agreement  a sobering reminder that Canadas struggles in the U.S are far from over.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

The largest union in the United States, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), recently came out swinging against the new North American Trade agreement  a sobering reminder that Canadas struggles in the U.S are far from over.

In the wake of the U.S. ratification of the North American trade pact, the union put out a news release. The statement was not a surprise; its target, however, was.

The UFCWs criticism focused squarely on Canadian ranchers. Specifically, the union lamented the absence of Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) requirements from the trade deal. "A trade agreement without COOL is terrible for sustainable jobs and food safety." And, if there was any doubt that the UFCW was talking about one type of food in particular, the press release adds, "Keeping this information hidden endangers our health and destroys middle class meat processing jobs across our country."

For the Canadian beef industry  which fought hard against COOL legislation and in fact reported losses of $640 million per year the last time the Americans imposed the labelling requirements before they were repealed in 2015  this issue is anything but small.

Its not clear whether COOL will indeed come back; its absence from the new North American deal is a victory of sorts for western Canadian agriculture producers. What is clear is that powerful and varied interests in the U.S. such as the UFCW will not stop pushing for it. For COOL and other challenges on the agriculture front, industry, provincial and federal government officials have to keep in place the staff, money and other resources that were put in place to push for the new North American trade agreement.

Taking the foot off the gas or worse, cutting or moving resources to other markets, is a huge mistake. The cost of digging out from under the last time COOL was imposed, the unions renewed advocacy that has opened a new front on that war, and the daily difficulties of dealing with the Trump administration all make the case for proactive engagement  and footing the associated bill.

The new agreement is still important and a victory for Canada. For the day-to-day flow of goods across the border, it provides relative certainty, including that there are rules governing the trade, and recourse if there are problems. But the key phrase is "relative," not absolute, certainty. For sectors such as beef or the grain trade, where there have been long-simmering issues, a new agreement is not enough.

Canada now has to spend the same time, effort and money to ward this off, including regular meetings with state legislators and government officials to build trust, confidence and familiarity. Very little of this will have immediate payoff, but in the long run is critical.

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This extra work with  and travel to  the United States will likely seem unfamiliar as Canada has traditionally benefited from a globally unprecedented and abnormal level of access and lack of friction with the U.S. But that is looking backward. Recent history, and such issues as national security tariffs on steel and aluminum and uranium and autos, demonstrate those days are past and we need to look ahead and prepare.

This type of spending is the new cost of doing business in the U.S., where Canada sends 75 per cent of its overall exports and 54 per cent of its agricultural exports.

Export Development Canada, which is regarded as a resource for entering and developing markets, has opened offices in the U.S. The government of Alberta has opened a foreign office in Houston, and western provincial governments are investing time and attention with trips to the U.S. and hosting U.S. state meetings in Canada.

But to stay the course, they need more vocal support from those who most need and benefit from proactive engagement and who, as with COOL, stand to suffer the most when it is missing.

Thanks to the latest salvos from UFCW, Canadian agriculture and, in particular, individual farmers have a clear reminder they, too, need to stand up and make their voices heard.

Carlo Dade is the director of the Trade & Investment Centre at the Canada West Foundation.
In an effort to appear less sectarian, the opposition is looking to name Alawite opposition member Nibras al-Fadel as the head of the opposition delegation to the Constitutional Committee writes Jisr.

Jisr has learned that there is an attempt to replace the head of the Constitutional Committee for the Syrian opposition, Hadi al-Bahra, with Nibras al-Fadel, who was recently appointed to the Negotiations Committee as a representative for independents.

A source in the Syrian opposition said that the appointment of the Alawite opposition member came in response to the loyalists appointing the Sunni Ahmed al-Kuzbari as head of the regime delegation, to prove that the Syrian opposition is not sectarian or monochromatic, as the regime claims. Another opposition source said that the Moscow platform would strongly push to approve this change in the committee.

The sources added that the measures to carry out these changes have not yet been set, but that it is expected that there will be a meeting of the members of the Negotiations Committee, during which new elections will be held. It is expected that Bahra will be transferred to the position of head of the High Negotiations Committee and that Fadel will be appointed head of the Constitutional Committee, while the former head of the Negotiations Committee, Nasr al-Hariri, will recede from the scene entirely.

Fadel is from al-Draykish in the Tartous province and before the Syrian revolution worked as an adviser to Bashar al-Assad, as well as managing a number of advisory institutions. With the outbreak of the revolution, he took an opposition stance and joined a number of Syrian opposition bodies.

He is the son of Mohamed al-Fadel, a justice minister who was assassinated on Feb. 22, 1977, with it claimed at the time that the Muslim Brotherhood was behind the operation, however there were also rumors that the Assad regime had him killed.

The Constitutional Committees work has stopped since the Assad regime delegation withdrew from the meetings on the third day of the committee, with Kuzbari accusing the opposition delegation of intransigence and insisting on imposing conditions before starting Constitutional Committee negotiations.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Accenture Solutions managing director on Tuesday said he "never agreed to speak at or attend" an RSS organised event next month in the city, as the organisers removed his name from the invite which drew flak from a section of twitterati over his participation.

Accenture Solutions Managing Director and Head of Chennai operations, Rama S Ramachandran was slated to be Guest of Honour at the event.

The organisers removed his name from the invite on Tuesday with the RSS Chennai website displaying the latest programme schedule.

The invite, which went viral on Monday, said the event 'Resurgent Bharath', is planned to be held here on February 2 by the IT wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Chennai.

RSS chief, All India Public Outreach, Anirudha Deshpande, is expected to deliver the keynote address that day and Zoho Corporation founder Sridhar Vembu, the chief guest.

In a tweet, Ramachandran said "I am not sure how this misunderstanding happened, but I have no affiliation with this group and never agreed to speak at or attend this event."



As several Twitter users vented their anger over their participation, Vembu had responded to the comments saying, "I don't decide my views based on Twitter attacks. If you dislike which events I attend, please do what your conscience dictates and I will do what mine dictates".

"We earn our daily bread due to our work and we will continue to do quality work. I won't be responding to attacks," he said.

Some of the comments posted by Twitter users were, "Sridhar Vembu, Chairman of India's @zoho flaunts his association with the Nazi-inspired fascist RSS, whose aim is to make minorities second class citizens and is currently going a rampage at Universities and against critics of the regime #BoycottZoho.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Debris from a collapsed wall of a building litters the ground after an earthquake struck Puerto Rico before dawn, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) Read more

The earthquake that hit Puerto Rico before dawn Tuesday left a crack in the wall of the house where Camden City Council Member Felisha Reyes-Mortons mother has lived for years. Elsewhere in Santa Isabel, on the islands southern coast, other family members are without power, relying on spotty WiFi connections for information on social media.

People are confused, said Reyes-Morton, who has aunts, cousins, grandparents, and other relatives living within 25 miles of where the 6.4 magnitude quake hit. Its hard for the government to communicate at a time like this, with no electricity and damaged roads. There is fear and a lot of uncertainty.

As natural disasters have pummeled Puerto Rico, many have fled the island for Philadelphia, drawn by its relatively low cost of living and thriving Puerto Rican community. There were about 134,000 Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia as of 2017, nearly 50% more than two decades earlier. An additional 23,000 live in Camden, about a third of the citys population.

 READ MORE: 6.4 quake strikes Puerto Rico amid heavy seismic activity

Gladys Carrion, a middle school teacher at Julia de Burgos School in Philadelphias Fairhill section, has two adult sons living in Yabucoa, on the islands east coast. When she spoke with them a few hours after the quake on Tuesday, both said they were fine and urged her to keep calm. Shes still worried after aftershocks and other ripple effects.

I feel helpless with this situation, after all weve been through, she said.

Philadelphia City Councilmember Maria Quinones-Sanchez, who was born in Puerto Rico, had been planning a trip there this week to visit family. Her relatives are safe, she said. Meanwhile, she and others are starting to plan how to help with relief efforts. After Hurricane Maria in 2017, the local Latin American community joined with other groups like churches and synagogues to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, she said.

So many infrastructure problems still remain from past disasters, she said. The electric grid is still very fragile. A lot of things have been normalized; its not unusual to lose power or water. People are more nonchalant about it. That becomes oppressive day after day. Its very sad.

Vanessa Colon Almenas, a reporter for Puerto Ricos Centro de Periodismo Investigativo (Center for Investigative Journalism), said that island residents were waiting in long lines for gas, as they did after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and that the ground had been shaking off and on for the last week and a half, leading many to fear that more quakes could be ahead.

Striking just before 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, the quake was reported just south of Guayanilla, in the southern part of the island. It was followed by strong aftershocks, and seismologists say its impossible to predict if the shaking will stop or become stronger.

Eight people were injured in Ponce, Mayor Mayita Melendez told WAPA television, and police confirmed that 73-year-old Nelson Martinez Guillen had died in the quake.

Power went out on the island as plants shut down to protect themselves, with two suffering minor damage. Water systems were also shut down, buildings collapsed, and major highways caved in.

Gov. Wanda Vazquez Garced issued an executive order Tuesday to activate the National Guard, stating that the earthquake caused even more significant damage to critical infrastructure, life and property, including roads, bridges, schools, homes and other related damages.

This story contains information from the Associated Press.
At Power Line, we sometimes refer to the Washington Post as an adjunct of the Democratic Party. To an even greater degree, the Post is an adjunct of official Washington  the cadre of career bureaucrats and former officials who consider it their God given right to set policy, regardless of what elected officials desire. (There is, of course, considerable overlap between official Washington and the Democratic Party).

Thus, its not surprising that a few minutes after I read Steves post called Trumps sin: Conducting foreign policy without permission, I read this Washington Post story called Trump is short on advisers, allies as he faces Iran crisis. In this article, the Post argues, in essence, that Trump is committing the sin of conducting foreign policy without permission.

The Posts article is silly. A president who lacks good foreign policy instincts can have all the advisers in the world. It wont help. Similarly, a president with good instincts doesnt need many advisers.

President Trump is getting his advice mainly from Secretary of State Pompeo, whom he trusts. If Trump and Pompeo know what they are doing  and I think they do  we will be just fine. If they dont, all the additional advisers in the world wont help.

This is not to say that Trump doesnt need the help of government employees. For example, he needs intelligence from the CIA and other such agencies.

He is getting it. The administration relied on CIA intelligence when it decided to take out Gen. Soleimani.

The Post attacks Trump for having criticized the CIA. But much of Trumps criticism has been of its leadership, not of the rank and file employees who collect and analyze intelligence.

To be sure, Trump continues to remind the public of the CIAs erroneous assessments regarding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Hes right to do so. This was an enormous mistake.

But this doesnt mean, as the Post suggests, that Trump was wrong or hypocritical to rely on the CIAs intelligence indicating that Soleimani was planning attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq. Soleimani had been orchestrating such attacks for years. Its who he was and what he did. The CIAs intelligence was consistent with everything we know about the terrorist. (So even if the CIA was wrong in thinking that Soleimani was planning more attacks last week, we can think of the assault that took him out as a well-deserved lifetime achievement award.)

In any case, the Posts article about Trump not having enough advisers is nothing more than an airing of grievances of official Washington  the Deep State, if you prefer. And thats true of much of what one reads in the Posts news and op-ed sections.

To an unhealthy degree, the paper is the Deep States message board.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 21:07:46|Editor: Xiang Bo

Video Player Close

by Xinhua writer Hu Tao

BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's air cargo market is seeing a new round of industrial layout competition by giant companies, who have taken intensive major moves to strengthen their positions.

Corporate giants at home and abroad are injecting capital and confidence into the Chinese air cargo field with larger fleets, more complete route networks and stronger infrastructure and service support.

NEW MOVES

On Dec. 24, 2019, China Southern Air Holding (CSAH) launched an air cargo company as a new business entity to further tap the market. With registered capital of one billion yuan (143.87 million U.S. dollars), the new company is registered in Guangzhou, southern China's Guangdong Province.

CSAH is the parent company of China Southern Airlines, China's largest air carrier with a fleet of more than 860 aircraft.

The move is aimed at consolidating its position in the air cargo market with services throughout the air cargo industry chain.

On Dec. 31, 2019, SF Airlines announced its all-cargo freighter fleet had reached 58 on its 10th anniversary. The Shenzhen-based airline has become China's largest air cargo airline and created a global air cargo service network with 65 destinations.

In 2020, the all-cargo freighter fleet of SF Airlines is expected to exceed 60 with over 70 global destinations.

"Chinese enterprises are constantly optimizing their global industrial distribution and strengthening their global performance. Meanwhile, Chinese customers have shown their great cross-border consumption capacity," said Liddel Li, president of SF Airlines.

"All these factors foster our sustainable growth and confidence in the Chinese air cargo market," Li said.

SF Airlines has evolved into a medium-size cargo airline over the past 10 years, a golden decade of China's booming express delivery industry and civil aviation industry.

TAKING-OFF MARKET

China's express delivery industry has become the world's fastest-growing and most dynamic emerging post and delivery market. The volume of China's express packages has exceeded the sum of the United States, Japan and Europe.

The civil aviation industry is also a highly sensitive barometer of the economy. China's civil aviation market generally maintained growth momentum, and the air cargo sector is particularly impressive.

Airports are the most important infrastructure which sustains the developments of both the air cargo and air passenger transport sectors.

Thanks to the country's sustainable economic growth and persistent support, China's civil airport sector has gained high-speed and high-quality development in the past decade, according to Zhang Rui, deputy director of the airport department of the CCAC.

Over the 2009 to 2019 period, the amount of China's certified civil airports extended from 158 to 238. Eight airports advanced into the world's top 50 airports.

In the same period, the cargo throughput of China's civil airports expanded from 8.83 million tonnes to 16.74 million tonnes.

"The enhanced air cargo capacity is a highlight in the new round of airport renovation and construction," said Zhu Qianhong, general manager of Guangdong Airport Authority.

In newly-approved airport construction plans by the CAAC, the designed annual cargo capacity of Kunming, Chongqing and Xiamen airports will all exceed a million tonnes.

The newly-opened Beijing Daxing International Airport is expected to handle more than two million tonnes of air cargo in 2025. And major air hubs in Shanghai and Guangzhou will also gain enhanced air cargo throughput capacity.

SF Express has also invested heavily in constructing an international logistic hub in Ezhou, central China's Hubei Province. With a cargo-focused airport in the hub, the Chinese express delivery giant will strengthen its worldwide air express delivery system.

NEW CHANCES

"Intensive moves of corporate giants in the Chinese air cargo market are driven by market potentials. China's huge consumption market and unleashed spending power will drive the air cargo industry into a new round of development," Zhu said.

In October 2019, Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Limited (GAMECO) and Boeing announced a plan to launch a 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter production line at GAMECO's Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport hangar.

China's rapidly growing e-commerce and express delivery market will make air cargo a key growth driver. Over the next 20 years, the Chinese market is expected to have demand for 230 new freighters and 500 converted freighters, said Boeing's latest market forecast.

"Air France KLM Cargo greatly values the potential of China's air cargo market. We will continue to consolidate a foothold in the market through a prudent and judicious approach," said Rahul Pathak, head of Air France KLM Cargo China.

"There is no better place in the world than China where digital content and usage are embraced and welcomed. We have provided Chinese customers with a suite of 365-day, round-the-clock services on the digital platforms," he said.

Moreover, the airline has recently introduced a data platform specially designed for small and medium-sized enterprises, enabling them to stay responsive to market changes, swiftly and flexibly.

"China's air cargo market is embracing greater opportunities and challenges alongside the advance of the Belt and Road Initiative and higher demands in the global logistics system from all sectors," Li said.

"It is a major opportunity for our domestic enterprises and also new business chances for global peers," he added.
Among the many apocalyptic scenes from the Australian bush fires has been the presence of explosive, towering clouds appearing in the skies above the fire zones of southeastern Australia. These clouds, the most fearsome of which is known as pyro-cumulonimbus, are fire-generated thunderstorms.

Their presence is an indication that a fire is exhibiting extreme behavior, such as spreading quickly beyond containment lines, switching its direction of movement, and even whipping up fire whirls and full-fledged fire tornadoes.

Passengers on board a Qantas Airlines flight to Canberra learned about the extraordinary forces involved in these clouds over the weekend, when their aircraft accidentally flew through one at high altitude. According to an ABC News account of the flight, the sky outside the aircraft's windows turned bright orange, then pitch black as jarring updrafts shook the plane.

"It just got grayer and grayer," passenger Matt McIntyre told ABC . "There was one guy sort of swearing . . . I heard people down the front vomiting."

Another passenger told the TV network it was "the scariest flight" he had taken. "It was orange outside of the window, then suddenly it was black, and then the turbulence hit," he said.

The Australian bush fires have been so intense that they've lofted smoke particles all the way into the stratosphere, in part through these clouds that in some cases look more like explosions. Once in the stratosphere, which is the layer of the atmosphere above where most weather occurs, in the troposphere, these particles can travel for thousands of miles and even influence on regional and global climate.

According to University of Nevada at Reno meteorologist Neil Lareau, who researchers fire-induced clouds, he's never seen an outbreak of pyrocumulonimbus clouds as extensive and long-lasting as they have been during the ongoing Australia fire crisis. "The scope of the fires, I've just never seen anything like it," he said in an interview, noting these blazes have covered far more ground than anything seen in California, for example. "It's a much scarier fire environment in a lot of ways."

These behemoth clouds form when a non-atmospheric source of heat, most commonly from wildfires or volcanic eruptions, can locally create or enhance an updraft. It's an effect occasionally vigorous enough to produce its own thunderstorm.

In these instances, pyrocumulonimbus clouds can tower to altitudes approaching ten miles in height or more. Their plumes are comprised of an ashy soot and water vapor. The water vapor helping the clouds grow taller can come from liquid water trapped in vegetation scorched on the ground as well as from latent heat release in the atmosphere. But the clouds often feature comparatively little rain, making them tough to spot and gauge using aircraft radars.

The most intense pyrocumulonimbus updrafts can be on par with or even stronger than those observed in the supercell thunderstorms that prowl the High Plains each spring.

According to Lareau, there have been direct measurements of updrafts as strong as 70 to 130 miles per hour across a wide area, about a half mile in diameter, above a major wildfire. This data was gathered by a plane that, like the Qantas flight, accidentally flew into the base of such a cloud.

"These updrafts really rival some of the strongest updrafts you'll encounter in atmospheric convection of any kind," Lareau said.

In addition to the air rising rapidly can be perilous downdrafts of 60 miles per hour, which can cause severe turbulence and pose risks for some aircraft. Avoiding such fire-generated clouds in areas that have a large expanse of smoke, such as southeastern Australia lately, can be challenging, he says, since the radar aircraft carry to spot thunderstorms doesn't detect these clouds that well.

"Nosecone radar did not provide a signal comparable to what you would see from a thunderstorm updraft of that severity," Lareau said of the aircraft that measured the updraft intensities. "It's not clear that that threat to aviation from these things is widely known."

On the ground, though, these clouds are just as violent. Abundant lightning has been observed from these clouds in Australia, Lareau said.

On occasion, pyrocumulonimbus clouds can take on a life of their own, becoming separated from the heat source that gave rise to them. Other times, pyrocumulonimbus clouds can produce severe weather - including flooding muddy rains, hail (often discolored), and damaging downdraft winds. One such storm blew up over the Texas Panhandle following the Mallard Fire on May 11, 2018.

On extreme occasions and in the right environment, pyrocumulonimbus clouds can even take on the characteristics of a supercellular thunderstorm. One such storm produced a deadly EF-3 tornado that killed four during the Canberra bushfires in 2003. More recently, a violent fire tornado claimed several lives near Redding, California, on July 26, 2018 during the Carr Fire.

Preliminary reports suggest a potential fire tornado may have been to blame in an accident that claimed the life of a firefighter in New South Wales on December 30.

Perhaps the most common and dangerous hazard posed by pyrocumumonimbus clouds is the potential for rapid fire growth and erratic fire behavior.

If a pyrocumumonimbus cloud's updraft becomes organized enough, inflow winds at times exceeding 80 mph can fuel a raging inferno. Moreover, there comes a point at which the pyrocumulonimbus cloud is no longer subject to local weather influences, but rather becomes the predominant local weather maker.

When that happens, the pyrocumulonimbus cloud can effectively become a firestorm. Unpredictable and chaotic winds can yield erratic fire behavior, catching fire personnel and the public alike off guard. Meanwhile, the fire's updraft pulls air from all around into it, causing the added oxygen to fuel combustion even further.

Firestorms can cause fire fronts to surge, and carry embers far from the initial blaze. Lightning from the parent pyrocumumonimbus cloud can ignite new fires downwind, beneath the cloud's hulking electrified anvil.

A firestorm swallowed a weather station in Cabramurra, Australia on Saturday. Temperatures spiked to 158 degrees while winds gusted as high as 80 mph. Miraculously, the instruments continued recording. Temperatures jumped from 90 degrees to 124 degrees in 13 minutes shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday, finally subsiding back to 92 degrees by 6 p.m. About the reading, the Bureau of Meteorology stated in a tweet that the weather station "Ended up between intense pyro-cumulonimbus over a fire on one side & new ignitions on the other... & this is the result."
WHY WE CANT SLEEP

Womens New Midlife Crisis

By Ada Calhoun



It took three nights for me to realize that Why We Cant Sleep: Womens New Midlife Crisis was not ideal bedtime reading. I try to avoid explicitly labeling those hours when I lie awake  maybe theyre insomnia but maybe theyre just, you know, nocturnal musing  and the breadth of data in Ada Calhouns book made such avoidance challenging. If I or my fellow Generation X women are lying in bed with our minds racing, Calhoun argues, its with good reason.

Compared with earlier generations, those of us born between 1965 and 1980 earn less, are in greater debt, are more likely to have children with intellectual disabilities or developmental delays and are expected to be constantly available to both our kids and our jobs. If were single, heterosexual and well educated, we face a man deficit; if were married, were more frustrated by our spouses. As if all thats not enough, theres social media to really make us feel physically and existentially inadequate.

Our generations bad luck is, apparently, not new. The 70s and 80s was a rough time to be a kid, Calhoun writes. The economy was sinking, crime was spiking, nuclear war was plausible, divorce rates were soaring and helicopter parenting was anomalous. Many of us knew about AIDS long before we had sex, and we watched the Challenger explode on live TV. Raised on the promise of Title IX and that Enjoli perfume ad where the woman sings about how she can bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan, were disappointed in ourselves for not taking advantage of supposedly limitless opportunities.

[ This book was one of our most anticipated titles of January. See the full list. ]

Why We Cant Sleep grew out of an article for O Magazine that went viral, so perhaps its facile to say that it reads like a book that grew out of an article. Calhoun alternates among citing statistics and studies; interviewing experts and an assortment of Gen X women, including her friends; and relaying her own experiences. The results of this format are mixed. Some statistics feel cherry-picked or just hard to prove  are Gen X women really more dissatisfied with their marriages than boomers?  and at times, as in the chapter on perimenopause, being Gen X, being female and being middle-aged seem to get conflated. By contrast, the economic and labor statistics are both convincing and sobering.
SAN DIEGO (AP) - A man convicted of stabbing his roommate and stuffing his body in a barrel has been sentenced Monday to prison in California.

Timothy Cook received a sentence Monday of 56 years to life for second-degree murder. Cook was convicted last month of killing 28-year-old Omar Medina of Chula Vista in September 2017.

Authorities say Medina was stabbed 66 times. His body was found nearly two weeks later in a 55-gallon plastic barrel that had been anchored with wire and cinderblocks and dumped in San Diego Bay.

Cook acknowledged hiding the body but denied killing Medina.
RP tech India recently concluded a multi-city roadshow organized in association with Microsoft and Lenovo. The aim of the event called Channel Connect was to highlight the importance of genuine software.

Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or support for PCs with Windows 7 after January 14, 2020. Therefore, to evangelize with partners and customers, Microsoft rolled out several campaigns. Focused on Channel awareness and training through multi-city events, the Channel Connect initiative was aimed at training partners on the benefits of selling new Windows 10 Pro Devices.

In the forum, Microsoft also showcased the Stay Real campaign that highlights the need for engaging with genuine software. The company has rolled out a digital campaign named Make the Shift to educate prospective buyers on the benefits of buying new Devices preinstalled with Windows 10 Pro.

RP tech India led the Channel Connect initiative by conducting roadshows in 8 cities, to promote Lenovo Devices powered by Windows 10 Pro. During the roadshow, the company offered a preview of Windows 10 Pro devices to channel partners. The event organized was attended by more than 400 regional distributors, Lenovo exclusive stores, multi-brand store partners and corporate partners.

Mr. Ashish Sikka, Director SMB, Lenovo India said, Channel Connect is a great platform to reach out to the strategic partners and address their issues. We look forward to reaching out to more cities through RP tech Indias robust distribution ecosystem and their strong connections in the channel fraternity.

Mr. Rajesh Goenka, Director, Sales & Marketing, RP tech India said, This is the first time we have collaborated with Lenovo and Microsoft to educate our partners on Microsoft Windows 10 Pro devices. There is a huge number of users of Windows 7 Pro in India and it is very important to make them aware of the new software. We reached out to over 400 channel partners in eight cities and the response was overwhelming. We will continue to leverage this platform to touch upon the maximum partners in both metros and upcountry locations.

The roadshows garnered positive feedback from channel partners. Mr. Ravi P, Director of Chennai based Focus Computers Pvt Ltd said, It was a very informative event and I got an opportunity to interact with the senior officials of Microsoft, Lenovo and RP tech India. I will work with my customers to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro within the deadline, to avoid future inconvenience and security risks.

Another partner, Mr. Rajeev Mathur, Proprietor of Jaipur based Icon Integrated Services said, Channel Connect is an excellent platform where we get an opportunity to openly talk about our concerns, get new launch details and share feedback on the business. We look forward to more such events ahead.
TORONTO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting up a kosher food business is hard. You have to rent a facility. Buy equipment. Get your products into retail. Secure kosher certification. There's got to be a better way!

Kosher Tank Logo Kosher Tank judges

Enter Kosher Tank. Brought to you by the Kashruth Council of Canada  better known by their kosher symbol as "COR"  Kosher Tank invites start up food entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to our sharks. Contestants can win free kitchen time at Kitchen 24  a state of the art 30,000 square foot shared kitchen facility located in Toronto, along with COR kosher certification. They will also receive advice from the kosher sharks who have over 100 years of combined experience in the kosher food industry. Winners will also get guaranteed placement in a participating grocery store.

"With so many talented people with new and interesting ideas in the food space, we want to make it easier for start-ups to bring more kosher food to masses," said Richard Rabkin, COR's Managing Director. "Kosher Tank is an exciting forum to help foster food businesses, give a helping hand and bring more delicious kosher food to people."

"Being a contestant on Kosher Tank was a great experience," said Carolyn Rostenne, one of the Kosher Tank participants whose "Smoothie Pies" wowed the sharks. "It was a lot of fun and it fuels me for the next steps in growing my business."

To watch episodes of Kosher Tank please visit www.KosherTank.com

See you on Kosher Tank!

ABOUT COR-KASHRUTH COUNCIL OF CANADA

COR is a leader in kosher certification, certifying approximately 1000 companies in Canada and around the world. For more information visit http://www.cor.ca

Contact: Richard Rabkin

Managing Director

COR-Kashruth Council of Canada

416-635-9550 ext. 686

[email protected]

SOURCE Kashruth Council of Canada
NuScale Power today announced its first submittal to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for pre-licensing vendor design review (VDR) of NuScales innovative small modular reactor (SMR) design. This submission reflects the substantive work that NuScale continues to accomplish in the regulatory field as the company is simultaneously bringing the U.S.s first NuScale power plant into production and operation by 2026.

NuScales technology is the worlds first and only SMR to undergo design certification review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). On December 12, 2019 the company announced the NRC completion of Phase 4 of its SMR design certification application (DCA). Completion of Phase 4 is significant as it indicates near-completion of the technical review, and the entire review of NuScales design is in Phases 5 and 6. With the VDR submission to the CNSC, NuScale is eager to ensure that its revolutionary SMR technology meets both Canadian regulatory requirements and the needs of its customers.

NuScales VDR will be completed in four submittals. The first submittal occurred on December 10, 2019. NuScales submission is a combined Phase 1 and 2 level VDR, as the companys SMR design is mature and can directly enter VDR Phase 2. The remaining three submittals will be conducted at approximately six month intervals.

Submittal 1 addresses four of the 19 topic areas of the VDR. These four topics were chosen because they provide the foundation for the remaining topics in a VDR:

Topic 1  General Plant Description

Topic 2  SSC Classification

Topic 16  Vendor Research and Development Program

Topic 17  Design Process and Quality Assurance

We chose these four topic areas as they provide a solid foundation for the review by covering the overall unprecedented safety of the design, our extensive research and development programs, and that we have the quality assurance and other management systems in place to satisfy the CNSC, said NuScale Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Tom Bergman. Completion of the vendor design review provides assurance to both the regulator and potential customers that the NuScale design will be acceptable to build and operate in Canada.

NuScale has signed an agreement with Bruce Power to develop a business case to support the companys efforts to bring its innovative and unique SMR technology to Canada. Bruce Power is supporting evaluation, planning, and licensing activities, all of which will serve an important role in demonstrating the business case for why NuScales technology is the right choice for Ontario and Canada. As well, Ontario Power Generation participates on the NuScale Advisory Board and provides advice on potential deployment of NuScale technology in Canada, SMR licensing in Canada, and the CNSC vendor design review process. NuScales work with both companies is a strong endorsement of the growing enthusiasm in Canada for the companys pioneering SMR technology.
President Ram Nath Kovind (Image- Reuters)

United States national Ashley Hall had long planned her destination wedding at Taj Vivanta in Kochi on January 7. Everything was going perfect, except, when she reached the five-star property, the bride-to-be was informed that she will have to change the wedding venue.

The reason? The date of her wedding was clashing with President Ram Nath Kovinds stay at the hotel, who was due to visit the Navy Port in Kochi. Therefore, as per the usual security protocol, the wedding party was asked to seek out an alternative to avoid any inconvenience.



Hey @rashtrapatibhvn- anything you can do to help us with your security team so that we dont have to move our wedding from the @Taj_Cochin in under 48 hours? https://t.co/0S5y9az9Hk

 Ashley Hall (@hall_ash) January 5, 2020



I want to thank the @Taj_Cochin and State Officials for working on this with us throughout the day. Hoping we can have a beautiful wedding with the blessings of The Honorable @rashtrapatibhvn. https://t.co/i6lR4D9YDQ

 Ashley Hall (@hall_ash) January 5, 2020



We are glad the issues have been resolved. President Kovind conveys his best wishes to you on this joyous occasion January 5, 2020

With a notice period of just two days in hand, the distraught bride took to Twitter to share her ordeal. Hall wrote on January 4:In another tweet posted on January 5, Hall tagged the Rashtrapati Bhavan as a last resort, hoping for a miracle.And thats just what happened. Though the Rashtrapati Bhavan did not reply to the tweet, we gather from Ashley Halls following Twitter posts that the President had stepped in and saved the harrowed couple from further stress.President Kovinds security cover was reduced and he decided to check out from Taj Vivanta early morning on January 7 itself to make sure the wedding goes smooth. Later, he tweeted a congratulatory message to the couple that read:
December 30, Monday

Police arrested a 46-year-old man on Monday at the 700 block of W. 11th St. The individual was charged with public intoxication with three prior convictions. Officers responded to the location of the arrest around 4:45 p.m.

A theft was reported at the 120 block of W. 6th St. on Monday around 12:30 p.m.

A crash was reported at the intersection of 24th and Columbia Streets on Monday around 11:20 a.m. Vehicle damage was reported.

A theft was reported at the 800 block of Houston St. on Monday around 6 p.m.

Burglary of vehicles was reported at the 4400 block of W. 2nd Street on Monday around 8:30 a.m.

December 31, Tuesday

Police arrested a 25-year-old man on Tuesday at the 900 block of W. 24th St. Officers reported to the location just before 4 a.m. and arrested the individual for three misdemeanor warrants.

A 44-year-old woman was arrested at the 1400 block of Fresno St. on Tuesday for criminal trespassing. Officers responded to the location of the arrest around 4:20 a.m.

Officers arrested 54-year-old Kerry Jim Harris on Tuesday at the 4000 block of Olton Road. Harris was arrested for an outstanding felony warrant. Officers reported to the location of the arrest around 8:20 p.m.

A 27-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday at the 400 block of Cedar Street for four misdemeanor warrants. Officers reported to the location just after 9:30 p.m.

An assault was reported at the 900 block of W. 26th St. on Tuesday around 4:45 p.m.

Theft from a yard and criminal mischief were reported at the 1500 block of N. Date Street on Tuesday around 3:15 p.m.

A theft was reported at the 1300 block of Travis St. on Tuesday around 11:30 a.m.

January 1, Wednesday

A 30-year-old man was arrested Wednesday around 5 p.m. after a crash that resulted in vehicle damage. The man was charged with driving while intoxicated, second offense. The crash occurred at the 3400 block of Olton Road.

A 20-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday at the 2800 block of W. 10th St. for an active misdemeanor warrant. Officers responded to the location of the arrest just after 7 p.m.

A 23-year-old man was arrested at the 1000 block of Quincy Street on Wednesday around 11:20 p.m. for two active misdemeanor warrants.

A 33-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday at the 2000 block of W. 5th St. around 2:30 p.m. He was charged with driving with an invalid license and with driving with an invalid license with previous conviction/suspension without financial resolution.

Theft and criminal mischief were reported at the 1200 block of S. Date Street on Wednesday around 4:20 a.m.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 12:55:45|Editor: yhy

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HOUSTON, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and another injured in a shooting attack on Monday evening at a Walmart store in New Orleans, the U.S. state of Louisiana, police said.

Local media quoted New Orleans Police Chief Shaun Ferguson as saying that a man walked into a Walmart and fired multiple rounds, hitting two people and killing one. There were hundreds of customers in the store at the time.

One victim, a Walmart employee, died and the second victim was shot in the foot and was in stable condition, the police chief said at a press conference.

The suspect was stopped by an officer providing security at the Walmart. The detained shooter was then taken to police headquarters for investigation.

Police said they did not know if the shooter chose his victims at random or if he had a relationship with the victims.
SACRAMENTO  Seeking to revive a fiercely fought bill that would boost construction of apartment buildings and condominiums, state Sen. Scott Wiener introduced changes Monday designed to disarm cities objections that the measure would remove their control over neighborhood character.

Wieners amendments would allow cities to opt out of certain provisions of SB50, his measure to increase housing around public transit and in wealthy suburbs, if they develop their own plans to build as many homes as the law would require. The changes would increase cities ability to keep some multi-unit housing out of neighborhoods that now consist of single-family homes.

But the key provisions of the bill remain intact: It would raise height limits around transit lines, allow denser development in high-income areas, and effectively open up the entire state to multifamily housing.

I would love to see millions of homes come into California, like, yesterday, said Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat. Were in a desperate, desperate state of affairs.

In order to move forward in the new legislative session, SB50 must pass the Senate Appropriations Committee and then the full Senate by the end of January. Its prospects are uncertain.

Leaders at the state Capitol, including Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Gov. Gavin Newsom, have expressed their commitment to passing the measure in some form this year to address Californias housing shortage. But Democratic legislators representing suburban districts have been strong opponents.

State Sen. Anthony Portantino, the Los Angeles-area Democrat who chairs the Appropriations Committee, blocked the bill last year because of cities complaints about the potential loss of local control. His spokesman, Ben Edelstein, wrote in an email Monday that the amendments were not shared with Portantino, but it was the senators hope that by taking a breath with SB50 it would focus efforts on actually building affordable housing as opposed to the market-rate housing predominant with SB50.

Atkins, D-San Diego, said in a statement that she was pleased there will be further consideration of this important measure and expected there would be discussions to find a compromise that lawmakers could support.

Jesse Melgar, a spokesman for the governor, did not answer questions about whether Newsom supports the amendments. But he said in a statement that the governor remains focused as a top priority on getting more housing built all across the state, for people at all income levels.

Under the bill, local governments in counties with more than 600,000 people could not block residential buildings of at least four or five stories within half a mile of rail stations and ferry terminals, provided those projects meet other local design standards. In the Bay Area, San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties meet that population threshold.

The measure would also remove density limits and reduce parking requirements within a quarter-mile of stops on bus lines with frequent service and in high-income census tracts with lots of jobs and good schools, regardless of their proximity to transit.

In smaller counties, including Marin, Sonoma, Solano and Napa, cities with more than 50,000 people would have to allow up to 15 extra feet of height for buildings within a half-mile of transit stops.

The changes that Wiener unveiled Monday would delay the start of the law until 2023, giving cities two extra years to come up with alternative plans that could accommodate the amount of new housing that SB50 would require. Those that did not would fall under the measure.

Wiener said he adjusted the bill after hearing from local officials who wanted more flexibility to build denser in some parts of their communities than others. But he said any plans they come up with would still have to meet SB50s climate and fair-housing goals, and be subject to approval by the state housing department. That means they would have to meet targets for reducing car use and could not disproportionately push the new housing into low-income neighborhoods.

SB50 will be extremely helpful to cities that are seeing a big increase in their housing goals, Wiener said.

The League of California Cities, which was among those leading the opposition last year, said it still needed to review the changes but was pleased to hear that the senator has been listening, and is amending his bill to reflect that feedback from local government leaders.

Some local officials, including San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, are already on board.

Meghan Sahli-Wells, mayor of Culver City (Los Angeles County), said the measure is a bold yet nuanced path to address Californias climate and homelessness crises by building more housing where people work. Her city has about 40,000 residents, she said, but 60,000 jobs.

The status quo is killing us, she said.

Wieners bill has raised fears among affordable-housing and community groups that a building spree could drive vulnerable Californians out of their homes by speeding up gentrification.

The measure gives what Wiener called sensitive communities five years to come up with neighborhood plans that combine the development requirements with anti-displacement protections.

New apartment buildings and condominiums approved under the relaxed standards of SB50 would have to set aside 15% to 25% of their units for low-income families. In a change intended to keep poor residents from being forced out of their neighborhoods, people previously living within a half-mile of new developments would get priority for almost half of those low-income units.

Nearly everywhere in the state would be opened to multifamily housing through a streamlined process to convert vacant plots and existing homes in residential areas to apartment buildings of up to four units. That would essentially eliminate single-family zoning in California, except in small coastal communities and areas at high risk of fire.

Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
CALGARY, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Cona Resources Ltd. ("Cona"), a portfolio company of Waterous Energy Fund ("WEF"), today announced the completion of its acquisition of Pengrowth Energy Corporation ("Pengrowth") for approximately C$740 million.

With the Pengrowth acquisition, Cona is the largest privately-owned heavy oil producer in North America, with production of 35,000 boe/d and an industry-leading base decline rate below 10%.

Adam Waterous, Founder and CEO of Waterous Energy Fund, commented, "We believe the acquisition of Pengrowth enhances Cona's long life, low-decline asset base and adds a trophy asset in Pengrowth's Lindbergh oil property in the Cold Lake area of Alberta. This transaction fits with WEF's investment strategy of pursuing established businesses with best-in-class oil and liquids rich assets in special situations, which require restructuring, recapitalization or repositioning."

Rob Morgan, CEO of Cona, commented, "The completion of the Pengrowth transaction is a significant milestone for our business. We believe Cona is uniquely positioned to enhance value from the Pengrowth assets and look forward to working with their employees, service providers and stakeholders to ensure a seamless integration and generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for our shareholders."

The acquisition, which was approved by both Pengrowth's shareholders and debtholders at special meetings held on December 18, 2019, was funded with an approximately C$585 million equity investment from WEF and debt under an expanded credit facility from a consortium of Canadian banks. Inclusive of the equity invested to fund the Pengrowth acquisition, WEF has invested approximately C$1.5 billion in Western Canada from its first private equity fund, its co-investors and other partners since the start of 2017, which WEF believes is over half of all private equity invested in the Canadian upstream oil and gas sector during this time period. With investment professionals located in both the United States and Canada, WEF is actively pursuing investment opportunities across North America.

Waterous continued, "The North American oil and gas industry is in the midst of a paradigm shift in response to new technology, low prices, and lacklustre investor returns; we believe this macro backdrop creates a target rich environment for us to execute on our value approach to energy investing."

Advisors

RBC Capital Markets and TD Securities served as Co-Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners on the expanded Cona credit facilities. CIBC World Markets served as financial advisor to Cona. BMO Capital Markets and Scotiabank served as financial advisor to WEF in connection with its equity investment in Cona. AltaCorp Capital Inc., a subsidiary of ATB Financial, served as strategic advisor to Cona.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP served as legal advisor to Cona, and Stikeman Elliot LLP served as legal advisor to Waterous Energy Fund in connection with the transaction.

About Waterous Energy Fund: Waterous Energy Fund is a Calgary-based energy investment firm with offices in Houston and New York. Founded in 2017 by Adam Waterous, the firm is pursuing investments in the North American oil and gas sector. WEF's current portfolio includes Strath Resources Ltd., a high-growth Kakwa Montney condensate producer in Alberta, and Cona Resources Ltd., a long life, low decline, high free cash flow heavy oil producer in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. For additional information, see www.waterous.com

About Cona Resources Ltd.: Cona is a Canadian crude oil production and development company focused on maximizing recovery from its large-scale oil resource base. The Company's operations, infrastructure and concentrated land position are focused in northeast Alberta, southwest Saskatchewan, and northeast British Columbia. For additional information, see www.conaresources.com.

SOURCE Waterous Energy Fund
Many Hanoians have applauded a proposal by the Peoples Committee of Hoan Kiem District to build an embankment around Hanoi's iconic site of Hoan Kiem (Returned Sword) Lake.

A corner of Hoan Kiem (Returned Sword) Lake in Hanoi.  VNA/VNS Photo Nhat Anh

The proposal was made to address areas around the lake that have seen various degrees of subsidence and breaking up over the past few years. Details are on display at an exhibition being held by the lake at the Ho Guom Cultural Information Centre to collect feedback from residents and experts. The exhibition started last week and will run until tomorrow.

Under the project, the city will build an embankment around the lakes banks using precast concrete blocks. Each hollow block will be 2.5 metres in height and 1.6 metres in width.

The embankment would be painted in a mossy-green to match its surroundings, with gaps to grow aquatic plants, the Ha Noi Moi (New Ha Noi) online newspaper reported.

Vu Hai Bang of Hang Gai Ward in Hoan Kiem District, who has lived in Hanoi for more than 60 years, said: I vote yes for the project.

It would make the landscape around the icon of Hanoi more clean and beautiful, he said.

Building the embankment using concrete blocks makes sense because they are durable, Bang said.

However, the constructors should try to avoid causing negative impacts on the lake's surroundings because there were a lot of historical sites nearby, he added.

Pham Duy Quang of Hai Ba Trung District said infrastructure around the lake had been degraded for years.

I hope the project will be commenced as soon as possible, he said.

The project would improve the landscape around the lake and ensure more safety for visitors walking around it, he said.

Pham Hoang Ha, a resident living near the lake, said the subsidence had occurred at spots popular among elderly people who did their morning exercises there, and where young people took photos.

Infrastructure improvements should be harmony with the lakes ancient style, he said.

Pham Thanh Tung, chief of the Vietnam Association of Architects, also said he is in favour of the project.

The method of using hollow concrete blocks had been in use in many other countries, he said.

The concrete blocks would be made from special materials suitable for Hoan Kiem Lake, and there would still be space for aquatic plants, he said.

The city's administration should quickly implement the project because the lake was among the top destinations for tourists, he said.

However, there are a considerable number of people who did not agree with the project because they thought the concrete embankment would ruin the landscape.

In response, Tran Trung Sinh of Hoan Kiem Districts project management board said the project would balance between long-term sustainability and beauty.

Vu Hai Bang at the exhibition in Hanoi.  Photo hanoimoi.com.vn



Sinh also said construction would take place between 10pm and 5am to minimise the unwanted effects on the surroundings.

Pham Tuan Long, vice chairman of the district Peoples Committee, said the concrete blocks would be embedded in the bottom of the lake to prevent subsidence.

One report said the entire embankment would be about 1,600 metres in length, including 600 metres of subsided sections.

The city is planning to build a section of the embankment before Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

Hoan Kiem Lake is surrounded by Old Quarter streets including Le Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang on the east and Hang Khay to the south.  VNS

Hanoi plans to ban vehicles in nine streets around Hoan Kiem Lake The Hanoi Department of Transport is building a plan to ban all vehicles operating in nine streets around Hoan Kiem Lake within one month with the hope of expanding the city pedestrian zone.
New Delhi: In a major development, a Delhi court on Tuesday (January 7) issued the death warrant against all four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case. The court ordered that all four convicts should be hanged at 7 am on January 22 at the Tihar jail.

The death warrant was issued by Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora, who said the convicts can use their legal remedies within 14 days. The four convicts - Mukesh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Singh and Pawan Gupta - were produced before the court through video conferencing.

While the debate continues over whether capital punishment is justified or not, there is an interesting aspect associated with it.

Why are those on death row executed before sunrise?

We all have seen in films that whenever any prisoner is executed, only a handful of persons are present to witness the act.

Among them are a judicial executioner, a magistrate or his representative, a doctor and some policemen.

And there are several reasons why executions are carried out before sunrise in India.

- Jail authorities have to focus a lot of energies on carrying out execution and they wind up the same before sunrise so that it does not affect their daily schedule. Requirements pre and post execution include medical tests and noting of procedures in multiple registers.

- The body also needs to be handed over to the prisoner's family post execution in time so that they can conduct the last rites the same day.

- Executions are carried out early in the morning so as to ensure that the person on death row does not have to wait for long on a day he is due to be hanged and to prevent him from undergoing further mental trauma.

- Hangings are carried out early in the morning in order to prevent sudden reactions from society as most people are asleep when the development takes place.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Honda delivered 1,554,433 new vehicles in China throughout 2019, hitting an all-time high in terms of annual sales, according to the Japanese automaker's China branch. Compared to its 2018 performance, the company obtained a growth of 8.5% in the world's largest auto market.

Two joint ventures in China achieved sales rise. GAC Honda saw its retail sales grow 4.1% year on year to 765,517 units, and Dongfeng Honda's full-year deliveries jumped 13.2% to 788,916 units.

In 2019, there were seven modelsthe Civic, the CR-V, the XR-V, the Accord, the Crider, the Vezel and the Fitwhose respective annual deliveries all surpassed 100,000 units.

Nevertheless, in the year-end spurt, Honda failed to maintain the previous prolonged rising momentum. With 142,831 new car delivered in this country, the carmaker was hit by a 25.6% plunge over a year ago in December, the second-time downturn within 2019the former took place in February due to the Chinese New Year Holiday.



Retailing 67,305 new vehicles, GAC Honda posted a 20.4% year-on-year drop. However, the latest decrease didn't prevent the joint venture from achieving its sales goal735 thousand units, remaining flat from its 2018 deliveries.



GAC Honda rolled out in 2019 such new models as the new Vezel, the Odyssey Hybrid, the all-new mid-sized SUV Breeze and its first all-electric SUV VE-1, which helped the company attain a stable increase.



Dongfeng Honda delivered 75,526 vehicles in December, a steep decline of 29.6% from the year-ago period. The Wuhan-based joint venture closed its 2019 with 800,000 vehicles produced in total (photo source: Honda).
Carlos Ghosn

Nissan Motor on January 7 said that ousted former Chairman Carlos Ghosn's escape from Japan would not affect its policy of holding him responsible for "serious misconduct".

"The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan," a statement from Nissan read.

Ghosn became an international fugitive after he revealed last week that he had fled to Lebanon to escape what he called a "rigged" justice system in Japan, where he faces charges relating to alleged financial crimes.
In June, I wrote about the large number of empty garages owned by councils in London. Freedom of Information requests I put in identified 15,875 of them. But several councils didnt provide figures, so the true total is bound to be higher. Since then, I have broadened my enquiries to the rest of the country and identified a further 61,325. They are listed below. Birmingham City Council tops the list with 4,149  the majority of its garages sit empty. That brings the identified tally to 77,200. I suspect the true figure is over 100,000. Swansea and Lanarkshire councils replied to say they didnt know how many empty garages they owned. Several councils did not reply. Many others said they had handed over their housing stock to a housing association or an arms-length housing management organisation. So the underestimate is sure to be significant.

Property Partner, a property investment company, has also investigated this subject. Looking at square feet, they calculated that if they were redeveloped for housing, a typical row of 10 garages could be knocked down and replaced with seven or eight homes. That was a conservative estimate, as it assumed only bungalows would be possible.

This waste of resources is quite unacceptable given the housing shortage. The Government should change the law so that local authorities have a presumption to offer for sale and redevelopment for housing, any row of garages that are empty. The new cottages should be traditional beautiful buildings and thus enhance the appearance of the estates where they appear  a welcome replacement for the ugly garages.

But the new rules should also go further. Often when garages are let, they are done so at commercial rates to residents not living on the estate. Sheffield City Council, for instance, has 1,532 empty garages. It has a further 1,073 garages let to non estate residents. Only 868 of its garages are let to its tenants or leaseholders. I suppose there is some benefit in easing parking pressure in the city. But most of the space is probably used for storage. Should the state really be competing with the private sector in the storage business? Councils should be told that there must be a presumption that commercial lettings be cancelled where redevelopment of housing is considered viable.

There should also be some gradual efforts to make available more of the garages that are currently used by estate residents. I concede this brings us into more controversial territory. The presumption should be that garages being vacated should not be offered for reletting where housing redevelopment is considered viable. Residents occupying garages where housing redevelopment is considered viable should be asked to vacate and offered the use of another garage on the estate if available. Where garage fees are below the market rate they should be gradually increased, over a five year period, until the fees are aligned.

What about the risk of parking congestion on council estates? Of course, that would need to be assessed. But in most cases that should highlight potential for more sites for new housing rather than of any difficulty. Often councils make no check of how many parking spaces on their estates are actually used. My council, Hammersmith and Fulham, only has the figures for those estates where traffic management orders operate. The total number of parking bays under TMOs is 2,894, while the total number of active estate parking permits on TMO sites is 1,780.

Other London councils which keep some records include:

Camden has 2,191 void council estate parking spaces out of 5,096.

Kensington and Chelsea 338 out of 803.

Islington 907 out of 4,391.

What about the loss of revenue if the garages are knocked down? Obviously, this point doesnt apply with the empty ones. But even if a garage is let than foregoing the 20 a week (or 10 or 30) would make sense if the land can be sold to provide a new home.

I would propose that proceeds of council receipts must first clear any backlog of capital works in the estate where sales have taken place  including any road repairs. There could also be, say, 25,000 from the sale to be allocated to Big Society Funds for local projects chosen by residents. There could be environmental improvements  such as tree planting, or providing electric car power charging points.

Sometimes a Council might decide to maximise its proceeds by allowing all the housing to be private. At other times it might negotiate a lower price but with a mix of tenures. Any social housing should give priority to existing estate residents. For instance, those suffering from overcrowding or those wishing to take up an opportunity for discounted home ownership or shared ownership.

Its not only garages and surplus parking spaces that offer potential. Last month I wrote about unused, or underused, tenants halls. Then we have the rows of small lock-up store sheds (sometimes known as pram sheds) on council estates. Tower Hamlets Council owns 3,776 of which 2,320 are empty or in disrepair. Isliongton Council owns 3,779 again a majority  in Islingtons case 1,970  sit empty. Usually, councils dont charge separately for them and so dont have any records. Supposing they wrote to their tenants, offering them 50 a year or 100 a year cut in rent, if they surrendered their (probably unused) pram shed? That would allow more space for attractive new homes. There is a large ball court on the estate at the end of my road which has been closed off for years.

These changes should be popular. Councils would benefit financially from the capital receipts for the new private housing and from the new social housing easing the need for placements in expensive temporary accommodation. Existing estate residents should benefit from their share of the proceeds and the aesthetic improvements. Most of all, those whose ambition for home ownership is currently frustrated, would welcome a chance to get on the housing ladder. So council leaders should get on with it. It would mean they could win votes while easing pressure on Council finances. The Government could make a start by including greater transparency over some of the wasted assets. But that will not be enough. Localism has its role but there must also be a legal mechanism to ensure these opportunities for new housing become a reality.

Over 4,000 empty Council-owned garages:

Birmingham 4,149 out of 7,656

3,000-4,000

South Lanarkshire 3,248 out of 8,102

2,000-3,000

Dacorum 2,364 out of 8,000

Nottingham 2,121 out of undisclosed total

Hull 2,066 out of 4,681.

Fife 2,053 out of 6,944

1,500  2,000

Basildon 1,988 out of 5191

Sheffield 1,532 out of 3,473

1,000  1,500

Corby 1,229 out of 3,375

Welwyn Hatfield 1,202 out of 5,275

Bristol 1,174 out of 1,595

Wolverhampton 1,140 out of 3,838

Leeds 1,132 out of 5,185

500  1,000

Slough 995 out of 1,663

Gateshead 953 out of 3,741

Stevenage 933 out of 6,573

Dudley 895 out of 2,859

St Albans 870 out of 2,311

Central Bedfordshire 858 out of 1,762

Norwich 813 out of 3,420

Aberdeen 805 out of 2,029

Milton Keynes 741 out of 1,874

Tamworth 736 out of 1454

Falkirk 729 out of 2,647

Doncaster 729 out of 1,689

Thurrock 700 out of 2,500

Wrexham 687 out of 2,078

Southend 649 out of 1,119

Flintshire 629 out of 1,593

Wigan 620 out of 1,547

Kirklees 617 out of 1,711

Sandwell 616 out of 2,690

Leicester 597 out ot 1,214

Highland 589 out of 1,784

Oxford 582 out of 1,928

Rotherham 577 out of 3,277

Powys 540 out of 1,840

Cheshire West and Chester 533 out of 1,427

East Ayshire 524 out of 1,337

100  500
Chevron Chairman and CEO Michael Wirth does not anticipate significantly higher oil prices from increased Iran-U.S. tensions.

"Fundamentally supply and demand remain where they were before these incidents," he said Tuesday on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" from the Goldman Sachs energy conference in Miami Beach, Florida. "We haven't seen anything that's actually changed that ... Fundamentally markets, while they see the geopolitical risk, I think we've been in a well supplied market for some period of time here, and that's generally what the view continues to be at this point."

He noted that following September's drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais, which took an estimated 5.7 million barrels of oil offline, oil prices initially spiked before returning to their pre-attack levels within weeks. This time around, no production was impacted.

"This event while certainly newsworthy, didn't fundamentally strike energy infrastructure or change the supply and demand dynamics in the market," he said, before adding that it's a "reminder of the risk that exists in our business."

Wirth's comments come as tensions in the Middle East build following Thursday's killing of Iran's top commander Qasem Soleimani.

On Monday a Chevron spokesperson said that the company pulled some employees from Northern Iraq as a precautionary measure.

"We don't have a big operation in Iraq," he said, adding that as the "situation clarifies itself" people will return. The company's facilities in the country are in the early phases of development, and not yet producing.

On Friday oil prices surged more than 3% as analysts considered possible forms of retaliation from Iran, which some say could include targeting oil production facilities in Iraq or Saudi Arabia. But by Monday fears appeared to have subsided, and oil settled little changed after giving up an early gain of more than 2%.

Wirth said that "shorter-term phenomena," such as Thursday's airstrike, December's larger-than-expected OPEC cut and September's drone attacks on Saudi facilities are not factored into the company's long-term outlook on Brent and WTI prices.

On Tuesday international benchmark Brent crude shed 59 cents, or 0.8%, to trade at $68.31 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude lost 58 cents, or 0.9%, to trade at $62.70 per barrel.

For every $1 increase in oil prices, Chevron gets around $450 million a year in additional cash flow, but Wirth said that the company would "probably not" increase its capital spending plan even if prices stay higher for longer.
The Pentagon's top leader appeared to walk back the president's threat to strike Iranian cultural sites -- a move experts say would be a war crime -- should conflict between the two countries escalate.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters Monday that troops will "follow the laws of armed conflict." He was responding to questions about President Donald Trump's weekend tweets, in which he said the U.S. would hit "VERY FAST AND VERY HARD" 52 already-identified targets "important to Iran & the Iranian culture."

Trump later doubled down on the threat, telling reporters the Iranians are "allowed to kill our people, they're allowed to torture and maim our people, they're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we're not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesn't work that way."

But Esper, when pressed to address whether the military would target such sites, responded, "That's the laws of armed conflict."

Related: Trump Says 52 Targets Already Lined up if Iran Retaliates

Trump's threats have been met with outcry and dismay. The U.S. has a long history of protecting cultural sites, said Richard Kohn, a history professor who studies war at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"We have destroyed cultural sites for certain, uh, as collateral damage, but never to my knowledge purposefully," Kohn said. "And we've gone to great extent -- even in our most existential wars -- to avoid doing that."

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) lists 24 locations in Iran as World Heritage Sites, including Persepolis, capital of an empire dating back to 500 B.C.

Attacking those sites could constitute a war crime under international laws the U.S. has either signed or sponsored, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions, a 1954 Hague Convention and a 2017 United Nations Security Council resolution.

The 2017 U.N. resolution was adopted specifically to condemn the "unlawful" looting and destruction of cultural sites across the Middle East and Afghanistan since the 9/11 terror attacks, mainly by terrorist groups such as the Islamic State.

The resolution cites "the unlawful destruction of cultural heritage, including the destruction of religious sites and artefacts, and the looting and smuggling of cultural property from archaeological sites, museums, libraries, archives, and other sites, notably by terrorist groups."

Kohn said military officers would be right to refuse orders to destroy cultural sites. Any orders Trump might issue, though, are likely to stop at high levels of command, he added, long before reaching individual pilots or other field-grade officers.

The U.S. military has in past wars made avoiding damage to cultural sites a priority, Kohn said.

"We didn't bomb Chiyoda, the city in Japan that was considered such an important cultural site," he said. "And we made efforts to avoid bombing artistic sites in Europe -- I think of Florence, [Italy], and its bridges and museums."

Decades later, the U.S. military was pressed to explain why it didn't do more to safeguard the Iraq Museum, a national museum in Baghdad, from looters.

Last week, the U.S. killed Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, a prominent Iranian military leader. Iran pledged to retaliate for the killing, which is when Trump warned them about plans to strike the 52 sites, including places of cultural importance.

In a Monday statement, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York said the "targeting of sites of global cultural heritage is abhorrent to the collective values of our society."

"We must remind ourselves of the global importance of protecting cultural sites -- the objects and places by which individuals, communities, and nations connect to their history and heritage," the statement reads.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and retired Air National Guard officer, said he told Trump that Iranian cultural sites should not be targets.

"We're not at war with the culture of the Iranian people," he told reporters.

Rhode Island Democrat Sen. Jack Reed, a retired Army officer and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Monday that the U.S. military can defend the country without targeting cultural sites and endangering civilians.

"America is better than that," he said. "Trump's threats should be strongly condemned on a bipartisan basis."

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at richard.sisk@military.com.

Read more: People Are Panicking About Military Draft, Stop-Loss and IRR Activation. Here's the Reality
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 11:22:37|Editor: ZX

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LONDON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Britain has reduced staff at its embassies in Tehran and Baghdad to a minimum level due to escalating tensions following the U.S. killing of a top Iranian military leader, Sky News reported on Monday.

The withdrawal of the diplomats is a precautionary step rather than based on specific intelligence of a threat while ambassadors Rob Macaire in Tehran and Stephen Hickey in Baghdad will remain in place, according to the report, citing diplomatic sources.

On Friday, the United States killed Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Quds Force, in an airstrike near Baghdad International Airport.

The death of Soleimani has sparked outrage and revenge threats from Tehran, raising fear of an uncontrollable escalation in the region.
Pelosi is trying to reverse many decades of congressional acquiescence to presidential war-making powers. Photo: Mark Wilson/Saul Loeb/Getty Images

Alarms from Congress over the last few days about the presidents refusal to keep lawmakers in the loop as he launched airstrikes that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani sparked a push from Democrats to rein Trump in via congressional resolution.

This week, the House will introduce and vote on a War Powers Resolution to limit the Presidents military actions regarding Iran, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Sunday. It reasserts Congresss long-established oversight responsibilities by mandating that if no further Congressional action is taken, the Administrations military hostilities with regard to Iran cease within 30 days.

Pelosi is now planning a vote on January 9. She may be emboldened by a statement made by Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah expressing tentative support for a counterpart Senate resolution by Tim Kaine after he received an unsatisfactory briefing from the administration about its reasons for assassinating Soleimani.

Proclaim as they might that Trump is again out of bounds, congressional Democrats (and the handful of Republicans with longstanding concerns about presidential abuses of power) are not in a good position to do anything about Iran policy. Yes, Pelosis War Powers Resolution might pass the House, but thats probably where it will end unless Trumps conduct gets so far out of control that the Senate Republican majority preparing to acquit him over articles of impeachment is somehow unsettled.

Heres everything you need to know about the War Powers Act, including why Pelosis move (along with a similar resolution introduced by Kaine in the Senate) may just expose the weak hand Congress has traditionally played in decisions on the use of military force.

Creating the Imperial Commander-in-Chief

The Founders did not deliberately create the imperial presidency as Americans have recently experienced it. But they did, perhaps inadvertently, create an imperial commander-in-chief with broad powers to deploy and direct the armed forces in circumstances (rare enough in the early days of the Republic) that did not require a congressional Declaration of War. It has taken a long series of acquiescent Congresses, however, to make reliance on the presidential powers laid out in Article II of the Constitution a complete alternative to Declarations of War (the last actual declaration was several major wars ago, in 1942).

While Donald Trump is unique in his belief that the Constitution gives him the power to do anything I want as president, the notion that Article II gives him virtually unlimited power in many areas of international affairs is much more broadly accepted. In recent years, both Democratic and Republicans administrations have insisted on broad constitutional powers for the commander in chief. Again and again, Congress has granted presidents explicit and often open-ended authorizations to deploy the military without any declaration of war. Presidents, in turn, have exploited these Authorizationa for the Use of Military Force (AUMFs) to conduct wide-ranging operations beyond the scope of the original purpose for seeking such authority, for years and even decades.

War Powers Resolution of 1973

Perhaps the most notable attempt in modern times to reassert some congressional control over military force was the War Powers Resolution (sometimes referred to as the War Powers Act) of 1973, crafted in response to Richard Nixons secret military operations in Cambodia and enacted via an override of a presidential veto.

The War Powers Resolution requires that when presidents engage in military actions not authorized by Congress  presumably of some emergency or defensive nature  they notify lawmakers within 48 hours, and bring the military operations to a close within 60 to 90 days (the later deadline applying to withdrawals of forces already underway).

It also provides for a proactive congressional demand for cancellation of an otherwise unauthorized military deployment within 30 days by a simple concurrent resolution. The ability to do this by majority vote was struck down as a collateral effect of a 1983 Supreme Court decision reasserting presidential powers against congressional vetoes, but the procedure itself remains. In fact, this is the provision Pelosi is utilizing, just as opponents of the U.S.-backed Saudi war in Yemen did in 2019, leading to a resolution demanding an end to U.S. support within 30 days which passed both Houses but was vetoed by Trump in April of 2019. Despite some rumblings of limited Republican support for the Pelosi/Kaine measure, it is not going to obtain two-thirds support in either chamber, and certainly not the Senate.

Even if Team Trump accepted the power of Congress to restrain its actions under the War Powers Resolution, his lawyers would almost certainly argue that the attack on Iran falls under a prior congressional authorization.

Authorization for the Use of Military Force

The White House will likely claim that Trumps Iran-related ventures are in pursuance of the 2001 AUMF, in which Congress basically authorized a global war on terrorism, and the 2002 AUMF, which gave George W. Bush the green light to invade Iraq.

The desire to exploit the 2001 AUMF probably explains the dubious claims emanating from the administration (and particularly from Vice President Mike Pence) that Soleimani was involved after the fact in the September 11 attacks. But as Scott Anderson explains at Lawfare, the 2002 AUMF is the more logical, if still problematic, precedent that might serve as a current authorization:

The 2002 AUMFauthorizes the use of force to address the continuing threat posed by Iraq without further elaboration. It provided the legal basis for most U.S. military operations in Iraq from 2003 through the U.S. withdrawal in 2011, including prior military operations against Iran-affiliated militias. Since then, its primarily served as a redundant authority for the 2001 AUMF for counter-Islamic State operations in Iraq and, in certain circumstances, in Syria. But it could have broader application. As the acting general counsel for the Defense Department described in 2017 remarks, the 2002 AUMF has always been understood to authorize the use of force for the related dual purposes of helping to establish a stable, democratic Iraq and of responding, including through the use of force, to terrorist threats emanating from Iraq. In theory, Soleimani and the other targets of the Jan. 3 strike could qualify as either, due to the Iran-backed PMFs history of undermining the rule of law in Iraq and engaging in acts of terrorism targeting U.S. personnel. Moreover, just as the 2002 AUMF authorizes the use of force in Syria where doing so furthers its purpose, it might also authorize the use of military force in other neighboring countries, like Iran.

The political case for using an AUMF on Iraq even in the face of current Iraqi government hostility to U.S. military involvement is shakier, though Americans have never been very good at subordinating sovereign government decisions to our superior second-guessing about their real interests, have we?

Congress Passed Up Its Last Chance to Place Limits on Trump

There was a recent opportunity to attempt to impose some restraint on the Trump administrations military operations against Iran, as part of the debate over a regular Defense Authorization bill (known as the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA). Last July the House passed an amendment to the bill drafted by Represenatatives Ro Khanna and Matt Gaetz aimed at requiring prior congressional authorization for any attack on Iran, as reported by Voxs Tara Golshan:

Lawmakers passed two amendments to the Houses more than $730 billion national defense budget that would restrict Trumps ability to go to war with Iran without congressional approval, and also put a check on Trumps relationship with Saudi Arabia, an alliance the administration has been using to escalate tensions with Iran.

These amendments were passed with bipartisan support in the House, as lawmakers of both parties grow increasingly concerned about how much power the executive branch wields in the USs decisions about war. But they will see major resistance among Senate Republicans, who so far have largely supported giving Trump unfettered war authority when it comes to Iran. Trump has already threatened to veto the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). His administration requested $750 billion for the Pentagon budget  a figure Senate Republicans passed late last month.

Fifty senators voted for a similar amendment on Iran, but that didnt meet the chambers super-majority requirement, much less reach the two-thirds vote necessary to override the threatened presidential veto. And so the Iran language was dropped in the final version Trump signed.

It would have taken either unprecedented Republican defiance of Trump, or a bicameral Democratic determination to stall must-pass legislation perpetually over what was then a hypothetical fear of Trump lashing out violently at Iran. But it was probably as close as Congress has come  or may come in the immediate future  to reclaiming war-making powers from Trump.

Note: this piece has been updated and corrected to make it clear that the present War Powers Resolution action in Congress is pursuant to a provision in the original WPR of 1973.
Arizona News

Phoenix, Arizona - Governor Doug Ducey announced Monday the appointment of Daniel Ruiz as the state of Arizonas Chief Operating Officer (COO). Ruiz, a member of the Governors team since 2015, most recently served as Governor Duceys Senior Advisor. As COO, Ruiz will continue to serve as a member of the Governor's senior staff, and now oversee all state agency operations and manage the Governors cabinet.

"Daniel Ruiz is a leader and a doer, and has earned the respect of stakeholders and other leaders throughout our state, both inside and outside of government, said Governor Ducey. Daniels ability to solve problems, bring people together and get things done will bring renewed energy to our efforts to reform state government and improve how we serve taxpayers and citizens. Daniel has been a trusted member of my team for more than four years, and Im thrilled to have him in this important role.

Im incredibly grateful for the trust Governor Ducey has placed in me, said Daniel Ruiz. We have a great team in this administration, and weve demonstrated real progress at making government work for real people. Im looking forward to working directly with our senior staff, our agency directors and our dedicated state employees to continue the Governors vision of Opportunity for All in the state of Arizona.

Ruiz has served in multiple roles for the Governor over the past four-plus years. From 2015 through 2018, Ruiz served as Director of Media Affairs, overseeing internal and external communications at all state agencies and managing all the states public information officers. From August 2018 through November 2018, Ruiz assumed the role of Communications Director, with responsibility for all strategic communications on behalf of the Governor's Office. During that time he played a key role in the planning and execution of the state's memorial service for the late Senator John McCain. Since December 2018, Ruiz has served as Senior Advisor, advising the Governor directly on policy, operations and communications. His responsibilities have also included overseeing the Governor's Office of Constituent Services.

Prior to joining the Governors Office in 2015, Ruiz was employed with the Maricopa County Recorders Office as Director of Communications and Public Affairs. Ruiz also served the Citizens Clean Elections Commission in various capacities including Deputy Director and Interim Executive Director. Ruiz, a Flinn-Brown Fellow, is the 2018 recipient of the Jack B. Jewett Public Service Award from the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership, and was named a 2018 Breakout by the Arizona Capitol Times for his work taking on complex and challenging public policy issues.

Ruiz's appointment as COO takes effect immediately.
The accused Claremont serial killer's lawyers have tried to poke holes in the credibility of forensic evidence after it was revealed there was no electronic record of a key item for several months.

Former Telstra technician and confessed rapist Bradley Robert Edwards, 51, is fighting allegations he murdered secretary Sarah Spiers, 18, childcare worker Jane Rimmer, 23, and solicitor Ciara Glennon, 27, in 1996 and 1997.

Prosecutors allege fibres found on the bodies of Ms Rimmer and Ms Glennon came from Edwards' work clothes and were also found on shorts worn by a 17-year-old girl who Edwards admits twice raping after dragging her through Karrakatta cemetery in 1995.

Former Telstra technician and confessed rapist Bradley Robert Edwards, 51, is fighting allegations he killed three women

Defence counsel Genevieve Cleary suggested on Tuesday in the Western Australia Supreme Court that contamination was a factor.

Retired detective Jonathan Adams, who was tasked with storing the shorts in 1999, revealed there was no electronic record of where they were for about eight months before he received them.

He blamed the discrepancy on a 'human data entry lag'.

Mr Adams also said exhibits were in a locked room in paper bags that were folded closed but not sealed.

Records show the Macro Taskforce, which was investigating the disappearances of the three murder victims, later collected the exhibits in 2001.

Mr Adams also attended the crime scene after Ms Rimmer's body was discovered in Wellard 55 days after she vanished from Claremont.

Edawrds is accused of murdering secretary Sarah Spiers (left), 18, childcare worker Jane Rimmer (centre), 23, and solicitor Ciara Glennon (right), 27, in 1996 and 1997.

'I think once you see a body in the bush like that, that never leaves you,' he testified.

'I can recall that as clearly as yesterday.'

Mr Adams said he stood no closer than four metres from the body and rejected the suggestion he may have contaminated the site by stepping into bushes without wearing protective clothing.

'I've had years of experience ... you do not go anywhere near (the body) because of contamination,' he said.
The residents of Maradu Municipality whose houses are located within a radius of 200 metres from the towers which are proposed to be demolished on January 11- 12 by the order of the Supreme Court, have filed a case in Kerala High Court on Tuesday.

The petitioners have requested the Kerala HC to direct the respondents to immediately assess the present market value of the houses and other structures in the 200-metre area before the demolition.

They had already approached the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and had given him representation in this regard.

However, the petitioners alleged that no effective fruitful decision has been taken to compensate them if they suffer any damage as part of the proposed demolition.

They also alleged that the proposed market value of the nearby houses and structures are not yet properly assessed or published by the authorities.

The petitioners have argued that "the people residing within a radius of 200 metres were given an eviction notice for a time beginning from January 1, 2020, by Maradu municipality as a precaution and preventive measure. The petitioners herein are highly anxious and concerned about their residential houses and other improvements. In order to blast a multi-storied flat, it is understood that heavy explosives are used which not only destroy the flats but also cause severe damages to the nearby structures."

The petitioners have argued that the residential buildings near to the flats may also suffer damage to the intensity of the blasts and hence it will be difficult to assess the damages and value of the property after the proposed blasts.

Harichandra Sai KR, Antony NJ, Benny Joseph, CU Prakasan, KR Shaji, Yamuna, Ajayakumar KK, are the petitioners, among others, who went to the Kerala High Court on Tuesday, aided by a group of advocates who are providing free legal help to them.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway to bring down four apartments -- Holy Faith H2O, twin towers of Alfa Serene, Jain Coral Cove and Golden Kayaloram -- in Maradu through controlled explosion on January 11-12.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Elton John drew cheers from an ecstatic Sydney crowd on Tuesday evening, January 7, when he pledged a million dollars towards bushfire relief efforts during his concert in the Qudos Bank Arena.

Elton was performing in Sydney as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour. There are people out there who lost their lives trying to save homes. There are people who have lost their lives and their homes. And lastly is the plight of the animals and the loss of their habitat that, frankly, is on a biblical scale and heartbreaking, he said. Therefore, tonight, I will be pledging $1 million to support the bushfire relief fund.

Australia is undergoing a record-breaking bushfire season, with over eight million hectares burnt by January 6, according to The Guardian. In a statement released on Tuesday, the World Wildlife Fund estimated that over one billion animals had been killed by the fires. Credit: Caitlyn Hurley via Storyful
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - The UN Security Council held an emergency consultation session on Monday at the request of Tunisia, a non-permanent member of the Council (2020-2022), during which Russia focused on recent events in Libya
zveloAPI for Precision Web Content Classification "Weve seen a growing trend amongst website developers to use innovative approaches to design using Single Page Apps and Multiple Page Apps and we are proud to be able to deliver highly accurate categorization support for these new and evolving types of sites.

zvelo is excited to kick off 2020 with additional enhancements to our web content categorization engine, commented Jeff Finn, zvelo CEO. We have invested more than a decade into building and maximizing our underlying infrastructure and methodology to drive unparalleled standards for categorization accuracy and coverage across the web  including at the full-path page, post or article level. Weve seen a growing trend amongst website developers to use innovative approaches to design using Single Page Apps and Multiple Page Apps and we are proud to be able to deliver highly accurate categorization support for these new and evolving types of sites.

Web developers are gravitating towards new front-end JavaScript frameworks like Angular, React or Vue to build faster, more visually compelling, interactive, and responsive websites designed to improve the end user experience. These frameworks enable developers to build sites that are modular in nature and create components with their own unique styling which can be easily reused across different pages. These frameworks allow web developers to shift towards building sites which render the HTML on the client-side vs the more traditional Server-Side Rendering (SSR). The Client-Side Rendering (CSR) poses a challenge because it impedes how the HTML of a website is traditionally inspected and categorized.

According to a recent W3Techs Web Technology Survey, Angular and React JavaScripts currently make up more than 4% of the top 1000 websites and are growing rapidly. The growth of these front-end development frameworks used to build Single-Page Apps, Multi-Page Apps, Progressive Web Apps and other applications which favor the Client-Side Rendering of HTML, are key drivers in zvelos ongoing pursuits to provide the markets leading content categorization and malicious detection services.

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8350 East Crescent Parkway, Suite 450

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A former Malian government official claimed responsibility Tuesday for embarrassing tweets from the president's account which labelled the US assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani as a "fuck-up".

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita's official Twitter account had posted Monday that "no one is around to tell Trump that he committed a fuck-up" by ordering the assassination.

Soleimani was killed on Friday in a US drone strike in Iraq ordered by President Donald Trump, triggering fears of a retaliatory strike and an escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

The Malian presidency account added that Trump "threatens world peace and has made of the US a rogue state".

The tweets, which have since been deleted, were widely shared.

But the government walked back from the comments on Monday night, saying the account had been "temporarily pirated by ill-intentioned individuals" and calling the posts "an unfortunate mistake".

The author of the affair turned out to be a former spokesperson for Keita, Tiegoum Maiga, who outed himself on his own Twitter account.

"It was neither pirates, nor hackers, (but) a regrettable handling error," he said. Maiga, also the brother of former Malian Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga, said he left his job in November but had forgotten he still had access to the president's account.

His tweets were meant for his personal account and he had "no desire to be a nuisance," Maiga said.

The US also suffered a PR fiasco on Monday, when it said a draft letter describing steps to move its military out of Iraq had been mistakenly sent out.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A supermarket chain is selling reusable plastic baskets as an alternative for single-use plastic bags.

The Woolworths-owned Countdown, which has 180 stores across New Zealand, introduced the baskets more than one year after removing plastic bags from stores in favour of reusable and paper bags.

A nationwide plastic bag ban was later introduced in July 2019.

The 18.5 litre baskets are available online or in stores for NZ$10 (AUD$9.60).

A supermarket chain has begun selling reusable plastic baskets as an alternative for single-use plastic bags. Source: Countdown

Kiri Hannifin, Countdown spokeswoman, told Stuff.co.nz the carriers are made of regrind plastic, which consists of plastic waste that has been fed through a plastic grinder.

Its stronger than virgin plastic and can be recycled at the end of life," she said.

One month after removing single-use bags from stores, Countdown revealed hundreds of shopping baskets had started going missing.

The Orewa location lost all but six of its baskets, and roughly 250 disappeared from a store in Lynfield, according to the publication.

Countdown, which has 180 stores across New Zealand, introduced the baskets four months after removing plastic bags from stores in favour of reusable and paper bags. Source: Getty

Ms Hannifin said the introduction of the reusable baskets was not in response to the thefts.

"Selling baskets in-store isn't in response to theft, it's in response to the popularity of bringing your own shopping vessel," she said.

"Basket theft has settled as people have got used to bringing their own bags."

Countdown forms part of Woolworths New Zealand, a subsidiary of Australian company Woolworths Limited.

Over the last couple of years, weve been focused on how we can reduce and remove as much unnecessary plastic and packing as we can from across our business. Our phase out of single-use plastic bags from our checkouts and online was very well received by Kiwis, Ms Hannifin told Yahoo News Australia.

New Zealand introduced a nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags in July 2019. Source: AAP

Last year, we introduced BYO containers and we have removed almost 150 tonnes of plastic from our produce section as well.

We know that there is a lot more that needs to be done to protect our environment, so giving our customers another reusable option to carry their groceries, that is made from regrind plastic and is recyclable is a no brainer.

Story continues

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.
Hunched over and shuffling along with his walking frame, Harvey Weinstein's pitiful arrival at court yesterday to begin his trial for rape and sexual assault was like something straight out of his films.

Gone was the bullish Hollywood titan. In his place was a wretched soul.

"I think he's taken some good acting tips," said Rose McGowan, one of the first women to accuse him.

Weinstein's day began miserably, as hecklers hurled insults and cameras flashed in his face in the frigid morning air - a man accustomed to the warm red-carpet blaze of publicity, now facing something far more ignominious.

It got worse.

Hours after the end of the first hearing in Manhattan - a brief and procedural affair - prosecutors on the other side of the country announced they were charging Weinstein with yet more crimes.

The Los Angeles county district attorney's office filed four charges against Weinstein yesterday, accusing him of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint.

They allege that, in February 2013, Weinstein went to a hotel and raped a woman after pushing his way inside her room. The next evening, they claim Weinstein sexually assaulted another woman at a hotel suite in Beverly Hills.

"We believe the evidence will show the defendant used his power and influence to gain access to his victims and then commit crimes against them," said Jackie Lacey, the district attorney.

Weinstein's accusers, who now number more than 80, spoke of their relief yesterday that the court case had finally begun, while mocking his dishevelled appearance.

The 67-year-old had surgery on his back in December following a car crash in August. His haggard appearance at pre-trial hearings surprised onlookers.

However, the disgraced film producer has long argued with his lawyers that winning over the court of public opinion is vital to his case. In December, photos were published of the producer without his walking frame in the 'New York Post'. The newspaper claimed they were taken recently, suggesting that Weinstein was perhaps trying to curry favour among potential jurors.

Rosanna Arquette, the actress who rejected Weinstein's aggressive sexual overtures at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the early nineties, said outside court he looked a "broken man" as he arrived and avoided the assembled women.

"He seemed cowardly," she said. "He wouldn't look at us, he wouldn't make eye contact. Nothing has changed. We weren't screaming; we just wanted to face him, and he avoided us."

During the opening hearing of a trial that is expected to last six to eight weeks, Weinstein sat impassively as his lawyers began proceedings.

Despite the dozens of allegations, the trial hinges on the accusations of two women - Mimi Haleyi, a former production assistant, and a second, unnamed, accuser.

Ms Haleyi says he forcefully performed oral sex on her in 2006 at his New York apartment. The second woman accuses him of rape in 2013.

Outside the courtroom, some of the famous to have accused him of rape and sexual assault voiced their disgust at his alleged actions.

"Dear Harvey, no matter what lies you tell yourself, you did this," said Rose McGowan, like the other accusers, dressed in red. "Today, Lady Justice is staring down on a super-predator. You brought this upon yourself by hurting so many. You have only yourself to blame." Arquette said the trial marked a turning point not just in Hollywood.

"Time's up on sexual harassment in all workplaces," she said. "Time's up on empty apologies without consequence. And time's up on the pervasive culture of silence that has enabled abusers like Weinstein."

Donna Rotunno, Weinstein's lead lawyer, said in an interview before proceedings that her client had made "bad choices" but that he was not abusive. If convicted, Weinstein faces life in prison. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
PM launches Vietnams 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship Updated: 09:42 - 07/01/2020

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and delegates at a ceremony in Hanoi on January 6 to launch Vietnams 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship__Photo: VNA

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Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a ceremony in Hanoi on January 6 to launch Vietnams 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship, with about 300 distinguished guests taking part.Speaking at the event, PM Phuc said throughout its 25 years of ASEAN membership, Vietnam has always made active and responsible contributions to ASEAN cooperation. In 2020, Vietnam assumes major responsibilities at the regional and international levels, notably the ASEAN Chairmanship. Such a responsibility gives Vietnam an opportunity to contribute more substantively to the building and growth of a harmonious, resilient, innovative, cohesive, responsible and adaptive ASEAN Community.Previously a region of strife and differences, ASEAN has become a united group of independent countries enjoying great progress and growth, where 650 million people call home. The grouping is ranked as the third most dynamic economy in the world, boasting a total gross domestic product of USD 2.95 trillion in 2018. ASEAN has signed six free trade agreements with seven top partners in the world, thus reinforcing its centrality in the regional architecture. These achievements have earned ASEAN the recognition of major powers and partners in the world.As the ASEAN 2020 Chair, Vietnam will build on the achievements and the efforts of previous ASEAN Chairs and work with fellow members in identifying future directions for the ASEAN Community until 2025 and beyond, he said.He added that peace, stability, solidarity, unity, prosperity and sustainability will remain the purpose, the identity and the overarching goal of the ASEAN Community. These values pave the way for ASEAN to forge for itself a new image, new standing and new role in the spirit of making active and responsible contributions to dialogue and cooperation at the global level.Secondly, the ASEAN Community will foster seamless connectivity and deepen integration within and beyond the region, on the basis of innovation, stability and the growing influence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution upon the social and economic life of the entire community. The ASEAN Community will serve as a model of circular economy, endowed with new vigor.Thirdly, the ASEAN Community will become more resilient through effective climate change adaptation and response, and better management of natural disasters, pollution and plastic waste. It will become a livable place, with a burgeoning network of smart cities and strong social welfare. It will possess a high-quality workforce in the digital era through quality educational system and strategies for sustainable development and equal opportunity for all, so as to leave no one behind.Fourthly, its fundamental documents enable the organs of ASEAN Community to maintain sensible, effective and vigorous operation and better serve the ASEAN Community and its people.To realize these aspirations and foster the future together, he called on each member and every citizen to make every effort to contribute to the common works of ASEAN, from the smallest of acts.Let us think Community, act Community, and share the Community values. There are no ties more enduring than those connecting our hearts. Let our efforts take ASEAN far and wide, and at the same keep ASEAN close to our hearts, he said.According to him, the theme of ASEAN 2020 is Cohesive and Responsive, which is supported by the five priorities for 2020, identified with a view to meeting the long-term goals of ASEAN. They involve actively contributing to a regional environment of peace, security and stability; bringing prosperity through regional integration and connectivity, heightening ASEANs adaptability to the Fourth Industrial Revolution to grasp opportunities; raising the awareness of ASEAN Community and Identity; strengthening partnerships for peace and sustainable development, and promoting the role and contribution of ASEAN in the international community; and enhancing the capacity and operational efficiency of ASEAN.Vietnam will make every effort to collaborate with fellow members to successfully accomplish the ASEAN 2020s priorities, he said.He wished that as befitting of an ASEAN citizen, each Vietnamese citizen, through actions, would spread the messages of a friendly, cordial, and hospitable Vietnam that welcomes all future partners with open arms.At the ceremony, PM Phuc together with Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and leaders of ministries and agencies pressed the button to launch the ASEAN 2020 website.Minh also honored special sponsors for Vietnams 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship.-
Simon Byrne (centre) outside Crossmaglen PSNI station, a picture that he posted on Twitter

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne has apologised for an "offensive" Christmas Day tweet in which he posed with heavily armed officers in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh.

Mr Byrne was widely criticised for the tweet, which he said demonstrated the "stark reality" of policing in the area.

He issued a statement following meetings with Sinn Fein and SDLP representatives over the controversy on Monday and Tuesday.

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The Chief Constable said the tweet was never meant as a comment on the community of south Armagh and he is sorry for any offence caused.

"Since taking up the post of Chief Constable, I have been looking at the visibility, accessibility and responsiveness of policing right across Northern Ireland," he added.

"As part of that ongoing work, I have commissioned a review of policing in south Armagh. The review will involve local officers, elected representatives and the local community.

"I am really proud of the local officers, who working together with local people, have made so much progress for policing and the community in recent years. It is only by working together that we will continue to make progress."

Following Tuesday's meeting, SDLP Slieve Gullion councillor Pete Byrne, who met with Simon Byrne along with the party's policing spokesperson Dolores Kelly, said: "[The Chief Constable] accepted that it was ill judged. We had a frank conversation about the importance of language and nuance," he added.

"We discussed the positive work that has been achieved in policing in south Armagh in recent years, citing the co-operation between the PSNI and Crossmaglen Community First Responders as an example.

"The Chief Constable also accepted my invitation to join me in Crossmaglen for further engagement and I look forward to that in the coming months."

Read More

Dolores Kelly said they had a "robust discussion" around the challenges of the "style and appearance" of "militarised stations" in Crossmaglen and Newtownhamilton.

"We discussed the slow pace of of transformation, the legacy of policing for communities like south Armagh and the ongoing cultural work that needed to take place within the PSNI," she said.

In his Christmas Day tweet, Simon Byrne praised officers after visiting the republican heartland.

"I take my hat off to colleagues policing such a unique part of [NI]. Their sense of duty and optimism is inspiring. Stay safe and thank you," he said.

After meeting Mr Byrne on Monday, Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy said he urged him to urgently change the PSNI approach to policing in south Armagh.

The Christmas Day photo stunt in Crossmaglen made headlines, but is only symptomatic of a much wider problem with policing in the area, he said.

Over 20 years after Patten and the Good Friday Agreement, the police approach to the community in south Armagh has barely changed.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 17:38:20|Editor: Wang Yamei

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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- California state Monday sued a Silicon Valley billionaire in a legal battle to fight for the public's right to access a scenic beach near Half Moon Bay south of San Francisco.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed the lawsuit on behalf of the California State Lands Commission and the California Coastal Commission in San Mateo County Superior Court.

California officials demanded in the litigation that billionaire Vinod Khosla, a co-founder of tech firm Sun Microsystems in Silicon Valley, allow public access to Martins Beach, a crescent-shaped stretch of sand near Half Moon Bay in San Mateo, about 56 km south of San Francisco.

Khosla, also a venture capitalist, bought the coastal property in 2008 for about 32.5 million U.S. dollars and kept the public out of the beach by putting up signs of "No Trespassing" at the only entrance leading to the beach in 2010.

However, California officials, beach goers and visitors contend that the beach has been used as a "public beach since at least the early 1900s," and questioned the legality of Khosla's enclosure of the beach to private purposes. The billionaire has been fighting for his right to what he called his "purchased" property over the past 10 years of legal battles.

California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, who is also chair of the State Lands Commission, insisted that the beach belongs to the general public.

"California's coastline belongs to everyone," she said. "This lawsuit is a critical part of California's ongoing efforts to ensure public access and to protect the public's rights to access its golden shores."

Dori Yob Kilmer, an attorney for Khosla, vowed to defend the billionaire in the lawsuit.
This is the astonishing moment a 93-year-old man shoots an apartment complex manager in both legs after holding him responsible for flooding in his Las Vegas home.

Robert Thomas, 93, became 'upset' after his Las Vegas apartment was damaged by water and blamed the management staff, police said.

He armed himself with a 9mm handgun and marched into the leasing office of Vista Del Valle apartments at around 9.15am, on January 2, brandishing the weapon at terrified workers.

As a female employee desperately called 911, the police call dispatcher could hear Thomas firing at a computer screen and making threats before shooting the defenseless maintenance manager twice in cold blood.

Officer Ronald Hornyak, 45, and his partner arrived on the scene minutes later and shot at Thomas, missing him by inches, before dragging him to the ground and arresting him.

The victim was rushed to University Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds but was released the following day and is making a full recovery at home.

Pictured: Robert Thomas, 93, (right) in the apartment complex manager's office in Las Vegas, after pulling out the 9mm handgun. Thomas allowed the female member of staff (centre) to leave but proceeded to attack the maintenance manager (left) last Thursday

The maintenance manager is pictured after taking a shot to his right leg in Las Vegas last Thursday. Thomas can be seen standing over him menacingly, dressed in a long black coat and trilby hat

Thomas wasn't finished with the manager and proceeded to shoot him a second time, in the left leg in his office in Las Vegas last Thursday

Thomas was held at the Clark County Detention Center charged with attempted murder, kidnapping with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, burglary with a gun, and discharging a gun in a prohibited area.

He appeared in court in a wheelchair on January 3 and was unable to hear proceedings without the aid of headphones, Fox5 Las Vegas reports.

Prosecutors allege that Thomas told detectives following his arrest that he would 'do it again' and that his intent was to harm the apartment manager, according to Fox5.

His bail was set at $25,000.

Surveillance video taken from the apartment complex shows Thomas entering the building wearing a black coat and black trilby hat.

Thomas (pictured) has since been charged with attempted murder, kidnapping with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, burglary with a gun, and discharging a gun in a prohibited area for last week's callous attack

After the assault, a police officer can be seen dragging the nonagenarian out through the door of the office in Las Vegas

After threatening the maintenance manager he pulls a chair out from under a nearby desk and tells him to sit down before drawing a gun from his inside pocket.

He points it at the man and his female colleague before firing a bullet into a computer screen on the other side of the room.

After allowing the female hostage to leave, he calmly takes aim at the maintenance manager's right leg and fires.

As the victim falls to the floor clutching his wound, Thomas stands over him menacingly and shoots him again in the left leg.

A second clip - taken from a police body-worn camera - shows Officer Hornyak arriving at the scene moments later and firing a single shot at the elderly suspect through the glass door, narrowly missing him.

Hornyak then storms into the reception area, screaming: 'Drop the gun. Drop it now.'

The startled suspect quickly puts the weapon down on the desk and is hauled to the floor face-first.

Assistant Sheriff Brett Zimmerman, of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, said: 'It was later determined Thomas was upset at the management because of water damage and flooding within his apartment.

'During the process of being taken into custody, Thomas received a cut to his head.

A police cam shows Thomas just moments before his arrest last week in Las Vegas

'Officer Hornyak then checked Thomas's body for any gunshot wounds but did not find any. It turned out that the round that was fired by officer Hornyak through the glass door went through the lapel of Thomas's jacket but did not penetrate his skin.

'Medical was called for the victim who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers started lifesaving procedures while waiting for medical to arrive on the scene.

'Thomas and the victim were transported to UMC Trauma with non-life-threatening injuries. Both were treated and released by medical personnel.'
Anchorage, AK -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/07/2020 -- If you have suffered injuries as a result of a motor vehicle accident that was caused by someone else you may be eligible for compensation by way of a personal injury claim. In fact, it is not too bold to say that you deserve to be compensated for your injuries. "Unfortunately, in most cases, the party responsible for your injury is not likely to freely admit fault and write out a check to cover all of your damages. In fact, you probably won't be dealing with the other party at all. More likely you will be dealing with the insurance company."



The reality of the matter is as a plaintiff in a personal injury case you will need to deal with an insurance company and going this alone can be very challenging especially if you are unfamiliar with the process. Insurance adjuster are trained negotiators and their primary objective is to protect their employer's bottom line this is achieved by paying out as little as possible. Because the insurance adjuster's interests are not aligned with yours it is in your best interests to have skilled legal counsel and representation in your corner who will work tirelessly to protect your interests.



One article noted the following when it comes to choosing a lawyer to represent your case, "Not all attorneys are the same and choosing the right personal injury lawyer can also be a challenge. There are many out there to pick from, and there is a lot of information to sift through." The same article provides what it terms secrets to hiring a personal injury attorney.



Choose an attorney with extensive knowledge of personal injury law



"Because it is possible for an individual to represent themselves in a personal injury case it is assumed that personal injury law is an easy form of law. However, the reality is personal injury is a complex area of law involving highly-specialized rules and practices. While there may be some easy cases that do not entail severe injuries, the use of expert witnesses, multi-vehicle trucking accidents etc. generally, personal injury law is complex and because of these complexities it is necessary to use a personal injury attorney who can handle these and come up with a strong case for the plaintiff", a Crowson Law Group attorney commented. The article pointed out that when it comes to personal injury claims, while a general practitioner is able to effectively handle some less complicated personal injury cases, it is necessary to use a personal injury attorney for personal injury cases.



Choose an attorney with the resources and commitment to successfully pursue case



It is a fact that most personal injury cases do not go all the way to trial and generally that is the best outcome from the parties involved. However, another factor is that litigation is costly and can drag on for a while as a result "your lawyer should have the ability, willingness and wherewithal to take the case to trial when necessary." It is not uncommon for some personal injury attorneys to have never seen the inside of a courtroom, therefore find out how much trial experience your personal injury attorney has.



For the best accident claims advice contact a law firm of renowned professions.



About the Crowson Law Group

The Crowson Law Group is a law firm of renowned professionals who specialize in personal injury matters. If you are looking for legal advice on Alaska aircraft accidents and representation by the best Anchorage Alaska attorneys be sure to include Crowson Law Group in your search.



Contact Information

Address: Crowson Law Group

637 A St., Anchorage, AK 99501

Email: james@crowsonlaw.com

Phone:(907) 677-9393
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 06:01:38|Editor: ZX

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CARACAS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's National Assembly convened on Tuesday with opposition deputy Luis Parra serving as president of the legislative body.

A little past 10 a.m. local time (1400 GMT), Parra announced via Twitter that the day's session was opened "with the regulation quorum" required.

Lawmakers debated three main issues: the country's gasoline crisis, the release of "political prisoners," and "urgent wage adjustments for Venezuelan workers."

The head of the assembly's ruling PSUV party bloc, deputy Francisco Torrealba, took to Twitter to say lawmakers also discussed ongoing dialogue and "political coexistence" between Venezuela's progressive and conservative camps.

Public TV covered some of the debate taking place at the Legislative Palace, as well as a purported attempt by far-right opposition deputies, who don't recognize Parra's election as president, to disrupt the session.

Meanwhile, privately-owned VPI TV broadcast footage that purported to show hardline opposition leader Juan Guaido and his close aides entering the session.

On Sunday, Guaido lost his bid for reelection as president of the assembly to Parra, after ruling and opposition deputies voted for a new board of directors headed by Parra with a total of 81 votes.

Guaido and his group refused to accept the outcome, simulating a voting session outside the building to reelect him.
San Antonio is quickly approaching a crossroads.

The rapid growth were experiencing is good. Its bolstering our economy. Its providing opportunity and upward mobility while breaking down generational poverty. Its creating more access to education and jobs.

Its the manifestation of what weve long known  that San Antonio is a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire.

The rest of the world has figured out what weve long known, and now people are flocking to the Alamo City every day. This explosive growth means that we have to work hard now to ensure our communal quality of life doesnt suffer over the next two decades as we add a million new neighbors who are bringing their cars with them.

I was pleased to read the supportive editorial in the Dec. 18 San Antonio Express-News (Transit plan path toward a better city) backing a burgeoning plan that makes a ton of sense: increase funding for VIA Metropolitan Transit and return protection of the Edwards Aquifer to the San Antonio Water System, which has the experience and expertise to ensure the quality and quantity of our primary source of water is always protected.

The editorial aptly points out that VIA is uniquely positioned to improve air quality, link disparate neighborhoods and employment centers, alleviate poverty, and address congestion on our streets and freeways.

Theres only one way to do that: We must better fund our transit agency, and that can only happen by dedicating to VIA more of the 1-cent sales tax the state authorized for metropolitan transit authorities four decades ago.

In 1977, San Antonio was the first major Texas city to create a metropolitan transit authority. Back then, local leaders asked voters to approve only a half-cent sales tax. That decision to ask voters to approve only half of the amount authorized by the Legislature set up VIA for systemic underfunding. Meanwhile, the other major metropolitan areas in Texas  Dallas, Houston and Austin  elected to use the full cent.

The sales tax is the only source of operational funding for public transit. And if we better fund VIA, it will also open the doors to more federal matching dollars for the agency.

By 2040, 1 million more people will live here. The greater San Antonio area will be home to 3.4 million residents  and their cars. We must provide other options for moving around our community because theres no way to build our way out of that onslaught of vehicles. The only solution is to offer an efficient transit system that creates a realistic alternative for people who may not want to drive everywhere.

But even if you plan to keep driving, you should still support the VIA Reimagined plan because others will use public transit if they have that realistic alternative, and that means less crowded streets and highways.

Through VIA Reimagined, we can improve our mobility future. Increased frequencies on buses; transit vehicles running in dedicated lanes bypassing traffic in Advanced Rapid Transit corridors; and better, more reliable and efficient service, and partnerships by leveraging technology. We know these improvements will increase ridership, having an overall positive impact on our community, our mobility and our environment.

The decisions we make today will affect our quality of life for generations to come. Now is the time to support VIA and ensure a prosperous and resilient future.

Jeffrey C. Arndt is president and chief executive officer of VIA Metropolitan Transit.
A Delhi court will on Tuesday hear a plea by the mother of the December 16 gang-rape victim seeking directions from the court to issue death warrant against her 23-year-old daughters tormentors.

In the last hearing, the court had directed the Tihar jail authorities to issue a notice to the convicts informing them about the legal remedies available to them. The order had come after the judge was informed that the Supreme Court had dismissed the review petition of one the convicts - Akshay Kumar Singh.

The jail authorities had then issued a notice to the convicts on December 18 - Akshay, Vinay, Pawan and Mukesh - who are on a death row for raping the physiotherapy student in a moving bus on December 16, 2012. The jail authorities told the convicts that they have seven days to file their mercy petition.

However, replying to the notice, advocate AP Singh, representing three convicts, said that they are yet to exhaust all their legal remedies. He said that they still have the option of filing a curative petition after their review petition was dismissed by the Supreme Court. The lawyer added that the convicts cannot file a mercy petition before the President till the time all legal remedies are exhausted.

The court will now hear the matter on Tuesday when all the facts would be placed before it. On an earlier date, the prosecution had sought that the death warrant be issued against the convicts stating that the mercy petition can be filed later. It had also said that delaying tactics were being used by the convicts.

However, the court had refused to issue the warrant stating that it cant do so before the convicts have exhausted all the legal remedies.

On Monday, another Delhi court dismissed a complaint by Heera Lal Gupta, father of Pawan Kumar Gupta (one of the convicts) who had sought perjury proceedings against the sole eye-witness, a friend of the victim, who was present with her on the day the incident took place.

The judge, while dismissing the complaint, said the same defence was also used during the trial and the court had not accepted it leading to the conviction.

The 23-year-old woman was gangraped and tortured on December 16, 2012, which led to her death. All the six accused were arrested and charged with sexual assault and murder. One of the accused was a minor and appeared before a juvenile justice court, while another accused committed suicide in Tihar Jail.

Four of the convicts were sentenced to death by a trial court in September 2013, and the verdict confirmed by the Delhi High Court in March 2014 and upheld by the Supreme Court in May 2017, which also dismissed their review petition in July 2018.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Kazakhstan introduced 72-hour visa-free regimen for citizens of China and India travelling through territory of Kazakhstan via international airports of Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Shymkent, Aktau, Karaganda and Taraz, Trend reports with reference to the press office of Kazakhstans Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The regimen was introduced starting from Jan. 1, 2020.

Now, transit visitors from China and India will be receiving stamps in passport at the checkpoints indicating the time of crossing the state border of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan has improved its position in The Henley Passport Index published by Henley & Partners company for the third year in a row in 2020.

According to the ranking, Kazakhstans passport ranked 67th due to its ability to allow visa free entrance to 76 countries worldwide.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
Torremolinos is the latest town to join the initiative #CuidayAdopta, a service that encourages the adoption of abandoned and lost dogs. Organised by the Spanish association of municipal veterinarians (AEVM), the project aims to reduce the number of stray dogs that currently live on the streets of Torremolinos.

The new initiative will promote a policy of "dog owners taking responsibility, zero tolerance of abandonment and the promotion of adoption".

As part of its commitment, the town hall has agreed to collect, shelter and offer any vaccinations and food until adequate homes can be found.

Until 2015, municipal dog pounds could euthanise dogs if they were not claimed or rehomed within ten days, but legislation now prohibits the sacrifice of dogs and cats, except for humanitarian reasons, or if they pose a danger to public health.
A national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has refused to be drawn into the controversy on zoning the presidency in 2023, saying it is too early for such.

Mr Tinubu said while briefing journalists after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Anybody talking about that now is just completely restless and not focused on the agenda of nation-building and development of our country, Mr Tinubu said when asked for his reaction on the matter.

The former Lagos State governor, who is believed to eyeing the presidency in 2023 also spoke on President Buharis pledge not to continue in office beyond 2023.

Read excerpts of Mr Tinubus interview with State House reporters below.

Tinubu: Its a new decade, a visit to the leader of my country is necessary to look at things and wish him well in the office for this new decade and make some points on the stability, security and a number of issues around the country.

Q: On Buharis New Year message to Nigerians

TInubu: His New Year message resonated very well; he showed concern about the security and the understanding that the economy is still a challenge, but its a work in progress. Youll have to continue to work on it and make it better for the common man. Thats the meat of the message.

Q: On Buharis plan to quit in 2023:

Tinubu: Any reasonable politician who had worked with President Muhammadu Buhari will know that he will not (tamper with the Constitution). Distractors are always suspicious and will make accusations, but I was in the trench, in the struggle for democracy.

I was in the trench and in the opposition with Muhammadu Buhari, till the Third Term agenda of a former leader of this country failed. I know he will never. He has the courage and the character to refuse such a temptation even if offered to him. I believe in him and I believe Nigerians should also believe in him.

He doesnt need to say it to me, Ill argue it in the corner and everywhere they bring such a thing up. However, its very good to hear it from him. I say congratulations to a man of character and integrity. The challenge of turning the ship of this nation around is a continuum and a continuous effort and that is what we should get ourselves concerned with.

Yes, politics is intoxicating, its flamboyant, its interesting, but we cannot continue in perpetuity one after the other. We have to relax, show concern for the people of the country and see to the efforts of the president that will manifest in the new, united and prosperous country. We are still not there.

Q: APC and zoning in 2023:

Tinubu: That time is not now. We have just finished one election and Mr President is busy sorting out the budget, working for the people of this country. Of course, restlessness of politics is going to be there, but any lover of this country will not talk about the succession plan yet. Thats the truth. Concentrate on working for the country, help the president to help the country. Theres nothing more than that.

We cannot use 365 days in a year and 360 to work on politics, its not possible. Anybody talking about that now is just completely restless and not focused on the agenda of nation-building and development of our country.
Update 12.30pm By Neil Michael: The Irish navy is sending divers to help search for the body of one of two fishermen who died off the Wexford coast at the weekend.

Gardai, who are now co-ordinating the search and recovery operation, requested the Naval Services Diving Section earlier today.

It could be, however, some time before they actually start diving to where the wreck is believed to be due to weather conditions and the depths involved.

A Naval Services spokesperson said: The Naval Service continue to provide assistance on the operation today with the LE Samuel Beckett on scene.

A request for the Naval Diving Section has also been received from An Garda Siochana and they will provide assistance throughout as required.

The NSDS have the capability to conduct subsurface search with divers, Autonomous Underwater Vesicle (AUV), Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV) and Side Scan Sonar.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board has launched a probe into why the vessel vanished late Saturday evening.

Alize, which was up for sale for more than 200,000 and in pristine condition, sank so quickly in 50 metres of water its two crew didnt have time to raise the alarm.

Instead, it was the automatic activation of the vessels Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon that alerted emergency services around 10.30pm Saturday.

The Irish Coastguards Rescue 117 helicopter was immediately tasked, as were RNLI units.

RNLI searching the coast at Hook Head, Co Wexford. Picture: Patrick Browne

One each came from Kilmore Quay in Co Wexford and Dunmore East in Co Waterford.

Not long after being dispatched, the R117 spotted and rescued Mr Suinnott in the water about four miles off the Duncannon coast.

He was airlifted to Waterford Airport and then rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford.

Despite efforts by medics to save him, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The 65-year-old married father-of-four, from Seaview, Kilmore, was described by Rosslare Aontu councillor Jim Codd as a lovely man.

His funeral is to be held tomorrow at St Marys Church, Kilmore, Co Wexford.

His family has requested donations to the RNLI in lieu of flowers.

A search resumed this morning to recover the body of his 41-year-old skipper Willie Wheelan.

Among those searching for him are his two brothers Ciaran and Malcolm, who are also fishermen.

The UK-built 11.7-metre trawler had only recently undergone a major overhaul and had been up for sale for more than 200,000.

Caitlin Ui Aodh, Lost At Sea Tragedies trustee and widow of the drowned skipper of the Tit Bonhomme trawler, told the Irish Examiner on Monday: The boat was of a very high standard.

She was a fine little boat.

It really would be very difficult to speculate on as to what happened.

Fishing industry sources have speculated the trawler could have come in contact with a submarine or its nets became snagged in a wreckage on the sea floor.

Earlier: Search resumes for missing fisherman amid wind warning

Update 10.45am by Digital Desk: The search and recovery operation for Willie Whelan has resumed off the south-east coast this morning.

The fisherman went missing on Saturday night after the trawler he was on sank off Hook Head.

The navy vessel Samuel Beckett and Kilmore Quay RNLI are carrying out the search.

At the scene of the search yesterday where the fishing vessel sank. Pic: Patrick Browne

Earlier: Weather warning may delay search for missing fisherman

Update 7.33am by Vivienne Clarke: A decision will be made later this morning whether to go ahead with today's search for a missing fisherman off the south-east coast.

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The search for Willie Whelan, 41, has been ongoing since the trawler he was on sank off Hook Head late on Saturday.

The Alize sank so quickly its two crew didnt have time to raise the alarm.

Instead, it was the automatic activation of the vessels Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon that alerted emergency services around 10.30pm on Saturday.

Joe Sinnott, 65, was rescued from the water but he was later pronounced dead at University Hospital Waterford.

Members of the Dunmore East RNLI will meet at 9am on Tuesday to assess the weather to see if an operation to recover a missing fisherman can resume.

Spokesperson Neville Murphy told Newstalk Breakfast that the operation has now been categorised as a recovery and that the safety of crews is paramount.

Wexford fisherman Willie Whelan, has been missing since the trawler he was on sank on Saturday night off the south east coast, a yellow weather warning means that it might not be safe for RNLI crews to go to sea.

We wont send them out when it is unsafe, explained Mr Murphy.

The weather conditions will be assessed at 9am to see if the Yellow weather warning is having an impact on the Waterford and Wexford coast.

Mr Murphy pointed out that RNLI crews operate all weather boats and crews are willing, but that in recovery situations the safety of crews was important.

Additional reporting by Digital Desk
LaPORTE  A Michigan City woman crashed a church service in her bid to elude police, who hauled her away in handcuffs, police said.

Ashley Arndt, 26, is charged in LaPorte Circuit Court with two counts of auto theft and one count of theft of a firearm, all level 6 felonies, and Class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement.

According to court documents, Arndt on Dec. 29 allegedly fled from a LaPorte County police officer trying to stop her as she drove a stolen Toyota Camry.

The officer lost sight of her, but soon located the unoccupied car near St. John Kanty Catholic Church on 600 East near Rolling Prairie, police said.

Assisting officers were arriving when Arndt was spotted going inside the church.

Liam Hobbs, attending the service with his wife and eight children, said he wasnt sure what to think when he first saw a woman "bolting across in front of the altar."

He said several police officers just seconds later stormed into the sanctuary and chased her downstairs.

"It took us all by surprise," Hobbs said.
Phuket Lifeguard Service returns to Rawai, launches post at Koh Racha

PHUKET: Lifeguards operating under Phuket Lifeguard Service Co Ltd (PLS), which provides the trained, qualified lifeguards patrolling Patong Beach, are now providing lifeguards and beach patrol coverage in all parts of Rawai, including a post on Koh Racha Yai, south of Phuket.

tourismSafetymarine

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

Tuesday 7 January 2020, 10:58AM

Lifeguards from the Phuket Lifeguard Service are now patrolling the main tourist beaches in Rawai, including Nai Harn Beach (pictured). Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

PLS Secretary Vitanya Chuayuan explained that the new patrols began on Jan 1 and will continue until October this year, under contract by Rawai Municipality.

Last year, we focused on lifesaving education and water safety for kids in the community nationwide, Ms Vitanya said. (See story here.)

Now we are returning our focus on the beaches, starting back at Rawai, she added.

We have set our goal at zero deaths from drowning in the Rawai area. Last year the area suffered three beach drownings in Rawai, and that does not include the tourists who drowned while snorkelling or drowning at Racha Yai, Ms Vitanya pointed out.

In total the PLS is providing 15 lifeguards in total for Rawai along with a range of lifesaving equipment.

We have eight lifeguards at Nai Harn Beach, two at Yanui Beach and five at Koh Racha. The lifeguards will be on duty at all three locations from 8:30am to 7:30pm every day, Ms Vitanya said.

As Koh Racha is a new location and a tourist area, we need to explain about life saving to local people, she added.

In terms of rescue equipment, the lifeguards at Nai Harn have at their disposal one jet-ski, one ATV, three first aid kits, three AEDs, one lifeguard paddle board, six rescue boards and six rescue tubes.

At Yanui Beach, the lifeguards have two first aid kits, two rescue boards, two rescue tubes, and one AED, while the lifeguards at Koh Racha have two first aid kits, two rescue boards, two rescue tubes and two AEDs.

Jula Nontree, who previously served for years with and was trained to international standard by the PLS, remains as the chief lifeguard at Nai Harn, Ms Vitanya pointed pointed out.

He is our supervisor for the lifeguards in the Rawai area and will organise their training, including exercises every day, Ms Vitanya said.

The Rawai lifeguard division currently has 10 lifeguards who have passed tests set by the International Life Saving Federation. The rest will undergo the same training, she added.

Many of the lifeguards serving in Rawai also have years of local experience, and understand the dangers local currents pose, Ms Vitanya said.

They are very familiar with the area, she noted.

Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos explained that the move to hire the PLS was part procedural, but also to bring their skills and experience to the area.

The previous lifeguards were hired only temporarily, from October to December 2019, so a new contract had to be offered to make sure lifeguards continued to patrol the beaches, he said.

Two companies entered bids for the contract, which offered about B6 million for 10 months, but the PLS is well qualified and experienced.

Their close work with Surf Life Saving Thailand means they much more experience on Phukets beaches than anyone else. I expect they will protect and save people from drowning in Rawai area, he said.
In the first week of last December, Marian Finucane turned to her husband John Clarke.

It was time she retired, she told him.

Decision made, the couple began to imagine what their future life would be like.

With a grandchild due next month, and corners of the earth still to explore, the days stretched out invitingly ahead of them.

We were so excited, John Clarke told mourners at her funeral in St Brigids Church today. We would have more time, more space, more places to see, and more books to read.

Sadly that is not going to happen, he added.

Expand Close The remains of Marian Finucane are carried in to St Brigids Church by her son Jack (back right). Picture; Gerry Mooney / Facebook

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Whatsapp The remains of Marian Finucane are carried in to St Brigids Church by her son Jack (back right). Picture; Gerry Mooney

The broadcaster died suddenly and unexpectedly in her sleep at home in Kildare last week at the age of 69.

This afternoon over 600 crowded into the church to pay their final respects.

Chief mourners were her son Jack, and her stepsons Jocelyn, Neil and Timothy.

Expand Close Ryan Tubridy arrives at St Brigids Church Kill. Picture; Gerry Mooney / Facebook

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RTE colleagues including Director General Dee Forbes, Miriam OCallaghan, Joe Duffy, Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh, Ryan Tubridy, Claire Byrne, and Brendan OConnor all attended.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was there, President Michael D Higgins was represented by his aide-de-camp Commandant Dorothy Donnell, Michael Martin, and former minister Pat Rabbitte were also in attendance.

Chief celebrant Monsignor Ciaran OCarroll, Finucanes first cousin and rector at the Irish College in Rome told mourners that Marians death had come as a brutal shock to her family.

I find myself so powerless I truly dont know what to do, John Clarke said his voice cracking.

He spoke passionately not of the trailblazing broadcaster.

Instead he wanted to talk about Marian, my Marian.

A woman who I have loved for 40 years, he said. A woman who, for me, always made the colours brighter, and the world a little easier to live in.

We were like two 15-year-old adolescents who were addicted to each other and forgot to grow up.

Following the tragic death of their daughter Sinead, the couple had devoted a huge part of their life to charity work.

He recalled a woman at an African township he and Marian had visited telling them that The only thing I can give you are my tears.

Mr Clarke added: And that is all I think I can do today.

Outside the church, people embraced each other tightly.

News of Larry Gogans death had broken earlier that morning, and mourners from the RTE radio department looked shell shocked as they made their way into the church. .

In the space of two months RTE have lost three of their longest standing and most revered broadcasters.

With Gay Byrne, Marian, and Larry Gogan three icons of Irish broadcasting are now gone, Miriam OCallaghan said. Its terribly sad.

Other colleagues spoke not only of the great loss of talent, but the irreplaceable loss of understanding and knowledge of RTEs own history, and culture.

These arent just people talking into microphones  they are friends, Ryan Tubridy said. They are friends of the listeners as well. There is great intimacy having someone in your car  they are your company and when that company is taken from you it is sad for everyone the country has lost three friends.

Loyal listeners had travelled up and down the country to pay their final respects, and they stood around the corners of the church, handing each other packs of tissues..

I wanted to come to say goodbye. It was her voice, and her questions, Marian Farrell from Dublin said.

I lost my daughter too - suddenly - so I felt I had a lot in common, a connection with her.

Others spoke of the intimacy and affection they felt towards her.

She was there with you, in the kitchen each weekend, one lady said. Ill miss her.

The mass was understated yet powerful - much like the broadcaster herself.

Former colleague Claire Duignan, and John Clarkes grandchildren Georgia, Rory, Jude, Joanne, and Paul gave readings.

And Monsignor Ciaran OCarroll spoke about how she had shaped the national agenda.

She played the hand life dealt her so well, Monsignor Ciaran OCarroll said.

The contribution Marian made to advancing and shaping our nation and its peoples through her professional work as a courageous broadcaster, and her determination to facilitate conversation without fear or favour, was repeatedly and wonderfully captured in countless public tributes paid over recent days, he said.

She had great empathy and sense of fairness and treated everyone with courtesy and respect. A generous and determined woman and a thoughtful and kind friend whose keen sense of humour enriched the lives of many, her charity work at home and abroad was simply outstanding.

Publicly the nation has lost a skilled broadcaster. Privately John has lost a soul partner, Jack a loving mother and Jenny a cherished mother in law, he said.

The great, exuberant joy shared by our family and friends but a few short months ago at Jack and Jennys wedding contrasts now with the sorrow and sadness we experience this day of Marians funeral.

Her son Jack spoke of the various roles she inhabited throughout her career, and the unique and special relationships she had forged with colleagues, and her listeners.

But it was the off air persona - the one she guarded so tightly - that he would remember most fondly.

The woman I knew was a shy lady who was as happy reading a book as she was sitting around a dinner table sorting out the problems of the world one dinner party at a time, her son Jack said. She was a classy lady with soul in the truest sense.

Jack, whose wife Jennifer is expecting Ms Finucanes first grandchild, said that her spirit would live on when the next generation of the family was born next month.
Tehran [Iran], Jan 7 (ANI): At least 35 mourners were killed and dozens of others sustained injuries on Tuesday in a stampede during the funeral for Iranian general Qasem Soleimani at his hometown in Kerman, according to the Iranian television.



Soleimani, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force, was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq last Friday, Anadolu agency reported.

His death marked a dramatic escalation in tensions between the US and Iran, which have often been at a fever pitch since President Donald Trump chose in 2018 to unilaterally withdraw Washington from a 2015 nuclear pact world powers struck with Tehran.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who gave Soleimani the country's highest honour last year, vowed "severe retaliation" in response to his killing.

The Pentagon accused Soleimani of plotting the earlier embassy attack in Iraq and planning to carry out additional attacks on US diplomats and service members in Iraq and the region. (ANI)


Thirteen Democratic presidential candidates qualified with the Nevada Democratic Party for the February 22 caucuses, with only Michael Bloomberg failing to file.

In reality, the Democratic field is now winnowed to five candidates who satisfied national party requirements for the next presidential debate (the seventh) on January 14 in Des Moines, Iowa. The races Big Four: former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen.Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, will be joined on stage by Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Klobuchar brought her presidential campaign to Northern Nevada on Saturday with a morning stop in Minden. She told her Douglas County audience of 250 (filling the county headquarters) that Democrats make a big mistake to forget about Nevadas rural counties.

I dont want to be president for half of America, I want to be president for all of America, Klobuchar said. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, she underscored her involvement with issues important to ranching and agriculture.

Klobuchars stump speech was a mixture of carefully aimed barbs directed at President Trump delivered with dry, self-deprecating humor. Shes both Minnesota Nice and feisty. Her message: If you feel stuck in the middle of the extremes in our politics and you are tired of the noise and nonsense, then you have a home with me.

While Trump is undeniably vulnerable and broadly unpopular (43.8% approval), the Republican base is fully supportive and his campaign already has $102.7 million cash on hand for November. Though poised to defeat Trump, the Democratic Party in 2019 placed itself outside the mainstream of American politics.

Democratic major candidates announced support for sharply higher taxes, banning private health insurance, the Green New Deal, free college, complete student loan forgiveness, free health care for illegal aliens, and functionally open borders. They would ban fossil fuels and fracking.

Extreme left-wing progressives  like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren  will be ripe targets for the Trump campaign. On Inauguration Day, Sanders will be 79 years old and suffered a recent heart attack. He proudly proclaims himself a Socialist, a negative label for most voters.

Warrens radical proposals actually go beyond those of Sanders. PolitiFact reports that her spending plans would cost $7 trillion over a decade  not counting Medicare for All, which would exceed $30 trillion.

Joe Biden, the most popular more centrist Democrat, will be 78 years old on Inauguration Day. In debates, he has given answers that were rambling and incoherent at times  raising questions about his age. Hes consistently prone to verbal gaffes. With over 50 years in politics, Biden has specific baggage that includes support for the Iraq War and of his son, Hunter Biden.

Pete Buttigieg, at 37, would be the youngest president ever  one of the least experienced  and the first openly gay. Only 26% of Americans think their neighbors are ready for a gay president, according to a Politico poll. Now South Bends former mayor, Buttigieg in 2010 ran unsuccessfully statewide in Indiana, for treasurer, losing by 20 points. His campaign to become Democratic National Chairman in 2017 also failed.

Klobuchar may offer Democrats the Goldilocks Alternative. At 59, she is a centrist senator in her third term. In 2018, she won her Senate re-election race by a whopping 24 points. Her other races have been similar landslides  winning 65% of the vote in 2012 and 58% in 2006.

As a legislator, Klobuchar has often taken bipartisan approaches. In 2016, she was credited with passing more legislation than any other senator. She worked closely with the late Republican Sen. John McCain, including joining him in a December 2016 visit to the Baltic states and Ukraine.

Dark Horse candidate Amy Klobuchars strong electablility argument in Battleground States has her rising among Democrats.

Jim Hartman is an attorney residing in Genoa, Nevada.

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GREENWOOD, Ind., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Herman & Kittle Properties, Inc. is proud to announce that The Gables, a new $31 million apartment development located in Greenwood is now open and ready for leasing. This new construction development is located at 1497 West Smith Valley Road in Greenwood just east of Indiana State Road 135.

The Gables Greenwood Indiana Apartment Kitchen The Gables Greenwood Indiana Apartments Exterior

This apartment complex features 274 apartments in one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments. It features 28 apartments (12 one-bedroom, 11 two-bedroom, 2 three-bedroom and 3 four-bedroom) apartments that are fully ADA compliant. All apartments are in a two- or three-story buildings constructed in 2018.

The Gables features both market rate and low income housing tax credit (LIHTC) apartments. It is conveniently located on Smith Valley Road close to shopping and restaurants on State Road 135. Nearby stores include Target, Wal-Mart, Menards, and more.

The convenience of State Road 135 also allows residents easy access to downtown Indianapolis and its wealth of amenities just 12 miles away. The City of Greenwood offers a thriving suburban community of nearly 50,000 residents and is conveniently located just south of the city of Indianapolis.

Residents of The Gables can enjoy a wealth of amenities in their spacious, newly constructed apartments. Each apartment comes with new appliances, an in-unit washer and dryer, ceiling fans, a private patio/balcony, walk-in closets, a dishwasher, and more. Apartments also feature an intercom system.

There are several community amenities available for residents to enjoy as well. The property features a community building with a theater/media room, security cameras at entrances, a business center, exercise room, and optional storage. Residents can also take advantage of other community spaces such as the swimming pool, playground, bike rack, and more. There is even a dog/pet area for residents with pets.

Residents who are interested in leasing are encouraged to visit The Gables website or call 833-342-6597 for information. The complex has recently completed all construction and all types of apartments are currently available.

Retail centers such as the Greenwood Park Mall, a 149-store mall anchored by JCPenney's, Macy's, and Dick's Sporting Goods is less than five miles away with a Best Buy store and a Kohl's also located near the mall. Several local dining options are also located nearby on State Road 135 and on nearby U.S. 31.

The Gables is also located within the Center Grove school district, which is one of the top-rated school districts in the state of Indiana serving more than 7,000 students in grades K through 12. The wealth of cultural and recreational opportunities in downtown Indianapolis is also close by.

Other nearby recreational opportunities abound. West Side Park and Woodman Park are located east of the property and Dyes Walk Country Club is located South of the property on State Road 135. The Gables is also located just 20 miles from Indianapolis International Airport, offering flights to 50 different cities each day.

For more information on the property or to schedule a time for a tour please contact the on-site team at The Gables.

Media contact:

Eric Baker

[email protected]

317-428-3858

SOURCE Herman & Kittle Properties, Inc.
Off-duty deputies in two North Alabama counties will now be able to drive their county cars to places of worship.

Lawrence County Sheriff Max Sanders and Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton have amended vehicle policies to give off-duty deputies the option of driving their county vehicles to church. The decision comes after a gunman opened fire last month at a Texas church, killing two people before he was killed by armed churchgoers.

According to Sanders, the goal of allowing deputies to drive county vehicles to worship is to create a greater visual presence within the community" to serve as a deterrence.

This will be voluntary on the part of the deputy. Deputies, by virtue of their oath, always have certain duties to respond. This hopefully is another proactive/positive step in serving the citizens, the sheriff said via a Facebook post.

The reasoning in Lauderdale County is the same.

We felt like it was a good idea that any of our deputies who wanted to drive their vehicles to church on their off days would not be a problem, Singleton told WHNT. "It would help us keep our community and our county safer.

"The vehicle itself is a deterrent and if someone pulls onto the campus with the intent of doing something they shouldn't be doing, hopefully, they'll think twice.

The Alabama sheriffs arent the only ones looking for ways to protect churches.

Last week, the Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus encouraged officers that attend worship services to do so in full police uniform.

This simple act will help reassure congregants, as well as serve as a deterrent for anyone intending harm, Kraus wrote.
I will go to Marian's funeral. The notion is preposterous. Marian's funeral? After the tribute segment to her last Friday night on 'The Late Late Show', the interlocking circles of her friends and colleagues stayed in the Green Room to talk about her.

There was little overt grief on show, it was too early for that, and I believe that only when we see her coffin will the unthinkable become semi-real. For me, though, I will not fully 'get' it. It could not be her in there. Not her.

But then some day soon I will pick up the phone to query her about something, she won't answer and then I will have to face the conundrum: that while Marian cannot be dead, she is.

A lot has been said over the past few days about her gift for friendship. Although our paths diverged after our early stumblings together into broadcasting in 1974, we became friends at that time and stayed friends however rarely we saw each other in later years.

My favourite memory blazes from the time she and John Clarke (as she usually referred to him) moved to a farm in the midlands, where they stocked their private carp lake to attract 'the few bob' from coarse anglers whom they lodged in faded splendour in the gorgeous house. He had bred Red Setters: ('do you know, Deirdre Purcell, that a Red Setter can run from here to Athlone without stopping? That's why they're a bit mad!')

They ran sheep and sheepdogs and us, the friends, who travelled down to take lunches, dinners and tea from Marian's antique silver tea service: "I believe in not keeping this stuff for 'good'."

Then, standing a little back from the massive drawing room fireplace to avoid sparks from logs while drinking wine and figuring out who had the Solpadeine for the next morning, we argued about world and local politics and vented our differing world views.

That drawing room was my first experience of the Salon I'd read about in literature, with contributions from the Mary Hollands, Nells, Nualas - and the rest of us around that fire - invariably leading to passionate arguments, Marian presiding, intervening (and presaging her handling of the final gig, the 'Marian Finucane Show') seeing all sides as agent provocateur.

He listening intently then lobbing in his latest theory about what was happening in the Middle East, outlining the ancestry of Haile Selassie or describing the astonishing lifestyles of pastoralists in a remote part of Africa or Ecuador. Posing teasers: 'Can you tell me, Deirdre Purcell, which is the smallest desert in the world?'

It was great to be part of it and I felt blessed.

Read More

My first impression of Marian in July 1974 when we met to start training as continuity announcers for Radio Eireann, as it was then, was of her carriage. It is probably a strange thing to say, given the avalanche of better and more incisive tributes to her journalism and character over the past few days, but even 46 years ago, Marian - who later confessed she had been as nervous as the rest of us that day - came into that room with the walk of a queen, an impression amplified by her height, head and shoulders above us Lilliputians gawking up at her.

It was only quite a while after we became friends she revealed that her mother, herself a teacher and thereby conscious of the hunch-over stance adopted by the tall poppies among her classroom brood, insisted that her daughter wear posture correctors over her shoulders and back to keep her straight. By doing so, she gave her daughter an asset for life.

When Marian walked into a restaurant, she cut through the cackle as people followed her progress.

When she "swept" into "her" studio to start her programme, she carried her own climate with her and no one already seated there could have any doubt as to whom they faced.

Yes, she fiercely guarded her personal privacy and that of her family. She was one of two (of hundreds of interviewees) who refused my request to interview her for the People Page of the erstwhile 'Sunday Tribune' - I was chancing my arm and she knew it. But on a friendship level there were few barriers, to the extent that no subject was taboo.

And as remarked many times over the weekend, while professionally warm on air, she was even warmer and empathic about personal difficulties, very open about her own. I felt utterly helpless, as did very many of her friends, when her beloved daughter Sinead became ill, not just once, but again after remission.

She continued to work through that awful period. I've heard people ask: 'How could she do that?'

She could do it because her upbringing with a teacher and a garda engendered a rock-solid work ethic and along with her own courageousness, stoicism and sense of duty, that ethic stood to her. You didn't shirk. You didn't let anyone down.

Read More

Work took her through, although it didn't lessen the pain and confusion, which is where her friends, her brilliant inner circle, stepped up, where John, who was hurting just as much, did too. They suffered together, stayed together, survived together.

Even in later years, when she was at the top of her game, she wobbled psychologically before each JNLR survey (tracking winners and losers in the media) was due, confessing that it brought her back to waiting for the results of the Leaving Cert. "It's just the same. But the Leaving Cert was only once in your life, this thing happens four times every year!"

She wobbled too every time she was asked to step up a notch, for instance when she was to move from 'Liveline' into the shoes of Gay Byrne when he vacated his morning slot.

I was present, with herself and John, when she expressed her fears. He, as ever, found the right words: 'For God's sake, Marian. You're at the top now. You're The Queen!'

RIP, Marian.
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodix is showcasing an innovative demo based on its latest Bluetooth LE audio solution for TWS (True Wireless Stereo) applications at Bluetooth LE Audio Launch Media Event, hosted by Bluetooth SIG (Bluetooth Special Interest Group), during CES. As a joint effort with OnePlus, Goodix's demo is Bluetooth 5.1 compliant and supports the next-generation of Bluetooth LE ISOC (isochronous) architecture, delivering high quality wireless audio performances. This innovative solution helps manufacturers develop a new generation of ultra-low power and feature-rich TWS wireless earbuds with the latest Bluetooth LE audio technologies.

Goodix's Bluetooth LE audio solution stands out with its ultra-low power consumption and achieves differentiating functions with Goodix's proprietary innovative software algorithms: wireless multi-connection, quick identification and match; time synchronization between left and right earbuds; and greatly improved downlink latency. It delivers premium audio experiences by supporting high-quality LC3 audio codec. The newly released Bluetooth LE audio standard framework meets the requirements of diverse application scenarios, such as gaming and audio sharing. The demo also integrates an ultra-low power and compact-sized 2-in-1 capacitive solution of in-ear detection (IED) and touch control, allowing earbuds to automatically detect wearing statuses, single/double-tap recognitions, and up/down swipe detections for music playback control on the earbuds.

"The Bluetooth community continues to drive the technology forward to meet evolving market needs and create new opportunities," said Mark Powell, CEO of Bluetooth SIG. "LE Audio is a prime example. Not only will it enhance the performance of existing Bluetooth audio products, it introduces Audio Sharing, a new audio use case poised to transform the way we experience audio and connect with the world around us."

"We are excited to explore the potential of Bluetooth LE audio technologies together with Goodix, and deliver the best, seamless fast and smooth experience possible to all our global consumers," said Oliver Zhang, vice president of product, OnePlus.

"Goodix is one of the early adopters implementing comprehensive Bluetooth LE audio solutions for various applications," said Dr. Bo Pi, CTO of Goodix. "We are committed to pushing the boundaries of the possibilities of Bluetooth LE technologies, helping customers to customize the feature sets as well as bringing the cutting-edge wireless audio solution to a real product, and delivering more smart and exciting experience to global consumers."

SOURCE Goodix Technology
In the nearly two years since the Progressive Conservative government released a plan to dramatically reorganize the Winnipeg hospital system, two things have become abundantly clear.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 6/1/2020 (735 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In the nearly two years since the Progressive Conservative government released a plan to dramatically reorganize the Winnipeg hospital system, two things have become abundantly clear.

First, that the hospital reorganization initiative  which reduced the number of full-service hospital emergency rooms to just three from the previous six while shuffling other medical specialties among the remaining hospitals  seems, on occasion, to be moving further away from a state of completion.

And second, that very little has been done as the changes have been unleashed to gain the trust of nurses, the single most-affected constituency in the hospital reorganization equation.

Make no mistake, this second issue is closely connected to the first; lingering conflict between the province and its nurses appears to be the single biggest reason why the reorganization plan is faltering.

Those conflicts took on an added dimension last week when the Manitoba Nurses Union threatened to "greylist" Health Sciences Centre, the province's largest hospital and the hub of health-care services in Winnipeg. A greylisting advises nurses to refrain from applying for any job openings because of poor or inappropriate working conditions.

The MNU has not issued a greylisting yet but the threat marks a fascinating escalation in hostilities. While the union cannot stop its members from applying from vacant jobs at HSC, a greylisting has the potential to make a bad staffing situation even worse.

Since the Tories started restructuring Winnipeg's health-care services, there has been bad blood with nurses. Suddenly, and without much advance warning, nurses suddenly faced the prospect of changing not only what they do, but also where and when they do it.

The MNU has not issued a greylisting yet but the threat marks a fascinating escalation in hostilities. (Joe Bryksa / Free Press files)

When the hospital reorganization was first announced, the MNU appeared to be a willing partner in managing the change. That turned out to little more than a mirage.

The MNU complained that it had not been consulted in any meaningful way about the kind of changes being made. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, surprisingly, did not disagree with that allegation. When pressed, WRHA officials confirmed that other than observing contract provisions for notifying nurses of terminations, they did not reach out to the union to find a more palatable way of deploying nursing resources to facilitate the hospital reorganizations.

The decision to bypass advanced consultations has created a mess of epic proportions. ER and urgent-care wait times are not going down. Staffing shortages have created an explosion of overtime. WRHA clearly underestimated the resolve of nurses to resist the changes that they believe have been unfairly foisted upon them.

While some nurses have quietly moved to new jobs in new facilities, others have elected to stay on the sidelines, watching and waiting to see how the restructuring unfolds. This has created a problems that are coming perilously close to compromising patient care.

The decision to bypass advanced consultations has created a mess of epic proportions.

Last summer, patients were turned away from the St. Boniface Hospital ER because of an untenable increase in patient volume. It was an alarming developing largely because it happened during the summer months and not in the teeth of the winter cold-and-flu season.

Meanwhile, overtime has skyrocketed at HSC and St. Boniface as nurses from now-closed community-hospital ERs have chosen not to take on new positions at the two core-area hospitals. Currently, nearly 19 per cent of nursing positions at St. Boniface are unfilled; HSC is at nearly 15 per cent vacancies. Health Minister Cameron Friesen has already conceded that an acceptable vacancy rate is about eight per cent.

Last week, several HSC nurses told the Free Press about unbearable workloads, escalating threats of violence from meth addicts and a shortage of basic medical supplies. These concerns are behind the MNU's decision to consider greylisting the facility.

Overtime has skyrocketed at HSC and St. Boniface as nurses from now-closed community-hospital ERs have chosen not to take on new positions at the two core-area hospitals. (Trevor Hagan / Free Press files)

A WRHA spokesman offered this assurance: "A nursing stabilization working group has been established, and has developed a number of recommendations, that are currently being reviewed, to improve recruitment, retention and stabilization of the nursing workforce within Winnipeg."

Positive steps that, quite frankly, are arriving on the scene in a hilariously late and horribly limited fashion.

This is the exact kind of consultation that should have been going on in 2017, prior to the release of the hospital restructuring report, and certainly before the closure of any ER.

The consultations are also extremely limited. Although HSC and St. Boniface are the source of the most-immediate concerns, this is a problem that exists well beyond the walls of those two hospitals. It's a city-wide, if not province-wide, conflict that has, if left unattended, the potential to compromise patient care for years to come.

The bigger, underlying concern here is that even if the WRHA and hospitals have a desire for more dialogue with nurses, Premier Brian Pallister and his government have little appetite for working with unions to solve problems.

Dan Lett | Not for Attribution A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world that is sent every Tuesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Meanwhile, overtime has skyrocketed at HSC and St. Boniface as nurses from nowclosed communityhospital ERs have chosen not to take on new positions at the two corearea hospitals.

After taking office in 2016, Pallister disassembled high-level advisory groups involving labour unions, introduced legislation to suspend contract talks and impose wage freezes, and forced a reduction in the number of health-care bargaining groups. All of these policies were enacted without any advance consultation with, or input from, unions.

All of which leaves Manitobans in need of health care stuck between a rock and a hard place.

This is a dispute that can only be solved through meaningful, concerted dialogue between nurses and their political masters. Lamentably, neither side is showing much appetite for that kind of dialogue.

One can only hope that innocent patients do not get caught in the cross-fire.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
WASHINGTON  Iraq war veteran Francis Conole will begin the year with about $250,000 in the bank for his bid to win the Democratic nomination for Congress and take on Rep. John Katko in November.

Conoles campaign plans to release a summary of his finances today showing he raised $535,000 between April 15 and the end of 2019, an off-year record for a first-time candidate in the 24th Congressional District.

The total includes about $150,000 raised in the last quarter of the year, according to Conoles campaign.

Conole, 41, of Syracuse, built up a fundraising advantage through the first three quarters last year over his two Democratic rivals, Dana Balter and Roger Misso. All three Democratic candidates have refused to accept contributions from corporate political action committees.

Congressional candidates must file reports by Jan. 31 with the Federal Election Commission disclosing how much money they raised for the full year in 2019, including itemized contributions and expenses.

Balter, 43, of Syracuse, and Misso, 31, of Syracuse, have not yet filed their year-end campaign finance reports with the FEC. Conole has not filed his report either, but his campaign provided a summary to Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.

Katko, who accepts corporate PAC money, had more than $867,000 cash on hand through the end of the third quarter on Sept. 30, according to FEC records.

On the same date, Conole had $184,549 cash on hand, Balter had $133,230 and Misso had $85,108 in the bank, FEC records show.

Democratic county committees in the 24th District plan to designate a candidate for Congress by mid-February. If theres a primary election for the Democratic line, it would be June 23.

Balter, who previously taught at Syracuse Universitys Maxwell School, won the Democratic primary election in 2018 but lost to Katko in the general election by about 5 percentage points.

Misso, like Conole, is a Navy veteran making his first bid for public office. Misso, a native of Red Creek in Wayne County, served as a Naval aviator and was deployed twice to the Middle East.

Katko is seeking his fourth term representing the 24th District. The district covers all of Onondaga, Cayuga and Wayne counties and the western half of Oswego County, including the cities of Fulton and Oswego.

Read more

John Katko: US killing of Irans top military commander necessary and justified

Katko, Brindisi lose sleep, think of late parents before Trump impeachment vote

Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751

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New Delhi:

A Delhi Court on Tuesday issued death warrants against four death row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case. According to the warrant, the four convicts will be hanged till death on January 22 at 7 am in Tihar jail. While Akshay Thakur Singh, Mukesh, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma still have the option of mecry pleas and curative petitions, it seems more and more likely that India will see its first execution in case of rape and murder in last 15 years.

In 2004, Dhananjoy Chatterjee, a security guard in Kolkata, was hanged on the charges of raping and murdering a 14 year-old girl. He was accused of raping and killing the teenager in her apartment on March 5, 1990. He was convicted and executed 14 years later after a lengthy trial on August 14, 2004- his 39th birthday.

Dhananjoy Chatterjee was the first person who was judicially executed in India in the 21st century. He was hanged till death in Alipore Jail of Kolkata.

Dhananjoy was a security guard of the where the girl lived. On the afternoon of 5 March 1990, she was found dead inside her home by her mother. Dhananjoy, who had performed security duty in the morning shift on that day, was not seen in the area after the murder had been discovered. Police focussed on him during the investigations and he was arrested by the police from his village on 12 May 1990.

Kolkata police charged him with rape, murder and theft of a wrist watch. While the case was based on circumstantial evidence, the sessions court convicted Dhananjoy of all the offenses and sentenced him to death. The Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of India upheld the conviction and the death sentence.

Dhananjoy's execution was scheduled on 25 June 2004 but was stayed after his family petitioned the Supreme Court of India, and filed a mercy plea with the then President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. The mercy plea was finally rejected by the president on 4 August 2004. He was executed on 14 August 2004. His family refused to claim his body and he was was later cremated.

Dhananjoy maintained his innocence during his trial and till the day of his execution.

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PARIS (Reuters) - Britain is in for a rude awakening when it discovers that it is far harder to negotiate a trade deal with the United States when you do not have the might of the European Union behind you, a French minister warned on Tuesday.

After Boris Johnsons election win last month, U.S. President Donald Trump said Britain and the United States were now free to strike a massive new trade deal after Brexit, which Trump said could be more lucrative than any EU deal.

But in an interview with Reuters in Paris, French trade minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne said a mid-sized power like Britain will find it tough to negotiate alone with the worlds biggest economy.

Ive seen the statements boasting about a great trade deal with the United States, Lemoyne said.

But I think the British will come to realise how different it is to negotiate as part of a bloc like the European Union, which has 500 million consumers, than as a country of 60 million or so. The power dynamic is not the same.

Lemoyne also warned European negotiators against rushing into a botched deal because of the tight deadline before the end of the transition period at the end of the year, when EU rules stop applying to the United Kingdom.

Were going to have to work flat out, Lemoyne said. Whats certain is that content must prevail over timing. We cant afford to botch some issues.

Talks will certainly be tough, but we cant give too much away or be negligent about certain rules that matter to us because theres a tight deadline, he added.

Johnson has set a hard deadline to reach a new trade deal with the EU, betting that the prospect of another Brexit cliff-edge would force Brussels to move more quickly to seal an accord. London also hopes it can get a deal with the United States done before the U.S. presidential election in November.

French President Emmanuel Macron consistently took a hard stance on Brexit during the first phase of negotiations.

At the last EU summit in Brussels, he warned Britain against a deregulation of its economy, saying that would prompt the EU to shut off access to Britains biggest export market.

But the stakes are high for France, since Britain represents its biggest trade surplus, being a destination for French wines, champagne, cars and drugs. Trade minister Lemoyne said Britain often does not have domestic alternatives, which should help strike a deal.

Were lucky to have complementarities with Britain. I think these should be encouraged, he said.
GLEN MILLS, Pa., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Axalta (NYSE: AXTA) made a splash today with its 2020 Global Automotive Color of the Year "Sea Glass." This modern turquoise blue shimmers and sets the trend as a fresh new color for all vehicle types.

Inspired by nature's waterways and oceans, Axalta's Sea Glass has depth and intense color as it glitters in sunlight, making it a color that consumers want and that will be noticed by motorists around the world.

Axalta's 2019 Global Automotive Color Popularity Report reported that blue vehicles are seven percent of the global automotive market, fifth overall following white, black, gray and silver. Regions with the highest level of blue vehicles are North America and Europe at ten percent. "The trend toward turquoise blues is growing," said Nancy Lockhart, Axalta Global Product Manager - Color. "Sea Glass was designed for all vehicle types, from compact and sport vehicles to medium sedans and large SUVs and trucks."

More than just beautiful and trendy, Sea Glass is formulated for reflective properties and is highly detectable by Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems. "Bright and pearlescent, Sea Glass is designed to be transmissible for Radio Detection And Ranging (RADAR), meeting the color trends of today for the autonomous vehicles of tomorrow," commented Lockhart. "The transmission properties of Axalta's Sea Glass, as well as many colors in our expansive color portfolio, allow vehicle-to-vehicle detection to occur."

"Sea Glass is ready for the market now," said Dan Benton, Axalta Marketing Manager - Color. "Formulations for this versatile color are available in our global waterborne technologies, and we are ready for customers who are actively looking for the next trend color." Axalta's industry-leading brands, including Cromax, Standox and Spies Hecker will allow painters to easily apply Sea Glass on their next project.

Axalta is a leader in waterborne products that are easy to apply, deliver outstanding adhesion and variable gloss levels, and are quick-drying with good flexibility, low levels of toxicity and flammability, making them an environmentally responsibility choice for any business.

"Sea Glass reminds us of fresh water and ecology and aligns nicely with our corporate social responsibility platform of environmental stewardship," Lockhart said. "Axalta employees are inspired and motivated to help keep our waterways clean, lower energy and decrease water usage at our facilities around the globe." In conjunction with the release of the 2020 Automotive Color of the Year and aligned with our CSR platform, Axalta will help to remove more than 1,000 pounds of waste from our oceans.

Committed to environmental stewardship around the globe through its Bright Futures program, Axalta has helped to conserve more than 13,000 acres of wetlands through its partnership with Ducks Unlimited in North America and Ducks Unlimited de Mexico; planted more than 30,000 trees in Inner Mongolia and Hebei Province with the China Mother River Protection Program in partnership with the China Youth Development Foundation; partnered with the S.M. Sehgal Foundation in India to construct three ponds totaling 30-million-liter capacity in the drought-ridden Bhooriya Baas village in the Alwar district and participated in multiple other conservation and environmental stewardship programs around the world.

For more information about Axalta's sustainability and the Axalta Bright Futures corporate social responsibility platform and goals, click here.

About Axalta

Axalta is a global leader in the coatings industry, providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful and sustainable coatings solutions. From light vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, building facades and other industrial applications, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enhance durability. With more than 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, the 14,000 people of Axalta continue to find ways to serve our more than 100,000 customers in 130 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information visit axalta.com and follow us @axalta on Twitter.

Contact

Regina M. Tracy

215-518-7465

[email protected]

axalta.com

SOURCE Axalta

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[January 06, 2020] New York State Native Jasmin Moghbeli to Graduate as NASA Astronaut with Eye on Artemis Missions

HOUSTON, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --New York state native Jasmin Moghbeli will join the rest of NASA's first class of astronaut candidates to graduate under the Artemis program, for a graduation ceremony and media opportunity Friday, Jan. 10, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston. After completing more than two years of basic training, she will become eligible for spaceflight assignments to the International Space Station (ISS), Artemis missions to the Moon, and future missions to Mars. The ceremony will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website. The new graduates also will be available for in-person and remote media interviews following the ceremony. To participate, media must submit requests for credentials and interviews to Johnson's newsroom t 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. Those following the briefing on social media may ask questions using #AskNASA.



The class includes 11 NASA candidates, as well as two Canadian Space Agency (CSA) candidates, selected in 2017. The NASA candidates, including Moghbeli, were chosen from a record-setting pool of more than 18,000 applicants. The CSA candidates have been training alongside their NASA classmates. Moghbeli, a U.S. Marine Corps major, considers Baldwin, New York, her hometown. She earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering with information technology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master's degree in aerospace engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. She is also a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. Moghbeli came to NASA from Yuma, Arizona, where she tested H-1 helicopters and served as the quality assurance and avionics officer for Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1.

All astronaut candidates have completed training in spacewalking, robotics, ISS systems, T-38 jet proficiency, and Russian language. At the ceremony, each candidate will receive an astronaut pin, marking their graduation from basic training and their eligibility to be selected to fly in space. As astronauts, they'll help develop spacecraft, support the teams currently in space and ultimately, have the opportunity to join the ranks of only about 500 people who have had the honor of going into space. NASA continues its work aboard the space station, which is preparing to mark the 20th consecutive year of humans living onboard in November 2020. The agency also is on the verge of launching Americans from American soil aboard commercial spacecraft and is preparing to send humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis program. Find additional photos of the astronaut candidates and their training here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/albums/72157698260056092 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-york-state-native-jasmin-moghbeli-to-graduate-as-nasa-astronaut-with-eye-on-artemis-missions-300982157.html SOURCE NASA

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Technavio has been monitoring the global feed yeast market since 2019, and the market is poised to grow by USD 558.26 million during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of more than 5% during the forecast period. Request free sample pages

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200106005643/en/

Technavio announced its latest market research report titled global feed yeast market 2020-2024. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Read the 147-page report with TOC on "Feed Yeast Market Analysis Report by Product (poultry, ruminant, swine, aquaculture, and others), Geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America), and the Segment Forecasts, 2020-2024".

The need for feed additives due to the growing disease outbreak in livestock drives the market. Demand for meat and poultry is anticipated to boost the growth of the feed yeast market as well.

Disease outbreak in animals negatively impacts the production and consumption of livestock products across the world, leading to a significant loss of investment. This is driving end-users in the livestock industry to increase the use of feed additives such as vitamins, enzymes, yeast, and probiotics to prevent disease outbreaks in livestock. For instance, the use of feed yeast, such as Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, reduces diarrhea in calves. Therefore, the growing incidence of disease outbreaks is expected to drive the demand for additives such as feed yeast during the forecast period.

Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free.

View market snapshot before purchasing

Major Five Feed Yeast Companies:

Alltech Inc.

Alltech Inc. operates the business across segments such as Animal Nutrition Health, Crop Science, and Food and Beverage. The company offers a wide range of feed yeast products under the brand, Yea-Sacc.

Archer Daniels Midland Co.

Archer Daniels Midland Co. operates the business across various segments such as Origination, Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, Nutrition, and Other. The company offers feed yeast under its brand, CitriStim.

Associated British Foods Plc

Associated British Foods Plc owns and operates the business across various segments such as Grocery, Sugar, Agriculture, Ingredients, and Retail. The company offers feed yeast under the brand, Ohly.

Cargill Inc.

Cargill Inc. owns and operates the business across various segments such as Animal Nutrition Protein, Food Ingredients Applications, Origination Processing, and Industrial Financial Services. The company offers feed yeast under the brand, PROMOTE.

ForFarmers NV

ForFarmers NV owns and operates the business across segments such as The Netherlands, Germany/Belgium/Poland, and the United Kingdom. The company offers feed yeast under the brand, Levucell.

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Feed Yeast Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020 2024)

Poultry

Ruminant

Swine

Aquaculture

Others

Feed Yeast Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020 2024)

APAC

Europe

MEA

North America

South America

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Request a free sample report

Related Reports on Consumer Staples Include:

Global Shrimp Feed Market Global shrimp feed market by type (grower, finisher, starter) and geography (the Americas, APAC, and EMEA).

Global Organic Trace Minerals for Animal Feed Market Global organic trace minerals for animal feed market by type (poultry, swine, ruminants, and others) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America).

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Kanuga in Hendersonville, NC, hosts Elevate: Creation Care and Environmental Justice Conference, March 13-15. The Elevate Conference is a call to Episcopalians and other faith communities to take action. As people of faith, we were created to be intimately involved and caring over creation in a relational and loving way, says Richmond Jones, Kanugas Director of Formation Programs.

This spring, Kanuga hosts Elevate: Creation Care and Environmental Justice Conference from March 13 to March 15. Surrounded by the majestic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the conference is designed for those eager to honor their roles as stewards of creation.

The Elevate Conference is a call to Episcopalians and other faith communities to take action in the environmental movement. As people of faith, we were created to be intimately involved and caring over creation in a relational and loving way, says Richmond Jones, Kanugas Director of Formation Programs.

The event is hosted in collaboration with The Episcopal Church Task Force for Care of Creation and Environmental Racism, Sewanee School of Theology, Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN), Episcopal Relief & Development, Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, and Episcopal Office of Government Relations.

Featured presenters include Rev. Melanie Mullen, the Episcopal Churchs Director of Reconciliation, Justice & Creation Care; Michele L. Roberts, Coming Clean Inc. Director of Outreach and Co-Coordinator of the Environmental Justice Health Alliance; and Dr. Andrew Thompson, assistant professor of theological ethics, director of the Sewanee Ministry Collaborative, and director of the Alternative Clergy Training at Sewanee (ACTS) Program.

The conference offers participants a chance to interact with experts involved in environmental justice and creation care. The event includes panel discussions, worship services, nature hikes, group forums, and volunteer opportunities. Sessions are designed to equip guests with the tools necessary to positively impact their church and community.

The Elevate Conference was created as a way to respond to current issues affecting communities around the world. Environmental issues like climate change and land use are absolutely urgent matters for people of faith today, says Andrew R. H. Thompson, Ph.D., director of the Sewanee Ministry Collaborative and director of the Alternative Clergy Training at Sewanee (ACTS) Program. They are intimately connected to other issues of vital concern for faith communities such as racism, poverty, and social justice. That's why Kanugas Elevate: Creation Care and Environmental Justice conference is so timely and important.

Cost for the conference starts $440 with lodging and meals at Kanuga included; commuter rates are also available. For more information and reservations, visit https://www.kanuga.org

For more information about the conference or Kanuga, please contact Melissa McGowan, Marketing Director, at mmcgowan@kanuga.org or 828-692-9136, ext. 2822.
: Pinky Chaudhary of the fringe group, Hindu Raksha Dal, claims responsibility for the violence at JNU on Sunday. The Delhi police are investigating the claims.

"JNU is a hotbed of anti-national activities, we can't tolerate this. We take full responsibility of the attack in JNU and would like to say that they were our workers" Chaudhary said.
A Class 10 student died and three others injured on Tuesday when the car they were travelling in collided with a security forces' vehicle in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, leading to a protest by local residents who hurled stones at police personnel, an official said.

Three protesters were injured as the police used force to disperse the crowd, he said.

He said traffic in Nowgam area of the district was disrupted due to the protest.

The student who died in the accident was identified as Tehseen Ahmed Bhat, a police officer said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TEHRAN, IranA stampede erupted on Tuesday at a funeral procession for a top Iranian general killed in a U.S. airstrike last week, killing at least 56 people and injuring 190 others, state television reported.

According to the report, the stampede took place in Kerman, the hometown of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, as the procession got underway. Initial videos posted online showed people lying lifeless on a road and others shouting and trying to help them.

Iranian state TV gave the casualty toll in its online report, citing Pirhossein Koulivand, the head of Irans emergency medical services.

Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions, he earlier said.

Authorities later delayed Soleimanis burial, citing concerns about the massive crowd that had gathered, the semi-official ISNA news agency said. It did not say when the burial would take place.

A procession in Tehran on Monday drew over a million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main thoroughfares and side streets in Tehran.

Soleimanis death has sparked calls across Iran for revenge against America for a slaying thats drastically raised tensions across the Middle East. The U.S. government warned ships of an unspecified threat from Iran across all the Mideasts waterways, crucial routes for global energy supplies.

Early Tuesday, the leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard threatened to set ablaze places supported by the United States over the killing of Soleimani, sparking cries from the crowd of supporters of death to Israel! Hossein Salami made the pledge before a crowd of thousands gathered in a central square in Kerman before a casket carrying Soleimanis remains.

The U.S. blames Soleimani for the killing of American troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death Friday in a drone strike near Baghdads airport. Soleimani also led forces in Syria backing President Bashar Assad in a long war, and he also served as the point man for Iranian proxies in countries like Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen.

According to a report on Tuesday by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Iran has worked up 13 sets of plans for revenge for Soleimanis killing. The report quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, as saying that even the weakest among them would be a historic nightmare for the United States. He declined to give any details.

If the U.S. troops do not leave our region voluntarily and upright, we will do something to carry their bodies horizontally out, Shamkhani said.

The U.S. Maritime Administration warned Tuesday ships across the Mideast, citing the rising threats after the U.S. killed Soleimani. The Iranian response to this action, if any, is unknown, but there remains the possibility of Iranian action against U.S. maritime interests in the region, it said.

Oil tankers were targeted in mine attacks last year that the United States blamed on Iran. Tehran denied being responsible though it did seize oil tankers around the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20 percent of the worlds crude oil travels.

The U.S. Navys Bahrain-based 5th Fleet said it would work with shippers in the region to minimize any possible threat.

The 5th Fleet has and will continue to provide advice to merchant shipping as appropriate regarding recommended security precautions in light of the heightened tensions and threats in the region, 5th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Joshua Frey told The Associated Press.

The U.S. State Department has designated the Revolutionary Guard as a terror organization in the United States. The U.S. Defense Department said the U.S. military took decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Soleimani.

By Nasser Karimi, Amir Vahdat, and Jon Gambrell
Impossible Foods has unveiled Impossible Pork and Impossible Sausage meat substitutes at the CES 2020 show in Las Vegas.

The two new soy-based offerings from the Californian maker of plant-derived food products marks its first foray beyond fake beef.

The Impossible Burger, which went on sale in 2016 and 'bleeds' like real beef, has been a key player in the growing category of vegan meats.

Like the burger, Impossible Food's pork and sausage are made from soy but mimic the taste and texture of ground meat.

A variety of Impossible Pork dishes from Impossible Foods, the California plant-based meat company, including 'pork' buns and 'pork' meatballs

Impossible Pork will be rolled out to restaurants first, but the company isn't yet saying when it will come to shops.

Impossible Foods only recently began selling its burgers in grocery stores, although they're available at more than 17,000 restaurants in the US, Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau.

Burger King will give consumers their first taste of Impossible Sausage.

Later this month, 139 Burger King restaurants in five US cities will offer the 'Impossible Croissan'wich', made with plant-based sausage coupled with the traditional egg and cheese.

Burger King did a similar test of the Impossible Whopper last year before expanding sales nationwide.

Impossible Croissan'wich will be rolled out in Burger King restaurants in the US from this month

A plant-based Impossible Pork patty is cooked at the Impossible Foods headquarters in Silicon Valley, in San Francisco

Impossible Foods treated CES guests with 'pork' in the style of Chinese dim sum dumplings

A banh mi sandwich made with a plant-based Impossible Pork patty at the Impossible Foods headquarters

The pork products and the Impossible Burger are made in a similar way to their burger.

Both Impossible Burger and Impossible Pork are plant-based, and contain no animal products or by-products.

Soy and potato protein give the meat-mimicking products a meaty bite, coconut and sunflower oils make them 'sizzle on the griddle', while methylcellulose and food starch hold the mixtures together to help form patties and other shapes.

Impossible Foods gets heme  the protein that gives meat its flavor and texture from soy leghemoglobin, which is found in the roots of soy plants.

To make heme in high volume, it inserts the DNA from soy into yeast and ferments it, and that mixture is then combined with other ingredients.

The company tweaked the ingredients to mimic pork's springy texture and mild flavour.

The pork version has a few differences in its ingredients list, as detailed on the Impossible Foods website, including the lack of potato protein thats in the beef version, as well as the addition of spices.

Impossible Pork has 220 calories in a four-ounce serving  not much less than a serving of 80 per cent lean ground pork from US meat processing company Smithfield, which has 260 calories.

The Impossible Whopper, advertised here in New York, drove solid third quarter sales for Burger King, according to its owner Restaurant Brands

Smithfield's animal-derived pork has more total fat, at 20 grams, than Impossible Pork, which has 13 grams.

But Impossible Pork has far more sodium, at 420 milligrams  five times more than Smithfield pork's 70 milligrams.

But health concerns are only part of the reason consumers are eating more plant-based meats  animal welfare and environmental concerns are also a factor.

Nearly 1.5 billion pigs are killed for food each year, a number that has tripled in the last 50 years, according to the World Economic Forum.

Raising those pigs depletes natural resources and increases greenhouse gas emissions.

J. Michael Melton, head of culinary for Impossible Foods, the California plant-based meat company, prepares some Impossible Pork dishes

A journalist samples an Impossible Pork product during an Impossible Foods press event

'Everything that were doing is trying to avert the biggest threat that the world is facing,' Impossible Foods CEO Pat Brown told The Associated Press.

Brown said the company decided pork should be its next product because customers were frequently requesting it.

Impossible Foods started working on the new products about 18 months ago and accelerated development in the second half of 2019.

Brown said ground pork is also critical to meeting the companys international expansion goals.

While Americans eat more beef and chicken, pork is the most widely consumed meat worldwide, according to the National Pork Board.

An example of Impossible Foods new Impossible Pork dish served at the unveiling of Impossible Pork and Impossible Sausage

Chinese consumers eat more than 88 pounds (40 kilograms) of pork per year, compared to 65 pounds (30 kilograms) for Americans.

Brown said he believes a product like Impossible Pork is critical in China, which has limited arable land and relies heavily on imported meat. Last year, Chinese pork prices surged after African swine fever wiped out millions of pigs.

Brown said Impossible Foods is talking to Chinese regulators and potential partners that could make Impossible Pork  as well as plant-based burgers  in China.

'This is a huge opportunity for China in terms of its food security,' he said.

Impossible Foods is also waiting for approval from European regulators to sell its products there.

Dr Patrick Brown, founder and CEO of Impossible Foods, is a professor emeritus in Stanford University's Biochemistry Department at the School of Medicine

In the US, 2019 was a breakout year for plant-based meat, with a sales jump of 10 per cent in a year to nearly $1 billion; traditional meat sales rose 2 per cent to $95 billion in that same time, according to Nielsen.

Impossible Foods rival Beyond Meat  which already sells plant-based sausage  had a successful public stock offering last spring.

Impossible Foods ran short of burgers in the first half of the year thanks to the buzz from Burger King.

After partnering with OSI Group, a food service company, Brown said Impossible Foods produced twice as much of its plant-based meat in the last quarter of 2019 as it sold in all of 2018.

'We have to keep scaling up as fast as we possibly can,' Brown said.

Dr. Patrick Brown, founder and CEO of Impossible Foods, the California plant-based meat company, unveils Impossible Pork and Impossible Sausage as he is flanked by Burger King CMO Fernando Machado, left, and chef and restaurant owner Traci Des Jardins, right

Brown said he welcomes new competitors in the space, including deep-pocketed rivals like Nestle and Tyson Foods.

The meat industry is vast, he said, and plant-based meats are still only around 1 per cent of sales.

His only concern is that plant-based products taste good enough to convince meat eaters to switch.

'A crappy product won't win over meat lovers,' Brown said.

The Rebel Whopper, which is made from soy, is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians because of the way it is cooked. Instead it is being aimed by the fast food chain at 'flexitarians' - people who eat meat but are cutting down on the animal-based food they eat

In the UK this week, Burger King restaurants have rolled out the plant-based version of its Whopper burger developed in partnership with The Vegetarian Butcher.

But the Rebel Whopper, which is made from soy, is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians because it is being cooked on the same grill as meat.

Instead it is being aimed by the fast food chain at 'flexitarians'  people who eat meat but are cutting down on the animal-based food they eat.

'This really is a game changer,' said Burger King marketing director Katie Evans.

'We wanted our first plant-based Whopper to replicate the indulgence and flame-grilled taste of the real thing as closely as possible, and we're thrilled with the result.'
Organisers on Tuesday called off the Occupy Gateway protest in Mumbai against the mob attack in Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) hours after they were shifted to Azad Maidan by the police but said their agitation will continue.

The Occupy Gateway protest at the iconic Gateway of India had kicked off hours after students and teachers were attacked in JNU on Sunday night by a masked mob, which went on a rampaging spree for more than two hours.

Our two-day protests have sent the required message across the country on our resistance towards the current situation in the country. It is unprecedented that we were able to occupy Gateway for 40 hours and we were successful, they said in a statement.

We (protesters) do not intend to get back to Gateway and will adhere to police orders. We request other protesters not to go to Gateway. We will follow constitutional, democratic methods of peaceful protest until CAA, NRC, NPR are withdrawn, they said.

However, they said they will continue the protests at other locations in the city.

Also Watch l JNU: Anurag Kashyap slams Centre; Zoya Akhtar, Taapsee Pannu & others protest

Around 50 people, taking part in the Occupy Gateway protest, were pushed into three police vans from outside the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai earlier in the day and taken to Azad Maidan, which is the default protest area for Mumbai, two kilometres away.

It is our request that you move to Azad Maidan from Gateway of India because the crowd thronging at this location is causing unrest on the roads leading to traffic and issues to the common man, deputy commissioner of police (Zone VI), Sangramsing Pratapsinh Nishandar, said.

We had already informed your organisers that as per high court guidelines there cannot be any agitation outside Azad Maidan. We are in no way against your peaceful protest. We just want to relocate the movement to Azad Maidan, Nishandar said.

When asked whether the protesters will be allowed to go back to Gateway of India, Nishandar did not respond.

The protesters were kept at Azad Maidan with a ring of police personnel around them.

Some of them said they were manhandled by the police.

We had formed a core committee to streamline the protests at Gateway and the committee has been present at the spot since January 6 midnight. The police refused to discuss when we resisted moving to Azad Maidan, dragged some of us by our foot into the police van, Urvashi Chudawalla, a student at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), said.

I personally was hit on my leg and back by a lathi because the policewomen were not able to physically lift me, the 22-year-old said.

Another protester, Varsha Rohani, said she was lifted inappropriately by the policewomen.

My clothes were lifted while being pushed into the van and no dignity was maintained. Protesters were peacefully listening to the police, the 24-year-old advertising professional said.

We were just trying to convey to the force that Gateway of India has more power to mobilise the movement and get the right attention to trigger action as compared to Azad Maidan, which is a closed restricted premise, she said.

Students, teachers, researchers, celebrities, activists and citizens took to the streets in Mumbai, condemning the attack on JNU. There were flash protests at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) and a candle-lit vigil was also announced at Gateway.

Hundreds gathered at Gateway, including a group of students from TISS and a few celebrities like actor-director Konkona Sen Sharma and former JNU student leader Umar Khalid.

The protesters demands include an independent and immediate inquiry into the attacks in JNU, strict action against those found guilty and resignations of JNU vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar and the Union home minister Amit Shah.
The death has been announced of the popular RTE broadcaster Larry Gogan at the age of 81.

Mr Gogan had worked in broadcasting for almost six decades and was best known for his 40 years working on RTE 2FM, where he was a DJ, before later moving to RTE Gold.

His Just A Minute Quiz was famous across the country, as were the classic hits he played on the Golden Hour.

Larry Gogan had been ill in recent years, according to RTE.

He was predeceased by his wife Florrie and is survived by his five children and grandchildren.
The World Health Organization has estimated more than 340 million children and adolescents ages 5-19 are overweight or obese, and the epidemic has been linked to more deaths worldwide than those caused by being underweight.

The Centers for Disease Control recently reported an estimated 1 in 5 children in the United States, ages 12-18, are living with prediabetes -; increasing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes as well as chronic kidney disease, heart disease and stroke.

Efforts to stem the crisis have led clinicians and health professionals to examine both the nutritional and psychological factors of childhood obesity. In a new study led by the University of Notre Dame, researchers examined how various psychological characteristics of children struggling with their weight, such as loneliness, anxiety and shyness, combined with similar characteristics of their parents or guardians and family dynamics affect outcomes of nutritional intervention.

What they found was a "network effect," suggesting a personalized, comprehensive approach to treatment could improve results of nutritional interventions.

Psychological characteristics clearly have interactional effects. We can no longer simply view them as individualized risk factors to be assessed. We need to account for the specific characteristics for each child, viewing them as a holistic set for which to plan treatment." Nitesh Chawla, the Frank M. Freimann Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Notre Dame, director of the Center for Network and Data Science and a lead author of the study

The Notre Dame team collaborated with the Centre for Nutritional Recovery and Education (CREN), a not-for-profit, nongovernmental nutritional clinic in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where patients participate in a two-year interdisciplinary treatment program including family counseling, nutritional workshops and various physical activities. Researchers analyzed the medical records and psychological assessments of 1,541 children who participated in the program.

The study's key takeaway points to the significant impact parents and guardians have on their child's health when it comes to nutrition. Strong family dynamics, such as concern for behavior and treatment and a sense of protectiveness for the child, led to improved outcomes of nutritional interventions. A lack of authority, however, led to minimal changes in results.

"This is quantitative evidence of the success and failure of interactions as they relate to the characteristics and interactions between the child and the parent or guardian," Chawla said.

The study also highlights the need for clinics to expand their views on patient populations. For example, while treatment programs that incorporate development of interpersonal relationship -; familial and otherwise -; may improve outcomes of nutritional interventions, the same treatment plan may not have the same result for children experiencing loneliness coupled with anxiety.

"For the group without anxiety, this makes sense when you consider a treatment plan focused on strengthening a child's social circle and address issues stemming from loneliness, such as poor social network, bullying or self-imposed isolation," said Gisela M.B. Solymos, co-author of the study, former general manager of CREN and former guest scholar at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at Notre Dame and at the Center for Network and Data Science. "But patients feeling loneliness and anxiety actually showed minimal changes to nutritional interventions, and may be more likely to benefit from additional services at clinics like CREN."
The Jordan-based Arab Bank was served with a precedent-setting, 20-billion-shekel ($5.75 billion) lawsuit Dec. 29 in Jerusalems District Court. Behind the suit were 1,132 victims and casualties of terrorism and their families, who are accusing the bank of cooperating, supporting, abetting, funding and encouraging terrorist activities, which resulted in thousands of casualties. The plaintiffs claim that the bank was involved in funding terrorist attacks in Israel carried out by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah and other terrorist organizations.

Among other things, this lawsuit is based on a similar, successful lawsuit against the Arab Bank in the United States in 2004. Initially, Israeli and American citizens filed the suit together, but the court decided to separate the American and the Israeli plaintiffs. The final compromise ruling covered victims of terrorism, who held American citizenship.

The plaintiffs proved that the bank cooperated with terrorist organizations by opening private bank accounts for the families of terrorists, with which they could receive money from donors. The bank admitted that it did, in fact, transfer tens of millions of dollars to these accounts, but denied that it had any connection to Palestinian terrorist organizations. After many years of legal wrangling, a federal court in New York found the bank liable for knowingly supporting terrorist factions of Hamas, which were responsible for dozens of terrorist attacks between 2001 and 2004, in which American citizens were among the victims. Then, in August 2015, before the court could rule on the final sum of the compensation, the bank reached a confidential settlement with the American plaintiffs.

In 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Alien Tort Statute  previously implemented mostly in cases of human rights breach and extreme attacks  does not encompass individuals who are not citizens of the United States when the actions allegedly taken were not committed on American soil. In other words, non-Americans cannot use this law to sue terrorist groups in American courts. This led to the current suit by Israeli victims of terrorism, which was brought before the Jerusalem District Court. In July 2019, the court set a precedent by finding that the Palestinian Authority (PA) was responsible for 17 terrorist attacks during the second intifada (2000-2005), in which 34 Israelis were killed. The plaintiffs demanded about 1 billion shekels ($287 million) in compensation, but the final sum has yet to be determined.

The new lawsuit against the Arab Bank was brought by the victims of terrorism themselves, as well as the families of hundreds of casualties of terrorist attacks that took place in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip between 1995 and 2005. Among the terrorist attacks listed in the suit were the 1996 attack on Dizengoff Center, which left 13 people dead and about 125 injured; the Dolphinarium attack in Tel Aviv in 2001, in which 21 people were killed and about 120 were injured; the attack on the Sbarro restaurant in downtown Jerusalem in 2001, in which 15 people were killed and about 140 injured; and the 2002 attack on the Park Hotel in Netanya during the Passover seder, which left 30 people dead and about 160 injured.

Ilana, a resident of Jerusalem whose sister was killed by a suicide bomber in the city in 2001, told Al-Monitor that the people directly responsible for the attack, i.e., the terrorists themselves, were captured and punished. On the other hand, the people who funded the terrorists and ensured that their families would be compensated after they went out to kill Jews were never punished. She said that she is not doing this for the money either, adding, Money will not bring my sister back, but it must be made clear that financial organizations that operate in a legitimate, legal setting cannot exploit their status or the tools at their disposal to support acts of murder and terrorism. [That's why] they must pay.

The Arab Bank is one of the biggest banks in the Arab world, with an international network of 600 branches. The lawsuit claims that the Arab Bank, its staff and its administration played an integral role in terrorist activity, knowingly funding individual Palestinian terrorists as well as terrorist organizations.

According to the plaintiffs, the bank played an active and important role in collecting donations from around the world to support and fund the families of suicide bombers, casualties and prisoners. It was claimed, among other things, that at the start of the second intifada in 2000, CEO of the Arab Bank Abd al-Majid Shuman established the Foundation to Support the Palestinian Peoples Resistance, to help fund the second intifada. He even pledged to donate $500,000 of his own money to the cause, while the bank committed itself to contribute an additional $2 million.

The plaintiffs are represented by four Israeli attorneys specializing in personal injury cases, which involve terrorist funding, genocide and crimes against humanity. One of them, Attorney Gil Maman, told Al-Monitor that the Arab Bank operates out of an anti-Israel ideology, and that its financial reports state explicitly that the bank should not conduct business with Israel or Zionist institutions. He also claimed that during the second intifada, the banks employees were asked to contribute part of their salaries to Palestinian terrorist organizations. Maman noted that in 2005, the US Department of the Treasury fined the Arab Bank $24 million for failing to prevent its New York City branch from laundering money to fund terrorism. While the bank agreed to pay the fine, it would not admit to the alleged crimes.

According to Maman, Israel helped the plaintiffs in the case against the Arab Bank by providing them access to documents from terrorist organizations, which were seized by the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet during operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. As far as Israel is concerned, the fight against the financing of terrorism is one way to harm groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The so-called Deduction Law is another part of this fight. This law, adopted by the Knesset in 2018, enables Israeli authorities to deduct stipends paid by the PA to families of Palestinian assailants from tax revenues collected by Israel on the PAs behalf. As such, it is damaging to the PA and weakens Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8)  President Rodrigo Duterte has tasked two Cabinet officials to work on a new water distributions agreement with Maynilad and Manila Water, without the "onerous" provisions under the existing contracts with the two concessionaires.

Duterte told reporters in Malacanang on Tuesday that the two water firms should accept the new deal or the government will take over their operations and they will be sued for "plunder" or "estafa on a large scale."

But even if they do accept the new deal, Duterte said there is no guarantee that the companies would escape prosecution.

"I cannot stop anyone, especially a Filipino and a consumer of water, to file any case to damages or anything," he said. "Wala akong pakialam diyan [I don't care about that.] I leave it to anybodys choice to run after or not to run after."

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the issue on the 22-year-old water concession agreements was extensively discussed during Dutertes meeting with his Cabinet members on Monday night.

The Office of the Solicitor General and the Department of Justice presented the new contracts to the Cabinet.

The terms will be very, very different in this one, Panelo said. There is a time for reckoning. That time has come.

"Wala pang takeover (there is no takeover yet). Thats still constitutional. But the government can take over public facilities in case of a national emergency," he said.

Maynilad, the water concessionaire that services western Metro Manila, said they have yet to receive a copy of the new water deal, but assured the government of their cooperation.

The Duterte administrations warning of a government takeover on water services has gone far back as early as October last year amid the ongoing water crisis in Metro Manila and other areas under the jurisdiction of Maynilad and Manila Water.

An international tribunal had ordered the Philippine government to pay Manila Water 7.4 billion in losses stemming from rejected water rate hikes back in 2015. In a similar case in 2017, the government was ordered to reimburse 3.4 billion for Maynilad's losses.

But in December, the two water firms said they will no longer demand payment from the government arising from their arbitral tribunal win, after Duterte threatened to sue them.

READ: Maynilad, Manila Water will no longer demand P10.8-B compensation from govt after Duterte threat
Uproar growing for Trump over Soleimani assassination: CNN

Iran Press TV

Monday, 06 January 2020 7:26 PM

The administration of US President Donald Trump is in danger of losing control of the crisis unleashed by the assassination of Iranian commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, according to US media reports.

"Trump's claim that the drone strike last week made Americans safer is being challenged by cascading events that appear to leave the US more vulnerable and isolated, CNN reported Monday.

"The Trump administration is already in danger of losing control of the swift chain reaction and political storm" created by the assassination of General Soleimani, the report said.

Several US lawmakers say there was no evidence of an "imminent attack" by Iran.

Congressional Democrats have expressed skepticism towards the evidence the Trump administration has cited to justify the assassination claimed to have been aimed at averting "imminent attack."

The administration's basis for the attack also came under renewed suspicion after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told CNN that it was not "relevant" for him to reveal how imminent the attacks on US interests were that Trump said General Soleimani was planning.

America's allies in Europe have also distanced themselves from Trump's attack.

And in a new sign of widening gaps between Iraq and the US, Iraq's Caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi said on Sunday General Soleimani was set to deliver Tehran's reply to an earlier Saudi message regarding de-escalation talks mediated by Baghdad when he was assassinated.

"The deepening fallout over Iran renewed a focus on Trump's leadership style and the question of how carefully he had considered the consequences of the attack," CNN said.

The report said the Trump administration is resisting demands by Democratic lawmakers to share the intelligence that prompted the killing of Soleimani.

"It is critical that national security matters of such import be shared with the American people in a timely manner," says the letter, issued by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"An entirely classified notification is simply not appropriate in a democratic society, and there appears to be no legitimate justification for classifying this notification," they added.

CNN also said there was alarm within the administration over Trump's earlier threat to attack "cultural" sites in Iran if Tehran retaliated against the US.

An attack on cultural sites like a religious shrine or historic monument would have civilian casualties, could violate several international treaties and would likely be considered a war crime.

"Nothing rallies people like the deliberate destruction of beloved cultural sites," one US official told CNN.

"I don't know what the President's motivation here is but I think it was a reckless decision that increased the risk to Americans all around the world, not decreased it," House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff told CNN.

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January 07 : Bollywood celebrities Twinkle Khanna and Rajkummar Rao condemned the attack which took place in the campus of Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) late on Sunday night.

JNU students and staff were attacked by masked men armed with sticks and rods. At least 28 people, including JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured as chaos reigned on the campus for nearly two hours.

Actor Rajkummar Rao took to his social media profile and called the attack shameful, horrific and heartbreaking. He wrote, What happened in JNU is shameful, horrific and heartbreaking. Those who are responsible behind these attacks should be punished. #JNUViolence

Actor turned author and producer, Twinkle Khanna who is known to always speak her mind on important issues took to her Twitter handle to condemn the brutal act. She wrote, India, where cows seem to receive more protection than students, is also a country that now refuses to be cowed down. You cant oppress people with violence-there will be more protests, more strikes, more people on the street. This headline says it all.

Providing supporting the students in Delhi, a group of film fraternity members such as Anurag Kashyap, Anubhav Sinha, Gauahar Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Sudhir Misra, Vishal Bhardwaj, Reema Kagti, Zoya Akhtar, Dia Mirza, Rahul Bose, Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal, Reema Kagti and more hosted a peaceful protest at Carter Road in Mumbai last night.

The celebrities shouted the slogans, carried placards and even sang the Indian National Anthem with the entire fan base present at the venue.
Photographs of a Japanese military base have been published on Chinese social media, suggesting that Chinas civilian satellites are being used to gather intelligence for military purposes.

Three animated GIFs were posted on microblogging platform Weibo on Thursday by an account called China Aerospace  also the name of the Chinese space programmes main contractor. The account is not officially that of the company, but features news and videos closely related to its work.

The GIFs showed planes taking off from and landing at a Japanese air force base in Naha, in southern Japans Okinawa prefecture.

A zoomed-in image showed more than 10 planes stationed at the Japan Air Self-Defence Force base, and vehicles could be seen driving past the base.

The images were credited to Chang Guang Satellite Technology, Chinas first commercial remote sensing satellite company, which owns the Jilin-1 satellites. The three images were taken on December 14, according to the Weibo post.

In recent years, Japan has used the Naha base to dispatch its fighter jets to expel foreign aircraft, especially after the Chinese air force stepped up its activities in the East China Sea.

Chinese military aircraft were involved in 638 of the 999 interceptions in the 2018-19 financial year, Japanese officials said last April. Nearly all of those incidents were in airspace close to the disputed Diaoyu Islands, which are claimed by China but controlled by Japan, which knows them as the Senkaku archipelago.

The Jilin-1 satellite constellation is a set of remote sensing satellites. The latest of them, Jilin-1 Gaofen-02B, was launched last month in Chinas north, joining the 14 Jilin satellites already in orbit in a network used for environmental monitoring, forest management, energy, mining, land planning and more, according to Chinas state news agency Xinhua.

Jilins broad observation power made it usable for military applications such as monitoring activities in a particular location, Malcolm Davis, a space security analyst from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said, adding that it could support the Chinese Peoples Liberation Armys space surveillance tasks.

Story continues

Zhou Chenming, a Beijing-based military expert, said that China could not rely solely on satellites for real-time information but they could provide a good source of relatively up-to-date background information.

Since high-resolution satellite images require days to analyse, the military still needs surveillance planes or unmanned drones to gather intelligence, Zhou said.

Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapores Nanyang Technological University, said space-based remote sensing or earth observation satellites always had the potential for military as well as civilian application.

It enhances its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. And similar to civilian marine scientific research [which China conducts in the disputed South China Sea], these programmes often present a grey area that can give the user strategic ambiguity, Koh said.

Charlie Lyons Jones, a researcher from the Australian Strategic Policy Institutes defence and strategy programme, said that although the US still led the way in space technology and research, China had made great strides in developing dual-use space capabilities such as tactical microsatellites.

Such technologies might have important civilian uses but could also be deployed for military operations in space, complicating US war plans predicated on deploying weapons systems, Jones said.

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"There is nothing left for us to say, please leave us alone," said the elderly father of Vinay Sharma, one of the convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, as he shut the door to his small, unusually dark home at the Ravidas Camp here.

Hours after a Delhi court issued death warrants against the four death row convicts -- Mukesh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Kumar Singh -- an eerie quiet loomed over the settlement where they lived with their families.

Some women standing in groups shared nervous glances whenever a stranger entered the colony.

"Everything is fine here," said a middle-aged woman upon being approached, before signalling to the others to disperse.

"Sab shaant hai yahan (it's all quiet here)," was the only thing several residents of the colony said.

A Delhi court on Tuesday issued the death warrants against the four convicts, bringing to an end the prolonged legal battle following the horrific gang rape of a 23-year-old paramedic student in a moving bus here on the intervening night of December 16-17, 2012. She died days later in a Singapore hospital.

A whirlwind of protests from all quarters of civil society had erupted after the incident.

While the widowed mother of brothers Ram Singh and Mukesh Singh has left the locality and gone back to her family in Rajasthan, the families of Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta still live in the slum colony.

The narrow lanes leading to the houses of Sharma and Gupta stood deserted.

Afraid of picking up a fight with the convicts' mothers, one woman stood behind a curtain and pointed towards Gupta's house. "Maybe, they will talk to you," she said.

"They fight with the neighbours who talk to the media. You people will leave once this is all over but we have to stay here only," she said.

Gupta's family too refused to talk to any outsider.

A group of men sitting outside a shop lauded the court's decision.

"It was long overdue," said Dharmveer (name changed), adding that there was no reason to cry over the "inevitable" execution.

"It is not like they were denied legal options. The case took its time, everything was done by the book. They were given every chance to defend themselves and even seek mercy," he said.

A Delhi court had sentenced the four convicts to death on September 13, 2013. In the years that followed, the convicts' appeals to the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court were rejected.

In 2018, the Supreme Court rejected a review petition filed by three of the convicts except Akshay Singh, whose petition was dismissed on December 18 last year.

Another resident referred to recent a encounter in Hyderabad in which four men accused of rape and murder were killed.

"At least they (Nirbhaya case convicts) were not shot dead in the street like what happened in Hyderabad. If you have done wrong you will not be spared. Why do you think people like Asaram and Ram Rahim are behind the bars," he argued.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
KYODO NEWS - Jan 6, 2020 - 20:08 | All, Japan

A former television reporter appealed on Monday a civil court ruling ordering him to pay damages to Japanese #MeToo symbol and journalist Shiori Ito in a high-profile rape case.

Noriyuki Yamaguchi, a former Washington bureau chief for Tokyo Broadcasting System Television Inc. and biographer of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has denied Ito's allegation that he had sexual intercourse with her without her consent at a Tokyo hotel in 2015 while she was in a state of intoxication and unconscious.

(Japanese journalist Shiori Ito speaks to reporters outside the Tokyo District Court on Dec. 18, 2019.)

The Tokyo District Court last month ordered Yamaguchi, 53, to pay 3.3 million yen ($30,500) in damages to the 30-year-old Ito.

The court rejected a counter-lawsuit filed by Yamaguchi seeking 130 million yen in compensation from Ito. He claimed his social reputation has been damaged by her remarks.

Ito filed a criminal complaint with police, but prosecutors dropped the case in 2016.

(Noriyuki Yamaguchi)

She later filed a complaint with the Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution, but it also judged in 2017 that the prosecutors' decision was appropriate.

Related coverage:

Japan's #MeToo symbol surprised by "landmark" rape suit victory

Labor minister opposes banning female dress codes with high heels

Companies having hard time letting go of heels: Kyodo poll

Feminist scholar calls Japan's gender problem "human disaster"
GUILTY: MICHAEL FLYNN

Pleaded guilty to making false statements in December 2017. Awaiting sentence

Flynn was President Trump's former National Security Advisor and Robert Mueller's most senior scalp to date. He previously served when he was a three star general as President Obama's director of the Defense Intelligence Agency but was fired.

He admitted to lying to special counsel investigators about his conversations with a Russian ambassador in December 2016. He has agreed to cooperate with the special counsel investigation.

GUILTY AND JAILED: MICHAEL COHEN

Pleaded guilty to eight counts including fraud and two campaign finance violations in August 2018. Pleaded guilty to further count of lying to Congress in November 2018. Sentenced to three years in prison and $2 million in fines and forfeitures in December 2018

Cohen was investigated by Mueller but the case was handed off to the Southern District of New York,leaving Manhattan's ferocious and fiercely independent federal prosecutors to run his case.

Cohen was Trump's longtime personal attorney, starting working for him and the Trump Organization in 2007. He is the longest-serving member of Trump's inner circle to be implicated by Mueller. Cohen professed unswerving devotion to Trump - and organized payments to silence two women who alleged they had sex with the-then candidate: porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. He admitted that payments to both women were felony campaign finance violations - and admitted that he acted at the 'direction' of 'Candidate-1': Donald Trump.

He also admitted tax fraud by lying about his income from loans he made, money from taxi medallions he owned, and other sources of income, at a cost to the Treasury of $1.3 million.

And he admitted lying to Congress in a rare use of the offense. The judge in his case let him report for prison on March 6 and recommended he serve it in a medium-security facility close to New York City.

GUILTY AND JAILED: PAUL MANAFORT

Found guilty of eight charges of bank and tax fraud in August 2018. Sentenced to 47 months in March 2019. Pleaded guilty to two further charges - witness tampering and conspiracy against the United States. Jailed for total of seven and a half years in two separate sentences. Additionally indicted for mortgage fraud by Manhattan District Attorney, using evidence previously presented by Mueller

Manafort worked for Trump's campaign from March 2016 and chaired it from June to August 2016, overseeing Trump being adopted as Republican candidate at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. He is the most senior campaign official to be implicated by Mueller. Manafort was one of Washington D.C.'s longest-term and most influential lobbyists but in 2015, his money dried up and the next year he turned to Trump for help, offering to be his campaign chairman for free - in the hope of making more money afterwards. But Mueller unwound his previous finances and discovered years of tax and bank fraud as he coined in cash from pro-Russia political parties and oligarchs in Ukraine.

Manafort pleaded not guilty to 18 charges of tax and bank fraud but was convicted of eight counts in August 2018. The jury was deadlocked on the other 10 charges. A second trial on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent due in September did not happen when he pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States and witness tampering in a plea bargain. He was supposed to co-operate with Mueller but failed to.

Minutes after his second sentencing hearing in March 2019, he was indicted on 16 counts of fraud and conspiracy by the Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., using evidence which included documents previously presented at his first federal trial. The president has no pardon power over charges by district and state attorneys.

GUILTY AND GOING TO WEEKEND JAIL: RICK GATES

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States and making false statements in February 2018. Sentenced to 45 days weekend jail and three years probation, December 17, 2018

Gates was Manafort's former deputy at political consulting firm DMP International. He admitted to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government on financial activity, and to lying to investigators about a meeting Manafort had with a member of congress in 2013. As a result of his guilty plea and promise of cooperation, prosecutors vacated charges against Gates on bank fraud, bank fraud conspiracy, failure to disclose foreign bank accounts, filing false tax returns, helping prepare false tax filings, and falsely amending tax returns.

GUILTY AND JAILED: GEORGE PAPADOPOLOUS

Pleaded guilty to making false statements in October 2017. Sentenced to 14 days in September 2018, and reported to prison in November. Served 12 days and released on December 7, 2018

Papadopoulos was a member of Donald Trump's campaign foreign policy advisory committee. He admitted to lying to special counsel investigators about his contacts with London professor Josef Mifsud and Ivan Timofeev, the director of a Russian government-funded think tank.

GUILTY AND JAILED: RICHARD PINEDO

Pleaded guilty to identity fraud in February 2018. Sentenced to a year in prison

Pinedo is a 28-year-old computer specialist from Santa Paula, California. He admitted to selling bank account numbers to Russian nationals over the internet that he had obtained using stolen identities.

GUILTY AND JAILED: ALEX VAN DER ZWAAN

Pleaded guilty to making false statements in February 2018. He served a 30-day prison sentence and was deported to the Netherlands on his release

Van der Zwaan was a Dutch attorney for Skadden Arps who worked on a Ukrainian political analysis report for Paul Manafort in 2012.

He admitted to lying to special counsel investigators about when he last spoke with Rick Gates and Konstantin Kilimnik. His law firm say he was fired.

GUILTY: W. SAMUEL PATTEN

Pleaded guilty in August 2018 to failing to register as a lobbyist while doing work for a Ukrainian political party. Sentenced to three years probation April 2019

Patten, a long-time D.C. lobbyist was a business partner of Paul Manafort. He pleaded guilty to admitting to arranging an illegal $50,000 donation to Trump's inauguration.

He arranged for an American 'straw donor' to pay $50,000 to the inaugural committee, knowing that it was actually for a Ukrainian businessman.

Neither the American or the Ukrainian have been named.

CHARGED: KONSTANTIN KILIMNIK

Indicted for obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. At large, probably in Russia

Kilimnik is a former employee of Manafort's political consulting firm and helped him with lobbying work in Ukraine. He is accused of witness tampering, after he allegedly contacted individuals who had worked with Manafort to remind them that Manafort only performed lobbying work for them outside of the U.S.

He has been linked to Russian intelligence and is currently thought to be in Russia - effectively beyond the reach of extradition by Mueller's team.

INDICTED: THE RUSSIANS

Twenty-five Russian nationals and three Russian entities have been indicted for conspiracy to defraud the United States. They remain at large in Russia

Two of these Russian nationals were also indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 11 were indicted for conspiracy to launder money. Fifteen of them were also indicted for identity fraud.

Vladimir Putin has ridiculed the charges. Russia effectively bars extradition of its nationals. The only prospect Mueller has of bringing any in front of a U.S. jury is if Interpol has their names on an international stop list - which is not made public - and they set foot in a territory which extradites to the U.S.

INDICTED: MICHAEL FLYNN'S BUSINESS PARTNERS

Bijan Kian (left), number two in now disgraced former national security adviser Mike Flynn's lobbying company, and the two's business partner Ekim Alptekin (right) were indicted for conspiracy to lobby illegally.

Kian, an Iranian-American was arrested and appeared in court charged with a conspiracy to illegally lobby the U.S government without registering as a foreign agent. Their co-conspirator was Flynn, who is called 'Person A' in the indictment and is not charged, offering some insight into what charges he escaped with his plea deal.

Kian, vice-president of Flynn's former lobbying firm, is alleged to have plotted with Alptekin to try to change U.S. policy on an exiled Turkish cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania and who is accused by Turkey's strongman president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, of trying to depose him.

Erdogan's government wanted him extradited from the U.S. and paid Flynn's firm through Alptekin for lobbying, including an op-ed in The Hill calling for Gulen to be ejected. Flynn and Kian both lied that the op-ed was not paid for by the Turkish government.

The indictment is a sign of how Mueller is taking an interest in more than just Russian involvement in the 2016 election.

GUILTY AND AWAITING SENTENCE: ROGER STONE

Roger Stone, a former Trump campaign official and longtime informal advisor to Trump, was indited on seven counts including obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and lying to Congress about his communications with WikiLeaks in January 2019. Convicted on all counts November 15, 2019, awaiting sentence

Stone was a person of interest to Mueller's investigators long before his January indictment, thanks in part due to his public pronouncements as well as internal emails about his contacts with WikiLeks.

In campaign texts and emails, many of which had already been publicly revealed before showing up in Mueller's indictment, Stone communicated with associates about WikiLeaks following reports the organization had obtained a cache of Clinton-related emails.

Stone, a former Nixon campaign adviser who has the disgraced former president's face permanently tattooed on his back, has long been portrayed as a central figure in the election interference scandal.

'They got nothing,' he said of the special counsel's investigation.

Stone gave 'false and misleading' testimony about his requests for information from WikiLeaks. He then pressured a witness, comedian Randy Credico, to take the Fifth Amendment rather than testify, and pressured him in a series of emails. Following a prolonged dispute over testimony, he called him a 'rat' and threatened to 'take that dog away from you', in reference to Credico's pet, Bianca. Stone warned him: 'Let's get it on. Prepare to die.'

CLEARED: GREG CRAIG

Greg Craig, President Barack Obama's White House counsel, was indicted for failing to register as a foreign agent. Mueller's investigators uncovered Craig's work on behalf the government of Ukraine while probing Manafort, who did business with Craig.

Prosecutors released a grand jury indictment of Craig in April 2019, after Craig's law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP agreed to pay more than $4.6 million as part of a settlement. The prominent firm also acknowledged it had failed to register, and placed much of the blame on Craig, a senior partner there.

Craig's lawyer blasted the decision as an abuse of prosecutorial discretion, and prepared to argue that omission of information during an interview is not tantamount to making false statements.

The charges stem from a 2012 report Craig and the firm produced on behalf of the Ukrainian government on opposition figure and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. She was an opponent of Manafort's client , former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Craig was cleared on September 9 2019.
Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen on Tuesday said exaggerated claims about Vedic mathematics had generated a world of fantasy in a section of educational institutions in the country, which should be resisted.

He also said the understanding that friendship helped in the creation of knowledge was particularly important in the philosophy and history of science.

"Nationalist sentiments may make a counter-claim of some kind of a secluded flourishing of science and mathematics only in their country, detached from the rest of the world and unrelated to what we can learn from others, but that is not how science and mathematics and culture ultimately proceed," Sen said.

For example, he said the view of ancient India as an island, making discoveries and inventions in a splendid isolation, might be pleasing to Indian nationalists, but that understanding was fundamentally mistaken.

"Consider the golden age of mathematics. That was not the Vedic period, contrary to what is often claimed these days.

"Exaggerated claims about Vedic mathematics have tended to generate a world of fantasy in a section of educational institutions in India today, which I think we should resist," the 86-year-old economist said.

He added that the golden age of mathematics in India was rather the classic period -- the first millennium.

"The great mathematical revolution in India was led particularly by Aryabhata, who was born in 476 AD, and what Aryabhata developed initially was taken forward by other great mathematicians in India like Brahmagupta, Bhaskara and others.

"While deeply original, Aryabhata's mathematics was substantially influenced by the mathematical revolution that had already taken place in Greece, Babylon and Rome," Sen said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 36-year-old man called Reynhard Sinaga has been dubbed the UK's worst rapist after police linked him to more than 190 potential victims.

Sinaga targeted lone young men who were worse for wear from alcohol on nights out in Manchester and had been separated from friends or were on their way home.

He would then invite them back to his Manchester city centre apartment where he would drug his victims before filming himself assaulting them.

Following four trials, he was jailed for life at Manchester Crown Court on Monday, January 6.

Reynhard Sinaga has been jailed / CPS

Here's everything you need to know about Reynhard Sinaga:

Who is Reynhard Sinaga?

Sinaga was born in Jambi in Indonesia on February 19, 1983 and grew up in a well-off conservative Catholic family in Sumatra.

He first arrived in the UK on a student visa and moved to Manchester as a student of Sociology at the citys redbrick university.

The student later embarked on a PhD in Human Geography at the University of Leeds, commuting to the city from Manchester.

At the time of his arrest, he was working on his thesis, titled: "Sexuality and everyday transnationalism in south Asian gay and bisexual men in Manchester".

How did Sinaga ensnare victims?

At 5ft 7in, Sinagas unthreatening appearance allowed him to prey on drunk young men.

Manchester Crown Court heard during his trial that Sinaga would approach men on the street and start talking about music or university life.

The bedroom floor, where dozens of rapes took place, in the home of Sinaga / PA

Posing as a Good Samaritan, he offered them a floor to sleep on or promised them more drink, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Flat 11, Montana House on Princess Street was the scene of a string of rapes and sexual assaults that he perpetrated.

The location of that apartment was close to Factory and Fifth nightclubs, allowing Sinaga to identify victims.

It is thought he laced alcoholic drinks with a drug such as Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB).

His victims, who were mainly heterosexual, had little or no memory of the hours that followed as Sinaga filmed the assaults on his mobile phone.

Bottles of alcohol which were used to spike victims / PA

They later left the apartment unaware they had been violated.

Greater Manchester Police have still been unable to identify 70 of his victims, and have asked potential victims to come forward.

None of his known victims realised what had been done to them, and none of them wanted to know the details after they were contacted by the police.

How was Reynhard Sinaga caught?

The rapist was caught when one victim regained consciousness and fought him off.

The victim then went to the police and crucially handed in Sinaga's phone.

Sinaga had also kept "trophies" of his crimes, such as watches and wallets.

He had downloaded social media pages from some of his victims, gleaned from personal identification they were carrying, and took still photographs of many of them while they were naked or semi-naked.

Reynard Sinaga's four trials

The serial rapist was jailed for life on Monday January 6 and must serve a minimum of 30 years in custody before he can be considered for parole.

CCTV of the serial rapist Reynhard Sinaga on Princess Street, Manchester / PA

Details of the case, the UK's largest ever rape prosecution, were made public after reporting restrictions were lifted following the end of four trials.

Across the trials, Sinaga was found guilty of a total of 159 offences committed between January 2015 and May 2017.

These included 136 counts of rape, 13 counts of sexual assault, eight counts of attempted rape and two counts of assault by penetration.

Judge Suzanne Goddard QC told the court his total number of potential victims was 195.

Sinaga claimed the men consented to being recorded playing a sex game in which they pretended to be dead to fulfil his fantasies - a defence labelled "preposterous" by prosecutor Iain Simkin as jurors saw footage of some victims snoring.

The court heard that none of the victims, many in their late teens or early 20s, wanted to know details of what had happened to them when traced by police and some have chosen not to tell their family or close friends of the trauma.

Jurors had to watch the mobile phone footage as Sinaga persisted with his defence and all were later offered counselling.
Tens of thousands of North Koreans gathered for a rally at Kim Il Sung Square carrying placards and propaganda slogans as a show of support for their rejection of the United Nations' latest round of sanctions on Wednesday Aug. 9, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea.

North Korea experts say that Pyongyang will likely try to use the tension between the U.S. and Iran to justify a strengthening of its nuclear deterrence, in the wake of the U.S. drone-strike-assassination of Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani.

Two days after the drone strike, North Korea condemned the attack through state-run media.

Thae Yong-ho, the former deputy ambassador of North Korea to the United Kingdom who famously defected with his family to South Korea in 2016, wrote on his personal website that Pyongyang is worried that word of the drone attack will spread among its people.

Thae also criticized North Korea for what he said was a distortion of facts, saying the North had claimed the Middle East will be a grave for the U.S. and that pro-U.S. countries are putting the U.S. in a tough situation by remaining passive as Washington asks them to send troops.

He also said that Kim Jong Un, was greatly surprised by the attack and the assassination in Iraq might now cement his convictions that only nuclear weapons will protect him.

Cho Hanbum of the Korea Institute for National Unification told RFAs Korean Service the assassination actually puts North Korea in a hard place.

Cho said that in the wake of the drone assassination, which has been widely seen as a preemptive strike, if North Korea starts its usual provocations, the U.S. will now have no choice but to take a hardline stance, and even North Koreas allies, China and Russia, will not be able to side with Pyongyang.

Cho believes North Korea will instead focus on gaining an upper hand in denuclearization and sanctions relief negotiations with the U.S. rather than threatening provocations.

But Chos colleague Hong Min, the director of the institutes North Korea Research Division, said that the North could instead use the drone-strike as an excuse to launch provocations.

Hong said that North Korea has declared a long-term war with U.S. under a so-called frontal breakthrough strategy, but it has not abandoned negotiations. He added that the U.S. would be displeased to see Pyongyang disrupt those negotiations.

North Korea may hope internally that the US will quickly organize its internal issues and focus on negotiations with the North, said Hong, adding [but] due to the Iranian situation [that will likely] be put on the back burner.

So, North Korea may increase its level of provocation early so that the U.S. must focus on negotiations, said Hong.

Hong added that if not for the drone-attack, North Korea would begin low-intensity provocations in late February or early March, when the annual U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises are in full swing.

However, Hong said, now it is possible that North Korea could try to draw U.S. attention by unveiling its strategic weapons at an earlier date.

U.S.-based experts weigh in

Several U.S.-based experts also told RFA that the drone-strike would embolden North Koreas resolve to hold on to its nuclear program.

The U.S. action reinforces North Koreas decades-old paranoia about Washingtons intentions for Pyongyang and bolsters the regimes narrative of a hostile United States, said Jung H. Pak, from the Brookings Institutions Center for East Asia Policy Studies.

The killing of Irans top general does not fundamentally affect the [North Korean] regimes strategic objectives or its methods, and if anything, further legitimizes Kims decision to refuse to bargain away the nuclear weapons, said Pak.

Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute said the drone-attack affects North Korea in two major ways.

On the one hand, Pyongyang is reminded that it is vulnerable and should refrain from lethal uses of force, said Cronin.

On the other hand, North Korea will continue to build up its nuclear arsenal to deter potential regime-change attacks, he said.

Government encourages citizens self-reliance to overcome sanctions

Meanwhile in North Korea, authorities are forcing citizens to attend ideological education sessions where they are told to bear the difficulties of living under international sanctions using self-reliance.

The sessions began after the Korean Workers Party held a plenary meeting to decide the best way to deal with the sanctions, which are aimed at depriving North Korea of foreign cash and resources that could be funneled into its nuclear program.

These days, they are conducting these ideological sessions at every factory and womens organization, said a resident of North Pyongan in an interview with RFAs Korean Service Sunday.

The core idea of the partys plenary meeting was that people should persevere through economic sanctions with the power of self-reliance, said the source.

But the source said the people are scoffing at the idea.

[They say] if they just sit there and believe what the Central Committee is saying, they might starve to death, so they have to save dollars on their own, the source said.

They say they dont believe in Kim Jong Un. They believe in hundred dollar bills, so they are saying that if they have dollars, they can overcome any hardship, the source said.

Another source, also from North Pyongan, told RFA, There is a saying circulating among residents that even a Kisaeng must work the farmland with her hoe.

Kisaeng were women trained to be courtesans for upper-class men during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) and earlier. The saying means the economic situation is so bad that even those who cater to the wealthy struggle to survive.

The second source explained the saying in the current context, saying, If government officials or rich people dont make enough money because of sanctions, women who live off of them will have to work hard and suffer a lot.

The second source said that the education sessions indicate to the people that sanctions will not likely be ending soon.

The more that this type of ideological education is emphasized, the more people realize that the confrontation between North Korea and the U.S. will be prolonged, and the U.N. economic sanctions will not be easily lifted, said the second source.

If we give up nuclear weapons and missiles, foreign economic aid, including from South Korea, will begin on a large scale, so there is a lot of resentment and criticism about how the party is handling the situation.

Reported by Seungwook Hong, Hyemin Son and Sangmin Lee for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 7 : All three political fronts in Kerala -- the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), CPI-M led Left Democratic Front and the Bharatiya Janata party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) -- are in quandary about the selection of candidates for the soon to be announced Kuttanadu Assembly constituency bypoll.

The seat fell vacant after the three-time sitting legislator Thomas Chandy, the Kerala chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) passed away last month. He had defeated Kerala Congress (Mani) candidate Jacob Abraham by 4,891 votes in the 2016 Assembly polls.

On Tuesday Chandy's wife wrote to the CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that neither she nor their children were interested to contest the polls and it should be given to his brother Thomas K. Thomas.

However, this request by Chandy's wife has taken the NCP by surprise and it came at a time when they were getting ready to identify Chandy's successor.

After this development, CPI-M, who as per sources, was contemplating to put up their own candidate this time instead of the NCP. The CPI-M believes that it has a strong cadre base in Kuttanadu which can give it the required advantage to win the seat.

The Kerala Congress (Mani) after the death of party supremo K.M. Mani last year is deeply divided between his son Jose K. Mani and senior legislator P.J. Joseph. Both have made their claims for the seat.

Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha member K. Muraleedharan has already warned the UDF leadership against making their differences known in the public. He has cautioned that under no circumstance should the warring factions of the Kerala Congress (Mani) wash their dirty linen in public otherwise they may face a repeat of the Pala Assembly seat, which was lost after 52 years in the bye-election last year after K.M. Mani's death.

Muraleedharan went to the extent of suggesting that if there was any discord between the warring factions of Jose and Joseph, then the Congress should take over the seat.

Likewise, last time the BJP-led NDA had given the seat to its second biggest ally, Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), and leading businessman Subhash Vasu secured over 33,000 votes and put up a good fight.

However, Vasu last week slammed BDJS chairman Tushar Vellapally, clearly signifying that this time it will not be a united BDJS which would be fighting the polls.
Itsa co-owner and writer Domini Kemp has warned of more closures in the food retail industry.

Ms Kemp said yesterday that rising food prices, coupled with the VAT increase and wage hikes, are going to put significant pressure on small independent traders.

She was commenting days after the high-profile closure of Fallon and Byrne's Rathmines food hall and restaurant business, and she forecast "more will follow".

The Itsa business has been operating for more than 20 years and today operates four brands across 12 outlets.

New abridged accounts for Itsa Ltd show that the business recorded post-tax profits of 96,071 in the 12 months to the end of February last.

Ms Kemp said: "The last two years have been tough but we are really pleased with the changes we have made. We have formally taken over Hatch & Sons, and [sister] Peaches and I are now the sole owners and directors of the group, which will make 2020 a very exciting year for both of us, personally and professionally."

At the end of last year, the group employed 150 and Ms Kemp added: "We will continue to grow.

"As the sole owners of the business, we are excited about the future and look forward to continued growth and new opportunities.

"We are currently working on two very exciting projects for 2020/21."

She continued: "The last two years have been about driving sales, focusing on costs and acquiring Hatch & Sons, as well as closing two non- performing units in Dundrum and Dublin 2.

"Business remains challenging - margins are compounded by increases in rents, rates, pressure on wages as we've reached 'full employment' and increases in food costs, with pork prices surging last year, plus the VAT hike.

"Not all these costs get passed on to consumers, who remain very price-sensitive."

Ms Kemp said that "the imminent rise of the minimum wage in February will have a significant impact right across our sector, as we are a low margin/high employer industry".

She also said that the wage increases will add another 100,000 to staff costs, while insurance "is north of 70,000".
File Photo Of Seasoning



A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi, Mrs Ann Agomeze, has called on women to rise and take up their rightful position in the nations political landscape.

She made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Monday, while urging women to endeavour to reject both material and pecuniary inducement from politicians in 2023.

Agomeze, who was a Permanent Secretary in the state, said that time had come for women to fully exercise their political franchise and take the nations political space by storm.

She regretted that the nations politics had been dominated for decades by men, in spite of the contributions of women in deepening and strengthening the nations political and economic structures.

The former APC aspirant for the Ebonyi South Senatorial District said that women would no longer play a second fiddle in politics.

According to her, women will no longer collect maggi, salt and other petty gift items from men to vote them into power.

She said that women had moved from being docile participants in the political process to active players.

She further said that more women had acquired education and experience to compete with their male counterparts.

The women politicians are now coming together and currently engaging the electorate, especially women, through seminars on the need to vote their fellow women into political positions.

Women are better managers and will ensure that resources entrusted into their care will be better utilised for the greater good of society.

We are sensitising our local women and they are becoming wiser and more politically conscious.

We have told them to refuse to collect maggi and other petty gifts the male politicians induce them with during elections.

From the feedback we are getting, I am optimistic that in 2023 we will have women elected as governors, while more women will go to National and State Assemblies.

Women politicians in Nigeria will no more be relegated, marginalised or intimidated out of the political contests.

Again, we are encouraging various political parties, especially our party  the APC, to allow more women take leadership positions at the party level.

We are tired of women becoming only women leaders. We need women to be elected as national chairmen, secretaries and other top executive positions in the various political parties.

If we have more women in the party structures, it means we will be where decisions are taken concerning women as regards those to be elected or those to put out for primaries.

And so, we are no longer satisfied with being woman leader. You cannot have a voice in the midst of men because they will always talk you down.

We expect that if a man should be the party chairman, a woman should be his deputy, Agomeze said.

She regretted that less than five per cent of women were elected into the 9th National Assembly.

She, therefore, urged Nigeria to emulate Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and other African nations where women occupy more than 50 per cent seats in the parliament.

Source:[NAN]
Cracks in the Asom Gana Parishad, coalition partner of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam, widened on Tuesday over the partys stance on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) with a section demanding the removal of several top leaders.

Former chief minister and founder president of AGP, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who is opposed to CAA, has urged party workers to fight against the legislation as it violates the Assam Accord signed in 1985 after a six-year agitation against illegal immigrants.

Mahanta and others are miffed with party president Atul Bora (who is a minister in the state government) and two other ministers in the state cabinet Keshab Mahanta and Phani Bhushan Chowdhury for supporting CAA and taking part in BJP-organised events in to drum up support for the controversial legislation.

These leaders should have supported the partys stand and opposed CAA, but instead they are taking part in rallies supporting the legislation, Mahanta said in a meeting held here for the interaction of ideas with grass rootworkers from Guwahati Nagaon and Tezpur.

Those who support CAA should join BJP, he added urging party workers to come together and oppose the legislation.

On Tuesday, the party leadership stopped Mahanta and others from holding a meeting at the AGP headquarters here by locking the gates to the building, forcing the former to shift to another venue nearby.

Mahantas views are not that of the party. If he has any issues he should raise it in the party platform. The programmes we took part in were not BJP events, but those organised by the government, AGP leader and minister Phani Bhushan Chowdhury told journalists.

In January 2019, AGP had parted ways with the BJP in Assam and the partys ministers had resigned from the state cabinet in protest after the Lok Sabha had passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016.

They returned to the coalition in March after the bill lapsed when the government failed to table it in the Rajya Sabha.

Assam has been witnessing mass protests for the past month by various student bodies, political parties and indigenous groups opposed to CAA. Six people have died in violence related to the protests. Five of them died in police firing.

Protests against the CAA continued in Assam on Tuesday. The BJP organised a peace rally at Biswanath in support of the legislation while indigenous groups and student bodies held protest demonstrations against the legislation.

The lone AGP MP in the the Rajya Sabha had voted in favour of the legislation which sparked off resentment in the party. Later in December, the AGP filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the amended citizenship act.

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Kerman, Jan 8 : 50 mourners have been killed and more than 200 were injured in a stampede that broke out at the funeral ceremony for slain Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in the eastern city of Kerman, state media said.

The head of forensic medicine in Kerman, Abas Amian, said authorities had identified 50 people who were killed in the crush, the causes of which are as yet unknown, according to Tasnim news agency on Tuesday.

Videos circulating on social media allegedly showed several bodies lying on the floor, some with their faces purposefully covered over with jackets, reported Efe news.

The head of Iran's Emergency Center Hossein Kolivand said hundreds of people had been injured.

Many thousands of mourners packed the streets of the late general's home town ahead of his burial following similar displays of mass mourning in Tehran on Monday.

His burial was delayed by the stampede.

Soleimani's death on Friday in a United States drone strike outside Baghdad's international airport marked a considerable escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.

As the head of the elite Quds Force, a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Soleimani had for years wielded his country's influence across the wider Middle East, strengthening Shia militias from Lebanon to Iraq and coming to the aid of Tehran's allies, like Bashar Al Assad in Syria.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei led funeral prayers for the man widely regarded as the country's second most powerful figure on Monday.

US President Donald Trump has warned that any military retaliation from Iran would be met with American strikes.

Iranian lawmakers on Tuesday voted to designate the Pentagon and the US Army as a terrorist organization.

Iran had previously only considered the US Central Command (CENTCOM) as a terrorist organization - a measure that came in response to Washington's designation of the IRGC as a terror group.

Parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani said Soleimani's killing had been a "brutal act" by Trump.

"The Iranian people will not pardon him." There were cries of "Death to America" when lawmakers approved a financial package worth $223 million to the IRGC.

The head of the elite military wing in Iran, Hossein Salami, said the US would "lament its error" and vowed to oversee the expulsion of US troops from the Middle East.

There was confusion about the future of American troops in the US on Monday when the international coalition against the Islamic State released a statement suggesting soldiers would begin to "move out" of the region.

It was later contradicted by the Pentagon.
While many aspirants are approaching voters to exercise ballot in their favour, some of the candidates have gone a step ahead and are distributing liquor and money in a bid to woo the electors.

HYDERABAD: Enthusiasts, whether belonging to ruling TRS or Congress and BJP, have already started canvassing for themselves in a bid to win the forthcoming elections in municipalities and municipal corporations of the state, despite the fact that their respective parties have not yet allotted party tickets to them.

While many aspirants are approaching voters to exercise ballot in their favour, some of the candidates have gone a step ahead and are distributing liquor and money in a bid to woo the electors.

Incidentally, a video clip has gone viral on social media in which an aspirant from Pedda Amberpet on outskirts of the city can be seen distributing liquor to voters. Claiming to be a Congress candidate, he is asking people to elect him as their representative.

Aspiring candidates are similarly visiting the electorate in other parts of the state, urging voters to cast their ballot in their favour, as they are sure to get tickets from their respective parties for contesting the forthcoming elections.

It is believed candidates have started advance campaign in the belief that their respective parties will willy-nilly issue B forms to them, thereby confirming them as the partys official candidates from their respective wards and divisions.

There is talk in TRS circles that aspirants of ruling party are so confident of their victory that they are making advance payments to voters with a request to reserve their vote for them. Similarly, candidates hoping for the Congress ticket too are distributing money, liquor and biryani packets in Nalgonda, Suryapet, Malkajgiri, Bhongir and Mahbubnagar districts.

Enthusiasts, whether belonging to ruling TRS or Congress and BJP, have already started canvassing for themselves in a bid to win the forthcoming elections in municipalities and municipal corporations of the state, despite the fact that their respective parties have not yet allotted party tickets to them.

While many aspirants are approaching voters to exercise ballot in their favour, some of the candidates have gone a step ahead and are distributing liquor and money in a bid to woo the electors.

Incidentally, a video clip has gone viral on social media in which an aspirant from Pedda Amberpet on outskirts of the city can be seen distributing liquor to voters. Claiming to be a Congress candidate, he is asking people to elect him as their representative.

Aspiring candidates are similarly visiting the electorate in other parts of the state, urging voters to cast their ballot in their favour, as they are sure to get tickets from their respective parties for contesting the forthcoming elections.

It is believed candidates have started advance campaign in the belief that their respective parties will willy-nilly issue B forms to them, thereby confirming them as the partys official candidates from their respective wards and divisions.

There is talk in TRS circles that aspirants of ruling party are so confident of their victory that they are making advance payments to voters with a request to reserve their vote for them. Similarly, candidates hoping for the Congress ticket too are distributing money, liquor and biryani packets in Nalgonda, Suryapet, Malkajgiri, Bhongir and Mahbubnagar districts.
Detectives investigating the case have identified and located a second, unrelated minor with whom Melendez-Morales also allegedly had sex at the same Naperville motel on Dec. 7. As a result of the additional incident, Melendez-Morales was arrested Jan. 6 on two additional felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
New York City is the base from which many journalists cover the rest of the country and the globe. According to a recent Pew report, 12 percent of all US newsroom employees live in New York City, which is more than twice the share that live in Washington, DC, or Los Angeles. Yet despite its high number of reporters, media companies and its booming economy, the citys local coverage has not been spared the challenges that plague the news industry in less prosperous areas. Severe layoffs at the New York Daily News, a move toward less incremental coverage at the New York Timess metro desk, the closure of the Wall Street Journals Greater New York section, and the shuttering of the Village Voice, DNAinfo, and (temporarily) Gothamist are just some of the most prominent recent examples.

The decline of the local news industry in New York City has not gone unreported. A number of news articles, reports, and studies have traced the reduction of resources at the citys daily newspapers, the struggles of its upstart digital publications, and the challenges its ethnic media face in adopting technological innovations and accessing city government advertising. While even these few sample analyses clearly illustrate the breadth of problems for local news, their range also reflects how well-populated, relatively speaking, the media landscape remains.

Recent research on the phenomenon of news deserts has largely focused on communities where the primary news outlets, often newspapers, have either closed or else barely still exist. New York City, by contrast, has 90 online news publications, according to a study by News Revenue Hub, and at least 270 ethnic and community media organizations, per CUNYs Center for Community and Ethnic Media, in addition to the still comparatively robust legacy broadcast and print media.

ICYMI: Hundreds of outlets disseminate conservative talking points ahead of 2020

As the national crisis for local news has gained more visibility in the past year, some of the more mainstream NYC outlets have renewed their focus on local coverage. The New York Times spotlighted its metro desk in advertising campaigns, and WNYC acquired and relaunched the shuttered Gothamist site. The City, an online nonprofit news outlet, launched in the spring of 2019 with 10 million dollars in funding from the Leon Levy Foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, and the Charles H. Revson Foundation, among other individual contributors. Addressing what it classified as a life-or-death moment for local news in New York City, the organization focused on filling the increasing void in citywide beat coverage.

But despite these efforts, hyperlocal and community-level local outlets in New York City are struggling, and residents are still being deprived of critical information.

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Taking this complexity into account, my new study for the Tow Center for Digital Journalism, Media Mecca or News Desert? Covering local news in New York City, seeks to understand the New York City media ecosystem by examining how news organizationsprint, digital, broadcast, mainstream, community, and ethnicprioritize beats, and where they see gaps in coverage, rather than counting or mapping publications, as other reports on the health of local news have. To do this, I, along with a research assistant, interviewed journalism professionals at a wide range of news organizations in New York City about how they allocate resources when choosing editorial priorities; the challenges they face; where they see the gaps in coverage; and what they wish they could be doing better. These interviews also touched on questions related to the relationships between news outlets and their audiences, as well as with one another. All participants but one spoke on the record.

A consensus emerged that healthcare issues and courthouses are going underreported. Several news outlets also mentioned a need for better environmental and climate change reporting. Politics is the most widely-covered (and wide-ranging) beat in the city, but is still not comprehensive.

For the most part, citywide newsrooms have chosen to focus on thematic beats, such as education or transportation, rather than geographic-specific ones that were once covered by reporters based in particular boroughs or neighborhoods. In contrast, community and ethnic media outlets still mostly allocate resources and divide their reporters based on geography. Some of the best-resourced newsrooms now focus on investigative, enterprise journalism that can be shown, to audiences as well as funders, to deliver impactfor example, exposes of corruption or a failing city agencyin lieu of daily reporting that provides consistent coverage of developments in a particular beat.

Even within geographic beats, many news outlets acknowledged that some neighborhoods get better coverage than others. In some cases, such limitations are dictated by physical distance; in others, by where the subscription and advertising dollars reside.

Aside from the most widely-covered issues at the core of city life, thematic beats often develop in response to the interests of specific newsrooms and the communities they serve, and are sometimes tailored to fit grants or fellowships. Many of the interviewed newsrooms also adjust editorial priorities based on coverage by other media outlets in order to find those stories not covered by the competition.

While all newsrooms would like to hire more reporters and many would like to improve technological capacity, in many of the smaller newsrooms those in charge simply hope for a path toward sustainability and profit. In some such cases, the publications chief staffers are themselves part-time employees, or work from coffee shops or home. Any additional resources, they say, would first go toward covering basic overhead and administrative costs, such as office space and full-time salaries.

Many community and hyperlocal outlets would like the ability to pursue more in-depth investigative and accountability reporting. Most of the citywide organizations wish they could expand the reach of their reporting and deliver more consistent coverage across the boroughs.

While collaboration is flourishing between the better-resourced journalism organizations, particularly in the nonprofit space, there is an opportunity to develop partnerships between these sectors and the community and ethnic media. Some community and ethnic media outlets feel they are excluded from the journalism and grantmaking circles necessary to develop these kinds of programs; while they are eager for more collaboration, they also insist that any partnerships would have to be truly equitable.



READ: How do audiences really engage with the news?

As news outlets of all sizes seek to grow their audiences or attract investment, a tension exists between the desire for local stories that transcend their context and make greater impact, and the need to double down on and preserve hyperlocal reporting. A similar tension exists between those who emphasize the importance of community and ethnic journalisms role in acting as an agent of community identity and providing service journalism, a term applied to reporting that offers an audience with useful, actionable information , and those who solely focus on the need for more local accountability reporting.

While comparatively better-resourced news organizations, and particularly the nonprofit ones, have carefully designed community engagement plans and strategies that often include events, surveys, and engaging audiences in conversations on multiple platforms, the popular journalism-industry term did not resonate with many of the smaller community-based news organizations. These organizations said they didnt have the time or resources to devote to these kinds of initiatives, and were somewhat skeptical of the premise, but said they maintained deep links with their audience by living in the communities they served.

Defining local news is complicated. This question is even less straightforward in New York, a city of international citizens that has always played an important role on the national and global stage. Many of the interviewees discussed the challenges in determining which stories, particularly political ones, were really local, and balancing such stories with attempts to localize hot-button national and international issues. This complexity gets at one of the central difficulties in developing methodologies that scale for an area of study whose subject is intended to be context- and location-specific. The New York City media ecosystem is unique, but the challenges its outlets face, and the extent to which they can surmount them, may have implications for the future of local news far beyond the five boroughs.

Read the full report here

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Sara Rafsky is a senior research fellow at Columbia Journalism Schools Tow Center for Digital Journalism. She is a writer and researcher who has worked at the intersection of journalism, press freedom, human rights, and documentary film in the US and Latin America.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has fielded offers of support in the bushfires from world leaders, including United States President Donald Trump.

The US leader called Mr Morrison on Tuesday to offer his support to Australia and all the bushfire-affected communities, and the prime minister thanked him for the support the US has already provided in the form of firefighters.

President Donald Trump has called Prime Minister Scott Morrison to offer his support in the national bushfire crisis. Credit:Bloomberg

Mr Morrison also spoke with Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who offered his support and condolences to Australia, and has received messages from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

New Zealand has already sent firefighters to help fight the Australian fires, along with Canada and the United States.
Three Chinese nationals have been apprehended by CISF personnel at the Delhi airport for allegedly smuggling about 180 kilkograms of red sandalwood, a senior official said on Tuesday.

The passengers Li Xin,Cheng Zhen and Jian Zhov were intercepted when they reached the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Monday to board a flight to Kunming in China, the official said.

A total of 180 kilograms of red sandalwood logs were recovered from their baggage.

The Chinese passengers and the recovered wood, worth about Rs 2 crore, was handed over to the Customs authorities for further investigation, he said.

Red sandalwood is largely found in the southern regions of the country. The wood comes under the endangered category whose export is banned by the government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
People protesting against the Jawaharlal Nehru University violence were evicted from Gateway of India in south Mumbai on Tuesday morning as roads were getting blocked and tourists and common people were facing problems, a police official said.

Police had appealed to protesters to shift but they didn't listen, so they were "relocated" to Azad Maidan near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the official said.

"As the demonstration was posing problems for tourists and in traffic movement, we requested the protesters to move to Azad Maidan. But some groups did not listen despite our repeated request, so we relocated them to the Azad Maidan," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Sangramsingh Nishandar said.

SEE: Protesters being evicted from Gateway of India

Earlier, hundreds of people, including students, women and senior citizens -- who assembled at the iconic Gateway of India since Sunday midnight -- demanded action against those behind the JNU violence and the resignations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Violence broke out in Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus. Nearly 34 people were injured in the violence.

The protesters waived the tricolour and raised slogans like 'Kagaz nahi dikhayenge' (won't show documents) and 'Tum kaun ho be' (who are you?).

They also raised slogans against the alleged "tanashahi" (dictatorship) of Modi-Shah as they opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act, the National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register.

Maharashtra minister Jitendra Awhad joined the protest at the Gateway of India on Monday, while Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said the JNU violence reminded him of the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Edited by Roshneesh K'Maneck
Photograph: Miguel Sierra/EPA

The devastating human toll of Mexicos security crisis was laid bare on Monday as authorities admitted nearly 62,000 people had vanished since the start of its catastrophic war on drugs in 2006.

The figure  far higher than a previous estimate of about 40,000  spoke to the scale of the challenge facing Mexicos leftist leader, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took power in December 2018 vowing to pacify his country.

Since then, however, the number of murders has continued to rise, with more than 31,000 lives lost in 2019 and Lopez Obrador facing growing questions over his hugs not bullets strategy to cut crime by fighting its social roots.

Calderon sends in the army

Mexicos war on drugs began in late 2006 when the president at the time, Felipe Calderon, ordered thousands of troops onto the streets in response to an explosion of horrific violence in his native state of Michoacan.

Calderon hoped to smash the drug cartels with his heavily militarized onslaught but the approach was counter-productive and exacted a catastrophic human toll. As Mexicos military went on the offensive, the body count sky-rocketed to new heights and tens of thousands were forced from their homes, disappeared or killed.

Kingpin strategy

Simultaneously Calderon also began pursuing the so-called kingpin strategy by which authorities sought to decapitate the cartels by targeting their leaders.

That policy resulted in some high-profile scalps  notably Arturo Beltran Leyva who was gunned down by Mexican marines in 2009  but also did little to bring peace. In fact, many believe such tactics served only to pulverize the world of organized crime, creating even more violence as new, less predictable factions squabbled for their piece of the pie.

Under Calderons successor, Enrique Pena Nieto, the governments rhetoric on crime softened as Mexico sought to shed its reputation as the headquarters of some the worlds most murderous mafia groups.

Story continues

But Calderons policies largely survived, with authorities targeting prominent cartel leaders such as Sinaloas Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.

When El Chapo was arrested in early 2016, Mexicos president bragged: Mission accomplished. But the violence went on. By the time Pena Nieto left office in 2018, Mexico had suffered another record year of murders, with nearly 36,000 people slain.

"Hugs not bullets"

The leftwing populist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took power in December, promising a dramatic change in tactics. Lopez Obrador, or Amlo as most call him, vowed to attack the social roots of crime, offering vocational training to more than 2.3 million disadvantaged young people at risk of being ensnared by the cartels.



It will be virtually impossible to achieve peace without justice and [social] welfare, Amlo said, promising to slash the murder rate from an average of 89 killings per day with his hugs not bullets doctrine.

Amlo also pledged to chair daily 6am security meetings and create a 60,000 strong "National Guard". But those measures have yet to pay off, with the new security force used mostly to hunt Central American migrants.

Mexico now suffers an average of about 96 murders per day, with nearly 29,000 people killed since Amlo took office.

On Monday equally horrifying details emerged about the number of people being disappeared in Mexico  often by drug cartels, mafia groups or even state security forces.

Mexicos undersecretary of human rights, Alejandro Encinas Rodriguez, told reporters that since Lopez Obrador took office authorities had discovered 873 clandestine burial sites from which 1,124 bodies had been exhumed.

Only 395 of those victims had been identified, while 243 were returned to their families. Nearly three-quarters of the bodies were found in the states of Sinaloa, Jalisco, Colima, Sonora and Chihuahua  all notorious for the presence of drug traffickers or organized crime. Encinas said 5,184 people had gone missing during the same period.

Authorities in Mexico had previously estimated that 40,000 people are missing amid the countrys drug war. Now they admit the number is much higher. Photograph: Rodrigo Arangua/AFP/Getty Images

Karla Quintana, head of Mexicos recently created national search committee, said those figures took the official number of desaparecidos to 61,637  nearly all since 2006, when then president Felipe Calderon launched his ill-fated offensive against the drug cartels.

We have to remember were talking here about lives and families and people who are still missing, Quintana told a press conference in the capital, Mexico City. These are statistics of horror behind which lie so many stories of such great pain.

Many believe the true figure could be far higher. We should keep in mind that disappeared data presented today is incomplete, tweeted Falko Ernst, a Crisis Group Mexico specialist. Twelve states have presented no/only partial info  this is but a step toward grasping full conflict scope.

One of Mexicos missing is Jose Barajas, a businessman and father who was seized from his ranch near the US border last April.

Since then his brother, Jesse Barajas, has organized four search missions with support from a newly formed government search commission and protection from heavily armed Mexican troops.

Related: The disappeared: searching for 40,000 missing victims of Mexicos drug wars

On Monday, as the new figures were announced, Barajas said he had yet to recover his brothers body but had recently found the remains of an unidentified woman while searching a reeking wasteland in Tijuana.

It was just a skeleton lying there. It had a bullet to the back of the head, said Barajas, 62, who documents the searches on Facebook.

Barajas admitted trawling some of Latin Americas most dangerous corners for Mexicos missing was a perilous task. Not even 20 armoured vehicles would be enough to enter some of the cartel-controlled areas he hoped to search for his brothers body.

But we are not giving up, the mechanic turned activist vowed.

Its not just for my brother any more because I dont think Im going to find him  Weve turned over every stone within 20 miles of his house. But these missing [61,637] are all my brothers.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe repeated his plans to deploy the Self-Defense Forces to the Middle East to ensure the safety of its ships, even as tensions in the region erupt in the wake of the United States' killing of one of Iran's top military commanders.

At a televised news conference on Monday, Abe called on nations involved to make diplomatic efforts to ease tensions and avoid further escalation.

"Tensions are rising in the Middle East and I am deeply worried. Further escalation should be avoided and I call on all parties concerned to exhaust all diplomatic effort to ease tensions," Abe told reporters in Ise, central Japan.

"We plan to dispatch Self-Defense Forces to this region to strengthen information gathering and secure the safe passage of Japan-related ships," Abe said, reiterating a plan unveiled last month ahead of the latest flare-up in tensions.

The United States last week killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike on his convoy at Baghdad airport, an attack that took long-running hostilities between Washington and Tehran into uncharted territory and raised the spectre of wider conflict in the Middle East.

The Japanese government announced late last month it will send a warship and patrol planes to the Middle East, from which it sources nearly 90% of its crude oil imports.

Japan, a U.S. ally that has maintained friendly ties with Iran, has opted to launch its own operation rather than join a U.S.-led mission to protect shipping in the region.

A Japanese defense ministry official has said the government aims to start the operation of the patrol planes sometime in January, while the destroyer will likely begin activities in the region in February.
Above all we thank the Connecticut State Police and the New Canaan Police Department, as well as the assisting local departments, for their tireless commitment and diligent, painstaking work that have led to these arrests, the statement said. "Although we are relieved that the wait for these charges is over, for us there is no sense of closure. Nothing can bring Jennifer back. We miss her every day and will forever mourn her loss. We believe the arrest warrants will speak for themselves, and we ask that you please respect our privacy during this time. Thank you.
Houston police are searching for four members of a suspected organized crime family who apparently scammed unwitting motorists by convincing the drivers that they had a wobbly wheel.

Police charged the six suspects, all of whom are related in various ways, with engaging in organized crime and other charges.

According to a news release, the suspects operated in southwest Houston and would follow a victim, honking or yelling that the front wheel of the victim's vehicle was loose.

Police said if the victim pulled over, the suspects convinced the driver that they could fix the wheel with a part they happened to have with them.

After "repairing" the wheel, the suspects would reportedly ask to be reimbursed for the part, and drive the victim to a bank, or ask for payment in gift cards.

AERIAL SURVEILLANCE: Houston-area constable uses drone to catch suspected car thieves

Investigators said the suspects acted friendly and helpful. However, if victims said that they had no money or the price was too high, the suspects reportedly became forceful and even threatening.

Police said the crew is linked to more than 24 cases and has swindled more than $8,000 from victims.

Paul Yonko, 36, is charged with engaging in organized crime. He is currently in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on a previous robbery charge.

Suellen Stanley, 57, is also charged with engaging in organized crime. She was recently arrested in Michigan and is awaiting extradition to Houston.

Her daughter, Sue-Ellen Stanley, 38, along with Monica Mito, 31, are charged with engaging in organized crime as well.

Sam Yonko, 31, also know as "Angel," and Nick Stanley, 29, also known as "Michael," both face charges of theft, engaging in organized crime, and robbery.

Investigators said they will seek high bonds on all of the suspects.

Danny Hermosillo is the Digital News Editor for Chron.com | Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @Dannyherm1| Email him at Danny.Hermosillo@chron.com
January 07, 2020





Google (News - Alert) announces new security measures to prevent hacking through the use of Less Secure Apps. Learn which apps are impacted and how to better secure your G-Suite account access.







Big security changes are coming to those who use G-Suite within their company protocol. As a G-Suite or Gmail user, you may be familiar with the common practice of giving outside apps access to your Google account in order to link, sync, or otherwise make your life more efficient.

However, there are apps that still use the outdated name/password method of accessing your account. In an attempt to thwart data breaches and security issues when giving these apps access to your G-Suite account, Google is rolling out some security measures that may impact some of your less secure apps.

Nick Hess with SureTec IT provides businesses in Portland, OR and Dayton, OH with support and services on Google Apps shares his insights.

What are Less Secure Apps?

According to a recent press release from Google, Less Secure Apps (LSA's) are non-Google apps that you allow to access your Google account with only a username and password.

Many users give non-Google apps such as iOS mail, calendars, or contacts to help speed up their workflow and efficiencies. However, some of these legacy apps still use an outdated form of access, the username and password, without any other type of authentication. Giving these apps access to your Google account opens you up to a higher risk of hacking and data breaches. If a cybercriminal gains access to your username and password, they also gain access to anything that your app is connected to.

Instead, Google is focusing on only giving account access to apps that use OAuth. OAuth is the new standard for authentication and access delegation without giving away your username and password. Google aims to help better protect its users by upping its standard for connected apps. By requiring the use of OAuth, Google can prevent suspicious login attempts and monitor login policies defined by G-Suite admins.

How Security Changes Impact G-Suite Users

The biggest impact these changes will have on users will be the inability to connect legacy apps, namely calendars, email, and contacts. For those who link their G-Suite mail account to Outlook, for example, may have to re-consider a new way of accessing their email, at least until Microsoft (News - Alert) updates their apps to use OAuth rather than username/password only.

While some users of these legacy apps will be disappointed with this change, Google is offering an extended rollout, giving users until June 15, 2020, to come up with a new plan when accessing these apps through G-Suite for the first time. That means that those who have already linked LSA's to their G-Suite account will not automatically be impacted. Instead, Google will limit access to all LSA's starting in February of 2021. That gives both users and app developers the opportunity to adjust to these new securities.

Keeping Your Account Secure

In many cases, these apps have already introduced updates that use OAuth to connect to Google. Users can double-check their program compatibility per Google's standards, as they may be able to simply download a newer version of their app to access G-Suite using OAuth. For instance, switching from an outdated version of Outlook to Outlook 2019, or Office 365, will allow you to reconnect to your G-Suite account as these both use OAuth. Older versions of Outlook, iOS mail, calendars, and contacts likely only use password authentication and will need to be updated or removed by 2021.

Google's attempt to keep its G-Suite accounts more secure is a benefit to businesses everywhere. While the upgrades to legacy apps may be frustrating to businesses that have long used third-party apps to connect to G-Suite, the benefit of securing your data and devices goes beyond the minor inconvenience of updating your apps.
Pier 1 Imports will close nearly half of its stores and is reportedly getting close to a bankruptcy filing, CNN and other news outlets were reporting Monday night.

Shares of Pier 1 Import dropped nearly 17% Monday in the wake of Bloomberg reporting the news of a potential bankruptcy.

Online sales and competition from big-box rivals have been eating away at the companys profitability. CNN noted in its story that Pier 1s stock, which was at $300 a share in 2015, is trading at around $5 today.

Pier 1 operated 942 stores in the United States and Canada at the end of its latest quarter, and said Monday that it will shutter up to 450 stores in order to better align its business with the current operating environment, CNN reported.

The company also plans to close distribution centers and lay off corporate employees, the story said.
Google Maps

A 19-year-old has been arrested after police say he allegedly prompted an active shooter threat against a church in Liberty.

Brady Michael Martinez of Kountze, Texas, was arrested Sunday on terroristic threat charges. Martinez is accused of prompting an active shooter threat after commenting on a livestream video of the Open House Ministries Sunday service, according to a Facebook post from the Liberty Police Department.
OKLAHOMA CITY - A third University of Oklahoma student has come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against a former university administrator.

The 21-year-old student claims in a lawsuit filed Monday that former OU Vice-President Jim Tripp Hall III performed a sex act on him last year without his consent. The student claims Hall befriended him in 2017 when he was a sophomore and Hall was the vice-president of university development.

Through the guise of mentorship and friendship, defendant Hall maliciously manipulated plaintiff into believing the relationship was appropriate, the lawsuit states.

Halls attorney, Clark Brewster, said in a statement that he looks forward to defending his clients good name and pursuing those who file specious lawsuits.

The student is the third man to claim Hall acted inappropriately with them while they were students at OU. A former server at a university restaurant, Levi Hilliard, claims that Hall groped and kissed him on several occasions in 2017 and 2018, and another former student, Jess Eddy, claims Hall touched him inappropriately during a trip to Houston in 2010. Eddy also has accused former OU President David Boren of sexual misconduct.

The Associated Press typically does not identify alleged victims of sexual abuse, but both Hilliard and Eddy spoke publicly about their allegations and agreed to the use of their names.

Hall was among dozens of university employees who were fired by Borens successor, James Gallogly, as part of a cost-cutting move on his first day on the job in 2018.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has confirmed it is investigating allegations against both Hall and Boren. Both men have denied wrongdoing, and no charges have been filed against either man.

Both Hilliard and the 21-year-old student are represented by attorney Rand Eddy, who is Jess Eddys father.

In response to a lawsuit Hilliard filed last year, Hall denies all of Hilliards accusations and argues his claims are barred by the statute of limitations. A Cleveland County judge in that case has scheduled a Jan. 30 hearing on a motion by the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma to dismiss the claims against it.
(JNS)Left, right and sideways, Jews in America are facing a major dilemma: Whose side should we take?

Do we take the conservative point of view and accept our duly elected Republican president as the Jews knight in shining armor? After all, President Donald Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, recognized the Golan Heights, pulled out of the Iran deal, pulled out of UNRWA, signed the Taylor Force Act, signed the executive order on anti-Semitism, and even has a Jewish daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren!

During his State of the Union speech, Trump very movingly said, We must never ignore the vile poison of anti-Semitism, or those who spread its venomous creed. With one voice, we must confront this hatred anywhere and everywhere it occurs.

Given all that, why wouldnt every Jew want to vote Republican in 2020?

But hold onevery action has an equal and opposite reaction. Since the days of FDR, Jews have overwhelmingly voted Democrat. In fact, most of todays Jews can recall how their parents and grandparents voted with pride as Democrats, and now many are following in their ancestors footsteps. Most Jews who arrived in America after World War II were poor immigrants, with no job training, education or place to live. They could not speak English and carried their own traditions and culture with them.

FDRs New Deal helped to put them back on their feet again, allowing them to become U.S. citizens, become educated, find a job and earn money, and grow their families while enjoying the freedom of religion they were so defiantly denied in their countries of birth.

Despite the fact that FDR was a true anti-Semite who ignored pleas to bomb the train tracks to Auschwitz and turned away 937 Jewish refugees on a boat named the St. Louis in 1939, the post-war Jews felt indebted to the New Deal and the boost it gave to their future as naturalized Americans. Today, a vocal part of American society may be making a hard leftward turn, leaving many Democrats in a bind. How could dedicated Democrat Jews abandon their parents and grandparents party?

As progressives, todays Jewish Democrats are asking history to repeat itself: They want to ensure that todays immigrantswhether legal or illegalwill enjoy all of the advantages and breaks their grandparents had when they came into this country. Is that so bad?

In any long-term relationship, two people with every reason to love and respect one another can still have major differences of opinion about issues that are important to them. In many cases, speaking candidly about why something is important is the first step in helping the other side to look for common ground.

And Jews have plenty of common ground. We all pray to one God, and all of us share a history of over 3,000 years of persecution just for being Jewish. We all love our families, and our culture and traditions. We all want security, and the freedom to worship our God without having to worry that someone might kill us for doing so.

And as Jews, we also know that when a Jew-hating dictator, or a random, radical anti-Semite in our midst, wants to kill Jews, he or she does not stop to ask whether they voted for Trump or Hillary Clinton, whether theyre conservatives or liberals, or whether or not they support the two-state solution.

The anti-Semite who killed 11 innocent Jews and wounded six in Pittsburghs Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 did not stop to ask what side of the political spectrum they were on. He just wanted to kill Jews. Period.

When the Nazis escorted their Jewish prisoners into the gas chambers of Europe, they, too, did not ask if they were supportive of the Third Reich. If they were Jewish, they were sent to die.

Hate is hate. In the extreme it does not admit of degrees, or care about ideology. By definition, hate is irrational, focused, and often arises out of cultural stereotypes, jealousy and ignorance. It does not care about immigration, reproductive rights, the economy, or foreign policy. It just cares about the label it arbitrarily assigns to the victim, regardless of any other factors.

Lets kiss and make up. Lets unite and fight together as Jews and stop the rise in anti-Semitism. Lets look past our differences and accomplish this by living proud as free, American Jews who are willing to fight the fight and stand united against anyone or anything that leads to Jew hatred or worseto the horrible, wrongful, shameful, deceitful and eternally tragic murder of innocent Jews. Lets honor their collective memory, come together and make sure it never happens again.

Rebecca Harary, M.S., is the president and founder of Combat AntiSemitism Everywhere.
Iran's parliament to discuss urgent motion in response to US terrorism

Iran Press TV

Monday, 06 January 2020 6:18 PM

The Iranian parliament is considering a triple-urgency motion in response to terrorist assassination of the late commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' Quds Force Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and his companions, including the second-in-command of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Asadollah Abbasi, a spokesman for the Iranian parliament's presiding board, said on Monday that the motion will be put on the parliament's agenda in the open session on Tuesday.

"In reaction to the recent terrorist and cowardly assassination of Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani and his companions by the US and as decided by the presiding board, the triple-urgency motion will be put on the agenda of the parliament's open session," Abbasi added.

The lawmaker noted that the Iranian parliament's motion is in reaction to the adventurist measure taken by the US to martyr General Soleimani and his companions.

"The latest US action is viewed as 'state-sponsored terrorism' not only by the parliament's presiding board but also by most world countries, and the ratification of the triple-urgency motion lends legal credit to this issue," Abbasi said.

Meanwhile, Fereidoun Hasanvand, head of the parliament's Energy Commission, commented on the preparation of the triple-urgency motion aimed at consolidating Iran's Quds Force, saying, "It is for the first time in 40 years that a triple-urgency motion is brought up in the country."

Hasanvand added, "Strengthening and sourcing the finances of the IRGC' Quds Force are among the objectives of this triple-urgency motion."

General Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, as well as eight other people were assassinated when a US drone carried out an airstrike at Baghdad's international airport early on Friday.

Both commanders were admired by Muslim nations for eliminating the US-sponsored Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria.

The US assassination has drawn a wave of condemnation from officials and movements throughout the world, and triggered huge public protests across the region.

Iran has warned that "harsh revenge" is waiting for the US.

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Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], Jan 7 (ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday announced his government's decision to commemorate the 400th birth anniversary of 9th Sikh Guru -- Guru Teg Bahadur on April 18, 2021 -- with year-long celebrations beginning April 12 this year.



A statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said: "Chairing a high-level meeting here at his official residence, Captain Amarinder Singh asked the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department to organise a mega function on Guru Ji's 399th Parkash Purb at the historic town of Baba Bakala and the concluding function on his 400th birth anniversary at Sri Anandpur Sahib on April 18, 2021."

Captain Amarinder Singh said that Guru Teg Bahadur Ji's unparalleled and supreme sacrifice to uphold the value of righteousness, truth and freedom of faith would be always be remembered by one and all, and Guru Ji's teachings must be disseminated in every nook and corner of the world.

"Notably, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji (April 1, 1621-November 11, 1675) resisted forced conversion of Hindus/Kashmiri Pandits and non-Muslims to Islam and was martyred in 1675 on the orders of the then Mughal Emperor in Delhi," the statement said.

The Chief Minister also gave the nod to constitute an executive committee under his chairmanship to finalise the broad contours of the mega-events, besides approving a steering committee to be headed by the Chief Secretary to coordinate and chalk out several programmes to be organised by various departments throughout the year, to spread the teachings of Guru Ji.

The Chief Minister has also asked the Departments of Higher Education, School Education, Sports, Information and Public Relations, besides the Punjab Arts Council, to finalise modalities for holding series of programmes including seminars, symposiums and lectures by the eminent Sikh scholars, historians and academicians to throw light on various facets of life and philosophy of Guru Ji amongst people, especially the youngsters." (ANI)


Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with visiting Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday that as good neighbors, friends, comrades and partners, China and Laos enjoy a shared future.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with visiting Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi said the leadership of the communist parties and socialist systems of the two countries define their political nature.

He called on the two countries to work "hand in hand and side by side" to maintain close high-level exchanges, enhance exchanges on governance, jointly improve the ability to govern and safeguard the common interests of both countries and the developing world.

"China will continue to firmly support Lao efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and dignity," said Xi. "Next year is the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos, and therefore the bilateral relationship will enter a critical stage."

Xi said China is willing to work with Laos to promote the building of a community with a shared future between the two countries, advance the alignment of development strategies, accelerate the construction of the China-Laos economic corridor, advance major cooperation projects in areas such as railways and economic parks, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges as well as coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs, so as to lift bilateral ties to new heights.

Thongloun conveyed to Xi the greetings of Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit, who is also general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, and congratulated the People's Republic of China on its achievements since its founding 70 years ago.

Thongloun expressed the belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi at the core, the Chinese people will definitely achieve the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

He also offered his congratulations for the success of the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee held in October, saying that China's experience in upholding and improving socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing governance is worthy of study.

Thongloun said the action plan reached by the two sides on building a community with a shared future pointed out the direction for bilateral ties, and Laos is implementing the plan seriously.

Thongloun added that Laos will actively work for the completion of important Belt and Road projects such as the Laos-China railway as scheduled, and thus contribute to the economic development and improving people's livelihood of Laos.
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As we enter a new decade, there's a lot of technology changing the way we live our lives. Sure, we're not quite to the way the Jetsons live with flying cars, but the healthcare industry is one that is full of innovation. Cloud technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning are changing the way healthcare facilities operate on a day-to-day basis, improving patient outcomes, and more.

In the early days of medicine, things like anesthetic and antibiotics were major innovations that changed the face of healthcare as we know it. Technology will continue to grow and force the healthcare industry to adapt and evolve as a result. Here's what we can expect to see in the not-so-distant future...and what we're already starting to see.

CBD Research and Applications

In 2018, the federal government lifted restrictions making it possible to grow hemp and research its potential in medicine and other applications. The FDA has approved a drug, Epioldex, for the treatment of certain seizure disorders.

CBD oil contains 0.3% or less THC, so there's no worry about the stoned feeling associated with marijuana. Early research suggests CBD oil can help with a number of health conditions such as heart health, diabetes, pain relief, anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders, acne, and more. There's even anti-aging CBD cream.

Telemedicine

Thanks to the internet you no longer have to physically go to your doctor's office if you're dealing with a minor ailment. You can connect with a doctor (sometimes, your own local family doctor) online via video chat, get a diagnosis and a prescription sent to your local pharmacy.

All of this happens at a fraction of the cost of a traditional doctor visit - and in the case where insurance isn't filed, it is often less than an office visit copay. This is particularly helpful for patients who do not have insurance.

But, beyond visiting the doctor when you're sick, you can also schedule visits with other types of doctors and medical professionals, too. It's possible to meet with your mental health therapist, as well as speech therapists all from the comfort of your own home. It's nice for people who don't drive due to a health condition, or who live too far away from the physical practice location.

Telemedicine has been around for years already but is just now starting to become more mainstream. Platform options include TelADoc, Live Health Online, MDLive, Doctor on Demand, Dr. Says, AmWell, and HeyDoctor.

Telemedicine visits are not suitable for those looking to refill a controlled substance, medical emergencies, or critical injuries.

Intelligent Interoperability

Interoperability aims to enable IT elements in devices, infrastructure, vehicles, and applications to communicate with one another across the system when they need to. This communication can take place regardless of where and when that part of the system was built and used.

Consider all the data that's collected and shared across the healthcare sector, just for a single patient. Now, amplify that for millions of people, and throw in some extra to compensate for the medically complex patients who are shuffled from one specialist to the next. Working to achieve intelligent interoperability ensures the data is in the hands of those who need it when they need it. It also ensures that information is current, and updated in real-time.

While data exchange has been possible in healthcare before now, the processes are often long, cumbersome, expensive, and full of error potential. Intelligent interoperability allows the healthcare industry to save money, improve efficiency, and ultimately provide better patient care.

"Smart" Tattoos

Though these are still in the research and development stage, researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard have developed a smart tattoo ink that can change color as an indicator of health. The color change can occur when an athlete is dehydrated, someone has been in the sun too long, or when a diabetic's blood sugar gets too high.

Current wearable monitoring devices do not seamlessly integrate with the body. There's the need for wireless connectivity and a short battery life that makes it difficult. The color-based bio sensitive tattoo ink works to circumvent these issues. The ultimate goal is to sell these temporary tattoos in packs, much the same way you see nicotine patches used as part of smoking cessation efforts.

Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgery, also known as robot-assisted surgery, enables doctors to perform a variety of complex procedures with better flexibility, control than it's possible to achieve with standard or conventional techniques. Robotic surgery with the da Vinci Surgery System became FDA approved in 2000. After FDA approval, hospitals across the United States and Europe began to use it to treat a variety of conditions.

Most commonly, the clinical robotic surgery system features a camera arm and mechanical arms that have surgical instruments attached. The surgeon takes control of the arms while seated at a nearby computer console. Using the console, the surgeon can get a magnified, high-definition, 3D view of the surgical site. This allows delicate and complex procedures that may not have otherwise been possible.

Robotic surgeries include:

Gynecologic surgeries such as hysterectomies and tubal ligations

Prostate surgeries

Kidney surgeries

Gallbladder surgeries

Cardiac surgeries

Urlogic surgeries

Pediatric surgeries

General surgeries

In many situations, using robotic surgery keeps the procedure minimally invasive. This results in fewer complications, quicker recovery, reduced pain and blood loss, smaller and less noticeable scars.

That said, just like any surgery, there are risks associated with robotic surgery, some of which are similar to conventional open surgery, including complications and risk of infection. For this reason, robotic surgery is not an option for all surgical procedures, or for all patients.

Even though the technology has been available for use for 20 years now, as robotic technology continues to grow and expand, we can expect its capabilities in the healthcare industry to do the same.

With technology, we can get faster patient care with better quality outcomes, to improve overall health of everyone - even those with chronic health conditions.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
New Delhi:

Giving Summer a tough competition, Disha Patani, was seen spotting a sequin, green halter dress during her Malang launch. Looking no less like a mermaid invading land, the 27-year-old beauty rocked the high-slit, green dress which she matched with clear, strappy heels and a green, metallic eye-shadow to match her green overall. Dishas getup was styled by celebrity stylist Mohit Rai, while her gorgeous asymmetrical mermaid, design was courtesy Yousef Aljasmi, a famous Kuwaiti designer.

Check out her stunning pics here:

At the launch, Disha was joined by co-star, Aditya Roy Kapur who kept it all casual as he sported a faded green, tee and grey-cargo pants.

Looking like Halle Berry in James Bond Die Another Day Disha, had the whole internet talking when Malang trailer was released. We see Disha walk out the beach in slow-mo stealing hearts much as she did with Aditya in Malang trailer.

Also starring Anil Kapoor and Kunal Kemmu, the Mohit Suri vengeance movie opens on the 7th of February.
NHLANGANO - Hundreds of Form I pupils might find themselves stranded when schools open, as several head teachers have warned that their schools are already full.



About 27 000 new pupils are expected to go to high school this year, following the release of the Eswatini Primary Certificate Examination results by the Ministry of Education and Training last Friday.



A number of head teachers from major schools around the Shiselweni region have warned that their schools have already finalised the admission process and that new applications were likely to be turned down.



At Nyamane High School, which has a capacity to house 150 Form I pupils, the head teacher, Goodness Dlamini disclosed that they had already filled all spaces and that they were only waiting for the accepted pupils to come and confirm their acceptance of the offer. She said over the past few days, they had been inundated with calls from parents who had left the search for spaces to the last minute.



We had no choice but to tell them that we have done our admissions. The only miracle one may expect could be when there is an expected pupil who would not accept their offer. Some have already confirmed but there are others who have called to say they still had challenges accessing their results, she said.

The same sentiments were expressed by the head teacher at Franson Christian High School, Lindiwe Vilane, who said they were done with applications for the number they could accommodate in Form I. She mentioned that all that was left now were selected dates (January 13 and 14), where pupils were expected to confirm their interest in becoming part of their school family. Vilane then said it was always advisable for parents to encourage their children to make early applications.



Evelyn Baring High School in Nhlangano is also another school that had long concluded the selection process for Form I. However, the school was still flooded by parents nursing hopes that there could be spaces.



Issues



Teachers at other schools in the region were also experiencing similar issues.

The only major school that indicated there could still be more spaces available was Free Evangelical Assemblies, which is located at Ngudzeni on the outskirts of Hlatikhulu, where the head teacher, Lindiwe Khumalo, said they expected to fill about 40 vacant spaces today.

We still have a few spaces that were created by our expansion programme; we have added an extra class for the coming year in Form I. So, we are expecting an influx tomorrow (today), she said.



Also in Manzini, pprominent schools are already full. In fact, Form I and Form IV spaces were filled between September and October 2019 in prominent schools around the city.

This is what was gathered from head teachers of the prominent schools in the hub. The head teachers were contacted following the fact that thousands of pupils have passed in the Eswatini Primary Certificate (EPC) examination, which obviously meant that parents are now faced with the task of finding spaces in Form I.



Again, the Minister of Education and Training, Lady Mabuza is expected to release Junior Certificate (JC) results this week and parents whose children would pass would be found all over looking for spaces in Form IV.

Albert Sihlongonyane, the head teacher of St Theresas High School, one of the best performing schools, said he finished admitting pupils in both Form I and IV in October 2019.



Interviews



He said on October 12, 2019, he conducted interviews of pupils who were interested in attending school in the institution and on November 31, 2019, results of the interviews were released.



All those who passed the interviews were told to pay a uniform deposit so that it can be ordered from New Castle, South Africa. This also shows commitment from the parent, he said.



He said when schools officially closed on December 6, 2019, all the parents had submitted the bank deposit slips which was proof that they had paid the uniform deposit. He said the number of bank deposit slips submitted proved that indeed the Form I and IV classes were full.



However, Sihlongonyane said there could be a small window of hope during the registration period as some parents might find other schools. He said Form I registration would be on January 16, 2020 while those who were going to Form IV would register on January 17, 2020.



On the same note, Petros Horton, the head teacher of Salesian High School, said he finished admitting pupils for Form I and IV in September 2019.

It is worth mentioning that some of the parents who were found shopping for school stuff yesterday said they were aware that many schools did interviews and admissions during the early weeks of the final term of schools.



Also, in the capital city, parents and pupils are on the rush to secure spaces.

The release of the EPC examination results last Friday has seen pupils who wished to be enrolled at their ideal schools being turned back due to unavailability of spaces.



St. Marks High School Deputy Head teacher Winile Dlamini confirmed that there were no spaces available as they finished admitting on October 18, 2019.

She stated that yesterday and today, they were only registering the pupils who were accepted. That compelled all those who had gone to the school to request admission spaces to turn back.



Worth noting is that some of those who had paid deposits were seen already leaving with stationery yesterday.

When asked about the possibility of having spaces from those who had a change of heart, Dlamini said they were going to accept only those who had come for interviews but failed it.



There were about 200 pupils who were in a queue to register yesterday.
Three men in a car were detained on the outskirts of Jaipur after Rs 57 lakh unaccounted cash was found in their vehicle, police said on Tuesday.

The three suspects were going to Kota from Jaipur on Monday night when a police team flagged down their car, they said.

On checking, police found several packets of cash in the car but the men could not explain why they were carrying such a large amount of money, said Shivdaspura station incharge Indraj Mordiya.

Two of the suspects -- Mahendra Sharma and Giriraj Sharma -- told police they are jewellers and were going to Kota after selling a few ornaments here, the officer said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The airman's silhouette from the 2020 Proof Silver Dollar transforms into an exquisitely detailed engraving on the 2020 $100 14-Karat Gold Coin  75 th Anniversary of V-E Day. The reverse design by Guelph, Ontario artist Laurie McGaw is a V-E Day salute to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Against a "V" for Victory backdrop, a wing commander is flanked by a pilot on his right and a waving member of the RCAF Women's Division on his left. The pilot flashes a victory sign and the commander raises his hand to salute as a Spitfire fighter plane flies overhead.

The Mint highlights another chapter in Canadian history on the 2020 $200 Pure Gold Coin  Early Canadian History: New France, designed by artist Alan Daniel. It depicts New France pioneer Louis Hebert and his family clearing land to grow crops for Samuel de Champlain's Habitation, the 1608 settlement that would become Quebec City. Daniel has derived the location of Hebert's land from Champlain's own drawing of his settlement, with the fortifications visible in the background of the coin's design.

Other products launching this month, including several perennial favourites, include:

The 2020 Classic Canadian Uncirculated Set;

The 2020 Gift Sets, celebrating the themes "Born in 2020", "Married in 2020", "Happy Birthday" and "O Canada";

The 2020 $20 Fine Silver Coin  Best Wishes on your Wedding Day, featuring a heart-shaped design by artist Sylvie Daigneault selectively plated in pink gold;

Fine Silver Coin  Best Wishes on your Wedding Day, featuring a heart-shaped design by artist selectively plated in pink gold; The 2020 $10 Fine Silver Coin Welcome to the World;

Fine Silver Coin Welcome to the World; The $3 Fine Silver Coin  Celebration of Love, featuring a crystalenhanced bouquet of colourful flowers designed by Anna Bucciarelli ;

Fine Silver Coin  Celebration of Love, featuring a crystalenhanced bouquet of colourful flowers designed by ; The 2020 $200 Pure Gold Coin  Canadian Coastal Symbols: The Atlantic, designed by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin and crafted of 99.999% pure gold;

Pure Gold Coin  Canadian Coastal Symbols: The Atlantic, designed by and crafted of 99.999% pure gold; The 2020 $50 Fine Silver Coin  Real Shapes: The Bluenose, a schooner-shaped coin celebrating the timeless Emanuel Hahn design of Canada's 10-cent circulation coin;

Fine Silver Coin  Real Shapes: The Bluenose, a schooner-shaped coin celebrating the timeless design of circulation coin; The 1/25 oz. 2020 $8 Pure Gold Coin  Lucky Flower Dragon, designed by artist Jai Paek ;

Pure Gold Coin  Lucky Flower Dragon, designed by artist ; The 2020 $125 Fine Silver Coin  Lucky Dragon, a half-kilo, selectively gold-plated coin designed by Simon Ng ; and

Fine Silver Coin  Lucky Dragon, a half-kilo, selectively gold-plated coin designed by ; and The crystal-enhanced 2020 $5 Fine Silver Coin  Birthstones: February, featuring the artwork of Pandora Young .

Mintages, pricing and full background information on each product can be found on the "Shop" tab of www.mint.ca. Coin images are available here.

All of these products can be ordered directly from the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or on the Mint's web site. The coins are also available at Royal Canadian Mint boutiques in Ottawa and Winnipeg, as well as through our global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets.

About the Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. The Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca. Follow the Mint on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

SOURCE Royal Canadian Mint

Related Links

https://www.mint.ca/


" " One day married, next day free? There's really no such thing as a secret divorce. Mofles/RayaHristova/Thinkstock

Gabriel Villa allegedly did a very bad thing. According to a New York Post article, the Manhattan lawyer and travel agent secretly divorced his wife only months after their 1994 marriage to protect his money. By "secret divorce", we mean that he filed for divorce without telling his wife, Cristina Carta Villa. Yup, they continued to live as husband and wife for 20 years, even having a son together.

Needless to say, Carta Villa is a little upset. The 59-year-old is suing her "husband," now 90 and in poor health, to get the divorce nullified and to maintain ownership of the couple's multimillion-dollar Midtown condo. But will she win, or are "secret divorces" somehow legal?

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Not in the United States, says Lina Guillen, a California family lawyer and editor at Nolo, a source for free legal information and publisher of do-it-yourself legal guides.

"In the U.S., there is something called a default divorce," Guillen explains, "which can be granted with just one spouse appearing in court, but these aren't really 'secret divorces.'" The difference is that the spouse asking for divorce must prove that he or she notified the other spouse by serving divorce papers, or else published the divorce filing in the newspaper as a way of notification if the other spouse couldn't be found.

But here's the kicker: Villa didn't file for divorce in the United States. His papers were signed in the Dominican Republic, a Caribbean island nation that's notorious for its quickie divorces, known in colorful local parlance as divorcios al vapor.

Mexico used to be the hot spot for quickie divorces. In the States, divorce proceedings can drag on for months and cost thousands of dollars. From the 1940s to the 1960s, enterprising lawyers and judges set up shop right across the Texas and California borders, offering 24-hour divorces at low prices. U.S. courts eventually stopped recognizing these divorces, and Mexico enacted tougher residency requirements in the 1970s. But that didn't curb the demand for fast and cheap divorces. Today, the top destination for eager-to-be-exes is the Dominican Republic, a quick four-hour flight from NYC.

While a Dominican divorce is faster than in the U.S., it's still not a "secret" divorce. At least when it's done right. According to the Embassy of the Dominican Republic and additional information tracked down by Nolo's Guillen, there are several strict requirements for U.S. citizens wishing to obtain a divorcioal vapor:

Both spouses must sign a formal separation agreement that details division of assets, child custody and alimony.

At least one spouse must be physically present at the divorce hearing in the Dominican Republic. The other spouse can be represented by an agent with power of attorney.

If the judge rules in favor of the divorce, the ruling must be certified by the Dominican Republic's attorney general's office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Finally, the divorce decree must be published in a national Dominican newspaper.

If U.S. citizens follow all of the necessary steps, they can obtain a Dominican divorce in eight to 10 days. But will that divorce be recognized by U.S. courts? It depends where you live. Divorce law is state law, and each state has its own rules. In California, where Guillen practices, at least one of the divorcing spouses must be a resident of the foreign country where the divorce is filed, and that's true in the majority of states.

"But New York follows the minority rule," says Guillen. "Neither party needs to reside in the foreign country or to have lived there for any period of time. New York has a well-established policy of recognizing foreign divorce judgments, and a spouse will have a really hard time attacking a foreign divorce if the divorce was mutual, unless the spouse can show there was some sort of fraud in obtaining the divorce, or that the divorce goes against public policy in New York.

Fraud is the keyword in the Villa case. According to Carter Villa, she never knowingly signed any separation agreements, unless her newlywed husband tricked her into doing so. Even if she unwittingly signed something, Carter Villa alleges that Villa wasn't physically present in the Dominican Republic for a hearing and the divorce was never published in a Dominican newspaper, making it invalid in both countries.

Without access to Carter Villa's Manhattan court filings or the divorce documents from the Dominican Republic, it impossible to know the specifics of her case or whether Villa skirted Dominican law to obtain his "secret" divorce. But the takeaway for conniving spouses is clear. If you're that worried about protecting your assets, have your spouse sign a prenup. It's the least scumbaggy thing you can do.

Now Thats Interesting If you still want a quickie divorce, but dont want to (technically) leave the U.S., your best option is Guam, a U.S. territory since 1898. For an uncontested divorce, theres only a seven-day residency requirement, and Guam divorces are recognized in all 50 states.
NEW YORK - Mexican former top security official Genaro Garcia Luna is in talks on a possible plea agreement with federal prosecutors in New York, where he is charged with accepting millions in drug-money bribes from the notorious Sinaloa cartel of convicted kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.

A court document filed Monday says lawyers for Garcia Luna and prosecutors are engaged in negotiations, which they believe are likely to result in a disposition of this case without trial, according to the filing signed by Garcia Luna, his lawyer, a prosecutor and magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo.

Garcia Luna, 51, was indicted in New York on three counts of cocaine trafficking conspiracy and a false statements charge. He pleaded not guilty on Friday.

Kuo ordered him detained after Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Reid argued he would pose an unacceptable risk of flight if released. Garcia Lunas lawyer, Cesar de Castro, said he would ask the court at a later date for his client to be granted bail. De Castro declined to comment on the plea negotiations in an email to The Associated Press.

The former security chief was viewed as the point man for Mexicos drug war under then-President Felipe Calderon, who governed from 2006 to 2012. U.S. prosecutors alleged in a court filing this month that Garcia Luna had accepted tens of millions of dollars in bribes  often briefcases full of cash  to protect the cartel.

During Guzmans 2018 trial in New York, jurors heard former cartel member Jesus Zambada testify that he personally made at least $6 million in secret payments to Garcia Luna on behalf of his older brother, cartel boss Ismael El Mayo Zambada.

The witness said he met Garcia Luna in a restaurant between 2005 and 2006 and gave him a suitcase containing $3 million. A that time Garcia Luna was in charge of Mexicos Federal Investigation Agency. In a second meeting in 2007, when Garcia Luna was Mexicos top security official, Zambada said he gave him a suitcase with $3 million to $5 million.

Zambada also testified that three other drug traffickers, Hector Beltran Leyva, Arturo Beltran Leyva and Edgar Valdez Villareal, purportedly put together $50 million for Garcia Luna, in order to obtain protection for their business.

Garcia Luna, who was arrested in Texas in December, denied the accusations.

It is a lie, defamation and perjury against me when it is said that any person, policeman or criminal group gave me economic or material gains at any moment of my public or private service, he said in a statement at the time.

The recent court document shows plea negotiations between Garcia Luna and prosecutors began Jan. 3. The next court hearing is expected Jan. 21.
Phuket vendors appeal eviction from Surin Beach

PHUKET: More than 40 beach vendors evicted from the sands at Surin Beach before Christmas have appealed to the Phuket Governor to help them continue working on the beach.

natural-resourceseconomicstourism

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 7 January 2020, 12:13PM

The beach vendors appealed for a special area to be set up so they can continue working at the beach. Photo: PR Dept

The beach vendors appealed for a special area to be set up so they can continue working at the beach. Photo: PR Dept

The beach vendors appealed for a special area to be set up so they can continue working at the beach. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Phket Vice Governor Supoj made it plain that under the law laid down years ago by the NCPO, no persons were permitted to occupy any areas on the beach. Photo: PR Dept

The beach vendors yesterday were led by Phuket MP Natthee Thinsakoo of the Palang Pracharat Party. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The contingent of beach vendors, led by Phuket MP Natthee Thinsakoo of the Palang Pracharat Party, met with Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday (Jan 6) to file their appeal.

Also present to hear the vendors complaints were Phuket Provincial Office Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Anupong Wawongmoon, Thalang District Chief Adul Chuthong and Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) Chief MaAnn Samran, among other officials.

Mr Natthee explained that Cherng Talay OrBorTor posted a notice on Dec 23 ordering all vendors to vacate the sands at Surin Beach by Jan 12  or face having their business demolished by the OrBorTor and the vendors themselves face legal action.

Not wanting to tempt fate, the beach vendors all vacated their areas immediately.

At the meeting, the vendors said they had continually suffered under the beach-management policy introduced in Phuket under the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which ran the country after the coup in 2014.

Of note, Phuket is the only place in the country where any beach-management policy was introduced.

Under the policy, Surin Beach was designated a virgin beach, meaning a vendor-free beach, as it was to be left bare for all people to enjoy.

Since the beach was designated [as a vendor-free beach] under the NCPO, local residents have always suffered, one representative said.

The move denied local residents the opportunity to work on the beach, and caused worry among the villagers, the representative added.

If we cannot work here to make money so we can eat, where can we work? he asked.

Therefore we would like to ask [for the government] to set up an area where the villagers can work and comply with the law and make a sustainable living. At present, around 40-50 vendors at Surin Beach of various types of trade are out of work, the representative said.

Vice Governor Supoj said that Phuket government had no choice but to follow the order by the NCPO to designate Surin Beach as a beach honouring King Rama 9, and therefore no persons were permitted to operate any businesses on the beach.

Therefore, the Phuket government cannot allow the vendors to do as they want, he said.

Cherng Talay OrBorTor Chief MaAnn also said that he was just following the order by the NCPO to clear all vendors, including bed and umbrella operators, from the beach.

We warned local vendors twice and posted announcements on the beach in December, Mr MaAnn said.

If we did not do this, we may have been charged under Section 157 of the Criminal Code, he said.

Section 157 of the Criminal Code specifically states, Whoever, being an official, wrongfully exercises or does not exercise any of his functions to the injury of any person, or dishonestly exercises or omits to exercise any of his functions, shall be punished with imprisonment of one to ten years or fined of two thousand to twenty thousand Baht, or both.

Nowadays, there are more than 80 vendors on the beach, and at the same time local people want the OrBorTor to clear the beach and be strict with enforcing the law so that the beach can really be a public beach open to everyone to use, Mr MaAnn said.

Vice Governor Supoj in concluding the meeting said plainly, The beach is a public area and declared to be a beach in honor of King Rama 9  which means there must not be any activity on the beach, especially occupying areas on the beach. Government officials must follow the aforementioned steps.

If the affected persons do not agree with the order [to vacate the beach], they must file an appeal with the relevant office within 15 days  in this case, by January 7.

All affected people must submit an appeal with the Cherng Talay OrBorTor. The appeal will be considered within 30 days before being forwarded to the governor for further consideration, Vice Governor Supoj said.

Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub
ALLEN PARK, MI - Three people were shot after an altercation about someone attempting to cut in line at a southeast Michigan bowling alley on Monday night, Jan. 6.

One of the people involved in the dispute went out to the parking lot, retrieved a handgun and then returned to open fire on people in the business vestibule, ClickOnDetroit reports. Three people were injured. The male shooter is still at large and has not been identified.

The incident occurred at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park.

Security broke up a shoving match between patrons in line just prior to the shooting, police said. When the man returned, he fired eight shots. Three people were shot while a fourth bullet was lodged in a persons jacket but didnt cause injury, FOX2 Detroit reports.

The three people injured were taken to a local hospital, police said. Two of them are in serious condition. The third person is in fair condition.

Anyone with information about the shooting should contact the Allen Park Police Department at 313-386-7800.

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A complaint alleging Brisbane's only Greens councillor allowed members of a climate protest group to use his community meeting room has been referred to the council's conduct review panel.

The move comes after Brisbane City Council passed a motion in October banning the group, Extinction Rebellion, from booking any council meeting facilities.

Greens Councillor Jonathan Sri leads people through city streets in August 2018 after the state government announced tougher police search powers against protesters. Credit:AAP/Jono Searle

Members of the group, which has been behind a number of high-profile protests around the city, country and globe, have been booking the community meeting room of Gabba Ward Councillor Jonathan Sri's office for about the past six months.

Cr Sri said the complaint came from a resident outside his ward and described the referral as a "disgusting attack" on freedom of political communication in the city and was "interfering" with what a councillor could do within their own office.
[January 07, 2020] Fiduciary Trust Company International to Acquire Athena Capital Advisors in Merger Deal

Fiduciary Trust Company International, a global wealth manager and wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN], today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Athena Capital Advisors, LLC in a merger transaction. Athena Capital, a nationally registered investment advisor (RIA), has approximately $6 billion in assets under management. The acquisition will expand Fiduciary Trust Company International's offerings, further diversifying the firm's investment solutions for meeting the evolving needs of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients. Established in 1993 by Lisette Cooper, PhD, Athena Capital Advisors is based in Lincoln, MA, with an additional office in New York, NY. The firm's capabilities include building diversified portfolios through an endowment style of investing, as well as impact investing, outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) services, and family office support services. "Lisette has built an impressive team, and I look forward to working with them to help clients of both organizations reach their long-term goals," said John M. Dowd, CEO of Fiduciary Trust Company International. "Athena Capital brings enhanced investment research, manager selection, and due diligence that will complement and strengthen our existing strategic advisory services. Athena Capital is a pioneer in the field of impact investing, working with clients to align their investment portfolios with their social and mission-based values. Athena's suburban-Boston location deepens our reach in the New England area, increasing the breadth and depth of our offering and enhancing the value we can bring to clients of both firms." Dr. Cooper, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Athena Capital Advisors, added: "Fiduciary Trust Company International is an ideal pairing for Athena Capital Advisors, and we're eager to integrate our expertise so we can provide our collective client base with a full suite of offerings to meet the changing long-term needs of individuals, foundations, and endowments." "We are confident that Athena Capital Advisors' experience and customized approach to wealth management-combined with Fiduciary Trust Company International's investment excellence, extensive trust and estate, tax, and digital expertise and resources-will help optimize the client experience for families and generations to come," said Jenny Johnson, President and COO of Franklin Templeton. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditons and is anticipated to close in Franklin Templeton's second quarter of fiscal 2020. Following the acquisition, Fiduciary Trust Company International's assets under management will be approximately $25 billion. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.



Goodwin Procter served as legal counsel to Fiduciary Trust Company International and Franklin Templeton. Raymond James | Silver Lane served as Athena Capital Advisors' financial advisor on the transaction, and Holland & Knight served as its legal advisor. About Athena Capital Advisors

Athena Capital Advisors is a privately-owned registered investment advisor founded in 1993 by Dr. Lisette Cooper. The firm has approximately $6 billion in assets under management, with offices in Lincoln, MA and New York, NY. Athena offers clients investment advice and management as their external chief investment officer, as well as wealth planning, impact investing, and investment administration and reporting services. Its clients include both tax-exempt institutions and taxable families. Athena uses a research-driven approach to strategic and tactical asset allocation to provide solutions that are customized to each client's particular circumstances and objectives. For additional information on Athena Capital Advisors, please visit www.athenacapital.com. About Fiduciary Trust Company International Fiduciary Trust Company International, a global wealth management firm, has served individuals, families, endowments and foundations since 1931. With over $75 billion in assets under management and administration as of September 30, 2019, the firm specializes in strategic wealth planning, investment management and trust and estate services, as well as tax and custody services. The firm and its subsidiaries maintain offices in New York, NY, Coral Gables, FL, Boca Raton, FL, St. Petersburg, FL, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert), San Mateo, CA, San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, Wilmington, DE, and Arlington, VA. For more information, please visit fiduciarytrust.com, and for the latest updates, follow Fiduciary Trust on LinkedIn and Twitter (News - Alert): @FiduciaryTrust. About Franklin Templeton Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton. Franklin Templeton's goal is to deliver better outcomes by providing global and domestic investment management to retail, institutional and sovereign wealth clients in over 170 countries. Through specialized teams, the Company has expertise across all asset classes, including equity, fixed income, alternatives and custom multi-asset solutions. The Company's more than 600 investment professionals are supported by its integrated, worldwide team of risk management professionals and global trading desk network. With employees in over 30 countries, the California-based company has more than 70 years of investment experience and over US$691 billion in assets under management as of November 30, 2019. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.com. Forward-looking statements The statements contained herein may include prospects, statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and the company assumes no obligation to update any information or forward-looking statement contained herein, except as required to be disclosed by law. Copyright  2020. Fiduciary Trust Company International. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005645/en/

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A retired couple are celebrating in Hawaii after scooping $1million on Monday's Lotto draw.

The anonymous couple from northern Brisbane purchased a ticket for the Gold Lotto draw and only realised they had won on Tuesday morning.

'I had just got home from my morning walk when I checked the ticket and thought I had won but my wife was still out,' the husband said.

The anonymous couple from northern Brisbane purchased a ticket to Monday's Gold Lotto draw and realised they had won on Tuesday morning

'When she walked in the door the first thing I said was "there is something you need to see here". We couldn't believe it.'

The pair said they had a 'stressful year last year' and were planning to make the most of their winnings.

'My wife wants to go to Hawaii and with this win, I think we'll be able to manage that,' he said.

The husband joked he would need a 'shipping container' for all the shopping his wife would buy.

The couple said they had been purchasing tickets using the same numbers since the Gold Lotto draw first began and purchased their winning ticket from Nextra Strathpine newsagent in Strathpine.
(TNS)  New York state wants to invest $9 million to build the nations largest indoor drone testing facility at Griffiss International Airport in Rome.Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to highlight the project in his 2020 State of the State address on Wednesday in Albany.The state money will help Oneida County, which owns the airport, establish what it calls Sky Dome in a former airplane hangar at the former Griffiss Air Force Base.The county will renovate the building so that it can be used to test and certify small drones as part of the national test site at the airport overseen by Syracuse-based Nuair, an alliance of industry, government and institutional partners.The drone test site is one of seven nationwide authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration.Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said the renovated hangar will allow for year-round experiments and testing of advanced drone technologies, including artificial intelligence-based flight controls and autonomous swarms of small drones.The project will include an adjacent outdoor testing facility covered by nets installed to stop any wayward drones.Were pretty excited about the doors that this will open for us, Picente said in an interview. It will clearly take us to a whole new level.Cuomo and Picente said the project will initially support collaborative research between the Nuair test site and the nearby Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, known as Rome Lab.Nuair oversees a 50-mile drone testing corridor between Rome and Syracuse thats being used to find ways to safely integrate drones into the nations air space. The corridor includes a network of eight stationary radars and one mobile radar.
The Swedish furniture retailer Ikea agreed to pay a $46 million settlement in a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by the parents of a California toddler who was crushed to death by a popular dresser model that had been recalled after at least five other children were killed.

On Monday, a lawyer for Joleen and Craig Dudek, whose son, Jozef, was killed in May 2017, announced the settlement, which was confirmed by an Ikea spokeswoman. In 2016, Ikea reached a $50 million settlement with three other families with children who were killed by furniture that had toppled over.

Mr. and Mrs. Dudek sued Ikea in 2017 in state court in Pennsylvania, where Ikeas North American headquarters is based, arguing that the furniture maker knew that its Malm line of dressers was prone to tip-overs and had failed to warn customers of the unstable design.

The company first offered free wall-anchoring kits to its millions of customers as part of a repair program before issuing a recall in June 2016. The Dudeks, of Buena Park, Calif., bought the dresser in 2008 and said in the lawsuit that they were never alerted to the recall by Ikea.
Many residents, interested in a range of issues, tuned in to Delegate Michael San Nicolas' address at the Guam Legislature on Monday.

Dee Crisostomo of Agana Heights wanted San Nicolas to address Guam's political status.

I would like to hear him speak about the issue of our political status and what his plans are, if there are any, for him to go forward with what I hear the majority of the public saying, which is, I know there is still (commonwealth status) on the table, there is still free association on the table, said Crisostomo, 40. I mean there is a lot of issues that we have because we dont have a say compared to the other territories that have a different political status than Guam.

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John Aguon also wanted to hear more about San Nicolas position on the plebiscite, which is the vote that would allow native inhabitants and their descendants to participate in a nonbinding vote on Guams political status.

I want to hear more about his position on plebiscite, on whether he is going to take a more active role in expressing the peoples desire for self-determination. We are always talking about it. Lets make something concrete and take a step forward into a new political status."

In his speech, San Nicolas said that he introduced a bill that can help address the issue of Guams political status. HR 5526 would establish nonvoting delegates from territories to the United States Senate, so that the perspective of territories can contribute positively to the overall considerations of the greater republic that is the United States of America.

As he moves forward with this legislation, however, he said three questions remain:

 Do we pursue more nonvoting representation in the Senate, or do we push for a Constitutional amendment for voting rights?

 Do we work with the United States to craft a local Guam Constitution now for our people, or do we push for a change in political status without one?

 Do we allow everyone to vote for a determination of Guams political status, or do we push for a native-only vote?

The delegate also noted that he supports the U.S. military forces Pacific pivot and the military buildup on Guam for the sake of security. He said that Guams strategic location commands that any belligerent power pressing forward into this region include Guam in its list of targets.

If we are freely associated with another country, if we are independent, or even if we are a state, no political status will protect us from the tyranny of geography that will have us surely on the list of areas to occupy during times of war, he said.

Health care

Jonathan B. Pangelinan, 43, of Nimitz Hill, was deeply interested in medical care.

People cannot afford insurance, and the hospital is getting in deeper and deeper debt, he said.

San Nicolas said that his office will be working with the State Department, the Department of the Interior, and the embassies of U.S. allies on a free trade agreement for the Pacific region.

Guam and the region has so much to potentially benefit from a new doctrine we hope to unveil in the coming year, called the Pacific Allies Free Trade Agreement, or PAFTA, he said during his address. The goal of PAFTA would be to align our transshipment, agricultural, tax, labor, tourism, commerce, and health care policies between Guam, the (Compact of Free Association) states, and the Philippines.

San Nicolas said his PAFTA would include Medicare portability, along with a slew of other items that could boost the local economy, including separate EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa quotas, standardized and preauthorized processes for enabling the free flow of goods, and single-filer tax filing requirements for businesses.

With this Free Trade Agreement we can segment out issues we are looking to address but are tied up in the impacts they would have if applied as blanket national policy, he said. PAFTA can be a vehicle for us to have our residents on Medicare avail (themselves) of health care services in the Philippines without affecting Medicare applicability in the States.
They came in their truckloads, men and women kitted out in the same yellow uniforms that RFS volunteer firefighter Andrew O'Dwyer was wearing when he died.

Thousands of firefighters, police, SES and ambulance personnel attended the funeral service on Tuesday for the married father at Our Lady of Victories church, just 700 metres from Mr O'Dwyer's Horsley Park RFS brigade.

Mr O'Dwyer, 36, and his mate Geoffrey Keaton, 32, were killed six days before Christmas when a tree fell in the path of their truck at the still-burning Green Wattle Creek fire, causing it to roll.

"Baby Charlotte, you need to know - your dad was a special man, a selfless man, and only left because he is a hero," RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said, his voice breaking on the last word.
The number of orders that textile and garment companies have received for 2020 is just equal to 80 percent of that in the same period last year.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) reported that Vietnam textile and garment exports in the first 11 months of the year brought revenue of $30 billion, an increase of 8 percent over the same period last year.





At a meeting with investors recently, Nguyen Van Thoi, chair of TNG Investment and Trade, the owner of TNG brand, said the company has enough orders for the whole year of 2020 with buyers from the EU and US.



According to Thoi, with these orders,it expects post tax profit of VND220 billion, an increase of 22 percent over the previous year.

Foreign importers have shifted to some emerging countries in Africa, which has put difficulties on Vietnamese companies. Meanwhile, the competition with textile and garment powers such as India, China and Bangladesh is getting stiff.

However, not many companies report the same. Others complain they are still waiting for orders. In principle, Q4 is the time for companies to seek orders for the next year, but the number of orders at many companies is just equal to 80 percent. Some companies cannot get long-term orders, but only short-term ones.



A representative from Vitas said foreign importers have shifted to some emerging countries in Africa, which has put difficulties on Vietnamese companies. Meanwhile, the competition with textile and garment powers such as India, China and Bangladesh is getting stiff.



The orders tend to go to countries which can enjoy preferential tariffs, such as Bangladesh and Cambodia, the representative said.



According to him, the cotton price is at a low level, while the use of cotton in Bangladesh, Vietnam and China has decreased. Both businesspeople and terminal buyers keep the demand at a minimum level and avoid storing goods.



Not only garment outsourcing companies, but yarn manufacturers are also meeting difficulties when they have to compete with FIEs and India, Thailand and Indonesia.



Earlier this year, analysts were optimistic about the prospect of the textile and garment industry, saying that the US-China trade war and the signing of a series of new FTAs would help Vietnam gain more orders. But this hasn't happened.



A warning about a lack of orders for the next year was given in mid-2019. Two reasons were cited, including the worsening health of the worlds economy, which has affected purchasing power, and the lack of enterprises radical solutions to meet requirements on origin rules after FTAs take effect.



Garment companies are under pressure as they have to pay more to buy fabric from China, while importers are trying to force the prices down. Vietnams textile and garment industry is losing its advantage in cheap labor costs.

Mai Lan

VN garment, textile export falls short of target but surplus impressive Vietnams garment and textile exports were estimated at US$39 billion this year, slightly falling short of the US$40 billion target.
Srinagar, Jan 7 : Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, has asked the government to remove her security after she was prevented from visiting the grave of her grandfather and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on his fourth death anniversary.

"I don't want any SSG (Special Security Group) cover, it has become a pretext for the authorities for curtailing my movement," Iltija told IANS. "I am now writing a letter to the police higher ups seeking the removal of my security," she said.

Last week she was barred from visiting Mufti's grave in the run up to his fourth death anniversary.

She then approached the authorities for permission to visit the grave on January 7 which was denied.

She also alleged that senior police officials were "harassing" her.

"This is not the way you treat the grand daughter of a former chief minister," she said. "Is it a crime to be a Muslim in this country." She said the security cover of her aunt Rubaya Sayeed, who was kidnapped by militants in 1989 and released after the government freed five militants, has been removed making her vulnerable.

"They seem to have given no consideration to the fact that that my aunt was kidnapped by militants, her security has suddenly been removed without any reason," she said.

Mehbooba continues to be in detention at a government bungalow at MA Road since August 5 like Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah.

Farooq has been detained in his house at Gupkar Road while Omar has been kept at Hariniwas.

The Centre has said the three former chief ministers will be released when the local administration deems it fit.

On December 5, none of the family members of Sheikh Abdullah were allowed to visit his grave on the 115th birth anniversary. Two National Conference MPs Hasnain Masood and Akbar Lone and a few National Conference supporters held a prayer meet at the grave of National Conference founder.

Iltija has hogged the limelight ever since J&K special status was removed by Centre. She has given several interviews to national and international media and has been highly critical of the BJP government.

Political observers in Kashmir believe she has emerged as the face of dissent in Kashmir at a time when most politicians are reluctant to speak against the Article 370 move by the BJP.

They believe that Iltija would benefit politically from the tough stand she has taken against the BJP. She however insists that she is not a politician but given the political vacuum in Kashmir and the crisis in the PDP, she could well emerge as the heir to the political fortune of the party.
Suburban-area bars and restaurants with the highest recorded alcohol sales generated just over $5.18 million in November 2019, according to data provided by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Using this data, Chron.com compiled the No. 1 alcohol seller in each Houston suburb during the month of November, which is the most recent data available by the Texas Comptroller. Only bars and restaurants were included in this list.
The W8 complex in Manorhamilton is open just nine months but in that time it has proved to be a real addition to the town and it has also gained national attention with the seal of approval from renowned critics John and Sally McKenna.

The W8 complex which includes the Osta cafe has been named as a 'destination of excellence' with the development receiving high praise for the ambition shown in the planning stage and the manner in which it has been completed.

Shane Kerrigan, Developer W8, was incredibly pleased to have received such praise, less than a year after the doors were opened to the public for the first time.

This national 'destination of excellence' recognition from leading food critics John and Sally McKenna is a tremendous boost to all here at W8, acknowledged Shane.

He added: little did we expect that when we opened our doors nine months ago we would feature prominently in two of the most significant Irish tourism awards by the end of our first year.

Shane said the success enjoyed by W8 is a true indication of the potential the area has to become a thriving area in terms of tourism.

I see it as an endorsement first and foremost to the tourism potential of North Leitrim and the growing number of gifted people playing their special parts in the emerging local tourism economy," said Shane.

Although the business is still in its infancy, Shane is very much focussed on the future and believes there is much more to come from W8.

This is only the beginning of the story for W8, insisted Shane.

We have many more ambitions for the campus. We want to play our part in helping regenerate Manorhamilton. More quality jobs and inward investment into the town are called for.

Working with the community, business leaders, the council and agencies will see us over the next few years build upon this success."

John and Sally McKenna's website is full of praise for all aspects of the W8 project from the food available in Osta to the manner in which the project was landscaped by Leonie Cornelius and features sculptures designed by Jackie McKenna and the mural by Marian Noone.

In fact, they were so impressed they described their first impression of W8 as mindblowing.

W8 is said to make Leitrim even more lovely with the review painting a fantastic picture of W8 and the entire region.

You only need to spend a few days here, touring the Five Glens, hiking to Eagle Rock, kayaking at Lough Gill, before heading back to the W8 houses and dinner at Osta, to feel you are getting to the heart and soul of this overlooked county.

The sleek sophistication of the concept means that its easy to believe you are in some Tuscan retreat, or 5-star hideaway in Seville, but without the hassle and stress of airports and international travel.

Alan Hill, Business Advisor with W8 was equally proud of the recognition saying: We are thankful the judges picked up on the innovative nature of the project - the input of local artists, interior designers, graphic artists, landscape designers, chefs, food producers, carpenters and builders have created something special in the heart of the town.

This project is by the local people for the local people and its great to see this nationally recognised.

Over the last three months we have had two delegations visit W8 to see 'how it is done', for too long we have been the ones heading out to visit the 'best in class' venture to be inspired, now we are the ones doing the inspiring."
Finally, it is the lack of visual evidence due to the disruption of JNU's entire Internet network in the server control room by a section of students, which has resulted in the Crime Branch getting almost nil CCTV footage.

According to top officers in the know of things, the difficulties stem from three main reasons - the first is the JNU administration's "lackadaisical attitude", the second is the local police's "ineptitude".

Disclosing the reasons to IANS, a top police officer who is prominent in the investigation team but did not want to be identified, said the Crime Branch has only been allocated one case by Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, and that is the violence in the campus from the afternoon of January 5.

Another Crime Branch team officer, who has been in the campus for two days, told IANS that the shocking reality was that the scene for Sunday's clashes was laid two days earlier, on January 3, and the matter was simmering since then.



It was on January 3 when the varsity administration launched the admission process online, against the wishes of the JNU Students Union, which is protesting against the hostel fee hike.



Another senior officer also said that the JNUSU leaders were against the administration's decision and were searching ways to disrupt it.



On January 3, JNUSU leaders allegedly entered the Internet server room and locked it. A case was subsequently filed by the university administration at the Vasant Kunj North police station on the day itself, but the same day, the administration tried and somehow temporarily restored the network.

However, according to the official, the Vasant Kunj police did not consider this case out of the ordinary and took no special notice. This further emboldened the students who again entered the server room by the back door the next day and "destroyed it entirely".



According to a Crime Branch official, the current condition of the server room was not good, since it worked sometime only and packed in the rest of the time, and while remedial efforts are on, the situation had most hurt their team as they scramble to gather clues.

The Crime Branch's priority was to get their hands on CCTV footage from inside the university in the process to ascertain the sequence of events and identify the guilty but since the server room was virtually defunct, CCTVs throughout the campus were not working, and as a result, almost nil CCTV footage has been obtained.



According to an ACP level officer of the Crime Branch, "the traumatised students are scared and unwilling to speak openly. And in the absence of the CCTV footage, our difficulties have only increased".
Enugu State Police Command has paraded three of its officers who were caught brutalising a civilian identified as Mr Justice Obasi in a viral social media video.

It was learnt that the incident which took place on January 4 along Kenyatta Street, Uwani, Enugu attracted the attention of the Inspector General of Police who ordered the identification and prosecution of the erring officers.

Commissioner of Police in Enugu, Mr Ahmed Abdurahman, while addressing journalists in his office on Monday revealed that the command had constituted a panel of inquiry whose report would be used as a base for the orderly room trial of the affected officers.



He said the panel had been given three days to conclude its work and report back to the command through his office.

After the panels three days work, we will look into the panels findings and recommendation. Then, they will definitely face orderly room trial and after all these we know what level of punishment will be meted on them, he said.

The commissioner said that the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, who had seen the video clip and was quite disturbed.

The members of the public should know that the Nigeria Police under the present IG cannot condone and shield such uncivilized characters.

Nigerians should know that the negative action of the erring personnel is unprofessional and does not in any way reflect the image and attitude of the Nigeria Police. We are here to police with human face and some level of decorum and civility, he said.

The officers included two Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) and one police constable.

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Next-gen highway striping has been deployed on a strip of highway in Georgia with the aim of making roadways safer while also helping to accommodate advanced driving systems (ADS) technology.The Ray, an 18-mile stretch of Interstate 85 in southern Georgia, functions as a test bed for next-generation highway technologies. A new partnership among the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and private-sector companies, like 3M and Panasonic, has seen the deployment of 3Ms Connected Roads All Weather Elements striping with what the company is calling refractive bead technology. In short, tiny reflective beads are embedded into the striping to make it more visible to human drivers and cars equipped with ADS.GDOT is a strong proponent of placing robust pavement markings on our roadways that meet not only dry retroreflective performance requirements, but also nighttime and wet-reflective requirements, Andrew Heath, state traffic engineer for Georgia DoT, said in an email. The 3M products have been shown to have high retroreflective readings when deployed under appropriate conditions. These properties should help pavement markings be visible for ADS systems and human drivers alike.State data has indicated a higher number of traffic fatalities during wet or nighttime conditions, said Heath, making the more reflective striping a step toward making the roadway safer.Over time, it is expected that the new All Weather Elements product will be rolled out in additional locations across the Georgia roadway system, said Heath.High-tech striping isnt the only technology being deployed along The Ray , named after Ray C. Anderson, a Georgia business leader in green energy.The state is also deploying a network of six roadside units capable of communicating with autonomous vehicle technologies.Four state demonstration vehicles have been equipped with on-board units, and five of the roadside units have been deployed, Heath explained. The state transportation agency plans to show off the technology in a demonstration event next month to show the platform simulating crash, queue, and weather events along the roadway, said Heath. The GDOT vehicles send speed, location and direction data to the roadside units, along with various bits of info about vehicle operations such as windshield wipers or hard braking.The project could then morph into a secondary agreement if the Department of Transportation decides to expand the number of connected vehicles it operates, or eyes more connected vehicle technologies coming online in the consumer car market, said Chris Armstrong, a vice president for Panasonic USA and lead for the companys V2X business efforts, in an interview within August.Youve got the infrastructure piece and the fleet piece, and were demoing that at relatively small scale. But then a lot of the benefits will be on the application side. Its what do you do with the data that comes back in, that the vehicles are giving you, and how do you build applications on top of that, for various benefits? Whether its mobility benefits, or safety benefits, or other forms of information, he explained.The pilot is using the CIRRUS by Panasonic data management platform, described as a vehicle to everything (V2X) system, already in use in other locations in Utah and Colorado
Kejriwal said the verdict would be a lesson for all those who mistreat women. "People will be scared that, even though little late, the law will give them punishment and justice will be served," Kejriwal said while addressing a townhall meeting.

New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia here on Tuesday welcomed the Nirbhaya verdict, saying it would act as a deterrent to such heinous crimes.

Calling it a victory, he said it fulfilled a big wish of the people. "All were waiting eagerly for the verdict," he said.

Later, in a tweet, Kejriwal demanded that death penalty to rapists should be given within six months.

"The death warrants had been issued against the Nirbhaya case culprits. People are satisfied. It took seven years. This system has to change. There should be a system that the rapists should be hanged in six months," Kejriwal said in Hindi.

Speaking to the media at the party office, Sisodia said people were looking at this case as a standard. "The incident had shaken the nation. People were saying if the convicts were not hanged in this case, what would happen in the rest (such cases)," he said.

He also said the efforts of Nirbhaya's parents and their lawyers had paid off.

A Delhi Court on Tuesday issued death warrants against all the four convicts. Issuing the death warrants, Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora directed that the convicts be hanged at 7 a.m on January 22.

The 23-year-old woman was gang-raped and tortured on December 16, 2012, which led to her death.

All the six accused were arrested and charged with sexual assault and murder. One of the accused, a minor, appeared before a juvenile justice court, while another committed suicide in Tihar Jail.

nks/pcj
According to the village of Oak Parks department of health, symptoms of pertussis may appear five to 10 days following exposure, but can take up to 21 days to show up. The first symptoms of pertussis are similar to those of a common cold, and may include a runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild occasional cough.
A bench of justices R F Nariman and S Ravindra Bhat said, "We don't find any merits in the appeal".

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the Centre's plea challenging TDSAT's order directing refund of around Rs 104 crore to Reliance Communication.

A bench of justices R F Nariman and S Ravindra Bhat said, "We don't find any merits in the appeal".

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) had on December 21, 2018 directed the Centre to return around Rs 104 crore after encashing bank guarantee of Rs 908 crore against spectrum charges of Rs 774 crore.

The Department of Telecom has already adjusted Rs 30.33 crore.
The importance of John Boltons offer to testify if subpoenaed in the impeachment proceedings against President Trump cannot be overstated. In a single stroke, Mr. Bolton, the former national security adviser, elevated truth and transparency over political gamesmanship.

The Senate must take him up on his offer, as well as demand the testimony of President Trump and the administration officials he has barred from testifying. The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, reportedly has the votes to proceed with the trial despite no agreement with Democrats on new witnesses and to leave it a question to take up after opening arguments. The Senate still must declare that it will call witnesses during the trial.

Everyone  Republicans, Democrats and independents  must know that these crucial witnesses will be heard.

The core principle behind the rule of law is that justice is blind and partisan identity should not influence a trials outcome. But anyone watching Mr. McConnell twist himself into knots in trying to block witnesses and documents has to wonder whether this notion ever took root in his mind. He has gone so far as to say that there will be no difference between the presidents position and our position as to how to handle this to the extent that we can. He also said, Theres no chance the president is going to be removed from office.
The last GoM meeting took place in September last year. (Photo Credit: PTI )

Mumbai:

The second meeting of Home Minister Amit Shah-headed Group of Ministers (GoM) is likely to take place on Tuesday, according to a source.

The meeting is expected to discuss the Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) on the Air India sale process, the source said.

The Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM) or GoM has already approved re-initiation of the process for the governments 100 per cent stake sale in Air India along with Air India Express and the carriers stake in joint venture AISATS.

The second meeting of the Group of Ministers on Air India sale may take place on Tuesday. It is likely to discuss the Preliminary Information Memorandum on the sale process, the source in the know of development told PTI on Monday.

He also said that the expression of interest could be invited 45 days after the uploading of the PIM document.

The last GoM meeting took place in September last year. Apart from Shah, it was also attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

Meanwihle, debt-ridden Air India on Monday told travel agents and websites that rumours about its imminent shutdown are baseless and its financial condition is being appropriately dealt with.

Meenakshi Malik, Director-Commercial, Air India told travel partners in a letter, There have been rumours going around in travel markets that Air India may be closing down its operations. I wish to take this opportunity to clarify that these rumours are baseless and without an iota of truth.

Air Indias financially and operational condition is being appropriately dealt with without compromising on our service levels, she added.

For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Kudos to Mike McIntyre for his candid article about the West Side Market (West Side Market deserves a creative fix, Jan. 5). Kudos to Rocco Whalen for his unselfish offer to revitalize the market. And boo! hiss! to the city of Cleveland administration for ignoring the deplorable conditions of a city landmark and the outcries from citizens.

I have been a tour guide in Cleveland for more than 20 years for a well-respected local tour company as well as for Road Scholar, which brings visitors from all over the United States to Cleveland for its Signature Cities Series. Proudly, I have shown these visitors the city of which I am extremely proud, always including a visit to the West Side Market.

Recently, we guides have been embarrassed to stop there, as many of the vendors have left empty stalls. How do we answer our guests about this visible distraction?

So Mayor Frank Jackson, how about paying attention to those who are willing to reinvent the market for all of us who shop there as well as for those tourists eager to visit there? Show all of us that you take pride in the market, as well.

Linda W. McGinty,

North Royalton
Its an unfortunate reality that some of the best places to retire and the most affordable places to retire dont have a ton of overlap. This leaves plenty of people struggling with the decision between getting the retirement they want and having to make painful cuts to their lifestyle.

However, while your first choice of location might be prohibitively expensive, a new study from GOBankingRates dug deep into the numbers to give you some more affordable options to consider for your golden years. The study looked at factors like the typical cost to purchase a home, the state tax laws regarding retirement income and several retirement expenditures, including the annual cost of an assisted living facility or home services. Taken altogether, it helps paint a picture of just how retirement-friendly  or unfriendly  each of these cities really is.

So, keep reading to get a look at which cities you should only consider if youre ready to pay the steep costs and which will help you make the most of your retirement.

Last updated: Sept. 7, 2020

20 Cities Retirees Should Ditch

Of course, there are undoubtedly plenty of retirees living in each of these cities and having the time of their lives. However, there are many other Americans who want to retire somewhere cheap rather than spend their hard-earned nest egg on sky-high costs of living. For them, these pricey cities  despite all of the marvelous aspects of life they have to offer  are just not going to fit the bill.

20. Chula Vista, California

California might be best-known for the clusters of unimaginably expensive cities that surround Los Angeles, San Diego and the entire San Francisco Bay Area. In this case, Chula Vista sits just south of San Diego and its livability score of 70 is a lot lower than you might expect based on the median list price that clears a half-million dollars.

19. Anaheim, California

Speaking of those clusters of pricey places to live, Anaheim might be the home of Disneyland, but a median list price thats over $600,000 would only make sense if youre literally buying a magic castle.

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18. St. Paul, Minnesota

This might come as a head-scratcher given St. Pauls common perception of being the slower, more traditional alternative to swanky Minneapolis, but the Twin Cities area is one where high costs are unavoidable most of the time. So while the $232,646.86 median list price is the best among the cities to ditch, it also comes with a livability score of just 64. On top of that, Minnesota taxes Social Security income  one of just two states featured in this study with such a levy.

17. Long Beach, California

Long Beach is well south of Los Angeles, but it still features many of the high costs associated with the region with a median list price in excess of $600,000 and state sales tax rate of 7.25%.

16. Santa Ana, California

Staying in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area, Santa Anas $546,221.43 median list price is, well, actually not bad given its location in Orange County. But costly homes and high sales taxes help put this SoCal city on the cities to ditch side of things.

15. Jersey City, New Jersey

Homes in Jersey City list for a little under $575,000 on average. But thats less notable than the high cost of senior care. It has the second-highest average annual costs for adult day healthcare, renting a semi-private nursing home room and renting a private nursing home room of any city listed here.

14. Aurora, Colorado

While the median list price of just under $365,000 puts Aurora among the least expensive cities to buy a home on this side of the list, the fact that Colorado taxes Social Security income, retirement income and has the highest local sales tax rate in this study limits the upside of its reasonably priced houses.

13. San Diego

A home in San Diego lists for just under $700,000 on average, which makes the half-million plus figure for Chula Vista look a lot better. Combine that with Californias 7.25% sales tax  the highest among all states in the study  and the costs of living in San Diego start to add up.

12. Minneapolis

While St. Paul isnt exactly a cheap place to live, its reputation for having a bit more sanity than its neighbor across the river is clearly earned. Minneapolis has a median list price of $315,900  low for this group of cities but still over a third more than it is in St. Paul.

Read: 15 Retirement Mistakes That Will Shrink Your Nest Egg

11. Stockton, California

Median list prices in Stockton average out to just over $300,000 a year, which is good. However, owning your own home might be a necessity given that the average annual costs for living in an assisted living facility come out to $420,000  the highest in the study.

10. Denver

Denvers low livability score of 62 and its state tax on Social Security income mean youre probably not getting enough value for the median list price of nearly half a million dollars.

9. Irvine, California

Irvine is yet another SoCal city where youre getting hit by that 7.25% statewide sales tax, but the median list price thats just a hair short of $1 million might end up dwarfing the concerns about that extra money paid at the register.

8. Los Angeles

The last of the five cities in the greater Los Angeles area is  get this  Los Angeles. The City of Angels is really only affordable for people who have money raining down from the heavens  the median list price for a home here is over $825,000.

7. Boston

If youre a big American history buff, the additional cost of living in the city from which the Revolution sprung might seem well worth it. But if you can take or leave the Old North Church or Bunker Hill, the average list price for homes approaches $750,000, and the highest average annual costs for renting a semi-private or private nursing home room will probably strike you as unreasonable.

6. Seattle

A home in Seattle typically lists for a little under $700,000 a year. And if shelling out that much for your house makes you think youll want to spend as much time there as possible, you should keep in mind that the city also features the highest annual costs for a homemaker or health aide.

5. New York

Again, if your dream is spending your retirement hitting up Broadway musicals, you might feel like living in the city that never sleeps is the only way to make that happen. But then again, you may opt to take the train in from outside the metro area when you consider that homes in New York average close to $800,000.

4. Oakland, California

Oaklands high cost to own a home  over $685,000 for the median list price  might not be worth it based on its livability score of just 55.

3. Fremont, California

While the greater Los Angeles area has the most cities on the ditch list, the Bay Area holds all four of the top four spots. The median list price in Fremont clears $1 million at the moment.

2. San Jose, California

Even though San Jose is technically part of its own, separate metro area, its a safe bet that its sky-high costs have a lot to do with being so close to San Francisco and the booming tech startup business. In addition to a median list price of nearly $1 million, it has the second-highest costs for hiring a home health aide or adult day healthcare.

1. San Francisco

Shocking, well, no one, San Franciscos astronomical costs make it one of the least appealing cities for seniors living on a budget. If nothing else, the studys highest median list price  a mind-boggling $1.3 million  is shocking in and of itself. And all the more troubling when you consider that half the homes in the city list for more than that.

20 Cities to Retire To Instead

When your cost of living is comparatively small, it can translate to a lot more freedom in retired life. Regardless of how you want to spend your golden years, living somewhere that has cheap houses and lower costs for basic necessities gives you more flexibility to do whatever you want. As such, these cities might be great options for retirees looking to cut back.

20. Houston

Most Americans will likely have little trouble identifying the nations three largest cities, but they might need a few guesses before correctly naming Houston as the fourth-largest. Despite its huge population, costs are surprisingly low.

19. Arlington, Texas

The cost of renting a semi-private nursing home room in Arlington is among the lowest in the study, but with a median list price thats just over $250,000, you might just opt to own your own place.

Check Out: How To Retire Early  A Complete Guide

18. St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Petersburgs low costs clearly appeal to many retirees  it has the second-highest proportion of the population thats 65 and older at 17.67%.

17. Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville actually has the highest average annual cost  including the cities to ditch  for adult day healthcare at about $25,000. However, its average annual cost for an assisted living facility is a mere $5,310  the lowest in the study by over $20,000.

16. Greensboro, North Carolina

A combination of a median list price for homes thats just over $200,000 and a statewide sales tax thats under 5% help make Greensboro a great option for cost-conscious retirees.

15. Norfolk, Virginia

The average local sales tax in Norfolk is tied for the second-lowest in the study at just 0.35%.

14. Plano, Texas

While the $386,071.43 list price for a median home in Plano might seem high for the better half of this study, its livability score of 91  the studys highest by a long shot  indicates youre likely getting a good value.

13. Memphis, Tennessee

Few cities in American history have had the profound impact on American culture as Memphis, home to both Staxx and Sun Studios where much of the most important rock and roll, soul and R&B in American history was recorded. However, even if youre not a fan of classic soul, a median list price for a home thats barely over $100,000 will likely be music to your ears.

12. Toledo, Ohio

While plenty of people may see Memphis list price for the average home and jump for joy, residents of Toledo might consider it just a little high for their tastes. Thats because this city on Ohios northwest border has homes that typically list for less than $85,000.

11. Richmond, Virginia

Richmond is also tied for the second-lowest average local tax rate at 0.35% in addition to a population where roughly 1 in 8 residents are over the age of 65.

10. Garland, Texas

In addition to being located in Texas  where theres no tax on Social Security or retirement income  the costs of renting a semi-private or private nursing home room are among the studys lowest.

9. Lexington, Kentucky

The only Kentucky city to land on this study is Lexington. It also has the lowest average local sales tax rate at 0%.

8. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Beach has the third-highest median list price on the cities to retire to section, but that comes with an average local sales tax rate of just 0.35% and a large senior population at 12.74% of all residents.

Discover: The Exact Savings You Need To Retire In Your State

7. Winston-Salem, North Carolina

While a livability score of 65 is a bit low, youre getting a discount on your home price. Winston-Salem is one of the few cities where you can expect to be quoted a price under $200,000 for your new home.

6. San Antonio

San Antonio is the nations seventh-largest burg with a population thats roughly equivalent to San Francisco and Boston combined. But, unlike those two cities, it doesnt appear to be fighting a chronically low supply in the housing market  the median list price of under $250,000 means you can probably buy five houses in San Antonio for the cost of just one in San Francisco.

5. Hialeah, Florida

Hialeah presents an excellent chance to soak up the culture of South Florida without paying Miami prices for your home. And more than 1 in 5 residents is over the age of 65  the highest proportion of seniors in the study.

4. Lubbock, Texas

Home to Texas Tech University, Lubbock allows you to take advantage of Texas lack of taxes on retirement income while still having among the lowest costs for renting a semi-private nursing home room or attending adult day healthcare.

3. Corpus Christi, Texas

You can live near the beach without spending a fortune provided its the Gulf Coast in Texas. The median list price is under $215,000, and it has the second-lowest average cost for adult day healthcare and the third-lowest average cost for homemaker services.

2. Laredo, Texas

Senior living in Laredo includes a lot of care options at prices lower than almost everywhere else. Laredo boasts the studys lowest average cost for homemaker services and the second-lowest costs for a home health aide and adult day healthcare.

1. El Paso, Texas

El Paso has been in the news for a lot of the wrong reasons as of late, but the end result might be more people becoming aware of how this west-Texas city offers a great chance to live somewhere with relatively low costs, low taxes and low crime rates.

More From GOBankingRates

Methodology: GOBankingRates analyzed the top 100 U.S. cities in terms of the population according to the 2017 American Community Survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau to find 20 pricey American cities that retirees should ditch, and 20 lower-cost alternatives. GOBankingRates used the following criteria to rank the cities: (1) percent of population aged 65 or older, sourced from the 2017 American Community Survey; (2) the citys January 2019July 2019 median home list price, sourced from Zillow; average annual cost of senior care by metro area, broken down into costs for (3) homemaker services, (4) home health aide, (5) adult day healthcare, (6) assisted living facility, (7) semi-private nursing home room and (8) private nursing home room, all sourced from the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2018; (9) livability score on a scale from 1-100, sourced from AreaVibes; (10) whether there are taxes imposed on Social Security benefits, sourced from AARP; (11) whether there is a tax imposed on retirement income, sourced from individual states and RetirementLivings: Taxes by State report; (13) state sales tax rate; and (14) average local sales tax rate, both sourced from Tax Foundation. All 14 factors were then scored, with the lower score being best, and combined to give a final score. Factor two was weighted three times and factors 10 through 13 were weighted 1.5 times. All data was collected and is up to date as of Sept. 6, 2019.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Retirees: Ditch These 20 Pricey American Cities  And Retire Here Instead
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 14:22:07|Editor: Xiaoxia

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Villagers show couplets at a relocation area of Shexiang ancient town in Dafang County of Bijie, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 6, 2020. A series of cultural events were held in Shexiang ancient town to present the charm of the upcoming Spring Festival to relocated villagers. (Photo by Luo Dafu/Xinhua)
Israel arrested 35, wounded 21 fishermen in Gaza in 2019

January 07,2020 | Source: MEMO

Israeli occupation forces arrested 35 and wounded 21 Palestinian fishermen off the Gaza coast during 2019, the Coordinator of Palestinian Fishermen Zakariya Baker said yesterday.



Speaking to Quds Press, Baker said that all of these violations took place at sea, noting that the Israeli occupation navy open fire at the fishermen during their work at night.



He also said that the Israeli occupation confiscated 15 fishing boats while at sea.



Israeli strikes completely destroyed 12 fishing boats which were moored at the fishing port and partially damaged 11 others. Several fishing nets and other equipment were also damaged during air strikes.



He noted that the Israeli occupation carried out 24 air strikes against the fishing port during 2019 and reduced the fishing zone 22 times.

 The Middle East Monitor 2009-2020

Theme(s): Others.
Two three-storey conservation shophouses along Tras Street for sale via Expression of Interest

CBRE announced on Jan 7 that it is pleased to launch for sale via Expression of Interest two three-storey conservation shophouses with attic located along Tras Street.

The larger shophouse unit has a land area of approximately 1,494 sq ft and total floor area of approximately 4,257 sq ft. Located across the street, the smaller unit has a land area of approximately 1,298 sq ft and total floor area of approximately 3,852 sq ft. Both shophouses have a 99-year leasehold tenure and are zoned for commercial use in the Chinatown-Tanjong Pagar Conservation Area under the 2019 Master Plan.

Two three-storey conservation shophouses

Image: CBRE

The two three-storey conservation shophouses, which are within a short 260 m from Tanjong Pagar MRT Station, are fully leased to established food and beverage operators on the ground floor and SOHO users on the upper floors.

The guide price for the larger shophouse is S$12 million, while the smaller shophouse is S$10.8 million. These work out to approximately S$2,800 per sq ft on the total floor area of each shophouse. Interested parties are welcome to purchase the shophouses either collectively or individually.

Mr Clemence Lee, Senior Director of Capital Markets at CBRE, says, On the back of rising prices of 999-year or freehold CBD shophouses that have been transacting between S$3,500 per sq ft and S$4,000 per sq ft on total floor area in the past year, we have started to observe investors interest shifting to well-located 99-year leasehold shophouses which are believed to offer better value and higher yields.

Recent transactions of 99-year leasehold shophouses include 34,36 & 38 Tanjong Pagar Road which were sold collectively in December 2019 at S$16.35 million or approximately S$3,000 per sq ft on total floor area, and 76 Pagoda Street which changed hands in July 2019 at S$13.3 million or approximately $3,500 per sq ft on total floor area.

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Mr Lee adds, At the attractive price of S$2,800 per sq ft, coupled with the subject properties proximity to the Tanjong Pagar MRT station, strong tenant covenants and attractive gross yields of up to 3.5%, we are confident that these two assets will attract strong investor interest.

Tanjong Pagar is one of Singapores trendiest locales, characterized by its myriad of popular F&B, retail and lifestyle offerings. It is home to several Michelin-star restaurants such as Burnt Ends, Capital, Issan Thai Food, Otto, Ushidoki Wagyu Kaiseki and Whole Earth. Along Tras Street, Six Senses Maxwell, a luxurious boutique hotel and ST Signature, a new co-living operator, have just opened doors in end 2019. New commercial developments in the area include Guoco Tower, Frasers Tower and ASB Tower that is scheduled to be completed this year. These changes are part of URAs urban renewal efforts to transform the vicinity into a live-work-play destination.

The Expression of Interest marketing exercise for the prime two three-storey conservation shophouses will close on 12 February 2020, Wednesday, at 3pm.

Mr Paul Ho, chief mortgage officer at iCompareLoan said, properties such as the two three-storey conservation shophouses are perceived as attractive investments because they can hold their values because of their location and the freehold nature of the properties. Shops and shophouses are also valued because they give prominent presence to a business entity for them to be visible in a highly competitive environment.

Tras Street today is lined with many shophouses, many of which are two- and three-storey buildings. These shophouses, some of which are conserved pre-war buildings, are home to shops, eating places, pubs, boutiques and offices. The street is in fact a well-known night spot because of its string of bars. OBamaa Irish Pub is an example of one of the thriving nightspots on Tras street. Being part of the Tanjong Pagar Conservation area, and found within the historic district of Chinatown, there are efforts to bring back the old charms of Chinatown to Tras Street, Mr Ho added.

Tras Street is a street located in Tanjong Pagar in the Outram Planning Area and Downtown Core in Singapore. The road connects Enggor Street and Gopeng Street to Cook Street, and is intersected by Wallich Street. This location makes the two three-storey conservation shophouses there attractive investment opportunity for buyers and investors.

The biggest gainers following the 2018 property cooling measures is likely be owners of strata portfolio of offices and shophouses approved for commercial use said one research. The property cooling measures affected almost all categories of buyers and is predicted to achieve its intended objectives of cooling demand and moderating price growth.

One report said investors looking for alternatives to park their money in the wake of property cooling measures, would divert their attention to the strata office and shophouse markets as they are not subjected to this round of purchase or sales restrictions and encumbrances.

Properties such as the two three-storey conservation shophouses may be bought under personal name, but total debt servicing Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) will apply on the individuals income on such purchases. To buy a commercial or industrial property under company name, total debt servicing ratio TDSR also applies on the individual directors income if the company is an investment holding company or an operating company that is loss-making or does not have sufficient cash flow to servicing the repayment.

Buyers or investors who are interested in the two three-storey conservation shophouses should consider approaching a mortgage broker who will be able to guide them through the best commercial loans that are available for the purchase of the prime properties.

The post Two three-storey conservation shophouses for sale via EOI appeared first on iCompareLoan Resources.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arriving for their visit to Canada House, central London, to meet with Canada's High Commissioner to the UK, Janice Charette, as well as staff, to thank them for the warm hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire

The Duchess of Sussex arriving for her visit to Canada House, central London, to meet with Canada's High Commissioner to the UK, Janice Charette, as well as staff, to thank them for the warm hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada. Photo: Aaron Chown/PA Wire

The Duchess of Sussex arriving for her visit to Canada House, central London, to meet with Canada's High Commissioner to the UK, Janice Charette, as well as staff, to thank them for the warm hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada. Photo: Aaron Chown/PA Wire

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made their first public appearance in six weeks today after taking an unprecedented break from their royal duties.

Britain's Duke and Duchess of Sussex have had an exceptionally busy two years and have been attempting to carve out an independent path from traditional royal roles since their 2018 wedding. Since welcoming their first child - eight-month-old Archie Mountbatten-Windsor - the couple have become increasingly protective of their privacy, with Harry in particular keen to give his son the protection from public attention he never had as a child.

On Tuesday, they paid a visit to Canada House in London to thank members of the ambassadorial staff directly for their support during their recent trip there, but perhaps most importantly - their discretion. The Sussexes managed to keep much of the details of their trip secret and it was only after speculation in a Sunday newspaper that Buckingham Palace confirmed they were enjoying respite in the country.

And it was only when music producer David Foster, a former reality tv star whose fourth wife Katherine McPhee knows Meghan since their high school days, let the cat out of the bag about the private Vancouver Island mansion they rented that any real information about their trip became available.

Expand Close The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arriving for their visit to Canada House, central London, to meet with Canada's High Commissioner to the UK, Janice Charette, as well as staff, to thank them for the warm hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday January 7, 2020. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arriving for their visit to Canada House, central London, to meet with Canada's High Commissioner to the UK, Janice Charette, as well as staff, to thank them for the warm hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday January 7, 2020. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire

They requested to meet with Janice Charette, Canada's High Commissioner to the UK, as well as staff to "thank them for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay".

During their visit, they toured the Canada Gallery and viewed a special exhibition by indigenous Canadian artist Skawennati, an award winning new-media artist based in Montreal.

After the palace confirmed the couple were holed up outside Toronto, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: "Prince Harry, Meghan, and Archie, were all wishing you a quiet and blessed stay in Canada. Youre among friends, and always welcome here."

The couple spent Thanksgiving in Meghan's native California with her mother Doria Ragland, who also joined them in Canada for their low-key Christmas and New Year celebrations. For the last two years, Meghan has spent Christmas with the royal family and they are following in Kate Middleton and Prince William's footsteps when it comes to festive hosting and alternating their time between in-laws.

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It's believed they intend on pursuing more work in Canada, an "important Commonwealth country", which is of little surprise given the privacy they received during their brief time there and Meghan's established links there. While filming Suits over the course of seven years, she was based in Toronto and they spent the early days of their relationship at her former two-bedroom townhouse in the city's upscale Seaton Village neighbourhood.

Expand Close Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex depart Canada House on January 07, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex depart Canada House on January 07, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

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When news of their relationship broke, they decamped to the Mulroney household as Jessica, a stylist is a trusted confidante of Meghan's, and her husband Ben's father Brian is a former prime minister, so are uniquely placed to understand the scrutiny under which the couple finds themselves.

During their time there, the couple enjoyed a hike with Meghan's former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer, who has been enjoying the elevated attention that comes from her royal association and was attending an exclusive Golden Globes party just a few days later.

But this trip wasn't just a stroll down memory lane, it was about establishing links towards the future. Their trip turned into something of a working holiday as they trademarked their Sussex Royal foundation on hundreds of pieces of merchandise. Last year, they split from the Royal Foundation, originally established by Kate, William and Harry, to launch their own venture.

"Not only will their new foundation stand the test of time, but it will allow them to do some very ambitious things," a source said. "Their charity will provide them with an opportunity to create something that will be their defining work - and its entirely theirs.

In a television documentary broadcast last October, Harry, when asked about the situation, said he loved his brother dearly but they were "on different paths at the moment" and have "good days" and "bad days" in their relationship.

William, the Queen and other senior royals were said to have been left "very worried" about the Sussexes after their emotional appearance on the ITV programme, filmed during their tour of Africa last autumn.

Expand Close Meghan, Duchess of Sussex gestures during her visit with Prince Harry to Canada House in thanks for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada, on January 7, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS - WPA Pool/Getty Images) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Meghan, Duchess of Sussex gestures during her visit with Prince Harry to Canada House in thanks for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada, on January 7, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Harry described his mental health and the way he deals with the pressures of his life as a matter of "constant management".

Meghan admitted feeling vulnerable, and spoke of the difficulty in coping with intense tabloid interest, saying: "It's not enough to just survive something, that's not the point of life. You have got to thrive."

The couple's high-profile visit to Africa, carried out at the request of the Government, was overshadowed on the penultimate day when the duke condemned the British tabloid press for bullying his wife, as Meghan launched a lawsuit against Associated Newspapers.

The duchess is suing over an alleged breach of copyright and privacy after the Mail on Sunday published a private letter between Meghan and her estranged father.

The newspaper has said it stands by its story and will be "defending this case vigorously".
The meeting is the final round of talks in the GERD negotiations as part of a roadmap agreed upon during a US-brokered meeting last November

The Egyptian technical delegation headed by Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel-Ati has arrived this morning in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to attend the last of the four technical meetings in the negotiations on operating and filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The meeting will be held on 8 and 9 January and will be attended by the irrigation ministers of the three countries along with representatives of the United States and the World Bank as observers.

This meeting is the fourth and final round of talks in the GERD negotiations as part of the roadmap agreed upon during a US-brokered meeting in Washington last November to break the deadlock in the negotiations.

The Washington meeting had set 15 January as the targeted deadline for resolving the dispute.

In this upcoming meeting, the three countries are expected to complete the technical negotiations on filling and operating the GERD.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan should meet on 13 January in Washington in the presence officials from the US Treasury and the World Bank to try to finalise an agreement to resolve the dispute.

The first meeting of the US-sponsored talks was held in Addis Ababa in mid-November 2019, the second was in Cairo in early December 2019, and the third was in Khartoum in late December 2019.

According to the "Declaration of Principles" signed by Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia in 2015, if the three countries failed in resolving the dispute through negotiations, they can ask for mediation or refer the matter to their heads of states or prime ministers.

Egyptian Water and Irrigation Ministry spokesperson told Ahram Online last December that Egypt is holding to its demands regarding the regulations for filling and operating the GERD, dismissing news reports that Egypt had agreed to the release of 35 billion cubic meters of water.

Ethiopia started constructing the GERD in 2011 on the Blue Nile in the northern Ethiopia highlands, from where most of the Nile's waters flow.

Egypt fears that the speed of filling the Ethiopian dam will diminish its share of the River Nile water.

Ethiopia aims to become the continent's biggest power exporter by generating more than 6,000 megawatts through the dam.

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A group of lawyers read out the preamble of the Constitution in the national capital on Tuesday at Supreme Court lawns to make people remember the constitutional values. Apart from senior lawyers Kamini Jaiswal and Sanjay Parikh, several lawyers were present on the occasion. The move comes in the backdrop of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Recently, the preamble was also read out in Madras High Court as a part of the anti-CAA protests.

"The Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association today resolved to strongly condemn the violence against JNU students by anti-social elements. The Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association today resolved to strongly condemn the violence against JNU students by anti-social elements. It further resolved to condemn the inaction on the part of the Delhi Police and called upon the authorities to act and ensure that the Rule of Law prevailed," the statement read.

READ| CAA: Supreme Court asks Centre to publicise Citizenship Act to curb fake news

Supreme Court to deal with CAA

With the reopening of the Supreme Court on Monday after winter vacation, all eyes will be on the adjudication of contentious issues including controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act and abrogation of provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution. On January 22, a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, is scheduled to hear a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the amended Citizenship Act, which seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Christian, Jain and Parsi communities who came to the country from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan on or before December 31, 2014.

A fresh plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Friday by an NGO challenging the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, contending that the law renders a certain category of children as stateless. The writ petition was moved in the Apex court by advocate Ezaz Maqbool on behalf of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR). The petition laid special emphasis on children's rights. It also challenged Section 3(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 as arbitrary contending that it "lays down different parameters for granting citizenship to children born in India in different periods".

(with ANI inputs)

READ| CAA Protests: Akhilesh Yadav alleges 'deaths by UP police's bullets', visits victims kin

READ| Amit Shah leads BJP's door-to-door campaign on CAA
Slate's Who Counts? series is made possible by the support of Slate Plus members and readers like you.

After Floridians approved an initiative to restore voting rights to approximately 1.4 million people with felony convictions, Republican lawmakers immediately moved to sabotage the historic effort. The GOP-controlled legislature passed a law along party lines that effectively required a poll tax from a majority of those poised to regain their right to vote. The GOPs brazenly partisan measure, however, appears to be backfiring. Democratic counties are taking advantage of a compromise buried in the statute to give residents their voting rights. Meanwhile, Republican counties are taking a hard line against suffragemeaning a substantial majority of Floridians who do manage to register to vote are likely to be Democrats.

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For more than a year, Floridas politicians have been embroiled in a fight over Amendment 4, which 65 percent of Florida voters approved in 2018. Amendment 4 abolished a Jim Crow era law that permanently stripped the right to vote from anyone convicted of a felony. But Florida Republicans quickly kneecapped it, passing a bill that forced individuals to pay all fines and fees associated with their sentences before regaining their voting rights. This legislative assault on Amendment 4 threatened to take away the franchise from more than 1.1 million Floridians; the state is a pioneer of cash register justice, imposing a mind-boggling array of user fees on defendants to finance its criminal justice system.

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Following immense backlash from Democrats and civil rights advocates, though, legislators added a conciliatory section to their bill. It allowed courts to modify the original sentencing order to no longer require completion of the initial sentence. In other words, courts can waive fines and fees imposed as part of a sentence. By doing so, courts can clear the way for former felons to complete their sentences and immediately become eligible to vote.

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To implement this section, Floridas four most populous counties created rocket dockets to waive fines and fees en masse. Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Hillsboroughwhich, together, make up more than a third of the states populationlaunched programs to identify individuals who owe fines and fees and fast-track their cases to the courts. A judge then waives their financial obligations (except restitution to victims) and provides them with a court order declaring their sentences complete. This order reestablishes their right to vote. Courts, prosecutors, and public defenders all support these programs, and celebrity activist John Legend helped to publicize them by sitting in on a rocket docket session. Local officials provide individuals with voter registration forms as soon as their fines and fees are waived.

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As WLRN pointed out on Sunday, these four counties swift action raises the possibility that Republicans plan to undercut Amendment 4 may backfire. There is little doubt that GOP legislators opposed the amendment because they feared it would disproportionately enfranchise Democrats. But their bill has led to a bizarre system in which Democratic counties are reenfranchising their voters while Republican-majority counties are not. Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Hillsborough all overwhelmingly supported Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2016. They are Democratic strongholds in a state with notoriously close elections. In 2016, Trump beat Clinton by about 113,000 votes. Meanwhile, Miami-Dade hopes to grant about 150,000 former felons the right to vote. The reenfranchisement of hundreds of thousands of voters in primarily Democratic counties may very well swing the 2020 election.

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Trump probably needs to win Florida, with its 29 electoral votes, in order to win in November. That is why he has been relentlessly campaigning there and even made the state his legal home. But there are signs of trouble. Former Republican Gov. Rick Scott unseated Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson by just 10,333 votes out of 8.19 million despite dramatically outspending him. Since Trump took office, his approval rating in Florida has plummeted by 23 percentage points; in December, his net approval dipped underwater in the state.

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Yet no Republican counties have initiated any kind of program to help voters take advantage of Amendment 4. As Kathryn DePalo-Gould, a political science professor at Florida International University, told WLRN, the effect of this asymmetry could be dramatic, since some of these very, very red counties who had huge turnouts for Trump in 2016 could be missing out on some of these felons.

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A Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald analysis found that 52 percent of Floridians who lost their voting rights because of a felony conviction were Democrats. A third were independents, while just 14 percent were Republicans. In recent years, black voters were five times more likely to lose their voting rights than white voters; Democrats were three times more likely to lose their voting rights than Republicans. Overall, the majority of former felons in the state are white.

Given these odds, GOP-controlled counties will undoubtedly suppress the votes of some Democratic ex-felons within their borders. But they may well depress their own turnout numbers in a tight election year while their neighbors gain voting power.

In a better world, we would not view formerly incarcerated people in such starkly partisan terms. But that is not the world Republicans created when they mangled Amendment 4. Instead, they left ex-felons fundamental rights at the mercy of individual counties. And they did not, it seems, foresee the fact that this scheme might disenfranchise their own supporters.
NAACP members wait for the speeches to begin at the opening plenary session of the NAACP 110th National Convention at the COBO Center on July 22, 2019, in Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

In light of its storied history, the NAACPs marginal role in some of the past decades most pressing racial-justice struggles has been cause for alarm and introspection. Recent upheavals within the 110-year-old civil-rights organization  including the budgetary woes and chronic understaffing that prompted its executive committee to oust former president and CEO Cornell William Brooks in 2017  have stemmed in no small part from its seeming inability to mobilize supporters in the Black Lives Matter era, which has been marked by an often striking disconnect between older and younger leadership. The organization that once played a key role in ending the scourge of Jim Crow has found itself dogged lately by controversy: widespread staff resignations, a youth wing begging national leaders to give them adequate resources and training, and intergenerational spats over use of the phrase All Lives Matter as a response to the aforementioned movements rallying cry. The NAACPs newest iteration, under president and CEO Derrick Johnson, committed itself from the outset to reengaging its grass roots. Part of that change requires a reckoning with what went wrong and, in some cases, whats still going wrong, at both the national and local levels.

Among the more profound of these reckonings so far has been around climate justice and renewable energy. The New York Times reported over the weekend that big utilities have found consistent allies in local NAACP leaders, who have thrown their weight behind pro-polluter efforts to build fossil-fuel plants, defeat energy-efficiency proposals, or slow the growth of rooftop solar power in exchange for large donations from those utilities. The report cites as examples local NAACP support for anti-rooftop-solar-panel initiatives in Florida and Illinois, and the NAACP California conferences top executive, Alice Huffman, signing a letter in 2018 opposing a proposal that wouldve let consumers choose government-provided solar and wind energy options at lower rates than they were paying their utilities for electricity. The NAACPs state conferences and local chapters operate with a good deal of autonomy, but this issue has become widespread enough that national leadership published a report earlier this year warning its members about how utilities maneuver to secure their support, often as a tacit condition of their largesse. I felt that if we wanted the money, we had to do it, Adora Nweze, president of the NAACPs Florida conference, told the Times of her efforts  which included newspaper op-eds and testimony to state regulators at public hearings  to discourage increased use of solar energy in her state. The shortcoming on my part was that I didnt have the necessary knowledge to know that it was a problem.

Though Nweze regrets her conferences involvement today, its impact continues to reverberate, according to the Times:

[The NAACP Florida] conference filed comments with the state Public Service Commission [opposing a solar-energy rebate program in 2014]. The commission later cited those comments in ruling for the utilities. The commission reduced the states energy-efficiency goals by about 90 percent  Florida utilities have some of the countrys least-ambitious energy-efficiency goals.

One of the more egregious features of such an alliance is the disproportionate impact that air pollution in particular has on black and brown communities. Nweze and others have couched their support for pro-utility projects and initiatives in altruistic terms, claiming the benefits of alternative energy  like rooftop solar panels  would be reaped asymmetrically by wealthy white residents while poorer and nonwhite people shouldered the costs. This bad-faith argument, which parrots utility-company talking points, belies the potential savings to be derived from low-income households generating their own electricity rather than relying on carbon-emitting power plants. But it also ignores the costs black and brown communities have had to bear traditionally when utilities and other deep-pocketed polluters have operated unchecked.

Decades of racist housing policy and its resulting segregation have produced convenient delineators for where zoning ordinances designed to protect residents from environmental hazards could easily be circumvented. As a result, over the course of the 20th century, black and brown neighborhoods across the U.S. became regular sites for dumping or the construction of power plants; a 2014 study from the University of Minnesota found that nonwhite Americans are exposed to concentrated nitrogen dioxide  one of six toxic air pollutants regulated by the EPA under the Clean Air Act  at rates 38 percent higher than their white counterparts. This racist allocation of public-health dangers has iterations from the Bronx to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Homes in majority-black River Rouge, Michigan, were built so close to a local power plant that older residents recall black rain falling over their childhood homes. The majority-black city of Chester, Pennsylvania, has been the site of several toxic-waste facilities built since the 1980s, in addition to one of the countrys largest trash incinerators. The Cross-Bronx Expressway, completed in 1972, has brought enough vehicular pollution to the majority-black-and-Latino borough that it boasted the highest age-adjusted asthma death rate in the state in 2014. Cancer alley, the colloquial name for the 85-mile stretch linking New Orleans to Baton Rouge, is majority black and home to 150 chemical-processing plants and refineries.

The NAACP has had a dedicated Environmental and Climate Justice program since 2009, headed by Jacqueline Patterson, and has been active in helping black communities cope with the fallout from public-health catastrophes like the Flint water crisis. President and CEO Johnson told the Times that its now the organizations largest program, with 11 full-time staffers and three consultants. But, as with the NAACPs overall lackluster response to Black Lives Matter, its state-level leaderships knack for getting coerced  or worse, willingly taken in  by utilities whose pollutants impact black communities disproportionately symbolizes the groups struggles to become the potent 21st-century civil-rights organization that so many of its members, and black Americans generally, deserve. No small number of its leaders have worked, and continue to work, to build such an organization, often at substantial risk to their local branches financial prospects; utilities have donated to them in the hundreds of thousands of dollars in the past, a reliable revenue stream. But as long as other leaders are willing to trade communal health for money, its progressively unclear how  or even if  the NAACP can recapture the dynamism of its heyday.
NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

The water soluble packaging market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0%.



The global water soluble packaging market is estimated to be valued at USD 2.8 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 3.7 billion by 2025, recording a CAGR of 5.0%. Factors such as the increasing awareness about the side-effects of single-use plastics and sustainability factors associated with water soluble packaging are projected to drive the growth of the water soluble packaging market during the forecast period.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05837044/?utm_source=PRN

 By raw material, the polymer segment is accounted for the largest share in 2018.



The polymer segment accounted for a major share in the global water soluble market, on the basis of raw material, in 2018.Polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol are majorly used as the water soluble material for manufacturing of packaging.



Due to varied application of such polymers, along with higher availability of sources such as petrochemicals and plants (starch), the segment has accounted to have a significant share in the water soluble packaging market.



By end use, the industrial segment in the water soluble packaging market is estimated to account for the largest share.



Based on end use, the water soluble packaging market is segmented into industrial, residential, and others.The industrial sector is estimated to account for the largest share for water soluble packaging, because most of the industrial manufacturing companies are focusing toward reduction of waste generation from their manufacturing units and showing interest in making their processes more sustainable by replacing the usage of plastics.



Also, in industries such as agriculture and detergents where chemical handling is the critical process, use of water soluble packaging makes it harmless for the workers to deal with chemicals. Thus, the demand for water soluble packaging is higher in industrial sectors.

North America accounted for the largest share in the water soluble packaging market, due to the higher acceptability and growing awareness toward sustainability issues.



The water soluble packaging market in the North American region is largely driven by growing consumer awareness toward environmental sustainability.Packaging waste is one of the significant issues faced in developing and developed countries.



Moreover, the involvement of government with proposed legislation in California for a 75% reduction in plastic waste by 2030 also encourages the manufacturers to shift their interest toward water soluble packaging. Strong investment in R&D and technological advancements (such as barrier protection and better tensile strength) are expected to have a positive impact on the domestic production of water soluble packaging in North America.



The global water soluble packaging market is segmented region-wise, with a detailed analysis of each region. These regions include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and RoW (the Middle East & Africa).



Break-up of Primaries

 By Company Type: Tier 1 - 45%, Tier 2 - 30%, and Tier 3 - 25%

 By Designation: C-level - 25%, D-level - 40%, and Others* - 35%

 By Region: Asia Pacific - 55%, Europe - 20%, North America - 15%, and RoW** - 10%

*Others include sales managers, marketing managers, and product managers.

**RoW includes the Middle East & Africa.



Leading players profiled in this report include the following:

 Lithey Inc. (India)

 Mondi Group (Austria)

 Sekisui Chemicals (Japan)

 Kuraray Co. Ltd. (Japan)

 Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings (Japan)

 Aicello Corporation (Japan)

 Aquapak Polymer Ltd (UK)

 Lactips (France)

 Cortec Corporation (US)

 Acedag Ltd. (UK)

 MSD Corporation (China)

 Prodotti Solutions (US)

 JRF Technology LLC (US)

 Amtopak Inc. (US)

 SmartSolve Industries (CMC Group) (US)

 Guangdong Proudly New Material (China)

 Arrow Greentech Ltd. (India)

 Amtrex Nature Care Private Ltd. (India)

 Solupak (UK)

 Decomer Technology (Estonia)



Research Coverage

This report segments the water soluble packaging market, on the basis of raw material, end-use, solubility type, packaging type, and region. In terms of insights, this research report focuses on various levels of analysescompetitive landscape, end-use analysis, and company profileswhich together comprise and discuss the basic views on the emerging & high-growth segments of the water soluble packaging market, high-growth regions, countries, industry trends, drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges.



Reasons to buy this report

 To get a comprehensive overview of the water soluble packaging market

 To gain wide-ranging information about the top players in this industry, their product portfolio details, and the key strategies adopted by them

 To gain insights about the major countries/regions, in which the water soluble packaging market is flourishing



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05837044/?utm_source=PRN



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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The San Antonio Express-News wants to hear from pregnant women and mothers about what's working  and what isnt  when it comes to health care for mothers and babies in South Texas.

Women in the U.S. are more likely to die from childbirth or pregnancy-related causes than other women in the developed world, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Texas, women face a number of barriers that can complicate their health care, such as a lack of insurance, shortages of medical professionals in their communities and racism in the medical system. And, depending on where a mother lives, it might take more than an hour to reach a hospital. For mothers and infants experiencing health problems, that can pose serious risks.

State data show that in Texas, a mothers chance of delivering her child by C-section and a babys chance of experiencing health problems early in life may have a lot to do with the place she gives birth. South Texas sees some of the worst outcomes.

C-sections save lives  when they are needed. But some national studies estimate that roughly half of all C-sections arent required, putting mothers and babies unnecessarily in harms way. And, once mothers undergo surgical deliveries, some doctors require that all future deliveries be cesarean  even though repeat C-sections can come with serious risks.

South Texas is also at the center of poor health outcomes for newborns. Parts of the area are plagued by low birth weights. And, in some communities, babies die at rates nearly double the state average.

The San Antonio Express-News will spend the next several months investigating barriers that women and newborns face when seeking care in South Texas. We want to hear from pregnant women, mothers, childbirth care professionals and doctors to help guide our reporting and identify solutions.

Some of the questions guiding our reporting include:

What prevents mothers from getting the care they seek for themselves or their children?

How does a lack of insurance play into womens access to health care?

What happens when doctors arent within an easy driving distance?

Do women feel informed on the benefits and risks of their childbirth health care?

How involved do women feel in the decision-making process when it comes to their health care?

What advice can moms share to help others?

If youre a childbirth care provider, such as an OB-GYN, midwife or doula, with information or suggestions to share, please email reporter Marina Starleaf Riker at marina.riker@express-news.net.

Are you pregnant or have you given birth? Please fill out our questionnaire, which will help guide our reporting.

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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
A man who was out on bail after being jailed for committing a human sacrifice has been arrested for killing his 12-year-old sister to appease a Hindu goddess of war, according to local reports.

Police in Odisha state, India, have said the man, Subhoban Rana, confessed to killing his sister Janani to gain favour with the goddess Durga just days after he was let out of prison on bail for a similar crime.

Janani had left home with her 28-year-old brother on 24 December and did not return.

Her family then filed a missing person report at the local police station, although villagers reportedly suspected the brother due to his arrest for a human sacrifice in 2018.

After he confessed to his crime, we arrested him and took our team to a forest where we recovered the girls headless body, Madkar Sandeep Sampat, the police superintendent for the Balangir district, said.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Mr Sampat added that Rana had been arrested with a man called Kunja for sacrificing the latters nine-year-old nephew in October 2018.

Musuru Rana, the girls father, has reportedly demanded stringent punishment for his son over the killing.

A police investigation is said to be underway to determine the exact cause of the girls death.

Durga is a goddess of war in Hinduism who is often depicted riding a lion or tiger with many arms carrying weapons and is known for fighting demonic forces that threaten peace.

Human sacrifices are rare in India, although cases have appeared sporadically in recent years.

In 2017, police arrested three people in connection with an alleged sacrifice of a 10-year-old girl in the state of Karnataka and in 2015, a four-year-old boy was reportedly beheaded as part of a sacrifice ritual in Andhra Pradesh state to honour the Hindu goddess Kali.
Abu Dhabi, Jan 7 : The cUnited Arab Emirates (UAE) has approved the issuance of a five-year multi-entry visa for foreign tourists.

The decision was made on Monday during the UAE Cabinet's first meeting of this year chaired by Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Xinhua news agency reporting citing local media as saying.

The move aims to support UAE's tourism sector and consolidate its position as a global tourist destination, it added.

It was however, not immediately clear if a visa application fee would be charged.

Another key decision made during the meeting is the introduction of a visa waiver for Mexican citizens travelling to the UAE.

The two decisions will be implemented during the first quarter of 2020.

Dubai welcomed 15.92 million overnight tourist visitors in 2018, up 0.8 per cent from 2017, according to official data.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The people in general of the U.S. should raise their voices in a louder tone in unison to stop the American government to refrain it from doing more harm to people of all countries across the world.





by Anwar A. Khan





The United States committed war crimes of staggering proportions throughout seven decades.

And now the Trump administration is considering more directly preparing for a far more dangerous military confrontation with Iran, placing millions more civilians in the crosshairs.













Brian Hook, the US Department of State's special representative for Iran, told Al Arabiya television last Friday that Soleimani was planning an attack on U.S. facilities and workers in Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria that would have killed hundreds of Americans. This is a boogeymans averment only. No one does believe it. It is a blazing assault on the international legal philosophy.





The Devil, also referred to as Satan, is best known as the nemesis of good people everywhere. His image and story have evolved over the years, but this malevolent being and his legion of demons continue to strike fear in people from all walks of life as the antithesis of all things good.





Perhaps the most lasting images of the Devil are associated with Hell, which the Bible refers to as a place of everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. And the U.S. is the Devil number one. I reiterate the American citizens should come forward to stop the U.S. government and its administration from the imperialist aggression and war crimes in countries after countries. Similar way, the peoples across the world should wage a courageous movement against the American imperialism to make the whole world a peaceful one for human habitation.





American acts are terrible. Its just a terrible situation created by the U.S. government throughout the world.U.S. war crimes are exposed everywhere in the world, it is a long known matter. Let us condemn America in the harshest language to stop them for lingering their atrocities any longer in any country.





Aaron McGruder has aptly said, The American people have no control over what the military does.We have no say in American foreign policy. American foreign policy can be traced to the so-called Manifest destiny, apolicy of imperialism rationalised as inevitable as if granted by God.





American exceptionalism has widespread implications and transcribes into disregard to the international norms, rules and laws in U.S. foreign policy. For example, the U.S. refused to ratify a number of important international treaties, such as, Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, and American Convention on Human Rights; did not join the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention; and routinely conducts drone attacks and cruise missile strikes around the globe. American exceptionalism is sometimes linked with hypocrisy; for example, the U.S. keeps a huge stockpile of nuclear weapons while urging other nations not to get them, and justifies that it can make an exception to a policy of non-proliferation.





The U.S. doesn't follow international laws. For example, some critics assert the U.S. led invasion of Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, Syria and many more countries was not a proper response to an imminent threat, but an act of aggression which violated international laws. For example, Benjamin Ferencz, a chief prosecutor of Nazi war crimes at Nuremberg said George W. Bush should be tried for war crimes along with Saddam Hussein for starting aggressive warsSaddam for his 1990 attack on Kuwait and Bush for his 2003 invasion of Iraq.





Critics point out that the United Nations Charter, ratified by the U.S., prohibits members from using force against fellow members except against imminent attack or pursuant to an explicit Security Council authorisation. But in fact, all these are fabricated stories by American administration to dictate other sovereign and independent nations of the world and to intrude in other people's affairs or business; interfere unwantedly to show its supremacy self-importantly.





A professor of international law asserted there was no authorisation from the UN Security Council which made the invasion a crime against the peace. However, U.S. defenders with full force argue there was such an authorisation according to UN Security Council Resolution 1441. The U.S. has also supported Kosovo's independence even though it is strictly written in UN Security Council Resolution 1244 that Kosovo cannot be independent and it is stated as a Serbian province. However, the International Court of Justice ruled the declaration of independence was legal because the Security Council Resolution didn't specify the final status of Kosovo. The U.S. has actively supported and pressured other countries to recognise Kosovo's independence.





Some political scientists maintained that setting economic interdependence as a foreign policy goal may have exposed the United States to manipulation. As a result, the U.S. trading partners gained an ability to influence the U.S. foreign policy decision-making process by manipulating, for example, the currency exchange rate, or restricting the flow of goods and raw materials. In addition, more than 40% of the U.S. foreign debt is currently owned by the big institutional investors from overseas, who continue to accumulate the Treasury bonds.





We may easily paint the U.S. as evil throughout the Middle East, South America and elsewhere of the world. As a result of faulty policy and lackluster public relations, the U.S. has a severe image problem in the Middle East and all-over the world, according to Anthony Cordesman.





Analyst Jessica Tuchman Mathews writes that it appears too much of the Arab world that the United States went to war in Iraq for oil, regardless of the accuracy of that motive. In a 2007 poll by BBC News asking which countries are seen as having a "negative influence in the world," the survey found that Israel, Iran, United States and North Korea had the most negative influence, while nations such as Canada, Japan and those in the European Union had the most positive influence. The U.S. has been accused by some U.N. officials of condoning actions by Israel against Palestinians.





One estimate is that the second Iraq War along with the so-called War on Terror cost US$551 billion, or US$597 billion in 2009 dollars. Boston University professor Andrew Bacevich has criticised American profligacy and squandering its wealth.





Critic Robert McMahon thinks Congress has been excluded from foreign policy decision making, and that this is detrimental. Other writers suggest a need for greater Congressional participation. Jim Webb, former Democratic senator from Virginia and former Secretary of the Navy in the Reagan administration, believes that Congress has an ever-decreasing role in U.S. foreign policy making. September 11, 2001 precipitated this change, where "powers quickly shifted quickly to the Presidency as the call went up for centralized decision making in a traumatised nation where, quick, decisive action was considered necessary.It was considered politically dangerous and even unpatriotic to question this shift, lest one be accused of impeding national safety during a time of war."





Since that time, Webb thinks Congress has become largely irrelevant in shaping and executing of U.S. foreign policy. He cites the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA), the U.S.-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement, and the 2011 military intervention in Libya as examples of growing legislative irrelevance. Regarding the SFA, Congress was not consulted in any meaningful way. Once the document was finalised, Congress was not given the opportunity to debate the merits of the agreement, which was specifically designed to shape the structure of Americans long-term relations in the Middle East and other parts of the world.





Congress did not debate or vote on this agreement, which set U.S. policy toward an unstable regime in an unstable region of the world.





It is difficult to understand how any international agreement negotiated, signed, and authored only by American executive branch of government can be construed as legally binding in Americas constitutional system," Webb argues. Finally, he identifies the U.S. intervention in Libya as a troubling historical precedent."The issue in play in Libya was not simply whether the president should ask Congress for a declaration of war. Nor was it wholly about whether Obama violated the edicts of the War Powers Act, which in this writer's view he clearly did. The issue that remains to be resolved is whether a president can unilaterally begin, and continue, a military campaign for reasons that he alone defines as meeting the demanding standards of a so-called vital national interest worth of so-called risking American lives and expending billions of dollars of taxpayer money. When the military campaign lasted months, President Barack Obama did not seek approval of Congress to continue military activity.





Americas former director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lt. Gen. Gregory S. Newbold commented that, "There's a broad naivete in the political class about America's obligations in foreign policy issues, and scary simplicity about the effects that employing American military power can achieve".





Some commentators have thought the United States became arrogant, particularly after its victory in World War II. Critics such as Andrew Bacevich call on America to have a foreign policy "rooted in humility and realism." Foreign policy experts such as Zbigniew Brzezinski counsel a policy of self-restraint and not pressing every advantage, and listening to other nations. A government official called the U.S. policy in Iran "arrogant and stupid," according to one report.





Critics point to a list of countries or regions where continuing foreign policy problems. These areas include South America, including Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Brazil. There are difficulties with Central American nations, such as, Honduras. Iraq has continuing troubles.Iran, as well, presents problems with nuclear proliferation. Policy towards Russia remains uncertain. China also presents a challenge. There are difficulties in other regions too. In addition, there are problems not confined to particular regions, but regarding new technologies. Cyberspace is a constantly changing technological area with foreign policy repercussions.





Donald Trump, USAs Presidenthas now stood only a fraction to the left of Genghis Khan. A genuine, true-blue, stars-and-stripe, hard-nosed, Johnny-get-your-gun, right-wing hoodlum, and then look no further. But Donald Trump is definitely is a Boltons kind of guy. Columnist Richard Cohen has said, Trump is unloved in his own house. A figure of ridicule, a theatrical creation, he is almost sympathetic. He was told by the greedy and the outright stupid that he would make a swell president. The Liar's Paradox has spun out of control, with liars lying to a liar who believed the lie. What would that be called? Fox News, I think.





The devils would not listen to the Scriptures. Seven decennia are on after the Second World War to meddle into the internal affairs of other nations by America and its administrations. Time has rife enough for their mighty power to diminish. Natures own punishment must befall on them to mend their misdeeds.





Once again, it is established beyond doubt that America is a varlet state. We must condemn this US action in Iran in the most abrasive language. The ICJ should prosecute Donald Trump and his mango-twigs for their scallywag act.





To say a military tactic is legal, or even effective, is not to say it is wise or moral in every instance.

Concisely, American foreign policy has been continuing self-importantly to disregard international norms since 1929, for about nine decades, everywhere across the world.





The people in general of the U.S. should raise their voices in a louder tone in unison to stop the American government to refrain it from doing more harm to people of all countries across the world. The American citizens should also consider that their own innumerable bright sons and daughters are being killed because of the sinful acts committed by their government(s).





-The End 





The writer is an independent political observer who writes on politics, political and human-centered figures, current and international affairs.




WASHINGTON - The killing of a top Iranian general has ratcheted up the anxiety of families of Americans held in Iran, one month after the release of a New Jersey student had given them hope.

The Trump administration has made a priority of bringing home hostages held abroad, but the prospect of a forthcoming resolution for the handful of captives in Iran seems to have dimmed with the two nations edging dangerously close to conflict and warning of retaliatory strikes and continued agitation.

He wasnt safe before now, but now hes really not safe, said Joanne White, whose son, Navy veteran Michael White of Imperial Beach, California, has been imprisoned since July 2018 while visiting a girlfriend in Iran. I dont know if anyone is going to retaliate.

Iran has vowed revenge for the airstrike that killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani  the U.S. accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death  and has moved to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The Trump administration, while saying it remains committed to freeing Americans held captive in Iran, has said its prepared to respond to any attacks from the Islamic Republic.

The tensions are the worst in 40 years and are in contrast to the diplomatic breakthrough that resulted in Decembers release of Princeton University graduate student Xiyue Wang in exchange for the U.S. freeing a detained Iranian scientist. Crushing U.S. sanctions on Iran remain in place, but the release suggested Tehran could be open to using additional American captives as bargaining chips for future negotiations.

Weeks earlier Iran had acknowledged in a filing to the United Nations that it had a missing person file on former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in the country in 2007. One of his daughters, Sarah Levinson Moriarty, told reporters last month that she considered the notice from Iran a significant development and an acknowledgment that the country had her father and knew where he was.

Even so, there were already concerns about how recent protests in Iran tied to spiking gas prices were going to affect the fate of Western prisoners.

The new tensions have caused even greater uncertainty.

Babak Namazi said he has tried to stay even-keeled in the more than four years that his brother, Siamak, has been imprisoned in Iran. His father, Baquer, is in a highly restrictive medical furlough there. Both are being held on what the family says are manufactured charges of collaborating with the United States.

From the lens that I look through of how things affect my family and getting them home safely and expeditiously, when were in a period of detente, I feel more hopeful, said Namazi, who is based in Dubai.

Though he has felt at times as if his loved ones were on the cusp of being released, he also has endured periods of escalating tension between the two countries. Those moments make him uneasy since the freedom of his father and brother is very much dependent on both sides being able to talk to each other.

Ive had to learn, very painfully, not to get my hopes up as much as I want to until something actually happens, Namazi said. At the same time, Ive had to teach myself not to get too despondent because, if I dont have hope, how can I go on? Its my honest feeling now.

He said he saw a silver lining in President Donald Trumps statement on Twitter that Iran never won a war, but never lost a negotiation! and is hopeful that means the two sides are open to easing and even humanitarian gestures.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who a month ago said the Wang swap could lead to a dialogue between Washington and Tehran over prisoners, said on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday that I love these families and that he knows theyre suffering greatly.

We continue to work on that process, to get every American held anywhere in the world, including by the kleptocrats and theocrats in Iran, to get them to return American hostages. We will never give up on that mission, Pompeo said.

Joanne White said she is particularly concerned about her son, who was convicted of insulting Irans supreme leader and posting private information online. She said her son, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison, is ill with cancer and recently complained to her that he was starving in prison.

She said he has long been a Trump supporter and, when it came to the presidents impeachment, he told me to tell the Democrats to leave Trump alone.

White, who lives in Arizona, said she doesnt know what to make of the Trump administrations assertion that Soleimani was planning imminent attacks at the time of his death.

Its something hes going to have to answer, she said of Trump. I know hes going to have to answer to that.

___

Follow Eric Tucker at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
DHL&S has a proven track record of exceptional client service, and were eager to welcome them aboard, said Kevin J. Keane, Managing Partner.

PKF OConnor Davies, LLP, one of the nations largest accounting, tax and advisory firms, announced today that Dworken, Hillman, LaMorte & Sterczala, LLP (DHL&S), has joined the Firm. The innovative, full-service accounting and business consulting firm based in Shelton, CT, specializes in accounting and advisory services for privately and closely held businesses and high-net-worth tax planning and solutions. The expansion is part of an ongoing strategic growth initiative at PKF OConnor Davies. DHL&S is the fourth group to join the Firm in the last year.

DHL&S has a proven track record of exceptional client service, and were eager to welcome them aboard, said Kevin J. Keane, Managing Partner. Weve undergone exciting growth over the last year, and we look forward to the insights and solutions Eric and his team will add in 2020.

Managing Principal Eric N. Hendlin, along with 10 partners and 27 staff members, will join PKF OConnor Davies while continuing to operate at its current Shelton, CT, location. Its focus will remain on providing accounting, consulting, industry specialization and tax services to businesses of all sizes as well as individuals and families.

PKF OConnor Davies has a culture and client service philosophy that aligns with our own, Hendlin said. Its a unique opportunity to continue to serve clients in Connecticut and beyond while joining forces with a Firm known throughout the industry for its innovative solutions and bright future.

The Shelton, CT, site is the 12th PKF OConnor Davies office. The Firm today has locations in five states as part of a continuing strategic growth and acquisition plan on the East Coast. This growth is supported by a combination of promoting leading talent from within and recruiting tactical external hires. To oversee ongoing expansion in the region, Thomas Blaney has been named the Firms Regional Head of New England.

Joe Tarasco, CEO of Accountants Advisory Group, facilitated and advised both firms on the transaction.

About PKF OConnor Davies, LLP

PKF OConnor Davies, LLP is a full service certified public accounting and advisory firm with a long history of serving clients both domestically and internationally. With roots tracing to 1891, 12 offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland and Rhode Island and more than 800 professionals led by over 100 partners, the Firm provides a complete range of accounting, auditing, tax and management advisory services.

PKF OConnor Davies is a top-ranked firm according to Accounting Todays 2019 Top 100 Firms list and the Firm is also recognized as a Leader in Audit and Accounting, a Pacesetter in Growth and one of the Top Firms in the Mid-Atlantic. In 2019, PKF O'Connor Davies was named one of Vault's Accounting 50, a ranking of the 50 best accounting employers to work for in North America and ranked among the top 50 most prestigious accounting firms in America in a complementary Vault survey. The Firm is the 12th largest accounting firm in the New York Metropolitan area, according to Crains New York Business, and the 10th top accounting firm in New Jersey according to NJBizs 2018 rankings.

PKF OConnor Davies is enrolled in the AICPA Peer Review Program and has central memberships in the Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS), the Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center (EBPAQC) and the Government Audit Quality Center (GAQC).

By consistently delivering proactive, thorough and efficient service, PKF O'Connor Davies has built long-lasting, valuable relationships with its clients. Partners are closely involved in the day-to-day management of engagements, ensuring a high degree of client service and cost effectiveness. The Firms seasoned professional staff members employ a team approach to all engagements to provide clients with the utmost quality and timely services aimed at helping them succeed. Continuity of staffing and attention to detail in all client engagements make the Firm stand out among its competitors.

PKF OConnor Davies is the lead North American representative of the international association of PKF member firms. PKF International is a network of legally independent member firms providing accounting, tax, and business advisory services in over 400 locations in 150 countries around the world. With its tradition, experience and focus on the future, PKF OConnor Davies is ready to help clients meet todays ever-changing economic conditions and manage the growing complexities of the regulatory environment. For more information, visit http://www.PKFOD.com.
One of the oldest dairy companies in the U.S. has filed for bankruptcy, the second to do so in recent months.

Borden Dairy Co. shared the news in a statement Sunday, adding that it will continue operations as normal as it moves forward with Chapter 11.

Over the past 163 years, we have earned the distinction of being one of the most well-recognized and reputable national brands, said Borden CEO Tony Sarsam in a statement. We remain committed to The Borden Difference, which is our promise to be the most service-oriented dairy Company that puts people first. We will continue serving our customers, employees and other stakeholders and operating business as usual throughout this process."

Sarsam cited the rising costs of milk over the past 18 months, current challenges in the dairy industry and a need to reduce current debt loads as factors in the decision.

In November, Dean Foods, the owner of the Friendlys Ice Cream manufacturing business and retail distribution operation on Boston Road, filed for bankruptcy.

Also citing dairy industry struggles, the company announced plans to sell all its assets  including the Friendlys plant  to the cooperative Dairy Farmers of America.

In 2018, the company closed its Lynn milk processing plant, a move that cost 300 workers their jobs.

Sarsam said Borden attempted to discuss finances with lenders to discuss solutions, but ultimately decided on bankruptcy to to protect the Company, for the benefit of all stakeholders.

According to CNN, Bordens bankruptcy filing says that from January 2019 through December 7, it reported a net loss of $42.4 million.

Borden currently employs 3,300 people. Sarsam said in the statement that he is extremely confident and optimistic about our continued success in the future."

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 05:36:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BERLIN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A senior German politician said on Tuesday that the escalating tension in the Middle East may put the success of global anti-ISIS efforts in danger, slamming the United States' killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

Johann Wadephul, vice chairman of the parliamentary group of the ruling CDU/CSU bloc in the German lower parliament Bundestag, told Xinhua that the current situation in Iran and Iraq is a backlash for the alliance fighting against ISIS.

"Until now it has been confirmed that the Iraqi government will continue to fight against ISIS and stabilize the whole region... They want us to stay," said Wadephul.

The Iraqi parliament on Sunday passed a draft law requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in Iraq and prevent them from using Iraqi airspace and water.

Following tensions over the killing of Soleimani, the German government was moving some of its soldiers stationed in Iraq to Jordan and Kuwait, the German armed forces Bundeswehr confirmed on Tuesday.

"We have to do it (fight against ISIS) with Iraq. We are now talking with the Iraqi government about the consequences of the withdrawal of the troops. We hope we can go on fighting against ISIS within Iraq," Wadephul told Xinhua.

A German government spokesperson said on Monday that Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke to Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi on Monday about the Iraqi parliamentary draft law calling on foreign troops to leave the country, but no details were given.

The German lawmaker said that if the U.S. troops would have to leave Iraq, troops from Germany and other countries have to follow suit.

Tensions in the Middle East keep escalating in the past days after Soleimani's death, leading to great concerns in Germany and Europe.

"The killing has put the success of the war against ISIS in danger, and destabilized the whole region," said Wadephul. "It did not cause more security, but more uncertainty."
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo is said to have ruled out making a run for the US Senate  denying Republicans a candidate they believe could ensure victory in the state of Kansas.

In recent weeks, Mr Pompeo, a former congressman who was asked to head Donald Trumps CIA before becoming secretary of state, had been considering running for vacant seat in the midwestern state he calls home.

But various US media reports said the 56-year-old, who has emerged as loyalist of the president, had decided against such a move.

He loves doing the job hes doing right now and feels that things are too volatile with the various situations around the world, particularly with Iran and Iraq, and he wants to make sure hes in the best spot to serve his country, a person close to Mr Pompeo told the Wall Street Journal.

He believes that is secretary of state.

US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early Friday 3 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures The wreckage of the car in which general Soleimani was travelling when a targeted US airstrike struck outside Baghdad International Airport on 3 January Ahmad Al Mukhtar via Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Demonstrators burn the US and British flags during a protest in Tehran after general Soleimani was killed in a targeted airstrike by American forces Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of Donald Trump AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn Israeli and US flags as thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of general Soleimani at the hands of America EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of Donald Trump pray at an 'Evangelicals for Trump' campaign event held on the day following the killing of general Soleimani. At the event, the president praised the "flawless strike that eliminated the terrorist ringleader" AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A huge procession of mourners gather in Baghdad for the funeral of general Soleimani on 4 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani during an anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iraqis perform a mourning prayer for slain major general Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the Great Mosque of Kufa AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A billboard reading 'Death to America and Israel', installed by Iran-backed shiite armed groups at a street in Jadriyah district in Baghdad, Iraq EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him visiting the family of Soleiman KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US flag as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Feiruznia, looks to a portrait of Soleimani, as he receives condolences at the Iranian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures People make their way on the street while a screen on the wall of a cinema shows a portrait Soleimani in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Aziz Asmar, one of two Syrian painters who completed a mural following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani poses next to his creation in the rebel-held Syrian town of Dana in the northwestern province of Idlib AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A demonstration in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures An anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Mujtaba al-Husseini, the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in the holy shrine city of Najaf AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US and Israeli flags as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters demonstrate in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shi'ite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters, holding a photograph of the leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Massoud Rajavi, outside Downing Street in London PA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn a US flag in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A Syrian man offers sweets to children to mark the killing AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers attend a mourning prayer for Soleimani in Iran's capital Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti American and anti Israel slogans during a protest AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshipers chant slogans during Friday prayers Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A protest against the USA, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranians burn a US flag in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin, Germany Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol a road in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel. Following morning's killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement called for the missile strike by Israel's closest ally, to be avenged AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian women take to the streets in Tehran EPA

The reports said he had informed Republican Senate leader, Mitch McConnell, of his decision.

Mr McConnell had urged Mr Pompeo to run for the seat to help keep the partys majority after Republican senator Pat Roberts announced last year he would retire.

 Mike Pompeo criticises UK and other US allies for 'not being helpful' over Soleimani assassination

It was said Mr Pompeo became convinced of his need to remain at the department of state as tensions with Iran soared in recent days, after Mr Trump ordered the targetted killing of military leader, Qasem Soleimani.

Reports said Republicans face a primary for the seat with several different candidates, among them former Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach, who in 2018 failed in a bit to become governor, despite support from the right.

It was said Democrats at a national level are rallying behind Barbara Bollier, a state senator who left the GOP a year ago, as their preferred candidate.
Saudi Arabia's vice defence minister said on Tuesday he had met U.S. President Donald Trump and discussed joint efforts to confront regional and international challenges, at a time of heightened U.S.-Iranian tensions.

Prince Khalid bin Salman also said in a Twitter post that he had delivered a message from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his meeting with Trump on Monday, without providing details.

Prince Khalid, a son of King Salman, also met with the U.S. secretaries of defense and state on a trip scheduled after the killing of a top Iranian military commander in a U.S. strike in Iraq.

Later on Tuesday, he said he had met in London with David Quarrey, the British prime minister's international affairs adviser and deputy national security adviser, to discuss regional and international developments.

Washington and London are key Western allies of Riyadh, which is locked in a struggle with Tehran for regional supremacy.

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BJP spokesperson Shaina NC on Tuesday defended her earlier tweets criticizing filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and actor Swara Bhasker for their alleged use of 'insinuating language' against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and their appearance at the Gateway of India where "Free Kashmir" posters were raised.

"The likes of Swara Bhasker and Anurag Kashyap are speaking as if they are the voice of the majority of this country. Who gives them the right to speak against the Prime Minister in such an insinuating language? Bollywood has every right to raise their voice provided it is an informed, well-read opinion," Shaina NC told ANI on Tuesday.

"If not they must be willing to have a counter-narrative combat them too. They are welcome to agitate, propagate but if you are going to stand in the same periphery where somebody is raising the Free Kashmir banner, what does this do to the democracy of ours," she added.

She further raised questions over the protests against CAA, NRC and other topics being restricted to a few universities, "As an Indian citizen one is entitled to protest but nobody should take the law in their hands. There are 980 universities in the country while the agitations and propaganda politics take place only in these five universities."

Earlier on Tuesday, Shaina through her Twitter handle had questioned several Bollywood personalities for their support to the protests at Gateway of India.

"What Mumbai saw yesterday in the name of protests at Gateway, was shameful and despicable. How can posters of 'Free Kashmir' be accepted in any protest on Indian soul. This is a question we can ask on twitter and Instagram. Did our freedom fighters give their blood to see this day?" her first tweet read.

"It is deplorable that the likes of Aparna Sen, Taapsee, Swara Bhasker, Anurag Kashyap, Hansal Mehta, Vishal Dadlani, are standing with those who espouse the cause of 'Free Kashmir.' Their antics and publicity stunts are comprehensively rejected by the youth of India," Shaina said in her second tweet.

Meanwhile, an FIR was registered on Tuesday against a woman who held a poster with the slogan "free Kashmir" at the Gateway of India in Mumbai on Monday during a protest against the violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University in the capital.

According to police, the FIR was registered against Mehek Mirza Prabhu under Section 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Kolba police station here today.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.7

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Indeed, a lot of progress has been achieved in the negotiations on the new partnership agreement between the European Union (EU) and Azerbaijan in 2019, Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Kestutis Jankauskas told Trend.

He pointed out that large parts of the agreement are provisionally agreed.

Some parts of the agreement, mostly related to trade provisions, require additional work. We have a new reality at the end of 2019 with a new economic team at the Cabinet of Ministers in Baku and a new European Commission in Brussels. On 19-20 December an EU High Level delegation from Brussels visited Baku and had very productive consultations on the remaining open chapters of the draft agreement with several key state institutions. Both sides reiterated their strong political will to continue working to conclude negotiations as soon as possible, noted the head of the EU Delegation.

For the European Union the conclusion of the new agreement with Azerbaijan remains among the top priorities on the agenda, he added.

In general, Jankauskas believes that 2019 was a good year for bilateral cooperation.

We saw many high level visits. We had important progress made in the construction of the Southern Gas Corridor and on the negotiations on a new Partnership Agreement and an Aviation Agreement. We held a very successful EU-Azerbaijan Business Forum, we initiated a transportation dialogue and reinvigorated our Security Dialogue, he said.

---

Follow the author on Twitter:@Lyaman_Zeyn
Japanese automaker Nissan on Tuesday slammed former chief Carlos Ghosn for jumping bail, calling his escape "extremely regrettable" and vowing continued legal action against him for "various acts of misconduct".

Ghosn, who faced trial on financial misconduct charges that he denies, fled Japan on December 29 for Lebanon, in an elaborate and apparently carefully planned escape.

His bail-jumping has prompted outrage from Japanese officials, but he insists that he would have been unable to receive a fair trial in Japan.

In a statement, Nissan said Ghosn's escape "in violation of his bail conditions is an act that defies Japan's judicial system. Nissan finds it extremely regrettable".

The firm said its "robust, thorough internal investigation" had "incontrovertible evidence of various acts of misconduct by Ghosn".

"The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan," it added.

Ghosn alleges the charges against him stem from a "coup" inside Nissan by disgruntled executives and local Japanese officials who feared his plans to more closely integrate the car giant with its alliance partner, French firm Renault.

Meanwhile, the Tokyo District Court confirmed on Tuesday it was keeping 1.5 billion yen ($14 million) in bail owing to his escape.

Ghosn was released on bail in April under conditions that included a ban on overseas travel and limited contact with his wife.

The 65-year-old tycoon is due to give a news conference in Beirut on Wednesday, where he has said he will provide details about the alleged "coup" against him.

Details are gradually emerging about his audacious flight from Japan to Beirut via Istanbul -- a dramatic final twist in a story that has gripped the business world since his initial out-of-the-blue arrest in November 2018.

According to Japanese media, he slipped out of his house in Tokyo, boarded a bullet train to Osaka and then a private jet to Istanbul, concealed in a large box.

Story continues

A transport ministry official has told AFP that security checks on luggage are not necessary for private jet operators and the box was apparently two big for the X-ray machines at the airport.

Justice Minister Masako Mori told reporters on Tuesday that this loophole had now been closed.

"After Carlos Ghosn fled using illegal means, I have ordered controls to be reinforced. The transport minister has informed me that it is now compulsory to inspect significant luggage, including on corporate jets," added Mori.

This has been in place since Monday in Tokyo's main two airports Haneda and Narita, Kansai Airport (from where Ghosn's jet left) and Nagoya, she said.
A prominent Perth-based Domino's franchisee is taking the pizza giant and its boss Don Meij to court over its $5 pizzas and delivery boundary changes, claiming the company misled him and abused its market power.

In a statement of claim filed in the Federal Court last month, award-winning franchisee Frederick White said he is seeking a total of $3 million in damages from the company for causing a significant profit drop at his three Perth stores.

A franchisee since 1998, Mr White claims Domino's failed to inform him of the negative effects of its $5 pizzas, saying the business did not communicate the increased workload, store set-up, and its impact on sales.

In 2014, Domino's announced it would begin selling a range of its pizzas at the low price point, which stretched the already-thin margins of many franchisees who struggled to turn a profit on the discount pies.
The scene at Larne Grammar School in Co Antrim where a student has been taken to hospital after an incident invloving a knife. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye.

A child has been taken to hospital after what's been described as a "knife incident" at Larne Grammar School.

A 13-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

The injured teenager, who is a Year 10 pupil, has been taken to hospital following the incident on Tuesday morning. A Belfast Trust spokesperson has described his condition as stable.

A spokesperson for the PSNI said: "Police responded to the report of a stabbing incident at a school in Larne on Tuesday.

"A 13 year old male pupil has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon and is currently in police custody."

The principal of Larne Grammar School Jonathan Wylie said: "Following an incident in school this morning a Year 10 pupil was taken to hospital and is receiving treatment.

"The safety and wellbeing of our pupils is always our primary concern and the authorities, including the PSNI, were contacted immediately. Parents have also been contacted and we are working with the Education Authority to ensure that pastoral support is available for those who require it.

"This is the first time that an incident of this nature has occurred in school and the thoughts of the entire school community are with the injured pupil and his family.

"The school will open tomorrow as usual.

"We are unable to comment further due to an ongoing PSNI investigation."

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said it received a 999 call at 11.21am following reports of an incident at a premises on Lower Cairncastle Road, Larne sending an emergency crew.

"Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, one male patient has been transferred to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children," a spokesman said.

Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson said it was "a very concerning time" for students, staff and parents.

"You know from both national and international incidents like this how difficult it can be for those connected with the school.

"I have every confidence that Larne Grammar, like every school in Northern Ireland, has a plan in place to deal with incidents like this."

Addressing those willing to risk carrying a weapon, he said: "There is no place for weapons in schools or anywhere else in society in this way. Whatever has happened obviously needs to be investigated."
The wars and insurgencies that battered the Middle East over the last decade delivered not only a horrible toll of death and displacement, but also a wasteland of cultural destruction, reducing to rubble the Assyrian gates of Nineveh, the Great Mosque of Aleppo and countless other treasures, ancient and modern.

This past weekend the American commander-in-chief, scrambling to contain the fallout from the killing of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani of Iran, proclaimed via Twitter that if Iran strikes any Americans, the United States would retaliate by blasting a list of 52 Iranian sites that he said were important to Iran & the Iranian culture. Historians, legal scholars, and Democrats such as Senator Elizabeth Warren noted that targeting sites of cultural importance in this way would constitute a war crime  and even Secretary of State Mike Pompeo went out of his way to clarify on Sunday morning television that the American people should know that every target that we strike will be a lawful target.

But Mr. Trump reaffirmed that he saw culture as fair game. Theyre allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people, the president told reporters on Air Force One. And were not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesnt work that way.

Despite the presidents threats, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper on Monday explicitly ruled out targeting cultural sites in Iran in response to any Iranian attacks.
RED WING -- A Zumbrota man is facing six felony charges stemming from a motorcycle crash in August that seriously injured his passenger.

Steven Lynn Rostad, 60, is charged in Goodhue County District Court with felony charges of six counts of criminal vehicular operation. All six charges language with allegations that Rostad was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

He is also facing two gross misdemeanor driving while under the influence of alcohol charges. He is scheduled to make his first appearance on the charges on Feb. 5. The complaint was filed with the court on Jan. 2.

Goodhue County Sheriff's deputies as well as Minnesota State troopers and Zumbrota police were called to a motorcycle crash around 8:15 p.m. on Aug. 25 in the area of Goodhue County Road 10 and 210th Avenue.

Investigation revealed that the motorcycle was westbound on County 10, approaching a 90-degree curve in the road when it entered the dirt/gravel shoulder at the start of curve, according to court records. There were no braking marks on the paved portion of the road but once it entered the gravel shoulder, there were brake/skid marks throughout the shoulder and about a 60-foot area where marks indicated that the motorcycle's rear tire was fishtailing.

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Upon arrival, law enforcement found a woman lying in a ditch approximately 30 feet away from a crashed motorcycle and a man, later identified as Rostad, lying directly near the motorcycle, according to court documents.

The woman, who was bleeding dark blood from her mouth and had her eyes rolled back, was airlifted to Mayo Clinic Hospital-Saint Marys for her injuries. Rostad was taken by ambulance to the hospital. The deputy who provided medical attention to the woman and the Trooper who provided care to Rostad both noted the smell of alcohol.

A blood sample taken from Rostad about an hour after the crash found that his blood alcohol concentration was 0.183, according to court records. The legal limit is 0.08.

Rostad's passenger suffered damage to the gray tissue of her brain, which has caused her to lose her memory, according to court documents. The woman's daughter told police that nursing staff believed the woman would regain much of her memory with rehabilitation but that her memory might never be at 100 percent again. The woman also suffered broken ribs and a broken collarbone.

Rostad spoke with deputies at the hospital on Sept. 3.

As a result of the crash he suffered a couple broken toes in his right foot and a couple of broken ribs, according to court records. Rostad did not need surgery for any of his injuries.
Sanjay Raut on chopper tragedy: We claim to have modernised armed forces, how could this happen?

TMC's presence in Goa to help BJP in polls, claims Sanjay Raut

Sanjay Raut downplays 'Free Kashmir' poster at protest against JNU violence

India

oi-Deepika S

Mumbai, Jan 07: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday downplayed the 'free Kashmir' poster which was on display during the protest at the Gateway of India against Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) violence.

Raut clarified that the 'Free Kashmir' banner seen during the protest was against the restrictions on internet services, mobile services and other issues in the Valley.

"I read in a newspaper that those who held 'Free Kashmir' banner clarified that they want the state to be free of restrictions on internet services, mobile services and other issues," he said.

Hindu Raksha Dal claims responsibility for JNU violence, probe underway

NEWS AT 3 PM, JANUARY 7th, 2020

Amid outrage over the violence at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, a poster with an open anti-India message 'Free Kashmir' was seen at the Gateway of India. This has evoked strong reactions on social media.

Amid outrage over the violence at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, a poster with an open anti-India message 'Free Kashmir' was seen at the Gateway of India. This has evoked strong reactions on social media.

JNU violence: FIR against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh for vandalism

The pictures and video of the protests underway at Gateway of India, tweeted by ANI, show a woman holding 'Free Kashmir' banner.
After a placard reading 'Free Kashmir' was spotted at the Gateway of India during a protest against JNU violence, Union minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday said a few selective "anarchists" were raising such kind of slogans while the entire country has supported the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Javadekar said Kashmir is an inseparable part of India and claimed that peace has been prevailing and the region is making progress since Article 370 of the Constitution was repealed.

"The entire country is supporting the move... few selective anarchists are raising such kind of slogans. Nobody even inside Kashmir raised such slogans. Now if someone outside the region gives such slogan, that makes no sense," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Photo: Sam's Diner To Go/Yelp

Interested in sampling the newest restaurant and retail additions to Phoenix? From a hometown diner to a chicken joint, read on for a rundown of the newest destinations to arrive around town.

Sam's Diner To Go

Photo: sam's diner to go/Yelp

Sam's Diner To Go is a breakfast and brunch spot, offering sandwiches and more, that recently opened at 2601 S. 24th St. in Central City.

Score one of four breakfast burritos or scoop up a breakfast sandwich in the morning. Waffles, pancakes, French toast and fried chicken are also on offer. For lunch, you can expect ribeye sandwiches, burgers, chicken sandwiches and paninis. (Check out the full menu here.)

Wingstop

Stroll past 3031 E. Indian School Road, Suite 1, and you'll find the latest spot for chicken wings to arrive in town. Wingstop has added a new location in Camelback East.

This national wing chain is known for its regular and boneless wings, available in flavors ranging from classic Buffalo to lemon pepper to spicy Korean. To accompany the wing baskets and platters, diners can opt for fresh-cut fries or spicy Cajun fried corn. And, of course, there are dips, such as homemade ranch, blue cheese or honey mustard.

La Casa Sushi-Mex

Photo: moys s./Yelp

New to 3633 W. Camelback Road in Alhambra is La Casa Sushi-Mex, a sushi bar and Mexican spot.

This eatery features Mexican fare spanning everything from tacos and enchiladas to empanadas to chips and queso. Dinner entrees and platters are also on offer.

This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
(Natural News) To those who are celebrating the death of Qasem Soleimani, I ask this simple question: How does his death make you better off in America?

The First Amendment in America is just as dead as Soleimani, and no one in government  not even Trump  is lifting a finger to defend and restore online free speech. Instead, we all remain enslaved subjects under a fanatical left-wing techno-cult thats far more insane than Soleimanis followers ever could have imagined. Yes, Soleimanis body was shredded by advanced missile technology, but the free speech that once existed in America is no less eviscerated under the malicious censorship war being waged by Google, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Soleimani may be dead, but censorship is alive and well in America, and no one in any position of power is fighting against it.

The Pentagon said Soleimani had to be taken out because he was planning imminent combat operations against United States persons. Yet Big Tech has already completed its online combat operations against tens of millions of Americans, having successfully banned, demonetized, smeared, slandered and de-platformed nearly every voice that supports the very freedoms America is supposedly fighting for in the Middle East. This abundantly demonstrates the absurdity of any claim that blowing up people in Iraq or Iran somehow makes us more free in America. The claim that the Pentagon is fighting for freedom is total propaganda.

If firing missiles at Middle Eastern terrorists made America more free, I would say fire away! But Soleimanis death didnt end Jack Dorseys ban of conservative Twitter accounts, nor Sundar Pichais blacklisting of the NaturalNews.com domain from Google, and it has already become abundantly obvious that Hellfire missiles are wasted in Iraq while the real terrorists  such as Sundar Pichai  continue to operate their daily combat operations across the net, in total violation of Americas laws and civil rights.

At least the Iranian people had the sense to mourn the death of their leader, no matter how radical his ideas may have been. Yet here in America, almost no one even recognizes theyve already lost the very freedoms we all pretend our military is fighting for.

Its all just glorious bulls##t.

Soleimanis death is not a win for America. Its a distraction from the massive, gaping losses America is suffering every day right here at home as far more dangerous techno-terrorists run their fanatical oppression schemes across the net, violating the basic human rights of tens of millions of American citizens.

Big Pharma Intoxication

At the same time Soleimanis body was blown to bits, over 100 million Americans were also taking toxic prescription drugs, including mind-altering drugs that have turned America into a zombie land of over-medicated, chemically-altered toxizens, ripe for mass media programming. (Because only a brain damaged zombie could watch CNNs Brian Stelter for more than a few seconds without wanting to plunge their own head into a blender)

No matter how much the Pentagon bombs Middle Eastern terrorists, the truth is that Americas mental health is being chemically carpet bombed every single day that Big Pharma is allowed to advertise on television, directly to consumers.

Its insane. The FDA legalized direct-to-consumer advertising in 1997, and since then, Big Pharma has taken over the corporate media, the tech giants and now even retailers like Amazon.com, which is set to become Americas retail pharmacy and drone delivery giant beginning this year.

Think about it: In Iraq, drones deliver Hellfire missiles that explode on impact and destroy a nations terrorism network. In America, drones deliver psychiatric drugs that blow away human minds and destroy a nations cognitive capacity. Frankly, Im not sure which weapon is more dangerous to society. Soleimani never poisoned the American people with FDA-approved chemical weapons that are falsely labeled antidepressants. And Soleimani didnt bribe 44,000 doctors with kickbacks and free trips to motivate them to prescribe toxic, deadly drugs to patients who dont need them.

Soleimani may be dead, but so is America if we dont stop the mass medication scourge thats causing widespread brain damage across our own citizens.

Soleimani didnt kill 20 million people since January 1, 2000, but guess what? The cancer industry did.

Doctors, hospitals, pharmaceuticals and medical mistakes have killed over 15 million people in that same time frame. Yet we dare to talk about protecting Americans by bombing one man who couldnt even dream of such large-scale casualties?

Big Government surveillance threatens us all

Even as Soleimani was being Hellfired, nothing at all was being done to hold James Comey, John Brennan and Barack Obama responsible for the outrageous criminal offenses they committed by conspiring to spy on American citizens  and even frame them  in order to try to destroy Donald J. Trump and overthrow the 2016 election.

Soleimani could have only dreamed of carrying out the kind of treasonous crimes against America that were successfully achieved by Comey, Brennan and Obama, among others. (Oh, and should I even mention how Soleimani was Obamas best friend in the Iran nuke deal that turned out to be a complete hoax anyway?)

Not only did this cabal of deep state traitors carry out deliberate, malicious crimes of illegal surveillance right here at home; Obama actually gave Iran $150 billion to fund their terrorism programs. That included $1.8 billion in physical cash that was stacked on pallets and flown on military cargo planes, delivered directly to Iran. Guess who was the key person in the center of the nuke deal negotiations, by the way? Soleimani, of course. He was Obamas co-conspirator to transfer cash from the United States to Iran as a way to re-launch Irans nuclear weapons development program while funding terrorism on the side.

See: Brighteon.com/582b451e-bbca-44e4-a3cf-4704213444eb

Yet no handcuffs have been placed on Obama, nor will they ever be, most likely. So illegal surveillance, money laundering and directly funding Americas foreign enemies is somehow okay in America? Are we supposed to clap like ignorant morons when Trump strikes a Middle Eastern terrorist but completely ignore the far more dangerous terrorist who used to occupy the White House?

And if this illegal surveillance  authorized by a corrupt FISA court  is not halted and outlawed in America, then arent all of us subject to the same sinister surveillance methods that were used against Trump?

Soleimani may be dead, but no one in America has been held accountable for the crimes of sedition and treason that were deliberately carried out against this nation and our elections process.

Killing Soleimani didnt stop the deep state here in America, in other words. And that means were all still vulnerable to the unaccountable criminal activity that continues to be carried out by outright traitors like Schiff, Nadler, Pelosi and others.

Bombing foreign terrorists is as stupid as punching a corpse and screaming Victory!

Were told by everyone that Soleimani was a bad guy who killed thousands of Americans.

The exact same thing could be said about the CEOs of the pharmaceutical companies, by the way. Or the CEOs of tech giants, whose malicious censorship actions now deliberately suppress lifesaving information about nutritional cures and anti-cancer foods that could save countless lives every year in America.

If our criteria for who gets bombed has now come down to justifying sudden terminations of bad guys who killed thousands of Americans, then theoretically shouldnt abortion centers be at the top of such a list? Abortion was the leading cause of death in America for all of 2019, and while I dont wish any violence on abortionists, they quite overtly wish violence  and carry out violence  against innocent human children, both born and unborn.

So Trump kills Soleimani and neocons celebrate, all while Planned Parenthood murders human babies while the Left celebrates. Slap me if Im off track here, but I still fail to see how anyone is winning in all this.

[B]efore Trumps obsession with attacking Iran, the past four US Administrations lied ceaselessly to bring about wars on Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Serbia, Somalia, and the list goes on, writes Ron Paul at RonPaulInstitute.org. At some point, when weve been lied to constantly and consistently for decades about a threat that we must take out with a military attack, there comes a time where we must assume they are lying until they provide rock solid, irrefutable proof. Thus far they have provided nothing. So I dont believe them.

America is falling into the abyss of fanaticism and foolishness

The problems in our world today are characterized by too much blood, too much political fanaticism and too much government. We are all living under the thumb of senseless tribalism, political posturing and stupefying incompetence at every level of government itself. And the people running Big Tech, Big Pharma and Big Government are irrational, insane, fanatical lunatics who value nothing but their own power and profit.

The radical Left celebrates infanticide, just as the radical right celebrates blowing up terrorists on the tarmac. Meanwhile, America is falling into the abyss of mass medication, techno-fascism and government tyranny, all while everyone is too distracted by Hollywood loon bags to notice weve already lost the war for freedom.

If Trump thinks this is making America great again, then were in worse trouble than I thought. America is no better off today than it was last week, and the priorities of not just Trump but seemingly everyone in Washington D.C. are so out of whack with reality that we stare in awe and wonder what planet these people think theyre on. (Oh, and in addition to Hunter Biden collecting millions from Burisma, Chelsea Clinton reportedly bagged $9 million for sitting on the board of some venture capital firm, once again proving that incompetence pays in Washington.)

Hasnt America already achieved energy independence thanks to all the fracking? So why are we still meddling in the Middle East and wondering why their people kill our soldiers when we are occupying their land with a foreign military presence? If Iran sent troops to occupy Americas cities, you can bet every patriot in America would be targeting them with any weapon at hand. Why are we surprised when the people of other nations carry out acts of violence against our soldiers who occupy their lands?

The hypocrisy in all this is beyond insane. Maybe instead of fighting a war with Iran to prove who has the biggest missiles, we should just bring the troops back home and let the Middle East solve its own problems, which go all the way back to the Old Testament days of the Bible, by the way. There is no solution in the Middle East thats ever going to come from a Western military force anyway, and those who pretend such solutions exist are laughably delusional.

If we restore freedom, real justice and the rule of law in America, then maybe weve earned the right to meddle in other nations problems, having proven we are really good at making nations great again. But until that day comes, every dollar spent on foreign interventions is a dollar that isnt spent here at home, materially impacting the lives of everyday American people who are losing their jobs, their livelihoods, their communities and even their sanity because no one in Washington gives a crap about real America anymore.

That is why we suffer, folks.

At least Soleimanis suffering is over. For the rest of us, we have to endure this persistent madness until the big collapse mercifully arrives.
RICHMOND, Va. - The Virginia General Assembly that convenes here Wednesday will look different from any other in the body's 401-year history, with diverse Democratic leadership aiming to set a new course after a quarter-century of Republican dominance.

November's elections, marked by huge turnout in the state's cities and suburbs, empowered Democrats to launch an ambitious agenda of gun control, social equity and big investments in public education and the environment.

But the new blue majorities in the House of Delegates and state Senate will face challenges in holding on to power. Young, liberal lawmakers are impatient to tack harder left. Rural, red parts of the state feel more disconnected than ever.

New leadership - with women and minorities reaching several historic firsts - will have to reconfigure every committee and set out arcane but crucial rules of operation. They have 60 days to craft a two-year state budget and tackle a generation's worth of hot-button issues.

"This is going to be an exciting couple of months," Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, said Monday.

Volatile debates on guns, abortion and LGBT rights have been at a standoff for six years, with Republicans in control of the General Assembly and Democrats in the Executive Mansion since 2014.

Now Democrats have the muscle to make gains in all of those areas. That includes rolling back abortion restrictions passed under Republican Gov. Robert McDonnell, whose 2009 election was the GOP's last statewide win. Among the targeted laws is one that requires a woman to undergo an abdominal ultrasound before an abortion and another that imposes hospital-style building codes on abortion clinics.

Bills to outlaw anti-LGBT discrimination in housing and government employment, expand the hate-crime law to include gay and transgender people and repeal the state's now-defunct ban on same-sex marriage are likely to pass with bipartisan support.

Even last year, enough Republicans lined up with Democrats to guarantee passage of those measures on the floor - but the bills died in committee.

"What we will do in this session . . . will not surprise anybody," House Speaker-designee Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, said Tuesday at a news conference with ebullient Democratic leaders. "These are long-overdue measures that are supported by a vast majority of Virginians."

Perhaps no other issue hangs over the Opening Day of the session with quite the weight of gun control. After a gunman killed 12 people at a Virginia Beach municipal building in May, Northam called a special session of the legislature to consider passing firearms restrictions. Republican leaders adjourned after 90 minutes without debating any bills.

With Democratic control, Northam is advocating a package of eight bills, including measures to ban assault-style weapons, high-capacity magazines, bump stocks and silencers; require background checks on all firearms sales and transfers; cap handgun purchases at one per month; and create a "red flag" law to temporarily remove guns from people deemed a threat to themselves or others.

In response, more than 110 Virginia counties, cities and towns have passed some type of "Second Amendment sanctuary" resolution, promising to defy "unconstitutional" gun restrictions. Activists promise to bring thousands of armed resisters to Richmond later this month amid online threats and false accusations.

"This is a discussion that's emotional. I understand that," Northam said Monday after an event previewing legislative priorities. "I would just hope we're able to have a civil dialogue and that everybody can be heard."

The pace of lawmaking will be set by a new slate of leaders in the House, where Democrats have been out of power so long that few members recall what it is like to be in charge.

Days after the November election, the Democratic caucus designated Filler-Corn to be speaker. She will be first woman and first Jewish person to hold that position when the full House elects her Wednesday, in one of the first orders of business.

The caucus chose Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, as House majority leader, making her the first woman and first African American in that role. And Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, will become the first black legislator to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

"We stand at the beginning of building a stronger democracy for everybody," Herring said. Noting that the origins of Virginia's government were not inclusive of the poor, or women, or enslaved Africans, Herring gave credit to predecessors who "never gave up" on the promise of democracy.

In addition, the caucus has selected the first-ever female clerk of the House: Suzette Denslow, who had been Northam's deputy chief of staff. The longtime clerk of the Senate is also a woman, Susan Clarke Schaar.

Sen. Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax, is to become Senate majority leader, a position he has held before as majorities changed in that chamber.

Other top legislative issues before the General Assembly include:

Budget: Northam has proposed a two-year, $135 billion state budget that includes money to improve the maternal mortality rate for minorities, expand early-childhood education, give teachers a 3 percent raise, clean up the Chesapeake Bay and make community college tuition-free for low- and middle-income people training for certain high-demand fields. The plan calls for new taxes on tobacco and gasoline and would eliminate state-mandated yearly vehicle inspections.

Redistricting and voter access: Republicans last year passed a proposed constitutional amendment establishing a nonpartisan panel to draw new legislative districts after the 2020 Census. Though it had Democratic support, members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus opposed the plan, partly because it directed that disputes be resolved by the state Supreme Court, which they view as Republican-friendly.

Any proposed amendment has to be approved in identical form for two successive years, so efforts to change the plan this year would prevent it from going into effect for next year's mandated redistricting.

Northam, who does not have a role in the amendment, threw his weight behind two bills to expand voter access. One would allow no-excuse early voting. The other would make Election Day a state holiday, replacing the holiday honoring Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.

Criminal justice: Northam is backing a package of bills intended to root out racial disparities in the law, combat mass incarceration and ease reentry for ex-prisoners. His bills call for decriminalizing simple possession of marijuana, creating a $50 civil penalty; doubling the felony threshold for larceny to $1,000; boosting public-defender offices; and ending the practice of suspending driver's licenses for unpaid court fines and fees.

Business: Expect a boost to the state's minimum wage from the federally mandated $7.25 an hour. The most aggressive bill would push it to $15 an hour by 2022. Some Democrats will push to repeal the state's right-to-work law, which prohibits union membership as a condition of employment. But Northam and some business-friendly Democrats in the legislature are opposed.

Equal Rights Amendment: Democrats intend to pass the federal Equal Rights Amendment prohibiting sex-based discrimination. Virginia would the 38th - and arguably final - state needed for ratification of the amendment, although critics say the federal deadline for passage expired long ago.

Confederate monuments: Northam and other Democrats want to give localities the power to remove Confederate monuments from their public spaces.
M y mother  a brain that the Department of Education should really utilise  employed a wily means of literary incentivisation when I was younger. This book? Its a bit advanced for you, she said, holding a copy of Little Women as if it was dangerous, and replacing it on a shelf just within reach. Shed walk out of the room, Id read the book, and thatd be the end of it, because no one puts this guy in the babys reading corner.

This, I think, must be the same logic behind a raft of headlines lamenting that men cant bring themselves to invest the price of a cinema ticket in Greta Gerwigs adaptation of Little Women. Little Women Has a Little Man Problem, insists Vanity Fair, highlighting that despite a slew of critical plaudits, its A-list cast and beloved source material (Louisa May Alcotts 19th-century classic about the four March sisters), the film has been  so far  fiendishly under-represented in awards season.

Hats off, Vanity Fair. Truly, an exercise in subtle string-pulling that Marmee herself, and my mum too, would be proud of. Afraid of Little Women?! See you in the cinema, pal. Men see this as a challenge  its surely a guaranteed way to get more male bums on seats.

Washington Post columnist Monica Hesse, meanwhile, bemoans emails from chaps worried  yes, seriously  about being seen watching the film, particularly without a female chaperone. Who are these people? A quick show of hands at the pub  my own-brand Pickwick Club  this weekend showed two out of five men were planning on seeing it. Not a representative sample, sure, but then nor is a journalists inbox.

Little Women cast members (L to R) Timothee Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Greta Gerwig, and James Norton / Dave Benett

Thats not to say that Little Women doesnt have a problem picking up young, male readers  as does most fiction written by women. For decades teachers have struggled against the implicit gender bias in the title.

My friend, who has been an English teacher in a boys school, says that while her classes in Year 7 and 8 thrive on discussion of feminism in Jane Eyre, something changes as they enter their teens. It is the internet, she says. Boys are disabused of the fact that feminism is a good thing by hot-take YouTube channels that suggest the opposite. Its hard to suddenly have to explain to them why equality is a good thing.

I have my own bias  I love Little Women, a book which is beautifully prosaic, a rubric on the value of growing up with friends who all talk to each other incessantly (Im one of three brothers, and I always thought wed missed a trick here with our silence) and a neat treatise on resisting socialisation. My girlfriend tells me Jo was her idol growing up  determined to be whatever she chose to be.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Devon Energy Corp. (NYSE: DVN) today announced plans to report its fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 results on Tuesday, Feb. 18, after the close of U.S. financial markets. The earnings release and operations report for the fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 results will be available on the companys website at www.devonenergy.com .



On Wednesday, Feb. 19, the company will hold a conference call at 10 a.m. Central Time (11 a.m. Eastern Time), which will consist primarily of answers to questions from analysts and investors. A webcast link to the conference call will be provided on Devons website at www.devonenergy.com . A replay will be available on the website following the call.

Devon Energy is a leading independent energy company engaged in finding and producing oil and natural gas. Based in Oklahoma City and included in the S&P 500, Devon operates in several of the most prolific oil and natural gas plays in the U.S. with an emphasis on achieving strong corporate-level returns and capital-efficient cash-flow growth. For more information, please visit www.devonenergy.com .

Investor Contacts:

Scott Coody, 405-552-4735

Chris Carr, 405-228-2496



Media Contact:

John Porretto, 405-228-7506
Pawan Kumar, 55, a hangman from Uttar Pradesh, has been kept on standby for hanging the four convicts of the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder case after a Delhi court on Tuesday issued their death warrants, UP prison officials said.

The court has fixed January 22 as the day for the hangings.

Director general of UP Prison Administration and Reforms, Anand Kumar said, We kept Pawan Kumar, a hangmen from Meerut, on standby since we had received a request from Tihar jail officials on December 9, 2019. We have not received any fresh request after issuance of the death warrant. Pawan will be sent for the execution if he is needed.

Anand Kumar said the state prison administration has another hangman named Ahmadullah in Lucknow district jail but he is indisposed.

The UP hangmen came in the limelight after issuance of the death warrant to the 2012 Delhi gang rape convicts.

Tihar jail authorities had written to UP prison authorities seeking services of two hangmen of the state. The letter mentioned that the two hangmens services could be required, as some convicts in Tihar jail, who were awarded capital punishment, had exhausted their legal and constitutional remedies, and were now to be hanged.

A father of five daughters and two sons, Pawn told media persons in Meerut that executing the rapists will give him satisfaction because they committed the most heinous crime with an innocent girl.

He said he had not received any official communication yet, but I am ready for it.

On preparations for the hanging, he said I need to check the rope, wooden platform and other things as per the weight of those who will be hanged. I have the courage to hang all four together.

Pawans original name is Sindhi Ram. His father Mammu Singh and grandfather Kallu Jallad were also executioners. Kallu Jallad hanged the killers of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He claims to have assisted his grandfather in executions but hasnt yet carried out one by himself so far.

Pawan is looking forward to carry out his first execution but rues his meagre stipend -- 5,000 per month. He has demanded that his stipend be raised to 20,000.

In September 2013, a trial court in Delhi convicted four men raping a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus while she was on her way back home on December 16, 2012. She later died of her injuries but the brutal gang rape sparked nationwide fury that led to a new legislation to deal with such heinous crimes. Of the six accused, one was a minor, who was sent to a rehabilitation centre and another, Ram Singh who was the driver of the bus, committed suicide in Tihar Jail during the trial.

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Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Jan 8 (ANI): Economist and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen said he was "appalled" by the violence on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and blamed the administration for failing to stop the attacks in time.



"I am appalled that communication between the administration and the police would be so delayed that ill-treatment of students could go on for quite some time without being prevented by forces of law and order. That the establishment of the university cannot prevent outsiders from coming in and creating such bloody violence within the campus," Sen told reporters after attending an award show organised by Infosys in Bengaluru.

Sen also said that the Supreme Court should turn down the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) upon being questioned on the anti-CAA protests being held by students at many places across the country.

"The student community has a great many issues to think about. But the CAA in my judgment should really be turned down by the Supreme Court on the grounds of being unconstitutional. You cannot have certain types of fundamental rights of human beings, in this case, connected with citizenship, be related with religious differences rather than the things that really matter such as where you were born, and what the citizenship laws require you to do," Sen said.

He further argued for a better process of granting citizenship under which mistreated communities barring none would be able to apply and get Indian citizenship.

"If you read the large volume of the constituent assembly records, you see that using religion for the purpose of discrimination of this kind will be regarded as not acceptable. Similar things should be treated similarly, now if a Hindu has been treated badly in some country, say Pakistan, then yes they need sympathy. Similarly, if a Muslim is treated badly in Pakistan then that should also be taken into account. It has to be independent of religion but take cognizance of the suffering and other various reasons. Citizenship should be granted on a fair basis not on the basis of communal discrimination against one religion," the economist said. (ANI)


The bushfires of Australia have destroyed over 1400 homes, so far, and has claimed the lives of half a billion animals. Around 17 people have been killed as of now and rescue workers and firefighters are trying to save as many lives as they can.

A lot of firefighters and cops are at the scene trying their best to combat the inferno, some even losing their lives in the process.

A 1-year-old boy from Australia received the medal of honour on behalf of his dad who was a firefighter and died battling the bushfires.

The heartwarming photos from the funeral have won the internet while also breaking several hearts.

The photos of Geoffrey Keaton's funeral were shared by the NSW Rural Fire Service wherein his son is seen receiving the medal of honour for his father's bravery.

Geoffrey and another firefighter lost their lives while battling bushfires on 19th December 2019. The post shared by the New South Wales Fire Services is captioned as, Today the NSW RFS family farewelled one of their own, with the funeral of Geoffrey Keaton held in western Sydney earlier today. Geoff was one of two firefighters who tragically lost their lives while fighting fires in southwest Sydney on 19 December 2019.

Geoffrey and another firefighter along him are lost their lives as a falling tree hit their rescue vehicle.

 NSW Rural Fire Service Facebook

It's not only human beings who have lost precious lives but the wildlife has also been severly impacted due to the wildfires. Australia witnessed birds dropping dead from the sky, dying due to high heatwave, scores of koalas and kangaroos have also lost their lives getting burnt alive in the bushfires.

Many videos of animals running away from the bushfires have also been surfacing on the internet.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

Trend:

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry expressed condolences to Australia, Trend reports on Jan. 7 referring to the ministry's official Twitter page.

We express our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in catastrophic Australia Bushfire and express our strong support to, and solidarity with, the people of Australia, brave firefighters, and volunteers fighting the worst wildfires in the history of the country, the message said.

The death toll as a result of forest fires in south-eastern Australia reached 25 people. Fires are raging in 136 districts of the country, of which 69 have not been extinguished yet.

Over 2,500 firefighters have been involved and hundreds of special equipment, including 90 heavy aircraft, have been used in fire extinguishing process.

In some places, the fires are so intense and the smoke is so dense that it is impossible to extinguish them by using aircraft. The authorities are using naval ships and aircraft in the areas affected by the fires.
PARIS (Reuters) - French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire warned the United States on Monday that any retaliation to France's new digital services tax could "deeply and durably" damage relations.

Washington has threatened to impose duties of up to 100% on imports of champagne, handbags and other French products worth $2.4 billion after a U.S. government investigation found the French tax would harm U.S. technology companies.

"If the Americans decide to go ahead and impose sanctions against the digital tax ... in this case we would retaliate," Le Maire told France Inter radio.

"If there were to be sanctions, and it is a possibility that we will take sanctions, we would immediately contact the WTO (World Trade Organization)", he added.

Le Maire said he had sent a letter on the issue to U.S. trade negotiator Robert Lightizer and was also going to discuss it with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin by phone.

"If the U.S were to decide to impose trade sanctions against the EU over the French Digital Services Tax, it would deeply and durably affect the transatlantic relationship at a time when we need to stand united", the minister wrote in the letter seen by Reuters.

Le Maire also said in the letter that France was in touch with the European Commission and other EU Member States on the subject and that they were contemplating the various options to defend our trade rights in a proportionate and determined manner, as we have in the past, .

Paris has long complained about U.S. digital companies not paying enough tax on revenues earned in France.

In July, the government decided to apply a 3% levy on revenue from digital services earned in France by firms with more than 25 million euros ($28 million) in French revenue and 750 million euros worldwide.

The European Union has said it will stand by France in the dispute with the United States.

($1 = 0.8957 euros)

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Mark Potter)
I adapted this technique to work on title insurance risk, optimizing our machine learning algorithm to produce maximal value while enabling the best customer experience. It turns out, if you're just optimizing a number, it doesn't matter if it's galactic dark matter or dollars of revenue and loss.

States Title Holding, Inc., one of the top ten largest real estate settlement service companies in the United States, was issued a patent for Predictive Machine Learning Models by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on December 17, 2019. The company can now find the "sweet spot" for automated title processing in its first-of-its-kind title insurance algorithm.

The patent for invention number 10,510,009 allows States Title to optimize the value-maximizing point in the instant underwriting model by modifying the previously well-known Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique with unique title-specific mathematical components. The companys Chief Data Scientist, Andy Mahdavi, a Fulbright Scholar who earned his PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics from Harvard University, previously applied the Markov technique to study dark matter using galaxy cluster data from NASA satellites.

"During the first half of my career, I was an astrophysicist, working on unraveling the nature of dark matter, a substance that makes up 85 percent of the cosmos and yet is totally invisible and extremely difficult, if not impossible, to detect in a lab. To do this, I leveraged a statistical technique called Markov Chain Monte Carlo, which optimizes theoretical models until they match the data, providing the most suitable match. When I arrived at States Title, I adapted this technique to work on title insurance risk, optimizing our machine learning algorithm to produce maximal value while enabling the best customer experience. It turns out, if you're just optimizing a number, it doesn't matter if it's galactic dark matter or dollars of revenue and loss."

 Andy Mahdavi, Chief Data Science Officer, States Title Holding, Inc.

This new patent complements the patent awarded to States Title in April 2019, which protects the company's use of data science to create predictive title insurance by assigning a risk score to indicate how safe a property is in terms of potential liens or other liabilities that may cloud a property's title. The second patent protects States Title's unique application of the Markov technique to turn this risk score into a profit/loss number.

Mahdavi joined the company from Capital One, where he applied the scientific rigor of almost two decades in academia to develop hyper real-time fraud protection. He is emblematic of how States Title attracts experts from a variety of fields to disrupt an industry that has looked the same for more than 100 years.

"Anyone who has bought or refinanced a property has experienced the friction and frustration inherent to the traditional title and escrow process. Our team brings academic and industrial expertise from astrophysics, data science, machine intelligence, supply chain management, operations research and engineering disciplines together in a concerted effort to reimagine the residential mortgage industry."

 Max Simkoff, Chief Executive Officer, States Title Holding, Inc.

About States Title Holding, Inc. and States Title

Founded in 2016 in San Francisco, States Title Holding, Inc. has grown rapidly to become one of the top ten largest title and escrow companies in the US. The States Title family of companies  States Title, North American Title Company (NATC) and North American Title Insurance Company (NATIC)  is able to impact 90% of all real estate transactions in the US. States Titles first-of-its-kind, patented technology solution utilizes machine intelligence to make residential real estate closings vastly more simple and efficient. Current customers are able to close more loans, faster, and at a lower cost, while maintaining best in class quality and service. To learn more visit http://www.statestitle.com.
D avid and Victoria Beckham have jetted off to Morocco for some winter sun with their three youngest children.

On January 6, Victoria shared an adorable photo on Instagram of her husband and their kids - Romeo, 17, Cruz, 14, and Harper, eight  in the North African country for some relaxation.

"Kisses from the sunshine. Happy New Year," the former Spice Girl captioned the post.

Eldest soon Brooklyn did not appear to be on the trip.

In case their followers were not jealous enough, David also shared some pictures on his own social media account, including a loved-up snap of him and his wife on a hike in the mountains, and another of Cruz pouring himself some Moroccan tea following some tutorial from Mehdi the expert.

Holiday: The Beckhams are enjoying a trip to Morocco (Instagram)

However, young Cruz didnt quite manage to master the art of pouring but, of course, David described himself as a professional. Romeo also shared similar shots on his page.

David then took individual shots of his sons, with one photo of Cruz captioned: Handsome boy What u looking at @cruzbeckham.

Victoria, 45, also shared a photo of Cruz and Romeo together and said: Love you both so much.

Loved up: Victoria and David Beckham (Instagram)

The family  minus Victoria and Harper - then headed out to the desert for some quad-biking. It seems like Harper may have been too young to join in with the adventure.

The Beckhams' trip to Morocco comes shortly after their New Year's Eve party at their country home in the Cotswolds.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 06:13:39|Editor: ZX

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ALGIERS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- In the past days, Algeria has been witnessing intensive diplomatic activities aiming at containing the crisis in Libya by preventing military escalation in the neighboring nation.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune held separate talks with Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the Government of National Accord in Libya, and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

This came as Tebboune, the newly elected Algerian president, tried to deliver his promise made in December when he was sworn in that Algeria "would never accept to be excluded from any process aiming at reaching a solution to this crisis."

Tebboune started his efforts by receiving al-Sarraj, who paid a quick visit to Algiers on Monday. During the meeting, the Algerian leader urged the international community to work on stopping the escalation in Libya, as more victims are killed every day.

Tebboune reaffirmed the commitment of Algeria to work on "distancing the region from foreign interference, as this threatens the interests of the peoples of the region and the unity of their nations, while affecting regional and international peace and security."

He urged the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to assume responsibilities by imposing an immediate ceasefire in Libya, and ending the military escalation there, while urging "external parties to stop fueling this escalation through their military support to warring parties."

He also called for resuming the dialogue "in order to reach sustainable political solution to the Libyan crisis."

Al-Sarraj's visit came in light of the military escalation in Libya between the forces loyal to the UN-backed government in the capital of Tripoli, and the eastern-based militia loyal to Khalifa Haftar, who seeks to take over control of Tripoli.

It also came after the Turkish parliament approved of sending troops to Libya at the request of the Government of National Accord.

Then the Algerian president on Tuesday held talks with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu, which focused on the Libyan crisis.

The two discussed "military escalation caused by foreign interference, which hampers efforts aiming at reaching a political solution as the only way to restore security, peace and stability throughout the territory of Libya," said a statement of the presidency.

Tebboune and Cavusoglu agreed on the need to avoid any violent actions likely to aggravate the situation, vowing to spare no effort aiming at reaching a cease-fire.

They also expressed the wish that the planned international conference on Libya due in Germany would be the beginning of reaching a comprehensive political settlement of the crisis, which will guarantee the unity of Libya's people and territory and preserve its national sovereignty.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday held a phone call with Tebboune, in which she invited the Algerian leader to attend Berlin's conference on Libya.

Algeria and Germany share "convergent views on the Libyan crisis, as they both favor political solution and urge immediate cessation of armed clashes and put an end to foreign military interventions," the presidency said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Tebboune invited his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit Algeria, the presidency said on Tuesday.

The invitation was accepted as the date of the visit will be determined in the coming days, the statement added.

Algeria is aware of the growing role of Turkey in the Libyan crisis, after Ankara started deploying troops in Tripoli at the request of the Government of National Accord, to repel the advance of the forces loyal to Haftar, backed by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Russia.

Algeria, which shares 1,000-km border with Libya, fears the fallout of any potential "proxy war" in Libya between influential international powers.

Therefore, Algeria is motivated to stop this danger to its national security, while it has deployed thousands of troops to the border with Libya.

Libya has been locked in a civil war since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011.
Syria's Kurds have released 30 Syrians suspected of affiliation to the Islamic State group after guarantees from tribal leaders, a spokesman said Tuesday, adding more should be freed soon.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hold thousands of suspected IS fighters after years of leading the US-backed fight in the country against the jihadist group.

The suspects are mostly Syrian and Iraqi -- Iraq was the other key crucible of the conflict with IS -- but they also include hundreds of foreigners.

A spokesman for the Kurdish authorities in northeastern Syria said tribal leaders had requested that 300 Syrian detainees be freed, and that 30 were approved and released on January 5.

"Those being released have no blood on their hands and have not been proven guilty of any crime," the Kurdish region's foreign affairs spokesman Kamal Akef told AFP.

They might have joined the extremist group to earn a living or because they were forced to, he said.

They "are being released with guarantees from the tribal leaders," the official added, without specifying what guarantees are involved.

"In the coming days, some more will be released in waves" to return to the provinces of Deir Ezzor and Raqa in the east and north of Syria, he said.

Backed by air strikes by a US-led coalition, the SDF in March last year expelled IS from their last patch of territory in eastern Syria.

Earlier that month, nearly 300 Syrian men were freed after tribal chiefs lobbied for their release including in Raqa, the Kurdish authorities said.

At the time, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said it was not the first release of IS-linked prisoners, but the number was particularly large.

The Kurds have also said they were releasing hundreds of suspected IS-linked women and children from overcrowded camps for the displaced.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The self-proclaimed Libyan National Army, LNA, headed by rebel General Khalifa Haftar, said Monday they took control of the coastal city of Sirte, hometown of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, from the forces of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).

LNA spokesman Khaled al-Mahjoub said Haftar forces captured all the districts surrounding the city, including al-Qardabiya airbase and were heading to the city center.

GNA backed forces, with the support of US air power, had dislodged Islamic state group in 2016 after the city fell into the hands of the terror group in 2014.

The seizure of Sirte marks a shift in Haftars efforts to seize capital Tripoli. He launched in April the Libyan capital seizure operation but has met tough resistance.

The shift in focus from Tripoli occurs as Turkey announced Monday the beginning of its forces deployment to prop up the GNA in the framework of a November maritime and security agreement signed between the GNA and Ankara.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Sunday that Turkish military units had started moving to Libya to support the UN-backed administration, few days after the Turkish parliament approved the deployment.

Our soldiers duty there is coordination. They will develop the operation center there. Our soldiers are being sent gradually right now, he said.

The Turkish President indicated that Turkish forces will be deployed at battle fronts against Haftar.

Right now, we will have different units serving as a combatant force, he said.

The retired General last month accused Ankara for smuggling Turkey-backed rebel forces opposed to Syrian President Bashar al Assad into Libya but the GNA rejected the claims.

Concern is rising over further foreign intervention, with the rival administration in the east reportedly receiving backing from several countries including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Russia.

In a statement on Friday, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that any foreign support to the warring parties will only deepen the ongoing conflict and further complicate efforts to reach a peaceful and comprehensive political solution in Libya.
It started as the name of a western Sydney street gang and was adopted by Australia's first drill group - and now the word 'OneFour' is poison to police.

One of the main OneFour rappers has been charged over an alleged violent brawl where two men were stabbed and another hit by a car outside a Mount Druitt pub.

Salec Sua, the musician best known by his stage name Lekks, was arrested at Parklea prison last year and charged with riot and affray over the July 10 incident.

A charge sheet filed in a western Sydney court recently seemingly put in black-and-white what NSW police think of the brand 'OneFour'.

OneFour, the music group (above), has four key members and a larger secondary line-up. A western Sydney street gang is of the same name

Police alleged in the court document that Sua 'did participate in a criminal group ... ONEFOUR, during a riot/affray' in the Mount Druitt incident.

But police sources told Daily Mail Australia that description of 'OneFour' as a criminal group is a reference to the street gang based in Sydney's outer west, rather than the musical collective of the same name.

Sua, who is regardless one of the OneFour rap group's most prominent members, is one of at least 12 people police allege were involved in an alleged fight where two men were stabbed and one person was hit by 'a vehicle'.

Salec Sua, 26, is best known by his stage name Lekks

The fight allegedly occurred between 10pm and 12.15am in Sydney's west and Sua was arrested at Parklea Correctional Centre a month later.

Police will claim Sua was among a group of people who had gathered to fight another gang.

He's also accused of violence against 'unknown persons'.

Sua is yet to enter a plea to the charges. He has not applied for bail and it was formally refused, and the artist will face court again later this week.

Police treatment of the western Sydney music sensation - described as the country's first drill rappers - has sparked controversy.

A OneFour concert tour was shut down due to concerns about public safety and several members are behind bars.

A scene from a OneFour music video. The drill group's music videos have more than 30 million streams

WHAT IS DRILL MUSIC? 'Drill' music, a hip-hop subgenre, is driving feuding gang wars in Britain, community leaders have warned. Hundreds of videos on YouTube feature UK rappers threatening and provoking people from rival areas in London. To 'drill' means to fight or scrap and the violent lyrics focus on gang life, drugs, guns and killing. In one video viewed nearly three million times, rapper Digga D boasts about having to bleach his knife after using it to attack someone. In another, entitled 'Mummy's Kitchen', rappers Loski and Mayski, who are thought to be Londoners, boast about taking a blade from the family home. In the videos, which are filmed across the city, performers take care to ensure their faces are covered. In Australia the genre has been adopted by rap group OneFour, from Sydney's west. Advertisement

A police officer attached to Strike Force Raptor recently told the ABC's Background Briefing recently: 'We are shutting down their concerts, but it's to stop the violence.

'We haven't had it since the concerts have been shut down.'

A NSW police spokeswoman said it is standard practice for police to provide venues, promoters and others with safety and security advice before events.

Drill music is rap music known for its dark content - largely about crime and life on the streets - and has been pioneered by OneFour's musicians.

The group's music videos have racked up more than 30 million streams and several of their hits have gone viral.

In a statement, police said they reject any assertion that 'their investigation or response to violent crimes is based on bias of any kind'.
Almost from the moment Jennifer Dulos went missing from her home in an affluent Connecticut suburb on May 24, detectives have kept their focus on the estranged husband with whom she was locked in a bitter divorce battle.

As the police investigated, determining that Ms. Dulos had been the victim of a serious physical attack, the evidence against the husband, Fotis Dulos, appeared to mount. They traced his suspicious movement via cellphone records, found his blood in her home and uncovered footage of him dumping bloody evidence in trash cans.

Still, even as Mr. Dulos was arrested and charged twice in the case, the police never accused him of attacking Ms. Dulos.

Then, on Tuesday, seven months after their investigation began, the police descended onto Mr. Duloss house, took him away in handcuffs and charged him with murdering his wife.
Russia had blocked the UN Security Council press statement condemning the attack on the United States Embassy in Iraq because the document did not mention the killing of Iranian top commander Qasem Soleimani, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia told reporters, Sputnik reports.

Earlier in the day, the US mission at the United Nations accused Russia and China of blocking a UN Security Council press element condemning the December 31 attack on the US Embassy in Baghdad.

"As a principle, we condemn strongly any attack on any embassy anywhere in the world, whatever country it is, and we strongly condemn the attack on the American Embassy in Baghdad," Nebenzia said. "And the press statement was nearly ready, it was agreed upon at least with us, with the United States, when the strike on the third of January came in the Baghdad airport.

Not to take that into account, in the whole context, was impossible."

Nebenzia said Russia proposed corresponding amendments in the UN Security Council's statement, which would "surely" not be accepted by the US mission.

"The statement did not go through not because we did not condemn the attack itself, [it is] because the context, in which it [the statement] was evolving, was different," Nebenzia added.
Patricia Hruby Powell is the author of the award winning 'Josephine,' 'Loving vs Virginia' and 'Struttin' With Some Barbecue,' among others. She teaches community classes at Parkland College. Find out more at talesforallages.com.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP from Guntur, Galla Jayadev was placed under house arrest in Guntur. Tension prevailed at the MP's house as he questioned the police action and entered into an argument with officials.

Amaravati, Jan 7 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh police on Tuesday placed opposition TDP MPs in Guntur and Vijayawada and other party leaders under house arrest to prevent them from joining ongoing protest over three capitals proposal.

The MP along with his followers tried to come out of the house but the police pushed them back and locked the main gate.

Jayadev, who is also the TDP parliamentary party leader, faulted with the police action. He said the protest for Amaravati will continue.

TDP MP from Vijayawada, Kesineni Nani was also placed under house arrest in Vijayawada to prevent him from participating in the protest along with farmers and others.

Political Joint Action Committee has called for blockade of the national highway on Tuesday to press for their demand that Amaravati be retained as the state capital.

In an attempt to foil the protest, TDP MPs and other leaders were kept under house arrest. Several others were arrested when they were on their way to the protest venue.

Farmers, who had given 33,000 acres of land for development of Amaravati as the state capital in 2015, have been protesting for nearly three weeks against Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government's move to develop three state capitals.

The government proposes to shift Secretariat and CM's office to Visakhapatnam to develop it as administrative capital while High Court is proposed to be moved to Kurnool.

Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has proposed that State Assembly and Raj Bhavan, the official residence of state governor, will function from Amaravati.

Experts' panel has made the same suggestion while Boston Consultancy Group (BCG), in its report, has backed the idea of three capitals.

The government has constituted a high-power committee comprising ministers and senior officials to study both the reports and submit a report in three weeks. YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government said a final decision would be taken on the basis of high-power committee's report.

Farmers in 29 villages of Amaravati said shifting of capital functions to Visakhapatnam and Kurnool will badly affect their interests.

ms/skp/
COLUMBUS, Ohio - When college students post about feelings of depression on Facebook, their friends are unlikely to encourage them to seek help, a small study suggests.

In fact, in this study, none of the 33 participating students said their friends told them they should reach out to a mental health professional to discuss their problems.

Instead, most friends simply sent supportive or motivating messages.

But that may not be good enough for people who are truly depressed - as some of the people in this study probably were, said Scottye Cash, lead author of the study and professor of social work at The Ohio State University.

"It makes me concerned that none of the Facebook friends of students in this study were proactive in helping their friend get help," Cash said.

"We need to figure out why."

The research, published online recently in the journal JMIR Research Protocols, is part of a larger online study of health outcomes of 287 students at four universities in the Midwest and West. This study included the 33 students in the larger study who reported that they had "reached out on Facebook for help when depressed."

The students reported what type of post they made and how their friends responded. They also completed a measure of depression.

Results showed that nearly half of the participants reported symptoms consistent with moderate or severe depression and 33 percent indicated they had had suicidal thoughts several days in the previous few weeks.

"There's no doubt that many of the students in our study needed mental health help," Cash said.

The two most common themes in the participants' Facebook posts were negative emotions ("I just said I felt so alone," one student reported) or having a bad day ("Terrible day. Things couldn't get any worse," one wrote). Together, those themes appeared in about 45 percent of the posts the students reported on.

But only one of the students directly asked for help and only three mentioned "depression" or related words, Cash said.

Many participants found ways to hint at how they were feeling without being explicit: 15 percent used sad song lyrics, 5 percent used an emoji or emotion to indicate their depressed feelings and another 5 percent used a quote to express sadness.

"They didn't use words like 'depressed' in their Facebook posts," Cash said.

"It may be because of the stigma around mental illness. Or maybe they didn't know that their symptoms indicated that they were depressed."

Students reported that the most common responses from their friends to their posts about depression (about 35 percent of responses) were simply supportive gestures. "All my close friends were there to encourage me and letting me know that everything will be okay," one student wrote.

The next most common response (19 percent of posts) was to ask what was wrong, which participants didn't always take positively. "It is hard to tell who cares or who's (just) curious this way, though," one participant wrote.

The other three most common responses (all occurring 11 percent of the time) were contacting the depressed friend outside of Facebook, sending a private message within the app, or simply "liking" the post.

Although participants reported that none of their friends suggested they get help, Cash said she is sympathetic to the plight of these friends.

"For the friends reading these posts, they often have to read between the lines since few people came right out and said they were depressed," Cash said.

"Many people used quotes and song lyrics to talk about how they're feeling, so their friends really had to decode what they were saying."

Cash said the findings point to the need for more mental health literacy among college students and others so they know how to recognize the signs of depression and how to respond.

"Both Facebook and colleges and universities could do more to give these students information about resources, mental health support and how to recognize the signs of depression and anxiety," she said.

"We need to increase mental health literacy and decrease mental health stigma."

###

Co-authors of the study were Laura Marie Schwab-Reese of Purdue University; Erin Zipfel, a former graduate student at Ohio State; and Megan Wilt and Megan Moreno of the University of Wisconsin.

Contact: Scottye Cash, Cash.33@osu.edu

Written by Jeff Grabmeier, 614-292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2020) - TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (FSE: TH8) ("TransCanna" or the "Company") announces that the holders of a promissory note in the principal amount of US$4,000,000 (the "Note"), that was issued in favour of the vendors of Lyfted Farms, Inc. ("Lyfted") in connection with the recent acquisition by the Company of Lyfted, have exercised an option (the "Option") pursuant to the terms of the Note to receive common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") in settlement of US$500,000 principal amount of the Note.

A total of 550,504 Common Shares will be issued pursuant to the exercise of the Option at a deemed price of CDN$1.18 per share, after converting the principal amount being settled into Canadian dollars using the Bank of Canada indicative rate of exchange of US$1.00 = CDN$1.2992. The principal amount of the Note will be reduced to US$3,500,000 concurrent with the issuance of the Common Shares. The Common Shares issued in connection with the Option exercise will be subject to restrictions on trading in accordance with applicable securities laws and Canadian Securities Exchange policies.

"The exercise of the Option represents a great vote of confidence in the future of TransCanna," commented Steve Giblin, President and CEO of TransCanna. "The noteholders who have elected to receive stock in exchange for debt either work for or are closely associated with TransCanna, and we appreciate their confidence in the success of our company."

Bob Blink, Chief Executive Officer of Lyfted and a holder of the Note, shall receive 258,738 common shares of the Company pursuant to the exercise of the Option, which constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided in sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that the Company's common shares are not listed or quoted for trading on a prescribed stock exchange or stock market and that the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves insiders, does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company will file a material change report in respect of the issuance of common shares as a result of the Option exercise, however, the material change report will not be filed 21 days prior to the issuance of the common shares as a result of the timing of the Option exercise.

About TransCanna Holdings Inc.

TransCanna Holdings Inc. is a California based, Canadian listed, company building Cannabis focused brands for the California lifestyle, through its wholly-owned California subsidiaries.

For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.transcanna.com or email the Company at info@transcanna.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Steve Giblin

President

604-609-6199

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51207
SHERMAN OAKS, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2020 / With the weather heating up this week in Hollywood, all the headlines today read "It's June in January," a refrain of the title of the jazz standard, composed by Ralph Rainger with lyrics by Leo Robin. Leo Robin would tell this story about the origins of the song: "One day Ralph Rainger came in and said, 'I hit on a little jingle tune, maybe you'll like it'. He started to play this thing, one of those kind of bouncy schottisches, and I said, 'Let me think about it', and as usual, I went out and started to walk around the Paramount lot. That was the way I used to concentrate during the day. When I came back, I said, 'Gee, I've got a great title' - no, I never said that, because I never thought any of those things were great. In fact, my dear wife used to say, if I had the Number One song on the Hit Parade - I would still say, 'Well, if they'd given me more time, I could have done it better'. So I just said, 'It's 'June in January'. Ralph said, 'You're crazy - 'June in January'?' ...Well, now, whenever the weather out here gets unusually hot in January, all the headlines use the phrase 'June-in-January weather'."

Dean Martin singing the beautiful popular standard "June in January," composed by Ralph Rainger

with lyrics by Leo Robin, from his 1959 album A Winter Romance

"The notoriously modest wordsmith often downplayed his accomplishments, attributing whatever success he happened to have to any of his collaborators. But others continue to sing praises for his work," said Ashley Lee from the Los Angeles Times. More than 29 years ago, in 1988, both Cherie Robin, and actor, Bob Hope, wanted to see to it in their lifetime that the beloved lyricist would be acknowledged for the legacy that was to be reported on in Roy Trakin's 2019 Variety article; to this end, they sponsored Robin for a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Tragically, Cherie Robin never received the good news about Leo's star because she passed away on May 28, 1989, a little over one year before the letter from the Hollywood Chamber was sent out on June 18, 1990 announcing that her husband had been awarded the star. As a result of these ill-fated circumstances, Leo's star was never installed. On July 6, 2017, Leo's grandson discovered Leo's long-lost star when he stumbled upon it on the internet. When, later that day, the grandson called the Hollywood Chamber and spoke to Ms. Martinez, he told her about his discovery of Leo's long-lost star; she officially confirmed it was true and said, "Nothing like this has ever happened before."

Almost two years later on May 23, 2019, Ashley Lee from the Times first broke the grandson's serendipitous discovery in her story, "Leo Robin never got his Walk of Fame star. Now his grandson is fighting for it." When, more than 29 years ago, the acceptance letter was mailed to Mrs. Robin (deceased) and subsequently returned to sender, Ms. Lee reported what happened, "The envelope was returned to its sender and has since remained in the Chamber of Commerce's records." She also tweeted, "at first I didn't believe that Leo Robin's star had really slipped through the cracks" with a photo of that acceptance letter and the envelope stamped "RETURN TO SENDER." The Hollywood Chamber made no attempt to notify the co-sponsor, Bob Hope, who has four stars on the Walk. In a press release issued by Leo Robin Music on June 26, 2019, the following was said about the Hollywood Chamber, "What the Chamber did after the letter was (marked) "Return to Sender" was not customary practice but smacks of disregard for the individuals honored by the Walk of Fame Committee."

Leo Robin wrote the beautiful lyrics to the song "June in January," composed by Ralph Rainger, which was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1934 film Here Is My Heart. The Crosby recording, made on November 9, 1934 with Georgie Stoll and his Orchestra, became a number #1 hit on Decca Records and has since has become a popular standard, recorded by the most celebrated jazz musicians such as saxophonist Benny Carter, guitarist Wes Montgomery and vocalists such as Dean Martin and Eydie Gorme. Bands and orchestras lead by Guy Lombardo, Nelson Riddle, Ferrante & Teicher and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir have also performed the song.

From right to left: Actor Bing Crosby with the famous Paramount songwriting team, Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger, rehearsing their brand new songs -- "It's June in January," "Love Is Just around the Corner" and "With Every Breath I Take" -- to be featured in his new film Here Is My Heart in 1934 and all three songs went on to become jazz standards

The award-winning Jazziz Magazine, known as "the voice of a new jazz culture, a culture it helped create," has earned a reputation as the undisputed authority on jazz and style over the past 35 years. This magazine made "June in January" its Song of the Day on January 31, 2019, saying, "We present it as today's Song of the Day as a reminder to our friends in frozen climes that warm weather will be here soon. In the meantime, this track is sure to keep things burning."

Meanwhile, the dispute is heating up between Leo Robin Music and the Hollywood Walk of Fame in regard to the star awarded to the "June in January" lyricist but never installed. In contradiction to its mission, the Hollywood Chamber is not doing justice to the nomination of Robin. Instead we are witness to the injustice of Leo's long-lost star and the Chamber's refusal to honor their commitment to Robin's memory. Moreover, in a press release issued by Leo Robin Music on July 30, 2019, the following was said about the Hollywood Chamber, "What a strange twist in irony; the Chamber, which administers this famous sidewalk landmark and usually assists honorees, performed the opposite of its mission and public expectations. Instead of assisting, the Chamber obstructed installation by ignoring emails for a whole year and failing to honor its promise for the Walk of Fame Committee to consider the grandson's request for the star to be placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame."

Throughout the past sixty years, the Chamber has successfully kept track of 2,682 honorees and has seen to it that each and every one of them received a star, which was then successfully installed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame -- except for Robin. Unfortunately, one can't help but conclude that Robin has been treated unjustly by the Hollywood Chamber. Upon the passing of Johnny Grant on January 9, 2008, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said, "Angelenos will always remember Johnny as the heart of Hollywood Boulevard, the dignified guardian of its gilded prestige and the human shine behind every one of its stars..." Johnny Grant, who was Chairman of the 1990 Walk of Fame Committee and signed the acceptance letter addressed to Mrs. Robin, must be looking down scorchingly, perhaps even causing the heat wave, at the Hollywood Chamber for spurning the decision by the 1990 Walk of Fame Committee to award a star to Leo Robin. It's time for the Hollywood Chamber to honor the decision made by the Walk of Fame Committee and honor its obligation to put Leo's long-lost star in its rightful place on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

For more information, visit the Newsroom at the official website of Leo Robin at http://leorobin.com/.

About Leo Robin Music

Leo Robin Music owns the copyrights of songs written by Leo Robin, who was known as the "Dean of Lyric Writers." He created lyrics that have inspired popular music and become part of the fabric of our culture. Considered to be one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th Century, he wrote many of the country's most popular jazz standards including "Blue Hawaii," "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," "Easy Living," "If I Should Lose You," "My Ideal," "Prisoner of Love" and "Thanks for the Memory."

CONTACT:

Scott D. Ora

President - Leo Robin Music

thanks4thememory@icloud.com

(818) 618-2572

Leo Robin (@LeoRobinMusic) / Twitter

SOURCE: Leo Robin Music

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/569738/With-the-Weather-Heating-Up-All-the-Headlines-Read-Its-June-in-January-The-Dispute-is-also-Heating-Up-between-Leo-Robin-Music-and-the-Hollywood-Walk-of-Fame-Re-the-Star-LeosLostStar-Awarded-to-the-June-in-January-Lyricist-But-Never-Installed
Microsoft is withdrawing support for Windows 7 (Getty)

After a decade of service, Microsoft is ending support for its Windows 7 operating system - and has warned users to buy new Windows 10 machines.

Official Microsoft support for the product ends on January 14.

People who continue to use the software will be at increased risk of virus and malware attacks, Microsoft has warned.

The company will no longer offer technical support, software updates and security updates or fixes.

READ MORE

The tech giant advised users of Windows 7 machines to upgrade to new machines running Windows 10, as older machines may not be able to support the OS.

Microsoft said in a statement: While you could continue to use your PC running Windows 7, without continued software and security updates, it will be at greater risk for viruses and malware.

Going forward, the best way for you to stay secure is on Windows 10. And the best way to experience Windows 10 is on a new PC. While it is possible to install Windows 10 on your older device, it is not recommended.

Microsoft advises users of such old machines to migrate their data to a cloud storage service, then reinstall on a new Windows XP machine.

Unpatched machines running the old Windows XP OS were one of the major factors in the worldwide spread of the WannaCry Trojan in 2017.

Wannacry infected 400,000 machines worldwide in 150 countries, with 47 NHS organisations affected in the UK, and operations delayed up and down the country.

A devastating cyber attack targeting British democracy or critical infrastructure such as finance or energy is a matter of when, not if, Britains cyber security chief warned last year.

Ciaran Martin, head of the National Cyber Security Centre, made the remarks as he released figures showing the number of attacks on the UK in the last 15 months.

Martin told The Guardian that Britain had been lucky to avoid a Category One attack, which could target health services or an election.

The WannaCry cyber attack was only classified as a Category Two, because there was no risk to life.
EDWARDSVILLE  A 28-year-old man was charged Monday in the the stabbing death of prominent Edwardsville attorney and philanthropist Randy Gori.

Timothy M. Banowetz, 28, of Wentzville, was charged Monday with three counts of first-degree murder along with counts for armed robbery and vehicle theft.

Gori, 47, was found dead Saturday at his sprawling Edwardsville home in the 4500 block of Mooney Creek Road. His black 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV, one of many cars in Gori's collection, had been stolen.

Investigators with the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis believe the killing was premeditated, but did not know of a direct connection between Banowetz and Gori, said Capt. Dave Vucich with the Madison County Sheriff's Office in a Monday press conference.

Police found Banowetz between about 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday in a wooded area near Gori's home and later found the stolen vehicle in the same area, police said Monday. Police believe Banowetz acted alone.

At the time of the killing, there were two children  who police declined to identify present in the household, but Vucich said Gori's actions during the attack likely saved their lives.

"I think Randy was a hero in this case," he said.

Police said Banowetz lived a "transient" lifestyle, but stayed around the St. Louis metro area.

When (violent criminals) come to Madison County, they get Madison County justice, said Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons. And true justice will be served in this case. This defendant will see the rest of his life behind bars if we have anything to say about it.

Gori was a high-profile lawyer whose firm, the Gori Law Firm, specialized in asbestos litigation nationwide, touting more than $3 billion in compensation for clients and offices in Edwardsville, St. Louis, New Orleans, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Orlando and New York. Gori was also the founder of Gori, Realtors and Gori Property Management.

He was a husband and father of two young children at the time of his death, friends say. He had a passion for collecting vehicles  especially Ferraris. He owned 20 Ferraris and has served as vice president of the Ferrari Club of America  Missouri & Southern Illinois chapter.

Gori was also known for large charitable donations.

He recently pledged to donate $2.5 million to the city of Edwardsville to help build the city a 40,000-square-foot ice rink. The city announced last month the new rink would be named the Gori Family Ice Complex in his honor.

"We are struggling to get our heads around this sickening and senseless murder," said Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton who had recently posed for photos with Gori following the donation. "I knew Randy as a friend and a tireless businessman. He was heavily involved in our Downtown Edwardsville revitalization, but more importantly, his investments were secondary to his philanthropy."

In 2019, Gori's firm, formerly Gori Julian & Associates, also donated $1 million to his alma mater, St. Louis University. Gori earned his bachelors degree from SLU in 1995 and a law degree from SLU Law in 1998. The donation prompted the institution to rename a lobby of its downtown law school the "Gori Julian Grand Lobby."

Friends say Gori loomed large as a figure in the Metro East legal community.

His death was a total shock, said Troy Walton of Walton Telken Injury Attorneys. Walton knew Gori both professionally and as a friend, and said the impact on both the legal community and the local Madison County community is devastating.

He did more for more people than just about anybody I know, Walton said. Randy was the type of guy who, if you needed something, you could just ask him for it. He was as charitable as anybody. Ive known him for many years, and Im not aware of him saying no to any group or organization that needed anything.

Madison County Chief Judge William A. Mudge also considered Gori a friend.

"An evil and senseless act has taken a wonderful father, lawyer and friend from the legal community," Mudge said in a statement. "He approached everyone with a smile and was dedicated to the pursuit of justice for his clients."

He was a very successful lawyer obviously, and he was humble in his success, Tor Hoerman of Tor Hoerman Law, LLC said. "He didn't crave the center of attention, and he succeeded nonetheless."

Gori's firm posted on social media Sunday evening mourning the loss.

"Randy was a true leader, and a wonderful attorney and friend and a champion of our community," the post read. "He gave so much to everyone he knew both personally and professionally."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis at 618-296-5544.

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Industrialist Kishore Mariwala recently shared an anecdote on social media chronicling his embarrassment over India's reputation abroad.

Mariwala took to Facebook to narrate the incident reminiscent of the recent spate of intolerance towards Muslims in India in the wake of anti-CAA protests, NRC and the latest clash between the police and students at eminent universities (Jamia, JNU and Aligarh Muslim University).

The 84-year-old entrepreneur recounted his recent sailing holiday in Phuket in Thailand, where he had chartered a yacht.

When Mariwala contacted the chartering company's office, the receptionist enquired if he was from India and if he was a Hindu.

Also Read:A lot of learnings from Kaya have been have been used in AquaCentric Therapy: Marico Founder, Harsh Mariwala

"I was ashamed! I have come to Phuket, Thailand for a sailing holiday. I have chartered a yacht with a skipper for sailing for a week. On arrival here yesterday, I went to the chartering company's office to finalise the arrangements. At the office, the receptionist took down all the necessary details & then asked me, "Sir, you are from India. Are you a Hindu"?" he chronicled.

When the industrialist asked the manager the reason for asking such a question, the executive replied, "Sir, all our skippers except one have gone with our other yachts. The only one left is a Muslim. I hope you don't mind that".

A shell-shocked Mariwala asked the manager, "Why are you asking this? Why should I mind?"

The executive then responded, "We read in the newspapers that Hindus don't want Muslims near them so we were worried about it."

Also Read: RBI's 2018 notification excluded Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh to open bank account in India

Mariwala said he was "ashamed beyond words" on hearing this. Retaining his calm, he explained to the manager that "not only I, but most of the cultured Hindus don't behave like what you must've read."

The episode left the industrialist ashamed of India's reputation abroad. "IS THIS IS OUR REPUTATION ABROAD- AMONGST COMMON PEOPLE? I was really ashamed (sic)," Mariwala wrote.

His billionaire nephew Harsh Mariwala, chairman, Marico Ltd. also took to Twitter on January 6 to condemn the JNU violence when an unruly mob of men and women attacked students and faculty members in the university campus.

"Coming from the land of non-violence, it's unbecoming of us to witness and encourage these acts of violence. Extremely hurt seeing last evening's news," he tweeted.

Coming from the land of non-violence, it's unbecoming of us to witness and encourage these acts of violence. Extremely hurt seeing last evening's news . - Harsh Mariwala (@hcmariwala) January 6, 2020

(Edited by: Manali)

Also Read: Anti-CAA protests: Thousands take part in 'Million March' in Hyderabad

Also Read: Upper caste Hindus own 41 per cent of India's total wealth: study
DANBURY  More details have emerged about the July incident at MCCA that resulted in a two-hour manhunt and ended with a Bristol man being shot by a city police officer.

Aaron Bouffard, 31, is being held at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in Uncasville on assault, threatening, breach of peace and disorderly conduct charges, stemming from an incident at the Old Ridgebury Road rehabilitation center six months ago.

Bouffard  whose case at state Superior Court in Danbury will resume Friday  is accused of fighting with a staff member and clients at the rehabilitation center on Old Ridgebury Road the morning of July 3.

The trouble started before 9 a.m., when a 32-year-old fellow MCCA patient woke up to Bouffard punching him in the face, according to a police warrant affidavit.

The man  who had arrived at MCCA for treatment only hours before  said he and Bouffard had history. Years earlier, he told police, Bouffard assaulted and robbed him in Waterbury and wound up serving three years in jail for it.

After being ordered to leave the mans room the morning of July 3, a program director at MCCA told police Bouffard went into another clients room around 8:50 a.m. and became involved in a physical altercation.

The director said she instructed two staff members to intervene and called 911  one of several calls police received from MCCA that morning.

Bouffard had been administratively discharged from the facility that morning for non-compliance with their program rules, the arrest warrant states.

Shortly after, he was seen pacing back and forth  holding two big butcher knives in the back parking lot of the building around 9:45 a.m., an MCCA counselor told police.

The counselor told officers Bouffard appeared to be in the type of agitation where you can not calm down and he saw him take his shirt off and walk towards a fence separating MCCA and the Springhill Suites hotel.

A chef at MCCA told police Bouffard took the knives from the kitchen around 9:20 a.m. After seeing this, the chef said he pressed an emergency button to notify staff.

With Bouffard gone by the time police got to MCCA, a manhunt ensued  ending around 10:45 a.m., when Bouffard was shot by Danbury Police Officer Alexander Relyea in the area of Old Ridgebury and Reserve roads.

Police said Bouffard was armed with two knives and did not follow orders to drop them when Relyea  the same officer who shot and killed a man months prior  encountered him in a recreational area on the former Union Carbide property.

Bouffards mother, Sherry Bouffard, said her son told her he didnt hear police orders to drop the knives.

According to state police, Relyea fired several rounds at Bouffard, striking him in the thigh, pelvis area and finger. Bouffards mother, however, claims her son was also shot in the ribs and has a bullet lodged in his spine.

Before the July 3 incident, Bouffard had been arrested 14 times, according to police.

Bouffard has pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and first-degree threatening, and not guilty to the disorderly conduct and second-degree breach of peace charges. He is also facing a violation of probation charge as a result of the incident.

He is being represented by public defender John T. Walkley at state Superior Court in Danbury.
He's given up on his sex ed clinic right before the whole school deals with an outbreak of chlamydia! To make things worse, the school reaches out to his sex therapist mum to help combat it.

Hopefully he can patch things up with Meave to kick the clinic off again - before things get way too awkward at school.


Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 14:14:52|Editor: ZX

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SUVA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Education Ministry has set its target to improve national results and achieve higher pass rates in this 2020 academic year.

With classes to start next Monday, the ministry has advised schools to analyze their 2019 provisional results and develop strategies for further improvement.

Education Minister Rosy Akbar said Tuesday that teachers and students needed to work as a unit to improve academic performance.

"If we look at the academic side of things, we would expect the schools to analyze their results and come up with strategies for improvements in the national results for 2020," she said.

Teachers are expected to be in school from Wednesday to prepare for the new academic term.

Akbar said teachers must adhere to the student-free days which required them to be in school three days prior to the start of classes for a new school year.

Akbar said the ministry was relying on teachers and school management to work together so that students would start their new year without any issues next Monday.

"I'd like to urge the heads of schools and the management to work together to ensure that we are ready to receive not only our teachers on the 8th but also all the students to start school," Akbar said.

Akbar said all the 737 primary schools and 173 secondary schools will be open for classes next Monday.
HOUSTON, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Two astronaut candidates with ties to North Carolina will be honored as part of the first class of astronaut candidates to graduate under the Artemis program Friday, Jan. 10, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

After completing more than two years of basic training, these candidates will become eligible for spaceflight, including assignments to the International Space Station (ISS), Artemis missions to the Moon, and ultimately, missions to Mars.

The ceremony will air live at 10:30 a.m. EST on NASA Television and the agency's website. The new graduates also will be available for in-person and remote media interviews following the ceremony.

The class includes 11 NASA candidates, as well as two Canadian Space Agency (CSA) candidates, selected in 2017. The NASA candidates were chosen from a record-setting pool of more than 18,000 applicants. The CSA candidates have been training alongside their NASA classmates.

To participate, North Carolina media must submit requests for credentials and interviews to Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. Those following the briefing on social media may ask questions using #AskNASA.

Zena Cardman calls Williamsburg, Virginia, home. She completed a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's degree in marine sciences at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Cardman was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow working at The Pennsylvania State University. Her research focused on microorganisms in subsurface environments, ranging from caves to deep sea sediments. Her field experience includes multiple Antarctic expeditions, work aboard research vessels as both a scientist and crew member, and NASA analog missions in British Columbia, Idaho and Hawaii.

Bob Hines, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, attended high school in Mountaintop, Pennsylvania and now considers Harrisburg, Pennsylvania his hometown. He has a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from Boston University and a master's degree in flight test engineering from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Hines served as a developmental test pilot on all models of the F-15 while earning a master's in aerospace engineering from the University of Alabama. He has deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Prior to being selected as an astronaut, he was an FAA flight test pilot and a NASA research pilot at Johnson.

All astronaut candidates have completed training in spacewalking, robotics, ISS systems, T-38 jet proficiency, and Russian language. At the ceremony, each candidate will receive an astronaut pin, marking their graduation from basic training and their eligibility to be selected to fly in space.

As astronauts, they'll help develop spacecraft, support the teams currently in space and ultimately, have the opportunity to join the ranks of only about 500 people who have had the honor of going into space. NASA continues its work aboard the space station, which is preparing to mark the 20th consecutive year of humans living onboard in November 2020. The agency also is on the verge of launching Americans from American soil aboard commercial spacecraft and is preparing to send humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis program.

Find additional photos of the astronaut candidates and their training here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/albums/72157698260056092

SOURCE NASA
ALTON  Aldermen meeting as a committee of the whole on Monday preliminarily approved the annual update to the citys Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan and eight material proposals for the 2020 Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Maintenance Program.

A third resolution  addressing proposed repairs to the destabilizing retaining wall along Riverview Drive  was again deferred due to ongoing communications with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

To meet ADA requirements, the fall 2019 update to the citys ADA Transition Plan outlines the grievance procedure and results of self-evaluation in addition to ADA recommendations. Modeled after other municipalities in Illinois, the plan uses checklists provided by the Institute for Human Centered Design and identifies 42 publicly owned buildings, parks and parking lots, in addition to public curbs and sidewalks.

Also included in the plan are recommendations for city-operated websites and the training of city personnel. An open house was held Dec. 5, 2019, on the citys revised ADA transition plan, with the annual public hearing held Dec. 18.

Eight material proposals for the 2020 MFT Maintenance Program also were accepted at Mondays meeting. Proposals from Asphalt Sales and Products, Mahoney Asphalt, Piasa Road Oil, Beelman Logistics, Bluff City Minerals and Kienstra Illinois were accepted for various concrete, stone, sand and asphalt materials.

A decision on repairs on Riverview Drive continues to be laid over until a determination is made from FEMA regarding disaster relief funding for damage to the wall, which occurred during torrential rainfall and record flooding in the region last spring.

Public Works Department employees first noticed cracks in the retaining wall along Riverview Drive west of Riverview Park after heavy rains in May and June. Additional downpours in August caused the walls condition to worsen.

The road was closed and the city sought an engineering assessment of the damage, along with options for repairing the wall. In the hope of receiving disaster relief funding from FEMA for the repair  estimated between $169,000 to more than $561,000  the city has yet to decide which of three proposed solutions they will pursue.

Altons Committee of the Whole meets at 6 p.m. on Mondays preceding Wednesday council meetings inside Alton City Hall, 101 E. 3rd St.
The Russian and Chinese envoys at the UN say they oppose the New Year's Eve attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad but insist that a statement by the international body's Security Council condemning it should address the subsequent U.S. killing of Iran's top military commander.



Their stance prompted the United States on January 6 to accuse the two permanent members of the Security Council of blocking a statement that emphasizes the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises after Iran-backed Shi'ite militias attacked the U.S. Embassy compound in Iraq.



Statements by the 15-member Security Council must be agreed on by consensus.



The U.S. diplomatic mission at the UN said 27 countries had censured the attack on the Baghdad Embassy "in stark contrast to the United Nations Security Council's silence due to two permanent members -- Russian and China -- not allowing a statement to proceed."



President Donald Trump on January 3 authorized an air strike in Iraq that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. The drone strike sharply escalated tensions between Washington and Tehran to a boiling point and carried both into uncharted waters.



As head of the Quds Force, the foreign arm of Iran's hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the 62-year-old Soleimani helped orchestrate Tehran's overseas clandestine and military operations.



Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said that although he agreed with the proposed U.S. statement condemning the embassy attack, it would've been "impossible" not to mention the U.S. killing of Soleimani.



Similarly, Chinese UN Ambassador Zhang Jun said that "if the [Security] Council is supposed to do something, we should have complete coverage of the whole thing."



Meanwhile, Brazil's right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, spoke out in support of Trump on January 6 amid widespread criticism of the killing of Soleimani.



"We don't accept terrorism," Bolsonaro told journalists in Brasilia as quoted by AFP.



He added that "if we have a terrorist in Brazil, we would deliver him" to justice.



The same day, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimer Makey and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, saying he "appreciated" their "support in condemning the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad."

With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters
Federal Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud says he will announce a bushfire support package for businesses in the coming days

Federal Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud says he will announce a bushfire support package for businesses in the coming days, that will include interest-free loans.

The head of the newly-established bushfire recovery agency Andrew Colvin and Mr Littleproud have stayed in Canberra to iron out the package.

The minister said they'd provide small businesses with interest-free loans up to $500,000 that would be repayment-free for two years.

'We're not talking about months down the track that we'll be putting announcements out. We'll be talking in the next few days that there'll be further announcements,' Mr Littleproud said.

'We've got to get the grant work right now, and then that's the first phase and then obviously, the broader one is going out and listening and that's where Andrew will be out there, sitting at kitchen tables, listening to people, understanding their story.'

Five firefighter unions and associations on Wednesday are expected to call for a federal royal commission into Australia's bushfires - days after Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he'd consider one.

The firefighters organisations say the number of stakeholders, issues and communities affected mean a federal inquiry could ensure Australia was better prepared to prevent, mitigate and respond to similar outcomes in the future.

Mr Morrison has signalled he's willing to sacrifice a federal budget surplus after announcing a $2 billion relief package.

A burned out home and car are seen in Balmoral, New South Wales, after bushfires struck

A coalition of 30 former fire and emergency chiefs from every state and territory welcomed the relief package but called on the government to act on climate change.

Former commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW Greg Mullins said it was responsible for the fires which have destroyed seven times more homes than NSW's previous worst bushfire disaster in 1994.

'The unprecedented, horrific conditions of this bushfire season have been aggravated by climate change driven by the burning of coal, oil and gas,' Mr Mullins said.

'The government's continued refusal to consider a credible climate policy that phases out fossil fuels and achieves deep cuts to emissions means that we and future generations will continue to face worsening extreme weather.

'It is pointless to help with one hand and cause harm with the other.'
Qatars financial regulator has clamped down on cryptocurrency trading after announcing it will block all digital asset services in the nation.

The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Regulatory Authority released a statement addressing the ban last week, revealing that virtual asset services may not be conducted in or from the QFC at this time.

Qatari citizens are now banned from trading anything which could serve to replace traditional fiat currencies or be used for digital payments.

The ban also encompasses the conversion of digital assets into fiat, exchanges between one or more types of virtual assets, and the safekeeping and administration of virtual assets or instruments enabling control over them.

Digital securities or other financial instruments which are currently regulated by the QFC Regulatory Authority, Qatar Central Bank, or the Qatar Financial Markets Authority do not fall under the ban, reports International Investment.

Qatar is not the only nation to take a stricter stance on cryptocurrencies this month.

On January 10 2020, the European Union (EU) will implement a new law  known as the EU Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD)  which requires cryptocurrency platforms and wallet providers to identify their customers for anti-money laundering purposes.

Some countries such as Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are expected to implement the 5AMLD law by the deadline this week, but other nations are resisting it.

The United Kingdom has decided to implement the law despite its decision to leave the EU.

Coin Rivet has contacted the QFC Regulatory Authority for a comment, but a response has yet to be received.

Interested in reading more country-focused news relating to cryptocurrency? Discover more about Venezuela selling oil and gold for petro coins.

The post Qatar clamps down on crypto trading appeared first on Coin Rivet.
We dont know his name, or his face. Just that he was wearing brown loafers.

The 65-year-old man whose shoes were left behind on Jarvis Street south of Gerrard Street East after he was hit Saturday night is still just a statistic. One more anonymous person killed in a hit-and-run on Toronto streets. The first of 2020.

But not every victim is nameless.

Just the next day, Peel police released the name and photo of 16-year-old Dianna Manan, who they say was left to die in a hit-and-run in Brampton early Sunday.

The two cases and two different approaches highlight the questions of when and why police should release the identities of pedestrians and cyclists killed on city streets. Toronto police, for example, say they dont release the identities of victims of fatal traffic collisions, as standard practice.

Should that change?

South of the border, the New York Police Department regularly IDs road victims. And some advocates argue putting human faces on these deaths is an important step to getting the public  and politicians  to take them more seriously.

Spokesperson Const. Danny Martini said Peel police made the decision in the Manan case for investigative purposes.

Just because theres so little information to go off of, its just to get public awareness, she said.

Its traditionally case-by-case whether to give out names of road victims, she said, just because its so situational and every case presents so differently.

Peel police have guidelines on the issue, Martini added, but it is something theyre looking at getting more structured wording on.

If anyone recognizes the teen, a Grade 11 student who loved music and art and wanted to be a pediatrician, they might have some information that could help the case, she added.

And, it makes it more real.

Spokesperson Const. Caroline de Kloet said Toronto police dont release the names or road deaths as a standard procedure, unlike with homicide victims. But, on rare occasions, the service may also release an identity for investigative purposes, she said.

We dont name them, we never do, she said, adding she is not sure of the rationale for the practice.

Of the 42 pedestrians and one cyclist killed in Toronto last year, by the Stars count just a single victim was formally named by Toronto police, several days after her family had already identified her to the Star and other media.

Celeste Jones, a 34-year-old beloved daughter and sister who loved books, film and television, was killed in August after a driver hit her as she crossed Sheppard Avenue East, and then fled.

Her family kept a vigil over the spot where she was hit, hoping the person who left her would turn themselves in. In an interview with the Star, her father begged drivers to be more humane.

The case is still unsolved.

Releasing Joness name was something that was done through Crime Stoppers, de Kloet said, noting the group had made a video re-enactment of the crash.

(In 2019, four of the citys 42 pedestrian victims were killed while on foot on a 400-series highway, which are patrolled by the Ontario Provincial Police. Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said the OPP releases the names of these victims except in cases of suicide.)

Last year was one of Torontos most deadly for pedestrian deaths in recent years, tied with 2018 for the highest since 2002, when 50 were killed.

Several of the pedestrians killed were named by the Star or other media after reporters spoke with witnesses, friends and family. Their stories often made it to the front page and the citys morning shows  but most victims were never identified.

Those unnamed victims included people like the 76-year-old woman who was hit twice and killed while crossing a Scarborough crosswalk  by the drivers of both a turning transport truck and, minutes later, a car  around midday in August. Neither driver stayed with her.

At least 25 of those pedestrians were over the age of 60. Many were killed on large suburban streets in areas such as Scarborough.

In New York, NYPD spokesperson Sgt. Mary ODonnell said that force releases the names and identities of any killed pedestrians and cyclists after notifying family as a matter of public record, just like Toronto police and others do for homicides.

New York, like Toronto, has seen a recent rise in traffic deaths amid efforts to implement a Vision Zero road safety plan.

Last summer, Toronto city council approved a beefed-up version 2.0 of the plan, adding more red light cameras and reducing speed limits on some streets.

Identifying victims is something Gil Penalosa, founder and chair of the non-profit 8 80 Cities would like to see become commonplace.

Its very, very important to release the names of all pedestrians and cyclists killed by drivers, he said.

Following the 2018 Yonge St. van attack, in which a driver intentionally mowed down 26 pedestrians in North York, the names of the 10 killed victims were officially released by the provincial coroner and Toronto police a few days after the crime. (By that time, local media had already named many of the victims.)

The stories of those victims, complete with relatable details of their lives, were widely published along with their photos.

So, all of a sudden, people realized it could have been me, Penalosa said.

Releasing identities is a way to humanize road safety and help mobilize public opinion and spur politicians to action, he said.

This is a huge crisis, that people are afraid to go out and walk because they might be killed, he said.

And I think that having the faces  and not only the faces, but as much as possible about the person and the family, then (the public will) realize, oh, its a high school student, or its a mom, or its a dad.

As the World Health Organization put it in a 2007 report on road traffic crashes: Behind each statistic there is a story of a father or mother, son or daughter, brother or sister, grandchild, colleague, classmate or friend whose life was transformed in an instant by a road crash.

Lawyer and road safety advocate Patrick Brown takes a cautious approach.

If a family consented to the release of the name of the person who was killed, then I would think that it would be helpful for the police to release that name in order to change behaviour, he said.

If consent was not provided, I would not expect them at all to release the name.

Theres a positive side to putting a name and face out there, he said, but the families are also victims, and you dont want to victimize them twice.

But Brown and Penalosa agree the advocacy from the families of road crash victims and survivors has resulted in positive change, both in Toronto and in other cities.

In my experience, many of them feel compelled to want to have change, and do want at times to get the story out so that it doesnt happen to other people, Brown said.

They want to end this.
RICHMOND, Va. - A panel of federal judges has thrown out the permit for a natural gas pumping station in the historic African American community of Union Hill in Buckingham County, saying state regulators failed to consider whether the facility would disproportionately impact a vulnerable population.

The ruling is another in a series of setbacks for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a controversial 600-mile, $7.5 billion project being led by Dominion Energy.

Issued Tuesday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, the decision faulted Virginia's Air Pollution Control Board for an action that it said was "arbitrary, capricious, and unsupported by substantial evidence in the record."

The panel of judges - Chief Judge Roger Gregory, Judge Stephanie Thacker and Judge James Wynn - said the board glossed over concerns that the project was unduly harmful to a minority community.

"Environmental justice is not merely a box to be checked," the judges wrote, "and the Board's failure to consider the disproportionate impact on those closest to the Compressor Station resulted in a flawed analysis."

The judges also ruled that the state failed to consider whether electric turbines would have been cleaner than the proposed gas-fired turbines.

Dominion can reapply for the air permit, but the state wouldhave to evaluate that applicationbased on the expectations laid out in Tuesday's ruling.

"Our clients felt like Dominion was trying to erase their community out of existence," said Greg Buppert, a lawyer for the Southern Environmental Law Center who worked on the case. "Whether or not a compressor station is in fact suitable for this site, I think, is an open question - and a significant risk for Dominion if they push forward here."

A Dominion spokesman said the utilityremains committed to building the project in Union Hill.

"We will immediately begin working with the state to resolve the procedural issues identified by the Court and are confident this can be completed in a timely manner," spokesman Aaron Ruby said via email. "We expect the project will still deliver significant volumes to customers under our existing timeline, even as we work to resolve this permit."

The Atlantic Coast Pipeline originates in gas fields in West Virginia and is set to cross the heart of Virginia, terminating in North Carolina. Construction has been suspended since December 2018 because of several federal court rulings that revoked permits.

In perhaps the most serious threat to the project, federal judges ruled that the U.S. Forest Service lacked authority to allow the pipeline to tunnel under the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. Dominion appealed that case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is set to hear arguments late next month.

The pipeline has drawn a passionate army of opponents along its length. But none has been more persistent or outspoken than those around Union Hill, a community settled by free blacks and former enslaved people around the time of the Civil War.

Members of two black Baptist churches formed an unlikely alliance with the residents of Yogaville, a nearby ashram, to oppose the project. Together they have won national attention; last year former vice president Al Gore and civil rights leader William Barber toured the site and called on Gov. Ralph Northam, D, to step in to stop the project.

Dominion, meanwhile, hired a former state Secretary of Agriculture whose family is from Union Hill to spread goodwill in the community, offering a $5 million package of incentives including a community center and ambulances. But Dominion also asserted that the population around the proposed site was not heavily African American, using broad Census data in its analysis.

Lakshmi Fjord, an adjunct professor at the University of Virginia, countered that claim with a door-to-door survey showing the vast majority of the residents closest to the site areblack.

The state Air Board, a panel appointed by the governor, ultimately made no determination about the racial makeup of Union Hill. At least two of the four members said at the final permit hearing that they were persuaded it was an environmental justice issue, but said they believed emissions from the project would be so low it was a moot point.

The court's ruling Tuesday said that conclusion was not adequate. Even if the compressor station is exemplary, the judges wrote, "what matters is whether the Board has performed its statutory duty to determine whether this facility is suitable for this site, in light of [environmental justice] and potential health risks for the people of Union Hill. It has not."
In rating the past decade, Max Boot, in his Jan. 2 op-ed, What follows the Terrible Tens could be even worse, cheered robust economic growth, and climate change was noted as a separate, unfortunate item. But in the worlds current fossil-fuel-based economy, they are closely linked. Fossil fuels enable most human life, they enable many conveniences, and they enable the benefits of rising markets, all at the cost of a stable climate.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.  In 2013, Sonos scored a coup when Google agreed to design its music service to work easily with Sonoss home speakers. For the project, Sonos handed over the effective blueprints to its speakers.

It felt like a harmless move, Sonos executives said. Google was an internet company and didnt make speakers.

The executives now say they were naive.

On Tuesday, Sonos sued Google in two federal court systems, seeking financial damages and a ban on the sale of Googles speakers, smartphones and laptops in the United States. Sonos accused Google of infringing on five of its patents, including technology that lets wireless speakers connect and synchronize with one another.

Sonoss complaints go beyond patents and Google. Its legal action is the culmination of years of growing dependence on both Google and Amazon, which then used their leverage to squeeze the smaller company, Sonos executives said.
No arrests made in JNU campus violence case in over 1.5 years: Govt informs Parliament

JNU to impose night curfew in campus between 10 pm-5 am

JNU violence: FIR against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh for vandalism

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 08: JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, who was attacked by a masked, armed mob and received head injuries during Sunday's violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University, has been booked for vandalism.

The JNU administration had given the names of students union office bearers including its president Aishe Gosh in connection with the vandalism but police have not put her name or that of other students in the accused column of the FIRs.

One complaint was lodged on January 3 for switching off the server while another complaint was registered on January 4 for vandalising the server room, police said.

JNU violence: No arrests yet, FIR filed against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh | OneIndia News

JNUSU Vice President Saket Moon alleged that the administration is selectively targeting some students and denied any involvement in the vandalism of the server room.

Violence had broken out at JNU on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus.

JNU violence: Protesters shifted from Gateway of India to Azad Maidan in Mumbai

"I have been brutally beaten up by people wearing masks. I do not know. I was there with one of my activists when I was brutally beaten up. I am not even able to talk," the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president said in the video.

At least 28 people, including Ghosh, were injured as chaos reigned on the campus for nearly two hours.
LG Electronics' employees pose while promoting the company's OLED display installation called New Wave, which is made up of some 200 curved OLED panels, at its booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Jan. 6. / Courtesy of LG Electronics



By Baek Byung-yeul



Web-enabled TVs, mobility technology, robots and fifth-generation (5G) network-backed services are among the key points for this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which will kick off in Las Vegas, Wednesday (KST), organizers and participating companies said.



The CES is still the world's most influential technology exhibition, offering chances for industry officials to take a close look the latest trend in the global technology industry. This year's show will feature 4,400 companies from all over the world and is expected to garner about 170,000 visitors from 160 countries.



Major heavyweights Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, Qualcomm, Sony and Intel are set to unveil their new business strategies and what are believed to be stunning products, inviting global media and industry officials to their media event before the official launch date.



From South Korea's standpoint, Samsung and LG, the two biggest domestic tech rivals, will compete for who has smarter TVs with better ultra-high resolution, to put an end to the ongoing debate over the definition of 8K TV.



The world's No. 1 and No. 2 TV maker has been tit-for-tat over contrast modulation value as LG has claimed Samsung's 8K TV has low contrast modulation value.



At the CES 2020, LG will introduce a new lineup for its 8K TV, which satisfies the 8K requirements of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the organizer of the tech fair. Samsung also earned a certification from the 8K Association to legitimize its standards for 8K resolution.



Both Samsung and LG said they have applied their advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and Internet of Things (IoT) to its appliances to better offer enhanced personalized services.



Robots are another key theme for the CES event. Among the Korean companies, Samsung will introduce new robots incorporating its new AI technology called NEON. The new robot is an expansion of its robot platform Samsung Bot, which was introduced at the 2019 event.



LG will also introduce its AI technology-featured robot products ranging from those for the business environment to home-help robots.





Samsung Electronics' employees pose with the firm's 5G network-based digital cockpit for future vehicles at its booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Jan. 6. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
Samsung have unveiled a tiny robot assistant in the shape of a ball, which can roll around and help patrol a users home - and even act as a fitness buddy.

The tech giant unveiled Ballie during one of two keynotes at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Samsung consumer electronics CEO H.S. Kim demonstrated how the ball-shaped bot is able to follow its owner around, traveling closely but also recognizing personal space and speed.

Samsung's Ballie was revealed during one of two keynotes at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

Samsung consumer electronics CEO H.S. Kim demonstrated how the ball-shaped bot works

When Kim stepped forward, Ballie reacted by wheeling itself further back; when Kim began to increase his pace, Ballie sped up.

I think he likes me, Kim said turning to the crowd.

Ballie is also voice-activated. Kim was able to call the device to attention by uttering Say hello, Ballie.

Samsung says that users can employ the device to patrol their home and keep them safe, and as a fitness assistant that gently nudges users to keep moving.

It can also be used as a remote control that helps seniors connect with the other smart devices in their home - and call for help in an emergency.

The company says that it wants Ballie to be much more than just another device, however. Samsung says users can use Ballie to capture events with its camera or as a companion that can keep pets company.

Ballie followed Kim around the stage at CES

Sebastian Seung, executive vice president at Samsung Research, reveals the new robot

Ballie fits in nicely, not just with Samsungs Age of Experience motto, but with its new breed of virtual assistants and lifestyle products.

In addition to Ballie, Samsung gave the first ever demonstration of a separate, health-focused, AI assistant which can be coupled with hardware called Gems to optimize workouts.

Gems, which stands for Gait Enhancing & Motivating System, is a suite of devices that uses AR glasses and a low-profile exoskeleton - sensors that are strapped around a users hips - to map and analyze ones movements.

Through the AR glasses, users are aided by a virtual assistant that is superimposed on-screen. The assistant talks them through the work out and gives them advice as they go along.

Samsung says that users can employ the device to patrol their home and keep them safe

Data gleaned from the exoskeleton and a users workout can be sent to a professional for more analysis.

On top of improving workouts, Samsung has positioned the device as a means of helping the physically impaired regain and strengthen their motor skills.

While the introduction of Ballie and new GEMS features were unexpected, the tech giants supposed Artificial Human called Neon was notably absent from the keynote.

Neon was teased in the weeks ahead of CES, though Samsung has yet to fully relay what it is or what it will do.

While details about what Neon will actually do are sparse, the company has suggested that it will be smart enough to act as a kind of AI companion, or 'best friend.'

Samsung has also been careful about the language it has used to describe Neon.

Instead of calling it a virtual assistant or artificial intelligence, the company has used phrases like 'artificial human' or 'artificial intelligence being.'

Details on Neon are likely to surface before CES is done.
For years now the problem has been clear: the US healthcare system works for very few Americans. The majority of the debate has been focused on how we should be getting our healthcare and who should be paying for it, and while these are important questions, debating logistics may not be the place to start.

Perhaps it is the very nature of healthcare that needs rethinking.

Our healthcare system is often dubbed the safety net, says Denise LaRue, Director of Care Integration for Harris Health System in Houston. For me, that provides the visual of catching people when they fall. But as more and more people fall, the net will have to get bigger or it will break, and thats just no longer possible. We need to figure out how to reduce the number of people falling in the first place.

Reducing the number of people who need care is at the core of a sea change in modern healthcare philosophy. This new way of thinking, called Population Health, seeks a more holistic, preventative approach to healthcare.

It turns out your zip code is a bigger determinant of a persons health outcomes than your genetic code, says Karen Tseng. She would know. As a nonresident fellow in health policy at the Baker Institute and the Senior Vice President for Population Health Transformation at Harris Health System, Tseng has spent the last few years advocating for and coordinating a massive overhaul of how we deliver healthcare. The research shows that the foundation of health is one part medical and five parts socio-economic.

For Tseng, knowing this begs the question: what is the true nature of our job as healthcare providers? She and her team think they have found an answer, one that fundamentally shifts the way healthcare systems interact with a population.

Harris Health has created Community Health Hubs to enhance the accessibility of upstream care to underserved Houston communities. These are not medical clinics in the traditional sense, Tseng insists. Rather, Community Health Hubs are locations that offer integrated services, like healthcare, housing assistance, food and other basic social services needed to improve lives and overall health outcomes.

Harris Health System

Imagine the Health Hub as a one-stop-shop that addresses not only a persons clinical care but many of the socio-economic determinants of health as well. Harris Health chose three strategic locations for their initial Health Hubs: Acres Home Health Center in north Houston, LBJ Hospital in the Northeast quadrant of the county, and Strawberry Health Center in Pasadena.

The one thing all these locations have in common is food insecurity, says Care Integration Director, Denise LaRue. We see in these communities such a high prevalence of metabolic diseaseshigh blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetesthat it made sense for us to start with providing access to healthy food.

At any one of the three Health Hubs, a patient will be able to receive chronic disease management while also being prescribed and provided with nutritious food at the Food Farmacy.

For example, a person presenting with diabetes at a traditional medical facility would most likely see a doctor who might tell them to eat half a plate of vegetables a day and reduce carbs to avoid life-threatening complications. This approach to treatment assumes many things: that the person has the means and access to healthy foods and that the person knows how to prepare healthy foods in a way that tastes good to them. It even assumes that the person has the transportation and economic means to get to the doctor in the first place.

The implementation of the Health Hubs is vital, not only for the well-being of the community but for the very existence of healthcare itself. Recall the metaphor of the safety net. The net cannot get any bigger. Healthcare costs in the US are soaring exponentially, as are insurance premiums and deductibles.

However, Population Health solutions like the Community Health Hubs may hold the key to the safety net conundrum. By transitioning to the mindset of upstream care advocated by Population Health professionals, Tseng and LaRue believe we can lower costs and provide better care simultaneously.

Its a common misconception that addressing a populations socio-economic needs is too expensive. Its not about cannibalizing our wallets and swapping out a medical dollar for a social program dollar, says Tseng. Theres a ton of low-hanging fruit in which better coordination of resources and money were already spending can improve the healthcare system drastically.

Harris Health System

Tseng cites the example of Emergency Rooms. As most know, critical care is among the most expensive types of care a person can receive. In researching who uses the ER the most, Tseng found that close to 15% of patients experiencing homelessness in Houston have visited one of Harris Healths Emergency Rooms at least once in the last year, and more than 20% of these patients have visited at least 3 times. Often these patients are seeking treatment for everyday ailments normally treated at clinics or primary care facilities or have needs that are non-medical in nature altogether.

Tseng argues that using costly ER visits for routine medical conditions is extremely wasteful. Furthermore, many of Houstons homeless can have as many as 3 or 4 different caseworkers across the city. For Tseng, Population Health is not just about caring for these vulnerable members of the population in places like Health Hubs, its about coordinating all these agencies to work together more effectively. If we did so, Tseng believes the money saved would be more than enough to really start solving larger social problems like homelessness.

From a care integration standpoint, LaRue sees better life choices through education and access to resources as the answer.

We absolutely cant continue working separately, in silos, says LaRue. The great news is that weve all realized that. The challenge now is finding out how to create those pathways to working better together.

Transportation is the next big challenge the Community Health Hubs are looking to tackle. 2020 will see a coordinated effort to get more people access to the Health Hubs. LaRue says Harris Health is actively exploring what other cities and systems have done around the US, whether that be partnering with private sector companies like Lyft or Uber, or creating carpool systems to improve no-show rates and make sure critical appointments arent missed.

In the meantime, theres plenty to do. From coordinating home visits to developing the technology to implement remote monitoring and telehealth, to patient education and care, Harris Health Community Health Hubs seek to improve the health outcomes of their patients. And by championing more efficient coordination of Houstons health resources, the inefficient duplication and re-creation of services should become a thing of the past.
Headliner

Bergamos

This lobby lounge, in the Company Building, which is home to a collection of tech start-ups, sprawls over 8,500 square feet, with cushy booths and tables, a 63-foot bar, and an arched, tiled ceiling to echo the Guastavino installation across the street in Grand Central Terminal. Its the work of Company You Keep Hospitality, a division of Company, the firm that owns the building. The restaurants food consists mostly of bar fare, like charcuterie plates, pizza bianca with various toppings, and dips like a take on cacio e pepe with flatbread. Tien Ho, who was formerly with Momofuku, Whole Foods and, briefly, Wild Ink in Hudson Yards, is the chef. Graceanne Jordan, who worked with Danny Meyer, among others, is managing the restaurant, and Anthony Merlino, formerly at the Modern, is in charge of the bar.

26 Vanderbilt Avenue (43rd Street), bergamos.co.

Opening

Torien

A tasting, or omakase, of yakitori, grilled skewered chicken many ways, will be the specialty at this offshoot of Torishiki, a highly esteemed Tokyo yakitori destination. The New York restaurant, with 16 seats at the counter, is the work of Yoshiteru Ikegawa, the yakitori expert behind the Tokyo original. He has teamed up with a larger, more international company, Showa Hospitality. In New York, the $150 tasting will start with vegetable skewers, move on to chicken parts grilled over binchotan charcoal, and end with chicken soup. (Opens Thursday)

292 Elizabeth Street (East Houston Street), no phone, torien-nyc.com.

Tiki Chick

This is the fourth in Jacob Hadjigeorgiss collection of places within a block of one another on the Upper West Side. He started with Jacobs Pickles, adding Maison Pickle, then Lucky Pickle and now this tiki bar. True to its name, the restaurant is splashed with hula decor, neon, and frozen drinks galore dispensed from machines and sporting paper umbrellas. Other drink categories are classics, originals and adventures that are meant for sharing. The food comes down to fried chicken sandwiches, three made with Spam, all by the chef Glenroy Brown.

517 Amsterdam Avenue (85th Street), tikichick.com.

Goodmans Bar

Of course the new bar and restaurant on the second floor of Bergdorf Goodmans Mens Store is smartly tailored with an Art Deco look to reflect the style of the building. Dustin Wilson, a master sommelier who worked at Eleven Madison Park, has consulted on the drinks, featuring the classics with some refined touches. Overseeing the kitchen is Austin Johnson, also of Eleven Madison Park and more recently at Frenchie in Paris. The restaurant serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and an all-day menu of oysters, mushroom soup, beef tartare, a club sandwich, king crab roll and tagliatelle with black truffles. Store hours are observed, with the restaurant open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.

745 Fifth Avenue (58th Street), second floor, 212-339-3370, web to come.
President Donald Trump pulled back from the brink of war with Iran on Wednesday, saying that Tehran appeared to be "standing down" after firing missiles -- without causing casualties -- at US troops based in Iraq. In a televised address to the nation from the White House, Trump emphasized there were "no Americans harmed" in the ballistic missile salvo aimed at two bases. While he promised to immediately impose "punishing" new economic sanctions on Tehran, Trump welcomed signs the Islamic republic "appears to be standing down" in the tit-for-tat confrontation. The comments cooled what threatened to become an uncontrolled boiling over of tensions after Trump ordered the killing last Friday of a top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani. In New York, the Nasdaq stock market index surged to a record high of 9,129.24. However, the US president, facing both an impeachment trial in Congress and a tough reelection in November, defended his targeting of a man seen by many as Iran's second most influential official. Soleimani, a national hero at home, was "the world's top terrorist" and "should have been terminated long ago," Trump said. And although Trump ended his remarks with a call for peace, he opened by stating that he would never allow Iran to procure a nuclear weapon. It was Trump's 2018 withdrawal from a multinational agreement aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions, and the reimposition of crippling economic sanctions against Tehran, which began an intensification of tensions between the two countries. - Missiles blast bases - Iran's missiles targeted the sprawling Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq and a base in Arbil, both housing American and other foreign troops from a US-led coalition fighting the remnants of the Islamic State jihadist group. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who earlier promised "revenge" for Soleimani, called the missiles a "slap in the face" against the United States. He indicated there was more to come. "The question of revenge is another issue," Khamenei said in a televised speech. Iraq's military said it also sustained no casualties. But the strike highlighted the difficult position of Iraq, caught in an ever-deepening conflict between Trump and Iran. The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, dismissed suggestions that Iran did not mean to kill Americans with the missile barrage. "I believe, based on what I saw and what I know, is that they were intended to cause structural damage, destroy vehicles and equipment and aircraft and to kill personnel. That's my own personal assessment," Milley told reporters. Iraqi President Barham Saleh rejected Iraq being a "battlefield for warring sides." At the United Nations, Iran's ambassador said in a letter to Secretary General Antonio Guterres that despite the missile firing, Iran respects Iraq's territorial integrity. Iran has powerful militia allies in Iraq and they said they intended to take revenge for Friday's US drone attack, in which top Iraqi paramilitary commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis died alongside Soleimani. Muhandis was the deputy head of Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi, a military network incorporated into the Iraqi state whose factions are backed by Tehran. Late Wednesday two rockets, fired by unidentified forces, landed in the supposedly high-security Green Zone, where US and other embassies are located, security sources said. AFP correspondents heard two loud detonations. - Unusual brazenness - The brazenness of Iran's ballistic missile strike was unusual. But as the dust settled, it appeared that Iran's attack -- coming soon after the burial of Soleimani at a funeral in front of vast crowds -- might have been more symbolic than anything. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif indicated Iran was satisfied for now. "Iran took and concluded proportionate measures in self-defense," Zarif said on Twitter. Reflecting deep concerns among Trump's domestic opponents, the Democratic-led US House of Representatives scheduled a vote for Thursday on limiting the Republican president's ability to wage war against Iran without congressional approval. "The president has made clear that he does not have a coherent strategy to keep the American people safe, achieve de-escalation with Iran and ensure stability in the region," House speaker Nancy Pelosi said. But US Defense Secretary Mark Esper insisted the United States has restored some deterrence against Iran in the wake of the Soleimani killing. "But we will see. Time will tell," Esper said. - US headaches in Iraq - The apparent de-escalation in Iran did not remove pressure from approximately 5,200 US troops stationed across Iraq, where they face pro-Iranian Shiite militias and political opposition. Paramilitary chief Qais al-Khazali -- blacklisted as a "terrorist" by the US -- said his side's response to the United States "will be no less than the size of the Iranian response." But US Vice President Mike Pence told the CBS Evening News that "we're receiving some encouraging intelligence that Iran is sending messages to those very same militias not to move against American targets or civilians." Angered at the US drone strike, the Iraqi parliament has called for expulsion of American troops, sparking embarrassing confusion at the Pentagon over how to respond. - Airliner crash kills 176 - Separately, a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 crashed just outside Tehran after taking off bound for Kiev, killing all 176 people on board shortly after Iran launched its missiles towards Iraq. There was no immediate suggestion of any link with the strikes but carriers including Air France, Royal Dutch Airlines and Lufthansa announced they were suspending flying though Iranian and Iraqi airspace as a precaution. The US aviation regulator banned civil flights over Iraq, Iran and the Gulf, citing the potential for "misidentification" of aircraft. burs-sms/dw/it
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The union that organized Mountain Equipment Co-op workers in Vancouver and Victoria has won improvements for all MEC employees across British Columbia.



"Because workers at MEC in Vancouver and Victoria voted to join a union, employees in all BC locations will receive another wage increase effective immediately," said UFCW 1518 President Kim Novak.

After negotiations for a first collective agreement between UFCW 1518 and MEC stalled late last year, the parties entered mediation. Yesterday, the mediator imposed a first collective agreement that included a wage hike for all employees, in the majority of cases up to 6%.

"We are very proud of the work of our bargaining committee as well as the commitment and solidarity of MEC workers," said President Novak. And this isnt the first time that the unions advocacy paid off for all MEC staff  not just those who belong to UFCW 1518, she added. "Barely two weeks after workers at the Vancouver flagship location voted to join our union, MEC announced wage increases to all MEC employees across Canada. Thats power."

UFCW 1518 Secretary-Treasurer Patrick Johnson said the union is pleased to have a first contract in effect for the Victoria and Vancouver locations. "Not only did our members keep the benefits they had, they have gained solid improvements. And MEC has implemented many of the same improvements, including a wage increase, to all MEC locations in BC  despite ongoing statements to the public crying the financial blues."

Workers at the MEC Vancouver location voted to join UFCW 1518 last August and while they were in negotiations for a first collective agreement, workers at the Victoria location also voted to join the union. This led to a better outcome for all staff at the bargaining table, Secretary-Treasurer Johnson commented.

"There is strength in numbers. And MEC certainly took notice when a second location voted to join our union  thats why our members got the wage increase that they did," he said. "We look forward to the opportunity to represent MEC staff in all BC locations so that workers continue to see even more gains along with the continued success of MEC in our province!"

UFCW Local 1518 represents 24,000 members working in the community health, service and hospitality, retail, industrial, and professional sectors across BC.
Protest against the JNU violence was called off here on Tuesday after the demonstrators were shifted from the Gateway of India to Azad Maidan, police said.

In the morning, several protesters, including students and women, were taken in police vans from the iconic Gateway of India in south Mumbai as roads were getting blocked and people, including tourists, were facing problems, a police official said.

Police had appealed to protesters to shift but when they didn't listen, they were "relocated" to Azad Maidan near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Sangramsingh Nishandar said.

"After the protesters were relocated, they called off their demonstration," he said.

Since the demonstration was posing problems for tourists and in traffic movement, the protesters were requested to move to the Azad Maidan, he added.

While most of the students who were part of the protest left the Azad Maidan after the demonstration was called off, some people, including women, were still at the ground, another police official said.

Earlier, hundreds of people, including students, women and senior citizens - who assembled at the iconic Gateway of India since Sunday midnight - demanded action against those behind the JNU violence and resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Violence broke out in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus. Nearly 34 people were injured in the violence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid escalating US-Iran tensions over the killing of Iran's most influential general Qassim Suleimani, the UN chief has voiced concern over the geopolitical tensions, saying such conflicts are at their highest level this century and nations are taking unpredicted decisions that have a profound risk of miscalculation.

"The New Year has begun with our world in turmoil. We are living in dangerous times," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told reporters here on Monday.

"Geopolitical tensions are at their highest level this century. And this turbulence is escalating," he said.

Warning that even nuclear non-proliferation can no longer be taken for granted, he said the "cauldron of tensions" globally is leading more and more countries to take "unpredicted decisions with unpredictable consequences and a profound risk of miscalculation".

Tensions are escalating between the US and Iran after Maj Gen Qassim Suleimani, who led the powerful Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, was killed in an American drone strike in Baghdad on Friday.

The strike was authorised by US President Donald Trump. Iran has vowed to avenge the killing of the elite Quds Force commander, and on Sunday it indicated that it would no longer be bound by the restrictions on its nuclear programme, outlined in the 2015 deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. The deal was debated in the Security Council just last month.

On Sunday, the Iraqi parliament also passed a non-binding resolution calling for US troops to leave the country, in a clear response to the killing of the Iranian general on their soil. In response, Trump has threatened Iraq with sanctions if forced to withdraw its forces, and also threatened on Twitter, to destroy multiple sites of "cultural" significance within Iran, if there are reprisal attacks against Americans.

China's Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun told reporters that Beijing is following the situation very closely and the pressing task at the moment is to prevent the situation from further escalating and running out of control.

Regarding the US pushing for a press statement on the attack on the US Embassy in Iraq, Zhang said China does not accept the US accusation.

He said China firmly supports protection of the safety of foreign missions in accordance with the international law but the US unilateral military action has led to drastic changes in regional situation.

The Chinese envoy added that action taken by the Security Council should reflect latest developments of the situation and help prevent escalation of tensions.

The US Mission to the UN blamed China and Russia for blocking a UN Security Council statement condemning the December 31 attack on the US embassy in Baghdad.

"Indeed, not allowing the United Nations Security Council to issue the most basic of statements underscoring the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises once again calls the Council's credibility into question. Such expressions of support should not be controversial or warrant courage," it said.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters that Moscow condemns strongly the attack on the American Embassy in Baghdad but the UNSC statement that was "nearly ready" was not taking into account subsequent actions like the attack on the Baghdad airport that targeted Suleimani.

"We now have to talk about territorial integrity, about sovereignty of Iraq, about the need to de-secalate in the regions and prevent developments going down the drain, in the direction of a major conflict."



Guterres told reporters that amid these global tensions, there are trade and technological conflicts that fracture world markets, undermine growth and widen inequalities.

"Our planet is on fire. The climate crisis rages on. In many parts of the world, we see many people frustrated and angry. We see increased social unrest and growing extremism, nationalism and radicalization, with a dangerous advance of terrorism, notably in Africa," the UN chief said.

He said it was clear that "this situation cannot go on. I have been following the recent rise in global tensions with great concern. I am in constant contact with leading officials around the world".

The UN chief had a clear four-point message for what needs to happen now, in capitals across the world: "Stop escalation. Exercise maximum restraint. Re-start dialogue. Renew international cooperation."



"Let us not forget the terrible human suffering caused by war. As always, ordinary people pay the highest price. It is our common duty to avoid it," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dubai ports giant DP World has hired a former Israeli intelligence official to lobby the US government for support in its bid to operate Sudans largest port terminal.

The firm signed a $5 million contract  of which $1.5 million was paid up front  with Ari Ben-Menashe and his Montreal-based Dickens & Madson firm in November to lobby Sudan for a 20-year concession with the South Port Container Terminal in Port Sudan, according to newly disclosed lobbying filings. The contract also calls on Dickens & Madson to lobby the Donald Trump administration for a grant to help maintain and develop the port, which handles most Sudanese imports.

Ben-Menashe told Al-Monitor that he has developed deep connections with Sudanese officials thanks to a controversial lobbying deal with Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the countrys former de facto military ruler. That $6 million contract with the internationally sanctioned country, signed in May 2019, has triggered investigations by both Canada and the United Nations.

Sudan struck a $2.4 billion deal on Port Sudan with a Philippine port operator under then-President Omar al-Bashir. But the transitional military council led by Dagalo scrapped the agreement in April 2019 after deposing Bashir.

Ben-Menashe told Al-Monitor that DP World had already been eyeing the port during Bashirs time. Now we have probably deeper connections with the Sudanese than they do, he said. He added that he still represents Sudanese interests but is now working for the civilian-military council that took over from the transitional military council last August.

He said the goal is to help create a Sudanese Union between Sudan and South Sudan by boosting energy exports, notably through the development of Port Sudan. South Sudan has the oil, Ben-Menashe said, and it cannot be exported, only through Sudan going north. The ultimate goal, he said, is to have two sovereign countries with open borders, movement of goods across the borders and some sort of European Union-type arrangement.

Ben-Menashe insisted he has seen quite a bit of progress in getting the US grant, adding that we hope it will be done soon, very much so. He declined to name any US officials hes talked to, however.

The lobbying push comes as DP World, which is mostly owned by the emirate of Dubai, this year made its first expansion into the oil and gas sector, acquiring Dubai-based Topaz Energy and Marine for more than $1 billion. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates has been deeply involved in Sudans transitional process and pledged to pump billions of dollars to stabilize the country after Bashirs ouster.

Rohan Advani, a senior foreign policy associate at The Century Foundation who has written about DP World and its ties to Emirati ruling families, said the UAE has made it clear that they're making a concerted effort to expand influence in that region. The trouble with Sudan, he said, is that it's under international sanctions. So, obviously, conducting business there is difficult.

DP World is no stranger to US influence campaigns. In 2006, the firm was forced to drop out of a bid to operate six US ports  despite support from the George W. Bush administration  amid congressional backlash in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Yousef al-Otaiba, the UAE ambassador to the United States, has called the experience essentially a wake-up call for the country, which has since transformed itself into a lobbying powerhouse. DP World did not respond to a request for comment.

They have expanded so much in the past 20 years that for sure their reputation has changed, Advani said.

Ben-Menashe formerly represented eastern Libyan strongman Khalifa Hifter, and last year he signed a $1 million contract to help Tunisia presidential candidate Nabil Karoui win the election. The contract became a major scandal in Tunisia and contributed to Karouis defeat after Al-Monitor first reported its existence.
BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The second annual Medical Genetics Awareness Week will be celebrated March 17-21, 2020. Through Medical Genetics Awareness Week, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) aims to promote awareness of the importance of medical genetics professionals, including medical geneticists, laboratory geneticists, genetic counselors, nurses and physician assistants, on the healthcare team. The theme of Medical Genetics Awareness Week is "Celebrating the Contributions of the Entire Medical Genetics Team to Patient Care."

New for 2020 are dedicated medical genetics awareness web pages available at www.acmg.net/medicalgeneticsawareness. These pages offer a wide range of resources including tips on how to become an ambassador for medical genetics in your workplace and community; a resource tool kit with suggestions for medical genetics-related activities and tools for use on social media; and information on careers in medical genetics.

Medical Genetics Awareness Week is celebrated to recognize the invaluable contributions that medical genetics healthcare professionals make in the diagnosis, management and prevention of genetic diseases, and the difference these professionals make in the lives of patients and families. Medical Genetics Awareness Week is also intended to educate other healthcare professionals, students and trainees on who medical geneticists are, how they are trained and what they do in the clinic and laboratory.

"As medical genetics and genomics finds a home in healthcare systems across the country, remember the valuable role that the medical and laboratory geneticist plays in delivering high quality high value care," said Anthony R. Gregg, MD, MBA, FACOG, FACMG. "Some in our community have more than 10 years of laboratory and/or clinical training after college. Our disciplines attract the "best in class." As we speak with and care for our patients, we are reminded that it is a privilege to be a part of the medical genetics teama team that includes care providers across the clinical spectrum."

Events related to Medical Genetics Awareness Week will be held during the ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting in San Antonio, Texas (www.acmgmeeting.net) March 17-21, 2020. The ACMG Annual Meeting is the largest conference specifically for clinical geneticists in the United States. Those interested in collaborating with ACMG to celebrate Medical Genetics Awareness Week, holding their own event or becoming an "ambassador" for medical genetics are invited to email [email protected] for more information.

"As a practicing clinical geneticist I have been working with individuals dealing with a genetic issue in their family for over three decades," said Maximilian Muenke, MD, FACMG, ACMG's chief executive officer. "It has been a privilege to meet and accompany families over the years and learn from their challenges and how many of them grow in the process. Even though the overall numbers of healthcare professionals in medical genetics have grown, the demand for genetics services has grown even faster. Based on the preliminary data analysis of the NCC Medical Genetics Workforce Survey, a study initiated by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, wait times to make an appointment with a medical geneticist are too long in many parts of the US. It is my hope that the Medical Genetics Awareness Week will increase knowledge of our profession in the general population and compassion for those affected by genetic conditions."

In 2019, the first ever Medical Genetics Awareness Week brought together people from across the globe to raise awareness of the important work of medical geneticists. The success of the 2020 celebration will once again rest on the participation of people everywhere. ACMG invites you to help 2020's celebration set new records for engagement by visiting the new Medical Genetics Awareness Week web pages and using the resources and tools we offer to support your celebrations. Be sure to tag @TheACMG on social media and include the following hashtags in your social media posts related to Medical Genetics Awareness Week:

#MedicalGeneticsAwareness

#IamaMedicalGeneticist

#FutureGeneticsProfessional

#IamaLabGeneticist

#IamaGeneticCounselor

#IamaNurseinGenetics

#IamaGeneticsPA

About the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and ACMG Foundation

Founded in 1991, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) is the only nationally recognized medical society dedicated to improving health through the clinical practice of medical genetics and genomics and the only medical specialty society in the US that represents the full spectrum of medical genetics disciplines in a single organization. The ACMG is the largest membership organization specifically for medical geneticists, providing education, resources and a voice for more than 2,300 clinical and laboratory geneticists, genetic counselors and other healthcare professionals, nearly 80% of whom are board certified in the medical genetics specialties. ACMG's mission is to improve health through the clinical and laboratory practice of medical genetics as well as through advocacy, education and clinical research, and to guide the safe and effective integration of genetics and genomics into all of medicine and healthcare, resulting in improved personal and public health. Four overarching strategies guide ACMG's work: 1) to reinforce and expand ACMG's position as the leader and prominent authority in the field of medical genetics and genomics, including clinical research, while educating the medical community on the significant role that genetics and genomics will continue to play in understanding, preventing, treating and curing disease; 2) to secure and expand the professional workforce for medical genetics and genomics; 3) to advocate for the specialty; and 4) to provide best-in-class education to members and nonmembers. Genetics in Medicine, published monthly, is the official ACMG journal. ACMG's website (www.acmg.net) offers resources including policy statements, practice guidelines, educational programs and a 'Find a Genetic Service' tool. The educational and public health programs of the ACMG are dependent upon charitable gifts from corporations, foundations and individuals through the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine.

Kathy Moran, MBA

[email protected]

SOURCE American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics

Related Links

http://www.acmg.net


A 14-year-old girl who was walking to school in Sonoma on Tuesday morning was abducted and sexually assaulted by a man who later tried to abduct a second victim and was subsequently arrested, police said.

Staff at Altimira Middle School called authorities at 8 a.m. Tuesday to report that a student had been sexually assaulted while walking to school, according to the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office.

Officials received a second call from an unknown source who reported that a man of a similar description had attempted to abduct a second student.

Deputies searched the area and spoke with victims. They found and arrested the suspect within two hours.

We know that parents and students are understandably very concerned about these crimes, a statement from the Sheriffs Office said. We are confident that there is only one suspect, who is in custody.

Misti Wood, a spokeswoman for the Sonoma sheriff, said the department has not yet publicly identified the suspect and will release more information Wednesday.

Really, our priority is making sure that the victims are taken care of, she said, adding that releasing more information could taint the investigation.

The middle school is part of the Sonoma Valley Unified School District. Superintendent Socorro Shiels wrote in a letter to the community that the crime affects us all.

This brave student and other student witnesses came forward to assist the police in their investigation, the letter said. Support services for students and staff at Altimira will be made available as needed following this event.

Deputies will increase patrols in the area this week, according to the Sheriffs Office. Officials recommend that students walk to school in pairs or groups, be aware of their surroundings and call 911 if they see something suspicious.

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.

Paloma Apgar, an Altimira parent, said she saw police cars around 9 a.m. at the school, but found out what happened only when her sixth-grade daughter came home with the superintendents letter informing parents of the assault.

The news was upsetting for the small, tight-knit school, Apgar said, but she still feels like it is a safe community and will continue allowing her daughter to walk to school with a group.

I feel like everybodys going about their normal (lives), Apgar said. Im sure parents are just hugging their kids a little closer tonight.

Anna Bauman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: anna.bauman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @abauman2
Australia to Pay Whatever It Takes to Fight Wildfires

SYDNEYAustralias government said Jan. 6 it was willing to pay whatever it takes to help communities recover from deadly wildfires that have ravaged the country.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government was committing an extra 2 billion Australian dollars ($1.4 billion) toward the recovery effort in addition to the tens of millions of dollars that have already been promised.

The fires are still burning. And theyll be burning for months to come, Morrison said. And so thats why I outlined today that this is an initial, an additional investment of $2 billion. If more is needed and the cost is higher, then more will be provided.

Morrisons announcement of the funds, which will go toward rebuilding towns and infrastructure destroyed by the fires, came as the death toll from the disaster rose with the discovery of a body in a remote part of New South Wales. The body is believed to be that of a 71-year-old man who was last seen on New Years Eve moving equipment on his property on the states south coast, police said in a statement. Police found the body on Jan. 6 between the property and a car, both of which had been destroyed by fire.

Another person in southern New South Wales was reported missing, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

Nationwide, at least 25 people have been killed and 2,000 homes destroyed by the blazes, which have so far scorched an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland.

Rain and cooler temperatures on Jan. 6 were bringing some relief to communities battling the fires. But the rain was also making it challenging for fire crews to complete strategic burns as they tried to prepare for higher temperatures that have been forecast for later in the week.

With the more benign weather conditions, it presents some wonderful relief for everybody, the firefighters, the emergency services personnel, but also the communities affected by these fires, Shane Fitzsimmons, commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, told reporters. But it also presents some real challenges when it comes to implementing tactical and strategic back-burns and other techniques to try and bring these fires under control.

More than 135 fires were still burning across New South Wales, including almost 70 that were not contained. Officials have warned that the rain wont put out the most massive and most dangerous blazes before conditions deteriorate again.

Victoria state Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said at least 200 millimeters (8 inches) of rain would need to fall over a short period to snuff out the firesaround 20 times what has fallen across the region in the past day. And officials warned that Australias wildfire seasonwhich generally lasts through Marchwas nowhere near its end.

No one can be complacent. Weve got big fire danger coming our way toward the end of this week, Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters in Melbourne. We are by no means out of this. And the next few days, and indeed the next few months, are going to be challenging.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian also urged Australians not to let their guard down.

Australias capital, Canberra, had the worst air quality of any major city in the world for much of Jan. 6. The Department of Home Affairs, which is responsible for coordinating the countrys response to disasters, told all noncritical staff to stay home because of thick smoke choking the city.

The prime minister said the military was attempting to get food, fuel, and water to burned-out communities, and engineers were working to reopen roads and resupply evacuation centers. On Kangaroo Island, a refuge off the coast of South Australia state for some of the countrys most endangered creatures, teams arrived to help euthanize livestock and wild animals injured in the blazes. Hundreds of millions of animals are believed to have died already in the fires across the country.

Heavy smoke, meanwhile, was hampering the navys efforts to airlift people out of Mallacoota, a coastal town in Victoria cut off for days by fires that forced as many as 4,000 residents and tourists to shelter on beaches over the weekend. Around 300 people were still waiting to be evacuated on Jan. 6.

The prime ministers announcement of relief funds comes as he finds himself under siege for what many Australians have viewed as his lax response to the crisis. On Jan. 4, he announced he would dispatch 3,000 army, navy, and air force reservists to help battle the fires and committed 20 million Australian dollars ($14 million) to lease firefighting aircraft from overseas.

Wildfires are frequent during the southern hemisphere summer, and Australians generally take a pragmatic view of them. But this years fires arrived unusually early, fed by drought and the countrys hottest and driest year on record.
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- A Nurse at PeaceHealth's RiverBend Hospital is on administrative leave after being accused of sex crimes.

Larry Wilt, 56, of Eugene faces two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, according to court records.

Court records show prosecutors allege that count one happened between Sept. 2, 2010, and Sept. 1, 2012, in Lane County when the alleged victim was a minor.

The second count happened between Sept. 2, 2015, and Sept. 1, 2016, in Lane County, when the same victim was physically helpless, according to prosecutors.

Records show Wilt was arrested by the Eugene Police Department on Dec. 20 and was booked into the Lane County Jail the same day. Police said he was arrested on southbound Interstate 5 near 30th Avenue.

In a statement, PeaceHealth said Wilt has been placed on administrative leave as these charges are being investigated by local authorities. They said his alleged behavior in no way reflects PeaceHealths mission and values.

PeaceHealth said the alleged victim was not a patient of theirs and said the alleged crimes did not happen on their campuses.

According to the Oregon Nursing Association, a union that represents nurses across the state, Wilt was part of the union's executive committee for Sacred Heart Medical Center and Sacred Heart Home Services in 2015. At the time, he was a night nurse at RiverBend's Intensive Care Unit. ONA communications manager Kevin Mealy said he resigned from his role in the executive committee weeks after taking the volunteer position because of time constraints.

Records show that Wilt still has his nursing license. Officials with the Oregon State Nursing Board said his license could be revoked. A trial has been set for Feb. 19. A pre-trial conference has been set for Jan. 29.
New Delhi: A Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist has been killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Awantipora town on Tuesday (January 7). The police recovered arms and ammunition from his possession while the identity of the terrorist is being ascertained.

"The slain militant Zahid Hassan Gadhanji of Anantnag had joined the terror ranks only a few days ago and refused to surrender as the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and CRPF were carrying out a joint operation in the Charsoo area," the police said. "One pistol, a magazine, six live RDX and a grenade have been recovered from his possession," police said.

They said that the security forces had launched a cordon operation after they received information about the terrorist's presence in the area. "The terrorist was killed after a brief exchange of fire," the police said.

According to the police, a search operation has been kicked off to look for the presence of any other terrorist in the area. According to reports, 1-2 terrorists are believed to be present in the area.

Earlier, two soldiers were martyred during an encounter with terrorists in the Nowshera sector on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1. The soldiers were identified as Naik Sawant Sandip Raghunath and Rifleman Arjun Thapa Magar.
Banks might have to make an additional 20 per cent provisioning in the March 2020 quarter if bad debts are not resolved after the deadline to restructure such debts under the Reserve Bank of Indias June 7 circular expired on Tuesday. Bankers said they are looking outside the bankruptcy courts and will be able to resolve a few debts in the power sector before January-end.

In such a case, they will not have to make provisions this quarter. Banks have also asked for additional time from the regulator to resolve the pile of bad debt as they have an exposure of Rs 2.2 trillion. ...
A man from Indonesia has been sentenced for 30 years in prison after he was found guilty of 159 offences, including 136 rapes committed between January 2015 and May 2017. In four separate trials, Reynhard Sinaga, 36, was found guilty of assaulting 48 men whom he drugged after taking them to his apartment in Manchester. According to public prosecutor Ian Rushton, the Indonesian man is the most prolific rapist in British legal history.

Read: UP Police Submits Charge Sheet In Connection With Death Of 23-yr-old Unnao Rape Victim

Largest rape investigation in British legal history

Sinaga, who has been living in England since 2007, targeted young men outside pubs and bars in Manchester. Sinaga's main targets were men who looked vulnerable and drunk and he used to lure them by offering more drinks and a place to stay. According to the government prosecutor, Sinaga probably drugged the victims with party drug gamma-hydroxybutyric acid that is known as GHB. Sinaga filmed assaults on his mobile phone after using a sedative to make them unconscious.

Read: AIIMS Team Performs Second Postmortem On 4 Accused In Hyderabad Vet's Rape & Murder Case

The incident came into light after one of his victims woke up during an assault and fought his way out of the house before taking his phone. The victim went to a police station where he registered his complaint and submitted the phone. Police found graphic materials, over 3,00,000 photos, depicting sexual assaults on Sinaga's digital devices. Sinaga had said his victims were acting out sexual fantasies.

Read: Gang-rape Survivor, Parents Consume Poison In Front Of SSP's Office Alleging Inaction

The public prosecutor told the court that Sinaga kept men's belongings as trophies and also stalked his victims on Facebook. The largest rape investigation in British legal history was split across four separate trials. Police said there could be more victims out there and appealed them to come forward who may have been targeted by Sinaga. The Manchester court had earlier restricted journalists from reporting the case but the judge while pronouncing the sentence lifted the restriction.

Read: TN: Coimbatore POSCO Court Awards Death Penalty For Rape And Murder Of Minor
Fertiliser prices are set to fall by at least 40-50/t, and could drop by as much as 60/t for certain compounds.

The 18-20pc price reduction will cut input costs for farmers by between 70m and 80m.

Industry sources expect CAN to be available for around 250-260/t this spring, back from the 290-310/t charged 12 months ago.

A surge in global fertiliser production, and a fall-off in demand at farm level, has resulted in a 45-55/t reduction in the wholesale costs compared to January 2019.

Demand for fertilisers locally has also been hit by the collapse in winter cereal sowings, which have fallen by 40pc to under 90,000ha due to the heavy rains during October-November.

Although overall fertiliser usage was back 10pc for the 12-month period up to the end of September 2019, compared the same period the previous year, farmers still purchased around 1.55m tonnes in total.

Given this level of fertiliser usage, the current price drop equates to a saving on inputs of 70m to 80m for the country's farmers.

Reacting to the price cuts, the IFA's John Coughlan urged farmers to "shop around" before purchasing fertiliser this spring. He claimed savings of up to 60/t were on offer.

"Despite attempts by EU nitrogen fertiliser manufacturers to push through new season price increases since last June-July, wholesale CAN prices have fallen month-on-month, tracking world urea prices lower," Mr Coughlan said.

Anti-dumping duties

"Distributors and merchants should be in a position to pass back the full reduction to farmers as there are significantly lower stocks in the system, as buyers stood back from purchasing in a falling market," he added.

"Even at this, Irish farmers and their EU counterparts are being forced to pay the highest prices in the world for nitrogen fertiliser as Fertilizers Europe continues its campaign to retain anti-dumping duties on non-EU AN and UAN imports," Mr Coughlan explained.

He said the IFA would continue its campaign for the abolition of the remaining anti-dumping duties, having already achieved a 30pc reduction to date.

"This will deliver annual savings of 25m to 30m for Irish farmers," the IFA representative maintained.

In other fertiliser-related news, industry sources have predicted that sales of protected urea could double to around 15pc of the total market this spring and summer.

Sales of protected urea currently account for around 8pc of total usage.

Protected urea is treated with a urease inhibitor.

This reduces ammonia-N loss into the atmosphere, thereby significantly reducing its climate change impact.
CNN has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought against them by a Kentucky high school student who says he was vilified and bullied by the news network in his stand-off with a native American protester last year.

Nicholas Sandmann had been seeking $275 million in damages from CNN over their coverage of the confrontation he had with activist Nathan Phillips during a field trip to Washington DC in January 2019.

In the suit, filed back in March, Sandmann's attorney claimed that 'CNN brought down the full force of its corporate power, influence, and wealth on Nicholas by falsely attacking, vilifying, and bullying him despite the fact that he was a minor child.'

CNN agreed to settle the suit during a hearing at the federal courthouse in Covington this afternoon, however the settlement amount was not made public.

Nicholas Sandmann (left) had been seeking $275 million in damages from CNN over their coverage of the confrontation he had with activist Nathan Phillips (right) during a field trip to Washington DC in January 2019

Sandmann and his family still have lawsuits pending against NBC Universal and the Washington post regarding their coverage of the incident, seeking combined damages of more than $525 million.

'This case will be tried not one minute earlier or later than when it is ready,' Sandmanns attorney Lin Wood said of the remaining lawsuits.

Sandmann, a student at Covington Catholic High School, in Park Hills, Kentucky, claimed CNN, the Post and NBC all falsely labeled him a racist after his encounter with Phillips next to the Lincoln Memorial last year.

Covington students participated in the annual anti-abortion March for Life in January, which coincided with an 'Indigenous Peoples March.' An image of Sandmann and American Indian leader Nathan Phillips, in which a MAGA hat-wearing Sandmann grinned through a stare-down with a drumming and singing Phillips, quickly went viral.

Both Sandmann and Phillips say they were trying to defuse tensions rising among three groups marching on the same day. An organization of black 'Hebrew Israelites' demonstrating nearby added to the confusion.

The Post and other outlets characterized Sandmann as a smug racist who initiated a physical confrontation. Video footage later debunked that initial interpretation.

The legal complaint claimed that the Post 'ignored basic journalist standards because it wanted to advance its well-known and easily documented, biased agenda against President Donald J. Trump ... by impugning individuals perceived to be supporters.'

The Post reported that Sandmann and other schoolboys had 'surrounded' and 'taunted' the 64-year-old Phillips, and claimed that a 'smirking' Sandmann had stood in Phillip's path, blocking him from moving.

In the suit, filed back in March, Sandmann's attorney claimed that 'CNN brought down the full force of its corporate power, influence, and wealth on Nicholas by falsely attacking, vilifying, and bullying him despite the fact that he was a minor child'

Covington students participated in the annual anti-abortion March for Life in January, which coincided with an 'Indigenous Peoples March.' An image of Sandmann and American Indian leader Nathan Phillips, in which a MAGA hat-wearing Sandmann grinned through a statre-down with a drumming and singing Phillips, quickly went viral

In a subsequent editor's note, the paper conceded that its own reporting had allowed 'a more complete assessment of what occurred, either contradicting or failing to confirm accounts provided in that story  including that Native American activist Nathan Phillips was prevented by one student from moving on, that his group had been taunted by the students in the lead-up to the encounter, and that the students were trying to instigate a conflict.'

Sandmann's filing against CNN said the network failed to do its basic journalistic duty by propagating false claims about him.

'CNN ignored the facts and put its anti-Trump agenda first in waging a 7-day media campaign of false, vicious attacks against Nicholas, a young boy who was guilty of little more than wearing a souvenir Make America Great Again cap while on a high school field trip,' the complaint reads.

The court filing says that CNN, in multiple broadcasts and online articles, falsely accused Sandmann of 'instigating a threatening confrontation with several African American men ('the Black Hebrew Israelites') and subsequently instigating a threatening confrontation with Native Americans who were in the midst of prayer following the Indigenous Peoples March at the National Mall.'

'In fact, it was Nicholas and his CovCath classmates who were bullied, attacked, and confronted with racist and homophobic slurs and threats of violence by the Black Hebrew Israelites, a recognized hate group, before being unexpectedly confronted by Phillip, an activist, who proceeded to target Nicholas while chanting and beating a drum inches from his face and being flanked by activists companions filming the event,' the complaint states.

Both Sandmann and Phillips say they were trying to defuse tensions rising among three groups marching on the same day. An organization of black 'Hebrew Israelites' demonstrating nearby added to the confusion

The Post and other outlets characterized Sandmann as a smug racist who initiated a physical confrontation. Video footage later debunked that initial interpretation

Wood explained in an interview back in March that he believed CNN had done even greater damage to his client's reputation than the Washington Post.

'CNN was probably more vicious in its direct attacks on Nicholas than The Washington Post. And CNN goes into millions of individuals' homes,' Wood told Fox News.

'They really went after Nicholas with the idea that he was part of a mob that was attacking the Black Hebrew Israelites, yelling racist slurs at the Black Hebrew Israelites. Totally false,' Wood added.

Wood said the damages were sought due to the 'emotional distress Nicholas and his family suffered.'

He also said the family had to move from their home temporarily and that Nicholas was not permitted to attend school directly after the trip to Washington.

A lawsuit is expected to be filed against Phillips, Wood said. He indicated that lawsuit would seek $5 million, but the judge said that Phillips does not have as much money as the other defendants.

They also plan to sue Gannett, owners of The Enquirer, according to Wood, who said he will bring that case before the judge in the next 60 days.

Attorneys say the money theyre seeking is not designed to compensate Nick, but to deter the defendants from doing the same thing (that theyre accused of) in the future.

He also said the family had to move from their home temporarily amid the backlash and that Nicholas was not permitted to attend school directly after the trip to Washington.

Sandmann is also likely to file a lawsuit against Phillips, Wood said, indicating that his client would would seek $5 million, though the judge said that Phillips does not have as much money as the other defendants.

They also plan to sue Gannett, owners of The Enquirer, according to Wood. He said that lawsuit will be brought before the judge in the next 60 days.

Sandmann's attorneys say the money theyre seeking is not designed to compensate their client, rather to 'deter the defendants' from doing the same thing in the future.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Appreciating The New Indian Express' choice of themes - India at 75: Vision for 2022 - for the ThinkEdu Conclave as being 'extremely relevant', Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished that discussions at the Conclave would be "enriching and thought-provoking and would provide a roadmap for a sectoral growth trajectory", in a message sent to Prabhu Chawla, Editorial Director, The New Indian Express.

ALSO READ: Think India, Think Edu: Here's the schedule for Day 1

Reflecting on India's timeless tradition of valuing education, Modi said, "Weaved with the guru-shishya parampara an enabling environment of imparting education and learning has been an integral part of our society and culture since ancient times."

He added that his government has a high regard for the importance of education and recognized it for the true transformative potential it held, "Education is the basis of progress and prosperity of a nation. The purpose of education, hence, should not be limited to a transfer of information or formulae, it should rather be to inspire young minds to think creatively, to innovate, to expand their horizons and learn new things with values," he added.

ALSO READ: Think India, Think Edu: Here's the schedule for Day 2

Continuing about how they were using technology to kindle a spirit of innovation and research in every student, he said, "All the people of the country together are resolved to realise the vision of a new India by 2022, and education, as a key to inclusive growth, is vital in realising this vision." He concluded by wishing the Conclave and the group every success in being a harbinger of change to the education landscape as we know it.

With 65 powerful speakers spread across 32 sessions, the eighth edition of the ThinkEdu Conclave is all set to take the conversation about education several notches up - to debate about whether we need to focus on elite institutions or government schools, to expound where we need to study in English or our mother tongues and talk about what the Indian of the future will be like.

Get ready to listen to the regal delivery of the Governors of Tamil Nadu, Banwarilal Purohit, and Kerala, Arif Mohammed Khan, the plans and propositions of the people in power, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Union Ministers Ramesh Pokhriyal (HRD), Smriti Irani (WCD) and Kiren Rijiju (Sports) and education stalwarts from across the spectrum. Thrown into the mix are parliamentarians Shashi Tharoor, Subramanian Swamy, Manish Tewari, Supriya Sule and Tejasvi Surya. Think Himalayan innovator Sonam Wangchuk or Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej and you'll have an idea of what's in store this year.

The top 24 non-governmental colleges from across the state will receive the ThinkEdu Awards from the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K Palaniswami on January 9.

You can watch the live stream of the entire Conclave at www.newindianexpress.com/thinkedu2020
OMAHA, Neb., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Scooter's Coffee, the Midwest-based coffee franchise experiencing enormous nationwide growth during the past year, has worked with KeyBank, one of the nation's largest SBA lenders, to further streamline the lending and approval process for franchise partners.

Scooter's Coffee finds itself in a strategic growth phase as it expands throughout the Midwest and the United States. The U.S. coffee market is a recession-resistant industry estimated at $48 billion a year. Scooter's Coffee aims to be the nation's #1 drive-thru coffee franchise. The company is targeting to have more than 1,000 profitable stores across the country in the next five to seven years.

"We're in a period of phenomenal growth and our relationship with KeyBank will be a big part of our continued success," says Scooter's Coffee Chief Executive Officer Todd Graeve. "KeyBank aligns perfectly with the core values of our business and their SBA products are ideal for helping our franchising partners secure the financing they need."

KeyBank is dedicated to meeting the financial needs of small business owners to help them thrive and this relationship is another example of that commitment, says SVP, National SBA & Franchise Manager James Fliss. We are delighted to work with Scooters Coffee and be part of their growth initiatives by offering their franchisees tailored financial solutions.

About KeyBank

KeyBank's roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, KeyCorp is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $146.7 billion at September 30, 2019. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of over 1,100 branches and more than 1,400 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

About Scooter's Coffee

Founded in 1998 by Don and Linda Eckles in Bellevue, Nebraska, Scooter's Coffee roasts only the finest coffee beans in the world at its headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. In more than two decades of business, Scooter's Coffee's success is simple: stay committed to the original business principles and company core values. The Scooter's Coffee Brand Promise, often recited to franchisees, customers and employees is: "Amazing People, Amazing Drinks Amazingly Fast!" It represents the company's business origins from 1998 and reflects a steady commitment to providing an unforgettable experience to loyal and new customers.

Scooter's Coffee is at the dawn of a strategic growth phase in the Midwest and nationwide. The U.S. coffee market is an estimated $48 billion a year recession-resistant industry, and Scooter's Coffee is striving to become the #1 drive-thru coffee franchise in the nation. Visit ownascooters.com to learn more about the benefits of owning a franchise of a well-established company.

For more information, visit scooterscoffee.com, facebook.com/scooterscoffee, ownascooters.com or call 877-494-7004.

Media Contact:

Mary Lindsaye Boyd

[email protected]

919.459.8160

SOURCE Scooter's Coffee

Related Links

https://scooterscoffee.com


Ghosn faced a string of financial misconduct charges in Japan, which he denies (Photo: AFP/Kazuhiro NOGI)

Ghosn, who faced trial on financial misconduct charges that he denies, fled Japan on Dec 29 for Lebanon, in an elaborate and apparently carefully planned escape.

His bail-jumping has prompted outrage from Japanese officials, but he insists that he would have been unable to receive a fair trial in Japan.

In a statement, Nissan said Ghosn's escape "in violation of his bail conditions is an act that defies Japan's judicial system. Nissan finds it extremely regrettable."

The firm said its "robust, thorough internal investigation" had "incontrovertible evidence of various acts of misconduct by Ghosn".

"The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan," it added.

Ghosn alleges that the charges against him stem from a "coup" inside Nissan by disgruntled executives and local Japanese officials who feared his plans to more closely integrate the Japanese automaker with its alliance partner, French firm Renault.

Ghosn is due to give a press conference in Beirut on Wednesday, where he has said he will provide details about the alleged "coup" against him.
EgyptAir flights to Baghdad will be halted due to the unstable security conditions in the city, Egypts civil aviation ministry announced on Tuesday.

The decision will take effect from Wednesday and will last until at least Friday.

The ministrys media advisor, Bassem Abdel-Karim, explained that the measure was taken to ensure the safety of passengers and aircraft until the Iraqi capital becomes more stable.

The ministry will be monitoring the situation in the coming days, to assess when it will be safe to resume flights.

A US airstrike at Baghdad airport on Friday killed Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, prompting concerns about further escalations in the country and the wider region.

The Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday it is following up with great concern the current rapid developments in Iraq, saying it is very important that escalation be avoided.

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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Army General Mark Milley looks on after a briefing from senior military leaders in the Cabinet Room at the White House on October 7, 2019 in Washington, DC. Mark Wilson | Getty Images News | Getty Images

The U.S. has no plans to target Iranian cultural sites in potential strikes, Pentagon chiefs told reporters, despite threats from President Donald Trump issued after Iran vowed retaliation for the U.S. killing of its top general, Qasem Soleimani. Asked during a press gaggle if the U.S. military would follow Trump's announced plan to target cultural sites in Iran, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley replied, "We will follow the laws of armed conflict." Asked if that meant "no" because targeting cultural sites constitutes a war crime under those laws, the general replied, "That's the laws of armed conflict."

Trump on Sunday vowed to hit 52 targets in Iran "very hard" if the country retaliates for the assassinating Soleimani in drone strike in Baghdad on Friday (late Thursday ET). Soleimani was head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' external wing, the elite Quds Force and was considered the second-most powerful leader in Iran, credited with expanding Iran's influence through proxy networks all over the Middle East. The laws of armed conflict represent a branch of international law that governs relationships between states and is meant to regulate armed conflict. Trump tweeted Sunday that Iran "is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets" in response to Soleimani's death, and said that the U.S. had "targeted 52 Iranian sites," some of which were "at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD." Tweet1 Trump did not specify what the sites were, but said that the number chosen was meant to represent the 52 American hostages held by the Islamic Republic for 444 days after the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979. Michael Knights, a Gulf and security expert at the Washington Institute, wrote on Twitter on Sunday that "there would not be 'cultural' targets on any U.S. target list. Such sites are on a 'no-strike list' and/or a 'restricted target list' including all UNESCO sites and many others, incl mosques, schools, etc." Tweet2

US raises alert as Iranian mourners vow revenge

Millions of people have poured into the streets of Iran and Iraq for three days of mourning led by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has vowed "harsh revenge" against the "criminals" who carried out the strike. Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary on Tuesday announced "13 revenge scenarios," against the U.S., warning that "even if there is consensus on the weakest scenario, carrying it out can be a historic nightmare for the Americans."
NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- McInnis Law settlement announcement

On January 6, 2020, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan approved a settlement stipulating to a whistleblower award in a Customs duties fraud lawsuit. Under the agreement with the government, Xing Wei will receive $170,000 for helping the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York recover $1 million from Notations, Inc., a garment wholesaler from Warminster, Pennsylvania, with a Manhattan showroom.

On October 3, 2017, Notations admitted it ignored signs of duties evasion by Yingshun Garments, Inc., an importer of apparel from China, and two successor entities and an owner/officer of each entity. The government filed its lawsuit against Notations and the Yingshun defendants charging them with perpetrating a double-invoice scheme whereby the Yingshun companies presented false invoices to CBP, showing prices for imported garments that were falsely discounted up to 75 percent to avoid customs duties. Notations admitted it furthered this scheme by overlooking obvious indications that Yingshun's business practices were "highly suggestive of fraud."

The whistleblower, Xing Wei, alerted the government to Yingshun's conduct, which she had learned about through a family member who once worked for Yingshun, by filing a qui tam law suit under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C.  3729. Doing so potentially entitled Ms. Wei as the "relator" in the lawsuit to between 15% and 25% of any funds recovered after the government joined her case and took over the litigation.

According to one of Ms. Wei's whistleblower attorneys, Timothy J. McInnis, of NYC-based McInnis Law, this settlement is significant for two reasons. First, the government pursued duties fraud claims against a US-based "downstream" commercial purchaser and re-seller, not just the foreign manufacturer and importers. And, second, the whistleblower received an award for opening the door to the investigation and later helping uncover Notations' role even though her qui tam complaint did not name Notations specifically.

McInnis commended Ms. Wei for her courage in bringing this misconduct to light. "It goes to show that under some circumstances alerting the government to fraud will be rewarded even where the whistleblower doesn't know all the participants or all the facts," McInnis stated. He also acknowledged Washington, DC attorney Joseph Black's assistance on the case and the efforts of the U.S. Attorney's Office and CBP investigators.

Court docket number: 13 Civ. 0055 (LAK) (S.D.N.Y.).

CONTACT: Timothy J. McInnis, Esq., 1-212-292-4573, [email protected]

SOURCE McInnis Law
In the days since the Jan. 3 drone strike that took out Iranian military leader Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, roughly 9,000 conventional troops have been deployed to the Middle East, ranging from Marines on amphibious ships to Army Rangers and paratroopers.

On the home front, some of the militarys most deployable units are holding steady ahead of any orders.

Another brigade of paratroopers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is assuming the Immediate Response Force mission as the last of the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team launches on its emergency deployment to the Middle East.

The United States may be on the brink of hot conflict with Iran but, for now, the remaining three infantry divisions in the XVIII Airborne Corps are not preparing for rapid deployment missions, according to corps officials.

The U.S. Army has many types of conventional combat units, but the XVIII Airborne Corps is specifically designed to handle crisis situations similar to the chain of violent events last week that ignited the possibility of a conflict with Iran.

"By virtue of being in the XVIII Airborne Corps, we are always a little bit more aware of what is going on; we do have that [short-notice] mission," Col. Tage Rainsford said. "We are the corps-equivalent of what the 82nd Airborne is if you look at the corps of the Army. The XVIII Airborne Corps would be the quick-reaction corps."

Related: Army Rangers Deploy to Join US Force Buildup in Middle East

That capability was demonstrated just one week ago when the 82nd's 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, alerted and began boarding planes for Kuwait after mobs of Iranian-backed militia members stormed the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad.

Just days later, the Iranian government began threatening military retaliation in response to the strike that killed Soleimani, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard's elite Quds Force, in Baghdad.

The Pentagon ordered an assortment of rapid-deployment forces to the region, including another 3,000 paratroopers from the 504th PIR; the three-ship Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, which carries 4,500 Marines and sailors; and an element of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, which is based out of Vicenza, Italy.

Army Special Operations Command is also deploying a company-sized element of the 75th Ranger Regiment with other special-operations forces.

The XVIII Airborne also has the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; the 10th Mountain Division (Light), based at Fort Drum, New York; and the heavier 3rd Infantry Division, located at Fort Stewart, Georgia, under its command.

These divisions do not have the same short-notice mission as the 82nd, but it's not unusual for them to be expected to deploy rapidly.

Elements of the 101st and 10th Mountain were launched into Afghanistan shortly after terrorists attacked the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001, well before the 82nd Airborne deployed.

In 1994, the 10th Mountain formed a large part of the Multinational Force Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy to restore order after a military coup and help reestablish the government under Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

"As a whole, we are more prepared to deploy rapidly, and that is kind of what we train for. And we are able to do that because we are primarily a light organization," Rainsford said.

For now, however, the 10th Mountain and the 101st have received no guidance to prepare for rapid deployment operations.

"It's steady-state training operations for us," 10th Mountain Lt. Col. Kamil Sztalkoper told Military.com.

The division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, as well as its combat aviation brigade, have been deployed on a scheduled mission in Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. Patrick Husted, spokesman for 3rd Infantry, had a similar answer.

"Nothing has changed for us," he told Military.com.

Special Operations Command typically does not announce deployments. The biggest direct-action hammer in SOCOM's toolbox is the 75th Ranger Regiment, a highly specialized raid force made up of 1st Ranger Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia; 2nd Ranger Battalion at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington; and 3rd Ranger Battalion at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Because of the regiment's size and truly elite operators, Ranger units typically do not deploy to locations and sit in reserve for extended periods of time.

Outside the continental U.S., the Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade serves as the rapid response force in Europe.

On Monday, units from the 173rd deployed to the Middle East, according to a statement from U.S. Army Europe.

"We can confirm that elements of the 173rd Airborne Brigade deployed 6 Jan. to bolster security, for force protection and to be prepared for any contingency," according to the statement.

Meanwhile, the 82nd Airborne will continue to maintain a ready brigade for the Immediate Response Force mission, even though its 1st BCT is deploying to the Middle East and its 3rd BCT is in the middle of a deployment in Afghanistan, according to 82nd spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Burns.

Currently, the unit's 2nd BCT will be the only infantry unit left at Bragg, but Burns said he was unable to be specific about which BCT that would assume the IRF mission.

"Another brigade in the 82nd would step up to fill that IRF role," he said.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Read More: Emergency Paratrooper Deployment Is First for New Army Response Force
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday accused Iran of working to thwart efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan, but he offered no specific details to support his allegation.

Pompeo leveled his charge amid an escalating crisis with Iran following a U.S. drone strike on Friday in Iraq that killed General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's elite foreign paramilitary and espionage service, the Quds Force.

"Iran has refused to join the regional and international consensus for peace and is, in fact, actively working to undermine the peace process by continuing its long global effort to support militant groups there," Pompeo said at a State Department news conference.

Pompeo named the Taliban as one of the militant groups he accused Iran of using to undermine Afghanistan peace efforts. He also referred to the "Tora Bora and the Mullah Dadullah Group," little-known organizations whose strengths, relevance and contacts with Iran were not immediately clear.

"The Taliban's entanglement in Iran's dirty work will only harm the Afghanistan peace process," Pompeo said.

Tehran long has maintained high-level Taliban contacts. It has held consultations with Taliban officials on their ongoing negotiations with the United States on a U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan that would lead to intra-Afghan talks on a political accord to end decades of fighting.

Iran is a haven for some insurgent families and has supplied limited quantities of weapons to the insurgents to keep pressure on U.S. forces near its border with Afghanistan, according to Western officials.

But Tehran also maintains close ties with Kabul and regional experts cast its relationship with the Taliban as hedging its bets in case the militants return to power. Tehran also sees the Taliban as a counter force to Islamic State's Afghan affiliate.

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Senator Shehu Sani has reportedly refused to take a lie detector test subjected to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the $24,000 allegedly extorted from a businessman.

KanyiDaily had reported Senator Sani was arrested and detained for allegedly collecting the sum of $24,000 (N8.6million) from the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of ASD Motors, Alhaji Sani Dauda, under the guise of helping him resolve an ongoing case with the EFCC.

As accusations and counter-accusations continue between the senator and businessman, the EFCC opted for a lie detector test in order to determine who is lying between the two men.

But upon reaching the polygraph machine on Monday, January 6, 2019, the senator said he would not subject himself to a lie detector test.

Sani said he preferred to swear by the Holy Quran than subjecting himself to Polygraph, which can detect if he lied on oath.

He was quoted as saying: I wont take the test; I do not trust the machine. I am not sure whether or not the machine is working well. Instead of polygraph, give me the Holy Quran to swear with.

It was learnt that EFCC detectives later asked Senator Sani to put his resistance in a statement on oath for record purposes.

A highly-placed source said: Following his refusal, our detectives did not force him to go through the test.

But they asked him to write a statement on his refusal to undergo polygraph because he had earlier sworn by his grave but he has not been straightforward.

There were indications last night that the test might be administered on the accuser, Alhaji Sani Dauda, and his wife, on Tuesday, January 7, 2019.
In a strong move, Iran on Tuesday enlisted all US troops as well as Pentagon as terrorist entities for killing Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani. According to the Iranian news agency, Fars, Parliament of Iran gave its nod for the bill also allocates 200 million euro to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force to take revenge for killing Soleimani.

During Tuesday's session, "all members of the Pentagon, the affiliated companies and institutes and commanders and those who ordered for the assassination of Lieutenant General martyr Hajj Qassem Soleimani" were added to the terrorist list, as reported by Fars agency.

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The move came after IRGC Quds Force Commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani was killed in a targeted attack by the US drones at Baghdad International Airport early on January 3 (Friday) morning. The US carried out a strike killing Soleimani, along with six others on the direction of US President Donald Trump. Washington had accused Soleimani of orchestrating several attacks on coalition bases in Iraq including the December 27, 2019, attack in which American and Iraqi personnel were killed.

US President Donald Trump has accused the slain Iranian military leader of contributing to terror plots in London and New Delhi. Addressing the media, Trump announced that Soleimani's 'reign of terror' is over. "Soleimani made the death of innocent people his sick passion, contributing to terrorist plots as far away as New Delhi and London," Trump had said. Speaking about the missile strike he ordered to kill Soleimani, he said, "Today we remember and honour the victims of Soleimani`s many atrocities and we take comfort in knowing that his reign of terror is over."

Many people have condemned the attacks, seeing Soleimani as a hero for his role in defeating the Islamic State militant group. Others voiced approval, saying Soleimani and Muhandis had backed the use of force against unarmed anti-government protesters last year and established militias that demonstrators blame for many of Iraq`s social and economic woes. However, many Iraqis criticised Washington for killing the men on Iraqi soil and possibly plunging Iraq into another war.
ALBANY  Democrats, amid mounting political pressure, are opening the door to changes on New York's bail reform law as the legislative session begins this week.

New York's bail law, which went into effect at the beginning of the year, did away with money bail and pretrial detention for a wide majority of low-level cases and nonviolent felonies.

Law enforcement officials, prosecutors and Republicans have spent months raising red flags on the changes, but their criticism caught more attention in the last week as courts across the state have released people who would have remain behind bars under the old rules.

Bail changes, passed by a Democratic-controlled legislature last session, played a key role in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's criminal justice agenda.

While heading into session, some state Democrats are suggesting changes to the law or saying the reforms should be revisited.

Cuomo's office said it supports adding hate crimes to a list of offenses for which a judge can set bail.

"The system's reforms are no doubt a work in progress which we will be discussing this session," said Rich Azzopardi, senior adviser to Cuomo, in a statement.

Cuomo's office defended the reforms as recently as November.

Reform critics argue the changes have jeopardized public safety. Further scrutiny of the bail reforms came after a string of violence that targeted Jews in the region.

Standing near Cuomo during a press conference, Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco called on lawmakers to review the bail law after a man stormed into a rabbi's home and stabbed five people as they celebrated Hanukkah.

The suspect's bail was set at $5 million.

John Flanagan, the Republican minority state Senate leader, denounced the criminal justice reforms and said Democrats failed to listen to prosecutors from both parties, along with law enforcement authorities.

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins recently argued for the thrust of the bail reform, but said lawmakers should take a look at the law.

"We are as concerned about these hate crimes as everyone," she said.

Reforms supporters argued Monday that the changes create a fairer criminal justice system for poor defendants.

State Sen. Michael Gianaris pointed to Harvey Weinstein as an example of how the system treats rich and poor defendants. The Hollywood mogul has been free in the lead-up to his sexual assault trial in New York on charges of rape and assault.

"He has been accused of horrible, horrible things," Gianaris said. "And yet all the people who are clamoring and complaining about the bail reform, I have not heard a peep from them about how an accused rapist has been sitting in the community."

"But suddenly when we're trying to afford the same opportunities to the poor, it becomes a bigger problem," he said.

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Democratic Senators Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Joe Manchin of West Virginia on Tuesday became the first Senate Democrats to call on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to release the articles of impeachment against President Trump.

Murphys and Manchins statements came soon after news broke that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) claimed he has gathered the necessary 51 Senate votes to determine the parameters of the impeachment trial without input from Democrats.

I think the time has past. She should send the articles over, Murphy said, according to the Washington Post.

I think it needs to start, I really do, concurred Manchin. I cant tell the House how to do their businessBut the bottom line is, the holdout helped force Bolton to step forward. Let us do what we have to do over here.

Former White House national security adviser John Bolton announced on Monday that he would be willing to testify in the Senate impeachment trial if subpoenaed. Democrats wish to call Bolton as a witness due to his presence at key events pertaining to President Trumps conduct toward Ukraine, including a July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelentskiy, during which Trump urged Zelentskiy to investigate corruption allegations against Joe Biden.

Republicans are wary of calling witnesses to the trial due to their intention to conduct the trial as quickly as possible. McConnell wants to vote on a resolution outlining the parameters of the trial and hear opening arguments, and only then to vote on a second resolution determining which witnesses, if any, will be called upon to testify.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday that Democrats would force a vote to determine witnesses at the start of the trial, but it was unclear if this option would be possible.

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Labour leadership hopeful Lisa Nandy has led stinging criticism of Boris Johnson for his response to the Cyprus rape case.

She said his failure to intervene sends a message that rape victims will become the accused.

It comes after a British teenager who had been found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in the Cypriot island of Ayia Napa was on Tuesday sent home after her prison sentence was suspended.

She maintains she was raped and that she faced hours of police questioning with no legal representation. Her lawyers have pledged to overturn the conviction.

Lisa Nandy criticised Boris Johnson for failing to intervene in the case (EMPICS Entertainment)

Back the UK, the prime minister has faced huge criticism for failing to intervene. The woman has been stuck on the island since 17 July, meaning the case has spanned Mr Johnsons entire time as prime minister.

The highest ranking government official to speak out about the 19-year-olds case was foreign secretary Dominic Raab.

The case has been ongoing the entire time Boris Johnson has been prime minister (PA)

Responding to the news of the teenagers suspended sentence on Tuesday, Ms Nandy, one of six declared Labour leadership candidates, said of Mr Johnson: The message this case sends to victims is that they will become the accused if they report rape.

Boris Johnson should have intervened without hesitation.

Dominic Raab said he would be following up the issues with Cypriot authorities (PA)

Its the second time in a matter of days Mr Johnson has been accused of failing to address major UK-related issues abroad.

It took him two days to issue a public statement on the US assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani on Friday. Again, Mr Raab had been the highest-ranking government official to comment.

That day, Mr Johnson  who had not received prior warning by the US of the airstrike in Baghdad  was accused by Labour deputy leadership candidate Angela Rayner of being on his sun lounger at a time of crisis, adding that leaving it to the hapless Dominic Raab will not suffice.

On Tuesday, Mr Raab himself spoke out about the Cyprus rape case, saying he would be following up issues raised with the Cypriot authorities.

We will be following up on some of the issues in relation to the case. I spoke to the Cypriot foreign minister about that, he told reporters at RAF Northolt as he prepared to leave for talks in Brussels.

Story continues

Read more from Yahoo News UK

British teenager found guilty of lying about Cyprus gang rape will not go to prison

Teenager admits killing Pc Andrew Harper but denies murder

Stampede at funeral procession for Iranian general Qassem Soleimani leaves 32 dead and 190 injured

There is a broader issue for Brits travelling abroad  not just in Cyprus or indeed in Europe  whether it is holiday, whether it is backpacking, to make sure they can do so as safely and securely as possible.

What we will want to do is have a conversation with our Cypriot friends and partners about that case once I have downloaded the full facts.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  The Department of Health has instructed the Bureau of Quarantine to intensify surveillance amid a mysterious virus that has infected dozens of people in China.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque, who spoke with an official from the World Health Organization, said around 59 people in the East Asian country have been reported to have contracted an unknown viral strain of pneumonia.

"They still do not know the cause of this severe pneumonia but they have ruled out [Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome] and bird flu and [Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus] according to the WHO," said Duque on Monday.

Around 38 to 40 thermal scanners have been deployed at Philippine air and sea ports to check passengers from China and nearby countries. Should the scanner detect body temperature of 36.5 degrees celsius or higher, the passenger will be led to the quarantine bureau for further evaluation. If the passengers fever persists along with respiratory symptoms, he will be sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

Some passengers said they were advised by authorities to reveal where they came from and to be cautious when travelling to other countries.

In Cebu, measures have been placed at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which has daily flights from Chinese cities.

Airport spokesperson Mary Ann Dimabayao said they will use thermal scanners from the SARS outbreak to monitor for carriers of the virus strain.

Dr. Joyce Gonzales of the airport's quarantine bureau said they are particularly monitoring Chinese nationals and people from Chinese cities. The biggest influx of tourists in Cebu usually arrive in January for the Sinulog festivities on January 19.

Reports of the virus first surfaced in late December in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, causing concern over the possible resurgence of the SARS  an acute viral respiratory illness first reported in China in 2002. SARS caused a pandemic, spreading to 37 countries and killing 774 people until 2003.

WHO said the symptoms of the pneumonia are mainly fever, with a number of patients having difficulty breathing, and chest radiographs showing invasive lesions of both lungs.

Grifton Medina, Bureau of Immigration Port Operations Division Chief, said the Philippines is vulnerable to the virus given that there is an influx of Chinese tourists in the country.

"I think it's a major impact considering na mayroon tayong [we have an] influx of visitors from China. Chinese tourists is number 2 when it comes to tourist arrivals next to Korea. Number 3 is the US, number 4 is Japan," he said.

Since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016, more than three million Chinese nationals have entered the country.

CNN Philippines correspondent Crissy Dimatulac and Cebu-based journalist Dale Israel contributed to this report.
Murray found the state had made all reasonable efforts to bring McGhee to trial and granted the state's motion for a continuance. Murray rescheduled McGhee's trial to begin the week of Jan. 13.

Perkins subsequently filed a motion to dismiss the case, accusing the state of failing to bring McGhee to trial by the speedy trial deadline.

During a hearing Tuesday, Perkins said she would have stipulated to the facts in the DNA analysts' report if a trial could have been held in December. She also accused the state of failing to fully disclose what evidence it has, including the names of witnesses.

Randall said he sought to continue the November trial because of the lack of a final report from the medical examiner's office. The unavailability of the DNA analyst for a December trial was a secondary concern, he said.

Murray denied McGhee's motion to dismiss the case and said he still thought prosecutors made all reasonable efforts to give McGhee a speedy trial. He granted Perkins' request to certify an appeal and stay proceedings, striking the Jan. 13 trial.

If the Indiana Court of Appeals agrees to review the case, the case will remain stayed until the higher court issues an opinion.
The BJP on Tuesday attacked Kerala's CPI(M)-led LDF government over its alleged inaction against the Popular Front of India whose role has been alleged in radicalising Muslim youths in Kerala.

BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP, GVL Narasimha Rao alleged that the state government was not taking steps to ban the PFI even after the state police pointed out its role in radicalising the Muslim youth and sending them as recruits for the Islamic State (ISIS) from Kerala.

"I want to ask the state government and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who also holds the Home Ministry portfolio, why are you not listening to your own professional force (state police)," Rao told the media here.

The BJP spokesperson's statement comes days after the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police O P Singh said 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 Lucknow during the anti-CAA protests.

Attacking the CPI(M) over the Citizenship Amendment Act, Rao also alleged that the Left party was playing a "double game" in the issue.

Rao accused the chief minister of "hypocrisy and ignorance", claiming Vijayan's party leader Prakash Karat had earlier backed citizenship for minorities being persecuted in neighbouring countries, but was protesting today after the Narendra Modi government enacted a law in this regard.

Karat had written to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2012 supporting citizenship for persecuted minorities from Bangladesh, Rao claimed.

"I would like to appeal to the great people of Kerala, to kindly see through this double game, what the Left Front has said when they were in the Opposition.

What has been their stand with regard to this very specific issues in the past and how are they pretending to be a different party today," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 7 (ANI): The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Tuesday staged a protest over violence that took place on January 5 at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi.



Protestors were seen carrying placards that read-- 'Yesterday-Jamia, Today-JNU, Tomorrow YOU', 'Oppose Left violence'.

Earlier in the day, nearly 10 people were injured after a clash broke out between NSUI and ABVP workers that took place outside the latter's office in Ahmedabad.

The NSUI workers were protesting against the violence at JNU outside the ABVP office in the city when the clash happened.

Meanwhile, the Delhi police have filed an FIR against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh for allegedly vandalising server room of the JNU and attacking staff members.

More than 30 students of the university, including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, were injured and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the varsity and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods. (ANI)


ALBANY, N.Y. - New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has unveiled a $300 million plan to revamp the Erie Canal. Cuomo's office announced the five-year project on Monday, ahead of the governor's State of the State address later this week.

The canal currently generates $2.5 million in revenue annually but costs the state more than $100 million a year.

The initial phase of the redesign project would cost $165 million and fund economic development and flood mitigation projects. The New York Power Authority is expected to vote on the funding at its board meeting later this month.
Jennifer Aniston was ready to talk business at the Golden Globes Sunday nightreal estate business, that is. While chatting with Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet, the Morning Show star took the opportunity to get in a dig about the Beverly Hills home he bought from Ellen DeGeneres and Portia di Rossi in 2012. Hows my home? she asked the veteran talk show host, to which he responded, Do you want to explain?

Aniston didnt miss a beat, telling Seacrest, You bought your home from Ellen and Portia, and it was a home that I always coveted and she kept, basically giving me a lot of The actress trailed off as Seacrest, spotting DeGeneres on the red carpet, warned Aniston, Shes coming, be careful. Aniston gamely joked back, I know shes coming; trust me, weve been in contact. Well aware. Seacrest then attempted to extend an olive branch of sorts, telling Aniston that shes welcome any time, to which the actress quipped, Do you still have the poker table? Sadly, Seacrest reported, he does not.

See the video.

The estate in question is a sprawling Beverly Hills compound that spans more than three acres and includes a nine-bedroom main house, as well as two guesthouses and another separate three-bedroom home. DeGeneres slowly assembled the compound over the course of five years by purchasing and combining four separate adjacent properties, with a swimming pool and large pond rounding out the grounds offerings. According to The Hollywood Reporter, DeGeneres and de Rossi originally listed the home for $60 million in May 2011, but quickly lowered the asking price. Seacrest reportedly ended up paying around $37 million for it a year later. The 9,200-square-foot main house was designed by noted architects Buff & Hensman, created specifically for actor Laurence Harvey; it later came into the possession of film and TV composer Jerry Herman before being sold to Will & Grace co-creator Max Mutchnick. DeGeneres bought the house from Mutchnick for $29 million in 2007.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
Alhaji Inusah Fuseini

07.01.2020 LISTEN

Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central and former Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, has describe as fraudulent the Akufo-Addo government full of corruption.

He said, he struggles to keep pace with the one day, one fraud (1D1F) scandals under the watch of President Akufo-Addo, who is highly touted as incorruptible.

According to Inusah Fuseini, the Akufo-Addo-led government is the worst government in the fight against corruption in Ghana.

The level of corruption under Akufo Addos government is the worst ever in the history of Ghana and if he doesnt take care he will end up cramping the economy, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini told Kwame Tutu on Anopa Nkomo on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7.

He continued, "We shall protect the rights of our people to expose corruption and undertake to investigate credible allegations that come to our attention."

He said efforts by the Akufo-Addo government to curb corruption is nothing shy of a disgrace, further questioning the Presidents motives for appointing some of the members of his cabinets who have a history of indulgence.
The Chinese government has tightened its reign on its citizens by announcing that all religious personnel of any faith must submit to and evangelize about the Chinese Communist Party.

In practice, your religion no longer matters, if you are Buddhist, or Taoist, or Muslim, or Christian: the only religion allowed is faith in the Chinese Communist Party, said a Chinese Catholic priest, according to CBN.

Starting on Feb 1, all religious groups must adhere to the new rules, which consist of six chapters and 41 articles. They require government approval for any type of gathering and total submission to the Communist Party.

One law, Article 17, states: Religious organizations must spread the principles and policies of the Chinese Communist Party, as well as national laws, regulations, rules to religious personnel and religious citizens, educating religious personnel and religious citizens to support the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, supporting the socialist system, adhering to and following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics

Manuscripts from each religion are also not immune to censorship. The Daily Mail reports that the Communist Party intends to complete a comprehensive evaluation of the existing religious classics aiming at contents which do not conform to the progress of the times. As Christian Headlines previously reported, this means that books such as the Bible or the Quran will be rewritten to reflect socialist values and any paragraphs that the government deems wrong will be changed.

In many ways, the Chinese governments control, including censorship of the Bible and the Quran, has twisted the doctrines of these religious texts and thus the religions, said Patrick Poon, a China Researcher at Amnesty International. There is simply no genuine religious freedom.

The new laws come after finishing off 2019 with the worst religious persecution in the countrys history, according to the Federalist. A pastor of house church Early Rain Covenant Church, Wang Yi, caught international attention last year when he was arrested and later sentenced to nine years in prison for inciting subversion of state power and illegal business activities. His family wasnt even sure if he was alive until they heard about his sentencing.

Yi released a letter called My Declaration of Faithful Disobedience while in prison, declaring that he will not give in to the pressure.

Regardless of what crime the government charges me with, whatever filth they file at me, as long as this charge is related to my faith, my writings, my comments, and my teachings, it is merely a lie and temptation of demons. I categorically deny it. I will serve my sentence, but I will not serve the law. I will be executed, but I will not plead guilty.

Related:

Chinese Panel: Religious Texts Must Be Re-Interpreted to Keep Pace with the Times

China Forces Churches to Sing Songs Praising Communist Regime

Trump Admin. Blasts China on Religious Persecution: The Stain of the Century



China Demolishes 3,000-Seat Megachurch during Worship Service

Photo courtesy: Pixabay

Mikaela Mathews is a freelance writer and editor based in Dallas, TX. She was the editor of a local magazine and a contributing writer for the Galveston Daily News and Spirit Magazine.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant ordered a probe on Monday after a preliminary inquiry into the death of a tiger in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary revealed that the big cat was poisoned.

The tigers carcass was found on Sunday.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is deeply pained and concerned by the death of a tiger in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. The preliminary investigation has revealed poisoning as the cause of death. Therefore, the chief minister has ordered a thorough inquiry in the matter, a statement from the Chief Ministers Office said.

Sawant also holds the forests portfolio.

The carcass of the four year old tiger was noticed in Golavali village, deep inside the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary located at the lower reaches of the Western Ghats along Goas border with Karnataka.

With decomposition having already set in, forest officials believed that the tiger had died a week earlier.

On Monday a post mortem of the tiger was conducted to help ascertain the cause of death and an investigation team of forest department officials led by a deputy conservator of forests constituted.

The tiger is one of five tigers believed to be resident in the thick forests of the Western Ghats.

Back in 2009, a tiger was killed after it was ensnared in a trap set by villagers to catch wild boar and later shot dead to put it out of its misery leading to the arrest of five villagers.

The tigers are believed to move between Goa and Karnataka territory in search of food and mates across a large territory.
New Delhi:

Hindu Raksha Dal national convenor Pinki Choudhary has claimed responsibility for the brutal attack on students and teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Sunday night. In a video message issued late night on Monday, Choudhary said the cadres of his outfit had barged into the university campus on January 5 and perpetrated the attack students and faculty members. Choudhary said if the anti-national activities in other universities are not clamped down, they will too come under the radar of his outfit.

"The University has been a centre of communism-related activities. They abuse our religion and our nation. This would not be tolerated. We will carry out such attacks in the future as well. If our religion and our nation are being disrespected, then how we remain silent?" he said.

Hindu Raksha Dal's Pinky is taking responsibility of JNU attack pic.twitter.com/lJrgKZ0cU2  Abhilasha Kishore (@iAbhilashaKish) January 7, 2020

On Sunday, a mob of masked young people stormed the JNU campus in south Delhi and systematically targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones, and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings. They also attacked a women's hostel.

A day later, the Delhi Police registered an FIR against unidentified persons for rioting and damaging property, officials said. According to the FIR, students were protesting against a hostel fee hike for the last few days. According to instructions issued by the high court, no protest is allowed within a 100-metre radius of the administrative block of the university.

The ABVP has denied being responsible, and in turn, has blamed Ghosh's Left-supported union of stage managing the violence. It also claimed that many of its activists were injured, but has not presented any to the media.

Meanwhile, there was an uneasy calm in the campus where there was a massive deployment of security personnel and authorities only allowed students with valid ID cards inside. However, these measures did not assuage the concerns of students over their safety.

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07.01.2020 LISTEN

The Police Command in Ghana is buttoning up its law enforcement gear, in the wake of last Friday shake-up as the new Boss appears to be introducing new policies, procedures or technology that will ensure effective and efficient policing in the country.

You might call it a major shift but not so in the prism of some security operatives.

"This is nothing unusual," says a police source. According to the source, the action taken by the new IGP is in keeping with tradition.

"All Police Chiefs line up a team to help them execute their jobs," says the source.

Police Officers On Contract

However, there's something ironic about this team 'line up'. I've gathered that the police leadership at the Headquarters is made up of 40 percent of individuals who were due for compulsory retirement but lobbied and had it extended by the governing NPP ---a development the source argues doesn't bode well for an institution that recruits personnel every year. The mode at which the extension is arbitrarily executed has fueled tribal, political and even regional tension, the source told me.

This phenomenon, I also learned is fomenting bitterness and apathy in the police service today. The most unconventional was promotion of a contractee from DCOP to COP. Again, the source reveals, persons who got extension in contract in the past were made to fall a step in rank and also prohibited them to wear the police uniform but dressed in civil.

Why the dress change?

The wisdom in this, he said, "since the contracted retiree must lose a rank, he was compelled to wear a civil dress so that he or she would not feel humiliated. Somehow the decision is also to discourage service extension.."

A situation where a contracted officer is promoted I am told has incurred the displeasure of the rank and file of the service as some have threatened to appropriately reward the government come December 2020.

The Akufo-Addo Administration, the source notes started well when it let go some senior police officers who were due for their terminal leave but sought to hang on. Notable among them were former CID Boss, COP Bright Oduro, the current EOCO Boss, COP Frank Adu Poku. But not anymore... that 'shining example' as the source describes it, is now overshadowed by the new and dangerous trend.

Question is: Why keep or retain old horses in the stable when you have an exuberant youth struggling to get placement in the police force?

Maame Tiwaa demoted?

Nonetheless, one cannot downplay the significance of the January 3rd shake-up.

The move has seen Director of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah lose her position.

Mrs Addo-Danquah had held the CID post for two years but her tenure was wrought by troubles and controversies. The kidnappings of three Takoradi Girls, her infamous claim that she knew their whereabouts, (which turned out to be untrue) and her unprofessional or slapdash investigations into some high profile cases---all made her unpopular. In addition, she was in a number of times reckless and grossly unprofessional.

I should add that there were eleven (11) other senior officers who couldn't escape the changing storm otherwise known as tsunami.

And this seems to be the first major reshuffle carried out at the top police hierarchy since Mr. James Oppong-Buanoh was confirmed IGP in October last year 2019. Prior to his confirmation, he was named acting IGP following the relieving of Mr David Asante-Appeatu in July 22, 2019. The police chief himself is on contract!

Seismic shift?

This shift in command, is long overdue, according to some social media users/commentators but others think otherwise.

One security analyst has described the action as seismic shift. He says even though the police service have done remarkably well in terms of policing----particularly during the 2019 Yuletide, there's the need for a major transformation.

"I think some command officers were sleeping on the job and this seismic shift has perhaps woken them up. They felt too comfortable where they were... And I hold the view that those guys should have been "sacked" long time ago, because of the tragic events that occurred in 2017/18 especially, (the cold blood murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, kidnappings and the killings of the Takoradi three girls."

"Those harrowing events among others' he says, make the IGP's action relevant and timely."

When and how it happened

On Friday 3, January 2020, the IGP issued a letter that announced the shake-up.

The police chief had penned down 12 commanding officers for the inevitable reshuffle.

A change has arrived. The cliche-- 'business as usual' will have no place under this new command. And per that change effectIve 15th of January 2020, the CID boss and all the senior officers named in the said letter should proceed to where they'd duly been directed to.

So who's replacing who

and to where?

COP Maame Tiwaa who came under fire, amid calls for her removal in the wake of the murder of the Takoradi Three Girls is handing over the baton to a certain COP Ken I. Yeboah.

Was she sacked?

Was she removed?

Was she fired or dismissed?

Was she demoted or promoted?

I loosely call it a shift.

BUT yes, Maame Tiwaa has been replaced by COP Isaac Ken Yeboah, former Director-General in charge of administration.

I know Ken personally. He has IT. And his track record is unquestionably excellent. It's my hope that he'll be given the latitude to dispense his duties. I know Ken, we used to catch the bad guys together. 'The Afrikiko Raid in 1999' readily comes to mind.

Who else has been shifted?

George Akuffo Dampare whose name popped up as a likely candidate for the IGP post, in the aftermath of Appeatus' removal has been named director of Administration while, COP Christian Tetteh Yohunu (MTTD) has also been assigned to Special Duties. Next is, COP Francis Ebenezer Doku, former Director-General special duties he's moving to or will be in charge of service workshops.

The rise and 'shift'

of Maame Tiwaa

In October 2017, the then Deputy Director-General of CID was appointed to head the Intel outfit in an acting capacity, following the retirement of Mr. Bright Oduro. As fate would have it, in January 2018, she was confirmed as the substantive Director-General.

And on the 1st of April 2019, she was promoted in rank from Deputy Commissioner of Police to Commissioner of Police.

Is the command ready for the change?

I put this question to one police commander in Accra.

"Change is not a bad idea, but it doesn't come easy for most law enforcement agencies, not only police. I'm not in their shoes, so I can't speak for them whether they will see their new positions as a challenge to transform and make the Service a formidable one," he remarked.

Indeed the human mind is an impermeable perimeter. How would he know? He doesn't have Elijah's eye. But could this shift from the hit cause rift among the rank and file or it would turn out to bring good omen?
Arjun Raghavendra M

Dozens of petitions pending adjudication before the Supreme Court and various high courts have challenged certain important provisions of the customs law thereby mocking the very implementation of the enactment. Broadly speaking, these cases pose a common contention as to whether officers of customs are required to comply with provisions of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), particularly Sections 154 (filing of a first information report [FIR]), 157 (procedure for investigation) and 172 (police diary in proceedings of investigation) for cognisable offences (initiation of investigation without the permission of the court) and Section 155 dealing with non-cognisable offences (magisterial intervention required for investigation) under the criminal law.

The genesis of this chaos dates back to Om Prakash case (2011) wherein the Supreme Court ruled that offences under the customs law are non-cognisable and bailable. This led to the amendment of the customs law in 2013, to negate the apex court order, specifying certain offences as non-bailable and further classifying and categorising all offences into non-bailable / bailable and cognisable / non-cognisable.

Without dispute, the customs law is a special statute and just like any other special code, does not subscribe to the concept of a FIR when it comes to enquiry or investigation. Strangely, the powers to summon, examine, search, seize or confiscate under the customs law, also independent of the CrPC, have not been called into question in any of these pending petitions.

Interestingly, the customs law has provided for specific circumstances which mandate magisterial intervention for investigation making it abundantly clear that the legislature has adequately taken care of various scenarios viz., the CrPC. The intent of the legislature while drafting of the customs law in 1962 was to create a self-contained legislation to deal with smuggling of goods as is evidenced from the text of the Report of the Select Committee on the The Customs Bill, 1962 and the parliamentary proceedings in this context wherein the legislature did not intend magisterial intervention for initiation of an investigation under the customs law. Assuming that this contention holds true, every officer of customs will be officer in-charge of a police station as detailed in the CrPC.

The most dangerous aspect of this legal crisis is the issuance of interim no coercive action or maintenance of status quo orders upon being petitioned at the initial stage of inquiries, by various high courts, which have in a consistent manner instantaneously diluted investigations, pushing them to a cold storage in almost every case. That brings us to certain fundamental questions  what are these cases and who are the alleged offenders? Do these offences predominantly involve smuggling of gold and other restrictive / prohibitive goods, allegedly by criminal cartels? If yes, why has this been lingering on for close to a decade now?

Flashback 1992 wherein through a singular act of smuggling the maximum city and financial capital of India was detonated 13 consecutive times within a period of two hours exploding into series of unmitigated disasters scarring Bombay (now Mumbai) by crushing more than a dozen of her iconic buildings. If that one attempt at smuggling was nipped in the bud, would this classic catastrophe have been averted? Probably yes. However, should that lead us to an assumption that every smuggler is a terror element? Not really.

Should we reboot this question to ask: what would be the cost of one mistake in the event of such a disaster? Can we condone apparent minor acts of smuggling owing to inherent complacency or otherwise, anticipating to strike right in the case of a major event? Does terror or a security fiasco strike us or knock on our door step post a definitive show cause notice?

It is not certain as to whether any study has been undertaken to correlate the dynamics between the smuggling networks and terror elements in the last two decades. No such material is available in public domain, however. The epicentre of such smuggling circuits and the money trail therein must indicate that the investigations in most cases do not maze through the many layers to reach the rock bottom. What are the impediments in this process? When the law adequately empowers an agency for carrying out certain investigations, as under the customs law in this case, why do such episodes keep lingering persistently? Unfortunately, owing to sheer obsession with revenue figures and reporting formalities, our priorities have got manhandled very violently that this issue has been pushed to a ping-pong mode now.

Is it the executive laxity that has misguided the legislature culminating in messy amendments to the customs law? Or is it the judicial evasion that has prevented the adjudication of these mischievous petitions in a timely manner? Or is it a well-calibrated effort by an organised coterie of shrewd criminal cartels aimed at manipulating the system? Whatever it is, the establishment must wake up and fix it before we have another calamity that shakes the conscience of our public interest and national security.
Photograph: J David Ake/AP

The human toll from coal-fired pollution in America has been laid bare by a study that has found more than 26,000 lives were saved in the US in just a decade due to the shift from coal to gas for electricity generation.

Related: The Guardian view on the bushfires: Australia needs a government with the right priorities | Editorial

The shutdown of scores of coal power facilities across the US has reduced the toxic brew of pollutants suffered by nearby communities, cutting deaths from associated health problems such as heart disease and respiratory issues, the research found.

An estimated 26,610 lives were saved in the US by the shift away from coal between 2005 and 2016, according to the University of California study published in Nature Sustainability.

The coal sector has struggled in recent years, with 334 generating units taken offline during the period analyzed in the study. A cheap glut of natural gas has displaced coal, with 612 gas-fired units coming online during this time.

As a result, more than 300m tons of planet-heating carbon dioxide has been saved, while levels of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, emitted by coal plants and linked to irritations of the nose and throat, dropped by 60% and 80%, respectively.

When you turn coal units off you see deaths go down. Its something we can see in a tangible way, said Jennifer Burney, a University of California academic who authored the study. There is a cost to coal beyond the economics. We have to think carefully about where plants are sited, as well as how to reduce their pollutants.

While a swift transition away from coal is seen by experts as imperative to limit global heating and the worst impacts of the climate crisis, there is a counterintuitive short-term local increase in warming once coal plants are shut down. This is because these plants emit aerosols that scatter sunlight, slightly cooling the surface.

The natural gas that is replacing coal is not entirely benign, Burneys research points out. Gas is, like coal, a fossil fuel and its production involves the release of vast amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Story continues

Previous research has shown that both coal and gas will need to be rapidly replaced by zero carbon alternatives such as solar and wind, or to at least deploy technology that captures emissions, if the world is to avoid more disastrous global heating.

The Trump administration, however, has sought to prop up the ailing coal industry in the US and has rolled back Obama-era standards aimed at curtailing pollution from coal-fired power plants.

Particulate pollution from coal still kills thousands of Americans yearly and hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, said Rob Jackson, a climate and environment expert at Stanford University who wasnt involved in the study. Rolling back emissions standards wont just harm the climate, it will kill people, especially poorer people more likely to live near coal-fired power plants.

Thomas Burke, a former Environmental Protection Agency official responsible for clean air, said Burneys study provides a new lens for viewing the broad impacts of coal on our health, agriculture and climate.

Clearly the policies of the current EPA leadership, to turn back the clock and support the coal industry, have broad ranging negative impacts on public health and our environment, he said.
[January 07, 2020] MSCI Launches Fixed Income ESG and Factor Indexes

MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI), a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community, today broadens its range of innovative fixed income tools and solutions for institutional investors with the launch of the MSCI Fixed Income ESG Indexes and the MSCI Fixed Income Factor Indexes. MSCI brings to market 15 Fixed Income Indexes to meet investor demand for innovative indexes to support their ESG and Factor based fixed income investment strategies. Jana Haines, Head of Index Products, Americas, at MSCI comments, "We are pleased to bring next generation fixed income indexes to market. Investors are increasingly demanding ESG integration across all asset classes and looking to Factors - such as Carry, Quality, Value, Size and Risk - to more precisely define how they can better identify, measure and manage risk and return in their portfolios." The MSCI Fixed Income ESG Indexes and Factor Indexes include: Issuance Weighted MSCI USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index ESG MSCI USD IG ESG Universal Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG ESG Leaders Corporate Bond Index Factors MSCI USD IG Carry High Exposure Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Low Risk High Exposure Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Quality High Exposure Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Value High Exposure Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Size High Exposure Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Multi-Factor High Exposure Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Carry Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Low Risk Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Quality Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Value Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Size Corporate Bond Index

MSCI USD IG Multi-Factor Corporate Bond Index The full range of MSCI's fixed income solutions capture MSCI's market leading capabilities in Analytics, Portfolio Construction, Measurement, Attribution, Reporting and now Indexes, to help institutional investors navigate market risk and return, as well as deliver operational efficiency and transparency. Peter Zangari, Global Head of Research and Product Development at MSCI, adds, "Investors are facing market conditions driven by macroeconomic and geopolitical events, industry dynamics and the increased role of data and technology. Our fixed income solutions help investors assess and manage opportunity and risk, while responding to demand for improved transparency and operational efficiency. Building on our four decades of experience, this next generation of indexes brings increased clarity to the traditionally opaque fixed income asset class to support ESG and Factor based fixed income strategies." About MSCI MSCI is a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community. With over 45 years of expertise in research, data and technology, we power better investment decisions by enabling clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently build more effective portfolios. We create industry-leading research-enhanced solutions that clients use to gain insight into and improve transparency across the investment process. To learn more, please visit www.msci.com. This document and all of the information contained in it, including without limitation all text, data, graphs, charts (collectively, the "Information") is the property of MSCI Inc. or its subsidiaries (collectively, "MSCI"), or MSCI's licensors, direct orindirect suppliers or any third party involved in making or compiling any Information (collectively, with MSCI, the "Information Providers") and is provided for informational purposes only. The Information may not be modified, reverse-engineered, reproduced or redisseminated in whole or in part without prior written permission from MSCI.



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The Information should not be relied on and is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment and other business decisions. All Information is impersonal and not tailored to the needs of any person, entity or group of persons. None of the Information constitutes an offer to sell (or a solicitation of an offer to buy), any security, financial product or other investment vehicle or any trading strategy. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Exposure to an asset class or trading strategy or other category represented by an index is only available through third party investable instruments (if any) based on that index. MSCI does not issue, sponsor, endorse, market, offer, review or otherwise express any opinion regarding any fund, ETF, derivative or other security, investment, financial product or trading strategy that is based on, linked to or seeks to provide an investment return related to the performance of any MSCI index (collectively, "Index Linked Investments"). MSCI makes no assurance that any Index Linked Investments will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. MSCI Inc. is not an investment adviser or fiduciary and MSCI makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in any Index Linked Investments. Index returns do not represent the results of actual trading of investible assets/securities. MSCI maintains and calculates indexes, but does not manage actual assets. Index returns do not reflect payment of any sales charges or fees an investor may pay to purchase the securities underlying the index or Index Linked Investments. The imposition of these fees and charges would cause the performance of an Index Linked Investment to be different than the MSCI index performance. The Information may contain back tested data. Back-tested performance is not actual performance, but is hypothetical. There are frequently material differences between back tested performance results and actual results subsequently achieved by any investment strategy. Constituents of MSCI equity indexes are listed companies, which are included in or excluded from the indexes according to the application of the relevant index methodologies. Accordingly, constituents in MSCI equity indexes may include MSCI Inc., clients of MSCI or suppliers to MSCI. Inclusion of a security within an MSCI index is not a recommendation by MSCI to buy, sell, or hold such security, nor is it considered to be investment advice. Data and information produced by various affiliates of MSCI Inc., including MSCI ESG Research LLC and Barra LLC, may be used in calculating certain MSCI indexes. More information can be found in the relevant index methodologies on www.msci.com. MSCI receives compensation in connection with licensing its indexes to third parties. MSCI Inc.'s revenue includes fees based on assets in Index Linked Investments. Information can be found in MSCI Inc.'s company filings on the Investor Relations section of www.msci.com. MSCI ESG Research LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and a subsidiary of MSCI Inc. Except with respect to any applicable products or services from MSCI ESG Research, neither MSCI nor any of its products or services recommends, endorses, approves or otherwise expresses any opinion regarding any issuer, securities, financial products or instruments or trading strategies and MSCI's products or services are not intended to constitute investment advice or a recommendation to make (or refrain from making) any kind of investment decision and may not be relied on as such. Issuers mentioned or included in any MSCI ESG Research materials may include MSCI Inc., clients of MSCI or suppliers to MSCI, and may also purchase research or other products or services from MSCI ESG Research. MSCI ESG Research materials, including materials utilized in any MSCI ESG Indexes or other products, have not been submitted to, nor received approval from, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory body. Any use of or access to products, services or information of MSCI requires a license from MSCI. MSCI, Barra, RiskMetrics, IPD, and other MSCI brands and product names are the trademarks, service marks, or registered trademarks of MSCI or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions. The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) was developed by and is the exclusive property of MSCI and Standard & Poor's. "Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS)" is a service mark of MSCI and Standard & Poor's. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005088/en/

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(CNN)  Hundreds of 737 Max jets are sitting, grounded, as Boeing awaits approval from aviation regulators for the troubled plane to return to flight. But now, the company has discovered yet another potential hurdle.

The plane was grounded worldwide in March after two crashes that killed 346 people. The company determined a software fix was likely to correct the issue with the automatic safety feature that caused the crashes.

s part of a December audit of the plane's safety ordered by the US Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing found "previously unreported concerns" with wiring in the 737 Max,However, as part of a December audit of the plane's safety ordered by the US Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing found "previously unreported concerns" with wiring in the 737 Max, according to a report earlier Sunday from the New York Times. The company informed the FAA last month that it is looking into whether two sections of wiring that control the tail of the plane are too close together and could cause a short circuit  and potentially a crash, if pilots did not react appropriately  the Times reported, citing a senior Boeing engineer and three people familiar with the matter.

A Boeing spokesperson confirmed the report to CNN Business on Sunday, saying the issue was identified as part of a "rigorous process" to ensure the plane's safety.

"Our highest priority is ensuring the 737 Max meets all safety and regulatory requirements before it returns to service," the spokesperson said. "We are working closely with the FAA and other regulators on a robust and thorough certification process to ensure a safe and compliant design."

The spokesperson said it "would be premature to speculate" whether the discovery will lead to new design changes for the plane, or further extend the timeline for its recertification.

It will be a challenge for Boeing's new chief executive, David Calhoun, who officially takes over the job on January 13 after former CEO Dennis Muilenburg was ousted on December 23.

"A change in leadership was necessary to restore confidence in the company moving forward as it works to repair relationships with regulators, customers, and all other stakeholders," the company in December.

Earlier in December, the company announced it would take the dramatic step of suspending production of the 737 Max in light of the continued setbacks to recertification.

Orders for the 737 Max dried up following the grounding, and it wasn't until November that Boeing recorded its first new orders since the grounding. In the meantime, the company had continued to produce the planes at a rate of 42 jets a month, in hopes of a quick recertification by airline regulators around the globe.

But as the process was pushed into 2020, Boeing said the plane's uncertain future had forced it to pause production and prioritize the delivery of the approximately 400 airplanes it has in storage.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Boeing has uncovered another potential design flaw with the 737 Max."
As stylish and fashion-forward as he is, Saqib Saleem usually flies under the radar with his understated statement pieces and sombre ensembles. However, when he does decide to make a splash, he does so going all out.

 Instagram/saqibsaleem

Like all Bollywood celebrities, Saqib too is a massive hypebeast and is readily invested in all the latest 'It' brands, and their subsequent statement pieces that these brands make. Be it Gucci, Balenciaga, or Vetements, high fashion brands such as these have always found a vehement supporter in celebrities like Saqib.

 Instagram/saqibsaleem

However, it was on a recent trip to the Mumbai airport did he really manage to turn heads. Apart from a quirky pair of sneakers, that for a second made him look like he forgot to put his shoes on, to a zany backpack that legit looks like it was vandalised by graffiti artists, he was completely decked out.

 Viral Bhayani

But first, let's have a look at his outfit.

Saqib is wearing a rather hipster-looking black pilot's jacket, which looks dapper when paired with his black turtleneck. The green camouflaged joggers complements the leather jacket rather well, and completes the ensemble in a succinct manner.

 Viral Bhayani

As for his choice of accessories, the round sunglasses from RayBan sit rather well with the veteran airman look that Saqib seems to be aiming for. Coming to the sneakers, Saqib is wearing the NMW City Sock CS2 Sneakers in Black. The trainers adapt really well to the shape of the wearer's feet, which almost gives the appearance that the person isn't wearing anything.

 Viral Bhayani

The slip-on sneakers have a minimalist and modern silhouette, and has a very snuggish fit, just like a sock, whereas the signature NMD sole plug gives it a somewhat technical appeal. The sneakers retail for about $130 or Rs 9,500, which if we are honest, isn't that expensive, considering how often we have seen b-towners wearing sneakers worth 5 or 10 times that.

 Adidas

However, the piece de resistance of this ensemble aren't the sneakers, not by a mile. It has to be the bag that Saqib is carrying. The bag legitimately looks like they have been handpainted by children or were part of a graffiti artist's personal project. Here take a look.

 Viral Bhayani

Don't they look zany and quirky? It is the Explorer Coloured Graffiti Back from Balenciaga, the Spanish luxury fashion house. Saying that it is expensive would be putting it mildly. The backpack normally retails for $2,215. That's just shy of Rs 1,60,000 when converted as per the current exchange rate.

 Balenciaga

And mind you, this is before all the customs duties, and import tariffs that you need to add to the price. If you were to get this backpack here in India, be ready to cough up another additional Rs 50,000, considering today's tariff policies. What you're looking at, is a bag that easily costs north of Rs 2,00,000.

 Viral Bhayani

That's one hell of a way to make a statement, Saqib! Take a bow, man.
U.S. officials are braced for Iran to respond to the killing of its most powerful general, and are preparing for a possible 'tit-for-tat' attempt on the life of an American military commander.

President Donald Trump ordered the Jan. 2 strike against Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, after the death of an American contractor in Iraq.

Now, as the massive demonstrations of Iran's public mourning period for Soleimani come to a close, officials believe the next steps by America' longtime foe will determine the ultimate course of the latest crisis.

While officials say American intelligence isnt clear on whether Iran's latest military moves are designed to bolster Tehrans defenses or prepare for an offensive strike, the U.S. is continuing to reinforce its own positions in the region, including repositioning some forces.

One official said the U.S. anticipated a 'major' attack of some type within the next day or two.

Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was killed in an air strike in Baghdad ordered by Donald Trump

On Monday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said no decision had been made about withdrawing troops from Iraq. Pro-Iranian factions in the Iraqi Parliament have pushed to oust American troops following Soleimani's killing on Iraqi soil.

Esper spoke to reporters after a letter from a U.S. Marine general circulated that seemed to suggest a withdrawal had been ordered in response to a vote by the Iraqi Parliament over the weekend. 'There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq,' Esper said.

Soleimani's death, which has sparked major protests, further nuclear development and new threats of violence, has raised the prospect of a wide and unpredictable conflict in the Middle East and escalated tensions between Iran and the U.S.

The two nations have careened from one flare-up to another since Trump began his 'maximum pressure' campaign against Iran shortly after taking office. He abrogated the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed crushing economic sanctions, both steps aimed at preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and deterring the sort of regional aggression spearheaded by Soleimani.

President Donald Trump began his 'maximum pressure' campaign against Iran shortly after taking office

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said no decision had been made about withdrawing troops from Iraq

Two U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions, said targeting Soleimani was not representative of a wholesale shift in American policy toward Iran, despite Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's comments on Sunday that the U.S. was targeting Iran's 'actual decision-makers' rather than its network of proxy allies. Trump has repeatedly contended that he is not seeking 'regime change' in Iran, as has been pushed by some of his more hawkish advisers.

Still, Trump's strike against Soleimani, a revered figure in Iran whose death sparked large displays of anger and grief, was a risky decision his Republican and Democratic predecessors opted not to take out of concern it would draw the U.S. and Iran closer to conflict.

U.S. officials are also aware that Iran could try to strike a high-level American leader in a 'tit-for-tat' move, potentially a military commander.

One official said some Iranian ships have spread out, and while the intent isnt immediately clear, they could move rapidly to attack.

The U.S. military has increased protection of its forces, particularly in Iraq. Officials said a number of the recently deployed soldiers from the 1st Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division had moved into Iraq from Kuwait in order to increase security for Americans there. The U.S. military has stopped all training of Iraqi forces to focus on force protection, officials said.

As of Monday, officials said, there had not been a broadly distributed order or recommendation to increase security at military installations worldwide. Instead, decisions were being left up to the commanders.

Coffins of Gen. Qassem Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a U.S. drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession, in the city of Mashhad, Iran

A mourner walk back from a funeral ceremony for Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and his comrades, who were killed in Iraq in a U.S. drone attack on Friday

The U.S. militarys concern about its vulnerability to Iranian attack in the Persian Gulf region has been at a heightened state since about May, when the administration reported it was getting intelligence indications that Iran was planning attacks on U.S. interests in Iraq and elsewhere in the region.

The Pentagon sent additional forces to the Gulf at that point, and in July it worked out an arrangement with the government of Saudi Arabia to send U.S. forces to a large base deep in the Saudi desert, in less obvious range of Iranian missiles.

The main hub for American military air operations throughout the Middle East is located at al-Udeid air base in Qatar - within easy range of Iranian missiles. American forces also are stationed in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. The Navys 5th Fleet, which operates throughout the region, is based at Bahrain.

Meanwhile on Capitol Hil in the U.S.l, Democrats prepared largely symbolic resolutions under the War Powers Act to limit the presidents military actions regarding Iran. In a letter to House Democrats, Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the airstrike on Soleimani 'provocative and disproportionate' and said it had 'endangered our servicemembers, diplomats and others by risking a serious escalation of tensions with Iran.'

Congress, which has the sole power to declare war, has complained that Trump did not provide advance notice of his airstrike in Baghdad. Trump did meet the 48-hour deadline required by the War Powers Act to notify Congress after the deadly drone strike. The document was classified, and no public version was released.

Senators will receive a briefing Wednesday on the situation, according to a person familiar with the meeting. Pompeo, Esper, CIA Director Gina Haspel and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are expected to speak. The House is also expected to be briefed this week.

White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway, speaking Monday on 'Fox & Friends,' dismissed complaints from Democrats about notification as a 'partisan action.'

Pelosi said the notification 'raises more questions than it answers. This document prompts serious and urgent questions about the timing, manner and justification of the Administrations decision to engage in hostilities against Iran,' she said.

In remarks to reporters Monday, Gen. Milley insisted that the intelligence on which Trump based his decision to kill Soleimani called for urgent action.

'Ill stand by the intelligence I saw,' he said, adding that details had not been made public because they are classified. He said the intelligence showed Soleimani was plotting attacks and that the U.S. would have been negligent not to act. 'It was imminent,' he said, 'and it was very, very clear in scale and scope. Did it exactly say who, what, when and where? No, but he was planning, coordinating and synchronizing significant operations against U.S. military forces in the region, and it was imminent.'
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain has condemned the decision of the Republic of Turkey to send military forces to the state of Libya, stressing that this decision is a rejected interference in the internal affairs of Libya and a violation of international legitimacy and relevant Security Council resolutions.

It added that the decision contradicts with the Arab stance adopted by the Arab League on December 31, 2019, and impedes efforts to restore peace and stability throughout Libya. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges the international community to fulfil its responsibilities in addressing this development, which constitutes a threat to Arab national security and to the entire region.

It stresses the need to back all efforts to eliminate terrorism and deter all terrorist organisations in Libya and support international efforts seeking a comprehensive settlement and the restoration of the national state and its institutions, in order for it to play its role in achieving development and prosperity for the brotherly Libyan people.

Libyas eastern-based Parliament yesterday rejected an agreement that would allow Ankara to send troops to Libya. The Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) in Tobruk voted against a deployment requested by the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).

The Western-based GNA had asked for military help from Turkey, and the parliament in Ankara on Thursday voted in favour of the deployment of troops.

As well as voting against the deployment and cooperation with Turkey, the HoR also voted unanimously to refer GNA Prime Minister Fayez Serraj to be prosecuted for high treason because of the deals signed with Ankara under his watch.The Libyan deputies also voted to cut relations with Turkey.
Apple has always stood its grounds when it comes to privacy. The company went loggerheads with the FBI during the San Bernardino shooting case. Now FBI has put Apple in a similar situation and has asked help tp unlock two iPhones that were owned by Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, the man accused of killing three people at a Naval Air Station in Florida.

FBI has sent a letter to Apples general counsel and has said that it has already obtained permission from the court to search the contents of the phones. However, the FBI also notes that both phones are password protected and it needs Apples help to break into phones. Apparently Investigators are actively engaging in efforts to guess the relevant passcodes but so far have been unsuccessful.

As it happened earlier, the FBI might utilize the services of the third party. In fact, it has already sought help from other federal agencies and the list includes those from foreign countries. Earlier, the FBI had dragged Apple to court when the latter refused to open the locked phone of San Bernardino shooter.

Apple has issued a statement that reads We have the greatest respect for law enforcement and have always worked cooperatively to help in their investigations, they further added that When the FBI requested information from us relating to this case a month ago, we gave them all of the data in our possession and we will continue to support them with the data we have available.

Our Take

It is also worth noting that the deputy who killed Alsharami has fired a round into the iPhone. In all likelihood, it will be much more difficult for anyone to retrieve data from a damaged iPhone. As far as the San Bernardino case was concerned, the FBI pushed Apple to create an unencrypted version of iOS and install it on the phone. Apple stood its ground and the FBI withdrew the case after it found a vendor who would help them gain access to the iPhone.

[via NBCNews
The European Union (EU) has is the past, made considerable strides in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The block has also sought to assume the leadership role globally in the fight against climate change as it tries to convince other world powers to reduce their emissions. A recent report analyzing EU greenhouse emissions has, however, found that the EU is likely to miss its 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target. The revelation potentially deals a blow to the EUs efforts to become the leading entity in the fight against climate change. At present, the 28-nation bloc, which is the third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, seeks to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030. Some leaders believe that the target is insufficient and is calling for it to be raised to 55% by 2030. The European Environment Agency has stated that the measures currently put in place by the block will only lead to a 30% reduction compared to 1990 levels.

Germany

Germany is currently the largest greenhouse emitter in the EU. In 2017, the nation produced approximately 667 million tonnes of CO2. Germany was among the first major economies to make a big shift towards low carbon sources. The country is known for pioneering a system of subsidies for solar and wind farms that sparked a worldwide boom in the manufacturing of such technologies. The state currently seems to be grappling with the implications of failing to increase renewable sources of energy. The nation has had to extend the use of fossil-fuel plants and scale back on several commitments made under the Paris agreement. Germany has, however, been applauded for some of the biggest reductions in greenhouse emissions in Europe. The UK and Germany account for 50% of the net reduction of greenhouse gases in Europe over the last 27 years. The reductions have been achieved through increased energy efficiency, changes in the steel and iron sector, and a shift from coal to natural gas and renewables for electricity.

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the EU. The nation produced approximately 310 million tonnes of CO2 in 2017. Comparatively, the UK emission levels are less than half those of Germany. The nation is currently aiming at cutting emissions to almost zero by 2050, a much tougher goal that is widely praised by environmental groups. CO2 emissions have declined by about 38% since 1990, the largest reduction among developed countries. The reductions have been accomplished through a cleaner electricity mix that is based on gas and renewable sources of energy instead of coal and reduced fuel consumption by homes, businesses, and industries, among other factors.

Poland

In 2017, Poland released about 291 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, making it the third-largest emitter in Europe. Poland has managed to cut emissions considerably as a result of restructuring and transition into a market economy. The nations power sector, which is still heavily dependent on coal for electricity generation, is among the biggest contributors to Polands high CO2 emissions. The nations transport sector has also had high rates of emission growth in recent years. Recently, Poland differed from other European members on the emission targets and implementation by blocking Germanys push to end EU carbon emissions by 2050.

Italy

Italys CO2 emissions in 2017 were approximately 260 million tonnes. Between 1990 and 2016, the country managed to reduce emissions by 17.5% (excluding emissions due to changes in land use). The country is therefore on track to meeting its 2020 goal of reducing emissions by 20%. The transport industry is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike the heating and public electricity sectors, emissions in the transport sector are still just above 1990 levels. Emissions from the aviation and international shipping industry have doubled in the same period.

France

France emitted about 237 million tonnes of CO2 in 2017. Greenhouse gas emissions have declined significantly in France in the last 25 years. In the period between 1990 and 2015, emissions in the country reduced by about 16.4%. The country is also among the first countries that have committed to cutting emissions and going carbon-neutral by 2050, in line with the Paris climate agreement. The nation also aims to speed up the development of low carbon energies and renewable hydrogen. France also hopes to reduce energy consumption in the housing sector, which accounts for 45% of energy consumption by encouraging the renovation of poorly insulated homes.

Spain

In 2017 Spain produced about 218 million tonnes of CO2. Over the last 27 years, emissions in the country grew by 17.9% while the EU collectively reduced emissions by 23.5%. Spain has therefore been classified as one of the worst performers in the reduction of greenhouse emissions. Other countries that have been unable to reduce emissions effectively include Cyprus, Austria, Malta, Ireland, and Portugal. Emissions rose drastically up until 2007 due to economic growth coupled with the lack of change in the energy mix. Emissions were only observed to drop significantly at the onset of the 2008 economic crisis. Spain has failed to separate economic growth trends from greenhouse gas emissions. Despite its past failings, the country still hopes to cut greenhouse emissions by 20% by the year 2030. Some observers, however, believe that emissions are unlikely to reduce significantly unless extraordinary steps are taken.

Netherlands

The Netherlands produced approximately 149.8 million tonnes of CO2 in 2017. Over the years, the country has had significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The cuts have been due to the closure of coal plants, increased renewable energy consumption, and the rise of the service sector. The highest court in the country recently upheld a ruling requiring the government to reduce greenhouse emissions by at least 25% of 1990 levels by the year 2020. Environmental researchers believe that the nation can only attain between 19% and 23% reduction by the end of 2020. While there have been cuts in nitrous oxide and methane as well as other gases, carbon dioxide levels have not changed according to the expectations since 1990. The Dutch government is currently aiming at reducing emission by 49% by 2030 and phasing out coal-fired power generation by 2020.

Czech Republic

In 2017, the Czech Republic emitted about 83 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. The country is still reliant on coal, which provides about 55% of the nations energy. The government has, however, committed to a long term strategy that aims to break free from coal and other harmful fossil fuels. The country has, in the past, made significant strides in cutting its greenhouse gas emissions. In 2014, the country had managed to reduce emissions by 36.7%. During the same period, the EU had only managed to reduce emissions by 19%.

Carbon Trading To Cut Emissions In The EU

The cap-and-trade system was established by the EU 15 years ago to help reduce carbon emissions. The carbon trading system is seen as a cost-effective method of cutting emissions. The idea was to create incentives for polluters to reduce their emissions voluntarily. The system allows companies to either invest in carbon reduction or buy emission certificates, which means that the market finds the most economical ways of cutting emissions. The system has, however, had significant challenges since it was established. Experts have pointed out that the systems cap on emissions has been too high, and the cost of emissions has been too low to have an impact.
The vast majority of Americans continue to believe that the benefits of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine outweigh any risks it may present  and that those risks are low, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center.

In addition, the survey results, released Tuesday, indicate that a growing percentage of people consider immunizations power to prevent serious illness to be very high.

The findings come at a time of increased measles outbreaks in the United States and abroad, as well as an increase of opponents who are questioning the safety of vaccines, and those who think that parents should be able to decide which vaccines their kids get.

Theres an ongoing concern in the public health community about the rise of measles cases in the U.S., said Cary Funk, the centers director of science and society research.

According to Pew, 88% of U.S. adults say the benefits of the MMR vaccine surpass any risks it may have  the same percentage as the last survey in 2016. The share of people who consider the health benefits of the vaccine to be very high grew over the last three years from 45% to 56%.

In addition, 69% of those surveyed consider the risks of side effects from the vaccine to be low or very low.

The findings were based on a web survey conducted in October among 3,627 U.S. adults.

For the most part, the Pew researchers found strong support for vaccinating schoolchildren. According to the results, 82% of Americans said the MMR vaccine should be required for public school attendance. However, 16% felt parents should be able to decide whether their children are immunized even if their failure to vaccinate might create health risks for others.

 READ MORE: Should doctors be required to treat unvaccinated kids?

Allowing vaccine exemptions for schoolchildren is a hot topic locally and nationally. The New Jersey Senate last month tabled a vote on a bill that could have done away with religious exemptions when it seemed there werent enough votes to pass the bill. The measure may come up again this month.

A study last year by the New Jersey Hospital Association found that religious vaccination exemptions for children rose 53% in the past five years, despite the fact that leaders of virtually all major religions have advised their members to get their children immunized.

 READ MORE: Religious exemptions rise in states without personal belief exemptions

The Pew survey found that white evangelical Protestants, at 20%, were somewhat more likely to say parents should be able to decide whether their children are vaccinated, compared with 11% of mainstream Protestants.

Although the survey results show widespread support for the MMR vaccine, Pew did detect some differences depending on factors like income, education level, generation, race, and whether those surveyed had children.

For example, 93% of Americans with postgraduate degrees said they believed the vaccines health benefits were very high, compared with 68% support among people with a high school education or less. Among upper-income earners, 95% thought the benefits of vaccines outweighed the risks, but that support dropped to 81% among lower-income adults.

Parents of children under age 18 were somewhat less positive about the vaccine than people without children under 18. Among parents with minor children, 70% said the vaccines preventative health benefits were high or very high, compared with 81% of non-parents.

Support varied little along political lines. However, 26% of black adults said vaccination should be a parental decision, compared with 19% of Hispanic Americans and 13% of whites.
An elderly NSW men is missing after bushfires devastated towns on the state's south coast, with police desperately scrambling to reach his home.

The man, understood to be in his 70s, is from the town of Lower Towamba near Eden, and has not been seen for several days.

Another man who was reported missing from the town of Kiah has been found safe and well.

Fire damage is seen around the town of Eden (pictured), where bushfire smoke turned the sky an eerie red over the weekend

A military helicopter (pictured) flies above a burning woodchip mill in Eden on Monday, after residents were told to evacuate

Police were using the milder conditions on Tuesday to look for the two men, who had proved difficult to reach as fires raged.

The two small towns were engulfed by the 140,000-hectare Border Fire over the weekend.

Terrified residents of Eden were told they were at 'imminent risk' on Sunday, after dozens sought shelter on the town's wharf.

Despite the warnings, many stayed in a desperate attempt to defend their homes.

A dead Australian native bird is seen washed up among ash and fire debris (pictured) on Boydtown Beach near the Nullica River in Eden on Tuesday

Hundreds of locals gathered by the wharf at Eden, on the NSW south coast, were told to leave the town as the Border Fire approaches from the south (pictured) over the weekend

The NSW town of Eden (pictured) was blanketed in a hellish red smoke haze over the weekend

On Monday, residents of Eden were allowed to return to their town, with many saying they were thankful to escape with their lives.

'I just shook the hands of firies up the street there before. We'd be stuffed without them,' a local called Peter told SBS.

'We've dodged a bullet.

'When it started to rain last night it was a godsend. But I don't think we're out of the woods yet.'

HMAS Adelaide, Australia's biggest navy vessel, has been in Eden since Sunday evening to help with the relief effort, providing 400 troops and 300 tonnes of supplies.

So far this bushfire season, 25 people had lost their lives, with around 1,600 homes destroyed in NSW alone.

AUSTRALIA'S BUSHFIRE CRISIS - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Evacuations are underway and emergency alerts are in place in NSW, Victoria and South Australia as authorities predict the devastating bushfires will continue burning until at least March. At least 28 people have been killed in blazes across the country since the bushfire season began in October. NEW SOUTH WALES/ACT Around 90 fires were burning in NSW on Thursday morning

20 people dead

More than 5.2 million hectares burned - equal to the metro areas of the five mainland state capitals

1,870 homes confirmed destroyed, more than 3,774 outbuildings and 200 facilities razed VICTORIA 19 bushfires burning in the Gippsland, northeast and alpine regions as of Thursday morning

Five people dead

More than 1.5 million hectares burnt

387 homes have been damaged or destroyed

602 non-residential structures have also been damaged SOUTH AUSTRALIA Three people, including two from Kangaroo Island, are dead

More than 274,000 hectares burnt

161 homes confirmed destroyed, along with 413 sheds and outhouses QUEENSLAND 2.5 million hectares burnt

48 homes confirmed destroyed WESTERN AUSTRALIA 1.5 million hectares burned

One home confirmed destroyed TASMANIA 30,000 hectares burned

Two homes confirmed destroyed NORTHERN TERRITORY Five homes confirmed destroyed Advertisement

A bushfire near the town of Eden, NSW, is seen on Tuesday - with one man still missing in the area

Hundreds more homes are believed to have been lost across NSW, Victoria and South Australia after the catastrophic weekend - but the figure won't be confirmed until authorities can reach all of the affected communities.

Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia, Batlow and Talbingo in the Snowy Mountains of NSW were all but destroyed, when warm weather and strong wind gusts fuelled raging firestorms.

But Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp urged Victorians to remain vigilant, saying the weather will start to warm up on Thursday and Friday.

'What we are seeing with our weather, is yes, it is milder, it's more moderate, there has actually been some rain. But in terms of people thinking that this rain is going to put the fires out, that's not the case,' Mr Crisp said.

'There has been such a drought, particularly in the East Gippsland area, we know these fires are with us for a long time.'

It comes as fire deepen that two fires burning close to the NSW-Victoria border will soon merge into one megafire.

A supplied image on Tuesday shows leading seaman aircrew Brendan Menz looking out the door of HMAS Choules over southern NSW (pictured)

The graphic, made using data from NASA's satellites, shows the where the bushfires have ravaged Australia over the last month

NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said 'lots of people' evacuated the town of Eden as the fire approached on Saturday night.

'It's moving a bit further north and towards rural and isolated property just to the west of Eden,' he told reporters on Sunday morning.

'It's still pretty active down there, and there is lots of attention from local firefighters.'

Containment efforts were hampered overnight after firefighters lost power at an important water pump.

Commissioner Fitzsimmons said there were still 150 fires burning across NSW, but there had been an 'easing of conditions' following rain on the south coast.

'It's certainly a welcome reprieve, it's psychological relief if nothing else but for all the communities being affected by those fires. But unfortunately, it's not putting out the fires,' Commissioner Fitzsimmoms said.

The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) urged Eden residents who had planned to evacuate to do so on Sunday afternoon as an out-of-control bushfire approached from the south (pictured)




An Instagram comment left by comedian George Lopez has caught the attention of the U.S. Secret Service after being publicized by and infuriating a group of vocal conservatives on Twitter.

Lopez left the remark Sunday on a post by Chicano Worldstar. The pop culture account posted about an unsubstantiated claim that an $80 million bounty had been set for President Donald Trump (something apparently proposed by one eulogist at the funeral for Iranian Quds Force commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani).

Lopez commented on the post: "We'll do it for half." A representative for Lopez said it was a joke.

The Secret Service "is aware of the Tweet made by Mr. Lopez," a spokesperson for the agency said in a statement Tuesday. "The Secret Service takes all threats against the President and or any of our protectees seriously, and as a matter of practice, we do not comment on matters involving protective intelligence."

No one from the Secret Service has yet contacted Lopez, the comedian's representative said.

The agency routinely investigates threats made against presidents, and rarely says anything beyond being aware of such comments. (It's a violation of federal law to "knowingly and willfully" make "any threats to take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States" or a successor.)

The Secret Service has released similar statements when other entertainers have made allusions to threatening Trump, such as when a Snoop Dogg music video released in March 2017 featured a clown that was a clear parody of the president being shot with a toy gun that released glitter and a banner that read "Bang!." In that case, Trump tweeted his outrage, drawing further attention to the depiction.

In May 2017, comedian Kathy Griffin posed for a photo shoot while holding a mask depicting Trump's bloody, severed head. Trump and his family forcefully denounced the image and CNN cut ties with Griffin, who faced wide and bipartisan condemnation. The comedian made a tearful apology, which she later retracted.

Actor Tom Arnold said two Secret Service agents visited him in 2018 after he challenged Trump on Twitter to a body-slamming contest. (He had also tweeted, "Next time Kathy won't be holding his fake head!")

Arnold, a former Trump friend turned foe, recorded the interview, and Mother Jones magazine viewed the videotapes. "You're a public figure," one agent said, according to the magazine. "But what we have to worry about is your type of audience and you say something inciting those that follow you."

Ted Nugent, a musician and conservative activist, sat with the Secret Service after comments he made at a 2012 National Rifle Association meeting, where he said "we need to ride into that battlefield and chop their heads off in November," referring to the Obama administration, and that "if Barack Obama becomes the next president in November, again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year." Nugent said he found the complaints "silly."

Lopez has attracted the ire of conservative media before. A prominent Mexican American comedian who grapples with identity in his material, Lopez has taken to criticizing Trump and his policies in his act. His 2017 HBO stand-up special is titled "The Wall," referring to the U.S.-Mexico border wall Trump promised to build on Mexico's dime.

In 2017, Lopez posted this joke on social media: "The Trump administration is deporting Latinos to make the streets safer. You wanna make the streets safer? Deport the police."

Fox News and other conservative outlets featured the joke, which helped stir up a backlash. The comedian deleted the post and followed it up with one joking about the rock band Police.

In the aftermath, Lopez and his family received numerous threats, he told NPR in 2017. And while he stood by the joke, Lopez emphasized that he supported law enforcement: "There are good cops and bad cops."

He also said there were lines of decency when it comes to comedy.

"Police brutality is not off-limits. You know? It can't be," he told the outlet. "Holding up a severed head of the president, would I do that? No. Would anybody that worked with me allow me to do that? No way."
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Kiribati's President Taneti Mamau before their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that Kiribati's President Taneti Mamau and his country stand on the right side of history by resuming diplomatic ties with China.

Xi made the remarks when holding talks with Mamau at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

China and Kiribati resumed diplomatic relations in September 2019 on the basis of the one-China policy, opening a new chapter for bilateral ties, said Xi.

"Mr. President and the Kiribati government stand on the right side of history," Xi told Mamau, adding that the resumption "fully embodies their strategic vision and political courage."

"China speaks highly of the decision," said Xi.

Since the resumption of diplomatic ties, China and Kiribati have conducted numerous exchanges in different areas and at different levels with fruitful results, he said.

Facts proved that it is in the interests of both peoples to restore diplomatic ties, and the bilateral ties enjoy broad prospects, said Xi.

Calling Mamau's visit to China "an important landmark in China-Kiribati ties," Xi said China stands ready to work with the Pacific island country to promote bilateral ties to a new level.

Xi called on both countries to deepen mutual political understanding, saying that China has always held that all countries, no matter big or small, should be equal and all countries should respect one another's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China sticks to the path of peaceful development and respects Kiribati's choice of a development path that suits its own national situation, Xi said.

Xi said the two countries should expand pragmatic cooperation by seeking the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative with Kiribati's development plans.

China will encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Kiribati, said Xi, adding that China has approved the listing of Kiribati as a destination for Chinese tour groups.

China is willing to enhance cooperation within multilateral mechanisms including the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum, and will continue to provide assistance and support to Kiribati on climate change under the framework of South-South cooperation to safeguard the common interests of developing countries, said Xi.

Mamau said it is based on trust and confidence in China that Kiribati made the important decision to restore diplomatic ties with China.

He reaffirmed that Kiribati will firmly adhere to the one-China policy, respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, support China's "one country, two systems" principle and its reunification.

Appreciating China's support, Mamau said he looks forward to enhancing cooperation with China in areas including economy, trade, investment, tourism, fisheries, education, healthcare and infrastructure construction.

Kiribati speaks highly of China's role in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, and appreciates China's efforts to advance South-South cooperation and help small and medium-sized developing countries such as Kiribati to speed up development and address challenges such as climate change, Mamau said.

Kiribati is willing to work with China to improve bilateral ties to benefit both peoples, Mamau said.

After the talks, Xi and Mamau witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in Beijing.

Mamau is paying a state visit to China from Jan. 4 to 11.

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[ Editor: ZY ]
What if U.S. officials took advantage of the moment to ask a trusted third party  say, the Omanis or the Swiss  to test whether Tehrans leaders were ready for a quiet diplomatic initiative to achieve what the White House has long said was the objective of its maximum pressure campaign: a better, broader agreement? he wrote Friday. A U.S.-Iran negotiation cant be conducted the way Trump has tried to do it so far, in the failed North Korea model of face-to-face, one-on-one, leader-to-leader summits.
Parting ways for any well-established relationship can be unpleasant to one or both parties. However, this is inevitable because, whereas workers, on the one hand, would want to attempt new steps, employers, on the other hand, might prefer diverse expertise. In such an eventuality, all the parties ought to comprehend how to compute separation pay as this would ensure that they separate amicably.

Photo: canva.com (modified by author)

Source: UGC

To receive a complete package at the termination of service, an employee must be conscious of the exact amount he or she deserves from the employer. Many workers complain when they receive a lower amount than they expected. Some have even opted to go to court and ended up using more resources on their cases. Therefore, to stop all these, employees, not forgetting employers, must have a profound knowledge of the calculation methods involved.

What is separation pay?

This is the amount that an employee is given for termination from duty for reasons out of his control. When an employee retires, dies, or his employment contract gets terminated, he or she ought to receive a package from the employer as compensation.

Who are entitled to separation pay Philippines? According to Article 283 of the Labor Code issued by the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE), an employee can receive a separation salary if the following reasons caused their termination:

Redundancy.

Installation of labor-saving devices.

Closing or cessation of operation of the establishment.

Retrenchment to prevent losses.

When computing separation pay, DOLE bases it on the latest salary rate of the employee and is exempted from tax. In calculating the income, a period of six and above months is counted as a year.

How to compute separation pay

Calculation of separation pay may be based on the company policy and terms and conditions provided in the employment contract or collective bargaining agreement. Company practices can also be used in the computation if they have been followed for years and have ripened into acceptable rights.

In case the above measures are absent, or when the policy which exists provides a lower package, then the computation is done based on the provision by Labor Code. According to the Labor Code, the total of the money is determined by the following:

The employees period of service.

The reason for the employees termination from service.

The employees last salary.

Four gentlemen having a discussion. Photo: unsplash.com, @officestock

Source: UGC

In the Philippines, the pay is connected to the Labor Code. When a worker satisfies the terms mentioned above, conditions and stipulations qualify for the package. As an employer in the Philippines, you must be familiar with the computation to avoid any illegality. A worker, on the other hand, should as well understand the calculation to avoid being conned.

For separation pay computation DOLE considers the following crucial steps:

Ascertain the reason for termination. Find out the latest pay and amount of years in service. Compute the income.

So, how do you compute separation pay in Philippines? Depending on the nature of separation, article 283 of the Labor Code requires that the calculation is done as follows.

Redundancy or due to health reasons or installation of labour-saving devices

The cash should be equal to one month's pay for every year of service. Whichever amount is higher should be paid to the affected employee.

Pieces of coins on the floor. Photo: unsplash.com, @steve_j

Source: UGC

Check out the examples below.

Example 1;

If an employee earning P5000.00 p.m and who has been working in the company for 10 years gets laid off because of the above reasons, the package is computed as follows.

One-month salary = P5000.00, or

One-month pay for every year of service = P5000.00 x 10 = P50000.00

He will be paid P50000.00

Example 2;

If an employee on the above salary scale has only been working for the company for only five months, the separation pay computation is as shown below.

One-month salary = P5000.00, or

One-month income for every year of service = P5000.00 x 0 = 0.00

He will be paid P5000.00

Retrenchment to prevent losses and closure of business

The affected employee is entitled to a separation pay of at least one month salary or 1/2-month salary for every year of service, whichever amount that is higher.

Below is an example to explain the concept further.

Example 1

If an employee earning P 7500.00 every month has been working for three years in a given company, and he gets retrenched, his separation income will be calculated as follows.

One month salary = P7500.00, or

Half month salary for every year of service = (1/2) x P7500.00 x 3 years = P11250.00

Based on the above retrenchment pay computation, the highest amount is P11250.00. Therefore, the affected worker will be paid this amount.

Example 2

If a worker earning P7500.00 every month has been working for five months and gets retrenched, the computation of separation income is as follows.

One month salary = P7500.00, or

Half month salary for every year of service = (1/2) x P7500.00 x 0 years = 0.00

The highest amount, in this case, is P7500.00, and it is the value the worker will receive.

Illegal termination

In case of illegal termination, separation pay instead of reinstatement is calculated at one month's salary for every year of service. The Philippine law requires that affected workers should receive at least one month's salary as the separation pay.

Do you get separation pay when you resign?

There are circumstances when a worker could be denied the money, for example, misconduct, incompetence, or voluntary resignation. However, depending on the company policies, collective bargaining agreement, or employment contract, some employees may be entitled to the package after voluntary departure.

Knowing how to compute separation pay is one crucial thing every worker or employer should strive to understand. The examples above will be helpful in the quest to determine the separation pay you are entitled to in case of termination.

READ ALSO: How to check balance in Smart in 2021: detailed step-by-step guide

Kami.com.ph recently published an article on how to check balance in Smart. If you are a subscriber on the prepaid service, you occasionally perform a load check to determine how many calls and text messages you can send.

Checking balance in Smart is one of the most straightforward operations for the subscribers. However, if you are new, you may require a step by step guide through the process.

Source: KAMI.com.gh
A number of projects located on the bank of the Saigon River in the second city could face the axe from next month after an inspection by Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee found that they violated building regulations.

Companies that do not adhere to the regulations risk causing floods, water pollution, and traffic chaos



According to Decision No.22/2017/QD-UBND dated April 18, 2017, construction must take place at least 30m from the river bank, but several projects have failed to adhere to it.

Those at fault include Saigon Riverside joint ventures Riverside project, which has 13 structures located a mere 7.5m from the river, and Van Minh Co., Ltd., which has buildings 10m from the bank.

Others developers listed include Hai Vuong Co., Ltd., The Minh Construction Co., Ltd., SSG JSC, and Geleximco South.

A working group made up of officials from Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee is inspecting more than 100 projects accused of encroaching on the river banks.

According to the committee, half of these have previously been notified of violating the rules, yet construction continued.

A source from the committee said, All illegal uses of land for improper purposes or causing harmful effects or landslides, affecting the safety and stability of construction works, are strictly prohibited.

The group will scrutinise the developers actions, their construction permits, and project approvals, reaching a verdict on their adherence to land regulations.

The projects are located along the bank in nine districts, including inner city districts 1, 2, 4, 7, 12, and Binh Thanh, and the outskirt districts of Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, and Thu Duc.

The final results will be sent to Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee by January 15, 2020.

According to Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, by April, 116 land plots were judged to have had a negative impact on the river bank. Of this, 76 were completed, 13 had been put into operation, and the remainder were still under construction.

In 2017, Sapphire JSC, the developer of Holm Residences, received a fine of VND40 million ($1,740) for infringing on the no-go area next to the Saigon River.

Establishing urban areas alongside rivers can be advantageous, but regulations exist governing population density and the constructions height and distance from the river bank.

If these rules are not followed, it could lead to traffic jams, flooding, and water pollution.

The Saigon River is 256km in length, and passes several districts. Up to July, more than 60 violations had been identified.

A full list of offending projects will be published on vir.com.vn. VIR

Bich Ngoc

Vietnam real estate market faced difficult year in 2019 The market was quiet most of the time in 2019 though it witnessed many transactions in some segments in the first months of the year.
Over to SC as NCLAT rejects RoC plea to modify Tata-Mistry case ruling

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has refused to allow a review petition filed by the Registrar of Companies (RoC) seeking amendments to its 18 December judgement on the Tata-Mistry dispute that made the transition of Tata Sons from a public company to a private one illegal.

No ground is made out to amend the judgment dated 18th December, 2019, in absence of any factual or legal error apparent on the body of the aforesaid judgement," the NCLAT bench said, adding that Tata Sons reversal of status to a public company following the NCLAT judgement stands.

The appeals court, in its 18 December judgement, had said the RoCs decision to convert Tata Sons Ltd from a public company to a private entity was illegal".

NCLAT in its 172-page judgement, had used the terms illegal" and with the help of the RoC", and the RoC in its review petition had sought deletion of these references from the judgement ...to correctly reflect the conduct of RoC, Mumbai, as not being illegal".

RoC, which functions under the corporate affairs ministry, had further sought directions from NCLAT for amendment in certain portions ...to delete the aspersions made regarding any hurried help accorded by the Registrar of Companies, Mumbai, to Tata Sons Ltd, except what was statutorily required to be done".

RoC, in its petition, argued that it had only discharged its statutory duties and did not side with any party.

While majority shareholders of Tata Sons gave their nod to change the status of the company from public to private, soon after Mistrys ouster as chairman of the group, in September 2017, to ensure that all future decisions could be taken with just the boards nod, NCLAT observed that the decision bypassed minority shareholders, including Mistrys family firms  Cyrus Investments Pvt Ltd and Sterling Investments Pvt Ltd, which own 18.4 per cent stake in Tata Sons.

The two-judge bench of the NCLAT headed by Chairman Justice S J Mukhopadhaya in its order said that it had referred the action taken on the part of company and its board of directors and not the Registrar of Companies.

The NCLAT also noted, Tata Sons Limited' by its letter dated July 19, 2018, intimated the Registrar of Companies of its exercise of the option under Section 43A (2A) for reversion back to the status of a private company. Therefore, the Registrar of Companies was statutorily obligated to carry out the necessary changes.

Mukhopadhaya said RoC did not notice or refer another provision sub-Section 4 of 43A in the Act, which requires the approval of the Centre to be taken by such a firm to revert to its private status.

Tata group lawyers, however, said that sub-Section (4) of 43A ceased to have effect two decades ago, in the year 2000. Only sub-Section (2A) of Section 43A remained in effect.

Reports citing an unnamed senior corporate affairs ministry official said the RoC will move a separate plea in the Supreme Court for adjudication on whether the conversion of Tata Sons from public to private was in accordance with applicable laws or not."

The appellate tribunal is free to interpret the law. We wanted to clarify our position since remarks were made about a government organisation. We will wait for the SC's order," the official was quoted as saying.

Tata Sons, Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have also separately moved SC against the NCLAT order.

The apex court will, on Friday, hear petitions filed by the Tata group against the NCLAT order reinstating Cyrus Mistry as the chairman of Tata Sons. Though Mistry has formally clarified that he would not be pressing his claim over the post, the case is expected to have a huge bearing on the fate of the Tata group.

Tata Sons has also sought to quash the NCLAT order against conversion of the group from a public company yo a private one, among other things.
Prince Charles has delivered a moving message to Australians battling the bushfire crisis.

The heir to the throne, 71, recorded his remarks in a two-minute video that was uploaded to the Clarence House Twitter page on Tuesday evening in the UK.

Talking on behalf of himself and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, he said Australians were a 'special and resilient' people who would find a way to overcome the crisis.

The video also featured several iconic images from the bushfire crisis including this one

Prime Minister Scott Morrison Tweeted that he was grateful for the support

He began: 'I fear this is a hopelessly inadequate way of trying to get a message to all of you that both my wife and myself are thinking of you so very much at such an incredibly difficult time and in such impossible and terrifying circumstances.

'But I did want to say that both of us have been in despair over the last several weeks watching this appalling horror unfolding in Australia and witnessing so much of what you're having to go through from this distance.'

The Prince of Wales then gave his sympathies to those who had lost lives and homes in the blazes.

'Those of you who have tragically lost your properties, your houses, everything - to me it is, and to both of us, not to be believed possible, and I know how many houses have been lost.

'But above all, we wanted to say how much we have been thinking of all those remarkable, courageous, determined firefighters, who have done so much and worked ceaselessly to exhaustion.

The heir to the throne, 71, recorded his remarks in a two-minute video that was uploaded to the Clarence House Twitter page on Tuesday evening in the UK

'And we feel so deeply for the families of those who have been lost and lost their lives in the course of carrying out their remarkable duties, as only they can do.'

The Prince also noted the wildlife that has been decimated the fires - and said he believed Australia would come through the crisis.

'We also think of all the Australian wildlife that is destroyed in these appalling infernos, let alone everything else,' he said.

'I know, we both know, just how incredibly special and resilient the Australian people are.

'So I know at the end of the day, despite all this horror, you will find a way to face it all and win through and all I can say is that we are thinking of you, we are praying for you in the most determined way,' he concluded.

'I'm very proud to know you all.'

The Prince also noted the wildlife that has been decimated the fires - and said he believed Australia would come through the crisis

On Sunday Prince Harry and Meghan Markle offered their 'thoughts and prayers' to those affected by the Australian wildfires today moments after the Queen relayed a message of deep sadness to the country's Governor General and 'to all Australians'.

An Instagram post on their official account on Saturday said: 'Our thoughts and prayers are with those across Australia who are continuing to face the devastating fires that have been raging for months.'

The royal couple went on to express their concern for the environment, saying that they are 'struck by the increasingly overlapping presence of these environmental disasters' in what they say is being 'described as ecocide'.

An Instagram post from Harry and Meghan reads 'Our thoughts and prayers are with those across Australia who are continuing to face the devastating fires that have been raging for months'

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend a Creative Industries and Business Reception on October 02, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa

The caption is accompanied by a picture of a Koala bear gripping on to the arm and shoulder of an Australian volunteer fire service officer.

In a similar message earlier on Saturday, Her Majesty wrote to Governor General, David Hurley, expressing her concern for the bushfires tearing their way through Australia.

'I have been deeply saddened to hear of the continued bushfires and their devastating impact across many parts of Australia,' she wrote in a letter published on the Royal Family's Twitter account.

'My thanks go out to the emergency services, and those who put their own lives in danger to help communities in need.

'Prince Philip and I send our thoughts and prayers to all Australians at this difficult time.'

The message was also addressed to the Governor of New South Wales, the Governor of Queensland, and the Governor of Victoria.
After a string of attacks in Idaho, a hunter killed a mountain lion that "attacked and partially consumed" a family dog.

A neighbour alerted the owner of a shepherd mix after discovering the dog's remains in the yard of a home south of Cascade, Idaho on 4 January.

Idaho Fish and Game officers partnered with a local houndsman and an area hunter with a licence to hunt the big cats to track nearby lions.

Later that day, hounds trapped a mountain lion in a tree, then shot and killed it.

Game officers said the cougar was a "healthy, younger adult male" lion with a few porcupine quills stuck in its muzzle.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The killing followed a New Year's Eve attack just one mile from the home where the dog was discovered.

Two mountain lions killed a family dog around 8.30pm on 31 December, and Valley County Sheriff's Office deputies and Idaho game officers worked alongside a local houndsman to track and kill the animals.

Authorities are not sure whether the mountain lion they killed is responsible for both attacks.

Fish and game officials warn that big cats are common along the timbered edges of Long Valley, Idaho, but they are rarely seen. Attacks against people and domestic animals are also rare.

According to Idaho Fish and Game: "[Mountain lions] are content to live their lives in the shadows and generally avoid people. In the rare instance where a lion chooses to target domestic pets as a food source, the risk to human safety is heightened."

The attacks follow the killings of three mountain lions in Arizona after they were discovered to be feeding on human remains on a popular hiking trial.

Authorities in Pima County don't believe the cougars are responsible for the hiker's death.

Last year, mountain lions attacked three people in Colorado, including an eight-year-old boy who was hospitalised after a lion bit him in the head.

Mountain lions typically roam within a broad range up to 350 miles and are most active from dusk through early morning hours.

Officials urge residents not to feed wildlife, including deer and racoons, and to keep and feed household pets indoors. Officials also suggest residents use outdoor trash bins with tight-fitting lids and block off open areas beneath decks and porches.
Promoters or related parties disqualified from taking part in the insolvency resolution will now be debarred from participating in the liquidation process, according to a notification issued by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) on Tuesday. Such persons will also not be eligible to enter into any settlement or arrangement with the creditors of the insolvent company under Section 230 of the Companies Act, the IBBI has clarified.

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Syndicate Bank has been selected for merger with Canara Bank and the amalgamation is expected to be complete by March 31.

New Delhi: State-owned Syndicate Bank on Monday said it has crossed Rs 5 lakh crore business target three months ahead of its schedule.

The bank crossed Rs 5 lakh crore total business mark at the end of December 31, 2019.

The bank achieved this milestone on the back of every business unit contributing in its full capacity which included retail, MSME and priority sector, the lender said in a statement.

With this achievement, the bank has proved itself as one of the most trusted and technology savvy public sector bank with a well segmented and granular growth across corporate, MSME and retail businesses that have resulted in astounding business figures, it said.

As per the mega merger plan announced by the government in August 2019, Syndicate Bank has been selected for merger with Canara Bank and the amalgamation is expected to be complete by March 31.
Now Open

7 January 2020

AC Hotels by Marriott, the design-led lifestyle brand from Marriott International, announced today the opening of the 249-room AC Hotel Santiago Costanera Center, inviting travelers to experience a hotel with style and intention in the cultural hub of Chile. Housed in the tallest building in Latin America, the anticipated new hotel embodies AC Hotels' brand promise of going beyond the conventions of travel to create experiences that strike the perfect balance of details that guests want and the services they need.

Located on the 17th floor of the Torre Vitacura in the prestigious Costanera Center, travelers and locals in Santiago alike will enjoy a purposeful, curated, and elevated style along with AC Hotels' signature beverage and food programming. Designed by Alemparte Barreda & Asociados, AC Hotels' first hotel in Chile provides visitors with thoughtfully designed spaces and refined, crafted offerings that remove friction from guests' travels and provide a seamless, intuitive experience.

AC Hotel Santiago Costanera Center takes shape with clean modern lines, aesthetically proportioned spaces, and a balanced use of premium materials distinctive to the AC Hotels brand. The hotel's AC Lobby features inviting furnishings, locally sourced art and timeless, modern touches that evoke the feeling of a well-curated gallery. Embracing AC Hotels' focus on harmonious design and tailored style, the hotel features minimalist guest rooms that allow travelers to use the space in whatever way they see fit. Free of traditional hotel room distractions, AC Hotel Santiago Costanera's guest rooms were thoughtfully designed to do away with unnecessary embellishments and maximize the sense of openness with plenty of free surfaces to store luggage or pull up a chair and work efficiently.

The hotel's communal spaces have all been designed with maximum comfort and function in mind. Concepted to be inviting and collaborative in its distribution of areas and juxtaposition of furniture, AC Hotel Santiago Costanera Center's flexible, open spaces feature intuitive service such as Kallpods (frictionless wireless service buttons) to better engage and meet the needs of guest requests, as well as additional amenities that encourage guests to conduct a business meeting, socialize and spend time enjoying the amenities the Lobby has to offer. The hotel's colors were selected based on regional colors reflecting Santiago's mixed heritage.

A signature offering of the brand includes an innovative beverage and food program at the hotel's AC Kitchen, where European-inspired breakfast features signature butter croissants imported from France, artisan cured meats, such as thinly sliced Italian Prosciutto from AC's iconic Berkel slicing machine, an international selection of cheeses, as well as yogurts and cereals, seasonal fruits and local specialties.

The hotel's spectacular rooftop terrace, Luna Bar, provides guests with stunning and unobstructed views of Santiago, while AC Lounge invites travelers and locals to enjoy expertly crafted cocktails, local craft beers and wines, and a concise food menu inspired by the tapas of Spain. As a brand known for applying a premium level of attention to even the smallest needs, the hotel's AC Library features a curated collection of books that exemplify the brand's design sensibilities, as well as a special DIY lavender turn down service.

To learn more about AC Hotels by Marriott and AC Hotel Santiago Costanera Center, please visit www.achotels.com.
Mr. Weinstein, who was at the defense table for about two hours, was dealt a setback: His lawyers were told they could not call as a witness a detective who was accused of withholding evidence from prosecutors that was favorable to the defense.

He dropped his head in his hands in what appeared to be disappointment, Ms. Ransom said, referring to Mr. Weinsteins reaction to the judges ruling.

Outside the courtroom

Protesters and curious New Yorkers, as well as several of Mr. Weinsteins accusers, waited in the cold outside of the courthouse, hoping to look him in the eye, my colleagues Jodi Kantor and Emily Palmer said. Many later moved to Foley Square, two blocks from the building, for a news conference.

I wish he would have turned around and faced us, said the actress Rosanna Arquette, who had accused Mr. Weinstein of sexual harassment dating to the early 1990s.

Rose McGowan, an actress who has accused him of sexual assault, called the trial a moment of justice, even though most of his accusers wont have even one day in court.

The case

Mr. Weinstein is charged with raping one woman, who has not been identified in court documents, at a Midtown hotel in 2013 and forcing a second woman, Mimi Haleyi, to allow him to perform oral sex on her at his Manhattan apartment in 2006.

He faces one count of rape and one count of criminal sexual act in those cases and, if convicted, could be sentenced to a maximum of 25 years in prison.
Cyber Criminals Demand Ransom From Travelex

Hackers are holding foreign exchange company Travelex to ransom after a cyber-attack forced the firm to turn off all computer systems and resort to using pen and paper. As a result, the company took down its websites across 30 countries to "contain the virus and protect data".

New questions have been raised about the security of Travelexs computer network after it emerged the company waited eight months to patch vulnerable VPN servers.

Four days following the attack the company has now disclosed it is facing demands for payment to decrypt critical computer files after it was hit by one of the most sophisticated ransomware attacks, known as Sodinokibi.

The malware struck Travelex in the early hours of 31 December 2019, when it encrypted critical business files and left readme documents on infected computers.The readme files instructed Travelex to pay a ransom in bitcoin through a website with a top-level domain registered in China in March 2019.

The attack has resulted in the Travelex websites in at least 20 countries becoming inaccessible and left its outlets in airports and other retail sites without access to the internet or email or Travelexs IT systems, as the company shut down systems to prevent the spread of the virus.

Travelex

Travelex has operations in 27 countries and has faced days of disruption after criminal hackers penetrated its computer networks and delivered a devastating attack timed to hit the company when many of its staff were on holiday. According to security specialists, criminals are expected to demand a six-figure sum to supply Travelex with decryption tools that will allow it to recover the contents of files across its computer network that have been encrypted by the virus.

The attack has also disrupted banks, including Sainsburys Bank, Barclays, HSBC, Virgin Money, First Direct and Asda Money, along with others that rely on Travelex to provide their foreign exchange services. Travelex staff have been forced to record transactions manually, and are unable to take card payments for foreign currency or deliver pre-ordered currency to travellers who had pre-ordered it for collection.

Customers have complained they have been unable to top up their Travelex currency cards, confirm transactions have taken place, check balances or use the Travelex app.

Travelex host the Virgin Money Travel Money site on behalf of Virgin Money as a third party supplier, this site is also not functioning while Travelex is not operating online.

Sainsbury's Bank also said its online travel money services were unavailable, although it said customers could still buy travel money in its stores. In a statement to the BBC, the bank said: "We're in close contact with Travelex so that we can resume our online service as soon as possible."

Hackers Demand Decryption Ransom

Sodinokibi, also known as REvil, appeared in April 2019, offering criminal gangs the opportunity to rent the ransomware and customise it to target their own victims in return for a cut of the profits. Some criminal groups have links to Syria and Iran, according to research by McAfee.

The disclosure comes amid new evidence that Travelex took eight months to patch computer servers containing a critical security vulnerability after the problem was first disclosed by security researchers, leaving its networks vulnerable to attacks from cyber criminals.

The hackers instructed Travelex staff to visit a website, which appears to be hosted in a datacentre in Colorado, US, using the Tor secure browser, which prompts users to enter a long pass key that will unlock instructions on how to pay a ransom to release decryption tools.



Apparently computers containing confidential information, including names of clients and bank account and transaction details, had been infected by Sodinikibi, which adds a random character string to the end of each encrypted file.

Travelex was Slow to Patch Critical Servers

Security researchers reported that Pulse Secure VPN services contained bugs that could allow people to gain covert access to a companys network, prompting Pulse Secure to issue an advisory notice and software patches to correct the problem in April 2019. On 13 September, security company Bad Packets sent emails to thousands of companies with vulnerable Pulse Secure VPN services, after identifying that hackers were attempting to exploit the vulnerabilities.

It warned Travelex that it had seven unpatched Pulse Secure VPN servers in Australia, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, with vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to access its networks.

Analysis by Bad Packets shows that Travelex did not patch the servers until early November 2019, leaving a critical window in which the servers were vulnerable to attack.

Travelex Remote Desktops Vulnerable

Researchers at McAfee Labs say that cyber attackers use a variety of techniques to plant Sodinokibi on targeted computer networks. These include targeted phishing email attacks and exploit kits, compromised websites used to spread malware.The majority of attacks, however, start by hackers targeting Microsofts Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which allows IT services engineers remote access to Windows machines.

According to Coveware, a company which specialises in negotiating ransom payments with cyber criminals, any company using RDP is Playing roulette with Ransomware. RDP has become a common attack vector used by hackers to sidestep endpoint security and makes penetrating portioned networks and backup systems simple. It is the perfect access point for planting malware, it says.

Remedial Action

Travelex said it had deployed teams of IT specialists and external computer security experts, who have been working continuously since New Years Eve to isolate the virus and restore affected systems. It has declined to say whether it will pay the ransom. Raj Samani, chief scientist at McAfee, said it may be possible for companies to identify Sodinokibi attacks early and close the door, but once they have received a ransomware note it is more difficult for them to recover.

Once inside a network, hackers may delete logs to cover their tracks and develop other ways to gain access to networks, even if companies patch vulnerabilities.

If they have access to Microsoft Active Directory, it means they have the keys to your castle. They have got admin rights. They have got multiple entry vectors, Samani said. Paying the ransom is only the top of the iceberg, because it is at this point you are going to have to figure out whether you can recover the systems. There have been companies that have had to rebuild their entire networks.

'Planned Maintenance'

Currently Travelex websites in 20 countries in Europe and the Middle East remained inaccessible. Visitors to Travelexs websites in Europe, including the UK, Germany and France, were greeted with notices that services were unavailable because of planned maintenance.

Other Travelex websites, including those in Italy and Bahrain, reported that services were temporarily unavailable while Travelex makes improvements. Visitors to the Canadian site were told that the Travelex was 'excited' about a planned redesign of its website and apologised that it was temporarily unavailable before the big reveal. Websites in New Zealand and Turkey returned application errors.

McAfee: Computer Weekly: BBC: The Sun: Coveware 1: Coveware 2:

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ELWIN  ZIP code 62532 appears in blue numerals on the front of the Elwin post office, a shack-like structure on South Taylor Road with 52 neat P.O. boxes behind a worn front door.

Even though the tiny space  the public area is maybe the size of a freight elevator  is open from 7:15 to 11 a.m. weekdays, it's an important linchpin in this unincorporated Macon County area south of Decatur.

I think they really, really appreciate it, said 40-year resident Kathy Isome. Theres just something about having a small town post office.

For far-flung communities and rural areas, these humble government buildings remain an essential communal link in an otherwise distant world of email and social media, a quaint part of the American landscape facing rapid changes from technology and e-commerce.

Here, between picking up stamps and retrieving letters, neighbors interact, swap gossip and share needs. More than that, a post office symbolizes a status, literally marking a place as a community, even if the modest buildings are only a few hundred square feet.

Sometimes you see different neighbors and meet people here," said Jerry Blackwell as he stood at the Boody post office off state Route 148.

He visits the A-frame brick building every afternoon, often bringing his 4-year-old Corgi-Beagle mix Cody. They both like socializing. The clerk has dog treats.

I just whisper the words post office and hes up and at em, Blackwell said, as the dog scampered around the lobby.

The power of the post office translates to Blackwell, too. Hes lived here for 14 years, and even though Boody has only about 300 residents, Blackwell still somehow finds strangers.

Sometimes you see different neighbors and meet people here," he said. "A lot of people I still dont know in Boody. No matter if its a small town or not, you dont know everybody. I dont.

471 million pieces

Outposts like the Elwin and Boody offices are the backbone of the U.S. Postal Service, which has a daunting 204,274 delivery vehicles and 633,000 employees, according to the latest annual report submitted to Congress last month.

Overall, the Postal Service has about 31,000 post offices handling 471 million pieces of mail, but has faced decades of budget issues as more billing and correspondence goes digital.

A decade ago, and with the Postal Service facing a $7 billion deficit, a plan to shutter 1,000 post offices and 153 mail-processing centers unleashed strong opposition from rural areas, as well as officials worried about the impact on mail-in ballots. Ending Saturday delivery was on the table at one point. Eventually, the plan was scaled back and reduced hours were put into place.

In Lawndale, with a population of about 150 in Logan County, the community has one residential address and 40 P.O. Box addresses. Operations are housed in a modular building. Here, hours of operation are crunched even tighter, being open only for the early birds between 6:15 and 8:15 a.m.

Bigger post offices also oversee smaller offices. For example, Sullivan supervises Windsor's office and Decatur oversees Elwin, Boody and Harristown.

Kimberley Caldwell-Harvey, a spokeswoman for the Postal Service district that includes Central Illinois, said they changed hours to match demand and based on and meetings surveys.

"There are several retail locations within a 5- to 10-mile radius of one another that have staggered times of operations to accommodate neighboring communities providing them retail services, she said.

In Logan County, the 200 or so residents of Beason, about 30 miles southwest of Decatur, have a four-hour window to purchase stamps or ship a package during weekdays and two hours on Saturdays.

The red-brick structure on Broadway is overseen by Lincoln and there is one mail route, leaving many to collect their mail at the main office.

Jodie Duncan retired as postmaster in 2015 after working for the United States Postal Service for over two decades.

It was the place where people would come in and gather and talk, Duncan said. Communication is not as big of an issue as it was before. They needed letters to get in contact with people across town or across states.

Duncan remembers when other offices in rural farm towns were getting hours condensed. She reasoned that reduced hours were better than closing completely. In her case, she was left with two options: retire or leave Beason. Luckily, Duncan had enough time with the USPS to retire.

When (post offices) get downsized, it takes something away from the community," she said.

Said Duncan: In most smaller towns, the customers are usually older people who use that stamp, still mail out Christmas cards.

Deb Harrison grew up in Beason and moved to Bloomington after graduating from Illinois State University in the late 1970s. She comes back often to visit her parents or pick up mail and calls the post office the focal point of the town."

I think its sad that the town is dwindling, she said, thinking about the towns grocery store, restaurant and a couple of gas stations. At least they have their post office to depend on.

Beyond and above

Financial issues remain a reality for the Postal Service. In fiscal year 2019, the Postal Service recorded a net loss of $8.8 billion, according to the annual report submitted to Congress.

The agency continues to have staggering pension debts and is adjusting after Amazon, which for years represented a sizable part of its business, began delivering products itself.

Revenues continue to be pressured by the ongoing erosion of mail volumes. Because mail services account for nearly 63 percent of our revenues, this ongoing decline puts significant financial strain on the organization, the annual report said.

Caldwell-Harvey, the Postal Service spokeswoman, said closures are "extremely rare" and none locally have shut down in the past 20 years.

"The Postal Service has kept the nation's smallest post offices open for business, while providing a framework to achieve significant cost savings as part of our plan to retain the organization's financial stability," Caldwell-Harvey said.

Theres also a practical reason: Mail delivery isnt offered in some areas, which means people have to come to a central place.

In Harristown, a community of about 1,300, for example, mail is delivered south of Route 36, but not north. Still, even though longtime resident Audrey Lyons has home delivery, once a week she still pops into the single-story postal building on Meridian Street, where a bulletin board with news and upcoming community events hangs.

You do meet your neighbors in here, so you visit with them for a little bit, Lyons said.

Although Lyons has lived in Harristown for over 40 years, she says the post office is a place where "you get to know people that you havent run into before."

There are other benefits to more modest buildings, Isome said. When she moved to Elwin, the post office was in the dining room of a home, she said. Today, the building is bigger, but not too big enough to have long wait times like in larger post offices, she said.

Theres people that live outside this area, she said, that come here because they dont have to wait in line.

Duncan, the retired postmaster, said the personal touch is a big part of why post offices are so important to communities. She recalled how the school bus would drop kids off and they would run inside for candy.

It would brighten her day, she said, and the building was more than a post office.

We go beyond and above what our duties are, she said, especially if were part of the community.

Contact Kennedy Nolen at (217) 421-6985. Follow her on Twitter: @KNolenWrites

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New Delhi, Jan 7 : To attract greater foreign capital into the country's aviation sector, the Centre should consider to ease the ownership and control rules of the industry, a whitepaper on the steps required to prop-up the sector said.

The paper said the move to ease regulatory norms and enhance FDI limit will give access to "much-needed cheaper funds to the sector".

At present, the Substantial Ownership and Effective Control (SOEC) clause bars any foreign investor from taking complete control of an airline, run by a board that has two-third members as Indians.

Incidentally, in the last Budget speech in July 2019, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said that the government proposed to hike the FDI limit in domestic air carriers from the current 49 per cent.

As of now, 100 per cent FDI is allowed under automatic route for MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul), ground handling and aircraft purchase.

"This would provide much-needed cheaper funds to the sector, a large part of which is in need of an infusion of funds. Even the national carrier Air India is surviving on bail-outs by the government," the paper said.

Currently, the sector is in a grip of heavy debt burden and accumulating losses, despite the fact that passenger traffic has grown phenomenally over the last decade.

"The way out of this would be to encourage greater foreign investment into the sector by easing the FDI inflow norms in the sector, and help build up a strong aviation financing centre, dedicated for financing only to the aviation sector.

"This will not only ease the debt-ridden sector, but with it would come the best management practices and improved technologies which are being deployed worldwide," the paper said.

In terms of sub-sectors, the paper pointed out 'Air Cargo' as the hidden treasure of the industry.

As per the whitepaper, prospects of air cargo business in India are promising due to the rise of trade in sensitive perishable items. A number of sectors such as pharmaceuticals and e-commerce depend on this sub-sector.

"Dedicated cargo terminals, cargo processing facilities and associated facilities can be set up to international levels by framing a supportive policy which will attract private investment in keeping with the expected growth in cargo volume in the country," the paper said.

In addition, it called for fast paced infrastructure creation of airport capacity, ATCs, as well as training academies associated with the sector to meet the growing traffic demand.

"The PPP model has worked very well in many infrastructure sectors like airports, toll roads etc. There is no reason why it cannot be deployed in larger measure to all areas in this sector," the paper said.

"Development of associated infrastructure and approach roads, warehouses etc. are all prime candidates for deploying the PPP model in a large way. A fresh policy in this area would work well," it said.
BAGHDADIran attacked U.S. forces at two bases in Iraq  including one housing Canadian personnel  with a barrage of missiles early Wednesday, Iranian official news media and U.S. officials said, the start of what Tehran had promised would be retaliation for the killing of a top Iranian commander.

The fierce revenge by the Revolutionary Guards has begun, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said in a statement on a Telegram messaging appchannel.

U.S. officials in Washington said Iran had fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at the bases at al-Assad, in western Iraq and Irbil, in northern Iraq. The Pentagon said it was assessing whether any American troops had been killed or injured in the strikes. There were no immediate reports of American casualties.

Canadian special operations forces troops have been based in the Irbil area on an advise-and-assist mission to train local security forces.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday that the government was "deeply concerned with the missile attacks launched by Iran.

"The safety of the women and men who serve is our top priority, and we are taking all necessary precautions for the security of our civilian, military, and diplomatic personnel. We continue to strongly urge de-escalation across the region," Trudeau said in a statement.

The prime minister said that members of the opposition were being briefed on the situation.

The attack prompted the government to convene the Incident Response Group, bringing together the ministers of defence and foreign affairs, the chief of defence staff, the national security and intelligence advisor, the clerk of the privy council and senior bureaucrats.

Military sources told the Stars Bruce Campion-Smith that Canadian personnel were in the area of the Iranian attack on the base in Irbil.

Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of defence staff, confirmed late Tuesday that all Canadians were safe. I can assure you that all deployed CAF personnel are safe & accounted for following missile attacks in Iraq. We remain vigilant, he said on Twitter.

This still image from an Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting video shot on January 8, 2020, allegedly shows rockets launched from Iran against the U.S. military base in Ein-al Asad in Iraq. HO/IRIB/AFP via Getty Images

The attack came just hours after Vance announced that Canada would be moving some military personnel out of Iraq to Kuwait for their safety amidst concerns that Iran would strike.

Vance was at defence headquarters in downtown Ottawa Tuesday night as reports came in from Iraq. With him were senior military leaders and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan.

After the strikes, President Donald Trump, who has vowed a strong response to any Iranian attack on U.S. targets, met at the White House with his top national security advisers to discuss retaliatory options.

On Twitter, Trump struck an upbeat tone and promised to make a statement Wednesday morning.

All is well! he wrote. Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far!

In a tweet shortly after the missile launches, Irans foreign minister Mohammed Javad Zarif called the strikes proportionate measures in self-defence. He said Iran was not seeking to escalate the situation but would defend itself against any aggression.

The American killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a hero at home but a terrorist to the U.S. government, has scaled into one of the most dangerous confrontations between the countries in the four decades of animosity that have followed the Islamic Revolution.

Irans firing of ballistic missiles from inside its borders  not relying on rockets from Iranian-backed proxies  at two of the main military bases where many of the more than 5,000 U.S. troops in Iraq are based was a significant escalation of force that threatened to ignite a widening conflict throughout the Middle East.

It was also a stark message from Tehran that it has the will and the ability to strike at U.S. targets in neighbouring Iraq.

It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and coalition personnel at Al Asad and Irbil, Jonathan Hoffman, the Pentagons chief spokesman, said in a statement.

Shortly after the attacks, the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington banned U.S. airlines from flying over Iran, Iraq, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Read more:

Analysis | Are we on the edge of World War III?

Canada moving troops out of Iraq as regional tensions rise

Who was Qassem Soleimani, Irans shadowy spymaster killed in a U.S. strike?

Iranian news media reported the attack hours after the remains of Soleimani were returned to his hometown in Iran for burial amid a huge outpouring of grief and rage at the United States. The funeral procession was so huge and unwieldy that more than 50 people died in a stampede, state news media reported, forcing a delay in the burial.

Iranian officials said the attacks on U.S. bases began at 1:20 a.m.  the time Soleimani was killed Friday by an American drone at the Baghdad International Airport.

The funeral procession for Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 6 2019. Arash Khamooshi / The New York Times

Some Iranian officials tweeted images of Iranian flags in a pointed rejoinder to Trump, who tweeted an American flag after Soleimani was killed.

Irans military planners had anticipated retaliatory strikes by the United States. Key military, oil and energy sites were placed on high alert, and underground missile defence systems were prepared to counterattack, said a person familiar with the planning.

Two people close to the Revolutionary Guards said that if the United States did not strike, Iran would de-escalate as well, and end its missile attack on U.S. bases in Iraq. But if the United States does attack, then Iran was preparing for at least a limited conflict.

Reports from U.S. intelligence agencies of an imminent attack from Iran had intensified throughout the day, and senior officials said they were bracing for some kind of attack against U.S. bases in Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East.

U.S. military and intelligence officials had closely monitored over the past two days movements of Irans ballistic force units  the crown jewel of the countrys arsenal. It was initially unclear whether the movements were a defensive dispersal or the preparations for a retaliatory attack. But by midday Tuesday, top U.S. officials said it had become clear that some kind of Iranian attack was coming.

As tensions mounted, the presidents top national security advisers began gathering in the White House Situation Room about 2 p.m.  about 3 1/2 hours before the attacks. Trump joined them after a previously scheduled meeting with the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Unlike after the U.S. drone strike that killed Soleimani last week, Democratic congressional leaders were notified immediately after the strikes.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was meeting Tuesday evening with senior Democrats about Trumps impeachment trial when she was handed a note telling her of the Iranian attack on U.S. forces in Iraq.

We must ensure the safety of our servicemembers, including ending needless provocations from the administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence, Pelosi tweeted. America & world cannot afford war.

Reactions to the strikes diverged sharply on Capitol Hill, with Democrats condemning the series of events that led to the escalation, and Republicans urging Trump to project military strength in the face of the attacks.

With files from Bruce Campion-Smith
WASHINGTON  Top Pentagon leaders said Monday that the United States has no plans to withdraw troops from Iraq, despite a draft letter from a senior military officer that appeared to suggest plans for withdrawal were underway.

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters the U.S. is moving forces around Iraq and neighboring Kuwait. He said a draft letter circulated internally by a U.S. Marine commander was a poorly written honest mistake that should never have gotten out.

The draft letter appeared to suggest the U.S. was preparing to pull troops out of Iraq in response to a vote by the Iraqi Parliament over the weekend. The draft said troops would be repositioning over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement. and warned of an increase in helicopter travel around the Green Zone. It added, We respect your sovereignty decision to order our departure.

Milley and Defense Secretary Mark Esper, however, said the U.S. has been re-positioning troops, largely due to increased security threats from Iran. The letter was meant to coordinate with the Iraqi military on an increase in U.S. helicopter and troop movements as they shift positions around the country.

Theres been no decision whatsover to leave Iraq, Esper said. Theres no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave.

Milley acknowledged that some language in the letter implies withdrawal, but said that is not what is happening.

The long and the short of it is, its an honest mistake, he said, adding that he had just gotten off the phone with the U.S. commander in the Middle East, who explained the effort.

Esper said the U.S. remains committed to the campaign to defeat the Islamic State group in Iraq and the region.

Pro-Iran factions in the Iraqi Parliament have pushed to oust American troops following the killing of a top Iranian general in Baghdad in a U.S. drone strike last week.
Authorities here will begin five-day campaign to kill thousand of camels in Australia as they drink too much water amid the wildfires.

The government will send helicopters to kill up to 10,000 camels in a five-day campaign starting Wednesday, The Hill reported citing The Australian.

Marita Baker, an Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) (large, sparsely-populated local government area for Aboriginal Australians) executive board member, said that the camels were causing problems in her community of Kanypi.

"We have been stuck in stinking hot and uncomfortable conditions, feeling unwell, because the camels are coming in and knocking down fences, getting in around the houses and trying to get to water through air conditioners,'' she said.

The planned killing of the camels comes at a time the country is ravaged by wildfires since November. The disaster has killed more than a dozen people and caused the displacement or deaths of 480 million animals, according to University of Sydney researchers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[January 07, 2020] Valneva Announces End of Phase 2 Meeting with the FDA for its Chikungunya Vaccine Candidate

Saint-Herblain (France), January 7, 2020  Valneva SE (Valneva or the Company) announced today that an End Of Phase 2 (EOP2) meeting has been scheduled with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on February 24, 2020 for its single-shot chikungunya vaccine candidate, VLA1553. The Company plans to present its plan for Phase 3 clinical studies and licensure. VLA1553 has been awarded Fast Track designation by the FDA and may be eligible for a Priority Review Voucher1. Wolfgang Bender, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer of Valneva, commented, We are extremely pleased that the FDA has accepted our proposal for an EOP2 meeting. Subject to the outcome we may commence Phase 3 clinical trials within a few months. We are strongly committed to advancing VLA1553, currently the only chikungunya vaccine candidate in clinical development showing fully sustained titers one year after a single vaccination, through the accelerated approval. In November 2019, Valneva reported final Phase 1 results confirming VLA1553s excellent immunogenicity and safety profile2.The Company has also completed all required non-clinical studies requested by the FDA. About the Phase 1 Clinical Study VLA1553-101

This study was a randomized, observer-blinded, multicenter, dose-escalation Phase 1 clinical study investigating three dose levels of VLA1553, administered as a single immunization. It enrolled 120 healthy volunteers, 18 to 45 years of age, in the United States. Subjects were randomized into three different study groups to receive one of three dose levels (30 subjects in the low and medium and 60 subjects in the high dose group). The protocol includes a re-vaccination with the live-attenuated vaccine candidate VLA1553 at Month 6 (for 30 subjects in the high dose group) or Month 12 (for all others) to confirm that a single vaccination will be sufficient to induce high titer neutralizing antibodies and protect subjects from vaccine-induced viremia (intrinsic viral challenge). Study participants were followed until 13 months after initial vaccination. An independent Drug Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) continuously oversaw the study and reviewed safety data. Additional information, including a detailed description of the study design, eligibility criteria and investigator sites, is available at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03382964). About Chikungunya

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a Togaviridae virus, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Clinical symptoms include acute onset of fever, debilitating joint and muscle pain, headache, nausea and rash, potentially developing into long-term, serious health impairments. Chikungunya virus causes clinical illness in 72-92% of infected humans around 4 to 7 days after an infected mosquito bite. Complications resulting from the disease include visual, neurological, heart and gastrointestinal manifestations; fatalities have been reported (case fatality rates of 0.1% to 4.9% from epidemics)3 in elderly patients at higher risk. Chikungunya outbreaks have been reported in Asia, Africa, the Americas and recently (2017) in Europe. As of 2017, there have been more than one million reported cases in the Americas4 and the economic impact is considered to be significant (e.g. Colombia outbreak 2014: $73.6m5). The medical and economic burden is expected to grow as the CHIKV primary mosquito vectors continue to further spread geographically. There are no preventive vaccines or effective treatments available and, as such, chikungunya is considered to be a major public health threat. bout VLA1553





6. The vaccine candidate is designed for prophylactic, active, single-dose immunization against chikungunya in humans over one year old. The vaccine targets long-lasting protection and an anticipated safety profile similar to licensed vaccines for active immunization in adults and children. The target population segments are travelers, military personnel and individuals at risk living in endemic regions. The global market for vaccines against chikungunya is estimated at up to 500 million annually7.

VLA1553 is based on an infectious clone (CHIKV LR2006-OPY1) attenuated by deleting a major part of the gene encoding the non-structural replicase complex protein nsP3, aiming for protection against various chikungunya virus outbreak phylogroups and strains8. In pre-clinical development, a single-vaccine shot was shown to be highly immunogenic in vaccinated Non-Human Primates (NHP) (cynomolgus macaques) and showed no signs of viremia after challenge9. In NHPs, VLA1553 induced a strong, long lasting (more than 300 days) neutralizing antibody response comparable to wild-type CHIKV infections, combined with a good safety profile. About Valneva SE

Valneva is a biotech company developing and commercializing vaccines for infectious diseases with major unmet needs. Valnevas portfolio includes two commercial vaccines for travelers: IXIARO/JESPECT indicated for the prevention of Japanese encephalitis and DUKORAL indicated for the prevention of cholera and, in some countries, prevention of diarrhea caused by ETEC. The Company has various vaccines in development including a unique vaccine against Lyme disease. Valneva has operations in Austria, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and the US with approximately 490 employees. More information is available at www.valneva.com . Valneva Investor and Media Contacts

Laetitia Bachelot-Fontaine

Global Head of Investor Relations &

Corporate Communications

M +33 (0)6 4516 7099

[email protected]



Teresa Pinzolits

Corporate Communications Specialist

T +43 (0)1 20620 1116

[email protected] Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the business of Valneva, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical trials for product candidates, the ability to manufacture, market, commercialize and achieve market acceptance for product candidates, the ability to protect intellectual property and operate the business without infringing on the intellectual property rights of others, estimates for future performance and estimates regarding anticipated operating losses, future revenues, capital requirements and needs for additional financing. In addition, even if the actual results or development of Valneva are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments of Valneva may not be indicative of their in the future. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as "could," "should," "may," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "aims," "targets," or similar words. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the current expectations of Valneva as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In particular, the expectations of Valneva could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties involved in the development and manufacture of vaccines, unexpected clinical trial results, unexpected regulatory actions or delays, competition in general, currency fluctuations, the impact of the global and European credit crisis, and the ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements made during this presentation will in fact be realized. Valneva is providing the information in these materials as of this press release, and disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

1 A Priority Review Voucher (PRV) may be granted to the first chikungunya vaccine approved in the US. Several chikungunya vaccines are being developed by vaccine companies in the world.



2 Valneva Reports Excellent Final Phase 1 Results for its Chikungunya Vaccine Candidate, Confirms Plans



3 WHO, PAHO



4 PAHO/WHO data: Number of reported cases of Chikungunya Fever in the Americas  EW 51 (December 22, 2017)



5 Cardona-Ospina et al. 2015, Trans R Soc Trip Med Hyg 109:793-802.



6 Valneva PR: Valneva Awarded FDA Fast Track Designation for Chikungunya vaccine candidate



7 Company estimate supported by an independent market study



8 Hallengard et al. 2013, J. Virology 88:2858-2866.



9 Roques et al. 2017, JCI Insight 2 (6): e83527.



Attachment 2020_01_07_FDA_EOP2_Meeting_Date_PR_EN_Final

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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has told Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) that he has decided not to run for an open Senate seat in Kansas, two people familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.

Pompeo and McConnell spoke on Monday, with Pompeo sharing that he will stay on at the State Department. Last week, President Trump authorized an airstrike in Baghdad that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, which resulted in Iran vowing revenge. A person close to McConnell told the Post he believes Pompeo is doing "an incredible job" and is "exactly where the country needs him right now."

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) announced last year that he will not seek re-election, and McConnell wanted Pompeo to run for his seat in order to keep it in GOP control, the Post reports. Pompeo had been making frequent trips to Kansas, meeting with Ward Baker, a Republican strategist with close ties to McConnell.

More stories from theweek.com

America is guilty of everything we accuse Iran of doing

Rand Paul says war with Iran would be a 'catastrophe' worse than what happened in Iraq

Pelosi calls on Iran to 'cease its violence,' Trump administration to end its 'needless provocations'


Imperial Valley News Center

Former Los Angeles-Area Physician Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Defrauding Medicare and Illegally Prescribing Opioid Drugs

Los Angeles, California - A former Los Angeles-area physician was sentenced today to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release for engaging in a multi-faceted Medicare fraud scheme and for illegally prescribing thousands of opioid painkillers and muscle relaxers.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicola T. Hanna of the Central District of California, Assistant Director in Charge Paul D. Delacourt of the FBIs Los Angeles Division, Special Agent in Charge Timothy DeFrancesca of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector Generals (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office and Special Agent in Charge William D. Bodner of DEAs Los Angeles Field Divison made the announcement.

Kain Kumar, 56, of Palmdale, California, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez of the Central District of California, who also ordered Kumar to pay $509,365 in restitution, $494,900 in asset forfeiture, and a $72,000 fine. Kumar pleaded guilty on April 4, 2019, to one count of health care fraud and one count of distribution of hydrocodone.

As part of his guilty plea, Kumar admitted that from February 2011 until May 2016, he defrauded the Medicare health care benefit program by prescribing unnecessary home health services in exchange for the payment of illegal kickbacks to him from a La Verne, California-based home health agency called Star Home Health Resources Inc. Kumar further admitted that in furtherance of this scheme, he submitted false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement to Medicare for Medicare beneficiaries that he did not personally examine or for patients he only briefly examined. Kumar also admittedly prescribed drugs that were not medically necessary and which were paid for by the Medicare Part D program.

Kumar admitted that between February 2013 and January 2016, he prescribed 23,826 pills of the opioid drug hydrocodone (commonly sold under the brand names Vicodin or Norco) and 38,459 pills of the muscle-relaxer carisoprodol (sold under the brand name Soma) without a legitimate medical purpose. Kumar directed his office staff  who were not medical professionals  to issue prescriptions for these drugs to patients even though Kumar had not examined the patients, he admitted. Kumar instructed his office staff to issue prescriptions for opioid drugs by instructing his staff to sign Kumars name on prescriptions and by providing his staff with pre-signed prescriptions. In one instance, Kumar examined a patient only on the very first visit and thereafter on a monthly basis, for approximately a year-and-a-half, he caused prescriptions to be issued to the patient for hydrocodone and carisoprodol, even though Kumar did not actually see the patient for a subsequent physician examination.

Kumar was charged along with Errol Lat, 75, Thelma Lat, 74, Elaine Lat, 49, all of Rancho Cucamonga, California, and Corinne Chavez, 36, of Rosamond, California, in a second superseding indictment returned on July 2017. All co-defendants have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced.

This case was investigated by the FBI, HHS-OIG and the DEA. Trial Attorney Claire Yan of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander F. Porter of the Central District of California prosecuted the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Benjamin Netanyahu has told his security cabinet that Israel should 'stay out of' any fallout sparked by the killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.

The Israeli Prime Minister told top ministers on Monday that since the general's assassination was carried out solely by the US, there is no reason to get involved.

Iran has promised a 'crushing revenge' following the strike which killed Soleimani and other top Revolutionary Guards commanders last week, expected to ramp up on Tuesday when a three-day period of mourning ends.

Benjamin Netanyahu has banned top ministers from talking to the press about Soleimani's death and told them Israel should 'stay out of it'

Iran vowed to exact a 'crushing revenge' on US in retaliation for Soleimani's death, expected to ramp up Tuesday when a three days of mourning ends (pictured, a funeral procession)

Top Iranian minister Mohsen Rezai, a former Guard commander, has threatened to reduce the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa 'to dust' as part of the retaliation.

Netanyahu, who has cultivated a close relationship with Trump, initially threw his backing behind the strike, praising the US president for taking 'strong' action.

But he has since banned ministers from talking to the press about the strike for fear of creating the impression Israel was involved, two ministers present at Monday's meeting told Axios.

'The killing of Soleimani is a U.S. event, not an Israeli event, and we should stay out of it,' they reported Netanyahu as saying.

The director of Israel's security service Mossad told the same meeting that the risk of an Iranian strike on Israel is low because 'Israel stayed distant from the event'.

Iran has already said it will no longer abide by any of the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal signed under Obama in response to the attack.

The Iraqi parliament has also voted to expel all US troops from the country, which Iran said signals the beginning of the end of America's presence in the region.

While Iran has not made the rest of its plans clear, it is likely that US troops based in Iraq, the embassy in Baghdad, and troops in Syria will be targeted in response.

Hassan Nasrallah, the Lebanese secretary-general of Iran-backed Hezbollah, said all US bases, all warships and every single soldier in the region is now a target.

'The true, just retribution for those who conducted this assassination is an institution, which is the U.S. military,' he said during a ceremony to mourn Soleimani's death in Beirut on Sunday.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (left, weeping at Soleimani's funeral) has been personally orchestrating Iran's response to the death

Israel was initially quick to praise Trump for his 'strong action' in taking out Soleimani, but has since stayed quiet on the issue

'We will launch a battle against those killers, those criminals.'

US intelligence believes that Iran will try to kill one of its top generals in the region in a tit-for-tat slaying.

One official said the U.S. anticipates a 'major' attack of some type within the next day or two.

The U.S. military has increased protection of its forces, particularly in Iraq.

Officials said a number of the recently deployed soldiers from the 1st Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division had moved into Iraq from Kuwait in order to increase security for Americans there.

The U.S. military has stopped all training of Iraqi forces to focus on force protection, officials said.

As of Monday, officials said, there had not been a broadly distributed order or recommendation to increase security at military installations worldwide.

Instead, decisions were being left up to the commanders.
A Methuen woman accused of stealing more than $530,000 from a Lawrence retirement home pleaded not guilty in Essex Superior Court Tuesday.

Sherry Verdick, 43, is the former business manager at the Berkeley Retirement Home and Nursing Center in Lawrence, according to the Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healeys office.

Verdick was indicted last month on 16 charges including larceny over $1,200 by a single scheme, larceny over $250 by a single scheme, making false entries in corporate books with intent to defraud, forgery and uttering.

The former employee worked at the retirement home for around nine years and was promoted to business office manager in 2014. She was fired from the position September 2018, court documents show.

Authorities accuse Verdick of writing hundreds of checks to herself from various accounts operated by the facility from January 2016 through September 2018.

Prosecutors from Healeys office called it a sophisticated scheme.

Prosecutors allege that she wrote several hundred checks to herself from various accounts affiliated with the retirement center, allegedly forged various signatures of other Berkeley employees to steal money from Berkeley accounts, improperly used a corporate credit card for personal purchases, and allegedly altered the companys payroll system to reduce her health insurance contribution to zero, Healeys office said.

Verdick also stole more than $11,000 from the estate of a deceased resident by misleading another employee into signing a check, authorities said.

The former retirement home employee allegedly wrote 394 checks to herself from an account for patients personal needs and stole nearly $413,000, court documents show. She is also accused of forging the signature of multiple co-workers on 64 checks and stealing around $82,000 from the retirement homes operating accounts.

Authorities also accuse Verdick of charging nearly $20,000 worth of unauthorized purchases to a Berkeley corporate credit card and altering the retirement homes internal payroll system to negate her health insurance contributions, which resulted in the company having to pay around $10,500 in contributions for her insurance that she should have paid herself, according to court documents.

The former retirement home employee stole roughly $536,556 in total, Healeys office said.

She pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and was released on personal recognizance. She will return to court on Feb. 27.

The retirement home has a 44-bed capacity and provides activities, rehabilitative services and nursing assistance for individuals who need short- and long-term care. It has served elderly community members for more than 100 years, according to court documents.
SITTARD, Netherlands, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Scala today announced the opening of their new expanded EMEA headquarters in the city center of Sittard, strengthening local presence and enhancing the marketing technology company's capability to drive world class digital engagement solutions throughout Europe. Scala is part of the STRATACACHE family of marketing technology companies, which is headquartered in Dayton, OH, US.

The new office is centrally located in the Netherlands, making travel to customers in continental Europe seamless. Local retail chains with Scala installations surround the new office, making the streets of Sittard the company's showroom. With the closeness of local businesses, native support staff can service existing customers more efficiently than ever before. The location of the new office solidifies Scala's efforts to drive inspired customer experiences and commitment to continued customer success and innovation in Europe. With proximity to the current Scala Sittard warehouse and logistics center, the new Scala office further integrates pan-European service delivery capabilities to better execute for the growing European customer base.

"An office space was created that is not just a workplace, but a new, expanded home for Scala EMEA operations. The digital marketing agency atmosphere inspires creative minds, driving technical specialists to keep inventing new solutions and most of all, creates a natural platform for collaboration. This abides fully to the needs of our customers, who are constantly looking for deeper innovations in the communication cycle with the objective to be as hyper targeted as possible when interacting with their customers. Our current customers, who are actively driving transformation within retail, can meet us at the new office for inspiring collaboration sessions and knowledge sharing," said Harry Horn, GM EMEA for Scala and VP Marketing Global for STRATACACHE.

About Scala

Scala solutions deliver engaging retail experiences by connecting networks of digital signs, kiosks, mobile devices, websites and Internet-connected devices. Scala, a STRATACACHE company, provides the platform for marketers, retailers and innovators to easily create and centrally manage deployment of shopping experiences while retaining the flexibility to rapidly adapt to local business conditions and preferences of customers in the store. With 30 years of experience entertaining, informing and educating audiences, Scala is well-known for its innovation and leveraging best-of-breed technologies, such as mobile and predictive analytics, to create award-winning solutions that are easy-to-use, yet infinitely customizable. With the US headquartered near Philadelphia, PA and EMEA headquartered in the Netherlands, Scala's network of partners and developers located in more than 90 countries drives more than 500,000 screens worldwide. Learn more about Scala's advanced marketing technology solutions at www.scala.com , on Twitter @ScalaInc or on Facebook .

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Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], Jan 7 (ANI): The priests at Chilkur Balaji temple thanked the Supreme Court for referring the review of Sabarimala judgement to a nine-judge Bench instead of a seven-judge one as per its earlier order.



The top court on Monday issued a notice informing listing of the petition filed by Indian Young Lawyers Association seeking review of its historic 2018 judgement that allowed women and girls to enter the Sabarimala temple.

"Take notice that the following matters will be listed for hearing before a nine-Judge Constitution Bench commencing from Monday the January 13, 2020", the notice had said.

"This will give a greater scope to rectify the ambiguities in the Apex Court judgements on Shirur Mutt case which has led to the courts following a defective methodology of interpreting Article 26," Archaka Rangarajan, a priest at the Chilkur Balaji temple said in a release.

"The term denomination has been wrongly interpreted to deny the rights to thousands of temple deities. Temples have been illegally taken over by the state governments and the pious purpose for which the deities have taken the form of idols for uplifting the mankind spiritually has been denied," he added.

Rangarajan further said that constitutional rights of the temple deities should be ensured.

"The Constitutional rights of the temple deities should be properly guaranteed. Inquiring into which part is religious and which part is secular cannot be done by the Courts. Even this should be left to the religious groups," he said.

"It is heartening to note that a nine-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court will hear from January 13, the issue of allowing women and girls of all ages to enter Kerala's Sabarimala temple along with other contentious issues of alleged discrimination against Muslim and Parsi women," he added. (ANI)


DALLAS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the official launch of the Exodus Planner in Cuyahoga County, The Securus Foundation has held another community partner training event to educate local resource providers on the ways they can utilize this platform to assist their community members. Statistics following the launch are in and the results support the fact that this technology is being leveraged by the county's residents.

"We are pleased with the outcome of the www.ExodusPlanner.com launch and we look forward to bringing this resource to more communities throughout the country," CEO & President of The Securus Foundation Dawn Freeman said. "Thanks to the efforts of the Exodus Planner platform and The Securus Foundation staff efforts, this technology and our approach ensure that communities are equipped to improve the lives of returning citizens and their families."

In September, the Securus Foundation hosted The 3 C's of R.E.A.L Community Awareness event. In partnership with The Office of Reentry in Cuyahoga County, the Going Home to Stay: A Guide for Successful Re-entry for Men and Women for all community members in and returning to Cuyahoga County was refreshed and modernized. Here are the results following the launch:

1.3M Cuyahoga County, OH residents now have free access to ExodusPlanner.com

residents now have free access to ExodusPlanner.com 305 community resource providers pages created by the Foundation

72 user accounts have been created

1,246 Aunt Bertha program searches completed

353 searches for Food Benefit providers top the search requests

43 searches for Housing is 2nd most often search requests

"The www.ExodusPlanner.com platform is an extremely beneficial resource for all community members, not just those impacted by the justice system," Freeman said. "We look forward to the continued success of Exodus Planner in Cuyahoga County, and as it is integrated into more communities."

As more communities turn to technology to assist them with their recidivism reduction efforts only, The Securus Foundation focuses on total community engagement. So whether a community is looking to assist their marginalized, impoverished and/or justice-involved population, our technology and processes focus on bridging that gap for all these demographics.

If you or a loved one needs assistance with locating program resources across the country, please visit www.exodusplanner.com and sign-up.

About The Securus Foundation:

Headquartered in Carrollton, Texas, the vision of The Securus Foundation is to modernize the reentry process to increase successful community reengagement. The Securus Foundation is a non-profit organization, formed exclusively for charitable and educational purposes that include but not limited to, advancing education, relief of the poor, distressed, and underprivileged, and lessening the burdens of government. The Securus Foundation's primary function is to develop, organize, and/or streamline services in conjunction with government agencies, service providers, non-profits, faith-based organizations, community partners, colleges and universities, and formerly incarcerated individuals that desire to establish or improve reentry processes to reduce recidivism across the United States. To learn more about The Securus Foundation, please visit www.thesecurusfoundation.org .

Contact:

Dawn Freeman

[email protected]

SOURCE Securus Foundation

Related Links

http://www.thesecurusfoundation.org


Anu Kuruvilla By

Express News Service

KOCHI: Amid cities battling pollution and the rapid decline in green cover, a group under the banner of the Development Action Council for Kerala (DACK) has taken it upon itself to protect acres of urban forest on the HMT company premises at Kalamassery. As part of conserving the green cover in the locality, experts from World Resources Institute India and other nature enthusiasts visited the forest on Monday to explore the different species of vegetation and birds in area.

DACK chairman Mukkapuzha Nandakumar, who is also the former chairman of one of Kalamassery Municipal standing committees, said the aim is to conserve the forest in HMT and nearby wetlands as a biodiversity park. Of the total 251 acres of land owned by HMT at Kalamassery, around 115 acres were reclaimed by nature in the past 50 years following disuse. The land has now become a sanctuary for over 196 species of birds, both native and migratory, he said.

An Indian paradise flycatcher from Kashmir

which makes the HMT-owned land its home

for three months

Nandakumar said there was nothing artificial about the forest. The entire area has plants endemic to the region, with some having medicinal properties, he said, adding DACK has been demanding the conservation of the forest area for quite some time.As part of our initiative to protect the habitat of birds and the citys lungs, we prepared a proposal and approached Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) and the Kerala Metropolitan Transport Authority (KMTA), said Nandakumar. He said the agencies responded very positively.

Meanwhile, Polly Kalamassery, a bird watcher said, The forest at Kalamassery is home to almost the same number of birds as Thattekattu bird sanctuary." The urban forest is also home to the states butterfly Papilio Buddha, which is enough to declare it as protected. Another rare bird which comes to Kochi from Kashmir and stays here for three months is the Indian paradise flycatcher, he said. He said due to the presence of such a large number of birds, the forest has become a haven for bird watchers.

Speaking about Cities 4 Forests, which, in India, is a joint initiative of World Resources Institute, India, Revolve and Pilot Projects in partnership with Kochi Municipal Corporation, Nandakumar said Cities4Forest initiative works to preserve urban and peri-urban forests and identify potential open spaces to extend green cover. WRI India through technical assistance under C4F can help us realize the importance of this forest tract and look into the potential for converting it into a biodiversity park, he said.

Just an hour-long walk reveals the treasures the forest is hiding, Rajeev Malagi form WRI India said, adding, Kochi, the only Indian city to be listed by Cities4Forests among 61 others from across the world, is blessed to have such a variety of flora and fauna. He also said preserving and conserving biodiversity and urban development need to go hand in hand. Besides Kalamassery, WRI India will be documenting places like Container Road (known for its mangrove trees) and Mangalavanam in the city.
They are preparing to welcome their little girl into the world in two months' time.

And Ola Jordan glowed with happiness as she headed to a baby scan with her husband James at Window To The Womb in Maidstone on Tuesday.

The professional dancer, 37, seemed excited as she stroked her growing bump while James, 41, filmed her in the waiting room.

Pregnancy: Ola Jordan glowed as she headed to a baby scan with her husband James at Window to the Womb in Maidstone on Tuesday

He said: 'Myself and Ola are in Maidstone today and we have just arrived at Window To The Womb.

'So we're having a scan done of the baby. See what she looks like, she if she's as pretty as her Daddy.'

Ola, who is expecting to give birth in March, was quick to fight back as she corrected him with: 'Mummy!'

Little girl! When inside the scan room James took a video of the monitor as the couple shared pictures of their little one

Exciting: Ola and James revealed they were expecting a baby girl last month, after the couple announced their pregnancy in September

He added: 'Oh Mummy, yeah Mummy. Are you ready?'

His glamorous wife pulled at her black jumper in discomfort as she replied: 'I am ready. I am hot.'

James continued joking with Ola and quipped, 'Used to be,' causing his wife to burst into laughter.

While inside the scan room, James took a video of the monitor as the couple shared pictures of their little one.

Thrilled: The professional dancer, 37, seemed excited as she stroked her growing bump while James, 41, filmed her in the waiting room

He said: 'Ladies and gentleman there's our little girl, hiding behind her hands.'

Ola laughed as she celebrated their daughter having wisps of hair.

She said: 'Baby's got hair, yay, she's got it after me,' offending her husband who panned the camera round to show his own mass of hair.

'That's just rude. I've got some hair still,' he added.

Hair! Ola laughed as she celebrated their daughter having wisps of hair. She said: 'Baby's got hair, yay, she's got it after me,' offending her husband

The couple, who have been happily married since 2003, went on to buy their first batch of baby gear at Mama's and Papa's, sharing the moment they excitedly headed inside to pick up 'lots of pink stuff'.

Ola said: It's freezing cold. We're doing our first baby shop, how exciting. First Baby shop, we haven't got anything yet.'

It comes after Ola and Jordan revealed their baby girl was 'dancing' during their 12-week scan.

The couple, who were speaking to Hello! magazine, decided Christmas was a good time to find out their baby's gender.

Scan: The couple, who have been happily married since 2003, went on to buy their first batch of baby gear at Mama's and Papa's

Ola, a former Strictly winner, said: 'When we had the scan it was funny because the baby was dancing.

'I'm not sure if it was a cha-cha or a jive, but it was definitely dancing.

And James, who also used to be a Strictly Come Dancing professional, said he and Ola didn't want to 'jinx anything' after their successful round of IVF.

He said: 'Because we were quite nervous going through IVF we didn't want to jinx anything Now we know it's a little girl it just feels very real now. It's amazing.'

Little one: It comes after Ola and Jordan revealed their baby girl was 'dancing' during their 12-week scan

Ola's interview comes after she spoke about her plans for her birth, with her baby due in two months' time.

Speaking to Closer Magazine, Ola - who announced she was pregnant in September - admitted she was 'scared' about labour, but said James was panicking more than her.

'I don't know what to expect with the birth - I'm scared, but millions and millions of women do it, so it can't be that bad surely?' she said.

'But James is more scared than me, more afraid. He'll be a terrible birthing partner!'

Ola continued that her husband couldn't be doing more for her as she nears the halfway point of her pregnancy.

Ola, a former Strictly champion, said: 'When we had the scan it was funny because the baby was dancing'

'He's very protective of me - even now, when I'm just walking around, he's making sure I don't fall,' she gushed.

'So if things don't go the way they should [at the birth], I think he will start panicking.'

The star said she was finally enjoying her pregnancy after suffering from bad morning sickness, but was just 'so happy' that's she's pregnant after trying for so long to conceive.

The couple confirmed they were expecting their first child following a three-year fertility struggle and admitted that they were yet to fully process the news after falling pregnant during their first round of IVF treatment.

New arrival: Ola's interview comes after she spoke about her plans for her birth, with her baby due in two months' time

Taking to Twitter, Ola and James revealed the happy news to their respective followers.

'I can't actually believe I'm writing this but I'm so happy to say @TheJamesJordan and I are expecting a baby.

'We are both so excited to add a little munchkin into our family,' Ola tweeted.

Retweeting her message, James added that the couple discovered they are expecting a child after years of trying.

Myself & @The_OlaJordan have been waiting for this moment for what seems like an eternity,' he wrote.

'After being with each other for 20 years & our love for each other growing stronger every day we can now share our amazing news that we are expecting a baby!!'
A stabbing at a Co Antrim grammar school has left a teenage pupil in hospital (Niall Carson/PA)

A stabbing at a Co Antrim grammar school has left a teenage pupil in hospital.

His injuries are not life-threatening, police said.

It happened at Larne Grammar School on Tuesday morning.

A PSNI statement said: A 13-year-old male pupil has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon and is currently in police custody.

The pupil was taken to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

The school declined to offer immediate comment.

The safety and wellbeing of our pupils is always our primary concernLarne Grammar School principal Jonathan Wylie

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received an emergency call at 11.21am.

One crew attended the scene on the Lower Cairncastle Road and a teenager was taken to hospital.

Jonathan Wylie, principal of Larne Grammar School, said on Tuesday: Following an incident in school this morning a Year 10 pupil was taken to hospital and is receiving treatment.

The safety and wellbeing of our pupils is always our primary concern and the authorities, including the PSNI, were contacted immediately. Parents have also been contacted and we are working with the Education Authority to ensure that pastoral support is available for those who require it.

This is the first time that an incident of this nature has occurred in school and the thoughts of the entire school community are with the injured pupil and his family.

The school will open tomorrow as usual.

We are unable to comment further due to an ongoing PSNI investigation.
'When my mother refuses to buy onions because of the appalling price and the next door maid tells her employer that there are plenty of people willing to work for the 10 days when she goes on leave, then I know we are indeed facing a tough situation,' notes Sherna Gandhy.

What will the new year bring?

The old one ended with a surprisingly big bang and the cheerful news that civil society still has a voice, that attempts to suppress it will not always succeed, and that the cancer of communalism -- the biggest threat to the country -- has for the time being gone into remission.

The new year will show whether that cancer can be eradicated.

The ruling party has for five years been assiduously fanning the flame of communalism.

The thing to watch out for in the new year is whether the ruling dispensation will junk the Constitution, and more seriously pursue its ambition to turn the country into a Hindu one, or whether the demonstrations across the country against one of its attempts to do so -- the alphabet soup of CAA, NRC and NPR -- will give it pause to rethink its design.

Another thing to watch out for is whether the citizens's protests will continue, or whether in a short while it will be business as usual and only the few well-known and honourable human rights defenders in the country will still hold out.

After all, the people were unmoved by the ill-treatment and blatant suspension of democracy in Kashmir, and the contradictory Supreme Court judgment on the Babri Masjid dispute.

There was blank and total silence from the people on these important issues, but they have now come out in droves to protest the imposition of the citizenship laws that will disenfranchise and render stateless lakhs of people as it has done in Assam.

Much has been said of women's safety this year as it is said every year.

Things went from bad to worse, as in both the Unnao rape case and the Kathua rape case, there were those who actually supported the rapists, especially an organisation calling itself the Hindu Ekta Manch.

The body of the eight-year-old girl raped and strangled to death in Kathua had to be buried in another village because right wing hoodlums threatened the family and would not allow burial in the family's own plot.

There was much pressure from civil society and the media regarding both cases.

While the judgment in the Kathua case came within a year, with the conviction of six of the seven defendants, the Unnao rape victim had a more harrowing time, her father falsely accused, beaten, and put in jail, where he died, her uncle similarly jailed over a trifling age-old case that was suddenly resurrected, and she herself threatening to immolate herself before Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath's house if the accused, principally Kuldip Singh Sengar, an MLA and BJP member, were not arrested.

This year, while on her way to court, a truck with blacked out number plates crashed into the car she was travelling in.

Her police escort was not with her because they said there was no room in the car.

No one can think this was an accident.

Sengar, of course, had a huge following, but this year was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Until people stop supporting rapists, until rape is seen as the heinous crime it is, until the woman victim is not made out to have invited the crime in some way or other, until crude ministers stop making senseless statements and until the police take the crime seriously, remain impartial, and conduct a proper investigation, the rape graph will not come down and the victims will continue to be badly treated.

The economy is of great concern having gone into a tailspin it seems.

I am not qualified to comment on high funda economic matters, but when my mother refuses to buy onions because of the appalling price, and the next door maid tells her mistress that there are plenty of people who will be willing to work for the 10 days that her maid is going on leave, then I know that we are indeed facing a tough situation.

Maids in the suburb of Mumbai that I live in were difficult to get, but now it seems many are out of work and willing to work for whatever days are on offer.

Many working people I know get their salaries more than one-and-a-half to two months late, and in the case of freelancers, five and six months late.

No wonder, consumption has fallen.

I am also aghast at the number of big businesses that are declaring bankruptcy or being taken over or have shut down, unable to repay their humongous loans.

Banks seem happy to lend money -- I get offers of loans from banks I don't bank with at least once a day.

God knows if they have any idea of my ability to repay the loan -- with the kind of snooping and surveillance that technology makes available today, they probably do know.

How the economic slowdown will play out next year I don't know, but if prices of everyday consumption don't come down, employment doesn't pick up, and salaries are not paid on time, 2020 will not be a happy year for anyone but the super rich.

I doubt very much that the farmer, who politicians are always eager to champion and give loans to (some on paper only), will ever get a better deal.

What he or she needs is not the annual ritual of waiving loans, but someone to look into what really ails this sector and how it can be put right so that unpaid loans do not become a problem.

But that, of course, means doing some really hard and sincere work; waiving the loans is so much simpler since it is not the chief minister's money but ours, the taxpayers' money that is being disbursed.

And, besides, it shows the munificence of the government doing the waiving and helps boost its fortunes in the next election.

Will the environment get its due next year? There are two important climate conferences coming up in 2020, in China and the UK.

Representatives of countries present will doubtless quarrel about how much emission they should cut, when they should do so, which countries should cut how much, and so on.

Our prime minister who loves to hobnob with world leaders may well be present if other major world leaders are going to be present.

He will make some bombastic speech about how India has reduced its carbon imprint while at home licences continue to be given to mine coal, the dirtiest source of energy.

Thousands of people are displaced in the process, sometimes in violation of the laws, and whether the 'compensation and rehabilitation package' ever reaches them is anyone's guess.

Trees are cut with abandon despite the existence of tree authorities and other such bodies that are usually in a comatose condition.

To stop 2,500 trees from being cut in one of Mumbai's few forest areas, the initiative was citizen-driven this year.

The minute the sacred (and utterly meaningless) word 'development' is uttered, all environmental concerns are thrown out of the door.

A car shed for the Metro line, which could easily be moved elsewhere, was considered more important than 2,500 trees which can't be moved anywhere.

The courts, incidentally, were of no help either.

A road that borders the western shoreline of Mumbai, destroying whatever little mangroves there are, was another crackpot idea of the then state government.

The current one says it will not allow it.

Let us see.

India has set a target of reaching 175 GW of installed capacity from renewable energy sources by 2022, which includes 100 GW of solar and 60 GW of wind.

At the end of 2017-2018 the total renewable power installed capacity in the country was almost 70 GW.

If we can be relieved of the strangling electricity tariffs (private players were supposed to lower tariffs; instead, tariffs have climbed to dizzying heights) it would be a great boon, but with two behemoths like Tata and Adani in the fray, it's doubtful if renewables will go very far.

Some 11,000 thousand scientists have announced that climate change is on track to cause us 'untold suffering'.

They say since 1970, we have destroyed vast habitats and wiped out 60 per cent of mammal, bird, fish and reptile population.

The UN says the collapse of our eco-system could wipe out a million species.

We humans, of course, are one of those species.

It is easy for us to think this is a far-off problem we need not bother about.

But in fact it is affecting communities right now.

A seaside village in Wales is expected to go under water in the next decade and the city council is making plans to move people away.

Unlike in India, where the rising ocean waters have submerged several communities in the Sunderbans that no one has considered worth planning for, in Wales, all sorts of plans are being discussed that may have to be put into action by 2024.

Anything new we can expect in 2020? I'm hoping that having finally found a voice, civil society will keep up the pressure.

We have been dumb for five years, in every sense of the word, but now we may just be able to subvert the evil laws this government is planning.

I love the flash protests that popped up in Hyderabad on the weekend.

With police not allowing people to demonstrate peacefully, a small group of four that swelled to 10 sat sipping coffee at a Starbucks holding up placards denouncing the citizenship laws.

Another such protest popped up at another location.

Not much the police can do, but they did try to intimidate the second group by asking for identity details and spending a long time checking these.

The action of the police in Adityanath-ruled UP has been expectedly brutal.

If such behaviour is encouraged it will be a very bad new year.

I heard a retired DG of police on TV condoning a police officer who threatened a locality (Muslim, of course) that he had his eye on this locality and would remember the people in it, so they better behave themselves.

Instead of condemning this partisan behaviour, the DG said police were under much stress and sometimes said such things and made other such weak excuses.

It would be a magical moment indeed if in 2020 the police would grow some spine and assert their independence, but it's highly unlikely.

In 2020, things might come to a boil with consequences that are difficult to imagine.

Or, things could go back to being the way they were.

I think the former more likely and that will make 2020 an interesting year.

Sherna Gandhy, distinguished journalist and commentator, can be contacted at news@rediff.co.in
The owner of a New Jersey used-car dealership pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to his part in an international phishing scheme to steal millions from the U.S. Department of Defense, authorities said.

Hurriyet Arslan, 49, of Willingboro, admitted he conspired with foreign nationals from Turkey and Germany to steal money from a defense department contract worth $23.5 million, according to U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito.

The money was supposed to be used for aviation fuel to be supplied to troops in southeast Asia, Carpenito said in a news release.

Arslan owned Deal Automotive Sales, a used-car dealership in Florence, and provided his business bank account and routing numbers to co-conspirators for fraudulent purposes, Carpenito said. The phishing attacks attempted to obtain log-in credentials and personal key identifiers, authorities said.

Co-conspirators redirected contract funding to Arslans bank account using a phishing scam that involved fooling victims with fake emails and fraudulent web pages, the indictment states.

According to the indictment, Arslan convinced banks to release funds by telling them that people in Turkey had chosen him to purchase vehicles at an auction in Turkey.

Arslan, a native of Turkey who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2011, expected co-conspirators to pay him $20,000  a couple of thousand in advance and the remainder when the scheme ended, the indictment states.

The Department of Defense transferred $23.5 million into Arslans Deal Automotive Sales bank account, which Arslan accessed at a branch in Burlington County and transferred a portion of the money to other accounts he controlled, Carpenito said.

As part of a deal with prosecutors, Arslan pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez in Camden federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit mail, wire and bank fraud, one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering.

He faces up to 30 years in prison and up to $1 million in fines when he is sentenced on April 13.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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In 2016, Hillary Clinton presidential candidate hired an ex-intelligence officer and foreign national, British subject Christopher Steele, to use Russian sources to find dirt (opposition research) on her then political opponent Donald Trump. So much for the worry about foreign interference in U.S. elections.

The public would take years to learn of the funding sources of Steele, because Clinton camouflaged her role through three firewalls: the Democratic National Committee; the Perkins-Coie legal firm; and Glenn Simpsons Fusion GPS opposition-research firm.

Steele had collected rumor and gossip from mostly Russian sources in an effort to tar Trump as a Russian colluder and asset. We know now that his sources were either bogus or deliberately warped by Steele himself.

Almost everything in the dossier was unverified and later was proved fanciful. Yet with the help of high Obama administration and elected officials, the dossiers gossip and rumor were leaked throughout the top echelons of Washington politics and the media. Its lies spread because its chief message  Donald J. Trump was a fool, dangerous, should never be elected, and once elected had no business as president  was exactly what the establishment wished to hear. In other words, the dossier was infectious because it was deemed both welcome and useful.

The inspector general of the U.S. Department of Justice, Michael Horowitz, after an exhaustive study, found that the Steele dossier not just unverifiable but unethically and unprofessionally used to delude federal judges to issue warrants to surveil an American citizen.

Horowitz simply confirmed what a number of journalists had already discovered, namely, that Steele was both a pathological liar and an inveterate hater of Donald Trump who acted to ensure that Trump would not be president. Although the befuddled special counsel Robert Mueller, in sworn testimony before Congress, seemed to have amnesia about the Steele dossier and its chief purveyor Fusion GPS, his own investigation was de facto repudiation of the entire Steele dossier in its conclusion that Donald Trump did not engage in collusion with the Russians to warp the 2016 election.

Story continues

As a result, all who trafficked in the infectious dossier as if it were factual and disinterested have lost all credibility. Many are now seeing their careers demolished and in ruins. Here is a small sampling of reputations that were marred or destroyed.

Rachel Maddow. She is a Stanford graduate, Rhodes scholar, and MSNBC host  and she is emblematic of how academic progress often accompanies ethical and intellectual regress. Many of her 201619 evening cable news commentaries focused on the supposed dangers that candidate and then president Trump posed to the republic. She cited the Steele dossier chapter and verse as factual in making her arguments that Trump was dishonest and amoral and therefore an illegitimate president who should be removed. It will be difficult for any audience to take Maddows on-air assertions seriously in the future. She rose to high ratings promoting the dossier, and she will likely suffer the consequences in reverse.

James Comey and the FBI. It is no exaggeration that James Comey, the former director of the FBI, knew intimately of the dossier, approved its use to spy on American citizens and to launch an investigation into Donald Trumps purported Russian connection, and then serially lied about both the dossiers authenticity and his own agencys use of its author Christopher Steele, who at times was a paid informant for the FBI.

More than a dozen top FBI agents, investigators, and lawyers who worked for Comey in the FBIs Washingtons office have now either been fired, disgraced, reassigned, demoted, or they quit or have abruptly retired. The common denominator to all their fates is that in some fashion they either leaked false information to the media, knowingly broke the law, lied to federal investigators, altered documents, deluded federal judges, or were afraid that something they had done would surface. Trace the origins of such misbehavior, and at its font will be the sensational Steele dossier and the nearly religious belief that it either was true or should be true or somehow could be made to be true.

The late Senator John McCain. McCain was tipped off about the dossier by a British intelligence official, who apparently in turn had been prepped by the ubiquitous Steele in an effort to promulgate his work among high American officials. McCain, who had engaged in a well-publicized feud with Trump, almost immediately met with federal officials and sent his former associate David Kramer to the UK to talk with Steele. McCain himself then gave the dossier to FBI Director Comey. Kramer made sure that the unverified dossier was leaked to media sources before the 2016 election and well after it also. In McCains final memoir, he and his coauthor were defiant about the senators role in spreading the unsubstantiated gossip around Washington: I would do it again. Anyone who doesnt like it can go to hell. By January 2019, almost all sane and informed people did not like the idea of deliberately spreading false information to destroy a presidential candidate and later president, and most certainly they did not feel they should go to hell for voicing such outrage.

James Clapper and John Brennan. James Clapper, the former director of National Intelligence under Barack Obama, and John Brennan, the former CIA director, both previously had been caught lying under oath to Congress. Both then apologized, and their illegal behaviors were excused without legal consequences. But both once again have not told the full truth about their own knowledge of the Steele dossier, its unverified and mostly false information, and the role they both played in circulating and promulgating the dossier to the media and high government officials. That both directors were deeply involved in spreading the dossier around Washington, leaking its comments, and then denying their roles while they worked as paid television commentators on CNN and MSNBC only ensured the rapid erosion of their beltway careers and reputations. And both still may have a rendezvous with federal prosecutors in regard to the dossier.

The United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. A number of federal judges approved FBI and DOJ requests to surveille Carter Page both before and after the 2016 presidential election, supposedly as a way to learn of Trump-Russia collusion.

None of the judges seriously probed government lawyers about the dossier before their court. Although they were told in a footnote that it was a product of opposition research, apparently none asked the nature of such sponsorship.

Yet if a judge is apprised that the evidence before him to support a federal surveillance warrant is based on political opposition research, and the dossier was related to candidate and then president Donald Trump, would it not be prudent to ask attorneys to name who had paid the dossiers author? Worse still, in winter and late spring 2018, Representative Devin Nunes (R., Calif.) had twice warned the eleven-justice FISA court that the Steele dossier was unreliable and had not been a sound basis to authorize surveilling an American citizen. Nunes and his House colleagues were essentially ignored and dismissed by the court.

It was only after the issuance of the Horowitz report that the FISA courts presiding justice, Rosemary Collyer, blasted the FBI for deluding her court. Fairly or not, the impression remains that FISA judges either were incompetent or simply did not wish to learn evidence that might have discredited their decision to allow the FBI to surveille a former Trump official, as part of a larger effort to discredit Donald Trump. And like it or not, the entire reputation of the FISA court is now in shreds, both for being so easily or willingly fooled, and for so opportunistically and belatedly criticizing those who deluded them.

Hillary Clinton. There are complex federal election laws governing the role of foreign nationals and their U.S. handlers interfering in an American election. The public became more aware of such statutes paradoxically because Hillary Clinton, almost immediately after losing the November 2016 election, claimed that she was defeated only because Donald Trump had colluded with Russians.

Ironically, the origins of that claim were the Steele dossier, which Clinton herself had paid for and then hidden her sponsorship. In other words, while the dossier swept through the media, helped to prime FISA warrants, played a key part in launching FBI investigations, and ultimately kick-started the Robert Mueller special-counsel investigation, Hillary Clinton remained immune from scrutiny.

Think of the paradox: While Clinton pounded president Trump for supposedly using Russians to win an election, she herself had used fraudulent Russian sources to obtain political advantage by smearing her opponent, apparently in the expectation that she would win the election and her modus operandi would never be discovered, or, even if Steeles work were publicized and thus discredited, her own fingerprints would never appear  or no one would dare to question President Clinton.

There were certainly lots of firewalls. Anonymous Russians gave their scurrilous stories to Christopher Steele who exaggerated and collated them for Fusion GPS, which was hired by Perkins-Coie, which in turn had been assigned the task by the Democratic National Committee, which in turn was ultimately working on the direction of and in cahoots with Hillary Clinton. One unspoken reason that Hillary Clinton remains persona non grata among liberal circles is the suspicion that the entire truth about her role in collusion with foreign actors will eventually emerge and her presence will become at last toxic.

Adam Schiff. Adam Schiffs reputation hit rock bottom in recent years. He lied about his relationship to the so-called whistleblower. His minority-report memo was discredited by Inspector General Horowitz. He read a bogus version of the Trump-Ukraine phone call into the congressional record, and when called out, begged off by claiming it was merely parody. And he began the impeachment inquiry in a basement without either transparency or bipartisan rules of cross-examination and disclosure. But Schiffs two-year insistence that Steeles research was reliable and that it nonetheless did not provide the chief basis for FISA warrants was demonstrably untrue. (How paradoxical that Steeles promoters both defended the dossier and yet denied that it was pivotal.) Schiff may remain a hero to the Never Trump fringe for his any-means-necessary efforts to destroy Trump, but even the media now distrust him. His own party will come to see him as a transiently useful dishonest prevaricator whose utility is already waning.

The Steele dossier resembles some sort of bacillus. Anyone who put currency into it was infected, and the contagion was passed on as the dossier made its rounds throughout the media and government. Those who were infected by it are now in the end-stages of career decline. And the only antidote to the infection  honest admission that the dossier was bogus and used for unethical and often illegal purposes  is apparently seen by the stricken as worse than the terminal disease.

More from National Review
WASHINGTON - John Bolton complicated Senate Republicans' impeachment strategy on Monday, declaring his willingness to testify and upping the pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his party to summon the former national security adviser as a witness in President Donald Trump's trial.

Bolton last fall rebuffed House impeachment investigators' entreaties to testify about his concerns about Trump's demands that Ukraine investigate his political rivals as the administration delayed military aid. Bolton's surprise announcement changed the political calculus for McConnell's no-witness strategy and appeared to increase the likelihood of additional testimony that could embarrass the president.

"Since my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study," Bolton said. "I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify."

The announcement was a major boost for congressional Democrats, who have delayed transmission of the articles of impeachment for more than two weeks while seeking guarantees about the scope of the trial, including witnesses. Democrats have pressed for testimony from Bolton, as well as acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and several other of the president's men.

Washington Post photo by Jabin Botsford

At least one Senate Republican, Mitt Romney of Utah, agreed Monday that it was imperative that Bolton testify, while Democrats insisted that Republicans' refusal to allow him to tell his story would be tantamount to a "coverup."

Bolton has firsthand knowledge of internal White House deliberations, and according to testimony in the House probe, reacted angrily to Trump's pressure on Ukraine to investigate former vice president Joe Biden, now a 2020 candidate, and a debunked theory about Ukraine interfering in the 2016 election.

The Bolton announcement came as lawmakers returned to Washington from a two-week congressional recess, with leaders still at loggerheads over the parameters of the impeachment trial.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has been holding the two charges - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress - in hopes of strengthening Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's hand in negotiating with McConnell, R-Ky., for witnesses. Bolton's statement seemed to create a shift in leverage in Democrats' favor.

"Will the United States Senate conduct a fair impeachment trial of the president of the United States? Will we search for all of the facts, or will we look for a coverup, a sham trial, on one of the most important powers the Founding Fathers gave the American people?" Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor.

McConnell, for his part, made clear that once the articles are transmitted to the Senate, he will move ahead on the first phase of the trial - opening arguments - without a decision on witnesses.

"That was good enough for President Clinton, so it ought to be good enough for President Trump," McConnell said in remarks on the Senate floor, citing the impeachment trial 21 years ago. "Fair is fair."

Two moderate Senate Republicans - Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska - have said they're open to hearing from witnesses. And Romney threw his support behind calling Bolton, increasing the likelihood that moderates may force McConnell's hand eventually.

"I would like to be able to hear from John Bolton," the 2012 GOP presidential nominee told reporters. "What the process is to make that happen, I don't have an answer for you. The leaders are trying to negotiate that process right now. . . . What's important is that we hear from him."

Still, the same centrist Republican senators signaled that they were willing to start the trial without a deal for Bolton's testimony, keeping McConnell in firm control for now as he works to delay any decision on additional witnesses until after House Democrats present their case and the president's defense team rebuts it.

"There are a number of witnesses that may well be appropriate for the stage three, of which he would certainly be one," Collins said of Bolton.

When Bolton emerged as a potential witness in the fall, he indicated that he was willing to defy the White House and testify in the House impeachment inquiry - but only if issued a subpoena and if a federal court cleared the way. His statement Monday that he would participate in the proceedings without a court decision marked a shift in his position.

The Bolton development comes just days after McConnell had used the holiday break to persuade Trump to back a quick, no-witness trial. The president, known for his scorched-earth approach, had wanted to use the proceedings to go after Biden.

But McConnell, according to aides who were not authorized to speak publicly, explained that if Trump called his own witnesses, Democrats would insist on theirs. "Mutual assured destruction," he called it, warning against summoning anyone.

The major question for McConnell is whether he can hold the line - particularly after Bolton says he's ready to tell his story. A subpoena requires a simple majority of 51 votes, and Democrats would need just four Republicans to break ranks.

Bolton's testimony could be damaging to Trump politically, according to a person close to him who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss private conversations. People familiar with Bolton's tenure at the National Security Council expect him to corroborate other impeachment witnesses' testimony that he was aghast that U.S. military aid was being held back as the president and his allies pressured Ukraine to open politically advantageous probes, according to people familiar with his views.

In recent months, Bolton has confided to friends that he was deeply troubled by his time at the White House and the president's behavior, but has declined to offer many details, the person said, adding that Bolton's support for Trump's hard line on Iran would not influence any possible testimony.

"Those are different issues. One doesn't affect the other," the person said.

Still, other Bolton associates have privately said that he wants a future in Republican politics and does not want to be seen as a turncoat on Trump or someone who is trying to ingratiate himself with the president's critics. They noted, for instance, that his statement Monday came from his political action committee's office as an example of how he's trying to build out his operation even as he deals with legal issues.

Additionally, people close to him note that Bolton also has an expansive view of presidential power. As a result, it is unclear whether he would testify that he believes Trump overstepped his constitutional authority in his dealings with Ukraine.

Democrats have sought Bolton's testimony for months, particularly after former National Security Council aides told impeachment investigators of his concerns regarding Trump's conduct toward Ukraine. Russian affairs director Fiona Hill testified that Bolton exploded in frustration after a White House meeting July 10 in which Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, pressed Ukrainian officials to open investigations into Biden and the 2016 campaign.

Bolton, Hill said, equated the discussions to a "drug deal" - and told her to immediately report it to John Eisenberg, the top lawyer for the National Security Council.

Additionally, William Taylor, the then-acting ambassador to Ukraine, testified that Bolton was "very sympathetic" when he expressed concerns to the then-national security adviser that military aid to Ukraine was being leveraged for political favors. Bolton recommended that Taylor send a "first person" cable to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about his worries to document the issue. And Taylor later heard from other State Department officials that Bolton was working to get the aid to Ukraine.

Senate Republicans appeared divided on the possibility of hearing from Bolton.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who is close with McConnell, told Guy Benson, the political editor for conservative Townhall.com, that Bolton's testimony could be "helpful to the president" and that he'd like to know more about what he'd say. Other Republicans, including Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, suggested that the Senate should only consider the evidence already gathered in the House, thereby precluding Bolton.

"I just don't think we're under any obligation to consider anything outside the record of what was created for the articles they sent us," Rubio told reporters.

Democratic officials last week predicted Pelosi would deliver the articles to the Senate as soon as this week, though the speaker has kept her plans close and her office has refused to detail her timeline.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and several other Republicans introduced a resolution Monday to dismiss the impeachment articles without a trial since Pelosi has yet to deliver the documents, though the measure appears unlikely to get a vote.
TERRELL, Texas, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In continuing with its mission to bring customers the largest and most advanced critical power service company in the U.S., Unified Power is proud to announce the acquisition of Core Power Services, Inc.

Formed in 1992 by Bernardo Mercado and his brother Ernesto near the San Francisco Bay Area, Core Power Services, Inc. provides independent, professional services to users of power conditioning equipment such as Uninterruptible Power Supplies, Power Distribution Units, Static Switches, and Stationary Batteries. Their goal is to provide the highest possible level of customer service and technical support with their highly skilled team of field engineers.

Based just outside of Dallas in Terrell, Texas, Unified Power provides companies across the nation with affordable and reliable critical power services for their UPS's, DC Plants, Inverters, Battery Systems, PDU's, Generators, and ATS's for more than two decades. Like Core Power, Unified Power not only delivers proven technical competency, but a commitment to customizing the solutions and services that are in the best interest of each individual customer.

The Unified Power brand began in January 2011 when On Computer Services, a national critical power service company began seeking mergers with high-quality, reputable critical power services providers across the nation. In November 2019, Core Power Services became the 11th entity to join Unified Power thereby creating a much stronger presence in Northern California.

Today, Unified Power supports over 6,000 customer sites, and the company continues to grow via its commitment to market-leading customer service and continued focus on acquiring relationships with entrepreneurs like Bernardo and Ernesto Mercado.

Companies under the Unified Power brand include On-Computer Services, Power Protection Unlimited (PPU), Sun Sales, PowerPlus (UPS Services division), UPSCO, Power Protection Services (PPS), Lionheart Services (UPS Services division), 24/7 Technologies, Critical Power USA, SEPS, and Core Power Services.

Contact:

Chase Hanna, Director of Marketing

[email protected]

972.524.7951

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Beyond Australia: People in the Netherlands are making mittens for koalas with burned paws, and New Zealanders are stitching joey pouches and bat wraps. (Our guide to aid organizations includes wildlife groups.)

The latest: Smoke from the wildfires has drifted across the Pacific and affected cities in South America, and may have reached the Antarctic, the U.N. World Meteorological Organization said.

Arrest warrant is issued for Ghosns wife

The Japanese authorities turned their attention to Carole Ghosn, the wife of Carlos Ghosn, the fallen auto magnate who skipped bail while awaiting trial in Japan.

Prosecutors said they obtained the warrant on suspicion of giving false testimony. But Mrs. Ghosn, a Lebanese citizen, is believed to be with her husband in Beirut, and Lebanon does not extradite its citizens.

The Japanese ambassador met with Lebanons president on Tuesday, but there was no sign they had resolved the issue. Mrs. Ghosn is also a citizen of the U.S., which has an extradition treaty with Japan, but both countries have broad discretion over how they act on such warrants.

Details: Prosecutors said Mrs. Ghosn testified in April that she did not know a person involved in her husbands case, even though she was in fact in communication with the person, who at the time was wiring money between companies at Mr. Ghosns request.

The latest: Japanese airports stepped up security in the wake of Mr. Ghosns daring escape, and the authorities said they confiscated the 1.5 billion yen, or nearly $14 million, in bail that Mr. Ghosn forfeited when he fled the country.
WARSAW, Poland - Polands president said Tuesday that he wont attend a commemoration in Israel to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp because he was not asked to speak at the forum along with world leaders who include the presidents of Russia and Germany.

President Andrzej Duda was not among the foreign dignitaries named as speakers for the Jan. 23 World Holocaust Forum in media releases sent out Tuesday for the event at Jerusalems Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose countries invaded Poland at the start of World War II, are listed along with French President Emmanuel Macron and Britains Prince Charles.

Polands prime minister and foreign diplomats have voiced concerns about recent remarks by Putin and some Russian commentators that imply that Poland was partly responsible for the wars outbreak in 1939.

Duda called those comments a sort of post-Stalinist revisionism that tries to shift blame to Poland, which was the first country victimized by Nazi Germany and lost some 6 million citizens during World War II. Auschwitz was located in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Following consultations with the government Tuesday, Duda said hewould skip the forum where he would not be allowed to present a factual picture.

Yad Vashem said the Jerusalem forums floor was mainly given to representatives of the four Allied powers that liberated Europe from the murderous tyranny of Nazi Germany, as well as the president and prime minister of Israel.

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet armys liberation of Auschwitz on Jan. 27, 1945, Poland plans to hold its annual observance at the former camps site on Jan. 27, which is observed as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Over 1 million people perished at Auschwitz, mostly European Jews, but also Poles, Roma, Russian prisoners of war and others.

Amid tense bilateral relations, the Kremlin has indicated Putin will not be attending the ceremonies in Poland.

World War II started Sept.1, 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Soon after, the Soviet Union annexed parts of eastern Poland as part of a non-aggression pact signed with Nazi Germany that included a plan to carve up Poland.
Oil prices on Monday dropped after Brent crude jumped close to $70 per barrel after an Iranian military chief was killed in a military operation conducted by the United States.

Brent crude futures prices are used as benchmarks for future oil prices in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Reuters reports that prices pared gains during the session on growing doubts that Iran would strike back in a way that would disrupt oil supplies.

On Monday, Brent crude futures LCOc1 settled at $68.91 a barrel, up 31 cents, after soaring to a high of $70.74 a barrel from Fridays settlement.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate CLc1 crude was up 22 cents at $63.27 a barrel after hitting $64.72, its highest since April.

There seems to be an emerging dialogue along the lines that its not in the Iranians interest to lash out and attack oil infrastructure,

Because any attack on the oil infrastructure would most likely rally the barrel and that would, in turn, most likely shut down Iranian exports. Reuters quoted the director of futures at Mizuho in New York, Bob Yawger, as saying.

Oil prices jumped 2.9 per cent to $68.16 per barrel during Asian trading hours on Friday, after an Iranian military chief, Qassem Soleimani, was killed by an American airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump on Thursday near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq.

The middle east accounts for nearly half of the worlds oil production, with a fifth of global oil shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States said Mr Soleimani was killed to avenge both his past deadly attacks against Americans and forestall future assaults.

Iran dismissed Americas explanation as an afterthought and vowed to go after American interests across the world.

There were widespread protests following Muslim prayers on Friday in Tehran and other Middle East cities.
Former prime minister John Howard has described Scott Morrison's handling of the bushfire crisis as compassionate and empathetic.

Australia's second-longest serving PM, who turned 80 last year, has sprung to the defence of the Liberal leader as the worst natural disaster in living memory destroys millions of hectares in New South Wales and Victoria.

With 25 people now dead, Mr Howard declared Mr Morrison had done everything right.

'The last thing you could ever say about Scott Morrison is that he lacks compassion and empathy,' he told Sky News on Tuesday.

'I've always found him somebody who looks to people as individuals and cares about the human impact on individuals and their families.

'A lot of the criticism is completely misplaced, I think he's done all the right things.'

Scott Morrison was abused last week as he visited the fire-ravaged NSW South Coast town of Cobargo. A pregnant woman Zoey Salucci-McDermott, 20, was last week visibly upset when the Prime Minister grabbed her hand, after she had refused to shake it

Mr Morrison was abused last week as he visited the fire-ravaged NSW South Coast town of Cobargo.

A pregnant woman Zoey Salucci-McDermott, 20, was visibly upset when Mr Morrison grabbed her hand, after she had refused to shake it.

She later explained she was offended by the PM walking away as she pleaded for his government to boost funding to the Rural Fire Service, which is NSW government-run.

This week Paul Parker, an exhausted RFS firefighter from Nelligen, on the South Coast, asked a 7News crew to 'tell the Prime Minister to go and get f***ed' before collapsing on the ground.

Mr Morrison's political woes started before Christmas when he holidayed in Hawaii as fires burned in on the NSW Mid-North Coast and southern Queensland.

Australians on holiday posted to social media images of Mr Morrison and his wife Jenny at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.

This week Paul Parker, an exhausted RFS firefighter from Nelligen, on the South Coast, asked a 7News crew to 'tell the Prime Minister to go and get f***ed' before collapsing on the ground

Mr Morrison's political woes started before Christmas when he holidayed in Hawaii as fires burned in NSW and southern Queensland. Australians on holiday posted to social media images of Mr Morrison and his wife Jenny at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu

Peta Credlin, who was former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott's chief of staff, criticised Mr Morrison for failing to issue a statement explaining his absence.

Mr Howard, however, said Mr Morrison had properly explained his overseas holiday.

'He dealt with the issue of his holiday and since he's been back, he's hardly drawn breath,' he said.

Ironically, when he was prime minister, Mr Howard's government in 2006 sacked Mr Morrison as the head of Tourism Australia after he had fallen out with his boss at the time, then tourism minister Fran Bailey.

Former prime minister John Howard has described Scott Morrison's handling of the bushfire crisis as compassionate and empathetic. Australia's second-longest serving PM, who turned 80 last year, has given media interviews defending the Liberal leader as the worst natural disaster in living memory destroys millions of hectares in New South Wales and Victoria

In another twist Bingle, now known by her married name of Lara Worthington, tweeted: 'Scott Morrison, where the bloody hell are you??'

Mr Howard's defence of Mr Morrison addresses a key criticism of him made by public relations executive and media personality Prue MacSween, who is politically conservative

Mr Morrison had been under fire over TV ads featuring teenage bikini model Lara Bingle, who uttered the phrase, 'Where the bloody hell are you?'

The rude language saw the campaign banned from UK television.

In another twist Bingle, now known by her married name of Lara Worthington, last month slammed the Prime Minister over his Hawaii holiday.

'Scott Morrison, where the bloody hell are you??,' she tweeted.

Mr Howard's defence of Mr Morrison addresses a key criticism of him made by public relations executive and media personality Prue MacSween, who is politically conservative.

'For someone who's got a lot of marketing background I was a little surprised and disappointed he didn't show his support and empathy for what people were going through,' the Verve Communications director told Daily Mail Australia last week.

'Just show empathy rather than being Mr Invisible.'

Australia's bushfire crisis has killed 25 people and destroyed more than 6million hectares since last year.
Both the BBC and ITV have confirmed they won't be broadcasting live coverage of Princess Beatrices royal wedding later this year.

The BBC announced on Saturday it would not be offering live coverage of Beatrices marriage to property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in place of normal programming.

Instead, the broadcaster said it would provide news coverage of Beatrices nuptials, across BBC services.

Normally, the BBC is offered rights to broadcasting royal occasions for free.

ITV  who screened the wedding of Beatrices sister, Princess Eugenie in 2018, to an audience of three million  also said they definitely wont be covering the event in their daytime schedule.

Neither a date or venue has been announced for Beatrices wedding, but it is expected to be in late May or early June.

The news follows intense media coverage of alleged involvement of Prince Andrew  Beatrices father  in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal earlier this year.

The Duke of York, who is said to have heavily lobbied ITV to screen Eugenies wedding in 2018, has come under intense scrutiny after being accused of forcing then-17 year old Virginia Giuffre into sex in 2001.

The prince was removed from his public royal duties after he took part in a Newsnight interview about his association with Epstein that was described as disastrous.

 Virginia Giuffre tells Panorama Ghislaine Maxwell patted her on the back and said she'd 'made Prince Andrew really happy'

During the grilling, he claimed he could not have engaged in the sexual activity alleged by Ms Giuffre because he was taking Beatrice to Pizza Express that day.

He also claimed to suffer a condition that prevented him from sweating as supposed evidence that Ms Giuffres accusations were false.

Andrew was also criticised heavily for showing little to no apparent remorse for Epstein victims during the interview, despite enjoying a close friendship with the disgraced billionaire for several years.
The Government has been forced to abandon its planned commemoration of the role of the RIC later this month.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has in a statement said the disappointing response to the planned event means it can no longer go ahead in an atmosphere that meets the goals of the overall programme of commemoration.

He said the Government has at all times sought to have a national programme of commemorations that is authentic, sensitive and inclusive.

It comes after the event got much negative backlash, with a number of politicians refusing to attend the event.

A number of mayors had said they would not attend the event including Cllr Niall Kelleher, the mayor of Kerry, Waterford mayor John Pratt and mayor for Galway Mike Cubbard.

Dublin City Council also voted last night to boycott the event.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said the State created "unnecessary controversy" with its announcement, while the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar defended it, saying it is not a celebration and that all traditions should be respected.

However, Minister Flanagan has now postponed the event saying: "I do not believe that the event, as planned, can now take place in an atmosphere that meets the goals and guiding principles of the overall commemorative programme.

I know that, regrettably, this decision will be a cause of hurt and upset to many people. I commit to proceeding with an alternative commemoration in the months ahead.

It has always been clear that the later period of the commemorative programme, including the War of Independence, the Anglo-Irish Treaty, partition and the foundation of Northern Ireland and the Civil War, would be particularly challenging, Mr Flanagan said.

Thousands of Irish people have ancestors who served in the Dublin Metropolitan Police and Royal Irish Constabulary. These personal histories are part of the history of our island. I believe it is right that we acknowledge that history, he said.

There were those in the RIC who committed atrocities. The horrific record of the Black and Tans and Auxiliaries is well known. But there were thousands of other officers who behaved with dignity and honour in serving their communities. And we should not seek to airbrush these people from our history, he added.

Mr Flanagan said the Governments approach to commemoration has always been to deepen mutual understanding without expecting anyone to abandon loyalties.

In that context, and in that spirit, the Government accepted the specific recommendation that consideration should [be] given to the organisation of specific initiatives to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) and to acknowledge their place in history.

Earlier, Prof Diarmuid Ferriter accused Mr Flanagan of misrepresenting the position of the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) in relation to commemoration of the RIC.

He said the group should not be used as mudguard by a Government seeking to deflect controversy.

The EAG did not recommend or endorse the idea of a formal state commemoration for the RIC in the manner proposed, Mr Ferriter said.

What we stated was that consideration should be given to the organisation of specific initiatives to commemorate the RIC and the DMP and to acknowledge their place in history.

What we had in mind was an academic event- a conference or seminar- that would look at the issue of policing in Ireland during the revolutionary period, including the role of and disbandment of the RIC and the foundation of the Civic Guard, which became An Garda Siochana, he said.

The EAG should not be used by the government as a mudguard to provide cover for itself when it receives negative reaction to its solo runs in relation to commemoration, he said strongly.

The proposed RIC commemoration does not follow that model; what is being proposed was not put before the EAG and therefore was not discussed by the EAG and the minister should not refer to the event on 17th January in Dublin Castle as being as a result of our guidance, Mr Ferriter said.
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks during an inauguration ceremony for the new Attorney General of New York, Letitia James, in New York on Jan. 6, 2019. (Seth Wenig/AP)

Schumer: There Will Be Votes on Impeachment Witnesses

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Jan. 7 that Democrats will attempt to force holding votes to call witnesses at the start of the impeachment trial.

There will be votes at the beginning on whether to call the four witnesses weve proposed and subpoena the documents weve identified, Schumer said on the Senate floor.

Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have both indicated that they will follow Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells (R-Ky.) plan to delay a decision on calling witnesses. Meanwhile, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) told media outlets that he would like to see former White House adviser John Bolton testify.

I would like to be able to hear from John Bolton, Romney said on Jan 7. What the process is to make that happen, I dont have an answer for you.

Democrats aim to compel four specific witnesses, including current White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and Bolton, who publicly said he would be willing to testify in the trial.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) walks through the Senate Basement on Capitol Hill in Washington on Oct. 15, 2019. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

A trial isnt a trial without evidence. A trial without all the facts is a farce, Schumer said. Earlier this week, Schumer said he hopes that four Republicans break with their party to vote in tandem with Democrats, the minority in the Senate, to call up witnesses.

That question will have to be decided by a majority of senators in this chamber. That means four Republican senators at any point can compel the Senate to call the fact witnesses and subpoena the relevant documents, he said.

The Epoch Times has reached out to McConnells office. McConnell also spoke on the Senate floor on Jan. 7, saying he wants to follow the precedent set during the impeachment trial of then-President Bill Clinton in the 1990s.

McConnell noted that during the first phase of Clintons trial in 1999, senators carried out a unanimous 100 to nothing vote on rules first before possibly voting on calling up witnesses later. It left mid-trial questions to the middle of the trial where they belong, he said.

McConnell said hes not going to allow House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to write new rules for the Senate. Not going to happen.

After President Donald Trump was impeached in the House of Representatives on Dec. 18, Pelosi indicated she would hold off sending the articles and House impeachment managers to the Senate because her caucus wanted to see how the Republican majority in the upper chamber would hold the trial.
The Essex town of Grays has topped the list of best value commuter town for workers heading into London, according to research.

Those living in Grays and commuting to the capital pay a combined annual cost of 15,008 for their mortgage and season ticket.

This combined with a relatively low travel time of 39 minutes to and from London Fenchurch Street station has made it the cheapest destination to commute to London, property website Zoopla says.

This was closely followed by Leagrave - a suburb of Luton - which has a combined annual cost of 15,399.50 and travel time of 55 minutes via London Blackfriars station.

Grays in Essex has been named as the cheapest commuter town into London by Zoopla

Crayford, Kent was third with a yearly fee of 15,662.53 and travel time of 41 minutes from London Bridge.

All of the cheapest places in the rankings are within an hour's travel time of London - but the study also researched locations near other large UK cities - Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.

The results are based on how much it costs to have a mortgage and annual rail season ticket.

The research made certain assumptions about typical mortgage costs, which were based on someone having a two or three bedroom home and a 15 per cent deposit.

It used travel times and 2020 annual railcard costs to analyse the data, which were taken from the National Rail enquiries website.

Many commuters have been facing increased travelling costs following the 2.7 per cent rail fare increase across Britain on 2 January, pushing annual season tickets up by more than 280 for some commuting from the outer edges of London.

Those commuting from Grays pay an average of 15,008.07 for their mortgage & season ticket

TOP FIVE COMMUTER TOWNS INTO BIRMINGHAM (BY COST) Rank Town Average annual mortgage costs Season ticket cost 2020 Combined annual

mortgage and season ticket cost Travel time 1 Wolverhampton 6,638.94 845.00 7,483.94 20 mins 2 Cannock 7,088.53 845.00 7,933.53 59 mins 3 Stoke-On-Trent 5,000.78 3,272.00 8,272.78 56 mins 4 Telford 6,354.07 1,928.00 8,282.07 45 mins 5 Wilnecote 7,868.00 1,520.00 9,388.00 29 mins Source: Zoopla

In the Midlands, Wolverhampton was found to be the best value option for those commuting to Birmingham with an annual cost of 7,483.94 and travel time of 20 minutes to Birmingham New Street station.

This was followed by Cannock which has an annual combined cost of 7,933.53 but a much longer travel time of 59 minutes.

Stoke-on-Trent had the cheapest annual mortgage cost of 5,000.78 but the highest season ticket cost of 3,272, totaling 8,272.78.

Further north, Hindley was found to be the best location for Manchester with an average combined cost of 6,883.38 but a 58 minute travel time to Manchester Town Hall.

Wigan followed with a yearly cost of 6,887.38 and a slightly longer travel time of 59 minutes.

TOP FIVE COMMUTER TOWNS INTO MANCHESTER (BY COST) Rank Town Average annual mortgage costs Season ticket cost 2020 Combined annual mortgage

and season ticket cost Travel time 1 Hindley 5,675.38 1,208.00 6,883.38 58 mins 2 Wigan 5,675.38 1,212.00 6,887.38 59 mins 3 Bolton 5,982.16 1,072.00 7,054.16 41 mins 4 Rochdale 5,850.76 1,212.00 7,062.76 38 mins 5 Westhoughton 5,982.16 1,208.00 7,190.16 59 mins Source: Zoopla

Wolverhampton is the best value commuter town for those heading to work in Birmingham

However, Bolton had the cheapest season ticket cost at 1,072 but the joint highest mortgage cost, with Westhoughton, of 5,982.16 bringing the total annual cost to 7,054.16.

Rochdale has the shortest travel time of 38 minutes but the joint highest season ticket cost, with Wigan, of 1,212, bringing the total combined cost to 7,062.76.

Those commuting from Bristol will find that Newport is the cheapest for commuters, who are paying 10,166.86 annually.

It also has the shortest travel time of 35 minutes to Bristol Temple Meads train station.

The next best value commuter town into Bristol is Highbridge and Burnham. It has a much higher average mortgage and season ticket cost of 11,595.23 with a higher travel time of 53 minutes.

Newport is the best value commuter town for those travelling into Bristol with a travel time of 35 minutes

TOP FIVE COMMUTER TOWNS INTO BRISTOL (BY COST) Rank Town Average annual mortgage costs Season ticket cost 2020 Combined annual

mortgage and season ticket cost Travel time 1 Newport (Gwent) 7,398.86 2,768.00 10,166.86 35 mins 2 Highbridge and Burnham 8,787.23 2,808.00 11,595.23 53 mins 3 Bridgwater 8,787.23 3,188.00 11,975.23 59 mins 4 Caldicot 10,277.59 1,784.00 12,061.59 40 mins 5 Weston-Super-Mare 10,924.82 2,056.00 12,980.82 39 mins Source: Zoopla

Meanwhile in Scotland, Dumfermline, in Fife, was found to be the most cost-effective option for Edinburgh with an average annual cost of 7,530.29 and a travel time of 32 minutes from Edinburgh Waverly station.

This was followed by Falkirk which took less time at 24 minutes but had a slightly higher combined mortgage and season ticket cost of 7,553.18.

Laura Howard, of Zoopla, said: 'As the new season ticket prices come into effect this month, much to the frustration of millions of commuters across Britain, those looking to relocate to save money should pay close attention to these figures.

'The past decade has seen significant property price growth in prime London commuter belt towns but despite of this our analysis still picks out pockets across South East England that represent affordable value for commuters.

'Areas outside London and the South East are generally more affordable, but commuters can still save money on their daily travel into the likes of Birmingham and Bristol by looking at towns they might not have yet considered, but still have good transport links.'

Dunfermline is the best value commuter town for those travelling to Edinburgh in Scotland

TOP FIVE COMMUTER TOWNS INTO EDINBURGH (BY COST) Rank Town Average annual mortgage costs Season ticket cost 2020 Combined annual mortgage and season ticket cost Travel time 1 Dunfermline 5,678.29 1,852.00 7,530.29 32 mins 2 Falkirk 5,273.18 2,280.00 7,553.18 24 mins 3 Linlithgow 6,255.99 1,872.00 8,127.99 48 mins 4 Airdrie 5,036.18 3,276.00 8,312.18 46 mins 5 Coatbridge 5,036.18 3,564.00 8,600.18 57 mins Source: Zoopla

The news comes on the back of separate research from Trussle that identified the area around Gatwick Airport as the most affordable commuter spot to London.

It found that homes in this area are currently valued at an average of 172,148, almost 300,000 below the average London house price of 472,000.

Although aircraft noise may be an issue, the transport links mean a round-trip commute to central London is just 70 minutes at peak-times.

An annual season ticket now costs 3,336 which means a total monthly mortgage and travel cost of just 830.29.

Miles Robinson, head of Mmrtgages at Trussle, said: 'While many may choose to live outside London for a better quality of life, others look to the commuter belt to get more for their money.

'The reality is that despite the slowdown in the capital's house prices, buying the perfect home in London is out of reach for many.

'However, for those considering moving out of London, it's crucial that they take into account the cost of getting into the city for work.

'With some annual season tickets costing more than 10,000  it's worth doing proper research to see both how long the commute is and how much it will cost.'

ZOOPLA'S TOP 10 COMMUTER TOWNS INTO LONDON (RANKED BY COST) Rank Town Average annual mortgage costs Season ticket cost 2020 Combined annual

mortgage and season ticket cost Travel time 1 Grays 12,492.07 2,516.00 15,008.07 39 mins 2 Leagrave 10,971.50 4,428.00 15,399.50 55 mins 3 Crayford 13,522.53 2,140.00 15,662.53 41 mins 4 Basildon 12,785.84 3,020.00 15,805.84 37 mins 5 Harlow 12,414.86 3,544.00 15,958.86 41 mins 6 Dartford 13,522.53 2,628.00 16,150.53 48 mins 7 Hockley 14,379.94 1,792.00 16,171.94 51 mins 8 Stevenage 12,288.99 3,964.00 16,252.99 36 mins 9 Billericay 12,785.84 3,696.00 16,481.84 38 mins 10 Gravesend 12,875.89 3,672.00 16,547.89 1 hour Source: Zoopla
CHICAGO - An Instagram account masquerading as a U.S. government news agency was used to promote misinformation about potential fallout from Americas targeted killing last week of Irans top general.

The fraudulent Instagram account had nearly a half-million followers and used the name as well as logo of the U.S. governments news agency in Iran, which is called Voice of America Persian. The Voice of America broadcasts television, radio and online news in countries around the world.

The profile was removed Tuesday afternoon for violating the platforms impersonation policies after The Associated Press contacted the agency to inquire about the accounts authenticity.

The VOA Persians official Instagram account uses the handle VOAFarsi and is verified, with a blue check mark in its profile. The fake account went by the handle VOA_Persian.

On Monday, a post from the fake VOA account triggered a flood of viral misinformation.

The Instagram post included a video clip of slain Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimanis daughter, Zeinab, speaking at his funeral. The caption of that Instagram post, written in Farsi, claimed that Zeinab Soleimani said she was a U.S. citizen. The post had more than 28,000 likes and 10,000 comments by Monday evening.

Tweets, Facebook posts and YouTube videos picked up the posts caption, spreading the false claim that Soleimani is a U.S. citizen.

Soleimanis daughter threatens death to U.S. soldiers -- Voice of America says shes a US Citizen?! several Twitter users posted.

Iranian media knocked the reports down as false. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But the possibility that Zeinab Soleimani is an American citizen sparked alarm online, with social media users pointing out that she had threatened U.S. soldiers in comments made during her fathers funeral on Monday.

The families of the American soldiers ... will spend their days waiting for the death of their children, she said to cheers at the funeral in Tehran.

VOA Director Amanda Bennett confirmed in an email that the VOA did not run the account.

The fake Instagram account had 181 posts before it was removed, Facebook said. Facebook owns Instagram.

The fake Instagram account also listed a YouTube account in its profile. The YouTube account remains active and has not used the VOAs logo.
A passenger died early Saturday morning when the car she was traveling in ran off a Salem County road, struck several trees and was engulfed in flames, the New Jersey State Police said.

Gloria Rodriguez, 58, of Newtonville, was killed in the 2:30 a.m. crash.

The state police said a 33-year-old Vineland man was driving a BMW 328 north on Parvins Mill Road/County Road 645 in Pittsgrove Township when he failed to negotiate a curve and drove off the left side of the roadway near milepost 2.4, a state police spokesman said.

The driver was taken to Inspira Medical Center Vineland with moderate injuries.

The crash remains under investigation and no charges had been filed as of Monday afternoon.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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New Delhi: Former 'Bigg Boss 11' contestant and popular television actress Hina Khan is ready to embark on a new journey in her career. She will be seen in a digital project titled 'Damaged 2'. Hina took to her Instagram handle and shared the first look poster.

Hina Khan also shared a glimpse of her role in 'Damaged 2' which is a new season of Hungama Play's original show titled 'Damaged' which happens to be a psychological crime drama. It features Hina Khan and Adhyayan Suman in lead roles.

'Damaged 2' will release on January 14, 2020.

Meanwhile, Hina is busy with Vikram Bhatt's 'Hacked' which will hit the screens on January 31, 2020. It also features Rohan Shah, Mohit Malhotra and Sid Makkar in lead roles. The film has been produced by Amar P Thakkar and Krishna Bhatt.

She was previously seen in reality shows such as 'Bigg Boss 11', 'Khatron Ke Khiladi' and Balaji Telefilms' 'Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2'.
LIMERICK Deputy Willie ODea has said that recent statistics on severe material deprivation for lone parents raises concern on both a local and national level.

The Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Employment Affairs and Social Protection told the Limerick Leader that Limerick is adversely affected by the social issue, which affects 14.8 per cent of the countrys single parents.

He said that lone parents continue to bear the brunt of policy decisions made by Fine Gael after it was revealed that the rate of severe material deprivation for lone parents in Ireland continues to be above the EU average of 12.7 percent.

Deputy ODea said: While the gap is narrowing I believe that lone parents in Ireland continue to be affected by poor policy choices made by Fine Gael and the reforms that they introduced to the One Parent Family Payment.

Read also: Road deaths in Limerick remain static despite national increase

My bill sought to address an anomaly that currently exists in legislation to ensure that lone parents can continue to seek maintenance once their child turns seven and they move from the One Parent Family Payment to Jobseekers transition, he added, this Bill would cost the State nothing but would make a tremendous difference to lone parents and their children yet Fine Gael and the Minister for Children Katherine Zappone voted against it.

Fianna Fail has consistently sought to improve outcomes for lone parents; we recognise that lone parents are parenting alone and have the sole responsibility for caring duties. We believe that social welfare system needs to be more flexible and responsive to the needs of lone parents.

After almost a decade of Fine Gael in government it is evident that lone parents continue to be particularly exposed to deprivation and social exclusion under their watch, concluded Deputy ODea.
A Shippensburg man convicted of exposing himself outside a public school will be staying in state prison, thanks to a ruling by an appeals court.

In an opinion by President Judge Emeritus Kate Ford Elliott, the state Superior Court rejected John Lumsdens contention that he didnt get a fair trial.

Lumsden, now 38, was arrested after a police officer for the Chambersburg Area School District received a report in March 2017 that a man was exposing himself in a car parked on the bus ramp at the high school. The officer got the license plate of the car from security camera footage and traced it to Lumsden, Elliott wrote.

Although he initially said he was willing to talk with police, Lumsden didnt show up for an interview, claiming he had a flat tire. Lumsden then left a message saying he hoped the issue could be settled over the phone.

The school cop filed criminal charges and in December 2018 a Franklin County jury convicted Lumsden of two counts each of indecent exposure and open lewdness. He was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison.

On appeal, Lumsden claimed he didnt get a fair trial because the presiding judge didnt allow his girlfriend to testify that he usually walked her children to school around the time of the indecent exposure incident. That refusal was justified because Lumsdens girlfriend told his lawyer she wasnt sure whether he had walked her kids to school on the day of the crime, Elliott found.

She also rejected Lumsdens contention that his right against self-incrimination was violated when the prosecutor told the jury about his failure to appear for the police interview. That mention was proper because Lumsden never invoked his right to remain silent, Elliott concluded.

She cited the same reason for discounting Lumsdens claim that the prosecutor shouldnt have been allowed to question him about why he didnt meet with the school policeman.

Court records show Lumsden has had numerous criminal convictions since 2002. Among them is a 2004 conviction for indecent assault of someone under 16.
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Interior Doors Market Research Report, By Door Type (Panel Door, Bypass Door, Bifold Door, Pocket Door, Others), By Material (Wood, Glass, Metal, Fiberglass, Fiberboard, Vinyl, Others), By End-use (Residential, Commercial, Industrial) and Region  Global Forecast till 2023

Market Research Future (MRFR) believes that the interior doors market has the potential to attain a healthy growth rate of 6.0% during the forecast period (2018-2023).

Growth Drivers and Key Barriers

Interior doors are used in both in residential and non-residential spaces and are made of different materials like metal, wood, fiberboard, glass, vinyl, fiberglass, and others. A variety of door types are available in the market, such as bypass door, panel door, pocket door, Bifold door, and others. The global interior doors market can benefit from increasing construction as well as other infrastructure activities, along with the surge in expenditure on home remodeling, especially in developed countries like the United States (U.S).

On the downside, the lack of a skilled workforce to manufacture interior doors coupled with high-cost of eco-friendly products can slow down the growth rate of the interior doors market. Having said that, with the government aiming to accelerate the adoption rate of polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) combined with rapid urbanization in developing economies, the market will be presented with a host of growth opportunities in the coming years.

Furthermore, a number of manufacturers in the interior doors industry are now concentrating on the production of energy-efficient doors with the aim of reducing carbon footprint. This is bound to have a profound effect on the worldwide market. Also, increasing awareness among builders as well as building owners with regard to smart interior doors for reducing energy consumption is expected to lead to market expansion during the conjectured timeframe.

Market Segmentation

The worldwide interior doors market has been studied with respect to primary segments of door type, material, and end-user.

The types of doors are bypass, panel, pocket doors, bifold, and others. The panel doors seized the largest share in the market in 2017 and are also estimated to achieve the highest CAGR in the years to come. Panel doors find widespread use in commercial, industrial and residential constructions. They are generally made from different materials like glass, wood, etc., and are usually available in a variety of colors & sizes.

Material-wise, the market can be considered for glass, wood, fiberglass, metal, vinyl, fiberboard, and others. The wood-based products accounted for the biggest market in 2017. The rising preference for aesthetically attractive and premium interior products is deemed to be the reasons behind the strong demand for wood-based interior doors. The fiberboard segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2018 to 2023 due to its moisture-resistant properties, high mechanical strength, and low cost as compared to wood.

Depending on the end-user, the market includes commercial, residential, and industrial. The interior doors note high demand from the residential sector and grow at a robust rate in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. High availability of housing loans as well as strong investments in the real estate sector is believed to accelerate the product demand in the forthcoming years.

Regional Insight

The interior doors market is spread across the key regions of Asia Pacific (APAC), North America, Europe, coupled with the Rest of the world (RoW).

The interior doors market was found to profit the most in APAC in 2017. The most lucrative markets for interior doors in the region are India, Singapore, China, Thailand, and Malaysia. Considerable investments in the hospitality sectors paired with rising standard of living are some crucial factors that are working in favor of the interior doors market in the region.

The Middle East can observe high demand for interior doors, given the upcoming projects in the hospitality sector. Latest reports reveal that at least 80 hotels will be built in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the coming years. This basically translates to strong demand for interior doors in these countries. Also, favorable government regulations to elevate economic conditions and boost the tourism industry can uplift the position of the regional market in the ensuing years.

North America is on its way to becoming a significant market for interior doors, thanks to increased spending on interior decor, rebuilding and remodeling activities. These activities are rising especially in the commercial and residential sectors in countries like the US, Mexico, and Canada. The region comprises well-developed countries that vastly focus on modifying the existing infrastructure, which stimulates market growth.

The interior doors market in Europe is primarily driven by the expansion of the real estate market across several countries. With numerous countries in the region reviving from the Great recession of 2007-2013, the real estate industry has mushroomed tremendously on account of rising in residential construction activities, which augments the demand for interior doors.

Top Vendors

To vendors shaping the worldwide interior doors market are Masonite International Corporation, Jeld-Wen Holding Inc., YKK AP Inc., Marvin Cos. And Bayer Built WoodWorks Inc., Artisan Hardware, Colonial Elegance Inc., among others.

The market is abuzz with growing number of multinational and local players. These companies indulge in strategic initiatives such as expansions & investments, competitive pricing, and new product launches.

Other Related Market Research Reports:

Wallpaper Market Research Report, By Type (Vinyl, Nonwoven, Paper, Fabric, and others), End-user (Residential construction, and Non-residential construction) and Region  Global Forecast till 2023

Global Modular Construction Market Information Report, by Material (Concrete, Steel, Plastic, Wood and Other), by Construction (Permanent Modular, and Relocatable Modular), by Product (Walls, Roofs & Floor, Columns & Beams and Others), by Application (Residential, Commercial, Industrial) and By Region - Global Forecast to 2023
[January 07, 2020] Loan Helps an Anytime Fitness Location Open in Las Vegas, New Mexico

For three New Mexico entrepreneurs, the Small Business Boost (SBB) program offered by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) did exactly what it was intended to do. It helped them qualify for a loan to purchase, renovate and open their second Anytime Fitness gym. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107006027/en/ A Small Business Boost program loan from Community 1st Bank Las Vegas and FHLB Dallas facilitated in the opening of an Anytime Fitness location in Las Vegas, New Mexico. (Photo: Business Wire) Business partners Isaac and Justin Montoya, who are not related, and Devan DeHoff would have come up a little short of qualifying for their small business loan from Community 1st Bank Las Vegas without the assistance provided by the SBB program. "We almost qualified for the full loan," said Isaac Montoya of his company, Team Guys, LLC. "But we didn't have the extra collateral for the full loan. The SBB program was the make-it-or-break-it piece." SBB is a program offered by FHLB Dallas through members like Community 1st Bank Las Vegas. The program provides financing for qualified small business transactions by filling the gap between the amount an FHLB Dallas member can provide and the loan request made by an eligible small business. SBB lans are unsecured and subordinate to the primary loan made by the member to meet the financing needs of the small business when there is a lack of equity or shortfall in collateral.



The Montoyas and Mr. DeHoff bought a location owned by Community 1st Bank, renovated it, equipped it and held a soft opening on December 13, 2019. They were recently joined by representatives from Community 1st Bank Las Vegas and FHLB Dallas for the grand opening and ribbon cutting. Their first Anytime Fitness location opened in July 2018 in Espanola, New Mexico. Their firm employs between 16 and 20 individuals in Espanola and the partners hope to build up to the same number in Las Vegas.

Mike Melton, executive vice president of Community 1st Bank Las Vegas, said the SBB loan that made the new business possible is a win on many fronts: "The new Anytime Fitness gym is a great new use for the building they purchased. And one of the owners, Justin Montoya, grew up right here in Las Vegas. I'm so glad the Small Business Boost program was available to help us close the gap on this loan to Team Guys, LLC. Now we have a new business in town that we might not have had without the SBB program from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas." Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment for FHLB Dallas, said the situation that the three business partners found themselves in is not uncommon. "Small businesses often find themselves a little short of the funding they need to develop their businesses," he said. "It was exactly for this reason that we created the SBB program, which is intended to help our member institutions fill the gap between what they can lend a small business and what that business needs." SBB offers an unsecured loan that the borrower does not begin to repay until after the first year. This feature is designed to help a small business build critical cash flow during the first year of the loan. "It really did make the difference for us," said Justin Montoya. "We are super grateful and super excited." About Community 1st Bank Las Vegas With three locations in Las Vegas and one in Mora to serve our customers on-the-ground, and with our great website to serve our customers anywhere in the world, we at Community 1st Bank Las Vegas feel that we have all the bases covered with our wide range of products and our excellent customer service. The bank was started and continues to adhere to the philosophy of serving the people and businesses that call this corner of New Mexico home. We invite all to stop by and see how we can help them with their banking needs. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $73.8 billion as of September 30, 2019, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community investment by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 815 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit fhlb.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107006027/en/

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"We continue to meet the demands of our global clients by adding more high-caliber practitioners to our team," Beckage PLLC Managing Director Jennifer A. Beckage said. "Our sophisticated health law practice is further enhanced with the addition of Mike, a triple threat as a lawyer, Information Security Officer (ISO) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). Our privacy compliance team's technology transactions practice grows with the addition of Allison, who joins Beckage from one of the nation's fastest growing SaaS providers."

Mr. Chirico joins Beckage after serving for over two years as Information Security Officer at one of the largest publicly owned hospital systems in the nation. He is President-elect of the board of directors for a chapter of the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and is a director on the Board of Advisors for Rutgers Cybersecurity Executive Program. Mr. Chirico is based in Beckage's New York City office.

"I'm very excited to join Beckage, a firm with an expanding presence and a team that uniquely understands the legal frameworks around technology, privacy, breach response, defense-in-depth, and the fast-moving threats facing clients," Mr. Chirico said. "Enterprises today face challenges of expanding domestic and international regulatory complexities around data privacy and cybersecurity. Beckage is committed to providing actionable technology and legal solutions that are practical for clients to implement and are in alignment with their business goals and objectives."

Prior to joining Beckage, Ms. Prout served as Corporate Counsel to a technology company serving enterprise clients operating in the cloud space. Ms. Prout is one of a few attorneys nationally to be certified as a Professional Cloud Practitioner by Amazon Web Services. Her prior experience centered on information and physical security of data and systems, advising executive leadership on compliance with data privacy laws and regulations, and developing company-wide compliance programs and training. Her work earned her a Rising Star-Corporate Counsel Award in 2019. She is based in the firm's Buffalo office.

"I'm thrilled to be joining a team so focused on the intersection of law and technology," Ms. Prout said. "This is a unique opportunity to join a team of privacy professionals and lawyers facing cutting-edge technology issues every day, and I'm eager to help them grow."

About Beckage PLLC

The law firm of Beckage PLLC advises clients nationwide on strategic business growth, privacy, technology, cybersecurity, data breach response, risk management and regulatory matters. Its attorneys and other professionals include former federal regulators, executives of international and publicly traded companies, technology entrepreneurs, and business owners. Beckage's offices are located at 420 Main Street in Buffalo, N.Y., and 3 Columbus Circle in New York. More information is available at Beckage.com and its professionals may be reached at 844-502-9363.

News Media Contacts

Jeff Schoenborn, Casteel Schoenborn / 888-609-8351

Grace Golabek, Beckage PLLC / 716-898-2102

SOURCE Beckage PLLC

Related Links

https://www.beckage.com


Irish businesses are more alarmed by Brexit than even those in the United Kingdom, according to a new global survey by the US National Bureau of Economic Research.

Irish firms spent more time discussing Brexit than their UK counterparts, and the potential economic impact of Britain leaving the European Union was far larger for companies here than for those across the Irish Sea.

The major survey of 7,333 firms from 71 countries, including 53 Irish ones, showed that both UK and non-UK businesses overwhelmingly expected negative consequences from Brexit, and "no single country" had a significant positive reading.

Brexit exposure is strongly felt in countries as far apart as the United States and Singapore, for example, and there were widespread worries among international firms, the study said.

"For instance, Irish firms on average discuss Brexit significantly more than do UK firms," the research said.

The report was based on transcripts from company earnings calls, and showed large, negative effects of Brexit risk on investment and employment decisions, as well as stock returns.

"As an example, we estimate that due to Brexit risk, the average Irish firm decreased its investment rate by 3.9pc and reduced its employment growth rate by 4.2pc relative to the mean in every year since the Brexit referendum," it said.

The Brexit process will continue to play out this year, with London insisting it will leave with or without a trade deal at the end of 2020.

The economic losses are higher in Ireland than in the UK in four out of seven studies, including the possible minimum and maximum impacts, according to research by the University of Leuven.

Looking at individual Irish firms, insurer FBD Holdings said in a January 2019 conference call that "our agri and agribusiness customers are very exposed to a hard Brexit".

Food is one of the most exposed sectors to the risk of higher tariffs, especially beef.

Brexit sentiment fell sharply in the immediate wake of the referendum, but the study showed that firms recovered in 2017, before dropping sharply in 2018 and into 2019.

It noted: "Overwhelmingly, sentiment in the UK and elsewhere remains negative.

"Ireland continues to have the strongest negative sentiment scores, even compared with the UK."

Fears about decreased trade access were particularly prominent for non-UK firms, as shown by Ryanair.

It told a conference call that "if the UK is unable to negotiate access to the single market or open skies, it may have implications for our three UK domestic routes".

There may be worse to come in the event of a Brexit that is at the 'harder' end of the scale, according to the report.

"Our reading of the evidence suggests that the greater the rupture between the UK and the EU, the larger these direct effects, including post-Brexit adjustment costs, will be," it said. "When Brexit is enacted, the consequences for investments and employment may well be larger than those associated with Brexit uncertainty alone."
Allen & Overy has been on the ground in China for over 30 years and growing our China practice remains one of our global strategic priorities, said Victor Ho, A&Os Beijing & Shanghai managing partner. Our Joint Operation with Lang Yue, a firm we have successfully worked with on a significant number of client matters, will take our China offering to the next level. The Joint Operation will give our considerable roster of international and PRC clients an even deeper and broader set of capabilities to support their activities in China and globally.

Meanwhile, Cooley launches its 16th location with a new Singapore office. It will be led by Ferish Patel as partner in charge who is joined by Matthew Bartus, co-chair of Cooleys global emerging companies and venture capital practice, who is relocating from Silicon Valley.

They both advise high-growth technology and life sciences companies at all stages of their life cycle, from formation through financings and exits.

The firm opened in Brussels and Hong Kong last year and CEO Joe Conroy says the new office is a milestone in its global strategy.

Our arrival is an extension of our decades of proven success in Asia. We are eager to deliver on-the-ground capabilities, and I know that our clients across Southeast Asia, India and beyond will be exceptionally well served by Ferish, Matt and our team.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said Monday that China is committed to playing a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

"China follows the situation very closely and the pressing task at the moment is to prevent the situation from further escalating and running out of control. As a permanent member of the Security Council, China is carrying out active diplomatic efforts," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has had phone conversations with Russian, French and Iranian foreign ministers in firm commitment to regional peace and stability, and China opposes arbitrary use of force in international relations, according to the envoy.

"The U.S. unilateral adventurist acts have violated basic norms governing international relations and led to aggravation of tensions," Zhang said.

"We urge the U.S. side not to abuse force and call on relevant parties to exercise restraint and seek solution through dialogue. At the same time, the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq should be respected," said the envoy.

Noting that the Security Council shoulders the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, Zhang said the international community, including the Security Council, should work for de-escalation of tensions.

China has noticed that the permanent representative of Iran presented a letter to the president of the Security Council, asking the council to pay close attention to U.S. actions and uphold the council's responsibilities, Zhang said.

"China is ready to keep close communication with relevant parties, uphold a just and objective position, stand for international law, fairness and justice, and maintain peace and stability in the Gulf region and the Middle East," he said.

"China firmly supports the protection of the safety of foreign missions in accordance with international law. The U.S. unilateral military action has led to drastic changes in the regional situation. Actions taken by the Security Council should reflect latest developments of the situation and help prevent escalation of tensions," he said.
A funeral procession for slain Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani was marred Tuesday when a stampede in Soleimanis hometown killed at least 32 people and injured dozens more. The procession began Saturday in Baghdad, making multiple stops in Iraq before hopscotching around Iran, finally arriving in the influential commanders hometown of Kerman in southeastern Iran on Tuesday. Millions of mourners reportedly packed the countrys streets as an elaborately adorned truck carrying Soleimanis body crept through city streets across the country. In Kerman, however, a crush of people caused a deadly stampede as the flag-draped coffin was being transported to a cemetery in the city with a population of a half-million people.

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The deadly stampede came a day after Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who wept at Soleimanis massive state funeral in Tehran Monday, called upon the Iranian governments National Security Council to take open and direct military action against the U.S. in response to the killing of his close friend and ally. It must be a direct and proportional attack on American interests, [Khamenei] said, openly carried out by Iranian forces themselves, three Iranians familiar with the meeting said Monday, according to the New York Times. It was a startling departure for the Iranian leadership. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, Tehran had almost always cloaked its attacks behind the actions of proxies it had cultivated around the region.

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The Trump administration, meanwhile, has reportedly blocked Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif from entering the U.S. to address the U.N. Security Council. Foreign Policy reports that the move to bar the leader from entering the country violate[s] the terms of a 1947 headquarters agreement requiring Washington to permit foreign officials into the country to conduct U.N. business. Irans top diplomat told NPR he had requested a visa 25 days ago to address the Security Council meeting Thursday. In the wake of the Friday killing of Soleimani, the appearance would have provided the Iranian government its first global platform to respond to the drone strike.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse police say they found drugs in a Jamesville mans car Monday night after he hit two vehicles, then rolled his car over on Erie Boulevard East.

Timothy Farrar, 56, was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor; and failure to keep right and imprudent speed, traffic violations.

Syracuse police say they found illegal drugs in Farrars car after the crash in the 2500 block of Erie Boulevard East, near South Midler Avenue.

Farrars car sideswiped a minivan, then hit the back end of another vehicle at 4:43 p.m., Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Matthew Malinowski said. After he hit the second vehicle, Farrars car rolled over, Malinowski said.

American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance transported Farrar to a Syracuse hospital for treatment. Officers then charged Farrar.

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A piece of art may eventually take on a life of its own, but for Chandler Noah and Diego Castano of En Viu, thats the intention from the very beginning. When the creative duo founded their New Yorkbased collective, they chose to name it after the Catalan expression for in constant motiona reference to the living spirit of their narrative-based commissions, which range from elaborate hand-painted murals to fine-art procurement and advisory.

In the past three years, hospitality and design powerhouses from Ian Schrager to the Rosewood and Edwardian hotel groups have caught wind of En Vius remarkable talent for visual storytelling, tapping the studio to breathe life into luxury properties like the Times Square Edition, the Rosewood Guangzhou, and the soon-to-open Londoner in Leicester Square. But long before these installations captivate a viewership of hotel guests, diners, or just passersby, Noah and Castano draft the prologue.

Photo: Nikolas Koenig / Courtesy of Edition Hotels

Photo: Courtesy of Rosewood

We typically build out an entire narrative from scratch before starting the physical work, says Noah, whose background in architecture includes a master's from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a five-year stint at design firm Yabu Pushelberg. After meeting Castano in 2014, the Alabama native recognized that his classical training in architecture would lend itself to exciting new endeavors in the art world.

As their partnership blossomed with smaller-scale projects and studies, their impressive momentum began to draw in substantial commissions from Noahs contacts in the architecture world, notably George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg. As the Toronto-based design firm transformed interiors across Manhattans luxury hotel scene, En Viu was looped into several collaborations including a custom series of paintings for the Park Hyatt, a Jules Verneinspired undersea reverie that surrounds the dining room of Jean Georges Vongerichtens the Fulton; and, finally, an infinitive mural in the Times Square Editions sultry disco theater.

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Photo: Courtesy of The Fulton

Titled Grains of Golden Sand, the 90-foot scene in Ian Schragers Paradise Club was inspired by the metaphors found in Edgar Allen Poes poem A Dream Within a Dream. About 400 figures and objects were painted into the Surrealist dreamscape using a palette reminiscent of the Dutch masters'.

Kubrickian futurismowing perhaps to Noahs love of the director's 2001: A Space Odysseyis a unifying characteristic within En Vius portfolio, but so is the element of tradition. Castano attributes this to his Colombian heritage: I moved to Europe when I was 17, but theres a definite Colombian influence with our use of traditional magical realism in our storytelling.

The teams most recent reveal can be found on the 107th floor of the Rosewood Guangzhou, newly minted as the worlds tallest five-star hotel. In the Mood for Love is a vibrant mural in the propertys Skybar, and was largely inspired by the cinematography of film director Wong Kar-wais work. The artists fascination with Chinese folklore also manifests, through an unconventional integration of symbolic figures, landscapes, local architectural marvels, and animalsthink astronauts riding on the back of ancient fish. Ultimately we wanted to convey the sublime impressions of the past adorned with romantic notions of the future, says Noah. Like a contemporary futurist manifesto, the image of this futuristic city awakens to the splendor of a fresh new day.

As for its largest commission to date, En Viu is currently developing a twin set of murals for the Londoner, a new property from Edwardian Hotels set to open mid-2020. The narratives reflect the lives of two British trailblazers in art and science: The first, a nod to the voyages of explorer James Cook, will be installed across 30 panels in a hatbox concept that covers the walls and ceiling of a mezzanine. And the other will profile British portraitist Sir Joshua Reynolds, the first president of the Royal Academy of the Arts and creator of the Grand Manner style, which En Viu employed as an ode. We have reimagined scenes of him painting his patrons in the context of Leicester Square, which used to be called London Fields, says Noah. He was also known as a rather big drinker, so appears inebriated in some of the scenesplayfully, of course.

Image: Courtesy of En Viu

See the video.

This year will also be a momentous one for En Viu, as it launches a gallery space in Antwerp, Belgium, called Newchild. Exhibitions will showcase both established and emerging artists, but a collaboration with New York gallerist Dobrinka Salzman will concurrently introduce midcentury design pieces. The concept is to have a physical space for us to merge all our interests and foreshadow where were going creatively without restrictions, since our work usually takes years to be realized, says Noah. Plus, its in one of Europes design and art epicenters. This is just another example of En Vius state of being: in constant motion.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
Fotis Dulos, 52, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with murder in Connecticut

Shocking new evidence has been revealed in arrest warrants for Fotis Dulos and his ex-girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, who have been arrested and charged in the murder of Dulos' estranged wife.

Multiple police cars descended on Dulos' luxury mansion in Farmington, Connecticut on Tuesday morning and took him into custody.

Dulos, 52, is charged with murder, felony murder, and kidnapping. Troconis, 45, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Dulos' friend and former civil attorney, Kent Douglas Mawhinney, 53, is also charged with conspiracy to commit murder. He was taken into custody on Tuesday after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

It comes eight months after the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, who was last seen alive dropping their five kids off at school in May, amid a contentious divorce and custody battle with her husband. Her body has never been found.

Arrest warrants reviewed by DailyMail.com listed a wealth of physical evidence, including trash bags and zip ties with Jennifer's DNA. The warrants also reveal why investigators are convinced that Jennifer is dead  including a complete lack of financial and cell phone activity following her disappearance, and extensive blood stains discovered in her Land Rover and home.

The warrants also say that Mawhinney's name appears on 'alibi scripts' written by Dulos and Troconis, detailing their activities on the day of Jennifer's disappearance.

Asked by a reporter if he thought there was enough evidence to convict him, Dulos shook his head and smirked as he was being led from the state trooper barracks.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Dulos' attorney Norm Pattis vehemently denied the charged against his client and vowed to mount a vigorous defense.

'We categorically deny that Mr Dulos had any involvement in the disappearance of his wife, and we defy the state to prove that she is actually dead,' he said. Pattis added of the evidence in the arrest warrant: 'If this is all the state's got we wonder why it bothered.'

Dulos, 52, (left) is charged with murder, felony murder, and kidnapping. His girlfriend Michelle Troconis, 45, (right) is charged with conspiracy to commit murder

Michelle Troconis, 45, and Dulos' former attorney, Kent Mawhinney (right), are charged with conspiracy to commit murder

The family of Jennifer Dulos (above) expressed their gratitude for the arrests in a statement

Dulos was seen being driven away in the front seat of a police car after his arrest. State police say they usually transport prisoners in the front because their cars don't have cages

Dulos and Troconis had previously been charged with evidence tampering and obstruction in Jennifer's disappearance. Dulos' criminal attorney has previously proposed that Mawhinney could provide an alibi that cleared him of wrongdoing.

In the arrest warrants, investigators allege that:

Four zip ties were found with Jennifer's DNA, suggesting she was held against her will before she died  forming the basis of the kidnapping charge

Trash bags, gloves and other items were recovered with DNA and fingerprints that matched Jennifer, Dulos and Troconis in various combinations

Blood stains were found in Jennifer's home and on her Land Rover, in amounts that suggested she could not have survived without medical attention

Jennifer's bank accounts and phone showed no activity after she disappeared the morning on May 24, and hospitals have no record of treating her

Troconis said Dulos took her to a 'creepy area' to throw garbage in a dumpster

Dulos and Troconis wrote out 'alibi lists' that detailed their movements on May 24

The alibi lists did not include the trip where the duo dropped trash around town

Mawhinney's name appeared on alibi lists, and he gave conflicting statements

Troconis initially claimed Mawhinney gave Dulos an alibi for the murder

Dulos was $4.5 million dollars in debt and had maxed out several credit lines

He was also fighting a $2.5 million lawsuit from Jennifer's wealthy mother

Investigators say there may have been a financial motive for the alleged murder

Police have insinuated in charging documents that Dulos and Troconis disposed of garbage bags containing traces of Jennifer's DNA the night that she disappeared.

They deny wrongdoing in the case and Dulos' attorney vows to fight the murder charge.

Mawhinney represented Fotis Dulos in the $2.5 million lawsuits filed by his mother-in-law. He was involved in his own contentious divorce at the same time as Dulos was.

In August, Mawhinney was charged with violating the terms of a protective order by using Fotis Dulos to contact his own estranged wife in an attempt to arrange a meeting with her.

Mawhinney's wife told police she believed Dulos was working with her estranged husband 'to get rid of her,' according an August arrest warrant.

Dulos briefly met with Mawhinney's wife in West Hartford on May 19, according to the warrant, and then contacted her on May 20 and May 21  three days before Jennifer vanished.

Mawhinney has previously declined to tell reporters whether he was at Dulos Farmington home on May 24, the day Jennifer was reported missing.

Fotis Dulos (left) has previously been charged with evidence tampering in his ex-wife Jennifer's (right) disappearance. Now he is charged with murder after police said he killed her

Fotis Dulos is led by police in Connecticut after being arrested in the murder of his wife

Asked by a reporter if he thought there was enough evidence to convict him, Dulos shook his head and smirked as he was being led from the state trooper barracks

Connecticut State Police officers lead Fotis Dulos, center, into a car outside the State Police barracks Tuesday in Bridgeport after he was arrested at his home in Farmington

Female troopers lead Troconis out from processing followed by an investigator wearing a purple tie for domestic violence awareness

Troconis is seen being led from the state trooper barracks in Bridgeport after processing

A portion of the arrest warrant lists physical evidence gathered in the case

On Tuesday, Mawhinney's attorney said that he had spoken with him that morning, but that he didn't know where his client was located. The attorney said he urges all of his clients to surrender when warrants are issued for their arrest.

The family of Jennifer Dulos expressed their gratitude for the arrests in a statement released by close friend Carrie Luft.

'Above all we thank the Connecticut State Police and the New Canaan Police Department, as well as the assisting local departments, for their tireless commitment and diligent, painstaking work that have led to these arrests,' the family said.

'Although we are relieved that the wait for these charges is over, for us there is no sense of closure. Nothing can bring Jennifer back. We miss her every day and will forever mourn her loss,' the statement added.

'We believe the arrest warrants will speak for themselves, and we ask that you please respect our privacy during this time. Thank you,' the statement concluded.

Connecticut State Police troopers effected the arrest of Dulos on Tuesday. The state police said that a press conference would be held at Troop G in Bridgeport later Tuesday afternoon.

Video footage from WTIC-TV at Dulos' home shows him being led away by troopers with his hands cuffed behind his back.

Police take Fotis Dulos into custody at his Connecticut home on Tuesday

Aerial footage shows Dulos being taken into custody by Connecticut state troopers

Dulos and Troconis are seen in mugshots from their June arrest on charges of evidence tampering. Police said they disposed of evidence with Jennifer's blood

Blood evidence listed in the warrants tells of a trail of horror in her New Canaan home

He was driven away in the front seat of a state police cruiser. The state police said that prisoners typically ride in the front, because most of their vehicles do not have cages.

An arrest warrant later revealed the array of evidence police have compiled in the case.

Police say they have surveillance video showing Fotis Dulos in Hartford disposing bags of items containing Jennifer Dulos' blood; traffic and school bus camera footage of him driving a pickup truck to New Canaan on the morning she disappeared; surveillance video of him getting the truck washed and detailed days after she vanished; and evidence that Jennifer Dulos' DNA was found on the truck seat.

State's Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr. said in court last year that Jennifer Dulos' blood was found mixed with Fotis Dulos' DNA on the kitchen sink faucet of her home in New Canaan.

'I'm not surprised that the state decided to bring the charge,' Dulos' attorney Pattis said on Tuesday. 'I haven't seen the warrant. I'll be surprised if they can win it. Mr. Dulos contends he was not involved and I don't think the evidence will show that he was.'

So far the only law enforcement comment on Dulos' arrest came in the form of tweet from the police department in New Canaan, where Jennifer disappeared.

'Justice!' read the one-word tweet.

Dulos' attorney Norm Pattis (above) confirmed that Dulos was being charged with murder

Dulos' attorney said that he looked forward to fighting the murder charge in open court following months of speculation in the press.

'In a paradoxical way we welcome this fight because we think that we will win it,' said the attorney, Pattis.

'Now we won't have to speculate about what it looks like any longer,' he said.

Dulos and Troconis are expected to face arraignment on Wednesday in Stamford.

Dulos is being held in lieu of a $6 million bail. Bail for both Troconis and Mawhinney has been set at $2 million.

Jennifer Dulos' mother, Gloria Farber, currently has custody of her daughter's five children and is caring for them in her Upper East Side apartment on Fifth Avenue.
The West Bengal government will operate "22 per cent" more buses that what plies on a normal day during a bandh called by Left parties on Wednesday, Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari said.

The West Bengal Transport Corporation will operate 1,150 buses compared to a daily average of 900, while South Bengal State Transport Corporation will run 826 buses as against a normal of 692, Adhikari said on Tuesday.

The North Bengal State Transport Corporation will run 655 buses compared to a daily average of 605 buses, he said.

The minister said all vehicles registered in West Bengal will be covered by an insurance of up to Rs 6 lakh if damaged during the strike.

He said FIRs must be registered within 24 hours of any incident of damaging vehicles during the bandh.

Adhikari said associations and unions of private bus, taxi and app cab operators have committed to ensuring normal services across the state following meetings with transport department officials.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said though she backs protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, she will not support any bandh for the cause.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Massachusetts State Police Lt. David Wilson, who pleaded guilty to a federal charge related to the state police overtime abuse case, is considering pleading guilty to state charges against him in the fraud investigation.

Wilson, who pleaded guilty to an embezzlement charge in the federal case against him, has denied the state charges for months. His attorney, Leonardo Angiulo, argued that the case should be dismissed in part because Wilson would be penalized twice for the same crime.

Suffolk County Superior Court Beverly J. Cannone sided with Angiulo on the false claim and larceny charges because they overlap with the federal case, but rejected the double jeopardy argument with the procurement fraud claim.

In Wilsons Tuesday morning court appearance, his attorneys and prosecutors consulted Judge N. Thochka in a private sidebar discussion. Tochka set the next court appearance for Jan. 22 with a possible plea.

Wilson, 58, of Charlton, pleaded guilty to a federal embezzlement charge in January 2019. He was sentenced to one day in state prison, deemed already served, and two days of supervision.

In Suffolk Superior Court, however, he pleaded not guilty to larceny over $250 by a single scheme, procurement fraud and violation of public employee standards conduct involving a false or fraudulent claim. Wilson rejected a plea deal earlier this year.

Angiulo, Wilsons attorney, argued in his motion to dismiss that the case is akin to double jeopardy because Wilson already pleaded guilty to his role in the overtime abuse scandal in Boston federal court. State prosecutors argued that the allegations are more extensive than those Wilson faced in his federal case.

Authorities say Wilson stole more than $31,448 from the commonwealth for overtime shifts he only partially worked or often skipped completely. He was among dozens of troopers implicated in the massive overtime fraud investigation that ensnared the Massachusetts State Police  and the only former lieutenant facing both federal and state charges.

Two other former lieutenants face state charges. John Giulino of Lanesborough was sentenced to probation in December after he pleaded guilty in state court to his role in the overtime scandal. David Keefe of Norfolk has a pending case.

The three were lieutenants affiliated with Troop E, the now disbanded unit at the center of the scandal. The overtime shifts in question were part of a traffic enforcement effort on the Massachusetts Turnpike, called the X-Team and Accident and Injury Reduction Effort patrols.

Ten troopers were charged in state or federal court in connection with the overtime abuse investigation. Most have pleaded guilty, admitting to skipping shifts and, in some cases, writing up phony tickets to cover their tracks.

Many of them served no time in jail, instead being sentenced to house arrest and probation. Some were sentenced to a day in prison, deemed served.

Related Content:
The Telugu remake of Tamil film 96 has been titled Jaanu, its makers revealed via a poster on Tuesday. Directed by Prem Kumar, the film stars Sharwanand and Samantha Akkineni in the lead roles. They reprise roles originally played by Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha.

The Telugu remake is titled after Samanthas character Janaki aka Jaanu. In August last year, the shoot of Jaanu was stalled for a few months after Sharwanand suffered an injury while filming.

Jaanu is a Telugu remake of Tamil hit, 96.

According to a statement released by the makers, Sharwanand was shooting in Thailand when he got injured and was immediately rushed back to Hyderabad where he was admitted to Sunshine hospitals. The statement had further added that the surgery was performed successfully and Sharwanand has been advised bed rest of two months.

96, which had a terrific run in cinemas, revolves around two childhood sweethearts who meet 20 years later in a school reunion and the events that follow. The film was raved for its representation of love and its music by Govind Vasantha, who is most likely to be retained for the remake as well.

96 was remade in Kannada as 99. The Kannada version featured Ganesh and Bhavana in the lead.

Not long ago, rumours emerged that the Telugu version wont feature the school portion and will instead have a segment featuring college. However, director Prem Kumar had quashed these reports and clarified that no changes will be made in the remake.

Also read: Hrithik Roshan, Sussanne Khans holiday with sons, parents Rakesh and Pinkie is all about being a modern family. See pics

He had told The Hindu Tamil: There are rumors that the Telugu remake will be about their love story from college days. These reports are not true. The beauty and life of the script is in its school days love. We are not making any changes in the core plot of the script, but a few small changes have been made keeping in mind the local sensibilities. Even as Dil Raju sir bought the remake rights, we decided to just replicate the same theme with very minor changes.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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There are higher non-citizen residents in private residential estates in the Central Region, Minister for National Development, Lawrence Wong, said in a written response.

The Minister was responding to a parliamentary question asking: which private estates have the highest concentrations of particular nationalities; what are the proportions of the various nationalities in these estates; and whether the Ministry will consider introducing ethnic quotas for private estates to facilitate harmonious relations with Singaporean households in the same areas.

higher non-citizen residents

In revealing which estates had higher non-citizen residents in private residential estates, the Minister said:

Private residential estates located in the central region of Singapore tend to house a higher proportion of non-citizen residents on average, given that the region is closer to many workplaces. The nationality proportions of non-citizen residents in such estates are dynamic, and will change constantly as tenants move in and out.

Imposing quota on private estates with higher non-citizen residents is an option

We recognise the importance of having diverse and well-integrated residential estates across the island, and are looking at various ways to achieve this. Imposing a quota on private estates, as suggested by the Member, is an option. But this is not something that can be easily implemented, and will have major implications for the property market and for all private property owners.

The Minister hopes injecting more industry and jobs outside the city centre will mitigate the issue of higher non-citizen residents in private residential estates in the Central region

Aside from this, we are using other urban planning levers to achieve a better mix in our private estates. For example, we intend to inject more public housing in the city centre, which largely comprises private residential estates today. In addition, our strategy to inject more industry and jobs outside the city centre will also help to spread out the non-citizen resident population across the island.

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We also have various integration strategies to facilitate harmonious relations between Singaporeans and foreigners, not only in neighbourhoods but also at workplaces, schools, shared public spaces, and through volunteering or community work. The National Integration Council works with community groups, immigrant associations, employers, trade unions, and schools to help foreigners understand our local laws, norms and culture, and encourage interactions with Singaporeans. There are more than 1,400 Integration and Naturalisation Champions under the Peoples Association reaching out to new immigrants in the neighbourhood to help them settle into the community. Residents can also do their part to reach out to their new neighbours and help them settle in.

Aside from revealing which estates had higher non-citizen residents in private residential estates, the Minister also answered a parliamentary question on resale levy for Executive Condominiums. He was responding to a parliamentary question asking: for a person who has bought a subsidised flat directly from HDB and sold it before 19 May 1997 and presently intends to purchase an executive condominium (EC), what is the rationale for imposing on this person a requirement that he pays a resale levy based on 20% of the purchase of price of the EC.

The Minister answered saying:

While Executive Condominiums (ECs) are built by private developers, they are sold with initial eligibility and ownership restrictions. These restrictions include an income ceiling and a minimum occupation period, similar to those applicable to HDB flats. Taking these into account, developers put in lower bids for government land sales for EC sites. This reduces the land costs and thus the selling prices of EC projects, compared to private condominiums of similar size and location.

Since second-timer EC buyers benefit from this subsidised price, they are subject to a resale levy like second-timers who buy a new flat from HDB. This reduces the subsidy that second-timers receive compared to first-timers, thus ensuring a fairer distribution of housing subsidies.

The resale levy payable depends on the prevailing policy applicable to a second-timer buyer at the time they sold their first subsidised flat. Those who sold their first subsidised flat before 19 May 1997 but opted not to pay a graded resale levy at the point of sale would have to pay a premium on the purchase price of their next subsidised HDB flat or new EC unit.

In answering another parliamentary question: what is the number of HDB flats that have been allowed to be sold before meeting the Minimum Occupation Period and what are the reasons for the exception being made, Mr Wong said:

In the last two years, HDB has given approval to about 2,400 households to sell their flats before they had fulfilled the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP). The reasons for such exceptions include financial hardship, divorce or the demise of the owner. Approvals are given on a case-by-case basis, after HDB has assessed the specific circumstances of the flat owners and their families.

Mr Wong said that his Ministry is unable to extend additional ballot chances to families who apply to live with or near parents. He was responding to a question asking, for those who wish to purchase a HDB flat and live near their parents in mature estates, whether HDB will review and consider granting additional ballot chances to these applicants for each failed attempt in securing their flats from Built-To-Order (BTO) / Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) / Re-offer of Balance Flats (ROF) exercises.

The Minister answered:

Families who wish to buy a new HDB flat to live with or near their parents already enjoy priority in their flat application under the Married Child Priority Scheme and the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme. This includes those who wish to buy flats in the mature estates.

Flats in the mature estates tend to be more popular and limited in supply. Flats in the Sale of Balance Flats and Re-offer of Balance Flats exercises are similarly limited. Hence, we are unable to extend additional ballot chances to families who apply for these flats.

Besides new flats, families who wish to live with or near their parents may also buy a resale flat and qualify for the Proximity Housing Grant of up to $30,000.

The post Higher non-citizen residents in Central region, Minister confirms appeared first on iCompareLoan Resources.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : Delhi Police has filed an FIR against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh and 19 others for vandalising the server room in the JNU campus.

Ghosh, who appeared on national TV on Sunday evening with blood soaked face and with a bandage on Monday, is now been alleged to have played a key role in the violence in JNU, which took place on Sunday.

She has been booked under Sections 341, 323, 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and various sections of Prevention of Damage to Public property Act, 1984. Apart from her, Saket Moon, Satish Yadav, Sarika Chaudhury, among others, are named in the FIR.

The cops earlier registered four FIRs in JNU violence that shook the national capital on Sunday. The Delhi Police said that one FIR was registered on January 4 on the complaint of JNU administration regarding obstruction in the registration process. The students had to register for next semester admission which was allegedly blocked by some students. The second and third FIRs were registered regarding scuffle and obstruction in registration process on January 4.

The fourth FIR was registered on January 6 for arson against unidentified and identified people for their alleged role in JNU violence that took place on Sunday.

Police took suo motu cognisance of the violent incident and registered the fourth FIR at Vasant Kunj police station in Southern part of the national capital.

Inspector Anand Yadav in the fourth FIR stated: "The students had been protesting in the campus for last few days over fee hike and other issues inside the university premises and as per the the Delhi High Court direction of not allowing any student to carry out protest within the radius of 100 meters of administrative Blocks, police had been deployed permanently over there." The FIR states that at 3.34 p.m. they came to know that some students have indulged in clashes and are damaging public properties outside Periyar hostel. "We rushed to the spot and found that 40 to 50 unidentified people, few of them covering faces with handkerchiefs and masks, and carrying sticks and rod were beating up other students inside and outside the hostel," Yadav said in the FIR.

He also said that they were damaging the properties and beating students. Yadav said he and his team rushed to the spot and asked to maintain peace. "As soon we reached, these unidentified people fled from the spot," Yadav said.

To control the situation inside the premises of the campus, the Jawaharlal Nehru University gave a written approval to the police to enter into the hostel premises within the varsity campus.

After getting the request letter from the JNU authorities, more police teams were called in to manage the violent situation within the premises. "We requested the students to maintain peace and not to indulge in any violence," he said.

In the meantime, police control room started receiving distress calls from inside the campus from the students about being beaten up.

"At 7 p.m., we came to know that around 40 to 50 unidentified people entered into the Sabarmati Hostel and started beating up students and damaging properties," the FIR stated.

Police teams immediately reached the spot and found that around 40 to 40 students-cum-hooligans were damaging the properties of the hostel.

"We made announcement to maintain peace and not to indulge in violence and immediately leave the premises. The hooligans continued damaging the properties but as we pressed in, they fled from the spot," Yadav said in the FIR.

The FIR stated that thereafter injured students were identified and rushed them to AIIMS trauma centre, AIIMS hospital and Safdarjung Hospital.

"The uncontrolled mob damaged the properties and thereafter fled from the spot," the FIR stated.
Socialite Sabine Getty revealed how she paid tribute to Princess Diana with a subtle wardrobe choice at a royal wedding last year.

Jewellery designer Sabine, 35, carried a Lady Dior bag - a style loved by the late royal - when she attended the nuptials of Jean-Christophe Napoleon and Countess Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg in Paris last October.

A quick look at photos of Sabine at the wedding, which was held at the Cathedrale Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, show the similarities to the royal did not end there.

Tribute: Socialite Sabine Getty revealed how she paid tribute to Princess Diana at a royal wedding last year. The jewellery designer carried a Lady Dior bag (seen left) a style loved by the late royal - as her accessory. Right, Diana at St George's Chapel, Windsor, in 1997

Sabine's stunning pale blue Christian Dior haute-couture ensemble looked strikingly like some of Princess Diana's skirt suits, while the pearl choker and matching beret with a veil were modern echoes of two of the royal's signature accessories.

Writing in the February issue of Tatler, Sabine, a contributing editor for the society magazine, explained the process of putting together the outfit started as soon as she and husband Joseph, a financier and member of the Getty dynasty, received the invitation.

Beautiful in blue: Sabine's stunning Christian Dior haute-couture ensemble looked strikingly like some of Princess Diana's skirt suits. Pictured, with husband Joseph at the wedding of Jean-Christophe Napoleon and Countess Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg in Paris last October

Classic style: A quick look at photos of Sabine at the wedding, which was held at the Cathedrale Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, show the similarities to the royal did not end with her bag. The colour was also one loved by Diana, as seen in 1997 (left) and 1995 (right)

She wrote: 'I immediately wondered what to wear - and remembered a friend of my mother's had given me an exquisite palle blue Christian Dior haute-couture ensemble from the 1990s, designed by Gianfranco Ferre. It even had matching satin shoes in the same fabric as the jacket lining.'

With the help of milliner Stephen Jones, Sabine commissioned a pale blue beret to match.

She continued: 'A pearl choker, overlaid with a vintage necklace of rough-cut diamonds, and a Lady Dior bag - a nod to 1990s Diana, Princess of Wales - completed the look.'

Inspiration? With the help of milliner Stephen Jones, Sabine commissioned a pale blue beret with a veil to match her ensemble. It was similar in design to this one worn by Diana in 1983

Favourite: The Lady Dior bag became a favourite of Diana after she was gifted one by Frances then First Lady, Bernadette Chirac, in September 1995. The bag quickly became a go-to for the royal. Pictured, stepping off the plane in Buenos Aries on the royal tour of Argentina in 1995

The Lady Dior bag became a favourite of Diana after she was gifted one by Frances then First Lady, Bernadette Chirac, on a visit to the Cezanne exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris, sponsored by the LVMH group, in September 1995.

The bag quickly became a go-to for the royal. In November that year, Diana was spotted carrying the bag on an official engagement in Birmingham. A few weeks later she had it in hand once again when she stepped off the plane in Buenos Aries on the royal tour of Argentina.

The association was so high profile that in 1996 Dior requested the princess's permission to rename the bag in her honour, thus creating the Lady Dior.

See the full feature in the February issue of Tatler on newsstands and digital download now.
Over 30 injured students are hospitalized with cuts, lacerations and burns. The university is among the most prestigious in the world. Pupils are on strike against rising fees. For experts, the attack is a revenge for protests against the citizenship law started by universities.

New Delhi (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A crowd of men and women covered in masks and armed with sticks, knives and hammers has attacked the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (Jnu) in Delhi, one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

The attack took place on the night of January 5 and resulted in over 30 injuries among students and teachers. For witnesses, the attackers are said to be militants of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Hindu nationalist party that rules the country.

The reason for the attack would be a retaliation against the protests taking place in the faculty where the pupils are on strike against the increase in university fees for student accommodation. However, experts highlight the attempt to silence intellectuals inside Indian universities, where the most resistant protests against the new citizenship law that excludes the Muslim population have been taking place for about a month.

Most of the wounded are hospitalized in the capital's All-India Institute of Medical Science. A doctor reports that on arrival in the hospital, the patients had cuts, lacerations and burns. Meanwhile, the Delhi police have opened three investigations: the first on Aishe Ghosh, the student association president; the second against 19 injured students; the third against unknown. No proceedings have been filed against the attackers. In turn, the agents are accused of connivance against the attackers: many criticize the fact that the agents arrived after an hour from the first emergency calls.

The night attack on the JNU lasted at least three hours and aroused deep indignation in the country. Several well-known faces from the social and economic sciences of recent years have emerged from this university: among them, the Nobel Laureate for Economics 2019 Abjijit Banerjee, the former prime ministers of Nepal and Libya - respectively Baburam Bhattarai and Ali Zeidan - as well as writers , actors, analysts, biologists and politicians.
Quiana Thurston, a member of the B.M. Williams PTA, said all three of her children watch the show, even though only one, 7-year-old Jayden, is in Yearbys class. Jayden crowds around a laptop in the kitchen with his 10-year-old brother, Elijah, and 5-year-old sister, Amiyah, watching Yearby with rapt attention and tapping out responses to the questions she asks. Thurston said it heartens her to see that the show has created an opportunity for her children to bond, in addition to boosting Jaydens reading skills.
University of Cincinnati geography researchers have identified a tipping point for deforestation that leads to rapid forest loss.

Geography professor Tomasz Stepinski used high-resolution satellite images from the European Space Agency to study landscapes in 9-kilometer-wide blocks across every inch of the planet between 1992 and 2015. He found that deforestation occurs comparatively slowly in these blocks until about half of the forest is gone. Then the remaining forest disappears very quickly.

The study was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

Stepinski and former UC postdoctoral researcher Jakub Nowosad, the lead author, discovered something surprising and fundamental: nature abhors mixed landscapes, at least on a scale of 81 square kilometers. The study showed that mixed landscapes (like agriculture and forest) are comparatively few and, more surprisingly, do not stay mixed for long. These mixed blocks tend to become homogeneous over time, regardless of the landscape type.

"I think it's very intuitive. It corresponds to the different climatic zones. The Earth before people was certainly like that. You had forests and mountains and wetlands and deserts," Stepinski said. "You would expect people would create more fragmentation, but as it turns out, people never stop. They convert the entire block on a large scale."

Stepinski said landscapes are always changing through natural or anthropological causes. Human causes are both direct, like clear-cutting, or indirect like climate change.

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Last year, Stepinski used the same data to demonstrate that 22% of the Earth's habitable surface was altered in measurable ways between 1992 and 2015. The biggest change: forest to agriculture.

For the new study, Stepinski examined nearly 1.8 million blocks covering Earth's seven continents. Blocks were categorized by 64 landscape combinations. Researchers observed transitions in these blocks from predominantly one type to predominantly another in nearly 15% of the blocks between 1992 and 2015.

"The data we have covers 23 years. That's a relatively short period of time. But from that we can calculate change in the future," Stepinski said.

Deforestation was the most pronounced example of human-caused landscape change, researchers found. They used probability modeling known as Monte Carlo methods to determine the likelihood of different types of landscape change over time (in this case hundreds of years).

The result? Researchers found that the most likely trajectory of change was from one homogeneous type to another.

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"Planet Earth wants to be homogeneous. The land wants to be the same in all these patches. And when they start to change, they don't stop until they convert everything into another homogeneous block," he said.

The authors did not examine why blocks change so quickly once a transition begins. But Stepinski said it's possible that development such as logging roads or drainage required to clear forest makes continued change that much easier.

"I can only speculate because that was not part of the study, but I would imagine two things are happening," he said. "If you are cutting forest, you have the infrastructure to finish it. It's so much easier to cut the rest. Second, the forest is more vulnerable to change when there has been a disturbance."

Wildlife managers often try to preserve larger intact blocks to prevent fragmentation, said Martin McCallister, the Appalachian Forest project manager for the Edge of Appalachia Nature Preserve in southern Ohio. The preserve is managed by the Nature Conservancy, one of the world's largest wildlife conservation organizations.

"You'd be hard pressed to find land managers who wouldn't be strongly in favor of protecting larger tracts because they're more resilient to a variety of challenges, including invasive species and climate change," McCallister said. "Once a property gets fragmented by roads, it's easier to extract resources. It's also easier for invasive species and pests to get a foothold."

McCallister said woodlands can be fragmented on paper, too.

"In Ohio, 96 percent of our woodland owners have less than 50 acres. They represent a lot of small parcels," he said.

The UC study found that mixed land types don't stay mixed for long.

"I think it is interesting that this property applies both to natural and human landscapes," said co-author Nowosad, a former UC postdoctoral researcher who now works as an assistant professor at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poland.

Nowosad said the study provides a data-driven model of long-term landscape change. While researchers only looked at changes between forest and agriculture, Nowosad said it would be worthwhile to examine whether tipping points exist for other landscape transitions.

"This model can be used to help understand how landscapes evolved and are going to evolve in the future," Nowosad said.

Stepinski, a physicist who worked for NASA before coming to UC, said the principle borrows from other disciplines, particularly astrophysics.

"If you look at the evolution of stars, the principle is you predict a long-term path statistically from short-term knowledge," Stepinski said. "It's an idea that has been used elsewhere but never for environmental study."

While it's only a theory, it's one that could be borne out by time, he said.

"It's thought-provoking. My hope is that people will criticize it and come up with different ideas," Stepinski said.
Robert Aibel opened Moderne Gallery in 1984, and for decades he was accustomed to acting unilaterally, being the boss.

The gallerys origin story goes like this: An academic, Aibel was a full-time art and film professor at Drexel when a work trip took him to France. Coincidentally, he and his wife had recently bought a new home with art deco features, and Aibel went on something of a furniture shopping spree in the birthplace of deco. Immediately, hed found a new calling.

It transformed me, he says now. All of a sudden, I was passionate for it. Aibel and Moderne Gallery have enjoyed a 35-year run, mostly from their Old City storefront on Third Street, where they helped anchor the neighborhoods art scene in its vibrant, First Friday heyday.

Now Moderne has moved to a new 4,800-square-foot showroom location at 2220 E. Allegheny Ave., its formal entrance via Witte Street.And there, a younger Aibel  Roberts 34-year-old son, Joshua, is coming into his own as co-director and design director. Much of the new Moderne Gallery is the result of his vision.

Joshua is quick to explain that he started at the bottom. At 22, he was a fledgling jewelry maker, and by his own admission better at selling the jewelry than creating it. At one show he would just as soon forget, all the jewelry was stolen.

At loose ends, he turned to his father to learn the vintage furniture business. I started in the wood shop, he remembers. My father wanted me to learn from the bottom up. He went to work with his cousin Jason Joyce, refinishing pieces by George Nakashima, whose bow-tie-joint furniture has become nearly synonymous with Moderne.

(Roberts first Nakashimas came through an estate sale. People kept buying it from the warehouse  so much so that it was hard to get the pieces onto the gallery floor.)

When Joshua eventually made it out of the basement and onto the sales floor, he managed to sell a Sam Maloof rocking chair for more than $40,000. Maloof, who died 10 years ago, was the first woodworker to receive a MacArthur fellowship, otherwise known as the genius award.

Step by step, Joshua became conversant in the language of the 20th century studio craft movement and its important artists, from Nakashima and the Hamptons-based furniture maker David Ebner to metalsmith L. Brent Kingston and enamelist Paul Hultberg.

Before the Aibels left Old City, Joshua tried out his aesthetic  more open, a concrete floor, losing the carpeting and the brown walls. His efforts proved to be a trial run for Moderne Gallery 2.0, which has about the same square footage as the old five-story space but sprawls on a single floor.

Platform design plays a big part in how we show the pieces, taking them off the floor so people can see them in a new light and from all angles, he explains. I had these ideas for a long time, and was finally able to put them into use. The streamlined look suits a clientele that tends to book appointments rather than walk in on a whim. We dont rely on street traffic, he says. The people who come here are serious.

Robert likes what he calls the modern envelope at the new space: When he saw it, I said, Oh my God, hes good at this, Im not as good at this as he is.'

Joshua says he continues to learn on the job alongside his dad. He built this business," he says.

Now, Robert says, we dont do anything unless we both agree.
Press Release

January 7, 2020 Zubiri: Senate Ready to Support Repatriation of OFWs in the Middle East Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri released a statement on Tuesday addressing the situation facing Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Middle East, given the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran. "If ever the President will request for a special session for the need to pass a supplemental budget to help repatriate our kababayans from the Middle East, we in the Senate are prepared to act on his request and can meet at any time in the interest of our OFWs," Zubiri said. "The President can also utilize for the meantime the billions of pesos of contingency funds in the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, available for repatriation immediately. Those funds are readily available for these emergencies," he added. "We also support the President's plan to set up a Crisis Committee in charge of the massive plan to bring back our OFWs in case war breaks out between Iran and the US and its allies such as Saudi Arabia, which hosts over a million Filipino workers. That is a gargantuan task, and we would need the support of all our government agencies to be able to bring home such a large number of people. I'm lauding the President's quick action on this rather than just waiting and being reactionary after the crisis actually happens."
Dandelions and Roses: A Contemporary Persian Romance By Parand Alavi Dandelions and Roses expresses that the power of wrath and courage can be stronger than terror, which is equally exhibited through the women and men in the book, said Alavi

Author and Doctor Parand Alavis Dandelions and Roses: A Contemporary Persian Romance follows the story of a highly respected Kurdish family of low income living in Iraq during the horrendous rebellion. Alavis book introduces a family of four: Ameneh, Rozhan, Usman and Omar, who undergoes brutal acts of violence that changes the paths of their lives forever.

Throughout the book, readers will get a glimpse into how a family must survive physically and emotionally after the effects of terrorism. The author tells the story of the eternal love a mother has for her children who is portrayed by heroic Ameneh and how she will stop for nothing to help her family. Alavi also illustrates the devastating acts of violence and tough cultural transition depicted through Amenehs daughter, Rozhan, that leads her to a romance of a lifetime. Readers will be a part of Rozhans journey to recovery through her evolving memory of violation and ever-present fixation with shame and revenge. Rozhan goes through heart wrenching hardships that eventually bring her to the man who will do whatever it takes to seek justice for her and her family.

Dandelions and Roses expresses that the power of wrath and courage can be stronger than terror, which is equally exhibited through the women and men in the book, said Alavi. Readers will experience the effects of terrorism on individuals and the struggles they endure to emotionally survive.

The novel portrays the political and familial circumstances victims are facing in Iraq and that love can rise from unfortunate circumstances. This captivating story will keep readers engaged as it highlights a courageous family and the love that they have for one another.

Dandelions and Roses: A Contemporary Persian Romance

By Parand Alavi

ISBN: 978-1-4834-8374-0 (softcover); 978-1-4834-8375-7 (eBook)

Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and LULU

About the author

Doctor Parand Alavi was born in Iran and went to medical school in France and the United States. In 2002, Doctor Alavi began painting as a hobby. Her subjects most often dealt with Kurdish women dressed in traditional colorful garments. However, after 10 years of well received visual art, writing came easier. Her first five Persian novels, The Empty Balloon, Mirage of Freedom, Broken Mast, Two Straw: An Autobiography and Dandelions and Roses are widely popular in Iran. Dandelions and Roses is her first book to be translated in English.

For general inquiries, interview & review copy requests contact:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

gbywater(at)lavidge(dot)com
Only five Democrats, all of whom are white, have qualified for next week's presidential primary debate, leading to a fresh round of criticism of the Democratic Party for not easing up on the qualifications.

Despite 14 contenders remaining in the field, only Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren met the more stringent qualifications for the January 14 debate in Des Moines ahead of Friday's deadline.

Two contenders who made the last debate stage haven't qualified for the next one and they are criticizing the Democratic National Committee for not being more lenient in the polling thresh hold given the lack of polls in the field over the holiday period.

Only five candidates - Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar - will be on stage January 14 debate in Des Moines

Andrew Yang and Tom Steyer, who were on stage during last month's debate in Los Angels, have met the donor qualification for Des Moines' event.

But they have not the polling thresh hold. Cory Booker also met the donor number but hasn't qualified in polling nor did he for the Los Angeles debate.

Yang pointed out the lack of qualifying polls for a candidate to prove their debate credentials.

'There has not been a poll in Iowa, Nevada, South Carolina or right where I am now in New Hampshire that satisfies the DNC in almost a month and a half. So all we want is for there to be polls so that we could show we would easily qualify by the DNC's own thresh hold. We're well over the donation thresh hold,' Yang told CNN's 'New Day' last Tuesday. 'All we need is there for to be some polls in the field.'

He added he was fine with the thresh holds the party set but wanted there to be enough polling to give candidates a chance to meet the thresh hold.

'We don't have a problem with the DNC setting thresh holds as long as there are actually polls so candidates can meet those thresh holds. I want you to put yourself in the shoes of one of the almost 400,000 donors that have fueled this campaign and then there aren't any polls to even see whether our support has been growing over the past 45 days. That's not fair to the voter and the DNC should try to make the voice of the American people and not pushing it aside,' he said.

The DNC did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

Additionally, Yang was the only minority candidate on December's debate stage in Los Angeles. The five contenders who qualified for next week's debate are all white.

And it will be a notably smaller and whiter stage compared to the very first Democratic debate in June in Miami, which took place over two nights and had 20 candidates on the stage.

For next week's Des Moines contest, there was a noticeable lack of polls in the eight-week qualifying period, which included the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. State polls, too, have been in short supply.

Candidates need at least 5 percent in four pre-approved national polls between Nov. 14 and Jan. 10, or at least 7 percent in two polls in the early states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina or Nevada.

The contenders also needed donations from at least 225,000 unique donors nationally, and a minimum of 1,000 unique donors in at least 20 states.

Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang, who made the last Democratic debate, have not met the polling thresh hold for next week's conteset

Cory Booker made the donor thresh hold for the debate but has not come close in polling

Steyer has hit the five per cent mark in two of the four polls he needs. Yang has only hit it in one and Booker hasn't reached 5 percent in a single poll.

Yang sent a letter to DNC Chairman Tom Perez on Dec. 21, urging the party to commission four early-state polls before the Jan. 10 debate deadline.

'With the upcoming holidays and meager number of polls currently out in the field, a diverse set of candidates might be absent from the stage in Des Moines for reasons out of anyone's control,' Yang wrote in the letter obtained by the Daily Beast. 'This is a troubling prospect for our party. Regardless of the DNC's best intentions, voters would cry foul and could even make unfounded claims of bias and prejudice.'

In the first Democratic debate - held over two nights in Miami - 20 candidates qualified

And in early December Booker and seven other candidates signed a letter to Perez urging the chairman to return to an either/or qualification - candidates would have to meet the polling thresh hold or the donor thresh hold but not both.

That would let Booker on the stage.

Thus far the DNC has not budged even as it's unclear how many polls may be released by the end of the week.
Washington  Despite objections from the Mexican government, the Trump administration has announced it's preparing to expand a controversial agreement with Guatemala to send Mexican asylum-seekers to the Central American nation, where few follow through on seeking protection.

In late November, the U.S. and Guatemala started to implement one of three asylum accords the Trump administration brokered with countries in Central America's Northern Triangle, comprised of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Once rerouted by the U.S. to Guatemala, which has seen hundreds of thousands of its citizens trek north in the past two years, asylum-seekers are given the option to request protection there or seek help from a non-governmental group to return to their native countries.

Out of 85 asylum-seekers sent to Guatemala by the U.S., only six migrants have requested protection through the Central American country's fledgling asylum system and five of them have since abandoned their claim, the Guatemalan government's migration institute said Tuesday. The rest have opted to return to their home countries.

The figures appear to bolster the argument by opponents of the agreement that it is not designed to offer asylum-seekers protection closer to their home countries, but rather aimed at deterring migrants by sending them to a third country with a virtually non-existent asylum system and scarce economic opportunities. Guatemala received only 262 asylum requests in 2018.

"The fact that so few people have actually applied for asylum just further confirms that this is in theory an asylum-sharing agreement, but probably in reality, more so just a system to keep asylum-seekers from entering the U.S.," Sarah Pierce, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, told CBS News.

Guatemala US Asylum

Two U.S. asylum seekers, one from El Salvador, one from Honduras, wait inside a migrant house after being sent to Guatemala from the U.S. in Guatemala City, Tuesday, December 3, 2019. Oliver de Ros / AP

Story continues

For years, Guatemala has been plagued by political instability, crime and widespread poverty. According to figures by the World Bank, nearly 50% of people in Guatemala are poor. The country also has a homicide rate that is five times that of the U.S. and higher than that of Mexico.

Reports on Monday by BuzzFeed News and Reuters that U.S. officials were ready to implement plans to subject asylum-seekers from Mexico to the U.S.-Guatemala agreement fueled even more criticism from advocates. They said the move would further undermine the administration's assertions that its asylum agreements are designed to offer migrants protection "closer to home," since Mexican asylum-seekers, unlike those from Honduras and El Salvador, do not travel through Guatemalan territory to reach America's southern border.

The Department of Homeland Security, which has argued that its agreements with countries in Central America will ensure that nations in the region "share the distribution" of asylum cases, confirmed the move on Monday. "Certain Mexicans seeking humanitarian protections in the United States may now be eligible to be transferred to Guatemala and given the opportunity to seek protection there, under the terms of the Guatemala Asylum Cooperative Agreement," a spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the Guatemalan government's migration institute, however, said the agreement still only applied to Central Americans, specifically people from Honduras and El Salvador. Washington and Guatemala City have been discussing the "possibility" of sending Mexican asylum-seekers to Guatemala, but those plans have not been finalized, the spokesperson told CBS News earlier Monday.

In a statement, the Mexican government  which is not a party in the U.S.-Guatemala accord  voiced its opposition to the Trump administration's plans of sending Mexican migrants to Guatemala.

Brokered after the U.S.-Guatemala accord was signed in July 2019, the asylum agreements with El Salvador and Honduras have not yet been implemented. In a "60 Minutes" report that aired last month, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said his country does not currently have "asylum capacities" to accept asylum-seekers sent by the U.S.

Have #MeToo and Time's Up made an impact?

ICYMI: A look back at Sunday's 60 Minutes

92-year-old's boyhood wish of skiing fulfilled
A 38-year-old woman may have spent days trapped inside a clothing donation bin in Paterson before she was rescued by firefighters on Monday, authorities said.

We dont know factually when she went (into the bin) but she said she was there since Friday, Police Director Jerry Speziale said Tuesday morning.

The woman told police she was reaching inside the bin behind an apartment building on Broadway when someone pushed her from behind.

But firefighters doubted her story, saying theyve rescued her from the bin at least twice before, according to the police director.

Its possible she climbed inside. Why she would have done so, we dont know, Speziale said.

Once a person is inside the bin, its nearly impossible to get out due to the configuration of the sliding door on the box, Speziale said.

A person passing the donation box about 11:30 a.m. on Monday heard the woman crying for help from inside and called 911, Speziale said.

When firefighters found her, the woman complained of feeling cold and numbness in her legs, Speziale said.

She was suffering from being in the inclement weather, from being in the cold, he said.

The woman was taken to St. Josephs Regional Medical Center where she was examined for frostbite, warmed up and then released, police said.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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UTSA students at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, site of a civil rights era clash.

JANUARY 7, 2020  Within a time span of five days a group of Roadrunners will visit some of the most historic sites from the nations civil rights movement with the hope of gaining new insights and bringing them back to their own communities.

About 45 UTSA students are stepping on a bus today for the ninth annual Civil Rights and Social Justice Experience.

We take a busload of students to visit landmarks of the civil rights movement and to take a deep study of leadership through the lens of those stories, said Eliot Howard, interim director of the Student Leadership Center.

The students will start their trip in Louisiana by visiting the Whitney Plantation, where theyll be guided through the 18th century plantation grounds and learn about the forced labor system of a sugar and rice plantation. Afterward, theyll head to Jackson, Mississippi, for the Mississippi Museum of Civil Rights and William Winter Institute.

The entire duration of the trip were trying to tie everything to what students can do in a community when they get back.

VINCENT PEREZ, Program Manager of UTSA's Student Leadership Center

Once in Selma, Alabama, theyll even get to cross over the Edmund Pettus Bridgethe site of Bloody Sunday, in which protesters were brutally attacked in March 1965 on their march to Montgomery. While in Alabama the students will have the opportunity to experience the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and Legacy Museum of African American History.

Some of the feedback we get from students is that its one thing to learn about different parts or moments or sites of the historic civil rights movement, but its a completely different thing to go and see them in person and learn about them from people whove lived that experience, said Vincent Perez, program manager of the Student Leadership Center. Its emotionally charged and a very powerful journey to share with our students.

Along with the historical site visits, the Roadrunners will engage in group discussions, listen to guest speakers and watch different films, such as Freedom Riders, Cesar Chavez, and Selma.

Each year the itinerary changes in some little ways to keep the trip fresh. But the underlying curriculum and large group activities and discussions all focus on raising fluency and awareness about social justice, leadership, and leadership for social change, Howard said.

Lauren Horton, a senior studying public health, initially joined the Civil Rights and Social Justice Experience as a way to learn more about social justice and history.

Going on the trip last year was such a great and enriching experience and I was able to learn so much about our history and the fight for equality in our country, she said. This trip also helps you see the full picture of racial disparities and how our history still impacts many marginalized communities today.

 Learn more about UTSA's Student Leadership Center.

For this years trip Horton has returned as a group facilitator to help the other students engage in discussions about what theyve learned throughout their trip.

I felt like I could help provide leadership and facilitate good conversation between students that havent been on the trip, Horton said. Small group discussions are also a very important part of this trip and I felt like I could help my fellow Roadrunners with some very meaningful conversations about all that were learning.

While the Student Leadership Office focuses on helping students explore and develop their leadership potential, the trip goes even further, according to Perez.

The entire duration of the trip were trying to tie everything to what students can do in a community when they get back, Perez said. You know, how can they make a positive impact in the world they live in.

The students will have the opportunity to showcase what they learned at a reflection session that is open to the UTSA community from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27.

The students will highlight and share their experiences and each of the small groups will kind of present what they learned, Howard said. Weve had students do slideshows or videos. Weve had some groups do skits that were really powerful and dances. Those are probably some of our favorites. Theyre really interactive and really engaging. Its a really creative way to kind of express the knowledge youve gained on a trip.
Cleanness

By Garth Greenwell

Farrar Straus Giroux. 223 pp. $26

---

Four years ago, Garth Greenwell published a debut novel about an American teacher who falls in love with a gay hustler in Bulgaria. "What Belongs to You" might have withered unnoticed in the weeds of literary fiction. Its plot was cramped, its setting dank, its characters obscure. But none of that mattered. The book smoldered with lust and regret across pages of hypnotically gorgeous prose. Critics and other readers responded with awe to Greenwell's unnerving insight into the tangled desires and betrayals of the heart.

Now Greenwell is back with "Cleanness," a collection of stories that revisits that teacher's experience in Bulgaria, a country the author knows from his own stint as a teacher at the American College of Sofia. Three of these nine stories have appeared in the New Yorker - and almost all of them are extraordinary. Although the form is smaller, the scope is broader, and the overall effect even more impressive than his novel. Greenwell's style remains as elegant as ever, but here it's perfectly subordinated to a fuller palette of events and themes.

The opening story, "Mentor," unveils a bitter revelation about the awesome responsibilities and impossible burdens of teaching. Like most of these pieces, it takes place in Sofia, a once glorious capital now filled with desolate Soviet-style apartment blocks. We meet the narrator, who like most of these characters is never named, as he enjoys a drink with a favorite student. As a gay visitor in a homophobic country, the narrator has made a point of speaking openly about himself and his life, hoping to provide an oasis of safety and encouragement for the closeted young people in his class. "You're the only person I know who talks about it, who's so public and who isn't ashamed," his student tells him, and the narrator swells with the pride of his vocation.

But then, in a shift as subtle as the drift from day to twilight, this young man begins describing his disappointment with a fellow classmate, a "particular friend" on whom he's long had a crush. What, he asks, should he do now? How, he wants to know, can he endure such heartache? Suddenly, the student's need feels too acute, his plea for teacherly advice too consequential. Any good professor will resonate with these concomitant feelings of happiness and dread, like two sides of the same page: the delight at being consulted and the horror of being overwhelmed by a student's "outsized passions and griefs." In a moment, the narrator's magnanimity curdles into resentment. "I was exhausted by listening to him, by the effort of it in that noisy space," he confesses, "but also by the obligation it imposed, not just to listen but to feel in a way I had grown unaccustomed to feel."

That slip from safe feelings to treacherous feelings plays out in other stories in this collection as well. Greenwell is repeatedly drawn to precarious moments of emotional transition, particularly in regards to romantic attachment and erotic compulsion. In "Gospodar," one of several extremely explicit stories, the narrator seeks out a dominant partner to humiliate him during sex. "It was for this excitement I had come," he says, "something to draw me out of the grief I still felt." But almost immediately his arousal is clouded by "the first stirrings of unease."

The intimate physical detail of this disturbing story will exceed some readers' tolerance, but that's entirely Greenwell's point. "There's no fathoming pleasure," he writes, but he's bravely plumbing its dimensions. He takes us into those brackish currents where our pure ideals mix with the salty waters of desire. Again and again, he considers the sentiment embodied in that purposely awkward title: "Cleanness." His narrator is a man devoted to finding a healthy relationship while still thirsting for obliteration. "I felt with a new fear how little sense of myself I have," he thinks, "how there was no end to what I could want or to the punishment I would seek." Only the graphic demonstration of that predicament laid out in these pages could give us such a visceral sense of what he means.

But "Cleanness" is not unrelentingly bleak. Indeed, the range in these stories is part of their triumph and part of what makes their existential sorrow so profound. Three stories at the center of the book are presented under the title "Loving R." They offer a layered account of the narrator's relationship with a 21-year-old student from Lisbon. So gray is the climate of Sofia and so wary is this narrator that his relationship with R. feels like the arrival of spring. "Each time he smiled it filled me with a happiness I had never felt before," he says, "a happiness that was particularly his to give." In their love, he finds "a kind of cleanness" that he's been craving, something to scrub away the "shame and anxiety and fear" that have dogged him since his father taunted and beat him as a boy. How this complicated relationship between the narrator and his lover - two men from different countries and at different points in their lives - plays out is one of the many incomparably bittersweet elements of "Cleanness."

Fortunately, it almost feels too late or at least superfluous to celebrate the fact that this remarkable collection will not be shunted away to a back shelf for "Gay & Lesbian Literature." In November, Edmund White received a lifetime achievement award from the National Book Foundation for the revelatory light cast by his autobiographical and fictional writings over the past half century. Greenwell, Ocean Vuong, Alexander Chee and other contemporary gay writers are working in fields that White helped open over the past half century, but they're also pushing our literature further and finding wider audiences. Part of that success reflects society's greater appreciation for LGBTQ+ people, of course, but it's also a product of how extraordinarily talented these writers are.

Where will they go from here? After Greenwell's first novella, "Mitko," which developed into his novel "What Belongs to You," and now this new collection, "Cleanness," I'm eager to see what Greenwell can do beyond the confines of his experience in Bulgaria. I've heard the references to Yoknapatawpha, but Faulkner's fictional realm is not quite analogous; there is a vast world - real and imagined - outside of Sofia that's waiting for this brilliant writer.
A Fine Gael TD for Louth has described the Government's national commemoration plans for the RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) as "inappropriate at this time".

Speaking to the Democrat, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd said that "a lot more thought needs to be put into it" and he "won't be attending" any events.

"It needs to be put into a broader context", added Deputy O'Dowd. "Everyone is entitled to their own personal views... commemorations should unite rather than divide."

Deputy O'Dowd expanded further on his personal view, saying that hearing the commemoration plans "had been helpful and made me look back at the history" and that the original advertisements at the time said that it would be the RIC that the eventual Black and Tans members would be joining initially.

"The recruitment ads said they were for the RIC," Deputy O'Dowd pointed out.

However, the Fine Gael TD added that "everyone's belief should be respected".

"Thousands of Irish citizens were part of the RIC," he said, adding: "it (that period in Irish history) was a huge trauma on our society. They were all young people who died violently."
The number of foreign tourists visiting Armenia will likely continue to increase rapidly in the coming years, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

There has been an upward year-on-year dynamic in recent years, which means that we will have an increase in tourist arrivals this year as well, said Susanna Safarian, head of the State Tourism Committee.

We will do everything to have at least 13-14 percent annual growth in tourism arrivals in the coming years, she told RFE/RLs Armenian service.

Armenias tourism industry has already expanded considerably over the past decade, helped by a falling cost of air travel and accommodation in the country.

Official statistics shows that the number of foreigners visiting Armenia has grown by roughly 9 percent annually since 2012. It was up by 12 percent in the first half of 2019. Russian nationals accounted for most of the tourist arrivals recorded in that period.

The Armenian government expects that the upcoming launch by two European budget airlines of cheap flights between Armenia and Europe will give a further boost to the tourism sector. In Safarians words, the government also hopes that more road and other infrastructure upgrades planned by it in 2020 will serve the same purpose.

Local tour operators say they heard last year fewer complaints from visitors about the quality of roads leading to the countrys ancient monuments and other tourist attractions. They caution, though, that the sector remains beset by other problems.

Tourists complain about the quality of service not only in the regions but also Yerevan, said Zaruhi Orbelian of the Armenian Association of Travel Guides.

Even so, anecdotal evidence suggests that Armenia has attracted a record-high number of tourists from Russia, Europe, Gulf Arab states and other nations during the latest New Year and Christmas holidays.

Russian tourists have been particularly visible on the streets of Yerevan in the past week. Not all of them were visiting the South Caucasus country for the first time.

I liked the nature and friendliness of the people, said one young woman. It was very nice. That is why my husband and I decided to come to Armenia again for the New Year.

We have never been to Yerevan before, said another Russian tourist. We like it here very much. But we still have time and we are going to see a lot more.




By Jung Min-ho







The Seoul capital area is more crowded than ever, with more people living inside Gyeonggi region than outside out it.





Data from the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) show that 50.001 percent of the country's population lives in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.





The number of Seoul residents has gradually fallen in recent years to 9.72 million in 2019. But meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province's population increased to nearly 13.24 million; Incheon's was 2.95 million.





According to KOSIS, overpopulation in the capital area has become increasingly serious. In 1970, 28.7 percent of the country's population lived there, but this rose to 42.8 percent in 1990 and to 49.2 percent in 2010.





Following the release of the data, civic groups criticized the government for not doing enough about the situation.





"It is a major crisis that 11.8 percent of the country's land area accounts for more than half its population," they said in a statement Sunday. "All the resources are concentrated in the capital area  It is getting ever more serious with policymakers pushing to dissolve more greenbelt zones.





"President Moon Jae-in may have a will to solve the problem but has not been able to deliver it, following a decade of conservative rule that focused on developing the capital area and concentrating the power  The government should push harder for balanced development and decentralization."


Bidens campaign hailed the endorsements as reflective of the momentum Joe Biden has going into Super Tuesday, or March 3, when Texas holds its delegate-rich primary.

Many of these community leaders previously endorsed Secretary Castro and are now supporting Joe Biden because they know that Biden has the experience, record, and heart to step into the Oval Office and immediately deliver for working families, Bidens Texas state director, Jane Hamilton, said in a statement.

Biden's latest Texas endorsements also include Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff; Justin Rodriguez, the Bexar County commissioner and former state representative from San Antonio; Leticia Van de Putte, the former state senator from San Antonio and 2014 nominee for lieutenant governor; Debra Guerrero, a trustee for the San Antonio Independent School District; and San Antonio lawyer Frank Herrera and his wife Cecilia Herrera, a former foreign diplomat.
The killing of Iran's top general is such a significant escalation by the US it may prompt Tehran to "give pause", says one of America's best-known military commanders.

General David Petraeus, who also served as director of the CIA after retiring from the military in 2011, recalled how the accidental downing of an Iranian civilian airliner by a US warship over the Strait of Hormuz in 1988 helped end the so-called tanker war between Tehran and Washington.

The targeting of Major General Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike on Friday "is such a significant escalation that it may well give pause to Iran in the way that the accidental downing of the aircraft ended the tanker war of the 1980s", he said in an interview with Sky News.

But the general - who served as commander of all US-led forces in Iraq from 2007 to 2008 at a time when Iranian-backed forces were killing and maiming British and American troops - noted the Iranian regime also had a lot of potential options for retaliation.

"They could launch rockets and missiles up and down the western side of the Gulf," he said, adding there are a number of bases in the region owned by the US and its allies.

"It seems the US has posted quite a few additional forces in the region to be prepared to defend troops and respond No one can really predict the outcome."

He said the killing of Maj Gen Soleimani, the leader of Iran's elite Quds Force, was "more consequential than the killing of Osama bin Laden", the leader of al Qaeda.

The Iranian commander was instrumental in developing relations with proxy forces across the Middle East - from Lebanon, through Syria, through Iraq and down to Yemen - that enhanced Iran's influence in the region.

As a strategist, he effectively led Iran's foreign policy and military policy for at least the past decade and a half.

But his style was also to be out on the ground, dealing directly with the leaders of the militias and proxy forces he was helping to fund, train and equip.

Story continues

Gen Petraeus said: "The question is how does Iran respond?

"And what does the US do in response to that? Does this in a sense restore deterrence?"

He noted many had commented the ability of the US and its allies to deter Iran from carrying out hostile acts had been lost by the lack of a robust military response to the downing of a US drone by an Iranian missile last summer.

And also attacks on international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, blamed on Iranian forces.

Even the targeting of Saudi oil facilities in September did not trigger a military retaliation.

US-led forces in Iraq, on a mission to counter Islamic State, had also been coming under increased rocket fire blamed on Iranian-backed militia.

It was only when a US contractor was killed in a strike on 27 December that President Donald Trump gave an order to launch airstrikes against the militia in Iraq and across the border in Syria.

He also then authorised the drone strike against Maj Gen Soleimani , who was hit along with a senior Iraqi militia leader, as he was being driven out of Baghdad airport.

"This now shows the US is willing to take very significant steps which were not apparent before," General Petraeus said.

He had first-hand experience of Gen Soleimani during his time as the commander of US-led forces in Iraq.

Gen Petraeus recalled how he had conveyed a message to Qassem Soleimani in 2008 to "pound sand" after the Iranian general tried to make contact.

The Iranian officer had contacted him via Iraq's then president Jalal Talabani at a time when US forces were fighting Iranian-backed militias for control of the southern city of Basra.

"The message was: if you want to deal with Iran, do not fool around with those [Iranian] diplomats, deal with me," General Petraeus said.

He sent a message back.

"I told him to pound sand," the former commander said.
Algiers, Algeria (PANA) - Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune Monday called on the international community and the UN Security Council, in particular, to assume their responsibilities to impose the respect of peace and security in Libya", an official statement by the Algerian news agency (APS), said here
France has "no intention" of withdrawing its troops from Iraq, a French government source confirmed on Tuesday, as tensions soar over the US killing of a top Iranian general in Baghdad.

France has contributed around 200 soldiers to the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State jihadist group (IS), of whom 160 are tasked with training Iraqi military personnel, according to the defence ministry.

"Since Friday we have reinforced security for our French soldiers deployed in Iraq," Defence Minister Florence Parly tweeted Tuesday.

"The priority today is the same as it was yesterday and should be tomorrow: the fight against Daesh and its resurgence on the ground in the Middle East, and its propaganda on the internet," Parly added, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

The government source confirmed to AFP that there were no plans for a French pullout. But the coalition's future in Iraq is uncertain after US President Donald Trump ordered a drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, leader of Iran's foreign military operations, in Baghdad last Friday.

Adding to the confusion were reports that an American general had mistakenly informed the Iraqi government that his troops were preparing to leave, requiring a hasty clarification from the Pentagon.

Germany on Tuesday said it had temporarily withdrawn some of its troops deployed as part of the anti-IS coalition in Iraq, and NATO said it is taking "some personnel" out of the country because of increased risks to their safety.

Overall, France has around 1,000 soldiers across the Middle East as part of Operation Chammal, the French component of the anti-IS coalition.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
German foreign minister Heiko Maas: 'We are very worried that instability in Iraq will surely increase without the international community's engagement against ISIS.' Photo: Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters

German foreign minister Heiko Maas has described Washingtons threat of major retaliation towards Iran as not very helpful in the current tense situation.

Speaking to German public radio (DLF), Maas expressed deep concern about the Iraqi parliaments decision to expel US troops from the country in response to the US assassination of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani in Baghdad last week. Trump vowed to hit Iraq with crippling sanctions in response.

We are very worried that instability in Iraq will surely increase without the international community's engagement against ISIS," Maas told DLF. He said that without a US troop presence in Iraq, it would be difficult to keep German troops in the country.

READ MORE: Oil and gold spike on Trump and Iran tension escalation

Maas noted that a lot has been invested in rebuilding Iraq in the past few years, and all of this is now in danger of being lost. He added that persuasive arguments, not threats, are the only way to keep an open dialogue going with Iraq.

On Sunday, the leaders of the UK, Germany, and France issued a joint statement appealing for the US and Iran to exercise utmost restraint.

Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron, and Angela Merkel jointly stressed the urgent need for de-escalation and said years of work to stabilise Iraq are now under threat. They urged the Iraqi government to keep supporting the fight against ISIS in the region.

The three countries will meet on Monday to discuss Tehrans announcement at the weekend that it would no longer honour the 2015 nuclear agreement. Trump tweeted on Saturday that the US has targeted 52 Iranian sites ... and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD.

The escalating tension between the US and Iran caused investors to flock to oil and gold on Monday, with the oil price (CL=F; BZ=F) continuing to trade upwards of 2% to $70 per barrel over supply concerns.
This is the incredible moment Chewbacca the talking dog says his owner's name 'Andrew'.

Chewbacca - a 14-year-old Alaskan Malamute who has been in several films - is captured barking his owner's name on command in the footage.

The video begins with the hound sitting for his owner Andrew Scott-Marshall, who lives in Richmond Upon Thames, before he asks 'say Andrew'.

The pooch then howls the name as Andrew laughs at the success of the trick.

Chewbacca - a 14-year-old Alaskan Malamute who has been in several films - is captured barking his owner's name on command in footage

Andrew owns Chewbacca and Turbo - an 11-year-old Beagle - who were both taken in as rescues at a few months old and have been inseparable since.

Andrew said: 'At the moment we're trying to teach them to speak which of course they will never be able to quote Shakespeare - but we getting some results!

'Chewbacca, I've been training to speak certain words including my own name...and as you can see he's getting very close if not nailed it already.

Owner Andrew Scott-Marshall, who lives in Richmond Upon Thames, asks Chewbacca to 'say Andrew' in the video

The pooch (pictured) howls the name as Andrew laughs at the success of the trick

'They continue to work and travel so if you see them around come and say hello and shake a paw!'

He added that the longest they've been apart in 11 years is six hours.

The dogs have got an agent and have travelled the world doing various photo shoots and film work.

Andrew owns Chewbacca (right) and Turbo (left) - an 11-year-old Beagle - who were both taken in as rescues at a few months old and have been inseparable since

The dogs have got an agent and have travelled the world doing various photo shoots and film work

Chewbacca has done motion capture for a number of major feature films and Turbo has been used for a number of adverts for well-known brands.

They have travelled all over the world and love meeting new people.

Andrew says that they have an amazing ability to pick up tricks and commands very quickly and their obedience and personality is what sets them apart from most dogs.

Chewbacca (left) has done motion capture for a number of major feature films and Turbo (right) has been used for a number of adverts for well-known brands

Andrew says that they have an amazing ability to pick up tricks and commands very quickly and their obedience and personality is what sets them apart from most dogs

Andrew's Instagram is full of pictures of his two dogs, including this one of the pair in matching yellow outfits

He added: 'I myself have worked in film all of my life either in stunts, acting, or directing and they have always had to come with me when I travel and so it made sense that why not get them involved too!

'We've seen so much of the world together as a mini pack and they have taught me a lot about myself on our travels.

'If my life had a purpose it was to unite these two and give them the best possible life of adventures they could have.

'I'm definitely a co-star in their life movie and I'm more than happy with that!'

The pair have travelled all over the world and love meeting new people, according to their owner Andrew

Andrew said: 'We've seen so much of the world together as a mini pack and they have taught me a lot about myself on our travels'
Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn's wife Carole said Tuesday she was not in the loop about his audacious escape from Japan, adding that it was the "only choice possible." Speaking after Japanese prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for her, Carole Ghosn told France's Le Parisien newspaper that she knew nothing about the December 29-30 escape when Carlos Ghosn jumped bail and fled from Tokyo. The interview came hours before an eagerly awaited press conference by the disgraced executive in Beirut on Wednesday. "I wasn't aware of anything... I was in Beirut with my children to celebrate Christmas, someone called me to say 'I have a surprise for you. It was the best in all my life!" she said. "Fleeing was the only possible choice as he saw his trial being postponed indefinitely and he was being detained in conditions that deprived him of his rights with the aim of dehumanising him. "Carlos cannot plead guilty for things he did not do," Carole Ghosn said, adding that her husband was the "victim of an industrial plot and the war between Renault and Nissan." She said he was slightly tense before his press conference, adding that this was "normal" as he was making "the most important statement of his life." Ghosn had been facing trial in Japan on charges of financial misconduct, which he denies, before fleeing the country in late December for Lebanon, where he was reunited with his second wife Carole. The globe-trotting former auto mogul accuses executives at Japanese automaker Nissan of manufacturing the allegations against him in a "plot" to prevent closer integration with alliance partner Renault. Ghosn appears to have left his residence in Tokyo, which was monitored by surveillance cameras under his bail conditions, alone. He reportedly later met up with two US citizens and boarded a bullet train to Osaka on December 29. In Osaka, he is reported to have been put into a large box with holes drilled into it to ensure he could breathe and then loaded onto a private jet that flew to Istanbul. Airport security rules meant large items loaded onto private planes were exempt from screening -- a loophole that appears to have allowed Ghosn to escape unnoticed. In Istanbul, he boarded a second private jet that took him to Lebanon, where he entered on a French passport. Under his bail conditions, his French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports were confiscated and held by his lawyers. But he was allowed to retain a second French passport -- in a locked case with the key held by his lawyers -- so he could prove his short-term visa status if needed when travelling in Japan -- which was allowed in the terms of his bail.
New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Police rescued two teenaged girls, hailing from Jharkhand's Ranchi, from a possible human trafficking ring. According to reports, the girls were being sold by a human trafficker to one of the buyers for Rs 75,000. At least seven persons, including two women, have been arrested in connection with the case.

The girls, after being freed from the clutches of her traffickers, have been sent for medical examination whereas the police have begun investigating the other members of the group.

Acting on a tip-off, the police raided a house in Ahmadgadh area of Bulandshahr which was being used by the human traffickers to sell the girls to buyers so that they could marry her. According to police, one of the girls told them that she was invited by a distant relative from her Ranchi residence, where she used to live with her mother, to celebrate New Year in Bulandshahr. Upon reaching, she was informed that she would be married to one of her buyers in exchange of some money that would go to her mother.

The girl's distant relative than contacted several people and invited that the one who pays the best price can 'buy' the minor. On Sunday, at least a dozen men had assembled at the place, where the victim was staying with her relative. On being tipped off, the police raided the place while the auction was on and rescued the minor.

The girl informed that after her father married another woman, she started living with her visually-impaired mother. She added that arriving at her relative's place in Bulandshahr, she was lured by them to get married. She added that she wishes to return to her mother and she will take care of their finances by doing some domestic work.

An FIR has been registered in the case in Ahmadgadh police station.
Iranians gathered in Kerman for the burial Tuesday of top general Qasem Soleimani in the final stage of funeral processions after he was killed in a US strike in Iraq.

The massive number of mourners in the hometown of the slain commander of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm appeared to match the huge turnout seen in the cities of Tehran, Qom, Mashhad and Ahvaz.

A hugely popular figure in the Islamic republic, Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport on Friday in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with arch-enemy Iran which has vowed "severe revenge".

"The enemy killed him unjustly," the Revolutionary Guards' top commander, Major General Hossein Salami said, adding the process of "expelling the United States from the region has begun".

"Our will is firm. We also tell our enemies that we will take revenge, and that if they (strike again) we will set fire to what they love," he told the sea of black-clad mourners.

"They themselves know well what places I am talking about." Schoolgirls joined chants of "Death to Trump" from the crowd, an AFP correspondent reported.

The assassination of Soleimani set off an escalating war of words between Iran and the United States.

In Tehran, President Hassan Rouhani on Monday warned Trump to "never threaten" Iran, after the US leader issued a US strike list of 52 targets in the Islamic republic.

On Tuesday, Iranian lawmakers voted to designate all US forces around the world "terrorists" over Soleimani's killing.

Parliament also agreed to bolster the coffers of the Quds Force, which Soleimani led, by USD 244 million (200 million euros).

In Kerman, people converged from afar on Azadi Square where two flag-draped coffins were on display, with the second one reportedly containing the remains of Soleimani's closest aide, Brigadier General Hossein Pourjafari.

"We're here today to pay respects to the great commander of the holy defence," said one of the mourners who came from the southern city of Shiraz to attend the funeral in Kerman.

"Haj Qasem was not only loved in Kerman, or Iran, but also the whole world," Hemmat Dehghan told AFP.

"The security of the whole world, Muslims, Shiites, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and especially Iran, all owe it to him," said the 56-year-old war veteran.

Another mourner said Soleimi's assassination "boils the blood of the Iranian people".

"He was seen as a great man who was ready to serve his people both then in the war and now. He must certainly be avenged," said Sara Khaksar, an 18-year-old student.

Friday's assassination of the 62-year-old Soleimani heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile Middle East.

Iraq's parliament has demanded the government expel the 5,200 American troops stationed in the country in response to the drone attack which also killed top Iraqi military figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Baghdad requested in a letter to the UN -- seen by AFP -- that the Security Council condemn the US strike so that "the law of the jungle" is not allowed to prevail.

The operation represented "a dangerous escalation that could lead to a devastating war in Iraq, the region and the world," wrote Iraq's UN ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr-Aluloom.

On Sunday night, the US mistakenly notified the Iraq of an imminent troop pullout in a letter that sparked confusion in Washington.

"We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure," said the letter, whose authenticity was confirmed to AFP by both Iraqi and US defence officials.

In the letter, US Brigadier General William Seely said the US-led coalition would "be repositioning forces".

But Pentagon Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley said the letter was a mere "draft" that was sent by mistake.

Germany said Tuesday it was withdrawing some of its troops deployed as the anti-IS coalition in Iraq.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned on Monday that Iran must avoid "further violence and provocations".

The European Union, whose foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on the crisis Friday, said it was in both Iran and Iraq's interests to "take the path of sobriety and not the path of escalation".

Saudi Arabia -- an oil-rich US ally seen as vulnerable to Iranian counter strikes -- also appealed for calm after a "very dangerous" escalation.

World financial markets have been on edge over the crisis.

"The new year has started with a bang in so far as volatility is concerned," said Fawad Razaqzada at Forex.com.

"This is mainly due to the escalation of tensions between the US and Iran after Trump ordered the assassination of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Boris Johnsons Brexit deal returns to the Commons on Tuesday as the Government resumes its push to drive through Britains departure from the EU by the end of the month.

MPs, returning to Westminster following their Christmas break, begin three days of detailed debate on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) with the House expected to sit late into the night.

Opposition parties have tabled a number of amendments to the legislation, but with the Government now enjoying a Commons majority of 80 they look unlikely to succeed.

The Prime Minister is determined to deliver on his general election manifesto promise to get Brexit done by January 31.

Expand Close MPs backed the Withdrawal Agreement Bill at second reading before Christmas (House of Commons/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp MPs backed the Withdrawal Agreement Bill at second reading before Christmas (House of Commons/PA)

The WAB has already cleared its first Commons hurdle, passing its second reading vote before Christmas with a majority of 124.

The Government now wants it to complete its remaining stages in the lower House by the end of business on Thursday.

It would then go to the Lords next week, with ministers confident it can conclude its passage through Parliament in time for it to be ratified by the European Parliament by the end of the month.

That would mean the UK leaving the EU on January 31, with a deal in place covering citizens rights, the Irish border and Britains divorce bill of about 30 billion.

It will also mark the start of an 11-month transition period, during which the UK will continue to follow EU rules, while negotiations take place on a free trade agreement.

Senior EU figures, including chief negotiator Michel Barnier, have warned that completing a deal in such a tight time-frame is likely to prove impossible.

However Mr Johnson has been adamant he will not seek any extension to the transition period, raising fears among opposition parties that Britain could be heading for a no-deal Brexit at the end of the year.

Labour has tabled an amendment to the WAB requiring ministers to seek a two year extension to the transition period, to the end of 2023, if there is no agreement by mid June.

But given the Governments rock-solid majority, the attempt would appear to be doomed to defeat.

Other amendments tabled by Labour include a bid to protect the right of unaccompanied child refugees to be reunited with their families after Brexit.

It follows the decision by ministers to remove the so-called Dubs amendment, intended to ensure child refugees could still rejoin their families in the UK after free movement ends, in the wake of the Conservatives election victory.

The SNP meanwhile has tabled a series of amendments intended to strengthen the rights of EU nationals living in the UK.

Immigration spokesman Stuart McDonald said: It is vital that opposition parties back the SNP in protecting the rights of our fellow EU nationals who have made Scotland and the UK their home and who now face being plunged into further instability.

We cannot allow this reckless, right-wing Tory government to push ahead with its Brexit plan which risks inflicting hostile environment 2.0  this time on EU nationals who live and work in the UK, including in our vital NHS.

The Liberal Democrats have said they will press for an amendment requiring the Government to hold a public inquiry into the conduct of the 2016 EU referendum.
After showing off her forehead bruise on Twitter, accidentally inflicted from her The Act co-star and Golden Globe winner Patricia Arquette, Joey King reveals how the bruise happened.

Both King and Arquette made their way to the InStyle party, where it has become tradition for many stars to shoot brief videos inside an elevator, which is where the mishap took place.

The video was shown on the InStyle Twitter on Sunday night, but King, 20, explained what happened in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Bruise: After showing off her forehead bruise on Twitter, accidentally inflicted from her The Act co-star and Golden Globe winner Patricia Arquette, Joey King reveals how the bruise happened

Elevator: Both King and Arquette made their way to the InStyle party, where it has become tradition for many stars to shoot brief videos inside an elevator, which is where the mishap took place

The video showed the elevator doors open as King is 'making it rain' with several bills, while Arquette was singing while wearing a viking helmet.

King joined her in 'song' and just as the doors start to close, Arquette is seen moving her Globe statuette up and knocking King in the forehead.

'Patricia and I were in the video photo booth elevator at the InStyle afterparty and we were trying to do a funny little skit, where we were singing opera,' King began.

Making it rain: The video showed the elevator doors open as King is 'making it rain' with several bills, while Arquette was singing while wearing a viking helmet

Forehead: King joined her in 'song' and just as the doors start to close, Arquette is seen moving her Globe statuette up and knocking King in the forehead

Skit: 'Patricia and I were in the video photo booth elevator at the InStyle afterparty and we were trying to do a funny little skit, where we were singing opera,' King began

'And as I was taking a bow, she raised her Golden Globe statue up and whacked me in the forehead. Those statues arent light at all!' she added.

Joey's mother Jamie King was also on the scene, describing her daughter as, 'a little Lucille Ball' who does physical comedy, so she wasn't sure it was 'real or not.'

'But when I realized it was real, I thought it was the funniest thing that could ever happen. Joey and Patricia adore each other, so it was absolutely iconic that she would bonk Joey with her Golden Globe,' she said.

Whacked: 'And as I was taking a bow, she raised her Golden Globe statue up and whacked me in the forehead. Those statues arent light at all!' she added

The elevator incident came at the end of King's first ever Golden Globes appearance, but she took it in stride, when asked how it felt.

'You know, it felt pretty great. If Im gonna get hit in the head with anything, it might as well be my friends Golden Globe,' King said.

Arquette also apologized on Twitter, stating, 'What happens in the elevator stays in the elevator! No seriously Im so sorry sweetest one!' with King replying, 'There are worse things to be hit in the head with.'

Felt: The elevator incident came at the end of King's first ever Golden Globes appearance, but she took it in stride, when asked how it felt

Felt great: 'You know, it felt pretty great. If Im gonna get hit in the head with anything, it might as well be my friends Golden Globe,' King said

Arquette won her Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Hulu's The Act.

King was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television, though she lost to Fosse/Verdon's Michelle Williams.

Arquette also won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie, while King was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.

Globe winner: Arquette won her Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Hulu's The Act
Shiv Sena workers protested against mob attack on a gurdwara and killing of a Sikh community man in the neighbouring country. (Photo Credit: Special Arrangement)

Mumbai:

Shiv Sena workers on Monday burnt an effigy of Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan to protest mob attack on a gurdwara and killing of a Sikh community man in the neighbouring country.

Five workers of the party were detained by the police during the protest and released after two hours, a spokesman of the Senas local unit said.

Sena workers were protesting against the mob attack on Nankana Sahib Gurdwara and killing of a Sikh community man in Pakistan, party spokesman Tejas Brambhatt told PTI here.

They raised slogans against Pakistan and burnt the effigy of Khan near the Vadodara Municipal Corporation, he said.

Our demonstration was peaceful, he added.

The victim, Ravinder Singh, a businessman, was killed in Peshawar by unidentified gunmen, according to media reports.
Expressing solidarity with students of JNU, Actor Deepika Padukone reached the campus on Tuesday evening. Deepika joined students who were protesting recent violence on the campus.

At least 18 people were injured and admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). JNU Students Union president Aishe Ghosh suffered a head injury. The JNU administration said, masked miscreants armed with sticks were roaming around, damaging property and attacking people.

The Left-controlled JNUSU and the ABVP blamed each other for the violence that continued for nearly two hours.



Pictures that have made way on social media confirmed Deepika's presence at the Sabarmati T-point.

Actor @deepikapadukone meeting #AisheGhosh in #JNU. She's at ground zero despite knowing the backlash it will receive from RW goons who will attempt to boycott her film which releases in two days. Coming from Deepika who has largely been silent on political issues this is BIG. pic.twitter.com/xaNTHpezfU  Suresh Mathew (@Suresh_Mathew_) January 7, 2020





Were you in JNU?

In support of protesters?@deepikapadukone pic.twitter.com/yjMJP0N72R  Jyotsna Bedi (@JyotsnaBedi) January 7, 2020

NOW: Deepika Padukone at JNU amid protests and crackdown! She has been in Delhi for the past 2 days for the promotion of her upcoming movie #Chhapaak pic.twitter.com/3l7MbPSkx4  Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) January 7, 2020

Deepika had earlier addressed Sundays violence at the JNU campus in an interview to NDTV. She was quoted in the interview as saying, I feel proud to see that we arent scared to express ourselves... I think the fact that we are thinking about the country and its future.... Whatever may be our point of view, its nice to see."

Deepika was in the capital to promote her upcoming movie Chhapaak, which is due for its release on 10th January, 2019.


Germany has decided to withdraw some of its troops from Iraq in the latest fallout from the US airstrike that killed Iranian general Soleimani. Around 30 german soldiers that were stationed in Baghdad and Taji as a part of the US-led anti-IS coalition will be moved to Jordan and Kuwait.

Evacuation to begin shortly

According to a German defence spokesperson, the evacuation will begin shortly. Germany has in total 415 soldiers deployed as a part of the anti-IS coalition and 120 of them are stationed in Iraq. Germany's decision to withdraw troops comes after the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution that asked the government to end its agreement with the United States-led coalition.

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday said that the only reason Germany was in Iraq because it had the mandate to be there from the Iraqi government and its parliament. And if that mandate was no longer present then Germany no longer has a reason to be in Iraq and that point should be immediately clarified with those in charge in Bagdad.

Read: Donald Trump Warns 'Iran Will Never Have A Nuclear Weapon' After It Pulls Out Of 2015 Deal

Read: Iran: Man Announces $80 Mn Bounty On Trump's Head After Soleimani's Killing

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, France's President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson released a joint statement on Sunday urging Iraq not to jeopardise the coalitions battle against Islamic State. In related news, top Pentagon leaders on Monday that the United States has no plans to withdraw troops from Iraq, despite a draft letter from a senior military officer that appeared to suggest plans for withdrawal were underway. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters the US is moving forces around Iraq and neighbouring Kuwait. He said a draft letter circulated internally by a US Marine commander was a poorly written honest mistake that should never have gotten out.

Read: Iran Foreign Affairs Minister Javad Zarif Responds To Trump's Threat With Protest Pictures

Read: US Defense Secretary Esper Says No Decision To Leave Iraq

The draft letter appeared to suggest the US was preparing to pull troops out of Iraq in response to a vote by the Iraqi Parliament over the weekend. The draft said troops would be repositioning over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement." and warned of an increase in helicopter travel around the Green Zone. It added, We respect your sovereignty decision to order our departure.
Iraq's outgoing prime minister said Tuesday that the United States has no alternative and must pull its troops out of the country, or else face an impending crisis, as the remains of a senior Iraqi militia commander killed in a US drone strike was brought to Iraq from Iran for burial.

Adel Abdul-Mahdi, who resigned in November amid mass anti-government protests, said Iraq wants a US troop withdrawal to avoid further escalation as tensions soar between American and Iran.

His comments came just days after the US airstrike killed Iran's top general, shortly after he arrived at Baghdad's international airport. Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, senior Iraqi commander of an Iran-backed militia, was also killed in Friday's strike. His remains were brought back to Iraq from Iran to be buried in the holy southern city of Najaf.

Thousands of mourners followed the procession from the border, chanting America is the great Satan." We have no exit but this, otherwise we are speeding toward confrontation," Abdul-Mahdi said in a prerecorded televised speech following a weekly cabinet meeting.

He said the historic decision was necessary, otherwise we will not be taken seriously."



US troops are present in Iraq based on a request by the government in 2014, when vast swathes of the country were being overrun by the Islamic State group. But now that IS has been largely defeated, Abdul-Mahdi said, the mission has devolved into a US-Iran proxy war.

Iraq was barely starting to recover from the devastating four-year war against IS when mass protests erupted in October against the country's ruling elite, forcing Abdul-Mahdi to resign two months later. He hasn't been replaced.

Referring to the fight against Islamic State extremists, he said: Iraq did its part to fight in the war, and I see that any harm to Iraq will be harmful to all regional states and the whole world.

Iraq's parliament passed a non-binding resolution to request that the government expel foreign troops from the country on Sunday, in the wake of the US airstrike. The vote was pushed by pro-Iran political factions but appeared to have the support of Shiite lawmakers from rival camps.

The session was boycotted by Kurdish and many Sunni lawmakers who opposed the decision or took issue with elements of the resolution.

Though the death of Soleimani is stoking broader regional tensions and fears of more violence, in Iraq, the killing of al-Muhandis drove a wedge between Iraq and the US.

Officials in Baghdad consider the strike to be a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, as al-Muhandis, who was also the deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Forces, was assassinated on Iraqi soil without their approval or knowledge.

The PMF is an umbrella group of mostly Shiite militias and a component of Iraq's armed forces.

Politically in Parliament, there is cross-bloc support (to oust US troops), said Sajad Jiyad, managing director of Bayan Center, an Iraqi think tank.

Even people nominally pro-US, anti-Iran or neutral are not happy with what the US has done, and believe its a dangerous escalation. The common denominator is this was an infringement on sovereignty, he said.

Al-Muhandis' remains had been taken to Iran for DNA testing. They were sent back through the Shalamsheh border crossing to his hometown of Basra in southern Iraq before being transferred to the holy city of Najaf for burial late Tuesday.

Thousands of mourners in Basra's city center gathered to receive the body. Many waved banners of the Kataeb Hezbollah, or Hezbollah Brigades, that al-Muhandis founded. The US has blamed the group, which is separate from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, for a rocket attack in northern Iraq in late December that killed a US contractor. That prompted the airstrike last week.

Amid threats of vengeance from Iran, the US-led military coalition in Iraq had said it was putting the battle against IS militants on hold to focus on protecting its own troops and bases.

A letter leaked to social media from the commander of the US task force to Iraqi military authorities has also caused confusion among officials over the US intentions to withdraw militarily.

A letter from Brig. Gen. William H. Seely III to his Iraqi counterpart dated Monday had said the US-led coalition would be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement.

Many media outlets initially reported that was formal notice that the US was withdrawing forces on Iraqi soil.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper later clarified to reporters that there was no plans for American. troops to leave Iraq. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the letter had been an honest mistake. Abdul-Mahdi responded that Iraqi authorities had thought the letter was legitimate when it was received, and were blindsided when US officials said it was sent in error.

"After four to five hours it was said that the letter was wrong, Abdul-Mahdi said. The letter clearly indicates a withdrawal. So in the future, what should we do if we get such a request? We should check if it is authentic or not? If we are late, then they will tell us that we are late," he said.

The prime minister's office had immediately sent the letter to the Iraq foreign minister and Iraq's ambassador in Washington and other parties, Abdul-Mahdi said. An initial Arabic translation of the letter had contradicted the English version, he added, and another copy was then resent.

We have to hold discussions in order to reach the best ways for a withdrawal, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
'With the big political job done, the time has come to pay attention to the economy, which is the main problem now,' argues T C A Srinivasa Raghavan.

Between May 2014 and November 2016 the Modi government was in continuity mode and everyone complained that it wasn't going fast enough.

After that it has adopted 'bash on regardless' mode, which has sometimes been hugely disruptive.

Whether it was demonetisation or GST or triple talaq or Article 370 or the latest amendment to the citizenship law, the government has chosen to force change in a series of sudden and massive strokes rather than gradually.

Even the JNU fee hike was massive -- which is tenth in the order of smalls -- from Rs 20 per month for a single room to Rs 600!

To understand this behaviour, we perhaps need to understand what the Germans call zeitgeist and, simultaneously, the push exercised by a government's political benefactors.

To see why and how, go back to 1969.

In July that year, Indira Gandhi had split the Congress party and was running a minority government with the help of the Communist Party of India.

To please them, she nationalised 14 of the biggest banks in India.

Then she abolished privy purses, via which the rulers of non-British India were promised a monthly stipend in return for joining the Indian union.

She said she was abolishing privilege.

Between 1971 and 1973, she nationalised the coal industry.

Her coal minister Mohan Kumaramangalam was a former Communist.

In 1973, she even nationalised the grain trade.

Mercifully this lasted only for a few months.

The foreign oil companies were also nationalised between 1974 and 1976.

All this was Disruption with a capital D. India hadn't seen anything like it.

The reason why I have two explanations for why governments sometimes disrupt so massively.

One is elemental, the other is tactical.

The latter requires the government to please someone whose support is critical to survival.

Or someone who provides the ideological moorings of the ruling party.

But for this to succeed the first should already have happened, namely, a massive change in the zeitgeist or the spirit of the times.

A good politician senses this when it happens and exploits it.

Indira Gandhi detected the hankering for redistribution of wealth that had developed by the late 1960s, and capitalised on it.

In that sense, it is important to understand that the problem of massive disruption is not caused by the government alone, but the mood of the country itself when it changes.

The correct question to ask, therefore, is why a new mood comes about, and whether it is the politician who creates the new mood or the new mood that creates the politician.

For instance, until the end of the 1960s, neither socialism, nor the self-conscious secularism we see now was very evident on political platforms.

No one talked very much about these things.

In fact, any attempt to use these ideas as a political tool was intensely disliked and dismissed by the people.

Those who insisted, like the Jana Sangh, were regarded as nuts who were best ignored.

The Jana Sangh's electoral performance till 1989 is witness.

So what changed? As I said earlier, the most important driving force at the end was the Congress party's dependence on the Communists.

Together, these two hugely exploited the spirit of the times in favour of redistribution and India became overtly socialist.

In 1976, Indira Gandhi even inserted the term 'Socialist' into the Preamble of Constitution.

She also inserted secular.

The driving force

I think something like the change in mood that happened vis-a-vis Socialism has now happened with Secularism also.

Whatever the proximate and longer-term reasons for it, Indians are now overtly non-secular.

But political bargains aren't always one-sided.

By 1974, a huge economic crisis, together with her brute majorities in Parliament and assemblies, had both forced and enabled Indira Gandhi to discard the Communists as she no longer needed them.

She was able to stabilise and consolidate the economy after that, albeit in Socialist, shortage mode.

Compare this to the present.

In just seven months into its second term, the Modi government has pushed through everything that it and its ideological partner want -- triple talaq, abolition of Article 370, and the new Citizenship Act.

But now, with the big political job done, the time has come for it to pay attention to the economy, which is the main problem now.

In probability theory, this is called variable change, meaning you change the variable if you can work out that doing so will stack the odds in your favour.

Indira Gandhi used it with great success. Now Mr Modi too. In fact, he must.

She nationalised. He must de-nationalise.
Several teams of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) arrived at the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday to collect evidence in connection with the violence in the varsity campus that injured 34 people, sources said.

Teams from Physics, Chemistry and Biology divisions of the FSL were in the university, they said.

The Physics team will collect evidence such as rods and stones used by the masked mob to attack students and teachers at the university, while the Chemistry team will collect samples of chemicals, if there are any. The biology team will collect DNA samples, among other evidence.

A team of photo experts from the FSL was also present at the campus.

Delhi Police has requested the FSL to also send a computer forensics team to analyse CCTV footage and it is likely to visit the university on Wednesday, according to the sources.

On Sunday, a mob of masked young people stormed the JNU campus in south Delhi and systematically targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings. They also attacked a women's hostel



Security has been strengthened in the campus following the violence. Police personnel in large numbers are present on various gates of the university to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.

Police has barricaded the gates and only visitors with valid id cards are being allowed entry.

An FIR has been registered against unidentified people in connection with the violence and the Crime Branch is probing the incident.

The Crime Branch, along with the local police team, had visited the campus on Monday to collect evidence, including CCTV footage.

The agency is rigorously scanning all CCTV footage of the incident and also the video clips uploaded on social media and circulated on WhatsApp, according to police.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Did you know that Hawaii attracts around 10 million visitors each year?

From the tropical beaches to unique activities, it's easy to understand why so many people list Hawaii as their dream vacation destination.

Are you going on a trip to Hawaii soon? Keep reading to learn about 7 of the top things to do in Hawaii so you can create the perfect itinerary.

1. Attend a Traditional Luau

If you're interested in finding fun things to do in Hawaii, you can never go wrong with attending a traditional luau. You'll be treated to a delicious Hawaiian feast and exciting performances. You'll be able to learn how to hula dance and, if you're brave, you could try your hand at fire dancing as well.

2. Go Snorkeling

Snorkeling is one of the best things to do in Hawaii because the warm waters attract an abundance of breathtaking marine life. Since Hawaii is surrounded by water, you can have an incredible snorkeling experience anywhere you go.

3. Explore Hawaii Volcanos National Park

The Volcanos National Park should be at the top of every Hawaii bucket list because it's an unforgettable experience. Here you'll be able to wander through impressive volcanoes and scenic landscapes. You can even take an 11-mile drive around the Kilauea caldera.

4. Cruise Around the Islands

Cruises to Hawaii are the best way to travel for many reasons. While you're on a ship, you'll be able to catch the most beautiful sunset views, spot whales, and get unique glimpses of nature that you wouldn't be able to see on foot.

5. Visit Pearl Harbor

Even if you're not a history buff, you'll appreciate having the opportunity to see one of the most important landmarks in World War II. At Pearl Harbor, you can visit lots of museums, memorials, and landmarks that contain precious artifacts from this era in history. Since Pearl Harbor is located in Oahu, you'll be close to other major attractions to make traveling easier.

6. Hike Through Waimea Canyon

If you want to know cool things to do in Hawaii, you have to add Waimea Canyon to your list. As you hike through this state park, you can see panoramic views of the canyon, waterfalls, lush forests, rainbows, and so much more. Make sure your phone is charged and bring extra cameras because you'll be able to take some of the best pictures during this outing.

7. Shop at Local Markets

No trip to Hawaii would be complete without visiting at least one local farmer's market. Here you'll be able to taste some of the freshest and sweetest tropical fruits in the world. You never know what other hidden gems are waiting to be discovered.

You Don't Want to Miss These Top Things to Do in Hawaii

Now that you know the top things to do in Hawaii, you can start planning the perfect travel itinerary.

Do you want to become an expert globetrotter? Explore our blog to find more helpful travel tips and guides.
GUANICA, Puerto Rico  A 5.8-magnitude earthquake shook southwestern Puerto Rico before sunrise Monday, frightening people out of their beds, cracking house walls and destroying a photogenic beachside rock formation known as Punta Ventana.

The natural wonder in the town of Guayanilla, shaped like a round stone window with a stunning view of the ocean, had begun to look vulnerable after smaller temblors started to hit the area a week ago, Mayor Nelson Torres Yordan said. On Monday, he said, it finally fell.

The quake struck at 6:32 a.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was the strongest yet to be felt in the coastal towns west of the city of Ponce that have been trembling for more than a week. The rash of smaller temblors began with three shakes of 4.7, 5.0 and 4.7 magnitude in the space of three hours during the night of Dec. 28-29 and have continued since then, clustered in the same area a few miles offshore.

No one was seriously hurt, Gov. Wanda Vazquez said. Classes at local public schools, which were scheduled to resume Tuesday, were pushed back until Jan. 13 to give inspectors time to check the buildings for damages, she said. The schools will conduct earthquake drills the day that they reopen, the governor added. At least one school building in the town of Guayanilla was being used as a shelter Monday afternoon.

Jose Francisco Benitez, 48, said he was awakened by the quake at a beach resort in the town of Guanica, where some of the most serious damage was reported.

It started shaking a bit, but then, all of a sudden, we felt a jolt  Id never seen anything like it, he said. Everything shook.

He said he ran outside in a panic, along with everyone else. There were people in their underwear in the parking lot, everyone in pajamas, little kids, Benitez said. It looked like a movie.

A strong, 4.9-magnitude aftershock struck about four hours after the big quake, rattling nerves again.

Officials warned of possible mudslides and urged people to stay off the roads in the area to allow emergency personnel to assess the damage.

Monday is Three Kings Day, a holiday in Puerto Rico that is also known as the Feast of the Epiphany. Towns in the area went ahead with holiday parades Monday, though some attendees said they felt jittery. Benitez, who had traveled to Guanica for the long weekend, said he planned to quickly return to San Juan, the capital.

Several houses in Guanica were reported to have collapsed.

Supporting columns crumbled underneath Silvestre Aliceas elevated light green house with white trim, leaving the toppled structure perched at a precarious angle.

Look at my house, said Alicea, 66, who returned to Puerto Rico from New York City two years ago, moving in to the house he had built over the course of 30 years in preparation for his retirement. I was there, in there, he said.

Many of the houses in the Esperanza neighborhood where he lives were built elevated on columns to spare them from floods, on an island more accustomed to the threat of hurricanes than of earthquakes. Aliceas house survived Hurricane Maria in 2017 but not the quake Monday.

He said he planned to spend the night at his sisters house nearby, but could not think further into the future. I dont know what Im going to do, he said.

Early Monday afternoon, Hector Luis Rodriguez, 83, sat in his car, still paralyzed with fear following the quake and its aftershocks. His house had already been patched up with a blue tarpaulin after the hurricane. The tarp is still there. Now, so are huge cracks running up and across the green interior walls.

It cracked open everywhere inside, said Rodriguez, a retired bus driver.

The first cracks inside the house, where he has lived for 39 years, appeared a few days ago, after the first temblors. They worsened Monday and pipes in the bathroom broke, leading to some flooding.

I worry that Im going to be homeless, he said. Minutes later, the earth rumbled again.

In Guayanilla, emergency workers helped a couple and two children whose elevated house collapsed, burying three cars that had been parked underneath. The man who lived inside, identified only by his first name, Alan, described to NotiCentro the harrowing moment in which the earth trembled, waking him up as the floor gave way.

The house fell with us in it, he said, standing outside barefoot with two bloody scratches on his leg. The house collapsed, Boom! 

He picked up one of his children, his wife grabbed the other one, and they made their way out the door. The house had stood on 12 columns about 8 feet tall. The automobiles below appeared to stave off a complete collapse of the roof, he said.

Were alive, thank God, because of the cars, he said.

His wife said they would be unable to salvage the Three Kings Day gifts they had purchased for the children  a pair of bicycles, stowed in the trunk of one of the cars. The interview was dramatically interrupted by the strong aftershock, which made the woman and the reporter scream and rush off camera to a safer side of the street, away from power lines and poles.

Torres said the town planned to open a shelter for people whose homes were too badly damaged to occupy. He urged the islands government in San Juan to send social workers to the region to ease peoples nerves.

Things are really very tense about what has been going on, because this is not normal  so many tremors, he said.

Elizabeth Vanacore, a seismologist with the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, said people felt the recent quakes because they were shallow and occurred near land.

People can expect to feel more earthquakes over the next few days, especially given its location near the coast, Vanacore said.

Puerto Rico lies near the border of the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates.

Were just as likely to have earthquakes as a place like California, Japan, New Zealand, Alaska, Vanacore said.

The island has seen damaging quakes in the past, including one near the islands northwest coast in 1918 that triggered a tsunami and killed 118 people, according to the Geological Service. But major earthquakes in the southwestern part of Puerto Rico have been unusual in recent history. The last significant temblors recorded in that area, in 1991 and 1999, had a magnitude of about 4.1 on the Richter scale, according to the Seismic Network, whose data dates back to 1986.

While we cant predict earthquakes, what the public can do is prepare, Vanacore said.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
France has warned the US that the European Union (EU) will retaliate if Washington goes ahead with a plan to levy tariffs on French luxury products in response to its imposition of a digital tax on high-tech companies such as Google.

The warning came as a consultation period in the US on the proposed 100 percent tariffs on French products such as champagne, handbags and cheese, announced in early December, draws to a close.

In a letter to US Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer on January 3, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said that if the US were to decide to impose trade sanctions against the EU over the French Digital Services Tax, it would deeply and durably affect the transatlantic relationship at a time when we need to stand united.

The proposed sanctions were highly disproportionate and their impact on French companies and workers would far exceed that of the digital tax on US companies, he continued.

He noted that France was in contact with the European Commission and other EU member states on the issue, and that they were contemplating the various options to defend our trade rights in a proportionate and determined manner, as we have in the past.

France is not the only EU member state involved. The Italian parliament has passed legislation, effective from the beginning of this year, similar to the French measures. It imposes a 3 percent levy on revenue for companies with more than 750 million in global revenue. The UK government of Boris Johnson has also indicated it is looking to impose a similar tax, and Austria and Turkey are considering setting their own levies.

The conflict arises because digital companies such as Google and Facebook, while deriving considerable revenue from their international operations, pay very little tax in those countries because their profits are recorded in the US.

The issue is the subject of negotiations, including the US, being conducted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on a new uniform international tax regime.

In the interim, the French government said it would impose a levy to capture some of the revenue generated in France in advance of the uniform scheme coming into effect. It added that if its tax collections were above what was finally agreed upon, it would refund the difference.

But the OECD process appears to have been effectively overturned by decisions made in Washington in early December. USTR Lighthizer issued a 93-page report on the French tax and said he was considering retaliation against what he said was the growing protectionism of European countries that unfairly targets US companies.

In his letter, Le Maire said the current French tax did not discriminate against US companies, was compliant with World Trade Organisation rules, and would be withdrawn once agreement was reached under the OECD on an international tax system.

However, in a letter to OECD Secretary-General Jose Angel Gurria on December 3, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin cast considerable doubt on whether the US would continue to participate in any meaningful manner in the OECD process to devise a new tax agreement.

He said the United States firmly opposed digital services taxes because they had a discriminatory impact on US businesses and were inconsistent with current international tax rules, which tax net income rather than gross revenue.

The outlook of the administration was expressed more crudely by President Trump, who told a news conference in early December that he did not want France taxing American companies. He declared, People take advantage of American companies. If anyone is going to take advantage of our companies, it is us.

In an interview on the US business channel CNBC on December 3, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the French tax move stemmed from its envy of the US grip on high-tech services and innovation.

Europe doesnt have the real high-tech champions and real e-commerce champions that we have, he said. Theres a tremendous amount of jealousy about that.

Ross countered the claim by French President Emmanuel Macron that the tax was not an anti-US move. Its hard to say that it wasnt designed as an anti-American move, he said. The criteria, whether designed deliberately or not, essentially include only American companies.

In line with these more bellicose pronouncements, Mnuchins letter effectively undermined the whole OECD approach.

He said the US side had serious concerns about departures from long-standing pillars of the international taxation system upon which US taxpayers (that is, corporations) rely. However, these concerns could be addressed if the proposed OECD measures were made a safe harbour regime.

This would mean that US firms could choose the regime under which they are presently taxed, effectively spiking the OECD approach for a unified system.

Replying to Mnuchin on December 4, Gurria noted that to a large degree it was US tax reform that set the agenda within which the OECD had advanced, and that it was Mnuchins personal involvement and his interventions at G20 meetings that steered the international community away from seeking a narrow digital solution and moved us beyond the tax rules as they currently stand.

He emphasised that the OECD proposed a unified approach, without which there would be no conditions for achieving a consensus. While the letter was couched in diplomatic language, it made clear that, as set out in the Mnuchin letter, the US had changed the entire framework of the negotiations with its proposal for an opt-out tax regime.

Gurria wrote that throughout the extensive consultation processwe had not come across the notion that the OECD system could be a safe-harbour regime. This concern was being raised, he continued, because it may impact the ability of the 135 countries that are now participating in the process.

The office of the USTR is set to hold a public meeting on the tariffs on French goods today, and it will continue to collect public comments until January 14, after which, if neither side backs down, the conflict over the digital tax is likely to become, in the words of the Financial Times, a wider transatlantic trade war this year.
[January 07, 2020] NCSolutions Celebrates 10 Years of Advancing Advertising Effectiveness

NCSolutions (NCS), the leading advertising effectiveness company for CPG brands, is celebrating a decade of achievements. Amid the unprecedented seismic shifts in the consumer and technology landscape over the last decade, the company's proven approaches to audience targeting, advertising campaign measurement, and in-flight optimization have delivered exceptional results for its customers. NCS has impacted more than $25 billion in client media spend and expanded industry knowledge through extensive R&D into how advertising works. As NCS launches into its second decade, it has been rolling out next-generation technologies, remaining committed to the company mission to improve the effectiveness of advertising across all media. Since inception, NCS has focused on solutions that allow advertisers to understand the impact their advertising campaigns have on revenue. This approach empowered publishers to use sales outcomes as a way to differentiate their inventory and validate their delivery. In doing so, the company altered the way marketers and publishers demonstrate the value of their campaigns and advertising solutions. Ultimately, over the years, NCS has led a transformational industry shift from solely measuring upper funnel metrics (such as audience reach) to recognizing that measurement should be inclusive of sales outcomes. "What was initially a revolutionary idea 10 years ago-the ability for an advertiser to connect the dots from an ad campaign's exposure to resulting in-store sales-has become much more of an industry standard today," says Linda Dupree, CEO, NCSolutions. "NCS has always been at the forefront of marketing effectiveness and as we look into the next 10 years, continuously innovating our closed-loop advertising solutions remains at the center of our priorities." Founde as a Joint Venture





NCS was founded as a joint venture between Nielsen and Catalina. The company combined data sets from each parent company, and then layered proprietary data science methods powered by a team of experts. The resulting one-of-a-kind solution has helped CPG advertisers make the clear connection between their campaign strategies and in-store sales. "NCSolutions is a valuable part of the extended portfolio for both parent companies, which enthusiastically stand behind our investments. The Board of Directors is especially excited about what's on the NCS roadmap and looks forward to seeing the company reach new milestones in the years ahead," said Karthik Rao, Chair of the NCS Board.

What's Next in 2020?

2020 brings with it the development and delivery of new NCS solutions that provide near real-time insights across the product portfolio. NCS invests in cutting-edge technologies and R&D-machine learning and advertising effectiveness studies-key pillars that keep its customers at the forefront of marketing effectiveness. Notable Achievements Over The Decade Embracing machine learning models to deliver faster and deeper insights for measurement campaigns and audience targeting. Google (News - Alert) was the first to take advantage of this NCS capability.

to deliver faster and deeper insights for measurement campaigns and audience targeting. Google (News - Alert) was the first to take advantage of this NCS capability. Proving the long-term influence of advertising . In an industry-leading study, NCS showed how targeting and creative work together to drive short-term sales growth and long-term loyalty.

. In an industry-leading study, NCS showed how targeting and creative work together to drive short-term sales growth and long-term loyalty. Illuminating how advertising works . A landmark NCS study identified the five key drivers of advertising effectiveness - reach, targeting, recency, creative, and context - and how to quantify the impact of advertising on sales. This research also explained why it's critical for brands to separate the advertising effects of creative-in-context and media.

. A landmark NCS study identified the five key drivers of advertising effectiveness - reach, targeting, recency, creative, and context - and how to quantify the impact of advertising on sales. This research also explained why it's critical for brands to separate the advertising effects of creative-in-context and media. Measuring incremental Sales Effects across multiple media including digital (video, mobile, social and banner), TV (linear, OTT, and addressable), magazines (primary and secondary), radio and CRM.

across multiple media including digital (video, mobile, social and banner), TV (linear, OTT, and addressable), magazines (primary and secondary), radio and CRM. Leading the way on cross-media responsiveness measurement. With its proprietary cross-media synergy approach, NCS helps brands quantify the lift when consumers are exposed to advertising in multiple platforms. ABOUT NCS

NCSolutions (NCS) makes advertising work better. Our unrivaled data resources powered by leading providers combine with scientific rigor and leading-edge technology to empower the CPG ecosystem to create and deliver more effective advertising. With NCS's proven approach, brands are achieving continuous optimization everywhere ads appear, through purchase-based audience targeting and sales measurement solutions that have impacted over $25 billion in media spend for our customers. Visit us at ncsolutions.com to learn more. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005790/en/

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Markets have become so accustomed to a surplus of oil in the global market that they are not as worried about tensions in the Persian Gulf region as they once were.

Oil has become a broken barometer for gauging Middle East tensions, said Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, an investment bank. It now only reacts after something seismic happens.

Ms. Croft said the markets had largely ignored the steps Iran had taken to respond to the reinstatement of American economic sanctions by the Trump administration. The United States and Saudi Arabia have said Iran was behind naval mines that damaged oil tankers and was behind an aerial attack on key facilities that temporarily cut Saudi oil production by more than half. These moves were apparently intended to demonstrate that Tehran would make it difficult or impossible for American allies like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to export oil if the Trump administration hemmed in Iranian exports.

I do not know how anyone can be sanguine about Irans disruptive capabilities after that drone/cruise missile attack, Ms. Croft said. Saudi Aramco, the national oil company, managed to restore production remarkably quickly, but Ms. Croft said it was not clear that the company would be able to respond as fast to future attacks.

Analysts also say the drone strike on General Suleimani in Iraq may well worsen an already tumultuous political environment in that country. The killing has already sent ripples including calls from the Iraqi Parliament and government for the United States to withdraw its troops. Those in turn drew threats of sanctions from President Trump.

Iraq is the second-largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries after Saudi Arabia, and its oil fields have been largely unaffected. But there would be serious consequences if the turmoil spread to those fields, analysts say. For instance, the prolonged loss of half of Iraqs exports, which amount to close to 4 percent of world supplies, could propel prices toward $90 a barrel, Mr. Tonhaugen said. And Iraq might not have the backup systems and other safeguards that allowed the Saudis to recover from the September attacks.

Mr. Tonhaugen and other experts are skeptical that Iran would resort to the worst-case type of scenario by trying to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 18 million barrels a day of oil is transported. Occupying much of the eastern side of the narrow strait, the Iranians can easily tamper with ship traffic there, but analysts are skeptical that they would do more than seize or target the occasional vessel, as they have in recent months.
The regime's assault on northern Syria has forced over a million people to flee their homes resulting in a humanitarian catastrophe reports Zaman Al Wasl.

The Syrian regimes 2019 Idleb offensive pushed 1,294,558 from their homes in a region of three million people, the Syria Response Coordinators group said Saturday.

The relief group sent a humanitarian plea to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the Security Council, and members of diplomatic missions on the Security Council, urging them to stop the assault on northern Syria.

In the latest round of violence in Syrias nearly nine-year-long war, Russian-backed forces have upped their deadly bombardment of the northwestern opposition bastion of Idleb in recent weeks.

The United Nations has warned of the growing risk of a humanitarian catastrophe in the Idleb region, which lies along the Turkish border.

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 Idleb in late August after months of deadly Russian and regime bombardments that killed around 1,000 civilians.

But sporadic clashes and bombardments persisted throughout the autumn before a spike in violence in the past month, the Observatory says.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
(Natural News) Its been almost 20 years since the infamous 9/11 terrorist attacks took down the Twin Towers, Building Seven, portions of the Pentagon, and some dirt in an empty field in Pennsylvania. And there are still so many holes in the official story that its a true head-scratcher trying to make heads or tails of what actually happened that fateful day.

In his book JFK-9/11: 50 Years of Deep State, French author Laurent Guyenot unpacks many of the conflicting details between what the mainstream media told us took place and what the evidence actually shows. In one particular chapter of the book entitled, Ghost planes, Guyenot addresses the mystery of the four supposedly hijacked planes, none of which actually come with any actual proof that they even existed.

Writing on his blog, economist Paul Craig Roberts highlights how theres not even a trace of evidence to show that any planes actually crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, or that field in Pennsylvania, although an unburnt passport was allegedly found in the ruins of two massive buildings.

While we heard plenty from the families of the victims who perished inside the Twin Towers, there wasnt even a peep from the families of the victims who were inside these alleged planes, the supposed wreckage of which basically vanished after the tragedies occurred.

Besides all of the questionable video footage that easily could have been doctored, there was no twisted metal, no dead bodies, no nothing to be found in any of the wreckage  at least none that was ever presented to the public that might have verified the legitimacy of the official story, assuming its in any way true.

According to Guyenots investigative reporting for the Ghost planes chapter of his book, only five of the alleged casualties of American Airlines flight 77 have relatives who received the 9-11 Compensation Fund offered by the State. Oddly enough, he adds, no family of the victims of Flight UA93 requested compensation.

Go ahead and look for yourself  you wont find ANY legitimate evidence of crashed planes at the scenes of 9/11

This is a startling anomaly when you really stop to think about it because surely at least one of them would have asked for their piece of the compensation pie, right? But because none of them did, there remain more questions than answers as to whether or not these planes were even real to begin with.

The other problem that further compounds the mysterious lack of physical evidence surrounding these ghost planes is the fact that the government already had a narrative in place to explain away who committed this atrocity, even before the buildings had stopped smoldering, which is highly suspicious.

No one expected President Kennedys assassination or he wouldnt have been riding in a convertible. Yet it was instantly known that Oswald was the assassin, Guyenot writes in another chapter of his book entitled, The Art of the Patsy.

The explanation for 9/11 was also instantaneous. It was CIA-asset Osama bin Laden, who was dying from renal failure and no longer useful to the CIA.

In the Ghost planes chapter, Guyenot further details the circumstances surrounding each of the alleged plane crashes, and the total lack of evidence present at each of the alleged crash sites. In every location, reporters, photographers, and others are on record as stating that they witnessed no actual plane wreckage, suggesting that the official narrative is a total farce.

You can read this chapter in its entirety at PaulCraigRoberts.org  it begins part of the down the page after Roberts personal commentary.

You can also read more about government deception and narrative trickery at Deception.news.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

PaulCraigRoberts.org
The Calcutta High Court Tuesday directed the Centre to file an expert report on resuming work of the East-West Metro corridor in the city's Bowbazar area where an acquifer burst during tunnelling work caused huge land settlement leading to the collapse of several buildings in August last year.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice TBN Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee directed the Centre to submit a report by its experts after the West Bengal government told the court that its disaster management department does not have expertise in such matter.

The Centre was directed to submit its report on the feasibility of resuming tunnelling work using tunnel boring machines at the affected area in central Kolkata by February 7, when the matter will be taken up for hearing again.

The high court had earlier asked the state government to file a report by its experts on whether work can be resumed at the site.

The court was hearing a PIL seeking termination of underground drilling for metro tunnels in congested areas. The PIL has also challenged the provisions of Metro Railway (Construction of Works) Act, 1978.

Two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) were deployed to dig two parallel tunnels for the underground East-West Metro, when the accident in Bowbazar happened involving one of these on August 31, 2019. Several buildings in the congested area collapsed or developed cracks, leaving hundreds homeless.

The KMRC, which is executing the East-West Metro project, has told the court that work for 9.8 km of the 10.9- km-long underground tunnel has been completed for the corridor.

Tunnels have been bored under the Hooghly river to connect the twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah through the rapid transit system, spanning a length of 16.6 km from Howrah Maidan to IT hub Sector V in Salt Lake.

The new corridor passes through some of Kolkata's most-congested areas dotted by many century-old buildings, several of which are in a dilapidated condition.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 17:30:20|Editor: Wang Yamei

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COLOMBO, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka received 1.9 million tourists last year with over 240,000 visiting during the month of December, statistics from Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) showed on Tuesday.

India, China, Britain, Russia and Australia were the top five markets for Sri Lanka tourism last year with Chinese tourists numbering over 167,000.

In December alone, over 16,000 tourists visited Sri Lanka from China, the SLTDA said.

"The initial projection for the year 2019 was 2.5 million tourists but it was revised due to the Easter Sunday tragedy last April," the SLTDA said in a statement.

Sri Lanka is aiming to attract two million tourists this year and 10 million tourists annually within the next five years, Tourism Minister Prasanna Rataunga said here recently.

The island country's tourism industry has emerged as one of the largest growing foreign exchange earners since the end of the civil conflict in May 2009.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said here last week that his government will introduce a systematic program to attract more tourists this year as it is a sector that can be swiftly developed.

"This sector, which earned 4.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, has space to grow to one that can earn revenue in excess of 10 billion U.S. dollars within the next few years. We will introduce a systematic program to achieve this," President Rajapaksa said.
The Bay Areas first Indian restaurant to focus on live-fire cooking is slated to open in Palo Alto on Jan. 10.

Its a new location of San Franciscos Rooh, the Chronicle Top 100 Indian restaurant from Vikram and Anu Bhambri and executive chef Sujan Sarkar. The team has been busy, opening Roohs in Chicago and New Delhi in 2019. The Palo Alto location, however, is the only one centered on an open-fire grill.

The focus here is going back to our roots, Vikram said. Indian culture has been very ingrained with using live fire for cooking.

During the teams travels through India, theyve seen live fire or charcoal grills used differently in various cities from New Delhi to Kolkata (whereas tandoor ovens in the U.S. are generally gas-powered). Sarkars goal is to merge those diverse traditions with the Bay Areas seasonal ingredients in a 4,300-square-foot space inspired by havelis, old Indian mansions with an open feel.

Inside the 100-seat restaurant, diners will be able to see cooks in the open kitchen place kebabs on the large, custom-built grill, which includes a rotisserie and smoker. About 60 percent of the menu will come from the grill.

Most of the charcoal cooking in India is focused on meat: chicken and lamb. In Palo Alto, its going to be much more, Sarkar said, citing beef, pork, fish, seafood and vegetables as all destined for flames. The flavors are going to be Indian  not just from east, west or any specific region, but from all over.

Each kebab will have its own marinade, spicing, sauce and accompaniments, so a meal full of kebabs shouldnt feel repetitive. Sarkar said hes excited to bring Middle Eastern touches to some dishes, inspired by the Mogul Empires influence on Indian kebabs. A chicken kebab, for example, will feature cinnamon and orange with a pistachio dukkah sprinkled on top.

Beyond the kebabs, the menu will feature other new-to-Rooh dishes, such as a small salad of green chickpeas and a chaat of charcoal-roasted Indian sweet potato finished with tamarind. A tandoor oven will cook flatbreads, including naan and kulcha. Sarkar noted different sauces, condiments and pickles to go with various dishes, including a prawn pickle thats popular in Mumbai. A few San Francisco favorites, including butter chicken and dahi puri, will carry over to Palo Alto, too.

Kelly Puleio

As with the San Francisco Rooh, the Palo Alto restaurant will put serious effort into its cocktails, built around the tastes of Ayurveda. There will be nine specialty cocktails, named after regional Indian slang and inspired by those specific regions. Some will also take advantage of the kitchens grill: One drink channeling Kolkata features bourbon, smoked pineapple juice and mango ginger.

Rooh will start out with dinner service before eventually adding lunch and brunch. After that, Sarkar hopes to also offer a kebab-oriented tasting menu, served at a table positioned right in front of the grill surrounded by a decor dominated by pastel pinks, greens and tans in contrast to the bold blue-and-gold palette of the San Francisco location.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Even though its under one brand umbrella, each one has its own unique identity. There are things that blend together but we want to make sure we dont turn into another chain restaurant, Vikram said.

After opening two new locations last year, the team plans to take a breather before looking for more expansion opportunities. While the focus has been on Rooh, the owners also have a restaurant in New York called Baar Baar, which they might bring elsewhere in the future.

Rooh Palo Alto. Opening Jan. 10. 5-10 p.m. Tues.-Thurs. and Sun., 5-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 473 University Ave., Palo Alto. 650-800-7090 or www.roohpaloalto.com

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
Why would the Left spend so much time and effort on a cause (impeachment) that its members know has less than a 5% chance of succeeding? The answer is that impeachment is not their real agenda. This spectacle has two primary objectives  and both are about obstructing President Trump from getting re-elected in 2020.

First, Democrats are concerned that the president can rightfully claim several accomplishments under his watch (e.g., a booming economy). They are desperate to minimize the chances of him adding any other new successes to his resume.

Since any administration has limited bandwidth, the first rationale behind the impeachment effort is to keep the President and his administration focused on defending his prior actions anywhere (Russia, Ukraine, etc.). The longer they can string out these distractions, the less chance there will be for the president to achieve additional accomplishments (e.g. with China, North Korea, Iran, immigration, etc.).

Second, the Democrats know that elections are won in the middle. The impeachment hearings are intended to sow seeds of doubt in independents and other moderates.

Let's say you have a neighbor you've been friends with for over ten years. Today, you find out that he has just been arrested. Although our legal system is "innocent until proven guilty," typically, that isn't most people's thinking process.

Although your friend vigorously denies the charges, that does not erase all your doubts. Instinctively, you know that even the most guilty criminals profess their innocence.

Your thought would likely be, "the authorities wouldn't be arresting this person unless they had good evidence that he's committed a crime." So despite 10-plus years of positive experiences, seeds of doubt are immediately sown. Even if your friend is subsequently proven innocent  a year later  the damage has been done.

That's exactly what the Democrats are hoping to convey to independents and other moderates. Ninety-nine percent of the population has little interest in (and scant comprehension of) the machinations of foreign policy. Most people couldn't find Ukraine on a map. The impeachment hearings are all about instilling doubt about the president.

So what should the president do? There are two simple strategies that (surprisingly, so far) his advisers have not effectively employed.

First is to take the high road. He should not take the bait and get drawn into a slugfest with anti-American characters. The predictable result of ignoring this advice is "When you sleep with dogs, you'll wake up with fleas."

Second is to use his bully pulpit and make a speech to the entire country. (It's unfathomable why he has not utilized this more.) If he says the right thing, in the right way, he has the power to radically change the conversation. (If his aides need suggestions, I've already drafted such a speech.)

The bottom line is that this is not some political tempest in a teapot. Our democracy, our prosperity, our sovereignty, our freedoms  i.e., America  are all at stake here.
CHESANING, MI  The ReLEAF Center in the Village of Chesaning on Wednesday will become the first marijuana dispensary to sell recreational products in Saginaw County.

The dispensary, which received its adult-use marihuana retailer license from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in December, will begin selling recreational marijuana at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8. The dispensary is located at 144 W Broad St. near the Saginaw Street intersection.

The selection and supply of recreational products is limited at the moment, said manager George Pittenturf. Five strains of flower and 9 varieties of concentrate will be available for non-medical customers Wednesday. Pittenturf said hes excited to finally be able to sell recreational products to customers, many of whom have called or came in to ask about them.

Were all really excited, Pittenturf said. Were giving people what they voted for, were making history... this is something that shouldve happened, its been coming for a long time.

The ReLEAF Center also has branches in Lapeer and Niles.

Read more:

Chesanings ReLEAF Center opens as Saginaw Countys first legal recreational marijuana store

Michigan recreational marijuana sales surpassed $1.7 million last week

First recreational marijuana sales in Bay County begin at Roots Provisioning

Saginaw bans recreational marijuana shops for a year, blocks medical marijuana
He has been enjoying a sun-soaked Saint Barts holiday with his wife Nancy Shevell.

And Sir Paul McCartney was spotted taking another dip in the azure waters of the French Caribbean island on Monday afternoon.

The Hey Jude hitmaker, 77, donned a bright pair of red swimming trunks and a long-sleeved black top for his afternoon swim.

Workout: Sir Paul McCartney went for another dip in the azure waters of St Barts on Monday

He could be seen floating on his back in the water before running across the surf to reach his towel.

The Beatles legend has been keen on his swimming sessions during his getaway at the popular island, where temperatures reached 86 degrees Fahrenheit this week.

It comes several weeks after Paul serenaded his wife during a surprise performance at a party in New Jersey back in November.

Fitness: The Hey Jude hitmaker, 77, donned a bright pair of red swimming trunks and a long-sleeved black top for his afternoon swim

Favourite colour? The Beatles legend has been keen on his swimming sessions during his getaway at the popular island, where temperatures reached 86 degrees Fahrenheit this week

Drying off: Paul dried off as he strolled along the beach with his towel, patting his face as he walked along the sand

Energetic: Paul waded through the water during his session in the water during his luxurious Barbados getaway

Adorable: It comes several weeks after Paul serenaded his wife during a surprise performance at a party in New Jersey back in November

Musician Paul delighted guests with a performance of the 1963 Beatles hit I Saw Her Standing There at the party, held at Hudson House in Jersey City for the New England Motor Freight (NEMF) company.

In a video captured by one of the guests, Paul threw of his jacket before breaking into a rendition of the classic tune, with Nancy and the guests singing along in unison.

Another video also showed Paul dancing with Nancy and the rest of the guests to the Beyonce hit Crazy In Love.

Making a splash: Paul ran through the waves, sending a flurry of water out from around his feet as he made his way back on to the beach

Done: As he reached his towel the star appeared to breath heavier while recovering from the sudden burst of energy

Motivated: He ran through the sea and onto the dry sand after spending some time making the most of his proximity to the water while on his holiday

Happily married: Paul and Nancy Shevell tied the knot on October 9, 2011, exchanging vows at London's Old Marylebone Town Hall register office

Love life: Glamorous Nancy is an heiress to a haulage fortune and is Sir Paul's third wife after Linda McCartney died in 1998. He divorced second wife Heather Mills 10 years later, in 2008

Well-paced: Paul kept up his run until he reached his towel, heading out of the crystal clear water at speed

The party in honour of NEMF's staff was held at Hudson Hous.e, which is based at Port Liberte and overlooks the Hudson River and the Statue Of Liberty.

Nancy, who celebrated her 60th birthday last week, is an executive for NEMF which is owned by her family, and is believed to have hosted the bash.

Paul and Nancy tied the knot on October 9, 2011, exchanging vows at London's Old Marylebone Town Hall register office.

Glamorous Nancy is an heiress to a haulage fortune and is Sir Paul's third wife after Linda McCartney died in 1998. He divorced second wife Heather Mills 10 years later, in 2008.

Success: Paul hugged into his red towel as he strolled along the beach
Nordic tourists travelling to the GCC from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland, are expected to generate an estimated $810 million in travel and tourism revenue by 2024, according to data published ahead of Arabian Travel Market 2020, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from April 19-22.



The latest Colliers International research, commissioned by Reed Travel Exhibitions, the organiser of Arabian Travel Market, predicts the UAE will witness the highest growth, with total tourism spend by Nordic visitors projected to reach $718 million by 2024, an increase of 36 per cent when compared with figures from 2018 and tourism spend per trip to reach $2,088.



Building on this, Saudi Arabia is expected to witness the second-largest increase followed by Bahrain, with total Nordic tourism spend estimated to reach $86,670,000 and $53,000,000 respectively, by 2024.



Danielle Curtis, exhibition director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: The Nordic countries outbound tourism market has experienced incremental growth over the last five years, with 50.5 million overseas visits made by residents during 2018 alone."



And, with Nordic citizens enjoying one of the highest average incomes in the world and being amongst the worlds highest spenders while travelling abroad, the GCC is looking to capitalise on their spending power over the next five years.



Adding to this, ATM is witnessing this growth first-hand with the number of delegates, exhibitors and attendees interested in doing business with these countries increasing by 35 per cent between 2018 and 2019.



Looking at Nordic outbound tourism figures, arrivals from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland to the GCC will increase 23 per cent over the period 2018 to 2024, driven by an increasing number of new and direct flight routes, relaxed visa requirements and the vast number of unique travel experiences that the region has to offer.



Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia have been popular destinations for Norwegian business tourists for many years due to their joint interests in the oil industry, while for Swedish, Icelandic, Danish and Finnish tourists, the UAE and wider GCC region offer year-round sunshine allowing them to escape the constant mid-winter temperatures of below freezing.



According to the Colliers data, approximately 383,800 Nordic citizens will travel to the GCC in 2024, with Swedish tourists leading the number of arrivals, totaling 191,900. Visitors from Denmark will follow with 76,700 arrivals, closely followed by Norway, Finland and Iceland with 62,800, 47,200 and 5,200 arrivals, respectively.



Curtis said: The UAE will continue to be the preferred GCC destination for Nordic tourists, welcoming a projected 342,200 tourists by 2024. Saudi Arabia and Oman will follow with 17,300 and 16,500 respectively, while Bahrain will welcome 7,000 and Kuwait 800.



Driving this demand in the UAE, Emirates currently operates direct flights to Norway, Denmark and Sweden and last year introduced a direct flight to Iceland, following the closure of low-cost Icelandic carrier WOW air. Meanwhile, Norwegian Air operates direct flights between Oslo and Dubai five times a week and flydubai has direct flights between Dubai and Helsinki in Finland.



ATM, considered by industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism sector, welcomed almost 40,000 people to its 2019 event with representation from 150 countries. With over 100 exhibitors making their debut, ATM 2019 showcased the largest ever exhibition from Asia.



Adopting Events for Tourism Growth as the official show theme, ATM 2020 will build on the success of this years edition with a host of seminar sessions discussing the impact events have on tourism growth in the region while inspiring the travel and hospitality industry about the next generation of events. - TradeArabia News Service
[January 07, 2020] PCMS Announces Rebrand to Flooid

CINCINNATI, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PCMS, a leading retail commerce software provider, today announced a complete company rebrand to Flooid. PCMS is one of the largest independent commerce platform providers to the retail industry, with customers including Walgreens, Shoppers Drug Mart, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and David Jones. PCMS software is active in more than 150 retail brands, 60 countries and 300,000 selling points worldwide. The company has long been regarded as an industry leader in resilient, scalable point-of-sale software architecture and rich store applications. Flooid has evolved from a rich PCMS heritage to better serve retailers looking to deliver customer engagement across multichannel, multi-vertical operations. The Flooid Basket follows individual customers, not channels, allowing retailers to offer seamless, personalized customer experiences across any vertical, device or location, meaning shoppers receive a consistent experience online or in-store. The new Flooid name, logo and brand visuals reflect a modern, fluid way of shopping, as well as the ability of retailers to embrace no limits innovation using Flooid's technology. Flooid's wider offering also includes: Flooid App Suite

Out-of-the-box tools for Point-of-Sale, Mobile, Inventory, Self-Checkout and more.

Out-of-the-box tools for Point-of-Sale, Mobile, Inventory, Self-Checkout and more. Flooid Digital

Digital tools for Personalized Offers, Omnichannel, Mobile, Basket, eCommerce and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Digital tools for Personalized Offers, Omnichannel, Mobile, Basket, eCommerce and the Internet of Things (IoT). Flooid Cloud

A choice of elastic cloud partners allowing retailers to maintain data sovereignty, stay secure and only pay for the capacity they use.

A choice of elastic cloud partners allowing retailers to maintain data sovereignty, stay secure and only pay for the capacity they use. Flooid ERP

Swift integration of Flooid to existing ERP systems, often in a matter of hours.

Swift integration of Flooid to existing ERP systems, often in a matter of hours. Flooid Managed Services

A range of services including hosting, database management and 24/7 Service Desk. Flooid's expanded network of collaborators includes Intel, Microsoft and HP. Flooid and Intel are revolutionizing the retail experience by giving retailers the ability to allo the 'basket' to follow the customer through the shopping journey. Flooid and Intel are collaborating to allow retailers to introduce new transaction types and store capabilities including Click and Collect, Endless Aisle and Personalized Offers. Flooid is proud to be a member of Intel's Open Retail Initiative (ORI); a collaborative effort to accelerate iteration, flexibility and innovation at scale, and is working with the EdgeX Foundry to give retailers a faster path to innovation. With Intel and Flooid every touchpoint can be a transaction, and every customer experience a discovery. Find out more at Intel's booth at #4637 at NRF 2020.



Shelley Bransten, corporate vice president of worldwide, consumer goods and retail industries at Microsoft, said: "As the retail industry continues to transform, retailers must provide a seamless journey across all channels. Using the Microsoft Azure cloud platform as its foundation, Flooid enables retailers to provide a 'common basket' that follows shoppers wherever and whenever they want to shop. By putting consumers at the center of everything, Flooid will help retailers to strengthen their brand, unlock new revenue streams and ultimately transform their business for the future." "The key to success in a multichannel world is choosing flexible, reliable companies that work seamlessly together," said Aaron Weiss, vice president and general manager, Retail Solutions, HP Inc. "With our longstanding relationship with PCMS, we're delighted to be taking the next steps forward with Flooid."

Flooid customers are already leveraging Flooid's open platform, allowing third party applications to access complex basket calculations and promotions, price, product and tax data. For over 150 years, the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has provided the best products and premium service to consumers across the UK, and comprises two cherished retail brands, Waitrose & Partners (grocery) and John Lewis & Partners (omnichannel retail). Today, JLP uses the Flooid platform for the EPOS solution across both brands. To meet growing customer demand for a seamless omnichannel experience, Waitrose & Partners connected their eCommerce and self-scanning solutions to the Flooid Core store basket microservices, a platform that connects the online journey with mobile solutions and fixed tills in 340 physical stores with the help of Flooid, ensuring customers have a consistent basket and pricing experience across online, mobile and in store. With JLP looking at synergies across the two retail brands, Flooid and JLP are collaborating to help identify opportunities and maximise value from the Waitrose & Partners Checkout & Payment solutions, including Flooid Core basket capabilities. "We've built one service that includes the basket pricing system, which is then used by our self-scan solution to look up prices, which is also used by our customers on our eCommerce platform. You build a service once and make it as efficient as possible for use in many places with consistent pricing data. We wouldn't have been able to do that without Flooid's capabilities," said Matt Clifton, Partner & Head of Retail Change & Development, Waitrose & Partners. Flooid CEO Tony Houldsworth said: "Many retailers are concerned about new entrants and the rise of disruptive retail. They find themselves stuck with siloed systems, so they're unable to provide consistent customer experiences across channels. Innovation is difficult, risky and costly. "With Flooid none of that is an issue. They can thrive, and even become disruptors themselves." Flooid Chief Digital Officer Tanya Bowen said: "Flooid's basket microservices deliver deep, resilient basket functionality across any sales channel, from POS to mobile, and across all retail verticals. "The basket can be either cloud-based for elastic scalability or distributed to run on fixed devices such as fixed POS registers  crucial for high volume and high scale store environments. "This gives retailers what they need most; freedom to innovate, freedom to lower cost of ownership and freedom to deliver high-value, personalized, fluid experiences to their customers  at scale." ++ Flooid will be unveiling its new brand at NRF 2020 in New York from January 11th to 14th. Visit booth #5737 for a Flooid experience including interactive customer journey and software demonstrations. Flooid and HP Inc.

HP is reinventing the customer experience with technology solutions that empower employees and engage customers. Flooid software, combined with industry-leading HP hardware, is reinvigorating the way employees can interact with customers in-store. Find out more at HP's booth at #4255 at NRF 2020. About Flooid

The Flooid platform delivers deep and resilient basket functionality across store and online sales channels. With high levels of multi-vertical capability, Flooid handles the sales operations for some of the world's most complex grocery, specialty, fashion and food and beverage retailers in their POS, self-checkout, mobile, eCommerce and social environments. Flooid is designed to handle both the high levels of throughput and resilience that a store demands, and the hyper-scalability required for mobile and online sales. With its powerful API set, developer toolkit and the growing community of partners, Flooid enables retailers to tap into the massive ecosystem of start-ups, innovators and IOT technologies to remove the limits of their innovations. For more information about Flooid please visit https://www.flooid.com/ Media Contact:

Flannery Higgins, [email protected]

Dan Dyer, 513-478-7818 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pcms-announces-rebrand-to-flooid-300982302.html SOURCE PCMS; Flooid

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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Jetour, Chery Holdings sub-brand, announced its 2019 sales totaled 138,032 units, while the sales in December stood at 20,007 units, up by 46.6% year on year.

The brand has sold 178,039 vehicles in 16 months since the launch of its first model, the X70, in 2018 August. The X70, boasting two variants, contributes 90% of the total sales with over 120,000 units sold in the whole year of 2019. At Jetours year-end communication meeting, Li Xueyong, general manager of the brands marketing center, said the brand targets 20,000-unit monthly sales and 200,000 units in 2020.

To achieve the target, the Chery-owned brand will expand its product lineup. It is expected to roll out five midsize SUV modelsthe X70 Coupe, the X79M, the new X70S, the 2020 X90 and the 2020 X95. Besides, Jetour has deployed more than 1800 shops, including 403 smart showrooms, to acquire and maintain the attention from customers. Taking advantage of its competitive features and price, the brand commits itself to gaining market share in the second- and third-tier cities or towns with dense population.

At the beginning of 2019, ten Chinas authorities jointly issued a plan for a steady growth in consumption and the auto consumption is a priority. One suggestion for it is bringing autos to the countryside. In response to the policy, apart from Jetour, independent brands such as SAIC Roewe, FAW Besturn and Haval, and joint ventures like SAIC Volkswagen, FAW-Volkswagen, Dongfeng Nissan and Changan Mazda have entered the markets in cities below the third tier and rural areas. According to Jetour's official website, it will also offer price discounts for customers returning to their hometown (photo source: Jetour's WeChat account).
As 2020 approached, we faced one of the wildest political moments in decades: A historically crowded Democratic primary, an impeachment and an unpredictable president. And that was all before an American airstrike killed a top Iranian commander and upended the Middle East.

Yeah, its going to be that kind of year.

Expect January to be dominated by the three Is  Impeachment, Iran and Iowa. With so much going on in Washington, on the campaign trail and across the globe, we thought it was time to inaugurate a new newsletter feature: a Monday Mailbag.

Yes, I know weve been asking you for your questions about politics for months. And while weve responded to many of you individually, we havent always been exactly diligent about answering all of them.

Well, New Year, New Newsletter! Our crack researcher Isabella Grullon Paz went through hundreds of your emails and came up with a few questions that seemed to resonate for several readers. (Some have been condensed for space.)
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Former NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg has purchased a 60-second commercial slot during Foxs broadcast of Super Bowl LIV next month, a rare move for a presidential campaign given the plus-size cost for advertising on TVs most-watched show.

A rep for Bloombergs campaign confirmed that it decided to launch a one-minute commercial during the Super Bowl after learning that Donald Trumps re-election campaign had booked its own 60-second spot which was reported by Politico. The Trump campaign later confirmed on its official Twitter account that it had purchased the ad time.

The biggest point is getting under Trumps skin, Michael Frazier, a spokesman for the Bloomberg campaign, told The New York Times, which first reported the ad buy. The ad is part of Mikes strategy of running a national campaign that focuses on states where the general election will be decided, parts of the country that are often overlooked. Frazier did not say how much the campaign spent on the ad, only that it was market rate, according to the Times.

Mike Bloomberg Buys a 60-Second Super Bowl Ad for $10 Million

A rep for Fox did not respond to a request for comment. Typically, the network that airs the Super Bowl does not divulge who buys ad time for the big game.

Also Read: The Super Bowl Has Generated $3.6 Billion-Plus in Ad Revenue in the Past 10 Years

Fox had previously stated that 30-second commercial spots for the Super Bowl were going for north of $5 million, which would put Bloombergs ad buy at more than $10 million.

The Super Bowl will be held Sunday, Feb. 2. The first primary is set for Feb. 3 with the Iowa Caucus, followed by New Hampshire on Feb. 11, Nevada (Feb. 22) and South Carolina (Feb. 29). The Super Bowl is annually watched by more than 100 million viewers (though last years game fellow below that mark on TV).

The first week of Bloombergs candidacy included more than $30 million in TV ads from Nov. 25-Dec. 3, the most ever for most ad dollars ever spent by a political candidate in a single week. It far outpaced the old record of $24 million by Barack Obama during the last week of his 2012 re-election campaign.

Story continues

Bloomberg, a media mogul whose net worth Forbes has pegged at $54 billion, is largely self-financing his long-shot presidential campaign.

Also Read: Why the 2020 Election Will (Briefly) Stem the Tide of Television's Declining Ad Revenue

Political advertising spending is expected to near $10 billion in 2020 (a 63% increase from 2016), with TV looking to get the biggest chunk. The influx of campaign money has led GroupM, the largest media-buying firm, to predict that TV ad revenue will increase by more than 5% in 2020. That $10 billion may only be the tip of the iceberg. By the time we hit Election Day in November, that amount could be much, much higher.

Typically, political TV ad dollars are funneled towards local TV  GroupMs Brian Wieser says maybe half of all political TV ad spending will be on the local level  and targeted towards primary voters, and then later, voters in swing states like Wisconsin, Florida and Ohio. Then you factor in elections on the local level, from Senate and House seats to State Legislatures. But Wieser says the deep-pocketed Bloomberg is taking on a different tactic.

It looks like that campaigns play is to go for Super Tuesday. That means youre going to run ads nationwide, and that means national TV may very well be a primary beneficiary, he said.

Read original story Mike Bloomberg Buys a 60-Second Super Bowl Ad for $10 Million At TheWrap
By PTI

KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar Tuesday accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of a "selective approach" in condemning the assault on JNU students and said the silence of authorities over what happened at Jadavpur University is "painfully worrisome".

Dhankhar, who has been at loggerheads with the TMC government in the state over a range of issues, said there is need for soul searching.

His comments followed Banerjee's condemnation of the attack on JNU students and teachers as a "fascist surgical strike" by the BJP.

"Acts of violence, anarchy in educational institutions is worrisome and should not be tolerated.

The silence of those in authority (who severely condemned JNU violence) over what happened at Jadavpur University a fortnight ago is painfully worrisome," Dhankhar said in a tweet this morning.

Recounting the incident at Jadavpur University in December where his entry was blocked by protestors during the annual convocation, Dhankhar said his position as the varsity's chancellor "was compromised by omission and inaction of state and university authorities".

"Why this selective approach to violence and disruption on JU campus! Fire at home ought to be first priority. Am sure there will be soul searching," he said.
The Madras High Court has ordered a stay on Rajinikanth's film, Darbar that is all set to release in Malaysia. The Malaysian based company named DYM creations approached the court and sought stay as the movie producers Lyca Films did not settle their debt of Rs 23 crores. Hearing the matter, Madras High Court ordered to stay the movie release in Malaysia until the 4.99 crores deposit amount is settled to the company.

READ: Rajinikanth Believes Darbar Will Repeat The Magic Of Other Acclaimed Rajinikanth Movies

Court also said that the film can be released on the same scheduled date if the amount is settled to DYM creations. However, there is no stay for the film in Tamil Nadu or other countries.

About the film:

Darbar is an upcoming Tamil language film. It has been directed by AR Murugadoss and has been produced by Allirajah Subaskaran. The movie is scheduled to hit theatres on January 9, 2020, and stars Rajinikanth in the lead. The team along with Rajinikanth are busy promoting the film.

While interacting with media portals, Rajinikanth claimed that he believes that the AR Murugadoss directorial will repeat the magic of films like Sivaji, Chandramukhi and Robot, all of which are acclaimed south films. Rajinikanth also said at the same event that the kind of love he receives from his fans is overwhelming and that is what keeps him going.

READ: Rajinikanth's Darbar Becomes His 4th Consecutive Film To Get A U/A Certificate

Darbar trailer

According to reports, Rajinikanth's Darbar will release in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi for Pongal 2020. In the one-minute-long trailer, Darbar seems like a perfect commercial film that celebrates Rajinikanth. In the trailer, Rajinikanth is shown as a super cop who is dedicated to fighting crime. Actor Suniel Shetty will be playing the role of a villain in the movie. The trailer, which was released in December 2019, has intrigued fans.

READ: Madras High Court To Go Digital On Causelist

READ: Rajinikanth Takes The Promotions Of Darbar To Another Level With A Customised Airplane

Watch below-
UN Chief: Global Tensions at 'Highest Level This Century'

By Margaret Besheer January 06, 2020

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres started off the year with a warning about the geopolitical tensions, which he said are at their "highest level this century" and continuing to escalate.

"Even nuclear non-proliferation can no longer be taken for granted. This cauldron of tensions is leading more and more countries to take unpredicted decisions with unpredictable consequences and a profound risk of miscalculation," Guterres said.

While he did not directly mention the situation between Washington and Tehran since a U.S. drone strike killed a top Iranian military official who was visiting Iraq, it was clear it is high on his mind.

"I have been following the recent rise in global tensions with great concern," he said. "I am in constant contact with leading officials around the world. My message is simple and clear: Stop escalation. Exercise maximum restraint. Re-start dialogue. Renew international cooperation."

The U.N. chief has been a strong supporter of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and has repeatedly urged the parties to adhere to it.

Meanwhile, in Paris, Iran's ambassador to the U.N.'s Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, met with the director-general to discuss President Donald Trump's threats that the U.S. military would strike targets in Iran, including sites of cultural heritage, should Iran retaliate against Washington for killing General Qassem Soleimani.

The UNESCO chief emphasized that such an action would violate existing international conventions, as well as a 2017 U.N. Security Council resolution which condemns acts of destruction on cultural heritage.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Istanbul on Wednesday on a working visit, where he will participate in the launch ceremony of the TurkStream gas pipeline, the Kremlin press service said on Tuesday, TASS reports.

"On January 8, Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a working visit to Turkey (Istanbul) to attend the launch ceremony of the TurkStream gas pipeline," the statement said. It also said that Putin will hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss issues of further development of Russian-Turkish cooperation and urgent international issues, including the situation in Syria and Libya.

Earlier, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin and Erdogan would meet in early January 2020 and participate in launching the TurkStream gas pipeline.
The Chinook Indian Nation rallied Monday afternoon in advance of a court hearing that could determine whether the Pacific County-based tribe can reapply for official federal recognition.

Tribal members and supporters gathered in Tacoma to rally in advance of a 3 p.m. hearing in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.The hearing continued late into the afternoon and a report was not available before press time.

The hearing could determine whether the tribe can seek federal recognition after its recognition was revoked in 2001 by George W. Bushs administration. Tribes who have applied for recognition have been denied the right to reapply.

In August 2017, the tribe sued the U.S. government in the Ninth Circuit of the U.S. District Court for its right to reapply as well as asking for funds guaranteed to the tribe in 1970 that have never been awarded.

That case is ongoing in the Western Washington U.S. District Court. On Nov. 26, the tribe asked Senior U.S. District Judge Ronald Bruce Leighton to rule on the case.

Federal recognition means the U.S. government acknowledges that tribes have sovereignty and rights to self government. It also entitles tribal members to receive certain federal benefits, services and protections.

In a post on its Facebook page, the tribe asked for people to bring drums, prayers and voices to Tacoma Monday to support the cause of recognition.

During our oral arguments hearing on May 8, 2018, tribal members and supporters of Chinook Indian Nation filled the courtroom, courthouse atrium and the street in front of the courthouse. It is our plan to bring an even bigger crowd this time. It is extremely important that Judge Leighton sees that our case has support behind it and the decisions he makes affect people, said the post.

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Destressing the patient payment and billing experience, balancing accelerating cash and reducing bad debt, and the ROI of RPA and AI automation are among the topics to be examined at the HFMA Western Symposium, to be held January 12-15, 2019, at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. Nick Fricano, chief executive officer for Healthfuse, a leader in supporting hospitals to more effectively source and manage revenue cycle vendors, will moderate a January 13th discussion of revenue cycle trends with hospital revenue cycle leaders.

The complexity of revenue cycle grows exponentially as the demands of value-based care, pricing transparency, and the patient financial experience takes center stage, says Fricano. Bringing revenue cycle leaders together to discuss these challenges, promises to provide actionable strategies for attendees to apply to their organizations.

In addition to moderator Fricano, other panelists are:



Brad Cook, chief revenue officer, Presbyterian Healthcare Services

Gerilynn Sevenikar, vice president revenue cycle, Sharp Healthcare

Rick Lyman, senior vice president enterprise revenue cycle management, Memorial Hermann Health System

Shaun Ronan, system vice president, Health First

Over the course of 2019, Healthfuse conducted in-depth reviews of 451 vendors and identified $86 million in recurring revenue opportunity for new clients and $186 million for existing clients. With more than $30 billion spent annually on revenue cycle vendors, the market demand for performance-driven, tech-enabled revenue cycle management in 2020 is expected to grow at a rapid pace.

About HealthFuse

Healthfuse works with 150+ hospitals and health systems to provide revenue cycle vendor management services that reduce cost and increase collection performance of revenue cycle vendors. Its automated auditing solution for all hospital account collection provides clients with a 24/7 approach to improving the efficiency of all vendor functions and processes by eliminating variability. Healthfuse guides hospitals and health systems as they create a viable, sustainable revenue cycle vendor structure that increases outputs and saves money. Find us here: healthfuse.com. Follow us here: LinkedIn, Twitter

About HFMA Western Symposium

The 22nd Annual HFMA Western Region Symposium is the Largest HFMA event, next to the Annual Conference, in the country. It includes Regions 10 and 11 of the nations HFMA chapters. With more than 49,000 members, the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) is the nation's premier membership organization for healthcare finance leaders. HFMA builds and supports coalitions with other healthcare associations and industry groups to achieve consensus on solutions for the challenges the U.S. healthcare system faces today. Working with a broad cross-section of stakeholders, HFMA identifies gaps throughout the healthcare delivery system and bridges them through the establishment and sharing of knowledge and best practices. We help healthcare stakeholders achieve optimal results by creating and providing education, analysis, and practical tools and solutions. Our mission is to lead the financial management of healthcare.
HOUSTON, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Coloradan Jessica Watkins will join the rest of NASA's first class of astronaut candidates to graduate under the Artemis program, for a graduation ceremony and media opportunity Friday, Jan. 10, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

After completing more than two years of basic training, she will become eligible for spaceflight assignments to the International Space Station (ISS), Artemis missions to the Moon, and future missions to Mars.

The ceremony will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website. The new graduates also will be available for in-person and remote media interviews following the ceremony.

To participate, media must submit requests for credentials and interviews to Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. Those following the briefing on social media may ask questions using #AskNASA.

The class includes 11 NASA candidates, as well as two Canadian Space Agency (CSA) candidates, selected in 2017. The NASA candidates, including Watkins, were chosen from a record-setting pool of more than 18,000 applicants. The CSA candidates have been training alongside their NASA classmates.

Watkins was born in Gaithersburg, Maryland and now calls Lafayette, Colorado home. She graduated from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, with a bachelor's degree in geological and environmental sciences, then went on to earn a doctorate in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Watkins has worked at NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology, where she collaborated on NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity.

All astronaut candidates have completed training in spacewalking, robotics, ISS systems, T-38 jet proficiency, and Russian language. At the ceremony, each candidate will receive an astronaut pin, marking their graduation from basic training and their eligibility to be selected to fly in space.

As astronauts, they'll help develop spacecraft, support the teams currently in space and ultimately, have the opportunity to join the ranks of only about 500 people who have had the honor of going into space. NASA continues its work aboard the space station, which is preparing to mark the 20th consecutive year of humans living onboard in November 2020. The agency also is on the verge of launching Americans from American soil aboard commercial spacecraft and is preparing to send humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis program.

Find additional photos of the astronaut candidates and their training here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/albums/72157698260056092

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


After years of austerity, disinvestment, and abandonment, it is time for stakeholders and developers to commit to Philadelphias neighborhoods. Imagine more jobs with living wages, affordable housing, parks, and green spaces. These are some of the promises of community benefits agreements (CBAs).

Mayor Jim Kenney exercised six pocket vetoes last week, killing bills that were approved by City Council. One such bill sought to establish guidelines for CBAs around high-impact projects," with impact defined by how much space the project will disturb and/or take up.

Kenney provided a reasonable explanation for his veto, writing of CBAs: 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 [registered community] organizations.

He was right: The proposed legislation needs time and refinement to ensure that the regulations truly promote development without displacement. Ultimately, the city needs developers to invest in the long-term health and wellness of the communities around their projects.

CBAs create the structure for neighborhood stakeholders to have genuine discussions about the benefits and harms due to development. In the last year, community processes have started for several developments leading to agreements that truly benefited residents.

 READ MORE: Post Bros. promised to hire more minorities to work on their buildings. Heres how theyre doing. | Inga Saffron

Last year, Post Brothers agreed with local community organization Richard Allen New Generation to provide 10% of the construction jobs to the West Poplar neighborhood, with half the jobs committed to people of color and women. Theyve so far lived up to that promise, and further supported 25 West Poplar residents education at Orleans Technical College. Requiring a geographical hiring preference for individuals in surrounding neighborhoods directly impacted that community.

More broadly, anti-displacement groups like the Philadelphia Tenants Union and Philadelphia Coalition for Affordable Communities have gained momentum in recent years to push back against development-related harms. While developers have profited from Philadelphias hot real estate market and policies like the 10-year tax abatement, renters have been evicted on a large scale.

Dozens of residents were evicted from housing complexes in recent years, including Penn Wynn Manor in Northwest, along with the Arvilla and Dorsett and Admiral Courts in West Philadelphia. As of 2018, more than 20,000 evictions were filed against Philly renters each year.

We know that the costs for evictions and disruptive displacement go to the individuals and the citys budget. Individuals lacking stability in their living arrangements face social costs: mental health issues, trauma, family separation, job loss, and chronic illnesses. These costs can never truly be accounted for properly.

Still, community benefits agreements can provide some accountability for developers to the communities in which they are entering. Public processes can be messy, but they are necessary. Everybody in this city belongs in this city. We cannot simply remove our neighbors and replace them. We must mitigate harms related to rapid development with community benefits that lead to permanent affordable housing and an increase in wages for the surrounding community.

Its good that this bill didnt go forward, so that the city can develop something better. The stipulations should mandate that CBA agreements specifically require developers to help vulnerable Philadelphians in affected communities attain basic necessities, like food, quality housing, and income, that remain unstable for many.

We must use any and all tools to support investment in neighborhoods that were abandoned during periods of white flight and the War on Drugs. Racism and classism are not just relics like past restrictive covenants and redlining that deliberately segregated the city. We must also combat current predatory lending or reverse redlining  singling out minority homeowners for more expensive and riskier loans  that has stolen black and brown wealth. The City just settled with Wells Fargo last month for $10 million based on such predatory loan practices. This figure is not nearly enough to recoup a familys heartbreak from losing what they believed was an investment in generational wealth.

Community benefits agreement are about creating conditions for long-term investment, collaboration, and harmony in Philadelphias neighborhoods. Lets hope there is more discussion in the next Council session to make them a common and understood practice fully committed to inclusion  especially of people with disabilities, renters, low-income households, people who are unhoused, youth, and single heads of household with children.

Sterling Johnson is lawyer and advocate in Philadelphia working for housing rights, focusing on the rights of people experiencing homelessness and of those who use drugs.
GDPR hovers over the continuing standoff between a government department and the Data Protection Commission, writes Cianan Brennan.

You get the impression that neither side in the ongoing battle between the Department of Social Protection and the Data Protection Commission (DPC) for our data has any real clarity about where theyre currently headed.

Last Friday, the department confirmed that it has officially appealed an enforcement notice delivered by the commissioner in December regarding the findings of illegality made by the DPC against the public services card (PSC) all the way back in August.

So, four months later, were exactly where we presumed we would be when Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty first stated they would be challenging the DPCs findings on September 3.

How and why has it taken us this long to get here?

We can start by considering what we know for certain, although doing so doesnt entirely explain what is happening.

Probably the most significant thing to occur over the past four months was the decision by multiple other departments and agencies to rescind the PSC as an obligatory requirement for their services.

The other most noteworthy, if intangible, thing about the extended period of time before the DPC finally took action was the lengthy nature of that time period itself  a delay that assuredly did not go unnoticed in the corridors of power.

We can infer two things from the above.

Firstly, the Government as a whole was in no way comfortable enough with the legality of the PSC to leave it as a compulsory requirement for sundry important public services; and secondly, there were and are problems with enforcement.

What are those problems?

Well, while were now firmly in the era of GDPR, and have been since May 2018, the PSC probe began some timebefore that date, and was carried out under the auspices of the prior Data Protection Acts of 1988 and 2003.

This is more understandable when you remember that the whole project wasnt supposed to take anything like as long as the two years it did. But the fact remains that the DPCs powers, and the Governments vulnerability, would appear to be more pronounced under the newer law.

We know that the Department of Social Protection, in a strategy that was fundamentally cynical but perhaps understandable, didnt believe that any DPC enforcement would have teethbecause its investigation was carried out under the wrong law.

Given that the acts are no longer operative since the coming into force of the 2018 Act, the department requires clarity as to the precise legal basis for any such enforcement requirement, John McKeon, secretary general for the Department of Social Protection, said in a letter to the DPC on September 6.

We can guess that the DPC must have struggled mightily with enforcement also, simply because it took so long. It contrasts starkly with the confidence with which the findings of the original report were presented back in August. Its certainly not beyond the bonds of plausibility to think that the decision to enforce was made because to not do so would look bad having repeatedly vowed to match the department cut for cut.

Then you consider the manner of the States challenge  a straightforward appeal in the Circuit Court, as opposed to an application for judicial review in the High Court. Speaking to experts ahead of the State taking action, it was broadly expected that the latter would be more likely to succeed as a straightforward challenge to the procedures by which the DPC reached its conclusions.

However, a judicial review could also lead to the precedent of the DPCs every decision being called into question  less than ideal given its heightened role in regulating the many big-data behemoths stationed in Ireland.

Instead, the State has opted for a straightforward legal challenge on matters of privacy law. You might imagine thats a sign that the department was reluctant to go the judicial review route. Except that the Department of Social Protection currently has a live judicial review action (filed last July) against the DPC in motion regarding a decision it made concerning the gathering of data for child benefit provision purposes.

And from the sounds of things, that action isnt going as well as the DPC might like.

Confused? Youre not the only one.

All we can really say for certain is that the process thats now been set in motion is likely to take a number of years, will probably end up before a European court, and will cost the taxpayer in excess of 1m (at least). So its hard to see how either side is in a brilliant position.

But then you remember that the States appeal will comfortably extend the whole interminable saga beyond the shelf life of the current Government (and probably that of a number of senior civil servants who have been up to their neck in the PSC paddling pool for years now). From that point of view the whole shebang makes a lot more sense.

Its important to remember one thing however. The spectre of GDPR hovers above this whole misadventure, like a big binary sword of Damocles.

Even if the DPC were to lose the PSC court challenge, the option to investigate the project under GDPR still remains. And thats a battle the Government seems a lot less likely to win.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 23:02:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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RIGA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Latvian Investment and Development Agency's official Kaspars Rozkalns has won a competition to become the government agency's new head, the State Chancellery said in a statement to the press on Tuesday.

Rozkalns, whose candidacy has been approved by Economics Minister Ralfs Nemiro, is expected to take the helm of the Investment and Development Agency on Jan. 20.

After meeting with the agency's new director, the minister told reporters that one of Rozkalns' key tasks would be to help strengthen Latvia's international competitiveness.

Rozkalns said he planned to develop the agency as an open, transparent and proactive one-stop agency for entrepreneurs seeking business contacts and investment opportunities in foreign countries. In the future, the agency's focus will be on tech companies.

"The future priority is focusing the Investment and Development Agency's work on technology-based enterprises in sectors like biotechnology, bioeconomy, smart cities, smart materials, ICT and global business centers where we can promote and develop businesses, starting from incubation, attract investment and facilitate exports," said Rozkalns.

The Latvian Investment and Development Agency's previous head Andris Ozols resigned last year after 15 years in the position.

The agency's mission is to promote Latvian exports and trade, facilitating foreign investment and implementing tourism development and innovation policies.
The Thane police have reunited a man with his family 20 years after he fled his home in Uttar Pradesh as a 13-year-old, an official said on Tuesday.

The matter came to light during the investigation into the robbery and killing of mobile store owner Jitendra Singh Rajpurohit who was gunned down inside his store at Kalwa town on December 28, senior inspector of the Crime UnitI Niteen Thackre said.

On examining the CCTV footage from the area, the police found that the suspect was moving towards Mahim Dargah, he said, adding that locals also alleged that the person spotted in the footage was one Dilli, who was residing in the locality for the last two years.

The police subsequently tracked down the suspect, who was fund sleeping under a bridge at Vakola in the western suburb of Santacruz, he said.

On interrogation, the suspect revealed his name as Mohammad Ahmad @ Dilli Bashir Shaikh (33) and that he was involved in collecting scrap, Thackre said.

The police subsequently realised that it was a case of mistaken identity and the man was in fact a runaway, who had left his home at Benki in Uttar Pradesh 20 years ago, the official said.

Further probe revealed that the man's elder brother Safique Bashir Shaikh was living in Govandi and after confirmation from the Uttar Pradesh police's task force, the brothers were reunited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Washington, DC - Monday, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key position in his Administration:

J. David Patterson of Tennessee, to be the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness.

Mr. Patterson currently is Senior Vice President of Strategic Business Opportunities at SMA, Inc., and previously served as an executive with Boeing and the National Defense Business Institute at the University of Tennessee. Mr. Pattersons government experience includes serving as Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). Additionally, he was Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Mr. Patterson served in the Air Force as a pilot from 1970 to 1993, where he flew as a forward air controller in Vietnam and retired with the rank of colonel. Mr. Patterson is a graduate of Bethel College, Chapman University and the NATO Defense College.
South Korean President Moon said on Tuesday he regretted the lack of progress in negotiations with North Korea, but vowed to keep trying to talk to the reclusive leader in Pyongyang.

Cooperation programs between the neighbors have stalled amid rising tension with North Korea, which has blocked further public denuclearization talks with the United States and threatened a harder line unless Washington offered concessions.

In his annual New Year's speech in Seoul, Moon said he was "desperate" for practical ways to improve ties, called for new talks between the two sides, and vowed to keep up work to facilitate U.S.-North Korea talks.
RED WING -- When officials at Minnesota State College Southeast opened the doors on the first bicycle design and fabrication program in the nation this fall, they were hoping to find a cohort of enthusiastic students to fill the classes and launch the program. Thats what they got.

"As a new program, we couldnt ask for anything better," said Dawn Lubahn, interim dean of the business, trade and technology department. "We have 17 students in the program, and it is coming out of the gate really strong."

The college hired two instructors, Chase Spaulding and Mike Ford. Spaulding has a masters degree in industrial design from North Carolina State University and is in charge of the design classes, including work with SolidWorks, a computer design program. Ford is a retired ironworker from Red Wing with 44 years of experience in metal fabrication and welding; he teaches part time.

"Chase has a lot of interesting pieces of industry experience," Lubahn said. "He has a unique skill set. He is really fun and brings that to the program."

His talents are not lost on his students.

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"This program is amazing," said Nathan Schmidt, a 2017 graduate of Red Wing High School. "Chase is doing a great job of leading it. I am overall very happy with the way it is going."

Charlie Wright, a retired Delta airline pilot who lives in Stockholm, Wis., said, "They were lucky to find Chase. His background and his capabilities are rare. They are going to have to hire somebody else next year. Chase cant do it all."

The courses are designed to give students a broad background in the skills they would need for bicycle fabrication, but the overall goals go beyond that.

"They are doing something hands-on," Lubahn said. "You have engineering, you have design, you have fabrication, you have experience on SolidWorks. It is all these life skills embedded into that. It is a really transferable skill set."

Spaulding said that the bike industry is one in which employees often must take on many different tasks.

"We are not making engineers. We are not making welders," he said. "We are making people that know how to do all of those things and are competent in them. The industry needs people who can wear multiple hats."

This approach to the program also allows students to have input into the work they choose to do in the classes and where they plan to take the experiences in their futures.

"Because it is all based around the bike, and because it is made of so many different fields, the students get to have a say in it," Spaulding said. "I am not going to have 17 carbon copies walking out the door."

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Ford, who teaches the welding classes, said, "The students are the best part. They show up, they listen, and they deliver. Each one of us has fun and when the fun stops, well collectively change that."

After Schmidt graduated from Red Wing High School, he went to Whitefish, Mont,m where he raced mountain bikes and worked in a bike shop.

"When I heard this program was coming out and it was in my hometown, I had to jump on it and get involved," he said. "I want to get into the bicycle manufacturing industry, whether it be in my own company or working for other people."

Ari Tapper from Deep Haven, Minn., calls himself an avid cyclist. He raced bicycles in high school and at his first college, yet he is one of the students who will take the skills from the bicycle fabrication program and apply them in another field.

"My end goal is aerospace," Tapper said. "What I am really trying to get close to is asteroid exploration mining. Ive always really liked adventures, going farther, going faster, and doing everything better. Thats kind of the next spot."

Signing up to be part of a new program, a program with no previous students or graduates, might be concerning to many students. Tapper took a different view.

"Part of me wondered if this was a good idea," he said, "but another part of me said Im leaving my mark on something. Sign me up."

Wright, after leaving his career with the airlines, saw this program as an opportunity.

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"I am interested in things mechanical," he said. "Ive got a bunch of tools. Tools are easy to buy, but they are not easy to make do things. Thats what I am interested in."

He has also found being a non-traditional student to be an interesting experience.

"Hanging around with a bunch of young guys has renewed my faith in youth. These kids are sharp. I wish I was that sharp."

Wright said he expects many other colleges will be watching the bicycle fabrication program and its results.

"There are a lot of educational institutions that are going to look at this and think that this is probably a good way to do this, because these kids are going to be really hireable," he said. "This might be the first program like this, but it wont be the last."
The Defense Department is sending six B-52 bombers to the Diego Garcia military base in the northern Indian Ocean as preparations for possible military action against Iran move forward.

Pentagon officials told CNN on Monday that the B-52 will be available for operations against the Islamic Republic if ordered into action, though the deployment does not signal a decision has been made about any attack plans.

The United States maintains several military bases in a number of Middle Eastern countries in close proximity to Iran, but it chose to deploy its bombers to Diego Garcia because it is out of reach of Irans longest range missiles, according to the Pentagon.

This is the second time in the last year that the American military has deployed B-52 bomber aircraft to the region due to rising tensions with Iran.

In May, the White House ordered six B-52s to deploy to an American military base in Qatar as well as other bases in southwest Asia after it received reports of alleged threats from Iran.

The Pentagon is deploying six B-52 Stratofortress bombers (like the ones seen in the above stock image) to a military base in the northern Indian Ocean, according to a CNN report from Monday

The strategic bombers were on their way Monday to Diego Garcia, an atoll that is home to a vital US military base

Diego Garcia, which is located about 1,000 miles off the southern tip of India, is more than 3,000 miles from Iran. The Pentagon says the base was chosen as the site where the aircraft will be deployed because it is out of range of Iranian missiles

Unlike US military bases in the Middle East, Diego Garcia is out of range of Iran's most advanced missiles. The map above shows Iranian missile capabilities

Diego Garcia: America's most vital military base in the Indian Ocean Diego Garcia is a British Indian Ocean Territory and the largest of the islands in the Chagos Archipelago about 1,000 miles south off the coast of India The Chagos Islands were colonized by France in the 18th century and African slaves were shipped in to cultivate coconuts. In 1814, France ceded the islands to Britain, which in 1903 merged them with Mauritius, its colony about 1,200 miles to the south-west. In 1965, Britain separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, paying 3million for them. When Mauritius became independent in 1968, the islands remained under British control, and were renamed the British Indian Ocean Territory. In 1966, Britain leased the islands to the United States for 50 years. Between 1968 and 1973, about 2,000 Chagos islanders were evicted. Most were shipped to Mauritius and the Seychelles. Evicted islanders enlisted the help of human rights lawyer Amal Clooney when they took their fight to the Supreme Court in 2015, but the court ruled against them. The secretive military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island, has been dubbed 'the Guantanamo of the East' amid suspicions it was a key staging post in the US rendition and torture program. In 2016, the US lease was extended to 2036. The American presence there can be attributed to the fact that Diego Garcia's location is strategically vital. Diego Garcia has been a launching point for US military actions in the Middle East - including the 2001 campaign against Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The horseshoe-shaped atoll of Diego Garcia (right) measures about 17 square miles. It is surrounded by about 60 other atolls. The coastline of Diego Garcia form a natural harbor, making it ideal to station a naval base there It is also a refueling station for Air Force jets that patrol the South China Sea. Diego Garcia was also designated an emergency landing spot for space missions by NASA. The future of the American presence on the atoll was thrown into doubt earlier this year when a United Nations court ruled that the British illegally seized control of the island. The court, in a nonbinding ruling, said that control over the territory should be returned to Mauritius. Diego Garcia is home to between an estimated 3,000-5,000 American military personnel. There is also believed to be a small number of British soldiers stationed at the site as well as civilian contractors mostly from Mauritius. This satellite image taken in 2006 shows B-52s and KC-135s on the ramp at Diego Garcia These contractors are believed to cook and clean for the soldiers and sailors. The horseshoe-shaped atoll measures about 17 square miles. It is surrounded by about 60 other atolls. The coastline of Diego Garcia form a natural harbor, making it ideal to station a naval base there. Diego Garcia is also a tropical paradise that is home to a significant population of turtles, giant migrating birds, and coconut crab. The US military has long been tight-lipped about Diego Garcia. Unlike the base in Guam, spouses of military personnel are not allowed on the atoll. It was also reported that Diego Garcia was used as one of the CIA's 'black sites' - the secret rendition program in which the Americans interrogated and tortured suspected Islamic extremists. But its most important function for the American military is the airstrip. The runways at Diego Garcia allow US warplanes to freely operate in the skies above Africa to the southwest; the Middle East and Central Asia to the north and west; and the Far East and Asia to its east. Source: Business Insider Advertisement

Diego Garcia is a large atoll that hosts a US military base. The atoll is located about 1,000 miles off the southern tip of India.

A Pentagon official told CNN on Monday that aircraft is being deployed to Diego Garcia this time in order to keep the planes out of the range of Iranian missiles.

The Diego Garcia base is part of the British-held territory of Chagos Islands, which legally falls under the rule of Mauritius.

Mauritius is an east African island country in the Indian Ocean located about 700 miles from the coast of Madagascar.

The Chagos base was constructed after the UK ousted more than 2,000 island natives from their homes and leased the grounds to the US.

The Americans have been using the base for more than 50 years.

Iran, which has vowed revenge against the US for the drone strike which killed the commander of the elite Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, has the capability to reach several American bases, ports, and other installations in the region.

On Twitter, flight trackers noticed that two US Air Force B-52 bombers were over the Atlantic Ocean after departing Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana on Monday

The American military footprint in the Middle East and central Asia includes approximately 14,000 troops in Afghanistan; 13,000 soldiers in Kuwait; 13,000 more in Qatar; 7,000 in Bahrain; 6,000 in Iraq; 5,000 in the United Arab Emirates; 3,000 in Saudi Arabia; 3,000 in Jordan; and 2,500 in Turkey.

There are much smaller troop levels in Syria and Oman, according to The Washington Post.

In total, Iran could conceivably strike at areas that would place more than 55,000 American soldiers at risk.

Its ballistic missile arsenal includes weapons that are very difficult to target because they are either road-mobile or hidden inside highly fortified mountain fortresses, according to The War Zone.

In the event of war between Iran and either the United States or its Sunni Arab allies, the Iranians would only need a few minutes to launch ballistic missiles from subterranean strongholds.

Any conflict with Iran would most likely include a US deployment of its B-2 stealth bomber, though there are no reports indicating that the Pentagon has forward deployed these planes to the region. A B-2 bomber is seen above dropping a GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator

Iran could hit American bases, airfields, and other key sites.

That is why the Pentagon would most likely rely on its fleet of strategic bombers based in Diego Garcia.

If war did break out with Iran, the US has at its disposal machines of war like the B-52 and the B-2 Spirit bombers that can unleash devastating blows.

The Americans would most likely deploy the B-2s to drop precision-guided 40,000-pound 'bunker buster' GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs), which are specially designed to pierce through Irans mountain complexes.

There has been no indication from the Pentagon that it has forward deployed B-2s with Iran in mind.

The deployment of the B-52s comes amid tensions in the region stoked by the killing of Soleimani in Baghdad on Friday.

Iraqs parliament called on Sunday for US and other foreign troops to leave as a backlash grows against the strike.

The B-52 Stratofortress: America's long-range strategic bomber A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress heavy bomber drops bombs in this undated file photo The United States Air Force currently has 76 B-52 Stratofortress bombers in service today. Designed and built by the Seattle-based Boeing Company, the B-52 is a long-range strategic bomber that has been used by the Air Force since the 1950s. It is capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds of weapons while flying at a combat range of more than 8,800 miles without aerial refueling. This heavy bomber is powered by 8 turbofan engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney. Each engine is capable of producing 17,000 pounds of thrust to propel the plane forward in the air. The B-52 also boasts a wingspan of 185ft. Each aircraft has a length measuring 159ft4in. The plane stands at a height of 40ft8in. The aircraft weighs approximately 185,000 pounds. It can take off at a maximum weight of 488,000 pounds. To fly its long-range bombing missions, it needs fuel - a lot of it. Each B-52 has a fuel capacity of 312,197 pounds. The plane is a subsonic aircraft that can reach speeds of 650mph. It can also fly at a top altitude of 50,000ft. Source: Boeing Company Advertisement

President Donald Trump responded on Sunday by doubling down on threats to target Iranian cultural sites if Tehran retaliates.

Deepening a crisis that has heightened fears of a major Middle East conflagration, Iran said it was taking another step back from commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers.

Irans most prominent general, Soleimani, was killed on Friday in a US drone strike on his convoy at Baghdad airport, an attack that carried US-Iranian hostilities into uncharted waters.

Tensions in the Middle East have soard since a top Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani (pictured), was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport on Friday, shocking the Islamic Republic

Iranian state media said 'millions' of people had gathered in Tehran to mourn Soleimani's death in scenes not witnessed since the death of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989

An Iranian government minister denounced Trump as a terrorist in a suit after the US president sent a series of Twitter posts on Saturday threatening to hit 52 Iranian sites, including targets important to Iranian culture, if Tehran attacks Americans or US assets to avenge Soleimanis death.

Talking to reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to Washington from Florida on Sunday evening, Trump stood by those comments.

Theyre allowed to kill our people. Theyre allowed to torture and maim our people. Theyre allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And were not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesnt work that way, he said.

Democratic critics of the Republican president have said Trump was reckless in authorizing the strike, and some said his comments about targeting cultural sites amounted to threats to commit war crimes.

Many asked why Soleimani, long seen as a threat by US authorities, had to be killed now.

Republicans in Congress have generally backed Trumps move.

Trump also threatened sanctions against Iraq and said that if US troops were required to leave the country, Iraqs government would have to pay Washington for the cost of a very extraordinarily expensive air base there.

He said if Iraq asked US forces to leave on an unfriendly basis, we will charge them sanctions like theyve never seen before ever. Itll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (center) leading a prayer as President Hassan Rouhani (fifth right) perform the prayer over the caskets of slain Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Tehran University on Monday

The Iraqi parliament passed a resolution calling for an end to all foreign troop presence, reflecting the fears of many in Iraq that Fridays strike could engulf them in another war between two bigger powers long at odds in Iraq and across the region.

While such resolutions are not binding on the government, this one is likely to be heeded: Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi had earlier called on parliament to end foreign troop presence as soon as possible.

Iran and the United States have been competing for clout in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003 that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.
The killing of Qasem Soleimani unleashed immediate fears of war  even of World War III  but if no further shots are fired, Thursday's airstrikes in Baghdad will nonetheless generate momentous consequences.

The big picture: Iran has lost its best military strategist, and America has eliminated a man it saw as a singularly destructive actor in the region. But the current U.S. concerns aren't limited to where and when Iran will strike back.

What to watch...

1. The U.S. military presence in Iraq has quickly begun to look untenable, both due to the threat of Iranian reprisals and because Iraq appears set to revoke its invitation following the American attack on its soil.

Driving the news: Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley were forced tonight to hastily deny that the U.S. was pulling troops out of Iraq.

That followed the emergence of a letter from Brig. Gen. William Seely informing the Iraqi military that the anti-ISIS coalition would be "repositioning forces" and preparing to move "out of Iraq."

The letter was reportedly delivered to Baghdad, but Milley said it was a poorly worded draft that shouldnt have been released.

It came a day after the Iraqi parliament voted in a non-binding resolution to demand that foreign forces leave the country.

Trump responded by declaring that America would not leave unless it was paid for its extraordinarily expensive air base."

Why it matters: Forcing the U.S. out of the region has been a primary objective of Tehran and Soleimanis personal mission. A sudden U.S. exit would also give ISIS space to rebuild its strength, particularly as the U.S. would likely leave Syria too.

The flipside: International Crisis Group president Robert Malley noted during a briefing with reporters this afternoon that Trump may ultimately embrace this as an opportunity to get out of the Middle East.

2. Irans announcement yesterday that it will now enrich uranium without restrictions  unconstrained by the 2015 nuclear deal  loomed as a possibility ever since Trump withdrew from the deal in May 2018.

But Trump's administration for months expressed confidence that Iran would not get to this point, because that would turn the world  in particular the Europeans  against it.

Few howls of outrage accompanied Irans announcement, though, because the U.S. now looks to many like the aggressor. Iran also tempered some fears by noting it would continue to provide access to inspectors.

While France, Germany and the U.K. expressed concern, theyre still attempting to mediate rather than lining up behind their American ally.

Meanwhile...

3. The Iranian regime is riding a tide of patriotic sentiment just weeks after anti-government protests threatened to rattle its foundations.

of patriotic sentiment just weeks after anti-government protests threatened to rattle its foundations. 4. A deepening crisis with Iran will crowd out other priorities, including a "great power competition" with Russia and China, not to mention ISIS.

will crowd out other priorities, including a "great power competition" with Russia and China, not to mention ISIS. 5. The killing of a top Iranian official in a foreign country could not only put U.S. generals and officials in the Middle East at risk, it will be invoked by various parties in the future to justify assassinations, Malley says.

U.S. and Israeli flags aflame during Soleimani's funeral procession in Tehran. Photo: Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images

State of play: Iran's full reaction is still yet to take shape.

Right now what [the Iranians] are doing is sitting back and accumulating some of the immediate political benefits of what just happened  the vote in the Iraqi parliament, massive demonstrations in Iran and also in Iraq, popular sentiment among the Shiites in Lebanon, strengthening of the Iranian axis and what theyre doing on the nuclear front, says Malley, a former Obama adviser.

At some point, its going to be very difficult for them not to take some type of response, he adds. Then, of course, the ball will be back in President Trumps court.

Most analysts agree that Iran must, in its view, hit back hard enough to assert its strength while aiming to avert a potentially crippling military confrontation with the U.S.

Trump has drawn a clear red line over attacks on U.S. personnel and interests, but strikes on allies like Saudi Arabia have not drawn similar ire. That will only add to the concerns of America's regional partners.

Behind the scenes: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Security Cabinet today that Israel was not involved in Soleimanis killing and must not be dragged into the escalating conflict, two ministers who attended the meeting tell Axios contributor Barak Ravid.

Meanwhile, Barak reports, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urgently dispatched his brother Prince Khalid to Washington today to meet with top officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and urge restraint.

Both Israel and Saudi Arabia deplored Soleimani, but both are also afraid of being targeted by Iran or swept up in a U.S.-Iran war.

What to watch: Israels intelligence chiefs told the Cabinet today that Iran will start developing its retaliation on Tuesday when the period of national mourning ends.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who is close to Tehran, said Sunday that U.S. military assets should be targeted, but not civilians.

Oman and Qatar could both be key to any de-escalation efforts.

The bottom line: Even if the most dire predictions of war don't come to fruition, the impact of Soleimani's death will be felt for years to come.
Secret Keeper: I agree that it is not your place to disclose this to your cousins. However, I agree with you that these adults have the right to know that they have a biological sibling out there. What they might choose to do with this knowledge will be up to them.
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Key Players Operating in The Artificial Organs Market Include:

Key players are involved in mergers and acquisition to strengthen their market position. Owing to increasing competition frequent innovations are taking place in the market. Some of the companies operating the industry are:

Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd

Medtronic

Abbott

Baxter

SynCardia Systems

Jarvik Heart, Inc.

HeartWare

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Value chain analysis

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Geographically, the artificial organs market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is dominating the market owing to the rise in chronic diseases, an increase in acceptance of organ transplant, favorable reimbursement policies, and early adoption of technology. Europe is the second-largest contributor in the market owing to the increased expenditure of healthcare and presence of developed healthcare infrastructure. Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness lucrative growth owing to the rise in geriatric population, increase in healthcare awareness, and government initiatives related to organ transplants.

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Market Segmentation:

By Organ Type

Artificial Heart

Artificial Kidney

Artificial liver

Artificial Pancreas

Others

By Material

Silicone

Plastic

Steel

Biomaterials

By Fixation

Implantable

External

By End Users

Hospitals

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Laboratories and Diagnostic Centers

Research and Academic Institute

Others

By Geography

North America (USA, Canada)

Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia and Rest of Europe)

Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, Australia, Southeast Asia and Rest of Asia Pacific)

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin America)

Middle East & Africa (South Africa, GCC and Rest of Middle East & Africa)

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What is the market size and growth rate of the global and regional market by various segments?

What is the market size and growth rate of the market for selective countries?

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News about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has really been dominating the headlines lately. It seems that no matter what the couple does, it attracts the interest of millions of people, whether it be something as simple as Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry having lunch at a local pub or something more significant such as their holiday plans.

Many fans are well aware of the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been having a pretty hard time in recent months, with Duchess Meghan, in particular, feeling as if she is constantly being attacked in the media. Things have gotten so out of hand, in fact, that the royal couple has stepped away from their duties for a few weeks so that they can have the time to spend out of the spotlight.

It seems to be somewhat working in their favor, and they were noticeably absent when the rest of the royal family made their annual church appearance on Christmas day. However, we have recently discovered that the family isnt exactly happy. So, how is it that Markle and Prince Harry have really disappointed Queen Elizabeth and the royal family?

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are receiving too much negative attention

When Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry got engaged, chances are, she knew that her life would never be the same again. She went from being an actress to suddenly becoming much more famous and constantly being followed by photographers.

Almost overnight, every move that Duchess Meghan made was being criticized. And she had virtually no privacy whatsoever.

It definitely became more than she could handle, with Fox News reporting that although the duchess knew that royal life wouldnt be easy by any means, she thought that it would be much fairer. At one point, Prince Harry expressed concern for his wife and addressed issues regarding her safety.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are taking time away from the spotlight

Just about everyone takes a huge interest in all that the royals do. While this is an inevitable part of royal life, it can really take its toll after a while.

Shortly after they got married, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex went so far as to move away from Kensington Palace in order to escape the spotlight of London. They felt that they could have a quieter life in Windsor, yet things arent exactly working out as planned.

In recent months, it was even being rumored that Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry were planning to leave the United Kingdom altogether. While this hasnt happened yet, there is really no way to know what is being discussed behind closed doors, or what will happen in the future.

According to Vanity Fair, the couple took a much-needed break over the holiday season in order to spend some time together as a family and escape the media circus that has been surrounding them for months on end.

How have Meghan Markle and Prince Harry disappointed Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the royals?

Queen Elizabeth II | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry are doing what they feel is best for themselves and their young son, Archie Harrison, so why are the queen and the rest of the family feeling a bit disappointed with them? According to Cosmopolitan, it is because of the fact that they didnt spend Christmas with the rest of the royals.

Why is this such a big deal? Well, the queen is getting older, as everyone knows. It is true that Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry wanted to spend the holidays with Duchess Meghans mother, Doria Ragland. And thats a totally fair thing for them to do.

That said, it is no secret that Ragland is on good terms with the royals and more than likely welcome to spend the holidays with them. The family feels that Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry should have been at Sandringham  especially on Baby Archies first Christmas  and are sad that they decided to do otherwise.
City goes all out for strategic emerging industries

By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-01-07 17:59

As the new year begins, Shanghai is fully on track to nurture three major strategic emerging industries, in order to further grow its industrial output value.

Since August 2019, the citys gross industrial output value has seen a monthly increase year-on-year, with that increase even hitting 6.5% in November. And the citys industry will gain even more momentum, with the further release of production capacity.

In 2020, Shanghai will expedite the development of three industries: integrated circuits, artificial intelligence (AI), and biomedicine.

The integrated circuit industry will focus on the R&D of core technology and the cultivation of leading enterprises, to continuously optimize the environment for industrial development; in the AI industry, the city will strengthen policy innovation, optimize industrial layout, and open more application scenarios; and in the field of biomedicine, Shanghai will create an industrial cluster for leading enterprises and hidden champions of business, to significantly improve the capability of transferring innovation advantages into industrial advantages.

(Lin-gang Special Area of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone)

Industrial carriers are conducive to creating room for industrial development. Within the year of 2020, around 20 special industrial parks will be built across the city, with a land area of three to five square kilometers each, as a sign of Shanghais attention to strengthening the key links of industrial chains.

Given that Shanghais industrial investment has maintained a double-digit increase for 20 consecutive months, the city will speed up its layout of emerging industrial clusters, where a string of major projects of SOEs (state-owned enterprises), private enterprises, and foreign-funded enterprises are expected to go into operation. More production capacity of the Tesla Shanghai Factory, SAIC Volkswagens MEB (Modularen Elektrisch Baukasten, or Modular Electric Toolkit) plant, and ASMC (GTA Semiconductor) will be released.
To hear some people tell it, House Democrats are like the dog that finally caught the car. Voting to impeach Donald Trump could turn out to be politically suicidal. Essentially because voters turned against Republicans for impeaching Bill Clinton -- the GOP lost five seats in the 1998 midterms, ending the political career of Speaker Newt Gingrich -- conventional wisdom assumes that Democrats will pay a similar price for acting against Trump.

It was suggested that Speaker Nancy Pelosi save herself and her party by offering a motion of censure, thus surrendering to the president's bullying, and to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's vow to hold a purely perfunctory Senate trial, calling no witnesses and rushing to a party-line acquittal.

In this formulation, Pelosi becomes a political battered wife, fearful that impeachment would only make her antagonist more dangerous and inflame his cult-like supporters.

Well, that's not going to happen.

Conventional wisdom regarding impeachment depends entirely upon the Clinton example. "Going back to the 1990s," Josh Marshall points out, "the elite national press, especially in Washington, D.C., was highly, highly invested in the idea that a major scandal would and should bring Bill Clinton down." After one media-hyped Clinton scandal after another fizzled -- remember Susan McDougal in chains? -- catching the big dope with his pants around his ankles excited tout le monde, as they say in Paris: everybody who matters.

But the voting public wasn't buying. Whether titillated or offended, most Americans didn't think Clinton's sins called for impeachment. "The poll data is striking," Marshall explains. "Support for impeaching Clinton never got as high as 30%." What's more, because it was about sex, pretty much everybody with a TV set knew all about it. Republicans forced the issue anyway.

Goodbye, Newt.

Public opinion regarding Trump is very different. The president got angry about a recent Fox News poll showing that fully 50% of Americans favor his impeachment and removal (my emphasis). Another 4% are iffy about dumping him. Given that U.S. policy toward Ukraine is rather less stimulating to most than Oval Office sex, these are remarkable numbers. Given the strength of the evidence, moreover, support for Trump can only go down.

For public consumption, Mitch McConnell acts as if he and Trump have got Democrats exactly where they want them. Regarding an impeachment trial, the majority leader vows to call no witnesses, subpoena no documents and stampede the GOP Senate to a quick and dirty acquittal.

"Everything I do during this, I'm coordinating with the White House counsel," McConnell boasted on Fox News. "There will be no difference between the president's position and our position as to how to handle this to the extent that we can."

A more servile approach to his constitutionally mandated duties would be hard to imagine. Several GOP senators have also announced that they're prepared to ignore their oath of impartiality and vote to acquit the president -- Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham among them. They're not merely willing to declare Trump a king, above and outside the law, they actually brag about it.

It should be noted that Cruz and Graham represent states where authoritarian Trumpism is broadly popular.

Several Republican senators up for re-election do not.

Anyway, what if they're all bluffing? Can it be that McConnell, a shrewd political strategist, fully understands the weakness of Trump's position? Has he actually got the 51 votes required to stage a sham trial? It's not clear that he does. Also, what would such a spectacle do for Republican hopes of keeping a Senate majority after the 2020 election?

It would appear that they fear that a full airing of the evidence regarding Trump and Rudy Giuliani's nutball scheme to withhold military aid from Ukraine -- a democracy under attack by Russia -- in order to extort its president into announcing a bogus investigation of Joe Biden would hurt the party even more.

So here's the bad news for Trumpists: With half the American public already favoring his impeachment and removal, the rest expect a serious reckoning. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., supports adopting the same rules that governed Clinton's 1999 trial -- unanimously approved by 100-0 vote.

According to a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll, strong majorities agree: Let's have a real trial.

No doubt many Trump supporters believe the testimony of senior White House aides could only bolster his case. (Although what defendant anywhere, ever, has fought to keep exculpatory testimony hidden?)

Trump's removal by a two-thirds Senate vote remains highly unlikely. But a proper impeachment trial would serve two important purposes: to inform the public and defend the U.S. Constitution.

Arkansas Times columnist Gene Lyons is a National Magazine Award winner and co-author of "The Hunting of the President" (St. Martin's Press, 2000). You can email Lyons at eugenelyons2@yahoo.com.)

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Derry's hoteliers are being invited to put their housekeepers forward for an annual competition to find the best cleaning teams in the North.

The Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF) Housekeeping Awards, which are celebrating their tenth year, recognise and celebrate the contribution that cleanliness plays in sustaining the thriving hospitality industry.

Previous Derry winners include the Tower Hotel (now the Maldron Hotel) back in 2010.

NIHF President Stephen Meldrum says: The competition seeks to raise the profile of housekeeping, recognise best practice in the sector and reward those who make an outstanding contribution to the hotel industry.

"One of the most important parts of any guests stay is the standard of housekeeping and this department is often overlooked, despite its crucial role within a hotel.

Housekeepings contribution is critical to the successful day to day running of our businesses. The Federation is keen to highlight the excellent job that these teams do and reward the best in the business. We are delighted to have support from a range of industry partners for this initiative and we would urge all hotels to take part in this years competition.

Stephen continues: We have come a long way since 2010 when we launched the search to find the best housekeeping team with a small lunch in the Wellington Park Hotel. We had just 19 entrants and the winners were from the Tower Hotel in Derry-Londonderry, which is now The Maldron.

Last year we had a record number of entries and the awards now have four categories. This reflects the significant growth that there has been in the industry over the last decade and the scale of the contribution that housekeeping has to play. I would encourage all managers to submit an application and recognise the vital role that their staff make.

The 2020 competition to find the North's best housekeepers will take place in the Europa Hotel, Belfast where entrants will undergo an assessment of their skills focusing on the key tasks in housekeeping.

They will also gain an insight into their role in the visitor experience and join in some enjoyable exercises relating to their jobs. The winners will be announced at an awards dinner in the Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick on the March 11 hosted by celebrity compere, Stephen Clements.

The competition has been supported by Tourism Northern Ireland with category support from Bunzl Rafferty Hospitality, Ecolab and LinenCare and beds supplied by King Koil beds.

Further details can be obtained from the NIHF office on 028 9077 6635 or by visiting the website www.nihf.co.uk.
Australias credit unions, mutual banks and building societies are providing a variety of services to people affected by the countrys brushfiresranging from delayed loan payments to additional time off for volunteer firefighters.

Australias customer-owned banking sector has a long history of supporting its customers and communities in times of need, Michael Lawrence, CEO of the Customer Owned Bank Association (COBA) said.

COBA represents 72 financial institutions serving more than four million members. Lawrence, a member of the board of the World Council of Credit Unions, urged those affected by the fires to contact their financial institutions.

Credit Union Australia, the nations largest credit union, has pledged $150,000 to assist efforts to contain the fires and protect properties in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. That follows a $50,000 donation the credit union made to the Australian Red Cross.
Description

GIS  07 January, 2020: A number of infrastructural improvements are being carried out in the margin of the Thaipoosam Cavadee and Maha Shivaratree festivals to be celebrated on the 08 and 21 February 2020, respectively.

In this context, the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister for Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, effected two site visits, yesterday, at Chemin Grenier Mariamen Kovil and Ganga Talao to take stock of the progress of work. Several Ministers, Parliamentary Private Secretaries, Members of Parliament, and Members of the National Task Force were also present for the site visits.

In a statement, the Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction regarding the status of the progress of works being undertaken so that Thaipoosam Cavadee and Maha Shivaratree festivals take place in the best conditions . He further observed that some amenities have to be improved at both places and that facilities such as showers and toilets for pilgrims are also being upgraded.

Prime Minister Jugnauth also highlighted that, following recent cyclone Calvinia, some cleaning has to be done at Ganga Talao due to water accumulation and fallen trees. However, he reassured that close monitoring is being undertaken by the National Task Force so that the works are completed on time.

He further emphasised that, every year, improvements in terms of environment and infrastructure are made with a view to upgrade facilities for pilgrims and for the population at large.
Bangladeshs Supreme Court has ordered Robi Axiata to pay a total of BDT1.38 billion ($16.2 million) to the countrys regulator in five monthly instalments to settle a tax row.

In 2017, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) audited the operators finances going back as far as 1996 and concluded that the operator owed BDT8.67 billion in back taxes.

The Supreme Courts decision to reduce Robis payment to just 16% of the total requested follows a similar decision in November 2019 to reduce the tax bill of market leader Grameenphone, which owed BDT126 billion.

While BTRC filed a petition to the Supreme Court that would have enabled it to collect the full amount, an Appellate Division rejected this and the court granted the operator three months to pay the regulator BDT20 billion.

Both operators sought injunctions against the BTRCs demands for payment via Bangladeshs High Court. Despite the Supreme Court rulings, the final tax bills have not yet been decided by the countrys courts, with the BTRC viewing these latest payments as a deposit rather than a settling of the bills.
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper holds an end-of-year press conference at the Pentagon on Dec. 20, 2019, in Arlington, Va. Esper said Monday that the U.S. has made "no decision whatsoever" to pull troops from Iraq. Read more

When the Taliban shattered the towering Buddhas of Bamiyan, Afghanistan, with hammers, spades, and explosives, the worlds religious and political leaders decried them as barbarians.

When ISIS smashed a Roman-era temple in the glorious, ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, the U.N. Security Council denounced them as destroyers.

So what do we call President Donald Trump for insisting last weekend that he could destroy cultural heritage sites to retaliate against Iran?

Even though by Tuesday afternoon the president had said, with clear reluctance, that he would obey the law"  and even though his comments were overtaken by Iranian missiles flying over U.S. bases in Iraq  his initial threats to cultural sites should not be forgotten.

Just the threat is quite amazing, coming from the president of the United States, says Prince Zeid Raad al Hussein, the former U.N. high commissioner for human rights, now a distinguished global leader at the University of Pennsylvanias Perry World House. This is a hallmark of the most extreme kind of movements or states, aligned with barbaric thuggery.

 READ MORE: After Qassem Soleimani's killing, how does this war end? | Trudy Rubin

In one stroke, the president endorsed war crimes, further sullied Americas moral stature, and insulted the U.S. military. And he displayed total ignorance of what cultural heritage sites mean to the world.

Lets start with the insult to the U.S. military. Doing intentional damage to cultural sites, save in cases of absolute military necessity, is a war crime, which violates a 1954 Hague Convention to which the U.S. is a party.

Yet Trumps first instinct was to order U.S. troops to commit war crimes. Theyre allowed to blow up our people, Trump said of Iran. And were not allowed to touch their cultural sites. It doesnt work that way.

Yes, it does.

This careless, ill-informed remark ignored international law and U.S. military doctrine so blatantly that Secretary of Defense Mark Esper felt obliged to contradict the president by Monday evening, making clear that hitting cultural sites with no military value was a war crime.

Thats the laws of armed conflict, Esper said. And by Tuesday, the wave of criticism grew so great, including from leading GOP senators, that Trump backed off.

But the president was clearly ignorant about the larger significance of cultural heritage sites.

Cultural heritage represents the record of our shared human experience, the archaeological remains from the past, and places that we revere in the present, I was told by Brian Daniels, research director at the Penn Cultural Heritage Center of the University of Pennsylvania Museum and an expert on conflict and cultural loss. This is why threats to world heritage sites galvanize global attention.

It is also why, when the Taliban were destroying the 1,500-year-old Buddhas in Bamiyan, leaders worldwide tried (and failed) to stop them. And why those familiar with the desert splendor of Palmyras ruins (which I had the luck to visit) were distraught. Who can forget the brave efforts of Syrian antiquities scholar Khaled al-Asaad to save this ancient city, before he was beheaded by ISIS at age 82?

And it is why the idea of striking at any of Irans 22 UNESCO World Heritage sites is insane. As the former U.N. high commissioner points out: Even someone totally against Qassem Soleimanis Quds Force is proud of Persian culture. A Trump strike on ancient Persian sites would turn all Iranians against him.

 READ MORE: Former U.N. human rights high commissioner on Trump, populism, complacency | Trudy Rubin

The loss of any heritage site is devastating because it is part of your sense of being, says Daniels. The deep rootedness of cultural identity is why people mourn the loss.

How ironic, then, that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo likes to tell the Iranian people, We are with you. Last Sunday, Pompeo insisted that Trumps tweets didnt say hed go after cultural sites. Hourse later, Trump insisted he meant just that.

Equally ironic is that Trumps threat came at a time when U.S. officials were doing more to protect international cultural heritage sites. That activity was propelled by memories of the looting of Baghdads National Museum, which U.S. forces failed to protect after the 2003 U.S. invasion.

The museum disaster helped prompt the United States to finally ratify the 1954 Hague Convention in 2009. Donny George, the brave museum director who tried to stem the looters in Iraq, came to UPenns museum for help in restoration.

If Donny were alive, he would be shocked like the rest of us at Trumps threat, says Daniels. Even if you dont support the Iran regime, cultural heritage is something different.

That is a difference Trump may never grasp, even if the Pentagon curbs him from acting on his instincts. Clearly culture, to him, has no meaning. And so he joins the barbarians who see cultural sites as fair game.
Illustration: George Peters

On the fourth floor of the James Beard House in Greenwich Village, a kind of epicenter for the American culinary world, I was directed to the seat where I was to eat dinner: a swivel chair facing a wall. I was told that I could move around as much as Id like and that I could stand, but I was advised not to walk around. Then someone handed me a virtual-reality headset.

Presented by the James Beard Foundation, the project, called Aerobanquets RMX, is a seven-course VR collaboration between the Rahi Restaurant Group and the Italian-American artist Mattia Casalegno. The series runs until the end of January and has received plenty of press. A ticket cost me $125, but otherwise I had no real idea what to expect.

Inside the simulation, I was alone at a dinner party that was wrapping up. There was silverware strewn about the virtual table, an almost empty glass of wine, and a balding man talking to no one in particular. He looked almost like Filippo Marinetti, the author of The Futurist Cookbook, whom Casalegno has noted was the inspiration for this project. In front of him was some kind of small vessel with a red pearl sitting on its granite top.

At the dinner party of the future, this man said, silverware will be obsolete. With that, he cupped his hands around the vessel, lifted it to his lips, tilted his head back, and let the red pearl slide into his mouth. He instructed me to do the same.

What followed was an explosion of light and water that I would later learn was cream cheese. Under my feet, a distant galaxy swirled. Were those stars? As they floated closer, the specks turned out to be broken forks, glasses, and plates. With my pixelated hands, I batted a broken wineglass into the darkest reaches of the universe.

Soon, another pearl appeared, emitting a kind of radioactive glow. I dawdled around the starlight a bit more, then tilted the pearl into my mouth. I could feel needles poking and prodding my taste buds and what felt like a crisp pea rolling around, decimating everything in its path like a boulder down a hill.

Ill never know what the actual food I ate looked like, but within Casalegnos VR world, the orbs are meant to mimic the sensation of eating the ingredients. Some were translucent; one looked like a shrunken pomegranate or maybe the exposed cross section of a tiny planet.

Each pearl came on the same vessel, which floated amid the differing backdrops of each universe. In real life, I learned, a server removed the vessel from the room, plated the next course, then set it back on a stool. In the virtual world, the service was far more magical: The vessel would appear out of the ether; in one setting, each virtual ingredient arose from beneath my feet, plating itself into an orderly sphere atop the vessel.

Once I had ingested a pearl, a new virtual world would open. Whatever I actually ate hardly mattered. By manipulating the color and the sounds around me, Casalegno, chef Chintan Pandya, and Rahi CEO Roni Mazumdar could transform these little orbs into anything. At one point, the in-simulation narration from food writer Gail Simmons told me that one pearl would taste like the first time you bit your lip. Glockenspiels made of cow carcasses  playable, if I wanted  and golden violins fell from the sky.

Even now, my memory of each bite isnt the flavor of fruit or the sensation of something being cold. Instead, I can recall only the full experience: music swelling, water rising to my shoulders, light and color swirling around me. For a time, anyway, I was fully detached from my actual surroundings in order to experience this heightened reality.

In the real world, Pandya, Casalegno, and Mazumdar were waiting to talk with me when dinner was over. Food tech is in its infancy, Mazumdar said, admitting that the current technology is still a bit clunky (this multi-sensory combination of VR and food is the rotary phone) but that it made them only more excited about its potential. This, Mazumdar said, is the first time you get to eat food in this way. I had no choice but to agree.
January 07 : When most of Indian youth is on street, protesting CAA, NPR, NRC and attacks on Students in Delhi or across nation, most of B-Town celebrities have maintained their silence. The fear of losing face, or back lashes on social media or career front, the Cinema industry bigwigs are keeping quite but filmmaker Hansal Mehta urges everyone to speak up, as everyones voice matters.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta took to his social media and wrote a long note, urging everyone to raise their voices, especially the celebrities. He wrote, Dear celebrities. It is understandable that opening your heart out and being vocal on a public platform entails a great risk for you and your career. But remember the millennials who form your major audience are speaking up vociferously. Your voice matters to them. Speak up

Speak up - whether left, right or centre. IMHO the millennials are a passionate lot but it takes very little time for them to get disillusioned. I know that you are actually wonderful, empathetic and aware citizens of this country. Let your potential audience know that

Taking his talk to the walk, Hansal Mehta participated in a peaceful protest at Carter Road in Mumbai last night.

Meanwhile on the work front, Hansal Mehtas next is Chhalaang, which is an upcoming social comedy film starring Rajkummar Rao and Nushrat Bharucha. It is produced by Ajay Devgn, Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg.

The film reunites Hansal Mehta and Rajkummar Rao. The story is set in a small town of Uttar Pradesh. The film releases on 13th March 2020.
Mumbai: The spontaneous midnight meet at the Gateway of India on that kicked off hours after a mob attack at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) continued across various parts of the city on Monday.

Students, teachers, researchers, celebrities and citizens poured out onto the streets of Mumbai condemning the attack and people continued to protest at the Gateway of India throughout the day . About 600 people joined a rally from nearby Hutatma Chowk to Gateway later in the day.

Condemning the incident, Aisha Kadar, general secretary, Tata Institute of Social Sciences Students Union said, It has been more than 70 days that students have been protesting against fee hike. They were planning a march against the HRD ministry on Monday. After what the JNU students have faced, we fear for our lives and those of others who raise their voice. It is nice to see students fight for each other now and voicing their dissent. What happened on Sunday night was a one-sided state-sponsored violence.

Echoing Kadars concern,Uzair Ahmed Rangrez, president of the south Maharashtra wing of Student Islamic Organisation said, It feels like a personal attack to us. The police, security forces and the institute administration seem complicit in the attack. The attack also reveals the hypocrisy of the Delhi police. The home minister and the VC of JNU must take responsibility and resign. They can try to silence students, but we will not be mute spectators.

We need to stand by the students at this moment. As teachers it is our duty to stand by them, Joseph Lobo, a retired teacher from Fergusson College, Pune, who had joined the protest at Hutatma Chowk.

Anil Karnik, a University of Mumbai teacher also said, I am shocked to see that the police allowed a free hand to the goons in JNU. I cannot imagine what is happening at Jammu and Kashmir.

A group of doctors were also present at the protest site. Samir Dalwai, a developmental paediatrician, said, Protests and allegations are a part of society. What happened on Sunday was a planned attack on students. This cannot be accepted or it will set an example for the future.

NCP MLA Rohit Pawar was also spotted at the protest at Gateway. Students at JNU were protesting in a Gandhian way and the manner in which they were attacked by masked goons is unacceptable. The JNU Vice Chancellor has been avoiding [meeting] students for the last one month but now he is answerable. We demand an urgent inquiry in this matter. It cant be a coincidence that such an instance happened so close to the elections, the NCP legislator said.
The magnitude of the Great Lisbon Earthquake event, a historic and devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Portugal on All Saints' Day in 1755, may not be as high as previously estimated.

In his study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, Joao F. B. D. Fonseca at the Universidade de Lisboa used macroseismic data--contemporaneous reports of shaking and damage--from Portugal, Spain and Morocco to calculate the earthquake's magnitude at 7.7. Previous estimates placed the earthquake at magnitude 8.5 to 9.0.

Fonseca's analysis also locates the epicenter of the 1755 earthquake offshore of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, and suggests the rupture was a complicated one that may have involved faulting onshore as well. This re-evaluation could have implications for the seismic hazard map of the region, he said.

The current maps are based on the assumption that most of the region's crustal deformation is contained in large offshore earthquakes, without a significant onshore component. "While the current official map assigns the highest level of hazard to the south of Portugal, gradually diminishing toward the north, the interpretation now put forward concentrates the hazard in the Greater Lisbon area," said Fonseca.

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake and tsunami event, along with the fires it caused that burned for hours in the city, is considered one of the deadliest earthquake events in history, leading to the deaths of about 12,000 people. The devastation had a significant impact on Portugal's economy and its political power within Europe, and its philosophical and theological implications were widely discussed by Enlightenment scholars from Voltaire to Immanuel Kant.

The widespread devastation led earlier seismologists to estimate a high magnitude for the earthquake. With modern modeling techniques and a better understanding of the region's tectonics, Fonseca thought it important to revisit the estimate. The 1755 earthquake is unusual in that it produced extreme damage hundreds of kilometers from its epicenter without any of the accompanying geological conditions--like amplification of seismic waves in a loose sedimentary basin, for instance--that normally cause such severe site effects.

"Explanations put forward for the extreme damage in Lisbon tend to invoke abnormally low attenuation of seismic energy as the waves move away from the epicenter, something that is not to be observed anywhere else in the globe," Fonseca explained. "Current attempts to harmonize seismic hazard assessment across Europe are faced with large discrepancies in this region, which need to be investigated and resolved for a better mitigation and management of the risk through building codes and land use planning."

Fonseca used 1206 points of macroseismic data to reassess the 1755 earthquake's magnitude and epicenter. The analysis and modeling also indicate that some of the very high earthquake intensities reported in the region's nearby Lower Tagus Valley and the Algarve may have been due to two separate onshore earthquakes in these locations. These earthquakes, which took place a few minutes after the offshore rupture, may have been triggered by the first earthquake, Fonseca suggests.

The new magnitude estimate for the 1755 earthquake is similar to that of another large regional earthquake, the 1969 magnitude 7.8 Gorringe Bank quake. However, the damage from the Gorringe Bank earthquake was much less severe, possibly in part because the onshore faults had not accumulated enough stress to make them "ripe to rupture," Fonseca says. "The Lower Tagus Fault, near Lisbon, ruptured in 1909, in 1531 and likely in 1344. It is plausible that it was good to go in 1755, but still halfway through the process of accumulating stress in 1969."

Fonseca also suggests that the destructive size of the 1755 accompanying tsunami might be due more to the presence of a large sedimentary body produced by past subduction, called an accretionary wedge, on the ocean bottom in the Gulf of Cadiz. When a fault rupture moves through this wedge, it can generate a tsunami even without an extreme magnitude rupture, he said.

###
[January 06, 2020] Pennsylvanian Bob Hines to Graduate as NASA Astronaut with Eye on Artemis Missions

HOUSTON, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvanian Bob Hines will join the rest of NASA's first class of astronaut candidates to graduate under the Artemis program, for a graduation ceremony and media opportunity Friday Jan. 10, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston. After completing more than two years of basic training, he will become eligible for spaceflight assignments to the International Space Station (ISS), Artemis missions to the Moon, and future missions to Mars. The ceremony will air live on NASA Television and the agency's? website . The new graduates also will be available for in-person and remote media interviews following the ceremony. To?participate, media must submit requests for credentials and interviews to Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan?7.??Those following the briefing on social media may ask questions using #AskNASA.?



The class includes 11 NASA candidates, as well as two Canadian Space Agency (CSA) candidates, selected in 2017. The NASA candidates, including Hines, were chosen from a record-setting pool of more than 18,000 applicants. The CSA candidates have been training alongside their NASA classmates. Hines, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, attended high school in Mountaintop, Pennsylvania and now considers Harrisburg, Pennsylvania his hometown. He has a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from Boston University and a master's degree in flight test engineering from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Hines served as a developmental test pilot on all models of the F-15 while earning a master's in aerospace engineering from the University of Alabama. He has deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Prior to being selected as an astronaut, he was an FAA flight test pilot and a NASA research pilot at Johnson.

All astronaut candidates have completed training in spacewalking, robotics, ISS systems, T-38 jet proficiency, and Russian language. At the ceremony, each candidate will receive an astronaut pin, marking their graduation from basic training and their eligibility to be selected to fly in space. As astronauts, they'll help develop spacecraft, support the teams currently in space and ultimately, have the opportunity to join the ranks of only about 500 people who have had the honor of going into space. NASA continues its work aboard the space station, which is preparing to mark the 20th consecutive year of humans living onboard in November 2020. The agency also is on the verge of launching Americans from American soil aboard commercial spacecraft and is preparing to send humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis program. Find additional photos of the astronaut candidates and their training here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/albums/72157698260056092 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvanian-bob-hines-to-graduate-as-nasa-astronaut-with-eye-on-artemis-missions-300982158.html SOURCE NASA

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Photo: Im Yeongsik/Getty Images/iStockphoto

The latest mystery to manifest in American skies: swarms of drones that fly by night over the Great Plains. Since the middle of December, residents within a 200-mile swath of eastern Colorado and western Nebraska have reported coordinated groups of unmanned aerial vehicles that fly between dusk and midnight. The craft have wingspans of about six feet and at times fly in synchronized grid patterns, dozens at a time, as if mapping the landscape below.

To state the obvious: It is ominous that so many robot planes can operate for so long, over so huge an area, without anyone  even the authorities  able to figure out whos operating them or why.

Its definitely unusual activity, James Brueggeman, the sheriff of Perkins County, Nebraska, told the Lincoln Journal-Star. Thats what were investigating and trying to get to bottom of: What is the origin of the flights or the purpose of the flights?

In response to a query from New York, the Federal Aviation Administration said via email: Multiple FAA divisions and government agencies are investigating these reports. We do not comment on the details of open investigations.

The fact that so many drones have been able to operate for so long over such a wide area points to the growing gap between the capabilities of drones and the ability of authorities to track and control them. At present, the FAA has no way to systematically track whos doing what, where. In an effort to correct that, the agency recently released a proposal for new rules that would require all drones to electronically transmit their location and ID. But it will take some time for the rules to be hammered out and put into effect. Its five years out before implementation, said Peter Bale, an engineer with drone engine manufacturer UAV Turbines.

The rules currently in place are fairly loose. Drones used for recreational purposes that weigh less than half a pound can be operated pretty much anywhere as long as theyre not flown near an airport and fly at an altitude of less than 400 feet. (One notable exception: Youre not supposed to fly drones within New York City.) Drones flown for commercial purposes  a category that likely includes the mysterious UAVs spotted over Colorado and Nebraska  follow stricter rules, called Part 107. Such drones can weigh up to 55 pounds but must be registered with the FAA, and operators must have a remote pilot certification.

Part 107 drones are not supposed to fly at night or out of line of sight of the operator, as the mystery drone swarms appear to have done. But operators can apply for waivers from these rules from the FAA, which has granted thousands of them. Because the waivers do not generally specify a geographical area within which they must be used, the list of issuances cant help narrow down who might be responsible for the cases at hand.

The use of UAVs has grown rapidly in recent years. In 2018, there were 1.8 million commercial drones in service in the U.S.; by 2022 that number is expected to grow to 5.7 million  suggesting that unexplained drone swarms will only become more common.

Given human nature, its unlikely that all such activity will be benign. Last year, creatively malicious users employed drones to drop contraband into an Ohio prison and to drop homemade bombs onto an ex-girlfriends home. In England, unknown UAVs have forced authorities to temporarily close both Heathrow and Gatwick airports. So for now its a race between the publics aptitude for mayhem and the FAAs attempts to rein in the chaos.

Its going to be interesting to watch, said Bale.
London: A letter claiming the United States will move troops out of Baghdad ahead of a possible full withdrawal from Iraq has been downplayed as a "poorly worded" draft after triggering mass confusion among allies including Australia.

While the United States has stressed it has "no plans" to leave Iraq, there is a growing expectation coalition forces will eventually have to leave following Monday's shock parliamentary vote ordering the expulsion of the US-led mission from the war-torn country.

A full withdrawal would represent a momentous shift in Middle East politics and trigger the sudden recall of hundreds of Australian troops who are working to eradicate the Islamic State terror group from the region.

The letter - written by a US general and addressed to the Iraqi government - forced US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper to convene a snap press conference to say "no decision" had been made to leave the country entirely.
The Nigerian Army has arrested two impostors, who claimed to be officers of the army as a ploy to engage in nefarious activities and extortion.

The Deputy Director, Public Relations, of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Aliyu Yusuf, a colonel, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Tuesday.

Mr Yusuf said the arrests were achieved by troops of Sector 5 of the Exercise Atilogwu Udo 1, otherwise known as the Dance of Peace.

He said the arrest of one Eze Simeon, who was parading himself as a colonel in the Nigerian Army, followed information volunteered by locals.

He said the suspect was arrested around Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, at about noon on January 2.

Information revealed that Simeon had been parading himself as Nigerian Army Recruitment Officer.

It was revealed that the impostor had extorted nearly N1 million from the locals in Obollo Afor.

It was further revealed that the suspect had exploited the ignorance of his victims with a picture he took in army camouflage uniform, however, without a rank badge.

It was also gathered that he had been in the business for over three years now. Some of his victims have so far identified him, he said.

The army spokesman said that the man had been handed over to 82 Division Provost Group for further action.

Mr Yusuf said the troops also arrested another impostor, Jeremiah Thomas, at a checkpoint in Orba in Nsukka area, on his way to the Northern part of the country.

The suspect claimed to be personnel of 29 Battalion when questioned by soldiers at the checkpoint.

On demand for his Nigerian Army Identity Card (ID), he claimed to have kept it in his bag, but when the soldiers insisted on seeing the ID card, he claimed that he forgot it at home.

A call was however put through to 29 Battalion to authenticate his claim. It was consequently proven that the man was not a soldier, he said.

READ ALSO:

The army spokesman said a search on him revealed that he had the sum of N9,800; while other items found on him included a knife and a charm.

Mr Yusuf noted that he had been handed over to 82 Division Provost Group for further investigation before being handed over to the Nigeria Police for prosecution.

Meanwhile, the army spokesman said that Exercise Atilogwu Udo 1, which was extended from December 23, 2019 to January 7, 2020 because of the tremendous achievements recorded, had officially ended on Tuesday.

However, normal vigilance and all military routine activities within 82 Division Areas of Responsibility will continue.

The general public especially the law abiding citizen of the South-East states are advised to go about their normal activities without any fear.

Any suspected movement or criminal activities should be reported to the relevant security agencies within their community for prompt action, he added.

(NAN)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Strongsville Catholic priest accused of possessing child pornography was released from the Cuyahoga County Jail on Tuesday and transferred into the custody of the Geauga County Sheriffs Office, according to court records.

The release came nearly five days after Robert McWilliams posted 10 percent of his $50,000 bond, and one day after his defense attorney filed a motion asking the court of appeals to force the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Department to release him from custody.

McWilliams is charged in both counties via complaints filed by prosecutors. He has not been indicted by a grand jury in either county.

He is scheduled to appear Jan. 24 in Chardon Municipal Court.

McWilliams had been held in the Cuyahoga County Jail since his Dec. 5 arrests during a raid of the rectory at St. Joseph Church. He is charged in Cuyahoga County with illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and possessing criminal tools.

McWilliams attorney, Robert Dixon, petitioned the 8th District Court of Appeals to reduce McWilliams bond to something he could afford. The appeals court granted the motion on Dec. 31.

McWilliams mother posted his bond Jan. 2. One of the conditions of the bond is that McWilliams must wear a GPS monitor to track his movements as his case moves through the courts.

On the same day, prosecutors in Geauga County filed a complaint in Chardon Municipal Court charging McWilliams with one count of pandering obscenity involving a minor. A judge issued an arrest warrant, which allowed the Geauga County Sheriffs Office to file a request to have McWilliams held at the Cuyahoga County Jail for 72 hours, so sheriffs deputies could bring him to Geauga County for a court hearing.

Geauga County Prosecutor James Flaiz told cleveland.com in an email that Geauga Countys sheriffs deputies went to the Cuyahoga County Jail that night, but officials at the jail would not release McWilliams.

Dixon on Monday filed a petition with the court of appeals, demanding that McWilliams be released. Dixon wrote in that motion that the 72-hour window to hold McWilliams had passed, and that the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Department could not explain why McWilliams remained in jail.

Dixon wrote that staff at the jails release desk simply told him that McWilliams is in limbo," and accused the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Department of refusing to give McWilliams a GPS monitor so he could be released.

A Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Department spokeswoman did not immediately return a request for comment.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalleys office said in a court filing Tuesday afternoon that McWilliams had been released.

Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force officers raided McWilliams living space in the St. Joseph Churchs rectory Dec. 5 based on a warrant that originated in Geauga County.

Officers seized electronic devices including a cellphone, iPad and laptop associated with McWilliams. Investigators discovered additional images of child pornography that were not related to the Geauga County investigation, and charged McWilliams 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 was using extortion to get the children to send him nude photographs, Sullivan said during a Dec. 17 court appearance.

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With the Lunar New Year 2020 just over two weeks away, a series of gold-plated ceramic rats handcrafed by artisans in the famed Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi have become sought-after ornaments as families are gearing up to usher in the Year of the Rat.

According to the Vietnamese zodiac, an animal, or sign, and its reputed attributes are assigned to each year in a repeating 12-year cycle.

The 12 signs are the Rat, the Water Buffalo, the Tiger, the Cat, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog, and the Pig.

The Lunar New Year 2020, which will fall on January 25, is the Year of the Rat - the animal that is widely believed to be a symbol of agility, cunning and intelligence.

It is a tradition among Vietnamese to put up decorations and buy items, including gold, shaped like the zodiac animal of the upcoming Lunar New Year during Tet holiday for good luck.

An artisan makes rat-shaped ceramic figurines in the Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

An artisan makes rat-shaped ceramic figurines in the Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

An artisan makes rat-shaped ceramic figurines in the Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

This year, artisans in Bat Trang, famous for its pottery and ceramic craft and located some 20km from the center of Hanoi, have introduced their own rat-shaped products to the market.

The rat-shaped ceramic products, which come in diverse styles, designs and prices, have instantly become desirable ornaments for residents in the Vietnamese capital and throughout the country.

It took about four months to turn ideas into actual ceramic rat figurines that sell, said Vuong Hong Nhat, who runs a ceramic workshop in Bat Trang.

The ornaments crafted at Nhats facility are distributed throughout the country, he said.

Each of these Bat Trang figurines hit the market at prices of VND50,000-100,000 (US$2.16-4.32) on average.

Some craftsmen said their sale numbers have been on a steady increase as the days before Tet dwindle.

Rat-shaped ceramic figurines made in the Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

Rat-shaped ceramic figurines made in the Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

A person takes a photo of rat-shaped ceramic figurines in the Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

Rat-shaped ceramic figurines made in the Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

An artisan makes rat-shaped ceramic figurines in the Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

An artisan makes rat-shaped ceramic figurines in the Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

An artisan makes rat-shaped ceramic figurines in the Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

Rat-shaped ceramic figurines made in the Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

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An Indian-origin physician has been sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay fine and restitution of over a million dollars for engaging in a multi-faceted health care fraud scheme and for illegally prescribing thousands of opioid painkillers and muscle relaxers.

Kain Kumar, 56, of California was sentenced by US District Judge Philip Gutierrez of the Central District of California, who also ordered Kumar to pay USD 509,365 in restitution, USD 494,900 in asset forfeiture, and a USD 72,000 fine.

Kumar pleaded guilty in April 2019 to one count of health care fraud and one count of distribution of hydrocodone.

He was sentenced to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

As part of his guilty plea, Kumar admitted that from February 2011 until May 2016, he defrauded the Medicare health care benefit programme by prescribing unnecessary home health services in exchange for the payment of illegal kickbacks to him from a California-based home health agency.

Kumar further admitted that he submitted false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement to Medicare for Medicare beneficiaries that he did not personally examine or for patients he only briefly examined.

Kumar also admittedly prescribed drugs that were not medically necessary and which were paid for by the federal health insurance programme.

Kumar admitted that between February 2013 and January 2016, he prescribed 23,826 pills of the opioid drug hydrocodone and 38,459 pills of the muscle-relaxer carisoprodol without a legitimate medical purpose.

Kumar directed his office staff  who were not medical professionals  to issue prescriptions for these drugs to patients even though Kumar had not examined the patients.

Kumar also instructed his office staff to issue prescriptions for opioid drugs by instructing his staff to sign Kumars name on prescriptions and by providing his staff with pre-signed prescriptions. In one instance, Kumar examined a patient only on the very first visit and thereafter on a monthly basis, for approximately a year-and-a-half, he caused prescriptions to be issued to the patient for hydrocodone and carisoprodol, even though Kumar did not actually see the patient for a subsequent physician examination.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  The remains of Jeanelyn Villavende  the Filipina domestic worker killed in Kuwait  are set to be repatriated from the Gulf state this week, an official confirmed Tuesday.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Hans Cacdac told CNN Philippines The Source that Villavendes body is expected to be returned to their families in the next few days," as initial investigation into the case finally wrapped up.

She's coming home very soon, and we hope also that the investigation itself will be concluded and formal charge in court against the employer-couple, he said. The body's repatriation could be as soon as Wednesday or Thursday, he added.

An embalming certificate released by the Kuwait's Ministry of Health has confirmed that Villavende was killed on December 28, 2019. She died of "acute failure of heart and respiration" as a result of shock and multiple injuries in the vascular nervous system. She was 26.

Filipino officials informed her family about her death on December 30 that year. The news shocked the family, who had not talked to her in two months since her Kuwaiti employee would not allow her to take calls.

RELATED: Slain OFW wasn't allowed to talk to family for 2 months

Authorities have said Villavende had been beaten black and blue before being rushed to the hospital.

The suspects the couple of the household where the Filipina workedare now detained.

Villavendes casealong with other reported maltreatments and deaths of overseas workers in the foreign stateprompted the Philippine government to impose a partial deployment ban to Kuwait. The ban, which took effect on Friday, covers newly-hired household service workers.

Labor Secretary Silverstre Bello III, however, previously said the move may be lifted if Kuwaiti courts take appropriate action on the Filipinas case.

READ: Kuwait deployment ban signed, but may be lifted if suspects in OFW death charged  Labor chief
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Finding affordable child care in Los Angeles is often a struggle, but parents aren't the only ones dealing with the financial burden.

Child-care providers lay out money for everything from rent, to utilities, to buying meals and snacks, to paying employees and other expenses. After all of that, their net pay can amount to minimum wage or less.

The burden is especially heavy for small-scale operators like Silvia Jordan, who cares for six children in her Eagle Rock home. Her typical 12-hour day includes not just looking after the kids, but spending time filling out forms to receive meager state reimbursements for caring for low-income children -- which sometimes don't come fast enough for her to stay ahead of her bills.

"We're not working for money because there is no money," Jordan said. "We're working for the passion we have for the kids."

A November 2019 analysis of L.A. County's early childcare and education system commissioned by the county Office of Child Protection explored how providers of all sizes -- from small-scale operators like Jordan to facilities with multimillion-dollar budgets that serve hundreds of children -- knit together nearly a dozen sources of public funding to provide care.

The conclusion?

"Quality childcare costs more than any one funding source pays," lead author Jeanna Capito said.

Data from more than 100 providers show that on average, there's an annual gap of $4,000 to $8,000 per child between the actual cost of quality care and the public funding available.

LAist talked to a few providers about the strategies they use to make ends meet.

LONG HOURS, LOW PAY

Silvia Jordan often spends holiday breaks painting.

"It's my passion to take care of kids," said Silvia Jordan, who has run a daycare business out of her Eagle Rock home for 15 years. (Mariana Dale/ LAist)

The sidewalk leading to the front door of her Eagle Rock home daycare is red with blue and green footprints. A mural of a tree overlooks the back patio where the children play.

"I want my house to look like a museum for the kids," Jordan said.

That's because for the last 15 years, Jordan's house has also been her business, a home daycare for up to eight kids--right now she watches six children, between 3 months and 12 years old.

By one L.A. county estimate, licensed family child care homes like Jordan's account for 24% of child care spaces for kids 0-5.

Jordan said sometimes it's a 12-hour work day. After paying for groceries, utilities, her two assistants and supplies, she estimated she makes less than minimum wage.

Just getting reimbursed for what little money is available through the state to care for children from low-income families means hours filling out paperwork. Some grants are restricted to specific uses -- for example, one might fund nutritious meals for kids.

Each requires detailed documentation -- perhaps not a difficult task for larger operators that know the system or can hire experienced grant writers, but it's one more chore on top of many for the smaller providers.

"The harder it is for a provider to use the funds, the less likely they are to be able to maximize the money that's available to them," Capito said.

In addition to the 11 state and federal programs that directly fund services, the report prepared by Capito, an independent consultant, and First 5 LA identified more than 20 L.A. County programs with more than $76 million meant to support providers. "Yet it is unclear if these programs are reaching the providers who need it the most," the report said.

WHAT IF YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF HUNDREDS OF KIDS?

Even well-established providers can struggle with the system. Young Horizons Child Development Centers have served low-income families in Long Beach for 50 years.

Sarah Soriano has worked for Long Beach's Young Horizons Child Development Center for 25 years. (Mariana Dale/ LAist)

"When I first came to Young Horizons, we used the backs of calculator tape -- that's how frugal we were," said Executive Director Sarah Soriano said. "The funding has increased, but so has the cost of living."

Today, Young Horizons has a budget of about $4 million to care for 400 children.

On a recent day, the kids lay down for their naps after a lunch of caldo de res, or beef stew.

"Have you ever seen all these toddlers go to sleep at the same time?" Soriano said. "They learn their routine and they're out."

But, Soriano says, the expenses to care for the little ones mount up quickly.

Under state requirements, child care providers must employ at least one staff member for every eight preschoolers and one staff member for every three infants.

Soriano said staff costs are more than half the center's budget.

"The funding barely is enough and sometimes not enough to pay the basics," she Soriano.

A 2017 L.A. County report found early educators earn an average of $14.65 an hour. Soriano said at Young Horizons, some entry-level employees make minimum wage, while teachers earn between $18 and $20 an hour.

"I just wish I could get them so much more than that," Soriano said.

More than 400 children attend Young Horizons' five locations in Long Beach. (Mariana Dale/ LAist )

Soriano said she bolsters public funding with money from foundations and donors so she can pay staff more and buy supplies for the students.

Also on her wish list: renovations and infrastructure upgrades that could improve services for kids, like the walk-in cooler and freezer the center installed in its main kitchen about five years ago.

Soriano loves the walk-in because it's energy efficient and allows the center to buy milk and other perishables in bulk, but it came with a hefty price tag: $80,000.

Was there a reserve to cover the upgrade?

"Absolutely not. There wasn't a piggy bank," Soriano said. She paid for the cooler with a state grant, which has since been converted into a loan program.

A recent survey from the Nonprofit Finance Fund found that half of L.A. County's non-profit daycare centers have less than one month of operating cash on hand.

Relying on public funding without a reserve makes early childcare centers vulnerable to changes in the economy.

Soriano said during the recession, the state cut 22% of her child care contracts. She had to close one of Young Horizon's centers, leaving 54 children without services.

DIPPING INTO PERSONAL FUNDS

While larger organizations can hire employees to write grants or seek donations, small providers often have fewer resources.

Compton home childcare provider Silvia Avalos says one of the biggest challenges is the low reimbursement rate from the state for caring for children from low-income families. (Mariana Dale/ LAist)

Silvia Avalos has run a home daycare for two years out of a lime green Compton house. Avalos said she lives day-to-day and the biggest hardship is how little the state reimburses her to care for children from low-income families.

For example, California caps weekly reimbursements for infant care at $232 for family child care homes in LA County. There are different rates depending on the provider's location, the child's age and how many hours of care they qualify for.

Avalos said there's less than $1,000 in her bank account and both she and her son have opened credit cards to stay afloat.

Low wages are one factor contributing to the decline of California licensed home day cares. A 2018 report found the number of licensed home day cares has dropped 26 percent since 2008.

Avalos is hopeful that a new law that allows some home providers to collectively bargain with the state will bring needed changes. She says she feels empowered to fight for more professional development and higher salaries.

HOW AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE CAN WORK

The county's fiscal analysis doesn't point to any single solution to the shortage of affordable childcare nor the less-than-ideal working conditions for providers.

But it did highlight examples where different municipal agencies successfully worked together to make improvements. Among them:

The L.A. Unified School District uses state funding to provide early education programs for almost 31,000 children. Last month, LAist reported on the district's new plan to connect the youngest learners to elementary and high school programs.

Santa Monica amended its zoning ordinance to allow the conversion of some residential homes to child care centers, dedicated staff to early education initiatives, and subsidizes services for some families who don't meet the income qualifications for state programs.

The L.A. County Department of Children And Family Services created a computer program to help social workers refer more families to early education programs.

"They're not just leveraging federal and state funding, they've also got local investments they're using to close the gap," Capito said.


The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has snapped a stunning new image of UGC 2885, a barred spiral galaxy located some 232 million light-years away in the northern constellation Perseus. Otherwise known as LEDA 14030, UGC 2885 measures about 816,000 light-years across, or 8 times the size of our Milky Way Galaxy, and contains 10 times as many stars.

UGC 2885 has been nicknamed Rubins Galaxy, after astronomer Dr. Vera Rubin, by University of Louisvilles Dr. Benne Holwerda, who observed the galaxy with Hubble.

My research was in large part inspired by Vera Rubins work in 1980 on the size of this galaxy, Dr. Holwerda said.

Dr. Rubin measured the galaxys rotation, providing evidence for dark matter that makes up most of the galaxys mass.

We consider this a commemorative image. The goal of citing Dr. Rubin in our observation was very much part of our original Hubble proposal.

Dr. Holwerda and his colleagues from Canada and the United States are seeking to understand what led to the enormous size of UGC 2885.

Its as big as you can make a disk galaxy without hitting anything else in space, Dr. Holwerda said.

One clue is that the galaxy is fairly isolated in space and doesnt have any nearby galaxies to crash into and disrupt the shape of its disk.

Did the monster galaxy gobble up much smaller satellite galaxies over time? Or did it just slowly accrete gas to make new stars?

It seems like its been puttering along, slowly growing, he said.

Using Hubbles exceptional resolution, Dr. Holwerda and co-authors are counting the number of globular star clusters in UGC 2885s halo.

It is close enough for Hubble observations to resolve the globular cluster population, the astronomers said.

Several scaling relations between the globular cluster population and parent galaxy have been observed but these differ for disk and spheroidal  more massive  galaxies.

This galaxy is an ideal test case of these scaling relations as it lies between spiral and massive ellipticals.

The astronomers will present their results January 8, 2020 at the 235th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Honolulu, Hawaii.

_____

B.W. Holwerda et al. 2020. UGC 2885 Rubins Galaxy; Hubble Observations of a Gentle Giant Spiral Galaxy. 235th AAS Meeting, abstract # 430.01

This article is based on text provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde on Tuesday questioned the locus standi of an NGO represented by senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan in a case seeking reopening of a closed corruption case against Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and senior Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar.

"You cannot piggy back, and you can't ride on somebody's shoulder," the CJI told Bhushan, appearing for NGO Samaj Parivartan Samudaya which has sought to reopen a land denotification case against Yediyurappa and Shivakumar.

"Show us what happened to your complaint before the Lokayukta", he asked Bhushan.

The bench headed by the Chief Justice and comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant asked Bhushan to show if he had filed the complaint. The matter has been adjourned for two weeks.

As explaining the chronology of the client's complaint, Bhushan said a representation was made before the Karnataka Chief Minister, the Chief Justice intervened to say: "Your representation to the Chief Minister is not the complaint. The counsel for the respondent said this representation was made after the High Court order, which quashed the Lokayukta chargesheet." "You are not at all clear what happened to your case...and we are not asking about your role. We want to know what did the Lokayukta do on your complaint, you cannot piggy back and cannot ride on someone else's complaint," the CJI added.

The court queried Bhushan that the complainant has withdrawn the complaint in the matter, and what was the reason in the delay for moving the apex court. The court also asked him to explain what they were doing during the pendency.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and P.S. Narasimha, appearing for the leaders, submitted before the court that the NGO was not a party to the criminal proceedings.

The case is connected with the denotification of 4.20-acre land in Bengaluru allegedly in contravention of the Karnataka Restriction of Transfer of Land Act, 1991 during the previous stint of Yediyurappa. It was alleged the land was denotified to provide undue benefit to senior Congress leader Shivakumar.

Besides the leaders, Hamed Ali, then working sub-registrar at Bengaluru South Taluk, and others were made accused in the case. The trial court took cognizance of the matter in February 2012.

In 2018, the Karnataka High Court had quashed the complaint. A special leave petition filed by a social worker from Ramanagaram district was also withdrawn in the apex court. In September 2019, a separate bench had permitted the NGO led by S.R. Hiremath to file a special leave petition as he questioned the court's permission to allow withdrawal of the petition in February 2019 in his absence. The NGO had filed an intervention application. First complainant T J Abraham had also withdrawn his petition.
[January 07, 2020] UST Global Honored as One of the Top 100 Best Places to Work in 2020

- The company is recognized as Glassdoor Employees' Choice Award Winner - Digital transformation leader also ranked among top 31 tech companies on the list BENGALURU, India, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- UST Global, a leading digital transformation solutions company, has been honored with a Glassdoor Employees' Choice Award, recognizing the company as one of the Top 100 Best Places to Work in 2020. Additionally, it was featured among the top 31 tech companies in this year's ranking. The Employees' Choice Awards program, now in its 12th year, is based solely on the input of employees, who elect to provide feedback on their jobs, work environments, and companies on Glassdoor, one of the world's largest job and recruiting sites. UST Global employees gave an average of 4.3 out of 5 in their reviews for working at the company. UST Global, a fast-growing organization that provides advanced digital transformation services, products, and platforms to Global 1000 and Fortune 500 enterprises around the world, has a deeply rooted culture founded in the company's mission of Transforming Lives'.



"We are honored to be recognized by Glassdoor as one of the Best Places to Work in 2020," said Krishna Sudheendra, Chief Executive Officer, UST Global. "This award, based entirely on reviews from our employees, is a testament to the dedication and hard work of each and every team member. Our 'USsociates' not only provide exceptional service to our clients but also create a world-class work environment that people love and are proud of." "This year marks the shift to a culture-first decade in the workplace, and Glassdoor's Employees' Choice Awards winners are employers that are prioritizing culture, mission and employees at the heart of everything they do. By doing so, their employees have spoken and are recognizing them truly as the Best Places to Work in 2020," said Christian Sutherland-Wong, Glassdoor President, Chief Operating Officer and incoming Chief Executive Officer.

"At UST Global, our employees sign up for a career that moves them from success to significance. It is a journey they embark upon - one where they learn, grow, and make a meaningful contribution to the organization, our clients and the communities around us. The Glassdoor Best Place to Work award is a reflection of our employees' choice to stay and thrive in their careers with the organization," added Manu Gopinath, Chief Operating Officer, UST Global. UST Global was also recently recognized as 'Great Place to Work' in India and US geographies. Earlier this year, the company also got into the top 100 list for Best Companies for Women (BCWI) and Most Inclusive Companies Index (MICI) by Working Mother & Avtar100. About UST Global UST Global is a leading digital technology solutions company that provides advanced computing and digital services to large private and public enterprises around the world. Its clients include Fortune 500 companies in banking and financial services, insurance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, shipping, technology, semi-conductor and telecom. UST Global believes in building long term, strategic business partnerships through client-centric global engagement models that combine local experts and resources with the cost, scale, and quality advantages of global operations. For more information, please visit: www.ust-global.com Media Contacts, Global:



Tinu Cherian Abraham

Global PR and Marketing

UST Global

+91-7899045194

[email protected] Neha Misri

Global PR and Marketing

UST Global

+91-9284726602

[email protected] Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/540539/UST_Global_Logo.jpg

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On Sunday the CBS television news program 60 Minutes revealed important new details about the conditions before and after the death of millionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in his jail cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in New York City on August 10. The details both substantiate and add to already existing evidence that Epstein did not commit suicide in his cell as determined by the New York Medical Examiners Office, but was, in fact, murdered.

The 14-minute CBS segment, titled Inside Jeffrey Epsteins Cell, was presented by correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi and produced by Oriana Zill de Granados. In it, Alfonsi reviews exclusive photos and other evidence from inside Epsteins prison cell on the morning of his death.

Jeffrey Epstein

The most important revelations emerge in Alfonsis conversation with the well-known forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden. Alfonsi reviews photosincluding pictures of Epsteins extracted and fractured hyoid bone and crushed larynx, as well as up-close pictures of the deceased, including his toe tag and the strangulation injuries on his neckfrom the autopsy conducted by the New York Medical Examiner on August 11.

In addition to the 60 Minutes TV segment, CBS published some of the photographs, a news article, a transcript of the broadcast and a five- minute supplementary video called Jeffrey Epsteins Autopsy: A Closer Look on its website.

CBS reviewed hundreds of photos taken inside cell 220 at the MCC by the Medical Examiners Office on the morning of Saturday, August 10 after Epstein was found unresponsive and strangled to death. However, there are no photos of Epstein in the cell at 6:33 am, when prison guards found him.

The CBS report states: Additional forensic pathologists 60 Minutes consulted say that knowing the position in which Epstein was found would clarify certain aspects of the autopsy, including the location of the ligature around his neck, injuries found on his body postmortem, and the way lividity settled, which is the way the blood pools after death.

The report goes on: Baden says he [Epstein] was rushed to an emergency room after guard Michael Thomas found him. But Baden believes, based on the autopsy, Epstein had been dead for two hours by then and he says the scene should have been treated as a crime scene, leaving the body alone.

The photos show a prison cell in complete disarray, with a mattress and numerous orange prison bed sheets strewn on the floor. As the CBS report says: [P]hotos from his jail cell also appear to show inconsistencies, including questions about whether investigators examined the correct ligature used in Epsteins death.

It continues: At least two nooses were photographed lying on the floor of the cell, both appearing to be made from strips of orange bedsheets.

It doesnt look like anybody ever took scissors to it, Alfonsi said. So, there is some questionis that the right noose?

But photos of the noose taken in as evidence and presumably thought to be responsible for killing Epstein show both ends of the noose folded and hemmed, not cut. Sources have told 60 Minutes that the guard who found Epstein cut him down before trying to revive him.

Alfonsi asks Dr. Baden if he thinks that there was foul play in Epsteins death, to which he replies: The forensic evidence released so far, including autopsy, point much more to murder and strangulation than the suicide and suicidal hanging. I hesitate to make a final opinion, until all the evidence is in.

Baden reviews in detail the photographs of Epsteins fractured hyoid bone and crushed thyroid cartilage of the larynx, and explains that in his experience, having reviewed more than 1,000 suicidal prison hangings, I have never seen three fractures like this in a suicidal hanging.

He explains that his job is to find what the truth is: just to find out whether its a homicide or a suicide. He adds that he has not received the information he needs to draw a conclusion.

The CBS report says, The Justice Department told the family, they say, that it wont release the video pertaining to the case and additional forensic testing because of the ongoing criminal case against the two guards on duty the night of Epsteins death.

The charges have also silenced the guards themselves. Michael Thomass attorney Montell Figgins says Thomas still hasnt spoken to investigators or revealed how he, alone, found Epsteins body, a key piece of information in any death investigation.

In examining the photos of Epsteins neck wounds from the strangulation, the CBS report says that the noose that was sketched and included in the autopsy report doesnt appear to match the wounds on Epsteins neck.

It continues: And Baden says the ligature mark was in the middle of Epsteins neck, not beneath the jawbone, as one would expect in a hanging. Also puzzling to Baden is that Epstein would make a noose out of a bedsheet when wires and cords were present in his cell. Epstein was permitted a C-PAP machine in his celltypically used for individuals suffering from sleep apneathat had a lengthy power cord.

A handwritten note was found inside Epsteins cell that included a list of complaints about the conditions in the MCC, including that he had been locked in a shower stall for one hour, that he had been served burnt food, and that giant bugs were crawling across his hands in the cell. The CBS report quotes Baden as saying, If anyone thought Jeffrey Epstein was suicidal, they wouldnt have let him have a ballpoint pen that could be used to harm himself or someone else.

CBSs Alfonsi interviews Bruce Barket, the attorney for Epsteins original cellmate at MCC, Nick Tartaglione, the brawny former police officer who was in jail awaiting trial on charges of murdering four people. Barket describes the Special Housing Unit of the prison where Epstein was housed after he was sent there on July 6. He says that someone of Epsteins background was going to have a tough time in the general population at MCC.

During the interview with Barket, Alfonsi notes that Epstein was directing money to be deposited in other inmates commissary accounts in exchange for his protection, because he feared for his life. Although prison authorities say Epstein tried to kill himself the first time on July 23 while in the cell with Tartaglione, Epstein told his lawyers he was assaulted by his cellmate. Barket says smugly on camera, Its not just Nick says, Absolutely nothing happened. Absolutely nothing happened. No one says that Nick tried to kill Epstein.

Alfonsi interviews Cameron Lindsay, a former federal prison warden, who attempts to substantiate the position of the Department of Justice that Epstein committed suicide because of a perfect storm of screw-ups by prison staff. Lindsay says, This was a monumental failure on all levels. And thats why it has fueled the conspiracies and I understand that.

CBS also interviews Tyrone Covington, the president of the prison guards union. Covington says that the two guardsMichael Thomas and Tova Noelwho have been accused of not checking in on Epstein every 30 minutes per protocol on the night of August 9 and the early morning of August 10, are victims of scapegoating. He asserts, When youre being forced to stay over shifts, not go home and see your family, you start to see people take short cuts.

It is not clear why CBS elected to broadcast the Epstein segment on 60 Minutes when the overwhelming majority of the corporate media has fully accepted the suicide conclusion of the New York Medical Examiners Office and Attorney General William Barr. Major news publications such as the New York Times and the Washington Post have, as of this writing, chosen not to report on the CBS findings.

From the day that Epstein was found dead in his cell and reports began to emerge that he committed suicide, corporate news organizations were quick to try and bring the story to a conclusion. The New York Times, in particular, sought to discredit widespread skepticism toward the claim of suicide, arising from the fact that Epstein, a multimillionaire Wall Street figure with links to well-known political, corporate and media figures, was the most prominent prisoner in the federal prison system at the time of his death and had for a time been placed on suicide watch.

When the Medical Examiners finding of suicidal strangulation was contradicted by the emergence of numerous facts, media organizations began to attack anyone questioning the suicide story as a conspiracy theorist.

Epstein was a well-connected member of the Wall Street elite with a history of sex trafficking minor females. For decades, he hosted well-to-do guests at his Manhattan mansion and private Caribbean island. Among his friends were Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Britains Prince Andrew and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman.
WINONA, Minn. - A man who complained on social media about his companys holiday gift  barbecue sauce and a grill scraper  wound up getting fired for it.

The man, a Canadian branch manager for Minnesota company Fastenal, was dismissed just before New Years Day after he posted a tweet chiding the company for the gift choice.

The Star Tribune reported that Hussien Mehaidli tweeted, What kind of multi billion company gifts its Canadian employees barbecue sauce as a holiday gift? Yet the USA employees stuff their face with an actual holiday giftbox?

Fastenal said the tweet violated the companys policy on social media posts. CEO Dan Florness said the policy about acceptable standards of conduct is given to every employee and posted on the company website.

News of the firing has been widely shared on social media and has prompted a backlash, including several now-deleted website posts and phone messages that were vulgar or threatening, Florness told the Star Tribune.

Mehaidlis supervisors contacted the companys human resources department which recommended termination.

Florness said the firing may have been an overreaction but that he was not going to second-guess the decision of Mehaidlis supervisors. He added that the fired worker was a manager and that HR staffers may have thought he should have known better.

The Associated Press wasnt able to find a listed phone number for Mehaidli.

Fastenal, based in Winona, makes construction and industrial products.
A homeless woman from New jersey had to be rescued by firefighters from a clothing donation bin where she claimed she had spend three days.

The incident that took place in Paterson on Monday marked the third time in two years that the woman has had to be extracted from the same metal receptacle, according to police.

The victim said she was reaching into the blue bin marked 'Clothes & Shoes' located behind an apartment building in the 200 block of Broadway on Friday night when someone came up from behind and pushed her in.

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Firefighters in Paterson, New Jersey, on Monday rescued a homeless woman from this clothing donation bin, where she said she had been trapped for three days

The 38-year-old victim claimed that someone pushed her in as she was reaching inside the bin on Friday night, but police doubt her story

The woman remained trapped inside the box crammed with used clothes until Monday morning, when a passerby heard her screams for help at 11.30am and called 911, reported NJ.com.

Firefighters who were summoned to the scene used a metal contraption to open the bottom of the bin and free the woman.

ABC 7 NY reported that she was then taken to St. Joseph's Medical Center to be treated for frostbite, after which she was discharged.

Daytime temperatures in the area were in the 40s over the weekend, dipping down to 32 degrees on Sunday night.

The incident marks the third time in two years that the woman has had to be extracted from the same donation box

Paterson Police Director Jerry Speziale raised questions about the victim's story, saying it was highly unlikely that someone had shoved her inside the bin.

Speziale said he was told by local firefighters that they have removed her from the same donation box twice before.

'Its possible she climbed inside. Why she would have done so, we dont know,' Speziale said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  With the criminal trial now slated to start next week, prosecutors and defense lawyers butted heads Monday over the release of witnesses identities and their statements to police in connection with the slaying of an innocent 67-year-old bystander in a reputed gang-related shooting on a New Brighton street two years ago.

Alleged gang associate Isaiah Kelson, 23, Mariners Harbor, is accused of murder and other crimes stemming from the July 10, 2018 death of Frances Williams, 67.

Two co-defendants, West Brighton residents Jaleel Hewitt, 27, and Marquise Tart, 26, are charged with conspiracy, criminal facilitation and hindering prosecution.

Jury selection, originally anticipated for Tuesday, is now set for Jan. 13 due to availability issues.

The trial is expected to last several weeks.

During Mondays conference Rick J. Pasacreta, Tarts lawyer, said prosecutors had not provided defense attorneys the names of civilian witnesses expected to testify against the defendants.

Nor had prosecutors turned over all witnesses statements, said Pasacreta.

The lawyer said prosecutors had also failed to identify all the witnesses who had signed cooperation agreements with the D.A.s office and the nature of those contracts, he said.

Ive gotten no contact information with respect to the civilians, Pasacreta told state Supreme Court Justice William E. Garnett. There are certainly witnesses who have made statements about the facts relevant to this case.

Assistant District Attorney Adam Silberlight told the court the witnesses identities and related information were protected due to the nature of the case.

Prosecutors plan to release that information to the defense one or two business days before the witnesses testify, said Silberlight, who is prosecuting the case along with Assistant District Attorneys Andrew Botelho and Arda Ozdinc.

SOCIAL MEDIA FEARS

In particular, Silberlight said prosecutors feared the defendants might post the witnesses names and contact information on social media, potentially jeopardizing the safety of those individuals.

Pasacreta, along with Mario Romano and Robert Reuland, the respective attorneys for Hewitt and Kelson, said they need the sought-after information to properly prepare their cases.

Failure to obtain those details in a timely matter would be prejudicial to their clients, the lawyers contended.

Were facing an insuperable burden if we go to trial without this information, said Reuland.

Garnett said he understood both sides of the argument.

The D.A.s concern is not unjustified, said the judge. This behavior, in general, that goes on on the streets of Staten Island is alien to me.

To expedite the process, Garnett asked the defense lawyers if theyd consent to keep the witness information to themselves after it is released to them.

The attorneys would need a court order to pass along the information to an investigator in anticipation of interviewing a witness.

The defense lawyers said theyd agree to that.

Garnett said he would consider establishing a timetable for the release of the information.

The judge, who reserved decision, said he plans to meet with the attorneys later in the week to further discuss the matter.

BRAWL AT COURTHOUSE

With respect to Williams shooting, authorities said the events were set in motion by a brawl earlier that day near the Staten Island Courthouse in St. George, which resulted in the death of Robert Craigwell, 26.

The incident began when rival gang members became embroiled in a physical altercation, said authorities.

Kelson, Sean Oliveras of West Brighton, and Craigwell rushed to the courthouse on Central Avenue after seeing a social media post about the fracas, authorities said. Hewitt arrived in a separate vehicle.

An indictment said Kelson, Oliveras and Craigwell, who was armed with a loaded gun, parked the car near the courthouse and walked to Fort Place.

Craigwell then pointed the gun toward the crew that had been fighting with his associates but was killed when a van pinned him against a home on the corner of Fort Place and Montgomery Avenue, said the indictment.

After Craigwell was struck, Kelson and Oliveras allegedly fled the scene and returned to West Brighton to retrieve their guns.

The two men, along with Hewitt, then discussed heading to New Brighton to shoot associates of those individuals involved in Craigwells death, said the indictment.

Oliveras and Kelson went in one car and Hewitt followed in another.

Oliveras and Kelson spotted someone they believed was a rival gang associate and exited the car, the indictment said.

They allegedly fired several shots at someone running down Pauw Street. Hewitt had parked his car behind his co-defendants during the shooting.

Williams, a beloved community figure affectionately known as Ms. Franny, was struck in the head while Oliveras and Kelson were shooting at the intended target, officials said.

The victim was standing at a bus stop near the intersection of Jersey and Pauw streets, said police.

The mortally wounded Williams, who had been placed on life support, died Aug. 2, 2018, in Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton.

After the shooting, Oliveras, Kelson and Hewitt got back in their respective cars and sped away to West Brighton, authorities said.

Cops pursued and caught Oliveras trying to get rid of the gun used to shoot Williams, said officials.

Oliveras is also charged with murder. His case is pending in state Supreme Court, St. George.
NEW YORK, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Jan, 2020 ) :The United States should exercise its moral authority and help secure freedom for the people of Indian occupied Kashmir, now languishing under a repressive lockdown since August 5, Pakistan's Ambassador to the U.S. Asad Khan has said.

"Real people are dying both in Kashmir, and now across India's cities, because of India's actions  actions motivated by an extremist, xenophobic, anti-Muslim ideology that seeks to realize a vision of a Greater India," the Pakistan envoy wrote in The Hill, a top US political website, obviously referring to the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party's discriminatory policies.

"Ultimately, standing by India in Kashmir means standing by that vision  and going against the core values of the United States of America," he wrote in his opinion piece, while reaffirming Pakistan's support to the the Kashmiris' just struggle for their UN-pledged right of self-determination.

Ambassador Khan's article appeared on Thursday as members of the US Congress prepared to return to Washington after their Christmas Holidays.

"As Americans everywhere celebrated the holidays, India's lockdown and military siege of Occupied-Kashmir will have been going on for nearly 150 days, the Pakistani envoy wrote. "Since its beginning on Aug. 5, when India revoked the region's special autonomous status, the siege has had devastating effects on Kashmiris," he said, citing facts and figures of the social and economic losses.

"However," the Pakistani envoy wrote, "despite widespread criticism from global human rights groups, editorial boards, and within the Congress, some in the U.S. may still believe that India is a good faith, credible actor when it comes to Kashmir, and that Kashmir is an 'internal' matter for India to handle.

"But this analysis of the situation, which has precipitated an unparalleled humanitarian crisis and brought a nuclear-armed region to the brink of conflict, misses the mark.

"For one, India's credibility on Kashmir went out the window when it decided to unilaterally abrogate the rights of millions of Muslim Kashmiris, ignore decades of international law, pour hundreds of thousands of regular troops into the region, and then thumb its nose at the near universal international condemnation that followed.

"Any faith in India's credibility as a force for good in Kashmir is misplaced. The people of Kashmir have lived in an unending state of siege for close to five months now. To date, foreign observers, journalists, and even sitting members of Congress have been refused entry into the region.

"Instead, India has been caught red-handed engaging in one of the largest cyber-war campaigns of fake news and disinformation ever to gaslight the international community and obscure what many U.

S. members of Congress have rightly called a dire humanitarian crisis in Kashmir.

"Second, it has been Pakistan, not India, that has continued to extend one peaceful overture after another, only to be rebuffed. Last year, Prime Minister Imran Khan came into office with an offer that Pakistan would take two steps toward peace for every step India took. Instead, India is now trying to annex Kashmir.

"In November, Pakistan opened the Kartarpur Corridor, specifically to allow easy access for Indian Sikh pilgrims to Sikh holy sites in Pakistan. In return, India was handing over Muslim holy sites, like the Babri Mosque, for Hindu extremists to tear down and, more egregiously, excluding Muslims as citizens under Indian law.

"In short, trusting India with the welfare of religious minorities, is to condemn them all to marginalization, disenfranchisement and worse at the hands of India's nationalist ruling party, BJP.

"Third, Kashmir is an international issue. It has been since 1948. It has been the subject of tens of U.N. Security Council resolutions, specifically stating that Kashmir is an international issue that needs to be resolved through a plebiscite and under international auspices. These are facts. This is why the international community has been universal in its condemnation of India.

"Pakistan will continue to extend moral political and diplomatic support to be the voice of Kashmiris at every forum. India's disregard for universal human rights, the Kashmiris' right to self-determination, and the shameful humanitarian crisis it has set off in Kashmir are reasons enough for the whole world to be involved in ending this tragedy.

"Finally, and at the end of the day, this is not about Pakistan.

"The Indian peddled clich that Pakistan supports terrorism in Kashmir is old, tired, and repudiated. The families of thousands of Pakistani soldiers and civilians martyred at the hands of terrorists since 9/11 will tell you what we've sacrificed in the face of terror. Many members of Congress, like Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (a Democrat), agree  Pakistan is playing a constructive, restrained role in de-escalating tensions in the region, including efforts to help end America's longest war, in Afghanistan.

"This is about the people of Kashmir who continue to suffer, going on five months now, under a relentless assault by India on every facet of their future as a people. Shutdown schools, maternity wards, hospitals, internet cafes, public spaces, media outlets, houses of worship, and even the streets. For them, in the face of what the BJP is doing, this is an existential issue.

"So, the United States should be engaged, and should exercise its moral authority in Kashmir, but to stop India and to help secure freedom for the people of Kashmir."
Kitty Spencer (pictured here at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 2018 wedding) is set to walk down the aisle with her 60-year-old boyfriend. Photo: Getty Images.

Its wedding bells ahead for Lady Kitty Spencer, Princess Dianas niece, who is reportedly engaged to her millionaire boyfriend Michael Lewis, 60.

Fashion tycoon Michael popped the question to 29-year-old model Kitty over Christmas after five months of dating, according to The Sun.

With his 61st birthday next month, Michael is just over three decades older than his new fiancee and five years older than his future father-in-law, Earl Spencer, 55.

Kitty with her rumoured fiance Michael Lewis in May 2019. Photo: MEGA

Kitty and Michael engaged

Kitty, who was born in London but raised in South Africa, is said to have shared the couples happy news with her loved ones over the festive break.

Shes been in Cape Town for the holidays and told her mother and the rest of the family, a friend told Daily Mail.

Michael is loved by all of them. Despite his wealth, hes very humble and low key, they added.

Fashion model Kitty is Princess Diana's niece. Photo: Instagram/kitty.spencer.

Who is Michael Lewis?

Michael Lewis is the South African-born chairperson of clothing retailer Foschini and is worth a reported $153 million according to Business Insider South Africa.

He has three grown-up children who he shares with his ex-wife.

Michael and Kitty made their romance public by stepping out together in New York City in August 2019, however, rumours of their coupling began swirling months earlier.

Kitty and her beau Michael went public in August 2018. Photo: Getty Images.

The pair got together after the Louis Vuitton model called time on her four-month relationship with property mogul Niccolo Barattieri di San Pietro, 48, in 2017.

Lady Kitty is the eldest child of former British model Victoria Aitken and Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, the late Princess Dianas younger brother.

Kitty has worked as a high-fashion model since 2015 and was a notable guest at her cousin Prince Harrys wedding to Meghan Markle in May, 2018.

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com

Want more lifestyle and celebrity news? Follow Yahoo Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Hello and welcome tos Future of Finance newsletter. Twice a month, we will take a look whats making the news in the field of financial technology, or fintech, as it intersects with state and local government fiscal policies, regulations and management strategies. So, lets get started:

, ever since mainframe computers began to replace paper processes back in the 1960s and 70s. But those advances have taken on a new urgency as technology becomes more intelligent and nimble (think mobile), driving up expectations.

The state of New Hampshire decided to toss in the towel on its 30-year old COBOL tax system last year. The new system, known as Granite Tax Connect , will include a number of critical upgrades that improve not only how taxes can be filed online, but will open up more information to taxpayers than they can currently access. The $30 million system does away with some early tech features, such as Tele-file, and improves e-filing technology. Given its complexity, the new system will be launched in phases over the new year.

Its impossible to talk about tech-based finance systems without mentioning their complexity. Not surprisingly, just about every state runs their finances differently from others, which means there is no single software system that can be bought off the shelf to do the job. Each one is custom designed to deal with the built-in complexity.

California has found that out the hard way. FI$Cal was created in 2007 as a $1.6 billion project that would centralize, manage and streamline state finances. In December, the state auditor issued a report, stating the financial system costs too much, delivers less than promised, lacks essential oversight and could be imperiling the states creditworthiness, according to TechWire , our sister news organization.

: Because FI$Cal is so essential to state finances, any flaws or shortcomings in the system have ramifications beyond Californias boundaries: Late or incomplete financial reporting done through FI$Cal can affect investors perceptions about the states finances, which can harm its credit rating and increase the cost of borrowing money, reports Dennis Noone, Techwires editor.

Californias budget is running a surplus in the billions of dollars, so any negative fallout from the problems facing FI$Cal could be addressed in the short term, until the system is fixed.the states new financial system was originally launched 10 years ago, so getting it right could take a lot more time and money.

Other Finance News:

issued a report in December criticizing the citys IT operations as they related to best practices, according to Government Technology . Inconsistencies in project selection and other management procedures allowed several tech projects to go over budget. The report singled out one project in particular:. That project lost $4.2 million after an. The Office of Budget and Management (OBM) pulled the plug after finding the software would result in an incomplete, inaccurate or unbalanced budget. The new budget system "did not live up to expectations," according to OBM, and the city will continue to use its legacy budget application, which is no longer supported and has limited reporting functionality.

in education, Medicaid and other core government services while bolstering their rainy-day funds.General fund spending is forecast to grow 4.8 percent in fiscal 2020, totaling $913.2 billion, according to enacted budgets. These findings are from the Fall 2019 Fiscal Survey of States released in December by thefor more than two weeks last year. Unless the systems are restored soon, property owners won't be able to pay their taxes online reports the Times-Picayune . The city normally accepts property tax payments through its website, through the mail or in person at City Hall. But the online functions have been hobbled by aattack since Dec. 13.
OTTAWA - Hundreds of Canadian soldiers were hunkered down on military bases in Iraq on Monday, their missions suspended due to security concerns, as the U.S. and NATO offered contradictory messages about the future involvement of western forces in the war-torn country.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 6/1/2020 (735 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a media conference after a meeting of The North Atlantic Council at Ambassadorial level at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. The head of the NATO military alliance is suggesting the Canadian-led training mission in Iraq is not about to be permanently shut down. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Virginia Mayo

OTTAWA - Hundreds of Canadian soldiers were hunkered down on military bases in Iraq on Monday, their missions suspended due to security concerns, as the U.S. and NATO offered contradictory messages about the future involvement of western forces in the war-torn country.

The Canadians were on high alert against any attack following the killing of an Iranian general by the U.S. over the weekend, which had prompted threats of retaliation from Tehran and calls from Iraq's parliament and outgoing prime minister for the withdrawal of foreign troops.

The commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and widely considered the second-most powerful leader in Iran after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani was killed by a U.S. drone near the Baghdad airport Friday night.

Following a meeting in Brussels Monday with representatives from all 29 members of the military alliance, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg indicated a Canadian-led training mission in Iraq would resume once the security situation there improved.

"We have suspended our training mission now because of the security situation on the ground, but we are ready to restart the training when the situation makes that possible," Stoltenberg told reporters during a news conference at NATO headquarters.

The NATO chief went on to defend the training mission, which includes 250 Canadian soldiers and is being commanded by a Canadian general, as essential for defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant even as he called on Iran to exercise restraint.

Only hours later, however, reports began to emerge that the commander of the U.S.-led coalition against ISIL had written a letter to Iraq's defence ministry indicating he was preparing to pull out his troops in response to Baghdad's wishes.

The letter from U.S. Marine Corps Brig.-Gen. William H. Seely III specifically referenced a resolution passed by Iraq's parliament on Sunday and endorsed by outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi calling for the forced withdrawal of all foreign troops.

"We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure," he wrote.

A copy of the letter was obtained by Reuters, AFP and the Washington Post, all of whom reported confirming its authenticity.

Yet U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper insisted to reporters at the Pentagon that there had been no decision to leave Iraq. The U.S. military's top general, Mark Milley, similarly insisted the letter was a poorly worded draft that had been sent by mistake.

Earlier in the day, the Canadian government had indicated it was preparing to take a wait-and-see approach to the situation in Iraq, with Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne reaching out to his Iraqi counterpart to reiterate Canada's commitment to fighting ISIL.

"Minister Champagne pledged to continue to work with the government of Iraq to achieve the peace, stability and prosperity that the people of Iraq want and deserve," Champagne's office said in a statement. "Both ministers have agreed to keep in close touch in the coming days and weeks."

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan similarly asserted on Twitter following conversations with Stoltenberg and British Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace that the government was "committed to a stable Iraq, the fight against (ISIL) and to resume training when the situation allows.

"During the temporary pause, our focus is on the safety of those who serve."

The Prime Minister's Office said Justin Trudeau spoke to Stoltenberg to discuss the situation in Iraq.

"They emphasized the importance of de-escalating tensions and the need to support security and stability in Iraq and the wider region, notably through ongoing counter-Daesh efforts," it said in a readout from the conversation, adding that Stoltenberg noted NATO is prepared to continue training when "the situation permits."

The confusion around Seely's letter underscored the degree to which the future of Canada's mission in Iraq is beholden to decisions in Washington and Baghdad  and how quickly such decisions can come. A U.S. withdrawal would likely lead to a similar pullout by Canada.

Alex Ruff, a retired colonel who served with the NATO training mission in Iraq before retiring from the military last year and being elected a Conservative MP, said military planners in Ottawa will be working through all possible scenarios to prepare for whatever comes.

"I'm sure all the planners, they're earning their money right now because they are going through the planning cycles necessary to react accordingly once NATO or U.S. or Canadian leadership or any of the nations make their respective decisions," he said.

And while Ruff expressed confidence that the Canadian troops in Iraq are taking sufficient measures to protect themselves, he said that when it comes to the future of the mission: "It's going to be a decision made by NATO and, ultimately, the Iraqis. ... It's their country."

Canada has commanded the NATO training mission since it was created in 2018, with Maj.-Gen. Jennie Carignan having recently taken the helm. The mission was established to train the Iraqi military in the basics of soldiering so they can defend against any ISIL resurgence.

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The NATO mission is separate from that of dozens of Canadian special-forces soldiers who have been working with local security forces in northern Iraq's Kurdistan region since October 2014. Canada also has medical personnel and a helicopter unit in the north.

Their activities have also been similarly suspended while the Canadian government waits to see how the situation unfolds. The government has not said what contingency plans it has to withdraw quickly.

Canada first deployed troops to fight ISIL, or Daesh, in 2014 when the extremist group overran large parts of Syria and Iraq. The mission has evolved several times since then as the focus has shifted from beating back ISIL to ensuring it does not have the ability to reconstitute itself.

The Canadian military also has troops in Kuwait, Lebanon and Jordan as part of the anti-ISIL mission.

Yet popular unrest in Iraq over endemic corruption, a lack of government services and Iran's influence in the country, the mounting tensions between the U.S. and Iran, and the ongoing war in Syria have pulled attention away from the fight against ISIL.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 6, 2020.
Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday made a controversial remark where he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi India's "Hindu Jinnah" and accused him of following the "two-nation theory" of the Pakistan founder to divide the nation on the basis of religion. The Congress leader also decried Sunday night attack on JNU students, saying it was reflective of the BJP's "policy of repression that would bring further misfortune" for the country.

"The Prime Minister alleges that we (the Congress) are talking the language of Pakistan, but it is he who has reduced himself to the level of the neighboring country. He is following (Muhammad Ali) Jinnah's two-nation theory (to divide the country) on the basis of religion and has emerged as India's Hindu Jinnah," Tarun Gogoi said.

READ | Assam: Tarun Gogoi Urges Govt To Take Action Against PFI If There Is Evidence

BJP is trying to rule the country with an ideology akin to Jinnahs two-nation theory, while Jinnah was for Muslims & BJP are for Hindus. CAA was aimed at giving citizenship to the Hindus but the Hindus of India have stood against it to guard the secular character of the country.  Tarun Gogoi (@tarun_gogoi) January 5, 2020

'Indians reject Hindutva'

"We are Hindus but we don't want our country to become a Hindu Rashtra. The majority of people who are protesting, and even those who have been killed, are Hindus. They do not want the Hindutva the BJP and RSS are propagating," the former Assam CM asserted in a press conference.

He added that the violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday night posed a threat to the country's unity and integrity.

READ | Former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi Claims That NDA Govt Sanctioned Detention Camps

BJP's 'policy of repression'

Tarun Gogoi highlighted that the anti-CAA agitation began in Assam but spread across India as a backlash to BJP's "policy of repression". He labelled the Modi government "arrogant" and not open to criticism.

READ | SC Seeks Explanation From Assam On Allegations Of Communal Statements By State NRC Coordinator

'BJP has no political knowledge'

Referring to the killing of five protesters in police action during the anti-CAA stir in Assam, Tarun Gogoi said the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state were still blaming the Congress and the Left for the violence. "Are we so powerful that we can instigate AASU, AJYCP, KMSS and all other regional organizations to come out on the streets to protest? There is no conspiracy. BJP has no political knowledge and is not interested in listening to the voice of the people," Gogoi said.

READ | 'Now A Jinnah Bhakt?': Narasimha Rao Questions Uddhav's Silence On Cong's Savarkar Remarks

(With PTI inputs)
07.01.2020 LISTEN

The killing of the Iranian Commander, General Qassem Soleiman, and Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force is really sad and totally uncalled for. He was murdered in Baghdad by the US military drone attack at the direction of the racist and fascist leader Donald Trump. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps played and still continue to play the most crucial role in neutralizing Al Qaeda, ISIS and other terrorist formations in the Middle East. Iran also supports the Palestinian freedom cause and its an ardent anti-imperialist force in the region.

The attack does not come as a surprise cognizant of the US history of endless wars and militarism. The attack on the Iranian commander is nothing but a direct provocation and a declaration of war. These tensions would escalate into war. USA has failed to promote peaceful co-existence with other nations. Retaliation is to be expected sooner or later, a chain of reprisals could ensure bringing the two countries closer to a direct confrontation. The 5,000 US troops in Iraq are an obvious potential target. Tensions will be higher in the Gulf. Washington has already dispatched a small number of reinforcements to its embassy in Baghdad. It will have plans to increase its military footprint in the region quickly if the need arises.

Those who were born after 1990 bear witness to the fact that the US government has been at wars for more than half of their lives. The United States invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 and the war is raging on to this day. The United States invaded Iraq in March 2003 and still carrying out bombings and military operations in that country, the latest evidence being the US drone attack in Baghdad airport which killed the Iranian commander and they are sending more troops in Iraq in anticipation of retaliation from the Iranian backed resistance in Iraq. The United States led NATO Alliance to carry out a massive bombing war in Libya in 2011 which destroyed one of the promising African nations and killed its revolutionary leader Muammar Gaddafi.

NATO is a military agreement or pact that encapsulates all the major imperialist powers with the primary function of countering the former Soviet Union in the event of an all-out war with the socialist bloc. NATO an ally of the USA is using the civil war in Ukraine to escalate its campaign to encircle Russia. Japan an ally of the USA has now started remilitarizing. The United States is carrying out constant drone attacks and other military actions in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. The civil war in Syria has spilt over into many countries across the Middle East region.

Even though the endless wars target particular countries but the endless wars are far-reaching they are different from other wars which are invasions and occupations of the past which used to be carried out by Pentagon and the US military power. The endless wars target any entity, movement, organizations and sovereign governments that are deemed to be promoting terrorism under the theme War On Terror.

The Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency maintains more than 1000 military bases and installations in over 100 countries in the world. The Pentagon on top of that maintains strategic command centers in every region of the globe. So far history has proved that the political and military leaders of the USA of both major parties the Republicans and the Democrats have embraced the concept of the endless wars and militarism that will go for decades. These endless wars will never be executed on the USA soil, the bombs will fall in the lands of other countries, innocent women and children of other countries will die like flies and for the USA only a few unlucky pilots and a few commandos will die. Despite the strategy of taking war to the doorsteps of other countries, this does not preclude the possibility of war with other larger states.NATO which is US-backed is expanding to the East with all the attending threats against Russia, as well as the United States pivot towards Asia is openly setting the stage for the possibility of large scale wars with both Russia and China.

The prospects of such global wars is very imminent and inevitable especially with the escalation of tensions between USA and Iran with Russia and China seemingly backing Iran. The United States had a monopoly on nuclear weapons and created an anti-soviet military alliance. In 1949, the USA created NATO which grouped all of the imperialist countries of Europe together under the Pentagon leadership.

In 1992, Paul Wolfowitz, then the U.S Undersecretary of Defense policy, superintended over the drafting of a strategic document for the post-Cold War period after the overthrow of the Soviet Union and asserted the need for unquestioned hegemony,  Our first objective is to prevent the reemergence of a new rival. This is a dominant consideration underlying the new regional defence strategy and requires that we endeavour to prevent any hostile power from dominating a region whose resources would, under consolidated control, be sufficient to generate global power. These regions include Western Europe, East Asia, the territory of the former Soviet Union, and South-West Asia also known as Middle East he went on to say  There are three additional aspects to this objective. First, the US must show the leadership necessary to establish and protect a new order that holds the promise of convincing potential competitors that they need not aspire to be a greater role or pursue a more aggressive posture to protect their legitimate interests. Second, in the non-defence areas, we must account sufficiently for the interests of the advanced industrial nations to discourage them from challenging our leadership or seeking to overturn the established political and economic order, Finally, we must maintain the mechanisms for deterring potential competitors from even aspiring to a larger regional or global role .

This was supposed to be a strictly internal strategic document which was leaked to the press. In this unipolar era and the post-cold war world order, neutrality is no longer tolerable its either you are with the USA or you are against it. Many states modified or totally rejected their nationalist orientation and socialist or semi-socialist policies by playing to the rules and dictates of global capitalism. Any country that contradicts Washington or plans and erect barriers to the penetration of imperialist capital could find itself in the crosshairs of the US might military machine. They use different methods such as punitive financial sanctions, air wars and drone assassinations.

Soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the US attacked Iraq, and then during the Clinton epoch Somalia, Sudan, Haiti and Yugoslavia. After attacking Afghanistan in 2001, Bush declared an  axis of evil, Iraq, Iran and North Korea, months later Syria, Libya and Cuba were listed as additional  rogue states to be targeted.

In 1991, the USA launched a military attack against Iraq called the Operation Desert Storm claiming to liberate Kuwait which had been invaded by Iraq, they unleashed a massive aerial and ground assault on Iraq. The real objective was a total destruction of Iraq and regime change. Their main targets were power supplies, water purification plans, bridges and other infrastructure. These actions did not collapse the Iraq government, they went on to impose sanctions which inflicted a terrible human cost to the Iraq population by depriving it of food and medicines and the ability to reconstruct their devastated country. Iraq suffered over a million deaths over a period of 12 years but Iraq did not collapse.

Iraq was invaded again in 2003 under the pretext of falsely linking Iraq to the September 11 World Trade Centre attacks and the accusation of possessing weapons of mass destruction which they have not even found up to this day. The military invasion was dubbed Operation Iraq Freedom .The objective was to convert Iraq into a pliant state to serve as a proxy in regional conflicts to guarantee US oil supremacy with exclusive investment opportunities for Big Oil. Iraqs oil is by no means dominated solely by the west and Iran, a challenger to US domination in the region is more influential than ever in the Baghdad government.

In Yugoslavia, Kosovo, during the 78 days of intense bombing, NATO warplanes flew over 35 000 combat missions against 200 cities and towns. They targeted apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, factories and other workplaces. Bridges, refineries, the power grid, the Chinese embassy, the Belgrade TV station, prisons and even graveyards. More than a million people were turned into refugees, the majority of them being Albanians which NATO claimed to be defending. The refugees' convoys were bombed and approximately 5000 people were murdered, civilians for that matter. Eventually, President Milosevic was overthrown by a NATO-backed coup and was later kidnapped and imprisoned in Hague where he died while on trial by imperialist victors. The US military boasts of one its largest military bases in Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo. Kosovo is the world leader in human trafficking and drug dealing.

Libya had some of the pro-people progressive economic and social reforms in Africa, it used its national oil wealth to create a welfare state. Before 2011 Libya had a 99% youth literacy rate. Gadhafi also invested heavily in health care which resulted in great gains in public health, Libya life expectancy went up by 20 years between 1980 and 2000. Libyans had a life expectancy of 77 years. In fact, mortality rate had fallen to 25 per 1000 births. Under Gadhafi leadership, Libya had a revolutionary reputation of supporting national liberation movements including the Palestinian struggles. After the collapse of Soviet Union and the socialist bloc. Libya was also internationally isolated and sought reconciliation with imperialism as a way of self-preservation. He also abandoned his nuclear weapons program and joined hands with the West to counter terrorism .This did not deter the West from toppling Gadhafi when the opportunity for regime change arose in 2011.

There were protests in Libya which was part of the Arab Spring wave that blew across the Arab world which led the military leadership to split away from Gadhafi and joined the demonstrators. On March 17, the US and its imperialist allies pushed through Resolution 1973 at the United Nations Security Council. The resolution authorized imposing a no-fly zone, purportedly to protect civilians. In actual fact, NATO used the resolution to effect regime change. After months of sanctions and continuous bombing and sabotage, NATO finally overthrew the government and Tripoli fell. On October 18, US Secretary of state, Hillary Clinton was in Libya and called for Gadhafi to be captured and killed.

Over 18 years into the occupation of Afghanistan, imperialists can barely claim victory over Kabul. 16 years occupation of Iraq, there is no stable government in Baghdad. Up to now, Baghdad is refusing to take orders from Washington. Imperialists are still far from conquering Syria. For imperialists, it is safe to admit that things are not going as per plan.

Vladimir Lenin argues that war is an inevitable and dominating feature of modern-day capitalism. When capitalism evolves into its monopoly phase which results into competition, influence and trade wars. This situation would compel the imperialists to go to war against each other in an effort to acquire new markets and raw materials. Lenin conclusion that war is intrinsic to the imperialist stage of capitalism remains entirely valid to this day.

This understanding has been central to the strategic perspectives of the worldwide socialist movement. It underscores the bedrock necessity of anti-imperialist struggle in overcoming capitalist oppression and creating a new world order based on human cooperation. A world without war.
SCHROEPPEL, N.Y.  A woman suffered serious injuries when a vehicle struck her Monday in Oswego County as she walked into a roadway to retrieve her dog, according to New York State Police.

The crash occurred when Samantha Wightman, 30, walked into the southbound lanes of County Route 10 in Schroeppel to recover her dog, which had just been struck by a different vehicle.

Benjamin Taylor, 23, of Syracuse, was driving his 2019 Subaru at the time and struck Wightman, troopers said.

Wightman was taken to Upstate University Hospital, where she is listed in serious condition. Its not clear from a state police news release whether Taylor is being ticketed or the exact nature of Wightmans injuries.
TRUMBULL  School Supt. Gary Cialfi has taken a leave of absence, effective immediately. Former Trumbull Supt. Ralph Iassogna, Cialfis predecessor, has taken over as acting superintendent.

Cialfi, who already had announced his retirement effective June 30, told the Board of Education his leave was for personal reasons and would last until his retirement date. The board formally accepted his request at a special meeting Jan. 6.

On Monday night the board informed school parents of the change in a two-paragraph announcement.

Dr. Gary Cialfi has announced his retirement effective June 30, 2020, after serving as our Superintendent of Schools for the past seven years. Dr. Cialfi has decided to take a leave of absence for personal reasons until his retirement date, which the Board has approved. We want to thank Gary for everything he has accomplished for the students of Trumbull. We wish him the very best in all future endeavors.

We are in the process of searching for a replacement. In the interim, until a permanent Superintendent is hired, our former Superintendent of Schools, Ralph M. Iassogna, will be serving as Acting Superintendent. Please join us and welcome Ralph until a permanent successor to Dr. Cialfi is appointed.

Reached Tuesday morning, board Chairman Lucinda Timpanelli said she and the other members were grateful for all Cialfi had accomplished in his tenure.

He has been a champion of education in our community, she said.

Cialfi had been superintendent since 2013 and had previously served as curriculum director and assistant superintendent under Iassogna. The search for his replacement had already begun before the announcement that he was leaving effective immediately.

Iassogna, who has served as interim superintendent on Brookfield and Region 15 (Middlebury and Southbury) since leaving the Trumbull schools in 2013, said he had been approached last week about returning to Trumbull.

It actually happened pretty quickly, he said. On Thursday [Board of Education attorney] Floyd Dugas asked me about the possibility of coming to Trumbull on an interim basis. I said I would be interested as long as Gary was leaving on a positive note.

Three days later he received word that Cialfi had taken his leave, he said.

Im looking forward to it, he said. Trumbull has always had a lot of positives when it comes to education and with the dedicated staff and motivated student body, theres a lot to be excited about.
Three sharks were found feeding on a human corpse during the search for a diver who was mauled to death by a great white, but it wasn't the body police were looking for.

Tourists watched in horror as the feeding frenzy unfolded at Twilight Beach, near Esperance in Western Australia, on Tuesday afternoon as the animals thrashed around the body in the turquoise waters.

The gruesome discovery was made amid the search for Gary Johnson, who was taken by a great white shark while diving with his wife at nearby West Beach on Sunday.

Three sharks (two pictured) were found feeding on a human corpse during the search for a diver who was mauled to death by a great white

The gruesome discovery was made amid the search for Gary Johnson, who was taken by a great white while diving with his wife (pictured together) at nearby West Beach on Sunday

But the body spotted on Tuesday is believed to belong to a 21-year-old man who vanished after being swept off the rocks at Twilight Beach on January 2, police say.

South African tourist Michael Hayes described the horror of watching the sharks launch themselves at the body.

'The sharks took it up and then we could see it was a torso... Then we knew it was a body. They started a feeding frenzy. It was horrible,' he told The West Australian.

Twilight Beach was closed on Tuesday afternoon after sharks were spotted feeding on a human corpse

His daughter Alison Walker, who immediately called police, said she initially thought the body was a buoy.

'We were like ''oh a buoy would stay in one place''it's a body. [The sharks] were knocking it onto the rocks. It like started turning around and then we could see it was the head and the legs,' she said.

Swimmers were evacuated from the water and the beach was closed. The body has since been recovered.

Aerial footage showed the sharks from above lurking about 150 metres off shore.

Meanwhile, the search continues for the body of Mr Johnson.

His heartbroken wife Karen Milligan revealed this week she desperately tried to fight the great white shark as it mauled her husband moments after he jumped into the water.

Aerial footage showed the sharks from above lurking about 150 metres off shore, with one stalking a boat (pictured)

Police and surf life savers cleared Twilight Beach, near Esperance on Tuesday afternoon after three sharks were spotted in a feeding frenzy on a body

'We were both in the water when it happened, I tried to hit the tail of the shark but it did nothing,' Ms Milligan told The Australian.

Ms Milligan said she and her husband were both wearing shark shields, which emit electrical currents intended to scare the animals away, when he died.

Fisheries Minister Peter Tinley confirmed on Tuesday Mr Johnson's device wasn't switched on when he was attacked.

Earlier, Ms Milligan shared a gut-wrenching tribute to 'her rock' just 24 hours after his death.

'Gary was my rock. He was a kind, gentle, strong man. He only ever saw the best in people. He will be so truly missed by me, by his family and his friends and the world will be a poorer place without this most beautiful man,' Ms Milligan said.

The couple ran the Esperance Dive Club together. It was their shared passion for the water that saw their relationship blossom.

'He loved diving. He loved squash. He loved his work. He loved Esperance. Most of all he loved his friends and families,' she said.

Ms Milligan said she and her husband shared a passion for diving and did so most weekends

'He and I were at home in and on the ocean. We would go out diving in our boat whenever we could, most weekends.

Ms Milligan said she and her husband were animal lovers and were staunchly against culling.

'We took photos, not fish. We were always aware of the risks, and often told each other that if we were attacked by a shark, that would just be unlucky,' she said.

'We were completely against shark culling, and I still am. We have watched with dismay the reduction of fish stocks over the years.

Mr Johnson (pictured) was a recreational diver who loved to share his passion for the ocean

The attack happened at about 1.30pm off Cull Island (pictured) in Esperance, south east of Perth, on Sunday January 5

'We believed that if fish stocks were better protected, then the risk to people in the water would be reduced.'

Chilling details of Ms Milligan's chilling Triple 000 call emerged earlier this week.

'My husband's been taken by a great white,' she told the police operator, The Australian reported.

One of the first responders - Glen Quinlivan - was setting up his power boat for a day trip when he heard Ms Milligan's cries for help.

'We tried to find him. We tried to help her but to no avail,' Mr Quinlivan told The West.

'I really feel for her, she's obviously witnessed something you don't want to see.'

He said the winds were blowing towards Charley Island when they found evidence Mr Johnson had been taken.

Mr Quinlivan said they saw no sign of Mr Johnson, but found his flippers and part of his wet suit.

Karen Milligan and Gary Johnson were keen divers and water lovers before the shark attack on Sunday January 5

'I've done plenty of free diving around the area. I've dived in that spot before... I won't be again. You always have it in the back of your mind,' he said.

Despite a widespread search of the area Mr Johnson was taken police still haven't located the diver's body.

Senior Sergeant Justin Tarasinski said everyone was trying to bring closure for the family, but even the police were going through the grieving process.

'We've obviously got the blue shirts on but that doesn't protect us from emotions,' he said on Tuesday.

Police also pleaded for the public to help find Ms Milligan's phone, which was left on a table at the nearby Woody Island in the days before the tragedy.

'Karen would like it returned as it has photos of her husband on it,' police said.

Emergency services are still desperately searching for missing diver Gary Johnson who was taken by a shark off Cull Island in WA on Sunday
UN cultural agency chief meets with Iran ambassador amid current tensions

6 January 2020 - The current tensions across the Middle East and Gulf region and their potential implications for cultural heritage sites were the focus of a meeting on Monday between the head of the UN's cultural agency, UNESCO, and a senior diplomat from Iran.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and Iranian Ambassador to the UN agency, Ahmad Jalali, met in Paris against a background of mounting threats between his country and the United States.

This follows the killing of top Iranian general Qassim Suleimani in an airstrike in Baghdad on Friday carried out by the United States.

In a tweet at the weekend, US President Donald Trump said he was issuing a warning to Iran that if any retaliatory strikes involved Americans or American assets, then Iranian sites, including those of cultural significance, would be targeted.

Ms. Azoulay used the meeting to stress the universality of cultural and natural heritage in promoting peace and dialogue between peoples, and which the international community has a duty to protect and preserve for future generations.

She recalled two UN treaties on protecting cultural heritage, including during conflict, which both countries have ratified.

The 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict is the first international treaty to address this subject.

It was adopted in the wake of the widespread destruction of cultural heritage during the Second World War.

Examples of cultural heritage include monuments and archaeological sites, but also architecture, works of art, books, scientific collections, and other objects of artistic, historical or archaeological interest.

Under the treaty, countries pledge to spare these items from possible armed conflict through protective measures and even sanctions.

UNESCO explained that threats can come from fighting but also any resulting occupation.

"As cultural property reflects the life, history and identity of the community, its preservation helps to rebuild a broken community, re-establish its identity, and link its past with its present and future. In addition, the cultural property of any people contributes to the cultural heritage of humankind. Thus, loss of or damage to such property impoverishes humankind," according to information on its website.

The second treaty is the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

The most significant feature of the treaty is that it links "the concepts of nature conservation and the preservation of cultural properties" and the need to preserve balance between the two.

Among other items, it stipulates that each State Party "undertakes not to take any deliberate measures which might damage directly or indirectly the cultural and natural heritage [] situated on the territory of other States Parties to this Convention."

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[January 07, 2020] Bounteous Bolsters Executive Team; Taps Marc Blanchard as Chief Experience Officer

Bounteous has hired Marc Blanchard as its first Chief Experience Officer, a new position at the leading insights-driven digital experience agency. The move marks the agency's latest strategic move in recent months, as it continues to win clients and add to its leadership team in response to growth. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005852/en/ Bounteous has tapped Marc Blanchard as its Chief Experience Officer, a new position at the leading insights-driven digital experience agency. (Photo: Business Wire) Blanchard is responsible for leading Bounteous' Experience Design practice and joins SVP of Experience Design Amanda Ruzin to set the strategy for the XD practice, one of Bounteous' fastest-growing practices. "Marc is a savvy designer, strategist, and thought leader, and we're elated to have him join our team at Bounteous," said Keith Schwartz, co-founder and CEO of Bounteous. "Our design practice competes with the very best firms in the world, and Marc will continue the efforts of shaping those offerings and momentum." "In partnership with Amanda, and the restof our leadership team, Marc will sharpen our experience strategy; help develop creative engagements that drive value for our clients; and excite, challenge, and deepen our teams."



Blanchard is a creative lead and experience designer with a 20-year track record of crafting digital brand experiences for global brands such as IBM, Intel (News - Alert), Charles Schwab, and Nike. Previously Global Head of Experience Design at Havas, Blanchard is a recognized thought leader in using data and AI to power experiences, and has been a guest lecturer and adjunct professor at both NYU and Columbia. Blanchard cites a transformative shift in marketing and heavier engagement than ever before in brand experiences from apps to online to retail. Marketing has grown beyond storytelling to create valuable experiences that people need at every stage of their customer journey, and in response, organizations are evolving their talent, type of work output, and types of engagements with clients.

"Marketing is evolving from making people want things to making things people want," Blanchard said. "To own the conversation, our clients need different processes, different types of research, different ways of working. It's important today to have people in place who understand user experience, who are highly valued in the organization, and who use deep user research that empathizes with people to organize their work." About Bounteous Founded in 2003 in Chicago, Bounteous creates big-picture digital solutions that help leading companies deliver transformational digital brand experiences. Our expertise includes Strategy, Experience Design, Technology, Analytics and Insight, and Marketing. Bounteous forms problem-solving partnerships with their clients to envision, design, and build their digital futures. For more information, please visit www.bounteous.com. For the most up-to-date news, follow Bounteous on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005852/en/

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With a major earthquake possible in the Bay Area in the near future, Manny's in San Francisco is bringing an expert on earthquakes to its event space for a discussion and to answer questions Tuesday.

Stephen Hickman, the director of the Earthquake Science Center at the U.S. Geological Survey, will answer questions and hold a discussion starting at 6:30 p.m. at 3092 16th St.

Hickman will also talk about hazard assessments, including what has been learned following the 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989.

A San Jose police officer shot a man Saturday after he allegedly tried igniting a fuel pump at an Arco gas station and charged at officers with a metal pipe, Police Chief Eddie Garcia said.

San Jose resident Jose Delossantos, 32, was attempting to ignite "a wad of paper" placed at the mouth of a fuel pump at about 7:15 a.m. Saturday at the Arco gas station at 2375 Quimby Road in San Jose, Garcia told reporters at a news conference Monday.

Delossantos was transported alive and treated for his injuries at a hospital where he is expected to survive, Garcia said, before being booked into jail on suspicion of two counts of assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon and attempted arson.

Police said Delossantos is still recovering from his injuries in the hospital.

Sonoma County sheriff's officials have released the name of a man who died Friday after a metal conveyor system he was dismantling collapsed on him.

Adolfo Sanchez, 31, of Fairfield, died at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, according to Frank Polizzi, a spokesman for the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA.

Sanchez, an employee of Lind Marine, a regional dredging company, was welding on top of a silo near the D Street Bridge in Petaluma when the conveyor system collapsed and trapped him, Polizzi said.

Bystanders said they saw a large metal tower collapse and heard Sanchez screaming for help, Petaluma Fire Department Battalion Chief Chad Costa said.

Firefighters responded around noon and used a 35-foot ladder to reach Sanchez. Crews lifted the structure to free Sanchez and he was airlifted to the hospital, Costa said.

Polizzi said the investigation into possible safety and training violations would take about six months.

Two state agencies sued a Silicon Valley venture capitalist's beach management companies in San Mateo County Superior Court on Monday, seeking to establish a court-ordered right to public access to Martins Beach.

The State Lands Commission and California Coastal Commission claim that since the beach has been used as a public beach since at least the early 1900s, the public has gained a right of access under a doctrine known as implied dedication.

Beachgoers visit the crescent-shaped stretch of sand south of Half Moon Bay for picnicking, fishing, surfing, swimming and walking. It is surrounded by cliffs and the only access road is Martins Beach Road.

Vinod Khosla, a co-founder of Sun Microsystems Inc., bought 88 acres including the beach and the road in 2008 and sought to close the area to the public beginning in 2009. He claims it is private property.

In California, there is a right of public access to coastal beaches below the ordinary high tide mark. The agencies' lawsuit concerns access to the road and the sand area above the high tide mark.

The suit asks for a court declaration that a right of public access has been created through implied dedication. It also seeks an injunction barring Khosla's companies from using gates or signs to restrict access except as permitted by the Coastal Commission.

A 7-year-old was apparently almost kidnapped Monday afternoon near Meadowlands Park in Vacaville, police said.

Police received a call just before 3 p.m. from a concerned guardian who said a stranger tried to kidnap the boy at knifepoint.

Police said they flooded the area with officers to search for the suspect. The boy was apparently walking on a path to the park, toward his guardian in a car, when a stranger approached him. Apparently the stranger held a knife to the boy's face and told him go to a nearby location. But the boy was quick and ran to his guardian's car.

Police said the boy described the suspect as a white man wearing blue jeans and an orange T-shirt. The suspect was in his 30s with a goatee.

Police said they located a person matching that description but the boy told officers he was sure that wasn't the suspect. Officers continued a search and did not find the suspect. Police said they will patrol the area more frequently than usual.

Anyone with information about the attempted kidnapping is asked to call Detective Lisa Sampson at (707) 469-4851.

Tuesday will be partly cloudy. Highs will be in the mid 50s. North winds will be 5 to 10 mph, before becoming west winds at 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday night will be mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy with a chance of rain in the evening. Lows will be in the mid 40s to lower 50s. West winds will be 10 to 20 mph.

Wednesday will be sunny in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy. Highs will be in the mid 50s. Northwest winds will be 10 to 20 mph.

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MEXICO CITY - More than 40 suspects have now been identified in connection with the Nov. 4 slaughter of nine U.S. dual-national women and children in northern Mexico, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Federal prosecutors met with members of the extended LeBaron family who have lived in northern Mexico for decades. They consider themselves Mormon but are not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Many have dual U.S.-Mexican citizenship.

The prosecutors office did not offer any further details on the 40 suspects, many of whom are apparently known only by their nicknames.

Last week, prosecutors reported that three men were arrested and charged with organized crime for drug offences, though none apparently yet faces homicide charges in the case.

They said four other suspects are being held under a form of house arrest. The name of one suspect announced by federal prosecutors Monday partially matches the police chief of the town of Janos, Chihuahua, near where the killings occurred. Local media reported the police chief had been in the pay of the La Linea drug gang.

Julian LeBaron, who lost relatives and friends in the ambush, confirmed the police chief had been arrested, and added, That should be very worrying to everyone.

Who vets them? LeBaron asked. He (the police chief) was there for 13 years, he said, questioning how state authorities could not have known the man was working for a drug cartel.

Many members of the extended family have questioned why Mexicos strict gun laws prevent them from having firepower equal to the cartels.

The police have a local monopoly on weapons and they participate in the murder of women and children, LeBaron said.

Authorities have suggested a drug gang was responsible for the ambush.
Supporters of two major Pakistani opposition political parties, lawmakers, rights campaigners, and activists have expressed anger and disappointment after the lower house of the parliament passed laws granting the countrys powerful army chief a new term in office.

The January 7 move follows a Supreme Court ruling in November that granted General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the current army chief, six months in office on the condition that the government passes legislation within that period to streamline the issue of conceding a new term in office to senior military leaders by the prime minister.

People are in shock and seething with anger, says Gul Bukhari, an exiled democracy activist. The betrayal by the PML-N and the PPP is unspeakable, she added, referring to the two leading opposition parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party, by their acronyms.

Bukhari, in her 50s, has endured kidnapping, the loss of her job, and exile after participating in PML-N protests and online activism following the July 2017 sacking of party leader and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

In our struggle for civilian supremacy, people have lost their jobs, been abducted, tortured, exiled, and jailed, she said. The very same people were lied to and ditched. Benazir Bhutto, too, must be turning in her grave at what her party has done today, she added while referring to the late PPP leader and former prime minister who was assassinated in 2007.

Bukhari now says that by supporting the legislation, the PML-N has rejected Sharifs slogan of Respect the vote and has instead has disrespected millions of its voters. The PML-N has caved and provided parliamentary cover to institutionalize the military dictatorship, she noted.

Rana Sanaullah, a PML-N lawmaker, also admitted that the partys decision to unconditionally support the Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2020, the Pakistan Air Force Amendment Bill 2020 and Pakistan Navy Amendment Bill 2020, as the laws are formally called, has disappointed its supporters. The laws will enable the government to grant three-year extensions to armed forces heads while setting the maximum age for them at 64. A key provision of the laws says courts cannot review government decisions regarding extensions.

We have not violated the trust of our voters, but you can say that we have failed to take them into confidence, he told independent journalist Matiullah Jan. We now have to sit with them and give them an explanation.

Nafisa Shah, a PPP lawmaker, also attempted to pacify criticism from within her party ranks.

This bill was not about one extension which had already been given by #PTIgovt but about clearer provisions for commissioning armed forces, she wrote on Twitter, referring to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf political party by its acronym. I hope PPP workers will recognize that we tried at every step to ensure parliamentary process, debate and amendments to uphold civilian supremacy.

But lawmaker Mohsin Dawar, leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), a civil rights campaign, was among the handful of MPs who voted against the law.

Today is a very disappointing day, he told journalists outside the parliament in Islamabad. The disappointment I see among political workers in Pakistan is not a good omen for the idea of establishing civilian supremacy in the country.

Lawmaker Asad Mehmood, a leader of the Islamist Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (JUI), said they opposed the laws to preserve the gains of the activists and politicians who sacrificed their lives and wellbeing for democracy in the country.

Out message clearly is that we are not disappointed but will take the issue to the nation, he told journalists.

JUI has led the PML-N, PPP, and numerous other opposition political parties in criticizing the military for allegedly rigging the July 2018 parliamentary elections in favor of Prime Minister Imran Khans PTI. We have never recognized this [PTI] government, but these parties [the PPP and PML-N] convinced us to play our role against it inside the parliament, he noted.

PML-N and PPPs support for Bajwas new term in office has been in the making for months. Many jailed leaders of the two parties have been freed, including Sharif and PPP leader and former President Asif Ali Zardari.

However, it is not clear if they will secure more concessions from the military, which has directly ruled the country for more than 30 years since 1958 and is frequently accused of manipulating anemic civilian administrations during democratic interregnums.

Khans administration, which has thrived on lambasting PPP and PML-N leaders, however, has been quick to praise them for supporting the legislation.

Today was a historic day because we unanimously adopted this legislation, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Khans media adviser, told journalists. They proved their patriotism by standing with their national cause.

But in a January 6 statement, several Pakistani rights watchdogs opposed the laws and called on political parties to oppose them.

We are also disappointed with the political parties response, the statement noted. Instead of rushing into a discussion on the procedure for extending the army service chiefs tenure, they should have called for a debate on the need for, and legitimacy of, any extension.

The laws were tabled in the Senate or upper house of the Pakistani Parliament late on January 7. They are expected to be adopted the following day and to then be signed into law by the president.
Whats more, he triumphed, and in a production that ran for at least a year longer than anyone expected. The actor is Steven Skybell, who talks with Laura Collins-Hughes about playing Tevye in Joel Greys Yiddish staging of Fiddler on the Roof.  The New York Times
(Natural News) While Democrats flirt with treason in their opposition to President Donald Trumps recent decision to take out one of Americas biggest enemies, Qassem Suleimani, and their propagandist allies in the mainstream media eulogize him as some kind of saint, its appropriate to remember not only who he was but who enabled him: Barack Hussein Obama.

First, Suleimanis record of violence against the United States and, in particular, American forces in Iraq.

As head of the Quds Force in Irans Revolutionary Guards, Suleimani was responsible for carrying out Supreme Leader Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khameneis foreign policy throughout the Middle East.

In addition to dominating politics in neighboring Iraq and Syria, that policy includes financing, training and equipping scores of militant organizations in those countries as well as Lebanon  all of which are loyal to Tehran. These groups include Hamas and Hezbollah. The objective here is to box in Israel and, eventually, attack and destroy the Jewish state.

But also, the objective has been to keep the U.S. off-balance as it prosecuted the war against Iraqi militants in the wake of deposing dictator Saddam Hussein. In this realm, Suleimani and his commanders supplied weapons and other material support to Iraqs anti-American militants, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers.

In November 2015, CNS News reported:

Almost 200 American troops were killed by Iranian-supplied armor-penetrating weapons during the Iraq war, according to declassified Pentagon data made public for the first time on Wednesday.

According to the [U.S.] Central Command, at least 196 U.S. service members were killed in Iraq by Iranian-made explosive-formed penetrators (EFPs) from 2003 to 2011, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said during a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing, citing the declassified portion of a report provided to his office. Cruz said that number was being made public for the first time.

EFPs are a particularly nasty weapon. An EFP is a shaped charge that penetrated most armor used by coalition forces in Iraq to explode inside vehicles.

Doing a deal with the devil

Cruz also noted that U.S. Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, who was serving as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified during his confirmation hearing the previous month that as many as 500 U.S. troops had been killed by Iran-supplied weapons or, at the time, roughly 14 percent of American KIA casualties. And that number, of course, does not include troops wounded and maimed by Iran-supplied weapons.

Dunford specifically attributed responsibility for those deaths to the Islamic Revolution Guards CorpsQods Force and its commander, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, CNS News reported.

At the same time Dunford was telling Congress this, President Barack Obama was actually enabling Soleimani  in pursuit of his precious legacy with the terrorism-sponsoring Iranian regime. (Related: PREPARE for Iran to activate terror cells across America and attack the power grid, water supplies and vulnerable infrastructure.)

As the UKs Daily Telegraph reported in July 2015:

Qassem Suleimani, the head of the elite Quds Force in Irans Revolutionary Guards, fully deserves his reputation as one of the worlds leading terrorist masterminds.

For a decade or more he has been the driving force behind an array of Iranian-sponsored terrorist groups, from Hizbollah to Hamas, which have orchestrated a reign of terror throughout the Middle East.

Defense writer Con Coughlin noted further that not only did Soleimanis handiwork lead to the deaths of British troops fighting in Iraq as well, but that he was reported to have trained the Taliban how to make IEDs that killed American troops in Afghanistan.

So, he continued, you can imagine my amazement when, leafing through the more obscure annexes of President Barack Obamas historic deal with Iran (page 86 of the annex, to be precise) I found that Mr. Soleimani  as the White House no doubt now refers to him  has been granted an amnesty and taken off the list of proscribed Iranians  together with a number of senior members of the Revolutionary Guards.

In other words, Obama agreed to let this scumbag off the hook for the years and years of terrorism he spread throughout the region, to include the deaths of American soldiers and those of our allies.

Overnight, Coughlin noted, Soleimani went from one of the worlds most wanted terrorist leaders to the White Houses newest best friend.

Obama is a traitor

That wasnt all the Obama administration did to solidify a deal with Iran. He also sent pallets of cash  about $1.5 billion to be exact  aboard cargo planes to airfields in the middle of the night, money which was unquestionably later used to finance Soleimanis terrorism (even then-Secretary of State John Kerry admitted that).

Whats more, as The National Sentinel reported in May, Obama and Kerry built in a funding mechanism that would keep cash rolling into the murderous regime:

There is a reason why POTUS Donald Trump believes that Obamas second secretary of state, John Kerry, violated the Logan Act when he held secret negotiations with Iran last year: Because he thinks Kerry was trying to save a nuclear deal that included a generous revenue stream Tehran has used to spread terror that also threatens U.S. personnel.

As the Washington Free Beacon added, President Trump ended the funding mechanism through the imposition of tough sanctions, taking unprecedented steps to roll back as series of cash windfalls authorized by the Obama administration that have lined the extremist regimes pockets and enabled it to make strides in its ballistic missile technology, according to policy experts.

Now, the question is, why would an American president make these kinds of deals with a country that has sworn itself to be our enemy? There can only be one answer: That president (Obama) is anti-American and treasonous. It is beyond belief that he would not only empower Iran, but reward its most heinous sponsors of terrorism, at a cost of hundreds of American lives, by, in part, absolving the man who is most guilty of those crimes.

No wonder the insane Left is so angry at President Trump for killing Soleimani: His actions reversed a policy decision by the god king Obama and they cant abide by that.

Because they, too, are anti-American.

We have traitors in our midst; where is our political will to deal with them as the law provides?

Sources include:

TheNationalSentinel.com

CNSNews.com

Telegraph.co.uk
An off-duty Houston police sergeant working an extra job at a Midtown business on Monday opened fire on a man who was pistol-whipping and robbing a homeless person across the street, police say.

The sergeant, who was not immediately identified, around 1 p.m. spotted the struggle on Hadley Street while working at a mid-rise business office in the 2200 block of Fannin, according to Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo. Once the sergeant realized what was happening, he ran across Fannin and confronted the man, who raised the pistol toward the officer, Acevedo said.
A DIY mother who's famed for her incredible Kmart transformations has rounded up her top nine 'hacks' of 2019.

Michelle Rhodes, from Brisbane, has won a legion of fans for turning simple everyday objects into spectacular decor or furniture pieces for her home.

With 2020 well underway, the founder of The Bargain Hacker has reflected on her favourite creations, including transforming a $35 cube unit and a $69 room divider into a chic rattan cabinet.

Michelle Rhodes, from Brisbane, who's famed for her incredible Kmart transformations has rounded up her top nine 'hacks' of 2019

The DIY mother transformed a a $35 cube unit and a $69 room divider into a rattan cabinet

Michelle's top 9 'hacks' 1. Hanging baskets: Kmart's $25 bamboo ladder and $12 bike baskets 2. Coffee table: Ikea basket $39.99 and a $19 Kmart oak side table 3. Rattan cabinet: Kmart's $69 room divider and $35 unit cube 4. Tall side table: Kmart's $29 laundry hamper and $12 wooden tray 5. Side table: Kmart's $39 round table and Freedom's $30 rattan tray 6. Kitchen stools: Kmart's $25 bar stool and $17 large wooden serving board 7. Glass lamp with plant: $25 Kmart glass lamp with DIY macrame and artificial succulent 8. Macrame beach bag: Kmart's $4 placemat 9. Tiny stool: Kmart's $16 stool and $12 snood Advertisement

'I ended up creating a little rattan look cupboard using one room screen and one whole oak unit and a half of another to make a third row - as this worked out perfectly for the width,' she explained.

Other materials she used included handles from Mitre 10, legs and plywood from Bunnings and extra pieces of wood for the top and base to 'stabilise it'.

'It's not perfect and many mistakes were made along the way but I chose the oak units because they were the exact height for the screen 122cm,' she said.

'I also had to consult with hubby in regards to cutting pieces of wood accurately- something I'm still mastering.

'This is the cheaper version using the rounded sections as you only need one screen.'

After 12 months of using her ordinary bar stools she purchased for $25 each, she decided to give them a stylish makeover.

She replaced the seat with a large wooden serving board she got for $17.

In another transformation, she turned a plain $25 bamboo ladder and $12 bike baskets into a towel basket for her bathroom

After 12 months of using her plain bar stools she purchased for $25 each, she decided to give them a stylish makeover. She replaced the seat with a wooden serving board she got for $17

'I chose this as a suitable replacement because not only does it look good - it's bigger, thicker and has a great wood grain. 'I also love the fact that you have handles to hold onto,' she said.

'It was such an easy job unscrewing the old top and then putting on the new one that it only took about 30mins. That drill my hubby bought me has come in so handy.'

In another transformation, she turned a plain $25 bamboo ladder and $12 bike baskets into a towel basket for her bathroom.

'When I spotted the beautiful wicker bike baskets in Kmart for $12 I just knew I had to create something with them,' she said.

'The leather look buckle straps are perfect for attaching onto the $25 Kmart bamboo ladder and really give the baskets a fabulous look.'

'I just had to rearrange the straps a little higher to balance out the baskets. Also to get the baskets to sit properly on the rungs I put the buckles on the second last hole to hang a little lower.'
A Special Task Force team of the Uttar Pradesh police on Tuesday arrested a man wanted for allegedly killing a truck driver and his helper two years ago, officials said.

Accused Hitesh Mahendru alias Kalia had killed the duo in Sambhal district, dumped their bodies in a jungle and fled with their Canter truck containing a consignment of guthka (tobacco) worth over Rs 1 cr.

A native of Rohtash Nagar in Delhi's Shahdara region, 40-year-old Mahendru was picked up by the Noida unit of the STF from Loni area of Ghaziabad around 1.30 pm on Tuesday, an official said.

"We had got an input about his movement in Loni area today. Working on that, we laid a trap and arrested Mahendru. We also recovered a pistol and ammunition from him and his car was impounded," said STF's Deputy Superintendent of Police Raj Kumar Mishra.

He said the accused worked with his gang and the Canter he had looted in 2018 contained Shikhar Guthka worth over Rs 1 crore.

"In 2017 also, his gang had targeted a truck transporting gutkha. It was of Rajnigandha brand and its estimated worth was around Rs 1.5 crore," Mishra said.

After the 2017 loot, Mahendru was held by the police in Aligarh and jailed for two months but after that, he re-engaged Alon with his gang in criminal activities.

The gutkha looted by the gang would eventually be supplied in the market and they would make money from it, he said.

FIRs have been previously registered against him at police stations in Aligarh and Sambhal and a fresh case has been lodged in Ghaziabad, the STF said.

Further probe is being carried out by the local police station in Loni, the agency added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Abandoned kitten who lost eyesight finds home with family of adopted children originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com

A kitten has found her forever home with a family of kids who were adopted one month before her.

On Dec. 14, Alanna Lundin and her kids -- Cassandra, 18, Elijah, 14, and Samantha, 13 -- took in Ilene the kitten.

Ilene was found wrapped in a pile of trash by a good Samaritan in California and brought to the Oregon Humane Society.

The tiny feline was in need of a good home.

"My youngest felt it was similar to her situation," Lundin, of Beaverton, Oregon, told "Good Morning America." "She said, 'I want to give Ilene a loving family that could take care of her' since she received the same thing, essentially."

PHOTO: On Nov. 1, Alanna Lundin officially adopted Cassandra, Elijah and Samantha -- the youngest of a sibling group of six. The single mother had fostered them for 1,183 days. (Oregon Humane Society)

On Nov. 1, Lundin officially adopted Cassandra, Elijah and Samantha -- the youngest of a sibling group of six. The single mother had fostered them for 1,183 days.

MORE: This adorable puppy with a mustache is up for adoption and could become a social media star

"They had never been to school before, they came to me and didn't know how read," Lundin said, confirming the kids were a product of neglect. "They never cleaned before ... never been to the doctor. I think it just tugged at my heart."

Ilene the kitten was found wrapped in a pile of trash by a good Samaritan in California and brought to the Oregon Humane Society. She has a condition which resulted in her blindness. She is held in this undated photo with one of her owners, Elijah, 14. (Oregon Humane Society )

She added, "We feel safe now that we're together for real."

As a family, Lundin and the kids have enjoyed fostering shelter animals through OHS. They've even adopted three cats from the organization.

PHOTO: Ilene the kitten was found wrapped in a pile of trash by a good Samaritan in California and brought to the Oregon Humane Society. (Oregon Humane Society)

When Lundin saw Ilene's story on the local news, she knew her teens would want to adopt the kitten.

"I sent them a text and I said, 'Hey look at this poor baby what do you think?'" she recalled. "All of them said, 'Can we have her? Can we help her?'"

PHOTO: Ilene the kitten was found wrapped in a pile of trash by a good Samaritan in California and brought to the Oregon Humane Society. She has a condition which resulted in her blindness. (Oregon Humane Society)

MORE: Boy gets adopted on the same day his family adopts a dog: 'I was adopted and now I'm ready to do it for him'

Laura Klink, public information manager at OHS, said Ilene came to the shelter with an eye condition called microphthalmia, which could be caused by trauma or infection.

Story continues

Ilene is completely blind and uses her other senses to climb on things and find her litter box.

PHOTO: On Dec. 14, Alanna Lundin of Beaverton, Oregon, and her kids -- Cassandra, 18, Elijah, 14, and Samantha, 13 -- took in Ilene the kitten. (Oregon Humane Society )

Klink said Lundin and her son waited all night outside OHS to ensure they'd be the first to apply for Ilene's adoption.

"We wanted to make sure Ilene went to a home that was well-versed in her needs and these guys are doing great," Klink told "GMA" of Lundin and the kids.

PHOTO: On Dec. 14, Alanna Lundin of Beaverton, Oregon, and her kids -- Cassandra, 18, Elijah, 14, and Samantha, 13 -- took in Ilene the kitten. (Oregon Humane Society)

"She charmed all of us since the minute she got here," she added of the kitten.

Lundin said Ilene is doing well and loves to cuddle with the family.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Scattered snow flurries and snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low -8F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 30%..

Tonight

Scattered snow flurries and snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low -8F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Patriot missile units are seen inside the United States Air Force's Osan Air Base in Peongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, October 2018. Korea Times file



South Korea has moved a Patriot missile unit from a southeastern region to central Seoul, sources said Tuesday, as part of efforts to better defend key facilities from potential threats from North Korea.



The Air Force unit, which previously was stationed in North Gyeongsang Province, was relocated to a former military installation at Mount Bukak behind the presidential office compound earlier this month, according to the sources.






BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

Trend:

Commenting on the death of the Azerbaijani border guard, Armenian Defense Ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan wrote on his Facebook page that this happened as a result of alleged attempt of the Azerbaijani side to carry out engineering work at the forefront and to move forward its positions at the border.

Azerbaijans State Border Service told Trend that the State Border Service divisions havent carried out any engineering work there.

"This statement made by the official representative of Armenian Armed Forces is an outright lie and an attempt to justify the flagrant fact of the ceasefire violation by the Armenian Armed Forces units, and also aims to mislead the public. For the entire period of the military service, Azerbaijans State Border Service units have observed numerous attempts to create tension on the contact line in the direction of Gazakh and Agstafa districts on the border with Armenia namely by Armenian armed forces units, which have received an adequate response.
Keypoint Intelligence - Buyers Lab (BLI), the worlds leading independent provider of testing services and analytical information to the document imaging industry, today announced its Pick award recipients in the Printer/MFP category, with the accolades going to stellar devices from Epson, Fuji Xerox, HP, Ricoh, and Sharp. Awarded twice annually for office equipment, Picks acknowledge the products that gave the best performances in Buyers Labs extensive suite of lab tests in the previous six months.

The BLI Winter 2020 Printer/MFP Pick awards go to the following exceptional devices*:

EPSON ECOTANK ET-2760

Outstanding Personal Color Inkjet All-in-One

EPSON ECOTANK ET-4760

Outstanding SOHO Color Inkjet All-in-One

FUJI XEROX DOCUPRINT 4405 D

Outstanding Printer for SMBs

HP COLOR LASERJET ENTERPRISE M751 SERIES

Outstanding Color Printer for Mid-Size to Large Workgroups

HP COLOR LASERJET PRO MFP M479 SERIES

Outstanding Color MFP for Small Workgroups

HP LASERJET ENTERPRISE M507 SERIES

Outstanding Printer for Mid-Size Workgroups

HP LASERJET PRO MFP M428 SERIES

Outstanding MFP for Small Workgroups

RICOH IM C300 SERIES

Outstanding Color MFP for Mid-Size Workgroups

SHARP MX-B476W

Outstanding MFP for Mid-Size Workgroups

SHARP MX-C304W

Outstanding Color MFP for SMBs

*NOT ALL PRODUCTS ARE SOLD IN ALL REGIONS.

Please visit the Keypoint Intelligence website to read the full press release.

Stay tuned for our announcements of more prestigious awards!

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8: Copier MFP, Printer/MFP, and Scanner Line of the Year awards

ABOUT KEYPOINT INTELLIGENCE - BUYERS LAB

Keypoint Intelligence is a one-stop shop for the digital imaging industry. With our unparalleled services and unmatched depth of knowledge, we cut through the noise of data to offer clients the independent insights and responsive tools they need in those mission-critical moments that define their products and empower their sales.

For over 50 years, Buyers Lab has been the global document imaging industrys resource for unbiased and reliable information, test data, and competitive selling tools. What started out as a consumer-based publication about office equipment has become an all-encompassing industry resource. Buyers Lab evolves in tandem with the ever-changing landscape of document imaging solutions, constantly updating our methods, expanding our offerings, and tracking cutting-edge developments.

ABOUT BUYERS LAB PICK AWARDS

Buyers Lab Picks stand alone in the industry and are hard-earned awards as they are based on rigorous testing, including an extensive durability assessment and evaluation of key attributes such as usability, image quality, and value. Each product that passes our lab test earns Buyers Labs Recommended or Highly Recommended seal and our Certificate of Reliability, with the best performers qualifying as Pick contenders.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow Keypoint Intelligence - Buyers Lab on Twitter

Connect with Keypoint Intelligence - Buyers Lab on LinkedIn

CONTACT

Deanna Flanick

+1 973-797-2145

deanna.flanick@keypointintelligence.com
Lack of diversity highlighted as all 20 nominees in acting categories for UK film bodys awards are white.

Cinema fans and critics have slammed a United Kingdom film body over a lack of diversity among the nominees for its annual film awards.

All 20 acting nominees for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards, announced on Tuesday, were white.

All best director nominees were men for the seventh consecutive year, and four out of five were white.

Marc Samuelson, the chair of BAFTAs film committee, blamed the infuriating lack of diversity in the acting nominations on industry-wide failings in representation.

Its just a frustration that the industry is not moving as fast as certainly the whole BAFTA team would like it to be, he told Variety magazine.

However, social media users were quick to point out acclaimed performances by actors such as Lupita Nyongo in the film Us.

https://twitter.com/ptanderstan/status/1214576466995879937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Meanwhile, white actresses Scarlett Johansson and Margot Robbie received two nominations each, prompting one Twitter user to say: Its actually laughable how Bafta went out of their way not to nominate a woc [woman of colour].

On Sunday, United States rapper Awkwafina made history, becoming the first Asian-American woman to take home a Golden Globe for Lead Actress in a Comedy or Musical for her role in The Farewell.

Golden Globe winner Awkwafina was not included among the BAFTA nominees [Mike Blake/Reuters]

Awkwafina was included in BAFTAs EE Rising Star category, in a more diverse group that included Michael Ward, Jack Lowden, Kelvin Harrison Jr, and Kaityln Dever.

The EE Rising Star award is the only BAFTA category for which the public can vote.

Several critics had hoped Greta Gerwig  who was also snubbed by the Golden Globes  would receive a BAFTA nomination for her reworking of Little Women.

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4s Today Programme, BAFTA CEO Amanda Berry said she was disappointed by the lack of gender diversity in the directing category, but noted that 13 female directors were nominated in other categories, including Best Short Film and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Directors Joanna Hogg and Greta Gerwig (pictured) were notably absent among the BAFTA nominees for Best Direction [File: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters]

Asad Dhunna, founder of The Unmistakables, a culture and communications consultancy, told Al Jazeera that diversity in awards events could help encourage better representation in the film industry.

People need to see themselves reflected in all industries for them to believe they have a place within them, he told Al Jazeera.

We need to see more original storytelling and narratives that truly reflect British diversity  Its not just about celebrating existing talent in the arts. Its about recognising and elevating the contribution of artists of different backgrounds so that others can follow on their paths.

We encourage #BAFTA to review from the inside out how diversity is embedded within the way the film industry operates. It goes beyond saying, it's about doing. It goes beyond showing faces, and to truly backing diverse stories created by more diverse talent.  The Unmistakables (@_unmistakables) January 7, 2020

Among the films nominated, Todd Phillipss Joker received 11 nominations, while Martin Scorseses The Irishman and Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood scored 10 nods each.

For Sama, a harrowing look at the female experience of war shot over four years in the Syrian city of Aleppo, became the most-nominated documentary in BAFTA history, with four nominations.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on February 2 at Londons Royal Albert Hall.

See the full list of nominees below:

Best Film

1917

The Irishman

Joker

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Parasite

Outstanding British Film

1917

Bait

For Sama

Rocketman



Sorry We Missed You

The Two Popes

Leading Actress

Jessie Buckley  Wild Rose

Scarlett Johansson  Marriage Story

Saoirse Ronan  Little Women

Charlize Theron  Bombshell

Renee Zellweger  Judy

Leading Actor

Leonardo DiCaprio  Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Adam Driver  Marriage Story

Taron Egerton  Rocketman

Joaquin Phoenix  Joker

Jonathan Pryce  The Two Popes

Supporting Actress

Laura Dern  Marriage Story

Scarlett Johansson  Jojo Rabbit

Florence Pugh  Little Women

Margot Robbie  Bombshell

Margot Robbie  Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Supporting Actor

Tom Hanks  A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Anthony Hopkins  The Two Popes

Al Pacino  The Irishman

Joe Pesci  The Irishman

Brad Pitt  Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Director

Sam Mendes  1917

Martin Scorsese  The Irishman

Todd Phillips  Joker

Quentin Tarantino  Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Bong Joon-ho  Parasite

EE Rising Star Award

Awkwafina

Jack Lowden

Kaitlyn Dever

Kelvin Harrison Jr

Michael Ward

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer

Bait

For Sama

Maiden

Only You

Retablo

Film Not in the English Language

The Farewell

For Sama

Pain and Glory

Parasite

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Documentary

American Factory

Apollo 11

For Sama

Diego Maradona

The Great Hack

Animated Film

Frozen 2

Klaus

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Toy Story 4

Original Screenplay

Booksmart

Knives Out

Marriage Story

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Parasite

Adapted Screenplay

The Irishman

Jojo Rabbit

Joker

Little Women

The Two Popes

Original Score

1917

Jojo Rabbit

Joker

Little Women

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Cinematography

1917

The Irishman

Joker

Le Mans 66 (Ford v Ferrari)

The Lighthouse

Costume Design

The Irishman

Jojo Rabbit

Judy

Little Women

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Editing

The Irishman

Jojo Rabbit

Joker

Le Mans 66 (Ford v Ferrari)

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Production Design

1917

The Irishman

Jojo Rabbit

Joker

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Make Up and Hair

1917

Bombshell

Joker

Judy

Rocketman

Sound

1917

Joker

Le Mans 66 (Ford v Ferrari)

Rocketman

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Special Visual Effects

1917

Avengers: Endgame

The Irishman

The Lion King

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Casting

Joker

Marriage Story

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

The Personal History of David Copperfield

The Two Popes

British Short Film

Azaar

Goldfish

Kamali

Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If Youre a Girl)

The Trap

British Short Animation

Grandad Was A Romantic

In Her Boots

The Magic Boat

Charlotte Mitchell contributed to this report.
A woman has been rushed to hospital after injuring herself when she apparently jumped from rocks at Kiama blowhole.

Paramedics were called to the tourist hotspot at 8.30am to reports that the 19-year-old woman had jumped into the blowhole.

She was winched from the water by a rescue helicopter after reporting she had a tingling in her legs and was taken to hospital in stable condition.

A woman has been rushed to hospital after injuring herself when she apparently jumped from rocks at Kiama blowhole (pictured)

The woman was with two other men at the time who were not injured, a spokesman for NSW Ambulance told Daily Mail Australia.

The Kiama blowhole is popular with tourists who often make jumps of up to 10 metres from the rocks into the water.
Cardston, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2020) - American Creek Resources Ltd. (TSXV: AMK) (OTC Pink: ACKRF) ("American Creek") ("the Corporation") is pleased to report that 2019 was a pivotal year for the company which is now positioned to take full advantage of the precious metals bull run that many experts believe we are only in the early stages of, even though gold hit a 7 year high of $1,580 this week. Looking back, on the first day of trading in 2019 AMK closed at $0.03 and on the last day of trading in 2019 AMK closed at $0.09 representing a significant annual increase. Management envisions positive developments to continue in 2020 through the geological advancements of its properties including the potential for a world class resource on the Treaty Creek JV project located in the "Golden Triangle" of Northwestern British Columbia.

Darren Blaney, CEO of American Creek stated: "This past year was a significant turning point for the company and will be the catalyst for more exciting developments in 2020. The company has strengthened its position both financially and strategically and is poised to benefit from not only a strengthening gold and silver market but also from the investment community becoming more aware of the company's projects and potential. The Treaty Creek project will be advancing in a major way and several of our other projects including the Dunwell and Gold Hill will also be the focus of attention this year. We very much look forward to 2020 and wish all of our shareholders the very best this upcoming year!"





Image of the Goldstorm Zone found along the base of this hill at Treaty Creek.

To view an enhanced version of this image, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/682/51189_2c4af78684226b7e_001full.jpg

Financial Position

The company raised over $3.3 million in 2019 through common and flow-through shares along with the exercise of warrants. Through these events the company was able to strengthen existing alliances and create a number of new highly strategic relationships bringing strength, credibility and future increased exposure to American Creek.

Of note, Canadian billionaire Eric Sprott made two separate investments of $1,000,000 into American Creek as well as an additional $8,400,000 investment in our JV partner Tudor Gold for the development of the Treaty Creek property. This makes Mr. Sprott the largest external investor in Treaty Creek. He recently stated that he is "very excited about the opportunity there as the project has a great shot at having 20 million ounces."

Geological Position

TREATY CREEK

The 2019 drilling at Treaty Creek was very successful and produced some of the most significant gold intercepts in the exploration industry. The focus has been on the gold enriched Goldstorm Zone which is on trend with, and part of, the same geological system as Seabridge Gold's neighboring KSM deposits. With approximately one billion tonnes of gold enriched rock identified (potential for a resource calculation in 2020), the Goldstorm has potential to become a world class gold deposit. The 2019 drilling was designed to define a gold deposit with the potential of being open pit mined. The upcoming 2020 drilling is designed to significantly expand the deposit as the system is open to the north, the east and at depth.

The Treaty Creek Project is a joint venture with Tudor Gold owning 3/5th and acting as project operator. American Creek and Teuton Resources each have a 1/5th interest in the project. American Creek and Teuton are both fully carried until such time as a Production Notice is issued, at which time they are required to contribute their respective 20% share of development costs. Until such time, Tudor is required to fund all exploration and development costs while both American Creek and Teuton have "free rides".

DUNWELL MINE

A maiden drill program was initiated in 2019 on the 100% owned Dunwell Mine project located in the heart of the Golden Triangle a few kilometers outside of Stewart, BC. This past producing high grade mine (gold, silver, lead, zinc) holds tremendous potential and may have the best logistics found in the Golden Triangle. Assays from the program are currently pending.

GOLD HILL AND OTHER PROJECTS

The Gold Hill property is believed to contain the principle source lode for Canada's fourth largest placer deposit located downstream (Wild Horse River Gold Rush) which produced over 48 tonnes gold (and is still producing). Work is planned for 2020 which will advance this highly prospective project.

American Creek also holds several other high potential projects in other prospective areas of BC such as the Austruck-Bonanza, Ample Goldmax, Silver Side, and Glitter King.

Marketing

American Creek will be going to great lengths in 2020 to increase the Corporation's exposure and recognition. Near future events including attending many conferences including the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (Vancouver), AME Roundup (Vancouver), Red Cloud (Toronto), Raise Capital (Toronto), and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention (Toronto).

About American Creek

American Creek is a Canadian mineral exploration company with a strong portfolio of gold and silver properties in British Columbia. Three of those properties are located in the prolific "Golden Triangle"; the Treaty Creek and Electrum joint venture projects with Tudor Gold/Walter Storm as well as the 100% owned past producing Dunwell Mine.

More information about the Treaty Creek Project can be found here: https://americancreek.com/index.php/projects/treaty-creek/home

An exploration program is ongoing on American Creek's 100% owned Dunwell Mine property located near Stewart. More information can be found here: https://americancreek.com/index.php/projects/dunwell-mine

The Corporation also holds the Gold Hill, Austruck-Bonanza, Ample Goldmax, Silver Side, and Glitter King properties located in other prospective areas of the province.

For further information please contact Kelvin Burton at: Phone: 403 752-4040 or Email: info@americancreek.com. Information relating to the Corporation is available on its website at www.americancreek.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.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the Corporation's management discussion and analysis filed with applicable Canadian securities regulators, which can be found under the Corporation's profile on www.sedar.com. The Corporation does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51189
T he Duke and Duchess of Sussex have carried out their first official engagement of the year with a special trip to Canadas High Commission in central London.

The royal couple waved and smiled as they arrived at Canada House to thank staff for the warm hospitality they received in the country during their extended festive break.

Harry and Meghan spoke of the unbelievable welcome they received while in the Commonwealth country, and joked that their son Archie was "mesmerised" by the scenery.

The duke and duchess spent the past six weeks in North America where they enjoyed some "much-needed" family time with their adorable eight-month-old.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Canada House in London 1 /13 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Canada House in London PA Getty Images PA AFP via Getty Images PA PA PA Getty Images Getty Images PA

The Sussexes last visited Canada House in March 2019 to mark Commonwealth Day, but this time they simply wished to express gratitude for the "support they received during their recent stay".

The couple were described by a royal aide as feeling energised and excited to be back in the UK, after spending most of December in the province of British Columbia, where they were spotted hiking on Vancouver Island.

The duke and duchess also mingled with different members of the High Commission team who work in a range of sectors supporting the partnership between Canada and the UK.

As they greeted staff on the Commissions grand staircase, the duke asked: Anyone here from British Colombia?

When a few hands went up, he said: What a beautiful place you live in.

Harry went on to say Thank you so much, and made the group laugh when he added not that you had anything much to do with it.

But the warmth and hospitality we were shown while there was unbelievable, and thats exactly why we chose to go out there.

Meghan smiles as she leave's Canada House on Tuesday afternoon / AP

Meghan lived and worked in Toronto during her time starring in the popular US drama Suits, and the couple were famously pictured together at the 2017 Invictus Games in the Canadian city.

This afternoon the duchess stood beside her husband as she told the Canada House staff: I want to say happy new year and thank you, and as my husband said, my goodness it was just such an incredible time we were able to have there, and with our son too.

And just to be able to take in the warmth that we experienced from the people, but also just to walk around and just see the beauty of Canada.

To see Archie go ahhh when you walk by, and just see how stunning it is  so it meant a lot to us.

Harry and Meghan release new photo of Archie in New Year message

After a meeting in the British Columbia Room with Janice Charette, the Canadian High Commissioner, Harry said: There is a hell of a lot of work to be done and things to be talked through.

He told Canada House staff: We had a useful conversation. We hope to see you all again soon.

Ms Charette, who entertained the couple to tea, oat biscuits, and Nanaimo bars - a chocolate, custard and coconut cake from the city of Nanaimo on Victoria Island - said she and the couple had discussed areas of interest in which they could work together, such as highlighting the dangers of climate change, promotion gender equality, and womens empowerment.

We talked about a few of those things, whether it is challenges relating to gender equality, gender empowerment, issues of homelessness whether thats due to mental health stigma, issues of veterans homelessness, issues related to the Invictus Games, and challenges of conservation and climate change, she said.

She added: The purpose of their visit was to come here and really say thank you to Canada for what I think was a really wonderful holiday period they spent in Canada.

I think what they said to us in the conversation was they enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Canada but also the wonderful people of Canada, she added. I think it has a special place in their hearts, Canada.

During their hour-long visit the royal couple also toured an exhibition of work by the indigenous woman Canadian artist Skawennati.

Aides said Meghan had wanted to visit the Hubb Community Kitchen earlier to get an update on their latest work. She just wanted to check in and the Duke accompanied her, a spokeswoman said.

The royal couple, who had previously visited Canada House on Commonwealth Day in March last year, are not expected to undertake any further public engagements this week.

Tuesdays visit is the first time the couple have carried out royal duties in the UK since Remembrance Sunday service in November.

They arrived at Canada House following a private visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen, in North Kensington.

The centre is run by a group of Grenfell women whose recipes feature in a cookbook backed by Meghan in 2018.
An agricultural haulage company has been fined thousands after an employee fell from height and sustained severe injuries.

W D Cormack & Sons, a partnership operating a haulage business, has been ordered to pay 8,000 after a driver fell nearly three metres from the trailer to the ground.

Perth Sheriff Court heard that on 9 February 2016, the employee was securing a load of grain bags on a curtain-sider trailer, at Thormean Granary, Milnathort.

He then fell from the trailer to the ground, sustaining severe injuries as a result of the fall.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identified that there was a failure to make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and a failure to provide and maintain a safe system of work.

W D Cormack & Sons of, Castletown, Thurso pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Norman Schouten said: This incident could have been avoided by implementing effective measures to control work at height on trailers.

Load securing systems, which allow drivers to secure loads from the ground, can be easily fitted to curtain-siders.

Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standard.
REDMOND, Ore.  A Eugene man is accused of attacking a 70-year-old motel owner, and a Deschutes County grand jury has called for attempted murder and hate crime charges.

The attack happened at the Hub Motel in Redmond on New Years Eve.

The Deschutes County District Attorneys Office said James Lamb, 53, of Eugene was staying at the motel and broke into the managers office and attacked the motels owner. She suffered broken bones and remains in the hospital. She is expected to survive.

In total, Lamb has been charged with one count of second-degree attempted murder, two counts of first-degree bias crime, one count of second-degree assault, once count of second-degree burglary, and one count each of strangulation, menacing and second-degree criminal mischief.

The bias crimes are based on Lambs statements about the victims country of origin, India, and his expressed desire to rid America of people like her, the DAs office said in a news release.

The victim of this unprovoked assault provided heroic testimony to the grand jury from her hospital bed, District Attorney John Hummel said. Too many people in Oregon are silenced by intimidation and violence because of how they look, who they love, or to whom they pray. Because of this womans strength, and because the Oregon Legislature passed a law last year to strengthen Oregons hate crime law, justice will be delivered in this case. Hate is not tolerated in Deschutes County.

The bias charges are possible because of Oregons revised hate crime law passed last year in the Oregon Legislature that allows felony charges to be leveled if a defendant acts alone in a hate crime. Previously, two or more people needed to be involved in a hate crime to allow for felony charges.

Lambs next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 10.
PARIS (Reuters) - French oil major Total (TOTF.PA) said on Monday that strikes against the governments pension reform were having no impact on its fuel supply and distribution ahead of a four-day nationwide strike in French oil refineries.

A day before unions are starting a 96-hour strike and protest actions at refineries in France, oil companies and the government are saying that motorists need not fear fuel shortages, but union leaders say they are determined to squeeze supplies until the government drops its pension reform plans.

Our gas stations are well stocked on Monday. The protest movement that has been announced will have no impact on the supply of our network from Jan. 7 to 10 and beyond, Total said in a statement.

Total said that only 26 - or just 0.7% - of its 3,500 gas stations had supply problems on Monday morning and that there was no risk of shortages in its retail network.

Hard-line CGT union official Thierry Defresne told Reuters that seven out of eight French refineries will be on strike for 96 hours from Tuesday to Friday.

He said those refineries will close completely and will not distribute a single product, including no kerosene fuel for airplanes.

There will be disturbances to fuel supply. Our goal is not to make motorists lives miserable. We want to show that workers are united against this reform, Defresne said.

About 50% of the fuel sold in France is not produced in local refineries but imported, which reduces the impact of French refinery strikes, an industry source said.

Total said its four oil refineries in Donges, Feyzin, Normandie and Grandpuits as well as its bio-refinery at La Mede were in operation.

It said that in Donges, Feyzin and Normandie products were shipped normally by trucks and pipeline, but that Grandpuits and La Mede could only be supplied by pipeline.

Total also said that with the exception of two fuel storage facilities attached to Grandpuits and La Mede, no depots were blocked. Nationwide, France has some 200 depots from where fuel is distributed to gas stations.

Public transport sector workers at national railway SNCF and Paris metro operator RATP have been on strike for more than a month, and on Thursday unions are organising a fourth day of nationwide protest marches against President Emmanuel Macrons pension reform plans.
[January 07, 2020] smartTrade Announces Strong Growth for 2019 Which Is Set to Continue In 2020

smartTrade, a global leader in multi-asset electronic trading solutions, announces that the company has gone through significant growth in 2019. Multiple initiatives such as geographical and market segment expansion have contributed to these excellent results. New markets penetration and market shares increase: smartTrade continues to develop its footprint in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, North America, Singapore, Switzerland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. The company has onboarded customers in new regions such as Central America, Israel, Liechtenstein and Turkey. smartTrade plans to continue to grow in emerging and developing countries as the market making automatisation demand for local currencies is high and continues to grow. Market segment opportunities: Buy side firms are adopting smartTrade's solutions seeking more sophisticated features, workflows and pre/post allocations support to increase their performance and flexibility whereas sell side companies show an increased demand for algos and internalisation. The adoption of LiquidityFX, smartTrade's Foreign Exchange trading platform, is boosted by the addition of new asset classes such as cryptocurrencies, money markets and options. The demand for smartFI, smartTrade's Fixed Income trading latform, is accelerating, as it is a perfect fit for fixed income buy and sell side firms seeking to differentiate their offering and firms looking to solve fragmentation and lack of liquidity.



Global expansion: To better serve its growing customer base and strong demand in Switzerland, smartTrade has opened a new subsidiary in Geneva. smartTrade is also growing its sales team and new positions are open nearly in all departments and subsidiaries: Aix en Provence, Geneva, London, Milan, New York, Singapore and Tokyo. With the significant number of customers, the company is hiring to continue delivering very high-quality services to its clients. Recognised expertise: In 2019, smartTrade's solutions received strong market recognition by industry experts and won multiple awards: Best OMS, Best Crypto Trading Platform, Best Trading System, Best Buy (News - Alert)-Side EMS, Best Liquidity Aggregation.

David VINCENT, CEO of smartTrade Technologies said: "For several years, smartTrade has experienced strong growth in its number of customers, projects and employees. I am very happy to have set up an organizational structure that allows us to grow in an efficient and focused way. Our goal is to continue to ensure maximum satisfaction for our clients and employees." About smartTrade Technologies:

smartTrade Technologies, a multi-asset electronic trading solutions pioneer, delivers innovative and intelligent technology enabling you to focus on your trading and grow your business while lowering total cost of ownership and allowing you to quickly adapt to changing market requirements.

smartTrade Technologies provides agile end-to-end trading solutions supporting Foreign Exchange, Fixed Income, Equities and Derivatives asset classes with connectivity to over 120 liquidity providers, aggregation, smart order routing, order management, pricing, distribution, risk management capabilities and a HTML5 user interface. We work with a variety of clients ranging from banks, brokers and hedge funds to proprietary trading desks. LiquidityFX for FX and smartFI for Fixed Income, are solutions available as software only or as a fully managed and hosted service, colocated in all the main market places globally. smartANALYTICS, our cross-asset big data analytics solution, allows the creation of historical and real-time dashboards and reports to interact in a more efficient way with the markets and end clients. For more information, visit www.smart-trade.net View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005011/en/

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There are multiple cases of domestic abuse. Women are mostly the victim of these types of crimes. Some of the husbands are high-profile personalities in different industries. Some women find it hard to escape their home under some consequences. They are troubled with the difficulties of having to start a new life without the person whom they thought would take care of them forever.

A 25 years old wife of Mexican origin was murdered by her spouse. It was also reported that after her death, she had called the center for women's justice in there are for sixteen times before her death.

There are multiple misconceptions regarding the case of domestic abuse. Many believe that the victim must be able to leave their home and ask for help to be free from the abuse.

The suspect to an abuse case will do everything in their power to take control of their victims. What makes the story sad is that despite having the victim call for help in the agency that would've helped her, she died a tragic death from her abuser because of the failure of the agency to take immediate action.

The tragic death of the Mexican woman may have been prevented. The incident had occurred in the previous year but new information had surfaced just recently to determine the story of how she lost her life from the abuse.

According to multiple news articles, the death of Vanesa Gaytan Ochoa was not stopped despite her being able to contact sixteen times the Centro de Justicia para las Mujeres located in Jalisco, Mexico.

Ochoa was reported to have tried to contact the agency for the last time last April 13. She was asking for protection from her abusive husband. The name of her husband was Irwin Emmanuel Ramirez Barajas. She lost her life in the hands of her husband twelve days after her last call to the Centro de Justicia para las Mujeres.

According to the Human Rights Commission, the agency did not exert any effort to determine the truthfulness of the report of the Mexican woman and that the agency did not do any act to determine if the suspect was performing illegal acts.

During the day that Ochoa was with her husband, she called her lawyer and told him that she was with her spouse. Her lawyer advised her to visit the mansion of the governor. She rode a cab to visit the governor's mansion. She had no idea that her husband had followed her.

Ochoa was standing outside of the mansion of the governor when her husband had hit her while riding his car. Her spouse got out of the car and stabbed her until she lost her life. The entire illegal activity was recorded on a surveillance cam.

The Mexican woman did not do anything wrong. She did everything she can to escape from her abuser. There was a restraining order against her spouse and he kept on violating it.

The husband of Ochoa was immediately shot by the guard on duty at the mansion of the governor.

According to multiple news reports, it is unclear whom to blame on the situation. Many people are like her who lost their lives from domestic abuse. The abusers from these incidents have different agendas and are sometimes under the influence of illegal substances that influenced them to perform such illicit and inhumane acts.
OAKLAND (BCN)

State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, came to Oakland on Tuesday to promote a bill that would boost construction of apartment buildings and condominiums in an effort to address the state's housing shortage.

But Wiener and other speakers at a news conference on the steps of City Hall were drowned out by protesters, including people from the homeless activist group Moms 4 Housing, who said Senate Bill 50 wouldn't provide enough affordable housing.

Wiener has tried for several years to get the state Legislature to pass his bill, which he said would eliminate restrictive low-density zoning near public transit and job centers and create new zoning standards for those areas.

SB 50 must pass the Senate Appropriations Committee and then the full Senate by the end of January in order to move forward in the new legislative session.

Wiener told reporters after the noisy news conference ended that he's "cautiously optimistic we will pass this to the Senate floor."

At the beginning of the news conference, Wiener said the legislation is needed because, "We have a terrible housing crisis in California."

Wiener said he recently revised SB 50 to allow for more flexibility in how best to implement the legislation, such as creating a two-year delayed implementation period and allowing cities to craft their own alternative plans that meet the bill's goals.

He said that under his bill, cities won't be able to limit density near job or transit centers and will be required to allow small and mid-size apartment buildings.

Wiener said an example is that cities will be able to build taller in one area but shorter in another, or denser in one area but less dense in another.

He said SB 50 guarantees that up to 25 percent of units must be affordable, protects tenants by restricting demolitions of sound housing and has a five-year delayed implementation in low-income communities that are at risk of gentrification.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, and other elected officials joined Wiener at the news conference to speak in support of his bill.

But their remarks were mostly drowned out by a large group of housing activists who loudly shouted slogans such as, "Affordability -- the rent's too high!" and "Housing for people, not for profit!"

Other slogans that the protesters chanted were, "Give the moms a home today!" and, "Where's the Affordable Housing?"

When a representative from the California Association of Realtors tried to speak, the protesters booed her and shouted, "No more speculators!"

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.
OTTAWA - President Donald Trump's decision to order the killing of a top Iranian general has elevated his disregard of Canada and other American allies to a new level, says Barack Obama's former envoy to Ottawa.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman speaks at a breakfast function in Ottawa, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. Barack Obama's former ambassador to Canada says President Donald Trump's decision to order the killing of a top Iranian general represents the latest instance of the mercurial U.S. president throwing allies such as Canada under buses. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - President Donald Trump's decision to order the killing of a top Iranian general has elevated his disregard of Canada and other American allies to a new level, says Barack Obama's former envoy to Ottawa.

Former ambassador Bruce Heyman says the killing of Iranian Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani by a U.S. drone near Baghdad's airport last week is part of a pattern of disruptive international decisions that have left Washington's allies "in really tough spots."

Past examples include the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate-change agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and the Iran nuclear deal, which included the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany, he said.

Those decisions caused serious headaches for American allies, including Canada, while last Friday's killing has imperilled the NATO training mission in Iraq that Canada currently leads, said Heyman. Iraq is ordering all international troops out of the country because it views the American attack on its soil as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty.

"I think this is at a different level," Heyman said in an interview.

"What concerns me, at least as publicly reported, is that the U.S. did not consult with our allies prior to this action. And if that is the case, it put Canada and others in a fairly difficult and complex situation on the ground."

Heyman, a Democrat, has been a fierce critic of Trump, and has emerged as a vocal booster of Canada-U.S. relations during the Republican president's rocky term in office. He was also the American diplomat who helped broker Canada's entry into Iraq in 2014 as a U.S. ally in its fight against the spread of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in that country and neighbouring Syria.

Robert Malley, the president of the International Crisis Group, said Trump's decision to order the drone strike was in part motivated by his desire to project a stance on Iran that was "anti-Obama at all costs," while projecting that the U.S. is not fearful of any consequences.

"They are sending the message: don't mess with us; we are not afraid of anything you can do to us," said Malley, who previously served on Obama's National Security Council.

The Associated Press has reported that Obama and his Republican predecessor George W. Bush decided against ordering a targeted killing of Soleimani because it could spark severe repercussions.

Malley said two key considerations would have been at the top of any president's checklist before ordering such a drastic decision  taking measures to protect U.S. forces from retaliatory attacks and the "management" of allies.

"Certainly, they (the Trump administration) didn't alert some of the countries that deserve being alerted, given they have a stake in what happens in Iraq as well  all of the countries that are present in the counter-ISIS coalition clearly are affected by what happened."

The Canadian Forces announced Tuesday that it was temporarily moving an unspecified number soldiers from Iraq to Kuwait due to security concerns.

Now American allies, including Canada, have a role to play in filling the diplomatic void opened by Trump, Heyman said.

"I'm hopeful that the U.S. allies are talking amongst each other and trying to figure out how best they can calm the waters," said Heyman.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne have spent the last two days doing just that, with a series of phone calls with various international and Middle East counterparts.

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Their conversations emphasized the need to find ways to dial down tensions in the region.

On Tuesday, seeking prospects for a diplomatic path forward, Trudeau spoke with Jordan's King Abdullah II and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, following a Monday call to Charles Michel, the president of the European Council.

Terse summaries of the calls from the Prime Minister's Office emphasized the need for cooler heads  dubbed "de-escalation"  and commitment to continue fighting ISIL.

Champagne's office said his conversations with Iraq Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali al-Hakim and Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi expressed the same sentiments.

Safadi said on Twitter that he had an "in-depth discussion" with Champagne that "emphasized all must work to de-escalate rising tensions. Stressed #Iraq stability is key to regional security & central to defeating #Daesh. Int'l coalition must remain intact. Great ties."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2020.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday announced his government's decision to commemorate the 400th birth anniversary of 9th Sikh Guru -- Guru Teg Bahadur on April 18, 2021 -- with year-long celebrations beginning April 12 this year.

A statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said: "Chairing a high-level meeting here at his official residence, Captain Amarinder Singh asked the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department to organise a mega function on Guru Ji's 399th Parkash Purb at the historic town of Baba Bakala and the concluding function on his 400th birth anniversary at Sri Anandpur Sahib on April 18, 2021."

Captain Amarinder Singh said that Guru Teg Bahadur Ji's unparalleled and supreme sacrifice to uphold the value of righteousness, truth and freedom of faith would be always be remembered by one and all, and Guru Ji's teachings must be disseminated in every nook and corner of the world.

"Notably, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji (April 1, 1621-November 11, 1675) resisted forced conversion of Hindus/Kashmiri Pandits and non-Muslims to Islam and was martyred in 1675 on the orders of the then Mughal Emperor in Delhi," the statement said.

The Chief Minister also gave the nod to constitute an executive committee under his chairmanship to finalise the broad contours of the mega-events, besides approving a steering committee to be headed by the Chief Secretary to coordinate and chalk out several programmes to be organised by various departments throughout the year, to spread the teachings of Guru Ji.

The Chief Minister has also asked the Departments of Higher Education, School Education, Sports, Information and Public Relations, besides the Punjab Arts Council, to finalise modalities for holding series of programmes including seminars, symposiums and lectures by the eminent Sikh scholars, historians and academicians to throw light on various facets of life and philosophy of Guru Ji amongst people, especially the youngsters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Colorado Springs City Council deadlocked Monday over the appointment of Stephannie Fortune to fill Councilman Richard Skorman's seat on the board. Who among the 7 finalists should be appointed?

You voted:
The strike at Qaseem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite Quds Force, came from a US helicopter, an IRGC major general told Sputnik on Tuesday.

"It was a helicopter, but not a drone," Mortada Qurbani said.

The general said he did not know the location that the helicopter came from on Friday to launch the attack on Soleimani at the Baghdad airport in Iraq.

The killing was followed by a series of rocket strikes that targeted Iraqi bases housing US troops in central Baghdad and in Balad, about 50 miles north of the capital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The trade of unborn babies to China and illegal surrogacy have become a serious problem in northern mountainous provinces.

Human traffickers have been approaching poor pregnant women and offering to buy their unborn babies.

Pregnant women selling their babies is nothing new, but now the situation has become more serious, said Luong Hong Loan, deputy director of the Pacific Links Foundation Programme, a US NGO.

People used to go to maternity hospitals to buy babies in the guise of adoption, Loan told Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper.

Now they would visit villages and approach poor pregnant women, she said.

If the women agreed to hand over their babies, they would be paid in advance as a prenatal expense, said Loan.

The money was used to pay debts or cover expenses.

Luong Thi C from Quang Ninh Province was taken to China to give birth when she was eight months pregnant.

After giving birth, she was allowed to stay with her baby for just one day.

She returned home with VND60 million (US$2,600), the most money she had ever held in her life.

Mong Thi Thao from the Kho Mu ethnic minority group in Nghe An Province was persuaded to sell her baby with the promise of money to cover family expenses and a brighter future for her baby.

She went to China to give birth and sold her baby for VND50 million (US$2,100).

Illegal surrogacy

Along with the baby trade, human traffickers are also running illegal surrogacy operations.

Last year, police in the central province of Nghe An discovered 25 cases of ethnic minority women from Ky Son District going to China to give birth, five of whom admitted to selling their babies.

Eight women from Quang Ninh Province were also found to have acted as illegal surrogates for Chinese people.

Last year, Quang Ninh police arrested eight Vietnamese women for running an illegal surrogacy business that involved taking Vietnamese women to China. An official from the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in Lao Cai Province told the paper there were cases of women leaving for China to become wives or surrogate mothers.

In another previous case, 42 women from one commune were invited to go to China to marry foreign men or become surrogate mothers.

The women were sent photos of a handsome man standing in front of a 3-storey house with a luxury car.

The women were offered VND200-300 million (US$9,000 -13,000) for each baby.

Fortunately, provincial border soldiers put an end to the scam.

Kidnapping

The human traffickers also approached disadvantaged people in mountainous areas.

Hoang T. D (not her real name) in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien is another typical case.

Her parents were drug addicts, and she was forced to leave school early to work.

She was cruelly beaten by her parents if she did not earn money for them to buy drugs.

Her brother was sold to a couple in the village as an adopted child.

Three years ago, the 15-year-old girl received an add friend request on Facebook.

The man sent her an avatar photo of him wearing a Chinese police uniform.

He asked me to go to China and promised to marry me and offer me a better life, D recalled.

I trusted him and followed him to China, but he sold me, she said.

Fortunately, D was rescued and sent to a charity home in Lao Cai Province.

The case of San May and Ta May from the Dao ethnic group has a familiar theme.

San May and Ta May dropped out of school in the eighth grade to work on the farm.

While they were at a fair, a man tricked them into going to China, but luckily they were rescued by Chinese police.

But one month later, the girls were drugged and sent to China anyway.

After several attempts to escape, San May and Ta May were once again rescued by police.

At present, the two friends are living in a charity home in Lao Cai where San May paints about her ordeal in China.

Nguyen Tuong Long, head of the charity home, said ethnic minority people were vulnerable and easily tricked by human traffickers.

More information about the dangers of human trafficking was needed for both local authorities and the public, he said.

Many women innocently think they can't be tricked because they are married and mature," said Long.

In fact, in remote, mountainous and border areas, many married women have become victims of human traffickers.

Some women chose to leave their cruel husbands to illegally work or marry in China, Long said.  VNS

Vietnamese women arrested for surrogacy Police in the northern province of Quang Ninhs Ha Long City have stopped an organised surrogacy set-up.
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 the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse.

So should Arctic Minerals (STO:ARCT) shareholders be worried about its 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. First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves.

View our latest analysis for Arctic Minerals

Does Arctic Minerals Have A Long Cash Runway?

A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. As at June 2019, Arctic Minerals had cash of kr3.2m and no debt. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through kr5.1m. Therefore, from June 2019 it had roughly 8 months of cash runway. To be frank, this kind of short runway puts us on edge, as it indicates the company must reduce its cash burn significantly, or else raise cash imminently. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years.

OM:ARCT Historical Debt, January 7th 2020

How Is Arctic Minerals's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

In our view, Arctic Minerals doesn't yet produce significant amounts of operating revenue, since it reported just kr2.7m in the last twelve months. As a result, we think it's a bit early to focus on the revenue growth, so we'll limit ourselves to looking at how the cash burn is changing over time. Over the last year its cash burn actually increased by 22%, which suggests that management are increasing investment in future growth, but not too quickly. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but investors should be mindful of the fact that will shorten the cash runway. Arctic Minerals makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow.

Story continues

How Hard Would It Be For Arctic Minerals To Raise More Cash For Growth?

Since its cash burn is moving in the wrong direction, Arctic Minerals shareholders may wish to think ahead to when the company may need to raise more cash. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. 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.

Arctic Minerals's cash burn of kr5.1m is about 6.5% of its kr78m market capitalisation. 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.

How Risky Is Arctic Minerals's Cash Burn Situation?

On this analysis of Arctic Minerals's cash burn, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap was reassuring, while its cash runway has us a bit worried. Summing up, we think the Arctic Minerals's cash burn is a risk, based on the factors we mentioned in this article. 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: Arctic Minerals insiders have been trading shares, according to our data. Click here to check whether insiders have been buying or selling.

If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow.

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.
- Aubameyang was rumoured to be unhappy at Arsenal, throwing his future with the Gunners into uncertainty

- Real Madrid are among the top European clubs understood to be eyeing a move for the Gabonese star

- The 30-year-old has moved to dispel the reports, insisting he is happy and committed to the Mikel Arteta-tutored side

Arsenal skipper, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, has reassured fans he is committed to the club after it was suggested he is not happy at the Emirates.

Aubameyang, who is currently Gunners' top scorer with 15 in all competitions, has widely been tipped to quit the north London outfit before 2021 when his contract comes to an end.

READ ALSO: Man United vs Man City: Wayne Rooney makes return to Old Trafford

READ ALSO: Ashley Young: Man United captain linked with surprise move to Inter Milan

However, the 30-year-old has moved to quell rumours surrounding his future, insisting he is "committed and desperate to bring the club back to the top."

In notes written on matchday programme ahead of the FA Cup tie with Leeds on Monday night, January 6, the striker noted the club is headed in the right direction and his commitment should not be questioned.

READ ALSO: Paul Pogba: Solskjaer insists Frenchman will not leave Man United in January

"I would also like to react to some of the rumours that are going around about me in the media," the Gabonese ace said.

"People like making up stories and they should focus on whats happening on the pitch. They talk too much and it does my head in. I am the Arsenal captain. I love this club. I am committed to it and desperate to bring it back to the top, where it belongs," he added.

PAY ATTENTION: Install Pitch Football app for FREE to easily access stats, news and live updates

Aubameyang has found the back of the net in two of Mikel Artetas three matches he has been in charge of Arsenal.

However, he was not been on the scoresheet in the Gunners 2-0 comfortable win over Manchester United.

Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Tuko news.

The Blind Tailor, I don't want people to pity me. I want them to be encouraged by my story | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
While TCL may not be the first company you think of when it comes to smartphones, the Chinese electronics company has actually been making phones for years most recent BlackBerry, Alcatel, and even Palm smartphones are actually made by TCL.

This year the company plans to sell phones under its own brand name  starting with three TCL 10-series smartphones.

Theyre all expected to be available in the US and Canada in the second quarter of 2020, with prices starting at less than $500.

While TCL isnt providing detailed specs yet, heres what we know about the upcoming smartphones:

The TCL 10 5G will feature Qualcomms mid-range Snapdragon 765G processor with integrated 5G connectivity.

will feature Qualcomms mid-range Snapdragon 765G processor with integrated 5G connectivity. The TCL 10 Pro has an edge AMOLED display.

has an edge AMOLED display. The TCL 10L is.. also a phone thats coming soon.

All three phones have quad camera systems on the back, with the 10L sporting a 48MP primary camera while the other two models have 64MP cameras.

We should learn more about the upcoming phones on February 22nd. TCL is set to hold a press event on February 2020 as part of the annual Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, Spain.

For now, you can checkout a couple of short teaser videos for a glimpse at the design of the upcoming phones:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1UxXPSk1lo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DneCplno3c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eajz3nz0aKc
JetBlue announced Monday some of the steps the airline is taking to be more environmentally responsible.

Starting in July, the company will offset carbon emissions from its domestic flights through investments in projects like forest conservation and the development of solar and wind farms in areas now dependent on fossil fuels for energy, CBS News reports. JetBlue will also begin using a more sustainable form of jet fuel that is made from waste and emits less carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide than regular fuel. The fuel comes from a Finnish company called Neste, and will be used on the 17 daily flights out of San Francisco International Airport. JetBlue says these will be the first commercial flights to ever use sustainable fuel.

These changes will not affect ticket prices. "This is the cost of doing business," a JetBlue spokesperson told CBS News. "We've always anticipated customer's needs and expectations  from TV to leg room. From a business perspective this is similar. The difference is that in addition to answering our customers' needs, it also addresses an urgent societal issue, growing emissions."

Data shows that in 2018, JetBlue emitted 8.4 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent, CBS News reports, and in 2019, commercial flights were responsible for 2.4 percent of global carbon emissions.

More stories from theweek.com

Iran: Ukrainian airline Boeing 737 crashed outside Tehran with 180 aboard

Lindsey Graham says Trump is the '1st president in 40 years' to understand Iran

Iran threatens to target Dubai, Israel if U.S. responds to attacks


Tehran, Jan 7 : The US has denied Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif a visa to attend the upcoming UN Security Council meet, it was reported on Tuesday.

In a statement on Tuesday, Zarif that his Ministry had "weeks ago" requested a visa to take part in meeting on slated to be held on Thursday, the Tehran-based Press TV said in a report.

Zarif rejected false claims by American officials that they did not have time to process the application.

"The Americans are trying to create the impression that our request to attend the meeting was put forth following the assassination of General Soleimani. He (Secretary of State Mike Pompeo) has told UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres that they couldn't issue the visa due to shortage of time. Whereas the request had been sent several weeks in advance," he said.

The Minister added that Washington's denial was an outright violation of the terms of a 1947 UN Headquarters agreement which requires the US to allow foreign officials into the country for UN affairs.

There has been no official comments on the development from the US State Department not the UN Secretary-General's office.

Zarif had last travelled to New York in September 2019 for the UN General Assembly summit after the US imposed sanctions on him in August.

He also attended UN meetings in April and July. During the July visit, Washington imposed tight travel restrictions on him and diplomats at Iran's mission to the UN, confining them to a small section of New York City.

The latest US move against the Foreign Minister comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington following the death of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in an American drone attack ordered by President Donald Trump on January 3 near the Baghdad airport.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By Eldar Janashvili - Trend:

The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) will continue its activity in the direction of improving the monetary policy regime and increasing the possibility of influencing inflation in 2020, Trend reports with reference to CBA.

As part of improving the monetary policy strategy, CBA will continue to work to implement the conditions for a phased transition to the targeted inflation rate in Azerbaijan, according to the report.

In the long term, measures to revitalize the money market should enable the interbank market to turn short-term interest into an alternative monetary policy trap. This will allow CBA to achieve its inflationary goal by changing the interest rate.

The bank will continue its active work to ensure synchronized movement in the interest rate corridor of short-term interest rates in the interbank market. The formation of an interest-bearing operational framework by CBA will provide additional support for the activation of the monetary market.

Ensuring sustainability and stability of the fiscal system, increasing the health and depth of the financial and banking sector and the number of cashless payments, reducing dollarization, as well as increasing the efficiency of macroeconomic coordination will also accelerate the transition to a targeted inflation regime.

In addition, as part of the transition to the new regime, the CBA will further increase its analytical and forecasting potential and transparency of activity. Improving the quality of forecasting will allow determining and minimizing differences between the expected level of inflation and its target level.

Protection of the financial and operational independence of CBA will become one of the factors supporting price stability. New banking legislation should strengthen the institutional bases on accountability of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, which include independence and transparency.
New Delhi [India], Jan 7 (ANI): Union Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is committed to protect the interests of traders and to promote ease of doing business.



Addressing the traders community at the National Traders Convention here, Singh said: "There are many forces in the country who are trying to defame the NDA government on the economic issues but the government is not only aware of the issues facing the traders but also actively working towards its resolution."

"The NDA government is committed to protect the interests of the traders and to promote ease of doing business," he said.

He asserted that India has done a remarkable job by improving the ease of doing business ranking. (ANI)


Sgt. Thomas Morris (left) of the Pennsylvania Military Funeral Honors Program and William Leuters (right) of 1067th Transportation Company fold the American flag that draped over the casket during funeral services for Army Sgt. Matthew Francis Kelly, 70, of Philadelphia Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Upper Makefield, Pennsylvania. Kelly's wish was to be buried with full military honors and a welcome home parade, which upon his return from Vietnam he never received. WILLIAM THOMAS CAIN / For The Inquirer Read more

In 1936, in the midst of a the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a campaign speech in Chautauqua, New York. In his address, Roosevelt famously said: I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded... I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war.

Almost a century later, the drums of war are beating yet again -- loudly. On Thursday night, the Pentagon announced that the United States killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, the leader of Irans elite Quds Force that conducts clandestine operations overseas, by drone strike while he was in Baghdad, Iraq.

Iran has vowed revenge. The question now is less whether Iran will retaliate but more when, where, and in what form. President Trump seems to welcome the prospect of war. Over the weekend, the tensions intensified when President Donald Trump tweeted that 52 targets are already lined up to respond to Iranian retaliation. Among those sites, are Iranian cultural heritage sites -- striking them, according to Trumps own defense secretary, would constitute a war crime.

As we all know -- and dread-- the human cost of war is staggering.

According to data from the Defense Manpower Data Center, as of January 3rd 2020, the post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan after claimed the lives of more than 7,000 American services members -- of those, 300 from Pennsylvania and more than 120 from New Jersey. Some of the casualties are as young as 18 years old.

 READ MORE: Death of Marines with local ties a reminder of Americas longest war

In light of such loss, its easy to forget how staggering the financial cost of war is. Yet it never seems to be a consideration when weighing the prospect of fighting.

The first response to any proposal to solve big problems like healthcare, poverty, housing, and gun violence is: How are we going to pay for it? That question is never posed to those leading us into endless wars.

A Brown University researcher estimates that the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was $3.6 trillion from 2001 and through 2016. Thats a burden that Pennsylvania and New Jersey taxpayers shouldnt have to pay if there is a choice.

 READ MORE: The folks who lied about Iraq and Afghanistan are lying about Iran. We must stop a new war. | Will Bunch

According to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D, NY), the administration did not inform Congress -- the branch with the constitutional authority to authorize war and the power of the purse -- before the attack was carried out. On Wednesday, almost a full week after the assassination, Trump administration officials are scheduled to brief Senators on the situation behind closed doors. Meanwhile, House Democrats are planned to vote on a War Powers Resolution that would to limit Trump from unilaterally using force against Iran.

At the same 1936 I hate war speech, Roosevelt said: Peace, like charity, begins at home. Those representing our region in Congress must resist another futile and costly war that sends people from our region into harms way -- and spurs anti-American sentiment in the Middle East. With the past two decades as prologue, if war with Iran is coming, we know how its going to end.

We have seen war. We hate war.
Admission comes a day after GNA dismissed Haftars forces claim of capturing coastal city of Sire as rumours.

Forces aligned with Libyas internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) said they withdrew from the strategic coastal city of Sirte to avoid bloodshed, after their eastern rivals rapidly entered and took control.

On Monday, the forces of Libyas renegade general Khalifa Haftar said they have entered the city and took control of large parts.

Khaled al-Mahjoub, a spokesman of Haftars self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), said the fighters captured all the districts surrounding the city, including al-Qardabiya airbase, before moving towards the city centre.

However, on Monday, the GNA dismissed Haftars claims as rumours claiming gains of militias and mercenaries supporting the LNA leader.

But on Tuesday, the Sirte Protection Force, a GNA ally, said it had retreated from the city.

After studying the situation, our forces took a decision to withdraw outside Sirte, then await orders, the Sirte Protection Force said in a statement.

Our forces still retain their full capabilities and our withdrawal from Sirte is not the end, it added.





A Sirte Protection Force spokesman said the group had withdrawn to save the blood of civilians and the youth of the forces in Sirte, adding that the LNA got help from sleeper cells in the city of 120,000.

The spokesman also accused LNA fighters of burning homes and looting in Sirte after entering the city on Monday.

Forces loyal to Haftar denied any violations.

These are neither our actions or the Libyan armys actions. On the contrary, we were received with cheers, an LNA spokesman told Reuters news agency.

Holding Sirte would be an important gain for eastern-based Haftar, who, since April, has waged a military offensive on the capital, Tripoli, home to the GNA, to try to extend his control across the vast, mainly desert country.

Sirte is just west of important oil export terminals, also controlled by Haftar, and is strategically positioned on supply routes between eastern, western and southern Libya.

Sirte lies in the centre of Libyas Mediterranean coast, and has been controlled by GNA-aligned forces since they ejected the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) from the city with the help of US air raids in late 2016.

On Tuesday, an LNA source said its forces clashed with Misratan forces in Abu Grain area, between Sirte and Misrata.

Since launching a bitter campaign for Benghazi, Libyas second city, in 2014, Haftar has gradually expanded his territorial control across the North African country.

Last April, Haftar launched a military campaign to capture Tripoli from the GNA, but has so far failed to progress beyond the citys outskirts.

200107072132077

His LNA forces have received material and military support from countries including the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Egypt, according to United Nations experts and diplomats.

The LNAs advance comes as Turkey has started sending military advisers and experts to Libya to help shore up the GNA, part of rising international involvement in Libyas conflict.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that there will be an operation centre [in Libya], there will be a Turkish lieutenant general leading and they will be managing the situation over there. [Turkish soldiers] are gradually moving there right now.

In response to Turkeys move, the European Unions top policy chief said the bloc must work towards achieving a ceasefire in Libya and called on Turkey not to send military experts and technical teams to the North African country.

We asked for a ceasefire and we asked also to stop escalation and to end external interference, which has been increasing in the last days, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters following a meeting with British, Italian, German and French foreign ministers.

According to UN data, more than 1,000 people have been killed since the start of the operation and more than 5,000 injured.
(Newser)  Michelle Obama is collaborating with college students for a new show on IGTV, Instagram's app for longform videos. Media company ATTN: is producing the six-episode series, A Year of Firsts, which will follow four first-year college students from across the country. "Each of them has overcome tremendous odds to get where they are," Obama says in a preview shared Tuesday. "By sharing their stories, they're helping others see that the ups and downs of the first year of college are something everyone goes throughand they're creating a supportive community for others facing similar challenges," she adds, per the Hill.

story continues below

The series, which will begin airing later this month and run until the end of June, is a part of Obama's Reach Higher Initiative, which encourages students to pursue post-secondary eduction. "We're thrilled to be partnering with Mrs. Obama and Reach Higher to engage and inspire students to invest in themselves," ATTN: co-founder Matthew Segal says, per the Hollywood Reporter. The company previously worked with Joe Biden on a 10-episode series on IGTV called Here's the Deal, which tackled various issues of importance to young Americans ahead of the 2018 midterms, per Deadline. (Check out the 2020 college rankings here.)
Federal prosecutors urged a judge Tuesday to sentence former national security advisor Michael Flynn later this month to anywhere from zero to six months in jail for lying to federal agents about his contacts with a Russian diplomat shortly before the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

The recommendation was a sharp reversal for prosecutors, who previously had asked that Flynn get a sentence with no jail time in recognition of his extensive help with "several ongoing investigations" following his guilty plea in late 2017.

In their new court filing  which comes more than a year after Flynn's original sentencing hearing was dramatically aborted  prosecutors cited the "serious nature of" the retired Army lieutenant general's crime and "his apparent failure to accept responsibility" for his actions.

They also accused him of trying to "thwart the efforts" of prosecutors to convict other people, even as he assisted them in other criminal cases.

The new recommendation comes after months of efforts by Flynn and his defense lawyers to effectively undo his guilty plea in the case by arguing that prosecutors had withheld evidence from him, and that the FBI had misled Flynn.

"In light of the complete record, including actions subsequent to December 18, 2018, that negate the benefits of much of the defendant's earlier cooperation, the government no longer deems the defendant's assistance 'substantial,' prosecutors wrote.

"The government also does not believe the defendant should receive credit for acceptance of responsibility," prosecutors wrote. "Indeed, the government has reason to believe, through representations by the defendant's counsel, that the defendant has retreated from his acceptance of responsibility in this case regarding his lies to the FBI."

Flynn currently is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Emmet Sullivan on Jan. 28 in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

"The defendant is now scheduled to be sentenced almost exactly three years from the date of his primary criminal conduct  lying to the FBI  and the intervening years have included periods where the defendant has sought to assist and aid the government, and periods where the defendant has sought to thwart the efforts of the government to hold other individuals, principally Bijan Rafiekian, accountable for criminal wrongdoing," prosecutors wrote in their filing.

Rafiekian, a former business associate of Flynn's, was accused of unlawfully lobbying on behalf of Turkey.

Rafiekian was convicted last summer on two counts of violating the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Flynn was supposed to testify against Rafiekian at trial, but prosecutors scrapped that plan after saying they did not necessarily believe Flynn's account of how he came to make an inaccurate FARA filing.

Rafiekian's conviction was overturned and the indictment against him dismissed in September by a federal judge who said there was insufficient evidence to sustain the case.

Flynn's defense lawyer, Sidney Powell, had no immediate comment about the new sentencing recommendation.

Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to FBI agents about the nature of his discussions with Russia's ambassador to the United States in the weeks leading up to Trump's inauguration in January 2017.

He resigned in February 2017 after allegedly misleading Vice President Mike Pence about what he and the Russian diplomat talked about.

Flynn had falsely told Pence he had not discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia, which led Pence to defend him in television interviews. In fact, Flynn had discussed those sanctions.

He originally was set to be sentenced in December 2018.

But that sentencing was cut short after Sullivan warned him he might send Flynn to jail if he did not postpone the proceeding.

"Arguably you sold your country out," Sullivan said at that hearing, where he noted Flynn's failure to disclose lobbying work for Turkey.
ShaniShingnapur : Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has organized two-day regional Hindu Convention at this place of pilgrimage for active devout Hindus so that they would get guidance on course of action for moving towards the goal of establishing Hindu Rashtra. The Convention was started on 4th January. The first days first session was graced by Sadguru Nandkumar Jadhav, Sanatans Dharmaprasarak with his presence. The Convention was inaugurated by Sanatans Sadguru (Sou.) Anjali Gadgil by lighting lamp. The other dignitaries sharing dais with her were H.B.P. Yogesh Maharaj Salegaonkar, national Keertankar from Selu (Parbhani) and Shri. Sunil Ghanavat, State Coordinator of HJS from Maharashtra and Chhattisgad.

Let us serve Dharma till Hindu Rashtra is established !  Sadguru Nandkumar Jadhav, Sanatan Sanstha

Saints, Deities, Bhagavan Shrikrushna bestow their blessings on those who are working for protection of Dharma; therefore, let us offer our everything like body, mind and money for the mission of establishing Hindu Rashtra. Let us imbibe the divine energy and strength generated in these two days of Convention and move further by taking inspiration from here on the path towards our goal, was the blessed guidance given by Sadguru Nandkumar Jadhav.

Democracy is defeated in the name of secularism in India !  Sunil Ghanavat, HJS

Injustice is being done to Hindus under the guise of secularism in this country; while all benefits are given to minority population. Hindus interests are never considered on priority in this country where they are in majority. Gou-rakshaks are sent to jail and cow-slaughterers are set free, is the prevailing condition here. People like Kanhaiya kumar raised slogans against this country which is called freedom of speech; however, statement made by Justice Sudhir Ranjan Sen of Meghalaya High Court few days back that India should not be taken in the direction of becoming an Islamic country, had to be withdrawn by him due to opposition of fanatics. It is a defeat of democracy.

Hindus are likely to become minority population in 8 States of India. Muslims from Nepal are staging agitations to demand that Nepal should be once again declared as Hindu Rashtra because they had no trouble when Nepal was a Hindu nation and now, they are harassed by followers of other Sects, said Shri. Sunil Ghanavat.
Former Maharashtra chief minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis met with MNS chief Raj Thackeray in Prabhadevi area here on Tuesday.

The meeting between the two leaders lasted for nearly two hours, sources said.

However, what transpired during the meeting could not be known immediately.

The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of the MNS chief running a campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, triggering speculations that he was getting close to the NCP leadership.

Raj Thackeray, who portrays his party as the only saviour of Marathi interests, is the estranged cousin of Shiv Sena president and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

The MNS, which is battling for political survival in the state, currently has only one MLA in the state Legislative Assembly.

Raj Thackeray is expected to hold a public rally on January 23, where he might announce a key decision, an MNS official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Cypriot court on Tuesday handed a British teenager a four-month suspended prison sentence after convicting her of falsely accusing a dozen Israeli tourists of gang rape.

The 19-year-old, who could have faced up to a year in jail, smiled and hugged family at the end of a trial that sparked protests in Britain and calls for tourists to boycott the island.

Lawyers for the woman say the case was littered with investigatory and legal mistakes and issues, including repeated refusals by the judge to consider whether she was raped.

The sentencing took place to loud shouts from protesters outside the court room, including around 50 Israelis -- mainly women, but some men -- who travelled to Cyprus to offer moral support to the woman.

As the judge delivered his sentencing, shouts of "Cyprus justice, shame on you" were audible in the court, despite police ordering journalists to close windows and blinds.

Lawyers for the woman, whom AFP is not naming, say she was raped in the seaside resort of Ayia Napa by 12 Israeli teenagers in their hotel room on July 17.

She fled in distress to her own hotel and was examined by an in-house doctor, who called the police.

A group of Israeli teenagers were arrested and appeared in court, but 10 days after making a complaint of rape she was interviewed again by police and signed a retraction.

The Israelis were allowed to return home and not called as witnesses.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said he has "firmly and categorically registered" concerns with Cypriot officials about the case.

Judge Michalis Papathanasiou had told the young woman "statements you have given were false", as he convicted her on December 30.

He said during the trial that her account was beset by "contradictions, confusion, lack of logic and exaggeration".

Lewis Power, a British lawyer who is part of the woman's legal team, said she would leave Cyprus by the end of the day.

An appeal to the Supreme Court "will begin in the next few days", but it is not clear when any case will be heard, because the "wheels of justice move very slowly in Cyprus," he said.

The case has highlighted "a gaping chasm in the treatment" of victims of sexual assault in Cyprus relative to other jurisdictions, Power added.

The convicted British woman's mother and legal team say she has been suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The teenager's legal team say she was questioned by police in the absence of a translator or lawyer acting on her behalf and there was no transcript or video recording of the process.

"She was texting friends and her mother throughout the questioning telling them that she was being put under immense pressure -- all these factors will feed into the appeal to the Supreme Court," Power said.

More than 50 Israelis flew to Cyprus to stand by the woman at the sentencing, partly out of disgust that the "boys returned to Israel as heroes", an activist told AFP.

"The minimum we can do is to be there to offer support, to show her that we believe her," said Orit Sulitzeanu, executive director of the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
This April 2, 2015 file photo shows a Wawa convenience store in Philadelphia. The Wawa convenience store chain says a data breach may have collected debit and credit card information from thousands of customers, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019. Read more

With 850 locations from New Jersey to Florida, 700 million customers a year, and more than $12 billion in annual sales, Wawa  which opened its first convenience store 56 years ago in Delaware County  is no longer just a Philly regional favorite. So the questions about a breach of customer data that went undetected for nine months in 2019 have more than local ramifications; a half-dozen lawsuits have been filed in federal court, alleging that Wawas computer system was not adequately protected from hackers. Meanwhile the privately held companys tight-lipped, strictly by-the-numbers response so far strikes us as underwhelming.

Beginning March 4, names, numbers, and expiration dates on customer credit and/or debit cards were compromised by a cyber hack that installed malware on servers used to process gas pump and in-store transactions at potentially all Wawa locations. Drivers licenses, birth dates, and other consumer data were not hacked, according to the company, which said it discovered the malware December 10 and contained it by Dec. 12. Wawa announced the breach on Dec. 19 and posted an open letter from CEO Chris Gheysens.

Wawas is just the latest of many such hacks at businesses that collectively and relentlessly erode public trust and individual privacy. Those include Target in 2013, and also involve the inadvertent postings of private data by public agencies, such as Philadelphias public health department.

Even more maddening: The Wawa hack was discovered about a month after Visa, the nations largest credit card network, warned that gas pumps using magnetic-stripe card readers are vulnerable to hacking.

As for what looks to us like a weeks delay in notifying customers about the hack, Wawas response is governed by state law that experts say can allow a privately held company some leeway in notification until a breach is found likely to cause loss or injury" to customers, The Inquirers Joseph N. DiStefano noted in his Jan. 5 column.

 READ MORE: Wawa faces wave of lawsuits in aftermath of massive data breach

 READ MORE: Wawa says data breach exposed credit card information at potentially all locations

That could change. The National Conference of State Legislatures says Pennsylvania and New Jersey are among some 25 states mulling over legislation to bolster consumer data protection. Pennsylvanias bill, introduced in April, would improve consumer access to and control over what information businesses collect about them and how it is used. New Jersey is considering bills that would establish obligations for businesses.

Last May, officials from the Federal Trade Commission testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce in support of such efforts at the federal level. And U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Washington state Democrat who is a leader in technology issues, has proposed the aptly named Mind Your Own Business Act" to impose monetary and other possible penalties  such as jail time for company officials  for certain violations of customer privacy, require clear federal rule-making, and increase resources for FTC enforcement.

Meanwhile, consumers are losing their personal and financial privacy to hackers. Tech innovations allowing us to do more and more online move at the speed of light. Meanwhile, laws and policies that protect consumers move as slowly as snail mail. Time for lawmakers  and businesses  to take this seriously, and get moving.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenhouse Treatment Center, a leading provider of substance use treatment services in Texas, is now hosting continuing education events featuring medical experts in the community. The facilitys continuing education series will be a monthly occurrence and attendees earn one CEU credit.



The disease of addiction can be found in nearly every sector of healthcare, said Tyler Harrell, CEO of Greenhouse Treatment Centers. Hosting these continuing education events for our professional peers will only benefit the community.

Greenhouses Holistic Healing CEU Series (GH2C) will feature different experts from a number of fields each month, alternating between Greenhouse staff members and experts from the community.

The next CEU event will take place at Greenhouse Recovery Center on Friday, January 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CDT, and lunch will be provided. Presenter Scott Smith, M.A., LPC, CHT, EMDR, will speak about EMDR and its various uses. EMDR is commonly known for being a treatment tool for managing and/or neutralizing the symptoms of PTSD, but as it has evolved, the field of counseling has found EMDR to have more utility than originally thought.

For more information, or to RSVP to the event, please RSVP here .

About Greenhouse Treatment Center

Greenhouse Treatment Center is a part of the American Addiction Centers family of treatment centers. We treat patients who are struggling with drug addiction, alcohol addiction and co-occurring mental/behavioral health issues. We currently operate substance abuse treatment facilities located throughout the United States. These facilities are focused on delivering effective clinical care and treatment solutions. For more information, please find us at www.GreenhouseTreatment.com or follow us on Twitter.
About 100 more women have claimed they were victims of an illegal porn operation forcing them to star in sex films that were later posted online without their consent.

Michael James Pratt, 36, and Matthew Isaac Wolfe, 37, the owners and operators of San Diego-based porn website GirlsDoPorn, were ordered to pay $13million in damages last Thursday.

The New Zealand-born pair were found liable for fraud and breach of contract after nearly two dozen women sued the website claiming they coerced into making sex videos without knowing the footage would be posted on the internet.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Kevin Enright ruled in favor of all 22 victims ordering the defendants to pay $12.7million.

Among the accused are website owners Pratt, and Wolfe, as well as adult film actor Ruben Andre Garcia, 31.

The three have also been criminally charged with sex trafficking. Wolfe and Garcia are in custody, however Pratt is believed to have fled the country.

The attorney representing the women - all aged between 18 and 23 - said 'several hundred others' have come forward since.

The site, GirlsDoPorn, was sued by nearly two dozen women who claimed they were deceived and coerced into making sex videos without knowing the footage would be posted on the internet. Among the defendants are website owners Michael James Pratt (left), 36, and Matthew Isaac Wolfe (right), 37. Both are from New Zealand

The women coerced into making the videos said they were harassed, threatened, and subject to public humiliation by defendants who made sure friends, family, college and work colleagues saw the online films

'We are getting emails and text messages from other women who have been victimised by this operation as well and they all tell a similar story as to the promises made to them and how they were short changed on the money and how they were promised anonymity and it didn't come to pass,' lawyer Ed Chapin said.

'They were all devastated by it. They've had serious emotional distress, they're embarrassed, they're humiliated, they've been harassed, intimidated. Their lives have been altered and in many cases they describe it as their lives having been ruined. Some have been suicidal.'

In the civil lawsuit, the women said that they had applied for modeling jobs and later flown to San Diego from their hometowns.

They were put up in hotel rooms before being told they would be making sex videos, for which they were paid $5,000.

The women also also said that the website's owners lied to them and told them that the videos would only be distributed on DVD to private clients.

During the four-month trial, women who testified said that they were plied with marijuana and alcohol and were rushed into signing away their rights to their own images, according to the LA Times.

In some cases, the women were recorded reading the agreement over distribution but they said they were drunk and didn't understand what they were reading.

They also claimed they were harassed, threatened, and subject to public humiliation by defendants who made sure friends, family, college and work colleagues saw the online films.

In his ruling against them, Judge Enright found that the individuals and various affiliated businesses had operated as a single business entity and therefore all were liable.

He awarded the women $9.45million collectively in compensatory damages and $3.3million in punitive damages.

The judge also granted the women's request for ownership rights to their images that appeared on videos produced by the defendants and were posted on several adult websites.

In addition, the judge ordered the defendants to take down the womens sex videos.

The judge also ordered the GirlsDoPorn website owners to prominently post in recruitment ads that videos would go on the internet.

Women who sign up to make the videos must get copies of the legal agreement ahead of time and give permission before their names or personal information are used.

'The money's one thing but these guys have ruined (the plaintiff') lives and we have to clean this up as much as possible,' Ed Chapin, attorney for the women, said after the judge issued the decision.

At trial, defense attorneys argued that the women were over 18, understood what they were doing, accepted payment and in some cases returned to San Diego again and again to make more videos.

The plaintiffs' attorneys said the videos were not immediately posted on the internet and defendants later refused requests to take down the films.

Some of the women testified that although they accepted performing sex on camera to earn money, including paying for college, the subsequent publicity ruined their lives and careers.

The women were identified in the suit only as 'Jane Does 1-22.'
MiNA Therapeutics, the pioneer in RNA activation therapeutics, announced today the initiation of a research collaboration with AstraZeneca to evaluate small activating RNA ("saRNA") molecules in metabolic diseases. The collaboration combines MiNA's leading expertise in the discovery and development of saRNA therapeutics with AstraZeneca's experience in identifying and bringing breakthrough treatments to patients with metabolic diseases.

"Many metabolic diseases lack sufficient treatment options to help patients manage their disease and to treat the underlying causes to improve patient outcomes. This is an exciting opportunity for us to collaborate with AstraZeneca, a global leader in the discovery and development of prescription medicines to treat metabolic diseases, that may lead to therapeutic advances for a large number of patients globally," said Robert Habib, CEO of MiNA. "We continue to evaluate the potential of saRNA therapeutics in a variety of indications, in parallel with advancing our proprietary programs in cancer."

Under the terms of the agreement MiNA and AstraZeneca will conduct in vitro and in vivo studies that may enable the future development of saRNA therapeutics to treat metabolic diseases through biological pathways not addressable by conventional treatment strategies. Upon completion of these studies, AstraZeneca will have the option to negotiate a license agreement to further develop saRNA molecules that activate an undisclosed gene target identified by AstraZeneca. No further details about the collaboration have been disclosed.

"saRNA molecules are a novel therapeutic modality that upregulate genes and have the potential to access disease-relevant targets that cannot be addressed efficiently with other approaches. We look forward to working with MiNA to investigate the potential of saRNAs further," said Shalini Andersson, Chief Scientist, New Modalities, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca.

About MiNA Therapeutics

Harnessing an innate mechanism of gene activation, MiNA Therapeutics' platform enables the development of new medicines that restore normal function to patients' cells. We are applying our technology and clinical know-how to transform the therapy landscape of cancer and other severe diseases. www.minatx.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005016/en/

Contacts:

Contact:

MiNA Therapeutics

Robert Habib, CEO

Phone: +44 208 811 6700

E-Mail: info@minatx.com



Media requests:

Stephanie May or Gretchen Schweitzer

Trophic Communications

Phone: +49 89 2388 7734 or +49 171 185 56 82

E-Mail: may@trophic.eu
Carlos Ghosn

Prosecutors in Japan on January 7 obtained an arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn, wife of former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, who last month jumped bail and fled the country.

The warrant was issued as the fallout from the escape of one of Japan's most high-profile criminal suspects continues, with authorities pledging tighter border controls and seizing the bail money that Ghosn forfeited by fleeing the country.

He had been facing trial in Japan on charges of financial misconduct, which he denies, before fleeing the country in late December for Lebanon, where he was reunited with his wife.

In a statement, prosecutors said they had obtained the warrant on suspicion that Carole Ghosn "made false statements" during April testimony to the Tokyo district court about meetings with an unnamed individual.

Carlos Ghosn had been freed on bail after agreeing to strict conditions, with prosecutors arguing he posed a flight risk.

The conditions included restrictions on contact with Carole, which was reportedly among the reasons he decided to jump bail and flee the country in an elaborately planned escape that has outraged Japanese officials.

A spokesperson for the Ghosn family called the warrant "pathetic" and implied it was a response to a press conference the tycoon is due to give in Beirut on Wednesday.

Ghosn's second wife, Carole vocally led the campaign for her husband's freedom, insisting on his innocence and slamming Japanese prosecutors for what she deemed ill-treatment after his shock November 19, 2018 arrest.

She was initially prevented from seeing her husband, who was held in detention for more than 100 days after his arrest, and petitioned everyone from French President Emmanuel Macron to the White House in seeking his release.

Ghosn, a globe-trotting auto mogul who was once a giant of the industry, accuses executives at Japanese automaker Nissan of manufacturing the allegations against him in a "plot" to prevent closer integration with alliance partner Renault.

The warrant for Carole's arrest comes as Japanese authorities piece together how Ghosn was able to evade surveillance and airport security.

Snippets have emerged suggesting he was aided by a security expert, and took advantage of loopholes in security at Japan's Kansai airport.

He appears to have left his residence in Tokyo, which was monitored by surveillance cameras under his bail conditions, alone. He reportedly later met up with two US citizens and boarded a bullet train to Osaka on December 29.

In Osaka, he is reported to have been put into a large box with holes drilled into it to ensure he could breathe and then loaded onto a private jet that flew to Istanbul.

Airport security rules meant large items loaded onto private planes were exempt from screening -- a loophole that appears to have allowed Ghosn to escape unnoticed.

In Istanbul, he boarded a second private jet that took him to Lebanon, where he entered on a French passport.

Under his bail conditions, his French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports were confiscated and held by his lawyers.

But he was allowed to retain a second French passport -- in a locked case with the key held by his lawyers -- so he could prove his short-term visa status if needed when travelling in Japan -- which was allowed in the terms of his bail.

His lawyers in Japan said they had no idea about Ghosn's plans to escape, with his lead attorney saying he learnt of the news from the media.

Interpol, the international police cooperation body, has issued a "red notice" for Carlos Ghosn's arrest, but Beirut and Tokyo do not have an extradition treaty.

It was not immediately clear whether a similar notice would be issued for Carole Ghosn.

The shock arrest of the leading executive rocked the auto industry, where he was once a leading figure credited with turning around Nissan.

Ghosn alleges the case against him was manufactured by disgruntled Nissan executives and Japanese officials opposed to his plans to more closely integrate the firm with Renault. He is due to give a press conference in Beirut on Wednesday, and has told Fox Business that he has "actual evidence" that will prove the charges were a plot against him.
Morocco and the United States launched on Monday a cooperation program destined to improve teachers training, the quality of learning and training to facilitate the integration of job seekers into the labor market.

Dubbed Higher Education Partners-Morocco program, this 5-year initiative is backed by the US Agency for International development and seeks to bolster the teachers professional careers, provide young Moroccans with the necessary tools to get a job and encourage scientific research.

Under this program, the University of Arizona will work together with Moroccan universities, regional education & training centers and experts on a comprehensive program for a better training of teachers in primary and qualifying secondary education as well as updating the curricula of bachelors degree in education.

This joint program is part of the strategic partnership sealed by the two countries. Washington supports Moroccos progressive reforms engaged to increase social and economic opportunity for all citizens.

USAIDs programs for Morocco focus on youth employability, citizen participation in governance, and educational attainment at the primary school level.
The Centre on Tuesday ordered public sector undertakings including state-run banks to decline casual leave to employees on January 8, Wednesday to discourage employees from participating in the Bharat Bandh. If they do, the government cited Supreme Court verdicts that had backed action against employees for the grave misconduct.

Any employee going on strike in any form would face the consequences which, besides deduction of wages, may also include appropriate disciplinary action, the department of personnel and training, which acts as the governments human resource manager, said in a directive to all government offices.

The Central Industrial Security Force, which guards central government offices and firms, has also been told to raise deployment of their personnel through the day to ensure that employees who come to work do not face any problems.

Ten central trade unions have said around 25 crore people will participate in the nationwide strike to protest against the governments anti-people policies.

The DoPT order said the nation-wide bandh had been mainly called to protest labour reforms, FDI, disinvestment, corporatisation and privatisation policies and press for a 12-point common demands of the working class relating to minimum wage and social security among others.

The instructions issued by the Department of Personnel & Training prohibit the government servants from participating in any form of strike, including mass casual leave, go-slow and sit-down, or any action that abet any form of strike. Besides, pay and allowances are not admissible to an employee for his absence from duty without any authority.

The DoPT directive to departments and PSUs, or Public Sector Undertakings, said instructions issued in 2008 that explicitly prohibit government servants from participating in any form of strike including mass casual leave, go slow etc or any action that abets any form of strike, protest in violation of conduct rules.

The letter also underlined that the right to form an association did not include any guaranteed right to strike/protest. There is no statutory provision empowering the employees to go on strike.
The Uttar Pradesh government said on Tuesday there is decline in Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrom (AES) cases in the state, a day after Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav demanded a judicial probe into the death of children in Gorakhpur.

"In 2019, only 229 cases of JE came to the fore and 18 deaths were reported and 2,026 cases of AES came to the fore and 100 deaths were reported," UP government spokesman Sidharth Nath Singh told reporters here.

"Akhilesh is lying and giving false data of deaths. As compared to 2016, the deaths of children have come down by 65-70 per cent now," he said, adding that between 2017 and 2019, over 1.5 crore children were vaccinated.

Akhilesh had on Monday demanded a probe by a sitting Supreme Court or high court judge into the deaths of children in Gorakhpur Medical College due to "wrong medication".

Blood tests conducted on 1,800 children admitted to the hospital between January 2019 and October 2019 showed that they were suffering from encephalitis, but the government admitted only 500 such cases by "tweaking the records", he had told a press conference here.

Yadav alleged that acting at the behest of the government, the doctors there described their illness as acute fever and claimed that around 1,500 children had died there between January 2019 to October 2019.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Confronting before and after pictures show how a pond in Sydney has been depleted by drought.

The Busbys Pond in Centennial Park is normally a lush oasis home to scores of birds and plants including reeds and lilies.

But today it lies empty, cracked and dry.

Scroll down for video

 Slide me  Before and after: The Busbys Pond in Centennial Park is normally a lush oasis home to scores of birds and plants including reeds and lilies. But today it lies empty, cracked and dry

A picture of the barren pond was posted on Reddit with the caption: 'The saddest walk through a park I've ever done.'

Commenters were shocked by how much the pond had changed.

'This is insane. I expect to see these images in the outback. Not here,' one wrote.

Centennial Park is the city's largest and popular with joggers and cyclists.

Busbys Pond, built by convicts in 1824 as the city's main water supply, is usually the nesting place of dozens of waterfowl and pied cormorants.

It is also home to coots, dusky moorhens and purple swamphens - but none were to be seen.

Two ducks at Busbys Pond in Centennial Park in Sydney

Water drains into the pond from Lily Pond and Randwick Pond - and also flows in from the Equestrian Centre and Fox Studios at Moore Park.

But the pond dried up in December after last year saw Australia's driest November on record, following three years of drought.

As well as depleting our waterways, the drought is causing Australia's horror bushfire season which started earlier than normal this year.

Firefighters used a break from searing temperatures on Tuesday to strengthen containment lines around huge wildfires as the financial and environmental costs of the crisis mounted.

More than 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres) of land an area the size of South Korea - have been razed by bushfires across the country in recent weeks, according to the latest data, with the southeast particularly hard hit.

Firefighters on the ground were making the most of a few days of cooler temperatures in the southeast to prepare for the expected return of heat and wind later this week that is expected to fan existing blazes and spark new ones.

'We need to remain vigilant,' Andrew Crisp, Victoria state's emergency management commissioner, told reporters.

'We talk about benign conditions, and the fire is suppressed, but it is still there. It is still tinder dry.'

Thousands of people have been left homeless, while many in rural towns have spent days without electricity, telecommunications and, in some cases, drinking water. Military-coordinated rescue and support efforts are going on.
Rabat, five museums celebrate history, music, photography Cultural projects to open in 2020

(ANSAmed) - RABAT, JANUARY 7 - Five new museums will open this year in Morocco. Photography, music and local history will be at the center of projects to be inaugurated in Rabat, Meknes, Tetouan and Marrakech.



The president of the National Museum Foundation, Mehdi Qotbi, presented the cultural plans, including a museum of photography in Rabat, the Dar Jamai in Meknes, dedicated to Morocco's music history, and, also in Meknes, the Borj Belkari to showcase the history of imperial cities.



There will also be the Bab Okla in Tetouan and the museum Jemaa El Fna, a cultural space for immaterial heritage with the Marrakech square becoming a Unesco world heritage site.



The presentation of the new cultural locations was the occasion to discuss highlights of 2019, including the 140,000 visitors registered at the first Biennial in Rabat, which from September 24 until December 18 celebrated 63 artists from 23 countries.



The National museum foundation, which was created in 2011, is a non-profit organization that manages 13 museums across Morocco. It also has the role of promoting the country's culture and heritage. (ANSAmed)
New Delhi: Debutante Sharvari, who has been roped in for the much-awaited reboot 'Bunty Aur Babli 2', has said that she always wanted to be an actor, and was really excited to be a part of the Yash Raj Films (YRF) project.

Sharvari will be seen playing the role of the bubbly Con-girl Babli and has been paired opposite the 'Gully Boy' actor Siddhant Chaturvedi.

On getting the chance of acting, Sharvari said: "I have always wanted to be an actor and was a total filmy kid growing up. I love the idea that cinema can transport us into a world of its own and make us happy, get us inspired and also make us ponder."

The actor further stated that she feels honoured and grateful for being launched by the YRF in cinemas. "It has been my dream to work in a YRF film. So, naturally, as an actor, I'm really excited to be a part of this film. It's a huge opportunity for me to do my best and make everyone who has believed in me proud," added she.

Produced by Aditya Chopra, 'Bunty Aur Babli 2' has commenced its shooting schedule. The sequel takes a 10 years time leap from where the original film had ended. It also stars Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji as the original Bunty and Babli. It will be exciting to see the dynamics between the new and the original pair.
An Air Force base in Utah staged a massive "elephant walk" that featured 52 of one of the country's most advanced fighter jets launching in a row.

The F-35A II Lightning fighters were part of the Active Duty 388th and Reserve 419th fighter wings at the Hill Air Force Base in the northern part of the state, according to AirForceMag.com. The base is home to 78 of the Fifth Generation fighters.

"Today's exercise marks the accomplishment of over four years of work -- a little over four years ago, we received our first F-35," Col. Michael Ebner, 388th Wing vice commander, told the Deseret News. "We now have our full complement of aircraft and locally, we turn this into a goal of full war-fighting capability."

An "elephant walk" refers to the close formation of military aircraft before takeoff.

The base reportedly said the exercise has been planned for months but comes at a time of extreme tension between Iran and the U.S. as President Trump last week ordered the killing of a top general in Iraq. The 388th Fighter Wing tweeted a photo of the rows of jets on the runway and wrote, "We are now at full warfighting capability."

The 388th is an operational unit that has already sent one F-35A squadron overseas on a deployment to the Middle East. That unit has since returned and a second F-35A squadron from Hill is now deployed in that region.

"The message is not just to potential adversaries, but it's also to our nation's leadership that they can count on the 388th Fighter Wing to support the combat power that they plan and require us to provide," Ebner told the paper.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Six gene types determine if a person would be prone to anxiety, a detailed study on 200,000 veteran military personnel has recently published.

A report published on Tuesday in the American Journal of Psychiatry by researchers from Yale and to her institutions' colleagues suggests, specific genes influence depression to an extent of posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and even schizophrenia.

Though explaining anxiety, depression and other mental issues might not be possible yet, traces of certain genes' risk factors have been confirmed. Joel Gelernter, co-lead author and professor of Psychiatry believes that this is the most useful outcome till date from a study around anxiety.

"While there were many studies on the genetic basis of depression earlier, countable have looked for gene variants linked to anxiety, disorders affecting every 1 in 10 Americans," voiced senior author Murray Stein.

To conduct the study, the team of researchers collaborated with colleagues from Veteran Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, the University of California San Diego and VA San Diego Healthcare System.

A number of these variants have a link with genes that contribute towards governing gene activity or interestingly, to estrogen, the gene involved with sexual activity. This naturally explains why females tend to suffer from anxiety more than men.

The other newly discovered gene with influence on anxiety, MAD1L1, has been linked to other mental disorders as well. However, the function of the gene is yet to be entirely figured out.

Yale's Daniel Levey, a postdoctoral associate and co-lead author of the study looks forward to the outcome and future prospect. He shared, "One of the goals of this research is to find important risk genes that are associated with risk for many psychiatric and behavioural traits for which we don't have a good explanation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Meghan Markle donned a pair of 120 earrings by Catherine Zoraida as she stepped out in London today - a brand often worn by her sister-in-law Kate Middleton.

The Duchess of Sussex, 38, wore the golden swallow shaped studs as she joined Prince Harry, 35, to return to work following their festive getaway in Canada.

During their visit to Canada House, Harry and Meghan met with the country's High Commissioner in the UK, Janice Charette and thanked her for hospitality during their Christmas visit.

While it's the first time Meghan has been spotted in jewellery by Catherine Zoraida, it's no secret the Duchess of Cambridge has long been a fan.

Meghan Markle (left), 38, donned a pair of 120 earrings by Catherine Zoraida as she arrived at Canada House in London today. The brand is a favourite of her sister-in-law Kate Middleton, 37, who wore the designer at Christmas in 2014

Harry and Meghan met with the country's High Commissioner in the UK, Janice Charette and thanked her for hospitality during their Christmas visit, today

The stud 10cm 18ct gold earrings, which are coated in eco-silver, feature swallows in flight as they travel together on their migration journey.

They were designed especially for the RSPB and 10 per cent of all sales go directly to the charity.

Catherine Zoraida set up her small, self-titled firm in 2011 and was virtually unknown until the Duchess of Cambridge asked to see some pieces the following year.

It's believed the Duchess first wore the earrings in 2012, but has been spotted in the earrings on dozens of occasions since, including in four times in 2019.

She wore the 'fern hoop' with an Oscar de la Renta suit to visit the East Anglia's Children's Hospice The Nook in Framingham Earl, Norfolk in November.

The mother-of-three was spotted in them again in the Royal Box at Wimbledon in June, where she paired the earrings with an 1850 Suzannah's Flippy Wiggle Dress.

This is the first time Meghan (pictured left) has been spotted in an item made by Catherine Zoraida, The stud 10cm 18ct gold earrings (right) which are coated in eco-silver, feature swallows in flight as they travel together on their migration journey

The Duchess of Cambridge wore the 'fern hoop' with an Oscar de la Renta suit during a visit to East Anglia's Children's Hospice The Nook in Framingham Earl, Norfolk in November

The mother-of-three was spotted in them again in the Royal Box at Wimbledon in June, where she paired the earrings with an 1850 Suzannah's Flippy Wiggle Dress

Kate is such a fan of the brand that the website has a dedicated section of pieces worn by the royal (pictured)

Kate also packed a pair for her tour of Pakistan, where the earrings were slightly hidden under a headscarf by Maheen Khan as she arrived for a Interfaith Meeting at Badshahi Mosque in October.

Catherine, who trained at Edinburgh College of Art, said that the Duchess had come across her work and requested some pieces to look at back in 2012.

Kate, then went on to wear a pair of the designer's stunning 'double leaf' earrings and an intricate 'Spread Your Wings' bracelet, 420, while meeting the King of Malaysia during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee tour in 2012.

Speaking to Mail Online at the time, Catherine explained: 'It was just before the Queen's Diamond Jubilee tour and amazingly she ended up wearing some of these pieces.

'She wore the earrings and a bracelet to dinner with the King of Malaysia. Suddenly people were trying to guess this new jewellery designer and when they found out it was me they just went crazy.'

The Scottish and Colombian jeweller soon became inundated with orders after Kate continued to wear the designer's earrings and to countless special occasions.

The Duchess wore the delicate leaf earrings made from 18 carat gold-plated silver over two Christmases.

She also teamed them with Alice Temperley during a trip to the South Pacific in 2012 and at Uluru with Prince William.

All the jewellery is designed and made in Britain.

Catherine Zoraida's (pictured) business was transformed when the Duchess bought her earrings and a bracelet

Kate also packed a pair for her tour of Pakistan, where the earrings were slightly hid under a headscarf by Maheen Khan as she arrived for a Interfaith Meeting at Badshahi Mosque in October
Sometimes, after Clifton Cliff Martinez left his side job working security at an IHOP restaurant at 4 a.m., the San Antonio ISD police detective would drive past his fathers house to check on the security lights that illuminated the classic cars they both loved.

But early Dec. 21, two other police officers came to Albert Martinezs door. They said a fight had broken out inside the restaurant, and his son had moved it outside, but the intervention cost him his life.

In the parking lot, Cliff Martinez was knocked to the ground, then a man deliberately ran over him twice with an SUV, police said. He died at the scene, 10 days shy of his 51st birthday.

Even though that happened, I was proud of my son, knowing that he was there protecting the people that were in that restaurant, Albert Martinez said Tuesday morning at Cliff Martinezs funeral. He was a protector.

Hundreds attended the service at Community Bible Church on the North Side. More than half were uniformed law enforcement officers. Others were SAISD administrators, IHOP employees, family members, friends and neighbors.

Cliff was outnumbered, he was alone and he was outsized, and what happened next was a sheer act of courage, said Ralph Garcia, a close friend who is a criminal investigator for the Bexar County district attorneys office. While outside, he stayed in the fight and ultimately gave his life.  He did what he was sworn to do and he died a hero.

Cliff Martinez grew up on the Southeast Side, 2 miles from the parking lot where his life ended. He attended Foster Elementary, Connell Middle and Highlands High Schools in the SAISD.

He started training to be a police officer in high school, and after a stint at the Bexar County Sheriffs Office, he joined the SAISDs Police Department in the early years of its existence. He worked there for 28 years.

Speakers remembered Martinez as a joker who loved animals, especially cats, and as someone who could seemingly work magic with computers.

I knew him as the guy who used to hose me down in the backyard, said his younger brother, Dennis Martinez.

Police closed on-ramps and sections of U.S. 281 as a procession of more than 100 cars from law enforcement agencies around the state  including dozens from school districts  accompanied Martinezs hearse from Porter Loring Mortuary downtown to the church. The entire SAISD Police Department staff of about 90 joined the procession.

After the service, SAISD officers painstakingly folded the Texas flag that covered Martinezs casket and presented it to his father, who pressed his hands to it and later wiped his eyes behind sunglasses.

Police officers fired a rifle volley and flew a helicopter overhead. A riderless horse from the Bexar County Sheriffs Office was presented, and officers sounded taps on trumpets, then played Amazing Grace with bagpipes and drums.

Over police radios, Martinezs badge number, 2173, was retired at 12:37 p.m.

He was laid to rest next to his mother, Bette J. Graves, and his sister, Cynthia Jean Martinez, in a private afternoon ceremony at a Southeast Side cemetery. Besides his father and brother, hes survived by his stepmother, Cathy J. Martinez, two stepbrothers, three nieces and various extended family members.

Two men  Alfredo Martinez-Contreras, 29, and Jorge Lopez, 23  have been charged with capital murder in Martinezs death.

In the aftermath of the killing, police said they were searching for a third person, Victor Lopez, 21, but since have said they had been in communication with him and declined to say if he was still a suspect.

Cliff Martinez always had a dog and a cat, his brother said. He leaves behind a kitten, Lucky, and a Labrador mix, Wiggles.

When Cliff was in the safety patrol at Foster Elementary, he warned his brother away from certain parts of the playground. Dennis Martinez said he didnt heed the advice and got pummeled by a fifth-grader.

But a couple of days later, the fifth-grader apologized to Dennis Martinez.

I didnt realize you were Cliffs little brother, he said.

Dennis Martinez learned Cliff had warned the group of fifth-graders, You better watch your backs.

Dennis Martinez, who lives in California, described hearing of his brothers death in the middle of the night four days before Christmas.

For the first time in my life, I felt like I was alone, he said.

After mounting the stage with the help of onlookers and a cane, Albert Martinez took a long, shaky breath and began his eulogy by saying: I stand before you with a broken heart.

Cliff Martinez always looked after his family, including his mother before her death in 2005, the elder Martinez said. He always fixed his fathers computer  until he gave up and got him a new one for Christmas.

After Albert Martinez sold his barbecue pit to buy car parts, Cliff Martinez bought him a new one, and when one of the security lights burned out, he brought over a new one, saying it was from his garage. But his father saw the Home Depot box.

He bought that new coffee maker, Albert Martinez said. Cant think of the name of it. He swept his hand out toward the audience for help.

Keurig, someone said.

There you go, Albert Martinez said. Now he thinks of his son every morning over coffee.

Albert and Dennis Martinez both choked up as they thanked the law enforcement community for its support.

I may have lost a son, but I have gained sons and daughters through the San Antonio Independent School District Police Department, Albert Martinez said. In a way, I think hes looking after me and my family. Hes still doing that.

Dennis Martinez said officers from as far away as Chicago and Colorado took shifts on the 24-hour watch over his brothers body that lasted more than two weeks, in part because of the holidays.

These were not just people coming by to give their condolences, he said. They were there with us every moment we needed them.

One of Martinezs stepbrothers, an equipment operator, said Martinez once walked over to the members of his construction crew laying pipe near Martinezs office downtown after he drove away, telling them in a stern voice that he was looking for Christopher Smith.

Let him know Detective Martinez wants to talk to him, he told Smiths co-workers.

When Smith returned in his loader, his co-workers frantically waved him away from the detective. But Martinez just wanted to take his stepbrother out to eat, Smith said.

Cliff Martinez was baptized at age 12 in a nondenominational Christian church. Family and friends said he maintained a strong faith in God.

The pastor at his funeral, David Thompson, had served 21 years in the SAISD Police Department. He talked about Matthew 5:9, the Bible verse that says, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.

Thompson encouraged police officers to communicate with God the way they communicate with dispatchers on their two-way radios.

My brothers and sisters who wear this uniform, I believe this day is also for you, for you and for your family, that you will not walk in this world alone, Thompson said. That there will be another backup, that there will be another 10-11, that you would have God on your side.

Garcia, the DA investigator, met Cliff Martinez in 2000, when they both were SAISD police officers. Both were Highlands alumni and loved fishing, and they ended up eating breakfast together every day for 10 years.

Martinez worked on technical investigations, computer forensics and special projects for the school district. He fixed security cameras and was in the thick of one of the best gang intelligence units in the state, Garcia said. His office looked like a science-fiction movie, with monitors, screens, lights and buttons, he said.

Dont mistake Cliff for a pushover, Garcia said. If you ever wanted something just real quick without a work order, he wasnt going to give it to you.

SAISD employees laughed in agreement.

As the department transitioned from handwritten to computer forms, SAISD Lt. Michelle White said, its unofficial motto became, Uh-oh, wheres Cliff?

With one year to go before retirement, Cliff Martinez was training to be an arson investigator. He already had earned some fire science certificates, Garcia said. A pair of firefighters boots stood by his casket, alongside pictures of him and a framed San Antonio Express-News article from 1995 about school safety, where he was pictured talking to a student at Rogers Middle School.

SAISD has established the Cliff Martinez Memorial Scholarship for district students in Police Explorer programs who are pursuing careers as police officers. Donations can be made through the SAISD Foundations webpage by noting Cliff Martinez scholarship in the comments box, or by mailing the SAISD Foundation at 2411 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, Texas 78212, noting Cliff Martinez scholarship on the memo line of the check.

IHOP employees and Southeast Side neighbors also have started a crowdfunding campaign for the Martinez family.

White said she and Martinez were hired within a year of each other.

There exists a tenet in crime scene processing that says whenever you leave a scene, you take part of that scene with you and you leave part of yourself behind, she said. We call this trace evidence. I resubmit to you today that the same can be said when someone leaves your life.

She paused, struggling to continue.

Cliffs generosity, his compassion and his selfless service is a part of the trace evidence that he has left behind with us.

Alia Malik covers several school districts and the University of Texas at San Antonio in the Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | amalik@express-news.net | Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN
Campaigners are calling for an overhaul of the Cypriot justice system after a British teenager was found guilty of lying about being raped and handed a four-month suspended jail sentence.

Activists have warned of systemic misogyny in the case of the 19-year-old, who was convicted after claiming she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in the Cypriot party resort of Ayia Napa in July. The woman, who cannot be named, says she was forced to sign a confession withdrawing the rape complaint.

As she was sentenced for public mischief on Tuesday, with protesters outside the Famagusta court in Paralimni waving signs that said we believe you and dont be afraid, the judge told her he had decided to give her a second chance.

The teenager was pictured at Larnaca airport in the evening, as she arrived with her mother to fly home to the UK more than six months after first arriving in Cyprus.

Christina Kaili, a project coordinator at the Cyprus-based Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies, told The Independent: The decision is what internalised and systemic misogyny looks like. With this decision, she is not allowed to get a presidential pardon and she has a criminal record so is stigmatised. She will not be allowed to have certain jobs because of it. Someone who has been abused has been treated like a criminal.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. 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Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. 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Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. 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Ms Kaili added: She was treated very badly by the Cypriot authorities. She was victimised by the system. We believe her. It gives a really bad message to society that if you dare to report rape and dare to go to the court, you will not be believed.

Cypriot women activists are very upset and angry about the situation. The case was not properly handled from the beginning. She was in court for public mischief when it was clearly a case about rape. The system is broken because we have people in positions who hold victim-blaming attitudes. Although we see improvement in Cyprus, it is still a highly patriarchal society and women are often seen to cause the rape.

Ms Kaili warned there is a wider problem of rape and sexual assault victims not being believed in Cyprus and argued patriarchal views are deeply entrenched in public institutions on the Mediterranean island.

The campaigner called for all legal professionals in the judiciary system to undergo intensive training on the issue of violence against women  noting gender-based violence was also a global problem.

Recommended British teenager accused of lying about rape in Cyprus spared jail

The judge said he had chosen to suspend the teens sentence because of mitigating factors including her psychological state, her youth, the fact she had already spent four-and-a-half weeks in jail in the capital Nicosia and that she had been unable to leave Cyprus since the alleged gang rape took place on 17 July.

I admit, I have been troubled over this. All the evidence shows that she had lied and prevented the police from doing other serious jobs, he said.

The 12 men and boys accused, all aged between 15 and 20, were arrested but later freed after she signed a statement withdrawing her claim 10 days later. But the young womans lawyers say she was raped and her retraction should not be used as evidence because investigators threatened both her and her friends with arrest.

In October, a court heard the group of young Israeli men had been aggressively planning to have sex with the woman. The men were heard plotting in a very bad way to do orgies with the teenager, the court was told.

Michael Polak, a British human rights lawyer from Justice Abroad, a legal aid group providing help to the teens family, said: She was subject to a gross miscarriage of justice. She spent four-and-a-half weeks in prison after reporting a terrible gang rape. There is a lot of anger in Cyprus  people are upset and embarrassed about the way the courts and police have behaved towards her.

We were surprised by way the judge behaved to defence team  including two Cypriot female lawyers. His anger and aggressiveness to the defence team contrasted with the way he acted to the prosecution team. He shouted out towards the teenage victim and told her not to be disrespectful when she looked at mother.

Mr Polak said they were asking for an expedited appeal against the verdict so it can be heard quickly  noting it could otherwise take around two years for an appeal hearing at the Cypriot Supreme Court.

He said there were many clear grounds for appeal and they were confident they would achieve justice for the teenager in Cyprus or at the European Court of Human Rights.

He added: We would require a proper investigation into the rape. The case needs to look at the communication data with the Israeli youths. Not only has the offence not been properly investigated, but she also suffered because of the poor work of Cypriot police.

The lawyer said many foreign nationals who said they had experienced rape or physical assault or had been caught up in commercial disputes in Cyprus had contacted to Justice Abroad to say they did not have access to a fair and impartial trial. The Cypriot justice system needs to be fixed quickly, he added.

The young womans mother said her daughter, who had been facing up to a year in jail, was experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and was sleeping 20 hours a day due to a condition called hypersomnia.
Burma Gen. Aung San Returns to Myanmar Banknotes After 30-Year Absence

A man shows his new banknotes in Yangon on Jan. 7. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

YANGON  Myanmar has reintroduced the image of General Aung San on banknotes after an absence of three decades.

On Jan. 4, to mark the 72nd anniversary of Independence Day, the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) started distributing the new 15cm by 7cm 1,000-kyat notes displaying the assassinated independence leader and the Naypyitaw Parliament on the other side.

On Tuesday, when the note was officially distributed, it was well received by the public with crowds trying to acquire the new notes from banks.

Some posted pictures of the newly released banknote on Facebook while others gave it to their friends as souvenirs.

Banknotes showing the father of State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were first printed in 1958, 10 years after he was assassinated along with eight colleagues.

But the notes were gradually removed from circulation amid the rising popularity of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as leader of the pro-democracy movement following the 1988 student uprising.

In the 1990s notes began displaying pictures of lions.

In 2009, the 5,000-kyat note showed an elephant and the 10,000-kyat note also showed an elephant after 2012.

In 2013, parliamentarian U Thein Nyunt for Yangons Thingangyun Township proposed the reintroduction of a picture of Gen. Aung San.

He said the pictures of lions were too similar to a political partys logo.

A CBM representative told the Parliament that lions and elephants were seen as precious in the country but portraits of national leaders would be considered.

In November 2017, parliamentarian U Aung Khin Win of Myaing Township, Magwe Region, proposed the return of Gen. Aung San to notes.

The measure was approved with 286 votes in favor and 107 against from military representatives and a Union Solidarity and Development Party member.

The old 1,000-kyat note showing lions would remain as legal tender, said the CBM.

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Yangon Retailers Refusing 10,000-Kyat Notes After Spate of Counterfeit Arrests

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[January 07, 2020] Innolux Corporation and Tanvas Partner to Deliver TanvasTouch Surface Haptics in an Automotive-Qualified Display

CHICAGO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanvas, Inc. ( https://tanvas.co ), pioneers of the next generation of multi-touch haptic technology, have partnered with Innolux Corporation (http://www.innolux-automotive.com). The companies will produce a 15" automotive-qualified touch display using TanvasTouch, programmable textures and haptic effects on smooth, physical surfaces. Traditional vibrotactile and electromechanical haptics are not suitable for large and curved automotive displays because they require movement of the display. With TanvasTouch, there are no moving parts. Software-defined haptics enable an unlimited range of effects that can be felt with the swipe of a finger. "We have been impressed with the haptics expertise of the Tanvas team and their innovations in the area of surface haptics for vehicle displays," said Lucien van Riel, President at Innolux Europe B.V. "The result of our collaboration with Tanvas will unlock a new dimension of interaction previously unattainable in automotive touch displays." TanvasTouch is a fully integrated solution characterized by a solid state actuator and single controller. Textures and haptic effects are felt in localized zones and can be harmonized across size, shape and surface, for example in a display, and also with door handles, steering wheels and upholstery. With TanvasTouch, changes in friction are perceived as fine textures, edges and bumps that can be felt without looking. "Automotive screens are increasing in size and sophistication and physical knobs are being replaced by flat surfaces," said Phill LoPresti, CEO of Tanvas. "Large OEMs see the value of this next generation of multi-touch technology and are embracing new solutions like TanvasTouch. We're proud to be partnered with Innolux to help qualify our technology for the automotive industry." Tanvas is currently working with several automotive manufacturers that are evaluating surface haptic-enabled implementations in future vehicles. Tanvas and Innolux will demonstrate the technology at ShowStoppers @ CES on January 7th from 6-10pm. To meet with Tanvas, schedule an appointment via the company's exhibitor page, visit tanvas.co/automotive or email [email protected].



About Innolux Corporation Innolux Corporation is one of the world leading TF-LCD total solution manufacturers, having strong presence in both large-size panels and small & medium size products. The company offers a comprehensive range of products including LCD panels with touch function in automotive & avionics applications, in desktop monitor, notebook, tablet PC and smartphone applications and LCD TV. As a world's top panel supplier, Innolux provides the most complete and flexible production lines: Fourteen TFT-LCD fabs and three touch sensor fabs located in Jhunan and Tainan in Taiwan; along with extensive assembly facilities in China, including in Ningbo, Nanjing, Foshan and Shanghai. Innolux Corporation (3481 TT) is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE). The company's 2018 unaudited consolidated revenue reached NT$279.4 billion. For more information, please visit www.innolux-automotive.com

About Tanvas, Inc. Tanvas is pioneering the next generation of multi-touch haptic technology. Despite advances in graphics, sound and vibration, today's touchscreen is still a lifeless window to the digital world. TanvasTouch surface haptics add a new dimension of interaction by bringing software-defined textures and feelings to flat, physical surfaces. TanvasTouch can be built into any touch-enabled product across many applications including automotive, retail, consumer electronics, visually impaired and custom displays. The company was spun out of Northwestern University and is headquartered in Chicago. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/innolux-corporation-and-tanvas-partner-to-deliver-tanvastouch-surface-haptics-in-an-automotive-qualified-display-300982180.html SOURCE Tanvas, Inc.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.7

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

BP will sell its North Sea interests to another UK-based company Premier Oil, for which the latter will pay $625 million, Trend reports with reference to BP.

The deal includes BP's operating interests in the Andrew area comprising the Andrew (62.75 percent), Arundel (100 percent), Cyrus (100 percent), Farragon (67 percent) and Kinnoull (77.06 percent) assets as well its non-operating 27.5 percent interest in the Shell-operated Shearwater.

Reportedly, BP has agreed terms to sell the companys interests in the Andrew area in the central UK North Sea and its non-operating interest in the Shearwater field.

BP operates the Andrew assets  comprising the Andrew platform, the Andrew (62.75 percent), Arundel (100 percent), Cyrus (100 percent), Farragon (67 percent) and Kinnoull (77.06 percent) fields and associated subsea infrastructure. It holds a 27.5 percent stake in the Shell-operated Shearwater field.

The five fields in the Andrew area all produce through the Andrew platform, which is located about 140 miles north-east of Aberdeen. The hub started production in 1996. In 2019, average daily production has been around 25,000 to 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

---

Follow the author on Twitter:@Lyaman_Zeyn
Ghanaian high life legend Nana Quame was nominated for the 'Best High Life Album 2005- 2010' category in the upcoming maiden edition of the Lifetime Achievement And Distinguished Awards USA.

Nana Quame has over the years released hit after hit and has also contributed to world music not just in Ghana and Africa but worldwide.

His come back into the music scene after a break he took a couple of years ago has gained him more audience across the globe.

He came back with a new single titled "Bam Bam" which has been playing on almost every radio station in Africa and Europe.

The awards ceremony would be taking place in Virginia-USA on May 24th 2020.
PARIS  The French writer Gabriel Matzneff never hid the fact that he engaged in sex with girls and boys in their early teens or even younger. He wrote countless books detailing his insatiable pursuits and appeared on television boasting about them. Under 16 Years Old, was the title of an early book that left no ambiguity.

Still, he never spent a day in jail for his actions or suffered any repercussion. Instead, he won acclaim again and again. Much of Frances literary and journalism elite celebrated him and his work for decades. Now 83, Mr. Matzneff was awarded a major literary prize in 2013 and, just two months ago, one of Frances most prestigious publishing houses published his latest work.

But the publication, last Thursday, of an account by one of his victims, Vanessa Springora, has suddenly fueled an intense debate in France over its historically lax attitude toward sex with minors. It has also shone a particularly harsh light on a period during which some of Frances leading literary figures and newspapers  names as big as Foucault, Sartre, Liberation and Le Monde  aggressively promoted the practice as a form of human liberation, or at least defended it.

A day after the publication of Ms. Springoras book, Le Consentement, or Consent, which sold out quickly at many Paris bookstores, the fallout continued. Prosecutors in Paris announced that after analyzing its contents, they had opened an investigation into the case and would also look for other victims in and out of France.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : Fears of an economic crisis in India are likely to decrease and the country may recover from decelerating growth in 2020, a new report said on Tuesday.

According to US-based private equity firm Blackstone, this year the Modi government is likely to continue business-friendly growth reforms, and the Indian economy is likely to grow at 6 per cent, while the markets could rise by up to 20 per cent.

Blackstone Vice Chairman Byron Wien has teamed up with Chief Investment Strategist Joe Zidle this year to deliver their list of 'Ten Surprises for 2020', This is the 35th year that Wien has given his views on economic, financial market and political surprises for the coming year.

Wien defines a "surprise" as an event that the average investor would only assign a one out of three chance of taking place, but which Wien believes is "probable", or having a better than 50 per cent likelihood of happening.

Wien predicts that US President Donald Trump might not be convicted or removed from office in 2020.

Both China and the US may keep their hands off Hong Kong in 2020 and will wait for the protests in the latter to settle down by itself, Wien predicted.

Emboldened by the pain of economic sanctions, Iran is likely to take advantage of the US' unwillingness to intervene and step up acts of hostility against Israel and Saudi Arabia.

According to the report, economic problems in Russia may intensify even though the price of oil is rising this year. As a result, social unrest likely to spread in that country.

In 2020, anarchy and disharmony likely to spread throughout the world, creating turbulence in financial markets everywhere. Investors may turn away from emerging market local currency debt, forcing spreads higher, Wien predicted.

North Korea may agree to suspend its nuclear development programme after another meeting with President Trump in 2020, the report said.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday that the United States should expect retaliation from Iran for the drone strike that killed Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani ordered by President Trump.

I think we should expect that they will retaliate in some way, shape or form, either through their proxies as theyve been doing now for how many years and/or by their own hand, Esper said at a Washington news conference. And so we take this one step at a time. Were prepared for any contingency.

Iran has vowed revenge for Soleimanis killing, and a U.S. defense official told CBS News on Tuesday that the countrys military had begun very troubling movements in recent days. Esper said that it was incumbent upon Iran to de-escalate to avoid war with America.

The United States is not seeking a war with Iran, but we are prepared to finish one, Esper said. We are seeking a diplomatic solution, but first this will require Iran to de-escalate. It will require the regime to come to the table with the goal of preventing further bloodshed.

Espers news conference came amid questions about how the U.S. planned for the consequences of killing Soleimani as well as the Trump administrations overall strategy in the Middle East. On Monday, Pentagon officials said that a letter announcing the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq had been sent by mistake.

Our policy has not changed. We are not leaving Iraq. And a draft, unsigned letter does not constitute a policy change. And there is no signed letter to the best of my knowledge; Ive asked the question, Esper said when asked about the letter, which went out over the name (but without the signature) of the head of U.S. forces in Iraq, Brigadier Gen. William Seely. So, there may be people trying to create confusion but we should focus on this much, what Ive said a few times now: Our policy has not changed. We are in Iraq, and we are there to support Iraqi forces and the Iraqi government become a strong independent and prosperous country.

Story continues

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper talks to the press about Iran and Iraq on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, at the Pentagon. (AP)

Esper did not explain how the draft letter had come to be written, let alone sent, in the first place. He also attempted to explain President Trumps threat to target sites important to Iran & the Iranian culture, actions that under international law would constitute a war crime. Esper said the U.S. would follow the laws of armed conflict.

Asked Tuesday if he would resign if Trump gave him an order that violated international law, Esper demurred.

Im not going to get into hypotheticals, Esper said, adding, Im fully confident the commander in chief would not give us an illegal order.

Shortly after, Trump, speaking in the Oval Office, implied the prohibition on attacking cultural and historical sites was unfair because theyre allowed to kill our people, but added if thats what the law is, I like to obey the law.

Still, Esper noted that the U.S. had bolstered its forces across the region and cast the next steps, in terms of self defense.

The architects of terror should know that we will not tolerate attacks against Americas people and interests and will exercise our right to self defense should that become necessary once again, Esper said.

_____

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The remains were found at Somerton, near Glastonbury (Wessex Archaeology)

The graves of dozens of high-status Romans have been discovered in Somerset during building work for a new school.

The remains of more than 50 adults and children were found in Somerton, near Glastonbury, buried with ornaments including a pot containing a chicken wing and a piece of carved bone.

According to archaeologists involved with the dig, the graves are more grand than simple Roman graves  indicating that the individuals buried were of high status.

They cited the position of one womans skull which indicated her head may have been resting against a pillow.

A small coin from the reign of the Emperor Vespasian was also found at the site (Wessex Archaeology)

Jewellery was also found in the graves as well as a coin dated to the time of Emperor Vespasian, who ruled from around 69-79 AD.

Tiny nails were also found at the bottom of a lot of the graves, indicating these people were buried in hobnail boots.

The structure of many of the graves was also said to be unusual, with many having been sealed with stones which were used to create roofs.

Steve Membery, an archaeologist and member of the South West Heritage Trust, told The Guardian: "This site is a significant discovery. The individuals were evidently of some status.

READ MORE FROM YAHOO NEWS UK:

"Most graves in Roman Britain are pretty much a rectangular cut with someone laid on their back.

"Theyve actually built these graves. Theres been a lot more care taken over these."

Mr Membery said he believes the people buried at the site may have worked at a nearby Roman villa.

Archaeologists think a large estate may be undiscovered nearby as an outhouse and a barn associated with it have been found.

Experts will now carry out DNA analysis on the individuals to try and work out why they were buried at Somerton.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not specify that Iran came up in the conversation between Putin and Assad. But he noted the Russian forces in Syria, which were dispatched in 2015 to give Assad critical help to turn the tide in the countrys civil war.
A GROUP of men were threatened with a knife by three masked men fleeing empty-handed after burgling a house in Rawmarsh.

Three men are said to have broken into a house on Chapel Walk, at about 5pm last Saturday, after arriving in a Cherokee Jeep, a police spokeswoman said.

"While inside the house, four men who were passing by reportedly heard the house alarm go off and went to intervene," said the spokeswoman.

"As the offenders fled the house, leaving empty-handed, they are said to have threatened the other four men with a knife and attempted to take their car."

The burglars fled down Harding Avenue in the direction of Thorogate and Monkwood, she added.

They were described as white, aged between 20 and 30 and were wearing black balaclavas.

No-one was injured in the incident and the occupants of the house were not in at the time, said the spokeswoman.

Officers are asking anyone who saw a group of men matching the description running from the area to contact them.

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident number 590 of January 4.

You can also pass information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala lashed out at Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani for children's deaths at Rajkot and also at the media for the alleged inadequate coverage of it.

Surjewala tweeted: "First 1235 innocent children died in Rajkot, 375 children died in Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad. Fourteen more innocent deaths in the last 5 days. Where is Vijay Rupani, the head of Modi's 'Gujarat model' missing?" But Surjewala didn't stop there. He went on to train guns at the media asking, "Along with the BJP's silence, the media is also silent, what are the reasons?" Ironically his party leader Rahul Gandhi has on multiple occasions sought to defend the media and accused the central government of allegedly targeting it. But on Tuesday, Surjewala himself was found questioning the same.

Earlier, the Congress slammed the BJP for the death of children at Rajkot and Ahmedabad Hospitals in Gujarat where more than 200 infants have died in the two hospitals.

State Congress in-charge Rajiv Satav had said: "When will the Prime Minister and the Home Minister will break their silence on the deaths of children, while they boast of work done in Gujarat."

Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston
Sixty-four percent of the newly-appointed ministers in Maharashtra  27 out of 42  have criminal cases pending against them, according to a report by election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The report by the non-profit organisation is based on an analysis of self-sworn affidavits filed by the ministers with the Election Commission of India ahead of contesting elections to the state legislature.

The list of 42 ministers does not include chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, who has not yet contested any election.

At 64%, Maharashtra has the fifth highest share of ministers with declared criminal cases  after Kerala, Bihar, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh  among 25 states for which data of ministers in their latest government has been released by ADR.

Also, 18 ministers or 43% in the Maharashtra government have a criminal case of serious nature against them.

This makes Maharashtra the state with the second-highest share of ministers with serious criminal cases, after Telangana where 47% of ministers had serious criminal cases. At 43%, Delhi is at par with Maharashtra on this count  three of Delhis seven ministers had serious criminal cases against them.

To be sure, these reports have been released immediately after the formation of the latest governments in these states and hence do not account for any changes in ministerial berths made in the states thereafter.

ADR has not released a similar report for the latest government in Karnataka, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Tripura and Puducherry, whereas Jammu and Kashmir does not have an elected government at present.

The share of ministers with criminal and serious criminal cases in Maharashtra has not changed compared to the previous Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena coalition government formed in 2014.

Ministers from all parties in the present coalition government in Maharashtra have criminal cases against them. These include eight of the Shiv Senas 11 ministers, seven of the Congress 12 ministers and 10 of the Nationalist Congress Partys 16 ministers.

A minister each from the Krantikari Shetkari Party and Prahar Janshakti Party, also partners in the present coalition government, have criminal cases against them while a minister who contested the election as an Independent candidate does not have any such case.

In terms of their educational background, Maharashtra is among the states with the lowest share of ministers who are graduates or have a higher degree. Of the 42 ministers in Maharashtra, 22, or 55%, are graduates or above.

Only three states, Goa, Gujarat and Meghalaya, have a smaller share of ministers of this educational background.

The report on Maharashtra ministers also gives details of their financial background. There is only one minister, Aditi Sunil Tatkare, who is not a crorepati.

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This aerial photo taken on Aug. 4, 2019 shows tugboats berthing an oil tanker at Qingdao port in Qingdao in China's eastern Shandong Province. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

China Hits Record Oil Imports as Iran Crisis Risks Energy Security

News Analysis

China is hitting all-time records for daily crude oil import volumes, just as the military confrontation between the United States and Iran threatens Chinas energy supply security.

The General Administration of Customs announced that Chinas monthly oil imports on a daily basis hit a record 11.13 million barrels per day (bpd) in November, up from 10.72 million bpd in October and 9.61 million bpd in November last year. At the current pace, China has passed the U.S. peak crude oil import level of 10.1 million bpd in 2005.

China was the fourth largest crude oil producer until domestic output peaked in 2015 at about 4.3 million bpd. China has fallen to the seventh largest producer output as it slipped to 3.8 million bpd, its lowest level of production since 2007.

After becoming the worlds largest crude oil importer in 2017, China has also been paying about a $5 price premium for imported Middle Eastern oil, referred to as Brent crude; versus the cost for U.S. oil, referred to as West Texas Intermediate. Lower cost U.S. exports to China began ramping up in 2016 but were curtailed in the trade war.

Following the Jan. 3 U.S. targeted strike on Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani and President Trumps threat to impose sanctions on Iraq amid rising Middle East tensions, crude oil futures jumped on Jan. 6 with Brent up $1.67 a barrel to a high of $70.27 and West Texas Intermediate hitting $64.39 a barrel. But morning oil futures prices fell back on Jan. 7 to $68.15 for Brent and $62.71 for West Texas Intermediate.

Chinas 13th Five Year Plan released in 2017 is filled with oil and gas self-sufficiency goals based on opening up new opportunities for private and foreign companies. As part of the effort, China also announced a 20 percent increase in its domestic oil exploration budget to $77 billion in March 2019 to try to increase output in two of its older oilfields by 50 percent, or about 2 million bpd over the next five years.

Despite optimistic projections, China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) Chairman Wang Yilin pointed out that Chinas import dependence ratio is almost 70 percent. He added: As energy is a lifeline of the economy, CNPC as a key state enterprise and the nations largest oil and gas supplier must carry out the political task of enhancing national energy security by having a sound resource development strategy.

The International Energy Administrations medium term forecast projects that Chinas domestic production will continue to decline and the percentage ratio of oil supplied by imports will continue to keep rising to 76 percent in 2024. The IEAs long-term forecast issued in November projects that import dependency will hit 82 percent by 2040.

In a Chinese Communist Party-affiliated Global Times newspaper interview with Lin Boqiang, dean of Xiamen Universitys China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy, he warned: More importantly, the government should be aware that such high oil dependency is actually a very unsafe source of risk.

Lin stated there is little hope for gains in domestic oil production and instead urged sustained increases in the amount of oil held in Chinas strategic petroleum reserve (SPR). He warned that SPR capacity only holds 40 to 50 days worth of imports in case of disruptions, less than half of SPR coverage reserves for Japan and the United States.
Hengrongyuan.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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Rising US-Iranian tensions over the past week have seemingly brought the two sides closer to outright confrontation than at any time in the past four decades. Tehrans vow to take revenge for the US drone strike Jan. 3 that killed the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), or Hashid Shaabi, last week in Baghdad has been met with equally bellicose statements by US President Donald Trump, who sent 3,500 additional troops to the Middle East after the assassination and promised that any Iranian action would be met with a massive US military response.

Meanwhile, rockets have been aimed in the vicinity of the Green Zone housing the US Embassy in Baghdad, and the Iraqi Council of Representatives  under pressure from Iranian-linked militia groups within the PMU  passed the first reading of legislation demanding the complete withdrawal of American forces from Baghdad.

Recognizing the risks of a conflict no one wants, some world leaders are urging caution. This plea may, for the moment, fall on deaf ears among the main protagonists. But equally, the immediate danger of war may be overblown.

Tehran will almost certainly react to the killing, but its response may not be immediate. It will likely be asymmetric, spanning a wide theater of operations than just Iraq, as some early analysis has posited, or even the wider Middle East. Iranian leaders will want to send a strong message of their own in any retaliatory moves, but they may also want a measure of plausible deniability rather than prompting a direct, full-scale conflict with US forces.

But while outright war may be avoided, Washingtons ill-judged operation to kill Soleimani will still exact a heavy price in the Middle East, nowhere more so than in Iraq. The countrys immediate fear is that it will be ground zero for any US-Iranian confrontation. But what may be lost in the fallout from the Soleimani assassination is something far more valuable: a chance for real reform that could eventually reduce Tehrans influence in the country. One of the most bitter ironies of the assassinations is that they may help to derail and undermine the most potent force for positive change that Iraq has witnessed in three generations and strengthen Irans grip in the process.

Demonstrators have taken to the streets in Baghdad and southern Iraqi provinces for the past three months at huge personal cost to demand more representative and effective government, economic development and an open society, precisely the goals that the United States laid out in 2003 when it removed the Saddam regime. These young nationalists also reject the interference of any external powers, Iran included, in Iraqi affairs.

Two weeks ago, there were tangible signs that the protests  which have left over 500 dead and over 20,000 injured so far  might bear fruit. Responding to calls from the demonstrators, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani  whose support is critical to the legitimacy of the government  called for early elections under a new, more representative electoral law. Just afterward, President Barham Salih rejected two formal candidates for interim prime minister selected by the parliamentary bloc most closely allied with Iran, insisting the men were unacceptable to the protesters.

These two moves illustrated the influence the protests were beginning to have and represented the first clear signs of a willingness by some senior Iraqi leaders to push for change against the wishes of both the vast majority of the political elite and Tehran.

Moreover, Sistanis and Salihs actions looked like the first workable steps to bridge the yawning gap that hitherto has separated the demonstrators and the political elite, finally offering a compromise formula that moderates on both sides could agree to and thereby offering an alternative to either more violent repression by government forces and associated Hashid Shaabi units or potential civil war.

The assassinations and their aftermath could all but end this progress. Pro-Iran Hashid Shaabi and political hard-liners among the elite who have argued for months that the demonstrations are part of a US-led, anti-government plot now feel vindicated and have the bit between their teeth. Fake news articles are already circulating alleging Salih is planning a coup, and he is being pilloried by Hashid Shaabi for not being suitably tough on the United States in his statements.

This reversal makes the assassination of Soleimani and Muhandis, however justifiable, appear even more like an act of opportunistic hubris. By insisting on viewing Iraq purely through the lens of its Iran policy, Washington has missed the bigger picture. Its actions have knocked the wind out of the protests for the time being, as the question of external interference in Iraqi affairs takes center stage.

Meanwhile, even politicians who were sympathetic to the demonstrators  and who, more importantly, supported clipping the wings of the militias  are now forced to toe the line in defense of Iraqi sovereignty. As a result, their ability to stymie efforts to replace the current prime minister with one less tied to the political elite and Tehran may have been fatally weakened. They have also been powerless to stop the rush to force out US troops, which US commanders have hitherto said were critical in the ongoing fight against a resurgence of the Islamic State.

Washington must develop a policy and strategy for Iraq  and the wider region  beyond combatting malign Iranian influence and rogue military strikes if it wants to preserve its interests in the Middle East, which includes, at the very least, stable states that are not a threat to the United States.

And there is a movement for the United States to seize and support  albeit tacitly: The protests in Iraq (and in Lebanon, Egypt, Algeria and Sudan) illustrate that a generational change is taking place across the Middle East. It will not happen overnight, but it is irreversible. Demographics, economics and technology are coming together to transform societies and achieve demands for political rights and civil liberties. It still may be too early to write epitaphs for the Arab Spring.

Washington need not nation-build in Iraq or even intervene directly in support of the demonstrators; indeed, any effort to do the latter is likely to backfire. However, the United States should engage with these changes and proponents of reform. It could do more to ensure the Iraqi protest movement has space to continue by acknowledging and supporting the goals of the demonstrators and condemning violence against them from kidnappings to killings; asserting Iraqi sovereignty; and welcoming efforts by Iraqi political leaders to drive reforms. Washington can advocate for and ensure free and fair (early) elections  key to a path forward in Iraq via UNAMI and outfits like International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), congratulate and support reform minded leaders while holding erstwhile political allies in Iraq (Islamist Shia, Sunni and Kurdish) accountable when their agendas are so clearly in stark opposition to even Washingtons narrowest goals. Sanctions remain a powerful tool for isolating and debilitating such characters, militia and mafia leaders. The United States could also use its influence internationally, including through the United Nations, to help compromise on first steps  such as a prime minister and government acceptable to the protest movement  and provide impetus to further such initiatives that can usher in a new era for Iraq.

The reform mantle has been delayed and interrupted but is not yet dead  protestors are still in the streets, though under greater threat from militias, and are planning for large demonstrations this Friday, Jan. 10. There is no way to hit reset after Soleimanis death, but with the right strategy of engagement, Iraq may be able to get back on track toward the stable, prosperous state the US has been fighting for since 2003.
Bosky Khanna By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to ensure Bellandur and Varthur lakes are rejuvenated is now looking for experts to conduct a third party inspection on the water pipelines laid in Varthur Lake bed. The committee which had been hand picked by the NGT itself is now looking for experts to form a third party. This is because the state government and its departments are not satisfied with the suggestions and directions of the committee to remove the pipes from the lake bed.

A committee member, on the condition of anonymity, told TNIE the panel had made an observation last March that the pipelines laid in the lake bed be removed. But then the Minor Irrigation Department, which laid the two-metre diametre pipes sought time to come up with an alternative solution. Later in December, 2019, when the committee submitted a report to the NGT, the state government contested it stating the water pipes could not be removed. But the NGT was not convinced and directed the committee to look into it once again and give a solution. Now to put everything to rest, it has been decided to have a third party inspection and prepare a report.

The committee identified a few experts including retired officials to be a part of the new team, but no one has agreed so far to join hands to give an independent report. The NGT committee is also scheduled to hold a site visit this month and make another round of ground observations. The state government has recommended to the committee that the pipelines continue, the lake water diverted and ducts created. But this has not gone down well with the NGT or its committee.

A clear picture of the condition and what needs to be done will be known once Vathur lake is dried up for desilting. The lake is being gradually de-watered and then the committee will then take photographs and send them to the NGT with observations. According to rules, the lake bed and the lake cannot have any construction and encroachment, the member added.

It is the for the second consecutive time that the NGT has given the committee an extension and the state government time to show results on ground on the improvement of Bellandur and Varthur lakes. The tenure of the committee has been extended by the NGT till March 2020 and the NGT has set September 2020 as the final deadline to ensure that Bellandur and Varthur lakes are improved.
A torrid weekend of fires turned swathes of land in Australia into smouldering, blackened hellscapes (Photo: AFP/SAEED KHAN)

The bushfires have now destroyed an area the size of Ireland, according to official figures, and authorities warned the months-long crisis is not over as another heatwave looms.

Firefighters joined by fresh teams from the US and Canada were taking advantage of rainy and cooler conditions to tackle out-of-control blazes ahead of soaring temperatures forecast later this week.

Military teams, in the biggest-ever call up of reserves, fanned out across eastern Australia to help emergency services assess the damage, restore power and deliver supplies of food, water and fuel to cut-off communities.

For the first time in Australian history the government also deployed its medical assistance team - normally sent to other nations to lend support in the aftermath of their disasters - to help evacuees.

"There is no room for complacency, especially as we have over 130 fires burning across (New South Wales) state still," New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said early Monday.

Almost five million hectares (50,000 square kilometres) have been razed across the state since late September, New South Wales Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons added.

That took the total amount of land burnt close to eight million hectares - the size of the island of Ireland or South Carolina.

Twenty-four people have lost their lives so far, with over 1,500 homes damaged.

Two people are missing in New South Wales, the vast nation's most populous state.

CREEPING DISASTER

The chair of the newly established Victoria state's bushfire appeal fund, Pat McNamara, said this year's summer bushfire season was a "creeping disaster".

"We're still not even into what we would regard as the peak of the fire season," McNamara told national broadcaster ABC.

"So we've probably got at least another four to five weeks of this sort of weather and we've got to deal with it."

In the usually picturesque southeastern town of Eden, Holly Spence said she spent more than 12 hours defending her family's farm on Saturday, less than a week after saving it on New Year's Eve.

"If we weren't here the spot fires would have taken all our sheds and the house and everything," the 28-year-old told AFP.

"We don't want to go through this for a third time."

Fiona Kennelly, 50, who evacuated with 24 members of her extended family to a motel outside Eden, said she was relieved the easing conditions allowed them to get some respite from the crisis.

"It's good to see daylight at the right time again," she told AFP, adding that the skies had been turning pitch-black in the afternoons.

Authorities were also grappling with the health impacts of heavy smoke engulfing cities and towns in or near fire-hit regions, including the country's second-largest city Melbourne and the national capital Canberra.

In Canberra, some government departments were shut as the city's air quality was once-again ranked the poorest in the world, according to independent online air-quality index monitor Air Visual.

There has been growing anger in Australia about Prime Minister Scott Morrison conservative government's slow response to the deadly climate-fuelled bushfire crisis, with rallies calling for action planned across major cities on Friday.
Check out the companies making headlines before the bell:

Boeing (BA)  Boeing and American Airlines (AAL) reached a settlement over damages incurred due to the grounding of Boeing's 737 Max jet. Terms of the agreement were confidential, although American did say more than $30 million of the compensation will be contributed to the employee profit-sharing program.

Spirit Aerosystems (SPR)  Spirit is offering voluntary layoffs to employees, amid the Boeing supplier's uncertainty over how long 737 Max production will remain idled. More than half of the company's revenue comes from the production of 737 aircraft components.

Pfizer (PFE)  RBC Capital began coverage of the drugmaker with an "outperform" rating, calling it its "top idea" in the large-cap pharma space. RBC cited several positive factors including an underleveraged balance sheet and a robust dividend.

Goldman Sachs (GS)  The investment bank announced an overhaul of its financial reporting structure, in an effort to increase transparency. The Wall Street Journal reports Goldman executives have been frustrated over the stock's lack of performance, and that those executives believe the stock could trade near $400 per share.

Pier 1 Imports (PIR)  Pier 1 will close up to 450 stores and cut jobs, as it tries to deal with ongoing losses and slumping sales. The home goods retailer also said it may not be able to continue as a going concern in a tough retail environment.

Tesla (TSLA)  Tesla began production of its Model Y electric SUV at its new Shanghai factory, shortly after opening the factory and delivering its first China-built Model 3 cars.

Microchip Technology (MCHP)  Microchip issued updated guidance that projected sales for its most recent quarter at the high end of prior guidance, with the chipmaker adding that it believes the December quarter marked the bottom of the current cycle and that 2020 would see growth. Microchip's outlook has also helped boost shares of rival Texas Instruments (TXN).

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)  The company settled a claim involving its talc products in mid-trial, according to a Bloomberg report. J&J is said to have agreed to pay more than $2 million to settle a claim that its baby powder caused cancer.

CrowdStrike (CRWD)  CrowdStrike is lower this morning, following a Bloomberg report that Credit Suisse is offering a five million share block of the cybersecurity company's stock on behalf of a shareholder at $53.50 to $53.80 per share. The stock closed Monday at $55.11 a share.

T-Mobile US (TMUS)  T-Mobile was upgraded to "buy" from "neutral" at Nomura/Instinet, which said that shareholders are likely to win whether or not the mobile operator's planned merger with Sprint (S) is approved.

Marriott (MAR)  Marriott was downgraded to "market perform" from "outperform" at Raymond James. The firm said the hotel operator's stock is trading at the upper end of historical ranges after a strong 2019, with the market environment now more challenging.

FireEye (FEYE)  The cybersecurity software provider was upgraded to "buy" from "hold" at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, which said recent events in Iran and Iraq have put a spotlight on cybersecurity.
"Great news! Retablo has been nominated for the BAFTA Awards (The British Oscars)! It has just received one of the five nominations for Outstanding Debut (by a British Writer, Director or Producer)! Go Retablo! Go Peru! Congratulations to the whole team! Thank you very much to all of you for joining us on this great adventure!" reads a post from Retablo's official Facebook account.









The BAFTA's EE British Academy Film Awards will be held in London on February 2, 2020.





About BAFTA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is a world-leading independent arts charity that brings the very best work in film, games and television to public attention and supports the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally.

Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round program of learning events and initiatives  which includes workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes in the UK, USA and Asia  BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration.





Plot





"Retablo" is a Peruvian dramatic film, released in 2017 at the Lima Film Festival. The film focuses on Segundo (Junior Bejar Roca), an Ayacucho born-teenager, and his father Noe, who mentors him in the retablo's universe by sharing his knowledge so that he can carry on the family legacy. During a trip to sell his products, a secret is discovered that will shatter the family's life.

It is worth remembering that "Retablo" won two prizes at the Golden Rooster Awards, China's most prestigious film festival.





Also, Alvaro Delgado-Aparicio was granted a Golden Rooster for Best Director, and Junior Bejar Roca won the Best Actor award, both in the international film category.

The Peruvian film starring Magaly Solier and Amiel Cayo has been chosen for the 2020 Oscars and the Goya awards.







(END) MTS/MVB
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Medvantx, Inc., the leading provider of ecommerce and final mile delivery solutions, announces that Jeremy ("Jerry") V. Gross has joined the company as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). This newly created position will focus on the further development of the company's proprietary ecommerce, pharmacy and final mile delivery platform.

"Jerry's unique combination of expertise from the financial technology sector pharmaceutical and logistics industries, is a key addition to Medvantx, and will help our customers navigate a rapidly changing healthcare marketplace," said Robert J Feeney, Jr., founder and CEO of Medvantx.

Gross brings a 30+ year track record of leading development teams and leveraging emerging technologies to create disruptive innovation within biopharma, healthcare and the financial technology industries. Previously, he held senior technology, innovation and incubation leadership roles at Amgen, McKesson, Intuit and JPMorgan. Gross has lead the design, development and commercialization of e-commerce, complex back-end logistics systems and cloud-based data solutions for pharmaceutical and global distribution companies, as well as early online banking and e-Commerce platforms in financial services.

"Medvantx is one of the early pioneers in the direct-to-patient space and has the experience and infrastructure necessary to support large scale digital transformation strategies for pharmaceutical companies," said Jerry Gross, chief technology officer at Medvantx. "I'm thrilled to join the Medvantx team, and to work with leading developers and technology partners to identify and pilot emerging technologies in consumer engagement, machine learning and big data to bring advances to the healthcare industry."

As CTO, Gross will lead Medvantx newly created business unit dedicated to advancing the company's technology platform, and identify new technology-based solutions for the company's clients. This business unit will be located in San Diego to encourage collaboration with the local digital healthcare and technology community.

About Medvantx, Inc.

Medvantx, Inc., partners with pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies to bring medicines to patients with a direct-to patient platform that streamlines delivery, minimizes cost and enhances the patient experience. Managing the entire process from end to end, Medvantx offers e-commerce solutions, pharmacy services and innovative final-mile fulfillment. Licensed in all 50 states and handling more than $7.5 billion in prescriptions annually, Medvantx has been redefining pharmacy for over 15 years.

Media contact:

Anne King

(212)779-8975

[email protected]

Medvantx contact:

Bobbie Montgomery

(610)740-4879

[email protected]

SOURCE Medvantx, Inc.
Her title to many is volunteer at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, but Gypsie Hufnagle is a lot more than that. Endowed the name Queen of Volunteers by her fellow coworkers  who have grown to become friends  her luminous character, charismatic personality and tenacious nature makes her one of the best.

After growing up in Charleston, West Virginia and then moving to The Woodlands in 1985, Hufnagle has mostly been in the retail and hospitality industry. She was always involved in her childrens schools in some shape or form. From joining the PTA to helping with fundraisers, shes done it all. Once her kids went off to college and started their own life, Hufnagle was looking for something to fill her void.

Coincidentally, while reading a section in The Villager, she saw an ad for volunteers needed at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands. Soon after, she became a volunteer for the hospital and has been for the past 18 years. She now handles the hospitals gift shop and serves as a volunteer manager for the shop.

Some answers have been edited for clarity and length.

Question: Tell us how you got here.

Hufnagle: I got here by way my kids graduating from college and wanting something else to do because I have worked within the PTA or the boosters for the drill team. And all of the sudden they were all gone and I was left with now what? I was actually reading The Villager and came across the parts, you know the ads and stuff, about volunteerism. At that point I said, well okay volunteering is good, and I came across the hospital. I did call the hospital and (the hospital said) yes they were having a session to train and would I like to come in and it was the holidays at the time. So I said Id be in at January. When the day finally came I thought no Im not going to do that. I didnt come in and I got a call about a week later, of then director of volunteer here at the hospital, and she said Gypsie we missed you at orientation I just waned to check and find out what happened, did you change your mind?

I said no I need to come in, within that two week of time, I thought why didnt I go in? I shouldve done that, is what I was thinking. So I did go in, in February. And it will be, this coming February, 18 years ago.

Question: How did you get started, what did you do?

Hufnagle: When I came in I remember going to orientation and asking one of the girls, cause the volunteers help the director with orientation and I remember asking the girl whos since gone, her name is Jenny, can you do more than just volunteer four hours a week if you want to? Because its four hour shifts, and she said sure just let the director know that youre interested in working more than four hours. And I did and from there I went to do, they asked me if Id like to do something called 55 plus. Its a senior program that they had at that time in the Memorial Hermann system and I worked with Linda Nelson, to doing it. After that I kind of ended up being on the board, Memorial Hermann hospital auxiliary board, doing memberships and becoming president. And Ive been on the board as either an officer or committee chair. Ive been on the board now for probably 15 years doing something at the hospital all the time.

Question: What do you love best about being a volunteer?

Hufnagle: What do I love best? Giving back. It has to be the giving back because theres more satisfaction in giving than getting. Be it no matter what it is, its just the giving back, getting to know people. You see people walking in the gift shop and it may not be a clinical area of the hospital but you know youre helping them do all kinds of things. I worked in other places before the hospital, I was a courier, I used to deliver trays when we had trays and its just the conversation and the input between two people. The closeness, no matter what you do here its just the giving back and making someone feel better when the conversation ends or you walk out of the room then when you went in. You know you try just to help people but in turn sometimes youre the one thats feeling better because you know youve made a little difference and helped someone in someway. Even it its the smallest thing. It counts, its just giving back. Its what its all about.

I did a very short article that we put in our newsletter and I called it the Lady in the Green Smock. The Lady in the Green Smock is the person that sometimes becomes the therapist or psychologist behind register at that desk because people just need someone to talk to. They just need to get out of the room and just talk to someone. And especially if theyre alone or with family, they come down and theres been many times that youll here someone at the desk saying well my dad or my son or whomever. And they just need to talk to someone. Shes not always there just for a register and cashing someone out shes there to be that person that they need to talk to someone. That comfort, that hope, that something. And we do that a lot, the volunteers do that a lot.

Question: Do you think that volunteering has helped you grow as a person?

Hufnagle: Absolutely. It has changed me 100 percent. I think that you hope that youre a person with compassion and caring but when youre put in this environment in this setting it helps you grow because again youre giving back, I think its helped me more than I ever expected. You know I expected to come in and work four to eight hours a week and move on but you find that it becomes more than that. It becomes so much more than that.

Question: What are you looking forward to for this new year?

Hufnagle: Well, health first of all. Because I went through an experience last spring with a heart attack and doing so well. So health comes first and taking care. But here at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands I am hoping that, you know, we grow as a hospital auxiliary and as a whole.

laraib.hashmi@chron.com
Former lower house lawmaker Yukiko Miyake was found dead at a waterfront in Tokyo several days ago, with police suspecting she might have committed suicide, investigative sources said Monday.

Miyake, 54, was a TV reporter before she won her House of Representatives seat in the August 2009 general election. She was a member of the then-ruling Democratic Party of Japan.

In winning the election, Miyake was supported by Ichiro Ozawa, a one-time power broker in Japanese politics, who is now a member of the Democratic Party for the People.

Miyake was one of the female candidates handpicked by Ozawa for the election and dubbed "Ozawa girls." After leaving the DPJ, she joined the People's Life First party established by Ozawa.
Russian President Vladimir Putin could attempt to insert himself as an intermediary as tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalate, former U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen told CNBC on Tuesday.

"I believe that President Putin is going to try and step in and be the peacemaker here," said Cohen, a Republican former senator from Maine who served as Pentagon chief under Democratic former President Bill Clinton.

"I think [Putin] is going to move in and say, 'Let me help solve this problem for you, Donald," Cohen added.

The U.S. military on Thursday night killed top Iranian commander Gen. Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad at President Donald Trump's direction. Iran vowed to retaliate.

Russia has recently warmed its relationship with Iran and gained a foothold in what the U.S. considers a rogue nation, Cohen said in a "Squawk Box" interview.

Putin already has plans to address the heightened hostilities between the U.S. and Iran. He is set to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Russia on Saturday, and spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday.

Germany and France are scrambling to keep talks with Iran over its 2015 international nuclear agreement alive despite Tehran having all but torn up the deal after the death of Soleimani.

Cohen, who founded the Cohen Group consultancy in 2001, said Russia could try to broker a deal over how Iran controls its nuclear facilities following Trump's 2018 decision to pull out from the Iran nuclear deal.

"I'm a bit more optimistic that the Russians will come in as a peacemaker," he said.

For Iran, Cohen said he sees Putin's potential intervention as an effort to get Americans to retreat from Iraq, a move that would help Russia strengthen its presence in the country, similar to what it did after U.S. troops pulled out of Syria.

Getting U.S troops out of Iraq would be "something that the Iranians want and something that the Russians would be happy with," Cohen said.

Russia is now a "major player in Syria and throughout the region," Cohen added. "They're going to come to the rescue at some point on Iran as well."
With escalating tensions in the Middle East after US President, Donald Trump directed airstrike killed Iran's top commander Qassem Soleimani, the talks around Law of War have taken a wave. Trump's critics have called the air raid as an 'escalatory move' while Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has announced 'harsh retaliation' after Washington killed its top military personnel. The International humanitarian law (IHL) is the part of the body of international law that governs the relations between States.

IHL also known as 'law of war' or the 'law of armed conflict' aims to limit the effects of such conflicts by directing laws for both the civilians and combatants. In order to control lawless anarchy, it was only the last 150 years that States made international laws for armed conflict citing humanitarian reasons. The recent US strike has fueled further conflicts with an attack on the US Embassy in Baghdad, threats of Iranian leaders, and fear among US officials who apparently were not involved in the escalation.

Read - Geopolitical Tensions At Their Highest Level This Century: UN Chief Amid US-Iran Tension

Milestones of IHL

The Geneva conventions and the Hague conventions are the main milestones of IHL which impose obligations on parties engaged in armed conflict. 'Jus in Bello' is the main law governing conduct during the war while 'Jus ad Bellum' is the law governing the resort to force itself. Even though, since there have been profound discussions over who has the authority to declare, interpret and enforce these laws, the International Committee of the Red Cross was established in 1863.

The moving force behind the Red Cross was Henri Dunant, a Genevan who reportedly witnessed the Battle of Solferino between Austria and France in 1859. Red Cross became the world's first secular international nongovernmental organisation and as a series of diplomatic conferences took place, Hague Convention was established in 1907.

While Geneva and Hague's conventions are reportedly confused with each other, Hague Convention regulates 'conduct of war' while the other is concerned with the humane treatment of 'those no longer part of the battle'.

Read - Amid US-Iran Tensions, Amarinder Singh Appeals Centre To Ensure Safety Of Indians In Gulf

According to ICRC, the core principles of war, however, remain in Geneva Conventions which combine the clear legal obligations in armed conflict. According to IHL, they are:

1. Soldiers who surrender or who are hors de combat are entitled to respect for their lives and their moral and physical integrity. It is forbidden to kill or injure them.

2. The wounded and sick must be collected and cared for by the party to the conflict which has them in its power. Protection also covers medical personnel, establishments, transports and equipment. The emblem of the red cross, red crescent or red crystal is the sign of such protection and must be respected.



3. Captured combatants are entitled to respect for their lives, dignity, personal rights and convictions. They must be protected against all acts of violence and reprisals. They must have the right to correspond with their families and to receive relief.

4. Civilians under the authority of a party to the conflict or an occupying power of which they are not nationals are entitled to respect for their lives, dignity, personal rights and convictions.

5. Everyone must be entitled to benefit from fundamental judicial guarantees. No one must be sentenced without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court. No one must be held responsible for an act he has not committed. No one must be subjected to physical or mental torture, corporal punishment or cruel or degrading treatment.

6. Parties to a conflict and members of their armed forces do not have an unlimited choice of methods and means of warfare. It is prohibited to employ weapons or methods of warfare of a nature to cause unnecessary losses or excessive suffering.

7. Parties to a conflict must at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants in order to spare civilian population and property. Adequate precautions shall be taken in this regard before launching an attack.

Read - 1951-2020: 69 Years Of US-Iran Relations Leading To Soleimani's Killing

Read - US-Iran Tensions: Why It May Not Be Good For India's Economy
Mark Mobius, the founder of Mobius Capital Partners, is positive on Indian equities and believes it is the right time to invest in India.

"We are positive on India for the long term. We believe it is the right price to invest in India and will continue to add positions in India if an opportunity presents itself," said Mobius, talking to CNBC-TV18 on January 7.

Mobius said the government is cutting expenditure which is a positive sign but it needs to focus on infra spending.

"The government has to move ahead to invest in infrastructure and get people to work," Mobius said.

Mobius said he would like to see a higher allocation for infrastructure in Budget 2020.

Talking about the rising geopolitical tensions, Mobius said oil prices is the key question.

"If we see a substantial rise in oil prices it will be a problem for the oil-importing countries. Oil prices continue to be the key monitorable for Indian equities," he said.

Brent has already hit $70/bbl and could rise even further.

Mobius is of the view that oil prices can go higher as the situation can escalate.

"At this stage, Iran is pretty desperate to end the sanctions and it believes by escalating terrorist attacks it can get the US to pull back. But, Trump administration is unlikely to pull back if it comes to escalating tensions," Mobius said.

On being asked as the US is the biggest oil producer, will it undermine the impact of oil disruption from Iran and Iraq, Mobius said that the US is the biggest producer in the world now, but it is about the production in Iran and Iraq.

"In case of more attacks, oil supplies will be interrupted. One needs to look at both Iran and Iraq for possible oil supply disruptions," Mobius said.
A Cypriot court on Tuesday handed a British teenager a four-month suspended prison sentence after convicting her of falsely accusing a dozen Israeli tourists of gang rape. The 19-year-old, who could have faced up to a year in jail, smiled and hugged family at the end of a trial that sparked protests in Britain and calls for a boycott of the Mediterranean resort island. Defence lawyers and activists say the case was littered with investigatory and legal mistakes and issues, including repeated refusals by the judge to consider whether she was raped. The sentencing took place to loud shouts from protesters outside the court room, including dozens of Israelis -- mainly women, but some men -- who travelled to Cyprus to offer moral support to the teenager. As the judge delivered his sentencing at the Famagusta District Court in Paralimni, shouts of "Cyprus justice, shame on you" were audible in the court, despite police ordering journalists to close windows and blinds. Other shouts from outside included "Judge, shame on you, don't you have a daughter too?" and "Blaming the victim is a second rape!" Lawyers for the woman, whom AFP is not naming, say she was raped in the seaside resort of Ayia Napa by 12 Israeli teenagers in their hotel room on July 17. She fled in distress to her own hotel and was examined by an in-house doctor, who called the police. A group of Israeli teenagers were arrested and appeared in court, but 10 days after making a complaint of rape she was interviewed again by police and signed a retraction. The Israelis, aged 15 to 18, were released without charge, allowed to return home and not called as witnesses. - 'Gaping chasm' - Britain has said it was "seriously concerned" about whether the woman received a fair trial. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said London would follow up with Cypriot officials after hearing "the full facts" from the defence and family. "I'm relieved that this vulnerable young lady will now be returning home to begin the process of recovery, given all that she's been through," Raab told reporters. "There is a broader issue for Brits travelling not just in Cyprus or indeed in Europe, but travelling abroad? to make sure that they can do so as safely and as securely as possible." Judge Michalis Papathanasiou had told the young woman "statements you have given were false", as he convicted her on December 30 of "public mischief". He said during the trial that her account was beset by "contradictions, confusion, lack of logic and exaggeration". Lewis Power, a British lawyer helping the woman, said she would appeal to the Supreme Court but it was unclear when any case would be heard, because the "wheels of justice move very slowly in Cyprus." The case has highlighted "a gaping chasm in the treatment" of victims of sexual assault in Cyprus relative to other jurisdictions, Power added. The woman's mother and legal team say she has been suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Her legal team say she was questioned by police in the absence of a translator or lawyer acting on her behalf and there was no transcript or video recording of the process. More than 50 Israelis flew to Cyprus to stand by the woman at the sentencing, partly out of disgust that the boys were welcomed home as heroes, they said. "I am happy that she is going home, but her conviction still stands," said Namaa Morell, a 20-year old mother. "I see it as a success for today, but it doesn't change the conviction and that's the main problem," especially since at least one of the boys is seeking to sue the British woman, she added. Lucy Nevitt, who organised a march in support of the teenager in London on Monday, told AFP: "We are unsurprised by the sentence but disgusted how its leniency was framed as kindness to the young woman, when it is anything but." The British teenager covered her face as she arrives at Famagusta District Court in eastern Cyprus for the sentencing Demonstrators call for a boycott on Cyprus in support of a British teenager convicted of lying about being raped by Israeli tourists Activists protested outside the court in support of the British teenager as the sentence was handed down
JACKSON, MI  Allegations of student violence, hostility and abuse without consequence at a Jackson Public Schools building are untrue, the district is arguing in response to a lawsuit filed by two teachers.

Joanna Perkin and Amy Gish filed suit against JPS in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Michigan claiming the school district allowed Fourth Street Learning Center students "to be free to engage in violence, abuse, and aggression without restraint, accountability or consequence.

Perkin and Gish, hired by the district in 1999 and moved to the Fourth Street Learning Center in 2017, went on medical leave in 2018 and remain on leaves of absence, their attorney Michelle Vocht said.

The Fourth Street Learning Center is in a separate wing of the Middle School at Parkside, and is for struggling learners in sixth through eighth grade, per the JPS website. The learning center opened in 2015 with the goal of transitioning students back to traditional classrooms by the time theyre in high school.

The womens health issues werent caused by working in the district and the teachers are not capable of performing the essential elements of their job, the districts rebuttal to the lawsuit said. JPS denies their allegations, asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit and require them to cover the districts legal fees.

The district response argues:

Plaintiffs lack evidence that anybody notified JPS of their injury

Plaintiffs cant show the district acted with deliberate indifference regarding their allegations of injury

Plaintiffs didnt notify the district about the actions theyre complaining of

There was no discriminatory intent directed toward the plaintiffs

JPS cant be held vicariously liable for its employees actions

Any injury/illness to the plaintiffs was unrelated to their employment

Plaintiffs claims are being litigated before the Workers Disability Compensation Agency, which has exclusive jurisdiction over the matter

The district took prompt, remedial and corrective action in response to any injury, and its actions, policies and practices were not deliberate or indifferent to the possibility of any injury to plaintiffs or students

The district violated the teachers Fifth Amendment rights, per the lawsuit, by putting their health and safety in jeopardy.

The teachers note a list of unaddressed student conduct issues in the lawsuit, leading to a "hostile and unsafe work environment. Allegations include students punching out windows and threatening staff with the glass shards, throwing chairs, fighting, using profane language and sexually assaulting other students.

"Not only did my clients bring those issues to their attention  the dangers, the problems with the students  but other teachers did as well, as well as administrators," Vocht said.

The case will likely come down to the legal issue of what the school's duty is in situations like this and what they knew about these issues, Vocht said.

A scheduling conference is scheduled for Jan. 28, at which point a trial date or time frame could be set.
The senators say decisions on important national security matters must be shared with the American people in a timely manner.

In a letter to President Donald Trump, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Bob Menendez and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called for the Trump administration to immediately declassify the White House notification to Congress of the initiation of hostilities against Iran, pursuant to the War Powers Act of 1973.

Read alsoPelosi says House will introduce resolution limiting Trump's military actions  CNN

"In the letter to President Trump, the senators said it is critical for the Trump administration to share additional information in a timely manner with the American people about the U.S. military operation targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani," reads a statement published on the website of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on January 6.

Senators Schumer and Menendez also criticized the administration's decision to classify the entire War Powers Act notification, saying there was no legitimate justification for such extensive classification.
by Thanh Thuy

The Rao Nam dam is only 150 metres from the village of Linh Can Son. Nine villages in Quang Trach district are at risk if it should overflow. Local clergymen have appealed to the authorities, which have responded with intimidation and death threats.

Hanoi (AsiaNews)  In Quang Binh province, on the coast of central Vietnam, priests and religious have backed since last August local protests against the construction of a dam that puts the homes of hundreds of families at risk.

The Rao Nam dam is only 150 metres from Linh Can Son, a village in Quang Son, a rural borough in Ba on township. Residents fear that any problem with the barrier could sow death and destruction.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Quang Binh Province has invested 350 billion dongs (US$ 15.1 million) in the Rao Nam Irrigation System Project.

Construction began in 2017 and, according to the authorities, should be finished by the end of 2021. The project is designed to replace an older dam with one seven metres higher. Once completed, it will supply water to 1,800 hectares of farmland and fish farms.

Provincial authorities started the project despite opposition. Residents note that the dam threatens nine villages in Quang Trach district.

In particular, locals are concerned by what the dam might do during the rainy season. If the authorities decide to release water because of excessive volume, the discharge could wash away entire villages, including houses and livestock.

In Hoa Ninh, Diocese of Ha Tinh, the local clergy have come out in support of local residents in their protest. On 27 December, seven priests issued an appeal calling on the faithful to pray and support the people of Quang Trach.

The statement describes the dam as a huge water bomb hanging over the heads of the residents of the nine villages. For this reason, the clergymen urge the local authorities to explain publicly and fully the project.

The authorities have instead responded with intimidation and attempts at bribery, using party media to defame opponents of the project and priests. The latter have even received death threats as well.

Our people are very poor, said Ms Ra Phan Thi Thuy, a resident of Linh Can Son village, speaking to local media.

This area is located downstream. Every rainy season, we are hit hard. Half of our homes are at constant flood risk. The water can sweep everything away. After each flood, we are very scared. But now the government wants to block the river to build a new dam over seven metres high. In case of heavy rainfall, it could break. "

Other residents note that The consequences would be disastrous. We ask the government to move the dam by five kilometres and reduce its height.
Winter may not be packing a heavy punch in some parts of the country, but one place that will be subject to plenty of cold and snow in the coming days is the Pacific Northwest.

A seemingly relentless weather pattern will cause storms to continue to roll through the northwestern United States every couple of days through mid-January. As colder air plunges south, snow and ice will lead to disruptions across parts of region, including areas near sea level along the coast.

The separation from each storm may be barely noticeable with showers likely to litter the coastal areas and snow likely to fall at varying rates over the mountains for many days -- and each storm will unleash a heavy surge of precipitation and occasional strong winds.

Major river flooding near Carnation, Washington, located east of Seattle, following rounds of heavy rain in recent weeks. (Twitter/KCSO Air Support)

The upcoming rounds of heavy rain could lead to additional flooding following recent storms. Rivers across the region, including Snoqualmie River near Carnation, Washington, are already in flood stage.

This satellite image, captured on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, shows the western United States and the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean. Bands of clouds over the northern Pacific show the series of storms. (NOAA/GOES-West)

One such storm will take a path farther south than its predecessors through Thursday. It will be far from a powerhouse event, but a few hours of low-elevation rain and mountain snow are expected to focus from southern Oregon to Northern California.

The bulk of the rain will extend from Medford, Oregon, to Eureka and Redding, California. Areas as far to the south as San Francisco, Sacramento and San Luis Obispo, California, can pick up a few hours of rain while showers dot the mountains north and east of Los Angeles.

Snow levels are forecast to dip to around 3,000 feet in southern Oregon and Northern California along the Interstate 5 corridor. Motorists could face wintry travel over Siskiyou Summit in Oregon into Thursday morning. A foot of snow can fall over the high country of the Cascades and Klamath mountains in southern Oregon.

Story continues

A much more potent system is forecast to storm ashore late Thursday night and Friday morning and push inland later Friday and Saturday. This storm will focus farther north in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia.

Enough rain can fall along the coast to trigger flash flooding and mudslides. Winds are expected to be strong enough to cause isolated power outages.

Snow with the late-week storm is forecast to fall over elevations as low as several hundred feet to 2,000 feet.

"The major passes in Washington and northern Oregon will get clobbered with travel-snarling snow," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Samuhel said.

From Tuesday, Jan. 7, through Saturday, Jan. 11, the high country of the Cascades and Olympics are likely to receive 2-3 feet of snow, while 1-2 feet of snow is likely to fall from the storm on Friday to Saturday alone on the passes.

An AccuWeather Local StormMax of 48 inches is forecast for the high country of the Washington Cascades and the southern Coast Mountains in British Columbia.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

Winter sports enthusiasts eager to take advantage of the fresh powder are urged to monitor all avalanche advisories and heed any warnings. On Tuesday, Silver Mountain Ski Patrol reported one fatality due to an avalanche in northern Idaho. Five others were rescued with minor injuries.

In keeping with the stormy pattern in the Northwest, more storms are lining up over the northern Pacific for arrival next week and beyond. However, the storms will be colder in nature than that of this week's storms.

"Arctic air is likely to expand southwestward from British Columbia next week," Samuhel stated. "As this happens it will be easier for snow and ice to occur near sea level along the Washington and Oregon coasts as more storms drop in."

The weather may trend colder with more rounds of wintry precipitation through the middle of the month near the I- 5 corridor and the I-84 corridor along the Columbia River.

"The Pacific Northwest needs to batten down the hatches," AccuWeather Chief Broadcast Meteorologist Bernie Rayno cautioned.

One to three storms may take aim at the Northwest during next week alone. With temperatures forecast to hover near freezing, the combined effect of the storms has the potential to result in substantial snow and ice for coastal areas and low-elevation interior places across Washington, Oregon and the northern tier of California.

There will be widespread snow, "not only in the mountains of Idaho and Montana as well as the Washington and Oregon Cascades, but I think we're going to see a snow threat down to the coast, which will include Seattle," Rayno said, adding that snow may extend all the way down to Portland, too.

Winter snowfall is quite variable in lower elevations of the Pacific Northwest. On average, Seattle receives about 1.5 inches of snow and sleet during January. The snowiest month on record was January 1950, when 57.2 inches of snow fell. However, there have been multiple years when only a few flakes of snow have been observed during the entire winter. No measurable snow fell during the winter of 1991-1992 in Seattle.

The details on the individual storms will unfold in the coming days.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
The funeral of the well-known Kildare resident and broadcaster Marian Finucane will take place in Kill, today, Tuesday, January 7. It is being held at midday at St Brigids Church in Kill, and is being followed by a private burial.

The veteran RTE presenters sudden passing was announced on January 2 after she died at her Kildare home.

A book of condolence for the 69-year-old opened at Kildare County Council last week in the wake of her sudden passing.

The Cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council, Councillor Suzanne Doyle, opened the book of condolence for the late broadcaster who is being remembered as a trail-blazer in her field and for her charity work both at home and in Africa.

Mayor Doyle said that Marian was a virtual visitor in so many homes throughout the county. Sincere sympathy to her loved ones. May she Rest In Peace, she said.

Tributes continued to be paid for the Kilteel resident who has been described as a pioneer in her field by President Michael D. Higgins.

Racehorse trainer and close family friend Ted Walsh, appeared in the audience on the RTEs Late Late Show on Friday, January 3 last, where he fondly remembered his good friend Marian.

His thoughts turned to her husband, John Clark, whom he said, with Marian, were two peas in a pod, and to her son Jack.

He said he had last seen John about a month ago outside the Lemongrass restaurant in Naas where he was waiting for Marian who was inside.

He said that they were great company and were a couple who really enjoyed each others company.

The couple lost their eight-year-old daughter, Sinead, to cancer in 1990 which was described as a tragic burden that Marian carried privately in the years afterwards.

Their son, Jack, was attacked by the raiders at their Kildare residence near Punchestown in 2008 and received medical treatment at the time. He was 20 when the incident occurred, and was badly beaten in the ordeal but later made a full recovery.

A regular on RTE radio at the weekends, Marian was the innovator of the Live Line programme, and had an outstanding broadcasting career that lasted more than four decades.

Current Live Line presenter Joe Duffy said her death had come as a great shock to everybody and that he was only speaking to her just before she went to India for a wedding at Christmas.

He described her as a voice of reason, adding that this was his sense of Marian Finucane.

President Michael D Higgins described her as a superb professional and one of the very early exemplars to those who sought a proper representation of women in broadcasting.

President Higgins added in his statement: There will be many, in every part of Irish life, who will miss Marians voice, but of course her loss is felt most acutely by her family and friends.




Sooryavanshi will bring together director Rohit Shetty and actor Akshay Kumar for the first time. The film is set to release in March and will also reunite the hit pair of Akshay and Katrina Kaif on the big screen after almost a decade. Director Rohit Shetty is all excited about his upcoming release and recently shared some interesting details about his actors on a talk show.



When the director was asked to name one actor who forgets his lines, Shetty was quick to reply. He said, "Akshay Kumar" without batting an eyelid. Akshay Kumar forgets his name. When well be shooting the last schedule in Hyderabad, Akshay will go, naam kya hai mera? Sooryavanshi?", laughed Shetty adding, He forgets everything Shooting four films a year could be a good enough reason for that Akshay, so we're not complaining!





Speaking about Katrina Kaif, Rohit Shetty said, "She asks a lot of questions. Is this okay? Is this right? I tell her that shes beautiful, but after a point, I just switch off." Sooryavanshi hits the theatres on March 27, 2020.
(Natural News) This past year, Amazon more than doubled the number of robot drives it uses to move goods in and out of its delivery fulfillment warehouses. But these robotic vehicles reportedly arent meshing too well with the human employees that are being forced to work alongside them, many of whom are suffering serious injuries while trying to complete their shifts.

Amazons more than 200,000 roving robots, each of which weighs about half a ton, are creating so many problems for human employees that a new report published by The Center for Investigative Reporting found that serious injuries have quadrupled at Amazon facilities over the past four years.

After first being introduced at Amazons warehouse facility in Tracy, California, these robot drones were quickly implemented at most other Amazon warehouses in an effort to boost efficiency while reducing human labor. But the human impact has been disastrous.

They weigh a lot, Amazon worker Amanda Taillon is quoted as stating just prior to the most recent pre-Christmas shipping rush. When youre out there and you can hear them moving around, but you cant see them, its like, Where are they going to come from? Its a little nerve-racking at first.

Taillon, who works at an Amazon facility in Connecticut, says that part of her job involves suiting up with a lighted utility belt and entering the cages where these warehouse robots are doing their pre-programmed tasks. This suit she wears tells the robots to stop whatever theyre doing and not run over her while she picks up fallen toys or relieves traffic jams.

But the setup isnt foolproof, as data shows that these fast-moving heaps of metal often run into human employees that are simply no match for their strength and bulk.

Research out of the University of Illinois (UoI) found that in addition to putting human lives at risk, these warehouse robots contribute to wage stagnation, employee burnout, and a poor quality work experience, which in turn is causing high turnover within Amazons employee ranks.

These Amazon warehouse robots are also driven by artificial intelligence (AI), which has a tendency to take on a mind of its own. What this means for human Amazon employees is that their work is sometimes monitored or micromanaged by these machines, contributing to stress and other problems.

AI cannot coexist with humans  the former is rapidly replacing the latter!

Amazon and other retailers that are rapidly implementing these AI robots into their logistics systems claim that theyre necessary to keep up with demand for products. In order to get Prime deliveries delivered on time, as one example, AI robots are a necessary evil, is the claim.

But if actual human employees are being injured and driven out of the company  Amazon is trying to do the same thing with healthcare, by the way  then eventually nobody will be getting their packages because, on their own, these AI robots are incapable of maintaining a fully functional delivery system.

The problem is it becomes very difficult to do so when the productivity standards are set so high, says Beth Gutelius, a student of urban economic development at UoI about how many Amazon employees arent even being trained in how to interact with these AI robots.

A big reason why Amazon brought in tens of thousands of these things in the first place has to do with its $775 million acquisition of Kiva Systems back in 2012, a robotics startup based out of Massachusetts that designs these AI systems for Amazon.

The efficiencies we gain from our associates and robotics working together harmoniously  what I like to call a symphony of humans and machines working together  allows us to pass along a lower cost to our customer, claims Tye Brady, Amazon Robotics chief technologist.

To keep up with the latest news about how AI robots are replacing the human workforce at breakneck speed, be sure to check out AIsystems.news.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com
MINNEAPOLIS and MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Kinetics Pty Ltd., a digital health company focused on the development and commercialization of the Personal KinetiGraph (PKG), the first FDA-cleared and CE-marked platform for the objective measurement of movement symptoms in the management of Parkinsons disease, today announced the appointment of Matthew C. Garrett, an experienced financial executive in the life sciences industry, as an independent director to its Board of Directors.



We are delighted to welcome Matt to our Board, said John Schellhorn, CEO of Global Kinetics Corporation. With his proven commercialization and financial leadership expertise in a broad range of successful medical technology and diagnostic companies, I am confident that he will be an invaluable voice on our Board as we continue to bring solutions to market that improve the lives of patients with Parkinsons disease.

Mr. Garrett is currently Chief Financial Officer of iRhythm Technologies (IRTC) where he was instrumental in leading the company through its successful IPO in 2016 and recent follow-on offering. Previously, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Navigenics, Inc., a provider of genetic testing for common health conditions. Prior to that, he served as Director of Business Development at Corventis Inc. Earlier in his career, Mr. Garrett also held financial leadership roles at Cogentus Pharmaceuticals Inc., Affymetrix, Inc. and Guidant Corporation.

Mr. Garrett has a B.A. in Finance from the University of Iowa, Iowa City and an M.B.A. from the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University Bloomington.



About Global Kinetics Pty Ltd.

Global Kinetics Pty Ltd. is committed to improving the lives of those with Parkinsons disease with advanced medical solutions. The company was formed in 2007 to commercialize its lead product, the Personal KinetiGraph (PKG). The PKG enables the precise monitoring, quantification, and reporting of movement symptoms in Parkinsons. To date, Global Kinetics has supported clinical decisions for doctors who have treated more than 40,000 patients with Parkinsons Disease, generating more than 6,000,000 hours of clinical data from our FDA-cleared, CE-marked PKG platform. Global Kinetics, a privately held company, is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia with offices in London, UK, and Minneapolis, MN.

Story continues

For more information, visit: www.globalkineticscorporation.com

Follow our LinkedIn updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/globalkineticscorp
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 21:54:51|Editor: xuxin

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MADRID, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Socialist Party leader Pedro Sanchez won in Tuesday's second investiture vote to be returned to office as prime minister of Spain.

Sanchez won with 167 votes in favor, 165 against and 18 abstentions, to claim a simple majority needed to return to power.
Celebrated music composer Hans Zimmer has joined the latest James Bond film "No Time to Die".

According to Variety, the Oscar-winning is already working on the music of the 25th film in the Bond franchise.

He replaces Dan Romer who had previously been announced as scoring the film.

Eon Productions cancelled the deal with Romer last month due to "creative differences".

"No Time To Die", directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, marks actor Daniel Craig's fifth and final film as the fictional British Spy.

The film is set to hit the theatres in April.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The New York Times

In September, Google agreed to pay a $170 million fine and make privacy changes as regulators said that its YouTube platform had illegally harvested childrens personal information and used it to profit by targeting them with ads. The penalty and changes were part of an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission and the attorney general of New York, which had accused YouTube of violating the federal Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act.

On Monday, YouTube said it was beginning to introduce changes to address regulators concerns and better protect children.

Here is what you need to know about those changes.

Limited collection of digital data

YouTube said that starting Monday, it would begin to limit the collection and use of personal information from people who watched childrens videos, no matter the age of the viewer. Federal law prohibits online services aimed at children younger than 13 from collecting the personal information of those young users without parental consent.

YouTube said it had also turned off or limited some features on childrens videos tied to personal information. These include comments and live-chat features, as well as the ability to save videos to a playlist.

Changes to ads and recommendations

YouTube will no longer show ads on childrens videos that are targeted at viewers based on their web-browsing or other online activity data. Instead, the company said, it may now show ads based on the context of what people are viewing.

YouTube said viewers who watched a video made for children on its platform would now be more likely to see recommendations for other childrens videos.

New requirement for YouTube producers

In September, YouTube said it would require all video producers on its platform to designate their videos as made for children or not made for children. In November, it introduced a new setting to help producers flag childrens content, a designation that signals YouTube to limit data collection on those videos. The video service said that it was also using artificial intelligence to help identify childrens content and that it could override a video producers categorisation if its system detected a mistake.

Why the YouTube changes matter

YouTube is one of the most popular platforms for children. Some animated videos on YouTube channels aimed at younger children  like Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes and ChuChu TV  have been viewed more than 1 billion times.

The platforms new limits on data-mining send a signal to other popular sites offering childrens content that they also may be subject to the federal childrens online privacy law.

Musical.ly, a wildly popular video social network now known as TikTok, also had to pay a fine last year to settle FTC charges that it had illegally collected childrens personal information.

Natasha Singer c.2020 The New York Times Company
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Court unsealed a False Claims Act lawsuit on December 23, 2019, filed by seasoned healthcare finance and operations executive Thomas Fischer against Indianapolis based Community Health Network. Fischer is a whistleblower, filing under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. His complaint alleges that Community paid physician kickbacks for years in a variety of forms to encourage them to steer patients to Community's hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and other facilities.

On behalf of the federal government, the Department of Justice partially joined the lawsuit in August and filed its own complaint this week. It methodically details alleged kickback schemes related to physician compensation totaling many tens of millions of dollars citing critical witness testimony to bolster its claims.

Both federal and state law prohibit payments of any kind  including inflated salaries and lucrative investment opportunities  to physicians to influence where the physicians treat or refer patients. Fischer's whistleblower and retaliation complaint alleges that Community did just that  paying doctors substantial kickbacks in the form of inflated salaries, bonuses and investment opportunities to get them to send unwitting patients to Community's hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and other facilities instead of to competing healthcare providers. The total number of patients affected will be investigated in the litigation.

Mr. Fischer's litigation team includes veteran whistleblower and employment attorneys who look forward to prosecuting the case alongside the government in a public-private partnership.

"The government's intervention demonstrates how seriously it takes the allegations Tom Fischer raised," said Jay P. Holland, lead counsel for Mr. Fischer. Fischer's Indianapolisbased attorney Kathleen DeLaney added, "as the case goes forward, we look forward to continuing to work with the government to hold Community Health Network responsible for any illegal and retaliatory conduct."

Mr. Fischer's other counsel, Tim McCormack and Veronica Nannis, described the laws at issue. "Congress passed the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law because studies showed that doctors often ordered more, often medically unnecessary, services if they had improper financial incentives," explained McCormack. Nannis added, "prosecuting these cases is about protecting patients. When hospitals lock up referrals by paying kickbacks, they don't have to compete for patients by offering lower cost, higher quality care and responsive customer service."

Mr. Fischer praised the government's investigation. "I am grateful for all the hard work the Department of Justice invested in investigating these issues," said Mr. Fischer. "At its core, the problems I reported are not about arcane financial dealings; they affect real lives of patients, hospital employees and the excessive cost of healthcare services in the Indianapolis marketplace."

The case is captioned U.S. and State of Indiana ex rel Fischer v. Community Health Network, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:14-cv-1215-RLY-DKL. Mr. Fischer is represented by a team of attorneys including Jay Holland, Veronica Nannis and Sarah Chu from Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, Tim McCormack from Van Meer & Belanger and Kathleen DeLaney from DeLaney & DeLaney LLC in Indianapolis. The government's team is led by Arthur DiDio of the U.S. Department of Justice, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Josh Minkler, and Civil Chief for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Indiana, Shelese Woods.

Contact: Joseph Greenwald & Laake, P.A.

Jay Holland; [email protected]

Veronica Nannis; [email protected]

Phone: 240-553-1209

Phone: 240-553-1198

SOURCE Joseph Greenwald and Laake

Related Links

jgllaw.com


Samsung on Monday introduced a high-end Galaxy Chromebook at CES 2020 in Las Vegas. The new model could serve as an extension of the companys smartphone lineup and spawn a premium device demand in the category.

Samsung aims to position it as the companys flagship Chromebook to meet potential demand for a more useful and powerful multipurpose premium mobile device.

That could amount to little more than wishful thinking, suggested Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. Demand for ultra powerful Chromebooks has yet to develop much traction.

Every couple of years, some vendor rolls the dice in hopes that the healthy business for Chromebooks in education and other markets will result in demand for premium products, he told TechNewsWorld. So far, that has not panned out. See the modest commercial success of Googles Pixelbooks for proof points.

Adding Name Recognition

Samsung has used the Galaxy brand name for a variety of top-end and discount phone and tablet offerings. Marketing a pricey new Chromebook under the Galaxy umbrella might be a winning option to separate this computer from in an already-crowded field of cheaper Chromebooks.

This is an interesting move, noted Arle Lommel, senior analyst at CSA Research. Chromebooks long have suffered from a reputation as bargain-basement machines with lackluster performance.

Google has been steadily pushing up the enterprise chain, and this seems to be an enterprise-level notebook, he told TechNewsWorld. The marketing seems to be aimed at professionals who want a single machine for both work and personal use that has enough power for more than basic office use.

Demand issues aside, Lommel said, the marketing suggests Samsung wants to create a new presence in a market segment Apple traditionally has dominated: hip urban professionals. The inclusion of a 4K screen at this price point will be attractive to those who want to work with higher-res video.

Meet the Galaxy Chromebook

The Galaxy Chromebook is an ultra premium 2-in-1 laptop running Googles Chrome OS. It ships with a durable aluminum body, the latest 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, and a 13.3-inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) touchscreen.

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

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook will be available in the first quarter at a starting price of US$999. Expect to pay much more if you fully upgrade its RAM and storage.

Available in two colors  a brilliant Fiesta Red or more subdued Mercury Gray  it will ship in an unspecified number of variants with up to 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of SSD storage. Standard configuration starts with 8 GB of RAM and a 256-GB SSD.

The premium 2-in-1 Chromebook combines sleek design and next-generation productivity features with a seamless user experience. Built from durable aluminum, the Galaxy Chromebook is made to withstand the everyday wear and tear of life on the move.

Notable High-End Features

Samsungs Galaxy Chromebook has a near-infinite screen and slim 0.15-inch bezel that offers true-to-life visuals for immersive gaming as well as sharp photo viewing and editing. It soon will gain an additional high-end feature other manufacturers will find hard to beat.

HDR400 will deliver high-contrast graphics, along with Ambient EQ capabilities for a viewing experience that is vivid while easy on the eyes to reduce eye strain. Samsung will add this feature later through a software update.

The Galaxy Chromebook sets a higher standard in mobile computing, redefining what a Chromebook can be, the company maintained. The new device offers users new ways to take advantage of a Chrome OS experience that is simple, fast and seamless.

The notion that we do everything stationary at a desk is a thing of the past, and people need premium devices built for our new reality, said Alanna Cotton, general manager of Samsung Electronics America. By offering a seamless, premium user experience, Galaxy Chromebook helps you effortlessly switch between streaming, creative projects, word processing and more.

More Good Stuff

The Galaxy Chromebook comes packed with productivity tools to rival what is available on mobile devices running other operating systems. For instance, the built-in pen lets you write, draw and navigate Galaxy Chromebook quickly and efficiently, much like the user experience with the Samsung Note smartphone.

The flip screen and attached full keyboard are secured with a hinge that allows 360-degree movement. This provides multiple options: traditional clam shell laptop, tent-stand viewing platform, and tablet mode with vertical and horizontal viewing angles.

The Galaxy Chromebook is co-engineered with Intel as part of the Project Athena innovation program. The Galaxy device passed rigorous testing to achieve the programs experience targets and hardware specifications, according to Samsung. This ensures that the Galaxy Chromebook consistently delivers reliable responsiveness, instant wake and long battery life.

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

For years, students have come to love Chrome OS in classrooms around the world  but today, Chromebooks are being used for so much more, by the younger generation and working-professionals alike, said Kan Liu, senior director of product management at Google. As we see the demand for premium Chromebook experiences rise, we are investing more and more with partners like Samsung to build the next generation of flagship Chromebook product innovations and offerings.

Other Notable Features

The Galaxy Chromebook comes with support for Wi-Fi 6, fingerprint security verification, and a built-in stylus pen stored in the edge of the device. It also supports Google Assistant, rather than Samsungs own Bixby virtual assistant software.

The new Chromebook is ready to work in conjunction with Samsungs own smartphones as well as phones made by other manufacturers. For example, with instant tethering support the Galaxy Chromebook can connect automatically to a users mobile device to maintain connectivity where WiFi is not available.

Another example is click-to-call support, which lets users tap a hyperlinked phone number on their Chromebook to place a call on their Android phone.

Impressive Specs

The Galaxy Chromebook measures 11.9 inches x 8 inches x 0.39 inches. It has the security fingerprint feature and keyboard backlighting.

It has an 8-megapixel webcam on the top left corner of the keyboard that functions as a rear camera when the device is held in tablet mode. A 1-megapixel camera above the screen is handy for conference calls.

Battery capacity tops off at 49.2Wh. The outer edges of the keyboard contain numerous ports for external connectivity, including two USB Type-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone/mic jack and a MicroSD/UFS combination port.

Given the Chromebook computers design around the Chrome OS operating system and its ability to run Android and Linux applications, models with this higher-level performance capability and higher price could attract more than just a niche base of users who opt for high-end performance.

However, without aggressive marketing, it is doubtful that will happen, observed Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.

Android apps are mostly designed for smartphones, and they dont play well on larger screens. Nor are they designed for the larger form factor, he told TechNewsWorld.

This edition of Chrome is reminiscent of the old OS/2 effort with a Windows compatibility layer, Enderle said.

Such dual-mode efforts historically have not done well, he noted, adding that Steve Jobs killed Apples similar effort before it was released.

Demand Possible

Demand for personal and business Chromebooks could be growing, said Pund-ITs King.

There is a generation of people in their 20s who grew up with Chromebooks in school and could see them as good options for complementing the smartphones they tend to use, he reasoned.

Last September, Dell introduced a new Chromebook in its Latitude line that offers the kinds of services and support that businesses depend on. That could well increase demand for commercial Chromebook solutions, noted King.

Samsung is betting on a substantial number of Chromebook customers who prize premium materials and video quality, he added. The continuing growth of streaming media and the advent of services like YouTube TV might help spark demand too.

The Galaxy Chromebook is one of the better high-end offerings, but Chromebooks have had trouble breaking out of the cheap Microsoft alternative education space, according to Enderle.

More players in a segment drives an increase in interest level, he pointed out.

The combined marketing of all the firms could allow this premium effort to grow, Enderle said, but a product that is a premium cheap product  where the Chromebook image resides  is very difficult to sell.

Color Somewhat Counts

Samsung has learned that design matters. The Galaxy Chromebook is not just a boring gray box. The marketing really emphasizes it as a premium product in look and feel, noted CSA Researchs Lommel.

The other selling point is the 4K screen. At an MSRP of $999, this is at the cheap end for that resolution, he said. Most of the competition with 4K displays  none of which are Chromebooks  is 50 to 100 percent more expensive.

Samsungs marketing really wants you to see this as an ecosystem machine. As Apple has done with the iPhone, the iPad, and the Mac, Samsung is trying to build a continuity of experience, said Lommell, so that you can pick up your phone or your computer and feel equally at home.

More Than Netbook Mentality

Chromebooks have grown up in recent years. They are really a much better option than when they were essentially netbooks, Lommel noted, but they still suffer from some reputational problems.

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook may be one of the next class of devices to change attitudes, he said. The press release is clearly chasing Apple features such as iCloud and continuity. I can see this having a lot of appeal for users of Samsung phones and the anti-Apple crowd out there who still want that sort of integration.

The Chromebooks cloud-based operating model mirrors what the vast majority of smart users are used to, agreed King. It is also capable of supporting mainstream applications and suites, such as Office 365.

While the audience for Windows PCs and notebooks is still pretty solid, most of those same Windows users also own and work with devices that leverage other operating environments. Chrome is not the barrier that some thought it once was, King said.

Drawback Factors

The Chromebooks one big drawback is the lack of support for traditional software applications, King noted. If you need them, a Chromebook can be a tough fit.

Other drawbacks are tied to the operating system and brand image of a Chromebook. Plus, an AMOLED thin design probably means questionable battery life, according to Enderle. However, the big issue is that folks dont really think of a Chromebook as a premium offering.
- Lawyer Miguna Miguna was expected to land in Kenya at around 9:25 pm on January 7

- The self-styled NRM leader announced he was already in Germany waiting to connect flight to Nairobi

- The Lufthansa plane management refused him entry saying a red alert on his travel had been issued

- The alert prevents the 58-year-old from flying to any African country

The much awaited return of the self-styled National Resistance Movement Kenya (NRM-K) general, Miguna Miguna, could hit a snag after he was barred from leaving an airport in Germany.

Reports reaching TUKO.co.ke indicated an international red alert had been issued preventing him from flying to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) or any other African country.

READ ALSO: Ann Kananu Mwenda: From telephone operator to Nairobi deputy governor nominee

Miguna's (in neck tie) unending woes started after presiding over Raila Odinga's mock swearing ceremony. Photo: NASA Official.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Jamaa mwingine aparamia helikopta akifuata kinachodaiwa kuwa hongo

Miguna confirmed the latest intriguing developments to Hot 96 on the morning of Tuesday, January 7.

I am at the Lufthansa check in and they are saying the Kenyan security has blocked me from entering Kenya. In fact, the Kenya government has demanded that Lufthansa must refund my fare. They have demanded that Lufthansa should not fly me into any other African country, either, he said.

The self-styled NRM leader speaking during a press conference in 2017. He was deported to Canada later in 2018. Photo: NASA Official.

Source: UGC

The plane carrying the former Nairobi gubernatorial candidate was expected to leave Frankfurt Airport ahead of touch down a few minutes past 9pm on Tuesday, January 7.

"My flight departs from Frankfurt and arrives at the JKIA, Nairobi, on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 9:25 p.m., as scheduled, God willing. There is no change. Pursuant to Justice Korir's order of January 6, 2020. I will and must enter Kenya unconditionally as a Kenyan. See you soon!" he previously posted.

His unending woes started after presiding over National Super Alliance presidential candidate Raila Odinga's mock swearing ceremony in January 30, 2018.

Government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna had said Miguna was free to enter Kenya as long he has valid document. Photo: The Standard.

Source: UGC

The historic function earned the combative straight-shooting debater an illegal deportation to adopted nation, Canada, in February 2018 over alleged treason.

At the time, the Immigration Department insisted the 58-year-old leader born and bred in Nyando constituency in Kisumu county, had renounced his Kenyan citizenship.

Fearing the Jubilee regime would stand on his way yet again, Miguna urgently filed application seeking to stop government from meddling with his entry.

"This application has been necessitated by the government's refusal to comply with numerous court orders following my client's deportation," he said through lawyer John Khaminwa.

Justice Weldon Korir ruled in the barrister's favour besides directing Immigration officials to facilitate his safe landing.

"That an order be and is hereby issued, that pending and following the inter-parties hearing of the application, compelling the respondents to facilitate entry of the petitioner into Kenya,"he ordered.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

The Blind Tailor, I don't want people to pity me. I want them to be encouraged by my story | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
OTTAWA - No Canadian Armed Forces troops were hurt by the barrage of Iranian missiles that hit targets in Iraq Tuesday, Canada's chief of defence staff says.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance attends a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Latvian President Egils Levits in London on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019. Chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance says the Canadian military is temporarily relocating some soldiers from Iraq to Kuwait. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - No Canadian Armed Forces troops were hurt by the barrage of Iranian missiles that hit targets in Iraq Tuesday, Canada's chief of defence staff says.

"CAF families: I can assure you that all deployed CAF personnel are safe & accounted for following missile attacks in Iraq," Gen. Jonathan Vance said in a tweet late Tuesday. "We remain vigilant."

That message was echoed by Canadian Armed Forces Operations.

"Canadian Armed Forces personnel deployed in Iraq are confirmed safe after two military bases were targeted by missile attacks this evening."

According to U.S. authorities, about a dozen ballistic missiles targeted Al-Asad airbase near Baghdad and the northern city of Irbil, in the part of Iraq controlled by the country's Kurdish minority.

Canadians have long been in Irbil, working with Iraqi troops and maintaining a helicopter unit, and Canada has a diplomatic presence there as well.

Hours before the Iranian missiles hit the Canadian Forces had started to move troops out of the country.

U.S. President Donald Trump also took to social media to comment on the attack after the U.S. Defense Department said there were few, if any, casualties among its forces.

"All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now," Trump said on Twitter.

"So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning."

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and other Canadian government leaders said they were monitoring the situation.

The Canadian military's redeployment followed other Western nations concerned about the increasingly volatile standoff between the United States and Iran.

The withdrawal of an unspecified number of Canadian soldiers to Kuwait was billed by Vance as a temporary measure intended to ensure their safety and security. When  or even if  they will return is an open question.

In an open letter to the families of the 500 Canadian soldiers in Iraq, Vance said the safety of the troops was his top priority and that security measures were being "considered, reassessed and modified as required on a daily basis."

"Over the coming days, and as a result of Coalition and NATO planning, some of our people will be moved temporarily from Iraq to Kuwait," Vance added in the letter, which was posted on Twitter. "Simply put, we are doing this to ensure their safety and security."

Vance did not reveal how many Canadian troops were being pulled out of Iraq, and the Department of National Defence later said it would not provide that information for security reasons.

However, even as Vance described the withdrawal as temporary, he added: "Naturally, the work we are doing on these missions, and the future of operations in Iraq, remain conditional on maintaining a sufficiently secure and productive operational environment."

The Canadian contingent includes about 200 soldiers attached to a NATO mission in the south of the country that is training Iraqi counterparts in the basics of soldiering as part of the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

There have also been up to 200 special-forces soldiers in the northern part of the country working with specialized Iraqi counter-terror troops while several dozen more Canadians are working with senior Iraqi officials or providing logistical, medical and other support to the rest of the contingent.

All of the Canadians were ordered to suspend their activities and hunker down over the weekend and guard against attack following the killing by a U.S. drone at the Baghdad airport of Iranian Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was seen as the second-most powerful person in Iran.

Soleimani's death has raised fears of Iranian reprisals against U.S. and allied forces in Iraq and the surrounding region. It has also prompted Iraq's parliament and outgoing prime minister to call for the forced withdrawal of all western troops from the country.

The withdrawal of Canadian forces from Iraq follows a similar decision by other NATO allies, including Germany, Croatia and Romania. There were also reports of U.S. forces being put on high alert over fears of Iranian drone attacks.

"In everything that we do, the safety of our personnel is paramount," a NATO official said on Tuesday. "We are taking all precautions necessary to protect our people. This includes the temporary repositioning of some personnel to different locations both inside and outside of Iraq."

Even as the Canadian Armed Forces was preparing to start moving people out of Iraq on Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was talking to other world leaders about the situation in the Middle East, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and King Abdullah II of Jordan.

New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh said Trudeau should be talking to Canadians.

"Canadians don't want another war," Singh posted to Twitter.

"Mr. Trudeau needs to speak to Canadians and show us his plan for Canada to help calm tensions  not follow Trump into war."

Donald Trump and senior members of his administration continued to defend Soleimani's killing, with the U.S. president calling the Iranian general a "monster," even as they insisted there was no immediate plan to withdraw American forces from Iraq.

A leaked letter from the U.S. general commanding the anti-ISIL coalition to Iraq's defence ministry on Monday suggested the coalition, to which Canada belongs, was preparing to pack up and withdraw from the country.

There were reports on Tuesday that outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi considered the letter an official declaration of the U.S. military's planned departure, but U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper again dismissed the letter as a draft and said no decision had been taken.

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During a news conference at the White House with his Greek counterpart, Trump said he did not know the specifics of the letter before asserting that a U.S. withdrawal would be "the worst thing that could happen to Iraq."

"If we leave, that would mean that Iran would have a much bigger foothold, and the people of Iraq do not want to see Iran run the country."

Yet Trump, who had threatened sanctions against Iraq on Monday following calls from its parliament and Abdul-Mahdi for all foreign troops to leave, also said: "We don't want to be there forever. We want to be able to get out. I didn't want to be there in the first place, to be honest."

The Iranian government, meanwhile, was continuing to warn of retaliatory attacks against U.S. forces even as a funeral was held for Soleimani.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2020.

 With files from The Associated Press
Neil Ponstein woke up early on New Years Day, looked out his window and found a scene that's become all too familiar in the Crescent City: cops and neighbors milling about, surveying the destruction left overnight by car burglars.

Someone had smashed in the windows of three vehicles on Ponstein's block in Lakeview  including his truck  and rifled through them, taking whatever valuables they could find.

It has gotten out of control, he said. I do everything the police tell you to do  lock my doors, leave nothing of value in there, thinking that (thieves) would look in my car, see nothing and move on. But they didnt.

Ponstein is part of a growing chorus of residents who are pleading with officials to get a handle on the rash of vehicle burglaries in New Orleans, a problem that has been growing for years and that surged in 2019.

Before a recent ransomware attack complicated access to the city's crime statistics, the city was on pace to end the year with 6,377 car break-ins  a 57% increase from 2018. The count has increased in each of the last five years, and has gone up by about 160% since 2015, when there were 2,439 vehicle burglaries, according to statistics collected by the City Council.

Compounding the problem, offenders are rarely picked up, according to City Council consultant Jeff Asher. Only about 1 in 10 car burglary cases results in an arrest, with the suspects frequently accused of multiple vehicle break-ins.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson has been mum about exactly how the department might change its car burglary strategy since news broke last week that the number of homicides in 2019 hit an historic low. In the past, Ferguson has made it clear that battling the violent-crime rate is his agency's top priority and that he will not peel away resources from that fight.

But Ferguson has also said police consider it an important goal to reduce the number of car break-ins in the city. He's said it could pay big dividends for police and prosecutors to go after repeat offenders, like it has with violent crime.

Law enforcement officials believe there's a relatively small group of people  dozens or hundreds  who are responsible for the bulk of the citys vehicle burglaries.

That was the aim when police in May arrested Cornell Sparkman, 18, who was linked with more than 80 car break-ins, a handful of armed carjackings and even attempted murders.

At the time, Fergusons staff predicted that capturing Sparkman and some of his alleged associates would help slow the number of vehicle burglaries in the city. Trends as of mid-December seemed to buttress that belief: In the seven months following Sparkman's arrest, the pace had been cut by about half.

Sparkman has pleaded not guilty to the allegations and is awaiting trial.

Lakeview resident Gino Ascani said the problem got so bad in his neighborhood that he helped start Lakeview Citizen Watch to assist police in their efforts. Ascani was shot at as he attempted to run off  at rifle point  four people who were trying to break into his fiancee's car in 2017.

Aside from safety concerns, he said, residents are fed up with paying hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket to fix smashed car windows.

"Even if insurance does cover it, people have to figure out whether they want to just pay for it themselves or risk their deductible going up," Ascani said.

City Councilman Jason Williams, who chairs the council's criminal justice committee, said the issue should be an urgent one for police, especially as homicides and other violent crimes continue to drop. Break-ins often escalate into violent crime when guns or cars are stolen and used in subsequent crimes.

Both have happened before.

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+8 For the 3rd straight year, New Orleans sees a steep drop in murders For the third straight year, the number of homicides recorded in New Orleans fell dramatically in 2019, bringing unlawful killings to their lo

In a case that has yielded no arrests, two gunmen who carried out the deadly, 10-victim shooting on Claiborne Avenue in July 2018 used a stolen getaway car, which they later torched.

Also, on May 8, after 63-year-old Zelda Townsend and her husband confronted a teenage boy rummaging through their car, the boy and husband fired guns at each other. Townsend was killed and her husband was injured.

NOPD details Zelda Townsend's final moments in Mid-City, what led to alleged killer's arrest As her husband stood in the way of a teenager who had broken into their car Wednesday night in Mid-City, Zelda Townsend walked up and handed h

Williams and Ferguson said the proliferation of private, and even city-owned, surveillance cameras can help  and have assisted  in making cases against car burglars.

It provides us with a real way of solving these crimes, prosecuting them, and having (offenders) held accountable in different ways, said Williams, who has seen the cars of both he and his wife targeted.

For their part, both Mayor LaToya Cantrell and District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro have pushed for strictly enforcing an overnight curfew for juveniles, because  according to Asher's estimates  roughly half of car burglary suspects arrested are younger than 18.

Four alleged Central City gang members accused of 10 murder attempts, live-streaming taunts New Orleans prosecutors last week secured a racketeering indictment against four alleged Central City gang members who are accused of a dizzyi

Proponents of curfews and truancy stops say they are important early interventions that can nip unlawful behavior in the bud. In theory, such stops could lead to fines for parents and juvenile jail stints for offenders, but officials insist warnings are the more common outcome in such stops.

Cannizzaro's office also recently received funding for additional prosecutors at juvenile court, where the district attorney has pleaded with judges to stiffen penalties, especially for repeat offenders.

Some critics call the curfew an ineffective crime deterrent that mostly affects black children.

Others, including Williams and Asher, say they don't think that pushing for increased prosecution of juveniles will make a meaningful dent to the vehicle-burglary rate.

Instead, Williams said the 100 or so minors who are typically arrested in connection with car break-ins in any given year would be better off being introduced to recreational and educational opportunities as well as mentoring services.

Renee Slajda, of the Louisiana Center for Children's Rights, a group that serves as public defenders for juveniles in New Orleans, said studies in general conclude that jailing children doesn't effectively discourage them from reoffending.

"Arresting, or incarcerating, children is not one we should be quick to reach for," said Slajda.

Ronald Walker, whose car was one of 25 that were burglarized in a New Orleans East neighborhood in May, said he believes the city should be as concerned about the issue as they are about underperforming schools or infrastructure problems.

He's praying officials settle on an effective strategy  and soon.

"They're tearing up our neighborhoods," Walker, 72, said of car thieves. "And they're moving throughout."
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Republicans in Congress are so desperate to defend Donald Trumps reckless escalation with Iran that theyre using photoshopped pictures that show a smiling Barack Obama meeting with the Iranian president.

In a tweet, GOP Rep. Paul Gosar shared the doctored photograph with the caption, The world is a better place without these guys in power.

The world is a better place without these guys in power. pic.twitter.com/gDoXQu9vO5  Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) January 6, 2020

But as Aaron Blake of The Washington Post pointed out, there are two problems with Rep. Gosars nonsensical tweet.

First, Barack Obama never met with Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani. In fact, the real image is actually of Obama meeting with former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, not the president of Iran.

The second problem is that Rouhani is actually still in power, despite Gosars claim that the world is a better place without him.

Republican lawmakers already look foolish shielding this unhinged and corrupt president. They only humiliate themselves further when they defend him in such patently absurd ways.

Trump is opening the doors for a nuclear Iran

The president and his Republican defenders in Congress, including Rep. Paul Gosar, are pointing to the strike on Iran as evidence that Donald Trump is tough, unlike Barack Obama.

But in reality, Trumps strategy to deal with Iran  to the extent that a strategy exists  has been reckless and weak. It has only emboldened the Iranians to act more aggressively  and they have.

All of this can be traced directly back to the presidents decision to rip up an agreement  crafted by the Obama-Biden administration  between the Iranians and six other world powers that kept a lid on Irans nuclear program.

Even though the Iranians were holding up their end of the deal, Trump  childishly insecure about anything that has Barack Obamas name on it  withdrew and slapped sanctions on Iran.

Now, Iran has resumed its pursuit of a nuclear weapon, the Middle East is becoming even more unstable and Trump is ratcheting up U.S. military engagement in the region, despite his campaign promise to put an end to needless wars.

Donald Trump and Donald Trump alone is to blame for the unfolding crisis in the Middle East. There has been nothing smart or strong about his Iran strategy.

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They've been rumoured to be dating for the past few months.

And it appears that Modern family star Ariel Winter, 22, couldn't keep her eyes - or hands - off her beau Luke Benward, 24, when they stepped out for lunch together in LA on Monday.

The pair looked closer than ever as they laughed and embraced while waiting for their lift outside the LA restaurant.

Cute: Modern Family star Ariel Winter, 22, and her rumoured beau Luke Benward, 24, were spotted cosying up during a lunch together in LA on Monday

The Modern Family actress showed of her amazing figure in a black jumpsuit with white flower detailing.

Carrying a white Balenciaga handbag, the actress boosted her height with a pair of black strappy heels, but still only just reached Luke's shoulders.

Luke, who is best known for his role as Bo in the Netflix film Dumplin', looked casual wearing a gingham button-up shirt, undone slightly to reveal his chest hair.

Happy: The Modern Family actress showed of her petite curves in a black jumpsuit with white flower detailing as she smiled and laughed with Luke

Couple? Luke, who's best known for his role as Bo in the Netflix film Dumplin', was rocking a casual look for the occasion

Luke, who's best known for his role as Bo in the Netflix film Dumplin', appeared casual wearing a gingham button-up shirt, undone slightly revealing his chest hair.

The actor - a long time friend of Ariel's - teamed the collared shirt with a pair of loose fitting jeans and Nike sneakers.

The couple were first seen cosying up together in public in early December 2019, not long after she split with longtime boyfriend Levi Meaden.

Stunning: The couple were first seen cosying up together in public in early December 2019, not long after she split with longtime boyfriend Levi Meaden (Ariel pictured on Sunday night)

Ariel proclaimed to be back on the market after calling it quits from Levi following nearly three years together.

The actress first started dating Levi in November 16, and moved in together the following year when she was 19 and he was nearly 30.

But earlier this month Levi was seen collecting the remainder of his items from her Studio City home with a moving truck.

Lovers or friends? The pair already have reportedly been friends for several years, and in 2017 even took a vacation with her to Bora Bora alongside several pals

Luke, meanwhile, has already been in Ariel's life for several years, and in 2017 even took a vacation with her to Bora Bora alongside several friends.

Notable credits to Luke's acting resume include roles in How To Eat Fried Worms, Girl Meets World, Life Of The Party, and more recently Dumplin'.

Luke played Bo in the Jennifer Aniston-led comedy about a young woman who signs up for her mother's beauty pageant as a protest and inadvertently sparks a movement.
In the tense hours following the American killing of a top Iranian military commander, the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made a rare appearance at a meeting of the government's National Security Council to lay down the parameters for any retaliation.

In the tense hours following the American killing of a top Iranian military commander, the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made a rare appearance at a meeting of the government's National Security Council to lay down the parameters for any retaliation. It must be a direct and proportional attack on American interests, he said, openly carried out by Iranian forces themselves, three Iranians familiar with the meeting said Monday.

It was a startling departure for the Iranian leadership. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, Tehran had almost always cloaked its attacks behind the actions of proxies it had cultivated around the region. But in the fury generated by the killing of the military commander, General Qassem Soleimani, a close ally and personal friend of the supreme leader, the ayatollah was willing to cast aside those traditional cautions.

The nation's anger over the commander's death was on vivid display on Monday, as hundreds of thousands of Iranians poured into the streets of Tehran for a funeral procession and Khamenei wept openly over the coffin.

After weeks of furious protests across the country against corruption and misrule, both those who had criticised and supported the government marched together, united in outrage. Subway trains and stations were packed with mourners hours before dawn, and families brought children carrying photographs of Soleimani.

A reformist politician, Sadegh Kharazi, said he had not seen crowds this size since the 1989 funeral of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

"We are ready to take a fierce revenge against America," General Hamid Sarkheili of the Revolutionary Guard declared to the throng, "American troops in the Persian Gulf and in Iraq and Syria are within our reach."

"No negotiations or deal, only war with America," students chanted in an online video from a university campus.

A renowned eulogist and member of the Revolutionary Guard, Sadegh Ahangaran, exhorted the funeral crowds to raise their voices so "damned America can hear you" and to "wave the flags in preparation for war".

The increasingly public vows of direct action on Monday constituted Iran's latest act of defiance to President Donald Trump. Over the weekend, the president had repeatedly threatened to retaliate for any attacks against American interests by ordering airstrikes against as many as 52 potential targets, one for each of the American hostages held after the seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979.

In response, Iran's moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, on Monday responded with his own numerology. "Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290," he said on Twitter, a reference to the 290 people killed in 1988 in the accidental downing of an Iranian airliner by a US warship. "Never threaten the Iranian nation," Rouhani added.

Where, when and even if Iran may choose to retaliate remains a matter of speculation. As Iranian leaders weighed just what form it might take, analysts said the targets included US troops in neighbouring Syria and Iraq, American bases in the Persian Gulf, or US embassies or diplomats almost anywhere.

When previous attempts at direct strikes or assassinations have proved unsuccessful, some noted, Iranian-backed militants have turned to the simpler tactic of killing civilians with terrorist bombs.

This was the sequence in 2012 with the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah. After failing in attempts to attack Israeli targets or kill Israeli officials in revenge for the killing of one of the group's leaders, the militants eventually settled on the easier job of bombing a bus load of Israeli tourists in Bulgaria, said Afshon Ostovar, a scholar of Iran at the Naval Postgraduate School.

"We are in uncharted territory, and the truth of the matter is nobody knows how Iran is going to respond. I don't think even Iran knows," Ostovar said, "But I think there is a blood lust right now in the Revolutionary Guards."

In Iraq, where the Parliament had earlier called for the immediate expulsion of the 5,000 US troops stationed there, Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi on Monday listed steps to curtail the troops' movements. While plans were being made for departure of the Americans, he said, they will now be limited to "training and advising" Iraqi forces, required to remain within the bases and barred from Iraqi air space.

Abdul-Mahdi met with Matthew Tueller, the US ambassador to Iraq, on Monday, and "stressed the need for joint action to implement the withdrawal", according to a statement and photo released by Abdul-Mahdi's office. He also emphasised Iraq's efforts to prevent the current tensions between Iran and the United States from sliding into "open war".

The US military stirred a media flurry by accidentally releasing a draft letter that seemed to describe imminent plans to withdraw from Iraq. Marine Corps Brigadier-General William H Seely III, the commander of US forces in Iraq, wrote to the Iraqi government that US troops would be relocated "to prepare for onward movement".

"We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure," he wrote.

But Defence Department officials played down the significance of the letter. "Here's the bottom line, this was a mistake," General Mark A Milley, Trump's top military commander, told reporters at the Pentagon during a hastily called press briefing. "It's a draft unsigned letter because we are moving forces around."

"There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq," Mark T Esper, the defence secretary, told reporters. "There's been no decision made to leave Iraq. Period."

Although the Trump administration has said that the United States killed Soleimani because he was planning imminent attacks against US interests, there were indications Monday that he may have been leading an effort to calm tensions with Saudi Arabia.

Abdul-Mahdi said that he was supposed to meet with Soleimani on the morning he was killed, and that he expected him to bring messages from the Iranians that might help to "reach agreements and breakthroughs important for the situation in Iraq and the region".

In Washington, two top Senate Democrats urged Trump early on Monday to declassify the administration's formal notification to Congress giving notice of the airstrike that killed Soleimani.

Such notification of Congress is required by law, and to classify the entirety of such a notification is highly unusual.

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Senate Democratic leader, and Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said in a joint statement that it was "critical that national security matters of such import be shared with the American people in a timely manner".

And Senator Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, urged Trump's critics not to jump to conclusions. "Unfortunately, in this toxic political environment, some of our colleagues rushed to blame our own government before even knowing the facts," he said.

For its part, Iran simultaneously continued a months-long push against the Trump administration over its demands that Tehran submit to a more restrictive renegotiation of a 2015 accord with Western powers over its nuclear research. The Trump administration has sought to pressure Iran by devastating its economy with sweeping economic sanctions, which Iranian officials have denounced as economic warfare.

The sanctions set off the cycle of attacks and counterattacks that culminated last week in the killing of Soleimani. Iran has also responded with carefully calibrated steps away from the deal's limits on its nuclear program. On Sunday, Iranian officials said that they had now abandoned all restrictions on the enrichment of uranium, though they said they would continue to admit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Amid the emotion of the funeral, some called for vengeance that would remake the region. "Even if we attack all US bases and even if we kill Trump himself, it's not enough revenge," Brigadier-General Amir Ali HajiZadeh said at the funeral, "We must totally eliminate all US troops from the region."

For now, Iranian officials seem to be in no rush to strike back against the United States, possibly enjoying their ability to spread anxiety throughout the West. They seem content to bask in the nationalist surge in their popularity, growing international sympathy and the push to expel US troops from Iraq. "I don't think they want to shift the conversation yet," said Sanam Vakil, a scholar of Iran at London-based research centre Chatham House.

But for the hardliners who dominate the Iranian National Security Council, she said, some vigorous retaliation would be the only rational response. "A non-response would appear weak and invite further pressure, creating problems in domestic politics and internationally," she said.

Farnaz Fassihi and David D Kirkpatrick c.2020 The New York Times Company
Things are moving fast in federal Iraq, as pro-Iran factions flex their muscles and authorities seek to oust foreign troops. Amid the chaos, Iraq's Kurds are watching apprehensively before placing their bets.

Caught between the US and Iran and wary of being accused of seeking independence from Baghdad, the autonomous government of northern Iraq's Kurdish region (KRG) has kept relatively mum on latest developments.

They include a US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad and a federal parliament vote to oust foreign troops, all against the backdrop of months of anti-government rallies.

But statements from the KRG and from Iraq's Pesident Barham Saleh, himself a Kurd, have been limited to calls for restraint and "respecting the sovereignty of Iraq".

And on Sunday, not a single Kurdish lawmaker attended the federal parliament's vote to oust foreign troops, declining to take a stance on the controversial issue.

"Iraq's Kurds have adopted the short-term strategy of waiting," Kurdish specialist Adel Bakawan told AFP.

He said Kurdish authorities were "speaking to everyone" in closed-door meetings, but waiting for the dust to settle before stating their position.

"They want to see what direction events will take and won't pick one side or another until the situation becomes clearer," Bakawan said.

Iraq has long had close ties to both the US and Iran, but diplomatic relations with Washington have dimmed in recent years as Tehran's clout in Baghdad has soared.

KRG capital Arbil has also been caught in the tug-of-war for influence, with Kurdish armed forces supported by both countries and political parties split along the same lines.

The Kurdish region earned de facto autonomy during the 1991 Gulf War over Kuwait, later formalised in the constitution crafted after the 2003 US-led invasion.

"The existence of an autonomous Kurdish region is thanks to the direct intervention of the US," said Bakawan.

But at the same time, Soleimani "had personal ties with all Kurdish parties", he added.

Soleimani was killed early Friday in a US drone strike outside Baghdad's international airport, along with top Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Iraq's government was so outraged that within days, MPs voted to urge the cabinet to kick out all foreign forces.

Warned they would be considered "traitors" if they did not support the ouster, Kurdish lawmakers did not attend Sunday's vote as they largely see a US military presence in Iraq as a healthy counterweight to Iran.

"Iraq must not become a battlefield to settle scores or political conflicts," pleaded Vian Sabri, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) bloc in the federal parliament.

Even members from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which is seen as closer to Iran, boycotted the session.

"Shiite deputies took a radical decision for the future of all of Iraq, under the influence of emotion," said a top PUK official, on condition of anonymity.

"There are a number of violations of Iraq's sovereignty and we should take measures to stop them all, not target a single party," the party official said.

Some 5,200 US troops are stationed across Iraq to back local forces preventing an Islamic State group resurgence.

They make up the bulk of the broader coalition including troops from dozens of countries, invited by the Iraqi government in 2014 to help combat IS.

Late Monday, an American general told Baghdad that US troops were preparing to depart "in due deference" to parliament's decision, but the Pentagon denied a pull-out.

An ouster of foreign troops would likely rattle Arbil, as the US-led coalition worked closely with Kurdish peshmerga fighters to clear jihadists from swathes of the north.

And with Iran-US tensions soaring, Kurdish figures fear they could lose their hard-won autonomy, which grants them many more rights than their kin in neighbouring Syria, Turkey and Iran.

Even before the US strike, Iraq had been rocked by its own domestic political crisis.

Three months of anti-government protests in Baghdad and across the Shiite-majority south prompted Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi to step down.

He had been seen as a major ally to the KRG, making his resignation a stinging blow to their standing in Baghdad.

But as Washington distances itself from an ever-more hostile Baghdad, Kurdish prudence could pay off.

Seen as more reliable partners to the US and a safe haven for entrepreneurs, diplomats and humanitarians, the KRG could ultimately become Washington's best asset in Iraq.

"International and even regional powers have an interest in securing and even developing this state within a state that is the Kurdistan regional government," said Bakawan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Suspended trainer Jarrod McLean is expected to face extortion, blackmail and threat-to-kill charges over an alleged incident involving an outstanding debt from a racehorse owner in Rowville last year.

Police have interviewed McLean, 39, and a 45-year-old man from Baringhup, near Castlemaine, after a report was made to Knox police station in the second half of 2019.

Group 1-winning trainer Jarrod McLean is expected to face fresh charges from Victoria Police. Credit:Jason South

Sources familiar with the matter told The Age the alleged victim was a racehorse owner who owed McLean more than $10,000. It is alleged the Baringhup man was ordered by McLean to threaten the victim to pay the debt.

The pair have been released but Victoria Police confirmed in a statement that two men were expected to be charged on summons in relation to offences of blackmail, extortion, making threats to kill and threats to damage property.
The governor of Indonesia's capital city has banned single-use plastic bags from its markets and shopping malls, starting from the middle of this year.

Anies Baswedan signed the regulation into law on December 27, following a similar initiative that has helped to clean up the holiday island of Bali.

Indonesia ranks as the world's second-largest plastic polluter behind China, and the waterfront in Jakarta is often choked up with bottles, bags and other waste.

The governor of Indonesia's capital city Jakarta has signed an order banning plastic bags from the city's street markets and shopping malls from the beginning of this year (pictured, a plastic waste dump in the city)

The capital of Indonesia, a country listed as the second worst offender for polluting the world's oceans with plastic, will ban single-use plastic bags from its street markets and shopping malls from the middle of this year.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan signed the regulation, seen by Reuters, on Dec. 27, following the steps taken by the Indonesian holiday island of Bali, which enforced a ban last year in despair over the trash washed up on its beaches.

Nowhere apart from China, according to a Science journal report in 2015, dumps more plastic waste in the sea than Indonesia, an archipelago nation of 260 million people.

Unable to cope with the amount of solid waste generated by a metropolitan area that is home to 30 million people, Jakarta's enviornmental agency says the city's landfills are near capacity, according to media reports.

Indonesia produces the second-largest amount of plastic pollution of any country except for China, with waterway frequently clogged with waste (pictured, a river in West Java)

The new regulation stipulates that shopkeepers and stallholders should provide environmentally-friendly carrier bags in future and the penalties for violations would range from written warnings, to fines of anywhere between $360 and $1,800, and finally suspension or termination of trading permits.

The forms of plastic banned in the regulation include latex, thermoplastic and polyethylene.

Tutum Rahanta, who represents an association of shopping centre tenants, said the government has failed to think through the alternatives.

'Consumers should not be sacrificed,' Rahanta said. 'The government wanted to [ban plastic bags], but when we asked them what the alternative would be, they never thought about that.'

Ardiansyah Rizza, 34, a souvenir vendor in an East Jakarta modern market, said people accepted change was needed, but complained that six months was not long enough to make the move over to shopping without plastic bags.

'The period between January to June is too short,' he said.




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Every year, automotive manufacturers release ideas, sketches, and renderings of and for their visions of the future. The fantastical presentations and proposals capture imaginations and theorize how these near-future communities would change society (and how their products would play crucial roles, of course). This decade, Toyota wants to take things a step further and actually build a city of the future prototype.

Toyota used its stage at CES 2020 to announce its intentions to break ground on a new project that it is calling a prototype city of the future. The community, named the Woven City, will be set at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan on a 175-acre plot. Toyota envisions the city to house roughly 2,000 people and serve as a research and testing bed for autonomy, robotics, personal mobility, smart homes and artificial intelligence.

In addition to feeding and powering its own development, Toyota hopes others will use the unique opportunity to explore, as well. Toyota is leaving an open invitation for commercial and academic partners to work with Toyota on the "living laboratory" and hopes individual scientists and researchers will also take advantage. Toyota enlisted Danish architect Bjark Ingels, who worked on New York's 2 World Trade Center and Google's Mountain View and London headquarters, for the design.

In the city, the street is split into three lanes for three different uses: fast vehicles in one, personal mobility and pedestrians in two, and a "park-like promenade" specifically for pedestrians. Only fully autonomous zero-emission vehicles are allowed on the "main thoroughfares," and Toyota e-Palettes will serve as transportation, delivery bots and mobile retail units. Toyota also went into specific detail about its plans for the materials and housing:

The city is planned to be fully sustainable, with buildings made mostly of wood to minimize the carbon footprint, using traditional Japanese wood joinery, combined with robotic production methods. The rooftops will be covered in photo-voltaic panels to generate solar power in addition to power generated by hydrogen fuel cells. Toyota plans to weave in the outdoors throughout the city, with native vegetation and hydroponics. Residences will be equipped with the latest in human support technologies, such as in-home robotics to assist with daily living. The homes will use sensor-based AI to check occupants' health, take care of basic needs and enhance daily life, creating an opportunity to deploy connected technology with integrity and trust, securely and positively.

Story continues

Toyota wants to break ground on this project in 2021. Eventually, it will start filling the city with its company employees and their families, retired couples, businesses, scientists, and industry partners.
WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he has the votes to start President Donald Trumps impeachment trial as soon as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi releases the documents, winning support from GOP senators to postpone a decision on calling witnesses.

The announcement is significant, enabling McConnell to bypass for now Democratic demands for new testimony as he launches the third impeachment trial in the nations history. It could begin this week if Pelosi sends the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

But Pelosi gave little indication Tuesday of her next move. She cut short an impeachment discussion with her leadership team late at the Capitol when an aide handed her a note about the crisis unfolding in the Middle East. She asked Democrats to pray, according to a lawmaker at the closed-door session.

Pelosi appears in no rush to transmit the articles of impeachment as Democrats push to hear from more witnesses but McConnell focuses Republicans on a strategy for speedy acquittal. The Senate cant start the proceedings until the charges against Trump are sent.

We have the votes, McConnell told reporters about his proposal that would set the rules for a trial and would be modeled after President Bill Clintons impeachment 20 years ago. He said the question of new witnesses and documents will be addressed later and not before the trial begins.

The contours of a Senate trial have been in dispute for weeks. Pelosi is delaying transmission of the articles as Democrats press for testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton and other new witnesses.

Sadly, Leader McConnell has made clear that his loyalty is to the President and not the Constitution, Pelosi wrote to colleagues late Tuesday. She said the process he is outlining is not only unfair but designed to deprive Senators and the American people of crucial documents and testimony.

Pelosi told House leaders Tuesday she believed the strategy was working, according to those in the private meeting. She called on McConnell to immediately reveal the details of his proposal.

People are united, said Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson of California about the mood in the House caucus.

McConnell has resisted calling new witnesses and expects the trial to end with the GOP Senate majority voting to acquit the president of the charges, and without Trumps removal from office.

The GOP leader told senators at their closed-door lunch Tuesday that he has support for his plan. It would start the trial first and postpone votes on witnesses until later in the process.

He has 51 (votes), for sure, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a top ally of the president, exiting the meeting. Republicans hold the majority in the Senate, 53-47.

In withholding the articles, Pelosi gave Democrats an opportunity to ramp up pressure on Republicans not to go along with McConnells proposal. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called McConnells plan a trap and a coverup. He vowed to force votes anyway on Bolton and the others.

Whoever heard of a trial without witnesses and documents? the New York Democrat said. He asked Trump what he has to hide. Witnesses and documents: fair trial. No witnesses and documents: cover- up.

Republicans countered that Democrats rushed to impeach and then delayed the process. Pelosi has yet to choose House impeachment managers for the trial, a politically sensitive next step, with many lawmakers vying to be candidates. The House impeached the president last month on the two charges.

Just four GOP senators would be needed to deny McConnell his majority, but he appears to have locked up the votes. GOP leaders were conducting a whip count Tuesday to gauge support. Several GOP senators have indicated they want to hear from Bolton and other witnesses, but they are nevertheless standing with McConnells plan for starting the trial.

Im comfortable with that process, said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah. Id like to hear from John Bolton and other witnesses with the right information, but that process will accommodate that.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has also said she supports McConnells approach. Others say they are not sure they even need to hear from Bolton or other witnesses, blaming the House for not forcing them to testify. Trump had instructed White House officials not to comply with the House investigation.

Its not that I dont want to hear from him, said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. I want to hear from him when the House is willing to do their work and have the same agreement with the ambassador on their side of the Hill.

Trump faces charges that he abused the power of the presidency by pressuring Ukraines new leader to investigate Democrats, using as leverage $400 million in military assistance that is critical for the ally as it counters Russia at its border.

The funding for Ukraine was eventually released but only after Congress intervened.

From the Oval Office, where Trump was meeting with the prime minister of Greece, he railed against the impeachment proceedings, as he often does, as a totally partisan hoax witch hunt.

Trump insisted there was absolutely nothing done wrong in his interactions with Ukraine.

Republicans are expected to swiftly acquit Trump of the charges, but Democrats say fresh evidence, including Boltons willingness to testify, only increases pressure for new witnesses and documents.

Bolton apparently compared the administrations actions toward Ukraine to a drug deal he wanted no part of, a shadow diplomacy being concocted by the acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, according to House testimony. Bolton left the administration in September.

Democrats also want documents about the withheld aid to Ukraine that the White House refused to turn over to House investigators, defying congressional subpoenas.

With a 53-seat majority, McConnell has only loose control over the impeachment proceedings, where decisions on witnesses or documents can be made with a 51-vote majority.

Pressure will mount on senators up for reelection from swing states in 2020, including Collins, Tillis, Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst and Colorado GOP Sen. Cory Gardner, who are being closely watched for their votes by a deeply divided country. Protesters are showing up at the Capitol.

McConnell deflected a question Tuesday on whether Trump acted appropriately with Ukraine, saying he had nothing more to add on that issue. He acknowledged the votes on witnesses and documents will be the most contentious part of the proceedings. There will be, Im sure, intense discussion, he said.

The GOP leader has come under criticism for saying he was not an impartial juror but rather was working in total co-ordination with the White House on the trial strategy. Democrats similarly worked with Clintons White House during his impeachment.

___

Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Matthew Daly and Padmananda Rama in Washington contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 12:35:43|Editor: yhy

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MANILA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday sent an official to Iran and Iraq to discuss the safety of approximately 7,600 Filipino workers amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

"(Duterte) has instructed Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Abdullah Mamao to proceed to Iran and Iraq today to deliver the special messages of the (president) to the Iranian and Iraqi governments on the safety of the Filipinos working in the aforesaid countries, specifically conveying his urgent desire that no Filipinos be harmed in the course of the ongoing conflicts," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

The Philippine Department of National Defense said there are 1,600 and 6,000 Filipinos in Iran and Iraq, respectively.

Panelo said Duterte also ordered Roy Cimatu, his special envoy to the Middle East, "to fly to the Middle East immediately to establish coordination with the host countries and lay the groundwork for the evacuation."

On Sunday, Duterte ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) to prepare to deploy its aircraft and ships "at any moment's notice" to evacuate the overseas Filipinos workers in Iran and Iraq amid the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran following last week's U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.

"(Duterte) ordered the AFP to prepare their air and naval assets for the evacuation of our countrymen in the event armed or military warfare between the United States and Iran takes place," Panelo said.

According to Panelo, Duterte expressed grave concern on Monday over the heightening tensions gripping the Middle East region where nearly 3 million Filipinos are working.

He said Duterte articulated before the cabinet members during a meeting Monday night "his fear for the imminent danger that our countrymen face arising from the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran."

At the meeting, Panelo said Duterte ordered the creation of a "special working committee" to draw up plans and measures for the evacuation of Filipinos in the Middle East.

Panelo further said Duterte directed the appropriate government agencies to prepare for contingencies that will absorb displaced workers to government projects so as to prevent the economic dislocation of their families upon their return.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Iraq is home to 450 undocumented and 1,190 documented Filipinos. "More than half are found in the relatively safer Kurdistan region and around 847 in the Baghdad area," it said.
Open source

The parties also discussed the situation in the Middle East. It is noted that Pompeo appreciated Ukraines condemnation of the attack on the US Embassy in Baghdad, reaffirmed the US strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and emphasized the long-term strategic partnership between the countries.



Earlier it was expected that Mike Pompeo will visit Ukraine on January 3. And on January 1, it became known that he had postponed a visit to Ukraine because of the situation in Iraq.
Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo, says plans were underway for leaders of Niger Delta ex-agitators to be enrolled in leadership training within the country or offshore, for effective coordination of their followers.

Arriving the venue, Prof. Charles Quaker Dokubo, Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme, at the Niger Delta Stakeholders meeting(PHASE 3 Leaders) with Principal Staff of the Amnesty office, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Monday 6th January 2020.

He stated this on Monday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, at a meeting with 170 leaders of ex-agitators enlisted in Phase Three of the Amnesty Programme, just as he urged them to set aside violence and work in harmony to deepen peace in the Niger Delta region towards enhancing development.

Dokubo noted that leadership training for leaders of the ex-agitators was necessary to equip them with knowledge and skills on how to manage their followers and possibly empower them to undertake entrepreneurship initiatives that will positively impact on the Niger Delta.

Prof. Charles Quaker Dokubo, Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme,(in handshake in the centre) in a group picture with the ex-agitators leaders PHASE 3 during the Niger Delta Stakeholders meeting with Principal Staff of the Amnesty office, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Monday, January 6th 2020.

I have thought about leadership training and there was a time they sent people to South Africa. I told the Phase Two leaders I met here (Uyo), that we will design a programme for leadership training. If you dont have training, how can you lead your people? It is not about stipends, it how you can acquire knowledge. This knowledge will not be confined to Amnesty, you can also get somewhere. So training is very essential; I will create a programme where leaders will go. I will get a list of all the leaders so that we can send them for training in batches. We cant send all at the same time. It is for your own strength and leadership.

Prof. Charles Quaker Dokubo, Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme,(in handshake in the centre) in a group picture with the ex-agitators leaders PHASE 3 during the Niger Delta Stakeholders meeting with Principal Staff of the Amnesty office, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Monday, January 6th 2020.

The Amnesty boss expressed dismay at the confrontational approach and protests by ex-agitators in seeking attention to issues bothering them rather than availing themselves of the official platforms in channelling complaints, emphasizing his vision and objective.

Prof. Charles Quaker Dokubo, Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme,(L) exchanging pleasantry with the ex-agitator, after the meeting with the ex-agitators leaders PHASE 3 and the Amnesty office Principal staff, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Monday 6th January 2020.

There are ways of addressing issues. Amnesty means that you have given up violence and you have adopted a peace-making process to resolve issues that afflict our people. Thats what it is. So, somebody who has laid down his arms should not even resort to conflict again because you have accepted the rule of the Federal Government. So please, let us know how to get what you want to pursue from this programme; let us set aside violence. My goal here is to bring peace and also enhance human capital development.

Dokubo urged leaders of ex-agitators in Phase Three of the Amnesty Programme to put their house in order and present their complaints officially in an organized manner rather than travelling in large numbers to the Amnesty office in Abuja without invitation or prior notice and thereafter make unrealistic monetary demands for logistics.

Please, any issue that you want to talk about, delegate two or three persons to come and meet me. Any day they come, I will open my doors for them. But if you come there without my notice and you expect me to pay your transport, no government in this world can do that. We must be realistic. You might not like it, but that is the way things are done. I want you to understand the due process stance of the present administration. What I am saying is that we must do things the right way.

R-L- Prof. Charles Quaker Dokubo, Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme, addressing members of the Niger Delta ex-agitators PHASE 3 leaders at the Niger Delta Stakeholders meeting with Principal Staff of the Amnesty office, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Monday 6th January 2020.

While giving assurance of prompt payment of monthly stipends and other entitlements to beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme, Dokubo said he had no hand in cases of alleged missing slots or exclusion of beneficiaries from the Programme, but had diligently made payments based on available official records since his assumption of office.

The government can only look at what they have and what they can spend. Even you, if you have 30,000 Naira in your pocket, you can only spend out of what you have. Anything that is lawful, I, Charles Dokubo, will do it. Anything that is part of this programme, I will not remove it; I will carry it out thoroughly. For me, the most important thing is the maintenance of peace in our area.

One of the female ex-agitators leaders PHASE 3, making her own contribution at the Niger Delta Stakeholders meeting with Principal Staff of Amnesty office, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Monday 6th January 2020.

Let me tell you something that happened. Someone came to the office and complained that he had not been paid for six months. I wrote to the Finance department and Data unit and asked that they look into it. Guess what? He was collecting money from two places, so I cancelled everything about him. You cannot take somebodys money. The money they gave us to pay stipends is fixed; that is why I always tell people, I dont have the right to include any person or exclude. If you are in the programme, you are in the programme and if somebody wants to exclude you, I will not take it easy with that person because it will always create problems for the office.

Godday Smith (AKA Bounana War) ex-agitators leaders PHASE 3, making his own contribution at the Niger Delta Stakeholders meeting with Principal Staff of Amnesty office, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Monday 6th January 2020.

Reacting to a request for payment of leadership and house allowance to leaders of the ex-agitators, Dokubo said there was no official record to justify such payment. Some of you were there in the beginning of this programme; what is in the books is what we are going to do, and if on the side we can do more, then we will not hesitate. But in the Amnesty Programme, there is nothing like leadership allowance.

Ezetu Rawlings, AKA Ebilo ex-agitators leaders PHASE 3, making his own contribution at the Niger Delta Stakeholders meeting with Principal Staff of Amnesty office, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Monday 6th January 2020. Pix 15- Cross section of some ex-agitators leaders PHASE 3, at the Niger Delta Stakeholders meeting with Principal Staff of Amnesty office, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Monday 6th January 2020.

On delays sometimes in payment of entitlements, when there is delay in release of funds, it is not from the Amnesty office; it means that money has not come because we dont have a bank. Everything comes from the Central Bank. We write everything, they take it to the Central Bank which dispenses the money; we dont have money or a bank called Amnesty bank.Speaking on behalf of participants at the meeting, National Secretary of the Forum of Phase Three Leaders of Ex-Niger Delta Agitators, Mr. Tam Odogwu, expressed optimism that the interactive sessions with critical stakeholders in Niger Delta initiated by Dokubo will deepen peace in the region.

MURPHY GANAGANA

Special Assistant (Media)

7th January, 2020


Amid the unrest over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) across the country, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, January 6, stated that the party received over 52 lakh missed calls in support of the act.

He said, "52,72,000 missed calls have been received on a special number in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act from verifiable phone numbers, total 68 lakh calls have been received."

The BJP on Friday had launched a pro-CAA campaign with a toll-free number that let the common people give a missed call in order to register themselves in support of the newly amended law. Along with it, the party is carrying out several other campaigns to create awareness.

BJP holds CAA awareness rallies

Amid the protests around the CAA and the National Population Register (NPR), BJP has planned to undertake an outreach program to clear the "misconceptions" around the same. This was decided after BJP's top brass met in a high-level meeting chaired by working president JP Nadda.

As per sources, BJP's top leadership including Home Minister and party president Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will take part in the awareness campaigns from January 1 to January 15. On Sunday, Amit Shah and Smriti Irani held a door-to-door campaign to spread awareness about CAA.

Read: Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma urges BJP to not politicise Kota infant deaths

Protests over CAA

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: Kejriwal hits back at Amit Shah, says 'point out shortcomings, will implement suggestions'

Several protests after the passing of the bill and ended up taking a violent turn. The protests initially erupted across Assam, West Bengal, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, following the violence at Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi where over 50 students were detained by police during the protests.

The anti-CAA movement has spread to more places like Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pondicherry, Patna and so on. Protests are also erupting against the National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Read: Tajinder Bagga challenges Konkona Sharma to 'prove anti-CAA protest video is doctored'

Read: BJP's Nadda meets representatives from Budhhist & Christian communities in support of CAA

(WITH ANI INPUTS)






Panasonic began collaborating with Tropos Motors in 2019 to create small electric vehicles with connected technology. A modular design allows for a variety of commercial uses, and for CES 2020, the partnership fruited new applications such as a miniature fire truck and a last-mile cooled delivery vehicle.

Tropos Motors is a Silicon Valley-based tech company that builds all-electric street-legal, low-speed vehicles. Its lineup of Able ST, Able XR, and Able RHV utility trucks with swappable platforms can be used as emergency, cargo and delivery, or repair/service vehicles. Tropos Founder and CEO John Bautista says the goal of linking with Panasonic is to "address the needs of businesses that depend on small commercial vehicles with a practical and efficient solution."

Panasonic upgrades the go-karts with its OneConnect proprietary software and cloud services platform. This allows for advanced fleet monitoring that includes battery monitoring, predictive maintenance scheduling, tracking and analytics. The information is accessed through two programs called SkipGen and SPYDR.

For CES, Panasonic brought out a connected "right-size" emergency fire truck and a last-mile refrigeration cargo truck. The fire truck, which is equipped with a Panasonic Toughbook FZ-G1 tablet that could be used to receive emergency information, would be ideal for fitting in small spaces such as parking garages. It is also small enough to drive off-road or go inside certain types of buildings. The refrigerated utility vehicle uses Vacuum Insulation Panel coolers, which do not require any energy or refrigeration to keep the insides cool. This allows energy to be devoted entirely to the vehicle's powertrain.

Panasonic calls these production concepts, and both are essentially showroom-ready.
Shares of ITI Ltd jumped by over 14 per cent on Tuesday after the state-owned telecom equipment manufacturer reported a turnover of Rs 919 crore during the October to December quarter of the current financial year.

The profit after tax during Q3 FY20 totalled Rs 168 crore, with this, the company said its net worth has become positive after a period of 16 years.

"With the strategy of project implementation, manufacturing and marketing, ITI has achieved this breakthrough," said Chairman and Managing Director Rakesh Mohan Agrawal. "The company has a sound order book and is poised to take off from here."

ITI took several measures to reduce operating costs, increase operational efficiency and improve productivity during the quarter. These measures included modernised and upgraded infrastructure, equipment and technology, emphasis on R & D and innovation besides continued training and improvement of employee's skills.

"The company will continue to take further measures in the area of cost control in the coming quarters," said Agrawal.

ITI has manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru, Naini, Rae Bareli, Mankapur and Palakkad along with an R & D centre in Bengaluru and eight regional offices at Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and New Delhi besides 17 area offices across the country.

At 10:30 am, the company's stock was trading at Rs 104.70 apiece, up 14.24 per cent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
U.S. troops are staying in Iraq and have no plans to leave despite a letter that circulated Monday and appeared to say the opposite, top military officials say.

The letter, by Marine Brig Gen. William Seely, top U.S. commander in Iraq, informed Iraqi counterparts of an upcoming "repositioning" of forces in the coming weeks and days in response to the Iraqi government's wishes. Defense officials initially told reporters the letter was authentic; but later, Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Mark Milley said it was a draft and mistakenly distributed.

"The long and short of it -- it was an honest mistake," Milley said.

Milley and Defense Secretary Mark Esper said it was also wrong to interpret "repositioning" of forces to mean a withdrawal.

"There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq," said Esper, who initially appeared to be at a loss to explain the letter's content and origin.

Related: US Military Bases Ramp Up Security Measures Amid Threats from Iran

"I don't know what that letter is," he said. "We're trying to find out where that's coming from, what that is. But there's been no decision made to leave Iraq -- period."

Esper and Milley went on to discuss other matters in the escalating crisis with Iran, but the chairman returned a few minutes later to tell reporters that he had just gotten off the phone with Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, to get an explanation of the Seely letter.

"It was poorly worded [and] implied a withdrawal," Milley said of the letter. "That's not happening. It should not have been sent."

The bottom line, Milley said, was "no one's leaving."

In the letter to his Iraqi counterparts, Seely said the estimated 5,000 U.S. troops in Iraq would withdraw "in due deference to the sovereignty of Iraq and as requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister."

The letter's reference was to an overwhelming vote in the Iraqi parliament on Sunday to pass a non-binding resolution calling for a U.S. troop pullout. That vote came in the aftermath of a U.S. airstrike Sunday at Baghdad International Airport that killed Iranian Quds Force leader Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

In a speech to parliament Sunday, acting Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi characterized the death of Soleimani as a "political assassination" and called on U.S. troops to leave.

However, Esper said, "I think the Iraqi people want us to be there" to continue the train, advise and assist mission against the Islamic State. He suggested that "many Iraqi lawmakers feel the same way" despite how they voted Sunday.

Under the standing agreements with Iraq on the stationing of U.S. forces, any formal request for them to leave would have to come in the form of a binding resolution from the Iraqi parliament and would require a year's notice, defense officials said.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Read more: Army Sky Soldiers Prep for Middle East Deployment as US Buildup Continues
A repeat thief who stole honey and money from a Slate Belt roadside stand has been caught, Pennsylvania State Police said.

On Dec. 27, troopers released surveillance photos of a woman they say took $180 worth of goods and money between August and December from a stand in the 9100 block of North Delaware Drive in Lower Mount Bethel Township.

Following the release, the Belfast barracks received multiple tips identifying the woman as 63-year-old Cindy Ann Fusco, and Fuscos drivers license photo matched the woman from the surveillance video, troopers said.

Troopers called Fusco, who they say sounded nervous on the phone, and she began giving unsolicited accounts of her actions, asked to see the photo of the suspect and then asked Am I getting arrested?

Fusco, of the 300 block of Georgetown Road in Lower Nazareth Township, agreed to an interview, and on Friday allegedly confessed to the multiple thefts.

Taken during multiple incidents between Aug. 14 and Dec. 7 were:

Two-pound jar of honey ($48)

Large owl beeswax candle ($5)

Small glass jar of honey ($11)

Eight-ounce jar of honey ($9)

One-pound jar of honey ($16)

Honey sticks ($9.40)

Glass bear of honey ($22)

Small hexagon jar of honey ($3)

Large mouth jar of honey ($30)

Squeeze bear of honey ($7)

$18 in cash

On Dec. 7, troopers said Fusco grabbed jars of honey, pretended to put money in a deposit box and then stole money from a change jar. She allegedly put the items in her car, and then came back to the stand to take more change and another jar of honey.

Less than two hours later, Fusco came back, put $1 in the deposit box and stole $42.75 worth of items, including 33 honey sticks and jars of honey, state police said.

Fusco was charged with criminal trespass, retail theft, theft and defiant trespass. She was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
by Melynda Fuller , January 6, 2020

Gannetts Chief Financial Officer Alison K. Engel announced she will leave the company at the end of the first quarter of 2020. Engel spent five years with the company.

Expected to step in to lead finances for now is current Gannett treasurer Mark Maring. Maring served as treasurer of GateHouse Media for 10 years before the merger with Gannett in November 2019, in a $1.2 billion deal.

The company is looking for Engels permanent replacement.

Paul Bascobert, Gannett Media Corp. CEO, stated: [Engel] has been a tireless leader and advocate for our mission and helped us to successfully navigate both a proxy fight and merger this past year. We wish her all the best as she considers her next adventure.

At the time of the merger, Engel was announced as CFO of the newly formed operating company, with Bascobert being named CEO of operating company. The company is currently searching for a CMO.

advertisement advertisement

Michael Reed, who remained chairman of the board and CEO of the combine pubic company, stated that while cuts would be inevitable, none would come from editorial.

The company anticipated $275 million to $300 million in annual cost synergies following the merger.

In December, Gannett began to issue buyouts and layoffs across its newspapers and corporate offices. Florida Times-Union reporter and president of its employee union, Andrew Pantazi, compiled Gannett layoffs in a Google Docs spreadsheet. The layoffs span 60 of the publishers divisions, including newspapers such as the Austin American-Statesmen, Asbury Park Press and the Fort Myers News-Press/Naples Daily News, which counted 56 layoffs at the time.

Separately, today, Gannett-owned Columbus Dispatch announced the printing and production of its papers will move to Indianapolis, resulting in the layoffs of 188 employees.

For local journalism to remain strong in modern society, the newspaper business must adapt and change to serve both print subscribers and a rapidly growing digital audience  while also making money to support all of that, stated Alan D. Miller, executive editor-interim general manager of the Dispatch Media Group, commenting on the plant closing.
Illegal immigrants cannot be allowed to hold protests against the CAA which has nothing to do with bonafide citizens of the country, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said on Tuesday.

Tiwari urged the protesters holding demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at Shaheen Bagh area here to end their road blockade saying they do not need to fear anything.

"I request those protesting at Shaheen Bagh and other places that if you are born here and are a citizen of India, you need not fear anything, but if you are not a citizen of India then you must catch the first train and leave (dheere se gaadi pakdo lo aur nikal lo)," Tiwari said at a press conference at the Delhi BJP office.

Tiwari has been at the forefront demanding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in Delhi, alleging that illegal immigrants are involved in majority of crimes like snatchings and loot in the national capital.

The protestors in Shaheen Bagh near Jamia Millia Islamia University, including women, have been camping in the area for nearly a month. As a result, the crucial Kalindi Kunj road linking south-east Delhi areas to Noida remains blocked.

The roadblock is posing hardships to motorists commuting between Delhi and Noida as there are heavy traffic jams at alternate roads including the DND flyover.

Delhi Traffic Police has been flashing alerts daily on its official twitter handle warning commuters about the closure of Road no 13A between Mathura Road and Kalindi Khunj for traffic movement, suggesting motorists to take the DND or Akshardham road to commute between Delhi and Noida.

Tiwari said the BJP and its government at the Centre have been consistently saying that CAA has nothing to do with any citizen of India, even if they are Muslims.

The minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have been given citizenship and illigrants immigrants will have to leave the country, he said.

"We cannot allow it if the illegal immigrants (ghuspaithiye) are holding protests," Tiwari stated.

The BJP leaders have been visiting people in different parts of the city explaining to them that CAA was not meant for taking away their citizenship, but was aimed at helping persecuted religious minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday led the party's door-to-door campaign in Lajpat Nagar area, visiting households and distributing literature to spread awareness about the CAA.

Union minister and Delhi BJP's Assembly poll incharge Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday visited Madrasi Camp locality in Moti Bagh area, spreading awareness about the amended law on citizenship.

Those spreading "rumours" about CAA are not well wishers of the country. Their objective will not be allowed to succeed, Javadekar stated.

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

One-of-a-kind immersive experience aims to raise awareness for an important cause

TORONTO, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHAT: The highly anticipated theatrical release of JUST MERCY hits theatres this week, and Torontonians can participate in a world-exclusive experience acknowledging the presence of wrongful conviction in Canada.



From January 7 to 9, the immersive #JustMercyNOW activation at Brookfield Place allows visitors to briefly enter the environment of those who have been convicted of a crime they did not commit. This one-of-a-kind experience features a recreation of an inmate visitation area, where guests will take time to just listen to several true stories of wrongful conviction in Canada delivered by the starstudded cast of JUST MERCY and advocate George Stroumboulopoulos. Attendees are encouraged to join the movement and raise awareness by sharing their experience using #JustMercyNOW.

The #JustMercyNOW experience is a continuation of an ongoing partnership between Innocence Canada and Warner Bros. Canada to highlight the presence of wrongful conviction in our country. The timeliness of the initiative and activation cannot be understated, as Innocence Canada could be forced to close its doors by the end of this year if the organization does not receive sufficient financial support. In December, the partnership launched via a digital initiative which featured the JUST MERCY cast videos to raise awareness for Innocence Canada and its goals. Currently, the organization is reviewing more than 80 claims of innocence from individuals desperate to prove they have been wrongly convicted. The campaign has raised more than $10,000 to date.

This experience was created by LexPR.

WHEN: January 7 to 9 from 7:00 a.m.  6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Brookfield Place (concourse level)

JUST LISTEN to Michael B. Jordan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WarnerBrosCA/videos/515862855681979/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B6OtFdLpa6c/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WarnerBrosCA/status/1207420273483538432

YouTube: https://youtu.be/70DZwjfwABs

JUST LISTEN to Brie Larson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WarnerBrosCA/videos/596218881145346/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B6RUET4Jk45/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WarnerBrosCA/status/1207785048818233346

YouTube: https://youtu.be/RG9scJdK4uc

JUST LISTEN to Bryan Stevenson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WarnerBrosCA/videos/1043885555960260/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B6TUSQ1JYUE/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WarnerBrosCA/status/1208071846081519617

YouTube: https://youtu.be/da1P4uEbdss

JUST LISTEN to Jamie Foxx

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WarnerBrosCA/videos/1470575223119163/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B6VkTeqp02e/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WarnerBrosCA/status/1208387024945852416

YouTube: https://youtu.be/7PB4PTYFt7U

About JUST MERCY

Michael B. Jordan and Oscar winners Jamie Foxx (Ray, Baby Driver, Django: Unchained) and Brie Larson (Room, Short Term 12, Captain Marvel) star in Just Mercy, an inspiring drama that brings one of the most important stories of our time to the big screen.

Award-winning filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton (The Glass Castle, Short Term 12) directed the film from a screenplay he co-wrote, based on Bryan Stevensons bestselling memoir.

Just Mercy is based on the powerful and thought-provoking true story of young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (Larson). One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian (Foxx), who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite a preponderance of evidence proving his innocence and the fact that the main testimony against him came from a criminal with a motive to lie. In the years that follow, Bryan becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of legal and political maneuverings, as well as overt and unabashed racism as he fights for Walter, and others like him, with the oddsand the systemstacked against them.

About INNOCENCE CANADA

Innocence Canadas mandate is to identify, advocate for, and work to exonerate individuals who have been convicted of a crime they did not commit and to prevent wrongful convictions through legal education and reform. Innocence Canada only adopts cases where we believe that the individual did not commit the crime for which they were convicted.

In the years since its inception, Innocence Canada staff and volunteer lawyers have reviewed hundreds of cases, leading to the successful exoneration of 23 innocent individuals who together spent more than 200 years in prison for crimes they did not commit. Innocence Canada is currently reviewing more than 80 claims of innocence.

Contacts:

Warner Bros. Canada

Anna Perelman

Senior Manager, Publicity and Promotions

Anna.Perelman@warnerbros.com

Work: 416-730-6201

Cell: 416-602-5795

Warner Bros. Canada

Sandy Power

SVP, Marketing

Sandy.Power@warnerbros.com

Work: 416-730-6202

Innocence Canada

Kerry Emmonds

Director of Development

Innocence Canada Foundation

kemmonds@innocencecanada.com

Cell: 647-866-4430
Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday during a surprise visit to Damascus, his first since the start of the nearly nine-year war, Syria's presidency said.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Damascus for a visit during which he met President Assad at the headquarters of the Russian forces," it said in a statement.

The two leaders listened to a military presentation by the commander of Russian forces in Syria, said the presidency, which posted a picture of the two leaders shaking hands.

Putin extended his greetings to Russian forces for Orthodox Christmas which is celebrated on January 7.

He also said enormous progress had been made in the Syrian conflict, Russian agencies reported.

"In his conversation with Assad, Putin noted that we can now say with confidence that a huge distance has been travelled towards restoring Syrian statehood and the country's territorial integrity," the agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Peskov told Interfax, RIA Novosti and TASS that Putin had met Assad at a command post for Russian forces in Syria, driving through Damascus on the way.

"Putin also noted that on the streets of Damascus the signs of how peace has been restored can be seen with the naked eye," according to Peskov.

He said the two men had heard military reports on the situation in various parts of Syria, where Russia's armed forces intervened in 2015 in support of Assad.

"The Syrian president expressed appreciation for the help of Russia and the Russian military in the fight against terrorism and the restoration of peaceful life in Syria," Peskov said.

Putin was due to visit several more sites, Peskov said, without providing further details.

The Russian leader is expected in Turkey on Wednesday to inaugurate a gas pipeline with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Russian leader visited Syria in December 2017 but had not been to the capital, only stopping at the Russian base of Hmeimim on the Mediterranean coast.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Harman Kardons sibling companies that are part of Harman International Industries release headphones quite often, but it has been years since H/K itself did. For CES 2020 the brand has prepared three models ranging from truly wireless to over year.

The Harman Kardon Fly TWS will sell for $150 and feature in-ear detection and touch controls. They are also sweat and rain resistant and last 5 hours of continuous use with the charging case capable of providing power for 15 hours more.



Harman Kardon Fly TWS

On the other end of the spectrum are the $250 Harman Kardon Fly ANC. As the name suggests, these over ear headphones have active noise cancellation. These feature 40mm drivers and you can customize their sound through the Harman Kardon Headphones app.

The Fly ANC features a premium design with aluminum cups and a leather-covered headband. Their 700mAh battery charges in under 2 hours and is good for 20 hours of listening with ANC on, 30 hours without it.

The H/K Fly ANC is available today, going for $250/250/230, you can find them at the official site by following the link below.



Harman Kardon Fly ANC

The most affordable of the lineup is the Harman Kardon Fly BT model. These have a thin cable running behind your back and only a small three button remote on the left. The whole thing weighs just 17.1g and is easy to stuff in your pocket. Or you can wear them around your neck, each bud has a magnet in it so they snap together.

The Fly BT has 8.6mm drivers. Their battery will last 8 hours of playback and can be charged pretty quickly - 10 minutes of charging add 1 hour of listening time. An IPX5 rating lets you take them for a jog.

The H/K Fly BT will start shipping on January 21 and cost $100/150/130.



Harman Kardon Fly BT

All three headphones can summon your phones virtual assistant. The Fly TWS is not up on the official site just yet but it should ship before the end of winter.

Source: H/K Fly ANC | H/K Fly
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Linkedin Reny Eka Putri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 8 2020

The rupiah was relatively more stable throughout 2019 compared to 2018. The rupiah closed 2019 3.6 percent stronger at 13,866 per US dollar from 14,390 at the end of 2018. The rupiahs appreciation was driven in large part by supportive global and domestic monetary policies.

It is worth noting that the limited pressure on the rupiah was due to investors optimism and risk on appetite in investing in emerging markets, including Indonesia. This was represented by a much lower credit default swap level (CDS) of 65, the lowest in history.

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Now a team of researchers think theyve found it, buried beneath a lava bed in Laos.

The team, led by Kerry Sieh, a geologist at the Earth Observatory of Singapore, published its evidence last week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. While some researchers suggest that additional fieldwork is needed to confirm the findings, these results provide important clues toward piecing together a catastrophic encounter between Earth and a fiery visitor from space.

Dr. Sieh has been hunting for the crater for years, but many leads turned out to be dead ends. While most scientists agree the meteorite impact likely occurred in Southeast Asia, that presents a puzzle.

Many ancient impact craters have disappeared from Earths surface as a result of volcanic, tectonic and other erosional forces. But most places in Southeast Asia experience low rates of erosion and sedimentation, insufficient to have erased such a large crater in a relatively short amount of time.

However, theres at least one exception: a Delaware-sized plateau near the Mekong River in southern Laos. Here, volcanic eruptions have created lava beds up to 1,000 feet deep. Thats thick enough to hide a large crater, the scientists realized. The hunt was on.

Dr. Sieh and his colleagues began by studying data showing that Australasian tektites contain elements characteristic of the Laotian volcanic field. The scientists also age dated the lava flows. Some predated the impact while others postdated it. That makes sense, said Dr. Sieh, since the lavas that buried the crater must be younger than the impact and the lavas that were incorporated into the tektites must be older.
Mobile, Ala.

Poor Doug Jones. Like so many politicians, he seems either unable or unwilling to concede the dismal election landscape in which he finds himself. He seems to believe that he can survive in this crimson-red, Trump-loving state.

The only Democratic U.S. senator from the Deep South and the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Alabama in 25 years, Jones won a special election in December 2017 only because Alabama Republicans chose a singularly repugnant nominee, Roy Moore. But Jones is easily the most vulnerable senator up for re-election in 2020, and he is quite unlikely to prevail.

That's why it makes no sense for him to dither over his vote in President Donald J. Trump's impeachment trial. A former federal prosecutor, the Alabama senator knows perfectly well that the president has committed offenses that cry out for his removal from office. Jones should vote to oust him and accept his impending defeat with his principles and dignity intact.

Yet, he has postured and posed as a possible Democratic defector, suggesting that he sees reasons to vote against ouster as well as reasons to vote for it. "I'm trying to see if the dots get connected," he said in a December interview on ABC's "This Week."

Not only are the dots connected, but they also paint a glaring and grim portrait of a president who uses his office for personal gain, who tried to extort a vulnerable ally, Ukraine, to gin up slanderous accusations against a domestic political rival, Joe Biden. If Jones were prosecuting this case in federal court, he would be aggressive in pursuing the case for extortion. He would smell a conviction at hand.

And it doesn't matter if Jones goes against the wishes of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, anyway. Unless Moore is the nominee  he is seeking the seat again but is unlikely to win the nomination  Jones has less chance of winning than an ice cube of surviving the sidewalk in an Alabama summer.

A passel of Republicans have announced campaigns, most of them eagerly seeking Trump's endorsement by trying to tie themselves to the president's ankle. Those include former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has put any pride he retains in cold storage to cozy up to a man who publicly mocked and ridiculed him while Sessions served in his Cabinet. After announcing his bid to win back his old seat, Sessions immediately launched an ad praising Trump for "doing a great job."

They also include U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, who has likewise debased himself trying to win Trump's endorsement. When a rump group of House Republicans crashed a secure hearing room to interrupt testimony in the impeachment proceedings, Byrne was close to the front of the parade.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.

There's a reason Alabama's Republican politicians are the president's lap dogs.

In 2015, Trump packed a stadium here, and he remains wildly popular in this state. According to a November Morning Consult poll, 59 percent of Alabama voters approve of the job he is doing  second only to Wyoming. And even before Trump completed a hostile takeover of the GOP, the state had become blood-red.

Just over two years ago, Alabama held a special election to fill the seat vacated by Sessions. Moore, the GOP nominee, was a discredited jurist who remained popular among ultraconservative voters for his defiance of constitutional mandates separating church and state while he was a justice on Alabama's Supreme Court.

But his campaign was sunk by credible, late-breaking accusations of inappropriate sexual conduct with teenage girls. He lost the backing of enough Republican voters for Jones to eke out a narrow margin of victory. Jones beat Moore by less than 2 percentage points in a state Trump had won by 28 percentage points. That scenario, however, won't repeat itself.

Jones has been a good senator, aligning himself with progressive positions on issues such as gun laws and reproductive rights while voting with the president about a third of the time. It's a shame that he is very likely to lose to a Trump lackey. That's all the more reason, though, for him to do the right thing on the way out.
Ghassan Salame said a foreign supporter of General Haftar carried out the January 4 military college airstrike that killed at least 30 people - AFP

Libya's civil war is being driven out of control by world powers who are violating an arms embargo they themselves imposed, the UN's envoy to the country has said.

Ghassan Salame demanded a growing number of countries who have intervened take their "hands off Libya" and warned governments who persisted in meddling in the deepening civil would be drawn into a nightmare.

Get out of the Libyan nightmare, that is what I am asking all the countries, Mr Salame said. Remain outside this situation because there is no military solution. The more we give hopes to this side or to that side, the more you render the political situation extremely different.

He said an airstrike on a military school in Tripoli that killed at least 28 unarmed people, many of them teenagers, had been carried out by a foreign country.

Mr Salame said he did not want to single out individual governments, but the comments will be widely seen as a rebuke to Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Russia, and France, all of which have either openly or covertly lent support to either side in the conflict.

Gen Haftar's Libyan National Army launched their assault on Tripoli in April, but progress has been slow Credit: ESAM OMRAN AL-FETORI/REUTERS

His comments came as forces local to Khalifa Haftar, the general who is trying to overthrow the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), seized the coastal city of Sirte, which is strategically valuable because it lies close to an important oil terminal.

GNA officials said government forces had withdrawn from the city on Wednesday, although there were reports of sporadic resistance.

Turkey, which had already been supplying weapons and equipment to the GNA, began to deploy troops in support of Tripoli at the beginning of this week.

The Turkish government said the first troops to arrive would include air defence and electronic warfare units.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and he European counterparts called for foreign troops to leave Libya Credit: REX/ JOHN THYS/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX

The move puts Turkey in conflict with the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and Egypt, which are believed to have deployed troops, mercenaries, and other assets in support of Gen Haftar, although none has done so openly. France has also been accused of lending him support.

Story continues

A United Nations report published last month said an unnamed countrys airforce of carried out airstrikes against Tripoli on behalf Gen Haftar.

Gen Haftar, who controls a rival administration based in the eastern city of Benghazi, launched an offensive against Tripoli, the seat of the GNA, in April.

The war has become increasingly violent, with airstrikes and artillery hitting civilian areas with growing frequency.

Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, met European counterparts to discuss the Libyan crisis in Brussels on Tuesday.

Foreign ministers from Britain, France, Germany and Italy warned "external actors" to stay out of the conflict in Libya on Tuesday, urging all sides to commit to a negotiated peace.

The Greek, French, and Italian foreign ministers are to fly to Cairo for talks on Libya on Wednesday.
A man accused of stabbing two people in at North Star Mall last year was arrested Monday in connection with the pistol-whipping of two females.

Anthony Rodriguez, 18, was charged with aggravated robbery. His bail was set at $100,000 for the charge.

On Saturday, Rodriguez met with his 16-year-old girlfriend about problems he was having with a relative, his arrest warrant affidavit states. The two had been dating for seven months, investigators said.

After his girlfriend refused to lend $10 to Rodriguez, she was struck on the head with a pistol, the affidavit says.

She then was hit on her arms and legs before Rodriguez is alleged to have demanded her vehicle and phone, investigators said.

After the alleged attack, Rodriguez entered a vehicle in which an 18-year-old female occupied the passengers seat, the affidavit states.

Rodriguez told her to get out of the vehicle. When she refused, she was struck by a pistol, the affidavit states.

She got out of the car, but Rodriguez was not able to drive away because his girlfriend still had the keys, investigators said.

Rodriguez then is alleged to have grabbed his girlfriends cellphone and got out of the vehicle.

Rodriguez and his girlfriend struggled over the phone until his family member intervened and he began running toward his residence.

One the way inside, he walked past the 18-year-old, and she was struck a second time on the head with the pistol, the affidavit states.

Both women drove to University Hospital for treatment.

Rodriguezs girlfriend needed staples to close the wound on her head, while the other woman had lacerations to her head.

The exact location where the incident occurred was not listed in the affidavit.

Rodriguez also was tied to a Nov. 19 incident in which two teenagers were stabbed at about 8:30 p.m. in a Forever 21 store at North Star Mall.

Rodriguez was with a group of about five males who were detained and questioned.

The teenagers injured in that incident were taken to University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

He was arrested that night and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Rodriguez also was arrested in May and charged with unlawful carry of a weapon and possession of marijuana.

He was out on bonds totaling $44,000 when the Saturday incident occurred.

Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA
TORONTO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - EBlock announces a strategic partnership and exclusive integration with Auction Edge that will provide brick and mortar auctions with technology to compete in the dealer-to-dealer auction space.

The partnership will begin with the McConkey Auction Group in the Pacific Northwest in January of 2020, followed by an expansion of the program to other Auction Edge customers nationwide.

The technology powering the partnership is made possible by an exclusive integration between EBlock and Auction Edge.

"Independent auctions are scrappy and very competitive by nature," Dan Diedrich, CEO of Auction Edge, said. "Integrating Auction Edge with EBlock's platform gives those auctions proven means to facilitate and expedite digital transactions. It empowers their success via the absolute best online dealer-to-dealer platform."

The EBlock/Auction Edge integrationthe first of its kind in the U.S.will provide McConkey Auction Group (MAG) clients with a state-of-the-art dealer to dealer auction platform (called MAG Now) that complements the buying and selling experience that dealers would expect when attending an auction. Run lists, set auction times, virtual lanes, and units transacting in 60 seconds are just a few reasons why EBlock is growing at 100% YOY in Canada and has now sold over $1 billion worth of vehicles in the D2D space.

"We are selling 5,000 dealer-to-dealer vehicles per month with EBlock in Canada, so when the time came to expand to the U.S., partnering with Auction Edge and piloting with the McConkey Auction Group was the obvious choice," says Jason McClenahan, CEO of EBlock. "The team at Auction Edge has done an outstanding job building a consolidated buyer base of 50,000 buyers at over 200 auction facilities. Likewise, MAG's auctions have set an incredibly high bar; the independent auctions have been searching for a better tool than what's out there, and we firmly believe that through this partnership, we're bringing them that tool."

"We've always been early adopters, but that doesn't mean we rush into using a technology for technology's sake," says Bob McConkey, President and CEO of MAG and Board Chairman of Auction Edge. "The partnership between EBlock and Auction Edge is the culmination of a lot of research, finding a lot of common ground, and 20 years' efforts in providing digital solutions for our customers."

That common ground is what's at the heart of this new partnership. In addition to McConkey's unparalleled experience in the industry, both McClenahan and EBlock founder Ryan O'Connor are seasoned auction pros.

"Meeting Bob for the first time it was like wow, this guy really gets it. Even though we were on different sides of the table, we both saw the future of the auction business in identical ways," said O'Connor. "EBlock was designed with the brick-and mortar experience in mind, and having Bob McConkey validate everything we've built is extremely gratifying. Empowering and partnering with physical auctions across the U.S. is a big pivot from disrupting them like we have in Canada. However, when you look at the synergies between EBlock/Edge and the brick-and-mortar footprint across the U.S., anyone who knows this space clearly understands why this partnership makes so much sense."

Besides enhancing the physical auction experience, EBlock gets brick-and-mortar auctions up and running competitively in the dealer-to-dealer auction space without the infrastructure issues that have plagued other virtual auction providers. The impact of these capabilities will now be expanded by the partnership with MAG and the integration with Auction Edge.

The partnership's first MAG Now-specific auction event will take place on January 28, with an expansion to independent auctions in the U.S. happening throughout 2020.

About EBlock

EBlock is a leader in the wholesale automotive market, providing sellers and buyers with a streamlined platform that combines the energy and immediacy of a physical auction together with the convenience and efficiency of a digital one.

About McConkey Auction Group

Independently owned McConkey Auction Group (MAG) is the Pacific Northwest's leading wholesale vehicle remarketing company.

About Auction Edge

Auction Edge is the premier remarketing technology provider to independent auto auctions across the United States, providing platforms and marketplaces for dealers to operate efficiently, dominate locally, compete nationally, and expand their reach globally.

SOURCE EBlock Inc

Related Links

https://eblock.com/en-ca


UNITE HERE demonstrators march in front of terminal B and C at the Philadelphia International Airport during a protest against high healthcare costs on Thursday, October 24, 2019. The airport's lease agreement with American Airlines and other airlines will be a major issue for unions UNITE HERE and 32BJ SEIU in 2020. Read more

In 2019, the City of Philadelphia made a name for itself as it passed some of the most progressive worker protection laws in the nation.

This year, the big question is if the city can enforce those laws.

Thats just one of the big issues to watch in 2020, which is already shaping up to be a big year for workers and labor in City Hall, especially as a younger and more progressive City Council begins.

Fair Workweek

Initially scheduled to go into effect in January 2020, this law, which regulates how fast-food, retail, and hotel chains schedule 130,000 low-wage employees in the city, will now roll out in April. The delay will help ensure that employers comply with the law, said Candace Chewning, spokesperson for the citys Office of Labor, which is responsible for its enforcement. The delay angered advocates, including the labor group One Pennsylvania that led the fight for the law, who said that the delay suggested the city was bending to industry pressure, was ill-prepared for enforcement, or both.

 READ MORE: Philadelphias Fair Workweek law gets delayed. Advocates call it embarrassing.

In preparation for enforcement, the city has hired an investigator who will focus solely on Fair Workweek, joining the two investigators that focus on wage theft, paid sick leave, and the new just cause law for parking workers. It also plans to hire an outreach staffer focused on working with employers and has hosted a series of employer training sessions in the last few months.

Just cause for parking workers

Last May, Philadelphia became the first city to pass a bill that made it illegal to fire parking-lot workers without just cause, or an appropriate reason. The law, pushed for by the union 32BJ SEIU that is organizing parking-lot attendants, covers 1,000 workers in the city and went into effect in September. At least one complaint has already been filed, officials said last month, and is currently being investigated.

 READ MORE: City Council approves just-cause, a cutting-edge worker protection law, for the parking industry

Domestic Worker Bill of Rights

The legislation, which passed last fall and provides labor protections to the citys 16,000 nannies, house cleaners, and other domestic workers, will go into effect in May. The regulations process, where details about how the law will work get finalized, begins next week.

The lawsportable benefits system, which will allow these workers to accrue paid time off, will take longer to implement, as the city has to purchase a system and hire a contractor to run it. This request for proposals process has not yet begun, Chewning said. The National Domestic Workers Alliance, the parent organization of the local group that advocated for the bill of rights, has such a system and said it would apply to the citys request for proposals. The result will be the first city-run program in the country that allows domestic workers to access paid time off.

 READ MORE: Paid time off for domestic workers? How a Philly plan could be a model for millions in the gig economy

Airport lease

The Philadelphia International Airports lease agreement with American Airlines and other airlines is set to be a major battleground for the citys two major service-worker unions, UNITE HERE and 32BJ SEIU, this year. The current, five-year agreement expires June 30 and airport spokesperson Florence Brown said the airport is in talks with the airlines to negotiate a new agreement before the current one expires. City Council has to approve the agreement.

UNITE HERE and 32BJ SEIU represent a combined 2,700 workers at the airport  food service workers, baggage handlers, wheelchair attendants, and airline caterers  and the lease agreement could help or hinder their ability to negotiate favorable contracts. During the last lease agreement negotiation, 32BJ was able to raise wages for its members.

 READ MORE: 39 arrested at PHL in nationwide airline catering worker protest against American Airlines

Prevailing wage for security guards and other service workers

In December, the Kenney administration took a big step toward enforcing a law that would give 1,400 security guards a raise: Thanks to a City Council bill that passed at the end of the year, he can now withhold a water bill discount for nonprofits like Penn and Temple if they dont ensure that workers got the raise. Now, the question is if hell use it.

Kenney has been trying to enforce this "prevailing wage law for security guards since early 2019; its an example of how the city struggles to enforce its own worker protection laws once theyre passed. The security guards are represented by 32BJ SEIU, which has advocated for Kenney to enforce the wage law.

 READ MORE: Why Mayor Kenney could threaten to pull a water bill discount for Phillys eds and meds

$15 minimum-wage raise?

Theres widespread support among Philadelphians for a minimum-wage raise to $15 an hour, as shown by a symbolic ballot question in last years primary  nearly 82% of voters were in favor. And newly elected Councilperson Kendra Brooks campaigned on fighting to raise the minimum wage, which is $7.25 an hour. Pennsylvania law bars cities from raising their minimum wage, but some believe it could be achieved through a legal challenge  provided there is the political will and strong worker organizing.

There arent any groups that are actively organizing workers around a minimum-wage raise in Philadelphia, as there were back in 2014. Unions generally havent organized around the issue because their members are making above $15 an hour. That leaves nonunion labor groups, known as alt-labor, and theyve opted to fight for other types of labor protections, like the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights and Fair Workweek.

Thats in part because raising the minimum wage is an uphill battle; legislative campaigns, like Fair Workweek, are seen as a better use of resources, especially since its hard to find funding sources for organizing work. And as veteran labor organizer Kati Sipp put it: Its hard to get workers involved in a campaign with no easy victories.

 READ MORE: Philly voters supported a $15 minimum wage in the primary. Now what?

Office of Labor to become permanent?

A coalition of labor advocates lobbied for stronger enforcement of the citys labor laws last year and won a modest increase in funding for the Mayors Office of Labor. This year, they might be able to land another victory: Making the Office of Labor a permanent fixture. Right now, the department is part of the Mayors Office, which means that if a new mayor decides labor is not a worthy issue, the office could be scrapped. The city is making moves to get a question on the ballot in the April primary, Chewning confirmed. The ballot question will first have to be approved by Council.

 READ MORE: 7 groups chased Council members around City Hall to make a plea for more labor enforcement funding

Wage tax refunds for low-wage workers

At the very end of 2019, Kenney didnt sign Councilperson Allan Dombs measure to give wage tax refunds to low-income Philadelphians, effectively vetoing the bill. The bill was expected to refund an average of $41 a month for 51,000 workers. Kenney said that the bill would be hard to implement and that his administration was looking into alternatives, The Inquirers Laura McCrystal reported. Domb plans to reintroduce the bill this year, said Dombs deputy chief of staff, Brian Higgins.

 READ MORE: Wage tax refunds could be coming soon for Philadelphias poorest workers

Police contract

Phillys police union, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5, is negotiating its next contract with the city this year. Its usually a quiet affair, but this time, police accountability activists are trying to influence the talks, saying that the collective bargaining agreement is standing in the way of true reform at the scandal-plagued department. The FOP represents 6,000 officers.

 READ MORE: Why the next Philly police contract may not be negotiated behind closed doors

Underground economy

Councilperson Bobby Henon, set to stand trial on federal corruption charges this year, will continue his effort to crack down on the construction industrys underground economy," a long-standing target for the building trades who say that unlicensed contractors are depressing wages and putting workers in danger on the job. Henon has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

His 2019 effort to create a contractor review board failed, but hes considering introducing new legislation to combat the underground economy and will push for funding for Licenses & Inspections to hire more inspectors this budget season, said Lauren Atwell, Henons deputy chief of staff.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia City Council gets a leadership shakeup, with Cherelle Parker beating Bobby Henon as majority leader

 READ MORE: New Pa. law requiring immigration checks on construction workers shows labors identity crisis
The government plan to commemorate the RIC on January 17 is an insult to those who fought for Irish freedom and should be cancelled according to MEP Matt Carthy.

The event, which is due to be held at Dublin Castle, is planned as part of the governments programme marking a decade of centenaries.

The Midlands North West MEP said the All Party Consultation Group on Commemorations were not consulted on this event and would likely have dismissed it out of hand if they had been because it is an insult to those who fought for Irish freedom.

Matt Carthy said: Since the plans for this event were first revealed last week public opposition has intensified and several elected representatives, from various shades of political opinion, have publicly stated they will not attend the event.

The role of the RIC and the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) was not merely, as indicated by senior Fine Gael representatives, to act as normal police services. Instead, they had a specific role of upholding British rule in Ireland, which often manifested itself through instilling terror in the populace particularly in their attempts to break the democratic will of the Irish people for independence.

In no other State that has emerged from anti-colonial struggle would they celebrate the deeds of the oppressors.

This is Fine Gael revisionism in action - this has been evident at several points during these commemorative years. The commemorations have often been partitionist and more concerned with commemorating those who tried to suppress the Irish Freedom struggle than those who fought for their own country. They have been almost apologetic of the Easter Rising and the subsequent armed struggle despite the fact that these events were responses to British aggression in Ireland.

Fine Gael, by being more interested in commemorating the enforcers of British rule in Ireland than ordinary citizens who bore the brunt of British forces, have drastically misjudged the public mood.

Yes, all those who died in conflict should be remembered and we should acknowledge all who were killed during the pivotal period from 1914.

But there should be no tolerance for any attempt to equate those who died for Irish freedom with the ones who were paid to oppress it. The RIC commemoration must be cancelled, he concluded.
The Duchess of Sussex chose a perfect blend of high street and designer as she made her return to royal duties in London today, following a six-week break.

Meghan Markle, 38, looked radiant as she stepped out in the full brown outfit this afternoon, wearing a mix of tans and camel colours for her appearance at Canada House,

The mother-of-one paired a 345 coat from Reiss with a 50 polo neck and 85 skirt from Massimo Dutti for the appearance, adding a touch of glamour to her outfit with a pair of velvet Jimmy Choo stilettos.

The Duchess was joined by Prince Harry, 35, at their first public appearance today marking the end of their six-weeks hiatus from royal duty - to thank the people of Canada for hosting their private holiday.

Meghan Markle, 38, chose a perfect blend of designer and high street for her first public appearance to royal duty today (pictured, at Canada House in London)

The Duchess of Sussex wore a coat from British high street brand Reiss costing 345 as she returned to royal duty today

The couple wanted to thank staff at Canada's High Commissioner in London 'to thank for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay.'

Meghan appeared in high spirits as she arrived at Canada House alongside Prince Harry, beaming as she stepped out of her car.

The royal could be seen sweeping her long dark hair from her face, revealing a pretty makeup look with a touch of mascara and a sweep of rouge lipgloss.

The Duchess chose a blend of wintery browns for the occasion, mixing trendy camel tones with a darker brown skirt.

The royal paired the stylish jacket with a chic skirt costing 85 from high street brand Massimo Dutti

The Duchess kept her makeup look chic and simple for the appearance, adding a touch of dark eyeliner and a sweep of rouge lipgloss to her lips

The Duchess appeared radiant in the colour blocked outfit, perfectly blending deep brown, camel and tan tones

The royal wowed in a new camel coat from British high street brand Reiss for the occasion, which comes with a pricetag of 345.

The mother-of-one paired the chic and stylish coat with a deep brown thin-knit polo neck and a stunning deep brown satin skirt from high street brand Massimo Dutti for the event.

She finished her matching outfit with a pair of her velvet brown Jimmy Choos.

The Duchess added a touch of glamour to her outfit by donning her pretty dangle circles bracelet from jewellery brand Kismet costs $540.

The royal appeared in high spirits as she spoke with Prince Harry and staff at Canada House in her first appearance of 2020

Once inside Canada House, Meghan removed her jacket, revealing a simple brown polo neck which perfectly matched her satin skirt

It could be seen as a nod to her first public appearance with Prince Harry in 2017, when Meghan wore the same bracelet to the Invictus Games in Toronto.

Today's appearance is the couple's first since returning from their break from royal duties over Christmas.

They disappeared from view with son Archie, now eight months, at the end of November with a spokesman saying they were taking 'extended family time' after a year in which both admitted struggling with their royal roles.

It meant that they missed the Queen's pre-Christmas dinner and the Royal Family's annual festivities at Sandringham.

The Duchess of Sussex removed her coat as the royals left the meeting at Canada House, showcasing her full deep-brown outfit

Meghan appeared relaxed as and Prince Harry chatted with staff outside Canada House earlier this afternoon

It was later revealed that the trio were enjoying all the luxuries on offer at a waterfront mansion in one of the most idyllic spots on Vancouver Island - and are even believed to have taken their two dogs over with them, too.

They were also seen out hiking locally with friends, including actress Abigail Spencer, a friend of former actress Meghan's from her days on the television drama Suits, with Meghan even offering to take a picture for one stunned couple they met who were struggling with their selfie stick.

They also posted a picture on Instagram of a delighted Harry holding his son, Archie, taken during their holiday to the delight of fans on New Year's Eve.
Vladimir Putin met Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on January 7, the Russian leader's second trip to Syria since Moscow intervened decisively on the Syrian president's behalf in a civil war.

The visit comes at a time of heightened regional tension, when Assad's other main military ally Iran has said it will retaliate against the United States for the killing of an Iranian general.

Qassem Soleimani, who was one of the key figures in Syria's civil war as the architect of Iranian military operations in the Middle East, had just arrived in Iraq from Syria when he was killed by a US drone on Friday at Baghdad airport.

Russian and Iranian support have helped Assad win back nearly all territory from rebels who tried to overthrow him during the civil war that began nearly nine years ago.

Putin told Assad that much had been done to restore Syrian statehood, while Assad thanked Putin for his assistance in restoring peaceful life in Syria, Russia's Interfax news agency reported, citing the Kremlin. Putin will visit several facilities in Syria during the trip, it added.

Syrian state news agency SANA showed a photo of Putin smiling as he shook Assad's hand and said they had listened to a military presentation by the head of Russian forces in Syria.

Putin's previous trip to Syria was in 2017 when he visited Russia's Hmeymim air base.
A Cypriot court on Tuesday handed a British teenager a four-month suspended prison sentence after convicting her of falsely accusing a dozen Israeli tourists of gang rape. The 19-year smiled and hugged family after the sentence was handed down following a months-long trial that her lawyers say was littered with investigatory and legal mistakes and issues, including repeated refusals by the judge to consider whether she was raped. The case has sparked protests in Britain and calls for tourists to boycott the island. The sentencing took place to loud shouts from protesters outside the court room, including around 50 Israelis -- mainly women, but some men -- who travelled to Cyprus to offer moral support to the woman. As the judge delivered his sentencing, shouts of "Cyprus justice, shame on you" were audible in the court, despite police ordering journalists to close windows and blinds. Lawyers for the woman, whom AFP is not naming, say she was raped in the seaside resort of Ayia Napa by 12 Israeli teenagers in their hotel room on July 17. She fled in distress to her own hotel and was examined by an in-house doctor, who called the police. A group of Israeli teenagers were arrested and appeared in court, but 10 days after making a complaint of rape she was interviewed again by police and signed a retraction. The Israelis were allowed to return home and not called as witnesses. Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said he has "firmly and categorically registered" concerns with Cypriot officials about the case. Judge Michalis Papathanasiou had told the young woman "statements you have given were false", as he convicted her on December 30. He said during the trial that her account was beset by "contradictions, confusion, lack of logic and exaggeration". Lewis Power, a British lawyer who is part of the woman's legal team, said she would leave Cyprus by the end of the day. An appeal to the Supreme Court "will begin in the next few days", but it is not clear when any case will be heard, because the "wheels of justice move very slowly in Cyprus," he said. The case has highlighted "a gaping chasm in the treatment" of victims of sexual assault in Cyprus relative to other jurisdictions, Power added. Demonstrators call for a boycott on Cyprus in support of a British teenager convicted of lying about being raped by Israeli tourists
Brussels, Belgium (PANA) - The European Union (EU) has expressed serious concerns about the decision of the Turkish Parliament approving the deployment of Turkish forces in Libya, according to a press release from the European External Action Service (EEAS) sent on Monday to the press
Tesla manufactures more than 1,000 Model 3 vehicles weekly at its Shanghai factory, with intentions to grow production to near 3,000 per week, according to a report in the Global Times.

"Ten months he built that plant," the " Mad Money " host said emphatically.

The plant, which is the company's first outside the U.S., was built in less than a year and Model 3 cars manufactured there were delivered to Chinese consumers Tuesday.

"I'm a believer," Cramer said on " Squawk on the Street ," while emphasizing the speed with which Tesla built its Gigafactory 3 factory in Shanghai.

CNBC's Jim Cramer said Tuesday he is bullish on Tesla because of what CEO Elon Musk has accomplished in China.

Shares of Tesla rose to almost 2% on Tuesday to notch an all-time intraday high of $462.06.

Cramer has not been shy in the past about speaking out on Musk and Tesla. He has both praised Musk by calling him a modern day "P.T. Barnum" and criticized Musk for incidents such as his "funding secured" tweet about taking Tesla private.

But in late November, Cramer began to turn more positive toward the company, due largely to the wishes of his wife, Lisa, who wanted a Model X sport utility vehicle.

"I give up. The car is too damn great," Cramer said then, while adding, "I have to admit it's just an unbelievable experience."

In December, Cramer declared he had gone from an "agnostic skeptic" to an "outright bull" on Tesla's stock, which is among the most polarizing on Wall Street.

Shares of Tesla have risen more than 100% since Sept. 24, when the stock traded at $223, and even what may have been considered a stumble for the company over that period appears to be of little consequence.

In November, Musk revealed the company's first electric pickup with much fanfare  and a little embarrassment.

The Telsa CEO said the truck was "bulletproof" against a 9mm handgun, except when he had the automaker's chief designer throw a metal ball at two windows, the "armor" glass smashed not once but twice.

Yet pre-orders of the Tesla's Cybertruck reached more than 250,000 in the week after it was debuted, Musk suggested on Twitter.

"The moment you throw a rock at a window and it goes right through it and the deposits soar, I mean c'mon," Cramer said.

At this point, Cramer said it's clear Tesla, with its strong growth potential, should have a market cap larger than legacy automakers Ford and GM.

Tesla's market cap was nearly $83 billion on Tuesday, compared to almost $36.5 billion for Ford and over $50 billion for GM.
By Laila Kearney NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices steadied on Monday after Brent touched above $70 a barrel on rhetoric from the United States, Iran and Iraq that fanned tensions in the Middle East after a U.S.

By Laila Kearney

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices steadied on Monday after Brent touched above $70 a barrel on rhetoric from the United States, Iran and Iraq that fanned tensions in the Middle East after a U.S. air strike killed a top Iranian military commander.

Prices pared gains during the session on growing doubts that Iran would strike back in a way that would disrupt oil supplies.

Brent crude futures settled at $68.91 a barrel, up 31 cents, after soaring to a high of $70.74 a barrel from Friday's settlement.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 22 cents at $63.27 a barrel after hitting $64.72, its highest since April.

"There seems to be an emerging dialogue along the lines that it's not in the Iranians' interest to lash out and attack oil infrastructure," said Bob Yawger, director of futures at Mizuho in New York. "Because any attack on the oil infrastructure would most likely rally the barrel and that would, in turn, most likely shut down Iranian exports."

Oil jumped more than 3% on Friday after a U.S. air strike in Iraq killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, heightening concerns about an escalation in conflict in the Middle East and the possible impact on oil supplies.

The region accounts for nearly half of the world's oil production, with a fifth of global oil shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened to impose sanctions on Iraq, the second-largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), if U.S. troops were forced to withdraw from the country.

Iraq's parliament earlier called, in a nonbinding resolution, on U.S. and other foreign troops to leave Iraq.

Trump also said that the United States would retaliate against Iran if Tehran were to strike back after the killing.

"I don't think we're out of the woods when it comes to whether this problem could effect oil in a way that would be tangible to oil traders," said Amy Jaffe, director of a program on energy security and climate change at the Council on Foreign Relations.

In post-settlement trade, oil turned negative after the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) released data that showed money managers raised their net long U.S. crude futures and options positions.

OPEC oil output fell in December as Nigeria and Iraq adhered more closely to pledged reductions and top exporter Saudi Arabia made further cuts ahead of a new production-limiting accord, a Reuters survey found.

(Reporting by Laila Kearney; Additional reporting by Noah Browning in London and Jessica Resnick-Ault in New York; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Jonathan Oatis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
State Department Photo by Ron Przysucha/ Public Domain(WASHINGTON) -- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that he will not run for an open Kansas Senate seat, according to a source familiar with their meeting on Monday.



McConnell had spent months trying to recruit the top U.S. diplomat and former congressman to run in his adopted home seat amid concerns that Republicans could be in danger of losing the race.



Pompeo has batted away speculation, while consistently appearing to leave the door open. Several trips to the state in 2019 fueled the fire that he was interested in returning to Congress and forge his own political future.



A source close to McConnell told ABC News that the senator believes Pompeo is "doing an incredible job as secretary of state and is exactly where the country needs him to be right now."



But Republicans are growing concerned that a Democrat could win the seat, even though deep-red Kansas hasn't sent a Democrat to the Senate since 1932. In November, President Donald Trump even said publicly that he endorsed a plan to have Pompeo run if Republicans looked to be in danger of losing the seat.



That fear is in large part because the leading Republican candidate is the former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. An immigration hardliner with a history of controversial statements and false claims, Kobach lost the race for Kansas governor in 2018 and is reportedly polling behind the leading Democrat candidate.



In contrast, Pompeo is strongly popular in Kansas, where he served three terms as a congressman before he joined the Trump administration in January 2017 as CIA director. His political support includes the power broker Charles Koch, who along with his now deceased brother David, helped to fund Pompeo's congressional campaigns.



But Pompeo has also made no secret of his presidential ambitions and may have seen the junior Senate seat as a step down from his executive branch roles, especially if he intends to run for the White House in 2024.



The filing deadline for the race is June 1, still giving Pompeo time to jump into the race.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
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PI Industries share price fell 3 percent intraday on January 7 after an accident at its Jambusar facility in Gujarat left two people dead.

The agri-sciences company informed exchanges that the mishap on January 6 at its Jambusar fine chemicals manufacturing site also injured nine people.

One multi-product plant (MPP) was affected but there was no fire or hazardous emissions. Working of other MPPs at the site was not hit, it said.

An investigation was ordered to determine the cause of the accident. "While the impact of the incident is being ascertained, the damaged equipment are fully covered by way of insurance," PI Industries said.

The stock was quoting at Rs 1,406, down Rs 13.35, or 0.94 percent, on the BSE at 1421 hours.

The Jambusar plant caters only to custom synthesis segment (exports).

"In our view, a three-month shut down could maximum hit revenue/PAT of Rs 60 crore/Rs20 crore, which is insignificant. It would also have some inventory (15-20 days) that can be used to service exports during the plant shut down. We await further clarity from its management on the timelines for production resumption at the unit," Emkay said.

The brokerage said any significant correction would be an attractive opportunity. It maintained a buy rating on the stock, with a target price of Rs 1,600.

The above report is compiled from information available on public platforms. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
FLINT, MI -- Starting Tuesday, Jan 7, children under the age of 12, as well as anyone with flue-like symptoms, will be prohibited from visiting patients at McLaren Flint, the hospital announced in a news release.

The restrictions aim to limit the spread of influenza and other respiratory infections for the safety of hospital patients. Influenza is currently reported as widespread across the state of Michigan, the news release states.

Visitors, especially children, may not know they have the flu," the news release reads. "They may not be showing flu symptoms and can easily pass the flu on to others. Patients are in the hospital to get better and can get very sick from visitors who may only have mild flu symptoms.

Flu season arrives early with virus thats tougher on kids

In addition to children under 12 years old, anyone with fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion or stomach virus symptoms are asked not to visit patients in the hospital.

Patients and visitors going to the hospitals clinic or outpatient departments with any of these symptoms will be asked to wear a mask, the release states. The masks will be provided at respiratory hygiene stations at entrances and in lobby areas.

Visitors are also reminded to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before, during and after visiting patients.

Other hospitals across the state have also limited visitation due to the flu:

Michigans Ascension hospitals restrict visitors during flu season

Southwest Michigans Bronson hospitals limit visitors during flu season

Flu and virus rates prompt restrictions at Hillsdale Hospital

Visitor restrictions in place at Jackson hospital during flu season
New Delhi:

Following the ongoing catastrophe in Australia, Thor star Chris Hemsworth has taken to social media to urge people to donate in every way they can. Speaking tearfully as he himself announced that he and his family has donated 1 million to the Australia Bushfires firefighters, the Aussie star can be seen telling fans that every penny counts and is greatly appreciated. The star also added a link for anyone to donate to the bushfire that has engulfed Australia claiming more than 20 lives and killing over half a million, helpless animals.

Hi everyone. Like you, I want to support the fight against the bushfires here in Australia. My family and I are contributing a million dollars. Hopefully you guys can chip in too. Every penny counts so whatever you can muster up is greatly appreciated Chris says in the video.

On Monday fellow Aussie, Margot Robbie also took to her social media to urge all to donate sharing pics pf her childhood to remind everyone on why we should safe Australia and nature for the future generations.

Other Australian stars such as Kylie Minogue has also donated $500,000 million to the Bushfires, Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban also donated $500,000 towards firefighting services, while Pink also donated half a million telling that she is totally devastated with the catastrophe.

For all the Latest Entertainment News, Hollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
It is reasonable to assume that time dragged somewhat for Sydney's first convicts.

Detention in the fledgling colony for a minor misdemeanour such as petty theft and you'd be counting the days, never mind the months or years.

Andrew Markerink installing the refurbished workings of the Hyde Park barracks clock. Credit:Mason Dean

Was it to rub salt in their wounds, then, that atop the Hyde Park Barracks - home to some 600 convicts - that a clock was installed in 1819?

For unknown reasons a new mechanism was installed in 1839. The works were accurate to within a fifth of a second on a daily basis. That matches up pretty well to the accuracy of a contemporary quartz watch.
A Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) delegation, led by its president Sukhbir Badal, urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday to seek a categorical assurance from Pakistan that those responsible for a "hate attack" on Sikhs, as well as the stoning of Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, would be given an "exemplary punishment."

Badal also urged Jaishankar to raise the issue of atrocities being committed by Pakistan against minorities in the United Nations, the party said in a statement.

Claiming that from 40,000 Sikhs as per the 2002 census, the number of the community members had come down to around 5,000 in Pakistan, Badal said, "This itself is proof of forced conversions."

Citing the recent incident of stoning and attack by a mob on Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of first Sikh guru Guru Nanak Dev, the SAD chief said if anybody could attack and stone the holy shrine, then no minority was safe in Pakistan.

"The delegation requested the External Affairs Minister to seek a categorical assurance from Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan that assets and lives of minorities would be protected and that all those responsible for the hate attack on Sikhs as well as stoning of Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib would be arrested and awarded an exemplary punishment," the statement quoted Badal as saying.

The SAD delegation said the Pakistani government should be asked to take prompt and exemplary action if any minority community was targeted in any manner.

The delegation members also told Jaishankar that the recent events in Pakistan had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community worldwide and the Sikhs living in Pakistan had already stated that they were feeling insecure.

Later in the day, the external affairs ministry summoned Pakistan's Charge d'affaires Syed Haider Shah and lodged a strong protest over the alleged desecration of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, near Lahore, and killing of a Sikh in Peshawar.

The ministry said Shah was conveyed that India wanted immediate measures to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of such "despicable and heinous acts" to justice.
Appointment

7 January 2020

Paul Li has been named Director of Sales and Marketing at Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver's renowned luxury hotel. In his new role, Li will serve as a key member of the hotel's leadership team, tasked with overseeing all of the property's sales and marketing efforts, along with developing business strategies that drive overall growth and increase revenue for the 156-room hotel.

With more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and over 10 years in sales leadership roles, specifically, Li will apply his vast knowledge and professional background to his new position at Rosewood Hotel Georgia. Most recently, Li served as Director of Sales and Marketing at Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver where he oversaw all room revenue segments across group, leisure, business and wholesale travel, along with marketing communication for the property's rooms, dining outlets and events. Prior to working at Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver, Li was Director of Sales and Marketing at The Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver. He has served various hospitality roles in both Vancouver and Hong Kong with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, where he held an eleven-year tenor and Mandarin Oriental.

Li received his bachelor's degree in Hotel and Catering Management from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where he built his knowledge of global hotel operations and sales.
Photo: The Canadian Press

The British Columbia Green party has announced more details about its leadership contest as Andrew Weaver officially leaves the post.

The party says voting will take place, primarily online, from June 15 to 26, and it will use ranked ballots for three or more candidates or first-past-the-post for a contest of two.

The party announced last month that Green legislature member Adam Olsen would be its interim leader and he stepped into the job on Monday.

It also said voters aged 16 and up can vote for a candidate even if they're not a member of the party, although membership is free for those aged 25 and younger.

There will be debates in three regions of the province after April 30.

Leadership candidates have until April 15 to enter the race and they will have a spending limit of $300,000, excluding the $16,000 entrance fee paid to take part.
Tope Akinyode, a lawyer, says Anthony Okolie, his client, was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) for using a phone lin...





Tope Akinyode, a lawyer, says Anthony Okolie, his client, was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) for using a phone line previously owned by Hannan, one of the daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari.





Speaking with The Guardian on Monday, Akinyode said Okolie who was arrested in July in Asaba, Delta state, spent about 15 weeks in custody before he was released in December.





The lawyer said his client lawfully bought the MTN SIM card after Buharis daughter abandoned it and it was recycled by the telecommunications company.





According to him, the secret police initially arrested an elderly person who has a relationship with Okolie but released him when they got hold of his client.





The SIM card became redundant and was recycled to the market for sale, he said.





Okolie lawfully bought the sim card after years of redundancy unknown to him who the previous owner was. To start with, all the laws have settled that arrest by proxy is forbidden and unconstitutional in Nigeria.





Also, the arrest of the victim over a property which he lawfully obtained is outrageously illegal just as the long detention without trial amounts to unlawful detention.





The lawyer said they are going to file a suit against Hannan and the DSS, adding that his detention for 10 weeks is unlawful and we will not accept such.





Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, is yet to respond to the allegation.




More than 350 DNA 'errors' that make women prone to developing breast cancer have been discovered by scientists.

A study of 200,000 patients identified 352 genetic mutations which can influence whether a person develops the killer disease.

Cambridge University experts, who carried out the research, believe these changes may warp as many as 190 genes.

Less than 40 genes were previously recognised as raising the risk of breast cancer.

The findings could help pinpoint which women are predisposed to developing the disease, allowing them to be monitored more closely than others.

With more 55,000 new cases every year, breast cancer is the most common type of the disease in the UK. In the US it affects 270,000 people every year.

DNA, the blueprint for the human body, carries genetic information and has all the instructions that a living organism needs to grow, reproduce and function.

There are more than 350 DNA 'errors' that make women prone to developing breast cancer, research by Cambridge University suggests (stock)

Humans contains between 20,000-25,000 genes  99.9 per cent of which are identical from person to person.

The other 0.1 per cent of genetic variants are what make people unique, altering their hair colour, skin tone or even the shape of their face.

But these changes can also have profound negative effects, including increasing individuals' susceptibility to disease.

Most diseases, including breast cancer, are complex and no single genetic variant or gene causes them.

WHAT IS BREAST CANCER? Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated? What is breast cancer? Breast cancer develops from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts. When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding breast tissue it is called an 'invasive' breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with 'carcinoma in situ', where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule. Most cases develop in women over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men though this is rare. Staging means how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body. The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast growing. High grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated. What causes breast cancer? A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply 'out of control'. Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer, such as genetics. What are the symptoms of breast cancer? The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most breast lumps are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign. The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit. For more information visit breastcancercare.org.uk or www.cancerhelp.org.uk Advertisement

Instead, the combination of a number of them act together to increase the likelihood.

In the latest study, researchers compared the DNA of 110,000 breast cancer patients against that of 90,000 healthy people.

They identified 352 variants that may increase the risk of the killer disease. It is not yet clear exactly how many genes these target, but the researchers have estimated it to be 191.

Of the newly-discovered genetic variants, a third predispose women towards developing hormone-responsive breast cancer.

This type of disease is found in four out of five breast cancer patients and occurs when cancer cells grow in response to the hormone estrogen.

Fifteen per cent of the genetic variants predispose women to the harder-to-treat type, called estrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer.

Study lead author Dr Alison Dunning said: 'This incredible haul of newly-discovered breast cancer genes provides us with many more genes to work on, most of which have not been studied before.

'It will help us build up a much more detailed picture of how breast cancer arises and develops.

'But the sheer number of genes now known to play a role emphasises how complex the disease is.'

In the majority of cases, the genetic change affected gene expression rather than altering the type of protein itself.

For instance, nine different variants regulate the same gene, the Estrogen Receptor (ESR1) gene.

Many other variants affect places in the DNA where the estrogen receptor protein binds, and, in turn regulates other genes.

This highlights the importance of the ESR1 gene and its protein product, the estrogen receptor, in breast cancer development.

While each genetic variant only increases the risk of developing breast cancer by a very small amount, the researchers say that added together, these will allow them to 'fine tune' genetic testing and give women a much clearer picture of their genetic risk.

This will then allow doctors and clinicians to provide advice on the best strategy for reducing their risk and preventing onset of the disease.

Co-author Dr Laura Fachal, from the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge, said: 'We know from previous studies that variants across our DNA contribute towards breast cancer risk, but only rarely have scientists have been able to identify exactly which genes are involved.

'We need this information as it gives us a better clue to what is driving the disease and hence how we might treat or even prevent it.'

The results, published today in the journal Nature Genetics, provide the most comprehensive map of breast cancer risk variants to date.
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar Tuesday accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of a "selective approach" in condemning the assault on JNU students and said the silence of authorities over what happened at Jadavpur University is "painfully worrisome".

Dhankhar, who has been at loggerheads with the TMC government in the state over a range of issues, said there is need for soul searching.

His comments followed Banerjee's condemnation of the attack on JNU students and teachers as a "fascist surgical strike" by the BJP.

"Acts of violence, anarchy in educational institutions is worrisome and should not be tolerated. Silence of those in authority (who severely condemned JNU violence) over what happened at Jadavpur University a fortnight ago is painfully worrisome," Dhankhar said in a tweet this morning.

Recounting the incident at Jadavpur University in December where his entry was blocked by protestors during the annual convocation, Dhankhar said his position as the varsity's chancellor "was compromised by omission and inaction of state and university authorities".

"Why this selective approach to violence and disruption on JU campus ! Fire at home ought to be first priority. Am sure there will be soul searching," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Secretary Blinken begins India visit today: Here is what is on the agenda

At Global COVID-19 Summit, PM Modi says India has seen humanity as one family

Will double down on efforts to secure Indias borders: US

India-US ties have grown from strength to strength: PM Modi to Trump

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 07: Amid US-Tehran tension, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with President Donald Trump and said the ties between India and the US "have grown from strength to strength".

"The Prime Minister wished President Trump, his family and the people of the United States good health, prosperity and success in the New Year," a PMO statement said.

"The Prime Minister stated that India-US relations, which are built on trust, mutual respect and understanding, have grown from strength to strength," it said.

Iran tension: India highlights its concerns with US

JNU violence: No arrests yet, FIR filed against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh | OneIndia News

"The Prime Minister highlighted the significant progress made in deepening the Strategic Partnership between the two countries in the previous year and expressed his desire to continue to work with President Trump for enhancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest," the government said in the statement.

"President Trump wished the people of India prosperity and progress in the New Year. He expressed satisfaction at the achievements in the relationship in the last few years and reiterated his readiness for further deepening bilateral cooperation," it said.
EXTON, Pa., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ricoh USA, Inc. today announced the company has received the Advocating for Veterans Award as part of the Coalition for Government Procurement's annual Excellence in Partnership Awards. This recognition marks the latest in several milestones demonstrating Ricoh's commitment to supporting a diverse employee base, including veterans and service members.

As part of its hiring process, Ricoh looks for candidates who understand and embody the company's corporate philosophy of The Spirit of Three Loves: "Love your neighbor," "Love your country," "Love your work." Veterans have demonstrated the ultimate love of neighbor and country, and Ricoh has a strong commitment to veterans through hiring initiatives and veteran-specific skills training programs.

"We understand that loving one's neighbor includes hiring employees of diverse backgrounds and experiences. It brings a broader range of viewpoints into the conversation, so we can have a more complete view of the challenges facing people and businesses today," said Donna Venable, Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Deputy General Manager, Shared Services, Ricoh Americas. "More diverse perspectives create more opportunity for truly surprising innovation that can make a major difference for our customers. Veterans in particular are a much sought-after addition to our organization because they have a deep, practical understanding of the transformative power of teamwork and dedication. We are humbled to be recognized for our efforts to support our service members who do so much to support us."

The company's dedication to veterans is supported through internal infrastructure and partnerships with outside organizations. For example, Ricoh participates in career fairs, many of which cater specifically to veterans. Ricoh also sends representatives to military bases and onto the service member social media site RallyPoint to meet veterans and service members. In addition, the company maintains a dedicated team of military hiring specialists and employs many AIRS Military Certified Recruiters, who help keep veteran outreach adaptable and effective.

Ricoh's commitment to veterans' transition extends beyond hiring by providing free licenses for job-hunting veterans to take CompTIA certification courses. CompTIA certification can give IT workers a significant advantage in their job search. Furthermore, Ricoh has sponsored the Student Veterans of America (SVA) annual conference every year since 2016.

The company also honors veterans in other ways, as highlighted in the recent episode of Military Makeover: Operation Career on Lifetime TV where several veterans working at Ricoh shared their stories and discussed Ricoh's role in their transitions back to civilian life. The episode also showcased Ricoh's annual Run for Heroes, a "virtual" event that empowers nationwide fundraising by Ricoh employees to benefit military veterans. Each year, Ricoh selects organizations that provide direct support to service members and their families, for which local teams organize events to drive donations. This year, Ricoh took its support for longstanding partner Wounded Warrior Project a step further, raising thousands of dollars for the charity at a major tradeshow. Additionally, Ricoh honors the veterans it employs by recognizing them on a Wall of Honor.

The benefits and necessity of diversity, for Ricoh, don't stop with hiring, recognition efforts and charity work, and they don't stop with veterans, either. The organization also greatly values supplier diversity of all types, to the point Christina Morrow, Director, Global Procurement, Ricoh USA, Inc., was recently named a Champion of Diversity for her and the company's efforts. Under Morrow's leadership, Ricoh has seen growth in year-over-year diversity spend every year since 2010, and the company has implemented a policy mandating that every RFP process includes at least one diverse supplier. She also oversees Ricoh's sponsorship of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Emerging Young Entrepreneurs program.

To learn more about Ricoh's corporate responsibility efforts, click here.

For more information on Ricoh's offerings, visit www.ricoh-usa.com or follow the company's social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

| About Ricoh |



Ricoh is empowering digital workplaces using innovative technologies and services enabling individuals to work smarter. For more than 80 years, Ricoh has been driving innovation and is a leading provider of document management solutions, IT services, communications services, commercial and industrial printing, digital cameras, and industrial systems.



Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in approximately 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ended March 2019, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,013 billion yen (approx. 18.1 billion USD).



For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com



 2020 Ricoh USA, Inc. All rights reserved. All referenced product names are the trademarks of their respective companies.

Contacts:

John Greco

Ricoh USA, Inc.

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[email protected]

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Mourners who attended the funeral mass of the late Marian Finucane at Saint Brigids Church, Kill, earlier today, Tuesday, January 7, heard that the nation has lost a skilled broadcaster, while her family have lost a treasured wife, mother, step-mother, sister, friend and mother-in-law.

The chief celebrant of the Mass was Monsignor Ciaran OCarroll, rector of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, who told the congregation that Marian, who passed away suddenly last week, was blessed with energy, dynamism, determination, passion, empathy and kindness as well as a boundless curiosity about life and the world.

The late Marian Finucane pictured at an event in Whitewater Shopping Centre, Newbridge, in 2011

He said that she had to carry the cross of bereavement, with the loss of her beloved daughter Sinead, 8, in 1990, which she did with dignity. In turn, she became a huge supporter of the hospice movement, both at home and in South Africa. She had a quiet generosity and worked abundantly for charity throughout her life.

"She was a presence in thousands of homes each weekend, and it was in the peace of her own home that she was called unexpectedly to her eternal rest."

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pictured with Fine Gael senator Anthony Lawlor at the church in Kill for the funeral mass of broadcaster Marian Finucane

The concelebrants were Bishop Eamonn Walsh, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Dublin, and Father Willie OByrne, Parish Priest of Kill, while the mourners included the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar and fellow RTE stalwarts Ryan Tubridy, Clare Byrne and Miriam O'Callaghan.

The eulogy was delivered by her son Jack, who recently married his wife Jennifer. The couple are due to become parents next month.

"Many people across the length and breadth of the country have their own experience with mum - my version is of a mother, wife, friend, step-mother, colleague and neighbour. She was a shy lady who was as happy reading a book or sitting around talking with friends into the small hours, sorting out the world's problems one dinner party at a time. She was a classy lady with soul in the true sense of the word," he said.

Jack said his mother was patient, compassionate and great company, adding that she was deeply protective of her family.

"She was not strict but she would let me know if she thought I was being foolish," he said. "She expected a great effort and gave me a lot of freedom in return. Respect was deserved not just earned but there was always room for improvement and nobody was all good and nobody was all bad."

He told the mourners that his mother also had courage in her work as an activist, and one of her favourite songs was Revolution by the Beatles.

"Her activism and charity work were real because she lived the problems that she tried to fix. She stepped up to life's challenges publicly and lived them privately."

He said that she would always advise him to find within people their humanity, to stand up straight and look them in the eye and "go from there".

Jack concluded that his mother's legacy would be to live a life well travelled, full of courage, curiosity and kindness.

"Thank you mum, we love you and will miss you terribly."

Marian's husband John Clarke then stood up and spoke about his love of 40 years. He said Marian was, for him, a woman who "made the colours brighter and the world a bit easier to live in".

"Last December she decided to retire and we were so excited we would have more time, more books to read, more places to see but sadly that is not going to happen. Someone said were were like two 15-year-olds addicted to each other and I can't deny it. Some weeks ago were were in a township in South Africa and a very old black woman said to us that the only thing she can give us is her tears. That is all I can give you today too."

Fittingly, The Bright Lady, with Peter Browne on uileann pipes played as Marian's coffin entered the church and the final musical piece was Mo Ghile Mear, the chorus of which was sang by the congregation as she was taken to her final resting place. She received a round of applause as the hearse pulled away from the church.

Burial took place privately after the Mass.
Were excited to meet with innovators and thought leaders to explore how Allerios mobile hub can enhance patient care for first responders today, said Drew Delaney, Allerio Director of Business Development.

Allerio, a smart mobile connectivity company that is taking emergency medical services (EMS) and telemedicine to the next level with a mobile connectivity solution, is kicking off 2020 by heading to two world-renowned conventions focusing on breakthrough technology and innovation for first responders.

This will be the first year Allerio will exhibit its cutting-edge technology for first responders at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Additionally, Allerio continues to showcase alongside industry partners at the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) conference Jan. 7-10 in San Diego, CA.

CES attracts business leaders and pioneering thinkers from around the world and has served as the proving ground of bleeding edge technology for groundbreaking innovations for half a century. With more than 170,000 attendees, 4,500 exhibitors and more than 1,100 industry thought-leaders on the CES stage, a once traditional technology trade show has evolved into a global event for all industries, reinforcing the idea that every company is now a tech company.

Startup companies across every major industry are using technology to transform their businesses, and this event acts as the global stage for the latest innovations, including public safety and healthcare, said Allerio CEO TJ Kennedy.

llerio will be exhibiting in a buzzworthy start-up arena at CES called Eureka Park, in the health and wellness section at booth # 51727. This includes demonstrations of its new secure mobile hub that enables a seamless rich data integration from the field to the hospital. Allerio's platform as a service allows for a reliable, uninterrupted and secure enhanced connectivity capability, which is more critical now that telemedicine has become more prevalent with the roll out of Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) for out of hospital care being performed by EMS.

Were excited to meet with innovators and thought leaders to explore how Allerios mobile hub can enhance patient care for first responders today, said Drew Delaney, Allerio Director of Business Development.

To schedule an in-person meeting with the Allerio team at CES, contact marketing director, Lindsey Edson at ledson@allerio.com. Learn more at http://www.allerio.com.

About Allerio:

Allerio's smart connectivity solutions for EMS agencies, healthcare professionals, and hospitals provide a reliable communication platform to facilitate the exchange of critical patient information and data from the field to the hospital. Through an easy to use, one-button interface, Allerio gives EMS personnel an efficient and secure platform to connect devices and transmit rich data on its Mobile Hub, whether in or out of a vehicle, or patient home, ensuring patient data is delivered in real-time. Allerio is headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota with satellite offices spanning the U.S., including production facilities in Madison Heights, Michigan. Visit us at http://www.allerio.com and follow us on social media.

About CES:

CES is the largest, most influential tech event in the world  the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators. This is where the world's biggest brands do business and meet new partners, and the sharpest innovators hit the stage. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), CES features every aspect of the tech sector. More than 1,200 startups used CES 2019 as a platform to showcase their products and been funded at more than $1.5 billion since 2012. Learn more at CES.tech.
Lenovo plans to be the first company to market with a Windows 10 notebook sporting integrated 5G LTE support. The Lenovo Flex 5G is a thin and light convertible laptop with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx 5G processor featuring support for sub-6GHz 5G networks.

Its expected to go on sale in North America this spring for $1500 and up. In other markets the same computer will be marketed as the Lenovo Yoga 5G, but its the same computer under the hood.

First teased in May, 2019 as Project Limitless, the upcoming laptop is designed to offer all-day battery life and the ability to connect to high-speed wireless networks on the go although the PC will likely fall back to 4G speeds when youre in one of the many areas not yet covered by 5G.

The 3 pound laptop features a 14 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel IPS touchscreen display with support for up to 400-nits of brightness, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB to 512GB of UFS 3.0 storage.

Lenovo says the laptops 60 Wh battery should offer up to 24 hours of run time, but thats likely going to vary depending on what youre using the notebook to do.

The notebook measures 12.7 x 8.5 x 0.6 at its thinnest point and features an IR camera and fingerprint reader for secure logins, a Lenovo active pen for writing or drawing, two USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C ports, a headset jack, and a nano SIM card slot (it also supports e-SIM).
NATO is temporarily pulling some of its troops out of Iraq and moving others around within the country, Dylan White, Acting Spokesperson for the military alliance, said on Tuesday.

Mr White said to protect the safety of its troops NATO will take measures including the temporary repositioning of some personnel to different locations both inside and outside of Iraq.

READ ALSO:

NATO maintains a presence in Iraq. And, we are prepared to continue our training and capacity-building when the situation permits, he said.

NATO had already suspended its training operations on the ground after the killing of a top Iranian military commander, Qassem Soleimani, by the United States sent tensions spiralling in recent days.

(dpa/NAN)
People protesting against the violence were evicted from Gateway of India here on Tuesday morning as roads were getting blocked and tourists and common people were facing problems, a police official said.

Police had appealed to the protesters to shift but they didn't listen, so they were "relocated" to Azad Maidan, the official said.

Hundreds of people, including students, women and senior citizens - who assembled at the iconic Gateway of India since Sunday midnight - demanded action against the culprits and called for Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation.

Violence broke out in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus.
Residents in the Berkshires who rely on public transportation now have access to extended bus service connecting Pittsfield and Great Barrington.

Berkshire Regional Transit Authority received a $361,128 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to fund a pilot program extending evening service in the region. The grant was part of $3.5 million awarded to regional transit authorities across the commonwealth.

This grant program helps support Regional Transit Authorities to launch projects to enhance their existing services and implement best practices, said Governor Charlie Baker in a statement. This funding will also help RTAs develop innovative plans to provide more reliable service to riders across the Commonwealth.

BRTA reviewed online survey responses and the 21X pilot evening service connecting Pittsfield to Great Barrington will implement the suggested circulator loop connecting Main Street, Simons Rock and Housatonic to employment and retail centers.

In response to customer inquiries, Saturday service to BRTA Route 11 will be added to the new schedule line up beginning on December 30, 2019, stated the BRTA website. Saturday service with consistent 120-minute headways for BRTA Routes 4, 11, 15 and 16 are included within the service updates.

There will be a new circulator loop servicing Great Barrington. This new service, BRTA Route 22, will repurpose the pilot funding of the two evening runs from the Intermodal Transportation Center in Pittsfield to the Big Y in Great Barrington.

Bob Malnati, BRTA administrator told MassLive that there will be an extension of services late in the day and evenings and advised people to check the BRTA website for any changes.
Heartwarming photographs of dogs and their owners have been shared online, after men, women, children and their pets were evacuated on a navy vessel from Mallacoota on Friday.

The pictures show just what a huge comfort pets can be in times of tragedy and fear, after devastating bushfires left more than 4,000 locals and holidaymakers stranded in the coastal town.

Shared on Facebook by a woman called Kristine, she wrote: 'We evacuated on the HMAS Choules on Friday. The ship kindly set up the vehicle bay for pets and their owners throughout the 30 hours.

'Here are pictures - it's amazing how pets bring out our humanity.'

Heartwarming photographs of dogs and their owners have been shared online, after men, women, children and their pets were evacuated on a navy vessel from Mallacoota on Friday

The pictures show just what a huge comfort pets can be in times of tragedy, after devastating bushfires left more than 4,000 locals and holidaymakers stranded in the coastal town

In one image, one man had his head in his hands at the 'off leash pen' - all while clutching his dog in his lap

The photographs show families with their dogs on board the vessel in the vehicle bay.

Some of the men and women on board said the 'crew were amazing with their care and dedication towards the animals and keeping families together (which included their pets)'.

Many of the owners are seen hugging and laying with their pets, while others can be seen to be clearly drawing solace from their dogs in times of difficulty.

One man even had his head in his hands at the 'off leash pen' - all while clutching his dog in his lap.

Others could be seen reading books with their dogs during the long 20-hour trip on board the vessel.

Many of the owners stayed with their dogs during the 20-hour trip in the vehicle bay for pets and owners

Some of the men and women on board said the 'crew were amazing with their care and dedication towards the animals and keeping families together (which included their pets)'

This image shows the setup in the vehicle bay on board the HMAS Choules, where many owners stayed with their pets

People on Facebook were quick to respond to the images, saying they are 'extraordinary', 'fantastic' and 'truly amazing'.

'What an amazing way to document an unprecedented situation. Thank you so much for sharing!' one person posted.

Another added: 'Great pictures. In a stressful time dogs make unbelievable companions'.

Some 21,000 people have shared the images, with hundreds saying how clear it was that pets can be 'a huge comfort' during hard times.

People on Facebook were quick to respond to the images, saying they are 'extraordinary', 'fantastic' and 'truly amazing'

'What an amazing way to document an unprecedented situation. Thank you so much for sharing!' one person posted beneath the images

A man is seen with his pit bull terriers on board the HMAS Choules

A mass evacuation took place in Mallacoota on Friday, where more than 4,000 locals and holidaymakers were stranded following the devastating bushfires on New Year's Eve.

The first evacuees boarded the Navy ship, the MV Sycamore, from the fire ravaged coastal town at 8.40am on Friday, before around 1,000 others boarded a second vessel, the HMAS Choules, at 4pm.

The voyage to Western Port in southern Victoria took around 20 hours, with Army staff serving around 3,500 meals while people were on board.

The evacuation came after thousands of people spent four days in limbo after being told it was too dangerous to leave the seaside town following the bushfires last Tuesday.

Others left Mallacoota by helicopter on Sunday.

The first evacuees boarded the Navy ship, the MV Sycamore, from the fire ravaged coastal town at 8.40am on Friday, before around 1,000 others boarded the HMAS Choules at 4pm

One commenter posted beneath the images: 'Great pictures. In a stressful time dogs make unbelievable companions'

One of the 21,000 people to share the images online wrote: 'Great pictures. In a stressful time dogs make unbelievable companions'

One man could be seen comforting his dog on board the navy vessel

The sky in Mallacoota as fires approached on New Years Eve turned an apocalyptic red colour. People were forced to flee to the beach

A smoke haze covered the coastal town as hundreds of people boarded boats headed for military ships as part of the evacuation on Friday

A woman carries her small pink suitcase on to a military boat as she prepares to leave Mallacoota on Friday morning

All emergency bushfire warnings in Victoria have been downgraded after rainfall provided some respite, but conditions are expected to deteriorate again on Friday.

There have been 25 deaths this bushfire season and more than 1,600 homes have been lost, with almost six million hectares across Australia having been burnt, which is about the size of the Republic of Ireland.

Two people remain unaccounted for in New South Wales, where there have already been 20 fatalities, and Victoria and South Australia have reported two and three deaths respectively.

There are still 15 'Watch and act warnings' in Victoria and emergency supplies are being flown into the state's 18 cut-off communities.
Whitney Way Thore wants to make sure shes not holding anything back in her relationships.

The sixth season of My Big Fat Fabulous Life starts as Thore, 35, is testing the waters of a new relationship with her now-fiance Chase Severino. The two flirt and set up a date in this exclusive clip from the shows premiere, but Thore, knowing that her weight has been an issue romantically in the past, brings it up first as they lie together in a hammock.

How much do you even weigh? she asks Severino. Hold on, let me try to guess because I have no concept of what like, normal people weigh. Like, you weigh 200 lbs.?

200 on the dot, he tells her.

Thore, who has fought body shaming for most of her life while dealing with polycystic ovarian syndrome, then tells a hesitant Severino to guess her weight.

Whitney Way Thore and Her Fiance Share How Much They Weigh: I Need a Man to Know

RELATED: Whitney Way Thores New Workout Plan Is About Representation: There Are Fat People Who Exercise

I have no idea, he says. Dont make me guess that.

No go ahead! she says. Im not offended. Guess.

Severino starts at 250 lbs., and Thore tells him to go up. He eventually lands on 330 lbs. which she says is right.

I would not have guessed that, ever, he says.

This is so nice and unexpected, but yeah, I kind of just have to come out with what Im working with, Thore says to the camera in a side interview. Like, yes, Im 330 lbs., yes I had to check weight limits, because I need a man to know what hes getting into, and Chase seems pretty unfazed, so

The two then talk about breweries in their area of North Carolina, and make plans to visit a cider brewery. But Thore asks if they should invite Ryan Andreas, her NoBS Active business partner who introduced her to Severino.

Thore and Severino then awkwardly try to feel out if the other wants their cider plans to be a date, before Severino just tells her: I would love for it to just be us two, to go to the cider brewery.

Story continues

Oh my god, Thore responds, laughing.

It all ends well though  theyre now happily engaged!

My Big Fat Fabulous Life premieres Jan. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on TLC.
Back in October 2019, when I first saw the trailer for Jojo Rabbit at a Joker screening in New York City, I wasnt sure what to think. On the big screen, Roman Griffin Daviss Jojo joined the Hitler Youth and spewed hatred with disturbing confidence, egged on by his imaginary friend, director Taika Waititis goofy version of Hitler. Meanwhile, a Jewish girl named Elsa Korr (Thomasin McKenzie) hid from the Third Reich in Jojos house, protected by the boys mother (Scarlett Johansson). Rebel Wilson, Sam Rockwell and the young Archie Yates also featured in this mish-mash, which was somehow tied together by David Bowies Heroes.

Puzzled, I leant towards my husband and whispered: I dont know that the world is ready for a campy Hitler movie. I held on to this opinion for a few days, until one night, we bought tickets to Jojo Rabbit, thinking we might be about to witness a disaster of epic proportions. But from the very first of its 108 minutes, the movie grabbed my attention and never let go, taking me through an emotional journey that my cold, New-York-hardened heart rarely gets to experience anymore.

For several weeks, Jojo Rabbit was the best film I had seen in 2019. (Then, Little Women happened.) So I was more than a little surprised when grim reviews started cropping up.

The Telegraphs Robbie Collin awarded it one meagre star and deemed it a feeble, one-note Nazi comedy. The Guardians Peter Bradshaw was none more positive, calling Jojo Rabbit intensely unfunny. The Independents own Clarisse Loughrey made me feel less alone by giving the film five stars, praising it for making buffoons out of the fascists while lamenting how easily their beliefs can corrupt a nation.

But still  its always unsettling when someone ends up despising something you adore. Eventually, though, I understood why I had been hardwired to love Jojo Rabbit from the moment I walked into the cinema. See, Jojo Rabbit is, at its core, a tale about the banality of evil  a visceral concern in todays America, where I have lived for five years.

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

Throughout the film, Jojo invokes anti-Semitic myths as if theyre true, because hes been told they are. The adults around him dont do much better (with very rare exceptions), and their lack of discernment in the face of a totalitarian regime is on par with Jojos.

I moved to the US in July 2014 and received my green card (the document that made me a permanent resident) two weeks before Donald Trumps election in November 2016. New York City was eerily quiet the next day, as if stunned by the realisation that these things can and do happen.

Since then, weve had to learn to handle the cognitive dissonance of going about our daily life as things we thought wed never witness in our lifetimes keep unfolding (think deadly white supremacist rallies, the US-Mexico border crisis, etc). This particular type of anguish was summarised in a viral tweet by Brooklyn-based writer Sarah Lazarus in August, which read: Every day we have to wake up, confront the most upsetting s*** weve ever seen, and then walk around obeying laws and saying its tomato season.

Terrible times dont always feel like terrible times  sometimes they just feel like tomato season. And people who think terrible things dont always look like the deeply flawed adults you expect them to be  sometimes, they look like a 10-year-old boy in a Nazi uniform.

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This is in a way more terrifying than if monsters always matched our idea of evil, and if turmoil upended our lives to the extent that we had no choice but to stop our daily activities and confront it head-on. Waititi demonstrates that brilliantly through Jojos tale  and infuses it with just enough hope to soothe your soul.
Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray also condemned the banner, saying it is wrong if it means free Kashmir from India.

Students protest at the Gateway of India to condemn the attack on the students of JNU, in Mumbai, early Tuesday. (Photo: PTI)

Mumbai: The Mumbai police on Tuesday booked Mehek Mirza for displaying a Free Kashmir banner during a protest at the Gateway of India.

The Free Kashmir placard sparked off a controversy, with the BJP trying to corner chief minister Uddhav Thackeray over it calling it an anti-India campaign.

The Sena, however, said that the banner indicates that Kashmir wants freedom from the ban on the Internet and other restrictions. The said banner surfaced at the Gateway of India, where thousands thronged to protest the attack on students and teachers at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi.

Objecting to the banner, former chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis tweeted, What is the protest for exactly? Why are there slogans of Free Kashmir? How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai? Free Kashmir slogans by the Azadi gang just 2km from the CMO? Uddhav Thackeray, are you going to tolerate this Free Kashmir anti-India campaign right under your nose?

On his part, Sena MP Sanjay Raut claimed that the poster indicates that the Kashmir Valley wants freedom from the ban on the Internet and other restrictions placed on Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the governments decision to abrogate Article 370.

However, he was quick to add that if the poster means Kashmir is seeking freedom from India, it will not be tolerated.

Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray also condemned the banner, saying it is wrong if it means free Kashmir from India.

Responding to Mr Fadn-avis, senior minister Jaya-nt Patil accused him of trying to confuse the people by decoding words in a hateful manner.

He asked, Mr Fadnavis, its free Kashmir from all discriminations, bans on cellular networks and central control. I cant believe that a responsible leader like you is trying to confuse the people by decoding words in such a hateful manner. Is it losing power or losing self-control?

Mr Fadnavis hit back saying that for them, the nation comes first and that he did not expect vote bank politics from Mr Patil. What a pity! Now separatist tendencies get a government advocate. Mr Patil, this vote bank politics is not expected from you. Kashmir has already been freed from discrimination and certain curbs have been there since decades for security concerns. Be it in government or the Opposition, for us, the only principle is nation first! he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Ms Mirza claimed that she only wanted to highlight the restrictions imposed in Jammu and Kashmir and had no other motive behind her action. The motive behind holding the placard has been misinterpreted, she added.

Hundreds of people, including students, women and senior citizens  who assembled at the Gateway of India at Sunday midnight  demanded action against the culprits and called for Union Home Minister Amit Shahs resignation.

Violence broke out at JNU on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in police that conducted a flag march.

At least 34 people, including JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured as chaos reigned on the campus for nearly two hours.
STUTTGART, Germany -- An Arizona man contracted to fly aircraft for the U.S. military was among those killed Sunday when Somali militants attacked a base in Kenya, a local television station reported.

Dustin Harrison's wife, Hope, told Tucson's KOLD News 13 that she and their daughter were flying to an unnamed Air Force base to receive his body. "My silent hero," Hope Harrison wrote in a Facebook post.

Harrison told the network that she was meeting with her husband's co-workers to learn more about the attack.

"My world is completely a nightmare at the moment. My worst fear is now my reality. The pain is unbearable. Please keep myself and our family in your prayers," she wrote on Facebook.

Related: Soldier Killed in Kenya Is Identified After Attack that Left Three Americans Dead

Harrison was one of three people killed when their base was overrun by insurgents.

Army Spc. Henry Mayfield Jr., 23, from the Chicago suburb of Hazel Crest, also died in the attack. A third victim, a Defense Department contractor, hasn't been publicly named.

U.S. Africa Command dispatched a quick reaction force based out of Djibouti to Kenya in the wake of the attack to bolster security there.

Early on Sunday morning, al-Shabab fighters stormed the Kenyan compound with indirect and small-arms fire, U.S. Africa Command said. Five U.S. aircraft were destroyed and one was damaged during the attack. Six contractor-operated civilian aircraft were also damaged, AFRICOM said.

U.S. and Kenyan forces eventually repelled the attack from the al-Shabab militants, who are aligned with al-Qaida.

The base in Kenya plays a role in U.S. military operations in neighboring Somalia, where American forces have been assisting in the battle against al-Shabab.

Read more: People Are Panicking About Military Draft, Stop-Loss and IRR Activation. Here's the Reality
TORONTO, Jan. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This press release is being issued in connection with the filing of early warning reports (the Early Warning Report) pursuant to the requirements of National Instrument 62-103  The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues regarding the change in the ownership and control of common shares (the Shares) of Gem International Resources Inc. (the Company) by John Barr, John Campbell Smyth, and Sean Hurd. The Issuers head office address is located at 25th Floor, 700 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V7Y 1B3.



On December 27, 2019, the Company completed a shares for debt transaction (the Transaction), pursuant to which John Barr, Campbell Smyth, and Sean Hurd acquired beneficially ownership or control over 2,277,500 common shares (Shares), 2,277,500 Shares, and 700,000 Shares respectively. In addition, on January 2, 2020, the Company granted 400,000 options to purchase Shares (Options) to each of Messrs. Barr, Smyth, and Hurd (together with the Transaction, the Acquisitions).

Prior to the Acquisitions, Mr. Barr beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over nil Common Shares. Following the Acquisitions, Mr. Barr beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over 2,277,500 Common Shares and 400,000 Options, representing approximately 11.94% and 13.74% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted and diluted basis respectively. In connection with the Transaction, Mr. Barr settled debt in the amount of $113,875.

Prior to the Acquisitions, Mr. Smyth beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over 93,500 Common Shares, representing approximately 0.73% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares (on both a diluted and undiluted basis). Following the Acquisitions, Mr. Smyth beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over 2,371,000 Common Shares and 400,000 Options, representing approximately 12.43% and 14.22% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted and diluted basis respectively. In connection with the Transaction, Mr. Smyth settled debt in the amount of $113,875.

Story continues

Prior to the Acquisitions, Mr. Hurd beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over 1,000 Common Shares, representing approximately 0.01% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares (on both a diluted and undiluted basis). Following the Acquisitions, Mr. Hurd beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over 701,000 Common Shares and 400,000 Options, representing approximately 3.67% and 5.65% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted and diluted basis respectively. In connection with the Transaction, Mr. Hurd settled debt in the amount of $35,000.

Copies of the early warning reports for Messrs. Barr, Smyth, and Hurd will be filed on the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and may be obtained by containing the Company at the following address:

John W. Barr

Interim Chief Executive Officer

25th Floor, 700 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, BC V7Y 1B3

T: + 61 0 418 912 885
A video has surfaced on social media where a couple's doorbell camera gave a strange extraterrestrial twist to their day after a glitch in the footage looked like one of them was abducted by aliens. The video is being widely shared on various social media platforms and netizens are not being able to fathom what they saw on the footage.

Read: 'Aliens Exist And Could Be Here On Earth', Claims UK's First Astronaut Helen Sharman

So-called abduction video

The hilarious video is from Porter, Texas and was shot last month. The video shows a man leaving his house before a glitch in the footage forced him to disappear in a flash of light. According to international media, the unnamed man in the video said that the incident took place on December 27. When the man and his fiancee started looking through their videos recorded by Ring, they found a weird glitch. The man's fiancee told him, "Look Ring had you abducted by aliens or you just been part of the rapture! Either way, it was really funny!"

Read: Diego Maradona Bizarrely Reveals About Being Abducted By 'aliens' In Sensational Interview

Although the couple had no doubt that it was all down to a technical glitch that occurred in their doorbell camera, netizens on social media were not ready to accept the fact. The video saw many laughable comments since it was uploaded on January 2. One of the users commented, "He claims it was a glitch with the camera, or is it just what the government wants you to hear." The video has garnered more than 80,000 views on YouTube and has been liked 92 times at the time of publishing this story.

Read: Man Claims To Capture 3 UFOs Flying Past The Moon, UFOlogist Labels Them 'alien Ships'

In another video, a Ring camera from Jason Sawyer's home captured the moment when a hurricane lifted his North Carolina home from its foundation. Jason was going through videos his Ring camera had captured during the hurricane and that is when he saw the tornado forcing his house off its foundation. Luckily, Jason was at his other property when the incident took place.

Read: Area 51: Social Media Plans Of Rescuing 'aliens' Failed To Materialize
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership is confident that the ongoing unrest in campuses, especially the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where violence broke out on Sunday will not impact its electoral politics or have any have negative fallout on the forthcoming Delhi assembly elections.

On Tuesday, several functionaries who spoke to HT on condition of anonymity said that the unrest is being stoked by Opposition parties who have been unable to challenge the BJP electorally.

They dismissed the perception that the BJP is taking an adversarial position against the students and that its attempts at building bridges with the youth have come undone.

Also Watch l JNU violence l Uddhav Thackeray equates attack to 26/11: Who said what

While the Opposition has been quick to pin the blame for Sundays violence on the RSS-affiliated students union the ABVP and have accused the BJP of tacit support, BJP leaders have demanded a probe.

A thorough probe to find out the facts before anyone reacts to what happened is needed, said party leader and MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

Another functionary, speaking on condition of anonymity said that the unrest which began over the issue of fee hike acquired political tones when the students affiliated to the Left wing began to stop students from registering for examinations, in a bid to prevent the academic activities.

The perception that the Modi government is against JNU is incorrect. There is, however, a need to rid campuses of a sentiment that is anti-national and glorifies secession. There is evidence that naxals who wage war against our own people find support in some sections of the campuses, it is this aspect that needs to be addressed, the functionary said.

He also ruled out the ongoing unrest leading to a more pronounced churn against the government, or acquiring a pan-India shape.

While we condemn violence on campuses, such protests cannot become a rallying point for a protest at the national level, the functionary said.

There is, however, a section within the party that feels that the government has taken an adversarial position that it will not benefit from.

When a part is in power, it needs to be more accommodating. While there is a need to build a counter narrative and check the influence of Left wing extremism on campuses, the administration is expected to opt for prudent response, said a third functionary.

This is not the first time that the BJP and the Sangh have been involved in a face-off with the students community. Sundays violence in the precincts of JNU has brought focus on the campus unrest that first raised its head in 2016 when cases of sedition were filed against some students of the university for allegedly raising anti-India slogans.

Even as several leaders in the BJP have been critical of students politics, there is a long list of leaders in the party who cut their teeth on campus politics.

Former finance minister, late Arun Jaitley who was at the forefront of the campaign against Emergency, served prison time. Union defence minister Rajnath Singh serves as the ABVP organisational secretary of Gorakhpur division as did Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who was a member ABVP in Patna University during the Emergency.

Cabinet ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP working president JP Nadda also owe their political training to their tenure as ABVP functionaries.

Information and Broadcasting and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar also began his political career with the ABVP.

In the RSS, its joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosbale was the face of the ABVP for long; he was also arrested during Emergency and served as the general secretary of ABVP for 15 years.

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The Trump administration is proposing new rules to guide future federal regulation of artificial intelligence used in medicine, transportation and other industries.

But the vagueness of the principles announced by the White House is unlikely to satisfy AI watchdogs who have warned of a lack of accountability as computer systems are deployed to take on human roles in high-risk social settings, such as mortgage lending or job recruitment.

A document from the White House said that in deciding regulatory action, U.S. agencies must consider fairness, non-discrimination, openness, transparency, safety, and security. The rules wont affect how federal agencies such as law enforcement use AI; they are specifically limited to how federal agencies devise new AI regulations for the private sector. Theres a month-long public comment period before the rules take effect.

These principles are intentionally high-level, said Lynne Parker, U.S. deputy chief technology officer at the White Houses Office of Science and Technology Policy. We purposely wanted to avoid top-down, one-size-fits-all, blanket regulations.

The White House said the proposals unveiled Tuesday are meant to promote private sector applications of AI that are safe and fair, while also pushing back against stricter regulations favoured by some lawmakers and activists.

Federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration will be bound to follow the new AI principles, which makes the rules the first of their kind from any government, said Michael Kratsios, the U.S. chief technology officer, in a call with reporters Tuesday.

Rapid advancements in AI technology have raised fresh concern as computers increasingly take on jobs such as diagnosing medical conditions, driving cars, recommending stock investments, judging credit risk and recognizing individual faces in video footage. Its often not clear how AI systems make their decisions, leading to questions of how far to trust them and when to keep humans in the loop.

Kratsios said he hopes the new principles can serve as a template for other Western democratic institutions such as the European Commission, which has put forward its own AI ethical guidelines, to preserve shared values without impeding the tech industry with innovation-killing regulations.

That, he said, is the best way to counter authoritarian uses of AI by governments that aim to track, surveil and imprison their own people. The Trump administration has sought to penalize China over the past year over AI uses the U.S. considers abusive.

The U.S. Commerce Department last year blacklisted several Chinese AI firms after the Trump administration said they were implicated in the repression of Muslims in the countrys Xinjiang region. On Monday, citing national security concerns, the agency set limits on exporting AI software used to analyze satellite imagery.
Hazard reductions burns are being hampered by longer fire seasons and extreme weather, Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says, warning the controversial technique is "not the panacea" some may be looking for to temper bushfires.

The Commissioner on Wednesday defended the RFS' record on hazard reduction burning, saying the agency was not comprised of "environmental bastards", indicating prescribed burns were done with the priorities of people, property and the environment in mind.

Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the agency had met its targets for hazard reduction in the lead-up to this bushfire season, but the "really awful" conditions across the drought-stricken state meant that fires had spread wildly regardless.

"Hazard reduction burning is really challenging and the single biggest impediment to completing hazard reduction burning is the weather," Commissioner Fitzsimmons told ABC Breakfast.
Many middle-class South Africans are using debt to fund their lifestyles, according to experts.

Debt Rescue CEO Neil Roets said those affected the most by debt are between 25 and 35, as this group wants to be seen to be living a certain lifestyle.

A lack of salary increases and bonuses in 2019 will also see more people borrowing money in 2020 as the price of living increases.

To see how the price of living has increased in recent years, we looked at the prices of petrol, a Big Mac, cellphones, and Internet access in South Africa from 1995 to 2020.

Petrol

In July 1995, the price of oil was $27 a barrel and the rand was below R4 to the US dollar. This equated to a petrol price of R1.88 per litre for 95 unleaded.

At the start of January 2020, the price per litre for 95 unleaded was R16.16.

Cellphone

In 1995, the Nokia 2110 was a new and powerful device, selling for R2,295. It was the first Nokia with the Nokia tune ringtone and included SMS functionality.

Fast forward to 2020 and one of the hottest phones available is the Apple iPhone 11  which retails for R14,999.

Big Mac

McDonalds opened its first restaurant in South Africa in November 1995, and currently operates over 200 restaurants across the country.

A Big Mac sold for R7 at the time, whereas today the burger costs R31.

Internet Access

In 1995, Internet access started to grow in South Africa.

A dial-up account cost R29 per month, but you had to pay call rates for every minute you spent online.

In 2020, you can get an uncapped 10Mbps fibre line for R499 per month  which provides unlimited usage and more than enough bandwidth for full HD streaming.

Now read: South African pupils repeating a grade costs R20 billion a year
Audrey has been born again. Or, rather, she was resuscitated thanks to a pioneering revival technique. "It's a miracle," was all she could say at a press conference held recently with her doctors, to explain her experience.

On 3 November, the fire brigade announced that two hikers had been rescued from the Valle de Nuria (in Girona, in the Catalonian Pyrenees). They were named as Audrey, who is British, and Rohan, from South Africa, who live in Barcelona.

The couple had been surprised by a sudden worsening of the weather, and had got lost. The cold, the snow and the wind almost caused the death of Audrey, because when the rescue team arrived on the scene she was suffering from severe hypothermia and her body temperature was just 18 degrees. The hypothermia had caused her to lose consciousness, and her heart had stopped.

Incredibly, after six hours with no heartbeat, doctors at the Vall d'Hebron hospital in Barcelona managed to save her life. Not only that, but she has now recovered, is living almost a normal life and will be going back to work in the near future. She only needs to recover full sensitivity and movement in her hands, which were affected by the freezing cold.

Audrey doesn't remember anything about that day, but Rohan will never forget it. He said that first of all his wife began to talk incoherently as a result of the storm and the cold weather, and then she stopped moving and became unconscious. He managed to make contact with friends who lived in the area by phone, and they rang the fire brigade. A helicopter and two vehicles went to look for the couple.

Rohan had been advised by the emergency service to try to keep Audrey as warm as possible, but it was two hours after the phone call requesting assistance that the helicopter found the couple. "At first it looked as if the situation was extremely serious. They couldn't find any vital signs at all," explained Pedro Collado, a member of the fire brigade's GRAE special operations unit. They attended to her as best they could, and four hours after the phone call had been made Audrey was in a medical emergency ambulance. She was suffering from severe hypothermia and the doctors had to carry out cardio-pulmonary resuscitation techniques during the journey.

Nearly five hours after her husband thought he had lost her, Audrey arrived at the Vall d'Hebron hospital, about 140 kilometres from where the couple had been found on the mountain.

"Her heart had no electrical activity, there were no vital signs, her skin was cold. She appeared to be dead, but we knew that in the context of a hypothermia, there were possibilities of survival," explained Dr Eduard Argudo, of the Intensive Medicine service. After examining her as soon as she was brought into Emergencies, he decided the ECMO technique needed to be applied immediately. The risk was high. This was the longest case of resuscitated cardiac arrest ever registered in Spain and one of the longest in the world.

"The more I learn about this and the more I read about it, the more miraculous it seems that I survived," said Audrey at the press conference.

The technique is used on critical patients with very serious respiratory or cardiac illnesses. A machine temporarily replaces the lung or heart function. In Audrey's case, her heart had stopped. The machine removed her blood through a tube, moved it in a centrifugal pump to pass through the oxygenator, where oxygen was incorporated and carbon dioxide removed. Then the blood was put back into her body through an artery.

"This technique enabled oxygen to reach the tissues and warm up the body," said Dr Argudo. "The hypothermia was about to cause her death but at the same time, it saved her because her body, and especially her brain, did not deteriorate."

The medical experts believe that if Audrey's body temperature had been normal and she had been in cardiac arrest for so long, she would not have survived. "But we knew that as she had such severe hypothermia, there was a chance of survival with the ECMO technique," Dr Argudo explained.

When her body temperature reached 30 degrees they applied an electrical charge to try to wake her heart up and get it to beat again. They succeeded.
A Binghamton University undergraduate traveled to South America to document political and social messages in murals.

Peter Farquharson, a junior majoring in art history, saw more than 300 murals during his two weeks in Buenos Aries and Quito. While he originally intended to major in political science, he maintains his interest in politics through finding political themes in artforms like muralism.

He planned the trip to South America on his own, including reaching out to artists and mapping out the neighborhoods to view the murals, says Pamela Smart, associate professor of art history.

Some days, he met artists and they provided a direct explanation of the message behind their own murals.

Other days it was just people who live in the area, Farquharson says. Because thats an important factor to get in the research. Theyre the audience to some extent.

He sought to compare modern murals to those from several previous decades to see just how artists, their work and the messages they want to convey have changed.

Im also finding that the means of visual representation, in some ways, are exactly the same, he says. Theres a sense that artists are evoking the past of the medium, but in about the other half of the cases, its No, we want to do something completely different.

Farquharson categorized the murals under two complex umbrellas: art as a political and social statement, and art as a form of creative self-expression. Many of the murals he documented showcase vibrant colors, sharp contrasts between light and dark as well as powerful outlines.

The contrast between the social and political murals guided his trips between the two countries. Argentinas murals centered more on the political, especially the last 100 years and the legacy of the Perons, the massively influential first family of Argentina during the late 1940s and 1950s. The murals he studied in Ecuador, meanwhile, focused more on the cultural identity of the country, centering on the recognition of indigenous peoples and defining the countrys pre-colonial legacy.

Farquharsons language skills came in handy during the trip; he said he made it a point to converse with artists in Spanish whenever possible. On campus, the Long Island native acts as an English language conversation partner. He is also a teaching assistant for an inter-disciplinary course titled Materials Matter.

Smart said Farquharson was her first choice to run the student discussion sections and assist in teaching the course.

He stood out in the class last semester, such that he was the person I thought would make a great undergraduate TA, Smart says. There are several elements there. One was the quality of his work, his work ethic and the degree of his interest and engagement.

Farquharson maintained that interest even when he was forced to rearrange his plans due to safety concerns while traveling for this research with the Summer Scholars and Artists program.

If you have an idea and theres something you want to do, there isnt a way that you cant manage, Farquharson says. Theres enough resources on campus and people who want you to succeed, theres no reason you cant take your own idea and make it a reality.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said the offence of kidnapping was made out against a man who had taken away his toddler daughter to Dubai without the consent of the court or the mother, as he only had visitation rights and was not her lawful guardian.

The high court said the only persons who could consent to taking away the child were herself and the mother, and the father's act of taking away the minor under a foreign passport and later changing her citizenship, passport and religion was "immoral" and "shocking".

A bench of Justices Manmohan and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal further said every action of the father, whom it had sentenced to six months' imprisonment for contempt of court for taking abroad his daughter without permission, "has been an egregious violation of laws of this country and careless disregard of the rights of not only his wife and child but also his parents and sister presuming they are not complicit".

"The child was taken out of India without the consent of this court, which is 'some person' and is legally authorised to consent on behalf of the child. Accordingly, section 360 IPC (kidnapping) is attracted. The petitioner-mother has obtained sole, absolute and exclusive guardianship and custody of the child on September 21, 2019.

"His taking custody of the child is contrary to express orders of a court and the same can never be conceived, by any reasonable person, to be 'lawful custody'. Further, as the act of the applicant-respondent no. 4 shocks the court's conscience, it qualifies as immoral. Consequently, the act of taking the child outside India without the mother's consent also attracts the offence of kidnapping," the bench said.

The prima facie observations of the court came while dismissing an application moved by the father seeking dismissal of the habeas corpus plea moved by the mother and to vacate the interim orders passed by the bench.

Rejecting his plea, the court further said that his access and participation in the present proceedings would be withheld until he purges the contempt against him by bringing his daughter back as he is "persisting in his contumacious behaviour" and the conviction for contempt of courts "has had no deterrent or reformatory effect on him".

"Applicant-respondent no.4 (father) has shown no remorse for his conduct. Further, applicant-respondent no.4's continuing disobedience impedes the course of justice and has rendered it impossible for this court to enforce its orders in respect of him and the child.

He "has also shown his lack of worth by attacking the Indian judicial system by alleging general gender bias in favour of ladies," the bench said.

It also set up a joint committee, comprising the Consul General of India, Dubai and officials of the CBI and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), to take steps in accordance with law to produce the minor before the court as the father despite various opportunities has not brought back his toddler daughter.

The court also noted that the identity of the child was "threatened" by the actions of her father who has changed her passport, citizenship and religion.

The bench also observed in its order that the father's action of taking away the child under a foreign passport to another country "was done with the sole intent of ensuring that the Indian authorities including this court are deprived of the option of affording justice to the child and the same amounts to obstruction/interference with the administration of justice and impedes the course of justice".

In August last year, the high court has initiated suo motu criminal contempt proceedings against the man when he violated the terms of an earlier order relating to handing over the custody of the child.

In August 2019, when the girl was with the man, he in connivance with others took a flight to Bagdogra in West Bengal and crossed Nepal. He flew out from Kathmandu on Qatar Airways to Doha, then to Muscat and reached Dubai.

This prompted the mother, who was earlier granted the child's interim custody, to file a habeas corpus in the Delhi High Court seeking production of the girl as she was not returned to her by the man. The father and grandparents were granted visitation rights.

A habeas corpus plea requires a person under unlawful custody to be brought before a judge or a court.

In September 2019, the man was held guilty of contempt of court by the high court for flouting the judicial order and taking the child out of country despite giving an undertaking.

A family court has also declared the mother to be the guardian and custodian of the child for "her paramount interest and welfare".

The woman had earlier told the court that in 2017, her father-in-law had taken the baby to Bangkok for a trip and from there, he took her to Dubai where he has a residence.

When she went to Dubai, she was not allowed to meet the child after which she approached the court and the minor was brought back to Delhi.

The high court had earlier made it clear that both the parents shall strictly abide by the interim custody and visitation arrangement and other conditions, and if it is reported that either of the two parties have not complied with this condition, or have resisted its compliance, the court shall reconsider the arrangement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Welsh Government announce 24m support to help struggling high streets via business rates relief

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jan 7th, 2020

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans has today announced an additional 24.2m to support Welsh businesses in 2020-21 through the Welsh Governments high street and retail rates relief scheme.

The scheme, which was first introduced in 2017, is being extended for a further year providing support to over 15,000 small and medium-sized businesses, including shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs and wine bars, to help them pay their rates bills.

It will reduce business rates bills to zero for retail properties with a rateable value up to 9,100 and reduce bills by 2,500 for properties with a higher rateable value.

Finance Minister, Rebecca Evans said: We recognise the importance of a healthy retail sector in Wales, and the impact the current economic climate has had on some high street businesses.

The extended relief scheme I am announcing today will continue to provide much-needed support for struggling retailers in Wales, helping to keep the high street vibrant and at the heart of local communities.

Welsh Government say local councils will also receive a further 2.4m to provide additional discretionary rates relief allowing them to respond to specific local issues. This funding will be provided through the local government settlement for 2020-21, taking the total being provided to local authorities for discretionary relief to 4.8m for 2020-21.

They added, The high street rates relief scheme and the additional funding for discretionary rates relief, together with our permanent small business rates scheme and other bespoke reliefs, combine to offer timely and targeted support for ratepayers across Wales.

Contrary to the everlasting belief of some on social media Wrexham Council do not set business rates, but do collect them. Welsh Government sets the business rates multiplier, and have offered several relief packages for some business rate payers over the years.

As always with any type of bill, it is worth double checking the amounts and asking if you are eligible for any relief, and if so, is that possible to be backdated as well. The new announcement is specific in noting will continue to be administered by local authorities on an application basis.

Although often called support for the High Street it will support retailers in other locations, with notes for eligibility including: i. Hereditaments that are being used wholly or mainly for the sale of goods to visiting members of the public. ii. Hereditaments that are being used wholly or mainly for the provision of the retail services to visiting members of the public iii. Hereditaments that are being used wholly or mainly for the sale of food and/or drink to visiting members of the public. There is exclusions as well, i. Hereditaments with a valuation of more than 50,000. ii. Hereditaments not reasonably accessible to visiting members of the public. iii. Hereditaments that are not occupied. iv. Hereditaments that are in receipt of mandatory charitable rates relief.

The Welsh Government also noted, The UK Government made a commitment in the Queens Speech to enhance their support for retail businesses. Once further details are known, the Welsh Government will consider how any additional consequential funding allocated to Wales can be best targeted to support communities and businesses in Wales as part of our budget and spending priorities.
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Anglepoint, the leader in software asset management (SAM) to the Fortune 500, today announced it has appointed current CEO Ron Brill as Anglepoint's new President and Chairman, and current COO Brian Papay as the company's new CEO.

The change comes after a period of unprecedented growth, and uniquely positions Anglepoint to capitalize on an impending inflection point in the industry, while maintaining its best-in-class SAM services to the world's leading organizations.

Anglepoint Names Brian Papay as New CEO Anglepoint

"With the prevalence of cloud and related technologies, we're at a critical juncture where SAM and ITAM need to adapt to an 'as-a-service' model," says new Anglepoint President and Chairman Ron Brill. "With this move I will focus more on Anglepoint's strategic direction and key clients while Brian will run our growing team. I've worked closely with Brian for over 15 years and couldn't be more excited to see him take over the CEO role."

In the last few years, Anglepoint has experienced over 30% compound annual growth in its SAM business serving more than 500 enterprise clients, globally. During that same period, the company expanded to seven countries and 100+ employees, opened a new physical office in London, expanded its Santa Clara, Calif. headquarters, and completed the design and construction of a new larger office in Lindon, Utah.

Brian Papay joined Anglepoint in 2017 as its Chief Operating Officer and brings 15+ years of experience in Software Asset Management and licensing. In addition to Anglepoint, Brian was responsible for Oracle's License Management Services Group for North America, ran BEA Systems' Licensing Team for North & South America, and was a Director at KPMG.

"Our significant growth is a reflection of the rising demand for high-quality SAM services, as well as the strength of Anglepoint's commitment and value to Fortune 500 enterprises," says new Anglepoint CEO Brian Papay. "This is just the beginning. I'm thrilled to lead our growing, global team as we meet the immense demand for transformational SAM/ITAM solutions."

ABOUT ANGLEPOINT

Founded in 2009, Anglepoint has grown into the global leader in licensing and compliance services trusted by the Fortune 500. For more information, visit www.anglepoint.com.

Media Contact:

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DAMASCUS, Syria  Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Damascus on Tuesday for a meeting with President Bashar Assad, a rare visit that comes amid soaring tensions between Iran and United States following the U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian general.

While the official statements made during the previously unannounced visit made no mention of the killing last week of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the timing was conspicuous.

The U.S. strike that killed Soleimani minutes after he landed in Iraq has drawn vows of retaliation from Tehran and its proxy militias in Baghdad and Beirut. It has also led the U.S. to re-position its troops in Iraq following calls by the Iraqi Parliament and prime minister for U.S. forces to leave the country.

Soleimani led Iran-backed forces supporting Assad in Syrias civil war and played a key role in shoring up his army. With some 600 American troops deployed in Syria, the country is a potential site of conflict with Iran.

Putins visit is the second to the country during the war, where his troops have been fighting alongside Syrian government forces since 2015. It comes amid a crushing Russian-backed offensive by Syrian forces on the northwestern province of Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in Syria.

Putin and Assad met at a Russian command post in Damascus, and were presented with military reports on the situation in different regions of Syria, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

In his conversation with Assad, Putin said that a lot has been done toward restoring Syrias statehood and territorial integrity. The situation didnt just change  in fact, were witnessing the restoration of Syrias statehood, Syria as a state, the countrys territorial integrity, Putin said in video of the meeting released by Syrias state news agency SANA.

At the same time, Putin noted that the situation in the Middle East is, unfortunately, escalating.

During his time in Damascus, Putin visited the Syrian capitals landmark Umayyad Mosque in the walled Old City together, where he viewed the tomb of John the Baptist who is sacred to both Christians and Muslims.

Putins visit coincided with Russian Orthodox Christmas, and Putin congratulated his troops on the holiday, according to a statement from Assads office. Photos released by SANA showed the two leaders visiting an orthodox cathedral in Damascus.

Russia joined the war in 2015, when the Syrian military appeared close to collapse. Since then, and largely because of Russias blanket air support, the Syrian government has largely won the nearly 9-year civil war militarily, and has retaken control of most of the country from rebel fighters.

In recent weeks, Syrian troops supported by Russian warplanes have been pushing into the countrys last rebel stronghold, located in northwestern Idlib province.

The last time Putin came to Syria was in 2017 when he announced a scale-back of the Russian military presence there. At the time, rebels were still entrenched on the outskirts of Damascus, and he only visited Russias Hemeimeem air base in Syrias coastal province of Latakia. Assad previously visited Russia and met with Putin in May 2018, November 2017 and October 2015.

Close to half a million people have been killed in Syrias civil war and 11 million have been displaced from their homes, including 5 million who are refugees outside the country.

___

Litvinova reported from Moscow. Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue contributed from Beirut.
Prosecutors in Japan on Tuesday obtained an arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn, wife of former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, who last month jumped bail and fled the country.

In a statement, prosecutors said they had obtained the warrant on suspicion she made false statements during April testimony to the Tokyo district court about meetings with an unnamed individual.

had been facing trial in Japan on charges of financial misconduct, which he denies, before fleeing the country in late December for Lebanon.

He had been freed on bail after agreeing to strict conditions, with prosecutors arguing he posed a flight risk.

The conditions included restrictions on contact with Carole, which was reportedly among the reasons he decided to jump bail and flee the country in an elaborately planned escape that has outraged Japanese officials.

Ghosn's second wife, Carole vocally led the campaign for her husband's freedom, insisting on his innocence and slamming Japanese prosecutors for what she deemed ill-treatment after his shock November 19, 2018 arrest.

She was initially prevented from seeing her husband, who was held in detention for more than 100 days after his arrest, and petitioned everyone from French President Emmanuel Macron to the White House seeking his release.

Ghosn, a globe-trotting auto titan who was once a giant of the industry, accuses executives at Japanese automaker Nissan of manufacturing the allegations against him in a "plot" to prevent closer integration with alliance partner Renault.
 Close Donald Trump says John Bolton 'would would know nothing about what we're talking about' ahead of impeachment trial

Donald Trump has told reporters at the White House that John Bolton, his former national security advisor and a potential key witness at his upcoming Senate impeachment trial, knows nothing about the Ukraine quid pro quo scandal, an apparent attempt to dismiss the significance of any testimony he might give before Congress.

Senate leader Mitch McConnell has said he is prepared to push on with the trial without having first agreed a deal on new witnesses and evidence with opposition Democrats, as House speaker Nancy Pelosi urges him to publish a resolution outlining the rules of engagement immediately.

After the Iran crisis deepened with the bombing of two US military bases in Iraq overnight, the president was ridiculed for seeking to reassure Americans by tweeting All is well! before making a statement declaring the country is now standing down but would face punishment through new economic sanctions rather than via military conflict.

During a brief address from the White House, the president made vague claims that General Qassem Soleimani planned "new attacks on American targets" before his killing. He also threatened new sanctions and repeated false claims that the Obama administration had paid for Iranian missiles in recent attacks.

Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Show all 29 1 /29 Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump styles his 'You're fired!' pose in his Trump Tower office in June 2012. At the time he was known as a reality TV star on The Apprentice Diane Bondareff/Invision/AP Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves He was also well known as the patron of the Miss Universe competition Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Early signs of Trump's ambition for the presidency can be found everywhere. Not least in his 2011 book 'Time to get tough: Making America #1 again' Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump with Piers Morgan in November 2010. Piers Morgan has long held that he and Trump are good friends Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump appeared on Fox & Friends, his favourite show, in August 2011 Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump considered running in the 2012 election, where he would have faced Barack Obama. He is speaking here at an event for a Republican women's group Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump was subject to a Comedy Central roast in 2011. He is pictured here being roasted by rapper Snoop Dogg Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Given that this Trump store is in the lobby of Trump Tower, it can be said that Trump sells merchandise of himself out of his own home Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump held meetings with prominent Republicans when considering his 2012 bid. He is pictured here with Alaska governor Sarah Palin Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves He didn't end up running in 2012 afterall, instead endorsing Republican candidate Mitt Romney AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump's golf course in Aberdeen proved controversial in 2012 when he began lobbying the Scottish government against wind power in order that they wouldn't install turbines off the shore by his new course Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves He even gave evidence to a Scottish parliamentary committee discouraging wind energy AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves He still found time for a round of course AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves On 16 June 2015, Trump announced that he would run for the presidency of the United States in the 2016 election as a Republican Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves His campaign was divisive, courting controversy wherever he went. Ultimately he was declared the Republican candidate in June 2016 Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump took part in the TV debate against opponent Hillary Clinton on 9 October Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump and wife Melania vote in the presidential election on 8 November 2016 AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Hillary Clinton conceded defeat at 2:50am on 9 November and president-elect Trump swiftly delivered his victory speech to a crowd of supporters Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves News coverage around the world focused on the huge political upset that Trump's victory spelled AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump met with president Obama to discusss transition planning on 10 November. AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Donald Trump and Nigel Farage pose in the golden elevator at Trump Tower on 12 November 2016. Farage was the first British politician to meet with Trump after the election LeaveEUOffical/Twitter Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves The inauguration of Donald Trump took place on 20 January 2017. Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer boasted that the crowd was the 'largest ever' to witness an inauguration, a claim that was proved not to be true Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves In his first 100 days as leader, Trump signed 24 executve orders, the most of any president AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves One of Trump's most memorable election pledges was to build a wall between the US and Mexico. He is standing here in front of a prototype for a section of the wall Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump's meetings with other world leaders have provided no short supply of photo opportunities Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump was welcomed to the UK by the Queen and a state banquet was held at Buckingham Palace in his honour Reuters Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Not everyone welcomed the president. Mass protests were held in London throughout his visits in both 2018 and 2019 EPA Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves One of the most significant meetings Trump has held with another leader was with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. In June 2019, Trump became the first sitting president to set foot in North Korea Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves 2020 will see president Trump fight for a second term in office, who knows what the next decade will bring? Getty

Meanwhile, members of Congress heard from the administration about its justification for military strikes in Iran.

House Speaker Pelosi intends to introduce a resolution this week to prevent further military action from the president

Follow along with live coverage as it happened:
While all are distracted by the vast display of smoke and mirrors surrounding the US-Iran conflict, General Haftar is taking control of Libya--and all its oil wealth--and the Turks are still making an outsized bet on a Libyan government that everyone else has quietly abandoned.

Turkey started moving troops into Libya on Sunday to support the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) against the forces of General Haftar.

By Monday, Haftar had taken over the strategic city of Sirte, with militia forces aligned with the GNA withdrawing without much bloodshed following a series of airstrikes and then a troop advance by Haftars Libyan National Army (LNA).

Source: BBC

At this point, despite the fact that it is some 500 kilometers away from Tripoli, Sirte is the backdoor to controlling the capital. It is the boundary of the GNAs control through various militias that like to refer to themselves as protection forces.

After routing ISIS from a 120-mile coastal stretch east and west of Sirte, largely thanks to Haftar, the GNA has since controlled this area stretching from Sirte through Zawiya, 45 miles west of Tripoli. That makes Sirte the entrance point to GNA-controlled territory from the coastal east.

The GNA-aligned militia in Sirte have largely withdrawn westward, toward Tripoli, and Haftars next battleground will be Misrata, which is halfway between Sirte and the capital city. Already on Tuesday, reports emerged of clashes en-route to Misrata. Related: Why Pirates Are Giving Up On Oil

Sirte is Gaddafis hometown, and loyalties here are largely up for grabs and go to the highest bidder or the one launching airstrikes. Thats how ISIS won it earlier, and thats how Haftar is winning it now, aided by airstrikes that cleared a path to entry by forcing a retreat of militia forces.

Misrata wont be as easy.

Militia forces from Misrata have been the key to defending Tripoli against Haftar, along with a collection of fractious and highly corrupt militias in the capital.

While Haftar lost ground last April, he has recovered since then, and a litany of airstrikes on Misrata in mid-December have already weakened resolve.

The GNA is losing.

The Turks are up against far more than they can handle.

Not only does Haftar enjoy superior air power with help from Egypt, but hes also now getting the troops he needs to actually move in on the ground after air strikes. That is partly thanks to Russian mercenaries, and reports are emerging of new deployments just on the ground.

Haftar is feeling far more powerful than he did last April, and Misratas militia likely fear the highly disciplined fighting force exemplified by the Russian mercenaries.

The biggest area of unease for Haftar right now will be whether Moscow has cut some sort of back-door deal with the Turks that would affect his mercenary support.

Otherwise, its Turkish troops against Russian mercenaries, and the only geopolitical save here is that Russia is officially neutral, and chances are that Russian mercenaries will find themselves fighting against Syrian Turkmen that Erdogan recruited to fight this battle.

Welcome to 21st Century warfare, and only the Turks have not received the memo that everything is done by proxy these days--not officially.

Whether Haftar takes and holds Tripoli at this point is most decisively answered by Russias next move, and whether it cuts a deal with Turkey to withdraw its mercenaries. If it does that, Haftar is not likely to win.

At the same time, Turkey cannot expect to come out unscathed from this even if Russia cuts a deal. Ankara cant afford to take on Cairo, and Egypt is certainly not going to sit back and let the Turks reroute Haftar.

In the meantime, the West is playing a quiet game of immense hypocrisy.

Theyve all recognized the GNA as the countrys official government, yet no one will lend it a hand against Haftar.

The fact of the matter is that the West prefers Haftar, because its been decided that another Gaddafi is just easier when it comes to making money off an oil-rich country that doesnt just have massive production, but has massive new exploration potential, onshore and offshore. And no ones getting any slice of this pie with a government beholden to a band of corrupt militias, such as the GNA is.

In this respect, everyones got their proxies, from Washingtons tongue-in-cheek calls to Cairo, to the convenient blind eye for Russian mercenaries. Related: The Biggest Wild Card In 2020 Oil Markets

Turkey thinks its going to remap the Mediterranean and actually drill for oil here--successfully. Its not going to play out this way.

Turkey today is a far cry from the Ottoman Empire. It cannot fully defeat Haftar in battle, even without Russian mercenaries, and thats exactly why its using Syrian Turkmen as fodder. Its a hedge on a bet that the Russians will cut a deal, and if they dont, the loss of life will just be proxy and wont resonate as negatively at home. It wont unseat Erdogan in Ankara.

There are only two scenarios here: Haftar or full-on chaos. No one outside of the oil companies that will benefit from Gaddafi-style stability likes either choice, but the West wont intervene directly. It cant be seen to be officially supporting Haftar, nor can it stomach the militias that now own the GNA.

And the chaos could easily resume even if Haftar takes control of Tripoli. The LNA and its domestic alliances are anything but a unified front. They are a fractious collection of tribes that Haftar will have to be careful to appease at every step.

The only sane voice is the Libyan National Oil Company (NOC), which is caught in the middle but dutifully plodding along with its vision of a landmark year for production.

The NOC has been silent for a week now, after noting that it might be forced to halt operations at the Zawiya port and refinery and the giant Sharara oilfield due to air strikes. Such a move would take some 300,000 bpd off the market.

By. Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has paused at the start of a much-anticipated press conference about rising tensions with Iran to send 'America's thoughts and prayers' to Australia as the nation battles historic bushfires.

Pompeo said the US-Australian alliance was unbreakable and American firefighters had flown to Australia to help.

US President Donald Trump and Pompeo have been under pressure to explain why they killed top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani with a drone strike last week in Iraq.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has paused at the start of a much-anticipated press conference about rising tensions with Iran to send 'America's thoughts and prayers' to Australia as the nation battles historic bushfires

'If you have questions about the Middle East and Iraq, I certainly will take some questions today but first I want to offer my condolences to the people of Australia for the tragic loss of life and property caused by the devastating wildfires across that region,' Pompeo told reporters at Tuesday's press conference in Washington DC.

'America's thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, and the emergency service personnel putting themselves in harm's way.

'The same goes to for the dozens of US firefighting personnel who are standing side-by-side with our Australian friends fighting the flames together.

'As I said when I was in Sydney just this past summer, we have a truly unbreakable alliance.

'They are great friends and we are happy to help the Aussies in this time of need.'

Pompeo said the killing of General Soleimani had saved lives and rejected Iran's claim the military leader was in Iraq on a diplomatic mission.

Firefighters are seen backburning to prevent bushfires spreading at Corryong in Victoria

'Does anybody believe that?' Mr Pompeo asked reporters.

'Is there any history that would indicate it was remotely possible this kind gentleman, this great diplomat of great order Qassem Soleimani had travelled to Baghdad for the idea of conducting a peace mission?

'We know that wasn't true.'
What happened

Shares of American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO) pulled back last year as the teen apparel retailer posted sluggish profit growth through the fiscal year and tariff fears drove investors away. According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, the stock finished the year down 24%.

As the chart below shows, the stock dove in May on tariff woes and continued to slide from there, as the market was unimpressed with the company's quarterly results and wary of a trade war with China.

So what

American Eagle shares actually rose through the first four months of the year, though there was little fundamental reason for the stock's gains. Instead, the broader market recovery seemed to help lift the stock.

However, that all unraveled in May as retail stocks dove broadly on concerns about tariffs, with the SPDR S&P Retail ETF falling 12% that month and American Eagle itself plunging 27% even though there was no direct news out on the stock. Retail stocks flailed as President Trump suggested on Twitter that he would raise tariffs on some Chinese imports from 10% to 25% and that he would impose import taxes on a new subset of Chinese goods. Like other apparel retailers, American Eagle is dependent on China for manufacturing and has acknowledged increased tariffs as one of its risk factors. Through the rest of the year, tariff threats continued to menace the stock.

A solid first-quarter earnings report out in June was not enough to stem the tide as shares slipped through the summer and then momentarily plunged on American Eagle's second-quarter earnings report in early September. Comparable sales growth in the period slipped to 2%, falling by 1% at the company's core American Eagle brand. However, investors seemed to believe the sell-off was a buying opportunity, as the stock rebounded the next day. The stock slipped again on its third-quarter earnings report in December as earnings per share was flat from the year before.

Now what

Following last year's sell-off, American Eagle shares look reasonably cheap at a P/E around 10, but teen apparel retail has long been a difficult, fickle industry. The company has found success with Aerie, its lingerie-focused sub-brand, but performance at its core chain has been more mixed. With the trade war with China seemingly easing and the economy still strong, 2020 could be a kinder year for American Eagle stock.
Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin has come up with a unique idea that also made netizens applaud her. Sanna Marin has recently proposed the idea of a four-day-week and six-hour working day work schedule for the countrys citizens.

This employee-friendly idea will allow working-class employees to spend more time with their families, Marin said. She also added that with this comfortable work schedule, people could also participate in their personal life.

"I believe people deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture. This could be the next step for us in working life," Sanna Marin said, The Daily Mail reports.

The 34-year-old is the worlds youngest Prime Minister and came to power on 10 December 2019. During her term as the Minister of transport for Finland, she had also recommended shorter work weeks. At present, Finland follows a five-day-week and eight-hour working day work schedule.

After this employee-friendly idea came to light social media has been flooded with several comments as people are hailing Sanna Marins concept for officegoers.

Check out some reactions:
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Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 14:34 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321304f5 1 World Natuna,Indonesia-China-fishing-row,exclusive-economic-zone,Luhut-Binsar-Pandjaitan,sovereignty Free

Indonesias chief maritime affairs minister has cautioned against making assumptions that the nations sovereignty is at stake as tensions with China in the Natuna Islands chain continue to simmer.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investments Minister Luhut Pandjaitan has asked the public not to overestimate the gravity of the spat with China, saying it was a matter of exercising exclusive economic rights in the Indonesian-controlled waters around the Riau Islands province.

We shouldnt be too quick to say that we are selling out our sovereignty [to China], Luhut told reporters in Jakarta on Monday evening. Let me be clear that the EEZ [exclusive economic zone] has to do with the economy and not sovereignty  these are two very different beasts.

Over the past week, Jakarta and Beijing have been embroiled in a diplomatic tug-of-war over the latters claim to parts of Indonesias EEZ, after the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) reported multiple counts of Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels operating there illegally.

China claims its ships were performing routine activities to protect its rights and interests in relevant waters, but Jakarta insists these claims are unilateral, have no legal basis and have never been recognized by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Unlike territorial waters and their link to sovereignty, an EEZ covers international waters 200 nautical miles out from a nation's coastline and confers the coastal state exclusive rights to exploit marine resources in the designated area, according to UNCLOS.

China claims most of the South China Sea despite the great distance from its coastline, but a 2016 international tribunal invalidated the sweeping claims that are disputed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Indonesia is not a claimant in the South China Sea territorial disputes and has rejected Chinese efforts to draw it to the negotiation table. In 2017, Jakarta renamed this segment of its EEZ the North Natuna Sea, angering Beijing.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo reiterated Indonesias position that its territorial integrity was nonnegotiable, although Luhut struck a softer tone as the state kept its line of communications with China open.

They [China] have reduced the number of fishermen there and that is something worth appreciating  they have no desire to fight over this. But of course there are infractions here and there, said Jokowis pointman on Chinese trade and investments.

However, Luhut insisted there is no intention to negotiate the nations borders. (tjs)
A look at some of todays top headlines.

US-Iran latest news and live updates  CNN Irans military leader killed: Qasem Soleimani, top general and one of the most powerful men in Iran, was killed in a drone strikeat Baghdad airport early Friday. Funeral held in Iran: Soleimanis body arrived in Iran earlier on Sunday. He was revered as one of the countrys most powerful men.

Awkwafina makes Golden Globes history The Farewell star is the first performer of Asian descent to win a Golden Globe Award in a lead actress film category.

Crude oil tops $70 as US-Iran tensions escalate Oil prices continued to rise Monday as tensions escalate between the United States and Iran.

Trumps threatened attack on Iranian cultural sites could be a war crime if carried out After an al-Qaeda affiliated group destroyed ancient religious monuments in Timbuktu, Mali, in 2012, the International Criminal Court took on a unique criminal case: prosecuting cultural destruction.

Boeing has uncovered another potential design flaw with the 737 Max Hundreds of 737 Max jets are sitting, grounded, as Boeing awaits approval from aviation regulators for the troubled plane to return to flight. But now, the company has discovered yet another potential hurdle.

Someone released bedbugs in a Pennsylvania Walmart and now police are investigating A Walmart in Pennsylvania is facing a bedbug infestation after someone released the parasitic insects in a mens changing room, state police said.

A wheel fell off an Air Canada plane during takeoff An Air Canada Express flight lost a wheel shortly after takeoff from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, forcing the plane to turn back.

Fire wrecks hotel filled with Michelin-starred restaurants, causing $1M damage A fire has destroyed much of a five-star Black Forest hotel, home to acclaimed and (CNN)  Michelin sta r restaurants, causing an estimated 1 million euros ($1.1 million) in damage, police said on Sunday. Fire broke out in the historic restaurant wing of the Traube Tonbach Hotel, Baiersbronn, Germany, shortly after 3 a.m.

Trump Doubles Down On Threats To Strike Iranian Cultural Sites President Donald Trump doubled down Sunday on his belief that the United States military has the right to target Iranian cultural sites, dismissing concerns from the public and even from his own administration that he would be committing a war crime by doing so.

Iran General Replacing Soleimani Vows Revenge For U.S. Killing TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  An Iranian general who replaced the leader killed by a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad vowed Sunday to take revenge as Tehran abandoned the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in response to the slaying. Esmail Ghaanis threat comes as the blowback over the U.S.

Trump Notifies Congress Via Tweet Of Potential Disproportionate Retaliation Against Iran President Donald Trump on Sunday used his personal Twitter account to notify Congress of his plans to retaliate perhaps in a disproportionate manner if Iran retaliates against any American person or asset.

Huge crowds at funeral for slain Iran commander Mourners packed the streets of the Iranian capital Tehran for the funeral of the slain Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani was assassinated in a US drone strike in Iraq on Friday on the orders of President Donald Trump. Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei led prayers and at one point was seen weeping.

The engineering grad who cleans shoes for a living Chekole Menberu, now 27, had high hopes when he graduated with a degree in chemical engineering two years ago in Ethiopia. It was a moment to savour, considering the years of toil and the difficulties he had gone through to reach this moment.

Top bosses earn average salary within three days Bosses of Britains leading firms will be paid more within three working days of 2020 than the average employees annual wage, according to research. FTSE 100 chief executives starting work on 2 January will by 17:00 GMT today have been paid more than the average wage of 29,559, the report suggests.

I dropped out of school, now I sell 60,000 trainers Can you remember your 12th birthday? There was probably some cake  maybe even in the shape of a caterpillar  and, if you were lucky, friends, family and a few presents. Whatever you did that day, the chances are its not affected the rest of your life very much.

An Instagram comedian raised $30 million in three days for Australias unpaid firefighters A Facebook fundraiser by Australian comedian Celeste Barber has raised over $30 million for New South Wales volunteer firefighters, providing them with some much-needed help during Australias bushfire crisis. Barber went viral back in 2015 with #celestechallengeaccepted, a long-running series in which she humorously recreates celebrities Instagram posts.

The complete list of winners at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards Welcome to the 2020 Golden Globe Awards! From Parasite, Hustlers, and Dolemite Is My Name to Fleabag, The Morning Show, and Chernobyl, 2019 gifted moviegoers and TV viewers alike with a wealth of spectacular storytelling.

Tom Hanks Golden Globe speech made absolutely everyone cry Tom Hanks may have been the one with the cold, but anyone watching his acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille award at the 77th Golden Globes would be hard pressed to stay away from their tissue box. Hanks speech came after a heartwarming introduction from his That Thing You Do!

Ricky Gervais brings up Jeffrey Epstein, Greta Thunberg, and more in cringe-y Golden Globes monologue Ricky Gervais return to the Golden Globes hosting gig was meant to invoke the comedy actors unpredictability and acid wit  but Gervais began his Jan. 5 monologue by declaring that this would be the last time. I dont care, he said up front.

Googles AI is better at breast cancer screening than human experts, study claims You may remember Googles DeepMind AI being really good at Go, but the companys also been putting it to work on a potentially life-saving mission  breast cancer screening. According to Googles new study, published in Nature , the companys AI model was able to spot breast cancer in mammograms with greater accuracy, fewer false positives, and fewer false negatives than experts.
Brian Michael Rini, 24, who is accused of pretending to be missing boy Timmothy Pitzen, is set to plead guilty to theft identity after reaching an agreement with prosecutors

The 24-year-old Illinois man accused of pretending to be missing boy Timmothy Pitzen is set to plead guilty to identity theft after reaching an agreement with prosecutors, court documents show.

Brian Michael Rini was found wandering the streets of Newport Kentucky last April and identified himself to police as Pitzen, a missing Aurora boy who vanished aged 6 after his mother committed suicide in 2011.

According to authorities, Rini described to officers how he had just escaped from his two captors at a nearby motel who had been sexually assaulting him and trafficking him for nearly eight years.

Federal investigators became suspicious of Rini when he refused to be fingerprinted. Their apprehensions were later confirmed when a court-ordered DNA test proved that Rini was impersonating Pitzen.

Now, more than nine-months on from the ordeal, Rini is set to plead guilty to aggravated identity theft, according to a plea agreement filed on Thursday in federal court.

No further information has yet been made public about the agreement's terms.

Brian Michael Rini (left at the time of his arrest) was found wandering the streets of Newport Kentucky last April and identified himself to police as Timmothy Pitzen (right), a missing Aurora boy who vanished aged 6 after his mother committed suicide in 2011

According to authorities, Rini (pictured on April 3, 2019) described to officers how he had just escaped from his captors at a nearby motel, who had been sexually assaulting him and trafficking him ever since he was child

U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett previously postponed Rini's trial, originally slated to take place in June, after questions were raised about the Pitzen impersonator's mental state. However on October 31 Barrett found Rini competent to stand trial.

Transcripts from that hearing show that the defense and prosecution had previously entertained the idea of settling the case before trial, with public defender Richard Monahan telling the judge pursuing a plea deal would prove fruitful.

Rini earlier pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated identity theft and lying to FBI agents, which carry a sentence of eight years in prison if convicted.

The 24-year-old has been held without bond since last April, and was evaluated last summer at a federal facility in Chicago.

Federal authorities have previously said Rini has twice before portrayed himself to be a juvenile sex trafficking victim, as he allegedly did in this case, also citing his lack of a permanent address, past mental health issues and 'a lengthy criminal history' that dates back to when he was just 13.

In 2017, he was treated at an Ohio center for people with mental health or substance abuse problems, according to previous court papers.

He was released on probation in March 2019 after serving more than a year on burglary and vandalism charges - just weeks before he claimed to be Pitzen.

Rini confessed to investigators he'd recently watched an ABC 20/20 episode about the missing boy, before lying to police

An age processed image released last year predicts what Timmothy Pitzen may have looked like at age 13

Timmothy Pitzen was just six years old when he vanished from Aurora, Illinois on May 11, 2011. He would now be 14-years-old.

The boy was last seen with his mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen, who pulled him out of kindergarten nearly nine years ago and took him on a two-day road trip to the zoo and a water park, before killing herself at a motel.

She left a note saying that her son was safe with people who would love and care for him and added: 'You will never find him.'

No trace of Timmothy had been found since, but his surviving family members were cruelly given renewed hope on April 3, 2019, when an 'erratic' Rini approached a woman on a residential street in Kentucky and told her he was the missing boy.

He told the woman he had just escaped from two kidnappers at a nearby red Roof Inn who had been holding him captive for nearly eight years.

According to the affidavit, Rini was then taken to the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, where he repeatedly reiterated to investigators he was Timmothy and 'just wanted to go home'.

Timmothy Pitzen (pictured with his parents) disappeared at the age of 6 in 2011. His mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen (right), pulled him out of kindergarten in Aurora, Illinois, and took him on a two-day road trip to the zoo and a water park, and then killed herself at a motel. The boy has not been seen since.

Timmothy vanished without a trace in 2011 following his mother Amy Fry-Pitzen's suicide (pictured together)

After being taken to the medical center, he is said to have refused to be fingerprinted but eventually agreed to submit DNA.

He was arrested 24 hours later after authorities conducted the DNA test and confirmed he was not the missing 14-year-old boy hed claimed, but a 23-year-old man with an extensive rap sheet.

When confronted about the results, investigators say Rini immediately confessed and told them he'd recently watched an ABC 20/20 episode about the missing boy, before lying to police.

He also said he wanted to get away from his family and 'wished he had a father like Timmothys,' the affidavit details.

'We confirmed that there was such a '20/20' episode, and in fact, a rerun had aired several weeks ago,' U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman said in a press conference at the time.

'My heart goes out to the family of Timmothy Pitzen. I can only imagine the pain they've been put through' he added.

Authorities have asked anyone with genuine information about the case to call Aurora police at 630-256-5000 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
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The Dells-Delton Tavern League rang in the holiday season last year with a donation to the Wisconsin Dells school district to pay off students meal balances.

According to tavern league president Keith Koehler, the idea came up earlier in 2019 when Dells superintendent Terry Slack and Edge O Dells general manager Ken Roberts coordinated with the league to arrange a donation to the school district.

Terry Slack  had called me and gave me a little bit more information, Koehler said. So Kenny and I talked about that and brought that to our board, said wed love to do something great for the community. Thats what we do, we use the money to keep it in our own backyard. With the $1,500 and matching funds, theyll have a nice surplus heading into 2020.

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The matching funds will come from the Tavern League of Wisconsin Foundation, which donated more than $12 million to 15,000 causes across the state of Wisconsin in 2019. An additional $800 will come from the Third District Tavern League.
Since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, repeated US mistakes in the region have paved the way for increased Iranian influence. True to form, the wholly unexpected assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasim Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi Mohandis may appear to be a tactical accomplishment for the US, but actually has provided Iran with another strategic victory.

In recent months, Iraqis have made significant strides, through nationwide protests, in countering foreign influence in the country, as well as governmental corruption. For many, the protests were aimed at weakening Irans grip on the nation: Iran out was a familiar refrain heard in the streets of Iraq at the time. But last weeks US aggressions  which included airstrikes killing 25 Iran-backed militia fighters, as well as the assassinations of Soleimani and Mohandis  have shifted the focus of resentment, for many Iraqis, away from Iran and towards the US.

Since October last year, the protests have largely paralyzed the Iraqi parliament, who could offer no concrete solutions. But after the Trump administrations assassinations, Iraqs deeply divided, bureaucratic and infamously slow government was able to immediately mobilize and unite in an attempt to weaken US presence in the country. On Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi, allegedly under pressure from Iran, ordered parliament to convene to discuss the presence of US troops in Iraq. By Sunday, in a blow to US influence on Baghdad, the Iraqi parliament voted to expel all American military from the country. US Tellingly, President Donald Trump tried and failed to prevent the vote from taking place.

Despite Trumps best efforts (and threats of sanctions), it seems the Iraqi government is dedicated to enact the resolution. Undeterred by the haunting history of previous UN sanctions crippling Iraq and killing over 550,000 Iraqi children, Abdul Mahdi today met with US Ambassador to Iraq, Matthew Tueller, to notify him of the intent to implement American troop dismissal.

Unlike the military, American diplomats have, of their own accord, withdrawn from Iraq. Although both the US and Iranian consulates were attacked in Basra following anti-government protests in 2018, the US consulate has remained closed, whereas Iran opened a new consulate in the city soon afterwards. The US embassy in Baghdad  which was running on only essential staff  was forced to evacuate more after being stormed by pro-militia protestors after the recent US airstrikes. Similarly, on Saturday, some British embassy diplomats departed. Both the US State Department and British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised their respective citizens to immediately leave Iraq, effectively handing victory to Iran.

US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early Friday 3 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures The wreckage of the car in which general Soleimani was travelling when a targeted US airstrike struck outside Baghdad International Airport on 3 January Ahmad Al Mukhtar via Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Demonstrators burn the US and British flags during a protest in Tehran after general Soleimani was killed in a targeted airstrike by American forces Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of Donald Trump AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn Israeli and US flags as thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of general Soleimani at the hands of America EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of Donald Trump pray at an 'Evangelicals for Trump' campaign event held on the day following the killing of general Soleimani. At the event, the president praised the "flawless strike that eliminated the terrorist ringleader" AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A huge procession of mourners gather in Baghdad for the funeral of general Soleimani on 4 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani during an anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iraqis perform a mourning prayer for slain major general Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the Great Mosque of Kufa AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A billboard reading 'Death to America and Israel', installed by Iran-backed shiite armed groups at a street in Jadriyah district in Baghdad, Iraq EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him visiting the family of Soleiman KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US flag as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Feiruznia, looks to a portrait of Soleimani, as he receives condolences at the Iranian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures People make their way on the street while a screen on the wall of a cinema shows a portrait Soleimani in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Aziz Asmar, one of two Syrian painters who completed a mural following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani poses next to his creation in the rebel-held Syrian town of Dana in the northwestern province of Idlib AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A demonstration in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures An anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Mujtaba al-Husseini, the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in the holy shrine city of Najaf AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US and Israeli flags as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters demonstrate in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shi'ite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters, holding a photograph of the leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Massoud Rajavi, outside Downing Street in London PA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn a US flag in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A Syrian man offers sweets to children to mark the killing AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers attend a mourning prayer for Soleimani in Iran's capital Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti American and anti Israel slogans during a protest AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshipers chant slogans during Friday prayers Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A protest against the USA, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranians burn a US flag in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin, Germany Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol a road in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel. Following morning's killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement called for the missile strike by Israel's closest ally, to be avenged AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian women take to the streets in Tehran EPA

Iraqis who had legitimate grievances against Iranian transgressions have found themselves silenced in the wake of the US assassination of Irans top military general. Street protests were replaced with funeral processions as Iraqis flooded the streets, resonating chants of, Death to America. Iraq's most senior politicians, including the current prime minister, joined the procession for Soleimani and Mohandis, indicating high-level solidarity with Iran.

Soleimani, although a polarizing figure in Iraq, has once again made the US the enemy for Iraqs most powerful militias. Moqtada Sadr, who for years was the face of insurgency in Iraq and promoted violent clashes with US troops, had up until recently been considered a force of calm in Iraq. As a response to the US violation of Iraqs sovereignty, Sadr has re-activated his Mahdi Army militia, calling for a resistance force that will ensure expulsion of US troops. Iran-backed militias in Iraq have in recent years been bitter rivals for power in the country. In a rare show of unity, these militias have also managed to unite under a common enemy.

The latest assassinations mark the fifth consecutive decade of US airstrikes in Iraq  this has been going on under every American president since George Bush Sr. It is understandable why many Iraqis have become resentful towards the US. The latest airstrikes have reaffirmed their distrust. A move that was clearly intended to weaken Iran may well have achieved the opposite.
They're friends, collaborators and business partners, and they love showing each other unabashed appreciation.

And on Monday, Kim Kardashian added two fab selfies to her Instagram stories, revealing the gift she received for Christmas from her KKW x Winnie partner, Winnie Harlow.

'Thank you for my Christmas present!' Kim, 39, wrote over a shot of the pair holding up beautifully bedazzled pendants that say KKW X WINNIE.

Friends and collaborators: On Monday, Kim Kardashian added two fab selfies to her Instagram, revealing the gift she received for Christmas from her KKW x Winnie partner, Winnie Harlow

In the image, Kim is fresh-faced and virtually makeup free, save for perhaps some nude lip gloss, with her hair pulled back.

She's wearing her chosen uniform of late, a heather grey hoodie.

Harlow, 25, contrasts her friend in a fully made-up look, complete with heavy eye shadow, pink lips, sleek done hair and added bling on her ears and round her neck.

In the second shot, Kim tags Winnie again, simply adding a heart emoji.

Pared down and fabulous: In the image, Kim is fresh-faced and virtually makeup free, save for perhaps some nude lip gloss, with her hair pulled back

Back in September, Winnie and Kim launched their team-up effort, a cosmetic line titled KKW x Winnie.

The event took place at the ritzy L'Avenue at Saks Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan, New York City.

The entrepreneurial pair welcomed a stellar guest list to the exclusive event that was part of New York Fashion Week, with fashionable and media glitterati from Paris Hilton and LaLa Anthony to Karrueche Tran.

Fly girl: Back in September, Winnie and Kim launched their team-up effort, a cosmetic line titled KKW x Winnie; Harlow seen here on her Instagram

Winnie and Kim announced the collection on social media, creating building buzz with a multitude of beauty shots and video teases.

Kardashian called Harlow 'the definition of a true beauty' in front of her millions of Instagram followers when announcing the new line.

'Winnie Harlow is someone I admire and respect so much,' Kardashian continued.

The KKW x Winnie collection consists of a 12-pan eye shadow palette, a highlighter duo and three lip glosses.

Going about her business: Winnie and Kim announced the collection on social media, creating building buzz with a multitude of beauty shots and video teases; Kim seen here on Jan 2 on IG

And more recently, Winnie made quite a splash just the day before appearing on Kim's feed with her bejeweled gift, when she attended the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday in Beverly Hills, California.

The Canadian Jamaican supermodel sparkled in a long silver and black fringe dress with high thigh slit.

Winnie had her long legs on display with a thigh high slit splitting her floor-length dress, designed by LaQuan Smith who accompanied her to the event.
Transactions will be affected banks. Banking staff unions have extended their support to the strike but will not be participating in it, said Mr P. Venkataramaiah from the Banking Employees Fede-ration. (Photo: AFP)

Hyderabad: State government employees, trade and student unions will join the nationwide general strike on Wednesday against the anti-worker labour reforms of the Centre. The strikers are demanding that the Centre and the state government reverse their anti-people economic policies and to save educational institutions.

Transactions will be affected banks. Banking staff unions have extended their support to the strike but will not be participating in it, said Mr P. Venkataramaiah from the Banking Employees Fede-ration.

Auto and taxi drivers unions are supporting the strike, and vehicles are likely to be off the roads. No holiday has been dec-lared for schools but private schools have asked students not to come if they do not find transport, said Mr Shabbir Ali the from Private Teachers Association.

The government teachers association has expressed solidarity with the strike.

Student unions have declared their support and said that classes would be boycotted for the day. Mr Tirupathi from United Student Federation of India said, There have been several anti-educational policies, there are proposals to merge the University Grants Commission with the Union ministry of human resource development which will onl results in the politicisation of education. We also condemn the attacks on educational institutions and failure to protect the students. Mr Sathi Reddy from Autos JAC said that they wanted the government to set up a welfare board for autorickshaw drivers. He asked the government to give Rs 10,000 to every driver as the insurance amount had been increased. Mr Sathi Reddy said the AP government was giving drivers Rs 10,000.
U.S. officials said Tuesday that Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian general whom the U.S. killed in a drone strike, posed a distinct threat to Americans in the Middle East, but again publicly offered no specific evidence of any attack he was about to carry out.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters "multiple pieces of information" from intelligence sources were given to President Donald Trump before he made the decision to target Soleimani in last week's attack that killed him in Iraq at the Baghdad airport.

National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien said Soleimani was plotting to attack American facilities where he would have killed American diplomats, soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. But similar to Pompeo, O'Brien offered no specifics on the timing of what Trump administration officials have called an imminent threat that Soleimani posed.

O'Brien called it "strong evidence and strong intelligence," while adding, "Unfortunately we're not going to be able to get into sorts of methods at this time, but I can tell you it was very strong.

Pompeo said, "We could see clearly that not only had Soleimani done all the things that we have recounted, like hundreds of thousands of massacres, enormous destruction of countries like Lebanon and Iraq, where they denied...people in those two countries what it is they want, sovereignty, independence and freedom. This is all Soleimani's handiwork. Then we would watch as he was continuing the terror campaign in the region...."

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks about Iran at the State Department in Washington, Jan. 7, 2020.

"If you're looking for imminence, you need look no further than the days that led up to the strike that was taken against Soleimani," Pompeo said, including the late December attack that killed an American contractor working in Iraq.

Pompeo added that there were "continuing efforts on behalf of this terrorist to build out a network of campaign activities that were going to lead potentially to the death of many more Americans."

The top U.S. diplomat concluded that the drone attack "was the right decision, we got it right. The Department of Defense did excellent work. The president had an entirely legal, appropriate basis, as well as a decision that fit perfectly within our strategy on how to counter the threat of malign activity from Iran."

Iran has vowed to exact revenge for Soleimani's killing, with O'Brien saying, "We take those seriously and we're watching and monitoring them." But with Trump threatening to respond to any new Iran attack, O'Brien said, "We hope that they're deterred, and that they think twice about attacking America and its interests.

Even as threats and counter-threats ricocheted between Washington and Tehran, O'Brien said he believes the world is a safer place with the killing of Soleimani.

"Look, over, over the past four months, the two greatest terrorist threats in the world, (Islamic State leader Abu Bakr) al Baghdadi and Soleimani, have both been taken off the battlefield," O'Brien said outside the White House. "I think that makes us safer, and in fact we've been congratulated and told that privately by world leaders from every region in the world who've reached out to congratulate us for this activity.

In Iran, officials delayed Soleimani's burial, state media reported, after more than 50 people were killed in a stampede of mourners and more than 200 others injured.

Coffins of Gen. Qassem Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a U.S. drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession, in the city of Kerman, Iran, Jan. 7, 2020.

Tens of thousands of people had gathered to honor Soleimani in his hometown of Kerman before his planned burial, following similar ceremonies this week in Tehran, Qom and Ahvaz.

Many of the mourners screamed for retaliation against the United States for the killing of Soleimani. "No compromise, no submission, revenge!" they shouted.

Soleimani's killing has sparked fears of a wider conflict as the United States and Iran threatened strong responses to each other's actions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif contended in a CNN interview that the U.S. killing of Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force, constituted "state terrorism."

This is an act of aggression against Iran, and it amounts to an armed attack against Iran, and we will respond," Zarif said. "But we will respond proportionately - not disproportionately...we are not lawless like President Trump.

With heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, Washington has denied Zarif a visa to travel to New York for upcoming United Nations meetings. Pompeo refused to spell out the reasons behind the denial of the visa.

Following the airstrike, Iran announced it was further cutting its compliance with the 2015 agreement that restrained its nuclear program. That prompted Trump, who withdrew from the deal and applied new sanctions against Iran, to tweet Monday, "IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!"

IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2020



Trump also vowed late Sunday that the U.S. will strike "very hard and very fast" at as many as 52 Iranian targets if Iran attacks U.S. personnel or assets. The number 52 represents the number of Americans Tehran took hostage in 1979 for 444 days.

"They're allowed to kill our people," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people and we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way." Pompeo said the U.S., in any new attacks on Iran, would act according to international legal constraints on warfare, under which attacks on cultural sites are considered a war crime.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani rebuffed Trump's threat on Monday, tweeting, "Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290. #IR655. Never threaten the Iranian nation."

It was a reference to the U.S. mistakenly shooting down an Iranian passenger jet flying over the Persian Gulf in 1988, killing all 290 people aboard the aircraft. Then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan expressed deep regret over the incident and the U.S. paid nearly $62 million in reparations to the victims' families.
Trump's Threat To Target Iranian Cultural Sites Sparks Alarm

By RFE/RL January 06, 2020

President Donald Trump's suggestion that the United States could target Iranian cultural sites has sparked alarm in Iran and beyond, with Human Rights Watch (HRW) saying such action would be a war crime.

Amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington following a U.S. air strike that killed Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani last week, Trump tweeted on January 4 that the United States had included sites "important to Iran & Iranian culture" in its list of 52 targets for attack should Tehran retaliate against Soleimani's killing.

Despite criticism from U.S. politicians and others, Trump on January 5 stood by his remarks, saying: "They're allowed to kill our people. They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way."

The hashtag #IranianCulturalSites was trending on Twitter, and people have flooded social media with photos of their favorite historic landmarks and monuments, Bloomberg reported on January 6.

In a statement, HRW said that the laws of war "prohibit deliberate attacks on civilian objects not being used for military purposes."

The New York-based human rights watchdog cited Article 53 of Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions as specifically prohibiting any acts of hostility against cultural objects.

"The U.S. Law of War Manual (2016), which has extensive provisions relating to the protection of cultural property, incorporates this provision into U.S. law," it added, insisting that the United States is also a party to the Hague Convention For The Protection Of Cultural Property In The Event Of Armed Conflict, which similarly prohibits attacks on cultural sites.

Andrea Prasow, acting Washington director at HRW, urged Trump to "publicly reverse his threats against Iran's cultural property and make clear that he will not authorize nor order war crimes."

The U.S. Defense Department should also "publicly reaffirm its commitment to abide by the laws of war and comply only with lawful military orders," according to Prasow.

In Paris, the head of the UN's cultural agency noted that both the United States and Iran have ratified treaties protecting cultural sites during war.

Meeting with the Iranian ambassador to the organization, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay stressed "the universality of cultural and natural heritage as vectors of peace and dialogue between peoples, which the international community has a duty to protect and preserve for future generations."

Asked about Trump's threat to attack Iranian cultural sites, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said such sites were protected under international law and Britain expected that to be respected.

Iran is home to 22 cultural sites inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List, including Persepolis with its ancient ruins that date back to 518 BC, the 17th century grand mosque of Isfahan, and the Golestan Palace in Tehran.

With reporting by AFP, AP, and Bloomberg

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-s-threat -to-target-iranian-cultural-sites sparks-alarm/30363122.html

Copyright (c) 2020. 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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In honor of the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, People's Daily Online Australia produced the special edition of the talk show program Aussie Talks. In the past 70 years, China has changed so much astonishing the world. Nowadays, more and more foreigners want to travel to China, including many young Australians. In this episode, three young Australians Max, Amy and Rebecca will talk about interesting historical stories to us when they traveled to Beijing, Foshan and Macau in China. Let's see how they understand Chinese history through their experiences.
After a Delhi court issued the death warrant to all four convicts in the Nirbhaya case on Tuesday, the Tihar Jail authority will write to the Uttar Pradesh Prison Department, seeking the service of a hangman.

The Tihar Jail authorities have also informed them about the date and time of the execution of convicts.

"We will seek service of a hangman from Meerut. We have proper arrangements at the jail to execute all the four convicts together," a Tihar jail official said.

He said that one hangman is enough to execute the hanging.

Earlier in the day, Delhi's Patiala House court said that all four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya case will be hanged on January 22,

The convicts-- Pawan Kumar Gupta, Akshay, Vinay, and Mukesh -- will be hanged at 7 am.

In December last year, Tihar Jail officials had written a letter to prison authorities in Uttar Pradesh asking them to provide two hangmen to carry out the execution of convicts in the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu (Photo: VNA)

Welcoming the Japanese official, PM Phuc said he is impressed with the newly-appointed ministers efforts and sense of responsibility towards the two countries relations.

He affirmed Japan is always a strategic partner of leading importance to Vietnam, especially in the fields of economy, trade and investment.

Pledging concerted efforts to contribute to bilateral diplomatic ties, Motegi once again thanked Vietnam and PM Phuc for promoting the consensus on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) at the APEC summit in Da Nang city in 2017.

He noted that as Vietnam serves as the ASEAN Chair and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2020, he chose the country as the first destination to visit this year.

At the meeting, PM Phuc voiced his support for Japan to strongly bring into play its role in the region. He also asked his guest to convey his thanks to the Japanese PM for paying continuous attention to promoting the countries friendship and cooperation.

Vietnam has always made efforts to effectively realise the high-level commitments between the two nations, he added.

To boost the substantive development of bilateral ties, the host leader suggested both sides strengthen political trust via mutual high-level visits. He also asked the Japanese Government to cooperate more closely to reinforce the two economies connectivity, encourage Japanese firms to continue expanding operations in Vietnam, and create favourable conditions for agricultural and aquatic products of Vietnam to access the Japanese market.

On this occasion, he invited the Japanese PM to visit Vietnam and attend ASEAN summits in the country in 2020.

PM Phuc also highly valued locality-to-locality links and asked Japan to keep assisting Vietnam in administrative reforms, e-Government building, and high-level official training.

The countries should coordinate more closely at international forums and work together to promote international economic connections, especially the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), according to the leader.

He spoke highly of Japans viewpoint and called on the country to continue supporting ASEAN and Vietnams stance on ensuring peace, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as to comply with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, in the East Sea.

Minister Motegi affirmed his countrys commitment to cooperating closely with and supporting Vietnam to fulfill the roles of the ASEAN Chair and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. He also thanked PM Phuc for his attention to the removal of difficulties facing bilateral cooperation, including Japans official development assistance and projects in Vietnam.

Japan believes that with Vietnams efforts, the RCEP will be promoted strongly and the CPTPP implemented effectively, he said, adding that Japan welcomes and will seek ways to facilitate Vietnamese farm produces entry into its market. It is also ready to help Vietnam with e-Government building.

Regarding the East Sea issue, he stated Japan always supports the viewpoint of resolving disputes by peaceful means, along with the need to respect ASEANs role and abide by international law.

Appreciating the foreign ministers opinions, PM Phuc shared the view on the necessity to further diversify bilateral relations, enhance mutual support at regional and international forums, and cooperate closely with each other as well as with other countries to ensure peace and stability in the Asian-Pacific region.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javedkar has welcomed the court decision in the Nirbhaya case. "Justice delivered to #Nirbhaya," Javedkar tweeted.

"A Delhi Court's verdict to execute 4 convicts will empower women and strengthen people's faith on judiciary". #nirbhayaverdict," the Minister said.

The court on Tuesday issued death warrants to all the four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case and set 7 a.m. on January 22 for execution at Delhi's Tihar Jail.

The court has given 14 days for legal recourse, which included filing of mercy plea to the President.

Patiala House Court Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the death warrants to Pawan Gupta, Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur.

The convicts' lawyers said they would move a curative petition in the Supreme Court. The convicts can also submit mercy petition to the President.

A 23-year-old woman was gang-raped and tortured on December 16, 2012, which led to her death. Six accused had been arrested and charged with sexual assault and murder.

While one accused, a minor, appeared before a juvenile justice court, another committed suicide in Tihar Jail.

The four convicts were sentenced to death by a trial court in September 2013. The verdict was confirmed by the Delhi High Court in March 2014 and upheld by the Supreme Court in May 2017, which also dismissed their review petitions.
Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday condemned displaying of 'Free Kashmir' poster during a protest in Mumbai against Jawaharlal Nehru University violence and said, "If it was freeing Kashmir from India then its wrong."

"Apart from that incident look at the larger picture, yes we need to see her intent, was it to remove internet blockade, if it was freeing Kashmir from India then it's wrong. Obviously everyone condemned it, not even other protesters supported it," he said while speaking to ANI in Mumbai.

A poster reading -- Free Kashmir -- was seen at the Gateway of India on Monday during a protest against yesterday's violence in the Jawaharlal Nehru University in the capital.During the protest, a girl was seen holding the poster which read - Free Kashmir. The demonstrators were seen with several other placards with objectionable and abusive languages.

Some posters called for 'Ban on ABVP,' while some others read -- Stand with JNU.Earlier in the day, actor Sushant Singh reached the Gateway of India where the students staged a protest against the violence on the JNU campus on Sunday.

Students from various colleges had gathered at the Gateway of India on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday to protest against the violence on the JNU campus on January 5.

On Sunday evening, more than 30 students of the university including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh were injured and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the campus and attacked them and some professors with sticks and rods.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 79-year-old military veteran and Crosby gun shop owner shot and killed a suspected burglar early Tuesday, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.

The owner was asleep in his home in the 2000 block of Kennings Road, just west of Bohemian Hall Road, around 4:30 a.m. when he heard someone breaking into the adjacent combination gun store/barber shop he owned, Gonzalez said. He awoke and spotted two cars in the roadway and went out to investigate.

He came upon a few men who had just broken into the store by pulling the front door open using a car and chains, Gonzalez said. The men saw the owner outside the business and opened fire - but missed, Gonzalez said.

The owner hid behind a tree and returned fire after bullets whizzed into the tree trunk. After coming back out, he saw a trail of blood, but the suspected burglars had fled.

SUSPECT SOUGHT: Stolen horse ridden, beaten to death in Brookshire

About 15 minutes after the initial shootout, a man in his 30s was found shot to death in the 3800 block of Morales Road, about 10 miles south of the gun store on Kennings Road.

Two men were seen giving CPR to the injured man, both of whom were taken into police custody, Gonzalez said. Investigators also recovered three guns near the scene on Morales Road.

The gun store owner, a 79-year-old military veteran, was not immediately charged, Gonzalez said. A grand jury will likely determine if charges are necessary.

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com

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There is a movement to allow synagogues, churches and mosques to be permitted to have handguns on the premises to be carried only by selected individuals trained in firearms.

The weapons are never to leave the premises and their presence must be requested by the institution.

Its true there may be a police presence on holidays, but not at every service. The adage When seconds count, the police are only minutes away has always been true. If someone is intent on causing harm to the worshipers, he likely will have second thoughts knowing arms are present. Right now these institutions are soft targets, and it makes sense to harden them.

New Jersey has always lacked empathy when it came to law-abiding citizens need to protect themselves, but somewhere down the road this has got to change.

Stephen Brickman, Lopatcong

Agency vows to help in #MeToo movement

Recent reporting by NJ Advance Media offers detailed accounts of political and government settings in which women suffer sexual harassment and assaults in silence for fear of political and professional retribution. Nobody should be fearful of harassment, assault or retribution, especially when working in a governmental setting. Local government must call out this unacceptable behavior and subject it to consequences. Anyone suffering such behavior must have meaningful access to help and support.

We at the League of Municipalities cannot allow this moment to pass without recognizing this problem and responding with a sustained effort to identify where problems exist and exploring remedies we, along with our partners, can bring to the issue.

To start our effort, the League of Municipalities, representing New Jerseys local governments, is engaging with the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault along with state agencies and legislators to develop a clear understanding of where we can be most impactful. Invitations have gone out to local government groups to join us. Local government can be a vocal witness to help spread the word and to call out those who engage in unacceptable behavior

James J. Perry Sr., NJ League of Municipalities president, Hardwick committeeman; Janice Kovach, NJLM 1st vice president, Clinton mayor; William Chegwidden, NJLM 2nd vice president, Wharton mayor; Sue Howard, NJLM 3rd vice president, Monmouth Beach mayor

MVC must differentiate licenses

Gov. Phil Murphy recently signed a law granting driving privileges to potentially hundreds of thousands unauthorized immigrants. The law created two categories of drivers licenses: the REAL ID license and a standard drivers license that unauthorized immigrants would be eligible for.

It is unacceptable for the Motor Vehicle Commission to design a drivers license for this undocumented cohort that is identical to the standard license, which is already being issued to U.S. citizen drivers who opt out of applying for a REAL ID license. Such an implementation plan poses a significant threat of compromising the integrity of New Jerseys voter registration process.

The MVC appears to be faced with designing and issuing a second standard drivers license for unauthorized immigrants; a license that the new law states shall bear a unique design or color to indicate that the license shall not be accepted for such official purpose.

The MVC must also include a unique alphanumeric drivers license number in its design of the standard drivers license issued to undocumented immigrants.

The citizens of New Jersey must be assured that complete and adequate verification protections are in place to ensure the integrity of their vote is not compromised and diminished.

Frank McGorry, Ocean Township (Monmouth County)

Critic has no Christmas spirit

Shame on the Holiday Grinch of Haddonfield who had the audacity and downright mean-spiritedness to deliver a very nasty note to a neighbor about a Christmas violation. This violation had to do with what the anonymous note writer deemed lazy decorations, which contained Christmas flaws.

Christmas flaws? Thats a new one. Isnt Christmas supposed to be about peace and goodwill toward our fellow human beings? Perhaps if this sneaky, cowardly letter writer took a moment to consider what might be going on in the lives of others, then maybe that person would gain a little human kindness.

Alice Martin, Edison

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
MARKHAM, Ontario, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LMN (https://golmn.com/), North America's leading B2B business management software company, announces all new workshops, training courses, and events for landscape professionals to gain the knowledge and access to resources needed to successfully scale their landscape business.

LMN's 2020 calendar includes speaking appearances by LMN's CEO and co-founder, Mark Bradley, one-day educational workshops, and the LMN Academy with both on-line and in-person training courses.

LMN's 2020 calendar includes speaking appearances by LMN's CEO and co-founder, Mark Bradley, one-day educational workshops, and the LMN Academy with both on-line and in-person training courses. LMN (https://golmn.com/), North America's leading B2B business management software company, is entering the new decade with a list of workshops, training courses, and events for landscape professionals to gain the knowledge and access to resources needed to successfully scale their landscape business. LMN's 2020 calendar includes speaking appearances by LMN's CEO and co-founder, Mark Bradley, one-day educational workshops, and the LMN Academy with both on-line and live training courses.

LMN CEO Mark Bradley Speaks

Bradley is a proven thought-leader in the industry. After creating the landscape business software based on his company's need for a product that did not yet exist, he used it to grow his business into one of the Top 100 landscape contractors in North America. His story has inspired landscapers and hardscapers everywhere. Today, Bradley helps educate others on best practices for building better businesses.



Bradley's scheduled appearances include:

Jan. 7, 2020 Landscape Ontario Congress - Art of Scaling: Building a Company Without Working Impossible Hours

Landscape Ontario Congress - Jan. 8, 2020 Landscape Ontario Congress - It's Time! How to Retire Effectively From Your Landscape Business

Landscape Ontario Congress - Jan. 23, 2020 WALP 2020 Conference - Session 1: Building Efficiency Within Your Business; Session 2: Growing Revenue While Building Strong Team Culture

LMN One-Day Workshops 2020 Across US & Canada

LMN is offering a series of one-day workshops across the US and Canada, in which landscaping business owners will learn what it takes to increase profits by 15-20%.

LMN workshops topics include:

Forecast next year's profit

Create markups for estimating

Set wages for staff

Understand how much to invest in equipment

Provide your customers with world-class service

Attract customers

Schedule crews efficiently

The full list of sessions can be found at the LMN website. The tour begins in Tampa, Fl. on Jan. 15 and ends in Nashville, TN on March 31, 2020.

The LMN Academy 2020 In-Person and Online

For customers currently using LMN software who want to up their game in the new year, Bradley says, "The LMN Academy is for you."

As LMN's official learning resource, LMN Academy aims to educate users on the software, so they can optimize, scale and grow their landscape business.

For $396 per student for the week, students receive hands-on training, work directly in their accounts and have the opportunity to network with fellow landscapers from across the continent.

The first released 2020 dates of the LMN Academy in-person training include:

Orlando, Fl. Jan. 13-17, 2020 ( sold out) - February 3-7 , 2020

( - , 2020 Toronto , Ca. Jan. 20-24 , 2020 - February 10-14, 2020

, Ca. , 2020 - Dallas, Tx. Jan. 27-31 , 2020 - February 17-21, 2020

LMN's Newest Addition is Free Online Training with 100+ Classes

Those unable to attend the live academy sessions can utilize LMN's free online training that includes more than 100 e-learning classes for landscape professionals, students, and educators to take at their own pace. LMN Academy's online courses offer the same outline of materials as the in-person training.



LMN FastTrack Lets You Focus on Day-to-Day and the LMN Team Gets You Up and Running

Want it done for you? For landscape business owners needing more help with setting up and optimizing their LMN software account, LMN introduces FastTrack. Starting as low as $399, LMN's FastTrack team takes the guesswork out with perks like a dedicated support manager, 1:1 training, data upload and a ready to use fully integrated account.



About LMN

Visit https://golmn.com/.

Media Contact

Lisa Buyer [email protected] 561-703-8555

Jess Rafaeil [email protected]

SOURCE LMN
Following the opening of its first five Irish stores in 2019, Danish home retail brand, JYSK, yesterday announced seven more store openings in the first half of 2020. The next two stores will open in Waterford on Thursday, 27th February, and Limerick on Thursday, 26th March.

Following this, JYSK has its sights set on opening stores in Sligo, Carlow and Dublin, plus two stores in Cork city, during summer 2020. JYSK will create more than 70 full-time jobs with the opening of these new stores.

Last year, JYSK announced that it would open 15 stores across Ireland. However, due to its success in the Irish market, the Danish retailer is now set to open 40 JYSK stores over the next three to five years, with a forecasted turnover of 70 million, creating hundreds of new jobs.

Speaking yesterday, Country Manager at JYSK Ireland, Roni Tuominen said, "The appetite for JYSK in Ireland continues to grow, and we continue to receive a warm welcome and a great response to our offering. Our goal is to establish new JYSK locations in towns and cities all over Ireland, so we can contribute to the local economy, especially in smaller communities where our job creation will be extremely valuable. Were looking forward to bringing JYSK to Waterford and Limerick in early 2020, along with more new locations in the summer."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
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Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam, Riau Islands  Tue, January 7, 2020

President Joko Jokowi Widodo is expected to visit Natuna regency in Riau Islands province on Wednesday to inspect areas that China claims as its traditional fishing grounds within the legally void "nine-dash line" that encroaches on Indonesian-controlled waters.

The Natuna regency administrations head of communications, Defrizal, said he has received a tentative schedule for the arrival of the presidential aircraft at Raden Sadjad Airport in Ranai at 9:50 a.m. on Wednesday.

From there, the President and his entourage are expected to leave for the docks at the Indonesian Militarys Ranai naval base and head to the location of the inspection in the Natuna Sea, he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

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On December 19, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Edward Espinal and his company, Cash Flow Partners, LLC, in connection with an alleged $5 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded at least 90 investors, many of whom were members of the Hispanic community.

The SEC's complaint alleges that from at least July 2016, Espinal and Cash Flow Partners deceived investors into believing that they were investing in a pooled fund that would purchase and renovate houses, and then flip the houses for profit. Espinal and Cash Flow Partners allegedly guaranteed investors rates of return between 1.25% and 4% per month. The complaint alleges that, in reality, Cash Flow Partners' purported real estate "fund" owned only two residential properties, neither of which were ever sold. Instead, Espinal allegedly used money from new investors to pay monthly "returns" to other investors, to bankroll his personal living expenses, and to sustain his separate fraudulent bank loan scheme.

The SEC's complaint, filed in federal court in New Jersey, charges Espinal and Cash Flow Partners with violating Sections 5(a), 5(c), and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The complaint seeks permanent injunctions, disgorgement of allegedly ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest, and civil penalties.

In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey filed criminal charges against Espinal.

The SEC's investigation was conducted by Kim Han, Brenda Wai Ming Chang, Thomas Feretic, Christopher Dunnigan, and Judith Weinstock, with assistance from Yvette Fuentes, and under the supervision of Lara Shalov Mehraban. An SEC compliance examination that contributed to the investigation was conducted by Stephen Debella and Matthew Chan and supervised by Michael McAuliffe and Ronald Krietzman. The SEC's litigation is being led by Christopher Dunnigan. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
An Air Canada Express flight lost a wheel shortly after its takeoff from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, forcing the plane to turn back.

Flight 8684 was heading to Bagotville, about 230 miles to the north, Friday when the incident occurred. No one was hurt.

One of the 49 passengers on board captured video of the wheel detaching from the plane's left main landing gear and shared it on social media.

The passenger paired the video with a sarcastic caption: "I'm currently on a plane that just lost a wheel. 2020 starting off well."

Pilots were able to turn the Dash 8-300 around and land safely.

"The experienced pilots maintained complete control of the aircraft," Manon Stuart, a spokesperson for Jazz Aviation, the operator of the flight, said in a statement.

"Our pilots are well trained to deal with such situations and responded according to our standard operating procedures. "

Emergency vehicles were called "as a precautionary measure."

"Our maintenance personnel in Montreal are conducting a thorough inspection of the aircraft to determine the cause and proceed with the necessary repairs," Stuart said.

---CNN
In one of the most expensive cities in the world, plenty of fully employed people are one emergency away from a financial catastrophe. And in a region with almost no unemployment, bosses are constantly scrambling to keep their businesses fully staffed.

This spring, Treasurer Jose Cisneros will launch a, well, pilot program at the airport to test whether providing easily accessible emergency funds to low-paid workers can help both them and their employers.

Cisneros office has received a $150,000 grant from the Workers Lab, an Oakland incubator for projects that empower union workers. It is funded by Service Employees International Union and other private donations.

Low-paid airport workers, including custodians and caterers, will be able to draw down $500 apiece annually if an emergency strikes, like their car breaking down or a big medical bill popping up. These employees work for private companies  not the city itself  but are crucial to keeping the citys airport running smoothly.

A Federal Reserve study last year found 40% of American adults wouldnt be able to easily come up with $400 for an emergency. They dont have the funds available in cash, savings or on a credit card they could pay off quickly without accruing a lot of interest.

Without that financial cushion, should some unexpected financial thing happen, it can really wreak havoc on the family, Cisneros said on the latest episode of The Chronicles San Francisco City Insider podcast. What if we put together a fund ... and said, you know what, this year if you need $400 to $500 to cover an expense, just let us know. Its here. Just ask for it. Well get it to you.

The money could help with emergencies, but surely wont be enough to satisfy workers and unions whove been complaining that private catering companies at SFO pay poverty wages. Three city supervisors and dozens of airport workers were arrested in November at a protest over the issue. Many of the airport workers make just over the citys mandatory minimum wage of $15.59 an hour, but argue its not enough  especially with rising health care premiums.

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.

Under Cisneros program, the workers wouldnt have to pay the emergency money back. The idea is it could keep them coming to work  by being able to fix their cars or quickly deal with another crisis  and save the airport the time and money of finding replacement workers.

If the pilot goes well, Cisneros office will extend the idea to other interested private employers next year. Employers would likely have to front the money, which would be managed and disbursed by the treasurers office.

Cisneros main job is collecting and managing the 181 various taxes and fees collected by the city of San Francisco. But since his appointment to the treasurers post 15 years ago, Cisneros has also focused on creating programs to boost low-income families including Bank on San Francisco, which he said has given 75,000 residents access to checking accounts, and Kindergarten to College, which opens college savings accounts for every kindergartner in public school in the city.

To hear the full conversation with Cisneros, who won another four-year term in November, visit www.sfchronicle.com/insider.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Tuesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf Instagram: @heatherknightsf
(CNN)  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday defended the basis for killing Iranian General Qasem Soleimani because of the threat of an imminent strike but declined to present any evidence, saying President Donald Trump's decision was "entirely legal."

"There's been much made about this question of intelligence and imminence," Pompeo said at the State Department. "Any time a president makes a decision of this magnitude, there are multitude pieces of information that come before him."

"It's the right decision, we got it right, the Department of Defense did excellent work," he said, adding that it was an "entirely legal decision."

Pompeo made his remarks as questions continue to mount about the justification for the strike as well as the administration's overall level of strategic planning for the fallout from killing the second most powerful man in Iran.

Pompeo spoke a day after the Pentagon issued contradictory and confusing signals about whether US troops would be pulled from Iraq and Trump doubled down on his threats to strike Iranian cultural sites -- an international war crime that Pompeo had earlier tried to deny the President had said at all.

His appearance Tuesday failed to clear up lingering uncertainty or quell calls for more information.

Questions

The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee called on the Trump administration Tuesday to release the intelligence behind last week's strike so that the American people can decide whether the provocative action was justified.

Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, along with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, is pushing for the declassification of Trump's formal notification to Congress over Soleimani's killing, which has sparked a dangerous escalation between the two longtime foes.

Several sources have told CNN that the notification was brief, contained few operational details and essentially laid out the President's authorities to carry out the strike. That lack of detail has fueled questions about why it was classified to begin with, and administration officials have repeatedly publicly declined to provide the evidence behind the strike.

On Tuesday, Pompeo told reporters that senior officials presented Trump with the threats posed by Soleimani "in broad detail."

The top US diplomat didn't offer any evidence of an imminent threat, required to legally justify the strike, but instead referred to past events that he said Soleimani was responsible for. The Washington Post has reported that Pompeo had been lobbying Trump for months to kill Soleimani.

"We could see clearly everything Soleimani has done," Pompeo said, pointing to Iran's influence in Lebanon and other countries in the region where he said Tehran has denied people "sovereignty and freedom."

"If you're looking for imminence you need only look at the days that led up to the strike that was taken against Soleimani," Pompeo said, referencing the death of an American contractor in late December. He said the action against Soleimani "fit perfectly within our strategy" for countering Iran.

Pompeo mocked statements by Iraqi and Iranian officials that Soleimani had gone to Baghdad on a diplomatic mission, saying it "wasn't true."

Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi told the Iraqi parliament that Soleiman had traveled to Baghdad to discuss and coordinate a de-escalation of tensions with Saudi Arabia. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif told CNN Soleiman's mission had been diplomatic in a Tuesday interview with CNN.

Pompeo ridiculed the idea. "Anybody here believe that?" he asked facetiously during the press conference with reporters at the State Department. "Is there any history that would indicate it was remotely possible that this kind gentleman, this diplomat of great order, Qasem Soleimani had traveled to Baghdad for the idea of conducting a peace mission?"

Pompeo went on to say, without presenting evidence, that "we know that wasn't true. We not only know the history, we know in that moment that was not true. Zarif is a propogandist of the first order."

"I know there has been some story that he was there representing a Saudi peace deal," Pompeo said, characterizing the mission in terms that neither Iran nor Iraq have used. Though Soleimani wasn't able to conduct this outreach, Pompeo offered what he said was the Saudi perspective on the alleged diplomatic mission and what it meant to Americans, as opposed to Saudis.

"I can assure you that they share my view that he was not there representing some kind of agreement that would reduce risk or reduce the risk to lives of Americans when he was on that trip," Pompeo said.

Pompeo also continued to sidestep the President's threats to destroy Iranian cultural sites, arguing that "every action" the US takes "will be consistent with the international rule of law."

The top US diplomat claimed that his comments are consistent with Trump's, despite the fact that the President has doubled down on his threat to strike Iranian cultural sites, which would be a war crime.

'What are they afraid of?'

Instead, Pompeo deflected the blame to Iran itself and accused the Ayatollah of having "done damage to the Persian culture."

Pompeo later took to Twitter to continue his attack.

"No one has damaged Persian culture more than the Islamic Republic," Pompeo wrote, alleging bans on dancing and a lack of religious tolerance. "Iran's regime has defiled everything Iranians hold dear."

Pompeo was also asked about Zarif's claims that the US has denied him a visa to speak at a United Nations Security Council meeting set for Thursday. In an interview with NPR, Zarif said he had requested the visa 25 days ago, but the US State Department told him it "didn't have enough time to issue a visa."

"We don't comment on visa matters for those traveling to the United States," Pompeo said, but added that "we will always comply with our obligations" under the UN charter.

When asked by CNN's Fred Pleitgen about his reaction to being denied the visa, Zarif answered with a laugh, "Well, what are they afraid of?" When pushed as to whether he was concerned about it, Zarif said, "no."
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) today announced three senior hires in its Consumer Investment Banking Group. Robert Haile, Joseph Sparacino, and KC Hazarika have joined Stifel as Managing Directors based in Boston. The hiring of this team extends Stifels already formidable consumer franchise into the food, agribusiness, and automotive aftermarket sectors.



The addition of Rob, Joe, and KC represents a continued commitment to our investment banking franchise, said Brad Raymond, Global Head of Investment Banking at Stifel. Over the past two years, we have made significant investments in our Consumer Group, which we view as a key vertical with tremendous opportunity throughout market cycles. Bringing in this team of experienced professionals further expands our coverage in core consumer growth sectors with significant strategic and financial sponsor activity.

Mr. Haile joins Stifel from BB&T Capital Markets, where he was a Managing Director, leading the firms Food & Agribusiness Group. He has more than 20 years of relevant experience and is a specialist in mergers, acquisitions, and financings in the global consumer sector, having executed more than 100 transactions valued at $70 billion. Previously, Mr. Haile was a Managing Director at boutique advisory firm TCI, where he co-headed the firms M&A platform. His prior experience includes work as a Senior Vice President at EG Capital Group, a private equity fund focused on buyouts of middle-market companies in the consumer and media sectors. Mr. Haile began his career at J.P. Morgan in the firms Global M&A Group.

Mr. Sparacino brings to Stifel nearly 20 years of investment banking and corporate finance experience, advising private companies, public entities, and financial sponsors and their portfolio companies across the consumer sector. Prior to joining Stifel, Mr. Sparacino was a Managing Director at BB&T Capital Markets, leading the Automotive Aftermarket Investment Banking Group. Earlier in his career, he held positions at Harris Williams & Co. and Citigroup Global Markets, focused primarily on sell-side M&A advisory and capital-raising transactions. He also has significant industry experience through corporate positions at Textron and Sensata Technologies.

Story continues

Mr. Hazarika also comes to Stifel from BB&T Capital Markets, where he served as a Managing Director in the Consumer Investment Banking Group. While at BB&T, Mr. Hazarika completed numerous M&A transactions with leading middle-market financial sponsors. In total, he has more than 15 years of investment banking and private equity experience from prior roles at Platinum Equity, Plainview Capital, and Morgan Stanley. He is also the former COO/CFO of a venture-backed consumer products business.

We have assembled a group of seasoned industry bankers who are working closely with our product partners across equity, debt, M&A, and restructuring to achieve highly successful outcomes for clients across the consumer landscape, noted Michael Kollender, Head of Consumer Investment Banking at Stifel. We are excited to welcome our new colleagues to Stifel.

The Stifel Consumer Investment Banking Group has been at the center of several high-profile transactions in recent months. Notable assignments include:

Advisor to childrens apparel retailer Gymboree on its restructuring and sale of core assets and brands to Gap Inc. (GPS) and Childrens Place (PLCE)

Exclusive financial advisor to SCUF Gaming, a portfolio company of H.I.G. Capital, in its sale to CORSAIR

Bookrunning manager on the initial public offering of BellRing Brands (BRBR)

Financial advisor to Corelle Brands on its merger with Instant Pot, creating a combined company valued at $2 billion

Stifel Company Information

Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) is a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that conducts its banking, securities, and financial services business through several wholly owned subsidiaries. Stifels broker-dealer clients are served in the United States through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, including its Eaton Partners business division; Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC; Century Securities Associates, Inc., and in the United Kingdom and Europe through Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited. Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited owns MainFirst Bank AG, which is authorized and regulated by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and whose London branch is authorized by BaFin and supervised by the Financial Conduct Authority for the conduct of UK business, whose Milan branch is authorized and regulated by BaFin and supervised by CONSOB/Bank of Italy, and whose Paris branch is authorized and regulated by BaFin and supervised by AMP/Autorite de Controle Prudentiel. Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited also owns MainFirst Schweiz AG, which is authorized by the Eidgenoessische Finanzmarktaufsicht to act as an introducing broker for MainFirst Bank AG, MainFirst Securities US Inc., an introducing broker that is a member of FINRA and the SIPC, and Stifel Europe Geneva S.A. The Companys broker-dealer affiliates provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel Bank and Stifel Bank & Trust offer a full range of consumer and commercial lending solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A. and Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A. offer trust and related services. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Companys website at www.stifel.com .
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This is where having credibility  and having a president who didnt lie about everything  would be really, really helpful, Samantha Power, the former United States ambassador to the United Nations, wrote recently.

A president with credibility would be better able to persuade foreign governments to help protect American diplomats and military members who are now at risk.

A president with credibility would be more likely to beat Iran in the global court of public opinion.
A 24-year-old west Jefferson County man has pleaded guilty in the 2016 shooting death of a McCalla teen during an illegal gun transaction and robbery attempt in Hueytown.

Deion Dewayne Jones was initially charged with capital murder and robbery in the slaying of 17-year-old Colt Coggins. His trial was to begin Monday, but Jones instead pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of felony murder.

Jefferson County Circuit Judge David Carpenter sentenced Jones to 30 years in prison. A second defendant, 21-year-old Brenden Long, is set to go to trial next month.

The deadly shooting happened Dec. 27, 2016 in the 500 block of Carver Avenue in Hueytown. It was about 3:30 p.m. that Tuesday when police said the victim and several other juveniles were in a car on the dead-end street.

According to court records, Coggins met with suspects Long and Jones to buy a gun from them. Long orchestrated the deal with Coggins, records claim, and expected to receive money for doing so.

When the trio, along with two of Coggins friends, met in the dead end of Carver Avenue in Hueytown, Jones put a gun to Coggins' head and told him to give him the money, which the victim already had out. Coggins was sitting in the driver's seat, and Jones reached in and tried to grab the money.

The affidavits against Long and Jones said Coggins and Jones struggled over the money, and that is when Jones shot Coggins in the head. The two witnesses - Coggins friends who were in the car with him - put Coggins in the back seat of the vehicle and fled the scene. They drove Coggins to his McCalla home where Coggins was pronounced dead.

Hueytown officers responded to the shooting on Carver Avenue, but arrived to find everyone had scattered, including the victims and the suspects. They set up a perimeter and began searching for two suspects and also issued a lookout bulletin for the car that fled the scene with the victim inside.

While they were searching in Hueytown, they received word from the Tuscaloosa investigators that the teen had been brought back to Tuscaloosa County and was in a car matching the description of the lookout bulletin. Once they determined the shooting had happened in Jefferson County, the Jefferson County Coroner's Office and other investigators responded to that scene.

The friends of the slain teen were taken in for questioning, but detectives determined they werent involved in the homicide. Long and Jones fled the scene on foot, but were later arrested.

Long is charged with felony murder under Alabama law, which states a person commits felony murder when in the course of and in furtherance of the crime another is killed. The charge is a Class A felony. His trial is scheduled for Feb. 24.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Tuesday made a public appeal asking for pictures, footage and other information relating to the violence that erupted in the Jawaharlal Nehru University hostels two days back. All those who are witnesses to the incident or have any information about the incident or have captured any activity on their mobile phones or camera to come forward and give their statements/footage/picture in their possession to the SIT, police said in the appeal.

The university has CCTV cameras installed at the administration block and the main gates but the hostel corridors and entrances have no cameras. Meanwhile, forensic teams with photo experts visited the places of occurrence  Sabarmati, Periyar and Mahi Mandvi hostels  to look for evidence.

Teams from Physics, Chemistry and Biology divisions of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) were in the university, sources said.

ALSO READ | Heart goes out to all injured: JNU VC urges students to return to campus

The Physics team will collect evidence such as rods and stones used by the masked mob to attack students and teachers at the university, while the Chemistry team will collect samples of chemicals, if there are any.

The biology team will collect DNA samples, among other evidence.

A team of photo experts from the FSL was also present at the campus.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Western Range) Shalini Singh, who is heading a fact-finding committee to probe the incident, also visited the JNU campus and spoke to students and teachers.

Delhi Police has requested the FSL to also send a computer forensics team to analyse CCTV footage and it is likely to visit the university on Wednesday, according to the sources.

Delhi Police Additional PRO Anil Mittal elaborated on this and said that a team of officials from Crime Branch, which is investigating the case, is taking it up in a scientific and professional manner. The Delhi Police on Sunday registered an FIR against 20 students including three JNUSU office bearers in connection with an incident that occurred on Saturday wherein the security guards were trying to clear the Communication and Information Services Centre that had been occupied by the students to prevent the students from registering online for the winter examinations.

On Monday, the university saw a complete shut down with most dhabas and canteens closed with protests taking place throughout. Police personnel were deployed at the gates. Only visitors with valid identity cards were being allowed entry. JNU Professor Sucharita Sen, who was injured during the violence, has submitted a written complaint to the Vasant Kunj North Police Station. There has been no FIR on Sens complaint.

ALSO READ | Seems like NYT sees Lord Ram everywhere: Javadekar slams US daily's coverage of JNU violence

Meanwhile, Delhi Police's Crime Branch issued a public appeal urging "all those who are witnesses to the incident or have any information about the incident or have captured any activity on their mobile phones or camera" to "come forward and give their statements/footage/picture in their possession to the SIT".

(With PTI inputs)
More than 1100 young athletes are ready, set and good to go for the Colgate Games  New Zealands junior athletics competition, this weekend.

The North Island Colgate Games has attracted 87 athletics clubs from across the country with 1155 competitors set to take their marks at Inglewoods Jubilee Park.

North Island Organising Committee chair Simon Elliott says the North Island Colgate Games are set to be an exciting three days of events with athletes running, jumping and throwing their way to the podium.

With the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games just a few months away, its great to see the positive enthusiasm and energy from young athletes, coaches, and parents as we head into such an exciting time for athletics community.

You can feel the excitement among the young athletes who hope to walk in the shoes of their sporting heroes.

For more than 40 years, the Colgate Games has given youngsters the experience of competition and friendship, as they test themselves against others and develop strong sporting values.

Athletics New Zealand chief executive Peter Pfitzinger says participation in both the North and South Island Colgate Games, which are hosted by a different region every year, has remained strong over their 42 year history.

Athletics is a foundation sport that teaches movement skills that are transferrable, and with such a range of events to choose from there really is something for everyone. The Colgate Games has become a rite of passage for so many young Kiwis and has a list of alumni that includes Tom Walsh, Nick Willis, Jeff Wilson and Bernice Mene.

National 100m champion and former Colgate Games participant Zoe Hobbs will attend the North Island Games to present medals.

Colgate general manager John Garside says its good to see young athletes try their hand at new sports and encourage each other to do their best.

Part of the spirit of these games is to see the friendship and support these young athletes give to each other, whether theyre winning or losing.

Established in 1778, the Colgate Games is one of the longest continuous sports sponsorships in New Zealand.

Colgate and Athletics New Zealand have provided eight scholarships worth $500 each from athletes who display outstanding performances.

The eight scholarships  four awarded each in the North and South Islands  are named after Colgate Games alumnus Nick Willis and the funds will go towards helping the winning athletes achieve their goals.

The North Island Colgate Games are being held at Jubilee Park, Inglewood from January 10-12 for athletes aged 7-14 years old.

The South Island Colgate Games will continue in Christchurchs Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub from January 17-19.
Dan Snow will be in conversation with fellow historian Sinclair McKay in a special Stratford Literary Festival event next month

HISTORIAN and television presenter Dan Snow is to feature in a special event next month marking the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Dresden in the Second World War.

Fittingly, the event will take place at Coventry Cathedral, which suffered so much in the conflict. The talk will see the presenter in conversation with best-selling author Sinclair McKay and is being staged by Stratford Literary Festival on 4th February.

The two historians will explore the impact of four devastating raids between 13th and 15th February 1945, during which the RAF and their American counterparts obliterated the German city.

Explosive bombs weighing over 1,000lbs fell every seven-and-a-half seconds and an estimated 25,000 were killed. The pair will discuss the history of the city and the attack itself, as well as the period of reconstruction that followed, asking whether Dresden was a legitimate military target, or whether the destruction was a simple act of revenge for the bombing of Coventry.

The event  a special one-off occasion for the literary festival  also marks the publication of Mr McKays book Dresden: The Fire and the Darkness.

As well as being literary critic of the Telegraph and Spectator, he is author of the bestselling book The Secret Life of Bletchley Park.

Dan Snow, known as the History Guy, is a writer and broadcaster and hosts the History Hit podcast. He is the author of several books including The Worlds Greatest 20th Century Battlefields.

Festival Director Annie Ashworth said: We are thrilled to be working with two such acclaimed historians in the beautiful surroundings of Coventry Cathedral. It is such a fitting place for an event of this nature and exciting for us to be working in new spaces.

Coventry Cathedrals Canon Pastor, the Rev Canon Kathryn Fleming, added: We are really delighted to be hosting this event. The bombings in Dresden and Coventry are the origins of our Reconciliation Ministry; the language of reconciliation is one of the huge foundation stones on which this cathedral is built. What happened in Dresden in 1945 is an important part of our own story too.

Tickets are 12, or 25 with a discounted copy of the book. For more information and to book, go to stratlitfest.co.uk.
He managed to breach the crowd of security forces barring his entry today

Juan Guaido was blocked from entering parliament in Caracas on Sunday

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido took his place in the parliament speaker's seat on Tuesday after a stand-off with the armed forces who initially prevented him from entering Congress.

While Guaido was barred from entering the building by the National Guard for around half an hour, his rival claimant to the speaker position, Luis Parra, occupied the chair.

By the time Guaido was allowed in, alongside allied deputies, Parra had already left.

Lawmakers sang the national anthem but electricity to the chamber was cut off, leaving deputies to use the torches on their mobile phones to provide light.

Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido shouts surrounded by journalists on his way to the National Assembly, in Caracas today

Guaido, pictured, shouted at the soldiers blocking him from the National Congress today 'this is not a barracks', after they tried to prevent him from entering the building in Caracas, Venezuela

Guaido speaks on a loudspeaker outside the National Congress today in Caracas, Venezuela. Soldiers can be seen blocking him from attending a legislative meeting

Guaido can be seen surfing on the crowd gathered outside the National Congress building in Caracas today

Earlier, dozens of National Guard troops wearing helmets and carrying riot shields blocked Guaido from entering the building.

'These are not barracks!' shouted Guaido at troops, who had set up a check-point at the building's entrance before the opposition leader arrived.

Inside, Parra, an opposition legislator accused of corruption, was already installed in the seat Guaido has occupied for the last year.

Guaido is pictured surrounded by journalists as he tries to scale the mass crowd of security forces blocking his way to the National Congress building today in Caracas

Guaido is pictured riding on the back of a motorbike toward buses carrying opposition lawmakers that are blocked by security forces, as they travel to attend the session in the National Congress today in Caracas

Guaido can be seen marching towards the National Congress building earlier today in Caracas

Parra caused a storm on Sunday when he declared himself parliament speaker after the armed forces had prevented Guaido from entering the building.

A year ago, Guaido used his position as speaker to declare himself acting president in a direct challenge to the authority of socialist leader Nicolas Maduro.

Guaido has served as president of the National Assembly for the last year and used it as his platform to gain international recognition.

He had vowed to return today despite what he called the Socialist Party's 'parliamentary coup'.

He claimed on Sunday to have been re-elected to his post after holding a legislative session alongside loyal deputies at the offices of an opposition-leaning newspaper.

Guaido argues for National Guards to let him and all opposition lawmakers into the National Assembly, outside the legislature in Caracas today

Guaido argues with the National Guard in front of the congress building in Caracas earlier today

Guaido waves while heading to the National Assembly, in Caracas today

In the parliament building, Parra sat in the speaker's seat while burly men appeared to stand guard at the steps leading up to his seat.

At one point, a brawl broke outside inside the building with parliamentarians filmed throwing punches at each other.

Parra was kicked out of his opposition party last month after an online news site accused him of corruption linked to the over-pricing of food imported for the Maduro regime.

But he remains a deputy and Maduro recognized Parra's election in a television address on Sunday.

Guaido, who many nations have recognised as the country's rightful interim ruler, walks to the National Assembly building in Caracas, Venezuela today

Parliamentarian punch up: Members of the national parliament brawl inside while Guaido attempts to scale the gate outside in Caracas on Sunday

National Assembly President Juan Guaido, Venezuela's opposition leader, tries to climb the fence to enter the compound of the Assembly, after he and other opposition lawmakers were blocked by police from entering a session to elect new Assembly leadership on Sunday

The move was denounced by many countries, including the United States and even Maduro's left-wing allies Argentina and Uruguay.

Guaido vowed on Monday to hold Tuesday's parliamentary session and branded Parra 'an accomplice to dictatorship.'

Parra said Guaido would have the right to attend his session, but as just 'another deputy.'

Parra rejected accusations of a takeover, referring to Sunday's events as saving parliament 'from destruction.'

Lawmaker Luis Parra is sworn-in as National Assembly president after opposition lawmakers, including opposition Assembly President Juan Guaido, were blocked by police from entering the session in Caracas on Sunday

Guaido can be seen facing off with National Guard troops armed with riot shields in Caracas, Venezuela on Sunday

Both men claimed on Sunday they had the support of enough deputies to be elected president of the legislature.

Parra's support mainly comes from deputies loyal to Maduro while the opposition holds 112 of the 167 seats in the assembly.

Guaido said 100 deputies voted for him, Parra claimed the support of 81 lawmakers.

The National Assembly is the only branch of government in opposition hands.
Hollywood star Christian Bale is in negotiations to join Marvel Cinematic Universe with a pivotal role in "Thor: Love and Thunder".

If the deal closes, the film will mark Bale's return to the superhero genre eight years after he concluded Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy with "The Dark Knight Rises".

It's unclear what role the 45-year-old actor would be playing in the film, reported Variety.

"Thor: Ragnarok" filmmaker Taika Waititi is directing the fourth movie in the franchise, with Chris Hemsworth reprising his titular superhero and Natalie Portman returning as Jane Foster. The film will also feature Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie.

Waititi revealed last week that the pre-production of the film will start in April and the team will start shooting from August in Australia.

Marvel Studios or parent company Disney have not responded to the report yet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In an event to mark the observance of Road Safety Week in Haryana, the Director-General of Police of the state, Manoj Yadava on Tuesday launched an initiative to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities in road accidents on the 187 km stretch from Kundli (Sonipat) to Shambhu Border (Ambala) on Highway 44.

The DGP said that the idea is to make NH-44 world-class from the safety point of view so that it could be a role model for the entire country. With this the burden of road crash injuries and fatalities at NH-44 passing through five districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat and Sonipat can be reduced, he added.

A multi-stakeholder meeting was held under the chairmanship of DGP Yadava at the Haryana Police Academy (HPA), Madhuban today.

The meeting was attended by the Project Directors and other officials of Highway Authority of India (NHAI), PWD (B & R) Haryana, Transport Department, Haryana and Road Safety Engineers of (IRTE), Faridabad led by Dr Rohit Baluja.

Range IGs of Ambala, Karnal and Rohtak Ranges, SPs of NH-44 districts - Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat and Sonipat - also attended the meeting.

Under this initiative, Haryana Police has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IRTE under which the latter will conduct a detailed Road Safety Audit of this 187 KM stretch of NH-44 passing through Haryana and will submit a detailed action plan for road engineering-related improvements including fixation of speed limits and installation of road signages and road markings coupled with a plan for focused accident prevention through better enforcements and awareness of all categories of road users.

On this occasion, Baluja informed that this portion of NH-44 had witnessed 743 deaths in 2018 which makes it the most accident-prone highway in India. "In fact, the number of people who died in these road accidents in one year is more than the total number of persons who die every year in the entire Netherlands and even in the UAE. The bulk of these people who lost their lives are either pedestrians, cyclists and two-wheeler drivers," Baluja said.

Safety of people, the behaviour of people on road, faulty overtaking, identification of black spots, scientific construction approach, intensifying the enforcement measures, to hold road contractors, consultants or concessionaires accountable for faulty road design under section 198 A of MV (Amendment) Act were also discussed in the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, the DGP informed that the most significant and the noblest tasks before the Police and other agencies were to carry out traffic awareness and traffic enforcement in a manner that serves to save lives of people who are dying in road accidents. The DGP said that for this purpose, the Police Department will work actively to implement the recommendations emerging out of the Road Safety Audit being done by IRTE with the help of NHAI and Transport Department, Haryana.

He announced that a network of Speed Radars, Automatic Number Plate Readers (ANPRs) and Cameras will be installed on NH-44 which will be connected to a Centralized Control Room to initiate a crackdown on dangerous driving, over speeding and unsafe lane changing.

Describing training of police personnel as an important aspect of road safety, the DGP said HPA will impart road safety and crash investigation training to 50 police personnel every month. He also sought cooperation from the IRTE team in this regard.

"A well-planned and co-ordinated awareness drive will be launched in association with Haryana Roadways, Punjab Roadways, Himachal Pradesh Roadways, Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) and more than 20 Transport companies to ensure that heavy vehicles use only the left-most lane which is meant for heavy vehicles. Further, all illegal and unauthorized cuts in the Central median on NH-44 will be closed as they are leading to multiple accidents," Yadava said.

In addition, Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) or Under Passes will be constructed at points where a large number of pedestrians are required to cross the Highway particularly at busy points in Sonipat and Panipat.

This slew of initiatives will be started within next two months with a pilot project on the first 10 km of NH - 44 from Kundli to Rai to showcase the initiative and subsequently it will be extended to the entire NH - 44.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A burnt wombat has been spotted searching for food on a road in Australia as wildfires in the country continue to rage.

Michael Richardson filmed the marsupial after helping it to some water near Kulnura in New South Wales and described the scene as heartbreaking.

Poor burnt Wombat. Super sad to see.   Gave it half my water bottle. #Bushfire #AustralianFires pic.twitter.com/zr2UmvJySF  Michael Richardson (@m_richo) January 5, 2020

It seemed a little confused while trying to find any food by the roadside, Mr Richardson, who saw the wombat while on a bike ride at 6.30am, told the PA news agency.

Its fur was burnt in places. So heartbreaking.

It is believed hundreds of millions of wild animals have been killed in the blazes, which began in September.

Dead wildlife including kangaroos and koalas have been seen littering roadsides, with one video clip from Batlow, New South Wales, showing hundreds  which some viewers may find distressing.

Professor Chris Dickman, from the University of Sydney, has estimated 480 million animals have been killed since the bushfires began in New South Wales alone  but adds the true loss of animal life is likely to be much higher.

The university said in a statement on January 3: The authors (of the study) deliberately employed highly conservative estimates in making their calculations.

The true mortality is likely to be substantially higher than those estimated.

The wildfires, which began months earlier than is typical in Australia, have also killed 25 people and destroyed 2,000 homes.
Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk dances onstage during a delivery event for Tesla China-made Model 3 cars in Shanghai on 7 January. Photo: Aly Song/Reuters

Teslas (TSLA) profit and revenue surged in the UK market in 2018, according to filings released today. The electric-car companys revenue grew by 30% in 2018 from the year before, to just over 312m ($409m).

Profit increased from 809,000 in 2017 to 2.29m in 2018, although its gross profit margin contracted to 16.6% compared with 23.9% the previous year.

Tesla delivered fewer vehicles in 2018 versus the previous year, coming in at 3,516 units compared with 4,485 in 2017. The company did not respond to a request for clarification on why it experienced a delivery drop of nearly 1,000 vehicles.

Tesla shares soared on Friday, after it said it delivered 367,500 in 2019, a 50% increase from the year before and a record for the company, which has battled endless production problems since it began. Teslas market cap, at about $80bn, is now double that of US carmaker Ford.

Elon Musks celebrations continued this week as he danced on to a stage in Shanghai to celebrate first Model 3 rolling off the production line at the companys new China plant, which is Teslas first gigafactory outside the US.

Tesla share price on Monday 7 January. Photo: Yahoo Finance chart

However, the electric car pioneer is going large in China at a time when the countrys economy is cooling and the automotive market with it. Beijing is in the process of ending attractive subsidies for electric cars as well, which caused more than 40% drop in electric vehicle sales in China in November.

Tesla is moving ahead with plans to break ground on its first European gigafactory this year, having last week submitted its official application to build the plant on a site outside the German capital Berlin. Application documents showed that Musk is aiming for a production volume of up to 500,000 vehicles a year from the German plant, beginning with Model 3 and Model Y cars.

READ MORE: Tesla plans to produce 500,000 cars a year in Germany
In honor of the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, People's Daily Online Australia produced the special edition of the talk show program Aussie Talks. In the past 70 years, China has changed so much astonishing the world. Nowadays, more and more foreigners want to travel to China, including many young Australians. Surprisingly, Shandong, Yunnan, Hainan have become desirable destinations for them. In this episode, three young Australians Max, Amy and Rebecca will talk about their most impressive and unforgettable moments during their trip and shooting vlog in China.
Ed Sheeran's "The Shape of You" sparks joy, Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" energises listeners, and the lines "ooh la la!" in George Michael's "Careless Whispers," triggers seductive power, according to a new study of how people in the US and China respond to different genres of music.

The researchers from the University of California (UC) - Berkeley in the US, said music is a universal language which evokes 13 key emotions among listeners.

Their study, to be published in the journal PNAS this week, surveyed more than 2,500 people in the US and China about their emotional responses to thousands of songs from genres like rock, folk, jazz, classical, and heavy metal.

Based on their analysis, the scientists said the subjective experience of music across cultures can be mapped within at least 13 overarching feelings -- amusement, joy, eroticism, beauty, relaxation, sadness, dreaminess, triumph, anxiety, scariness, annoyance, defiance, and feeling pumped up.

"Imagine organizing a massively eclectic music library by emotion and capturing the combination of feelings associated with each track. That's essentially what our study has done," said study lead author Alan Cowen, a post-doctoral candidate who studies neuroscience at UC Berkeley.

The scientists said they have rigorously documented the largest array of emotions that are universally felt through the language of music.

As part of the study, Cowen translated the survey data into an interactive audio map.

In this map, the researchers said, visitors can move their cursors to listen to any of thousands of music snippets, and find out if their emotional reactions match how people from other cultures responded to the music.

According to the scientists, the new map, as well as the study's findings, may help psychological and psychiatric therapies designed to evoke certain feelings.

Music streaming services like Spotify may also apply the study's results to adjust their algorithms for satisfying their customers' audio cravings, the researchers said.

Another insight gleaned from the study is that participants from both the US and China identified similar emotions -- such as feeling fear on hearing the "Jaws" movie score.

However, they differed on whether the emotions made them feel good or bad, the study noted.

"People from different cultures can agree that a song is angry, but can differ on whether that feeling is positive or negative," said Cowen.

Positive and negative values, termed as "valence" in psychology, are more culture-specific, he added.

Across cultures, the researchers said, study participants mostly agreed on general emotional characterisations of music, such as angry, joyful, and annoying.

But their opinions varied on the level of "arousal," to the music, such as the degree of calmness, or stimulation evoked by a piece of music.

For the study, more than 2,500 volunteers listened to thousands of music videos on YouTube, which evoke a variety of emotions.

The researchers built a collection of audio clips based on these videos to use in their experiments.

About 2,000 study participants in the US and China each rated nearly 40 music samples based on 28 different categories of emotion, also on a scale of positivity and negativity, and for levels of arousal.

Analysing these inputs with statistical tools, the scientists arrived at 13 overall categories of experience that were preserved across cultures.

They found that the experiences corresponded to specific feelings, such as being "depressing" or "dreamy."



To further validate the findings, the scientists asked nearly 1,000 people from the US and China to rate over 300 additional Western and traditional Chinese music samples that were specifically intended to evoke variations in valence and arousal.

The responses from this second experiment strengthened the previous finding of 13 categories.

The Clash's "Rock the Casbah" pumped up the participants.

Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" evoked sensuality, and the song "Somewhere over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole elicited joy, according to the study.

As expected by the scientists, heavy metal was widely viewed as defiant, and the shower scene score from the Alfred Hitchcock movie "Psycho" triggered fear.

While the researchers agreed that some of these associations may be based on the context in which the participants had previously heard a certain piece of music, this is less likely with the case of traditional Chinese music, which validated the findings.

"Music is a universal language, but we don't always pay enough attention to what it's saying, and how it's being understood. We wanted to take an important first step toward solving the mystery of how music can evoke so many nuanced emotions," Cowen said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Bob Fernandez, of The Philadelphia Inquirer

Almost two decades ago, the worlds largest chocolate companies pledged to cleanse their global supply chains of cocoa harvested by young boys swinging machetes on West African farms. The voluntary self-regulation derailed legislation, then moving swiftly through Congress, that could have labeled Hershey or Snickers bars as the products of child labor.

But the latest U.S. data show that two million children still work on cocoa farms.

And now three of the biggest chocolate firms say they are open to European regulations to help protect child workers and lush West African rain forests from the ravages of cocoa farming.

M&Ms maker Mars Wrigley and Oreo-maker Mondelez International signed the December letter calling for regulations, along with cocoa-processor Barry Callebaut and watchdog cocoa groups. The regulations would legally require cocoa importers in the European Union  the worlds biggest cocoa market  to map cocoa supply chains and disclose human rights violations such as forced labor and child labor. Fixes to these violations would also be part of the reports, which are now voluntary.

Pennsylvania-based Hershey Co., controlled by the child-care charity Milton S. Hershey School, said it supports the due diligence efforts and additional regulation proposed by the European coalition but has not officially joined. A Hershey spokesman said Friday that the company would support proposals in the United States that align with [European] proposals.

But advocacy groups say that Hershey is still an unknown as to whether it would strongly support U.S. regulations in Washington.

U.S. and European chocolate companies source their cocoa from the same area in West Africa.

The optimistic view is that child labor is at the same level it was 20 years ago, said Antonie C. Fountain, the managing director of the Netherlands-based VOICE Network, an association of advocacy groups involved with sustainable cocoa farming.

Fountain said that the agreement with the three companies and groups that inspect cocoa farms for violations is a big deal. Companies will generally try to deregulate instead of asking for regulations. The companies are beginning to realize that all these voluntary promises are not enough.

Todd Larsen, a top official with the advocacy group Green America, said that deforestation in West Africa has accelerated in the last decade because of cocoa farming and that there has been no improvement with child labor.

A 2015 U.S. Labor Department report estimated that two million children still worked in dangerous jobs in cocoa-growing regions in West Africa. A new report could be released within a few months.

A 2019 investigation by the Washington Post found that Utz, a third-party group that inspects cocoa farms as part of the self-regulatory protocols, had a spotty record and that Utz-inspected Ivory Coast cocoa farms were more likely, not less, to employ child labor.

Thousands of Ivory Coast farms, also certified by Utz, were located in nationally protected forests, the Post reported.

What they are doing is not enough, Sarah Zoen, a senior policy adviser at the anti-poverty group Oxfam America, said of the chocolate industry. With each new progress report, its dismal. Something more needs to happen and legislation can raise the bar for everyone.

Experts agree that the poverty among cocoa farmers  mostly a result of low prices for their crop that leads to child or forced labor  is a root cause of the human rights and ecological problems.

The Ivory Coast and Ghana, which produce about 60% of the worlds cocoa, have banded together to create a cartel-like group to boost cocoa prices, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Observers have informally dubbed it COPEC because of its similarity to the OPEC consortium of oil-producing countries, and note that it would likely raise prices for consumers.

Larsen, of Green America, said that advocates believe that COPEC is a good idea. You want the [cocoa] price to go up for all companies and relieve the pressure for farmers to access free or child labor, he said.

Hershey and other big chocolate companies pledged in 2001 to regulate themselves to expunge child labor-connected cocoa from their candy bars after European and U.S. media reports, including an investigative series published in The Inquirer and other newspapers.

At the time, top Hershey officials said they were shocked by news of child labor on the cocoa farms. No one, repeat, no one, had ever heard of this, Robert Reese, a senior vice president at the company, told The Inquirer in 2001. Your instinct is that Hershey should have known. But the fact is we didnt know.

But the industrys voluntary regulation missed just about every deadline for cracking down on child labor.

Hershey spokesman Jeff Beckman said Friday that the voluntary efforts of chocolate companies and cocoa importers who have led the way through farm-level sustainability programs, cocoa certification, and remediation programs account for about 40% of the cocoa used in the world. It has become clear that in order to effect widespread change across the entire sector, new policies and regulations that will hold all purchasers of cocoa accountable for their supply chains is needed.

Beckman added that Hershey has zero-tolerance for child labor, and we are working with suppliers and governments to eradicate it. This includes taking steps to prevent, identify, and remediate any instances of child labor found in our cocoa supply chain.

The charitable 2,100-student Milton Hershey School, the nations richest private school that serves only impoverished children, the majority from Pennsylvania, controls 83.5% of the shareholder vote in the candy giant. Hershey dividends account for much of the school cash for classrooms and boarding.

Through the charitys complex financial structure, the Hershey candy company benefits from low-cost cocoa farmed by children in West Africa. Hershey profits  partly boosted by low-cost cocoa  is then funneled to the U.S. school in stock dividends.

Ive talked to Hershey, Zoen said of its child labor efforts in West Africa. I think there are really great advocates in the company. They have the makings of progress but I have not seen the latest of what they are up to. She added that with Hershey, we are still holding our breath.
A mother has revealed her heartbreak at the death of her son, 12, who was killed after he ran out from behind a bus and into the path of a car - with his father and stepfather both also previously dying in road accidents.

Taylor Swift was in 'good spirits' and his 'usual cheeky self' when he went out with friends after school on February 15 last year, an inquest heard today.

But tragedy struck that afternoon when the 'oblivious' schoolboy ran from behind a stationary bus with his head down and into an oncoming vehicle in Bridlington, East Yorkshire.

Taylor was rushed from the scene to hospital in Leeds, where he died from 'massive' and 'unsurvivable' injuries on February 16.

The boy's death is the third such tragedy to strike his heartbroken mother Katie Tolley.

Taylor's father Stuart Swift died in a road accident 12 years ago before her husband, Andy Tolley, died in a horrific motorcycle accident in 2018.

Taylor Swift, 12, died in hospital hours after he was struck by a car in Bridlington, Hull

In statement read to Hull Coroner's Court Mrs Tolley said she rushed to the scene of the crash after hearing her son was involved in an accident.

She said: 'Losing Taylor has changed my life forever. It has totally devastated me and my family.'

The heartbroken mother added that her son had been affected by his step-fathers death.

She explained: 'The death of Andrew affected Taylor badly and he began to suffer emotional and behavioural changes.

'He struggled at school but went to a hub in Willerby where he received one-to-one tuition which he responded well to.

'On the day he died he was fit, happy and well. I called him shortly before to tell him to come home for tea. I could hear him laughing with his friends. He was in good spirits and I heard his cheeky laugh.

'Not long after, I heard about the accident on Brett Street.'

The inquest heard Taylor was spotted an hour before the accident running along a road 'oblivious' to the traffic.

A car had to brake to avoid hitting him as he ran across the road, the court was told.

The coroner, professor Paul Marks, reached a conclusion that it had been an accident and nobody was to blame.

The boy's death is the third such tragedy to strike his heartbroken mother Katie Tolley, after the death of Taylor's father Stewart and step-father Andy (pictured together)

He said it had been a 'low velocity' impact, adding that there was 'no opportunity' for the driver to avoid the collision.

The coroner said the deaths of both Taylor's father and stepfather had exacted a 'terrible emotional toll' on Mrs Tolley.

The motorist was later dealt with for driving without insurance but not charged with any other offence, it was heard.

One man who was walking along at the time described how he desperately tried to warn Taylor before he was hit.

In a statement he said: 'I was walking along Brett Street at around 5.30pm on February 15, 2019, when I saw this boy running full pelt.

'He was running towards Brett Street and there was a double decker bus in the road.

'I then saw the black car driving at about 15-20mph and the boy was running across behind the bus.

'I could see what was going to happen and I shouted to the boy 'car!' but he continued into the road and the driver had no time to react. He couldn't have seen the boy behind the bus.

'The boy was hit and the car stopped quickly. I dropped my bag and ran to the boy. He was drifting in and out of consciousness so I put him in the recovery position.

'We tried to comfort him and he had a large lump in the back of his head. At one point he tried to get up but he was very confused.

'I wish I could have done more to prevent it. I hope the family takes some comfort from the fact he didn't appear to be in pain.'

Another man was driving down Brett Street when he witnessed the collision.

He said: 'It all seemed to happen in just a couple of seconds.

'I got out and picked it up and ran to him. The boy was breathing and I was talking to him and trying to reassure him.'
President Donald Trump must be pleased. The military strike he ordered to kill Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani immediately shifted much media coverage and public attention away from Trump's recent impeachment by the House and looming trial in the Senate. It has even led some Republicans to argue that the crisis with Iran of Trump's own making should shield him from impeachment, with North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows now claiming that impeachment is "playing politics" while Trump was "taking out a general who has American bloodstains on his hands."

But in fact, the Iran situation shouldn't distract us from the fierce urgency of the Senate holding a real impeachment trial - the type Senate Republicans are refusing, the type with honest-to-goodness witnesses like Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton, who on Monday announced that he's prepared to testify if subpoenaed. Instead, Trump's Iran provocation shows that the legitimacy of his presidency has become impossible without precisely such a trial. That's because Trump has lost too much trust in Congress, with the American people and overseas for him to do the job required of a president. In the dynamic crisis that will unfold in the months to come, Americans need a president who the people believe has their interests - not his own - at heart.

Since news broke of the U.S. killing of Soleimani, the Trump administration has said, in effect: Trust us. Trump, his national security adviser, his secretary of state and his secretary of defense have, in justifying the widely criticized military action, told various audiences in various ways that Trump deserves their trust. On television, they've told the American people that some sort of threat - perhaps imminent, perhaps long-standing - justifies the strike, but they won't say what that threat was. Yet reports indicate that Trump's military advisers were "stunned" that he took the intelligence reports and then ordered the attack. In providing Congress with the 48-hour notification required by the War Powers Resolution, the Trump administration has taken the "highly unusual" step of making the entire notification classified (reminiscent of how he has tried to hide all witnesses and documents in his impeachment trial). And in reporting on their engagement with foreign partners, Trump and his team haven't conveyed what they told those partners but nonetheless reported that most partners have "been fantastic" in supporting Trump's actions. In all of these actions, the message is that they can't tell us why Trump did this, but, well, trust us.

We have both served in senior national security positions. Tough national security decisions often demand trust. The strategy and policy calls that presidents must make often rely on classified information and internal discussions. And even the legal justifications frequently require applying legal tests to facts that remain secret. While the Trump team's approach over the past week takes secrecy to a whole new level, the basic point remains that justifying presidential national security decisions does demand some baseline level of trust in a president.

And that's where Trump falls woefully short - and why he needs a real Senate trial if he is to continue as president. Trump's team has been asking for trust from Congress, the American people and foreign partners, but they're not getting it. There's widespread disbelief in the precise nature of the threat that suddenly justified a major policy escalation, in the soundness of the decision-making that led to that escalation, and even in whether the intelligence community's analysis informed that decision-making. That's unsustainable for a president - but entirely understandable for Trump.

After all, Trump's credibility - especially on national security matters - is in tatters now that the Ukraine extortion scandal has been exposed. Thanks to the whistleblower complaint, testimony from his own administration officials before Congress and internal emails that the Trump administration fought to keep secret and even then redacted selectively, the world knows that Trump has, simply put, lied. He has lied about having a "perfect" phone call with Ukraine's president, when in fact Trump invited foreign interference in a U.S. election. And he continues to lie about it. That is why around half of the country supports his impeachment - because he lied about a national security matter.

Trump's lies have been specifically focused on covering up his abuse of public trust for private gain. That's what the Ukraine call was all about: Trump abused the public trust bestowed in him to manage American relationships with foreign partners like Ukraine for the private gain of getting Ukraine to dirty Trump's leading political rival, Joe Biden. And that's what energized the two articles of impeachment approved last month by the House of Representatives.

So it's no surprise that people don't believe Trump now when he says to trust him. Instead of acting innocent, Trump has acted like a guilty man - hiding the evidence and attacking the investigators. Trump has been accused, in duly approved articles of impeachment, of abusing that trust before; it's more than possible to imagine he's abusing them again in his justifications for a decision to kill Soleimani that, all too conveniently, has shifted the spotlight away from Trump's impeachment.

But there's a way for Trump to clear his name, if he has been wrongly accused (as he claims). It's for the Senate to hold a real impeachment trial. That means a trial with real witnesses, including witnesses like Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, whose testimony Trump blocked before the House, as well as Trump's testimony. It means a trial with real evidence, including critical Office of Management and Budget emails that Trump continues to fight in court to keep secret. And it means a trial with real adjudicators - senators who'll live up to the oath they'll swear to listen impartially and then, only after hearing the facts, make a real judgment. If Trump is so sure what he did was perfect and beautiful, go tell the American people that. Under oath.

Trump has the legal mechanisms to rebut the strong claims that he has abused the American people's trust. All it takes is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., providing what the vast majority of Americans demand: a real Senate impeachment trial, not a sham. Or all it takes is four Republican senators to insist on it. If Trump's action toward Iran is truly justified, the nation would benefit immensely from having the president cleared of wrongdoing by a real trial.

The Soleimani saga shows how desperately our country needs a president we and the world can trust. The Ukraine scandal explains why we don't have one. The two are intimately linked. And a genuine Senate trial is what both demand - urgently.

_ _ _

Katyal, a former acting solicitor general, is a law professor at Georgetown and the author, with Sam Koppelman, of "Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump." Geltzer, a former Justice Department and National Security Council lawyer, is executive director and professor of law at Georgetown's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection.
The official said the F.B.I. was not asking Apple to create a so-called backdoor or technological solution to get past its encryption that must be shared with the government. Instead, the government is seeking the data that is on the two phones, the official said.

Apple has argued in the past that obtaining such data would require it to build a backdoor, which it said would set a dangerous precedent for user privacy and cybersecurity.

The Pensacola case resembles the 2016 dispute between Apple and the F.B.I. over the iPhone of the man who, along with his wife, shot and killed 14 people in San Bernardino, Calif. As in that case, there is a dead gunman, a court authorization to gain entry to a phone, and an early stalemate between law enforcement and Apple.

But the San Bernardino investigation turned into a high-stakes showdown after a federal judge ordered Apple to help the authorities gain entry to the phone. Such a court order has not been issued in the Pensacola case, and it is does not appear that the F.B.I. has yet sought such a ruling.

The letter could be the first step toward such an order, as the F.B.I. would likely need to show a judge that Apple had refused to assist in executing a warrant. Apple did not respond to a question about whether it would comply with the F.B.I.s request in the Pensacola investigation.

After the federal judge ordered Apple to create a way to open the San Bernardino gunmans phone in 2016, Tim Cook, Apples chief executive, responded with a 1,100-word letter in which he said that creating such a backdoor would compromise the security of every iPhone.

The government suggests this tool could only be used once, on one phone, he said. But thats simply not true. Once created, the technique could be used over and over again, on any number of devices.
The European Union's top diplomat and the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany and Italy condemned on Tuesday Turkey's plans to send military experts and trainers to Libya, saying foreign interference there was exacerbating instability.

After postponing a trip to Tripoli over safety concerns, the ministers and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell held talks in Brussels to call for a ceasefire as Libya's internationally recognised government struggled to fend off a military offensive on its power base in the capital.

"Continuing outside interference is fuelling the crisis," the ministers and Borrell said in their joint statement released after the meeting.

In remarks to reporters, Borrell said: "It is obvious that this made a reference to the Turkish decision to intervene with their troops in Libya, which is something that we reject."

Turkey will send military experts and technical teams to support Libya's internationally recognised government, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday, a day after President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkish military units were moving to Tripoli.

Turkey is nominally a candidate to join the EU, though accession talks have long stalled due to disagreements over human rights, Cyprus and other issues.

The EU talks were to have taken place in Libya but the Tripoli government asked for them to be postponed, according to two EU diplomats.

Europe and the United States face being sidelined in Libya by Turkey and Russia, which are taking a bigger role in the conflict there. Libya has been in turmoil since veteran ruler Muammar Gaddafi's fall due to an uprising in 2011.

"PROXY WAR"

Turkey supports the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), while Russia backs eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar, whose forces hold much of the country's east and south including its second city Benghazi. They are making a renewed attempt to take Tripoli.

"There is a proxy war under way. All interferences have to stop. There are countries that interfere with a civil war, turning it into a proxy war," Italy's Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio told reporters in Brussels before travelling to Turkey to meet his Turkish counterpart Cavusoglu.

The EU had hoped to send a diplomatic mission to Libya to train Libyan officials and build up institutions in support of the GNA, but that has been deemed too dangerous for now, diplomats said.

Di Maio, along with the Egyptian, French, Greek and Cypriot foreign ministers, are due to discuss their next steps in Cairo on Wednesday, the same day that Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin are to inaugurate a natural gas pipeline running between their countries via the Black Sea.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 13:25 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3212c805 1 National Garuda-Indonesia,blunder Free

National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has issued a formal apology for an incident in which a passenger and her family were "detained" after Garuda crew members accused her husband of insulting the airline.

Garuda's acting director Fuad Rizal has apologized in a statement for the inconveniences that the incident might have caused, saying the airline was investigating the pilot who had reportedly ordered the detention of the passenger and her family.

Garuda Indonesia is currently investigating the pilot to determine whether they had abused their power, Fuad said in a statement issued on Monday.

We are constantly communicating with the passenger in question to resolve the issue as amicably as possible.

The passenger, who goes by the Twitter handle @jesswjk, was flying in business class with her husband and three young children on Garuda flight GA404 to Denpasar, Bali on Saturday.

According to her account of her experience, which she posted on Twitter, her husband stood up to ask a flight attendant if he could take one of their children to the toilet during a 50-minute lull while the plane waited for the runway to clear at Ngurah Rai International Airport before it could land there.

The flight attendant did not allow him to go to the toilet for safety reasons, so her husband complied and returned to his seat, she said. After their son complained about having a stomach ache, her husband panicked and grumbled about Garuda to her, she said.

Read also: Family 'detained' for grumbling over Garuda flight

The flight eventually landed and everything seemed fine until the woman and her family got to the baggage lounge at Ngurah Rai International Airport.

She was met outside the lounge by the captain of the flight, a few flight attendants and Aviation Security (Avsec) officers. The captain promptly ordered the Avsec officers to detain her and her family, accusing her husband of insulting Garuda and claiming that he was acting on behalf of Garudas director of operations, she wrote.

The captain walked away after she told him that she knew Pak Chairul and Pak Chairal - an apparent reference to business tycoon Chairul Tanjung and his brother Chairal, who is on Garudas board of commissioners - and would call them about the incident. The ground crew were apologetic about the incident but refused to give the captains name to her, she said.

Her tweet thread has since gone viral on social media, with scores of netizens supporting her and her family, while also bemoaning Garuda Indonesias questionable decision-making.

She once again tweeted about the incident on Monday, claiming that the airline and online news outlet Detik had released the full names of her children.

Dear @IndonesiaGaruda dan @detikcom saya sangat keberatan dengan release informasi nama lengkap semua anak2 saya. Perlu dicatat bahwa kronologi versi Ni Wayan Seiko ini sgt tidak tepat, sampai detik ini saya tdk pernah meminta refund dlm bentuk apapun!  jessica (@jesswjk) January 6, 2020

Dear @IndonesiaGaruda and @detikcom, I hereby object to the disclosure of my childrens full names. It is worth noting that Ni Wayan Seikos chronology is totally inaccurate as I never requested a refund whatsoever! she wrote on her Twitter page, referring to Detiks recent coverage of the incident.

In response, Fuad said the airline had never disclosed any passengers personal information regarding the incident to the media nor to the public.

We are sorry about the disclosure of the passenger and her familys personal information. We assure you, [the disclosure] did not come from Garuda Indonesia, Fuad said.

The incident was the latest in a slew of blunders that have reflected poorly on the countrys most prestigious airline. The airlines president director, Ari Akshara, was dismissed in December for allegedly smuggling Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts and Brompton folding bicycles. (rfa)
Photo: The Canadian Press Former Nissan Motor Co. President and CEO Carlos Ghosn

Tokyo prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant Tuesday for former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn's wife on suspicion of perjury, adding to the couple's legal troubles in the country where he once was revered as a star executive.

The move against Carole Ghosn, who is not in Japan, followed her husband's flight to Lebanon last week while he was out on bail awaiting trial for alleged financial misconduct.

Prosecutors said in a statement that Carole Ghosn gave false testimony to a Tokyo court last year in her husband's case about the transfer of money from one company to another that allegedly caused losses to Nissan.

She also denied knowing various people, or meeting with them, and the statements were false, they said. The allegations cited were unrelated to Ghosn's escape.

Carole Ghosn was not immediately available for comment but earlier she told The Associated Press after her questioning in court that she considered the questions trite and unsubstantial.

She was banned from meeting with her husband after his release on bail because of fears she might help tamper with evidence.

Lebanon and Japan do not have an extradition treaty. Japanese justice officials acknowledge that it's unclear whether the two can be brought back to Japan to face charges. They said they were still looking into what could be done.

The Lebanese presidential palace said Tuesday that President Michel Aoun met with Japanese ambassador Takeshi Okubo, the first known meeting between the president and a Japanese diplomat since Ghosn arrived in the country on Dec. 30.

A statement released by Aoun's office said Okubo called for more co-operation from Lebanese authorities in order to avoid "negative repercussions" on relations between the two countries. Okubo said the Japanese government and people "are extremely worried" about the case, especially the way Ghosn left Japan and entered Lebanon, according to the statement.

Japan's chief government spokesman said Japanese officials have told Lebanon that Ghosn left the country illegally and that they are seeking co-operation in finding out what happened. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the situation must be handled carefully.

Lebanese Justice Minister Albert Serhan told the state-run National News Agency that Ghosn entered Lebanon legally and therefore his "stay on Lebanese territories" is legal. Serhan said Lebanon has not yet received any requests from Japan regarding an arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn.

Prosecutors in Japan have said they did not want Carlos Ghosn to be granted bail because they saw him as a flight risk.

With his abundant financial power and multiple foreign bases worldwide, it would be easy for the defendant Ghosn to flee from Japan, they said in a statement.

Earlier Tuesday, Ghosn's former employer, Nissan Motor Co., said it was still pursuing legal action against him despite his escape.

The Japanese automaker said in a statement that Ghosn engaged in serious misconduct while leading the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance.

The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan, it said, without giving details.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a member of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) Group, based in Yokohama, has delivered the first LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) fuel supply system "FGSS (Fuel Gas Supply System)" for dual-fuel marine engines. This system will be installed onboard the first LNG fueled pure car carrier (PCC) built in Japan, which is currently under construction at Shin Kurushima Toyohashi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

The FGSS is an LNG fuel gas supply system developed by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding utilizing LNG and vaporized gas handling technology developed through its long experience on the construction of LNG carriers, and also has been verified for marine use backed by accumulating experience in marine engine test facilities at engine manufacturers.



The FGSS consists of LNG fuel tanks, LNG fuel gas supply units and control unit etc., and is delivered in modules, which is expected to contribute to the optimum design of the cargo space and help the shipyard to shorten the installation period, as well as support safe operation by customizing the control system, etc. of FGSS to meet the operational needs of the shipowner.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has also provided the shipbuilding yard with the engineering service and technical support relating to the gas handling of the ship.



The supply of FGSS is expected to greatly contribute to the environmental performance of the ship and not only to meet the sulfur oxide (SOx) emission regulations coming effect globally in 2020, but also to improve the energy efficiency (CO2 emissions per unit of transportation) of the ship by approximately 40%, which is far exceeding the International Maritime Organization (IMO) EEDI Phase 3 requirements(1) that will become effective in 2025. The ship is additionally expected to reduce SOx by approximately 99% and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by approximately 86% compared with the conventional heavy oil-fired engines. Further, the ship has also been adopted by Japan's Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism as the model project to reduce CO2 emissions by using alternative fuel.



To convert conventional oil-fired ship into LNG fuel ship is one of the solutions to conform to the emission regulations. By providing FGSS and the related engineering services and technical support for new buildings and conversions, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding is going to contribute to the economy for the ship owners and operators, increase the added value of the ships and reduce the environmental load that is increasing on a global scale.



(1) EEDI Phase 3 requirements:

Regulations on the energy efficiency of ships based on the 2013 revision of the International Convention on the Prevention of Ship Pollution 1997 Protocol (Appendix VI to the MARPOL Convention). EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) is the number of grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) required to carry 1 ton of cargo for 1 mile, and the reduction rate from the baseline (baseline) will be gradually enhanced. Car carriers are required to implement reductions of 5% by 2015 (Phase 1), 15% by 2020 (Phase 2), and 30% by 2025 (Phase 3).



About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.



Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial firms. For more than 130 years, we have channeled big thinking into solutions that move the world forward - advancing the lives of everyone who shares our planet. We deliver innovative and integrated solutions across a wide range of industries, covering land, sea, sky and even space. MHI Group employs 80,000 people across 400 locations, operating in three business domains: "Power Systems," "Industry & Infrastructure," "Aircraft, Defense & Space." We have a consolidated revenue of around 40 billion U.S. Dollars. We aim to contribute to environmental sustainability while achieving global growth, using our leading-edge technologies. By bringing people and ideas together as one, we continue to pave the way to a future of shared success.



For more information, please visit MHI's website: https://www.mhi.com

For Technology, Trends and Tangents, visit MHI's new online media SPECTRA: https://spectra.mhi.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A Cleveland man is accused of biting a 2-year-old boys face as part of a pattern of abuse.

Renard Hollaman is charged with child endangering, a fourth-degree felony. The 28-year-old man is not in police custody, but a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Hollaman is accused of abusing his girlfriends son for about a month and a half. He bit the boy in the face and hit him in the chest, according to court records.

Cleveland police began investigating the abuse Dec. 8. A relative reported to police that the boy had bruises all over his body during a span from Oct. 31 through Dec. 10.

Cleveland police have not released the police report on the incident.

Hollaman was convicted in 2010 of aggravated assault of a pregnant woman and domestic violence. He broke a bone in the womans face during the incident, court records say.

He was sentenced to three years on probation. He violated the terms of his probation and was sentenced to one year in prison.

To comment on this story, go to the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section.

More crime-related content on cleveland.com:

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Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny County, announced Tuesday that he has chosen March 17 as the date for special elections to fill three House vacancies, drawing criticism from the chambers Democratic leader over the cost.

House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody, of Allegheny County, said the speaker should have delayed the special elections so they could be held during this years primary elections on April 28. Special elections cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and scheduling them during the primary would save taxpayer money, Democrats argue.

The vacancies arose from the departure of three Republican lawmakers who resigned after being elected to county posts.

They include former Rep. Tedd Nesbitt of Mercer County, who resigned on Thursday to be sworn in as a county judge; former Rep. Gene DiGirolamo of Bucks County, who resigned Sunday to take office as a county commissioner; and former Rep. Justin Walsh of Westmoreland County, who also resigned on Sunday to become a county judge.

Neal Lesher, Turzais chief of staff, explained that the House Speaker has made it his practice to set the dates for special elections as soon as practically possible to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have a voice in the peoples House. Every constituent deserves representation."

He also pointed out that it is consistent with the decision Turzai made to hold the special election on Feb. 25 for the 190th state House seat. Former Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell, a Philadelphia Democrat, resigned Dec. 13 after she was charged with theft, perjury and tampering with public records.

Similarly, last year, the speaker called for special elections on March 12 to fill seats following the death of former Democratic Rep. Sid Kavulich and resignation of former Democratic Rep. Vanessa Lowry-Brown following her criminal conviction. Those contests took place more than two months before the May 21 primary.

Weve been consistent, Lesher said.

Dermody argues the extra cost could be avoided if the special elections were held on the same day as the primary.

Special elections held on days separate from the primary or general election day typically cost between $300,000 and $500,000, which the state is statutorily required to reimburse counties for the cost they incur. Democrats argue that delaying the special elections by six weeks so they coincide with the primary could save the state nearly $1 million or more.

I understand the desire to shorten the interruption of representation when any House seat is empty but its a waste of taxpayer dollars for Speaker Turzai to call these elections in March rather than waiting just a few weeks and saving a lot of hassle for everyone, Dermody said.

On top of that, Dermody said having to prepare for these special election comes at a time when county election officials across Pennsylvania are working on implementing changes in voting procedures. Those changes include new mail-in ballots and a later voter registration deadline to be implemented for the first time in the coming primary, which is expected to draw a heavy turnout.

County workers who should be focused on preparing for the smoothest possible April primary will have to conduct these additional special elections on very short notice, he said.

Likewise, Philadelphia City Commission Chairwoman Lisa Deeley last month unsuccessfully appealed to Turzai to set the special election to fill the seat Johnson-Harrell vacated to coincide with the primary.

Aside from the expense and unnecessary and hindering burden on election staff, she said it would be confusing to voters who are being educated about the new voting procedures but the old procedures would apply to the special election.

Dermody said his concerns about the cost of special elections applied in that case as well but that he thought there was enough time between the Feb. 25 special election date Turzai chose and the April 28 primary for election officials to be able to manage the additional workload.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
- James Reid and Nadine Lustre made the news when they were rumored to have already broken up

- New pieces of evidence on social media seem to suggest that the rumors are wrong

- Pictures of James and Nadine dining out together have gone viral on social media

- They were caught on camera ordering food at an Army Navy branch after hiking

- Netizens rejoiced after seeing the new pictures of the famous couple

PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed

James Reid and Nadine Lustre recently made the news after rumors of their supposed split circulated online.

KAMI learned that new pieces of evidence seem to suggest that the rumors are incorrect.

The two stars were also photographed ordering food at an Army Navy branch after hiking:

Another picture shows James and Nadine sitting beside each other at a dining table:

Netizens expressed their joy since the pictures seem to indicate that they have not broken up at all:

Nag iisip ulit yong mga reporters kung ano na naman ang fake news na gagawin pra sa demo job for JD.

ay naku mauntog sana kyo sa kasinungalingan at paninira nyo sa jadine.

walang break up o nagkabalikan solid couple Jadine forever

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GILROY (BCN)

A fire at an apartment building early Tuesday morning displaced 17 people, including five children, according to the Gilroy Fire Department.

The fire was first reported at 12:15 a.m. in the 8200 Kelton Road, Division Chief Jim Wyatt said. The official cause is under investigation, but the blaze is believed to have originated in a bedroom closet due to someone smoking.

The 2-alarm fire was contained approximately 30 minutes after crews arrived on scene, according to Wyatt. Nobody was injured.

"We were thankful that nobody was injured and all the families got out safely," Wyatt said.

Fire crews from the San Jose Fire Department, South Santa Clara County Fire Protection District and Morgan Hill Fire Department assisted in extinguishing blaze.

The American Red Cross is assisting those who are displaced.

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.
EU chief: Full implantation of JCPOA is of prime importance

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Jan 6, IRNA -- High Representative of the European Union Josep Borrell on Monday called for full implementation of Iran's nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"As ever we will rely on @iaeaorg verification," Borrell wrote in his Twitter account referring to Iran's announcement of its final step.

"Full implementation of #NuclearDeal by all is now more important than ever, for regional stability & global security," he added.

"I will continue working with all participants on way forward," EU top diplomat said.

"Had a phone call with @antonioguterres over the weekend to discuss current developments. #Libya #Iraq #Iran Multilateralism and a rules based global order, with the @UN

at its core remains the cornerstone of the EU's foreign policy," he noted in a separate message.

Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a statement announced that it will report any development regarding Iran's final step.

"IAEA inspectors continue to carry out verification and monitoring activities in the country," the statement reads.

"The IAEA will keep its member states informed of any developments in this regard in an appropriate time," IAEA added.

9376**1430

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The West Bengal chief minister underlined that an online process would need to have physical existence also.

Kolkata: Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday described herself as the guard of the masses against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). Vowing to guard the peoples citizenship rights, she also called the Centres plan to implement the CAA online, bypassing the state governments opposing the CAA, as lies spread by the BJP to mislead the public.

The West Bengal chief minister underlined that an online process would need to have physical existence also. Warning the BJP she declared that she would not savour a lollypop if peoples citizenship rights would be taken away.

At Patharpratima in South 24 Parganas Ms Banerjee told a rally, There is no reason to worry. I am your guard. I have guarded you during the Cyclone Bulbul a whole night earlier.

Her assurances earned a huge applause in the crowd. Ms Banerjee elaborated, If anyone comes to snatch your rights, he would have to do it over my dead body. Otherwise it will not happen. It is not so easy. So do not get panicked by any campaign, canards and conspiracy. They (BJP) think themselves very clever. They speak differently in day and night to misguide the people.

Referring to the Centres plan to make the CAA online for its implementation, the Trinamul chief added, They are saying at some places that it would be made online. I ask: can rice be made online? Go and ask them. Applications can be sent online. But rice can not be boiled online. An application can be submitted online, but there is a need of physical existence of it too.
American soldiers board a US Airforce C130 at Baghdad Airport. Sebastian Meyer | Corbis | Getty Images

WASHINGTON  Iraq's prime minister said that the U.S. military sent a letter regarding American troop withdrawal from the country, Reuters reported Tuesday, further deepening confusion over plans for troops in the region. It's the latest in a messy string of events sparked by a U.S. airstrike that killed Iran's top general. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said that his country received an English and Arabic version of the letter but that they were not identical. Therefore, Iraq requested clarifications on U.S. plans.

The news comes on the heels of the Pentagon's admission that the letter informing Iraq's Defense Ministry that U.S.-led coalition troops would leave Iraq "was a mistake." "A draft unsigned letter that was acquired by an Iraqi official has no import. It has no value whatsoever," Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Tuesday in an interview with CNN. "I will say this, the United States is not withdrawing from Iraq. In fact, in my conversations with my counterpart, the Iraqi defense minister, I conveyed to him that we do want to stay in Iraq and we want to continue the important defeat ISIS mission," he added. "That letter is a draft, it was a mistake, it was unsigned, it should never have been released," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley told reporters at the Pentagon on Monday. "Poorly worded, implies withdrawal," Milley said. "That is not what's happening," he continued. Alongside Milley, Esper told reporters earlier in the day that the U.S. was "repositioning forces throughout the region."
Australian influencer Tammy Hembrow has donated $22,833 to Wildlife Rescue South Coast, after facing a fan backlash over her bushfire fundraiser post.

On Tuesday night, the 25-year-old's fashion label Saski Collection transferred the generous amount after promising to donate all the company's profits over a 24 hour period.

Tammy had previously deactivated her Instagram account for several hours after being slammed for promoting her philanthropic efforts with a raunchy snap.

'Support our wildlife': Australian influencer Tammy Hembrow has donated $22,833 to Wildlife Rescue South Coast, after facing a fan backlash over her bushfire fundraiser post

Saski Collection announced on Tuesday: 'We are so proud to be donating $22,833 on behalf of all our customers who made an order over the last 24 hours.

'This money is going directly to @wildliferescuesc in the hopes it will help support our precious Australian wildlife that have been impacted by this emergency.

'Again, we cannot thank you all enough for your support.'

Saski Collection's website also posted several links to charities and organisations that customers can donate to.

'We are so proud': On Tuesday night, Tammy's fashion label Saski Collection transferred the generous amount after promising to donate all the company's profits over a 24 hour period

On Monday, Tammy received a fan backlash when she chose to promote her Saski Collection fundraiser with a risque photo.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the social media star temporarily deactivated her account after receiving a slew of negative comments below the post.

The offending image showed Tammy posing braless on a luxury yacht in just a pair of bikini bottoms and a soaking wet T-shirt.

Controversy: Tammy had previously deactivated her Instagram account for several hours after being slammed for promoting her philanthropic efforts with a raunchy snap

The purpose of the post was to remind Tammy's fans that all profits from Saski Collection would be donated to bushfire relief.

It was captioned: 'Saski Collection 100% profits today are going to emergency relief for the Australian bushfires.'

Saski Collection is Tammy's successful activewear business, which she named after her three-year-old daughter, Saskia.

Outrage: The offending image showed Tammy posing braless on a luxury yacht in just a pair of bikini bottoms and a soaking wet T-shirt, and received several negative comments

Several negative comments reportedly accused Tammy of striking the wrong tone, even though she had good intentions.

Tammy is believed to have deleted the photo before shutting down her account. She later reactivated it with a new photo accompanying the fundraiser message.

However, the original post was screenshotted and archived by several fan accounts before she had a chance to remove it.

Tweak: Tammy later uploaded a more tasteful image of what appeared to be an aerial view of smoke from the bushfires, alongside the text: 'Donating 100 per cent of the profits'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Tammy's management for comment.

Despite the criticism, Tammy has wholeheartedly thrown her support behind the bushfire relief efforts.

The mother-of-two used her platform last week to ask her 10 million followers to donate generously to animal and fire rescue organisations.

Alongside photos of animals in peril, she wrote: 'Our home is burning. These are the worst bush fires on record and they are still burning.

Good intentions: Despite the criticism, Tammy has wholeheartedly thrown her support behind the bushfire relief efforts

'Five million hectares (15 MILLION ACRES!!!) of land has burned. Our wildlife are burning alive (more than 500 MILLION!!) and many homes have been lost.'

'I stay praying for all the families and the firefighters and the lives lost,' she added.

It comes after Tammy sparked reconciliation rumours with her rapper ex-boyfriend Jahkoy Palmer last week, after they spent New Year's together in Bali.
Apache Corp. proved skeptics wrong with a major discovery off the northeast coast of South America, a hotly anticipated oil target that investors had feared would be another flop for the U.S. producer.

The update on the Maka Central-1 well in Suriname offers a path forward for Apache, which had fallen out of favor with investors after the company's Alpine High project in the Permian Basin of West Texas ended up being richer in natural gas than more-valuable oil. Apache shares surged as much as 26% in New York, the most in at least four decades, after the Houston-based explorer and new partner Total announced the find Tuesday.

Initial data indicates "the potential for prolific oil wells" in the block, Apache Chief Executive Officer John Christmann said in a statement, with seismic imaging suggesting "a substantial resource."

Suriname success "could be transformational for a company that has been a laggard since its last major discovery, Alpine High, fell short of expectations amid weak Permian natural gas prices," Stifel Financial Corp. analysts said in a note to clients.

The cost of protecting Apache's credit against default fell and prices for the company's junk bonds rose on the Suriname announcement.

The discovery eases concerns that the fate of Apache's Suriname program would mirror that of Alpine High, a project in a little-drilled corner of the Permian which the company announced to much fanfare in 2016.

Suriname jitters reached a fever pitch last year after the company's head of exploration abruptly departed, a move that sent shares plunging even as Apache insisted it was unrelated to the Maka Central-1 results. A month-and-a-half later, Apache released a vague update on Suriname that spooked investors who thought the company was continuing to drill because its initial activities had been unsuccessful.

"This appears to be a significant discovery and should be viewed very positively," RBC Capital Markets analysts said. Bank of America upgraded the stock to buy from hold and said the discovery could be a "game changer for the investment case," while JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded it to hold.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Apache announced its 50-50 joint venture with Total for Suriname's Block 58 at the end of last year, days after Exxon Mobil Corp. and Hess Corp. started commercial production in Guyanese waters. The Guyana-Suriname basin along the north coast of South America is emerging as the oil industry's hottest exploration play as investors cool on U.S. shale and the appetite for fresh offshore discoveries grows.

Apache didn't quantify its expectations for how much the Suriname play could produce, though analysts at Credit Suisse AG said the current share price signals investors expect a gross oil resource of 1.45 billion to 1.78 billion barrels of oil equivalent for Block 58.

"While some good news had undoubtedly been baked in post the Total partnership announcement, we expect the stock to react well today as this discovery and the potential success of additional prospects could secure oil resource growth for years to come," analysts at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. said.
WICHITA, Kan. - The looming production shutdown of Boeing 737 Max jets is taking a toll on a key supplier.

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. is asking employees if they will take voluntarily buyouts. Spirit suspended production of fuselages and other parts for the Max on Jan. 1, after Boeing told the Wichita, Kansas, company to suspend shipments.

Spirit employees learned about the buyout offer  with terms depending on union contracts for workers in Wichita, Tulsa and McAlester, Oklahoma  in a Monday memo from CEO Tom Gentile, who said the company still has no clear idea of when Max production will resume.

We are discussing different scenarios with Boeing but nothing has been decided, Gentile wrote. He said the company will likely have to make decisions about cutting jobs in the days and weeks ahead because of expected lower production rates when the Boeing work returns.

Gentile did not say how many employees the company would like to see leave. Spirit has about 17,000 employees, including 15,000 in the U.S.

The Boeing 737, including the Max, represents more than half of Spirits revenue. Spirit warned last month that suspending Max production would hurt the companys financial results and cash flow, and it was evaluating all potential actions to get costs in line with lower production expected in 2020.

Shares of Spirit rose $1.17, or 1.6%, to close Tuesday at $74.98.

Boeing expects to temporarily shut down production of the Max, which has been grounded for nearly 10 months, after two crashes killed 346 people. The assembly line near Seattle will shut down in mid-January. The company said Monday that it does not plan layoffs.

In a memo to employees, Boeing said some of the 3,000 affected Max workers will be reassigned to the 777 and 787 jets, some will oversee storage of parked jets in Washington state and Southern California, and some will draw other assignments.

Chicago-based Boeing Co. hasnt said how long production will be halted. The company still has work to complete before it can win approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for changes it is making to software and other systems on the plane. The FAA has said repeatedly it has no timetable for approving Boeings work.
The US administration has denied a visa to allow Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to attend a UN Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday, a US official said.

'The United States will get the decisive, definite answer for its arrogance at the time and place when it will feel the most pain,' Mr Zarif said in a speech on regional developments that was broadcast on state television.

Mr Zarif also said today that he had been barred from the meeting.

As the host of the UN headquarters, the US should allow foreign delegates to attend such events.

'They fear that someone comes to the US and reveals realities,' Zarif said.

A handout photo from December 2019 shows Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaking in Doha. A US official said today that Mr Zarif has been refused a visa to attend the UN Security Council meeting this week, which would be his first opportunity to condemn Friday's attack on warlord Qassem Soleimani in front of the international community

'The world is not limited to New York and you can talk to the American people from Tehran and we will do that.'

The Iranian Mission to the UN said they 'have not received any official communication' on the status of Mr Zarif's visa despite him having requested it weeks ago.

Mr Zarif is looking to use the meeting to condemn Friday's attack on Qassem Soleimani in front of the international community.

US President Donald Trump is pictured delivering a speech on the death of Soleimani at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Friday. A drone strike ordered by Trump killed Soleimani and members of his convoy as they drove along a road out of Baghdad airport on Friday

Soleimani, Iran's top military commander, was assassinated by an American drone strike on a road leading from Baghdad airport on Friday, an order given by US President Donald Trump while he was holidaying in Florida.

Iran's UN envoy Majid Takht Ravanchi called on the Security Council to condemn the attack on Soleimani, coining it 'an obvious example of state terrorism and, as a criminal act'. She added that it was a 'gross violation of international law'.

After the diplomatic chaos caused by Soleimani's death, Trump has twice pledged on Twitter that he would raze a pre-picked selection of Iranian cultural sites should the Islamic Republic respond aggressively to their warlord's death.

A 2016 file photo dated September 18, 2016 shows Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in Tehran

The destruction of cultural heritage sites is illegal under international law.

Specifically, the 1954 Hague Convention says nations must 'take all possible steps' to protect cultural property and shall refrain 'from any act of hostility, directed against such property.' It also says nations must not use cultural sites for any threatening purposes that would make such locations a military target.

The Pentagon has long had a list of potential targets both inside Iran as well as those associated with Iran throughout the Middle East. Those targets and war plans are routinely updated, including during the recent uptick in hostilities.

Today, Pentagon chief Mark Esper contradicted Trump, insisting that America would 'follow the rules of armed conflict', should war break out between the countries.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper contradicted US President Donald Trump today, saying the US military will not target Iranian cultural sites by vowing to 'follow the laws of armed conflict'

A 2019 file photo shows the shrine of Iran's revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini is seen, just outside of Tehran, Iran. The ancient and rich cultural landscape of Iran has become a potential U.S. military target as Washington and Tehran stumble toward a possible open conflict

Esper's public comments reflected the private concerns of other defense and military officials, who cited legal prohibitions on attacks on civilian, cultural and religious sites, except under certain, threatening circumstances.

Trump first raised the prospect of targeting cultural sites in a tweet on Saturday and reiterated that view to reporters the following day.

'We have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD,' he tweeted.

His Twitter message caught administration officials off-guard and prompted an immediate outcry from legal scholars, national security experts and Democratic lawmakers. But the president stood by his threat the following day.

'They're allowed to kill our people. Theyre allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people,' he told reporters traveling with him on Air Force One. 'And were not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way.'
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arriving for their visit to Canada House (Yui Mok/PA)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have begun their first royal engagement of the new decade  visiting Canadians to thank them for the warm hospitality of their homeland.

Harry and Meghan have recently returned from an extended private break in Canada with their eight-month-old son Archie, and wanted to express their gratitude to the Commonwealth nation and its people.

The couple travelled to Canada House to meet staff in person and were warmly greeted by Janice Charette, Canadas High Commissioner to the UK, and her deputy Sarah Fountain Smith, when they arrived.

They spent around six weeks away and based themselves in Canada, and also held US Thanksgiving celebrations  which in 2019 fell on November 28  with the duchess mother Doria Ragland.

Meghan, a former actress, lived and worked in Toronto during her time starring in the popular US drama Suits, and the couple were famously pictured together when Meghan joined her then-boyfriend Harry at the 2017 Invictus Games in the Canadian city.

Expand Close The Duchess of Sussex arriving for her visit to Canada House (Aaron Chown/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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The couple arrived at Canada House from a private visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen, run by a group of Grenfell women whose recipes were featured in a cookbook backed by Meghan.

The duchess travelled to see the women in North Kensington to hear the latest updates about their project and was joined by Harry.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ClearScale ("ClearScale" or the "Company"), a cloud-native systems integration, strategic consulting and application development company, today announced the closing of a strategic growth investment from Boston-based private equity firm, Cohere Capital ("Cohere").

ClearScale is a leading cloud services provider with over 160 personnel in multiple offices across the globe, including San Francisco, San Jose, New York, Houston, Phoenix, Denver and Toronto with plans to open new locations in Chicago and Austin in 2020. As an Amazon Web Services ("AWS") Premier Partner, the Company has completed nearly a thousand engagements for its customers in its history and is sought out by those customers for its deep market expertise and proven ability to execute.

ClearScale was an early player in the public cloud professional services ecosystem since the Company's founding in 2011 and this investment provides ClearScale with the resources to further expand its cloud services and geographic presence to be an end-to-end solution provider to its clients. Specifically, the Company plans to enhance its managed service offering to meet the needs and desires of its client base and also invest into its sales, marketing and service delivery teams.

Pavel Pragin, ClearScale founder and CEO, commented, "ClearScale has been an AWS and cloud focused partner from day one, and this has helped us provide leading edge services with great value to our customers. Through our partnership with Cohere, we plan to further cement our dominance in providing "bread and butter" services like cloud migration, DevOps, application development and modernization as well as expand our growing data analytics and machine learning practices." Nila Ruslen, ClearScale COO, added, "We will continue to extend our world class services to existing and future customers as we help them adopt the newest technologies. ClearScale is anticipating significant growth over the coming years fueled by this investment."

Nik Shah, Cohere Capital Managing Partner and Co-Founder, commented, "ClearScale has built an incredible reputation for supporting customers across multiple industries with complex cloud transformation and data engineering projects. They have established themselves as a true market leader in the cloud services and AWS segment." Daniel Gedney, Cohere Capital Principal and Co-Founder, added, "We are excited to partner with the ClearScale team and to help the business expand its offerings and market presence."

About ClearScale

ClearScale is cloud-native systems integration, strategic consulting and application development company. The company offers cloud consulting, cloud migration, application development and modernization services, as well as a variety of data engineering services to a wide range of customers  from startups to large enterprises and public sector customers. For more information, visit: www.clearscale.com .

About Cohere Capital

Cohere Capital is a Boston-based private equity firm focused exclusively on middle market growth companies. Cohere Capital has a flexible mandate across growth markets, but primarily targets recapitalizations and growth investments in rapidly growing technology-enabled services companies. For more information, visit: www.coherecapital.com .

Contact

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1-800-591-0442

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The blue two-bedroom, one-bathroom house is just east of Passyunk Square and the Italian Market and west of Pennsport and the Delaware riverfront along Columbus Boulevard. Read more

It had been five years since Dan Hendricks left his native Bucks County, drawn away from fishing and other pastimes there to the music scene and a rental house in Philadelphia.

A bass player and guitarist in a punk rock band, he was sitting on the steps of a fellow musician and talking about how their Dickinson Narrows neighborhood of South Philadelphia had improved. And about how rents were going up and it might be a good time to buy.

Friends of mine were moving there, says Hendricks, a textile screen printer by day. The area was getting nicer. There were more community events.

The park had been a dump, and now kids were playing in it. Everything was spruced up.

So in 2014, he resettled a block away, buying a compact two-story, one-bath 1920 rowhouse that he says had a rustic charm to it. It had old-house kind of vibes.

But now, he says, its time to return to Bucks County with his partner, a chef.

I want to get back to fishing, he says. Im a country kid.

The 1,021-square-foot, two-story home, ideal for a couple, is in move-in condition. It has been newly restored, with central air conditioning, forced-hot-air heat, and a walled-off rear patio.

Neighborhood restaurants and bars, markets, coffee shops, and bike shares are all within walking distance.

Dickinson Narrows comprises the area from the south side of Washington Avenue to the north side of Mifflin Street and the west side of Fourth Street to the east side of Sixth Street.

It is just east of Passyunk Square and the Italian Market and west of Pennsport and the Delaware riverfront along Columbus Boulevard.

The property is listed by William Holder of RE/MAX Classic for $325,000.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : As much as the troika of Turkey, Malaysia and Pakistan has been portraying itself as the champion of Islam and the Muslim world, the killing of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Qasem Soleimani has exposed the historic Shia-Sunni sectarian faultline once again.

Though the general population among Sunnis, who constitute to around 90 per cent of the Muslim population, expressed sympathy for Iran following the killing, but except for Malaysia, no other Sunni country has come forward to stand publicly by Tehran against the US.

Iran has called the January 3 killings of Soleimani and its other military officials "state terrorism" and threatened to retaliate against the US.

While the Shia Iraq's Parliament passed a resolution, in protest against the killings, asking the US to withdraw its forces from the country, Saudi Arabia, the leader of the Sunni Islamic nations, asked for "self-restraint" and didn't hesitate to blame Iran for "terrorism" in the Middle East.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who aspires to assume the leadership that the Saudi Arabia kingdom enjoys in the Muslim world, has offered to de-escalate tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Erdogan recently attended an Islamic summit hosted by the Mahathir Mohamad government in Kuala Lumpur and criticized Saudi Arabia for arm-twisting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and holding him back from attending the conference.

Pakistan initially remained silent but has also supported the de-escalation of tensions and dialogue between the two countries after having negotiated a deal with the US itself.

In exchange of its support for the US airstrike against Iran, Pakistan secured resumption of military to military cooperation with America.

Only Malaysia, among the Sunni dominated countries, came out in support of the Shia Iran.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad described the killing of Soleimani as immoral and illegal.

On Tuesday, hey urged Muslim countries to unite to "protect themselves against external threats".

During, what is probably his last term, Mahathir, 94, has been the staunchest voice of Muslim political unity.
(JNS)Part of the $1.37 trillion spending bill that U.S. President Donald Trump signed on Friday included $150 million split evenly between assistance for security services, and humanitarian and civilian purposes for the Palestinians.

The legislation included a bipartisan agreement on the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act that will allow the U.S. Agency for International Development to resume its operations in the West Bank and Gaza. USAID ceased projects in those areas earlier this year in accordance with ATCA, which provides protections for American victims of international terrorism.

The United States cut direct funding to the Palestinian Authority in March 2018 under the Taylor Force Act for the P.A.s ongoing program of rewarding terrorists and their families.

To avoid U.S. assistance falling into that program, both USAID programming and the ATCA fix that will enable funding for Palestinian security services are still subject to existing restrictions, including under the TFA, a congressional source told JNS. Other restrictions include, but arent limited to, no funding of salaries of the P.A. in Gaza and no assistance to the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Israel-P.A. joint security activitiesand Israel-only activitiesin the West Bank are what keep [P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas] in power and constrain the emergence and growth of Hamas, Jewish Policy Center senior director Shoshana Bryen told JNS. That is in Israels interest as well as that of the P.A.

If the P.A. cuts off the cooperation because the U.S. cuts off the money, Israel fears a Hamas takeover from the P.A, she continued. [Abbas] fears the same thing, so its unlikely that a full cutoff of cooperation will occur, but thats the threat and it cannot be ignored.

Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, echoed Bryen last year regarding security funding for the P.A.

Its one of the few positive points to note in what is otherwise a very fraught relationship, he said. The Palestinians and Israelis have been working closely to counter the activities of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terrorist organizations.

Theyve done a good job, he added. Cutting Palestinian assistance in this space in particular strikes many, even those who are hawkish, as problematic.

However, Sander Gerber, a New York-based hedge-fund manager who was instrumental in the passage of the TFA, told JNS on Monday that the funding of the Palestinian security services is a bad move.

The catch with aid to the Palestinian people is to ensure that it doesnt further strengthen the P.A, he said. The P.A. has oppressed and stolen from their people for too long, and the West and [Gulf states] have continually looked the other way.

Gerber added that the organizations the Palestinian security services stop are against the P.A.s interests, which in turn also happens to benefit Israel.
Two Kansans who are close to Donald Trump, but only Kobach is now running for the U.S. Senate. Photo: Getty Images

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the news a lot as foreign policy chief in our warlord-presidents camp. But in certain precincts in Washington he has mostly been thought of as a future U.S. Senator from his home state of Kansas at a time when Republicans are battling to keep the 2020 battleground as narrow as possible. Now the New York Times reports that Pompeo has let Mitch McConnell know he plans to stay at Foggy Bottom:

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday told Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, that he does not plan to run for Senate in 2020, most likely ending Republicans hopes of securing a potentially dominant candidate for the open seat in his home state of Kansas, according to four people briefed on the meeting.

Mr. Pompeo, a former congressman from the Wichita area, has quietly explored a campaign for months. But in the aftermath of the military operation last week that killed Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani of Iran, Mr. Pompeo has told senior party officials that he is ruling out becoming a candidate, according to several people who have spoken with him directly.

This is bad news for Republicans focused strictly on hanging onto control of the Senate, where the next presidents judicial and legislative agenda could flourish or die. Yes, Kansas is a strongly Republican state that is surely in the bag for Donald Trump (he won the state by 20 points in 2016). But its also a state with a more ideologically heterodox GOP than many others, but where a dominant hard-core culturally conservative wing still has the power to win primaries. And with Pompeo out of the race, the front-runner in the 2020 Senate race instantly becomes former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who managed to lose the governorship to Democrat Laura Kelly in 2018.

Kobach, as you may know, is a close ally of Trumps famous for his nativism and his devotion to the cause of sniffing out imaginary voter fraud. He ran Trumps failed Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, which disbanded after both Republican and Democratic-led state refused to comply with its fishing-trip demands for sensitive data about registered voters. In Kansas, Kobach was even better known for his staunch defense of former Republican governor Sam Brownbacks disastrous fiscal policies.

Kobach and the Trump ultras who backed him were strong enough in 2018 to defeat incumbent governor Jeff Colyer, who as lieutenant governor ascended to the top job when Brownback accepted a position in the Trump administration.

Its not necessarily Pompeo or bust for Kansas, as the Times notes:

Several other candidates are competing for the Republican nomination, including Representative Roger Marshall. National Democrats have rallied behind Barbara Bollier, a state senator who left the G.O.P. to become a Democrat a little more than a year ago, as their preferred candidate.

Still, Republicans already worried about shaky incumbents in Colorado, Iowa, Maine and North Carolina do not need any fresh challenges. So while Pompeo struts his stuff on a global stage, back home his bosss protege may be wrecking his partys position in the state, and maybe even its governing majority.,
The Bachelor premiere aired the highly anticipated conversation between Peter Weber and Hannah Brown that the shows been teasing for weeks. And it was worth the wait. It was clear that both Brown and Weber still had feelings for each other, but neither of them knew what to do about it. Weber is the bachelor. What could they do about it?

Peter Weber and Hannah Brown | Eric McCandless via Getty Images

The conversation Peter Weber had with Hannah Brown during The Bachelor premiere

We learned Weber was really hurt by the fact that Brown asked Tyler Cameron out on After The Final Rose and not him.

Why didnt you likeIm just being honest with you. Watching that next episode that night live and then seeing that happenand then I was just like OK well then for me thats, that was it. Like, I dont want to be someones, like, third option. And so then it was just tough cause then I found out that you had moved 20 minutes from where I live and just all this stuff kept happening. I dont know. I feel like I thought that I was not confused but now I dont know. I dont know. What the [expletive] am I doing right now? I dont know what Im doing, he told her during their emotional conversation.

Then, he asked her to join his season.

What would you this is so insane. What would you say if I asked you to come and be part of the house?

I mean maybe, Brown replied.

The bachelor asked Brown if she ever regrets sending him home in Greece.

Yeah, Peter, I question it all the time, she said.

I felt zero doubt. Even, you know, when you said Jeds name first. So sure that you were calling my name. And then, like, obviously you didnt. But that morning was there still Weber trailed off.

I mean I told you I had no doubts that you were going to beIt was you and Jed, said Brown. Well, I dont think I wanted to change my mind about Jed. It was comfortable. I was falling back into the same thing. But like I broke everybodys heart in this and my own through this experience.

Why Hannah Brown asked Tyler Cameron out and not Peter Weber

So why did Brown ask Cameron out for a drink during After The Final Rose and not Weber when she felt such a strong connection with him?

Weber says he wanted another shot with Brown after she broke things off with Wyatt.

I mean I swear to you, I remember I was at my aunts house watching that live last episode and I was telling my parents, If she wants to try this again I am 100% on board. And it just like, my heart just sank when you, like, asked Tyler out. And I love Tyler and its nothing against him but I was just like Oh, like that hurts,' he said.

Heres why.

Well, he was like reaching out and you didnt say anything. I didnt know where you were. I knew you were upset and dealing with it so I didnt reach out to you and you didnt reach out to me. I didnt know if you just wanted to get past it, wanted to be the bachelor. I mean, I thought you wanted to be the bachelor. And I walked out therewhen I saw you, I felt a lot more than I thought I was going to. Like, I didnt think it it would be that much spark, because I knew there was still something there, she said.

Where the episode ended, Brown and Weber seem to be more confused than ever. In the preview we see the two of them cozied up on the couch together sans tears. What conclusion did they reach?

Read more: BIP: Hannah Godwin Roasts Dylan Barbour, Calls Him So Oily
South Korean demand for ferrous scrap is expected to fall further in 2020 compared with 2019, and Japanese scrapyards will have to target new markets to send their materials, a Japanese trader told Fastmarkets in late December.

South Korean purchases of Japanese ferrous scrap slipped slightly year on year in 2019, with South Korean steel mills buying 3.68 million tonnes in...
An emergency sign directs patients and staff to the emergency room at the newly constructed Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center in San Diego, California in an April 17, 2017. (Mike Blake/Reuters/File)

Trump Administration to Appeal Decision Blocking Conscience Protections for Medical Professionals

The Trump administration has announced that it will appeal a decision that struck down a rule protecting health care providers from discrimination if they refuse to provide medical services for religious or moral reasons.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) told the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that it would join an appeal of the courts decision on Jan. 3.

A judge from the district court in November last year vacated the Trump administration rule, saying that the department had acted outside its power in promulgating a conscience rule that protected doctors and nurses and health care entities from being discriminated against if they refuse to cover for or perform abortion, sterilization, or assisted suicide on religious or moral grounds. The rule would threaten federal funding to health care providers who do not comply.

The judge, U.S. District Court Judge Paul Engelmayer, an Obama administration appointee, also found that the department had acted arbitrarily and capriciously when making the rule while relying on factually untrue reasons for its promulgation.

And the Courts finding that the Rule was promulgated arbitrarily and capriciously calls into question the validity and integrity of the rulemaking venture itself, Engelmayer wrote in his 147-page decision (pdf). Indeed, the Court has found that HHSs stated justification for undertaking rulemaking in the first placea purported significant increase in civilian complaints relating to the Conscience Provisionswas factually untrue.

He also agreed with the plaintiffs argument that HHS had acted outside its power by implementing a rule that would threaten federal funding to health care providers who do not comply.

The ultimate penalty claimed by the Rule exceeds that authority because no law authorizes HHS to terminate all of a recipients HHS funding for a violation, he wrote.

The rule was implemented as part of President Donald Trumps vow to protect fundamental rights of conscience and religious liberty. In May 2017, he signed an executive order to protect religious liberty.

Following the rules announcement, 19 states and the District of Columbia, Planned Parenthood and one of its subsidiaries, and the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and Public Health Solutions brought separate cases against the Trump administration seeking to strike down the rule. The court combined the three cases in its judgment.

A second federal district court judge overturned the rule at the Eastern District Court of Washington shortly after the New York ruling.

The health departments notice to appeal comes after religious medical professionals appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in December (pdf). The Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA) along with Dr. Regina Frost joined one of the cases as an intervenor.

My faith is at the heart of who I am. It is what drives me to put the needs of women and their children first every day, and to serve everyone in my care with dignity and respect, Frost, an OB-GYN and a member of CMDA, said in a statement at the time. If the government forces me to violate my faith and my medical judgment to perform abortions, Ill have no choice but to leave the profession.

The American Civil Liberties Union, who brought the case on behalf of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association and Public Health Solutions, responded to the Trump administrations notice to appeal in a statement on Jan. 3.

Everyone is entitled to their religious beliefs, but religious beliefs do not include a license to discriminate, to deny essential care, or to cause harm to others. It is shameful that the government agency that is supposed to protect, not undermine, patient health is continuing to defend this illegal and dangerous rule, Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, senior staff attorney with the Reproductive Freedom Project at the ACLU, said.

The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Turkey Starts Military Deployment in Libya as International Pressure Rises

By Dorian Jones January 06, 2020

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Monday that Turkish forces would do their duty in Libya after being deployed to support the country's besieged Government of National Accord.

On Sunday, Erdogan confirmed the start of a military deployment to Libya.

"There will be an operation center [in Libya]. There will be a Turkish lieutenant general leading, and they will be managing the situation over there. [Turkish soldiers] are gradually moving there right now," said Erdogan. "The goal of the Turkish Armed Forces is not to fight, but to ensure a cease-fire in Libya."

The GNA is currently under siege by forces led by Libyan General Khalif Haftar, who controls eastern Libya. Last month, the Turkish Parliament sanctioned the deployment of military forces to Libya, following Erdogan's November signing of a military cooperation agreement with the GNA.

Ankara also agreed to a maritime agreement with Tripoli that extends Turkish control over a critical part of the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Turkey is currently embroiled in an increasingly bitter competition with regional countries in the search for hydrocarbons across the Mediterranean Sea. The rivalry is now extending to control over the distribution of natural gas.

"It's a very strategic move by Turkey to stop the emerging blocks by countries like Israel, Greece, Egypt against Turkey," said international relations professor Huseyin Bagci of Ankara's Middle East Technical University. "The deployment of Turkish troops to Libya is legitimate. Strategically speaking, it's about survival  will Turkey be in the eastern Mediterranean or not?"

There are growing questions over the sustainability of Ankara's Libya move.

"All these developments have been outright rejected by the international community and countries in the region without exception," said political scientist Cengiz Aktar of Athens University. "So, Turkey is pretty alone in this venture."

Mounting diplomatic pressure

Ankara is facing growing diplomatic pressure over its Libya plans. German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed Libya with Erdogan by phone on Monday. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump advised caution to the Turkish president.

Cairo, which is backing Haftar, condemned Ankara, and warned of consequences in any Turkish military cooperation. Erdogan is likely to face further pressure Wednesday when he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul. Russian mercenaries of the Russian paramilitary organization the Wagner Group, which has close ties to the Kremlin, are backing Haftar.

Analysts warn that Ankara's decision to militarily back the beleaguered Tripoli regime could predicate its demise.

"For sure, we can see efforts accelerate to overthrow this Tripoli government," Aktar said. "I am afraid we are heading in this direction because the Tripoli government has hardly any ally, except a few on paper. But Haftar forces are controlling most of the country, and for the time being, it looks like they will take over, and appear to have the whole world behind them. And the only country supporting the Tripoli government is Ankara."

Last month, Haftar declared his forces were ready to overrun Tripoli. On Saturday, a strike on a military academy in the Libyan capital killed at least 30 people and wounded 33 others.

"At the moment, the situation seems to be working on the side of Haftar. He has better weapons. He has jet fighters. He has superiority on the air and in the field," said Bagci. "I am not sure what kind of soldiers Turkey will send there."

Bagci added, "Erdogan has played the card. He will not allow the Tripoli government to fall. He will defend to the last man, because Erdogan has played a big card, a big gamble. But the arrival of Turkish troops may yet change the psychology, the balance of forces in Libya."

Negotiations?

Former Turkish ambassador Mithat Rende, who is now an energy expert, suggests Ankara may be banking that its Libya move forces regional rivals to the negotiating table.

"What we have on the ground in the Mediterranean is unilaterally declared exclusive economic zones," he said. "We have unilaterally declared continental shelves, and they all are overlapping, all conflicting views. So here, international law suggests that you need to negotiate to reach an agreement with a fair agreement, and equitable principle should apply here. And Turkey is prepared to negotiate."

Aktar disagrees.

"We've haven't seen any diplomatic action in months, if not years, on seeking negotiation," he said. "The only action we've seen (is) aggressive deals and moves by Ankara. So, the final aims can be diplomacy and negotiation, but we've seen no concrete moves in this direction."

Some analysts question how far Erdogan is prepared to provide military support to Tripoli if Turkish forces fail to deter Haftar forces, and regional rivals harden their stances.

"Turkey has no capability for these out-of-area operations," Aktar said. "It will be extremely dangerous, costly, and deadly to go ahead with this military cooperation if more military forces are needed to sustain this deal with Tripoli."

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The woman's charge carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail or a fine

A British woman found guilty of fabricating a claim that she was raped by a gang of Israeli youths is likely to fly home today, even if she is given a prison sentence.

The 19-year-old, from Derbyshire, insists she was the victim of a horrific attack.

She has told a court in Cyprus that a statement she made withdrawing her allegations was given under duress and while facing threats from Cypriot police.

Last week she was found guilty of the offence of "public mischief" - in other words, of falsifying an allegation of a crime.

The judge said she had willingly had sex with one man, and then lied out of a sense of shame.

The woman was told that she faced up to a year in prison.

However, it is understood that the most likely sentence is either a fine or a suspended sentence. In both cases, she would then be free and return to Britain.

If she is sent to prison, but for a period of around a month or less, she would also be allowed to leave because she has already spent time in detention.

However, if the judge were to impose a harsher prison term, it is understood that the woman would likely receive a presidential pardon almost immediately, again allowing her to return home.

"It would be the only way to stop her ending up in prison, so a presidential pardon would be very likely," one Cypriot source told Sky News.

"Diplomatically, there is no desire for this woman to be sent to prison."

But even a pardon would not exonerate her from the conviction for fabricating the attack.

The woman's lawyer, Michael Polak, told Sky News she would continue with an appeal and is prepared to go to the European Court of Justice or the European Court of Human Rights - even if that process took years.

The guilty verdict led to protests in both Cyprus and Britain, with the government describing it as a "distressing" case.

Sky News understands that significant diplomatic efforts have been made to avoid the chance of the woman being sent to prison, with senior UK diplomats convinced she is the victim of a brutal crime, and a miscarriage of justice.

Story continues

Her mother has said the teenager is "terrified" of being sent to prison, having spent a month behind bars before she was granted bail in August.

"She has been in Nicosia state prison before, she knows what it is like," she told ITV News.

"She's going to go in there for a conviction for this offence, and people will know what she has been saying about Cyprus.

"I can't even begin to describe how upsetting that is."
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  There was an unspecified incident involving the Secret Service at President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, but authorities would not say Tuesday what happened  the latest in a series of incidents at the club since the president took office three years ago.

Palm Beach police records show officers were called to Mar-a-Lago on Monday night to assist the Secret Service but most of the report is redacted, including the name of the individual who was contacted.

Police spokesman Michael Ogrodnick said the Secret Service is the lead investigative agency in the matter and his department has no comment. The Secret Service asked that a request for comment be submitted by email. It did not immediately respond to the email. The White House press office declined comment.

The president and his family were not at Mar-a-Lago on Monday. They had left the club Sunday for Washington, D.C., after spending the previous two weeks at the resort. Security at the club and other Trump properties has been heightened since last week when the U.S. military killed a top Iranian general in a surprise attack in Iraq.

On Sunday night, an hour before Trump departed from Palm Beach International Airport, a Florida man who had been dishonorably discharged from the Marines for sex offenses was arrested after authorities said he got past two checkpoints by falsely identifying himself as part of the presidents helicopter crew.

Mar-a-Lago has had its own security breaches, with at least three trespassing events over the past 14 months, two of them involving Chinese nationals.

Last month, Jing Lu, 56, was confronted by the private clubs security officers and told to leave, but she returned to take photos, police said. She then fled. Palm Beach officers were called and arrested her about a mile (1.6 kilometers) away in downtown Palm Beachs tony shopping district. Lu was charged with loitering and prowling. Her case is pending. Neither the president nor his family was at the club.

In March, Yujing Zhang, a 33-year-old Shanghai businesswoman, gained access to Mar-a-Lago by telling Secret Service agents she was there to swim. Club staff then confused her for a members daughter and admitted her before she was stopped in the lobby by a suspicious clerk who alerted other agents.

Zhang was carrying a laptop, phones and other electronic gear, which led to initial speculation that she might be a spy, but she was never charged with espionage and text messages she exchanged with a trip organizer indicated she was a fan of the president and wanted to meet him or his family to discuss possible deals.

Zhang was found guilty in September of trespassing and lying to Secret Service agents. She was sentenced in November to time served and ordered deported.

In another Mar-a-Lago trespassing case, a University of Wisconsin student was arrested in November 2018 after he mixed in with guests being admitted to the club. He pleaded guilty in May to a misdemeanor and received probation.

In the incidents involving Zhang and the Wisconsin student, Trump and his family were staying at the resort, but none were ever threatened.

Mar-a-Lago is more vulnerable to unlawful intrusion than previous presidential retreats because it is a working business that admits members and their guests daily on to the grounds, even when the president is present.

With the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Floridas Intracoastal Waterway to the west, Mar-a-Lago sits on the Palm Beach barrier island, a 128-room, 62,500-square-foot (5,8000-square-meter) symbol of opulence and power. The Trump family business doubled the initiation fee to $200,000 after the president was elected in 2016. He spends many weekends between November and April there, mingling with the clubs 500 members, who pay $14,000 in annual dues to belong. New members pay a $200,000 initiation fee.

Federal agencies spent about $3.4 million per Trump visit to the resort, much of it on security, according to an analysis of four 2017 trips by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The Secret Service doesnt decide who is invited or welcome at the resort; that responsibility belongs to the club. Agents do screen guests outside the perimeter before theyre screened again inside.
[January 07, 2020] Tyler Technologies to Provide City of Oxnard, California, with Modern ERP Solution

Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: TYL) announced it has signed a five-year, software-as-a-service (SaaS (News - Alert)) agreement with the city of Oxnard, California, for an integrated ERP solution to replace the city's 30-year-old legacy system. The city selected enterprisewide modules from Tyler's Munis enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution, EnerGov civic services suite, ExecuTime time and attendance applications, and Socrata Open Finance public data access and analysis portal. The city's current ERP solution has been in place since 1988 and has become inefficient and unsustainable for the city's growing needs. "The city of Oxnard needs to evolve into a 21st-century organization that provides modern, easy-to-use services that our residents, businesses, and city staff expect from a well-run government," said Keith Brooks, chief information officer for the city of Oxnard. Currently, city staff submit paper timesheets, which must be manually entered into the payroll system, and the current software relies on paper-based work orders for publi utility asset maintenance and management.



The Oxnard City Council selected Tyler's suite of solutions to improve accessibility to services used by residents and businesses, as well as allow city staff to be more transparent with its constituents. With Tyler's software, residents will be able to use a resident portal for utility services, apply and schedule permit inspections, and pay fees online, eliminating the need for paper. Businesses will be able to submit electronic plans for review, allowing them to easily track changes online. Additionally, vendors transacting with the city will have the option to submit invoices online and track payments in real time, improving their accessibility.

"We're pleased to support the city of Oxnard's vision of becoming a more modern and efficient government entity," said Chris Webster, president of Tyler's ERP Division. "Tyler's solutions will help the city to become less reliant on paper processes and improve accessibility for residents. We look forward to helping the city serve their constituents." About Tyler Technologies (News - Alert), Inc. Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL) is the largest and most established provider of integrated software and technology services focused on the public sector. Tyler's end-to-end solutions empower local, state, and federal government entities to operate more efficiently and connect more transparently with their constituents and with each other. By connecting data and processes across disparate systems, Tyler's solutions are transforming how clients gain actionable insights that solve problems in their communities. Tyler has more than 21,000 successful installations across 10,000 sites, with clients in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, and other international locations. A financially strong company, Tyler has achieved double-digit revenue growth every quarter since 2012. It was also named to Forbes' "Best Midsize Employers" list in 2018 and recognized twice on its "Most Innovative Growth Companies" list. More information about Tyler Technologies, headquartered in Plano, Texas, can be found at tylertech.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005079/en/

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Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], Jan 7 (ANI): Women activists in Hyderabad alleged that the attacks on students in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on January 5 were an attempt to silence the youth over their opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).



"It is heartbreaking to see that while JNU students were being brutally attacked by communal goons, the police stood there silently as spectators. How can a country which talks about the demographic advantage of having youth and students just condemn it on paper and fail to arrest and punish the perpetrators of the attack? We feel that this is a part of conspiracy," Devi, a woman activist told ANI on Monday.

"They started attacking the universities not just JNU or Jamia since many universities are taking part in the protest against CAA and NRC. They want to frighten the whole student community by attacking JNU which is the emotional centre of protest against the Centre," she added.

Khaleedha Parveen, another activist agreed with the statements issued by Devi.

On Sunday evening, more than 30 students of the university, including JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh, were injured and were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the JNU and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.

The JNU administration and political leaders, cutting across political lines, condemned the attack on students and urged the police to take action against the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, the situation remained tense but peaceful outside JNU on Monday morning as the university guards maintained a strict vigil at the gate, checking I-cards of all those entering the university. (ANI)


Latest poster offering reward for information on Josiah Hilderbrand and Jon Cleary, who went missing on their way to a Dead and Company concer

More of the Story

More of the Story is a regular feature in the Yakima Herald-Republic that follows up on stories the newspaper has covered previously. To suggest a topic, email news@yakimaherald.com with "More of the Story" in the subject line.
Boston-based WGBH, the largest producer of PBS content for TV and the web, is expanding to Central Massachusetts.

The public broadcasting company announced today it will open a news bureau in downtown Worcester in space previously occupied by the Telegram & Gazette.

The new space, which is expected to open in the spring, will house a fully-equipped broadcast studio, the organization said in a news release. The bureau will produce radio and online content for WGBH News. The station said the move reinforces its commitment to covering stories and listening to voices from communities across Massachusetts.

WGBH is looking to hire one full-time reporter to station at the Worcester bureau, it said.

Its a very exciting city with a lot that is happening in it, Kate Zachry, news director at WGBH News told MassLive. We know that having an on-the-ground presence and full-time reporter dedicated to that region will lead to better engagement to the community.

The new news bureau will better help the station expand on existing coverage and shine a spotlight on stories from the city of Worcester and Worcester County, WGBH said in its release.

Earlier last year the WGBH Educational Foundation, which holds the broadcast license for Springfield-based WGBY announced a $6 million grant to New England Public Media, an alliance of WGBY and New England Public Radio, to help expand journalism, digital, education and cultural services over a six-year period.

The new studio on Federal Street in Worcester is part of the former Telegram & Gazette building that was sold to the Worcester Business Development Corporation in 2011. The property now houses an innovation center and a downtown campus for Quinsigamond Community College, among other things. It underwent a $37 million renovation, spearheaded by the WBDC following the move of the Telegram & Gazette to the Mercantile Center on Front Street.

MassLive also opened a Worcester office in the summer of 2018, marking its further expansion into Worcester and east. The office, located at 10 Mechanic St., is home to a dedicated sales and news team.

The city of Worcester continues to undergo a renaissance in the past several years, with an expansion of the dining scene as well as an explosion in development. The Pawtucket Red Sox announced a move to the city in 2019 and construction for Polar Park, the new home of the Worcester Red Sox is under construction.

The states Cannabis Control Commission also moved to the citys Union Station and will begin holding its meetings there.

WGBH produces content such as Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow, Frontline, Nova, American Experience, Arthur and more than a dozen lifestyle and childrens shows. The organization also has a bureau in Dorchester and a presence at the State House.
The security team of Alibaba, China's leading e-commerce company, has helped dissuade more than 1,000 potential buyers from committing suicide since July 2019, and has worked together with local police to resolve more than 200 suicide incidents.

Alibaba Security is responsible for reducing risk at various levels. In addition to cracking down on fake goods for consumers, creating a better business environment for merchants, and helping buyers and sellers carry out smooth transactions, the department has been trying to solve social problems through the technology + co-governance model for many years.

The suicide interrupters from the project team are responsible for comforting those found to be suicidal and dissuade them from attempting to take their own lives.

"Many young people are not determined to commit suicide at first, however, they are struggling to choose between survival and death, which they are reluctant to tell to their family, friends and other close people about," said Wu Gang, one of the suicide interrupters, adding that "on the Internet, it may be easier to open up to complete strangers."

According to statistics, after Alibaba Security's suicide interrupter project officially went into operation, multiple suicidal incidents were discovered every day through its early warning and business feedback algorithmic model.

In Wu Gang's view, what suicide interrupters can do is identify the distress signals initially shown by potential buyers, intercept their orders that may have been placed, and help them get through the most dangerous time.

"There are some obvious characteristics of people at high risk," Wu pointed out, adding that these characteristics can be predicted not only by the algorithm warning model, but can also be detected through communication during the process of providing services.

More than 800,000 people commit suicide each year, according to the World Health Organization's first suicide prevention report, published in September 2014.

More than five years later, there has been no official update on the figure. But there is no denying that in recent years, suicide has repeatedly become the focus of social attention.
By the end of the Martine Rose presentation at London Fashion Week Men's shows this year, one thing was certain: Rose loves her brand's home city, uniting various elements of the city and its distinct subcultures within her work.



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Staged in the gym hall of her daughter's primary school in Kentish Town, the show had a retrospective feel, looking back at '70s streetwear and youth club culture.

"This is my daughter's school and it's a really great school," Rose told reporters after the show. "I think it's really optimistic, really universal... primary school is a really magical place and I wanted everyone to feel that, to feel really optimistic. Young people and their education, it's really fucking important. It's the future! We need to invest in them and inspire them."

Still, Rose didn't just rely on nostalgia to showcase her creativity. Among the tie-dye jeans, paisley shirts, and skater style tees, was an experimental take on big volume hair. While some models sported the ultra frizzy style in all its glory, others had hair swept to one side of their face giving the appearance of a freshly taken nap.

The punk rock aesthetic, created by hair stylist Gary Gill, and was balanced with fairly simple and minimalist makeup. Then there were the brows which  in stepping away from the thick and bushy brows that have otherwise dominated the runways as of late  were pared down (and often shaved to a small section) to match fresh, dewy skin.

Finishing this lineup of inspired looks was a surreal backdrop paying homage to both the cultural landscape of London and Rose's own shows.
Given the falling readership of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, France seems much less keen to embrace biting satirical humour than it initially appeared back in 2015.

By Jonathan Ervine

After the terror attack on the Paris office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on 7 January, 2015 left 12 people dead, many declared Je suis Charlie (I am Charlie) in solidarity. But behind the understandable emotion that accompanied such declarations lay a more complicated reality. Many reactions to the attack were more conservative than first appeared, and not in keeping with the values of the publication. Five years on, Je suis Charlie has quite a hollow ring to it.

Before 2015, about 40,000 people read Charlie Hebdo each week. Given that many hundreds of thousands declared je suis Charlie, most were clearly not regular readers.

Je suis Charlie primarily appears to have been a statement of sympathy rather than an endorsement of the brand of humour of this subversive publication. The phrase also symbolised a desire to defend freedom of expression, although not necessarily an agreement with the ways in which Charlie Hebdo has expressed itself.

Charlie Hebdo has traditionally taken pride in describing itself as a journal irresponsable (irresponsible newspaper). It has been happy to describe its humour as bete et mechant (stupid and nasty). This sometimes dark and provocative humour has attracted criticism over the years, not least from politicians. Yet many authority figures that Charlie Hebdo had ruthlessly mocked were present in the demonstrations that took place in January 2015.

And as was observed at the time, the presence of certain world leaders also pointed to a degree of hypocrisy. Where many sought to defend freedom of speech, there were several leaders who had restricted freedom of expression in their own countries. The international non-profit organisation Reporters Without Borders was particularly critical of figures such as Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Commemorating while forgetting

Charlie Hebdo has generally been keen to laugh about anything and everything, and in whatever way it pleases. But despite the focus on freedom of expression in the aftermath to the 2015 attack, there were noticeable inconsistencies. In the immediate aftermath, several topical comedy programmes on French television were not broadcast as writers and presenters struggled to find a way to engage with such horrific events in a humorous manner.

A rare exception was the Canal Plus show Les Guignols, whose brand of humour was sometimes similar to Charlie Hebdo. The daily programme, which featured latex puppets of many well known figures, included several sketches about the attack, broadcast only hours after it had taken place. These included jokes about increased levels of terror threats. It also involved a latex puppet of the Prophet Muhammad distancing himself from the attackers. The show, which was dedicated to the magazine, concluded with a sketch in which several of the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists who had been killed were allowed into heaven despite having frequently mocked religion.

Yet many sections of the French media, and French society in general, were reluctant to embrace such dark humour. At an event in September 2017, comedian Jeremy Ferrari told of how several television stations cancelled planned interviews with him about his new show in early 2015. Stations may have been making time to discuss freedom of expression, but he said they seemed reluctant to discuss the way his stand-up show mocked war and terrorism.

People who sought to play down or joke about the Charlie Hebdo attack in France in early 2005 also risked being charged with the offence of l'apologie du terrorisme (excusing terrorism). In a school north of Paris, a pupil was reportedly disciplined for laughing at a joke about the name of a gunman who killed several people in the days after the Charlie Hebdo attack, and was made to repeatedly write the phrase one does not laugh about serious things.

A challenge for comedians

Several years on, as I explore in my recent book on the topic, French comedians seem torn between insisting on the importance of being able to joke about whatever topics they wish and worrying about the consequences of doing so.

In 2015, the comedian Sophia Aram started performing a show in which she defended Charlie Hebdo and its values. She insists on the importance of continuing to freely mock religion and extremism.

Mustapha El Atrassi  a comedian who shares Arams French-Moroccan roots and was also brought up in a Muslim family  also insists on the need to keep embracing jokes that deal with taboos. But he argues too that not all comedians are equally free to joke about terrorism. He said that a French comedian called Maxence  a stereotypically white, European, middle class name  is likely to get a much more positive response to dark humour about terrorism than someone from his background.

Focusing on the depictions of the Prophet Muhammad that made Charlie Hebdo a target for fundamentalists, meanwhile, the comedian Stephane Guillon said in 2016: If you can die due to a drawing, you can die due to a sketch. He again evoked his fear of the potentially dangerous consequences of mocking the Prophet Muhammad on stage in 2018. At an event to commemorate the third anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attack, the normally acerbic comic stated: I dont want to miss out on seeing my children grow up due to a joke about Muhammad.

Five years on, France has not continued to embrace values associated with Charlie Hebdo.

Shortly after the attack, the magazines number of subscribers rose to 260,000 and six months on it was selling 120,000 copies each week via newsagents. But by 2018, it had only 35,000 subscribers and sold a further 35,000 copies per week to non-subscribers. After a further decline in sales, it marked the fourth anniversary of the attacks in 2019 with an editorial that asked its readers: Are you still there?

One thing that is certainly not still there is Canal Pluss Les Guignols, the satirical show featuring latex puppets. Its four main writers were fired in summer 2015 and the show moved to a less prominent slot. In 2018, the iconic show was finally cancelled by Canal.

Ultimately, France seems much less keen to embrace biting satirical humour than it initially appeared back in 2015.
A hat referencing the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment is pictured in the vehicle of an Open Carry Texas member in Houston, Texas, on Sept. 24, 2018. (REUTERS/Loren Elliott)

Virginia Beach Passes Second Amendment Sanctuary Resolution

The Virginia Beach City Council passed a resolution making the city a Second Amendment sanctuary, the latest such effort in Virginia as state lawmakers push for strict gun control laws.

The Jan. 6 vote in the largest city in Virginia was 6-4.

Members of the public weighed in for more than three hours before council members voted. This resolution is balanced in keeping with our Constitution and recent Supreme Court decision, and we ask the General Assembly respect citizens rights as they deliberate in Richmond over these very important and emotional issues, Mayor Bobby Dyer said before the meeting.

The resolution declares Virginia Beach a Second Amendment Constitutional City.

The city has a continued commitment to support all provisions of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, including the right of the people to keep and bear arms, the resolution states.

The city government wont use resources to prosecute gun control laws, according to the resolution. City officials also called, in the resolution, for state lawmakers not to pass any laws that would violate freedoms outlined by the state or in the Bill of Rights, stating, the City Council expresses opposition to any law that would unconstitutionally restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens of the City to keep and bear arms.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said at a press conference with Democrat leaders on Tuesday that the gun control bills include a red flag law, a law restricting handgun purchases to once a month, and a universal background check law.

Number one: Our eight pieces of gun legislation dont threaten the Second Amendment. Number two: They are all constitutional, said Northam.

We have no intention of calling out the National Guard. Were not going to cut off peoples electricity. Were not going to go door to door and confiscate peoples weapons, he added. Were going to pass common-sense legislation that will keep guns out of dangerous hands and keep Virginia safer.

Spectators applaud as the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to pass a Second Amendment Sanctuary City resolution at a meeting in Buckingham, Virginia, on Dec. 9, 2019. (Steve Helber/AP Photo)

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat, said last month that resolutions like the one passed by Virginia Beach have no legal effect.

The push to declare counties and cities as Second Amendment sanctuaries comes after Democrats won the state Senate and the House of Delegates in November 2019. With Northam also in office, Democrats have a tight grip on the power to make laws and have vowed to pass a slew of gun control measures.

One of the bills pre-filed by incoming Democrats, Senate Bill 16, proposed by incoming Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, would change the definition of assault firearm in the state and make it a felony to own some pistols, rifles, and shotguns labeled as such weapons under the law.

The Second Amendment battle has played out nationwide. In Virginia, a slew of areas have taken action since November.

In Matthews County, for instance, the Board of Supervisors voted last month to make the jurisdiction a Second Amendment sanctuary. In another case, Chesapeakes City Council passed a resolution last month affirming its commitment to citizens rights under the Second Amendment.

According to a list compiled by WAVY, at least 14 Virginia counties or cities have voted to either affirm rights or make Second Amendment sanctuary declarations.
InsurTechNY, an InsurTech community in the New York metro area spanning carriers, brokers, startups and investors, has opened the application window for the 2020 InsurTech Startup Competition.

The competition has two tracks and will award $300,000 in prizes to the six winning teams. Startups in the early-stage track will compete for the title of the most investable startup. The growth-stage teams will compete to demonstrate the highest year over year growth potential. Top teams will get to pitch their business or demo their platform at the InsurTechNY Spring Conference on Mar 19, 2020, where judges will select the winners.

Were looking worldwide for the top startups that support the insurance industry to showcase their platforms, said InsurTechNY co-founder David Gritz in an InsurTechNY press release. Our team has curated the most active investors and insurance innovation leaders to judge the competition.

Judges for the competition will be evaluating startups for potential investment or pilot opportunities. They comprise investment organizations including New York Angels, Anthemis and CT Innovation. The pool of judges represents the insurance value chain from broker to reinsurer, including NFP Ventures, Transamerica and GreenlightRe.

The deadline for submissions is February 7, 2020. Finalists to present in-person will be announced in early March 2020.

Founded in 2019, InsurTechNY brings together carriers, brokers, investors and InsurTech startups via bi-monthly programs. InsurTechNYs mission is to drive talent to insurance, make regulation innovation-friendly, attract InsurTechs to the New York metro area and improve access to investment.

Source: InsurTechNY

Topics InsurTech Tech New York Startups
EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The president of East Syracuse Chevrolet has been elected chairman of the New York State Automobile Dealers Association for 2020.

Gino Barbuto was elected chairman in November during the associations annual meeting and convention, according to a news release from the state group. The chairmanship started Jan. 1, 2020.

The trade organization represents about 1,000 franchised new-vehicle dealers in the state.

Barbuto started out at East Syracuse Chevrolet as a service adviser and held the positions of service manager, sales manager, used-car manager and general manager before buying the dealership in 2011.

He has held leadership roles in the Syracuse Auto Dealers Association and has spearheaded fundraising efforts for area charities. He has served as vice-chairperson for the Charity Preview event before the Syracuse Auto Expo, an annual gala that has channeled millions of dollars into area charities.
A 21-year-old man is facing counts of murder and attempted murder after New Orleans police say he fatally shot an employee at a Walmart store in Gentilly and wounded another person there Monday night.

Police on Tuesday identified the accused killer as Kentrell Banks. While officials havent identified the man slain at the store in the 4300 block of Chef Menteur Highway, friends said the victim was London McKnight, 28.

+2 'Everything revolved around his son': Man killed in Walmart shooting was dad, asst. manager The man who was fatally shot while working at a Walmart store in Gentilly on Monday night was an assistant manager who leaves behind a young s

According to preliminary information from police, the worker was assisting Banks when Banks allegedly shot the employee in the chest. That victim died at the scene, police said.

A 25-year-old woman who happened to be nearby was struck in the foot with a stray bullet, police said. Paramedics took her to a hospital.

Banks allegedly tried to leave the store, but a New Orleans police officer working an off-duty security detail stopped him before he was able to get away. After that officer issued a call for additional help, more police arrived, and the cops took Banks in for questioning before jailing him overnight, police said.

Banks would receive mandatory life imprisonment if he is ultimately convicted of murder. He could get an additional maximum of 50 years if he is convicted of attempted murder.

Police havent discussed a possible motive behind the deadly shooting. But, in a statement, police said, Investigators have gathered sufficient evidence to determine that the shooting was not a random act of violence and that Banks targeted the victim.

Eugene Triggs Jr., who described himself as a friend and co-worker of McKnight, said McKnights world revolved around his young son.

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London  wanted to make sure  he was a good role model for his son, said Triggs, who believed the victims boy was 5 or 6. All he talked about was doing better for his son, so his son was taken care of, and his son had a good life.

Triggs said McKnight grew up in Kenner and attended Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School. According to Triggs, McKnight was working as an assistant manager in the Walmart when he was killed.

Triggs said he doesnt know Banks and has gotten conflicting accounts about what may have preceded the shooting. Triggs said he was out of town Tuesday on a trip that McKnight was supposed to accompany him, but McKnight stayed back to work, never imagining what would befall him.

Every morning, he talked to his son, Triggs said of McKnight. Every afternoon, he talked to his son.

Many social media users took to their accounts to mourn news of McKnights death.

You can really do good in the world and it still not matter, one of the social media posts read. His baby boy is now fatherless because of someones ignorance. He didnt deserve to leave this earth on someone elses terms!

Editor's note: NOPD previously identified the suspect as Kentrell Baham. They have since updated his name as Kentrell Banks.
By Laman Ismayilova

As part of environmental education measures, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources together with the Ministry of Education plans to organize open classes in national parks for secondary school students.

At press conference, the spokeswoman for the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources Irada Ibragimova said that students can take part in open lessons in national parks located close to their schools.

The open lessons will be held regularly starting from January. Moreover, it is also planned to organize visits to national parks for children deprived of parental care.

The main goals of these events is to familiarize children with Azerbaijan's national parks and encourage children's love of nature .

A tree planting campaigns will be also held in Baku and the Absheron region as part of the project.

The Land of Fire is packed with dramatic natural sights, some a little more remarkable than others.

The countrys nine national parks, 11 state parks and 24 state reserves, are home to a wide variety of wildlife including eagles, gazelles, bears, wolves, deer, and wild boar.

Gobustan National Park

Settled since the 8th millennium BC, the area contains more than 600,000 distinct paintings, going as far back as 20,000 years to as recent as 5,000 years ago.

The reserve attracts not only local scientists but also by foreign archaeologists. The State Historical-Artistic Reserve has been functioning since 1967. In 2007, the reserve was included in the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage.

There are approximately 6,000 drawings in Gobustan  petroglyphes - stone and iron-age figures carved thousands of years ago and now considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The pictures dating back to 8 millenniums reflect different hunting scenes, ceremonial and ritual processes of the habitants of these places.

Gobustan petroglyphs were repeatedly investigated by the famous Norwegian explorer and adventurer Thor Heyerdahl, who recognized local boats petroglyphs as the oldest known images of pirogue in the world.

These vessels, similar to the old Scandinavian ships, prompted him to make sensational hypothesis statement about the connection between Norwegians and Azerbaijanis.

Thor Heyerdahl concluded that the ancestors of the Scandinavians were the migrants from Azerbaijan region.

Most of the rock engravings depict primitive men, animals, battle-pieces, ritual dances, bullfights, boats with armed oarsmen, warriors with lances in their hands, camel caravans, pictures of sun and stars.

Apart from petroglyphs, there is also this musical gemstone known as Gaval Dash. It makes a tambourine-like sound when it is hit in different points.

Another interesting touristic spot is a stone slab with a Latin inscription dated by the first century. The stone lab was left here by 12th Roman legion of the Emperor Domitian, which indicates that legion had stayed here.

Absheron National Park

Absheron National Park is a great place for all those fascinated by nature.

Established in the basis of Absheron State Nature Sanctuary, the national park stretches 783 ha area of administrative territory of Baku city.

The National Park is situated in the south-eastern end of Absheron peninsula in the Shah Dili territory.

More than 50 bird and animal species are encountered in Absheron National Park.

Gazelle, jackal, fox, rabbit, badger, Caspian seal, birds such as silver gull, wheezing swan, grey and red-headed black, white-eyed black ducks, big white bittern, sandpiper, bald-coot and other migrant birds have inhabited here.

Caspian seal which is considered rare species is encountered in the Caspian sea area of Absheron National Park, It is observed in seal cape mostly in May-August.

Notably, Caspian seal is included into the Guinness Book Records as the smallest seal in the World Ocean.

Nearly 25 plant species exist in the National Park. Some 17 species as well as one grown species of wormwood is encountered in Azerbaijan.

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a herbaceous, perennial plant with fibrous roots. It is commonly used for flavouring in some alcohol beverages.

Goygol National Park

Anyone visiting the Land of Fire should enjoy the magnificent views at Goygol National Park.

Cold climate with dry winter prevails in the area. Annual temperature of the weather wavers between 4-10 degrees C. Annual precipitation is 600-900 mm.

It includes one of the most beautiful and cleanest lakes in Azerbaijan- Goygol.

The lake gets its name from its deep blue-colored water. It was formed in 1939 as a result of earthquake occurred in Ganja. Kapaz mountain was tumbled down, blocked up the Aghsuchay river.

The water in lake is always cold even in August does not rise above + 17 C.

More than 423 types of trees, shrubs and medicinal plants grow here. In the surrounding forests you can meet wolves, foxes, deer, jackals, bears, lynx and many other animals. The lake area is ideal for walking, traveling, and family picnics. Recreation on the shore of the fresh lake is the best decision on hot days.

Shahdag National Park

The Shahdag National Park covers a territory of 115,895 ha, including five regions of the country. The Park was established in December 2006 to preserver mountain forests and pasture ecosystems located in high mountainous areas.

The height of the National Park territory is the main reason behind its climatic diversity, fertility of flora and richness of animal life. The landscape of the territory is fantastic and the mountains attract not only tourists, but also sportsmen to the highest peaks of the country, Bazarduzu Mountain of 4,466 meters above sea level.

The major types of trees are Caucasian Oak, Caucasian, European Hornbeam, Oriental Hornbeam, Oriental Beech, Silver Birch, Birch, Common Yew, White Willow, Common Walnut, Wild Cherry etc.

The national park is home to the rare East Caucasian tur, a mountain dwelling goat antelope found only in the eastern half of the Caucasus Mountains. Other large mammals found here are the Caucasian, Bezoar ibex, domestic goat, Caucasian lynx, Syrian brown bear, wild boar, Indian wolf, common jackal, common jungle cat, red fox, roe deer and others.

Zangazur National Park

Zangazur National Park was in 2009 on the base of Ordubad National Park in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. It was named after Academician Hasan Aliyev who is considered as a founder of ecology in Azerbaijan.

Furthermore, Nakhchivan is known to have 62 mammal species and subspecies. Some 32 of them such as blazilius horseshoe bat, southern horseshoe bat, porcupine, manul, bezoar goat and Caucasian muflon occur in the Zangazur National Park.

Moreover, approximately 12 carnivorous mammals such as leopard, wolf, jackal, fox, stripped hyena, badger, wild cat and other predators represent the major part of the fauna in the park.

In addition to mammals, 217 bird species and subspecies such as Levant sparrowhawk, great white pelican, Dalmatian pelican, white-tailed eagle, lammergeyer, short-toed eagle, great bustard and little bustard can be found in Nakhchivan. Notably, 15 of those species were added to the Red Book.

Zangazur National Park is also rich in rare plants. About 77 plants, including Iris elegantissima, Himantoglossum formosum, Dorema glabrum and other plants can be found here.

Altiagach National Park

Altiagach is mostly covered by temperate deciduous broadleaved forests. The major types of trees are Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica), Caucasian Oak (Quercus macranthera), Caucasian Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa), European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), Oriental Hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis), Oriental Beech (Fagus orientalis), Silver Birch (Betula pendula), White Birch (Betula pubescens), etc.

Established in 2004, the national park is home to the rare East Caucasian tur (Capra cylindricornis), a mountain dwelling goat antelope found only in the eastern half of the Caucasus Mountains. Other large mammals found here are the lynx (Lynx lynx), brown bear (Ursus arctos), wild boar (Sus scrofa), wolf (Canis lupus), golden jackal (Canis aureus), jungle cat (Felis chaus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), badger (Meles meles), and otter (Lutra lutra), etc.

Hirkan National Park

Hirkan National Park is located on the shores of the Caspian Sea in the southeast of Azerbaijan. The national park was established in 2004.

Its mission is to ensure the conservation of relict and endemic plant species of the Tertiary period, the protection of typical flora and fauna representatives of this area listed in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the implementation ofenvironmental monitoring, public environmental education as well as creating conditions for research, tourism and recreation.

The park is rich in plant species. The vegetation cover is mainly represented by trees and shrubs that form forests here.

Forests in the lower part predominantly comprise chestnut-leaved oak, ironwood and hornbeam together with black locust, Hirkan fig, Caucasian persimmon, etc.

Of 435 tree and shrub species occurring in Azerbaijan 150 ones grow in the Hirkan forests.

Front-Asian leopard, lynx, wild cat, badger, wild boar, roe deer, sika deer, raccoon are found among. Front-Asian leopard, protected under the Red Data Book of Azerbaijan and IUCN list can be found here.

The Red-listed species also include Talish longhorn beetle, Talish ground beetle, speckled wood, Talish orangetip butterfly, Caspian parandra, brahmid moth and other insects.

Hirkan National Park numbers over 118 bird species, 16 of which, including black stork, osprey, Northern goshawk, imperial eagle, Talish Caucasian pheasant, black francolin are listed in the Red Data Book of Azerbaijan.

Ag-Gol National Park

Ag-Gol National Park was established in 2003 for the preservation of migrating routes, areas of wintering and nesting of waterfowl and wader birds, as well as for breeding of commercial fish species.

The area of 4400 hectares covers the water area of lake Aggyol.

One of the most beautiful lakes in Azerbaijan is located on the territory of Agjabadi and Beylagan regions. This lake is inhabited by many species of birds included in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Red Book of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

These are lesser white-fronted goose, white-headed duck, marbled duck, ferruginous duck, little bustard, little comorant, as well as flamingoes, pelicans, all 7 species of herons and a variety of species of ducks, geese, rails, waders and others. Wolf, jackal, fox, hare, the reed beds and a lot of bats are found here.

Shirvan National Park

Established 2003, Shirvan National Parkwas created with a view to the conservation of foremost components of a semi-desert landscape, the protection of goitred gazelles listed in the Red Data Book of Azerbaijan and species of fauna that are typical to this territory. Its functions also envision the implementation of environmental monitoring, public environmental education, as well as creating conditions for tourism and recreation.

A chain of hills is the main terrain that developed as a result of the winds work and serves as an excellent refuge and shelter for gazelles.

Gazelle is considered lesser spread species in the world among mammals fauna. In this regard it exists mostly in Azerbaijan, Front, Middle and Central Asia. The territory of Azerbaijan is considered the main existence area of gazelles.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Banking services at public sector banks are likely to be hit on Wednesday due to a nationwide strike called by 10 central trade unions.

Most of the lenders have already informed stock exchanges about the January 8 strike and its impact on banking services.

Various bank employee associations, including AIBEA, All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), BEFI, INBEF, INBOC and Bank Karmachari Sena Mahasangh (BKSM), have expressed their willingness to participate in the strike.

Banking services like deposit and withdrawal, cheque clearing and instrument issuance are expected to be impacted due to the strike.

However, services at private sector banks are unlikely to be impacted.

Nearly 25 crore people are likely to take part in an all-India strike on Wednesday to protest against the governments anti-people policies.

Trade unions INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with various sectoral independent federations and associations had adopted a declaration in September last to go on a nationwide strike on January 8, 2020.

The Ministry of Labour has failed to assure on any of the demands of workers which called a meeting on January 2, 2020. The attitude of the government is that of contempt towards labour as we construe from its policies and actions, the 10 CTUs said in a joint statement.

We expect participation of not less than 25 crore of working people in the forthcoming National General Strike on January 8, 2020, to be followed by many more actions seeking reversal of the anti-worker, anti-people, anti-national policies of the Government, it said.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R.) today issued the following statement on Sen. Scott Wiener's Senate Bill 50, which would help address the state's urgent housing shortage and affordability crisis:

"The California Association of REALTORS' 200,000 real estate professionals stand with Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), mayors and other housing advocates who are united in urging the Legislature to approve Senate Bill (SB) 50  a bill we're co-sponsoring, along with California YIMBY and the Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California," said C.A.R. Treasurer Jennifer Branchini, an East Bay REALTOR who spoke at this morning's press conference.

C.A.R. joined bill authors Sen. Wiener and Sen. Skinner, along with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff, and housing advocates on the steps of Oakland City Hall to announce the amended SB 50. Lawmakers have until January 31 to pass bills introduced in 2019.

"If we're truly serious about increasing the supply of housing, SB 50 must be passed. A recent study found that SB 50's reforms could increase housing by 400 percent and increase affordable housing by 500 percent. Californians desperately need housing, and the time to act is now," said C.A.R. President Jeanne Radsick.

"Bold and focused leadership is required to solve California's housing and affordability crisis, and 2020 can be the year we advance meaningful solutions that will result in a brighter housing future for all of us," Radsick said.

Leading the way...  in California real estate for more than 110 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States, with more than 200,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.

SOURCE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R.)

Related Links

https://www.car.org


Former Obama administration cabinet secretary Julian Castro endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) for president four days after he dropped out of the 2020 race.

Today Im proud to endorse @ewarren for president. Elizabeth and I share a vision of America where everyone counts. An America where peoplenot the wealthy or well-connectedare put first. Im proud to join her in the fight for big, structural change, Castro, 45, said in a statement.

Castro released a video celebrating his grandmother and mother, a single mom to Castro and his twin brother, saying: My story wouldnt be possible without the strong women who came before me.

Theres one candidate I see who will make sure that no matter where you live in America or where you family came from in the worldyou have a path to opportunity, he said.

Today Im proud to endorse @ewarren for president. Elizabeth and I share a vision of America where everyone counts. An America where peoplenot the wealthy or well-connectedare put first. Im proud to join her in the fight for big, structural change. pic.twitter.com/xDvMEKqpF3  Julian Castro (@JulianCastro) January 6, 2020

Castro met with Warren, a meeting documented in the video. Castro told her that he sees his vision in her campaign.

The thing I hear the most from people in the selfie lines is hope, Warren, 70, told Castro. Because we know whats broken, we know how to fix it, were building a movement to get it done.

It takes a great president, it also takes the people behind the president, Castro responded.

Castro ended his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination on Jan. 2. He struggled to meet thresholds to make the debate stage in recent months, missing the December debate. He was not expected to qualify for the series of debates in early voting states that start in mid-January.

Castro was mayor of San Antonio, Texas, before becoming the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the later years of the Obama administration. He joined the University of Texas at Austins LBJ School of Public Affairs in 2017 after leaving that position.

Im so proud of the campaign that weve run together. Weve shaped the conversation on so many important issues in this race, stood up for the most vulnerable people, and given a voice to those who are often forgotten, Castro said when he announced the end of his campaign.

But with only a month until the Iowa caucuses, and given the circumstances of this campaign season, Ive determined that it simply isnt our time. So today its with a heavy heart and with profound gratitude that I will suspend my campaign for president.

From The Epoch Times
The Legislature begins its 60-day session Wednesday with two familiar issues at the top of its agenda: property tax relief and prisons.

With the state seeing an uptick in tax revenue, Gov. Pete Ricketts is pushing to have most of that revenue be put toward adding to the property tax credit relief fund.

With this being a short session, adding to the relief fund may be the best approach. In the past, weve advocated for structural reform to Nebraskas tax system. Without more state funding for education, its hard to see how the state will accomplish a significant reduction in property taxes, especially for ag producers, who are hit hard by the current tax system.

It appears the Legislatures Revenue Committee isnt giving up on a bigger plan. The Omaha World-Herald reported that the committee has been meeting to come up with a proposal and are discussing it with the governor.

The plan would use the excess revenue to increase state aid to K-12 schools and reduce property taxes by decreasing the valuation level used for funding schools. Farmland would be taxed at 55% of its actual value, down from the current 75%, and residential and commercial properties would be taxed at 85% of their value, down from the current 100%.
The auction of over 260 diamonds weighing 316.33 carats with an estimated value of Rs 3 crore found in mines in Madhya Pradesh's Panna district began on Tuesday, an official said.

These include an 18.13 carat diamond which had gone unsold on two previous auctions, the official added.

"A total of 261 diamonds weighing 316.33 carats will be auctioned, the process for which began today. The auction will continue for the next two days. The cumulative cost of these diamonds is Rs 3 crore," said Panna Diamond Officer RK Pandey.

He said diamond traders from Gujarat and Mumbai are expected to attend the auction.

Panna district, some 385 kilometres from state capital Bhopal, is estimated to have diamond reserves totalling 12 lakh carats, officials said.

A carat is a unit of mass equalling 200 milligrams and is used for measuring diamonds and other such gems.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2020) - Centurion Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: CTN) ("Centurion", or the "Company") reports that over the last several quarters, management has undertaken a substantive review and evaluation of legal cannabis cultivation, extraction and distribution opportunities in South America, specifically focused on low-cost, stable jurisdictions including Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Peru. A significant portion of this time has been spent assessing consumer preferences and local sensitivities toward cannabis in an effort to develop a sales-focused and consumer-curated cannabis production strategy.

SOUTH AMERICA

Having a larger population than North America, South American countries are moving quickly with varied cannabis legalization presently rolling-out on a country-by-country basis. Brazil alone has a population exceeding 200 million and Centurion envisions a significant business opportunity there following recent cannabis legalization that prohibits any domestic production but allows importation of certain cannabis products.

David Tafel, Centurion's President & CEO, comments: "We strongly believe there is a near-term opportunity in South America for the Company and investors due to:

A massive population exceeding more than 400 million people; Broad-based consumer acceptance of cannabis and cannabis derivative products; Per capita annual spending on cannabis exceeding US$200 in mature markets (Source: Grizzle.com, January 2019); Limited domestic supply; and An almost complete lack of capital-markets focus on this region.

2019 IN REVIEW

Centurion management has carefully observed the maturing of the Canadian and American cannabis space over the past 12 months, which includes excess inventory that was inadequately curated for consumer demand as well as cost structures that were misaligned with operational consumer products companies. Both issues have been pervasive across the sector and have been focal points for investor portfolio adjustment.

The Company's objectives are to develop a sales-oriented, South American focused company that can: (a) produce derivative cannabis products as inputs for consumer products companies; and (b) produce an API isolate for the pharmaceutical industry. On this last point, the Company has ongoing detailed discussions directly and indirectly with multiple South American pharmaceutical companies to quantify potential national and international markets as well as determine potential feasible products and distribution networks.

PATH FORWARD

The Company has narrowed its strategic focus to target Uruguayan CBD distillate and isolate extraction, produced by experienced high-quality technical teams with access to low-cost, high-grade CBD biomass. Subject to implementation of processing activities in Uruguay, the Company intends to incorporate a multi-country business plan approach that involves cultivation and processing operations in Argentina, Paraguay and Peru. Product sales and distribution would target the majority of South America as well as the EU.



URUGUAY PARAGUAY ARGENTINA PERU Population 3,500,000 7,000,000 44,000,000 32,000,000 STRATEGY Export: Brazil & EU Export: Brazil & EU Domestic Domestic CBD Legal Legal < 1% THC Legal < 1% THC Legal < 1% THC THC Legal for Export Not permissible Medical Medical

Management believes one or more transactions with these attributes have the potential to deliver near term/high margin cash flows. Subject to completion of successful negotiations, the Company's immediate objective is to execute one or more agreements within the first quarter of 2020.

The Company wishes to advise the investing community, that there is no guarantee of success on consummating any new strategic transaction.

PRIVATE PLACEMENT

Further to the Company's November 1, 2019 news release announcing a first tranche private placement financing, the Company will not proceed with additional tranches to this financing.

ABOUT CENTURION

Centurion Minerals Ltd. is a Canadian-based company with a focus on South American asset development. The Company's lead investment is its interest in the Ana Sofia Agri-Gypsum Fertilizer Project. In addition, the Company is actively pursuing business opportunities in the South American cannabis and related products industry.

"David G. Tafel"

President and CEO

For Further Information Contact:

David Tafel

604-484-2161

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward looking statements concerning future operations of Centurion Minerals Ltd. (the "Company"). All forward-looking statements concerning the Company's future plans and operations, including management's assessment of the Company's project expectations or beliefs may be subject to certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual performance and exploration and financial results may differ materially from any estimates or projections. Such statements include, among others: possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of current exploration activities; actual results of reclamation activities; conclusions of future economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents and other risks of the mining industry; delays and other risks related to construction activities and operations; timing and receipt of regulatory approvals of operations; the ability of the Company and other relevant parties to satisfy regulatory requirements; the availability of financing for proposed transactions, programs and working capital requirements on reasonable terms; the ability of third-party service providers to deliver services on reasonable terms and in a timely manner; market conditions and general business, economic, competitive, political and social conditions.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51206
Balbo takes over for former Police Chief Bill Paterson, who is retiring from the department after 22 years. Paterson said Monday he will continue working with the sheriff's office under contract as an outside consultant handling the department's finances.

Balbo lives in Valparaiso with his wife of 37 years. He has three children and four dogs, he said.

Balbo commended the career professionals Martinez has on staff, saying he plans to rely heavily on them for guidance and for improving relationships with other law enforcement agencies in and around the Region.

"This isn't just about crime in Lake County, Indiana. It's about crime across the borders, the state, as well as counties coming across the entire Northern District of Indiana. It's clearly critical that we have that inner cooperative and collaboration on a daily basis. These gentlemen and ladies in this room have started that, and we intend to move that forward and actually do better with it," he said.

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SPRINGFIELD  Illinois industries are reacting to new U.S. Census Bureau data that shows Illinois led the nation in population loss over the past decade. The state lost nearly 160,000 residents in just six years, which could mean fewer members in Congress representing the Land of Lincoln.

Over the six consecutive years of population losses, the rate of decline accelerated year-to-year with more than 51,000 fewer people in the 12 months that ended July 1, 2019.

Illinois Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Maisch said Illinois tax and labor policies are not friendly for businesses. While Maisch said they dont get exit surveys when businesses leave, they do hear about the uncertainty businesses face in Illinois from things like a proposed progressive income tax.

And [businesses] just say Ive got governors in other states and legislatures in other states that are really courting me and promising me stability and a successful future, Maisch said.

Illinoisans will get to vote on changing the state constitutions flat income tax to a structure with higher rates for higher earners this November.

For farmers, Sangamon County Farm Bureau President Phil Sidles said they cant just pick up their land and move it out of state.

So when we lose that rural representation it is a concern of mine, and theres fewer and fewer young farmers in the area so youre going to see that representation shrink even more especially in the ag world, Sidles said.

Demographers say its likely Illinois will lose one U.S. congressman, if not two, come the next reapportionment.

Illinois had 25 congressional districts in 1948, but lost a seat after the 1950 census. Today, there are 18 congressional seats. Illinois lost its 19th congressional seat in 2013 after the 2010 reapportionment. The next reapportionment will occur after the 2020 Census and before the 2022 elections.

If Illinois loses more congressional representation because its bleeding population to other states, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, warns that will mean lost representation for rural areas.

That concerns me long term is whos standing up for agriculture, whos standing up for our corn and soybean farmers, for crop insurance, our locks and dams, Lahood said.

To reverse course, LaHood said state government needs reform.

But again, focusing on a business climate on how do we keep illinois businesses here to thrive and prosper and do well and I think you do that with good economic policy, LaHood said. Listen, we have wonderful assets in this state. Illinois a great state. But we havent had good governance and thats what we need in this state.

LaHood pushed for term limits and fair maps. While leader term limits are imposed on the Illinois Senate and House Republicans, House Democrats dont have such a rule. Michael Madigan has been House speaker for all but two years since 1983. Proposals for a fair map amendment that would take redistricting out of the hands of politicians have gone nowhere at the statehouse.
Justin Wilcox, CPA [A] remarkable force for growth and development.

Fiondella, Milone & LaSaracina (FML), Glastonbury-based accounting and advisory firm, announces the promotion of Justin Wilcox, CPA, to Partner.

Justin has been a remarkable force for growth and development for the firm since he started, said FML Founding Tax Partner, Lisa (LaSaracina) Willauer. His initiative in exploring emerging areas of tax regulation, such as cryptocurrency, as well as his strong client relationships, have made him an essential member of our team. Through this promotion, were confident he will continue to be one as our firm evolves.

Wilcox has been with the firm since graduating from Quinnipiac University School of Business with a BS in Accounting. At FML, he was most recently Senior Manager, Tax Services, where he specialized in tax and advisory services for emerging and private equity backed companies as well as high-growth and publicly traded companies, including professional service providers, bioscience, medtech and new technology companies, cryptocurrency companies, and manufacturers. His consulting experience includes transaction buy-side due diligence, sell-side tax benefit valuation for corporations, cryptocurrency taxation, earnings and profits analysis, and tax basis studies.

Additionally, Wilcox earned an MS in Taxation from the University of Hartford and is a member of the Connecticut Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs. Justin lives with his fiancee Kellie in Middlefield, Connecticut with their rescue Pitbull and white German Shepherd Dog.

ABOUT FML

Fiondella, Milone & LaSaracina LLP is an independent accounting firm specializing in assurance, tax, and advisory services. Founded in 2002, the firm based in Glastonbury and has offices in Stamford and New Haven and serves customers locally, regionally, and nationally. The firm has 10 partners, 28 CPAs, and a staff of 65 professionals. For more information, visit http://www.fmlcpas.com.
Beginning Jan. 6, 2020, Monday evenings, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. (Weeks 1-7) and 7 p.m.9:15 p.m. (Weeks 8-9)

The course is taught by Yael Weinstein

Part 1: This 9-week course explores the history of the conflict from the inception of the Jewish Aliyah in the 1800s through the Six-Day War. Course material is designed to encourage discussion and debate, and to challenge students to appreciate the basis of the conflicting historical claims made by all sides in the conflict.

The complexity of the conflict forces students to grapple with issues of religion, culture, history, politics, economics, identity and survivalall reflected through primary sources, including newspaper articles, poetry, songs, government documents, speeches, photographs and memoirs. The course will provide students with new tools for understanding and critiquing texts and events as the conflict continues to unfold.

The cost is $250 plus course materials.

Register at https://www.events.org/ereg.aspx?e=131267&m=10.
Delhi election 2020: Will AAP regain the faith of Aam Aadmi?

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 07: The 2020 Delhi elections is key for the the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as it looks to form a government for a second consecutive term.

In 2015, the party decimated the opposition, with an unprecedented 67 of 70 Assembly constituencies with a promise of corruption-free transparent government.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been out of power in the state for 20 years, hopes to repeat its stellar performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress is up for a battle for survival and to regain its lost political glory.

Give us vote only if work done: Arvind Kejriwals new pitch for Delhi elections

As many as 1.46 crore voters of Delhi will cast their votes on February 8 to decide who will govern the national capital.

AAP aims to make history by being voted back to power on the back of his governance record.

"Give us vote only if you think that we have done work. We deserve to come back in power only if you think we have done good work," Kejriwal appealed to the voters soon after the announcement of election dates.

On the other hand, BJP chief Amit Shah and Union minister Prakash Javadekar, who is BJP in-charge for the Delhi polls, have also accused Kejriwal of failing to fulfil any major promise he had made in the 2015 polls, asserting that it will also be a major election issue.

Kejriwal banks on a mix of populist schemes and personal appeal to repulse the saffron challenge to Aam Aadmi Party in the February 8 assembly polls.

Delhi elections on February 8, counting on Feb 11

Here we take a look at the issues that may affect Delhi elections

Rising prices

The soaring prices of onion, vegetables, LPG cylinders, pulses, cereals, edible oils, flour, bread and butter may prove to be one of the key issues for the AAP. The Kejriwal-led party will be on a safer side, if the electorate are able to distinguish, like they did in 2015 between state and centre policies.

Prices of milk, onion, pulses were already on a high and now packaged foods such as oil, butter and bread have also become dearer by 20-30%.

Student protests

Violence at various Delhi universities like Jamia Millia Islamia University and the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) also likely to play key role.

While BJP has accused the AAP of instigating protests, Kejriwal has condemned the protests and questioned the timing of the amendments in the citizenship law.

Kejriwal has, however, avoided to confront the BJP on national issues. He has been muted in his criticism of the CAA, while vowing to fight the polls on local matters and governance.

Kejriwal vs Who

The AAP has named Arvind Kejriwal its CM face the Opposition BJP and Congress are yet to announce their CM candidate for the elections.

For the BJP, names such as Manoj Tiwari, Hardeep Puri and Harsh Vardhan have been doing rounds.

The saffron party hinted that the party will rely on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity. "It will be Kejriwal vs the people."

This might turn out to be a plus for the AAP during the campaign.

Traffic and transport

Delhiites are more worried about inadequate public transport facilities in the state. The Delhi government had promised that 9,500 buses by 2020. But failed to reach the target as there are only 6,000.

Delhi has been categorised the most unsafe city of India, with nearly 40% of rapes, 33% of crimes against women.

The latest data from "Crime in India" report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) topped the state in cases of murder, abduction, juveniles in conflict with law and economic offences for that year.

Toxic air

Pollution, taxic air has taken centre stage perhaps for the first time in Indian democracy. AAP has said the pollution level dropped by 25 per cent in 2016-18 over the period 2012-14.

The air pollution in the city became so toxic after Diwali fetivities that the govt declared public health emergency in the Delhi-NCR and had advised people, especially children and the aged, to limit their exposure to the environment.

While the AAP has blamed the stubble burning in neighbouring states, the Delhi Congress has reminded the people the steps taken by the previous Sheila Dikshit-led government in her 15-year term to control pollution.

The BJP too is attacking the AAP over the air pollution.

The Aam Aadmi Party, the BJP and the Congress had won 54, 32 and nine per cent votes respectively in the 2015 assembly polls, as Kejriwal led his fledgling party to an unprecedented victory bagging 67 seats in the 70-member assembly.

The BJP was reduced to three seats, suffering its first electoral shock following its string of wins in state polls after Prime Minister Narendra Modi led it to a historic 2014 Lok Sabha win.

The election to the 70-member Delhi Assembly will take place on February 8 and results will be declared on February 11.

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Story first published: Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 17:14 [IST]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg has hired about 800 staff members as part of a plan to compete in the 14 states that hold Super Tuesday primary contests on March 3, his campaign said on Monday.

The media billionaire and former New York mayor has used his personal fortune to quickly build a national campaign since joining the presidential race in November - many months after Democratic Party front-runners started campaigning.

He trails leading Democrats Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders in public opinion polls as they seek to challenge Republican President Donald Trump in the November 2020 election.

But Bloombergs staffing levels gives his campaign a sizable nationwide presence. The campaign for Biden, a former U.S. vice president who leads the Democratic contest in many polls, said it has more than 400 staff members across the country.

Bloombergs hires reflect an unorthodox, risky strategy of focusing on the Democratic nominating contests in March and skipping the important first matchup - the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3 - as well as key primaries in New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

He has hired about 500 staff members in more than 30 states, in addition to about 300 at his New York campaign headquarters, a campaign spokeswoman said.

The campaign did not disclose state-by-state staffing tallies, but the organizations states director, Dan Kanninen, said there were staff on the ground in every Super Tuesday contest.

We will compete everywhere, said Kanninen. Our campaign is building the most robust national organization and infrastructure to beat Donald Trump.

The size of Bloombergs campaign staff was first reported by NBC News.

The candidate is also using his estimated $53 billion fortune to fund a massive advertising campaign that has prompted criticism from other candidates, including progressives Warren and Sanders, that Bloomberg is trying to buy the U.S. election.

Bloomberg, who is campaigning as a centrist Democrat, spent more than $76 million on television ads between mid-November and mid-December, more than all other presidential candidates put together, according to the Wesleyan Media Project.

His spending includes ad buys in delegate-rich Super Tuesday states like California and Texas, as well as in Florida, Illinois and Arizona, which wont hold contests until March 17.

Bloomberg has proposed creating a public health-insurance option, banning assault weapons and slashing U.S. carbon emissions - ideas that resemble those of fellow centrists Biden and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
Deval Patricks new campaign ad was filmed in Chicago  but its not airing in Illinois: Like Bloomberg, Patrick entered the Democratic race for president late last year. Entitled Not too late Patrick who spent part of his childhood in Chicagos Washington Park neighborhood and went on to become the first African American governor of Massachusetts, shot the 30-second ad on both the South Side and in Boston. Sitting alongside wife Diane, they explain that he jumped in to the race later because he wanted to be there as she underwent treatment for cancer. Now better, she says she encouraged Patrick, a close pal of former President Barack Obama, to get into the race. Because the ads will only be aired in the early caucus and primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina not Illinois  for now, those familiar Chicago-style two-flats he walks past may be lost on those viewers. Watch here.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Prior to the scale delivery of the China-built Tesla Model 3, the EV manufacturer has offered the first round of price reduction to consumers in China.



Guide price of a homegrown Model 3 Standard Range-Plus will be reduced by RMB32,000 to RMB323,800, according to a post on Tesla's WeChat account. It means that a buyer would get a Tesla Model 3 car with only RMB299,050 since the long-waited model also enjoys China's governmental NEV subsidy of RMB24,750.

Besides, users that have made pre-order also can benefit from the price reduction, a sales man briefed on the matter exposed.

Despite the price cut, Model 3's car buyers are allowed to select the type of charging piles and installment service. The home charging services for owners of Model S/X remain unchanged.

On December 30, the first batch of China-built Tesla Model 3 cars were handed over to 15 Tesla employees at the startup's first manufacturing plant outside the U.S.Shanghai-based Gigafactory 3. The EV manufacturer said it will officially kick off the scale delivery on January 7.



Additionally, the Model 3 BEVs locally produced by Tesla's Shanghai plant have been exempted from the vehicle purchase tax on NEVs, according to a filing released by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on December 27.
Labour leadership hopeful Jess Phillips has said she cant see a circumstance where it would be better for Scotland to leave the UK.

Ms Phillips, who announced she would be standing to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as leader on Friday, also said that not having a clear position on Scottish independence and Brexit is a key reason why the party has lost elections.

Im standing to be the next Labour Leader. Politics needs honest voices. Only when we are honest again, with ourselves & with the country, will we become the people who get to make the decisions. I cant do this alone. Join me to help make things better at https://t.co/BCJG9DjidP pic.twitter.com/nhVxGSF5ml  Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) January 3, 2020

Speaking on the BBCs Good Morning Scotland programme, the Birmingham Yardley MP outlined her opposition to having another vote on independence.

I think that some of the reasons that we lost in Scotland and have been losing in Scotland for some time  this isnt wholly down to the last general election  is that we have, since the referendum up there, not necessarily had a clear position on the two big constitutional questions of the day, said Ms Phillips.

I think that people, when they look at a political party, if they are not certain on what they are saying on any one thing, they lose trust with the public.

She added: I dont think we should have another referendum on Scottish independence  53% of the Scottish public in the general election did not vote for a party that was promoting independence.

I think that we should be talking about things that are relevant to the lives of people in Scotland.

I cant see a circumstance where I think it would be better for Scotland to leave the UK.

Labour clearly hasnt learned a thing and is still hopelessly out of touch if it thinks it can ignore democracyTommy Sheppard, SNP MP

SNP MP Tommy Sheppard said Labour would continue to fade into political irrelevance in Scotland as long as the party does not respect the countrys right to self-determination.

These comments smack of arrogance and the same high-handed, dismissive attitude that has caused support for Labour to collapse in Scotland, said Mr Sheppard.

Labour clearly hasnt learned a thing and is still hopelessly out of touch if it thinks it can ignore democracy and deny people in Scotland a choice over our future.

As long as Labour politicians think they can lecture from Westminster and refuse to respect Scotlands right to self-determination, they will continue to fade into political irrelevance.

The SNP won a landslide victory at the general election, with over 80% of Scotlands seats represented by the SNP on a mandate of protecting Scotlands right to choose its own future  and the people of Scotland will have that choice.
Swearing-in ceremony of the new government in Vienna

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's environmentalist Greens have baulked at concessions their Austrian peers have made on immigration policy to clinch a coalition deal with conservative Austrian leader Sebastian Kurz that puts them in government for the first time.

Kurz returned to power on Tuesday as his coalition cabinet with the Greens was sworn in. Austria joins Sweden and Finland in having the Greens in government at a time of growing calls for urgent action on climate change.

In contrast to those fellow European Union member states, Austria's Greens are not governing with the center-left, making this an interesting test case. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives could opt for a similar coalition after an election due by next year.

But Germany's Greens were quick to take issue with the Austrian coalition deal.

"There will be no such thing in Germany," Greens leader Annalena Baerbock told the TAZ newspaper.

The deal includes raising the age until which girls are banned from wearing a headscarf in school to 14 from around 10, an extension of a policy introduced under Kurz's last coalition, which was with the far right.

It also includes reviving a disputed plan for preventive custody of potentially dangerous individuals, even if they have not committed a crime, which was put forward under the previous coalition after a fatal stabbing apparently committed by an asylum seeker in February.

"This agreement is not a blueprint for Germany," said German Greens lawmaker Luise Amtsberg, who specializes in immigration policy.

(Writing by Paul Carrel; editing by Nick Macfie)
Ukraine is ready to send to Australia, which was covered by large-scale forest fires, about 200 specially trained rescuers of the State Emergencies Service, Interior Minister of Ukraine Arsen Avakov has said.

"The Ukrainian government informed the Australian side that it was ready to send about 200 specially trained rescuers of the State Emergencies Ministry. The Ukrainian side informed Australia of the readiness of the rescuers to arrive at the scene of the tragedy within 24-36 hours with the necessary equipment on a specially leased long-haul aircraft. Our forces are awaiting the decision of the Australian side," Avakov said on Facebook.




Ireland's Agriculture Minister dismisses call for livestock export ban



Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed rejected Grace O'Sullivan, Green party MEP calls to ban livestock exports because of animal welfare issues, reported The Irish Times.

Calls for the ban have come after 14,000 sheep were killed when the vessel carrying the animals capsized in the Black Sea on its way to Saudi Arabia.

O'Sullivan said meat should be processed in Ireland for export, creating job opportunities in the country. O'Sullivan was elected to the European Parliament in May last year.

Minister Creed said the country's livestock exports are based on the highest welfare standards. He said according to Bord Bia, the Irish food board, 295,000 live cattle were exported last year compared to 243,000 in 2018. Calves make up 200,000 of 2019 exports.

Bord Bia estimates the Irish livestock export industry is worth 300 million (~US$335 million; 1 = US$1.12) last year. 233,000 animals were exported to continental European Union countries (90,000 to Spain, 84,000 to Netherlands, 30,000 to Italy and 8,000 to France), 38,000 were exported to the United Kingdom and 28,000 were exported to non-EU nations (11,000 to Libya, 10,000 to Turkey). Calves make up the majority of these exports.

Creed added that Ireland operates its livestock export industry to not only EU standards, but EU Plus standards as this export sector is important to Ireland's agri-food economy.

He said the government does not control welfare standards in non-EU nations because of jurisdictional reach. But, the government has contributed financially to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

He also said the government works with Libya and Turkey, OIE members and major export destinations for livestock from Ireland, to improve welfare standards and awareness.

- The Irish Times
The funeral of Marian Finucane takes place at St Brigids Church in Kill, County Kildare (Niall Carson/PA)

The funeral of broadcaster Marian Finucane is taking place in Co Kildare.

The RTE broadcaster died last Thursday at the age of 69.

Her funeral is taking place at St Brigids Church in Kill before a private burial.

The coffin of broadcasting legend Marian Finucane arrives at St Brigids Church in Kill, Co Kildare. pic.twitter.com/c2r5BRfqKc  Aine McMahon (@AineMcMahon) January 7, 2020

Those attending the service include Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, as well as RTE colleagues and broadcasters Joe Duffy, Clare Byrne, Ryan Tubridy, Brendan OConnor, Miriam OCallaghan and RTEs Director General Dee Forbes.

Government ministers including Minister for Children, Katherine Zappone, and Minister for Communications Richard Bruton are also attending.

The chief celebrant of the mass Monsignor Ciaran OCarroll said the news of Finucanes death was a dreadful shock.

She was such an icon of Irish broadcasting and will always be remembered for her outstanding journalistic abilities, her keen intellect, warmth, wit, thoughtfulness, compassion and kindness, he said during the service.

The influence of Marian was significant.

Expand Close The broadcaster died at the age of 69 (RTE/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp The broadcaster died at the age of 69 (RTE/PA)

The contribution Marian made to advancing and shaping our nation and its peoples through her professional work as a courageous broadcaster, and her determination to facilitate conversation without fear or favour, was repeatedly and wonderfully captured in countless public tributes paid over recent days.

We have also come here this morning to offer our sympathy and express our solidarity with all the members of her family  especially her husband John, her son Jack, her daughter-in-law Jenny, her sisters, brothers, in-laws, family members, relatives, colleagues and friends.

Thousands always enjoyed her programmes and she will be missed on the radio. Publicly the nation has lost a skilled broadcaster.Monsignor Ciaran OCarroll

He added that the nation has lost a skilled broadcaster.

She had great empathy and sense of fairness and treated everyone with courtesy and respect, Monsignor OCarroll added.

A generous and determined woman, and a thoughtful and kind friend whose keen sense of humour enriched the lives of many, her charity work at home and abroad was simply outstanding.

Thousands always enjoyed her programmes and she will be missed on the radio. Publicly the nation has lost a skilled broadcaster.

Privately John has lost a soul partner, Jack a loving mother and Jenny a cherished mother-in-law.

The great, exuberant joy shared by our family and friends but a few short months ago at Jack and Jennys wedding contrasts now with the sorrow and sadness we experience this day of Marians funeral.

Expand Close A woman signs a book of condolence at RT Radio Centre in Donnybrook, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp A woman signs a book of condolence at RT Radio Centre in Donnybrook, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

He said the broadcaster was blessed with an indomitable spirit which she had to call on often in her full, dynamic and fruitful life.

Blessed with energy and dynamism, determined and persistent, she had boundless curiosity about life and the world, he continued.

Throughout her eventful life she was privileged to experience many changes and received the grace to confront various, sometimes demanding, challenges.

She had to carry the cross of bereavement with the death of her beloved daughter Sinead  a bereavement she bore with tremendous dignity.

In the face of Sineads death, Marian mobilised all of her formidable strengths and skills by dedicating a whole chapter of her life to supporting the hospice movement at home and establish a hospice charity in South Africa.

Through her various popular programmes Marian became a presence in thousands of homes each week, as listenership figures consistently revealed.

Her only son Jack Clarke paid tribute to his mother.

Expand Close Marian Finucanes son Jack Clarke paid tribute to his mother during her funeral service.Picture is screenshot from RTE. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Marian Finucanes son Jack Clarke paid tribute to his mother during her funeral service.Picture is screenshot from RTE.

He said: Those of us who knew her well, knew that mam was never more than a deep and meaningful conversation, or an emotional story away from having a good old cry.

So, as her only son, youll understand if I shed a few myself as I speak to you.

I have to begin by thanking a few people, thats what mam would have done.

I want to thank the friends and family who rallied around, and given us great strength in this dark time, your organisation and your willingness to pitch in is greatly appreciated by dad and me.

Mam would have been so proud and grateful to see all the family come together and muck in.

Expand Close Taoiseach Leo Varadkar attended the funeral (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Mr Clarke said that people across the length and breadth of Ireland have their own personal experience of and relationship with Finucane, and the many versions of her.

The mother, the wife, the aunt, the sister, the step-mother, the mother-in-law, the friend, the colleague, the journalist, the radio host, the social commentator, the activist and the architect, he added.

Each of these versions of Marian touched us because she had a great empathy and her curiosity made all these very genuine.

The woman I knew behind all these selves was a shy lady who was as happy reading a book in silence, as she was sitting around the dinner table in the small hours of the morning with friends, laughing, joking, singing when she could remember the words, debating the politics of the day and generally sorting out the worlds problems one dinner party at a time.

She was compassionate and funny.
Washington, D.C., Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Civil Liberties Alliance filed an amicus brief today with the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in support of plaintiffs-appellees in the case of Brackeen v. Bernhardt. NCLA is urging the full Fifth Circuit to call out the constitutional defects inherent in the Chevron judicial deference doctrine. Specifically, NCLA points out that judges violate Article III of the Constitution and their judicial oaths when they give Chevron deference instead of providing their independent judgment. Furthermore, judges violate the Due Process Clause when they favor a government litigants interpretation of the law over the interpretation of the other party in the case. In other words, Chad Brackeen and the other plaintiffs-appellees are denied a fair trial if the judge hearing their case employs Chevron deference in favor of the government.

In this case, Congress gave the federal agency (the Bureau of Indian Affairs) a 180-day window to issue regulations, but that was 36 years ago. Now the BIA thinks it can make law as it pleases, when it pleases. NCLA calls on the en banc Fifth Circuit to resist the siren song of Chevron.

NCLA released the following statements:

Under the Chevron deference doctrine, three judges of the Fifth Circuit concluded that BIAs decision to issue lame-duck regulations in 2016 some four decades too late was reasonable. That conclusion, which is hard to reconcile with logic or grammar, was possible only because of Chevrona doctrine that requires judges to abandon their duty of independent judgment and acquiesce in the decisions of executive-branch agencies. We urge the full Fifth Circuit, which is rehearing the case en banc, to silence the panels out-of-tune paean to Chevron. Adi Dynar, NCLA Litigation Counsel

This case presents a perfect opportunity for the Fifth Circuit to repudiate Chevron deference, a doctrine so ill-advised and violative of due process that it has been construed by courts and agencies to permit the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) latitude to write itself its own permission slip to issue regulations four decades after Congresss grant of such authority lapsed. By repudiating Chevron, the Court will uphold its integrity as an independent and unbiased third branch of government ensuring that Americans enjoy due process of law. Peggy Little, NCLA Senior Litigation Counsel

ABOUT NCLA

NCLA is a nonprofit civil rights organization founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights.



For more information, visit us online: NCLAlegal.org.
Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn employed an international team of up to 15 conspirators, including a former Green Beret commando, to pull his daring escape from house arrest in Japan.

It was revealed yesterday that months of planning went into plotting the ex-CEO's bid for freedom, that saw lax airport security exploited as well as a route through Russia used to aid a smooth passage to Lebanon.

The 65-year-old executive is now in Lebanon after he skipped bail nearly a week ago, fleeing Japan where he was awaiting trial on multiple counts of financial misconduct that he denies.

Included in the squad was private security contractor and former Special Forces US Army veteran, Michael Taylor, who has previously protected powerful people and companies as well as secretly helping the US government.

His partner in the operation was Lebanese-born George-Antoine Zayek, who was a member of a a Christian militia in his home country during the 1980s, according to the New York Times.

A team of 15 private security contractors hatched a plot to smuggle Carlos Ghosn out of Tokyo and onto a private jet to Lebanon via Turkey

Private security guards in Beirut, Lebanon stand near a house said to belong to former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn in a wealthy neighbourhood of the Lebanese capital, where he was staying after his flight from Japan

A vehicle entering the garage of the house of ex-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, in Beirut, Lebanon, on Sunday being filmed by thee media

Members of the team made more than 20 trips to Japan and surveyed at least ten airports before noticing a security loophole at the terminal reserved for private jets at Osaka.

As a result Ghosn was able to launch a 300-mile dash from Tokyo to Osaka on board a bullet train before being smuggled on to a private plane hidden in a large crate used to carry speakers with small holes drilled in the bottom so that he could breathe.

Ghosn was reportedly wearing a hat and a surgical mask when he was smuggled out of his home in Tokyo and onto the bullet train to Osaka.

A jet then carefully travelled though Russian airspace for as much of its 12-hour journey as possible to avoid South Korea, which has an extradition treaty with Japan, China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Ghosn was loaded onto the flight from Osaka in a large case for audio equipment, which was later found at the back of the cabin.

The newspaper cited unnamed sources close to the investigation in Turkey as saying that holes had been drilled into the bottom of the container to ensure the businessman could breathe.

Japanese authorities seemed to have no idea Ghosn was no longer in the country, and the Bombardier jet landed in Istanbul's Ataturk Airport at around 5.30am local time on December 30.

Ghosn changed planes in Turkey to avoid arousing suspicion as a direct flight from Osaka to Beirut could have been flagged to authorities.

Ghosn made the short trip from Istanbul to Beirut inside a box used for speakers, according to reports.

Japan said it is still investigating how he first slipped past strict security measures imposed as part of his bail conditions.

The country's transport ministry said that luggage checks are not mandatory for private jets.

Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn entering the Tokyo District Court for a pretrial procedure last June

A member of Lebanese security forces stands guard as journalists wait near the underground parking of a house said to belong to Carlos Ghosn

Citing sources close to the investigation, public broadcaster NHK said Monday that Ghosn left his residence by himself on the afternoon of December 29 and met two men at a Tokyo hotel.

The three then boarded a Shinkansen bullet train together from Tokyo's Shinagawa station to a station in western Osaka, arriving around 7.30pm.

The trio then checked in at a hotel near Kansai Airport, but only the two men accompanying Ghosn were caught on security camera leaving the hotel later in the evening, NHK said.

They were carrying 'two big boxes' which were not checked by customs staff at the airport, the report added.

Ghosn is believed to have taken a private jet from the airport that evening, bound for Istanbul, where he switched planes and continued to Beirut.

But many details of his departure from Japan are still shrouded in mystery.

The justice ministry said it did not have records of Ghosn departing Japan.

'It is believed that he used some wrongful methods to illegally leave the country,' Justice Minister Masako Mori said at a press conference on Monday.

Japanese Justice Minister Masako Mori said it is believed former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn 'used some wrongful methods' to flee Japan

'I have instructed the immigration agency to further tighten the departure process,' she added.

Ghosn, who has French, Brazilian and Lebanese nationalities, was able to enter Lebanon on a French passport, according to airport documents show.

Ghosn did not use French travel documents to travel from Japan to Lebanon, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday.

'As far as we know he did not use French documents,' Le Drian said on BFM television.

He added Ghosn is receiving the same treatment as every other French citizen overseas and said the former Renault-Nissan CEO had not asked to come to France.

A court in Tokyo had allowed Ghosn to keep a second French passport because he needed one to travel inside Japan, a source close to the matter said.

Japan has launched a probe into the humiliating security lapse and prosecutors said they would 'coordinate with the relevant agencies to swiftly and appropriately investigate the matter'.

The Tokyo District Court also confirmed it was keeping 1.5 billion yen ($14 million) in bail owing to his escape.

Ghosn was released on bail in April under conditions that included a ban on overseas travel and limited contact with his wife.

Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, pictured leaving his lawyers' offices after he was released on bail in March 2019, may have fled Japan after learning that prosecutors had significant evidence against him

Meanwhile, Japanese automaker Nissan has slammed its former chief for jumping bail, calling his escape 'extremely regrettable' and vowed it would continue legal action against him for 'various acts of misconduct'.

Ghosn stands accused in Japan of under-reporting his salary, deferring part of his income until after his retirement and concealing this from shareholders, as well as siphoning off millions in Nissan cash for his own purposes.

In a statement, Nissan said Ghosn's escape 'in violation of his bail conditions is an act that defies Japan's judicial system. Nissan finds it extremely regrettable'.

The firm said its 'robust, thorough internal investigation' had 'incontrovertible evidence of various acts of misconduct by Ghosn'.

'The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan,' it added.

Ghosn alleges the charges against him stem from a 'coup' inside Nissan by disgruntled executives and local Japanese officials who feared his plans to more closely integrate the car giant with its alliance partner, French firm Renault.

Ghosn has vowed to give his own account at a hotly awaited press conference in Beirut this week.

He has said he left Japan because he was no longer willing to be 'held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system'.

Jiji Press agency reported late on Monday that Ghosn may have fled Japan after learning that public prosecutors had obtained significant evidence supporting the alleged transfer of Nissan cash.

Citing informed sources, Jiji said prosecutors disclosed to the defense during pretrial procedures in autumn of last year, or later, the existence of an email detailing a Lebanese investment company's report to Ghosn about the funds transfer.
The industrial developments name is a nod to the propertys nearly seven decades of harness racing, before it closed in 2015. Amazons distribution center will be southwest of the corner of North and First avenues. The largest of the three warehouses will have about 252,000 of square feet of space.
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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  A building under construction in southern Cambodia collapsed Friday, killing at least two workers and trapping others inside, police said.

The seven-story building in the coastal province of Kep collapsed while about 20 workers were inside. By nightfall, 17 injured workers had been rescued, said Nguon Samet, deputy police chief for province.





. . .
Independent TD Carol Nolan has called on the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, to call off the proposed State commemoration for members of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) who were killed during the War of Independence.

Deputy Nolan was speaking as outrage and political condemnation of the decision continues to grow, with mayors from across the country saying they will not attend any events linked to the RIC commemoration, including Offaly Cathaoirleach Peter Ormond.

The sense of anger and bewilderment being generated by this Fine Gael led governments insistence on honouring the Royal Irish Constabulary is actually palpable," Deputy Nolan said.

"Ordinary people are quite frankly disgusted. They cannot comprehend the level of political blindness that is at work here.

"For very many people this is an act of historical vandalism to the memory of those who suffered and died at the hands of the RIC when they supported the work of the notorious Black and Tans during our War of Independence.

"It is simply not credible for Minister Flanagan to go on absurdly insisting that this is not about the Black and Tans; as if they could somehow be airbrushed from the historical narrative.

"I genuinely feel that Fine Gael and this government have no idea of the hurt they are causing.

"This entire fiasco has provided a very clear window into the absolute arrogance of Fine Gael who now seem to think that they can simply trample all over the history and sacrifice of our own people.

"The people are outraged for very good reason and I for one completely support them on this. The fact that Minister Flanagan and the Taoiseach are confused by this outrage only serves to highlight how they disconnected they have become, not only from the past, but also from the present, concluded Deputy Nolan.
Badrinath Singh, the father of the young woman, said in an interview with The Washington Post that he was extremely happy with the courts decision, and it would have a deterrent effect. One thing is sure, when these four men are hanged at the same place, it will create fear in such beasts, he told reporters.
The Beatrice Police Department has expanded its K-9 program with the recent addition of a year old, black shepherd mix from the Czech Republic named Thomas.

Last fall, K-9 Thomas and his handler, Beatrice Police Department Officer Derrick Hosick, spent more than three months training to receive certification in Grand Island with the Nebraska State Patrol.

Hosick explained that Thomas is different than the departments other K-9, Toro, and the Gage County Sheriffs Office K-9, Buster, because he has functions in addition to detecting narcotics.

That basically includes criminal apprehension, building searches, tracking and evidence recovery, Hosick said. That can be on a wide-scale of things. A juvenile whos ran away, all the way up to a criminal who is evading custody.

During a city council meeting Monday night, Hosick said Thomas' commands are a mix of Dutch, German and English, with the English being commands for both Thomas and the individual under arrest. Hosick also said Thomas' work life expectancy is roughly 8-10 years.

"With shepherds, your biggest issue's going to be hip dysplasia, things like that, but I have taken extra steps giving him nutrients and supplements to try to prevent that," Hosick said.

In his short time with the department, Thomas has already helped recover a stolen vehicle, detected narcotics and serve warrants, and Hosick said it wouldnt be uncommon for the sheriffs office or the Wymore Police Department to use Thomas for those patrol functions.

The K-9 is more or less really the only reason I wanted to be a police officer, Hosick said. I saw the need for a dual purpose dog in the county, let alone the city of Beatrice. I felt that we could really benefit from it, and I knew that I was the right kind of officer to do it.

Hosick said there isnt a lot of downtime between training and otherwise caring for Thomas, but that hes loved the experience so far.

Hes a good dog," Hosick said. "Hes very eager to work, and hes got a high drive, ready to go exploring.

He added that Thomas will wear a muzzle while hes still in training, but that he is not aggressive.

I think he knows the difference between when its time to work and when were just hanging out, but this is more so for his safety than anyone elses safety, Hosick said. I just dont want anyone to startle him or anything since were still new to everything.

Hosick said that Thomas was funded completely from grants and donations from various organizations including the City of Beatrice, the Beatrice Police Department, Blue Valley Veterinary Clinic, The BNSF Railway Company and Orscheln Farm and Home.

He explained that a significant amount of money was donated from the Margaret and Martha Thomas Foundation in Wymore, which is why Hosick named Thomas after them.

Hosick said hes thankful for the community support of the departments K-9 unit.

Thomas is going to be really good at what he does, and Im excited to work with him, Hosick said.

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Blaine Hodge thought he was going to die, he testified Tuesday during the second day of witn
Minister of Foreign, Affairs Nikos Dendias, will travel to Cairo on Wednesday, 8 January, to attend the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, France and Italy.

Discussion will focus on the recent developments in Libya and security and stability issues in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Department of Justice on Tuesday recommended former national security adviser Michael Flynn be sentenced to up to six months in prison for lying to the FBI during the Russia investigation after initially recommending that he serve no jail time in recognition of his cooperation.

The FBI launched the investigation based on allegations that the Trump presidential campaign colluded with Russian operatives to sway the 2016 elections. The Mueller report eventually found insufficient evidence to conclude that such collusion took place.

The sentence should adequately deter the defendant from violating the law, and to promote respect for the law, the Justice Department said in a sentencing memo. It is clear that the defendant has not learned his lesson. He has behaved as though the law does not apply to him, and as if there are no consequences for his actions.

Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 of lying to the FBI regarding his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Flynn had alleged in October that the FBI had tampered with notes from an interview between him and FBI agents, but Flynns appeal to overturn his guilty plea was rejected in December.

The two agents who interviewed Flynn were Peter Strzok and Joe Pientka. The case took a turn in November when the FBI admitted it had identified Strzoks notes taken during the interviews as Pientkas, and Pientkas as Strzoks.

Strzok, who also worked on the investigation into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server to read classified material, was ousted from the FBI after text messages between Strzok and former FBI lawyer Lisa Page surfaced that showed an anti-Trump bias.

Your excessive, repeated, and politically charged text messages while you were assigned as the lead case agent on the FBIs two biggest and most politically sensitive investigations in decades, demonstrated a gross lack of professionalism and exceptionally poor judgement, read documents from the Justice Department excoriating Strzok. Your misconduct has cast a pall over the FBIs Clinton Email and Russia investigations and the work of the Special Counsel.

More from National Review
The state Superior Court affirmed the life sentences Monday of the man and woman convicted in April 2018 of murdering a Penn State professor.

The three-judge panel denied arguments by George Ishler Jr. that he and Danelle Geier were improperly tried together, his confession was made under duress and Centre County President Judge Pamela Ruest improperly allowed testimony about sexual text messages.

The panel also denied Geiers arguments that her constitutional rights were violated, the Centre County district attorneys office failed to disclose that one of its witnesses had pending criminal charges and she and Ishler were improperly tried together.

The mere fact that there was hostility between the co-defendants defenses at trial and that they presented conflicting versions as to what transpired on the date of the victims death does not amount to undue prejudice warranting separate trials, state Superior Court Senior Judge Emeritus Kate Ford wrote.

Ishler and his half-niece, Geier, were charged in September 2016 by state police at Rockview with conspiring to push Ronald Bettig off a quarry in Potter Township.

They believed there was an opportunity for financial gain and staged the area to make it appear like an accident or suicide, police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause filed in August 2016.

Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna largely declined to comment about the ruling, but said, Im sure the (Bettig) family will be relieved to hear the sentence was affirmed.

Assistant Public Defender Deb Lux, who represented Geier, said she was disappointed with the panels decision and is considering an appeal to both the state Superior Court and Supreme Court.

I feel the opinion didnt thoroughly or adequately review the issues that we had raised, Lux said. It would appear the three-member panel rubber stamped the trial courts opinion in this case and did not give her a meaningful review of the issues.

Ronald Bettig

Neither Lux nor defense lawyer Karen Muir, who represented Ishler, have yet had an opportunity to speak with their clients about the ruling, they said.

Muir plans to quickly review the decision with Ishler so they can explore his options and decide how to proceed, she said.

Ishler, 43, is detained at Coal Township state prison in Northumberland County. Geier, 35, is detained at Muncy state prison in Lycoming County.

By Bret Pallotto, Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.) (TNS)
New Delhi:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday assured the people of the state that she will not allow anyone to snatch their rights. While addressing a public rally in South Bengal, Mamata launched a scathing attack against the Modi government over the Citizenship Act and National Registration Act (NRC) and said that the state government will not allow snatching of people's rights.

Calling herself as Pehredar of people, Mamata Banerjee warned the Centre that they will have to implement the Citizenship Act over her dead body. I am your pehradar (custodian), if anyone comes to take away your rights, they will have to do it over my dead body, Mamata said. We do not live at the mercy of anyone, will not allow snatching of people's rights, she added.

On Monday, Mamata Banerjee had said that she was all in favour of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, but her party will not resort to the cheap politics of bandhs.

The Left parties had on December 26 last year called for a nationwide strike on January 8 and a seven-day protest from January 1 against the CAA, National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Banerjee, speaking at an administrative meeting in Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas district, said she will not back any bandh, as it causes trouble for people and loss to the exchequer.

Later in the day, while talking to reporters at Gangasagar, Banerjee said the Trinamool Congress has been protesting against the CAA, NRC and the NPR, but it is against the call for strike, as it is cheap politics.

We are not in favour of bandh, but extend our support to the issues for which the strikes are called. We will continue our protests but dont support cheap politics.

Why should we call a bandh when the country is going through an economic disaster and unemployment is increasing, the CM said.

Ten central trade unions on Monday said around 25 crore people will participate in a nationwide strike on January 8 to protest against the governments anti-people policies.

Banerjee also asked state government officials to take measures to ensure normalcy on January 8.

Reacting to Banerjees remarks, Anandi Sahu, senior CPI(M) leader and the state general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), said that any attempt to foil the strike would be met with resistance.

There is no difference between the economic policies of the the Narendra Modi government and the Mamata Banerjee government, and that is why attempts are being made to foil the strike, Sahu said.
By Trend

On Jan. 6, 2020, Ankara hosted solemn opening ceremony of the Gala administrative building of the Central Office of Turkeys National Intelligence Organization, Trend reports referring to the Public Relations Department of Azerbaijans State Security Service.

On the instruction of Azerbaijani President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev and at the invitation of Head of Turkeys National Intelligence Organization Hakan Fidan, delegations led by Head of Azerbaijans State Security Service, Lieutenant General Ali Nagiyev and Head of Azerbaijans Foreign Intelligence Service, Lieutenant General Orkhan Sultanov participated in the solemn ceremony.

The event was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The opening ceremony of the new building was also attended by senior officials, members of the government and other Turkish executives and the Azerbaijani delegations.

During the event, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with representatives of Azerbaijans State Security Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
ANSONIA  Time and again during a brief  and fatal  confrontation with police Jan. 2, Michael Gregory told cops how it would end.

As three officers asked him to calm down and drop a knife, Gregory repeatedly replied, Youre going to have to shoot me!

Thats exactly what happened after Gregory emerged from a room in the home armed with what appears to be a knife and advanced toward the officers, even after being tased.

Three gunshots can be heard on the body camera footage of the confrontation released Monday by state police, who are investigating the shooting under the supervision of a prosecutor.

Ansonia Police spokesman Lt. Patrick Lynch declined to comment on the footage.

The investigation is in the hands of the state police and we await their findings and the findings of the states attorneys office, Lynch said.

David McGuire, executive director of the ACLU of Connecticut, said in a prepared statement that No one should die at the hands of police.

While other facts in this case are still unclear, one is certain: Michael Gregory was shot and killed by Ansonia police, McGuire said. The video footage released by state police shows a deeply disturbing situation in which police were met with someone in crisis and responded with violence, raising serious questions about police behavior.

Miguel Gregory, Michael Gregorys father, said he watched the video sent to him by a friend.

"I had to see the video to answer my questions," he said last night. "I'm at peace now...The boy was troubled."

The footage totals more than 25 minutes recorded by body cameras worn by the three officers involved. The footage released Monday depicts the incident from the point of view of each of the three officers, with each version running about eight and a half minutes. Much of the footage consisted of the officers knocking on a door of the home without getting an answer.

From first sight of Gregory by officers to Gregory being handcuffed is about two and a half minutes.

The three officers  Sgt. Christopher Flynn, Officer Brendon Nelson and Officer Wojciech Podgorski  were sent to 81 Myrtle Ave. at about 7:35 p.m. after Gregorys girlfriend went to the police station.

Police said the girlfriend reported that Gregory, who had been arrested on disorderly conduct and criminal mischief charges involving the same victim in November, had become physically aggressive.

They went to the home to take him into custody for violating a no-contact protective order issued by a judge after the earlier arrest, according to a prepared statement from Police Chief Andrew Cota III.

After spending several minutes knocking on the door, the officers open it and announce their presence in the home, according to the body camera footage.

Gregory emerges from a room inside.

Timeline State police released body camera footage of the confrontation between three officers and Michael Gregory on Jan. 2 which resulted in Gregory's death. The footage totals more than 25 minutes recorded by body cameras worn by the three officers involved. The footage released Monday depicts the incident from the point of view of each of the three officers, with each version running about eight and a half minutes. Much of the footage consisted of the officers knocking on a door of the home without getting an answer. According to the footage, here is what happened: Three officers arrive at 81 Myrtle Ave. and spend several minutes knocking on the door. They open the door and announce themselves. Gregory emerges from a room inside. Gregory tells the officers he will not come outside and that they will have to shoot him. Gregory walks to a counter in the kitchen and picks up a knife lying there. The officers, still outside, tell him to put down the knife as they back away. Gregory slams shut the door leading outside. A police officer kicks it open to get into the house. Gregory retreats into another room and shuts the door. An officer then kicks open that door. Gregory walks out of the room. An officer shoots Gregory with a Taser. Gregory advances toward the officers with the knife in his right hand. An officer fires three shots at Gregory, who drops to the floor. The police officers turn him over and put handcuffs on him. To see the video of the confrontation, visit ctpost.com. See More Collapse

Come on out, bud, Nelson says.

Im not coming out, Gregory says as he walks to a counter in the kitchen and picks up a knife sitting there. Youre going to have to shoot me.

You dont want to do that, Nelson says while backing away through an open door of the home. Were not playing this game.

Lets have a conversation, one of the other officers says.

Lets have a conversation, Oh so I can arrest you. Suck my d---. Youre going to have to shoot me to arrest me, Gregory says.

Put the knife down, bud, an officer says.

Im not playing shit now, Gregory says. Shoot me. Shoot me. Shoot me or run up on me. Shoot me or run up on me. Thats exactly how its going to go.

The body camera footage shows Gregory slamming shut the door leading outside and a police officer kicking it open to get back into the house.

Once the outside door is kicked open, Gregory retreats from the kitchen into another room and closes the door.

The footage shows an officer kick the door of that room open.

Gregory says, Im ready, and comes out into the kitchen. The footage shows Nelson shoot his Taser at Gregory, who continues to advance around a table toward the officers with the knife in his right hand.

Drop the gun! one says.

The footage shows Nelson move the Taser to his left hand. Using a gun in his right hand, he fires the fatal shots at Gregory while Podgorski retreats from Gregory, trying to disentangle himself from the wires from Nelsons Taser.

Gregory drops to the floor onto his back, and the knife drops from his right hand.

The police officers turn him over and put handcuffs on him.

Who was it? Flynn asks.

Me, Nelson responds.

F---! one of the officers says, before the footage cuts out.

An autopsy determined the cause of Gregorys death to be a homicide, from gunshot wound of trunk with perforation of lung, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

This footage is just one part of the on-going investigation, state police said in a prepared statement accompanying the footage. Detectives from the Western District Major Crime Squad will continue to investigate this incident. Once their investigation is completed, detectives will submit their findings to the Danbury States Attorneys Office for review.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Western District Major Crime Squad at 860-626-7975.
Mumbai, Jan 7 : Not a single industry will shift out of Maharashtra henceforth and the government will take all necessary steps for the big, medium and small scale industries to help them flourish and pave the way for the state becoming a trillion-Dollar economy by 2025, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray asserted here on Tuesday.

The significant commitment came at Thackeray's first-ever interaction with the captains of India Inc since taking over as Chief Minister at the head of the Maha Vikas Aghadi combine on November 28, Industry Minister Subhash Desai told media persons after the conclave.

"Leading industrialists discussed their issues, expressed concerns over certain delays in projects, raised questions and even made suggestions to the CM who gave a patient hearing to all," Desai said.

Among the prominent personalities present at the interaction with Thackeray were Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani, the Hindujas, Gautam Singhania, Adi Godrej, Deepak Parekh, Anand Mahindra, Sajjan Jindal, Uday Kotak, Niranjan Hiranandani, Baba Kalyani, etc.

Incidentally, Thackeray's meeting with the almost the same set of dignitaries came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a similar meeting in New Delhi on Monday.

Setting at rest the apprehensions in the minds of the industry, Thackeray categorically stated that no projects would be stopped, but on the contrary, their implementation would be further speeded up.

Last month, IANS had first highlighted the nagging doubts in the minds of India Inc. ("India Inc. watches as Maha govt reviews 'mega-infrastructure projects' on December 6) after the new MVA government ordered a review of all big ticket projects like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train, and other money-guzzlers, though none were halted.

Procedures, permissions, etc would be speeded up and east of doing business would be further relaxed for the benefit of the industry, and a cordial atmosphere would be created for business in the state to ensure not a single industry moves out of Maharashtra besides correcting the regional imbalances, Thackeray told the industry captains.

Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray stressed on the need to develop Mumbai as a global tourist destination, as well as issues of health and education, which could be developed and implemented with the help of industrial houses.

Though the state has inherited a debt burden of Rs 6.71 lakh crore, Desai said that the progress of Tuesday's decisions would be reviewed within three months and such disussions with India Inc. will continue in future.

With a population of around 12 crore, the state occupies a pre-eminent position in the country's economy, ranks among the largest contributors to the nation's GDP and has a strong presence of industries in almost all sectors.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in)
Photo: Nicole B./Yelp

A new Japanese spot has opened for business in the neighborhood. The new arrival to Northeast Fresno, called Shobu Japanese Cuisine, is located at 6640 N. Blackstone Ave.

Shobu Japanese Cuisine offers sashimi, nigiri and sushi rolls, bento boxes, chicken teriyaki, seafood tempura, egg rolls, jalapeno poppers, ramen, curry and more on the menu.

With a four-star rating out of 12 reviews on Yelp so far, Shobu Japanese Cuisine is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Nicole B., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on Dec. 26, wrote, "The service was great, welcoming and friendly. The menu is big with a lot of yummy selections to choose from. I ordered the Mini Box which consisted of sushi, sashimi, tiger roll, baked mussels and miso soup."

Kobe C. wrote, "The food was extremely delicious, and the service was amazing! Luckily we went at a time when it wasn't busy, and the food was delivered to us very quickly. The interior is simple, yet very nice and has a comfy feel to it."

Intrigued? Stop in to try it for yourself. Shobu Japanese Cuisine is open from 11 a.m.9 p.m. daily.

Want to keep your finger on the pulse of new businesses in Fresno? Here's what else opened recently near you.

This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
Snoman Inc. has a message for anyone planning to hit the provinces groomed snowmobile trails this winter: stay off farmers fields.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 6/1/2020 (735 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Snoman Inc. has a message for anyone planning to hit the provinces groomed snowmobile trails this winter: stay off farmers fields.

More than 550 signs urging snowmobilers not to trespass on farmland are being distributed and put up by the non-profit Snowmobilers of Manitoba through its 53 clubs in the province.

The signs have been provided to Snoman free of charge by the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp. and Farm Credit Canada.

"This is a new partnership and the reason for it is because of the rain we had this fall and that early October snowstorm. Due to that, a lot of crops got left in the field," said Yvonne Rideout, Snoman executive director.

"You can damage those crops as soon as you go across a field. There are some areas where people dont stay on the trail  well be the first to admit that. But we always encourage riders to stay on the trail. You have to respect that someones livelihood is on the line."

MASC president and chief executive officer Jared Munro said theres at least 400,000 acres of field with unharvested crops in the province due heavy quantities of rain in the lead-up to winter.

"A number of these clients, some of whom will have insurance contracts with us, theyll be waiting until the spring to make a decision on whether to harvest at that time. Certainly, the crops will degrade, but they can still be salvaged. Different crops respond differently to different weather conditions," Munro said.

"When (Rideout) called with her suggestions about the signs, I just thought it was a great opportunity to create some awareness that there are still a lot of crops left out in the fields due to the late harvest we had in 2019."

In total, Snoman has more than 12,000 kilometres of well-groomed trails throughout rural and northern Manitoba; up to 19,000 riders purchase a pass in a given year, granting them access to the trail system.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Snoman volunteers will be putting up the signs  which warn riders about crops left on the field and urges them to stick to the trails  as weather, snow and volunteer time permits.

"I worked in agriculture for over 23 years, so I know exactly what happens when you get an early storm such as the one in October. From reading the Manitoba Co-operator, and some of the coverage in the Free Press, I knew there were a lot of crops left in the field," Rideout said.

"So we just wanted to do what we can to raise awareness about that, since farmers were already hit quite hard. Its damaging to the crops as soon as a (snowmobile) goes across the field."

MASC has a variety of insurance programs that insure farmers against crop losses due to weather-related incidents.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe
A day after a 'Free Kashmir' poster was seen during a protest in Mumbai, it sparked row and questions were raised about the girl who was holding it. The protests were held at the Gateway of India against the December 5 (Sunday) violence in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The social media was on fire with speculations about her.

On Tuesday, the girl took to her YouTube channel giving clarification for holding the 'Free Kashmir' placard. In a 3.26 minute-long video, Mehak Mirza Prabhu stated that she was standing at the protest site with the rest of the demonstrators raising slogans and singing songs about the several issues. She said that she saw placards being made and picked up the 'Free Kashmir' one. She clarified that she is not a Kashmiri but a Marathi born in Maharashtra.

She further said that holding the placard she wanted to talk about the basic constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as the internet services there are under suspension for the last five months. She said that just as the rest of the people in the country have access to the internet so should the people of Jammu and Kashmir to express themselves.

Calling herself a compassionate person, she said that she wants to make peace together and her aim in holding the placard was to give a call to make peace.

Prabhu said that she is a storyteller, writer and performer. She crafts short fictional stories and performs frequently and is known in the performance arts space. "You'll see my TedTalks, what kind of story I tell." She said, The picture created by entire social media came as an absolute shock to me. Placard meant freedom to express themselves, freedom from the internet lockdown which many people have been voicing for. I was voicing my solidarity for a basic constitutional right. No other agenda or motive what so ever. If by being naive in understanding the impact it would have, and in the process create this stir. I apologise. I am an artist who believes in basic human compassion. Please spread let the power of love overcome hate.

Speaking on her safety after the incident, she said, "The way it has gone...it is scary for my safety."

The demonstrators at the Gateway of India were seen with several other placards with objectionable and abusive languages. Some posters called for 'Ban on ABVP', while some others read -- 'Stand with JNU'. Students from various colleges had gathered at the Gateway of India on the intervening night of January 5-6 to protest against the violence on the JNU campus on Sunday.

On January 5 evening, more than 30 students of the university including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh were injured and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the campus and attacked them and some professors with sticks and rods.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has arrived in Damascus on a surprise visit to meet his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad.

Mr Putin met Mr Assad at a Russian military base in the capital, where the two leaders discussed the military situation in the country, a Kremlin spokesperson said.

Moscow has been a key backer of Mr Assad for years, formally entering Syrias civil war on his side in 2015. That intervention was credited with turning the tide of the conflict in his favour, allowing his forces to recapture most of Syria.

During his talks with Assad, Putin noted that it is now possible to state with conviction that a huge distance has been covered on the path to restoring Syrian statehood and the territorial integrity of the country, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by the Russian Interfax news agency, said.

The visit is Mr Putins second to Syria since his countrys military forces joined the civil war. In 2017, he visited a Russian air base in Latakia, in Syrias northwest, where he announced victory in the conflict and said most Russian forces would be returning home.

Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Show all 24 1 /24 Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions Iranian mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of top general Qasem Soleimani during the final stage of funeral processions, in his hometown Kerman. Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with Iran which has vowed "severe revenge" AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranian people carry a coffin of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani during a funeral procession in Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions The assassination of the 62-year-old heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile, oil-rich Middle East and rattled financial markets AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Mourners packed the streets of Tehran for ceremonies to pay homage to Soleimani, who spearheaded Iran's Middle East operations as commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force and was killed in a US drone strike on January 3 Iranian Supreme Leader's Office/EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranians set a US and an Israeli flag on fire during the funeral procession AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, centre, with Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, second left, and President Hassan Rouhani, third left, standing next to him as he leads a prayer over the caskets of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Tehran University Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, openly weeps as he leads a prayer over the coffin of Qassem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Mourners holding posters of Qassem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Coffins of Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a US drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession, at the Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions An Iranian mourner holds a placard AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Downtown Tehran was brought to a standstill as mourners flooded the Iranian capital Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Former Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps chief Mohamad Ali Jafari prays on the coffins of Qasem Soleimani and of other victims during their funeral ceremony EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Satellite image Maxar Technologies/AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA

The Russian president arrives in Damascus at a time of heightened regional tensions following the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani by the US.

Syria is a key ally of Iran, and Iranian forces have fought alongside the Syrian government in the civil war. Soleimani, one of the key figures in the war as the architect of Iranian military operations in the Middle East, had just arrived in Iraq from Syria when he was killed by a US drone at Baghdad airport on Friday.

 With agencies
By IANS

NEW DELHI: Bollywood star Deepika Padukone's visit to the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus, here on Tuesday, to meet protesting students didn't go down well with a section of Twitterati who called for a boycott of her upcoming film 'Chhapaak'.

#deepikapadukone trended on Twitter with 34.8K tweets as it was reported that she had also met JNUSU leader Aishe Ghosh who received injuries in the Sunday violence.

ALSO READ: Deepika Padukone visits JNU during protest, stands with students attacked on Sunday

One user posted: "Bollywood star @deepikapadukone is in JNU to support students. She's at ground zero despite knowing the backlash it will receive from RW goons who will attempt to boycott her film which releases in two days. Coming from Deepika who has largely been silent on political issues, this is BIG."

A user posted: " 'Chhapaak' is releasing with Ajay Devgn's 'Tanhaji' and Rajnikant's 'Darbaar'. 'Chhapaak' is not gonna work as such unless we create a massive controversy and give it free publicity."

Bollywood star #DeepikaPadukone on Tuesday joined students protesting against the recent violence on the #JNU campus. The actor was seen standing with students as the demonstrators raised the slogan of 'Jai Bhim-Jai Bhim'.#ISupportDeepika pic.twitter.com/lAMttlA1YD  The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) January 7, 2020

"Please keep quiet on it. Don't call for its boycott. Don't trend it. Don't attack Deepika. Let it pass," it read.

Chhapaak is releasing with Ajay Devgn's Tanhaji and Rajnikant's Darbaar. Chhapaak is not gonna work as such unless we create a massive controversy and give it free publicity.



Please keep quiet on it. Don't call for its boycott. Don't trend it. Don't attack Deepika. Let it pass.  Mohit_singh_Msf (@Mohit_Singh_Msf) January 7, 2020

Another remarked: "You don't understand the cost-benefit analysis? One tweet can prevent thousands of #boycott tweets. Those # boycott tweets catch the attention of media and are shown on TV and debated. That's what gives publicity."

"Sometimes you have to lose a battle to win a war," read a tweet.

"Don't boycott Chhapaak... boycott Deepika Padukone. Exactly! Instead, we should promote #TanhajiTheUnsungWarrior without saying a single word about Deepika and 'Chhapaak'," said one user.

A Twitter user pointed out, "Deepika was a fabulous actress for bhakts till yesterday. Today, she joined the JNU protest & suddenly became a failed actress. Anurag Kashyap was the most versatile director for bhakts till 2016. When he started talking against the establishment, he became a flop director."
Two men have wrestled with a staff member during an attempted robbery at a business premises in south Belfast on Monday.

They demanded money during the incident, which happened on Castle Street at around 9pm, on January 6.

Detective Sergeant Keith Wilson said: "After a struggle with a staff member, the two males left empty handed and made off in the direction of Marquis Street, one on foot and one on a bicycle. There were no reports of any injuries to the staff member following the incident.

"One of the two males was described as early to mid-twenties, wearing a black jacket, grey tracksuit bottoms, grey gloves and a black beanie. The other is believed to be approximately 62 tall and wearing all black clothing.

"I would appeal to anyone who has any information or who witnessed anything suspicious to contact detectives on 101 quoting reference 1894 06/01/2020. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
Elderly residents take part in an art class at the day-care center in a citizen service station in Jiaxing Sub-district, Shanghai's Hongkou District, on August 30. [For chinadaily.com.cn/Zhu Xingxin]

The government is purchasing respite care service to help families take care of disabled elders and/or elders living with dementia in parts of Beijing.

Fengtai district in Beijing recently rolled out the second phase of its pilot respite care program to provide temporary care service to 1,000 disabled elderly people and/or senior citizens living with dementia, a move that families of the elderly have welcomed.

Taking care of elderly people who are disabled or living with dementia is a 24x7 job that often leaves family members exhausted.

Thanks to respite care, a service that is paid for by the government, senior citizens can go to a nursing home where they can get all-round care. Alternatively, nursing staff can be sent to such people's homes. This way the caregiver in the family can take rest for four days a month.

Fengtai district launched the respite care pilot program in November 2018. In the 13 months since, the program has greatly helped the senior citizens and their families. The service is expected to be extended to the entire city.

With China facing a rising aging population problem, how to provide support for the elderly is a major concern.

Traditionally, families have been taking care of the elderly. And since life expectancy in China has increased in recent decades, in quite a few families the caregivers themselves are senior citizens.

According to a 2018 Tianjin Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau report, 86.1 percent of the disabled elderly people in Tianjin are taken care of by their spouses, children or relatives, and the average age of the caregivers is 59.

Respite care service is a boon to such families, as it helps caregivers to take care of themselves. And with the joint efforts of the government, society and families, the program should be promoted nationwide.

(Source: China Daily)
Stray bullets killed four civilians, including a small child, during an al-Shabab extremist attack in Kenya, authorities said Tuesday.

A Kenyan national police statement said the attackers targeted a telecommunications mast in eastern Garissa county near the border with Somalia, where the al-Qaida-linked extremist group is based.

Police officers on patrol killed two of the attackers in the early morning assault, the statement said.

A teacher was among the dead, it added. Deputy county commissioner Kibet Bowen said all four civilians were killed by stray bullets in the fighting.

Kenyan police said bomb-making materials were seized after the attack near the village of Saretho.

Al-Shabab since December has increased attacks inside Kenya including Sunday's attack on a military base that killed three U.S. military personnel and destroyed five U.S. aircraft.

It was the first time al-Shabab had attacked U.S. troops inside Kenya. The U.S. on Monday said additional troops had arrived to increase security at the Manda Bay airfield in coastal Lamu county.

The U.S. Africa Command also said it did not assess that the attack was linked to Iran, as Middle East tensions are soaring. Al-Shabab is linked to al-Qaida and has no known links to Iran or its proxies.

Al-Shabab has vowed retribution on Kenya for deploying its troops in 2011 to fight the extremists in neighboring Somalia, where the group is based. Garissa county borders Somalia and Lamu county is nearby.

The extremists often target police as well as civilian targets including buses and schools, mainly in the border region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The AmeriKat peering into 2020 and what

this year's patent cases will hold...



"Introduction



Christmas came early this year! Because on 18 December 2019 the UK Group of AIPPI held its annual patent round-up event. The highlights of 2019's patent cases were presented by barrister, Andrew Lykiardopoulos QC, at the offices of Hogan Lovells LLP in London. Andrew's presentation was in the form of a lovely Christmas dinner, beginning with some tasty starters and finishing with a few delightful mince pies. Flying over from the other side of the Canal, this Kat lover was here to report for those who were too actively committed in other Christmas festivities.



Andrew kicked off with some statistics of 2019:



- The UK High Court rendered ten judgments regarding the contested validity of a patent. Of those ten, one patent was upheld by the court.



- The UK Court of Appeal rendered five judgments regarding the contested validity of a patent. Of those five, three patents were upheld by the court.



- The UK Supreme court rendered one judgment regarding the contested validity of a patent. In this judgment, the patent was held invalid.



Andrew concludes that 2019 was not the easiest year for patentees. Christmas came early this year! Because on 18 December 2019 the UK Group of AIPPI held its annual patent round-up event. The highlights of 2019's patent cases were presented by barrister,QC, at the offices of Hogan Lovells LLP in London. Andrew's presentation was in the form of a lovely Christmas dinner, beginning with some tasty starters and finishing with a few delightful mince pies. Flying over from the other side of the Canal, this Kat lover was here to report for those who were too actively committed in other Christmas festivities.Andrew kicked off with some statistics of 2019:- The UK High Court rendered ten judgments regarding the contested validity of a patent. Of those ten, one patent was upheld by the court.- The UK Court of Appeal rendered five judgments regarding the contested validity of a patent. Of those five, three patents were upheld by the court.- The UK Supreme court rendered one judgment regarding the contested validity of a patent. In this judgment, the patent was held invalid.Andrew concludes that 2019 was not the easiest year for patentees.



The starters



(1) Added matter and summary judgment



In Novartis v Dr Reddy's



Birss J, however, ruled that



An interim injunction was thus granted.



(2) Equivalence



In Regen Lab v Estar



The Defendants' case on non-infringing was i) that the gel of their variant process was not polyester-based and ii) that their solution was at 0.136M and not 0.1M as required in claim 1.



Hacon HHJ took the reformulated Improver questions in sequence. After a 'yes' to the first two questions, Hacon HHJ answered 'no' to the third. He ruled: "The evidence indicated that the molarity of the sodium citrate is not essential to the inventive concept and would not have been so regarded by the skilled person at the priority date". This would be different if there had been a sufficiently clear indication to the skilled person that strict compliance with the figure of 0.10M was intended. This was not the case.



Had the patent been valid, it would have been infringed.



(3) Plausibility and SPC's



The Eli Lilly v Genentech proceedings do not only relate to a (typical) patent revocation/infringement action, but also involved an issue on third-party SPC applications. The UK judge (Arnold J) started by saying that this case is "one of the most complex patent cases I have ever tried". Thankfully, he reassured us, he has "considerable experience of trying complex patent cases".



Genentech's patent relates to the IL-17A/F peptides and therapeutic uses thereof. While Genentech did not have a marketed product covered by its Patent, Lilly marketed an ixekizumab product: Taltz. Taltz is an antibody to interleukin-17 indicated for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.



Starting with plausibility, Warner-Lambert [2018] UKSC 56. He noted that the application of plausibility depends on the context of the case. Taking this context into account (including the lack of relevant data in the patent), Arnold J (as he then was) held that the claim of therapeutic efficacy against psoriasis was speculative and that plausibility was not established.



As for the SPC,



By order of 5 September 2019,



(4) Translations



In Illumina v TDL Generics Generics v Warner Lambert



In the end, this point was not influential to case in question. The patent has been held valid.



A palate cleanser In [2019] EWHC 92 , the UK judge (Birss J) ruled on added matter. The case was initiated by Novartis' application for an interim injunction on the basis of its patent. Dr. Reddys responded with an application for summary judgment on its counterclaim for revocation. It argued that the patent was invalid for the reasons given by the opposition division of the EPO, which had revoked the patent solely on the basis of added matter.Birss J, however, ruled that the decision of the OD "appears to take an unduly technical approach which has lost sight of the disclosure of the document as a whole and has also lost sight of the prominence of Compound A in it."An interim injunction was thus granted.In [2019] EWHC 63 , the UK judge (Hacon HHJ) ruled on the doctrine of equivalents. This case relates to Regen's patent, claiming a method for the preparation of platelet rich plasma. Two key features of claim 1 relate to a polyester based thixotropic gel and a buffered sodium citrate solution at 0.1M.The Defendants' case on non-infringing was i) that the gel of their variant process was not polyester-based and ii) that their solution was at 0.136M and not 0.1M as required in claim 1.Hacon HHJ took the reformulated Improver questions in sequence. After a 'yes' to the first two questions, Hacon HHJ answered 'no' to the third. He ruled: "The evidence indicated that the molarity of the sodium citrate is not essential to the inventive concept and would not have been so regarded by the skilled person at the priority date". This would be different if there had been a sufficiently clear indication to the skilled person that strict compliance with the figure of 0.10M was intended. This was not the case.Had the patent been valid, it would have been infringed.Theproceedings do not only relate to a (typical) patent revocation/infringement action, but also involved an issue on third-party SPC applications. The UK judge (Arnold J) started by saying that this case is "one of the most complex patent cases I have ever tried". Thankfully, he reassured us, he has "considerable experience of trying complex patent cases".Genentech's patent relates to the IL-17A/F peptides and therapeutic uses thereof. While Genentech did not have a marketed product covered by its Patent, Lilly marketed an ixekizumab product: Taltz. Taltz is an antibody to interleukin-17 indicated for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.Starting with plausibility, [2019] EWHC 387 , in relation to the medical use claims directed to psoriasis, Arnold J (as he then was) summarised the law as set out in[2018] UKSC 56. He noted that the application of plausibility depends on the context of the case. Taking this context into account (including the lack of relevant data in the patent), Arnold J (as he then was) held that the claim of therapeutic efficacy against psoriasis was speculative and that plausibility was not established.As for the SPC, [2019] EWHC 388 , Lilly sought a declaration that Genentechs SPC was invalid. Arnold J considered the relevant provisions of the SPC Regulation to be unclear (whether or not the basic patent was considered to be valid). The question Arnold J referred to the CJEU, was: Does the SPC Regulation preclude the grant of an SPC to the proprietor of a basic patent in respect of a product which is the subject of a marketing authorisation held by a third party without that partys consent?By order of 5 September 2019, C-239/19 , the CJEU ruled that the request was inadmissible as it was not necessary to answer it as the basic patent had held to be invalid. Back to Arnold LJ (as he now is!), [2019] EWHC 3260 , he did not entertain further argument on the issue leaving it if necessary for appeal.In [2019] EWHC 1497 , the UK judge (Arnold J) ruled on the question whether the prior art was considered to be the abstract in Japanese or the English translation of the abstract. Arnold J considered: "It was common ground between counsel that what mattered was how the original Japanese would be understood. I am doubtful this is correct, since the skilled person is located in the UK" (referring to [2015] EWHC 2548 ). Arnold J ruled that the skilled person was deemed to read Ikeda in the English translation. However, Arnold J said, even if it was the meaning of the Japanese that was determinative, an English court had to rely on a translation in order to appreciate that meaning in any event.In the end, this point was not influential to case in question. The patent has been held valid.



(5) Arrow declarations



In Pfizer v F-Hoffmann La Roche



Birss J ruled that although Roche had no patent protection in the UK, such declaration might help Pfizer to defend itself against suits brought by Roche in other European countries. Thus, "the true purpose of an Arrow declaration in this case would be for it to be used in foreign courts". This is not sufficient to Birss J.



No Arrow declaration was granted.



(6) Enablement



In Takeda v Hoffmann-La Roche [2019] EWHC 1911 , the UK judge (Birss J) ruled about enablement. The issue of law concerned what exactly needs to be enabled by the prior art. Must it be the very thing disclosed (as Roche (the patentee) argued) or is it sufficient if a skilled person would produce something different from the prior art which still fell within the claims (as Takeda argued)? (5) Arrow declarationsIn [2019] EWHC 1520 , the UK judge (Birss J) ruled on arrow declarations. In this case, Pfizer claimed that its proposed use (involving bevacizumab) lacked novelty and/or was obvious at the earliest relevant date and requested a so called Arrow-declaration (see: [2007] EWHC 1900 ). Roche had patents covering Roche's proposed use. After Pfizer initiated legal proceedings, Roche de-designated the UK from all relevant patent families. However, now that Roche done so, it this absence of protection in the UK sufficient to prevent the granting of such declaration?Birss J ruled that although Roche had no patent protection in the UK, such declaration might help Pfizer to defend itself against suits brought by Roche in other European countries. Thus, "the true purpose of an Arrow declaration in this case would be for it to be used in foreign courts". This is not sufficient to Birss J.No Arrow declaration was granted.In, the UK judge (Birss J) ruled about enablement. The issue of law concerned what exactly needs to be enabled by the prior art. Must it be the very thing disclosed (as Roche (the patentee) argued) or is it sufficient if a skilled person would produce something different from the prior art which still fell within the claims (as Takeda argued)?



In this case, the issue was that the skilled person could not make the same antibody as referred to as 'Anti-D1' in the prior art. There was insufficient information to do so. Roche contended that means the patent (claim 1) is novel. Birss J disagreed. He held that the relevant prior art is an enabling disclosure because a skilled person given that disclosure is able to make a version of Anti-D1 without an undue burden. He continued: "It would be a great deal of work and it would not be identical to the antibody which the authors of [the relevant prior art] but from all the evidence in this case it is clear that a skilled team seeking to make their own version of Anti-D1 would succeed.



Birss J ruled that there was an anticipated disclosure.



The main course  Supreme Court cases



(7) Obvious to try



In the case Actavis v ICOS , the UK Supreme Court reviewed the approach to obvious to try. Earlier, the Court of Appeal (



ICOS argued that the correct question to be asked was whether at the priority date, before the skilled team embarked on any testing, it was obvious in the light of the prior art that a 5mg daily dose of Tadalafil would be safe and effective with minimal side effects. However, the Supreme Court held that it is not necessary for the skilled team to identify the specific dose in advance of the clinical testing. The skilled team would very likely test a 5mg dose given that the aim of a dose ranging study is to identify a dose as low as possible consistent with effectiveness.



In addition to the often cited passage of Kitchin J in Generics v H Lundbeck (



ICOS' patent for a Tadalafil dosing regime was held to be invalid.



(8) Inventor compensation



In the case Shanks v Unilever



Where the judge starts by considering that the employee, Prof. Shanks, "initially received a salary of 18,000 per annum and a Volvo car", one might guess what the outcome of this case will be. Especially when the Supreme Court continues to consider that Prof. Shanks "built the first prototype of his invention at home using Mylar film and slides from his daughters toy microscope kit, and bulldog clips to hold the assembly together".



The Supreme Court held that an employee who makes an invention which belongs to his or her employer from the outset and for which a patent has been granted is entitled to compensation if he or she establishes:



i) that the patent is, having regard among other things to the size and nature of the employers undertaking, of outstanding benefit to the employer; and

ii) that, by reason of these matters, it is just that he or she be awarded compensation.



The employee, prof. Shanks, received an overall award of 2 million.



Dessert In the case [2019] UKSC 15 , the UK Supreme Court reviewed the approach to obvious to try. Earlier, the Court of Appeal ( [2017] EWCA Civ 1671 ) ruled that based on the trial judge's factual findings ( [2016] EWHC 1955 ), claim 7 should be held obvious. Claim 7 was directed to the treatment of sexual disfunction by administration of a dose no more than 5mg tadalafil per day. ICOS' invention is finding that that dose is effective with minimal side effects.ICOS argued that the correct question to be asked was whether at the priority date, before the skilled team embarked on any testing, it was obvious in the light of the prior art that a 5mg daily dose of Tadalafil would be safe and effective with minimal side effects. However, the Supreme Court held that it is not necessary for the skilled team to identify the specific dose in advance of the clinical testing. The skilled team would very likely test a 5mg dose given that the aim of a dose ranging study is to identify a dose as low as possible consistent with effectiveness.In addition to the often cited passage of Kitchin J in Generics v H Lundbeck ( [2007] EWHC 1040 ) on the factors for obviousness, Lord Hodge added the routineness of the research.ICOS' patent for a Tadalafil dosing regime was held to be invalid.In the case [2019] UKSC 45 , the UK Supreme Court ruled on inventor compensation. This case was initiated by the employee (Prof. Shanks) who applied for compensation on the basis that the inventions Shank made had been of outstanding benefit to Unilever and that Prof. Shanks was entitled to a fair share of that benefit.Where the judge starts by considering that the employee, Prof. Shanks, "initially received a salary of 18,000 per annum and a Volvo car", one might guess what the outcome of this case will be. Especially when the Supreme Court continues to consider that Prof. Shanks "built the first prototype of his invention at home using Mylar film and slides from his daughters toy microscope kit, and bulldog clips to hold the assembly together".The Supreme Court held that an employee who makes an invention which belongs to his or her employer from the outset and for which a patent has been granted is entitled to compensation if he or she establishes:i) that the patent is, having regard among other things to the size and nature of the employers undertaking, of outstanding benefit to the employer; andii) that, by reason of these matters, it is just that he or she be awarded compensation.The employee, prof. Shanks, received an overall award of 2 million.



(9) FRAND cases



Andrew also provided some 'snapshots' of what has happened since the FRAND ruling in Unwired Planet v Huawei



1. Conversant v Huawei (Floyd LJ)



2. TQ Delta v ZyXEL (Floyd LJ)



3. IPCom v Xiaomi (Hacon HHJ)



4. IPCom v Vodafone (Birss J)



5. IPCom v Lenovo (Hacon HHJ)



6. Vestel v Advance and Philips (Hacon HHJ)



Andrew concluded by mentioning that two important FRAND judgments are awaited:



Unwired Planet v Huawei and Philips v Asus and HTC.



(10) A few mince pies



Andrew finished with commenting on some decisions of lesser importance but worthy of note:



1. L'Oreal v Liqwd (Arnold LJ & David LJ)



- about late advanced construction and new evidence;



2. Anan Kasei v Neo Chemicals [2019] EWCA Civ 1646 (Floyd & Lewison LLJ)



- about ambiguity, insufficiency and uncertainty;



3. Conversant v Apple [2019] EWHC 3266 (Birss J)



- about the identity of the skilled person post amendment;



4. Conversant v Huawei [2019] EWHC 3130 (Arnold LJ)



- about costs in case of a win on only one point; "







Andrew also provided some 'snapshots' of what has happened since the FRAND ruling in [2018] EWCA Civ 2344 . The snapshots relate to the following cases:1.(Floyd LJ)2.(Floyd LJ)3.(Hacon HHJ)(Birss J)5.(Hacon HHJ)6.(Hacon HHJ)Andrew concluded by mentioning that two important FRAND judgments are awaited:andAndrew finished with commenting on some decisions of lesser importance but worthy of note:1. [2019] EWCA CIV 1943 (Arnold LJ & David LJ)- about late advanced construction and new evidence;2.(Floyd & Lewison LLJ)- about ambiguity, insufficiency and uncertainty;3.(Birss J)- about the identity of the skilled person post amendment;[2019] EWHC 3130 (Arnold LJ)- about costs in case of a win on only one point; "

home for Christmas, other IP lawyers were making their ways across London's twinkle light illuminated pavements to AIPPI's annual Patent Round-Up held at Hogan Lovells' London office. The AmeriKat turned to friend Hogan Lovells ) to sum up proceedings for IPKat readers.Over to Joost:
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

Iran's exports of goods (including gas condensates) via ports of its Bushehr province amounted to 19.2 million tons in the first nine months (from March 21 to Dec. 21, 2019) of the current Iranian year, Chairman of Bushehr Industry, Mine and Trade Organization Hossein Hosseini said, Trend reports citing IRNA.

The value of the exported goods was $6.3 billion and $455 million of this amount fell to the share of gas condensates, Hosseini said.

The amount of the non-oil exports via Bushehr ports reached about 18.3 million tons, which is 23 percent more compared to the same period previous year.

The main export items from Bushehr province via its ports included methanol, glycol, ethylene, sulfur, cement, clinker, tomatoes, dates, shrimps and seafood, Hosseini said, adding that these products were mostly supplied to China, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, South Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The total value of Iran's exports in the reported nine-month period amounted to $31.9 billion, while the value of imports reached $31.8 billion.
NEW YORK, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The one-day #JewishandProud social media campaign, an American Jewish Committee (AJC) initiative, is trending. Thousands of individuals across the United States and in another 36 countries around the world have been posting to Twitter and Facebook their photos and comments about their Jewish identity and against antisemitism.

"In the face of a veritable epidemic of antisemitism, Jews of all denominations are declaring today that enough is enough. We will not shy away from publicly displaying, celebrating our Jewish identity and faith," said AJC CEO David Harris. "And we are moved by the outpouring of support from so many people of other faiths in support of Jews to live and express themselves as Jews." Many have been using in their posts the AJC #JewishandProud sign, available at ajc.org.

The AJC #JewishandProud social media campaign comes a day after the "No Hate. No Fear." solidarity rally against antisemitism in New York City. AJC was a cosponsor, together with four other Jewish groups, of the march across the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan and rally at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn.

"Antisemitism is not a Jewish problem for Jews to solve. Antisemitism is a non-Jewish problem for non-Jews to solve," said Harris in his address to 25,000 people gathered at Cadman Plaza.

Harris, the son of Holocaust survivors, said his parents would be "spinning in their graves if they knew the reasons we are gathered here."

"The demons are now back," Harris continued. "Let's be crystal clear. We at AJC have been saying, since the year 2000, in Europe and now in the U.S. that the sources of antisemitism are multiple. We need the power of government mobilized on all levels in a sustained fashion  and not episodically, not intermittently, not simply after an event."

"We need serious prosecution, like what we have seen in Monsey. No more slaps on the wrist, no more revolving doors for the perpetrator," said Harris. "In fact, too many victims do not even report hate crimes because they don't believe the system will respond. People must feel confidence in the system to report attacks."

Harris called out elected officials who "weaponize antisemitism" or "avert their eyes" when members of their own political party tweet antisemitic messages or call for boycotts of Israel. And he criticized those high schools and colleges that allow antisemitism, however it is disguised, "to infest the classroom and the quad."

Turing to the vast universe of online activity, Harris said: "Shame on social media companies that have confused freedom of speech with corporate social responsibility. Social media must never become a cesspool for hatred, antisemitism, incitement, and recruitment."

Lastly, referring to the launch last June by AJC of the Community of Conscience, Harris said, "We need to link arms with people of goodwill here in America and around the world because an assault on any group is an assault on any group. It is an assault on the values that bind us together as Americans. We are all endangered. We are all diminished. We are all at risk if violent hatred, whatever its source, is at work."

The January 6 AJC #JewishandProud Day initiative came amidst surging antisemitism in the U.S., with a series of violent attacks in December alone.

In October, AJC, the leading global Jewish advocacy organization, found in its landmark survey of American Jews that 31% avoid publicly wearing, carrying or displaying things that might help people identify them as Jews, and 25% avoid certain places, events, or situations at least some of the time out of concern for their safety or comfort as Jews.

Watch and read David Harris's full speech.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

Related Links

http://www.ajc.org


WARNING: This post contains spoilers from Mondays season premiere of The Bachelor.

Welcome back, Bachelor fans.

As Mondays three-hour premiere of Peter Webers season began, the charming pilot from Westlake Village, California  just minutes away from the Bachelor mansion!  insisted he was ready for a fresh start after his relationship with Hannah Brown on The Bachelorette.

I am so excited. I have no idea whats coming, but I know that my life will never be the same, said Peter, 28. Even though I was in love with Hannah and the relationship didnt work out, Im taking so much of the relationship with me moving forward.

We were introduced to a select handful of the 30 contestants vying for his heart. One standout was Kelley, a 27-year-old attorney from Chicago. As it turns out, Kelley and Peter had actually met before, by chance, in a hotel lobby in California. She was there for a friends wedding and he was there for his 10-year high school reunion.

Its hard not to look at that situation and think that wasnt a major sign being sent to me, like, Hey, you should really do this,' Kelley said.

Night one was soon underway, and with the first batch of women in the limo on their way to the mansion, host Chris Harrison asked Peter what would become the million-dollar question by the end of the episode: Are you over Hannah?

I am, Peter said. I would not be here tonight if I wasnt ready to put that behind me and move forward.

Craig Sjodin/ABC

From there began the entrances, with some of the women performing the usual antics in the hopes of standing out on an overwhelming first night. A common reference was Peters much-touted night in the windmill with Hannah on The Bachelorette. One contestant, Kylie, offered him a pack of condoms, and another, Deandra, showed up with a windmill on her back to ask if he was ready for round five. (In case you missed it, Peter and Hannah had sex four times during their night in the Fantasy Suite.) Perhaps the boldest entrance of all was that of Savannah, who blindfolded Peter in the driveway and planted the first kiss of the night on him just minutes after they met.

Story continues

RELATED: New Bachelor Promo Makes Not-So-Subtle Reference to Peter Webers Famous Windmill Fantasy Suite

Peter and Kelley | John Fleenor/ABC

But nothing created a bigger splash than when Hannah herself stepped out of a limo. The second someone spotted her, the mansion descended into chaos. Peter seemed shocked, but also genuinely pleased to see her.

WATCH: The Bachelors Peter on Hannahs Return: All of Those Emotions Resurfaced

Much to everyones relief, Hannah came in peace, wanting simply to return the pilot wings that Peter had gifted her on The Bachelorette.

When I heard that you were going to be the Bachelor, I had mixed emotions, she told him. But when I stood where you are, you said you wanted to find your co-pilot and you gave me something. And I want you to find that person and so I brought these back for you. Youre going to be great.

Peter and Hannah | John Fleenor/ABC

Inside, Peter made a point to reassure the rest of the women.

I know some of you may have seen Hannah, she just stopped by. And I fell in love with her, I truly did, he admitted. But she gave me back my wings, thats what I had given her the first night. It was really cool and I appreciated it. If anything, seeing her tonight has just given me more hope moving forward that this could happen again and I can find love.

The cocktail party commenced, a blur of champagne, awkward confrontations and first kisses. I didnt expect to be kissing so many girls! Peter said with a bashful grin. But it just kind of happened.

He seemed particularly drawn to Kelley, admitting he had been hoping shed be on the show. But he was most taken by Hannah Ann, who won the first impression rose as Peter joked, I think theres room for two Hannahs in my life.

Then came the first rose ceremony, where eight women  Avonlea, Eunice, Jade, Jenna, Katrina, Kylie, Maurissa and Megan  were sent packing.

John Fleenor/ABC

The next morning, Hannah Ann, Kelley, Deandra, Tammy, Courtney, Shiann, Victoria P., Jasmine and Victoria F. headed out on the first group date. After a crash course in aviation, they were put to the test with an obstacle course on the tarmac. Kelley won (even though she cheated in the final round), which meant she got to take a sunset flight down the coast with Peter.

The evening portion of the group date just so happened to take place at the Four Seasons in Westlake Village, the same hotel where Kelley and Peter met  so it was no surprise when she took home the rose up for grabs that night after a steamy make-out session with the man of the hour.

Up next was the first one-on-one date, which went to Madison, a 23-year-old foster parent recruiter from Auburn, Alabama. (And yes, the coincidence of another Alabama girl was not lost on Peter, who joked, Ive got a thing for Southern girls, I guess!)

Little did Madison know, she had just landed what might be the most special date well see all season: Peter brought her home to his parents house, where he officiated their vow renewal ceremony in front of an intimate group of family and friends.

Today was a very special day for me and my family, he said. Being able to share that with Madison, I hope that shows her where I get my inspiration from.

Madison got along swimmingly with Peters mom, Barbara  and even caught the bouquet at the end of the day. I feel so welcomed by everyone here, she said. This was the most incredible first date Ive ever been on in my life.

RELATED: Chris Harrison Says Hannah Brown Went on The Bachelor to Get a Clean Break from Peter Weber

Peter was on the same page, giving Madison a rose after what they both agreed was a perfect first date.

I wasnt expecting to have feelings so soon, she told him. Its scary, because this is going to be really hard, having to share you.

I wish I could tell you its going to get easier, but its probably not, he admitted. But I can see your heart already and I will do whatever I can to protect that and guard that for you.

The two ended the evening with a live performance by Tenille Arts  and were surprised by Peters family, who showed up to dance the rest of the night away.

The next morning, Lauren, Sydney, Payton, Natasha, Alexa, Kelsey, McKenna, Alayah and Savannah headed out on the second group date. Peter teased that a very good friend of his had planned it, but he insisted he had no idea what they would be doing. Surprise, surprise, the friend turned out to be Hannah Brown.

Eric McCandless/ABC

Hannah kicked things off with a story about a guy she once dated, and it didnt take a rocket scientist to figure out she was talking about Peter and their now not-so-private night in the Fantasy Suite together.

I started wondering, is he just a nice guy? she said. And then he proved me wrong. And then he proved me wrong again, and again, and then again in the morning. Yeah, four fing times.

The more confident you are about who you are and your sexuality, the more confident you can be in a relationship, she told the contestants. So you all are going to share a personal story about sex! It can be a memorable time or just a fantasy that you may have  and youre going to do this in front of a live audience.

Eric McCandless/ABC

As the women went off to prepare their stories, Hannah confided in a producer, admitting she still cared for Peter but knew it wouldnt work. Soon enough, she was crying alone backstage, and Peter popped in to check on her.

This is so weird, he acknowledged, sitting down next to her on the couch.

I know. Im really sorry, Hannah said. Im really happy for you, but its just a lot.

Eric McCandless/ABC

It was a lot for Peter, too. He admitted that when he saw Hannah at the mansion on night one, he was kind of hoping that you werent just dropping something off, but that you were coming in.

But I didnt need that, and I appreciated you bringing the wings back, he told her. You didnt have to do that. I gave those to you, and no matter what, youre always going to mean so much to me.

The conversation turned to Hannahs season of The Bachelorette, with the former pageant queen admitting her heart was very confused. (On the show, she accepted a marriage proposal from her final pick Jed Wyatt, but ended up calling off the engagement after learning that he allegedly had a girlfriend when he went on the show. Tyler Cameron came in second, and Peter third.)

I dont know what I did, Hannah told Peter between sobs, mascara streaming down her face. I dont know what the f I was doing.

After dumping Jed, Hannah asked Tyler out on the live After the Final Rose conclusion to her season in July. It didnt work out, as he soon started dating Gigi Hadid  but on Mondays episode, Peter wondered why she hadnt asked him out instead.

You know how you asked Tyler out on the last episode? Did it ever cross your mind to maybe ask me, or  ? he said. I havent asked you that, and its been on my mind for a long time.

Im just being very honest with you  watching that next episode that night live and then seeing that happen, for me, that was it, he continued. I dont want to be someones third option at all. So then it was just tough, because I found out that you moved 20 minutes from where I live. And all this stuff kept happening. I thought that I was not confused, but now I dont know.

What the f am I doing right now? he wondered aloud. I dont know what Im doing. What would you  this is so insane. What would you say if I asked you to come be part of the house?

Hannah, still crying, didnt quite give him a straight answer, simply saying, I mean, maybe? But Peter kept pushing, demanding to know whether she regretted sending him home on her season.

Yeah, Peter, she replied. I question it all the time.

I mean, I told you  I had no doubts that it was you and Jed. That you were going to meet my family, she continued. I dont think I wanted to change my mind about Jed. It was comfortable, it was falling back into the same thing. But like, I broke everybodys heart and my own through this experience.

RELATED VIDEO: Tyler Cameron Doesnt Regret Being Unavailable for The Bachelor  They Got the Right Guy For It

Circling back to the Tyler situation, Peter said his heart sank when Hannah asked him out. But Hannah said Tyler had been reaching out, while she hadnt heard from Peter.

You didnt say anything, she told him. I didnt know you where you were. I knew you were upset and dealing with it, so I didnt reach out to you. And you didnt reach out to me. I mean, I thought you wanted to be the Bachelor.

At that point, neither was sure what to say.

I dont know what to do right now, Peter said. Im so confused and this is the first week that this whole thing is starting. And Im obviously not 100 percent where I thought I was.

I cant help how my heart feels, he continued to a producer. I look at her, and I just dont want to stop looking at her, and I want to just kiss her and just  have had all this work out. And it didnt, and I know it didnt. I feel like such a jerk because I have such an awesome group of girls here, expecting to meet someone that was truly ready to have this work for them as well.

The Bachelor airs Mondays (8 p.m. ET) on ABC.
Massive stampede took place on Tuesday at a funeral procession being taken out for the top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani killed in US airstrike last week. Total 35 people were killed in the stampede whereas 48 people were injured, according to a state television report. The stampede took place in Kerman, the hometown of the Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani, when the procession was underway.

Mourners dead in stampede at Iran's senior commander Qassem Suleimani's funeral, reports AFP News Agency ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2020

The stampede was confirmed by Pirhossein Koulivand, the head of Iran's emergency medical services in a telephonic conversation with the state TV. A procession in Tehran also took place on Monday. Over 1 million people thronged the streets of Tehran during this procession. The Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept in public when he held the funeral prayers for Qassem Soleimani in front of the Tehran university.

Iran has vowed to revenge Soleimani's death, which has exacerbated tensions across the Middle East.

With inputs from PTI

Also read: Millions of people gather for Soleimani's funeral, daughter warns 'Crazy Trump' of a dark day
Food and Drug Administration of Maharashtra recently carried out a special drive against products of popular food manufacturing companies that violated Food Safety Standards Act of 2006, an official release stated on Tuesday.

Intelligence branch of the FDA along with local area officers carried out raids at cold storage units in Mumbai city, Aurangabad, Raigad, Nashik, Bhiwandi and Thane districts of Maharashtra between January 2 and 4, he said.

The state FDA launched a drive against products that endorse claims such as 'zero cholesterol' and 'low fat low cholesterol', which did not meet standards given in Schedule I (Nutritional Claims) in the Advertising and Claim Regulation 2018 of FSS Act 2006.

Further legal action will be taken against manufacturers based on the analysis report of samples seized from the storage units, the release stated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NASA's specialised planet-hunting spacecraft searching for signs of alien life has spotted an Earth-sized world within its star's habitable zone.

Dubbed TOI 700 d, the planet is just 100 light years away and is slightly larger than Earth.

It has a much swifter orbit than Earth, taking just 37 days to complete a trip around its star.

TOI 700 d also receives just 86 per cent of the energy Earth does, due to its star being around 40 per cent the mass of our Sun and only half as hot.

Its presence within the habitable zone and its size offers hope that it may host liquid water, but this has not yet been confirmed.

The breakthrough from the TESS spacecraft was announced during the annual American Astronomical Society meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Dubbed TOI 700 d, the planet is just 100 light years away, exceptionally close on the scale of space. It is slightly larger than Earth and has a much swifter orbit time of just 37 days

TESS found three planets around the star, with only one inside the habitable zone, where the temperature would allow for liquid water to exist on its surface.

'TESS was designed and launched specifically to find Earth-sized planets orbiting nearby stars,' said Paul Hertz, NASA astrophysics division director.

The exoplanet - a world orbiting a star that is now our Sun - was almost missed by astronomers after an initial error wrongly categorised the star and its planets.

Scientists wrote the planets off as non-viable for extraterrestrial life as they were thought to be too big and too hot.

But a team of amateur astronomers, including a high school student, identified the error and corrected it.

'When we corrected the star's parameters, the sizes of its planets dropped, and we realised the outermost one was about the size of Earth and in the habitable zone,' said Emily Gilbert, a graduate student at the University of Chicago.

The discovery was later confirmed by the Spitzer Space Telescope.

Similar planets have been identified before, including some spotted by the now defunct Kepler Space Telescope.

But this marks the first such world spotted by TESS after its 2018 launch.

TESS spots distant planets with a patient approach, it studies the image of stars in a specific region of the night sky and waits for objects to pass in front of it.

These transits often indicate the presence of an orbiting planet making its way around the star and the drop in the star's luminosity is analysed to provide clues to the world's size, speed and chemical composition of its atmosphere.

TESS found three planets around the star, with only one inside the habitable zone, where the temperature would allow for liquid water to exist on its surface. Pictured, one simulation allowing for liquid water on the planet#s surface which shows TOI 700d in the habitable zone

WHAT IS TIDAL LOCKING? Tidal locking is the phenomenon which sees a moon appear fixed in place around a planet, with only one side being visible. This happens when the rotational period - time it takes to spin 360 - is the same as the time it takes to complete one orbit. The lunar cycle is an example of this, with the moon completing one trip around Earth every 28 days, the same time it takes to spin around entirely. it is because of tidal locking that the 'dark side of the moon' exists. Advertisement

But despite the best efforts of the astronomers, the scientists are still unsure what the planet is made of but are conducting computer simulations to try and find out.

The planet is tidally locked to the star, meaning that one side always faces the star, as is the case with the Moon and Earth.

One simulation included an ocean-covered TOI 700 d with a dense, carbon-dioxide-dominated atmosphere similar to what scientists suspect surrounded Mars when it was young.

This synchronous rotation meant that, in another model, one side of the planet was constantly covered in clouds.

Another model predicts the planet to be TOI 700 d as a cloudless, all-land version of modern Earth, where winds flow away from the night side of the planet and converge on the point directly facing the star.

A third simulation predicted an all-land world, where winds flow from the planet's dark side to its light one.

Multiple astronomers will observe the planet with other instruments, in order to obtain new data that may match one of NASA's models.
Dr Adnan Abu Amer is the head of the Political Science Department at the University of the Ummah in Gaza.

In December, Ismail Haniya, chief of the Hamas political bureau, embarked on his first foreign tour since being elected to the position by the Shura Council of the movement in May 2017.

Since the Israeli siege was imposed on Gaza more than 13 years ago, officials from Gaza have only been able to travel abroad through Cairo.

This has given Egyptian authorities control over their movements, and in the past, they have declined repeated requests from Haniya to allow him to travel abroad.

His tour appears, therefore, to signal some development in Hamas-Egypt relations and regional dynamics. So far he has visited Turkey, Qatar and, most significantly, Iran. He may also be going to Russia.

This allows Haniya to push forward Hamass international relations and internal affairs.

Egypts conditions

Over the past two and a half years, the Egyptian authorities set various conditions in exchange for permitting Haniya to travel on official business. They requested, for example, that he opt out of visiting Iran, Qatar and Turkey and instead go to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. These were conditions Hamas was unwilling to meet as it did not want to give the impression that foreign powers were determining its political agenda.

For this reason, Cairo repeatedly refused to grant him permission to travel.

By early December, however, the situation had changed.

Haniya left the Gaza Strip on December 2 and upon arrival in Cairo held a series of meetings with Egyptian officials. According to London-based Al-Araby newspaper, the focus of the meetings was on negotiating a long-term ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, with the Egyptians admitting that the deal of the century put forward by the Trump administration had been set aside. At the conclusion of the meetings, he was informed that he could embark on his foreign tour.

Egypts permission for Haniyas tour means Hamas likely acquiesced to certain conditions and made progress on some issues important to Egypt and its allies. According to sources I spoke to, the Egyptian authorities asked Haniya not to attend the Islamic Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which took place from December 18. He fulfilled this condition, but Hamas still sent a high-level delegation from the political bureau.

According my sources, this Egyptian request came as a result of pressure from Saudi Arabia which saw the conference as an alternative alliance to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation which it leads and a challenge to its leadership within the Islamic world.

But perhaps the main reason why Egypt let Haniya out this time is for him to have an opportunity to meet Hamas officials living abroad and discuss with them progress on the ceasefire with Israel. The negotiations for a long-term break in hostilities started in 2018, after Hamas and Israel reached an understanding on easing the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, allowing for some goods to be brought in and urgent issues, such as electricity and water supply and unemployment, to be addressed.

Hamass international relations

The first two stops on Haniyas tour were Turkey and Qatar and he is expected to also visit Lebanon, Kuwait, Mauritania and Malaysia. There has been no confirmation of a visit to Russia as of yet.

In Turkey, the Hamas leader met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and discussed various issues, including the status of Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, reconciliation efforts with Fatah and the situation in Gaza.

In Qatar, Haniyeh met with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. According to media reports, some Hamas leaders may move from Qatar to Malaysia in the context of a potential reconciliation in the Gulf, between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. This move would comply with the Saudi request that Doha does not host leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, including Hamas.

So far officials from Hamas have not commented on these claims. The movement has close ties with Malaysia, which Haniya is expected to work to solidify even further during his planned visit.

The third stop on Haniyas tour was Iran. He visited Tehran and attended the funeral of General Qassem Soleimani, head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who was assassinated by the US in Baghdad on Friday.

Haniyas visit means Hamas has made a decision on its regional alliances after its temporary distancing from Iran and Hezbollah after the outbreak of the Arab Spring and the Syrian civil war, in particular. It also means Tehran will continue its financial and military support for the movement. The visit goes against previous demands by Egypt (under pressure from Saudi Arabia) not to go to Iran.

Another possible stop on Haniyas tour is Russia, which had previously sent him an official invitation in 2018. Until now, the visit to Moscow has been delayed, first because Egypt prevented Haniya from travelling, but also because both the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel exerted pressure on the Russian government to postpone it  both wanting to keep Hamas isolated.

Now that Haniya is out of Gaza, friends in Turkey, Iran and Qatar may facilitate his trip to Russia. Such a visit would constitute a momentous breakthrough in Hamass international relations.

Haniya may stay outside Gaza for as long as six months. According to media reports, he will likely stay in Qatar during this extended tour given the ease with which this will allow him to travel in the region. This will likely anger Cairo and Riyadh, given their strained relations with Doha.

Haniyas foreign tour will include extensive consultations on important issues with Hamas leaders living abroad whom he has not seen since he was elected. Their inability to physically meet so far has impeded decision-making on some key issues, including the ceasefire negotiations with Israel, reconciliation with Fatah and Palestinian elections.

Haniyas struggle to leave Gaza has revived an old debate inside Hamas on the merits of having the movements political, military and media leaders inside the Gaza Strip, which is besieged by land, sea and air. Their presence inside Gaza renders them subject to Israeli and Egyptian pressure and blackmail by preventing them from moving between Gaza and the outside world.

However long Haniyas trip continues, it will be important for both Hamass domestic and foreign affairs. The tour will enable Hamas to solidify relations with its friends and repair relations with some countries with whom it does not have relations, including Kuwait and Jordan. It could also pave the way for a long-term truce with Israel.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
As Chris Green was leaving a Houston store where he was shopping for formula for the baby his live-in ex-girlfriend had brought home a few days before, he was approached by FBI agents. They showed the man a missing person flyer for Austin mother Heidi Broussard and her 3-week-old baby, Margo.

Thats my baby, Green told the agents when he saw the photograph of Margo on Dec. 19, according to court documents.

But it wasnt his child.

The agents went to the house Green shared with Magen Fieramusca. They found Broussards baby inside the house near Jersey Village and the 33-year-old mothers corpse in a car in the backyard.

Fieramusca, also 33, has been charged with two counts of kidnapping and tampering with Broussards corpse in the case, which has drawn international attention. Detectives now believe Fieramusca was driven to abduct Broussard and her infant in Austin last month because of a desire to have a baby after a pregnancy that either failed to come to term or was entirely made up, according to an arrest affidavit unsealed Monday.

Broussard was killed by ligature strangulation, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science. The death was ruled a homicide.

The affidavit, which notes that Broussards corpse was stuffed into a duffel bag in the trunk, reveals Fieramuscas actions in the days on and after the abduction, including internet searches for Broussard, Amber Alerts and bodies found in Austin.

Fieramusca has not been charged with killing Broussard. The Austin bureau of the Texas Department of Public Safety did not immediately respond to a question about whether Green has been eliminated as a suspect. He has not been charged with any crime in connection with the case.

Broussard and her baby were reported missing by the Austin Police Department on Dec. 13. The last time the mother and child were seen together was on Dec. 12 at Cowan Elementary School, where Broussard dropped off her older son.

An extensive search followed, led by federal, state and Austin police.

On HoustonChronicle.com: One person arrested in Harris County in kidnapping, death of Heidi Broussard, missing Austin mom

Fieramusca and Broussard met at the Texas Bible Institute in Columbus about a decade ago, Shane Carey, Broussards boyfriend told police. The two, who talked on the phone regularly, appeared to become pregnant around the same time, with both due dates around December, Carey told investigators.

Fieramusca was in the hospital room when baby Margo was born on Nov. 26 at St. Davids South Austin Hospital, the affidavit says. It adds that Fieramusca interrupted Careys fathers first meeting with Margo so she could hold the baby. He told investigators he found that odd.

People who were at the hospital for Margos birth told investigators they heard the two women saying Fieramusca was 37 weeks pregnant at the time.

Carey said Broussard told him Fieramusca gave birth to her own child on Dec. 8 or 9, according to the affidavit.

Green told FBI agents that Fieramusca told him she became pregnant with his child in the spring of 2019. He said that her stomach appeared to grow, court records say, and he felt it. But he told investigators he never saw the womans bare stomach during the pregnancy.

Fieramusca and Green had broken up in March, Green said, but the two kept living together in his home.

Police say Carey, Broussards boyfriend, was cooperative throughout the investigation and has regained custody of Margo.

Green told law-enforcement officials that when Fieramusca returned from a trip on Dec. 13, she said, Dont be mad, according to the affidavit. She told him that she went into labor and delivered their baby.

When questioned by investigators on Dec. 19, Fieramusca could not remember the name of the birthing center where she said she delivered, and she gave conflicting accounts of when the baby arrived.

Surveillance footage of the complex where Broussard lived in the 700 block of West William Cannon Drive shows a car that police believe belonged to Fieramusca being driven near the mothers home on Dec. 12, according to the affidavit.

A witness told detectives she saw the same car stopped in the middle of the lot that day and that she saw a woman believed to be Broussard holding a baby get into the vehicle, the affidavit says. The witness also told police she saw a woman who looked like Fieramusca driving the car.

Agents began investigating Fieramuscas social media, email and other online accounts, all of which used an alternative name  Maygen Humphrey on Dec. 18, the day before Broussards body was found. An online baby registry under the names Maygen Humphrey and Chris Green listed the couples expected due date as Dec. 12.

According to the affidavit, Fieramusca did google searches in her gmail account under the Humphrey name for reasons for Amber Alert and Amber Alert issued in Austin on Dec. 12, the day Broussard went missing, for bodies found in Austin Texas Dec. 14; and for the name Heidi Broussard at least 162 times between Nov. 11 and Dec. 18.

Location data from Fieramuscas cell phone placed the device in the Austin area on the day Broussard went missing.

Officials with the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety surveilled Fieramuscas home in Houston on Dec. 19, the affidavit says, and a helicopter operator noticed a car parked in the backyard.

After DPS was granted access to the property for a welfare check of the child, they discovered Broussards body in the car.

A state trooper smelled the immediate and unmistakable odor of decomposing flesh emitting from the trunk area of the 2015 Nissan, the affidavit reads.

Broussards body was later identified by the medical examiners office. After DNA testing confirmed the baby was Margo, she was returned to her father, Carey.

Broussard, who gave birth to her son in 2013, worked for Crocker Barrel in Buda, Texas while she studied to become a veterinarian technician, according to her Facebook page. Fieramusca has worked as a wedding planner in Houston for 13 years, her LinkedIn page says.

A funeral service for Broussard was held on Dec. 27 in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Fieramusca was acquitted of a theft charge last month in Harris County, according to court records. She was accused of stealing $5,000 from a former employer.

The FBIs Behavioral Analysis Unit said her actions fit the profile of a woman who would abduct a child due to maternal desire, according to the affidavit. It adds that, according to the FBI analysts, maternal desire can be a motive for mothers that have lost a pregnancy or falsified pregnancy and materialize the desire to have a baby by taking someone elses child.

Fieramusca is scheduled to appear in Travis County Court in February, according to the affidavit.

hannah.dellinger@chron.com
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 6, 2020

Google's YouTube said Monday it has begun rolling out a new policy banning personalized ads on videos aimed at children.

YouTube now treats personal information from anyone watching childrens content on the platform as coming from a child, regardless of the age of the user, the company said in a blog post. This means that on videos made for kids, we limit data collection and use. We no longer serve personalized ads on this content or support features such as comments, live chat, notification bell, stories, save to playlist, and others.

Google alerted people those changes were coming in September, when the company agreed to pay $170 million to settle allegations that it violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by knowingly collecting data from children younger than 13.

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The FTC alleged in its complaint against that Google marketed YouTube to Mattel, Hasbro and other companies as a "top destination for kids."

In a presentation to Mattel, Google allegedly described YouTube as todays leader in reaching children age 6-11 against top TV channels.

Google did not admit to violating the children's privacy law when it settled with the FTC.

Even though the company is changing its policies, it has also asked the Federal Trade Commission to revise children's privacy rules to make it easier for YouTube to collect data from people over age 12 who watch videos aimed at young children.

The FTC currently presumes that people watching child-oriented videos are themselves children. Earlier this year, the FTC solicited comments from the public about whether to whether to allow companies like Google to rebut the presumption that all viewers of child-oriented videos are under age 13.

Google recently argued in favor of that change.

On YouTube ... there is a strong community of adults who watch child-directed content on their own, for example 'nostalgia watching,' Google wrote in comments filed with the FTC last month. Teachers and parents may also access and engage with this content for the benefit of their students or children -- for example, to evaluate appropriate content or recommend it to others.

Andrew Smith, the head of the FTC's consumer protection bureau, said in September that he anticipated the agency would revise at least some regulations. He suggested the agency was considering making it easier for platforms to serve behaviorally targeted ads to users over age 12 who view videos that appear to be directed at children.

At the time, Smith elaborated to MediaPost on possible ways companies like YouTube could distinguish between users likely to be younger than 13 and older ones. Among others, YouTube could turn off commenting for users who don't have Gmail accounts, and then only collect data from users who leave comments. (Google requires Gmail users to be at least 13 years old.)

Four U.S. Senators recently asked the FTC not to weaken the regulations. Now is not the time to pull back, Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) wrote. As children's use of technology continues to increase, so too does the appetite by tech giants for children's personal information.
Distinguished Programs has hired Paul R. Zeni as its new Northern California regional sales executive.

Zeni has roughly 35 years of insurance industry experience.

Zeni will represent Distinguished Programs insurance products across all industry service sectors.

Prior to his work with the programs division of York Risk Services Group, Zeni worked with Apollo General Insurance in Sonoma, Calif., a national managing general agent specializing in the construction, environmental and wine industries. Before that, he was a regional program manager with AIG. Zeni also spent 17 years with Firemans Fund Insurance Co.

Distinguished Programs is a national insurance program manager providing specialized insurance programs to brokers and agents.

Topics California
Former Nissan and Renault boss Carlos Ghosn began his astonishing escape from Japan with a bullet train ride from Tokyo to Osaka, possibly accompanied by several people, Japan's Kyodo News reported Monday.

Japanese authorities also said on Monday they may still press for Ghosn's extradition from Lebanon to face multiple charges of financial wrongdoing, even though the country does not usually extradite its nationals.

Security cameras captured Ghosn leaving his home on December 29 at about 2:30pm (05:30 GMT) and arriving some hours later at Tokyo's Shinagawa Station, where he took the train to Shin-Osaka Station, Kyodo said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The international fugitive then went by car to a hotel near Osaka's Kansai International Airport, where he boarded a private jet at 11:10pm, according to the media report.

Ghosn was forbidden from leaving Japan while awaiting trial on charges of financial misconduct, which he has denied, but he fled at the end of last year to escape what he called a "rigged" justice system.

Prosecutors are now working with police to piece together Ghosn's route and find out who helped him, Kyodo said.

In the government's first briefing since Ghosn skipped bail, Justice Minister Masako Mori said on Monday that as a general principle, Tokyo could request the extradition of a suspect from a country with which it has no formal extradition agreement.

Such a request would need to be carefully examined based on the possibility of "guaranteeing reciprocity and the domestic law of the partner country", Mori told reporters in Tokyo.

Mori did not say what would guarantee reciprocity - the idea that benefits or penalties extended by one country to citizens of another should be reciprocated. She also did not say if there were any Lebanese nationals in Japan wanted in Lebanon.
Ms. Valencia has been choreographing in New York for more than a decade, but the past couple of years have brought heightened attention to her work. Since 2018, she has received a $40,000 grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts (a significant sum in the scrappy field of experimental dance), her first evening-length commission (from the Chocolate Factory Theater) and an invitation to perform in the 2019 Whitney Biennial. She also took her work on tour for the first time.

This recognition has coincided with her shift toward solo performance, toward telling her own stories in a deliberately inviting way. When the curator Greta Hartenstein, who brought Ms. Valencia to the Whitney, first encountered her work  an in-progress showing of Album (2018)  she was drawn to the generosity of her approach.

She has a way of sharing such personal histories, Ms. Hartenstein said in a telephone interview, but also leaving room for every audience member to see themselves in that narrative, or their family or their friends, and so it becomes a shared experience.

Ms. Valencia hasnt always had such a warm rapport with the spectator. During her early years in New York, she created what she calls abstract quiet dances, informed by her studies at Hampshire College in western Massachusetts, where she took her first formal classes in dance composition and technique. (On summer breaks back in Chicago, she trained in the modern dance techniques of Lester Horton and Martha Graham.) As an artist just starting out, she aligned with the traditions of postmodern dance, including a disengagement from the viewer, a kind of refusal of being watched.
OLATHE, Kan. -- A man who was out on bond for child porn and enticement charges in Independence is now facing charges of raping a child in Johnson County. Brandon Grisham, 23, faces charges of rape of a child over the age of 14 and aggravated sodomy by force in Johnson County court.
The US embassy in Nigeria has released a statement on its official website advising its citizens to reconsider traveling to Nigeria.

The statement followed the Friday killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in a drone airstrike ordered by US president, Donald Trump.

Read Also: General Soleimani: Iran Offers $80m Bounty For Trumps Head

Also, the statement might be unconnected with the recent demonstration of Shiite members over the killing of the Iranian general in Abuja which resulted in the burning of the US flag.

Due to recent world events, U.S. citizens should review their personal security measures. While we have no specific threat information, it is prudent to remind ourselves of the following personal security actions to follow on a regular basis.

Actions to take: Be aware of your surroundings; keep a low profile; avoid crowds and demonstrations; exercise caution when walking or driving at night; carry proper identification; review your personal security plans and monitor local media for updates.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 05:37:36|Editor: ZX

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PRAGUE, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Czech ministers on Tuesday expressed their concerns over the situation in the Middle East following the U.S. killing of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, in Iraq on Friday.

In a Twitter message, Culture Minister Lubomir Zaoralek slammed the U.S. move, calling it a "violation of international law".

"For a country like the Czech Republic, these rules are vital," Zaoralek added.

Currently, about 40 Czech soldiers and five police officers are still based in Iraq, as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) training mission. Their training activities have been suspended.

Interior Minister Jan Hamacek said Prague has been monitoring the situation in the Middle East and will decide whether the Czech police will remain on the mission in Baghdad within a few days.

Police President Jan Svejdar was quoted by Czech News Agency as saying: "Their remaining does not depend on our position only. However, our stance is clear, we want to protect their lives, and see peace maintained at our base (in Iraq)."

Earlier, Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek has said that the killing of Soleimani had further complicated the complex situation in the Middle East and threatened the fight against international terrorism.

"Unfortunately, the situation in the Middle East continues to complicate. Among other things, fragile achievements in the fight against the Islamic State and international terrorism as such are under threat," he tweeted after the airstrike.

Former foreign minister Karel Schwarzenberg wrote Monday on his Facebook, stating openly that "the acts by President (Donald) Trump are criminal. No one is allowed to violate international laws, not even the president of the United States."
Searches are continuing for William Whelan, who was also on board the Alize trawler when it sent out a distress signal

Gardai at Hook Head, Co Wexford, near the scene of the trawler tragedy in which Joseph Sinnott died

Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the fatal incident involving a trawler off the Wexford coast which left one fisherman dead while searches continue for a second missing man.

Joseph Sinnott (65), a father-of-four from Kilmore Quay, died following the tragic incident, which emergency services were alerted to on Saturday.

Mr Sinnott was recovered from the water and brought to University Hospital Waterford, where he was pronounced dead on Sunday morning.

A second fisherman, William Whelan (41), was also on board the Alize trawler when it sent out a distress signal.

Searches are continuing for Mr Whelan, who only married in recent months, but he has not yet been recovered.

Difficulty

A formal investigation has been launched in an effort to establish what led to the trawler getting into difficulty before sinking about 10km south of Hook Head.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board, an independent body, confirmed to the Herald that it was carrying out an investigation.

Unfavourable weather conditions delayed the search for Mr Whelan yesterday morning, but rescue teams eventually managed to deploy at 9am.

Two RNLI lifeboats, from Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay, were dispatched, along with Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117. The Irish Naval Service vessel, the LE Ciara, was deployed from Rosslare Harbour at 6am and acted as co-ordinator.

Naval Service dive teams are on standby to assist the search, but have not yet been formally requested, while conditions were also unsuitable for divers, with swells of up to six metres in some search areas yesterday.

The weather is expected to further hamper a full-scale search today, but conditions are expected to improve tomorrow.

The Taoiseach was among those to pay tribute to the search and rescue teams who have been working tirelessly in an effort to locate Mr Whelan.

Leo Varadkar said he spoke to the director of the Irish Coast Guard Eugene Clonan to thank staff and volunteers for their ongoing efforts.

"As a former transport minister, I am very conscious of the brave service provided by the Coast Guard's staff and volunteers right around our coastline," the Taoiseach said.

The funeral of Mr Sinnott will take place at St Mary's Church, Kilmore, tomorrow morning, followed by his burial in the New Cemetery Kilmore.

Over the past few days, neighbours and friends gathered at the house he shared with his wife Mary to comfort her and the Sinnott family.

"We really don't know what happened. It's too early to tell. The first we knew was around 11pm after the signal from the boat was received by the Coast Guard in Dublin," Mr Sinnott's son Michael said.

"It's hard to believe. He was so many years at sea, and the man who was with him too, so whatever happened wasn't down to a lack of experience. The boat was in good condition," he added.
[January 07, 2020] AsiaPay Launches Samsung Pay acceptance to its digital merchants

HONG KONG, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AsiaPay, the leading e-Payment service and technology player in Asia, is pleased to offer its merchants in Hong Kong and soon Asia, the ability to accept Samsung Pay wallet payment, which offers Samsung Pay users a convenient and secure way to shop digitally and make digital payments using mobile phones. Samsung Pay is a secure and easy-to-use mobile payment service which can be used on selected Samsung devices to make purchases at a wide range of merchants. Samsung Pay Web Checkout is an online payment method accessed from a web browser, PC-based or mobile, with authentication performed by Samsung Pay on the user's Samsung device. Initiated from a merchant web page, Web Checkout leverages Samsung Pay's In-App solution architecture for user authentication and transaction authorization. This product launch allows AsiaPay to offer its digital merchants in Hong Kong and Asia a popular payment option that readily enhance sales and service. Samsung Pay users can now enjoy better payment experience and more payment convenience over digital merchants of AsiaPay in 12 markets in Asia including, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia..etc. "In this new era of digital globalization, digital innovation and disruption change the way we live and do business. There is continued merchant demand for a complete integrated payment acceptance solution across prevailing payment methods in Asia to optimize sales conversion and better serve the customers globally especially in digital channel payments. We are honored to work with SamsungPay to provide its users with greater payment convenience and acceptance at digital merchants of AsiaPay throughout Asia,'' said Joseph Chan, CEO of AsiaPay.



"As a leading consumer electronics brand, Samsung has always aspired to create better and more fulfilling experiences for our users through meaningful innovations," said Yiyin Zhao Managing Director of Samsung Electronics H.K. Co. Ltd. "We hope to offer our consumers a payment service that is truly safe, simple, and widely-accepted. We are also thankful for the support of American Express, Mastercard, Visa, and card issuers. Together, we are creating a more complete payment experience, further enhanced with promotions, to bring mobile payments capability to more users than ever before." About AsiaPay

Founded in 2000, AsiaPay, a premier electronic payment service and technology player, strives to bring advanced, secure, integrated and cost-effective electronic payment processing solutions and services to banks, corporate and e-Businesses in the worldwide market, covering an array of international credit card, debit card, prepaid card, netbanking, eWallet and QR, as well as cash collection. AsiaPay is an accredited payment processor and payment gateway solution vendor for banks, certified ISO and PF for serving merchants, certified international 3-D Secure vendor for Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover and UnionPay. AsiaPay offers its variety of award-winning payment solutions that are multi-currency, multi-lingual, multi-card and multi-channel, together with its advanced fraud detection, payment analytic and management solutions. Headquartered in Hong Kong, AsiaPay offers its professional e-Payment services, solutions and quality local service support across its other 15 country and city operations in Asia including: Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Mainland China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia and India. For more information, please visit www.asiapay.com and www.paydollar.com. About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com. Samsung Pay was launched in Hong Kong at 2017, with support from card issuers including American Express, Bank of China (Hong Kong), Citibank, Dah Sing Bank, DBS Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank. For more information about Samsung Pay, please visit http://www.samsung.com/hk_en/samsungpay. SOURCE AsiaPay

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Firefighters raced to contain massive bushfires in southeastern Australia Tuesday, taking advantage of a brief drop in temperatures and some much-needed rainfall before another heatwave strikes later this week.

Exhausted volunteers cleared ground vegetation and carried out controlled burns before temperatures and winds were expected to pick up again by Friday. "It really is about shoring up protection to limit the damage potential and the outbreak of the fires over the coming days," said New South Wales Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.

He described current conditions as "much more favourable" but warned "we are expecting hotter weather to return later in the week".

Dozens of vast blazes continue to burn out of control across the east of the country and there are growing fears that two fires in New South Wales and Victoria could connect to form another uncontrollable megablaze.

Rainfall on Monday offered modest relief, but it was not heavy enough in most areas to extinguish the fires, and in some places it hampered firefighters' preparations by making back-burning more difficult.

Twenty-five people have died since the start of the disaster in September, more than 1,800 homes have been destroyed, and some eight million hectares (80,000 square kilometres) has burned, an area the size of Ireland or South Carolina.

Smoke from the fires has been spotted more than 12,000 kilometres (7,400 miles) away in Chile and Argentina, weather authorities in the South American countries said. The cost of the disaster is still not clear, but the Insurance Council of Australia said claims worth Aus$700 million ($485 million) had already been filed and the figure was expected to climb significantly.

The government has earmarked an initial Aus$2 billion ($1.4 billion) for a national recovery fund to help devastated communities.

The human toll was again laid bare Tuesday, as firefighters held a memorial in Sydney for 36-year-old colleague Andrew O'Dwyer who died battling blazes in late December.

Volunteers in bright orange fire suits lined the road as his cortege passed -- with the coffin draped in a Rural Fire Service flag.

Conditions in the next week are not expected to match the worst days of the crisis, but Fitzsimmons told public broadcaster ABC it was important not to "get lulled into a false sense of security". Many of the blazes are too big to be put out, so only sustained rainfall would end the crisis.

There were some faint signs Tuesday that a reprieve may be on the way, as a tropical cyclone formed off the northwest coast. "It was nice to see a cyclone forming. I shouldn't say that -- hopefully no damage -- but it was nice to see a cyclone forming up the top end of (Western Australia)," said Fitzsimmons.

"Hopefully (it is) a signal that we may see monsoon activity which will disrupt the dominant hot air mass continuing to influence so much of the weather." In hard-hit communities residents took advantage of the respite to return home and utility firms said they were slowly reconnecting power.

But in the worst-hit areas, like the town of Cobargo, recovery will take much longer.

"There is extensive damage to the electricity network that supplies power from the zone substation to the residents of Cobargo," said Essential Energy. "Helicopters are assisting local crews scope what repairs are needed. Extended outages are to be expected." Meanwhile, police said they had arrested three people for alleged offences in bushfire areas as the authorities sought to crackdown on isolated incidents of looting.

"We are not living in South-Central LA, we are not living in Syria, we don't do this to each other. This is the south coast of NSW," emergency services commissioner David Elliott said.

Anyone, he said, who seeks to take "advantage of their fellow citizens' disadvantage they should expect the full force of the law.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Stoneyford woman, Pamela Sheridan, was selected out of 1,500 applications to be in the final 20 of this years RTEs Operation Transformation on RTE 1 television.

Read also: Dr Eddie Murphy introduces Operation Transformation 2020 leaders



She spent a day in Dublin with the national broadcaster filming the fitness assessment and circle of truth we all know so well from the show.

Unfortunately she was not selected as one of the five leaders for the show but she is still part of the programme.

With much encouragement from RTE, she has set up a local Operation Transformation event running for eight weeks.

Join Pamela on her eight week journey

Pamela is looking for as many people to join her on the eight weeks of walks which promise to be great fun.

She has also received support from Caulfields SuperValu who will supply healthy produce to everyone taking part on the walks.

So from tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 7pm you can join Pamela at the Stoneyford Community Centre where her OT journey will start.

blood pressure and weight checked

Registration is from 6pm where Fallon Pharmacy will take your blood pressure and weight, confidentially and at the end of the eight weeks will take them again and see as a group how much weight they have lost.

She is hoping to raise money for her community and a charity and is asking people for a donation of 1 per walk.

She has selected six people to join her as local leaders including award winning publican, Fred Malzard. She plans to have a night to reveal her weight loss and that of the six selected leaders.

Walks will be Wednesdays at 7pm and Saturday mornings at 9am until February 29. For further details please see her facebook page OT Stoneyford or contact Pamela on 086 3841318.
A Delhi Court issued death warrants against four death row convicts in the sensational 2012 Nirbhaya Gangrape and murder case. The convicts will be hanged on January 22 at 7 AM in Tihar Jail in the national capital.

Four convicts - Akshay, Mukesh, Vinay and Pawan - are facing the gallows for rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012. Read more

Probe Into JNU Mayhem Comes Under The Scanner As FIRs Are Registered

Amid the chaos and nationwide outrage following the JNU mayhem on Sunday, the Delhi Police has registered a total of four FIRs while a fact-finding team and the Crime Branch are probing the matter.

The first two FIRs were registered on the complaint of JNU administration on January 5. Read more

Centre Ignores Kerala For Flood Relief Despite 121 People Getting Killed & Loss Worth Rs 40K Cr

The Narendra Modi-led government has approved additional central assistance of Rs 5908.56 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to seven states which had experienced heavy flooding and losses in 2019.

According to the decision taken at a meeting of a high-level committee (HLC) chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam will receive an additional aid of Rs 616.63 crore, Himachal Pradesh Rs 284.93 crore, Karnataka Rs 1869.85 crore, Madhya Pradesh Rs 1749.73 crore, Maharashtra Rs 956.93 crore, Tripura Rs 63.32 and Uttar Pradesh will be given Rs 367.17 crore. Read more

From Egg Rolls To Idli, This Is What Astronauts Of Gaganyaan Will Get To Eat In Space

The Defence Food Research Laboratory in Mysore has prepared the menu for the Indian astronauts who will take to space in 2011 as part of the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Gaganyaan. The menu for the astronauts includes egg rolls, veg rolls, idli, moong dal halwa, and veg pulao.

There are also special containers for water and juices to help astronauts drink liquids in space. Read more

Govt Warns PSU Employees Of Action As About 25 Crore People Set To Participate In Bharat Bandh

The government has asked public sector undertakings to dissuade their employees from participating in the 'Bharat Bandh' called on Wednesday and advised them to prepare a contingency plan to ensure the smooth functioning of the enterprises.

According to news agency PTI, ten central trade unions have said around 25 crore people will participate in the nationwide strike to protest against the government's "anti-people" policies. Read more

Former Western Army Commander Lt. Gen PN Hoon, Who Secured Siachen From Pakistan In 1984, Dies

Lt Gen Prem Nath Hoon, the former commander of the Armys Western Command has passed away. He was 90.

As per Hoon's family in Chandigarh, he was admitted to Command Hospital, Chandimandir, Panchkula for the past two days due to illness and died on Monday evening after suffering a brain haemorrhage. His last rites will be performed on Tuesday afternoon. Read more
Goa Port Minister Michael Lobo on Tuesday said the state's opposition was creating a hue and cry over the diversion of Mahadayi river water by Karnataka but had never gone to the site to check "ground reality".

Goa and Karnataka are embroiled in a dispute over the sharing of Mahadayi river water and the issue came to the fore again after the Centre in December told the neighbouring state that clearance was not required for its Kalasa Banduri drinking water project on the river.

Earlier in the day, opposition parties had submitted an adjournment notice on the Mahadayi water diversion issue to Speaker Rajesh Patnekar before the commencement of the one-day session of the Goa Assembly.

Patnekar disallowed the motion claiming the session was being held for a special purpose (to ratify constitutional amendment bill that extends reservations to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies by another 10 years).

"So-called leaders of Goa are raising the Mahadayi issue without even visiting the site, where Karnakata has diverted the river's water, to understand ground reality," Lobo said.

He said these leaders had skipped a visit to the site in 2018 when Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was the Assembly speaker.

Lobo said the Mahadayi dispute was being heard by the Supreme Court and justice would be done to Goa.

On the opposition's adjournment motion, Lobo said everyone, cutting across party lines, was united in Goa on the Mahadayi issue.

"But we have to wait for Supreme Court's decision," he said.

Lobo further said it was the Congress which had failed the state on the Mahadayi dispute because the diversion by Karnataka happened when it was in power.

"Karnataka has spent Rs 1,000 crore (in diversion). It took five years, it did not happen overnight," he claimed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Reeling under depression after death of her husband and mother and her brother going missing, a 32-year-old woman allegedly killed her 3-year-old child and then committed suicide in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday night, police said Monday.

Ranjhi police station in charge Neera Verma said, The deceased Vandana Singh who stayed with her father after her husbands death two years back used a scarf to kill her daughter before hanging herself from the ceiling. When her father Avatar Singh returned from the market he broke the main door after his daughter didnt open the door, to find the two dead.

The police officer said, Though any suicide note has not been recovered from the house, prima facie it appears to be a case of murder and suicide by the woman. Her mother passed away on Saturday only. Her husband had died about two year ago and her brother went missing about a year back.

He said the two bodies were sent for post-mortem examination. An investigation was on to ascertain the cause of death and also if there was any foul play.

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The sensational De De Pyaar De actress, who has made successful debuts in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Bollywood films has started to bag some amazing brands for her self like Lux, Maaza and Elleys Switches.

Elleys Switches, the leading company who is known for its contemporary, elegant and classy products has appointed Rakul Preet Singh as its brand ambassador with the aim of conquering North Indian States. The brand already has a strong base in South India, Rakul's presence will simply enhance their positioning further.

Commenting on signing Rakul to endorse the brand, Vatsal Gada, Director of Elleys Switches said, Its an immense pleasure for us to have Rakul Preet. The beautiful Bollywood diva has injected exuberance to our creative campaign which is crafted by our partner Oberoi IBC.

Rajendra Surlekar, National Creative Director at Oberoi IBC said, We are glad to have this opportunity to take the brand a step ahead with our creative strategies. We have curated this campaign and shot 3 films with our in-house production team. The campaign stills are captured by Dabboo Ratnani. We will be running the campaign by the end of January 2020."

Headquartered in Mumbai, Oberoi IBC has a strong client base throughout India. The agency lends its branding and creative expertise to Indian Family Managed Businesses across the country and in fact, a number of brands nurtured by Oberoi IBC have gone on to become leaders in their respective categories.
A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), Caldolor may be used as the sole method of treatment for mild-moderate pain or as part of a multi-modal treatment for severe pain. Thus it is positioned to play an important role in combatting the nation's opioid crisis, which claims the lives of over 130 Americans a day, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

Even short-term opioid use after surgery can lead to long-term addiction. Prompt and appropriate pain management is vital to mitigating opioid use. Published data for Caldolor supports administration just prior to surgery and throughout the postoperative period. As a result patients experience significantly less pain upon awakening, then remain in significantly less pain, while also reducing their opioid consumption.

"We have been encouraged by the significant number of physicians who have incorporated Caldolor into their pain management regimens as a way to combat the negative effects of opioid use," said A.J. Kazimi, Chief Executive Officer of Cumberland Pharmaceuticals. "The new ready-to-use presentation of Caldolor offers hospitals and other medical facilities a proven product that is now easier to administer and, thus, has the potential to further reduce opioid use."

Caldolor possesses three key therapeutic properties: anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic action. Uncontrolled inflammation may contribute to hypersensitivity to pain and lead to chronic post-operative pain. Pre-empting this response with Caldolor may reduce the need for continued post-operative opioids and improve recovery through reduction in opioid-related side effects, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation.

The new formulation of Caldolor comes in a pre-mixed bag containing 800 mg of ibuprofen in a 200 mL patented low sodium formulation for injection that is ready to use. It is the first and only FDA-approved pre-mixed bag of ibuprofen. Caldolor is still available as an 800 mg/8mL singledose vial (100mg/mL) for dilution in addition to the ready-to-use bag (4 mg/mL). The new, premixed presentation provides healthcare professionals a formulation that is easy to administer, helping manage the treatment of patient pain and fever, while reducing opioid consumption.

Prudent and careful management of pain is among the most important responsibilities of every healthcare provider. New strategies are emerging to control acute and chronic pain in the hospital setting, and Cumberland has provided grants in support of educational webinars in partnership with two of the nation's leading physician services companies. Through these initiatives, three webinars have been developed that introduce healthcare providers to new therapies and pain modalities for more effective pain management. These accredited webinars recognize that many patients are first introduced to opioids in a hospital or surgery center setting and, in some cases, may become dependent upon or even abuse their opioid treatments. This cycle can be avoided through the introduction of non-opioid medications like Caldolor which can serve as the basis for multimodal strategies to improve pain management.

There is a growing body of published evidence showing that Caldolor can significantly decrease both surgical pain and opioid use. One clinical study, conducted at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, assessed the efficacy of Caldolor compared to ketorolac for the treatment of postoperative pain in patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, and it revealed more effective pain control and opioid-sparing activity with Caldolor when compared to ketorolac. The results of this study demonstrated that the use of IV ibuprofen, compared to IV ketorolac, significantly lowered postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption in patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgeries.

Another study, conducted at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, compared the preemptive analgesic effects of Caldolor to IV acetaminophen in controlling post-surgical pain and reliance on opioids for rescue pain control. The study investigators concluded that preemptive anesthesia with Caldolor IV ibuprofen is superior when compared to IV acetaminophen in reducing post-surgical pain and opioid use.

Cumberland has recently completed a clinical study for the use of Caldolor in patients from birth to 6 months of age. This comes after the Company conducted clinical trials and received FDA approval which extended the approved adult use to use in children aged 6 months to 17 years old. Topline results from the newborn study are forthcoming and will add to the growing body of literature that supports the safety and efficacy of the product.

About Caldolor

Caldolor can be a key component in cost effective Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) multimodal treatment protocols. Clinical studies of Caldolor demonstrate:

Up to a 58% reduction in opioid use compared to placebo group 1

Up to a 43% reduction in VAS scores at rest compared to opioids alone 2

Patients reporting significantly less pain shortly after waking 3

Patients remain in significantly less pain during recovery 3

Potential to improve quality of recovery and reduce postsurgical fatigue 4

Significant pain and fever reduction in children ages six months and older5

Caldolor is indicated in adults and pediatric patients six months and older for the management of mild to moderate pain and the management of moderate to severe pain as an adjunct to opioid analgesics, as well as the reduction of fever. It should be noted that Caldolor is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to ibuprofen or other NSAIDs, patients with a history of asthma or other allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs. Caldolor is contraindicated for use during the peri-operative period in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Caldolor should be used with caution in patients with prior history of ulcer disease or GI bleeding, in patients with fluid retention or heart failure, in the elderly, those with renal impairment, heart failure, liver impairment, and those taking diuretics or ACE inhibitors. Blood pressure should be monitored during treatment with Caldolor. For full prescribing information, including boxed warning, visit www.caldolor.com.

References:

Shephard DM, Jahnke H, White WL, et al. Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial comparing two multimodal opioid-minimizing pain management regimens following transsphenoidal surgery. J Neurosurg 2018; 128(2): 444-451. Moss. JR, Watcha MF, Bendel LP, et al. A multicentre, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled, single dose trial of the safety and efficacy of intravenous ibuprofen for treatment of pain in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy. Pediatric Anesthesia 2014; 24(5): 483-498. Singla N, Rock A, and Pavliv L. A multi-center, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of intravenous-ibuprofen (IV-ibuprofen) for treatment of pain in post-operative orthopaedic adult patients. Pain Med 2010; 11(8): 1284-1293. Le V, Kurnutala L, Schianodicola J, et al. Premedication with intravenous ibuprofen improves recovery characteristics and stress response in adults undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled trial. Pain Med 2016; 17(6): 1163-1173. CALDOLOR [Package Insert] Nashville, TN : Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2019.

About Cumberland Pharmaceuticals

Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the delivery of high quality prescription brands to improve patient care. The Company develops, acquires and commercializes brands for the hospital acute care and gastroenterology market segments. These medical specialties are categorized by moderately concentrated prescriber bases that we believe can be penetrated effectively by targeted sales forces. The Company's portfolio of FDA approved brands includes:

Acetadote  ( acetylcysteine ) Injection, for the treatment of acetaminophen poisoning;

( ) Injection, for the treatment of acetaminophen poisoning; Caldolor  ( ibuprofen ) Injection, for the treatment of pain and fever;

( ) Injection, for the treatment of pain and fever; Kristalose  ( lactulose ) for Oral Solution, a prescription laxative, for the treatment of chronic and acute constipation;

( ) for Oral Solution, a prescription laxative, for the treatment of chronic and acute constipation; Omeclamox  -Pak , ( omeprazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin ) for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) infection and related duodenal ulcer disease;

, ( ) for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori ( ) infection and related duodenal ulcer disease; RediTrex ( methotrexate ) Injection, for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with rheumatoid arthritis and adults with psoriasis;

( ) Injection, for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with rheumatoid arthritis and adults with psoriasis; Vaprisol  ( conivaptan ) Injection, to raise serum sodium levels in hospitalized patients with euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia; and

( ) Injection, to raise serum sodium levels in hospitalized patients with euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia; and Vibativ (telavancin) Injection, for the treatment of certain serious bacterial infections including hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia, as well as complicated skin and skin structure infections.

For more information on Cumberland's approved products, including full prescribing information, please visit the individual product websites, links to which can be found on the Company's website www.cumberlandpharma.com .

The Company has Phase II clinical programs underway evaluating its ifetroban product candidates in patients with cardiomyopathy associated with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ("DMD"), Systemic Sclerosis ("SSc"), and Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease ("AERD"), Hepatorenal Syndrome ("HRS") and Portal Hypertension ("PH").

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to certain risks and reflect Cumberland's current views on future events based on what it believes are reasonable assumptions. No assurance can be given that these events will occur. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our intent, belief or expectations. As with any business, all phases of Cumberland's operations are subject to factors outside of its control, and any one or combination of these factors could materially affect Cumberland's results of operations. These factors include market conditions, competition, an inability of manufacturers to produce Cumberland's products on a timely basis or failure of manufacturers to comply with regulations applicable to pharmaceutical manufacturers, maintaining an effective sales and marketing infrastructure and other factors discussed in the Company's most recent Form 10-K and subsequent 10-Q's as filed with the SEC. There can be no assurance that results anticipated by the Company will be realized or that they will have the expected effects. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly revise these statements to reflect events after the date hereof.

SOURCE Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cumberlandpharma.com


BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

Exports of Iran's Bushehr province to Qatar increased by 17 percent in terms of weight and by 48 percent in monetary terms in the first nine months (from March 21 to Dec. 21, 2020) of the current Iranian year, Chairman of Bushehr Industry, Mine and Trade Organization Hossein Hosseini said, Trend reports via IRNA.

The monetary value of Bushehr's exports to Qatar in the reported nine-month period reached $115 million, Hosseini said.

The chairman added that in the previous Iranian year (from March 21, 2018 to March 21, 2019), as a whole, exports of Iran's Bushehr province to Qatar reached only $117 million.

Main exports of the province to Qatar were agricultural goods, cement and clinker, steel bars and shrimps, Hosseini added.

For comparison, in the first eight months (from March 21 to Nov. 21, 2019) of the current Iranian year, exports of Bushehr province amounted to $107 million in monetary terms.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday expressed concern over Akal Takht's acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh's remark that Sikhs were not safe even in India.

A statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said the Chief Minister has asked the Takht to put pressure on the Akalis to end all ties with the ruling alliance at the Centre, which is unable to ensure a sense of safety among the minorities in the country.

"While he himself did not agree with the Akal Takht Jathedar's remarks that Sikhs were not safe in India, the Chief Minister said that if the former did feel that way, then he should take up the matter with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and ask them to leave the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre, of which they are a part," the statement said.

The statement further said, "Unlike Pakistan, India had always taken pride in being a secular nation, with no discrimination on religious grounds."

Chief Minister Amarinder said that any feeling among the Sikh community that they were not secure here was a matter of grave concern. "If Sikhs were feeling insecure in this country, as stated by the Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh, then it was the dispensation at the Centre, which was to blame," stressed he.

Captain Amarinder said that while some incidents here and there could not be construed to be a case of Sikhs not being safe in India, the perception was as important as reality. The Sikhs have lived through a very dark period in the 1980s and any feeling of being at the receiving end in any way would revive their sense of fear, which would be detrimental to the community's interest, as well as that of the nation, he added.

Citing the SAD's hypocrisy on the issue of CAA, Captain Amarinder asked the Akalis to take a clear stand on the issues relating to minorities in India and stop playing double games on such matters.

"It is time they realised that they could not continue being part of the coalition at the Centre, which had failed to protect the minorities in the country, and yet claim to be guardians of these very minorities," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tokyo prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant Tuesday for former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosns wife on suspicion of perjury, adding to the couples legal troubles in the country where he once was revered as a star executive.

The move against Carole Ghosn, who is not in Japan, followed her husbands flight to Lebanon last week while he was out on bail awaiting trial for alleged financial misconduct.

Prosecutors said in a statement that Carole Ghosn gave false testimony to a Tokyo court last year in her husbands case about the transfer of money from one company to another that allegedly caused losses to Nissan.

She also denied knowing various people, or meeting with them, and the statements were false, they said. The allegations cited were unrelated to Ghosns escape.

Carole Ghosn was not immediately available for comment but earlier she told The Associated Press after her questioning in court that she considered the questions trite and unsubstantial.

She was banned from meeting with her husband after his release on bail because of fears she might help tamper with evidence.

Lebanon and Japan do not have an extradition treaty. Japanese justice officials acknowledge that its unclear whether the two can be brought back to Japan to face charges. They said they were still looking into what could be done.

The Lebanese presidential palace said Tuesday that President Michel Aoun met with Japanese ambassador Takeshi Okubo, the first known meeting between the president and a Japanese diplomat since Ghosn arrived in the country on Dec. 30.

A statement released by Aouns office said Okubo called for more co-operation from Lebanese authorities in order to avoid negative repercussions on relations between the two countries. Okubo said the Japanese government and people are extremely worried about the case, especially the way Ghosn left Japan and entered Lebanon, according to the statement.

Japans chief government spokesman said Japanese officials have told Lebanon that Ghosn left the country illegally and that they are seeking co-operation in finding out what happened. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the situation must be handled carefully.

Lebanese Justice Minister Albert Serhan told the state-run National News Agency that Ghosn entered Lebanon legally and therefore his stay on Lebanese territories is legal. Serhan said Lebanon has not yet received any requests from Japan regarding an arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn.

Prosecutors in Japan have said they did not want Carlos Ghosn to be granted bail because they saw him as a flight risk.

With his abundant financial power and multiple foreign bases worldwide, it would be easy for the defendant Ghosn to flee from Japan, they said in a statement.

Earlier Tuesday, Ghosns former employer, Nissan Motor Co., said it was still pursuing legal action against him despite his escape.

The Japanese automaker said in a statement that Ghosn engaged in serious misconduct while leading the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance.

The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan, it said, without giving details.

Ghosn managed to skip bail and leave the country despite surveillance while he was staying at a home in Tokyo.

Japanese news reports Tuesday gave new details of that escape, saying he left his residence alone, met two men at a Tokyo hotel, and then took a bullet train to Osaka before boarding a private jet hidden inside a case for musical equipment.

Japanese Justice Minister Masako Mori told reporters that measures were being taken to make sure all cargo and luggage are inspected at regional airports, including those for private jets, to prevent a recurrence.

Japanese major business daily Nikkei reported, without citing sources, that dozens of people in various countries helped to plan Ghosns clandestine departure.

Nissans statement was the first word from the company since Ghosns flight last week. The automaker and Japanese prosecutors allege Ghosn misstated his future compensation and diverted company assets for personal gain. He says he is innocent.

Ghosn has not appeared in public since arriving in Lebanon. He is expected to give his side of the story in a news conference planned for Wednesday in Beirut.

Earlier, he said the allegations against him were concocted by Nissan, Japanese authorities and others who wanted to block efforts toward a fuller merger between Nissan and its French alliance partner Renault SA.

Ghosn said in a statement last week that he wanted to escape injustice. Critics of the Japanese judicial system say his case exemplifies its tendency to move too slowly and keep suspects in detention for too long.

Nissan said in its statement that an investigation is ongoing in France, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has found some wrongdoing.

Ghosn has not been charged in France or the U.S.

Mori and other Japanese officials have defended the nations judicial system and denounced Ghosns escape as an unjustifiable crime. Mori said each nations system has its own way of making arrests and granting bail.

The scandal over Ghosns case has tarnished Nissans image and created a leadership vacuum at a time when the automakers profits and sales are tumbling. Ghosns successor Hiroto Saikawa also resigned last year amid financial misconduct allegations related to questionable income.

Nissan will continue to do the right thing by co-operating with judicial and regulatory authorities wherever necessary, the Yokohama-based company said.

Although Ghosn is unlikely to face trial in Japan, Greg Kelly, another Nissan former executive, is still facing charges of under-reporting Ghosns future compensation. He says he is innocent.

Kelly, an American, who is out on bail, has not been charged with the breach of trust allegations Ghosn is also facing.

Nissan has also been charged as a corporate entity. The company says it wont fight the charges and will pay the required fines.

___

Associated Press Writers Zeina Karam and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

___

Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama
HAMMOND  A Highland man pulled over by state police for driving recklessly early Sunday on the Borman Expressway allegedly refused a breathalyzer test and was found with counterfeit bills on him, according to authorities.

Daniel Jamie, 51, of Highland, faces charges of forgery, a level 6 felony; reckless driving, a class C misdemeanor; and resisting law enforcement and operating while intoxicated, both class A misdemeanors. He was cited for unsafe lane movement, failing to yield to law enforcement, failure to signal a lane change, and improper display of his license plate, according to Indiana State Police.

Trooper Williams Carlson was on patrol about 3:30 a.m. Sunday on I-80/94 in Hammond when he observed a driver, later identified as Jamie, allegedly driving 90 miles per hour in a posted 55 mph interstate zone, authorities said.

Jamie was driving erratically, weaving and driving on the right shoulder, police said. The trooper attempted to make a traffic stop onto the Kennedy Avenue exit, but Jamie allegedly ignored the lights and sirens and continued driving.

Once at a local business, Jamie allegedly stopped the vehicle, where the trooper observed Jamie showing signs of driving while under the influence.
A battle over farm subsidies could dominate farm politics in 2020, with the levelling of payments topping the agenda.

The controversial use of convergence to improve the payments of some farmers by cutting the payments of top earners has split the farming community in the past.

The issue could top the farming agenda in the forthcoming general election, with Fianna Fail committed to continuing convergence during the ongoing negotiations of the next CAP.

And, in an exclusive interview with the Farming Independent, the president-elect of the IFA, Tim Cullinan, said that the organisation under his presidency would continue to oppose convergence.

However, he insisted that this was not a case of the IFA supporting larger farmers at the expense of smaller ones.

"I believe farmers on low payments must see their payments increased, but this cannot be at the expense of other farmers," he said.

A new CAP had been scheduled to come into force next year, but uncertainty over its budget and disagreement over new proposals could see its implementation delayed until 2022 or 2023.

Fianna Fail commits to continue CAP convergence

Fianna Fail will continue the convergence of EU direct payments while the CAP reform negotiations take place if the party is returned to government after the next election.

It comes as Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, said the convergence process would stop after 2020 while a new CAP is being finalised, a period which is widely expected to take two years.

The draft seven-year CAP programme published by the EU Commission last year requires all member states at a minimum to ensure all farmers reach 75pc of the national average entitlement value by 2026.

The draft transitional regulations recently published by the EU Commission also includes an article which allows member states to continue their convergence programme during the transitional period, but the Government has indicated that it will not do this.

Speaking to the Farming Independent, Fianna Fail's agriculture spokesperson, Charlie McConalogue, said given that the reference years for current Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) entitlements now date back to 2000-02, there is no reasonable basis for Minister Creed's decision to halt the convergence process.

"A decision will be required alongside agreement of the final budget for the full seven-year CAP programme on the ultimate level of convergence to be achieved, but it is not acceptable for the Government to now bring a halt to the process," he said.

"Progress towards this minimum threshold should continue during the transition years, and it is entirely logical that this should happen.

"Minister Creed's decision to halt the process can only be seen as displaying a political disposition on behalf of the Government that seeks to avoid further convergence if at all possible."

Deputy McConalogue also said that the next CAP must ensure that there is fairness in the manner in which BPS payments are distributed.

Modelling

A modelling exercise recently undertaken by the Department of Agriculture found that the proposal to ensure all farmers reach 75pc of the national average entitlement value by 2026 would see the payments of over 54,000 farmers reduced, with some 7.5m transferred to almost 60,000 farmers on lower payments.

A decision on convergence could dominate domestic discussions over the next CAP ,with the topic likely to be politically sensitve for both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael ahead of a general election.
Panaji, Jan 8 : A German national was arrested on Tuesday for possession of a consignment of LSD, a synthetic drug, valued at Rs 75 lakh, the Goa Police's Anti-Narcotics Cell said.

Mathias Waack was arrested from Siolim village in North Goa by the ANC team and a search of his rented residence revealed nearly 1,000 LSD papers, the statement said.

"Waack has been in India for several years and his visa has expired. He has been involved in a narcotics related case in Himachal Pradesh recently," it added.
William Scott Severn - WPM Real Estate Management's Newly Appointed Business Development Coordinator Having worked in multifamily real estate, Scott has onsite knowledge of the day-to-day operations and property management needs of the clients we serve, positioning him to readily identify opportunities where WPMs management services can add value.

WPM Real Estate Management has named William Scott Severn as its Business Development Coordinator for the firm. In this role, Severn will support the companys ongoing growth and outreach in the community with a focus on expanding the breadth of the companys portfolio across all lines of business.

Were pleased to have Scott stepping into this role at WPM, says James Dahlgren, WPM President. Having worked in multifamily real estate, Scott has onsite knowledge of the day-to-day operations and property management needs of the clients we serve, positioning him to readily identify opportunities where WPMs management services can add value.

Severn joined WPM in 2015 as a leasing specialist and has earned multiple promotions since then, most recently to Property Manager. Prior to joining WPM, Severn served in the United States Marine Corps as a Data Network Specialist with Top Secret Clearance. During his time in the Marine Corps, Severn created and maintained SIPR and NIPR networks during combat operations in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan and conducted day-to-day service and support for Operation Enduring Freedom. He attributes his discipline and teamwork-oriented approach to his years in the Marine Corps.

Im eager for the opportunity to have a positive impact on the growth of WPM, notes Severn. WPM is a leader in the region serving the property management needs of residential and commercial real estate clients. I look forward to working with the team and building on the companys success to help expand the communities, properties and clients we serve.

Severn holds the National Apartment Leasing Professional (NALP) and Certified Property Manager (CPM) candidate designations and is a member of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and the National Apartment Association (NAA). He is an active member on WPMs Community Impact and Marketing & Training Committees. A Maryland native and graduate of the Community College of Baltimore County, Severn has lived in California, North Carolina, South Carolina and Afghanistan. He currently resides in Carney, MD.

###

About WPM Real Estate Management:

WPM Real Estate Management is an Accredited Management Organization (AMO) that provides property management for over 23,000 homes and 40,000 people in the Baltimore/Washington Metropolitan area. The companys primary focus is residential: multifamily, condominium, senior housing, student housing, and homeowner association communities. In addition, it has an extensive managed portfolio of commercial, industrial, and retail properties. WPM has been recognized as one of Baltimores Top Workplaces by The Baltimore Sun, ranking among the top 5 large employers for seven consecutive years. The company employs approximately 500 employees across more than 150 properties. For more information about WPM Real Estate Management, visit the WPM website at http://www.wpmllc.com.
[January 07, 2020] A New IDC MarketScape Assesses Ten General-Purpose Artificial Intelligence Software Platform Providers

International Data Corporation (IDC) today published a new assessment of ten companies that provide general-purpose artificial intelligence (AI) software platforms. The IDC (News - Alert) MarketScape report uses a comprehensive framework to assess these vendors relative to a set of criteria that explain both short-term and long-term success in the AI software platforms market. The evaluation also incorporates buyer perceptions of these providers' key characteristics and capabilities. The ten AI software platform providers evaluated in this MarketScape report are: Amazon Web Services, CognitiveScale, EdgeVerve, IBM (News - Alert), Loop AI Labs, Microsoft, Salesforce, SAS, Tencent, and Wipro. General-purpose artificial intelligence software platforms provide the functionality to analyze, organize, access, and provide advisory services based on a range of structured and unstructured information. These services generally fit into one of three categories: user/data interaction, knowledge representation, and learning. The platforms also offer APIs and microservices to build AI applications as well as the tools and methodologies to incorporate these capabilities into AI applications. The technology components of AI software platforms include text analytics, rich media analytics (such as audio, video, and image), tagging, searching, machine learning, categorization, clustering, hypothesis generation, question answering, visualization, filtering, alerting, and navigation. "As the AI software platforms market continues to mature, customers are looking for vendors that offer a wide range of APIs and services as well as tools to help them identify, develop, and productionize AI applications. Success in this rapidly evolving space requires AI software platform vendors to continue to innovate and provide production-ready AI APIs and microservices, tools to help customers accelerate development and deployment as well as continuing to invest in people, skills, IP, and partnerships to remain competitive," said David Schubmehl, research director, AI Software Platforms at IDC. Organizations are using general-purpose AI software platforms to develop and put into production process and industry applications that automatically learn, discover, and make recommendations or predictions. The disciplines where artificial intelligence/machine learning (ML) algorithms nd technologies can significantly impact an organization may span a variety of areas, including finance, sales, risk management, R&D, procurement, HR, marketing, and performance management. Anti-money laundering, patient outcomes, telco churn, retail pricing, asset management, and logistics are just some examples of industry applications where AI/ML technologies have proven to be useful.



"As more organizations move their use of AI from pilots and proof of concept to production, customers are increasingly looking for vendors to partner closely with them to ensure AI success," added Hayley Sutherland, senior research analyst for AI Software Platforms. "This includes vendor capabilities like outcomes-based pricing, co-creation of use cases, and the development of accompanying KPIs and ROI models that reflect a deep understanding of the customer's business." The report, IDC MarketScape: Worldwide General-Purpose Artificial Intelligence Software Platforms 2019-2020 Vendor Assessment (IDC #US43065418), presents a vendor assessment of the general-purpose artificial intelligence software platforms market through the IDC MarketScape model. The assessment discusses both quantitative and qualitative characteristics that provide guidance about general-purpose AI software platform vendors and their offerings. The evaluation does not include specialized AI software platforms, such as conversational AI platforms or advanced machine learning platforms.

About IDC MarketScape

The IDC MarketScape vendor analysis model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of IT, telecommunications, or industry-specific suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT, telecommunications, or industry-specific vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a transparent foundation to allow companies to independently compare the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors. For more information about IDC MarketScape, please contact Karen Moser at [email protected]. About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading media, data and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter (News - Alert) at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights: http://bit.ly/IDCBlog_Subscribe. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005140/en/

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An inmate battling mental health problems left viewers in tears with his stunning singing voice after TV choirmaster Gareth Malone made a UK prison his latest project.

The Choir: Aylesbury Prison, which aired on BBC2 on Monday, saw the music man trying to persuade criminals serving time at Her Majesty's Pleasure to showcase their vocal talents.

While many of the inmates only wanted to rap - or 'drill' as they called it - Lewis, who's serving four years for armed robbery, opted to belt out Beatles classic A Hard Day's Night instead.

Scroll down for video

Sweet music: TV choirmaster Gareth Malone's latest show saw him visiting Aylesbury Prison in a bid to try and make up a choir from inmates

While most of the prisoners want to rap - or 'drill' as they called it; Lewis, serving four years for armed robbery, belted out Beatles' classic Hard Days Night

The troubled inmate, who has a personality disorder and suffers with depression, impressed Gareth - and viewers watching - with his lovely voice

Viewers watching said his rendition left them in tears, especially after he opened up about life being isolated in a cell and his mental health struggles.

The repeat offender told choirmaster Malone, 44, that he regretted his crimes and that he took medication for a personality disorder and also suffered with depression.

He said: 'I wouldn't say jail necessarily makes it worse but the seclusion of being on your own and thinking all the time, that makes it worse. There's nothing in your cell, you're sat there 24 hours a day, thinking about what you've done.'

After writing his own composition about his personal demons including being 'money-motivated' Lewis is seen singing in front of Gareth and a prison officer, with the 'heartbreaking' moment garnering a strong reaction on social media.

Lewis told viewers that living in a bare cell didn't help his mental health; saying: 'I wouldn't say jail necessarily makes it worse but the seclusion of being on your own and thinking all the time, that makes it worse'

His own composition - detailing his mental health struggles - saw many viewers calling his singing 'heartbreaking'

One viewer said the prisoner needed a 'mental health worker not isolation'

Lewis, who shared his criminal history, including robbery and stealing cars said in his crimes were 'money-motivated'

After six weeks of pleading, cajoling and encouraging, Gareth Malone managed to persuade just three young inmates to join his choral society

On Twitter '@Brenda_Hobbs wrote: 'What an amazing piece of TV. My heart breaks for Lewis #thechoir'

@EileenHMurphy added: 'Crying for Lewis right now. He needs a mental health worker not being isolated in a cell, if we were doing this properly. Good work here by @GarethMalone'

@annaberu said: 'I hope Lewis sings in the final performance. The guy can sing #thechoir'

@CardiffKaz penned: 'Well done to those young guys for giving it a go. And Lewis, too. What hard lives and tough breaks...'

The prisoner couldn't bring himself to perform with the rest of the choir, with Gareth saying he hoped he would be one day strong enough to sing to a crowd

The episode saw Malone, who had to be frisked and searched for contraband every time he entered the prison grounds, eventually make up his first incarnation of the prison choir - without Lewis, after the criminal failed to attend the performance.

Meeting him in the canteen afterwards, the TV choirmaster said he hoped Lewis would eventually be able to perform to a crowd.
A stampede has erupted at the funeral procession of an Iranian general killed in a US air strike, killing 56 mourners, according to Iran state TV.

The burial of General Qassem Soleimani was postponed after 56 people were killed and 213 injured in the incident on Tuesday.

Hundreds of thousands of people have poured on to the streets of Iran to mourn the general after he was killed in a US drone strike in the Iraqi capital Baghdad last week.

The stampede happened during his funeral in his home town of Kerman, in south-eastern Iran. His burial has been postponed as a result of the deaths and will be held later.

The head of Iran's emergency medical services, Pirhossein Koulivand, said there had been people injured and killed.

He said: Unfortunately, as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions.

Iranian mourners gather around a vehicle carrying Qassem Soleimani's coffin in Kerman (AFP/Getty)

Iranian general Qassem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike last Friday (Getty)

A procession in Tehran on Monday drew more than a million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main thoroughfares and side streets.

Prime minister Boris Johnson warned US president Donald Trump on Monday against disproportionate attacks on Iranian cultural sites.

Irans UN ambassador accused Mr Trump of starting a war through the killing of the general.

Mr Johnson is to chair a meeting of the National Security Council on Tuesday as Britain continues to urge all sides in the Gulf crisis to draw back from all-out conflict.

Read more

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'Worst rapist' in UK history jailed for life for offences against 48 men

Boris Johnson warns Donald Trump against 'disproportionate' strikes on Iran

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab spoke on Monday to his Iranian counterpart, Mohammed Javad Zarif, to stress the need for a diplomatic resolution to avoid a renewed conflict in the region.

Addressing MPs in the Commons on Tuesday, defence secretary Ben Wallace echoed the plea and urged Tehran not to retaliate for the strike on Gen Qassem Soleimani.

Story continues

He repeated earlier calls for calm, adding: None of us wants conflict, none of us wants our citizens, our friends and our allies to be put at risk.

Mr Raab was travelling to Brussels on Tuesday for talks with his European counterparts on the situation in the Middle East, the Foreign Office confirmed.

Iranian mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the general's coffin (AFP/Getty)

The so-called "E3" - Britain, Germany and France - have jointly called for "de-escalation" of the tensions between the US and Iran.

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson spoke to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the need to ease tensions in the Middle East, Downing Street confirmed.

Following their phone conversation, Number 10 said: They agreed on the importance of reducing tensions and finding a diplomatic way through the current crisis, and of continuing to work together in the fight against terror.

They agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon and must comply with the terms of the nuclear deal.

Tehran has vowed "severe revenge" for the killing of its top military commander in a US drone strike last week.

Mr Trump in turn warned that the US was ready to strike back in a "disproportionate" manner if the Iranians hit US targets.

Huge crowds gathered in Qassem Soleimani's home town for his funeral (AFP/Getty)

Qassem Soleimani was the head of the elite Quds Force (Reuters)

Meanwhile, the UKs Ministry of Defence refused to comment on reports that it is stepping up contingency plans to evacuate military and civilian personnel from neighbouring Iraq amid fears they could be targets for Iranian reprisals.

The prime minister has faced criticism that he was slow to respond to the crisis  only returning to the UK at the weekend following his new year break on the private Caribbean island of Mustique.

Mr Raab is due to fly to Washington later this week to meet secretary of state Mike Pompeo after he criticised the lack of support by the Europeans  including the UK  for the US action.

The foreign secretary echoed Mr Johnson in saying the UK would not "lament" the passing of Soleimani, whom he described as a "regional threat".

However he also warned that a threat by Mr Trump to target Iranian cultural sites would be a breach of international law.

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In a sentencing memo published on Tuesday, Department of Justice prosecutors recommended that President Trumps first national security adviser Michael Flynn receive up to six months in prison for lying to the FBI in January 2017 about conversations he had with the former Russian ambassador. Prosecutors are reversing a recommendation from December 2018 suggesting that the general receive little or no jail time, citing his apparent failure to accept responsibility. If Federal District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan accepts the recommendation at Flynns sentencing on January 28, he will become the fourth former Trump adviser to wear prison blues, joining colleagues Paul Manafort, George Papadopoulos, and Michael Cohen. (They may soon be joined by Roger Stone, who was convicted of seven counts, including witness tampering and lying to Congress, and is to be sentenced on February 6.)

The defendant is now scheduled to be sentenced almost exactly three years from the date of his primary criminal conduct  lying to the FBI  and the intervening years have included periods where the defendant has sought to assist and aid the government, and periods where the defendant has sought to thwart the efforts of the government to hold other individuals, principally Bijan Rafiekian, accountable for criminal wrongdoing, the sentencing memo states. Rafiekian is an Iranian-American businessman, who was convicted, then acquitted, of foreign-agent felony charges related to the pairs work for Turkish interests toward the end of the 2016 campaign.

The memo continues: Given the serious nature of the defendants offense, his apparent failure to accept responsibility, his failure to complete his cooperation in  and his affirmative efforts to undermine  the prosecution of Bijan Rafiekian, and the need to promote respect for the law and adequately deter such criminal conduct, the government recommends that the court sentence the defendant within the applicable Guidelines range of 0 to 6 months of incarceration.

Flynn, 61, was fired in February 2017, just 23 days into his tenure as national security adviser, when he admitted that he had given incomplete information to Vice-President Mike Pence about his phone calls during the transition with Sergey Kislyak, in which he discussed sanctions with the former Russian ambassador. By the end of 2017, Flynn had admitted to lying to the FBI about the conversations, and had agreed to cooperate with the Mueller investigation; he even asked to delay sentencing to prove his worth to the inquiry and convince prosecutors he did not deserve jail time. However, his decision to change his story after agreeing to testify against Rafiekian in July  was part of a larger rejection of the prosecutors who first recommended he stay out of prison, including a claim that he was entrapped by the FBI. Last month, Judge Sullivan rejected his new legal teams claims of prosecutorial misconduct.

Its been quite the turnaround for Flynn since the last presidential election, when he made an energetic speech at the Republican National Convention in July 2016, where he said that the Democratic candidate would be a reckless president who believes she is above the law. When the crowd began to chant lock her up, he emphatically joined in.
Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said that if the mullahs are openly admitting that they will not abide by the deals restrictions in the number of centrifuges, the capacity, percent, and level of enriched uranium and research and development, in its nuclear program, then it should be considered a practical departure.

She insisted that this should mean that that deals trigger mechanism is activated immediately and that the United Nations Security Council must reinstate the six resolutions against the regime.

Rajavi further explained that the Iranian regime has used all benefits and concessions from the nuclear pact, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to carry out domestic suppression as well as terrorism and warmongering abroad.

Rajavi said that the mullahs never actually stopped their nuclear weapons program, even though they benefitted from the concessions provided by the JCPOA.

She wrote on Monday: Lack of transparency regarding Possible Military Dimensions of the regimes nuclear weapons program, the work at the secretive agency that directs the nuclear weapons program (Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research  SPND), details of its secret site for testing (Center for Research and Expansion of Technologies on Explosions and Impact  METFAZ), are among these activities. Moreover, the Iranian regime has not responded to questions by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concerning the presence of highly enriched uranium materials, nor has it allowed interviews with key experts and officials involved in its nuclear program.

The NCRI was the group that first exposed the regimes nuclear program to the world in 2002 and prevented the regime from secretly obtaining the atomic bomb.

The regime made their announcement regarding the nuclear on Sunday, just two days after one of their top terrorists was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq.

In a statement on Sunday, the Iranian regime declared that it would take the fifth step in rolling back its commitments under the 2015 accord that set limits to its nuclear program. According to the statement, issued by the government of regime president Hassan Rouhani after the Sunday cabinet meeting, Tehran will abandon the final item of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the nuclear deal is formally known.

This means that the Iranian regime will remove all limits on the number of centrifuges, the level of uranium enrichment, as well as research and development.

Qassem Soleimani died along with several Iraqi paramilitary commanders in Baghdad on January 3. His death is being used by the regime as a reason to hit back at the US, but the US only launched the strike after Iran-backed paramilitaries attacked the US embassy in Iraq, killing one American contractor and wounding several US service members.
[January 07, 2020] Beckage Team Expands Privacy Compliance Practice With Addition of Leading Privacy Attorneys

BUFFALO, N.Y., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys Allison Prout and Michael Chirico have joined Beckage PLLC to assist the law firm and its rapidly growing client base in privacy, technology, cybersecurity, data protection, breach response, crisis management and regulatory matters. "We continue to meet the demands of our global clients by adding more high-caliber practitioners to our team," Beckage PLLC Managing Director Jennifer A. Beckage said. "Our sophisticated health law practice is further enhanced with the addition of Mike, a triple threat as a lawyer, Information Security Officer (ISO) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). Our privacy compliance team's technology transactions practice grows with the addition of Allison, who joins Beckage from one of the nation's fastest growing SaaS providers." Mr. Chirico joins Beckage after serving for over two years as Information Security Officer at one of the largest publicly owned hospital systems in the nation. He is President-elect of the board of directors for a chapter of the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and is a director on the Board of Advisors for Rutgers Cybersecurity Executive Program. Mr. Chirico is based in Beckage's New York City office. "I'm very excited to join Beckage, a firm with an expanding presence and a team that uniquely understands the legal frameworks round technology, privacy, breach response, defense-in-depth, and the fast-moving threats facing clients," Mr. Chirico said. "Enterprises today face challenges of expanding domestic and international regulatory complexities around data privacy and cybersecurity. Beckage is committed to providing actionable technology and legal solutions that are practical for clients to implement and are in alignment with their business goals and objectives."



Prior to joining Beckage, Ms. Prout served as Corporate Counsel to a technology company serving enterprise clients operating in the cloud space. Ms. Prout is one of a few attorneys nationally to be certified as a Professional Cloud Practitioner by Amazon Web Services. Her prior experience centered on information and physical security of data and systems, advising executive leadership on compliance with data privacy laws and regulations, and developing company-wide compliance programs and training. Her work earned her a Rising Star-Corporate Counsel Award in 2019. She is based in the firm's Buffalo office. "I'm thrilled to be joining a team so focused on the intersection of law and technology," Ms. Prout said. "This is a unique opportunity to join a team of privacy professionals and lawyers facing cutting-edge technology issues every day, and I'm eager to help them grow."

About Beckage PLLC

The law firm of Beckage PLLC advises clients nationwide on strategic business growth, privacy, technology, cybersecurity, data breach response, risk management and regulatory matters. Its attorneys and other professionals include former federal regulators, executives of international and publicly traded companies, technology entrepreneurs, and business owners. Beckage's offices are located at 420 Main Street in Buffalo, N.Y., and 3 Columbus Circle in New York. More information is available at Beckage.com and its professionals may be reached at 844-502-9363. News Media Contacts

Jeff Schoenborn, Casteel Schoenborn / 888-609-8351

Grace Golabek, Beckage PLLC / 716-898-2102 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/beckage-team-expands-privacy-compliance-practice-with-addition-of-leading-privacy-attorneys-300982960.html SOURCE Beckage PLLC

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A fisherman has stabbed a skateboarder as the two argued over fishing lines, which the 43-year-old skateboarder claimed was blocking the path, police allege.

The incident occurred on the Tallebudgera Bridge in the Gold Coast suburb of Burleigh Heads just after 8.30pm on Monday.

A 43-year-old male skateboarder was riding along the bridge where a 24-year-old man was fishing when an argument broke out, with the older man complaining that fishing lines were blocking the path.

It will be alleged the skateboarder hit the fisherman with the fishing rod before the angler cut the skateboarder multiple times with the fishing knife he was holding.
Immigration advocates have called for the closure of the Berks County detention center, where 6-year-old Maddie and her father are being held. Read more

For now, Maddie isnt going anywhere.

Two days of contentious legal arguments concluded Tuesday evening with no ruling on whether the 6-year-old Guatemalan girl, who has spent a record 195 days in the Berks County immigrant detention center, could soon leave with her father.

U.S. District Judge Joshua Wolson said he would rule as quickly as possible.

The fate of the girl, known by a first name, and her father, identified in court only as Mr. H., is being decided amid a broad public debate over the nations treatment of migrant children, and as advocates raise new calls and legal claims to try to close the Pennsylvania detention center.

The hearing featured testimony from a mental-health authority who said Maddie has become deeply depressed  and from the attending mental-health provider at Berks, who said the girl is fine.

Where the plaintiffs witness saw a child so distressed that shes become disheveled, the governments authority saw a girl whose hair may have been mussed by the hood of her unicorn costume.

Federal immigration authorities have offered to immediately release Maddie to her mother in New Jersey. But they wont free her father, which the familys lawyers said makes the overture merely a different form of family separation, one sure to inflict more harm on a suffering child.

You never heard testimony that separating her from her father would be in her best interest, lawyer Caroline Heller said in closing. She needs to be released from custody as soon as possible, with her father. ... Were dealing with the mental health and safety of a little girl.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Finkelstein said the federal courtroom was sounding a bit like Family Court, with a judge asked to decide if a child should be placed with one parent or the other.

Maddies lawyers want the court to release the family  but that decision rests with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and in the appeals available under the Immigration Court system, Finkelstein said. The federal court should not intervene in the detention processes and decisions of the executive-branch agency charged with making them, she said.

The girls detention has been condemned and criticized by figures including Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and the actor Mark Hamill, who called Maddies imprisonment outrageous and tragic on Twitter. More than 1,400 have signed a petition on her behalf.

Maddies lawyers said that never in hundreds of cases has a child been freed from Berks without the accompanying parent. They characterized the offer to free Maddie alone as retaliation for the familys having filed a federal legal claim along with their immigration case.

The lawyers petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus, which typically compels a warden or jailer to deliver an imprisoned person to court and to show valid reasons for that persons detention.

 READ MORE: Girl's detention sparks 'Free Maddie' rallying cry

Finkelstein countered that the government is ready to free Maddie, an offer backed by a new Immigration Court decision that the girl could be discharged on her own recognizance. Finkelstein reiterated on Tuesday: If the mother will take custody of her, she will be released."

Though the mother is at risk of deportation, she has not been placed in removal proceedings, Finkelstein said. The mother, unidentified in court, recently gave birth to a son, having overstayed a visitors visa that allowed her to be in the United States.

Whats formally called the Berks County Residential Center is a 96-bed lockup about 75 miles northwest of Philadelphia in Leesport, operated by the county through a contract with ICE. Critics have assailed Berks as a baby jail which in October held enough children to fill a day-care center.

Maddie has been confined longer than any child currently held in any of the nations three family detention centers, her attorneys said.

She and her father crossed the U.S.-Mexico border near Tecate, Calif., on April 23, fleeing earlier that month from a Guatemala City Red Zone, a term used for neighborhoods plagued by exceptionally high crime rates, poverty, drug activity, and gang violence.

Her father has been her champion and protector through challenge and danger: On the trek from Guatemala, during a U.S.-government-forced return to Mexico, amid a failed ICE deportation attempt, and now through six months of custody at Berks.

Legal documents in the case remain under seal. Both are seeking asylum, a legal means of staying in the United States but one the Trump administration has made harder to achieve.

If freed from Berks, the father would likely be placed under supervision that could include an ankle-bracelet monitoring device. He and Maddie would still go through the same immigration court process.

 READ MORE: Pennsylvania auditor general: Close Berks detention center

Maddies demeanor has changed dramatically for the worse since August, according to Sarah Megan Berthold, a trauma and torture specialist at the University of Connecticut, who interviewed the girl as recently as last week.

She described Maddie as reluctant to bathe and eat, and monosyllabic, so depressed that it can be difficult for her father to rouse her from bed. At times, Berthold testified, Maddie stares fixedly into space, unresponsive to her father calling her name or waving his hand before her eyes.

When he finally gets her attention, Maddie jerks to consciousness, coughing and gasping.

Since their first interview five months ago, her mental condition has really deteriorated, Berthold said.

She said Maddie suffers from major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, although thoughts of killing herself seem to have passed.

But Michael Mosko, the attending mental-health provider at Berks, told the court there was no basis for those diagnoses. He met with Maddie, her father, or both at least 25 times from June to December, and saw no sign of anything so serious.

The father, he said, told him that Maddie sometimes cried, but the reason was she missed her mother.

Its OK to be sad," Mosko said. Thats not a diagnosis.

If the father truly had waved his hand in Maddies face to rouse her attention, nearby staffers would have seen that and alerted him, Mosko said.

Wolson asked Berthold if the fathers own mental-health struggles might be impacting the child.

They seem to set each other off, because theyre both crying a lot, Berthold said. Shes very worried about her daddy.  It would do great psychological harm to [Maddie] to be with one parent and not the other.
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Linkedin Andrew Marszal (Agence France-Presse) Los Angeles, United States  Tue, January 7, 2020 18:07 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3213ec0e 2 Entertainment Sam-Mendes,Oscar,Golden-Globes-2020 Free

Sam Mendes's "1917," an innovative and deeply personal portrayal of World War I, has exploded into Oscar contention following its dramatic wins at the Golden Globes.

The movie -- inspired by tales Mendes's military veteran grandfather told him as a child -- follows two British soldiers on a perilous mission across no man's land.

They must risk near-certain death to deliver a vital message ordering a calamitous planned attack on German lines be aborted.

The film won best drama, the Globes' most prestigious prize, on Sunday as well as best director for Mendes -- fending off frontrunners such as Martin Scorsese ("The Irishman") and Quentin Tarantino ("Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.")

"It's the biggest team effort ever," co-lead actor George MacKay told AFP moments after the top prize was announced, adding that he was "thrilled, proper thrilled."

In a radical filmmaking experiment, Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins shot footage that glides from trenches to crater-filled battlefields and through a devastated French town, in what appears to be almost one continuous shot stretching for two hours.

"They've never made a film in one continuous take. None of us have," Dean-Charles Chapman, the film's other leading actor, told AFP at a Beverly Hills event hosted by BAFTA, Britain's version of the motion picture Academy.

Chapman and MacKay described how they rehearsed the scenes for six months, "reading the scenes in an open field" as they paced out their movements and dialogue until they became muscle memory.

Meanwhile, an intricately detailed set of exactly the right scale was constructed around them.

"We're walking along stabbing stakes along the floor to mark out -- there's the wall, there's the start, there's the finish," recalled Chapman.

"Slowly the set would become a trench, and then we'd adjust the size of the set around the scene. And we'd do that with every single scene -- it took six months to do."

Keep viewers guessing

The bold approach clearly paid off as victory at the Globes, which open Hollywood's award season, has seen odds for "1917" at next month's all-important Oscars slashed.

It is expected to compete for best picture, best director and multiple technical categories -- although its relatively unknown stars are not in the awards conversation.

Mendes said he deliberately cast actors who were not "big movie stars" to help audiences empathize with them -- and keep viewers guessing about whether they would survive.

"Maybe both of them will be killed -- I don't know. Whereas if it's Leonardo DiCaprio, then perhaps you know he's going to survive," Mendes told AFP in Paris last month.

Read also: 'Fleabag', Succession' win TV Globes as Gervais lets rip at Hollywood

Chapman is best known for playing child king Tommen Baratheon in "Game of Thrones," while MacKay had a supporting role in 2016 comedy "Captain Fantastic."

While "1917" does feature British stars including Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch and Andrew Scott, they are confined to smaller roles.

'Most personal movie'

The basis for the plot was a particular story Mendes' grandfather Alfred told him about serving as a messenger on the Western Front.

This was supplemented with other real accounts of the war taken from letters, diaries and other research.

"I suppose it is my most personal because it comes directly from me, although I feel that I never made a movie that wasn't personal at some level," said Mendes.

The film turned out to have personal connections for its actors too.

Chapman told AFP how his research for the role of Lance Corporal Blake led him to uncovering his own great-great-grandfather's journal entry in a book called "The Western Front Diaries."

The actors also visited France and Belgium to see the actual war sites. The film was shot in England.

The collaborative nature of shooting "1917" mirrored the subject matter, as the actors learnt about the appalling experiences their ancestors had endured together in the trenches, they explained.

"There was lots of themes emotionally and literally, about the story and what the characters go through, that were entwined in the making of the film," said MacKay.

"It's a wonderful thing where the specialness of that experience aligns with it being received so positively," he added.
We are facing one of the worst environmental disasters of modern times. Australias bushfire has single-handedly created catastrophic destruction, causing severe damage to life and property.



In such times, one social media influencer has generated over a million dollars in donations towards fighting Australian bushfires in record-breaking time.



Reuters

The bushfires have wiped out over 400 million acres of land -- almost the size of the Netherlands and is nowhere close to stopping. It has also claimed lives of over 500 animals, severely impacting the wildlife. This propelled an online influencer from Los Angeles to do something about it.

20-year old influencer Kaylen Ward (although she goes by Naked Philanthropist) -- who is an online sex worker by profession -- recently announced on her twitter announced that she would send a naked picture of hers to anyone who donates $10 or more to organisations that are trying to save Australia.

Reuters/ Naked Philanthropist

All she asked for is the donation and proof of payment, and the sender will be eligible to receive a nude image of hers right in his/her inbox as a DM.



Due to the overwhelming response received by her, she also has some people working for her who were cross-checking and verifying donations as well as sending the promised pictures.

She shared this post on January 4th, and within two days it managed to get $500,000 in just two days.

And today, she has crossed $ 1 million (approximately Rs 70 lakhs) in donations! She thanked everyone for their contributions on her twitter handle.

However, this feat came at a great personal cost to her. According to a post made by her, her Instagram handle got deactivated, even her parents disowned her for her acts. But it's all worth it, according to her, as long as we save the koalas of Australia.



When it comes to donating for a cause online, several crowdfunding websites jump to mind. But this online influencer has truly devised a unique donation delivery model for an important cause that impacts all our lives.


JEFFERSON CITY  As Missouri lawmakers return to the Capitol on Wednesday for their annual legislative session, disagreement is brewing between Republicans who control the Legislature and GOP Gov. Mike Parson.

With just a week to go before Parson delivers his second State of the State speech, there is no agreement between the governor and top leaders in the House on a key building block of next years budget.

Typically, budget writers and the governors office jointly issue a revenue projection for the upcoming fiscal year, which becomes the foundation of what the state can afford to spend on various programs, ranging from education to health care for the poor.

That estimate generally comes out in mid-December, but officials have not yet found consensus on the amount of money expected to flow into state coffers in the year beginning July 1.

With Parson set to outline his spending blueprint during his Jan. 15 address, it could mean he will be starting out with a different spending floor than the House when it comes to piecing together the $30 billion budget blueprint.
Opposition supporters in Guinea took to the streets of capital Conakry Tuesday to show their anger at their president's plans to amend the constitution.

Guinean President Alpha Conde is moving forward with plans to hold a constitutional referendum ahead of elections set for 2020, prompting fears from his opponents that he will attempt to prolong his rule in this West African country with a long history of dictatorships and coups.

Media reports said at least 12 people had been injured in protests against Conde's return to the presidency for a third term.

Conde became the country's first democratically elected leader since independence from France in 1958 when he won the 2010 vote.

Conde's second and final mandate is due to end this year, but already tensions over his future plans have led to protests in which dozens have died in clashes with security forces.

Mineral-rich Guinea suffered through decades of dictatorship under late strongman Lansana Conte.

His death 11 years ago ushered in chaos, including the brief and violent reign of coup leader Dadis Camara. After Camara survived an assassination attempt he went into exile, paving the way for elections.

Alpha Conde emerged as the victor of the first democratic elections in 2010. He was re-elected in 2015. No date was announced for the referendum, though Conde's term expires in December 2020.

Human rights groups have criticized the Conde administration for banning a number of public demonstrations.

Opposition leaders this year also have been sentenced to jail time on charges of insurrection and disturbing the public peace.
A British woman who previously went under the knife to get heart shaped nipples appears on the latest episode of Botched, asking doctors for a fifth boob job to fix her sagging breasts.

Krystina Butel, 33, from Rotherham, Yorkshire, hated her breasts so much she described them as looking like a 'flying squirrel nut sack' - and flew to LA to see doctors Paul Nassif and Terry Dubrow last year.

At the time Dr Dubrow advised Krystina - who has spent over 190,000 on four boob jobs, fillers, botox and a 'designer vagina - to hold off on the surgery until she'd lost some more weight.

Ater dropping 35lbs, Krystina, who previously said she wanted to look like a cartoon caricature, went back to LA to visit the doctors - and was delighted when Dr Dubrow agreed to fix her 'saggy' boobs.

Krystina Butel, 33, from Rotherham, Yorkshire, appears on the latest episode of Botched, asking doctors for a fifth boob job to fix her sagging breasts (seen left before and right after)

But once she was on the operating table, Dr Dubrow was stunned to discover the implant in her right breast had completely ruptured and 'exploded' inside her.

Dr Dubrow revealed: 'I've never seen one this bad, it looks like a silicone bomb has exploded.'

But he took the old implants out and put in two new ones - leaving Krystina delighted and declaring: 'My rack is back and looking better than ever!'

To celebrate Krystina stripped off and had her naked portrait drawn insisting she didn't need to be a caricature any more because she finally felt complete.

Her new husband Andy agreed - telling her she looked more beautiful than ever.

After dropping 35lbs, Krystina, who once said she wanted to look like a caricature, went back to LA to visit the doctors - and was delighted when Dr Dubrow agreed to fix her 'saggy' boobs

In May 2018 Krystina revealed her heart-shaped nipples publicly for the first time appearing on This Morning, explaining that her goal was to look like a 'cartoon character'.

The businesswoman funded her cosmetic procedures by opening her own hair salon and then a gym, and shed more than 13 stone thanks to an NHS-funded gastric bypass surgery.

She had the procedure in 2017 because her 24 stone weight made plastic surgeons hesitant to operate on her, and defended having the taxpayer funded operation.

In 2001, aged seventeen, Krystina opened her own hairdressing salon. That same year, she had her first surgical procedure to alter her body, undergoing a 3,600 boob job to take her from an already ample 32DD to a 34FF.

Just two years later, Krystina got a second 4,000 boob job taking her to a 36GG. She would go on to have another three breast augmentations costing over 16,000 to get her to a 36K bra size.

In May 2014, Krystina even got heart shaped nipples tattooed on to complete the look.

Since her early twenties, Krystina has been having regular lip injections, facial fillers, teeth whitening, Botox, semi-permanent make-up tattooing, eyelash and hair extensions.

She hated her breasts so much she described them as looking like a 'flying squirrel nut sack' - and flew to LA to see doctors Paul Nassif and Terry Dubrow (seen left before and right after)

But once she was on the operating table, Dr Dubrow was stunned to discover the implant in her right breast had completely ruptured and 'exploded' inside her

She went on to have two nose jobs - totaling 8,000 - and a 1,200 'Designer Vagina' labiaplasty procedure.

As well as using sunbeds, Krystina has also been taking daily Melanotan tanning injections since last year to achieve the same sun kissed glow as a her caricature.

The tanning injection - which increases the level of pigment melanin in the skin - is illegal to sell in the UK, but can be purchased online.

By 2017 however, Krystina's 24 stone weight for her 5ft 5 in frame began to seriously affect her health as well as limit her options for plastic surgeons willing to operate on her.

In June 2017, Krystina underwent a full gastric bypass surgery on the NHS. Within the first month after her surgery, Krystina lost two and a half stone and she now weighs 11 stone 6lbs.

In total, Krystina has splurged a staggering 186,520 to become the mirror-image of her beloved caricature.

To celebrate Krystina stripped off and had her naked portrait drawn insisting she didn't need to be a caricature any more because she finally felt complete (seen working out)
An estimated 2,400-4,200 adults in the Grand Duchy struggle with illiteracy.

Illiteracy, or analphabetism, refers to those who are unable to read or write properly. In Luxembourg it is difficult to estimate the exact number of those suffering from illiteracy. This is broadly due to the Grand Duchy's complex linguistic situation, which has consequently meant that no real studies have been carried out on the topic. But around 4 to 7% of the population is estimated to be illiterate, as is the case in neighbouring countries.

Those affected can turn to the SFA (Adult Education Service) which offers basic courses in Wiltz, Mersch, Ettelbruck, Echternach, Differdange and Luxembourg City. Pupils attend for numerous reasons. The 1,200 people who attended courses in 2019 were from varied backgrounds, including:

People who had attended regular education but did not possess adequate competencies for their daily and professional lives;

Those who spoke one of Luxembourg's national languages, but were unable to attend school for sufficient amounts of time;

Non-natives who could not attend school or did not attend for sufficient time;

People with learning difficulties.

RTL Luxembourg spoke to 30 year old Manuel Martins, who explained the barriers he encountered day to day and how he is working to overcome them. He spoke of topics ranging from letters to road signs, and his dependency on other people to help him understand them.

Martins came to Luxembourg aged eight and attended school regularly, but struggled to master reading and writing. He was never diagnosed with learning difficulties - something he said he regrets. At school he did his exams orally, but said he felt he could have received more support which would have helped him later in life.

For more information on the Adult Education Service, contact the service on 80024488 or email sfa@men.lu.
No arrests made in JNU campus violence case in over 1.5 years: Govt informs Parliament

JNU to impose night curfew in campus between 10 pm-5 am

JNU professor quits govt panel on data citing situation in university

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 07: Eminent economist and JNU professor CP Chandrasekhar on Monday said he had withdrawn from the newly constituted 28-member Standing Committee on Statistics (SCES), chaired by former chief statistician Pranob Sen, citing the situation in the university.

The committee was constituted last month to improve the quality of data amid criticism of the government over political interferences and is scheduled to meet on Tuesday.

"I regret to inform you that because of the situation in JNU, where I stay, I will be unable to attend tomorrow's meeting.

JNU violence: FIR against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh for vandalism

"Further, I feel that under the current conditions, this committee is unlikely to be able to restore the credibility of the statistical system, which has been undermined in the recent past,"

Chandrasekhar wrote in an email to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) and the members of the committee.

JNU violence: No arrests yet, FIR filed against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh | OneIndia News

Violence broke out at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) here on Sunday night as a mob of masked men, armed with sticks, attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in police.

Many sustained injuries and were admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre here. They were discharged on Monday. JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh suffered a head injury.

Chandrasekhar, an eminent economist, however, added that he wished to record his appreciation of the sustained efforts of a large number of colleagues within the statistical system, whom he had greatly valued working with in the past, to build a robust and credible statistical base.

"It is unfortunate that political pressures have reduced their autonomy now and efforts to consolidate a well-designed system are being subverted. In these circumstances, I will not be able to serve on this committee," he wrote in the email.

Last year in March, expressing concerns over "political interference" in influencing statistical data in India, as many as 108 economists and social scientists had called for restoration of "institutional independence" and integrity to statistical organisations.

JNU violence: Fact-finding committee begins probe into sequence of events

Their statement had come in the backdrop of a controversy over a revision of the gross domestic product (GDP) numbers and withholding of employment data by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO).

In November also, the MOSPI had decided not to release the Consumer Expenditure Survey results of 2017-18, citing data quality issues.

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Story first published: Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 11:59 [IST]
Megachurch donates $500K to nonprofits: 'More blessed to give than receive'

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Bishop Van Moodys multisite megachurch in Alabama donated nearly $500,000 to five mission-oriented organizations ahead of the new year.

Moody announced during a Dec. 23 service at the Worship Center Christian Churchs Derby campus that the nondenominational ministry was giving $95,000 to five mostly local nonprofits that serve women, children and the incarcerated.

I pray that you also dont miss the lesson that the real meaning of Christmas is that it is more blessed to give than to receive, Moody told the churchgoers at the service.

Moody explained that the ministry began a process last March of setting aside 10 percent of tithes, donations and offerings given to the church. That money was put into a separate bank account.

The tithe is holy unto the Lord, Moody said. God promises that if we put Him first and set aside that 10 percent, that He will take care of the rest.

So to all of these organizations, we are presenting a check to each one of you today for $95,000, he said, adding that the organizations receiving the donations embody much of what we believe as a ministry.

Those organizations are The Childrens Village, a group home for siblings; the Lovelady Center, a prison reentry and drug rehabilitation program; Maranathan Academy, a private school working with at-risk youth; Einsteins Playground, which provides early childhood education and a summer program for young children; and the United Negro College Fund.

The Worship Center Christian Church has partnered with each of the organizations for years in an effort to make an impact in the lives of those within the community.

It is an honor to be able to give them such an unexpected gift during a time when much of the world is focused on receiving, Moody said in a statement shared with The Christian Post.

It brings me great joy to know that The Worship Center Christian Church is blessing them with a combined financial gift of almost $500,000 to help them start or complete projects that will enhance the lives of those they serve.

Moody is an influential African American church leader who received pushback from other black Christian leaders in 2018 when he was a part of a group of 20 predominantly African American inner-city pastors who met and prayed with President Trump at the White House.

The group also discussed issues pertaining to prison reform, urban economic growth, and workforce development. Moody even thanked Trump for being "compassionate and caring about all people."

Moody responded to critics at the time, saying his caring about all people comment was taken out of context.

"[I]t referred to the people who have been marginalized in the prison systems who can finally be ministered to and have the opportunities they need to succeed outside of prison if the bill is passed, Moody said.

The Worship Center Christian Church is not the only church that exhibited a giving spirit this Christmas season.

Also on Dec. 23, pastor John Gray at Relentless Church in Greenville, South Carolina, announced that the congregation was giving away over $30,000 to community members in need.

Most of the gifts distributed by Relentless Church were monetary contributions to help relieve families of financial burdens.

Among the gifts was a $10,000 donation to a family in which both parents recently lost their jobs and are expecting another child.

For another churchgoer, Grays wife, Aventer, vowed that Relentless would pay his rent for an entire year and help him buy a car.



Another church, the Christian Assembly Church in the Los Angeles area, announced the week before Christmas that the congregation paid off $5.3 million in medical debt for 5,555 households with no strings attached.
Farmers across Ireland have been warned to step up biosecurity measures as a suspected outbreak of bird flu is being investigated at a poultry farm in Fermanagh.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland said that officials are investigating the suspected presence of a "notifiable avian disease" (NAD) in a broiler breeder flock in Fermanagh.

A private veterinary practitioner contacted DAERA on January 2 with concerns over increased bird mortality at the premises.

The DAERA spokesperson said a veterinary enquiry at the holding started that evening. Testing has already started on samples taken from birds to detect the presence of serious bird diseases like avian influenza and Newcastle disease.

The results are expected to take several days and restrictive measures are in place on the farm.

The spokesperson added: "All bird keepers are urged to remain vigilant and if they suspect any signs of the disease in their flocks, they must report it immediately to DAERA.



"All poultry keepers, including backyard flock keepers and those keeping game birds and pet birds, need to act now and maintain high levels of biosecurity at all times in order to reduce the risk of transmission of avian flu to their flocks."
ARCHIVED - New wave of Algerian migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Murcia



Over 300 unauthorized migrants stretch internment centre capacity to the limit

2019 came to an end with there having been fewer unauthorized migrants intercepted along the coast of Murcia as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean from Africa into EU territory, but the settled weather in the new year has brought a flood of arrivals to the Costa Calida over the last week.

It was reported in the regional press that by 27th December the number of migrants apprehended either off the coast of Murcia or after they reached land in the Costa Calida during 2019 had reached 1,475, representing a decrease of 14 per cent in comparison with the year before, but the arrival of 2020 saw a wave of small boats heading for the south-east of Spain.

By 6th January 24 of them had been intercepted with a total of 318 people on board, all of them Algerians, and the temporary internment centres in the Region were once again barely able to cater for such large numbers. Among the new arrivals were at least 14 women and 21 minors, and although the authorities stressed that none of them were allowed to walk free the resources were stretched to their limit as various of them were distributed to immigrant internment establishments in different parts of Spain.

The sudden increase in the number of people making the crossing is attributed in part to the calm conditions which have prevailed at sea over the last week or more, and with the weather forecast to remain stable for the next few days further interceptions are considered probable.

Image: Red Cross volunteers prepare to offer help to more migrants in the port of Cartagena

Follow Murcia Today on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news, events and information in the Region of Murcia and the rest of Spain: https://www.facebook.com/MurciaToday/.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In the wake of a pair of anti-Semitic attacks separated by only three weeks in New York and New Jersey, the NYPD announced on Monday that it intends to add hate crimes to its publicly-available crime database  CompStat  for the first time since the stat-tracking sites inception.

The best way to fight hate is to shine a light on it, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said at a press conference Monday.

CompStat, which tracks major crime in the five boroughs, some misdemeanors and also shooting incidents, among other crimes, will include hate crimes within the coming months, Shea said.

We are going to proceed cautiously, the commissioner said, noting that there are technical elements that need to be ironed out before hate crimes can be officially added. Its probably going to take a few months to get the behind-the-scenes in order, he said.

Shea, however, was resolute in his intention to make hate crimes a publicly-available crime statistic. My commitment is that we are going to add it to the CompStat sheet," he said.

The NYPD has previously released hate crime data, but this recent addition will allow hate crimes to be tracked by location and on a rolling basis.

Shea said he has been considering adding hate crimes to the CompStat sheet, but believes that now is "the perfect time to do so, at a time when anti-Semitic incidents are up 21% in New York City, according to the NYPD.

The rise in anti-Semitic incidents  which will fall within the broader category of hate crimes  is primarily fueled by an increase in aggravated harassment. Shea said on Monday that the majority, about 70%, of anti-Semitic incidents are driven by swastikas" drawn in public spaces.

The recent announcement comes on the heels of an anti-Semitic shooting in Jersey City that killed a veteran police officer and three people inside of a Kosher Market in early December.

Following the attack, the NYPD unveiled the Racially and Ethnically Motivated Extremism  REME  unit, which is focused on any trends and any signs of racially and ethnically motivated extremism, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

Less than three weeks later, a man allegedly stabbed five people in a rabbis home in Monsey, N.Y., on the seventh day of Hanukkah. Authorities said the man, who faces five attempted murder charges, searched Zionist temples of Staten Island less than two weeks before the attack.

Earlier in 2019, a yeshiva associated with Chabad of Staten Island at the corner of Bradley Avenue and Harold Street was graffitied with the words Synagogue of Satan, while another building across the street was spray-painted with the letters SOS.

On the same day as Sheas announcement, the Advance reported that white-supremacist, anti-Semitic fliers were found in New Dorp.

Just a day ago, over 10,000 people marched over the Brooklyn Bridge to fight anti-Semitism.

While Shea said the move is an important step in the departments transparency, the availability of the data, he hopes, will also spur conversation both inside and outside of the NYPD.

Anything to bring this to the forefront of what is going on, to get people talking about it  I think is a good idea," Shea said.
[January 07, 2020] Yext Appoints Norihiro Shimogaki as President and COO in Japan NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Yext, Inc. (NYSE: YEXT), the Search Experience Cloud company, today announced Norihiro Shimogaki as President and COO of Yext Japan, effective February 1, 2020. Shimogaki brings more than three decades of experience at the world's leading technology companies to Yext, where he will lead the company's strategy in Japan in partnership with President and CEO of Yext Japan, Eiji Uda. "We are excited and honored to welcome Norihiro Shimogaki to Yext," said Howard Lerman, Founder & CEO of Yext. "Shimogaki's decades of leadership experience at global tech powerhouses like Amazon Web Services, Oracle, and IBM will be critical to Yext's growth as more and more Japanese businesses provide their customers with perfect answers everywhere from the Search Experience Cloud." "Norihiro Shimogaki is one of the most accomplished and respected technology leaders in Japan, and has had a tremendous impact at some of theworld's most iconic companies," said Eiji Uda, Chairman and CEO of Yext Japan. "I am pleased to welcome him to the leadership of Yext Japan and look forward to working with him to accelerate our strong momentum." "Around the world, Yext is leading brands into the future of search with the power of brand-verified answers," said Norihiro Shimogaki. "I'm so honored to join Yext and build on the already overwhelming demand for Yext's technology in Japan." Shimogaki joins Yext from Amazon Web Services, where he spent the last two years as Director of Enterprise Sales, accelerating client business transformation with cloud technology. Prior to his role at Amazon, he served as Senior Operating Officer and Group Vice President for six years at Oracle and as Director of Information Management and Business Analytics for 24 years at IBM. About Yext

The customer journey starts with a question, and every day consumers search for answers about brands. However, they are increasingly served false or misleading information from sources other than the brand. Yext (NYSE: YEXT), the Search Experience Cloud company, exists to help brands regain and maintain a direct relationship with their customers. With a mission to provide perfect answers everywhere, Yext puts businesses in control of their facts online by delivering brand verified answers straight from the source  wherever their customers are searching. Companies like Taco Bell, Marriott, Jaguar-Land Rover, and businesses around the world use Yext to take back control of the customer journey, starting on their own website. Yext has been named a Best Place to Work by Fortune and Great Place to Work, as well as a Best Workplace for Women. Yext is headquartered in New York City with offices in Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, Dallas, Geneva, London, Miami, Milan, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, and the Washington, D.C. area. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yext-appoints-norihiro-shimogaki-as-president-and-coo-in-japan-300982182.html SOURCE Yext, Inc.

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Iran's foreign minister said Tuesday he has been informed by UN chief Antonio Guterres that Washington has denied him a visa for a trip to UN headquarters in New York.

"What we know is that the US State Secretary (Mike Pompeo), in a call to the Secretary General of the United Nations, said: 'We did not have time to issue a visa for Mohammad Javad Zarif and we will not issue a visa'," Zarif said.

"The Secretary General responded by saying that it is Iran's right to take part in this session," Iran's top diplomat said, quoted by semi-official news agency ISNA.

So far there has been no official confirmation from Washington that it has rejected Zarif's visa application.

Zarif was speaking to reporters in Tehran at a gathering to promote an Iranian peace plan for the Gulf.

His remarks came as Iran held funeral processions on Tuesday for one of its top military commanders killed in a US drone strike in Iraq.

Qasem Soleimani's assassination has sparked a war of words between the arch-foes, with Iran vowing "severe revenge" and US President Donald Trump threatening to hit back hard for any retaliation.

Trump warned on Saturday that Washington had lined up 52 targets if Tehran attacked US personnel or assets.

On Tuesday, Zarif said the US visa decision was "a sign of the bankruptcy of the US government and Trump's regime", according to ISNA.

The Iranian foreign minister said he had been planning to go UN headquarters on Thursday for an open debate on "Upholding the Charter of the United Nations".

But he added that he had also intended to "raise America's crimes" during his visit to New York.

It is not the first time that Iranian officials have encountered problems when travelling to New York for events at UN headquarters.

In December, the United Nations General Assembly called on the United States to lift restrictions on Iranian diplomats.

Since mid-2019, Iranian diplomats and ministers have been under strict movement restrictions when they are in the United States.

They are limited largely to the area around UN headquarters, the Iranian diplomatic mission and the ambassador's residence.

In September, while taking part in the annual General Assembly, Zarif complained he was unable to visit the country's UN ambassador in a US hospital.
In 2013 Julian Treger was appointed CEO of Anglo Pacific Group plc (LON:APF). This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. Then we'll look at a snap shot of the business growth. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels.

Check out our latest analysis for Anglo Pacific Group

How Does Julian Treger's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

At the time of writing, our data says that Anglo Pacific Group plc has a market cap of UK328m, and reported total annual CEO compensation of UK696k for the year to December 2018. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at UK378k. We examined companies with market caps from UK152m to UK608m, and discovered that the median CEO total compensation of that group was UK662k.

That means Julian Treger receives fairly typical remuneration for the CEO of a company that size. While this data point isn't particularly informative alone, it gains more meaning when considered with business performance.

You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Anglo Pacific Group has changed over time.

LSE:APF CEO Compensation, January 7th 2020

Is Anglo Pacific Group plc Growing?

Anglo Pacific Group plc has increased its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 48% a year, over the last three years (using a line of best fit). In the last year, its revenue is up 40%.

Overall this is a positive result for shareholders, showing that the company has improved in recent years. It's great to see that revenue growth is strong, too. These metrics suggest the business is growing strongly. It could be important to check this free visual depiction of what analysts expect for the future.

Has Anglo Pacific Group plc Been A Good Investment?

Most shareholders would probably be pleased with Anglo Pacific Group plc for providing a total return of 62% over three years. This strong performance might mean some shareholders don't mind if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for a company of its size.

Story continues

In Summary...

Julian Treger is paid around what is normal the leaders of comparable size companies.

Few would be critical of the leadership, since returns have been juicy and earnings per share are moving in the right direction. Although the pay is a normal amount, some shareholders probably consider it fair or modest, given the good performance of the stock. Whatever your view on compensation, you might want to check if insiders are buying or selling Anglo Pacific Group shares (free trial).

Important note: Anglo Pacific 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.
AUSTIN  Republican state House candidate Gary Gates has long fended off allegations that he abused his children. Now a national Democratic group is bringing up the accusations in political attack ads less than a month before a critical special election in Fort Bend County.

Forward Majority is spending just under six figures on an ad it released Tuesday about things the Gates children told Child Protective Services officials in 2000 about possible abuse in the household, which included 13 children, 11 of them adopted. The abuse case was later dropped.

His own kids told Child Protective Services he forced them to take vomit-inducing medicine, handcuffed and beat them with a wooden board, says the narrator. Gates then spent a fortune to shield alleged abusers like himself.

All of the children were taken from the Gateses by Child Protective Services, but a judge ordered them returned to the home four days later. After CPS dropped the case, Gates launched a legal battle that led to restrictions on when the agency can remove children from their parents.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Reviving 20-year-old allegations shows Democrats and outside interests are desperate to win the district, said Craig Murphy, Gates political consultant. We knew they would stoop to this.

Gates motivation for adopting children grew from the death of his father, he said. Gates father was murdered when he was 18, thrusting him into a position to support his family, which later led him to grow a business buying, renovating and renting homes and apartments. He and his wife decided to adopt children who were left alone like he was when his father died.

You can say anything you want about Gary Gates ... He took kids who had no future and now they have a wonderful childhood, said Murphy. I challenge you to adopt 11 kids and not have any problems.

Murphy pointed to testimony from a a clinical psychologist who opined during the legal proceedings that he would not hesitate to place my own children in their care. Gates campaign released an ad last month featuring personal testimonials supporting his candidacy. Among them is his daughter Raquel, who said, He adopted me and takes such good care of our family, no matter what.

The child abuse case stretches back to 2000. Court records say that Gates and his wife Melissas adopted 10-year-old son had an eating disorder and would take food and gorge himself. After discovering the boy had taken two boxes fig bars and eaten them in the attic, Gates stuffed the wrappers into a plastic bag and pinned it to the fourth-graders shirt before sending him to school the next day with a note explaining the reason for the punishment, the records show.

School officials reported the incident to child welfare authorities, along with other allegations about the boys punishments for stealing food, which included being handcuffed to his bed for a day, sitting in the chair position with his back against the wall and running up and down stairs until his legs hurt, the records say. The boy told investigators past punishments included drinking throw-up medicine and moving bricks. He said he had also been spanked with a board. After siblings told of other discipline handed down by the Gateses, the children were removed from the home that evening. The state dropped its investigation seven months later.

A federal appeals court dismissed Gates lawsuit claiming state and local officials violated his familys constitutional rights when they removed his children from the home. However, the fight helped spur changes in policy, including a requirement that child abuse investigators seek a court order before removing children from their homes except in extremely dangerous circumstances.

The ad comes ahead of the Jan. 28 special election runoff between Gates and Democrat Eliz Markowitz. Early voting begins Jan. 21.

For subscribers: Biden endorses Markowitz in Texas House special election runoff

The stakes are high in the special election to fill the state House seat vacated in September when Republican John Zerwas retired from the Legislature. Although the district has reliably elected Republicans to serve in the statehouse, the open seat and Markowitzs showing in the November special election have made the district something of a bellwether of the political climate in Texas, and whether it is shifting to blue. Markowitz, the only Democrat in the race, earned 39 percent of the vote, short of the 50 percent needed to win the race outright. Gates earned 28 percent of the vote and emerged as the top Republican in a crowded election.

The race is attracting unprecedented attention: Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden endorsed Markowitz Monday; former presidential hopeful Beto ORourke has repeatedly door-knocked for her, and former New York City Mayor and presidential contender Michael Bloomberg campaigned door-to-door with her late last month.

Democrats need to win nine seats from Republicans to take control of the Texas House, offering the party a chance to change the political dynamic as lawmakers prepare to redraw Congressional and Legislative district boundaries following the 2020 Census.
DALLAS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CMP, a leading executive search, consulting, and outplacement firm, announced today that Larry Lavine will join CMP as Executive Consultant of Strategic Solutions. In this role, Lavine and CMP will provide strategic insights and support for restaurant concepts, and keynote speaking.

Lavine is a serial entrepreneur who has left a legacy while helping shape the future of the restaurant industry. Larry has developed and influenced many of the iconic brands in the restaurant world. This includes:

 Founding, and leading Chili's growth through an IPO event - Chili's is now a global 3-Billion concept.

 Purchasing, leading a turnaround, and expanding Tia's TexMex to a highly successful chain throughout the southeastern United States.

 Key executive operations roles with Carino's, Charley's Seafood, and Ten50 BBQ.

 Providing strategic direction and consultation to an array of national and international concepts, including Del Frisco Restaurant, Macaroni Grill, Restaurants Unlimited, TGI Fridays, Alamo Draft House, Cara Foods, TacoMac, and Austin Grill.

 Serving on advisory boards and national organizations. As past Board President of North Texas Food Bank he has a life-long focus on addressing food insecurity.

"Larry is a true thought leader whose impact and results speak volumes. Larry brings penetrating insights and pragmatic solutions to each consulting engagement and speaking assignment. We are excited to see the impact Larry has with CMP clients," says Maryanne Pina-Frodsham, CMP CEO.

Larry's areas of focus include:

Speaking Consulting

 Building a Culture of High Engagement and Performance.  Leading People  What They Didn't Teach You in Business School.  Develop a Winning Brand.

 Strategy  start-up, growth & operational.  Brand development.  Menu development.  Site evaluation.  Culture & team.

"CMP provides a perfect platform to support the success of leaders and companies. Our goals and values are aligned, we have unique synergy," says Lavine.

"Like CMP, Larry has a long track record of success and impact," says Joe Frodsham, CMP President. "Together we have the world-class ability to help more leaders and organizations who are ready to move to the next level."

About CMP

CMP combines the art and science of performance and capability development to provide individuals and organizations with a unique competitive advantage. CMP has offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth, New Orleans, and delivery capability across the nation and globally through OI Global Partners. CMP is a Woman and Minority Owned Business. For more information, visit www.careermp.com

Press Contact

Name: Faith Abbott

Phone: 1.800.680.7768

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE CMP

Related Links

http://www.careermp.com


Photograph: Reuters

Iranian military forces have said they are prepared to use medium- to long-range missiles to attack US bases in the Middle East, in revenge for the assassination of the countrys most senior general, Qassem Suleimani.

According to a report by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Iran has prepared 13 scenarios for retaliation, and the secretary of Irans national security council said that even the most limited of the options would be a historic nightmare for the US.

Ali Shamkhani told the news agency: The 27 US bases that are closest to Irans border are already on high alert; they know that the response is likely to include medium-range & long-range missiles.

Qassem Suleimani, killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad, had become well known among Iranians and was sometimes discussed as a future president. Many considered Suleimani to have been the second most powerful person in Iran, behind supreme leader of Iran Ali Khamenei, but arguably ahead of President Hassan Rouhani. He was commander of the Quds Force, the elite, external wing of the Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which the Trump administration designated as a terror organisation in April last year.

He was born in Rabor, a city in eastern Iran, and forced to travel to a neighbouring city at age 13 and work to pay his fathers debts to the government of the Shah. By the time the monarch fell in 1979, Suleimani was committed to the clerical rule of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and joined the Revolutionary Guards, the paramilitary force established to prevent a coup against the newly declared Islamic Republic.

Within two years, he was sent to the front to fight in the war against the invading Iraqi army. He quickly distinguished himself, especially for daring reconnaissance missions behind Iraqi lines, and the war also gave him his first contact with foreign militias of the kind he would wield to devastating effect in the decades to come.

By the the time the Iraq government fell in 2003, Suleimani was the head of the Quds force and blamed for sponsoring the Shia militias who killed thousands of civilian Iraqis and coalition troops. As fighting raged on Iraqs streets, Suleimani fought a shadow war with the US for leverage over the new Iraqi leadership.

Story continues

Once described by American commander David Petraeus as a truly evil figure, Suleimani was instrumental in crushing street protests in Iran in 2009. In recent months outbreaks of popular dissent in Lebanon, Iraq and Iran were again putting pressure on the crescent of influence he had spent the past two decades building. Violent crackdowns on the protests in Baghdad were blamed on militias under his influence.



Eighteen months before his death, Suleimani had issued Donald Trump a public warning, wagging his finger and dressed in olive fatigues. You will start the war but we will end it.

Michael Safi

The US defence secretary, Mark Esper, confirmed that forces in the region were braced for Iranian reprisal strikes, but said the US would prefer a diplomatic solution.

Were prepared for the worst. We hope that cooler heads in Tehran will prevail and de-escalate the situation, Esper told CNN. We are not looking to start a war with Iran but we are prepared to finish one  What we would like to see is the situation de-escalated and for Tehran to sit down with us and begin a discussion about a better way ahead.

US allies have already begun leaving Baghdad, which was buzzing as night fell with helicopters flying in and out of the citys fortified diplomatic district, known as the Green Zone. Canada, which currently leads the Nato training mission, said it was pulling out some of its 500 troops. Most of the Nato troops withdrawing were reported to be heading for Kuwait.

We have temporarily suspended our training on the ground, and we are taking all precautions necessary to protect our people, a Nato spokesperson said. This includes the temporary repositioning of some personnel to different locations both inside and outside of Iraq.

The US-led coalition to counter Isis is also repositioning its forces to lessen their vulnerability to attack. Britains defence secretary, Ben Wallace, said that non-essential personnel were being moved from Baghdad to Taji, around 30km to the north.

Observers said that the escalating military rhetoric in Tehran may leave Iranian leaders with little option but to attempt a major counterattack, or else suffer an extraordinary loss of face. The warnings have led US bases in Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to be placed on maximum alert status.

Members of the so-called Resistance axis, including pro-Iranian militias from Iraq, will meet in Tehran in the next 48 hours to discuss tactics, it was reported.

Suleimaniss replacement as leader of Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps, Maj Gen Hossein Salami, warned on Tuesday that Iran would set ablaze the places Americans love.

Speaking to a crowd of thousands of mourners in Suleimanis home town, Kerman, Salami said: We will take revenge  a revenge that will be tough, strong, decisive and finishing and will make them regret.

Related: Iran: dozens dead in crush at Suleimani burial procession

Other military figures speaking at the funeral said any base of US naval assets within 2,000 miles of Iran was a possible target.

The Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, insisted the Iranian response to US state terrorism would be proportionate, and not conducted by surrogate forces.

This is an act of aggression against Iran, and it amounts to an armed attack against Iran, and we will respond. But we will respond proportionately  not disproportionately  We are not lawless like President Trump.

He said the attack would occur at the time of Irans choosing. He added Unlike the United States, we do not take cowardly terrorist acts ... when we do it, we will declare it.

Such a move would mark a change of tactics for Iran which has traditionally depended on surrogate forces to carry out attacks on its behalf.

The US has denied Zarif a visa to travel to New York to address the UN security council on the crisis. The refusal of a visa marked a violation of the headquarters agreement the US signed at the UNs founding.

Asked about the decision on Tuesday, the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, insisted the US will always comply with our obligations under the UN requirements and the headquarters agreement, and we will do so in this particular instance and more broadly every day. But he did not explain how refusing Zarif a visa could be reconciled with that claim.

Related: Future of US military presence in Iraq in question amid confusion in Washington

The Trump administration also did little to clarify the confusion that arose on Monday over its intentions in Iraq. Pentagon officials had said that a letter sent to the Iraqi government from the US taskforce commander in Iraq announcing a troop departure, had been a draft which had been released by mistake.

Iraqs acting prime minister, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, however, insisted that the letter had been official and that it had initially been sent back to the US commander over a translation query, and then it had been redelivered with a corrected translation.

They said its a draft. OK, its a draft. But we received it. As a state, how are we supposed to act? We should get a second letter to clarify so we can clarify to our people too, Abdul-Mahdi, who resigned in November but has stayed on in a caretaker role, said, according to the Agence France-Presse. If I dont trust you and you dont trust me, how are we supposed to proceed?

In a prerecorded television address he insisted the US would have to leave.

We have no exit but this, otherwise we are speeding toward confrontation, Abdul-Mahdi said, adding that Iraq would have to take a historic decision to implement the expulsion. Otherwise we will not be taken seriously, he added.

Esper insisted a draft unsigned letter acquired by an Iraqi official had no value. The defence secretary added that the US intended to stay in the country, and that an Iraqi parliamentary vote on Sunday which called on its forces to leave was not the final word.

Nearly all of the Kurds and all of the Sunni Council members either abstained or did not vote, he said, adding that many of the Shia deputies who voted for it did so because they were threatened.

Asked about Trumps threat to bomb Iranian cultural sites, a potential war crime, Esper said he was confident that the president will only give us legal orders.

We do not violate the laws of armed conflict, he said.

Esper said that, when he was killed, Suleimani was involved in planning attacks on US targets that would have been carried out in only a matter days, certainly no more than weeks.

Related: US air force says fighter jet test is 'coincidence' after Trump's Iran threat

The US has rejected Iranian and Iraqi claims that Suleimani, the head of Irans elite Quds Force, an external arm of the Revolutionary Guard, was in Baghdad on a diplomatic mission.

Is there any history that would indicate that it was remotely possible that this kind gentleman, this diplomat of great order Qassem Suleimani had traveled to Baghdad for the idea of conducting a peace mission? Pompeo asked reporters derisively.

We not only know the history, we know in that moment that was not true. Zarif is a propagandist of the first order.
Ikea will pay $46 million to the parents of a 2-year-old child crushed to death by a Malm dresser, a piece of furniture associated with several child deaths from accidental tip-overs, according to a mediated court settlement announced Monday.

Jozef Dudek died in 2017 in Buena Park, California, when he climbed on the short bedroom dresser and it fell on top of him. A year earlier, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said it was aware of four children killed by Malm dressers, leading the CPSC and the Swedish furniture retailer Ikea to launch a massive product recall.

About 8 million Malm chests and drawers were recalled, along with 21 million other pieces of furniture. Consumers were given the option of a refund or a kit to anchor the furniture to a wall.

But the Dudeks never knew about the recall and Ikea never contacted them about it, the family's attorneys said Monday. Product recalls are known to be ineffective. And Ikea took the unusual step of re-announcing the same recall after Jozef's death as the number of fatalities continued to climb.

Craig and Joleen Dudek sued Ikea, claiming the company knew about the problem for years but failed to fix it.

The $46 million settlement is believed to be the largest for the wrongful death of a child, the Dudeks' attorneys said.

It comes after Ikea agreed in 2016 to pay $50 million to settle three similar lawsuits stemming from the deaths of children killed by the retailer's Malm furniture.

The Dudeks said at a news conference Monday that they planned to donate $1 million to advocacy groups that have warn about the dangers of furniture tip-overs, such as Kids in Danger and Consumer Federation of America. The family's attorneys also said a top Ikea executive has agreed to meet with an advocacy group formed by parents whose children were killed by fallen furniture.

"While no settlement can alter the tragic events that brought us here, for the sake of the family and all involved, we're grateful that this litigation has reached a resolution," Ikea said in a statement. "We remain committed to working proactively and collaboratively to address this very important home safety issue."

Ikea is not the only company faced with the problem of tip-overs. A CPSC report in November said 556 deaths were associated with tip-over incidents from 2000 to 2018, mostly children struck by furniture.
Cllr Niall Kelleher, the Fianna Fail mayor of Kerry, will not be attending the State commemoration of the RIC in Dublin Castle on January 17, he has confirmed.

His deputy, Cllr Norma Moriarty, FF, will not attend either, he said this morning.

"I will not be attending. For the same reasons as outlined by other mayors who will not attend either," Cllr Kelleher said.

A number of mayors have said they will not attend the event including Waterford mayor John Pratt and mayor for Galway Mike Cubbard.

Yesterday the mayor of Clare described the event as "historical revisionism gone too far".

Cllr Cathal Crowe, who is a history teacher and also a Fianna Fail general election candidate, said: Im not going to attend, it is a personal position. Members of Clare County Council can go, but I will not have any hand, act or part in it.

Dublin City Council last night voted to boycott the event.

Today the Taoiseach reiterated the government's view that an event to commemorate the RIC is not a celebration.

In a tweet Leo Varadkar says we should be mature enough as a state to acknowledge all aspects of our past.

We should respect all traditions on our island and be mature enough as a State to acknowledge all aspects of our past.  Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) January 7, 2020

The government said the event will commemorate those who served in the RIC and DMP.

Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris will be among those attending the event.

The Socialist Party tweeted: Dublin Metropolitan Police engaged in brutal oppression of Dublin working class in interests of the Irish capitalist class in the 1913 lockout.

The RIC brutally evicted poor tenant farmers and landless labourers in the interests of British landlordism.

Sinn Fein has also called for the event to be cancelled.

Govt commemoration of RIC, Black&Tans, DMP a calculated insult to all who stood for Irish freedom. Nowhere else would those who brutally suppressed national freedom be afforded a state commemoration. Crass Fine Gael revisionism gone too far. Cancel this event @LeoVaradkar pic.twitter.com/YFiOi2eets  Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) January 6, 2020

The Sinn Fein leader has called for the event to be cancelled.

The ceremony has provoked controversy, with many politicians saying they won't attend because of the role of the force in the War of Independence.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou Mc Donald says it shouldn't go ahead.

"I think the event should be cancelled," she said.

"I think it is disrespectful. I think it is ill-advised. I think it has caused a divisive atmosphere entirely unnecessarily. I think it is wrong of the Irish State to commemorate those forces that acted violently and consistently to suppress Irish freedom."

Additional reporting by Digital Desk and PA
Six candidates on Tuesday announced their interest in succeeding Jeremy Corbyn as the leader of Britains Labour Party.

Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow secretary of state for business, confirmed her candidacy on Tuesday.

She is seen as belonging to the partys hard-left faction and a continuity candidate.

I still support Jeremy because I felt that he was the right man with the right moral integrity to lead the party, she told the BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

Meanwhile, Labour suffered heavy losses in Decembers general election.

Announcing her candidacy, Long-Bailey said in an article in the magazine Tribune that Labour needed a socialist leader who can work with our movement, rebuild our communities and fight for the policies we believe in.

She conceded that Labour had a mountain to climb to return to office however believed it was possible if the party maintained its socialist values.

Other leadership candidates include shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer, who is seen as more centrist, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, shadow treasury secretary Clive Lewis as well as members of parliament Jess Phillips and Lisa Nandy.

Labours new leader and deputy leader will be announced on April 4.

Members of parliament are set to question the candidates at a private meeting in Westminster, Britains Press Association reported.

Labours around half-a-million members make the final decision via preferential ballot, with the least-popular candidate omitted during each round of voting until a winner is found.

(dpa/NAN)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020

The Constitutional Court rejected on Monday a petition for a judicial review of several articles of Law No. 12/1969 on the establishment of the West Irian autonomous province and autonomous regencies in West Irian province.

West Irian was the former name of the Indonesian part of Papua Island. The 1969 law is the legal basis of Papuas integration with Indonesia after the end of Dutch colonial rule.

The judicial review was filed by dozens of lawyers, academics, Papuan leaders, churches and womens organizations under the Coalition of Advocates for Truth and Justice in Papua.

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The decision by President Trump to approve the extra-judicial killing of Iranian military chief Qassem Soleimani can either be seen as a successful counter-terrorist surgical strike against a fanatical enemy or, alternatively, as a reckless and unlawful step that risks the outbreak of yet another terrible war in the Middle East.

Doubtless there will be those who applaud this attack on Iran's military capability and justify it as a legitimate use of state force to protect the national interests of the USA.

Leaving aside the methodology of this lethal drone attack, what is the difference between this killing and the gruesome murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudi secret service in their consulate in Istanbul?

Again, what is the difference between the Soleimani killing and Putin's government carrying out an assassination by using polonium 210 on a Russian exile, Alexander Litvinenko, in London?

Of course, there is no substantive difference in any of these extra-judicial killings save that they were carried out by three different governments for their own selfish security reasons.

Each government involved in these outrageous and unlawful actions will attempt to justify them as necessary evils in the real world of constant danger and threat to their respective national interests.

Therefore, no amount of moralising about the legitimacy of Soleimani's killing will reach a satisfactory consensus.

The real question to ask is: is Trump's decision likely to bring about war or peace?

President Trump justified the killing by saying that Soleimani was "plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel".

However, while Soleimani was undoubtedly engaged in such activities over the past 10 years at least, why is it only now that the Americans decided to assassinate him?

It is hard to accept that his killing was an urgent necessity and would have prevented already planned actions by the Iranians or their proxies.

There is a lingering suspicion that this assassination was due less to security considerations and more to distract attention from the current impeachment proceedings brought against President Trump by opposition Democrats in Congress.

Trump can, rightly, present himself to the American public as a decisive commander-in-chief by striking down one of America's most dangerous and successful opponents in the Middle East.

In Iran Soleimani was a very important military and political figure and was admired as the mastermind of Iran's successful military campaign against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

It should be remembered that the defeat of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria was largely due to the Iranians under Soleimani's leadership.

Indeed, it should also be kept in mind that Soleimani's proxy forces tacitly co-operated with the Americans at various times during the campaign against Islamic State.

A consequence of his death and the elimination of his military and political influence could well be the weakening of further efforts to completely eliminate Islamic State as a military force altogether in the region.

Soleimani is also credited with steering Iran's political strategy in the Middle East and his absence may create a dangerous vacuum in that country's fractious and unstable political establishment.

That is not good for Iran, but equally it is not good for opponents of Iran - including the United States - to have an unstable political regime in Tehran.

Already Iran has declared that it will no longer comply with the 2015 Iranian nuclear power deal, which President Obama painstakingly negotiated with Iran.

This great achievement by Obama was an important multinational agreement between Iran and other world powers, including the USA, to prevent the Iranians developing nuclear weapons.

As a result a degree of stability was achieved in the Middle East and provided a tentative step towards building peace.

This was, however, undermined by President Trump unilaterally withdrawing from the treaty and his reimposition of punitive economic sanctions on Iran.

This was done with the purpose of causing social unrest in order to overthrow the Islamic Republic.

This impetuous decision by Iran not to comply with the treaty will be welcomed by hardliners in Tehran, but equally by those in the USA, who detest the agreement with Iran.

The Iranian leadership may well yet rue taking such a drastic decision in the immediate aftermath of Soleimani's death.

The Iranians have predictably threatened revenge on America, but whether they are capable of doing so without incurring a dreadful and painful American military reaction is far from certain.

What is also uncertain is whether such responses between the USA and Iran could end up causing the outbreak of a total state of war between the two belligerents.

If that were to happen, it would be at a huge cost to both countries and the Middle East, which has suffered for too long.
Multiple sightings of drone fleets have been reported throughout rural areas in Colorado and Nebraska and nobody can explain where they're coming from or why.

Now, multiple state and federal government agencies are looking into the mystery. Flying drones does not break the law, but residents and officials are concerned about privacy issues.

Drone collisions are another concern. An LA news chopper for ABC News was clipped by an oncoming drone.

The sightings started occurring around Dec. 17 and have continued into the new year. The residents of Sterling, Colo., which is 120 miles northeast of Denver and has a population of around 14,000 people, say that watching the drones has become a townwide activity.

"They're there every night," resident Nate Northup told ABC News. "They're obviously looking for something."

The drones have been the top topic of conversation throughout the small town.

Kimberley Hartford said she saw at least five drones on her drive home from work one night. "People said it's North Korean's, I've heard it's some alien invasion, drug enforcement," Hartford said. "I have no idea."

There are a lot of other theories swirling around  some people think others are overreacting and really just looking at planes flying overhead, others say there isn't anything to worry about and that the drones are probably just inspecting for oil leaks out in the fields.

Recreational drone owners are required to register with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and must be within eyesight of their drones when flying.

As of now, nobody seems to know or wants to admit the origins of these drones. A bunch of organizations even came out to deny that it was them sending the drones to these areas.

For now, local sheriffs are reminding people who are scared by the drones that it is illegal to shoot one out of the sky.

More to watch:
The progress weve achieved this past year regarding our end-users digital mortgage experience truly sets us ahead of the pack, said Melody Warren, Envoy marketing director.

National mortgage lender, Envoy Mortgage, continues their streak of industry success by achieving another year of accomplishments surrounding areas of brand exposure, loan origination, recruiting, customer experience and technological advancements. These focus areas, along with enhancements and process improvements continue to widen Envoys capacity for growth and places them at the forefront for providing an optimal digital consumer mortgage experience.

In 2019, Envoy saw considerable operational transformations as they launched, XLR8, a synchronized approach to the consumer mortgage experience. XLR8 is designed to create efficiencies and reduce the redundancy of the loan process, resulting in a final approval up to 12 days faster!

Additionally, Envoy launched EnGen, an intuitive digital mortgage application that validates borrower income, asset and employment documentation from any desktop or mobile device, anywhere. Since launch, consumers have received a notable reduction in application completion time from 30 minutes to 10 minutes, shaving three to five days off the overall time from application to underwriting by eliminating surprises and receiving a 60% increase in upfront documentation.

Envoys focus on technology modernization is a key contributor in helping loan originators conduct business efficiently in the way that best fits their marketplace. We want to ensure that the consumer can do business with Envoy how, where and when they want, and our digital capabilities provide a platform to facilitate that philosophy, said Dan Mulberry, Envoy CIO.

This past year also marked the beginning of Envoys market intelligence system for originators, Vantage. Vantage allows Envoy loan originators access to strategic data and insights on top local real estate agents and loan originators, allowing for efficient recruiting practices. Once live, the systems first 30 days contributed to an overall platform usage of 5,610 logins across 86 users.

Envoys dynamic recruiting efforts continue at an upward slope with the on-board of 20 new branches, the expansion of national territories and the appointment of 200 new team members.

Envoy successfully continues their perfect streak of customer experience as results from their online review platform displays over 5,8000 customer reviews with a 4.9/5 ranking and a 54.35% survey completion rate (higher than the industry average). Envoy maintains their unyielding customer service efforts by facilitating an adoption rate of 80% for the platform and keeping consistent communication with borrowers after closing as survey results disperse in real-time across the web.

Additionally, Envoys Mobile App has provided more leads for loan originators by presenting a seamless mobile solution that provides personal branding, customer tools, mortgage calculators and custom application links. Year to date, unique profile links were shared more than 9,200 times and 34,000 mortgage calculations were completed by customers through the application.

Other web optimization efforts included increasing engagement with business listings on third-party websites, resulting in a 45% increase in engagements and more than 600,000 profile views. By implementing these strategies, Envoy was able to collect more than 24,000 new reviews for their loan originators, a 42% increase, with an average rating of 4.9 stars.

To end an exceptional year, Envoys marketing associates continue to evolve their proprietary digital technology marketing suite, EDGE and CRM with best-in-class tools, resources, trainings and shareable content. Year to date, Envoys CRM has undergone 17 major product enhancements and expanded by over 800 new realtor connections, while EDGE experienced an impressive increase in asset downloads, reaching 13,000, with a nearly 30% rise in digital asset delivery year to date.

Through industry-leading technology and new process improvements, 2019 was a banner year for Envoy. The progress weve achieved this past year regarding our end-users digital mortgage experience truly sets us ahead of the pack. Equipping our sales experts with the tools they need to gain and retain more business has been a top focus; we look forward to seeing those efforts materialize in the coming year, said Melody Warren, Envoy marketing director.

About Envoy Mortgage

Founded in 1997, Envoy Mortgage is an independently owned national mortgage lender headquartered in Houston, TX. As a Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae approved seller/servicer, Envoy branches offer a full menu of loan products with locations across the U.S. Licensed in 49 states, Envoy branches provide outstanding customer service from dedicated team members who offer a full menu of loan products with the tools, expertise and technology needed to support all functions of the mortgage process. More information is available at http://www.envoymortgage.com. Envoy Mortgage, Ltd. NMLS #6666.

Press Contact:

Melody Warren

Envoy Mortgage

mwarren@envoymortgage.com

713-714-1338
Iran has dropped espionage charges that had been laid against an Iranian-French academic detained in the Islamic republic since last year, her lawyer said on Tuesday.

"The espionage charge has been dropped" for Sciences Po University academic Fariba Adelkhah, Said Dehghan told AFP.

The lawyer welcomed the decision to lift the charge which carries the death penalty.

Adelkhah still faces two other charges: spreading "propaganda against the political system" of the Islamic republic; and "conspiracy against national security".

Dehghan said the prosecution had dropped its case against her for "disturbing the public order".

Adelkhah, expert on Iran and Shiite Islam, was arrested in Tehran in June last year.

Her Sciences Po colleague Roland Marchal was arrested in the same month while visiting Adelkhah.

Iran does not recognise dual nationality and has repeatedly rebuffed calls from foreign governments for consular access to those it has detained during legal proceedings.

It accused France of "interference" in December after the French foreign ministry summoned Iran's ambassador to Paris to protest the imprisonment of Adelkhah and Marchal.

Their detention added to distrust between Tehran and Paris at a time when French President Emmanuel Macron has been seeking to play a leading role in defusing tensions between Iran and the United States.

The French pair are not the only foreign academics behind bars in Iran.

Kylie Moore-Gilbert of the University of Melbourne is also imprisoned in the country.

Canberra expressed "deep concern" over the Australian academic's case when she reportedly began a hunger strike on Christmas Eve after losing an appeal against a 10-year jail sentence. Sciences Po said at the time that Adelkhah had also begun a hunger strike.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
To the Times:

The statistics are devastating: In 2019, more than 260 officers were shot in the line of duty, and more than 40 officers made the ultimate sacrifice  which is why on Jan. 9, the Fraternal Order of Police Pennsylvania State Lodge is encouraging you to take the time to say thank you in honor of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

Law enforcement officers are husbands, wives, sons, daughters, mothers and fathers. Every day, these individuals leave their homes and loved ones to uphold the oath they took to protect and serve their communities, not knowing what will happen during the course of their shift.

In a time when officers are victims of the false narrative spread by some, we need to rally around our brave men and women in uniform. Millions of people appreciate law enforcement, but its important use Jan. 9 to recognize their courage, dedication and sacrifice.

On National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, you can show your support for Pennsylvanias law enforcement community by: changing your social media profile picture; sending a card of support; wearing blue clothing; or simply saying thank you. No sign of gratitude is too little.

Every day, we should thank our dedicated men and women, but I would ask that on Jan. 9, you take a few extra minutes out of your day to say thank you.

On behalf of all Pennsylvania law enforcement officers and their families, thank you for your support.
Delhi elections: Confident that BJP would form govt says Amit Shah

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 07: Union Home Minister and BJP president Amit Shah on Monday accused the AAP government in Delhi of misleading the people for five years and said after the February 8 assembly polls, a new dispensation will take over and accelerate development in the national capital.

In a series of tweets, Shah also alleged the AAP government made only promises throughout its tenure and now in the last three months, public money was being spent on advertisements for its announcements.

"I am confident that through this festival of democracy, the government led by a party, which misled people for five years and gave hollow promises, will be defeated and a government will be formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that can fulfil the people's aspirations," he said.

Delhi elections on February 8, counting on Feb 11

Shah said the people of Delhi are still looking for free Wi-Fi, 15 lakh CCTV cameras, new colleges and hospitals, as promised by the AAP government.

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 7th, 2020

Welcoming the announcement of the polls, Shah said this election will lay the foundation for accelerating development in Delhi.

"I hope that the people of Delhi will vote in large numbers and create a new record," he said.

Delhi elections: BJP only party with 'neta and 'neeti

The elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly will take place on February 8 and results will be declared on February 11, the Election Commission announced on Monday.
It is absolutely fallacious, misleading and incorrigible for Union home minister Amit Shah to say that the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is rejected by the Delhi government simply for political interest.

While campaigning in Delhi, Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has not allowed Ayushman Bharat Yojana to be implemented in the state for his political interests. Though political ideology and interests evidently play a role in governance, it is a precarious allegation to put for matters pertaining to health and education. Given that the Aam Aadmi Partys priority domains are health and education, the claim by the Union home minister requires further scrutiny.

To state that the Delhi government has rejected Ayushman Bharat simply for political interests implies that the scheme is inherently beneficial. A closer look at the modalities of the scheme proves otherwise.

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) was an extension of a scheme launched by the UPA government. Aware that 70% Indians rely on private healthcare for their health needs, the then Indian government tried out national insurance models such as the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) in 2008. The aim was to cover hospitalisation expenses up to Rs 30,000 for families below the poverty line.

Its overall performance was poor and the scheme failed to reduce impoverishment. Thereafter, in September 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ambitious AB-PMJAY, the National Health Protection Scheme, in Jharkhand. The scheme subsumed RSBY to provide an insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to 100 million poor and vulnerable families identified by the socio-economic caste Census of 2011. The official website describes this (along with Health and Wellness Centres) as a flagship scheme of Government of India to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage.

In theory, the scheme increases access and quality by incorporating in the ambit private healthcare providers, thereby increasing the number of facilities and doctors, and by extension reducing time taken to avail treatment and out-of-pocket expenses. However, its absolute disregard for equity and inclusivity is troubling.

AB-PMJAY is available to only those with incomes less than Rs 10,000 per month. This caveat leaves out the majority of the lower-income class and the middle-income group from the safety net of the Central scheme. As of June 2019, Indias per capita income was Rs 10,534. An average Indian will therefore not be covered under the healthcare scheme and will also not be able to afford private healthcare treatments without extreme financial burden. In the particular case of Delhi, the minimum wage in the state exceeds the income criterion of the scheme!

Additionally, anyone who has a scooter, refrigerator, motorcycle and/ or phone is not eligible to avail the benefits of AB-PMJAY, even though they might belong to lower-income strata and would need financial assistance for healthcare matters.

Furthermore, beneficiaries are only entitled to Rs 5 lakh worth of treatment under AB-PMJAY. To even avail Rs 5 lakh, a patient will have to be admitted to a hospital. OPD, medicines and lab tests are not covered under AB-PMJAY.

In a country where the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has hiked the price of the drug-eluting stent (DES) to Rs 30,080, the capping and coverage caveats of AB-PMJAY are far from universalising affordable healthcare to all. The scheme is limited in its reach as well as its provisions.

The inefficiency of the scheme is evident from qualitative interactions with those that have tried to avail the services. A driver originally from Jharkhand and currently residing in Delhi narrated that his wife  eligible for AB-PMJAY  required a hysterectomy.

Upon contacting the AB-PMJAY call centre to get details of hospitals in Gurgaon, he was given details of three private centres for the required treatment. On visiting all three, he was told that none of them performs the surgery and he must try elsewhere. Exasperatedly, he went into the government system and approached Safdarjung Hospital. The cycle of tests and weekly visits started. It has now been three months and the surgery has still not happened.

My wife and I queue at 3 am at Safdarjung Hospital. By doing that, we get a token number of 2 or 3 by the time the OPD registration opens at 8 am. I then queue to meet the doctor but thankfully because my token number is 2 or 3, it only takes a few hours. Overall, my day ends at 4-5 pm. I do this every Monday because the first time was consultation, the next two-three times were tests, followed by the collection of results and consultation. I have lost my wage for each Monday in the past 11 weeks, but the doctor is good and helpful. There is just too much crowd so they cant do everything quickly.

In view of the above, it may be better for our governments to strengthen national healthcare, as opposed to privately routed structures. The Delhi healthcare model is evidence of that.

The World Bank estimates that 90 per cent of all health needs can be met at the primary healthcare level. By building primary health clinics  mohalla clinics  across the capital, the state government took the onus of providing primary consultations and medicines at the doorstep of the people.

AAP governments Farishte Dilli Ke scheme ensures that, regardless of domicile or income status, anyone can be taken to any hospital (public or private) in case of an accident and the government will pay for the entire treatment.

While they have schemes under the Delhi Arogya Kosh that incorporate private healthcare providers (1,155 surgeries and procedures, as well as 133 diagnostic tests, can be availed cashlessly in private empanelled facilities), they are opening six new government hospitals and have more than doubled their bed capacity by adding infrastructure to existing hospitals with the aim to strengthen state healthcare facilities.

All citizens of Delhi currently have the autonomy to avail free medicines, OPD, lab tests and hospitalisation from the state-run healthcare facilities, with cashless referrals to private providers when required. It is, therefore, necessary to examine AB-PMJAY thoroughly, accounting for the particularities of Delhis demography and existing provisions.

Delhi governments healthcare model has garnered international appreciation for its accessibility and effectiveness from the likes of Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon, among other renowned dignitaries. In contrast, the overall India healthcare has a reputation of ranking 145 on the global healthcare access and quality (HAQ) index. To move away from a system that is showing positive results in Delhi, and implement a new system might actually hinder the Delhi governments objective of providing free and quality healthcare to all the citizens.

Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are neighbouring states to Delhi who have implemented AB-PMJAY. In spite of this, lakhs of patients use the healthcare services in Delhi hospitals, while the vice versa is a rarity. This is a testament to the quality of healthcare provided in Delhi despite not being a part of the AB-PMJAY scheme thus far.

In light of this, it would be acceptable for the Home Minister of India to state that tenets of the AB-PMJAY scheme which are uncovered in the Delhi health scheme to make the model even more robust should be adopted. However, it is absolutely fallacious, misleading and incorrigible for him to say that the scheme is rejected simply for political interest.

The author is a development advisor, specialising in health and education.
New Delhi: A nationwide strike call has been given by Central trade unions on January 8 to protest against the policies of the central government. The strike is likely to hit banking sectors, including ATM services, as bank unions have asked their employees to boycott their work. Trade unions have claimed that about 25 crore people would participate in the nationwide strike.

The Bharat Bandh 2020 has been called against the Central government's recent banking reforms and policies. Among other demands put forward by the trade unions include a raise in the minimum wage to Rs 21,000-Rs 24,000 per month, stopping the privatisation of public sector undertakings, and the repeal of the Citizens Amendment Act, National Register for Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR).

The unions are also protesting against the proposed merger of 10 PSU banks to create four entities as announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in August 2018.

Live TV

Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) reportedly said that Union Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar invited the leaders of the central trade unions on January 2, to inform them that the government has been taking all the steps for the welfare of workers.

Earlier in September 2019, the trade unions including INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with other sectoral independent federations and associations had adopted a resolution to go on a nationwide strike on January 8, 2020.

The all-India strike call by the central trade unions is expected to draw a huge number because about 60 student organisations and elected representatives from some universities will also participate in the strike to raise voice against increased fee structure and commercialization of education.

The trade unions have also flayed the JNU violence and similar incidents in other university campuses expressing their solidarity with students and teachers all over India.

The West Bengal government on Monday directed that all the state government offices shall remain open on the day. "In view of call given by different trade unions and others for a 24 hours All India Industrial strike on January 8, it has been decided that all state government offices including those provided grants-in-aid by state government shall remain open and all the employees shall report for duty on that date," a memorandum issued by Finance (Audit) Department of West Bengal government said.

It said no casual leave for absence either in the first half of the day or in the second half or for the whole day nor any other leave shall be granted to any employee on the said date.

The government said that employees who are on leave January 7, shall have to report for duty on the day. The government said that the absence of employees on those days will be treated as `dies-non` and no salary will be admissible unless such absence is covered by reasons such as hospitalisation and bereavement in the family.

(With Agency Inputs)
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Japan issues arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn

The Japanese authorities said this morning that they were seeking to detain Carlos Ghosns wife, Carole, accusing her of providing false testimony about her husbands legal case, according to Makiko Inoue and Eimi Yamamitsu of the NYT.

They said Mrs. Ghosn testified in April that she did not know a person who was involved in Mr. Ghosns case, even though she was in communication with that person while the person was wiring money between companies at Mr. Ghosns request, the NYT reports.

Its meant to ramp up pressure to bring Mr. Ghosn back to the country to face criminal charges, the NYT adds.

But the chances of getting Mrs. Ghosn are slim. Shes believed to be in Beirut with her husband, and its not clear that the Lebanese authorities will cooperate with a Japanese request to extradite him.
Photo: The Canadian Press

The list of items Boeing could be forced to fix before federal safety officials let the grounded 737 Max airliner fly again has grown to include a problem with electrical wiring used for the plane's controls.

Separately on Monday, the financial damage to Boeing from the airplane crisis came into sharper focus as American Airlines said it has reached agreement over compensation from the plane maker for thousands of flights it cancelled because its Max jets were grounded most of the year.

American did not say how much it will receive but said it will give $30 million to employees as profit-sharing. American estimated in October that the Max grounding would cost it $540 million in pretax income for all of 2019.

Aeromexico said it too settled with Boeing but declined to release details. The airline has six Max jets.

The wiring issue came to light after the Federal Aviation Administration asked Boeing to audit key systems on the Max after two crashes in which new software and faulty sensors were implicated. During that review of changes Boeing is making to the plane, Boeing discovered that bundles of electrical wiring were too close together and  at least in theory  raised the potential for a short circuit that could cause pilots to lose control of the plane.

We identified this wiring-bundle issue ... and we are working with the FAA to perform the appropriate analysis, said Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

The company said, however, it is too soon to know whether it will need to make any design changes, such as moving the wiring bundles farther apart. Boeing says it believes that other safeguards, including circuit breakers and insulation around the wiring, could be sufficient to prevent a short-circuit from leading to another crash.

Boeing built and delivered nearly 400 Max jets to airlines before the plane was grounded in March after two crashes that killed 346 people. Since then, another 400 or so Max jets have rolled off the assembly line, although they can't be sent to airlines.

Boeing engineers have finished changes to a key software system called MCAS that was activated by faulty sensors in each crash, firmly pushing the noses of the planes down, a condition called runaway stabilizer.

The recent review of changes to the Max raised the question whether a wiring short circuit could also cause a runaway stabilizer.

Boeing has been working for more than a year to fix MCAS, which was designed partly to prevent the plane from aerodynamic stalls that could cause it to fall from the sky. Boeing is making the system less powerful and linking it to two sensors instead of one for extra protection against the kind of sensor failures that occurred before the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.

Separately, in June FAA test pilots were able to cause a failure of flight computers on the Max during a simulator test.

It is unclear when the Max will be cleared to fly. On Monday, FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford repeated the agency's position that it has no timetable for reviewing the plane. He said the FAA and Boeing are analyzing findings from the recent review of Boeing's changes to the plane, and the agency will ensure that all safety related issues identified during this process are addressed before the aircraft is approved for return to passenger service.
Real Estate Investment Trust REIT on double exsposure business background.

In order for investors to have adequate diversification, its crucial for your portfolio to have exposure to real estate. Real estate is a major staple in the economy  one of the most important in our modern-day economy.

For investors, the real estate industry can be one of the most prosperous due to the income the funds can generate and the growth potential they have, which we are seeing in great deals especially in the residential sector at the moment.

To find a high-quality real estate investment trust (REIT), investors must look to the companys assets, cash flow it expects to earn, debt levels that are sustainable and a price for the units that is trading at a level that reflects some value.

The three best REITs to buy today for 2020 are Choice Properties REIT (TSX:CHP.UN), Northview Apartment REIT (TSX:NVU.UN) and NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT (TSX:NWH.UN).

Northview Apartments

Northview is the only residential REIT on the list, as a lot of residential REITs have been widely bid up by the market. Residential real estate is one of the most defensive industries in which to invest, so its not surprising that these REITs have seen major price appreciation.

Northview, however, still has some value in its shares despite being one of the best residential REITs in the country.

The trust owns a diversified portfolio of more than 27,000 units across eight provinces and two territories.

One of the chief reasons why Northview is the one residential REIT to consider is due to its dividend yield, which is considerably more than a number of its peers, especially those with similar well-run operations.

Its dividend yields more than 5.5% today with a payout ratio of just 80% of its funds from operations.

Whats immediately noticeable for investors looking for a residential REIT is that most will have relatively smaller yields, and most are focusing on the growth of their business and increasing the value of their REIT units.

This leaves investors looking for a higher yield to look elsewhere, such as the retail REIT sector.

Story continues

Choice Properties

Choice properties operates in the retail REIT segment of the real estate market, and is the top retail REIT in Canada.

Many retail REITs havent had the performance of residential REITs, because for one thing, residential REITs are generally speaking better to own ahead of a recession (as long as you dont overpay for them).

The second reason is that investors have been concerned with the vulnerability of retail REITs, especially those with a large portion of their portfolio in malls.

With Choice properties however, investors dont have to worry about the stability of its tenants. The company leases to business that are staples in our economy such as banks and grocery stores. In fact, Loblaw accounts for more than 55% of the companys rental income.

Today it has an extremely strong occupancy rate of 97.8%, reflecting its high-quality portfolio.

Its dividend yields 5.33% and the stability it provides investors makes it the perfect income stock to own in 2020.

NorthWest Healthcare

Healthcare REITs can be a great compromise for investors looking for as much defence as possible while still earning a higher yield.

I mentioned earlier that residential REITs are some of the top defensive REITs but its hard to find a decent yield, with Northview being one of the only yields above 5% in the segment of the industry.

The healthcare REIT offers almost as much defense and with NorthWest specifically, investors can earn a 6.75% yield.

It owns a portfolio of hospitals, medical office buildings and other properties in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Canada and Brazil.

Its a high-quality REIT with more than 97% occupancy rate and more than 14 years weighted average lease expiry rate, giving it a highly sustainable portfolio.

On an annualized basis, the company earns roughly $0.88 per unit of adjusted funds from operations, giving it a payout ratio of 87% on its high-yielding dividend.

Bottom line

Adding a REIT to your portfolio is never a bad idea and these are three of the top REITs investors can consider for 2020. Each of these REITs has its own advantages and all are trading for less than fair value.

More reading

Fool contributor Daniel Da Costa owns shares of NORTHWEST HEALTHCARE PPTYS REIT UNITS. The Motley Fool recommends NORTHWEST HEALTHCARE PPTYS REIT UNITS. NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT 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
The Delhi Police has filed an FIR against JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh and 19 others (name not in the accused column but in detained list) for attacking security guards and vandalizing server room on January 4. The complaint was filed by JNU administration. An FIR was registered on January 5.

Reacting to the development, poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar mocked the Delhi Police.

BCCL

Taking a dig at their judgment, he wrote:

bccl

how dare she stop a nationalist iron rod with her head.

The FIR against the president of JNUSU is totally understandable. How dare she stop a nationalist, desh Premi iron rod with her head. These anti-nationals dont even let our poor goons swing a lathi properly. They always put their bodies there. I know they love to get hurt (sic), Akhtar wrote on Twitter.

The FIR against the president of JNUSU is totally understandable . How dare she stop a nationalist , desh Premi iron rod with her head . These anti nationals dont even let our poor goons swing a lathi properly . They always put their bodies there . I know they love to get hurt .  Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) January 7, 2020

Alia Bhatt too took to social media to give her two cents. She wrote that citizens should reject any ideology that seeks to divide, oppress and promote violence.

When students, teachers and peaceful civilians become victims of physical assault on an ongoing basis, its time to stop pretending that all is fine. We must look truth in the eye and acknowledge that we are a house at war with itself. We, the people, of this country no matter how to diff our ideologies, must find a human solution to all of our complex problems, and reinforce the peaceful and inclusive ideals upon which this country was built, the actor posted on Instagram Stories.



Violence broke out at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in the police.

bccl

At least 18 people were injured and admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). JNU Students Union president Aishe Ghosh suffered a head injury. The JNU administration said, masked miscreants armed with sticks were roaming around, damaging property and attacking people. The Left-controlled JNUSU and the ABVP blamed each other for the violence that continued for nearly two hours.


The "Star-Spangled Banner" stirs pride. Ed Sheeran's "The Shape of You" sparks joy. And "ooh la la!" best sums up the seductive power of George Michael's "Careless Whispers."

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have surveyed more than 2,500 people in the United States and China about their emotional responses to these and thousands of other songs from genres including rock, folk, jazz, classical, marching band, experimental and heavy metal.

The upshot? The subjective experience of music across cultures can be mapped within at least 13 overarching feelings: Amusement, joy, eroticism, beauty, relaxation, sadness, dreaminess, triumph, anxiety, scariness, annoyance, defiance, and feeling pumped up.

"Imagine organizing a massively eclectic music library by emotion and capturing the combination of feelings associated with each track. That's essentially what our study has done," said study lead author Alan Cowen, a UC Berkeley doctoral student in neuroscience.

The findings are set to appear this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"We have rigorously documented the largest array of emotions that are universally felt through the language of music," said study senior author Dacher Keltner, a UC Berkeley professor of psychology.

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Cowen translated the data into an interactive audio map, where visitors can move their cursors to listen to any of thousands of music snippets to find out, among other things, if their emotional reactions match how people from different cultures respond to the music.

Potential applications for these research findings range from informing psychological and psychiatric therapies designed to evoke certain feelings to helping music streaming services like Spotify adjust their algorithms to satisfy their customers' audio cravings or set the mood.

While both U.S. and Chinese study participants identified similar emotions -- such as feeling fear hearing the "Jaws" movie score -- they differed on whether those emotions made them feel good or bad.

"People from different cultures can agree that a song is angry, but can differ on whether that feeling is positive or negative," said Cowen, noting that positive and negative values, known in psychology parlance as "valence," are more culture-specific.

Furthermore, across cultures, study participants mostly agreed on general emotional characterizations of musical sounds, such as angry, joyful and annoying. But their opinions varied on the level of "arousal," which refers in the study to the degree of calmness or stimulation evoked by a piece of music.

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For the study, more than 2,500 people in the United States and China were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk's crowdsourcing platform.

First, volunteers scanned thousands of videos on YouTube for music evoking a variety of emotions. From those, the researchers built a collection of audio clips to use in their experiments.

Next, nearly 2,000 study participants in the United States and China each rated some 40 music samples based on 28 different categories of emotion, as well as on a scale of positivity and negativity, and for levels of arousal.

Using statistical analyses, the researchers arrived at 13 overall categories of experience that were preserved across cultures and found to correspond to specific feelings, such as being "depressing" or "dreamy."

To ensure the accuracy of these findings in a second experiment, nearly 1,000 people from the United States and China rated over 300 additional Western and traditional Chinese music samples that were specifically intended to evoke variations in valence and arousal. Their responses validated the 13 categories.

Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" made people feel energized. The Clash's "Rock the Casbah" pumped them up. Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" evoked sensuality and Israel Kamakawiwo?ole's "Somewhere over the Rainbow" elicited joy.

Meanwhile, heavy metal was widely viewed as defiant and, just as its composer intended, the shower scene score from the movie "Psycho" triggered fear.

Researchers acknowledge that some of these associations may be based on the context in which the study participants had previously heard a certain piece of music, such as in a movie or YouTube video. But this is less likely the case with traditional Chinese music, with which the findings were validated.

Cowen and Keltner previously conducted a study in which they identified 27 emotions in response to evocative YouTube video clips. For Cowen, who comes from a family of musicians, studying the emotional effects of music seemed like the next logical step.

"Music is a universal language, but we don't always pay enough attention to what it's saying and how it's being understood," Cowen said. "We wanted to take an important first step toward solving the mystery of how music can evoke so many nuanced emotions."

Co-authors of the study are Xia Fang at the University of Amsterdam and York University in Toronto, and Disa Sauter at the University of Amsterdam.
The state wants to invest $9 million to build the nations largest indoor drone testing facility at Griffiss International Airport in Rome.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to highlight the project in his 2020 State of the State address on Wednesday in Albany.

The state money will help Oneida County, which owns the airport, establish what it calls Sky Dome in a former airplane hangar at the former Griffiss Air Force Base.

The county will renovate the building so that it can be used to test and certify small drones as part of the national test site at the airport overseen by Syracuse-based Nuair, an alliance of industry, government and institutional partners.

The drone test site is one of seven nationwide authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said the renovated hangar will allow for year-round experiments and testing of advanced drone technologies, including artificial intelligence-based flight controls and autonomous swarms of small drones.

The project will include an adjacent outdoor testing facility covered by nets installed to stop any wayward drones.

Were pretty excited about the doors that this will open for us, Picente said in an interview. It will clearly take us to a whole new level.

Cuomo and Picente said the project will initially support collaborative research between the Nuair test site and the nearby Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, known as Rome Lab.

Nuair oversees a 50-mile drone testing corridor between Rome and Syracuse thats being used to find ways to safely integrate drones into the nations air space. The corridor includes a network of eight stationary radars and one mobile radar.

Cuomo to OK $75M Syracuse STEAM high school, training center

Albanys 2020 NY agenda: marijuana, guns, vaping, healthcare, voting reforms

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Additional reporting by Neil Michael and Vivienne Clarke.

Veteran RTE broadcaster Larry Gogan has died. He was 81.

Larry worked in RTE radio for over 50 years.

He was part of the original line-up for Radio 2, which later became RTE 2fm, in 1979.

"Larry was a huge part of the foundation on which 2FM was built  he was, arguably, the greatest music DJ in Irish broadcasting history; that gorgeous voice; that genius with a link; that love for the music," said Dan Healy, Head of RTE 2FM.

"Larry won all the major radio awards in Ireland but over and above them all he had the one that mattered most: universal popularity.

Everyone loved Larry, and well all miss him deeply.

Larry presented The Golden Hour up until February 2014 and was famous for both his "Just a Minute Quiz" and his l legendary catchphrases, including the line "They didn't really suit you".

On 8 January 2019, he moved from 2FM to RTE Gold - he presented his last programme on 2FM on Thursday 31 January.

"Larry Gogan was a legend, and a genuine national institution," said RTE Director General, Dee Forbes.

Larry Gogan in 1986

"He transcended generations  whether it was a hilarious moment on the Just a Minute Quiz, the breakneck countdown of the weekly top 40, or the first play of a Christmas song  Larry didnt just preserve these traditions, he created them.

"Legendary, cross-generational, universally popular: The Golden Hour and the Just a Minute Quiz were national institutions, just the like the man himself.

He returns now to his beloved Florrie - we are the poorer for his loss, but the richer for having known this gentleman of the airwaves.

Larry met his wife Florrie when she was 15. Both their fathers ran newspaper shops in Dublin. They were engaged two years later and married when she was 21. Florrie died in January 2002.

A Jacobs winner, he was also awarded the IRMA Honours Award "in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Irish music", and the Industry Award at the 2007 Meteor Awards.

"Larry Gogan defined the Irish popular music scene for decades; he advocated for Irish artists and Irish music throughout his career, meaning he was respected not only by audiences, but by musicians too," said RTE's Director of Content, Jim Jennings.

"This, in many ways, was his unique quality: he was loved by the listener, and loved by the artist. Larrys legacy will endure in popular culture and the popular imagination for decades to come."

Broadcaster Pat Kenny, who was a close friend, paid tribute to Larry.

"Larry was one of the great radio originals," he said.

"His voice up to his last broadcast remained as young and fresh and his taste in music as young and fresh as you could imagine.

"We soldiered together on Eurovision Song Contest trips where he did the radio commentary and I did the TV commentary for a number of years and he was the best of company."

One of the founding producers of 2fm, Ian Wilson said that Mr Gogan had been a total gentleman who was a complete genius at radio.

Some people seemed to consider the job of presenting a music show as easy, but he defied anyone to do so as well as Larry Gogan. He was unique.

Liveline presenter Joe Duffy had visited Mr Gogan only 10 days when he found him in great form and he was deeply shocked that he had passed so quickly. His voice was still the same.

Larry Gogan had been the voice of the new swinging Ireland, he added.

Mr Gogan had loved that his name was referenced in Roddy Doyles The Commitments. He was also the person sent by RTE to broadcast in the event of problems with the Millennium Bug.

He was the first person at RTE that visitors wanted to meet and he always had a welcome for everyone. You didnt have to meet him in person to know he was a nice person, it was in his voice.

Ian Wilson added that Mr Gogan loved meeting people at outside broadcasts. Everyone had a story associated with him. People thought they knew him personally.

He was unfailingly polite, but he was also his own man and no fool.

Bob Geldof of the Boomtown Rats has spoken of how important Larry Gogan was to young Irish bands for supporting, encouraging and promoting them.

If it was a good song and he liked it, he was behind it. He put the wind in your sails.

The Band Aid founder said how the passing of Larry Gogan, in the wake of the deaths of Marian Finucane and Gay Byrne, represented the culling of a whole generation of voices that still resonate in your head.

The Boomtown Rats song Like Clockwork was the first song played on the newly founded 2fm by Larry Gogan. It was a source of pride for him.

Mr Geldof said that for rural Ireland of the late 1970s Larry Gogan was a lifeline to the contemporary.

Larry didnt intellectualise music, he would just want to introduce us to this.

Who else could give you a shot? That was Larry. He represented what the people felt.

President Higgins has paid tribute to Larry and offered his condolences to the Gogan family.

People all over Ireland will have been greatly saddened by the news of the death of Larry Gogan, legendary broadcaster and much loved DJ.

For six decades, Larry Gogan made an indelible impact on Irish music, having promoted both up-and-coming and more established Irish musicians and sharing his infectious enthusiasm and passion for pop and rock music of all kinds.

"Blessed with one of the warmest voices in Irish broadcasting, Larry Gogan not only defined RTEs coverage of music, but also shaped the mould for many generations of DJs.

"His Just A Minute quiz will continue to live in the minds of Irish people everywhere.

"It was a great privilege to have had opportunities to meet him and discuss our shared love of music."

Larry is survived by his five children - Gerard, Orla, Grainne, David and Sinead - and 12 grandchildren.
Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2020) - The Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) today announced its 2020 examination priorities. OCIE publishes its examination priorities annually to enhance the transparency of its examination program and to provide insights into its risk-based approach, including the areas it believes present potential risks to investors and the integrity of the U.S. capital markets.

"OCIE's 2020 examination priorities identify key areas of risk, both existing and emerging, that we expect self-regulatory organizations (SROs), clearing firms, investment advisers and other market participants to identify and mitigate. I applaud OCIE's thoughtful, strategic and efficient focus, which is critical to the fulfillment of the SEC's mission and our service to Main Street investors," said SEC Chairman Jay Clayton.

"As markets evolve, so do risks and potential harm to investors. OCIE continually works to adjust its examination focus areas to target these risks and publishes its annual priorities to communicate where we see the potential for increased risk and related harm. We hope that this transparency helps firms evaluate and improve their compliance programs, which ultimately helps protect investors," said OCIE Director Pete Driscoll.

OCIE's 2020 examination priorities are:

Retail Investors, Including Seniors and Those Saving for Retirement - OCIE will continue its focus on the protection of retail investors, including the various intermediaries that serve and interact with retail investors and the investments marketed to, or designed for, retail investors. Examinations in these areas will include reviews of disclosures relating to fees, expenses, and conflicts of interest.

Market Infrastructure - OCIE will continue its focus on entities that provide services critical to the functioning of our capital markets, including clearing agencies, national securities exchanges, alternative trading systems, and transfer agents. Particular attention will be focused on the security and resiliency of entities' systems.

Information Security - OCIE will continue to prioritize cyber and other information security risks across the entire examination program.

Focus Areas Relating to Investment Advisers, Investment Companies, Broker-Dealers, and Municipal Advisors - OCIE will continue its risk-based examinations for each type of these registered entities. In particular, examinations of registered investment advisers (RIAs) will focus on RIAs that have never been examined, including new RIAs and RIAs registered for several years that have yet to be examined. These examinations will include RIAs advising retail investors as well as private funds. Investment company examinations will focus on mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, the activities of their RIAs, and the oversight practices of their boards of directors. Broker-dealer examinations will focus on issues relating to the preparation for and implementation of recent rulemaking, along with trading practices. Municipal advisor examinations will include review of registration and continuing education requirements and municipal advisor fiduciary duty obligations to municipal entity clients.

Anti-Money Laundering Programs - OCIE will continue to review for compliance with applicable anti-money laundering (AML) requirements, including whether entities are appropriately adapting their AML programs to address their regulatory obligations.

Financial Technology (Fintech) and Innovation, Including Digital Assets and Electronic Investment Advice - OCIE recognizes that advancements in financial technologies, methods of capital formation and market structures, as well as registered firms' use of new sources of data (often referred to as "alternative data"), warrant ongoing attention and review. OCIE also will continue to identify and examine SEC-registered firms engaged in the digital asset space, as well as RIAs that provide services to clients through automated investment tools and platforms, often referred to as "robo-advisers."

FINRA and MSRB - OCIE will continue its oversight of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) by focusing examinations on FINRA's operations, regulatory programs, and the quality of FINRA's examinations of broker-dealers and municipal advisors. OCIE will also continue to examine the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) to evaluate the effectiveness of its operations and internal policies, procedures, and controls.

The published priorities for FY 2020 are not exhaustive and will not be the only areas OCIE focuses on in its examinations, risk alerts, and investor and industry outreach. While the priorities drive OCIE's examinations, the scope of any examination is determined through a risk-based approach that includes analysis of a given entity's history, operations, services, products offered, and other risk factors.

The collaborative effort to formulate the annual examination priorities starts with feedback from examination staff who are uniquely positioned to identify the practices, products, services and other factors that may pose risk to investors or the financial markets. OCIE staff also takes into account input and advice from the Chairman and other Commissioners, staff from other SEC divisions and offices, and other federal financial regulators.
[January 07, 2020] OneLegacy, Local Hospitals, Families and Donors Combine to Break All-Time Donation Records for 5th Year in a Row

OneLegacy, the not-for-profit organ, eye and tissue recovery organization serving the greater Los Angeles, Southern California area, announced today that 2019 marked the fifth consecutive year of record-breaking increases in lifesaving and healing organ, eye and tissue donation. In the year just concluded, OneLegacy enabled the transplant of 1,619 organs from 557 donors, an increase of 8% over 2018. In addition, the organization reported a 4% increase in tissue donors to 3,007, helping over 225,000 individuals, while sight-saving corneas transplanted increased a remarkable 25% from the prior year to 1,616. "The growth in donation is being driven here and across the country by improved donor registration and family authorization rates, plus significant increases in the recovery of organs for transplant from donors after circulatory death (DCD)," says OneLegacy CEO Tom Mone. "DCD donation provides the opportunity for individuals and families to give the gift of life in those cases where treating physicians and family members recognize that there is no hope for recovery and choose to discontinue mechanical ventilation, rather than to prolong futile care." To his point, Mone points out that while DCD donation constituted just 12% of donors 10 years ago, today it makes up 25-35% of donors nationwide. According to Mone, the greater Los Angeles area had been challenged to increase DCD donation until the year just concluded, when hospitals, physicians and families collaborated with OneLegacy to fulfill individuals' donor registration in DCD cases. Since this collaboration began, "We have seen a 70% increase in DCD donation, which has saved some 250 additional lives through donation and transplantation," says Mone. These increases enabled b OneLegacy and its communities are part of a nationwide increase in organ donors that projects to be as much as a 10% increase over 2018's all-time high. The result is that the United States now has a world-leading deceased organ donor transplant rate of 109 per million population. And when living donors are included, the U.S. also leads the world at 121 transplants per million population. "Organ donation performance in 2019 shows the U.S. donation and transplantation system to be the international leader in caring for its population suffering from organ failure," according to Mone.



Since 2000, U.S. organ donation has doubled to enable nearly 40,000 organs to be transplanted per year-this coming over a period in which donor potential as measured by total deaths is up only 1%. These numbers are a testament to those who say "yes" to donation and the recovery organizations that make donation possible. Unfortunately, over recent years kidney failure has risen 61% and now affects more than 660,000 people, while liver failure has risen 15% and now affects 4.5 million Americans causing 42,000 deaths per year. "These numbers tell us that the need for transplants is growing far faster than potential donors," says Mone. "That drives us to help every Southern Californian to choose to register to be an organ donor at the DMV and at donatelifecalifornia.org and to explore the option to be a living donor for a friend or family member."

OneLegacy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and healing lives through organ, eye and tissue donation in seven counties in Southern California: Los Angeles, Orange (News - Alert), Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Kern. Serving more than 200 hospitals, 11 transplant centers and a diverse population of over 20 million, OneLegacy is the largest organ, eye and tissue recovery organization in the world, For more information, visit onelegacy.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005974/en/

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Libyan National Army Enters Sirte, Takes Control Of Sea Port, Some City Areas - Army Source

Sputnik News

18:31 06.01.2020(updated 18:53 06.01.2020)

This comes after the Libyan National Army denied on Sunday its involvement in an attack on a military academy in Tripoli that claimed the lives of 30 people.

The Libyan National Army (LNA) has entered Sirte and taken control of the seaport and some areas of the city, a source in the army said.

"[The LNA] has also taken control of as-Saadi military base, some city areas, and is now heading to the city centre," the source, which is close to the LNA leadership, added.

On Sunday, the LNA denied its involvement in an airstrike on a military academy in Tripoli that killed at least 30 people. According to the Ministry of Health of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), at least 30 cadets were killed and more than 30 injured as a result of the attack.

Libya has been torn apart between the two rival administrations since 2011, when its long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed. The LNA has been trying to seize control over the country's capital of Tripoli, currently controlled by the rival UN-backed Government of National Accord, since April 2019. Sirte, located between Tripoli and Benghazi, is Gaddafi's birthplace.

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NORTHBROOK, Ill., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Principals of Big Shoulders Capital have purchased the assets of DRS Industries, Inc., in Holland, Ohio, and plan to grow the company. Newly formed DRS Industrial, LLC closed the transaction on December 30. DRS is one of the leading tool manufacturers and custom injection molders in the Midwest, providing parts for Ford Motor Company, Honeywell, VitaMix and hundreds of other companies which require difficult-to-manufacture specialty parts.

In business for 35 years, DRS specializes in short-run production and prototyping using all aluminum molds, rather than steel. "Aluminum's thermal conductivity properties provide straighter parts, allowing us to build thicker parts and reduce warpage," said Craig Simon, president of DRS. "We have some unique capabilities with more than a dozen machining centers and nine presses ranging from 95 to 730 tons. With a new infusion of capital, we look forward to growing and expanding our capabilities."

The 35-person company manufactured custom grills for the 50th Anniversary Mustang and Camaro SS vehicles and works with Chrysler and Tesla. Automotive represents approximately 20 percent of the company's volume, with additional expertise in aerospace, consumer products, tooling, construction and lighting. "Because of our expertise in quickly building molds for difficult-to-manufacture products we also build many molds here and ship them to China for use in creating parts that are then assembled in China," added Simon. DRS creates a diverse range of products, including aircraft interiors, parts for autonomous vehicle systems, roofing parts, consumer self-defense, handcuff holders for police, self-healing interior parts, headlights and a wide variety of other plastic components using more than 500 different resins.

After the company went into receivership, Big Shoulders saw an opportunity to invest in a manufacturing business with a loyal, skilled workforce and strong leadership. "Our team looked at the business with its unique capabilities and decided this was a company we could help grow and thrive," according to Alex Mazer, Vice President of Big Shoulders. "We also see the opportunity for some synergies between DRS and our other portfolio companies and will actively look for bolt-on businesses, particularly amidst the automotive slowdown."

For sales inquiries, please contact Dan Jahns. [email protected] Phone: 419-467-8513

DRS Industrial is located at 1067 Hamilton Drive, Holland, Ohio 43528, telephone 419-861-0334. The company website is www.drsinc.com

Big Shoulders Capital, located in Northbrook, Illinois, provides capital for underperforming industrial operating companies, using a variety of structures including creative asset-based financing and equity investments. More information is available at www.bigshoulderscap.com

Contact: Tom Nicholson, The Nicholson Group, Inc.

847-986-5707 or 212-203-2803

SOURCE Big Shoulders Capital
Iran's parliament has unanimously passed a bill designating the United States' forces as "terrorists" over the assassination of top military commander Qassem Soleimani in an air attack in Iraq last week, Al Jazeera reports.

Soleimani, the popular head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) foreign operations arm Quds Force, was killed in a US drone attack outside Baghdad airport on Friday, ratcheting up tensions between the arch-foes.

Under the newly adopted bill on Tuesday, the entire US forces and employees of the Pentagon and affiliated organisations, agents and commanders and those who ordered the "martyrdom" of Soleimani were designated as "terrorists".

"Any aid to these forces, including military, intelligence, financial, technical, service or logistical, will be considered as cooperation in a terrorist act," the bill said.

Al Jazeera's Assed Baig, reporting from Tehran, said the bill is an amendment to a previous motion passed in April last year which designated the US Central Command as a "terrorist organisation" and declared the US a "state sponsor of terrorism".
Washington: Republican representative Paul Gosar, whose history of inflammatory social media posts has made him Internet infamous, tweeted a doctored picture of Barack Obama shaking hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in an apparent effort to criticise the former US leader's Iran policy.

The tweet, sent on Monday afternoon, US time, is captioned, "The world is a better place without these guys in power" and features a fake photo that was debunked more than four years ago. In the falsified image, Obama and Rouhani are posing, hands clasped and smiling, in front of two American flags and a poorly altered Iranian one.

But Obama and Rouhani never met in person  and, while Obama left office in 2017, Rouhani is still in power. The real photo was taken at a 2011 meeting between Obama and then Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh.

It's at least the third time in two months that Gosar has tweeted conspiratorial messages or misinformation. In November, he posted an acrostic to his account that spelled out the phrase "Epstein didn't kill himself," an oft-memed claim referring to the death of jailed financier Jeffrey Epstein. The day after, in a now-deleted tweet, Gosar boosted a conspiracy theory suggesting that George Soros' son was the whistleblower who triggered the House's impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.
Democratic presidential contender Elizabeth Warren on January 7 proposed making it easier for struggling families to wipe away their debts by reforming the country's personal bankruptcy laws.

The issue is of particular importance to Warren, a former law professor at Harvard University who spent decades studying why individuals and families file for bankruptcy in the United States.

Warren's plan calls for repealing much of a 2005 law that was backed by, among others, then-US Senator Joe Biden, now one of Warren's chief rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination. The legislation, which passed largely with Republican support and was favored by credit card companies, made it more difficult for individuals to clear debts through bankruptcy filings.

Warren and Biden have been sparring over the issue for two decades, starting when Biden still represented Delaware  whose corporation-friendly laws have made it a haven for many financial companies" and Warren was a nationally recognized bankruptcy law expert.

Warren, now a US senator from Massachusetts, argued that her research showed most families go bankrupt not because of financial misbehavior but because of events out of their control: a lost job, a medical problem or a divorce.

But proponents of the bill at the time said it was needed to slow the pace of bankruptcies because too many people financially able to repay their debts were instead filing for bankruptcy.

In the spring, after Biden launched his campaign, Warren accused him of siding with credit card companies over families. But Biden has said the 2005 legislation was inevitable, given that Republicans held the White House and controlled Congress, and that he worked to add protections to the bill for working families and women.

Warren and Biden are two of the front-runners among the 14 Democrats vying to take on Republican US President Donald Trump in the November 2020 election.

When families file for bankruptcy, they can either do so under Chapter 7, which allows them to sell off assets and clear debts permanently, or Chapter 13, which allows them to keep their property but requires them to use a portion of their income for years to make debt payments.

Warren's plan, published on the website Medium, would streamline bankruptcy law by creating a single process and offering families far more flexibility in deciding how to discharge their debts.

She would allow families in bankruptcy to set aside more money for basic needs, including rent and child care, and to avoid onerous legal fees.

The 2005 bill also made it difficult to discharge student debt via bankruptcy, Warren said. Warren, who has also called for using higher taxes on the wealthy to erase student debt for millions of people, said she would reform the law to treat student debt like any other consumer debt in bankruptcy court.

Warren said the legislation resulted in fewer bankruptcies and more insolvencies and caused hundreds of thousands of additional mortgage defaults and foreclosures in the wake of the 2008 recession.

"The banking industry spent more than $100 million to turn that bill into a law because they knew it would be worth much more than that to their bottom lines," Warren wrote. "But it was terrible for families in need."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y -- District Attorney Michael E. McMahon was sworn in for a second term on Monday.

The mostly-private ceremony took place at the district attorneys office in St. George. The oath of office was administered by McMahons wife, Justice Judith McMahon. The bible was held by the couples daughter, Julia.

In a statement released by his office, McMahon vowed to continue working tirelessly during his second term to meet the challenges that Staten Islanders still face.

McMahon also gave thanks to his team of prosecutors as well as the NYPD for making Staten Island the best in the city at crime reduction.

Together, we remain committed to keeping the people of Staten Island safe; we will continue to build on our many successes moving forward, and renew our efforts to be the best district attorneys office in the state of New York, he said.
An intercultural project based in Bigonville shows that music can bring together people from all over the world.

In a series of six acoustic concerts, Luxembourgish musicians and refugees from the Bigonville shelter have created the so-called "Millen Sessions". One of the refugees, who benefited from a tutorial by director Thierry Besseling, has filmed a song by all the musicians present, including-Serge Tonnar, Hannah Ida, Bartleby Delicate, Robert Gollo Steffen, Marie Weis and C'est Karma.

Before the performance, the video captures an informal discussion between the artist and cameraman. After the concert, artists, spectators and refugees came together for a group meal.

"Mir wellen iech ons Heemecht weisen"

The intercultural event took place at the Bigonville mill. The goal of the project was to offer better access to Luxembourgish culture, open an intercultural dialogue and encourage contact with local residents.

Serge Tonnar launched the intercultural exchange, titled "Mir wellen iech ons Heemecht weisen" ("We want to show you our home") in 2015, when a number of refugees came to the Grand Duchy. With the help of volunteers, the project has sought to help refugees integrate into Luxembourg society. As well as musical performances, the project offers art projects for children and adults, dancing classes, intercultural neighbour festivities, cultural excursions and intercultural cooking workshops.

Part 1: Serge Tonnar
GRAND HAVEN, Mich., Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Access-Power, Inc. (ACCR or the Company), a Grand Haven based medical marijuana clone corporation, is pleased to announce that we have a filed for a provisional patent application for a Method of Delivery of Self Flying Autonomous Drones for Marijuana and Marijuana Plants/Edibles. We also have under our belt, the Method and Delivery of Marijuana, Marijuana Plants by Drones for Clones by Drones.



Patrick J Jensen commented, ACCR will be the future of Marijuana, Marijuana Plant/Edibles Delivery by Drones. We have logistically figured this out!

http://www.clonesbydrones.com

A friendly reminder, we are actively looking for a MERGER DEAL.

Established in 1996, Access-Power, Inc. is a Florida based for-profit Corporation with operations in West Michigan. We have a strong drive for profitability. Our goal is to raise shareholder value.

There are various risk factors that should be carefully considered in evaluating our business; because such factors may have a significant impact on our business, our operating results, our liquidity and financial condition. As a result of these various risk factors, actual results could differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently consider to be immaterial, may also impact our business, result of operations, liquidity and financial condition. If any such risks occur, our business, its operating results, liquidity and financial condition could be materially affected in an adverse manner. Under such circumstances, if a stable trading market for our securities is established, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

SECURITIES ISSUED BY THE COMPANY INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK AND, THEREFORE, SHOULD BE CONSIDERED EXTREMELY SPECULATIVE. THEY SHOULD NOT BE PURCHASED BY PERSONS WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE POSSIBILITY OF THE LOSS OF THE ENTIRE INVESTMENT. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD READ ALL OF THE COMPANY'S FILINGS, INCLUDING ALL EXHIBITS, AND CAREFULLY CONSIDER, AMONG OTHER FACTORS THE VARIOUS RISK FACTORS THAT MAY BE PRESENT.

You should be aware that there are many substantial risks to an investment in our common stock. Carefully consider these risk factors, along with any available information currently reported by the Company (of which there are note), before you decide to invest in shares of our common stock.

If these risk factors were to occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations or future prospects could be materially adversely affected. If that happens, the market price for our common stock, if any, could decline, and prospective investors would likely lose all or even part of their investment.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about the Company's business, based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may, and probably will, differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbhCPt6PZIU

Contact Information:

Patrick J. Jensen

Director

Tel: 616.312.5390

Email: pjensen@myaccess-power.com

Corporate Website: http://www.myaccess-power.com

"Our corporate website is currently under construction to soon reflect our new business model in the Michigan Medical Marijuana Clone sector."

Product Website

http://www.mycbdpets.com

http://www.clonesbydrones.com

Access-Power, Inc.

OTC Ticker: ACCR
ALBANY  Former Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb had a blood alcohol level of .16 percent  double the legal limit  when he crashed his state-owned SUV near his Ontario County home on New Years Eve, court documents indicate.

Kolb drove his car into a ditch near in front of his residence in Victor at about 10:30 p.m. while heading home from Erie Grill in Pittsford, where he had about "four or five cocktails," police said. The AAA tow operator who responded to pull Kolb's state-issued SUV out of the ditch, called police after noting that the damaged vehicle was pressing against a utility pole, according to Victor Town Court documents released Tuesday.

Deputies had responded to a report of property damage and said they observed that Kolb had glassy bloodshot eyes, slurred speech [and a] strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. He was also unsteady on his feet, police said.

Michael T. Scoville, the tow operator, told police that he saw Kolb leaning into the car when he arrived at the scene. Kolb put his hands up, Scoville said, and claimed that his wife had been driving, because "you know how women drive."

Kolb will be arraigned in Victor Town Court on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. His spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the police reports.

The assemblyman revealed his DWI arrest the day after it occurred, saying there was "no excuse" for his actions. He stepped down from his leadership role three days later, and on Tuesday, Assembly Republicans unanimously elected Syracuse-area Assemblyman William Barclay, who had been deputy minority leader, to head the conference.

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

"The events of Dec. 31 are ones I will always deeply regret," Kolb said in a statement on New Year's Day. "On a personal level, I have begun the process of seeking professional help in order to heal, learn, and fully address the challenges that I, along with my family, currently face."

Barclay, in a gaggle with reporters shortly after he was elected Tuesday, called Kolb's arrest "unfortunate" but stopped short of saying that his behavior warranted his resignation from his Assembly seat altogether.

"One thing about Brian is he always puts the conference before himself, and, obviously, he did it this time by resigning," Barclay said. "I think it was the right thing to do, and I think most of the conference feels it's the right thing to do."
A Fine Gael Senator has withdrawn from the partys general election ticket in the Roscommon-Galway constituency.

Senator Maura Hopkins, who is a new mother, said she made the decision as she felt she would not be able to balance the responsibilities of being a TD with starting a new family.

In a statement, Ms Hopkins said:

As a new mother and as a female public representative based in a rural constituency, I have come to the conclusion that it would not be possible to balance the responsibilities and demands of my personal and professional life," she said.

Therefore, I am withdrawing my name as a Fine Gael Candidate for Roscommon-Galway constituency, she added.

Ms Hopkins said she was very aware of the huge demands and sacrifices involved in running in a general election campaign and insisted it had been her full intention to run.

I have been working extremely hard with many people on many issues across the constituency. I have always tried to do my best and I have invested a huge amount of time and effort in working hard to deliver for the people of this constituency."

Ms Hopkins said Fine Gaels best chance in the constituency was former Independent councillor Aisling Dolan from Ballinasloe, Galway who recently joined the party to run in the general election.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he fully understands Ms Hopkins decision to step aside.

Senator Hopkins contacted me in recent days to inform me that she would not be going forward in the next General Election, he said

She is the mother of a four-week-old daughter and has decided to put her young family ahead of public life. While I am sorry to lose her from the ticket, I fully understand and respect her decision.

Cllr Aisling Dolan remains on the ticket for Roscommon-Galway constituency where we believe we are in contention to gain a seat, he added.
DENVER, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- General Cannabis Corp (OTCQX: CANN), a company with deep domain expertise in providing services to the cannabis industry, today announced that it has signed a non-binding term sheet to acquire Halsa Holdings Inc, a company led by industry experts and created to acquire assets in mature markets. When the acquisition is complete, General Cannabis will acquire contracts to acquire three dispensaries in California, and add a deeply experienced team to its existing executive group. The acquisition is expected to close in Q1 2020, subject to entry into definitive documentation.



Chris Colon leads the Halsa executive team, and will bring to General Cannabis extensive knowledge and experience in mergers and acquisitions and developing retail and fast casual concepts. Prior to joining Halsa, Mr. Colon was President of Nectar Cannabis, the largest vertically integrated cannabis company in the state of Oregon with seventeen retail locations and over four hundred employees. Before Nectar, Mr. Colon was an executive at Consumer Capital Partners, an innovative investment and operating company, which created Smashburger, a better burger concept with over 330 locations worldwide.

Said Steve Gutterman, CEO of General Cannabis, Chris is one of the most respected leaders in cannabis. He has unmatched retail experience. More importantly, his integrity is second to none. I cant wait for him to work alongside me and the rest of the General Cannabis team as we expand our retail presence.

When the acquisition of Halsa is complete, Mr. Colon is expected to become President of General Cannabis, reporting to the CEO. Mr. Colon said, Along with the rest of the Halsa team, I couldnt be more excited to join Steve and the General Cannabis team. The landscape of the cannabis industry has changed rapidly, and we have a massive opportunity in front of us to grow quickly. General Cannabis is well positioned to capitalize on these opportunities.

Halsa has entered into Purchase Agreements or Letters of Intent with three retail dispensaries in California that collectively generate revenues of approximately $12 million. General Cannabis will seek to grow revenue at all three locations by refurbishing and expanding operations. Said Mr. Colon, We have painstakingly picked out marquee assets in California. The assets we have under contract are excellent revenue producing stores with extraordinary possibilities for expansion.

The acquisition of Halsa represents a significant step for General Cannabis as it executes on its Cannabis 3.0 strategy. The company plans to grow revenue and profit by:

Focusing on mature markets. Initially, the company will focus on California and Colorado. Over time, the company will seek to add operations in Oregon and other mature markets as well.





Acquiring assets in an efficient manner.





Applying the teams expertise to improve performance and valuation.

Said Mr. Gutterman, This is Cannabis 3.0. In it, we have created a second mover advantage by building a fantastic team, cherry picking assets in mature markets and allocating capital efficiently and effectively to produce outsized returns. The acquisition of Halsa will accelerate our progress and is an important strategic initiative for the company.

About General Cannabis Corp

General Cannabis Corp is the comprehensive national resource for the highest quality service providers available to the regulated cannabis industry. The company is a trusted partner to the cultivation, production and retail sides of the cannabis business. It achieves this through a combination of strong operating divisions, capital investments and real estate. As a synergistic holding company, the company's divisions are able to leverage the strengths of each other, as well as a larger balance sheet, to succeed. The company's website address is www.generalcann.com .

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the following: the companys plans to enter into a binding agreement to acquire Halsa; the timing, terms and effects of the acquisition of Halsa, including the companys plans for Mr. Colon to become President of the company and Halsas acquisition of three dispensaries; the company's "Cannabis 3.0" growth strategy and plans to expand revenues, including through the acquisition of Halsa. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact, such as the statements described above, should be considered forward-looking statements. Some of these statements may be identified by the use of the words "may," "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects" and similar expressions. General Cannabis has based these forward-looking statements on current expectations and projections about future events as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those factors described from time to time in General Cannabis's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the heading "Risk Factors" and in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. General Cannabis undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made herein.

Contact:

Steve Gutterman, CEO

sgutterman@generalcann.com
(Alliance News) - AIM-listed Nektan PLC on Tuesday confirmed that its UK B2C business was sold to Grace Media Ltd, which is a part of digital marketing services provider Active Win Group, for GBP200,000.

For the year to the end of June 2018 - being its most recent audited accounts - Nektan's UK B2C business generated turnover of GBP19.4 million and was loss making.

The move follows the appointment of Mark Phillips and Julie Swan of PCR London LLP as joint administrators of Nektan's UK B2C business, which was announced earlier on Tuesday.

The gaming technology platform provider highlighted, however, that this will have no operational impact on Nektan or any of its other subsidiaries, which will continue to trade "as normal".

As the sale proceeded, Nektan said it has entered into a business-to-business partnership with Grace Media to facilitate continued delivery of services to its existing UK B2C white label partners. This will result in Nektan receiving ongoing monthly royalties from Grace Media.

Looking ahead, Nektan said this restructuring will re-position the company to target new emerging markets with a strengthened balance sheet and cash position.

"We look forward to working in partnership through the business-to-business relationship with the buyer as they take the business forward," said Nektan Interim Chief Executive Gary Shaw.

"The opportunity to acquire the UK B2C business allows Active Win Group to expand further into the UK online casino market, furthering our growth in this market from being a white label operator ourselves, to working with the full complement of business partners established by Nektan in recent years," added Active Win Group Chief Executive Warren Jacobs.

Nektan shares were suspended from trading on London's AIM on Thursday last week, pending publication of its audited annual results.

By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Mumbai (Maharashtra)[India], Jan 7 (ANI): Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday condemned displaying of 'Free Kashmir' poster during a protest in Mumbai against Jawaharlal Nehru University violence and said, "If it was freeing Kashmir from India then its wrong."



"Apart from that incident look at the larger picture, yes we need to see her intent, was it to remove internet blockade, if it was freeing Kashmir from India then it's wrong. Obviously everyone condemned it, not even other protesters supported it," he said while speaking to ANI in Mumbai.

A poster reading -- Free Kashmir -- was seen at the Gateway of India on Monday during a protest against yesterday's violence in the Jawaharlal Nehru University in the national capital.

During the protest, a girl was seen holding the poster which read - Free Kashmir. The demonstrators were seen with several other placards with objectionable and abusive languages.

Some posters called for 'Ban on ABVP,' while some others read -- Stand with JNU.

Earlier in the day, actor Sushant Singh reached the Gateway of India where the students staged a protest against the violence on the JNU campus on Sunday.

Students from various colleges had gathered at the Gateway of India on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday to protest against the violence on the JNU campus on January 5.

On Sunday evening, more than 30 students of the university including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh were injured and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the campus and attacked them and some professors with sticks and rods. (ANI)


IMAGE: Iranian people attend a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran. Photograph: Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA/Reuters

A stampede at the funeral for slain Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in his hometown of Kerman in Iran has claimed more than 50 lives on Tuesday, state media said.

A sea of black-clad mourners on Tuesday poured into the streets of Kerman to attend the funeral of Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian general killed in a US airstrike in Baghdad last week.

IMAGE: Women hold pictures of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, during a funeral procession and burial at his hometown in Kerman, Iran. Photograph: Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA/Reuters

"The number of those killed in this accident has topped 50. Most of them are men," the chief of the regional forensics office was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.

The head of Iran's medical emergency services said earlier in the day that 40 people died and 213 were hurt in the stampede that happened as thousands packed the streets ahead of the Quds Force commander's burial.

Soleimani, 62, was killed in a US airstrike carried out near the Baghdad international airport on Friday.

His assassination has triggered a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East and marked the most significant confrontation between the US and Iran in recent years.

-- With inputs from PTI

Edited by Roshneesh K'Maneck
(Bloomberg) -- CES has long been a showcase for automotive gadgetry and a chance for tech companies to pitch their gear to carmakers. This year, the consumer electronics show is embracing an increasingly valuable byproduct of all this activity: data.

Modern cars roll out of factories packed with cellular connections, powerful processors and growing suite of sensors, including cameras, radar and microphones. Thats turning them into the next information goldmine, rivaling the data-creating capabilities of smartphones.

Amazon.com Inc., Intel Corp., Qualcomm Inc. and BlackBerry Ltd. are at the Las Vegas conference this week to pitch data-crunching services and partnerships to an auto industry searching for new revenue streams and business models.

CES will highlight the next big industry transformation that revolves around how this data can be monetized, said Brian Rhodes, an automotive technology analyst at IHS Markit. This market is no longer strictly focused on selling hard parts.

Automakers are trying to control the data generated by their vehicles and avoid being marginalized by technology giants. Its a challenge because car companies lack deep software talent and are already battling the incursion of smartphones and related technology. Apple Inc.s CarPlay and Googles Android Auto software, installed on vehicle dashboard screens, funnel data to and from smartphones and largely bypass carmakers systems.

The industry passed a while ago a very important line in the sand, said Henrik Fisker, chief executive officer of electric vehicle manufacturer Fisker Inc. People suddenly felt that their smartphone was more important to their freedom than their car.

After years of setbacks and delays, Fisker will show off its Ocean electric SUV at CES for the first time. The company wants to generate the majority of its profit from software and services over the long term. Fisker has an app for ordering, lease payments and upgrades that it hopes will generate recurring revenue over the life of each vehicle.

Story continues

Intel will announce a new automotive tie-up for its Mobileye unit during CES, adding to existing relationships with Nissan Motor Co., BMW AG and Volkswagen AG. The carmakers use Mobileyes driver-assistance technology and provide the Intel unit with some of the data that those cameras, chips and sensors collect as the vehicles drive around. Mobileye aggregates this anonymous information to create detailed maps that the carmakers use to enhance their vehicle navigation systems.

At CES, Intel showed off a map of Las Vegas created in 24 hours with information from BMW cars that drove around the city over an undisclosed longer period. Intel says such fresh information is more valuable than traditional navigation systems, which use special survey vehicles that collect and send in images and data for updates that can take months. The newer approach has more chance of spotting and avoiding a broken traffic signal or road work. Intel thinks the data will be really useful for other things, too. A utility company could check on infrastructure without sending workers to every site, for example.

Intel predicts the market for such data will be worth as much as $3.5 billion a year by 2030. McKinsey & Co. sees a much larger opportunity. A few years ago, the consulting firm said up to $750 billion of value would created from car-related data by 2030. That includes revenue from services like connected maps and targeted advertising, along with the sale and analysis of anonymous information via third parties to reduce costs.

The value pool includes avoided costs and incremental revenue McKinsey partner Michele Bertoncello said. If you monitor a car and you avoid a breakdown or you avoid warranty fraud, you dont generate incremental revenue, but you avoid a cost.

On Monday at CES, cloud-computing giant Amazon Web Services teamed up with BlackBerry, owner of QNX, an operating system thats widely used in cars. The two companies unveiled a new service that helps automakers update security and software features, monitor vehicle health, access data from car sensors, built new applications and apply artificial intelligence models to the information.

Chipmaker Qualcomm announced its first chips and software for fully autonomous vehicles at the CES show. Its radio chips already support cellular links for most of the worlds connected cars. The new offering will be available in coming years and will reduce the cost and power needed to develop and run driverless cars, Qualcomm said. The company also rolled out a Car-to-Cloud Platform, a package of hardware and software that lets automakers securely update the software in their vehicles. The system offers a way to charge vehicle owners for updates and other services.

Vehicle-generated data is crucial to Ford Motor Co.s future, Chief Technical Officer Ken Washington said. The companys commercial business is working with Digit, a robot designed by Agility Robotics that travels with delivery vehicles, unfolds itself, then carries packages from the curbside to the door. Digit will use data from Ford vehicle sensors to find its way.

Advanced data capture and analysis is crucial for improving designs and bringing them to market more quickly, and for creating new businesses as carmakers try to become broader transportation companies, according to Washington.

Were taking this very seriously, he said. I watched the internet happen and I watched what happened to businesses that embraced it and those that ignored it.

(Corrects in the ninth paragraph to say that Intel built the map with data collected over a longer period.)

To contact the reporters on this story: Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net;Ed Ludlow in San Francisco at eludlow2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alistair Barr at abarr18@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Irans parliament has unanimously passed a bill designating the United States forces as terrorists over the assassination of top military commander Qassem Soleimani in an air attack in Iraq last week.

Soleimani, the popular head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) foreign operations arm Quds Force, was killed in a US drone attack outside Baghdad airport on Friday, ratcheting up tensions between the arch-foes.

Under the newly adopted bill on Tuesday, the entire US forces and employees of the Pentagon and affiliated organisations, agents and commanders and those who ordered the martyrdom of Soleimani were designated as terrorists.

Any aid to these forces, including military, intelligence, financial, technical, service or logistical, will be considered as cooperation in a terrorist act, the bill said.

Al Jazeeras Assed Baig, reporting from Tehran, said the bill is an amendment to a previous motion passed in April last year which designated the US Central Command as a terrorist organisation and declared the US a state sponsor of terrorism.

That blacklisting came after the US designated IRGC a terrorist organisation.

Baig said legislators also voted for 200 million euros ($224m) to be allocated to the Quds Force to boost their defensive power.

Tensions between Iran and the US have escalated dramatically after Soleimanis assassination, with Iranian leaders pledging to retaliate and avenge his death.

On Tuesday, tens of thousands of mourners gathered in the city of Kerman, Soleimanis hometown, for his burial, marking the end of a three-day mourning period.
Over the past two days, millions of people have marched in cities throughout Iran and Iraq to condemn the killing of Qassem Suleimani. The response to the assassination contradicts the narrative constructed by the Trump administration, the Democratic Party and the media to legitimize an illegal act of war.

Within hours of the assassination, the vast American propaganda machine began churning out the latest update of its never-ending bad man theory of politics. Yet another anti-American evil-doer had received his just desserts.

Trumps inane and sadistic chortlings have found their inevitable chorus. In statements echoed hundreds of times on TV networks, Margaret Brennan, the host of CBSs Face the Nation, declared, Qassem Suleimani directed mass murder and killed thousands of people in the region. This script was incorporated into the responses of countless politicians, including Trumps supposed opponents in the Democratic Party.

Mourners attend a funeral ceremony for Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and his comrades, who were killed in Iraq in a U.S. drone strike on Friday, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren intoned, Suleimani was a murderer, responsible for the deaths of thousands. Former Vice President Joe Biden added, He deserved to be brought to justice for his crimes against American troops and thousands of innocents throughout the region.

While reservations and concerns have been expressed about the tactical consequences of the action, and over Trumps failure to consult with the appropriate security-cleared congressional leaders and provide proof that the US was confronted with any sort of imminent danger, there has been no protest against the brazen criminality of the murder, let alone any denunciation of the targeting of Suleimani.

The underlying moral legitimization of the assassination is the critical element of the political narrative that is left unchallenged.

The reason for this is that to present with any degree of honesty the life of Major General Qassem Suleimani would require acknowledging the politically criminal and morally filthy role that the United States and successive presidential administrations have played in subverting the interests of the people of Iran and the entire Middle East for upwards of 70 years.

First, some basic facts. Qassem Suleimani was not a terrorist or a murderer. He was a senior military officer and a political leader, traveling to Iraq in an official capacity as a diplomatic representative of a state of 82 million people.

He had just arrived in Iraq to meet with the Iraqi prime minister to discuss peace talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia. I was supposed to meet Suleimani at the morning the day he was killed, he came to deliver me a message, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi told the countrys parliament Sunday.

Abdul-Mahdi said Trump had personally thanked him for his diplomatic efforts, giving the impression that Suleimani was not threatened with harm. And yet, within hours, the Iranian general was dead, in what Abdul-Mahdi condemned as a grave violation of Iraqi sovereignty.

Suleimani was born into a farming family on March 11, 1957. With his father facing bankruptcy and imprisonment for failing to meet payments on a loan from the government, Suleimani went to work on construction sites at the age of 13 to help pay his familys debts.

In 1953, four years before Suleimani was born, the United States overthrew the democratically elected government of Iran and installed the dictatorship of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in one of the most notorious coups ever organized by the Central Intelligence Agency. After removing the nationalist leader Mohammed Mossadegh from power, the United States insisted upon and instigated a reign of terror against the Communist (Tudeh) Party, which had a mass following.

Countless thousands of Iranian workers, intellectuals and youth were consigned to the prisons and torture chambers of the SAVAK secret police.

SAVAK was implicated, according to the Federation of American scientists, in the torture and execution of thousands of political prisoners. Its methods, according to the FAS, included electric shock, whipping, beating, inserting broken glass and pouring boiling water into the rectum, tying weights to the testicles, and the extraction of teeth and nails.

Iran, allied with Israel, served as Americas gendarme of the Persian Gulf. Under the so-called Nixon Doctrine, the United States funneled vast quantities of arms to the Shahs regime, which was seen, with Saudi Arabia, as being one of the twin pillars of US domination over the Middle East. US arms transfers to Iran increased from $103.6 million in 1970 to $552.7 million in 1972. The United States was confident that the Shahs terror regime was impregnable.

In December 1977, President Jimmy Carter personally toasted the Shah with the following words: Iran is an island of stability in one of the most troubled areas of the world.

This was the Iran in which Suleimani grew up and came of age.

But in the course of 1978, a massive popular movement swept across the country. The Shahs attempt to hang onto power with mass killings, egged on by the United States, failed. The key role in the destruction of the Shahs regime was played by the working class, particularly through strikes that crippled the critical oil sector of the Iranian economy.

Due to the betrayals of the Stalinist Tudeh party, the leadership of the revolution passed into the hands of the clerical nationalists under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. But there was no question that the revolution was fueled by hatred of the neo-colonial suppression of Iran by the United States. Following the overthrow of the Shah and the Ayatollah Khomeinis accession to power on February 11, 1979, the 22-year-old Suleimani joined the Revolutionary Guard.

In September 1980 the United States, allying itself with the regime of Saddam Hussein, encouraged Iraq to attack Iran, producing a devastating eight-year war that led to over one million deaths. Tens of thousands of Iranians were killed, including through Iraqs widespread use of chemical weapons deployed with the assistance of the United States. It was during that war that Suleimani emerged as a significant military figure.

Determined to prevent the defeat of Iraq, the Reagan administration provided Iraq with weapons, logistical support and critical information. But its most infamous intervention against Iran came on July 3, 1988. The United States Navy, deliberately targeting a civilian aircraft, shot down Iran Air Flight 655, killing all 290 people on board, including 66 children. The war came to an end one month later.

The politics of Qassem Suleimani was that of a bourgeois nationalist. But as a military officer, he was engaged in the defense of an historically oppressed country. Suleimanis ruthlessness in the conduct of his responsibilities as a military officer was, one can assume, a response to his experiences in war and countering the continuous threats emanating from the United States and Israel.

The same media mouthpieces that condemn Suleimani as a murderer are silent on the crimes committed by the United States since its initial invasion of Iraq in 1991, including brutal sanctions under the Clinton administration that killed hundreds of thousands.

Following the second invasion of Iraq in 2003, the US has been implicated in innumerable war crimes, from the sadistic torture and rape of inmates at the Abu Ghraib prison, to the massacre in Fallujah, to the mass slaughter in the so-called anti-ISIS campaign in Mosul in 2017, which included the rampage by Navy Seal Edward Gallagher, who stabbed a wounded teenager to death and posed with his corpse as if he were a slaughtered animal.

In 2017, Trump casually observed, Weve got a lot of killers. What, do you think our countrys so innocent? Two years later, Trump tweeted in October 2019 that millions of people have died as a result of US wars in the Middle East launched under false & now disproven premise, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

But as far as the US media is concerned, the violent actions of the US military are to be celebrated, as when it lionized Trumps former defense secretary James Mattis, the butcher of Fallujah, known as Mad Dog, and laughed off his statement that its fun to shoot people.

The media helped set the stage for Trumps act of murder. The New York Times, the Washington Post and other major US newspapers have repeatedly justified extrajudicial killings.

There is a poem by Rudyard Kipling, which famously concludes: We are not ruled by murderers, but onlyby their friends.

Were he alive today, the poet would be compelled to change the final line to conform with the current reality:

The American people are ruled by murderers, whose killings are sanctioned by their friends.
An elderly woman was killed and two others were injured Saturday afternoon in a wreck on I-85 in Auburn, police said Monday.

Ruth E. Oliver, 89, of Shiloh, Georgia, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at East Alabama Medical Center, police said.

Oliver was riding in a 2015 Toyota Corolla that struck a 2019 Buick Envision from behind while in the northbound lane of I-85 near mile marker 53 around 3:14 p.m. Saturday.

The driver of the Toyota, identified as a 58-year-old woman from Shiloh, Georgia, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the accident and was flown by helicopter to Piedmont Columbus Regional Medical Center.

A 77-year-old man from West Point, Georgia, who was driving the Buick, was treated on the scene and released, police said.

Police continued to investigate the cause of the accident Monday.
Niamey, Jan 6 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Jan, 2020 ) :Niger police have arrested more than 300 Sudanese asylum seekers after accusing them of burning down a UN refugee camp in the north of the country, prosecutors said on Monday.

The Niger town of Agadez has become a major transit point for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa trying to reach Europe and for those escaping chaos in neighbouring Libya.

Agadez prosecutor Seyni Saidou told state television 335 asylum seekers had been arrested on Saturday after they were identified as taking part in burning their camp.

City officials said "incidents" erupted after security forces dislodged hundreds of asylum seekers from the local offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), where they were holding a sit-in to demand refugee status and placement in Europe.

"Once they were brought back in buses, they first set fire to the camp" before attacking security forces who escorted them, one official said.

According to a report by local authorities, 290 homes and the infirmary were burned down.

At least two people were injured by the demonstrators, who "broke bus windows".

Charges include unarmed assembly on a public highway, rebellion by deliberate destruction of property and arson, prosecutors said.

Some 1,400 Sudanese who fled insecurity and slavery in Libya since 2017 live around the camp about 10 km from Agadez. Since 2018, the Sudanese have been demonstrating regularly in Niamey and Agadez for quicker settlement in host countries, especially in Europe.

Hundreds of refugees, particularly Ethiopians and Eritreans living in Niamey, have been resettled in France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland.
Japan plans to express regret to Lebanon that the former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn escaped Japan to Lebanon and will ask the Lebanese to help investigate the case, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday.

The Japanese ambassador to Lebanon is expected to hold a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun later on Tuesday, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

Suga said Japan has been communicating with Lebanon, as well as other related foreign governments, to help Japan to look into the sudden flight by Ghosn from Japan where he was on bail awaiting for trial on financial misconduct allegations.

Lebanon has said he entered legally with a French passport on December 30. He has not been seen since, but has promised to speak to reporters on Wednesday.

Suga did not say whether Japan would seek Lebanon's help to extradite Ghosn.

Japan's Justice Minister Masako Mori repeatedly stressed that Japan would strengthen border checks and review bail conditions after the incident.

Ghosn's bail has been revoked and Interpol has issued a wanted notice. Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Lebanon, but the Japanese government left open the possibility that Japan could seek Ghosn's return.

But such a return so far appears unlikely and Japan's options are limited.
The four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case, against whom death warrant was issued by a Delhi court on Tuesday, had moved courts over the past seven years to escape the gallows.

Pawan Gupta, a fruit seller, had moved the Supreme Court claiming that he was a juvenile at the time of the offence in 2012 and should be treated under the Juvenile Justice Act. The court, however, rejected his plea.

Akshay Thakur, a school dropout, hailed from Bihar and came to Delhi in 2011. He was the conductor of the bus in which the crime was committed and had fled the city. Thakur was arrested a few days later from his native village in Aurangabad district. He had claimed that he was not in Delhi when the brutal incident took place but the probe revealed he was on the bus and involved in the crime.

Vinay Sharma was a fitness trainer and a resident of Ravidass camp, a slum in south Delhi. In 2016, Sharma had attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself in the Tihar Jail. He first took painkillers and then tried to hang himself with a towel in the cell.

Last December, Sharma had made a plea to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking immediate withdrawal of mercy petition. Through his counsel AP Singh, the convict claimed that the mercy plea sent to President Kovind by the Home Ministry was not signed by him.

Mukesh Singh is the younger brother of Ram Singh, driver of the bus who had allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail in 2013. Mukesh Singh was part-time bus driver and a cleaner. The two brothers also lived in Ravidass camp.

In 2013, a fast-track court in Delhi had held the four men guilty in the case. Their conviction was also upheld by the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court later.

In May 2017, the four convicts had moved the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order which confirmed the capital punishment awarded to them by the trial court. The top court also upheld their death penalty.

In a voluminous judgment, the bench of the top court had held the attitude of offenders as "bestial proclivity" and had said, "It sounds like a story from a different world where humanity is treated with irreverence."

The Patiala House Court on Tuesday ruled that all the four death row convicts will be hanged on January 22 at 7 am.

Additional Session Judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the death warrant with the convicts produced before the court through video conferencing. The court also said that convicts can use their legal remedies within 14 days.

The four, along with two others including Ram Singh and a juvenile, had raped and brutally tortured a 23-year-old paramedic student on a moving bus in south Delhi on the night of December 16, 2012.

The victim, who was accompanied by her friend, was thrown out of the bus. Thirteen days later, the victim succumbed to her injuries on December 29 at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

The juvenile was sent to a reform facility and released after three years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Stevensville High School is hosting its third We The People Community Hearing at 6 p.m. this Thursday, Jan. 9, in the SHS choir room.

Educator Wesley Wells, AP Government & Politics and AP U.S. History, said his students compete in a state and national level competition where they present Congressional Style Testimony in response to questions from guest judges.

This year guest judges are Montana Senator Fred Thomas, Representative Sharon Greef and Ravalli County Commissioner Greg Chilcott. The guest speaker is U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen DeSoto from the Montana District Federal Court.

This year we have 15 students organized into six units of specialty and the kids have been working with very challenging prompts, and they are impressive, Wells said.

The units and questions are: Unit 1- What Are the Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the American Political System? Unit 2- How did the Framers Create the Constitution? Unit 3- How Has the Constitution Been Changed to Further the Ideals Contained in the Declaration of Independence? Unit 4- How Have the Values and Principles Embodied in the Constitution Shaped American Institutions and Practices? Unit 5- What Rights Does the Bill of Rights Protect? And Unit 6- What Challenges Might Face American Constitutional Democracy in the Twenty-first Century?

The program is open to the community and lasts about two hours.

Our students continue to perform well against their Montana peers, Wells said.

In 2018 the SHS team took fifth place honors in Montana.

In 2019 the SHS team placed fourth at the state competition, behind the state winner, Glacier High School in Kalispell and two teams from Laurel High School near Billings. The 2019 SHS all-female team was honoring the long history Montana has had with notable women as leaders and influencers.

The state winner advances to the National Finals in Washington D.C. in late April and Stevensville is hoping to make the trip as state champions.

The We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program promotes civic competence and responsibility among the nations upper elementary and secondary students. Since its inception in 1987, more than 30 million students and 75,000 educators have participated in the We the People Program.

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The Director of Development and Delivery Office of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Alfred Dixon, has called for multiple linkages and collaborations for the dissemination of agricultural research outcomes.

He made the call recently while presenting his contract review seminar titled Scaling up and scaling out of agricultural innovations at IITA  Duo for systemic change

Dr. Dixon who is known as the Father of Cassava by his peers stressed that the churning out of innovations to boost agricultural productivity must be supported by strategic partnerships and collaborations in order for the farmers and the target population to feel the impact.

He explained that while scaling out entails linking with the private sector, the farmers and the markets, scaling up involves working with the governments and policymakers. He maintained that the government would help create the right policy environment for the adoption of the new technologies by farmers and other stakeholders.

According to Dixon who is the project leader of the Cassava Weed Management Project (CWMP), which now operates under the African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI), IITA cassava projects have been able to reach millions of farmers because of the linkages made with several stakeholders including government agencies.

He gave an example of the role former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is playing in the cassava advocacy. He also cited how ACAI is disseminating its research outcomes using strategic partnerships in addition to technologies like the Akilimo application, the Six Steps to Cassava Management Videos, radio programs, Viamos 321-service, Cassava Matters website and many more.

He pointed out: Just having agricultural productivity or increase in agricultural production will not necessarily lead to an increase in income for farmers unless it is linked to the markets. When you have all that you still need the policy environment. You need the private sector that is, the processors, the agro-dealers, the farmers. And you also need the government to give you the right policies and the powerful backing.

He went on to point out that, Africas increasing population growth rate poses a huge challenge as agricultural productivity remains far behind. He stressed that with Nigerias population expected to hit 400 million by the year 2050, there is a need to double up on agricultural productivity figures.

We are making progress but our productivity is still low, he worried. Our population growth keeps increasing. Therefore, no matter what, food and nutrition security is a gap. So there must be an agricultural transformation. We must increase productivity far more than the rate we are doing now.

He stressed on the need for Research for Development (R4D) and Partnerships for Development (P4D) increase working relationships, because both contribute to sustaining agricultural transformation for scaling up and scaling out of agricultural innovations

We need R4D to do the science, P4D to do the scaling. We have multidisciplinary teams. All of them have to work together to link to the policymakers, that is the government for the scaling up. We have to link to the NARS also for scaling up. We need to link to the private sector for the scaling out and also to the development investors for scaling up because we need the resources to work.

He then went on to advise that future projects must consider sustainability and exit strategies before project design and implementation activities.
A rare sealskin coat dropped off at Goodwill Alberta's location on Whyte Avenue last week will be preserved for its historical significance.

Staff have no idea who donated the coat or where it came from, but knew it was a significant item, said marketing manager Doug Roxburgh. The tag reads "Holman, N.W.T. Handmade by Eskimos."

"This is something we have never come across at our locations," Roxburgh said. "We've been in operation since 1963 as Goodwill Industries of Alberta."

Trained staff research almost every product that comes in, he said, and recognized a one-of-a-kind item.

To learn more about the coat, Goodwill created a social media post asking for help.

"People had been reaching out, honestly, from Yukon, from the Northwest Territories, from Edmonton, from Calgary, basically from all over Western and Northern Canada, because this is one of those items that you do not see every day."

Some correspondents wanted to buy the coat, but Goodwill Alberta intends to preserve and showcase it.

Goodwill provides training and employment for people with disabilities, and is funded by revenue raised through its thrift stores.

"Sometimes the right thing to do is the right thing to do," Roxburgh said. "And while we're serving one group we can also serve the rest of our community, and the Inuit and Metis communities, and respect that culture."

Search on for more information

Roxburgh said he has been in contact with the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, a museum and archive in Yellowknife, N.W.T.

Holman Co-op in Ulukhaktok, N.W.T., started making sealskin coats in the early 1960s, he said, and those made in the 1960s and 1970s had similar tags to the one Goodwill found.

While the coat may not be unique it is rare to find one in such good condition.

Roxburgh has also contacted the University of Calgary to see if they're interest in the coat for an exhibit.

In 2018, an Ontario couple donated a sealskin parka to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.

That coat is being used to document the history of Ulukhaktok and the Holman Co-op, which still exists but no longer has a fur shop.
Finally and most important is the deep ignorance that the administration brings to the job at hand. As in Vietnam and Iraq, we dont know the territory. As McNamara said, its vital to know the history, culture, politics of the people in the area and the personalities and habits of the leaders. Traditionally, the State Department harbors this knowledge, but the Trump administration has scorned career diplomats from the start and its remaining experts are sidelined and silenced. Literally, we dont know what we are getting ourselves into.
Give us a break. and by us I mean the current and former members of the FBI and DoJ that are facing the justified skepticism of the citizens we swore to protect. Due to the actions of a few, the overall trust of the American public, previously enjoyed by both agencies is arguably at an all-time low. Tinfoil hat folks excepted, the general public has always extended the benefit of the doubt to FBI agents in the performance of their duties. This deference was hard-earned by investigators and prosecutors who made the thousands of prominent cases that forged the Bureaus reputation.

The misuse of their positions has already cost the malefactors their jobs. Whingeing over treatment at the hands of those that hurt their feelings only brings further discredit to the organization that once employed them.

To the recently fired/resigned employees most well known for their inappropriate personal relationship and ill-advised communication over government devices:

As FBI employees receiving assigned government phones, we were all asked to sign an acknowledgment that we had certain responsibilities with respect to usage of those devices. Along with the restrictions that one would expect; (primarily for official business, minimal personal use allowed, dont discuss or transmit classified material, etc.) was the reminder that we had no expectation of privacy in using the device. We were further reminded that any digital communication over said devices, be it an email, text, instant message, dialed and/or received telephone numbers would be archived at FBIHQ. For an experienced investigator, the last tidbit is whats known as a clue. The thinking agent understands, and is reminded annually, that any communication over the Bu phone is going to be captured, archived, and preserved for whatever use the owner of the device (the government, and by extension, the taxpayer) deems appropriate. The part about no expectation of privacy is a powerful hint that the government does not need a warrant to look at anything on your government issued device at any time for any reason.

Every agent who has worked a case of any significance understands the rules of the road in bringing that case for prosecution. The idea that investigators in the most senior positions were unaware that it was wildly inappropriate to have prejudicial and highly inflammatory text conversations about the subject of an investigation.over government devices, defies reason. The fact that these individuals were immediately dismissed from their roles in the Mueller investigation when this activity came to light, validates the assertion that their actions were unacceptable. Had these investigators been working a criminal case, all of their communications over these devices would have been discoverable by the defense. Any prosecuting attorney would have had their heads for effectively wrecking his or her case.

As background, the FBI entity responsible for enforcing policy and awarding discipline to wayward employees is known as the Office of Professional Responsibility or OPR. The accepted rule of thumb among FBI Agents as it applies to OPR is as follows: you can survive (job intact) almost any misstep or rule violation as long as there are enough mitigating circumstances. There are really only two exceptions to that rule: unprofessional conduct and lack of candor. A guilty finding for one of these offenses almost universally results in firing. An agent found to be lacking in candor is effectively made useless as a witness in any future court proceeding. That agent is said to have a Giglio issue which means that every future defense attorney must be informed that the agent had previously been found to be dishonest. An example where a lack of candor finding would be appropriate would be if an FBI executive lied to OPR investigators about his or her knowledge of who leaked a particular story to a media outlet. A classic example of unprofessional conduct would be two senior employees hopelessly tainting the highest profile investigation in the history of the organization. The fact that both of those employees were engaged in an extramarital affair (in violation of agency policy and in conflict with their security clearances) is whats known as an aggravating factor. Hundreds, if not thousands of FBI employees have been fired for far less.

Unsurprisingly, apologizing for your misconduct after you have already found to be lacking in candor doesnt remove the stink of the lie, nor does it make you whole again with respect to your ability to effectively testify in the future. A documented history of unethical behavior may not preclude your service as a news commentator, but it certainly shuts the door on any usefulness as a law-enforcement officer. Also consider that being fired, or forced to resign does not automatically entitle the offender to recover either child-care expenses or psycho-therapy to alleviate the mental stress inflicted by unkind tweets. The American taxpayer has already shouldered enough of the burden of your misconduct by funding the fruitless investigations your actions have spawned.

To the former Director of the FBI who seems unable to refrain from embarrassing his former agency: By all appearances, you participated in an extralegal attempt to interfere in a national election and to facilitate the removal of the duly elected President. You should feel fortunate that, aside from termination, your only real consequence has been some hurtful tweets. Remember, you stood before the President of the United States and lied to his face regarding the status of an ongoing investigation. Despite the dissembling and Clintonian parsing of terms, your leadership team was investigating the President and you told him you were not. Regarding the intimidation you felt, I would point out that integrity is a digital character trait. It doesnt wax and wane in the face of varying degrees of adversity. Having the courage to threaten President Bush with resignation over Solar Wind seems at odds with your inability to summon the strength to tell President Trump you were uncomfortable with the tone of a White House conversation

With regard to your removal as Director, please recall that you were recommended for dismissal by former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein due to your handling of the Midyear Exam investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails. In DAG Rosensteins words: On July 5, however, the Director announced his own conclusions about the nation's most sensitive criminal investigation, without the authorization of duly appointed Justice Department leaders. He later adds, Derogatory information sometimes is disclosed in the course of criminal investigations and prosecutions, but we never release it gratuitously. The Director laid out his version of the facts for the news media as if it were a closing argument, but without a trial. It is a textbook example of what federal prosecutors and agents are taught not to do. In support of these and other charges, DAG Rosenstein points to a short list of notables who support his conclusions. He cites the nearly unanimous opinions of former Department officials, including names such as Silberman, Mukasey, Gonzales, Ayer, Gorelick, and Holder. These are former DAG Rosensteins own words. Until such time as he disavows them, perhaps the former director should direct his incessant op-eds at the former DAG and/or the legal authorities who supported his conclusions. Or maybe just go through his stages of grief in private.

As for the as yet unknown employees involved in fiascos like the arrest of Roger Stone, the blanket immunization of the potential Clinton email conspirators, the apparent ambush interview of General Michael Flynn, and any of the other assorted buffoonery recently hung around the neck of the FBI: please take your pending discipline like adults. Seriously! Ive arrested serial killers, pedophiles, kidnappers, cop killers, terrorists, gang bangers, rapists and cannibals with less tactical fanfare than was used on white collar crime suspect Stone and his wife and I treated them with more common courtesy once they were wearing my cuffs. If theres a legitimate reason for any of this nonsense, please provide a coherent explanation. When and if you are called to account for a misstep, omission, or an accidental or intentional violation of your oath of office, please dont add to the cacophony of mewling, sniveling, and excuse-making currently on display on television, social media, and the op-ed pages.

To the general public wondering how this corruption was allowed to flourish: There are currently approximately 14,000 active FBI Agents. Of those, less than three-quarters of one percent were involved, either incidentally or directly in any of the aforementioned problem investigations. Of those agents/analysts, an even smaller number contributed work product to these cases, and a still tinier fraction had tactical decision-making authority. Those involved, even peripherally, were reportedly compelled to sign secrecy agreements. The remaining 99+ percent of agents have been busy upholding their respective oaths of office, trying to protect the public by just working their cases. Most, if not all, had absolutely no knowledge that any of these investigations even existed. Prior to the release of the Mueller and Horowitz reports, there was no hard information available to indicate the breadth of the misconduct that is now apparent. The clear misgivings many of us had as details began to leak out were not sufficient to call attention to what may have been perfectly legal and appropriate behavior. Any potential whistleblower needs actual firsthand knowledge in order to blow his or her whistle in good conscience. I understand that there will be a period of mistrust that follows the clear breaches committed by a small percentage of the organization. Please dont let their deeds permanently undermine your faith in the FBI.


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Both the BJP and those who oppose the BJP, agree that what happened in the JNU two days ago was shameful, disgraceful and stern action needs to be taken against the culprits. The opposition has squarely blamed the ABVP, the administration of the JNU, particularly its Vice Chancellor, and the Delhi police.

The BJP is silent about the police and the Vice Chancellor. It denies that the ABVP is responsible and blames the leftists who have been entrenched in the JNU for long.

As a former Police Chief, fortunately of the city of Mumbai and not of Delhi, I am absolutely amazed that the Delhi police has failed to arrest even one of the 50 odd goons who had run amok unopposed in the JNU campus for a full three hours.

bccl

We in Mumbai sitting in front of the television thought that the Delhi police would soon arrive and not only disperse the goons but also give them a taste of their own medicine. That the Delhi police did nothing of that sort is explicable if we concede that the entire mayhem was planned earlier by the perpetrators and the management of JNU with the tacit connivance of the guardian of the law.

If this explanation or analysis is correct, which I greatly fear it is, then this country is in a very bad situation. The attack on the JNU campus reminds me of the kristallnacht rampage by Nazi goons just before Hitler came to power as Chancellor of Germany. If the police are complicit in what is definitely a crime of this magnitude them I am sorry also for the Indian Police and its leaders in the IPS.

bccl

Everything points to a diabolical plan between the perpetrators, the JNU administration and very unfortunately the Police. What comes to mind is a plan to disrupt a meeting of trade unionists in the city of Mumbai in the early 70s of the last century. The fiery trade unionists, led by George Fernandes was to hold a rally of workers in Shivaji Park. Police Intelligence learnt that the Shiv Sena supremo had instructed his capos to break up the meeting by the use of force. When the intelligence Chief informed the Congress Chief Minister of that time of what he had learnt he was advised to let the attack to take place.

Unfortunately I was the Dy. Commissioner of a Zone which included Shivaji Park and I was told of what had been learnt and what the Chief Minister obviously desired. To cut a long story short I did not let it happen. It was possible for even young officers to disregard illegal orders or desires of their political bosses and get off with it.

bccl

It is obvious to me that this is not possible with this government. In 2002 I had visited Ahmedabad after the Godhra riots and talked to Senior Police Officers at different levels. The instructions down the line were to allow disturbances bordering on revenge for one day only. Riots cannot be confined to one day once they start. The murder and arson continued for many days thereafter and brought a lot of disrepute to the country which even the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee condemned. The Police top brass were so much in awe of the political leadership that they even allowed a minister to supervise operations for the city of Ahmedabad by positioning himself in the Commissioners control room. Another minister sat in the Director General of Polices control room to ensure that the political will was respected in the rest of the state.

bccl

The ABVP is trying to pass on the blame to the left oriented students who abound on the JNU campus. A few of their supporters, including a couple of student union leaders were also injured but rather superficially.

Much more damage to the body was found by the hospital on the person of the left wing student leader Aishi Gosh and also a woman professor Dr. Sen. It is also clear that the police allowed a vehicle with the goons to enter the campus and then permitted them to disappear without arresting or even opposing them when they were at the job of beating up students and frightening the girls.

The Police very conveniently claimed that they had not been invited into the campus by the JNU administration. The Vice Chancellor, The Registrar, The Dean of Studies and all the Senior Management were conveniently absent from the campus on that date and time! When finally the Police entered with 700 men they marched around in columns to frighten the miscreants who had mysteriously left by that time.

All this smacks of a very calculated plan to get rid of leftist oriented unions and students who have been a thorn in the side of the Vice Chancellor. There have been a lot of complaints against this Vice Chancellor of his inability to interact with students and trying to impose the right wing philosophy on unwilling scholars.

bccl

My main concern is that the Indian Police Service, of which I was a proud member some three and a half decades ago, is becoming a part of political manoeuvring which does not behove a Service that has sworn by the Constitution and the Rule of Law. What is proved by the happening in the JNU is that the Police should be depoliticised as mandated by the Supreme Court in the Prakash Singh judgement.

The author is a retired IPS officer. He has served as Mumbai Police Commissioner, DGP Gujarat, DGP Punjab and as Indias ambassador to Romania. He is also a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award. Views expressed are author's own.
UTICA, N.Y.  Faith leaders met with Congressman Anthony Brindisi, D-22, on Tuesday to discuss funding available through the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

After recent attacks on places of worship across the country, the grant fund increased to $90 million to better provide security options to organizations at risk of being targeted. That is a $30 million increase from the prior year.

St. John the Evangelist Church in New Hartford St. John the Evangelist Church in New Hartford

These grants will go toward protecting places of worship, Brindisi said. When a man or woman goes to pray or talk to their God, they should know that they are safe from violence or hatred. These grants provide funding to protect non-profit organizations that are at high risk for a terrorist attack. And make no mistake about it, attacks on our places of worship are acts of terror.

The religious leaders met with Brindisi to discuss ways to promote tolerance and acceptance in the community, as well as implementing safety measures at churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship.

We had a great discussion and I look forward to taking these ideas back with me to Congress, Brindisi said. Our community is one of love and weve seen that time and time again. But we need to be prepared and do everything we can to keep places of worship safe.

The grant programs is provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Nonprofits may apply for up to $100,000 for planning, equipment, training and exercises.

More information on the program can be found in this FAQ.
There will come a day in the not-too-distant future when Kate Middleton will sit by Prince Williams side at the head of the United Kingdoms monarchy. When that happens, Kate will take on the title of Queen Consort and will have similar duties as Prince Philip does as consort to Queen Elizabeth. But what would Kates title be in the event that Prince George becomes the King of the United Kingdom while she is still alive?

Kate Middleton | Victoria Jones  WPA Pool/Getty Images

A look at Kate Middletons titles

William and Kates romance started when they were attending classes at the University of St. Andrews in the early 2000s. The pair continued dating after their graduation, though they did not get engaged until 2010.

They officially tied the knot in 2011 and now share three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. George is third in line to the throne, followed by Charlotte and then Louis.

When she became a member of the royal family, Kate Middleton was given several new titles. According to Express, this includes Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, Lady Carrickfergus (in Northern Ireland), and the Countess of Strathearn (Scotland).

Once William inherits the crown, Kate will likely be called Queen Consort, a title that is given to the Kings wife. Kate will then enjoy her own coronation and will be considered on the same social level as William.

Unless decided otherwise, a Queen Consort is crowned with the King, in a similar but simpler ceremony, the royal familys website reads.

This will happen when Prince George sits on the throne

As Queen Consort, Kate Middleton will support Prince William as he carries out his duties to the crown. Although she will be on the same level as William in social situations, she will not have equal political powers.

In the event that William passes on before Kate, George would take over as the new King of the United Kingdom. At that time, Kate will receive a new title that reflects Georges position on the throne.

Kate Middleton will be named the Queen Mother, but there is a catch to this rule. The Duchess of Cambridge can only receive this title if she is a widow.

Although she would be referred to as Queen Mother instead of Queen Consort, many of her royal duties would not change. She would still remain a senior member of the family and would support her sons endeavors on the throne.

The most recent person to receive the title of Queen Mother was Queen Elizabeths mom, who remained in the position for a staggering 50 years. She was previously married to the Queens father, King George VI, who passed away in 1952.

The Duchess of Cambridge gets ready for her new role

While Kate will likely become Queen Consort someday, it will probably be a few years before William takes the throne. Prince Charles is first in line to the crown and will be taking over once Queen Elizabeth is gone.

Although Kate Middleton has years to prepare for her new role, royal expert Jennie Bond believes Queen Elizabeth is impressed by how far she has come over the years.

She has a quiet dignity about her which I think the public is growing to love and she works behind the scenes, Bond shared.

Bond added that Queen Elizabeths favorite person is probably Sophie, the countess of Wessex. The two are often spotted together and Her Majesty seems to be very fond of her.

That said, Bond thinks that Queen Elizabeth is developing a closer bond with Kate Middleton, who has been adapting very well to her role in the family. This includes taking on more responsibilities in the family and increasing her charitable endeavors.

Prince William and Kate Middleton make a new announcement

As part of their new initiatives in 2020, Prince William and Kate Middleton announced plans to address the growing problem of climate change. To that end, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be handing out an annual award called the Earthshot prize.

Winners of the award will need to give 50 answers to the biggest environmental problems facing the planet over the next decade. The prize was been met with praise by royal watchers, and there is little doubt that Charles approved of it as well.

The Prince of Wales has been a huge advocate of environmental programs, something that he clearly passed on to his eldest son.

The royal family has not commented on the reports surrounding Kate Middletons titles.
Christian worker who quit job over 666 on W-2 form says God blessed him with higher paying new job

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Walter Slonopas, a devout Christian man from Tennessee who made international headlines when he quit his job in 2013 over the number 666 being assigned to his W-2 tax form, says God blessed him with a higher paying job months later and his former employer went out of business.

While Slonopas, who is now 59, doesnt believe the controversy over the number on his tax form was related to his former employer closing down, he told Religion News Service that he believes God blessed him for his faithfulness.

Looks like I got my blessing, he told RNS.

The number 666 is popularly interpreted from the Bible as the number of the devil or the mark of the beast and Slonopas believes he would have betrayed God by accepting it.

In an interview with The Christian Post shortly after he quit his job in 2013, the Clarksville man said he went to his employer, Contech Casting LLC, as he had done on two previous occasions to explain his faith-based position on the number and why he couldn't accept it. His supervisors couldn't arrive at an agreeable solution so he resigned.

"I explained to them, I can't accept this number. I am a Christian. They said, we cannot change it because it is computer generated," Slonopas said.

"I asked them, are we working for the computer or is the computer working for us? I had nothing to complain about, I just asked them to change this number," he added.

While many people, even Christians at the time, thought he was an idiot for resisting the number, he said when he meets people today and they learn he's the person behind the 666 story, they no longer see him that way.

Shortly after he left Contech, Slonopas said he got a job offer and an eventual raise in pay from another local company of $12 more per hour.

He further explained that his decision to leave Contech was more about being faithful to his beliefs rather than the company being evil.

If you believe in God, he said, you have to resist a devil.

Slonopas previously told CP that his devotion to his Christian faith was strongly influenced by his mother and grandmother who became Christians while they were imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps in Poland.

"When you come to a situation where nobody can help you, when the only choice you have is to believe in God and hope or get angry with God and have nothing," he said.
The Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Peter Ormond has confirmed that he will not be attending the RIC commemoration in Dublin later this month.

The Fianna Fail councillor says he received an invitation to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police from the Department of Justice and Equality last week.

Cllr Ormond confirmed that he declined the invitation as he was attending another event in Birr on the same morning but added that he also disagreed with the principle of the commemoration.

He also stated that he consulted with the Leas Cathaoirleach, Cllr John Leahy, who is also not in a position to attend.

On foot of the Taoiseach remarks on Monday, Cllr. Ormond circulated his invitation to all members of the local authority to afford them the opportunity to attend.

"I feel as Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, it would be inappropriate to attend an event where we are commemorating the RIC and the Dublin Metropolitan Police," Peter said.

He stated that "the General Election in 1918 was a referendum on Ireland's right to self-determination and the Royal Irish Constabulary acted against the wishes of the Irish people."

"These people were involved in the suppression of the Irish people," he added.

"People joined the RIC or DMP for their own personal reasons and I dont feel any negativity or bad feeling towards them. We can recognise these people, but to commemorate them as part of the Decade of Centenaries is not appropriate and I wont be attending," he concluded.

The Taoiseach described as "regrettable" that many public representatives had declared their intention not to attend the event at Dublin Castle.

In a statement, Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan, said: "The approach to the Decade of Centenaries has made clear that there is no hierarchy of Irishness and that our goal of reconciliation on the island of Ireland can only be achieved through mutual understanding and mutual respect of the different traditions on the island.

"The Decade of Centenaries has, to date, been characterized by an open-minded non-partisan factual approach to our history. It has provided us with the opportunity to remember all of those who died over the period.

"The office-holders invited to the modest and solemn commemoration on January 17 are invited in their capacity as representatives of their county, city or party as the case may be. They have not been invited in a personal capacity," Minister Flanagan added.

"There is no question but that there are very real sensitivities involved here. I acknowledge that. But there are sensitivities on both sides. The RIC has found itself on the wrong side of history. The intolerance that was often characteristic of Ireland in the past sometimes forced people to deny their own family histories and airbrush parents, grandparents and siblings out of the picture for doing no more than serving as an army officer or police officer to support their families. It should be noted that the vast majority of Irish people who served as army and police officers did so with honour and integrity.

"That is why it is disappointing to see some public representatives abandon the principles of mutual understanding and reconciliation in an effort to gain headlines. This attitude, combined with a distortion of the nature of the commemoration, is ill becoming of any public representative and represents a step backwards to a more narrow-minded past characterised by a hierarchy of Irishness.

"The complexities of Irish history has been highlighted and many people have explored their family history, often discovering ancestors who served in the army and/or police as well as playing a role in the fight for an Irish Republic and/or Home Rule. The historian, Diarmuid Ferriter, among others, has highlighted this in his writing noting that Michael Collins uncle served in the RIC while the author Sebastian Barry had one grandfather in the British Army and another who was an Irish Republican.

"The actor Michael Fassbenders great grandfather was in the RIC while Fassbender is also related to Republican leader Michael Collins. So many other Irish families share this complex history and these facts should be explored and acknowledged as all the threads of our history, within families and as a nation, make us who we are today as a people.

"The centrepiece of the Decade of Centenaries has rightly been the 1916 Rising which was commemorated with over 60 official events, including seven major State ceremonial commemorations. Alongside these commemorations, we have also marked the participation of Irish soldiers in the First World War  including in major battles such as the Somme - as well as key events in the history of the Labour movement, female suffrage and the struggle for Home Rule.

"In 2016 the Government hosted a small and sensitive commemoration acknowledging the 125 Army officers who lost their lives in the Rising while a Necrology Wall of Remembrance in Glasnevin Cemetery lists all those who died in the Rising, including rebel combatants, civilians, police officers and members of the Army.

"These commemorations are about our history, not our mythologies, and as Minister for Justice and Equality, I am happy to endorse the recommendation of the Expert Advisory Group that we commemorate the place of the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police in Irish History."
Editors note: During Black History Month, the Times Union is sharing stories from its archive highlighting significant people, places and events that are part of the Capital Regions Black cultural heritage. This story was first published Jan. 7, 2020.

ALBANY - Leon Van Dyke never imagined a homecoming like this.

He's in Albany, receiving life-saving treatment for his heart disease, thanks to the kindness of people he hasn't seen in years.

My column on Van Dyke, 85, former leader of Albanys 1960s militant black group The Brothers, which ran on Christmas Day, described him as down and out in the Philippines. He exhausted his savings after suffering multiple heart attacks and being hospitalized in Cebu, a province in the Philippines. He was misdiagnosed with severe asthma attacks in the countrys substandard, pay-as-you-go medical system.

Van Dyke needed money to get back to Albany for quality treatment. His brother-in-law launched an appeal on the crowdfunding site GoFundMe that had gathered pledges of $135 when the previous column ran.

As of Tuesday morning, 74 donors had given $6,401 of a $10,000 goal.

Its just been amazing. People have been so wonderful, he said.

His daughter, who lives in Montreal, arranged for a flight for Van Dyke from Manila to Montreal.

I read the names of the donors to him and he shook his head in amazement, stopping me to explain his connection to each person. Van Dyke had not been in touch with many of them for decades. He had been away from Albany for 11 years, living with his Filipino wife and their two young children in the Philippines.

Van Dyke was a working-class African-American hero in Albany in the late-1960s who stood up for the oppressed and gave voice to the voiceless. He became a beloved figure among poor blacks because he battled for their causes, fighting vigorously against racial inequality and job discrimination. He called out the entrenched political machine for its obstructionism and carried the banner of the civil rights movement.

Still, that was a long time ago and memories are short. Nearly all of the 15 or so core members of The Brothers, who were active from 1966 to 1971, have died.

I didnt know if anybody would remember me or cared about The Brothers after all these years, Van Dyke said.

Instead, a stream of friends visited Van Dyke at Albany Medical Center, where he was admitted Dec. 26 for arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat. His heart had also deteriorated. He was prescribed heart medications, which helped stabilize him.

Its overwhelming to see so many people coming to visit and realizing how much I am loved, Van Dyke said, his voice thick with emotion.

Hes feeling better and getting stronger each day, said Monifa Johnson, a nurse at Albany Med who is Van Dykes niece. She checked on him during his hospital stay.

Its nice to see him back here, Johnson said. Hes a piece of Albany history.

Leon and I spoke for a couple hours Friday night in his room at Albany Med. There, a technician showed him how to operate a LifeVest, a wearable cardioverter defibrillator that protects a patient at risk of sudden cardiac death. Van Dyke was discharged Saturday with the LifeVest that monitors his heartbeat. He may eventually need a pacemaker.

His friend, Ed Williams, who also married a Filipino woman and visited Van Dyke in the Philippines, invited Van Dyke to stay at his house while he searches for a rental and continues his recovery.

Its touching to see all this support, Van Dyke said. Its strange. I remember more of the angry threats The Brothers received than the accolades.

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

The Brothers were influenced by the Black Panthers and Malcolm X, but they practiced only nonviolence. The Brothers consisted of 15 or so black men, although as many as 75 people, including some women, considered themselves members. They set up in a storefront at 170 N. Pearl St., Nebbies Shoe Shine Parlor. They hosted national black leaders who visited Albany, including Stokely Carmichael and Eldridge Cleaver. They also published a newspaper, The Liberator, for four years.

The core of The Brothers included Van Dyke, Gordon Van Ness, Pete Jones, Sam McDowell, Earl Thorpe, Robert Gene Dobbs, Leo Alfonso Wood, John Joseph Rollins, James Pryor and a handful of others. They were featured in a 2014 exhibit and documentary film titled The Brothers: The Forgotten Struggle for Civil Rights in Albany. Van Dyke helped form The Brothers after he and other black laborers tried to get hired on the South Mall construction site but were passed over day after day while dozens of white laborers were hired. Van Dyke had come from Philadelphia, served in the Army in the 1950s and did time in Eastern State Penitentiary in Philly for assault before settling in Albany in the mid-1960s.

As The Brothers grew more organized and militant, Albany police kept them under surveillance and amassed files on each member. They were harassed, their headquarters were vandalized and they were shot at but not injured by assailants who were never caught.

The Brothers biggest contributions were demanding an end to employment discrimination against minorities, protesting police brutality, shining a bright light on slum landlord abuses and advocating for improvements in sanitation and early childhood education in blighted inner-city neighborhoods across Albany. They lifted up people in underserved and marginalized communities with a commitment and concern that was infectious.

Ive had people in their 50s stop to thank me because they remembered The Brothers delivering turkeys on Thanksgiving when they were poor kids in the '60s, Van Dyke said.

He and The Brothers also were instrumental in helping to establish in 1971 the Whitney M. Young Jr. Health Center in the medically underserved, predominantly black neighborhood of Arbor Hill.

Van Dyke retired from the state Education Department and he receives about $3,000 a month from Social Security and a state pension. It was enough money for his family in the Philippines until medical expenses piled up. His state retiree health care and Medicare benefits covered his Albany Med stay.

This spring, Van Dyke hopes to bring his wife, Zen, their son, Mhelco, 8, and daughter, Lucy, 7, as well as his wife's son from a previous marriage to live with him here.

Im so grateful for the welcome Ive received, Van Dyke said. People had more faith in me than I had in myself.

Donations are still being accepted for Van Dyke to cover transportation costs for his family and to help them get settled in a rental home locally: https://www.gofundme.com/f/leonvandyke

Paul Grondahl is director of the New York State Writers Institute at the University at Albany and a former Times Union reporter. He can be reached at grondahlpaul@gmail.com
Former Marine, sex offender lied to airport officials about working security for president's helicopter, feds say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Federal prosecutors have charged Brandon Mark Magnan for falsely impersonating a federal officer after he allegedly lied to make his way past two checkpoints at Palm Beach International Airport on Sunday, prior to President Donald Trump's departure from the airport.

Magnan, 37, falsely said he was working security for Marine One -- the helicopter that transports the president -- and presented credentials saying he was a law enforcement officer of the United States Marine Corps, according to federal authorities.

PHOTO: Air Force One, carrying US President Donald Trump, is seen shortly after landing at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, Nov. 29, 2019. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

He was able to proceed to the grounds of Atlantic Aviation, which houses both Marine One and Air Force One while the president stays at his Mar-a-Lago club.

Magnan, along with an unidentified male passenger, arrived on the grounds of Atlantic Aviation, which is on the southeast side of the airport, according to the criminal complaint.

MORE: Chinese national who trespassed at Mar-a-Lago sentenced to 8 months in prison

A Palm Beach County sheriffs deputy noticed that Magnan was not in USMC uniform and alerted authorities on scene.

A National Crime Information Center query by the U.S. Secret Service determined that Magnan was dishonorably discharged in 2010 by the Marines for his conviction at court martial for "serious offenses," including abusive sexual conduct and forced sodomy.

PHOTO: Brandon Mark Magnan is seen in this undated police handout. (Florida Department of Law Enforcement)

In a recorded interview, Magnan admitted to being dishonorably discharged and not being a member of the Marine Corps, according to the complaint. He was released on $100,000 bond Monday with conditions that he not travel outside Florida.

MORE: Jury finds Mar-a-Lago trespasser guilty on 2 counts

He does not yet have a listed defense attorney.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Florida declined to comment beyond the facts in the criminal complaint.
[January 07, 2020] M/C Partners Completes Acquisition of West Monroe Partners' Managed Services Division

M/C Partners, a Boston-based Communications and IT Services focused private equity firm, announced today that it signed an agreement to acquire the Managed Services division of West Monroe Partners, a national business and technology consultancy. The acquisition closed on Dec. 30, 2019. Wayne Kiphart has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and will be responsible for driving the company's growth and long-term returns for stakeholders. "I am excited to join the talented team at West Monroe Managed Services and to lead the company in this next chapter of growth," said Kiphart. "Our focus will continue to be on driving the highest satisfaction for our customers - some of whom have been customers for over 10 years - through additional investments in service delivery and IT capabilities. Over the next few months, I will spend considerable time with our customers to better understand their needs so that we can continue to deliver services that help them be successful. We also plan to launch a new brand, including a company name. It's an exciting time for both myself and for our employees, who will now have a greater ability to impact the future of this organization." "West Monroe Managed Services represents an exceptional technology services platform," said Gillis Cashman, Managing Partner at M/C Partners. "As a standalone, well-capitalized company with a highly experienced leadership team and passionate, talented employees, we feel the business will be in a stronger position to address the existing and future needs of its customers." Abhishek Rampuria, Vice President at M/C Partners, added, "West Monroe Managed Services has bult a differentiated application management expertise that is highly valued by its customers. We are excited to begin this partnership and to provide the financial and operational resources to facilitate future growth and continued success."



Wayne Kiphart joins West Monroe Managed Services from Gratia, a cybersecurity-focused MSP. Wayne was previously President of OnX Managed Services and Vice President of Managed Services at Logicalis (News - Alert). He brings nearly 20 years of experience across a range of functional areas including sales, operations, and client services, as well as knowledge in various vertical industries. As West Monroe Managed Services' primary financial investor, M/C Partners will contribute its extensive experience in the technology and communications services markets. M/C has been a leading investor in this sector for more than two decades, having previously invested in Thrive Networks, Involta, Ensono, Fusepoint, Attenda, Denovo, Carbon60 and others. Legal counsel for M/C Partners was provided by Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP.

About West Monroe Managed Services, LLC West Monroe Managed Services is a Chicago-based IT managed services provider offering technology solutions to small and medium-sized businesses across the Midwest. The Managed Services division was started within West Monroe Partners in 2009 by Mark Nelson in order to provide help desk support and infrastructure management solutions for West Monroe's growing list of clients and their increasingly complex IT environments. Over the last ten years, the Company has expanded its service offering to include cybersecurity and managed application services. West Monroe Managed Services primarily serves small and mid-size businesses and has 50+ customers across a variety of industries who are served by a team of ~100 employees. For more information, visit WMP.com/WMMS. About M/C Partners Based in Boston, M/C Partners is a private equity firm focused exclusively on the communications, information technology services and media sectors. The firm has invested over $2.2 billion of capital into over 130 companies, generally investing in companies with enterprise values of $25 million to $250 million. Related current and prior investments include Cavalier Telephone (News - Alert), Carbon60, Ensono, Everstream, Fusepoint, Denovo, ICG Communications, Involta, Lightower, Neutral Connect Networks, NuVox, Thrive Networks and Zayo Group (News - Alert). The firm has strong institutional backing from the nation's leading pension funds and endowments as well as a long track record of success. For more information, visit www.mcpartners.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005142/en/

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Madhya Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Monday informed that four new FIRs have been registered in connection with the Vyapam scam.

"One of them is in connection with police recruitment exam of 2013. The three other cases have been registered over fake domicile certificates related to PMT 2009 and 2010," said Additional Director General, STF, Ashok Awasthi.

Awasthi stated that the STF has now booked 10 cases in the Vyapam case.

The alleged Vyapam scam was an entrance examination, admission and recruitment scam that was unearthed in Madhya Pradesh in 2013. It involved 13 different exams conducted by Vyapam, for selection of medical students and state government employees.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Smarten the screen. By all indications, were stuck with the gargantuan LED screen thats permanently positioned in the worst possible place in Millennium Park: high atop the back of the Pritzker Pavilion stage, where it overshadows the performing musicians. So when the Chicago Jazz Festival and Grant Park Music Festival show live video footage of a concert in progress, the brilliantly lit images reduce the musicians onstage to tiny, dark, insignificant figures. In addition, the herky-jerky camerawork edits the listening experience for us, telling us what to focus on and what to ignore. The only way out of this unfortunate situation, short of switching off the screen (by far the best option), is to use it more creatively. Rather than merely projecting whats happening onstage (and doing so poorly), the screen could be used to enhance the proceedings, perhaps with other imagery apropos to the music at hand. This could happen on June 17, when the Grant Park Orchestra will share the stage with two dance groups (Polonia Ensemble and Tango 21 Dance Theater), leaving the camera operators to illuminate the choreography rather than the musicmaking. The more alternatives that can be found to distorting the musicians work, the better.
The United States will take action in response to growing Russian support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a senior US official warned Monday. US President Donald Trump's administration has sanctioned Maduro's regime and called it a dictatorship after he was re-elected in 2018 in elections widely seen as fraudulent. "We are looking at additional sanctions, personal sanctions, economic sanctions that we think will bring more pressure," Elliot Abrams, the State Department's Venezuela envoy, told reporters. Abrams, who did not specify what the sanctions would be, said the US had been looking closely at Russia's role in Venezuela and would not allow the level of support to go unchecked. Abrams said Russia was mainly interested in "the oil economy" in Venezuela, while Maduro has grown increasingly reliant on Moscow over the past year. "Russian companies are now handling more than two-thirds, more than 70 percent of Venezuelan oil," Abrams said. "So the Russian role is increasingly important." Abrams did not speculate on whether Russia was involved in pushing Maduro to take control of the opposition-majority National Assembly on Sunday, which Washington currently considers the only democratic body in Venezuela. Police had prevented opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido from entering the parliament, and in his absence Luis Parra, a corruption-tainted opposition lawmaker, declared himself parliament speaker. Maduro holds actual power but Guaido's claim to the presidency is recognized by more than 50 countries, including the United States and many European nations. Among Maduro's remaining supporters are Russia, North Korea and Cuba. Abrams admitted that the US had underestimated the support Maduro received from Russia and Cuba, saying that the two countries had supplied Venezuela with thousands of intelligence agents. Cuban and Russian assistance "has proved, I think, to be the two most important pillars of support for the regime, and without which it wouldn't be there," he said. Maduro "is left with Cuba, Russia, China and a few odd dictatorships around the world, but he is losing support not only on the right, not only in the center, but on the left in Latin America," Abrams added. US State Department Venezuela envoy Elliot Abrams told reporters the government was "looking at additional sanctions" in light of Russian support for President Nicolas Maduro
The discovery of multi-messenger nanoprobes allows scientists to simultaneously probe multiple properties of quantum materials at nanometer-scale spatial resolutions.

Researchers at Columbia University and University of California, San Diego, have introduced a novel "multi-messenger" approach to quantum physics that signifies a technological leap in how scientists can explore quantum materials.

"We have brought a technique from the inter-galactic scale down to the realm of the ultra-small," said Basov, Higgins Professor of Physics and Director of the Energy Frontier Research Center at Columbia. Equipped with multi-modal nanoscience tools we can now routinely go places no one thought would be possible as recently as five years ago."

The work was inspired by "multi-messenger" astrophysics, which emerged during the last decade as a revolutionary technique for the study of distant phenomena like black hole mergers. Simultaneous measurements from instruments, including infrared, optical, X-ray and gravitational-wave telescopes can, taken together, deliver a physical picture greater than the sum of their individual parts.

The search is on for new materials that can supplement the current reliance on electronic semiconductors. Control over material properties using light can offer improved functionality, speed, flexibility and energy efficiency for next-generation computing platforms.

Experimental papers on quantum materials have typically reported results obtained by using only one type of spectroscopy. The researchers have shown the power of using a combination of measurement techniques to simultaneously examine electrical and optical properties.

The researchers performed their experiment by focusing laser light onto the sharp tip of a needle probe coated with magnetic material. When thin films of metal oxide are subject to a unique strain, ultra-fast light pulses can trigger the material to switch into an unexplored phase of nanometer-scale domains, and the change is reversible.

By scanning the probe over the surface of their thin film sample, the researchers were able to trigger the change locally and simultaneously manipulate and record the electrical, magnetic and optical properties of these light-triggered domains with nanometer-scale precision.

The study reveals how unanticipated properties can emerge in long-studied quantum materials at ultra-small scales when scientists tune them by strain.

"It is relatively common to study these nano-phase materials with scanning probes. But this is the first time an optical nano-probe has been combined with simultaneous magnetic nano-imaging, and all at the very low temperatures where quantum materials show their merits," McLeod said. "Now, investigation of quantum materials by multi-modal nanoscience offers a means to close the loop on programs to engineer them."
A helicopter carries water through smoky skies as it flies near the town of Bilpin, located west of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia, on Sunday, 29 December 2019. Photo: Bloomberg

By David Wallace-Wells

31 December 2019

(New York magazine)  Right now, on the outskirts of a hyper modern first world megapolis, at the end of a year in which the public seemed finally to wake up to the dramatic threat from global warming, a climate disaster of unimaginable horror has been unfolding for almost two full months, and the rest of the world is hardly paying attention.

The New South Wales fires have been burning since September 2019, destroying fifteen million acres (or more than two thousand square miles) [15 million acres is actually more than 23,000 square miles, as spotted by reader John C. Wilson. Thanks, John! Des] and remain almost entirely uncontrolled by the volunteer firefighting forces deployed to stop them; on 12 November 2019, greater Sydney declared an unprecedented catastrophic fire warning. That was six weeks ago, and the blazes are almost certain to continue burning through the end of next month, the soonest real rain might arrive. They may last longer still, of course, aided in part by record-breaking heat waves that are simultaneously punishing the country (technically an entire continent, Australia as a whole averaged more than 100 Fahrenheit earlier this month) and devastating marine life in the surrounding ocean. On land, Australias rising heat is apocalyptic, the Straits-Times of Singapore wrote. In the ocean, its even worse.

Already, smoke has enveloped the city of Sydney in air at least ten times as thick with smoke as is considered safe to breathe, setting off indoor fire alarms and suspending the citys ferry service, since the boats couldnt navigate the smog. The city of Melbourne, more than 500 miles away, has been choked by smoke, as well, and the glaciers all the way in New Zealand have changed color because of the fires, too. An early report that koalas were made functionally extinct turned out to have been erroneous, but a more recent report suggests that, due to the bushfires, 480 million animals have died. And because plants contain carbon which is released when burned, when the New South Wales fires finally do burn out, they almost certainly will have doubled Australias national carbon emissions for the year  or more.

You could pick almost any day from the last two months and be horrified by the images of that days burning. But on the eve of the new year, something about the random sampling thats shown up in my social media feed seems especially harrowing. []

The duration of this climate horror has allowed us to normalize it even while it continues to unfold  continues to torture, and brutalize, and terrify. The Camp Fire in Paradise, California did almost all of its damage in just four hours, and the short duration may have been as important to our collective horror as the speed. Perhaps if it had lasted longer, even burning with equal ferocity, we would nevertheless simply have gotten used to it as the white noise of catastrophe all around us, as impossible as that may seem to imagine, given the scale of suffering involved.

This hypothesis is especially concerning, of course, given the way that climate change will inevitably extend these sorts of horrors in the decades ahead. Today, there are categories of natural disasters, like droughts, we understand can last for months, or even years, and though they should demand our attention, rarely do. Already, we have added to that category disasters like the flooding that walloped the Midwest this spring  lasting many months in some places, preventing American farmers from planting crops on 19 million acres. But wrapping your head around flooding as an enduring, months-long disaster is one thing, however unthinkable it might have been to the average American five or ten years ago. Coming to see the wildfire season as a permanent threat is another terrifying adjustment, though Californians are now doing precisely that. But regarding the fires themselves  which can travel 60 miles per hour or more, creating their own weather systems that project lightning strikes miles away from the blaze, causing more fire  not as a sudden catastrophe but a semi-permanent condition strikes me as another level of normalization entirely. And yet here we are. [more]

Global Apathy Toward the Fires in Australia Is a Scary Portent for the Future
While two of CarePoint Healths three hospitals have found a new suitor, Bayonne Medical Centers future is still unclear.

Prime Healthcare, which operates 45 hospitals across the country including five in New Jersey, said that it is no longer in discussions regarding purchasing the hospital.

Atlantic Health Systems and Hackensack Meridian Health neither confirmed nor denied if they were in such discussions.

We are always looking at opportunities, Luke Margolis, Atlantics corporate communications director wrote.

Similarly, a spokesman for Hackensack Meridian said the system is having ongoing conversations with many organizations in the region regarding potential opportunities.

CarePoint announced a deal in the works with RWJBarnabas to take over Hoboken University Medical Center and Christ Hospital in October. That same day, it said it was in the process of locating a new operator for Bayonne Medical Center.

A spokesman for CarePoint Health declined to discuss any possible negotiations.

The owner of the for-profit hospitals has not given a reason for selling the three facilities. Last year, a state report was critical of the ownership team for extracting $157 million in management fees from the hospitals.

CarePoints former assistant vice president of corporate communications could not confirm in late December whether satellite facilities, such as Hobokens Comprehensive Women and Childrens Healthcare Center, will also be sold.

If CarePoint does not find an operator for Bayonne Medical Center, the city itself has made preparations to temporarily take it over in order to find a suitor itself.

In late November, it established the Bayonne Municipal Hospital Authority, which would have the ability to take on the hospitals operating license. City officials have said that Bayonne has no intention of running the hospital, but is committing to keeping it open for residents.
Iranian Foreign Minister says Iran will retaliate against the United States for killing its top general at a time and in a place where it would feel the "utmost pain".

Mohammad Javad Zarif was speaking at 'Tehran Dialogue Forum; 23rd International Persian Gulf Conference' attended by regional scholars and politicians including Yusuf bin Alawi, Oman minister of state for foreign affairs and former Afghan president Hamid Karzai.

Zarif continued while addressing the forum that the end of the US presence in the region had begun after Soleimani's assassination.

"Yesterday you saw our popular strength, I do not think Mr. Trump had seen such a big crowd in his lifetime," Zarif said, speaking a day after a crowd of mourners, said by police to be in the millions, filled the streets of the Iranian capital.

"It was definitely a bigger crowd than his own inauguration which he had said was the biggest crowd on earth," he added.

Also on Tuesday, Zarif said the US had declined to issue him a visa to travel to New York for upcoming meetings at the United Nations.

The US as the host of the UN headquarters is supposed to allow foreign officials to attend such meetings.

This is because they fear someone will go there and tell the truth to the American people, Zarif said. "But they are mistaken. The world is not limited to New York. You can speak with American people from Tehran too and we will do that.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 10:52:34|Editor: ZD

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SYDNEY, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Australian firefighters on Tuesday used cool weather to attempt to contain the blazes that have claimed 23 lives, burnt over 6 million hectares and destroyed at least 1,700 properties so far this season.

The recent cooler, rainier weather provided firefighters a "psychological and emotional" relief as they were using the "more favorable conditions" to strengthen containment lines around the blazes, said Rural Fire Service of the fire-scorched New South Wales state.

However, officials said the rain is not heavy enough to extinguish the blazes. Temperatures will soar again by Friday, and huge blazes are still expected, said Bureau of Meteorology of the Victoria state.

According to the Insurance Council of Australia, the estimated damage of the fires doubled on Tuesday, with insurance claims reaching 700 million Australian dollars (485 million U.S. dollars).

The estimate came one day after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the establishment of a new government agency, specifically tasked with rebuilding communities and infrastructure in the wake of the fires, and the allocation of an extra 2 billion Australian dollars (1.38 billion U.S. dollars), a figure which is expected to grow if necessary.
Bengaluru, Jan 8 : Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said academic endeavours and co-curricular initiatives must attain primacy in universities, and not factionalism and divisive tendencies.

"Universities and educational institutions were pious places of learning where highest standards of decorum must be maintained," said Naidu at the silver jubilee function of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

He also expressed concern in reflection of the recent developments in Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) where masked men and women indiscriminately attacked the varsity staff and students.

The Vice President said students leaving the portals of educational institutions must be enlightened citizens with social consciousness and responsibility towards the society.

Naidu lamented that fact that no Indian university featured in the top 100 global universities rankings and called upon institutions such as NAAC and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to take steps to address the shortcomings.

He noted that ancient Indian universities such as Nalanda, Vikramsila and Takshashila which earned global reputation, and called for regaining the past glory.

Naidu attended a string of events here on Tuesday, including presiding over the valedictory function of the 107th Indian Science Congress at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS).
TA Associates, a leading global growth private equity firm, today announced promotions earned by eight staff members in the firm's Boston, London and Mumbai offices, effective January 1, 2020, including two new Managing Directors.

"It is an honor to recognize the promotions earned by these talented and dedicated team members who have provided a tremendous level of value-add to TA Associates' portfolio companies and ultimately for our investors," said Brian J. Conway, Chairman and Managing Partner at TA Associates. "We look forward to their continued success and contributions through their judgment, creativity and work ethic. We are particularly pleased that seven of the eight promotions were earned by investment staff who were former Associates at TA."

Ethan Liebermann earned the promotion to Managing Director from Director. He is based in TA's Boston office, focusing on investments in healthcare companies. Mr. Liebermann led TA's investments in Aldevron, InHealth MD Alliance and MedRisk; co-sponsored TA's investments in CCRM, RLDatix and SoftWriters; and was actively involved in the firm's investment in eviCore healthcare (formerly MedSolutions). He serves on the Board of Directors of Aldevron, CCRM, InHealth MD Alliance and RLDatix, and formerly served on the Boards of MedRisk and SoftWriters. Prior to joining TA in 2007 as an Associate, Mr. Liebermann worked in the Global Healthcare Corporate and Investment Banking group at Banc of America Securities. He received a BA degree in Biology and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA degree from the Harvard Business School.

Kevin Masse earned the promotion to Managing Director and will continue to serve as Chief Portfolio Officer and as a member of the firm's Portfolio Committee. He is based in TA's Boston office, where he leads the Strategic Resource Group ("SRG"), the firm's team of operations experts who help drive scale and growth at TA's portfolio companies, supporting value creation across the TA portfolio. Prior to joining TA in 2013, Mr. Masse was a Partner at Deloitte Touche LLP where he was a senior member of the U.S. M&A executive committee and a co-leader of the firm's M&A private equity practice. Mr. Masse received a BS degree from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.

Lovisa Lander earned the promotion to Principal from Senior Vice President. She is based in the London office of TA Associates (UK), LLP, focusing on investments in the healthcare and education sectors across Europe, as well as cross-sector Nordic investments. Ms. Lander co-sponsored TA's investment in Vivacy, and has been actively involved in the firm's investments in Babilou, Biocomposites, Cath Kidston, Inspired, Internationella Engelska Skolan (IES), Kiwoko, PhysIOL, Soderberg Partners and Zadig Voltaire. She serves on the Board of Directors of Biocomposites, and is a Board Observer of Vivacy. Ms. Lander formerly served on the Board of Cath Kidston, and was a Board Observer of IES and PhysIOL. Prior to joining TA in 2010 as an Associate, she worked in the Investment Banking Division, Consumer Products and Retail Group at Rothschild. Ms. Lander received an MSc degree in Technology Management and Economics from Chalmers University of Technology.

Aditya Sharma earned the promotion to Principal from Senior Vice President. He is based in the Mumbai office of TA Associates Pvt. Ltd., focusing on investments in companies across multiple industry sectors in India. Mr. Sharma advised on TA's investment in Prudent Corporate Advisory Services, and has been actively involved in the firm's investments in Atria Convergence Technologies (ACT), Dr Lal PathLabs, IndiaIdeas.com (BillDesk), Shilpa Medicare (NSE: SHILPAMED), TCNS Clothing Company (NSE: TCNSBRANDS) and Tega Industries. He serves on the Board of Directors of Prudent Corporate Advisory Services. Prior to joining TA in 2008 as an Associate, Mr. Sharma worked in the Telecoms and Media Investment Banking Division at Lehman Brothers in London. He received a BSc degree, with First Class Honors, in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and an MBA degree from The Wharton School of Business.

Amara Suebsaeng earned the promotion to Principal from Senior Vice President. She is based in TA's Boston office, focusing on investments in business, technology-enabled, information and other services companies in North America. Ms. Suebsaeng co-sponsored TA's investment in OMNIA Partners and Weiman Products, and was actively involved in the firm's investments in Cosentry and MicroSeismic. She serves on the Board of Directors of OMNIA Partners and Weiman Products. Prior to joining TA in 2010 as an Associate, Ms. Suebsaeng worked in the Investment Banking Division, Global Power and Utilities Group at Morgan Stanley. Prior to re-joining TA in 2015, she worked in the Product Management and Business Development Group at Logi Analytics. Ms. Suebsaeng received a BA degree, Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, in Economics from Princeton University and an MBA degree, with Distinction, from the Harvard Business School.

Stefan Dandl earned the promotion to Senior Vice President from Vice President. He is based in the London office of TA Associates (UK), LLP, focusing on investments in technology and financial services companies in EMEA. Mr. Dandl also leads TA's effort in German-speaking countries across sectors. He has been actively involved in TA's investments in 10bis, CMOSIS, Compusoft, LIST, thinkproject and W.A.G. payment solutions ("Eurowag"). Mr. Dandl serves on the Board of Directors of Compusoft, LIST and thinkproject, and formerly served on the Board of 10bis. Prior to joining TA in 2013 as an Associate, he worked in the Investment Banking Division, Media Technology Group at J.P. Morgan. Mr. Dandl received a BA degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen (HSG).

Jeremy Drean earned the promotion to Senior Vice President from Vice President. He is based in the London office of TA Associates (UK), LLP, focusing on investments in financial and business services companies across Europe. Mr. Drean also is a member of the team leading TA's effort in French-speaking Europe. He has been actively involved in TA's investments in CIPRES, DNCA Finance, Hana Group, Merian Global Investors, Odealim Group, PhysIOL, Russell Investments, Solabia Group, The Access Group and Zadig Voltaire. Mr. Drean serves on the Board of Directors of Odealim Group and Solabia Group. Prior to joining TA in 2013 as an Associate, he worked in the EMEA Consumer Group at Morgan Stanley, and also worked at GSV Asset Management (fka NeXt AM). Mr. Drean received a BA degree, magna cum laude, in Business Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles and an MSc degree in Management from the HEC School of Management, Paris.

Jessica (Cohen) Gilligan earned the promotion to Senior Vice President from Vice President. She is based in TA's Boston office, focusing on investments in consumer products, services and related companies. Ms. Gilligan has been actively involved in TA's investments in Amplify Snack Brands, MAV Beauty Brands and Thermacell. She serves on the Board of Directors of MAV Beauty Brands and Thermacell. Prior to joining TA in 2012 as an Associate, Ms. Gilligan worked in the Mergers Acquisitions Group at Sagent Advisors Inc. Prior to re-joining TA in 2017, she worked in Corporate Strategy at Paula's Choice. Ms. Gilligan received a BS degree, magna cum laude, in Finance, Economics and International Business from Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School and an MBA degree from the Harvard Business School.

About TA Associates

TA Associates is a leading global growth private equity firm. Focused on targeted sectors within five industries technology, healthcare, financial services, consumer and business services TA invests in profitable, growing companies with opportunities for sustained growth, and has invested in more than 500 companies around the world. Investing as either a majority or minority investor, TA employs a long-term approach, utilizing its strategic resources to help management teams build lasting value in high quality growth companies. TA has raised $33.5 billion in capital since its founding in 1968 and is committing to new investments at the pace of over $2 billion per year. The firm's more than 85 investment professionals are based in Boston, Menlo Park, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong. More information about TA Associates can be found at www.ta.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200106006059/en/

Contacts:

Marcia O'Carroll

TA Associates

617-574-6796

mocarroll@ta.com

Stephen Fishleigh

BackBay Communications

+44 203 475 7552

stephen.fishleigh@backbaycommunications.com

Caroline Collins

BackBay Communications

617-963-0065

caroline.collins@backbaycommunications.com
The Cook & Boardman Group LLC continued an acquisition spree Monday, buoyed by the financial prowess of its private investment firm owner.

The Winston-Salem company, a specialty distributor of commercial door entry solutions, has bought family-owned Botzum Bros Hardware LLC of Akron, Ohio.

Terms were not disclosed, as has been the case in Cook & Boardmans other five deals over the past 15 months.

Botzum has served the northeastern Ohio commercial and multi-family construction markets since 1892, supplying architectural doors, frames, hardware and related products. The company will retain its brand name in its marketplace.

We dont take lightly that we are being entrusted with a fourth-generation family business, Darrin Anderson, Cook & Boardmans chief executive, said in a statement.

Botzum owner Al Hilkert will continue to manage the business. He said the company opted to sell to Cook & Boardman based primarily on a common culture and passion for serving the industry.

I am confident that our employees will thrive and the legacy of Botzum Bros will be preserved.
Pakistan and Chinese naval forces on Monday began their sixth joint maritime exercises in the Arabian Sea near Karachi to enhance the strategic partnership between the all-weather allies.

Titled 'Sea Guardians 2020', the exercises are aimed at sharing professional experiences on contemporary and non-traditional threats at sea, improve security cooperation and promote a safe and sustainable maritime environment in the region.

The drills are a reflection of strong bilateral military cooperation between the Pakistan Navy and China's People Liberation Army (Navy) and will foster greater bilateral cooperation between the two navies, according to Pakistan Navy.

The Pakistan Navy said the opening ceremony of the exercises was held at Pakistan Navy Dockyard in Karachi.

Deputy Commander of Southern Theatre Command People Liberation Army (PLA) Vice Admiral Dong Jun was the chief guest. Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Asif Khaliq was also present on the occasion.

Vice Admiral Khaliq welcomed the Chinese officers and personnel, alluding to the evergreen, warm and eternally cordial relations between the two countries in general and navies in particular, the Pakistan Navy said.

Khaliq hoped that the exercises will prove to be another stepping stone in augmenting interoperability and strategic cooperation between both the navies, it said.

Dong thanked the Pakistan Navy for hosting the drills and hoped to have a mutually benefiting and professionally rewarding experience from the joint exercises, it added.

The exercises boast Chinese warships and fleet tanks as their marine forces participate as well.

During the exercises, frontline destroyers/frigates along with air and other assets and marines/special forces from Pakistan Navy and PLA (Navy) will carry out advance level joint drills and naval manoeuvres in the Arabian Sea.

Also, during harbour phase, various professional and social activities will be conducted. The exercises will also be witnessed by senior officials from both the navies.
Dozens of people died in a stampede that erupted when hundreds of thousands of mourners thronged the Iranian city of Kerman at a funeral procession in honour of Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian general who was killed in an air strike in Baghdad by the United States.

Over 200 others have been reportedly injured, Al Jazeera reported, quoting the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.

So far, 40 people were killed and 213 others were wounded in the incident, officials said, due to overcrowding.

Officials said the funeral rites have been postponed without stating a new date in view.

The postponed burial comes after the streets of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran, Mashhad in the northwest, Tehran and the holy city of Qom were besieged by mourners for days.

The death of the general has stoked fears of a new war between the U.S. and Iran, with both parties trading tackles of a potential retaliation.

While Tehran is considering 13 scenarios to avenge the killing of its military commander, Washington has threatened to hit 52 Iranian cultural sites very hard if Iran does not back down on its threat.

Irans Defence Minister, Amir Hatami, who was quoted by the state news agency IRNA said Iran will take crushing revenge for the killing which Iran described as an assassination.

A crushing revenge will be taken for Soleimanis unjust assassination  We will take revenge from all those involved and responsible for his assassination, Mr Hatami said.

The U.S. accused the general of masterminding the killing of many of its citizens.

He was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and wounding of thousands more, the Pentagon said in a statement, noting further that the operation was aimed at serving as a deterrence to further attacks on American interests.

The slain Mr Soleimani was the head of Irans elite Quds Force. He was killed along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iraqs Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iran-backed body comprising several militias.
Stewart, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2020) - Decade Resources Ltd (TSXV: DEC) ("Decade" or the Company) announces that it has entered into an option agreement with Teuton Resource Corp. on the Del Norte property. The property located 34 kilometres east of Stewart, BC is comprised of 5,830.16 ha in 13 separate claims. To date, the property has had over $6,000,000.00 in exploration expenditures. It is located along a major structural break between volcanics to the west and sediments to the east.

Decade has the right to earn up to a 55 % interest under the following terms:

Payment of $400,000 over 4 years with an initial payment of $20,000.00.

Issuing 800,000 shares of Decade on signing.

Issuing $180,000.00 of Decade stock over a 4 year period.

Expenditures of $4,000,000.00 over 5 years.

Decade has the right to earn an additional 20 % by placing the property into production.

There is a underlying 2 % NSR on the property.

The option agreement is subject to TSX Venture approval.

Highlights of the property include:

Mineralization has been discovered over a minimum strike length of at least 4 km on the structural break within the property.

Mineralization is hosted in quartz veins and breccias as well as coarse crystalline base metals in shear zones

A chip sample across a discovery zone in 2002 returned 6.07 g/t gold and 623.7 g/t silver across a width of 10.0 metres.

Three holes drilled from a single station located 12 m south of the chip sample intersected true widths of mineralization varying from 8.5 to 10 metres and carrying gold values ranging from 3.53 to 7.56 g/t gold and silver values ranging from 176.95 to 274.24 g/t.

Several hundred metres north of the above, drilling on the same or sub-parallel structure returned 6.47 g/t gold and 346.02 g/t silver over 15.54 m

Other holes in this area intersected 8.6 m of 3.02 g/t gold and 270.5 g/t silver over 8.74 m

A drill hole several hundred metres south of the initial trench discovery in 2002 intersected 1208 g/t silver and 26.54 g/t gold over 4.05 m on the same or sub-parallel structure.

Surface grab sampling in a trench for the above mentioned drill hole assayed up to 3910 g/t silver and 19.5 g/t gold.

Float rocks in the projected area of the northern extension of the zone ( 1000 m north of the initial 2002 discovery) returned assays of 186.2 g/t gold and 40.9 g/t gold

The above assays are historical and have not been confirmed by the Company and are used for reference purposes. The Company believes that the results are an indication of the mineralization present in the property area.

In addition to the above mentioned mineralized structural break, the property hosts the following:

Three gold bearing streams crossing the property that were mined for the placer gold in the early 1900's.

Demonstrated porphyry copper-gold mineralization at depth in the Del Norte valley.

Potential VMS mineralization as demonstrated in 2019 drilling by Teuton.

The Company is also divesting of non-core properties that it has in the Stewart area of BC.

Ed Kruchkowski, P. Geo., a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 is responsible for the contents of this release. E. Kruchkowski is not independent of Decade as he is the president of the Company.

Decade Resources Ltd. is a Canadian based mineral exploration company actively seeking opportunities in the resource sector. Decade holds numerous properties at various stages of development and exploration from basic grass roots to advanced ones. Its properties and projects are all located in the "Golden Triangle" area of northern British Columbia. For a complete listing of the Company assets and developments, visit the Company website at www.decaderesources.ca which is presently being updated. For investor information please call 250-636-2264 or Gary Assaly at 604-377-7969.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DECADE RESOURCES LTD.

"Ed Kruchkowski"

Ed Kruchkowski, President

"Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

"This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements."

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51194
TypingDNA, a four-year-old, 18-person startup that was founded in Bucharest, Romania and more recently moved its headquarters to Brooklyn, New York, has closed on $7 million in Series A funding for something interesting: AI-driven technology that it says can recognize people based on the way they type, both on their laptops and mobile devices.

We yesterday discovered an SEC filing that showed the company -- which graduated from Techstars NYC in late 2018 and early last year closed on 1.3 million in seed funding -- had so far raised $5.25 million toward that goal. We've since connected with the company's co-founder and CEO, Raul Popa, who confirms the entire amount has been raised.

Gradient Ventures, which is Google's nearly three-year-old, AI-focused venture group, led the round; it was joined by the company's previous backers, including Techstars Ventures and GapMinder Venture Partners, a venture outfit based in Amsterdam.

Typing biometrics -- the detailed timing information that describes exactly when each key is pressed and released as a way to identify the unique person at the keyboard -- is apparently not brand new. A two-year-old, PC World article says research in the field dates back 20 years. It also says that inaccuracies have kept the technology from being used as a widespread way to authenticate individuals. TypingDNA meanwhile asserts that the typing pattern recognition technology it has developed has an accuracy rate of between 99% and 99.9%.

According to Popa, TypingDNA is currently working with banks, financial and payment apps, online education platforms, enterprise apps, consumer apps and government apps that are concerned with identity and fraud prevention.

On the education front, for example, it helps organizations ensure they're giving the right students credit for the work they receive.

Worth noting: its API is open to anyone -- especially developers -- looking to integrate the technology into their products and apps. In fact, asked how the company will use its new round, Popa says the plan involves "focusing on developers more, coming up with typing biometrics-based products that can easily be integrated to solve various use cases, and helping banks and fintechs where regulation asks for biometrics as a second factor."

Story continues

As for what TypingDNA is doing that wasn't previously possible, Popa says his team doesn't need a huge body of work to draw conclusions, that they're "able to look at very short and few samples of text in order to authenticate people with great accuracy."

The mobile tech, he says, "needs even less data than on desktop, because we also look at other sensors in the device."

From an AI point of view, TypingDNA is apparently combining pattern recognition, anomaly detection and what Popa calls one-shot learning techniques -- some of which are "completely novel," he says. Indeed, if all goes as planned, it eventually also could be applied to other technologies, as well to improve binary classification quality when few training samples are used.
Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) Society hailed as "exemplary" the decision by political parties and trade unions to exempt the state's tourism sector from Wednesdays general strike.

Expressing gratitude for the announcement, KTM President Baby Mathew Somatheeram and Media Wing Convener Abraham George said the decision was a token of recognition of the contributions of Kerala's tourism towards the state's economic development and goodwill promotion.

They noted that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had while addressing the 2016 KTM conference, proposed to exempt the state's tourism from hartals.

The "progressive" decision to spare the sector from the January 8 all-India strike is the latest in the achievements towards that aim, they said.

"We owe our thanks and indebtedness to political parties and trade unions for the matter," the officials added.

The society founded in 2000, the biggest tourism body of Kerala, conducts the biennial KTM that hosts the country's largest buyer-seller meet in the tourism segment.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 02:34:52|Editor: ZX

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Scientists developed a new technique to detect oxygen in exoplanet atmospheres, which may accelerate the search for life.

The study published on Monday in the journal Nature Astronomy described the method for detecting a strong signal that oxygen molecules produce when they collide. This signal could help scientists distinguish between living and nonliving planets.

Oxygen is used as an indication of life because it is generated by life on Earth when organisms such as plants and algae convert sunlight into chemical energy.

Scientists from University of California, Riverside proposed a way of detecting high concentrations of oxygen from nonliving processes, using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to be launched in 2021.

When oxygen molecules collide with each other, they block parts of the infrared light spectrum from being seen by a telescope. Therefore, by examining patterns in that light, scientists can determine the composition of the planet's atmosphere, according to the study.

If an exoplanet is too close to its host star or receives too much star light, the atmosphere becomes very warm and saturated with water vapor from evaporating oceans. This water could then be broken down by strong ultraviolet radiation into atomic hydrogen and oxygen. The light hydrogen escapes to space very easily, leaving the oxygen behind.

Over time, this process may cause entire oceans to be lost while building up a thick oxygen atmosphere. Therefore, abundant oxygen in an exoplanet's atmosphere may not necessarily mean abundant life but may instead indicate a history of water loss, according to the study.

"It is important to know whether and how much dead planets generate atmospheric oxygen, so that we can better recognize when a planet is alive or not," said University of California, Riverside astrobiologist Edward Schwieterman.
Washington: The United States has denied a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that would have allowed him to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday.

The assertion, by a US official, speaking anonymously, comes as tensions escalate between the countries after the US killed Iran's most prominent military commander, Qassem Soleimani, in Baghdad on Friday.

No visa: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Credit:AP

Under the 1947 UN "headquarters agreement", the United States is required to allow access to the UN for foreign diplomats but Washington says it can deny visas for "security, terrorism and foreign policy" reasons.

The US State Department declined immediate comment on Monday (Tuesday Australian time).
[January 07, 2020] Sun Capital Partners Affiliate Completes Acquisition of Cotton Holdings, Inc., a Global Leader in Infrastructure Support Services

Sun Capital Partners, Inc. ("Sun Capital"), a leading private investment firm focused on investing in market-leading companies, today announced that an affiliate has completed the acquisition of Cotton Holdings, Inc. ("Cotton" or "The Company,") a leading infrastructure support services company for public and private entities throughout the United States and internationally. Terms of the private transaction were not disclosed. Cotton is a leading infrastructure support services company with subsidiaries that conduct business under the Cotton Global Disaster Solutions, Cotton Roofing, Cotton Logistics, Cotton Culinary, and OneLodge brands. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, with an International Logistics Center and regional offices throughout North America, Cotton provides property restoration and recovery, construction, roofing, consulting, temporary workforce housing and culinary services to public and private entities worldwide. Cotton is a leader in the $20 billion U.S. commercial restoration market. "We are very excited to partner with Pete Bell and Cotton, a founder-owned market leader in a very dynamic industry," said Marc Leder, Co-CEO of Sun Capital. "Over the past 20 years, Pete and his team have built a stellar reputation and strong customer base, but there remain exciting growth prospects for continued expansion as the commercial disaster restoration market continues to evolve. We are confident that Sun Capital's deep operational expertise can help Cotton continue to gain market share."



Cotton has been instrumental in providing its clients turnkey recovery and restoration solutions stemming from the world's most damaging catastrophes of the past two decades by promoting efficiency, transparency, cost savings, and consistent quality. "Commercial restoration is a very attractive industry," said Jordan Wadsworth, Managing Director at Sun Capital. "It is recession resistant, as organizations must respond when disaster strikes, and is also very fragmented, presenting great opportunities for expansion in new markets through acquisitions. These are great conditions for Sun Capital to apply our expertise and help Cotton continue its remarkable growth trajectory."

"In Sun Capital we found a partner with not only the right financial resources, but the right operational know-how and proven ability to work successfully with founder-owned businesses," said Pete Bell, Co-Founder and CEO of Cotton Holdings. "Cotton has experienced tremendous growth in our markets over the past two decades. By partnering with Sun Capital, we'll maintain that momentum through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, and ensure that we continue to enhance our services to anticipate our customers' ever-evolving needs." Sun Capital has strong experience working with founder-operated businesses, including, Horizon Services, Admiral Petroleum Company & Lemmen Oil Company, Demilec Inc., Gem Shopping Network, Timothy's World Coffee, and Windsor Fashions. About Sun Capital Partners, Inc. Sun Capital Partners, Inc. is a global private equity firm focused on identifying companies' untapped potential and leveraging its deep operational and financial resources to transform results. Sun Capital is a trusted partner that is recognized for its investment and operational experience, including particular expertise in business and consumer services, healthcare, industrial and consumer sectors. Since 1995, Sun Capital has invested in more than 375 companies worldwide with revenues of approximately $50 billion across a broad range of industries and transaction structures. Sun Capital has offices in Boca Raton, Los Angeles and New York, and an affiliate with offices in London. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005242/en/

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Chandigarh, Jan 7 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the Akal Takht acting Jathedar's remarks that Sikhs were not safe even in India, and asked the Takht to put pressure on the Akalis to sever all ties with the ruling alliance at the Centre, which had been unable to ensure a sense of safety among the minorities in the country.

While he himself did not agree with the Akal Takht Jathedar's remarks that Sikhs were not safe in India, the Chief Minister said that if he did feel that way then he should take up the matter with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and ask them to leave the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre, of which they are a part.

Unlike Pakistan, India had always taken pride in being a secular nation, with no discrimination on religious grounds, said Amarinder Singh, adding that any feeling among the Sikh community that they were not secure here was a matter of grave concern.

If Sikhs were feeling insecure in this country, as stated by the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Harpreet Singh, then it was the dispensation at the Centre which was to blame, he stressed.

Given that the Akalis claim to be the custodians of the Sikh religion, and the community, they should take a stand on the issue, and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal should also ask his wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, to resign immediately as a Union Minister, the Chief Minister said.

Amarinder Singh said while some incidents here and there could not be construed to be a case of Sikhs not being safe in India, perception was as important as reality.

The Sikhs had lived through a very dark period in the 1980s and any feeling of being at the receiving end in any way would revive their sense of fear, which would be detrimental to the community's interest, as well as that of the nation, he added.
A green group has outraged locals by celebrating the loss of a woodchipping mill that burned down during the bushfires that have devastated the south coast of NSW.

Victoria-based Environment East Gippsland said the destruction of the mill in the NSW town of Eden was 'some really good news!' in a Facebook post published on Monday.

'A major source of ecosystem collapse, loss of carbon stores, wildlife crisis, climate chaos and political corruption over the last 50 years,' the since deleted Facebook post read, according to The Australian.

Environment East Gippsland said 'really good news' came out of the horrifying bushfire tragedy when the Eden Woodchip Mill burned down on Monday (pictured)

'A major source of ecosystem collapse, loss of carbon stores, wildlife crisis, climate chaos and political corruption over the last 50 years,' the since deleted Facebook post (pictured) read

Another post, which has also been deleted, called the burning down of the mill a 'symbolic moment'.

Malcolm McComb, who operated the mill owned by Allied Natural Wood Exports, said the fire was nothing short of 'tragic'.

Seventy people were directly employed by the mill.

Locals were up in arms over the group's social media post.

One person said: 'Why would you even contemplate posting this? It's totally divisive and makes you look completely heartless.'

A spokesperson for Timber NSW was shocked by Environment East Gippsland's post.

Another post, which has also been deleted, called the burning down of the mill a 'symbolic moment'

'Human behaviour never ceases to amaze me. The Environment East Gippsland organisation and other groups are celebrating the burning of the mill,' a Facebook post read.

'No respect for the scale of the fire and tragedy for people in Eden.'

Mr McComb said it is unclear how much of the mill was burned as the logs that were about to be chipped are still on fire.

'There's so much rebuilding that needs to be done down here. I just don't know if we have the engineering capacity to rebuild the mill as fast as we possibly can,' he said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Environment East Gippsland and Allied Natural Wood Exports for comment.

Malcolm McComb, who operated the mill owned by Allied Natural Wood Exports, said the fire was nothing short of 'tragic'

Timber NSW was shocked at the Environment East Gippsland's post

At least 20 people have died in the New South Wales bushfire crisis while at least 1,588 properties, including 672 this year, have been destroyed.

Almost 118 fires continue to burn across NSW with 50 uncontained as of Monday night.

More than 6,200 livestock are among millions of animals believed killed.

Some 4.8 million hectares - equal to the metro areas of the five mainland state capitals - have been burnt in NSW this season.

Friday is expected to be a disastrous day for the state as the weather heats up once again.

New South Wales Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said: 'We are not out of the woods yet - Friday will again be another dangerous day because of the heat.

'But after a couple of days of moist and mild weather hopefully the fire grounds are going to be a little easier to manage.'

Mr Elliott said this week could be considered 'the end of the beginning'.

'What you'll see at the end of this month is the commencement of the mopping up exercises,' the minister said.

'February is always hot but with the forecast of some wet weather coming in March and April we shouldn't see too much more expansion. What we will see is containment.'

AUSTRALIA'S BUSHFIRE CRISIS - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Evacuations are underway and emergency alerts are in place in NSW, Victoria and South Australia as authorities predict the devastating bushfires will continue burning until at least March. At least 28 people have been killed in blazes across the country since the bushfire season began in October. NEW SOUTH WALES/ACT Around 90 fires were burning in NSW on Thursday morning

20 people dead

More than 5.2 million hectares burned - equal to the metro areas of the five mainland state capitals

1,870 homes confirmed destroyed, more than 3,774 outbuildings and 200 facilities razed VICTORIA 19 bushfires burning in the Gippsland, northeast and alpine regions as of Thursday morning

Five people dead

More than 1.5 million hectares burnt

387 homes have been damaged or destroyed

602 non-residential structures have also been damaged SOUTH AUSTRALIA Three people, including two from Kangaroo Island, are dead

More than 274,000 hectares burnt

161 homes confirmed destroyed, along with 413 sheds and outhouses QUEENSLAND 2.5 million hectares burnt

48 homes confirmed destroyed WESTERN AUSTRALIA 1.5 million hectares burned

One home confirmed destroyed TASMANIA 30,000 hectares burned

Two homes confirmed destroyed NORTHERN TERRITORY Five homes confirmed destroyed Advertisement

The massive Gospers Mountain fire west of Sydney could be contained by Friday, Mr Elliot said.

'I think we have reached the peak,' he concluded.

'As the prime minister and the premier have said - the recovery will begin now.'

Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says this Friday is not likely to be as severe as last Saturday when huge swathes of bush and hundreds of homes were razed on the South Coast.

'There's a combination of suppression and mopping up and patrolling,' Mr Fitzsimmons told ABC TV on Tuesday.

'It was nice to see a cyclone forming up the top end of Western Australia which is hopefully a signal that we may see monsoon activity which will disrupt the dominant hot air mass continuing to influence so much of the weather.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands  In a ruling hailed as an immense victory for climate justice, the Netherlands highest court ruled Friday in favor of activists who have for years been seeking to force the Dutch government to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Activists in a packed chamber of the Supreme Court in The Hague erupted in applause and cheers as Presiding Judge Kees Streefkerk rejected the governments appeal against earlier rulings ordering the government to cut emissions by at least 25% by the end of 2020 from benchmark 1990 levels.

The court upheld lower court rulings that protection from the potentially devastating effects of climate change is a human right and that the government has a duty to protect its citizens.

Urgenda, a Dutch climate and sustainability organization that filed the original case, hailed the ruling as a groundbreaking decision that confirms that individual governments must do their fair share to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

I am extremely happy that the highest court in the Netherlands has confirmed that climate change is a real, severe problem and that government should do what they themselves have declared for more than 10 years is necessary, namely between 25% and 40% reduction of CO2, Urgenda director Marjan Minnesma said outside court.

Faiza Oulahsen of Greenpeace in the Netherlands called the ruling an immense victory for climate justice.

It is now more than four years since a court in The Hague first ordered the emissions cut in a case brought by Urgenda that spawned similar legal challenges in courts around the world.

The Dutch government appealed that verdict, arguing courts shouldnt be able to order the government to take action. The government lost the appeal in October 2018, but appealed again, this time to the Supreme Court.

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.

Damian Rau, one of the plaintiffs that filed the case with Urgenda, said the Supreme Court decision will set the action we so urgently need into motion and will force governments into taking their responsibility. The judgment is an example to the world that no one is powerless and everybody can make a difference.

Scientists say global emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants have to start falling rapidly to meet the Paris climate accord goal of keeping global warming by the end of the century well bellow 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), and ideally 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 F).

Fridays ruling came a day after Swiss authorities announced that environmental activists had collected enough signatures to force a referendum on setting specific goals for combatting climate change in the Swiss constitution.

Mike Corder is an Associated Press writer.
Earthquake of magnitude 6.2 shook Indonesias northwest province of Aceh at 2.05 pm today though no Tsunami warning was issued. There are no casualties or injuries reported after the quake. According to the US Geological Survey, the quake struck at a depth of 20 km off the coast of Simeulue Island. The Indonesian meteorology and geophysics agency put the quake at a magnitude of 6.4 and a depth of 13 kilometres.

No Tsunami warning

Talking to international media, Ahmadi, a resident of Simeulue who was a witness to the natural disaster said that the people are constantly watching at the beach to monitor the movement of the seawater. Rahmat Triyono, who heads the earthquake and tsunami centre at Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, said there was no risk of a tsunami from the quake. Maimum, a disaster mitigation official on the island nearest to the epicentre said that the people panicked and ran out of the building. Others who were praying at the mosque ran out of the place.

Peringatan dini cuaca wilayah Jawa Timur [07 Januari 2020] #BMKG

Selengkapnya klik tautan berikut https://t.co/9gHuoP69EG  BMKG (@infoBMKG) January 7, 2020

Read: Indonesian Man Convicted Of 136 Rapes, Jailed For 30 Years By UK Court

Read: Indonesia Sentences 2 Australians For Drugs

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Agus Wibowo said the quake caused cracks or broken windows in several buildings in Sinabang, but no injuries were reported. Residents in parts of Aceh and neighbouring North Sumatra province felt a moderate tremor for a few seconds, while people in the Aceh provincial capital of Banda Aceh did not feel the quake, Wibowo added. A powerful Indian Ocean quake and tsunami in 2004 killed a total of 230,000 people in a dozen countries, and Aceh province, which was closest to the earthquake, was hit first and hardest. More than 1,70,000 people died in Indonesia alone, about three-quarters of the overall death toll.

Read: Four Medium Intensity Earthquakes Hit Jammu And Kashmir

Read: Quake In West Indonesia Causes Minor Damage, No Injuries
The state of California on Monday reignited a prolonged legal fight with billionaire tech investor Vinod Khosla over access to a beach connected to his property in San Mateo County, south of San Francisco.

Khosla purchased land surrounding Martins Beach in 2008 for $32 million and has for years fought lawsuits from groups alleging that he's tried to limit public entry to the beach by locking gates and posting no trespassing signs. Beaches in California are public land under the California Coastal Act.

California is now suing on behalf of the California Coastal Commission and the States Lands Commission, claiming that Khosla has been "improperly and illegally" restricting access to the beach. The agencies are asking for a right to use Martins Beach Road, a pathway from Highway 1 that crosses over Khosla's land, as well as access to the beach.

Khosla, who made his fortune as a Sun Microsystems co-founder before going into venture capital at Kleiner Perkins and then starting his own firm, Khosla Ventures, has refused to back down over the past decade, claiming that he's defending property rights. He told The New York Times in a profile that he wished he'd never bought the property and that he continued the legal battle because of his principles.

In 2018, the Supreme Court declined to review Khosla's case challenging the California Coastal Act, quieting the legal wrangling for a period. More recently, Khosla's team scored a victory in an appeals court in San Mateo County over how the former owners of the property charged for access to the beaches.

"The claims asserted in today's lawsuit have been extensively litigated and repeatedly rejected by the courts in a prior lawsuit," Dori Yob Kilmer, a lawyer for Khosla, said in a statement. "Since the property was purchased by our client, the state, and small activist groups, have endeavored to seize our client's private property without compensation. While such tactics are commonplace in communist systems, they have never been tolerated in the American system where the U.S. Constitution precludes the government from simply taking private property and giving it to the public."

Kholsa's net worth is over $2 billion, according to Forbes.

WATCH: Khosla discusses 'economic opportunity' in clean energy fund
[January 07, 2020] SupplyHouse.com Employees Lunge into More Office Yoga and Meditation in 2020

MELVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SupplyHouse.com, an e-commerce company that sells plumbing, heating, and HVAC supplies is continuing to support employees that want to practice meditation and yoga throughout the work day during the new decade. At the company's corporate headquarters in Melville, New York there is a meditation/yoga room (also known as the Zen Den), where a professional meditation/yoga instructor is hired to teach. For nearly four years, Stephanie Tolino, a yoga and meditation instructor, has been coming to SupplyHouse.com twice a month to provide employees with 20-minute meditation and/or yoga sessions. Yoga and meditation are known to have many health benefits including improved focus, creativity, stress management, mental wellbeig and more.



"Yoga and meditation make great resolutions because they are the practice of continuous self-reflection," said Tolino. "We are constantly evolving and require the proper attention from ourselves to remain motivated and productive. These reflective practices give people the opportunity to unwind, regain clarity, and remember that we are one piece of a larger puzzle. Yoga and meditation practices increase innovation because of the vulnerability and empathy that the practice builds. It allows us to work towards the best version of ourselves, both in the office and at home," Tolino continued. With the new year just beginning, several employee's resolutions revolve around the commitment to their yoga and meditation practices.

"The meditation room at SupplyHouse.com has provided a perfect avenue for me to break up my day," said Krystle Remington, SupplyHouse.com Product Support Specialist. "Many of us, including myself, carry full schedules and finding a good time to focus on our mind, body and health can be difficult. Having a place to go before the work day begins, or even fitting in a quick session during my lunch break removes the stress of having to find time. I always come back to my desk with renewed energy and positivity to carry out the rest of my day," Remington continued. SupplyHouse.com prides itself on creating an enjoyable and positive work environment which fosters innovation and creativity. They have a total of 370 employees across their four locations in Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. With their core values and unique company culture, SupplyHouse.com strives to make a positive impact on its customers, employees, and greater community every day. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/supplyhousecom-employees-lunge-into-more-office-yoga-and-meditation-in-2020-300982068.html SOURCE SupplyHouse.com

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HOUSTON, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Iowa native Raja Chari will join the rest of NASA's first class of astronaut candidates to graduate under the Artemis program, for a graduation ceremony and media opportunity Friday, Jan. 10, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

After completing more than two years of basic training, he will become eligible for spaceflight assignments to the International Space Station (ISS), Artemis missions to the Moon, and future missions to Mars.

The ceremony will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website. The new graduates also will be available for in-person and remote media interviews following the ceremony.

To participate, media must submit requests for credentials and interviews to Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. Those following the briefing on social media may ask questions using #AskNASA.

The class includes 11 NASA candidates, as well as two Canadian Space Agency (CSA) candidates, selected in 2017. The NASA candidates, including Chari, were chosen from a record-setting pool of more than 18,000 applicants. The CSA candidates have been training alongside their NASA classmates.

Chari, a U.S. Air Force colonel, hails from Cedar Falls, Iowa. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado with bachelor's degrees in astronautical engineering and engineering science. He continued on to earn a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. Chari served as the commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and the director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

All astronaut candidates have completed training in spacewalking, robotics, ISS systems, T-38 jet proficiency, and Russian language. At the ceremony, each candidate will receive an astronaut pin, marking their graduation from basic training and their eligibility to be selected to fly in space.

As astronauts, they'll help develop spacecraft, support the teams currently in space and ultimately, have the opportunity to join the ranks of only about 500 people who have had the honor of going into space. NASA continues its work aboard the space station, which is preparing to mark the 20th consecutive year of humans living onboard in November 2020. The agency also is on the verge of launching Americans from American soil aboard commercial spacecraft and is preparing to send humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis program.

Find additional photos of the astronaut candidates and their training here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/albums/72157698260056092

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido was sworn in for another term as speaker of parliament on Tuesday after a tense stand-off with the armed forces who initially prevented him from entering Congress.

Guaido leads the opposition to President Nicolas Maduro, who is blamed for an acute economic crisis and accused of acting like a harsh leftist dictator, and he is recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuela's legitimate acting president. The National Assembly is the only Venezuelan branch of government in opposition hands.



While Guaido was barred from entering the building by the National Guard for around half an hour in dramatic and chaotic scenes, his rival claimant to the speaker position, Luis Parra, occupied the chair. By the time Guaido was allowed in, alongside allied deputies, Parra had already left.



"Here we are, showing our face," Guaido said as he took his seat.



Lawmakers sang the national anthem but electricity to the chamber was cut off, leaving deputies to use the flashlights on their mobile phones to provide light. Guaido then raised his right hand and took the oath of office for another term as leader of the assembly.

Earlier, dozens of National Guard troops wearing helmets and carrying riot shields blocked Guaido from entering the building.



"These are not barracks!" Guaido shouted at troops, who had set up a check-point at the building's entrance before the opposition leader arrived.



Some of his allies and members of the press were also blocked from getting inside. The opposition said on Twitter that four lawmakers were injured by "regime minions."



The press workers' union wrote on Twitter that two journalists were attacked and robbed of their equipment by armed militias linked to the government.



Burly bodyguards



Inside, Parra, an opposition legislator accused of corruption, was already installed in the seat Guaido has occupied for the last year. Parra caused a storm on Sunday when he declared himself parliament speaker after the armed forces had prevented Guaido from entering the building. Parra was sworn in then by his backers.



Crisis-hit Venezuela has been in political turmoil since last January when Guaido used his position as speaker to declare himself acting president in a direct challenge to the authority of Maduro. He declared on Sunday that he was re-elected to his post after holding a legislative session alongside loyal deputies at the offices of an opposition-leaning newspaper.



The United States warned Tuesday it will punish Venezuela if the political crisis here escalates and Guaido is arrested. The United States has already imposed waves of sanctions against Venezuela in a bid to choke off its badly needed oil revenue and force the ouster of Maduro.



"I think you would see even additional action far beyond what we have pushed out to date," said Carrie Filipetti, deputy assistant secretary for Cuba and Venezuela. In the parliament building, Parra sat in the speaker's seat while burly men appeared to stand guard at the steps leading up to the podium.



Parra was kicked out of his opposition party last month after an online news site accused him of corruption linked to the over-pricing of food imported for the Maduro government. But he remains a deputy and Maduro recognized Parra's election in a television address on Sunday.



The move was denounced by many countries, including the United States and even Maduro's left-wing allies Argentina and Uruguay.



Bribed deputies



Guaido vowed on Monday to hold Tuesday's parliamentary session and branded Parra "an accomplice to dictatorship."



Parra said Guaido would have the right to attend his session, but as just "another deputy."



Both men claimed on Sunday they had the support of enough deputies to be elected president of the legislature. Before Sunday's vote, Guaido said the Maduro government had bribed some opposition deputies to vote against him.



Parra's support mainly comes from deputies loyal to Maduro while the opposition holds 112 of the 167 seats in the assembly. Guaido said 100 deputies voted for him and Parra claimed the support of 81 lawmakers.



Opposition deputy Henry Ramos Allup, a former parliament speaker, said a verification of the minutes would be undertaken to see "how many voted for them and us."



"To those that bought votes, keep in mind the purchase risks of what you buy," Ramos Allup said.



While Guaido has been recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries, true presidential authority rests with Maduro, who retains the support of the armed forces. As well as two claimants to the presidency and parliament speaker, Venezuela has two parliaments.



The National Assembly has been effectively sidelined since 2017, when the Supreme Court, made up of Maduro loyalists, declared it in contempt. The court has since annulled its every decision.



Maduro then controversially set up a Constituent Assembly -- also made up exclusively of loyalists -- with power to legislate in its place.



(AFP)


One answer, I suspect, is that like all too many Americans, Trump has a hard time grasping the fact that other countries are real  that is, that were not the only country whose citizens would rather pay a heavy price, in money and even in blood, than make what they see as humiliating concessions.

Ask yourself, how would Americans have reacted if a foreign power had assassinated Dick Cheney, claiming that he had the blood of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis on his hands? Dont answer that Suleimani was worse. Thats beside the point. The point is that we dont accept the right of foreign governments to kill our officials. Why imagine that other countries are different?

Of course, we have many people in the diplomatic corps with a deep knowledge of other nations and their motivations, who understand the limits of intimidation. But anyone with that kind of understanding has been excluded from Trumps inner circle.

Now, its true that for many years America did have a special leadership position, one that sometimes involved playing a role in reshaping other countries political systems. But heres where Trumps second error comes in: He has never shown any sign of understanding why America used to be special.

Part of the explanation, of course, was raw economic and military power: America used to be just much bigger than everyone else. That is, however, no longer true. For example, by some key measures Chinas economy is significantly bigger than that of the United States.

Even more important, however, was the fact that America was something more than a big country throwing its weight around. We always stood for something larger.

That doesnt mean that we were always a force for good; America did many terrible things during its reign as global hegemon. But we clearly stood for global rule of law, for a system that imposed common rules on everyone, ourselves included. The United States may have been the dominant partner in alliances like NATO and bodies like the World Trade Organization, but we always tried to behave as no more than first among equals.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Archdiocese of New York is proposing that some of its shuttered parish buildings on Staten Island and throughout New York City be used as shelters for the homeless.

The Archdiocese, through Catholic Charities, is offering five sites in our borough, Manhattan and the Bronx as potential locations for The Journey Home initiative established by Mayor Bill de Blasio, according to Catholic New York.

When asked for the locations and other details regarding the potential shelters, Joseph Zwilling, director of communications for the Archdiocese, said:

No specific sites have yet been selected, and our conversation with the city is still ongoing. Therefore, I cant provide answers to your other questions yet either.

Former convents, rectories and churches that are selected will be renovated before they house a total of at least 100 people, according to Catholic New York.

The facilities will be proffered as part of the citys Safe Haven program of transitional housing, according to Catholic New York.

The mayor announced last December his ambitious plan to end long-term homelessness as we know it in the next five years.

The Journey Home commits to adding 1,000 more beds to the citys Safe Haven program, creating 1,000 permanent apartments for homeless New Yorkers, and increasing efforts to engage the street homeless population with city services.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan called the initiative particularly unique and refreshing, according to the Catholic New York.

Count on not only our help, but count on our prayers, he said.

In order to open 1,000 new transitional Safe Haven beds and 1,000 new low-barrier permanent housing units, we need help from every community to identify locations where we can site these crucial services, according to the Department of Homeless Services website. Faith and community leaders, businesses, philanthropy, and the provider community can all be of great help.

In 2017, the Advance took a look at churches that were either closed or merged as part of the Making All Things New initiative to restructure parishes and properties throughout the Archdiocese.
Members of the Iraqi parliament are seen at the parliament in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 5, 2020. (Iraqi parliament media office/Handout via Reuters)

Iraq Playing Balancing Act Between US and Iran by Passing Resolution to Expel Foreign Troops, Say Analysts

Presence of US troops inside Iraq most likely not to end soon

A resolution passed by the Iraqi Members of Parliament on Jan. 5 calling for the expulsion of the foreign troops from the country is a balancing act between the United States and Iran, according to expert sources who said the expulsion will most likely not take place.

The government commits to revoke its request for assistance from the international coalition fighting Islamic State due to the end of military operations in Iraq and the achievement of victory, read the resolution passed in a parliament session on Sunday.

The Iraqi government must work to end the presence of any foreign troops on Iraqi soil and prohibit them from using its land, airspace, or water for any reason.

Esra Serim, a Turkish researcher in France, told The Epoch Times that Iraqs interests are threatened due to the growing tension between the United States and Iran on its soil and the country can not afford an escalation of conflict between the two adversaries.

Iraqs interests are at stake due to the recent tension between Washington and Tehran, and Baghdad cannot bear any possible consequences on its territory that would be triggered by another escalation, said Serim in an email.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pray near the coffins of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed in an airstrike at Baghdad airport, in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 6, 2020. (Official Presidents Website/Handout via Reuters)

Kashish Parpiani, a Research Fellow with the Observers Research Foundation, told The Epoch Times that the resolution acts as an important balancing act because, on one hand, Iraqi wants to keep access to U.S. resources being invested in military training, and on the other hand, even up the situation with the Iranians because of the role Iranian proxies play in its internal situation.

Since the final territorial defeat of the ISIS group in Syria in March, when the terrorists lost the last pocket of their so-called caliphate to coalition-backed forces, the U.S.-led international coalition has been training Iraqi forces to secure the country against lingering threats posed by cells of Daeshthe Arabic name for ISISoperating in the countryside.

Poorly trained and equipped, underfunded, and corrupted in the decade after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the army disintegrated in the face of sweeping advances from ISIS.

It was then that the Iraqi parliament voted to invite international forces back into the country, to turn the tide in the war against ISIS. The presence of the same U.S. military forces are now a threat to Iraq, according to Wilder Alejandro Sanchez, a defense and geopolitics analyst based in Washington.

I think this move made sense for Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and the Iraqi government, Sanchez told The Epoch Times.

If U.S. troops do depart Iraq, any retaliatory operations from Iran against U.S. assets will, at least, not occur in Iraqi soil, said Sanchez.

Iraqs Neutralization Policy

Iraq is continuing to try to achieve a neutralization policy between the United States and Iran through Sundays resolution. However, keeping in mind the complexity of the multilateral tensions in the region, its impossible or extremely difficult to achieve, said analysts.

Serim, a Senior Researcher, PhD, at University of Aix Marseille, emphasized that the resolution doesnt only mean the expulsion of the U.S. troops from Iraq but also the Iranian military.

The Iraqi MPs resolution means that the Iraqi government, in fact, does not want both the American military presence and Irans ideological and military support, she said.

Iraq is a key country for both the U.S. and Iran. Because, if Iraq has a balancing policy between the U.S. and Iran, Baghdad could be able to keep away from the bilateral or multilateral tensions between the U.S., Iran, Israel and Saudi Arabia, she added.

Serim believes that if the Iraqi government is able to achieve this neutralization policy through Sundays resolution it would be able to experience full independence first time ever since the U.S. intervention of 2003.

Lastly, the Iraqi government thinks that it would play an appeasing role like Oman between the U.S. and Iran if it would be able to deport all foreign troops from Iraq. The truth is that the Iraq central government is trying to accomplish this act or pursue this naturalization policy to provide its domestic peace and end the recent domestic unrest in Iraq, explained Serim.

Iraqi counter-terrorism forces stand guard in front of the U.S. embassy in the capital Baghdad on Jan. 2, 2020. (Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images)

Kanishkan Sathasivam, a Massachusetts based Middle East expert agrees with what Serim said. I think that has been Iraqs approach thus far.

They have wanted to have good relations with both the U.S. and Iran because both sides give them things they very badly need, said Sathasivam, the Director of the William H. Bates Center for Public & Global Affairs.

He however also acknowledged that this neutralization policy hasnt been successful until now. But it was widely known and acknowledged that this balancing act could not be maintained indefinitely, and at some point, they would have to come down on one side or the other simply because U.S.-Iran relations were just too volatile and had too much potential for problems and escalations, he said.

Mumbai-based Parpiani, who studies U.S. Foreign Policy, is of the opinion that Iraq is not in a position to achieve a neutralization policy between the United States and Iran for the reason that the Iraqi dispensation derives much of its legitimacy from socio-political proximity to Shias.

Because Irans penetration into the Iraqi socio-political fabric is real, and so is Americas unfinished business with Iran, he explained.

Serin also agrees that though Iraq is trying to achieve a neutralization policy through Sundays resolution, it is not very likely to happen.

Because Irans ideological and historical presence in Iraq has still been quite robust. Well see its implications in a few years if the Iraqis could succeed in keeping away from both, she affirmed.

Will US Troops Actually Leave Iraq?

Iraqi lawmakers backing the non-binding resolution asked the government on Sunday to end a 2014 agreement with Washington to station an estimated 5,200 troops in Iraq to help in the fight against ISIS. Experts told The Epoch Times that the resolution is most likely not going to lead to the expulsion of the U.S. troops from multiple locations in Iraq.

Parliaments decision is not a binding decision, Eldad Shavit, a senior research fellow with the Institute of National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, Israel, told The Epoch Times.

Parpiani corroborated what Shavit said: My sense is that Iraq will stop at this resolution which derides U.S. military presence in the country. The Iraqi military and its force readiness depend on U.S. military aid and training, he explained.

Serin said that the resolution is more about Iraq trying to look impartial in the region but the U.S. military presence will most likely continue inside Iraq because the U.S. troops have a strategical consideration due to the Russian presence in Syria and Israels protection against the Iranian regime.

U.S. Army Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division, deployed from Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, heading to the U.S. Central Command area in response to events in Iraq, on Jan. 1, 2020. (Capt. Robyn Haake/U.S. Army/AFP via Getty Images)

She however also added that the Iraqi government will not withdraw the resolution concerning the deportation of the foreign troops whatever Washington claims.

As uncertainty prevailed over the scene on Sunday after the Iraqi Parliament passed the resolution, President Donald Trump threatened harsh sanctions against Iraq if the U.S. troops are expelled from the country.

Sathasivam explained that the troops in the eight facilities across Iraq are most likely not going to move out because the resolution is not a law and the Iraqi administration is not legally bound by it.

The PM is currently serving as a caretaker PM and as such does not have the power to enact any legislation. But the PM can still use his executive power to honor the resolution by canceling the bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Iraq on the stationing of U.S. forces in Iraq. He would need to do this in a written declaration to the U.S. side, which has not yet happened, said Sathasivam.

Shavit, who had earlier served in the Israeli Defense Forces Intelligence Corps and at the Prime Ministers Office in Tel Aviv, added another dimension to the meaning of the Sundays resolution and said the resolution denotes an increasing trend that is not new but has now urged the demand that the U.S. troops leave Iraq.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More than eight years after Philip Grandine killed his pregnant wife by drugging her with a sedative before she took a bath so he could talk to his mistress and freely use pornography, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, a judge found Tuesday.

As a result of being secretly drugged by her rage-filled husband  a violent assault she never saw coming  Karissa Grandine, 29 and 20-weeks pregnant, drowned in a bathtub in the couples home on the night of Oct. 17, 2011, said Superior Court Justice Faye McWatt.

Grandine, now 33, was convicted of manslaughter last year after a second jury trial, which followed his successful appeal of an earlier manslaughter conviction. He has almost 12 years in prison left but whether he will begin serving that time now is up to a Court of Appeal judge.

Hours after Grandine was sentenced he had a bail hearing in which his lawyer Michael Lacy argued a serious legal error was committed during his trial. The jury was allowed to consider three ways to find Grandine guilty, one of which, Lacy said, was based on no evidence even according to the trial judges own sentencing decision. This meant the jury verdict was unjust and cant stand, he argued.

The Crown argued the appeal was frivolous since there was evidence and that, given the seriousness of the crime and length of the sentence as well as two juries finding Grandine guilty of manslaughter, it was time the sentence be enforced pending appeal.

A decision on whether Grandine will be let out on bail will be released at a future date.

Thirty-three victim impact statements were filed by Karissas family, friends and church members who remembered a relentlessly positive, generous woman who worked hard to obtain a university degree while working full-time, and who forgave her husband even after she discovered he had been cheating on her.

Her mother and sister attended both the sentencing hearing and the bail hearing. Given the ongoing appeal, the familys ordeal will continue, family friend Cliff McDowell said.

They have to relive this horrible thing over again. Theres no closure today. Theres no rest for the family today. And this monster gets to play the system again, he said.

Karissa  who was overjoyed to be pregnant and was working on repairing their marriage  had no idea what her husband was capable of, McWatt said in her ruling Tuesday.

This was an assault and act of violence generated directly from the anger Mr. Grandine bore towards Mrs. Grandine, McWatt said. She could not have avoided the assaults. She could not see the weapon used against her.

McWatt noted that Grandine researched the sedative lorazepam and obtained some from the long-term care home where he worked as a nurse-manager. He then experimented with the drug, testing it out twice on his pregnant wife  despite the fact it is not to be used by pregnant women  and once on himself. It made her sick and groggy enough that she went to the hospital.

He gave a therapeutic-level dose of the sedative to her again on the night of Oct. 17, 2011, before she took a bath, knowing how seriously she was affected by the drug. While he didnt intend to kill her, his actions were diabolical and violent. It was planned and premeditated, McWatt said.

In committing this offence, he did perpetrate a form of emotional and physical violence on his wife, she said. After drugging his wife, McWatt found, he was on the phone with his mistress. He also uninstalled a pornography blocker on their home computer that had been put there after Karissa found out about the affair and his obsession with pornography.

The couple had been going to marriage counselling through their church, where Grandine had been a pastor, but while Karissa thought they were working to save their marriage, Grandine had been seething with anger, McWatt said.

The defendant was enamoured with both (his mistress) and with pornography. On the occasions in which his wife was incapacitated, the way for him to pursue both these fascinations was cleared and unimpeded, McWatt wrote in her ruling on the facts of the case.

His actions after discovering his wife had died were callous and an attempt to cover up his crime, McWatt said. He made an unconvincing 911 call and lied to police about his attempts to rescue his wife as she drowned in the bathtub, despite his medical training. He also claimed he was out jogging that night.

Given these facts, the case comes closer to murder that most other manslaughter cases, McWatt found.

Prosecutor Donna Kellway argued a prison sentence of 13 to 15 years would be appropriate. The defence said it should be a period of five to seven years because the facts dont involve physical violence. Justice McWatt did not accept this suggestion and emphasized that domestic abuse can include both physical and emotional violence.

Tuesdays ruling concluded Grandines second sentencing for the manslaughter of his wife.

Grandine was initially charged with first-degree murder but after a jury trial was found guilty of manslaughter. Grandine appealed the verdict and remained on bail pending appeal during that time. The appeal was granted due to errors in the way the trial judge answered a question from the jury and he had a new trial on the charge of manslaughter. He was found guilty for a second time last year.

Grandine has served 300 days of pretrial custody and spent six years on house arrest. He got a total credit of 37 months for that time and has 11 years and 11 months left to serve.

Grandine was handcuffed in the courtroom and taken into custody. He did not look back at the courtroom.
A burned and helpless wombat has been spotted desperately searching for food as it crossed a road after its home was ravaged by bushfires in Australia.

Michael Richardson came across the marsupial while he was riding his bike near Kulnura, on the New South Wales Central Coast, on Sunday.

He said he helped the animal drink from his water bottle before he began to film.

Michael Richardson came across the marsupial while he was riding his biket near Kulnura, on the New South Wales Central Coast, on Sunday

'It seemed a little confused while trying to find any food by the roadside,' Mr Richardson, who saw the wombat while on a bike ride at 6.30am, told PA.

'Its fur was burnt in places. So heartbreaking.'

Hundreds of millions of Australian wildlife are believed to have been killed in the fires.

Dead wildlife including kangaroos and koalas have been seen littering roadsides.

One horrific image from Batlow, New South Wales, showed what was left after hundreds of animals had been killed in the blaze that gripped the area on Saturday.

Professor Chris Dickman, from the University of Sydney, estimated 480 million animals have been killed since the bushfires began in New South Wales alone  but adds 'the true loss of animal life is likely to be much higher'.

'The authors (of the study) deliberately employed highly conservative estimates in making their calculations,' the university said in a statement on Friday.

The burnt bodies of hundreds of animals line the road into the small town of Batlow, New South Wales, which was one of the worst hit areas by bushfires on Saturday

'The true mortality is likely to be substantially higher than those estimated.'

More than half of Kangaroo Island's, south of Adelaide, koala population is believed to have been killed in the bushfires.

Sam Mitchell, co-owner of the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, told Guardian Australia they have had 50 injured koalas.

Mr Richardson said he helped the animal drink from his water bottle before he started to film it

'At least a third of what has been brought in we've had to euthanise, unfortunately,' he said.

'We are seeing many burns to hands and feet  fingernails melted off. For some the burns are just too extreme.'

Some of the islanders considered the marsupials pests when their population grew to 50,000.

Mr Mitchell said he believes at least half the population has perished in the blazes.

The bushfires have also killed 25 people and destroyed up to 2,000 homes.
Killing road project would be 'insanity,' former village council member tells county

Highland Lake Road

While the new majority on the Flat Rock Village Council is moving quickly in an effort to kill the Highland Lake Road improvement project, supporters of the project arent going down without a fight.



The Flat Rock Village Council voted 5-1 to endorse the project in June 2018, turning back opponents who pleaded with the village to say no. With three newly elected members aboard, the Village Council voted 4-3 last week to reverse that endorsement and ask the NCDOT to kill the project.

Supporters of the project, including current council members who are now the minority in a 4-3 council makeup against the project, past council members and a few other elected officials have been working behind the scenes to save the road job, which is mainly in the village but also passes through the city of Hendersonville  at the Spartanburg Highway end  and Henderson County. The lobbying effort broke into the open Monday night, when former Flat Rock Village Council member John Dockendorf implored the Henderson County Board of Commissioners to support the projects completion.

In the next month, the Village of Flat Rock is going to ask you to kill the North Highland Lake project, he said. Please do not kill this good project.

Dockendorf, who declined to run for re-election to the council last year, represented the village on the county Transportation Advisory Committee and the French Broad MPO for four years. In that role he was very intimately involved with this project, he said. Im sure Mr. Lapsley will agree, roads are hard.  In the next 20-25 years, were going to have about 50,000 more people here, so weve got to plan now. Letting the village kill a very viable project, for which the state has already spent a million dollars, to me is absolute insanity.

The faction opposed to the road project won by 128 votes and voted 4-3 to kill the project, he said. If Highland Lake Road becomes too congested, traffic may instead go to Shepherd Street, requiring a widening that would put a road right in the front yard of 37 homes. The North Highland Lake did not affect a single person in Flat Rock in terms of homeowners. This passed the Flat Rock Council 6-1. The NCDOT has already acquired over 60 percent of the property. ... If you vote to kill it, it will set a terrible precedent that says every project is negotiable  and even though its started it can be stopped.

Commissioners did not respond to Dockendorfs appeal.

The Hendersonville City Council will consider whether to sustain or reverse its past support of the project on Thursday night. The TAC and French Broad MPO are expected to take up the villages request to kill the project later this month. Village Council member Anne Coletta has said council members hoping to kill the project are exploring the options to appeal a decision by the NCDOT that does not go their way.
"This lawsuit is about renewal, not rates," says Chief Gary Batton in the following message regarding the Federal lawsuit against Governor Stitt filed today by the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations.

The Cherokee Nation , the Chickasaw Nation and the Choctaw Nation are suing the Republican governor of Oklahoma as a gaming impasse enters the new year.

The tribes, whose operations collectively represent the largest segment of the market in the state, filed their complaint on December 31, 2019. They are asking a federal judge to confirm that they have the right to continue offering slot machines, blackjack and related Class III games while discussions continue with Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), who contends their agreements expired on the following day.

"The Cherokee Nation is committed to being a good partner in our community and with the State of Oklahoma as we have done across two centuries and will continue to do as a peaceful, sovereign nation," Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a news release . "Governor Stitt has made comments about uncertainty that exists regarding Class III gaming after January 1, threats to our casino vendors and their livelihoods and demands for redundant audits. We have little choice but to ask a Federal judge to confirm the compacts automatic renewal on January 1.

We have a solemn duty to protect the sovereign rights of our Tribal Nations as well as the interests of our citizens," added Governor Bill Anotubby of the Chickasaw Nation. "While we prefer negotiation to litigation, the Federal court is now the only reasonable alternative to bring legal certainty to this issue. We remain hopeful we will continue to have a productive and mutually beneficial relationship with the State of Oklahoma once we have resolved this issue.

The Governors stance on the gaming compact has created uncertainty and has been seen as a threat to our employees and our business partners. We see this legal action as the most viable option to restore the clarity and stability the Tribes and Oklahoma both deserve by obtaining a resolution that our compact does automatically renew," said Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton. "As elected leaders, it is our responsibility to uphold the compact, honor the will of the Oklahomans who approved State Question 712 and the Federal law that defines our relationship with the State on these matters.

The lawsuit is a direct challenge to Stitt, who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and has called on all tribes with Class III gaming compacts to contribute more of their revenues to the state. In hopes of getting them to come to the table, he has insisted that their operations would be operating illegally past January 1, and he has also threatened to bring more non-Indian gaming to Oklahoma despite language in the agreement guaranteeing exclusivity to Indian nations.

Stitt, who took office a year ago, has since declined to say what actions he will take if the tribes continued to offer Class III games past January 1. But on Friday, he announced that he had hired a law firm with a negative history in Indian Country to represent the state on compact issues, both in an out of court.

With Perkins Coie, the State of Oklahoma is well positioned to work towards a compact that protects core public services and advances the future of our great state, its four million residents, and gaming tribes. Perkins Coie will also respond to and address the Chickasaw, Cherokee, and Choctaw Nations federal lawsuit filed on New Years Eve," Stitt of the firm he hired.

"The legal experts at Perkins Coie have successfully represented other states in Indian law controversies, to include the State of New Mexicos compact dispute in 2015," Stitt added, in reference to a dispute in which a tribe was forced to contribute more of its gaming revenues because the Republican governor at the time refused to negotiate different terms

Notably, the federal courts in Oklahoma and New Mexico fall within the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals , the one whose negative rulings resulted in the Pueblo of Pojoaque being backed into a corner because the state governor asserted sovereign immunity in response to the tribe's lawsuit.

Separately, Sitt announced that two tribes agreed to extend their Class III gaming compacts while discussions continue. However, neither the Kialegee Tribal Town, nor the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, are currently operating casinos.

And while Sitt, in a news release , said the two tribes "recognize the January 1, 2020 expiration" in their compacts, the extensions reveal a different position. Both the Kialegee Tribal Town and the United Keetoowah Band preserved their belief that their agreements in fact do not expire.

"Our signing acknowledges that there are differences in opinion on this matter between the tribes and the state," UKB Chief Joe Bunch said in a statement after the extension was announced. "Until the matter is sorted, we simply wish to maintain good relations with the state as we work to improve our tribe's economic status."

UKB Chief Joe Bunch would like to issue the following statement in regards to our recent gaming extension compact... Posted by United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma on Thursday, January 2, 2020

Since 2004, when voters approved Class III gaming through State Question 712, tribes have paid $1.28 billion to the state, according to the Oklahoma Gaming Compliance Unit's most recent report . The money is derived from a percentage of electronic gaming revenue, as well as table game revenue.

"For the first $10 million in revenue, tribes pay 4 percent to the state; for the next $10 million, the payment is 5 percent; and for revenues more than $20 million, the payment is 6 percent. Tribes pay 10 percent of the monthly net win from table games," the report reads.

The state defines such payments to be " exclusivity fees " and the tribes share revenues based on the promise that they are the exclusive operators of Class III games like slot machines, as well as table games like blackjack and poker. Bringing in non-Indian operators would violate the pledge, a situation that has led to court battles elsewhere

Such provisions are common in Class III gaming compacts even though revenue sharing is not explicitly authorized by IGRA, which became law in 1988. In reviewing agreements, the BIA looks to see whether a state has promised tribes something "meaningful" in return, such as exclusivity.

Revenue sharing rates range from a low of 0 percent to a high of 25 percent, according to a Government Accountability Office report from 2015 . Although Stitt has pointed to rates on the higher end of the scale, the majority of the compacts examined by the GAO at the time fell in the same range as Oklahoma's current agreement -- somewhere between 10 percent and 14.9 percent -- and below.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ore.  Hunters have until Jan. 31 to report their hunts for 2019 to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

There are a few ways to report:

Go online here

Hunters can visit an ODFW office (Corvallis, Roseburg or Springfield)

The ODFW licensing phone line at 1-866-947-6339

If hunters purchased a tag, reporting is mandatory even if they werent successful at hunting or harvesting an animal.

There is a $25 penalty for not reporting and ODFW confirms that the penalty does not go away if hunters purchase another license or skip a year of reporting.

The deadline to report hunts from Jan. 1 this year to March 31 will be on April 15.
Nirbhaya Case: A Delhi court on Tuesday issued death warrants against four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case. Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora pronounced the order today after hearing of a plea seeking the issuance of 'black warrant' against the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case. The convicts will be hanged on January 22 at 7am.

Earlier in December, the Supreme Court (SC) had dismissed Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case convict Akshay Kumar Singh's review plea, one of the four men convicted in 2012 gangrape and murder case. The top court had said that there were no grounds to reconsider his death penalty.

The apex court had already rejected the review pleas filed by the other three convicts -- Mukesh (32), Pawan Gupta (25) and Vinay Sharma (26) -- in the case, saying no grounds have been made out by them for the review. The apex court had said that it found "no error" on the face of the main judgement requiring any review.

With the December 18 verdict, the review petitions of all the four death row convicts stood dismissed. Ram Singh, one of the other accused in the case, allegedly committed suicide in the Tihar Jail in New Delhi.

Nirbhaya is the changed name of the December 2012 gang rape-cum-murder victim. The 23-year-old physiotherapy intern was gangraped and brutally assaulted on the intervening night of December 16-17, 2012 inside a moving bus in South Delhi by six people. She died on December 29, 2012 at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

BusinessToday.In brings you all the latest updates on Court's verdict in Nirbhaya Case:

6.12 pm: Nirbhaya Case: Other accused

23-year old Jyoti Singh was gangraped and murdered brutally by six men on a moving bus on 16 December, 2012. Besides the four convicts sentenced today- Mukesh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Singh, the main accused Ram Singh allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail while his trial was going on. Meanwhile, another accused was a minor at time of the crime. He was sent to a reform facility in Delhi and was released after serving a three-year sentence.

6.05 pm: Nirbhaya verdict a victory of justice, says Manish Sisodia

Manish Sisodia, Deputy CM of the national capital, praised the efforts of Nirbhaya's parents and said, "The people of the country had been earnestly waiting for this verdict. The entire nation had been shocked by Nirbhaya's rape. This is a victory of justice. I used to remain in touch with Nirbhaya's lawyers. Glad that the hard work and dedication of her parents and many activists have finally paid off."

6.04 pm: Nirbhaya verdict a lesson for all, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

"It will be a big lesson for all. Whoever abuses women will get a lesson from this. Nirbhaya's parents and all of us were waiting for this news. Justice has finally been served," said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

6.00 pm: Gautam Gambhir welcomes Delhi Court verdict in Nirbhaya case

East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir took to Twitter to welcome Delhi Court verdict in Nirbhaya case. "Finally! India's daughter gets JUSTICE! #Nirbhaya," he tweeted.

5.58 pm: It's a win for all Nirbhayas of India, says DCW chief Swati Maliwal

"Strongly welcome this decision. It is a win for all the 'Nirbhayas' living in this country.I salute Nirbhaya's parents who fought for 7 long years. Why has it taken 7yrs to punish these people? Why can't this time period be reduced?" says Delhi Commission for Women Chief Swati MaliwaI.

Delhi Commission for Women Chief Swati MaliwaI: Strongly welcome this decision. It is a win for all the 'Nirbhayas' living in this country.I salute Nirbhaya's parents who fought for 7 long years. Why has it taken 7yrs to punish these people? Why can't this time period be reduced? pic.twitter.com/ziS9mNxXXD - ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2020

5.54 pm: Decision will instill fear in people, says Nirbhaya's father

"I am happy with the court's decision. The convicts will be hanged at 7 am on 22nd January; This decision will instill fear in people who commit such crimes," Badrinath Singh, father of 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim.

Badrinath Singh, father of 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim: I am happy with the court's decision. The convicts will be hanged at 7 am on 22nd January; This decision will instill fear in people who commit such crimes. pic.twitter.com/CURPOXCUFD - ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2020

5.50 pm: Will file curative petition in SC, says Nirbhaya convicts' lawyer

"We will file curative petition in SC within a day or two. 5 senior most judges of SC will hear it. There has been pressure of media,public&political pressure in this case since beginning. Unbiased probe could not take place in this case," Nirbhaya convicts' lawyer AP Singh told ANI.

Nirbhaya convicts' lawyer AP Singh: We will file curative petition in SC within a day or two. 5 senior most judges of SC will hear it. There has been pressure of media,public&political pressure in this case since beginning. Unbiased probe could not take place in this case. pic.twitter.com/1BpNboDj2Z - ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2020

5.45 pm: Tihar Jail officials to write UP Prisons; seek hangman's service to hang Nirbhaya's rapists

Tihar Jail officials to write to UP Prisons seeking service of a hangman and to inform them about the date and time of execution of all four convicts in Nirbhaya case as the verdict was delivered by a Delhi court on Tuesday.

5.35 pm: Faith in law restores, says Nirbhaya mother

Hailing the verdict to hang Nirbhaya's rapists, her mother Asha Devi said the order has restored the faith of women in law. "My daughter has got justice. Execution of the four convicts will empower the women of the country. This decision will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system." Her father Badrinath Singh also expressed his happiness, " I am happy with the court's decision. The convicts will be hanged at 7 am on 22nd January; This decision will instil fear in people who commit such crimes," she said.

5.30 pm: Delhi court issues death/black warrant, what is it?

The black or death warrant is a piece of paper that initiates the procedure for executing a person sentenced to die. The warrant is a part of the Code of Criminal Procedure, lists the time and place of execution.

5:20 PM: Commenting on the court's verdict, Nirbhaya convicts' lawyer AP Singh said that we will file curative petition in SC within a day or two. 5 senior most judges of SC will hear it. "There has been pressure of media, public and political pressure in this case since beginning. Unbiased probe could not take place in this case," ANI quoted him saying.

5:15 PM: Badrinath Singh, father of 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim said that he was very happy with the court's decision. He said that the verdict will instill fear in people who commit such crimes.
It was announced today that the upcoming Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), which will conduct a vast astronomical survey for unprecedented discovery of the deep and dynamic Universe, will now be named the NSF (National Science Foundation) Vera C. Rubin Observatory (Rubin Observatory or VRO). The announcement was made today by Ralph Gaume, Director of the NSF Division of Astronomical Sciences; Kathy Turner, DOE (Department of Energy) Office of High Energy Physics program manager; and Steve Kahn, LSST Director during the LSST Open House at the 235th American Astronomical Society meeting in Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA. The construction and operations of the Rubin Observatory and the DOE LSST Camera is a U.S. federal partnership of the NSF and DOE, with private and international contributors. This initiative was started on June 11, 2019, by Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon and enacted into law on December 20, 2019.

"Named after an astronomer who provided important evidence of the existence of dark matter, the NSF Vera C. Rubin Observatory seems destined to make science history with its extraordinary capabilities that will come to bear in the next few years," said France Cordova, director of NSF. "Congress has helped make this inspiring commemoration a reality. The Rubin Observatory is expected to significantly advance what we know about dark matter and dark energy, so the Rubin name will have yet another way to inspire women and men eager to investigate."

"It is fitting for this major new observatory, which includes the study of dark matter and dark energy as one of the major research topics, to be named for a pioneering astronomer whose observations were so critical to our understanding of this area," said Paul Dabbar, Under Secretary for Science of the DOE. The 3200 megapixel camera is DOE's primary contribution to LSST. "Dr. Rubin's life and singular achievements as a scientist remain a model for all those seeking to satisfy humanity's unceasing curiosity about our Universe."

In partnership with the U.S., Chile provides important support to the Rubin Observatory and other astronomical observatories. The Rubin Observatory features facilities currently under construction in Chile with headquarters in Tucson, AZ, USA. It consists of an integrated system featuring a wide field ground-based telescope with an 8.4-meter mirror.

During 10 years of operations starting late 2022, the Rubin Observatory together with the 3200 megapixel DOE LSST Camera and the data facility will carry out an unprecedented optical survey of the visible sky named the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). The survey's design is driven by four main science themes: probing dark energy and dark matter, taking an inventory of the solar system, exploring the transient optical sky, and mapping the Milky Way.

Rubin Observatory Director Steve Kahn said, "We are deeply honored to have our observatory named after Vera Rubin. Through her discovery of dark matter, Vera made one of the most important contributions to science in the past century, not only for astronomy, but also for fundamental physics. When construction is completed in 2022, the Rubin Observatory and the LSST Camera will help build on her pioneering work to dramatically improve our understanding of the Universe on many different scales."

Vera Rubin's career spanned several areas in observational astronomy but she is most recognized for uncovering the discrepancy between the observed and predicted motions of matter in galaxies. This discrepancy is interpreted as evidence for dark matter, which exerts gravitational force but does not emit light as ordinary matter does. "We are proud that this next-generation observatory will be named in recognition of Vera's contributions 50 years after she published her landmark work," said Carnegie Institution for Science President Eric D. Isaacs. Her work was confirmed using numerous observational techniques and it had a major impact on cosmology.

Rubin Observatory Deputy Director Zeljko Ivezic commented, "Starting with this survey, the Rubin Observatory and LSST Camera will shed new light on the distribution of dark matter in our galaxy, the Milky Way, as well as throughout the Universe, and thus will significantly contribute to Vera's scientific legacy."

Although Vera Rubin received many scientific honors, such as the National Medal of Science award and she was voted into the National Academy of Sciences, she experienced gender-based resistance in her career. "We are pleased that LSST has now been named the Vera C. Rubin Observatory," said Allan Rubin, David Rubin, and Karl Rubin. "We believe that this is a great way to honor our mother's achievements in astronomy and her work for equal rights for women in science." Vera Rubin was an outspoken advocate for women in the sciences; she was recognized for paving the way for other women in astronomy, and for achieving remarkable success while facing challenges that her male colleagues did not have to overcome. Both as a scientist and a as woman, she improved the field for those who came after.

"Vera Rubin's research transformed our understanding of galaxies by observationally showing that they grow up inside dark matter halos. Not only did her work set the basis for my own research, speaking with her at my first big astronomy conference empowered my confidence that women could succeed in the field. Naming the observatory in her honor is a fitting tribute, an important statement about visibility and inclusivity in astronomy, and makes me proud to be involved in such an extraordinary project," said Amanda Bauer, Interim Deputy Director of Operations at the Rubin Observatory.

"It is exciting that this wonderful observing system will be named after Vera Rubin. Dr. Rubin was a strong advocate of public facilities for science as a means to ensure the best ideas got to see the light of day (or night). Much of her astronomy research was accomplished on NSF funded, national facilities open to all astronomers, so having her name on this new NSF facility is appropriate and a great way to honor her work and impact on our field," said Robert Blum, Acting Director of Operations at the Rubin Observatory.

In addition, the telescope at the Rubin Observatory has been named the Simonyi Survey Telescope in recognition of a significant private donation made early in the construction phase that was utilized to design, develop, and fabricate the telescope's primary mirror.

###

Contacts

PIO Contact:

Ranpal Gill

AURA/LSST

+1 520 309 6195

rgill@lsst.org

Science Contact:

Zeljko Ivezic

University of Washington

+1 206 403 6132

ivezic@uw.edu

This Federal project is jointly funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, with early construction funding received through private donations through the LSST Corporation. The NSF-funded LSST Project Office for construction was established as an operating center under management of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). The DOE-funded effort to build the LSST camera is managed by the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC).

NSF and DOE will continue to support the Rubin Observatory in its Operations phase to carry out the Legacy Survey of Space and Time. They will also provide support for scientific research with the data. During operations NSF funding is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with NSF and DOE funding is managed by SLAC under contract by DOE. The Rubin Observatory and DOE LSST Camera are operated by NSF's Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory and SLAC.

Rubin Observatory Promotional Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9UzJ29bNII
COOPERSVILLE, MI -- More than a hundred volunteers again took to fields and woods near Coopersville to search for a teen missing since New Years Day.

It was the second time since Jan. 2 that people gathered to help the family of 18-year-old Hunter Klompstra. Some rode horses as part of Tuesdays search effort.

Klompstra went missing after leaving a party at a friends house in the 6100 block of Leonard Street about 2 a.m. Jan. 1. He left on foot.

My aunt and uncle, theyre desperate for answers, said Cylee McClary, a cousin of Klompstra.

He told his parents that he would be home and then, the next morning he didnt show up and they couldnt get a hold of him. They finally called the police to report him missing and theyve been searching ever since, she said.

She said Klompstra got a ride to the party from friends and everyone who went was supposed to spend the night there. She didnt know why he left.

McClary said its uncharacteristic for Klompstra to not be in touch with family.

The search Tuesday started near a cell phone tower off 48th Avenue north of Leonard Street. According to family, the last signal from Klompstras cell phone came within 1.7 miles of the tower.

At least 20 people on horseback joined in Tuesdays search, as well as volunteers equipped with metal detectors.

McClary said he was wearing eyeglasses, carrying a pocket knife and also had the cell phone.

She urged anyone with information about Klompstra to call police or Silent Observer. She questioned whether anyone might be withholding information because the party may have involved underage drinking.

Police already have searched extensively for Klompstra since he was reported missing on the evening of Jan. 1. They coordinated the Jan. 2 search where volunteers staged at Klompstras workplace, Gull Lake Marine. The searching has involved tracking dogs, a helicopter, drones and a dive team checking the nearby Grand River for any sign.

Klompstra was a graduate of Coopersville Schools, was learning welding and loved his job, McClary said.

He had so many plans for his future, she said.

Family members have hope that Klompstra will be found alive, but say they want answers to his disappearance even if the outcome is tragic.

Among the volunteer searchers Tuesday was Wyoming resident John Burri.

I know the grief that goes with a loss like this, he said. If there is something we can do to help, I want to.

Burris son, Army Spc. Eric Burri, 21, died in 2005 when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in Baghdad.
Iran said it is evaluating 13 possible ways to inflict a "historic nightmare" on the U.S. for killing a powerful Iranian general, whose burial was postponed after dozens of mourners died in a stampede.

General Qassem Soleimani's exploits in conflicts from Syria to Yemen made him a national hero, and hundreds of thousands have turned out this week as his funeral procession stopped in various cities, first in Iraq, where he was killed in a drone strike, and later Iran. But the masses that met the cortege ahead of his burial overwhelmed his southeastern hometown, leaving more than 50 dead and 213 injured, state TV reported.

The burial was postponed indefinitely, state-run Islamic Republic News Agency said. Some of those hurt as two large crowds merged at an intersection were in a critical condition, emergency officials said.

The tragedy unfolded after Iran served notice that it was assessing 13 scenarios for reprisal.

"Even if the weakest of these scenarios gains a consensus, its implementation can be a historic nightmare for the Americans," Ali Shamkhani, the head of Iran's National Security Council, was cited as saying by Iran's semi-official Fars news agency. "For now, for intelligence reasons, we cannot provide more information to the media."

Iranian officials have previously said that U.S. forces in the region will be targets, and the Iranian parliament on Tuesday designated the Pentagon and affiliated companies as terrorists. The U.S. issued a warning to shipping in the Middle East over the possibility of Iranian action against U.S. maritime interests, the Associated Press reported, citing a statement.

The menacing comments from Shamkhani, which were later denied by the security council, briefly roiled markets. But U.S. equity futures edged higher, and stocks in Europe and Asia later jumped as investors set aside fears about escalating tensions in the Middle East.

In Brussels, the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the U.K. are holding an emergency meeting to discuss their options to try and defuse tensions.

A German lawmaker, Roderich Kiesewetter, said some German troops would temporarily be withdrawn from Iraq, and in Lebanon, the U.S. embassy tightened security in anticipation of retribution, according to a local news report.

The general directed the foreign operations of Iran's military, and was instrumental in extending Tehran's influence across the Middle East through a network of proxy militias. His death near Baghdad's airport has rippled through the region, with the U.S. and its allies on alert for retaliation and questions swirling about the continued U.S. military presence in Iraq, deployed there to combat Islamic State and serve as a counterweight against Iran's formidable influence.

U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien told Fox News on Tuesday that Soleimani was in Iraq planning attacks on "facilities" that contained American diplomats and troops.

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister, said earlier in Tehran that the U.S. would suffer consequences for the killing of Soleimani "at a time and place of Iran's choosing." The countdown has begun for the U.S. exit from the Middle East, he said, warning of a multi-generational war should the region continue to rely on the U.S. presence.

The Pentagon dispatched additional forces to the Middle East, even as conflicting signs emerged about Washington's commitment to remaining in Iraq.

The three-ship Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group was ordered to move to the Persian Gulf region from the Mediterranean, where it has been exercising, according to a U.S. official. The group, which includes about 2,200 Marines and a helicopter unit, follows the deployment of about 3,500 soldiers from the Army's 82nd Airborne to Kuwait late last week.

The show of force followed reports of a letter telling U.S. military officials in Baghdad that American personnel were repositioning in preparation to leave Iraq. Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Monday that a letter to that effect was a draft and should never have been sent. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, at a briefing alongside Milley, said "there is no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave."
Home Search ICH UPDATE US military has no plans to leave Iraq: US defence chief By ICH & Agencies UPDATE January 06, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - : 15:23 PST - The U.S. has not planed to pull out militarily from Iraq, Defense Secretary Mark Esper told Pentagon reporters on Monday, "There's been no decision made to leave Iraq. Period," he told reporters. The letter, (seen below) cited by news agencies, was sent to Iraqi military by US Marine Corps Brigadier General William H Seely III, commanding general of Task Force Iraq,said that the letter was a poorly worded draft document meant to only underscore increased movement of forces. "It (the draft letter) was sent over to some key Iraqi military guys in order to get things coordinated for air movements, etc. Then it went from that guy's hands to another guy's hands and then it went to your hands. Now, it's a kerfuffle." It seems more likely the Trump administration is keeping its troops in the country for the foreseeable future. US coalition to leave Iraq  U.S. general By ICH & Agencies January 06, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - : The US military informed its counterparts in Baghdad on Monday it was preparing for movement out of Iraq, a day after the Iraqi parliament urged the government to oust foreign troops. In due deference to the sovereignty of Iraq, the Combined Joint Task Force Iraq will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement, Marine General William H. Seely III wrote in a letter to the Iraqi Defense Ministry on Monday. #Breaking: US military tells Iraqi Joint operations command that they are preparing to move out. pic.twitter.com/yqoFiEIHBD  Mustafa Salim (@Mustafa_salimb) January 6, 2020 A letter written by William H Seely, Brigadier General of the US Marine Corps said to Iraqi military boss Abdul Amir said: We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure. The letter laid out US coalition plans to reposition forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement. It outlined how there will be an increase in helicopter travel in and around Baghdad as the US and its allies withdraw from the country in a safe and efficient manner. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter

General Seely added that the operation would take place during hours of darkness to help alleviate any perception that we may be bringing more coalition forces into the International Zone. Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/06/us-withdraw-troops-iraq-amid-growing-crisis-iran-12013132/?ito=cbshare Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/ General Seely added that the operation would take place during hours of darkness to help alleviate any perception that we may be bringing more coalition forces into the International Zone. It is unclear as to whether Trump will be now retracting his threats of sanctions on Iraq should US troops be expelled from the country. "We will charge them sanctions like they've never seen before ever," Trump said aboard Air Force One, according to a pool report. "It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame." Trump essentially wants to be paid back for the costs of the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. The next question is, where are the troops being moved to? Syria perhaps. The original source of this article is Information Clearing House - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy Search Information Clearing House === Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Information Clearing House has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is Information ClearingHouse endorsed or sponsored by the originator.) Privacy Statement The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
New Delhi: In a major development, Delhi's Patiala House Court on Tuesday (January 7) issued death warrant for all four men sentenced to death in Nirbhaya gangrape-murder case. The four convicts will be hanged to death on January 22 at 7 AM, said the court.Executions are rare in India and death sentences are awarded only in cases of rarest of rare crimes.

Among the last few executions witnessed in India were of Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, a Pakistani terrorist, and Afzal Guru, conspirator in Parliament attack case.

While the debate continues over whether capital punishment is justified or not, there is an interesting aspect associated with it.

Why are those on death row executed before sunrise?

We all have seen in films that whenever any prisoner is executed, only a handful of persons are present to witness the act.

Among them are a judicial executioner, a magistrate or his representative, a doctor and some policemen.

And there are several reasons why executions are carried out before sunrise in India.

- Jail authorities have to focus a lot of energies on carrying out an execution and they wind up the same before sunrise so that it does not affect their daily schedule. Requirements pre and post execution include medical tests and noting of procedures in multiple registers.

- The body also needs to be handed over to the prisoner's family post execution in time so that they can conduct the last rites the same day.

- Executions are carried out early in the morning so as to ensure that the person on death row does not have to wait for long on a day he is due to be hanged and to prevent him from undergoing further mental trauma.

- Hangings are carried out early in the morning in order to prevent sudden reactions from the society as most people are asleep when the development takes place.
REALM is the luxury real estate technology community that is founded and inspired by leading luxury real estate professionals across the globe to leverage human connections and power agent productivity in the luxury sector through networking and insight. REALM offers members and their clients access to listings, elite global events, experiences and resources such as proprietary content and intelligence with the sole mission of adding unmatched value to the agent relationships.

"The global luxury real estate category is a multi-trillion dollar industry," says Faupel. REALM was created by a consortium of the finest luxury professionals in this industry who recognize service to clients as their highest goal. Customizable content is a key aspect of the value of membership in REALM, and we could not have found a stronger partner than the creative team at Sandow."

"We are thrilled to announce a new and innovative content partnership with REALM crafted to deepen the agents' relationships with their clients," says Brockman. "By harnessing our deep knowledge of architecture + design and combining it with our editorial expertise, we will create engaging, curated content filled with a diverse range of articles from Luxe."

"Each story will be sharable," says Faupel, allowing real estate professionals to customize the content to suit the various passions of their clientsencouraging conversation, exploration and discovery. Luxe and REALM both understand how critical customization is in today's market. We know this presents a huge value to our members."

In addition to the dozens of monthly stories relevant to the real estate, design and style industries, REALM members will have access to actionable and undeniably powerful intelligence from sources including Wealth X, the global leader in delivering the most respected data on the world's wealthiest individuals available today.

REALM founding partner, Gary Gold of Hilton & Hyland, last month sold Chartwell, California's most expensive home, listed at $198 million in Bel-Air. "To be able to manage all the opportunities we have is the biggest challenge of any real estate agent who is successful," says Gold. "Besides my own sphere of influence, I get more business from agents than any other source. REALM has given me a new tool to meet the people I don't know. When you take REALM's artificial intelligence and then apply human intelligence to that, there is money to be made."

Joining with Faupel to help develop this depth of REALM's powerful impact on its members is industry leader Brennan Buckley. As a REALM Founding Partner, Buckley joins the leadership team from Iowa Realty, a Home Services of America company, where he most recently served as president during his nearly 15 year tenure with the firm.

"What is compelling about REALM," says Buckley, "is that we offer our members the highest level of support available today by harnessing the power of global relationships with the most sophisticated economic intelligence available. Our members have direct access to over three million profiles of high net worth and ultrahigh net worth individuals from over 190 countries around the globe."

REALM is the brainchild of Founder, Julie Faupel, owner of Jackson Hole Real Estate Associates, a past winner of Christie's International Real Estate Affiliate of the Year award in 2011 and 2014.

Working with a team of strategic global real estate and technology leaders, investors and visionary futurists, Faupel tasked Silicon Valley engineers to create a unique curated luxury lifestyle software integrating Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence that aggregates and secures data improving the holistic real estate experience for real estate professionals and their clients with the highest degree of security and privacy.

Early adopters and collaborators with REALM include real estate professionals and industry leaders from across the U.S. led by agents from Brown Harris Stevens, Strand Hill Properties, Richardson Properties, Hilton & Hyland, Slifer Smith and Frampton and Landvest. Real estate professionals who share Faupel's industry changing vision can inquire about REALM membership at https://www.realm-global.com to learn more.

About REALM

REALM is the first-ever collaborative, lifestyle-matching venture in real estate that enables its member-agents to greater productivity and relationship enhancement through the power of data. REALM connects discerning clientele and their advisors through a patent-pending matching platform and bespoke experiences customized to enhance relationships. REALM uses an "open" platform, which will work with various CRMs to optimize members' client lists while working in a secure, encrypted environment. To learn more, go to https://www.realm-global.com

About Luxe Interiors + Design

Luxe Interiors + Design is the unrivaled regional architecture + design authority. Built upon the unique platform of being both globally inspired yet locally sourcedcurrently spanning 14 local editions as well as delivering nationallyLuxe reaches a highly discerning audience of design aficionados. Speaking to this coveted audience in their home markets, while also covering national and international design trends, Luxe has become the fastest growing brand in the shelter category today. It boasts a total distribution of 550,000 and recently added Southeast and Naples editions to its network. Published by SANDOW, a leader in innovation and design.

About Sandow

Sandow is a fully integrated solutions platform that includes leading content, tools, and services for the design industry. Its portfolio of assets includes Interior Design Media, Luxe Interiors + Design and Galerie Media, as well as research/strategy firm, ThinkLab.

MEDIA CONTACT: Terri Tiffany, [email protected] 650 387-7720

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FREDERICTON - Walter Learning, the founder of Theatre New Brunswick and a key figure in Canadian theatre, has died.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Walter Learning, of Fredericton, N.B., is invested as a Member of the Order of Canada by Governor General Julie Payette during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Thursday, November 21, 2019. Walter Learning, the founder of Theatre New Brunswick and a key figure in Canadian theatre has died. Learning, who was born in Quidi Vidi, N.L., died Sunday in Fredericton at the age of 81.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Wattie

FREDERICTON - Walter Learning, the founder of Theatre New Brunswick and a key figure in Canadian theatre, has died.

Learning, who was born in Quidi Vidi, N.L., died Sunday in Fredericton at the age of 81.

In a statement, Fredericton Playhouse executive director Tim Yerxa said that as a writer, director, actor and founder of Canadas only full-time touring regional theatre company, Learning had a profound impact on countless people, organizations, and communities.

"His positive impact on the Canadian theatre sector is undeniable. It is evidenced in the organizations he led, the communities in which he lived and worked, and the countless individuals who came to know him as colleague, mentor, and friend," Yerxa said.

"Throughout his illustrious life, Mr. Learning worked tirelessly to promote the value of professional theatre for New Brunswickers. He believed it was every New Brunswicker's birthright to have access to a rich and varied cultural life," he said.

Among his many roles, Learning served on the Canada Council for the Arts, and as artistic director of the Vancouver Playhouse and later the Charlottetown Festival.

Adam Brazier, the current artistic director of the performing arts at the Confederation Centre in Charlottetown issued a statement of condolence.

"Walter spent a career and a lifetime dedicated to artists and to theatre," Brazier wrote. He noted that Learning's five years with the Charlottetown Festival included "leading the production and development of dozens of plays and musicals, including Anne of Green Gables: The Musical and its international touring to Japan in 1991."

In recent years, Learning spent much of his time as a freelance broadcaster, writer, actor and director.

In 2018, he was made a member of the Order of New Brunswick, and in June 2019 was appointed to the Order of Canada.

The statement read during the Order of Canada ceremony described Learning's many contributions.

"Newfoundlander Walter Learning has cultivated excellence in theatre across Canada.... His body of work as a director, actor and writer has been seen from coast to coast, and his ongoing involvement in the field has nurtured the blossoming talent of many young thespians."

Learning is survived by his wife, Ruthie, and son, Warwick.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan 7, 2020.
Restored Mausoleum of Augustus to reopen after 80 years.

Romes Mausoleum of Augustus is set to reopen to the public in 2020 following a 6.5 million restoration funded by Italian telecommunications company TIM, according to Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica.

The monumental tomb of Rome's first emperor is destined to become a major draw for tourists, after decades of abandonment, and is expected to be open for free, according to La Repubblica.

In addition to sponsorship from TIM, the restoration of the 13,000-sqm mausoleum - under the direction of architect Francesco Cellini - has been funded with 4 million from the city and Italy's culture ministry.

There will be virtual reality tours, as previewed in an advert featuring acclaimed Italian conductor Riccardo Muti accompanying a girl on a virtual journey through the history of the monument. "Use technology to travel with your imagination", Muti says, to the strains of Mascagni's La Cavalleria Rusticana.

Constructed in 28 BC, the mausoleum is the capitals largest circular tomb and has been closed to the public for around 80 years.The structure was used as a concert hall in the late 19th- and early 20th century and narrowly escaped demolition by Mussolini in the late 1930s.

Over the years the monument has been the subject of numerous stalled renovation projects, one of which would have seen it ready in 2014 in time to mark the 2,000th anniversary of the death of Augustus.

The mausoleum is located in Piazza Augusto Imperatore, beside Via Ripetta and Richard Meiers Ara Pacis museum, which contains Augustuss Altare della Pace, to commemorate the peace created by the emperor.
Delhi will hold elections to its 70-member assembly on February 8, the Election Commission of India said on Monday, setting the stage for a high-stakes political battle that will pitch the Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) campaign to retain power by showcasing its performance against the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) efforts to wrest the national capital, where it has been out of power for two decades.

The AAP won a remarkable 67 seats in the assembly polls in 2015. The BJP secured only three seats in the polls then, but subsequently won all three municipal corporations and the seven Delhi seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress, which ruled Delhi for three consecutive terms until 2013 under the late Sheila Dixit, drew a blank in the elections necessitated by the resignation of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal over an anti-corruption bill.

On Monday, chief election commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora announced the schedule of the polls, the results for which will be declared on February 11. With the announcement, the model code of conduct came into effect. Political parties will have a good 15 days to campaign. This time, we have taken special care to avoid Sunday as the voting day, the poll watchdog chief said.

The election schedule comes at a time when the Capital is grappling with law-and-order concerns over the amended citizenship law. The Delhi Police have faced repeated criticism over the handling of the protests, which turned into violent clashes after their action near Jamia Millia Islamia in December. They faced fresh heat on Monday after a mob of masked men ran riot at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), attacking students and teachers with iron rods and sticks.

In response to a question on the current situation in Delhi, Arora said: I wont say we [the EC] are very sanguine, but we are hopeful that they [police] will be able to control the situation (and make it) conducive for polls. He added, And in any case in the polling process, if there is some kind of an extraordinary situation, always [there] are provisions for kind of deferring the polls. All these provisions are there. The Constitution empowers ECI to take a call if needed.

The CEC said that the date had been fixed after interacting with Union home ministry officials, senior Delhi Police officers and chief secretary of the state. We have written commitments from senior police officers, assuring law and order is controlled and situation is made conducive for the polls, Arora added.

In its campaign, the AAP has tried to showcase its performance in the Capital over the past five years, with a focus on education  where it claims to have improved government schools  and health care where it has set up mohalla clinics  as key successes.

The BJP, on the other hand, says the central government took over the process to conferring ownership rights to four million residents of unauthorised colonies because of delays by the AAP government. It passed a legislation in the Winter Session of Parliament to enable the change, and followed it up with a rally, addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to cite it as an achievement. While the BJP is primarily focusing on the Centre passing a law to grant ownership rights to residents of unauthorised colonies, the AAP is talking about the development work carried out in these colonies during its five-year tenure.

But besides local issues, the election will also have a strong national backdrop. The passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act provoked protests in the Capital over the past month, with universities and pockets such as Jamia emerging as centres of opposition. While the AAP and the Congress have criticised the law, claiming it is discriminatory, the BJP has strongly defended it, claiming it is humanitarian in nature by allowing persecuted minorities to find a home. The party has also launched an outreach campaign on the issue. Observers believe a lot will hinge on whether the issue results in a degree of sharp polarisation  primarily on religious lines.

Shortly after the schedule of the elections was announced, Delhi chief minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal said his party will seek votes on the basis of the work done by the government over the last five years. If I have done work, then vote for me. If I have not done work, then dont vote for me, Kejriwal said at a news briefing. He asked the supporters of the BJP and the Congress to vote for Delhi and not for your political party.

The BJP, meanwhile, said the ruling AAPs time in Delhi was up. AAP has found a new strategy of taking BJPs criticism in its stride by suggesting that they will implement many of them in the next five years. But I want to tell the Aam Aadmi Party that your time is up, said Union minister Prakash Javadekar, who is the BJPs Delhi incharge.

The Congress said it was prepared for the contest. We will run an aggressive campaign, which will compare the works done by the Congress under (former chief minister) Sheila Dikshit and the current (Arvind) Kejriwal government in Delhi, said Kirti Azad, the campaign committee chairman of Congresss Delhi unit.

For the BJP, Delhi is important for both substantive and symbolic purposes. Attaining power in the Capital will help it smoother coordination between the central government, which it controls, and the local government. The elections also come in the backdrop of the party having suffered a setback in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, and performing below expectations in Haryana. It will also help given the attention the national capital occupies in the media, and help weaken a critical and rival in Kejriwal.

But for AAP, the election is a battle for survival. After its plans to expand in Punjab hit a roadblock in 2017 and rout in the Lok Sabha elections, Delhi has emerged as the sole bastion of the party. A win here will help it attain the status of an established party while a loss will raise questions about its survival.

The Congress will be a key factor in the upcoming elections as it determines whether the anti-BJP votes  including Muslim votes  consolidate or split. In the two Lok Sabha and assembly elections held between 2013 and 2019, the AAPs fortunes have depended on the Congresss performance to a large extent. While a complete failure contributed to the AAPs sweep in 2015, its vote share reaching double digits helped the BJP.

The election will also be a sign of whether voters will continue to vote on local issues and for local leaders  as they appeared to have done in recent state assembly polls  or on national leaders and issues  as they did in the Lok Sabha elections and make a distinction between the two in different polls.

There are 14,692,136 voters in Delhi and 2,689 polling stations will be set up on the day of the voting, Arora said, addressing the briefing along with election commissioner Ashok Lavasa. The term of the sitting assembly will end on February 22.

Arora said the ECs 2017 ruling that prohibits the Centre from announcing schemes specific to states going to the polls will apply in Delhis case. The BJP government is likely to present its annual budget in Parliament on February 1.

Sanjay Kumar, director at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, said: I see the Delhi polls completely as a biparty contest between the AAP and the BJP. The Congress may see an increase in its vote share, but it is unlikely to cause much damage to others.
WHEN: Today, Tuesday, January 7, 2020

WHERE: CNBC's "Squawk on the Street"  Live from Goldman Sachs' annual energy conference in Miami Beach, FL

The following is the unofficial transcript of a CNBC EXCLUSIVE interview with Chevron CEO Michael Wirth and CNBC's Brian Sullivan on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" (M-F 9AM  11AM) today, Tuesday, January 7th. The following is a link to a video on CNBC.com: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/01/07/watch-cnbcs-full-interview-with-chevron-ceo-michael-wirth.html.

All references must be sourced by CNBC.

CARL QUINTANILLA: Oil prices pulling back, obviously. Dow is down almost 100. For a closer look at the sector and how companies are starting to respond to this heightened geopolitical risk, let's get to Brian Sullivan who is live at the Goldman Energy Conference with the Chairman and CEO of Chevron. Hi, Brian.

BRIAN SULLIVAN: Hey Carl. Good morning. Thank you very much. I'm joined by Michael Wirth here of Chevron. Michael, thank you very much for taking some time.

MICHAEL WIRTH: Pleasure.

BRIAN SULLIVAN: First response is you have American contractors in Iraq. They have removed from that country after the air strike. Do you anticipate they will go back? And how much, if at all, have your operations in Iraq been impacted?

MICHAEL WIRTH: Well, we don't have a big operation in Iraq. We're up north in the Kurdish region. And we take security measures on an ongoing basis, as we see risks evolve around the world. So, this is a relatively normal move for us to move some people to do their work from a different location. We have good people on the ground still in Iraq, Iraqis. And at some point as the situation, you know, clarifies itself and we view the security position as proper, we'll see people return.

BRIAN SULLIVAN: But you're still operating, you're still producing in Iraq? Just the Americans have pulled out?

MICHAEL WIRTH: Yes, we're actually developing a discovery so it's not in production yet. So, it's early phase development work.

BRIAN SULLIVAN: Okay. Are you surprised the price of oil did not jump more than it did?

MICHAEL WIRTH: Not really. You know, we saw the attack last year on critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. And pretty quickly, the market reverted to areas -- a price range where it had been before. We continue to be in a pretty well supplied market. And this event, while certainly is newsworthy, didn't fundamentally strike energy infrastructure or change the supply and demand dynamics in the market. So, I think certainly a reminder of the risk that exists in our business. But fundamentally hasn't shifted supply and command which is really where price gets set up.

BRIAN SULLIVAN: Are you adjusting your internal estimates on the price of Brent or WTI Crude going forward, based on, not only what happened on Friday, but on the OPEC move and the recent firming up of the market, a little bit, over the last couple of weeks? Have you changed your estimates?

MICHAEL WIRTH: No, we haven't. I mean, those are the kinds of things we see in this business, and we look at a long-term view really on supply and demand. And we don't overlay these shorter-term phenomena into our thinking about price and the things that drive investment.

BRIAN SULLIVAN: I know we have Jim and David and Carl back at the New York Stock Exchange. Jim, why don't you come on in here?

JIM CRAMER: Sure, Mike. You're really probably the great visionary of the large oils, and I know you must be thinking about the day when you do have no growth. Perhaps it's because of reduction in demand for fuel, perhaps because of EV. And I know it's not that close but you're a forward thinker. What does chevron do when big oil has no growth?

MICHAEL WIRTH: Well, look, the world consumes 100 million barrels of oil today. We've got 6.5 billion people on the planet, 20 years from now there will be 9 billion people on the planet. And so, even -- and the world will need 30% more energy 20 years from now than it does today and that includes all forms, right? Wind, solar, oil, gas, everything. And if you see a day when we see demand begin to plateau, there's still underlying decline. It's a depletion business, as you develop the resource you need to invest to replace that and you've got to have a price signal that incensed the replacement. So, there is a long future in a growth environment, and there's a long future even in an environment that begins to plateau for good economic investment to continue to provide the affordable, reliable and ever cleaner energy that the world will need.

JIM CRAMER: Are you surprised at all that the forward curve has not really budged despite the turmoil in the Middle East?

MICHAEL WIRTH: Not really, Jim. You know, fundamentally, supply and demand remain where they were before these incidents. We haven't seen anything that has actually changed that. Last year we did see something that impacted supply for a period of time, which was attack on infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Credit to Aramco for a strong recovery and repair of that. But fundamentally, markets while they see the geopolitical risk, I think we've been in a well-supplied market for some period of time here and that's generally what the view continues to be at this point.

BRIAN SULLIVAN: If oil prices, Mike, stayed where they are, I mean that's a big if. 63 bucks, they were at 55. So, they're up $7 or $8. Every dollar of incremental gain in the price of oil, as I understand it, benefits you to the tune of $450 million a year in additional cash flow. Is that correct?

MICHAEL WIRTH: That's roughly correct, yes.

BRIAN SULLIVAN: $1 increment, 450. So, you are going to be sitting on a lot more free cash flow if oil prices stay this way for a significant period of time. Your capital spending budget hasn't budged, it's been the same for three years. Would you look to increase it next fiscal year if oil prices stay at 63 on WTI?

MICHAEL WIRTH: Probably not. It's a long-term business. We sent our capital spending plans for a long-term value proposition for our shareholders. Our dividend is the most important thing to the people that own our stock. We've increased our annual dividend payout for 32 consecutive years. Our board will make a decision on that here later this month, in terms of 2020. But I would expect that streak to continue.

BRIAN SULLIVAN: So, what happens -- I know David is going to jump in with a question, as well. What happens to the extra cash flow, though? What do you do with it?

MICHAEL WIRTH: It can strengthen the balance sheet. We're buying back shares at the rate of 5 billion a year. We've got places we can put -- we have a very disciplined financial set of priorities and we'll stay consistent with those priorities.

BRIAN SULLIVAN: David.

DAVID FABER: Thanks, Brian. Mr. Wirth, last year, ESG investing I think came into its own in a way that perhaps it hadn't up until then. But it's not going anywhere now. More and more assets going into these broader ESG strategies, which often don't include a company like yours. What are you doing to try to face down the impediments that investors may face in terms of investing in a Chevron? I know for example that in Australia, you started up a CO2 injection project in early August. Great country to do it in, given the fires right now that are taking place there, perhaps as a result of, in part, climate change. But just address for me what chevron can do when faced with so many investors who simply say that's no go territory, that stock.

MICHAEL WIRTH: Look, I spendI am at the Goldman Sachs Conference today, meeting with investors. And we talk about ESG issues. They care about the S and the G, where I could hold our company up against any. E is the one, really, you are asking about. And within e, it's climate--it's not water or air quality--that is getting a lot of attention today. Three primary approaches that we're taking on climate: number one is to reduce the carbon intensity of our operations. And so, we've got a strong commitment in place, and metrics that affect my pay and the pay of every employee in the company that hold us accountability to reduce the carbon footprint of our operations. Second strategy is to integrate renewables into our business in a greater way. This includes solar and wind to power some of our operations. I've talked to Jim a little bit about some of our things on renewable natural gas where we're working with dairy farmers to take the by-products of dairy farming and captured natural gas for consumption. And then, the third is to invest in break-through technologies, which is really where companies that have the scale and the technical capability should be focused, is: how do we find solutions that can work at scale, that can be competitive and economic, with the alternatives today? And there is work to be done there. So, we're focused on all three of those, as we have discussions with serious investors that want to see our company and those in our industry be part of the solution. I think they understand the things that we're working on.

BRIAN SULLIVAN: Just quickly, are you going to stay in California? Your corporate headquarters is in San Ramon, across the Bay from San Francisco.

MICHAEL WIRTH: We've been in California 

BRIAN SULLIVAN: Are you -- I know, 140 years  are you going to stay there?

MICHAEL WIRTH: -- for 140 years. It's the birthplace of our company. We were the standard oil company of California. Look, we've got big assets in California, California, we've got big refineries, a big oil field there. We have people in Texas, we have people all around the world. But it's been our home for 140 years. And that hasn't changed.

BRIAN SULLIVAN: Okay. Michael Wirth, CEO of Chevron, thank you for joining us. Guys, I'll send it back to you at the New York Stock Exchange. Carl.

For more information contact:

Jennifer Dauble

CNBC

t: 201.735.4721

m: 201.615.2787

e: jennifer.dauble@nbcuni.com

Emma Martin

CNBC

t: 201.735.4713

m: 551.275.6221

e: emma.martin@nbcuni.com
TORONTO, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Partners Value Split Corp. (the Company) (TSX: PVS.PR.B, PVS.PR.D, PVS.PR.E, PVS.PR.F) is pleased to announce that Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC (PSG LLC), the current investment manager for the Company, will replace Brookfield Investment Management (Canada) Inc., (BIM Canada) as manager of the Company.



PSG LLC and BIM Canada are affiliates and are wholly owned subsidiaries of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (Brookfield). There will be no change to the Companys investment objectives and strategies.

Partners Value Split Corp. owns 80 million Class A Limited Voting Shares (Brookfield Shares) of Brookfield which generate cash flow through dividend payments that fund quarterly fixed cumulative preferential dividends for the holders of the Companys preferred shares, and provide the holders of the Company's capital shares the opportunity to participate in any capital appreciation of Brookfield Shares.

The Company uses its website as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding the Company is routinely posted on and accessible at www.partnersvaluesplit.com and at SEDAR at www.sedar.com .

For further information, contact Investor Relations at ir@pvii.ca or 416-956-5142.

Brookfield Investment Management (Canada) Inc. and Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC (together, the "Firm") are the manager and investment manager of the Company respectively.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Paris  Tue, January 7, 2020 16:02 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c32134b8d 2 Art & Culture Iran,Iraq,cultural-heritage,UNESCO,Donald-Trump Free

Both Iran and the United States must observe a convention obliging states to preserve cultural sites, the UN's cultural agency said on Monday, after President Donald Trump threatened to target Iran's cultural heritage.

UNESCO director general Audrey Azoulay highlighted that both Tehran and Washington had signed a 1972 convention prohibiting states from taking "any deliberate measures which might damage directly or indirectly the cultural and natural heritage" of other states.

At a meeting with the Iranian ambassador to the Paris-based organisation, Azoulay said that both countries had signed a 1954 convention for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict, UNESCO said.

Azoulay "stressed the universality of cultural and natural heritage as vectors of peace and dialogue between peoples, which the international community has a duty to protect and preserve for future generations".

Read also: Embassy urges Indonesians in Iran to be vigilant following US air strikes

Trump tweeted on Saturday that the United States would target some sites "at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture" if Tehran attacked American personnel or assets in retaliation for the killing of commander Qasem Soleimani.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in return that such a move would be a "war crime".

But Trump showed no sign of backing down from that threat on Sunday, saying: "They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we're not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesn't work that way."

Iran boasts 22 cultural sites on UNESCO's world heritage list.

They include the majestic Meidan Imam square -- also known as Naghsh-e Jahan -- in the city of Isfahan that was built by shah Abbas I at the start of the 17th century.

The most outstanding site is considered by many to be the ancient Achaemenidian capital of Persepolis in southwest Iran, founded by Darius I in 518 BC, and a major attraction for foreign tourists.
Iranian state television on Tuesday (January 7) reported that 35 people have been killed and 48 others injured in a stampede during the funeral ceremony of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in his hometown city of Kerman.

According to State TV, the head of Irans emergency medical services, Pirhossein Koulivand, said that some people have died and several have been injured. He, however, refused to divulge the casualty figures. The funeral procession of General Soleimani in Tehran on Monday (January 6) was attended by over 1 million people.

Press TV reported that a number of people died in a stampede during the funeral ceremony of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in Kerman.

The mortal remains of General Soleimani and Major General Hossein Pourjafari, who was also killed in the US drone attack, arrived at the Kerman airport on Tuesday, following massive funeral processions in Tehran, Ahvaz, Mashhad and Qom.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iran enlisted all US troops as well as Pentagon as terrorist entities for killing Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani. According to the Iranian news agency, Fars, Parliament of Iran gave its nod for the bill also allocates 200 million euro to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force to take revenge for killing Soleimani.

During Tuesday's session, "all members of the Pentagon, the affiliated companies and institutes and commanders and those who ordered for the assassination of Lieutenant General martyr Hajj Qassem Soleimani" were added to the terrorist list, as reported by Fars agency.
A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader on Jan. 6, 2020 shows the newly appointed commander of Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), lieutenant general and commander of the Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, center, weeping over the coffin of his predecessor Qasem Soleimani during their funeral ceremony in Tehran. AFP-Yonhap



South Korea will consider releasing oil from its strategic oil reserves if there is a crisis on securing oil supplies amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following last week's killing of a top Iranian general by a U.S. drone strike, a senior government official said Tuesday.



Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom told a meeting with economy-related vice ministers that the country is fully prepared to deal with any fallout from the heightened tensions in the Middle East.



The government will closely monitor financial markets and swiftly take actions if volatility rises in the wake of the Middle East tensions, Kim said.



As of end-November, the amount of the government's oil reserves came to 96.5 million barrels. When considering the savings from the private sector, the amount is estimated at 200 million barrels.



Kim said there is no short-term impact on South Korea's imports of oil, but the country still needs to closely monitor the situations, considering its heavy dependency on the Middle East for energy.









The Middle East accounted for 70 percent of South Korea's imports of crude over the January-November period of 2019. That of liquefied natural gas (LNG) was estimated at 38 percent.





Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom talks during the meeting focused on economy and finance at the Seoul Government Complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Still, other Bolton associates have privately said that he wants a future in Republican politics and does not want to be seen as a turncoat on Trump or someone who is trying to ingratiate himself with the presidents critics. They noted, for instance, that his statement Monday came from his political action committees office as an example of how hes trying to build out his operation even as he deals with legal issues.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern Monday over rising global discord and called for "maximum restraint" amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran after the United States killed an Iranian military commander.

"The New Year has begun with our world in turmoil," Guterres said in brief remarks at the UN headquarters in New York.

"We are living in dangerous times. Geopolitical tensions are at their highest level this century. And this turbulence is escalating."

Guterres did not explicitly mention the rising tensions in the Middle East following the US killing of Qasem Soleimani, head of Iran's Middle East operations, in a drone strike.

But his remarks appeared aimed, at least in part, at the two sides.

"This cauldron of tensions is leading more and more countries to take unpredicted decisions with unpredictable consequences and a profound risk of miscalculation," Guterres said.

He added that he had been following the recent rise in global tensions with "great concern" and was in constant contact with leading officials around the world.

"And my message is simple and clear: Stop escalation. Exercise maximum restraint. Re-start dialogue. Renew international cooperation," he said.

"Let us not forget the terrible human suffering caused by war. As always, ordinary people pay the highest price. It is our common duty to avoid it."

Reacting to the US airstrike on Friday, a spokesman for Guterres said the secretary-general had "consistently advocated for de-escalation in the Gulf."

"This is a moment in which leaders must exercise maximum restraint," the spokesman said. "The world cannot afford another war in the Gulf."

The United States on Friday killed Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Quds Force, in a drone strike on Baghdad's international airport.

Iran vowed "severe revenge" for Soleimani's death while US President Donald Trump said there would be "major" US retaliation if Tehran hits back.

Story continues

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Guterres on Monday, the State Department said, to discuss the Middle East and Venezuela, where opposition leader Juan Guaido was re-elected national assembly speaker on Sunday in a hotly disputed vote.

Pompeo voiced his appreciation for Guterres's "continued diplomatic efforts," spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.

(AFP)
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the "arbitrary arrests of four journalists in Iran last month, which it said brought the number of reporters held since the start of a wave of anti-government protests in November to 12.



In a statement on January 7, the Paris-based media freedom watchdog also denounced the "inhuman and degrading" treatment of two prominent women journalists in Tehran's Evin prison in the past two weeks.



RSF said the detention and ill-treatment of the journalists were just examples of "the many measures taken by the Iranian authorities to step up their harassment of journalists" since a wave of anti-government protests erupted in mid-November following a gas price hike.



The group said Jelveh Javaheri, Kaveh Mzadari, Forough Sameinia, and Ahmad Zahedi Langroudi were among people arrested on December 26 during an event held in the northern city of Sowme'eh Sara to pay tribute to a demonstrator killed during a protest in November.



All those arrested have been released from custody except the four journalists, for whom payment of 100 million tomans ($30,000) in bail was demanded, according to RSF.



It added that the four are being held in Lakan prison near Rasht, Gilan Provinces largest city, without their lawyers or families knowing why.



Javaheri, Mzadari, and Sameinia work for online media, while Langroudi edits the provincial monthly GhilanOuja.



Meanwhile, journalist and human rights activist Narges Mohammadi was beaten by prison officials in Evin prison on December 25 as she responded to a summons to meet with her lawyer in the prison director's office, RSF said.



Instead of her lawyer, it said, Mohammadi found the prison director and an Intelligence Ministry representative, who told her she was going to be transferred to Zanjan prison, 300 kilometers from the capital.



When Mohammadi objected, she was beaten repeatedly and then bundled into an ambulance that took her to Zanjan, according to the media watchdog.

It said that both the Evin prison administration and the Justice Ministry denied that the attack against the journalist had taken place, although a forensic doctors report confirms that she sustained "bruising and other signs of physical trauma."



The 47-year-old Mohammadi, who was also the spokesperson for the Center for Human Rights Defenders in Iran, is serving a 10-year prison sentence after being found guilty of anti-government propaganda and membership of a banned group opposed to the death penalty, among other charges.



RSF said the "long list" of journalists subjected to inhuman treatment and humiliation in Iran's prisons also includes Hengameh Shahidi, who is serving 12 years and nine months in prison for "insulting the judicial system and its representatives."



Shahidi, who is also a womens rights activist and former adviser to reformist politician Mehdi Karrubi, has been denied medical treatment for a heart condition, it said.



Her family and lawyer say she is in very poor health.



Reza Moini, the head of RSFs Iran/Afghanistan desk, urged the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, Javaid Rehman, to "intervene as a matter of urgency."



"The inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners of conscience, including journalists and citizen-journalists, constitutes a flagrant violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party," Moini said.



Iran is ranked 179th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2019 World Press Freedom Index.
A British teen found guilty of lying about being gang-raped has avoided jail and will now return home.

The teenager claimed she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party town of Ayia Napa on July 17.

The 19-year-old was charged with public mischief after she signed a retraction statement 10 days later, while the accused men were freed.

After she was found guilty following a trial, the woman, who has not been named, was sentenced to a four month suspended jail sentence in Cyprus on Tuesday, January 7.

Activists outside court after a British woman was found guilty of faking a gang rape claim / AFP via Getty Images

What were her initial allegations?

The woman initially accused 12 men of taking part in gang raping her at the Pambos Napa hotel on July 17.

Both her and the group of men were staying at the hotel separately.

After all 12 were arrested the next day, five of the accused were released without charge when no DNA was found to link them to the incident.

The remaining seven accused were then released later when the teenager signed a written retraction.

Guilty verdict: The British woman covers her face as she leaves court / REUTERS

The 19-year-old was then arrested on suspicion of making false allegations.

The same month, her family launched a crowdfunding appeal to cover her 15,000 legal costs.

The teen is arrested and proceedings begin

The 19-year-old woman was remanded in custody on July 30 after her first court hearing that day.

She covered her face as she went into court - as she has continued to do throughout the trial process.

Her lawyer Andreas Pittadjis said a judge granted his request for an eight-day adjournment until August 7 so that he and his client could review all the evidence that police investigators have amassed in the case.

She covered her face as she entered and left court / AP

Mr Pittadjis was highly critical of leaked video footage allegedly showing his client having sex with several of the men.

He called the leak "a much more serious criminal offence" than the charge she faces.

Her defence lawyer quits

Mr Pittadjis made a request to withdraw from the case after a "serious disagreement" with his client on August 7, which was approved by Judge Tonia Antoniou.

The British teenager has been detained in Cyprus since her arrest in July on suspicion of 'making a false statement about an imaginary crime' / AFP via Getty Images

He adjourned the case until August 19 to give the teenager time to find a new lawyer.

Mr Pittadjis said his decision to resign was made after consulting with the woman and her family, but would not disclose the nature of his disagreement.

Her trial begins

The 19-year-old woman pleaded not guilty to making false rape allegations on August 27.

She was released on bail after spending four and a half weeks in prison before the hearing.

Her trial began in October with her lawyer Ritsa Pekri questioning one of the investigating officers, Andreas Nikolettis, over the examination of the Israelis's mobile phones amid allegations of text and social media messages between them were not looked at properly.

Her legal team say the group planned to have sex with the teenager and read a statement from an Israeli witness about the night she claims she was raped.

Reuters

The Israelis' defence lawyers said the woman was working at the hotel, and that she was in a relationship with one Israeli and had consensual sexual contact with several others over a period of several days.

But the woman said in court she was in a hotel room with one of the Israeli men who she had a relationship with before others appeared and she was pinned down.

One defence witness, Marios Matsakis, a forensic pathologist who formerly worked for the state, said her injuries were consistent with rape.

The teenager claimed that she only retracted her accusations after pressure from the Cypriot police.

Cypriot law enforcement officials denied the allegation, insisting the woman voluntarily admitted in writing to falsely accusing the Israelis, who have since returned to Israel.

She is found guilty

While awaiting the verdict, her parents said they remain hopeful on December 27 after spending Christmas on the island.

But she was found guilty on December 30 of a single count of public mischief.

Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said in his verdict on Monday morning that the teenager did not tell the truth and tried to deceive the court with "convenient" and "evasive" statements.

"My conclusion is that the guilt of the accused has been proven beyond reasonable doubt," he said.

He said the defendant told investigators she made up the claims because she felt "ashamed" after finding out some of the Israelis had filmed her having sex on their mobile phones.

A GoFundMe page has raised more than 80,000 in support of the teen / PA

The teenager nodded her head slightly as she was found guilty but showed no other emotion.

She faced up to a year in jail and a 1,700 euro (1,500) but her lawyers asked for a suspended sentence, saying she was under strong psychological pressure at the time.

Following the verdict, the defendant argued with her lawyers, saying "I thought you were asking for a fine".

She was mobbed by photographers and camera operators as she left court with her mother.

Both wore white scarves around their faces depicting lips sewn together, brought by protesters from the Network Against Violence Against Women who filled the court and demonstrated outside.

One of the her lawyers, Nicoletta Charalambidou, told reporters that they would be appealing the decision.

The fallout after the verdict

In the week that followed, the UK Foreign Office said it was "seriously concerned" about whether she received a fair trial.

Protesters in Westminster / AFP via Getty Images

But the Cypriot Government soon hit back saying it had "full confidence in the justice system and the courts".

The victim's mother urged tourists to boycott the country while angry protesters rallied against the verdict with some marching on Downing Street in London.

The teenager also pleaded with Prime Minister Boris Johnson to "please bring me home".

The teenager avoids jail

The 19-year-old avoided jail and was instead handed down a four month suspended prison sentence on Tuesday, January 7.

She hugged her family and her legal team and left court weeping, with her head in her hands, after she received her sentence for public mischief.

The sentence meant she would be free to return home immediately, and her lawyer, Lewis Power QC, confirmed that she would return home that day.

Her family had raised fears she would suffer permanent damage to her mental health if she was sent to prison, having been diagnosed with PTSD.

Judge Michalis Papathanasiou told her he was giving her a "second chance".

He said: "I admit, I have been troubled over this. All the evidence shows that she had lied and prevented the police from doing other serious jobs.

British teenager spared jail in Cyprus

"Twelve people were arrested and seven of them were there for at least 10 days. That was also a serious offence.

"Her psychological state, her youth, that she has been away from her family, her friends and academic studies this year.

"This has led me to decide to give her a second chance and suspend the sentence for three years."
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has said the planned State commemoration of Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) officers killed during the War of Independence was an error in judgement by the Government.

In a statement, Mr Martin said the Government had caused unnecessary controversy by abandoning the approach of seeking public consultation and seeking expert advice head of commemorations. He said the event should go ahead and those who attend should be respected for doing so.

He said both police forces should be remembered during centenary commemorations.

However, he said the controversial event proposed by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan was not the appropriate vehicle.

The Fianna Fail leader also called on Mr Flanagan to withdraw an accusation that those who were boycotting the event in Dublin Castle next week were abandoning mutual understanding and reconciliation.

We need to have a calm and mature discussion, he said.

In my view, the event organised by the Justice Minister is not the appropriate vehicle to explore such complex themes. It was an error of judgement compounded by the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste and their reaction to those who have decided not to participate, he added.

Mr Martin said an all inclusive event to remember those who died during the War of Independence had been arranged and suggested this would be a more appropriate way to remember RIC and DMP officers who were killed.

An all-inclusive event, remembering all who died during the War of Independence is already scheduled and it was understood by all involved that this would be an appropriate moment to demonstrate that we also remember those who did not support the struggle for national independence which was secured by the men and women who are the focus of many other events, he said.

It is important to explore every element of this period and use this time as an opportunity to properly discuss every aspect of a complex history.

"It is also undeniably true that many decent people joined the police force of the day for legitimate reasons but found themselves on the wrong side of history. Indeed, elements of the RIC worked closely with those fighting for Irish freedom at great personal risk, he added.

Mr Martin said he was acutely conscious also how the controversy and some of the language being used in the debate will be received by different traditions in Northern Ireland.

This event will go ahead, and those who wish to participate in it should be fully respected in doing so, he said.

However, I also believe that the special cross-party committee on commemorations should be reconvened to consult on future commemorations and that it be asked to look again at the question of how we appropriately appraise and remember the activities of the RIC and the DMP over the course of the coming years, he added.

Meanwhile, a member of the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) on the Decade of Centenaries Diarmaid Ferriter claimed that justice minister Charlie Flanagan misrepresented its position on a commemoration of the RIC.

UCD historian Diarmaid Ferriter said the group should not be used by the government as a "mudguard" for negative reaction to "its solo runs in relation to commemoration."

Mr Flanagan had said that under the guidance of the EAG he would host an event to commemoration the RIC and DMP.

Mr Ferriter insisted that the EAG "did not recommend or endorse the idea of a formal state commemoration for the RIC in the manner proposed."

He said it stated that consideration should be given to the organisation of specific initiatives to commemorate the RIC and the DMP and to acknowledge their place in history.

According to Mr Ferriter the EAG had an academic event like a conference or seminar in mind.

He said this would have "looked at the issue of policing in Ireland during the revolutionary period, including the role of and disbandment of the RIC and the foundation of the Civic Guard, which became An Garda Siochana."

Mr Ferriter said: "The EAG should not be used by the government as a mudguard to provide cover for itself when it receives negative reaction to its solo runs in relation to commemoration."

He said the EAG has maintained that commemoration should be locally led and the model recommended to mark the centenary of the Soloheadbeg Ambush "is the correct approach to the observance of the sensitive and complex centenaries that will occur in 2020."

Mr Ferriter added: "The proposed RIC commemoration does not follow that model; what is being proposed was not put before the EAG and therefore was not discussed by the EAG and the minister should not refer to the event on 17th January in Dublin Castle as being as a result of our guidance."

The Department of Justice has been contacted for a response

There is growing unrest within government over the plans to remember the pre-Independent police forces next week in Dublin Castle with three Independent ministers indicating they will not be attending the event.

They include Office of Public Works (OPW) Minister Kevin Boxer Moran, who has responsibility for Dublin Castle where the event is due to take place on Friday week, January 17th.

In a statement Mr Moran confirmed he would not be attending the event and called for it to be postponed "to allow for greater reflection on how best to deal with the wider issue of such commemorations".

He said the public debate in recent days "reflects the serious sensitivities and concerns that people have some 100 years after the countrys struggle for independence".

Mr Moran said: We are at a very sensitive period in our historic 100 year anniversaries and the planned commemoration of members who served in the RIC and the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) prior to independence while being led by good intentions, has failed to recognise the deep-seated feelings surrounding the force.

We must respect the sincerely held feelings of people on the matter and note the historical record of how policing was carried out in the State from when the RIC was formed in 1836 and which ultimately led to the declaration in April 1919 by Dail Eireann to boycott the police service.

I believe it would be wrong that this difficult period of Irish history that we are about to commemorate and which led to our independence to ignore the firmly held convictions by the general public.

Finian McGrath, the Disabilities Minister, confirmed to Independent.ie on Tuesday morning that he would not be attending the event.

Mr McGrath said the event should be postponed and described the RIC and DMP as "an important part of the colonial power".

Explaining his decision, he told Independent.ie: "We all agree that we want to live in a democratically inclusive republic but I will not be attending out of loyalty and respect for all those who struggled for Irish independence between 1912 and 1922.

"As a member of the Oireachtas I stand by the 1919 Dail mandate and police forces that suppressed the will of the Irish people were not a community police service. They were an important part of the colonial power that fought against democracy.

"As someone who comes from the Wolfe Tone, (James) Connolly and (Tony) Gregory tradition and wants a United Ireland with the consent of the people I support those who don't want to attend. Commemorations should be about respect but should also be about choice."

Sean Canney, another Independent minister in government, said he would not be attending the event. I dont support it and I wont be attending, Mr Canney said.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar again defended the planned commemoration in two tweets posted on Tuesday morning.

The RIC/DMP commemoration is not a celebration. Its about remembering our history, not condoning what happened. We will also remember the terrible burning of Cork, Balbriggan, partition and the atrocities of the Civil War, he wrote.

We should respect all traditions on our island and be mature enough as a State to acknowledge all aspects of our past.

Meanwhile, former Culture Minister Heather Humphreys strongly defended plans for the commemoration.

She said: "It's important to remember that the RIC comprised of many, many Irishmen who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"They gave up their lives and it's important that we remember them".

Ms Humphreys added: "We should not be conflating this with the Black in Tans and the Auxiliaries that's wrong."

She said the first police officer killed in the 1916 Rising was a Catholic man at Dublin Castle.

"He was carrying out his job. Do we not owe it to his relatives, that we should remember his memory?"

She also responded to the criticism of the event by politicians including many from Fianna Fail saying: "I feel that this is slipping into a political arena.

"That is a dangerous place. We should not be going there. Commemorations are above politics.

"It does not belong to any political party... and we need to stay in the space where we look back at a very difficult part of our history in a very respectful and inclusive way, because there are many different narratives here, and everybody deserves respect."

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan insisted on Monday it wouldn't be a "celebration" of either organisation and that it was "in no sense a commemoration" of the notorious Black and Tans paramilitary force that backed up the RIC.

The event - part of the Decade of Centenaries - will be attended by surviving family members of those who served in the RIC and DMP - as well as historians and politicians.

Politicians across the country have indicated they will boycott the event including several Fianna Fail mayors. Sinn Fein has called on the event to be abandoned, while a majority of Dublin City Councillors voted on Monday to oppose the holding of the event.
Posted on: January 7, 2020 1:26 PM

[ACNS, by staff writer] A Nigerian terror group linked to both Daesh  the so-called Islamic State  and Boko Haram has released a video purportedly showing the massacre of 11 men on Christmas Day. Local media organisations have identified the dead as nine Christians and two Muslims, and say that they were among a group of 13 hostages featured in a video released earlier in December by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). A subsequent video reportedly shows the same hostages, this time wearing orange jumpsuits and hoods over their heads, being decapitated and shot.

The murders remain unverified and details of the attack are sketchy and contradictory.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said that the murders had been much ignored over Christmas. He added: with deep sorrow let us pray for them and those close to them, and for Gods judgement on their killers. They are martyrs to Christ.

The incident was condemned by the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, the Revd Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, who said: Violent attacks on innocent human beings in the name of any religion cannot be accepted, and should not be accepted by any religion.

He added: In the strongest possible terms, we denounce these attempts to divide the Nigerian people by turning Christians against Muslims. We must promote respect for human dignity in all circumstances, as well as for respect and diversity, to counter the hate and intolerance that are behind such acts of extreme violence.

The attack is part of a wave of violence sweeping Nigeria. A Roman Catholic spokesman in the country said that suspected Boko Haram insurgents murdered a bride-to-be  Martha Bulus  and all the members of her bridal party on 26 December. Father Francis Arinse told the Catholic News Service that they were beheaded while travelling to Gwoza for the wedding which was to have been held on 31 December.
(CNN)  Following his escape to Lebanon, former auto titan Carlos Ghosn is now free to tell his story about Japanese justice and his ouster from Nissan. His revelations could further dent Japan's reputation as a place for foreign executives to do business.

Ghosn, an international executive with French, Brazilian and Lebanese citizenship, was credited with leading a stunning turnaround at Nissan after he took over as CEO in 2001. His reign at the carmaker was one of the few examples of a foreigner successfully running a big Japanese company.

But tensions brewed beneath the surface, and they came to a boil with Ghosn's arrest in late 2018 on suspicion of financial misconduct, leading to his ouster from atop Nissan and its automotive alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi. Ghosn has repeatedly denied the charges, claiming that his arrest was part of a plot to remove him from the empire he built.

His audacious flight last week from Japan, where he had been bailed under strict conditions that included remaining in the country, puts a new twist on an already strained issue.

Ghosn's public attacks will bruise 'brand Japan'

"Brand Japan is going to suffer a great deal," said Jeffrey Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University Japan. "His case is certainly a major black eye for the Japanese judicial system."

Ghosn is already using his newfound freedom to rail on the country's criminal court system, which boasts an incredibly high conviction rate, and which he claims had held him "hostage." He has promised to communicate "freely" with journalists about his plight.

The former Nissan chief may be guilty of various financial crimes, Kingston said, "but that has all been over shadowed" by Ghosn's treatment and his arguments that the judicial system is rigged.

Japan's top judicial official, Justice Minister Masako Mori, acknowledged "various criticisms" of the system at a press conference Monday, without going into detail. She also repeated her defense of the system, saying it assures "fundamental human rights." Japan could seek Ghosn's extradition from Lebanon, Mori said, but such a request would need careful consideration as no extradition treaty exists between the two countries.

More public attacks by Ghosn on the justice system and Nissan could scare off corporate Japan from wanting to deal with any foreigners at all.

For Japanese companies following the Ghosn debacle and mulling hiring foreign executives, "the lesson is: the risk is too high," according to Kingston.

Potential candidates are also likely to think twice. Attracting international talent will likely become a lot harder because foreign executives may not want to deal with Japanese firms, fearing they could become the next Ghosn, according to Kingston.

"Imagine if you're a foreign CEO being recruited into Japan," he said. "Can we say, 'evacuation insurance?'"

Foreign CEOs in Japan don't usually work out

Ghosn's fall in 2018 was stunning, but tensions between foreign management styles and the rest of corporate Japan have long predated this latest controversy.

The reality is the overwhelming majority of Japanese companies don't bring in outside CEOs because the salary-man, lifetime employment system means they rarely need to hire outsiders, let alone foreigners who may have a tough time fitting in. And several high-profile CEO appointments to big Japanese companies haven't worked out so well.

Michael Woodford's brief stint as CEO of electronics maker Olympus ended after he uncovered fraudulent practices at the company in 2011. Howard Stringer's tenure at Sony coincided with an extended period of poor earnings. And Craig Naylor resigned as chief of Nippon Sheet Glass after less than two years on the job because he had major policy differences with the rest of the company.

Christophe Weber, the French head of pharmaceutical maker Takeda, is now the country's most prominent non-Japanese boss. His bold, $62 billion acquisition last year of Ireland-based Shire was criticized by Japanese investors, who thought it was too risky for Takeda.

A brash style and lavish compensation

The tension leading up to Ghosn's ouster, meanwhile, was partly fueled by resentment toward having a foreign CEO and a foreign shareholder imposed upon Nissan, according to Stephen Givens, a law professor at Tokyo's Sophia University. With that resentment came criticism about how Ghosn ran the company and how much he was paid.

Ghosn engineered the global alliance between Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi. Because Renault owned about 40% of Nissan, the French carmaker was able to force Ghosn on the Japanese firm, according to Givens.

His appointment turned heads at the time because of Japan's unfamiliarity with his approach to management. Having rescued Renault, Ghosn set about cutting costs and laying off workers at Nissan, which Japanese executives had been reluctant to do. The turnaround earned Ghosn the nickname of "Le Cost Killer" and paid off for Nissan, which as part of the alliance vaulted atop the global car industry.

But in recent years, Ghosn's brash style and generous compensation began to rub many in Japan the wrong way.

"Japanese will tolerate a lot of things, but they will not tolerate greed and self-enrichment," said Jesper Koll, head of Tokyo-based investment fund WisdomTree Japan.

Executive salaries in Japan are generally lower than in the United States, which made Ghosn's reported Nissan salary of about $9.7 million in 2017 stand out. A study last month from advisory firm Willis Towers Watson found median CEO pay in Japan was 156 million yen ($1.44 million) in 2018, compared to $13.7 million for CEOs in the United States.

Japanese companies want "the CEO superstar" to grow business globally, but they don't "want to fall into the American trap of CEOs taking all the money and leaving nothing for regular staff," said Koll.

"It's a huge challenge for corporate Japan. You have to pay somebody Michael Jordan wages, but in Japan they want to find another way," he said.

Nissan has also blamed a "personality cult" around Ghosn for its troubles. After Ghosn was forced out, Nissan's governance committee laid out a damning report that claimed the former executive was "deified within Nissan as a savior," creating a culture that failed to apply checks and balances on Ghosn's power.

'Global talent remains essential'

Some experts caution against using Ghosn's case as a precedent for Japanese firms looking to hire global talent.

His situation isn't necessarily indicative of a larger trend against foreign CEOs, according to Sophia University's Givens and others. Rather, the circumstances behind his downfall are just so bizarre and outlandish that they aren't likely to be repeated.

At a better-governed company, "this strange series of events would never have occurred," said Nicholas Benes, head of The Board Director Training Institute of Japan.

"If anything, this will strengthen further the perception that hiring global talent remains essential but good governance is necessary in any case  because no matter what, it doesn't make sense to have the CEO in de facto control of the board," Benes said.

CNN's Yoko Wakatsuki contributed to this report. This was first published on CNN.com, "Carlos Ghosn is now free to speak out. Japan's reputation could suffer."
CBIA, based in Bloomfield Hills, MI, is an independent insurance brokerage that offers personal and commercial insurance, as well as employee benefits solutions. Following the acquisition, CBIA principals John Williamson and Mark Barrett will join Hub Midwest East, a release said.

The deal is the latest in Hubs ongoing series of acquisitions as part of its organic growth strategy. Just last month, the company acquired two agencies and one brokerage within the span of one week  namely, Hamman-Miller-Beauchamp-Deeble (HMBD), Blair Jarcik Insurance Agency, and SilverStone Group.

Read more: Hub scoops up California agency

HMBD in Long Beach, CA is a full-service insurance agency providing multi-line insurance products. The firm focuses on industries such as construction, healthcare (dental professional liability), and transportation (railroads).

Read more: Hub scoops up another California agency

Blair Jarcik in Novato, CA is another full-service commercial and personal insurance agency.

Read more: Hub snaps up SilverStone Group

SilverStone Group is considered the largest brokerage in Nebraska; its acquisition by Hub opens a new Great Plains regional hub. The brokerage specializes in insurance and surety, risk management, employee benefits services, retirement plans, wealth management and estate planning.
President Moon Jae-in delivers a New Year address at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



President Moon Jae-in has re-emphasized dialogue with North Korea this year, urging joint efforts by the two Koreas to realize North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to the South.



Entering the fourth year of his presidency, Moon delivered a New Year address, Tuesday, and devoted a significant portion of the speech to highlight his focus on dialogue with North Korea.



Moon's stance has come despite Pyongyang's latest declaration ending its two-year moratorium on nuclear and Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests and announcing a "new strategic weapon."



The President reiterated his determination to place priority on dialogue and diplomacy in dealing with North Korea in close cooperation with the United States and China. He stressed that Seoul will be prepared to do all it can to revive the dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang.



In particular, Moon called on Kim to visit Seoul as they agreed during their previous summit in 2018. The remark was seen as a concrete signal that he will not abandon his focus on improving ties with Pyongyang this year despite the rising skepticisms, even from Washington, toward his North Korea policy centered on engagement.



"This year marks the 20th anniversary of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration. I urge the South and the North to work together to create the right conditions for Chairman Kim Jong-un's reciprocal visit, including joint events that will contribute to renewing our determination for a peaceful unification," Moons said.



During the September 2018 inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, the two leaders issued a joint statement saying that the North Korean leader would visit Seoul "within the year" if there were not special circumstances that prevented it. Kim has not lived up to the statement and flatly refused Moon's cordial and repeated invitation for him to attend the Korea-ASEAN summit held in Busan in November 2019.



"We need an international solution to uphold the three principles for peace on the Korean Peninsula  no war, mutual security guarantee and prosperity. But there are things that can be done through South-North cooperation. I propose that we get together and discuss these in earnest. I believe that Chairman Kim shares the same determination," Moon said.



"I will make efforts to revive the operation of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and tourism on Mount Geumgang. We will reflect on the agreements that were not honored and reasons that they failed to live up to the peoples' expectations. We will continue to take steps forward."









The remarks are seen to suggest that Seoul is prepared to restart discussions some key inter-Korean projects, such as the Gaeseong complex, which were shelved during the previous administrations. But Seoul has been hesitant to go forward with resuming inter-Korean economic projects due to rising concerns within and outside Korea that such moves would violate international sanctions on North Korea. Washington has been adamant about retaining the sanctions throughout President Donald Trump's diplomacy with Kim, although the leaders of the two foes of the 1950-53 Korean War had two unprecedented summits.





In this undated photo provided on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, visits a phosphatic fertilizer plant in South Pyongan Province, North Korea. AP-Yonhap



Pyongyang did not respond immediately to Moon's proposals to improve inter-Korean relations. The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) criticized Moon's New Year address, saying that it misjudged public opinion by focusing on engagement with North Korea.



Relations with US, Japan, China



Moon also emphasized the importance of reviving talks between North Korea and the U.S. and asserted his role as "facilitator" in helping them resume their negotiations. He also set out to dispel the widespread concerns of the health of the Korea-U.S. alliance amid various disputes, such as the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) to determine Korea's share of costs of maintaining U.S. troops stationed here.





In this June 12, 2018, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Sentosa Island, in Singapore. AP-Yonhap
Even as a retired IAS officer is holding the post of State Election Commissioner (SEC), the Puducherry government here on Tuesday came out with an advertisement to fill the position to conduct civic polls in the union territory, due for nearly 10 years.

Political leaders and MLAs including those belonging to the opposition block were taken aback by the advertisement issued by the Department of Local Administration, calling for applications for the post of SEC.

AIADMK leader A Anbalagan said it was "quite amusing and perplexing" that the Department of Local Administration was going ahead with posting of the SEC through an advertisement even though a retired IAS officer was posted in July last year after a unanimous resolution by the Assembly.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy had already said the appointment of SEC was "fait accompli" and neither the Lt Governor nor the Union Home Ministry could intervene and quash the appointment, he told reporters here.

The Chief Minister's stand emerged after Lt Governor Kiran Bedi through her order on December 20 quashed the appointment of T M Balakrishnan as the SEC and described the posting as "illegal, null and void."



Bedi had last month quashed the appointment based on a Home Ministry circular to the Chief Secretary of the territorial government, stating that an SEC could be posted only through a Selection committee headed by the Chief Secretary, triggering a tussle between her and the CM.

As a bolt from the blue, the Local Administration Department,however, released an advertisement in an English daily and some vernacular newspapers in a bid to appoint SEC to conduct the civic polls.

The advertisement has caused a flutter among political leaders and legislators of ruling and opposition blocks here.

On January 3, Chief Minister Narayanasamy had declared as 'null and void' the order of the Lt Governor, annulling appointment of SEC Balakrishnan.

He had said the appointment of SEC was an executive action and removal of the official can only be through a legislative action as stated in Articles 243 K, 243 L and 243 -ZB of the Constitution and also under provisions of the Puducherry Municipalities, Commune and Village Panchayats Act 1973.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 17:22:19|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Jan. 6, 2020 shows the forest fire site in the north of Napier, New Zealand's North Island. (Hayden Woodward/Handout via Xinhua)

New Zealand firefighters have finally managed to contain a large forest fire at a pine forest in Napier. The fire has burned through more than 300 hectares of the North Island forest.



WELLINGTON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand firefighters have finally managed to contain a large forest fire that broke out on Monday and has burned through more than 300 hectares of the North Island forest in the north of Napier.

The fire broke out at a pine forest in Napier on Monday when it spread 140 hectares. However, its size grew to more than 300 hectares before fire crews contained it on Tuesday.

A rescue helicopter prepares to fly to the fire site in the north of Napier, New Zealand's North Island, Jan. 6, 2020. (Hayden Woodward/Handout via Xinhua)

While being contained, the fire may still keep burning for weeks, according to the fire and emergency authorities.

Forest scientists warned that pine trees, which were on fire this time, are "relatively-flammable plantation."

The authorities said about 65 firefighters, 11 trucks, an aeroplane, and six helicopters battled the fires, and the strong winds which have created bad conditions for containing the fire, were weakening on Tuesday.

Photo taken on Jan. 6, 2020 shows the forest fire site in the north of Napier, New Zealand's North Island. (Hayden Woodward/Handout via Xinhua)

Fire and Emergency said no other houses are at risk, except that one property near Napier was evacuated.

Besides the firefighters fighting the New Zealand fire, 179 Kiwi firefighters were helping to put down the deadly bushfires in Australia.

The fire and emergency authorities said New Zealand had enough firefighting resources to handle the wildfire season, despite more fire crews were sent to help out in Australia.

A helicopter is seen battling a forest fire in the north of Napier, New Zealand's North Island, Jan. 6, 2020. (Hayden Woodward/Handout via Xinhua)

The most recent fires of national significance in New Zealand was the Port Hills fires in February 2017, which burnt through nearly 2,000 hectares of land in Christchurch of the South Island. It destroyed nine homes and damaged five more.

The fire also killed a helicopter pilot who battled the blaze, and the department of Fire and Emergency New Zealand was also created after the Port Hills fires. 
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 15:13:59|Editor: xuxin

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NEW DELHI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A militant was killed Tuesday in a fierce gunfight with government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The gunfight broke out at village Chersoo -- Awantipora in Pulwama district, about 35 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Today a gunfight broke out between a militant and joint contingent of army and police at village Chersoo here, during which the militant was killed," a police official posted in Awantipora said. "The identity of the slain militant and his group affiliation is being ascertained."

According to police, the gunfight broke out after government forces launched a search operation in the area on specific intelligence information suggesting the presence of militants.

Indian army or police have not suffered any damage in the stand-off.

Gunfights between militants and government forces take place intermittently in the region.

However, over the past five months, a steep decline in gunfights was recorded in the region. Police officials attribute the decrease in gunfights to a partial suspension of communication service in the region.

A guerilla war has been going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989.

Kashmir, a Himalayan territory divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in its entirety. The two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
Irans foreign minister tells Al Jazeera the USs days in the region are numbered, pledges retaliation in due course.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has warned the United States that its days in the region are numbered, describing the US assassination of a top Iranian military commander last week as an act of war.

In an interview with Al Jazeera on Tuesday, Zarif said his countrys response to the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the head of Irans elite Quds Force, would come in due course.

Iran will respond because there was an act of war  an act of war combined with an act of terrorism against a senior official of the Islamic Republic of Iran and a citizen of Iran, Zarif said.

We are bound to protect our citizens and our military officials. It was an act that has to be reciprocated by Iran. We will make the necessary deliberations and it will be an act that we will do, not in a hurry, not in a hasty manner.

Soleimani was killed along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iraqs Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi), an Iran-backed umbrella organisation comprising several militias, and several other people.

The attacks triggered a dramatic escalation of tensions in the region, and marked the most significant confrontation between the two countries in recent years.

The act by the United States  it enraged the feelings of many people outside Iran, inside Iran  that will have consequences for the United States, Zarif said.

His remarks came as dozens of people were killed in a stampede that erupted in the city of Kerman, Soleimanis hometown, during the slain commanders funeral procession.

Hundreds of thousands of mourners had gathered in the small city for the burial of Soleimani, which was postponed until further notice following the stampede, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.

Tuesdays funeral comes after days of processions that attracted huge crowds in the streets of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran, followed by Mashhad in the northwest, the capital Tehran and the holy city of Qom.

What are they afraid of?

In response to the assassination of Soleimani, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned earlier this week that a harsh retaliation is waiting.

Washington argues it killed the commander in self-defence, aiming to disrupt plans to attack US personnel and interests. US President Donald Trump has defended the killing of Soleimani and threatened more retaliatory actions if Iran targets US citizens or assets.

Zarif meanwhile was scheduled to attend the United Nations meetings later this week, but said his visa request was blocked by Washington.

Secretary Pompeo called secretary-general of the United Nations yesterday, and said they didnt have time to consider my request and therefore they will not issue a visa, Zarif said, adding that the decision was in violation of US commitments.

What are they afraid of? What do they think would happen if I go to New York, Zarif said.

They think that I cannot communicate with the American people without coming to the United States. I can communicate with the American people sitting at home.

Although it is unclear how or when Iran may respond to the US assassination of Soleimani, any response is likely to come once the mourning period ends.

In a speech broadcast live on television earlier on Tuesday, Zarif said the US president committed a stupid mistake by assassinating the greatest commander who stood in the face of terrorism.

Our region, because of the US intervention  has become victim to the endless war, Zarif said.

Removing the US from western Asia is what will  end wars and death in this region.
Lamborghini has slowly been dipping its toes in the ocean that is electrification, but so far, it has yet to go beyond knee-deep. The 2017 Terzo Millennio Concept car previewed Lambos future electrification technology, and the new Sian FKP 37 is only a hybrid because Lamborghini was able to develop a small supercapacitor that made hybridization possible without compromising the traditional Lamborghini driving experience. However, this technology is far from ready to be adopted into Lamborghinis lineup full time, at least not to the extent that the company can create full-fledged series-production hybrid cars. So, Lamborghini needs to rewrite the book on electrification and hybridization  heres how it plans to do it.

Batteries are Too Heavy

The biggest thing holding Lamborghini back from creating a series-production hybrid model is the overall weight that electrification poses.

Batteries and electric motors are heavy, and all that extra weight would mean compromising the most important values that make a Lambo and Lambo  pure driving dynamics and agility. Unless battery technology evolves a great deal  to the extent that they are significantly lighter and smaller  a traditional lithium-ion battery isnt an acceptable choice for Lamborghini to use in series-production hybrids.

Riccardo Bettini, Lamborghinis Head of R&D project management, acknowledges that electric power is the future, but because lithium-ion batteries are so heavy, at the moment, its not the best solution. He went on to say that

Lamborghini has always been about lightness, performance, enjoyment, and engagement. We need to keep that in our super-sports cars in the future.

Thats where supercapacitors come in.

Lamborghinis Super Capacitor Isnt Ready for Series-Production Either

The Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 is able to deliver a total of 808 horsepower thanks to its 6.5-liter V-8 and 48-Volt electric motor. The latter produces just 34 horsepower and weighs just as much in kg (about 74.95 pounds). A small supercapacitor is what sends power to that tiny electric motor and, while it doesnt provide much, Lamborghini says its three times faster to charge than a lithium-ion battery of the same size. But, thats also where the problems start, because Lamborghinis current supercapacitor technology is just too small to deliver the true hybrid experience, and until it can actually replace a battery, it wont be suitable either.

2020 Lamborghini Sian specifications Engine V12, 60, MPI (Multi Point Injection) Displacement 6,498 cm (396.5 cu in) Bore x Stroke 95 mm x 76.4 mm (3.74 x 3.01 in) Compression ratio 11.8  0.2 Max power 774 hp @ 8,500 rpm Max torque 720 Nm @ 6,750 rpm + 40 Nm electric Electric motor Operating tension 48V Max operating current 600A Max Power 34 HP Max Torque 38 Nm Combined power 808 hp Weight to power ratio <1,98 kg/CV Transmission Electronically controlled all-wheel drive system (Haldex gen. IV) with rear mechanical self-locking differential Gearbox ISR (Independent Shifting Rods) gearbox with 7 speeds, shifting characteristic depending on drive select mode, electric motor works during the shifting and as boost Top Speed >350 km/h (217 mph) 0 to 62 mph <2,8 s

Not all hope is lost, though, as the supercapacitor in the Sian is serving as a base for the next-generation of supercapacitor  one that might be able to give Lamborghini what it needs to power a true-to-life hybrid. In fact, Lamborghini and MIT are currently working on this conundrum, but the technology is still at least two to three years away from being ready for series production. Thats why we wont see a series-production hybrid from Lamborghini until at least 2024 or 2025.

Why Lamborghinis Supercapacitor is Important and Will Play a Major Role in the Future

The supercapacitor, despite being so small, is able to give the Sian enough power for a very limited EV range. Lamborghini has yet to announce exactly what range, but we know it can drive on electric power alone at speeds of up to 81 mph. Whats so special about the supercapacitor, though, is that it packs three times as much energy as a battery the same size and charges much quicker as well. So, its not only smaller and lighter but more energy-dense as well.

If we can capture and use energy much faster, the car can be lighter. We could also store energy in the bodywork, using the car as a battery, which means we can save weight.

In the Sian, the motor and supercapacitor are small enough to fit between the cockpit and the mid-mounted engine, and power is recuperated during braking and coasting. Future series-production models will feature larger supercapacitors and motors, but the idea behind them remains the same, and thats where the future comes in.

One of the biggest problems with hybrids is weight. Most hybrids are naturally heavier than their fuel-only counterparts because of the weight of batteries and electric motors. But, with Lamborghini s supercapacitor technology, automakers could, in theory, produce hybrids that go further and charge faster. Using Lamborghinis supercapacitor design instead of a battery, and the notion of storing energy in the bodywork could eventually lead to longer-range, faster charging EVs in general.

Lamborghinis EV and Hybrid Timeline

Because of the overwhelming research and time required for Lamborghini (and MIT, for that matter) to develop its supercapacitor technology, hybrid and full-EV models are still years out.

If things play out correctly, the brands first series-production hybrid could make its way to the market by 2024 or 2025.

Its also been said that an all-electric, four-seater GT would hit the market by 2025, but theres more speculation to that than truth. Thats probably why Lamborghini insists that its target is still 2030 for a full-electric car, plus the firm wants to study how to keep Lamborghinis DNA and emotion, while going all-electric.

2019 Lamborghini Urus Lambos first SUV since the LM002 was discontinued in 1993 with just 328 models produced

There is also word that a plug-in Lamborghini Urus PHEV is in the works and that it will borrow technology from the closely related Porsche Cayenne. How that plays out is still largely a mystery, but dont expect the plug-in Urus to be quite as powerful or nimble as its gas-driven counterpart. With the technology already in play over at Porsche, the Urus PHEV could hit the market in the next few years. The overall timeline looks like this:

2020  Limited-production Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 launches

2022  Lamborghini Urus PHEV Launches

2023  Lamborghini and MIT perfect Supercapacitor technology

2024  first series-production Lamborghini hybrid launches

2025  Possible Lamborghini GT EV (Mid-range at best, probably in concept form

2030  first series-production Lamborghini EV Supercar launches

After 2022, the entire timeline of what Lamborghini does relies solely on the development of its Supercapacitor technology. If it only takes a few years to put it all together; we could see the first series-production hybrids before the halfway point this decade. I wouldnt hold my breath for that four-seater EV, though. And, even if it does happen, it will be in concept or limited-production form and wont offer the type of EV range youd expect.

Lamborghini Will Use Sound Synthesizers

I know, the whole idea of synthesizing sound sucks, but Lambo is convinced that it is required to ensure maximum driver engagement.

So, even though your Lamborghini might be electric, it will still sound like it has a V-10 or V-12 under the hood.

Apparently, Lamborghini has run various tests on this and found that engagement really does fall when feedback disappears:

Weve tested with professional drivers in our simulator and switched the sound off, said Lamborghini R&Ds Riccardo Bettini. We know from the neurological signals that when you stop the sound, the engagement falls because the feedback disappears. We need to find the sound of Lamborghini for the future that can allow our cars to retain emotion and engagement.

So, dont expect Lamborghini to give up the idea of sound synthesizing anytime soon.

Source: Autocar
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The Queen is recruiting a washer-up to work in her kitchens - and the employee will even be paid 18, 000 to live at Buckingham palace.

The new employee, who is expected to work five days a week, Monday to Sunday and will receive a salary of 18,109.07 per annum, will also have meals provided due to the live-in position which is cited as 'General Catering Assistant (Wash up).'

On the Royal Household website, the job description says: 'Youll assist with food preparation and displays, and maintain a clean environment, all of which will help ensure everything is ready for a busy daily service.'

'During service times, you'll work front-of-house to serve up meals and replenish stock.

The Queen, 93, is recruiting a washer-up to work in her royal kitchens. Pictured, recording her Christmas message to the Commonwealth in 3D for the first time, from the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace in London on 7 December 2012

The new employee will receive 18,109.07 per annum and will be expected to work five days a week. Pictured, a member of staff preparing Buckingham Palace for the US State Banquet

'You'll also work in the staff cafe, where you'll prepare hot drinks and snacks, providing a friendly and helpful service to all your customers.'

The specification goes on to say no matter whether the employee is based at Buckingham Palace or, travelling to other locations, an exceptional service is expected to be provided every day.

And those without any relevant kitchen experience will be pleased to learn that it's not a requirement of the role.

The job description continues: 'You might already have some relevant customer service or catering experience, but it's not essential as our excellent training will provide you with all the skills you need.'

A general view of Buckingham Palace Prior the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony on June 15, 2013 in London

The job description reads: 'Youll assist with food preparation and displays, and maintain a clean environment, all of which will help ensure everything is ready for a busy daily service' (pictured)

However, attributes including 'good communication' and an eagerness to 'deliver fantastic customer service' are desired.

The candidate is also required to be a 'team player,' keen to 'get involved' and able to work on their own initiative.

However, a good working knowledge of Food Hygiene and Safety is not essential, as there's an opportunity to receive training.

The London-based role, which also involves travelling to other Royal residences, boasts several other benefits, too.

These include a unique and stimulating work environment and 33 days holiday - inclusive of Bank Holiday.

They will also be granted a 15% employer contribution pension scheme, meals on duty and access to a range of recreational facilities - but if this job is for you, best be quick - as the vacancy closes on 27 January 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 16:50:14|Editor: Xiang Bo

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Photo taken on Jan. 7, 2020 shows China-produced sedans at Tesla's gigafactory in Shanghai, east China. U.S. electric carmaker Tesla officially launched its China-made Model Y program in its Shanghai gigafactory Tuesday, one year after the company broke ground on its first overseas plant. The first batch of China-produced Model 3 sedans was also delivered to its non-employee customers at an opening ceremony for the program. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

SHANGHAI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. electric carmaker Tesla officially launched its China-made Model Y program in its Shanghai gigafactory Tuesday, one year after the company broke ground on its first overseas plant.

The first batch of China-produced Model 3 sedans was also delivered to its non-employee customers at an opening ceremony for the program.

Previously on Dec. 30, 2019, Tesla handed over 15 Model 3 cars to company employees, the first batch of vehicles delivered by the Shanghai plant.

Tesla broke ground on Jan. 7, 2019 on its first overseas factory in Lingang Area, a high-end manufacturing park in the southeast harbor of Shanghai.

Tesla signed an agreement with the Shanghai municipal government in July 2018 to build the factory. In October 2018, the company was approved to use an 864,885-square-meter tract of land in Lingang for its Shanghai plant, which is designed with an annual capacity of 500,000 electric cars.
The Crime Branch of Mumbai Police has arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with an attack on Shiv Sena leader Chandrashekhar Jadhav last month.

Umesh Shetty from Navi Mumbai is the fourth person to be arrested in connection with the firing on Jadhav at Tagore Nagar in Vikroli. Police said that the attack was planned by gangster Prasad Pujari.

Shetty carried out the attack with the help of a shooter named Sagar Mishra. On December 19, the day of the attack, the two followed Jadhav as he went to a temple. While Shetty waited outside, Mishra entered the temple and opened fire at the Shiv Sena leader. Jadhav received bullet injuries on his right hand.

Jadhavs son and some passersby rushed to the temple and nabbed Mishra, but Shetty managed to escape. He was, however, captured in the CCTV installed outside the temple.

The Crime Branch said that Shetty fled to Bengaluru and hid there. A police team was sent there, but Shetty couldnt be captured, they said. He came to Mumbai on Sunday and on receiving a tip-off, the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) nabbed him in Koparkhairane area in Navi Mumbai on Monday, said a Crime Branch official.

Shetty is a resident of Ghatkopar and was in touch with gangster Pujari from long time, the official said.

The revolver Sagar Mishra used to attack Jadhav was found to be stolen. It was manufactured at an Ordnance Factory in Kanpur and sold to a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) employee who retired in 2011. Police traced the ex-CISF employee, who now works as a security guard at a Surat-based firm and said he had purchased the revolver during his CISF service.

The guard said Mishra was his roommate and worked as a driver in the same firm. On December 17, Mishra left for some work and the revolver also went missing, he told police.

After scrutinising Mishras call record, AEC officials arrested two people - Krishnadhar Singh (20) from Madhya Pradesh and Anand Phadtare (26) from Thane - on December 25. Police said Phadtare had arranged a bike without a number plate.
A group of activists and businesses on Wednesday launched a ballot initiative to protect LGBT Michigan residents under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which currently protects people from discrimination based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status.

The act protects people from housing, employment and other forms of discrimination.

The Fair and Equal Michigan ballot initiative would re-define the word sex in the law to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, effectively extending those protections to LGBT people. It would also define religion to include the religious beliefs of an individual.

When I co-sponsored Michigans Civil Rights Act in 1973 with Rep. Daisy Elliott, it was about treating everybody equally, especially in employment, housing and our most basic of services; it is long past the time to recognize sexual orientation and gender identity, said former state representative Mel Larsen in a statement.

The legislature can act at any time to amend the Civil Rights Act. This coalition of Michigan citizens has support across LGBTQ groups, the business and philanthropic sectors, and both sides of the political aisle. There is more that brings us together - than forces us apart.

The initiative has backing from businesses, including DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, The Whirlpool Corporation and Herman Miller.

Advancing the fair treatment of all people - regardless of their race, religion, disability, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity - is a key component of retaining and growing a world-class, talented workforce, said Patti Poppe, president and CEO of Consumers Energy.

Organizers leave open the possibility that the legislature could amend the law, instead.

Every Michigander should have an equal chance at success, without threat of being fired, harassed, or demoted just because the boss doesnt like that theyre gay or transgender, said Trevor Thomas, Co-Chair and President of Fair and Equal Michigan and Board Chair for Equality Michigan Action, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy group.

After waiting 37 years, this effort gives the legislature eight additional months to pass these basic human rights. If they cant get the job done, our Constitution affords Michiganders the right to vote to ensure that workers are judged on the job they do, not who they are or who they love.

The expansion of the act has long been a priority for Democrats and has gained some bipartisan interest in recent years. In 2014, a Republican, former Rep. Frank Foster, introduced a bill to add sexual orientation to the list of protected groups. The effort fizzled.

Then in 2015, now-Attorney General Dana Nessel launched a ballot initiative that sought to amend the constitution to include gay rights. That garnered some bipartisan support but proved divisive among LGBT activists who preferred a legislative route and folded for a lack of funding.

Its still a priority for Democratic lawmakers, who renewed their legislative push to include LGBT protections in the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act last year.

The Michigan Civil Rights Commission, which investigates claims of discrimination against the groups protected by the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, has authorized investigations into LGBT discrimination by interpreting the laws protection based on sex to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
Photos and videos of a woman waving a massive Free Kashmir poster at the Gateway of India protest in Mumbai on January 6, are being shared widely on social media.



#WATCH Mumbai: Poster reading, 'Free Kashmir' seen at Gateway of India, during protest against yesterday's violence at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/i7SeImYxCE

 ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2020



Protest is for what exactly?

Why slogans of Free Kashmir?

How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai?

Free Kashmir slogans by Azadi gang at 2km from CMO?

Uddhav ji are you going to tolerate this Free Kashmir Anti India campaign right under your nose???@OfficeofUT https://t.co/zkWRjxuTqA

 Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) January 6, 2020



This screen grab is from protests in Mumbai right now. I see a huge Free Kashmir poster there. I am told the protest is for violence in JNU. Lot of overlap between protestors here. Or probably total overlap. pic.twitter.com/ffJTmahnTX

 Sunanda Vashisht (@sunandavashisht) January 6, 2020

While some questioned why protestors raked the Kashmir issue at a rally organised to extend support to attacked students of Jawaharlal Nehru University, others pointed at separatist elements taking part in the demonstrations.Several netizens and media outlets assumed that the woman holding the contentious poster is a Kashmiri, while politicians swooped in to take jibes at her.

Seeing the ever-swelling number of speculations and assumptions doing the rounds on social media, Mehak Mirza Prabhu, shared a Facebook video explaining in detail why she held the controversial poster and what her intent was.

Shunning all allegations of sedition, the woman first clarified that she is from Mumbai, before going on to explain how her placard was aimed only at protesting against the prolonged internet ban in Kashmir.

Mehak said that her poster has been misinterpreted. Calling the reactions to her image crazy, she said: I am not a Kashmiri. I am a writer from Mumbai; I am a Maharashtrian. What happened yesterday is extremely crazy and the reaction it received from people is crazier. The narrative being spread about the situation is absolutely misinterpreted.

Talking about how she got the placard, Mehak said: I saw posters being painted at the venue covering multiple issues, including the Citizenship Amendment Act, the National Register of Citizen, and in support of the JNU students. Thats where I spotted the placard on Free Kashmir.

She added: When I saw that placard, what came to my mind was the basic constitutional rights being denied to the Kashmiris. It was meant to bat for their freedom to express themselves, freedom from internet ban, etc. There was no other agenda or motive whatsoever.

However, my actions have been misinterpreted, and the issue has been blown out of proportion. I have been accused of being a separatist. It is scary. We need not have to live in such fear.

She concluded by saying: If my naivety caused a stir, I apologise. I am an artist who believes in basic human compassion. Let the power of love overcome hate.
Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ELEGANTE Bespoke RIQUADRO - Snaidero USAs luxury sideboard system designed by renowned Italian design studio, Mario Mazzer Architects - is a winner of the 2019 GOOD DESIGN; the prestigious award bestowed by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.

RIQUADRO is the first freestanding furniture piece in the companys product line and is President, Dario Snaideros dream project come true.

For decades, Snaidero USA has been the exclusive North-American distributor of Snaideros Italian luxury kitchen cabinets and, recently, it has also begun to import Italian baths and closet systems. Mr. Snaidero has long wanted to add a product conceived and developed exclusively by Snaidero USA  yet still made in Italy, with the quality that comes with it - to meet the demands of luxury home furniture buyers in the Americas. I am very proud of this award, says Dario. Our kitchen designs have won many GOOD DESIGN awards over the years but this is the first non-kitchen product to get this recognition and the very first product developed entirely by Snaidero USA, in our first ever collaboration with the talented Mario Mazzer Architects.

With RIQUADRO, interior designers, architects, and their clients can configure modern sideboards, highboards, and storage units that have at once a very light look and an undeniable architectural presence. Thanks to its high-quality finishes and wide range of modularities, the system gives the customer the freedom to design the units that will best suit their home, both functionally and aesthetically.

Each unit includes a brushed anodized aluminum frame in one of three finishes, and doors and sides in durable, fracture-safe glass finishes with different degrees of transparency (accentuated by remote-controlled LED lights fitted on the internal shelves). The resulting effect helps RIQUADRO function both as elegant partition and connecting element between different areas of the home.

To complete the aesthetic, the customer can select among a series of precious materials including marble, ceramic, lacquer, and nine exclusive woods (all CARB II compliant). The chosen combination will determine the type of ambiance RIQUADRO creates.

The height of the unit, its base, and number of shelves are all customizable within the range of available options. The units can also be complemented with a single or double drawer with versatile compartments.

###

About Snaidero USA

For decades, Snaidero USA has been the exclusive distributor of Snaideros Italian luxury kitchen cabinets in the Americas and today, it is the leader in North American imports of European kitchen cabinets. Through a retail network of 20 showrooms, the family-owned and -operated company offers affluent and ultra-affluent homeowners the best of made-in-Italy kitchen cabinetry, designed by world-renown architects and designers such as Pininfarina, Massimo Iosa Ghini, and Michele Marcon. The kitchens, which have gathered a total of 33 international design awards (including 17 GOOD DESIGN), are made with eco-friendly and non-toxic materials through production processes with limited impact towards the environment. Recently, Snaidero USA added the ELEGANTE Bespoke and Living collections to the Snaidero kitchen offering. The new collections include a line of ultra-luxury kitchen cabinetry designed exclusively for the Americas, plus high-end bathroom vanities, the Riquadro luxury storage systems, closet systems, and internal doors. All products are made in Italy.

Snaidero USA also supplies cabinetry for the luxury multi-housing industry, partnering with top developers like Howard Hughes Corporation, Fortune International Group, Turnberry, AEG, ASPAC Developments and the CMC Group, for over 200 projects completed to date. For more information, please visit www.snaidero-usa.com. Follow @Snaiderousa on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Mario Mazzer Architects

Mario Mazzer Architects, founded in 1980 by architect Mario Mazzer, today is composed of architects, engineers and interior designers carrying out projects in furniture design, interior design, architecture and urban planning.

MMA offers a tailored service to his clients: from the conception to the finished product. Each venture requires a strategic reflection and Mario Mazzer personally takes care of every minute detail.

Mazzer is a member of ADI (Associazione per il Disegno Industriale) and BEDA (Bureau of European Design Associations), his works have been exposed in museums and design expositions and in 2004 he has been included in The Design encyclopedia of MoMA New York.

He contributes to the architectural and design cultural debate giving lectures and conferences all over the world.

Mario Mazzer Architects has been awarded numerous prizes, both in architecture and in product design, including Good Design Award, IF Award, Red Dot Design Award, Big See Product Design Award, International Grandesign Award, Young & Design Award, ID Annual Design Review, Riabita, Architizer Awards, American Architecture Prize, World Architecture Award.

MMA projects have been published on the most important national and international magazines including: AD Italy, AD France, AD Germany, DDN Design Diffusion, Domus, Elle Decor, Frame, Interni, Intramuros, Ottagono Riabita, Wallpaper, RUM, Vogue Casa, The Plan and more.

Attachment
North East Students' Organisation (NESO) on Tuesday termed the recent violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) as "barbaric" and alleged that the central government has failed to protect the innocent students of the premier institute.

Advisor, NESO Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah must take immediate steps to book those involved in the violence at JNU on Sunday.

"It was a barbaric attack on the innocent students at JNU and we strongly condemn it. Such violence at an academic institution is unacceptable," he said at a press conference here.

Bhattacharya said students community of the Northeastern region was solidly behind the students of the JNU.

To express solidarity with JNU students, the NESO will stage protests on January 8 and 9 in all states of the region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the 2010s over, now is a good time to consider what characterized the United States' foreign policy of the past decade. Many establishment voices have described the 2010s as a decade of American retreat from the world. In fact, it would be more accurate to call the past decade the "decade of imperial overreach" - a major expansion of U.S. foreign policy goals and power beyond what is prudent or constructive.

The overreach began during the Obama years. Despite a demonstrable reluctance on the part of President Barack Obama at times, it was his administration, with strong congressional support, that extended U.S. foreign policy goals in the Middle East to include regime change in Libya and Syria and increased containment of Iran. It was the Obama administration that expanded the global war on terror to more countries in the Middle East and Africa. In Eastern Europe, the Obama White House, again with a huge assist from members of Congress, helped participate in a coup against the duly elected (though deeply corrupt) Viktor Yanukovych government in Ukraine and actively pursued a campaign to pull Ukraine exclusively into the Western camp - and to eliminate Russian influence in a country that historically had been closely aligned with Moscow.

In East Asia, the Obama administration hyped a "pivot" to the region that was in fact simply an expansion of the United States' military and geoeconomic goals in the Asian-Pacific region. It entailed not just the ill-fated Trans-Pacific Partnership but new military deployments aimed at controlling the sea lanes and trade routes in East Asia, upon which China depends for its supply of oil and raw materials, as well as its transport of manufactured goods.

U.S. overreach has only accelerated under President Donald Trump. Despite his campaign promises to end forever wars and to pull forces out of the Middle East, Trump has gone along with the national security bureaucracy and a sanctions-happy Congress to extend the United States' foreign policy and military reach. In the Middle East, the Trump administration stepped up Washington's "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran - after abandoning the Obama administration's successful, multilateral nuclear deal. And with the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani last week - without congressional approval - already-escalating tensions between the United States and Iran have been raised to new, extraordinarily dangerous levels. Incendiary rhetoric, military brinkmanship and Trump's recklessness have brought us to the edge of war.

Trump has also undertaken direct military strikes against Syria and placed American troops in the country in an effort to control the country's oil resources and to block trade with Iraq and Iran. As part of its ongoing goal of countering Iranian influence in the region, the administration has sought to increase its influence in Lebanon and drive a wedge between Iran and Iraq's governments. And, perhaps most ominously, it has increased the deployment of U.S. troops and weapons systems to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. More than 4,000 additional forces are already headed there, with more promised.

The greatest expansion of American power and goals, of course, has been reserved for the containment of Russia and China. Trump's 2018 National Security Strategy named China and Russia as the United States' greatest threats and committed to large military buildups to counter their influence. The goal of the strategy appears to have gone beyond deterrence and even containment to a form of active pressure - especially in the case of Russia. This entails not just the encirclement of Russia with U.S. and NATO forces but also a strategy of weakening Russia economically and politically with more stringent sanctions, such as those imposed against international companies working on the completion of the Nord Stream II pipeline.

As in years past, NATO has been the principal vehicle used to advance Washington's ambitious goals. Despite fears that Trump would act on his threats to dismantle the 70-year-old alliance, the administration has given it new missions - a NATO military buildup in Poland and the Baltic States, extension of the alliance's ranks in the Balkans, adding space as an operational domain and naming China as a security challenge for the first time.

As a result of these and other actions, the United States is now committed to a new cold war on two fronts, Russia and China, and perhaps three fronts when one adds the maximum-pressure campaign against Iran. These have opened up several new geopolitical theaters with expanded U.S. foreign policy goals. Under Trump, the goal of U.S. foreign policy has expanded from controlling the traditional sea lanes in the Euro-Atlantic, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East and Persian Gulf to controlling them in the Arctic, as well. Also under Trump, the United States has greatly increased geopolitical ambitions in controlling the world's energy markets.

The expansion of the United States' foreign policy goals does not, however, mean the expansion of U.S. influence or greater U.S. security or economic well-being. Indeed, the United States' influence arguably has declined even as its foreign policy ambitions have increased. Historically, imperial overstretch does not end well, and there is ample evidence that Trump's foreign policy is failing nearly everywhere.

With this past week's offensive military action against Iran, it is clear the United States is not retreating under Trump. It is expanding, and in often stupid, militaristic and dangerous ways. It is that expansion that most threatens our security and economic well-being, and it is time that we begin to call out what is happening.
Tripura: Fish farming needs a big push: Fishery Experts

January 07,2020 | Source: UNI India

In a recent meeting of Regional Advisory Group (RAG) convened by NABARD, Tripura RO, the experts opined that despite abundant freshwater aquaculture resources in Tripura, the state is still dependent on other States/ country to meet its demand for fish, which is unfortunate. Dr. Pramod Kumar Pandey, Dean, College of Fisheries (COF) felt that there is an urgent need to develop entrepreneurship in freshwater aquaculture in the state. The fish farmers of the state need technical assistance, better quality seeds and handholding support for progressive farming. He also urged for having better linkage among the Department of Fisheries, COF, NABARD and Banks for information sharing on freshwater aquaculture and also collaboration for better production, productivity, employment creation and revenue generation.



An emphasis also must be laid on selective breeding, collaborative approach and better marketing facilities to encourage more people to take up fish farming as a profession in Tripura, supplemented Dr. LopamudraSahoo, Sr.Scientist of ICAR, Agartala.Asked about the other challenges in Tripura, Dr. Sahoo informed that The mortality rate during spawn and fry stage is nearly 60% to 70%,which is a major challenge for fish farmers of the state. The average growth of fish is expected to be 700 to 800 gms in a year and which must increase. Sunil Kumar, General Manager/OIC, NABARD while addressing the gathering sharedthat We have introduced working capital concept, JLG mode of financing, bench mark based model scheme for credit assessment of individual Fish farmers based on their willingness and capacity to go for higher productivity with concessional credit at 7%. Further, he informed that NABARD will pilot 7.50 MT/ha bench mark based productivity pilot programme for 25 farmers in collaboration with KVKs/ ICAR/ COF with grant component,suchas training, cost of Demo and incentive to farmers, whereas cost of production of seed of more than 100 gms, pellet feed,repairing and renovation, etc., will be provided by the Banks as working capital.



Anand Kumar, DGM & CRM-SLBC said that financing will not be aconstraint if proper assessment of credit needs& of individual farmers is done based on benchmarking of productivity, assured supply of seed and feed along with supervision of credit on continuous basis is arranged in the State.He highlighted that there is huge scope for credit dispensation in the state to the extent of Rs.157 crore if 2000 ha of water area is brought under productivity enhancement programme as per the model proposed by NABARD. He further shared that according to this plan, a farmer with requisite land can get bank loan of Rs 7.08 lakh per ha for renovation, repairing, seed, feed, etc., with a bench mark production of 7.50 MT per ha. Dr. Samir Malla, Fisheries Officer, assured that the Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Tripura will provide all the support for identification of proper beneficiariesfor viable and bankable project and will also take measures for providing quality feed, seed, testing the quality, etc.
Britain moves a step closer to a historic departure from the European Union on Tuesday, after more than three years of bitter division and political drama, as Prime Minister brings his deal back to parliament without the threat of defeat, deadlock or delay.

Lawmakers begin three days of debate on legislation to enshrine Johnson's divorce deal, with few hurdles to its passing expected after he won a comfortable majority at recent elections.

The air of inevitability that was finally about to happen contrasts starkly with the repeated postponements and rejections of the previous deal of his predecessor Theresa May that plunged Britain into political and economic uncertainty.

The lack of anticipated drama has instead seen focus shift to potential conflict between the United States and Iran. But the Conservative leader is still up against the clock.

Both the UK and European parliaments must ratify the deal before Britain's January 31 departure date, when a so-called transition phase to the end of the year will kick in.

MPs gave their initial approval to the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in a vote on December 20, a week after Johnson secured a majority of 80 in the 650-seat House of Commons.

They now have three days of debate before the bill passes to the unelected House of Lords for further scrutiny next week.

Opposition lawmakers and troublesome peers will try to amend the text but with such a comfortable majority, Johnson is virtually certain of getting it through on time.

In a sign of his confidence, Johnson's government announced it would hold a new post- budget vote on March 11, to "seize the opportunities that come from getting Brexit done".

The main opposition Labour party was meanwhile focused on the start of a campaign to replace veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn as leader.

His divisive leadership and ambivalence over Brexit were blamed for Labour's stinging defeat and loss of support in its heartlands of northern England.

Britons voted in the 2016 referendum to end more than four decades of integration with the EU, but it has taken nearly four years of infighting and two general elections to implement the result.

Johnson now looks set to finally make it happen, even if a potentially bigger battle awaits on future ties with the EU.

The British premier will hold his first meeting with the new European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, in London on Wednesday.

Both sides are keen to prepare for talks on their future trading relationship, although these cannot start formally until Britain leaves the EU.

The includes a transition period in which ties remain unchanged in practice until December 31, 2020, to provide continuity until a new economic partnership can be agreed.

EU officials -- including von der Leyen herself -- have warned this is a very tight timeframe, but Johnson insists he will not opt to extend the transition period.

Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said Monday that von der Leyen would "discuss with the prime minister how to try to overcome these challenges and make sure that we can come out with a positive agreement at the end of the year".

The meeting, which will also be attended by EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, will "set the scene", he added, but would not go into details.

Many opposition MPs believe Johnson cannot negotiate a new trade deal with Brussels in 11 months, and are seeking to amend the Withdrawal Agreement Bill to allow for more time.

Other amendments put forward include stronger rights for around 3.5 million EU citizens living in Britain after Brexit.

Expatriate rights are already covered in the Brexit deal, alongside Britain's financial liabilities, the transition period and new trade arrangements for Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, a group of eurosceptic lawmakers has tabled an amendment to get Big Ben to chime for Brexit on January 31 in a symbolic celebration of the landmark moment.

A previous attempt for the bell to ring out on the first Brexit date of March 29, 2019, was blocked by the then-House of Commons speaker John Bercow.
(Newser)  President Trump has threatened to hit sites important to Iranian culture "VERY FAST AND VERY HARD" if the country retaliates for the killing of Gen. Qasem Soleimanibut the Pentagon is not backing him up. Defense Secretary Mark Esper ruled out striking Iranian cultural sites Monday, saying, "We will follow the laws of armed conflict," CNN reports. When a reporter asked whether that means cultural sites will not be targeted, Esper replied: "That's the laws of armed conflict." Trump doubled down on the threat Sunday, despite that fact that the US is a signatory to the 1954 Hague Convention, which states that nations must "take all possible steps" to protect cultural property, the AP reports.

story continues below

Trump's threats caused a backlash from lawmakers, including some from his own party, who noted that the US had condemned ISIS for destroying cultural sites. "America is better than that, and President Trump is flat-out wrong to threaten attacks on historic places of cultural heritage," said Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, a former platoon leader in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, per the New York Times. "Destroying some of these culturally significant Iranian sites wouldnt be seen as just an attack against the regime in Tehran, it could be construed as an attack on history and humanity." Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said he had spoken to Trump about his concerns. "Were not at war with the culture of the Iranian people," he said, adding that targeting cultural sites "is not hitting them hard, it's creating more problems." (Read more Iran stories.)
By Robin Emmott

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - All members of the Atlantic alliance stood behind the United States in the Middle East after it briefed NATO on its drone strike that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday.

Speaking after a rare NATO meeting on Iran and Iraq in which the United States briefed its allies about last Friday's drone strike, Stoltenberg also called for a de-escalation of tensions, echoing the statements of some European leaders.

"We are united in condemning Iran's support of a variety of different terrorist groups," Stoltenberg said. "At the meeting today, allies called for restraint and de-escalation. A new conflict would be in no one's interest. So Iran must refrain from further violence and provocations."

Despite anger last year among European NATO allies over U.S. strategy in the Middle East under President Donald Trump, two diplomats present confirmed that the two-hour meeting at NATO headquarters went smoothly.

They said that no envoy challenged U.S. State Department and Department of Defense officials, who briefed via video conference, over the merits of Friday's drone strike.

There was also no discussion or criticism of Trump's list of targets, that include cultural sites, if Iran were to retaliate with attacks on Americans or U.S. assets, the diplomats said.

The meeting, which took place on a day of huge outpouring of national grief for Soleimani in Iran, centred mainly on NATO's decision to suspend its training mission in Iraq, after an Iraqi parliamentary resolution called on foreign troops to leave.

While there was concern that the killing of Iran's second-most powerful man could trigger a conflagration in the Middle East, France, Germany and others said they wanted the Iraq mission to continue.

"It would send the wrong signal if we withdraw," one NATO diplomat said.

The NATO Iraq mission, made up of several hundred trainers, advisers and support staff from both countries of the 29-member alliance and non-NATO partner countries, includes military and civilian personnel.

Established in Baghdad in October 2018 after three years of war against Islamic State militants, the mission is a non-combat "train-and-advise" mission to help Iraqi security structures and institutions fend off future insurgencies. Its personnel do not deploy with Iraqi forces during operations.

(Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Gareth Jones and Nick Macfie)
MONTREAL Grocery chain Loblaw Companies Ltd. has announced the closure of distribution centres in Laval, Que., and Ottawa which will result in the elimination of nearly 800 jobs.

About 545 employees north of Montreal will be affected by the end of 2021 as the distribution centre is relocated to the automated complex of an Ontario subcontractor.

The grocery chain is also shutting a warehouse in Ottawa that will impact 230 workers.

Loblaw spokeswoman Catherine Thomas said the company is committed to fairness for employees and will work with the unions to minimize the impact of the closures.

We will begin negotiations shortly, setting transition plans and finding solutions for those colleagues  including a long, two-year wind down, and support for those who want new opportunities within Loblaw or beyond, she wrote in an email.

The decision to relocate the distribution centre comes as a labour contract expires at the end of the month, according to a spokeswoman for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.

There is never a good time to learn such news, but at least we dont have just a few weeks notice, Roxanne Larouche said in an interview. That leaves us time.

Thomas said volumes from Ottawa and Laval are moving to a facility in Cornwall, Ont., thats been open for more than a decade. The automated distribution centre will expand to be among Canadas most modern distribution centres and an undisclosed number of workers will be added to handle the greater volumes.

Our customers expect us to be a modern retailer, and we continue to invest in our stores and our people to do just that. In 2020, we will invest more than $1 billion to improve our business, creating new jobs and modernizing our workforce and stores, said Thomas.

The owner of Loblaw, Provigo, Maxi and Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Quebec), will continue to distribute fresh and frozen food from Boucherville, a suburb south of Montreal, where some 550 people work.

Read more about:
New Delhi, Jan 7 : To ensure larger voter participation in Delhi Assembly polls, the Election Commission has announced postal ballet facility for absentee voters.

"We have allowed the absentee voters to vote through postal ballet this time. Absentee voters include PwD (person with disability) and senior citizens (above 80 years). They will have to submit form 12D between January 14 and January 19 to avail the facility," said Ranbir Singh, Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi.

He said, "Absentee voters are different from ASD (absent/shifted/deceased) voters. PwD and senior citizens will be considered absentee voters." The poll panel has also formed mobile teams of volunteers. "After receiving requests, the team will go to the voter at his/her residence and facilitate postal ballet voting for them," Singh said.

Apart from this, "we are providing ramp, wheelchair, pick-up and drop facilities, sign language volunteers, and Braille voter photo slips at all polling stations," he said and added, with all these facilities voter turnout would be better than the previous elections.

According to ECI, there are 55,823 PwD voters.

Delhi will go to polls on February 8 and results will be announced on February 11.
[January 07, 2020] Torque Esports Cease Trade Order - Delay in Filing Annual Financial Statements

- Cease Trade Was Strictly Caused By Additional Valuation Work Required - Torque Expects to File its Financial Statements and Expects to Receive an Unqualified Opinion in late January 2020 - All Previously Announced Acquisitions and M&A by Torque Continuing to Move Towards Closing as Planned TORONTO, Jan. 7, 2020 /CNW/ -- Torque Esports Corp. ("Torque" or the "Company" (TSX-V: GAME) (OTCQB: MLLLF) announces that its shares on the TSX Venture Exchange will be halt traded on January 7, 2020. The cease trade order ("CTO"), which was expected and was previously announced on December 31, 2019, is solely a result of the delay in filing its audited annual financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2019, the related management's discussion and analysis and certificates of its CEO and CFO (collectively, the "Required Filings") with Canadian securities regulators after its filing deadline. The Company requires additional time to complete certain valuation work in connection with the audit of the Company's 2019 financial statements. The Company and its advisors are working diligently to complete such valuation work and will provide updates as further information relating to the Required Filings becomes available. The Company intends to make the Required Filings in late January 2020. The Company fully expects to receive an unqualified opinion on its financial statements. The delay is not as a result of any disagreements that the Company has with its audit firm but rather strictly due to the additional valuation work required. Further, all previously announced acquisitions by Torque are continuing to move towards closing as planned. In connection with this delay, the Ontario Securities Commission ("OSC") issued the CTOagainst the Company. The Company expects the CTO to affect trading in all securities of the Company by securityholders of the Company. The CTO will remain in effect until such time as the Company has made the Required Filings. Once the Required Filings are made, such filings will constitute the Company's application to have the CTO revoked and the Company's common shares will resume trading shortly thereafter as normal.



Until the Required Filings are filed, the Company intends to provide information in accordance with National Policy 12-203 Cease Trade Orders for Continuous Disclosure Defaults. About Torque Esports

Torque Esports Corp. ("TEC") recently restructured its business and leadership team. Torque now focuses exclusively on two areas  esports racing and esports data provision. With publishing, IP, content, and data expertise in its portfolio, combined with a new board and management team, TEC is ready to lead the rush to profitability in the esports industry.

Torque aims to revolutionise esports racing and the racing gaming genre via its industry-leading gaming studio Eden Games (Lyon, France) which focuses on mobile racing games and its unique motorsport IP, including World's Fastest Gamer (created and managed by wholly-owned subsidiary IDEAS+CARS, Silverstone UK). Building on the leading position of Stream Hatchet (a Barcelona, Spain-based wholly-owned subsidiary) Torque also provides robust esports data and management information to brands, sponsors, and industry leaders. This data allows the esports industry to monetize the huge number of eyeballs in the gaming and esports space. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause a further delay in filing the Required Filings than currently expected by the management of the Company. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the anticipated filing date of the end of January 2020. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "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. In respect of the forward-looking statements and information concerning the anticipated filing date of the Required Filings, Torque has provided such statements and information in reliance on certain assumptions that they believe are reasonable at this time, including certain expectations and assumptions concerning the Required Filings. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on other factors that could affect the operations or financial results of the parties are included in reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Torque Esports Corp.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Swedish rapper Yasin Byn has been arrested in connection to the murder of a former friend, according to local reports.

Yasin Byn, whose real name is Yasin Abdullahi, was taken into police custody on 30 December, after the body of a 20-year-old man was found with fatal gunshot wounds to the head in Stockholm.

Abdullahi has over 640,000 monthly listeners of Spotify and successfully topped Swedish charts on the music streaming platform with his hit song XO.

Local newspaper Expressen reported he was one of seven young men arrested on suspicion of the victims murder.

The victim, who was found in a car wearing a bulletproof vest, is said to have been a former close friend of Abdullahi.

In pictures: Stockholm truck attack Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: Stockholm truck attack In pictures: Stockholm truck attack 3 people dead when a truck crashed into Ahlens department store in central Stockholm, Sweden Rex In pictures: Stockholm truck attack People were killed when a truck crashed into department store Ahlens on Drottninggatan, in central Stockholm Reuters In pictures: Stockholm truck attack Special Police forces work at the scene where a truck crashed into the Ahlens department store at Drottninggatan in central Stockholm Getty Images In pictures: Stockholm truck attack Woman is assisted at the scene after a truck crashed into an Ahlens department store in Stockholm Rex In pictures: Stockholm truck attack A policewoman in a gas mask operates at the scene where a truck crashed into the Ahlens department store at Drottninggatan in central Stockholm Getty Images In pictures: Stockholm truck attack People react at the scene where a truck crashed into the Ahlens department store at Drottninggatan in central Stockholm Rex In pictures: Stockholm truck attack Reports say three people have died after a truck crashed into an Ahlens department store in Stockholm Rex In pictures: Stockholm truck attack Armed police operates at the scene where a truck crashed into the Ahlens department store at Drottninggatan in central Stockholm Getty Images In pictures: Stockholm truck attack People react at the scene where a truck crashed into the Ahlens department store at Drottninggatan in central Stockholm Getty Images In pictures: Stockholm truck attack Emergency services close to the scene of an incident in Drottninggatan, a street in the centre of Stockholm, Sweden Lasse Gare/PA Wire In pictures: Stockholm truck attack Passers react at the scene where a truck crashed into the Ahlens department store at Drottninggatan in central Stockholm Getty Images In pictures: Stockholm truck attack People killed in incident when a truck was driven into a department store in central Stockholm Reuters In pictures: Stockholm truck attack Police officers work at the scene where a truck crashed into the Ahlens department store at Drottninggatan in central Stockholm Getty Images In pictures: Stockholm truck attack A general view shows a Ahlens department store after a truck reportedly crashed into it, at Drottninggatan in central Stockholm, Sweden EPA In pictures: Stockholm truck attack A view of a street after a truck reportedly crashed into a department store in central Stockholm, Sweden EPA

Two men were released early, and two more walked free after a custody hearing on Friday. The others, including Abdullahi, remain in custody.

All suspects and the victim were allegedly linked to a criminal gang called the Shottaz network, which the 21-year-old rapper is allegedly a core member of.

Leiff GW Persson, a Swedish criminologist and novelist, told Expressen: It happens all the time. Not only among them, but also among older organised criminal groups.

Like motorcycle gangs, they happen to kill each other, even though they belong to the same gang. There is almost no solution to these cases.

The gang was believed to be responsible for the deaths of two people near Copenhagen in July last year.

According to The Local, the Shottaz gang is involved in an ongoing conflict with another organised crime gang in Stockholm, called Dodspatrullen.

Abdullahi was charged for drug offences multiple times since 2015.

In 2018, he was sentenced to prison for two years and three months after he was caught by police with his former friend and victim in the current murder case carrying a submachine gun and a semi-automatic pistol.

His lawyer declined to comment on the matter.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 15:12:58|Editor: xuxin

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's recent threat to strike Iranian sites of cultural significance if Tehran retaliates for the death of its high-ranking commander has drawn criticism at home.

Trump said on Saturday that the United States had targeted dozens of Iranian sites, and Iran will be hit "very fast and very hard" if it attacks any American or U.S. assets.

"We have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture," Trump tweeted on Saturday evening.

Trump's threatening tweet was a response to Iran's vow for revenge after Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Quds Force, was killed in the U.S. drone strike in Baghdad on Friday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif responded via twitter that "a reminder to those hallucinating about emulating ISIS (the Islamic State) war crimes by targeting our cultural heritage: Through MILLENNIA of history, barbarians have come and ravaged our cities, razed our monuments and burnt our libraries. Where are they now? We're still here, & standing tall."

Trump justified the threat by highlighting alleged Iranian brutality against American people.

"They're allowed to kill our people. They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we're not allowed to touch their cultural site?" he told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday.

"It doesn't work that way," he added.

Senior officials in the Trump administration scrambled to engage in the damage control. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday in an interview that U.S. actions would be within the law. The Pentagon chief Mark Esper on Monday ruled out military attacks on cultural sites in Iran, saying "we will follow the laws of armed conflict."

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, an ally of Trump in the Congress, also said on Monday that he had raised concerns with Trump about the remarks in a call.

"Cultural sites, religious sites are not lawful targets under the law of war unless they've been weaponized by the enemy," Graham told reporters.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said on Monday that Washington had signed treaties pledging not to harm cultural heritage amid armed conflict, namely the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

Experts suggested that Trump would violate international law if he carried out what he tweeted.

Nicholas Burns, former under-secretary of state for political affairs and now a professor at Harvard Kennedy School, said on twitter that "Trump's threat to destroy Iranian cultural sites would be a war crime under UN Security Council resolution 2347," which was supported by the Trump administration itself in 2017 to warn ISIS and al-Qaeda of similar actions.

"His threat is immoral and Un-American," Burns added.

In his tweet, Trump tied the number of the potential Iranian targets with the number of diplomats that Iran had detained during the Iran hostage crisis roughly four decades ago. However, even some then-hostages rejected Trump's threatening rhetoric.

John Limbert, one of the 52 Americans taken hostage by Iran in 1979, told MSNBC that "I certainly want no part of whatever decision he takes, for example killing people or blowing up Persepolis (a key Iranian cultural site)."

"Mr. President, if you are listening, please don't bother yourself on my account," the former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Iran said.
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Kentucky...Illinois...Missouri... Ohio River at Paducah. Ohio River at Cairo. Ohio River at Olmsted Lock and Dam. .Recent heavy rainfall and snow melt will continue to keep water levels on the lower Ohio River in or near minor flood this week. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Ohio River at Paducah. * WHEN...Until early tomorrow afternoon. * IMPACTS...At 39.0 feet, Minor flooding occurs affecting mainly bottomland and surrounding low lying areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 7:00 PM CST Monday the stage was 38.6 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 39.0 feet tomorrow morning. - Flood stage is 39.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday slammed the Akal Takht's acting jathedar over his reported remark that Sikhs are not safe in the country, telling him to ask the Akalis to sever ties with the ruling BJP if he felt this way.

Giani Harpreet Singh, jathedar (leader) of the supreme temporal body of Sikhs, on Monday reportedly condemned the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib attack and the killing of a Sikh youth in Peshawar, saying, "I do not feel Sikhs are safe anywhere. In India, Sikhs are being uprooted in Madhya Pradesh and in Shillong also, they are facing eviction. In Pakistan, Sikhs are also scared after the incidents of killing of a Sikh and Nankana Sahib (gurdwara)".

Reacting to the remarks, the chief minister asked the jathedar to pressure the Akalis to sever all ties with the ruling alliance at the Centre, which had been "unable to ensure a sense of safety among the minorities in the country".

Amarinder Singh said he did not agree with Akal Takht jathedar's remarks. He said "if the jathedar did feel that way, he should take up the matter with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and ask them to leave the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre, of which they are a part".

The Punjab chief minister, in a statement here, said that unlike Pakistan, India had always taken pride in being a secular nation, with no discrimination on religious grounds. "Any feeling among the Sikh community that they are not secure here is a matter of grave concern," he said.

In his remarks, the jathedar had also appealed to the Sikh community to come together so as to contain such attacks.

While in Madhya Pradesh, there were reports of some Sikh families being evicted from their houses in Sheopur district, in Meghalaya capital Shillong, the Sikh families were last year asked to prove they were settled legally, he said.

Amarinder Singh said, "If Sikhs are feeling insecure in the country, as stated by the acting jathedar, then it is the dispensation at the Centre which is to blame".

"Given that the Akalis claim to be the custodians of the Sikh religion, and the community, they should take a stand on the issue, and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal should also ask his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal to resign immediately as a Union Minister," the chief minister said.

He said while some incidents here and there could not be construed to be a case of Sikhs not being safe in India, "perception is as important as reality".

"The Sikhs had lived through a very dark period in the 1980s and any feeling of being at the receiving end in any way would revive their sense of fear, which would be detrimental to the community's interest, as well as that of the nation," the chief minister said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Harvey Weinstein could be 'humiliated' in his New York trial if images reportedly of the disgraced Hollywood mogul's naked body are made public, it has been claimed.

Prosecutors want to show seven of 72 images as evidence to jurors at Weinstein's sexual assault and rape trial in New York, for which jury selection began on Monday, Page Six reported.

The photographs, which were taken by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office during an investigation into his sexual assault allegations, could reportedly be used to corroborate testimony based on 'identifying characteristics' of his body.



Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon told a judge on Monday that defense lawyers were 'particularly sensitive' about the nature of the photographs.

Harvey Weinstein could be 'humiliated' in his New York trial if images reportedly of the disgraced Hollywood mogul's naked body are made public, it has been claimed

'It is not the practice of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office to ever, ever  humiliate the defendant,' she said.

'We have a proposed way in which we can put our evidence before the jury without having it disseminated.'

Illuzzi-Orbon didn't give any details of the photographs at the time but sources have since claimed the images reveal Weinstein's naked body.

Damon Cheronis told Manhattan Supreme Court Justice James Burke the defense would 'like to file a motion' or discuss the matter 'in camera [privately] with the court'.

Jury selection for Weinstein's New York trial began on Monday, and is expected take weeks as prosecutors, lawyers and the judge find people to serve on the high-profile case.

The trial involves charges alleging that Weinstein raped a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performed a sex act on another woman in the city in 2006.

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon told a judge on Monday that defense lawyers were 'particularly sensitive' about the nature of the photographs

Weinstein arrives with his attorney Donna Rotunno for his first day in court in New York on Monday

Weinstein, 67, has insisted any sexual activity was consensual.

'In this great country, you are innocent until proven guilty,' his lawyer Donna Rotunno said on Monday.

Across the street from the court, women who allege they were sexually harassed or assaulted by Weinstein branded him a villain undeserving of anyone's pity.

'This trial is a cultural reckoning regardless of its legal outcome,' said Sarah Ann Masse, a performer and writer who alleged Weinstein once sexually harassed her in his underwear during a job interview.

Once one of Hollywood's most powerful producers, Weinstein has now been accused of sexual assault, harassment and misconduct by dozens of women, from famous actresses to assistants at his former company.

The allegations began surfacing publicly in October 2017 and sparked the #MeToo movement, as well as investigations in multiple places.

Los Angeles prosecutors charged Weinstein on Monday with sexually assaulting two women there on successive nights during Oscar week in 2013.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : Noble laureate and child right activist Kailash Satyarthi on Tuesday termed the incident "shameful" and "disgraceful".

"Attacks on JNU students by masked goons is utterly shameful. If our daughters aren't safe in girls hostels of universities like JNU and Jamia, there is nothing more disgraceful," Kailash Satyarthi told IANS.

"Whoever these attackers are they can't be students. All students organisations must oppose violence," he added.

Widespread violence broke out in JNU on Sunday with students, including girls, were assaulted in their hostel rooms by masked miscreants wielding wooden and iron rods. They also vandalised other properties. JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh was hit over her eye, with an iron road and taken to the hospital.

Some teachers were also injured in the violence, in which outsiders were also allegedly involved.

Satyarthi, whose Bachpan Bachao Andolan became a benchmark for child rights, urged the Prime Minister to initiate a dialogue with all students unions across the country to restore peace.

"In this situation of rising violence, anarchy and fear in universities, I urge the Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately initiate direct and constructive dialogue with university students unions & national students' bodies across the country, to restore peace," Satyarthi added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

RIGA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th January, 2020) Latvian troops stopped training with Iraqi security forces in the wake of escalated regional tensions, Defense Ministry spokesman Kaspars Galkins said.

"Latvian soldiers in Iraq stopped instructing Iraqi security forces and training with them," Galkins told journalists on Monday.

Latvian troops were sent to Iraq in 2016.

There are currently six instructors serving with the Danish contingent at a joint US-Iraqi military base located 160 kilometers (99 miles) from Baghdad.

The situation in the middle East in general, and in Iraq in particular, became tense on Friday when strikes by US drones in Baghdad took the lives of Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, who led the Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force.

Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks supported US actions on the same day.
(JNS)I found myself locked in a room listening to Israel Defense Forces veterans tell their stories while people outside chanted for my blood. For several hours, the protesters chanted, pounded on the walls and doors of the lecture hall, and intimidated participants trying to enter. While the event pressed on despite this brazen assault, at least two Jewish students broke down and had to be escorted out. The relentless pounding, chanting and noise continued unabated for several hours without letup. Calls of viva intifada, fauda (meaning chaos in Arabic) and reports of another chant that I will address later poisoned the atmosphere of what was supposed to be a peaceful gathering.

The ranks of rioters included at least one Holocaust denier (Nazih Khatatba); one former candidate for parliament with the New Democratic Party; York University alumni; Amnesty International co-president Jessa McLean; Antifa; and several student organizations, including YUGSA, CUPE3903 and Students Against Israeli Apartheid. All this because an Arab-Israeli and four North American reservists from the IDF came to share stories about their time protecting Israel from terrorists! Scuffles broke out between groups, and police had to intervene several times, in addition to escorting people to and from the event.

But lets start from the beginning. Not long ago, strange posters were hung up all over campus; Jews were told that baby killers and murderers were about to come to York.

At first, we were mostly confused. After all, Hillel had already brought a contingent of reservists the week beforehand that had been received well and quietly. But this time, it seems that SAIA had gotten wind that Herut, a political Zionist advocacy organization on campus, planned to bring reservists from the IDF to campus through a program called Reservists on Duty. According to reports, these posters were not just posted on Yorks campus, but on the University of Torontos and Ryersons campuses as well. SAIA even partnered with various off-campus groups in different universities to encourage a larger turnout for their protest. To make matters worse, their Facebook event description for the protest framed IDF soldiers as murderers with blood on their hands.

The claims that the IDF is responsible for human-rights violations on a daily basis or ethnic cleansing are outright lies and incredibly hypocritical considering the IDFs stellar record compared to the armed forces of many other countries engaged in war. These claims are simply so outlandish and ridiculous that its completely laughable. Israel is a small state surrounded by a hostile array of nations. Since it has a conscription army, almost all (Muslims citizens are given automatic exemptions from the army) Israeli citizens serve in the armed forces in some capacity, including Bedouin and Druze men. The majority of Israelis currently studying at York are veterans of the IDF or, like me, will complete their service after returning from their studies. The blatant lie that we are all murderous war criminals is rank anti-Semitism. The reservists, when they werent being interrupted, were there to talk about their experiences and challenges, and to have an open dialogue with anyone willing to discuss any issues with them.

The two combat soldiers who spoke on campus were members of the special-forces counter-terrorist unit commonly known as duvdevan. They related several incidents, including one about terrorists hiding weapons in childrens beds, and others about paramilitary training and recruitment of Palestinian children as young as elementary-school age into terrorist groups. The fact that these men and women dealt with such barbarity, and are still willing to come to a campus and brave further threats, is nothing but admirable.

Lets revisit the chant that I mentioned earlier. It was reported that some protesters shouted Jews go back to the ovens. If true, this tells us everything we need to know about the rioters and their intentions. This was never about good-faith critique of Israeli policies or even about solidarity with the Arab population in Israel. This riot was about hatred. It was a throwback to every blood libel, pogrom and instance of incitement drawn from a deep well of hatred for the Jewish people, and it is apparently allowed free rein on campus. The York Federation of Students has a history of anti-Semitism and support for murderous and radical ideologies that harbor hatred and malice for anyone who stands against them. And the universitys leadership has shown a distinct lack of interest in reigning in this bigotry and hate.

For example, at the student government general meeting last year, a Jewish student was told to shut up because white people dont get to talk. The hired diversity officer told him: Dont message me; you cant be racist against white people. Remarkably, the university didnt sanction the YFS and hold them accountable. The last time calls for intifada were heard on campus, no students were expelled for hate crimes. They were simply told not to do it again. So it comes as no surprise that calls for Jews to go back to the ovens could now be openly shouted on campus. According to the Ontario Human Rights Code, Racial harassment means that someone is bothering you, threatening you or treating you unfairly because of your perceived: ancestry, place of origin, ethnic origin, creed or citizenship.

By any reasonable standard, advocating for an intifada, declaring that Israelis are not welcome on campus, conflating Zionism with Nazism and calling for Jews to be burned in ovens are direct violations of the human rights of every Israeli, Jew and Zionist on this campus. This hatred casts a shadow over every Jew walking the universitys halls. As an openly religious Jew on campus who faces this hatred on campus on a daily basis, I call upon the president and deans to take concrete action to show that this behavior has serious consequences and will not be tolerated at an institution whose sole purpose should be the pursuit of truth and knowledge.

Avi Feygin is a CAMERA Fellow and an engineering student at York University. He is currently working on various projects related both to his engineering degree, and the global and local political situation regarding Israel.
Astounding Storms Sights of Oregon Coast, Washington Coast

Published 02/02/2020 at 12:45 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Rockaway Beach, Oregon)  Now that storm season seems to have really, truly kicked in along the Washington and Oregon coasts, the eye-popping sights and sites abound. Looking for a preview of and hints for insane ocean action? Here are some of the most sensational places you'll find for this unforgettable form of spectating. Follow the links for maps and details.



Ilwaco, Washington. One of the most impressive storm sights takes place just outside of the Oregon coast on the southern Washington coast, at the spot Lewis & Clark erroneously named Cape Disappointment. There, various rocky surfaces above and below the ocean cause literal monsters to come tumbling in and explode (see this Facebook post). It's not always safe to be out here  keep back from the shoreline and any barriers they may have. Like all the crack photogs you may have to depend on a zoom lens.

Warrenton. The south jetty of the Columbia River at Fort Stevens State Park often yields legendary crashings. If it's horribly windy you may be able to catch some of the spectacle from your car, but the best shots are taken from the platform up high.

Cannon Beach Area. Haystack Rock itself isn't always the best pyrotechnics display, and if it is you certainly don't want to be on the beach within a mile or so. That's too dangerous. However, the best stormy monsters appear at Silver Point (the famed lookout just south of town), at Ecola State Park, and at Hug Point and Arcadia Beach just south of Cannon Beach. Stay far back at the parking lot areas, however. (Photo above of Hug Point courtesy Steven Bash: the tide is normally beyond that headland).

At Hug Point, you may get lucky and see the whole place fill up with crazed ocean water that is downright livid, in a swirling mass that is actually rather frightening. At Ecola, if waves are large enough you may actually see them explode over the lighthouse a mile offshore.

Rockaway Beach. Some of the most fun you can have stormwatching on the Oregon coast is seeing waves completely pummel Twin Rocks in the distance. (Photo at top).



Photo courtesy Cape Kiwanda RV Resort

Three Capes Route. Cape Meares is downright jitter-inducing when you see gargantuan waves come barreling in, appearing to be tens of feet tall. Oceanside gets insane during storms (and incredibly unsafe because it's a short beach), and it's even more amazing to watch the wave smack the Three Arch Rocks around. Up at Cape Kiwanda, however, is where some of the most dazzling sights are found. If you're lucky, you may even see waves so powerful they tower over the top of the headland and come crashing over from the other side. That's wave height of more than 100 feet flying up from Kiwanda.





Depoe Bay. This central Oregon coast hotspot is one long showstopper after another, with those basalt cliffs going several miles down the shore. There is, of course, its jaw-dropping spouting horn, which can spray water 40 feet into the air above the seawall (and cover traffic). But you can't go wrong at Boiler Bay's two viewpoints, all of Depoe Bay proper, Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint, Rodea Point and all of the Otter Crest Loop Road.

Insider's Tip: Rodea Point is pretty spectacular in even just mildly rough seas. That's a year-round must-see.





Seal Rock. Prepare ye for numerous big ones. Large basalt blobs mean lots of waves going bonkers. Just stay off the beach.





Yachats. From Yachats itself down to almost Florence you've got a non-stop tidal show for more than 20 miles. Cape Perpetua, the 804 Trail, Cook's Chasm, Strawberry Hill, Bob Creek and more all let you watch the oceanic insanity from somewhere safe.

Shore Acres State Park, Bandon. What can we say that pictures don't tell you even better? This one from Oregon State Parks and Recreation shows why this spot is the king of storms along the coastline.

Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor. Miles and miles of rocky nubs and intricate labyrinths of basalt make for hear-pounding action as the waves have plenty of stuff to knock against.

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Around 75 workers and young people attended a January 2 public meeting at the Public Library Auditorium in central Colombo in defence of Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning. The event, which was convened by the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), unanimously passed a resolution calling for the immediate and unconditional release of WikiLeaks publisher Assange and US whistleblower Manning.

SEP members and supporters campaigned for the meeting in railway, irrigation, and harbour workers neighbourhoods and other working-class areas in Colombo, as well as among university students. The Sri Lankan media and the parliamentary parties have largely blacked out information about the ongoing repression of Assange and Manning. The SEP and IYSSE are the only organisations in Sri Lanka that have held public meetings and rallies in defence of the two.

The meeting in Colombo

The meeting was chaired by SEP political committee member Pani Wijesiriwardena who reviewed the campaign being conducted by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and the World Socialist Web Site for the release of Assange and Manning.

Wijesiriwardena stressed the urgency of this international campaign, explaining that Assange, who is currently being held in solitary confinement at Belmarsh maximum security prison in London, will face an extradition trial in the UK in late February. If he is extradited to the US, he will be tried on 18 bogus charges, including for espionage, and could be imprisoned for 175 years or face capital punishment.

Chelsea Manning is incarcerated at the prison in Alexandria, Virginia and is being punished for refusing to give perjured testimony against Assange. Wijesiriwardena quoted Mannings powerful refusal to cooperate with prosecutors earlier this year, in which she declared: I can either go to jail or betray my principles. The latter exists as a much worse prison than the government can construct.

Pani Wijesiriwardena

Wijesiriwardena outlined the response of the pseudo-left parties and figures such as Bernie Sanders from the US Democratic Party and British Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to the witch hunt against Assange and Manning. Their refusal to defend these courageous individuals is mirrored in Sri Lanka by the silence of the pseudo-left Frontline Socialist Party, the Nava Sama Samaja Party and the United Socialist Party, he said.

IYSSE convenor Kapila Fernando told the meeting that the attack on Assange and Manning is being carried out by the most powerful imperialist powers in the world. Their goal, he said, is both to prevent the masses from learning about their crimes and block workers from opposing the wars that the imperialist powers are now preparing That is why we say that the exposure of war crimes [by Assange and Manning] is a great service for mankind.

The speaker documented the situation now confronting the working classthe closures of factories and plants, the destruction of thousands of jobs and mounting global debtand the growing determination of workers to fight.

Autoworkers in America and Mexico, teachers, rail workers and other workers all over the world, he continued, are engaged in struggle. Although the trade unions have worked to undermine workers actions, the ruling classes are frightened. At the same time, governments in this region, including in India and Sri Lanka, have lined up with Washingtons war drive against China. The fight to free Assange and Manning is a vital part of the emerging struggles of workers for their social and democratic rights, and against imperialist militarism, Fernando said.

Kapila Fernando

K. Ratnayake, the WSWS national editor in Sri Lanka, was the final speaker. The struggle for the release of Assange and Manning is bound up with the international movement of workers in the third decade of the 21st centuryagainst a third world war, the attack on social rights and the danger of fascist dictatorships and authoritarian rule, he said.

The ICFI, its sections and the WSWS opposed the witch hunt of Assange and Manning from the outset and initiated a continuous fight for their defence. Assange, Manning and National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden are heroes of the working class, Ratnayake said.

According to the US and its imperialist allies, the greatest crime of Assange and Manning is their exposure of the truth about the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere, the speaker said. The war logs on Afghanistan and Iraq, which revealed hundreds of US war crimes, such as video footage of a US helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed over 15 people, including two Reuters journalists, were leaked by Manning and published by WikiLeaks.

The jailing of Assange and Manning, Ratnayake said, is part of the preparations for new imperialist wars. While the White House and the Pentagon want to subjugate Russia and China, they will not stop there and are already engaged in trade wars with the European powers, Ratnayake told the meeting. As Lenin explained in the last century, we are in the era of imperialism, that of wars and revolutions. Mankind is now in an advanced stage of that era.

The major working class struggles that emerged in 2018 and 2019 are expanding and now posing revolutionary questions. The response of the ruling classes is war, social counterrevolution, fascism and dictatorship, the speaker said. He elaborated on how these developments are being expressed in Sri Lanka.

The recently-elected President Gotabaya Rajapakse, who is widely despised, Ratnayake said, came to power by using the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks to stoke anti-Tamil and anti-Muslim chauvinism.

The new president is now appealing to Sinhala-Buddhist fascist outfits and the military with the aim of erecting a dictatorship, Ratnayake warned. The Rajapakse government has attacked scores of journalists and political opponents and is surely backing the anti-democratic attacks on Assange.

K. Ratnayake

The speaker explained that the fight to free Julian Assange, in line with the rising militancy of the international working class, is winning new support.

The Open Letter issued by the WSWS International Editorial Board on June 20, 2019 calling for an internationally unified fight to defend Assange is gaining ground, he said. Ratnayake cited significant recent initiatives, including open letters signed by eminent doctors demanding that Assange receive urgent medical care, a statement by more than 1,000 journalists defending the WikiLeaks founder and the decision late last month by the Sri Lankan Journalists for Global Justice to issue a statement calling for his immediate freedom.

Ratnayake concluded by calling for an intensification of meetings and other defence actions in the weeks leading up to the Assange extradition trial in London in late February. He urged all those in attendance to join the SEP and IYSSE and build the revolutionary leadership of the working class required to take forward the fight for democratic rights and for socialism.

The audience responded enthusiastically, passing the resolution that was presented.

After the meeting, Mahinda Haththaka, the chairman of Sri Lankan Journalists for Global Justice, stated: I highly appreciate the campaign carried out by the ICFI and its sections, the Socialist Equality Parties, through the WSWS, to free Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning who have been subjected to a brutal witch-hunt by the imperialists, led by the US. I would like to express my full support for that campaign.

Mahinda Haththaka

I am a WSWS reader and have read almost all WSWS articles about the campaign to free Assange and Manning.

The exposure made by Assange and Manning of the crimes of the imperialists is very important for the progressive masses throughout the world. I fully agree with the characterisation made by the WSWS that the assault on them is the highest point of the entire attack carried out by capitalists ruling classes throughout the world against the working class and oppressed masses.

All those who cherish democratic rights must actively join the struggle to free Assange and Manning. I have attended this meeting in that spirit.

Under conditions of the support extended by all other political parties in Sri Lanka for this witch-hunt through their complicit silence, the struggle waged only by the SEP is very principled and I highly appreciate it. I am ready to do whatever possible to bring forward this campaign with the SEP in the coming period.

Musahith, a physical science student at the University of Colombo, said: I was shocked when I heard about the present situation of Julian Assange. People should not fear to raise their voices in his defence. Workers should take it up as one of the main slogans in their protests.

I oppose any violation of democratic rights in any corner of the world. Thats the reason why I was first attracted to an earlier SEP meeting opposing the siege in Kashmir by Indias BJP government.

And its not just in Kashmir. The entire attack unleashed by the BJP government through its anti-democratic citizenship bill is unprecedented. However, the courage shown in numerous protests across India against those measures is significant. The Indian government, like its counterparts, fears the opposition and unity of workers and youth across ethnic lines.

In Sri Lanka, the situation is not different. President Gotabhaya Rajapakse is strengthening police state measures in preparation for the forthcoming struggles. I agree with the point made in this meeting that the fight for the freedom of Assange is so crucial for the defence of democratic rights internationally.
Caslen announces executive appointments

University of South Carolina President Bob Caslen announced two new hires Monday: new Chief of Staff Col. Mark Bieger, and James Smith, who will serve as interim special assistant to the president.

Mark Bieger will join President Caslen as his new chief of staff.

Bieger is a decorated combat veteran who brings a wealth of executive planning experience to the new role, including serving as executive officer to the commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific and chief of plans in U.S. Central Command. Most recently, Bieger served as chief of staff at the U.S. Army Military Academy at West Point, New York.

While at West Point, Bieger supervised more than 200 civilian and military personnel and was responsible for an annual budget of $160 million. He also coordinated major construction projects, campus IT upgrades and supervised the schools communications and diversity efforts.

"I am proud to announce Mark Bieger as chief of staff and welcome his family to the university, Caslen said. Mark shares my priorities of high character, academic and research excellence, diversity and inclusion, and he is the perfect choice to lead my team. He is a leader whom I have worked closely with before and whom I have the utmost trust and confidence in. A decorated combat veteran, Mark possesses extraordinary leadership and administrative experience, and he is ready to work with every university stakeholder and partner, especially our great students, to not only make college more accessible and affordable but to make the University of South Carolina the nation's preeminent flagship institution of higher education."

Bieger is an Arizona native and a 1991 graduate of West Point. An Army Ranger and troop commander during multiple deployments, Bieger earned numerous commendations for his service, including the Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.

The university powers the state's economic development engine, there is tremendous momentum behind it thanks to gifted students, researchers and faculty, and I can't wait to get to work with President Caslen and the entire Carolina community to make a difference for students and keep the university moving in the right direction. Chief of Staff Mark Bieger

Bieger and his wife, Amy, have three sons and lived in Columbia while he was stationed at Fort Jackson from 2012-14.

"Amy and I are as excited as we are grateful to be back in South Carolina, Bieger said. The university powers the state's economic development engine, there is tremendous momentum behind it thanks to gifted students, researchers and faculty, and I can't wait to get to work with President Caslen and the entire Carolina community to make a difference for students and keep the university moving in the right direction."

Smith, an attorney and former state lawmaker, joined the university in 2019. He most recently served as executive director of Military Programs and Strategies with Palmetto College. In his new role, he will coordinate executive outreach efforts to external university partners and stakeholders.

James Smith will serve as interim special assistant to the president.

Smith is a 1990 graduate of South Carolina and earned his law degree in 1995. He represented Richland County in the South Carolina House of Representatives for 22 years, serving as assistant minority House leader and minority whip. He was the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor of South Carolina.

Smith began his law career at Nelson, Mullins, Riley and Scarborough before starting his own practice and has served on the boards of multiple civic and charitable organizations.

"I am honored to be a part of President Caslen's team, and I am ready to serve our students and faculty, Smith said. If we stay focused on President Caslen's priorities  academic excellence, research, diversity and inclusion  there is no limit to what we can achieve when we work together with university officials, business leaders and policymakers."

In between practicing law and serving in the State House, Smith also served as a JAG officer in South Carolina Army National Guard for eight years. He later became an enlisted infantry officer, serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan with the 218th Infantry Brigade where he was awarded the Combat Infantrymans Badge, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He is currently a major and assigned to the Joint Operations Center, South Carolina Joint Forces Command.

James was an invaluable asset when I first took over, navigating the complex dynamics among faculty, student body, alumni, legislators, local politicians and leaders of influence. I have grown to trust him and to count on his judgement, as I recognize the need to continue to build these relationships. President Bob Caslen

Caslen praised Smiths record of public service in announcing his new role at the university.

"James Smith has devoted his life to serving the people of South Carolina  as a combat veteran, state legislator and community leader  and I am proud that he has agreed to serve on my team. James was an invaluable asset when I first took over, navigating the complex dynamics among faculty, student body, alumni, legislators, local politicians and leaders of influence. I have grown to trust him and to count on his judgement, as I recognize the need to continue to build these relationships. James has helped to make this university stronger, and I look forward to working with him as we continue to better serve our students, researchers, faculty and the people of South Carolina."

Smith and his wife, Kirkland, have four children and reside in Columbia.

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Senator Mitt Romney on Monday said he would like to see John Bolton, President Trumps former national security adviser, testify during the impeachment proceedings about the Ukraine scandal.

Of course, Romney said when asked if he wanted to hear from Bolton, who is believed to have been witnessed the president and his aides deliberating over whether to withhold aide to Ukraine if it did not investigate Joe Biden.

Id like to hear what he has to say, said the senator from Utah who is considered the most prominent Republican critic of Trump.

When asked if he would vote in the Senate to subpoena Bolton during the upcoming impeachment trial, Romney would not commit either way.

Romney said he believes Bolton has firsthand information on the Ukraine scandal, and assuming that articles of impeachment reach the Senate, Id like to hear what he has to say.

Senator Mitt Romney (left), a Republican from Utah, said on Monday he wanted to hear from John Bolton (right), the former national security adviser, though he stopped short of saying he would vote to subpoena Bolton as a witness in the impeachment trial of President Trump

But Romney and other moderate senators appear to be going along with Majority Leader Mitch McConnells wish for a speedy trial without witnesses, according to Politico.

Moderate Republicans like Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine said on Monday they want the impeachment trial to begin for they consider calling witnesses, as the Democrats have demanded.

I believe that the Senate should follow the precedent that was established in the trial of President Clinton, said Collins, who faces a tough re-election fight in her home state later this year.

I think that we will decide at that stage who we need to hear from.

When Murkowski was asked about possibly subpoenaing Bolton, she said: Weve got to get to the first place first.

Another Republican senator who faces a tough re-election battle, Cory Gardner of Colorado, also doesnt seem eager to hear from Bolton.

Is [House Speaker] Nancy [Pelosi] going to send the articles over? She doesnt seem to care? said Gardner.

You guys want to have a trial by Twitter but until she has the articles sent over there is no trial.

Democrats want the Republican-controlled Senate to call witnesses during the upcoming impeachment trial of President Trump, but key senators like Lisa Murkowski (left) of Alaska and Susan Collins (right) of Maine so far do not appear inclined to do so

Bolton confirmed Monday that he would appear before the Senate if he is subpoenaed to testify in the impeachment trial against Trump.

'[S]ince my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study. I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify,' Bolton said in a statement posted to his Political Action Committee website.

Trump's ex-national security adviser, who parted ways with the administration on a sour note in September, revealed he would comply if he was served with a legal notice - but there is no clarity on whether there would be one.

It is Democrats who have expressed interest in his testimony.

Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer revealed last month in a letter to McConnell that he wants to hear from Bolton.

But Republicans hold the majority and so far McConnell has said he is determined to start the trial without calling witnesses, which would make Bolton's move an empty gesture.

Bolton released a statement on Monday saying he will comply with a congressional subpoena if the Senate compels him to testify in the impeachment trial

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (pictured) has expressed interest in subpoenaing Bolton to testify in a Senate impeachment hearing

However Republicans handle it, the announcement by Bolton set off an explosion of speculation in Washington, DC, about the former aide's true intentions and the next step by Pelosi, who has not yet sent the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.

Schumer said the former Trump official has 'direct knowledge of Administration decisions' that could help clear things up in the charges against the president.

He also said proposed having acting White House Chief of Staff Mick-Mulvaney, his adviser, Robert Blair and Office of Management and Budget official Michael Duffey testify.

Schumer released a statement Monday following Bolton's comments.

'Momentum for uncovering the truth in a Senate trial continues,' Schumer said.

'John Bolton correctly acknowledged that he needs to comply with a Senate subpoena to compel his testimony, if issued.'

The New York Democrat says its now up to a small group of Republicans in the Senate to support subpoenaing Bolton to make it happen.

'Given that Mr. Bolton's lawyers have stated he has new relevant information to share, if any Senate Republican opposes issuing subpoenas to the four witnesses and documents we have requested they would make absolutely clear they are participating in a cover up,' Schumer continued in his statement.

The House voted last month, almost completely along party lines, to impeach Trump for two charges: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

'During the present impeachment controversy, I have tried to meet my obligations both as a citizen and as former National Security Advisor,' Bolton wrote in his statement.

He also mentioned in the statement the case with Charles Kupperman, who acted as Trump's national security adviser for eight days between Bolton and the president's new adviser, Robert O'Brien and was Bolton's deputy.

Kupperman faced a House subpoena for the impeachment proceedings, but was given a directive by the White House not to testify. The case ultimately got caught up in a legal battle and eventually the House committee withdrew the subpoena to stop the court from having jurisdiction over the case.

'It now falls to the Senate to fulfill its Constitutional obligation to try impeachments, and it does not appear possible that a final judicial resolution of the still-unanswered Constitutional questions can be obtained before the Senate acts,' Bolton said.

Bolton did not mention something that is well known in Washington: that he is a prolific and meticulous note-taker, and that being summoned to give evidence would have the potential to open up a huge vault of written details of Trump's inner-circle's discussions.

But McConnell and other Republicans in the Senate do not even want to have a trial with witnesses.

Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (pictured) has said he doesn't want to hold a lengthy trial with witnesses, and instead wants to move the matter through the Senate swiftly

Instead, they have claimed they want to go off of House testimony to move the trial quickly through the Senate  where the president will surely be acquitted by the Republican-controlled chamber.

Bolton's ousting was announced by the president via Twitter in September.

'I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House,' Trump tweeted September 10. 'I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning. I thank John very much for his service.'

A few days after departing from the White House, Bolton returned to his post as head of both the John Bolton PAC and John Bolton Super PAC.

He also still periodically weighs in on foreign policy matters, especially Trump's strategy regarding North Korea - on which he has been critical of the administration.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 05:09:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ANKARA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- France has blocked progress in the joint production program of Eurosam's SAMP/T anti-missile systems for political reasons after Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria in late 2019, a Turkish official said Monday.

"We are at the stage of definition study. France has a negative attitude for the next phase. It creates trouble to go one step further," said Ismail Demir, chair of the Turkish Defense Industry Directorate, at an annual review meeting with the press.

"If this attitude continues, we will proceed with the other partner," Demir added, referring to Italy.

France did not make a general declaration of an embargo but has made it difficult in some specific projects, he noted.

Turkey signed an agreement with the French-Italian consortium in 2018 for the potential joint production of a developed version of Eurosam's SAMP/T anti-ballistic missile system, and started an 18-month-long study to determine the needs and priorities for the project.

In October of 2019, the French National Assembly, lower house of the parliament, approved unanimously a resolution condemning Turkey's Operation Peace Spring, which was launched on Oct. 9 against Syrian Kurdish fighters in the east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria.

Turkey's deal with Italian-French consortium came at a time when Ankara saw fierce pressure from the United States over its plans to purchase Russia's S-400 air defense systems.

Elaborating a U.S. sanction on Ankara for its deal with Russia, the official said the Turkish defense companies continue the production of F-35 components as a goodwill gesture despite a U.S. statement that these companies will be suspended from the supply chain of the aircraft in March 2020.

If the United States insists on halting production in Turkish companies and excluding Turkey from the program, Ankara has legal rights to act against the U.S. move, he added.

Turkey began receiving Russia's S-400 systems in July last year, despite Washington's argument that the Russian S-400 systems jeopardizes sensitive information of the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets Turkey is helping build and plans to purchase.

The installment and training of the first batch of S-400 systems will be finalized in April, Demir revealed.

Talks are still ongoing with Russian officials for procurement of the second batch of the systems since the new purchase will require technology transfer, joint production and details for friend and foe system, he said.

Russia proposed to sell Su-35 aircraft when the United States halted Turkey's partnership in the F-35 program, but Ankara is still considering the proposal as such procurement will bring a series of changes in parameters of Turkish defense systems, the Turkish official noted.
More details have emerged about the planning and execution of the October 26, 2019, raid that killed ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi. The key to getting Baghdadi was confirming where he was hiding. As expected, finding and confirming the location of Baghdadi was a complex process made easier by the fact that ISIL and Baghdadi had made a lot of enemies over the years, especially among rival Islamic terror groups. After most of the territory controlled by ISIL since 2014 had been liberated by late 2017, more ISIL members were demoralized and deserted. Just leaving ISIL is forbidden and those caught are executed. Many of those who did get out went back to the al Qaeda groups they belonged to before switching to the seemingly more effective (for a time) ISIL. This played an important role in tracking down Baghdadi because most remaining Syrian Islamic terrorists are now members of the al Qaeda dominated HTS coalition. Most HTS members are trapped in northwest Syria (Idlib province). Syrian and Russian forces have been slowly retaking HTS territory for most of 2019. In response, HTS leadership has been trying to negotiate a deal with Turkey to allow some of the more trustworthy (to the Turks) HTS factions to escape, unarmed, into Turkey with their families. These al Qaeda members would join other Islamic terrorists (like Hamas) who are allowed to operate out of Turkey as long as they do not harm Turks and provide information and assistance to Turkey when requested. This has long been an accepted practice in the Middle East, and some parts of Europe, to reduce Islamic terrorist violence in the host country. Because some HTS factions are still allied with ISIL, these Idlib connections proved an effective source of information during the search for Baghdadi.

Iraqi intelligence got the first of many leads that led to the Baghdadi hideout. Baghdadi was always elusive and, by 2017, many ISIL members were ordered to get out of Syria and Iraq and set up operations elsewhere. It was unclear if that included Baghdadi. ISIL was also trying to use Turkey as a base of operations but that was proving difficult because Turkey was definitely not ISIL-friendly. This led to a lot of ISIL members getting caught trying to enter Turkey with phony travel documents. The Turks, Americans, Iraqi sand Syrians had established an official (and unofficial) watch list of key ISIL members who might try to get in and out of Turkey with false documents and more and more of these men were getting caught. Most were turned over to Iraq, if only because most of the senior ISIL leaders were Iraqi. Once in the custody of Iraqi intelligence interrogations, including threats against family members still in Iraq, usually produced useful information.

This was the case with Ismael al Ethawi, a top ISIL operative, who often met with Baghdadi. He was caught by the Turks in February 2018 and turned over to the Iraqis. Ethawi provided valuable details on how ISIL personnel operated in Syria, Iraq and Turkey, including names of people who helped them. Many of these new names were involved in establishing and maintaining the network of safe houses, usually compounds, Baghdadi moved around to on an irregular basis. This made Baghdadi a moving target and to carry out a raid to kill or capture him, you had to know where the safe houses were, and how the moves were made and who took care of the details. The Ethawi information was a big break because it soon confirmed that Baghdadi was moving among various locations in Idlib province. The next step was to narrow it down to which location and when.

Another breakthrough was Iraqis arresting two of Baghdadis wives. One of them was found to sometimes serve as a courier to carry information, often memorized, to and from Baghdadi. She confirmed some of the safe house locations and details of how those safe houses operated. This included house staff, security procedures and how the household was periodically moved. Some of this information was shared with the Turks and autonomous Syrian Kurds in northeast Syria. Both the Turks and Kurds had informants in Idlib, and these operatives could be used to double-check some details of what was now known about Baghdadi safe houses. The Americans also had regular video and electronic surveillance over Idlib and now had something specific about Baghdadi to look for. The Kurds arranged for an informant to get work at one of the Baghdadi safe houses Baghdadi was believed to be in. This produced some dirty laundry to be washed, but some Baghdadi underwear was handed over to the Americans who checked it for DNA and confirmed that Baghdadi had worn it.

As helpful as the Kurds were, the Turks sometimes proved to be an obstacle. While all this intel collecting was going on the Turks had invaded Kurdish territory east of Idlib and this delayed the Baghdadi raid by at least a month. At this point, it was possible to track the movements from one safe house to another. Not accurately enough catch Baghdadi on the move, but enough to know when he was in which safe house.

Key items of information also came from sources in HTS, who wanted Baghdadi dead but were unable or unwilling to do it themselves. Perhaps HTS was hoping to win some more favor from the Turks. Whatever the case the HTS information came, indirectly, from people very close to Baghdadi and in October 2019 confirmed that Baghdadi was at a safe house outside the village of Barisha. This was five kilometers from the Turkish border and 25 kilometers north of Idlib city, the provincial capital. It was a remote area but close to a major border crossing. The Barisha safe house compound had been used by ISIL for quite some time and had tunnels dug underneath it and several emergency exits. American planners were able to obtain many of these details and the raiding force was briefed and ready for the operation.

The raid was carried out by over a hundred American special operations troops although fewer than a hundred actually landed, from nine helicopters, after traveling from a base in northwest Iraq. The Turks allowed the helicopters to pass through their airspace and the Americans already had arrangements with the Russians to get safe-passage past Russian air defense systems covering Idlib province. The helicopters received some ground fire as they approached Barisha but heavy machine-guns on the helicopters fired back to eliminate that threat. Once on the ground, the compound was surrounded and Baghdadi was called on to surrender. He refused and the commandos blew a hole in the wall (as the main gate might have explosive traps near it) and quickly entered. Five ISIL gunmen were killed inside the compound plus a few outside it. Baghdadi had put on an explosive vest and fled with several young children to one of the tunnels to try and either escape or simply hide. But the raiders knew of the tunnels and were right behind Baghdadi. Once Baghdadi realized that he detonated his explosives killing himself and the children. His head was intact and that was taken to one of the helicopters that had a portable DNA analysis device on it. The head was confirmed as Baghdadis and the rest of his body was collected and later buried at sea, accompanied by appropriate Islamic funeral rites. This was also done with Osama bin Ladens body, to prevent a burial site from becoming a shrine for like-minded Moslems.

During the raid, the Americans quickly searched the compound for documents and other useful items, some of which was shared with the Turks, Kurds, Iraqis and Russians. Some of that information quickly led to other key ISIL members being identified, located and captured or killed. There was apparently a lot of information on ISIL finances and current organization, which will lead to more action against ISIL finances and overseas operatives.

Many details of how the intel was obtained, organized and exploited have not been revealed because that would put current operations at risk. It was noted that after the Baghdadi raid was revealed the next day, by the Americans, there was a noticeable disruption in ISIL operations. By the end of the month ISIL confirmed that Baghdadi was indeed dead and named another member of Baghdadis tribe to succeed him. This was important because this tribe has a genealogical connection with the original caliphate of a thousand years ago and, if tribal members are appointed caliph, that appointment has more authenticity. Many Baghdadi ISIL associates came from that tribe and that makes it somewhat easier to gather information on Baghdadi successors, something Iraq has already done.
Investigators do not believe the shooting was a random act. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances of the shooting and are asking anyone with information to call the Aurora Police Investigations Division at 630-256-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000 to leave information anonymously.
(Alliance News) - OptiBiotix Health PLC on Tuesday said it is launching a product range under its SlimBiome brand with health food retailer Holland & Barrett.

Holland & Barratt has over 1,300 stores in 16 countries. Supplements and active ingredients maker OptiBiotix said Holland & Barrett will initially sell the SlimBiome product range in the UK, as well as the Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

This is the first launch for the SlimBiome weight management product with a major retailer.

Fred Narbel, managing director of OptiBiotix's prebiotics division, said: "Partnering with a company which has the retail experience, marketing reach, and the size of [Holland & Barrett] increases exposure and awareness of SlimBiome, both nationally, and internationally. This helps build brand awareness and as sales volumes increase, will lower the cost of goods. This is another step in building sales of SlimBiome across the world as we leverage newsflow of launches and awards and look to replicate similar deals in North America, India, Australia, and other major territories in 2020."

Shares in York-headquartered OptiBiotix were up 1.6% at 58.90 pence in London on Tuesday morning.

By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
- A report recently accused Zimbabwe of stealing electricity from South Africa amidst the constant threat of load-shedding

- Allegedly using illegal Limpopo River connections, the neighbouring region was accused of swindling Eskom

- Briefly.co.za explores the facts behind this controversial claim

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Eskom is currently facing a challenge as the nation's factories begin production again next week and the grid will be expected to supply a massive amount of power once more.

With load-shedding implemented over the weekend, citizens turned their attention to the embattled state-owned entity again.

A report recently caused waves when it claimed Zimbabwe was caught stealing electricity from South Africa's already-strained supply.

The article, posted by Gallant Post, detailed how the Zimbabwean government was running illegal connections through the Limpopo River on the border between the two nations:

For the 15 years, Eskom had R2 billion worth of electricity disappear unaccounted for. The Zimbabwean government had been powering almost half of their country from illegal connections and Eskom had been trying to figure out where the lost electricity is actually going without success until the past weekend.

READ ALSO: Eskom's supply to Zimbabwe remains uninterrupted despite load-shedding

In response to the claim, Eskom issued a statement dismissing the claim that our neighbours were powering their country with stolen electricity:

To set the record straight: Eskom has neither recorded shortfalls in its international power reconciliation nor investigated the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA). Energy consumption is accounted through a comprehensive reconciliation process and is independently audited on a regular basis.

The power utility slammed the articles as 'complete fiction', pointing out that the story was originally shared by Ihlaya News, a name which literally translates to 'joke' from isiZulu.

However, Zimbabwe does indeed enjoy a supply of electricity through South African systems.

Briefly.co.za previously reported that Eskom had entered into a R30 million-a-month deal with the struggling nation to provide electricity.

While this deal has seen the country owing a significant amount to Mzansi, it was entered into through legitimate channels.

Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news!

Source: Briefly News
MONTREAL, Jan. 6, 2020 /CNW/ - Champion Iron Limited (TSX: CIA) (ASX: CIA) ("Champion Australia" or the "Company") announces a proposal to redomicile from Australia to Canada by way of a scheme of arrangement under Part 5.1 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the "Re-domicile" or the "Redomiciliation").

Reasons for the Redomiciliation

After considering the potential benefits and disadvantages of the Redomiciliation, the board of directors (the "Board") has determined that a Redomicile to Canada best serves the Company's interest, highlighting:

The Redomiciliation will align the domicile or location of the new listed parent company ("Champion Canada"), with its assets, operations and predominant shareholder base;

The Redomicile will increase the attractiveness of Champion Canada to more diverse financial markets;

to more diverse financial markets; The Redomicile will increase the attractiveness of Champion Canada to Canadian institutional investors who may require a Canadian corporate domicile (including a place of incorporation in Canada ) for their investments;

to Canadian institutional investors who may require a Canadian corporate domicile (including a place of incorporation in ) for their investments; Champion Canada may become eligible for inclusion in Canadian indices, such as the S&P/TSX Composite Index, which require a domestic corporate domicile (including a place of incorporation in Canada ), without impacting Australian indices which do not prescribe an Australian corporate domicile as a condition for inclusion;

may become eligible for inclusion in Canadian indices, such as the S&P/TSX Composite Index, which require a domestic corporate domicile (including a place of incorporation in ), without impacting Australian indices which do not prescribe an Australian corporate domicile as a condition for inclusion; The potential cost savings to be realised by the simplification of the corporate structure of Champion Canada ;

; The active listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") and Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX") will be retained; and

The Redomicile will not result in any changes to operations, management or strategy.

Commenting on the announcement, Champion Iron Limited's CEO, David Cataford, said "Although our Company has evolved into a successful mining operator headquartered in Canada, we maintain significant roots in Australia where many of our early investors reside. While today's announcement aligns our Company's domicile with its operations, we look to build our already strong shareholder base in Australia with our active listings on the TSX and ASX, which will remain unaffected by this announcement."

The Board unanimously recommends the Redomiciliation

The Company's Board unanimously recommends that shareholders of Champion Australia ("Champion Australia Shareholders") approve the Redomicile by voting in favour of the resolution to approve the scheme at the meeting of the Company's shareholders to be scheduled to consider this resolution in March 2020. Each member of the Board intends to vote the Champion Australia Shares (as defined below) which he or she holds (or that are held on their behalf) in favour of the scheme resolution.

Independent Expert's Report

Champion Australia has appointed Grant Thornton Corporate Finance Pty Ltd as the Independent Expert to determine whether or not the scheme to give effect to the Redomicile is in the best interests of Champion Australia Shareholders. The scheme booklet in connection with the Redomicile (the "Scheme Booklet") will include the report from the Independent Expert.

Overview of the key features of the Redomicile

Champion Australia has today entered into a scheme implementation deed (the "Scheme Implementation Deed") with Champion Canada, a new holding company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The Scheme Implementation Deed records the terms on which Champion Australia and Champion Canada have agreed to pursue the Redomicile.

If the scheme is implemented:

Champion Canada will acquire all the ordinary shares in Champion Australia (each ordinary share being a "Champion Australia Share") and Champion Australia Shareholders (who are classified as eligible scheme participants) will receive one Champion Canada common share (a "Champion Canada Common Share") listed on the TSX or one CHESS Depository Interest of Champion Canada (a "Champion Canada CDI") quoted and traded on the ASX as the scheme consideration for each Champion Australia Share which they hold on the record date of the scheme;

will acquire all the ordinary shares in Champion Australia (each ordinary share being a "Champion Australia Share") and Champion Australia Shareholders (who are classified as eligible scheme participants) will receive one common share (a "Champion Canada Common Share") listed on the TSX or one CHESS Depository Interest of (a "Champion Canada CDI") quoted and traded on the ASX as the scheme consideration for each Champion Australia Share which they hold on the record date of the scheme; Champion Australia will become a subsidiary of Champion Canada ;

will become a subsidiary of ; Champion Australia will be delisted from the ASX and the TSX;

will be delisted from the ASX and the TSX; Champion Canada Common Shares will be listed on the TSX; and

Champion Canada will be listed on the ASX with CDIs quoted and traded on the ASX.

As such, Champion Canada will effectively replace Champion Australia as the listed entity on the ASX and the TSX.

Implementation of the scheme is conditional upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including:

The Independent Expert concluding that the scheme to give effect to the Redomicile is in the best interests of Champion Australia Shareholders;

Champion Australia Shareholders approving the scheme;

The Federal Court of Australia approving the scheme; and

approving the scheme; and Champion Canada obtaining approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board.

Maintain ASX and TSX listing

Champion Canada is governed by the laws of the Province of Quebec, Canada, and will continue to be subject to the rules and policies of the ASX and the TSX. The regulatory environment in Canada is considered comparable to that in Australia. As such, security holders in Champion Canada will have similar regulatory protection to that currently available under the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to Champion Australia Shareholders.

Indicative timetable

It is expected that the Scheme Booklet will be sent to Champion Australia Shareholders in February 2020 followed by a Shareholder meeting to be scheduled in March 2020. Assuming satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions precedent, the scheme will be implemented in early April 2020.

The Scheme Booklet will outline full details of the scheme and the Redomicile and will include details of the scheme, the reasons for the Board's recommendation and the report from the Independent Expert. Champion Australia Shareholders are encouraged to carefully review the Scheme Booklet in full once received.

Full details of the impact of the scheme, including the change to regulation, will be made in the Scheme Booklet.

Shareholder information

Further information on the Redomicile will be lodged with the ASX, disseminated and filed in Canada, as required, and included on the Company's website https://www.championiron.com/.

About Champion Iron Limited

On April 11, 2016, the Company, through its subsidiary Quebec Iron Ore Inc., acquired the Bloom Lake assets from bankruptcy protection. Following the release of a feasibility study on February 16, 2017, the Company recommissioned Bloom Lake in February 2018, which completed its first shipment on April 1, 2018. In June 2019, the Company released a feasibility study for the Phase II expansion which envisions doubling the mine's overall capacity from 7.4 Mtpa to 15 Mtpa. On August 16, 2019, the Company finalized the terms of an agreement with Ressources Quebec Inc. whereby the Company acquired Ressources Quebec's 36.8% equity interest in Quebec Iron Ore Inc. and now owns 100% of Quebec Iron Ore Inc., which owns the Bloom Lake mine.

Located on the south end of the Labrador Trough, approximately 13 km north of Fermont, Quebec, and adjacent to established iron ore producers, the Bloom Lake mine is an openpit truck and shovel operation with a concentrator. From the site, iron concentrate is transported by rail, initially on the Bloom Lake railway, to a ship loading port in SeptIles, Quebec.

Summary information

The following disclaimer applies to this announcement and any information contained in it. The information in this announcement is of general background and does not purport to be complete. It should be read in conjunction with Champion Australia's periodic and continuous disclosure announcements lodged with the ASX, disseminated and filed in Canada, as required, and the Scheme Booklet (when it is sent to Champion Australia Shareholders).

Forward looking statements

This announcement includes certain information that may constitute "forwardlooking information" under applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this announcement that address future events, developments or performance that Champion Australia or Champion Canada expect to occur are forwardlooking statements. Forwardlooking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates", "aims", "targets", or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

Although Champion Australia and Champion Canada believe the expectations in such forwardlooking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such forwardlooking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, most of which are beyond the control of Champion Australia or Champion Canada, which may cause Champion Australia's and Champion Canada's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forwardlooking statements include, without limitation, changes in laws and regulations including tax laws; general economic, market or business conditions; general economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" of the Champion Australia's 2019 Annual Information Form and the risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's MD&A for the year ended March 31, 2019, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

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 forwardlooking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forwardlooking information. All of Champion Australia's and Champion Canada's forwardlooking information contained in this announcement is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of Champion Australia's and Champion Canada's management and information available to management as at the date hereof. Champion Australia and Champion Canada disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any such forwardlooking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Not for release to US wire services

This announcement has been prepared for publication in Australia and dissemination in Canada and may not be released to US wire services. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States of America or any other jurisdiction. Any securities described in this announcement have not been registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States of America except in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, registration under the US Securities Act and applicable US state securities laws.

SOURCE Champion Iron Limited

For further information: Michael Marcotte, VicePresident, Investor Relations, 5143164858, Ext. 128, [email protected]

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The defence lawyer of some of the Israelis accused of gang raping a British teenager in Cyprus has welcomed a ruling by a Cypriot court which on Tuesday handed her a four-month suspended sentence.

The 19-year-old woman was found guilty of public mischief for making up claims that she was raped by up to a dozen Israelis.

"We respect the court's decision. What was important to us was that the woman would be convicted and the version told by the clients I represented would be accepted," said lawyer Nir Yaslovitzh, speaking from Lod in central Israel.

"I will oppose any request for a pardon that will be submitted by the woman's lawyers until she expresses full and honest remorse for the nefarious acts she committed."

Cypriot Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said that he decided to give the woman a "second chance" because she admitted that she made a mistake in making the false rape claim.

He also cited other reasons including her young age, immaturity, personal circumstances, psychological condition and the fact that she had already spent almost month in detention during the six months her trial lasted.

He said that the sentence could be activated if she commits another serious offense within three years.

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In a public service announcement made in 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a warning against a high-impact cyberattack that could target U.S. businesses and organizations. That attack was ransomware.

While some Americans dismissed the warning as old news, recent events proved that the threat actors behind these attacks aren't done wreaking havoc on computers and systems. Just two months after the FBI notice was issued, the city of New Orleans suffered a serious cyber attack, which prompted Mayor LaToya Cantrell to declare a state of emergency.

In Dec. 23, 2019, another attack was recorded at the Maastricht University in the Netherlands. This time, the ransomware malware succeeded in encrypting not just Windows' security software, but almost all Windows systems.

The Clop Ransomware Evolution

When that FBI warning was issued last year, the Clop malware was deemed as just another variant of the CryptoMix ransomware family. According to experts, however, the recent evolution of the ransomware could now terminate a total of 663 Windows processes before the file encryption could even begin.

SEE ALSO: Charger Scam Alert: USB Ports at Airports, Hotels Could Drain Your Bank Account

But that was what the investigative agency's warning was initially about. FBI wanted to warn the public about cybercriminals' alarming efforts to "upgrade and change their techniques to make their attacks more effective and to prevent detection."

In a November post by Bleeping Computer writer Lawrence Abrams, he reported that the Clop CryptoMix Ransomware is now attempting not just to disable Windows Defender but to remove the Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes' Anti-Ransomware programs as well.

Aside from Windows Defender, among the systems and processes terminated by the ransomware are Acrobat, Calculator, Edge, OneDrive, PowerPoint, SecureCRT, Skype, Snagit, Word, and the Your Phone app. The full list of terminated systems can be seen in GitHub researcher Vitali Kremez's report.

How to Protect Your Windows 10 From Ransomware

Windows 10 has always been on the top of the target lists of threat actors. Remember when the advanced persistent attack group Thallium operated an extensive criminal network to steal data? Or when cybercriminals tried to bypass Windows 10 security by implementing ransomware called Snatch?

Given these facts, it should go without saying that you must be proactive in protecting your files and data from potential Windows 10 malware. Here are some good practices to live by.

Always download the latest security updates. Make it a habit to check for new updates.

Back up your data. Whether we're talking about individuals or organizations, it's best practice to back up your files not just in cloud storage but also in another offsite location.

Limit the access to your file folders. This doesn't prevent cybercriminals from accessing your data, but you can at least make their job easier for them.

Never open unknown links on your browser. Threat actors take advantage of browser vulnerabilities to install ransomware.

Be cyber-aware. There's no harm in educating yourself with cybersecurity tips and tricks.

As with any situation, remember that it's always better to be safe than sorry. Following these steps will help keep your data safe from Clop ransomware and other cyberattacks.

RELATED LINK: Private Text Messages Have Been Exposed Online: Here's What You Can Do to Secure Your Messages

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NEW YORK and TORONTO, Jan. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BNP Paribas, a premier global banking partner, today announced that it has closed a bi-lateral, incentive-linked corporate revolving credit facility (RCF) with Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (TSX: BEP.UN; NYSE: BEP), structured as a sustainability-linked loan (SLL). This is one of the first SLLs offered in Canada and the first for BNP Paribas in Canada.



SLLs typically incorporate a pricing mechanism linked to a client's environmental, social or governance (ESG) performance. The key feature of this RCF structure is a pricing incentive whereby Brookfield Renewable Partners cost of debt declines as it continues to expand its renewable and clean electricity generating capacity and meets pre-determined CO2 emissions avoidance levels. This alignment ultimately reflects the vision of placing sustainability at the core of its business strategy.

Brookfield Renewable Partners operates one of the worlds largest publicly-traded renewable power platforms. In 2018, its portfolio helped to avoid 25 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions. The portfolio consists of hydroelectric, wind, solar and storage facilities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia, and totals over 18,000 megawatts of installed capacity and an 8,000 megawatt development pipeline. Brookfield Renewable Partners has an established track record of creating value by prudently acquiring, building and financing assets, and actively managing its operations.

BNP Paribass sustainability-linked loan aligns well with our goal of expanding our renewable power portfolio as we continue to play a leading role in the decarbonization of the global power generation grid, said Julian Deschatelets, Managing Director at Brookfield Renewable, responsible for the capital markets and treasury function globally. We also see this facility as a complement to issuances under our Green Bond framework.

Sonja Volpe, Principal Officer and CEO BNP Paribas in Canada, stated: We are delighted to be helping Brookfield Renewable Partners, one of the world's largest investors in renewable power, to build on its leadership position in renewables. The sustainability lending space has grown rapidly worldwide, and BNP Paribas is proud to be a leader in renewable energy financing, and Sustainable Finance more broadly.

Story continues

BNP Paribas has acted as Sustainability Coordinator or Sustainability Structuring Agent for many transactions this past year. Dreyfus, a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods globally, and NRG Energy, a U.S. power utility leader, each announced debut SLLs structured by the Bank in the U.S. in July. In the UK, BNP Paribas provided Optivo, a charitable housing association, as well as UK Housing Association Peabody Trust, with five-year RCFs.

In 2011, BNP Paribas decided to place the fight against climate change at the forefront of its priorities. The Bank financed more than 15bn in renewable energy in 2018, and is among the top 3 issuers of green bonds in euros. At the end of 2018, the total financing provided by BNP Paribas that contributed to the energy transition and the SDGs was 168bn.

Press Contacts

Mylene Benmoussa

+1 212-841-2351

mylene.benmoussa@us.bnpparibas.com

Keely Gispan

+1 212-340-5867

keely.gispan@us.bnpparibas.com

About BNP Paribas in Canada

For over 55 years, BNP Paribas in Canada has been helping Canadian businesses and institutions grow by offering them a full range of specialized financial services and investment products. With over 1,000 employees in offices in Montreal and Toronto, BNP Paribas in Canada combines a clear understanding of the Canadian landscape with global expertise.
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Linkedin Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 11:24 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c32129ad0 1 World rape-case,Indonesian,UK,Indonesian-Embassy,Sexual-assault Free

The Indonesian Embassy in the United Kingdom revealed late Monday that it had followed the notorious case of Reynhard Sinaga for the past three years to ensure he was afforded the full extent of his rights and protections as an Indonesian citizen.

The embassy had kept a low profile in its involvement in the case of 36-year-old Reynhard, who was sentenced by a Manchester court to life on 136 accounts of rape, eight accounts of attempted rape, 13 accounts of sexual assault and two accounts of sexual assault with penetration.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has called him "the worst-known sex offender in the country's history" for the assault or rape of at least 195 men and for attacking scores more since moving to Britain as a student in 2007, AFP reports.

The Manchester Crown Court ruling went viral at the start of the week after reports began trickling in, but in a statement distributed late Monday, the embassy in London said it had been assisting in the case since 2017.

Reynhard, the embassy stated, had been tried in four separate trials before the judges ruled him guilty and sentenced him to life with a chance of parole after 30 years.

Reynhard was afforded legal assistance in court and was appointed legal counsel, the embassy said. It also facilitated consular visits and meetings with family and lawyers while in detention.

The efforts were carried out to ensure Reynhard was afforded the full extent of his rights to protection and a fair trial in the UK justice system, it said.

Through its Twitter account @cpsuk on Monday, the Royal Prosecutors Office claimed to have spent more than 1,000 hours sifting through evidence to bring Reynhard to justice.

I'm pleased we overcame his ludicrous defense and achieved guilty verdicts on all 159 counts, said CPS deputy chief Ian Rushton.

The case has sparked a wave of shock and contempt online, both in the UK and in Indonesia.

Beth Abbit, a Manchester-based journalist who has followed the case for the past 18 months said via her Twitter account @BetAbbitMEN that I was utterly shocked by what I heard. The young men who testified against vile rapist Reynhard Sinaga showed immense bravery and the @gmpolice officers who brought him to justice did an incredible job.

Twitter user @mitatweets said [the] Reynhard Sinaga case risks being spun by Indonesians to blame gays and Brits to blame immigrants instead of focusing on the real and only problem: rape.

Reynhard was arrested in 2017 after one of his victims was able to hand one of his mobile phones to the police. The CPS said its investigators discovered 3.29 terabytes of graphic content of sexual assault equivalent to 250 DVDs or 300,000 photos. One of the assaults lasted eight hours. (tjs)
She has won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and was the world's highest-paid actress in 2017.

And Emma Stone has now been chosen to front Louis Vuitton's new Spring/Summer 2020 womenswear campaign, working with the brand for a third time.

The star, 31, was shot by Collier Schorr in Londons legendary Park Lane Hotel, modelling creative director Nicolas Ghesquiere's new clothes, inspired by the Belle Epoque era - the 'Golden Age of France' which lasted from 1871 until 1914.

New campaign: Emma Stone can add 'Louis Vuitton model' to her CV after fronting the fashion house's Spring/Summer 2020 new women's campaign

The La La Land actress was photographed alongside Chinese actress Zhong Chuxi and a cast of models.

Emma dons a beige dress with bib detailing at the neck, a pinstriped pair of trousers with an eye-catching jacket and a punk style dress playfully layered over a floral shirt.

As well as the key looks from the upcoming season, the campaign focuses on the latest handbags, including the new Vanity in Monogram and the latest variations for the Dauphine.

The images reflect Collier Schorrs approach to photography as a 'medium poised between reality and fiction,' Louis Vuitton said.

Beauty: The star, 31, was shot by Collier Schorr in Londons legendary Park Lane Hotel in Nicolas Ghesquiere's new clothes

Emma also appeared in an LV handbag ad in May last year, in March 2018 she also appeared in a campaign shot by the same photographer, Craig McDean.

Schorr had already photographed the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2019 in her trademark style and reprises the idea of a cast of diverse characters caught as they interact in the rooms and corridors of a landmark hotel.

The campaign will debut in the February issues of international magazines.

Gang: The La La Land actress, working with the brand for a third time, was shot alongside Chinese actress Zhong Chuxi and a cast of models

Lucky guy! She became engaged to Dave McCary, an American comedian after two years of dating

It's been a strong start to 2020 for Emma, and her 2019 ended in a similar vein.

She became engaged to Dave McCary, an American comedian after two years of dating.

Emma's gorgeous ring, pictured in December as she left SNL studios, is the label's Pearl Snowflake Ring-Supreme, it features a large pearl set in the center and surrounded by smaller diamonds.

The couple were first linked in November 2017 when they were spotted out together in New York City.

The La La Land star tends to be tight-lipped about her personal life, and she reportedly met Dave when she hosted SNL in December 2016.
Mayra Lopez said this about her book: "In this book of poetry you will find poems that will make you feel every feeling in full bloom. Others will simply put you to think about life as a whole. When you read them, you will feel connected because we have all felt in some way toward this world, toward some people, and everything around us. Simple poetry with a lot of lucidity that you will like to read more than once, which will make you feel that there is always someone else who thinks and feels like you. A small book with big words which, if you pay attention, will delicately wrap you in my world. In each poem, you will live a story, you will feel each feeling as your own, and you will understand that we are not so different when we put aside our complexes when we expose our deepest feelings and display our dreams and our desires. You will remember how fragile we are under certain circumstances that we are discovering along the way, that fate is teaching us and from which we are learning. Poetry is a beautiful freedom of expression, it is being able to put oneself in the place of the other and let feelings flow with words that silence the heart, but from another point of view, from another perspective. Here are some examples of this and my own story here. Poems Forever, a book of poems, thoughts, and something else."
07.01.2020 LISTEN

45 B.C. on a sunny Friday morning in Rome I stood before Julius Caesar, Emporer of the most powerful and feared of country on earth: "Julius, let me prophecy to you!"

He looked at me with grim face as his steps were directed towards the Senate to hold a meeting intended to safe his reign: "The Roman Empire is about to collapse in the next 600-800 years! I have seen the signs."

Julius Caesar got out his sword with his right hand, lifted it over my head in outrage, lowered it down to my neck and beheaded me with one bloody strike. My torso was falling down to the ground, next to it my head bleeding to emptiness.

As nothing is new in this world History book is essential to read and understand. The world during its long inhabitance of mankind and subsequently human civilization has seen all around the world Empires come and go of various length and periods. In our world nothing is forever; humans die, animals and plants die, so countries and powers that shift to other sides of the globe. For the Wise Man, it is needed to understand the signs and signals when in far distance future tables turn for others to pick up the pieces and start history in glorification. It is in fact not the shining obvious that eventually takes world dominion but the one that in the shadow of the light carefully and constantly prepare themselves for their throne ahead of other nations.

Until after WW II when USA took up finally for good the position of "World Police" fighting wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan and on the Arabian Penninsula USA started to be fought back with anger in many hearts of the world. Inside USA the country is not only divided because of a President for possibly eight years unfit to unite a country and protect their interest in line with most countries around the world to make the planet a better place but a trend to stay. Donald J. Trump did not divide the country of USA by his decisions but by him being elected in the first place exposed the already existing division in the country (Abraham Lincoln faced only internal division. All USA Presidents, since WW I, have failed their people not by creating greatness but by not sustaining it for more possible generations to enjoy than it will be). History has proven it is this combination of inner division and weakness and attacks from outside that, over time, is the starting point of a great Nations collapse (why did this "Moral Leader of Human Rights" not stop 1994 Genocide in Rwanda?).

To many China is the obvious choice to replace USA which is only true on economic grounds out of which geopolitical interest emerge. China`s leadership has to feed its masses to stay in power but traditionally has no spirit of humanity to take mankind to a higher level. The size of the landmass creates no hunger to fight for colonies which is in line with Russia. Russia, by its spirit, needs forceful leaders to be relevant regardless of their natural resources and landmass. Vladimir Putin eventually will die or relax with no adequate replacement in sight. Putin`s reign cannot be described as time to have contributed any idea towards moving mankind to a higher humanitarian and cultural level, but surviving as a nation and feed its people, besides himself well. Europe has dominated world politics for centuries, created ideas and shaped cultures with the intend to form a new, a better human race. The momentum of creation has passed and the peak of their activities crossed. Truly the old continent deserves to take a rest.

David, the shepherd-boy, took on Goliath and knocked him down. His character was full of unstable temptations and his path of dead people was long. Yet, God loved him and raised him up to King David, the King indeed. David did not win nor maintane his throne by might and strength but by character to humble himself in times of need and the mindset for greatness. As God has planted mankind into Africa, started civilization from his chosen continent, allowed time to take control over it only with the certain history in mind to close the circle of humanity and human dominion of the earth by punishing the Africans and push them to greatness that will make them, over generations to come, once more sit on their throne in history and rule the waves of the world. One that understands the mechanism of history and the minds of people while thinking not for his own short life but into hundred and thousands of years will see the truth behind the glamour todays Superpowers want themselves to be portrayed in. This world is not about shining glamour but about hard work to be better people every day. Any development needs a leader, not the most intelligent, creative or strong one, rather the most humble one. In Africa, Ghana seems to be the choice of the Almighty regardless of todays turbulence.

By force, Africans will understand what it takes to take their throne again!
Iranians burn US and Israeli flags during an anti-US protest over the killings during a US air strike of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, in the capital Tehran on January 4 (AFP via Getty Images)

The assassination of the commander of Irans Quds force, Qassem Soleimani, came as a shock to both Iranians and Americans. Although Soleimani and his force had been designated by the US as a terrorist organisation, it was never expected that Washington would kill him this way.

But many are still surprised, asking how Donald Trump, a vocal critic of endless Middle East wars, got to this point.

Experts have been warning that Mr Trump was eventually going to stumble into a serious conflict. And while his more seasoned batch of initial advisors were able to stave off a potential conflict, his current circle of close aides seems to be pushing him towards conflict.

The adults left the administration and they were left with no one willing or able to speak truth to Trump. He drove past the warning signs and crashed us into this crisis, says Brett Bruen, former White House director of global engagement, adding that unlike many of Mr Trumps other mistakes, a summit or a trade deal is not going to solve this one.

Mr Bruen said Mr Trump assumed that Iranian leaders were similar to the North Koreans, and tried again and again to entice them with a splashy show and financial favours. All he did was create even greater animosity and anti-American sentiment, both within Iran and amongst our traditional allies. Tehran knew Washington was in a tough spot and tried to elevate the costs on countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, he told The Independent.

On the other hand, the response in Iran to Soleimanis killing seems to have caught the Trump administration off-guard. Iranians showed up huge numbers for the generals funeral with massive crowds filling the streets in multiple cities across Iran. Although a controversial figure disliked and despised by many Iranian dissidents for masterminding and leading Irans regional proxies, Soleimanis key role in the fight against Isis brought him respect across various socio-political groups inside the country.

Story continues

The massive turnout for the funeral of Soleimani reminds us that the theme of anti-imperialism and nationalism is still a very powerful force in Iranian politics, said Nader Hashemi, Middle East Studies director at the University of Denver, told The Independent:

Mr Hashemi said Soleimanis ugly role in Syria, defending Bashar al-Assad, via war crimes, is not generally known in Iran. What is also not known is his involvement in the bloody repression more recently in Iraq, where at least 500 peaceful protesters have been killed by forces linked to Soleimani.

He added: Any attempt to question Iranian policy in Syria or Iraq has been repressed by the Islamic Republic, hence the very one-sided view of Soleimani as a war hero among the general public. Many Syrians and Iraqis would beg to differ on these points.

Many activists have been warning that the Trump administrations hawkish policy towards Iran contributes to authoritarianism inside the country and undermines prospects for democracy. Iran had seen a massive wave of anti-government protests just recently and before the killing of Soleimani, the focus of Middle East politics was on anti-government protesters demanding their rights across the region.

Now the focus of politics is American imperialism. This is a huge ideological gift to the leaders of the Islamic Republic, especially hard-liners, who dont want to talk about democracy or human rights. Their preferred topic of conversation is American aggression. Trump has just handed them a huge victory and made their job much easier, Mr Hashemi told The Independent, adding: This is part of a longer tradition of Western foreign policy towards the Middle East that has deep roots and continues until today.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei weeps at Soleimani prayers

Here in Washington, Mr Trump and his close aides have been pushing the narrative that the assassination of Soleimani was a move to prevent war and make Americans safer. But their narrative is facing serious pushback from Democratic leaders, even those Democrats who have long been known to hold hawkish positions towards Iran.

Critics argued that the killing would not stop the Quds force and, to the contrary, would throw an already volatile region into more chaos.

Narges Bajoghli, assistant professor of Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins University, warned against expecting a big change in the Revolutionary Guards elite unit. The only difference is that now with the assassination of Soleimani, there is a renewed energy in the force and a more focused mission to push the US military out of the region, Ms Bajoghli told The Independent, adding that she believed the Quds force would play the long game, trying to make it untenable for American forces to stay.

Read more

Why the EUs initial response to Soleimanis assassination was muted

Iran withdrawing from the nuclear deal is a problem for the world

Trump warns of disproportionate retaliation if US targets hit  live
He's set to appear in Sam Mendes' epic, Golden Globe winning WWI film 1917.

And George MacKay spoke candidly about his rise in the industry, and the struggles of making the film, in an interview with GQ Hype magazine on Tuesday.

The Pride star, 27, admitted that prior to his recent turn in the war epic, he had tried to audition for Game Of Thrones and failed, a show that his fellow lead co-star Dean-Charles Chapman appeared in as Tommen Baratheon.

George MacKay revealed on Tuesday that he auditioned for Game Of Thrones but didn't succeed, as he reflected on his career and starring in 1917 with Dean-Charles Chapman

Without giving away the role he auditioned for, George told the publication: 'I have auditioned for it in the past and did not get a job. I gave it my best, but I did not get it.'

Dean-Charles plays Lance Corporal Blake opposite George's Schofield, but he is not the only Game Of Thrones star that appears in the film as Richard Madden stars as the former's brother Lieutenant Blake.

Richard made a name for himself as Robb Stark in the fantasy series, and appeared in three seasons before his character's death during the infamous Red Wedding.

Not selected: Without giving away the role he auditioned for, George told the publication: 'I have auditioned for it in the past and did not get a job'

Going on to discuss making 1917, which is shot and edited to look like it has been filmed in a single take, George revealed the concerns he had while trying to ensure he didn't make a mistake that would ruin a scene.

Recalling an intense sequence where he has to run past soldiers who are storming the battlefield, George elaborated on the moment his gun fell out of his holster and ruined the shot.

'It's a terrible, terrible feeling,' he said of the unintended error. 'But everyone was very supportive.'

Cast: George's 1917 co-star Dean-Charles Chapman appeared in Game Of Thrones as Tommen Baratheon, while Richard Madden, who makes a cameo in the film, had a major role in the show

1917 follows Lance Corporals Schofield (George) and Blake (Dean-Charles) as they are tasked with a seemingly impossible mission to sneak into enemy territory to stop a doomed attack by the Allied Forces.

Traversing the dangerous French landscape, the pair must do everything they can to get their message to the powers that be so they can save 1600 soldiers from walking into a deadly trap.

The intense drama is sure to leave viewers on the edge of their seat, as it is shot and edited to look as if it takes place in real time, and as a single long take.

1917 will be released on January 10, 2020 in the UK. See the full interview available online now via GQ HYPE.
Bill Hutchinson / The Chronicle

Four people were arrested Monday while fleeing police and crashing into a city vehicle in San Francisco, authorities said.

Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop at 4:26 p.m. near the intersection of Hyde and Green streets when they spotted a vehicle with occupants known to commit auto burglaries in the area, said Officer Joseph Tomlinson, a spokesman for San Francisco police.
SALISBURY, Md., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With nearly half or more of all shoppers buying perishables such as meat, produce and dairy items online*, Perdue Farms has launched a new e-commerce website that will offer a selection of its family of brands for sale directly to consumers at PerdueFarms.com.

The site will initially offer an assortment of frozen items across some of Perdue Farms' most popular brands including PERDUE, Niman Ranch, Coleman Natural, Sonoma Red and Skagit Red, with plans to add additional offerings over time as demand increases.

"As both online shopping and the demand for convenience show no signs of slowing down, we felt it was important to be in this space," said David Zucker, Perdue Farms senior vice president of e-commerce and new ventures. "We're excited that this is the first time we've been able to offer so many of our brands in one place, nationally. Now, consumers all over the country will be able to enjoy expanded offerings from our portfolio regardless of where they live, including heritage, organic, pasture raised, pork, beef, chicken or lamb  all raised with no antibiotics ever by farm families with the highest standards of animal care."

All packaging from online orders is 100% recyclable. The foam insulation is made from water-soluble cornstarch, which can be composted or even disintegrated under running water and safely rinsed down a kitchen sink.

Each order includes a reusable shopping tote and a packet of bee- and butterfly-friendly seeds for consumers to plant in their yards or elsewhere around their communities to help the local pollinator population flourish.

Additionally, with each sale through this new website, Perdue Farms will make a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation to help offset the shipment's carbon footprint, which will equate to removing more than 70 pounds of CO2 from the atmosphere per order.

Drawing inspiration from Perdue Farms' existing logo, the new e-commerce platform features dedicated branding and a modernized version of Perdue's iconic farmhouse graphic to represent the role that this channel plays in the company's total sales initiatives.

"Through our e-commerce logo's new tagline, we're giving a nod to our company's farming history, the family ownership and leadership that still exists today, and the farm families  many of whom are multiple generations  who partner with us to produce trusted, wholesome, high-quality products," said Chris Perdue, director of e-commerce at Perdue Farms.

"Our company is turning 100 years old this year. To make it this long, we believe we're doing something right. This includes keeping a modern, forward-looking mindset and constantly innovating. We are always listening to our consumers and striving to provide them with solutions that fit easily into their lifestyle. That includes not only offering the differentiated products people love, but also making the products available to buy through the channels where they prefer to shop," said Randy Day, chief executive officer of Perdue Farms.

Consumers can sign up at PerdueFarms.com to receive additional information, regular newsletters, and current promotional offers, including 10% off their first order.

In its centennial year, Perdue Farms remains committed to being a leader in animal care, environmental stewardship, innovation, and a strong partner to the members of its farm family network. Learn more about the fourth-generation, family-owned company at corporate.perduefarms.com.

*According to a global survey of shoppers and retailers by IDC (International Data Company) for Precima, a retail analytics firm.

About Perdue Farms

We're a fourth-generation, family owned, U.S. food and agriculture company in our 100th year of business. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers and farmers through trusted choices in products and services.

The PERDUE brand is the number-one brand of fresh chicken in the U.S., and the company is the leader in organic chicken in the U.S., and Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company. Now in our centennial year, our path forward is about getting better, not just bigger. We never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever chicken, turkey and pork, and in USDA-certified organic chicken. Learn more at www.corporate.perduefarms.com.

SOURCE Perdue Farms

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http://PerdueFarms.com


The bank achieved this milestone on the back of every business unit contributing in its full capacity which included retail.

Syndicate Bank has been selected for merger with Canara Bank and the amalgamation is expected to be complete by March 31.

New Delhi: State-owned Syndicate Bank on Monday said it has crossed Rs 5 lakh crore business target three months ahead of its schedule.

The bank crossed Rs 5 lakh crore total business mark at the end of December 31, 2019.

The bank achieved this milestone on the back of every business unit contributing in its full capacity which included retail, MSME and priority sector, the lender said in a statement.

With this achievement, the bank has proved itself as one of the most trusted and technology savvy public sector bank with a well segmented and granular growth across corporate, MSME and retail businesses that have resulted in astounding business figures, it said.

As per the mega merger plan announced by the government in August 2019, Syndicate Bank has been selected for merger with Canara Bank and the amalgamation is expected to be complete by March 31.
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SEATTLE  A medical office building 4520 42nd Ave. S.W. sold for $5.1 million, according to King County records.

The sellers were multiple LLCs and individuals who had apparently owned the property since it was developed.





. . .
A sign for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service building is shown in Ottawa in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

China Could Exploit Gaps in Mandate Between Canadas Law Enforcement, Intelligence Agencies: Expert

The Chinese regime could be exploiting gaps between Canadas intelligence and law enforcement agencies to advance its infiltration activities, says an intelligence expert.

[Chinese Communist Party] agents involved in political warfare may or could exploit gaps in intelligence sharing between agencies such as the RCMP and CSIS due to the different mandates they are given, J. Michael Cole, a senior fellow with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and a former analyst with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), said in an email.

This applies to grey zone areas of activities whose nature isnt entirely criminal and also isnt entirely, or overtly, political. When this happens, both agencies may miss whats going on.

Cole, who is based in Taipei, says Taiwan is struggling with this issue right now, as Beijing has been very good at exploiting these blind spots in society.

During a talk in Ottawa in October, Cole used the example of criminal triads with ties to the Chinese Communist Party operating in casinos in places like Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.

Obviously there is a criminal element in their activities, but theres also a political/espionage component to what theyre doing, he said.

That creates particular challenges for our own organizations because, for example, RCMP, CSIS they both have different mandates. RCMP is going to look at criminal components, CSIS is going to look at political interference.

For years, China has been named among the countries making the biggest effort to exert influence in Canada.

In its annual report, the parliamentary watchdog overseeing national security and intelligence activities said last year that China and Russia are among a handful of states conducting espionage and foreign influence activities in Canada.

CSIS director David Vigneault has said that China represents the most significant and clear espionage challenge targeting Canadian universities, the National Post reports.

The CBC also cites sources saying that Canadas intelligence services are concerned about the threat of Chinese agents working with the diaspora communities to influence Canadian elections.

B.C. is currently conducting an inquiry into money laundering in the province, which police say is to a large extent linked to operations bringing fentanyl from China into Canada.

One of the highest-profile joint efforts between the RCMP and CSIS looking into China was the Sidewinder report, which was leaked to media in the late 1990s. It detailed the regimes control of Canadian companies by members or associates of criminal triads who have affiliations with Chinese intelligence agencies.

Having bought significant real estate holdings and established businesses in Canada, China has obtained access to influential figures who are now or [were] once active at various levels of Canadian society, the report said.

Cole said that the front or dual-use companies in Canada, which may have a legitimate function on the surface, could be funding organized crime groups whose activities benefit the Chinese regime. They could also be involved in activities to intimidate critics of the regime abroad.

Unless agencies find ways to better coordinate, theres bound to be occasions when targets are missed, he said.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges investors in HEXO Corp. (NYSE: HEXO) who have suffered losses in excess of $500,000 to submit their losses now to learn if they qualify to recover their investment losses. Hagens Berman has filed a class action complaint against HEXO and its senior executives and the Jan. 27, 2020 application deadline for investors is fast approaching.



Class Period: Jan. 25, 2019 - Nov. 15, 2019 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Jan. 27, 2020 Sign Up Now: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/HEXO Contact An Attorney Immediately: HEXO@hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895

Hagens Bermans HEXO Securities Class Action:



According to the detailed Complaint filed by Hagens Berman, Defendants misled investors throughout the Class Period by making materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failing to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects.

Specifically, the Complaint alleges Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) HEXOs reported inventory was misstated as the Company was failing to write down or write off obsolete product that no longer had value; (2) HEXO was engaging in channel-stuffing in order to inflate its revenue figures and meet or exceed revenue guidance provided to investors; (3) HEXO was cultivating cannabis at its facility in Niagara, Ontario that was not appropriately licensed by Health Canada; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants positive statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

The truth emerged through a series of disclosures occurring between Oct. 4, 2019 and Nov. 15, 2019, when the Company announced it was producing cannabis in a section of its Niagara facility that was not properly licensed with Health Canada.

As a result of these disclosures, the value of HEXO stock has consistently decreased, damaging investors.

Most recently, on Jan. 2, 2020, the Company filed its restated annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 and its restated interim financial statements for the three months ended Oct. 31, 2019. Among other things, the Company increased its impairment loss on inventory by about 14% for the fiscal year and announced material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting.

Were focused on investors losses and proving Defendants knowingly provided false financial information to the market, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you purchased HEXO common stock during the Class Period and suffered significant losses, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman .

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding HEXO 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 HEXO@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 .
David Ames / GT

NEW HAVEN  City police will watch for intoxicated drivers at a checkpoint Friday night into Saturday morning, according to the department.

Officers will be stationed at the intersection of Elm and Temple streets from 7 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday, Sgt. Shayna Kendall said in a release.
Newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Volodymyr Yelchenko has presented his credentials to U.S. President Donald Trump.

"Presented my credentials from Volodymyr Zelensky to Donald Trump today. Honored to represent Ukraine in the United States which always stood firmly in support of our independence. Ukrainians will never forget this. Our strategic partnership to be enhanced for benefit of both nations," Yelchenko wrote on Twitter on January 6.

As reported, Zelensky appointed Yelchenko Ukraine's ambassador to the United States on December 18, 2019.

Earlier, the president dismissed Yelchenko from his post of permanent representative of Ukraine to the United Nations and ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Jamaica.

ish
PHOENIX, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Many people have heard of Oskar Schindler thanks to Steven Spielberg's 1993 movie Schindler's List. But few have heard of Frans and Mien Wijnakker, who like Schindler, were recognized as Righteous Among the Nations. They were Christians who risked their lives to save at least two dozen Jews in southern Holland during World War IIeven performing a miracle to get a baby safely born.

Marty Brounstein (PRNewsfoto/Marty Brounstein) Two Among the Righteous Few (PRNewsfoto/Marty Brounstein)

Based in San Mateo, Calif., Marty Brounstein is a storyteller and author who has been crisscrossing the country for nine years to deliver more than 725 presentations about the Wijnakkers' extraordinary courage and compassion. They are the subject of his book Two Among the Righteous Few.

At a time when acts of hate and intolerance are rearing their ugly heads in the U.S., audiences around the county have responded with great enthusiasm to this inspirational story and the positive messages it has for people's lives today. Among the most receptive of these audiences have been those in the Valley of the Sun. Thus, Brounstein returns to the Phoenix area for a ninth straight winter to touch more people with the Wijnakkers' special story. Brounstein also has a meaningful personal connection that adds to the inspirational value of this story which he reveals in his engaging storytelling presentations. SPOILER ALERT: For without the help of the Wijnakker couple that miracle baby would not be here today. She happens to be his wife, Leah Baars.

Here is the lineup of the five public storytelling presentations in the Phoenix area for winter 2020:

On Jan. 22 , Brounstein will give the first of the presentations at Dobson High School at 7 p.m. at 1501 W. Guadalupe Rd. in Mesa .

, Brounstein will give the first of the presentations at Dobson High School at at 1501 W. Guadalupe Rd. in . The next talk will be at 2 p.m. on Jan. 26 at Chandler Public Library, 22 S. Delaware Street in Chandler .

on at Chandler Public Library, 22 S. Delaware Street in . On Feb. 11 , he will give a 7 p.m. presentation at West Valley Christian Fellowship Church, following a potluck dinner that begins at 6 p.m. The church is at 12649 N. 105 th Ave., Sun City .

, he will give a presentation at West Valley Christian Fellowship Church, following a potluck dinner that begins at The church is at 12649 N. 105 Ave., . He will also be the keynote speaker at the Stepping Stones of Hope fundraising event on Feb. 23 at 2:30 p.m. The event is being held at First United Methodist Church at 5610 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix . Tickets for that event are $10 for adults and $5 for students. To purchase tickets in advance, contact Diane Raden at [email protected] .

at The event is being held at First United Methodist Church at 5610 N. Central Ave. in . Tickets for that event are for adults and for students. To purchase tickets in advance, contact at . Brounstein's last public appearance will be March 1 at 10:30 a.m. at Temple Chai, 4645 E. Marilyn Rd. in Phoenix .

In addition to his public appearances, Brounstein will visit some school classrooms to engage in book discussions with students and will present his "Making a Positive Difference" program at City of Tempe and City of Goodyear.

Brounstein was a management consultant who has written eight books related to business management. Two Among the Righteous Few is his ninth book. His work with the book led to him being a recent recipient of the Jefferson Award from the organization Multiplying Good. Jacquelyn Kennedy Onassis was one of the founders of the organization that recognizes individuals who perform acts of public service. Brounstein has appeared on NBC, CBS and FOX affiliates in San Francisco, Catholic TV in Boston and WGN-TV and WGN Radio in Chicago.

Contact: Marty Brounstein, (650) 341-8001; [email protected]; www.MartyABrounstein.com

SOURCE Marty Brounstein

Related Links

http://www.MartyABrounstein.com


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I love the first week of January. More than any other time of year, it's when I feel the most rested, refreshed, and ready to tackle big, gnarly challenges.

If you're feeling the same way, I urge you to read a thought-provoking Medium essay published last week by Ross LaJeunesse, Google's former head of international relations. He explores arguably two of the most complicated questions founders face as they watch their companies grow: Does your business still reflect the values you started with on Day 1? And should it?

Spoiler alert: LaJeunesse, who joined Google in 2008, argues that the company has strayed very far from back when its motto was still "Don't be evil." (In 2015, when Google reorganized under parent company Alphabet, Alphabet assumed a new motto: "Do the right thing." Neither Google nor Alphabet publicly commented on the change.)

While LaJeunesse isn't the only one who's lobbed this particular criticism at Google, he presents a detailed personal account of what he's seen as the slow erosion of that three-word motto--in the company's decision-making and its workplace culture--to prioritize profits over doing the right thing.

The inflection point, he alleges, occurred when founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin took a step back from day-to-day management:

A new CEO was hired to lead Google Cloud and a new CFO was hired from Wall Street, and beating earnings expectations every quarter became the key priority. Every year, thousands of new employees join the company, overwhelming everyone who fought to preserve the company's original values and culture.

LaJeunesse left Google in May 2019. It's worth noting that he's currently running for the U.S. Senate in Maine, so he has a reason to want to raise his profile right now. Still, his post strikes me as a timely nudge to think about your company's future by revisiting its past.

If you believe that Google strayed from its motto when Page and Brin started to withdraw, it would be easy to conclude that company values remain in place only so long as the founders are in charge. Of course, plenty of successful counterexamples have grown while maintaining--or even strengthening--their internal values. Patagonia is an obvious one: The company has had eight CEOs since founder Yvon Chouinard stepped down, and under current CEO Rose Marcario, it's become only more vocal in embracing environmental ethics--and more financially successful because of it.
This year could herald significant moments in space exploration: NASA astronauts flying from United States soil for the first time since 2011, the first paying tourists traveling to the edge of space, rockets sending hundreds of satellites into Earth orbit to beam the Internet to remote parts of the globe, and the first serious steps toward returning a human being to the surface of the moon.

But as 2020 begins, the rosy promise of those developments could quickly be overruled by gravity and engineering issues. Already, NASA finds itself struggling with a technical problem - a software issue that marred the maiden flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft just before Christmas and prevented it from reaching the International Space Station. It is a reminder of the many things that can go wrong when attempting to punch through the atmosphere.

This year is born full of hope and enthusiastic predictions of triumph, despite 2019's catalogue of calamity, a one-step-forward-two-steps-back year, marked as much by failure as by success - by stuck valves, failed parachute systems and faulty onboard computers.

Yet hope remains for triumph. NASA will celebrate 20 continuous years of humans living in orbit aboard the International Space Station, and there are other records likely to be set.

SpaceX intends to break its record of 21 launches in a single year. The United Launch Alliance, the joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, plans to fly about a dozen times, including Boeing's first mission with astronauts to the space station. Northrop Grumman has three launches planned.

Despite the recent problems that have plagued Boeing and SpaceX, which lost its spacecraft when it blew up last year during an engine test, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine remains confident that those companies will boost astronauts into space in 2020, ending an ignominious nine-year hiatus of human spaceflight from the United States that began when the space shuttle fleets was retired in 2011.

Other key moments in space set for 2020: as many as four missions to Mars by several countries, including China, and a key test of the monster rocket Boeing and others are building that NASA hopes will put astronauts on the moon by 2024.

Then again, space is costly, dangerous and exceedingly difficult - and what looked like a sure thing in January could fall to pieces by summer.

The space industry has had a nice run over the past several years, attracting millions of dollars of private investment, but now is headed to a turning point, said Carissa Christensen, the CEO of consulting firm Bryce Space and Technology.

"Now that's moving to a phase of: Prove it," she said. "Companies are having to prove they're viable and their business model flows and some are succeeding and some are not."

- - -

Human spaceflight

SpaceX was scheduled to start the year Monday night with a launch from Cape Canaveral to put 60 more satellites into low Earth orbit, part of a constellation that eventually could reach thousands that it hopes would beam the Internet to remote parts of the globe without broadband.

Assembling that architecture in space will require dozens of launches, which many think could have the California-based company break its record for the most launches in a single year, 21 in 2018. SpaceX's next launch is set to come as soon as Jan. 11, when it is scheduled to again test the emergency abort system of its Dragon spacecraft - this time in flight. A Falcon 9 rocket would blast off from launchpad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. Then, shortly thereafter, the abort motors would fire, demonstrating that it has the ability to get crews away safely in the event of an emergency.

If it goes well, SpaceX is hoping to follow that with its first flight with people in the coming months.

Boeing is also moving aggressively, despite the problems that hampered the first test flight of its Starliner spacecraft. Officials said the spacecraft's onboard timer was off by 11 hours and, as a result, the engines that would have propelled it on a trajectory to the space station never fired.

The company, which fired its chief executive Dennis Muilenburg in the wake of the 737 Max airplane crisis, is still investigating what caused the problem. But company officials said that they were preparing the spacecraft for its next mission and that its life support system had performed well. The spacecraft "shows little scorching from the heat of atmospheric re-entry," the company said.

When it comes to human spaceflight, no one has made more overly optimistic pronouncements than Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Galactic. For years, the British-born billionaire has predicted that his company would soon ferry legions of paying tourists to the edge of space and back, but he has had to delay again and again.

Now, having reached what many consider the edge of space twice - once at the end of 2018, and then again early last year - the company says it is poised to finally begin flying the hundreds of people who've put down as much as $250,000 for a ticket.

The company, which recently went public after merging with a New York investment firm, projects flying 66 customers this year, more than 700 in 2021 and nearly 1,000 the following year, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Blue Origin, the space venture founded by Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos, has also said it intends to fly humans for the first time in 2020. (Bezos owns The Washington Post.) But unlike Branson, Bezos has been relatively quiet about his space tourism plans. The company has announced no price for the missions in its reusable New Shepard vehicle, which would offer a few minutes of weightlessness.

In December, it launched its latest test without astronauts, a mission it said helped it move "closer toward verifying New Shepard for human flight."

- - -

Small satellites

Virgin Orbit, another Branson venture, also could reach a significant milestone this year when it plans to launch its rocket, LauncherOne, for the first time. Instead of taking off vertically, the craft would be dropped from the wing of a 747 jet before its engines would fire to carry it into space.

The company's plan is to join in the competition to send small satellites into space inexpensively and quickly. A leader in that market has already emerged - Rocket Lab, a New Zealand company that operates out of California. It's already launched 10 times, with six missions last year. It plans to launch a dozen times this year, including the maiden flight from the launchpad it is taking over at NASA's facility on Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Rocket companies hope a number of small satellite constellations, designed to beam the Internet to remote corners of the world, could fuel a demand for increased launches. SpaceX has already put up about 120 satellites as part of its Starlink program, and Monday's launch would add 60 more. It hopes to achieve moderate coverage by this year, which would require several more launches.

Other companies, such as OneWeb and Amazon, also are planning to put up hundreds of satellites of their own, which many fear could create a traffic jam in space. Last year, the European Space Agency complained that it had to move one of its satellites to avoid a collision. Astronomers have also said the increased number of satellites could clutter space and interfere with their views of the cosmos.

- - -

Moon and Mars

In addition to flying its astronauts from the Florida Space Coast, NASA's biggest priority for 2020 is to continue to work toward meeting the White House's mandate to return humans to the moon by 2024.

The next big step is to award the contract to build a lander capable of taking astronauts to the lunar surface. Boeing is vying for the contract, as is a team led by Blue Origin that also includes Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Draper.

It's not clear, however, whether the money will be there to meet the 2024 deadline. Congress has been reluctant to pay for a moon mission without seeing a specific breakdown of the total cost, and there are many other pressing needs in the budget in an election year. And the Space Launch System rocket that prime contractor Boeing is building for the NASA missions has never flown.

Still, NASA remains optimistic.

The SLS rocket is about to undergo a series of tests to fire its engines and stress the avionics systems to ensure that the rocket will be ready for its first launch in 2021.

"I refuse to go ahead and use funding as a crutch for not making it to the moon by 2024," Doug Loverro, NASA's new associate administrator for human exploration and operations told SpaceNews recently.

India will try again to reach the moon after its spacecraft, carrying no astronauts, crashed into the lunar surface last year. But its unclear when the upcoming Chandrayaan-3 mission would launch.

NASA is planning to launch a rover carrying a small helicopter to Mars this summer. In December, the Mars 2020 rover passed a key milestone, completing its first driving test, which "unambiguously proved that the rover can operate under its own weight and demonstrated many of the autonomous-navigation functions for the first time," said Rich Rieber, the lead mobility systems engineer for the mission.

Other nations are eyeing the Red Planet as well. Russia and the European Space Agency are planning to send a rover and a lander there as well this year in a joint mission. So is China, which plans to send a spacecraft that would orbit Mars. The country, which last year landed on the far side of the moon, a historic first, plans as many as 40 launches in 2020, and saw the return to flight of its massive Long March 5 rocket late last year after a failure in 2017.

And the United Arab Emirates is also planning to fly an uncrewed spacecraft to orbit Mars that would be launched by Japan later this year.
Curaleaf Holdings (OTC:CURLF) announced Monday that it has won a license to open a medical cannabis dispensary in the State of Utah.

The company said it received a notice of intent for the license from the Utah Department of Health.

The department is awarding a total of 14 permits, spread among four geographic regions. Curaleaf's covers Region 3, which includes Utah, Wasatch, and San Juan Counties, among others. It does not include the state's most populous municipality, Salt Lake City. In total, four dispensaries were approved for Region 3.

The company said it aims to place its dispensary in the City of Lindon, in the vicinity of Utah Lake. It's close to the highway that connects Salt Lake City with the state's third-largest city, Provo.

In the press release with the news, Curaleaf said, "[w]e are grateful to be part of the early development of the industry in the state and will earn the trust and patronage of patients there, as we have in the other states where we operate."

Competition for the 14 licenses was intense, with 130 applications filed from 60 companies, according to data from the Utah Department of Health cited in media reports. The Utah Legislature passed a measure to permit the 14 in a vote last September.

The company said its Lindon dispensary should be completed later this year. It will be subject to regulatory approval.

Curaleaf currently operates 52 dispensaries throughout the U.S. With the Utah medical cannabis dispensary, its footprint will expand to 13 states.

Despite the Utah news, Curaleaf's stock traded down by more than 3% on Monday.
Were not encouraging people to bring cannabis through the airports at all, Huynh said. But if for some reason you have it on you, we have those amnesty boxes out there so that you can dispose of it prior to getting on the airplane.
Prof. Ransford Gyampo and Dr. Paul Kwame Butakor, who both lectured at the University of Ghana (UG), and accused of sex for grades, have been cleared of any sexual misconduct.

This is coming after the universitys investigations came to an end.

Read Also: #SexForGrades: Lecturer Challenges Students To Expose Him

Both men were accused of sexual misconduct after the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary that was aired in October 2019.

According to the fact-finding committee that conducted the investigation: The committee finds that on the totality of the evidence before it, there is a huge variance between the import of the title: Sex for grades, and the content of the actual secret video recording of the affected lecturers of the University of Ghana.

The committee notes that neither the documentary nor the BBC has provided any evidence to demonstrate that the affected lecturers demanded sex in exchange for grades, as asserted by the title of the documentary: Sex for grades.
Scientists at UCL have identified how a subset of immune cells are activated to kill cancerous cells, a finding in mice which could hold the key to new powerful therapies against cancer.

This new study built on previous research*, also led by Professors Sergio Quezada and Karl Peggs (both UCL Cancer Institute), which found that following immunotherapy some CD4+ T cells, traditionally thought to be 'helper' and 'regulator' immune cells, become cytotoxic and directly engage with and kill cancer cells.

Published in Immunity, scientists examined the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning this activity, as part of an experimental study of immunotherapy in mice, funded by Cancer Research UK.

Researchers found that IL-2, a 'growth factor' for T cells and the 'transcription factor' Blimp-1 are responsible for initiating potent killer activity in CD4+ T cells within cancerous tumours.

Co-lead author, Professor Sergio Quezada, (UCL Cancer Institute), said: "We knew these immune cells had the ability to proactively kill cancer cells with incredible potency, but to maximise their potential, we needed to know how this mechanism was activated.

"Our discovery provides the evidence and rationale for utilising Blimp-1 to maximise the anti-tumour activity of CD4+ T cells.

"Work is now underway in our lab to develop new personalised cell therapies where the activity of Blimp-1 can be maxed up to drive potent tumour control."

T cells are a subset of lymphocytes (white blood cells), which play a key role in the body's immune response. In immunotherapy T cells are modified and used to attack cancer. These cells move around our bodies, looking for infected cells and killing them. However, T cells do not recognise most cancers, since cancers develop from our own tissues and appear normal to most T cells. The main challenge with T cell immunotherapy approaches is to find ways to direct T cells to attack cancer cells.

Co-lead author, Professor Karl Peggs, (UCL Cancer Institute), said: "Cellular therapies have only recently entered the mainstream in terms of clinical application.

"Much remains unknown regarding how best to optimise these therapies, particularly to enable better activity in solid organ cancers.

"Our findings broaden our understanding of the regulators of T cell differentiation, illuminating new elements that might be targeted to enhance therapeutic efficacy."

Dr Emily Farthing, research information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: "Research like this helps scientists better understand the intricacies of our immune system and how it can be utilised to kill cancer cells.

"This work in the lab adds to growing evidence for the potential of immunotherapy and will hopefully lead to the development of more effective treatments for people affected by cancer."

###

Peer reviewed | experimental study | animals

The research was led by UCL Cancer Institute, with support from researchers at Imperial College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, University of Manchester and the Technical University of Munich, Germany. It was supported by a number of organisations including Cancer Research UK, UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and Bloodwise.

Notes to Editors

For a copy of the paper, or to speak to Professors Sergio Quezada or Karl Peggs, please contact Henry Killworth on 0207 679 5296 or email h.killworth@ucl.ac.uk.

Karl Peggs, Sergio Quezada, Anna ?ledzi?ska et al, 'Regulatory T cells restrain IL-2- and Blimp-1-dependent acquisition of cytotoxic function by CD4+ T cells', will be published in the journal Immunity at 4pm (UK time), 11:00am (US Eastern Time) on Tuesday 7 January, 2020. The doi for this paper will be 10.1016/j.immuni.2019.12.007.

*Previous research was carried out when Professors Quezada and Peggs were working at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York. Details here: https://iris.ucl.ac.uk/iris/publication/174281/2
America "needs to be prepared for retaliation in the hard cyber space and soft information space" after killing Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, says a top expert at the Atlantic Council.

Why it matters: Iranian influence operations to-date have been different than other state-backed disinformation campaigns, particularly from Russia.

"This style is extremely different than Russia , which we know tries to infiltrate online communities and engage to cause more social chaos," says Graham Brookie, the director and managing editor of the Digital Forensic Research Lab within the Atlantic Council.

, which we know tries to infiltrate online communities and engage to cause more social chaos," says Graham Brookie, the director and managing editor of the Digital Forensic Research Lab within the Atlantic Council. "The bulk of its foreign-focused operations have focused on amplifying regime propaganda by laundering it through undeclared fronts, such as websites and fake social-media profiles. There has been some divisive content, but this was a small proportion," says Ben Nimmo, the Director of Investigations at social media intelligence firm Graphika.

What's happening: As of Monday, the Lab had yet to spot any large-scale information operations directly attributable to the Iranian government beyond strong public statements, Brookie told Axios.

But Iran has a recent history of misinformation campaigns:

In January, Facebook and Twitter separately took down hundreds of accounts and pages linked to misinformation campaigns originating from Iran.

Facebook and Twitter separately took down hundreds of accounts and pages linked to misinformation campaigns originating from Iran. In May, Facebook said it removed dozens of additional accounts, groups and pages  on its main app and on Instagram  involved in coordinated inauthentic behavior that originated in Iran.

Facebook said it removed dozens of additional accounts, groups and pages  on its main app and on Instagram  involved in coordinated inauthentic behavior that originated in Iran. In October, Facebook said that it again took down information campaigns originating in Iran on Facebook and Instagram. The activity from the Iranian campaigns focused primarily on the U.S., and on some French-speaking audiences in North Africa, Facebook said.

The big picture: Iran has spent years building an online influence apparatus to help further its foreign policy objectives. These sophisticated campaigns are often built to effectively mimic real news and disappear quickly.

The "Endless Mayfly" propaganda campaign, which was uncovered last year by the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab, began in 2016.

propaganda campaign, which was uncovered last year by the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab, began in 2016. The Iran-aligned network of fake or spoofed websites and online personas amplified narratives critical of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Israel.

of fake or spoofed websites and online personas amplified narratives critical of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Israel. It used fake articles on websites that were designed to look like real news outlets, like Bloomberg and The Guardian.

Yes, but: Experts warn that in time of increased escalation and tension, real, organic media posts expressing outrage can be easy to confuse with fake ones.

"Pro-Iran users certainly look like they're picking up on a common set of messaging - for example, there are a lot of references to US soldiers coming home in coffins," says Nimmo. "Some of the memes are taken from stock online sources, but some appear to be linked with more organised pro-regime groups, which suggests some sort of attempt to shape and drive the traffic, if not direct coordination."

What's next: The Lab is looking at the coverage of the topic by state-backed media and messaging laundromats like the International Union of Virtual Media, an Iranian internet disinformation group, says the Lab's Kanishk Karan.

Karan predicts that the other main effort of disinformation that could hit is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-backed trolling operations on Twitter or other platforms.

The bottom line: "There's a lot of anti-U.S. activity, but right now there isn't enough evidence to say that there's a large-scale coordinated operation going on," says Nimmo.
RICHFIELD, Ohio, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Group Management Services Inc., a Certified Professional Employer Organization based in Richfield, Ohio, reaches new heights as they cross the $1 billion threshold in PEO wages paid in 2019.

As a PEO, GMS provides a suite of comprehensive HR solutions for small to mid-sized businesses, allowing those businesses to focus on core business. Handling the payroll for more than 1450 clients, GMS exceeded $1 billion in wages paid to all their client's employees in 2019.

Find out how PEOs help businesses: https://www.groupmgmt.com/why-gms/education-center/what-is-a-peo/

GMS and the PEO industry as a whole, have experienced tremendous growth in recent years, as business owners struggle to keep up with the ever-evolving responsibilities when it comes to HR and compliance.

When asked how GMS has been able to grow and stand out in the industry, Corporate Tax Manager Will Hart said "You can't reach that number without sales and client retention. On top of that, GMS is constantly evolving and building upon service offerings, adding value to our client's dollar."

Hart, along with President Mike Kahoe, had been monitoring these numbers in recent years, and had a feeling 2019 was the year for this milestone.

As the industry continues to grow in popularity, GMS is set to be a major player for years to come.

"When you do things the right way and put your clients first, it shows that you're in it for the long haul and I can't wait for us to hit 2 billion," Hart said.

About Group Management Services, Inc.

GMS is a Certified Professional Employer Organization and Benefits Administrator, providing comprehensive HR solutions to companies large, medium, and small through the United States. Their services include everything from Payroll and Human Resources to Risk Management and Benefits. Currently, GMS is partnered with more than 1,450 businesses across the country, representing over 26,000 employees. For more information, visit: https://www.groupmgmt.com/.

Contact: Matt Schoolcraft, GMS

Phone: 330-807-4067

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Group Management Services Inc.

Related Links

https://www.groupmgmt.com


Married At First Sight's Telv Williams has lashed out at Ryan Gallagher for claiming he doesn't speak to his former co-stars because they 'sell stories about him'.

Ryan, 32, had spoken about severing ties with his former castmates during an interview with NW magazine on Monday, and it didn't take long for Telv, 34, to hit back at the claims via Instagram Stories.

'More like none of us speak too [sic] you because you turned into a fame hungry flog!' wrote the father-of-three next to a screenshot of Daily Mail Australia's story about Ryan's claims.

Hitting back: Married At First Sight's Telv Williams (left) has lashed out at Ryan Gallagher (right) for claiming he doesn't speak to his former co-stars because they 'sell stories about him'

It's not the first time Telv has accused the I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! star of being too caught up in his own 15 minutes of fame.

In December 2018, the FIFO worker told Woman's Day, 'I feel like the fame has definitely got to his head,' adding that he'd been 'worried' about Ryan for a while.

'He's definitely not the same person he was when he went on [MAFS],' Telv said.

Ouch! 'More like none of us speak too [sic] you because you turned into a fame hungry flog!' Telv wrote on Instagram next to a screenshot of Daily Mail Australia's story about Ryan's claims

Former friends: In December 2018, Telv told Woman's Day, 'I feel like the fame has definitely got to [Ryan's] head,' adding that he'd been 'worried' about his co-star for a while

On Monday, Ryan told NW of his former MAFS co-stars: 'They're the people who tell - and sell - stories about me, so that's why I don't hang out with those snakes.

'I stopped answering calls, returning messages and going to events. I don't care about that s**t and never have, I just want to entertain people.'

Ryan has certainly made the most of his newfound fame since leaving MAFS.

No love lost: On Monday, Ryan told NW of his former MAFS co-stars: 'They're the people who tell - and sell - stories about me, so that's why I don't hang out with those snakes.' Pictured with Davina Rankin and Dean Wells at the Logies on July 1, 2018

In late 2018, the former tradesman ventured into one of his dream careers: stand-up comedy.

During his sold-out nightclub gigs, he famously showed no mercy to his former co-stars - especially his unfaithful 'bride' Davina Rankin.

Several months ago, he landed a national radio show on 2DayFM: The Sunday Experiment with Ryan and Mandy.

Ryan is competing on I'm a Celebrity to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. His mother is currently battling the disease.

Having the last laugh! In late 2018, the former tradesman ventured into one of his dream careers: stand-up comedy. During his sold-out nightclub gigs, he famously showed no mercy to his former co-stars - especially his unfaithful 'bride' Davina Rankin (right)

Going places: Several months ago, he landed a national radio show on 2DayFM: The Sunday Experiment with Ryan and Mandy
Tokyo prosecutors have obtained an arrest warrant for the wife of the former Nissan chair Carlos Ghosn on suspicion of perjury, adding to the couples legal troubles in the country where he once was revered as a star executive.

The move against Carole Ghosn, who is not in Japan, happened on Tuesday and followed her husbands flight to Lebanon last week while he was on bail awaiting trial for alleged financial misconduct.

Prosecutors said in a statement that Ms Ghosn gave false testimony in her husbands case to a Tokyo court last year about the transfer of money from one company to another that allegedly caused losses to Nissan.

She also denied knowing various people, or meeting them, and the statements were false, the prosecutors said. The allegations cited were unrelated to Mr Ghosns escape.

Ms Ghosn was not immediately available for comment, but earlier told reporters after her questioning in court that she considered the questions to be trite and unsubstantial.

She was banned from meeting her husband after his release on bail because of fears she might help tamper with evidence.

The former chairman fled the country in a private jet (AFP)

Lebanon and Japan do not have an extradition treaty. Japanese justice officials acknowledge that its unclear whether Mr Ghosn, and now Ms Ghosn  who has been seen in photos, released by his lawyer, with him in Beirut  can be brought back to Japan to face any of the charges. They said they were still looking into what could be done.

Prosecutors have said they did not want Mr Ghosn to be granted bail because they saw him as a flight risk.

With his abundance of financial power and multiple foreign bases worldwide, it would be easy for the defendant Ghosn to flee from Japan, they said in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, Nissan said it was still pursuing legal action against him despite his escape to Lebanon.

The Japanese carmaker said in a statement that Mr Ghosn had engaged in serious misconduct while leading the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance.

The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan, it said.

Japans chief government spokesperson said Tokyo had told Lebanon that Mr Ghosn left the country illegally, adding that it was seeking cooperation in finding out what happened. The chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said the situation had to be handled carefully.

The Foreign Ministry said Japans ambassador to Beirut planned to meet the Lebanese president, Michel Aoun, later in the day.

Mr Ghosn managed to flee the country despite surveillance while he was staying at a house in Tokyo.

Japanese news reports on Tuesday gave new details of that escape, saying he left the residence alone, met two men at a Tokyo hotel and then took a bullet train to Osaka before boarding a private jet while hidden inside a case for musical equipment.

Japanese justice minister Masako Mori told reporters that measures were being taken to make sure all cargo and luggage, including that for private jets, would be inspected at regional airports to prevent a recurrence.

Ms Mori has denounced Mr Ghosns escape as an unjustifiable crime (AFP)

Japanese business daily Nikkei reported, without citing sources, that dozens of people in various countries had helped to plan Mr Ghosns escape.

Nissans statement. meanwhile, was the first word from the company since Mr Ghosn fled. The carmaker and Japanese prosecutors allege Mr Ghosn misstated his future compensation and diverted company assets for personal gain. He says he is innocent.

Mr Ghosn has not appeared in public since arriving in Lebanon. He is expected to give his side of the story in a news conference planned for Wednesday in Beirut.

Earlier, he said the allegations against him had been concocted by Nissan, Japanese authorities and others who wanted to block efforts towards a fuller merger between Nissan and its French alliance partner Renault SA.

Journalists gather outside house reportedly belonging to Mr Ghosn in Beirut (AFP)

Mr Ghosn said in a statement last week that he wanted to escape injustice. Critics of the Japanese judicial system say his case exemplifies its tendency to move too slowly and keep suspects in detention too long.

Nissan said an investigation is ongoing in France, and that the US Securities and Exchange Commission has found some wrongdoing. Mr Ghosn has not been charged in France or the US.

Ms Mori and other Japanese officials defended the nations judicial system and denounced Mr Ghosns escape as an unjustifiable crime.

The scandal over the case has tarnished Nissans image and created a leadership vacuum at a time when the carmakers profits and sales are tumbling. Mr Ghosns successor, Hiroto Saikawa, also resigned last year amid financial misconduct allegations related to questionable income.

Nissan will continue to do the right thing by cooperating with judicial and regulatory authorities wherever necessary, the Yokohama-based company said.

Although Mr Ghosn is unlikely to face trial in Japan, Greg Kelly, another Nissan former executive, is still facing charges of under-reporting Mr Ghosns future compensation. He says he is innocent.

Mr Kelly, an American who is out on bail, has not been charged with the breach of trust allegations Mr Ghosn is also facing.

Nissan has also been charged as a corporate entity. The company says it will not fight the charges and will pay the required fines.

Associated Press
Morrisons reported falling festive sales. Photo: Dinendra Haria/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Morrisons (MRW.L) reported falling sales over the crucial Christmas period, with the supermarkets CEO blaming unusually challenging conditions.

Morrisons said Tuesday same store sales fell by 1.7% in the 22 weeks to January 5. The slump was driven entirely by a slowdown at its supermarkets.

Morrisons didnt break out sales for the 9 weeks up to Christmas day but Bruno Monteyne, a retail analyst at Bernstein, forecast a fall of 2.6% in the period based on Tuesdays numbers.

The sales slump came as market research firm Kantar Worldpanel said separately Tuesday that all of the Big Four UK supermarkets lost market share over Christmas.

There was no sign of the post-election rush many had hoped for in the final weeks before Christmas, with shoppers carefully watching their budgets, Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, said in a statement.

Morrisoins chief executive David Potts said it had been an unusually challenging period for sales but said Morrisonss execution was strong and our profitability robust.

As always, we will take some learnings into the new year, and look forward to 2020 with a strong plan and solid foundations on which to continue to grow, Potts said.

Potts said profit for the year was expected to be in-line with forecasts despite the slide in sales, thanks to cost cutting.

Shares in Morrisons rose 2.5% in early trade in London. Alongside the Christmas update, the supermarket also published stats on trading between August and November 2019. Sales in the quarter were down 1.2% but this was ahead of City forecasts, Monteyne said.

While the Big Four  Morrisons, Tesco (TSCO.L), Sainsburys (SBRY.L), and Asda  all lost market share over Christmas, Kantars data showed that German discounters continued to grow strongly over the Christmas period.

Lidl was the fastest growing supermarket in the 12 weeks to 29 December 2019, with sales up 10.3% according to Kantar. Meanwhile, rival Aldi said Monday its festive sales passed the 1bn mark for the first time.

Grocery spending across the supermarket sector reached 29.3bn over Christmas, Kantar said. While this was a new record high, it was just 0.2% higher than the total supermarket spend over Christmas 2018. This was the slowest annual growth in sales since 2015, Kantar said.

Sparkling wine sales fell by 8% over Christmas, according to Kantar, while sales of Christmas puddings fell by 16% and Turkey sales declined by 1%.
Italian club AS Roma on Tuesday announced that Aleksandar Kolarov will now remain with the club till June 30, 2021.

The 34-year-old player has scored 17 goals in 113 appearances for the club.

The Serbian International praised the club and said that it is a great deal to remain with the club.

"I want to thank the club for this contract extension. It means a great deal to me," the club's official website quoted Kolarov as saying.

Aleksandar said that he wants to contribute to the club's success.

"Even now I see it as another starting point: I intend to keep on improving and developing in order to contribute to the growth of this club," he said.

Aleksandar Kolarov in the past had represented Manchester City and in 2017 he was transferred to AS Roma.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Apart from Amit Shah, it was also attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri

Mumbai: The second meeting of Home Minister Amit Shah-headed Group of Ministers (GoM) is likely to take place on Tuesday, according to a source.

The meeting is expected to discuss the Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) on the Air India sale process, the source said.

The Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM) or GoM has already approved re-initiation of the process for the government's 100 percent stake sale in Air India along with Air India Express and the carrier's stake in joint venture AISATS.

"The second meeting of the Group of Ministers on Air India sale may take place on Tuesday. It is likely to discuss the Preliminary Information Memorandum on the sale process," the source in the know of development told PTI on Monday.

He also said that "the expression of interest could be invited 45 days after the uploading of the PIM document".

The last GoM meeting took place in September last year. Apart from Shah, it was also attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
Bareilly : , Jan 7 (IANS) In a shocking statement, UP BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh has accused Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of 'funding' violence in Uttar Pradesh.

He alleged that she was 'bringing goons" from other states to foment trouble in the state.

"There was peace in UP for the last three years and I want to ask why Priyanka wants to cause riots here? Why doesn't she do it in MP and Rajasthan? She is funding violence and bringing goons from other states and making them pelt stones to disrupt peace," the BJP leader alleged while addressing a public meeting in Bareilly.

Referring to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, he said, "Neither Nehru (Jawaharlal) nor Manmohan Singh could do this work while minorities in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh suffered. They were forced to live a miserable life. For the first time, a political leader took this revolutionary decision and ensured CAA came into existence. CAA is meant for giving Indian nationality to refugees belonging to the minority community so that they can live a respectable life. They can get house under PM housing scheme and benefits under other government schemes." Singh further clarified that CAA is not meant for withdrawing the nationality of any Indian Muslim though the opposition is misleading the people on this issue.

He further said, "Even Ram Manohar Lohia had said in the past that minorities in Pakistan faced a lot of difficulties and they should be given Indian citizenship. But Samajwadi Party does not remember the words of their founder because their leaders want to do politics for family benefits only."
E-cigarettes may have been making people ill for at least 12 years, experts have warned.

Scientists trawled through online forums and found vapers have been complaining about the gadgets making them ill since 2008.

The analysis of 41,000 posts revealed hundreds of e-cigarettes users have reported having asthma, sore throats, coughs and colds.

Experts say the symptoms are similar to ones being shown by scores of US patients who have become poorly after using e-cigarettes.

Researchers now fear thousands of vaping-related illnesses have gone unreported, given their findings.

The US vaping illness crisis was forced into the limelight last year following a spate of deaths and 55 people have since died.

Doctors also officially recognised a specific condition  vaping-associated pulmonary illness (VAPI)  for the first time last year.

People using e-cigarettes have reported developing headaches, coughs, feeling sick, tiredness, dehydration, sore throats and asthma (stock image)

By the end of 2019, 55 people had died from vaping-related illnesses in 27 states in the US, according to official statistics  people have been killed in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia

A team of researchers from the University of California, Riverside, conducted the study by using a computer program to screen 41,216 comments online.

The posts were made in 'major electronic cigarettes online health forums' between 2008 and 2015. The scientists did not name the websites.

E-cigarettes were invented almost 20 years ago and came onto the market in the US, where the study was done, in 2007.

Their global popularity has soared since then and there are now an estimated one billion e-cigarette users around the world.

The researchers trawled through comments looking for key words and managed to build a picture of which symptoms people had been saying they suffered from.

Headache was the most common complaint, being mentioned 939 times, along with asthma (916), coughing (852), feeling generally unwell (468), dehydration (803) and a sore throat (565).

And complaints about more serious medical problems also cropped up, including pneumonia, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Among the top symptoms complained about online in e-cigarette forums were headaches, coughing, throat pain and heartburn, according to University of California researchers

People in the forums also mentioned specific illnesses, including the lung conditions asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia and bronchitis

HOW CAN VAPING BE HARMFUL? E-cigarettes have the potential to benefit some people, by helping them quit smoking. But scientists still have a lot to learn about whether e-cigarettes are truly effective for quitting smoking and what the long-term risks are. Nicotine is already known to be highly addictive and harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s. E-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine. Aerosol is inhaled into the lungs and can contain potentially harmful substances, including heavy metals like lead, volatile organic compounds, and cancer-causing agents. US health officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are investigating an outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI). The mystery illness has swept across the states. Officials have identified Vitamin E acetate, which is used in cannabis vaping products, as a chemical of concern. 'Popcorn lung' is the nickname for bronchiolitis obliterans, a condition which damages the smallest airways in the lungs and has been linked to people with vaping-related breathing problems. However, theres no good scientific evidence that e-cigarettes could cause the lung condition, according to Cancer Research UK. The flavourings in electronic cigarettes may damage blood vessels in the same way as heart disease, according to research published in June 2018. The chemicals used to give the vapour flavours, such as cinnamon, strawberry and banana, can cause inflammation in cells in the arteries, veins and heart. They cause the body to react in a way that mimics the early signs of heart disease, heart attacks or strokes, the study by Boston University found. Other recent studies have also suggested smoking e-cigarettes could cause DNA mutations which lead to cancer, and enable pneumonia-causing bacteria to stick to the lungs more easily. Advertisement

Professor Prue Talbot, who led the research, said: 'Our data, which shows many of the symptoms characterizing the current patients have been reported online for at least seven years, suggests cases similar to those in the current VAPI epidemic have existed previously and been unreported or simply not linked to vaping.

'The sudden uptick in symptoms and conditions related to VAPI comes at least 10 years after e-cigarette products gained widespread popularity in the US.'

The research comes after the US last year saw a dramatic surge in the number of people being taken to hospital with health problems linked to e-cigarettes.

By December 31, 2,561 people had needed hospital treatment because of the devices and a total of 55 people had died in 27 states.

Officials say a chemical called vitamin E acetate, which is used in cannabis vaping products, is to blame for most of the cases.

Vaping has been touted as a healthier alternative to smoking because it doesn't contain cancer-causing tar or carbon monoxide.

But the health dangers of the habit are not well understood.

A study published in December suggested people who use e-cigarettes may be 29 per cent more likely to develop serious lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis or emphysema than people who have never smoked.

And other research revealed in March found people who vaped every day were 34 per cent more likely to have a heart attack than non-vapers.

In the latest research, the team found 45 per cent of the health-related posts made in the forums were negative, while 38 per cent were neutral. Only 17 per cent were positive.

Some flavouring chemicals can expand blood vessels and make people get headaches or feel exhausted, while inhaling nicotine  which is found in e-cigarettes  is known to be able to cause headaches, feeling sick, mouth or throat pain and coughing or heartburn.

One of Professor Talbot's colleagues graduate student My Hua, said: 'Our data underscore the idea that e-cigarette use is not free of adverse health effects and suggest that the epidemic we are seeing now will continue to grow given the many reports in the forum of symptoms characteristic of VAPI.

'It is important that vigilant reporting of cases, tracking symptoms, and engaging in research on the health effects related to e-cigarette use be continued and expanded to understand and contain VAPI.'

The research was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
More than a dozen high-profile criminals could have their convictions quashed

Royal commission is investigating Gobbo's role as an informer for Victoria police

Orman says he'll sue the state of Victoria now that he has been released from jail

Orman was jailed for 20 years in 2009 after Nicola Gobbo informed on him

The gates of Australia's toughest prisons could soon be flung open as the Lawyer X scandal threatens to sink once air-tight prosecutions against her former clients.

A year ago it was unimaginable that a single villain represented by criminal barrister Nicola Gobbo could be cut loose over her role as an informer.

In July, the impossible happened and Faruk Orman was released from jail after 12 years behind bars.

Barrister Nicola Gobbo in 2008 after her car was torched in South Melbourne. She remains in hiding overseas but bobbed up in a television interview in December

Faruk Orman was sentenced to 20 years in jail for a murder he claimed he was not involved in. The Court of Appeal in Victoria set him free in July over the Lawyer X scandal

Orman was jailed for the 2002 murder of Melbourne underworld figure Victor Pierce.

He was found guilty by a Supreme Court jury of being the getaway driver in the killing of Pierce, who was shot dead as he sat in his car in Port Melbourne.

Orman had always professed his innocence, and appealed against his conviction all the way to the High Court.

He had served 12 years in jail upon his release.

Ms Gobbo denies ever breaching lawyer-client privilege during her years working as a police snitch.

In an explosive interview with the ABC's 7.30 program aired this month, Ms Gobbo spoke from an undisclosed foreign location, saying if she ended up in the courtroom dock for her behaviour, Victoria Police should join her.

Mr Overland  who was made deputy commissioner in 2006, the height of Ms Gobbo's informing, and led the force from 2009 to 2011  was forced to accept responsibility and concede the 'ethics were f***ed'.

Ms Gobbo helped send a swag of underworld figures to jail, including major drug traffickers Pasquale Barbaro, Rob Karam, John Higgs, Tony Mokbel and his brother Milad.

Carl Williams also pleaded guilty to four murders on her advice before being murdered in Barwon Prison in 2010.

Former police chief Simon Overland has conceded police could have acted illegally in their use of Ms Gobbo.

Addressing the royal commission into the scandal, Mr Overland accepted responsibility as the most senior officer who knew Ms Gobbo was Informer 3838 but distanced himself from suggestions of criminal conduct and disavowed the detectives he led.

The revelations of Ms Gobbo's double dealing sparked a royal commission and cast doubt on the legality of dozens of convictions, with fears some of the nation's most notorious criminals could soon walk free.

'If you came to me and you were charged with murder and you sought my advice, anything you tell me about your murder charge is subject to privilege,' Ms Gobbo said this month.

Nicola Gobbo and drug lord Tony Mokbel were once close. She had acted as his lawyer but secretly despised him and swore to bring down his evil empire

Former Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland arrives to the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants in Melbourne in December. He said 'ethics were f***ed' within the force at the time

'But if in the course of talking to me you told me all about your mate Bob who had guns hidden in his house, anything you tell me about Bob is not privileged. It can't be.'

Ms Gobbo was a registered informer three times on and off between 1996 and 2009.

The Court of Appeal heard this year that while acting for Orman, she encouraged the key witness against him to give evidence at his trial.

The witness told police Orman had confessed to being the getaway driver when Andrew 'Benji' Veniamin shot Pierce.

While working as a defence lawyer for Orman in November 2007, Ms Gobbo heard the witness wanted to withdraw his evidence.

She contacted her police handlers and encouraged them to visit the witness to 'put him straight'.

They did so, and his evidence was crucial in Orman's conviction.

The President of the Court of Appeal, Chris Maxwell, said Ms Gobbo's actions were a fundamental breach of her legal obligations to her client and to the court.

'There was, accordingly, a substantial miscarriage of justice. The appeal must therefore be allowed,' he said.

But a defiant Ms Gobbo said Orman should never have been convicted based on material available at his trial.

The prospect of others having convictions quashed based on her informing prompted Ms Gobbo to blame police.

Nicole Gobbo appeared on an ABC news program in December. She has been in hiding for years after being exposed at the notorious 'Lawyer X' police informer

Carl WIlliams had a feeling Nicola Gobbo was working against him. He was right. But he was killed in jail before he could do anything about it

'I'm not trying to say I played no role in doing anything and that I have no responsibility ... but ultimately, anything that I did or said or was told to do was with the imprimatur of the chief commissioner of the police.'

The force, which Ms Gobbo intends to sue, should share any criminal responsibility, she said.

UK top cop's brush with death over the scandal Sir Ken Jones was the former deputy commissioner and quit the force after clashing with his boss, Simon Overland. He told the royal commission he believed Carl Williams' jailhouse murder was pre-planned and involved corrupt prison staff. At the time of his murder, Williams had been co-operating with Victoria Police over the murders of two other police informers. While walking around The Tan in Melbourne with his wife and dog, he spotted a laser red dot on his chest. The 'stable' laser dot traced over himself, his wife and his dog He was told to carry a gun 24-hours a day Sir Ken has described the murder of the gangland boss inside Barwon Prison on April 19, 2010, as 'unimaginable' Williams was killed on the same day a front page newspaper article revealed he was a rat. Advertisement

'We will be in the dock together.'

While Ms Gobbo has remained overseas and defiant, her former clients Tony Mokbel and ecstasy trafficker Rob Karam have moved giant leaps forward in their bids for freedom.

Ms Gobbo claimed she helped in the arrest and charging of at least 386 people, including playing a pivotal role in solving several underworld murders.

She told police she became an informer in part because 'She was frustrated at the Mokbels' capacity to use lawyers to control others around them and with being stood over by criminals.'

Ms Gobbo went so far as to provide a 'Top 10' of crooks she helped to bring down.

The list contains a host of colourful Melbourne identities, including major drug traffickers John Higgs and Tony Mokbel's brother Milad.

Barbaro was pinged in the infamous $440 million 'Tomato Tins' drug sting in 2007 which saw 32 Mafia figures jailed.

Gangland killer Carl WIlliams himself wrote of his concerns about his lawyer going rogue and helping to put his mates away.

Williams died a bloody death in jail before he ever got a chance to see he was in fact right.

Methamphetamine cook Zlate Cvetanovski will also roll what may have become a loaded dice at a bid for freedom.

Ecstasy trafficker Rob Karam has moved a giant leap forward in his bid for freedom as the Nicola Gobba scandal heads into the new year

Mafia head Pasquale 'Pat' Barbaro is among a rogue's gallery of criminals lining up for release over the Lawyer X scandal

The tomato tins used by the Mafia to import drugs into Australia

Cvetanovski has been in jail since 2009 for multiple drug and fraud offences.

He was brought down when Ms Gobbo convinced Mokbel's prized drug cook to roll on his boss.

'Cookie' also implicated Cvetanovski.

Cvetanovski's solicitor Ruth Parker hoped to have him free by Christmas.

'You have got a case where he is not even in the frame until Gobbo facilitates evidence through Cookie,' she told The Age.

'We have that familiar behaviour of being intimately involved in the main witness against Cvetanovski while representing Cvetanovski, facilitating information between the two and feeding the prosecution.'

Ms Parker said Cvetanovski had already been granted special leave to have his conviction reviewed by the Court of Appeal and there was an urgency to have his case heard.

He becomes eligible for parole in August next year.

The Court of Appeal is considering Mokbel's application for leave to challenge his drug trafficking conviction on the basis of Ms Gobbo's informer role, as well as an application by Karam.

In May, Justice Maxwell said Victoria police must focus its investigations on Mokbel, Karam and Cvetanovski because their appeal cases bore directly on public confidence in the criminal justice system.

Retired Victoria Police deputy commissioner Sir Ken Jones leaves the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants. He was threatened with death during the saga

A mug shot of Tony Mokbel upon his capture in Greece. He had made a run for it after he learned police planned to charge him with murder

Mokbel's lawyer Richard Maidment QC revealed in addition to an appeal against conviction he was also considering a petition for mercy from the court.

Mokbel and Karam each have decades remaining on respective 30 and 35-year jail sentences for drug trafficking.

The royal commission has heard Mokbel had always suspected 'mischief' in his prosecution but how far that extended to Ms Gobbo was never clear.

Solicitor Constantine Karageorge said the key could be in mystery emails written by an alleged ASIO agent attached to the Australian embassy consular staff in Athens in 2008, while Mokbel was on the run.

Mokbel, a dual Australian-Lebanese citizen, knew he had been betrayed by someone close to him when he was arrested in Greece but was not sure by whom.

'Tony suspected a leak but was not sure whether it was Gobbo or someone else he was close to, but he made admissions to her (Gobbo), admissions that may now not be admissible,' Mr Karageorge said.

'She advised him to get out of the country and to go to Lebanon which he went to and had he stayed there perhaps he would not have been extradited back.'

Last year, Victoria Police chief Graham Ashton said the lawyer's actions could impact on at least 20 convictions.
Hundreds of thousands of mourners, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, gathered in Tehran on Monday to pay tribute to Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a targeted US drone attack in Baghdad last week.

From the early hours of Monday, Iranians walked toward the University of Tehran near Enghelab Square, where the funeral rites began among chants against the US and Israel, reports Efe news.



People in the funeral procession carried photographs of Soleimani, Iranian flags and banners with anti-US slogans.





While addressing the crowd, General Soleimani's daughter, Zeinab, said: "The name Haj Qasem Soleimani is now shaking the nest of Zionism, Takfirism, and the order of hegemony.



"America and Zionism should know that my father's martyrdom has awakened more human instincts on the resistance front. It will make life a nightmare for them and shatter their spider houses," the Tehran-based Press TV reported.



Due to the huge number of expected mourners, police were deployed in the area hours beforehand to control traffic and ask residents to remove their vehicles from the streets.



The authorities have reinforced security measures in the capital, which helicopters have been flying over since Sunday afternoon.



Khamenei led a mass prayer service, with high-ranking government and military officials also to attend the funeral.



Soleimani's remains, along with those of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy leader of the Iraqi militia Popular Mobilization Forces who was also killed in the attack, arrived in Iran on Sunday.



Muhandis's remains were brought to Iran where it will undergo DNA testing.



Funeral ceremonies were also held on Sunday in Ahvaz, the main city in the country's eight-year battle against the forces of the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein which shaped Soleimani's future as an austere military tactician.



Later in the day, processions were also held in the holy city of Mashhad, which hosts the tomb of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia imam.



The funeral rites will continue on Tuesday in Soleimani's southern hometown of Kerman, where his remains will be buried on Wednesday.



Soleimani, 63, was the elite Quds Force chief in charge of IRGC operations outside Iran, and has been on the ground in Syria and Iraq supervising militias backed by Tehran.



The Quds Force holds sway over a large number of militias across the region ranging from Lebanon to Syria and Iraq.



The Iranian authorities have called for "harsh revenge" over the killing of the commander and believe that the incident marks a turning point and will lead to the withdrawal of the US troops from the region. However, Washington has begun deploying hundreds more personnel to the region.



Amid threats of retaliation from Iran, US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned in a tweet that "the US will quickly and fully strike back, and perhaps in a disproportionate manner".
Mazda Toyota Manufacturing will begin accepting applications for its new Alabama plant on Jan. 13 in a process that will eventually add 50 new production employees a week to its payroll through 2022. The new plant is located in Huntsville.

The company plans to produce 300,000 vehicles a year at the 3.7 million-square-foot plant now under construction. The production team employees will be the largest percentage of the plants workforce.

Applicants should go to www.mazdatoyota.com where they will give the company basic contact information and work history and answer a few questions. Applicants who meet hiring standards will be take an online assessment that includes a written portion, the company said Tuesday. Candidates who pass the online assessment will be invited to a Day of Work Assessment, which will put them in a simulated plant to check their skills at various tasks. Job offers will follow this assessment and a successful background check, drug screening and physical.

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing says it will hire approximately 4,000 new employees to meet its production projections through 2022. It expects so many applications that the timeline between assessment and job offer could take up to three months. Team positions, duties and details about the application process are available at mazdatoyota.com.
New Delhi:

Actor Deepika Padukone on Tuesday reached the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to show her solidarity towards the students of the varsity, two days after 34 people were injured in a clash with the students of the JNUSU and ABVP. Her decision to not address the crowd prompted JNUSU student leader Aishe Ghosh to comment, "when you are in a position, you should speak up".

The 34-year-old actor is in the capital to promote her upcoming release, Meghna Gulzar-directed "Chhapaak". A masked mob armed with sticks and rods on Sunday attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, injuring at least 34 people.

On Monday, Deepika told NDTV that it was heartening to see people come out and raise their voice without fear.

#WATCH Delhi: Deepika Padukone joins students at Jawaharlal Nehru University, during their protest against #JNUViolence. pic.twitter.com/Ytc28MCGHT  ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2020

I feel proud to see that we arent scared to express ourselves... I think the fact that we are thinking about the country and its future.... Whatever may be our point of view, its nice to see, NDTV quoted as Deepika as saying.

I feel proud about it that people are coming out -- be it on the streets or wherever they are -- they are raising their voice and expressing themselves as it is important. If we want to see change in life and society, it is important that a point of view be put forward, she said.

Demanding boycott of her movie, spokesperson of the Delhi Unit of the BJP Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga tweeted: "RT if you will Boycott Movies of @deepikapadukone for her Support to #TukdeTukdeGang and Afzal Gang."

RT if you will Boycott Movies of @deepikapadukone for her Support to #TukdeTukdeGang and Afzal Gang pic.twitter.com/LN5rpwjDmT  Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) January 7, 2020

On Monday night, a slew of Bollywood celebrities such as directors Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar and actors Taapsee Pannu and Richa Chadha turned up at Carter Road in Mumbai in solidarity with those protesting against the violence at the JNU.

HRD Ministry officials will meet JNU Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar on Wednesday over the violence on campus by a masked mob and other issues affecting the normal functioning of the varsity.

Under fire from students and faculty members for not doing enough when they were brutally attacked on campus, Kumar urged students to put the past behind and return to the varsity's premises.

"The vice chancellor will be meeting the senior officials tomorrow at the ministry," an official said.

On Monday, a team of top officials including the registrar had visited the ministry and updated the top brass about the situation on campus besides submitting a detailed report of the sequence of events that transpired on campus on Sunday. However, Kumar was not present at the meeting.

"A detailed report has been sent to the HRD Ministry about the sequence of events. The top administration officials are at the ministry to provide all details leading to present situation," he had told PTI.

Violence broke out at the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday night as a group of masked people armed with sticks attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in the police.

Many sustained injuries and were admitted to AIIMS Trauma Centre here. They were discharged on Monday. JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh suffered a head injury. The Left-controlled JNUSU and the ABVP blamed each other for the violence that continued for nearly two hours

The ministry had on Sunday sought an immediate report from JNU Registrar Pramod Kumar after the violence broke out and students and teachers were attacked. Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank,' who was in Bhubhaneshwar, on Monday said educational institutions cannot be allowed to become "political adda" and vowed "strong action" against the perpetrators of the violence at JNU.

(With PTI inputs)
China will release another batch of 20,000 tons of pork reserves to stabilize prices for the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, according to the website of China Merchandise Reserve Management Center on Thursday.

It is the second time for China to release the frozen pork this year after the first batch of 30,000 tons on Jan 3. Interested parties should register on the website of the center - mrm.com.cn - to compete in the bidding at 1 pm on Jan 9.

Pork, a staple in China, has seen its price soar since last year, due to the short supply affected by African swine fever and cyclical factors.

Chinese authorities have taken measures to help revitalize the hog production, and lowered the tariff on imported pork. In 2019, China released 170,000 tons of frozen pork in seven batches, with the last batch of 40,000 tons in December.

During the week of Dec 30 to Jan 3, the average pork price in 16 provinces and municipalities came in at 45.48 yuan ($6.52) per kilogram, rising 3.4 percent from a week ago, and 159.7 percent from the same period a year ago.




President Donald Trump meets with Rep. Jeff Van Drew, D-N.J., who switched his party affiliation to the GOP, in the Oval Office last month. Read more

President Donald Trump will host a campaign rally in U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drews district later this month, just weeks after the New Jersey congressman switched to the Republican Party and pledged his undying support to Trump.

Van Drew said he will accompany Trump on Air Force One and at the rally, which he hopes will boost his prospects in what has become one of the most closely watched House races in the country.

One of the things that he promised to do was to come to my district, Van Drew said in an interview Tuesday. Its going to be a President Trump rally, its going to go all over the place.

The rally, scheduled for Jan. 28 at the Wildwoods Convention Center, will be the first time South Jerseys 2nd Congressional District has hosted a presidential campaign rally since President George H.W. Bush visited Vineland in 1992.

Local politics-watchers had been waiting for signs that the president would campaign for the former Democrat following his party switch in the Oval Office last month.

 READ MORE: I will not vote for Trump, Jeff Van Drew vowed in a voicemail. Then he pledged undying support for the president.

Trumps visit also comes as Van Drew is starting to reorient his political profile to be more attractive to Republican primary voters in his district. On Tuesday, Van Drews office confirmed to Politico that he will support a move to bring anti-abortion legislation to the House floor. Van Drew has had a 100% rating from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

Wildwood, and indeed New Jersey, may seem like an unusual choice for Trump, who usually hosts rallies in deeply conservative areas of swing or solidly Republican states. The bustling summer Shore town largely shuts down during the winter. The rally is likely to draw attendees from nearby towns or outside the state  some of whom may not be able to vote for Van Drew.

If people are coming from outside the district [or] outside the state, people dont know Jeff, said Michael Suleiman, the Atlantic County Democratic Party chair. These people arent going for Jeff, theyre all going for Trump.

On the other hand, the ripple effect of the rally will really cement Van Drews relationship with Donald Trump for Republican voters, said John Froonjian, executive director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University.

Political strategists said the high-profile rally in Van Drews district may be intended to help clear the Republican primary field for him. But his Republican challengers arent scared by Trumps endorsement or his impending visit.

I think its going to help Van Drew, said David Richter, a millionaire business executive who was the Republican front-runner before Van Drew switched parties. But I dont think its going to help him enough to win the Republican primary.

My assessment of this race is, Im a lifelong Republican running against a lifelong Democrat, Richter said. The president is very popular in South Jersey. But whether his coattails extend to Jeff Van Drew, I would be very surprised if they did.

Van Drew was one of only two House Democrats to vote against the impeachment inquiry into the presidents dealings in Ukraine in October, a stance he touted in TV appearances that drew Trumps attention and praise.

But his opposition to impeaching Trump incensed Democrats in his district. Last month, Van Drew learned from an internal campaign poll just how much his stance had imperiled his prospects in a Democratic primary. Within days, he was at the White House to finalize his plans to become a Republican.

While many local Republicans are skeptical of Van Drew, the national political apparatus of his new party is going to work for him. A Trump-allied political action committee spent $250,000 on TV and digital ads supporting him. And Richter has been shedding establishment support.

Still, several declared GOP candidates have said they are staying in the race. And six Democrats have announced they will run for their partys nomination to represent the district.

Van Drew had been a prized Democratic recruit to run for the South Jersey swing district vacated by longtime Republican Rep. Frank LoBiondo in 2018.

The district  which stretches from the Philadelphia suburbs in Gloucester County south to Cape May, and from north of Atlantic City into Burlington County  is a battleground: Trump won it by five points in 2016, while President Barack Obama got 53% of the vote each time he ran.

In Van Drew, who has supported gun rights and represented part of the district as a state lawmaker for years, Democrats found a candidate who captured the seat for the first time in decades. Van Drew handily won the Democratic primary. He topped Republican Seth Grossman by an eight-point margin in the general election.
Ibrahim Azeez will be tried at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

A man has been sent for trial accused of tricking people into posting him high-value electronic goods without payment.

Ibrahim Azeez (27) is accused of multiple counts of possession of stolen property after allegedly going to a postal depot to collect the items - two laptops, a camera and a smartphone worth around 2,000.

A book of evidence was served on him at Blanchardstown District Court.

Mr Azeez, of Willows Court, Hartstown, is charged with four counts of possession of stolen property and one of using a false instrument.

The offences are alleged to have happened at Fonthill Post Depot, Fonthill Road, Clondalkin, in 2017.

A state solicitor said the book of evidence was ready and was served on the accused.

Alibi

Judge David McHugh gave Mr Azeez the formal notice of his deadline for provid- ing the prosecution with details of any alibi he intends to rely on.

He also ordered the prosecution to furnish the defence with copies of the accused's garda interview video.

Judge McHugh sent Mr Azeez forward to the next sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

It was alleged that the accused tricked people into posting high-value electronic items to his address, believing they had already received payment, but no payment was made.

A garda sergeant told the court that Mr Azeez is accused of collecting a Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone from the depot on September 2, 2017; a Nikon camera and lens on October 4; an Acer Aspire laptop on October 2 and an Apple Macbook on October 26.

He allegedly also went to the depot on October 19 and produced a counterfeit driving licence as identification to collect a package.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky had a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on January 6, the press service of the head of state has reported.

"The interlocutors discussed the situation in the Middle East, and the Secretary appreciated Ukraines condemnation of the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Secretary Pompeo reiterated the strong U.S. support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity and underscored our long-term strategic partnership," the report says.

Zelensky informed Pompeo in detail about the results of the agreements reached during the Normandy format meeting, as well as the plans of the Ukrainian government to restore peace in eastern Ukraine. Pompeo welcomed the release of prisoners and the conclusion of an important contract for the transit of gas to Europe.

The president thanked the United States for its continued support for the restoration of peace in Donbas and the return of Crimea. Zelensky also expressed special gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump and the Congress for the decision to provide financial assistance to the security and defense sector of our state.

The sides agreed that these and other issues would be discussed in detail during a meeting between President Zelensky and Secretary Pompeo.

In addition, the parties exchanged congratulations on the occasion of the Christmas holidays.

As reported, Pompeo postponed his visit to Ukraine after an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq on December 31. He was expected to arrive in Kyiv on January 3.

ish
Astronomers have discovered the largest gaseous structure ever observed in our galaxy, transforming human knowledge of the shape of matter in the Milky Way.

The wave-shaped structure is about 9,000 light years long and 400 light years wide, stretching 500 light years above and below the mid-plane of our galaxy's disc.

The long and relatively thin thread-like structure is undulating, like 'a ripple in the pond', and contains a huge network of stellar nurseries  star forming regions.

The team from Harvard used new data from the European Space Agency's Gaia spacecraft to construct a 3D map of interstellar matter in the galaxy.

This image, taken from the World Wide Telescope, represents the study data overlaid on an artist's illustration of the Milky Way and our sun.

'We don't know what causes this shape but it could be like a ripple in a pond, as if something extraordinarily massive landed in our galaxy,' said Joao Alves, professor of stellar astrophysics at the University of Vienna and co-author of the study.

'What we do know is that our sun interacts with this structure.

WHAT IS A STELLAR NURSERY? Stellar nurseries are an area of outer space with a dense nebula  an interstellar cloud  in which gas and dust are contracting. Dense regions within these clouds eventually contract and collapse to form stars. They are called nurseries because they are star-forming regions filled with young stars. This new discovery is one giant undulating wave gaseous clouds and dust  the largest seen in our galaxy. Advertisement

'It passed by a festival of supernovae as it crossed Orion 13 million years ago, and in another 13 million years it will cross the structure again, sort of like we are "surfing the wave".'

The structure is made up of interconnected stellar nurseries, areas of outer space with dense clouds of gas and dust.

It transforms a 150-year-old vision of the galaxy, which researchers previously believed was made up of nearby stellar nurseries that formed an expanding ring oriented around the sun, known as the Gould Belt.

The Gould's Belt was first described by Benjamin Gould in 1879 as a collection of bright and massive stars that formed a ring in a projection on the sky.

Scientists have dubbed the new wave-like discovery the 'Radcliffe wave'  after the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, where the discovery was made.

'No astronomer expected that we live next to a giant, wave-like collection of gas  or that it forms the Local Arm of the Milky Way,' said Professor Alyssa Goodman, co-director of the Science Program at the institute.

'The wave's very existence is forcing us to rethink our understanding of the Milky Way's 3D structure.'

Illustration of colourful filaments of dust that form part of the Gould Belt, a collection of bright and massive stars that formed a ring in a projection on the sky, first observed in 1879

The study was made possible by new data from Gaia  the European Space Agency's spacecraft, which was launched in 2013 with the mission of precisely measuring the position, distance and motion of the stars.

The new structure comprises the majority of nearby star-forming regions and contains about three million solar masses of gas  one solar mass is equal to the mass of our sun.

The wave includes many of the stellar nurseries that were previously thought to form part of Gould's Belt.

For a long time, astronomers have been trying to figure out if bright stars forming an arc in the sky actually form a ring in 3D.

'Instead, what we've observed is the largest coherent gas structure we know of in the galaxy, organised not in a ring but in a massive, undulating filament,' said professor Alves.

'The sun lies only 500 light years from the wave at its closest point. It's been right in front of our eyes all the time, but we couldn't see it until now.'

The new, 3D map shows our galactic neighbourhood in a new light, providing a revised view of the Milky Way and potentially opening the door to other major discoveries.

The new discovery is detailed in Nature and viewable as a 3D map on the WorldWide Telescope tour website.

It has been based on two research papers previously published by a team led by Harvard graduate student Catherine Zucker.

These two papers detail distances among stellar nurseries using advanced statistical techniques that map the 3D distribution of dust, using vast surveys of the stars' colours.

Since its launch in 2013, Gaia has enabled measurements of the distances to one billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy.
More than 2,000 people have shown interest in joining a grassroots protest at Stormont over mental health provision in Northern Ireland.

Organisers Chloe Murphy and Jonny Collins (both from Belfast and aged 22) have called for a peaceful protest on February 1 to demand action from political leaders.

On Tuesday, 2,400 people on the 'Storm Stormont' Facebook said they were interested in taking part and almost 1,000 said they would be there.

Ms Murphy said record levels of suicide and a lack of funding for mental health services had motivated them to stage an event for the first time.

"My friend Jonny and I thought about having an event at Stormont because that's where the problem starts really with the lack of government," she told the Belfast Telegraph.

"We want to show it's a real problem that won't just go away, it needs a revolution.

"I feel young men and women in particular, all ages really, in Northern Ireland have been so badly affected.

Expand Close One of the protests' organisers Jonny Collins / Facebook

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Whatsapp One of the protests' organisers Jonny Collins

"The suicide rates are the highest they've ever been. To be the smallest part of the UK and to have the highest rate just speaks volumes really.

"That's especially over the Christmas period because there's nowhere for young people to turn if they need to speak to someone.

"Even the likes of counsellors, you're waiting weeks before you do actually get an appointment with someone."

Ms Murphy said she agreed with a call from the SDLP to appoint a dedicated mental health minister at Stormont.

"That should be a top priority government right now with the loss of life as well as the budget for mental health and a lack of specialism in certain fields in terms of counsellors."

Still a work in progress, both organisers have welcomed suggestions for the protest.

Expand Close Protest organiser Chloe Murphy / Facebook

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Whatsapp Protest organiser Chloe Murphy

"We're still learning about all the practical things you need to get for an event like this. Hundreds of people have been messaging us every hour with their ideas," she said.

"We want people to feel they're being heard."

A fundraising page has been started to cover costs of the event, with any excess to be donated to charity.
Every little bit counts when it comes to raising money for the country's bushfire victims, from comedian Celeste Barber's Facebook fundraiser, which has attracted more than $40 million, to two young Queensland brothers selling lemonade at the side of the road.

Will and Jack Rielly's stand caught the eye of two passing police officers, who helped move the stand to the main road in the town of Port Douglas and even began pulling drivers over for breath tests and licence checks before directing them to the boys' stand.

Constable Matt Cornish with Jack and Will Rielly. Credit:Queensland Police Service

Within 45 minutes, Will and Jack had sold their entire supply of lemonade to 50 satisfied customers in the state's far north and raised $380.

Constable Matt Cornish said he and his partner came across the stand and after sampling some of the product, they knew they needed to improve the brothers' brand exposure.
San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/07/2020 -- The detergent chemicals market promises tremendous growth, thanks to rising demand from commercial applications, especially in heavy-duty manufacturing purposes. The manufacturing industry relies on a wide range of heavy-duty garments for flooring, decor, and construction material as well. The industry requires cost-effective, purposeful, and easily scalable chemical detergent solutions for its vast needs. The growing demand for various detergents in the industry are expected to lead the market to lucrative prospects in the near future.



The demand for households also remains strong as emerging nations continue to modernise daily absolutions with washing machines, and rising disposable incomes, and changing family structure makes way for new opportunities.



Download Brochure of This Market Report at - https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=6202



Among all the various types of chemical detergents, anionic surfactants are organic substances which are easily dissolvable in water. These are widely used in soaps, and other surfactants used in households. Growth of these is also rising in the commercial sector, wherein environmental concerns continue to dictate washing methods, and put in checks against potential pollution. Their effectiveness, low-costs, and soluble qualities make them ideal for a wide range of household, and commercial purposes.



Growing Concern Make Way for New Opportunities



Demand for natural products is rising across the board in various consumer goods. Among these are soft drinks, and a wide range of food and cosmetic products. Similar concerns are being echoed in relation to detergent chemicals. In the US, over 319,508 calls were recorded between 2000 and 2016 about people getting household products in their eyes while washing. This amounts to over 18,795 a year.



This presents a major soar point in the market, as many of these calls affect children, and environmental concerns drive demand for more organic and natural raw materials. The trend is also witnessed on a commercial scale. The new storm water law applied by city council in Napier, New Zealand, has banned people from using detergents to wash their car in driveways. The city council was concerned as the residue remaining in the street water can kill aquatic life. The bans like these, and increasing demand for children's safety will likely drive greater need for more natural or soluble products in the market.



Request For TOC On this Market Report at  https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=6202



Competitive Scenario in the Market



The market is witnessing an intense competition due to a large number of regional and global vendors. Key players in the market like BASF and Clariant hold a dominant share of the market, despite growing innovation, and emerging competition. The market is also witnessing a rise of new dimensions to the competition with emergence of Novozymes, a biotechnology company. Product innovation, and value formulation remains key to growth for players in the detergent chemicals market.



About TMR Research

TMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in today's supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients' conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.
WindFloat Atlantic wind farm is now operational. After the energisation of the 20-km cable connecting the offshore wind farm and the substation of Viana do Castello, the first of the three platforms comprising the Windplus consortium's wind farm, was successfully connected on 31st December. The other two units will be connected successively, until they reach 25 MW of the WFA project.

The WindFloat Atlantic units -measuring 30 metres in height and with a 50-metre distance between columns- accommodate the world's largest wind turbines installed on a floating structure of 8,4 MW, helping to increase power generation and drive significant reductions in lifecycle costs. The project took another step forward, once the second of the three platforms that make up the WindFloat Atlantic had arrived at its final destination in the past days. Once fully operational the three Wind Turbine generators making up the wind farm, with their 25 MW of installed capacity, will be able to generate enough energy to supply the equivalent of 60,000 users each year.

The commissioning of this wind farm facilitates access to untapped marine areas and represents a significant technological leap towards shaping a carbon-free economy in Portugal. The WindFloat Atlantic platforms are anchored with chains to the seabed at a depth of 100 metres. They are designed to be transported by standard towing craft, as opposed to bottom-fixed projects which require expensive vessels to be mobilized for transport, and their on-shore assembly helps scale back logistics, financial and environmental costs associated with marine construction. All of these technological advantages make it viable for the project to be replicated anywhere in the world, at a much larger scale.

About WindFloat Atlantic

The project is led by the Windplus consortium, comprising EDP Renewables (54.4%), Engie (25%), Repsol (19.4%) and Principle Power Inc. (1.2%).WindFloat Atlantic project builds on the success of the WindFloat1 prototype, which was in operations between 2011 and 2016. The 2MW prototype successfully generated energy uninterruptedly over five years, surviving extreme weather conditions, including waves up to 17 metres tall and 60-knot winds, completely unscathed.

The platforms have been built in cooperation between the two countries on the Iberian peninsula: two of them were manufactured at the Setubal shipyards (Portugal), and the third at Aviles and Ferrol shipyards (Spain). The project uses WindFloat disruptive technology, which enables wind platforms to be installed in deep waters, inaccessible to date, where abundant wind resources can be harnessed.

This initiative has had the support from public and private institutions, encouraging companies that are leaders in their respective markets to take part in the project; while the Government of Portugal, European Commission and the European Investment Bank have provided financial support.

The partners that have made this project possible include, in addition to Principle Power, the joint venture between Navantia/Windar, the A. Silva Matos Group, Bourbon, the wind turbine supplier MHI Vestas and dynamic cable supplier JDR Cables.
Four people visiting Elmore Correctional Facility wound up behind bars themselves Saturday after being jailed on drug possession charges, authorities said Monday night.

Agents with the Alabama Department of Corrections Investigations and Intelligence Division made the arrests during visitation at the state prison.

Dogs detected narcotics in three vehicles during routine searches, leading to the arrests of 41-year-old Kenyatta Graham of Camp Hill, 19-year-old Adriana Halkias of Madison and 22-year-old Aaliyah Danner of Montgomery. Graham and Madison were charged with unlawful possession of marijuana while Danner was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

More drugs were found during a pre-visitation pat search of Norman Mangione, the corrections department said. Officers found marijuana on the 67-year-old Sylacauga man during a pre-visitation pat search, the agency said.

The four suspects were taken to the Elmore County Jail after their arrests.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.7

Trend:

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened its election observation mission (EOM) for the 9 February early parliamentary elections in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports citing OSCE.

The missions deployment follows an official invitation from the Azerbaijani authorities.

The mission is led by Ambassador Peter Tejler and consists of a core team of 12 experts based in Baku. ODIHR has requested 30 long-term observers to be deployed throughout the country from 14 January, as well as 350 short-term observers to monitor election day.

The mission will assess whether the early parliamentary elections are held in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards and obligations for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will follow the candidate registration process, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, implementation of the legal framework and the resolution of election disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.

Meetings with representatives of relevant authorities and political parties, civil society, the media and the international community form an integral part of the observation.

On election day, the ODIHR EOM will join efforts with delegations of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results.

An interim report will be published to update the public and media during the course of the observation, and a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions issued the day after the elections. A final report summing up the entire election process and including recommendations will be published approximately two months after the end of the election process.
More than 100 roads remain closed across Victorias bushfire zones on Tuesday morning, as crews battle to clear fallen trees and other debris from highways in the states east and north-east.

Motorists in the affected zones have also been warned to expect lower speed limits on roads once they do return to operation, with crews trying to cope with fallen trees and power poles, burnt road signs and even rock falls in some places.

Nearly 100 Victorian roads remain closed, with crews battling rock slides as they continue to clear fallen trees and other debris. Credit: Kate Geraghty

VicRoads said it is taking direction from the incident control centre on which routes it should prioritise as it attempts to clear roads and warned residents that it is not safe to travel on roads that have been marked closed, urging them instead to head for the nearest relief centre.
PRISTINA -- Kosovo's presumed next prime minister has pushed back against a presidential deadline to force his leftist party to end a three-month postelection stalemate within "48 hours" by nominating someone to head the next government.



Self-Determination (Vetevendosje) party leader Albin Kurti told RFE/RL on January 7 that President Hashim Thaci "didn't mention any deadlines" during a "short consultative meeting that cannot have legal effects."



The meeting "lasted less than six minutes," Kurti added.



Kurti's upstart party emerged with a plurality of 26 percent in the October election that upset entrenched allies of Thaci, a former Kosovo Liberation Army commander, but still won just 29 seats in the 120-seat legislature.



Coalition talks with the second-placed finisher, the center-right opposition Democratic League (LDK) with 28 seats, reportedly stalled over government posts and a unified choice to defeat Thaci's likely reelection bid in 2021.



The failure to form a government and Thaci's warning of a "constitutional crisis" highlight the political stakes in Europe's newest state since voters signaled a possible end to more than a decade of leadership from the ranks of former independence fighters.



Kosovo has been recognized by more than 110 states since declaring independence from Serbia in 2008, but continues to face diplomatic and institutional hurdles stemming from nonrecognition by Serbia, Russia, and a handful of European states.



Talks on normalizing diplomatic relations with Serbia were derailed in 2018 by Pristina's imposition of 100-percent tariffs on Serbian goods in response to Belgrade's continued lobbying for countries to reverse their recognition of Kosovo.

International hopes on restarting those talks -- potentially leading to UN recognition for Kosovo and clearing other obstacles -- appear pinned on the next Kosovar government.



Thaci said in November that dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade on normalizing ties should continue "without any conditionality."



After his January 6 meeting with Kurti, Thaci said via social media: "I hope Mr. Kurti within 48 hours may be able to nominate a candidate for PM, since the people, the parliament, our allies are expecting him to do so."



"He may seek further delay, but to great disappointment of people of Kosovo & risk of completely unnecessary constitutional crisis," he added.
The Sowrays - Shaun, Peter and Paul - who run their Holstein Friesian dairy herd at Bowes Green Farm, secured another in a long line of Skipton titles with their first British Blue-cross bullock, born on November 25 last year.

The victor, a son of Tweeddale Ebony, confirmed the choice of Gargrave show judge Paul Drinkall when selling for the days top call of 430 to regular buyer Graham Stainthorp, of West Tanfield, north of Ripon, who claimed a total of four Skipton title winners last year.

Standing reserve champion was the first prize Charolais-cross bull calf from Sutton-in-Cravens David Smith. By a stock bull that has produced past Skipton prize winners for Mr Smith, the overall runner-up made 350 when heading to the same neck of the woods as the champion with Tom Watson, of Sawley, Ripon. From the same home and by the same sire came the first prize Charolais-cross heifer calf, this selling at 340.

Mike Longster, of Fellbeck, presented the first prize Blue-cross heifer calf, which topped its section at 310, while G Pickersgill & Sons, from Guiseley, won both Limousin show classes with price-topping bull and heifer calves selling at 375 and 245 respectively.

While the native bull show class fell to a 265 Aberdeen-Angus calf from Tosside brothers Trevor and Clive Robinson, top price in section of 325 fell to another Angus from JM Smith & Son, of Carleton.

The first prize native heifer, another Angus from Eshtons James Wellock, made 190. The same vendor also consigned the second prize native bull calf, again an Angus, which made 265, along with both the first and second prize dairy bulls, which sold to a top of 120. Black and white calves peaked at 122 for a bull from Mark Smith, of Winterburn.
MEXICO CITY - A bus carrying day labourers was struck by a cargo train in northwestern Mexico on Tuesday, killing seven passengers and injuring three dozen others.

The prosecutorsoffice in the northern border state of Sonora said the driver of the bus had apparently tried to outrun the train at a grade crossing. The driver survived and was taken into custody for drug and alcohol testing.

The office said the dead included five men ranging in age from 16 to 30, a woman and a 16-year-old girl.

The statement said 32 people had been received at the General Hospital in Ciudad Obregon as of mid-afternoon. Four more were treated at a social security clinic in Cajeme.

The state Civil Defence Department published images of white-vested Mexican Red Cross workers attending to victims as the white bus lay battered along the tracks.

A medical helicopter and ambulances were dispatched to the scene of the crash in Vicam, near Guaymas.

Local media reported the bus had been dragged 20 yards (20 metres) after the collision with the train.
The rise in the use of the internet initially seemed to mark the end of the postal service. However the huge increase in online shopping in Spain is, paradoxically, pushing up money spent on sending by mail once again.

The latest report by the competition and markets regulatory authority, CNMC, which covers 2018, says that nine in ten online purchases led to a parcel being sent. The lion's share of this business was handled by the longest established parcel and courier companies, although Amazon now has its own Flex network, made up of self-employed using their own vehicles.

In the second half of last year, the biggest slice of the parcel business, at 48%, still went through the state-owned Correos postal service. Home-grown firms, Seur (15.7% share) and MRW (11.2%) come next, followed by DHL (6.2%).

Online sales reached 39bn

Online shopping sales in Spain reached over 39 billion euros in 2018 and helped increase postal services' revenues by 19% to almost 4.9 billion euros, even though the amount of items sent across the postal system fell by 8%. Internet shopping parcels tend to weigh more and need faster delivery and premium services, which, the report explains, is the reason for companies earning more with less volume of items.

The study adds that traditional mail, delivered on postal rounds, still accounts for 84% of the volume of items sent. Prices of sending a standard letter are below the EU average, at 50 cents, compared to 72 cents. Some 55% of people in Spain didn't visit a post office in 2018, and 74.3% didn't receive a letter by post, says the report.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- An Upstate New York man was arrested Monday morning after police say he picked up a kitchen knife and threatened a woman holding an infant.

Robert M. Jensen, 29, of Seneca Falls, was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and aggravated family offense, both felonies; second-degree menacing and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanors; and second-degree harassment, a violation.

Jensen grabbed a kitchen knife and threatened to use it against a female victim while she was holding an infant and while another child was present, Jensen said.

There were no reports of injuries, but Seneca Falls police said they drove Jensen to the Seneca Court jail after they arrested him at 11:40 a.m. He remained in jail Monday, waiting to be arraigned on the charges, police said.

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Toronto police announced Tuesday that they have arrested a third Brampton teenager in connection with a series of carjackings and an armed robbery of a retail store last June.

Police allege the teens committed four carjacking robberies across the GTA between June 7 and June 15. In each carjacking, two of the accused approached the victim and forcefully took their car keys before stealing the vehicle, police allege.

In one of the incidents, one of the teens allegedly used a Taser-style weapon on the victim, police said in a news release issue Tuesday.

On June 17, police allege that the suspects robbed a store in the area of Eglinton Avenue West and Dufferin Street of cash and cellphones.

On Thursday, police arrested a 17-year-old boy who faces numerous charges including five counts of robbery.

Police arrested a 15-year-old boy on June 26 and another 15-year-old boy on July 24. They also face numerous charges.

The teenagers cannot be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Jacob Lorinc is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @jacoblorinc

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A family member called 911 from a residence in the 3000 block of West 60th Street in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood about 6:15 p.m. Saturday and reported the baby was unresponsive. The child was taken to nearby Holy Cross Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.






Japan Justice Minister Masako Mori speaks during a press conference about Carlos Ghosn's escape from Japan. / Getty

TOKYO  Former Nissan and Renault boss Carlos Ghosn began his astonishing escape from Japan with a bullet train ride from Tokyo to Osaka, possibly accompanied by several people, Japanese news agency Kyodo reported Monday.

Japanese authorities also said on Monday they may still press for Ghosn's extradition from Lebanon to face multiple charges of financial wrongdoing, even though the country does not normally extradite its nationals.

Security cameras captured Ghosn leaving his home on Dec. 29 at about 2:30 p.m. (0530 GMT) and arriving some hours later at Tokyo's Shinagawa Station, where he took the train 300 miles to Shin Osaka Station, Kyodo said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The international fugitive then went by car to a hotel near Osaka's Kansai International Airport, where he boarded a private jet at 11:10 p.m., according to the media report.

Ghosn was forbidden from leaving Japan while awaiting trial on charges of financial misconduct, which he has denied, but he fled at the end of 2019 to escape what he called a "rigged" justice system.

Prosecutors are now working with police to piece together Ghosn's route and find out who helped him, Kyodo said.

In the government's first briefing since Ghosn skipped bail, Justice Minister Masako Mori said on Monday that as a general principle, Tokyo could request the extradition of a suspect from a country with which it has no formal extradition agreement.

Such a request would need to be carefully examined based on the possibility of "guaranteeing reciprocity and the domestic law of the partner country," Mori told reporters in Tokyo.

Arrest warrant

Mori did not say what would guarantee reciprocity (the idea that benefits or penalties extended by one country to citizens of another should be reciprocated). She also did not say if there were any Lebanese nationals in Japan wanted in Lebanon.

Story continues

Mori offered little insight into the events of Ghosn's escape to his ancestral home, repeatedly saying she could not comment on specifics because of an ongoing investigation.

Japanese officials broke days of silence about the Ghosn case on Sunday, saying they would tighten immigration measures and investigate his escape thoroughly. The authorities have also issued an international notice for his arrest.

Government offices and most businesses in Japan have been shut for the New Year holidays, which formally ended on Monday.

Lebanon has said it received an Interpol wanted notice for Ghosn and that he entered the country legally. A senior Lebanese security official, meanwhile, has said Lebanon does not extradite its citizens.

Mori also defended Japan's justice system against Ghosn's charges that it was "rigged" and discriminatory.

In Japan, suspects who deny charges against them are often detained for long periods and subject to lengthy questioning without a lawyer present, a system critics call "hostage justice."

"Various comments about Japan's justice system and this unjust departure are two different things," Mori told reporters, saying criticism of the justice system could not be used to justify Ghosn's escape.

"Departure in an unjust way without proper procedure is tantamount to smuggling, an illegal departure amounting to a crime."

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Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Monday held talks with his Qatar and Jordan counterparts, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Ayman Safadi respectively, and discussed issues pertaining to the ongoing regional situation. Earlier on January 5, the External Affairs Minister spoke to his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in the wake of the killing of Irans top military commander General Qassem Soleimani.

Thank FM @AymanHsafadi of Jordan for our conversation today. The discussion on bilateral relations and regional issues reflected the close and warm ties between India and Jordan.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 6, 2020

Appreciated the insights of FM of Qatar @MBA_AlThani_ in our telephonic talk today on the regional situation. Conversation reflected our strong bilateral partnership.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 6, 2020

The telephonic conversation of the leaders comes at a time when the middle eastern region is engulfed in crisis after Iran's senior military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a strike conducted by the United States. Furious after the killing of Soleimani, Iran has vowed to retaliate and take revenge.

A couple of days back, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also dialled several of the world leaders and his counterparts including Jaishankar to apprise them about the US actions.

READ: SAD delegation to meet Jaishankar over security of Sikhs in Pak, says Harsimrat Kaur Badal

READ: India has a history of 'putting off' problems, take clue from China, says EAM Jaishankar

In phone call with Mike Pompeo amid Gulf Crisis, Jaishankar highlights India's stakes

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the crisis in West Asia on Sunday in wake of the killing of General Qassem Soleimani. While Jaishankar highlighted Indias stakes and concerns in the ongoing crisis, Pompeo briefed him on the repeated threats posed by Iran. He maintained that the Trump administration would go all out to protect the lives of Americans and the allies of the US.

READ: No tukde-tukde gang when I was there: Amid violence, EAM Jaishankar recalls own JNU days

READ: S Jaishankar takes indirect swipe at former NSA, defends tough stance vis-a-vis Pakistan

(With Inputs from ANI)
An auction house has sparked anger after putting a golliwog doll up for sale.

Scarva Auctions, which is near to Banbridge in Co Down, listed the controversial item as a lot which is available to bid on via its website.

The Belfast Telegraph was alerted about the item yesterday after receiving a complaint from a member of the public who had branded it "offensive".

Scarva Auctions, however, defended its decision to list the item for sale, insisting that "no offence" was intended by the auction lot.

Golliwogs, which gained popularity in a late 19th century children's book series, are widely considered to be a degrading racist image and symbol associated with blackface.

It is not the first time that an auction company here has sparked controversy for the items it sells.

Last March Bloomfield Auctions in Belfast was forced to cancel the sale of a dinner set that was once owned by Adolf Hitler.

The move was prompted by the son of a Holocaust survivor who runs a Dublin art gallery.

Alliance councillor Brian Pope said it was "unacceptable" that Scarva Auctions should allow bids on the golliwog.

He called for the firm to withdraw the controversial lot immediately.

"This is a reminder of the racism of the past which should have been consigned to history," he said.

"We work extremely hard in the wider Banbridge area to promote a welcoming, inclusive and racially diverse community. There is no place in our community for this item."

He added: "It is vital we strongly oppose any images or products which may cause offence or hurt, particularly items which have racist or religiously offensive undertones."

In response, Scarva Auctions issued a statement which said: "Scarva auctions have offered a wide range of items on our weekly auction over the last 10 years.

"The item in question was offered for sale on behalf of a client and described as is common with such dolls of this era."

The statement continued: "No offence was intended by this listing which is consistent with other auction house catalogues, and as a respected and established business we endeavour to deal with the public at all times in a professional and straightforward manner."
"Serving in the military changes you. The shades and degrees of change vary for everyone, but no one is ever the same as...
DALLAS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As business leaders mobilize into the year ahead, the co-founders of Journey Capital, a newly formed real estate development company, are eyeing what they have identified as rewarding growth opportunities in senior living. The company's principals, Anand Patel and Narayan Patel, are preparing to announce multiple developments in the company's home state of Texas and have plans to grow further afield. With backgrounds in hotel development and acquisitions, the pair aims to parlay their successes in hospitality into senior living, which they see as a kindred business sector.

"Hospitality is in our DNA," says Anand. "We take great pride in guest service, and we wanted to bring that passion into a new space. Senior housing is a natural fit, but we think the industry needs to evolve to meet its potential. Our goal is to build senior living brands that are as sought after as the most trusted names in hospitality."

"We're approaching what the U.S. Census Bureau calls a ' transformative decade ' as the last of the Baby Boomers reach retirement," says Narayan, noting census projections that 20 percent of the population will be 65 or older by 2029. "The demand for senior housing is growing, and the investments will follow. The question is what shape it's going to take. According to our research, our clientele wants a guest-centered model akin to what they might experience in a great hotel. That's exactly what we're going to offer, and more."

Anand and Narayan met in 2010 during business school at Southern Methodist University. After graduation, they worked together in development and acquisitions for a Dallas-based hospitality firm, supporting the company's growth to over $1 billion in assets and partnerships with the world's top hotel brands. They began exploring opportunities in senior living in 2016 and broke ground on their first two assisted living and memory care communities, the Grandview of Chisholm Trail in Fort Worth and Harvest of Roanoke, in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

The company's portfolio now includes two communities in operation and two under construction; and there are four more developments in their 2020 pipeline that will offer housing and services to residents whose needs range from independent living to assisted living and memory care.

"Our roots in hospitality run really deep. Our families have been doing this work for generations," says Narayan. "That's a big part of what drew us to senior living, knowing how important legacy is to a lot of families. Hospitality is what we know best. To us, it's a rewarding way honor our residents' life journeys."

About Journey Capital

Journey Capital is a real estate development and acquisitions company with a focus on senior housing properties. The company's portfolio currently includes four communities, including two currently in operation and two under construction, with an additional four in the pipeline.

SOURCE Journey Capital

Related Links

http://www.journeycaph.com


Ikea has agreed to pay $46 million to the parents of a California toddler who died when one of the companys dressers tipped onto him in 2017, the familys lawyers announced Monday.

The attorneys for the parents of 2-year-old Jozef Dudek said they believe it is the largest settlement resulting from the wrongful death of a child in U.S. history. The settlement is nearly three times what Ikea paid to settle similar lawsuits in 2016 when $50 million was split among three families.

"We miss him so much," Joleen Dudek, Jozef's mother, said Monday. "He would be turning 5 this year in April. We never thought that a 2-year-old could cause a short 30-inch dresser to tip over and suffocate him. It was only later that we learned that this dresser was designed unstable and did not meet safety standards and that this had happened to other little boys."

Ikea confirmed the settlement amount Monday.

"While no settlement can alter the tragic events that brought us here, for the sake of the family and all involved, were grateful that this litigation has reached a resolution," the company said in a statement. "We remain committed to working proactively and collaboratively to address this very important home safety issue. Again, we offer our deepest condolences."

Ikea dressers have been linked to the deaths of at least nine children and dozens of injuries. Often the incidents happen when a child pulls on the drawers of a unit, sending it crashing forward.

The company, the largest furniture retailer in the world, recalled 17.3 million dressers in 2016, including the three-drawer Malm that tipped onto Jozef. Millions of the recalled dressers remain in use today, and the company as part of the settlement has agreed to broaden its outreach to consumers about the recall, according to Alan Feldman of Philadelphia's Feldman Shepherd law firm, which represents the family.

Jozef was the first child who died after the recall was announced. Craig and Joleen Dudek, in a lawsuit filed in 2018 in Pennsylvania, where Ikeas U.S. headquarters is located, said they were unaware of the recall and faulted the company for not notifying them directly. Dan Mann, another of the family's lawyers, on Monday said that Ikea had the parents contact information because their dresser was purchased on an Ikea credit card. He attributed the settlement amount, in part, to Ikea's failure to more aggressively promote the recall.

Story continues

"Once a manufacturer admits that a product is dangerous and defective and shouldnt be in childrens bedrooms  they should do everything that they can to inform consumers and purchasers that the product is defective," Mann said.

Joleen and Craig Dudek, top right, comfort each other as they join a news conference in Philadelphia via video, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. IKEA has agreed to pay $46 million to the parents of their 2-year-old boy who died of injuries suffered when a 70-pound recalled dresser tipped over onto him, the familys lawyers said Monday.

The parents said they will donate $1 million from the settlement to three consumer organizations that have advocated for a tip-over safety: Kids in Danger, Consumer Reports and the Consumer Federation of America. They said they were proud to honor the memory of their son. Joleen Dudek described him as a kind child and an adventurous eater who loved sushi and curry even at age two.

"He was everything we needed and more," she said. "And we were so thankful to have him."

Their lawsuit claimed Ikea was long aware that the dressers presented an unreasonable tip-over hazard and were dangerously unsafe but continued to sell them regardless. The recalled dressers, which were taken off the market and remodeled, did not meet the industrys safety standard for stability. The standard is meant to ensure that a dresser will remain upright when pulled on by a child, even if the dresser is not tethered to the wall. Ikea said its dressers were only safe when anchored, per the assembly instructions.

Tracey Kelly, Ikeas U.S. corporate communications manager, told USA TODAY in November that in the three years since the recall was announced, the company has destroyed 420,000 returned dressers and provided an additional 1.05 million anchoring kits to consumers. Many more of the 17.3 million bureaus were likely anchored with the included tip-restraints at the time that they were purchased, or have since been thrown out, Kelly said. The company said it has aggressively promoted the recall, including through a national television campaign, direct emails to those known to have purchased recalled products, and both in-store and online ads.

But safety advocates stress that there are likely still millions of unstable, unsecured Ikea dressers in use today. They have faulted the retailer for not doing more to raise awareness, including promoting the recall with the same intensity that the company once marketed the products for sale.

As part of the settlement, Ikea U.S. President Javier Quinones has agreed to meet with the members of Parents Against Tip-Overs, an advocacy group made up of parents who have lost their children to the danger, the lawyer said. Quinones had suggested the meeting last year, then backpedaled on setting a date, telling the parents he was unable to meet until pending litigation had been settled.

Attorneys representing the Dudek family, Alan Feldman, left, Daniel Mann, and Edward Goldis walk from a news conference, past IKEA's Malm dresser in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. IKEA has agreed to pay $46 million to the parents of a 2-year-old boy who died of injuries suffered when a 70-pound recalled dresser tipped over onto him, the familys lawyers said Monday.

Janet McGee, a member of the group whose son died in an Ikea dresser tip-over in 2016, said she hopes to convey to Quinones that the company's recall has been ineffective. McGee said that just today, she went on Facebook marketplace and saw six used Ikea dressers for sale in the area around her Minnesota home. She messaged the sellers. She said that when she has done that in the past, sellers often tell her they were unaware their dresser had been recalled.

"Ikea has to do more to get this message out to consumers," McGee said. "This is exactly why Jozef Dudek died, because they did not get this message out to consumers."

McGee's family was one of the three who settled with Ikea in 2016. She said the size of the Dudek's settlement is more proof of Ikea's fault.

"That money shows the guilt of Ikea," she said. "They have known about this problem. The first tip-over death was reported to them in 1989. They have known about this problem a very, very long time."

Unsecured furniture has been an intractable danger for decades.

A child dies, on average, once every two weeks when a piece of furniture, television of appliance falls forward on them, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. About 28,000 people are injured in tip-overs every year, more than half of them children.

Tricia L. Nadolny is a reporter on the USA TODAY investigations team. She can be reached at tnadolny@usatoday.com or @TriciaNadolny.

I own an Ikea dresser. Now what?

Was my dresser part of the recall?

If you own a Malm dresser sold between 2002 and mid-2016, there is a good chance it was recalled. But there are more than 100 other lines of Ikea dressers included as well. A full list of products, along with steps for taking part in the recall, is available at www.ikea-usa.com/saferhomestogether.

I own a recalled dresser. Should I keep it or get rid of it?

If it is not anchored, first make sure it cannot be reached by children.

The recall allows people to keep or return the item, but safety advocates recommend that the dressers be removed from homes, because of the concern that they will not be anchored or they will later be used by someone unaware of the recall. Many of the recalled dressers can be returned for a full refund. Consumers can bring the dresser to the any Ikea retailer, or Ikea will come pick it up from your home, free of charge.

I want to keep my Ikea dresser. What are my options?

You should anchor it to the wall. You can request a free wall anchoring kit from Ikea and install it yourself, or Ikea will send someone to your home to attach it for you, free of charge.

Do I need a receipt to take part in the recall?

Typically a receipt is not required, but Ikea says that it can request a receipt based on the total number of dressers being returned by one customer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ikea settles for $46 million, after dresser kills child
The zebrafish is a master of regeneration: If brain cells are lost due to injury or disease, it can simply reproduce them - contrary to humans where this only happens in the fetal stage. However, the zebrafish is evolutionarily related to humans and, thus, possesses the same brain cell types as humans. Can a hidden regeneration potential also be activated in humans? Are therapies for stroke, craniocerebral trauma and presently incurable diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's possible?

Dresden scientists have succeeded in determining the number and type of newly formed neurons in zebrafish; practically conducting a "census" in their brains. Following an injury, zebrafish form new neurons in high numbers and integrate them into the nervous system, which is the reason for their amazing brain regeneration ability. The study was conducted as a collaboration project "made in Dresden": Scientists from the Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden (CRTD) combined their expertise in stem cell biology with the latest methods from the DRESDEN-concept Genome Center and complex bio-informatic analyses from the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems and the Center for Systems Biology Dresden. They have now published their results in the scientific journal DEVELOPMENT, which reports on topics of developmental, stem cell and regenerative biology.

For their study, the team led by Dr. Christian Lange and Prof. Dr. Michael Brand from the CRTD used adult transgenic zebrafish in whose forebrain they were able to identify the newborn neurons. The forebrain of the zebrafish is the equivalent to the human cerebral cortex, the largest and functionally most important part of the brain. The Dresden research team investigated the newborn and mature neurons as well as brain stem cells using single cell sequencing. Thus, they discovered specific markers for newborn neurons and were able to comprehensively analyse which types of neurons are newly formed in the adult brain of the zebrafish.

The scientists discovered two types of neurons that can be newly formed: Projection neurons, which create connections between brain areas, and internal neurons, which serve to fine-tune the activity of the projection neurons. The researchers also investigated the data obtained from brain cell sequencing of mice and found that zebrafish and mice have the same cell types. This also makes these results highly relevant for humans.

"On the basis of this study, we will further investigate the regeneration processes that take place in zebrafish. In particular, we will study the formation of new neurons after traumatic brain damage and their integration," explains Prof. Dr. Michael Brand, CRTD Director and senior author of the study. "We hope to gain insights that are relevant for possible therapies helping people after injuries and strokes or suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. We already know that a certain regenerative ability is also present in humans and we are working on awakening this potential. The results of our study are also important for understanding the conditions under which transplanted neurons can network with the existing ones and thus could let humans re-gain their former mental performance."

The CRTD at TU Dresden is the academic home for scientists from more than 30 nations. Their mission is to discover the principles of cell and tissue regeneration and leveraging this for recognition, treatment and reversal of diseases. The CRTD links the bench to the clinic, scientists to clinicians to pool expertise in stem cells, developmental biology, gene-editing and regeneration towards innovative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, haematological diseases such as leukaemia, metabolic diseases such as diabetes, retina and bone diseases. The group of Prof. Dr. Michael Brand investigates the patterning and regeneration of the vertebrate brain and eye.

###

This study was funded by the TU Dresden / CRTD through the German Excellence Initiative and the German Research Foundation as well as through an ERC Advanced Grant from the European Research Council for Prof. Dr. Michael Brand. In addition, it was supported by the Max Planck Institute for Physics of Complex Systems, the Center for Systems Biology Dresden and the Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB) at the TU Dresden.

Publication:

Development: Single cell sequencing of radial glia progeny reveals diversity of newborn neurons in the adult zebrafish brain" by Christian Lange, Fabian Rost, Anja Machate, Susanne Reinhardt, Matthias Lesche, Anke Weber, Veronika Kuscha, Andreas Dahl, Steffen Rulands and Michael Brand, https://dev.biologists.org/content/early/2019/11/19/dev.185595
President Akufo-Addo has expressed his preparedness to support the judiciary in improving the infrastructural challenges in going about their activities.

He made these comments at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah at the Jubilee House, Tuesday.

The President pledged the governments support in removing barriers that militate against effective justice delivery in the country.

I want to underline this assurance by indicating my willingness and preparedness to help address the infrastructural challenges to the satisfactory functioning of the courts that gained the attention of the Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, President Akufo-Addo explained.

The poor state of Ghanas courts has been at the heart of the immediate past Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo.

Madam Akuffo has, on numerous occasions, advocated quality infrastructure of courts within various district assemblies assuring her outfits continuous commitment to ensure that the courts were properly staffed to adequately perform their duties.

In 2018, she threatened to close down the Kasoa District Court and all other courts which are not purposely designed for the Judiciary.

During the visit, the Magistrate of the Kasoa District Court, Felicia Gandezi, stunned the former Chief Justice and her entourage when she brought out a chamber pot she had been using as a place of convenience to demonstrate the challenges confronting the court.

In March of that same year, Madam Akuffo during a working visit to the courts in Tema again lamented the poor state of infrastructure of the lower courts, calling for an upgrade in order to improve their services.

However, the former Chief Justice was beside herself with joy when the President promised to see to such infrastructural development.

President Akufo-Addo also pledged to maintain a strong bond with the judiciary to advance the course of good governance.

I assure Chief Justice Anin-Yeboah that I will be a reliable and trusted partner of the judiciary so that the Executive and Judiciary can cooperate in the spirit of mutual respect to entrench good governance for the advancement of our people, the President said.

Justice Anin-Yeboah was approved by Parliaments Appointments Committee after vetting in December 2019.

He becomes 26th Chief Justice of Ghana since 1876.

---Myjoyonline
President Erdogan of Turkey said on Sunday, Jan. 5, that the country is deploying forces in Libya at the request of the UN-approved Government of National Accord (GNA), to avoid a humanitarian tragedy, but the United States fears increasing instability.

There will be an operation center [in Libya], there will be a Turkish lieutenant general leading, and they will be managing the situation over there. [Turkish soldiers] are gradually moving there right now, Erdogan told private broadcaster CNN Turk during an interview, according to Reuters.

Erdogan made his announcement after the Turkish parliament approved sending troops to support the embattled internationally recognized GNA, which is administered from Tripoli.

However, the UN-backed coalition has come increasingly under siege by the efforts of warlord Khalifa Haftars Libyan National Army (LNA), who operates from the eastern town of Tobruk and which has support from Egypt, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Ankaras objective was not to fight, but to support the legitimate government and avoid a humanitarian tragedy, Erdogan assured.

However, Politico reported that President Donald Trump had warned Erdogan during a phone call that foreign interference is complicating the situation in Libya.

There will be different units over there as combatant forces; they will not be from our military. Our top-level military personnel will be coordinating the situation over there, Erdogan said.

Erdogans announcement came one day after a severe airstrike on a military academy in Tripoli on Saturday.

Dozens Killed in Airstrike on Military School in Libyan Capital

At least 30 people have been killed in an attack on a military academy in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, as fighting over control of the city between rival armed groups escalates, Reuters reported.

A further 33 people were left wounded in the attack, which took place on Jan. 4, as cadets gathered on a parade ground at the Hadaba academy in a southern district of the capital, the health ministry of the Tripoli-based government said on Sunday.

The majority of the victims were cadets from cities across the country aged between 18 and 22 who were left severely burned or torn apart during the attack, according to Al Jazeera.

The UN-supported Libyan government in Tripoli blamed the airstrike on Hafters army, which is supported by a rival administration based in the eastern city of Tobruk. Both the governments have been vying for control after the 2011 fall of al-Qaddafi left the country in chaos.

However, a spokesman for the LNA, Ahmed al-Mesmari, denied launching airstrikes on the military academy, and instead blamed the attack on Islamic extremists.

Epoch Times reporter Katabella Roberts contributed to this report
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With his helmet on her head and his medal pinned to her dress, Charlotte O'Dwyer touched her father's coffin and said goodbye.

The daughter of volunteer firefighter Andrew O'Dwyer had just moments earlier accepted the service medal which was posthumously awarded to him by the Rural Fire Service on Tuesday, following his death just before Christmas.

Charlotte's bravery was enough to bring a tear to the eye of RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, who during his eulogy just a few minutes earlier had told the little girl her daddy was a 'hero'.

Mr O'Dwyer, 36, was killed when the truck he was in rolled and hit a tree while fighting a bushfire at Buxton, south of Sydney, on December 19.

The brigade's deputy captain Geoffrey Keaton - who like Mr O'Dwyer was a father-of-one - also died in the crash.

A member of the Horsley Park RFS brigade for more than a decade, Mr O'Dwyer was given a guard of honour as his coffin left the requiem mass at Our Lady of Victories.

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Volunteer firefighter Andrew O'Dwyer (left) has been farewelled in an emotional service on Tuesday, with his young daughter Charlotte (pictured) accepting a Rural Fire Service service medal on his behalf, before donning his helmet

With his helmet on her head and service medal pinned to her white dress, Charlotte O'Dwyer walked up to her father's coffin and said goodbye

RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons (left) pins a service medal on the dress of young Charlotte, as her mother Melissa and grandfather Errol O'Dwyer watch on

Mr O'Dwyer's wife Melissa holds their daughter Charlotte in their arms as they touch the hearse carrying his coffin, while his father Errol watches on

At one point, Mr O'Dwyer's young daughter lay on the floor under his coffin eating from a bag of chips, with her innocence bringing a smile to the face of the mourners packed into the church

Standing on the church pew with her mother's hands holding her, Charlotte O'Dwyer points up to the sky

In a moving speech during the service, RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons addressed Mr O'Dwyer's daughter and wife Melissa.

'Charlotte should know her father was a selfless and special man, who only left because he was a hero,' he told the packed church.

Charlotte should know her father was a selfless and special man, who only left because he was a hero... RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons on Andrew O'Dwyer

Wearing a white dress and with her hair in pigtails, the toddler at one stage touched her father's casket before she wandered up to the pulpit during the service.

Lying on the floor under his casket she ate from a bag of chips, bringing a much needed smile to the face of mourners.

She then had the RFS service medal pinned on her by Mr Fitzsimmons, before he handed a flag to Mr O'Dwyer's wife and his father Errol.

Outside the service, Melissa O'Dwyer carried Charlotte in her arms before lowering her down so she could give her hero father's coffin a kiss goodbye.

Around her eyes welled with tears, but she remained blissfully brave.

Mr Fitzsimmons gives young Charlotte a hug after presenting her with the service medal posthumously awarded to her father

The young girl then donned her father's firefighting helmet as Mr Fitzsimmons handed certificates and an RFS flag to his wife Melissa

Mr O'Dwyer's father Errol (pictured) said in his eulogy that farewelling his son was the hardest thing he had ever had to do

Hundreds of friends, family and fellow RFS volunteers packed out the catholic church on Tuesday morning

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, NSW emergency services minister David Elliott and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian were all in attendance

Blissfully brave in the face of tragedy, the young girl's actions brought a smile to the face of her mother and RFS members as they walked Mr O'Dwyer's coffin out of the church

Just as they had a week earlier for Mr Keaton, hundreds of RFS volunteers put their hands on their hearts and provided a guard of honour as Mr O'Dwyer coffin was carried from the church.

Mr O'Dwyer's father Errol - who led the coffin out of the church alongside his granddaughter and daughter-in-law - said farewelling his son was the hardest thing he had ever had to do.

He described his son as a free spirit who lived in the present and whose greatest achievement was his daughter.

As the procession made its out of the church grounds, Maori members of the RFS performed an impromptu haka in tribute to their fallen colleague.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian both attended the service.

The father-of-one was farewelled at a requiem mass on Tuesday, with his father Errol leading the procession out of Our Lady of Victories church

Mrs O'Dwyer and her daughter Charlotte (front) were joined by members of the Horsley Park RFS in leading the procession out of the church grounds

Mr O'Dwyer's father Errol (left), his wife Melissa (far right) and daughter Charlotte (right) walk out of Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church following the service

Melissa O'Dwyer breaks down in tears outside her husband's funeral (left), before being comforted by the RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons (right)

Outside the service, Melissa O'Dwyer carried carried Charlotte in her arms before lowering her down so she could give her hero father's coffin a kiss goodbye. Around her, eyes welled with tears.

In a moving tribute to their fallen colleague, hundreds of fellow RFS volunteers formed a guard of honour as Mr O'Dwyer was carried from the church

Mr O'Dwyer, 36, was remembered as a 'hero' by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons (Pictured are RFS volunteers and members at the funeral service for Mr O'Dwyer on Tuesday)

In a lasting tribute, Horsley Park RFS firetrucks will now have 'in memory of Andrew O'Dwyer' written on the passenger door

Maori members of the Rural Fire Service perform a Haka during the funeral for their fellow volunteer Andrew O'Dwyer

The stirring performance paid tribute to the 36-year-old who had been a much-loved member of the Horsely Park brigade for more than a decade

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny (pictured) were in attendance at the service, as was the New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian

Tears flow as Mr Morrison hugs Horsley Park RFS captain Darren Nation after the emotional service for long-serving member Mr O'Dwyer

The 36-year-old was described as a 'hero' by the prime minister in the days following his death.

'They were bravely defending their communities with an unmatched spirit and a dedication that will forever set them apart amongst our most courageous Australians,' Mr Morrison said in a statement.

'Their sacrifice and service saving lives and saving properties will be forever remembered. I wish those injured all the best in their recovery.'

In a lasting tribute to him, a Horsley Park RFS firetruck will forever have 'in memory of Andrew O'Dwyer' written on the passenger side door.

Mr O'Dwyer's funeral comes after the touching farewell for his fallen colleague Mr Keaton on January 2.

In what has become a lasting image from the bushfire disaster, RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons awarded Mr Keaton's son with his father's service medal.

Mr Keaton had joined the Horsley Park RFS in 2006 and quickly rose to the role of the brigade's deputy captain.

In the days after his death, Mr Keaton's wife Jess described him as 'a super proud dad who did anything to help his family and friends'.

Geoffrey Keaton (left) was also farewelled by hundreds of fellow RFS volunteers at a moving service on January 2 (right)

Mr O'Dwyer's funeral comes less than a week after a touching farewell for his fallen colleague Geoffrey Keaton, who died next to him on December 19

RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons pins Mr Keaton's service medal on his young son, a moment that has become a lasting image of the bushfire disaster

A message on the Horsley Park RFS board on December 20, the day after the tragedy, reads: 'Rest in peace Andrew and Geoff'

'He would drive me mad giving up stuff at home to help people I would give anything for that now,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

'I just want him to be remembered as the hero he was.'

Hundreds of bunches of flowers left outside the Horsley Park fire station created a makeshift memorial in the days that followed the tragic deaths of Mr O'Dwyer and Mr Keaton.

Discussions are planned for a permanent memorial to be erected for the two fallen fathers, and firefighters.
Similar like Hyderabad case, 17-year-old girls burnt body found in Bengal, 3 arrested

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

Balurghat, Jan 07: Two months after the bone-chilling memories of Hyderabad veterinary doctor's gang-rape-murder case, another similar case allegedly took place in West Bengal. A Charred body of a 17- year-old girl was found under a culvert in West Bengal's South Dinajpur district, police said on Tuesday. The victim's family alleged that she was gang-raped and then set ablaze.

According to the PTI, the burnt body of the girl with injury marks was found under a culvert in Kumarganj area on Monday, district Superintendent of Police Debarshi Dutta said. Three persons suspected to be involved in the incident have been arrested, he said.

Charge sheet filed in connection with death of 23-yr-old Unnao rape victim who was set ablaze

However, the rape has not been confirmed yet, Dutta said that it will be known whether she was raped or not after getting the post-mortem report.

The victim's brother said she went missing on the way to a nearby shop on Sunday afternoon. Local BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar warned of a major agitation if the culprits were not brought to book.

NEWS AT 3 PM, JANUARY 7th, 2020

Terming the incident unfortunate, Kumarganj TMC MLA Toraf Hossain Mandal demanded an impartial probe.

Earlier, another woman's charred body was found in a mango orchard in Malda district in December last year, few days after the Hyderabad gang-rape and murder incident.

On November 27, last year a 26-year-old veterinarian in Hyderabad was gang raped and brutally killed. Her charred body was discovered on the next day under a under-construction flyover. The gruesome incident has yet again raised question at the safety of women in India. A nationwide protest has been started across the nation demanding stringent punishment for the culprits and delivering justice to the women who are victims of heinous crime like this.

On December 6, all the four accused in the gruesome rape and murder case of the veterinary doctor were killed in a pre-dawn encounter by Telangana police while they tried to escape snatching the weapon of the police during they were taken to the spot to reconstruct the crime scene.

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Story first published: Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 13:48 [IST]
NataliaCatalina/iStock(LONDON) -- Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are back in the public spotlight.



The couple made their first public appearance Tuesday since taking an extended break from royal duties over the Christmas and New Year holidays.



Harry and Meghan, who stayed in Canada during their break, made a special visit to Canada House in London to show their appreciation.



"Their Royal Highnesses wanted to meet with HE Ms. Janice Charette, High Commissioner in Canada to the U.K., as well as staff to thank them for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada," Buckingham Palace said in a statement, adding that Harry and Meghan also plan to visit a special art exhibition at Canada House and meet with members of the High Commission team.



The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent their time in Canada with their 7-month-old Archie. Meghan's mom Doria Ragland, who lives in Los Angeles, joined the family for Christmas.



This year marked the first time since Harry and Meghan got engaged in 2017 they did not spend the holidays with Harry's family at Sandringham, Queen Elizabeth's estate in Norfolk, England.



Harry and Meghan only released one photo of their time in Canada, a picture of Prince Harry and Archie posing outdoors that was included in the year-end review they posted on Instagram.



Archie was also featured on the Christmas card that Harry and Meghan released just before the holiday. The card was shared on Twitter by The Queen's Commonwealth Trust, of which Harry is president and Meghan is vice president.

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

Harry and Meghan's visit to Canada House marks the unofficial kickoff to their official engagements in 2020. It is expected to be another busy year for the royals as they continue their work on issues ranging from conservation and the environment to women's rights.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
LIMERICK broadcasters Michael McNamara and Will Leahy have paid tribute to the legendary DJ Larry Gogan who died this Tuesday at the age of 81.

Mr McNamara, known in broadcasting circles as Micky Mac, first met Larry Gogan when he joined RTE 2FM in May 1979 while Will Leahy worked with him for more than two decades  initially at RTE 2FM and more recently at digital station RTE Gold.

He was a wonderful man and he had a very simple approach to broadcasting. On the very first day that I met him, he said come on well have a coffee and he said to me Im going to give you a couple of tips and he said to me keep it simple  talk to one listener att a time, dont be talking to them all and get your place names right. He said the greatest insult to people is to name their town or village or incorrectly, said Mr McNamara who told The Leader that Larry Gogan was a genuine superstar in Ireland during the 1980s and 1990s.

When we arrived into any town or city in the Roadcaster the place would come to a standstill as everyone knew who he was because he was on national radio and thats all there was at that time  I dont think we will see that kind of superstar ever again, he added.

Will Leahy, who first met Larry Gogan while on a family holiday in the Algarve when he was 15 years old, says he was a consummate professional who was universally liked by everyone who know him.

In the media industry, there are a lot of serpents and a lot of snakes and there are very few people who you could point to and say there isnt a bad thing to be said about them but Larry Gogan is the one person who nobody could say a bad thing about, said Will who presents the Breakfast Show on RTE Gold.

He was a consummate professional who was always there hours before his show was due to be broadcast. Larry was very old school  he would write out everything before he said it and he would rehearse before he said it, he added.

Live 95 presenter, JP Dillon has also paid tribute to Larry Gogan - describing him as an "amazing man"
Just few weeks after the Comoros Islands opened a consulate in the Moroccan Saharan city of Laayoune, Gambia opened this Tuesday Jan.7 its General Consulate in Dakhla.

The Moroccand and Gambian Foreign Ministers Nasser Bourita and Mamadou Tangara chaired the opening ceremony of the consulate in the presence of several officials from both Rabat and Banjul, the capital of Gambia.

The Gambian government had announced its plans to open the consulate in Dakhla during Tangaras latest visit in Rabat on December 12.

The Gambian Foreign Minister had then reiterated his countrys support for Moroccos territorial integrity.

Last summer, Cote dIvoire and Senegal had both opened honorary consulates in Laayoune.

The opening of these diplomatic missions in the Sahara constitutes a highly significant diplomatic victory for Morocco and confirms, if need be, African countries steady support to the Moroccanness of the Sahara. It also strengthens the status of the Moroccan Sahara as a gateway to the African continent.

Morocco, second largest investor in Africa, has put Africa at the heart of its foreign policy. Since his enthronement in July 1999, King Mohammed VI has made over 50 visits to African countries, crowned with the signing of more than 1,000 cooperation agreements in various sectors including agriculture, fisheries, training, health, investment, water, energy, infrastructure, roads, housing
Washington, Jan 7 : John Bolton, the former US National Security Adviser (NSA), has said that he was ready and willing to testify at the pending Senate impeachment trial against President Donald Trump if he received a subpoena from the Republican-majority Upper House.

"I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify," Efe news quoted Bolton as saying in a statement on Monday.

The interest regarding what Bolton may know about the Ukraine aid suspension case that has led to Trump's impeachment skyrocketed during the House impeachment investigation launched by Democrats becuse he was in the forefront of foreign policymaking in the White House when the President pressured Kiev to launch an investigation of his main political rival, former Vice President and Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden.

According to Fiona Hill, a former subordinate of Bolton when he headed the National Security Council, the former NSA said on one occasion that he had nothing to do with the "drug deal" that other Trump advisers were "cooking up" regarding Ukraine.

Bolton had left it to a court to decide whether or not he would be required to testify in the House impeachment investigation, asking a judge to rule on whether he had to obey a congressional subpoena to testify or adhere to standing administration policy that all White House officials were prohibited from revealing anything they might have heard on the Ukraine - or any other - matter.

In his statement on Monday, Bolton said that after his attorney informed a House committee that he would leave the decision of whether he would testify up to the court, the committee decided not to issue a subpoena to try and compel him to appear before lawmakers.

Ultimately, Democrats ended their investigation without Bolton's testimony and the House of Representatives in December approved two articles of impeachment against Trump - abusing his office and obstruction of Congress.

"It now falls to the Senate to fulfil its Constitutional obligation to try impeachments, and it does not appear possible that a final judicial resolution of the still-unanswered Constitutional questions can be obtained before the Senate acts," Bolton said.

"Accordingly, since my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study. I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify." Democrats have proposed a roadmap for a possible Senate trial of Trump, asking that four new witnesses, including Bolton and Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, be called to testify on the Ukraine matter.

Bolton's acrimonious exit from the West Wing in September 2019 was accompanied by a tweet from Trump that he had fired him, but Bolton wrote to numerous reporters to say that he was not dumped but rather had resigned.

A date for the start of the Senate trial still has not been set given that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is yet to formally forward the articles of impeachment to the Senate asserting that Democrats must know in advance how any trial will be conducted and demanding that new witnesses from within the White House be called to give testimony on the President's actions.
Passengers aboard a regularly-scheduled Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to New Zealands largest city, Auckland, were left unsettled after a series of aborted take-offs that left many of them wondering over the condition of the planes instruments.

MH145 left KLIA airport on time January 1, departing their gate for the 8:45pm takeoff time. One passenger told New Zealand outlet stuff.co.nz that the plane hurtled down the runway at full throttle, when it suddenly came to a halt just as its wheels were lifting off the ground. Passengers experienced the force of the sudden stop, being thrown forward and around as the plane skidded along the tarmac.

I thought we were goners, said one terrified man.

Following the aborted take-off, the pilot of the plane informed passengers that there was an instrument issue, and that they would be returning to the gate at once to deal with the matter.

However, passengers were forced to sit on the plane for another three hours before being allowed to disembark. At the time, travelers described seeing several engineers make their way onto the plane.

One nervous flier apparently had a panic attack when leaving the plane, and had to be escorted off by paramedics.

Passengers were told that the flight had be rescheduled to the following day at 10am, and when they arrived, they were told that while the plane was the same, the issue was resolved and they would arrive in Auckland safely.

Well, you can pretty much guess where this is going, and if you havent, then maybe you havent watched as many episodes of Mayday: Air Crash Investigation as some of us here at Coconuts KL.

As the plane barreled down the runway again, to the shock of every single human on board, just as the plane appeared to be taking off, it came to a sudden stop again, lurching passengers forward.

When officials suggested that they would attempt to repair the problem yet again, many of the travelers revolted and refused to step foot on the same vessel, forcing Malaysia Airlines officials to procure another plane.

Eventually, passengers aboard MH145 left KLIA on January 3, without further incident. Malaysia Airlines has since apologized for the incident, explaining that the plane stopped at a low speed before aborting takeoff.

This article, New Years Day Malaysia Airlines flight goes through two aborted take-offs, terrifying passengers, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
A study from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have revealed that fossils found in west Alabama belonged to a turtle who swam the seas 75 million years ago.

The discovery of the new genus and species of sea turtle may fill a gap in the animals evolution, according to UAB.

Drew Gentry, a UAB Ph.D. candidate who led the study, said the origin of the sea turtle is is one of the great unsolved mysteries in evolutionary biology. He said, There is a great deal of evidence indicating that turtles may have evolved to live in the ocean several times over the past 150 million years. The trick is determining which of those species are actually the direct ancestors of the species we see today.

The fossils were discovered in west Alabama, in both Sumter County and Wilcox County, and east Mississippi, in Oktibbeha County. Two of the three specimens were found by amateur fossil collectors more than 20 years ago and donated to various museums; but, the fossils were never examined until this study. The third specimen was found by Caitlin Kiernan, who is also one of the co-authors on the paper.

Scientists named the animal Asmodochelys parhami. The name Asmodeus comes from an Islamic lore about a deity that was entombed in stone at the bottom of the sea, according to UAB; the name parhami is in honor of the former curator of Paleontology at the Alabama Museum of Natural History James F. Parham, who UAB said made many contributions to Alabama paleontology.

The study shows Asmodochelys parhami could be one of the most recent common ancestors of modern-day sea turtles. To determine the relation, UAB said researchers performed a phylogenetic analysis to compare the features of different turtle species to see how closely, or distantly, related the species could be. The findings revealed a new genealogy of sea turtles.

The fossils were found at three sites shown on this map (Contributed | UAB).

The genealogy showed Asmodochelys parhami is one of the youngest species to fall outside the group with most every species of modern sea turtles, the study showed.

Although its tempting to say problem solved when we recover such a well resolved tree, this is only one hypothesis in a long line of suggested sea turtle genealogies, Gentry said. Right now, there are several distinct trees proposed by different groups of scientists that are the front-runners in the race to solve sea turtle evolution, each with its own unique arrangement of fossil and modern species. Determining which tree most accurately represents the evolutionary history of these animals can be challenging, to say the least.

New methods for testing how fossil species are related to modern species are constantly being developed. Also, discoveries of new fossils have the potential to radically change our understanding of how certain features and species evolved in the history of life on our planet, he said. Our study is just another piece of evidence in an ongoing mystery that shows no sign of being solved any time soon.

The study was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
Shocking photos show prisoners rammed in an overcrowded cell at a troubled jail where three inmates died in gang clashes and from which two escaped last week.

Parchman Farm in Mississippi was the scene of chaos last week during deadly clashes allegedly between the Vice Lords and Black Gangster Disciples gangs.

Two inmates, David May, 42, and Dillon Williams, 27, were missing from the prison on Saturday. Both have since been recaptured.

It comes as pictures sent by inmates from contraband phones to relatives revealed unsanitary and cramped conditions purportedly taken in a wing of the prison - decommissioned in 2011 - which they were moved to after the violence.

A photo taken by an inmate at Parchman and provided to AP shows inmates lying on the floor next to a full toilet. After violence at the prison last Thursday guards and state troopers marched some prisoners into Unit 32, a cell block closed in 2011 as part of a settlement; the inmate says the unit has no running water or mattresses, and is plagued by mold

The Mississippi Corrections Department said via Twitter Saturday afternoon that there were no 'major disturbances' occurring at Parchman.

'There was a minor fire at Unit 30 earlier this week. That fire, set by an inmate, was immediately extinguished. Like other facilities in the prison system, the prison has limited movement,' the department tweeted.

After violence Thursday, guards and state troopers marched some prisoners at Parchman into Unit 32, a cell block closed in 2011 as part of a lawsuit settlement.

In July 2007, the American Civil Liberties Union told a federal judge that Unit 32s living conditions were 'as bad as anywhere in the country.'

Jessica Schraub shared photos and video with The Associated Press that she says her fiance took after he was moved into Unit 32.

The photos were provided on condition of anonymity for the inmate because he took the images with a contraband cellphone.

The images show water running down facility hallways and cells with no mattresses.

Jessica Schraub shared photos and video with The Associated Press that she says her fiance took after he was moved into Unit 32. The images show water running down facility hallways and cells with no mattresses.

David May, 42, (left) and Dillon Williams, 27, (right) were missing from the prison on Saturday. Both have since been recaptured.

Inmates in the video say the unit has no running water as they try to turn on a faucet and a shower, and they point to dirty cell doors and walls, describing mildew with peeling paint.

Prison spokeswoman Grace Simmons Fisher said Monday she's 'still awaiting verification' of how many prisoners have been injured in the violence, and officials haven't answered many other questions.

Southern Poverty Law Center spokeswoman Jen Fuson said attorneys who requested to visit their clients on Tuesday at Parchman were told visits might be allowed Friday.

The prison is a series of cell blocks scattered across thousands of acres of farmland in Mississippi's Delta region.

Inmates who escape their cells sometimes don't make it off the property.

Mississippi's outgoing prisons chief said Friday that four of the five killings of inmates in the state since last Sunday stem from gang violence, as guards struggle to maintain control of restive inmates.

Footage taken inside the decommissioned wing of the prison showed the walls were peeling and cell doors in a state of disrepair

Several vehicles were seen driving through the entrance to the prison late on Friday

Corrections Commissioner Pelicia Hall said the department won't confirm the names of the gangs 'for security purposes,' but relatives of inmates who spoke to The Associated Press and other news outlets said there's an ongoing confrontation between the Vice Lords and Black Gangster Disciples.

Phil Bryant, Mississippis outgoing governor, on Monday blamed gangs operating inside the prison system, saying prisons are difficult to manage 'under the best of circumstances.' He spoke specifically about the infamous Parchman.

'Someone asked earlier, whos responsible for whats happening at Parchman? The inmates,' Bryant told reporters. 'The inmates are the ones that take each others lives. The inmates are the ones that fashion weapons out of metal.'

All state prisons statewide remained locked down Saturday, Bryant said, with inmates confined to cells, and no visitors allowed.

The first of five inmates identified as dying was Terrandance Dobbins, 40, who died last Sunday at the South Mississippi Correctional Institute in Leakesville.

Terrandance Dobbins (left), 40, died Sunday at the South Mississippi Correctional Institute in Leakesville. Walter Gates (left), 25, was stabbed and several other inmates were injured on Tuesday at Parchman during a fight that spread to multiple units of the sprawling prison.

The image on the left is an October 26, 2016, inmate photograph of Gregory Emary. Emary was killed and two other inmates were injured in a fight on Thursday at Chickasaw County Regional Correctional Facility, a county-run facility that holds state inmates in Houston, Mississippi

Two days later, Walter Gates, 25, was stabbed and several other inmates were injured at Parchman during a fight that spread to multiple units of the sprawling prison.

Then on Thursday, Gregory Emary, 26, was killed at the Chickasaw County Regional Correctional Facility, a county-run jail that holds state inmates.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay the costs of Emary's funeral.

Also Thursday, 32-year-old Roosevelt Holliman was fatally stabbed at Parchman in a fracas that led to multiple injuries.

Before dawn Friday, Denorris Howell, 36, was found dead in his cell at Parchman.

Corrections officials have repeatedly not answered questions about how many people overall have been injured, or whether there have been other violent incidents in prisons.

Mississippi's prison system has struggled to fill guard vacancies, with Hall saying it's difficult to attract people with salaries that start below $25,000 a year.

Some guards end up bringing illegal drugs and cellphones into prisons.

Criminal charges were filed in 2014 against 26 state correctional officers.

Roosevelt Holliman (above), 32, was fatally stabbed at Parchman during a brawl involving several inmates on Thursday

Denorris Howell (above), 36, was found dead in his cell at Parchman before dawn on Friday

Some prisons, including South Mississippi, have areas where many prisoners are housed in bunks in one large room, instead of individual cells.

This can lead to worsened security problems.

South Mississippi, in Greene County, was locked down for almost all of 2019, in part because of guard shortages.

The violence came even as US District Judge William Barbour ruled last Tuesday that while conditions may have previously been poor at East Mississippi Correctional Facility near Meridian, there's no longer any evidence that the privately run prison is violating inmates' rights.
A former racing club chairman who was critically injured when a bushfire tore through his rural property woke up from his coma on Tuesday and asked for a beer.

John Glatz suffered burns to 60 per cent of his body when he was overcome by the Cudlee Creek fire in Adelaide on December 21 while trying to defend his home.

The 73-year-old woke for the first time on Tuesday and is in a stable condition at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, according to ABC.

Fellow horse trainer John Hickmott told the publication Mr Glatz was in good spirits and had made great progress.

Former racing club chairman John Glatz suffered burns to 60 per cent of his body when he was overcome by the Cudlee Creek fire

A destroyed home outside Woodside in Adelaide, Sunday, December 22 after the Cudlee Creek blaze tore through

'The first thing they said was ''would you like a drink of water?'' and he said ''I'd rather a beer''. When he said that, you know he's in good spirits.'

Mr Glatz was found at his property on the day the fires swept through.

He was transported to hospital immediately, where he has been fighting for his life in an induced coma ever since.

'When you get the amount of burns that he was supposed to have, it's pretty hard for a man his age to fight that off,' Mr Hickmott said.

Residents look on as flames burn through bush on January 04, in Lake Tabourie, NSW

Two men stand in horror as they watch plumes of smoke and sky-high flames tower over Batlow

'Someone did say that he is a tough old bugger, if anyone can get out of this, he will and he has which is amazing.'

The blaze cost two people their lives, left another 54 people injured and razed 15 homes to the ground.

Ron Selth, a 69-year-old engineer, was named as the first fatality in South Australia.

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.

Just weeks later, a devastating blaze tore through Kangaroo Island, killing a father and son.

Well-known outback pilot Dick Lang and his son, Adelaide surgeon Clayton Lang, died in the Kangaroo Island bushfire after their car was trapped by flames.

Firefighters (pictured at Batlow on Saturday January 4) have spent weeks defending lives and property from the blazes
VANCOUVER, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (ASM: TSX/NYSE American, GV6: FSE), ("Avino" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Nathan Harte as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Peter Latta as VP Technical Services.

Nathan joined Avino in September 2016 as a Senior Accountant and was first promoted to the position of Assistant Corporate Controller, and subsequently promoted to Corporate Controller in June 2018. Prior to joining the Avino team, Nathan worked with Deloitte LLP. with a focus on assurance and business advisory services.

Nathan assumed the role of Interim CFO in November 2018, and throughout the year he took on increasing levels of responsibility and leadership within the finance and executive teams and was a key team member with respect to significant financial transactions that occurred in 2019. Nathan will continue to lead the Company's finance strategy and oversee the Company's financial operations.

Along with this appointment, Peter Latta's new title will be VP Technical Services. Peter joined Avino in February 2018 as Senior Technical Advisor and since then has managed all Avino's trading relationships and provided high level technical support to the company's operating mines in Durango. Prior to joining Avino in 2018, Peter has held senior positions with Gekko Systems and Takraf Canada in addition to assisting in the startup, operation and shutdown of Alexco's Keno Hill operation.

"We are very pleased that Nathan will assume the role of CFO" said David Wolfin, Avino's President and CEO. "Nathan has been with Avino since 2016 and has been an integral member of the team and has continued to prove his unquestionable work ethic. Peter Latta's appointment to VP Technical Services is a reflection of his ability to negotiate new contracts and savings for the Company during a time where cost reduction initiatives were crucial, as well as supporting the team in Mexico in innovation and growth. Both these gentlemen have shown a dedication and a desire to add value to our Company as we continue to execute on our strategy, and I look forward to continuing to work with them, and the expertise of our combined team in Mexico and Vancouver."

About Avino

Avino is a silver and gold producer with a diversified pipeline of gold, silver and base metals properties in Mexico and Canada employing close to 350 people. Avino produces from its wholly owned Avino Mine near Durango, Mexico. The Company's gold and silver production remains unhedged. The Company's mission and strategy is to create shareholder value through its focus on profitable organic growth at the historic Avino Property near Durango, Mexico, and the strategic acquisition of mineral exploration and mining properties. We are committed to managing all business activities in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner, while contributing to the well-being of the communities in which we operate.

On Behalf of the Board

"David Wolfin"

________________________________

David Wolfin

President & CEO

Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.

Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.avino.com/


Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 16:32:09|Editor: xuxin

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ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A missile attack launched by the Houthi rebels struck a pro-government military base in Yemen's southern province of Dhalea early on Tuesday, a security official told Xinhua.

The local security source said on condition of anonymity that "around 12 soldiers were killed and nearly 20 others injured when Houthi-fired missile hit the 4th Military Brigade in the northern parts of Dhalea."

He said that "a gathering of the pro-government soldiers inside the base was targeted causing a huge explosion in the area."

All the injured soldiers were transferred immediately via medical ambulances to receive treatment in Dhalea's hospitals, he added.

Other sources said that the Houthi attack was launched using "an explosives-laden drone that exploded over the pro-government military base."

There was no immediate comment or claim of responsibility from the Houthi rebels regarding the attack on the pro-government forces in Dhalea.

Last month, a ballistic missile fired by the Houthi rebels struck a military graduation parade of the newly-recruited forces in the southern Yemeni province of Dhalea, killing around 10 soldiers and injuring several others.

In April 2019, the Iran-allied Houthi fighters launched a series of intense armed attacks on the positions of the Yemeni government forces and succeeded in seizing the district of Al Husha in western Dhalea.

The areas in the north and west of Dhalea, 138 km north of Aden, have been witnessing non-stop fighting between government forces and Houthi fighters for about four years.

Yemen has been plagued by a civil war since late 2014 when Houthi militias forced the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi into exile.
When you grow up in a family where there is alcoholism you naturally carry a deficit of self-esteem

I respect peoples right to profess their religion. But when that religion causes harm to peoples lives I feel obliged to speak about it

Sorcha PollakIrish TimesJanuary 7, 2020Three decades have passed since Kamila Dydyna first attended a meeting of the local Jehovahs Witness group in her hometown of Bielawa in southwestern Poland with her mother. Then seven years old, she felt special and unique in comparison to her school friends.I felt like I was part of something extraordinary. I remember feeling superiority over other people because I was closer to a group chosen by God as the true religion. It was instantly addictive, like a drug.Growing up with an alcoholic father, Dydyna believes her mother craved an environment where she could feel loved and appreciated. Her decision to join the Jehovahs Witnesses with her youngest daughter, and Dydynas father and older sisters rejection of the religion, created a lasting divide within the family unit.My mum was very independent and ran her own business as a hairdresser. She was the sole breadwinner for as long as I can remember. But she would have been very vulnerable, especially psychologically.When you grow up in a family where there is alcoholism you naturally carry a deficit of self-esteem. Like me, she needed attention and acceptance which we probably werent getting at home.Jehovahs Witnesses are members of a Christian-based religious movement which originated in the United States towards the end of the 19th century. They are particularly well known for their door-to-door evangelical work and their refusal to accept blood transfusions. Members do not celebrate Christmas, Easter or peoples birthdays and believe humanity has entered its final days before the Armageddon.According to the 2016 census there are 6,417 Jehovahs Witnesses in Ireland, up a few hundred on the 6,149 recorded in 2011. Members claim there are more than eight million members worldwide.Now a film-maker living in Dublin for more than 12 years, Dydyna has decided to revisit the time she spent within the Jehovahs Witness religion through the medium of film. Her latest project, entitled Debutante and which is currently in pre-production, explores the fictional story of a devout teenage girl who must testify in front of her congregations judicial committee after committing the sin of having premarital sex with her boyfriend.In a nutshell the film is about loss of faith and identity, explains Dydyna. While never personally appearing before one of these pseudo-courts, Dydyna also began questioning her religious beliefs in her late teens once she reached university.Having spent what she describes as one of the best times in my life in secondary school, the bright student chose to study English literature at university despite discouragement from her congregation. Jehovahs Witnesses dont encourage further education. Ideally you should get a simple vocation and forget about university because theyll mess with your head and draw you away from God.With the support of her mother, Dydyna moved to the city of Opole for her studies. However, she quickly became overwhelmed by life away from the comforts of home. She tried to deal with her growing depression by becoming more engaged and active with the Jehovahs Witness.It was like I had bipolar disease. I was going to my lectures while filling every other waking hour preaching or reading the bible. It lasted a year and then I came to a screeching halt and burned out. The new congregation had initially embraced me but when I stopped all their activities they suddenly saw me as bad company.As Jehovahs Witnesses claim to be the happiest people on earth, if youre not happy theres something wrong with you. So I felt guilt about becoming depressed. Its not good enough to be a Jehovahs Witness, youre supposed to be an exemplary one or else you dont deserve the support of other members. So I was pre-emptively shunned. Eventually I couldnt cope and I saw a psychologist.During one of her first therapy sessions Dydyna realised she had never allowed herself to show anger. It was a breakthrough moment in my life because anger is the emotion that took me out of the religion in the end. It exploded into this wave of rage at being shunned. I started noticing the emotional manipulation and this incessant feeling of guilt about everything. I even felt guilty when I used nail polish or make-up.After a brief stint teaching English after university, Dydyna moved to Dublin in May 2007. She had dreamed of visiting the country ever since watching Braveheart as a teenager and learning it was filmed in Ireland. I wasnt your average Pole that comes to Ireland to make money and then goes back to buy a house. I was blown away by the beauty of the country. Im fully aware the film is about Scotland but when I saw the Wicklow mountains I was like yeah, thats where I want to live.Shortly after arriving in Ireland, Dydyna accompanied a friend to a Jehovahs Witness meeting in Dublin. When asked by an elder whether she was a member, for the first time in her life, she said no. When I realised I no longer wanted to be a witness it was terrifying. I was a witness as a kid so I took home those beliefs early, they were fused with my DNA.I was left with a blank space and felt incredibly lost. I was never disfellowshipped, I faded and slipped from their grasp.Dydyna kept busy by focusing on her work and after five months working shifts at Starbucks she found a job in administration. From there she moved into tech where she worked until 2014 when she started focusing on film-making. She has made two films to date and is currently fundraising for Debutante with plans to start filming in late January.There are many wonderful people in Jehovahs Witness but I want to speak about the incredible harming policies inside the religion. Its about the shunning and overbearing, the violating level of religious control in the most intimate aspects of life. I respect peoples right to profess their religion. But when that religion causes harm to peoples lives I feel obliged to speak about it.Dydyna is happy with her life in Ireland and plans to stay here in the long term. However, she still struggles with the time she lost within the religion. Its that feeling that Im coming to everything later in life, a good 10 years late. Im catching up now on my personal development.
The Golden Globes are unique for a number of reasons. Most obvious, they're the awards season starting gun, kicking off festivities which will eventually culminate in the Oscars on February 9. There's extra fun to be had when TV and film stars gather in the same room together, and the alcohol tends to flow more freely. (Check out this Liz Taylor speech from the 2001 ceremony for proof.)

It's also a super important night for stylists in that they're going to be introducing new eras for their high-profile statue-chasing clients. Think: Timmy at last year's Globes wearing the custom Louis Vuitton sequined harness. They want wow factor, but it's also a long game, so they can't pull out all the stops or they risk sputtering out too quickly. So Sunday night was bound to be an indicator for who we'll want to keep our eyes on this season in terms of the fashion story  not just the fashion moment. Fashion is a language and Sunday night's ceremony was an opportunity for so many celebs to reintroduce themselves to us.

So how did they do? Let's start with the ceremony itself, which seemed like counter-programming to the buoyancy of the carpet.

Often colloquially referred to as the Oscars' more boozed-up younger brother, the ceremony itself took a hard left during Sunday evening's 77th edition. Despite Ricky Gervais' effort to curtail political speeches ("If you win, come up, accept your little award, thank your agent and your God and fuck off," he told the crowed during his opener), stars used the stage to broach topics from climate change (Russell Crowe) to US-Iran tensions (Patricia Arquette), even abortion (Michelle Williams). Most prominent were mentions of the devastating Australia wildfires, which came from Cate Blanchett, Pierce Brosnan and Ellen DeGeneres. Crowe was absent from the ceremony entirely because he was with his family at home, battling the blazes.

The red carpet, in contrast, was much cheerier. Two years after the "blackout" of 2018, a coordinated protest to raise awareness for Time's Up, the night was sartorially devoid of outright political statements. Two outliers were The Crown's Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies, who both wore button rings that read "50:50 Equal Representation for Actresses."

The Color Wheel

Red Nicole Kidman in Versace

Instead there was the color wheel. Red: Nicole Kidman in Versace, Scarlett Johansson in Vera Wang, Helen Mirren in Dior Haute Couture. Orange: Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton. Yellow: Sienna Miller in Gucci, Zoey Deutch in Fendi, Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Gucci, Cate Blanchett in Mary Katrantzou. Green: Charlize Theron in Christian Dior, Jodie Comer in Mary Katrantzou. Blue: Renee Zellweger in Armani, Beanie Feldstein in Oscar de la Renta, Glenn Close in Armani, Bel Powley in Miu Miu. Purple: Dakota Fanning in Dior Haute Couture, Rachel Brosnahan in Michael Kors, Priyanka Chopra in Cristina Ottaviano.

Despite the bright hues, there was an undeniable blandness to what was being served up on the carpet. Gucci, Louis, Fendi, Prada. Where was the Christopher John Rogers? The Peter Do? The Molly Goddard? The Pyer Moss? The Bode? Where was the unexpected and new? There were flickers: Joey King in Iris van Herpen, Kerry Washington in Altuzarra, Cynthia Erivo in Thom Browne, even GOOP in midriff-baring Fendi. But for the most part, the carpet seemed inundated with, as Aretha Franklin would call them, "great gowns; beautiful gowns."

That's not to say those beautiful gowns aren't special. Golden Globe-winner Renee Zellweger was tailored perfection in her Armani, as were Ana de Armas Ralph & Russo and Helen Mirren in Dior. But "beautiful" fixates itself in the memory far less snugly than something with a bit more je ne sais quoi. The trends were expected: big puff statement sleeves on stars including Beyonce, Jodie Comer to Dakota Fanning, mesh paneling seen on ScarJo and Zoey Deutch and tulle for days on Kirsten Dunst, Sofia Carson and Thomasin McKenzie. We needed a Billy Porter in his gasp-inducing Christian Siriano tuxedo gown from last year's ceremony, and yet...

But the most glaring issue I have with this year's carpet is the sustainability  or lack thereof. The Hollywood Foreign Press went to great-ish lengths to make addressing climate a top priority by taking meat off the menu. ("We felt challenged to do better," HFPA President Lorenzo Soria told CNN.) And as mentioned, climate change was a big topic during the ceremony itself. But where was that energy on the red carpet, which saw many stars stepping out in custom looks, created especially for this ceremony, most of which will never be seen, let alone worn, again?

"I think it is a good idea that 800 people are trying to save the planet and arriving all in separate limos to have some veg," Gervais joked. The same snarky criticism could be made of the celebrities' fashion choices, which failed to position themselves within the larger conversation of wastefulness. We need more stars like Padma Lakshmi, who had previously worn her 2018 Emmys dress on another red carpet. Tiffany Haddish received praise all the way up to the New York Times for re-wearing Alexander McQueen on various occasions. Where was this energy last night?

Lastly, we need to acknowledge the Dolce & Gabbana of it all. After the laundry list of scandals felt like it had crescendoed with not a single star wearing the brand at the 2019 Oscars, the brand made an earnest comeback by being worn by Sofia Vergara and her husband Joe Manganiello as well as Sacha Baron Cohen. To quote Thorgy Thor: "Ugh. Jesus. Gross." It seems, in the case of GQ writer Rachel Tashjian's 2018 question of "Can we ever cancel Dolce & Gabbana?" the answer, for now, remains no.

Was the 77th Golden Globes a red carpet a disaster? Hardly. But did it create the necessary momentum to jolt us into excitement for the awards season to come? I'm not convinced.

Welcome to "Wear Me Out," a column by pop culture fiend Evan Ross Katz that takes a look at the week in celebrity dressing. From award shows and movie premieres to grocery store runs, he'll keep you up to date on what your favorite celebs have recently worn to the biggest and most inconsequential events.
Plans by Tayto Park to have its planned 15.5m Coaster 2021 project operational for next year have suffered a major setback.

This follows two of the objectors, who successfully blocked businessman Raymond Coyles previous version of Coaster 2021 last year, lodging an objection against the new proposal with Meath County Council.

Donal Greene and Clare Smith have lodged their objection against the plan in spite of Mr Coyle claiming that the screams by passengers on the planned new rollercoaster wont impact on nearby residents.

The new rollercoaster comes with a series of specific measures aimed at eliminating any noise impacts for nearby residents.

Mr Coyle said last month: There will be screams, but they will be drowned out.

Last July, An Bord Pleanala turned down planning permission for Mr Coyles previous rollercoaster plan due mainly to noise impacts from rollercoaster passengers screams on residents.

The new Coaster 2021 project is made up of a 31 metre high and 748 metre long Suspended Thrill Coaster (STC) and a 24.2 metre high, 238 metre long Family Boomerang (FB) ride.

Planning documentation lodged with the plan states if the rollercoaster doesnt proceed the longer-term viability of the Park would be brought into question.

The new plan contains 14 separate noise reduction measures drawn up by Dutch rollercoaster maker, Vekoma, which has made rollercoasters across the world such as Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain for Disney.

Now, Mr Greene and Ms Smith have told the Council that the planned rollercoaster will have a serious negative long-term impact on our peaceful enjoyment of our home and the protection of the natural environment.

Tayto Park opened for business in 2010 and the two said: We are local residents, living approximately 700 metres from the entrance to Tayto Park. We have lived in the area since 2013 and our family has been based in this area since the 1970s.

They contend that aside from proposals to make some noise abatement modifications to the development, the proposed new development is the same as the previous application.

They said: In this regard, all of our previously stated concerns about a development of this scale and intensive nature still stand. Any modifications proposed in this application do not alter any of its substantive deficiencies."

The two said that the grounds and reasoning behind the An Bord Pleanala decision still stand as no amendments have been made to counter the various issues they found to exist.

The two state that these issues include that the proposals close proximity to residential dwellings would injure the amenities of property in the vicinity and would pose an unacceptable risk to environmental pollution.

Mr Greene and Ms Smith said: We urge the Council to consider our objections to this development of inappropriate scale for this rural area given its scale, size, intensive nature and the environmental risks associated with it.

The objection now sets up the prospect of the application going before An Bord Pleanala if Meath County Council do grant the project planning permission.

Last year, Mr Greene and Ms Smith appealed the decision to grant along with two other residents and the appeals process took four months before the application was refused.

Even if the project secures planning permission this Summer, any decision to appeal ends the prospect of 'Coaster 2021' becoming operational in 2021 as the roller coaster will take one year to construct and six months to erect.

Mr Coyle would only say today that he is disappointed over the objection lodged.

Mr Coyle had met with the objectors to the original plan, including Mr Greene, and showed the new plan that includes the noise reduction measures.

A decision is due on the application later this month by Meath County Council.

Pre-tax profits at Tayto Park declined by 7% to 3.37m in 2018 in spite of a 6% increase in revenues to 18.7m.
The year 2019 will be remembered for a lot of things in the world of markets: a robust performance for risky assets; a substantial rally in bonds; declining trade fears and an accommodative central bank. But perhaps the story receiving the most attention is that of the failed unicorns  the disastrous post-IPO results for a plethora of high-profile, brand-name companies that were thought to be the 2010s version of the dotcoms.

From Uber to Lyft to Slack to Peloton, the days of hot IPOs representing free money for their lucky buyers  let alone the pop-culture narrative  are seemingly dead and gone. Only a couple of IPOs saw any price appreciation at all in 2019 after their first public trade, and the highest-profile debuts were also the worst performing. And WeWork  the office-landlord brand popular for its shared-office-space model and broad appeal to short-term Millennial tenants  is the best example yet of capital markets behaving exactly how they ought to behave.

In short, the WeWork story showed the Hayekian notion of price discovery on full display. Capital markets did what they are supposed to do in a free-enterprise system: price risk and reward, and brilliantly. WeWork began raising funds in private markets a decade ago, initially with an implied market valuation below $100 million. Future rounds saw escalations in market value, and by the time the company had its Series G round in early 2019, private institutional investors at the Japanese firm SoftBank valued it at $47 billion. WeWork was bleeding cash at record levels, so its need to access public markets was not a mere case of rewarding early-stage investors. When troubling information emerged before the IPO  first about its problematic governance structure (according to which its charismatic founder, Adam Neumann, had 20 times the voting rights of other investors), next about rampant self-dealing, nepotistic hires, and gratuitous perks and travel and parties  it seemed the public was at risk of being sold an overpriced hot potato.

Story continues

What kept that from happening was, well, the public. The smartest and best investment banks in the world were unable to generate public appetite for WeWork  not just at the $60 billion market cap the company supposedly wanted, or at the $47 billion market cap at which they had already privately traded, but at any market cap. There simply was not going to be a public offering of this company once light shone on its governance structure, financial realities, and long-term business model. Yes, the company had cachet, and yes, it had a sexy story and brand. But the pricing of risk and reward ultimately worked, leaving the highly sophisticated and risk-tolerant institutional investors who had already invested in it holding all the risk  and keeping it from being transferred to a gullible public.

Some have pointed to the outlandish deal Neumann walked away with to exit the company as a sign of capitalism run amok. He reportedly received something around $2 billion to exit his position. That is a reasonable response; all indications are that Neumann was grossly incompetent and irresponsible, eventually culminating in the companys liquidity squeeze and capital-markets rejection. But the important thing to understand is that it wasnt ordinary mom-and-pop investors footing the bill, but SoftBank, J. P. Morgan, and other leading institutional investors who did so. Rational market actors kept this hot potato from being in the hands of those who were less capable of withstanding such a loss.

What explains the difference between the 1990s dotcom hysteria and todays more skeptical atmosphere? The public appetite for money-losing companies with no real path to profitability is apparently not what it used to be. Some of the carnage over the years may have done what it is supposed to do: teach lessons. And many companies are no longer desperate for the sucker capital of the American public, as private equity has provided both growth capital and liquidity for founders, allowing companies to deal with the accountability of public markets at a later stage in their development.

This change in timeline has altered everything, in both good and bad ways. Amazon had a $400 million market capitalization when it first decided to go public. Uber had an $82 billion market capitalization when it did. Active secondary markets in private companies have been remunerative for early-stage investors, and have given companies time to build before going public. The downside for retail investors is that by the time companies reach public markets, they are already established, have seen a sizable market-capitalization form, and offer less juice to the now late-stage public investors. Yet access to public capital has hardly become obsolete  and an eventual public-markets destination is still highly likely for most large and successful companies.

Because capital will continue to seek its best use, market losses will still exist in public markets until Kingdom Come. But they are not themselves evidence of the failure of the free-enterprise system. The loss of value for these companies was a time bomb that could have dumped tens of billions of dollars of losses onto the public, but it was averted with no government intervention and no screaming activists. Rational actors rejected a governance structure they didnt like and refused to pay a certain price for a business model they felt did not command it.

It is entirely acceptable to hope that WeWork finds its way and that the private investors who are invested in its long-term success discover eventual rewards. But whatever happens, capitalism requires robust capital markets to freely and intelligently adjudicate risk and reward. In 2019, they did.

More from National Review
State road crews are ready to contend with winter weather, a PennDOT spokesman said Tuesday afternoon as 2019s first snowstorm dropped flakes on central Pennsylvania.

It could still be slick, said Mike Crochunis, spokesman for PennDOTs District 8.

On Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory, warning of inclement weather in the central Pennsylvania region, including Fulton, Franklin, Perry, Dauphin, Lebanon, Cumberland, Adams, York and Lancaster counties.

The advisory, which went into effect at noon, announced that accumulation is possible with 1 to 3 inches of snow expected to fall.

Plan on slippery road conditions, the advisory reads. The hazardous conditions will impact the late afternoon and early evening commute.

Snow will overspread central Pennsylvania this morning through this afternoon as it moves from southwest to northeast. Snowfall intensity will be briefly moderate in spots this afternoon, with an inch or two expected for the southern half of our area. #PAwx pic.twitter.com/MgO3ltOpbO  NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) January 7, 2020

The advisory remains in effect until 7 p.m.

The steadiest snow and greatest travel impacts are expected this afternoon, with up to one-inch-per-hour snowfall rates prior to 6 p.m., according to the advisory.

Crochunis said flakes began to fall on the Pennsylvania-Maryland border, specifically in Franklin County, about noon. The storm is expected to move toward the northeast, according to the National Weather Service.

However, PennDOT managers began planning for the storm Monday, agreeing to add a shift of drivers. A total of 310 plow trucks exist within District 8, and Crochunis said they will be deployed in shifts.

That includes a shift that began at noon today, he said. The earliest shift of drivers, starts at 4 a.m., he said.

Those are special winter shifts, only used during times of inclement weather, Crochunis said.

While some accumulation is expected in grassy areas, its not likely that snow will immediately lay on Pennsylvania roadways, he said. Still they could be wet and slippery, he said, urging caution from drivers.

Wednesdays 4 a.m. team will work to make sure that melted snowfall does not refreeze and impact morning traffic, Crochunis said.

Shortly after 2 p.m., Crochunis said no weather-related crashes or incidents had been reported on state roads.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Is Apache Corporation (NYSE:APA) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can be highly rewarding in the long term. 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.

With Apache yielding 3.9% and having paid a dividend for over 10 years, many investors likely find the company quite interesting. We'd guess that plenty of investors have purchased it for the income. The company also bought back stock equivalent to around 3.2% of market capitalisation this year. When buying stocks for their dividends, you should always run through the checks below, to see if the dividend looks sustainable.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

NYSE:APA Historical Dividend Yield, January 7th 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. Although it reported a loss over the past 12 months, Apache currently pays a dividend. When a company recently reported a loss, we should investigate if its cash flows covered the dividend.

Last year, Apache paid a dividend while reporting negative free cash flow. While there may be an explanation, we think this behaviour is generally not sustainable.

Is Apache's Balance Sheet Risky?

Given Apache is paying a dividend but reported a loss over the past year, 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 measures total debt load relative to company earnings (lower = less debt), while net interest cover measures the ability to pay interest on the debt (higher = greater ability to pay interest costs). With net debt of 2.16 times its EBITDA, Apache's debt burden is within a normal range for most listed companies.

Story continues

Net interest cover can be calculated by dividing earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) by the company's net interest expense. Interest cover of 1.44 times its interest expense is starting to become a concern for Apache, and be aware that lenders may place additional restrictions on the company as well.

Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Apache's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health.

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. Apache has been paying dividends for a long time, but for the purpose of this analysis, we only examine the past 10 years of payments. During this period the dividend has been stable, which could imply the business could have relatively consistent earnings power. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was US$0.60 in 2010, compared to US$1.00 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5.2% a year over that time.

Dividends have grown at a reasonable rate over this period, and without any major cuts in the payment over time, we think this is an attractive combination.

Dividend Growth Potential

While dividend payments have been relatively reliable, it would also be nice if earnings per share (EPS) were growing, as this is essential to maintaining the dividend's purchasing power over the long term. It's good to see Apache has been growing its earnings per share at 51% a year over the past five years.

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. Apache's dividend is not well covered by free cash flow, plus it paid a dividend while being unprofitable. Next, growing earnings per share and steady dividend payments is a great combination. Ultimately, Apache comes up short on our dividend analysis. It's not that we think it is a bad company - just that there are likely more appealing dividend prospects out there on this analysis.

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 Apache 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.
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Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 08:45 735 48be62e941b44f04afae568c32118ca1 1 City jakarta,plastic-bag,eco-friendly,gubernatorial-decree Free

Shoppers in Jakarta will soon be unable to carry their groceries in single-use plastic bags as the Jakarta administration has issued a long awaited gubernatorial regulation banning such plastic bags from traditional and modern markets starting June this year.

The regulation  Gubernatorial Regulation No. 142/2019 on eco-friendly bag usage  was signed by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan on Dec. 27.

According to the regulations Article 30, the ban will take effect six months after the regulation was enacted on Dec. 31, Jakarta Legal Bureau head Yayan Yuhana told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

The regulation, a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post, imposes a ban on single-use plastic bags in modern department stores, supermarkets as well as traditional markets. Aside from the ban, the regulation will also serve as a legal basis for the usage of eco-friendly bags in stores and markets.

According to the regulation, eco-friendly bags can be made from leaf, paper, cloth, polyester and its derivatives as well as recycled materials. It also should have adequate thickness, be recyclable and designed to be used several times before being disposed of.

The administration defined single-use plastic bags as transparent bags made from various kinds of plastics, including polyethylene and thermoplastics.

Read also: Jakarta wholesale market cuts single-use plastic bags

The regulation also carries punishments for shopping centers found violating the ban, which range from written warning and fines to permit suspension and termination.

Despite the ban, a number of articles in the regulation still allow shops to provide single-use plastic to accommodate foodstuffs that have not been wrapped by any packaging. Such exception, however, will not applicable if alternate eco-friendly packaging is already available.

The plan to issue a regulation banning single-use plastic bags in the city has been in the pipeline since early last year. However, it was put on hold as Governor Anies wanted to include the provision on substitute materials to replace plastic bags in the regulation draft.

Jakarta will be added to the long list of regions across the country that have imposed a ban on single-use plastic bags. The list includes South Kalimantans Banjarmasin (the first city to do so), East Kalimantans Balikpapan and Balis Denpasar.
Senator Rand Paul (R., Kentucky) on Monday continued to criticize the Trump administrations decision to kill Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani.

Soleimani was the leader of Iranian war efforts in Syria to support president Bashar al-Assad, and oversaw a network of Iran-backed militias in Iraq. The Pentagon considers Soleimani responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers in Iraq following the 2003 invasion.

The death of Soleimani, I think, is the death of diplomacy with Iran. I dont see an off-ramp. I dont see a way out of this, Paul told Wolf Blitzer on CNNs The Situation Room.

Paul said President Trump had ordered the strike after receiving bad advice, and asserted that Secretary of State Mike Pompeos policies regarding Iran would lead to attacks on Americans.

When Secretary of State Pompeos out there saying maximum pressure [and] our goal is to get them back to the negotiating table, no naive child would believe that, Paul said. Youd have to be brain-dead to believe that we tear up the agreement, we put an embargo on you and we kill your major general, and theyre just going to crawl back to the table and say, What do you want, America?'

Paul previously suggested on Friday that the strike on Soleimani would lead to the further destabilization of the Middle East.

Soleimani, like [Saddam] Hussein, was an evil man who ordered the killing of Americans, Paul wrote on Twitter. Yet, the question remains, whether his death will lead to more instability in the Middle East or less.

In an interview on CNN Friday Pompeo said that killing Soleimani saved American lives, no doubt about it. President Trump said the action was taken in order to stop a war, not to instigate regime change.

More from National Review
Trump was reluctant to respond to a series of Iranian attacks on bases and allies over the past year. In June, he called off a retaliatory strike against Iran at the last minute after it had downed a U.S. drone. The president declined to act after Irans brazen September attack against Saudi oil facilities. And when Trump decided to suddenly withdraw U.S. forces from Syria  abandoning Kurdish allies and allowing Turkey, Russia and Iran to expand their influence in Syria  and vowed to get out of forever wars, he signaled that Middle Eastern countries should take care of their own problems. He created what a recent Wall Street Journal editorial described as an open invitation to adversaries to impose casualties that would cause the President to follow through on his isolationist impulses.
SANTA FE  A Santa Fe man accused of fatally shooting another man and hiding his body in a field will remain in jail until his trial.

James Garcia, 26, is charged with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence for allegedly shooting 20-year-old Daniel Gisler in November and for hiding Gislers body and car.

Gislers remains were found by police on Dec. 6 at a vacant field near Richards Avenue and Mission Bend Road. Garcia and 27-year-old Mercady Montoya were arrested in Albuquerque the next day after they fled from Santa Fe police.

Two people told investigators that Garcia told them he shot Gisler while the two were making a Xanax transaction in Gislers car. They say Garcia claimed he thought Gisler was going to rob him and that Gisler was reaching for a gun before Garcia shot him.

At a pre-trial detention hearing Monday, Santa Fe District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer described Garcias lengthy criminal history as that of a thug and said no conditions of release could protect the two people who spoke with police.

Garcia has a history of threatening violence toward family members. He pleaded guilty to three counts of assault after he threatened to kill his aunt and her family and set their house on fire in January 2018.

In September the same aunt filed a restraining against Garcia because he threatened to shoot her and her family.

In June 2017, Garcias father called police because Garcia stole his brothers laptop. The next day, Garcias brother again called police and said Garcia had said he going to kill him and slit his throat, a criminal complaint says. The brother also told police that Garcia told him he had killed multiple people before.

Marlowe Sommer mentioned threats of violence toward others when coming to her ruling that Garcia should remain behind bars pending trial.

Garcias attorney, Stephen Aarons, said the people who came forward to talk to police about Garcia are unreliable drug addicts and that no forensic evidence ties Garcia to the murder. He said Garcia is an honor student at Santa Fe Community College and asked that he be placed on house arrest instead of being incarcerated.

Garcia is set to be arraigned on the charges on Thursday.
A British teenager found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus can return home after she was handed a four-month suspended jail sentence.

The 19-year-old woman hugged her family and legal team and left court weeping, with her head in her hands, after she was sentenced for public mischief.

Her family had raised fears she would suffer permanent damage to her mental health if she was sent to prison, having been diagnosed with PTSD.

Expand Close Protesters shout slogans outside a court before the arrival of the 19 year-old British woman at court (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Protesters shout slogans outside a court before the arrival of the 19 year-old British woman at court (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

But she is free to return home after Judge Michalis Papathanasiou told her he was giving her a second chance.

The judge told Famagusta District Court on Tuesday the four-month sentence would be suspended for three years.

The teenager has been stuck on the island after claiming she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party town of Ayia Napa on July 17.

She was charged and spent about a month in prison before being granted bail in August.

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The dozen young men and boys, aged between 15 and 20 arrested over the incident were freed after she signed a retraction statement 10 days later.

She maintains she was raped after having consensual sex with one of the Israelis, but forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police.

The case hinged on a retraction statement signed by the teenager following hours of questioning alone and without legal representation.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he has raised concerns over her treatment with the Cypriot authorities, after the teenagers conviction provoked outrage in Cyprus and the UK.

Supporters had gathered outside the court on Tuesday holding banners declaring: We believe you.

Her lawyers are poised to launch an appeal and hope to fast-track proceedings in Cypruss supreme court, which could take three to four years.
Rouhani dismisses Trump's threat, mentions US crimes against Iranian civilians

Iran Press TV

Monday, 06 January 2020 6:28 PM

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has downplayed his American counterpart's recent threat to target Iranian sites if Tehran took retaliatory action after the assassination of its top general, Qassem Soleimani, in Iraq.

Trump's threat came after Iranian authorities said they would give a harsh response to the US strikes that led to the martyrdom of Lieutenant General Soleimani and the second-in-command of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, in Baghdad early Friday on President Trump's order.

"We have ... targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran" said Trump in a Saturday tweet while making a reference to the occupation of the former US embassy in Tehran in 1979.

Taking to his Twitter account on Monday, Rouhani reminded Trump of the crime committed by the US Navy back in 1988 in which the USS Vincennes fired missiles at an Iran Air Airbus A300B2 which was flying over the Strait of Hormuz from the port city of Bandar Abbas to Dubai, killing all 290 on board, among them 66 children.

"Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290. #IR655," the Iranian president said.

He emphasized, "Never threaten the Iranian nation."

The Iranian president's tweet came on the same day that Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari, commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces, said the United States has been threatening the Islamic Republic for the past 40 years, stressing that Trump's recent threats against Iran are "nothing but a bluff."

"The US will soon receive a crushing response," Heydari told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) in Tehran on Monday on the sidelines of special ceremonies to pay homage to Lieutenant General Soleimani.

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King Mohammed VI of Morocco has pointed out that the knowledge provided by school should inter-alia help young people acquire competencies and skills, but most importantly help them develop their personality and achieve self-fulfillment.

This came in a message the King addressed to participants in the 33rd International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement, which opened in Marrakesh, on Tuesday.

The effectiveness of our schools should be essentially measured in light of the extent to which they respond to the basic needs and concerns of young people, who are the driving force in society, the Monarch said in his message that was read out by Minister of National Education Saaid Amzazi.

The Monarch argued that schools should provide young people with the knowledge, competencies, skills, values, languages and culture that help them develop their personality, enhance their independence, improve their qualifications, achieve self-fulfillment, and increase their chances for social and professional integration.

This is something I have always seen as a right, and not a privilege.

The King recalled that he had repeatedly stressed the special importance he attaches to the promotion of education, as he is fully aware of the decisive role education plays as a catalyst for the achievement of sustainable development in the various social, economic, cultural and environmental sectors.

Education is the main instrument for the development of human resources. It turns people into powerful levers that contribute effectively to creating wealth, enhancing awareness and promoting innovative, creative thinking, he said.

Education forms citizens who are keen to exercise their rights and discharge their duties in all good conscience  citizens who uphold universal values, who believe in the unity of humankind as much as in their rich yet varied identity, and who are committed to coexisting with others while being immune to extremism and reclusiveness, the monarch went on to say.

School effectiveness can also be measured by the ability to guarantee education and care during early childhood, and to ensure school enrolment for children from all segments of society, in keeping with the principles of equal opportunities, social justice and regional equity.

The King explained that this is particularly true for rural areas and deprived regions, for girls in villages and hamlets, for vulnerable children and for youngsters in difficult situations.

Given the special interest he attaches to the situation of migrants and refugees, King Mohammed VI stressed the need to likewise ensure school enrolment for children of migrants and refugees.

They are also entitled to an education that responds to their basic needs in terms of upbringing and integration, both in the host countries and in the countries of origin, he pointed out.

In his message, the King also brought up the reform of the Moroccan education system and its main priorities in order to achieve a qualitative leap forward regarding training methods and objectives.

The aim is to introduce a new education system which promotes learner interaction, develops the capabilities of learners and improves their critical thinking skills. Another goal is to provide students with opportunities for creativity and innovation and to consolidate value systems, he said, insisting that learners should be given the chance to acquire skills and learn foreign languages in order to open up to the world.

Likewise, youths should be trained to be good citizens, be integrated into the development process, be open up to other cultures and be fully involved in the knowledge and communication-based world.

The 33rd International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement is attended by about 1000 experts, decision-makers, public & private education institutions from some 70 countries, including 20 from Africa.

The five day-event is held under the theme: Education, Youth Empowerment, and Sustainable Development: Collaboration between the Global North and South to Improve Education Quality.

The Congress provides an opportunity to share experiences and discuss cooperation ties between the North and the South to improve education quality for all.

During the conference, Moroccan officials will make presentations on the countrys education strategy and reforms engaged to make education and training, engines of sustainable growth, progress and socioeconomic empowerment.

CSEI is an annual meeting that aims to promote quality and equality in education. In 2019, the event took place in Stavanger, Norway. Next year, the conference is set to take place in Auckland, New Zealand.
Campus buildings at Hannam University, Daejeon. / Korea Times file



By Lee Suh-yoon



Three Christian universities here are facing growing criticism after rejecting a recommendation by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) to hire non-Christian faculty members, according to the nation's human rights watchdog, Tuesday.



The NHRCK said Chongshin, Sungkyul and Hannam universities dismissed repeated demands to accept non-Christian applicants for staff positions.



Chongshin University took the position that its religion-based employee screening was necessary to fulfill "the school's founding purpose." Sunkyul University also refused, but said it may accept non-Christians who attended churches affiliated to the university 3 months prior to their appointment.



Hannam University said it was discussing the matter, but has failed to introduce any changes in its the hiring process so far.



The NHRCK said these universities "were not set up for the purpose of fostering only clergy members" and must abide by public expectations bestowed on higher education institutes. The universities also differ from other religious groups as they are subjected to regular evaluations by the education ministry to retain their university status.



"The school does not need an all-Christian staff to pursue its founding principles," former NHRCK Commissioner Jung Sang-hwan said in a decision letter sent to the schools in December 2018. "The only exception is for subjects that would struggle without a Christian instructor."



The ban on non-Christian professors also goes against anti-discrimination clauses in the Constitution and the Employment Security Law, according to the NHRCK. Clause 11 of the Constitution specifies a person cannot be discriminated against based on gender or religion in their economic activities.



Similar recommendations by the NHRCK were accepted by four other private Christian universities in 2010 and 2019.




President Nana Akufo-Addo hosted some African-American showbiz personalities on New Years Eve, at a private party held at his Nima residence in Accra.

The party on Monday was, among other objectives, to make the personalities feel at home and celebrate their return to Ghana as part of the 2019 'Year of Return' programme.

Among them were Beyonce's mom Tina Knowles-Lawson and husband Richard Lawson, actress Lupita Nyong'o, Naomi Campbell and Ghanaian-American businesswoman, Bazoma Saint John. Nigerian musician Davido was also at the President's residence for the party.

Some of them have been in Ghana for weeks, taking part in various activities earmarked for the 'Year of Return' 2019.

The programme was introduced by government to encourage people from the Diaspora to visit Ghana and connect with their origin.

The President also launched an extension of the 'Year of Return', which he called 'Beyond The Return, The Diaspora Dividend'.

The group has visited places like the Cape Coast Castle and also partied with the President.

Look who I ran into at an amazing party at His Excellency Nana Akufo -Addo's beautiful home. In Ghana tonight The gorgeous LupitaSkin just like pearls for real Pretty like Lupita when the cameras roll in Brown skine girl lyrics, Beyonce's mother said on Instagram when she posted an image from the party with the President.

When I introduce @nimotalaiganiyu as my assistant, people usually think I said my sister and now we're twinning on our 3rd trip to Ghana this year, celebrating at The President & First Lady's cocktail party, Bazoma also posted after party.

Davido also posted a video of himself having a good time with the President and First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo.

---Daily Guide
A row has broken out over the cause of Australia's deadly bushfire crisis, with Liberal MP Craig Kelly claiming that 'arson is not caused by climate change'.

The MP, who is known for his climate change skepticism, put forward his opinion on why the country is gripped in a fire emergency during an appearance on ABC's RN Breakfast show.

'Unprecedented' numbers of people had been arrested and charged with arson offences, he claimed. 'The arson is not caused by climate change.'

The claims of arson have already become a political battleground, with some politicians and commentators seizing on them to argue that the impact of climate change has been overstated.

Australian Liberal MP Craig Kelly told Good Morning Britain: 'What causes the main thing of the fires is the build up of the fuel on the ground and the drought'

Mr Kelly also defended Prime Minister Scott Morrison's decision to holiday in Hawaii amid the crisis during his interview on Good Morning Britain

Backbencher Mr Kelly earlier sparked a row on UK television after claiming there was 'no link' between climate change and the fires in an interview on Good Morning Britain.

He told host Piers Morgan and Laura Tobin: 'What causes the main thing of the fires is the build up of the fuel on the ground and the drought.'

During the interview Mr Kelly also defended Prime Minister Scott Morrison's decision to holiday in Hawaii amid the crisis.

Miss Tobin hit back at Mr Kelly, branding him a 'climate denier'.

She told him: 'We want everyone in the world to lower the global temperature rise by 1.5C, you [Australia] can't even commit to 2C.

'You have the second highest carbon emission on earth and you are burying your head in the sand.

'You're not a climate sceptic - you're a climate denier.'

Following the interview, Mr Kelly caused outrage by calling meteorologist Laura Tobin an 'ignorant Pommy weather girl' on Twitter. He later told ABC News that Tobin 'had no idea what she was talking about.'

Miss Tobin hit back at the MP, pointing out her degree in Physics and Meteorology and telling him: 'I'm not a weather girl.'

Australian backbencher Craig Kelly (pictured) told Good Morning Britain hosts there was 'no link' between climate change and the fires, putting the blame on arson instead

Todd Starnes, a conservative talk show host in the US, also leaped on the arson arrests to make a similar argument.

'It turns out - climate change has nothing to do with the humanitarian crisis unfolding Down Under,' he said.

More than 180 people have been arrested accused of fire-related offences since the beginning of 2019, including 24 in NSW during the current horror fire season which has left 25 dead and destroyed more than 2,000 homes.

On the New South Wales south coast, where at least nine people have died since the fire season picked up in October, 29 blazes have been deliberately lit.

The fast moving Myall Creek bushfire spread rapidly throughout northern New South Wales

This map shows the statistics across each state of Australia where people have been charged for lighting fires in 2019

As the fire front approached, the sky was filled with orange flames and thick, grey plumes of smoke

Scientists believe climate change is amplifying the conditions necessary for firestorms to form.

Physicist Scott Menor said that even if all the fires were started by arson, 'climate change made the difference between throwing a match in water to throwing it in gasoline'.

In addition, analysis by Dr Timothy Graham from the Queensland University of Technology suggests that there may be a deliberate misinformation campaign on Twitter to cast doubt on the effect of climate change.

Tweets with the hashtag #ArsonEmergency were more likely to come from suspect accounts than others such as #AustraliaFire, he found, according to ZDNet.

The fires have caught the attention of Hollywood, where numerous movie stars used Sunday night's Golden Globes to draw attention to the blazes - some of them saying that the situation was proof of the need to do more to fight climate change.

A kookaburra perches on a burnt tree in the aftermath of a bushfire in Wallabi Point, in northern NSW

In Queensland, police have arrested 101 people accused of starting bushfires, 69 juveniles and 32 adults.

Five people were arrested for allegedly setting bushland alight in Tasmania - and a further 10 in South Australia.

Meanwhile in Victoria, where locals have experienced some of the most catastrophic conditions the nation has ever seen, 43 people were charged with firebug offences.

'Police are well aware that we need to take action against people, whatever that might be, in this time it is particularly a heightened risk of fire activity and we've seen the devastation it causes,' NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said on Tuesday.

'We make no apologies for being so vigilant about that.'

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

Mitch Parish, a former arson squad detective, said the international frenzy surrounding the bushfire crisis would only increase a 'vanity arsonists' desire to light an inferno.

'It's got to the stage where they're seeing all the publicity on the fires  and they get bit of a buzz because of all the attention,' Mr Parish said.

'People get very emotional and passionate (about fires) and feel a lot of power because it's a very destructive force.'

NSW Rural Fire Service volunteer Blake Banner was charged with lighting seven fires in the south coast region.

The 19-year-old was allegedly spotted leaving a location as a fire spread rapidly and arrived at a fire ground to help put out a blaze before any of his fellow volunteers on another occasion, police say.

He was granted bail and intends to fight the accusations.

Update: Since first publication of this article, this article has been updated to included the correct figures for 2019. We are happy to set the record straight.

Residents defend a property from a bushfire at Hillsville near Taree, 350km north of Sydney

2019/2020 FIRE SEASON DEATH TOLL The national death toll of Australia's 2019/2020 bushfire season was 33 as of Monday, March 2, with 25 confirmed deaths in New South Wales, three in South Australia and five in Victoria. OCTOBER New South Wales: Robert Lindsey, 77, and Gwen Hyde, 68, were found in their burned out Coongbar home near Casino on October 9th. NOVEMBER New South Wales: The body of 85-year-old George Nole was found in a burnt out car near his home in Wytaliba, near Glen Innes. 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 body of 63-year-old Julie Fletcher was pulled from a scorched building in Johns River, north of Taree. Barry Parsons, 58, was found in a shed at Willawarrin, near Kempsey. Chris Savva, 64, died after his 4WD overturned near burnt-out South Arm bridge, near Nambucca Heads. A 59-year-old man was founded sheltered in a Yarrowitch water tank on November 7. He died of injuries on December 29. Victoria: David Moresi, 69, died after being involved in a traffic incident while working at the at the Gelantipy fire in East Gippsland on November 30. DECEMBER New South Wales: Firefighters Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, and Geoffrey Keaton, 32, died on December 19 after a tree fell on their truck while they were travelling through Buxton, south of Sydney. Samuel McPaul, 28, was battling a blaze in Jingellic, in Green Valley, about 70km east of Albury on the border of NSW and Victoria, on December 30 when a 'fire tornado' caused his 10-tonne firetruck to roll. South Australia: The body of 69-year-old Ron Selth was found in his Charleston home, which was destroyed by the Cudlee Creek blaze on December 21. NEW YEAR'S EVE FIRES New South Wales: Dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega, on December 31. A 70-year-old man, named by local media as Laurie Andrew, was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola. The body of a 70-year-old man was found in a burnt vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah on the morning of New Year's Day. The body of a 62-year-old man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet about 11.30am on New Year's Day. A body, believed to be a 56-year-old man, found outside a home at Coolagolite, east of Cobargo on New Year's Day. An off-duty RFS firefighter, believed to be 72-year-old Colin Burns, was found near a car in Belowra after the New Year's Eve fires swept through. Victoria: Beloved great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, was found dead at his home on the morning of New Year's Day. Fred Becker, 75, was the second person to die in Victoria. He suffered a heart attack while trying to defend his Maramingo Creek home. JANUARY New South Wales: David Harrison, a 47-year-old man from Canberra, suffered a heart attack defending his friend's home near Batlow on Saturday, January 4. A 71-year-old man was found on January 6. Police have been told the man was last sighted on December 31, 2019 and was moving equipment on his property in Nerrigundah. An 84-year-old man who stayed to defend his home in Cobargo, NSW, dies in hospital three weeks after fire hit. His pet dog Bella, who stayed by his side as fires raged, was also killed in the disaster. Three American firefighters are killed when Coulson Aviation C-130 Hercules water bomber Zeus crashed while fighting fires near Cooma on Thursday January 23. They have been named as Capt. Ian H. McBeth, 44, First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson and Flight Engineer Rick A. DeMorgan Jr, 43. On January 24, Michael Clark, 59, was found in a Bodalla home destroyed by bushfires near the NSW South Coast town of Moruya. Victoria: Forest Fire Management firefighter Mat Kavanagh, 43, was killed Friday January 3 when he was involved in a two-car crash on the Goulburn Valley Highway. Bill Slade, a 60-year-old father of two from Wonthaggi was fighting fires with Parks Victoria at Omeo when he died on January 11. He has been remembered as one of the longest serving, most experienced and fittest firefighters. South Australia: Well-known outback pilot Dick Lang, 78, and his 43-year-old son, Adelaide surgeon Clayton Lang, died in the Kangaroo Island bushfire after their car was trapped by flames. Advertisement

Pictured: Volunteer firefigthter watching on as the Gospers Mountain fire in NSW rapidly approached

NSW Fire and Rescue officer protects the Colo Heights Public School from being impacted by the Gospers Mountain fire near Colo Heights south west of Sydney

Banner was stood down from his duties with the force in the interim and Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said members will be devastated if the allegations are proven true.

'Our members will be rightly angry that the alleged actions of one individual can tarnish the reputation and hard work of so many,' he said.

A 79-year-old South Australian man was also charged with starting multiple grass and shrub fires as the nation welcomed in the new year.

Police will allege the man lit fires on December 30 and January 2, and then two on Saturday, all in the Kingston area, on the state's south-east coastline.

The devastating bushfires have cost 25 people their lives so far this season, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and thousands more outbuildings and dwellings.

The blazes, which have now been burning along much of the east coast of Australia for three months, have scorched more than six million hectares of land.
LSU astronomy researchers estimate the peak of brightness and explosion of luminous star brighter than any other in the Milky Way Galaxy

Currently, the faint star V Sagittae, V Sge, in the constellation Sagitta, is barely visible, even in mid-sized telescopes. However, around the year 2083, this innocent star will explode, becoming as bright as Sirius, the brightest star visible in the night sky. During this time of eruption, V Sge will be the most luminous star in the Milky Way galaxy.

This prediction was presented for the first time at the 235th American Astronomical Society meeting in Honolulu, by astronomers Bradley E. Schaefer, Juhan Frank and Manos Chatzopoulos, with the LSU Department of Physics & Astronomy.

"We now have a strong prediction for the future of V Sge," Schaefer said. "Over the next few decades, the star will brighten rapidly. Around the year 2083, its accretion rate will rise catastrophically, spilling mass at incredibly high rates onto the white dwarf, with this material blazing away. In the final days of this death-spiral, all of the mass from the companion star will fall onto the white dwarf, creating a super-massive wind from the merging star, appearing as bright as Sirius, possibly even as bright as Venus."

V Sge is a star system in a large and diverse class called Cataclysmic Variables, or CVs, consisting of an ordinary star in a binary orbit around a white dwarf star, where the normal star's mass is slowly falling onto the white dwarf. CVs include multiple types of binary stars, often with spectacular behavior. V Sge is the most extreme of all the CVs, approximately 100 times more luminous than all other known CVs, and is powering a massive stellar wind, equal to the winds of the most massive stars prior to their deaths. These two extreme properties are caused by the fact that the normal star is 3.9 times more massive than the white dwarf.

"In all other known CVs the white dwarf is more massive than the orbiting normal star, so V Sge is utterly unique," said Schaefer.

"Previously, astronomers have studied V Sge, realizing that it is an unusual system with extreme properties," said Frank. "However, no one had realized that the binary orbit was in-spiraling very fast."

This realization came from routine measures of V Sge's brightness on old sky photos now archived at the Harvard College Observatory, providing a detailed history going back to the year 1890.

Startlingly, V Sge has been systematically brightening by a factor of 10X, 2.5 magnitudes, from the early 1890s up until the last decade. This unprecedented behavior was confirmed with archival data collected from the database of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, AAVSO, showing V Sge brightening by nearly a factor of 10X, 2.4 magnitudes, from 1907 until the last few years.

"V Sge is exponentially gaining luminosity with a doubling time scale of 89 years," said Frank. "This brightening can only result with the rate of mass falling off the normal companion star increasing exponentially, ultimately because the binary orbit is in-spiraling rapidly."

Schaefer said, "In anticipation of this fast decaying of the orbit, the fate of V Sge is sealed. The critical and simple physics are derived from V Sge having the companion star being much more massive than the white dwarf star, so forcing the rate of mass transfer to rise exponentially. Anticipating the next few decades, V Sge will in-spiral at a rapid pace with increasing brightness. Inevitably, this in-spiral will climax with the majority of the gas in the normal star falling onto the white dwarf, all within the final weeks and days. This falling mass will release a tremendous amount of gravitational potential energy, driving a stellar wind as never before seen, and raise the system luminosity to just short of that of supernovae at peak."

This explosive event will have peak brightness over a month, with two stars merging into one star. The end result of the merger will produce a single star with a degenerate white dwarf core, a hydrogen-burning layer, surrounded by a vast gas envelope mostly of hydrogen.

"From this critical new input of the doubling time scale of 89 years, it becomes possible to directly calculate the future evolution of V Sge, all using standard equations describing the many physical mechanisms involved," said Schaefer.

The calculations give a robust answer to the brightness with the in-spiral merger happen for the final merge event will be around the year 2083.

"The uncertainty in this date is 16 years, arising mostly from not having a perfect measure of the doubling time scale due to the large intrinsic jitter of the brightness in the historical record," said Frank. "Therefore, the merge will be approximately between 2067 and 2099, most likely near the middle of this range."

Schaefer said, "Thus, V Sge will appear startlingly bright in the night sky. This is substantially brighter than the all-time brightest known nova (at -0.5) just over a century ago, and the last time any 'guest star' appeared brighter was Kepler's Supernova in the year 1604.

"Now people the world over can know that they will see a wondrous guest star shining as the brightest in the sky for a month or so, being pointed at by the Arrow just below Cygnus, the Swan."

###

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Professor Emeritus Bradley E. Schaefer, LSU Department of Physics & Astronomy: schaefer@lsu.edu

Professor Juhan Frank, LSU Department of Physics & Astronomy: frank@phys.lsu.edu, 225-578-6845

Assistant Professor Manos Chatzopoulos, LSU Department of Physics & Astronomy: chatzopoulos@phys.lsu.edu, 512-705-0143

Mimi LaValle, External Relations Manager, LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy: mlavall@lsu.edu, 225-439-5633

ELECTRONIC COPIES, PRESENTATONS AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION:

http://www.lsu.edu/physics/v_sagittae.php

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

The critical new observational input that forced our recognition of the fast in-spiral is from the century-long light curves (measures of brightness changes over the years), with these coming from two sources. The first source is from the data base of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, who also provided support on comparison stars, finder charts and more.

The second source is the Harvard College Observatory, where archival sky photographs record the brightness of V Sge back to the year 1890, with special help from Josh Grindlay and Alison Doane.
Getty Images

Southern Illinois University Medicine and Passavant Area Hospital have reached an agreement to transition management of the Center for Psychiatric Health to SIU Medicine on July 1.

The transition will allow families in the Jacksonville area to continue seeking local behavioral healthcare services.
A Republican congressman tweeted a faked picture of the former US president Barack Obama shaking hands with Iran president Hassan Rouhani - who he never met.

Representative for Arizona Paul A Gosar posted the doctored image in an attempt to criticise Mr Obama's time in office and his Iran policy.

He posted the tweet on Monday afternoon under the caption: The world is a better place without these guys in power.

However, Mr Obama and Mr Rouhani never met in person, with Mr Obama leaving office in 2017.

It was quickly pointed out to the GOP member by commenters that the photo - which appears to show the pair posing while shaking hands and smiling - had been doctored.

The falsified image was debunked more than four years ago.

The real photo is of Obama meeting with the then-Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2011.

Mr Gosar called those who questioned him about the photo "the dimmest" and then implied he knew it was fake, standing by his statement.

Democratic colleagues criticised Mr Gosar for peddling in "disinformation".

A conservative political group used the picture in 2015 in a television advertisement to promote a Republican senator and it is widely circulated on the internet.

The latest tweet is at least the third time in the last two months Mr Gosar has published conspiracy theories or misinformation, according to The Washington Post.

There were reports he gave credence to the belief by a certain portion of the internet that the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein "didn't kill himself".

He also pushed a conspiracy theory suggesting billionaire George Soros's son was the whistleblower who triggered the House of Representative's impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump.

Mr Gosar has since deleted the tweet.

Mr Obama did speak to Ruhani, but by telephone in 2013, becoming the first US leader since 1979 to have direct contact with the country's leader.

The Obama administration negotiated the Iran Nuclear Deal which was finalised in 2015 and got Iran to agree to limit its capabilities to make atomic bombs.
As the nation begins a new year, the drums of war are beating louder than ever. Yet we too easily forget, with memories of past wars fading, how they begin. History makes clear that, too often, the cause is failed leadership - struggling to exercise good judgment, miscalculating what others will do, sending mixed messages to adversaries, ignoring intelligence and relying on the false belief that power alone is enough to quickly prevail in any war.

The 21st century in particular has been defined by wars that are easy to get into but difficult to get out of. Terrorism and hybrid wars have made it much more challenging to play by the old rules and achieve victory.

All those factors of failed leadership are now at play in the relationship between the United States and Iran. Both sides had mistakenly assumed they could bully the other into doing what they wanted. Absent any willingness to stop and engage in serious negotiations, each side will be trapped in a cycle of punch and counterpunch- one that likely would lead to another prolonged war in the Middle East.

The leaders of both the United States and Iran have badly failed to achieve their objectives. President Donald Trump thought he could simply walk away from the Iran nuclear deal, ignore the other nations - Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China - that had negotiated the deal, impose new sanctions, reinforce U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf and force the Iranian leadership to negotiate. While he talked tough, the president sent mixed messages about his willingness to use force and remain involved in the Middle East.

Trump was reluctant to respond to a series of Iranian attacks on bases and allies over the past year. In June, he called off a retaliatory strike against Iran at the last minute after it had downed a U.S. drone. The president declined to act after Iran's brazen September attack against Saudi oil facilities. And when Trump decided to suddenly withdraw U.S. forces from Syria - abandoning Kurdish allies and allowing Turkey, Russia and Iran to expand their influence in Syria - and vowed to get out of "forever wars," he signaled that Middle Eastern countries should take care of their own problems. He created what a recent Wall Street Journal editorial described as "an open invitation to adversaries to impose casualties that would cause the President to follow through on his isolationist impulses."

Iran miscalculated as well by attacking oil tankers in the Persian Gulf last June, using proxy forces to go after U.S. bases and allies in the region, and most recently by firing rockets at a military base near Kirkuk on Dec. 27, killing an American contractor. Their strategy was designed to push Trump from the Middle East.

But the strategy failed: The president ordered F-15E fighters to attack Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy militia in Iraq and Syria, with reports of 25 people killed and 50 wounded. Whether the White House anticipated the action's consequences is not clear. But consequences happened.

Violent, pro-Iranian protests endangered the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. The United States responded with deployments of Marines and elements of the 82nd Airborne Division. The president then made the fateful decision to order the killing in Baghdad of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Quds Force. The world is now waiting for the next shoe to drop.

While the death of Soleimani should not be mourned, given his responsibility for the killing of thousands of innocent people and hundreds of U.S. military personnel over the years, the fact is that his killing, contrary to the president's assertion, only increases the risk of war with Iran. The president and the Tehran regime have been exchanging threats of further attacks. We are on the brink of another Middle East war that neither side wanted, which would cost countless lives and would not be easily resolved.

Trump is facing the greatest test of his presidency. For the past three years, he has questioned the role of the U.S. global leadership, criticized alliances and often ignored the guidance of his more experienced military and diplomatic advisers. The reality of a potential war has caught up with his tweets.

The fate of his presidency and the fate of the nation depends on whether the president will finally get serious about the threat of war and his responsibilities as commander in chief. Military power alone will not be enough. The most sobering lesson of 21st-century wars is that, absent strong leadership, more American lives will be lost.

- - -

Panetta is a former defense secretary and CIA director.
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.
It is important to keep the sanctity and purity of historical characters intact while presenting them on the screen, says "Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior" director Om Raut.

Raut says he researched the story for about three years to get a clear picture.

"We met a lot of historians, researchers, read a lot of books and studied paintings. It is important to keep the sanctity, persona and the purity of the character intact when you are dealing with historical figures.

"There shouldn't be anything that will possibly create any type of harm to their image. There has to be self-censorship that every maker has to maintain. I would like to put such restrains on myself and keep the sanctity, purity intact and do it with the right heart so it gets translated on-screen," Raut told PTI in an interview here.

Raut says his grandparents introduced him to the Maratha warrior.

"I grew up in a Marathi household, I was told this story about Tanhaji Malusare by my grandparents. It was my family, who introduced me to this character, to this great warrior. The word surgical strike has been taught to us recently but the Maratha's were known for guerilla activity that they always did."



When Raut, was studying in the US in 2006, one of his friends showed him a film about a greek warrior, that motivated him to make a film on Maratha warriors. That's how, Raut says, began the journey of making a movie.

"Cinema is a powerful tool. People do not read newspapers or books or history books but cinema is seen by a lot of people, so it is a brilliant tool to tell stories that you want to tell."



Ajay Devgn will be seen as Tanhaji Malusare, Kajol as his wife - Savitribai Malusare, Saif Ali Khan as Udaybhan Rathod, the antagonist and Sharad Kelkar as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The director, best known for directing the critically and commercially successful 2015 film "Lokmanya: Ek Yug Purush", says he gives a lot of importance to casting because when the cast is apt, half the battle is won.

"If your spy looks like a spy then he doesn't have to act too much. I believe in performance and the ability of an actor. The reason to cast Mr Devgn, Saif and Kajol and others, the core reason for it is the excellence that they have in their performances. They all had narrations after that they came on board for the project."



The biographical period action film, produced by Ajay and T-series, is scheduled to arrive in theatres on January 10.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TAYLOR, MI - The second Wahlburgers to open in Michigan will soon close, and it looks like it was a surprise to employees. The restaurant located at 21200 Penn St. in Taylor is set to close sometime this month, leaving employees looking for new jobs.

The Taylor restaurant opened in April 2018. A spokesperson from Wahlburgers has confirmed the closing to MLive and also says the celebrity owned burger chain is looking for a new location in the area.

We are committed to continue growing the Wahlburgers franchise in the Detroit area. While the Wahlburgers Taylor location will be closing this month, we are actively looking for a new location to serve fans of the restaurant in the Downriver area."

An employee told The News Herald the Taylor restaurant will close on January 18 and that employees have been offered chances to take jobs at the Royal Oak location. But that restaurant is about 30 miles away. Employees also told The News Herald they havent been given a reason for the closing and the new location will be somewhere in nearby Woodhaven.

According to the Free Press, who says it talked to the franchise owner, the plan is to put in a new restaurant in Wahlburgers place with the Taylor Wahlburgers moving to Woodhaven.

There are currently three other Wahlburgers in Michigan. The one in Greektown in Downtown Detroit opened in August 2016, the Royal Oak and Flint locations opened last year.

MORE DETROIT AREA FOOD FROM MLIVE:

Inside MICHIGANS HIGHEST RESTAURANT and bar, 71 stories atop a skyscraper

Bon Appetit lists area bakery as the No. 4 BEST NEW RESTAURANT of 2019 in U.S.

FAYGO RED POP SMOKED WINGS are on the menu at this new Detroit restaurant

Behemoth BURRITOZILLA now an eating challenge at area restaurant

SURF-THEMED restaurant with huge tiki bar opened by Jolly Pumpkin
Mumbai: Bringing back the untold story of Kashmiri pandits from the pages of history, Vidhu Vinod Chopra films have released the trailer of the much-awaited film, Shikara. The trailer stars Aadil Khan as Shiv Kumar Dhar and Sadia as Shanti Dhar, giving us the layers of blooming romance in the conflict-ridden state of Kashmir of the year 1990. The film is filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopras tribute to his mother and was launched at an event in Mumbai today.

Taking to the social media, Vidhu Vinod Chopra films shared a poster featuring the lead actors, embedded in a distressed state. The makers posted, More than 4,00,000 Kashmiri Pandits lost their homes and became refugees in their own country. Three decades later, watch their story unfold. #Shikara trailer out now http://bit.ly/ShikaraOfficialTrailer #Shikara #VidhuVinodChopra #ShikaraTrailer @arrahman @foxstarhindi telling us more about the untold story of Kashmiri Pandits.

More than 4,00,000 Kashmiri Pandits lost their homes and became refugees in their own country. Three decades later, watch their story unfold. #Shikara trailer out nowhttps://t.co/cQtN7uhtqB#Shikara #VidhuVinodChopra #ShikaraTrailer@arrahman @foxstarhindi  Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films (@VVCFilms) January 7, 2020

The trailer of the film begins with Shiv and Shanti, a couple in their abode where just in a moment, the discomfort starts to brew. The violence erupts on 19 January 1990, as the director brings the story to us around Kashmiri pandits and their sufferings during the exodus. Highlighting how the threats became the message for the community, militancy became an important reason and the fact how 4 lakh Indians had to flee their homes as they continue to live as refugees, Shikara presents an engulfing and gripping trailer.

Marking their first, the lead actors Aadil Khan as Shiv Kumar Dhar and Sadia as Shanti Dhar look promising and build the intrigue with their portrayal. The trailer definitely serves the potent dose of history, reality, curiosity and thrilling storyline. After the motion poster that was released earlier, the trailer has piqued the interests of the audience with its enchanting weave.

Also, sharing how this movie is his tribute to his mother, Vidhu Vinod Chopra recently also shared a special video with the audience. The video chronicles the journey and timeline of his mothers life telling us all about the inspiration behind the storyline.

With the interest and excitement of the audience at its peak, Shikara, a film by Vidhu Vinod Chopra will be hitting the screens on 7th February 2020. Presented by Fox Star Studios. Produced by Vinod Chopra Productions and co-produced by Fox star studios.
A heavily-tattooed Queensland mum posted 'distressing' revenge porn photos of her own friend on Facebook.

Single mother-of-five Temika Gow, 22, called her former friend a 'Big Fat Swamp A****' as she sent the sexually-explicit pictures to friends and family online.

The friend, whose identity is not known, had been staying at Gow's house in Labrador on the Gold Coast when the pictures were taken from her phone.

After the devastated victim found out the images had been sent to her own family, Gow boasted: 'Your shit's been leaked'.

Temika Gow (pictured) admitted to posting explicit pictures of her friend after the pair fell out

Temika Gow, 22, (pictured) from the Gold Coast admitted to distributing explicit images online

The mother-of-five (pictured) was sentenced to 200 hours' community service for her crime

Gow admitted to downloading the images because her friend had 'lied to her', the court was told according to the Courier Mail.

She was sentenced to 200 hours community service after pleading guilty to distributing intimate images.

The stay-at-home mum sent the pictures to her victim's family, as well as posting them to a group chat called 'The Big Fat Swamp A***'.

Her actions were described as 'deplorable' in court, with the prosecutor saying it had caused the former friend 'incredible distress'.

Magistrate Kerry Magee said Gow had shown 'no remorse but rather jubilation' over her actions.

When asked how she would feel if the same happened to her, Gow told the court: 'Exactly how she (the victim) feels.'

Temika Gow, from Labrador, (pictured) was said to have shown 'no remorse but rather jubilation' over her actions

A lawyer for tattooed Temika Maree (pictured) told the court she wanted to be a paramedic

What is revenge porn? Revenge porn is used to describe the distribution of intimate and sexual images of someone without their consent. In 2018 Australia passed laws which criminalize sharing intimate photos of others. Corporations can be fined up to $525,000 and individuals up to $105,000 Advertisement

While often referred to as revenge porn, the crime of sharing an intimate image without consent is not always motivated by revenge.

It is also illegal to threaten to share an intimate image without the pictured persons consent.

An intimate image is defined as a photograph which shows either a person's genitals or backside, whether they are nude or covered by underwear, or a woman's breasts.

It also includes images showing a person engaged in an intimate sexual activity which is not normally done in public.

The maximum penalty for sharing or threatening to share an intimate image without consent is three years in prison.
WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has told Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that he will not run for an open Senate seat from Kansas this fall, two people close to McConnell said Monday. Pompeos decision complicates Republicans chances of holding what should be a guaranteed seat in the deep red state as they battle to retain their slim Senate majority in Novembers elections.

The news comes days after the U.S. used an airstrike authorized by President Donald Trump to kill Qassem Soleimani, Irans most powerful general and leader of that countrys elite Quds Force. Iran has vowed revenge on the U.S., spurring an international crisis that makes this an awkward time for Pompeo to leave his post and seek elective office.

Pompeo indicated he will not run in a conversation with McConnell on Monday afternoon, the two people said. They spoke on condition of anonymity to describe a private talk. Others familiar with the matter said Pompeo met with McConnell, R-Ky., on Capitol Hill.

A former congressman from Kansas, Pompeo has traveled repeatedly to the state in recent months, and many Washington Republicans had expressed a belief that he would be a candidate.

If he ran, he was considered all but certain to prevail in the Aug. 4 GOP primary and the November general election. Candidates have until June 1 to file for the Kansas Senate race, leaving a theoretical door open for Pompeo to reconsider.

Republicans worry that without him, former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a polarizing conservative with hard-right immigration views, could win the GOP nomination. GOP officials say that if Kobach is the partys choice he would alienate moderate voters and lose the general election, repeating the defeat he suffered in 2018 when he was the Republican candidate for governor. Trump carried the state by nearly 21 percentage points in 2016.

Republicans consider retaining the Kansas seat crucial in this falls voting, when they will defend their 53-47 Senate majority. GOP senators in Arizona, Colorado, Maine and North Carolina face potentially tight reelection contests, while Doug Jones of Alabama is the Democrat in greatest danger of defeat.

The Kansas seat is being vacated by GOP Sen. Pat Roberts, 83, whos served in the Senate since 1997 and, before that, in the House since 1981.

Pompeo, 56, finished first in his class at West Point, served in the Army and earned a law degree from Harvard. He was in his fourth House term when he resigned in 2017 to become President Trumps first CIA director. In 2018, he replaced the fired Rex Tillerson atop the State Department. He has evolved into one of Trumps most trusted advisers.

McConnell and other top Republicans have been eager for Pompeo to run for the Senate.Just last month, Trump called Pompeo a tremendous guy doing a tremendous job and said if he thought the Kansas seat were in peril for Republicans, I would sit down and talk to Mike.

To many, that suggested Trump had given Pompeo a green light to run. Feeding the buzz, Pompeo kept his old House campaign committee alive, and it had nearly $1 million at the end of June that could be used for a Senate race. Thats a significant amount to start with in an inexpensive-media state like Kansas.

But one person said Pompeo had never signaled to his State Department colleagues that he wanted to run and told several that he didnt want to.

Kobachs opponents in the GOP primary include Rep. Roger Marshall, state Senate President Susan Wagle and Dave Lindstrom, a businessman and former Kansas City Chiefs football player. The leading Democratic candidate is state Sen. Barbara Bollier, a retired Kansas City-area anesthesiologist who switched from the GOP at the end of 2018.

Pompeos conversation with McConnell was first reported by The New York Times.

___

AP reporters Matthew Lee in Washington and John D. Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed.
On the steps of Springfield City Hall six years ago, Maya Senquiz experienced a defining moment. She attended her first protest with her mother against the use of genetically modified organisms in food. The event propelled her into activism.

Now 16 years old, Senquiz has become the representative for Western Massachusetts Teen Advocacy Council of the Girls Inc., in which teen activists focus on educating around issues of sexual harassment and violence.

Her mother, Kourtney Senquiz, is a longtime activist and now a visiting assistant professor at Clark University, who teaches African American studies, and an inspiration for Senquiz.

Ever since I was little, we grew up eating good food, said Senquiz. What you put in your body is something that affects who you are, and its connected to health and mental. Theres a whole bunch of stuff that she taught me.

She began to see as a problem in her school after she did some research on food equity in Springfield.

According to a report created by Springfield-based nonprofit Partners for a Healthier Community, obesity among children and adults in Springfield is greater than the state average.

Also, on the other end of the spectrum, according to Feeding America, 616,090 people are struggling with hunger in Massachusetts and of the 159,950 are children.

Senquiz sees there is a problem with our relationship to food and is passionate about addressing it.

At 13 years old, Senquiz started a group at Springfield Renaissance School called Healthy Food Activists to address the issues of food equity. She and other students in the group lobbied the school system to add healthier and more culturally appropriate meals to the menu.

We found that they were more they did not have an aversion to healthier foods because they were not familiar with it, especially with young younger kids, said Senquiz. They weren't going to go for the carrot or some strawberries. They were more familiar with a Pop-Tart.

Her groups efforts led the school to set up spice stations for students. Latin and Asian cuisine have been brought into the lunch rotation, with recipes from chefs in the community.

Her focus now has expanded to other areas of health and well-being. With dreams of curing Alzheimers disease, she plans to become a neuroscientist, a goal that has been solidified by her experience at Girls Inc.

Before I came to Girls Inc. I didnt know what I wanted to do for a career but coming here and being here for almost four years now, Ive found that I really love neuroscience, said Senquiz. I feel like this what is what Girls Inc. does, thats what they stand for, helping girls find their way in the time thats kind of difficult and theyre trying to figure out who they are outside.

Girls Inc. is an organization that seeks to inspire young women to be strong, smart, and bold by providing them the opportunity to develop and achieve their full potential.

Senquiz has to learn about a lot of issues that young women deal with. Emotional stress after experiencing trauma, or issues regarding sexual health.

Weve seen more and more issues about women, the gender gap and issues of sexual violence, abuse and harassment, said Suzanne Parker, the executive director of Girls Inc. of the Valley. Obviously, its been happening for a very long time. I think that certainly within the past one or two years, weve seen womans voices being raised and being heard.

Parker said that Maya is a perfect example of where a young woman has been able to make a change and have an impact to affect a positive change in her community.

Its something that we see is a need and thats why Girls Inc. nationally launched their advocacy platform about maybe two-and-a-half, three years ago, Parker said.

Senquiz is one of 12 new members of the council, the others hailing from around the country, including Alabama, Tennessee, California and Texas. The council will meet monthly, by video conference call, to draw up and implement their strategy.

During a recent meeting, she and other members of the youth council spoke with the CEO of Rights4Girls, an organization focused on ending gender-based violence. A focus of the discussion was on human trafficking of girls under the age of 18. We asked her questions. Because thats the main focus on what the meetings are on, like sex education and sex trafficking and spreading that word in our local areas.

More than 1 in 3 women and nearly 1 in 4 men have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Its staggeringly high and it's continuing to be prevalent, in our society, said Parker. Ive been on field trips with girls and we've been walking through Times Square in New York, and girls of color will tend to be bombarded with catcalling. I think it's really a problem in our culture and our society.

Senquiz is determined to help and get the message out, to inspire and educate because like her mother before her she wants to do some good and help.

She is just a really amazing person with a big heart, said Meghan Bone, director of the Girls Inc. Eureka. But also driven, to not just care but make the change because of how she cares.
FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ROVA, product developer and manufacturer, introduces their job site construction security tower, the Defender S1. Designed for the commercial developer and residential new home construction industry to reduce and eliminate theft and vandalism.

Founded in 2014 by two brothers, Matt and Marcus Tilton, fascinated with the idea of becoming entrepreneurs, quit their corporate jobs and started a low voltage pre-wire company installing audio and video systems for local home builders. Working in the construction industry for over 6 years, they could see the needs of developers and homeowners evolving, so they quickly moved into home automation and security systems. Over the last several years, the two brothers have acquired and maintained hundreds of service contracts with developers and homeowners around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Realizing that there is a heightened need for construction security to aid developers and home builders in protecting their assets, the brothers set out to develop a product that not only is reasonable in price, but also effective at reducing theft. The Defender S1 was born.

"With ROVA's Defender S1, not only are we saving a developer, or home builder, project material, we are saving them the hassle and headache of monetary and productivity loss," shares Matt Tilton.

The Defender S1 is setup in the center of the building, or home, and is able to withstand the everyday harsh environments of any job site. The Defender is easily programmable for multiple users to access remotely on the ROVA web app. From there, anyone that has been granted access can monitor the project 24/7. Notifications are received when a construction trade disarms the system as well as receive text messages and images if the Defender senses motion anytime, day or night, while the system is armed. The Defender comes standard with 2 5MP cameras, on-board LTE connectivity, 360-degree passive infrared sensors, lights, siren and 48-hour battery backup.

"Not only have we been able to protect construction sites from theft of lumber, tools, windows, appliances, and HVAC units," shares Matt Tilton, "we've also been able to help eliminate the theft of copper on the sites as well. With the Defender S1, not only are we saving a developer, or home builder, project material, we are saving them the hassle and headache of monetary and productivity loss."

"We've always been inspired to find a need and then do what we can to create a solution to fill that need," shares Marcus Tilton. ROVA is excited to launch the Defender S1bringing a much needed and effective device to serve the building community.

For media inquiries contact:

Marcus Tilton

Email: [email protected]

Phone 972-885-7142

Sales inquiries:

Matt Tilton

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 972-885-7142

For product information visit https://www.rova360.com/products

SOURCE ROVA Solutions

Related Links

http://www.rova360.com


The federal government ceded much of its control over education policy to states and local school districts in 2015 when President Barack Obama signed into law the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act.

But some scholars and advocates think that recent NAEP and international test scores showing stagnant outcomes and achievement gaps for U.S. students amid rising costs for K-12 public education signal that the federal government should aggressively intervene by setting new standards and holding school administrators feet to the fire when they fail to meet them.

In her new book, A Federal Right to Education: Fundamental Questions for Our Democracy, Kimberly Jenkins Robinson, a law professor at the University of Virginia, collected thoughts from legal and education law scholars about the challenging questions that a federal right to education would bring about. Why should the federal government guarantee all children such a right? What should a federal right to education guarantee? Why are state protections to a right to education inadequate?

Two lawsuits that argue for a federal right to an education are expected to land on the Supreme Courts dockets in the coming years. A federal lawsuit out of Detroit argues students reading scores are so abysmal that graduates of the state-run schools are ill-prepared to vote. A similar lawsuit out of Providence, R.I., coursing its way through federal courts makes a similar argument about that districts civic education standards. But local and state officials have long complained that decisions about education policy eminating from Washington are too far removed from the classroom.

Robinson began her legal career litigating school finance and constitutional law cases and has written extensively (including for Education Week ) about the history of the legal right to an education and education federalism. EdWeek chatted with Robinson about her work advocating for a federal right to an excellent education. Here is an edited transcript of that discussion.

What role should the federal government have in addressing educational inequities?

Many want to limit the federal role in education because of the shortcomings of the No Child Left Behind Act. They argue that, we let the federal government do what they want, and they made quite a mess of things.

There are two answers to that: First, NCLB accomplished quite a bit ... such as the disaggregation of achievement data to show the achievement gap. That was a significant and important shift in our understanding of education in our nation. And that achievement will be something that will be enduring in federal law. We knew from NAEP data and other data that we had a national achievement gap, but now youre forced to look at it school by school.

Second, part of what was missing in NCLB was a focus on the opportunity gap that drives the achievement gap. We need to examine how we got here and pay attention to the opportunity gap that we never fixed. We never fixed it with desegregation. And so, were still living with that legacy, not to mention the fact that we are increasing racial isolation in schools.

But then on top of that, we also need to make sure that we are documenting, measuring, and acting on the opportunity gap. Once you measure the opportunity gap, you then need to close it by giving kids the resources they need. I believe that the federal government should create a set of incentives, and then eventually legislation that requires states and districts to close opportunity gaps.

One of the problems with No Child Left Behind was that it tried to do everything all at once. We increased federal involvement in education, we sought to get rid of the soft bigotry of low expectations, and then mandated that schools fix the achievement gap. But what my work proposes is a far more incremental approach, where we first create incentives for states to do the right thing, which is basically close the opportunity gap, which will lead to closing a large part of the achievement gap. Then once we have a model in place for states and the language that we would need for federal legislation to do this, then you start attaching Title I dollars to these new federal conditions.

The current provisions in Title I that require some attention to the gap are completely eviscerated. Those provisions that say you must have comparable resourceseveryone knows the scholarship shows that they are not enforced. You first need incentives and then conditions on the billions of dollars that we spend on education to come with conditions that states and districts are closing their opportunity gaps. And until the federal government does that, its enabling states to maintain the opportunity gap because were not requiring you to change it. So, the federal government is part of the problem until it becomes part of the solution.

It also is important to understand that local control is not an end of itself. Local control is intended to achieve experimentation that leads to excellence. And if you cant show that your local control is getting you there, then you dont need to have it. Either get to excellence, or let someone else be the leader who can do it. These are our kids futures were talking about. These are not small matters.

What was flawed about San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez [the U.S. Supreme Court case that ruled a school districts funding mechanism was not a violation of the 14th ammendment Equal Protection clause]? What openings did it leave lawyers?

Rodriguez decided that ... there isnt a federal right to education, but left the door open for future litigants to argue that the education being provided to children wasnt adequate to prepare them to exercise their rights to free speech and to vote.

Brown v. Board of Education [which ruled racially segregated schools illegal] and Plyer v. Doe [which required states to provide an education to children regardless of their immigration status] undocumented immigrant children] made clear that separating education is unlawful and intentionally excluding students is not permissible. But what the court lost is the heart and spirit of Brown because the court moved toward a very heightened focus on returning powers to local control, just as districts were finally starting to require effective desegregation. Milliken v. Bradley [which ruled unconstitutional an effort by Detroit and its suburbs to integrate its school systems] cemented the urban-suburban divide, particularly in the North and the West.

Is school funding fair?

We know children in high-poverty schools need more funds than other students to compete effectively with their more-affluent peers. Many states fail to provide adequate and equitable funding. We oftentimes treat every child the same, but the challenge is that not every kid needs the same amount of resources. For low-income communities, there are is a constellation of things that poverty brings into the classroom. By giving the same funding, were clearly disadvantaging those children. Even more so when we give them less funding, and thats inexcusable. This continues year after year, generation after generation, and then theres a cumulative adverse impact on test scores and outcomes.

When it comes to the history of Americas public school system, what inspires you? What disturbs you?



What inspires me is where weve come from. We had slavery, and then Jim Crow. And there was a time when I would not be teaching at the University of Virginia School of Law. I wouldnt have even been let in the front door.

Unfortunately, however, Jim Crows reach remains strong. You know, we still have love letters to Jim Crow, all around our nation with the statues that honor civil war heroes. We still have a long, close relationship with Jim Crow that is impacting our society today. And that is one thing that our nation has never recognized. The United States invested heavily in Jim Crow, at the federal, state and local level. However, the dismantling of Jim Crow received much more of a cursory effort, was much more limited in scope, was much shorter, and we invested less. Because of that, Jim Crow continues and lives on and continues to affect things due to our failure to fully dismantle this very elaborate system we put in place.

We still use this mantra of local control, as though that should be one of the premier guideposts of education when it is merely intended to be a means to an end. Local control that leads to excellenceits wonderful. But local control that leads to inadequate, inequitable, and substandard educational opportunities is not an American value.



The Supreme Court is often a champion of local control. But what it loses sight of is that local control in and of itself is not the goal. The goal is having well-educated and effective citizens and children who are prepared to engage in our economy. We need a far greater partnership between the federal and state government. We need to have a partnership rather than an approach in which the states are in control and the feds are on the sidelines. Thats not an effective partnership.

So, what you keep referring to is that the feds have an incentive to assure equity between states, between districts, and between schools. What is the incentive here? Why should the feds care about the quality of education for kids?

The federal government should care about it for several reasons. One, its costing us a lot of money to have inequitable and inadequate schools. Theres quite a bit of social science data showing that inadequate schools cost us billions in health-care costs, social welfare programs, and in the criminal justice system. It costs us in our tax revenues, when children arent reaching their full potential and arent earning as much as they could. It is very well established in social science research that the nation is paying for its lack of investment and attention to these issues.

Youre going to pay less now, or pay more later. If you reduce our academic disparities, you would get greater civic engagement and fewer instances of criminal justice involvement. You also could reduce the ancillary costs of criminal justice to the victims and the families and communities that are affected.

Im recommending actually a more cost-effective way to pay for it, which is investing in education at the outset. And there are some things that cant be quantified. What is the cost of not having an educated citizenry?

Are you advocating that a federal right to education be enacted legislatively or through the courts?

Just like the civil rights movement took a multifaceted approach, I think we should be pushing every possible avenue for the recognition of a federal right to education. There are litigators who are in federal court now who are seeking to get the right recognized. But the litigation was begun thinking that there would be a court appointed by Hillary Clinton rather than Donald Trump.

Even if the Supreme Court rejects a case arguing that there is a constitutionally protected right to education, Congress certainly still can and should enact legislation that recognizes one. All of those avenues should be pursued. And not just [through the courts and Congress] but also a constitutional amendment that recognizes the right to an education.

Ultimately, in my work, I focused on a congressional right to education in part because you can get the public buy in that you dont have when the court announces something. A congressional right allows Congress to work out over time with the states what the scope and nature of the right should be. But undoubtedly, the right should guarantee an excellent education for each child.

Finally, Im wondering if you have any thoughts about the presidential candidates debating education funding. Are you skeptical? Or do you think this is good that presidential candidates are engaging in debate about the federal government and education?

Yes, I think this is a very positive development that the Democratic candidates are talking about engaging the federal government in education, more in part because the president has a unique bully pulpit to push a progressive education agenda. He or she can send the message to the nation over and over and over again that the situation we have is intolerable, and we must do something about it. And both sides of the political aisle have noted that education is an important civil rights issue.

What I really want to see is action, not just talk. I think part of that needs to be preceded by a national conversation about the opportunity gap. And so, to the extent that the candidates are helping to raise attention to education disparities, I think thats beneficial. States have an important role to play in education to ensure excellent schools, and the federal government can partner along with states to help them achieve that. The great thing about the executive branch is theres a lot it can do even without Congress acting. The president can call attention to this issue, have a national commission study this issue and make recommendations. That was done under President Obama. But those recommendations never received the adequate attention they deserved.

But at this point, its so easy on the campaign trail to talk. Its much harder to actually take action and do something.
PennEast Pipeline Co. LLCs federal approval expires Jan. 19, with the start of construction still on hold as a fight over state permits appears headed for the U.S. Supreme Court.

The consortium of natural gas companies asked the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Dec. 30 to extend to Jan. 19, 2022, its deadline to complete construction and get the pipeline in service.

FERC on Jan. 19, 2018, gave PennEast two years to build the 120-mile, 36-inch-diameter underground line originating near Pennsylvanias Marcellus Shale gas-producing region in Dallas, Luzerne County, and ending at Transcos pipeline interconnection near Pennington, Mercer County, in New Jersey.

PennEast spokeswoman Pat Kornick called the extension request not out of the ordinary, and PennEast fully anticipates FERC accepting the request. Environmental groups urge FERC to say no, labeling as dangerous and unnecessary the project that would cut through wetlands, forest, waterways and other properties, in the words of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

FERC's approval was a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the pipeline first announced in August 2014. "We find that PennEast has sufficiently demonstrated that there is market demand for the project," the 2-year-old order stated.

Today, PennEast continues to pursue permits under the National Historic Preservation Act in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as Clean Water Act approval still needed in New Jersey.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has deemed the Clean Water Act application incomplete, according to PennEasts extension request. That is based on a federal appeals court ruling last year blocking PennEast from using eminent domain to acquire state land needed for the pipeline route.

PennEast says it anticipates filing a petition Feb. 3 with the U.S. Supreme Court, appealing the September ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

PennEast also argues in its FERC extension application the Third Circuit opinion should have no "bearing on the completeness of PennEast's application."

"The Project continues to be required by the public convenience and necessity for the reasons set forth in the Certificate Order, and postponement of the in-service date for the Project will have no impact on the public interest findings underlying the Certificate Order," PennEast's FERC extension request states. "PennEast remains committed to constructing this important energy infrastructure project and placing the Project into service as soon as possible."

PennEast has maintained the pipeline is needed to bring natural gas to markets for domestic use.

In a counter-filing with FERC on Monday, the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, The Watershed Institute and the Delaware Riverkeeper Network ask that commissioners "reject PennEast's eleventh hour request for an extension of its in-service date, and require PennEast to submit a new application with a legally tenable route and attendant environmental and economic data supporting its new project."

The opponents argue that without the new pipeline, "New Jersey Rate Counsel and independent energy experts have amassed substantial evidence demonstrating that there is currently a glut of pipeline capacity serving New Jersey customers."

The Sierra Club notes PennEast still lacks approval for the pipeline from the Delaware River Basin Commission, which lists the projects status as pending.

"If PennEast ends up building their pipeline five years from now, it may be stranded assets on backs of ratepayers, New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said in a news release.

The Basin Commission is continuing to review PennEasts application, a spokeswoman for the agency said Tuesday. Once a draft docket is ready for public notice, a Notice of Public Hearing will be published with public hearing/comment information. No public hearings are yet scheduled, and there is no timeframe as to when this will occur, commission spokeswoman Kate Schmidt said.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Los Angeles: Hollywood star Rami Malek says his villain in the upcoming James Bond movie "No Time to Die" is "unique and complex".

The Oscar winner dished out a few details about his character in the film and his experience of working with Britsh actor Daniel Craig on the red carpet of the 77th Golden Globe awards.

"He's quite unique. He's very complex. Daniel calls him misunderstood. But I had the most extraordinary time going head-to-head with that man," Malek told E! News' Ryan Seacrest at the red carpet.

The actor also praised Craig, who has been playing the fictional British spy since 2006, for being a great professional.

"He is a consummate professional. What is really special about that is you see these movies and I love the Bond films. On day one, going out on stage, on set in front of the lens, well, to everybody else, I actually got a Broadway version sitting in the front seat watching Bond do it first hand and there is something that it took a second to step back and go, 'What's my first line again?'" he said.

At the 2020 Golden Globes, Malek was nominated for the best actor in a TV series, drama for his role on "Mr. Robot".
DODGE CENTER, Minn.  Two people were home when a fire broke out Monday night at a Dodge Center residence on the 17800 block of 635th Street.

20-year-old Liza Aarsvold was home with her mom at the time the fire broke out, and said she was sitting in the living room listening to music when she smelled smoke.

"Next thing you know, we saw black smoke coming from the bathroom," she said.

When they opened the basement door, she said smoke expelled to the point where they couldnt see.

"We had to book it," she said. "And then it literally just went up in flames, it was no slow process."

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According to a press release from the Dodge County Sheriff's Office, "deputies arrived to find the house fully engulfed in flames". The release stated that the cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation by the State Fire Marshall. The house is expected to be a total loss.

Aarsvold said it was about two years ago when the family of six moved into the home that used to belong to her grandparents, which is over 100 years old.

The family has two cows, five chickens, three horses, a pony, a dog and three cats living. The dogs and cats live inside the home, and as of 5:30 p.m. Monday, the dog and one cat had not been located.

Aarsvold said by the time she and her mom got outside and were able to dial 911, it was about a minute until they heard a loud boom. She said there are two 500-gallon propane tanks in the backyard of the house, one of which had exploded when the fire spread to it.

Standing a block away from her house as emergency crews tended to the fire, Aarsvold was concerned for the two calves who were housed near the propane tanks.

"I could only hear one cow after that, so Im guessing the LP tank might have hurt the other one," she said.

The family also had a pony out back and three horses in the nearby pasture. Aarsvold was relieved to see that all three horses, draped in red blankets to stay warm, were OK.

When the house was fully engulfed, she said she was debating orders given from a police officer for her to leave the property.

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"If anyone knows me, Im pretty stubborn when it comes to my horses," she said. "And I was just trying to let them out to the pasture so they wouldnt be in the smoke."

Because of reported sparks visible behind the home, Dodge County Sheriff's Office reported that Excel Energy was dispatched to help assist with the scene. Canadian Pacific Railroad was also contacted due to the proximity to the tracks in town, and the nearby crossing was closed to trains while crews responded to the scene.

The Dodge Center Fire Department, Claremont Fire Department, Hayfield Fire Department and Dodge Center Ambulance all responded to the scene.

Less than an hour after the fire, Aarsvold was looking on the bright side, relieved that she and her mom were safe.

"Not how I wanted to start the new year," she said. "But I guess it can only go up from here."

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Korea is set to face Indonesia on Tuesday in the final round of Asian Olympic qualifiers in women's volleyball in Thailand, which runs until this weekend.

In the tournament organized by the Asian Volleyball Confederation, seven Asian countries, divided into two groups, compete to advance to this summer's Tokyo Olympics.

Korea is grouped with Kazakhstan, Indonesia and Iran, while the host country Thailand is grouped with Australia and Chinese Taipei. Only the winner will qualify for the upcoming Olympics.


A veteran snake catcher has given a dire warning to pet owners after a cat was swallowed whole by a python.

Stuart McKenzie shared a horrifying image of a large python with a bulge in its stomach in a southern Sunshine Coast home on Monday.

Mr McKenzie, from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7, said he shared the image as a warning to other pet owners who let their cats roam free.

A snake catcher has given a dire warning to pet owners after a cat was swallowed whole by a rouge python after it was left to roam the streets

'This is a sad situation and something I wish no pet owner has to go through, however there are important lessons we can take out of this,' he said.

The snake catcher said he had been called out after a home owner found a large python in their yard that had clearly eaten something.

'As soon as I arrived I knew the food Item was too big to be a possum and I was 95 per cent sure it was a cat,' he said.

Snake catcher Stuart McKenzie said he took the snake to a vet who scanned the reptile and found a microchip inside from the pet cat. (Stock image)

'I took the snake to the local vet and we scanned for a microchip and sure enough it was a family's pet cat.'

Mr McKenzie said the cat's owner lived nearby and her children were 'devastated' at the news but there was a lot they could have done to save their pet.

'Unfortunately the cat would often explore the neighbourhood during the day and where I found the snake was a few blocks from the cat's family's home,' he said.

It comes after Mr McKenzie shared an image of an entire duck being swallowed by a python

The snake catcher said keeping cats indoors had a dual benefit as it not only reduces the harm felines often inflict on wildlife but it also keeps them safe.

Mr McKenzie previously spoke to the Daily Mail Australia after a python was spotted eating an entire duck and said that snakes consuming pets isn't unusual and warns that small dogs and cats were at risk.

'It happens rarely but it can occur. They regularly feast on chickens and birds so please make sure your pet's enclosures are snake proof,' he said.
A number of incidents involving threatening language and behaviour towards staff at a popular Brisbane bar subject to gunfire and an arson attempt since late December are now in police sights, after the stolen boat believed to be involved in the Monday shooting was found later that day.

Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming said though a "definitive link" between the two incidents was yet to be determined, the same group of investigators are working on both and police are "assuming at the moment that both matters are related".

The boat police believe was involved in an early-morning incident that saw shots fired at Mr Percival's bar on Monday morning. Credit:Queensland Police Service

The shooting occurred about 2am on Monday, with "multiple shots" coming from a boat carrying three or four people in "close proximity" to the venue. The venue was closed at the time, with one staff member inside who escaped injury.

Superintendent Fleming said though investigators were keeping an open mind, a number of those people involved in the earlier incidents at the venue - including one on November 17 which was "quite confrontational" - were known to police.
The United States is highlighting Chinas mass detention of some one million Muslim Uighurs in concentration camps as part of a bid to reduce Beijings diplomatic clout in the Middle East.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo commended Bahrains Council of Representatives today for a statement it issued last week expressing deep concern over the inhumane and painful conditions to which Uighur Muslims in China are subjected.

Were happy with what Bahrain did and we ask all countries, particularly those belonging to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League, to denounce the Chinese Communist Partys brutal treatment of Uighurs, which is part of the partys broader war on faith, Pompeo told reporters in Washington.

Pompeos remarks came after he spoke with Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa by phone on Monday following the US assassination of Iran's Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani.

Why it matters: China has sought to expand its economic and diplomatic ties in the Middle East, particularly in the Gulf states, Iran, Israel and Egypt. Notably, Bahrain and several other Arab states  including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Egypt  signed a letter last year defending Chinas human rights record and defending the Muslim crackdown as a counter-terror measure.

Whats next: While the statement from Bahrains Council of Representatives indicates that China may face more pushback from its Middle Eastern trade partners over the Uighur crisis, it also indicates that Manama wants to continue business as usual with Bejing.

The statement expressed appreciation for the depth of the Bahraini-Chinese relations, stressing everyones keenness to strengthen relations between the Islamic countries and the friendly Republic of China.

So far, Bahrain and Turkey are the only countries in the region to push back against Chinas human rights abuses against the Uighurs, and it remains to be seen whether Beijings other Middle East trade partners will follow suit.

Know more: Ankara may have vocally condemned China over the Uighur crisis, but Metin Gurcan has detailed the growing influence of the pro-Beijing faction within the Turkish national security establishment. That growing divide has made Uighurs living in Turkey fear deportation to China, as Semih Idiz reports.
A 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy were shot over the weekend in Milwaukee after a driver allegedly fired at a group of kids for throwing snowballs at their car. According to Milwaukee Police, the two kids were taken to a nearby hospital after being shot by the driver of a white Toyota. Police were called to the scene around 8 p.m. Saturday night.

The group of kids appear to have been throwing snowballs at several cars passing by when they hit the Toyota. The driver of that Toyota has not been identified nor has a description been released by police. According to police, the victims suffered non life-threatening injuries.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7360.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Loaded firearms and marijuana were staple ingredients in the kitchen cabinets of former Mob Wives star Drita DAvanzo and her husband, Lee, prosecutors allege.

The husband and wife stood side by side just like any other couple when they appeared for their arraignment in Criminal Court in St. George on Friday afternoon, after the NYPD allegedly found weapons and drugs in their Pleasant Plains home during a raid Thursday night.

Drita rose to national fame when VH1s launched Mob Wives in April of 2011. Her husbands extensive criminal history and reputed ties to the mob were a central theme of the show.

*** CLICK HERE FOR A LOOK AT DRITAS RISE ***

After giving a brief nod to a man in the back of the courtroom, Lee DAvanzo, 50, faced Judge Ann Thompson. His lawyer, James Foccaro Jr., stood on his left side.

His wife, Drita, 43, stood quietly between him and her lawyer, John J. Rapawy.

When police entered their home at 226 Woodvale Ave. at around 6 p.m. Thursday, detectives found two loaded firearms, one inside their bedroom and one in the kitchen, according to the criminal complaint.

NYPD detectives found hydrocodone, a pain killer, and alprazolam, an anti-anxiety medication, in the couples bedroom, the complaint states.

Detectives also found two scales, ziplock bags used for the purpose of unlawfully packaging a narcotic drug, a sum of United States currency and multiple cellular phones inside the home, the complaint alleges.

Police recovered a large quantity of marijuana in the basement and in a kitchen cabinet that was accessible to their 12-year-old daughter, according to the complaint.

The raid happened after the NYPD received community tips and concerns about activities at that location, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

Thompson set bail for Lee DAvanzo, who had a fugitive warrant in New Jersey, at $100,000 and at $15,000 for his wife.

They are both facing charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child.

The judge also issued a limited order of protection against both of them for an individual that was not named in court.

They will be both back in court on Jan. 31.

PRIOR ARRESTS

The husband has served prison stints on numerous federal and state convictions.

He was arrested in Operation Turkeyshoot," when four suspects were allegedly caught trying to break into the vault of a bank in New Springville in 2008. The evidence indicated that Lee and other suspects attempted to gain access by drilling through the walls of a neighboring building, according to Advance archives and documents previously filed in court by federal prosecutors.

Lee was on federal probation at the time for similar crimes and he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 36 months to five years in state prison.

In 2003, Lee was sentenced to 62 months in federal prison on a conviction of racketeering for multiple robberies, marijuana distribution, loansharking and money laundering.

In that case, he was identified by prosecutors in court documents as a member of the New Springville Boys, a racketeering enterprise with connections to the Bonanno organized crime family.

RISE TO STARDOM

Dritas own Mob Wives biographical page posted on the VH1 website when she was starring in the show detailed her husbands alleged ties to organized crime.

Her bio described Lee as the leader of a Bonanno and Colombo crime family farm team."

While her husband is serving time in prison, she is left alone raising two young girls, the bio says.

"Drita, who comes from a strict Albanian household, defied her parents and married someone outside the community  an Italian."

Drita, who lived for a time in the Todt Hill Houses, was raised in the projects of Staten Island after her family settled there from Albania, according to her bio.
As firefighters in southeast Australia continue to battle hundreds of unrelenting bushfires, the death has risen to 25. Despite much-needed logistic aid announced at the weekend in the form of army reservists, volunteers are digging their heels in for the long haul with the knowledge that this scenario is likely to become the new norm.

Firefighters took advantage of a brief drop in temperatures and some much-needed rainfall on Tuesday before the arrival of the next heatwave, forecast for later this week.

Exhausted volunteers cleared ground vegetation and carried out controlled burns before temperatures and winds were expected to pick up again by Friday.

"It really is about shoring up protection to limit the damage potential and the outbreak of the fires over the coming days," said New South Wales Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday announced the country's largest military call-up in years, mobilising up to 3,000 reservists to assist volunteer firefighters.

This is in addition to help coming from teams from the US, Canada and New Zealand.

Even France has offered immediate operational assistance if necessary.

But on the ground, many citizens are wondering how the situation could have got so out of hand, when the warning signs were looming back in September, when the first fires broke out.

Morrison, whose government has been criticised for its slow response to the emergency, on Saturday pledged AU$2 billion ($1.4 billion) of taxpayer money for a national recovery fund.

"It's a long road ahead and we will be with these communities every step of the way as they rebuild," he told local media.

Thousands of properties have been destroyed and the total amount of land burnt is close to eight million hectares to date.

The new normal

Victoria's, Premier Daniel Andrews who established a bushfire recovery agency to help devastated towns concurred that intense fires will become commonplace.

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"We should just be honest about the fact that we're going to see more and more fires, more and more damage as each fire season comes... This is the new normal," Andrews told reporters.

Stephen McDonald has been a volunteer firefighter in the south-east metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria for the last ten years. He is also a senior volunteer with the NGO Save the Children, an organisation working with the Red Cross and other groups to bring relief to families on the ground.

Never seen on this scale before

"Ive seen some very big campaign fires and obviously smaller local fires, but the kind of fire behaviour that were seeing is really quite a marked difference from what we were seeing in the 1990s, early 2000s.The speed, the rate of spread, is taking place in a way that is really quite unusual," he tells RFI.

"Some of these fires have been running for months," he says, referring to some of the fires raging in the state of NSW and Victoria.

"I think that the issue we have here is that the scale and scope of these fires have caught everyone by surprise...and things are going to be spreading and getting worse and some of these fires are starting to join up."

When asked whether the government's decision to call up reserve troops to help was too little too late, he responds by focusing on the bigger picture, and that more strategic thinking around fire handling will be needed for the future.

"Its so unprecedented that I think the assistance is welcomed, but what we need to do is to be starting to think now around the medium-term planning on this," he says.

Gruelling months ahead

He explains that average temperatures throughout 2019 were 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than average and the prolonged drought has seen grasslands and forest fuel much drier than usual.

"I think the real challenge is that these fires are at a stage now where its very difficult to attack them head on."

"In many respects its going to be around defending townships and villages across the country to try and minimise the number of homes and businesses that are lost."

"But weve got another three to four months of this season to get through and as I said earlier, the hottest part of the summer is yet to come," he concludes.

Smoke reaching South America

Meanwhile, weather authorities in South America reported that smoke from the fires has been spotted more than 12,000 kilometres (7,400 miles) away in Chile and Argentina.

The captial Canberra has been described as the world's most polluted city  temporarily  bathed in a dense haze.

Rallies are planned on Friday to call on the Australian government to step up efforts to tackle climate change, which experts say have helped fuel the fires.
New Delhi, Jan 8 : As Finland's new Prime Minister Sanna Marin called for the introduction of a flexible working schedule in the country, Twitterati from India were quick to welcome the move.

After the 34-year-old politician said that it would allow workers to spend more time with their families, Twitter users seconded her.

One user wrote: "Congrats, ma'am (from India) for doing a great job. We know the value of spending time with family. #SannaMarin #Finland." Another tweeted: "@MarinSanna has introduced a six-hour day, four-day work week. Look forward to seeing how it impacts productivity, output & overall quality of life." A Tweet read: "#Finland PM #SannaMarin proposes a four-day working week with 6-hr working per day!!! More efficient, productive and more happy. #India: work more, less efficient, less productive, less happy." Another user praised the Finnish politician, saying: "True leader is the one who thinks about their citizens. The 34-year-old PM nailed it and stole my heart and respect." One user posted a meme of a penguin carrying an executive attache case and wrote: #Finland Prime Minister proposes four-day work week, six-hour days... Finland calling..." A Twitter user remarked: "...indeed a great step @MarinSanna. We Indians work six days a week for 14 hours a day with monthly wages probably 10 times less than that of Finland. @narendramodi, when can we expect a change?" A funny remark by a user read: "In India it's Zero Day work week due to unemployment."
A British teenager found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus can return home after a judge said he was giving her a second chance and suspended her prison sentence.

The 19-year-old woman hugged her family and legal team and left court weeping, with her head in her hands, after she was sentenced for public mischief.

The teenagers mother shouted shes coming home to supporters outside Famagusta District Court, telling reporters she feels relieved.

Her lawyer Lewis Power QC said she will be returning home later on Tuesday but said her legal team would be challenging her conviction and were prepared to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

The teenager, from Derbyshire, has been stuck on the island after claiming she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party town of Ayia Napa on July 17.

She was charged and spent about a month in prison before being granted bail in August.

Expand Close Protesters shout slogans outside a court before the arrival of the 19 year-old British woman (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Protesters shout slogans outside a court before the arrival of the 19 year-old British woman (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

The dozen young men and boys, aged between 15 and 20 arrested over the incident were freed after she signed a retraction statement 10 days later.

But she maintains she was raped after having consensual sex with one of the Israelis and forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police following hours of questioning alone and without legal representation.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he has raised concerns over her treatment with the Cypriot authorities, after the teenagers conviction provoked outrage in Cyprus and the UK.

After the sentence, he said: We will be following up on some of the issues in relation to the case. I spoke to the Cypriot foreign minister about that.

There is a broader issue for Brits travelling abroad  not just in Cyprus, or indeed in Europe  whether it is holiday, whether it is backpacking, to make sure they can do so as safely and securely as possible.

Expand Close Protesters shout slogans outside a court before the arrival of the 19 year-old British woman at court (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Protesters shout slogans outside a court before the arrival of the 19 year-old British woman at court (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

What we will want to do is have a conversation with our Cypriot friends and partners about that case once I have downloaded the full facts.

The teenagers family had raised fears she would suffer permanent damage to her mental health if she was sent to prison, having been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

But Judge Michalis Papathanasiou told the court he would not be jailing her, despite insisting that all the evidence suggested she was guilty.

Sentencing her to four months in prison, suspended for three years, and told the packed courtroom: I admit, I have been troubled over this.

All the evidence shows that she had lied and prevented the police from doing other serious jobs.

Twelve people were arrested and seven of them were there for at least 10 days. That was also a serious offence.

Her psychological state, her youth, that she has been away from her family, her friends and academic studies this year this has led me to decide to give her a second chance and suspend the sentence for three years.

Expand Close People protested outside Downing Street (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Around 100 protesters gathered outside the court, including a group of about 60 from Israel.

Holding placards reading we believe you and dont be afraid, they chanted: Cyprus justice, shame on you; Stop blaming the victim, and: You are not alone.

Their voices could be heard inside court as the judge passed sentence, even after security guards had asked for the windows and blinds to be closed.

Addressing applauding supporters after the hearing, the teenagers mother said: I just want to thank each and every one of you for turning up today, having belief, having faith and making sure we get justice.

On behalf of the family, I would like to say we are very relieved at the sentence that has been passed down today.

I would also like to say thank you for all the support we have received throughout the globe.

Adi Izrael, who had travelled to Cyprus from Israel, said: Many people say, we dont know she was raped. But the way they (the Israelis) behaved, something is wrong with this case.

The rape was obvious and its obvious she deserves our support.

We say and will maintain that this young girl was stripped both of her dignity and her basic human rights.Lewis Power QC

A crowdfunding page set up to help with the teenagers legal costs has raised almost 140,000 and its founder, John Hobbs, said he hopes to keep up the momentum to fight the appeal, which could take up to four years.

The teenagers lawyer Mr Power said: Whilst we welcome the fact that the sentence imposed today allows her to go home, we strongly contest the conviction and the fight for her innocence will go on regardless.

We will be appealing the conviction and will take this case to the Supreme Court of Cyprus and are prepared to fight this case all the way to the European Court of Human Rights.

We say and will maintain that this young girl was stripped both of her dignity and her basic human rights.

Lawyer Michael Polak, from the Justice Abroad group, which is assisting the teenager, said: When the teenager reported the horrific offence to the Cypriot police in July 2019 she did not imagine that she would end up on trial.

Not only has she been subject to this indignity but she was also remanded in Nicosia prison for four-and-a-half weeks and has been subject to stringent bail conditions requiring her to stay in Cyprus since this time.

Despite all the obstacles that the teenager has faced seeking justice for the terrible offences that she reported, she and her legal team remain committed to obtaining justice.

Nir Yaslovitzh, a lawyer who represents four of the Israelis arrested over the alleged rape, had previously called for a harsh sentence.

But he said on Tuesday: Whats important isnt the decision that the judge gave today.

Whats important for me is the judge found the girl guilty because the meaning for me and all the people in Israel is that the judge found the version all the boys gave in Cyprus is true.
Cell phone batteries constantly dying, health centres bereft of modern equipment, a dependence on flashlights after sundown -- Kafule Yigzaw experienced all these struggles and more growing up without electricity in rural Ethiopia. So five years ago, he leapt at the chance to work on a project designed to light up his country and the wider Horn of Africa region: the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a 145-metre-high, 1.8-kilometre-long concrete colossus that is set to become the largest hydropower plant in Africa. "Our country has a huge problem with electricity," Kafule, 22, told AFP recently while taking a break from reinforcing steel pipes that will funnel water from the Blue Nile River to one of the dam's 13 turbines. "This is about the existence of our nation and, in my opinion, it will help us break free from the bondage of poverty." The dam is expected to begin producing energy by the end of this year. Across Ethiopia, poor farmers and rich businessmen eagerly await the more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity officials say it will ultimately provide. Yet as thousands of workers toil day and night to finish the project, Ethiopian negotiators remain locked in talks over how the dam will affect downstream neighbours, principally Egypt. The next round of negotiations starts Thursday in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, and is likely to renew focus on Cairo's fears that the dam could bring water and food insecurity for millions of Egyptians. Ethiopians at the dam site say they are doing their best to focus on the task at hand, though they bristle at suggestions that their country is overstepping in its bid to harness the Blue Nile for its development. "When we do projects here it's not to harm the downstream countries," said deputy project manager Ephrem Woldekidan. "There is no reason that the downstream countries should complain (about) it because this is our resource also." - Rising Nile tensions - The Nile River's two main tributaries -- the Blue and White Niles -- converge in the Sudanese capital Khartoum before flowing north through Egypt toward the Mediterranean Sea. Egypt depends on the Nile for about 90 percent of its irrigation and drinking water, and says it has "historic rights" to the river guaranteed by treaties from 1929 and 1959. Tensions have been high in the Nile basin ever since Ethiopia broke ground on the dam in 2011. The International Crisis Group warned last March that the countries "could be drawn into conflict" given that Egypt sees potential water loss as "an existential threat". In October, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, fresh from winning the Nobel Peace Prize, assured lawmakers that "no force can stop Ethiopia from building the dam" and said "millions" of troops could be mobilised to defend it if necessary. The United States stepped in to jumpstart a tripartite dialogue with Sudan that is supposed to resolve the dispute by January 15. The biggest initial hurdle is the filling of the dam's reservoir, which can hold 74 billion cubic metres of water. Egypt is worried Ethiopia will fill the reservoir too quickly, reducing water flow downstream. After the latest round of talks in Sudan last month, Sudanese irrigation minister Yasser Abbas said there had been "progress" on the issue but no breakthrough. Kevin Wheeler, an engineer at the University of Oxford who has studied the dam, said he was hopeful a deal on the filling period could be reached by January 15, but that additional issues would emerge down the line. "Coordinated operations between the reservoirs along the Nile are likely to be an ongoing discussion that may continue for years, decades, and centuries to come, particularly as populations grow, development continues, and global climate patterns continue to change," Wheeler said. -Ethiopia's push for power- Thousands of farmers have allegedly been displaced since work on the dam began. The US-based NGO International Rivers has accused Ethiopia of disregarding the dam's environmental impacts, which remain understudied. The group has voiced concern about "great degradation" that, along with changing weather patterns due to climate change, could "result in irregular episodes of flooding, drought and mudslides". Ethiopia has responded to such statements by noting that a study group including experts from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan has been tasked with assessing social and environmental impacts. Meanwhile, officials in Addis Ababa are focusing on the country's push for power. Ethiopia is striving for universal electricity access by 2025, though currently more than half the population of 110 million lives without it. Even in Addis, power is patchy, and the city suffered weeks of blackouts during the most recent period of electricity rationing in May and June 2019. Dawit Moges, head of a medical laboratory, said the cuts drove up his generator costs and, because they were not predictable, led to delayed results and unreliable blood sample readings. "You've collected specimens, you're processing the specimens and boom, there is no power. All those specimens, you may not be sure about the results," he said, adding that he hoped the dam would yield a steady power supply. "I want it to be completed as soon as possible and go into production." The same is true for Harsh Kothari, head of Mohan Group, which runs five manufacturing units producing everything from shoes to electric cables and barbed wire. Reliable electricity would make his business "a lot more competitive" and enable it to grow, Kothari said. Back at the dam site, this kind of talk about how the project could fuel prosperity from farms to factories across Ethiopia is exactly what motivates Workey Tadele, a radio operator, to go to work every day. "We're working here for the benefit of our country," she said. "If we have electricity, then we?ll have a better future." The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will become the largest hydropower plant in Africa As workers toil to finish the project, Ethiopian negotiators remain locked in talks over how the dam will affect downstream neighbours, principally Egypt Tensions have been high in the Nile basin ever since Ethiopia broke ground on the dam in 2011 The Blue Nile river passes through the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), near Guba in Ethiopia
There's a golden opportunity in the precious metal right now, and it's not going away.

That's what two analysts are saying about gold after it hit its highest level since April 2013 on Monday. U.S.-Iran tensions have given a new kick to a rally that began in the last weeks of 2019. The price of gold was down slightly Tuesday morning.

Piper Sandler chief market technician Craig Johnson thinks gold has another 12% to go. He notes that stocks have stabilized and were rising with gold  an "interesting" trend to note  and that charts of gold point to even more gains.

"I look at this chart of gold and it looks like to us we can trade as high as $1,760," Johnson said Monday on CNBC's "Trading Nation." "I don't think this trade is over for gold, and I would have a little slice of this in everyone's portfolio."

Boris Schlossberg, managing director of FX strategy for BK Asset Management, also points out that gold had been rising before tensions with Iran. He attributes it to the Fed, and believes that a further gold rally will depend on the central bank's balance sheet.

"Overall, I think it's a buy-the-dip story for the time being until the Fed starts getting tight," he said in the same interview.

If investors are looking to play gold, Schlossberg suggests looking at Newmont Mining.

"Newmont Mining just raised their dividend to 2.4%," he said. "It's the only gold miner that's part of the S&P 500. If gold really starts to run, it's going to be broadly on institutions, so that's an interesting way to play it."

Gold has rallied about 5% in the last month.

Disclaimer
The ruling Chinese Communist Party on published new guidelines banning overseas teaching materials in primary and secondary schools, as President Xi Jinping continued to tighten ideological controls in all areas of life.



The national teaching materials committee under China's cabinet, the State Council, requires authors, publishers and teachers to promote the "spirit of Xi Jinping Thought" in all teaching materials used from primary through to senior high school.



"Teaching materials in primary and secondary schools must reflect the will of the party and the state," the regulations, dated Dec. 19, said.



Under the new regime, teaching materials must all be submitted for political review by experts well-versed in Marxism, traditional Chinese culture and revolutionary values.



Textbooks or other classroom materials will be discontinued if there are "problems with the political direction and value orientation of the textbook content," it said.



Anyone involved in the selection, authoring and reviewing of classroom materials can be held responsible at any stage in the process for violations of the rules, and the rules explicitly ban the use of materials from outside mainland China up until the age of 16, according to a directive published on the ministry of education's official website.



"Compulsory education schools may not use overseas teaching materials," the directive states. "Senior high schools must follow national policy when selecting overseas teaching materials."



Schools are also banned from creating their own teaching materials, which must be sourced from nationally approved materials, it said.



Ideological unity from grade one on

Sulaiman Gu, a PhD candidate at the University of Georgia, said the directive likely stems from Beijing's mistrust of anything resembling a liberal education. Chinese officials have repeatedly pointed to Hong Kong's liberal studies program in government schools as being "to blame" for the huge public support for successive waves of pro-democracy movements in the city.



"Limiting access to foreign textbooks is a way to maintain ideological unity from the primary level of education upwards," Gu said. "The system knows that knowledge is its nemesis, so it has to monopolize the right to define knowledge in order to continue existing."



"The lesson it took from Hong Kong was that if it can't get a monopoly on awareness, then it will have no political security," he said.



Chen Weijian, the New Zealand-based editor-in-chief of "Beijing Spring", said he also believes that the new controls on teaching materials are a response to the past few months of popular protest in Hong Kong, where a mass movement began in opposition to extradition to mainland China, and broadened into a wider movement for political reform and accountability under Chinese rule.



"Since Xi Jinping came to power, he has wanted to get back to the Mao era, to rid China of anything from the the West, and to unify everyone's thinking in line with [party] propaganda," Chen said. "Anyone capable of independent thought will be aware of what the Chinese Communist Party is doing to try to turn back the tides of history."



"The Chinese Communist Party has concluded from the crisis in Hong Kong that you have to get them when they're very young," said Chen, adding that Hong Kong textbooks are considered the main culprit behind the movement.



Veteran political journalist Gao Yu said Beijing wants to create a generation of young Chinese people who only know how to sing the praises of the Chinese Communist Party.



'Moving backwards'

But she said the ban on foreign materials made no sense, because the party also heavily censors writings by Chinese people.



"They won't let you have foreign [books], but can you post anything by Liu Xiaobo?" Gao said. "They are fooling people by getting them at a young age and making kids so dumb that all they know is how to sing revolutionary songs."



"It shows how educational ideology is moving backwards, to the extent that they want to shut down any thinking, any thoughts at all," she said. "They also want total control of the internet and now the classrooms."



A scholar who gave the pseudonym Zhuang at Beijing's prestigious Tsinghua University said the latest round of regulations was barely necessary.



"Patriotic education is already very powerful," she said. "There are no loopholes left, and yet they still put out this sort of thing."



"The ministry of education simply do not understand what education actually is," she said. "They don't know the difference between education and propaganda."



"Education should be a process of cultivating citizens ... with the knowledge and capacity for critical thought, not a training school for the government's designated successors," Zhuang said. "They are controlling education to the extent that they have completely changed its nature: I think it's terrible."



The regulations come three years after Xi told an ideological and political work conference in that Chinese universities should start looking at a nationwide overhaul of textbook publishing, turning textbooks into a vehicle for state power and the will of the government.



Last August, the government removed references to "God" and "the Bible" from translated textbooks used in the sixth grade.



The references were removed from Chinese-language translations of four classic stories published by the People's Education Press, including "The Little Match Girl" by Hans Christian Anderson and "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe.



Reported by Ng Yik-tung and Sing Man for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Gao Feng for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The Carol Burnett Award, a lifetime achievement award for television which was introduced last year, was given to Ellen DeGeneres. "You never know where life takes you, huh?" the 61-year-old comedian said. DeGeneres praised the power of television to introduce us to the truth about one another. "That's what it was like for me with Carol Burnett, I felt like I knew her, I felt like she showed us who she was," she said. "Every week I felt like she was larger than life. We counted on her to make us feel good and she delivered. "Television inspired and influenced everything that I am today. All I have ever wanted is to make people feel good and laugh. The real power of television for me is not that people watch my show, but they watch my show and they are inspired to go and do the same thing in their own lives, [to] make people laugh." Ellen DeGeneres accepts the Carol Burnett TV Achievement Award. Credit:NBC Broadly, despite Gervais' warning during his opening monologue, many of the night's winners came to the stage with something to say. And some were truly visceral moments. "We are the largest voting body in the country, let's make it look more like us," said best actress in a limited-series, Michelle Williams, in a powerful and moving call to action for women.

As a predictor of Oscar victory, the Globes are the equivalent of a punter's each way bet: they crown a film in both the "drama" and "comedy or musical" genres. Even doubling their own odds, they have managed only to sync with the Oscar best picture winner about 10 times in the past two decades. Their biggest hindrance as a measure of trends is their small voting pool  less than 100 journalist members of The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, compared with some 7200 voting members of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences who vote for the Oscars  and the fact that they are more easily swayed by a film's "star" power. Loading And yet, the Globes surprise as often as they disappoint. There was no director nomination this year for Greta Gerwig  leaving an all-male director category which arched eyebrows in Hollywood and drew a stinging barb from Gervais  and no nomination for best film for Little Women. Another masterpiece, Jordan Peele's Us, also came up empty-handed. Add to that the increasingly nonsensical problem of award categories: Once Upon A Time in Hollywood and The Farewell (both dramas) were nominated in the musical/comedy category, Judy (a musical), was nominated in the drama category and Uncut Gems, originally submitted as a comedy, was switched to drama.

On the flipside, Netflix's brilliant Unbelievable made a strong showing, with nominations for the show and its two leads, Merritt Wever, Kaitlyn Dever and Toni Collette, plus there were standout nominations for Jojo Rabbit star Roman Griffin Davis and comedian Ramy Youssef (who won). Indeed, one of the key industry trends out of the telecast was the emergence of streaming as an aggressive player in the awards space. The algorithm itself is disingenuous  made-for-television films are given brief theatrical windows in order to qualify in the film categories  and somewhat exposes new players like Netflix and Amazon for a big case of old school envy. Nevertheless the impact has been substantial: the nominations for The Irishman, The Two Popes and Marriage Story mean that Netflix went into the night with three out of the five nominees in the drama motion picture category. Trying to use the Golden Globes as a more literal crystal ball to the Oscars is a fraught science, however. The so-called "awards season" kicks off in December with the Gotham independent film awards and includes the National Board of Review awards, the New York and Los Angeles critics awards, the Satellite awards, Australia's International AACTA awards and the Golden Globes. So far to have emerged are two leading titles, The Irishman and Parasite, with two wins from a possible six, and two contenders for the lead actor Oscar in Adam Driver and Antonio Banderas, also with two wins from a possible six. Best actress has just one leading contender, Awkwafina, with two wins from a possible six.

Clearer are the director and screenplay categories: Quentin Tarantino, who directed Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, holds two out of six possible wins and Noah Baumbach, who wrote Marriage Story, who is riding three out of seven possible wins. Still to come in "awards season": the Producers, Screen Actors, Directors and Writers Guild awards, the BAFTAs, the Independent Spirit awards and the Oscars themselves. Voting for the Oscar nominations closes on January 7; the Oscar nominees will be announced on January 13. Final Oscar voting opens on January 30 and closes on February 4; the 92nd annual Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 9, in Los Angeles. LIST OF WINNERS, FILM Best Motion Picture, Drama: 1917

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama: Renee Zellweger, Judy

Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Taron Egerton, Rocketman

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Awkwafina, The Farewell

Best Director, Motion Picture: Sam Mendes, 1917

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Laura Dern, Marriage Story

Best Foreign Language Film: Parasite

Best Animated Motion Picture: Missing Link

Best Screenplay, Motion Picture: Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Best Original Score, Motion Picture: Hildur Gunadottir, Joker

Best Original Song, Motion Picture: (I'm Gonna) Love Me Again, Rocketman

The Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award: Tom Hanks
A Conservative campaign for Big Ben to bong specially to celebrate the moment Brexit goes ahead on 31 January appears to have been dashed.

An amendment to the withdrawal agreement bill to require the famous bell to be re-attached at 11pm on Brexit day  at unknown cost  has not been selected for debate.

The decision is a blow to scores of hard Brexit-backing Tory MPs, including David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, who had signed a Commons motion demanding the move.

The 315ft, Grade I listed Elizabeth Tower which holds the bell and clock face is undergoing a 61m restoration in which costs have already more than doubled.

However, Downing Street is planning events to mark the moment the UK leaves the European Union, after nearly 47 years  without saying what  and could yet renew the push for Big Ben to bong.

And Nigel Farage has claimed he is planning to throw a 100,000 party in Parliament Square on 31 January, with fireworks, bands and speakers.

The office of new Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle told The Independent that the amendment had not been selected for debate.

MPs are about to begin three days of detailed scrutiny of the withdrawal bill, which  after Boris Johnsons election triumph  is likely to sail through unchanged.

Other amendments include a Labour demand for the post-Brexit transition period to be extended by two years to December 2022, if the prime minister fails to secure a free trade agreement with the EU by the end of this year.

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

And Northern Ireland parties from across the communal divide have united to table changes to require unfettered access for the provinces goods to markets on the British mainland.

The plan for Big Ben to ring out at 11pm on 31 January has also been criticised because Brexit remains an issue of huge national controversy  rather than a united celebration.

Furthermore, the prime minister remains under fire for claiming he will get Brexit done this month, when the much-harder task of striking an acceptable future trade deal still lies ahead.

James Dudderidge, a Brexit minister, appeared quietly pleased that the controversy had been avoided, telling the BBC: My focus is on getting the detail of the bill done.

Any special chiming would require two days of rehearsal and testing to ensure it still works, it is thought.

And it currently chimes only with the ominous low E 'dong' of the 13.7-tonne Great Bell  not the musical 'quarter bells' which make up the clock's famous chime.

Asked this week about Mr Johnsons intentions for 31 January, the prime ministers spokesperson said: Its clearly a significant moment in our countrys history, but we will set all of our plans out shortly.
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The death toll of a stampede at the funeral of slain Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Iran's Kerman city rose to 40 on Tuesday, with the number of the injured rising to 213, according to Fars news agency.

Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), was killed in a U.S. airstrike at Baghdad airport on Friday.
New York Assembly Republicans on Tuesday elected Will Barclay of Pulaski to serve as the partys leader, making Barclay the first Central New Yorker in at least 115 years to serve as Assembly minority leader.

Barclay, 51, won a closed-door vote of the Assembly Republican Conference at the State Capitol on Tuesday afternoon, a day before the start of the 2020 legislative session in Albany.

The unanimous vote capped off a fast-moving chain of events that began New Years Eve with the arrest of former Minority Leader Brian Kolb on DWI charges. Kolb was accused of driving his state-issued SUV into a ditch by his home.

Kolb resigned his leadership post effective Sunday, and GOP officials said they didnt want to leave a void heading into the session.

In Barclay, the 42-member conference chose a seasoned Albany hand who had served as deputy minority leader and most recently as the top Republican on the powerful Ways and Means Committee during nine terms in office.

Barclay faced only one challenger for the leadership post, Assemblyman David DiPietro of Western New York.

Assistant Minority Leader Gary Finch told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that the vote Tuesday was unanimous for Barclay, who spent the weekend calling every member of the GOP conference to ask for their support.

Kolb, 67, was among Republicans who announced support for Barclay ahead of the vote. Kolb, R-Canandaigua, plans to continue serving in his Assembly seat.

Barclay will take over a challenging position, leading Republicans in the Assembly where they are vastly outnumbered, 105-42.

Finch, R-Springport, said Barclay has proven himself over the years as someone who can work with Democrats to reach a compromise on issues.

You have an assemblyman who will listen, Finch said. One of Wills skills is that hes able to work with both sides of the aisle.

Barclay used those skills to help convince the Democratic-controlled Assembly to approve a state bailout in 2016 for the James A. FitzPatrick nuclear power plant in Oswego County, Finch said.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, the Republican candidate for New York governor in 2018, said after Tuesdays vote that Barclay was the right choice for the job.

I congratulate my friend and former-colleague Will Barclay upon his selection as Republican Leader of the State Assembly, Molinaro said in a statement. While the timing was rushed and under unfortunate circumstances, I know his style, sensibility, decency and demeanor will serve the Republican Conference well.

Barclay is the son of H. Douglas Barclay, 87, once one of the most influential Republicans in New York state. The senior Barclay served 10 terms in the New York Senate and chaired its GOP conference.

Will Barclay was first elected to the Assembly in 2002. He represents the 120th Assembly District, which includes most of Oswego County, the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and the town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County.

Barclay said in a statement after Tuesdays vote that he will advocate for the GOP agenda this year, which includes a push to revise the states controversial new criminal justice reforms. Those reforms, passed by Democrats last year, ended cash bail for most non-violent crimes.

"The 2020 Legislative Session will be challenging, but we are firmly committed to putting our state back on the right track, and promoting measures that are fair and protect constituents in every community, Barclay said. One year of one-party rule has proven to be both costly and dangerous. We need an immediate course correction and we are eager to get started.

Read more

Assemblyman Kolb at twice legal limit in New Years Eve crash, tried to blame wife

Brian Kolb to step down as NY Assembly GOP leader after DWI arrest

Special prosecutor tapped to handle DWI case of NYS Assembly minority leader Brian Kolb

Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751

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.
OTTAWA - No Canadian Armed Forces troops were hurt by the barrage of Iranian missiles that hit targets in Iraq Tuesday, Canada's chief of defence staff says.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance attends a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Latvian President Egils Levits in London on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019. Chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance says the Canadian military is temporarily relocating some soldiers from Iraq to Kuwait. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - No Canadian Armed Forces troops were hurt by the barrage of Iranian missiles that hit targets in Iraq Tuesday, Canada's chief of defence staff says.

"CAF families: I can assure you that all deployed CAF personnel are safe & accounted for following missile attacks in Iraq," Gen. Jonathan Vance said in a tweet late Tuesday. "We remain vigilant."

That message was echoed by Canadian Armed Forces Operations.

"Canadian Armed Forces personnel deployed in Iraq are confirmed safe after two military bases were targeted by missile attacks this evening."

According to U.S. authorities, about a dozen ballistic missiles targeted Al-Asad airbase near Baghdad and the northern city of Irbil, in the part of Iraq controlled by the country's Kurdish minority.

Canadians have long been in Irbil, working with Iraqi troops and maintaining a helicopter unit, and Canada has a diplomatic presence there as well.

Hours before the Iranian missiles hit the Canadian Forces had started to move troops out of the country.

U.S. President Donald Trump also took to social media to comment on the attack after the U.S. Defense Department said there were few, if any, casualties among its forces.

"All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now," Trump said on Twitter.

"So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning."

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and other Canadian government leaders said they were monitoring the situation.

The Canadian military's redeployment followed other Western nations concerned about the increasingly volatile standoff between the United States and Iran.

The withdrawal of an unspecified number of Canadian soldiers to Kuwait was billed by Vance as a temporary measure intended to ensure their safety and security. When  or even if  they will return is an open question.

In an open letter to the families of the 500 Canadian soldiers in Iraq, Vance said the safety of the troops was his top priority and that security measures were being "considered, reassessed and modified as required on a daily basis."

"Over the coming days, and as a result of Coalition and NATO planning, some of our people will be moved temporarily from Iraq to Kuwait," Vance added in the letter, which was posted on Twitter. "Simply put, we are doing this to ensure their safety and security."

Vance did not reveal how many Canadian troops were being pulled out of Iraq, and the Department of National Defence later said it would not provide that information for security reasons.

However, even as Vance described the withdrawal as temporary, he added: "Naturally, the work we are doing on these missions, and the future of operations in Iraq, remain conditional on maintaining a sufficiently secure and productive operational environment."

The Canadian contingent includes about 200 soldiers attached to a NATO mission in the south of the country that is training Iraqi counterparts in the basics of soldiering as part of the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

There have also been up to 200 special-forces soldiers in the northern part of the country working with specialized Iraqi counter-terror troops while several dozen more Canadians are working with senior Iraqi officials or providing logistical, medical and other support to the rest of the contingent.

All of the Canadians were ordered to suspend their activities and hunker down over the weekend and guard against attack following the killing by a U.S. drone at the Baghdad airport of Iranian Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was seen as the second-most powerful person in Iran.

Soleimani's death has raised fears of Iranian reprisals against U.S. and allied forces in Iraq and the surrounding region. It has also prompted Iraq's parliament and outgoing prime minister to call for the forced withdrawal of all western troops from the country.

The withdrawal of Canadian forces from Iraq follows a similar decision by other NATO allies, including Germany, Croatia and Romania. There were also reports of U.S. forces being put on high alert over fears of Iranian drone attacks.

"In everything that we do, the safety of our personnel is paramount," a NATO official said on Tuesday. "We are taking all precautions necessary to protect our people. This includes the temporary repositioning of some personnel to different locations both inside and outside of Iraq."

Even as the Canadian Armed Forces was preparing to start moving people out of Iraq on Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was talking to other world leaders about the situation in the Middle East, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and King Abdullah II of Jordan.

New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh said Trudeau should be talking to Canadians.

"Canadians don't want another war," Singh posted to Twitter.

"Mr. Trudeau needs to speak to Canadians and show us his plan for Canada to help calm tensions  not follow Trump into war."

Donald Trump and senior members of his administration continued to defend Soleimani's killing, with the U.S. president calling the Iranian general a "monster," even as they insisted there was no immediate plan to withdraw American forces from Iraq.

A leaked letter from the U.S. general commanding the anti-ISIL coalition to Iraq's defence ministry on Monday suggested the coalition, to which Canada belongs, was preparing to pack up and withdraw from the country.

There were reports on Tuesday that outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi considered the letter an official declaration of the U.S. military's planned departure, but U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper again dismissed the letter as a draft and said no decision had been taken.

During a news conference at the White House with his Greek counterpart, Trump said he did not know the specifics of the letter before asserting that a U.S. withdrawal would be "the worst thing that could happen to Iraq."

"If we leave, that would mean that Iran would have a much bigger foothold, and the people of Iraq do not want to see Iran run the country."

Yet Trump, who had threatened sanctions against Iraq on Monday following calls from its parliament and Abdul-Mahdi for all foreign troops to leave, also said: "We don't want to be there forever. We want to be able to get out. I didn't want to be there in the first place, to be honest."

The Iranian government, meanwhile, was continuing to warn of retaliatory attacks against U.S. forces even as a funeral was held for Soleimani.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2020.

 With files from The Associated Press
As fires continue to rip through Australia, some devastating numbers are emerging: At least 24 people killed. More than 15.6 million acres torched. Over 1,400 homes destroyed. And, according to one biodiversity experts count, an estimated 480 million animals killed.

This photo of a charred baby kangaroo stuck to a wire fence in Adelaide Hills went viral and showed the grim reality of what the bushfires were affecting the country. The image was shared by Brad Fleet, a photographer at The Advertiser, left everyone heartbroken, teary-eyed, sad, and helpless. Photograph: Bradfleet/Instagram

Female koala Anwen recovers from burns at The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie, Australia. Volunteers from the Koala Hospital have been working alongside National Parks and Wildlife Service crews searching for koalas following weeks of devastating bushfires across New South Wales and Queensland. Koalas rescued from fire grounds have been brought back to the hospital for treatment. Photograph: Nathan Edwards/Getty Images

A Joey is separated from its dead mother is pictured on a burnt out section of Torrington in Glen Innes, Australia. Photograph: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

A dead Australian native bird is seen washed up amongst ash and fire debris on Boydtown Beach near the Nullica River in Eden, Australia. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/Reuters

Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Services volunteer and carer Tracy Burgess holds a severely burnt brushtail possum rescued from fires near Australias Blue Mountains. Photograph: Jill Gralow/Reuters

Butterfly wings lay on the driveway of Cobargo resident Belinda Sheas destroyed home in Cobargo, Australia. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/Reuters

Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Services volunteer and carer Tracy Dodd holds a kangaroo with burnt feet pads after being rescued from bushfires in Australia's Blue Mountains area. Photograph: Jill Gralow/Reuters

A dead Australian native bird is seen on ashes on the ground near Eden, Australia. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/Reuters

An injured horse is given painkiller in a shared paddock at the evacuation centre in Cobargo, as bushfires continue in New South Wales, Australia. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/Reuters

Animals are seen in Cobargo, as bushfires continue in New South Wales, Australia. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/Reuters

A dead wallaby pictured in the Wingello State Forest in Wingello, Australia. Army Reserve forces and other specialist capabilities have been called in to help with firefighting efforts across Australia, along with extra Defence ships and helicopters. Photograph: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Thick smoke fills the air as cattle feed in paddocks outside Cann River, Australia. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Edited by Roshneesh K'Maneck
When John Bolton left his position as President Trump's national security adviser, the president tweeted out his version of Bolton's departure, and Bolton responded with his own, contrasting version. After that he remained relatively quiet until Monday, when he emerged to remind everyone that he's out there and willing to talk.

John Bolton served as Donald Trump's NSA from April 2018 to September 2019. It was not a happy working relationship. The men clashed over the aggressive positions Bolton staked out regarding Venezuela, North Korea, and Afghanistan, positions that did not fit well with Trump's more isolationist instincts and desire for mutually agreeable solutions.

It should therefore not have come as a surprise to anyone when, on September 10, 2019, Trump abruptly tweeted that he was letting Bolton go:

I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House. I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 10, 2019

....I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning. I thank John very much for his service. I will be naming a new National Security Advisor next week.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 10, 2019

It should be noted that Trump did not insult Bolton's qualifications, skills, commitment, or personality. He simply stated that their policy differences meant that they could not work together. Bolton, however, who is known for his combativeness, contested Trump's characterization of events:

I offered to resign last night and President Trump said, "Let's talk about it tomorrow."  John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) September 10, 2019

Bolton doubled down on his statement when he started a P.R. war against Trump by texting various reporters to tell them what boils down to "He didn't fire me; I quit." Bolton then went silent on his personal Twitter account for two months, only to return and blame the White House for using software to shut down that account.

White House spokesperson Stephanie Grisham politely suggested that maybe Bolton was having age-related technology issues. Overall, it was not an edifying spectacle.

Apparently still smarting from his disputes with Trump, Bolton has put himself back in the news, this time by issuing a statement on January 6 that, after wrestling for some minutes with his conscience, he has decided that he will testify in the Senate against Trump...not that anyone has formally asked him to do so.

During the present impeachment controversy, I have tried to meet my obligations both as a citizen and as former National Security Advisor. My colleague, Dr. Charles Kupperman, faced with a House committee subpoena on the one hand, and a Presidential directive not to testify on the other, sought final resolution of this Constitutional conflict from the Federal judiciary. After my counsel informed the House committee that I too would seek judicial resolution of these Constitutional issues, the committee chose not to subpoena me. Nevertheless, I publicly resolved to be guided by the outcome of Dr. Kupperman's case. But both the President and the House of Representatives opposed his effort on jurisdictional grounds, and each other on the merits. The House committee went so far as to withdraw its subpoena to Dr. Kupperman in a deliberate attempt to moot the case and deprive the court of jurisdiction. Judge Richard Leon, in a carefully reasoned opinion on December 30, held Dr. Kupperman's case to be moot, and therefore did not reach the separation-of-powers issues. The House has concluded its Constitutional responsibility by adopting Articles of Impeachment related to the Ukraine matter. It now falls to the Senate to fulfill its Constitutional obligation to try impeachments, and it does not appear possible that a final judicial resolution of the still-unanswered Constitutional questions can be obtained before the Senate acts. Accordingly, since my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study. I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify.

Translated, what Bolton has said is that he was originally waiting to see what the federal court would say about whether his colleague, Dr. Charles Kupperman, should respond to congressional subpoenas. Because the issue became moot before the court issued a ruling, Bolton decided to forgo a judicial ruling and unilaterally offer himself as a witness.

It is unlikely that, if the matter ever gets to the Senate, President Trump will call Bolton to testify. Nevertheless, Democrats and NeverTrumps got excited. Sen. Mitt Romney, whom Trump treated with surprising graciousness and who then responded with vicious spite, naturally announced instantly that he wanted to hear from Bolton. And of course, Sen. Chuck Schumer enthusiastically endorsed the idea of having Romney testify.

As long as Cocaine Mitch is in control, though, Bolton's supply will not be met with demand.
The four convicts in the Nirbhaya case will be executed in Jail No 3, a senior Tihar Jail official said on Tuesday, hours after a Delhi court issued death warrants against them and declared that they will be hanged at 7 am on January 22.

Three of the convicts are lodged in Jail No 2, while one is in Jail No 4, the official said.

Sources said the jail authorities will approach a hangman in Meerut to carry out the execution.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Drs. Elizabeth Randall and Charles Felts Spread Awareness of the Mouth-Body Connection The mouth is a connection to the whole body. Good systemic health and good oral health work side by side with each other.

The doctors at Chattanooga Periodontics and Dental Implants, Drs. Charles Felts and Elizabeth Felts Randall, are spreading awareness about the connections the mouth has with the entire body. The mouth-body connection impacts both oral health and overall health for everyone. When the mouth is compromised by a condition such as gum disease, it can affect the entire body. These Chattanooga, TN periodontists offer multiple solutions for those seeking to improve their oral health, and thus, their full body health as well.

The mouth is a connection to the whole body. Patients who have inflammatory issues like diabetes or heart disease are more prone to gum disease, and also have more severe gum disease, says Dr. Randall. Good systemic health and good oral health work side by side with each other.

The mouth is essentially an entrance to the rest of the body, so when oral health is affected by disease or tooth loss, a patients overall health can be impacted. One of the leading oral concerns is gum disease, a progressive condition that can damage the hard and soft tissues of the mouth. When affected by gum disease, patients are more likely to have other health conditions like heart disease, stroke, or diabetes, according to research studies. Untreated gum disease can progress from the beginning stage of gingivitis to advanced periodontitis and can cause serious damage to the mouth, including tooth loss. Once gum disease is cleansed from the mouth, the bacteria will no longer spread throughout the body, thus improving the bodys overall health. The symptoms of gum disease include:



Constant bad breath

Gum recession

Tooth sensitivity

Swollen or bleeding gums

Loose teeth

Patients who are missing teeth due to gum disease or other means typically need to replace their teeth to restore full oral health. Drs. Felts and Randall are experienced at placing dental implants as a permanent tooth replacement solution. Dental implants mimic the function and appearance of natural teeth, allowing patients to have restored biting and chewing ability as well as an esthetically pleasing smile. Once dental implants are in place and restored, a patients overall health will be able to improve as they can eat a wider variety of food and their oral health no longer is compromised.

Chattanooga Periodontics and Dental Implants features a wide variety of solutions to improve the overall mouth-body connection, including laser gum disease treatment, traditional gum care, and full mouth dental implant tooth replacement options like TeethXpress. Patients with dental anxiety can receive sedation, including advanced IV sedation to relieve discomfort during treatment and put their dental fears at ease.

Those who want to protect both their whole body and oral health in Chattanooga, TN are encouraged to contact Drs. Felts and Randall by visiting http://www.chattanoogaperio.com or calling 423-756-2450 to schedule a consultation.

About the Periodontists

Chattanooga Periodontics and Dental Implants offers specialty dental care for patients in Chattanooga, TN. Dr. Charles Felts III has been practicing as a periodontist for over 30 years. A published specialist and frequent lecturer, Dr. Felts has also served as the President of numerous organizations including the Southern Academy of Periodontology and the Tennessee Society of Periodontists. Dr. Elizabeth Beth Felts Randall earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree with high distinction from the University of Kentucky and attended a three-year Periodontology residency program at the University of Alabama. Both doctors are Diplomates of the American Board of Periodontology who enjoy forming lasting relationships with patients in the Chattanooga area. Chattanooga Periodontics and Dental Implants conveniently offers LANAP laser gum treatment, TeethXpress full arch dental implants, bone grafting, and oral plastic surgery. To learn more about Drs. Felts and Randall or the services they offer, visit http://www.chattanoogaperio.com or call 423-756-2450 to schedule a consultation.
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After months of quiet, work has restarted or is set to begin on a handful of Northampton Countys bridges in its private-public replacement project.

Northampton Countys P3 program initially sought to repair 33 bridges, but the county has removed a handful of bridges from the project list and Kriger Construction has asked to extend the construction schedule for the remaining projects in the contract.

Those negotiations are ongoing and the sides are trying to pick a mediator, General Purpose Authority solicitor John Freund said.

In the meantime, construction crews have been seen at two of the three bridges that Kriger said would be complete in 2019: bridge 143 on Glase Road in Moore Township and bridge 63 on Bushkill Street in Tatamy.

Theres movement going on, Engineer Greg Kuklinski told the GPA at its meeting Tuesday.

Crews were back at the Glase Road bridge on Dec. 16, and will be out this week pouring concrete, Kuklinski said.

Crews will be under a heated tent for grout work, he said. Under the current stream restrictions, the crews are allowed to continue working on the grout.

For the Tatamy bridge, Kriger was also out in mid-December, working on excavating the Buskill Drive side of the bridge and placing precast concrete footings.

The good news ends there. Kuklinski said officials met with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Kriger was told to remove all construction vehicles and items from the water. Crews cannot work in the stream until at least April, Kuklinski told the authority.

There are three bridge projects set to begin this month in Lehigh, Upper Nazareth and Plainfield townships. Under ideal weather conditions, the work should last between six and eight weeks, Kuklinski said.

Signs warning of construction went up at the end of December for bridge 188, which carries Dogwood Road over the Little Indian Creek in Lehigh Township. Construction is slated to start next week.

Bridge 224 carries Fox Road over the East Monocacy Creek in Upper Nazareth Township, near South Penn Dixie Road.

The site was cleared in mid-December, but stream restrictions were in place until Dec. 31. The project is slated to begin Jan. 20.

Signs should go up next week warning that work will start Jan. 27 on bridge 207 carrying Getz Road in Plainfield Township. Stream restrictions begin March 1 for the span so Kriger is trying to get as much work done as possible before that deadline, Kuklinski said.

In addition, three bridges open to traffic still have punch list items: bridges 189 on Ackermanville Road and bridge 191 on Factoryville Road in Washington Township; and bridge 66 on LeFevre Road in Stockertown.

The movement of construction crews and vehicles in the past month comes after the general purpose authority in November voted to find Kriger Construction in default for failing to substantially complete three bridges by scheduled dates.

Kriger has countered the county is in default and owes the company an estimated $3.2 million. The county has withheld a scheduled milestone payment, arguing the contractor has not met the contractual requirements needed to receive the full payment.

The battle over money continues, with some funds from the last scheduled milestone payment still being held by the authority and one more milestone payment scheduled, Freund said.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn deserves up to six months behind bars, the Justice Department said Tuesday, reversing its earlier position that he was entitled to avoid prison time because of his extensive co-operation with prosecutors.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2018, file photo, President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn arrives at federal court in Washington. In reversal, US prosecutors no longer oppose prison time for former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn deserves up to six months behind bars, the Justice Department said Tuesday, reversing its earlier position that he was entitled to avoid prison time because of his extensive co-operation with prosecutors.

The government's sentencing memo is a sharp rebuke to Flynn's new legal team, which for months has attacked special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation and accused prosecutors of withholding information that the lawyers said was favourable to their client. A judge rejected those arguments last month.

Any prison sentence for Flynn would continue a precipitous fall for the former Army lieutenant general, who after a long career in Iraq and Afghanistan was entrusted with shaping the Trump administration's national security policy but became entangled early on in the FBI's investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The sentencing recommendation bookends Flynn's path from valued, high-level government co-operator  he is the only former White House aide charged in Mueller's investigation  to a defendant who prosecutors say no longer deserves any credit for helping the government.

Indeed, the government has reason to believe, through representations by the defendants counsel, that the defendant has retreated from his acceptance of responsibility in this case regarding his lies to the FBI," prosecutors wrote in seeking a sentence of up to six months.

For that reason," they added, the government asks this Court to inquire of the defendant as to whether he maintains those apparent statements of innocence or whether he disavows them and fully accepts responsibility for his criminal conduct."

Sidney Powell, a lawyer for Flynn, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Defence lawyers will submit their own filing later this month.

Flynn was to have been sentenced in December 2018 for lying to the FBI about his conversations with the then-Russian ambassador to the United States, including about his request that Russia not escalate tensions with the U.S. in response to sanctions imposed by the Obama administration for election interference.

But the hearing was abruptly postponed midway through it at Flynn's request after scathing criticism from U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan raised the prospect that he might send him to prison, even though prosecutors hadn't recommended it. Flynn, who led Lock Her Up" chants directed at Hillary Clinton during the Republican National Convention, asked that the hearing be put off so that he could continue co-operating with prosecutors in hopes of avoiding any prison time.

The case has taken a tumultuous turn since then.

The Justice Department opted not to have Flynn testify in the Virginia trial of a former business associate, saying that shortly before trial, he changed his account and contradicted his own past statements  making him unreliable as a witness. The decision denied Flynn a chance to be credited for that co-operation,

He also fired his lawyers and replaced them with new ones who have taken a strikingly contentious stance toward Mueller's investigation, accusing FBI agents of effectively entrapping Flynn when they interviewed him at the White House and saying prosecutors had withheld documents and other information favourable to Flynn. Sullivan rejected each of the defence arguments in a lengthy opinion last month.

Flynn was seen as an important figure in the FBI's investigation into whether the Trump campaign co-ordinated with Russia. He was interviewed at the White House days after Trump was inaugurated and pressed about his conversations during the presidential transition period with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

In their sentencing memo, prosecutors underscored the significance of that interaction.

Any effort to undermine the recently imposed sanctions, which were enacted to punish the Russian government for interfering in the 2016 election, could have been evidence of links or co-ordination between the Trump Campaign and Russia," prosecutors wrote.

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Accordingly, determining the extent of the defendants actions, why the defendant took such actions, and at whose direction he took those actions, were critical to the FBIs counterintelligence investigation," prosecutors wrote.

Flynn is one of a half-dozen Trump associates charged in the Mueller investigation, and at the time of his December 2017 guilty plea, he was the closest adviser to agree to co-operate with the probe. All six have either pleaded guilty or been found guilty in a jury trial.

Mueller found substantial contacts between Trump aides and Russia, but did not ultimately allege a criminal conspiracy to tip the 2016 election.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 28.

_____

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  The Philippine National Police is looking into the one-day furlough enjoyed by former Ozamiz Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog in November 2018 without permission from any court.

Documents obtained by the media show that the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 228 in an order on December 17, 2019 asked the jail warden of the PNP Custodial Center to explain why Parojinog was allowed to leave her detention cell on November 12, 2018  without the knowledge of the court.

Judge Mitushealla Manzanero-Casino noted that Parojinog did not even have a motion for furlough at that time. Parojinog's lawyers were also ordered to show cause, as requested by state prosecutors.

Sought for comment, PNP officer-in-charge PLtGen Archie Gamboa said they will launch a probe on the issue, agreeing that no detainee can leave the Custodial Center in Camp Crame without a court order.

"We will investigate on that case na sinasabi ng (what is being said by the) DOJ (Department of Justice)," Gamboa said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

Explanations from the PNP and Parojinog's lawyers were among the conditions set by the court in allowing Parojinog to visit her younger brother, Reynaldo, Jr. in Camp Bagong Diwa on December 23, 2019.

The court also ruled that Parojinog should shoulder all costs for transporting her from Camp Crame in Quezon City to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City  including expenses for her police escorts and other security measures. It's unclear if these requirements have been met.

This is the second furlough granted to Nova Parojinog that month despite the objection of state prosecutors, who said there was no valid ground for her to enjoy a Christmas leave. The prosecutors even stressed it was tantamount to giving her preferential treatment.

The Parojinog siblings have been detained since 2017 over drug charges and illegal possession of firearms. Reynaldo, Jr. was sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2019. The Parojinog patriarch, Reynaldo Sr., was Ozamiz City mayor when he and 14 other people were killed in a police operation in the Misamis Occidental city that year. Police have tagged the Parojinog family as the source of illegal drugs in the city, with President Rodrigo Duterte tagging Nova Parojinog and her father and as among the narco-politicians operating in Mindanao.

Earlier, the Parojinog siblings were not allowed to attend the wake and burial of their parents in August 2017. Nova Parojinog has since denied any involvement in the killing of Edmundo Pintac, the Ozamiz regional trial court judge who denied their petition.
BRIDGEPORT  A citizen of El Salvador charged in connection with a deadly Bridgeport shooting pleaded guilty Monday to illegal reentry by a removed alien, officials said.

Douglas Alexander Rivas, 37, has been scheduled to be sentenced on March 30, at which time he faces a maximum term of two years in prison, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham.

Rivas was convicted in March 2003 in a state court on misdemeanor offenses, including first-degree criminal trespass, second-degree criminal mischief and first-degree reckless endangerment. On those charges, he was given an 11-month suspended sentence and three years of probation.

In March 2007, Rivas was removed from the United States to El Salvador. But he subsequently illegally reentered the U.S., the news release said.

He was arrested in Florida on April 15, 2017, in connection with a shooting death of a 36-year-old man at the El Paraiso Restaurant in Bridgeport on Sept. 25, 2016. He has been in custody since that arrest.

On Nov. 8, 2019, Rivas pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and criminal possession of a firearm in the 2016 shooting death in state court. He awaits sentencing on those offenses.

The guilty plea came after an agreement on reduced charges three weeks after a mistrial was declared.

Rivas pleaded guilty under the Alford Doctrine. A plea through this means Rivas did not admit to the crime but conceded he could be found guilty if he went to trail.

The judge found him guilty and said she would impose a 16-year prison term when hes sentenced on Jan. 31.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Archbishop John Bonaventure Kwofie, on December 31, joined Mr. Ernest Domie, a Catholic Philanthropist and Chairman of OBZ Group Ghana Limited to present a Cheque of GHc20,000 to the Foundation of Orthopedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS) Orthopedic Hospital at Pantang, Accra

The donation was to support the outstanding medical bills of 15-year-old Charles Dzadey from Accra and 11-year-old Bismarck Tevor from the Oti Region, who had undergone surgeries to correct a medical condition known as achondroplasia kyphosis.

Making the donation, Mr. Domie, a parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Parish Adenta, said the donation was his widows mite to support the beneficiaries who had undergone successful surgery but had outstanding bills to clear.

He said: This is how I want to start the year because I knew they had some bills to pay. So I am only here to give both patients GH10,000 each to help clear their bill.

Archbishop Kwofie in brief remarks, urged Ghanaians to cultivate the habit of giving in 2020, by going all out to show love to the needy and compassion through the sick, neglected and abandoned

He said, we live with the poor and we must think of what can be done to ease the situation of the abandoned, the marginalized, the forgotten, the sick, the aged, and the needy in society.

Archbishop Kwofie lauded Mr. Domie for raising funds to support the beneficiaries, saying that there is no better message than this, that we all go out and show love and compassion to the needy, sick and neglected.

He called on Ghanaians and philanthropic institutions to use their God-given wealth to support the poor and needy and applauded the work of management and team at FOCOS Hospital and for saving lives through their professional works.

The mother of Charles Dzadey, Sophie Boakye Acheampong, a Catholic, expressed gratitude to Mr. Domie and was happy the Surgeons were able to solve the childhood bone disorder of his son, who is currently in Junior High School form 3.

She said, Though Charles hardly breaths, always tired and walks with stress and pain, he was never discouraged but determined to continue his education.

The Archbishop and Priests were taken on a tour of the FOCOS hospital and interacted with some children from different African Countries who are currently receiving treatments for various spinal medical conditions.

The Archbishop was accompanied by Rev. Fr. Dieu Donne Davor, Executive Secretary of the Department of Social Communications at the National Catholic Secretariat, Accra and Rev. Fr. John Benya-Mensah, Parish Priest of St. John the Evangelist, Adenta.
Karen Ritchie, the mother of Charlotte Crosby's ex-boyfriend Joshua Ritchie, has issued a warning to the reality star's new love interest, Ryan Gallagher.

As Charlotte, 29, and Ryan, 31, grow close on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia, Karen liked an Instagram comment describing her son's ex as a 'psycho' on Tuesday.

It's possible she was responding to Charlotte accusing Joshua of being lazy during their two-year relationship.

Drama! Karen Ritchie, the mother of Charlotte Crosby's ex-boyfriend Joshua Ritchie, has issued a warning to the reality star's new love interest, Ryan Gallagher. Pictured: Charlotte and Ryan on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia

On Monday's episode of I'm a Celebrity, Charlotte told Ryan that her former flame would spend 'all day' on his PlayStation while she was out working.

The comment Karen liked was left on Joshua's profile and read: 'Ur gunna be a star since leaving Mrs syco of the year fair play fella.'

After clicking like, Karen added: 'That's soooo funny.'

No love lost: As Charlotte and Ryan grow close on I'm a Celebrity Australia, Karen (left) liked an Instagram comment describing her son's ex as a 'psycho' on Tuesday. Pictured last year

Shots fired! The comment Karen liked was left on Joshua's profile and read: 'Ur gunna be a star since leaving Mrs syco of the year.' After clicking like, Karen added: 'That's soooo funny'

Family: Before Charlotte and Joshua ended their two-year relationship in November, she was close with Karen. Pictured: Joshua, Charlotte and their parents filming her reality show in 2019

Before Charlotte and Joshua ended things in November, the former Geordie Shore star was close with Karen, and the pair would regularly spend time together.

During Monday's episode of I'm a Celebrity Australia, Charlotte slammed her ex-boyfriend while discussing their 'bad break-up'.

She told Ryan that her work schedule had caused tensions with Joshua, 25, because she was much busier than he was.

'I recently split up with my boyfriend of two years and it has been a pretty bad break-up,' she began.

It's over: During Monday's episode of I'm a Celebrity Australia, Charlotte slammed Joshua (left) while discussing their 'bad break-up' with Ryan

'Pretty bad break-up': The 29-year-old hinted that her work schedule had caused tensions with Joshua, 25, because she was much busier than he was

'I'd go to work every day, have late nights and travel around everywhere, and he would be sat playing on his PlayStation [at home].'

Reflecting on her tumultuous love life, Charlotte later said: 'Ryan thinks that I always pick the wrong kind of people - and I do think that is kind of true.

'I think that I'm my own worst enemy - I'm dangerous to myself. I'll be walking out of [the jungle] with a baboon by the end of this and trying to marry it!'

After less than a week in the jungle, both Charlotte and Ryan have admitted to being attracted to each other and viewers are hoping for a jungle romance.

Lazy boy? 'I'd go to work every day, have late nights and travel around everywhere, and he would be sat playing on his PlayStation [at home],' said Charlotte

They pair had exchanged flirty messages on Instagram before meeting face to face for the first time during Sunday's season premiere of I'm a Celebrity.

Charlotte and Joshua - who is best known for starring on Love Island UK and Ex on the Beach - announced their split in November, after a two-year romance.

At the time, it was reported that he 'wasn't ready to settle down' but she wanted to 'get married and have kids'.

The end: Charlotte and Joshua - who is best known for starring on Love Island UK and Ex on the Beach - announced their split in November, after a two-year romance
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020

Industry players, especially food and beverage producers, are struggling to comply with the mandatory halal certification regulation, specifically when it comes to fulfilling requirements related to product reaudits for adding new ingredients, halal storage, distribution and means of transportation.

Enforced in October last year under the Halal Products Guarantee Law, the law mandated that all non-haram products and services must obtain halal certification.

The law also shifts the authority to handle the issuance of halal certification from the Indonesian Ulema Council Assessment Institute for Foods, Drugs and Cosmetics (LPPOM MUI) to the Halal Certification Agency (BPJPH) under the Religious Affairs Ministry, though the former is still assigned to evaluate, test and approve the products.

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Sappi North America's Somerset Mill Certified to ISO 22000:2018 Food Safety Management System Standard Sappi is considered a Tier 3 supplier in the food supply chain and this new certification applies to all products produced at the mill. Jan. 7, 2020 (Press Release) - Sappi North America, Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified graphic and release papers, packaging products and dissolving wood pulp, today announced that its Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, Maine is certified to the ISO 22000:2018 Food Safety Management System (FSMS) standard. Sappi is considered a Tier 3 supplier in the food supply chain and this new certification applies to all products produced at the mill. "With this certification we are now able to provide our customers in the food packaging industry with assurance out of the gate that our products meet the strict industry standards for safety," said Heather Pelletier, Director of Packaging Brands, Sappi North America. "We continue to invest in and improve our mills to make sure our products meet our customers' needs. This is an important next step in our journey as we continue to set the new standard for paperboard packaging." In 2018, Sappi completed a substantial rebuild of Paper Machine 1 at its Somerset Mill. Following the rebuild, the company is now producing a range of paperboard packaging grades, including products for food end uses. Proto C1S is a sturdy, single-ply SBS capable of meeting a breadth of applications with substantial feel at a lighter weight. Proto Litho brings all the benefits of Proto to meet corrugated litho lamination packaging needs. Spectro is a single-ply SBS with enhanced optics, making it ideal for premium applications that call for dynamic and vibrant images. On other machines at the Somerset Mill, Sappi produces its LusterPrint and LusterCote packaging grades; its Opus, Somerset and Flo graphics papers; as well as its Somerset Synergy ECF premium kraft pulp. In order to meet the requirements of the ISO 22000:2018 FSMS, Sappi evaluated the production, storage and transportation processes for potential hazards and implemented monitoring and control systems to prevent product contamination. As part of building the food safety management system, Sappi also followed the guidelines provided in the technical specification ISO/TS 22002-4:2013, Prerequisite Programmes on Food Safety - Part 4: Food packaging manufacturing. As an upstream provider of substrates to packaging converters, this technical specification provides the best operating floor systems guidance for a substrate supplier. Sappi North America employs over 2,000 individuals at its three mills, sheeting facility, Technology Center, and supporting offices across the U.S. Altogether, the sites produce 1.35 million metric tons of paper, and over 800,000 metric tons of kraft and dissolving wood pulp (DWP) annually. To learn more, please visit: www.sappi.com . SOURCE: Sappi North America, Inc.
Farmers have criticised bakery chain Greggs for misleading customers with its newly launched 'fake steak bake'.

The company's vegan sausage roll was one of the most talked about foods introduced on the UK high street in 2019.

Looking to follow up on that success, Greggs has now unveiled the vegan 'steak bake' to coincide with this month's 'veganuary' campaign.

The new offering uses plant-based Quorn pieces and includes onions and a gravy filling wrapped in 96 layers of puff pastry.

But farmers have taken to social media to criticise the chain for misleading customers by adopting the word 'steak' in the product.

Welsh hill farmer Gareth Wyn Jone said of Greggs' new product: "That should be a vegan Quorn bake, no steak in it. So could be misleading advertising."

So its not a steak bake at all its a Soy bake then . Hope the label it right and not misleading ppl????  Gareth Wyn Jones (@1GarethWynJones) December 27, 2019

Does my head in when they call products like these under a meat name... like wheres the steak in this... there isnt. So why call it that? Same with the Vegan sausage roll no sausage ???????????  Ffion Hooson (@ffionhooson0) December 29, 2019

Why do they put steak on label. ! there is no meat in it ,supposed to be an alternative to meat #misleading . These people are not supposed to like meat !!!!  Temple Bar Farm (@fodderforfoodys) December 29, 2019

TV presenter Piers Morgan, who is no stranger to challenging veganism, gave his 7 million Twitter followers his opinion on the new snack.

A meatless steak is not a bloody steak. https://t.co/PxEX5T3cKg  Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) 2 January 2020

The uproar is reminiscent of the French government's food label ban in 2018. Vegan and vegetarian food are no longer permitted to use labels with meat or dairy specific terms like burger or milk.

Before that, in 2017, the EU's Court of Justice ruled that plant based products cannot use the word 'milk'.

The NFU has recently called for 'clear and unambiguous' labelling on food products to allow shoppers to make more informed choices.
Police in Florida are conducting an "open and active criminal investigation" at President Donald Trump's private club Mar-a-Lago following an incident Monday night, according to a report from the Miami Herald.

A Palm Beach Police Department spokesperson declined to give details of the incident to the Herald. But the department said the Secret Service is leading the investigation and there have been no arrests, according to the report.

The Secret Service "does not confirm or comment on the absence or existence of our criminal investigations," a spokesperson said in an email to CNBC. Receptionists at Mar-a-Lago told CNBC that the resort does not speak to media and gave a phone number for the Trump Organization, which did not answer several calls.

A Police Department incident report said officers received a call at around 7 p.m. Monday night to respond to the incident, the Herald said.

The Secret Service has reportedly heightened security at the president's Florida resort following tensions between the United States and Iran due to an airstrike that killed Iran's top commander, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, in Baghdad. Trump authorized the killing while staying at Mar-a-Lago.

Soleimani led the elite Quds Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, and has been blamed for the deaths of many Americans across the Middle East. The killing has been met with criticism from members of Congress and 2020 Democratic candidates for president, who contend that the move could trigger a major conflict between Iran and the United State. Iran has vowed "harsh revenge" over the killing.

Various media reports cited Trump-owned properties as possible targets for retaliation by Iran.

Hesameddin Ashena, advisor to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, tweeted on Sunday a link to a YouTube video featuring several Trump-owned properties, along with a link to a Forbes list with similar information.

Tweet with YouTube video

The two links were accompanied by a quote from former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. "I tell the whole world that if the world wants to stand up to our religion, we will stand up against their whole world," the quote read.

The Secret Service did not confirm whether there are heightened security measures at the resort. But in a statement to CNBC, a spokesperson said, "The U.S. Secret Service continuously assesses the threat environment surrounding all protectees and will adjust postures as necessary as part of the robust execution of our zero-fail mission."

There have been multiple breaches at Mar-a-Lago since Trump took office.

In November, a Shanghai businesswoman was sentenced to eight months in jail after being convicted of trespassing at Mar-a-Lago. She was found carrying four mobile phones, a laptop computer, an external hard drive, and a thumb drive that "contained malicious software," a criminal complaint against her said.

Florida federal Judge Roy Altman also ordered the woman, Yujing Zhang, to be deported after her jail sentence is complete. Zhang had made it past at least five Secret Service agents and into the main reception area of Mar-a-Lago before she was intercepted by officers, according to the complaint.

A second Chinese woman was arrested in December for allegedly trespassing at Mar-a-Lago and refusing to leave, Palm Beach Police said.

 CNBC's Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report.
ApartmentLove.com is one of the largest apartment rental websites in the world

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2020) - HEYBRYAN MEDIA INC. (CSE: HEY) ('HeyBryan' or 'the Company'), the app that connects home-maintenance Experts to homeowners for help with small tasks around the home, is pleased to announce that HeyBryan and ApartmentLove Inc. ('ApartmentLove') will begin a new co-marketing initiative to promote HeyBryan, a preferred supplier of vetted, home-maintenance experts, like handymen, painters, and cleaners, to name a few, to ApartmentLove's vast landlord and tenant community in the Greater Toronto Area, BC's Lower Mainland, and Calgary, Alberta.

Trevor Davidson, President & CEO of ApartmentLove, comments: "We are really excited to bring this collaboration to life as we see great value in it for both ApartmentLove and HeyBryan. Just like homeowners, landlords and tenants constantly need small tasks done in their properties as quickly and efficiently as possible. We are glad we can work closely with HeyBryan to fill this gap together."

ApartmentLove has about 200,000 active rental listings across Canada and the US and is eager to promote HeyBryan to its large network of landlords and tenants, while HeyBryan promotes ApartmentLove to its customer base as a trusted and professional online rental listing partner.

"There is evidence that renters and landlords these days rely on the gig economy to hire professionals to improve their space as it is tough to find people quickly to do these small maintenance tasks. This is when HeyBryan comes into play. We are happy to get appreciation for our service from a well-respected company like ApartmentLove," adds Lance Montgomery, CEO of HeyBryan.

HGTV celebrity Bryan Baeumler acts as HeyBryan's brand ambassador. Bryan Baeumler is widely recognized as a home-maintenance expert and has been featured in multiple hit shows for over seven years, such as House of Bryan, Disaster DIY, Leave it to Bryan, and Island of Bryan.

ON BEHALF OF HEYBRYAN MEDIA INC.

Lance Montgomery

CEO, President & Director

About ApartmentLove Inc.

Bringing together the best qualified tenants and the most desirable rental listings from across Canada and the United States, ApartmentLove.com is among the largest home and apartment rental websites online today. Visit: www.ApartmentLove.com, or follow along on Facebook and Instagram, for direct links to the best selection of the most desirable homes and apartments for rent, as well as fun and creative home decor concepts, interior design ideas and other helpful rental tips.

About HeyBryan Media Inc.

HeyBryan Media (CSE: HEY) is a peer-to-peer marketplace app offering a friendly and seamless way for customers to connect with trusted and vetted Experts for everyday home-maintenance needs. Founded in 2018, the app is named after Canadian HGTV personality and one of the country's most trusted contractors, Bryan Baeumler.

Payments are processed through the HeyBryan app, eliminating the need for any in-person money exchange. Every Expert is background checked and credit checked to ensure a safe and secure experience for consumers. Typical tasks booked include handyman services, mounting or installation, furniture assembly, plumbing, painting, cleaning, lawn and yard maintenance, and more. HeyBryan accommodates busy schedules by allowing the independent workforce and consumers to communicate and work together. It's about real experts doing real work for real people.









Figure 1

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6572/51212_f1d4542ef43faacf_001full.jpg

Investor Relations Contacts:

Lance Montgomery, President & CEO

604-240-8192

lance@heybryan.com

CHF Capital Markets

Cathy Hume, CEO

416-868-1079 x231

cathy@chfir.com

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking information and statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements") under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates, forecasts, beliefs and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: risks related to the development, testing, licensing, intellectual property protection, and sale of, and demand for, the HeyBryan App and the services offered thereby, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals where applicable, and the state of the capital markets. HeyBryan cautions readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements provided by HeyBryan, as such forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future results or performance and actual results may differ materially. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and HeyBryan expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51212
BERLIN - Germany moved 35 soldiers serving in Iraq to neighbouring Jordan and Kuwait on Tuesday, while NATO said it was also shifting some of its troops out of the country amid tensions over the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general in an airstrike in Baghdad last week.

The killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani has drastically raised regional tensions and escalated a crisis between Washington and Tehran.

German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas wrote to lawmakers that the troops in the Iraqi bases in Baghdad and Taji would be temporarily thinned out, news agency dpa reported Tuesday. The two officials stressed that talks with the Iraqi government on a continuation of the mission to train Iraqi troops would go on.

Germany has a small contingent of some 120 soldiers in Iraq, though the majority are not stationed in Taji and Baghdad but elsewhere in Iraq.

NATO, meanwhile, said it was shifting some of its troops out of Iraq after Baghdad called for foreign forces to leave the country, but the U.S.-led military alliance hopes to return to continue training the Iraqi military if asked once calm is restored.

The 29-nation military organization has around 500 troops in Iraq  mostly from Canada, Spain and Turkey  who are helping to train and build Iraqs security forces so they can combat the Islamic State group alone. It wasnt immediately clear how many troops would be moved out.

We have temporarily suspended our training on the ground, and we are taking all precautions necessary to protect our people, NATO said. This includes the temporary re-positioning of some personnel to different locations both inside and outside of Iraq.

Separate from the NATO contingent, Germanys Defence Ministry said its 32 soldiers stationed at Taji were flown overnight to the Azraq air base in Jordan, where German planes helping in the fight against the Islamic State group are based. Three soldiers in Baghdad were taken along with colleagues from other countries to Kuwait by the headquarters of the anti-I.S. Operation Inherent Resolve, it added.

These forces can be moved back at any time if training in Iraq resumes, the ministry said in a statement.

Our soldiers are staying in the region and the mission is being kept in place for now, even though it is suspended this week pending further consultation, Roderich Kiesewetter, a lawmaker with Chancellor Angela Merkels party who is on the parliaments foreign affairs committee, told Deutschlandfunk radio.

He said this was a very good step to give the Iraqi government time to evaluate the situation after Iraqs parliament called for the withdrawal of foreign troops. The international coalition fighting IS will have to discuss how to proceed, he added.

Germany had already ordered its soldiers in Taji and Baghdad not to leave their bases after the killing of Soleimani last week near the Baghdad airport.
Ronan Farrow explains the Harvey Weinstein trial originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

The prosecutors in Harvey Weinstein's rape and sexual assault trial in New York City are taking a "big risk" in expanding his case, according to journalist Ronan Farrow.

Weinstein, 67, is facing five felony charges, including predatory sexual assault, and he could go to prison for life if convicted on all counts. Six women are expected to testify during the trial that they were sexually assaulted by the Hollywood movie producer, though he is only charged in this case with assaulting two of them.

MORE: Timeline: Harvey Weinstein's path to his New York City rape and sexual assault trial

The other women are expected to testify because prosecutors are seeking to show Weinstein had a pattern of predatory behavior. It's that expansion that Farrow, who reported allegations against Weinstein for The New Yorker, told "Good Morning America" Tuesday is a risk as they'll "have to sort of double prove" charges.

"They have to prove not only the charge at issue but also this secondary witness they're bringing in," Farrow told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos.

MORE: Harvey Weinstein's long-anticipated criminal trial begins today in New York City

"It is difficult this element of proving not only the charges at issue but also a course of conduct, a pattern -- sets a very high goal. It's atypical," he added, saying it's not a "slam-dunk" case. "More often, you'd see something like a prior conviction being the predicate that establishes the pattern. Here, they have to prove brand new additional fact patterns."

PHOTO: Journalist Ronan Farrow talks with ABC's George Stephanopoulos on Good Morning America, Jan. 7, 2020. (ABC News)

Farrow noted that Weinsten over the years "has been very effective in manipulating exactly this kind of a process."

"You've already seen in this case Harvey Weinstein's lawyers succeed in getting one of the charges against him dropped," he said. "You've already seen them launch attacks on the witnesses in the press. There was a confrontation yesterday where prosecutors were requesting a gag order so that Weinstein's lawyers would stop talking to the press."

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"They didn't get it," he added, "but the judge did chastise Weinstein's lawyers and say, 'You've got to stop impugning the witnesses.'"

MORE: Harvey Weinstein charged with rape, other sex crimes: LA district attorney

Weinstein is also under investigation for sexual assault in London and Los Angeles. Farrow said prosecutors in the latter city, which announced new charges Monday, seems to be taking "a similar approach" to their Manhattan counterparts.

PHOTO: Journalist Ronan Farrow talks with ABC's George Stephanopoulos on Good Morning America, Jan. 7, 2020. (ABC News)

"They certainly at last will be bringing in other character type witnesses," Farrow said. "They've asked some of my sources, for instance, would they be willing to testify, even though those sources didn't have instances in their allegations that took place in that jurisdiction."

Weinstein's New York trial began Monday, more than two years after bombshell reports from reporters at The New York Times and from Farrow in The New Yorker.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 16:14:06|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has adopted multiple measures to bring down the risk of a pneumonia outbreak in Hong Kong after a cluster of viral pneumonia cases with unknown cause detected in Wuhan, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday.

Although no serious pneumonia cases related to those in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, have been found in Hong Kong, the government has responded immediately, Lam said at a press briefing.

The authorities has asked doctors to report about suspected cases, and the figure has been published everyday. Health surveillance measures were enhanced at all boundary control points, such as body temperature checks of passengers arriving from Wuhan, no matter by train or plane, Lam said.

The government has also activated the serious response level for novel infectious disease, the medium level in its three-tier response system, Lam said.

By Monday noon, Hong Kong hospitals had admitted 21 patients who have been to Wuhan in the past 14 days, none of which were related to the viral pneumonia cases in the central Chinese city. Seven have been discharged from hospital and the rest were in stable condition.

The government said it will on Wednesday publish the amendment to the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), which includes severe respiratory disease associated with a novel infectious agent as a statutorily notifiable infectious disease.
WINNIPEG, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - 24-7 Intouch is proud to announce it will continue its global scale growth with an expansion into Athens, Greece.

This will be the first location in Europe and 18th campus internationally for the Winnipeg-based global customer care and technology company, which currently operates in the United States, Canada, Guatemala, Colombia, Jamaica and the Philippines.

The 50,000+ square foot campus will be home to some of the most recognized brands in the world. This new space will emulate the corporate culture, client partner branding, and unique design elements of 24-7 Intouch's current locations.

"Our global footprint, including expanding into Europe for the first time, is intentional and allows us to move quickly and anticipate future growth of our client partners," said Greg Fettes, Co-Founder & CEO of 24-7 Intouch. "Greece has a thriving BPO industry, and we look forward to bringing over 600 jobs, innovative customer care solutions, and our unique culture to the Athens area."

Athens is one of the biggest economic centers in southeastern Europe and is home to a young and educated workforce. Greece holds the second global position in skilled labor, with a large population of bilingual residents. Not only are English and French widely spoken across Athens, this expansion will also allow 24-7 Intouch to enhance their language capabilities to include German, Latin, Italian, Eastern European, and Middle Eastern languages.

The expansion to another continent makes 24-7 Intouch a true global provider. Greece provides an exciting BPO opportunity, with an increasing GDP, high levels of bilingualism, and an influx of qualified workers.

"Our approach to global growth is driven through regional and local evaluations," said Mitul Kotecha, President of 24-7 Intouch. "Athens is a perfect fit for us from a service culture and community perspective, and we are excited to create new partnerships in the European market."

The Athens campus is set to open in early 2020.

About 24-7 Intouch

24-7 Intouch is a global customer care and technology company that provides value-driven, future-forward solutions. For over 20 years, we have been the people and technology behind the world's biggest brands, empowering human potential through our artificial intelligence division, Laivly, and driving change for our client partners through actionable insights and analytics.

SOURCE 24-7 Intouch

Related Links

https://24-7intouch.com/


The South African banking industry landscape will look vastly different towards 2035, characterised by digital banking solutions unimaginable today due to the continued influence of key factors and trends in future.

Ruellyn Willemse-Snyman

Four alternative future scenarios

The money machine Supporting the banking needs of a large percentage of the South African population through agile digitised information technology systems constituting the core operational platform of the banks. On the high road Banking solutions personalised for the need of the individual made possible through new inventions such as big data analytics and artificial intelligence whilst being supported by agile information technology systems. Tall order An environment characterised by banks trying to satisfy the banking needs of the bulk of the South African population using legacy information technology systems that are lacking the required agility to be able to incorporate the change necessary to bridge the gaps. Slowly, but surely Scenario describing a banking environment focused on serving the banking needs of the individual who expect personalised banking functionality whilst having to rely on functionality available on legacy information technology systems.

The influence of SAs economy and politics

We live in a world where billions of people are hyper-connected to one another as well as to everything found in the contextual environment in which they actively participate. This unprecedented global network of connectivity creates a platform for real time and seamless transfer of innovation and technology, The banking industry is one of the many industries that will experience multiple iterations of continuous change in decades to follow.Combining the interconnectedness with the rapidly changing needs of customers, and the continuous introduction of new technology indicates that years to come will be characterised by influential disruptive transformation never experienced before.This will have two major influences on the banking landscape; namely, causing continuous client behaviour changes and constituting the building blocks for the digitisation of the banking industry landscape.The current South African banking industry is dominated by five major banks of which four (ABSA, Nedbank, FirstRand and Standard Bank) are categorised as traditional banks, whilst Capitec, the latest entrant to the market, has disrupted the South African banking industry landscape since it was established 18 years ago.The continued introduction of change as well as new digital-only banks, such as Thyme Bank, BankZero and Discovery Bank, will lead to an increasingly complex and competitive banking industry landscape in South Africa towards 2035.The digitisation of the banking industry and the continued presence and application of innovative banking solutions and enabling technology, necessitates the establishment of new regulations in order to counter the increase in security risks. The continued change in client behaviour, in turn, requires banks to continuously reinvent themselves in order to continue to satisfy the need of their clients.It is difficult to determine the future impact of the South African economic and political environments on the banking industry landscape due to the interconnected nature of the two domains.South Africas economic structure is poised to strangle growth for the foreseeable future, and as a counter, the political environment will be dominated by rhetoric and policies geared to addressing the causes of low growth, the circumstances facing the poor and means to stimulate growth.Banks have been considered for a long time as servicing the privileged and this will be in the crosshairs as politicians compete for the populist vote. Consequently, the banking industry will need to address its image to that of a bank for the people. Against the backdrop of low economic growth, banks will need to innovate solutions that break from the normal model of risk requiring returns as this mechanism underpins the exclusion of the poor.Banks will have to innovate solutions that mitigate the risks associated with their clients, which may include the adoption of a digital core operation platform enabled by technology and innovation as well as innovative business models.The political environment will look to banks to make up for their shortcoming in stimulating growth and redistributing wealth. The former requirement will require banks to provide loans and products to stimulate capital formation with the second requirement looking to digitisation of banks to redistribute corporate profiles to the consumer.The core operational platform of the banking industry towards 2035 is most likely to be characterised by an agile digital ecosystem of interconnected entities. The adoption of digital solutions create a complex system requiring the reinvention of security and regulatory measures.The key solution to combating cybersecurity is through the establishment of partnerships between banks and third parties such as regtechs that can supply financial solutions enabling clients to have access to digital financial solutions. This will provide clients access to their banking functionality whilst providing the privilege of a strictly controlled banking environment.
Ukraine has reduced its position in the ranking of world passports by two points at the end of 2019, according to the Henley & Partners Passport Index.

According to the report, over the past year, Ukrainian citizens received the right to visit Bahrain and Saudi Arabia without visas, but at the same time visa-free access for Ukrainians to Benin and Djibouti was stopped. Thus, the number of countries that Ukrainians can visit without a visa or with a visa upon arrival remained unchanged at 128, and the position in the ranking shifted from 41 to 43, which was shared with Nicaragua.

The leader of the rating for the third year in a row remains Japan, whose citizens can visit 191 countries without a visa. Singapore ranks second, while the third place is shared by South Korea and Germany.

Italy ranked fourth in the ranking, and three countries at once were fifth, including Denmark, Luxembourg, and Spain. The United States and the UK, who led the rating five years ago, fell to the eighth place.

The last place in the ranking was taken by Afghanistan, whose citizens can visit 26 countries without visas.
A federal judge in Los Angeles said this week that he was inclined to give final approval to the University of Southern Californias $215 million class-action settlement with former patients of Dr. George Tyndall, the campus gynecologist accused of sexual misconduct involving hundreds of patients during his decades-long tenure.

The judge, Stephen V. Wilson of United States District Court, said in court on Monday that he was inclined to accept the settlement, which would clear the way for the university to start writing checks to more than 18,000 women who saw Dr. Tyndall during their time at the university, according to lawyers involved in the case.

Under the terms of the settlement, each woman would be guaranteed a $2,500 payment, whether or not she had alleged abuse. Women who allege the worst abuse and would be willing to be screened by a psychologist could be eligible for payments of up to $250,000.

The university said in a statement that it was pleased with the courts decision. This settlement provides respectful and confidential relief to Tyndall patients at the student health center and formalizes a broad array of campus reforms, the statement said.
Tokyo, Jan 7 : Nissan Motor Corporation said on Tuesday that its ousted Chairman Carlos Ghosn's escape from Tokyo to Lebanon was "extremely regrettable" and defied Japan's judicial system.

The automobile giant's statement came a week after Ghosn, 65, had appeared in Beirut while under strict bail conditions in Japan, reports Efe news.

Ghosn was due to appear before Tokyo courts in the coming months in connection to charges of financial irregularities during his tenure at the helm of Nissan Motor.

"As stated by the public prosecutor's office, former chairman Carlos Ghosn's escape to the Lebanese Republic without the court's permission in violation of his bail conditions is an act that defies Japan's judicial system. Nissan finds it extremely regrettable," the statement said.

Ghosn is accused in Japan of financial misconduct, including underreporting his compensation from Nissan and misappropriation of the company's assets for personal gain.

He was first arrested on November 19, 2018 and then on April 25, 2019. He was later released on bail, with restrictions on communications and movement, and a ban on leaving the country.

"Nissan discovered numerous acts of misconduct by Ghosn through a robust, thorough internal investigation. The company determined that he was not fit to serve as an executive, and removed him from all offices," the company statement said.

It added that an internal investigation found "incontrovertible evidence of various acts of misconduct by Ghosn".

The consequences of this case for Nissan had been significant, it said, and another investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission concluded that Ghosn's conduct "was fraudulent". French investigations were also ongoing.

"Nissan will continue to do the right thing by cooperating with judicial and regulatory authorities wherever necessary," it said, adding that Ghosn's escape would not affect Nissan's "basic policy of holding him responsible for the serious misconduct uncovered".

Japanese authorities have asked Interpol to issue a red notice against Ghosn and await his return to Japan over charges against him in the courts. His trial was to be held in April.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Monday night that Japan will make every diplomatic effort to get Lebanon to hand over Ghosn to the Japanese authorities.

The two countries do not have an extradition agreement.
General Mills has extended its Fibre One brand with limited-edition 90 Calorie Birthday Cake Squares.

Made from vanilla cake mixed with sweet drops and topped off with frosting drizzle, it is decorated with party colours, festive confetti and a badge.

The UK launch was a result of its popularity in other markets and consumer demand on social media, said General Mills.

Our new Birthday Cake flavour is bringing the party to the Healthier Biscuits & Bars category, said Kat Jones, marketing manager, ice cream and snacking at General Mills.

The perfect celebratory treat, the squares not only taste delicious but contain 30% more fibre, 30% less fat and 30% less sugar than the average cake bar in the UK.

The brand has had a phenomenally successful year, said the company, adding it is the biggest contributor to the growth of the UK weight management snack bar category [Nielsen].

Fibre One sales have now reached 30.8m, achieving 35% in value sales year on year.

Its really important to us that our target audience feel they can still have fun while watching what they eat, especially when it comes to special occasions, added Jones.

The birthday squares will be available in packs of five for 2.89 at Asda and on Amazon UK for six months.
Everyone knows the primary process is broken. As critics reliably tell us every four years, it assigns far too much power to the very white, very small, very unrepresentative early states of Iowa and New Hampshire; it deprives bigger, more diverse states of their proper role in choosing a partys candidate. As a result, we have a woefully underqualified celebrity in the White House and a lackluster field of challengers to take him on. New York Times columnist David Leonhardt is just the latest to excoriate the system: No wonder, he wrote, the current president is a reality-television star, not to mention the most unfit occupant of the office in our countrys history. Its the kind of argument that has been made with regularity every four years, as newspaper headlines, news magazine covers and social media outlets ask: Is this any way to pick a president?

Theres just one problem with what everyone knows: its wrong.

If you look at how the primaries have really turned outbeginning in 1972 when they began to become the main way parties picked their candidatesit turns out that as often as not, big, diverse states have played a major role in picking the nominee. And when it comes to candidate fitness, the primary process has almost always ended with the selection of fully credentialed candidates. Even the obvious outlier now in residence on Pennsylvania Avenue may demonstrate the vitality of the system, in his own way: It gave voters a chance to reject the standard credentials when disaffection with politics as usual reached a critical mass.

The critiques of the primary system focus on both process and outcome; on both counts, the system is nowhere near as weak, or as predictably flawed, as the critics would have it. Turn to process first. The sins of the Iowa caucuses are many; Ive made a quadrennial habit of denouncing them, as I did here four years ago. But their actual influence over the campaign is hugely overstated. Some years it has been significant; others, irrelevant.

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Jimmy Carter turned the Iowa caucuses into a key staging ground by coming in first among candidates in 1976 (he finished behind uncommitted) after an effort that drew the attention of New York Times correspondent R.W. Apple Jr. in the fall of 1975. Since then, two DemocratsJohn Kerry in 2004 and Barack Obama in 2008gained significant power by winning the caucuses. (Theres an irony to Obamas win: Iowa is roundly denouncedmost recently by Julian Castroas a megaunrepresentative ultrawhite state, but Obamas win there totally reshaped the battle for African American votes; what had been a close contest between Obama and Hillary Clinton became an overwhelming, decisive advantage for Obama when he proved he could win there.)

In other races, however, Iowa has meant nothing to the Democratic battle. Walter Mondale won in a landslide in 1984, but eight days later, Gary Hart beat him in New Hampshire, altering the state of the race. Michael Dukakis finished third in Iowa in 1988 before going on to capture the nomination; Bill Clinton and other Democrats ceded the caucuses to native son Tom Harkin in 1992; Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders effectively tied there in 2016.

Sen. Gary Hart (left) and frontrunner Walter Mondale debate in New Hampshire in January 1984.

For Republicans, Iowa has meant even less: Except for 2008, when Mike Huckabees win derailed Mitt Romneys attempt to wrap up the nomination early, Iowa has had almost no impact on the outcome. Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, John McCain and Donald Trump all lost Iowa on their way to the nomination.

For New Hampshiretechnically, the nation's first primarythe importance is equally erratic. A few decades ago, a popular political axiom had it that the road to the White House runs through Manchester. That was before three presidents in a row won the White House after losing New Hampshire. (Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama.) In these and other cases, what happened in New Hampshire triggered a lengthy nominating contest in which later, bigger, more diverse states were crucial.

In 1972, George McGovern lost New Hampshire, but Ed Muskies win wasnt big enough to carry him to the Democratic nomination; when he faltered, the battle extended all through the primary calendar. McGoverns victory in winner-take-all Californiaa win that had to survive a convention rules challengewas the key. In the next election cycle, on the Republican side, Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford effectively tied in New Hampshireamounting to a defeat for the favored Reagan. His campaign was a step away from extinction, but a win in North Carolina led to victories in later states, and to the last genuinely contested convention battle.

In 1980, Jimmy Carters decisive New Hampshire win and a string of subsequent victories had challenger Ted Kennedy on the brink of ending his campaign. But Kennedys surprising landslide win in New York turned the contest competitive enough to produce a deeply divided (if not fully contested) nomination fight at the Democratic convention. In 1992, Bill Clintons nomination was secured not by the early states, but by primary victories in Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.

In 2008, John McCains financially strapped campaign got critical energy from a New Hampshire win, but it was a string of victories in South Carolina, Florida, California and New Yorkmany of which were winner-take-all primariesthat secured his victory. That same year, Obama and Hillary Clinton also competed all the way to the end of the primary calendar. Though Clinton won most of the big state primaries, the delegate allocation rules gave her a relatively modest advantage; Obamas lopsided wins in smaller states wound up giving him the edge.

If youre looking for a pattern here, good luck. For every wire-to-wire leader, theres a fight to the finish. For every frontrunner who wins unscathed, theres a frontrunner who suffers serious setbacks before prevailing, and another whose campaign ends in early defeat (Ed Muskie, Rudy Giuliani, Scoop Jackson).

For every campaign where one of the early states wields disproportionate clout, there are othersmany otherswhere the bigger states are the ones that carry the decisive weight.

Now what about the quality of the candidates delivered by the primary process? Critics will point to the weighty presidents produced by the smoke-filled rooms and back room dealsFDR, Truman, Ike. (Not so often cited is the fact that those rooms also gave us presidents like Warren Harding, or even lesser nominees like Alton B. Parker and John Davis.)

And the primaries? Over the past 48 years, the primaries have crowned a string of highly credentialed candidates: two sitting vice presidents, a three-term senator and decorated veteran, a successful businessman turned successful governor, a former secretary of State and a two-term governor of the most populous state in the nation.

As candidates, and as presidents, these nominees reflect a wide range of success and failure. But in the most basic sense, these successful navigators of the primary process were, in every case, fully credentialed candidates. The party insiders might have preferred others, but none of them would have been disqualified by a more insider process as unfit for the job of president.

That leaves us, of course, with the current occupant of the White House, who snatched the Republican nomination by almost running against the party itself, jetting from rally to rally, waging Twitter war on his rivals, appalling pundits and insiders but then cleaning up with the party's actual voters. Its a fair judgment that in the case of Trump, the Republican Party failed in the one task left to a party apparatus in a time when rank-and-file voters are the principal deciders, and that is the in-case-of-emergency-break-glass role of determining that a candidate is simply unacceptable as a potential president. As todays headlines make clear, we are still living with the consequence of that failure.

But even here, there is a case to be made that the primary offered a voice to millions of voters14 million of themwho were sufficiently fed up with traditional political choices to reach far outside the political system for a nominee. (Its also the case that if the Republican Party had adopted the Democratic Party's rulesno winner-take-all contests, proportional allocation of votes at the state and congressional District levelsa determined party establishment might have denied Trump the nomination.) More fundamentally, the election of Trump does not demonstrate that the process itself is fatally flawed, anymore than a single plane crash undermines the safety of air travel.

Does this mean theres no room for improvement? Of course there is: Iowa and New Hampshire need to be removed from their privileged positions on the simple ground of parity. Its time for other (less frigid? more diverse?) places to receive the attention, the pandering and the economic benefits of an overhyped contest.

But the saving grace of the system we have is that there really is no way to chart how the contest will take shape. Sure, it could be over by New Hampshire, but it could just be beginning on Super Tuesday. Maybe its fatal for a candidate to skip the early dates; maybe a big name with $50 billion to spend can override that. Maybe four or five candidates with ample war chests will produce that contested, multiballot convention that two generations of politics junkies have dreamed of. The point is, the current process can and had led to all sorts of contests; and that may be its principal virtue.


(TNS)  Gov. Andrew Cuomo will announce plans Wednesday to establish in Syracuse the states first regional high school and worker training center that focuses on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, or STEAM.The governor will commit at least $71.4 million to renovate the abandoned Central High School near downtown Syracuse into a multipurpose complex that will educate and train the workforce of the future, administration officials said.The renovated campus at South Warren and East Adams streets will house a new regional STEAM high school and a new state-funded worker training and apprenticeship center administered by SUNY Empire State College Cuomo plans to include the proposal in his 2020 State of the State address Wednesday at Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.The high school is a centerpiece and top priority of the Syracuse Surge , Mayor Ben Walshs technology-focused development plan thats expected to drive the citys growth for the next decade and beyond.Cuomo decided to expand the project to include a new workforce training center that will offer high school equivalency degrees, advanced technical certification and college degrees.The idea is to prepare high school graduates and workers of any age with skills for in-demand advanced technology jobs through apprenticeships and business partnerships in Central New York.As the resurgence of Central New York continues, the region today has a record number of jobs that employers often struggle to fill with qualified workers, Cuomo said. This new high school of applied learning and workforce training program will create a pipeline of educated, highly skilled workers who are equipped to tackle jobs of the 21st century that are driven by technology and are growing in the region.Cuomo said the expanded project is part of the commitment he made in his State of the State speech last year to support the Syracuse Surge.The new high school, which will draw students from across Central New York, is expected to open in time for the September 2021 school year. Construction would start this year.The project would not be able to proceed without state authorization and funding.A bill approved by New York lawmakers in June authorizes the Syracuse City School District to establish the school in partnership with Syracuse and Onondaga County.Onondaga County plans to issue bonds to initially pay for the renovation. The county would be reimbursed for 98% of the cost through the state Education Departments fund for new school construction.Cuomo has been reluctant to sign the legislation until he received assurances that local government would pay for any cost overruns in the project to renovate the building. The old Central High School opened in 1903 and hasnt been used as a school since 1975.Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, D-Syracuse and state Sen. Rachel May, D-Syracuse, who wrote the STEAM school legislation, structured it so that more money would be available up front than for a typical state-supported school project.Walsh, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Syracuse Schools Superintendent Jaime Alicea promised in a Dec. 3 letter addressed to state Budget Director Robert Mujica that local government would pay for any potential unforeseen cost overruns for the project.Cuomo has until Feb.8 to sign the bill, agreeing to reimburse $71.4 million of the $75 million cost to renovate the old Central High School into the STEAM school. If he doesnt act by then, the bill will lapse, and the money would have to be included separately in the state budget process.The new regional school would be operated by the Syracuse City School District but open its doors to students from across Central New York.Officials expect 60 percent of the new high schools students will be from Syracuse, with the remaining 40 percent from across the region.The school will be designed to serve 1,000 students, with 250 students per grade, in the ninth through 12th grades.The school will open initially to ninth-graders and add a grade in each of the next three years until it serves all grades in September 2024.Curriculum for the new school will be developed in partnership with Syracuse University, Le Moyne College, Onondaga Community College and other local colleges and universities.The workforce training center, located on the same campus as the Syracuse STEAM High School, will offer high school equivalency, advanced technical certification and college degrees.The training center would be modeled on the Northland Workforce Training Center in Buffalo, a $44 million project that Cuomo unveiled in 2015 as part of the Buffalo Billion redevelopment plan.The Buffalo center, which opened in 2018, provides training for careers primarily in the advanced manufacturing and energy sectors.Cuomo administration officials said Monday they did not know how much it would cost to establish the Syracuse workforce training center. SUNY Empire State College would operate the center and funding for the project would likely come from SUNYs capital budget.The Syracuse center would offer students of any age, including those changing careers, the flexibility to take about 800 courses online.Workers who are changing careers would be offered free college credits for previous workplace training and experience.Under the program, Empire State College would evaluate previous training programs completed in the workplace and assign equivalent college credits. The goal is to cut down on the time and cost for an overall college education.
Nigerias Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and leader of the counter-insurgency operations, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai is an enigmatic soldier, admirable leader and astute administrator. He is a soldier who knows his direction in all circumstances. His leadership vision of the Nigerian Army is anchored chiefly on professionalism and he has effectively lived this dream these past few years in transforming the Army.

Every day, Gen. Buratais actions show tenacious pursuit of the vision and agenda of repositioning the Nigerian Army into one of the very best around the world. His uncommon reforms and innovations in the last few years have elevated the Nigerian Army to an enviable pedestal. Gen. Buratai is not a flippant leader; he blends his words with verifiable actions.

The Army Chief has promised Nigerians that he must finally terminate the reign of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism in the country. And he is sparing no effort in this direction. So, in another surprise outing, Gen. Buratai shocked his troops and Nigerians alike at the beginning of Year 2020 by personally leading troops for the anti-insurgency clearance operations in Nigerias Northeast for the umpteenth time.

The COAS led troops to climb the craggy Limankara hills in Borno as part of the COAS' exceptional operational visits to Boko Haram hideouts in the state. It is one of the locations, encased by a rugged terrain where remnants of terrorists find fortress. He combed the place and thereafter, visited multiple other areas in the region to boost troops morale.

It is an apt indication that Gen. Buratai is not only providing good leadership to the Nigerian Army by routine office work, but he is also best in the trenches. He saunters on the field and into the trenches from time to time with troops.

A core plank of Gen. Buratais vision to make the Nigerian Army professionally responsible and responsive in the discharge of its constitutional roles is the welfare of troops and their families. So, he has berthed massive renovations, constructions of new offices and residential accommodation for soldiers and numerous other empowerments and developmental projects.

Almost every day, Gen. Buratai commissions a project somewhere in the country or lays the foundation for a development project in various parts of the country. The previously loud grumblings of soldiers over poor welfare have dissipated because Gen. Buratai has instituted and sustained the culture of enhanced comfort for Nigerian Army personnel.

And sometimes, he stretches into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects for Armys host communities. For instance, by the end of 2019, the Nigerian Army had reconstructed and commissioned the collapsed pedestrian metal bridge at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, which links students hostels and lecture halls. Its a rare community service from an institution like the Nigerian Army.

Quite tragically, when the bridge collapsed as a result of a heavy downpour, it consumed the lives of three students and injured several others. Same day, the Army Chief also commissioned new accommodation blocks for soldiers at School of Armoury, Bauchi and another 10 new blocks of 8 apartments at Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai Village in the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, Obienu Barracks in same Bauchi.

At the Gibson Jalo cantonment in Adamawa, Gen. Buratai commissioned Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition Centre, Accident and Emergency Unit and also, performed the foundation laying of perimeter fence in the barracks. Similarly, at the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, Gen. Buratai has constructed the officers transit accommodation, with the nomenclature Col Nebo Hall and the headquarters main gate. It is fairly difficult to say, any Army formation in Nigeria or any section of the country has not felt the impact of Gen. Buratais leadership of the Army.

Gen. Buratai has built new schools; renovated and upgraded existing ones for the Nigerian Army like the Nigerian Army Aviation School. But the wonder of it all is the Nigerian Army University, Biu (NAUB). It is incredible to discern how Gen. Buratai conceived this laudable initiative. It is even more endearing how he has been able to aggressively build NAUB within a span of two years. NAUB commenced operations in 2018, but it is like a varsity in existence for more than three decades.

Today, the first Army university in Africa is expanding in physical structures, academic enrollment and staff strength with the speed of a tornado. A few days ago, Gen. Buratai inaugurated an ultra-modern and gigantic building complex for the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences of NAUB, co-funded by the Nigerian Army and the FGN.

The science faculty complex comprises of 47 offices, 24 classrooms, lecture halls and three laboratories. A sight of the commissioned marvelous architectural edifice would tempt a visitor to believe he has found himself in a foreign university. But certainly no! It is in Nigeria and in Borno, a state and community once ravaged by terrorism. It is really a magnificent sight to behold.

The beneficial impact of the university to the host and indeed, all Nigerians is unimaginably enormous. In fact, even its admission policy is skewed in favour of civilians, who have been allocated 75 percent of quota, while the military and para-military agencies collectively share the remaining 25 percent.

With this daily exhibition of positive results, Gen. Buratai has demonstrated his knack for leadership excellence as evidence in the massive infrastructural improvements at NAUB within the shortest time. This is a remarkable departure from established norms in Nigeria where it takes approved new higher institutions a dozen years to find their operational pulse.

But the COAS has effortlessly broken the jinx.

The Army boss is a realist to the core and a selfless leader. He believes in turning everything he touches into gold. Excellence in all assignments has been his guiding ideology. He hardly misses his targets. He leads for the benefit of the people, detached from his personal interests, a mark of true and committed leaders anywhere in the world.

Gen. Buratai believes in the consummation of splendor and hard work. The university in Biu is one of the numerous achievements of his administration. At its inception, Gen. Buratai promised Nigerians to make NAUB a world class university. And he has left nothing to chance, but is vigorously pursuing this ambition as evident in the results.

It explains why many Nigerians are puzzled with Gen. Buratais persona. People have continued to ask where Gen. Buratai derives his wisdom? Nigerians angle to know what inspires his exceptional vision, ideas and the strength of a workaholic?

So, aside his military career, Gen. Buratai is an uncommon farmer. Buratai owns a personal snake farm, a money- spinning venture only for the brave, like he indubitably typifies. Not many Nigerians are courageous enough to go close to a snake. But Gen. Buratai does not only keep them quarantined in a farm, but he plays with them as pets.

Though interested in agricultural investments, but as the COAS he avoids conflict of interest. Rather, he has launched the Nigerian Army farms for soldiers and their families. He is not into personal rice cultivation or any crop that would conflict with what the Nigerian Army has initiated for soldiers.

He has rather introduced and supported empowerment schemes such as the Barracks Investment Initiative Programme for the skills acquisition and empowerment of Nigerian Army personnel and their families. Gen. Buratai remains a great, reputable and archetypal leader of his generation and for many years to come in the history of our country.

Onmeje wrote this piece from the United Kingdom.
One of Western Australias oldest and best known hotels has closed its doors suddenly, and permanently.

The New Norcia Hotel has served its last drinks and accommodated its last visitors, with the shock news leaving the small community reeling.

The hotel was built in 1927. Credit:Benedictine Community

Shire of Victoria Plains president Pauline Bantock told community members in a Facebook post on Monday evening she had received numerous phone calls about the closure.

This kind of business decision is not a matter the local government has control over or is involved in, so I cannot make comment on behalf of the Shire, she said.
The assassination of Iranian Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani by a US strike in Baghdad has already pushed the Middle East toward a new, higher phase of tensions. While Iranian officials are repeatedly talking about a hard revenge against the United States, US President Donald Trump has threatened that any retaliatory move by the Islamic Republic would result in an American attack against 52 sites inside Iran, some at a very high level and important to Iran and the Iranian culture.

In Iraq, the American strike  which also resulted in the death of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy chief of Iraqs Popular Mobilization Units  has been widely seen as a breach of Iraqs sovereignty and of the security agreements between Baghdad and Washington. As a result, the Iraqi parliament voted Jan. 5 for the expulsion of American troops from the country.

Meanwhile, although much international debate is focused on the time and the nature of Irans retaliation, as well as the implications of the current crisis on the future of Iraq, Soleimanis killing could also seriously impact another regional hot spot, Syria. In fact, Soleimani was known to be the mastermind behind Irans strategy to keep Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in power and then to fight the Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq. In November 2017, it was Soleimani who, in a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, officially declared the end of IS rule in Iraq and Syria. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps general was also believed to be personally in charge of establishing and coordinating a wide network of Shiite fighters from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and even Afghanistan and Pakistan to fight alongside the Syrian army against the rebel and terrorist groups.

As such, one might expect Soleimanis death to cause challenges for Irans policy in Syria. However, while Soleimanis loss as a smart strategist and a charismatic field commander will be undoubtedly felt by the Islamic Republic, Tehrans overall influence in Syria is unlikely to be diminished as a result.

In his decree appointing Maj. Gen. Esmail Ghaani as Soleimanis successor, Ayatollah Khamenei made it clear that the Quds Force must stick to the same plan it had under Soleimani. As far as the Syrian part of that plan is concerned, Ghaani seems not to have any major problem in continuing Soleimanis work uninterrupted. In fact, the new commander, who worked for more than 10 years as Soleimanis deputy, is better known in Iran as the Damascene General because of his important role in the Quds Forces activities in Syria. Former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief commander Mohsen Rezaee has said Ghaani has had a serious role in both Syria and Iraq.

These personal aspects of the Quds Force policy in Syria aside, the Islamic Republic has also taken some steps at the governmental level to reassure its allies in Syria on the continuity of its approach toward the Syrian conflict. On Jan. 5, Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani hosted Ali Mamlouk, head of Syria's National Intelligence Bureau, who was in Tehran to express condolences on behalf of Assad over Soleimanis killing. The meeting reportedly focused on Iran-Syria coordination during the next stage. Meanwhile, commenting on the potential impact of Soleimanis death on Irans cooperation with Russia in Syria, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said, We do not think there will be any gap in this regard.

However, these points do not mean that Irans policy in Syria will be all about continuity. Instead, certain elements of change are expected to dominate Tehrans overall strategy in Syria. Mostafa Najafi, a Middle East analyst at Tehrans Tarbiat Modarres University, said he believes that the current course of events could lead Iran and its allied groups in Syria to take an offensive posture against Israel and that there is the potential for a clash in Syrias south and southwest. I think the US move to terrorize Gen. Soleimani was in fact an upgraded phase of Israels policy of targeting Iranian interests in Syria. Washington did for Tel Aviv what it couldnt do by itself, Najafi told Al-Monitor. As such, it appears possible that Iran could abandon its policy of strategic patience against Israel and try to open the northern front against Israel. According to Najafi, Iran feels the need to act in order to prevent Israel and the US from turning the policy of targeted attacks against Iranian positions into an established procedure.

Meanwhile, as Iran's primary goal in Iraq and Syria may turn to facing the United States and Israel and as the international anti-IS coalition pauses its mission in Iraq to protect its troops, IS terrorists may try to reorganize their ranks and restart their activities in the volatile areas bordering Iraq and Syria. An IS revival in Syria would likely involve the eastern parts of the country, where US bases are located. In such a situation, although Iran-backed groups stationed in Deir ez-Zor province will continue guarding their own positions against IS, they might start pushing IS toward the US positions in order to make life harder for the Americans. This could be the start of Irans selective fight against IS in Syria.

The tense situation that has emerged in the aftermath of Soleimanis assassination could also affect Irans long-term approach in Syria. Since the collapse of the self-proclaimed IS caliphate in 2017, Iran has been gradually shifting its focus from playing a direct military role in the Syrian conflict to trying to define a major role for itself in the process of Syrias postwar reconstruction. While avoiding getting directly involved in the major Syrian battlefields over the past two years  such as the Syrian armys campaign to recapture Idlib  Tehran concluded a number of nonmilitary agreements with Damascus in various fields, from transportation to construction and banking cooperation. However, the necessities of a potential face-off with the United States or Israel may lead Iran to direct all available resources toward strengthening its military positions, resulting in an indefinite delay in the realization of Irans economic plans in Syria.

As such, Irans strategy in Syria after the death of Soleimani is expected to contain both offensive and defensive elements, looking at Syria as a potential scene for taking revenge against the United States and Israel, while also working to preserve its influence in the Arab country by strengthening its military positions.
by Damian McCoade II | Bulls Correspondent | Tue, Jan 7th 12:23am EST

DeMar DeRozan supplied 25 points (11-15 FG, 2-2 FT, 1-1 3Pt), seven assists and three assists across 33 minutes in San Antonio's win over Milwaukee Monday night.

Fantasy Impact:

DeRozan was incredibly efficient in this one, shooting an impressive 73% from the field. He's been on fire as of late, averaging 25.6 points per game while shooting 65% from the field in his last eight games. He'll look to stay hot Tuesday night against the Celtics.
[ Read an excerpt from Long Bright River. ]

If searching is the current beneath Long Bright River, the Fitzpatrick family story is the horizon to keep your eye on. Mickey struggles to build a stable childhood for her son, but her efforts are thwarted by her demanding job, a flaky babysitter and a grinchy mom who body-blocks a Happy Meal at a hastily thrown-together birthday party. (Weeks after reading this scene, it still makes my blood boil.) Through flashbacks, we learn how Mickey arrived at such a lonely place  and we start to root for her reconnection with more problematic members of her past, including the Fitzpatricks grandmother, Gee. (Picture Marilla Cuthbert crossed with Miss Hannigan and a tiny bit of Matildas The Trunchbull thrown in just to make everyone miserable.)

Without giving too much away, it seems appropriate that Moores novel comes to a head in the choir loft of a crumbling cathedral. Because even in the midst of their crime-ridden, drug-addled neighborhood, Moores people have a steely kind of faith. Not necessarily the kind that brings you to your knees  although theres some of that too but the belief that makes you stand a little taller and hold out for something better, against all odds. Moore gives you a lot to chew on here: workplace ethics, geographic inertia, family loyalty. Her careful balance of the hard-bitten with the heartfelt is what elevates Long Bright River from entertaining page-turner to a book that makes you want to call someone you love.

Discussion Questions

Why do you think Mickey never told her son she loved him?

In the every man (or woman] for herself world of Mickey and Kaceys childhood, how do their different choices make sense?

When did you start to suspect the culprit? What were your clues?

How does the author make the Kensington neighborhood come alive?

Suggested Reading

Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America, by Beth Macy. Want to understand the roots of the opioid epidemic? Beth Macy takes you there with her thorough, unflinching and empathic reporting.

Cost, by Roxana Robinson. A family grapples with heroin addiction in this heartbreaking but enlightening novel. If you think addiction couldnt happen to your nearest and dearest, Robinson gently prods you to think again.
On October 20, 2017 all car production in Australia ended when General Motors-Holden closed its plant in Elizabeth, South Australia. The closure marked the end of 70 years of vehicle production in the country and destroyed the remaining 450 jobs in an industry that had once employed tens of thousands.

Just two weeks before the Elizabeth shut-down, Toyota closed its only remaining Australian production plant, located in the Melbourne suburb of Altona. A year earlier, Ford had wrapped up its remaining Australian production after a protracted period of downsizing and mass job shedding.

The ending of vehicle production was estimated to have cost a combined 50,000 jobs directly and across associated industries such as auto parts manufacturers.

The corporatised trade unions, working hand in glove with the companies and state and federal governments, Labor and Liberal alike, did everything they could to suppress widespread opposition to this destruction. Having played the major role in enforcing the gutting of jobs in the industry over the course of decades, the unions then peddled claims that retraining would mitigate the effects of the mass sackings.

These claims stand exposed as a fraud. Former centres of car production, such as Elizabeth in Adelaide and Broadmeadows in Melbourne, have been left mired in social crisis. Official unemployment rates are as high as 20 percent, while an entire generation of working class youth faces a future of joblessness and social misery.

Two surveys released last month reveal that the vast majority of former car workers, many of whom were employed in the industry for decades, have been unable to find alternative full-time employment, with decent wages and conditions. Instead they have been thrown into unemployment, or forced to take on precarious, low-paid casual and contract work.

The plight of the car-workers is the end product of a decades-long operation spearheaded by Labor and the unions. This began in the 1980s when the Australian Council of Trade Unions, and all of its affiliates, collaborated with the Hawke and Keating Labor governments to enforce orderly closures, across the car, steel and mining industries, and virtually every other sector of manufacturing.

This policy was the logical conclusion of the nationalist and pro-capitalist program of Labor and the unions. Under conditions of the globalisation of production, they dispensed with their earlier calls for limited reforms, and became the most ardent proponents of ensuring the international competitiveness of their own national industry through a continuous offensive against jobs, wages and conditions.

The unions enforced the closure of the industry, which was spearheaded by the federal Labor government of Julia Gillard. They championed calls for multi-million dollar subsidies to the car companies, on the pretext that this would save jobs, the same time as these major corporations were engaged in relentless downsizing. On the basis of such appeals, more than $12 billion in direct government subsidies and protections were handed over to the car industry giants over the 20 years to 2013.

The unions also peddled the lie that jobs could be saved if workers agreed to endless company demands for concessions including wage freezes, lower manning levels, speedups and the surrender of rafts of working conditions. Rather than preventing the closures, the consequence of this program was that the corporations made a profit bonanza, as they, along with unions, were preparing for the final liquidation of the entire industry.

At GM Holden, Toyota and Ford, the companies and unions initiated government-funded retraining schemes and job search assistance, as has been done in other industries where mass downsizing occurred. This was used as a means of hosing down the opposition of workers.

These schemes dovetailed with government funded programs that would supposedly generate a boom in other sectors of manufacturing and create thousands of jobs, as car production was wound down.

In 2013, the South Australian Labor government appointed former federal Labor minister and union chief Greg Combet to oversee this supposed transition. He received a $160,000 annual salary.

The November results of a survey of 950 former Holden workers on their employment situation after the closure of the Elizabeth plant demonstrates that these programs were sham. They were a boondoggle that enriched the corrupt union bureaucracy, while obscuring the social disaster caused by the car industry shutdown.

The survey showed that while 76.4 percent of the workers had found jobs, two thirds of these were in precarious lower paying part-time and casual employment. The remaining 23 percent are still without a job of any kind. They have little chance of ever finding one.

Another survey by consultants Acil Allen of displaced automotive workers from Ford, Holden and Toyota, conducted 12 months after the closures, found that of those interviewed, only 59 percent were in full-time work. Some 34 percent were employed as casuals. Another 5 percent were self-employed. Amid a rapid economic slowdown, such forms of work are highly precarious.

Similar joint operations by the car conglomerates, governments and the auto unions will be used internationally to try to head-off the emergence of a unified industrial and political movement by auto workers to the current round of job cuts.

In November, Daimler Mercedes-Benz announced it will slash more than 10,000 jobs over the next two years. German carmaker Audi, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, is set to eliminate 9,500 jobs over five years. Bosch is seeking to slash another 500 jobs at its facility in the city of Reutlingen. General Motors is closing four plants in the US and Canada and eliminating 8,000 jobs.

Under these conditions the car companies are relying on the unions, such as the United Auto Workers in the US and IG Metall in Germany, to contain and derail the growing resistance among auto workers internationally to an ongoing corporate assault on their conditions.

The lesson of the Australian car industry closure is that workers can only defend their jobs and their livelihoods through a rebellion against the unions. New organisations of struggle are required, including independent rank-and-file committees, to mobilise the immense social and political power of auto workers on a global scale.

Such committees would be tasked with turning out to other sections of the working class facing a similar offensive on their jobs and conditions and organising a genuine industrial and political counter-offensive. They would immediately confront major political issues, including the burning necessity to transform the car companies, and other major industries, into publicly-owned utilities, democratically controlled by the working class.
Suwon city's welfare officials talk with a city resident in need of urgent help during their visit. The government's social welfare policy again came under fire after a three-member family with financial problems committed suicide earlier this week. / Korea Times file



By Kim Se-jeong



The government's social welfare system has come under fire after a three-member family struggling with financial difficulties committed suicide earlier this week.



On Monday, the police in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, found three people  two adult women and one child  dead in their home. In a hand-written note, the child's mother mentioned financial struggles as the cause for the drastic decision. The child's mother was separated from the father and was supporting the family.



This is only one of many similar stories heard in recent years. According to the Hankyoreh, 18 similar cases have been reported last year alone with 70 people dead. What was commonly found in those families was that they were never detected by government welfare service providers. The local Gimpo government found no record of the mother requesting or receiving any social assistance.



"There are many people in crisis who need help but the web of social assistance cannot cover them all," Lee Yun-jung of the E-Land Foundation told the Korea Times. The foundation has been supporting families in need of urgent help since 1996.



"Recently, we had a case where the main breadwinner had a car accident and couldn't work for a few months. Not only did they not have money for medical expenses, this family didn't have enough to pay for food, their children's education and other expenses. However, the family couldn't get any help from the government channel because their reported income levels were too high.



Still far from adequate, the extent of social assistance has improved since 2014 when a mother and her two daughters committed suicide in Songpa district in eastern Seoul.



"The government service has improved a lot since 2014," Lee said.



The government mobilized big data to detect the financially vulnerable, finding people who weren't able to pay their utility bills and national health insurance fees for months, and dispatching local welfare officials to their homes.



The government also trained local community leaders to detect people in crisis. The Ministry of Education collected a list of students who were missing from school for a long time period and sent the local government official to investigate.



Speaking with the Hankyoreh, Prof. Ku In-hoe of Seoul National University pointed out that the real solution to the problem would be for the government to lower the bar for basic social welfare services.



"The services are out there but many aren't eligible because of picky requirements. "It's very difficult to meet all the requirements," Ku said.



Under the current system, families whose monthly earnings are lower than the standard amount set by the government can receive financial assistance for living and housing, free health care services and subsidies for their children's education.



Ku added the government must change the policies toward helping the elderly population. Currently, elderly people cannot be eligible for social welfare if they have children who earn a decent wage, even if they do not live together. "This condition should be abolished completely," Ku said.


Victims' campaigner Paul Gallagher (47) has described how he came to be "born again" with a new outlook on life on the 26th anniversary of a loyalist terror attack that left him in a wheelchair.

He was just 21 when UFF terrorists entered his west Belfast home on January 6, 1994.

He was shot in front of his family, with injuries that would leave him in a wheelchair.

In a tweet posted yesterday, Mr Gallagher reflected that it was "an anniversary that I used to dread - but now see as an opportunity to look back and see how I have changed for the better since 1994".

The tweet captured the attention of many on social media, with his forward-thinking and positive outlook on life being hailed as an inspiration.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Gallagher explained that it had taken him many years to readjust his way of approaching the date each year.

"I think in the first few years it would have been a day of dread in the home and no one would have spoken about it. People around me were on eggshells because it was so raw," he said.

"I do say my life changed that day in a bad way, but looking back it has been a good thing. Things have changed so much.

"I have had to be born again - not in the religious sense - but I have a completely new life."

The campaigner works with the Wave Trauma Centre in Belfast trying to secure pensions for those who have been seriously injured in the Troubles.

He explained that his mindset changed significantly when he started getting involved in courses dealing with trauma.

"About 10 years ago I started seeing life in a different way. Learning more about trauma, going back to the college, taking courses at Wave," he said.

"I wasn't going mad, these were normal reactions to abnormal situations.

"It opened my eyes that I could deal with it and make sense of what happened to me.

"I am not dead, I survived. I have an opportunity to make some sense of it. I say to myself: 'You have a second chance, you survived it - you are not just a victim'.

"It doesn't sit with me, I don't wake up this morning and say: 'Here's that day again'.

"It is a normal day, I just get on with the things I have to do."

Graduating from Queen's University with a first class degree in trauma studies in 2016, Mr Gallagher noted the big difference the concept of 'post-traumatic growth' had made on his approach to the difficult situation he faced.

"Everyone knows about post-traumatic stress disorder. I came across this concept called post-traumatic growth, when you end up not just surviving but growing and thriving from your traumatic event," he said.

"When I read about it, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

"When I speak to people about that, they have never heard of it.

"It is something people should look into, it would have made my recovery go faster at the time."

Now back at Queen's University teaching a module on trauma studies, Mr Gallagher said that young people he lectures about his experience regularly report his perspective to be "some of the best parts of the teaching".

He contrasts the experience of talking to the next generation, with the "failure of politics" that has seen mechanisms for dealing with legacy issues falling by the wayside.

However, Mr Gallagher stresses that he doesn't let that dissatisfaction get in the way.

"You just have to get up and get on with it," he said.

"You can't really hold on to vengeance or hatred.

"The people who did these things to you don't care if you hate them, so there's no point.

"I am trying to finish a PhD at the moment.

"You just try and keep focused on keeping busy.

"Keeping any sort of negatives out of your life.

"I am hopefully now an inspiration to other people. I take that very seriously.

"It is not some flippant thing. If I can be an inspiration to people, then I own it."
[January 07, 2020] GIGABYTE at CES 2020: New GIGABYTE Gaming Monitors, High-Speed Memory, Portable Storage and World's First Liquid-Cooled eGPU

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, will unveil a new series of affordable GIGABYTE gaming monitors; a trio of mobile and PCIe-based memory storage solutions; and the first water-cooled eGPU at CES 2020. The new additions round out GIGABYTE's portfolio of technology products, which caters to PC enthusiasts, gamers and content developers. GIGABYTE Gaming Monitors GIGABYTE's new gaming monitors offer exclusive gaming features and top-end hardware specifications at a more attractive price point. Models range from 27 to 32 inches and include both IPS (flat-panel) with ultra-wide 178-degree vertical and horizontal viewing angles to VA (curved panel), which offer the best contrast and image depth. Screen resolutions in the new GIGABYTE series range from FHD to QHD (quad high definition) with 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. All new GIGABYTE monitors are also compatible with AMD's FreeSync and Nvidia's G-Sync technology, which promise a buttery-smooth experience free of stuttering, or screen tearing. High-performance systems often experience screen or frame tearing, which is caused by the refresh rate of the monitor being out of sync with the frames produced by the graphics card. The new GIGABYTE gaming monitors promise flicker-free gaming with no lag. GIGABYTE's exclusive Auto-Update feature will automatically run instant system checkups and updates once the GIGABYTE monitors are connected to the PC. Users no longer need to take tedious steps prior to installs or encounter failures because the monitors are constantly updating and troubleshooting themselves. The GIGABYTE monitors include: GIGABYTE G27F FHD, 144Hz with 1ms Response Time

8-bit IPS panel with 120% sRGB

FreeSync & G-Sync Compatible

Black Equalizer & GIGABYTE Gaming Features

GIGABYTE Auto-Update & Built-in Stereos Speakers

Stand with Easy Adjustments

Low Blue Light & Flicker-Free GIGABYTE G27QC QHD, 165Hz with 1ms Response Time

8-bit VA panel 1500R with 90% DCI-P3 & HDR Ready

FreeSync & G-Sync Compatible

Black Equalizer & GIGABYTE Gaming Fetures

GIGABYTE Auto-Update & Built-in Stereo Speakers

Stand with Easy Adjustments with Power Board Build-in

Low Blue Light & Flicker-Free



GIGABYTE G32QC QHD, 165Hz with 1ms Response Time

8-bit VA panel 1500R

90% DCI-P3 & VESA DisplayHDR 400

FreeSync Premium Pro & G-Sync Compatible

Black Equalizer & GIGABYTE Gaming Features

GIGABYTE Auto-Update & Stand with Easy Adjustments

Low Blue Light & Flicker-Free GIGABYTE Memory and Storage Includes the Best Upgrade for the PCIe 3.0 Platform

GIGABYTE's new AORUS RAID SSD 2TB expansion card offers an affordable way for users to upgrade to PCIe 3.0 without purchasing a new motherboard. The card has an embedded enterprise class NVMe RAID controller with 4 x PCIe 3.0 512GB NVMe SSD. Users can expect Gen 4 performance on the PCI3 3.0 platform with Read/Write (R/W) performance of up to 6300/5900 MBs. The RAID array can be configured for Ultra-High Performance or data redundancy, and as an OS drive or SSD storage drive. GIGABYTYE includes its dedicated AORUS Storage Manager and SSD Tool Box, which allows users to configure a RAID array with a single click and monitor both SSD temperatures and fan speeds to keep their SSDs cool and performing at a high level. AORUS RAID SSD 2TB (GP-ASACNE2200TTTDA) Form Factor : PCl Express Card

Interface : NVMe 1.3, PCIe 3.0 x8

Capacity : 2048GB

Controller : Phison E12

NAND Flash : 3D TLC

Warranty: 5 years Gigabyte will also debut several new DESIGNARE memory and external storage solutions. The new DESIGNARE Memory 3200MHz card features 64GB, DDR4-3200 MHZ memory. New DESIGNARE portable drives will debut in 500GB/1TB capacities with R/W up to 2000MB/s. The interface is USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, USB-C. They measure just 3.6 x .4 x 2.3 inches. Gigabyte also offers the DESIGNARE Drive as a bundle. The solution features the portable DESIGNARE paired with the company's USB 3.2 GEN2X2 card to offer transfer speeds of up to 20Gbps. It will work on all platforms with PCIe 3.0 x4 (or above) slots. World's First Liquid-Cooled eGPU The AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box is the first external portable graphics box that is watercooled. When using Thunderbolt 3 to connect to an existing laptop or desktop, AORUS provides the all-around cooling solution for all key components of the graphics card. Besides dedicated gamers, the AORUS Gaming Box is perfect for content creators, 3D animation, streamers, Youtubers and others that require the highest level of graphic processing. These new products can be seen at the GIGABYTE AORUS VIP Meeting Suite: Pisa & Palermo Ballrooms at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas from January 7  10. About GIGABYTE GIGABYTE, headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, is a leading global brand in the IT industry, with employees and business channels in almost every country. Founded in 1986, GIGABYTE started as a research and development team and has since taken the lead in the world's motherboard and graphics card markets. On top of Motherboards and Graphics cards, GIGABYTE further expanded its product portfolio to include PC Components, PC Peripherals, Laptops, Desktop PCs, Network Communications, Servers and Mobile Phones to serve each facet of the digital life in the home and office. Everyday GIGABYTE aims to "Upgrade Your Life" with innovative technology, exceptional quality, and unmatched customer service. Visit www.gigabyte.com for more information. https://www.gigabyte.com/us Media Contact: Van Luong

GIGABYTE

[email protected]

626-854-9338 Len Fernandes

Firecracker PR

[email protected]

1-888-317-4687 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gigabyte-at-ces-2020-new-gigabyte-gaming-monitors-high-speed-memory-portable-storage-and-worlds-first-liquid-cooled-egpu-300982905.html SOURCE GIGABYTE

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You'd be forgiven for assuming that tackling violence, drugs and anti-social behaviour were at the top of every police force's list of priorities every day.

But one seems to think a 'week of action' on such issues is enough to prove that it is 'no soft touch' on crime.

Cumbria Police has pledged to start the New Year by tackling crimes which are 'important to our communities' and which it believes the public cares about the most.

Cumbria Police has pledged to start the New Year by tackling crimes which are 'important to our communities' (pictured: Carlisle city centre)

In Carlisle, officers have promised to focus on anti-social behaviour, drink-driving, violence and drug abuse.

Other areas have said they will take a strong stance on cross-border crime. In west Cumbria, police have vowed to concentrate on tackling shoplifting and the trade in stolen goods, as well as night-time violence.

The force believes that these are the crimes that the public is most concerned about. And it signals a move towards more traditional policing amid a nationwide focus on so-called fashionable issues such as hate crime.

Matt Kennerley, Superintendent for north Cumbria, acknowledged the irony of dedicating just a week to these crimes, insisting: 'Our officers are tackling such issues day in and day out.'

But he added that, during the 'week of action', the force 'will be taking a particularly high-visibility approach to start the year in a concerted effort to proactively target the things that are most important to our communities'.

Carl Patrick, Superintendent for west Cumbria, added: 'This week of action showcases the work going on all the time.'

Crime statistics for Carlisle city centre (pictured) in the year to November showed violent and sexual offences accounted for 31 per cent of crimes reported

Crime statistics for Carlisle city centre in the year to November showed violent and sexual offences accounted for 31 per cent of crimes reported.

Anti-social behaviour accounted for 18 per cent of crimes. Of the crimes reported, 61 per cent ended with no further action taken.

Only 15 per cent of crimes saw the offender sent to court with roughly half dealt with by the judicial system. Figures for Barrow-in-Furness show there were more than 3,400 violent crimes committed in the year to November. Nearly 1,500 incidents of anti-social behaviour were also reported.

For the force's latest drive, police officers will also work with 'partner agencies' including the fire brigade and local health services.

Cumbria Police previously faced criticism for its handling of the Poppi Worthington case, in which a 13-month-old girl was found to have been sexually assaulted by her father before her death.

A coroner ruled in 2018 that the sexual assault had taken place, but prosecutors refused three times to put him on trial.

Police failed to treat the case as a criminal inquiry for eight months after Poppi's death in 2012, meaning there was insufficient evidence to charge him.
Throughout his presidency, President Donald Trump has repeatedly attempted to distinguish between the wonderful Iranian people and their hostile, brutal and corrupt leadership.

But as he suggested the possibility of retaliatory strikes against Iran on Saturday, he resorted to a threat that  in other, prior conflicts  has deliberately blurred the distinction between countries' regimes and their people.

By suggesting strikes on 52 Iranian sites, including some that are important to the Iranian culture rather than its military, Mr Trump threatened a way of waging war that has drawn growing outrage in recent decades, critics argued Monday.

Such attacks have been condemned as cultural cleansing by the former director general of UNESCO, Irina Bokova. The deliberate destruction of heritage is a war crime, she told the UN Security Council in 2017, adding that it has become a tactic of war to tear societies over the long term.

Ms Bokova was primarily referring to the destruction of cultural sites by militant groups at the time, but to some, her words now appear eerily relevant for Iran, which hosts 22 cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the ancient ruins of Persepolis with its palatial buildings and terraces.

US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early Friday 3 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures The wreckage of the car in which general Soleimani was travelling when a targeted US airstrike struck outside Baghdad International Airport on 3 January Ahmad Al Mukhtar via Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Demonstrators burn the US and British flags during a protest in Tehran after general Soleimani was killed in a targeted airstrike by American forces Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of Donald Trump AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn Israeli and US flags as thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of general Soleimani at the hands of America EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of Donald Trump pray at an 'Evangelicals for Trump' campaign event held on the day following the killing of general Soleimani. At the event, the president praised the "flawless strike that eliminated the terrorist ringleader" AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A huge procession of mourners gather in Baghdad for the funeral of general Soleimani on 4 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani during an anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iraqis perform a mourning prayer for slain major general Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the Great Mosque of Kufa AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A billboard reading 'Death to America and Israel', installed by Iran-backed shiite armed groups at a street in Jadriyah district in Baghdad, Iraq EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him visiting the family of Soleiman KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US flag as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Feiruznia, looks to a portrait of Soleimani, as he receives condolences at the Iranian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures People make their way on the street while a screen on the wall of a cinema shows a portrait Soleimani in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Aziz Asmar, one of two Syrian painters who completed a mural following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani poses next to his creation in the rebel-held Syrian town of Dana in the northwestern province of Idlib AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A demonstration in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures An anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Mujtaba al-Husseini, the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in the holy shrine city of Najaf AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US and Israeli flags as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters demonstrate in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shi'ite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters, holding a photograph of the leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Massoud Rajavi, outside Downing Street in London PA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn a US flag in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A Syrian man offers sweets to children to mark the killing AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers attend a mourning prayer for Soleimani in Iran's capital Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti American and anti Israel slogans during a protest AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshipers chant slogans during Friday prayers Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A protest against the USA, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranians burn a US flag in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin, Germany Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol a road in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel. Following morning's killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement called for the missile strike by Israel's closest ally, to be avenged AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian women take to the streets in Tehran EPA

A nation that willfully destroys another country's heritage would be no better than the criminals who have destroyed irreplaceable sites in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere in recent years, argued Sara C Bronin, a lawyer and specialist in historic preservation, in an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times in response to Mr Trump's threats to target cultural sites in Iran.

Targeting civilians and cultural sites is what terrorists do. It's a war crime, tweeted senator Chris Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In Britain, a spokesman for prime minister Boris Johnson cautioned that there are international conventions in place which prevent the destruction of cultural heritage.

Ironically, it was the US that for decades helped shape what some believed to be a new consensus on the destruction of cultural heritage: that this form of war and destruction is not only a crime against another warring party but a crime against humanity that endangers civilian lives and dignity.

In March 2017  only weeks after Mr Trump's inauguration  the UN Security Council, with the US as a permanent member, unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the unlawful destruction of cultural heritage, inter alia destruction of religious sites and artefacts in armed conflicts.

Attacks on cultural heritage sites have been a frequent feature of armed conflicts throughout the history of civilisation. In 149 BC, for example, the Romans began their siege of Carthage, a North African city in what is now Tunisia. The assault ended in the total destruction of the city in what some researchers argue was an attempt by the Romans to eradicate their enemies' culture.

Carthage was once the heart of a powerful Mediterranean empire before being leveled by the Romans in 146 BC (AFP)

Much later, the 20th century's brutality reinforced calls for attacks on heritage sites to be more forcefully condemned. Second World War not only put a spotlight on the Nazis' attempts to attack opponents' dignity and national identity; it also raised questions over some Allied attacks. The Allied forces' bombardment of the eastern German city of Dresden  which came late in the war and surprised many who had not previously perceived the historic city to be a key military target  triggered a debate that continues to this day.

The international community appeared determined to take international treaties more seriously going forward.

According to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, warring parties should take all possible steps to protect cultural property, which includes monuments of architecture, art or history, whether religious or secular, among other examples.

UNESCO declared the ruins of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979 (AFP)

(Under certain circumstances, the convention allows for cultural property's special protection to be withdrawn in case of unavoidable military necessity.)

Those commitments were also codified in the differently worded Geneva Conventions, which protect historic monuments, works of art or places of worship which constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples from acts of hostility.

In the 90s, the wars that broke up Yugoslavia became a brutal reminder of why such treaties had been drafted  and how they were ignored. Starting in 1991, Yugoslav People's Army forces besieged the historic city of Dubrovnik in Croatia, leading to the destruction of parts of its centre.

Dubrovnik was hit with heavy bombing which destroyed large parts of the historical city (AFP)

In the city of Sarajevo, in Bosnia, the Vijecnica city hall was set on fire in 1992, destroying its sizeable library.

In the aftermath, former prosecutors and researchers with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia assessed more broadly that during conflicts, it is increasingly evident that cultural property is not simply at risk from incidental harm, but is being intentionally attacked as part of cultural cleansing campaigns.

They specifically referred to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq that were underway by the time of their assessment's publication in 2016. Militants in those countries  including Isis fighters  had launched a campaign against historic cultural artefacts and buildings that reverberated across the region.

As a result, the international community moved closer to ostracising such acts.

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In 2016, North African militant Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi was convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of intentionally directing attacks against historic monuments and/or buildings dedicated to religion in the ICC's first such trial, focusing on the destruction or damaging of cultural property. Mahdi was sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in attacking nine mausoleums and one mosque in Timbuktu, Mali, in 2012.

The ICC's message to the world at the time appeared to be: Attacks on cultural heritage will no longer go unpunished.

But with a US president now threatening to attack cultural targets in Iran, the narrative that the US helped to advance now appears in doubt.

They're allowed to kill our people, Mr Trump told reporters on Sunday, attempting to justify his threat. They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we're not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesn't work that way.

The Washington Post
Many great scientific collaborations have existed throughout history: Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson did the mathematical calculations and equations that launched satellites into space; Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins took the first high-resolution photographs of DNA using X-ray crystallography; and Swami Vivekananda and Nikola Tesla made great strides in the understanding of cosmology and physics, to name a few.

With a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), David Schmale, a professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Shane Ross, a professor in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering in the College of Engineering, aim to provide the tools for the next generation of scientists that will tackle big data sciences challenges. Both Schmale and Ross are affiliated faculty members of the Fralin Life Sciences Institute at Virginia Tech.

Schmale and Ross plan to launch an NSF Harnessing the Data Revolution: Data Science Corps (HDR DSC) program at Virginia Tech, which offers opportunities to underserved biology and engineering undergraduate students -- students who are able to bring their own perspectives to the field of data science.

This three-year program will include undergraduate engineering and biology students from Virginia Tech and partnering colleges, such as Morehouse College, an all-male historically Black college and university (HBCU) in Georgia; Morgan State University, an HBCU in Maryland; Bennett College, an all-female HBCU in North Carolina; and Hampden-Sydney College, an all-male college in Virginia.

Recently, Virginia Tech has invested more time and energy into increasing experiential learning and diversity on and off campus. This program is bound to be a crucial next step.

"A lot of the technology and resources that we have here at Virginia Tech are just not available at other institutions," Schmale said. "We can leverage our resources to provide unique opportunities for underserved students. I had such a rich experience as an undergraduate at the University of California, Davis. Now, it's time to pay it forward with this new undergraduate data sciences program that will provide unique research opportunities for undergrads from multiple universities."

In the fall of 2020, Schmale and Ross will co-teach a capstone course titled Data and Decisions at the Engineering/Biology Interface on the Virginia Tech campus. Students from partnering colleges will take the class online, where they can learn and interact in real time.

Students will engage with the Computational Modeling and Data Analytics Program, and will be integrated into the Data and Decisions Destination Area, an area of focus that touches all of the units, colleges, and departments at Virginia Tech.

Students will work in multi-university teams toward addressing a pressing need, identified from participating stakeholders, with each team embodying an array of scientific and engineering expertise. Once a problem has been identified and laid out, student teams will submit their ideas and some will be selected for a data collection field campaign the following summer, based out of Virginia Tech.

However, this will not be Schmale and Ross's first data science-driven field campaign. Last March, they hosted a mini field campaign at Virginia Tech that brought six undergraduate students from Morehouse, Bennett, and Hampden-Sydney to dive deeper into data and decisions research.

With this being the first time that Morgan State University has collaborated on this project, Birol Ozturk, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics, is excited to see how his students will benefit from this new experience.

"We are very excited to participate in this new project at Virginia Tech. I have previously worked on a similar project, where we were able to offer courses at Morgan State University for the first time in collaboration with other universities and we wouldn't be able to offer them otherwise. I look forward to contributing to the project with my previous experience," said Ozturk.

For the new HDR DSC Program, 10 Virginia Tech students and five students from each partnering college will be selected annually to help stakeholders answer big questions. The stakeholders represent a variety of research areas, including agriculture, conservation, search and rescue, water quality, transportation, and global health.

Students can select the research area they want to pursue. With their freedom to choose, students can explore new research areas or, alternatively, they can expand upon previous ones.

And, depending on the outcome of these studies, Schmale says that students have the potential to pave their own way to success.

"Through our new program, students are expected to become the next generation of data scientists. They will learn to work in interdisciplinary teams to solve real-world problems in response to stakeholder needs," said Schmale. "Their research experiences in our program should link them to career opportunities within those respective stakeholder agencies."

Keri Swaby, the director for undergraduate research in the Office of Undergraduate Research, said that this program can give students quite an advantage as they think about the future of their research journeys.

"Virginia Tech's Office of Undergraduate Research is excited to partner with this program to offer students joint professional and social programming as a way to build community and increase diversity in research. Like other programs, this one will offer students a unique opportunity to experience what it would be like to be a graduate student at Virginia Tech and could give them an advantage in the application process since they will have already established a relationship with a faculty member," said Swaby.

Schmale and Ross also hope that the program will help to pipeline undergraduate students to join the BIOTRANS Program, an interdisciplinary graduate program at Virginia Tech that uses collaboration for solving problems at the intersection of engineering and biological sciences.

"This project incorporates both biology and engineering students, who have some idea about design and the details of modeling, and brings those two groups together and learning from each other. It's very much in the spirit of BIOTRANS," said Ross.

Michael Wolyniak, an associate professor of biology at Hampden-Sydney College, will also take part in this program, and he is elated to have his students work with other institutions that have world-renowned biology and engineering research programs.

"I have worked with Dr. Schmale before on developing coursework related to bioethics and considering issues in biology and engineering research for a general audience. This project gives us the opportunity to work with an institution that is at the forefront of research on the interface of biology and engineering and to expose our students to resources and opportunities to which they would not ordinarily have access. I am excited to have our students collaborate with students from other institutions to solve biological and engineering problems directly relevant to society," said Wolyniak.

This assembly of such unique and talented undergraduates from different backgrounds and perspectives will undoubtedly blaze a trail in the field of data science, as previously unexplored questions will lead to answers that haven't been solved before.

"I imagine that the things that these students discover will lead to new questions and, maybe, new funded spin-off projects. We have seen that happen before with undergraduate research leading to new research areas," said Ross.

###

Schmale and Ross acknowledge the National Science Foundation (Award Number 1922516); the Fralin Life Sciences Institute; BIOTRANS; the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science; the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment; and the Data and Decisions Destination Area for their financial support for current and previous projects.
Chicago, Illinois, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa Chicagoland community manager, Lea Marcou, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, took home the 2019 CAI Illinois Olympus Award, which honors those chapter members that have had a profound influence on the development of the chapter.



The CAI Excellence Awards and Winter Gala was an evening of excitement and inspiration that celebrated and honored the outstanding achievements of chapter members over the past year.



Ms. Marcou has been a valued member of the Associa Chicagoland team since 2008 and has worked with a diverse portfolio of properties, including mid-rise condominiums, townhomes, single-family homes, and developer and commercial properties.



Associa Chicagoland is extremely proud that the CAI recognized Lea for her continued achievements, stated Stephanie Skelley, Associa Chicagoland president. Our team works extremely hard every day to make our communities, residents, and board members living environment the best possible and continue to strive to provide the top management serves in the industry.



With more than 200 branch offices across North America, Associa delivers unsurpassed management and lifestyle services to nearly five million residents worldwide. Our 10,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise and trailblazing innovation. For more than 40 years, Associa has provided solutions designed to help communities achieve their vision. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com.



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"Our customers are using the latest cutting edge technologies, so they expect the best from their VR solutions," said Marek Polcak, VRgineers CEO & co-founder. "That means solutions optimized for the latest NVIDIA RTX cards with VirtualLink embedded. The latest generation of XTAL VR headset is the only solution today that meets these needs with 8K resolution."

VRgineers introduced the original XTAL headset two years ago designed specifically for the needs of professional designers, engineers, pilots, doctors or trainers who require superior image quality and accuracy, wide field-of-view, easy integration, and data security. Whether users want to virtually design, create, prototype, teach or train, the XTAL headset offers the visual quality needed for even the most demanding tasks.

VRgineers XTAL headset now goes even further by introducing a set of breakthrough technologies:

High-density LCD displays with unbeatable resolution 8K

Foveated rendering capabilities

AR mixed reality module add-on

Improved lenses with 180 FOV

Eye tracking capable to run up to 210 fps

Highly accurate Leap Motion sensors

Unique VirtualLink cable implemented

Easy embedding to helmet for simulations

This latest generation of XTAL is the world's first headset on the market to feature an embedded VirtualLink cable manufactured by BizLink. VirtualLink is an open industry standard developed to meet the connectivity requirements of current and next-generation virtual reality headsets. VirtualLink is a standards-based USB Type-C solution designed to deliver the power, display, and data required to power VR headsets through a single USB Type-C connector, providing a durable and simple connection. Instead of as many six cables, VirtualLink-enabled systems like XTAL only require a single cable to connect their systems.

XTAL headset is currently being used by variety of US Airforce airbases for pilot training. First receiver of new XTAL will be the Vance Airforce Base in Oklahoma, which ordered XTAL headsets to completely upgrade their training center. VRgineers are also participating in US NAVY and US NAVAIR R&D initiatives to invent the next generation simulator solution.

"The feeling that I got while flying the F18A in full VR mode in XTAL is really astonishing. It was so close to reality that I felt I was inside the F18A. As a pilot, that is exactly what I need to feel for training purposes," said Capt. Taimeir, a former F18 pilot from the Swiss Airforce, CEO of Mirage Technologies.

VRgineers will be showcasing the new generation of the XTAL professional VR headset at this year's CES 2020 in Las Vegas, January 7-10 in South Hall in booth #21959. If you're interested in learning more or would like to arrange a time to demo the new generation of XTAL, please contact [email protected]. For more information about VRgineers, please visit https://vrgineers.com .

Images and company executive bios are available at: https://vrgineers.com/media.

About VRgineers

VRgineers, Inc. is a virtual reality engineering company developing and manufacturing cutting-edge enterprise-grade VR gear for professionals. Its new generation high-resolution VR headset platform is used by clients in the automotive, architecture, industrial design, and training sectors, enabling them to transform their work using VR technology. The company is headquartered in Prague with a U.S. office in Los Angeles.

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Boris Johnson today launched a massive review of every ongoing government project to make sure each one represents value for money, with those judged to be a waste due to be axed or overhauled.

The Prime Minister has tasked his entire Cabinet with assessing all of the work being done in their respective departments in a new war on frivolous spending.

The review comes amid growing concerns about the cost of a number of big ticket government spending items, most notably the planned HS2 high speed railway line, and will inevitably spark speculation they could be axed.

Mr Johnson and Chancellor Sajid Javid told ministers at a meeting of the Cabinet this morning that 'tough decisions' will be taken ahead of the Budget on March 11 'in order to prepare the economy for the next decade'.

It means that thousands of projects will now be scrutinised in the coming weeks to see if they should continue.

It is understood that no specific projects were mentioned by name during today's Cabinet meeting.

Boris Johnson, pictured in Downing Street on December 13 after his election victory, has instructed all of his ministers to conduct a review into the value for money of each and every government project

Which government projects could be in the firing line? The government's new war on waste will see every Whitehall project reviewed to see if they represent value for money. That means that even the most-high profile of initiatives could face the axe. Here is a selection of proposals which will face intense scrutiny. HS2: The proposed ultra fast rail link between London and northern cities has long faced criticism over its benefits and costs. HS2 Ltd's latest official estimate of the project is 88 billion, up from 55 billion in 2015. But this week a Labour peer said the costs were 'out of control' and could result in a 40 billion loss for taxpayers. Aircraft carriers: The Royal Navy has just taken possession of its second new aircraft carrier, HMS Prince Of Wales. The 3.1 billion, 70,000 tonne floating airfield could be sold off to raise cash, with the Prime Minister's top aide Dominic Cummings believed to regard it and sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth as a waste of money. Heathrow: Labour's John McDonnell has suggested that the government could start its belt-tightening by pulling the plug on the planned third runway for Heathrow Airport. The project, due to cost 14 billion, was opposed by the PM who once threatened to physically stop the development, before ultimately giving in. Mr McDonnell told reporters today: 'It would save an awful lot on bulldozers running Boris Johnson over wouldn't it?' Advertisement

Every so-called 'legacy project' - those started under a previous government - will also be rated on whether they fit with the new administration's priorities and the latest Tory manifesto which propelled Mr Johnson to an 80-seat majority at the election last month.

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said: 'Cabinet held a discussion on the economy and upcoming fiscal events. The Prime Minister said the Budget will focus on delivering the priorities set out in the manifesto.

'This is a new government with a new mandate, including to level up across the country, invest in infrastructure and tackle climate change.

'The Prime Minister said there is a massive opportunity to unleash potential to every corner of the United Kingdom.

'The Chancellor and the Prime Minister said the Budget is also the time to take tough decisions in order to prepare the economy for the next decade.

'They said ministers need to root out any waste, particularly anything that is not aligned with the government's priorities, and demonstrate value for money of every pound of taxpayers' money that we spend.'

The PM's order means ministers and officials now face the prospect of having to conduct huge, and speedy, pieces of work so that they can justify how they are spending each and every pound they are provided with.

The findings of each department will be presented to Mr Javid and the Treasury for further analysis.

Number 10 has stressed the review is purely about making sure money is being spent effectively rather than it being a drive to save cash.

The review is likely to stir up a hornet's nest of rows across Whitehall - especially if major projects like HS2 are scrapped or gutted - with Number 10 braced for significant push back.

But the Tories believe that they must take long-term policy decisions now in order to guarantee future economic and political success.

Ministers will present the findings of the review to Sajid Javid and the Treasury before the Budget on March 11. The Chancellor is pictured outside Number 10 today.

Mr Johnson's administration is expected to borrow money to fund big infrastructure projects.

But with day-to-day government spending relatively tight - and with manifesto pledges not to increase taxes - there is a desire to make sure every penny available is spent as well as possible.

Given that the Conservative Party has been in power for almost a decade, the PM's spokesman was asked if the review represented a criticism of his predecessors in Downing Street.

The spokesman said: 'It is a new government which was elected on a new manifesto with a new set of priorities and that is what the Prime Minister and his colleagues will be focused upon.'

He added: 'All secretaries of state were encouraged to go through their departmental spending and their projects, each and every one, in detail and ensure there is no waste and that where waste exists it is rooted out.'

Matt Kilcoyne, the deputy director of the Adam Smith Institute think tank, welcomed the review and said: 'It's right that Whitehall's pet projects are being put to the test of whether they're value for money and deliver the new government's objectives.

'Taxpayers have a right to know that their money is being spent wisely on the things that they care about. No project should see good money thrown at it after bad if it's not delivering.'
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has hailed Bahrain stances in light of recent regional developments. Bahraini Crown Prince and I underscored the importance of countering Irans malign influence and threats to the region.

I thanked him for his partnership in protecting American personnel and facilities in Bahrain, he tweeted yesterday. Appearing on CNNs State of the Union, the secretary was immediately pressed by host Jake Tapper on Trumps Saturday night tweet warning Iran that America is prepared to hit non-military cultural targets if Iran were to retaliate.

We will defend America, and the strikes that we took over this past week, including killing the terrorist Soleimani and we will continue to take if we need to. If we need to defend the American interest, we will do so, Pompeo insisted.

What President Trump said last night is consistent with what we have said all along.
Trump doubles down on rhetoric to strike Iran cultural sites

Iran Press TV

Monday, 06 January 2020 9:54 AM

US President Donald Trump has doubled down on his threat to strike Iranian cultural heritage sites, asserting to a group of reporters that the United States has the right to bomb such targets.

Talking to reporters on Sunday in the White House, Trump dismissed criticism from human rights organizations pointing out that such an action would be considered a war crime under international law.

"They're allowed to kill our people. They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way," Trump said.

On Saturday, Trump claimed that his military would hit "very important" targets, including cultural heritage sites, if the Iranians want to take a retaliatory action against the US assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

"We have ... targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran" said Trump in a tweet while making a reference to the occupation of the former US embassy in Tehran in 1979.

The threat came after Iranian authorities vowed vengeance for the US assassination of General Soleimani, the commander of Iran's elite Quds force, Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis as well as several of their Iranian and Iraqi comrades in Baghdad early on Friday.

Many inside the US and across the world have criticized Trump for ordering the deadly airstrike, saying the move could lead to a major conflict in the Middle East.

Trump's threat to strike 52 important targets in Iran has provoked a strong backlash, with many calling it a "war crime."

US Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden blasted Trump's tweets on Iran as "incredibly dangerous and irresponsible".

"When he makes statements like that, it just seems to me to be he's going off on a tweet storm on his own, and it's incredibly dangerous and irresponsible," Biden told reporters.

"I have no idea whether he's coordinated with any of our allies. I have no idea whether or not he has the support of his own generals," the former vice president added. "This is a guy who seems to be unmoored."

On Sunday, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also took to his official Twitter account to remind Trump that although "barbarians have come and ravaged our cities, razed our monuments and burnt our libraries" throughout history, Iranians still stand tall.

Zarif also drew an analogy between Trump's assertions and Daesh's crimes in destroying cultural heritage of some regional countries, noting that the US president was "hallucinating about emulating ISIS war crimes by targeting our cultural heritage."

"Having committed grave breaches of int'l law in Friday's cowardly assassinations, @realdonaldtrump threatens to commit again new breaches of JUS COGENS," Zarif tweeted. "Targeting cultural sites is a WAR CRIME."

"President Trump should publicly reverse his threats against Iran's cultural property and make clear that he will not authorize nor order war crimes," Andrea Prasow, acting Washington director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

"The US Defense Department should publicly reaffirm its commitment to abide by the laws of war and comply only with lawful military orders," Prasow added.

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In the days after the U.S. government said it would bar Huawei Technologies Co. from buying vital American components, the Chinese companys founder, Ren Zhengfei, pulled together an emergency meeting of his top lieutenants at headquarters in Shenzhen.

In a large conference room, the billionaire asked for a report from the head of each business unit on how they would be affected by the Trump administrations ban, which blocks U.S. companies from supplying everything from semiconductors to software.

Their assessments were dire. We thought we had lost the world, said Will Zhang, who attended as president of corporate strategy.

It turns out they were far too pessimistic. Huawei recorded an 18% rise in sales to a new high of 850 billion yuan ($122 billion) last year, although that was down from about 23% in the first half and missed its own internal targets.

Company projections for 2020 are similar. Huawei holds the enviable position of being the worlds largest supplier of communications equipment to telecom operators and the largest smartphone maker globally after Samsung Electronics Co.

Huawei isnt just surviving; its actually thriving in some areas. The question is for how long. Last week, executives warned in a New Years memo that survival itself is a priority, urging employees to brace for a difficult 2020.

Inventories stockpiled months in advance of the May blacklisting are drying up. The company can no longer count on momentum alone to drive the business, Rotating Chairman Eric Xu warned.

How Huawei survived the U.S. blacklisting could prove a case study in unintended consequences and a vast shift underway in global IT production. Huawei is a big customer for all of its suppliers, and a few actually cut ties after the blacklisting. Others lost out to rivals in Japan and South Korea.

But American companies with extensive global operations, including Microsoft Corp. and chipmaker Micron Technology Inc., found legal ways around the ban, leaning on production outside the U.S. so Huawei-destined products wouldnt be hit. Huawei itself put armies of engineers to work redesigning products to reduce its reliance on American parts.

Trumps attack also had surprising implications for Huaweis brand. A few countries, like Australia, agreed with the U.S. presidents assessment and barred its equipment from their networks. But in the rest of the world, Huaweis name recognition soared. After laboring in obscurity for decades, the maker of digital piping was suddenly front-page news everywhere.

Beyond the U.S. and its close allies, telecom operators wanted to find out what all the fuss was about. In China, consumers and carriers rallied to Huaweis side in response to what they saw as unfair persecution, driving a sales boom.

The Trump sanctions in some ways validated Huaweis ability to develop cutting-edge technology, from fifth-generation networking gear to AI chips. On Tuesday, the new head of Canadas biggest telecom firm, BCE Inc., became the latest to publicly endorse the Chinese companys gear.

Its quite a stupid thing the U.S. is doing, Zhang said, a key architect of Huaweis global ambitions and efforts to mitigate the impact of American sanctions. They are confused about how this business works.

Huaweis a global goliath with revenues more than General Electric Co. or Boeing Co. In just three decades its grown from an obscure re-seller of switchboards into one of the worlds biggest private companies, with businesses from telecom to cloud computing to cybersecurity. After plowing billions into research, the company is now among Chinas top recipients of international patents, edging out rivals Nokia Oyj and Ericsson AB in a technology that underpins applications from robotics to AI.

Huawei started to tap overseas markets in the late 1990s, dispatching sales representatives to Russia, Southeast Asia and Africa, where competition was less intense than in developed arenas. It used lower pricing as a wedge to gain entry, then tried to one-up its rivals on round-the-clock customer service.

One of its earliest markets was Malaysia, where it wielded that formula to great effect. I was asked by one of the board members to consider Huawei. I remember my response at the time was, I dont want to waste my time, Jamaludin bin Ibrahim, chief executive officer of Malaysian wireless carrier Axiata, said. When they started initially, it was price that gave us confidence.

Once Huawei secured the contract, they pulled out the stops. According to Jamaludin, Huaweis then rotating-CEO would get personally involved in Axiata problems or maintenance issues. When friction developed between Axiata ground staff and Huawei workers assigned to the contract, Jamaludin called the Chinese companys rotating CEO and within two days, all the Huawei employees had been re-assigned, he said, describing rarely disclosed, behind-the-scenes details of how Huawei conducts business.

Today, Huawei gear occupies about 80% of Axiatas core network, he said. While the equipment isnt necessarily always the most capable or advanced, the Chinese company has other things going for it. The combo of tech, customer service, support and price is what makes it stand out, Jamaludin said.

Cultivating such deep ties in countries like Malaysia appears to have paid off. Last May, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said the Southeast Asian country will use Huaweis gear as much as possible as they offer tremendous advance over American technology.

Huawei executives like to trumpet instances where employees go above and beyond to get the job done. Sometimes, they also seize the initiative. In 2003, without Rens blessing, some Huawei executives decided to venture into mobile phones.

It wasnt until the early 2010s that Huawei made its first smartphone, and early models were no-frills, basic affairs that competed on price  much as its networking gear once did. But within a half-decade, Huawei had used a combination of savvy marketing (partnering with Leica in 2016 on cameras was a master-stroke) and research to move up the value chain and challenge Apple Inc. and Samsung.

Its in smartphones that evidence of Huaweis diversification efforts emerge. Launched last fall, the marquee Huawei Mate 30 Pro handset uses communications modules from Japanese supplier Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. and contains a number in-house components. This contrasts with the Mate 20 Pro released a year earlier that relied on components from U.S. wireless semiconductor manufacturer Skyworks Solutions Inc.

Huaweis smartphone business is now the worlds No. 2, growing shipments 16.5% to a record 240 million units in 2019. Much of that growth came from China, where Trumps sanctions have little effect since the Google apps its shut out of cant be used anyway. Even some senior Huawei executives hadnt expected the smartphone business, which today contributes about half of revenue, to survive the sanctions, not to mention expand.

But this year may not be so rosy. Huawei faces strong challenges in 2020, especially on the smartphone business, said IDC analyst Will Wong. Its retail channel will face immense pressure as some buyers may turn to Samsung or another brand since the latest Huawei phones lack support from Google Mobile Services.

Another area the blacklisting will severely impact is the enterprise business, which makes servers and sells smart city solutions to clients around the world. The Entity List cut Huawei off from the Intel x86 processors it needed and Huaweis supply chain managers couldnt source alternatives because there arent any with comparable performance and availability.

Huawei originally anticipated as much as $8 billion in server revenue in 2019. The final total was only half as much. The server is not the core product. But every project you have, there will be some servers, Zhang said.

Longer term, it could also lose access to chip design tools from U.S.-based companies such as Synopsys Inc. and Cadence Design Systems Inc., which would undermine its aspirations to become a player in the semiconductor industry  a key aspect of any effort to replace American technology.

Still, the real battle from 2020 onward will be in 5G. The company started initial research on the standard as early as 2009, when even 4G was years from commercialization. It assigned more than $600 million to the project in the following five years, according to the companys website. That surged to $1.4 billion between 2017 and 2018.

The U.S. government has long worried Huaweis 5G capabilities pose a threat to national security. It warned in 2018 that Huawei owned 10% of worldwide essential 5G patents and deep involvement in international standards-setting could weaken U.S. companies negotiating power.

Huawei has inked more than 60 5G contracts globally, Deputy Chairman Ken Hu said in September. Washington continues to try and persuade allies to boycott Huawei gear in core networks  if successful, that could severely crimp its future prospects in a swath of technologies and hamper efforts to grab a slice of hundreds of billions of dollars in projected network spending.

Design and software are really the biggest challenges, said Paul Triolo of the Eurasia Group. But they have surprised people with their ability to re-engineer products. Theyre in it for the long haul.

Theres also the chance that Washington will tighten the screws. The U.S. government is said to be weighing new limits on sales of chips and other vital components to Huawei. Zhang said the company has decided to tune out the noise of U.S.-Chinese relations. This blacklisting has changed the whole perception of globalization, said Zhang. The world is not flat anymore, everybody agrees and will try to adopt that approach. The suppliers and Huawei ourselves will try to adapt to the new geopolitical complex.

Now read: Rain now offering outdoor Huawei router with 5G
The judge at Harvey Weinsteins sexual assault trial has ordered jury selection to begin as scheduled, rejecting a defence request for a cooling-off period after prosecutors in Los Angeles brought new charges against the fallen movie mogul.

Judge James Burke, sitting in New York, denied a request for the delay after Weinsteins lawyers questioned the timing of the new charges, which were filed on Monday.

For a prosecutor, this is Christmas morning  the morning of jury selection to have him smeared everywhere, said one of his lawyers, Arthur Aidala, who asked for the delay in jury selection.

Expand Close Harvey Weinstein arrives at court for the start of jury selection (Seth Wenig/AP) / Facebook

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The judge also denied a request from prosecutors to revoke Weinsteins bail and jail him until the trial is over, saying the new case against him in Los Angeles increased his incentive to flee.

There is a grave risk that this defendant will realise at some point that the evidence is overwhelming, said assistant district attorney Joan Illuzzi.

But while turning prosecutors down, the judge did threaten to jail Weinstein for using his mobile phone in the courtroom in violation of court rules.

Mr Weinstein, is this really the way you want to end up in jail  by texting and violating a court order? Judge Burke said, cutting off Weinstein before he could answer.

Weinstein, who recently underwent back surgery and hobbled into court using a walking frame, is charged in New York with raping a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing a sex act on another woman in the city in 2006. The 67-year-old has said any sexual activity was consensual.

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Scores of potential jurors were summoned for a selection process that could take weeks, given the heavy publicity surrounding the case and the way Weinstein has been cast as the chief villain of the MeToo movement.

Once one of Hollywoods most powerful producers, Weinstein has now been accused of sexual assault, harassment and misconduct by dozens of women, from famous actresses to assistants at his former company.

The allegations began surfacing publicly in October 2017 and sparked the MeToo movement, as well as investigations in multiple places.

Los Angeles prosecutors charged Weinstein on Monday with sexually assaulting two women there on successive nights during Oscars week in 2013.

Lawyers for Weinstein had no immediate comment on the new charges, though he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

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Los Angeles district attorney Jackie Lacey said the timing of the charges was unrelated to the New York trial.

She said the case took more than two years to build because the women were reluctant to provide all the information necessary, and the filing happened on the first business day when all the necessary people could gather.

There is some connection between the cases. One of the Los Angeles accusers is expected to give evidence in the New York case to help prosecutors establish what they say was Weinsteins pattern of forcing himself on young actresses and women trying to break into Hollywood.

Weinstein is expected to appear in court in California after his New York trial, Ms Lacey said.
The protein, called syndecan-4, combines with fellow cell membrane proteins, called integrins, to form protruding 'hands' that sense the environment outside the cell.

Both proteins sit in the cell membrane, with one end pointing inside the cell and the other outside. They are therefore in a prime position to sense conditions outside the cell and convert signals to biochemical messages that change conditions inside the cell. In doing so, they're able to drive some of the cellular processes behind cancer and other diseases.

The early-stage research, conducted by a team at Imperial College London, Queen Mary University of London, and Tampere University in Finland, could present a new research pathway and drug target for certain cancer types.

Lead researcher Dr Armando del Rio Hernandez, of Imperial's Department of Bioengineering, said: "Our findings could have immediate implications in the fields of cell and developmental biology, and lead to developments in several diseases including cancer and fibrosis."

The paper is published today in Nature Materials.

Helping hands

Syndecan-4 exists in nearly every human cell and is already known for its role in cardiovascular disease. However its potential roles in cancer biology and drug development have thus far been overlooked.

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To study syndecan-4 the research team, led by Dr del Rio Hernandez, used biophysical, cell biology, and computational techniques.

The team found that activating these cellular 'hands' triggers a pathway with key roles in disease development, involving a cellular protein called the yes-associated protein (YAP).

YAP triggers some of the typical hallmarks of cancer. It reduces cells' ability to programme their own death, in a process called apoptosis. Cells initiate apoptosis when they age or malfunction, so halting apoptosis allows diseased, even cancerous, cells to spread. YAP also controls the development of blood vessels -- a hallmark of cancer as tumour growth requires extra blood flow.

They also found that syndecan-4 helps cells respond to movements outside themselves, by creating tension in the cytoskeleton -- the 'scaffolding' within cells. This makes cells stiffen, which activates an enzyme called PI3K that regulates additional hallmarks of cancer.

It does this by converting the movements outside the cell into biochemical signals which, the researchers found, 'tune' the way the cells respond to tension and movement.

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Dr del Rio Hernandez said: "The way cells interact with their environment could inform how we engineer tissues and mimic human organs for drug design. Syndecan-4 could now play a fundamental part in this endeavour."

Co-lead author Dr Stephen Thorpe of Queen Mary University of London said: "As syndecan-4 is expressed on almost all of our cells, the mechanisms we've uncovered could be targeted to alter any number of diseases and biological processes."

Professor Vesa Hytonen of Tampere University said: "Better understanding of cellular mechanosensing opens possibilities to develop treatments for conditions like cancer and fibrosis."

Onward pathways

Next, the research team will further investigate syndecan-4's links to specific diseases like pancreatic cancer.

Dr del Rio Hernandez said: "Our next approach will involve syndecan-4 as a key contributor in disease. We hope this will lead to new insights into disease mechanisms."
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Syria's Bashar al-Assad Tuesday during a surprise visit to Damascus as the prospect of war between Iran and the United States loomed over the region. In one of the highest-profile assassinations in the troubled Middle East's recent history, Washington killed top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani Friday, triggering vows of bloody revenge from Tehran and its allies. On his first visit to the capital since the start of the Syrian conflict nearly nine years ago, Putin greeted the Russian forces stationed there on the occasion of the Orthodox Christmas. Russia's 2015 military intervention was decisive in saving Assad's regime and Putin hailed the latest advances made by Syrian government forces during his visit. "In his conversation with Assad, Putin noted that we can now say with confidence that a huge distance has been travelled towards restoring Syrian statehood and the country's territorial integrity," Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. Government and allied forces barely controlled a fifth of the country before Moscow stepped in but have now clawed back most of the territory lost at the beginning of the war. Russia has thousands of forces deployed across Syria in support of the army, while an unknown number of Russian private security personnel also operate on the ground. In December 2017, Putin visited Hmeimim, the Mediterranean base where the largest number of Russian forces is deployed, but had not visited Damascus since the start of the conflict in 2011. - Tense context - The Russian strongman is next expected in Turkey, the other key broker in a conflict that has left more than 380,000 people dead and displaced half the country's population. His visit to the region comes as the United States, whose military dominance in the region has waned while Russia's has grown, touched off what many fear could be a high-stakes cycle of region-wide tit-for-tat violence. The head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps foreign operations arm, Qassem Soleimani, was killed on Friday in a US strike on Baghdad international airport. The head of the Quds Force was widely seen as one of the most powerful men in the region and the architect of Iran's support for the Syrian army. Tehran has reacted by vowing bloody revenge, as have the militias it controls in Iraq, while parliament in Baghdad has voted to request a full US troop withdrawal. US President Donald Trump, who boasted in a tweet that Soleimani should have been killed earlier, in turn threatened Iran with more strikes and Iraq with sanctions if US forces were targeted or forced to leave. Putin's reaction to the escalation between Iran and Washington had been laconic, warning only that Soleimani's killing could "seriously aggravate the situation in the region". The United States still has forces deployed in Syria as part of the coalition against the Islamic State group, some in Kurdish-controlled areas in the northeast and others at a base further south near the Iraqi and Jordanian borders. - 'Peace on the streets' - Peskov told Interfax, RIA Novosti and TASS that Putin had met Assad at a command post for Russian forces in Syria, driving through Damascus on the way. "Putin also noted that on the streets of Damascus the signs of how peace has been restored can be seen with the naked eye," Peskov said. He said the two men had heard military reports on the situation in various parts of Syria. "The Syrian president expressed appreciation for the help of Russia and the Russian military in the fight against terrorism and the restoration of peaceful life in Syria," Peskov said. Assad's forces now control more than 70 percent of the country, but several areas remain out of its control. These include the embattled opposition bastion of Idlib, a northern sliver seized by Turkey last year, and a Kurdish-controlled swath of the northeast. The Syrian presidency said Assad and Putin discussed stamping out "terrorism" in jihadist-held Idlib, and Turkey's "measures" in the north of the country. Putin seems not to have been received at the presidential palace, but the two leaders visited the Umayyad mosque, according to photos shared by the presidency. To mark Christmas, they also visited the centuries-old Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus -- the seat of the Greek Orthodox church in the East -- where the Russian leader presented the gift of an icon of the Virgin Mary, the presidency said. burs-jmm/ah/cm
Judith Miller, Karl Rove, Tom Friedman, Joe Lieberman, and an armada of other journalists and political figures who supported the invasion of Iraq are back on TV and in major newspapers. They are arguing that attacking Iran is necessary to eradicate threats against the U.S., that demonstrating military power will advance American interests in the Middle East, and that the Iranian population will ultimately be grateful for our intervention in its affairs. These are near-verbatim versions of the same arguments the same people made in 2003 about the invasion of Iraq, which in fact created a terrorism-incubating multifaction civil war in which thousands of Americans and many more thousands of Iraqis were killed.

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Its a nice trip down memory lane, for those who like their lanes lined by IEDs and blocked by a checkpoint at which soldiers have just accidentally shot a 9-year-old. But as a country, were not only reliving 2003. Much of whats happening right now is actually more stupid and unreal than what was happening then.

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For one, the president is Donald Trump. George W. Bush was a shallow and belligerent chief executive with contempt for details, but he was surrounded by people who projected (falsely, it turned out) the sort of competent ruthlessness that news organizations and pundits and much of the public associated with strong foreign policy. The Bush administration presented detailed (though untrue) arguments about invasion being a matter of national security, recruited at least some international allies to the cause ahead of time, and made a point of emphasizing its concern about human rights and respect for Islamic faith and culture. None of this prevented the invasion from being a brutal bungling disaster, or even made it look like a good idea in advance, but it gave a lot of influential people a lot of excuses to go along with it.

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Trump doesnt even provide the war enthusiasts with this protective cover. He says he is prepared to order the destruction of historic cultural sites in Iran, which is a no-doubt-about-it war crime. He also says he would like to attack 52 Iranian sites in total as revenge for the kidnapping of 52 Americans in Tehran in 1979. Lest the Muslim world think the United States had any good intentions at all, Donald Trump Jr. published photos of himself holding a semi-automatic rifle that was decorated to resemble a medieval knights helmet, illustrated with a pattern of five crosses used by Christian forces during the Crusades, and engraved with the word CRUSADER.

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Additionally, a number of American citizens with familial ties to Iran say they were held for unusually long periods while attempting to cross into the U.S. from Canada this weekend and that border agents asked them questions about their political views. Open advocacy of crimes against humanity, white/nonwhite civilizational blood zealotry, racist domestic profilingall the stuff that the Bush administration at least had the good sense to claim it disapproved of, theyre gonna do right out in the open.

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Meanwhile, the White House has already backed away from its claim that Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in Fridays Baghdad airstrike, was planning imminent attacks on Americans. After asserting that Soleimanis death would prevent further conflict with Iran through deterrence, the administration now says it expects a little noisei.e., retaliatory attacksand has deployed additional troops to the Middle East because of the heightened danger. On Monday, the Department of Defense sent a formal letter to the Iraqi government announcing its intention to eventually withdraw troops from the country, then announced that it had been sent in error (!). And the secretary of defense contradicted Trumps statement about preparing to destroy cultural sites.

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As to where this is all heading, while the Bush administration promised a scenario of overthrowing Saddam Hussein and quickly replacing his Baath Party dictatorship with a stable, America-friendly government built hand-in-hand with grateful Iraqis, the Trump administration doesnt even have a fantasy press secretary spin version of what a war with Iran is supposed to accomplish. There has been no elucidation, either by pro-war pundits or by the administration, of what the goal of attacking the country isregime change, the resumption of negotiations over a nuclear agreementor what kind of additional force it would involve if those goals arent met.

In sum, its not 2003 again; its 2003 as interpreted by 2020, which means more fascism and, somehow, even less competence.

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The brutality and idiocy of it run so deep, they become a source of hope. Polling says that Trump is 15-odd points less popular now than Bush was before the invasion of Iraq. The Democratic Partys anti-war caucus, led by presidential co-front-runner Bernie Sanders, is much stronger and more confident than it was then. Social media has made public discourse more egalitarian, and the mainstream pro-war figures mentioned above have already been deluged with disbelief and outrage. Talking points about Irans support for terrorism should have less punch after the Iraq war and Libya intervention demonstrated that killing even the most depraved and destructive foreign leaders is not always a net win for the good guys.

The case for continuing to attack Iran is pre-discredited not just by recent events but by the records of the president and advisers making it, who, in a departure from American history, have managed to squander their reputations and bipartisan mandate before trying to launch their quagmire war. There is obviously no good reason to do it, and there are not even bad, political reasons to let it happen. Could that be enough, this time, to keep it from happening?
Xerox Holdings Corporation, on January 7, said that it had secured funds of $24 billion of the $33.5 billion proposed for its takeover of HP Inc, as per a Reuters report.

HP, however, has resisted the $33.5-billion offer made in November, which comes in at $22 per shares, on grounds that it significantly undervalues the company.

Xerox has thus approached HP shareholders directly to engage in constructive dialogue, CEO John Visentin informed HPs board in a letter on January 6.

"My offer stands to meet with you in person, with or without your advisors, to begin negotiating this transaction," Visentins letter stated.

Also, backing Xeroxs bid is activist and investor Carl Icahn. In December, Icahn urged for immediate action from directors in favour of the merger. Notably, Icahn holds a 4.2 percent stake in HP and a 10.9 percent stake in Xerox.

HP earlier said it was open to exploring an acquisition bid from Xerox due to the potential benefits of consolidation, the report noted.

Both companies did not respond to Reuters request for comment.
Steven Wyatt (ABB, Switzerland) has been elected as the new President of the International Federation of Robotics by its Executive Board. Wyatt succeeds Junji Tsuda (Yaskawa Electric Corporation), who has served in the rotating post since December 2017. Milton Guerry (SCHUNK, USA) has been appointed as IFR's new Vice President.

The new IFR President, Steven Wyatt, has a decade of international experience gained in the flexible automation industry. He is currently global Head of Portfolio and Digital for ABB's Robotics Discrete Automation business. Prior to joining ABB in 2010, the native Scot worked in a series of executive marketing sales roles within the plastics industry globally. Mr. Wyatt holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Edinburgh. Before being elected President of IFR, Wyatt assisted his predecessor, Junji Tsuda, as Vice President, a role he held for two years.

Steven Wyatt thanked the outgoing IFR President, Junji Tsuda, for sharing his esteemed and valuable industry expertise with key international stakeholders and the world's press. "As the voice of the robotics industry, Junji Tsuda did an exemplary job in setting forth our members' viewpoint on the key topics impacting our industry. As its new President, it is my pleasure to carry on his successful work. Together with the new Vice President, Milton Guerry, I will continue Junji Tsuda's mission to deliver improved awareness and a better understanding of the rapidly changing world of flexible automation.

The new IFR Vice President Milton Guerry began his career in the automotive industry in various engineering and technical functions. Today, he heads the SCHUNK USA team as its President. Guerry is a member of the Robotic Industries Association's (RIA) Board of Directors. He joined SCHUNK in 2000 and has held various leadership roles assuming his current role as President in 2007.

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MADISON, Wis., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- James Bullard, president and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, will be the keynote speaker for the WBA 2020 Wisconsin Economic Forecast Luncheon in Madison. Melissa Hughes, secretary and CEO, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), will also be a keynote speaker at this event. This annual luncheon, presented by the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA), attracted over 500 business and community leaders from across Wisconsin last year.

WHO:

James Bullard, president and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Melissa Hughes, secretary and CEO, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

WHEN:

Thursday, January 9

Registration begins at 11:30 a.m.

Speakers begin at 12:15 p.m.

WHERE:

Alliant Energy Center

1919 Alliant Energy Center Way

Madison, WI 53713

DETAILS:

For a Media Pass, please contact the WBA's Eric Skrum at 608/441-1216, [email protected].

If media personnel are unable to attend in person, WBA is able to send a link to a livestream of the event. Please contact Eric Skrum to participate.

BONUS:

WBA has prepared industry-specific sector reports on what 2020 holds for Wisconsin from Wisconsin industry experts. Those reports are available for use by the media at https://www.wisbank.com/wba-wisconsin-economic-report/.

The Wisconsin Bankers Association is the state's largest financial industry trade association, representing nearly 235 commercial banks and savings institutions, their nearly 2,300 branch offices and 22,000 employees.

For more information, contact:

Eric Skrum, Wisconsin Bankers Association

608/441-1216 | [email protected]

Twitter: @wisbank

SOURCE Wisconsin Bankers Association

Related Links

https://www.wisbank.com/


Covid-19 confusion deepens as 25 per cent of new black fungus patients have no coronavirus record

Which is the cleanest city in India? Here are top 3 cleanest cities in the country in 2021

Should be against citizenship law: Indore admin tells Jain community which sought permit for rally

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 07: A row has erupted after the Jain community in Indore were told that they could take out a procession only if the rally was against the new citizenship law.

The Jain community in Indore had sought permission to take a procession to welcome their leader Acharya Vidyasagar.

While granting conditional permission, there were 17 points made by the SDM. The 15th point referred to the citizenship law. The rest were concerning the dos and dont's for the organisers as Section 144 was in force.

Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi misleading people over CAA and instigating riots: Amit Shah

The Collector of Indore Lokesh Jatav said that an explanation had been sought from the SDM who issued the letter. He however termed it as a human error.

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 7th, 2020

In a tweet, BJP leader, Kailash Vijayvargiya said, " a small example of how the administration in Madhya Pradesh is working under pressure from the Congress."

Vinay Bakliwal, the city chief of the Digambar Jain Samaj said that it was a human error. The error was corrected and the rally was taken out without any problem, he also added.
[January 07, 2020] Farasis Energy Breaks Through the Electric Vehicle Market Thanks to ESI's Virtual Prototyping

ESI (News - Alert) Group (Paris:ESI), leading innovator in Virtual Prototyping software and services for manufacturing industries, helped Farasis Energy, a Chinese-American battery provider, win in record-breaking time, a call for tenders made by a premium German automotive OEM. Thanks to ESI's expertise, the reliability of the virtual prototype of the new Farasis battery model was decisive in a "zero real prototype" procedure, stipulating the elimination of any physical prototype. The move of the automotive industry toward electrification is seemingly unstoppable. Manufacturers are announcing aggressive plans for Electric Vehicle (EV) production, and the International Energy Agency says the number of EVs will grow from 3 to 125 million by 2030. So, it's no wonder that new players are entering the market, breaking the traditional rules of product design - new players like lithium-ion battery maker Farasis Energy. Looking to collect wins in this fast-growing market, the team at Farasis relied on ESI's expertise to prove to a major German car maker that they were the best supplier - based solely on a virtual prototype. This collaboration around ESI's Virtual Performance Solution (VPS) allowed to virtualize and secure the behavior of the battery in vibration or vehicle crash situations. Dr. Matt Klein, Advanced R&D Director at Farasis Energy, emphasized the key role ESI played in this project: "Half-way through the bidding process, the manufacturer actually decided to remove the physical prototype step - they would make their decision based on the virtual prototype. In just 8 months, we went from limited Virtual Prototyping capability to winning those bids. The head of the whole program conducting the bidding process went out of his way to tell us that the mechanical simulation was an instrumental part in helping us get the design approved. We could not have done that without ESI. Our partnership with ESI is truly strategic in bringing our simulation capabilities to a global leading standard." Two fundamental elements differentiated ESI's VPS in this project: The reliability of the results, eliminating the need for a real prototype verification, as a result of the consideration of complex physical phenomenon inside the battery.

The integration level of different virtual vibration and crash tests in one solution, alowing iteration loops and quick decisions.



Since their win, Farasis has opened a new factory on-site in Germany, dedicated to the research & development of their batteries for the German car maker. ESI is now putting in place a platform for Farasis' international team of simulation engineers, one that is fully automated and customized to their way of working. Thanks to this Platform, the Farasis team will work together - regardless of what continent they are on - with great efficiency and transparency, on common Virtual Prototyping models. And what began as a bi-lateral partnership has quickly evolved into an ecosystem comprised of three major players - Farasis, ESI Group, and the automotive manufacturer - all hungry to tap into the EV market.

About Farasis Farasis Energy, Inc. created in California in 2002 is a company specialized in the conception and distribution of batteries. Present in China (headquarters), in the Silicon Valley (R&D center), and in Europe, the Group is one of the world leaders in his sector. Farasis' ambition is to position itself as a pivot to better meet the challenges of its industrial clients: saving time to market and the costs of production while maintaining a high level of reliability and safety. ESI and Farasis will jointly showcase their expertise and partnership at the CES (News - Alert) 2020 in Las Vegas. Meet them in ESI Booth: LVCC, Automotive Section - North Hall, booth #9020 About ESI Group ESI Group is a leading innovator in Virtual Prototyping software and services. Specialist in material physics, ESI has developed a unique proficiency in helping industrial manufacturers replace physical prototypes by virtual prototypes, allowing them to virtually manufacture, assemble, test and pre-certify their future products. Coupled with the latest technologies, Virtual Prototyping is now anchored in the wider concept of the Product Performance Lifecycle, which addresses the operational performance of a product during its entire lifecycle, from launch to disposal. The creation of a Hybrid Twin (News - Alert), leveraging simulation, physics and data analytics, enables manufacturers to deliver smarter and connected products, to predict product performance and to anticipate maintenance needs. ESI is a French company listed in compartment B of NYSE Euronext Paris. Present in more than 40 countries, and addressing every major industrial sector, ESI Group employs about 1200 high-level specialists around the world and reported annual sales of 139 million in 2018. For more information, please visit www.esi-group.com. Follow ESI

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China is requiring local authorities to keep a record of child-care centers in a bid to enhance oversight over the booming sector.

A regulation released on Monday by four government bodies, including the National Health Commission, said for-profit child-care centers receiving children under 3 years old should register with local market regulators, while community child-care institutions should register with local civil affairs authorities.

All centers are also required to file informationranging from staff health certificates to fire safety certificateswith local health commissions, who are responsible for detecting and reporting violations of industry standards, according to the regulation.

Information should be shared and exchanged in a timely manner among the local health authority and other departments to facilitate long-term supervision, it added.

The regulation takes effect immediately.

There are about 50 million children under the age of 3 in China, straining the country's limited childcare options, Yu Xuejun, vice-minister of the commission, said in May.

Some parents have complained about a shortage of affordable options, making them reluctant to conceive.

Many regions have thus begun to address such concerns, such as by extending maternity leave and motivating social organizations and institutions to offer child-care assistance.

To better regulate the growing sector, the commission released two documents in October laying out specific requirements for child-care facilities and staffing levels, and specifying key responsibilities of centers.

The new rules will step up supervision and bolster the development of services targeting infants and young children, the commission's department of population monitoring and family development said.
The earth satellite of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has revealed 'heartbreaking' images of Australia bushfires showing the island continent covered in a thick blanket of smoke. As Australia battles the worst wildfires, NASA Earth captured the colour image of the southeastern part of the country on January 4. The white patches of smoke will apparently become 'pyrocumulonimbus' clouds created by heat rising from the fire. Earlier, NASA had also shown the same blanket of smoke on January 3 saying it turned 'day to night'.

Read - Australia: Teenagers Fill Car With Koalas To Save Them From Bushfires

When smoke turns day to night.



In southeastern #Australia, fires are continuing to rage. #Landsat 8 acquired this image of thick smoke blanketing Mallacoota on January 1, 2020. https://t.co/JlzEUelhcl #Victoria pic.twitter.com/F5ld4eDPYZ  NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) January 3, 2020

Changing weather captured by NASA

The record-setting deadly fires in Australia were also captured by NASA on January 1, showing the difference of weather from July 24, last year. The Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8 had acquired the same area in colour on different dates. The latest image was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on NASA's Aqua satellite proves the extreme climate conditions predicted by forecasters over the last weekend.

Read - Australian Defence Force To Dig Mass Graves For Animals Killed In Bushfires

More than 135 bushfires are still burning across the state, including almost 70 that were uncontained. The Rural Fire Service is warning the rain wont put out the largest and most dangerous blazes before conditions deteriorate again this week. Australias capital, Canberra, had the worst air quality of any major city in the world on Monday morning. The Department of Home Affairs, which is responsible for coordinating the countrys response to disasters, told all non-critical staff to stay at home because of the abysmal air quality.

The challenging times in Australia have generated a wave of concern worldwide with people sharing 'heartbreaking' pictures of the 'massacre'. Celebrities like Selena Gomez, Pink, Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman among others have contributed their funds to help Australia in its battle with nature and also urged others to donate and 'make a difference'.

Read - Knitters From Around The Globe Making Items For Animals Injured In Australia Bushfires

Read - Australia Bushfires: Netizens 'salute' Firefighters, Pray For Their Families
Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday conferred awards to 30 media houses in recognition of their contribution towards promoting healthy living through yoga.

The awards at the first 'Antarrashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman' were presented under three categories.

Javadekar described the award as a unique honour to media organisations that contributed to promote yoga for the benefit of society.

"This event, the first of its kind, also marks a new trend of recognition of the endeavour of media organisations that go beyond news, views and advertisements, and work in mission mode for the larger benefit of society" the Union minister said.

Javadekar recalled that Lokmanya Tilak had launched the newspaper 'Kesari' as a medium to generate awareness towards 'Swarajya' (good governance).

He said media organisations are creating greater public awareness towards 'Suraaj' where good healthcare, education, and civic amenities are available to all. He described this as a sign of India's mature democracy.

Javadekar said yoga has gained global respect due to the vision and efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik congratulated Javadekar for the successful conduct of this new initiative of Yoga Diwas Media Samman.

Chairman of the jury and the Press Council of India Justice C K Prasad described yoga as an investment with zero risk and considerable benefits.

Eleven awards were conferred under the "Best Media Coverage of Yoga in Newspapers" category, eight under the "Best Media Coverage of Yoga in Television" and 11 under the "Best Media Coverage of Yoga in Radio" category.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The ongoing workers unrest in Muthoot Finance Limited, a leading gold financing company, took an ugly turn on Tuesday after a group of activists allegedly belonging to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) attacked managing director George Alexandar Muthoot with stones.

Police said miscreants pelted the MDs car with stones while he was on his way to the office in Kochi and Alexander received injuries on his head and shoulder. He was rushed to a private hospital where the doctors said his condition is stable.

They hurled stones and concrete boulders on the MD and he escaped with injuries by Gods grace. It was a planned attack. We have evidence that it was carried out by CITU goons. It is a sad day for Kerala, said group PRO Babu John.

A section of the employees has been on strike against the managements decision to close down 43 branches in the state leaving at least 160 employees jobless. While the management said these branches were closed due to non-profitability, employees alleged that they were punished for taking part in earlier strikes.

The CITU has, however, denied any role in the attack. We have no role in it. We dont believe in violence, said CITU state president Anathalavattom Anandan. We suspect the handiwork of some people to portray the CITU and the government in bad light, said another leader CK Manishankar.

But MDs son Eappan Alexandar said CITUs version was a big joke. It was a close shave for my father. It seems CITU leaders are cracking jokes. Did the CITU ever own up such a crime earlier? We all know its credentials well, he said.

State Labour Minister TK Ramakrishnan also blamed the management for the present mess. The government tried its best to buy peace in the organisation. But most of the time it retracted from its promises and enforced anti-employees measures, he said. He said police will conduct a detailed probe into the attack.

Babu John said out of 2,800 employees in the state, at least 200-250 are members of the union but they seek outside forces to disrupt work. He said more than 70 per cent employees are women and they are being physically attacked whenever they turn up for work. The CITU has wrecked several business establishments in the state. It wants Muthoot to pull down its shutters. When the whole country is in the grip of a severe meltdown such acts will tarnish image of the state further, said John.

Many industrialists have condemned the attack saying such incidents will damage the states all-out move to attract investments. Interestingly, the incident occurred a couple of days before the Ascend 2020, a global investors meet in Kochi on January 9-10.

I dont know why certain outfits are taking law into their hands. If they have some grievances they could have gone to the court. How can you attract investment to the state in this situation? asked V Guard group chairman Kochouseph Chittilapilly. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and many other organizations have also condemned the attack.

A leading gold financing company, Muthoot has over 6,000 branches across the country. Out of these, it has 600 branches in Kerala; its headquarters too is in Kochi. After recurring work disruptions, Muthoot has threatened to close down its Kerala operation saying the state continues to leave a big hole its pocket.

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As workers across the globe haul themselves back to the office for their first full week after the extended Christmas break, Finland's newly-installed prime minister may soften the blow for her citizens with the prospect of a condensed working week.

Sanna Marin, 34, has previously proposed putting the entire country on a four-day workweek consisting of six-hour workdays in a bid to transition the country to what she called "the next step for us in working life."

"I believe people deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture. This could be the next step for us in working life," Marin said in August while she was still the minister of transport.

Specific details of Marin's proposal have not been announced and a spokesperson has iterated that it's not currently part of the government's agenda.
Speaking at the event, PM Phuc said throughout its 25 years of ASEAN membership, Vietnam has always made active and responsible contributions to ASEAN cooperation. In 2020, Vietnam assumes major responsibilities at the regional and international levels, notably the ASEAN Chairmanship. Such a responsibility gives Vietnam an opportunity to contribute more substantively to the building and growth of a harmonious, resilient, innovative, cohesive, responsible and adaptive ASEAN Community.

Previously a region of strife and differences, ASEAN has become a united group of independent countries enjoying great progress and growth, where 650 million people call home. The grouping is ranked as the third most dynamic economy in the world, boasting a total gross domestic product of US$2.95 trillion in 2018. ASEAN has signed six free trade agreements with seven top partners in the world, thus reinforcing its centrality in the regional architecture. These achievements have earned ASEAN the recognition of major powers and partners in the world.

As the ASEAN 2020 Chair, Vietnam will build on the achievements and the efforts of previous ASEAN Chairs and work with fellow members in identifying future directions for the ASEAN Community until 2025 and beyond, he said.

He added that peace, stability, solidarity, unity, prosperity and sustainability will remain the purpose, the identity and the overarching goal of the ASEAN Community. These values pave the way for ASEAN to forge for itself a new image, new standing and new role in the spirit of making active and responsible contributions to dialogue and cooperation at the global level.

Secondly, the ASEAN Community will foster seamless connectivity and deepen integration within and beyond the region, on the basis of innovation, stability and the growing influence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution upon the social and economic life of the entire community. The ASEAN Community will serve as a model of circular economy, endowed with new vigour.

Thirdly, the ASEAN Community will become more resilient through effective climate change adaptation and response, and better management of natural disasters, pollution and plastic waste. It will become a liveable place, with a burgeoning network of smart cities and strong social welfare. It will possess a high-quality workforce in the digital era through quality educational system and strategies for sustainable development and equal opportunity for all, so as to leave no one behind.

Fourthly, its fundamental documents enable the organs of ASEAN Community to maintain sensible, effective and vigorous operation and better serve the ASEAN Community and its people.

To realise these aspirations and foster the future together, he called on each member and every citizen to make every effort to contribute to the common works of ASEAN, from the smallest of acts.

Let us think Community, act Community, and share the Community values. There are no ties more enduring than those connecting our hearts. Let our efforts take ASEAN far and wide, and at the same keep ASEAN close to our hearts, he said.

According to him, the theme of ASEAN 2020 is Cohesive and Responsive, which is supported by the five priorities for 2020, identified with a view to meeting the long-term goals of ASEAN. They involve actively contributing to a regional environment of peace, security and stability; bringing prosperity through regional integration and connectivity, heightening ASEANs adaptability to the Fourth Industrial Revolution to grasp opportunities; raising the awareness of ASEAN Community and Identity; strengthening partnerships for peace and sustainable development, and promoting the role and contribution of ASEAN in the international community; and enhancing the capacity and operational efficiency of ASEAN.

Vietnam will make every effort to collaborate with fellow members to successfully accomplish the ASEAN 2020s priorities, he said.

He wished that as befitting of an ASEAN citizen, each Vietnamese citizen, through actions, would spread the messages of a friendly, cordial, and hospitable Vietnam that welcomes all future partners with open arms.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) and leaders of ministries and agencies press the button to launch the ASEAN 2020 website. (Photo: VGP)



At the ceremony, PM Phuc together with Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and leaders of ministries and agencies pressed the button to launch the ASEAN 2020 website.

Minh also honoured special sponsors for Vietnams 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship.
[January 07, 2020] With Negotiations Set to Resume, CUPE 1329 Asks: Why Does 96 Per Cent Customer Satisfaction Equal ZERO Per Cent Job Security?

Ahead of a resumption of negotiations between the Town of Oakville and the union representing more than 330 'inside' workers, members of Local 1329 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 1329) today held a rally and information session a short distance from the Town's administrative offices. "We are out here today to let residents know how proud we are to provide them with quality services that they can depend on when they need them, but we also want them to know that the people who provide those services have hardly any meaningful job security," said CUPE 1329 President Stephen Dingwall. "Residents are overwhelmingly satisfied with the service we provide, but there is clearly something wrong when people with a 96 per cent customer satisfaction rate have zero per cent job security," he dded.



The collective agreement between the Town of Oakville and CUPE 1329 expired last February. Since then, the parties have been attempting to negotiate a renewal of the collective agreement. Job security provisions, common in collective agreements across the Province, are a key priority for members of CUPE 1329. The two sides will meet tomorrow and Thursday in an effort to hammer out a new contract with the assistance of a Provincially-appointed conciliation officer.

Dingwall said he hopes today's information session sends a clear message to the Town of Oakville that they need to take CUPE 1329 members' priorities seriously. "We believe a fair contract that protects the quality public services Oakville residents expect and depend on, and that meets the needs of our members and the Town, is possible, as long as the will is there from the Town," he said. CUPE 1329 represents more than 330 'inside' workers employed by the Town of Oakville, at 25 different locations including arena and recreation facilities, Central Operations, Oakville Fire Department, Town Hall, Oakville Transit, Oakville Hydro, Harbours and the Oakville Centre for Performing Arts. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005936/en/

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A Deed Without A Name

Friday 21 February - Monday 2 March, 7.30 PM

Theatro Technis

26 Crowndale Road

London NW1 1TT

BOOK HERE

Witkiewicz was a Polish avant-garde artist, playwright and novelist, a crucial spokesman of the moral and social turmoil of the interwar period.

Wayward Theatre Productions has decided to stage his most political play.

In an unknown country, Baron de Buffadero and Colonel Giers are reviving the faith of a forgotten prophet called Joachim Mieduval, and develop a new cult programmed to control the masses. However, on the day of the coup detat, a new unexpected leader will push the revolutionary upheaval to its most extreme consequences.

The play is a political thriller as well as an absurdist comedy, full of humour and unexpected turns.

The title "A Deed Without a Name" is a quote from Macbeth, and like Shakespeares tragedy, it is about the inevitable collapse of tyranny. Within the social pandemonium , princes meddle with gravediggers, a poet becomes revolutionary, a composer falls in love with a tyrant, and artists become witches and criminal lunatics to affirm their individuality.

As Witkiewicz once said: only once the old values have gone, an individual discovers his true self.

Directed by Giorgio Galassi

Costumes and Set Design by Aurelie Freoua

Production by Dorota Krimmel

Produced by Wayward Theatre Productions

Cast: Adam Hypki, Gary Cain, Sarah Warren, Gerry Skeens, Dan De La Motte, Jonathan Brandt, Peter Revel- Walsh, Aurelie Freoua, Mario B Bob, Giorgio Galassi, Dorota Krimmel
Each gift was worth over VND1.2 million including essential goods and money.

The government official acknowledged the efforts of Quang Nam province to care for the lives of policy beneficiaries and disadvantaged people so that they can celebrate a joyful Tet holiday.

He also encouraged local people to overcome any difficulties they face and build a greater province.

Quang Nam province will spend nearly VND18 billion (US$775,600) from its budget to present Tet gifts to nearly 86,000 policy beneficiaries in the province.

*The Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) Central Committee held a Tet presentation programme in Thach Hai commune, Thach Ha district, Ha Tinh province on January 7 in the presence of Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Tong Thi Phong.

Politburo member Phong presented two gifts to Heroic Vietnamese Mothers Tran Thi Dieu and Nguyen Thi Em and 20 gifts to policy beneficiary families in Ha Tinh province.

The programme also granted 50 gifts to needy families, 30 scholarships to disadvantaged students and water supply facilities to five families living in difficult circumstances.

*On the same day, Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue also attended a programme to present Tet gifts to policy beneficiary and disadvantaged people in Ben Tre province.

As many as 200 gifts were donated to policy beneficiaries and destitute households, 100 gifts were granted to victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, and 100 gifts were presented to workers living in difficult circumstances in the province.
The Malayalam Film industry has condemned the attack on students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), saying it was a "criminal offence" and deserves harshest punishment.

In a Facebook Post, Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran said entering an institution of knowlege and education and unleasing violence on students with scant regard for law and order, was an absolute murder of all democratic values.

"Regardless of what ideology you stand for, what cause youre fighting for, what end to this means you might be hoping for, violence and vandalism is not and never will be the answer to anything."



For a nation that won its independence from colonialism through a non-violence, non-cooperation movement, it's truly deplorable that today the word 'revolution' is automatically equated to a call for violence and lawlessness, Prithviraj wrote in his Facebook post.

"To be entering an institution of knowledge and education, and unleashing violence on students with scant regard for law and order is an absolute murder of all democratic values," he said.

It's a criminal offence of the highest order that deserves the harshest punishment.

But also do remember, any form of protest that endorses violence is an equally condemnable act, the "celluloid" actor added.

Actor Manju warrier expressed shock over the visuals of bleeding faces of students on television.

JNU was always a symbol of knowledge in this country, Many who studied in JNU are now leaders and ruling us.

Though their politics may differ, their patriortism cannot be questioned, she said in a post.

Though their ideologies may differ, the violence witnessed in the institution, wherein even outsiders had entered the campus and attacked the students, cannot be justified, she said adding "we cannot keep mum.

We need to stand with them", the actor said.

Another Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas said, "When the students of a premier university get attacked by cowards without faces and the system fails to stand firm against this, something is seriously and gravely wrong in this country!".

"Whatever be your political affiliation, if you are still believing that everything is normal here, you are terribly mistaken ! Unless and until those cowards are caught and punished for what they did to our students, this nation is not going to sleep!."



Actor Murali Gopy described the attack on students as "Black Shirts' terror @ JNU!" History suggests that this is yet another ominous portent of a democracy's steady decline into a fascist Black Hole, he wrote on his facebook page.

While Nivin Pauly described the attack on students as "horrifying and frightening" and brutality at its worst, Actor-tured Director Geetu Mohandas said, "What the hell is going on ! What next ? A war against children ?.

She also shared a picture of bleeding Aishe Ghosh, President of JNUSU.

(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 the US is prepared for any retaliation on the side of Iran and that Washington is ready to retaliate in return, Trend reports citing Sputnik.

He added that he wants to obey international law when it comes to striking cultural sites.

"If that's what the law is, I like to obey the law. But think of it. They kill our people. They blow up our people and then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions. But I'm OK with it. It's OK with me", Trump told reported at the White House.

US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper also said on Tuesday that Soleimani, killed in the US drone strike on 3 January, had been planning to attack American facilities hosting US diplomats and troops and that the plot was just days away from happening.

He went on to say that the US should expect Iran to retaliate "in some way, shape or form", adding that the United States is not seeking war with Iran but is prepared to respond appropriately to any potential attack from Iran or its proxy forces.

"We're prepared for any contingency. And then we will respond appropriately to whatever they do", Esper told reporters at the Pentagon.
English Dutch

Nyrstar: Judgment in interim proceedings initiated by a group of minority shareholders

7 January 2020 at 23.30 CET

Nyrstar NV ("Nyrstar" or the "Company") announces that the President of the Commercial Court in Antwerp has today rendered a judgment in the summary proceedings initiated by a group of minority shareholders (the Minority Shareholders). The Minority Shareholders had requested the court to suspend the resolutions of the general meeting of 5 November 2019, and subsequently also those of the extraordinary general meeting of 9 December 2019, as well as to appoint a provisional administrator to convene a new general meeting. The Minority Shareholders had also requested to impose certain measures on Nyrstar, including the prohibition to enter into certain loans. The President rejected all claims of the Minority Shareholders in a fully reasoned judgment. The President did not grant the claim of Nyrstar to order the Minority Shareholders to pay damages but did order them to pay the legal costs, including an indemnification for legal fees for Nyrstar.

The Company will now further review the judgment and consult with its counsel.

About Nyrstar

The Company is incorporated in Belgium and, following completion of the recapitalisation/restructuring has a 2% shareholding in the Nyrstar group. The Company is listed on Euronext Brussels under the symbol NYR. For further information please visit the Nyrstar website: www.nyrstar.be

For further information contact:

Anthony Simms - Head of External Affairs T: +41 44 745 8157 M: +41 79 722 2152 anthony.simms@nyrstar.com

Attachment
Voters have seen many videos in the final months of the campaign, but this one caused ripples because of how starkly it holds up Hong Kong as an example of the kind of future that Taiwan could face if it agreed to closer ties with China.
The Democratic presidential debate stage is set to shrink again next week.

Only five candidates so far have earned spots in the Jan. 14 CNN/Des Moines Register debate in Iowa: Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Tom Steyer, Andrew Yang and Cory Booker will all watch from the sidelines unless they see polling surges before Fridays deadline to qualify.

Faced with this potential winnowing of the field, the Democratic National Committee has come under new criticism  especially from the candidates on the chopping block. They pointed to a smaller number of polls over the eight-week qualifying period  which included lengthy breaks over both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays  and a weeks-long early state polling drought, urging the DNC to make the polling thresholds more lenient.

But the DNC is refusing to budge, calling its criteria inclusive and fair. This week could bring a surge of 11th-hour polls, though Steyer, Yang and Booker still face major headwinds to getting back on the debate stage at a crucial moment.

The DNC thresholds are only modest steps up from last months criteria: Candidates need to hit 5 percent in four DNC-approved polls (or 7 percent in two approved polls specifically in early states) between Nov. 14 and Jan. 10, combined with 225,000 unique donors  before 11:59 p.m. on Friday.

Though the new polling thresholds are only slightly higher than for the last debate  5 percent instead of 4 percent  they threaten to exclude Steyer, Yang and Booker. Steyer has two of the four polls he needs. Yang only has one, while Booker hasnt hit 5 percent in a single poll. Yang and Steyer participated in the December debate, while Booker did not clear that polling threshold, either.

Among the candidates on the outside looking in, their complaints arent that the new threshold is too high, however. Its that there are too few polls.

Those gripes reached a fever pitch over the past week, when a holiday polling drought froze the debate process in place and left some candidates begging for a chance to add to their qualifying poll count. The break ended Sunday, when CBS News released a pair of polls conducted by YouGov in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Story continues

But those polls offered no help: The only candidates above 5 percent were the five who have already qualified for the debate.

The CBS News surveys represented the first early-state polls since mid-November. Among the events during that more-than-six-week gap: Kamala Harris ended her presidential bid, two different primary debates took place, and campaigns have been pouring money and manpower into the states.

"The DNC has been more than inclusive throughout this entire process with an expansive list of qualifying polls, including 19 qualifying polls thus far for the January debate, 9 [of] which are state polls, Adrienne Watson, a DNC spokesperson, said in a statement to POLITICO. In addition, we have not only expanded the list [of] poll sponsors this cycle to include online polls, but we have expanded the qualifying period for the January debate to account for the holidays."

With just four days to go until the qualifying deadline, it isnt clear how many polls, early state or otherwise, will be released. That complicates any late push by candidates not already on stage.

Fortunately, I'd guess this drought will be over soon enough, Nate Cohn, a journalist for The New York Times The Upshot (which coordinates The Times polling), wrote on Saturday. I think it's reasonable to think that some firms  are going to hit this early January window  early enough so that they can come back for a final poll the weekend before.

Candidates have submitted a variety of proposals that wouldve effectively expand the debate stage  from a Booker-led campaign to return to an either/or qualifying pathway, to Yang sending a letter to DNC Chair Tom Perez in late December asking the party committee to sponsor polls in the early states  which was rebuffed by the DNC.

The DNC will not sponsor our own debate-qualifying polls of presidential candidates during a primary, Xochitl Hinojosa, the DNCs communications director, told The New York Times last week. The New York Times and the expansive list of 16 qualifying poll sponsors should conduct more independent polling.

It would have been extremely unusual for a national party to conduct or pay for polling for public consumption  as Yang called for  for a litany of reasons, including wanting to avoid any accusations of bias and the need to spend resources elsewhere.

And the national party cannot force or cajole independent pollsters into conducting surveys on any particular schedule. Additionally, some pollsters have publicly expressed their displeasure with their polls being included in the process in the first place.

Maybe there is a lesson to be learned about using polls as a criteria for debate eligibility, Lee Miringoff, the director of Marist Institute for Public Opinion, tweeted. Tons of reasons why its a bad idea.

Democratic presidential candidate businessman Tom Steye (right) speaks as Sen. Amy Klobuchar listens during a Democratic presidential primary debate.

There are several reasons that can explain at least some of the weeks long polling absence in the early states: Pollsters typically do not go into the field around major holidays (like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years), when many Americans are traveling and may be less likely to respond. Polling costs have also skyrocketed cycle-over-cycle, which results in fewer overall polls being conducted.

And President Donald Trump was also in the process of being impeached by the House of Representatives in December. Many pollsters chose to measure the nations opinion of the historic moment, which may have diverted resources away from state-specific polling.

The campaigns most directly affected by the survey drought  Yang, Steyer and Booker, who have all met the donor threshold but are short of the polling mark  have increasingly called attention to it. But the campaigns have been careful to not question the DNCs intentions behind the thresholds, even while agitating for changes to the process and arguing that they were unnaturally winnowing the field.

I have and will never impugn [the DNCs] motives or intentions. They have worked hard to stay impartial, Addisu Demissie, Bookers campaign manager, tweeted on New Years Eve. But when the real world impact is reduced diversity and a now nearly 2-month state polling desert, it was appropriate to change the rules.

Watson, the DNC spokeswoman, told POLITICO the committee "will not revert back to the [lower] threshold for qualification used in the December debate, even if there are few additional polls released before this weeks deadline.

Yang, in his late December letter to Perez, also said he agreed with increasing the thresholds for the January debate. But, citing the meager number of polls, Yang said a diverse set of candidates might be absent from the January debate for reasons out of anyones control, calling it a troubling prospect.

Regardless of the DNCs best intentions, voters would cry foul and could even make unfounded claims of bias and prejudice, he continued.

Next weeks debate also has one more wrinkle that could totally upend the stage: the still-unscheduled impeachment trial in the Senate. The trial could keep the three senators who have already qualified for the stage  Klobuchar, Sanders and Warren  in Washington, forcing a last minute change of schedule.

"If a conflict with an impeachment trial is unavoidable, the DNC will evaluate its options and work with all the candidates to accommodate them, Hinojosa said in a statement. The DNC declined to comment when asked if the qualification deadline would be pushed back if the debate was postponed due to the trial.
"Our online auction services are designed to take this piece of work off of the officers plate so they can focus on more mission critical assignments. - Andrew J. Nash, CEO, PropertyRoom.com

PropertyRoom.com is excited to announce that the Birmingham, Alabama Police Department has signed on to utilize their online auction services to auction off their unclaimed stolen, seized or surplus assets and goods.

PropertyRoom.com works with over 3,000 law enforcement agencies and municipalities nationwide to help auction their seized, stolen, abandoned and surplus goods. They offer $1, No Reserve online auctions to bring deals to the community and generating income for their law enforcement and municipal partners.

Birmingham, Alabama Police Department has a large amount of jewelry and bicycles, in addition to other items, that will go up for auction on PropertyRoom.com. PropertyRoom.com auctions items from other clients varying from collectible coins and smartphones to handbags and vehicles, with more in between. The website also regularly auctions surplus municipal cars, trucks and heavy equipment as well as seized vehicles, with all assets open to public bidding nationwide.

Andrew J. Nash, CEO of PropertyRoom.com shared, We are happy to bring on the Birmingham, Alabama Police Department and assist them with an easier way to auction items. Our online auction services are designed to take this piece of work off of the officers plate so they can focus on more mission critical assignments.

About PropertyRoom.com

PropertyRoom.com makes it remarkably easy for our 3,000+ clients to manage and sell surplus assets. We streamline the entire auction process on a clients behalf and deliver to the winning bidder. There is always a unique deal to be found, with hundreds of new auction listings added daily. Top categories include jewelry, watches, collectible coins and consumer electronics along with cars, trucks, heavy equipment, and firearms through a partner website, eGunner.com. Working with law enforcement agencies, municipal surplus departments, state/county fleet programs, airports and even museums, PropertyRoom.com has generated and distributed millions of dollars to local communities nationwide.
LONDON - A graduate student from Indonesia living in Manchester, England, was sentenced Monday to life in prison for raping or sexually assaulting 48 men.

Reynhard Sinaga, 36, met his inebriated victims outside of nightclubs and lured them back to his apartment, where he drugged and attacked them, filming the assaults on his cellphones.

A crown prosecutor called him the "most prolific rapist in British legal history."

Sinaga's identity and details of his crimes had not been revealed before Monday, as the courts had ordered a two-year-long media blackout, until the end of his fourth criminal trial.

Police suspect Sinaga attacked as many as 195 men over several years. Through his multiple trials, he was found guilty, in total, of 159 sexual offenses, including 136 rapes.

The case led to the largest ever rape investigation in Britain.

Police are still trying to identify 70 victims who appear in Sinaga's video footage, according to British press reports from the trial.

At the sentencing on Monday, Judge Suzanne Goddard called Sinaga "an evil serial sexual predator who preyed upon young men who came into the city center wanting nothing more than a good night out with their friends.

She said, "One of your victims described you as a monster. The scale and enormity of your offending confirms this as an accurate description."

Sinaga's modus operandi was to meet men leaving nightclubs near his Manchester city center apartment. According to police and court testimony, the assailant targeted young men who were by themselves, usually sick or intoxicated - and then he would play "the good Samaritan" and offer them another drink, a place to sleep or charge their phones, or help calling a taxi.

Police suspect Sinaga used a powerful date rape drug to incapacitate his victims. Many reported waking up disoriented but not realizing they had been assaulted.

Detective Inspector Zed Ali of Greater Manchester Police told the Manchester Evening News that "some of the offenses happened years ago and they were not aware of it."

A last victim in 2017 managed to call police during his assault. That was when police arrested Sinaga, confiscated his phones and discovered the trove of evidence against him.

During his trials, Sinaga denied raping and assaulting the men, saying instead they were willing participants and pretending to be asleep.

Police said Sinaga could have been assaulting men for as long as ten years - and that evidence against him came not only from the video clips on his mobile phones but other "trophies" that he kept, such as ID cards from the victims.

The BBC reported that statements by victims were read in court, with one man saying he felt suicidal after the attack and another hoping that Sinaga "never comes out of prison and he rots in hell."

Sinaga arrived in Britain from Indonesia on a student visa in 2007. According to the Associated Press, Sinaga received two degrees from the University of Manchester and was studying for his PhD at the University of Leeds when he was arrested in 2017. His doctoral thesis, the AP reported, was "Sexuality and everyday transnationalism. South Asian gay and bisexual men in Manchester."

Sinaga must serve at least 30 years of his life sentence.
Elvie will store breast milk and partner with Milk Stork to get working moms' milk home to babies, as research reveals almost half of working moms avoid industry events like CES

Women's health brand Elvie announces comprehensive Milk Concierge service for all breastfeeding moms attending CES this year.

Elvie's onsite refrigerated storage and Milk Stork partnership comes in response to new research showing that 44% of women avoid big industry events because of poor lactation facilities, with only 24% of working moms calling conferences they've attended "breastfeeding friendly".

For mothers attending CES, that's all about to change.

It's no secret that CES has a notoriously poor record on gender diversity robot strippers anyone? The good news is that despite the show's attendance stats (*) the agenda is changing for the better and "booth babes" are banned from the show floor. But while CES is enforcing a new on-stand dress code, this falls short of making the show more accommodating for women and breastfeeding moms who are still left struggling.

CES might be happy to keep the issue of lactating mothers on ice, but Elvie isn't. Throughout the event, Elvie's 'Pumping Parlor' stand (**) will offer a relaxing space to pump and their team of experts will refrigerate stored milk. Additionally, complimentary Milk Stork Pump Totes will be available for moms to tote their milk home (while supplies last). A Milk Shuttle service will run throughout CES, collecting milk from moms and transporting it back to the Pumping Parlour for refrigeration.

But this is not just a CES issue. In fact, Nevada doesn't have any state legislation to protect and support breastfeeding mothers in the workplace. Of working mothers in the UK surveyed*, 18% have workplaces with lactation rooms and only 16% have access to a fridge to store milk. Worse still, one in four women have pumped in the car to avoid the office, 26% have sat in a toilet cubicle and 10% have even hidden behind a tree during work hours to breastfeed or pump.

"Any new mom will know that finding a safe and secure space to pump can be a nightmare, especially when they go back to work," explained Tania Boler, CEO and Founder of Elvie. "Finding a place to pump at CES is one thing, but then what? Moms are leaving the event and rushing their milk back to their unreliable hotel fridge. In order for women to come back to work where and when they choose, conferences and employers need to do better."

Kate Torgersen, Founder and CEO of Milk Stork said, "For a breastfeeding mom, the logistics of leaving her baby for several days can be challenging. Milk Stork helps ease the logistical pain points by providing moms with solutions that enable them to excel in their jobs while having peace of mind that their babies will continue to be nourished with their breast milk even when they have to travel."

The Milk Stork Pump Totes are being flown into CES by Mamarick and her crew to highlight the plight of moms at the conference. Their mission? Support breastfeeding moms at the event with access to places to pump and store milk with an option to tote their milk home with Milk Stork. Heading up the mission is Elvie's pilot, "Mamarick", who will lead the team aboard Mammary One the helicopter flying in to rescue breast milk being pumped at CES.

Visitors can follow along by checking out PumpedAtCES

For more information about Elvie Pump visit www.elvie.com/shop/elvie-pump. To request that your employer support future trips with Milk Stork or to place an order for future events, please visit www.milkstork.com.

Notes to editors:

The research was conducted by OnePoll with 500 working mothers in the UK during December 2019.

*Seven out of 10 CES attendees are male

**The moms out there who are attending the show can swing by Sands Expo, Level 2, Halls A-D, Booth 44960 to access Elvie's service

About Elvie:

Founded in 2013, Elvie is a British brand developing smarter technology for women.

Elvie creates extraordinary products that improve women's lives.

Elvie has two products on the market, the first of which, Elvie Trainer, is an award-winning Kegel trainer and app. Used to help women strengthen the pelvic floor via fun, five-minute workouts, Elvie Trainer is recommended by more than 1,000 health professionals worldwide. Their second product, Elvie Pump, is the world's first silent wearable breast pump. Elvie Pump is completely cordless and worn inside a bra, making it possible for women to pump anytime, anywhere at home, at work or on-the-go.

Elvie Pump is one of TIME Magazine's Best Inventions of 2019 and the fastest-growing female-founded business in the UK (SyndicateRoom's Ten Fastest Growing Scaleups, 2019). For more information, visit ?elvie.com.

About Milk Stork:

Milk Stork was launched in August 2015 as the first-of-its-kind breast milk shipping service for moms who needed a simple solution for getting their breast milk to their babies back home. Working mom made, and made for working moms, Milk Stork supports hundreds of corporate partners who provide the service to their employees as an employee benefit. In February 2019, Milk Stork was awarded Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Award in the Travel category for its unparalleled commitment to supporting working, traveling moms. For more information on Milk Stork, visit www.milkstork.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005328/en/

Contacts:

For US Media Enquiries:

Kirstin Hallett: kirstin@sourcecodecomms.com +1 860.878.5266

Or contact the team on Elvie@sourcecodecomms.com
A series of launches marked Lenovo's appearance at the CES on Monday focusing on speed, looks and future workspaces.

The ThinkPad X1 Fold launch was the most eye-catching of the launches at CES, the consumer electronics mega event that is being held here.

But with the growing buzz around technology, which is evident at this year's event, appeared to be looking ahead to a "fast future" with

With the Yoga 5G, launched the PC that supports both millimeter wave full-band and sub-6GHz 5G networks.

The Yoga 5G is an "ultra-portable 2-in-1 laptop" and the first-ever PC powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx 5G Compute Platform.

said the Yoga 5G would be available later this year with prices starting at $1,499.

Alongside the Yoga 5G, Lenovo also announced the launch of the ThinkBook Plus -- a laptop with an innovative e-ink display on the cover to improve productivity and focus.

The display can be used to create illustrations and take notes with the Precision Pen, at the same time as receiving notifications when the lid is closed.

"The device is a new kind of laptop that provides innovative features and functions to help users maximise their multitasking efficiency," Lenovo said.

The ThinkBook Plus will be available from March 2020, starting at $1,199.

Lenovo officials said that except for the X1 Fold, most of the devices were likely to be launched in India around the same time as in the US.

Sanjeev Menon, Vice President for Small and Medium Business (SMB) Product and Portfolio Management said that one of the reasons for going in for 5G devices -- speed, though, is contingent upon carrier networks -- was the changing nature of the workplace exemplified by people working from home.

The company pointed to studies in this connection that showed that 53 per cent of people, globally, work remotely for at least half the week.

Besides, flexible work and virtual teams are the biggest drivers of workplace transformation today, it said, pointing to the studies.

--IANS

am/na/dpb

(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.)
Last year, Chile had already been sharing its insights and plans on how to positively contribute to the worsening climate change in the world.

In an article published at the beginning of June last year, Chile had promised to become a carbon-neutral nation by the year 2050. The ambition of Chile will become a challenging task being a highly-coal dependent nation.

An article released to the public in September of the previous year had revealed that Chile was one of the sixty-six countries who promised to commit to transforming into a carbon-neutral nation.

Many factors contribute to climate change. One of the primary factors that contribute to the worsening of climate change in the work is the usage of non-renewable sources of energy such as carbon.

Some huge countries like the United States of America and Australia are not that alarmed of the dangers that climate change is currently bringing in the world. Smaller countries like Chile and Finland are exerting significant efforts to become carbon-neutral nations in the future. These nations believe the urgency of the need to make an act to fight climate change in the world.

Chile is now starting to formulate ways using the latest technologies to gradually stop the need to use coal for power generation. As a coal-dependent nation, Chile is being ambitious to shift to a new environment-friendly power source in the next thirty years.

Becoming a carbon-neutral nation include tons of efforts and funding. Large-scale reconstruction of power infrastructures includes the purchase of new equipment that requires a large amount of funding. Despite some of the difficulties with shifting the Chilean nation to a carbon-neutral country, the government promises to prioritize such a project.

According to an article by the Ministry of Energy's Prospective and Regulatory Impact Analysis head Carlos Barria, the government of Chile that climate change is real. Barria believes that the public and private sectors in the country need to cooperate to lessen their contribution to climate change. The government of Chile believes that the main people who are affected by climate change are those that are vulnerable.

According to the column, the government of Chile aims to execute changes in five different areas in the country namely the sustainable energy source and mining sector, housing and public commercial building sector, the removal of coal mining plants and the entry of renewable sources of power, shift from the use of fertilizers with nitrogen, and the collection of methane from aging animals.

These areas of change will need a significant amount of investment. Chile is already starting the construction of solar energy farm areas and other massive facilities in the desert regions of the country.

This announcement by the Chilean government was triggered as an area as big as Ireland in the country of Australia is experiencing massive wildfires that are endangering the lives of many of its wildlife and people.

The elevated heat believed by many to have been caused by climate change and the strong winds in the area.
Reversing course, Trump says hed obey intl law, not target cultural sites in any military action against Iran.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday backed away from his threats to target Iranian cultural sites if Iran retaliates against the United States for killing one of its top generals.

Targeting cultural sites is a war crime.

Trump on Saturday tweeted that the US had 52 Iranian sites, including ones that are very important to Iranian culture, it could attack if Iran attacks Americans or US assets.

The tweet came amid escalating tensions between the two countries following the Trump-ordered US killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq.

Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, made clear he would reluctantly abide by the law.

You know what, if thats what the law is, I like to obey the law. But think of it: They kill our people, they blow up our people and then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions. But Im OK with it. Its OK me, he said.

I will say this: if Iran does anything that they shouldnt be doing, theyre going to be suffering the consequences and very strongly, he added.

.targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2020

On Monday, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper suggested that the US military would not violate the laws of armed conflict by striking Iranian cultural sites.

Asked whether he was willing to target cultural sites, Esper told Pentagon reporters: We will follow the laws of armed conflict.

Pressed on whether he would then not target such sites, because that would be a war crime, Esper said: Thats the laws of armed conflict. He did not elaborate.

Targeting cultural sites with military action is considered a war crime under international law, including a UN Security Council resolution supported by the Trump administration in 2017 and the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property.

The US drone attack on Friday that killed Soleimani has raised fears of all-out conflict. Washington says it killed Soleimani in self-defence, aiming to disrupt his plans to attack US personnel and interests.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper speaking during a press briefing in the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, US [Yuri Gripas/Reuters]

Earlier on Tuesday, Esper said the US wants to de-escalate tensions with Iran, but the country is ready to finish any war that could be started.

We are not looking to start a war with Iran, but we are prepared to finish one, he said. What wed like to see is the situation de-escalated.

Esper defended the intelligence signalling an imminent threat from Soleimani that he and other senior US officials have cited to justify the assassination, saying it was persuasive.

The threat was being orchestrated by Soleimani, Esper said. I think it was only a matter of days, certainly no more than weeks before an attack.

He added that the US should expect some form of Iranian retaliation.

I think we should expect that they will retaliate in some way, shape or form, Esper told a news briefing at the Pentagon, adding that such retaliation could be through Iran-supported groups outside of Iran or by their own hand.

Were prepared for any contingency. And then we will respond appropriately to whatever they do.
A federal judge in Nebraska has awarded more than $610,000 to an Iowa company that sued after it said it wasnt fully paid for masonry work at a national veterans cemetery in Omaha.

Seedorff Masonry, of Strawberry Point, Iowa, sued Archer Western Construction, of Chicago, and its insurer in 2018, saying it hadnt been paid nearly $610,000 for labor and limestone it supplied for the Omaha National Cemetery that opened in 2016. U.S. Judge Robert Rossiter Jr. has awarded that amount, plus $138,000 in interest and costs, to Seedorff, the Lincoln Journal Star reported .

The judge said Archer failed to prove its counterclaim that discussions over accepting Seedorffs limestone  some of which had a natural flaw  delayed the project and added travel expenses. Archer said it should be able to offset costs caused by those discussions, even though the limestone was ultimately accepted for the project.

The judge said the evidence didnt support Archers contention that discussions over the stone delayed the project. He pointed to testimony from a VA engineer who said that while the project was plagued with delays, discussions over the stone didnt cause them.

The judge declined to award attorneys fees, saying that Archers counterclaim wasnt unreasonable.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Trump escalated a conflict with Iran because the president needed something to brag about and the Secretary of State was feeling morose because he couldnt get an assassination the last time he asked the president for one.

We are living in chilling times as we continue the descent into the dystopian hell that Trump promised his cult. We should not be surprised. Trump told us he had no clue and that hes too arrogant to listen to anyone who does. He does this every time he talks about committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Hillary Clinton warned us too. But too many of us cared more about her emails than about what a Trump presidency would do to America and the world.

Donald Trump started the New Year with a taste of blood when he ordered the assassination of Qassem Soleimani.

This screw-up is too big to fix. Notwithstanding Secretary Pompeos multiple television appearances in which he sounded more like a Trump stooge than a graduate of West Point, one need only look at the international response to know that we are not safer. We are isolated, we are weaker and we are in more danger. Certainly, Trumps defenders will point to the fact that Israel is pleased, as are some factions in Iraq and Lebanon.

Yet even Russia admitted the assassination violated international law. Also, our traditional allies in Canada and Europe are distancing themselves from Trumps actions and will feel some of the fallout, such as a request to remove troops from Iraq. Both urged restraint and tried in vain to keep the nuclear agreement intact.

Still, Iran took a step back from it. Ostensibly to make us safe and great again, Trump managed to rekindle another countrys interest in developing nukes (the first being North Korea).

Weve become the skunk at the international picnic.

The one positive development is Speaker Pelosis Resolution to claw back war powers from an unwell and power-hungry president. Under the Constitution, Congress is supposed to declare war, but in practice, the presidents war power increased in the time since 9/11. Trump showed us why its essential to claw that power back, as Speaker Nancy Pelosi explained in a letter to her colleagues.

This week, the House will introduce and vote on a War Powers Resolution to limit the Presidents military actions regarding Iran.  It reasserts Congresss long-established oversight responsibilities by mandating that if no further Congressional action is taken, the Administrations military hostilities with regard to Iran cease within 30 days

This came after the assassination of Soleimani, and following reporting by the Daily Beast and others that Trump bragged about it to guests at Mar-a-Lago. But, he didnt consult the Gang of Eight or anyone on the appropriate Congressional committees.

Eddie Gallagher, the war criminal, was one of Trumps guests. Maybe Trump figured war crimes would make great conversation with the man he pardoned recently and whom he hopes will be an effective shiny object for the campaign season. What better topic than announcing plans to commit another war crime?

Too bad for Trump that the Church Committee condemned killing foreign leaders https://www.justsecurity.org/27407/assassination-ban-targeted-killings/ The rule against assassinations was reaffirmed in executive orders by Presidents Carter and Reagan, and later again in the Parks Memo.

So it isnt like this is something the Democrats came up with to spoil Donald Trumps fun. And it isnt even the worst thing about the assassination.

Since Soleimani was killed, Trump threatened to hit 52 Iranian cultural targets (a war crime)

.targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!

 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2020

Iraq asked our troops to leave, which means it is siding with Iran over the US. Trump responded with a threat to sanction Iraq for exercising its sovereign rights.

(As of this writing, the Secretary of Defense has no plans to withdraw troops from Iraq.)

The latest tantrum is Trumps Tweetleration that he will inform Congress about war actions via tweet.

These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner. Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!

The combination of a power hungry president and a Secretary of State who doesnt understand that his job is to prevent war is too dangerous to ignore and just hope nothing happens until the general election.

According to several reports, VP Pence and Secretary of State Pompeo urged Trump to okay Soleimanis assassination.

Pompeo had lost a similar high-stakes deliberation last summer when Trump declined to retaliate militarily against Iran after it downed a U.S. surveillance drone, an outcome that left Pompeo morose, according to one U.S. official. But recent changes to Trumps national security team and the whims of a president anxious about being viewed as hesitant in the face of Iranian aggression created an opening for Pompeo to press for the kind of action he had been advocating.

Theres a cumulative effect to all this. Unlike at any other time since WW II, we are vulnerable and alone and have an aspiring dictator with the emotional maturity of a toddler in the White House. In short, were likely going to war with Iran and were going because the Secretary of State was morose and the President needed to brag to his pet war criminal on New Years Eve.
I am delighted to welcome this outstanding group of online learning leaders as the new officers of OLCs board of directors. Their guidance will be instrumental in advancing OLCs strategic agenda.

The Online Learning Consortium (OLC), the leading professional organization devoted to advancing the quality of digital learning worldwide, today announced Mary Niemiec, Associate Vice President for Distance Education at the University of Nebraska, has been elected President of the OLC Board of Directors. Niemiec, who previously served as the boards Vice President, succeeds Eric E. Fredericksen, Ed.D., Associate Vice President for Online Learning and Associate Professor in Educational Leadership at the University of Rochester. The OLC Board also elected new Vice President Elizabeth Ciabocchi, Ed.D., Secretary Julia Parra, Ed.D., and Treasurer Frank Mayadas, Ph.D.. Their terms began on Jan. 1, 2020.

I am delighted to welcome this outstanding group of online learning leaders as the new officers of OLCs board of directors, said Jennifer Mathes, Interim CEO of the Online Learning Consortium. Their guidance will be instrumental in advancing OLCs strategic agenda. I also wish to thank Eric Fredericksen for his exceptional leadership and counsel during these past two years.

OLC is the premier professional organization focused on quality digital teaching and learning, said Niemiec, who has served on the OLC board since 2016 and was also recognized by OLC among its 2011 class of Fellows. I am excited for the opportunity to serve the OLC community, particularly during this important time in digital higher education.

Niemiec has worked in higher education for more than 20 years, primarily in the area of online and blended learning. She was the recipient of a grant from the Sloan Foundation in 2003 for a gathering of 30 faculty, administrators and researchers from the U.S. and Canada to begin exploration of the concept of blended learning and its strategic importance to higher education. She also served as conference chair for OLCs Blended Learning Workshop and Conference for eight years. Prior to joining the University of Nebraska in 2011, Niemiec held administrative positions in outreach, blended and online education at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Elizabeth (Liz) Ciabocchi was appointed Vice Provost for Digital Learning at St. Johns University in Queens, NY, in early 2014, having served for the previous 12 years in the Office of Academic Affairs at Long Island University, most recently as Associate Vice President for Online Learning. She also served as Academic Dean, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, New York Campus (2001-2002), and as a faculty member and administrator at the New York College for Health Professions in Syosset, N.Y. (1993-2001). An active member of the OLC community, Dr. Ciabocchi holds an OLC Teaching Certificate (Administrative Track) and completed the OLC Institute for Engaged Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL) in 2010. She was named an OLC Fellow in 2015.

Julia Parra is an assistant professor at New Mexico State University (NMSU) in the College of Education. She is the Director for NMSUs Online Teaching and Learning Graduate Certificate Program and is the coordinator for the Learning Design & Technology programs. She has taught for OLC and is currently serving on the NMSU Online Taskforce which is working towards an online solution for its university and community college system.

A. Frank Mayadas, founding president of OLC, is a prominent education innovator in online learning and has served as a Senior Advisor to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation since 2010, advising the Foundation on its continuing grants in the Anytime, Anyplace Learning Program. From 1992 to 2009, he served as a Program Director at the Foundation, helping craft the Foundations grantmaking strategy in online learning, globalization, industry studies, and career choice in technical fields. Prior to the Sloan Foundation, Dr. Mayadas spent 27 years at IBM Corporation.

About Online Learning Consortium

The Online Learning Consortium (OLC) is a collaborative community of higher education leaders and innovators, dedicated to advancing quality digital teaching and learning experiences designed to reach and engage the modern learner  anyone, anywhere, anytime. OLC inspires innovation and quality through an extensive set of resources, including, best-practice publications, quality benchmarking, leading-edge instruction, community-driven conferences, practitioner-based and empirical research and expert guidance. The growing OLC community includes faculty members, administrators, trainers, instructional designers, and other learning professionals, as well as educational institutions, professional societies and corporate enterprises. Visit http://onlinelearningconsortium.org for more information.






Pro-Iranian groups in Iraq are leading efforts to oust American military forces from the country.

The campaign is gaining strength following the American airstrike at Baghdads airport last Friday. That attack killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leaders. In a vote Sunday, Iraqi lawmakers called on the government to remove the 5,200 American troops now in the country.

The path forward is unclear and observers are warning that ending the United States 17-year military presence in Iraq carries risks.

Iraqis were starting to recover from a four-year war against the Islamic State (IS) group when mass protests against the countrys rulers began October 1. The unrest led to the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi two months later. However, a replacement has not been made and Abdul-Mahdi remains in office.

An American troop withdrawal could affect the fight against IS militants and enable them to make a comeback. Fighters allied with the group often carry out attacks in northern and western Iraq. Iraqi forces depend on the U.S. military for weapons and equipment in their operations against them.

An American withdrawal could also enable Iran to deepen its influence in Iraq, which like Iran, is a majority Shiite country.

Ibrahim Bayram, a political observer from Lebanon, said a withdrawal will, increase the complications inside Iraq, the conflicts and contradictions ... and the clash, both political and non-political, between the Iranians and Americans.

The vote in parliament on Sunday requires Iraqi government approval to remove the American troops. It is evidence of the worsening in relations between the countries, at a time of rising tensions between the United States and Iran.



History of U.S. troop presence

U.S. forces withdrew from Iraq in 2011 but returned in 2014 at the invitation of the government to help battle the Islamic State group. The extremists had seized large areas in the north and west of the country after Iraqs armed forces collapsed. A U.S.-led coalition provided air support as Iraqi forces, including Iran-supported militias, regrouped and drove IS out in a costly three-year campaign.

Following the defeat of IS in 2017, pressure grew, especially among groups loyal to Iran, for the withdrawal of U.S. forces. The U.S. airstrike last week at Baghdads airport fueled anger.

Abdul-Mahdi asked parliament on Sunday to take urgent measures to ensure the removal of foreign forces from the country. Many Sunni and Kurdish legislators boycotted the parliament meeting. They oppose cancelling the deal with the Americans. Most of the lawmakers who voted were Shiite Muslims.

On Monday, Abdul-Mahdi met with U.S. Ambassador Matthew Tueller. A statement from the prime ministers office noted the need for the two sides to work together to execute the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq.

In their meeting, Abdul-Mahdi said the situation in Iraq was critical and that all efforts were being taken to prevent an open war.

The Iraqi parliament vote angered U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned Iraq that he would take action if the government expelled American troops. He said the U.S. would not leave without being paid for its military investments in Iraq over the years.

We will charge them sanctions like theyve never seen before, ever. Itll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame, Trump said.

Im Jonathan Evans.

The Associated Press reported this story. George Grow adapted the AP story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

complication  n. a problem or difficulty

contradiction  n. a series of statements or ideas that are opposed to one another

sanction  n. a threatened punishment for disobeying a rule or law

tame  adj. not dangerous or wild

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French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has begun the next round of talks with unions over pension reforms that have sparked the country's longest transport strikes in fifty years. Meanwhile, unions in oil refineries on Tuesday joined the strike action, vowing to down tools for four days.

Earlier on Tuesday, Philippe told French radio RTL that he was open to discussion and that he did not wish to see an "irresponsible" reform put in place.

"A balanced pension system must be guaranteed, and I have suggested the 'pivot' age as a way to do it," he said. "But if trade unions and employers can agree on a better system, I'm open to this."

The talks are to continue over the next two weeks as the government tries to find an agreement to end the strikes, now in their 34th day.

"To find a compromise, everyone has to budge a little," Philippe said.

While insisting the pension reform would not be abandoned, Philippe struck a conciliatory tone on a key sticking point  the government's insistence that people work longer in order to keep the pension system afloat.

"It's our responsibility to take care of the future retirement system so that it's fair. But I'm open to discussing all propositions that could lead to this," Philippe wrote on Twitter.

Philippe expressed optimism before the talks, an outlook shared by his Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire.

"Never has a compromise seemed so close," Le Maire said.

Separate talks proposed

The moderate CFDT union, with which the government is hoping to do a deal and break the back of the strike, has baulked at government proposals to extend to 64 the age at which people qualify for a full pension  two years after the current official retirement age.

"The pivot age must be removed from the bill," CFDT leader Laurent Berger said as he arrived at the labour ministry for the talks.

Instead, the CFDT has proposed to hold separate talks on Friday on how to finance the plan later, in order to end the impasse over the pivot age.

Oil refineries and fuel depots affected by strike

But the hard-line CGT and FO unions have vowed to derail the reform proposals, urging a new day of mass walkouts on Thursday 9 January, which could see schools shut and public transport even more impacted than usual.

Another day of rallies is scheduled for Saturday.

CGT has stepped up its protest with a four-day blockade of oil refineries and fuel depots starting Tuesday, raising the prospect of petrol shortages.

Philippe reminded workers that this kind of action is illegal.

"The right to strike is perfectly respectable," he told RTL "But blocking refineries and depots is illegal."

He also said police units were on standby to prevent any blockades of refineries or depots.

The head of the CGT, Philippe Martinez, insisted they were not calling for a blockade, but simply strike action.

"Seven out of eight refineries and depots are currently on strike," confirmed Emmanuel Lepine, the head of the chemical branch of the CGT.

Nurses, physiotherapists and lawyers, among dozens of professions with their own advantageous pension regimes, have also voted for strike actions this week.

Public opinion shifting?

As the strike action moves into its 34th day, public opinion appears to be divided.

According to an Ifop poll conducted for the Journal du Dimanche newspaper, more than half of French people (55 percent) feel that the government should not carry out the pension reform in its current state.

However, the same poll showed public support may be shifting in the government's favour, with just 44 percent continuing to back the strike  down seven points from the previous survey just before Christmas.

An Elabe poll released Monday found that most 54 percent of French people support the points-based plan, though two-thirds oppose the pivot age of 64.
[January 07, 2020] Sheppard Mullin Adds Appellate and Commercial Litigator David Schwarz in Century City

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is pleased to announce that David Schwarz has joined the firm's Century City office as a partner in the Business Trial practice group. Schwarz was most recently a partner at Irell & Manella LLP, where he was co-chair of the appellate practice group. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005990/en/ David Schwarz, Partner, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP (Photo: Business Wire) "Several of us here at Sheppard Mullin have known - and respected - David for many years," said Sheppard Mullin Chair Guy Halgren. "Not only is having someone of David's caliber join our industry-leading group of litigators great for our clients but also having him join us now is a terrific way to start out the new year." Commenting on Schwarz's joining, Fred Puglisi, Practice Group Leader of the firm's Business Trial practice group, said, "We continue to carefully build and strengthen our litigation capabilities and David is an excellent addition to our team. His deep appellate experience and his unique understanding of state administrative agency proceedings are ideal complements to our existing practice." Schwarz represents clients in a broad range of complex commercial disputes and appeals, class actions and corporate governance matters,and in state and federal regulatory proceedings. He has extensive litigation experience in federal securities class actions, wage and hour disputes, and trade secret matters, as well as particular capabilities in high-profile California state adversarial administrative agency proceedings, often involving significant constitutional issues. Among his most recent matters, Schwarz prevailed before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Fowler Packing v. Lanier, a landmark equal protection challenge to AB1513, a recently enacted wage and hour statute governing California minimum wage law for piece work labor.



In connection with his appellate practice, Schwarz argued 11 appeals in state or federal courts over the last four years, nine of which resulted in precedent-setting decisions ranging from constitutional separation of powers to First Amendment rights. One of Schwarz's most recent appellate wins includes his successful defense against a union challenge to one of the largest decertification elections in California agricultural labor history. He also maintains an active amicus practice, including, most recently, a 2019 brief submitted in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maryland Governor Lawrence Hogan in a constitutional challenge to partisan gerrymandering. Schwarz's public service includes two terms (2007-2016) as a gubernatorial appointee to the Milton Marks "Little Hoover" Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy, an independent, bi-partisan government oversight board, where he chaired studies ranging from California's renewable energy governance structures to public-private partnerships.

Schwarz received his B.A. from Columbia University and his J.D. from Duke University. Following graduation from law school, he clerked for the Hon. Alex Kozinski on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. After his clerkship, Schwarz served as special assistant to Ambassador Morris B. Abram, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the European Office of the United Nations. In that capacity, he advised U.S. delegations at various international conferences, including the UN Human Rights Commission, the World Intellectual Property Conference and the International Labor Conference. In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Schwarz as a public member delegate to the UN Human Rights Commission. Schwarz is a 2019-2020 Program Affiliate Scholar at New York University's Classical Liberal Institute. About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP Sheppard Mullin is a full-service Global 100 firm with more than 900 attorneys in 15 offices located in the United States, Europe and Asia. Since 1927, industry-leading companies have turned to Sheppard Mullin to handle corporate and technology matters, high-stakes litigation and complex financial transactions. In the U.S., the firm's clients include almost half of the Fortune 100. For more information, please visit www.sheppardmullin.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005990/en/

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A recent draft decree from the State Bank of Vietnam raised eyebrows with its contents on ownership ratios for overseas groups when it comes to payment intermediary services.

Lawyer Pham Duy Khuong, managing director of ASL LAW, writes about whether or not the foreign ownership limit should indeed be restricted for such services.

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.

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. VIR

Pham Duy Khuong

Vietnam to consider reducing ownership at state-run commercial banks Vietnam is committed to opening the financial market to foreign investors, particularly in financial services.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A 24-year-old man stabbed another man inside an apartment in Mariners Harbor in September, authorities allege.

Tyson Oliveria, 24, of the 300 block of McClean Avenue in South Beach, was arrested last Friday for the assault that occurred on Sept. 29 at about 4:30 p.m. at the Arlington Terrace Apartments on Holland Avenue, according to police and the criminal complaint.

Oliveria used a knife to stab a 21-year-old man multiple times, causing serious physical injury, the complaint alleges. The victim suffered a laceration to the left forearm and puncture wounds to the torso, liver and right buttocks, police said.

The victim was transported in stable condition to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze minutes after the attack, according to authorities at the time.

The two men were friends, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation who was unable to provide information about what prompted the attack.

Oliveria has been charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

He was convicted Sept. 26 of menacing and sentenced to a conditional discharge.

Bond has been set at $90,000/$30,000 cash for the defendant, who is due back in Criminal Court on Wednesday.

An attorney for Oliveria did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The United States saw a 2.1 percent decline in greenhouse gas emissions in 2019  largely due to a decrease in coal consumption for power. But the U.S. has made little progress in limiting emissions elsewhere, according to a report by research company Rhodium Group.

Coal-fired power generation fell by 18 percent in 2019  the largest year-on-year decline in U.S. history  reaching its lowest level since 1975. The majority of that decline is from the switch to natural gas and renewables, the report states.

Transportation emissions declined from last year by 0.3 percent, industrial emissions rose by 0.6 percent, emissions from buildings increased by 2.2 percent, and other emissions from sectors including agriculture and waste rose by 4.4 percent.

"It's clear that U.S. decarbonization success is still largely limited to the 27 percent of net emissions that come from the power sector," the report states.

Emissions from 2019 fell 12 percent below that of 2005  5 percent shy of the goal set by the Copenhagen Accord for the end of 2020. The U.S. pledged a 26 to 28 percent reduction by 2025 in the Paris Agreement, which the Trump Administration is working to withdraw from. The U.S. accounts for 11 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, said Trevor Houser, co-author of the report, per The Washington Post.

It will take "large-scale fuel substitution" to make meaningful declines in emissions, not just efficiency efforts, the report says. It's still possible for the U.S. to meet emissions targets, the report notes, "but will require a significant change in federal policy  and pretty soon."

More stories from theweek.com

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Iran has offered Trump an 'off-ramp' from war, and there's growing speculation he might take it

Former Obama aides scoff at Trump's suggestion that their diplomatic efforts led to Iran crisis


Every year New Yorkers are told about some sort of budget shortfall. This year's tale of woe sounds grimmer. The governor predicts a budget deficit of $6 billion due in large part to Medicaid costs.

In order to close the deficit, Republicans and most Democrats will tell us, we can't raise taxes and must cut spending instead. Lawmakers will again argue that we can't possibly tax rich people any more because they will leave New York and take their money with them.

It may be true that some rich people will leave because of tax increases, but most will prefer to stay because New York is home and has the 14th-largest economy in the world.

It's puzzling why our lawmakers are less concerned about the real people "running away" who are poor, middle-class and low-wealth folks who have endured declining wages and pay too high a percentage of their income on basic necessities and property taxes. Albany should be helping these people stay by investing in affordable housing, education, child care, health care and transportation while offering serious property tax relief.

The narrative that keeping taxes low for the super-rich will create great jobs is a variation on theories that have been in vogue in both political parties for the last 40 years. What these discredited theories actually gave the United States and New York was wealth inequality and flat wages for most people.

It was not always that way. Many years ago, faith communities, during the depths of the Great Depression, made it very clear they could no longer help people through charity alone. Churches successfully called on the government to expand the safety net (like Social Security) and jump-start the economy with robust investments in infrastructure like rural electrification, dams and roads. Today, this bottom-up approach to economics is needed more than ever to lift people out of poverty, expand the middle class, and create a modern clean-energy economy that works for all of New York.

Expansion of Medicaid is good economics. Unlike some states that have refused Medicaid expansion, New York has improved the lives of many while sustaining rural and urban hospitals and paying more just wages. In fact, we should be expanding and not contracting Medicaid while making health care for everyone more affordable and enacting a less wasteful single-payer system.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.

Keeping taxes low for very rich people has been bad economics in New York and has meant more upward pressure placed on everyone else's taxes to pay for municipal budgets already underfunded by the state. It has also meant people have a lot less money to spend, depriving the economy and businesses of needed stimulus.

If we are serious about caring for all New Yorkers, we must get rid of the needlessly austere 2 percent spending cap. We can also ask the very rich to pay a little more to recapture some of the massive tax windfall they realized from the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017. Some tax strategies include keeping instead of refunding the stock transfer tax, adding income tiers to the millionaire tax, and collecting a pied-a-terre tax on high-end residential real estate, to name just a few. We also must cut discredited tax breaks that are disproportionately offered to large businesses and instead invest in infrastructure and education, which will do more to attract and retain businesses and a healthy work force.

The greatest gift we can offer each other this year is mutual care rooted in a belief in abundance and not austerity.
A much-hyped project for a Turkish-brand electric car has dominated Turkeys agenda in recent days, along with a similarly sensational plan for an artificial waterway as an alternative to the Bosphorus. The viability of the car project remains dubious despite the global automotive trend toward electrification, with many convinced that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), under growing strain since electoral losses last year, is merely seeking political gain.

Helped by its geographic advantage, Turkey in recent decades has grown into a production hub for automotive giants, among them Ford, Mercedes, Renault, Toyota, Hyundai and Fiat. Turkey's production capacity has reached about 1.3 million cars per year, up from 300,000 in the 1990s, in particular attracting production destined for the European Union. The automotive industry stands today as the countrys top exporter, accounting for 18% of all exports, having outstripped the textiles and apparel sector, Turkey's traditional leader. Its export revenues amount to roughly $30 billion per year, including the contributions from side industries.

Given this outlook, the AKPs insistence on a Turkish-brand car appears driven by political and ideological motives rather than economic considerations. The project, which aims at producing only 175,000 electric cars per year, is widely seen as inefficient and even nonsensical in terms of boosting Turkeys competitiveness on the global automotive market, securing technological gains and creating external economies. Critics believe it will boil down to a squandering of public funds for the sake of hype and grandstanding.

The AKP government has been struggling to contain major economic crises since the second half of 2018 amid growing concerns over the disenchantment of voters, who have been losing jobs and purchasing power in the turmoil. In last years local elections, the AKP suffered major losses, including in Istanbul, the countrys biggest city, and the capital Ankara. The debacle gave impetus to splinter movements led by former Premier Ahmet Davutoglu and Ali Babacan, the AKPs former economy tsar. Foreign military ventures, in Syria and most recently in Libya, have also failed to produce the tailwind in domestic politics that Ankara had hoped for. Thus the government has come to pin its hopes on big projects to resolve its problem of voter consolidation. This appears to be the main purpose of the indigenous car project as well.

The domestic car has been imagined as a symbol of the new Turkey that the AKP projects itself as building, driven by neo-Ottoman ambitions. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had floated the idea in 2011 when he was prime minister. At a gathering of TUSIAD, Turkeys leading business association, Erdogan challenged entrepreneurs, prodding them, Isnt there a brave fellow in this country to make a 100% indigenous car? The idea popped up time and again over the ensuing years. Finally, in November 2017, Erdogan announced the creation of Turkeys Automobile Joint Venture Group (TOGG), an enterprise to realize the project and consisting of major companies, including the Anadolu Group, BMC, Kiraca Holding, Turkcell and Zorlu Holding. The semi-official Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey also joined the group with a 5% stake.

Though the project seemed to sink into oblivion at times, it returned to the spotlight at the end of last year. It turned out, however, that the indigenous car had been designed by the Italian company Pininfarina and previously showcased at an exposition in Beijing, where it apparently did not make much of an impression.

According to project data presented at a Dec. 27 unveiling ceremony attended by Erdogan, TOGG will invest 22 billion Turkish liras ($3.7 billion) to build an electric car plant in the northwestern province of Bursa, a major automotive hub, that will become operational in 2022. The government would offer the consortium an array of project-based incentives, including exemption from custom duties and value added tax in addition to other tax reductions, 10 years of support to meet employees social security payments and land. It would also offer to guarantee the purchase of 30,000 cars for the public sector by 2035.

Electrification has emerged as a major global trend in the automotive industry in recent years, driven by environmental concerns to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, about 16% of which derives from road transport. To achieve the goals set by the 2016 Paris climate accord, the number of electric cars will need to reach 600 million by 2040. The global electric car park has more than 2 million vehicles at present. The International Energy Agency estimates that figure will reach 56 million by 2030.

China has emerged as the leading electric car maker, manufacturing more than 30,000 vehicles per year, or 30% of global production. It is also the worlds largest market for electric cars, with sales exceeding 350,000 in 2016. Starting in 2019, Beijing obliged carmakers in the country to allocate at least 10% of their output to electric cars. Obviously, this will drive major global manufacturers to pursue more aggressive strategies in the electric car industry.

In Europe, Turkeys main export market, many countries have set targets to ban the sale of all petrol and diesel cars under deadlines ranging from 2025 to 2040. They have also imposed tight emission controls and restrictions on access to city centers for such vehicles, while introducing new tax and fee policies for electric cars.

Some 70% of Turkeys petrol and diesel car production capacity goes toward exports. Turkish consumers prefer imported vehicles, which account for up to 70% of domestic demand. To preserve its standing in the global chain in the future, Turkey has to preserve its existing export markets, secure a share of the domestic market and get ready for and accomplish the shift to electric car production, including adjustments to the side industries that complement the sector.

All told, what the automotive industry needs is an all-encompassing incentive policy to help companies adapt to the global trend and speed the transition as part of a well-planned and efficient new vision for the sector. What Ankara has been promoting, however, is a showcase project that has a production target of only 175,000 cars per year, is aimed at the domestic market and will enjoy government incentives unavailable to others in the sector. In other words, any objective, coolheaded observer could easily discern that the government is not trying to address the needs of the industry, but is instead seeking to excite and impress voters.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 21:00:45|Editor: Wang Yamei

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CAIRO, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- EgyptAir, the flag carrier of Egypt, announced on Tuesday it will suspend its flights to the Iraqi's capital for days amid security concerns, Egypt's Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement.

"Due to the current conditions and the instable security situation in Baghdad, EgyptAir decided to suspend its all flights to the city," the statement said.

"The decision will be enforced starting from Jan. 8 to Jan. 10 to maintain the safety of the passengers and the airplanes until the security conditions in the city will be improved," it said.

The ministry follows closely in coordination with the concerned bodies for evaluating the conditions in Iraq before making decision of resuming the flights, it added.

It called on the clients to adjust their reservations.

On Friday, the United States killed Iran's senior general Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, in an airstrike near Baghdad International Airport, escalating political tensions in the region.
Update: As of 9:30 p.m., Eugene Police announced officers have been in personal contact with the victim, and she is no longer being sought. Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding this situation and encourage witnesses or others with pertinent information to contact detectives."

Eugene Police believe a woman may have been kidnapped from a Target parking lot in what appeared to be a coordinated carjacking. Officials fear Treasure Marler-Liggins, 21, of Springfield may be in danger and are asking the publics help in finding her.

She was last seen in a tan Nissan Maxima with Kansas license plate 908MJK.

At about 12:46 p.m. Monday, police received a report from a Target loss prevention employee that a woman appeared to have been abducted from the stores parking lot at 4575 W. 11th Ave. in Eugene.

The employee saw the woman leave the store and get into the tan Nissan Maxima, when two cars appeared to surround her. One man approached her vehicle and smashed the drivers side window. The man forced the woman over, then drove off with the victim still in the front passenger seat.

Eugene Police Lt. Doug Mozan said during a press conference that it appeared to be a coordinated attack on her vehicle.

Police later identified the woman as Marler-Liggins.

The suspect vehicles include a black Audi sedan with Oregon plate 285HJE, and a tan SUV, possibly a GMC Tahoe or older Ford Explorer. Police believe possibly a third suspect vehicle, a tan or gold four-door Ford Focus, may have been involved.

We really want to find this young lady and make sure she is safe, said Eugene Police Lt. Doug Mozan.

Marler-Liggins is approximately 5-feet-4-inches tall, 130 pounds, with brown hair. She was last seen wearing a black jacket, black crop top, grey sweatpants and grey shoes.

Anyone with information on the location of Marler-Liggins or the involved vehicles is asked to call 911. Do not approach the vehicles or involved subjects.

-- Samantha Swindler; sswindler@oregonian.com; @editorswindler

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Lone Star College-Kingwood will host a citizenship forum on Jan. 25 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Student Conference Center to help legal permanent residents become U.S. citizens.

In order to participate, applicants must be 18 years old or older, a legal permanent residents for the past five years, or three years if married and living with a U.S. spouse and be of good moral character. Participants also must have knowledge of U.S. history and government, and can read, write, speak and understand English, according to a press release. Participants must also bring a lawful permanent residency card, all police and court records, addresses, employment and schools of the last five years, information on trips taken in the last five years and the address and dates of birth for all children, if applicable.

This event will be hosted in partnership with the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, the Office of New Americans and Immigrant Communities and BakerRipley. These partners are providing the first 75 participants with free one-on-one citizenship application assistance. Volunteers can help for the entire day with breakfast and lunch provided and do not have to be bilingual, Keenan said.

Nicole M. Keenan, LSC-Kingwood director of admissions and outreach, said this event is meant to assist anyone who wants to become a citizen of the United States.

Related: Increased voter engagement a goal for Lone Star College

Its an opportunity to learn what it takes to become a U.S. citizen and to have the rights that other U.S. citizens do have with education and within our community, Keenan said. And for volunteers, it really gives our volunteers an opportunity to interact with our community and help our community members become citizens.

The goal is to provide resources to legal permanent residents with citizenship applications, according to Elizabeth Billie, Texas state director for the NALEO Educational Fund.

Our goal is to engage and assist legal permanent residents with their citizenship applications, Billie said in a press release. Helping attendees become U.S. citizens supports family reunification, assists with citizenship for their children, provides the right to vote, the freedom to travel, and the eligibility for government jobs.

This event is sponsored by the New Americans Campaign, Univision-45, Amor-106.5, UniMas Houston, and ABC-13.

This workshop is an event the college looks forward to every year. Building a stronger relationship with the community is always a goal of the college, Kristen Johnson, director of student diversity and equity, said in a press release. We want the community to know that we are truly here to serve them.

The event offers a free information session, but beyond that, participants may need to pay for certain needs on a case-by-case basis. The first 75 participants that this applies to will have their fees waived.

For more information, contact call 1-888-839-8682. To sign up as a volunteer, contact Alfred.Dorsey@LoneStar.edu.

savannah.mehrtens@chron.com
The unions are in a dispute with the Department of Health over pay parity with the rest of the UK and staffing numbers (Liam McBurney/PA)

A trade union representing health workers has indicated they have no plans to postpone strike action later this week.

Friday will see health workers from a number of unions take part in walk-outs across Northern Ireland.

It will follow action by Royal College of Nursing (RCN) nurses planned for Wednesday.

The unions remain in a dispute with the Department of Health over both pay parity with the rest of the UK and staffing numbers.

The chief executives of the six health trusts in the region have urged unions to postpone strikes planned for January 8 and 10, warning the fall-out could be much more serious than the December 18 strike.

On Monday the departments permanent secretary, Richard Pengelly, asked the unions to call off the action and take part in fresh talks to resolve the situation.

Previous talks in December failed to reach agreement.

Anne Speed from Unison said the union does not intend to postpone the planned industrial action on Friday.

@RCN_NI Director @patcullen9 on @BBCNolan: "Every single nurse has a responsibility to speak out on behalf of patients. What we are saying is please will someone listen to us. It is not for nurses to work out who the decision-makers are." #safestaffingsaveslives  RCN Northern Ireland (@RCN_NI) January 7, 2020

Patient safety has been a primary consideration throughout our members industrial action and remains so, she said.

The crisis in our health service caused by over 7,000 vacant posts and the absence of a strategic investment and planning on staffing is one of the two core reasons for this dispute.

Assessing patient safety is the responsibility of the Trusts. As has been the case throughout the conduct of this dispute, Unison representatives are meeting with the Trusts and will continue to do so to address specific concerns around patient safety.

We would again call on the Trust chief executives to urge the secretary of state and senior officials within the Northern Ireland Civil Service to act now in the public interest to restore pay parity and resolve this dispute.
DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Insurance Symposium announced today that registration and sponsorship opportunities for the 2020 event are officially open to the public. This year, approximately 700 insurance and technology leaders from around the globe will gather in Des Moines, Iowa for the 2020 Global Insurance Symposium on April 21-23. The annual symposium provides a venue for the insurance industry to address important issues impacting the marketplace with a primary focus on technology, policy, and innovation.

Register before February 29 to receive early bird general admission tickets for $495. After February 29, general admission tickets start at $595 for the three-day symposium. Sponsors receive a limited number of conference tickets, and additional tickets at a discounted rate.

Those planning to attend the symposium are encouraged to register online here. Please select registration type from the drop-down menu provided.

Media Registration

Media are invited to attend the Global Insurance Symposium. To register, contact Ashley Hunt at [email protected].

The 2020 Global Insurance Symposium sponsorship levels include:

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Additional marketing opportunities

Sponsorships will allow organizations and companies in the industry to take advantage of strategic marketing opportunities. Marketing opportunities start at $1,500, allowing emerging businesses to participate. Platinum sponsors receive exclusive global recognition by selecting a representative to introduce keynote speakers or to moderate panels.

The Global Insurance Symposium offers a unique educational and networking opportunity that brings together insurance and financial services company executives, national and international regulators, state and federal government representatives, entrepreneurs, and startup tech firms.

Iowa is home to a world-class educated workforce and sophisticated technology infrastructure. Companies and startups will not find a better place to learn and grow. The Global Insurance Symposium is an opportunity for regulators, insurance professionals, and startups to discuss important content delivered by powerhouse speakers.

Additional event details will be released in the weeks leading up to this year's symposium.

About the Global Insurance Symposium

Established in 2014, the Global Insurance Symposium is the premier symposium for insurance professionals and regulatory authorities to hear from the world's most renowned insurance experts and to interact with fellow insurance industry colleagues from around the world. The Global Insurance Symposium is presented by the Iowa Insurance Institute, the Federation of Iowa Insurers, Iowa Economic Development Authority, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Global Insurance Accelerator, Insurance Thought Leadership, and the Iowa Insurance Division. For more information, visit https://globalinsurancesymposium.com/.

Media Contact:

Ashley Hunt

[email protected]

515-868-2403

SOURCE Global Insurance Symposium

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Rebecca Long Bailey has announced her candidacy for the Labour leadership pledging to continue the work started by Jeremy Corbyn and go to war with the political establishment.

Seen as a continuity candidate, the shadow business secretary must overcome scepticism inside the party rooted in its crushing defeat by the Tories in the recent general election, which many blamed on Mr Corbyn.

Launching her campaign in the democratic socialist magazine Tribune, Ms Long Bailey said that with the climate crisis spiralling and the far right on the march, we must regroup for the struggles ahead.

She added: Many candidates in the leadership election say they will not return to the triangulation and Tory-lite policies that held our party back before Jeremy.

But we need a leader that can be trusted with our socialist agenda. A leader who is totally committed to the policies and has the political backbone to defend them.

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

We need a proud socialist to lead the Labour Party, driven by their principles and an unwavering determination to see democratic socialism in our lifetime.

For all of these reasons and more, I have decided to stand for election to become the next leader of our party. I dont just agree with the policies, Ive spent the last four years writing them.

Ms Long Bailey joins five others  shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, Clive Lewis, Lisa Nandy and Jess Phillips  in the race to become leader of the opposition.

Recommended Yvette Cooper will not stand in Labour leadership race

Ian Lavery, another Corbynite leftist, said after Ms Long Baileys announcement that he would not stand, choosing to support her instead.

The partys ruling National Executive Committee announced on Monday that the new leader would be named on 4 April, with Mr Corbyn remaining in post for almost four months after taking the party to its worst general election defeat since 1935.

The postal ballot for the new leader and deputy leader will open on 21 February, before coming to an end on 2 April.
michael barbaro

From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. Today: In the streets of Tehran, Iranians are mourning the loss of General Qassim Suleimani. My colleague Farnaz Fassihi on what they feel theyve lost. Its Tuesday, January 7.

archived recording [CHANTING]

farnaz fassihi

Monday morning was the start of the official state funeral for General Qassim Suleimani.

archived recording [SINGING]

farnaz fassihi

By 8:00 a.m., there were millions of people out in downtown Tehran. He was being celebrated as a national hero, but also as a religious martyr and a saint.

archived recording [SINGING AND DRUMMING]

farnaz fassihi

There were families. There were men, women, children. They had the symbolic Shia ritual symbols out  feathers, swords, drums, music, eulogies, songs.

archived recording [CHANTING]

farnaz fassihi

And the crowd also had a very anti-American and defiant mood. People were sad, but they were also very angry, and we heard a lot of revenge, revenge, and no more negotiations with the U.S., its time for battle, chanted by the crowd.

archived recording (ayatollah ali khamenei) [SPEAKING]

farnaz fassihi

Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, recited the Muslim prayer of the dead on General Suleimanis coffin.

archived recording (ayatollah ali khamenei) [SPEAKING]

farnaz fassihi

In the middle of the prayer, several times he paused and openly cried.

archived recording (ayatollah ali khamenei) [SPEAKING] [CROWD MOANING]

farnaz fassihi

And the crowd also wept very loudly with him. As a reporter whos covered Iran for over 25 years, what struck me was that the people who had attended were not just supporters of the regime, but a lot of people who were generally very critical of the regime.

michael barbaro

Hmm.

farnaz fassihi

To be clear, there are plenty of Iranians who did not love or respect General Suleimani. But there were activists, there were opposition figures who had been jailed by the regime who attended. And when I asked them, why are you there? Why are you going? The response was, General Suleimani protected our national security. He transcended politics. He was a national hero. And I was talking to some young people who had attended his funeral, and I spoke to a 22-year-old young man, a university student, and I asked him, why are you at the funeral? And he said, knowing General Suleimani was out there made me feel safer. He was like a security umbrella above our country. And thats a sentiment that I heard over and over.

michael barbaro

You know, what youre describing feels like the kind of unified national outpouring that is reserved for a small handful of figures in any country, right? I mean, a beloved president, a civil rights leader like Martin Luther King in the United States, not for what our colleagues have described as a general who specializes in covert operations in Iran.

farnaz fassihi

I think its difficult for most people in the United States and outside of Iran, and perhaps the region, to grasp the unique place and role that General Suleimani played in Iran and in regional politics. He was singlehandedly the most revered and influential character in Iran.

michael barbaro

So how did Suleimani cultivate that role? How did he make Iranians feel that way? Where does that story start?

farnaz fassihi

In many ways, General Suleimanis story begins with the story of Irans revolution in 1979.

[music]

farnaz fassihi

He was a young man working construction jobs in the small city of Kerman in the southwest, from a low-income family.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm.

farnaz fassihi

His education was high school diploma level, and he got swept up in the revolution, in the promise of Islam becoming the foundation of a government, and of promises to empower the oppressed and low-income class in Iran, which had been neglected and sidelined under the pro-Western monarchy of the shah. So General Suleimani gets a job at the local water plant and volunteers for the local chapter of the Revolutionary Guards, and quickly rises up and shows a lot of promise as a military man. When the war with Iraq happened in the 1980s, he was a commander for eight years. And after the war ended, he was named the commander of the Quds Forces. And that was really the beginning of the Quds Forces, and the Islamic Republics ambition to create a paramilitary in the region, and to kind of export the idea of an Islamic revolution of Shia dominance outside of the borders of Iran.

michael barbaro

And why does Iran, and someone like Suleimani, want to export this revolution?

farnaz fassihi

The Islamic Republic theocracy was the first time that a Shia government had come to power in the Middle East. The Islamic faith is divided along Sunnis and Shias, and the division and rivalry go back all the way to the early days of Islam and the succession of Prophet Muhammad. And Shias have always been a minority in the faith. With Saudi Arabia sort of as the custodian of the Sunni faith, Iran has, for centuries, wanted to establish itself as the protector of the minority Shias. And the theocracy of the Islamic Republic gave them the foundation and the structure to do that. And as soon as they had established their government in power in the country, they started looking externally. And General Suleimani was pivotal in expanding the ambitions of Irans military and political apparatus in the Middle East.

michael barbaro

And how exactly does he do that?

farnaz fassihi

So General Suleimani was instrumental in elevating Irans strategy in the region through the proxy militia groups that it had created. And he started in Lebanon, where Iran had already created two Shia militia groups, Amal al-Islami and Hezbollah, and he helped them in their fight with Israeli soldiers that were occupying Lebanon, and later on in the battles that Hezbollah and Lebanon fought. General Suleimani also becomes very involved with Palestinian militant groups  Hamas, Islamic Jihad  who also see an alliance between their ideologies and Islamic Republic of Iran.

michael barbaro

And when you say that Suleimani becomes involved in these groups, what does that actually mean? What is he doing?

farnaz fassihi

He helps them come up with battlefield plans, and he dispatches his underlings to go and train and fund and form these groups, providing them with weapons, providing them with money, and providing them with strategy. And he gains this reputation of being the shadow commander, the man whos everywhere but nowhere. If General Suleimani is present on the ground, then Iran is present.

michael barbaro

So under Suleimani, Iran is making itself felt across the Middle East through these relationships to these militias. Does that strategy succeed?

farnaz fassihi

Irans strategy succeeds, but its limited to the shores of the Mediterranean with Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. But that changes in 2003 with the United States invasion of Iraq.

[music]

michael barbaro

Well be right back.

archived recording U.S. warships and planes launched the opening salvo of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The attack came in waves 

michael barbaro

So Farnaz, how exactly did the U.S. invasion of Iraq provide an opportunity for Suleimani and for this strategy that hes pursuing for Iran?

farnaz fassihi

Until the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the country was ruled by Saddam Hussein and Sunnis, and Shias who were aligned to Iran were marginalized. When the United States toppled Saddam Hussein, Shias rose to power, and many of these Shia leaders and political and religious figures had very close ties to Iran. And Iran really seized that opportunity. It used these contacts and networks and relationships to gain influence and penetrate Iraqi society. And General Suleimani once again becomes the pivotal character in helping realize this strategy and this aspiration.

michael barbaro

So an unintended consequence of America invading Iraq is that it ends up empowering Iran.

farnaz fassihi

When I was living and working in Iraq in those early days after the invasion, most of the Sunni Iraqis that we would meet and interview would say that the U.S. invasion delivered Iraq on a golden platter to Iran.

michael barbaro

Wow. So what does Suleimani do with this opening that he sees in Iraq?

farnaz fassihi

General Suleimani uses the opening to further expand Irans influence in Iraq and in the region. He helps create Shia militia. He recruits allies, a network of politicians, religious men and militant groups who were loyal to Irans ambitions in Iraq. The Shia militia that he helped create were also responsible for attacks on U.S. soldiers, for the killing of U.S. soldiers, and for civilian deaths. When the Civil War started in Syria in 2011, Iran vowed to keep President Bashar al-Assad in power. Mr. Assad and his constituents are an offshoot of Shia Islam, and religiously and politically aligned with Iran. This is where Iraq comes in. Because of the relationships and networks and influence that General Suleimani had in Iraq, he was able to use Iraq by land and by air to funnel support for Syrias war. Weapons, missiles, even soldiers that were trained in Iran were shipped to Syria by way of Iraq.

michael barbaro

So Suleimanis strategy in Iraq  it doesnt just fend off the Americans who have invaded there. It means that Iran and Suleimani could use Iraq to assist allies like Assad in Syria and in all these other battles throughout the region.

farnaz fassihi

Exactly. Iraq becomes a geographic extension of Iran and its interests in the region. And by the time ISIS takes over parts of Syria in Idlib and parts of Iraq in Mosul, the Iraqi government and even the Americans were at wits end on what to do to battle this growing threat of ISIS.

michael barbaro

So what does the rise of ISIS mean for Iran, and what does that mean for Iranian influence and for Suleimanis role?

farnaz fassihi

The rise of ISIS was a threat to Iran. It was an existential threat to the Shia government of Iran, because ISIS represented the most extreme version of Sunni faith. And again, General Suleimani mobilizes. He goes to Iraq and he repeats a true and proven formula once again by recruiting volunteers, the instrumental ground force in helping the United States and Iraqs army to battle ISIS. Therefore, Mr. Suleimani, although hes seen as a foe of the United States, in the battle of ISIS actually becomes a default ally. For General Suleimani, the rise of ISIS was a turning point. He went from being a commander in the shadows, a mystery figure, to being a household name.

michael barbaro

Hmm. And why is he suddenly a public figure because of ISIS?

farnaz fassihi

Because Iran wanted to counter ISISs propaganda machinery.

archived recording 1 ISIS is using its cash and media-savvy Western militants to recruit and radicalize. archived recording 2 The branded content. Theyre mixing graphics, moving images, music, chants, all the  archived recording 3  cataloging and posting in near real time their war crimes.

farnaz fassihi

They utilize social media and Twitter and Facebook to recruit, to spread their propaganda to target their messaging.

archived recording And this is a mujatweet, a short, promotional video which shows a softer side of jihad. Here, a Belgian hands out ice cream to excited Syrian children.

farnaz fassihi

And they create a personality around their leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the same way that Al Qaeda had created a personality around Bin Laden. So in response to ISISs very successful propaganda campaign, Iran decides to turn General Suleimani into the public face of the so-called resistance, and somebody that Shias could love and emulate and respect.

archived recording Enter Qassim Suleimani. Here he is, celebrating gun in hand.

farnaz fassihi

His pictures began appearing in public in battlegrounds, videos of him visiting soldiers unannounced.

archived recording Hes been up and down the country in the North, in the South, in the capital, checking up on the defenses, mobilizing the Shia militias, making sure that the Iraqi states are able to confront the threat from ISIS.

farnaz fassihi

Videos of him reciting poetry, saying that he wants to become a martyr, the highest honor in Islam, and join his friends.

archived recording General Suleimani is increasingly being elevated and recognized as a key player on the world stage as Iranian influence in the region grows.

farnaz fassihi

So by 2014, Mr. Suleimani is so well-known that his pictures are being printed on T-shirts, and his posters are sold in shops in Damascus and Beirut and Tehran.

michael barbaro

Wow.

farnaz fassihi

And that summer, his mother passed away, and the funeral of his mother in Tehran became the whos who event of every militant group in the Middle East. From the head of Hamas, to Islamic Jihad, to senior members of Hezbollah, all showed up to pay respects to the general that they saw as the patron of their cause and movement.

michael barbaro

Hmm. So this is vivid evidence that he is very much the source of power in the Middle East  that all these groups owe him. Theyre literally showing up at his door.

farnaz fassihi

It was like watching a king hold court. And that was really the first public glimpse that we got of his status regionally, and what he means to these groups.

michael barbaro

So at this point in 2014, how is Suleimani viewed by the U.S.? Im struck that all of these figures and groups that youre describing as turning out to pay respects to Suleimanis mother at this funeral, they are all pretty much mortal foes of the U.S.

farnaz fassihi

So the U.S. was watching him, but not really taking action. And that was really in line with the previous administrations policies of engagement with Iran, and not escalating confrontation. That changed with the election of Donald Trump as president.

michael barbaro

Right, and the withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal that President Trump ordered.

farnaz fassihi

Yes. Since the withdrawal of the Iran nuclear deal by the U.S., Iran and the U.S. have been on a collision path, increasingly taking provocative actions and policies toward one another.

archived recording The past 48 hours saw a dangerous escalation in the feud between Washington and Tehran.

farnaz fassihi

Culminating these past few weeks of violence in Iraq 

archived recording 1 An American contractor was killed on an Iraqi base. archived recording (mark esper) The Department of Defense took offensive actions by launching F-15 Strike Eagles against five targets. archived recording Protesters stormed the American Embassy, and the U.S. says Iran is responsible.

farnaz fassihi

 that ultimately led to the decision by President Trump to assassinate General Suleimani.

michael barbaro

Right. Because in the minds of U.S. officials, Suleimani is very much responsible for those actions.

farnaz fassihi

Exactly.

michael barbaro

And Farnaz, how much do you think that the very public role that Suleimani occupied, and that Iran created for him and wanted for him  how much do you think that that played a role in the Trump administrations decision to take him out, the understanding of what it was he represented to Iran?

farnaz fassihi

I think the Trump administration may have not known what he represented to Iran.

michael barbaro

Hmm.

farnaz fassihi

I think that they miscalculated the level of admiration, perhaps, or nationalistic sentiment that weve seen pouring out of Iran. I think the White House probably thought that it was taking out a military commander, that it may not be very popular with ordinary Iranians, that theres been a lot of discontent in November against the government, and maybe Iranians would support this decision. For sure, we have voices in Iran, outside and inside Iran, among Iranians, who think that taking Mr. Suleimani out is justified, and they didnt like him, but what weve seen is that the U.S. has effectively turned General Suleimani into a martyr.

michael barbaro

So this response that we saw at the funeral on Monday  are you saying that the United States may not have expected this? Because it sounds like the U.S. understood one aspect of Suleimanis role in Iran, as the leader of this military strategy, but perhaps they didnt understand something thats equally as important, which is what he meant in the hearts of Iranians.

farnaz fassihi

I think thats absolutely right. And I think, you know, we have to remember Iran has been an island of stability in a region ablaze with terrorism and car bombs and beheadings and kidnappings and women being sold by ISIS. And Iranians have, like, watched the whole region unravel around them  refugees and displacement  for the past 20 years. And by and large, they credit General Suleimani for that. They say that they trusted him and respected him for protecting Iran, for keeping Iran safe. And I think the outpouring of emotion we see is related to that sentiment.

michael barbaro

Help me understand this idea, because the strategy that you have described over the past decade of violence and provocation that Suleimani oversaw and he came to personify, it doesnt feel protective. Why did it feel that way to Iranians in a way that the U.S. might not have understood?

farnaz fassihi

You know, Michael, thats a really good question, and its one that Ive struggled to understand myself. This is a man who was responsible for a lot of violence and a lot of mayhem in the region, and a lot of activity that most Iranians may not agree with, that do not like. But because they felt that it gave them a buffer between their day-to-day lives inside Iran and the instability and violence happening all around the Middle East, they came to respect him and view him as a protector.

[music]

michael barbaro

What does Suleimanis meaning to people in Iran  what does that mean for the response we should expect from the government there?

farnaz fassihi

The public momentum is building, and pressure is building, on Irans leadership to take action. At the funeral this morning, millions of people were out.

archived recording [CHANTING]

farnaz fassihi

They were carrying the red flag of Shia Islam, which is a call to battle. They were chanting, No to negotiations, no to a deal, only war with the United States.

archived recording [CHANTING]

farnaz fassihi

And the combination of the publics defiant mood and calls for revenge, and the rhetoric were seeing from Iranian officials, increases the possibility that in the next few days or next few weeks, Iran will respond and retaliate. How it will do it, what it will do, we dont know.

michael barbaro

Farnaz, thank you very much.

farnaz fassihi

Thank you so much for having me, Michael.

michael barbaro
WomenShelter of Long Beach will have new leader in new year
Fianna Fail has demanded the Government explain what, if any, contingency plans it has in place if the countrys first charity air ambulance is grounded.

Defence Spokesperson Jack Chambers said the matter needs urgent clarification.

He was speaking after it emerged today a funding appeal by the Irish Community Rapid Response-run service has only raised a fraction of the 400,000 it needs.

When it launched a GoFundMe fundraising campaign last week, organisers insisted the service would have to be grounded if it couldnt raise the money.

However, as of 3.45pm today, just 183 donors had donated only 6,424 via the GoFundMe page.

The inability to raise funds needed even for this stage in a two-week funding campaign despite repeated media appeals has exposed the ability by the charity - which raised little more than 193,000 in 2018 - to fund its commitments.

At the current rate funds are coming in, it would take the charity at least another 60 weeks to get the money they need.

Worryingly, the charity agreed to act as back-up for the Emergency Aeromedical Service (EAS) when it emerged last November staff shortages at the Air Corps-operated service left it unable to operate its AW139 helicopter for four days throughout January and February.

ICRR was asked to step in and provide cover during these grounding days and the charity said it would deploy its secondary aircraft.

Minister of State for Defence Paul Kehoe must urgently clarify what contingency he has put in place if this service is grounded due to a funding crisis, Deputy Chambers said.

The Ministers failure to address the retention crisis and the exodus of pilots, technicians and other skilled personnel in the Air Corps is the reason we are in the outrageous situation where the State is reliant on a charity to provide this essential aeromedical service in Athlone.

That lives are now being put at risk is Minister Kehoes greatest indictment and failure.

What is more shocking and unacceptable is his total silence on this matter since the funding challenges were first revealed.

It shows a complete failure of both Ministers Kehoe and Harris to strategically plan and coordinate life-saving aeromedical cover across the country.

Ruth Bruton, who is co-ordinating the GoFundMe campaign, left a note on the funding page on Monday urging more people to donate.

Your donations and support mean the absolute world to me, the ICRR team and the ill or injured, she wrote.

Over the weekend you lovely bunch have given over 7,939 between this page and directly to ICRR, via their website.

It's a fantastic start, however we still have a long way to go to reach our target.

In an explanatory note to go with the campaign, she stated last week: Irelands new charity Air Ambulance service to be grounded in two weeks time without immediate support from you.

The ICRR Air Ambulance needs the immediate donation of 400,000 to keep its services flying across Ireland.

It risks grounding of its vital life-saving air ambulance that has saved countless lives across Ireland.

It launched with an Augusta Westland AW109 aircraft from its base near Millstreet, Co. Cork, last July.

Since then, it says it has helped bring emergency care to 250 people.

Although the National Ambulance Service (NAS) provides medical staff and coordinates the taskings, the charity funds the helicopters, pilots, fuel and its airbase.
Trump Threatens to Strike Iranian Cultural Sites

By VOA News January 06, 2020

Huge crowds gathered Monday in Tehran to mourn top general Qassem Soleimani, as his replacement vowed to take revenge for the U.S. airstrike that killed him, and U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iranian cultural sites if Iran does retaliate.

"They're allowed to kill our people. They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people and we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One late Sunday.

House to vote on war powers resolution

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to her Democratic colleagues that the House will vote this week on a war powers resolution "to limit the President's military actions regarding Iran."

"It reasserts Congress's long-established oversight responsibilities by mandating that if no further Congressional action is taken, the Administration's military hostilities with regard to Iran cease within 30 days," Pelosi wrote.

She called last week's airstrike "provocative and disproportionate," and said it endangered U.S. troops while escalating tensions with Iran.

"We're now headed very close to the precipice of war," Sen. Chris Van Hollen told Fox News, adding "you just can't go around and kill" world figures the U.S. opposes. "The president is not entitled to take us to war" without congressional authorization.

Republicans back Trump

Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of Trump's Republican allies, said the president "did the right thing" and that his national security team is "doing a great job helping President Trump navigate Iranian provocations."

Republican Congressman Mike Johnson also backed Trump, writing on Twitter, "Now we must remain united against Iranian aggression while praying and working for de-escalation."

Trump tweeted Sunday that his social media posts "will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner. Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!"

Congressional notification

Yale University law professor Oona Hathaway told VOA the president cannot notify Congress of his intent to go to war by tweet and said he would be breaking several laws.

"Any time the president involves the armed forces into hostilities, he must -- at a minimum -- notify Congress within 48 hours," she said.

Hathaway added that a president is obligated to consult with Congress before putting the armed forces into any hostilities. She said a "disproportionate" response would break international law, which says any action taken in self-defense must be proportionate to the threat.

European leaders react

The leaders of Britain, France and Germany issued a joint statement Monday citing the urgent need for de-escalation and saying a new crisis in Iraq "risks jeopardizing years of effort" to stabilize the country.

They further called on Iran to "refrain from further violent action or proliferation" and to reverse the steps it has taken away from the 2015 nuclear agreement that constrained its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Iran said Sunday it is no longer limiting the number of centrifuges used to enrich uranium, a move that follows earlier actions to ignore limits on the amount of uranium it is allowed to stockpile and how highly it can enrich uranium.

"Iran's nuclear program will have no limitations in production including enrichment capacity and percentage and number of enriched uranium and research and expansion," a government statement said.

Iran did not make any explicit threats to build a nuclear weapon, something it has always denied it wants to do. It also said it will still cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran's gradual stepping back from the commitments it made under the nuclear deal have come since U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran.

Trump also told reporters Sunday he "may discuss" releasing the intelligence he used to justify ordering Soleimani's death.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has so far refused to publicly share the evidence supporting the administration's claim that Soleimani was planning imminent attacks on U.S. forces and officials in the Middle East.

"There are simply things we cannot make public," Pompeo told Fox News. "You've got to protect the sources providing the intelligence."

Trump claimed Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans, Iraqis and Iranians, saying the longtime Iranian general "made the death of innocent people his sick passion" while helping to run a terror network that reached across the Middle East to Europe and the Americas.

Iraq has filed an official complaint with the United Nations secretary-general and the Security Council over the missile strike against Soleimani, which was carried out on Iraqi soil.

Iraq's Parliament to US Military: 'Get Out'

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The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a 'Maharatna' central public sector enterprise (CPSE), has invited online applications from eligible and experienced Indian nationals for filling 105 vacancies to the post of Asstt. Managers (Safely-03), Operator-cum-Technicians (09), Attendant-cum-Technicians (68) and Medical Service Providers (MSP) through direct recruitment to be posted at SAIL's Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP) and Alloys Steel Plant (ASP) in West Bengal. The application process towards the same starts from January 6, 2020 onwards and closes on January 27, 2020.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Asstt. Managers, Operator-cum-Technicians, Attendant-cum-Technicians, MSP Organisation Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) Educational Qualification B.E/B.Tech in any engineering discipline with Diploma in Industrial Safety; Matriculation with Diploma in relevant engineering discipline; Matriculation with ITI in relevant trade; B.Sc Nursing Experience Zero to two years in a relevant domain Skills Required Desirable Job Location Durgapur, West Bengal Salary Scale As per SAIL norms Industry Steel Application Start Date January 6, 2020 Application End Date January 27, 2020

Age Criteria And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for Attendant-cum-Technicians post through SAIL Recruitment 2020 must fall in the age group between 28 to 30 years as on January 27, 2020 with relaxation (upper age limit) to SC/ST and OBC-NCL categories as applicable.

For details regarding application fee, refer to the official advertisement given at the end of the article.

Indian Air Force Recruitment Rally For Airmen (Group Y), Police And Auto Technician Posts

Educational Criteria And Eligibility

Desirous candidates applying for Attendant-cum-Technicians post through SAIL Recruitment 2020 must possess a B.E/B.Tech in any engineering discipline with Diploma in Industrial Safety; Matriculation with Diploma in relevant engineering discipline; Matriculation with ITI in relevant trade; B.Sc Nursing from a AICTE/UGC recognised University/Institute with zero to two years of post-qualification experience in concerned field as specified in the advertisement.

Selection And Pay Scale

The selection of candidates for Attendant-cum-Technicians post through SAIL Recruitment 2020 will be done through Written Test/Skill Test and Interview.

Candidates selected for Attendant-cum-Technicians post SAIL Recruitment 2020 will be paid emolument as per SAIL norms.

South Eastern Railway: Apply Online For 1,778 Apprentices Post Before February 3

How To Apply

Candidates applying for Attendant-cum-Technicians post through SAIL Recruitment 2020 must register and submit their applications through online mode on the official SAIL website at https://www.sailcareers.com/ on or before January 27, 2020.

Read the detailed notification about SAIL Recruitment for Attendant-cum-Technicians post here
Construction work on the Coastal GasLink pipeline in British Columbia will resume this week after a holiday break despite an eviction notice served to the company that leads the project by a local First Nation.

In a tweet, the company said This week, we'll continue to remobilize construction crews across the right-of-way in anticipation of work resumption. Clearing, grading, workforce accommodation establishment & other activities are expected to continue as scheduled.

The Canadian Press reports that Coastal GasLink will begin with safety refresh meetings and then restart construction of the pipeline. The company announced its plans in a statement that came on the heels of news that the Wetsuweten First Nation sent Coastal GasLink a letter demanding that it remove its workers from a part of its territory that they were trespassing on.

The letter came several days after the Supreme Court of British Columbia granted Coastal GasLink an injunction against members of the Wetsuweten nation and other opponents of the pipeline.

The Coastal GasLink project is majority owned by TC Energy, but the company recently agreed to sell a 65-percent stake in the pipeline to KKR and the Alberta Investment Management Corporation.

The infrastructure is vital for the LNG Canada projectthe first of its kind to be built in Canadato which it will supply natural gas from Dawson Creek, close to the border with Alberta, to Kitimat, where the liquefaction trains of LNG Canada will be built.

LNG Canada is a project of Shell, with a 40-percent stake, Malaysias Petronas with 25 percent, PetroChina with 15 percent, Mitsubishi with 15 percent, and South Koreas Kogas with 5 percent.

The facility, which is expected to become operational before 2025, will initially have two liquefaction trains, each with a capacity of 6.5 million tons of LNG with the prospect of adding another two trains at a later stage, bringing the total capacity of the facility in Kitimat, in northern British Columbia, to as much as 26 million tons annually.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Elections Department Singapore (Yahoo News Singapore file photo)

SINGAPORE  The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has not completed its deliberations, Chan Chun Sing, the Minister for Trade and Industry, said on Monday (6 January).

He said this, on behalf of the Prime Minister, in a written reply to a parliamentary question by Workers' Party chief and Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh.

"When the EBRC has completed its work, the report will be presented to this House and released to the public," said Chan.

The committee, appointed by the Prime Minister and chaired by his secretary, was convened in August last year.

There is no fixed timeframe for the EBRC report to be submitted, with past reports having taken between two and seven months.

Once the EBRC report is released, Parliament will be dissolved by the President upon the advice of the PM. She will then direct the Returning Officer to issue a Writ of Election.

The shortest period between the reports release and the dissolution of Parliament has been one day, which occured ahead of the 2001 General Election.

Other Singapore stories

PM Lee convenes Electoral Boundaries Review Committee

Singapore must reject 'extreme positions' on foreigners in workforce: Chan Chun Sing
The usual sweet 'Manifesto Boutique' political parties serve Ghanaians every four years in an election year should be able to translate into development, according to the General Overseer of the Makers House Chapel International, Dr. Michael Boadi Nyamekye.

The renowned man of God is demanding a national development agenda in which political parties can align their manifestos.

He observed that the absence of a clear policy that creates opportunities for the youth has caused a lot of them to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

According to him, political parties appear to have exploited this gap when they win elections to govern the country by getting themselves busy working towards four-year electoral victories rather than aligning their agenda to fit into a national developmental policy.

Vision 2020

In 1995, the government under the administration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) launched the Vision 2020 document that was put together by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) as Ghana's blueprint for sustainable socio-economic development.

The Vision 2020 which was presented to the then Parliament by President Jerry John Rawlings, recognised two extremely important facts- efficient use of the country's resources to achieve economic growth and the decentralisation of the country's public administration system.

The Vision 2020 document also envisaged the use of science and technology to rapidly address Ghana's development to improve the quality of life for all, at the same time maintaining the integrity of the environment.

Some 25 years after the promulgation of the document, however, the country can barely boast of tangible achievements chalked in line with this blueprint.

The problem

Delivering the first in the series of messages themed Purpose, on the first Sunday of 2020, Dr. Boadi Nyamekye took the countrys leaders to task, blaming them for the problems the nation is confronted with.

If you are not solving the problem [then] you are part of the problem. If you cannot help this generation to come out of the problems and all that you are busily chasing after, is power, motorcades and sirens, [then] you are a shame to the generation!

He observed that the problem with Africa and Ghana in particular, is the failure of leaders, starting President Kwame Nkrumah through to the current Nana Akufo-Addo, ensure the nation benefits from the numerous resources nature has blessed it with.

The result, according to him, is joblessness and lack of economic opportunities for the teeming youth.

The reason why we have a lot of problems in our nation and we are running manifesto boutiques is because the nation in itself lacks purpose. So anybody that comes into office is running an agenda of satisfying a short-sighted, short-termism of an agenda that does not satisfy a generation that is to come.

There is no purpose for our being and so [for] a government that is to come into office and all that they are concerned about is that what are we going to do within four years [and] not what is going to become of the nation in 20 years to come, the founder of The Makers House indicated.

He noted that nations that have developed are those that have had long-term plans of which successive administrations have their agenda fit into the national policy.

He stated that until Ghana and until Africa in general gets to a place where we know that this is where we are supposed to go, [then] there is no purpose for governance as this one [political party] will come and the agenda is Free SHS [senior high school], another will come and say free wives because there is no plan.

Dr. Boadi Nyamekye wants the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), the body established to implement the national development agenda, to up its by monitoring and ensuring that the governing partys agenda are in alignment with the national policy.

A new crop of leaders

He regretted that a chunk of the younger generation who are prepared to work and fuel the economy are compelled to seek greener pastures elsewhere due to the lack of opportunities to create the same in the country.

He urged the present generation not to be pushed by the frustration of joblessness into considering brain drain as the only option they are left with.

He challenged the youth to rise up take up leadership positions in the country and fight to better the lives of the masses.

---MyJoyOnline.com
The workmen staff of the country's apex bank will join the country-wide trade union strike on January 8, sources in RBI's employees' unions said on Tuesday.

Their joining in the strike is expected to add to the disruption in banking services.

"The All India Reserve Bank Employees Association (AIRBEA) and All India Reserve Bank Workers Federation (AIRBWF) will join the strike in solidarity with the central trade unions," AIRBEA general secretary Samir Ghosh said here Tuesday.

The joint statement of AIRBEA and AIRBWF said the condition of the economy, unprecedented unemployment situation, sale of profit-making public sector units, elimination of huge workforce through closure, early retirement and contractualisation compelled them to join the strike.

The RBI staff also intend to draw national attention to the issues related to the central bank, including dilution of its autonomy and independence, it said.

Trade unions INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with various sectoral independent federations and associations had adopted a declaration in September last to go on the nationwide strike on January 8.

The trade unions have said around 25 crore people will participate in the nationwide strike to protest against the government's "anti-people" policies.

The central government has meanwhile asked public sector undertakings to dissuade their employees from participating in the trade union strike on Wednesday and advised them to prepare a contingency plan to ensure smooth functioning of the enterprises.

Also Read: Govt's advance estimate pegs GDP growth at 5% for FY20

Also Read: SC orders DoT to refund Rs 104 crore bank guarantee to Anil Ambani's RCom
LUCKNOW Forty students had a narrow escape when the school bus ferrying them toppled in Malihabad area of Lucknow on Tuesday morning. Half a dozen school children sustained minor injuries in the accident, said police.

The accident occurred around 8am near Gaudian Kheda village when the children were on their way to school. The bus driver reportedly lost control over the vehicle to avoid collision with a motorcyclist coming from the wrong direction. The bus swerved and toppled, said SM Kasim Abidi, circle officer (CO) of the area.

Fortunately, the bus was moving slowly and none of the children were seriously injured. The vehicle was of a private school of the area.

Locals took the injured children to a private hospital in the area for treatment. All the students were discharged from the hospital after getting preliminary treatment, informed the CO.

We have not received any formal complaint regarding the accident  neither from the school administration nor the parents, said the CO.

The accident led to traffic congestion on the route, which was cleared an hour after the bus was removed from the road.

Meanwhile, the police reached the school and discussed the matter with the administration.

In wake of the accident, the police decided to suggest local authorities to build speed-breakers near the spot where the accident occurred.

SIMILAR INCIDENTS

NOV 5, 2015: Over a dozen students of GD Goenka Public School had a narrow escape when a school bus ferrying them rammed into a dumper at Samtamoolak Crossing in Gomti Nagar. At least 10 children were injured.

OCT 16: Nearly 55 students of a private school had a close shave when a bus in which they were travelling rammed into a Roadways bus in Mohanlalganj. At least 13 children were injured in the incident.

OCT 16: Three students of La Martiniere Girls College were injured when a tempo ferrying them met with an accident near a medical store barely a few metres away from the school gate. The incident took place when a car rammed into the tempo from behind as its tyre got flattened and the driver lost control over the vehicle.

JAN 19, 2017: A road accident in Etah claimed lives of at least 13 people including 12 school children when their school bus rammed into a truck. Eyewitness said the bus was overcrowded and carrying over 60 children.

DUBIOUS DISTINCTION

*Uttar Pradesh leads the country in the number of children killed in road crashes.

*2,610 school kids killed in road accidents reported across the state in 2015, revealed statistics of transport research wing

*1,121 fatalities in Bihar that holds the second position on the list.
Candidates and organizations being cited in enforcement cases are left wondering whether and how much they need to pay in civil penalties; politically active nonprofit groups are unclear which of their donors may now be subject to disclosure as a result of a recent court decision; and others are seeking clarity on how to comply with the law while using the newest technological tools to run political ads, they said.
With higher boat traffic in recent years, Lake Mauvaisterres ramp and dock are seeing a lot of use. They soon will be seeing some improvements, too.

A renovation project on the boat-access area to Lake Mauvaisterre will begin soon after the city received a $200,000 state grant to fund the project.

The governors office announced the grant Monday through the Illinois Boat Access Area Development Program, which allocated $653,710 to six communities throughout the state. The program provides financial assistance to government agencies for the acquisition, construction and expansion or rehabilitation of public boat and canoe access areas on Illinois lakes and rivers.

Jacksonville Parks and Lakes Director Kelly Hall said Jacksonville will receive $200,000  the maximum amount for a community  to improve the ramp, dock and parking lot area.

Well be doing work on the ramp itself, repairing the surface, the dock and providing a parking area and some exterior lighting, Hall said. We want to improve all that, make it easier for nicer boats to load and unload.

The city has been discussing a project out at the lake for some time, Mayor Andy Ezard said.

We want to make Lake Mauvaisterre a viable recreational opportunity, Ezard said. This could lead into a lot more being done out at the lake.  We want Lake Mauvaisterre to become vibrant again.

Project details will be established based on the grants total now that its known, Hall said.

Since the city dredged the lake a few years ago, the lake has seen a lot more boat traffic, especially among fishermen, necessitating improvements for boat access, Hall said.

The area is starting to improve in the amount of activity it is seeing, Hall said.

The renovation project will be designed by Jim Burke of Hutchison Engineering. The timeline for the project hasnt been established.

We will initiate construction as soon as we can begin, based on the grant parameters, Hall said.  We are just excited about being chosen and being able to do these improvements.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An ex-Green Beret with Staten Island ties and a rap sheet was one of the two Americans who reportedly helped Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan chairman, escape from Japan amid a trial for financial fraud in the country.

Michael Taylor, 59, who multiple reports indicate was a Special Forces paratrooper before working undercover for law enforcement, worked alongside another American to help Ghosn evade airport security by having him hide in a box that was loaded onto a plane headed for Lebanon  where Ghosn is a citizen, Bloomberg News reported.

Taylor, who was born on Staten Island and previously went to jail for fraud, helped in the mysterious getaway that involved multiple modes of transportation, including a high-speed bullet train, Bloomberg News and the New York Times reported.

To the dismay of Japanese officials, reports indicate that the airport Ghosn exploited for his escape was chosen because of security holes at its terminal that didnt allow scanners to check oversized luggage, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 17:00:15|Editor: xuxin

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Women process plastic waste at a dumping site in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Jan. 8, 2020. A High Court Division bench in Bangladesh has directed the authorities concerned to ban single-use plastic products in coastal areas and hotels, motels and restaurants across the country within the next one year. (Str/Xinhua)

DHAKA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A High Court Division bench in Bangladesh has directed the authorities concerned to ban single-use plastic products in coastal areas and hotels, motels and restaurants across the country within the next one year.

The High Court bench comprising Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman came up with the order Monday following a writ petition jointly filed by 11 rights organizations, including Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), national news agency BSS reported.

The court also ordered the authorities concerned to strictly enforce ban on polythene use across the country with proper monitoring.

Advocate Syed Ahmed Kabir who appeared for the writ petitioners during the hearing, said polythene use is the total violation of Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act as polythene was banned in 2002.

But he said the use of plastic products like drinking straws, cotton buds, food packaging, food containers, bottles, plates, plastic cutlery and plastic bags was on the rise in the country, much to pollute the environment.

The plastic wastes carried by the country's 54 rivers and generated in coastal regions were dumped into the Bay of Bengal, posing threat to marine resources and biodiversity, Kabir said, so 11 rights organizations submitted the writ petition before the High Court in this regard on Dec. 17, 2019.

He said following the hearing of the writ, the court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why their inactiveness in imposing restriction on plastic product use would not be declared illegal.

The court also directed the authorities concerned to inform it within Jan. 5, 2021 about what actions are taken to stop plastic use.

The court made the Industries Secretary, the Secretary of Bangladesh Water Development Board, the Secretary of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, the chairman of Bangladesh Plastic Products Producers and Exporters Association and three others as respondents, and asked them to submit a report in this regard.
In an announcement on the website of his political action committee, former national security adviser John Bolton declared Monday that if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony in President Donald Trumps impeachment trial, I am prepared to testify.

Senate Democrats greeted the news as a new pressure point on their Republican colleagues, who have so far been pointedly uninterested in hearing from new witnesses against Trump. Bolton, a key figure in the Ukraine scandal whose testimony has not been taken, finally decided that he just needed someone to serve him, and hed show up. How could Senate Republicans refuse to call him as a witness now, as Democrats have been demanding, when hes all warmed up and ready to go? Do they not want to get to the bottom of it?

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The Bolton news, however, did not immediately spark the Republican mutiny that Democrats have been fantasizing about. If there are four Republican senators willing to join with Democrats to summon additional witnesses and documents for the (eventual) trial, they did a good job of hiding it upon returning to the Capitol on Monday afternoon.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who announced last month that he would run the trial in coordination with the defendants attorneys, wouldnt even consider the act of considering a new witness at this point. McConnell is insisting instead on a process in which the Senate would start the impeachment trial, hear opening statements from impeachment managers and the presidents defense, and allow senators ask questions before votes on whether or not to bring in additional witnesses.

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The Senate has a unanimous bipartisan precedent for when to handle mid-trial questions such as witnesses: in the middle of the trial, McConnell said in his opening remarks on the Senate floor on Monday. In 1999, every single U.S. senator agreed to establish basic parameters for the start of the trial upfront and reserve mid-trial questions such as witnesses until later. The Senate said, 100 to nothing, that was good enough for President Clinton. So it ought to be good enough for President Trump. Fair is fair.

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McConnells Democratic counterpart, Chuck Schumer, described this as the Alice-in-Wonderland approach: First the trial, then the evidence.

If the Senate were to agree to Leader McConnells proposal, Schumer said on the floor, the Senate will act as little more than a nationally televised meeting of a mock trial club.

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Judging by Republican senators reactions later Monday afternoon, Schumers literary reference was not persuasive enough to convince Republican senators to essentially switch control of the impeachment trial process from their own leader to the Democrats. They offered a couple of different talking points for why the Senate shouldnt summon a suited-up witness like Bolton at the start of the trial.

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Numerous senators suggested, as McConnell has been saying, that its not the Senates job in the trial to gather supplementary evidence beyond what the House has already gathered in creating the articles of impeachment.

I am not in favor of calling witnesses and redoing work that the House Democrats failed to do, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said. This is what the impeachment process is for. They did it very badly.

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North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, whos in a competitive race this cycle, went with that line, too. Im in the position now where I want to consider the weight of the evidence coming from the House. I dont want to do their work, Tillis told reporters.

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So he didnt want to hear from Bolton?

Its not that I dont want to hear from him, Tillis said. Oh? I want to hear from him if the House is willing to do their work and have the same agreement with the ambassador [Bolton] on their side of the Hill. (House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, spotted on the Senate side of the Capitol on Monday, told reporters that he wouldnt rule out subpoenaing Bolton, but he really should testify in the Senate trial. That makes the most sense.)

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Other Republican senators would concede that their fields of vision could extend beyond material transmitted by the House of Representatives, but still wouldnt break from McConnells timeline: Start the trial, present cases, field questions, and then consider additional witnesses.

Itll depend on what we learn in the Houses impeachment statement to begin with, South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds told me when asked whether he thought Bolton should be called. We make up our minds on who we want for witnesses after weve heard from the House, in terms of what their argument is.

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This was also the rationale from the usual most-watched Republican in the Senate: Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. She stood by the process that McConnell had laid out. But would she like to hear from Bolton?

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Maybelater! I think we will decide, at that stage, who we need to hear from, she told reporters, as the elevator doors closed on her.

Democrats consider this timeline, while reasonable on its face, to be a ruse. The phase that McConnell envisions as the start of the trial may last for weeks. Then, when the time comes to consider calling witnesses, Republicans will all say that they have already heard enough, that there was no there there and Democrats were exhausting the patience of the American people. It would be easier, then, for 51 Republicans to reject additional witnesses.

Senate Democrats arent actually expecting four Republicans to break with their party and side with Chuck Schumer on setting the trial process. Theyre hoping, at least, to maximize whatever pain they can bring to bear on the senators theyre targeting in 2020, like Collins and Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner. Democrats are trying to present them with a choice between, as Schumer put it, a fair trial or a cover-up. Now that a crucial witness has made himself available (at least in principle)and has done it before the House hands over the impeachment articles and McConnell makes the process officialthe Senate Republicans will have a harder time explaining why they dont want to hear from him.
By Patricia Teffenhart

Its been a week since NJ Advance Medias report about women in New Jersey politics who say theyve been groped, harassed -- and worse, and almost a year since I delivered 16 pages of expert testimony before the state Legislatures Select Oversight Committee, in response to Katie Brennans allegation that she was raped by Gov. Phil Murphys campaign adviser. And its woefully clear that New Jersey is still unprepared to appropriately address the issue of sexual violence in our political arena.

Why? Because disruption of the status quo threatens the very foundation upon which too many people in politics rise to, and retain, power. It happens because of the kind of people who were referenced in Sundays Star-Ledger editorial, who called journalists to malign Katie Brennans reputation in off-the-record conversations.

It happens because of the kind of people who received congressional candidate Tiffany Kazsubas complaints of sexual harassment on the campaign trail, and seemingly did nothing until her public statement dropping from the race. It happens because of the kind of people who behave so poorly at work-related conferences and conventions that some women avoid the events in their entirety to avoid being sexually harassed, or worse.

The answer? In addition to passing the 10 bill package moving through the state Legislature in response to the Legislative Select Oversight Committees findings, we need to reconfigure the entire misogynist and patriarchal structure upon which existing political power resides. The political arena will not change until weve shifted power into the hands of people consistently worthy of the responsibility of leading. And, if we want different people in leadership, we need to address and erase the toxic masculinity that continues to prohibit true equity and access to the sport of politics.

So, here are just a few concrete suggestions (as previously presented in my above referenced testimony):

1. Everyone (volunteers, contractors, staff, and candidates) involved in campaigns and legislative offices must sign a code of conduct that specifically outlines the behaviors that will be disqualifying for involvement in our political arena.

2. All the above-mentioned individuals must participate in ongoing training to:

Review the institutions code of conduct;

Build collective capacity to identify and address implicit bias;

Increase bystander intervention skills; and

Affirm the procedure for reporting and investigating allegations of violations of the code of conduct.

3. The state political parties, the county chairs, municipal chairs, campaign managers, candidates, and elected officials need to enforce zero-tolerance policies for violations of the code of conduct.

4. There must be written and accessible policies that outline the informal and formal process and procedures that shall be followed when someone wishes to report a violation of the code of conduct.

An informal process is used to resolve less severe, though equally serious, complaints, where the Complainant expresses that they just want the behavior to STOP. The informal process focuses on behavior modification and is run on a single-investigator model.

A formal complaint is filed for serious allegations of misconduct. It appropriately separates out the distinct roles of investigating, fact finding, recommending and administering disciplines or recourse between multiple people in multiple roles, and has more severe consequences appropriate for a more severe complaint and more in-depth investigation.

We cannot legislate our way out of the socio-political culture that has allowed sexual misconduct to go unchecked for so long. But, we are far from being powerless against it. Its time to stop paying lip-service to this topic. Stop hiding behind carefully crafted press statements and publicly facing legislative votes. Its time to roll up our sleeves and do the hard work of creating the policies and procedures that can create true equity in politics.

If you need help with an issue involving sexual violence, experts are ready to help at New Jerseys statewide sexual violence hotline: 800-601-7200.

Patricia Teffenhart, MPA, is the executive director of the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NJCASA), which advocates for survivor-centered legislation, trains allied professionals and supports statewide prevention strategies.

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
[January 07, 2020] 10-Year Anniversary of the Haiti Earthquake

WORCESTER, Mass., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Britney Gengel was a beautiful, fearless and compassionate 19-year-old when she decided to travel to the country of Haiti. The children she met gave her so much love she was inspired to send the following text to her mother just three hours before the earthquake: "They love us so much and everyone is so happy. They love what they have and they work so hard to get nowhere, yet they are all so appreciative. I want to move here and start an orphanage myself." Shortly after sending the text, a catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, killing an estimated 300,000 people, including Britney. She was missing for 33 days and thanks to the USA Southern Command, she was recovered and brought home to Massachusetts for a proper burial. Her family could not let her die in vain. In loving memory, they started the Be Like Brit Foundation, Inc. During the course of two years, a 19,000 square foot earthquake-proof, non-adoptive orphanage was built in Grand Goave, Haiti  the town where Brit was supposed to travel to the day after the earthquake. Brit's Home in Haiti is home to 33 boys and 33 girls. Our commitment is to continue the compassion of Britney Gengel by serving the children of Haiti through sustaining a safe, nurturing home rooted in the virtues of Faith, Hope and Love while developing a sense of social responsibility, community involement and unconditional love. Our goal is crystal clear, to raise the next generation of leaders in Haiti.



In addition, Be Like Brit has brought over 1,800 people to Haiti through their "Britsionary" Program and has constructed over 145 houses for local families in need. We would like to thank all of our supporters over the past 10 years, we wouldn't have been able to do it without you. Our hearts are with the families of the 300,000 Haitians who passed away in the earthquake. On January 12, 2020, Be Like Brit will be premiering their special 30-minute 10-year anniversary documentary on all social media platforms. Media inquiries can be sent to [email protected] and please visit www.BeLikeBrit.org/TenYear for more information.

Contact Information

www.BeLikeBrit.org

508-886-4500

[email protected] Related Images britney-gengel.jpg

Britney Gengel brits-home-in-haiti.jpg

Brits Home in Haiti brits-kids.jpg

Brits Kids View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/10-year-anniversary-of-the-haiti-earthquake-300982430.html SOURCE The Be Like Brit Foundation, Inc

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Zohos co-founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu is set to be the chief guest while Accentures managing director and head of operations (Chennai) Rama S Ramachandran is to be the guest of honour at the Resurgent Bharath event to be held in Chennai on February 2, reports Neha Alawadhi.

IMAGE: Zohos co-founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu tweeted in response to the hate attacks: 'I dont decide my views based on Twitter attacks.' Photograph: Kind courtesy, Zoho on Faceboook.

Technology firms Accenture and Zoho found themselves at the centre of a Twitter controversy on Monday. This came after a user pointed out that top executives of these firms were attending a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh event in Chennai.

With popular sentiment not in favour of the government because of the ongoing Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register for Citizens across the country, as well as the recent violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University, several users took to the microblogging platform.

They questioned the companies for supporting the right wing (RSS), regarded as the ideological backbone of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Zohos co-founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu is set to be the chief guest while Accentures managing director and head of operations (Chennai) Rama S Ramachandran is to be the guest of honour at the Resurgent Bharath event to be held in Chennai on February 2.

Several Twitter users called for a boycott of Accenture and Zoho services. People if you do business with @zoho @zohosocial @zohocrm, you are funding the RSS. People if you do business with @Accenture , you are funding RSS. You are funding fascists in India, said one Twitter user. Zoho is a web-based office suite, like Microsoft Office.

Several people also questioned the companies policies on allowing their employees to attend such events organised by religious organisations.

In response, Vembu tweeted: I dont decide my views based on Twitter attacks. If you dislike which events I attend, please do what your conscience dictates and I will do what mine dictates. We earn our daily bread due to our work and we will continue to do quality work. I wont be responding to attacks.

An email sent to the company regarding its policy on such matters did not elicit a response until going to press.

Accenture had also not responded to an email request for comment.

The RSS has been reaching out to techies since over a decade. It holds shakhas over the weekends in different cities.

One of the volunteers, it has been reported, set up the IT Milan app. IT Milans do not host the usual shakha activities but let techies talk about subjects that may be unrelated to politics.

Edited by Sai
Amid Simmering Iran Tensions, Pentagon to Deploy B-52 Squadron to Diego Garcia - Report

Sputnik News

01:18 07.01.2020

According to reports, the US Air Force is preparing to deploy a squadron of six B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers to Diego Garcia, an island base in the Indian Ocean within striking distance of Iran.

A US official told CNN Monday that the Pentagon would soon send six of the heavy bombers to the base on Diego Garcia, a British territory, for potential use against Iran if ordered to do so.

The base is 2,300 miles south of Iran's southernmost point, but well within striking distance for bombers given mid-air refueling. It is a common stopping-off point for US bombers.

The British government has leased the tiny Island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to the United States since 1966.

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday the US was prepared to strike 52 targets in Iran, including sites of cultural significance, if Iran retaliated for the US assassination of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani. The general was killed at Baghdad Airport on January 3 in a US drone strike, with US leaders claiming the move was "defensive" and that Soleimani was plotting attacks against US forces.

The Iraqi government later revealed Soleimani was in Baghdad to hear a proposal by regional rival and US client Saudi Arabia to bury the proverbial hatchet.

Built by Boeing, the eight-engined B-52 is the US military's largest bomber, capable of carrying a wide variety of weapons, including cruise missiles, conventional and laser-guided bombs, and most notoriously, nuclear gravity bombs.

Washington previously sent several B-52 bombers to Qatar in May 2019, along with other forces that included a carrier strike group.

 Sputnik

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New Delhi [India], Jan 7 (ANI): Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday condemned the violence at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), saying that fighting between left and right wings should not take place on the campuses of educational institutions.



"I condemn the violence at the JNU. This incident should be probed by the police ... People have the right to support whatever party they want. However, this fight between left and right wings should not take place in the universities," said Athawale at a press conference.

He said that these universities are the centres of education and prosperity.

"There has been a consistent effort to cause violence at the JNU for several years. It is a very big educational centre. The number of left students is also more at university. There are always left-fuelled protests on the campus," said Athawale.

"Once, pro-Pakistan slogans were raised on the campus. When Afzal Guru was hanged, a rally was organised against that on the campus," said he.

Athawale, who is the Minister of State (MoS) for Social Justice and Empowerment, also said that the decision by the JNU administration to hike the fee was not right.

"The Central government has nothing to do with the fee hike in the university. The JNU administration is an independent body. However, I don't think the decision to hike the fee was right," he said.

His comment comes after a major clash on Sunday took place on the JNU campus when a masked mob entered the varsity and attacked the students, in which more than 30 students injured and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre. (ANI)


Mizrahi Developments, in collaboration with Engel & Volkers, has announced its entry into the Ottawa market with its upcoming luxury condo development.

Situated at Westboro, 1451 Wellington The Residences at Island Park Drive is set to arise as the developers first foray into Ottawa.

We are thrilled to be associated with this exquisite landmark building in Ottawas hottest west-end neighbourhood, said Richard Rutkowski, real estate advisor, Engel & Volkers Ottawa Central. Our perspectives on luxury real estate align perfectly, and I believe Mizrahis entrance to Ottawa signals the markets move towards becoming one of Canadas prime hotspots for luxury real estate.
The Cardinals have agreed to a minor league contract with catcher Oscar Hernandez, tweets Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The former D-backs and Red Sox backstop will head to Major League camp on a non-roster invite.

Hernandez, 26, was the top pick in the 2014 Rule 5 Draft, when the D-backs selected him out of the Rays organization. Touted for his defensive skills behind the dish, Hernandez looked decidedly overmatched in two seasons with Arizona, hitting a combined .167/.239/.262 in a tiny sample of 47 plate appearances. He hasnt appeared in a big league game since 2016, although he was on the Red Sox Major League roster briefly this past season. However, Hernandez was called up as a depth option and designated for assignment without ever appearing in a game for Boston.

In parts of 10 minor league seasons, Hernandez is a .246/.323/.417 hitter  although hes managed just a .210/.276/.336 output at the Triple-A level. Hes thrown out 42 percent of runners who attempt to steal against him in the minors, though (plus one of two in the Majors), and he routinely draws strong framing marks in the minors.

Matt Wieters was the primary backup to ironman Yadier Molina in 2019 but is currently a free agent. Well-regarded prospect Andrew Knizner is the only other catcher on the Cardinals 40-man roster, so Hernandez will add a glove-first depth option.
The FBI has joined a new task force set up to investigate mysterious drones which have been spotted flying over Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas in recent weeks.

Residents in multiple counties across the three states have been left baffled after spotting dozens of the aerial-vehicles, which feature six-feet wingspans and fly across the sky in grid-like patterns between the hours of 6 and 10 pm.

On Monday, around 75 people from a variety of state, local and federal agencies - including the FBI - met in the city of Brush, Colorado in a bid to uncover the identity of the drones' operators.

CBS reports that 77 different agencies have now joined the task force. No private companies or government agencies have admitted that they are operating the drones.

According to The Denver Post, representatives from the FAA, the Air Force, and the Army - in addition to members of the FBI - were present at Monday's meeting, which lasted around 90 minutes.

One county sheriff who attended the meeting told the publication that the task force is hoping to hunt down a 'command vehicle' which could be controlling the flying objects from the ground.

'A drone 500 feet in the air, we can't do much about that. A suspicious vehicle in the middle of a county road is something we absolutely can[ do something about],' Lincoln County sheriff's Captain Michaell Yowell told The Denver Post.

The vehicle could possibly be a 'closed box trailer with antennas or a large van'.

The FBI has joined a new task force set up to investigate mysterious drones which have been spotted flying over Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas in recent weeks

Residents in multiple counties across the three states have been left baffled after spotting dozens of the drones. Sightings have been reported since December 16

The FBI is investigating the growing mystery of unidentified drones flying over Colorado and Nebraska.



The drones have been spotted buzzing hundreds of feet in the air at night. Investigators are now looking for a suspicious vehicle, to help track down who is responsible. pic.twitter.com/1UMlC5N0QR  CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) January 7, 2020

It's unclear whether the establishment of the task force is going to quell the anxieties of residents - many of whom are growing increasingly agitated by the nightly appearance of the drones.

'It's really concerning,' one worried resident told CBS. 'Do they [the drones] have cameras on them where they're watching us and what we're doing? Can they see into our homes? Are they following vehicles? What are they doing?'

Meanwhile, another resident told NBC's Today Show last Tuesday that he he wa 'unnerved' by the drones.

'They can sit there and hover,' they stated. 'They can descend very fast. They can take off very fast.'

According to The Denver Post , representatives from the FAA, the Air Force, and the Army - in addition to members of the FBI - were present at Monday's meeting, which lasted around 90 minutes

It's unclear whether the establishment of the task force is going to quell the anxieties of residents - many of whom are growing increasingly agitated by the nightly appearance of the drones. Five separate drones are seen flying over a rural property in Colorado on Monday night

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.'

While the drones are mysterious, the task force does not believe that they are malicious.

Further, the person or persons operating them may not even be breaking the law.

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.

Some frustrated residents have threatened to shoot down the drones, but authorities have warned against such action as it is illegal.

Meanwhile, the FAA proposed requiring nearly all drones operating in U.S. airspace to be remotely tracked, a move which sheriffs in the three states have welcomed.

Wyatt Harman, who chased the drones when they flew over his Washington County, Colorado, property, told NBC's Today show last Tuesday that seeing the mysterious aircraft was 'unnerving'




In a quick incident described by Northbrook authorities as happening in just a matter of seconds, the five suspects entered the store at 7:30 p.m., grabbed about 10 purses, and ran outside to a white sedan. Officers saw the sedan fleeing east at a very high rate of speed on Lake Cook Road, according to a village news release Tuesday.
US ban on travel from India separates many Indian-American families

In support of CAA Indian-Americans hold rally in Boston

International

oi-PTI

Washington, Jan 07: A group of Indian-Americans held a rally in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Boston, community members said.

Braving sub-zero temperature, members of the Indian-American community from in and around Boston area gathered at the historic Harvard Square on Sunday to participate in the rally, a press release issued by the organisers stated on Monday.

Displaying posters and banners reading "We support Citizenship Amendment Act", "Indian-Americans Support CAA" and "CAA provides citizenship to persecuted minorities", the participants thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Parliament for the enactment of the Act.

Shah leads BJP's door-to-door campaign on CAA

JNU violence: No arrests yet, FIR filed against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh | OneIndia News

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 following religious persecution there will get Indian citizenship.

"The rally was attended by people from different walks of life and by all age groups. The rally was aimed to show support to the Act and also educate the people about the Act, counter misinformation and myths about the Act," the organisers said.

Robert Lancia, member of Rhode Island House of Representatives, also attended the rally.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 10:09 [IST]
Pentagon Says Will Not Violate Law Of War Amid Alarm Over Trump's Threat To Target Iranian cultural sites

01/07/20

Source: RFE/RL

Iran is home to 22 UNESCO World Heritage sites including Persepolis, with its ancient ruins that are some 2,500 years old.





U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper has strongly indicated that the U.S. military will not fire on Iranian cultural sites, targets that President Donald Trump had threatened to strike.



"We will follow the laws of armed conflict," Esper said during a briefing at the Pentagon. When asked if that ruled out targeting cultural sites, Esper said pointedly, "That's the laws of armed conflict."



Trump's suggestion that the United States could target Iranian cultural sites has sparked alarm in Iran and beyond, with Human Rights Watch (HRW) saying such action would be a war crime.

Love each and every one of the #IranCulturalSites. Casually threatening to bomb humanity's most precious heritage in revenge is the lowest one can go - right in the same league as ISIS, Taliban, and going further back, Genghis khan. pic.twitter.com/c2GWaDjov8  Iman Habibi (@ImanHabibi) January 5, 2020

A UN Security Council resolution supported by the Trump administration in 2017 considers targeting cultural sites a war crime. The 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property also considers such actions a war crime.



Amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington following a U.S. air strike that killed Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani last week, Trump tweeted on January 4 that the United States had included sites "important to Iran & Iranian culture" in its list of 52 targets for attack should Tehran retaliate against Soleimani's killing.

Here are some wonderful pictures of Iranian cultural sites.

They belong to the actual people of Iran, and, tangentially, to the whole world.



They do not belong to the past, nor does ANYBODY have a *right* to destroy them.



#TrumpIsAWarCriminal #IranCulturalSites #heritage pic.twitter.com/AeLlMr7Nxw  carol hedges (@carolJhedges) January 6, 2020

Despite criticism from U.S. politicians and others, Trump on January 5 stood by his remarks, saying: "They're allowed to kill our people. They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way."



In a statement, HRW said that the laws of war "prohibit deliberate attacks on civilian objects not being used for military purposes."

US: Trump Threatens War Crimes Against Iran https://t.co/VkubHGGwcc  Human Rights Watch (@hrw) January 5, 2020

The New York-based human rights watchdog cited Article 53 of Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions as specifically prohibiting any acts of hostility against cultural objects.



Andrea Prasow, acting Washington director at HRW, urged Trump to "publicly reverse his threats against Iran"s cultural property and make clear that he will not authorize nor order war crimes."

Donald Trump's belligerent threats to Iran's cultural sites are grotesque | Simon Jenkins https://t.co/Ys0z5qE2qD  The Guardian (@guardian) January 6, 2020

In Paris, the head of the UN's cultural agency noted that both the United States and Iran had ratified treaties protecting cultural sites during war.



Meeting with the Iranian ambassador to the organization, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay stressed "the universality of cultural and natural heritage as vectors of peace and dialogue between peoples, which the international community has a duty to protect and preserve for future generations."



Iran is home to 22 cultural sites inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List, including Persepolis, with its ancient ruins that date back to 518 BC, the 17th-century grand mosque of Isfahan, and the Golestan Palace in Tehran.

With reporting by AFP, AP, Reuters, and Bloomberg
[January 07, 2020] Systems Evolution, Inc. (SEI) Announces Opening of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Office

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Systems Evolution, Inc. (SEI), an employee-owned business and technology management consulting firm, opened a new location to serve clients in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania metro area on January 1, 2020. SEI's Philadelphia office is led by a tight-knit team of dedicated local consultants. In addition to leadership from these consultants, John Tarczewski, Managing Principal of the new office, will lead its efforts to recruit new team members, and to develop new client relationships. Originally recruited to SEI's Boston office, Tarczewski brings nearly a decade of experience with SEI that includes aiding in the launch of the company's New York office in 2013 and providing delivery oversight for a range of high-revenue SEI clients across industries. "We've been prospecting Philadelphia for a couple years in the hopes of opening an office there," says Tarczewski. "We've conducted thorough market analysis, established new business partnerships, and evaluated the local talent pool to ensure we are well-positioned to scale successfully." Bill Gallagher, CEO of SEI adds, "We're extremely discerning when it comes to entering a new market  we need to feel confident that we have the grounding to build long-lasting client relationships, the resources and ability to recruit best-in-class talent, and the ability to collaborate with other SEI offices." Gallagher cites Philadelphia as an ideal location for fulfilling these demands: "The thriving healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences industries in the area have already provided us with meaningfl opportunities to build core clientele, and we're hoping to expand into the financial services sector, which has a significant presence throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey." Additionally, he points to the value of the city's location, considering its proximity to SEI offices in both New York and Washington, D.C.



SEI's local model provides opportunities for seasoned consultants already in the Philadelphia area, or looking to relocate there. The ability to live and work in the same community, combined with the strength and support of a national SEI presence behind each office, allows our consultants to deliver superior value and form long-term partnerships. Tarczewski, who originally hails from Philadelphia, is "excited to lead the process of bringing the SEI business model to [his] hometown," pointing to the company's signature flat management structure as one of its primary selling points. "SEI is uniquely attractive to both clients and talent because of our approach to consulting. Built on a network of 300 highly experienced owner-consultants, the SEI business model is centered around collaboration, which enables us to integrate into clients' existing business models and workflow and serve as extensions of their own teams. We're not in the business of quick-fixes; we're in the business of adding value through meaningful, long-term partnerships. And we're looking forward to bringing this approach to the Philadelphia metro area."

SEI's Philadelphia office is located at 21 S. 11th Street, Suite 223, Philadelphia, PA 19107. For more information, contact [email protected]. About Systems Evolution, Inc. (SEI): Systems Evolution, Inc. (SEI) is a business and technology consulting firm comprised exclusively of highly experienced professionals delivering superior value to local clients since 1992 with offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. SEI focuses on providing world-class delivery leadership with additional expertise in technology enablement, experience design, and data and analytics across a variety of business functions and industries. Visit www.sei.com for more information. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/systems-evolution-inc-sei-announces-opening-of-philadelphia-pennsylvania-office-300982534.html SOURCE Systems Evolution, Inc. (SEI)

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-06 20:16:13|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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WARSAW, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and nearly two dozen others injured in a fire at a hospice in Poland on Monday, officials said.

"Four people -- a woman and three men -- were killed. Another 22 people are in various hospitals," Poland's State Fire Service said.

The fire broke out at a hospice in the northern Polish city of Chojnice around 3 a.m. local time (0200 GMT), a spokesman for the fire brigade said.

When the fire started, staff members and 23 patients were in the building. All the victims were patients.

The fire has been put out and rescuers are still working at the scene.

Initial findings showed that the fire was likely caused by a careless smoker, a police official told local TV broadcaster TVN24.
The next step in sorting out the legal impact of a New Year's Eve surprise takes place Jan. 13 in a San Diego courtroom.

It is on that day when Federal District Court Judge Roger Benitez will hear arguments whether to turn his temporary injunction blocking trucking industry enforcement of California's AB5 independent contractor legislation into a preliminary injunction.

The case that led to the New Year's Eve temporary injunction was brought by the California Trucking Association (CTA). But there are plenty of other interested parties looking to ride on CTA's coattails.

In discussions with various attorneys connected to the case who asked not to be identified, the sentiment among the trucking industry is optimistic that the temporary injunction will be turned into a preliminary injunction that will hold through the legal proceedings to determine if California's AB5 can apply against the trucking industry or whether it is preempted by a federal law, the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) of 1994. There is language in that legislation, known as F4A, that the CTA argues would prohibit applying a state law like AB5 to the transportation industry.

The trucking industry is heartened by some of the language Judge Benitez used in handing down the temporary injunction. "At this early stage of the proceedings and within the brief amount of time available, plaintiffs have carried their burden for purposes of emergency relief to show ... that they are likely to succeed on the merits," he wrote in the order for the temporary injunction.

Separately, in a footnote that actually denied considering a separate CTA argument on the so-called "dormant commerce clause," Benitez wrote that "because the court is persuaded by the likelihood of plaintiffs' success on the FAAAA preemption ground, it declines to address plaintiffs' alternative challenges to AB5." In other words, probable victory on the FAAAA preemption argument makes it unnecessary to pursue other legal arguments.

Story continues

The argument and fear of the trucking industry all along has been the so-called "B prong," used in the Dynamex civil case that was the precursor of AB5. In the Dynamex decision, to show that an employee is a truly independent contractor and not an employee, an employer needed to show that the worker is engaged in an activity that is not the business' usual pursuit. A trucking company hiring an accounting firm to do financial work would pass the B prong test but a trucking company hiring an independent trucker to haul freight presumably would not.

"Because contrary to Prong B, drivers perform work within the usual course of the [motor carrier] hiring entity's business,' drivers will never be considered independent contractors under California law," Benitez wrote in summing up the argument.

The wording in the Dynamex decision, handed down early in 2018, was copied almost verbatim by the authors of AB5. The bill sailed through both houses of the California legislature  the Assembly first, which is why it is called AB  and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The CTA case is not litigating the specifics of AB5. It is focused solely on what the plaintiffs see as a conflict with the FAAAA. The wording in the FAAAA is fairly clear: "A state, political subdivision of a state or political authority of two or more states may not enact or enforce a law, regulation or other provision having the force and effect of law related to a price, route or service of any motor carrier." It is that provision that the CTA says makes AB5 an illegal reach by the California government.

As one attorney said of the temporary injunction, "we are likely to win the lawsuit and so the court stopped the law from going into effect."

AB5 remains an enormous issue in California. An entire swath of employees are protesting that their livelihoods have been upended, from freelance writers to Uber and Lyft drivers. When word started getting out New Year's Eve that there had been an injunction against AB5, the Twitterverse exploded under the #AB5 hashtag, only to be hit with disappointment when people learned it applied solely to the trucking industry.

Joe Rajkovacz, the director of governmental affairs and communications for the Western States Trucking Association, said people in the trucking industry "were expending great sums of money to kind of reconfigure their operations." But the New Year's Eve injunction "got people pausing, wondering now what do we do?"

One strategy several companies had pursued is that they were requiring owner-operators to change from being sole proprietors to becoming S corporations. An S corporation, according to the Internal Revenue Service description, is one with less than 100 shareholders "that elect(s) to pass corporate income, losses, deductions and credits through to their shareholders for federal tax purposes."

An S corporation allows a driver to be paid via a process that does not generate a 1099 IRS form. It is that form, Rajkovacz said, that can be interpreted by regulators as a possible sign of misclassification of an employee as an independent contractor.

One point that has been made by several people is that even if AB5 is pushed out of the trucking industry, the precedents set by the Dynamex decision remain. But there is also a feeling that Dynamex, which now operates as TForce Final Mile, simply went too far in 2004 in reclassifying its workers as independent contractors, the action that set off the legal process that ended with the 2018 decision.

Secondly, a finding by Benitez in favor of the CTA may make judges hearing trucking-related cases brought under the Dynamex decision consider whether they have jurisdiction. Such a decision by Benitez  and possibly some judges along the appeals process  might impact litigation brought under the precedents set in the Dynamex case.

Another possibility for the dispute is that the legislation could be amended to create a carve-out for trucking. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, who wrote the legislation (with a great deal of verbatim lifting of wording from the Dynamex decision), has hinted that there may be more carve-outs for particular industries, as there are in the original legislation. But she also has not sounded particularly conciliatory while engaging in some nasty Twitter battles with her critics.

Additionally, one of the defendants in the CTA case, along with California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, is the Teamsters, who might be unwilling to end this fight to keep AB5 from impacting the trucking industry.

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A 73-year-old man has been killed after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck southern Puerto Rico Tuesday, a day after another powerful quake.

The tremor collapsed buildings, including schools, and wiped out power before the island was struck by an aftershock of almost equal strength just hours later.

Puerto Rico's governor, Wanda Vazquez, declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard. A tsunami warning was issued but later canceled.

Ponce Mayor Mayita Melendez told WAPA TV that eight people were injured in the city, which is near the epicentre of the quake.

The quake struck at 4.24am and was followed by a 6.0-magnitude aftershock just three hours later.

They are the largest in a series of quakes that have struck the US territory in recent days and caused heavy damage in some areas.

Reynaldo Gonzalez told Puerto Rican newspaper El Vocero that his uncle, Nelson Martinez, died at his home in Ponce when the earthquake struck. A wall collapsed and crushed him.

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Reynaldo Gonzalez (center) said his uncle Nelson Martinez died at his home (pictured) in Ponce after a wall in an unfinished bathroom collapsed on top of him Tuesday morning. The 73-year-old man is the only casualty reported by officials

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck southern Puerto Rico Tuesday, a day after another powerful quake. A home is seen collapsed in Guanica

The quake struck at 4.24am and was followed by a 6.0-magnitude aftershock just three hours later. A home is seen collapsed after an earthquake in Guanica

The Inmaculada Concepcion church partially collapsed in Tuesday morning's 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Guayanilla, Puerto Rico

The tremor also rattled the city of Guanica, located east of Ponce, and destroyed one of its schools

Debris from a collapsed wall of a building litters the ground after an earthquake struck Puerto Rico before dawn, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday

'He only slept [in the second floor of the home] and one of the walls of the unfinished bathroom came apart,' Gonzalez said. 'It seems that the moment he felt the tremor he woke up and the wall fell on him.'

Martinez had lived in the home since 2003. Martinez's death is the only one that has been confirmed by officials in the U.S. Territory island.

'This was too hard. I didn't expect such a thing, but things happen and nobody knows why,' Gonzalez said, according to El Nuevo Dia.

The earthquake also destroyed a three-story school in the municipality of Guanica, located east of Ponce, and partially collapsed the walls of the 178-year-old Inmaculada Concepcion church in Guayanilla.

At 7.18am the magnitude-6.0 aftershock hit the same area. People reported strong shaking and staff at a local radio station said live on air that they were leaving their building.

A map shows the comparison between Monday's and today's quakes on the island of Puerto Rico. The quake yesterday tore down the island's famed Playa Ventana rock formation

Tuesday's 6.4-magnitude earthquake killed Nelson Martinez when an unfinished bathroom wall crushed him in the second floor of his home in Ponce, Puerto Rico (seen above)

A shop is seen collapsed after an earthquake struck Guanica, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday morning

Patients were seen lined up in beds outside a hospital in Ponce on the island's southern coast. Local news sites reported an electricity blackout following the earthquake.

Tsunami sirens rang out in Camuy on the north of the island and an alert was initially issued for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands but only small waves were detected and it was later cancelled.

Victor Huerfano, director of Puerto Rico's Seismic Network, said that it is hard to obtain reports of damage or injuries because communications are down for much of the island.

He said officials in Ponce told him there was widespread damage.

A man carries a St. Jude statue through the rubble at the Inmaculada Concepcion church in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, following Tuesday morning's tremor

A home is seen collapsed after an earthquake in Guanica, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday

Rips in the earth from this morning's earthquake can be seen in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday

Pictured is the wreckage after the 6.6-magnitude rumble ripped through Puerto Rico in the early hours of Tuesday morning

A house in Yauco, Puerto Rico, can be seen torn from its foundations after the quake struck Tuesday

Slabs of concrete are littered across the road after the earthquake struck Tuesday morning in Yauco, Puerto Rico

'We expect that this will be the largest quake for now,' he said. 'The aftershocks will continue for some time.'

Governor Vazquez also ordered government offices to close for the day and urged citizens to remain calm and not check damage to their homes until daylight.

'We want everyone to be safe. That is why all work in the public sectors has been suspended today, so that you can be with your family, implementing your emergency plans,' Vazquez tweeted.

Arizona Democratic congressman Raul Grijalva asked President Donald Trump to provide federal funding for the island's recovery.

'Puerto Rico residents have repeatedly demonstrated strength and resistance to tragedy, but that does not replace adequate government assistance,' Grijalva said, according to El Vocero.

'The indifference and incompetence of the Trump administration has already cost Puerto Rican residents their lives and livelihoods, and continuing that pattern is now completely unacceptable.'

Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juana was operating normally despite the use of power generators.

At least 386 prisoners from Las Cucharas maximum security jail were transferred to several other prisons.

The quake was measured to have ripped through the island at a depth of six miles and its epicenter was three miles south of Tallaboa, near Ponce, the US Geological Survey said.

'Persons along coastal areas near the earthquake should be observant and exercise normal caution, otherwise no action is required,' it said.

One witness located 14 km (nine miles) from the epicenter described the quake as 'super strong', in a posting on the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre website. Another witness around 70 km away said the quake lasted around 30 seconds.

Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) cut off power on safety grounds. It hoped to reconnect supplies as soon as possible, it said on Twitter.

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake off southern Puerto Rico on Monday knocked several houses off their supporting pillars and heavily damaged others in the towns of Guanica and Guayanilla.

It also caused small landslides and power outages.

The quake was followed by a string of smaller temblors.

Picture shows hospital beds queued up outside Damas Hospital in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday morning. A Facebook post from the hospital explained that one of the structures at the facility was evacuated to ensure patients remained safe

Contents of a food shop are seen strewn across the floor after a 6.6-magnitude quake ripped through the island of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea on Tuesday

Twitter users share their experience of the rumble in Puerto Rico on Tuesday

Other residents shared their thoughts on the loss of the iconic formation

The flurry of quakes in Puerto Rico's southern region began the night of December 28.

Huerfano told the AP that shallow quakes were occurring along three faults in Puerto Rico's southwest region: Lajas Valley, Montalva Point and the Guayanilla Canyon.

He said the quakes overall come as the North American plate and the Caribbean plate squeeze Puerto Rico.

One of the largest and most damaging earthquakes to hit Puerto Rico occurred in October 1918, when a magnitude 7.3 quake struck near the island's northwest coast, unleashing a tsunami and killing 116 people.

One Twitter user wrote: 'The lights went off and i thought my sister was moving the bed and an earthquake hit its been happening constantly here im shaking.'

Another said: 'It wouldn't stop and it kept getting stronger. All the car alarms are going off and we keep getting aftershocks.'

A third added: 'That one was. STRONG and lasted a good minute. Strong smal aftershock after [sic]. Wow. In Caguas.'

Another witness in Caimital, 41 miles away, posted that the quake lasted around 30 seconds.

 Slide me  The quake caused the collapse of a famous tourist attraction known as the Playa Ventana (left, before the quake) in Guayanilla on Monday. Residents shared photos of the top half of the natural wonder, also dubbed the Window Beach, which had completely broken off (right, after the quake)

Monday's seismic event also destroyed Playa Ventana, a rock formation on a beach that had been a tourist attraction. There were no reports of injuries.

Residents shared photos of the top half of the natural wonder, also dubbed the Window Beach, which had completely broken off.

It is known as Playa Ventana because the rock formation was raised above the ocean with a massive hole that gave the feeling of looking at the sea through a window.

Guayanilla press officer, Glidden Lopez, wrote on Facebook: 'Playa Ventana collapsed. Today our icon is in everyone's memory.'

Other residents shared their thoughts on the loss of the iconic formation.

'This is something big to Puerto Rico today is the day playa ventana is gone for good. This place was famous in Puerto Rico until today because of an earthquake of 5.80,' one person shared on Twitter.

'Something amazing was taken from Puerto Rico today,' another shared.

The quake struck at 6:32am just south of the island at a relatively shallow depth of six miles, according to the US Geological Service. There was no tsunami threat, officials said

A 5.8-magnitude quake hit Puerto Rico before dawn Monday, unleashing small landslides, causing power outages and severely cracking some homes. This particular home was a two-story residence that collapsed onto two vehicles parked below it

Power outages were reported in some parts of Puerto Rico following the quake, Angel Vazquez, emergency management director for the southern coastal city of Ponce, said

Residents in southern coastal towns shared pictures of partially collapsed homes and large boulders blocking roads as officials urged people to remain calm. This photo shows a bedroom inside one of the damaged homes

Cars were crushed under a home that collapsed after an earthquake hit Guanica, Puerto Rico, on Monday

Two men stand in front of a house that collapsed after a 5.8 earthquake hit Guanica, Puerto Rico on Monday

A man takes photos of a house damaged by the 5.8 earthquake in Guanica, Puerto Rico Monday morning
Coronation Street's Sarah Platt is set to tie the knot with Adam Barlow after he proposed during the soap's dramatic gun siege on Christmas Day.

In sneak peek images of the characters' big day, bride Sarah (Tina O'Brien) is seen channelling 1920s glamour in a stunning vintage ensemble.

During filming at Manchester Hall on Tuesday, actress Tina was spotted wearing an elegant vintage gown worn underneath a white feathered shrug.

Coronation Street FIRST LOOK: Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien) is seen channelling 1920s bridal glamour in a stunning vintage ensemble in sneak peek images from the wedding episode

Her blonde tresses were styled in retro curls, accessorised with a feather embellished headband.

Meanwhile, Adam (Sam Robertson) looked serious as he wrung his hands ahead of the ceremony.

The wedding appeared to go off without a hitch, however, as the newlyweds shared a passionate kiss.

The on-screen couple have organised the wedding just weeks after Derek Milligan (Craige Els) stormed Weatherfield's winter wonderland with a gun.

Quick planning: The pair have wasted no time tying the knot, organising the wedding just weeks after Derek Milligan (Craige Els) stormed Weatherfield's winter wonderland with a gun

It marks the union of two of Weatherfield's most iconic families, the Platts and the Barlows.

Speaking to Radio Times, Tina said: 'It feels a bit Romeo and Juliet and historic! It would be a bit strange not being a Platt any more though, but of all the other families on the street to marry into, the Barlows are the one Id choose.'

'Sarah was meant to marry Jason Grimshaw but he climbed out of the toilet window in the church and jilted her, then when they eventually did get married her brother David faked his suicide and drove into the canal just for the attention!

Sneak peak: In scenes filmed in Manchester Hall on Tuesday, actress Tina modelled an elegant vintage gown worn underneath a white feathered shrug

'If there is another wedding Id like it to be a peaceful happy one for Sarah this time. She wouldnt want a big fuss or any drama.'

After filming wrapped for the day, Adam appeared jubilant as he left the venue with Tina.

Tina, Sue Nicholls - who plays Sarah's grandmother Audrey Roberts - and Lucy Fallon - who plays Sarah's daughter Bethany - all donned thick red coats to keep warm as they headed home.

Kate Ford and Alison King, who play Tracy Barlow and Carla Connor respectively, seemed in high spirits after the day's filming.

Beauty: Her blonde tresses were styled in retro curls, accessorised with a diamond headband which also featured feathers

It came after new father Robert Peston was shot dead during the mass shooting that saw two others injured on the cobbles on December 25.

The bistro owner was killed by a bullet that pierced through the Rovers' glass front door after Derek fired his gun.

Shona Ramsey (Julia Goulding) and Gary Windass (Mikey North) also ended up in hospital after being injured, with the gunman meeting his own end after falling from a helter skelter during a tussle.

Nervous: Meanwhile Adam (Sam Robertson) looked serious as he wrung his hands ahead of the ceremony

In emotional scenes Robert (Tristan Gemmill) was seen walking up to the pub with a teddy bear for his newborn son - who he never got to meet.

He was shot through the glass door, unbeknownst to anyone inside, and staggered away from the entrance.

As he leaned against a wall Robert grabbed at his chest and saw there was blood before collapsing to the floor struggling to breath.

Success? The wedding appeared to go off without a hitch, however, as the newlyweds shared a passionate kiss

While on the ground Robert tried to use his phone but ended up dropping it as he passed out.

However it wasn't until later in the episode that Robert died, after asking Michelle to leave a voicemail on his baby's mother's answerphone.

She couldn't get through but pretended to leave a message before Robert went into cardiac arrest.

Well-loved: It marks the union of two of Weatherfield's most iconic families, the Platts and the Barlows

In attendance: Actor Rob Mallard, who plays Daniel Osbourne, enjoys a cigarette as he takes a break between filming

'Historic': Speaking to Radio Times , Tina said: 'It feels a bit Romeo and Juliet'

She added: 'Sarah was meant to marry Jason Grimshaw but he climbed out of the toilet window in the church and jilted her'

The rampage started after Gary held Derek hostage in a bid to stop him reuniting with his children, but he broke free and stole an antique rifle.

After Robert was shot, Gary managed to get the crazed gunman out of the packed pub and moved towards the winter wonderland fair, where the Platt family were.

Gary told them to hide but after Shona's son wandered into the gunman's path the builder was shot in the shoulder trying to move the youngster.

Celebration: After filming wrapped for the day Adam threw a cup of water in the air as he left the venue with Tina

In a dramatic climax Gary and Derek ended up on top of a helter skelter, where they tussled and Derek shot one more time - hitting Shona who was hiding in a box.

Robert had been heavily hinted to be the victim of the Christmas Day siege, after actor Tristan announced he would be leaving the show by the end of the year.

It had been reported that he would be caught in the crossfire and die off-screen after suffering a heart attack on the way to the hospital.

Cosy: Tina, Sue Nicholls - who plays Sarah's grandmother Audrey Roberts - and Lucy Fallon - who plays Sarah's daughter Bethany - all donned thick red ITV coats

Happy: Kate Ford and Alison King, who play Tracy Barlow and Carla Connor respectively, seemed in high spirits after the day's filming

Homeward bound: Rula Lenska, who first played Claudia Colby - an old friend of Audrey Roberts - in 2009, looked chic as she left the set

A source previously told The Sun: 'Derek gets drunk and starts waving a gun around the pub.

'Theres a tense stand-off then a massive fight between the two men and two people are shot, including Robert, who dies on Christmas Day.

'He makes it to hospital but suffers a heart attack and dies off-screen in a bit of snub to Tristan. Its left to Michelle to tell everyone hes dead.'

It had also been previously reported that Shona would be left comatose after being shot, as actress Julia Goulding exits the show to go on maternity leave.

A TV insider told The Sun at the time: 'Shona will be left fighting for survival in her coma with her family devastated at what's happened. It's going to be gut-wrenching.'
Imperial Valley News Center

The United States and Kazakhstan Sign Open Skies Agreement

Washington, DC - On December 30, 2019 at Nur-Sultan, U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan William H. Moser and Kazakhstani Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Beibut Atamkulov signed the Air Transport Agreement between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Agreement establishes a modern civil aviation relationship with Kazakhstan, consistent with U.S. Open Skies international aviation policy. It includes unrestricted capacity and frequency of services, open route rights, a liberal charter regime, and open code-sharing opportunities. The Agreement will enter into force upon an exchange of diplomatic notes between the two governments.

Open Skies agreements allow airlines to make commercial decisions based on market demand, without intervention from government regulators. Air carriers can provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air services to consumers and shippers, thereby promoting travel and trade. This Agreement with Kazakhstan will further expand our strong economic and commercial partnership as well as promote people-to-people ties. It will create new opportunities for airlines, travel companies, and customers. It commits both governments to high standards of aviation safety and security. The Agreement also represents a step forward in the liberalization of civil aviation in Central Asia and expands Central Asias connectivity with the world.
The BJP said it is ready to welcome Wadettiwar into the party.

Mumbai: Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday held his first Cabinet meeting after the Cabinet expansion on December 30. According to sources in the Mantralaya, there was an argument between Congress Ashok Chavan and NCPs Chhagan Bhujbal over the seating arrangement at the meeting. Mr Bhujbal is reportedly unhappy over being given the food and civil supply portfolio.

A source said that deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, water resources minister Jayant Patil, PWD minister Ashok Chavan and revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat were seated on one side of chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, while urban development minister Eknath Shinde, Mr. Bhujbal, Anil Deshmukh and Dr. Nitin Raut were seated on the other side.

Mr Bhujbal and Mr Chavan reiterated that there has to be some protocol for the seating arrangement, the source added. Even industries minister Subhash Desai was not sitting as per protocol. Mr Desai was sitting next to Mr Thorat, the source claimed.

According to the protocol, the seating arrangement is as follows: The chief minister, deputy CM, leader of ruling party in Upper House, former CM and former deputy CM.

Moreover, senior Congress minister Vijay Wadettiwar, who like Mr Bhujbal is sulking after not getting a plum portfolio, did not attend the meeting. The Congress leaders absence grabbed the attention of the BJP, which is ready to welcome him in its fold. BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawa-nkule said that his party would welcome Mr Wadettiwar if he decides to quit the party.

The absence of the senior Congress leader has exposed that all is not well in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Mr Wadettiwar is the minister for OBCs, khar land development and relief of rehabilitation (earthquake). Political observers said that Mr Wadettiwars absence in the first Cabinet meeting is a sign of his disappointment.

Mr Wadettiwar became the Leader of Opposition in Maharasthra Assembly after Vikhe-Patil switched his loyalty to the BJP. A senior Congress leader and Cabinet minister told The Asian Age, Mr Wadettiwar wanted to be made PWD or energy minister. Now, revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat has been given the task of pacifying him.
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If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you know that Mrs. T isand has been in the intensive-care unit of New York-Presbyterian Hospital for the past three weeksbut that she recently turned a corner.

As I reported last night:

The news about Mrs. T continues to be good. Not only is she walking further each day on the ICU treadmill, but shes eating more and resting far more comfortably. She still needs those two lungs urgently and is very sickbut much, much better than she was two weeks ago.

Mrs. T is now stable enough, in fact, that Ive decided to give myself the much-needed caregivers holiday I scratched this past weekend when Ian, my nephew, came down with bronchitis and had to cancel a planned visit to New York. My new plan (laugh, God!) is to spend tonight and tomorrow at, the beautiful riverside hideaway in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to which Mrs. T and I have escaped a couple of times each year ever since we first got together. (Ecce Bed and Breakfast, our other much-loved vacation retreat,after a glorious fifteen-year run. We miss you already, Alan and Kurt!)

It will feel strange to stay at Bridgeton House by myself. Ive only been there once without Mrs. T,

Before long I was snaking down the Delaware River to Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania, the home of Bridgeton House on the Delaware, an inn about which I cant begin to say enough good things. Its on the river, the rooms are handsomely appointed, and most even have their own private riverfront balconies. After driving across the bridge to the Milford Oyster House, there to sup on Crab Norfolk and a garlic-laden salad, I retreated to my balcony to watch the river flow and the fireflies blink. It was a hot and humid night, but before 15 minutes had passed the temperature had plunged at least as many degrees, and the fireflies flew off to make way for a thunderstorm. The lightning exploded over Upper Black Eddy as I looked on, delighting in the gaudy detonations far overhead.

As much as Ill miss her, though, I know I need to spend a couple of quiet nights on my own, free of duties and deadlines, listening to the river and turning loose of the unforgiving moment. Naturally Im bringing a short stack of books, and I plan to do nothing while Im there except read, watch movies, eat well, and chat with the wonderfully nice people who run Bridgeton House and who, like me, care very much for Mrs. T. Well have plenty to talk about.

See you later.
Prison is not a place where anyone wants to spend their time, let alone the rest of their life.

Several of central Pennsylvanias most notorious killers are either serving long terms behind bars or are fated to end their days in a prison cell.

The following photographs depict 15 of them at the time of their arrests, left, and what they look like now courtesy of their latest inmate photos from the state Department of Corrections.

In many cases, the transformations are striking.

Ernest Wholaver

Ernest Wholaver

Wholaver, now 59, is under a death sentence for the triple-murder of his family in Middletown on Christmas Eve of 2002. Wholaver killed his estranged wife and his two daughters. Investigators said he committed the slayings to prevent his daughters, ages 15 and 20, from testifying that he had repeatedly raped them.

Mark Spotz

Mark Spotz

Spotz, now 48, is one of the midstates most prolific killers. His victims included his own brother, who was killed during an argument in the familys Clearfield County home in 1995. That triggered a bloody spree during which Spotz killed four women he met at random. Two of those victims were from York and Cumberland counties. Spotz also is awaiting execution for his crimes.

Hubert Michael

Hubert Michael

Another death row inmate, Michael is facing capital punishment for the 1993 kidnapping and murder of 16-year-old Trista Eng. The former Lemoyne resident abducted the girl as she walked to her job in Dillsburg. He is 63.

Seifullah Abdul-Salaam

Seifullah Abdul-Salaam

Abdul-Salaam, now 49, shot and killed New Cumberland police Officer Willis Cole during an attempted daylight robbery of a downtown store in August 1994. The Harrisburg man had been under a death sentence, but it was overturned. Cumberland County prosecutors have vowed to hold another trial to put him back on death row.

Kimberly and Jarrod Tutko Sr.

Kimberly and Jarrod Tutko Sr.

This Harrisburg couple are spending decades behind bars for the July 2014 starvation death of their severely disabled 9-year-old son. Investigators said the two left the boy to die of neglect in his locked, dark and feces-caked room. Both Tutkos pleaded guilty to third-degree murder. Jarrod, now 43, is serving a 21- to 42-year prison sentence. Kimberly, now 44, was sentenced to 20 to 40 years behind bars.

Joseph Miller

Joseph Miller

Joseph Joey Miller, now 55, is a serial killer who stands no chance of ever getting out of prison. He is serving five consecutive life sentences for the slayings of young women in the Harrisburg area in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Miller had been under a death sentence, but later was deemed to be exempt from execution because he is mentally handicapped.

Brian Trimble, top, and Blaine Norris

Brian Trimble and Blaine Norris

Trimble and Norris, partners in a failed attempt to make a horror movie, conspired to murder Trimbles wife Randi in January 2003 for her life insurance money. Norris, now 42, hid in the couples East Pennsboro Township home and stabbed and strangled Randi while Brian Trimble, now 44, stayed away to try to establish an alibi. Both men are serving life prison sentences after pleading guilty to the slaying.

Brian Hummert

Brian Hummert

Hummert, now 63, is doing life behind bars after twice being convicted of first-degree murder for the March 2004 slaying of his wife Charlene. Investigators said Hummert, a former Fairview Township resident, strangled his 48-year-old wife with a dog collar at their home and then left her body in her sport-utility vehicle in the parking lot of a nearby Giant Food Store.

Miguel Figueroa-Novoa

Miguel Figueroa-Novoa

Figueroa-Novoa is in prison for life for what almost was a double murder-suicide. Right before Christmas in 2010, he shot and killed his 19-year-old ex-girlfriend and wounded her mother in her Harrisburg apartment. He then shot himself in the mouth and drove to the hospital for treatment. A Dauphin County jury convicted Figueroa-Novoa, now 32, of first-degree murder and attempted murder.

Colton Hardy

Colton Hardy

Hardy, now 29, was looking at a possible death sentence when he pleaded guilty in return for a life sentence for the 2009 beating death of his 88-year-old neighbor in Cumberland Countys Dickinson Township. Investigators said Hardy broke into the womans home, watched her as she slept and killed her when she awoke. He then stole her car and drove for hours before returning and parking it near his home.

Rita Sawyer

Rita Sawyer

Sawyer, a former anesthesiologist at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon, is serving as life sentence for the murder of her disabled 79-year-old mother, who suffered from dementia. Police said Sawyer, now 63, checked her mother out of a nursing home in June 2004, then killed her by drugging her and smothering her with a pillow. Sawyer then tried to commit suicide. A Lebanon County jury convicted Sawyer of first-degree murder.

Donald Meyer

Donald Meyer Jr.

Meyer didnt pull the trigger, but he was convicted of causing the death of his 12-year-old daughter when a constable served an eviction notice at their Perry County apartment in January 2016. Meyer threatened the constable with a rifle and the constable fired a shot that hit Meyer in the arm and killed his daughter, who was standing behind him. Meyer, now 63, was convicted of third-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 to 57 years behind bars, a de facto life term.

Niejea Stern

Niejea Stern

Stern, the youngest murderer on this list, was a 15-year-old fugitive from the law when he killed a Harrisburg man with a shotgun blast in August 2014. Investigators said Stern, who had escaped from juvenile justice authorities, apparently killed the 18-year-old victim in a case of mistaken identity. Stern, now 21, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison but was resentenced to 45 years to life behind bars after automatic life sentences were ruled unconstitutional for juvenile killers.
U.S. officials "could see clearly" that the late Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani was planning attacks to kill Americans, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday, but he declined to give any specifics about the "imminent" attack.

Soleimani, head of the Iranian Quds force, was killed Jan. 3 in a drone strike authorized by President Donald Trump.

At a State Department news conference, Pompeo sought to shore up the administration's position that an Iranian attack was "imminent," but stressed that details on what prompted the deadly strike at Baghdad's International Airport last Thursday are classified.

"There's been much made about this question of intelligence and imminence," Pompeo said. "Any time a president makes a decision of this magnitude, there are multitude pieces of information that come before him.

"It's the right decision. We got it right; the Department of Defense did excellent work," he said, adding that it was an "entirely legal decision."

Related: People Are Panicking About Military Draft, Stop-Loss and IRR Activation. Here's the Reality

Pompeo said it is normal practice to have lawyers consult on the legality of the use of military force before a president gives the authorization, but he could not confirm whether Trump had that advice before ordering the strike on Soleimani.

However, Pompeo said, "I'm confident that was the case here."

He rejected claims by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif that Soleimani had arrived in Baghdad on a "peace mission" and that his killing violated international law.

Pompeo asked: "Does anybody here believe that?"

He called Zarif a "propagandist" and said his assertions were "fundamentally false."

Zarif told CNN that Trump needs to "wake up and apologize" for killing Soleimani to avoid conflict.

In Iran, three official days of mourning for Soleimani that brought hundreds of thousands to the streets to denounce the U.S. were ending, possibly clearing the way for the "revenge" promised by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

At the State Department, Pompeo also noted Iran's announcement that it will no longer be bound by restrictions on the enrichment of uranium set in place with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) under President Barack Obama.

"On our watch, Iran will not get a nuclear weapon," he said.

Pompeo echoed Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley in stating that any U.S. response to Iran's threats of retaliation for Soleimani's death will be conducted according to the laws of armed conflict and international norms, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Future actions by the U.S. will "always be conducted inside international laws," he said. Those remarks followed Trump's threats via Twitter this week to hit Iranian cultural sites in what could be considered a war crime under agreements signed by the U.S.

Esper and Milley will head to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to brief the full Senate in closed session to parse the word "imminent" in an effort to head off congressional attempts to limit Trump's war-making authorities.

At an off-camera Pentagon briefing Monday, both Esper and Milley sought to back up the administration's claims that an attack by Iran or its proxies on U.S. forces and diplomats was "imminent" and justified the killing of Soleimani.

Esper acknowledged the threats of revenge from Tehran. "We remain prepared for any contingency with regard to Iran," he said.

"Our message to Iran is that the ball is in their court" on what happens next, he added, but held out hope for a negotiated settlement to avoid a conflict.

"We are open to sitting down with them and discussing issues so that we could have a more normal relationship with that country," Esper said.

Milley gave a sketchy outline of what prompted Trump's order to kill Soleimani while withholding specifics.

He said the intelligence was influenced by Soleimani's track record as an implacable foe of the U.S. presence in the region and his history as the instigator behind attacks by Iranian proxies that have killed hundreds of U.S. troops since the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.

"We know his history. Importantly, we knew his future," Milley said. "I'm not going to go into the details of that, and I know that a lot of people are out there -- I've seen words like, 'Oh, the intel was razor thin.'

"Very, very few people saw that intelligence. He [Esper] and I saw that intelligence. And I will be happy, when the appropriate time comes, in front of the proper committees and anybody else," to defend the administration's action, Milley said.

"I'll stand by the intelligence" justifying an attack on Soleimani, he added, saying the intelligence "was compelling, it was imminent, and it was very, very clear in scale, scope."

"Did it exactly say who, what, when, where? No. But he was planning, coordinating and synchronizing significant combat operations against U.S. military forces in the region and it was imminent," Milley said.

Despite the assertions of Milley and top leaders on the validity of the intelligence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and others who have been briefed on the classified evidence provided to Congress thus far have dismissed the administration's claims.

Pelosi said Monday that she will schedule a debate and a vote later this week on a war powers resolution to limit Trump's ability to take action against Iran.

The classified information given Congress thus far "raises more questions than it answers," she said in a statement.

In addition, "This initiation of hostilities was taken without an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iran, without the consultation of the Congress and without the articulation of a clear and legitimate strategy to either the Congress or the public," Pelosi said.

The current AUMF was enacted shortly after the 9/11 attacks on Sept. 18, 2001, and authorizes "the use of United States Armed Forces against those responsible for the recent attacks launched against the United States."

A section of the AUMF states that the president is "authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons," with the purpose of preventing future attacks.

In October 2002, Congress approved another AUMF "to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq" in the buildup that led to the 2003 invasion.

In remarks to White House reporters last Friday, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien sought to tie the strike against Soleimani to the 2002 AUMF on Iraq.

"It was a fully authorized action under the 2002 AUMF [for Iraq] and was consistent with [Trump's] constitutional authority as Commander-in-Chief to defend our nation and our forces against attacks like those that Soleimani has directed in the past and was plotting now," he said.

Under the Constitution, Congress has the express power to declare war, while Article II, Section II, gives the president power as commander in chief over any military operations approved by Congress.

The debate has continued since the Constitution was enacted on the intersect between Congress' power to declare war and the president's duty to conduct it in emergencies requiring immediate action.

The argument pushed by Democrats now is that Congress would have to pass another AUMF to authorize military action against Iran.

In response to the Vietnam War, Congress in 1973 passed the War Powers Resolution over the veto of then-President Richard Nixon as a check against a commander in chief's ability to direct the use of military force.

The resolution required the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action, and forbade the military from remaining in an area of conflict for more than 60 days without passage by Congress of an AUMF.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Read more: Air Force Sends B-52 Bombers to Diego Garcia Amid Middle East Buildup: Report
In subsequent reports, U.S. analysts would describe the attack as a kind of wake-up call: evidence of a vastly improved arsenal of high-precision missiles that Iran has quietly developed and shared with allies over the past decade. In the event of a wider war with the United States, Iran can be expected to deploy such weapons to inflict substantial damage on any number of targets, such as U.S. military bases, oil facilities or Israel, analysts say. On Tuesday, Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two bases in Iraq used by the United States, according to the Pentagon, which was conducting a damage assessment.
Amid the Australian wildfires, the national gallery has reportedly said that in order to protect their artwork they will not open on January 6. The ongoing Matisse and Picasso exhibition include some borrowed pieces such as Picasso's portrait of his wife, Olga, and lover, Marie-Therese from Musee Picasso in Paris. The gallery while speaking to an international media outlet said that closing doors will allow them mitigate any risk to public, staff and works of art on display.

Due to the heavy smoke in the Canberra area the National Gallery of Australia will be closed today. Closing our doors allows us to mitigate any risk to the public, staff and works of art on display. We are sorry for any inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/ct4cnwUwb2  NationalGalleryAus (@NatGalleryAus) January 4, 2020

According to international media reports, the air quality in Australia was recorded to be the worst of any major city in the world. Although Canberra doesn't face any imminent danger from fire, it, however, sits between blazes ravaging the east coast. The yellowish smoke has also blanketed towns and cities which have further raised concern about public health. The health authorities in Canberra has also warned the residents to avoid outside physical activity.

READ: Ways To Help People And Animals Affected By Bushfires In Australia

The smoke from the Australian bushfire has also drifted over New Zealand. The weather conditions in Auckland had prompted the officials to turn on the street lights on and several calls were received for emergency services. Netizens even shared pictures of their area and started conversations about the 'degrading climate situation' on the planet. The weather watch had further issued a statement that the thick plume which originated 2,200 kilometres away would thin out by the end of the day. The New Zealand defence minister reportedly said that the nation would send its military support in Australia to aid bushfire management.

2:30pm outside my home in West Auckland, New Zealand in the middle of summer. Just dark, ash clouds. We are over 2000km away from Australia. No filter.  pic.twitter.com/N8f4rmvEeX  Taylah Hodson-Tomokino (@taylahtomokino) January 5, 2020

READ: Australia: Images Show Hills 'glowing In The Dark' Due To Bushfires

Glaciers turn brown

The icy white glaciers in New Zealand's South Island have also turned brown after being exposed to smoke, dust and ash from the deadly Australian bushfire crisis. Internet users have shared shocking photographs and videos on different social media platforms which showed the impact of the drifting smoke on some of the country's magnificent and pristine attractions. The pictures taken from the Southern Alps showed the smoke haze had tinged the snow-capped mountain peaks and glaciers a shade of 'caramel'.

READ: Australia Bushfires: Hunter Becomes Unlikely Hero After Rescuing Koalas

READ: Australia Bushfire Crisis: PM Sets Up National Bushfire Recovery Agency, Toll Climbs To 24
Now turning part of its focus towards Canadian market.

MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2020 / Kisses from Italy Inc. (OTCQB:KITL) announces plans for continued expansion and site exploration for additional store fronts across Canada, through its wholly-owned Canadian corporation, Kisses from Italy Canada Inc. Canada presents many interesting avenues for potential Kisses from Italy locations and distribution partnerships for authentic Kisses from Italy products. "With our initial foothold in the U.S. and following the opening of our first European location in Bari Italy, in October of 2019, it has given our company the opportunity to structure and strengthen our global distribution network" said Michele Di Turi the company's President and CEO. "We continue to move forward with our aggressive expansion plans by carefully considering the best available opportunities through the different facets of our company."

KISSES FROM ITALY is a U.S. based restaurant chain focused on fast-casual dining with traditional Italian Panini, homemade lasagna, salads, panzerotti di Bari, coffee, dessert and breakfast offerings. The Company currently operates four corporate owned stores. It successfully commenced operations in May 2015 with the opening of its flagship location in Ft. Lauderdale at 3146 NE 9th St. This was followed by three additional sites across the greater Ft. Lauderdale/Pompano Beach area. The Company recently opened its inaugural European location in Ceglie del Campo, Bari, Italy in October of 2019. In September of 2019 Kisses from Italy Inc. was given the approval by FINRA to trade its Common Stock and was approved for up-listing by the OTC Markets Group in mid-October 2019. Kisses from Italy Inc. Common Stock began trading on the OTCQB, OTC Markets platform; under the ticker symbol KITL, in October of 2019.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may contain forward looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those anticipated or expected, including statements related to the amount and timing of expected revenues and any payment of dividends on our common and preferred stock, statements related to our financial performance, expected income, distributions, and future growth for upcoming quarterly and annual periods. These risks and uncertainties are further defined in filings and reports by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Among other matters, Kisses from Italy Inc. may not be able to sustain growth or achieve profitability based upon many factors including, but not limited to, general stock market conditions. Reference is hereby made to cautionary statements set forth in the company's most recent SEC filings. We have incurred and will continue to incur significant expenses in our expansion of our existing and new service lines, noting there is no assurance that we will generate enough revenues to offset those costs in both the near and long term. Additional service offerings may expose us to additional legal and regulatory costs and unknown exposure(s) based upon the various geopolitical locations where we will be providing services, the impact of which cannot be predicted at this time.

Contact Information:

Kisses from Italy Inc.

305-423-7129

info@kissesfromitaly.com

SOURCE: Kisses from Italy Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/572297/Kisses-from-Italy-Continues-to-Expand-its-Network
Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2020) - The Securities and Exchange Commission's Investor Advisory Committee (IAC) will meet telephonically on Jan. 24 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time. The public is invited to listen to the meeting live using the dial-in details provided below. A recording of the meeting will be archived on the committee's web page for later listening.

The committee will discuss and possibly vote on recommendations on two topics: first, the SEC's proxy voting advice and Rule 14a-8 proposed rulemakings; and, second, exchange rebate tier disclosure. The agenda for the meeting is available here.

Members of the committee represent a wide variety of investor interests, including those of individual and institutional investors, senior citizens, and state securities commissions. For a full list of committee members, see the committee's webpage.

The Investor Advisory Committee was established to advise the SEC on regulatory priorities, the regulation of securities products, trading strategies, fee structures, the effectiveness of disclosure, and on initiatives to protect investor interests and to promote investor confidence and the integrity of the securities marketplace. The committee is authorized to submit findings and recommendations to the Commission.

Conference Call Details:

The public may dial-in to the IAC meeting by calling 844-721-7239 (toll-free) from within the U.S. and Canada, or 409-207-6953 (caller-paid) for other international calls. Access Code: 4443950.
LIMA, Peru - An intercity bus crashed into eight parked vehicles on a highway in southern Peru on Monday, killing 16 people, including two Germans, and leaving dozens injured, according to local officials.

Investigator Javier Marino identified the two Germans as Stefan Goer, 30, and Simona Zajaczkowsky, 28. The more than 40 injured included two Germans, two Brazilians and a Spaniard.

Officials said the intercity Cruz del Sur line bus plowed into minibuses serving local routes that were parked alongside the highway in the Yauca district.

They said the bus GPS showed it was moving at 106 kph (66 mph) on a downhill road with a 90 kph (55 mph) speed limit.

Marah Muller, an 18-year-old German, said from the hospital in Nasca that she and her friend Stella Mauren were jolted awake by the tremendous early morning impact.

She said shed been unable to breathe due to an overly tight seatbelt until a man came with a knife and cut her free.
Kylie Jenner hasnt exactly been able to keep a low profile since the start of 2020. Following the whirlwind sale of her beauty empire, Kylie Beauty, and sharing her lavish Christmas gifts and decorations with her fans  everything seems like business as usual in Jenners world.

However, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star is certainly feeling the heat of the spotlight these days. With so much going on in the world including tensions with Iran, the Australian wildfires, and the continuing tensions with our current administration at home, many fans of Jenner are not amused by her lackadaisical response to world events.

In fact, the starlet is currently being dragged for her response to the Australian wildfires.

Kylie Jenners Instagram controversy

The globe is currently in crisis, but for Jenner  its just another day. Shes posted a series of new photos of herself sporting a banana yellow wig. Also, she was just embroiled in a bit of controversy when shared a photo of herself wearing blond twists  a style that Black women typically rock as a protective style.

As soon as the Jenner posted the look, which was allegedly inspired by, Gwen Stefani, fans clapped back and brought up the KUWTK stars history of cultural appropriation. One Twitter user explained, My ppl are still losing jobs and viewed as ghetto for protective hairstyles, while most white ppl see it as fashion. Though she did not acknowledge the backlash, Jenner obviously heard it because she quickly took the photo down.

However, this tone-deaf post brought up Jenners silence about global topics including the devastating Australian wildfires.

Kylie Jenner has remained silent about the Australian wildfires

Though were not sure what the 22-year-old billionaire has done or donated behind the scenes, KarJenner fans are not amused by her silence. One fan wrote, Australia is literally burning to the ground and all she cares about is which color shes going to dye her hair next. If she loved her kid shed actually do something about it because her daughter is going to have to suffer through this not her.

Another fan suggested a way that Jenner could get involved, did you know that close to a BILLION animals have died in the aus fires? Hello. As you may know, fires in Australia have reached a peak. Our nonprofit, through the help of donors, have pledged to donate 1 dollar per follower, 25 cents per story share, and 75 cents per like that we receive on this post. while it may not be much, anything helps during this time of peril.

Kylie Jenners fans have become enraged by her silence

While a slew of celebrities like Pink and Jersey Shore alum Snooki have shared information about the fires, as well as details on how to help, Jenner continues to flaunt her wealth on Instagram. It may have been better for her to post nothing at all.

Just so u know. Australia is burning. Donate some of ur money to them. Your a billionaire arent u? one fan quipped. Another added, Australia is literally burning to the ground and all she cares about is which color shes going to dye her hair next. If she loved her kid shed actually do something about it because her daughter is going to have to suffer through this not her.

To be clear, Jenner can do what she wants with her money, but we must admit, the optics dont look great when it comes to her silence.
Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara caught the eye of global media when they made a rare appearance together on the red carpet of the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards.

The duo did a play-acting moment, with Phoenix stopping on the red carpet to theatrically stare at his fiancee, emoting with his hand on his face, definitely leaving fans in awe.

He touched everyone's heart a little more when he thanked Rooney while accepting the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama) for his role in Joker.

"Rooney ... I love you," Phoenix said tearfully.

If you're wondering how love blossomed between them, here's a quick recap of their love story.



June 2012

It was on the sets of the science-fiction romance Her where the two met for the first time, and since then their love life started blossoming. Phoenix told a magazine that he initially believed Rooney disliked him while making the movie only to later discover that she liked him but was just shy, reports people.com.

October 2016

The two worked together again on Mary Magdalene. In the film, Rooney played the leading role, Phoenix played Jesus. It was during this production that the dating rumors started, reports eonline.com. May 2017 Phoenix and Rooney stunned everyone when they made a public debut as a couple at the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival.

Rooney held his hand during the closing ceremony and was the first to congratulate him when he won the Best Actor prize for his role in the grim thriller "You Were Never Really There".

September 2017

According to oprahmag.com, Phoenix revealed in an interview with the New York Times that he is in a live-in relationship with Rooney and the two enjoyed meditating, relaxing with their dogs, and watching Netflix January 2019 More frequent public outings followed. Early in the year, Phoenix and Mara were spotted stepping out together in Los Angeles. The pair maintained a low profile, both rocking sunglasses during their walk about town. That same month, they also attended artist Michael Muller's exhibit Heaven. Phoenix and Mara were co-chairs of the exhibit.

June 2019

Both Animal lovers, they made a joint appearance at the National Animal Rights Day demonstration. Both held dead birds in their hands during a peaceful demonstration walk and wore T-shirts that read: "Our planet. Theirs too."

July 2019

Several publications reported that Phoenix and Rooney were engaged. Later in September, while receiving an award at the Toronto International Film, Phoenix called Rooney, an award-winning actress, his filthy dragon.


A Sydney cyclist has been slapped with a whopping $915 fine for three offences - but he didn't get much sympathy from drivers.

The man gave other riders a 'friendly reminder' of the NSW road rules that he overlooked this week, adding that the 'joke was on him'.

The cyclist was busted running a red light, failing to wear a helmet and riding on a footpath, costing him $457, $344 and $114 respectively.

A Sydney cyclist has been slapped with a whopping $915 fine for three offences - but he didn't get much sympathy from drivers (stock)

The man shared photos of all three infringement notices he received.

Road rules for cyclists in NSW - A bicycle is considered a vehicle and has the same road rules as other vehicles. - Helmets must be worn by cyclists of all ages in NSW. - Children under 16 years of age are allowed to ride on a footpath, up from children under 12 years of age. -An adult rider who is supervising a cyclist under 16 may also ride with the young rider on the footpath, but in no other circumstances. Advertisement

'Friendly warning to Sydney bike riders and unfamiliar tourists,' he captioned the photos.

'Riding without a helmet, riding on a footpath, not stopping before a red light, or doing all three at once could land you $915.00 in one go. '

Many social media users were quick to sympathise with cyclist, but others were less understanding.

'Riding on the footpath is selfish and arrogant,' one wrote, while another simply added: 'Good'.

The fine for riding without a helmet is almost five times greater than it was previously, having jumped from $344 from $73.

The fine is huge compared to other states. In the Northern Territory riders will be fined just $25.

The cyclist was busted running a red light, failing to wear a helmet and riding on a footpath, costing him $457, $344 and $114 respectively
A 45-year-old employee of an insurance company has been arrested for allegedly raping his colleague after promising to marry her, police said on Tuesday.

The MIDC police on Monday arrested Harikrishnan V H for allegedly raping the 43-year-old complainant on several occasions between November 2017 and September 2019 at the latter's flat in the western suburb of Andheri, an official said.

The married accused allegedly assured the woman that he was planning to divorce his wife, who was living in Kerala with their six-year-old daughter, he said.

Harikrishnan also allegedly got engaged to the victim in March 2019 at a temple in Pune, and made the engagement public, he added.

However, when the accused's wife informed the victim that he had no intention of divorcing her, the victim lodged an FIR.

The accused has been arrested under sections 376 (rape), 417 (punishment for cheating) and others relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, senior inspector Anil Koli of MIDC police station said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ken Friedman, the principal owner of the Spotted Pig restaurant in Manhattan, has agreed to pay $240,000 and a share of his profits to 11 former employees who have accused him of sexual harassment, retaliation and discrimination, as part of a settlement brokered by the New York State attorney generals office.

The office investigated the allegations, which were first reported two years ago by The New York Times, and determined that since at least 2005, the restaurant had violated state and city human-rights laws by maintaining a hostile and highly sexualized workplace where female employees were subjected to severe and pervasive incidents of unwanted touching and sexual advances by Mr. Friedman and some guests. When they reported the abuse, the investigation showed, Mr. Friedman retaliated by firing employees or trying to blackball them in the industry.

Image Ken Friedman Credit... Brent N. Clarke/Invision, via Associated Press

The former employees will share a $240,000 settlement paid out by Mr. Friedman and the restaurant over two years and, for the next 10 years, 20 percent of Mr. Friedmans profits, including any money he makes if he sells the business, of which he owns 75 to 80 percent. The West Village restaurant, which opened in 2004, became a magnet for V.I.P.s drawn by its clubby ambience and exclusive third-floor party room; its other investors, including celebrities like Jay-Z and Fatboy Slim, are not involved in the case.
The owner of a butcher shop targeted by vegan vandals has offered free steaks to anyone who can help catch the culprits.

Mundy's Meat Supply, a family run business in Hobart, had its walls, roller door, and signs covered in pro-vegan graffiti on Sunday night.

The business owners found the graffiti on Monday morning which included the words 'Go Vegan' and 'murderers' and also the slogan 'Friends not food' next to a stencil of a cow, sheep, pig, and chicken.

The owner of a butcher shop targeted by vegan vandals has offered free steaks to anyone who can help catch the culprits

Mundy's Meat Supply, a family run business in Hobart, had its walls, roller door, and signs covered in pro-vegan graffiti on Sunday night

The business owners found the graffiti on Monday morning which included the words 'Go Vegan' and 'murderers' and also the slogan 'Friends not food' next to a stencil of a cow, sheep, pig, and chicken

'It seems we had some lovely visitors last night who decided we would be the target of their beliefs on eating meat,' Dean Mundy told The Mercury.

'The bloke from the shop next door drove past at 7pm and the graffiti was not there and passed by again at 10pm to find it defaced,' Mr Mundy said.

'It is okay to have your beliefs and live the way you decide is best. But it is not okay to damage someone's business. It just is not the right way to get your message across.'

The business took to Facebook on Monday to offer a 'free meat pack' to anyone who could provide information leading to catching the culprits.

Comments on the post were mostly in favour of the business and condemned the graffiti.

In 2018 vegan activists conducted a series of highly organised protests on farms, abattoirs, and in major cities on the Australian mainland.

Traffic in Sydney and Melbourne was brought to a standstill as the protesters conducted sit-ins on major city streets.

The shop owner said the graffiti was spray-painted sometime on Sunday night

The shop, located in Hobart, is a family owned business and was recently renovated




Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has said that Sindhis and Mohajirs are two sides of a single coin and so they should unite to fight for their freedom from Punjab.

Hussain said that if the two communities continue to fight against each other, then Sindh would continue to remain in Punjab's hands as its satellite colony.

The MQM leader further asked Sindhis to divulge why they were compelled to hide their identity as Pakistan calls itself to be a country that includes various minorities.

"Punjab has converted into Sindh one of its colonies and people in armed forces stationed in Sindh are only Punjabis," he said

"DG Rangers, IG Police, Chief Secretary, and other key post officers are imported from Punjab," the leader said.

He asked the Mohajirs and Sindhis to decide whether they would love seeing Sindh as a colony of Punjab or they would think differently.

It was the demonic military establishment of Punjab and its intelligence services, ISI and MI that created differences between Mohajirs and Sindhis.

Since the rule of former Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto till to date, all Sindhis and Mohajirs ethnic riots were planned and executed by the ISI and the MI.

"I can prove my words in any court in corner of the world," he claimed.

Sindhis should realise that the Pakistani establishment had imposed the quota system only for creating division between Mohajirs and Sindhis. Honest Sindhi nationalists should reach Mohajirs and take them into confidence that they are also sons of the same soil, he said.

Hussain said that they want nothing except freedom of Sindh from Punjab. Likewise, he added, he also wants to see Baloch, Pashtun, Gilgit, Kashmiri, Hazarwal and other oppressed nations as free nations.

He said that rapid changes are taking place in the region after killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in a US air attack in Iraq.

"Tensions were high and there are clouds of third war and this war could easily be waged if the US would avoid sanity. However, whenever war was fought, new states and countries emerged on the atlas and native people of Sindh would also get freedom if they would keep alert," the MQM leader said.

He claimed that the Pakistani military establishment has "compromised over its nuclear programme and arsenal at the behest and demand of America."

"These military General have also mortgaged Pakistan to China in the garb of China Pakistan Economic Corridor," he said.

He noted that Sindhis and Mohajirs should never allow any foreign power to occupy Sindh and chanted slogan of 'Azad Sindh Riyasat' (Free Sindh State).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Punta Venta, a popular tourist rock formation in Puerto Rico, has collapsed after the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that shook the island on Monday dawn, according to an article by BBC.

U.S. Geological Service reported the quake struck at 6:32 a.m. (1032 GMT) just south of the San Juan Island at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles).

Although there were no tsunami alerts were issued and no casualties have been reported, buildings were severely damaged, landslide and widespread power occurred. Four hours later, the country also experienced a 5.1-magnitude aftershock.

Residents posted pictures of the rock formation losing its upper part.

Aside from that, images of homes upended from their foundations and cars crushed under buildings, also circulated in social media.

In an interview with the Miami Herald, a local said that Punta Ventana was "one of the biggest tourism draws of Guayanilla".

"Playa Ventana has collapsed. Today our icon rests in everyone's memory," Glidden Lopez, a press officer for Guayanilla council, wrote in a Facebook post.

Lopez previously posted that the rock formation has already had minor damages caused by tremors in recent days.

Nelson Torres Yordan, the mayor of Guayanilla, confirmed that Punta Ventana was in ruins.

Puerto Rico, a US territory of around 3.2 million people, has been rattled by a series of earthquakes since 28 December with a 4.7-magnitude quake followed by a 5.1-magnitude one that hit near the territory's south coast, according to a report by Latin Post. Dozens of panicked people rushed into the streets for safety while goods fell off supermarket shelves, cracks formed in homes, and a large rock fell and blocked a road. Since then, more than 1,100 earthquakes have recorded by the seismograph in that region, majority have not been felt, except for the 4.2-magnitude one that hit December 31 and the one on Thursday.

Puerto Rico is situated between the North America and Caribbean tectonic plates which makes it vulnerable to earthquakes, causing significant damage in the past.

Puerto Rico's Seismic Network director Victor Huerfano said in an interview that throughout his 29-year service in the agency, it was the first time he observed this kind of activity. "There's no way to predict when it's going to end, or if it's going to lead to a major event."

He added that the series of seismic activities have been extremely superficial and have occurred along three faults in Puerto Rico's southwest region: Lajas Valley, Montalva Point and the Guayanilla Canyon.

"In general, the force behind all of this is the North American plate and the Caribbean plate squeezing Puerto Rico," he said.

So far, the largest and most damaging earthquakes to hit Puerto Rico was the 7.3-magnitude earthquake which struck near the island's northwest coast in October 1918, unleashing a tsunami and killing 116 people.

The island has not yet fully recovered from the effects of Hurricane Maria, a Category 5 storm that devastated parts of the Caribbean in September 2017. In the U.S. territory alone, the hurricane has claimed 2,975 lives and caused $100bn (75bn) of damage.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 04:31:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ALGIERS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Tuesday invited his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit Algeria, the Presidency said in a statement.

The invitation was accepted and the date of this visit is yet to be determined in the coming days, the statement added.

The last visit to Algeria by Turkish President Erdogan was on February 26, 2018.

The invitation was handed over by Tebboune to the visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu during a meeting they held in Algiers on Tuesday.

Tebboune and Cavusoglu agreed to boost bilateral cooperation.

The situation in Libya was also on the agenda of this meeting, as the two sides agreed on the need to avoid any violent action likely to aggravate the climate, and vowed to spare no effort aiming at reaching a cease-fire, the statement said.

The two sides also expressed their wish that the planned international conference on Libya due to be held in Germany would be the beginning of a comprehensive political settlement of the crisis.

Turkey has approved a bill on sending troops to Libya upon the request of the internationally recognized Government of National Accord based in Tripoli.
Independent Offaly councillor, Sean O' Brien, states that he is totally opposed to the Government commemoration event for the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP). He also called on his fellow Offaly public representatives not to attend the event.



"This event is an absolute insult to the men and women who fought for so long for our independence, many of them giving their lives. Members of the DMP and the RIC helped to identify those who were to be executed after the 1916 Rising. I am calling on all public representatives in Offaly to boycott this event," stated Cllr O' Brien.

"There is a direct connection between the RIC, DMP and the barbarous Black and Tans and Auxiliaries. The Black and Tans were recruited from March 1920 to supplement the RIC and they were mostly former British Army soldiers.

"They got their name from the dark green RIC tunics and khaki British Army trousers which they wore. The Auxiliaries were an auxiliary division of the RIC, made up of ex-British Army officers and were recruited from July 1920," outlined Cllr O' Brien.

"We are all aware of the barbarism of these forces while carrying out British rule in Ireland at the time. It is an affront to the people of Ireland who suffered greatly while fighting for our independence. To suddenly say that all is forgotten is an insult as the RIC, the DMP, the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries were nothing other than the strong arm of the British Government who opposed Irish Independence at the time," he continued.

"I am proud of the many Irish men and women who fought for our Independence. They suffered greatly at the hands of the British Government and their agents in Ireland at the time. I cannot support an event to commemorate them. To say that this all happened 100 years ago does not diminish the severity of the atrocities.

"Minister Charlie Flanagan says that the event is simply an acknowledgement of the historical significance of both the RIC and the DMP. I do not see any historical significance relating to a bunch of barbarous thugs who used their power to uphold the opposition of the British Government at the time to Irish independence," concluded Cllr O' Brien.
She confirmed her new romance with the handsome former rugby player at the 21st Annual InStyle And Warner Bros. Pictures Golden Globe afterparty.

But Nicole Scherzinger and Thom Evans were the picture of romance as they flaunted their new romance at a glitzy New Year's Eve party attended by Eva Longoria in Mexico.

Former Pussycat Doll Nicole, 41, was clearly in the mood for revelry as she first downed a glass of champagne with a giggling Eva, 44, by her side at the Nobu Hotel Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas.

Throwback: Nicole Scherzinger put on a raucous display as she downed champagne at a glitzy New Year's Eve party attended by Eva Longoria in Mexico

There he is: Days before their red carpet debut as a couple, Nicole and new beau Thom Evans hit the dancefloor at the Nobu Hotel Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas

The songstress wowed in a busty black and bronze wraparound gown with extravagant feathered sleeves and hem as she enjoyed the flute of bubbly.

The dress teased a glimpse of her ample cleavage while drawing the eye to her toned legs.

Her brunette locks while styled in soft waves while a radiant palette of make-up lit up her visage.

There he is: Thom, 34, looked to be enjoying his time in Nicole's A-list circle as he posed while looking dapper in a crisp shirt and jeans

Cheers: Former Pussycat Doll Nicole, 41, was clearly in the mood for revelry as she first downed a glass of champagne with a giggling Eva, 44, by her side

Leggy: The songstress wowed in a busty black and bronze wraparound gown with extravagant feathered sleeves and hem as she enjoyed the soiree with Eva

Out and a pout: Nicole puckered up as she posed with Eva and Brooke Burke

Party! Nicole hit the DJ booth with Eva during the raucous NYE bash

Thom, 34, looked to be enjoying his time in Nicole's A-list circle as he hit the dancefloor with his love while looking dapper in a crisp shirt and jeans.

The couple then posed for a fun group shot with Nicole's friends, but kept their distance as Nicole joined Eva in the front of the photo.

Desperate Housewives star Eva wowed in a sparkling canary yellow dress with flared sleeves as she partied with celeb pals including a glamorous Brooke Burke, 48 and actress Busy Phillips, 40.

Dance dance: Eva showed off her honed legs in a sparkling canary yellow dress

Light it up: Eva and Nicole got their groove on with the DJ as they partied

Glamour: Brooke, 48, looked sensational in a striking scarlet dress as she posed with Eva

Here she is: Busy Phillips, 48, wowed in a rainbow silk dress and denim jacket

Brooke looked stunning in a scarlet dress with spaghetti straps while Busy opted for a vibrant rainbow silk number paired with a denim jacket.

Eva was in great spirits during the glittering NYE shindig as she danced, sang and hit the DJ decks.

The sighting of Nicole and Thom came five days before their official debut at the Golden Globes afterparty - finally confirming their romance.

Sparkle: Eva looked sensational as she lit up the dancefloor during the soiree

Animated: Nicole showed off her singing prowess as she joined a group of revellers

Smile: The Don't Cha hitmaker looked delighted as she spent time with friends

Go for it: Eva threw herself into the dancing with aplomb as she partied

Nicole and Thom were rumoured to have started dating after their time spent together on The X Factor: Celebrity where Thom was a contestant and Nicole was on the judging panel.

At the party Nicole looked incredible in a one-shouldered pink gown as she oozed elegance while her dashing beau swapped The X Factor stage for the dizzying heights of Hollywood in a slick suit.

The couple first got tongues wagging after they were spotted getting cosy at a London cocktail bar and later attending a Thanksgiving bash together.

Looking good: Eva, Nicole and Brooke wowed as they posed up for an uber-glamorous snap

A-list; Busy looked chic as she joined a group of pals at the glitzy bash

Here she is: Nicole and Eva couldn't stop laughing as they hit the dancefloor

Banter: An elegant Eva looked delighted as she danced in a VIP area with pals

Nicole began dating Grigor Dimitrov in 2015 following a very public split from Lewis Hamilton, but split last year.

Meanwhile, Thom is best known for dating radio host Kelly Brook between 2010 and 2013.

The hunk went on to date Jessica Lowndes of 90210 fame, while he was also linked to Made In Chelsea star Caggie Dunlop.

Gorgeous: Busy wore her tresses in soft waves and sported bright berry lipstick
The devastation of Australia's native animal population has the Greens calling for extra funding for wildlife rescue and an inquiry into how to rebuild numbers after the bushfires.

The fires are estimated to have already killed half a billion animals in NSW alone.

A wombat seen on the fireground in Tallowa Dam Rd in Kangaroo Valley. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Greens Senator for New South Wales Mehreen Faruqi has called for separate Commonwealth funding on top of the $2 billion announced for the National Bushfire Recovery Agency, to fund the treatment and rehabilitation of affected wildlife.

"Wildlife carers across the country are working round the clock to save our koalas, wombats, kangaroos and other animals so badly affected by bushfires," she said.
New Delhi: Minutes after Delhi's Patiala Court issued death warrant for all four convicts in Nirbhaya gangrape-murder case and ordered that the death row convicts should be hanged at 7 am on January 22, Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi erupted with joy and said that her struggle of seven years has finally ended.

Asha Devi added that her daughter has got justice and the hanging of four convicts will empower the women of the country. "My daughter has got justice. Execution of the four convicts will empower the women of the country. This decision will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system," said Asha Devi.

"I am happy with the court's decision. The convicts will be hanged at 7 am on 22nd January. This decision will instill fear in people who commit such crimes," said Badrinath Singh, father of Nirbhaya.

Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora, who issued the death warrants, said the convicts can use their legal remedies within 14 days. The judge has called the SHO of Tilak Marg police station before delivering the verdict. The judge talked to all the convicts and told them to put forward their claims. The convicts' lawyer AP Singh said that we will file curative petition in Supreme Court. The convicts were produced before the court through video conferencing.

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In December 2019, Nirbhaya's mother had moved the Supreme Court to oppose a review plea by one of the four men sentenced to death in the case. On December 18, the Tihar Jail authorities had issued a notice to the convicts to file their mercy petition within seven days.

Earlier, the Patiala House court had adjourned the hearing on the issuance of death warrants against the convicts till January 7, giving them a weeks time to know if the four convicts were filing mercy pleas. This had come hours after the Supreme Court dismissed the last review plea against capital punishment.
In 2018, some 6.1% of Hungarians were not able to afford to heat their homes sufficiently, which is below the European Unions 7% average rate, according to the EUs statistical agency Eurostat.

The largest share of people who said that they could not afford to keep their home adequately warm was recorded in Bulgaria (34%), Lithuania (28%), Greece (23 %), Cyprus (22%), Portugal (19%) and Italy (14%), Eurostat says.

The lowest shares (around 2%) were recorded in Austria, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Estonia, and Sweden.

This share peaked in 2012 (11%) in the EU, and has fallen continuously in subsequent years. Likewise, the peak in Hungary came in 2012 too, when 15% of Hungarians said that they could not afford to heat their homes sufficiently.



Photo courtesy of Eurostat
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 19:43:36|Editor: Wang Yamei

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ISLAMABAD, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- An aircraft of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) crashed into Mianwali district of the country's east Punjab province on Tuesday, killing two pilots, a PAF statement said.

The dual-seat aircraft FT-7 was on its routine operational training mission when it crashed shortly after taking off from the airbase, leaving both pilots including a squadron leader and a flight officer killed, a PAF spokesperson later confirmed in a conversation with Xinhua.

The air force headquarters have ordered an inquiry to determine the cause of the crash.

Talking to Xinhua, Obaid Ullah Khan, District In-charge of Rescue 1122, a state-owned rescue organization in Mianwali, said that no loss of life has been reported on the ground as the plane crashed in an open field far away from the residential settlement.

He said that the aircraft caught fire before hitting the ground, which is one of the apparent reasons why the pilots did not get a chance to bail out of the crashing aircraft.

The PAF teams have cordoned off the area for investigation, and will remove the debris of the aircraft, he added.






BEIRUT  A decision by Japanese prosecutors to issue an arrest warrant for Carlos Ghosn's wife shortly before the fugitive car boss was due to speak publicly about his case was "pathetic," a spokeswoman for Ghosn told Reuters on Tuesday.

The ousted Nissan Motor and Renault chairman fled to Lebanon, his childhood home, in late December from Japan, where he faced trial for alleged financial misconduct.

Ghosn is expected to speak on Wednesday at a news conference in Beirut and detail some of the claims he has made against Nissan since his arrest in November 2018. He has alleged there was a Japanese government-backed coup to oust him. It's his first such appearance since his arrest in November 2018.

"Last time Carlos Ghosn announced a press conference and got re-arrested. This time, the day before he is announced to speak out freely for the first time, they issued an arrest warrant for his wife Carole Ghosn," the spokeswoman said.

Japanese prosecutors issued the warrant for Ghosn's wife Carole for perjury, Japanese media reported.

The spokeswoman said Carole Ghosn voluntarily went back to Japan nine months ago to answer prosecutors' questions and was free to go without any charges.

"The issuance of this warrant is pathetic," she said.

Japan is looking for a way to extradite Ghosn, but Lebanon and Japan have no extradition agreement and Lebanon does not normally extradite its own citizens.

The perjury arrest warrant accuses Carole Ghosn of falsely claiming not to know, or to have met, people connected to a company that received payments from Nissan Motor, part of which it subsequently transferred to a firm owned by Ghosn.

Separately, a senior Ministry of Justice official said staff were poring over Lebanese laws to find a way to return Ghosn and that Japan "will do whatever it can" to have him face trial.

Naming names at Nissan

Ghosn is expected to detail some of the claims he has made against Nissan since his arrest.

Story continues

Citing an interview with Ghosn, Fox Business reported that he said he has "actual evidence" and documents to show there was a Japanese government-backed coup to "take him out." He plans to identify those he believes responsible, the broadcaster said.

In earlier court filings seen by Reuters and statements released by his lawyers in Japan, Ghosn has claimed that he was unseated to destroy any possibility of a merger between Nissan and Renault, accusing Nissan executives of colluding with Japanese prosecutors and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry officials.

Ghosn's legal team in Japan also said prosecutors withheld evidence, citing concerns voiced by Nissan that it included sensitive information about operations and employees.

Nissan said Ghosn's flight from Japan would not affect its policy of holding him responsible for "serious misconduct."

"The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan," the automaker said in a statement.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, on Tuesday, described Ghosn's escape to Beirut as "regrettable" and said Tokyo had asked Lebanon for help, although he declined to say what exactly Japan had asked of Lebanon.

"It's necessary to carefully consider the legal systems of both countries," he told a news conference,

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As wildfires continue to burn in Australia, smoke from the blazes has traveled thousands of miles across the ocean to Chile, Newsweek reports.

The plumes crossed 11,000 kilometers (6,800 miles) over the Pacific Ocean to the South American nation, moving on what is known as a trough or channel of low atmospheric pressure.

Edita Amador, a meteorologist for Chile's Weather Directorate, told the Australian Associated Press she expects the cloud to head towards Argentina in the coming days. She explained it may form a "cap" over the land, which could reduce ultraviolet radiation levels on the ground. Amador said the smoke shouldn't cause problems as it rarely rains in the affected area.

On Monday, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tweeted a satellite image showing two areas of smoke from the bush fires, heading towards South America.
Astronomers have traced the source of a mysterious repeating 'fast radio burst' in space to a nearby galaxy similar to the Milky Way.

The repeating radio signal - four bursts over the space of five hours that lasted less than two thousandths of a second each - was first detected by Canada's CHIME telescope in 2018.

Despite more than a decade of research into these types of signals, astronomers are no closer to understanding what causes them.

Galaxy FRB 180916, the newly-discovered source of the fast radio burst, is only half-a-billion light years from Earth - far closer than previously traced signals.

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Researchers used the Very Large Array observatory in New Mexico (pictured) to seek pulsations and a persistent radio glow from burst which was eventually traced back to Galaxy FRB 180916 just half-a-billion light years from Earth

Kevin Bandura, co-author of the study and assistant professor in the department of computer science and electrical engineering at West Virginia University, said: 'What's very interesting about this particular repeating FRB is that it is in the arm of a Milky Way-like spiral galaxy, and is the closest to Earth thus far localised.

'The unique proximity and repetition of this FRB might allow for observation in other wavelengths and the potential for more detailed study to understand the nature of this type of FRB.'

At half-a-billion light years from Earth, the source of the burst is seven times closer than the only other repeating burst to have been localised.

It is also more than ten times closer than any of the few non-repeating bursts scientists have managed to pinpoint.

The source of the burst is seven times closer than the only other repeating burst to have been localised. It also deepens the mystery around the signals as scientists have no idea what creates the radio signals (file photo)

The breakthrough was achieved by researchers at West Virginia University using data from eight telescopes spanning from the UK to China.

This study, published in the journal Nature, builds on the institution's rich history of research into FRBs after first discovering them in 2007.

It also deepens the mystery around the signals, as academics previously thought they were exclusively created by magnetars - an incredibly dense star that emits huge amounts of high-energy radiation, including X-rays and gamma rays.

But the galaxy that spewed out the latest radio burst was similar to the Milky Way - much bigger and less dominated by metal than the galaxies that produced previous FRBs.

This dispels the theory that they can only be created by specific galaxies, but does not help narrow down the potential causes.

Sarah Burke-Spolaor, assistant professor of physics and astronomy and co-author, said: 'A lot of publications [said] that repeating FRBs are likely produced by magnetars (neutron stars with powerful magnetic fields.

'While that is still possible, the fact that this FRB breaks the uniqueness of that previous mold means that we have to consider perhaps multiple origins or a broader range of theories to understand what creates FRBs.'
New Delhi, Jan 7 : One Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was killed on Tuesday in an encounter with security forces in Awantipora of South Kashmir after a 40-day gap since the last encounter, police said.

The slain militant Zahid Hassan Gadhanji of Anantnag had joined the terror ranks only a few days ago and refused to surrender as the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and CRPF was carrying out a joint operation in the Charsoo area.
Jammu and Kashmir [India], Jan 7 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to look into public interest litigation (PIL) against Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) decision to exchange Rs 30 crores worth of banknotes which were defaced by separatist groups in Kashmir in 2013.



A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Sharad Arvind Bobde, has asked the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, to reply within two weeks as "it is a matter of national importance."

The plea filed by one Satish Bhardwaj, has called for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation against RBI for allowing notes to be exchanged. Bhardwaj has alleged that he had moved RBI and CBI for action into the matter in 2013 itself but did not get any response. (ANI)


Uber has multiple service lines, including food delivery, rideshare, payments, and two-wheeler taxis, all of which are supported by engineers in India.

Just as cash payments were pioneered in India, Uber is looking at how more such innovations developed here can be used in other emerging markets, reports Yuvraj Malik.

IMAGE: The Uber office on the outskirts of New Delhi. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters

Uber is prepping India as its main engineering hub outside its San Francisco headquarters, a move that may attract more investment in the country.

Several core technology functions, such as maps intelligence and algorithms to match riders and drivers -- used at scale across the globe -- are being developed at locations in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

The cab aggregator plans to increase the technical staff, which includes product managers and designers, to 1,000, from about 600 presently, said Apurva Dalal, director engineering, Uber India, and site lead for Bengaluru.

"By the end of 2020, we will be 1,000-plus and will be, between Hyderabad and Bengaluru, the biggest centre for Uber outside of headquarters in San Francisco," said Dalal, who joined Uber in 2016 to lead the Bengaluru centre.

The India technology leadership team includes Naga Kasu, the site director for the Hyderabad centre and Vidhya Duthaluru, who heads the 'customer obsession' team.

Together, teams here work on riders, marketplace, maps, data analytics, payments, and customer obsession.

India's importance as a key market, from both a business and technology point of view, is evident from the decision.

It comes after Uber sold its business in Southeast Asia and China.

Uber Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dara Khosrowshahi has come down twice over the last two years and the India unit received investment of Rs 4,306 crore this year alone.

IMAGE: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi speaks to the media at an event in New Delhi. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

Uber's business grew 31 per cent to $345 million in Asia Pacific, the second-highest growth rate after the US and Canada.

"Our CEO is bullish behind us and we see India as a key leverage and part of the technical vision for Uber," said Dalal.

He added that Khosrowshahi, who met other mobility start-ups, such as Yuli during his visit, had one question for him during his last visit.

"He asked me 'how can we grow faster?

"I want to move things faster and have a lot of research and development happening out of India'," said Dalal.

The plan to scale up India engineering comes at time of global reorganisation at Uber, following its initial public offering in May.

In October, Uber made 350 employees redundant globally, including some in India, in what was the company's third retrenchment exercise this year.

Uber had 26,799 employees globally as of June 2019 and the India headcount is estimated at 2,600.

Uber also created a new India entity, Uber Systems, which is owned by Uber BV and Uber International BV, based in the Netherlands.

IMAGE: The Uber Eats food delivery service at work. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Uber has multiple service lines, including food delivery, rideshare, payments, and two-wheeler taxis, all of which are supported by engineers in India.

Just as cash payments were pioneered in India, Uber is looking at how more such innovations developed here can be used in other emerging markets.

The company recently launched a bus service in Cairo, Egypt, and it is exploring the viability of introducing a similar service in a densely populated market like India.

Several innovations around maps, which form the basis of Uber's transportation service, are led out of India.

For example, engineers in India are working on artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms models that can detect road blockages and doorstep locations for popular sites across the globe such as airports and museums, said Dalal.

He added that his team is also looking into the problem of drivers cancelling pick-ups for certain drop locations.

"This is a complex problem and we use data to understand the propensity of a driver to go to that particular location, among several other data points, and then match the rider with the most suitable driver," said Dalal.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 02:44:23|Editor: ZX

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WARSAW, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki expressed the hope on Tuesday during an extraordinary meeting of the cabinet council that Poland could play a positive role in the Middle East.

President Duda called for the meeting with the Prime Minister and all members of the government to discuss the situation in the Middle East following the U.S. killing of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, as well as other foreign policy matters.

"Poland can play here a very positive role, because we are very pro-European, but at the same time we very much respect and enjoy our special alliance as part of NATO and with the United States, and we also have traditionally good diplomatic relations in the Middle East," Prime Minister Morawiecki said during the meeting, referring to the tension between the U.S. and Iran following the killing of Soleimani.

"We are under great responsibility to find the best approach to this conflict -- in cooperation with our main partners, the United States, countries from western Europe and the EU -- a conflict which, we cannot deny it, has entered a next stage," Morawiecki said.

"We are at the same time fully aware that any spark can lead to an uncontrollable explosion, so we are trying to lead to a de-escalation," added the prime minister.

On Saturday, Poland announced the suspension of its mission in Iraq, where Polish soldiers and support staff are part of a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) training contingent, after the Iraqi Parliament requested the withdrawal of U.S. troops in the country. Up to 350 Polish soldiers are located in Iraq, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait, all part of training missions, and about 200 of them are in Iraq alone, said Duda.

The Polish president said over the weekend that Polish troops on Iraqi soil would be withdrawn if this was the desire of the Iraqi government and there was NATO agreement on that.

Earlier on Tuesday, Duda held meetings with all major special services in the country and Mariusz Kaminski, the minister in charge of coordinating them.

"According to the information presented during the meeting, there are currently no signals that indicate a higher threat level for Poland," the Polish National Security Bureau announced in a press statement after the meeting with the services.
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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- The U.S. Army selected 20 small businesses and their nonprofit research institution partners to receive 22 Small Business Technology Transfer, or STTR Phase I contracts to develop technologies to address military challenges.

The $166,500, three-month contract awards will conduct feasibility studies to determine the scientific, technical and commercial merit of the concepts.

"We're excited about the potential of these awardees to provide game-changing technologies addressing key issues for the Army," said Michael Caccuitto, Army STTR portfolio director. "We have accelerated the STTR process so that successful projects will more quickly move on to developing a prototype and then transition to an acquisition effort to be put in the hands of the warfighter."

The awardees provided proposals in seven categories important to the Army, including interference and jamming of high frequency radios, position navigation without GPS, phased-array antennas for extremely high-frequency satellite communications, millimeter waveforms for tactical networking, edge sensor processing, adaptable tactical communications (advanced Soldier radios) and standoff electronic denial (disrupting, disabling or destroying the electronics on a remote target).

When Phase I is complete, the Army anticipates funding one project in each of the seven topics for STTR Phase II. Phase II awardees receive a maximum of $1,100,000 for a period between six and eighteen months during which they conduct a major research and development effort, culminating in a well-defined deliverable prototype.

Congress established the STTR program in 1992 to provide small businesses and research institutions with opportunities to participate in government sponsored research and development. The program requires the small business to collaborate with a non-profit research institution, typically a university or federal laboratory.

The Army evaluated and chose the 22 winning proposals from among 88 proposals. Many of those proposals were submitted as a result of the first- Army STTR Industry Day, Sept. 10, 2019 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Friday Center.

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory hosted close to 150 small businesses and research institutions and provided attendees the opportunity to learn how to participate in the Army STTR program and network for strong partnerships.

CCDC ARL scientists from the Army Research Office and active-duty Soldiers provided participants with detailed insight into the seven special topics solicited for the program.

The Army STTR program invests in all Army modernization priorities via nine participating CCDC and Army science and technology centers.

View list of awardees at https://www.armysbir.army.mil/awards/sttr_phase_I_recent. The Army selected MaXentric Technologies LLC, an advanced research, development, and consulting company in New Jersey, in three topic areas.

###
Former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar on Tuesday said a Delhi court issuing death warrant against four convicts in 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape case was the victory of the legal system and Delhi police.

Kumar, who was Delhi police commissioner when the brutal incident occurred, told ANI that it was a blind case in the beginning.

"There is no doubt that this is the victory of the country. This is the victory of our legal system, of Delhi Police and of my team. What was more difficult for us was that we had to work out the case immediately. It was a blind case in the beginning," he said.

"We collected information about the bus in which crime took place and after tracing the bus, the driver was caught. And after that the remaining accused were caught," he added.

The former top cop said he is satisfied that he took all the pressure upon himself so that his team remains free to work.

"The first was nabbing the accused, second was collecting evidence which would be accepted by the court. That was a difficult process. There was a public uproar, political pressure, media pressure and I am satisfied that I took all these pressures on me so that my team remained free to work," he said.

"If I would not have taken that pressure, my team would have to handle it and my team would have been distracted from work. So, it was teamwork. And I am happy that we were successful," he said.

Earlier in the day, Delhi's Patiala House court ordered that all four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya case will be hanged on January 22.

The convicts - Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh - will be hanged at 7 am.

Additional Session Judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the death warrant in the presence of all convicts who were produced before the court through video conferencing.

The court said that convicts can use their legal remedies within 14 days.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At least one person was killed and several others were injured on Tuesday after an explosion in Pakistan's southwestern Quetta city, according to a media report.

The blast occurred near a vehicle of the security forces close to Liaquat Bazar, according to Express Tribune.

The nature of the blast is yet to be determined.

Police have cordoned off the area for a search operation.

Meanwhile, an emergency has been declared at the city's Civil Hospital where the injured have been taken.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
McConnell says he has backing of enough Republicans to start trial as soon as House sends Trump impeachment articles.

Washington, DC  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he has the backing of enough Republicans to begin a trial of President Donald Trumps impeachment as soon as the House sends articles to the Senate.

Under McConnells plan, no decision would be made on whether to call witnesses or seek documents until after opening arguments in the trial are presented by members of the House of Representatives and the presidents defence team.

We have the votes once the impeachment trial has begun to pass a resolution essentially the same, very similar to the 100-to-nothing vote in the Clinton trial, which sets up as you may recall what could best be described as maybe a phase one which would include obviously arguments from the prosecution, arguments from the defence, and then written questions, McConnell said, referring to the impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton.

At that point during the Clinton trial, the appropriateness of calling witnesses was addressed, McConnell said. Obviously, that is one of the most contentious parts of one of these proceedings and that will be addressed at that time and not before the trial begins.

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Democrats have demanded McConnell agree to call several Trump White House aides including acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and former National Security Adviser John Bolton to testify before the Senate.

We dont know what all the evidence will say, Schumer said in remarks to the Senate earlier on Tuesday.

It may exculpate the president. It may incriminate him. We only want a trial that examines all the facts and let the chips fall will they may, Schumer said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not yet sent articles of impeachment against Trump to the Senate, temporarily delaying the start of a Senate trial. She could send the articles to the Senate as soon as this week.

Witnesses?

The House voted on December 17 to impeach Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to his dealings with Ukraine.

All I have seen from Mitch McConnell over the past five years is that he is going to do everything to protect his members and protect the president, said Democratic Senator Chris Murphy.

I dont think he is going to bring witnesses. This is all a whitewash to eventually bring this trial to conclusion without any production of witnesses or documents, Murphy told reporters.

Republicans cited the precedent set by the Senate in the impeachment trial of Clinton when decisions on calling witnesses were deferred until after opening arguments were made.

We should only consider what the House sends us, said Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican.

We shouldnt do the Houses work, Grassley told reporters in the Capitol on Tuesday.

Trump was impeached in December for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress [File: Evan Vucci/AP Photo]

Bolton issued a statement on Monday saying he would be willing to testify if the Senate issues him a subpoena.

Representative Adam Schiff, the Democrat who led the impeachment inquiry in the House, told reporters the presidents refusal to allow Bolton to appear before House investigators suggests his testimony would only be further incriminating.

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A trial in the Senate is expected to end with an acquittal. The chamber is made up of 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents who caucus with the Democrats. At least 20 Republicans would have to vote with all Democrats and two independents to remove the president from office.

The impeachment inquiry of Trump centred on a July 25 phone call between the US president and his Ukrainian counterpart. Democrats allege Trump abused his power of office by organising a pressure campaign to exhort a promise from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to announce investigations into Trump political rival and former Vice President Joe Biden and a debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US elections.

On the July call, Trump urged Zelenskyy to open an investigation into Biden, who is also a 2020 Democratic presidential frontrunner, and his son, Hunter, who had served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company. There has been no evidence of wrongdoing by the Bidens.

At the time of the call, the Trump administration was withholding nearly $400m in Congress-approved military assistance from Ukraine.
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper delivers a statement on Iraq and Syria, at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) Read more

WASHINGTON  Defense Secretary Mark Esper says the United States has made no decision about withdrawing troops from Iraq amid heightened tensions with neighboring Iran.

Esper spoke to reporters Monday after a letter from a U.S. Army general circulated that seemed to suggest a withdrawal had been ordered in response to a vote by the Iraqi Parliament over the weekend.

Esper says, Theres been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq.
Actress and activist Jane Fonda took a reprieve from her weekly climate change protests in Washington, D.C., as she readies for the start of shooting the final season of her hit Netflix series Grace & Frankie.

The legendary star, 82, of the screen is now in New York for an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Monday.

She was all smiles when she hopped out of her car and walked to the studio entrance with several people by her side.

Legendary: Jane Fonda took a reprieve from her weekly climate change protests in Washington, D.C. for a spot on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in NYC on Monday

Fonda looked much younger than her years decked out in a casual, but still elegant, all-black ensemble.

Her slacks hugged her lean figure and flared out at the the bottoms and were paired with a fitted top and a long winter jacket.

She rounded out the outfit with black boots and has her shoulder-length tresses dyed blonde, with a touch of grey, along with some added waves and volume.

At one point, just before going into the building, the two-time Oscar-winner flashed a peace sign that she helped make popular during her days protesting the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 70s.

Casual: Fonda, 82, looked much younger than her years dressed in an all-black ensemble

On a mission: There's no doubt, during her chat with Colbert, Fonda will be discussing her temporary move to DC last October to be closer to 'the epicenter of the fight for our climate'

There's no doubt, during her chat with Colbert, Fonda will be discussing her temporary move to Washington, D.C. last October to be closer to what she called 'the epicenter of the fight for our climate.'

During that time she has helped organize and participate in weekly demonstrations that has resulted in her being cuffed and arrested for civil disobedience numerous times.

Many of her famous friends and fellow celebrities have also been detained in their effort to demand action from political leaders on the what they believe is a climate emergency.

Beaming: The two-time Oscar-winning actress flash a big smile, and eventually, a peace sign before she walked into the the studio building

The actress will likely be headed to California next to start preparing for the upcoming season of Grace & Frankie that also stars Lily Tomlin.

This past September, the series was renewed for a seventh and final season that will consist of 16 new episodes.

The comedy series received mixed reviews from critics when it debuted in 2015, but it has since been met with a largely positive response and numerous accolades for Fonda and Tomlin, including a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy nominations.
Iranians burn US and Israel flags during a funeral ceremony for slain commander of the Quds Force Qasem Soleimani: EPA

Iran has launched a barrage of missiles that struck a joint US-Iraqi air base late on Tuesday, and the Pentagon confirmed that more than a dozen ballistic missiles had been fired at US targets.

State TV said Tehrans Revolutionary Guard had fired tens of warheads at Ain al- Asad base, and also another base in Erbil in Kurdistan, in revenge for the death of Qassem Soleimani.

American defence secretary Mark Esper told reporters Soleimani had been planning an attack within days, and was a legitimate target. Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump has backtracked on his threat to target 52 Iranian cultural sites in military attacks, saying he would obey international law.

Soleimanis burial was delayed by several hours after at least 56 people were killed and 213 others injured after a stampede broke out during the funeral procession in his hometown of Kerman.

Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, flew to Brussels for emergency talks with the French and German foreign ministers about the situation in the Middle East and the escalating conflict in Libya.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said that he has filed a complaint with the police regarding the 'free Kashmir' poster seen at the Gateway of India during a protest against violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

"I have filed a complaint with Police, they have assured me of investigation," Somaiya said.

Last night, during the protest, a girl was seen holding the poster which read - "Free Kashmir." The demonstrators were seen with several other placards with objectionable and abusive languages.

Some posters called for 'Ban on ABVP,' while some others read -- "Stand with JNU."

Politicians, cutting across party lines, had condemned the attack on students which had taken place in JNU on Sunday. They had urged the administration to take nab the culprits and take strict action against those found guilty.

More than 30 students were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the JNU on Sunday and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jack Garfein, a Holocaust survivor who became a noted director, producer and acting teacher, working with some of the greatest actors and playwrights of his era, died on Dec. 30 at a hospital in Manhattan. He was 89.

His family said the cause was leukemia.

Mr. Garfein was at the heart of the Actors Studio in Manhattan in the 1950s, when it was staging attention-getting work based on the Method-acting principles of Konstantin Stanislavski.

Garfein was one of the last surviving early members of the Studio, the film and theater historian Foster Hirsch said by email, adding that he in effect had become a historian of the Studios earliest and most illustrious period.

He first drew wide notice as the director of End as a Man, Calder Willinghams adaptation of his own novel about harsh life in a Southern military academy. The play, which featured Ben Gazzara in his breakout role, opened in the West Village and then moved to Broadway. Mr. Garfein, seven years after arriving in New York speaking no English, was only 23.
Creative Group Let's Thrive Over five decades of change, one constant remains. Weve stayed true to our roots, always focused on helping people achieve their greatest potential.

Creative Group, Inc., a full-service meeting, incentive and recognition company, is proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary. Much has changed since 1970, but Creative Group has remained at the forefront of the meetings and incentive business.

In 1970, Creative Group produced one of the first travel-related incentive programs for a wholesale food distributor. From that experience, a big idea was born: Use incentive rewards to meet a specific business need by encouraging changes in peoples behavior. Now, with over 260 employees in six offices in the US and Canada, Creative Group remains committed to helping clients design programs and experiences that drive their audiences to thrive  programs that reward excellence and inspire people to reach their full potential.

Creative Group has been named to MeetingsNets Top 25 Most Influential Meeting Management Companies every year since the lists inception in 2007. They have also received numerous other industry awards, including the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence Crystal Award, Incentive Magazines Motivation Masters and the Incentive Marketing Association Circle of Excellence.

Over five decades of change, one constant remains. Weve stayed true to our roots, always focused on helping people achieve their greatest potential. And we could not have achieved our outstanding success without the dedication of the talented team here at Creative Group. Their passion for the work  and putting the client first  comes through in everything that they do, said Janet Traphagen, President, Creative Group.

About Creative Group

Creative Group is a full-service meeting, incentive and recognition company that delivers business results by inspiring people to thrive. An industry leader, Creative Group has been honored with Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) awards and the CMI 25 Award, which recognizes the top 25 most influential meeting and incentive management companies in the U.S.

Creative Group was founded in 1970, and has served clients in financial services, life sciences, insurance, manufacturing, retail, technology, automotive and hospitality. Employing over 260 people, the company is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, and maintains offices in Detroit, Denver, San Francisco, Appleton, Wisconsin and Toronto, Canada. Creative Group was acquired by Direct Travel in 2015. For more information about Creative Group, visit http://www.creativegroupinc.com
Its no secret that technology caused a seismic shift not only in the media industry, but in marketing and public relations as well, explains Alisa Picerno, co-founder of EZPZ Press Release.

Savvy business leaders recognize a proven way to become their customers go-to brand is to get media coverage for their positive company news. However, most of them find that grabbing headlines in newspapers, TV and radio about a new product, industry innovation, or event is more complicated than they imagined. Now a pair of public relations professionals is making the process easy, or EZPZ to be exact, with a new press release template service appropriately named EZPZ Press Release.

Tiny startups have skyrocketed to million-dollar superstardom after being featured in a prominent media outlet, but the more common scenario is a company desperately trying to get the attention of the media without success, explains Alisa Picerno, co-founder of EZPZ Press Release. We are providing creative press releases that anyone can quickly and easily customize to break through the competitive clutter.

Picerno and partner Kathy Callahan developed the affordable fill-in-the-blank model in response to a changing marketplace. More business owners are eschewing the paid services of advertising and PR firms as they opt to do it themselves using social media platforms. They also balk at the price tag of a custom press release.

Its no secret that technology caused a seismic shift not only in the media industry, but in marketing and public relations as well, says Callahan. Businesses have the opportunity to reach their customers in more ways than ever before, but the conversational style of writing for social media does not translate to a properly formatted news article.

Picerno notes that an AP-style press release is the number one tool of the trade that print, broadcast and digital newsrooms use to assign interviews and stories. Unfortunately, they receive hundreds of emails every day. An intriguing, activating, headline is key to capturing their attention in the first place, followed by a well-written news story. After decades of creating content for every industry from retail, to aerospace to healthcare, the teams writing style has been consistently praised by journalists for making their jobs easier.

We have been told our clear, concise and grammatically-correct copy focusing on what is newsworthy saves journalists from wasting precious time on editing and rewriting, says Callahan. News professionals will immediately disregard press releases that have misspellings or dont quickly cover the who, what, where, when or why.

Plus, a press release that is too self-promotional will be dismissed as advertising. The ultimate goal of a press release is to gain free publicity. Publicity is earned media, which means the content is worthy of valuable airtime or newsprint because it will appeal to the media outlets audience. According to Nielsen, earned media is the most trusted form of advertising for consumers because a company is not paying for the coverage.

EZPZ Press Release offers templates that cover newsworthy announcements for any business initiative, event or milestone, such as:



Business Grand Opening

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

New Product or Service

Business Award or Industry Accolade

Business Expansion

New Employee Appointment

Seminar Series, Special Event or Fundraiser Announcement

Business Anniversary

Charitable Campaign Launch

Charitable Donation

Grant Recipient

New Construction/Groundbreaking and many more

Whats more, EZPZ Press Release is affordably priced at $149 per individual press release template and also offers a cost-effective membership plan with discounted templates, media engagement tips and other benefits for those wanting to keep their company name in the media spotlight all year long.

We are excited about this new venture and hope to become the number one press release resource for everyone from entrepreneurs just starting out to large corporations with an entire marketing department, adds Picerno.

About EZPZ Press Release

EZPZ Press Release is the premier public relations resource for companies of all sizes to share positive news about their business, products and services with the media. The fill-in-the-blank press release templates save time and money and get results with creative, AP style content that focuses on what is newsworthy. Choose from a cost-effective membership plan to promote your business all year long, or an affordable one-time download to elevate your brand and increase your sales! Visit http://www.EZPZPressRelease.com for more information.
Garrett Storm Hickey has been sentenced for a string of unarmed bank robberies in north Georgia and Alabama, which had gone unsolved for three years. One was a holdup of a bank in Ringgold in 2016,

Diligence by the FBI and our law enforcement partners helped solve these cold case bank robberies, said U.S. Attorney Byung J. BJay Pak. This is also an example of the exemplary cooperation by law enforcement across multiple districts to give closure to the victims and employees of the banks involved while bringing this robber to justice.

If not for the determination of the FBI and our state and local partners, Hickey would be close to being released from federal prison on a single bank robbery conviction, said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. But because of that collaborative effort, three bank robbery cases in Georgia and Alabama that were virtually closed, were re-opened and connected to Hickey. Our partnerships are integral to our mission of protecting the citizens of this country.

According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: On July 6, 2015, Garrett Storm Hickey robbed a bank in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, using a threatening note that demanded money. Using a very similar note and always asking for $1,400, he then robbed three more banks.

On April 19, 2016, he robbed a bank in Ringgold, Georgia, and shortly after, on May 4, 2016, he robbed a bank in Priceville, Alabama. Hickeys last known robbery was on July 20, 2016, at a bank in Athens, Alabama.

In 2017, Hickey was sentenced to just over three years in federal prison after a fingerprint linked him to the Murfreesboro robbery. Later, while still serving his initial sentence, a fingerprint identification by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation lab connected him with the Ringgold robbery. In addition, other evidence, including photos from the bank cameras, linked him to the two Alabama robberies.

In 2019, Hickey was indicted in the Northern District of Georgia, and with the cooperation of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Alabama, and local district attorneys in the three local venues, he was prosecuted for the one Georgia robbery and two Alabama robberies here and pleaded guilty October 2019.



Garrett Storm Hickey, 29, of Centre, Alabama, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen to five years, four months in prison, with credit for time served, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,200. Hickey was convicted on these charges on October 15, 2019, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the FBIs Atlanta-Dalton office, Birmingham-Huntsville office, and Memphis-Murfreesboro office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation - Region 1, the Catoosa County Sheriffs Office and the Ringgold Police Department, both in Georgia, as well as the Limestone County Sheriffs Office, the Athens Police Department, and the Priceville Police Department, all in Alabama.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Hoffer prosecuted the case.
A person is a senior by virtue of his seniority and should be respected even if he has less academic qualification than juniors, the Delhi High Court has observed.

The high court said insubordination is misconduct and refused to interfere with the orders of a special executive magistrate (SEM) and a trial court directing a junior AIIMS doctor, who had an argument with his senior, to maintain peace in the South Delhi area.

"Senior is by virtue of his seniority, may be having less academic degrees than juniors, still he or she should be respected and maintain the subordination," Justice Suresh Kumar Kait said.

The issue relates to an argument between the doctor and the head of department (HoD) of Rheumatology in March 2017, following which the senior woman doctor had complained to the police against the subordinate.

The court was dealing with the plea of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) doctor challenging the SEM's August 3, 2018 order holding that it was established that he used to talk to the complainant, who is the head of department, in a loud voice and his behaviour was improbable, undesirable and uncalled for on two occasions, that is, at the OPD and the doctor's chamber.

The SEM had also bound down the doctor to maintain peace in jurisdiction of South Delhi district for a period of one year in sum of Rs 10,000.

The high court said, "As of now, more than one year has already been passed. Thus, nothing remains in the present petition to interfere with the orders passed by the SEM and the additional sessions judge."



Before the high court, the doctor claimed that he was not properly advised on the issue of filing the appeal against the order passed by the SEM by his previous lawyers and the trial court also proceeded to dismiss his appeal only on the ground of limitation.

Justice Kait said the petitioner was a qualified MBBS doctor and the plea taken by him that he was ill advised by his previous counsel not to challenge the SEM's order saying that the same is not of much consequence, does not stand to reason as the impugned order was so clear to be understandable even by a lay man.

The high court said it does not lie in the mouth of the doctor to say that he was not aware of the consequences of that order on his career or service record.

"The petitioner (doctor) is an educated person and it cannot be believed that he was not aware of the import of the impugned order or the repercussions of said order on his career or service record," it said.

The court noted that the doctor was selected and appointed assistant professor in 2016 and claimed to be highly qualified, while the complainant was the head of department of Rheumatology.

"Thus, whatsoever academic qualification the petitioner has, he cannot compare with respondent no.2 (complainant HOD) who has very vast experience and presently HOD where the petitioner just started his career in AIIMS only in the year 2016 and present incident is dated March 22, 2017," the high court said.

"Thus, it seems the petitioner has attitude because of his so-called educational qualification but forgetting that insubordination is misconduct," it said.

The court said the complainant is a woman and HoD, thus, petitioner was not supposed to create ruckus in her chamber and threat her for dire consequences.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
1 of 6

Bipasha Basu's 6 Love Affairs



Bipasha Basu born in Delhi and raised in Kolkata, Basu won the Godrej Cinthol Supermodel contest in 1996, and later pursued a successful career as a fashion model. She then began receiving offers for film roles, and made her acting debut with a negative role in the moderately successful thriller Ajnabee (2001), which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Basu's first leading role was in the blockbuster horror film Raaz (2002), which earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.



Bipasha Basu has been in the industry for quite some time now, over the years she had her share of fame, hardships, success, struggles, and heartbreak too. As hot as Bipasha Basu is on screen that hot and spicy is her personal life. Bipasha Basu has always been pretty open about her affairs and never really played hide and seek with the media when it comes to boyfriends. Here are list of Bipasha Basu's affairs.



Bipasha Basu-Karan Singh Grover

Bipasha Basu dated Alone co-star Karan Singh Grover. Bipasha Basu got married to Karan Singh Grover on 30 April, 2016. The duo had a traditional Bengali wedding in the presence of their family and close friends followed by a star studded reception.



Read More...


ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  Democrats, amid mounting political pressure, are opening the door to changes on New Yorks bail reform law as the legislative session begins this week.

New Yorks bail law, which went into effect at the beginning of the year, did away with money bail and pretrial detention for a wide majority of low-level cases and nonviolent felonies.

Law enforcement officials, prosecutors and Republicans have spent months raising red flags on the changes, but their criticism caught more attention in the last week as courts across the state have released people who would have remain behind bars under the old rules.

Bail changes, passed by a Democratic-controlled legislature last session, played a key role in Gov. Andrew Cuomos criminal justice agenda.

While heading into session, some state Democrats are suggesting changes to the law or saying the reforms should be revisited.

Cuomos office said it supports adding hate crimes to a list of offenses for which a judge can set bail.

The systems reforms are no doubt a work in progress which we will be discussing this? session, said Rich Azzopardi, senior adviser to Cuomo, in a statement.

Cuomos office defended the reforms as recently as November.

Reform critics argue the changes have jeopardized public safety. Further scrutiny of the bail reforms came after a string of violence that targeted Jews in the region.

Standing near Cuomo during a press conference, Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco called on lawmakers to review the bail law after a man stormed into a rabbis home and stabbed five people as they celebrated Hanukkah.

The suspects bail was set at $5 million.

John Flanagan, the Republican minority state Senate leader, denounced the criminal justice reforms and said Democrats failed to listen to prosecutors from both parties, along with law enforcement authorities.

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins recently argued for the thrust of the bail reform, but said lawmakers should take a look at the law.

We are as concerned about these hate crimes as everyone, she said.

Reforms supporters argued Monday that the changes create a fairer criminal justice system for poor defendants.

State Sen. Michael Gianaris pointed to Harvey Weinstein as an example of how the system treats rich and poor defendants. The Hollywood mogul has been free in the lead-up to his sexual assault trial in New York on charges of rape and assault.

He has been accused of horrible, horrible things, Gianaris said. And yet all the people who are clamoring and complaining about the bail reform, I have not heard a peep from them about how an accused rapist has been sitting in the community.

But suddenly when were trying to afford the same opportunities to the poor, it becomes a bigger problem, he said.



Ryan Tarinelli is a corps member for Report for America, a nonprofit organization that supports local news coverage in a partnership with The Associated Press for New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Diamond Public Relations has added Couples Resorts to its roster of travel and tourism clients. The Miami-headquartered agency will handle all North America public relations efforts for the resorts, working with print and online outlets, global travel influencers and celebrities to promote their unique offerings. Couples Resorts operates four adult-only, all-inclusive, boutique resorts in Ocho Rios and Negril in Jamaica. Diamond PR also works with such clients as the Stanton South Beach, W Fort Lauderdale, the Palms Hotel and Aruba Marriott Resort.

Gatesman is working with Carestream Dental, a provider of digital dental products and services set to launch this year, on a B2B2C campaign designed to raise awareness of the benefits associated with digital dentistry. The campaign will also demonstrate the positive difference digital dentistry can make in peoples lives. Gatesman has also been named agency of record for USGs Sheetrock Brand Gypsum Division, and will collaborate with the building product manufacturing brands outbound marketing communications team. The agency will also head planning of the 73rd Annual Global Conference experience for the CFA Institute, a global association of investment professionals.

Swerve has been named North American agency of record for Alfred International Inc., a Burlington, Ontario-based company which manufactures smart locks. The agency will work with Alfred on all public relations, influencer marketing and events programs in the Canadian and US markets. Alfred says that its products are intended to combine innovative design, security and convenience. Swerves roster of consumer tech clients also includes Mattel, Fugifilm and Diono.
Boeing fell in early trading on reports that the company is weighing a move to raise more debt following the grounding of its 737 Max, and that the jetliner's return to service could face further complications.

While Boeing had about $20bn (18bn) in available funds at the end of the third quarter, costs stemming from the Max crisis are increasing, the 'Wall Street Journal' reported. That has prompted the company to consider raising additional debt, the paper said, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.

Boeing is halting output of the Max, a model that has yet to gain approval to resume flights after two fatal crashes prompted a global flight ban in March.

While the production hiatus has reduced some costs, it also means a longer wait for payments for finished planes. The Chicago-based company also faces compensation claims from airlines disrupted by the grounding, as well as from families of the crash victims.

The shares dropped 1.2pc to $328.75 before the start of regular trading in New York.

Through Friday, Boeing had slumped 21pc since the second of the crashes.

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg was ousted last month and will be replaced next week by David Calhoun, a board member who took over as chairman in October.

Analysts expect Boeing to raise as much as $5bn in extra debt to help cover spending that may exceed $15bn in the first half, the 'WSJ' said.

Funds would help maintain Max production facilities and finished planes, as well as close the $4bn purchase of an 80pc stake in the airliner business of Embraer.

Meanwhile, US regulators are considering requiring pilots to complete simulator training before they can operate the Max again, the paper also reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) originally rejected the idea since it would cause extra costs and delays, the paper said. But in recent weeks, officials said there had been increased interest among agency and industry safety experts in such training.

The FAA's formal decision is not expected until at least February, and the situation remains "fluid", according to the paper. An agency spokeswoman declined to comment on specifics, saying more analysis and testing was required.

A spokesman for the company told the paper that Boeing was "evaluating all aspects of a safe return to service, including pilot training, procedures and checklists".

The 'New York Times' also reported that Boeing was experiencing new problems with the plane that go beyond software malfunctions which played a role in the crashes.

Bloomberg
Now Democrats have the muscle to make gains in all of those areas. That includes rolling back abortion restrictions passed under Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R), whose 2009 election was the GOPs last statewide win. Among the targeted laws is one that requires a woman to undergo an abdominal ultrasound before an abortion and another that imposes hospital-style building codes on abortion clinics.
Posing with a pink satchel made by her mummy, Gabriella Zaghari-Ratcliffe is ready for her first day at school

Posing with a pink satchel made by her mummy, Gabriella Zaghari-Ratcliffe is ready for her first day at school.

But what should be a happy milestone is instead tinged with sadness.

Gabriella's mother Nazanin is still thousands of miles away in an Iranian jail. It is there where she turned 41 last month, saw in a fourth Christmas behind bars  and made her daughter's bag.

Fears have grown for the British-Iranian charity worker  locked up on false spying charges  since the country's top military commander was assassinated on the orders of Donald Trump.

Her husband Richard says she is 'distraught' and worried about reprisals after the assassination, which threatens to plunge the Middle East into chaos.

He has asked Boris Johnson for an urgent meeting after the Mail revealed last month that the Prime Minister had agreed to see him.

Yesterday was another difficult moment for the family after Gabriella, now five, returned to the UK last year to begin school.

Mr Ratcliffe was the one to brush her hair  something his wife had always said she wanted to do when Gabriella first went to school. 'The moment wasn't bittersweet exactly,' he said. 'It's a different kind of emotional challenge for Nazanin.'

'I think it's more that as our lives move on and there's the excitement of that, she feels more the sense that she's never coming out. I think she notices the milestones in a way that she wasn't before Gabriella came home.

Brief reunion: Gabriella with her mother Nazanin, who was released for three days in August 2018

'She has missed her first day of school. It's a big one she's not there for... She should've been the one brushing her hair, walking her to the school gates and meeting the other parents.'

Gabriella went with her mother to Iran in March 2016 to visit her grandparents. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained at an Iranian airport that April, while travelling home to London with Gabriella.

After the arrests, the little girl's passport was confiscated and she lived with her mother's family.

It meant she could visit Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe in jail every month. However, in October Gabriella was finally allowed to return to Britain to live with her father and start school.

Yesterday, she posed for pictures in her local park in front of a tree which is decorated with messages and ribbons each year to mark her mother's detention.

'I think it will be really important that Gabriella explains to her mum how her first day at school went,' Mr Ratcliffe said yesterday. 'It will be really hard for her [mother] not to be there and she'll be feeling it.

'I'm relieved that it went well, that she's been welcomed into the classroom and that she seems to be thriving so far.

'It's a good thing that life is moving forward for her, that we are step-by-step becoming a normal family... but it means that Nazanin feels more keenly the fact that she's stuck in jail.'

Mr Ratcliffe (left) was the one to brush her hair  something his wife had always said she wanted to do when Gabriella first went to school

Yesterday, several Labour MPs raised the case of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe during a debate on the developments in Iran.

Her local MP, Tulip Siddiq, said: 'Is the Government going to leave no stone unturned [a reference to what Boris Johnson previously said of the case] to ensure that Nazanin comes home, or are British prisoners going to be left to rot in jail in Iran while the situation between the US and Iran escalates more and more?'

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace made the first admission by the Government that her imprisonment was 'hostage taking'.

He replied: 'This government will do everything it can to get released from Iranian prisons, not just her constituent, but the very many dual nationals currently languishing in those jails.

'Hostage-taking, which to some extent some of those prisoners are certainly, is a tool that has been in the Iranian handbook for many decades.'

Mr Wallace said efforts were continuing on an 'almost daily basis' to free Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
Former 60 Minutes correspondent Lara Logan spoke out about her lawsuit against New York Magazine ahead of the launch of her new Fox Nation show, saying details of her sexual assault in Egypt leave no room for dispute.

I was raped over and over and again. I was sodomized repeatedly. I almost died on that filthy street in Tahrir Square and New York Magazine wrote that I was groped. What happened to me in Egypt is not in dispute, she told the Los Angeles Times in an interview that ran Monday.

In December 2019, Logan sued New York Media and writer Joe Hagen over a five-year-old article that she claims derailed her career. She is seeking $25 million in damages.

Also Read: Former '60 Minutes' Star Lara Logan Slaps New York Magazine With $25 Million Defamation Suit

The defamation suit states that Logan believes her career at CBS News was impacted by the 2014 New York Magazine piece called Benghazi and the Bombshell. The piece reviewed one of Logans stories, focusing on the Benghazi attack, which was retracted when it was revealed one of her on-the-record sources had lied in his interview.

Her LA Times interview came as Lara Logan Has No Agenda posted its premiere episode to Fox News subscription streaming service, Fox Nation.

A spokesperson for New York Magazine told TheWrap in December, The New York Magazine article was thoroughly vetted and fact-checked, and we stand by our reporting, but did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Logans January statement.

Read original story Former CBS Correspondent Lara Logan on New York Magazine Lawsuit: I Was Raped, There Is No Dispute At TheWrap
MICHIGAN -- Michigan farmers received quite a bit of money from the federal government from United States Department of Agriculture aid payments in 2019.

The payments were made mainly due to the trade war taking place earlier this year when China and the United States imposed tariffs on goods going between the countries.

The up to $16 billion aid package for farmers was announced by the United States Department of Agriculture back in July through the Market Facilitation, Food Purchase and Distribution, and Agricultural Trade programs.

Ernie Birchmeier, the manager of the center for commodity, farm, and industry relations for the Michigan Farm Bureau, said that farmers would rather get their income from the marketplace.

"They want free and fair trade without barriers between the countries," Birchmeier said. "Give an American farmer a level playing-field and they'll do well."

Birchmeier feels the payments have been a Band-Aid approach and they will not make the farmers feel whole again.

He also pointed out that aside from tariffs, farmers had to deal with some of the worst weather they ever experienced, with heavy rains and frost delaying crop planting for many Michigan farmers.

"The Thumb ended up better off than some areas," Birchmeier said. "But farmers have the inability to get crops planted, then harvest them."

As of Dec. 23, when the latest report was made available, a total amount of $10.7 billion has been paid out to affected farmers nationwide through the Market Facilitation Program.

Of that amount, $194.5 million has been paid to Michigan's farmers.

There have been two payments made to farmers so far, the first round in August and the second round in November.

The first round payments were made up of the higher of either 50% of a producer's calculated payment or $15 per acre, while the second round payments are 25% of their calculated payment.

A third round will be made in January if the conditions warrant. According to Farmers.gov, the payment rate per acre in Huron County is $49 per acre.
After a tough budget slog in the latter half of 2019, lawmakers are coming back to Lansing this month to pick up where they left off.

State officials reached a deal late last year to end the months-long budget impasse, although more conversations about supplemental spending are expected to occur in the coming weeks.

For Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and many lawmakers, the next big priority is finding more funding for Michigan roads - an issue thats plagued policymakers for decades.

Read more about that and other issues the legislature could be grappling with in 2020 below.

Roads

After Whitmers effort to raise fuel taxes by 45 cents fell flat in the legislature last year, her administration is exploring other options to drum up the funding needed to improve road conditions in Michigan.

Most experts estimate the state needs billions of dollars more per year to improve road conditions enough to stop the deterioration. In her first budget proposal, Whitmer called for $2.5 billion per year.

The amount of funds necessary to improve Michigans infrastructure will continue to increase over time, experts say, because as a roads condition gets worse, it gets more expensive to fix.

Disagreements between Whitmer and Republican legislative leaders over road funding ultimately derailed budget talks for months, and the issue was tabled for the time being in 2019.

Republican leaders say theyre still open to working on coming up with a compromise with Whitmer on road funding, although finding common ground could be tough.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, said he favors an incremental approach to new spending thats not tied to the budget cycle, and House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, wants to change tax policy to funnel all taxes collected at the pump towards roads.

Chatfield characterized road funding as a top priority in 2020.

We need to address roads in the same way we did car insurance, in the same way we did reaching a solution on this recent budget impasse, he said.

The Michigan State Capitol, pictured on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 in Lansing. Jake May|MLive.comJake May | MLive.com

Another year, another budget

Conversations over how the state should be spending money dominated legislative discussions for most of 2019, and lawmakers and the governor are going to have to do it all over again in time for next fiscal year.

Ahead of last years Sept. 30 budget deadline, negotiations between Whitmer and legislative Republicans broke down after a dispute over whether one-time road funding should be included in the budget without a long term roads plan.

The legislature passed budget bills with little input from the administration, and Whitmers signatures came with 147 line-item vetoes and millions worth of administrative transfers shifting funds within departments.

Whitmer and lawmakers reached a deal late last year that resulted in reversing some of the vetoes and funding transfers, and the legislature is expected to work on another supplemental spending package in early 2020.

The agreement requires the State Administrative Board give the legislature 30 days notice if there are planned funding transfers within a department. The state legislature could also reverse administrative transfers via concurrent resolution if boilerplate language to that effect is included in each spending bill.

As part of the agreement, the deal also included legislation compelling the legislature to present a budget plan to the governor by July 1. Both Chatfield and Shirkey told MLive theyre hopeful the changes included in the deal will make the budget process a little smoother in 2020.

Saginaw County Sheriff Department Lt. David Kerns takes MLive reporters on a tour of the Saginaw County Jail on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018. An inmate sleeps in their cell while Lt. Kerns speaks with MLive reporters on the other side of the room. Henry Taylor | MLive Henry Taylor/MLive.com Henry Taylor/MLive.comHenry Taylor/MLive.com

Criminal justice

Updates to Michigans criminal justice system were greeted with wide bipartisan support in 2019, and that trend could continue in 2020.

Legislation requiring a criminal conviction before police can permanently seize most property under the states civil asset forfeiture policy was signed into law in 2019, as were bills to raise the age of people automatically charged as adults in Michigans criminal justice system from 17 to 18.

Next up on the criminal justice front could be broad changes to the states expungement process.

In November 2019, the House passed a wide-ranging package that would automatically remove the records of certain crimes from a persons criminal record and opening the expungement process up to people with certain low-level marijuana and traffic convictions.

The bills are now before the Michigan Senate, where leaders have expressed preliminary interest in the package.

The Michigan Capitol building, pictured Feb. 7, 2019 in a fog.

Ongoing discussions on ethics laws

The Michigan House made some forward movement on updating the states last-in-the-nation transparency laws in 2019, and some supporters arent giving up hope of getting changes through the legislature.

As one of the only states that exempts the governors office, the legislature and the courts from public scrutiny, Michigan holds the distinction of ranking dead last in a nationwide 2015 government transparency report from the Center for Public Integrity. Past legislative attempts to fix what transparency advocates see as the most glaring omissions - opening the governor, lieutenant governor and legislative offices to public records requests - have fallen flat.

In 2019, the Michigan House voted unanimously to extend existing public records requirements to the governors office, and create a separate process for requesting public records from the legislature.

Michigan is also one of two states that doesnt require state elected officials to disclose personal financial interests, including income sources, business investments, gifts and travel compensation. A House package that would create new financial disclosure requirements cleared the House Elections and Ethics Committee last September.

In the past, Shirkey has expressed concerns about expanding public records laws, and he said he remains opposed to public financial disclosure requirements. But he said hes willing to consider updating Michigans ethics laws in conjunction with looking into lengthening legislative term limits, noting hed be open to legislative ethics committees where lawmakers would privately disclose finances.

A classroom at Flex High School of Michigan on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019 in Burton. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com

Education

Both Shirkey and Chatfield say theyre open to looking at ways to improve Michigans education policy across the board.

Shirkey said the state is still not hitting on all cylinders" when it comes to education, adding, I think weve done a really good job of one thing - frustrating teachers. He said hes committed to finding ways to ease that frustration.

In 2020, Michigans education policy is set to change in a big way - this spring, some third-graders are expected to be held back in school due to a lack of reading comprehension with the implementation of the 2016 third-grade reading law, which is based on the premise that after third grade, students need to be good readers to keep up with other subjects in school.

Whitmer has called the policy destructive and told MLive shed support overturning it last March.

Voting polls are located at the Mott Community College Event Center on Election Day. Local residents arrived at polling locations in Genesee County to cast their vote for the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 in Flint. (Sara Faraj | MLive.com)Sara Faraj | MLive.com

An outside factor: The 2020 election

Looming over any policy discussion in 2020, of course, is the election cycle.

Michigan is considered a swing state in 2020 as voters consider whether to reelect incumbent Republican President Donald Trump, who won Michigan in 2016 by roughly 10,000 votes.

That means the Great Lakes State will likely be a hotspot for presidential candidates and political advertisements throughout the year.

With a U.S. Senate seat, Congress and the state House of Representatives also up for grabs in 2020, political pressure could be a potential roadblock for bipartisan overtures in the state legislature as elections draw nearer - particularly in a divided government.
House Democrats are preparing a vote on a War Powers Resolution to try to limit Trumps actions in Iran.

Washington, DC  Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated dramatically last week after US President Donald Trump ordered the killing of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq.

Iran promised to retaliate, and delivered on Wednesday, with missile attacks on two Iraqi bases housing US troops.

Following the attacks, Trump tweeted all is good. He is set make a televised statement on Iran at 11amEST (16:00GMT) on Wednesday.

Trump had previously threatened to fully strike back if Iran attacked any US citizen or site belonging to the US.

The United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner, Trump tweeted over the weekend. He also said the US had identified 52 Iranian targets the US could strike, including Iranian cultural sites, which could constitute a war crime if carried out.

Angered that they were not consulted before the killing of Soleimani, House Democrats have planned a vote on a War Powers Resolution to limit the presidents military actions regarding Iran later this week.

The Trump administration has defended killing Soleimani, claiming the Iranian commander was planning an imminent attack on US forces in Iraq.

As the House prepares a vote, here is a look at the War Powers Resolution of 1973 and how it fits into the context of current tensions between Iran and the US:

What is the US War Powers Resolution of 1973?

Under the US Constitution, the authority to direct military action is divided between Congress and the president.

Congress has the power to declare war while the president, as commander-in-chief, has the power to use the military to defend the US.

From the beginning, presidents and Congress have disputed whether presidents have the constitutional authority to send forces into hostilities abroad without congressional authorisation, according to a history of the law prepared by the Congressional Research Service.

Such disputes gave way to the War Powers Resolution  also known as the War Powers Act  which was enacted in 1973 about the veto of then-President Richard Nixon. Congress wanted to constrain Nixons ability to further commit US forces to the unpopular Vietnam War.

The law sets out procedures for Congress and the president to follow when sending US forces into hostilities.

It requires the president to consult in every possible instance with Congress before sending troops into actual or imminent hostilities and then submit a report to Congress any time US forces are deployed to conflicts or imminent conflict. The president must also report to Congress within 48 hours of US forces being introduced to hostilities.

Once forces are committed, the resolution requires withdrawal within 60 days (90 days in some circumstances) unless Congress authorises the use of force, or extends the time limit.

Why are war powers an issue now?

The air raid Trump ordered on Soleimani  a significant escalation  late last month in Iraq was undertaken without consultation or notice to Congress. It put US forces into imminent conflict, even a potential war with Iran that Congress has not authorised, Democrats argue.

The Trump administration has ratcheted up tensions with Iran since taking office in 2017. One of Trumps first decisions was to unilaterally withdraw from the 2015 United Nations-backed Iran nuclear deal, the JCPOA.

What will Congress do now?

The US House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on a War Powers Resolution seeking to limit Trumps ability to act against Iran, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Sunday.

Last week, the Trump administration conducted a provocative and disproportionate military air strike targeting high-level Iranian military officials, Pelosi, a Democrat, said in a statement.

This action endangered our service members, diplomats and others by risking a serious escalation of tensions with Iran, she said.

In the US Senate, where the resolution is expected to face an uphill battle, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said he will demand a vote from the Republican majority.

Protesters in Iran burn a US flag during a demonstration on the US air attack in Iraq that killed Soleimani [Vahid Salemi/AP Photo]

We should not go to war with Iran based on a presidential decision with no consultation of Congress, Kaine told MSNBC television last week.

We cant let the president make this decision on his own, Kaine said. Even if a resolution passes in the House and Senate, it would likely face a Trump veto.

The Trump administration will give a classified briefing to congressional leaders on Tuesday. The full House and Senate will receive separate classified briefings on Wednesday.

When has Congress authorised war?

After the September 11, 2001 al-Qaeda attacks in the US, Congress authorised the use of military force in Afghanistan and globally against al-Qaeda.

In 2002, Congress gave President George W Bush authority to invade Iraq on the pretext  later proved false  that then-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was building weapons of mass destruction.

Beginning in June 2014, former President Barack Obama notified Congress repeatedly of strikes and deployments against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) in Syria.

Obama and Trump claimed authority from the 2001 and 2002 authorisations by Congress for the military campaign against ISIL.

In recent years, there has been a continuing debate in Congress on whether the 2001 and 2002 authorisations should be replaced with a new, more narrowly tailored congressional authority for US military action.

The US currently has 60,000 troops in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the Pentagon.
Karan Johars much-awaited period-saga, 'Takht' will go on the floors in March.

Mumbai: Karan Johars much-awaited period-saga, 'Takht', will go on the floors in March. Karan is currently on a recce in Jaisalmer. As per the plan, the film will go on the floors in March.

The director and his production team have made several visits to the shooting spots in the past. Karan, along with cinematographer Mitesh Mirchandani, National Award-winning art director Sabu Cyril and his assistant directors will be in the desert city for the next five days to extensively analyse the locations and plan the cinematography and set designs.

Karan and his team will fly to several European locations, including Italy and France, on January 18 for another round of recce. Hed always planned to spend January on the final round of recce and will be exploring locations similar to the landscape of Rajasthan in countries across Europe. Massive sets will be erected everywherefrom Jaisalmer to Europefor which a mammoth budget has been earmarked, As of now, the action scenes, as well as the costumes, have been locked for the film, which will also have battle sequences.

Karan's Takht has been described as the epic battle for the majestic Mughal throne. Its a tale of two warring brothers, based on the fight for the throne between Shah Jahans two sons, Aurangzeb and Dara Shukoh played by Superstar Ranveer Singh and Vicky Kaushal. The film also features Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Janhvi Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar in pivotal roles, with Anil Kapoor as the Mughal patriarch, Shah Jahan. There will be some workshops in February with the entire cast to get a sense of their characters before moving on to the epic battle.

The film will be shot in a start to finish schedule and is targeting a 2021 release.
(Bloomberg) -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is cosponsoring a bipartisan bill that would help news publishers jointly negotiate with internet platforms such as Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc.s Google.

The Kentucky Republican added his support to the bill on Monday, according to Congresss website. The legislation would grant publishers a four-year exemption from antitrust laws so they could negotiate financial terms with the tech giants that often serve as a gateway for readers and online advertisers.

McConnells support arrives as the companies increasingly come under fire in Washington on issues ranging from privacy to election interference. They have also been accused of controlling too much of the advertising market, to the detriment of news outlets who rely on the companies to reach advertisers and their audiences.

The bill, which has seven Senate supporters in total, was introduced by Senators John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, and Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat. A companion measure in the House was introduced by the chairman of the antitrust subcommittee, Democratic Representative David Cicilline of Rhode Island, and the Judiciary Committees top Republican, Representative Doug Collins of Georgia.

Last month, two additional senators, Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, and Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican also signed onto the legislation.

David Chavern, president of the News Media Alliance, a trade group for publishers that supports the bill, said the latest sponsorships suggest the proposal is gaining momentum.

There is bipartisan concern about the future of local news, said Chavern, whose group counts the New York Times, the Washington Post and News Corp. as members. Local news in particular needs to find its way to a new economic model and that economical model runs through Google and Facebook.

Bloomberg News does not belong to the publishers group.

In response to criticism in recent years, tech companies have been making changes to the way they handle news content. Last year, Facebook introduced a separate news section in its flagship app, offering users more control over articles they see and providing money to the publishers whose stories are featured. Google has said it drives readers to publishers websites and has created new programs to improve advertising and technology practices of media companies.

Story continues

Representatives for Google and Facebook did not immediately comment on McConnells move. Both companies have lobbied on the measure, as has News Corp., according to disclosures with Congress.

Carl Szabo, vice president of the tech trade group NetChoice, which counts Facebook and Google as members, said the measure would be absurd and urged lawmakers to reject it.

If passed, an antitrust exemption would likely only cement media cartels dominated by the likes of Rupert Murdoch, not local journalists, said Szabo, referring to the founder of News Corp.

To contact the reporters on this story: Ben Brody in Washington, D.C. at btenerellabr@bloomberg.net;Naomi Nix in Washington at nnix1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sara Forden at sforden@bloomberg.net, Elizabeth Wasserman, Jon Morgan

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aventine Hill Partners, San Antonio's premier advisory, consulting and executive search firm that was acquired by leading global talent and solutions firm Vaco last year, has been rebranded Vaco in San Antonio.

The firm will be part of a powerhouse that delivers talent and solutions across diverse industries and to more than 10,000 clients globally.



It will anchor Vaco's growth in the Lone Star State, which has steadily expanded since 2006 when the firm launched in the Dallas market. The 18-year-old Nashville-based company now has a thriving Texas footprint with offices in Dallas and Houston. Vaco in San Antonio furthers the firm's reach, which serves more than 40 markets across the globe.

"Through our transition, we have been inspired with the entrepreneurial spirit and tech expertise that Vaco forges worldwide," said Beth Hair, managing partner of Vaco in San Antonio. "The Vaco brand has an incredible reputation, and the culture reinforces our commitment to deliver an exceptional client experience. Together, we will accomplish our growth strategies while staying grounded in our servant-leadership values and the long-term success of our clients and consultants."

Aventine Hill was founded in 2009 with a commitment to helping clients succeed by improving business operations and profitability while bolstering the careers of its employees. Under the Vaco flag, it is the city's largest regional professional services firm, and is poised for growth by adding hundreds of clients and candidates to the company's established portfolio.

"Joining forces with Aventine Hill Partners made Vaco a stronger organization, especially in Texas. The acquisition has allowed us to expand our service offerings in CFO advisory, business and technology, and transaction tax," said Leslie Hector, executive partner of Vaco's Texas operations. "Our clients across Texas have already seen the value that these teams bring. Beth's immense dedication to both her clients and her people has created a model that goes above and beyond."

San Antonio  and Texas  are key growth markets for Vaco, which has experienced rapid expansion in the area, serving more than 1,100 clients in the state. Vaco in San Antonio delivered more than 250 projects for 100 clients last year, and has served more than 400 clients since its inception. That growth is fueled by a high performing team that includes 80 consultants and 10 CFO partners, a special segment of the firm's business, all committed to the success of clients and the San Antonio business community.

"We've long admired the storied brand and amazing team of Aventine Hill and are committed to preserving the magic as we endeavor to be stronger together," said Jerry Bostelman, Vaco co-founder and CEO. "Beth's team can immediately offer a wider breadth of services and geographies to their valued constituents, and Vaco is immeasurably stronger with the insight, fresh perspective and powerful voice of each and every extraordinary player we are enthusiastically welcoming to the family."

In recent years, Vaco has announced numerous acquisitions and expansions, including the acquisition of MEBC Global, a Pennsylvania consulting firm specializing in supply chain processes in late 2018; the expansion of its business agility services operations in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C. area; and the acquisition last August of MorganFranklin Consulting, a leading finance and technology advisory firm based in the Washington, D.C. area, with regional offices in Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

About Vaco

Vaco provides boutique level service with global reach in the areas of consulting, consultative project resources, executive search, permanent placement and strategic staffing. Areas of expertise include c-suite search, accounting, finance, technology, health care IT, operations, administration and international managed services. Since its founding in 2002, Vaco has grown to serve more than 40 markets across the globe, with 1,200 employees, 5,500 consultants and $750 million in revenue. Vaco has been named to Inc. magazine's list of the fastest-growing private companies for the past 13 years and was named to Forbes' 2018 & 2019 lists of America's Best Recruiting Firms.

SOURCE Vaco

Related Links

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The Texas State Legislature in session in Austin, Texas, on May 16, 2003. (Matt Archer/Getty Images)

Democratic Super PAC Targets State Legislatures

A Democratic super PAC focused on gaining control of Republican-dominated state legislatures has begun a $10 million campaign to turn four key battleground statesFlorida, Texas, Arizona, and North Carolinablue before the electoral redistricting process begins in 2021.

The effort by Forward Majority Action is part of a larger push by left-leaning organizations to change the electoral playing field.

The National Redistricting Foundation, founded by Obama-era U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, is filing lawsuits in hopes of changing state electoral maps to favor Democrats.

In August 2019, former President Barack Obama launched a campaign called Redistricting U to combat partisan gerrymandering in key battleground states that Democrats hope to win in the 2020 presidential election and beyond.

Obama and other Democrats have also been pushing voting reform, including felon re-enfranchisement and, in some places, lowering the voting age from 18 to boost turnout and promote their partys get-out-the-vote efforts.

Democrats have been moving into traditional Republican turf. Democrats replaced a Republican governor in Kentucky in 2019, while they captured both legislative chambers in Virginia, and hung onto the governorship in Louisiana.

But the group states in its new plan that Democrats need to regain a lot of ground, after losing close to 1,000 state legislative seats and 27 state chambers between 2009 and 2016.

Those losses left party infrastructure gutted, fundraising anemic, and a scarcity mindset dominating what remained. Funding that does exist is often sub-optimally allocated, clustering in the most flippable state chambers and races, and failing to reach tough but winnable terrain that could have the most transformative impact.

Democrats arent in a strong position, according to the group.

[GOP strategist] Karl Rove recently opined about the Democratic fundraising juggernaut, and Republicans being asleep at the wheel for redistricting. But make no mistake: anyone who suggests Democrats have an advantage for 2020 and the subsequent redistricting is either intentionally misdirecting or blindly misunderstanding the current state of play.

Forward Majoritys approach can be very successful if they target their spending right, Donny Ferguson told The Epoch Times. Ferguson, who was previously communications director for then-U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas), is president of Americans for a Better Economy, an Alexandria, Virginia-based nonprofit organization.

In Texas, they need to flip only nine seats to capture the House, and there were around 20 races in 2018 where they came within 5 percent. Winning a majority in just one chamber could be enough to force a compromise plan, giving them more seats, or throw the entire process into the courts, where anything can happen, Ferguson said.

Winning a state legislative seat can be done fairly cheaply. They already have $10 million and only 50 targets. Other than the presidential race, 2020 will be a good year for Democrats. If they put $200,000 per race into door-knocking, phone calls, and targeted mailings, they have the ability to push competitive Democrats over the top.

The four-year-old political action committee, Forward Majority, on Jan. 3 unveiled Roadmap 2020, which takes aim at marginal seats that Democrats almost won in 2018 in the four states that, like all states, will redistrict their congressional maps after the 2020 Census results are disseminated.

The PACs website declares: For years, conservative extremists have used state legislatures to gerrymander Congress and attack Americans right to vote. Forward Majority has an aggressive strategy and proven model to stop them before its too late.

President Donald Trump won all four targeted states in his race against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016, winning 49 percent of the popular vote in Florida, 52.2 percent in Texas, 48.1 percent in Arizona, and 49.8 percent in North Carolina. Out of the 270 electoral votes required to win the presidency, Texas has 38, followed by Florida with 29, North Carolina with 15, and Arizona with 11 votes.

In three of the statesTexas, Florida, and ArizonaRepublicans control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. North Carolina has a Democratic governor but Republicans control both legislative chambers.

There are four states that represent the most powerful points of leverage to fortify our democracy, said Vicky Hausman, Forward Majority co-founder. Quite simply: these states are where Democrats face the greatest risk of being locked out of power nationally for the next 10 years.

Hausman was previously a partner at left-wing public relations shop Dalberg. Her co-founder, David Cohen, led then-presidential candidate Barack Obamas campaign in the successful Nevada, Connecticut, and Wisconsin primaries in 2008.
Despite a crowd of passionate supporters, Bethlehem City Council passed on a chance to appoint its first Latina council president, opting to continue under the leadership of President Adam Waldron.

Monday nights council reorganization meeting -- typically a routine affair -- drew resident after resident urging the seven-member body to elect outgoing Council Vice President Olga Negron as councils president for the next two years.

After two years as council president, Waldron -- a father of four and local business owner -- admitted he was unsure if he wanted another term, but ultimately decided he hoped to continue the council precedent of a president serving two terms after conversations with his colleagues and some trusted advisors.

Negrons supporters flooded the podium to speak of her dedication to her community, her long resume of volunteerism and service on boards and her dedication to hearing from all of her constituents. Some spoke about how much it would mean for them to see a Latino, and a woman at that, leading their citys government chambers. Dolores Caskey became councils first female president in 1980.

Resident Mary Toulouse urged council to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, by selecting Negron to lead the elected council.

She is super qualified and Im sure she would do an outstanding job, Toulouse said.

Southside resident Kimberly Carrell Smith said Negron represents a new kind of leadership in Bethlehem thats sorely needed.

She has such a quiet way of bringing people together, listening and doing her research, Carrell Smith said.

It was an unusual show of support for an internal council leadership post. The council presidents primary duty is running the bi-monthly council meetings and coordinating with the city clerks office and members of council. The president receives $500 more a year than other council members. The vice president assumes the role when the president is absent.

Those in attendance Monday night ascribed the role with greater meaning.

I think the time has come for leadership of women on city council and, Ill even say, a female mayor of Bethlehem, Councilwoman Dr. Paige Van Wirt said to applause.

Some expressed concerns that Waldron is not well-enough versed in Roberts Rules of Order and has too light of a gavel. Council meetings in recent months have drawn on for hours, often featuring clashes amongst council members and controversy.

Resident Barbara Diamond said a change in leadership could be good for council as the lack of decorum lately has been concerning.

The councils reputation is at stake, she said.

Negron grew up attending rotary club meetings alongside her father, intrigued by Roberts rules and shes been drawn to leadership roles her entire life.

Leadership is something that is part of my nature, she said. It is something I am very comfortable doing. .. You dont have to say much in order to make a point. I think actions are much more powerful.

While weighing a second run at the presidency, Waldron said he spoke to all council members and he did not receive significant negative feedback about how he runs meetings. He touted his efforts to get all council meetings live-streamed and posted to YouTube to make city hall more accessible to the public.

I have been criticized a bit for allowing people to speak too much. Thats a criticism I will take, Waldron said. I do have what is called a soft gavel. In my opportunity to limit speech, I have chosen repeatedly not to do that.

Southside resident Seth Moglen thanked Waldron for his time as president, but urged council to select Negron -- someone with institutional knowledge, an impressive resume and who is beloved to an extraordinary degree.

I ask you to take seriously what youve heard from your neighbors, Moglen said.

Ultimately, Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith nominated Waldron for a second term and Van Wirt nominated Negron. Waldron won in a 4-3 vote with Negron, Councilman Bryan Callahan and Van Wirt backing Negron for the leadership role.

Councilman J. William Reynolds said both Waldron and Negron are great council people. While in the moment these discussions can seem so important, council titles pale in importance to the working relationships between council, the mayor and the public, he said.

The future of this city comes down to our ability to work together and establish relationships," Reynolds said.

Negron declined another shot at vice president and nominated Van Wirt for the position while Callahan nominated Councilman Michael Colon for the role. The job was not on Colons radar, but he said he would be happy to serve.

While vice president may be a symbolic position, Van Wirt said she thinks theres some real power in that symbolism when its been 40 years since theres been a female council president and thats not for want of qualified candidates. Council missed a real opportunity Monday night to select a president whose election would have meant a lot to people across the community -- women, Southside residents and Puerto Ricans, Van Wirt said.

Ultimately, Colon was selected as vice president over Van Wirt with Reynolds, Negron and Van Wirt backing the councilwoman for the role.

After the vote, resident Ed Gallagher, who pens the Bethlehem Gadfly blog documenting city happenings, said he was leaving disappointed Monday evening.

I think Bethlehem had a chance to do something bold and it didnt, he said. Im not sure why.

Resident Marino Hernandez told council it had voted against the will of the people. He accused council members besides Van Wirt and Colon of only working to promote special interests.

We are going to remember this vote, he said.

Ahead of the reorganization votes, council swore in newly elected Democrats: Callahan, Colon, Crampsie Smith and Van Wirt to new terms. Crampsie Smith is finishing out a two-year unexpired term while the others were elected to four-year seats.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
LEAWOOD, Kan., Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- epay, a division of Euronet Worldwide (EEFT), today announced the launch of a monthly recurring billing service for purchasing AppleCare products in a major US retailer.



This new epay service enables consumers to purchase AppleCare+ coverage for Apple iPhone, iPad and Watch devices at affordable monthly prices, conveniently billed on a recurring basis.

By making this monthly payment service available to Apple and epay authorized retailers, more Apple customers will have the option of purchasing AppleCare+ coverage at low monthly prices.

Through its worldwide processing platform and accessibility via its Digital Integrated Payments Cloud, epay provides authorized retailers with a convenient method for implementing and offering the new service to its consumers.

About epay

epay is a world-leading full-service provider for payment processing and prepaid solutions that processed 1.15 billion transactions in 2018. The company has built up an extensive network of retailers with 700,000 point-of-sale terminals in 51 countries, to connect renowned brands with consumers all around the world. The company offers a portfolio of gift cards (prepaid, closed loop and digital media), business incentives and payment solutions (card acceptance, terminals, e-commerce, mobile and Internet of Payment) for omnichannel commerce, and offers its services thanks to its proprietary cash register integration software.

epay is a division of Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (EEFT), a Kansas-based company which earned $2.5 billion in revenue in 2018, employing a staff of 7,100 employees and serving customers in 170 countries.

Press Contacts

Tammy Levine

Apple

tammy_levine@apple.com

Stephanie Taylor

epay and Euronet Worldwide

staylor@euronetworldwide.com

(913) 327-4200




Pakistan Railways Jobs 2020 in Islamabad

Latest Pakistan Railways Labor Posts Islamabad 2022 Pakistan Railways Government of Pakistan requires the services of experienced, strong and technical persons for the posts of Welder and CNC Machine Operator in Islamabad.

How to Apply on Pakistan Railways 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.
Mr. Bloombergs campaign has continued to set records for political advertising by a presidential candidate, having already spent nearly $170 million on television and digital advertising, according to Advertising Analytics, an ad tracking firm. Mr. Bloomberg, a billionaire media owner and former mayor of New York, is funding his campaign with his own money and is not soliciting donations.

We have the means to raise a national campaign unlike any other candidate, Mr. Frazier said.

Mr. Bloomberg has made targeting Mr. Trump a core element of his ad strategy. Before he announced his candidacy, he pledged to spend $100 million on ads criticizing the president. And since he began his bid, his campaign has unloaded a barrage of Facebook attack ads in general-election swing states, seeking to erode support for Mr. Trump by highlighting what Mr. Bloomberg calls his broken promises on infrastructure, health care and solving dysfunction in Washington.

Super Bowl ads are rarely seen in presidential politics. Though some campaigns have made local advertising buys during past Super Bowls, a national buy has often been out of reach, given the expense. It is also usually viewed as wasteful to pay to reach a 50-state audience rather than buying ads in key states where campaigns would prefer to target their message.

But Mr. Bloomberg is running an unconventional primary campaign with a heavy national emphasis, choosing to avoid the four states that hold the first caucuses and primaries in February and instead focusing his efforts on Super Tuesday on March 3, when 14 states will vote.

Its actually smart for Bloomberg, said Ken Goldstein, a professor of politics at the University of San Francisco. Bloomberg is running a national campaign, and the most efficient way to reach a lot of people in a national campaign is buying an ad in a top-rated show. And as expensive as it is, its cheaper than buying the ads market by market.

Mr. Trumps campaign also has deep pockets. It said last week that it had raised $46 million in the last three months of 2019 and was entering 2020 with $102.7 million in cash on hand.

The Super Bowl ads will air at a politically potent time: The Iowa caucuses are the day after the game (though Mr. Bloomberg has said he is not competing in them), and Mr. Trump is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union address the night after that.
No elections in PNA without Jerusalem, Mahmoud Abbas 'World needs to pressure Israel to authorize vote'

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, JANUARY 7 - Palestinian political elections will be held provided they can also take in place in East Jerusalem, something Israel has so far not authorized, Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was quoted as saying by Maan news agency Monday in Bethlehem.



''Our problem with Israel is that it refuses elections in Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine. And we will not hold these elections without Jerusalem'', said Abbas.



''We ask the entire world to put pressure on Israel. We want elections'', he said.



Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, then denounced a series of issues with Israel including the detraction of funds originally allocated for the PNA and the construction of settlements, in particular in Hebron, Maan reported. The PNA will take measures, including serious ones, the PNA president was also quoted as saying, ''but we will not use force, violence or terrorism. We will rather employ diplomacy, as we have done for the past 10 years''. (ANSAmed)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 22:18:55|Editor: huaxia

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Tesla officially delivered the first batch made-in-China Model 3 sedans to non-employee customers and also launched a project to manufacture Model Y vehicles in its Shanghai gigafactory.



Tesla's China production is widely expected to have a "catfish effect" in the country's auto industry, pushing domestic rivals to speed up technological upgrading.

SHANGHAI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. electric carmaker Tesla officially delivered the first batch of 10 made-in-China Model 3 sedans to the public Tuesday afternoon, one year after the company broke ground on its first overseas plant.

The company also announced the launch of a project to manufacture Model Y vehicles in its Shanghai gigafactory.

Guan Yunfeng, from the city of Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province, is among Tesla's first customers. "The new car looks so cool," Guan said excitedly.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk poses with Tesla China-made Model 3 vehicle owners during a ceremony in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

Tesla CEO Elon Musk was also present at the ceremony. "The most amazing thing really is the incredible progress that has been made by the Tesla Shanghai team," he said. "Without the support of the Chinese government, especially without the help of the Shanghai government of all levels, we would not be able to make this progress."

"We'll continue to make significant investments in China, making Model 3, Model Y and future models as well in China," said Musk.

TESLA'S CHINA SPEED

Tesla signed an agreement with the Shanghai municipal government in July 2018 to build the factory. In October 2018, the company was granted approval to use an 864,885-square-meter tract of land in Lingang for its Shanghai plant.

As the largest foreign-invested manufacturing project in Shanghai, construction of the gigafactory began on Jan. 7, 2019 when the area was still a wasteland. In 10 months, it had already entered trial production and on Dec. 30, the first 15 Model 3 cars were handed over to company employees less than a year after it began operation.

Tesla's Shanghai plant has manufactured nearly 1,000 vehicles available for sale and reached a production capacity of more than 3,000 vehicles per week, according to Tesla's latest financial report.

Photo taken on Jan. 7, 2020 shows China-produced sedans at Tesla's gigafactory in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

"The sedans' components will be completely domestically produced by the end of 2020," according to Song Gang, the plant's manufacturing director. Currently, 30 percent of the components are produced locally.

Tesla has built more than 300 supercharging stations, 2,200 supercharging piles and 2,100 destination charging piles in over 140 Chinese cities, the company said. Tesla's first V3 Superchargers in Asia also went into operation in Shanghai in late December last year.

CATFISH EFFECT

Green cars have seen rapid growth in China in the past decade, with sales rising from fewer than 10,000 in 2009 to more than 1.26 million in 2018. But the industry is also seeing challenges as the government slashes subsidies and foreign brands like Tesla make inroads into China with their factories.

"Tesla's China production will have a 'catfish effect' in the country's auto industry, pushing domestic carmakers to speed up technological upgrading," said Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association.

Yang Yang, who works in Shanghai, has considered changing his car recently. After comparing many petrol-powered vehicles and new energy vehicles (NEVs), he opted for a domestically made Tesla Model 3.

"The price is acceptable and the car has a relatively long driving range, which meets all my needs," Yang said.

Prior to the made-in-China Model 3 cars, the price of an imported Tesla Model 3 vehicle stood above 439,900 yuan (about 63,069 U.S. dollars) in the Chinese market. The price tag of the Shanghai-made sedans, however, starts at 323,800 yuan.

As a benchmark for NEVs, the Model 3 will help drive the innovation and upgrading of domestic suppliers, according to a report by Minsheng Securities.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks at a delivery ceremony for Tesla China-made Model 3 in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

Besides Tesla, more luxury car brands have made plans to produce NEVs in 2020. The foreign-made NEV cars will compete on equal footing with Chinese automakers, as China is scheduled to eliminate government subsidies for NEVs this year.

"Though the NEV market is now dominated by local brands, with new forces joining in, China's new energy automobile market will enter an era of fierce competition after 2020," said Mou Jiawen, consulting director of Deloitte Auto.

BENEFICIARY OF OPENING UP

As the first project after China lifted restrictions on foreign investment in the auto industry, Tesla's Shanghai gigafactory shows that China, with continued efforts in reform and opening-up, still tops the list of investment destinations for foreign firms.

The country has in recent years significantly eased market access for foreign capital, vowing to further open up the market with new laws and regulations to support their investment.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends an opening ceremony for Tesla China-made Model Y program in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

Data from the Ministry of Commerce showed that foreign direct investment expanded 6 percent year on year to 845.9 billion yuan on the Chinese mainland in the first 11 months of 2019, and China attracted 722 foreign-funded projects, with each worth more than 100 million U.S. dollars, during the same period, an increase of 15.5 percent from a year ago.

(Reporting by Ma Yujie, Chu Yi, Zhou Rui, Wang He; Video reporters: Ding Ting, Di Chun; Video editor: Liu Ruoshi)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2020) - Nicola Mining Inc. (TSXV: NIM) (the "Company" or "Nicola") is pleased to announce successfully staking mineral claims totaling 828 hectares to the immediate south of the New Craigmont Property ("New Craigmont") (Figure 1). The extension expands the Company's land package to 10,913 hectares.





Figure 1: New Craigmont Property with recent mineral claim acquisition

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4873/51220_6880610a24fcabef_001full.jpg

This strategic acquisition expands the tenure to cover the SID copper showing. This is part of Nicola Mining's target generative work, in which the geological team is re-evaluating copper showings from the perspective of a large hydrothermal alteration system.

Scientific and Technical Information

All information of a scientific or technical nature contained in this document, has been reviewed and approved by Kevin Wells, P. Geo., a consulting Geologist to Nicola Mining. Wells is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Nicola Mining

Nicola Mining Inc. is a junior mining company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and is in the process of recommencing mill feed processing operations at its 100% owned state-of-the-art mill and tailings facility, located near Merritt, British Columbia. It has already signed four mill profit share agreements with high grade gold producers. The fully-permitted mill can process both gold and silver mill feed via gravity and flotation processes. The Company also owns 100% of Treasure Mountain, a high-grade silver property, and an active gravel pit that is located adjacent to its milling operations.

About New Craigmont

In November of 2015, Nicola became the first group in decades to consolidate ownership of the New Craigmont Project (the "Property") and has been actively conducting mineral exploration since. The Property is a wholly-owned copper property with an active mine permit (M-68), located 33 km south of the world-class Highland Valley porphyry district. It lies at the southern contact between the Nicola Group rocks and Guichon Creek batholith, of which the latter is known to be a precursor to mineralization at Highland Valley.

For further details on the Property, see the technical report entitled "Technical Report on the Thule Copper- Iron Property, Southern British Columbia, Canada", filed on May 8, 2013 on Sedar at www.sedar.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Peter Espig"

Peter Espig

CEO & Director

For additional information

Contact: Peter Espig

Phone: (778) 385-1213

Email: info@nicolamining.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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51220
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

Vote

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Pre-Stabilisation notice

7thJanuary 2020

Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

Commerzbank AG

 fixed rate preferred senior Tap due 2026

DE000CZ45VC5

Launched pursuant to the Issuer's MTN Programme

Commerzbank AG (contact: Daniela Olt-Farrelly; telephone: +49 6913623492) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014).

The security to be stabilised: Issuer: Commerzbank AG Guarantor (if any): none Aggregate nominal amount: Minimum  250 million Description: Fixed rate senior preferred Tap due 04 December 2026 Offer price: tbc Other offer terms: payment date xxxxx; listing Frankfurt, denoms 1k/1k, launched under  40bn MTN programme of the issuer Stabilisation: Stabilisation Coordinator:

Stabilising Managers: Commerzbank AG

ABN Amro

DekaBank

Banco Santander

UniCredit Stabilisation period expected to start on: 7th January 2020 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Frankfurt, regulated Market

In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilising Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities during the stabilisation period at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, stabilisation may not necessarily occur and any stabilisation action, if begun, may cease at any time Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

END
by Ray Schultz , January 7, 2020

PrivacyCheq has launched a SaaS product to help businesses that gather data on California citizens comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)..

The new solution, Privacy UX for CCPA, enables firms to comply with operational requirements for transparency, preference and rights management, and downstream opt-out verification.

Built on PrivacyCheq's ConsentCheq platform, Privacy UX for CCPA, also allows brands to build trust-building experiences on mobile devices, states PrivacyCheq CEO Roy Smith.

PrivacyUX allows firms to conserve consumer opt-out preferences in a secure database. In addition, the managed API supports downstream opt-out notification of third parties. The tool can be implemented in four to six weeks.

The solution also works with other PrivacyCheq services to help users comply with COPPA (US Federal Child Privacy), SB220 (State of Nevada) and GDPR (EU) regulations, the firm says.

Smith adds, "Since private data is gathered from a wide variety of touchpoints, not just websites, so-called 'cookie' opt out services offer a risky, incomplete solution."

advertisement advertisement

He continues, "Modern enterprises must be able to process opt out requests from websites, mobile apps, Internet of Things devices, email, telemarketing and even from physical locations like hospitality and retail sites where private data is ingested."

Smith notes that, since January 1, "consumers' privacy preferences must be gathered and conserved so they can be honored in the future each time data is 'sold'."
Now that we've entered the start of a new year, the Spring 2020 campaigns are beginning to trickle in from all over. First shown on the runway last September, many of the clothes in these campaigns will begin to hit stores this season. Meanwhile, the ads are fronted by everyone from famous faces and brand ambassadors to up-and-coming models alike. From Patou's first campaign under its new creative director to the resplendent actor Jodie Comer posing for Loewe, here are the best campaigns for Spring 2020 so far.

Club Monaco Photo: Samual Bradley/Courtesy of Club Monaco

Club Monaco channels dreamy, desert life in a pared back shoot for their SS20 campaign styled by new creative director Richard Chai. Shot by Samual Bradley at Arcosanti in Arizona, the campaign features suits and flowing gowns in hues of copper, rust, and earthly linen, as well as striped loungewear. Paired with the beautiful architecture and landscape of Arcosanti, the collection is a nod to the brand's appreciation for simple pleasures.

Gap Photo: Micaiah Carter/Courtesy of Gap

Gap is changing the conversation around khaki with its Spring 2020 campaign, titled "Relearn the Khaki." Unlike the familiar beige/tan slacks and cargos you might associate the style with, Gap is rendering them in a multitude of colors, fabrics and silhouettes this season for an utterly modern feel. From drawstring waists to wide-legged versions in pastels, the campaign captures the full range of the brand's new khaki offerings.

Mango Photo: Glen Luchford/Courtesy of Mango

Models Anna Ewers, Rebecca Leigh Longendyke, Vittoria Ceretti, Kit Butler and Hamid Onifade gallavant around the sunny streets of Mexico in their breezy '70s-inspired looks for Mango's Spring 2020 campaign, which was shot by Glen Luchford and styled by Elodie David Touboul.

Desigual Photo: Laura Coulson/Courtesy of Desigual

Desigual went back to its Spanish roots for its Spring 2020 "el Love" campaign, which was shot in the island of Ibiza (where the brand first started out as a vintage clothing store.) The images capture DJs, artists, chefs and other creatives in the brand's colorful wares and fun, eclectic prints.

Marine Serre Photo courtesy of Marine Serre

Marine Serre teamed up with creative studio Actual Objects for her SS20 campaign that takes form in a 4-part video series blending CGI and AR graphics titled "Maree Noire," which translates to "Oil Spill." The frames depict four post-Apocalyptic communities (EDEN, THE DROUGHT, BEACH and PASS) with the concept of pipelines running throughout, themes of which she explored in her most recent show in Paris. Click here to watch the surreal short film.

Theory Photo: Zoe Ghertner/Courtesy of Theory

Theory's signature minimalist ease and relaxed take on tailoring is front and center in the brand's Spring 2020 campaign, shot by Zoe Ghertner and styled by Ludivine Poiblanc. The images capture the collection's neutral color schemes as well as some pops of color against a stark backdrop and wooden chairs, putting an emphasis on the purity and refinement of the lightweight clothes.

Longchamp Photo: Columbine Goldsmith/Courtesy of Longchamp

At Longchamp's Spring 2020 show in New York last year, Kendall Jenner sat out the runway and instead opted to take in the show from her front row seat. However, she is front and center for the brand's fashion campaign, where she sports a variety of leather looks and airy pastels from the collection, which was inspired by the solar journey from dawn to dusk. (The images were taken outdoors in the Californian desert in the beginning, middle, and end of day.) In addition, Jenner sports Longchamp's popular Roseau bags, which ia rendered in a new miniature size this season.

J Brand Photo: Matthew Welch/Courtesy of J Brand

Supermodel Christy Turlington Burns stars in the intimate and natural portraits for J Brand's Spring 2020 campaign, which was lensed by Matthew Welch and styled by his wife Karla Welch. The images capture Turlington Burns with minimal makeup and slicked back hair in a variety of jeans by the brand, including wide-leg and bootcut styles in indigo and medium blue washes. In addition, the campaign spotlights jeans that are free of harmful chemicals and made with 90% less water using the J Brand's propriety Eco Wash process.

Maje Photo: Tim Elkaim/Courtesy of Maje

For spring, Maje released a series of meme images photographed by Tim Elkaim that stars Fernanda Ly, Faith Lynch and Mag Cysewska performing various witty poses alongside corresponding words like "When I Lied About Calling In Sick." The feminine French brand also created eco-friendly products this season with Absolution, Jump and 24 Bottles, which are featured throughout the campaign.

Michael Kors Collection Photo: Inez and Vinoodh/Courtesy of Michael Kors

The campaign images for Michael Kors Collection ooze all things wealth and luxury, with models Ugbad Abdi and Rianne Van Rompaey lounging around a lavish Beverly Hills mansion complete with stylish Collies and poolside gear. "My spring collection is a celebration of the best of American style," said Kors in a statement."The Collection campaign focuses on a mix of ease and glamour that is inherently American, and the layers of sophistication, irreverence and romance found in the images complement that juxtaposition."

Zadig & Voltaire Photo: Fred Meylan/Courtesy of Zadig & Voltaire

After starring in Zadig & Voltaire's fall campaign, Kate Moss is back for another round, front the brand's spring campaign once again shot by photographer Fred Meyland. The 'Kate' bag, a collaboration between her and creative director Cecilia Bonstrom, is also back for a second season, shown here.

Saint Laurent Photo: David Sims/Courtesy of Saint Laurent

Rami Malek is the latest face to front a campaign for Saint Laurent's men's line, which famously featured Keanu Reeves last season. The actor poses in a series of mostly black and white images shot by David Sims, while wearing Spring 2020 looks by Anthony Vaccarello, the French house's creative director.

Berluti Photo: Alasdair McLellan/Courtesy of Berluti

The 22-year-old British-Lebanese skateboarder and designer was shot by longtime collaborator Alasdair McLellan in Rome for Berluti. The brand's artistic director Kris Van Assche describes McCoy as "an old soul" and having a "refined rebellious attitude."

Theory Photo: Zoe Ghertner/Courtesy of Theory

Theory Photo: Zoe Ghertner/Courtesy of Theory

Theory Photo: Zoe Ghertner/Courtesy of Theory

Dior Men Photo: Steven Meisel/Courtesy of Christian Dior

Artistic Director Kim Jones' modern and monochromatic designs for Dior Men's Spring 2020 collection come to life in this sleek campaign, shot by Steven Meisel and styled by Melanie Ward. Models pose against a gray car sculpture with luggage from its collab with Rimowa.

Patou Photo: Arthur Elgort/Courtesy of Patou

This is Patou's first campaign under Artistic Director Guillaume Henry, who was tasked with relaunching the French dormant brand last year. The brand tapped photographer Arthur Elgort to lens the campaign, which took place in Brooklyn's Prospect Park and features model Aurore Franche posing mid-air.

Jil Sander Photo: Olivier Kervern/Courtesy of Jil Sander

Jil Sander Creative Directors Luke and Lucie Meier commissioned Olivier Kervern to shoot their spring campaign, which captures the landscapes and textures of Sicily and Palermo. "These photographs are both abstract and sensitive; sharp, delicate, and extremely honest," they said in a statement. "In these environments and buildings, in these portraits, Olivier has captured the emotions we intended. It was a true pleasure working with him."
A British charity is being investigated after it praised assassinated Iranian general Qassem Soleimani as a martyr.

The Islamic Centre of England, a charity with assets of more than 4 million, organised a vigil in London on Saturday to commemorate the warlord.

The event was attended by more than 2,000 people, including Irans ambassador to London, The Times reported.

Seyed Moosavi, 51, the charitys director and the UK representative of Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei praised Soleimani as a dedicated soldier of Islam who had died at the hands of the most wicked members of the human race.

The Charity Commission said: We are aware of a vigil... and publications on its website. We will be contacting the charity to seek further information.

Mourners sit beneath a picture of Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at the Islamic Centre of England at Maida Vale in Kilburn, at around 5.15pm on Saturday

A large group of men, with some young boys, was seen gathering at the Islamic Centre in Maida Vale, London, on Saturday afternoon following the assassination.

The memorial service was held 25 minutes after a man was arrested outside the centre to prevent the breach of peace and for obstructing officers.

The Islamic Centre's director has reportedly referred to Soleimani as an 'honourable Islamic commander' in a message of condolence.

As the service took place demonstrators took to the streets of New York, Washington DC and London to denounce the violence and call on Trump to de-escalate the conflict.

Outside Downing Street protesters chanted against the war while British-Iranians arrived holding placards that read 'Down with Khamenei' and others raised the pre-Islamic flag of Iran.

Palestinians also burned American flags in Gaza City, while an angry mob set fire to US flags in Pakistan, and around 150 pro-Iranian demonstrators held Iraqi militia flags and condemned the US as an aggressor.

The ceremony came 25 minutes after a man was detained by police outside the Islamic Centre, this evening. It is understood that the incident is not connected to the memorial event

The incident took place before the centre was due to hold a memorial community meeting in memory of Soleimani, at around 4.50pm on Saturday

However, the assassination was also met with celebrations by some groups in Iraq and in Canada, where people were pictured dancing in the street.

Three missiles from an MQ-9 Reaper drone hit the convoy Soleimani was travelling in outside Baghdad International Airport, killing the architect of the country's regional security strategy and five others.

Tehran has reacted angrily to the attack, saying the US's move is tantamount to a 'declaration of war' and promising a 'severe revenge'.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.7

By Anastasia Savchenko - Trend:

Zaur Mammadov, the office head of Azerbaijans Energy Ministry, told about the implementation of projects in the field of renewable energy sources and the measures taken for this in an interview with Trend.

On purpose of renewable sources

"One of the goals of expanding the use of renewable energy sources is to create favorable investment climate and support private entrepreneurship," Mammadov noted.

"In accordance with the Azerbaijani presidential order No. 1209 dated May 29, 2019 "On accelerating reforms in Azerbaijans energy sector", the Energy Ministry was instructed to take measures to encourage the use of renewable energy sources, create favorable investment climate and support the activities of private entrepreneurship, as well as todraft Azerbaijans law "On the use of renewable energy sources in the electricity production," the office head added.

"This draft has already been developed and is being agreed upon," said Mammadov. "The Energy Ministry, together with the relevant government agencies, has prioritized sites that have the potential for the use of renewable energy sources. Memorandums have been signed with companies interested in the development of this area. The total number of priority sites is eight, and they are mainly located in the vicinity of Baku city, as well as Absheron and Khizi districts."

"These sites have been presented to private investors, and the relevant proposals have already been received from investors," the office head noted. "In order to encourage the use of renewable energy sources and attract private investments in this sector, the presidential order No. 1673 dated Dec. 5, 2019 "On measures for the implementation of test projects in the field of using renewable energy sources" was issued."

"Under the order, a commission was created to implement pilot projects for the construction of renewable energy (wind and solar) power plants and coordinate their implementation," Mammadov added. "Presently, the implementation of measures envisaged by the order has begun and working groups have been formed in the relevant areas."

Economic feasibility of projects

"With financial and technical support from the Asian Development Bank, Azerbaijans Energy Ministry is implementing a pilot project on the exchange of knowledge and technical support for the development of floating solar panels," said the office head.

"The project involves creation of a 100 kilowatt solar panel network on Lake Boyuk Shor, as well as the development of business models to encourage private sector participation in the use of solar energy and strengthen national capacity through training," Mammadov noted. "Tenders are being held, and after the selection of the appropriate companies, construction will begin."

"Diversification of energy production using renewable energy sources wont only contribute to energy security, but also to the fulfillment of the commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and will also have a positive impact on attracting foreign investments in Azerbaijan," added the office head.

Potential for introduction of alternative energy sources

"Azerbaijan is one of the countries with high potential for renewable energy sources," Mammadov said. "The economic and technical potential of renewable energy in our country is estimated at 26,940 megawatts, including wind energy at 3,000 megawatts, solar energy at 23,040 megawatts, bioenergy potential at 380 megawatts, mountain river energy at 520 megawatts."

"In 2018, 25.2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity were generated in Azerbaijan, 2.04 billion kilowatt-hours of which accounted for renewable energy sources," the office head noted. "During the year, 85.7 million kilowatt-hours were generated at wind farms, 39.3 million kilowatt-hours at solar power plants and 162.3 million kilowatt-hours at solid waste incinerators. Electricity generated from renewable energy sources amounted to 8.1 percent of the total production volume."

What is the benefit?

"Increasing the use of renewable energy sources will contribute to the creation of new services, production capacities and new jobs, as well as diversification of energy production, increase our export potential through the saved natural gas and reduce the negative impact on the environment," said Mammadov. "Financing of these projects is planned to be implemented through private investors by concluding direct sale agreements and holding auctions."

Partnership results

"In order to strengthen cooperation in the use of renewable energy sources and stimulate investments in this sector in the future, cooperation with international companies is expanding," the office head noted.

A memorandum of understanding and documents on cooperation have been signed with nine companies including BP (UK), Masdar (UAE), Avelar Solar (Russia), Tekfen (Turkey), Total Eren (France), Equinor (Norway), ACWA Power (Saudi Arabia), Mitsui & Co. (Japan), and Quadran International (France), Mammadov added.

The office head also noted that in order to maintain a high level of cooperation with companies, the necessary steps are being taken, discussions are being held, working groups are being created, meetings are being held and information is being exchanged.

"At the same time, discussions are being held with companies to develop legislative acts and a contractual basis, and their proposals in this area are taken into account," Mammadov added.
This story will be updated.

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday the laws of armed conflict prohibited attacking antiquities and added the U.S. military had no plans to do so, even though President Donald Trump declared them targets.

The New York Times reported: "Esper acknowledged that striking cultural sites with no military value would be a war crime, putting him at odds with the president, who insisted such places would be legitimate targets. Mr. Trumps threats generated condemnation at home and abroad while deeply discomfiting American military leaders who have made a career of upholding the laws of war."

An earlier AP story from today follows below:

Iran's ancient and rich cultural landscape has become a potential U.S. military target as Washington and Tehran lob threats and take high-stakes steps toward a possible open conflict.

President Donald Trump tweeted Saturday evening that if Iran attacks any American assets to avenge the killing of a top Iranian general, the U.S. has 52 targets across the Islamic Republic that "WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD."

Some are "important to Iran & Iranian culture," Trump wrote on Twitter.

That vague comment drew immediate anger across Iran.

"I'm not sure when he says cultural sites, does he for example mean our Persepolis?" said Mehrdad Khadir, a cultural and political analyst in Tehran, referring to the ancient ruins invaded by the Greeks in 330 BC. "Does he want to be seen as the new Alexander (the Great) by Iranians?"

If the U.S. were to directly bomb Iran, it could spark a war and lead to region-wide violence, potentially drawing other countries into a global conflict.

Iran's earliest traces of human history reach as far back as 100,000 BC. Its historic monuments preserve the legacy of a civilization that has kept its Persian identity throughout the tides of foreign conquests, weaving in influences from Turkic, South Asian and Arab cultures, and the footprints of Alexander the Great and later Islam.

"Through MILLENNIA of history, barbarians have come and ravaged our cities, razed our monuments and burnt our libraries," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif tweeted in response Sunday. "Where are they now? We're still here, & standing tall."

Trump's threat also raised questions about the legality of such an attack on heritage of global importance.

Targeting cultural sites is a war crime under the 1954 Hague Convention for the protection of cultural sites. The United Nations Security Council also passed unanimously a resolution in 2017 condemning the destruction of heritage sites. Attacks by the Islamic State group and other armed factions in Syria and Iraq prompted that vote.

"I'm really sorry that we are living in a world where the president of the biggest so-called superpower still doesn't know that attacking cultural sites is a war crime," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told journalists in Tehran.

Telecommunications minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi compared Trump's threats to strike cultural sites to the Islamic State group, Adolf Hitler and Genghis Khan, calling the U.S. president a "terrorist in a suit."

The United Nations' cultural agency UNESCO called on governments to remember that cultural sites are not targets, after meeting with Iran's ambassador to the Paris-based organization on Monday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson put some distance between London and Washington over Trump's threat. "There are international conventions in place that prevent the destruction of cultural heritage," said James Slack, Johnson's official spokesman, on Monday.

Trump's tweet also caused concern in Washington. One U.S. national security official said Trump's threat to target Iranian cultural sites had caught many in his administration off-guard and prompted calls for others in his government, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to clarify the matter. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly to the issue, called such a clarification necessary to affirm that the U.S. military would not intentionally commit war crimes.

Among Iranians, pride in the country's culture supersedes the divisive and nationalistic fervor whipped up by current politics that has put a chasm between hard-liners in Tehran and the diaspora of Iranians in the West.

Tensions sharply escalated between Washington and Tehran following America's targeted killing early Friday in Iraq of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's powerful Quds Force. The U.S. Defense Department said it killed Soleimani because he was developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in the Middle East.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed "harsh retaliation," calling Soleimani the "international face of resistance" against Western hegemony.

Zarif also wrote on Twitter Sunday that after committing "grave breaches" in killing Soleimani, Trump is now threatening a "WAR CRIME" in targeting cultural sites.

Long before the 1979 Islamic Revolution birthed Iran's Shiite theocracy, the land historically known as Persia was the birthplace of towering Islamic figures like the mystic poet Rumi and the philosopher Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. It's also home to the tombs of great scholars, including Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna and the father of modern medicine.

Iran is home to two dozen UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Persepolis with its ancient ruins that date back to 518 BC, the 17th century grand mosque of Isfahan located in a teeming bazaar, and the Golestan Palace in the heart of Tehran, where the last shah to rule Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was crowned in 1967.

The country's cultural sites reflect the expanse of Iran's history: Geological and archaeological sites date back several thousand years, while 1,000-year-old sites reflect Iran's contributions to the Golden Age of Islam. In Qom, the Feizeh Religious Science School and a shrine of a Shiite saint, Masoumeh, attract Muslim pilgrims from around the world, reinforcing Iran's preeminent place among Shiite clerics, theologians and scholars.

More recently, though, some of the most iconic cultural sites have come to embody the nation's defiance in the face of the United States. For example, the iconic Azadi Tower, or Freedom Tower, with its famed white marble arch is where hundreds of thousands gather in Tehran each year and chant slogans against the U.S. to mark the anniversary of the 1979 revolution.

On Monday, the famed Musalla mosque in Tehran will be used by mourners to grieve Iran's fallen commander. Soleimani's body will lie in state there before his burial in the city of Kerman on Tuesday.

If culturally prominent sites were targeted, the Trump administration might argue they were being used to covertly stockpile weapons that could target U.S. interests and personnel in the region.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard has in the past deployed HAWK anti-aircraft missiles around the sprawling tomb complex of Ruhollah Khomeini where the Islamic Republic's late supreme leader is buried. The complex was attacked by Islamic State militants in 2017.

___

Associated Press journalists Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran, Iran, and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

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Under fire from students and faculty members for not doing enough when they were brutally attacked by a masked mob on campus, Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar on Tuesday urged the students to put the past behind and return to the varsity's premises.

"Our heart goes out to all the injured students. The incident (violence) is unfortunate," Kumar said in a brief statement.

"I would like to tell students that campus is a secure place. I urge all students to come back to the campus. Let us put the past behind," the vice chancellor said.

After the attack, there has been a demand from several quarters, including the students and faculty members, for his resignation. Later, interacting with reporters, Kumar said the campus had its own security.

"If there is a law-and-order situation, we do not rush to police immediately. We see if our security can handle, but when it goes out of hand, we definitely approach the police because we do not want any innocent people to be injured," he said.

According to Kumar, the university administration followed the same protocol on Sunday, the day when a masked mob stormed the campus.

"When we saw that there is a possibility of aggressive behaviour among students we informed police," he said. "There is process of giving it in writing. With the help of our security, the situation was contained."

Students and teachers have also alleged that the vice-chancellor had not reached out to the students and teachers after the violence, but Kumar said "appropriate help" was being provided.

"A large number of security guards were also injured. The wardens inquired about students," he said. "Appropriate help is provided to teachers. Our office is always open and we regularly meet our teachers and students."



The vice chancellor said the students could avail treatment free of cost from the university's health centre.

Asked about where he was when the incident occurred on Sunday, Kumar replied: "I am on the campus 24x7." The vice chancellor also shared that the varsity had formed a security team to look into the incident. He also criticised students for allegedly disrupting the servers.

ALSO READ: Mumbai protests against JNU violence called off after demonstrators evicted

"On the afternoon of January 3, some students came wearing masks and they asked the data centre employees to come out. If they think what they are doing is right, why did they need to wear masks?" he asked.

Kumar said the had been receiving information from several schools that some students prevented the non-protesting students from registering for the semester. Stressing that the university "encourages any form of protest and discussion", he said they don't want the atmosphere at the campus to be spoilt and also urged that the issue should not be politicised.

"We have deployed enough number of security personnel. In case of any incident that might harm the safety of students, the police will help us," he said.

The vice chancellor said the varsity had submitted a factual report of the matter to the HRD Ministry and the officials also met the Delhi lieutenant governor.

Kumar pointed out that the registration date had been extended and informed that the servers had been restored. Later, he tweeted: "Today after making communication and information systems functional, the number of students who have paid the fees for winter semester registration rose to 3,552. University will help every JNU student who wants to register."



More than 35 students and faculty members were injured after a mob of masked young people stormed the campus on Sunday and systematically targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings.
TORONTO, Jan. 7, 2020 /CNW/ - Sable Resources (TSX.V: SAE) (the "Company" or "Sable") is pleased to provide an update on the first round of exploration drilling at its Vinata project in Mexico and about the status of drilling permits for its projects in Argentina and Peru.

Sable completed 1753m of core-drilling in six drillholes at Vinata North, geochemical results for 530 samples have been received from the first five drillholes. Based on the available results and the presence of compelling geophysical anomalies, the company has opted to increase the drilling program from 2000m to 4000m.

Surface sampling over Vinata Norte only returned a couple of values over 100 ppb Au associated to As, Sb, and Hg anomalies on silica-carbonate veins. The available drilling data shows that the mentioned silica-carbonate veins represent a late epithermal pulse that overprints a gently west- dipping pervasive argillic alteration, constrained to a layer of felsic volcanic rocks, which returned long intersects of low-grade gold anomalous values, with most of the samples consistently over the detection limit. From the 254 samples taken on the altered felsic volcanic rocks, 187 samples present anomalous values varying between 20 ppb and 1.1 g/t Au with an average value of 130 ppb Au with associated significant As, Sb anomalies and some erratic Hg, Mo, Mn, and Ba anomalies.

The low-grade gold argillic stratabound alteration is open in every direction except toward the East. Additional drilling will define the limits, geometry, and gold grade distribution of the argillic alteration. The additional drilling will also test the existence of a high-grade feeder with more classic epithermal boiling textures and dominated by illite, sericite, and adularia alteration. Additionally, some of the drilling will test a couple of compelling MAG and CSAMT geophysical anomalies located below quaternary gravels at Vinata North and Vinata South target zones. Drilling has resumed and will continue over the next few months.

"The presence of this large halo of argillic alteration with anomalous gold values intercepted in several of our drillholes strongly suggests that Vinata is a robust epithermal system that deserves further drilling to understand it properly and to search for the possible occurrence of the actual feeder of the system." commented Ruben Padilla, Sable's VP of Exploration

Highlights

MX-VIN-DDH-19-01

0.28 g/t Au over 51.3m from 46.0 to 97.3m

Including

0.44 g/t Au over 30.3m from 49.0 to 79.3m

MX-VIN-DDH-19-02

No significant intercepts

MX-VIN-DDH-19-03

0.079 g/t Au over 61.8m from 6.85 to 68.65m

Including

0.24 g/t Au over 12.4m from 6.85 to 19.25m

MX-VIN-DDH-19-04

0.063 g/t Au over 198.25m from 0 to 198.25m

Including

0.24 g/t Au over 8.9m from 43.8 to 52.7m

And

0.11 g/t Au over 22.1m from 79.9 to 102.0m

MX-VIN-DDH-19-05

0.035 g/t Au over 30.45m from 154.05 to 184.5m

Intercepts are considered to be true width for holes 1 and 5; 60% of true width for hole 3 and still unknown for hole 4. Maps with drillholes location, section and tables with the details of highlighted results are available on Sable's website (sableresources.com).

Sable Receives Drill Permits for Argentina and Peru

The company has received drilling permits for six new targets discovered during the last field season at its Don Julio Cluster Project in Argentina. Lodo, Colorado and San Gabriel are multi-kilometer outcropping epithermal vein systems, Tocota and La Gringa are porphyry gold copper targets and Fermin is a polymetallic skarn which has been mapped for over 1.2 km (See press release from June 20th, 2019 at sableresources.com). Field work at the Don Julio cluster of targets resumed last November including ground geophysics, additional mapping and sampling, and construction of road access to proposed drill sites. In addition, Sable has also initiated the first field evaluation of pending anomalies outside the Don Julio cluster.

The company is also pleased to announce that it has been granted a permit by the community of Huancasancos near its Scorpius project in Ayacucho, Peru and that it has received the government approval for the environmental impact assessment for Scorpius. This high sulphidation gold system is scheduled to have all drill permits ready by the end of the second quarter of 2020.

ABOUT THE VINATA PROJECT

The Vinata project is located in the Municipality of Chihuahua, State of Chihuahua, Mexico, 50 km south of the city of Chihuahua. The Vinata Project is located along possible extensions of known important mineral belts of northern Mexico including base metal CRD deposits as Santa Eulalia (50km NE of Vinata) and Naica (75km SE of Vinata), and the polymetallic vein system of the new discovery of Sunshine Silver Corp.'s Los Gatos Project, located 75 km SW of Vinata.

The mineralization at Vinata occurs as a series of quartz veins that outcrop along a strike length of 1,150m cutting rhyolite tuffs that overlie Cretaceous limestone. Identified via stream sediment follow up, the system consists of outcropping veins for approximately 1.2km. Quartz vein float extends additional 450m to the southeast and for more than 1000m toward the NW. The system consists of multiple sub-parallel veins and stockwork zones with epithermal textures over a width of between 15m and 170m. Individual veins vary in width from <1m up to about 12m.

ABOUT SABLE RESOURCES LTD.

Sable is a well-funded junior grassroots explorer focused on the discovery of new precious metal projects through systematic exploration in endowed terranes located in favorable, established mining jurisdictions. Sable's main focus is developing its large portfolio of new greenfields projects to resource stage utilizing their Upper Level Epithermal Strategy. Sable is actively exploring the San Juan Regional Program (58,000ha) incorporating the Don Julio Project in San Juan Province, Argentina; the Mexico Regional Program (1.16Mha in application, 39,000ha titled) incorporating the Margarita, Vinata and El Escarpe projects; and the Scorpius Project in Ayacucho, Peru.

Sample Preparation and QAQC

Sample preparation for the Vinata Project was carried out by ALS Chemex de Mexico S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of ALS Minerals, at their laboratory in Chihuahua, Mexico. Analyses were carried out at their laboratory in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Sample preparation was by drying in an oven at a maximum temperature of 60C, fine crushing of the sample to at least 70% passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250 g split to at least 85% passing 75 microns (code PREP-31).

Gold was analyzed by fire assay of a 30 g sample split with detection by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES); multi-elements were analyzed by an aqua regia digestion of a 1 gram sub-sample with detection by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) for 35 elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Sc, Sr, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Zn) (codes Au-ICP21 and ME-ICP41). This digestion method dissolves most minerals but not all elements are quantitatively extracted in some sample matrices. Control samples (standards, blanks, and duplicates) are inserted systematically and their results evaluated according to the Company protocols.

Qualified Person

Luis Arteaga M.Sc. P.Geo. Exploration Manager for Sable Resources and the Company's Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release.

We seek safe harbor

SOURCE Sable Resources Ltd.

For further information: Tom Obradovich, President & CEO, [email protected], Tel (416) 985-7140; Or visit sableresources.com

Related Links

www.sableresources.com


Mistakenly Sent Draft Letter Falsely Announces US Forces Preparing to Leave Iraq

Sputnik News

23:30 06.01.2020(updated 02:07 07.01.2020)

A Monday letter sent to Iraqi military leaders, the US-led coalition in Iraq announced it was preparing to "move out" of the country out of respect for Iraqi sovereignty. However, Pentagon leaders later clarified it was an unsigned draft sent by "mistake."

'That's Not What's Happening'

"Poorly worded, implies withdrawal. That's not what's happening." That's how US Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the nation's top general, described a letter sent by mistake from US Marine Corps Brig. Gen. William H. Seely III to Iraqi Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah on Monday, that announced the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.

Milley said Monday the letter was "genuine," but had been sent by "mistake," noting it was an unsigned draft meant to underscore increased levels of troop movements.

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Monday afternoon, "there's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq. Period."

While a Pentagon spokesperson could not confirm the authenticity of the letter to Reuters, an Iraqi commander did, and copies circulated across the media.

The Mistaken Letter

The mistaken letter followed the Sunday approval of a non-binding resolution by Iraq's parliament calling for US forces to leave the country.

"In due deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister, CJTF-OIR [Combined Joint Task Force  Operation Inherent Resolve] will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement," stated the letter.

The lawmakers' request comes on the heels of a January 3 drone strike at Baghdad International Airport in which US forces killed Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani as well as the leader of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The two commanders helped lead the fight against Daesh in the 2014-17 Iraqi Civil War that saw the terrorist group expelled from the country. At its height, Daesh controlled significant amounts of northern Iraq, including its third-largest city of Mosul, and was advancing on Baghdad.

"In order to conduct this task, coalition forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner," the letter continues. "During this time, there will be an increase in helicopter travel in and around the International Zone (IZ) of Baghdad. This increased traffic will include CH-47, UH-60 and AH-64 security escort helicopters. Coalition forces will take appropriate measures to minimize and mitigate the disturbance to the public. In addition, we will conduct these operations during house of darkness to help alleviate any perception that we may be bringing more Coalition forces into the IZ."

"As we begin implementing this next phase of operations, I want to reiterate the value of our friendship and partnership. We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure."

US Leaders Double Down on Iraq Bases

Since the resolution's passage, US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have snubbed the idea of leaving Iraq, where US forces have been stationed since the March 2003 invasion that overthrew Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

"We have a very extraordinarily expensive airbase that's there. It cost billions of dollars to build. Long before my time. We're not leaving unless they pay us back for it," Trump said on Sunday. "We will charge them sanctions like they've never seen before, ever. It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame."

"The prime minister is the acting prime minister," Pompeo said on Fox News on Sunday, speaking of Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi. "He's under enormous threats from the very Iranian leadership that it is that we are pushing back against. We are confident that the Iraqi people want the United States to continue to be there."

 Sputnik

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It was fitting that some chuckles could be heard inside the Met Philadelphia on Monday when Mayor Jim Kenney made a surprise inaugural announcement: Hes instituting a citywide street sweeping program in his second term.

You heard that right  itll be in every neighborhood, Kenney said. Which will even require folks to move their cars.

This is what amounts to a laugh line in Philadelphia in 2020. Perhaps the audience was amused by the mayors tough-guy witticism. Or maybe we were laughing at ourselves. Because it is a joke that a city buried in trash has so long been denied a citywide street sweeping program. We are the only major city in America without one.

At a press gaggle afterward, the mayor doubled down. If you dont want to move your car  tough, he proclaimed.

Even so, after the crowds dispersed, the mayors spokespeople clarified  or, dare we say, backtracked a little bit on  the line in the litter. As WHYYs Jake Blumgart reported, Managing Director Brian Abernathy told reporters just hours after the inauguration that maybe not every neighborhood will have to make room for the brooms.

Could he possibly mean South Philly, where the aversion to moving the Buick verges on the pathological?

Some neighborhoods, Abernathy said, will continue to be subjected to the veritable Biblical dust plagues kicked up under the pilot street cleaning program. Thats how the city avoided moving cars by instead equipping brave souls with leaf blowers to push trash into the street, where its Hoovered up by mechanical sweepers.

This was a halfway decent solution, if you disregard considerable concern about how healthy it is to send decades of South Philly street crud spiraling into the air  and potentially our lungs. Not to mention the sheer noise. Still, at least the streets were getting cleaned. And people were getting put to work to do it.

And many people I talked to when I followed the crews around last year were excited about the result, if not the process. Some said  miracle of miracles  they would even consider moving their cars to make it easier.

Maybe this is the solution after all: Blast people with dust until they tap out and climb behind the wheel.

Abernathy says that in this city of neighborhoods, trash realities and challenges can change by the block. The city will phase it in fully by 2023 and use data from the pilot street sweeping program to decide what goes where. Fair. Fine. Im with you. Just make it the best one possible for the neighborhood, and not a compromise built on our reticence.

But when your mayor says enoughs enough  that were finally, as a city, past the point of practically prohibiting clean streets  and then his staff says that maybe the status quo is OK in some neighborhoods, its a little less encouraging.

Not to mention that the mayor ran on this in 2015.

But thats the reality in Philly: The prospect of a city liberated from trash is reserved for a mayors second term, when you dont have to worry about reelection anymore.

Ive supported the mayors street sweeping actions in this space, and on my own South Philly block, where I try to sweep up myself  until I hit a point where Id need a pickax to break through the detritus, which comes sooner than youd think.

And I support the street sweeping program now. Its just that its hard not to be a little bit cynical when our journey to eliminate trash has been so, well, Philadelphian. Which sometimes means a strange solution to a straightforward problem, because we wont change our ways.

I hope the mayor keeps talking tough on street cleaning. To his credit, its a pretty brave act for Jimmy from Cantrell Street, the land of parking wars, to push anybody to move their cars.

If, and when, he decides its time to finally move some cars in South Philadelphia, I hope he drives one of the tow trucks. After all, hes a two-term mayor now. Hes got nothing to lose. And the city has everything to gain.
NEW YORK - On Sunday, Harvey Weinstein was a punchline at the Golden Globes. On Monday, he was hit with new sex-crimes charges in Los Angeles. And on Tuesday, he and his lawyers walked into court in New York to begin picking the jury that will decide the fate of the man widely seen as the biggest monster of the #MeToo movement.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Harvey Weinstein, center, leaves court in New York, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. The disgraced movie mogul faces allegations of rape and sexual assault. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

NEW YORK - On Sunday, Harvey Weinstein was a punchline at the Golden Globes. On Monday, he was hit with new sex-crimes charges in Los Angeles. And on Tuesday, he and his lawyers walked into court in New York to begin picking the jury that will decide the fate of the man widely seen as the biggest monster of the #MeToo movement.

Selecting the jury for the Hollywood mogul's rape and sexual assault trial is likely to be a painstaking, weekslong process, made complicated by the high stakes, heavy publicity and public revulsion toward him.

In fact, one-third of the first 120 prospective jurors summoned for the case were promptly sent home after the judge asked if there was anyone who could not be impartial and about 40 hands went up.

Weinstein's lawyers unsuccessfully tried to delay jury selection in light of the new case filed in Los Angeles, asking for a cooling-off period to allow the publicity to subside.

Harvey Weinstein arrives to court for the start of jury selection in his sexual assault trial Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

For a prosecutor, this is Christmas morning  the morning of jury selection to have him smeared everywhere, Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala said.

But Judge James Burke expressed confidence that the jurors would know that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and he pressed on.

The 67-year-old Weinstein, who shuffled into court on a walker after recent back surgery, is charged in New York with raping one woman in a hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing a sex act on another in 2006, and could get life in prison if convicted. In the Los Angeles case, which will be tried later, he is accused of sexually assaulting two women on back-to-back nights in 2013.

The former studio boss behind such Oscar winners as Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love has said any sexual activity was consensual.

Jury selection is expected to stretch on for at least two weeks, far longer than for a non-celebrity trial, with lawyers delving into each potential jurors knowledge and opinions about the case. Opening statements shouldn't be expected before the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 20, the judge said.

Harvey Weinstein arrives to court for the start of jury selection in his sexual assault trial Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The defence team is concerned about widespread media coverage of sexual assault and harassment claims against Weinstein, and of jurors prejudging the case, said Cornell University law professor Valerie Hans. On the other side of the case, prosecutors are wary of prospective jurors who might reveal a predisposition to blame the victims, even in this age of #MeToo.

The prospective jurors were given questionnaires asking, among other things, if they could ignore media coverage and decide the case based only on evidence heard in court. They were also told the trial will last six weeks, which could weed out many parents, college students and others with pressing day-to-day obligations.

They were introduced as a group to Weinstein, who ambled toward the gallery with his walker, and were read a list of names that could come up at trial, including actresses Salma Hayek, Charlize Theron and Rosie Perez.

By the end of the day, just 36 potential jurors remained. New pools of prospective jurors will be summoned to court each morning in the coming days.

Tuesday got off to a rough start, with the judge threatening to jail Weinstein for violating court rules by texting in the courtroom.

Harvey Weinstein arrives to court for the start of jury selection in his sexual assault trial Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

"Is this really the way you want to end up in jail  by texting and violating a court order? Burke asked the iPhone-clutching movie mogul, cutting off Weinstein off before he could respond.

Though he declined to issue a gag order, the judge implored Weinstein's lawyers to stop attacking potential witnesses in their public comments on the case.

Its going to be hard enough to get a fair and impartial jury, Burke said. None of this will help that, attain that goal.

Weinstein's lawyers suggested that the timing of the Los Angeles charges was deliberate on the part of prosecutors, with defence attorney Donna Rotunno saying that if anyone believes it was coincidence, as the district attorney in Los Angeles insisted, I'd like to sell them the Brooklyn Bridge.

The judge also denied a request to revoke Weinstein's bail and jail him until the trial is over, despite a warning from prosecutors that the L.A. case could give the defendant more reason to flee.

In picking a jury, defence lawyers typically want jurors who can think outside of the box and look skeptically at a prosecution case, while prosecutors seek people with a linear and methodical mindset, said Thaddeus Hoffmeister, a jury consultant and University of Dayton law professor.

For insight into prospective jurors' thinking, lawyers have taken to scouring their public social media postings, Hoffmeister said, which is fine under court rules as long as the lawyers don't follow or friend them or send them messages.

The prosecutors who put Bill Cosby in prison for sexual assault last year, after a hung jury the year before, said they sought to put people 30 and younger on the jury, as well as older people who had children that age, because people in those age groups seem more likely to keep up with the evolving cultural conversation on sexual assault.

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Young people are more likely to have contact with someone involved in a sexual assault or have those experiences themselves," said Stewart Ryan, one of the Cosby prosecutors. And professionals are going to be tuned into sexual harassment policies in the workplace."

Philip K. Anthony, the CEO of Los Angeles-based jury consulting firm DecisionQuest, said lawyers should also be on the lookout for prospective jurors who show signs of not being able to handle the stress of serving on a high-profile case.

In such cases, theres an extraordinary level of pressure which the juror feels, and as the trial goes on, jurors may begin to focus on how their decision in the case will be interpreted by the community, Anthony said.

It dawns on them that whatever decision they reach, theyre going to be second-guessed by people in the community, he said, and that can influence their thinking.

___

Jennifer Peltz in New York and Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia contributed to this report.
Mohammed Alshamrani killed three US sailors on December 6 in Pensacola

The FBI has asked Apple for assistance unlocking two iPhones that belonged to the Saudi gunman who killed three U.S. sailors at Naval Air Station Pensacola last month.

A letter from FBI General Counsel Dana Boente to Apple on Monday said that the agency has been unable to access the phones owned by Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, NBC News reported.

'Investigators are actively engaging in efforts to 'guess' the relevant passcodes but so far have been unsuccessful,' the letter said.

Apple's encryption software is written so that the company itself is unable to access locked iPhones without the passcode in most cases, and the company has clashed with the FBI in previous high-profile cases.

Apple on Monday said the company had been working with the government.

A letter from FBI General Counsel Dana Boente to Apple on Monday said that the agency has been unable to access the phones owned by Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani. The naval base in Pensacola is seen above after the shooting earlier this month

The three dead US sailors are seen above from left to right: Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham; Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson; and Airman Apprentice Cameron Scott Walters

'We have the greatest respect for law enforcement and have always worked cooperatively to help in their investigations,' Apple said in a statement.

'When the FBI requested information from us relating to this case a month ago, we gave them all of the data in our possession and we will continue to support them with the data we have available.'

Alshamrani was killed by a sheriff's deputy during the attack on December 6.

Complicating matters for investigators, he apparently fired a round from his Glock 9mm into one of his phones before he was taken down. The gun was legally purchased using a loophole that allows foreign nationals to purchase guns for hunting.

The FBI most famously clashed with Apple over iPhone encryption in the case of the 2016 San Bernadino shooting.

Saudi Arabia Defense Attache Major General Fawaz Al Fawaz and his Embassy staff and other officials arrive to meet with the Saudi students who remain restricted to the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola base by their Saudi commanding officer in Pensacola, Florida on December 9

The FBI sought and obtained a court order demanding that Apple write software that would crack into the shooter Syed Farook's phone.

Then at the last minute, the bureau announced that it had cracked into the phone with the help of an unnamed third party vendor.

In that case, the iPhone was found only to contain mundane work information, and nothing related to the shooting.

In the letter on Monday, the FBI said its agents have sought help from other federal agencies, as well as from experts in foreign countries and 'familiar contacts in the third-party vendor community.'

That is possibly a reference to the undisclosed company that helped crack the San Bernadino shooter's phone.
New Delhi [India], Jan 8 (ANI): Badrinath Singh, father of 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim expressed his satisfaction over a Delhi court order issuing death warrant against all four convicts and said that the rate of such crimes will come down if victims start to receive justice.



Speaking to ANI from outside his residence in Delhi's Dwarka, Singh said, " It is hard to say that such incidents will stop. But if victims start to receive justice, the rate of such crimes will definitely come down".

A Delhi court on Tuesday issued a death warrant against all four convicts in the case. They are scheduled to be hanged at 7 am on January 22.

The case pertains to the gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman by six persons on a moving bus in the national capital on the night of December 16, 2012. The victim had later died while undergoing treatment.

While the main accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail during the trial, another accused was a minor at the time of the crime and was sent to a reform facility and released after three years. (ANI)


GUANICA, Puerto Rico - A series of powerful earthquakes this week, including a major 6.4-magnitude temblor early Tuesday morning, triggered widespread power outages and damage, leaving an already fragile Puerto Rico reeling once again.

Schools, homes and churches along the southern coastline crumbled. Hospitals evacuated patients. A signature tourist attraction collapsed into the sea. At least one person died, crushed by a wall that toppled in his home.

Tuesday's earthquake followed a 5.8-magnitude quake on Monday and was among numerous seismic events along an underwater fault line in recent days. All of them sent shock waves across the U.S. territory amid fears that further tremors could knock out key infrastructure.

The earthquakes struck just months after a scandal involving the former governor set off massive protests and political upheaval. It also hit communities still struggling more than two years after the catastrophic Hurricane Maria raked the island - many homes remain covered in blue tarps where roofs once stood.

"We weren't prepared for something of this magnitude," said Angel Luis "Luigi" Torres, the mayor of Yuaco, a southwestern town impacted by both the storm and this week's quakes. "We weren't even prepared for a hurricane. Now imagine an earthquake."

Gov. Wanda Vazquez Garced declared a state of emergency Tuesday and said authorities were evaluating the damage and inspecting Puerto Rico's power generation plants - all of which are located along the southern coast near the origin of the seismic activity. She also told government employees to stay home, as more aftershocks are expected.

"There will be other earthquakes, prepare yourselves," Wanda Vazquez Garced said. "This will continue to happen. For how long? We can't say."

The Costa Sur power generation plant, located near the quake's epicenter, was damaged, and millions of people across the island were without electricity.

Jose Ortiz, executive director of Puerto Rico's power utility, said late Tuesday night that electricity had been restored to 100,000 of the utility's 1.4 million clients on the island. Officials aim to restore power before the weekend, Ortiz said.

"We've learned from our errors of the past," Ortiz said. "We want to do it little by little, so that whoever gets power will keep power."

Authorities said there are 300,000 customers without water service. No major damage was reported to dams and seaports, and road damage appeared to be limited to local areas in the southern region. The government is working on powering up three "mega-generators" secured in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

During a news conference Tuesday, the governor said Puerto Rico has not updated its earthquake preparedness plan in more than a century, a reference to a 1918 earthquake and tsunami that killed approximately 100 people and caused severe damage in the island's northwesternmost towns. Vazquez Garced said the government recently hired a firm to prepare such a plan.

The San Fermin quake of 1918 registered at a magnitude of 7.3 and had been the most disastrous and deadly earthquake in Puerto Rico's history. Tuesday's earthquake was the most powerful one near the island since 2014.

Local officials are worried that the unusually strong seismic activity has caught the U.S. territory off guard. The vast majority of public school buildings and thousands of homes, particularly in rural areas where construction is more informal, do not comply with current building codes, according to Puerto Rico state Sen. Ramon Luis Nieves.

Vazquez Garced added that her government had not yet had direct contact with the White House in Washington as of late Tuesday. A spokesperson for the Federal Emergency Management Agency said officials are considering the governor's request for an emergency declaration.

The Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico said it had approved the use of emergency reserve funds from fiscal years 2019 and 2020 to be used for expenses related to the earthquakes, but any local expenditures are sure to strain a government that has been bankrupt and struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria's wrath.

Tuesday's blackout raised fears akin to those after Maria, which knocked out power in some areas for months, left some people isolated in rural areas and led to an estimated 3,000 deaths.

"Everything is paralyzed," Marcos Irizarry Pagan, the mayor of Lajas, a southern municipality impacted by the quake, said during a live interview on Puerto Rico's local Telemundo station. "I hope this isn't like Maria."

Gladyra Archilla, a spokesperson for the city of Ponce along the southern coast, confirmed that a man in his 70s was killed when a wall in his home fell on top of him. Emergency personnel were trying to rescue one other person in that home who was pinned under debris. Archilla said that many buildings in the city - Puerto Rico's second-largest - were damaged.

Puerto Rico electrical authorities reported damage to infrastructure along the southern coast and said they were evaluating substations across the island. Power utility spokeswoman Edith Seda said the system is designed to shut off automatically in the event of vibrations, and the extent of damage to the Costa Sur plant was unclear.

Seda said crews were working to restore power when safe to do so amid continuing aftershocks. It is possible that certain sectors will see electricity earlier than others; generators are powering the island's primary hospital, Centro Medico. San Juan's international airport is operational, officials said.

The bulk of the earthquake damage was in the southern coastal region, from Ponce west to the municipalities of Yauco, Guayanilla, Lajas and Guanica.

In the southwestern town of Yauco, 32 houses collapsed. More than 100 apartment units were left uninhabitable, and hundreds of other homes were potentially unsafe, according to Torres, the mayor. Nearly 400 people were forced to evacuate their homes and have sought shelter beneath tents in a large parking lot.

A hospital evacuated all 80 of its patients, who were awaiting air-conditioned tents from the National Guard on Tuesday, Torres said.

In Guanica, at least 180 people sought shelter at the Coliseum Mariano "Tito" Rodriquez on Monday after the 5.8 magnitude quake, which struck Puerto Rico the morning of Three Kings Day, normally a festive occasion on the island. But after Tuesday's earthquake, the coliseum was evacuated due to fears of damage to the structure, said Zulma Bracero Martinez, the Guanica's municipality administrator.

Families instead have been gathering in the coliseum's parking lot. Among them was Noelia De Jesus, 69, who stood in the middle of the lot with her husband, Francisco Ramos, 72, who was using a wheelchair.

The couple sought refuge after a house in front of theirs collapsed in Monday's quake. Feeling unsafe in their home, Ramos and De Jesus boarded a bus to the coliseum. But then, at 4:24 a.m. Tuesday, the 6.4 magnitude temblor sent lightbulbs from the building's ceiling crashing to the floor. De Jesus lost her balance. A stroller toppled with her granddaughter inside.

"I thought we were going to die," De Jesus said.

The situation brings back terrible memories for them. Two decades ago, Hurricane George damaged their home. After Hurricane Maria, the couple lived in a shelter for nearly a year.

"It's been so hard," De Jesus said.

Hundreds of small temblors have been rattling nerves on the island archipelago since Dec. 28. Scientists described the island as being "squeezed" by two major faults known as subduction zones, where tectonic plates dive beneath one another. The biggest of those subduction zones is to the north of the island and could potentially deliver a catastrophic earthquake with a magnitude of 7 or greater.

The two strongest earthquakes this week happened on an unmapped offshore "intraplate" fault just south of the island, according to Gavin Hayes, a USGS research scientist. The epicenters were just a few miles apart. This was a relatively unusual "foreshock sequence," in which a moderate earthquake was followed by a major one.

It's possible, though unlikely, that both earthquakes could prove to be foreshocks of an even more violent event. The unstable fault has generated nearly two dozen earthquakes that registered as magnitude 3 or greater in recent weeks. USGS calculates that there is a 9 percent chance of a magnitude 6.4 or greater tremor along the fault in the next week, and a 22 percent chance of a magnitude 6 or higher.

USGS geophysicist John Bellini said he believes the 6.4 quake was "the peak of the pressure," but aftershocks can be dangerous.

U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., who chairs the committee that oversees U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, urged the Trump administration to release remaining federal disaster recovery funds from Hurricane Maria and deliver new aid quickly.

"The Trump administration's indifference and incompetence have already cost residents of Puerto Rico their lives and their livelihoods, and continuing that pattern now is completely unacceptable," Grijalva said in a statement. "I urge this administration to remember that lives are at stake and the public is watching."

Like many Puerto Ricans, Yaritza Llabreras experienced that loss of life firsthand after Hurricane Maria, after which she lost two grandparents. Now she worried for her grandmother, who has Alzheimer's and has been bedridden for two years. After this week's earthquakes, the Llabreras family went to rescue Colon in Guanica.

"When we got to the house, she didn't look well," Llabreras, 24, said, noting that her grandmother is now receiving medical treatment. But Llabreras is considering leaving the island.

"If this continues, I don't know where are we going to end up," she said.

- - -

Corujo is a freelance journalist based in Puerto Rico. Hernandez reported from San Antonio and Schmidt reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Joel Achenbach and Jeff Stein in Washington contributed to this report.
Only a third of PCs being shipped to Africa include genuine software, which is a reason for the increase in data breaches and malware attacks in the region.

This is according to Deniz Ozen, regional general manager for consumer and device sales at Microsoft Middle East and Africa.

Ozen said that this has resulted in the loss of important data and decreased productivity on the continent.

Benefits of legal software for Africa

Africas emerging market potential is unparalleled and business development and the growth of existing SMEs remains a key focus across the continent, Microsoft said in a statement.

To tap into this potential growth, access to affordable genuine software and hardware is necessary if the digital divide is to be closed.

Microsoft believes that access to genuine software ensures comprehensive security for devices and data, making legitimate software important to the long-term success of businesses.

The same applies to students who rely heavily on access to devices, software and information to complete their required tasks and projects.

Fixing the piracy problem

The Software Alliance said in its June 2018 report that the overall rate of pirated software in the Middle East and Africa region stood at 56%.

Pirated software is often installed without the end users knowledge, and it is those users who suffer the consequences including lost data and unusable PCs, said Microsoft.

Microsoft EMEA VP of consumer and device sales Bradley Hopkinson told MyBroadband in October that Microsoft has various measures in place to fight piracy in South Africa and in Africa as a whole.

We have come up with a programme called the Africa Coverage Programme, which is an affordability programme with our multinational partners, said Hopkinson.

Effectively, it is a programme that we believe will address affordability, and at the same time we need to drive awareness for the value of genuine software, which we will do as part of that programme.

Microsoft has also launched its Windows PC Affordability in Africa Initiative, which aims to reduce the prevalence of Microsoft software piracy in the African market.

Through the Windows PC Affordability in Africa Initiative, we aim to educate consumers on the risks of using pirated software, and to work with our PC ecosystem partners including Acer, ASUS, Dell, Intel, Lenovo, Mustek and SMD to make Genuine Windows 10 PCs more affordable across Africa, said Hopkinson.

We have high aspirations to bring piracy almost to zero across Africa. We see a world across Africa where we can get genuine Windows in excess of 80% and even higher, and that is also based on the success weve seen through similar programmes in other emerging markets.

Now read: Link Africa grows fibre network through major acquisition
Iran is considering 13 scenarios for revenge against the US for the killing of top general Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike last week, local media reported the countrys top security official as saying in comments later disavowed by senior officials.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said the mission to avenge our slain brother will not be limited to a single operation, according to the hardline Fars news agency.

"Up until now, 13 scenarios for revenge have been proposed," he reportedly said. "Even if there is a consensus on the weakest scenario, executing it can turn into a historic nightmare for the Americans."

However, the SNSC later denied that Shamkhani had given the interview.

The SNSC secretariat said: "A local paper yesterday committed a criminal act and attributed an interview to the SNSC's secretary which had not taken place. Legal action is underway to understand how and and why the interview was produced and published." The SNSC's claims have not been proven.

Shamkhanis reported comments follow similar threats from top Iranian officials as anger boils over Soleimanis killing.

US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early Friday 3 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures The wreckage of the car in which general Soleimani was travelling when a targeted US airstrike struck outside Baghdad International Airport on 3 January Ahmad Al Mukhtar via Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Demonstrators burn the US and British flags during a protest in Tehran after general Soleimani was killed in a targeted airstrike by American forces Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of Donald Trump AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn Israeli and US flags as thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of general Soleimani at the hands of America EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of Donald Trump pray at an 'Evangelicals for Trump' campaign event held on the day following the killing of general Soleimani. At the event, the president praised the "flawless strike that eliminated the terrorist ringleader" AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A huge procession of mourners gather in Baghdad for the funeral of general Soleimani on 4 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani during an anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iraqis perform a mourning prayer for slain major general Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the Great Mosque of Kufa AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A billboard reading 'Death to America and Israel', installed by Iran-backed shiite armed groups at a street in Jadriyah district in Baghdad, Iraq EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him visiting the family of Soleiman KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US flag as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Feiruznia, looks to a portrait of Soleimani, as he receives condolences at the Iranian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures People make their way on the street while a screen on the wall of a cinema shows a portrait Soleimani in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Aziz Asmar, one of two Syrian painters who completed a mural following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani poses next to his creation in the rebel-held Syrian town of Dana in the northwestern province of Idlib AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A demonstration in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures An anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Mujtaba al-Husseini, the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in the holy shrine city of Najaf AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US and Israeli flags as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters demonstrate in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shi'ite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters, holding a photograph of the leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Massoud Rajavi, outside Downing Street in London PA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn a US flag in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A Syrian man offers sweets to children to mark the killing AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers attend a mourning prayer for Soleimani in Iran's capital Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti American and anti Israel slogans during a protest AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshipers chant slogans during Friday prayers Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A protest against the USA, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranians burn a US flag in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin, Germany Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol a road in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel. Following morning's killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement called for the missile strike by Israel's closest ally, to be avenged AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian women take to the streets in Tehran EPA

The leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened on Tuesday to "set ablaze" places supported by the United States in a speech to a crowd of thousands in Soleimanis hometown of Kerman.

"We will take revenge. We will set ablaze where they like," Hossein Salami told the crowd, drawing the cries of "Death to Israel!"

Soleimani, the leader of Irans Quds Force, was killed in a drone strike on 3 January in Baghdad airport. The strike was ordered by Donald Trump following weeks of rising tensions between US military forces and Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

In his dual role as diplomat and military commander, Soleimani, 62, was the architect of Irans military influence across the Middle East. He travelled the region to build and support a network of allied militias that aimed to project Irans strength and counter US influence.

The proxy groups he built and supported killed hundreds of US troops during the Iraq War, and Washington has claimed  without providing evidence  that he was planning new attacks against the US.

The killing has dramatically raised tensions in the Middle East and provoked a flood of criticism for the Trump administration at home and abroad.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday that the house will vote on a war powers resolution this week to limit President Donald Trumps military actions against Iran, warning that his order last week for a lethal strike against a top Iranian commander risked a serious escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

In a letter to Democrats, Ms Pelosi said the US action that killed Soleimani was a provocative and disproportionate military air strike targeting high-level Iranian military officials that endangered members of the US military, diplomats and others.

Update: This article was updated to reflect the SNSCs disassociation with the interview originally attributed to the Haram newspaper, and picked up by the Fars news agency.
WESTFIELD  Mondays announcement that New York-based Peckham Industries Inc. has acquired Westfields JSL Materials puts one company in control of much of the supply of road materials in Western Massachusetts.

"I think it could be less competition. There could be higher prices," said Michael McManus, general superintendent of the Holyoke Department of Public Works.

JSL Materials owns John S. Lane & Son, Lane Trap Rock and JSL Asphalt. Peckham will add JSLs stone quarries and asphalt production facilities to ones it acquired in 2018 from Palmer Paving Corp. The companies did not disclose the price of either deal.

Both McManus and Craig Markham, the interim town engineer for Longmeadow, said Tuesday that Lane and Palmer Paving are two of three main local suppliers of materials for building roads. The third is Ted Ondrick Co. in Chicopee, both said.

Going slightly further afield, there are other suppliers like All States Materials Group in Sunderland.

McManus said Holyoke gets about $1 million a year in state Chapter 90 money for road reconstruction. Of that, about 60% goes toward materials like asphalt.

Joseph Wildermuth, executive vice president of Peckham Industries, said Monday the company has competition everywhere it operates, and that isnt changing with the acquisition.

He said he expects very limited job impacts from the acquisition, with all production workers and most of the salaried white-collar employees keeping their jobs.

Westfield Book project - The John S. Lane Quarry on East Mountain Road in Westfield. (Frederick Gore Photo) 2018 Staff-ShotStaff-Shot

Lane & Son is headquartered in Westfield and has quarries there on East Mountain Road and Pochassic Road, as well as in Amherst (known as the Notch Quarry), West Stockbridge and North Oxford. It has asphalt plants in Charlton and the JSL Asphalt plant in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

These operations supply crushed stone, sand and gravel to the major construction projects in the Greater Springfield and Worcester markets. Aggregate, made up of these materials, is used for ready mix concrete and in asphalt, according to Peckham Industries.

JSL Asphalt Inc., based in Windsor Locks, is a significant player in the supply and installation of bituminous concrete for northern Connecticut, the company said.

Lane Construction Corp. is a separate company that shares some family roots with JSL Materials. Lane Construction sold its plants and paving division to Eurovia SAS of the Vinci Group for $555 million in 2018. That included asphalt operations in Westfield, Granby, Northfield and elsewhere now known as Northeast Paving.

With 100 employees, JSL Materials is one of the regions oldest employers, having been founded in 1890. The original John S. Lane got into business to supply the railroads with stone for building beds under train tracks. The Westfield location is one of the oldest continuously operating quarries in the Connecticut River Valley.

Founded in 1924, Peckham is a private, family-run company just like Lane and like Palmer Paving before its acquisition. It now employs nearly 1,000 people at more than 25 facilities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont.
The Gujarat government on Tuesday accused the opposition Congress of raising the issue of deaths of infants in state-run hospitals in order to "shield" its government in Rajasthan from criticism over similar deaths in Kota hospital.

While 111 infants had died at the government civil hospital in Gujarat's Rajkot district in December last year, 85 infants died in the civil hospital in Ahmedabad during the same period.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel told reporters that the initiatives taken by the BJP government in Gujarat has brought down the infant mortality incidence.

Patel said state-hospitals in Gujarat are well-equipped and most equipment are functional unlike in the Kota hospital, which he claimed is facing shortage of apparatus while most of them are outdated.

The Congress on Monday said the "large-scale" death of infants in public hospitals in Gujarat exposed "failure" of the ruling BJP in managing healthcare, and asked the government to ensure funds earmarked for medical services are spent properly and not wasted on celebrations.

"Congress leaders are making political statements over the death of infants in hospitals. We are working on the issue with utmost sensitivity and have succeeded in reducing infant deaths to below 25 per 1000 live births by 2019, compared to 30 per 1000 births in 2017," the deputy chief minister said.

Deaths of over 100 infants at the state-run hospital in Kota have shocked the country.

"The Congress party is raising the issue of the deaths of infants in Gujarat hospitals in order to save the face of its government in Rajasthan, but it should understand that hospitals here are much better equipped than Kota (hospital, where more than 100 infants died in December), where most of the required equipment are either not available or not working," Patel said.

He was reacting to the Monday visit by some Congress leaders to the civil hospital in Rajkot.

Patel claimed that initiatives launched by his government over the last two years have yielded results.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Singapore-based aircraft leasing firm BOC Aviation announced Tuesday it had ordered 20 A320neo planes, with up to 12 of them planned to go to Colombian airline Avianca.

The order is worth approximately $2.2 billion (2.0 billion euros) at list prices, but airlines and leasing firms typically negotiate discounts.

"We are thrilled to welcome Avianca as a new customer," BOC Aviation chief executive Robert Martin said in a statement.

"This addition of 20 new Airbus A320neo aircraft reflects our disciplined investment strategy of building our portfolio with popular and in-demand new technology aircraft that provide reliability and operational efficiency," he added.

Airbus' A320neo family of aircraft has been popular among airlines as the planes offer greater fuel economy thanks to new engines and aerodynamic design features.

The order brings BOC Aviation's total number of Airbus aircraft to 470.

The Hong Kong-listed firm had a fleet of 509 aircraft leased to 92 airlines in 40 countries as of the end of September.

Avianca is Latin America's second-largest airline. With 21,000 employees the airline generated $4.8 billion in revenue in 2018 carrying 30.5 million passengers.

cda/rl/wdb
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' remarks appeared aimed, at least in part, at Washington and Tehran. (AFP/CRISTINA QUICLER)

"The New Year has begun with our world in turmoil," Guterres said in brief remarks at the UN headquarters in New York.

"We are living in dangerous times. Geopolitical tensions are at their highest level this century. And this turbulence is escalating."

Guterres did not explicitly mention the rising tensions in the Middle East following the US killing of Qasem Soleimani, head of Iran's Middle East operations, in a drone strike.

But his remarks appeared aimed, at least in part, at the two sides.

"This cauldron of tensions is leading more and more countries to take unpredicted decisions with unpredictable consequences and a profound risk of miscalculation," Guterres said.

He added that he had been following the recent rise in global tensions with "great concern" and was in constant contact with leading officials around the world.

"And my message is simple and clear: Stop escalation. Exercise maximum restraint. Re-start dialogue. Renew international cooperation," he said.

"Let us not forget the terrible human suffering caused by war. As always, ordinary people pay the highest price. It is our common duty to avoid it."

Reacting to the US airstrike on Friday, a spokesman for Guterres said the secretary-general had "consistently advocated for de-escalation in the Gulf."

"This is a moment in which leaders must exercise maximum restraint," the spokesman said. "The world cannot afford another war in the Gulf."

The United States on Friday killed Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Quds Force, in a drone strike on Baghdad's international airport.

Iran vowed "severe revenge" for Soleimani's death while US President Donald Trump said there would be "major" US retaliation if Tehran hits back.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Guterres on Monday, the State Department said, to discuss the Middle East and Venezuela, where opposition leader Juan Guaido was re-elected national assembly speaker on Sunday in a hotly disputed vote.

Pompeo voiced his appreciation for Guterres' "continued diplomatic efforts," spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.
The United States will take action in response to growing Russian support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a senior US official warned Monday. US President Donald Trump's administration has sanctioned Maduro's regime and called it a dictatorship after he was re-elected in 2018 in elections widely seen as fraudulent. "We are looking at additional sanctions, personal sanctions, economic sanctions that we think will bring more pressure," Elliot Abrams, the State Department's Venezuela envoy, told reporters. Abrams, who did not specify what the sanctions would be, said the US had been looking closely at Russia's role in Venezuela and would not allow the level of support to go unchecked. Abrams said Russia was mainly interested in "the oil economy" in Venezuela, while Maduro has grown increasingly reliant on Moscow over the past year. "Russian companies are now handling more than two-thirds, more than 70 percent of Venezuelan oil," Abrams said. "So the Russian role is increasingly important." Abrams did not speculate on whether Russia was involved in pushing Maduro to take control of the opposition-majority National Assembly on Sunday, which Washington currently considers the only democratic body in Venezuela. Police had prevented opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido from entering the parliament, and in his absence Luis Parra, a corruption-tainted opposition lawmaker, declared himself parliament speaker. Maduro holds actual power but Guaido's claim to the presidency is recognized by more than 50 countries, including the United States and many European nations. Among Maduro's remaining supporters are Russia, North Korea and Cuba. Abrams admitted that the US had underestimated the support Maduro received from Russia and Cuba, saying that the two countries had supplied Venezuela with thousands of intelligence agents. Cuban and Russian assistance "has proved, I think, to be the two most important pillars of support for the regime, and without which it wouldn't be there," he said. Maduro "is left with Cuba, Russia, China and a few odd dictatorships around the world, but he is losing support not only on the right, not only in the center, but on the left in Latin America," Abrams added.
Ontario Provincial Police say a 28-year-old man from St. Catharines was killed early Tuesday after a horrific hit and run on the QEW in Beamsville.

The fatal collision happened about 3 a.m. in the Toronto-bound lanes of the QEW between Ontario Street and Bartlett Road.

OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt says it appears the victim, who was the driver of a white SUV, was involved in a single-vehicle collision and came to stop on the left side median. Thats when he got out of the vehicle to likely assess the damage, Schmidt said.

We dont know what he was doing but he was standing outside his vehicle.

Police believe the victim was struck more than once by passing cars.

There may be mutliple vehicles that struck the deceased, Schmidt says.

The collision is horrific.

His family is currently being notified and the mans identity has not been released.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are now looking for a silver or gold coloured Hyundia/Kia with front end damage.

The driver will have known they hit something, Schmidt said in a video posted to Twitter around 9:30 a.m. They may not know they hit a person.

Police are also seraching for a white commerical vehicle with missing wheel caps.

The stretch of QEW where this happened closed until 2 p.m. for the collision reconstruction investigation.

OPP are asking any witnesses or drivers who passsed through that stretch of highway between 3 and 3:30 a.m. to contact them. Anyone with information is asked to call the Burlington OPP detachment at 905-681-2511.
SEGUIN  A judge Tuesday ordered the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority to turn over certain documents and emails to lake property owners suing the agency because of the deteriorating condition of the dams on six lakes along the Guadalupe River.

However, Visiting Judge Stephen Ables ruled the plaintiffs are not entitled to emails on more extraneous matters, such as the possible sale of GBRA assets to third parties, the agencys sale of water to New Braunfels Utilities or land deals involving two GBRA board members.

The court fight centers on whether the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority is required by law to repair six aging dams at Lake Dunlap, Lake McQueeney, Lake Placid, Meadow Lake, Lake Gonzales and Lake Wood, all located on the Guadalupe River.

The dams have been under intense scrutiny since a spill gate collapsed at Lake Dunlap in May, draining it. A similar dam failure occurred at Lake Wood in 2016, also draining its water.

GBRA has acknowledged the spill gates on all six dams are beyond repair and need to be replaced because they are unsafe.

On ExpressNews.com: Lake property owners quest to limit GBRAs spending fails

Hundreds of lake property owners who sued the GBRA last year claim the state agency has a statutory duty to repair the dams.

But GBRA has argued the law makes no such requirement.

Attorney Doug Sutter, who represents 358 property owners suing GBRA, told the judge Tuesday that hes been waiting 31/2 three and a half months for the state agency to turn over some documents. He filed a motion to compel the GBRA to turn over those records.

They produced some documents, but they (made) objections to almost every single request that I have, Sutter told the judge Tuesday.

Attorneys for the river authority said they gave Sutter more than 50,000 pages of documents and more than 2,000 emails last month. They said theyre providing records they believe are relevant to the scope of the lawsuit.

On ExpressNews.com: GBRA claims lake property owners cant interfere with its business

If its dealing with the dewatering (of the lakes) or the condition of the dams, were producing it  I expect well finish that in the next couple of weeks, Houston attorney Kevin Jacobs told the judge.

But Jacobs and fellow attorney Travis Sales argued the lake property owners also sought some documents and communications that arent relevant to the lawsuit, calling those demands a huge fishing expedition and a rabbit trail. They asked that the plaintiffs discovery be limited to the dams and lakes.

Nobody has deputized Mr. Sutter to police the GBRA, Sales said.

The judge ordered GBRA to give the plaintiffs all records of the agencys expenditures in the past five years; any communications with various state governmental agencies on whether the law requires GBRA to replace the dams; and any of its officers and directors communications about two of the dams failing.

After the hearing, Sutter denied that his clients are trying to police the agency.

What were trying to do is to require them to do their job properly with regard to the dams, he said. If they want to call that policing, they can call it policing.

GBRA has projected that repairing and upgrading all six dams  built about 90 years ago  could cost up to $180 million. The agency also has said it doesnt have sustainable revenue to support such improvements.

The state agency initially intended to drain the remaining lakes  McQueeney, Placid, Meadow and Gonzales  but a settlement reached in September halted those plans. Those lakes will remain full until the lawsuit goes to trial next fall.

In October, the property owners tried to secure a temporary injunction to limit the GBRAs spending on items besides the dams and lakes, but were unsuccessful.

pohare@express-news.net

Peggy OHare reports on the census, demographics and occasionally crime and general assignments in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: @Peggy_OHare
A fire at a greenhouse farm in a Moscow suburb has killed eight people and injured one other person on Tuesday morning, Russian emergency services said.

All eight victims were migrants from Tajikistan who apparently worked at the farm.

The fire broke out in one of the metal construction trailers where workers lived. Local firefighters battled the blaze for an hour. It wasn't immediately clear what caused it.

The number of deadly fires traditionally grows in Russia during the New Year holidays on the first week of January. The country's emergency services usually attribute the trend to elaborate celebrations that often include use of fireworks and an increase in alcohol consumption.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Newspapers on Tuesday, January 7, continue to cover the US-Iran conflict and how it is affecting Kenya.

Another report given prominence in the dailies is Nairobi governor Mike Sonko's surprise move to name a deputy on Monday, January 6.

READ ALSO: 6 Kenyan actors whose lives were rocked with major controversies

Newspapers continue to cover the US-Iran conflict and how it is set to affect Kenya. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Nairobi: Three suspects arrested at KDF, Recce camps as police recover guns, bullets

1. The Standard

Section of Kikuyu leaders from Rift Valley has been embroiled in a bitter clash over KSh 8 million handouts allegedly issued by Deputy President William Ruto.

The over 4,000 leaders, according to The Standard, attended a meeting at the DP's Sugoi home on December 19, 2019, to discuss 2022 politics.

Claims have emerged that the person charged with reimbursing transport charges and allowances only used KSh 1 million and pocketed the rest.

The delegation that trooped to Sugoi was led by Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri who is the chairman of Kikuyu community living in the Rift Valley.

READ ALSO: Court issues orders stopping govt officials from interfering with Miguna's entry

Over 4,000 leaders attended the meeting at Ruto's home to discuss 2022 politics. Photo: The Standard.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Jamaa mwingine aparamia helikopta akifuata kinachodaiwa kuwa hongo

2. Taifa Leo

The Swahili daily reports that conflict between the US and Iran will deal a heavy blow on the state of security and economy in Kenya.

According to Taifa Leo, terror groups from Iran will now target Kenya as they seek to revenge the death of General Qasem Soleiman whose life was ended by US troops.

Fuel prices are expected to hike since the Middle East country, which is an oil exporter, will do all it takes to frustrate people or countries they deem as targets and threats.

Tea exports are also set to dwindle thus dealing a blow to farmers and the industry since Iran imports almost 20% of the cash crop from Kenya.

Iran terror groups will now target Kenya as they seek to revenge death of General Qasem Soleiman. Photo: Taifa Leo.

Source: UGC

3. People Daily

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang'i has revealed that terror groups are targeting universities as new recruitment centres.

Matiang'i said some of the suspects killed or arrested in connection with terror acts in Kenya were students of law and engineering among other elite courses in local institutions.

His remarks come even as the recent attacks in Lamu are blamed on Kenyan jihadists.

4. The Star

The move by Governor Sonko to nominate Ann Mwenda as deputy governor has been described by The Star as one that is set to kick off a storm and also brew controversy.

Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji has dismissed the appointment and vowed to protest against it in court.

In case the court finds Sonko flouted his bail terms by appointing a deputy, more stringent terms will be given to him or his bail cancelled.

The governor may be facing another warrant of arrest if the court cancels his bail.

In case the court finds Sonko flouted his bail terms by appointing a deputy, more stringent terms will be given to him or his bail cancelled. Photo: The Star.

Source: UGC

5. Daily Nation

The recently launched Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report has been painted by the daily as one continuing to widen the rift between allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and those of Opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Senate Minority Leader James Orengo has maintained the country needs to adopt recommendations of the BBI through a referendum that should be convened not later than July 2020.

Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen, however, argues the plebiscite will not solve the country's problems.

Murkomen said the soonest Kenya can convene a BBI vote is between October and December 2020 or another later date.

Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen, however, argues the plebiscite will not solve the country's problems. Photo: Daily Nation.

Source: UGC

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(Newser)  A GOP congressman circulated a fake photo of former President Obama on Monday, showing him shaking hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar tweeted the photo, adding the caption, "The world is a better place without these guys in power." The photo has long been debunkedObama and Rouhani never actually met in personand Rouhani is actually still in power. Per CBS News, the part of the image that shows Obama appears to have been lifted from a 2011 picture of him shaking hands with then-Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The backlash to Gosar's tweet was swift and condemning, including pushback from Democratic Rep. Sean Casten, who called the tweet "irresponsible." "The world would be a better place if elected officials didn't share photoshopped images and take pride in being ignorant," Casten tweeted.

story continues below

Gosar remained defiant. "No one said this wasnt photoshopped," he posted. "No one said the president of Iran was dead. No one said Obama met with Rouhani in person. The tweet says: 'the world is a better place without either of them in power.'" (Others replied, again, that Rouhani is still in power). It's not the first time the photo has appeared: Per a 2015 BuzzFeed story, a campaign ad that year for Wisconsin GOP Sen. Ron Johnson used the same pic. Gosar, who CNN notes has "a history of controversial remarks and actions," has spread other recent "conspiratorial messages," per the Washington Post. In November, he posted an acrostic spelling out "Epstein didn't kill himself," and a tweet insinuating George Soros' son was the Ukraine whistleblower. (Read more Paul Gosar stories.)
A map overlaying the United States with Australia amid the bushfire crisis has left Americans scratching their heads about the size of the island continent.

American science commentator Kyle Hill sparked online debate when he shared an image to Twitter comparing the land mass of the two countries.

Viewers struggled to fathom the size of Australia and quickly questioned the accuracy of the maps.

American science commentator Kyle Hill sparked online debate when he shared an image to Twitter comparing the land mass of the two countries

Viewers struggled to fathom the size of Australia and quickly questioned the accuracy of the maps

'I didn't realise Australia was so large! Is this to scale?' one person asked.

'Wow. I honestly never realised it was that large of a land mass. This is eye opening.'

'Australia is exactly the same width as the USA??' said another.

Another Twitter user added: 'Australia is as large as the US? Didn't know that. And good lord what is happening, the whole continent truly is burning.'

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world at 7,692,024 square kilometres. According to The World Factbook, the United States is 9,833,517 square kilometres.

Some Twitter users hoped the map would give international viewers a greater understanding of the scope of the bushfire catastrophe ravaging Australia.

Some Twitter users hoped the map would give international viewers a greater understanding of the scope of the bushfire catastrophe ravaging Australia

'This map is may be the only way to wake the US up out of its narcissistic coma to realise the horror Australia is experiencing,' one said.

'It's actually sad they have to make this kind of comparison to make Americans realise how big the fire problem is in Australia,' added another.

But the map has also been criticised for failing to accurately display the blazes, as there are yellow, orange and red flames lining the majority of the coastline.

'In terms of number of fires and pervasiveness around the country it's indicative,' one person explained.

'But those 'flames' don't show actual area burning/burned.'

The bushfire season has killed at least 25 people, destroyed almost 2,000 homes and burnt through more than seven million hectares.

Major blazes are still burning in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania and authorities predict fires will continue burning until at least March.
A nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court will hear at least 60 review petitions challenging the 2018 verdict of the apex court in the Sabarimala temple entry case from January 13, a notice published on the Supreme Court website said.

The composition of the bench was, however, not disclosed.

On September 28, 2018, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court headed by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra struck down Rule 3(b) of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Rules, 1965, which was the basis for barring entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 years into the Sabarimala temple.

The rule was held to be violative of the right of Hindu women under Article 25 to practice their religion.

Women of reproductive age were restricted from entering the over 800-year-old shrine in south Keralas Pathanamthitta district because its presiding deity, Lord Ayyappa, is considered to be a celibate.

Both the BJP and the Congress opposed the courts verdict. Subsequently, attempts by the Left government in Kerala to implement the judgment of the court had met with stiff resistance, leading to violence in the region.

Nearly 60 review petitions were filed against the 2018 judgment, which were heard in open court by the Supreme Court. The court eventually passed an order on November 14 last year stating that the review petitions will be kept pending and will be decided only after the court answers similar issues in three other cases relating to Muslim and Parsi women.

Two women from Kerala subsequently petitioned the top court alleging that the Kerala government was refusing to implement the 2018 judgment of the court and seeking police protection to enter the temple.

When those petitions came up for hearing on December 13 last year, the court, despite acknowledging that there was no stay of its 2018 judgment, refused to pass any directions, including ordering police protection to facilitate entry of women into the temple for the time being, stating that it was an emotive issue which could escalate tensions in the state.

The bench headed by CJI Bobde agreed during that hearing to constitute a larger bench at the earliest to hear the matter.

It is good that the court did not waste any time in listing the review petitions. Since the matter is listed before a nine-judge bench, chances are high that the Supreme Courts judgment in Shirur Mutt case, which was given by a seven-judge bench could be reconsidered to interpret the terminology religious denomination and essential religious practices, Usha Nandini, a Supreme Court advocate and one of the review petitioners, said on Monday.
A boy diagnosed with brain cancer has died just hours after a Make-A-Wish trip.

Michael Choroszy, 11, who lived in the US state of Wisconsin, was thought to be in remission for cancer in August, according to a GoFundMe page.

Family friend Jennifer Blease wrote on the page in late September the boy began to experience daily headaches.

Michael was rushed to the emergency room at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin where he was re-diagnosed with another germ cell tumour.

The 11-year-olds brother Robbie, 19, died unexpectedly on January, 2019 but Michael said he was doing this fight for his brother, Ms Blease wrote.

Michael Choroszy, 11, two months before his death. Source: GoFundMe/TEAM MIKEY - #CANCERSUCKS

The boys mum Tammy Wildish told news station WTMJ, Michael first began his battle with cancer 15 months ago.

As part of Make-A-Wish, Michael wanted to visit the Lego Store in the US state of Minnesota on New Years Eve.

But unfortunately, he fell gravely ill while at the store.

"Mikey took a decline very quickly, his mum told WTMJ.

The boy was rushed to hospital and died just hours later.

Mikey got his wings and flew home to his brother Robbie, Ms Choroszy wrote on Facebook.

Mikey passed away at 4.30am on New Years Day.

Michael had been fighting cancer for more than a year. Source: Facebook/ Tammy Wildish

Ms Blease wrote on the GoFundMe page the boy was the bravest individual she had met.

Robbie and Mikey are dancing in heaven right now as they are reunited. Mikey fought his battle with brain cancer to the very end, she wrote.

His sweet spirit and humour will be horribly missed by his friends, family, and school.

Ms Wildish told WTMJ she had to watch her son die in hospital.

The family is now hoping to raise money to move Michaels body back to Wisconsin and to pay for his funeral.

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.
A driver fired at least five rounds at a group of children who were throwing snowballs in a Wisconsin neighbourhood after one of them hit a passing vehicle.

According to the Milwaukee Police Department, officers responded to reports of a shooting in a residential area of the city around 8pm on 4 January to discover a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy suffering from "non-life threatening" gunshot wounds.

One of the snowballs struck a white Toyota, according to police, and the driver "fired shots into the group of kids striking the two victims."

The girl was shot twice, and the boy was shot once. Both children are being treated at a local hospital. The driver fired off as many as five rounds at the children, according to neighbours who heard the shots.

Police said that a "preliminary investigation indicates both victims were with a group of juveniles throwing snowballs at cars" that passed through the neighbourhood.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

No arrests have been made, though police are combing through the neighbourhood's home surveillance footage that may have captured the shooting, according to Milwaukee ABC affiliate WISN.

One resident, Ravell Davis, told WISN that he made his family, including his wife and six children, get on the floor of their kitchen when he heard the sound of gunshots down the street.

He said: "It's getting bad. You know, it's ridiculous when you look outside and the front and side of your house is taped off. It's getting real crazy now."

Last February, a woman in Seattle was arrested for allegedly attempting to run over a group of people playing with snowballs after one hit her Jeep, according to the Washington Post.

In 2008, a teenager in Philadelphia was shot in the head after hitting a passing adult in the face with a snowball, and in 2009, a detective in Washington, DC pulled out his gun to threaten a group of people who hit his car with snowballs.

Police in Milwaukee counted 98 murders in 2019. More than 80 per cent of murders in the city over the last six years were the result of gunshots.

Milwaukee Alderman Cavalier Johnson pointed to the recent shooting to urge state officials to strengthen the state's gun laws.

He told CBS affiliate WDJT: "I'm asking for the people who control the legislature to do something about this so we don't have situations like this in our city or anywhere in Wisconsin.
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received a cable of congratulations from National Guard Commander General Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa on the 23rd anniversary of the National Guard.

The National Guard Commander extended on behalf of the National Guard personnel heartfelt congratulations to HM the King on the occasion.

He lauded the unflinching royal support to the National Guard to boost its role as a military depth of Bahrain Defence Force and a shield of the Public Security forces in protecting national achievements and maintaining the kingdoms security, territorial integrity and citizens welfare.

He reiterated allegiance to the nation and HM the King to preserve the kingdoms sovereignty and stability, praying to Allah the Almighty to protect HM the King. HM King Hamad sent a reply cable of thanks to the National Guard Commander, describing the National Guard and Bahrain Defence Force as the bulwark of the nation.

He lauded perpetual development of the National Guard under the leadership and directives of General Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa.
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Taxi drivers who were scheduled to work at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday instead went on strike, fed up with a system that they say has "decimated" their industry and demanding they be allowed once again to pick up passengers directly from the terminals.

Taxicabs were moved along with rideshare vehicles to a separate lot under a new policy enacted in late October by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), which oversees LAX. Now arriving travelers have to take a shuttle before waiting in a queue to get a ride to their final destination. The policy affects pickup services only; taxis and rideshare vehicles are still dropping off passengers at LAX's departure terminals. Still, the new system got off to a rough start.

Taxi worker representatives, along with some city leaders, are trying to reverse the decision, which they say represents a fatal blow to an industry already dramatically weakened by the rise of rideshare companies. Taxi ridership in L.A. plummeted an estimated 77% from March 2013 to November 2018, according to a city report.

About 200 drivers scheduled to work at LAX Monday morning stopped picking up passengers during the demonstration, though drivers not scheduled to work may have provided rides, according to Leon Slomovic, the president of Taxi Workers Association of Los Angeles, which represents the roughly 3,000 licensed drivers in the city.

ANGER ABOUT A 'DIRE' SITUATION

LAWA touted its "LAXit" plan as a means to reduce congestion at the infamously gridlocked airport, but also as a necessary step as the airport undergoes multi-billion-dollar modernization projects.

"LAX simply does not have the curb space to accommodate taxis or ride app vehicles within the Central Terminal Area due to the $14 billion modernization program," LAWA spokeswoman Becca Doten said in a statement. That work includes construction of the "LAX Automated People Mover," which L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti first called for back in 2014.

But Slomovic said taxis' contribution to traffic at LAX is "miniscule" compared to rideshare vehicles -- and the move has taken a heavy toll on drivers.

"They're angry and they're disappointed because the situation has gotten pretty dire for them," he told LAist. Drivers' incomes "dropped by half or more last year," much of that during the final months of the year after drivers were banned from the terminals, he said.

Arriving passengers walk with their luggage as they prepare to board vehicles at the new 'LAX-it' ride-hail passenger pickup lot on November 6, 2019. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

According to 2019 LAX traffic reports from before the "LAXit" move, taxis account for about 4% of the vehicles that drive through the terminals any given month. Transportation Network Company (TNC) vehicles, as in Uber and Lyft, made up nearly a third of all LAX traffic, while private vehicles account for more than 50%, those same reports showed.

L.A. City Councilman Paul Koretz introduced a motion in late October to allow taxicabs back into LAX, calling LAWA's policy "the final nail in the coffin of the taxi industry."

"Currently, LAX is the only place where taxis remain competitive due to curbside convenience, which would be eliminated," Koretz wrote in the motion.

Slomovic echoed that sentiment, calling LAX pickups "the proverbial straw that we've been hanging onto."

In the early 2010s, before Uber and Lyft, Slomovic said airport pickups represented about a third of taxi trips. Now, as rideshare companies have taken over much of that transportation real estate, many taxi drivers depend on LAX for 60-70% of their income, Slomovic said.

Taxi companies already can't compete with Uber and Lyft on the price of a ride, so the new pickup policy introduced in October has exacerbated "an unsustainable situation," Slomovic explained.

"Our prices are set by the city, which is based on cost and a livable wage," Slomovic said.

'A GOOD REASON TO PROTEST'

In a statement provided to LAist, Koretz laid it out in even starker language: "LAWA has engaged in policies for several years which are designed to wipe out the taxi industry." Koretz added that drivers "have a good reason to protest" and that customers "should be right there alongside them."

Koretz and taxi worker advocates also criticized LAWA's policy as harmful for elderly passengers and passengers with disabilities who were previously able to rely on ADA-compliant taxis to help them curbside.

Slomovic said dialogue has been opened between LAWA and local taxi industry officials, and the two parties are scheduled to meet next week for further discussion. Driver representatives also started a Change.org petition.

"All we're asking is for the passengers to have a choice that they have at [the] 20 other busiest airports in the United States," he said. "We have made a number of different suggestions on how traffic can be mitigated and how taxi cabs can be accommodated inside the airport."

Doten said LAWA held more than 20 meetings with leaders from the taxi and rideshare industries for almost a year before "LAXit" opened "to ensure that their feedback and ideas were incorporated into the design." That led to taxis receiving a "prime first curb location" at the lot, she said.

"The LAX-it system has been working smoothly and efficiently for more than nine weeks," Doten said. "LAWA executive leadership has held a number of recent meetings with taxi companies and drivers since the opening of LAX-it and has implemented some of their suggestions as part of constant improvement of the operation."

Councilman Koretz's motion was submitted to the city's Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee, but has not yet been scheduled for discussion, according to Alison Simard of the councilman's office.

A Korean Air plane lands as taxis are lined up at the new 'LAX-it' ride-hail passenger pickup lot at LAX on Nov. 6, 2019. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

UPDATES:

Tuesday, Jan. 7, 7:15 a.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Los Angeles World Airports.

This article was originally published at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 6.
London, Jan 7 : The Sikh community in the UK fighting for the recognition of ethnic rights, has announced they have started the process of taking their battle to the London-based Court of Appeal, it was reported.

Lawyers for the Sikh Federation (UK) have informed the British government that they intend to appeal against a High Court ruling made in December 2019, the Birmingham Live news portal said in a report on Monday.

The federation wants a tick box for Sikhs in the ethnic options on the next census. At present, the census recognises Sikhs as a religion but not as an ethnicity.

The High Court had dismissed the federation's case, saying it was too early as the census had not yet been finalised.

A federation statement said: "The Sikh Federation (UK) with the backing of over 150 Gurdwaras and Sikh organisations was forced to begin judicial review proceedings in the High Court as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) was unable to provide conclusive evidence to support its proposals on the option of a Sikh ethnic tick box over a six month period after the Census White Paper was published on December 14, 2018.

"Ethnic tick boxes as opposed to religious tick boxes are used by decision makers in allocating resources and making decisions on the provision of public services.

"By providing the option of a Sikh ethic tick box it will supplement data from the voluntary religious question and provide a more accurate picture of the Sikh community and the composition of Britain's ethnic makeup." The census needs to be approved by March so that it can be sent out a year later on March 21, 2021.

The development comes after Kevin Foster, Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office), had already indicated that there would be a tick box for Sikhs under the religion section but not under ethnicity.

The 2011 UK Census recorded about 430,000 Sikhs based on a question about religion, which it was not compulsory to answer, the Birmingham Live report said.

However, the Sikh Federation estimates there are approximately 700,000 to 800,000 ethnic Sikhs living in the UK.
Sir Richard Branson considered handing 4million over to a conman who pretended to be Defence Secretary Michael Fallon in 2017.

The fraudster wrote to the businessman on Government headed notepaper before speaking to him and impersonating Fallon, who was a Conservative minister at the time.

As part of the bungled scam, Branson was told a British diplomat had been kidnapped and the UK government needed businessmen to pay the ransom.

Branson later managed to speak to the secretary of the actual minister, who assured him no such request had been made and the whole thing was a hoax by someone trying to make money.

Sir Richard Branson considered handing 4million over to a conman who pretended to be Defence Secretary Michael Fallon in 2017. Pictured, on ITV's Lorraine in London on 5 July 2018

But another fraudster was successful in their separate attempt to get 1.5million after impersonating Branson in a plea for money supposedly to help the hurricane-hit British Virgin Isles.

Branson wrote online: 'Six months ago my assistant received a written note on what appeared to be official government notepaper from Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon, requesting an urgent call with me.

'I called Sir Michael on the number given. He told me it was an incredibly sensitive matter and that he wanted to be sure there was nobody else in the room whilst I talked to him. He asked that we speak in strict confidence and said that a British diplomat had been kidnapped and was being held by terrorists.

'He told me that British laws prevented the government from paying out ransoms, which he normally completely concurred with. But he said on this occasion there was a particular, very sensitive, reason why they had to get this diplomat back.

'So they were extremely confidentially asking a syndicate of British businesspersons to step in.

'I was asked to contribute $5million dollars of the ransom money, which he assured me the British government would find a way of paying back.'

The fraudster wrote to the businessman on Government headed notepaper before speaking to him and impersonating Fallon, who was a Conservative minister at the time.

Branson said he was told to use the code word 'Davenport' when speaking to officials about the plan.

Branson added: 'Although the Sir Michael I spoke to sounded exactly like Sir Michael, I was understandably cautious.

'After I had asked one of my lawyers to go to Whitehall, I rang Downing Street and asked to be put through to Sir Michael's office. His secretary assured me that Sir Michael hadn't spoken to me and that nobody had been kidnapped. It was clearly a scam.'

Branson also revealed one of his friends had handed money over another conman who pretended to be him.

He added: 'A very successful businessperson asked me when I would be returning the three week loan I had asked for to help the BVI communities. I had no idea what they were talking about.

'They told me that they had received an email from somebody claiming they were my assistant, to arrange a call with me.

'When the call happened the conman did an extremely accurate impression of me and spun a big lie about urgently needing a loan while I was trying to mobilise aid in the BVI.

'The business person, incredibly graciously, gave $2 million, which promptly disappeared.

'He is an incredibly generous person who gives to all sorts of causes, and it is just too sad for words that of all people it was he who had fallen for it.'
Cheong Wa Dae on Monday discussed evacuation plans for Korean nationals in the Persian Gulf in case the U.S. goes to war with Iran.

The government discussed possible effects on the safety of Korean nationals and companies there, and ways to contribute to international efforts to seek stability in the region, according to a spokesman. There are about 290 Koreans in Iran and some 1,600 in Iraq, most of them working for Korean companies.

"We've also worked out an evacuation plan for about 150 Korean nationals in Lebanon and about 700 in Israel, where Iran could possibly launch a retaliatory attack" for the U.S.' assassination of Gen. Qassem Suleimani on Jan. 3, a government official here said. "We've arranged ships and airplanes for them to evacuate immediately in a worst-case scenario."

Korean companies in the region have made their own contingency plans.

The government also worries about the dispatch of troops to the Strait of Hormuz, which is now more likely to put any Korean troops in harm's way. Earlier, the government indicated it could send some contingent of support troops to the U.S.' military adventures there, but that was ostensibly to protect civilian tankers.

"We'll closely cooperate with the international community so that we could respond rapidly to an emergency situation involving the safety of Korean nationals," a military spokesman here said.

"The Cheonghae anti-piracy unit operating in the Gulf of Aden could be sent if something urgent should happen to Koreans in the Middle East or Korean ships in the Strait of Hormuz," he added.


VC slams violence at JNU; police on WhatsApp trail

Amidst charges and counter-charges over Sundays mayhem at New Delhis prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Vice Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar said all those who indulged in violence would be brought to book.

He also called upon the students to end violence and make a new beginning. Our campuses mustn't become safe havens for politics of hate and violence to thrive; academic endeavours, co-curricular initiatives must attain primacy in universities and not factionalism and divisive tendencies, he said.

And as allegations fly thick and fast, the Delhi police have announced an investigation into the unfortunate incident.

JNU professor Sucharita Sen, who suffered head injuries during an attack on students and teachers in the university campus on Sunday, has filed a police complaint. Sen said outsiders had gathered at the university campus with sticks, rods, and deadly weapons.

Police have also taken into account the WhatsApp screenshots being circulated and have identified the numbers as well. Most of the numbers are switched off right now. But their location at the time of violence will be taken through, police sources said.

With faces covered vandals at the JNU campus were difficult to be identified even with the help of CCTV, whose server has been damaged.

Several teams of Forensic Sciences Laboratory were at the JNU to collect evidence. Teams from physics, chemistry and biology divisions of the FSL were in the university. A team of photo experts from the FSL was also present at the campus. Delhi Police has requested the FSL to also send a computer forensics team to analyse CCTV footage.

We have visited all the spots and interacted with students in JNU. Currently the investigation is in its initial stage. Students have put their confidence in us and given us few inputs, police said.

Meanwhile, one Pinky Chaudhary claiming to represent an unheard of group, called Hindu Raksha Dal, is reported to have has owned up responsibility for Sundays violence at JNU.

"JNU is a hotbed of anti-national activities. We can't tolerate this. We take full responsibility of the attack in JNU and would like to say that they were our workers," news agency ANI reported quoting Chaudhary.

The Delhi Police said they are looking into this claim even as some sources say the fringe group may be working to deflect the police peobe.

The Delhi Police are also using face-recognition software to identity the masked people who came armed with sticks and sharp weapons, people with direct knowledge of the matter said. The police are scanning multiple video clips to unmask the attackers, who charged at students and professors after sundown on the campus.

A facial recognition system uses biometrics to map facial features from a photograph or video and compares the information with a database of known faces to find a match.

Several photos and videos of the mob attack at JNU show people wearing face mask standing in the corridors of the hostels, with sledgehammers in their hands.

A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against the JNUSU leader Aishe Ghosh, who was injured in the attack, and 19 others for allegedly vandalising the university server room and attacking security guards on Saturday.

The FIR, filed at 8:43 pm on Sunday - around the time Ghosh and other JNU students were being brutally attacked by the masked mob - claims she "indulged in physical violence", "pushed lady guards" and "threatened" guards. A second FIR - also about the server room incident - had been filed on Friday, but doesn't name Ghosh.

Student groups across the country declared solidarity with JNU students, as they staged protest against the mob attack on students and teachers inside the university campus on Sunday night.

But, in signs that the student protests are an extension of the opposition protests against the governments CAA legislation and are still backed by vested interest, demonstrations at Mumbais Gateway of India had at least one girl holding Free Kashmir placard.

In Ahmedabad, clashes erupted between ABVP and NSUI workers and police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd. NSUI was protesting near ABVP officer over JNU violence when clash broke out. Reports said around 10 people were injured.

The student unrest that followed the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act at Delhi Jamia Milia Islamia and the Aligarh Muslim University by the Left and Islamists has now been taken up by the rest of the opposition parties.

It is still unknown why students, especially from universities like JNU and JMI who are supposed to debate and analyse things, should get involved in political dirty games.
New Delhi: Congress leader Ajay Maken addresses a press conference at the party's headquarters in New Delhi, on Sep 18, 2019. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Jan 7 : The Delhi Congress is likely to promise pollution-free city in its manifesto, being prepared by Ajay Maken-headed manifesto committee. It will also detail how to make the city pollution-free.

The Assembly polls will be on February 8 and result will be out on February 11.

The manifesto may focus on clean energy, strengthening of the public transport system and increasing green area in the national capital.

"During the 1998-2013 Congress rule, plantation was carried out on a large scale, CNG buses were introduced and Metro work was prioritised to free Delhi from pollution," said Arjun Puri, Delhi Congress spokesperson.

The Congress is also likely to promise up to 400 units free power, which will cover 60 per cent of consumers. The AAP government has given up to 200 units free electricity.

The Congress is also mulling unemployment allowance for youth who could not find job despite being eligible.

Delhi Congress in-charge P.C. Chacko said, we would go to people highlighting the work done by late Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

Criticising the Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, Randeep Surjewala said on Monday, "Delhi's development has been blocked due to the blame-game politics between the AAP and the BJP".

Surjewala said Dikshit led the government for 15 years in which five years were during the BJP rule at the Centre, but the development didn't suffer.

The Congress also pointed to vote data saying its share in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls increased to 22 per cent, while the AAP's share came down to 18 per cent.
Go-go was born in the Districts live-music dance halls of the 1970s, where it earned its name from one of the genres founders, the late Chuck Brown, who said he was trying to keep people grooving with a beat that just goes and goes.
[January 07, 2020] Afterpay Taps into Global Network to Help Australians in Bushfire-Affected Communities

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In partnership with the Red Cross, Afterpay is encouraging its global customers and retail network to donate to bushfire-affected communities through the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. The funds will go directly to supporting businesses, communities and volunteers in affected areas around Australia. On behalf of its global employees, Afterpay will donate A$200,000 to the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. Afterpay customers can make their own donations by visiting www.redcross.com.au/afterpay and select the amount they would like to donate directly to the Australian Red Cross. Afterpay is also encouraging its 40,000+ merchant partners to promote the donations page to their own customers around the world. Steve Madden and other retailers have already indicated their support for the campaign. Re Cross Acting CEO Noel Clement welcomed the partnership with Afterpay and said: "The fund helps Red Cross teams to support people affected by disasters, including in evacuation centres and recovery programs. It also covers emergency grants to people who have lost homes in the recent bushfires."



Afterpay CEO Anthony Eisen commented, "We know that when a disaster happens, especially on our doorstep, Australians have an incredible ability to band together to help one another." "Our thoughts go out to all the families and individuals that have lost their homes or local businesses, as well as all the firefighters and volunteers working around the clock."

"Our retail partners in the US and UK are also keen to help, and we are excited that Steve Madden and others will be encouraging their customers to donate and that we can provide a global solution to our 6.6 million customer base to pledge." About Afterpay Limited Afterpay Limited (ASX: APT) has transformed the way people pay by allowing shoppers to receive products immediately and pay in four simple installments over a short period of time. The service is completely free for customers who pay on time - helping consumers spend money responsibly, without incurring interest, fees or revolving and extended debt. Afterpay is offered by more than 42,500 of the world's best retailers and has more than 6.6 million active customers globally. The solution is currently available in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom where it is called Clearpay. Afterpay is on a mission to be the world's most loved way to pay. More information can be found at www.afterpay.com ; www.clearpay.co.uk View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/afterpay-taps-into-global-network-to-help-australians-in-bushfire-affected-communities-300982280.html SOURCE Afterpay

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The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) on Monday appealed to Muslim youths in the country for exercise restraint over the death of top Iranian military commander, Qassem Soleimani, in Iraq.

In a statement issued in Abuja by Head of Media of the council, Ibrahim Aselemi, the body appealed to the youth not to allow their emotions becloud their judgment to ensure peace at all times.

NSCIA said the issue between the U.S. and Iran can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue.

The attention of NSCIA has been drawn to a planned peaceful protest by some Muslim youths in the country to vent their anger over the killing of Iranian top military commander, Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Iraq.

READ ALSO:

Although protests are an integral part of civil democracy all over the world, NSCIA believes that the timing is wrong, the council said.

Mr Soleimani was killed last Friday by a US Military airstrike in Baghdad.

The development has generated tensions between Washington and Tehran and in other parts of the world.

(NAN)
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MSNBCs Nicolle Wallace, who has known John Bolton for 20 years, says it is a decent bet that Bolton knows where the Republican votes are to subpoena him.

Wallace said on her show Deadline White House, There is tectonic plate shifting impeachment news. John Bolton, who reportedly described the Ukrainian pressure campaign as a drug deal, and Rudy Giuliani, the presidents lawyer, who remains in the middle of the effort to push the Ukrainians for investigations into the Bidens as a grenade to blow everybody up. Announcing today he will testify in a Senate impeachment trial if subpoenaed. Bolton either playing for US national security issues, the history books or both. Has in the absence of any ruling forcing his testimony, examining the separation of powers questioned himself and off to testify before the senate. 71% of Americans would like to hear from Americans like Bolton. And only takes four Republicans for a vote to subpoena him to pass the senate. Knowing Bolton for the better part of two decades, its a decent bet he might know where they may be hiding.

Video:

Nicolle Wallace says it is a decent bet that Bolton knows that there are four Republican Senate votes to subpoena him. pic.twitter.com/EL8v3iZvPV  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 6, 2020



Nothing in any of the House impeachment testimony concerning John Bolton suggests that his testimony will be anything less than bad for Trump. Senate Republicans are signaling that they dont have the votes to block the Senate from subpoenaing Boltons testimony.

After a few days of Trump-induced Iran distraction, impeachment is back front and center in the American national discussion. It is looking more likely that John Bolton will testify, which will open the door to testimony the administration officials that Donald Trump is trying to hide.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  Former Sultan Kudarat Vice Governor Rolly Recinto was killed in an ambush on Tuesday, police reported.

Gunmen attacked Recinto as his pickup truck was passing a highway in Barangay Belumin in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital from multiple gunshot wounds. Recinto was also the former mayor of Lambayong town.

The Police Regional Office-12 said in a statement that it will investigate the incident and prosecute the culprits once identified.

Journalist Roland Ortillano contributed to this report
Donald Trump has called Scott Morrison to extend his sympathies to Australia following killer bushfires.

Mr Morrison thanked the President in a Tweet after their discussion.

He wrote: 'Thanks for the call @realDonaldTrump and for your strong messages of sympathy, support and friendship for Australia during our terrible bushfire season'.

Mr Morrison thanked the President for the chat in a Tweet (above) after their discussion

Donald Trump has called Scott Morrison to extend his sympathies to Australia following killer bushfires. The pair are pictured together at the White House in September

'Thanks also to the American people for their many messages of support. Australia and the US are great mates.'

Mr Morrison also posted two emojis of the Australian and US flags.

Earlier today he spoke with British PM Boris Johnson about the fires.

Mr Johnson said in a Tweet that the UK was ready to provide any assistance required.

Mr Morrison responded in a Tweet: 'Thanks @BorisJohnson and also for the personal message overnight. Appreciate all the support - the UK is a great friend of Australia.'

Earlier today Mr Morrison spoke with British PM Boris Johnson about the fires. Pictured: Mr Johnson's tweet

On Tuesday Australian firefighters used cool weather to strengthen containment lines around almost 200 wildfires burning in the country's southeast.

Fires have razed more than 8million hectares of land across Australia, an area nearly the size of Austria, killing 25 people and destroying or damaging thousands of homes.

The Insurance Council of Australia increased its estimate for damages claims from the fires to more than $700million on Tuesday, with claims expected to jump further when more fire-hit areas are accessible.

Thousands of people have been left homeless, while many in rural towns have spent days without electricity, telecommunications and, in some cases, drinking water. Military-coordinated rescue and support efforts were ongoing.

Ash from Australia's bushfires washes up on a beach in Merimbula, New South Wales state

Morrison, who has been criticised for his handling of the crisis, on Monday pledged $2 billion to a newly created National Bushfire Recovery Agency, a commitment that could threaten his election promise to deliver the first budget surplus in more than a decade this financial year.

'There's going to be a very significant economic impact, but ... we want to get money out into these communities as fast as possible,' Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp ahead of planned meetings between Morrison and financial bosses.

On the ground, firefighters were working to get as much control over the huge blazes as possible before forecast high temperatures and winds return later in the week, threatening to ignite a fresh wave of fires.

'They are trying to secure fire lines where they can to try and minimise where these fires will burn again when conditions do warm up,' Rob Rogers, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Deputy Commissioner told reporters in a morning briefing.

'We have no prospect of containment on all those fires, but we can use this time.'
Iranian MPs chanted 'Death to America' after they passed a bill today designating all US forces 'terrorists' over the killing of Qassem Soleimani.

Under the newly adopted bill, all US forces and employees of the Pentagon and affiliated organisations, agents and commanders and those who ordered the 'martyrdom' of Soleimani were designated as terrorists.

'Any aid to these forces, including military, intelligence, financial, technical, service or logistical, will be considered as co-operation in a terrorist act,' the Iranian parliament said.

Some of the lawmakers were holding pictures of Soleimani in the parliament chamber and chanted 'Death to America' after the bill was passed.

Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm, was killed in a US drone strike outside Baghdad airport on Friday, ratcheting up tensions between the arch-foes.

Iranian lawmakers chant 'Death to America' after they passed a bill today designating all US forces 'terrorists' over the killing of Qassem Soleimani

Iran's parliament (pictured today) passed a bill which says that helping US forces will be considered 'co-operation in a terrorist act' by Iran

Soleimani (pictured) was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport on Friday, shocking the Islamic republic and sending tensions spiralling in the Middle East

Lawmakers also voted to bolster by 170million the coffers of the Quds Force - the foreign operations arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards that was headed by Soleimani.

The bill was an amended version of a law adopted in April last year that declared the United States a 'state sponsor of terrorism' and its forces in the region 'terror groups'.

Iran's top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, said that blackisting came after the US designated Iran's Revolutionary Guards a 'terrorist organisation'.

Echoing that language, Iran's chief of police Hossein Ashtari said today that the United States was a 'state sponsor of terrorists'.

The future of US troops in the Middle East was thrown into confusion yesterday when a letter confirming a withdrawal from Iraq was apparently circulated by mistake.

'We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure,' said the letter, whose authenticity was confirmed by both Iraqi and US defence officials.

In the letter, US Brigadier General William Seely said the US-led coalition would 'be repositioning forces'.

But Pentagon Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley said the letter was a mere 'draft' that was sent by mistake.

Some Iranian lawmakers held pictures of the slain general as they voted on the bill today

The future of US troops in the Middle East was thrown into confusion yesterday when a letter confirming a withdrawal from Iraq was apparently circulated by mistake (file photo)

The Iraqi parliament has called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil, something analysts fear could allow ISIS militants to mount a comeback.

Germany said Tuesday it was withdrawing some of its troops deployed as the anti-IS coalition in Iraq.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, France's president Emmanuel Macron and British PM Boris Johnson have also urged Iraq to not jeopardise the battle against ISIS.

'Preserving the coalition is of great importance in this context. We call on the Iraqi authorities to continue to provide the coalition with the necessary support,' they said.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned on Monday that Iran must avoid 'further violence and provocations'.

The European Union, whose foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on the crisis Friday, said it was in both Iran and Iraq's interests to 'take the path of sobriety and not the path of escalation'.

Saudi Arabia - an oil-rich US ally seen as vulnerable to Iranian counter strikes - also appealed for calm after a 'very dangerous' escalation.
Even if you support President Trumps withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and advocate for regime change, the drone assassination of Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani is ill-advised.

The increased sanctions seemed to be having some effect, as there were new levels of unrest and public protests.

All that has been obliterated in an instant with the assassination, as we now see Iranian citizens galvanized in their oppositions to the U.S. in the region. America first is American alone.

Mark Irons, Alameda

Blame policy makers

Regarding War puts Trumps credibility to ultimate test (John Diaz, Insight, Jan. 5): Thanks to John Diaz for reminding us of government deceptions justifying previous wars, which provides perspective and, more importantly, skepticism over justification of the current action against Iran.

As more and more American troops are sent to the Mideast, it might not be too premature for another reminder.

If an actual war breaks out and it becomes highly unpopular, American policy makers are to blame, not U.S. troops who were ordered into battle. Those of us who served in, and were blamed for, the Vietnam War would hate for history to repeat itself.

Ken Kashiwahara, Millbrae

Traded values with Texas

Concerning Prices flatten, but problems linger (Jan. 6): With almost 40 million residents and an extremely high cost of living in California, its not surprising to learn that thousands of people are leaving this state for more affordable locations.

However, I would not be packing my bags to head to Texas, which this editorial notes is one of the states to which California is losing the most residents.

Despite its more affordable housing market and great barbecue food, Texas leads the nation in prisoners executed, people without health insurance and carbon emissions. It also ranks dead last in voter turnout and first-trimester pre-natal care.

And for those who are parents thinking of moving to the Lone Star State, you should know that it has very high teen pregnancy rates and very low high school graduation rates. For all of its faults (and fault lines), California is a still a very civic- and ecologically minded state. Trading these values for better home values is something worth considering before leaving it.

Gregory Smithson, San Carlos

Useless cliches

Regarding Please, lets lose these cliches in 2020 (Open Forum, Jan. 1): So, going forward, I feel truly blessed to be able to reach out to Bob Gardner to contribute to his list of recent cliches and useless expressions that should be, well, fired. Just saying.

Steve Metzger, Chico

Keep it quiet and clean

Regarding Gas bans hit mowers, blowers (Page 1, Jan. 6): I welcome the news that Novato, where I have lived for many years, might join those Bay Area cities which are banning gas-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers. In addition to reducing noxious fumes from these machines, such bans also reduce the obnoxious noises they make.

In our increasingly crowded neighborhoods, any steps taken to decrease both air and noise pollution should be embraced.

Jeremy Davidoff, Novato

Who will pay for more war?

If the U.S. is to go to war with Iran, we the people should demand an official declaration of war by Congress before military action can take place. Every senator and representative will have to commit themselves and say yes or no to war.

History will judge them. How are we going to pay for this war? It will cost endless billions of dollars. Who is going to pay for it?

Certainly, the tax cut on the wealthy passed in 2017 by the Trump administration will have to be reversed. And the wealthy will have to be required to do their patriotic duty, so all off-shore tax havens will have to be banned. Their money will be needed for the war effort. Also, are we going to continue to occupy Afghanistan and Iraq?

Since 2003, we have already spent trillions of dollars on that quagmire. We may find it necessary to reinstitute the draft. All military-age, fit people will be subject to the draft, including the sons and daughters of the wealthy, senators and congress-people. No special exemptions.
CHANDLER, Ariz., Jan. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (MCHP)  Microchip Technology Incorporated, a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control solutions, announced today that the Company will present at the J.P. Morgan 18th Annual Tech/Auto Forum on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at 8:45 a.m. (Pacific Time). Presenting for the Company will be Mr. Steve Sanghi, Chief Executive Officer. A live webcast of the presentation will be made available by J.P. Morgan, and can be accessed on the Microchip website at www.microchip.com .



Any forward looking statements made during the presentation are qualified in their entirety by the discussion of risks set forth in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Copies of SEC filings can be obtained for free at the SEC's website ( www.sec.gov ) or from commercial document retrieval services.

Microchip Technology Incorporated is a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control solutions. Its easy-to-use development tools and comprehensive product portfolio enable customers to create optimal designs, which reduce risk while lowering total system cost and time to market. The company's solutions serve more than 120,000 customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense, communications and computing markets. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com .

Note: The Microchip name and logo are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the USA and other countries.

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:

Deborah Wussler  (480) 792-7373
(Bloomberg) -- Samsung Electronics Co. kicked off 2020 with an array of gadgets from prototype augmented-reality glasses to a new smart speaker that the company hopes will kickstart a fresh foray into the crowded smart home arena.

The worlds biggest home appliance maker set out its latest Internet of Things strategy, describing it as an Age of Experience, at the CES 2020 technology conference in Las Vegas. It will span everything from individual care to the connected home and smart cities in the next decade. At the heart of Samsungs new smart home push will be the Galaxy Home Mini smart speaker, which the company plans to release in early 2020, said Hyunsuk Kim, chief executive officer of Samsungs consumer electronics division.

We need to rethink the space we have to accommodate our diverse and evolving lifestyles and generations, said Kim during the opening CES keynote address. Along with artificial intelligence-driven concept products like the Ballie rolling bot, Samsung also showcased tech solutions for visually impaired and disabled people under the broad banner of technology enhancing peoples lives.

The Galaxy Home Mini comes years after Googles Home and Amazon.com Inc.s Echo smart speakers -- and nearly 18 months after Samsungs promised but never released Galaxy Home -- but the Korean giant believes it can build a unique ecosystem around the Mini by making it the best controlling device for the home gadgets and appliances that bear its brand.

Powered by Bixby, Samsungs answer to digital assistants like Apple Inc.s Siri and Amazons Alexa, Samsungs offering will focus on making home appliances execute voice commands rather than attempting a conversation based on artificial intelligence trained on reams of internet user data. Acknowledging negative chatter about Bixby lagging the field, Kim said orchestrating a smooth question-and-answer exchange wasnt his priority, while the focus on hardware over user information means better consumer privacy.

Story continues

Samsung will remain a hardware company, forever, said Kim, who is testing the Galaxy Home Mini in his own abode, connecting it to 63 devices that include his curtains, lighting and third-party gadgets. Appliances linked to the Mini will be able to carry out orders such as scheduling when the dishwasher should run or making sure the washers rinse cycle is complete before the user gets home. Its not about when we release the product, but its more crucial how much further we can evolve the technology. No other speaker in the world can control gadgets as much as Samsung can.

Read more: Amazon and Google to Hit CES With Digital Assistants in Tow

Amazons Alexa has a broad ecosystem of third-party Skills, which let you use Alexa to do things like control your Xbox, stream Apple Music, find your smartphone or play quizzes and other voice-based games. Samsung, which ships half a billion devices every year, lacks the same third-party support. However, it says it can muscle its way into the AI speaker market by virtue of its own product portfolio.

Like Amazon and Googles home ecosystem ventures, Samsung sees the Mini acting as the hub connecting all its present and future AI-embedded hardware. That would encompass any devices connected through its SmartThings app as well as gadget rivals products linked via infrared hookups.

With plateauing smartphone and PC sales, voice-based computing is among the biggest growth opportunities remaining in the tech industry -- and the home is where some of the earliest consumer adoption is happening. Forrester Research Inc. expects the market for smart home devices to expand 26% a year between 2018 and 2023. Samsungs own home Internet of Things business grew 10-fold in 2019 from the previous year, mainly thanks to South Korea, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, according to Sunggy Koo, head of the business at Samsung.

Wearable technology is another big area of focus for growth-starved companies, and Samsungs latest effort is a teaser for its own AR glasses, seeking to succeed where Google Glass failed. The company is working to minimize dizziness, said Kim, which is the key to making the glasses as small as possible. Apple and Facebook Inc. are both working on AR glasses of their own, Bloomberg News has reported, and Microsoft Corp. offers the HoloLens headset.

The original Galaxy Home speaker that was announced in the middle of 2018 never materialized. Samsung has yet to make a final decision as to whether to sell the bigger smart speaker while it focuses on the more compact Mini. But its also working on peripheral gadgets in the interim, including the Ballie -- a companion robot in the vein of Sony Corp.s Aibo that rolls around like BB-8 in Star Wars. Kim expects both smart speakers and mobile robots will become major products in the consumer electronics market, offering a variety of services tailored to pet, child and elderly care.

Eventually, I hope there is no interaction between humans and technology, Samsung home IoT chief Koo said with respect to what the smart home may look like in 2030. Devices will anticipate peoples needs and offer services based on data collected from in-house appliances, he said. At least within the boundary of smart homes, technology development will head toward touch-less and voice-less.

Read more: Silicon Valley Is Listening to Your Most Intimate Moments

One thing in Samsungs favor in realizing that vision, Kim said, is a more hands-off approach to consumer data than internet-based rivals that have in past years hoovered up users personal information to improve their services. Facebook has earned criticism for this with its Portal teleconferencing cameras, as have Amazon and Google, each of which have exposed recordings of user interactions to human analyzers.

Kim said Samsung is putting an emphasis on safeguarding privacy by doing the necessary computations on the device itself -- the so-called edge computing -- removing the need for user information to ever leave the smart appliance or users home. Unlike advertising-reliant businesses like Facebook and Google, Samsung doesnt need to build out intimately detailed user profiles to help it target ads. Consumers will get to choose whether to share data with the cloud to access additional services or just save data on their devices, Kim said.

We will minimize data sharing. I mean, a hardware company like us is willing to do that, said Kim, who also spearheads Samsungs AI push. We are a latecomer in the AI field, but we are catching up very fast.

(Updates with comments from CEO in third paragraph)

--With assistance from Mark Gurman.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sohee Kim in Seoul at skim847@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Edwin Chan at echan273@bloomberg.net, Vlad Savov

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Jonathan Coe has won a Costa Book Award for his Brexit-themed novel Middle England.

The book, billed as a story of nostalgia and delusion, was one of several winners announced on Monday. It distinguished itself in the novel category.

Judges described it as the perfect novel for now.

Lawyer-turned-writer Sara Collins, meanwhile, won the prize for the best first novel for The Confessions Of Frannie Langton.

Collinss debut features a twisted love affair between a Jamaican maid and her French mistress in Georgian London.

Books of the decade Show all 40 1 /40 Books of the decade Books of the decade Toni Morrison  God Help the Child (2015) Toni Morrison died in August; her final novel, 2015s God Help the Child, displays her award-winning powers of elegant prose and imagination. Children are mistreated and prejudice abounds in this disturbing modern fairy tale set around the enigmatic character of Bride, who makes a mistake that has devastating consequences. (MC) Books of the decade Ian McEwan  Solar (2010) Solar, which was partly based on Ian McEwans own experiences during a trip to the Arctic island of Spitsbergen, is a darkly comic novel. Against the backdrop of the battle against climate change, McEwan tells the story of middle-aged Nobel laureate Michael Beard, a self-serving physicist whose own world is in danger of meltdown. (MC) Books of the decade Manning Marable  Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention (2011) Columbia University professor Manning Marable died on 1 April 2011, just days before the publication of his Pulitzer Prize-winning biography Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention. Marable drew from letters, diaries and FBI files for a meticulous, incisive and balanced account of the life of the civil rights leader. The book cuts through the myths to reveal Malcolm X in all his conflicted complexity. (MC) Books of the decade . Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey  She Said (2019) They wrote the story that changed the world and now theyve explained how they did it. In She Said, the Pulitzer Prize-winning duo explain how they managed to barge through Hollywoods ironclad gates and break the Weinstein story, publishing allegations from several women accusing the disgraced producer of sexual assault in The New York Times. While the details are sparse in terms of sources and specific tactics, there are some startling revelations, including how Gwyneth Paltrow became a helping hand and the extreme lengths Weinsteins team went to in order to thwart both reporters and silence the alleged victims. (OP) Books of the decade Emily Witt  Future Sex (2016) Future Sex is perhaps one of the few nonfiction books about sex and relationships that came before #MeToo and somehow remains relevant today. Finding herself suddenly single at the age of 30, Witt immerses herself in the sexual subcultures of San Francisco, trying her hand at everything from polyamory to orgasmic meditation. Its a fascinating piece of work, one that illustrates Witts talents as an essayist and gives plenty of room to many astute observations on sexual liberation. (OP) Books of the decade Yuval Harari  Sapiens (2011) Every now and then a book comes along that tilts your perspective on the world. This internationally best-selling phenomenon is one of them. Covering just about the entire sweep of human history, it makes you understand the fits, starts and savagery of progress. (CR) 36. Emily Witt  Future Sex (2016) Books of the decade Emma Cline  The Girls (2016) The Girls is about exploring the appeal of being in a cult. Inspired by Charles Mansons murderous family, the book serves up a more tense, richer depiction than Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, one that puts women at the centre, examining what motivates and captivates them. (OP) Books of the decade Marlon James: A Brief History of Seven Killings (2014) The Booker-winning A Brief History of Seven Killings, by Jamaican-born Marlon James, follows the lives and deaths of seven of the would-be killers in the failed 1976 assassination attempt on Bob Marley. The novel cleverly weaves fiction and fact  and the language has a musical rhythm. Some of the epiphanies in the book are linked to songs. (MC) Books of the decade Raynor Winn  The Salt Path: A Memoir (2018) Terminal illness and bankruptcy shouldnt make for an inspiring read but they somehow do in Raynor Winns poetic, provocative memoir. After losing the family home, Win and her husband set out to walk the South West Coast path, shaking a fist at his grim diagnosis. Its as much a meditation on the power of nature as Books of the decade Nina Stibbe  Love, Nina: Despatches from Family Life (2013) Theres deadpan and then theres Nina Stibbe, who proves herself the heir to Adrian Mole in this novel written in the form of letters to her sister from a child-minding job in London. A provincial girl grappling with the strange salads of the metropolitan literary elite, Stibbe is comic gold. (CR) Books of the decade Patrick deWitt  The Sisters Brothers (2011) The assassins Eli and Charlie Sisters were played by John C Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix in the film version of Canadian-born writer Patrick deWitts second novel. The narrator Eli captures the lawless, unpredictable nature of frontier life in the mid-19th century. The Sisters Brothers is a compelling, unsettling tale of the Gold Rush era. (MC) Books of the decade Gail Honeyman  Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine (2017) Every office has its misfit, and this is the funny, deeply touching story of a woman whose aversion to social niceties and the work Christmas lunch hides a traumatic past. Common acts of kindness rekindle the protagonist in this beautifully told debut. (CR) Books of the decade Anna Burns  The Milkman (2018) Anna Burns became the first writer from Northern Ireland to win the Man Booker Prize, when she triumphed with The Milkman in 2018. Burnss challenging, intriguing novel presents an unnamed 18-year-old girls perspective of her life during the Troubles in the Seventies. The 41-year-old paramilitary leader known as the Books of the decade Sophie Mackintosh  The Water Cure (2018) Thanks to Margaret Atwood and the state of the world, feminist dystopian fiction is having a moment and Sophie Mackintoshs The Water Cure is a notable contribution to the genre. It is perhaps one of the most creative of additions, cleverly weaving mystery and murder with sex and sisterhood, all while Mackintosh seduces the reader into her Shakespearean realm. (OP) Books of the decade Anne Tyler  A Spool of Blue Thread (2015) Anne Tyler is a master of stories about family life in middle-class America. A Spool of Blue Thread, the 20th novel from the author of The Accidental Tourist, adroitly shines a light on sibling rivalry, family secrets and the wounding power of grief. Her tale of four generations of the Whitshanks demonstrates again her gift for comic detail. (MC) Books of the decade Anne Enright  The Green Road (2015) The Green Road, by Dublin-born Anne Enright, is set in County Clare, a wild place geographically and emotionally. Enrights keen gift for observation is at play in this family saga based around Hanna, Dan, Constance and Emmets Christmas return to the home that their scary matriarch, Rosaleen, is selling. A funny, painful tale of selfishness and compassion. (MC) Books of the decade Amor Towles  A Gentleman in Moscow (2016) The gentleman in question is Count Rostov, a bon vivant and aristocrat placed under house arrest in a fancy Moscow hotel after the communists seize control. His wit and enduring humanity make this charming, quirky novel sing. (CR) Books of the decade Elif Batuman  The Idiot (2017) When fact meets fiction, the result is almost always fascinating as the reader spends hours trying to discern which is which. Such is the appeal of The Idiot, Elif Batumans debut novel, which tells the semi-autobiographical tale of a young woman studying at Harvard in the mid-Nineties. After pontificating on the purpose of email, she soon becomes obsessed with an enigmatic Hungarian student whose insouciance will leave you spinning in a state of total frustration. (OP) Books of the decade Orhan Pamuk  The Red-Haired Woman (2016) Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuks 10th novel was the short, stunning The Red-Haired Woman, which is at once a fable and a gripping tale of youthful obsession, exploring protagonist Cem Celiks desire for the red-haired, enigmatic member of a theatre troupe. The father-son relationship in the novel also allows Pamuk to deftly explore the changing nature of Turkey. (MC) Books of the decade Ariel Levy  The Rules Do Not Apply (2017) A dazzling insight into the mind of one of The New Yorkers most prolific writers, Ariel Levys memoir will seem relatable to all those who have at one time or another felt a startling sense of dissociation from their life, which is probably most of us. Levys personal tragedies will leave readers reeling. There is one passage in particular that will stay with you for months in which Levy describes how she suffered a miscarriage on a hotel room floor while on an assignment in Mongolia. She was 19 weeks pregnant at the time and her son, born alive, died in her arms. It is a story of resilience to the highest degree. (OP) Books of the decade Marilynne Robinson  Lila (2014) Lila was the third novel in Marilynne Robinsons Gilead Chronicles  following Gilead (2004) and Home (2008)  and tells, in unflinching terms, the story of Lila, the young woman who married the elderly Reverend Ames in a dusty Iowa town. Robinson writes beautifully and, as a sophisticated religious thinker, asks searching questions about faith and doubt. (MC) Books of the decade David Sedaris  Calypso (2018) There are few writers as gloriously strange, acerbic, funny and faintly ruthless as Sedaris, who once again mines his family history in this collection of autobiographical short stories. It includes a tale in which he feeds his Books of the decade Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie  Americanah (2013) Both a love story and a look at how racial divides play out in the UK and the USA, Americanah is as enchanting as it is thought-provoking. Its impossible not to root for Ifemelu, the clever Nigerian ingenue who ends up struggling to find a minimum wage job as she studies in America. (CR) Books of the decade Julian Barnes  The Sense of an Ending (2011) Julian Barness novella The Sense of an Ending is a subtle examination of the search for answers to lifes unresolved relationships. The divorced sexagenarian protagonist Tony Webster, is thrown into emotional turmoil when he receives an unexpected bequest that prompts him to reconnect with a college girlfriend. He is forced to face up to the accumulation, the multiplication, of loss. (MC) Books of the decade Tara Westover  Educated (2018) No matter how many documentaries you watch or books you read on Mormonism, its almost impossible to understand such a community from the outside. Tara Westover opened peoples eyes with Educated, explaining how she went from growing up in a Mormon fundamentalist family in Idaho to studying for a PhD at the University of Cambridge. Its an inspiring story of grit and determination that doubles up as an homage to the power of self-education and, well, reading. (OP) Books of the decade Maggie Nelson  The Argonauts (2015) Few things reinforce tired gender cliches like marriage and parenthood, so huzzah for Maggie Nelson with this subversive memoir. It subjects romantic love, pregnancy, motherhood and all the attendant tedious cultural baggage to an intensely intelligent, glittering critique. (CR) Books of the decade Richard Ford  Canada (2012) In Canada, retired English teacher Dell Parsons, the son of hapless bank robbers, looks back on the heart-breaking events of his teenage years and tries to take account of how his life was shaped. The settings include Great Falls, Montana, and Saskatchewan in Canada, but its Richard Ford sure-footed journey over emotional terrain that is so utterly majestic. (MC) Books of the decade Donna Tartt  The Goldfinch (2013) A 13-year-boy survives a terrorist bomb that kills his mother at an art museum, and as he stumbles through the wreckage, he takes a small painting called The Goldfinch. The tiny relic of the Dutch Golden Age becomes a source of both solace and enigma in Tartts superb, Pulitzer-winning third novel. (CR) Books of the decade Jonathan Franzen  Freedom (2010) Walter and Patty Berglund, the seemingly perfect couple who meet at college in the 1970s, are at the heart of Jonathan Franzens fourth novel. The story of their unravelling marriage is explored in a rich, nuanced novel. Freedom is more than just a tale of wedded unbliss: it is about the messiness of love and longing in the modern world. (MC) Books of the decade Elif Shafak  Honour (2011) A sprawling, multi-generational tale of a Turkish family who make a new life in London, this novel has a so-called honour killing as its centre of gravity. Shafak, a best-selling author in Turkey and many other countries, conjures up the hypocrisy that holds women to different standards, with devastating results. (CR) Books of the decade Helen Macdonald  H Is for Hawk (2016) When Helen Macdonald lost her father, she acquired a hawk. This idiosyncratic approach to grief makes for a lyrical, moving probe into both the process of mourning and our relationship with the natural world. (CR) Books of the decade Margaret Atwood  The Testaments (2019) Not just a novel but a fully fledged cultural phenomenon, the sequel to the Handmaids Tale was met with midnight readings and fans decked out in the creepy red and white gowns from the TV adaptation of the original. A superb and suspenseful expose of misogyny and the moral ambiguity at the heart of a fanatical regime. (CR) Books of the decade Jennifer Egan  A Visit from the Goon Squad (2010) Time is a central theme of Jennifer Egans vibrant A Visit from the Goon Squad, which interconnects stories involving Sasha, a kleptomaniac New Yorker in her mid-thirties, and her music business boss Bennie Salazar. The problems of relationships are explored in a witty novel that has interesting things to say about the loss of vitality in the digital world. (MC) Books of the decade Matt Haig  Reasons to Stay Alive (2015) Theres a reason why Matt Haigs writing on mental health has earned him such high praise, with the Duchess of Sussex among his fans. And it all started with this bestselling memoir in which the childrens fiction author describes falling into a deep depression in his early twenties that left him contemplating taking his own life. Its not an easy read, but in a society where suicide remains grossly misunderstood and gender stereotypes hinder men from speaking openly about their mental wellbeing, its a crucial one. (OP) Books of the decade Arundhati Roy  The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017) Twenty years after her stunning debut The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy followed up with the mesmerising The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. With biting ironic wit, Roys epic dissects life in India in the wake of the partition conflict. The characters, including the transgender woman Anjum, are intimately drawn. Roys novel challenges you to care about life. (MC) Books of the decade Sally Rooney  Conversations with Friends (2017) The feted 27-year-old author has acquired a reputation as a millennial literary powerhouse since her debut in 2017. While Rooney has gone on to publish a second novel, Normal People, which was shortlisted for this years Man Booker Prize, Conversations with Friends remains her best work. With its snappy short sentences, sophisticated plot and characters so complex that its hard to like any of them, the novel established Rooney as one of the most exciting new writers around. (OP) Books of the decade George Saunders  Lincoln in the Bardo (2017) Lincoln in the Bardo tells the story of a single night in the life of Abraham Lincoln  when his 11-year-old son was buried  through an experimental tale involving 166 narrators in the bardo, the transitional state between ones death and rebirth, according to Tibetan Buddhism. George Saunders enchanting tour-de-force won the 2017 Man Booker Prize. (MC) Books of the decade Lisa Taddeo  Three Women (2019) In 2019, female desire warrants shrewd examination more than ever. Thank goodness, then, for Lisa Taddeo, who spent eight years documenting the sexual experiences of three very relatable but very different women. The result is a powerful collection of interspersed narratives that probe the most intimate corners of the female psyche. I can think of nothing like it. (OP) Books of the decade Paul Beatty  The Sellout (2015) An outrageous satire of contemporary race relations, Beattys The Sellout tells the story of a black man called Bonbon who is seeking to reinstitute slavery and segregation. When it won the Booker, the chair of the judges compared Beatty to Swift and Twain. (CR) Books of the decade . Hilary Mantel  Bring Up the Bodies (2012) The sequel to Mantels Booker-winning Tudor tour de force, Wolf Hall, Bring up the Bodies did not Let Down the Readers. Her immersive prose takes us back into the poetic, rigorous mind of the archetypal career politician, Thomas Cromwell. The subject is the stuff of school days  Henry Tudors marriage to Anne Boleyn, and her fatal failure to produce a male heir. To allow another marriage and safeguard the stability of the country, Cromwell engineers Boleyns downfall, constructing capital charges against the queen along with a few of his old enemies to boot. Despite the biggest spoiler in history, Mantels novel is so finely pitched that we feel all the tension of the luxurious, blood-tinged Tudor court. (CR)

The gothic romance was inspired by the story of a Jamaican boy, Francis Barber, sent into service in the household of Samuel Johnson.

Collins, who is of Jamaican descent, worked in the Cayman Islands as a dispute resolution lawyer for 17 years and was also involved in human rights advocacy.

She wanted to dispel the myth that the black presence in England started with Windrush with the book.

Debut authors scooped two other categories, with Jasbinder Bilan winning the childrens book award with her first novel, Asha And The Spirit Bird, a thrilling adventure set in contemporary India.

Mary Jean Chan won the poetry award with her debut collection, Fleche, exploring themes of multilingualism, queerness, psychoanalysis and cultural history.

The Volunteer: The True Story Of The Resistance Hero who Infiltrated Auschwitz, by former war reporter Jack Fairweather, won the biography category.

Witold Pilecki created an underground resistance army which smuggled evidence of Nazi atrocities out of Auschwitz, via secret messages and radio broadcasts.

The five winning authors each receive 5,000 and are now in the running for the 2019 Costa Book Of The Year award, which will be announced later this month.

Additional reporting by agencies
Manchu embroidery has been around for over 1,000 years. Gradually, over time, the needlework and patterns used to create clothing of daily use developed into the beautiful Manchu embroidery that we know today.

Aside from its undeniable beauty, the embroidery style has become a means of escaping poverty for rural residents in Liaoning Province.

Yang Xue is a full-time embroidery craftswoman working in Shenyang, the capital city of northeast Chinas Liaoning Province. She earns decent money and can provide for her family, a far cry from her previous life, taking paid labor jobs just to make ends meet in her hometown of Qianjiagou Village.

Women in Qianjiagou, a tiny village of just 260 households, predominantly worked in agriculture, if at all. When she had a child, Yang had to give up work altogether to look after the baby, leaving her husband to deal with the familys financial burden alone.

One day, however, her friend Wu Nan introduced her to Manchu embroidery, and she never looked back.

After a period of training, I received my first pay-check, which was over 1,000 yuan for a month's work, said Yang. It was a large amount of money for me, with basically no income as a housewife.

Wu was one of the first villagers to journey to Shenyang to learn Manchu embroidery. By collaborating with Shenyang-based company Shengjing Manchu Embroidery, the village witnessed the first group of female villagers, including Wu herself, move away from the village to train in Shenyang and bring more opportunities back to the village.

Yang Xiaotong, owner of Shengjing Manchu Embroidery, said that Shengjing Manchu embroidery, an imperial symbol from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), absorbs the essence of the four most famous Chinese embroidery styles. As an inheritor of this intangible cultural heritage, Yang decided to break the family only rule of four generations, hoping that the embroidery skills could become an opportunity for the villagers to earn extra money to pay their bills.

Yang also decided to waive all training fees for her students and offer free accommodation if they were promoted to the Shenyang headquarters, considering most students had trouble making ends meet.

Later, Wu became the leader of the embroidery group in Qianjiagou Village. She recruited seven or eight villagers at first, and that number quickly grew as people realized they could make money without leaving their hometown. Now, over 20 women work here in Qianjiagou, earning a combined income of over 400,000 yuan since August 2018.

Recalling the last couple of years, Wu expressed a sense of pride. When I first came back with what I had learned from Shenyang, I initiated the program and found a place to set up a workshop from ground zero, she said.

According to the data provided by the company, from August, 2018 to July, 2019, the company set up 106 poverty alleviation embroidery workshops, helping a total of 1,623 women rise above the poverty line.

We were pretty confident about the promise of this career back then, especially when we knew that the boss of the company was willing to break the traditional rule and share the technique of Manchu embroidery with us, said Wu.

Wu told People's Daily Online the story of 49-year-old Hu Jingbo, whose parents are almost 90 years old. Hu has looked after her parents for years, ever since her father was diagnosed with cerebral thrombosis. Hu shouldered the obligation to take care of her parents since her father was diagnosed with cerebral thrombosis years ago.

Joining the workshop ensures her a monthly salary of nearly 2,000 yuan, with the annual per capita income of each embroider in Qian Jiagou Village increasing by 25,000 yuan since the program started last year. The change in income and living standards has had a massive impact on the lives of these women.

Previously, when the farmland froze in winter, we would sit around playing Mahjong to kill time, but now things have changed, said Wu. The embroidery not only cultivates our hobby, but has also changed us, as we can finally do something more meaningful and spirit-lifting.

Thanks to the first secretary of our village Party committee, Zhang Yunlu, who started this program, we finally find ourselves occupied with something worth doing, which makes some money at the same time.

As the first secretary of Qianjiagou Village Party committee, Zhang acted as the coordinator between Shengjing Manchu Embroidery and Qianjiagou Village to initiate this poverty alleviation program.

My job as a first secretary is to bring change, especially economically, to those impoverished villages under the guidance of Chinas rural revitalization strategy,  Zhang said.

China's rural revitalization strategy is helping revamp the countryside. The strategy was first put forward during the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2017 and has been repeatedly stressed by Chinese leadership ever since, aiming for the grand goal of a strong agricultural industry, beautiful countryside and well-off farmers by 2050.

Since the founding of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, more than 800 million Chinese people have risen above the poverty line, representing a 70 percent reduction in global poverty. The year 2020 marks a crucial stage for China's poverty alleviation campaign, and none of this could have happened without people like Zhang Yunlu and Wu Nan, who fully dedicate themselves to the goal of leaving poverty where it should remain - in the past.
PUNE, India, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Nuclear Medicine/ Radiopharmaceuticals Market size is projected to reach USD 9.54 billion by 2026. According to a report published by Fortune Business Insights, titled "Nuclear Medicine/ Radiopharmaceuticals Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (PET Radiopharmaceuticals, SPECT Radiopharmaceuticals), By Application (Neurology, Cardiology, Oncology, and Others), By End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Diagnostic Centres, and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026," the market was valued at USD 4.86 billion in 2018. Driven by increasing number of successful clinical trials, the market will exhibit a CAGR of 9.0% from 2019-2026.

Radiopharmaceuticals are substances that are used to diagnose specific medical problems or diseases. Increasing imaging capabilities and efficiencies have led to a wide product adoption across the world. Increasing number of successful clinical trials associated with radiopharmaceuticals will fuel the demand for the product. Recent drug application area discoveries have showcased promise for the companies operating in the market. Technological advancements in nuclear imaging and their applications in diagnosis of cancer and other serious diseases have opened up a huge potential for growth. Growing awareness regarding the adverse effects of chronic diseases, and the need for early diagnosis will aid market growth. The advancements in imaging systems have played a major role in the growth of the market. Companies are putting in increased efforts towards the manufacturing of diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals. Increasing investments in the research and development (R&D) will create several growth opportunities for market growth.

For more information in the analysis of this report, visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/nuclear-medicine-radiopharmaceuticals-market-101812

The report offers insights into the global Nuclear Medicine/ Radiopharmaceuticals Market, with primary focus on aspects such as leading product types, major companies, and areas that have witnessed the highest applications. It briefly summarizes the competitive landscape of the market and identifies companies that have potential to dominate the market in the coming years. Additionally, the report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market. Based on extensive research analysis methods, the report provides forecast values for the market for the period of 2019-2026.

Driven by Increasing Number of Product Launches, Market to Expand at a High Rate

The increasing number of product launches has offered a wider scope for growth. The presence of several pipeline drugs will open up a potential for the growth of the market in the coming years. The increased investment has massively helped the development of these pipeline drugs. Increased emphasis on R&D of pipeline drugs has enabled the possibilities to explore the untapped potential that is carried by radiopharmaceuticals. In 2018, Norgine B.V. announced the launch of Lymphoseek, a radiopharmaceutical designed for oncological procedures. The report highlights new products, similar to Lymphoseek and gauges the impact of these products on the market.

Request a Sample Copy: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/nuclear-medicine-radiopharmaceuticals-market-101812

North America to Witness Highest Growth; Growing Adoption of Nuclear Imaging to Aid Growth

The report segments the market on the basis of regional demographics into Latin America, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Among these regions, North America will emerge dominant in the coming years. The advancements in nuclear imaging has contributed to the growth of the market in North America. Increased awareness regarding the adverse effects of cancer and other serious diseases will create several growth opportunities for the companies operating in the regional market of North America.

List of the leading companies that are operating in the global Nuclear Medicine/ Radiopharmaceuticals Market are:

Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/nuclear-medicine-radiopharmaceuticals-market-101812

Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc.

Cardinal Health

Norgine B.V.

Curium

Advanced Accelerator Applications (Novartis AG)

Bracco Diagnostic Inc.

Jubilant Life Sciences Limited

GE Healthcare (General Electric Company)

Detailed Table of Content:

Introduction

Research Scope



Market Segmentation



Research Methodology



Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers



Market Restraints



Market Opportunities

Key Insights

Installed Base of PET/PET-CT Scanners - For Key Countries, 2015 and 2018



Installed Base of Gamma Cameras - For Key Countries, 2018



Reimbursement Scenario- For Key Countries



New Product Launches



Key Industry Developments



Pipeline Analysis

Global Nuclear Medicine/ Radiopharmaceuticals Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026

Key Findings / Summary



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Type



PET Radiopharmaceuticals





FDG-PET/18F







68Ga







68Cu







11C







Others





SPECT Radiopharmaceuticals





Technetium-99m







Iodine-123







Xenon-133







Thallium-201







Others



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Application



Neurology





Cardiology





Oncology





Others



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By End User



Hospitals & Clinics





Diagnostic Centers





Others



Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Region



North America





Europe





Asia Pacific





Rest of the World

TOC Continued.!

Request for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/nuclear-medicine-radiopharmaceuticals-market-101812

Have a Look at Related Reports:

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Radiation Therapy Market Size, Share and Global Trend By Type (External Beam Radiation Therapy, Internal Radiation therapy (brachytherapy), Others), By End Users (Hospitals & Diagnostic Laboratories, Cancer Treatment & Research Centers, Academic Research Organizations, Others) and Geography Forecast till 2026

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Guidewire Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product (Coronary Guidewire, Peripheral Guidewire, Urology Guidewire, Neurovascular Guidewire, and Others) By Material (Nitinol, Stainless Steel, and Others) By Coating (Coated and Non-Coated) By End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Diagnostic Centers, and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

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Social activist and Congress worker Sadaf Jafar was released from jail on Tuesday, 19 days after she was arrested for her alleged involvement in the violent protests against the amended citizenship act in Uttar Pradeshs Lucknow.

Jafar, Pawan Rao Ambedkar, former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer SR Darapuri and nine others arrested after the protests last month were granted bail by a local court in the state capital on Saturday.

Jafar hugged her sister after coming out of the jail and thanked Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others for supporting her.

The fear of being jailed and beaten up has now gone away, thanks to Yogi Ji. I will continue to protest strongly till the time this inhuman law is not withdrawn, a teary-eyed Sadaf Jafar said, according to ANI.

Darapuri, who was also released, said there is no force that could prevent people from raising their voice.

The police must be ashamed of beating people, including women, in custody, he said.

Hazratganj Police had booked Jafar, the only woman arrested, and others on December 19 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1932.

She was among the more than 100 people arrested after the December 19 protests. Those named in the first information reports were booked for rioting, unlawful assembly, attempt to murder, wrongful constraints, criminal intimidation, criminal assault on public servant etc.

Jafar was arrested while she was live on Facebook from the spot where the protests had gone violent in the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. She had also posted two videos on Facebook highlighting police inaction when people resorted to vandalism during the protests.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav had attacked the Yogi Adityanath-led Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state and at the Centre over police crackdown during protests against the amended citizenship law.

Priyanka Gandhi had met Jafars family in Lucknow last month and called out the state government for crossing all limits of inhumanity and the police for putting her in jail by making baseless allegations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US President Donald Trump and expressed his desire to continue to work with him to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, a PMO statement said on Tuesday.

Modi conveyed his New Year greetings to the US president, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

During the conversation, the prime minister noted that India-US relations, which are built on trust, mutual respect and understanding, "have grown from strength to strength", it said.

Modi highlighted the significant progress made in deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries in the previous year and expressed his desire to continue to work with President Trump for enhancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, the statement said.

President Trump wished the people of India prosperity and progress in the New Year.

He expressed satisfaction at the achievements in the relationship in the last few years and reiterated his readiness for further deepening bilateral cooperation, according to the statement.

In Washington, the White House released a readout of the telephonic conversation between the two leaders.

"Today, President Donald J Trump spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to exchange New Year's greetings," the White House said in a readout.

"The leaders discussed ways to further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership in 2020, and they also reviewed the regional security matters," it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former commander of the Army's Western Command Lt Gen P N Hoon died in Chandigarh on Monday. He was 90.

Lt Gen Hoon was one of the most senior military veterans in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the demise of the military veteran and hailed his dedication to the nation.

"Extremely saddened by the passing away of Lt Gen PN Hoon (retd). He served India with utmost dedication and contributed significantly towards making our nation stronger and more secure. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti," he tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WASHINGTON  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he has the votes to start President Donald Trumps impeachment trial as soon as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi releases the documents, winning support from GOP senators to postpone a decision on calling witnesses.

The announcement is significant, enabling McConnell to bypass for now Democratic demands for new testimony as he launches the third impeachment trial in the nations history. It could begin this week if Pelosi sends the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

But Pelosi gave little indication Tuesday of her next move. She cut short an impeachment discussion with her leadership team late at the Capitol when an aide handed her a note about the crisis unfolding in the Middle East. She asked Democrats to pray, according to a lawmaker at the closed-door session.

Pelosi appears in no rush to transmit the articles of impeachment as Democrats push to hear from more witnesses but McConnell focuses Republicans on a strategy for speedy acquittal. The Senate cant start the proceedings until the charges against Trump are sent.

We have the votes, McConnell told reporters about his proposal that would set the rules for a trial and would be modeled after President Bill Clintons impeachment 20 years ago. He said the question of new witnesses and documents will be addressed later and not before the trial begins.

The contours of a Senate trial have been in dispute for weeks. Pelosi is delaying transmission of the articles as Democrats press for testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton and other new witnesses.

Sadly, Leader McConnell has made clear that his loyalty is to the President and not the Constitution, Pelosi wrote to colleagues late Tuesday. She said the process he is outlining is not only unfair but designed to deprive Senators and the American people of crucial documents and testimony.

Pelosi told House leaders Tuesday she believed the strategy was working, according to those in the private meeting. She called on McConnell to immediately reveal the details of his proposal.

People are united, said Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson of California about the mood in the House caucus.

McConnell has resisted calling new witnesses and expects the trial to end with the GOP Senate majority voting to acquit the president of the charges, and without Trumps removal from office.

The GOP leader told senators at their closed-door lunch Tuesday that he has support for his plan. It would start the trial first and postpone votes on witnesses until later in the process.

He has 51 (votes), for sure, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a top ally of the president, exiting the meeting. Republicans hold the majority in the Senate, 53-47.

In withholding the articles, Pelosi gave Democrats an opportunity to ramp up pressure on Republicans not to go along with McConnells proposal. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called McConnells plan a trap and a cover-up. He vowed to force votes anyway on Bolton and the others.

Whoever heard of a trial without witnesses and documents? the New York Democrat said. He asked Trump what he has to hide. Witnesses and documents: fair trial. No witnesses and documents: cover- up.

Republicans countered that Democrats rushed to impeach and then delayed the process. Pelosi has yet to choose House impeachment managers for the trial, a politically sensitive next step, with many lawmakers vying to be candidates. The House impeached the president last month on the two charges.

Just four GOP senators would be needed to deny McConnell his majority, but he appears to have locked up the votes. GOP leaders were conducting a whip count Tuesday to gauge support. Several GOP senators have indicated they want to hear from Bolton and other witnesses, but they are nevertheless standing with McConnells plan for starting the trial.

Im comfortable with that process, said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah. Id like to hear from John Bolton and other witnesses with the right information, but that process will accommodate that.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has also said she supports McConnells approach. Others say they are not sure they even need to hear from Bolton or other witnesses, blaming the House for not forcing them to testify. Trump had instructed White House officials not to comply with the House investigation.

Its not that I dont want to hear from him, said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. I want to hear from him when the House is willing to do their work and have the same agreement with the ambassador on their side of the Hill.

Trump faces charges that he abused the power of the presidency by pressuring Ukraines new leader to investigate Democrats, using as leverage $400 million in military assistance that is critical for the ally as it counters Russia at its border.

The funding for Ukraine was eventually released but only after Congress intervened.

From the Oval Office, where Trump was meeting with the prime minister of Greece, he railed against the impeachment proceedings, as he often does, as a totally partisan hoax witch hunt.

Trump insisted there was absolutely nothing done wrong in his interactions with Ukraine.

Republicans are expected to swiftly acquit Trump of the charges, but Democrats say fresh evidence, including Boltons willingness to testify, only increases pressure for new witnesses and documents.

Bolton apparently compared the administrations actions toward Ukraine to a drug deal he wanted no part of, a shadow diplomacy being concocted by the acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, according to House testimony. Bolton left the administration in September.

Democrats also want documents about the withheld aid to Ukraine that the White House refused to turn over to House investigators, defying congressional subpoenas.

With a 53-seat majority, McConnell has only loose control over the impeachment proceedings, where decisions on witnesses or documents can be made with a 51-vote majority.

Pressure will mount on senators up for reelection from swing states in 2020, including Collins, Tillis, Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst and Colorado GOP Sen. Cory Gardner, who are being closely watched for their votes by a deeply divided country. Protesters are showing up at the Capitol.

McConnell deflected a question Tuesday on whether Trump acted appropriately with Ukraine, saying he had nothing more to add on that issue. He acknowledged the votes on witnesses and documents will be the most contentious part of the proceedings. There will be, Im sure, intense discussion, he said.

The GOP leader has come under criticism for saying he was not an impartial juror but rather was working in total coordination with the White House on the trial strategy. Democrats similarly worked with Clintons White House during his impeachment.

___

Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Matthew Daly and Padmananda Rama in Washington contributed to this report.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Azerbaijans Central Election Commission is doing its best to resolve all issues in favor of candidates in the early parliamentary elections scheduled for Feb. 9, Chairman of Azerbaijans Central Election Commission (CEC) Mazahir Panahov said at the commissions meeting Jan. 7, Trend reports.

At the same time, there are such issues in connection with which the candidate himself or herself bears the responsibility, Panahov noted.

Azerbaijani citizens who have put forward their MP candidacies should provide information about their property, the chairman added. This is requirement of the Electoral Code. District election commissions arent obliged to remind the candidates about this. Those who have put forward their MP candidacies must individually provide information about their property.
Last week, Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was killed in a targeted strike by U.S. forces authorized by President Trump. This preemptive attack has spawned a curious debate over whether Soleimani posed an imminent threat at the time he was taken out. The suggestion, mainly by partisan Democrats, is that it was illegitimate for the president to use lethal force without congressional authorization absent proof that Soleimani was on the cusp of killing Americans  or, better, killing even more Americans.

The debate puts me in mind of the early-to-mid 1990s, when our counterterrorism laws were dangerously flawed. Back then, sensible Democrats  as most of them were  knew that these defects had to be addressed. Rather than sound like apologists for anti-American jihadists, they took admirably expeditious action.

The problem emerged in the investigation of the proto-Qaeda terror network guided by the so-called Blind Sheikh, Omar Abdel Rahman. I was then a federal prosecutor and took over that investigation in Spring 1993. At the time, having just bombed the World Trade Center, the jihadists were actively plotting something even more monstrous: simultaneous attacks on the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels and the United Nations complex on Manhattans east side. The jihadists were also scouting additional landmarks in the city, including U.S. military facilities and the FBIs downtown headquarters.

We knew about the plot  and were in a position to thwart it  because we had a confidential informant. (Back then, neither he nor anyone else got the sniffles over the medias labeling him a spy.) Emad Salem, a former Egyptian military officer, had infiltrated the cell and covertly recorded discussions with the Blind Sheikh about the desirability of bombing U.S. armed forces. Like the Shiite Iranian regime (longtime supporters of Sunni al-Qaeda and Hamas, as well as Shiite Hezbollah), Abdel Rahman, a renowned Sunni sharia scholar, recommended that Muslims put aside their internecine conflicts when it came to fighting America, the Great Satan.

Story continues

In the early-to-mid 90s, the United States thankfully did not have extensive experience with international terrorist attacks on the homeland, certainly not the systematic use of mass-murder attacks as a method of prosecuting war that weve seen in the last quarter-century. This meant that our legal architecture was sorely lacking. That was a significant defect, given that the government was determined to treat this national-security challenge as if it were a mere crime problem.

There were anomalies. If, for example, terrorists successfully detonated an explosive, as they did in the 1993 WTC attack (killing six, including a woman about to give birth, injuring hundreds, and causing massive property damage), we had a bombing statute that prescribed an appropriately severe penalty: life imprisonment. But there was no federal bombing-conspiracy statute. Consequently, any bombing plot had to be charged under the catch-all federal conspiracy statute. Generally applicable to less serious offenses, it makes sundry conspiracies punishable by no more than five years, and as little as no imprisonment.

In other words, if jihadists killed a few people, you could put them away forever; but if they were stopped while plotting to kill 10,000 people, the penalty was illusory. In effect, our investigators were penalized for doing their jobs well.

There was something of a fall-back position, though it further illuminated the flaws in our criminal code  and, analogously, the foolishness of todays debate over whether a suspected attack is sufficiently imminent to warrant responding with force.

Terrorists whod been stopped could be charged with attempted bombing, which carried a possible penalty of up to ten years imprisonment  still inadequate, but better than zero to five years. Yet there was a catch. Court decisions, even in the bombing context, made proving the crime of attempt much harder than it should have been. Evidence was deemed insufficient unless prosecutors could establish that the suspects had taken enough actions in furtherance of a bombing to meet the legal threshold of a substantial step.

So . . . what was a substantial step? Was discussing a bombing enough? How about conducting surveillance of a target? Purchasing bomb components? Did it matter whether the plotters had done bombings in the past? No one could really be sure.

In effect, the question became: Did it seem, under the circumstances, that the bombing was imminent? On this calculus, even evidence of implacable terrorist hostility and a commitment to use force would not be sufficient to prove an attempted bombing. Investigators would need, in addition, evidence that the plotters were so far along in their planning that we could conclude an attack would have happened if the police had not interrupted it.

Consider the perverse incentive this legal framework created. If investigators were fortunate enough to be in a position to stop a mass-murder attack and round up the jihadists, the law nevertheless encouraged them to let the plot continue, right up to the moment before detonation if possible, to ensure that a substantial step had been proved.

Of course, even if they have an inside cooperator, investigators are never in complete control of a criminal enterprise. The last stage of a plot is the time when plotters may speed up matters to avoid getting caught in possession of incriminating evidence. The higher-ups are apt to flee before the strike, so theyll be beyond capture when the lower-ranking plotters set off the explosion. The chance that a bombing will happen increases immensely if investigators are discouraged from taking decisive preemptive action that a court may later second-guess as premature.

This is one reason (of many) that international terrorism is best regarded as a military threat rather than a criminal prosecution issue. It is one thing to agitate about whether the proof of an attempt is good enough when, if the agents lose control of the situation, the only danger is that a few victims will be defrauded or robbed. It is quite another thing when jihadists are projecting power on the scale of a national military force. That risk is unacceptable.

It is interesting to contrast the mid Nineties to today.

Back then, most Democrats were committed to the law-enforcement approach to counterterrorism. While you can debate the wisdom of that, those Democrats were at least serious about making sure that court prosecution was as effective as it could possibly be. In the 1996 overhaul of counterterrorism law, the Clinton White House and Justice Department worked closely with a Republican-controlled Congress. They not only addressed the flaws that made uncompleted bombing plots so challenging to prosecute. They also defined new crimes tailored to how modern international terrorism actually works. These improvements enabled investigators to thwart plots in their infancy; we were also empowered to starve jihadist organizations of funding, personnel, and materiel.

The bipartisan message was loud and clear: We want terrorists aggressively prosecuted but, even more, we want our agents to have the tools to prevent plots and attacks from taking shape in the first place.

Where is that message today?

In neutralizing terrorists and their state sponsors, the venerable law of war is, to my mind, a necessary complement, if not a preferable alternative, to the criminal law. One of many reasons is that, when an enemy is making war on the United States, there is no need to wait for an attack to be imminent in order to justify a defensive, preemptive strike. General Soleimani was an enemy combatant commander for the Iranian regime and the jihadist terror networks it uses in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and elsewhere. For more than 40 years, Iran has unabashedly pronounced itself as at war with the United States. It has conducted major attacks that have killed hundreds of Americans. In just the past few weeks, Irans jihadist militias attacked American bases in and around Baghdad eleven times.

Reports of intelligence indicating that Soleimani was planning more attacks in the near term are surely credible. Legally, though, they are beside the point. Soleimani was a proper target regardless of the evidence that any new attack was imminent.

The real question is: Why is imminence even an issue? This is not a close call. We are talking about one of the most notorious mass-murderers of Americans on the planet, the top combatant commander of the regime that proudly tells the world its motto is Death to America. Why would we want to raise an abstruse question that would make eliminating such a monster more difficult?

In the Obama years, Democrats were happy to line up in support of unprovoked U.S. attacks on Libya. The use of lethal force was not authorized by Congress, and Americans were not being threatened. Now, because the president at the helm is Donald Trump, they want to quibble over whether the latest Iranian atrocities and U.S. intelligence were a sufficiently flashing neon sign that more atrocities were imminent? That is irresponsible.

In the 1990s, Democrats understood that we needed to fix our laws to make it easier to eliminate threats to attack the United States, regardless of whether they were about to occur or hadnt even gotten beyond the recruitment-and-training phase. Maybe those Democrats make themselves heard only when one of their own is in the White House. Right now, though, we need to pull together as a united front against an Iranian enemy that could not be clearer about its murderous intentions.

Yes, were in a period of extreme partisanship. That is no excuse for playing politics with our security.

More from National Review
Active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings conducted an F-35A Combat Power Exercise at Hill Air Force Base, Utah - Digital

The attack Qassim Soleimani was allegedly plotting was just days away from being launched when he was killed by the Americans, the US defence secretary Mark Esper has said.

Mr Esper was responding to skepticism about how imminent the threat was to American life which the Trump administration has used to justify its killing of the Iranian military commander.

Asked during a press conference whether the attack allegedly being masterminded by Soleimani had been days or weeks away, Mr Esper said: I think its more fair to say days, for sure.

He also included a warning while urging Iran to de-escalate the current standoff, saying: We are not looking to start a war with Iran, but we are prepared to finish one.

Donald Trump followed up the comments by saying Soleimani, the leader of Irans proxy militias, was planning a very big attack which would have affected America and taken a lot of lives.

Paratroopers assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division load aircraft bound for the US Central Command area of operations from Fort Bragg, North Carolina Credit: U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Hubert Delany III

"He was a monster the US president said while taking questions in the White House. And he's no longer a monster. He's dead."

Mr Trump also doubled down on a threat to target Iranian cultural sites if provoked, but clarified that he would act within the confines of international law.

In recent days unnamed American officials have been quoted in US media questioning whether the threat was that different to ones regularly picked up from the Middle East.

US congressmen are due on Wednesday to get a briefing on the intelligence that sat behind the decision to take out Soleimani shortly after he flew into Baghdad, Iraq.

Some US commentators have drawn parallels between the way the public is being asked to trust US officials about the nature of the imminent threat and the justification for invading Iraq in 2003.

Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State who has led much of the Trump administrations media engagements explaining the Soleimani killing decision, gave another press conference on Tuesday.

Qassem Soleimani, the leader of Iran's proxy militias, was killed in an American drone strike Credit: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP

He accused the Iranian regime of spreading propaganda over the claim that Soleimani was only in Baghdad for a diplomatic peace mission.

Story continues

"Anybody here believe that? Mr Pompeo asked during a press conference in Washington DC. "We know that wasnt true," he added.

Mr Pompeo attempted to limit the backlash over Mr Trump's threat to target Iranian cultural sites, insisting that the US would not do anything illegal.

Every target thats being reviewed, every effort thats being made, will always be conducted within international laws," Mr Pompeo said.

He also issued a warning to Iran over its decision to abandon limits on enriching uranium, leading to fears the Iran nuclear deal struck in 2015 is effectively dead.

President Trump could not be more clear. On our watch, Iran will not get a nuclear weapon," Mr Pompeo said.

In a separate development, the White House was criticised for failing to disclose that Mr Trump met Prince Khalid bin Salman, the deputy defence minister of Saudi Arabia, in Washington on Monday.

After the meeting emerged, Mr Trump tweeted that it had been a very good discussion where trade, military, oil prices, security and Middle East stability were discussed.
Today, we'll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. We'll look at China YuHua Education Corporation Limited's (HKG:6169) P/E ratio and reflect on what it tells us about the company's share price. Based on the last twelve months, China YuHua Education's P/E ratio is 32.30. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 3.1%.

See our latest analysis for China YuHua Education

How Do You Calculate China YuHua Education's P/E Ratio?

The formula for P/E is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share (in the reporting currency)  Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for China YuHua Education:

P/E of 32.30 = HK$4.84 (Note: this is the share price in the reporting currency, namely, CNY )  HK$0.15 (Based on the trailing twelve months to August 2019.)

Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good?

A higher P/E ratio means that investors are paying a higher price for each HK$1 of company earnings. That is not a good or a bad thing per se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future.

Does China YuHua Education Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?

The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. You can see in the image below that the average P/E (14.4) for companies in the consumer services industry is lower than China YuHua Education's P/E.

SEHK:6169 Price Estimation Relative to Market, January 7th 2020

That means that the market expects China YuHua Education will outperform other companies in its industry. The market is optimistic about the future, but that doesn't guarantee future growth. So investors should always consider the P/E ratio alongside other factors, such as whether company directors have been buying shares.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

Generally speaking the rate of earnings growth has a profound impact on a company's P/E multiple. If earnings are growing quickly, then the 'E' in the equation will increase faster than it would otherwise. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers.

Story continues

China YuHua Education shrunk earnings per share by 9.7% last year. But EPS is up 2.6% over the last 3 years.

Remember: P/E Ratios Don't Consider The Balance Sheet

The 'Price' in P/E reflects the market capitalization of the company. That means it doesn't take debt or cash into account. Hypothetically, a company could reduce its future P/E ratio by spending its cash (or taking on debt) to achieve higher earnings.

Such expenditure might be good or bad, in the long term, but the point here is that the balance sheet is not reflected by this ratio.

Is Debt Impacting China YuHua Education's P/E?

China YuHua Education's net debt is 2.2% of its market cap. It would probably trade on a higher P/E ratio if it had a lot of cash, but I doubt it is having a big impact.

The Verdict On China YuHua Education's P/E Ratio

China YuHua Education's P/E is 32.3 which is way above average (10.7) in its market. With some debt but no EPS growth last year, the market has high expectations of future profits.

Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. People often underestimate remarkable growth -- so investors can make money when fast growth is not fully appreciated. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision.

Of course you might be able to find a better stock than China YuHua Education. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly.

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 former Melbourne podiatrist has been arrested in Singapore over the alleged murder of his wife.

Paul Quirk.

Paul Leslie Quirk, 48, was charged with murdering his wife, Christina Khoo Gek Hwa, 43, according to several local news reports.

Singapore police said they received a call for help just after midnight on Friday to a residential unit at 125 Compassvale Bow, where a 43-year-old woman was found dead at the scene.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed an Australian man was arrested and it "stands ready to provide consular assistance".
archived recording I was at a dinner in New York City one night with a bunch of friends, and I sat down at the table at an empty seat. And he came up behind me and said, I think youre in my seat. And I recognized him immediately.

[music]

archived recording 1 I was a very young actor new to Los Angeles. archived recording 2 It was my first job also out of college, and I was 24 years old. My passion all my life was to work in the film industry. archived recording 3 And he was completely  I mean, hes really charming when he wants to be. archived recording 4 We had been in touch about an audition for a Quentin Tarantino film, and thats when I met with him at the Peninsula. archived recording 5 He had his assistant call me at the last minute and say, Harvey cant meet you in the lobby. Harvey cant meet you in the cafe. Can you go up to his office, his hotel suite? archived recording 6 Thats when he said, well, come and see me at my hotel. archived recording 7 And he told me, O.K., were going to my room now. archived recording 8 I opened the door, and he just went straight into my bedroom. archived recording 9 He wanted to know if I was cool and if we were friends, and he just wanted to relax with me. archived recording 10 After some normal conversation  archived recording 11 He said, how about you just give me a massage? archived recording 12 He asked me if Id give him a massage. archived recording 13 He asked me to give him massage. archived recording 14 Which I declined. archived recording 15 And I thought it would end there, but thats when he blocked the exit for me. archived recording 16 His whole affect changed, and he looked like a predator. archived recording 17 I just remember that feeling of having to fight off an invader. archived recording 18 If I would try to fight myself away from him, he would then move around to a place where he could block me in somewhere. And hes a big individual. archived recording 19 He just is very dominant, persuasive. archived recording 20 Hes a very big guy. archived recording 21 He backed me into a dark room. archived recording 22 He led me to his bathroom. archived recording 23 He pushed me back against the bed. archived recording 24 Pleading that I just watch him masturbate. archived recording 25 He held me down, and he forced oral sex on me. archived recording 26 And I was petrified and terrified. archived recording 27 I pulled my arm away, finally, and headed to the door. He started following me and telling me that I could get a three-picture deal and that he would greenlight my script. But I had to watch him masturbate. archived recording 28 A nightmare  literally a nightmare.

[music]

michael barbaro

The story of Harvey Weinstein was a story of patterns. Dozens of women  more than 80  all telling a very familiar and eerily similar story of abuse and harassment by the famed movie producer. But this week, two years after that pattern of allegations was first reported in The Times by my colleagues Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, there are just two women at the center of the criminal case against him as his trial opens in Manhattan. Today, in Part 1, Megan Twohey on how we got from 80 to 2. Its Thursday, January 9. Megan, help us understand how, after these dozens of allegations against Harvey Weinstein, the charges that hes facing in this trial center on just two women.

megan twohey

Well, after we broke our first Harvey Weinstein story, and then Ronan Farrow published his first story in The New Yorker, there were these dozens of women who came forward with accusations.

michael barbaro

Right.

megan twohey

And there were three jurisdictions 

archived recording Some major developments in the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal, New York 

megan twohey

 New York 

archived recording  police say they are now investigating rape allegations 

megan twohey

 Los Angeles 

archived recording The L.A. County district attorneys office is determining if Weinstein should be charged.

megan twohey

 and London 

archived recording And the BBC is reporting police in England are now investigating an allegation against him as well.

megan twohey

 that responded by launching criminal investigations. And thats because the vast majority of allegations that were coming out were centered in those three jurisdictions. But even as they launched these criminal investigations, there were questions about whether or not they would be able to bring criminal charges.

michael barbaro

And why would that be, given the overwhelming number of these allegations that are now surfacing?

megan twohey

Well, there are several reasons that explain that. First, a lot of these allegations were of inappropriate behavior, sexual harassment, which is illegal under civil law, but its not a sex crime. Youre never going to be prosecuted for it. Other allegations of actual sex crimes fell outside the statute of limitations for prosecution. And there were women who had really serious allegations who were reluctant to participate in a criminal investigation, let alone a prosecution. But from the beginning, New York, in particular, was very intent on bringing a prosecution.

michael barbaro

And why is that?

megan twohey

Well, thats because they had actually investigated Harvey Weinstein once before in 2015. That was the year that a model from Italy walked into a New York City police precinct and reported that Harvey Weinstein had groped her breast and tried to force his hand up her skirt during a work meeting at his office. And she worked closely with the police at that time. She actually wore a wire into a follow-up meeting with Weinstein that captured what sounded like a confession to at least some of what she had alleged.

archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) What do we have to do here? archived recording (harvey weinstein) Nothing. Im going to take a shower. You sit there and have a drink, water. archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) I dont drink. Can I stay on the bar? archived recording (harvey weinstein) No, you must come here now. archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) No. archived recording (harvey weinstein) Please? archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) No, I dont want to. archived recording (harvey weinstein) Im not doing anything with you, I promise. archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) I know. archived recording (harvey weinstein) Now youre embarrassing me. archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) Im sorry. I cannot. archived recording (harvey weinstein) No, come in here. archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) No, yesterday was kind of aggressive for me. archived recording (harvey weinstein) I know. archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) I need to know a person to be touched. archived recording (harvey weinstein) I wont do a thing. Please. I swear I wont. Just sit with me. Dont embarrass me in the hotel. Im here all the time. Sit with me. I promise  archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) I know, but I dont want to. archived recording (harvey weinstein) Please sit there. Please. One minute. I ask you  archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) No, I cant. archived recording (harvey weinstein) Go to the bathroom. archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) Please, I dont want to do something I dont want to. archived recording (harvey weinstein) Go to the bath  hey, come here. Listen to me. archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) I want to go downstairs. archived recording (harvey weinstein) Im not going to do anything, and youll never see me again after this, O.K.? Thats it. If you embarrass me in this hotel where Im staying  archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) Im not embarrassing you. archived recording (harvey weinstein) Just walk  archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) Its just that I dont feel comfortable. archived recording (harvey weinstein) Honey, dont have a fight with me in the hallway. archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) Its not nothing, its  archived recording (harvey weinstein) Please, I am not going to do anything. I swear on my children. Please, come in. On everything. Im a famous guy. archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) Im feeling very uncomfortable right now. archived recording (harvey weinstein) Please come in now. And one minute. And if you want to leave when the guy comes with my jacket, you can go. archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) Why yesterday you touch my breast? archived recording (harvey weinstein) No, please. Im sorry. Just come on in. Im used to that. Come on  archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) Youre used to that? archived recording (harvey weinstein) Yes, come in. archived recording (ambra battilana gutierrez) No, but Im not used to that. archived recording (harvey weinstein) I wont do it again. Come on. Sit here. Sit here for a minute, please.

megan twohey

But in spite of that recording and the woman wanting them to prosecute, the district attorneys office declined to bring charges against Weinstein at that time. They said that they felt like a shifting account that she had provided about an alleged sexual assault in Italy years earlier would make her seem not credible on the witness stand. So then, in 2017, as the Harvey Weinstein story is exploding, this case comes back into public focus.

archived recording D.A. Cyrus Vance Jr. was mobbed by reporters, who asked whether Weinsteins wealth and fame influenced his decision not to press charges.

megan twohey

There are so many questions about Cy Vance, the Manhattan district attorney, and why he didnt prosecute Harvey Weinstein in 2015.

archived recording D.A. Vance, did you not have the evidence you need? Was this not a slam-dunk case? archived recording (cyrus vance jr.) If we had a case that we felt we could prosecute, and my experts felt we could prosecute, against Harvey Weinstein, we would have.

megan twohey

A lot of people are accusing him, saying that he had succumbed to the power and influence of Weinstein 

archived recording Critics say financial contributions by Weinsteins lawyers to Vances campaign could have played a role in the D.A.s decision.

megan twohey

 and had allowed this alleged predator to slip through the cracks.

michael barbaro

And so that is what left New York in a position, I guess, where, by 2017, they feel all this pressure to aggressively pursue these new allegations against Weinstein?

megan twohey

Theyre feeling a lot of pressure. And so even with all of those challenges to bringing a sex crimes charge, they are on the hunt for an allegation that will allow them to make an arrest.

megan twohey Im going to put my headset on. lucia evans Oh, yeah. Megan, I just have some notes on my phone Im just going to, like, keep open if I need them. megan twohey Sure, totally.

megan twohey

And so they quickly zoom in on this account of a sexual assault from 2004 that had been made in Ronan Farrows New Yorker article by a woman named Lucia Evans.

megan twohey Just please  lucia evans O.K. megan twohey  please feel free to read at your  lucia evans Lucia Stoller, now Lucia Evans, was approached by Weinstein at Cipriani Upstairs, a club in New York, in 2004, the summer before her senior year at Middlebury College. Evans, who is now a marketing consultant, wanted to be an actress, and although she had heard rumors about Weinstein, she let him have her number. Weinstein began calling her late at night, or having his assistant call her, asking to meet. She declined, but said that she would do readings during the day for a casting executive. Before long, an assistant called to set up a daytime meeting at the Miramax office in Tribeca, first with Weinstein and then with a casting executive, who was a woman. I was, like, Oh, a woman. Great. I feel safe, Evans said. When Evans arrived for the meeting, the building was full of people. She was led to an office with exercise equipment in it and takeout boxes on the floor. Weinstein was there, alone. Weinstein told her that shed be great in Project Runway,  the show, which Weinstein helped produce  but only if she lost weight. At that point, after that, is when he assaulted me, Evans said. He forced me to perform oral sex on him.

megan twohey

What happened next, according to Lucia, is that Weinstein pulled his penis out of his pants, that he pulled her head down onto it. She said that she said over and over she didnt want to do this, to stop. And she said that Weinstein overpowered her.

lucia evans I just sort of gave up.

michael barbaro

So a clear allegation of a sex crime.

megan twohey

A clear allegation of a sex crime and also one that falls within the statute of limitations  exactly what New York is looking for. And so within hours of that story being published, New York detectives are trying to find Lucia.

lucia evans So a lot of different things happened very quickly, and it was very overwhelming. The N.Y.P.D. showed up at my parents house. They live in upstate New York. And they said, Lucia has a prosecutable charge. And they were like, what are you talking about, you know? They were just kind of overwhelmed anyway, you know? And they said, were worried about her safety, and we  where does she live? We want to talk to her.

michael barbaro

Wow.

megan twohey

Yeah.

lucia evans And so they actually drove through the night to come to D.C. and showed up at my door the next morning. I was still in my pajamas, I think. So I just stayed in my pajamas that whole time and just drank a whole pot of coffee  a whole pot to myself. I just kept drinking coffee and 

megan twohey

She says that they told her immediately that they wanted her to participate in the criminal investigation.

lucia evans They immediately wanted me to go on the record, because they said I was the only one that could put him in jail. megan twohey And how are you feeling in this moment? Are you feeling scared? Are you feeling nervous? Are you feeling  what is it like when, you know, several detectives show up at your door and come into your living room? lucia evans Yeah, I mean, it was the most surreal thing. I never conceived of this happening. I was one of the few, or maybe the only, people in that article that wasnt an actress, you know? And it was frightening to me, because I didnt do this for the press, obviously. I didnt do this for any kind of fame or fortune. And so I think I was scared for a few reasons. I was nervous about what it could do to my family, to  you know, I mean, I know what criminal proceedings can be like. Ive seen a bunch of movies, and Ive watched a lot of court TV. Its like, I know how this could go. And I think that the narrative has always been that victims are torn apart on the stand. And why would you do that to yourself? Why would you put yourself or your family through that? And all these things are kind of just running through my mind. And they were positioning it as a very empowering thing  like, oh, you can change society forever. You can change the laws. And of course, that made me a little excited, too. I was like, wow, you know, I would absolutely love to influence the law, and to empower victims, and to put him in jail. Like, that would be an incredible feeling, but also tempering that with my more rational side. Like, are you serious? First of all, I cant be the only one that can put him in jail. And also, you need to give me time to process this, you know? megan twohey So you finish your pot of coffee. lucia evans Yes. megan twohey You finish this conversation with them. How does it end? How do you guys part after that? lucia evans So they told us  my husband, who was there, and myself  to get out of town for a few weeks.

megan twohey

They tell her that they think that shes in danger and that Harvey Weinstein and any of his kind of associates could potentially come after her. So they really want to relocate her  officially relocate her to a safe location.

lucia evans They didnt think I was safe there, just because I was easily traceable. And they were worried about my safety at that point, since I was the only one that could put him in jail, quote, unquote, that we knew of.

megan twohey

And so she and her husband packed their bags and moved into this house for two weeks, closer to New York City, as they decided what they were going to do next.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm. And what did she do?

megan twohey

Well, she started weighing her options. She starts meeting with a variety of lawyers. And as she tells it, many of those lawyers are actually discouraging her from participating in the criminal case, telling her that she would be much better off just seeking to strike an out-of-court  like, basically a private out-of-court civil settlement with Weinstein in which she would receive money.

lucia evans I met with lawyers who said, forget the criminal case. Just file a civil suit, you know what I mean? And that didnt feel right to me. And I didnt even know what that would entail at the time.

michael barbaro

And why are the lawyers telling her that the civil route is better than this criminal prosecution?

megan twohey

They basically tell her that its going to play out the way that shes seen it depicted on all those TV shows.

michael barbaro

And that means its going to be really ugly.

megan twohey

Yeah, its going to be really ugly.

lucia evans The narratives I heard the most often were, its going to be a long, drawn-out, painful process. Theyre going to tear apart your background, your life. Theyre going to talk to everyone youve ever worked with, everyone youve ever been in a relationship with, find anything they can to discredit you. And its hard on you. Its hard on your family. Theyll go through your trash and find every single thing youve ever done in the past, and blow it up out of proportion, and shame you, and just ruin your life, basically. I just had this vision of myself just being left with nothing on the street. Thats the narrative that I think still exists, but also that I was hearing at the time. Its really scary to hear over and over, and it starts to kind of become part of you. And you start to think, oh, this is what will happen if I do this, you know? How can you not feel like that?

megan twohey

So shes put off by these lawyers. And as she tells it, theyre not the only people who are counseling her against participating in the criminal case. She says that she has friends and family members who are saying the same thing.

michael barbaro

Dont do it.

megan twohey

Dont do it.

lucia evans The narrative that I heard a lot was, youve already done enough  and in a good way, not a negative way at all. But youve already done so much. Look at  the movement was starting to pick up steam at that point. Like, look at what you helped to reignite?

megan twohey

You did your part. You participated in the journalism, some of these first stories that are helping to ignite the #MeToo movement. Youve done enough. But as Lucia tells it, something keeps pulling at her.

lucia evans The criminal case was really kind of calling my name in a way right from the beginning, and I wanted to understand what that would be like. And I just wanted to be able to have the option to pursue it without having a lawyer say, its not right for you. Dont do it. megan twohey And when you say that the criminal case was calling to you from the beginning, what do you mean? lucia evans I wanted this to continue to mean something to me and to mean something for other people. And it always kind of felt right to me deep down. And even though I struggled with it for so many months, and it was so hard to decide what to do, I just felt like it was the right thing to do, ultimately.

megan twohey

So she decides to meet with the prosecutors office, which is a significant step, because the prosecutors are ultimately the ones who will decide whether or not to bring charges. And the lead prosecutor on the Weinstein case at the time was a woman named Maxine Rosenthal. And as Lucia tells it, she did not have a good experience with her.

michael barbaro

Why?

lucia evans I didnt feel comfortable talking to her, and I didnt have a lot of confidence in it. megan twohey What do you mean by that? What was  lucia evans I just remember there was one thing that she said that made me very uncomfortable. She referred to me and the other survivors as Harveys girls. And at that point, I think I was just so blown away by that statement and just horrified that she could ever say that about  it doesnt even need an explanation about why thats so horrifying to say.

megan twohey

So listen, I cant speak to this particular prosecutors conduct. What I can tell you is that shes a veteran sex crimes prosecutor whos known for being very hard-nosed and that Lucia wasnt the only person who was complaining about her. There were complaints coming from the police, from victims rights advocates that she was not sensitive and that she was moving too slowly. I cant speak to whether or not those complaints were valid, but Rosenthals boss is Cy Vance, the Manhattan prosecutor, the same one who had been criticized for not prosecuting Weinstein in 2015. And he decides that hes going to take Rosenthal off the case. And he puts in her place a veteran homicide prosecutor. Her name is Joan Illuzzi, and shes also known for being tough.

lucia evans Joan would ask me tough questions, but I still felt good about it.

megan twohey

But Lucia says that she feels like shes on her side, that shes being tough to toughen her up.

lucia evans She was definitely the bad cop, and I think she had to be, because she wanted to prepare me, right? But I felt like she respected me in a way that I didnt feel like I felt from Maxine. And I knew what she was doing. I was like, well, I want to be prepared for this trial. So if you think you have to be tough on me, thats totally fine.

megan twohey

So thats important for Lucia. And in another significant development, a new woman, a new accuser, is added to the criminal case.

lucia evans Another thing that made me feel comfortable was the fact that there would be one other person who was involved. And that made me feel a lot more comfortable. Initially, it was just me for a long time. It just gave me a little more sense of community and just like I wasnt doing it alone.

megan twohey

And so finally, at this point, Lucia is ready to make a decision.

lucia evans I went back home to D.C. And a while earlier, I made this list of all the reasons why I should do it and all the reasons why I shouldnt do it. And all the reasons why I shouldnt do it  I mean, there were so many reasons  fear for my safety, fear for my family, my reputation, my career  everything. All these things would just be ruined. And then on the other side, I had just written, because it feels right. I didnt really have much else to write on that side. It did feel like I could, at the very least, hopefully, put him in jail, this person that had assaulted so many people and harassed so many people. And I couldnt say no to the chance to do that, ultimately. This is the right thing to do. Im going to do it.

megan twohey

Shes in. Shes willing to be part of criminal charges.

michael barbaro

So at this point, New York is able to do what its been trying to do ever since these allegations first came out.

megan twohey

Yes.

archived recording (speaker 1) Are you sorry, Harvey? archived recording (speaker 2) Harvey, Harvey! archived recording (speaker 3)  whove accused you, Mr. Weinstein? archived recording (speaker 4) Harvey, you got anything to say?

megan twohey

In May of 2018, seven months after the police had first shown up on the door of Lucias home, prosecutors bring charges here in New York against Harvey Weinstein. They charge him with a criminal sex act stemming from the encounter with Lucia. And they also charge him with rape stemming from the encounter with the second woman in the criminal case.

[music]

michael barbaro

Well be right back. So Megan, what happens after these charges against Weinstein are actually filed?

megan twohey

Law enforcement officials continue to build out this case, as they start to prepare to go to court. And Lucia says that she is, for the most part, feeling good about the process. But even with this new prosecutor in place, she says that shes confused about some aspects of whats going on.

lucia evans They didnt ask me for a full list of people I had told until months and months in. I would think that you kind of start with, who have you talked to? Who knows about this? And I told them some people that either I had told, or knew of me going to the meeting with him, or something to that respect.

megan twohey

She says that she is confused by the fact that law enforcement officials are not reaching out to more of the potential witnesses for her charge  she says that she had provided them with a list of names, people in whom she had confided about the alleged attack  and that, even at this stage of the investigation, that they have not reached out to all of those people to talk to them. This is also a case that involves both prosecutors and the police. And she says that shes struck by the fact that they dont seem to be in sync.

lucia evans So it seemed to be a very disjointed process with the D.A. and the N.Y.P.D. And they didnt seem to communicate very well right from the beginning and all the way through my time with them. So  megan twohey What do you mean by that, that the police and the prosecutors werent communicating  lucia evans Yeah  megan twohey  effectively? lucia evans It just seemed like some things I had told to the police, the prosecutors werent aware of or didnt remember when they would talk to me. They didnt even interview my husband until  they never did, actually. They never talked to my husband.

michael barbaro

Megan, whats the significance of them not talking to her husband, exactly?

megan twohey

Well, I mean, think about it. If you are trying to build a case, if youre trying to shore it up, presumably, youre going to want to talk to the people closest to that alleged victim, the people who have the most knowledge about her. So for law enforcement officials to have not talked to her husband at this point seems a little weird to her. But she says that shes not giving it that much thought. And then, one day in October 2018, Lucia is on a work trip in Hong Kong when she gets a call from her lawyer.

lucia evans I was about to give a huge marketing presentation to a group of executives, and then I get a call from my lawyer saying that they were going to drop my charge.

megan twohey

The prosecutors office contacted her attorney and said that there was new information that had come to light, and that they were preparing to drop her charge.

michael barbaro

Wow.

megan twohey

Yeah. And she says that she cant even process it right at that point, because shes got to give that work presentation.

lucia evans I just had to shut off my emotions and just try to just pull myself together right after that, and pretend that it didnt happen. I told my family, and then I got on a flight back home with no Wi-Fi, thank goodness, and fell asleep. And when I woke up, I was being destroyed in the press. archived recording 1 We begin with one of the sex assault charges against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, tonight, dropped. archived recording 2 Lucia Evans claims Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him in 2004. But new information revealed yesterday casts doubt on Evanss story. archived recording 3 The single charge was dropped after the Manhattan district attorneys office recently discovered new evidence from a witness that discounts Lucia Evanss previous accusations 

megan twohey

And so as Lucia is learning about her charge being dropped, so, too, is the public. And in a lot of those news stories, its presented as contradictory evidence thats come to light, evidence that undermines her allegation. Not surprisingly, Weinstein and his defense team seize on this new twist.

archived recording His attorney, Benjamin Brafman, says he believes Evans lied about what happened. archived recording (benjamin brafman) Lucia Evans, who you will see from the documents released, has clearly, in our opinion, committed perjury on several occasions.

megan twohey

For months, theyd been arguing that all of these women were lying. And now, theyre going out and making the claim that this entire criminal case is tainted, that its completely unfair.

archived recording (benjamin brafman) The case is not over, but I think it is permanently and irreparably damaged.

megan twohey

Theyre gleeful.

michael barbaro

So her story seems to be falling apart.

megan twohey

Thats how it appears.

megan twohey How did that affect you? Did you have to have conversations with your friends and family, and anybody that you work with? lucia evans Yeah. megan twohey Was this something that you had to talk about or address? lucia evans I mean, it was interesting, because before this happened, I had been meeting with lots of actresses who  I became a very popular figure for a month in there in the summer, because I was kind of representing all of Hollywood that wanted to send him to jail, but they were too afraid to do it themselves  some of them. Im not speaking for all of them. But the actresses I spoke to all had very credible potential charges. But they had families and careers, and they couldnt do it. So I was kind of doing it for them. After my case is dropped, my friend group and that group whittled down to very few people who actually cared and wanted to know the truth and reached out to me. Some of them didnt know me personally, so I dont blame them for not reaching out. But some very clearly kind of severed ties with me, which was really hard and really hurtful. And I dont care if an actress comes into my life, and then she leaves again. I never fooled myself into thinking I was close with these women, these famous actresses, necessarily. But the ones  the women that have been with me since the beginning  that was really, that was really tough.

michael barbaro

Megan, what happened here, exactly? What happened to this case? Because youve been describing law enforcement officials who, from day one, have been telling Lucia shes their best chance at bringing criminal charges against Harvey Weinstein. She finally signs on. She risks all that that entails. And then they handle it in this confusing way, and then they drop it.

megan twohey

Well, what we now know is that prosecutors have spoken to a friend of Lucias, actually the friend who was with her the very first time she met Weinstein. Lucia said that when she went to that work meeting at Harvey Weinsteins office after meeting him, that he sexually assaulted her, that he forced her to perform oral sex on him against her will. And this friend says that after that work meeting, Lucia told her that she had actually consented to perform oral sex on him, that she did that in exchange for the promise of acting jobs.

michael barbaro

Wow. So a very different version of the story.

megan twohey

Right, this friend is providing an account of an encounter with Weinstein that, if true, turns it back into a variation of one of the common stories about Weinstein, but one that cannot be subject to criminal charges.

michael barbaro

Why is this only now coming to light?

megan twohey

Well, one possibility is that this is an example of what can happen when there is a rush to prosecute. Well, we also now realize what we now know is that the lead detective in the case had apparently talked to this witness months before Weinstein was charged, and that she had shared this information with him. And prosecutors say that that detective did not share that information with them, the prosecutors.

michael barbaro

Suggesting maybe he didnt want to bring them information that might hurt the case.

megan twohey

Suggesting that he purposely withheld potentially complicating information from the case. Now, the detective says that he did tell the prosecutors this information. So that could also speak to what Lucia had complained about herself, that this entire investigation seemed to be plagued by the fact that the police and prosecutors were not in sync and communicating well with each other.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm. But if the detective had told prosecutors, it seems like that would only be further evidence of this desire to get this done, to bring these charges and overlook complicating information.

megan twohey

Right, so that is another interpretation of this, that both the police and the prosecutors were aware of this complicating information and moved forward with bringing charges anyway.

michael barbaro

Well, in that case, what would explain them dropping this case when they did?

megan twohey

Well, with all of the finger-pointing thats gone on, its hard to know, for certain, the answer to that question. But what seems likely is that prosecutors have realized, at this point, that this information is going to come to the attention of the defense and that its likely to undermine the entire criminal charge. But I should say that Lucia insists that she never consented to oral sex with Weinstein, that she never told this friend otherwise, and that she explained that to the detective when he asked her about it months and months before.

michael barbaro

Megan, what should we make of Lucias experience?

megan twohey

For all the people who have been watching so many women come forward with allegations against Harvey Weinstein, watching what seems to be this overwhelming evidence of a pattern of predatory behavior, it shows how difficult it is to turn stories into criminal charges. Her account fell within the statute of limitations, it was alleging criminal conduct, and she was willing to participate.

michael barbaro

Right, to brave the spotlight and the scrutiny.

megan twohey

Exactly. And still, her charge was dropped.

michael barbaro

So this is October of 2018. Where does that leave the case against Harvey Weinstein?

megan twohey

So in the lead-up to Lucias charge being dropped, there was actually a third woman who was added to the criminal case here in New York. So after Lucias charges dropped, there are still two women. But one of those women, one of those accusers, appears to also come with some potential complicating factors.

michael barbaro

Like what?

megan twohey

Weinsteins legal team has produced emails between Weinstein and this woman that went on for years after the alleged attack. These emails appear extensive. They appear friendly. They even appear romantic at times.

michael barbaro

Tomorrow, in Part 2, how the case against Weinstein moved forward after Lucia.

megan twohey Do you wish that you were still part of this case as we head into trial? lucia evans Honestly, yes, I do. I do wish I was. I put so much into this. And when it comes down to it, I do wish I was a part of it. And I also just dont want people to be discouraged from coming forward and doing it. So I would just hope people dont  people, despite all the things Ive said about how hard it is, still decide to come forward, because thats literally the only hope that we have.

michael barbaro

Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today.

archived recording (donald trump) Good morning. Im pleased to inform you the American people should be extremely grateful and happy. No Americans were harmed in last nights attack by the Iranian regime.

michael barbaro

On Wednesday, in a televised address to the nation, President Trump backed away from further military confrontation with Iran, saying that Irans retaliation for the U.S. killing of General Qassim Suleimani appeared to be over.

archived recording (donald trump) Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned, and a very good thing for the world.

michael barbaro

That retaliation, about a dozen missiles that inflicted minimal damage to two U.S. bases in Iraq, seemed designed to satisfy Irans desire for revenge without provoking a military response from the Trump administration. In his speech, Trump vowed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, but in a gesture of conciliation said he was prepared to make peace with the countrys leaders.

archived recording (donald trump) Finally, to the people and leaders of Iran, we want you to have a future, and a great future  one that you deserve, one of prosperity at home and harmony with the nations of the world. The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.

michael barbaro
Resmark Names Elizabeth Samson as Vice President, Investor Relations

The Resmark Companies, a leading residential real estate investment manager, has named Elizabeth Samson as Vice President, Investor Relations. In her new position, Ms. Samson is responsible for client relationships, due diligence efforts and institutional account management.

"Liz is a valuable addition to the Resmark team," said Mitchell Goodman, Chief Operating Officer. "Her experience in institutional investment management and solid background in accounting and audit bring further proficiency to our investor relations group. As we continue to grow Resmark's residential real estate platform, her contributions will be integral to the company's success."

Ms. Samson will work closely with Mr. Goodman and Caroline Gibson, Resmark's Director of U.S. and International Investor Relatons, also assisting with her capital raising activities.







Prior to joining Resmark, Ms. Samson served as the Vice President of Investor Relations for Griffin Capital where she was responsible for client servicing, internal and external investor communications, and due diligence efforts for the firm's interval fund platform. Previous to Griffin Capital, Ms. Samson worked in investor relations at Sculptor Capital Management (formerly Och-Ziff Capital Management).

Ms. Samson earned a B.S. in Accounting from Loyola Marymount University and began her career at KPMG in the audit department. She will be based in Resmark's corporate headquarters in Los Angeles.

About The Resmark Companies

Founded in 1995, Resmark is a residential real estate investment manager that finances, develops and manages real estate in California, the Western United States, Texas, the D.C./Mid-Atlantic region, and other select major metropolitan markets nationwide. To date, Resmark has participated in more than 230 investments encompassing over 35,000 single-family lots and homes and multifamily residential units. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2020, Resmark is headquartered in Los Angeles and also maintains offices in San Diego and Irvine, California, Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C. For additional information, please visit Resmark.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005966/en/
At least 25 people are dead, almost 2,000 homes have been destroyed and a multi-billion dollar hole has been sunk in the economy by the devastating bushfires raging across Australia.

Half a billion animals are estimated to have perished, more than seven million hectares have burned and the Federal Government has established a $2billion national recovery fund.

Major blazes are still burning in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania and authorities predict fires will continue burning until at least March.

Milder conditions on Tuesday were providing some relief for firefighters working across NSW and Victoria ahead of dangerous bushfire weather returning on Friday.

At least 20 people have been killed by bushfires in NSW since October, with three dead in South Australia and two in Victoria.

AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver told the Australian Financial Review the fires could wipe off up to 1 per cent of the nation's GDP growth this year - a staggering $13billion.

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Volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul , 28, was fighting a blaze in Jingellic, in Green Valley, about 70km east of Albury, on December 29 when the truck he was in rolled, killing him instantly. He is pictured left with wife Megan. Dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, (pictured right with his wife Renee) and his father Robert , 63, died trying to save their property at Cobargo

David Harrison, 47, died of a heart attack while helping a friend defend his property near Batlow. Mr Harrison's brothers had sent him a text message begging him to evacuate

Firefighter Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, (left) was killed on December 19 after a tree fell on an RFS truck at Buxton, south of Sydney. RFS volunteer Geoffrey Keaton, 32, (right) was killed in the same incident. Both men were fathers and had volunteered with the Horsley Park brigade for more than a decade

The Insurance Council of Australia has put insurable property losses for the catastrophe so far at more than $700million.

The direct cost of the fires to the economy has already been estimated to be at least $2billion and will likely rise.

Terry Rawnsley, head of economic analysis at SGS Economics and Planning, estimated the losses to tourism, agriculture and retail businesses at between $1.1billion and $1.9billion this financial year.

Mr Rawnsley told Nine Newspapers that smoke haze over major cities in recent weeks would also have reduced economic output by an additional $500million through lost productivity, reduced consumer spending and health problems.

'You're getting up to a $1.5 to $2.5 billion impact on the economy,' he said.

Some of the communities devastated by fire might never recover.

'For those local communities, they're looking at a 25 to 50 per cent reduction to their economy,' Mr Rawnsley said. 'Whether they can bounce back again from that is the question for the long term.'

Tens of thousands of residents and holidaymakers have been displaced from south eastern Australia since last week as fires raged across southern NSW and eastern Victoria.

Towns ran out of fuel and water, shops sold out of basic supplies and some communities were told to boil water which might not be safe to drink.

Fire & Rescue NSW personnel run to move their truck as a bushfire burns next to a major road on the outskirts of Bilpin, in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, on December 19

Robert Lindsey, 77, (left) and his partner Gwenda Hyde, 68, were found dead inside their home at Coongbar, nothern NSW on October 9. Laurie Andrew, 70, (right) died outside his home at Yatte Yattah on the NSW South Coast after bushfire swept through the area on New Year's Eve

The army, navy and air force have been called in to help. Ships and helicopters have been used to evacuate those trapped by fires, while 3,000 army reservists have been called up.

Defence force personnel have now been deployed to remove dead livestock from some fire zones.

University of Sydney ecologists estimate almost 500 million animals have been killed by bushfires since September. That number includes 8,000 koalas as well as other mammals, reptiles and birds.

In NSW the Rural Fire Service said 1,588 homes had been lost - 672 since January 1. A further 20,000 buildings had been saved. More than 200 homes had been destroyed in Victoria with that number set to rise.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said it was likely more than 300 homes had been razed.

Livestock losses in NSW have now passed 6,200, with fears the toll could reach 20,000 once recent deaths are counted.

Robert Salway (left) and his son Patrick Salway (right) were among eight people killed on the NSW South Coast. They died trying to save their property at Cobargo, near Bega

A dead kangaroo is seen on Kangaroo Island on Monday as bushfires burned for several days. A convoy of 100 army reservists has arrived on the island off the South Australian coast

The NSW Department of Primary Industries is providing struggling farmers with emergency fodder and water, animal care, livestock assessment, and stock euthanasia and burial.

Since September 5, insurers have handled almost 9,000 claims from NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.

The Insurance Council of Australia says the estimated damage bill has doubled to $700million in two days.

The council's CEO Rob Whelan said Insurance companies and their staff had been working to help communities, householders and business owners affected by catastrophic fires in four states.

'For the past four months, insurers have been working with bushfire-affected householders, business owners and communities to help them recover and rebuild their lives,' Mr Whelan said.

'Australia is in the midst of a bushfire crisis, and insurers are helping their customers at a time of immense financial, physical and emotional stress.

'Emergency response teams are helping customers process claims and access emergency assistance in dozens of local communities.'

AUSTRALIA'S BUSHFIRE CRISIS - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Evacuations are underway and emergency alerts are in place in NSW, Victoria and South Australia as authorities predict the devastating bushfires will continue burning until at least March. NEW SOUTH WALES/ACT 20 people dead At least 130 bushfires were burning in NSW on Monday 4.9 million hectares burned At least 1,588 homes confirmed destroyed VICTORIA Two people dead 31 active bushfires burning More than 1.2 million hectares burned 450 structures including 204 homes confirmed destroyed but significantly more expected SOUTH AUSTRALIA Three people, including two from Kangaroo Island, are dead 23 bushfires burning, four of significance More than 100,000 hectares burned 105 homes confirmed destroyed QUEENSLAND 37 bushfires burning 250,000 hectares burned 48 homes confirmed destroyed WESTERN AUSTRALIA 26 bushfires burning 1.5 million hectares burned One home confirmed destroyed TASMANIA 24 bushfires burning 30,000 hectares burned Two homes confirmed destroyed NORTHERN TERRITORY One bushfire burning Five homes confirmed destroyed Advertisement

Insurers had booked hundreds of hotel and motel rooms and were providing emergency accommodation and financial assistance to customers.

A 71-year-old man became the eighth person killed in bushfires burning through the NSW South Coast when his body was found on Monday.

The man had been reported missing from Nerrigundah in the Eurobodalla Shire and was last seen on December 31.

His body was found between his property and his car, both of which were destroyed by the Badja Forest Road Fire.

In NSW alone police have taken legal action against more than 180 people for bushfire-related offences since late last year.

Since November 8 legal action - which ranges from cautions through to criminal charges - has been taken against 183 people, including 40 juveniles, for 205 bushfire-related offences.

A convoy of army vehicles transporting up to 100 reservists and supplies to Kangaroo Island prepares to depart Keswick Barracks in Adelaide on Monday

Thousands of people were stranded in the seaside Victorian town of Mallacoota (pictured)

So far, 24 people have been charged over alleged deliberately-lit bushfires, 53 people have had legal actions taken against them for allegedly failing to comply with a total fire ban, and 47 have allegedly discarded a lighted cigarette or match on land.

Two people have been confirmed dead in Victoria but authorities fear further fatalities will be discovered as fires burn across the state.

Already more than 1 million hectares of Victorian bushland and almost 5 million hectares in NSW have been burned.

On the NSW South Coast there have been eight deaths and almost 400 homes lost.

Last week tourists were ordered to leave a 250km area stretching from Batemans Bay down to the Victorian border.

Local State MP Andrew Constance, the Member for Bega, said last Thursday had seen the 'largest relocation out of the region ever.'

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews flies over East Gippsland in a helicopter as he inspects damage done by bushfires which have ripped through the region

Residents and tourists at Mallacoota in Victoria's East Gipplsand fled to the local beach on New Year's Eve, ready to throw themselves in the water as protection against the flames while the sky turned an apocalyptic red.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has warned the crisis could go on for weeks and communities would not have the chance to begin rebuilding as soon as the fires had passed through.

'This will be an active fire and a very challenging and complex environment for weeks and therefore we have to do things differently,' he said.

For the first time in Victoria firefighters were replaced with fresh crews by helicopter when 90 volunteers in Mallacoota were flown out last Wednesday night.

'That's not something we've done before and it's one example of how complex and how challenging these East Gippsland fires are now,' Mr Andrews said.

This picture taken on New Year's Eve 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

A satellite image from January 1 shows the devastating extent of the bushfires on the NSW South Coast

It was impossible to account for some residents in the area while communications were poor and the fires still raged.

Great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, was found dead at his home last Wednesday morning.

Great-grandfather Mick Roberts , 67, from Buchan in East Gippsland, was found dead at his home last Wednesday morning

Those killed in NSW include dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, who died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega.

Father and volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28, was also among those confirmed dead after he was killed by a fire tornado east of Albury.

Laurie Andrew, 70, was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, while another man's body was found in a burned vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah.

The body of a man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet last Wednesday but is yet to be formally identified, while another body was found outside a home Coolagolite, about 10km east of Cobargo.

The Australian Defence Force has been working with Emergency Management Australia to help with the firefighting efforts in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia since November 8.
By Tan Li, Cheng Wang and Li Jing

GUANGZHOU, Jan. 7 -- On New Years Eve, nine cities in South-East Chinas Pearl River Delta, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan and Huizhou, signed in Guangzhou the Framework Agreement of Pearl River Delta City Cluster on Coordinated Civil Air Defense Development. The signing officially kicked off the coordinated construction of civil air defense facilities in the Pearl River Delta(PRD) region.

With the development of air assault weapons, its possible in future warfare that multiple locations will be attacked at the same time with one of them being the key target. In that case, resources have to be shared in civil air defense efforts in order to form a powerful synergy to protect the people.

Bearing this in mind, the Guangzhou Office of Civil Air Defense actively explored coordinated civil air defense training in the Pearl River Delta city cluster in recent years. It has carried out joint training and cross-region assistance operations with peer units in surrounding areas multiple times on such subjects as establishing communication network, protecting important economic targets and removing air assault consequences. They have obtained the ability to provide mutual assistance once any one party is under air attack.

The signing of the civil air defense agreement is aimed to further intensify cooperation, achieve complementarity of civil air defense systems in the Pearl River Delta more quickly, and jointly build and share relevant resources in the region.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are about to embark on their first royal engagement of 2020, following an extended break from their duties. Their first engagement is a visit to Canada House on Jan. 7 to meet with the High Commissioner for Canada in the UK and her team. One royal expert believes things could be tricky for the couple after their time away, however.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle fragile?

The Sussexes spent the holidays in Canada with baby Archie and the time off has definitely agreed with them. When they helped a couple in need by taking a photo of them during a hike in Vancouver Islands Horth Hill Regional Park, the woman shared that [Markle] and Harry seemed really happy during their encounter.

Prior to their extended break, Prince Harry and Markle expressed their concerns about living in the spotlight and one royal expert believes that even though they stepped away, they might not be able to hack the public and media scrutiny because of the fragile state they were in.

Things could be tricky for them

During an interview on ITVs Lorraine, Royal commentator Jennie Bond said things may be tricky for the Sussexes, explaining, Theyve spent the last six weeks, we believe, mostly in Canada. We dont know where theyve been but they wanted this sabbatical, if you like.

She continued, I think again, it may be tricky in this coming year, weve got to see whether or not they can hack it. Can they take the public scrutiny, the public role that is theirs?

Bond noted: Theyve both spoken about their fragile state. Harry very openly about his mental problems. So they are coming back to full time work. I hope they can manage it. They had a good Christmas by all accounts.

Prince Harry and Markle began their break from royal duties in November, with a statement from their representative sharing before the Christmas holiday: As has been reported, Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are spending private family time in Canada. The decision to base themselves in Canada reflects the importance of this Commonwealth country to them both.

The Sussexes may have big plans

With their break behind them, royal fans are eager to see whats next and royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams shared that they will reveal their royal future soon. Fitzwilliams told Express: We await the launch of Harry and Meghans Sussex Royal Foundation to discover their intentions.

He continued: It all depends on what they mean to do with the Sussex Royal Foundation, where it will be based, what celebrity links there will be and whether it will have a branch in the USA. They are expected to make their plans clear soon.

He added: There are likely to be important celebrity links to their future charitable work such as Harrys collaborating with Oprah Winfrey for a TV documentary series on mental health due to be aired this year.

Fitzwilliams further shared that during their break the inner core of the monarchy has appeared to be those in the direct line of succession and Georges siblings. How the inner core is defined in the future will depend on what Harry and Meghan decide to do in the New Year.
On Iran and the Middle East, the Trump administration is following Israels playbook.

Supporters of Donald Trump think of the US president as an exceptional one-of-a-kind force of nature  a sui generis leader. His detractors like to compare him to Russian President Vladimir Putin or describe him as a Putin stooge, and since he ordered the vengeful or reckless assassination of Iranian General Qassim Solemani, some have likened him to a Middle Eastern despot. But a more pertinent comparison lies elsewhere.

Since taking office in January 2017, Trumps dramatic positions and pronouncements on the Middle East and beyond have shocked and dismayed much of the US foreign policy establishment, especially on three main challenges facing the US in the region: security, diplomacy and democracy and human rights.

Trump has not only undone much of his predecessors legacy, both domestically and internationally, he also trashed Barack Obamas doctrine and policies in favour of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus. For the past three years, he has been re-coupling US and Israeli strategies, especially towards Iran and the global war on terror which Obama spent eight years decoupling.

This is not to say, Obama was not a staunch supporter of Israel and defender of its security or was not trigger happy with the US drone assassination programme. He certainly was. He just did not like Netanyahu and did not appreciate his deceit.

Obama tried to pursue an independent US policy free from Israels narrow constraints and considerations, after eight years of the Bush administrations wars and blunders in the region.

By contrast, Trump embraced all things Netanyahu as soon as he stepped into the White House.

It helped that the two men have far more in common than meets the eye.

Eerie similarities

Both men are thrice married with a history of adultery, are facing charges for misusing their office for personal gain, and have a problematic relationship with the truth.

And yet, both Netanyahu and Trump remain all too popular with their right-wing base.

Even religious fanatics, both in Israel and the US, consider these two secular, undevout, and morally challenged leaders as Gods vessels on earth.

Both are able showmen, who have pursued, and mastered, populist, theatrical and divisive policies that have rallied their rightist constituencies around their populist personas.

But most importantly in this context, Trump has pursued the same ultra-nationalist securitarian, some say racist, agendas that Netanyahu has long championed in Israel and the Middle East.

This is especially important today, as both commanders-in-chief are exploiting foreign policy to deflect attention from their domestic troubles with the law.

Embracing Netanyahus positions

Trumps knowledge of the Middle East was dismal prior to taking office. He was an empty page ready to be filled, but only with the ideas which helped guide and propel his presidential campaign towards victory, such as infringements on rights of immigrants and minorities, a ban on Muslims travelling to the US, and all things anti-Obama.

A number of Middle Eastern despots like those of Egypt and the UAE did try to fill in some of the blanks. But no one had the ability, style, record, and diligence of Netanyahu, who also enjoyed unfiltered access to the president-elect through his three ultra-Zionist lieutenants, Jared Kushner, Jason Greenblatt and David Friedman.

First among these ideas, was the radical departure from a quarter of a century of US policy towards Israel and Palestine, namely moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, accepting the legitimacy of the illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian lands, abandoning the two-state solution, and recognising Israels sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

It is Netanyahus dream come true.

Trump also embraced Netanyahus view on the Arab world in support of friendly despots and dictators and against democracy and human rights. He aligned US policy toward the Gulf and Arab affairs with the interests of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt and embraced Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite his reckless policies domestically and regionally  all in the hope of paving the way for Arab normalisation of relations with colonial Israel.

Another Netanyahu dream come true.

Attacking Iran

Nowhere was Netanyahus influence on Trump more pronounced than on Iran.

The Trump administration abandoned the Iran nuclear deal against the advice and urging of its NATO allies, Russia and China.

It then pursued a punitive policy of containment through tough economic sanctions, an option unavailable to Israel, in order to strong-arm Iran into a humiliating new deal that not only bans all its nuclear activity, but also curtails its military and regional outreach.

When maximum pressure did not produce the desired results, as Iran continued its bellicose regional policies, Trump adopted both Netanyahus means and endgame, starting with the assassination of Soleimani, widely seen as a declaration of war with untold consequences for the region.

Israel has been carrying out targeted killings and preemptive strikes against Iranian targets in Syria; in 2013, it was accused of being behind the killing of another Revolutionary Guard general, Hassan Shateri.

To be clear, Trump did not order the assassination to avenge the killings of countless Syrians and Iraqis; he did so to deter Iran from escalating its attacks on US interests and allies.

Although Netanyahu tried to distance himself from the targeted assassination of the Iranian general in Iraq, make no mistake, this is a third Netanyahu dream come true, in a span of three years. He is said to have been the only world leader with prior knowledge of the planned assassination.

Regional crisis

Nothing is more satisfying for an Israeli leader than having the US embrace Israels strategy and fight Israels wars in the region. And nothing is more dangerous for the rest of the world  we all know how the last conflict Tel Aviv incited ended in disaster in Iraq.

The last thing any Israeli leader wants is for the US to withdraw from the region, leaving Israel to fend for itself in a hostile environment. Same goes for Saudi Arabia.

That is why it is important to underline that while the Trump administration may seek to reposition its forces out of the hotspots of the Middle East, including Iraq (just as Israel redeployed out of Lebanon and Gaza) the US will still maintain formidable projection of forces throughout the region.

The question is, will this strategy enable future US diplomacy, which also served Israels interests during the so-called peace process, or lead to the further escalation of violence and war?

Alas, the ongoing bluster about imminent attacks, counter-attacks, and disproportionate responses and bombings of cultural sites do not bode well for diplomacy.

With naval fleets, military bases and some 60,000 troops deployed around Iran and throughout the Middle East, the Trump administration could pursue an Israel-like air-land-sea strategy of drones, fighter jets, guided missiles, cyber and Special Forces attacks and targeted assassinations that exhaust its enemies and destabilises the region as a whole.

That would be another Netanyahu dream and another Middle East nightmare come true.
[January 07, 2020] XMS Capital Partners Announces Promotions

XMS Capital Partners, LLC ("XMS"), a global, independent financial services firm focused on providing investment banking, asset management and merchant banking services to clients, is pleased to announce the promotions of Brian Brownschidle, Roger Gill and David Lloyd to Managing Director. In addition, Matt Gilbert, Patrick O'Hara and Adam Sullivan have been promoted to Vice President. All six promotions reflect outstanding performance and contributions to executing XMS's core mission of delivering objective, value-added advice and custom-tailored solutions to help clients achieve their strategic goals. Brian Brownschidle, based in Chicago, has been promoted to Managing Director. Brian joined XMS in 2010 and over the past decade, he has helped build XMS's Healthcare franchise. Brian has sourced and executed Healthcare and Technology transactions for XMS clients in North America, Europe and Asia. Roger Gill has been promoted to Managing Director. Roger has run the London office of XMS for the last six years and helped XMS execute transactions in Europe, Africa and North America. Previously, he worked in the energy, electronics and engineering industries and in private equity. David Lloyd, having been instrumentalin establishing XMS Capital's initial UK presence, rejoins the firm as a Managing Director in London. David spent the intervening six years in the Middle East as a transactions partner at EY. David will support the continued growth of XMS Capital's business in Europe.



Matt Gilbert, based in Boston, has been promoted to Vice President. Matt joined XMS in 2016 from a global financial services firm. He has executed many deals with XMS across multiple industries, with a focus within the healthcare and industrial sectors. Patrick O'Hara, based in Chicago, has been promoted to Vice President. Patrick has been with the XMS team since being recruited as a summer analyst. Patrick has been actively involved in both client coverage and execution across multiple industries.

Adam Sullivan has been promoted to Vice President. Adam has particular expertise in frontier technologies (including blockchain and data centers) and has executed M&A and capital markets transactions across multiple industries. "Brian and Roger have contributed significantly to the success of XMS during their careers here. We are pleased to welcome back David and capitalize on his proven ability to develop and execute business in Europe. Matt, Patrick and Adam have all demonstrated the commitment and the skills to be successful over the long term at XMS," said Ted Brombach and John "Yogi" Spence, Co-Founding Partners of XMS. About XMS Capital Partners XMS Capital Partners, established in 2006, is a global, independent financial services firm providing investment banking, asset management and merchant banking services to clients. It has offices in Chicago, Boston and London. For more information about XMS, please visit www.xmscapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005847/en/

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It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. 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 Telecom Digital Holdings Limited (HKG:6033), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling.

Do Insider Transactions Matter?

It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information.

Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. As Peter Lynch said, 'insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise.

See our latest analysis for Telecom Digital Holdings

Telecom Digital Holdings Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

While there weren't any large insider transactions in the last twelve months, it's still worth looking at the trading.

In the last twelve months Telecom Digital Holdings insiders were buying shares, but not selling. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

SEHK:6033 Recent Insider Trading, January 7th 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.

Telecom Digital Holdings Insiders Bought Stock Recently

There was some insider buying at Telecom Digital Holdings over the last quarter. Insiders shelled out HK$330k for shares in that time. We like it when there are only buyers, and no sellers. However, in this case the amount invested recently is quite small.

Insider Ownership

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Telecom Digital Holdings insiders own about HK$216m worth of shares. That equates to 20% 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.

Story continues

So What Do The Telecom Digital Holdings Insider Transactions Indicate?

It is good to see recent purchasing. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. Once you factor in the high insider ownership, it certainly seems like insiders are positive about Telecom Digital Holdings. One for the watchlist, at least! 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.
The family of a Finglas teenager who died of sepsis have slammed Health Minister Simon Harris and the HSE for telling flu sufferers to stay away from GPs and hospitals struggling to cope with an influx of patients.

Joe Hughes, whose son Sean 'Lil Red' Hughes was only 15 when he died two years ago, hit out at the advice, saying it could prevent people who potentially have sepsis from seeking help.

He said sepsis and flu share similar symptoms, but sepsis can kill a healthy person in 12 hours and the chances of a fatal outcome increase 8pc for every hour the condition is undiagnosed.

Mr Hughes said flu can also develop into sepsis, and urged people who are concerned to get themselves checked.

As the flu season began to escalate last month, Mr Harris advised people to go to undertheweather.ie to find out about self-treatment.

He said people who have flu should not necessarily visit their GP or hospital as they may spread the virus.

"Many of us who get the flu will not need to go to hospital - we can actually look after ourselves well at home," the minister said.

Recognition

"Some people might need to pick up the phone and ring their GP, ring their pharmacist, and for some people they may need to go to the hospital as well."

Mr Harris and the HSE made the comments in an effort to reduce the spread of flu.

However, Mr Hughes said early recognition and treatment is vital with sepsis.

"How can you know you have sepsis unless you get it checked? Its symptoms are similar to flu," he said.

"I would encourage people to seek assessment for peace of mind, and it could save a few lives.

"If we had gone to the hospital with Sean instead of waiting to bring him to the doctor, which we were going to do the next day, then maybe we would have had a different outcome."

Sean had been getting over a chest infection and had complained of being unwell again.

His mother, Karen Phoenix, decided to take him to the doctor the next day.

However, he later collapsed and could not be revived. He was rushed to hospital but died.

Meanwhile, a Finglas pizzeria is naming a pizza in honour of Sean on the second anniversary of his death in an effort to raise funds and awareness of sepsis.

A spokesman for Roberto's Pizzeria in the Finglas Village Centre said all the proceeds from the special edition pizza sold on Sunday will be donated to the Lil Red's Legacy Sepsis Awareness Campaign.

The 12-inch pizza with ham, pepperoni and spicy chicken, which was Sean's favourite, will be on sale for 10.

Sean's parents responded to the gesture with a message on the Roberto's Pizzeria Facebook page.

"The main man would be chuffed to know that a pizza has been named after him," they said. "What an honour. Thank you all at Roberto's Pizzeria."
The flamboyant former auto executive told Fox Business that he has actual evidence that his arrest was part of a government-backed coup to take him out because of his plans to merge alliance partners Nissan and Renault, and he threatened to use the news conference to name names.
Even before Iranian General Qassem Soleimani got off a commercial airliner in Baghdad last week, his fate was already sealed.

The sequence of events that led to the killing of the Quds Force commander -- and sent Mideast tensions soaring -- began hours earlier in Beirut. It was in the Lebanese capital that the U.S., aware of Soleimanis travel plans, watched him board the plane headed to Baghdad International Airport, according to a U.S. official familiar with the strike.

His departure from the plane in Iraq was monitored by drones circling above, including one built by closely-held General Atomics armed with laser-guided Hellfire air-to-surface missiles regularly used in attacks on high-value terrorists.

The Reaper, a $64 million long-endurance aircraft with a 20-meter (66-foot) wingspan, had Soleimani in its sights for about 10 minutes before firing on two cars carrying the Iranian commander and other senior leaders and aides, including the head of an Iraqi-based militia group that has been in conflict with U.S. forces.

The cameras on the Reaper likely would have made it possible to identify Soleimani, determine his location in a vehicle and even what kind of clothing he wore, according to Brett Velicovich, a former Army special operations soldier who directed drone operations during missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

How Qassem Soleimani Helped Shape the Modern Mideast: QuickTake

Soleimanis car was the first in the two-car convoy as it drove down an access road leaving the airport, and slipped into second before it and the now lead car were hit by two Hellfires each, with no civilian cars in sight, according to the official.

The details of the attack appeared to corroborate what a separate U.S. official told reporters in Washington Friday -- that all steps were taken to minimize civilian casualties and that Soleimani was a target of opportunity. It also demonstrated that the U.S. retains the capability to execute so-called time sensitive targeting and aerial attacks of adversaries if theres adequate intelligence.

Conducting a drone strike in Baghdad is much easier to be successful than say, somewhere in Yemen because the drone can be flown at lower altitudes there -- people wont notice it as much as a target might notice a drone in the middle of the desert, said Velicovich.

Celebrity Status

U.S. intelligence efforts were likely aided by Soleimanis celebrity status in the region, according to one analyst.

Soleimani thrives on publicity and he was well known and visible, said Kenneth Katzman, senior Middle East analyst for the Congressional Research Service. Therefore it was relatively easy to track his movements using basic intelligence sharing relationships and not requiring any extraordinary or unusual level of cooperation.

The previous best public example of timely targeting and attack with a Hellfire was the nighttime November 2015 killing by a Reaper of Islamic State terrorist Jihadi John, who was hit in a vehicle in Raqqa, Syria.

What may be the most celebrated successful example in U.S. military history of time sensitive targeting was launched on April 18, 1943. Four U.S. Army Air Force P-38s intercepted the aircraft carrying Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the architect of the Pearl Harbor attack. The U.S. aircraft flew 435 miles before shooting down Yamamotos plane.
07.01.2020 LISTEN

President Akufo-Addo wants Ghanaians to extend their supportive attitude portrayed towards the Year of Return, to this years Beyond the Return initiative.

President Akufo-Addo believes it was due to such an attitude that the year of return was a success and he wants to see same for Beyond the Return.

A statement from the Presidency indicated that, the welcoming attitude and the warm Ghanaian hospitality proved to be the strongest attention to hundreds of thousands of our kith and kin from the African diaspora, who thronged our shores to commemorate the year of return.

I urge all Ghanaians to demonstrate this same level of excitement and commitment that characterised the Year of Return, he added.

President Akufo-Addo initiated the Year of Return to invite all diasporans back home to not only learn more but explore and even invest in the country.

Since this initiative began many African-Americans have made their way into the country to learn more about their history. Some include Steve Harvey , Samuel L Jackson , Anthony Anderson, Micheal Jai White, Boris Kodjoe, Nicole Ari Parker, Diggy Simmons and many others.

The President launched the now Beyond the Return initiative as a way to continue with and solidify relations between Africans and those in the diaspora.

He said the Year of Return, proved itself to be exciting, and afforded Ghanaians the chance to re-establish, intensify and solidify the relations between those of us on the continent and those in the diaspora.

He further commended the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other institutions and persons who made The Year of Return possible for their sense of professionalism and dedication to duty, which enabled them to preserve the peace and security of our country in the course of the celebration.

The President also urged Ghanaians to take advantage of all opportunities that the initiative will present as this will entail that we engage in mutually beneficial trade, investment and cultural co-operation with the Africa Diaspora.

Myjoyonline
DAVIS, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) seeks public comments on its interim rule for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). ACEP is USDA's premier conservation easement program, helping landowners protect working agricultural lands and wetlands. The rule  now available on the Federal Register  takes effect on publication and includes changes to the program prescribed by the 2018 Farm Bill.

"Through easements, agricultural landowners are protecting agricultural lands from development, restoring grazing lands and returning wetlands to their natural conditions," said Carlos Suarez, NRCS state conservationist in California. "The new changes to ACEP under the 2018 Farm Bill make it stronger and more effective and will result in even better protection of our nation's farmlands, grasslands and wetlands."

NRCS is investing more than $300 million in conservation easements for fiscal 2020. NRCS state offices will announce signup periods for ACEP in the coming weeks.

Changes to ACEP for agricultural land easements include:

Authorizing assistance to partners who pursue "Buy-Protect-Sell" transactions.

Requiring a conservation plan for highly erodible land that will be protected by an agricultural land easement.

Increasing flexibility for partners to meet cost-share matching requirements.

Changes to ACEP for wetland reserve easements include:

Identifying water quality as a program purpose for enrollment of wetland reserve easements.

Expanding wetland types eligible for restoration and management under wetland reserve easements.

"Conservation easements have a tremendous footprint in the U.S. with nearly 5 million acres already enrolled. That's 58,000 square miles," NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr said. "This is a great testament to NRCS's and landowners' commitment to conservation."

Submitting Comments

NRCS invites comments on this interim rule through March 6 on the Federal Register. Electronic comments must be submitted through regulations.gov under Docket ID NRCS-2019-0006. All written comments received will be publicly available on regulations.gov, too.

NRCS will evaluate public comments to determine whether additional changes are needed. The agency plans on publishing a final rule following public comment review.

Applying for ACEP

ACEP aids landowners and eligible entities with conserving, restoring and protecting wetlands, productive agricultural lands and grasslands. NRCS accepts ACEP applications year-round, but applications are ranked and funded by enrollment periods that are set locally.

For more information on how to sign up for ACEP, visit nrcs.usda.gov or contact your local NRCS field office.

SOURCE USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service

Related Links

http://nrcs.usda.gov


Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayuth Chan-ocha urged the people to judiciously use the taps and shower less to cope up with the drought-like situation affecting the northern and central Thailand. The water authority of Bangkok last week said that the tap water was becoming saline as seawater pushed up the depleted Chao Phraya river, which is the main source of central Thailand's water.

The cabinet came up with a decision on Tuesday to spend 3 billion baht ($100 million) on boring wells and pipelines to extract more ground water to manage a drought that is expected to worsen in the next few months, according to a government spokesperson.

READ: Devastating Drought In Zimbabwe Shrinks Victoria Falls To A Trickle

"Please all help save #water. Turn off all the taps. Use less water. Reduce tooth-brushing and shower time by one minute," urges prime minister of #drought-hit #Thailand https://t.co/hoER7Mqrwp  TRF Climate (@TRF_Climate) January 7, 2020

Government appeals people

The dry season in Thailand generally starts in November and lasts until April but this year authorities say it could go on through June. A drought has been declared in 14 provinces in the central, northern and northeastern farming regions of Thailand.

PM Prayuth urged the people to save water and turn off the taps when not in use. He also asked to use less water, reduce tooth brushing and shower time by one minute. With a low water reservoir level, the government has appealed farmers near the Chao Phraya River basin not to yield off-season rice.

READ: Worst Drought In Afghanistan, Three Million Afghans In 'urgent' Need Of Food: United Nations

The largest waterfall in the world, Victoria Falls, is now running dry and trickling down because of one of the worst-hit droughts of the century. Southern Africas biggest tourist attraction, Victoria Falls is located on the Zambezi River and defines the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The water level of the Falls varies throughout the year with the highest in April with 500,000,000 liters of average water flow and at its lowest in October and early November.

READ: Southern Africas Deadly Drought Leaving Millions Hungry

READ: Drought Recedes As Rain Waters Parched Areas Of Southeast
You are here: Business

China's express delivery sector is expected to maintain steady growth in 2020, according to the State Post Bureau (SPB) Monday.



About 74 billion parcels are likely to be handled in 2020, up some 18 percent from 2019, while total business revenue might grow 16 percent year on year to 866 billion yuan (around 267.5 billion U.S. dollars), according to the SPB.

China saw about 63 billion express parcels handled in 2019, up 24 percent year on year. Business revenue expanded 23 percent to stand at about 745 billion yuan.

The SPB predicted that the business revenue of the country's postal services would rise 15 percent year on year in 2020.

The country has remained the world's largest express delivery market for six consecutive years, with some 20,000 express delivery enterprises and more than 3 million employees.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 22:19:55|Editor: xuxin

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YAOUNDE, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon army said on Tuesday that Monday's explosion on the northern border with Nigeria was an accidental grenade blast, instead of a suicide attack.

According to Cameroon army spokesman, Colonel Cyrille Atonfack Nguemo, nine people were killed and 26 others wounded when a hand grenade explosion occurred Monday afternoon on the bridge over El Beid river in the Cameroon frontier town of Fotokol. The blast resulted from "reckless manipulation" of a grenade found in the sand in the locality by "two little boys".

Early reports indicated that 11 people were killed and 26 others wounded in the explosion believed to be a suicide bombing by the Boko Haram.

"Investigations and eye witness accounts with the survivors of the incident proved with certainty that it was not a suicide bomb attack," Nguemo said in the statement.

"Nine people all Nigerians were killed, 21 Nigerians wounded and 5 Cameroonians wounded in the blast," he added.

All the wounded people were immediately evacuated to health facilities in Fotokol in Cameroon and Gambaru in Nigeria, according to the army.

The army did not state the origins of the grenade in the locality that is routinely patrolled by government forces.

Boko Haram has been active in the Far North region of Cameroon bordering Nigeria and Chad. Late December, about 50 fishermen were killed by the group in this triple frontier area.
The US "got it right" by killing top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday, defending US President Donald Trump's decision as "entirely legal" and in tune with America's strategy to counter the threat of Tehran's "maligned activity".

Maj Gen Soleimani, 62, the head of Iran's elite al-Quds force and architect of its regional security apparatus, was killed in a US drone attack while leaving Baghdad International Airport early on Friday. The strike also killed the deputy chief of Iraq's powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Soleimani's killing was the most dramatic escalation yet in spiralling tensions between Iran and the US, already hit by serious differences over Tehran's ambitious nuclear programme.

Pompeo, speaking to reporters at the State Department, said the Us will comply with the international laws of war in its retaliatory measures, if needed, against Iran.

His remarks came after President Trump suggested he might target Iran's cultural sites if Tehran retaliated in response to his order to kill Soleimani.

"I said on Sunday, I will reiterate it again, every target that's being reviewed, every effort that's being made will always be conducted inside the international laws of war. I've seen it, I've worked on this and I'm very confident of that," Pompeo said in his maiden New Year Conference.

Pompeo reiterated that the decision to kill Soleimani was taken based on intelligence information according to which there was an imminent attack.

"If you're looking for imminence, you need not to look further than the days that led up to the strike that was taken against Soleimani and then you in addition to that have what we clearly can see were continuing efforts on behalf of this terrorist to build out a network of campaign activities that were going to lead potentially to the death of many more Americans," he said.

"It was the right decision. We got it right; the Department of Defense did excellent work and the president had an entirely legal, appropriate and a basis as well as a decision that fit perfectly with our strategy on how to counter the threat of maligned activity from Iran more broadly," said the top American diplomat.

Pompeo said that any time a president makes a decision of this magnitude, there are multiple pieces of information that are brought to his notice.

"We presented that to him in all its broad detail. We gave him all of the best information that came not only from the intelligence community but from those of us that have teams in the field," he said.

"We evaluated the relevant risks and the opportunity that we thought might present itself at some point and we could see clearly that Soleimani had done all of the things that we had recounted, hundreds of thousands of massacre in Syria, enormous destruction of countries like Lebanon and Iraq where they've denied them sovereignty and the Iranians have really denied people in those two countries what it is that they want?" he said.

Pompeo said Solemani was continuing the "terror campaign" in the region.

"We know what happened at the end of last year in December, ultimately leading to the death of an American," he said.

Pompeo claimed that it is the authoritarian regime in Iran which is destroying the culture there.

"Let me tell you who's done damage to the Persian culture. It's not the United States of America, it's the Ayatollah," he said.

They denied the religious freedom and capacity for the Persian culture to continue, he said.

"If you go back and you look at the holidays around Cyrus and Newroz , they've not permitted people to celebrate," he alleged.

"They have not allowed the people that they've killed, that Soleimani killed, to mourn their family members. The real risk to Persian culture does not come from the United States of America. That - there is no mistake about that," Pompeo said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
STOCKHOLM, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NovaSight, a leading provider of digital healthcare platforms, and Tobii, the world-leader in eye tracking technology, are demonstrating NovaSight's prototype for vision care at CES this week. The revolutionary solution combines advanced eye tracking and sophisticated artificial intelligence to treat amblyopia, a vision disorder commonly known as lazy eye, which is the leading cause of vision loss in children.

"One extraordinary aspect of Tobii's eye tracking technology is that it serves as an engine for innovation in healthcare and other kinds of specialized applications," said Henrik Eskilsson, CEO, Tobii Group. "Such is the case with the NovaSight CureSight solution we are demonstrating at CES, which represents an important new approach to treating a serious vision disorder that impacts many children and families."

While traditional vision assessments and treatments can be subjective and suboptimal, CureSight utilizes 3D image processing algorithms and Tobii eye tracking technology to blur the image only in the specific place where the patient's dominant eye is looking. This enables a natural approach to treatment that happens while patients watch their favorite movies and TV programs. The CureSight approach replaces the more traditional treatment of using an eye patch over the dominant eye, which can be less convenient and has lower compliance rates.

"There are 10 million amblyopia patients in the United States alone, and tens of millions worldwide," said Ran Yam, CEO, NovaSight. "NovaSight is focused on offering new and more convenient eye tracking based solutions for assessment and treatment. Our digital treatment is not only fun and engaging, but it can effectively improve vision from the comfort of a patient's home."

NovaSight recently conducted clinical trials of the CureSight solution, which showed significant improvement in visual acuity in a cohort of twenty children that followed a twelve-week treatment program with a 95% compliance rate. The CureSight system, which is FDA registered, offers dozens of content sources including Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Cartoon Network, Fox, National Geographic and more.

NovaSight will be exhibiting at CES on January 7-10 in Las Vegas at the Israel Pavilion , Level 1, Hall G, Sands Expo area.

Tobii will be at CES demonstrating how eye tracking can create better devices and better user experiences. For more information, or to schedule a meeting with Tobii, please contact ces@tobii.com. To learn more about how Tobii eye tracking is an engine for innovation, read our blog here.

CONTACT:

Contact

Ben Conrad, Vice President, Global Corporate Communications, Tobii Group, phone: +1-(650)-224-6261, email: ben.conrad@tobii.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/tobii-ab/r/novasight-and-tobii-demonstrate-solution-for-treating-amblyopia---the-leading-cause-of-vision-loss-i,c3001617

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A federal judge has temporarily blocked a California labor law meant to take effect from Jan. 1 from impacting over 70,000 independent truckers by granting a temporary restraining order.

U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez in San Diego granted on Tuesday a five-page order sought by trade group California Trucking Association while he considers imposing a preliminary injunction, the hearing for which is set for Jan. 13.

Having considered the parties arguments set forth in Plaintiffs supporting papers, as well as Defendants and Intervenor-Defendants opposition papers, the Court finds that Plaintiffs requested temporary restraining order is warranted, the judge said in his order.

Californias gig worker law was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September and has garnered national attention, largely owing to the size of Californias workforce and the states leadership role in establishing policies that are frequently adopted by other states.

The law would make it harder for gig economy companies to qualify their workers as independent contractors rather than employees.

The Assembly Bill 5 or AB5 was set to go into effect on Wednesday but it faces multiple legal challenges.

The California Trucking Association had filed a lawsuit in November seeking an exemption from AB5. Photographers and freelance writers are also seeking a restraining order.

Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc and courier services provider Postmates Inc asked a U.S. court to block the law in a lawsuit filed on Monday.

The companies have argued the bill violates the U.S. Constitution and that it is irrational, vague and incoherent.

Backers of the bill, including labor groups, have argued the law protects workers rights. By classifying the contractors as employees, the companies would be subject to labor laws that require higher pay and other benefits such as medical insurance.

The bill strikes at the heart of the gig economy business model of technology platforms like Uber, Postmates, Lyft Inc , DoorDash and others who rely heavily on the states 450,000 contract workers, not full-time employees, to drive passengers or deliver food via app-based services.
At odds with president, defence secretary says US will not violate laws of armed conflict by striking cultural sites.

The United Statess defence secretary has contradicted President Donald Trump by saying the countrys military had no plans to bomb Iranian cultural sites amid threats of retaliation from Tehran over the US assassination of its top military commander, Qassem Soleimani.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mark Esper said the US military will follow the laws of armed conflict.

When pressed if that ruled out hitting cultural sites, Esper said pointedly: Thats the laws of armed conflict.

In comments that sparked an international outcry, Trump first raised the prospect of attacking cultural sites in a tweet on Saturday and reiterated that view to reporters the next day.

We have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD, he tweeted.

.targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2020

His Twitter message caught administration officials off-guard and prompted immediate condemnation from legal scholars, national security experts and Democratic politicians. But the president stood by his threat on Sunday.

Theyre allowed to kill our people. Theyre allowed to torture and maim our people. Theyre allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people, he told reporters travelling with him on Air Force One.

And were not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesnt work that way.

Violation of international law

The split between the president and his Pentagon chief came amid heightened tensions with Tehran following the US drone strike on Friday that killed Soleimani, the head of Irans elite Quds Force, near the airport in Iraqs capital, Baghdad.

Soleimanis assassination has sharply escalated tensions with Iran, raising fears of all-out conflict.

Iran has pledged severe revenge for the killing while other pro-Iran leaders in the region, including the head of Lebanons Hezbollah movement Hassan Nasrallah, have also promised to avenge his death.

Washington argues it killed Soleimani in self-defence, aiming to disrupt his plans to attack US personnel and interests.

Attacking cultural sites with military action is considered a war crime under international law, including a United Nations Security Council resolution supported by the Trump administration in 2017 and the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property.

On Monday, the UNs cultural agency reminded the US and Iran that they had signed treaties committing not to harm cultural heritage in the event of armed conflict.

At a meeting with the Iranian ambassador to the Paris-based organisation, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said provisions of the 1954 and 1972 conventions, ratified by the US and Iran, should be observed.





Iran is home to 22 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

They include the ancient ruins of Persepolis, the grand mosque of Isfahan, and the Golestan Palace in Tehran, where the last Shah to rule Iran was crowned in 1967.

Outside the Pentagon, Trumps threats were met with condemnation in the US.

It shows that he is somewhat deranged about this, said Senator Tim Kaine. The pledge to attack cultural sites, likely, is a violation of international law.

The threats also drew reaction from the art world.

The Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD), a body representing 225 art museums in the US, Canada, and Mexico urged that in the event of hostilities, steps be taken to protect the cultural heritage of both Iran and Iraq.

200106183016546

The region is home to unique and irreplaceable artifacts and archaeological sites, and AAMD strongly urges international engagement to protect and preserve our shared cultural heritage, the North American organisation said in a statement.

The targeting of sites of global cultural heritage is abhorrent to the collective values of our society, museum leaders at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, said.

At this challenging time, we must remind ourselves of the global importance of protecting cultural sites  the objects and places by which individuals, communities, and nations connect to their history and heritage.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also distanced himself from Trumps threats.

There are international conventions in place that prevent the destruction of cultural heritage, James Slack, Johnsons official spokesman, told reporters during a briefing on Monday.
From the face scanner that will check in some attendees to the cameras-everywhere array of digital products, the CES gadget show is all-in on surveillance technology  whether it calls it that or not.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 6/1/2020 (735 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2019 file photo, the new Door View Cam is on display at the Ring booth before CES International in Las Vegas. From the face scanner that will check in some attendees to the cameras-everywhere array of digital gadgets, the CES gadget show is all-in on surveillance technology  whether it calls it that or not. Nestled in the smart home and smart city showrooms at the sprawling Las Vegas consumer tech conference are devices that see, hear and track the people they encounter and sometimes analyze their looks and behavior. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

From the face scanner that will check in some attendees to the cameras-everywhere array of digital products, the CES gadget show is all-in on surveillance technology  whether it calls it that or not.

Nestled in the smart home and smart city showrooms at the sprawling Las Vegas consumer tech conference are devices that see, hear and track the people they encounter. Some of them also analyze their looks and behaviour. The technology on display includes eyelid-tracking car dashboard cameras to prevent distracted driving and rapid DNA kits for identifying a person from a cheek swab sample.

All these talking speakers, doorbell cameras and fitness trackers come with the promise of making life easier or more fun, but they're also potentially powerful spying tools. And the skeptics who raise privacy and security concerns can be easily drowned out in the flashy spectacle of gee-whiz technology.

Many, many horrible stories have come out of consumer electronics, said Cindy Cohn, executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, who is speaking on a CES panel about the future of internet-connected devices. It's often about hyping the next thing you can buy and not considering the trade-offs.

CES runs Tuesday to Friday after two days of media previews. The annual showcase is where big companies and startups unveil and promote their latest gadgets, many of them infused with microphones, cameras and artificial intelligence. Though weighted toward the consumer market, much of what's on display may also be useful to law enforcement, not to mention prying employers or heavy-handed governments.

Marcus Yang, CEO of the camera startup Amaryllo, said he's had a difficult time persuading customers to pay more for safeguards such as faster processors to enable end-to-end encryption, when an array of cheaper, but less secure options are available.

CES attendees want to see technology and something fresh, Yang said. They're only interested in looking at your cameras and what kind of features they have.

Yang said he's hopeful that something is changing this year after a series of privacy scandals and security breaches has brought attention to the dangers of unfettered surveillance technology. And eventually, he said, regulators are likely to step in with security requirements.

Amazon's security camera division Ring, which has set up a Ring House to show off its home devices, recently had to defend its safety practices following reports of hackers breaking into Ring camera systems and harassing children. It's also faced criticism from privacy advocates and U.S. lawmakers over its growing partnerships with police. At CES on Monday, the company announced a new control centre for camera owners to adjust their privacy settings and opt out of police requests for footage.

Ring competitor Wyze Labs, an honoree in the CES 2020 innovation awards, announced a data breach just after Christmas affecting 2.4 million customers. And widely used voice assistants made by Google, Amazon and Apple all came under scrutiny in 2019 for data retention practices that allowed employees and contractors to listen to users' audio recordings.

There's been some push back, at least on facial recognition and other surveillance technology from China. Hikvision and iFlytek, two Chinese tech companies that showed off their artificial intelligence at CES 2019, now face U.S. export restrictions because the Trump administration says the technology has been used in the repression of China's Muslims.

But China isn't the only place where the lines have blurred between consumer technology and government surveillance operations. Watchful residents of American neighbourhoods are increasingly encouraged by Ring to share their doorbell video footage with police detectives. And device-makers are counting on consumers buying into ever-more elaborate forms of computer vision and other AI technology to give them peace of mind.

Camera-maker Arlo this week launched its first wireless floodlight camera, with night vision, a siren, two-way audio to converse with intruders and an ambient light sensor to automatically adjust its brightness. Another company, Sunflower Labs, is using CES to show off its home drone security system. If trespassers step onto your lawn, a camera-equipped drone flies out from its resting place to take a look at them and streams the live video to your phone.

Sound like something that might guard the lair of a James Bond villain? CEO Alex Pachikov says it's actually less intrusive to neighbours than your run-of-the-mill doorbell camera, because it's only looking down at your own property.

Serious talk about privacy protections and regulations isn't completely absent at CES. The schedule includes panel talks connecting policymakers with privacy executives from companies like Apple and Facebook.

Venture capitalist Rajeev Chand, who is moderating one of those panels, said tech companies are getting better at seeing themselves as custodians, not the owners, of user data, but much more needs to be done.

We are probably at the first or second inning for how privacy re-shapes the consumer tech industry, said Chand, a partner and head of research at Wing Venture Capital.

But even as some U.S. policymakers seek to restrict or ban facial recognition, the conference is getting its attendees more accustomed to everyday uses of surveillance technology in commercial and security settings.

Attendees at the gadget show can use their face to pick up their event badges for the first time.

"We're experimenting with it," said Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, which organizes CES.

He dismissed privacy concerns, saying that attendees have a choice.

Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

"You're opting in," he said. If you want to do it, you'll have an opportunity to do it.

Cohn, of EFF, said she plans to skip the face scanners because she doesn't know who has control over the images they collect. She said there's only so much that consumers can do to guard against misuse.

There is a risk treating this as an individual decision, she said. That's not really fair or right to do to people. We need to fix the policies.

___

AP writers Rachel Lerman and Joseph Pisani contributed to this report.

AP's CES coverage: https://apnews.com/Consumerelectronics
At UC San Diego, a group of experts came together to try and preserve the eyesight of 3-year-old gorilla who lives at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

A UCSD medical team assisted in surgery to remove a worsening cataract that had been caused by trauma.

Leslie was the patient's name, and her caretakers had noticed that her left eye was becoming cloudier.



From the UCSD announcement:

Animal care specialists at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park were concerned when they noticed cloudiness in the left eye of Leslie, a 3-year-old female western lowland gorilla. Closer inspection confirmed the lens had changed and the left eye was shifting haphazardly, prompting Leslie to favor use of her right eye. Given Leslie's young age and developmental stage, Safari Park veterinarians organized a team of internal and external experts, including ophthalmologists and anesthesiologists at UC San Diego Health, to perform the Park's first-ever cataract surgery on a gorilla.

The operation took place at the Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center at the San Diego Zoo.

Cataract surgeon Chris Heichel led the team of surgeons. He said he has performed thousands of operations, but that this was his first on a gorilla.

"Fortunately, the similarities between the anatomy of human and gorilla eyes are great enough to allow us to safely navigate the procedure without complication," Heichel said in a press release from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

"The remainder of the eye appeared to be in excellent health, indicating exceptional vision potential for the rest of Leslie's life."

The animal care specialists say that while cataracts can occur with age, Leslie's probably happened either from a fall while she was learning to climb, or from "an overly rambunctious play sessions with other young gorillas in her troop," the park told the Associated Press.

READ MORE:

UC San Diego Health Helps San Diego Zoo Safari Park Save 3-year-old Gorilla's Eyesight [health.ucsd.edu]

UC San Diego Health Helps San Diego Zoo Safari Park Save 3-year-old Gorilla's Eyesight [youtube.com]
Neil OBrien is MP for Harborough.

When I was a teenager I smuggled a package into my parents home. I hid it in the back of a cupboard, and gradually consumed the contents when I was sure that no one was looking. But it wasnt a bag of drugs. It was a copy of George Orwells Nineteen Eighty Four, borrowed from Huddersfield public library.

I hid it because I would have been acutely embarrassed to be caught not just reading, but with clear evidence of having visited a library. Let me scratch the record at this point. This column is not about to descend into an awful hard luck story about how I lived in a hole in the road, ate gravel as a treat and so on.

In fact, I went to an averagely performing comprehensive school in an averagely prosperous town. But even from this average background, I could feel the gravitational pull of the powerful anti-education culture which screws up the chances of so many working class kids.

It wasnt just that trying hard was uncool and library visits embarrassing. Expectations were low. My careers teacher at school (also the remedial teacher) asked how many GCSEs I thought Id get a C in. When I said all of them, he implied I was cocky.

I dont know where this culture came from. Maybe its a mutant version of the Victorian public school cult of effortless achievement. Maybe as Mike Emmerich says, its something to do with the low-skill nature of Britains early industrialisation, or a leftover of a time when unskilled men could walk straight into a decent job in a factory.

What I do know is that the anti-education culture held back people I knew: particularly white working class boys (and black) whom it gripped most strongly.

And I do mean culture, not money or class. Poorer Indian pupils on free school meals are as likely to pass their English and Maths GCSEs as black pupils who are not.

Poorer Black and Asian girls who are eligible for Free School Meals are more likely to go to university than white and black boys who are not. (Only nine per cent of white boys on free school meals go.)

Culture and aspiration really matter, and there were two important rows about them last week. Strangely, both involved the rapper Stormzy, who was asked to do a Bible reading on BBC 1 on Christmas day.

The first started when a leading Headteacher, Katharine Birbalsingh, criticised Stormzys lyrics for being racist, sexist and glamorising violence. She talked about the negative effects this had on inner city pupils and suggested some more positive black role models.

Twitter-land erupted in rage. One tweeted: This woman shouldnt be allowed around children. Another: How can a headmistress be so uneducated? One left wing academic asked: So you want to ban Shakespeare?

Perhaps I shouldnt have been surprised. Despite his constant use of the n-word and frequent references to women as bitches, Stormzy has become something of a go-to figure when establishment organisations reach for relevance.

Earlier this year the charity Youth Music extolled the benefits of students exchanging Mozart for Stormzy as part of a re-imagined music curriculum. Indeed, why have Mozart when you can have gems like:

We a bunch of bad niggas (bad niggas) / So is Jennifer with them bad bitches (bad bitches)/ Like we pour up man, we got cash nigga/ Like I get money, fuck what you have nigga.

Stormzy is just one person. But young black (and white) men are being fed a toxic cocktail of such messages from multiple sources, telling them they need to prove themselves with violence, that normal work is for losers, and normalising disrespect for women. Birbalsingh is surely right to want different role models, and to say that twenty years ago this stuff wouldnt have been considered normal. The reaction against any criticism of it is scary.

And theres something really creepy about the idea that there are particular groups for whom higher culture isnt appropriate, who should instead be served up something more relevant to them instead.Its the soft bigotry of low expectations.

The second row was sort of a mirror image.

It was about trying to raise aspirations  through scholarships for particular ethnic groups. It was revealed that Dulwich College in London and Winchester College in Hampshire had declined a bequest totalling more than 1 million to support the fees of white working class boys from Bryan Thwaites, a prominent scientist and academic who himself attended both schools on scholarships.

Sir Bryan defended his proposed grant by citing none other than Stormzy, who established a Cambridge University scholarship scheme solely for black British students earlier this year. Through the Stormzy Scholarships, black students can get up to a 18,000 grant.

Such programmes are increasingly widespread: Oxford recently announced new Arlan Hamilton scholarships for Black undergraduates. UCL has scholarships for black and minority ethnic (BME) postgraduate research students. The Bank of England also has scholarships for African Caribbean students.

Let me be clear: Stormzy and others are trying to do a good thing. Im glad he is spending his money on encouraging black kids to apply to Cambridge. There is still a lot of racism out there and generally black people are worse off in lots of ways than white.

But there are some massive questions here. Commenting on the case, Trevor Phillips noted that there would be nothing illegal about scholarships for poor white pupils:

This is not what we intended when we drafted the equality laws. As one of the authors of the [Equality] Act, and having encountered this situation before, I can see that the schools lawyers read the Act as though it were a law constructed purely to favour people of colour. It is not; it is designed to ensure equality, and in this specific case, the disadvantaged, under-represented group happens to be white.

But do we want to go down a route of ringfenced funding for racial groups, be they black or white? Collecting statistics on peoples self-identified racial background is one thing. Having ringfenced funding for one racial group is quite another, and leads into a minefield.

Last year, 44 per cent of Black African background pupils got five good GCSEs, but only 40 per cent of those from a Pakistani background. On what basis should the latter be refused a scholarship only open to someone with slightly different skin colour? What proportion of your grandparents have to be of a particular ethnicity to count as mixed race and be eligible for a scholarship?

Apartheid South Africa had cruel racist laws to assign people to racial groups on the basis of things like hair colour, facial features and eating and drinking habits. Could future court cases turn on such creepy arguments?

In the US, affirmative action has gone much further and has indeed led to court cases and legislation to control it. Issues have included discrimination against Asians who have then sued, problems with higher drop-out rates among favoured groups, arguments that it ends up helping richer members of favoured groups over poorer members of non-favoured, and arguments that it undermines members of favoured groups who would have succeeded anyway without the affirmative action.

Most leading UK universities rightly do quite a lot to aim off for students backgrounds. If you get top grades despite attending a school where few do so, you are more likely to get let in. They look in detail at individuals backgrounds.

I think this fundamentally different to quotas or ringfenced grants: looking through peoples current disadvantages to assess their future potential as individuals is different to treating people as members of groups. Above all, if we want more people from some disadvantaged groups to be able to go to university, the main thing we need to do is to raise their achievement at school, which is why we need to put rocket boosters under our school reforms.

In the 2020s we should get more interested in the culture facing young people and who gets held up as a role model. We must avoid sliding into US style quota-ism. We must do more to help people climb the ladder, but not be afraid to try and change parts of our culture that keep them down.
By IANS

AMARAVATI: Amaravati farmers protesting against three capitals proposal on Tuesday attacked car of a ruling YSRCP MLA and damaged it.

Farmers, who were staging blockade on Chennai-Kolkata national highway, stopped the car of P. Ramakrishna Reddy, a Member of Legislative Assembly belonging to YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) at Chinakakani near Guntur.

The MLA's gunman got down from the car and tried to clear the way. During an argument with the farmers, he allegedly manhandled a farmer. Angry over this the protestors pelted stones, damaging the car's window panes. The farmers had surrounded the vehicle but the driver sped it away. The MLA escaped unhurt in the incident.

The incident led to high tension in the area as police undertook a baton charge to disperse the protestors. The farmers, however, pelted stones on other vehicles.

ALSO READ: Tension in Amaravati as farmers block highway in protest against 3 capital cities proposal

Ramakrishna Reddy later blamed opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for the attack. He said TDP workers in the guise of farmers attacked him and injured his gunman.

YSRCP leader R.K. Roja condemned the attack on her colleague and said TDP leaders were resorting to such attacks to save their ill-gotten property in Amaravati.

attack on #YSRCP MLA and Government Whip Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy by protesting farmers. Party alleged that this attack was to create tension and unrest in the state. #AndhraPradesh #Amaravathi pic.twitter.com/wH2onQb0ja  Aneri Shah (@tweet_aneri) January 7, 2020

YSRCP spokesman Ambati Rambabu held TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu responsible for the attack on the MLA and demanded action against him. He alleged that Naidu was provoking people to create unrest in the region.
It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So before you buy or sell Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BME:BBVA), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling.

What Is Insider Selling?

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 would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. For example, a Columbia University study found that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own companys stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'.

View our latest analysis for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

Group Executive Chairman Carlos Torres Vila made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for 934k worth of shares at a price of 5.20 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being 5.03). 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. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. 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.

While Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria insiders bought shares last year, they didn't sell. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

Story continues

BME:BBVA Recent Insider Trading, January 7th 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.

Insider Ownership of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. It appears that Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria insiders own 0.08% of the company, worth about 27m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria 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. Overall we don't see anything to make us think Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

Of course Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies.

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.
The trial of American movie executive Harvey Weinstein has opened in New York. Weinstein is accused of sexual misconduct by 90 women, but faces trial on the allegations of just two of his accusers.

The victims of Weinstein's alleged crimes include actresses and business associates, among them Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow. Details of the movie executive's sexual misconduct were published in a New York Times article in October 2017, and many victims have come forward since to add to the list of supposed sexual indiscretions.

Weinstein will be tried on the accusations of only two women, as many of the claims fall outside the statute of limitations. He has pleaded not guilty.

Mimi Haleyi, a former production assistant, alleged that Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her in his New York apartment in July 2006.

The second alleged victim is not named. She says that the high-profile producer raped her in a New York hotel room in March 2013.

Actress Annabella Sciorra will take the stand as a witness as the prosecution attempts to establish Weinstein's habitual sexual misconduct.

#MeToo

The allegations kick-started the #MeToo movement as many women came out against male executives in the movie and business communities. Although almost all those named were fired or forcibly retired or resigned, none has been sent for trial.

"This trial is critical to show that predators everywhere will be held accountable and that speaking up can bring about real change," 25 of Weinstein's accusers said in a statement Friday.

Actresses Rose McGowan, Rosanna Arquette and five other alleged victims held a press conference on the courthouse steps on Monday, calling for justice.

In a separate case heard before a US civil court, some Weinstein accusers won 22 million euros in damages last month; a sum many thought was not enough.

The defendant entered court in December using a zimmer frame after what his lawyers said was back surgery. He returned to court on Monday with the zimmer frame again, as a number of people pointed out on social media that Weinstein was trying to gain sympathy on the first day of his trial.

The movie producer faces life in prison if convicted of sexual assault charges in the New York court. The trial is expected to last about six weeks.
 Flash

UN-backed Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj on Monday made an hours-long visit to Algeria as armed conflict continues in and around Libya's capital Tripoli between warring parties.

Despite a short visit, the Libyan prime minister headed a high-level delegation including Foreign Minister Mohamed Taher Siala and Interior Minister Fathi Bachagha.

During his private meeting with Serraj, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune urged the international community to work on stopping the escalation in Libya as more victims are killed each day, according to a statement released by the Presidency.

He reaffirmed Algeria's commitment to working on "distancing the region from foreign interference which threatens the interests of the people in the region and the unity of their nations."

The Algerian president also called on "external parties to stop fuelling escalation in Libya through military support to warring parties."

For his part, Serraj reiterated his "confidence in the efforts by Algeria to end escalation while supporting a political solution to the crisis," noted the statement.

Discussions were also held between Siala and his Algerian counterpart Sabri Boukadoum as well as between Bachagha and his Algerian counterpart Kamel Beldjoud.

Serraj and Tebboune could also have discussed the possibility of reactivating the security accord between the two nations to deepen security cooperation amid the need of the UN-backed Libyan government to counter potential military attacks from foreign forces, according to observers.

It is worth noting that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu arrived in Algeria for a two-day visit to mainly discuss the developments in Libya, official Algeria Press Service (APS) reported.

Turkey has decided to send troops to Libya, a neighbor of Algeria, in response to the distress call of the Serraj-led Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) which is fighting fierce battles in and around Tripoli with the east-based army led by Khalifa Haftar who vowed to "liberate the capital Tripoli" from the control of the GNA.

Encouraging the UN-backed political process in Libya, Algeria has repeatedly voiced its readiness to do everything possible except military intervention to restore peace and security in the war-torn country.
Washington [US], Jan 07 (ANI): The United States has made no decision about withdrawing troops from Iraq, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Monday, amid reports that troops pull out is underway.



"There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq," Sputnik quoted Esper as saying.

Esper clarifications come hours after media reports surfaced suggesting that the US commander wrote a letter to the Iraq government by saying that the troops would be "repositioning over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement."

The letter said there would be an increase in helicopter travel around the Green Zone and said, "We respect your sovereignty decision to order our departure."

Iraq's Parliament has passed the resolution to cancel the United States' request for assistance from the US-led coalition which had been working with Baghdad to fight the (ISIL) last week.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi-led government presented a resolution in the Parliament for the expulsion of foreign forces over the killing of Iran's senior military commander Qassem Soleimani.

The killing of Soleimani was carried out in Baghdad. Mahdi had condemned the US actions. (ANI)


On Tuesday, Senate Republicans moved closer to handing President Donald Trump an impeachment trial without witnesses, evidence, or documents. Such a trial will likely result in the acquittal or the dismissal of charges that the president desperately craves. After passing charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, then holding them back from the Senate for three weeks in the name of preventing such a sham trial, Democrats now themselves appear ready to go along with the Republican plan.

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First, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters on Tuesday that he has the votes he needs to proceed to his desired Senate trial format, in which any vote on witnesses would be delayed until after the cases had been presented. As Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has previously noted, this is a simple ruse. McConnell has already promised to follow up the initial argument phase of the trial by holding a vote to end it, before any new witnesses or documents can be brought to light through subpoenas.

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McConnell, that is, has pledged to prevent the public from hearing testimony under oath from crucial witnesses like former national security adviser John Bolton, who on Monday offered to testify and who has said he has information directly relevant to the charges that the president blocked security aid to Ukraine to pressure that nations leadership to announce an investigation of Joe Biden.

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As Schumer has noted, holding a trial without witnesses would amount to replaying the House impeachment hearings, rather than actually trying the case against the president. It is not the Senates job to put the House impeachment proceedings on a weeklong rerun on C-SPAN, Schumer said.

As Schumer further noted in a floor speech on Tuesday, Bill Clintons impeachment trial had witness depositions in the Senate, and Andrew Johnsons impeachment trial had 41 witnesses. A trial isnt a trial without evidence. A trial without all the facts is a farce, Schumer argued. If the president is ultimately acquitted at the end of a sham trial, his acquittal will be meaningless. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi had promised to withhold the articles of impeachment until Senate leadership offered a clearer picture of what that trial would look like, as a strategy to try to prevent Republicans from rigging the proceedings to protect Trump.

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And now, having established the central importance of having a real trial with witnesses, the Democrats are apparently ready to give up and let McConnell run things his way. I think the speaker should send the articles regardless [of whether there will be witnesses], Sen. Chris Murphy told reporters on Tuesday. I think the time has passed. She should send the articles over.

On Tuesday afternoon, Schumer all but confirmed that this phase of impeachment had ended. The speaker has said all along that she wanted to see the arena in which she was playing when it came to a trial so that she could appoint impeachment managers, Schumer said. Now its becoming clear that Mitch McConnell wants to do everything he can to avoid a fair trial, so she has some idea of whats happened.

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The New York Democrat further argued that Pelosis temporary delay tactics had helped our case even if it was time to move on.

McConnell, meanwhile, was making it clear exactly how that trial would go, telling reporters he had the votes to block witnesses in the first phase, with potential swing Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitt Romney confirming that they supported his plan.

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Faced with McConnells disciplined strategy to protect Trump, it seems, the Democrats have decided to give up on the Senate and hope they can win in the court of public opinion. We have always known that leader McConnell would not be for a fair trial, Schumer said during the press conference. He said that from the beginning.

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Schumer now says that forcing votes on witnesses at the end of an initial trial presentation might still work to pressure vulnerable senators to come along, after having argued for days that McConnells plan was a poorly disguised trap.

If we leave the question of witnesses and documents until after all the presentations are complete, leader McConnell will argue that the Senate has heard enough, and we shouldnt prolong the trial any longer, Schumer said last week. At that point, you can be sure hell label anyone who wants to subpoena evidence as a partisan who wants to drag the whole affair out.

Now Democrats appear to be barreling full steam ahead into this very trap and hoping that pressure that hasnt worked thus far will work at the end of opening presentations.

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Many of [McConnells] colleagues are very, very worried about going home and saying they are not for witnesses and documents, Schumer said. Theyre afraid to say yes [to witnesses], because they know Donald Trump will be furious at them. Theyre afraid to say no because they know their voters, their constituents will be furious at them. Theyre stuck.

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For the time being, though, theyve sided with McConnell. There seems to be little reason to believe that will change in the next couple of weeks even if the polling shows the public wants witnesses. A FiveThirtyEight/Ipsos impeachment tracking poll released last week showed that 57 percent of respondents supported witnesses, confirming previous polls.

In the same poll, though, 52 percent of respondents opposed Democrats seeking to delay the trial. So the decision to move ahead under terms dictated by McConnell may have seemed necessary, from a poll-watching standpoint. Still, its impossible not to see it as a capitulation to a defeat in the Senateone which Trump will tout as a complete exoneration.

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And while the last phase of the impeachment fight was about convincing the public that a trial matters, and that it ought to include witnesses, the next phase will be about trying to convince the public to hold Republicans accountable where the Democrats could not. Democrats think they can make the case that potentially vulnerable senators like Collins, Colorados Cory Gardner, North Carolinas Thom Tillis, and Arizonas Martha McSally have shirked their duty.

A Senate Democratic aide pointed to fresh surveys from a Democratic pollster that indicated that these four at least would be viewed unfavorably in their home states if they blocked witnesses and documents. But that polling took place in a context where Democrats were actively fighting for impeachment, rather than yielding to McConnell themselves.

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On Monday we got the first taste of what Democratic efforts to target these senators might look like with the release of a super PAC ad in Arizona going after McSally. The campaign portrayed McSally wearing a golden arches fast food franchise branded uniform labeled McSallys. It accused her of flip-flopping (like a burger!) on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and of being dismissive of the Ukraine scandal.

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The ad leaned heavily into soft drink imagery, showing a cartoon cutout of a fast food uniformed McSally selling souvenir cups featuring a previous quote of the senators calling the Ukraine investigation a kamikaze mission for Democrats. The idea is that the voters should keep holding that against her, even after the Democrats let the impeachment trial crash and burn.

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Update, Jan. 8, 2020, at 12:10 p.m.: On Tuesday evening, Pelosi sent out a Dear Colleague letter to fellow members of the House indicating that before transmitting articles of impeachment to the Senate, she wanted to see the specific resolution McConnell was proposing. It is important that he immediately publish this resolution, so that, as I have said before, we can see the arena in which we will be participating, appoint managers and transmit the articles to the Senate, Pelosi said. McConnell has said consistently that hed like to use the 1999 Bill Clinton impeachment resolution as a template and said on Tuesday, Well be glad to show [the resolution] to you when we unveil it.
The United Venezuelan Socialist Party (PSUV) of president Nicolas Maduro and its coalition installed a new speaker of the National Assembly on Sunday to replace Juan Guaido, the US-sponsored activist who used his position as speaker to proclaim himself interim president last January in an attempt to oust Maduro.

Juan Guaido climbs the fence in a failed attempt to enter the compound of the Assembly, as he is blocked from entering a session to elect new Assembly leadership in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020 (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A former member of the pro-Guaido opposition, Luis Parra was hand-picked by the PSUV officials and sworn in as speaker without a quorum. Outside, the National Guard kept Guaido and his backers from entering the building during the scheduled vote.

After clashes between the national guardsmen and Guaidos associates and bodyguards, the pro-Guaido entourage traveled a few miles east and convened a parallel session in the headquarters of the newspaper El Nacional, where 100 legislators, according to the opposition, voted to re-elect Guaido as speaker.

The anti-Maduro opposition had obtained 112 of the 167 seats in 2015, but several minority opposition parties representing about a tenth of the legislature split from the Guaido camp in September and several other opposition legislators have switched since.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo congratulated Guaido for the supposed re-election in a statement Sunday that said the swearing-in of Parra was farcical and was the result of bribery and intimidation. Spokespeople for the European Union, as well as Canadian and several Latin American governments followed suit, recognizing Guaido as the re-elected head of the National Assembly and interim government.

Maduro, on the other hand, recognized Parra, claimed that Guaido and his supporters were late to the voting session on Sunday, and applauded a rebellion of the opposition deputies. He added: I tell Pompeo and [US special envoy to Venezuela Elliott] Abrams: how will you explain to Trump that you lost the elections in the National Assembly? Another failure of the gringos in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Jorge Arreaza, denounced the vulgar interventionism of US officials. They should worry about the disaster they seek to provoke with new wars for oil, he said, referring to Trumps effective declaration of war against Iran.

While media commentators have noted that Maduros calculations are based on recent splits and corruption scandals in the opposition, the statements from Caracas demonstrate that they are seeking to exploit the war crisis in the Middle East and growing popular opposition to the lawlessness of US foreign policy.

Amid simmering popular anger in Venezuela and internationally toward the US-backed coup in Bolivia, the assassination of the Iranian general Suleimani and the continued devastation of the Venezuelan economy by US sanctions, whatever words of concern from US officials about democracy, bribery and intimidation, ring as hollow as ever.

As established in Trumps National Security Strategy, Washington is pursuing great-power conflicts to undermine its main rivals, Russia and Chinathe main allies of the Maduro government.

As it pursues its operations in Eurasia, US imperialisms involvement in the Bolivian coup and US threats against Venezuela highlight the importance placed by US strategists in consolidating its stranglehold over Latin America, including its energy and mineral wealth. The danger that Latin America will be dragged into a global conflagration has only mounted.

Last month, while reiterating that all options are on the table, Pompeo made a threat that has acquired a greater meaning after the killing of Suleimani: In July of 1989, Nicolae Ceausescu said capitalism would come to Romania when apples grew on poplar treesand by December he was hanging from a rope. The end will come for Maduro as well. We just dont know what day.

If anything, the sidelining of Guaido only increases the likelihood of a US military invasion or reckless covert operation with incalculable consequences, particularly after Guaidos call for a military uprising in April, supposedly to allow USAID trucks to enter the country, shipwrecked.

At the same time, the bourgeois Venezuelan government is hostile to mobilizing the working masses in Venezuela against imperialism. Caracas has depended on a fragile balance between appeals for accommodation with the Trump administration and anti-democratic maneuvers to undermine the pro-US opposition while partnering with former coup supporters and double dealers. This can only embolden the Pentagon and CIA.

Parra himself was expelled as recently as December 1 from the right-wing Justice First party, which belongs to the pro-Guaido coalition Broad Front Free Venezuela (FAVL). The expulsion was part of a damage control operation after a document signed by Parra and eight other FAVL legislators was leaked calling for an end to a corruption inquiry charging businessman Carlos Lizcano, ostensibly in exchange for kickbacks.

The scandal erupted a week after Guaido dismissed his diplomatic representative in Colombia for airing documents from the Colombian government showing that money intended for the few Venezuelan soldiers that have deserted was squandered by Guaidos envoys on prostitutes, alcohol and other abuses.

Prior to Sundays events, Elliott Abrams had claimed that Maduro had bribed several opposition legislators with up to $500,000. On Sunday, the pro-Guaido legislator Delsa Solorzano, who has backed US sanctions and whose political alliance has received millions of dollars from the State Department, went further and declared hypocritically that each of those dollars is tainted with the blood of our children dying in the hospitals.

As Parra and Guaido both convoke legislative sessions scheduled for today, workers and youth must oppose any efforts to chain them to any faction of the ruling class. The only way to resist US efforts to install a puppet regime that would brutally crush all opposition is the political mobilization of the Venezuelan working class in opposition to the Maduro government and the entire ruling apparatus under a socialist and internationalist program.
From Amy Roloffs big move off of Roloff Farms to Tori Roloff giving birth to a baby girl, 2019 was a huge year for the Roloff family from Little People, Big World. And 2020 is about to be another crazy year for them, too. While Amy is getting settled into her new place, Matt Roloff and his girlfriend, Caryn Chandler, are still living on Roloff Farms. And Chandler seems to be closer with the Roloffs than ever before.

Chandler regularly comments on the Roloff familys Instagram posts  especially when it comes to the grandkids. Now that Audrey, Jeremys wife, is nine-months pregnant with baby No. 2, Chandler is back with the Instagram comments once again. And this time, shes commenting on Audreys glowing look.

Audrey Roloff is documenting her pregnancy on Instagram

Jeremy and Audrey Roloff made the decision to stop filming with the other Roloffs on Little People, Big World full-time. Instead, they chose to carry on with their passion projects, which include their podcast, their ultra-Christian Beating50Percent brand, and their memoir and marriage journal. Not only that, but Audrey and Jeremy also have a healthy Instagram presence, and they frequently share what theyre up to with their daughter, Ember.

In the last nine months, Audreys followers have been keeping up with her pregnancy journey. Shes pregnant with a little boy whos due in January 2020, and shes not shy about sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of having another bun in the oven.

Audrey posted a photo of her bare belly with the caption, Its such a gift to carry our baby on the inside and I cant wait carry him on the outside soon. I feels unreal that we are already at #39weekspregnant and get to meet our little guy any day now.Buttttttt I was 11 days past my dude date when Ember decided to join us earthside so trying to manage my expectations.

Matt Roloffs girlfriend, Caryn Chandler, is deeply involved with the Roloff family

Fans know Matt and Amy quite well, as theyre the ones who started the show and brought their four kids into the reality TV spotlight. But now that they have long-term significant others, these S.O.s are getting to know the family, too.

Matts been dating Caryn Chandler for three years, and its clear just how much she loves the Roloff kids and grandkids. She frequently posts photos to her Instagram of her enjoying time with Zach and Toris son, Jackson, along with their newborn, Lilah. And she also loves Jeremy and Audreys daughter, Ember.

For the 2019 holiday season, Matt and Chandler were heading out to Arizona for the warmth. But they still managed to have two early Christmases with the grandkids, which fans loved. Chandler posted photos of Zach and Toris family along with the caption, Cheers to love, laughter, & warm snuggles to keep in our pocket. Thank you Z, T, J and baby Lilah for a magical eve of holiday memories. We luv you.

Chandler thinks Audrey is glowing as her final pregnancy days approach

On Jan. 6, Audrey posted a few sweet photos of her cradling her baby bump with Jeremy by her side. I just have to say how thankful I am to be married to a man that makes me feel cherished, cared for, and confident, especially in these final days of pregnancy, Audrey captioned the post. He has gone above and beyond these last few weeks to help me feel more at peace in what can be a very anxious time for expecting mamas.

Audrey got a lot of love from the post  and of course, Chandler added her own sweet comment, too.

Auj is glowing ..Good Job taking care of her & Ember Jer . cant wait to meet the lil fella ! Chandler wrote.

Back when Tori was pregnant with her second baby, we remember when Chandler was making nice remarks on her Instagram as well. This shows just how excited she is about the Roloff grandkids and new additions to the family. And, just like Chandler, fans are ultra-excited for the arrival of Jeremy and Audreys second baby as well!

Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook!
A Nigerian, Anthony Okolie, has been detained by the Department of State Services for 10 weeks for purchasing and using an MTN SIM card previously used and abandoned by President Muhammadu Buharis daughter, Hanan.

The telephone number was said to have been recycled and put up for sale by the popular telecommunications network provider.

Okolie still has receipt he was given for the purchase of the SIM in question.



Making the revelation in a post on Twitter on Monday, rights activist and journalist, Omoyele Sowore, who was himself detained unlawfully by the DSS for months for calling on Nigerians to take to the streets and demand a better country from the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, described the situation as sad.

He said, A Nigerian, Anthony Okolie, was detained for 10 weeks by the DSS for using an MTN phone line previously used and abandoned by President Buharis daughter, Hanan.

Recounting his meeting with Okolie at the DSS cell they shared together, Sowores co-defendant in the case brought against them by the Nigerian Government, Olawale Bakare widely known as Mandate, in a post on Twitter said, Only if Nigerians know the level of lawlessness perpetuated by the DSS in the name of order from above, we will understand the danger of having a tyrant who has no iota of respect for human rights or dignity.

The level of arrogance and confidence of the DSS to unlawfully detain innocent Nigerians is disgustingly obvious in their manner of operation and approach.

Anthony Okolie who happened to be my cellmate at the DSS facility even got lucky to have spent only 10 weeks for committing no offence according to a Senior Intelligence Officer.

Till now, no one, including Anthony, knows his offence.

He was only released after being told that Youre now forgiven.

I can also recall a man who spent four years for only receiving a phone call from a suspected Boko Haram terrorist.

His property was sold by his siblings while his wife went ahead to remarry with their two children thinking that he was dead.

The most annoying part is in their hypocrisy, when they try to hide under the law to peddle or legitimise their tyranny and injustice.

The abrogation of your freedom, security and safety is a step away from order from above.

Speaking with SaharaReporters over the bizarre incident, human rights lawyer, Tope Akinyode, said the situation was truly disturbing.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Mumbai, Jan 7 : Facing flak from various right-wing groups and activists for carrying a placard "Free Kashmir" at a protest near the Gateway of India, a Mumbai woman claimed it was "intended for peace in Jammu & Kashmir", and apologised for the misunderstanding it created, here on Tuesday.

The placard was seen in her hand on Monday evening during the protests in Mumbai to condemn the violence on the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus two days ago, triggered a political controversy.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis demanded to know what the protest was exactly about and why slogans of 'Free Kashmir' were raised there.

"How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai? 'Free Kashmir' slogan by Azadi gang at 2 kms from the CMO? Uddhavji (Thackeray) are you going to tolerate this 'Free Kashmir' anti-India campaign right under your nose???" Fadnavis tweeted on Tuesday.

Responding to the BJP charges, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut made it clear that it would not tolerate if anyone talks of freedom of Kashmir from India.

"I read that those who held the 'Free Kashmir' poster clarified that they want to be free of restrictions on Internet services, mobile services and other issues. It doesn't mean that they advocate freedom from India," Raut told mediapersons.

Nationalist Congress Party Minister Jayant Patil retorted to Fadnavis that the 'Free Kashmir' poster was intended for freedom from all restrictions and discrimination.

On her part, the woman was identified as Mehak Mirza Prabhu, a Mumbai-born who works as a 'story-teller', said that though she had no agenda or motive, she was taken aback by the reactions on social media to the 'Free Kashmir' poster she carried on Monday night.

"The picture created by entire social media came as an absolute shock to me. The placard meant 'freedom to express themselves, freedom from the Internet lockdown which many people have been voicing for'. I was voicing my solidarity for basic Constitutional right. No other agenda or motive whatsoever," said Prabhu.

Reiterating that she was a Maharashtrian, born and bred up in Mumbai, she said: "I am (an) artist who believes in basic human compassion. If by being naive in understanding the impact it would have, and in the process create this stir, I apologise." Prabhu urged all to let the 'power of love overcome hate', even as a Mumbai BJP-activist lawyer Vivekanand Gupta shot off a message to the Commissioner of Police demanding her arrest.
Often celebrated as the healthiest state in the country, Colorado is actually one of the unhealthiest when it comes to mental health.

An estimated 400,000 people in Colorado suffer from a mental illness but cannot get the care they need due to a systemic lack of funding, a deep shortage of mental health professionals, and what some say is a lack of will by lawmakers and insurers to improve the system.

This year at The Gazette, a team of reporters will be shining a light on the mental health care crisis in Colorado.

Follow the coverage here.
Major technological breakthroughs in China to look forward to in 2020

China plans to launch a series of major projects related to space and the sea in 2020.

The country will launch the Chang'e-5 probe in 2020 to bring moon samples back to Earth and launch the Mars probe for the first time, aiming to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission. Meanwhile, the Long March-5B will make its debut this year to launch a space station module.

China's manned submersible Jiaolong dives in the Yap Trench in the west Pacific, June 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Shiping)

Chinese manned deep-sea research submersibles, Jiaolong and Qianlong, will be upgraded to better serve scientific deep-sea expeditions. At the same time, a new type of 10,000-meter-level manned deep-sea research submersible will be employed to contribute to deep-sea exploration.

There will also be rapid development in major scientific and technological infrastructure in 2020. Statistics suggest that over 50 scientific and technological infrastructure items have either been approved, are under construction or been put into operation in China, which will greatly support innovative research into basic science and engineering science.

By the end of 2019, China had built 126,000 5G base stations and 5G had been put into commercial use in 52 cities. Experts predicted that China will operate over 400,000 base stations and build a 5G network covering all its prefecture-level cities by the end of 2020.

For consumers, 5G mobile phones priced at about 1,000 yuan will be rolled out this year, down from the first batch launched in 2019, sold for over 10,000 yuan or several thousand, as insiders predicted.

In addition, it is believed that 5G will further integrate with AI, cloud computing, and big data and facilitate the Internet of Things. By 2020, intelligent connected vehicles equipped with self-driving technology will be applied in certain scenarios along with cross-industry cooperation.
Ivanka Trump has revealed that her three-year-old son Theodore almost escaped Air Force One, admitting she 'narrowly avoided a major parenting fail.'

The first daughter, 38, took to Instagram to share photos of little Theodore being stopped by a Secret Service agent at the door of the aircraft after they returned to Washington, D.C. on Sunday following their holiday vacation in Florida.

'Theo busted attempting a stealth exit from AF1 last night while I was distracted prying melted M&Ms out of my daughters hands,' she captioned the snapshots on Monday, the day after their arrival home.

Making a run for it: Ivanka Trump revealed her three-year-old son Theodore tried to escape Air Force One when they returned to Washington, D.C. on Sunday evening

On the go: The 38-year-old took to Instagram to share two snapshots of little Theodore trying to make a 'stealth exit' from the aircraft without his parents

Keeping it real: Ivanka, pictured in December, admitted that she 'narrowly avoided a major parenting fail'

'Thanks to the US Secret Service I narrowly avoided a major parenting fail!' she added. 'Hat tip to the eagle eyed photographers who busted my boy in action!'

The pictures show the Secret Service using his arm to stop Theo from running off Air Force One without his parents.

In the background, Ivanka's oldest son, six-year-old Joseph, can be seen standing behind the Secret Service agent in the first photo and his little brother in the second.

Ivanka was such a fan of the photos she also posted them on her Instagram Story with the same caption.

The White House senior adviser returned to social media later that evening to share a video of herself on her flight from D.C. to Las Vegas, where she will be the keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show on Tuesday.

Double time: Ivanka was such a fan of the photos she also posted them on her Instagram Story

Captured: 'Hat tip to the eagle eyed photographers who busted my boy in action!' she wrote. Theodore appears to be biting the Secret Service agent's arm in one press photo

All smiles: The boy grinned as he leaned towards the stairs while the agent held him back

The first daughter's attendance isn't without controversy, however. The announcement that Ivanka will be speaking at the event was met with backlash, which many critics insisting she's not qualified to lead a discussion on tech issues.

Ivanka is slated to discuss how the Trump administration 'is advocating for employer-led strategies that invest in reskilling workers, create apprenticeships and develop K-12 STEM education programs' during her presentation, 'The Path to Future Work,' according to CES.

The annual tech show is one of the largest of its kind, and an estimated 200,000 people are expected to attend this year's conference.

The CES faced fierce backlash for not choosing female keynotes in 2017 and 2018, but this year people are slamming conference organizers for bringing in President Donald Trump's daughter.

Family fun: Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, celebrated New Year's Eve with their eldest children Arabella, eight, and Joseph, six, at her father's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida

Next up! On Monday, Ivanka shared a video of herself flying from D.C. to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show

Many critics argued that the decision to have Ivanka serve as a keynote is an insult to women who have years of experience in tech.

'There are a lot of women who are doing a lot of work to help women in tech and build products that help women and help children and families. Ivanka Trump is not one of them,' Sara Mauskopf, the CEO of the child-care start-up Winnie, told the Washington Post.

Since it was announced that Ivanka will be a keynote at the show, critics have been taking to Twitter to threaten to boycott the event using the hashtag #boycottCES.

'Fans of women in tech: "What an insult": CES names Ivanka Trump as keynote speaker.... There are so many fantastic women in tech that the world needs to see and hear. Give them the stage, please. #boycottCES,' one woman wrote.

Not having it: CES is facing backlash for choosing Ivanka to be a keynote at the expo on Tuesday, with critics insisting she's not qualified to lead a conversation about tech issues

Hitting back: Since it was announced that Ivanka will be a keynote at the show, critics have been taking to Twitter to threaten to boycott the event using the hashtag #boycottCES

'It is insulting, given the sheer number of brilliant women in consumer electronics, that a woman of VERY limited business experience, NONE in CE, is chosen by the CEA as a keynote speaker, simply because she's the President's daughter #boycottCES #CES2020,' another person commented.

Some tagged Gary Shapiro, the man in charge of the tech expo, as they slammed him for choosing Ivanka to be a keynote.

'Hey @GaryShapiro, nobody wants to hear from a failed businesswoman whose products had nothing to do with consumer electronics, and whose sole claim to fame is that she's the daughter of a serial business failure/racist/bigot/misogynist. Quit sucking up to the @GOP,' one man wrote, adding the hashtag '#boycottCES.'

Despite the controversy, Shapiro told the BBC that he does not regret the decision, noting that Ivanka has done 'great work.'

'There's a lot of focus on jobs of the future, and certainly the keynote that I'll be doing with Ivanka Trump will be focusing on ... how industry is working with government on this very important issue,' he said.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (CSE: REO) - Reservoir Capital Corp. (CSE: REO) ("REO" or the Company) is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kainji Power Holding Limited ("KPHL") has received yet another payment in respect of its interim dividend for 2019 accounting year relating to its investment in Mainstream Energy Solutions Limiteds (MESL), bringing the total for Q4 2019 to US$550,971 instead of US$420,000 announced last week, bringing the total dividend income of REO for 2019 to approximately $1.7 million and bringing the total dividend income of KPHL from MESL since REO made its first investment in KPHL in September 2018 to just over $2 million.



About KPHL

KPHL is a single-purpose entity, 100% owned by REO since October 2019, that now holds two private equity stakes (see details below) giving REO approximately 42.7MW of net operating capacity in 4 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$1.5 million (over $2 million equivalent) 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$550,971 from MESL interim dividend declared in December 2019 (US$420K paid in December and US$130K complement paid in January)

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.

REOs Vision & Mission is to assemble a balanced portfolio of producing and near-production clean energy assets in growing economies.

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.
TUCSON, Ariz.

Jan. 6, 2020

Qassem Soleimani

Iran

Iran's

Iran's

Iran's

Russia

Moscow

Jane M. Orient

/PRNewswire/ -- After Iranian Generalwas killed by a U.S. drone strike,has vowed reprisals. A senior commander ofpowerful Revolutionary Guards Corps claims that up to 35 "vital" US and Israeli targets are withinreach.Physicians for Civil Defense observes that in this age of "asymmetric warfare," civilians here, not just military installations "over there," are at risk.aspirations of being a nuclear power, with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads to America, have apparently not yet been achieved, but other methods of causing mass casualties and disruptions are available," states Jane M. Orient, M.D, president of Physicians for Civil Defense.Scenarios include a mass hostage situation; a "dirty bomb"; and widespread blackouts and disruption of essential services because of cyberwarfare or terrorist attacks on the electric grid.The horrific 2004 school siege in Beslan,, could be reenacted here. Are local and federal authorities prepared?The first radiation dispersal device (RDD or "dirty bomb") was found in apark in 1995. Besides the damage from the conventional explosion, the most devastating effect would be panic from fear of radioactive contamination. U.S. governmental authorities still do not make appropriate radiation-monitoring equipment widely available despite the existence of excellent, affordable technology, Dr. Orient states.The electrical grid is vulnerable as shown when a sophisticated, professionally coordinated attack with military weapons took down the Metcalf electrical substation in Silicon Valley in 2014. Gunmen temporarily knocked out telephone and 911 service, and shot up 17 transformers. Physical control systems used in electric utilities, manufacturing, and oil refineries are being targeted by Iranian hackers."Americans have had another wake-up call about the dangers in our world," Dr. Orient said. "They should at the very least assess their ability to shelter in place for a period of time. They need to learn how to help themselves and their neighbors, and not assume the government will be immediately available to save them."Physicians for Civil Defense distributes information to help to save lives in the event of war or other disaster.Contact:, M.D., (520) 323-3110, janeorientmd@gmail.com

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iranian-general-dead-whats-next-asks-physicians-for-civil-defense-300981597.html



SOURCE Physicians for Civil Defense




(JNS)-Deputy Administrator at the U.S. Agency for International Development Bonnie Glick made headlines last week after Bloomberg reported that she placed a hold on U.S. economic assistance to Lebanon-a story that she denies.

Her agency administers U.S. civilian and development assistance to countries overseas.

"There was no hold on assistance to Lebanon," she told JNS. "We have a large assistance program in Lebanon that is robust and ongoing."

She added, "I am absolutely concerned that there be no spillover of U.S. government assistance to benefit directly or indirectly Hezbollah, which is a terrorist organization," according to the government of the United States.

Earlier this year, Kosovo, the United Kingdom, Argentina and Paraguay designated Hezbollah, an Iran proxy, as a terrorist group.

JNS talked with Glick by phone on Dec. 16. The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Q: As one of the Jewish members of the administration, could you describe your background?

A: I grew up in Chicago on the South Side in Hyde Park and went to a small Jewish day school called Akiba Schechter Jewish Day School through eighth grade. From there, I went to a public high school. When I went to college, I was very involved in Hillel at Cornell University and was also involved in the student struggle for Soviet Jewry. I went to graduate school and joined the U.S. Foreign Service in the State Department and married my husband, who was also a Foreign Service officer. We came back to the United States from Ethiopia and Nicaragua, and started our family and decided that we were interested in the United States so that our kids would be closer to their parents.

When I was in Ethiopia, I was involved in "Operation Solomon," which was the airlift of 14,325 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in 36 hours by the Israeli military.

Q: How does your Jewish background impact your work?

A: When you think about Judaism and 613 mitzvot, I think we pretty much do all 613 here at USAID every day. The focus of our work is helping countries on their journey to self-reliance.

Sometimes, countries need help in the development areas like in education, water, sanitation and hygiene. Sometimes, they need help recovering from a disaster, whether that's a hurricane or an earthquake or in a case, like in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they need to recover from a pandemic like Ebola. Or in the case of a country like Venezuela, they need help recovering from a socialist dictatorship that has ruined the country to the point where there is not a single functioning X-ray in all of Venezuela.

Q: You recently were in Hungary. What did you do there as it pertains to anti-Semitism? What role does USAID have in combatting Jew-hatred?

A: One of the key areas where USAID works is in promoting freedom around the world. The very focus of the United States is freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to gather in groups.

In Hungary, the government sponsored the International Conference on Christian Persecution, which is sort of a misnomer. It's the counter-persecution of Christians. The Hungarian government has taken seriously there are Christian communities around the world that are under really direct threat from either the governments of the countries in which they live or from rogue elements within those countries. The Hungarians asked me to come because we are partners with the Hungarian government's aid arm in northern Iraq called "Hungary Helps." They had been solely focused with helping the community of Christians that was really devastated by ISIS. They've expanded their focus to help the Yazidis, who were even more brutally devastated by ISIS.

Hungary is able to do certain things that we in the United States are not able to do. They specifically go in and build churches, whereas USAID doesn't rebuild religious buildings. But USAID can help with community development around those churches in the case of northern Iraq. Help those communities re-establish themselves and allow people who either fled as refugees or were internally displaced in Iraq to return to their homes and to their communities.

At the conference, I not only talked about the persecution of Christians in northern Iraq or in northern Nigeria, but really to talk about the importance of protecting all religious and ethnic minorities because from our perspective, a country cannot be truly democratic if it does not stand up for the rights of people who are not like the majority. Like Burma, where they've ethnically cleansed the Rohingya, or China, where Uighur Muslims are really tormented by the Chinese with over a million of the Uighur currently in labor camps that we have very little visibility into as the international community. From the information we have from those who've escaped the camps, and from the information we gather from Rohingya Muslims who are living in basically concentration camps in Burma, we learn about terrible treatment of Muslim minorities in those countries. For us, it's not enough to say we're protecting vulnerable Christians, but we're protecting vulnerable religious and ethnic minorities.

I talked, too, about resurgent anti-Semitism at home and abroad. Being in Europe where anti-Semitism has taken an incredibly ugly turn, vicious attacks on Jews as individuals, as well as attacks on Jewish communities, is something the European countries are being inured to. We know what happens when the Europeans are inured to anti-Semitism.

We see it here in the United States as well, most recently, in Jersey City with the brutal murder of Jews in a kosher grocery store. It's important that we attribute to Americans the line that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, though [Holocaust survivor and Nobel Prize laureate] Elie Wiesel said that "the opposite of love is not hate. It's indifference."

What we're seeing in the world in terms of its approach to anti-Semitism is a level of indifference that we haven't seen in a generation.

In the United States, you have people within the administration who are keenly aware of what it is like to live with anti-Semitism. The president signed an executive order on Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that will make it very difficult for universities around the country to adhere to what a lot of students are advocating, which is supporting the BDS movement. Colleges and universities [could] lose federal funding if they sign onto BDS.

Q: U.S. President Donald Trump has been vocal about focusing on "America First" and withdrawing from costly engagements abroad. Has this led to any impact on USAID programing?

A: Our USAID logo tells the entire story, which goes along with the administration's mantra of "America First." The logo is two hands interlocked and it says, "USAID: From the American People." Development assistance is a critical component of our national security strategy. For us to disconnect from the world in terms of offering development assistance to countries along their journey to self-reliance would be to take a step back. What development assistance provides are jobs not only in developing countries, but in the United States.

By engaging with the private sector, we bridge the gap between the private sector and the public sector. We talk about how aid beneficiaries for education and sanitation are customers of American clients who send their technology and development overseas.

Q: What has the impact been on USAID ceasing its operations in the West Bank and Gaza earlier this year?

A: Earlier this year, at the request of the Palestinian Authority, the United States ceased providing any assistance in the West Bank and Gaza under the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act. The programming is not continuing. Where possible, we will work with Congress to reprogram funding that was intended for these programs to high-priority projects elsewhere in the world.
LIMA, Peru (AP)  An intercity bus crashed into eight parked vehicles on a highway in southern Peru on Monday, killing 16 people, including two Germans, and leaving dozens injured, according to local officials.

Investigator Javier Marino identified the two Germans as Stefan Goer, 30, and Simona Zajaczkowsky, 28. The more than 40 injured included two Germans, two Brazilians and a Spaniard.

Officials said the intercity Cruz del Sur line bus plowed into minibuses serving local routes that were parked alongside the highway in the Yauca district.

They said the bus' GPS showed it was moving at 106 kph (66 mph) on a downhill road with a 90 kph (55 mph) speed limit.

Marah Muller, an 18-year-old German, said from the hospital in Nasca that she and her friend Stella Mauren were jolted awake by the tremendous early morning impact.

She said she'd been unable to breathe due to an overly tight seatbelt until a man came with a knife and cut her free.
A woman told police she was pulling into the Circle K on Hixson Pike when her front bumper caught onto the hose at the gas pump breaking the gas nozzle. Police then spoke with a cashier. All parties involved were given follow up information so the pump could be repaired through the proper channels.

* * *

A woman said she parked her vehicle at 1115 King St. at a Republic lot. The vehicle was gone when she returned the next day. She said she remembers locking the car before leaving it and she still had the keys on her person. Police did not observe any broken glass around the immediate area of where the vehicle was parked. The woman was unable to give any suspect information due to her absence from the vehicle for approximately 12 hours.

* * *

A resident of Workman Road said around 4:30 a.m. she went outside to start her car in order to warm it up due to the cold. She said 10 minutes later she saw what appeared to be headlights pass over her living room window. She stepped outside in time to see her 2009 Black Kia Spectra being driven away east towards Rossville Boulevard. The woman said there is a dent in the trunk area of the vehicle and that the keys should be with it. The next day the vehicle was found in the alley behind a house on 12th Ave.

* * *

A manager for the City Cafe on Carter Street said two men ordered meals and left without paying their tabs. He said the two individuals entered a dark-colored sedan that drove off without the headlights on. Officers observed a dark Toyota sedan driving without headlights on and initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Magnolia Street and E. MLK Boulevard. Officers made contact with driver Jeriah Forte. He said he did pick up two individuals from City Cafe and they were in the back seat. Officers made contact with Houston Ondieki and Brandon Teasley. They related that they were at the City Cafe and forgot to pay their tab. Officers transported the two men back to 901 Carter St. The manager said as long as both men paid the bill he did not wish to press charges. However, both were trespassed from this location. The men paid their bill. Officers instructed them to not return to this location or they will be arrested for criminal trespass.

* * *

At 5767 Brainerd Road, the manager said a black female had come into the store and filled a cart with items. The woman then came up to check out but suddenly ran out the door with the cart of items without paying for the merchandise. The manager said the thief left the parking lot in a blue SUV with Tennessee tags, but the tag did not come back on file.

* * *

At a residence on S. Marks Avenue, a woman said sometime between the hours of 1 a.m. and 8 a.m. her 2008 Ford Expedition was stolen out of her front driveway. She has no idea who could have taken the vehicle. Police checked and discovered that there was no broken glass where the vehicle was taken from so it could have been loaded onto a trailer.

* * *

A manager at Burlington on Lifestyle Way said a man swapped out his shoes for a new pair of Nike's. She said the same man has completed this same action in the past, however, he has not yet been identified. The latest loss is approximately $50.

* * *

The director of Super Shine Window Washers on St. Elmo Avenue said he left the business around 6:30 or 7 p.m. and there were several ladders secured to some of the company vehicles with straps. The vehicles were left there overnight and the next morning he discovered that five of the ladders were gone. He said that there is a fence surrounding the entire property that is secured with a locked gate.

* * *

A resident of Elder Mountain Road said that she last saw her rings about two months ago. She keeps then in a box in her bedroom drawer. Since that time, she has had cleaning people in and out of the house and on a Sunday morning she discovered that two of them were gone. She said that one of the cleaning people must have taken them at some point. She estimates around $1,500 for each ring.

* * *

A man said he was at a store at 3604 Brainerd Road around 10 p.m. He said he went inside and, when he returned, his vehicle was gone. He said he left the keys in the vehicle. The missing vehicle is a 2003 White Honda Accord 2-door coupe with dark tinted windows.

* * *

An official of Shelby-Webb Property Management said the firm was working on a house on Fagan Street and found that a central heating and air unit had been stolen from outside the structure. The front door frame of the structure had been damaged. The house is being renovated and was unoccupied.




By Park Si-soo







Police raided POSCO's steel mill in Pohang on Tuesday in an investigation into a corruption scandal allegedly involving company officials.







About ten investigators from Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency searched an office at the steel mill for two hours from 9 a.m. and confiscated computer files and documents.







Neither police nor the company gave details of what the investigation was about, but reports said the probe was into allegedly collusive ties between POSCO officials and suppliers.







Police issued subpoenas to question three POSCO officials.







"We have no idea of what the investigation was for," a POCSO spokesman said.


Killing of Soleimani Was a Matter of Self Defense, Says Pentagon

Killing Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was an act of self-defense, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said.

Asked if he was willing to suspend the campaign against ISIS in order to take out Soleimani, Esper told reporters on Monday that there was an escalation of attacks by Iranian proxy groups, Kataeb Hezbollah being the primary one, attacking our forces.

It peaked; it picked up. Ive talked to you all about it in the October, November timeframe, nearly a dozen attacks over two months, escalating in both size and scale, and the type of weapons used. And then the one on the 27th or 29th, I cant recall the date, is when it killed an American and wounded soldiers, Esper added.

Followed up by firing 31 rockets. Thirty-one rockets werent designed to harass but were designed to kill people and destroy things. And then, of course, we had the siege of the embassy. So this isnt a matter of taking a choice over it. Its a matter of self-defense and our right of self-defense to protect our people. We have thousands of Americans on the ground in Iraq, theyre assisting the Iraqi military and Iraqi government improve its security, improve its stability, improve its capability to defeat ISIS.

Soleimani was the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Quds Force and was responsible for killing a slew of Americans over the years. A U.S. airstrike killed him near Baghdad International Airport on Jan. 2.

Esper also hit back at a report from The New York Times, which cited anonymous sources in claiming military leaders put a strike against Soleimani on the table thinking President Donald Trump wouldnt choose the option.

We didnt put any option on the table that we didnt believe in and that we couldnt execute, he said. And with each option we present the pros and cons, the cost and benefits. Thats what we do all the time. Thats my duty, my obligation. Thats his duty and obligation as well.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks about airstrikes by the U.S. military in Iraq and Syria, at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 29, 2019. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

Iranian people attend a funeral procession and burial for Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran, on Jan. 7, 2020. (Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA/West Asia News Agency via Reuters)

Another reporter asked how military leaders expect Iran to deescalate after one of their top military officers was killed.

How do you expect us not to respond after theyve been killing our people for 20 years? Soleimani alone has the blood of hundreds of Americans. Hes wounded thousands of Americans and coalition partners, Esper replied.

So somehow them turning this around, he is a terrorist, a leader of terrorist organization whos been killing and attacking Americans for 20 some years. And the blood is on his hands. He was planning attacks on American forces. He was there on the ground with the leader of Kataeb Hezbollah, met him on the ground at the airplane, welcomed him so they can further coordinate attacks. This whole narrative thats being turned around is silly.

Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chief of Staffs, added: So youve got a very long history here of a guy. We know his history. Importantly we knew his future. Im not going to go into the details of that, and I know that a lot of people are out thereIve seen words like, oh, the intel was razor thin. Very, very few people saw that intelligence. He and I saw that intelligence.

And I will be happy, when the appropriate time comes in front of the proper committees and anybody else, through history and everyIll stand by the intelligence I saw, thatthat was compelling, it was imminent, and it was very, very clear in scale, scope, he added. Did it exactly say who, what, when, where? No. But he was planning, coordinating, and synchronizing significant combat operations against U.S. military forces in the region and it was imminent.
One of the most prominent critics of President Donald Trump's decision to kill Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani has emerged from one of his friendliest camps: Fox News.

Over the past week, Tucker Carlson has used his namesake show to criticize Trump, his military leaders and high-ranking foreign policy officials for their decision to strike. On Friday, the conservative pundit criticized "chest beaters" for "making the usual warlike noises." On Monday, he questioned why conservatives who were long suspicious of the military and intelligence community were suddenly trusting them on Iran.

Carlson is not the only critic of Trump's decision, but he is one of the loudest voices on the right. And he has done so on a network that has featured some of the president's most loyal defenders such as Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Despite his aversion to the strike on Iran, Carlson is no "resistance" figure. His views generally align with those of Trump, and his commentary dovetails with the president's remarks, particularly on immigration. In May, Carlson said that immigrants had "plundered" the United States, a rhetorical echo of the president's own comments that immigration from Mexico and other Central American countries constituted an "invasion." On Twitter on Monday, Carlson teased a segment that cast San Francisco as an "American Dystopia," after the president used the city's homelessness crisis to attack California Democrats such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Gov. Gavin Newsom.

So when Carlson broke with Trump on the issue of Iran, viewers, critics, and Twitter observers took notice.

"These anti-war segments from Tucker Carlson don't mean he's good now," former Barack Obama spokesman and Pod Save America host Tommy Vietor tweeted. "But it's still fascinating that this is the one of the rare times the Fox News audience will hear criticisms of Trump policies in prime time."

"No one in Washington is in the mood for big-picture questions right now," Carlson said on his show on Friday night. "The obvious ones like, is Iran really the greatest threat we face? And who's actually benefiting from this? And why are we continuing to ignore the decline of our own country in favor of jumping into another quagmire from which there is no obvious exit?"

"It's pretty clear things could start to move in the wrong direction pretty quickly," Carlson said. "We're praying they don't, but they could. How do we know that? Because we've seen it before." He then cited the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan as examples.

Carlson continued to slam Trump on escalating tensions with Iran on Tuesday, this time taking aim at Washington's foreign policy and intelligence leaders after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made several appearances on Sunday news shows during the weekend to defend the drone strike.

"Now, suddenly, we are on the brink of war. In Washington, that is considered an upgrade, indeed a massive improvement," Carlson said. "It's harder to get rich and powerful in Washington during peacetime, so our leaders have a built-in bias for war."

"It seems like about 20 minutes ago, we were denouncing these very people as the Deep State and pledging never to trust them again without verification," Carlson said, referring to a right-wing conspiracy theory that shadowy forces within the government and intelligence community were secretly working to take down Trump.

It's a conspiracy theory whose salient points Carlson seems to agree with - on Monday, he claimed the intelligence community "invented excuses to spy on the Trump campaign" - but he noted the hypocrisy of those who had claimed not to trust those entities and then immediately accepted the government's justification for the Iran strike.

"Just the other day, you remember, our intel agencies were considered politically tainted and suspect," Carlson said. "Certainly on this show they are, were and will be for some time."
MILFORD  The cause of Justin Griffins death while in police custody remained unclear Tuesday, as officials deferred to an ongoing state police investigation instead of releasing the information.

Griffin, 31, died early Sunday.

Janet Ainsworth, an attorney with the Legal Affairs Unit of the Connecticut State Police, said Tuesday that any information the medical examiners office has provided to the department could not be immediately released, as it is part of an active investigation.

An official with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Tuesday that the autopsy for Griffin had been completed. When asked for the cause of his death, she said the specific circumstances of his death are still under investigation by police.

The medical examiners office Monday directed a request for the cause of Griffins death to state and Milford police.

More News Man who died in Milford police custody IDd

Griffin was arrested Saturday after being stopped by Milford police, according to the department.

During the course of the traffic stop, officers discovered Griffin was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Milford Police Department for processing.

According to The Associated Press, Griffin was wanted for allegedly failing to register with the states deadly weapon offender registry.

During the processing procedure, officers observed Griffin to be lethargic and requested medical evaluation, officials said.

Griffin was transported to Milford Hospital via ambulance and observed at the hospital for approximately five hours. Upon discharge, Griffin was transported back to Milford Police Department and placed in a holding cell. During a prisoner check at approximately 5:13 a.m. Sunday, officers discovered Griffin was not breathing.

Officers began CPR and Griffin was transported to Milford Hospital where he was pronounced deceased shortly after 6 a.m.

At the request of the Milford States Attorneys Office, Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad detectives were requested to assume the untimely death investigation.

Arlene Bender, Griffins grandmother, told News8 WTNH that Griffin had fallen from a ledge and hit his head the day before he was arrested. She declined to be interviewed by the Register Monday.

Justin had a long road in his life, Bender said to WTNH. He did the best he could. Were very sad. Justin was a good person. He had a good heart.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Want to be successful and live a long life? Share your dreams and aspirations with your wife.

This is according to Reverend Mike Bitok, founder of the Now International Family Church in Eldoret. The clegyman was speaking during a fish dinner for adults in Nkubu, Meru county, at the invitation of Nominated MCA Gacheri Muthuri and Neema Bridge Builders, a community-based organisation.

Bitok implored men to involve their wives in their plans. He said husbands who ignore their wives in future plans die early, paving the way for their widows to prosper with other men.

If you die and leave your woman, you will be buried outside your house where other men will be jumping over your grave when heading to your bedroom for intimacy with your wife, he said.

Your wife then starts to prosper more than when you were two of you, in a manner that if you resurrect, you would wish to die due to the shock.

Speaking from his own personal experience, Bitok said he was poor but that changed after he married.

The reverend also urged women to praise, cheer, and support their husbands.

I was a street urchin, then a watchman years back before marrying. My wife kept on praising me even when I was hopeless and that has made me what I am. She now lives in a Sh30 million house bought by me, he said.

On the topic of ifidelity, Bitok said men cheat on their wives because they are too nagging.

According to the preacher, every man has a woman he secretly admires or a mistress whom he would promptly marry in case the wife dies.

The reason she has not come home is because you [wife] are alive, he said.

He also indicated that if every married man or woman would be given a chance to start over, only one percent would choose their current spouse.

The father of two also advised spouses to have more sex in a bid to keep lifestyle diseases at bay.

Bitok said he chose to go back to school at the age of 36 to be a role model for young people.

He scored 396 marks in his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam in 2011 and attained an A of 86 points in his KCSE exam.
CNN settled a defamation lawsuit with Covington Catholic student Nicholas Sandmann on Tuesday. A CNN spokesperson confirmed to TheWrap that a settlement was reached but did not comment on details.

A lawyer for Sandmann filed a $275 million defamation suit against CNN in March 2019, saying the networks coverage of the students encounter with Native American tribal elder Nathan Phillips in January of that year constituted a vicious attack against his client.

Video: Attorney for Nicholas Sandmann Reacts to Washington Post Defamation Ruling

In short, the false and defamatory gist of CNNs collective reporting conveyed to its viewers and readers that Nicholas was the face of an unruly hate mob of hundreds of white racist high school students who physically assaulted, harassed, and taunted two different minority groups engaged in peaceful demonstrations, preaching, song, and prayer, according to the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Kentucky.

Also Read: Covington Student Nicholas Sandmann's Defamation Lawsuit Against the Washington Post Partially Reopened

In July 2019, a federal judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit from Sandmann against the Washington Post, but it was partially reopened in October. There are still no trial dates for the suit against the Post or another against NBC News, both of which also focus on coverage of the interaction between Sandmann and Phillips.

Representatives for the Washington Post and NBCUniversal did not immediately respond to TheWraps requests for comment.

Read original story CNN Settles Defamation Lawsuit With Covington Student Nicholas Sandmann At TheWrap
Don Howison, who was the oldest survivor and last living officer of the USS Indianapolis, passed away on Friday aged 98

The oldest survivor and last living officer of the USS Indianapolis that was sunk by a Japanese torpedo in a horror attack 75 years ago has died aged 98.

Don Howison passed away on Friday, according to the official Facebook page of the USS Indianapolis naval ship.

'It brings us great sadness to share that Don Howison, the oldest remaining survivor, and the last living officer of USS Indianapolis, has passed away,' the post said.

'Don was a wonderful man with a great sense of humor and outlook on life. Rest In Peace, sailor. You will not be forgotten.'

There are now just 10 survivors of USS Indianapolis that are still living.

Howison's death comes after he gave a harrowing interview last year describing the horrors of watching his crewmates drown and get eaten alive by sharks after the USS Indianapolis sunk.

The USS Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine in the Pacific Ocean, some 500 miles east of the Philippines, just after midnight on July 30, 1945.

There were 1,200 men on board at the time and about a quarter of them sunk with the ship, which had just completed a mission to deliver parts for the atomic bomb that would help end World War II.

Howison's death comes after he gave a harrowing interview last year describing the horrors of watching his crewmates drown and get eaten alive by sharks after the USS Indianapolis sunk. Pictured above is survivors being rushed to hospital after the attack

The USS Indianapolis (pictured in 1944) was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine in the Pacific Ocean, some 500 miles east of the Philippines, just after midnight on July 30, 1945

There were 1,200 men on board at the time and about a quarter of them sunk with the ship. The rest were left struggling to stay afloat in the water as they battled dehydration and shark attacks for five horrific days. Only 317 men survived

The rest were left struggling to stay afloat in the water as they battled dehydration and shark attacks for five horrific days before they were rescued.

The shark attacks, which are thought to have killed about 150 crewmembers, are still the worst of its kind. The horrors have proven to be inspiration for Hollywood films, including the 1975 movie Jaws.

In Howison's final interview with Fox13 in May last year, he recalled hearing a loud bang that woke him up the night of the torpedo attack.

'I didn't have the slightest idea of what it was,' he said.

'I was standing on the deck and, the next thing I knew, the bow went down and I was floating.'

He said it was hell being stranded in the water with 800 crewmates in the dark and not knowing if anybody was coming to rescue them.

'We were just all alone and the ocean is very lonely when you can't see anything.'

When the sun rose the following morning, the survivors were faced with a new terror: Sharks had started devouring their dead comrades and were now circling them.

Deep sea explorers used a drone to located the wreck of the USS Indianapolis on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean 72 years after it sunk

Incredible footage shows how the warship's guns were still locked and loaded after it was discovered on the seabed

'It was terrifying,' Howison said. 'They'd swim under us. Once in a while, someone would get bit.'

The men remained in the shark-infested waters for almost five days.

The big thing was the attitude of the individual, Howison said. In my case, I told myself I was going to survive, come hell or high water. I might be the last survivor, but I was going to be it.

"After a while, we started having trouble with individuals who were losing their minds. They'd be delusionary and think you were Japanese and they wanted to get you. I had a man pull a knife on me.

"People died, the only thing we could do was take their clothes off of them to give them to somebody who needed them and let them loose. They were bait from then on.'

Hopes of rescue had almost vanished when the pilot of a U.S. bomber on an antisubmarine patrol looked down and saw the oil-soaked heads of men bobbing on the water.

By the next morning, destroyers were on the scene.

No one knows exactly how many deaths were as a result of the sharks attacks but only 317 men survived.
[January 07, 2020] Catapult Systems Employee Recognized as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Catapult, a digital solutions and services firm, is pleased to announce that Microsoft has recognized Catapult Principal Consultant Reza Dorrani as a Microsoft Most Valued Professional (MVP) in the Business Applications category. The MVP award is given by Microsoft to technology and community leaders who share a passion and commitment to helping others achieve the most out of their Microsoft experience. The Microsoft MVP award is an elite designation given to the top Microsoft consultants and fewer than 5,000 are recognized worldwide. With over 12 years of experience working with Microsoft technologies, Dorrani specializes in the Power Platform, focusing on Microsoft Power Apps and Power Automate. He was awarded the Microsoft Flow All Star award in 2019 and is the founder of the Houston Power Apps and Power Automate User Group. Dorrani is an Office 365 evangelist, Power Platform technical leader and a community dual super user. His contributions to the Microsoft ommunity also include blogging, speaking engagements and training workshops.



"Microsoft MVPs play a vital role in the support, advancement and adoption of Microsoft technologies, and Reza's support for the international Power Platform community has been critical," said Terri Burmeister, Catapult President. "We are excited to have Reza become the third Microsoft MVP in the Catapult family. Our entire team congratulates him on this achievement." Dorrani joins Catapult Launch Solution Director Cameron Fuller and Catapult Principal Consultant David Warner as the newest Microsoft MVP at Catapult.

"Thank you so much to the entire Power Platform community for your support. It is an honor to be among such an amazing group of Microsoft experts," said Reza Dorrani. "This journey would not have been possible without Catapult's constant support of my passion." ABOUT CATAPULT

Catapult is a digital solutions and services firm that uses technology to solve complex business challenges. Catapult has consistently been recognized as a leading Microsoft partner for its expertise in digital transformation and cloud-based technologies. Catapult was named the 2019 Microsoft PowerApps Partner of the Year Award winner, a finalist for both the 2019 Microsoft Power BI Partner of the Year Award and the 2019 Microsoft Modern Desktop Partner of the Year Award. Catapult has been recognized for numerous other Microsoft partner awards over the years. Press Contact:

Samantha Seibold

Marketing Specialist

Catapult Systems

512-590-7047 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/catapult-systems-employee-recognized-as-a-microsoft-most-valuable-professional-300982757.html SOURCE Catapult

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Despite lower order's resistance from South Africa, England register a 189 runs victory on the fifth day of the second Test here on Tuesday.

With this win, England leveled the four-match Test series 1-1.

Chasing 438 runs, South Africa lost Keshav Maharaj (2) after the side added just three runs to its overnight score of 126/2.

Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis then joined Malan at the crease, the duo stitched 37 partnership. However, Dom Bess dismissed Du Plessis (19) and broke the partnership.

Malan continued to play shorts and was marching toward a century but the English side came back in the match as Sam Curran dismissed Malan (84).

Rassie van der Dussen and Quinton de Kock anchored the hosts' innings, the duo put on 66 run partnership between them. After dismissal of Van der Dussen, Kock partnered with Vernon Philander. Both players resisted England bowlers.

De Kock scored a half-century and at one time it looked that the match will end in a draw. Joe Denly ended the South African resistance as he removed the well-settled De knock (50).

Ben Stokes removed Philander (8), Dwaine Pretorius (0), and Anrich Nortje (0), handing a 189 runs victory to England.

Earlier, Dom Sibley's unbeaten knock of 133 runs and 72 runs innings by Ben Stokes propelled England to 375 in their second innings.

England scored 269 runs in their first innings while South made was restricted to 223 runs as James Anderson took five wickets in the first innings. Anderson bowled a splendidly well and scalped seven wickets in the match.

Both sides will lock horns with each other in the third Test at Port Elizabeth on January 16.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A day after Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot visited Bengaluru to enquire about the health of an ailing Gandhian leader, a BJP MLA on Monday targeted him over a spate of infants' death in a government hospital in Kota.

The chief minister has "neither got the time nor inclination" to visit the Kota hospital or console the parents of the infants who died one after one in quick succession there, said Pratap Singh Singhvi, the BJP MLA from Chhabra assembly segment.

The remarks came on a day after Geholt visited Bengaluru to enquire about the well being of senior Gandhian leader S N Subbarao at a hospital.

Singhvi, also a former minister, said in a statement that despite such a large number of deaths, the government is not ready to take responsibility despite Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot having spoken publicly for fixing the liability.

He said the deputy chief minister's statement should have opened the eyes of the state government but remarks of Health Minister Raghu Sharma, questioning the functioning of deputy chief minister's Public Works Department, has proved that the government is wasting its complete energy in tussle within its own leaders.

Singhvi said it is meaningless to expect improvement from a government which is not ready to accept its shortcomings.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Andrew Gimsons Commons sketch: In the name of Cabinet government, Wallace speaks for Johnson

Wheres Boris Johnson? It sounds like some dreadful party game, and Jeremy Corbyn wanted to play it.

He insisted the Prime Minister was hiding behind the Defence Secretary. We gazed at Ben Wallace, a chunky figure in a Brigade tie, but surely not chunky enough to hide Johnson.

There were, it is true, plenty of Tory MPs behind Wallace, pretty much filling that side of the House, but many are new, so as yet unknown, and none bore the slightest resemblance to the party leader who did so much to get them elected.

Corbyn ventured a joke: Ive long spoken out against the Iranian governments human rights record.

The Tories erupted in heavy, mocking laughter, old hands showing the new recruits how this is done.

The Leader of the Opposition said the law is that we dont go around assassinating foreign leaders. He wondered whether the British Government thought what the Americans had done was legal.

It sounded as if Corbyn suspected Donald Trump was hiding behind the Defence Secretary too.

This was not what Wallace thought. He said America had acted in self-defence, a right in which Britain very much believes, but it was for the United States to answer about the intelligence on which the killing of General Soleimani had been based.

The Defence Secretary launched a counter-attack on Corbyn, whom he accused of spouting the usual anti-American sentiments and anti-imperialist guff.

There is a lot of anti-imperialist guff around. The late Julian Amery (Con, Brighton Pavilion) used to support the maintenance of an imperial system of control in the middle east, and to think that the Americans had made a bit of a mess of things when they took over from the British and the French, but Wallace decided discretion was the better part of valour, and did not treat us to the pro-imperialist case.

On the question of Johnsons whereabouts, the Defence Secretary assured us the Prime Minister is running the country, something Corbyn will never do.

Wallace added that the Prime Minister actually believes in Cabinet government. That is a doctrine all Prime Ministers believe in to begin with.

Tommy Sheppard (SNP, Edinburgh East) wondered whether there were any other Iranians whose assassination the United Kingdom would find acceptable.

Wallace indicated that he found this question in rather poor taste. Unfortunately, on this occasion a kinetic or lethal strike had been required, but it was not, he implied, the sort of thing he wanted to see every day of the week.

Simon Hoare (Con, North Dorset) wondered whether President Trump was alert to the Pandoras Box he has potentially opened.

Wallace did not offer a direct answer to that question. Soon he was declaring that our hand of friendship is there for the people of Iran. Further conflict is in no ones interests, added to which it is not actually American policy to destroy Iranian heritage sites.

Whether in Tehran, or in the White House, so peaceable an outlook prevails, Wallace did not venture to say.
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Four primary school pupils were killed Tuesday morning when suspected members of the Al Shabaab militant group attempted to strike a school in Saretho, Dadaab, Garissa County
Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido took his place in the parliament speaker's seat on Tuesday after a stand-off with the armed forces who initially prevented him from entering Congress.

While Guaido was barred from entering the building by the National Guard for around half an hour, his rival claimant to the speaker position, Luis Parra, occupied the chair.

By the time Guaido was allowed in, alongside allied deputies, Parra had already left.

Lawmakers sang the national anthem but electricity to the chamber was cut off, leaving deputies to use the torches on their mobile phones to provide light.

Earlier, dozens of National Guard troops wearing helmets and carrying riot shields blocked Guaido from entering the building.

"These are not barracks!" shouted Guaido at troops, who had set up a check-point at the building's entrance before the opposition leader arrived.

Inside, Parra, an opposition legislator accused of corruption, was already installed in the seat Guaido has occupied for the last year.

Parra caused a storm on Sunday when he declared himself parliament speaker after the armed forces had prevented Guaido from entering the building.

A year ago, Guaido used his position as speaker to declare himself acting president in a direct challenge to the authority of socialist leader Nicolas Maduro.

He claimed on Sunday to have been re-elected to his post after holding a legislative session alongside loyal deputies at the offices of an opposition-leaning newspaper.

In the parliament building, Parra sat in the speaker's seat while burly men appeared to stand guard at the steps leading up to his seat.

Parra was kicked out of his opposition party last month after an online site accused him of corruption linked to the over-pricing of food imported for the Maduro regime.

But he remains a deputy and Maduro recognized Parra's election in a television address on Sunday.

The move was denounced by many countries, including the United States and even Maduro's left-wing allies Argentina and Uruguay.

Guaido vowed on Monday to hold Tuesday's parliamentary session and branded Parra "an accomplice to dictatorship." Parra said Guaido would have the right to attend his session, but as just "another deputy." Both men claimed on Sunday they had the support of enough deputies to be elected president of the legislature.

Parra's support mainly comes from deputies loyal to Maduro while the opposition holds 112 of the 167 seats in the assembly.

Guaido said 100 deputies voted for him, Parra claimed the support of 81 lawmakers.

The National Assembly is the only branch of government in opposition hands.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[January 07, 2020] Andersen Global Continues Expansion in Africa with Debut of Tunisian Collaborating Firm

Further expanding its footprint in Africa, Andersen Global announced it has signed a Collaboration Agreement with Tunisia-based tax firm Jelil Bouraoui & Associates. Founded by Managing Partner Jelil Bouraoui in 1981, Jelil Bouraoui & Associates has grown to include more than 40 tax professionals and is a full-service tax firm, providing services to a wide variety of industries including financial institutions, manufacturing, oil and gas, agriculture, hospitality, mining, trade and transportation. "We are firmly committed to ensuring our clients are fully satisfied with the best-in-class solutions that support their operations and know they value our transparency," Jelil said. "I spent part of my career at Arthur Andersen more than 30 years ago, and our vision aligns strongly with Andersen Global. We look forward to strengthenng our presence not only in Africa, but also globally through our collaboration with the organization."



"Collaborating with Jelil Bouraoui & Associates in Tunisia was the most logical addition. We also have the pleasure of welcoming Jelil back to the Andersen family," said Mark Vorsatz, Andersen Global Chairman and Andersen CEO. "Jelil and his team consistently demonstrate their commitment to stewardship and provide clients with a seamless process, which so clearly represents our values. During this time, it is crucial that we align ourselves with synergistic individuals as we continue expanding our global platform." Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 5,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 167 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005006/en/

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The Very Rev. James Parks Morton, who in 25 years as dean of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in Upper Manhattan transformed it from a religious backwater into a vibrant center for the arts, the homeless, circus performers, household pets, endangered animals and interfaith engagement, died on Saturday at his home in Manhattan. He was 89.

His death was confirmed by his daughter Polly Morton Barton. She said he had been treated for Alzheimers disease.

St. John the Divine, the seat of the Episcopal diocese of New York, sits on a 13-acre campus in Morningside Heights. It is said to be the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and one of the biggest church buildings anywhere.

Mr. Morton was appointed dean in 1972 by the new bishop of the diocese, the Rev. Paul Moore Jr. Together they re-envisioned the church as a medieval cathedral for New York City that would engage the city in all its promise and problems.
Solar panels and windmills

Hydrocarbon energy stocks got a limited boost last week, as geopolitical tension erupted in Iraq. However, new investors and veterans looking to swap out hydrocarbon for renewables have a potentially more sustainable source of capital growth in stocks such as Northland Power, Algonquin Power & Utilities, and Brookfield Renewable Partners (TSX:BEP.UN)(NYSE:BEP).

Renewables are becoming cheaper than oil

Capital efficiency is the bedrock of a sound economy, and renewables could provide a more sound foundation in this regard than fossil fuels. Amid heightening awareness and acceptance of the climate crisis, the green economy is emerging as a global megatrend with potentially vast upside this decade, with wind, solar, and hydro power overtaking fossil fuels.

Last years BNP Paribas report Wells, Wires, and Wheels concluded that the economics of oil for gasoline and diesel vehicles versus wind- and solar-powered EVs are now in relentless and irreversible decline, with far-reaching implications for both policymakers and the oil majors.

The International Energy Agency has forecast a supply glut in the black gold this year, notwithstanding OPECs intentions to counteract sustained lower oil prices through limiting output. Contrast this with the potential for further pipeline delays plus the threat of an oil bottleneck in the Persian Gulf as tensions flare, and you have a hydrocarbon environment racked with risk.

Waiting for bottlenecks is not a sustainable investment strategy. Sure, oil spiked 14% last September when 5% of the worlds supply got knocked out. But these events are rare and impact the broader economy. Throw in a weakening global economy lowering demand and American shale oversupply, and a permanently depressed hydrocarbon sector could hit energy investors later on in the year.

There are increasingly numerous reasons why a new energy investor might favour renewables over fossil fuels. Not least of these is the ongoing climate crisis. And even beyond the provisions being made by the energy industry to not only appear green but to affect real change, investors face an alternative energy sector that is experiencing rapid growth, as it becomes ever more cost competitive.

Story continues

Brookfield Renewable Partners stock has gained 66.4% in the past 12 months, outpacing some of the biggest names in the oil industry. With its 4.8% dividend yield, Brookfield Renewable Partners can also hold its own when it comes to passive income.

A massive area of the world incorporating the Americas, Europe, and Asia is covered by Brookfield Renewable Partners. This can be broken down into some impressive capacities:

North America: 9,500 MW

South America: 4,800 MW

Europe: 4000 MW

Asia: 620 MW

The company is committed to growth, scaling up its Asia operations, and pumping $4 billion into its acquisition strategy.

The bottom line

Brookfield Renewable Partners is a strong buy for a multitude of good reasons. As the green energy trend continues to gain momentum, core stocks such as Brookfield Renewable Partners with its world-class asset-management expertise and impressive spread of operations are going to appreciate apace. While the value investor may want to wait for a dip, the growth investor might argue that there wont be one.

More reading

Fool contributor Victoria Hetherington 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
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

Irans last which is fifth step in reducing its commitments in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) doesnt mean withdrawal from the agreement, Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, Trend reports citing ISNA.

The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced the fifth step in reducing Iran's commitments to JCPOA in a statement on Jan. 5.

The Islamic Republic of Iran no longer faces any restrictions on its nuclear program, including enrichment capacity, percentage of enrichment, amount of enriched material, and research and development, said the statement.

Araghchi added that Iran has no limits on uranium enrichment, noting that the amount of uranium enrichment in Iran and the process itself will now depend on the program of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and the countrys needs.

The US withdrawal from the nuclear deal destroyed the existing balance in the agreement, Araghchi said. Presently, the balance has been restored by Irans suspension of its commitments in this agreement.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister added that the nuclear deal can be continued and this depends on the willingness of other parties.

In January 2016, JCPOA was launched between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, UK, France and Germany) in connection with Iran's nuclear program. In May 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the deal and imposed sanctions against Iran in November of the same year.

In order to preserve the agreements reached as part of the JCPOA, the European signatories of the deal stated in January 2019 that a financial mechanism for maintaining trade with Iran called INSTEX was formed.

On May 8, 2019, Iran announced that it had ceased fulfilling its commitments regarding the sale of over 300 kilograms of uranium, as stated in the deal, basing its decision on the other signatories having not fulfilled their obligations. On July 7, Iran announced that it will not be fulfilling its commitments regarding the enrichment of uranium at 3.67 percent and the reconstruction of the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility as stated in the deal.

On Sept. 5, Iran announced that it will enrich uranium using next-generation centrifuges and will not mix it with the enriched uranium residues as part of the third step of reducing commitments in JCPOA.

On Nov. 5, 2019, Iran announced that it took the fourth step in connection with reducing its commitments to the nuclear agreement. So, uranium gas is being pumped to the centrifuges at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Tuesday staged a protest outside the Garware College in Maharashtra's Pune against the "attack" on their members in the JNU by "Left outfits".

In a separate incident, members of the student wing of the ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) defaced the board of the ABVP outside its office in Sadashiv Peth area in the city.

"The attack on common students and ABVP workers in the Jawaharlal Nehru University was a handiwork of Left outfits. They carried out coordinated attacks in a pre-planned way and later put the blame on us," alleged Dayanand Shinde, an ABVP activist.

He demanded stringent punishment for those who had attacked students associated with the ABVP in JNU.

"We are planning to stage similar protests outside colleges in Pune," he said.

Meanwhile, members of the NCP's student wing barged in the building housing the ABVP office in Sadashiv Peth around noon, and blackened its board to express solidarity with the students who were injured in violence on JNU campus on Sunday.

"Members of the NCP's student wing barged in the building housing the ABVP office and blackened the board of the outfit to protest the attack on JNU students," said Vishal More who claimed to be a member of the NCP's student wing.

ABVP functionary Anil Thombre said they will file a complaint with the police over the incident.

On Sunday night, masked men armed with sticks and rods ran riot on the JNU campus and attacked students and teachers. Nearly 34 people were injured in the violence.

The incident evoked angry protests, mainly from the student community, across the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Delhi Court Monday issued death warrants against four death row convicts in the sensational 2012 Delhi gangrape and murder case and has set 22 January as the date to carry out the sentence

The four death row convicts in the brutal 2012 Delhi gangrape and murder case will be hanged at 7 am on 22 January, a Delhi court has ruled on Monday. Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the order today. According to ANI, the Delhi court said that the convicts can use their legal remedies (curative petition and a mercy plea to the President of India) within 14 days.

During the hearing, the prosecution said there was no application pending before any court or the President right now by any of the convicts and the review petition of all the convicts was dismissed by the Supreme Court.

While urging the court to issue the death warrants, the prosecution said, "In between issuance and execution of death warrants of the convicts want to file curative petitions they can do so." The counsel for two of the convicts  Mukesh and Vinay  said they were in process of filing a curative petition in the apex court.

Reacting to the death sentence handed out to the perpetrators, mother of the 23-year-old paramedic student Asha Devi said, "My daughter has got justice. Execution of the four convicts will empower the women of the country. This decision will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system."

Reacting to the order, Manisha Gulati chairperson of Punjab Women Commission said, "It is a very good decision and I respect it. Now the soul of #Nirbhaya will rest in peace. Today every daughter in the country has got justice."

After the order was out, one of the convict's lawyer AP Singh told ANI that he will file a curative petition in the Supreme Court.

In December 2018, parents of the 23-year-old had moved the Patiala House Court to expedite the procedure of executing the death penalty. Earlier this week, the court had reserved order on issuing of death warrants against the four death row convicts.

The Supreme Court on 18 December had dismissed the plea of Akshay seeking review of its decision, saying review petition is not "re-hearing of appeal over and over again" and it had already considered the mitigating and aggravating circumstances while upholding the death penalty.

Order after seven years

In December 2012, a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern was brutally raped and attacked in a moving bus in South Delhi by six people. The woman had boarded the nearly vacant bus in Munirka in South Delhi along with her male friend on her way back home on December 16 that year. After raping and brutalising the woman and beating her friend, the assailants had thrown them out of the bus.

After receiving initial treatment in New Delhi for a few days, she was shifted to the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, where she succumbed to injuries on December 29, 2012.

Six people were arrested in the case, including a minor. During the trial, the driver of the bus was found dead in his cell. The Juvenile Justice Board finds the minor guilty for gangrape and murder and awards three years term at a probation home.

In September 2013, a fast track trial court awarded death sentence to the four adults accused in the case (the fifth accused committed suicide) and referred the case to the Delhi High Court for confirmation of death sentence. In March 2014, the Delhi High Court upheld the death sentences awarded to the four convicts. The juvenile was released from prison in 2015.

Last month, a Delhi court had directed Tihar jail authorities to seek a response from the four death row convicts in the case whether they are filing mercy pleas against their executions with the President of India.

The death warrants will be executed at 7 am on 22 January.

With inputs from agencies
In the largest genetic study on anxiety to date, VA researchers found new evidence on the underlying biological causes of the disorder. The study used VA Million Veteran Program (MVP) data to identify regions on the human genome related to anxiety risk. The findings could lead to new understanding and treatment of the condition, which affects 1 in 10 Americans.

According to Dr. Dan Levey of the VA Connecticut Healthcare Center and Yale University, one of the lead authors on the study, the findings are "an important step forward" in the understanding of anxiety disorders and how genes contribute to mental conditions.

The results appear Jan. 7, 2020, in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Anxiety refers to anticipation of perceived future threats. In anxiety disorders, these concerns are out of proportion to the actual anticipated event, leading to distress and disability. Anxiety disorders often occur alongside other mental health disorders like depression.

Only a third of those with anxiety disorders receive treatment. Some forms of psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, have proved effective, as have medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. In other fields of medicine, genetic studies have led to precision medicine approaches--tailoring drug treatment to patients' individual genetic and biochemical profiles--for a number of diseases. The researchers hope more genetic insight will lead to similar approaches for anxiety.

The researchers compared the genomes of nearly 200,000 MVP participants. They identified five locations on the human genome related to anxiety in Americans of European descent, and one in African Americans. Gene variants at these genome locations could increase anxiety risk, say the scientists.

The findings for the African American participants are especially important, says Levey. "Minorities are underrepresented in genetic studies, and the diversity of the Million Veteran Program was essential for this part of the project. The genetic variant we identified occurs only in individuals of African ancestry, and would have been completely missed in less diverse cohorts."

The study produced the first genome-wide significant findings on anxiety in African ancestry, notes Levey. About 18% of MVP participants are African American.

The anxiety-related genome locations also show overlap with other psychiatric conditions. One of the identified locations has previously been linked with risk for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The study also shows genetic overlap between anxiety symptoms and depression, PTSD (which is related to anxiety), and neuroticism--a personality trait that has been shown to increase risk for anxiety and related disorders. The results support the idea that overlap with these other traits is at least partially due to a significant genetic commonality, according to the researchers.

MVP is a national, voluntary research program funded by VA's Office of Research and Development. It is one of the world's largest databases of health and genomic information. MVP partners with veterans receiving care in VA to study how genes affect health. As of November 2019, MVP had enrolled more than 800,000 veterans.

"MVP has enormous potential for increasing our knowledge about the genetics underlying a huge range of traits, including psychiatric traits. It is one of the best samples in the world for this purpose," said Dr. Joel Gelernter, also of the VA Connecticut Healthcare Center and Yale University. Gelernter is one of the senior authors of the work, together with Dr. Murray Stein of the VA San Diego Healthcare System and University of California San Diego. For more information on MVP, visit http://www.research.va.gov/MVP.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has issued a stark warning to the United States in the wake of the airstrike that killed Maj Gen Qassem Soleimani.

'The United States took an act of war against Iran; it will have to be prepared for the consequences,' Zarif said in an interview with ABC News in Tehran on Tuesday.

'Then it will have to decide whether it wants to get itself into a quagmire or whether it wants to stop.'

Asked by Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz if he is concerned that a strong response from Iran will end in an all-out war, Zarif replied: 'That depends on the US.'

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Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif issued a stark warning to the United States in the wake of the airstrike that killed Maj Gen Qassem Soleimani. 'The United States took an act of war against Iran; it will have to be prepared for the consequences,' Zarif said Tuesday

The official said his country is 'very patient' and will take action 'after necessary deliberation, at a time of our choosing'. He said Iran will claim responsibility for any counteraction.

'The United States committed three great mistakes, and they will pay for all three mistakes,' Zarif said.

'The first mistake was they violated the Iraqi sovereignty and territorial integrity, and because of that they received a response from the Iraqis - they cancelled their agreement, which the United States had already violated by not informing the Iraqis.'

The response he was apparently referring to was the Iraqi Parliament's recent vote to expel foreign forces from the country.

'Second, they had the emotions of a large number of people from India to Russia, not to mention Iran, Iraq,' he said.

'The popular reaction to that I think will be the end of US presence in this region, and that would be a very high price to pay for the adventurism of a couple people.

'Third, they killed and claimed responsibility for murdering in a "terrorist" operation one of our highest ranking generals in a foreign territory.

'The government of Iran is responsible for protecting the lives of its citizens and its officials, and so it's obvious that we will respond.'

On Sunday, Iran announced it would no longer follow the 2015 Obama-era agreement that muzzled its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump withdrew from the agreement in May 2018.

Of the decision to abandon the pledge, Zarif said his country is 'entitled to take certain remedial measures and we did that'.

'As soon as Europe recognizes its own interest and decides to stand up for its own interest, we can reverse all of the measures we have taken,' he added.

'The deal is in a very difficult situation, but the deal can be maintained and must be maintained.'

Soleimani, Iran's top military commander, was assassinated by an American drone strike on a road leading from Baghdad airport on Friday, an order given by US President Donald Trump while he was holidaying in Florida

Zarif also repeated his previous criticisms of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, calling him 'a personification of [the] mixture of arrogance and ignorance'.

'The US has already started paying for its crimes in Iraq, in the region and in Iran,' he said.

'I think before making more mistakes, before compounding the mistakes that they already have, the current US regime has to acknowledge that they have adopted the wrong policy, that their policy was based on basically ignorance.

Zarif also repeated his previous criticisms of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (pictured), calling him 'a personification of [the] mixture of arrogance and ignorance'

'Arrogance and ignorance when combined, it's [a] disaster, and this is what's happening in the United States.'

Zarif's ABC News appearance came after the Trump administration denied a visa to allow him to attend a UN Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday.

The foreign minister responded to news that he had been barred from the meeting in a speech on regional developments that was broadcast on state television on Tuesday.

'They fear that someone comes to the US and reveals realities,' Zarif said of US officials.

'The world is not limited to New York and you can talk to the American people from Tehran and we will do that.'

The Iranian Mission to the UN said they 'have not received any official communication' on the status of Zarif's visa despite him having requested it weeks ago.

Zarif was looking to use the meeting to condemn last week's attack on Soleimani in front of the international community.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper contradicted President Donald Trump on Tuesday, saying the US military will not target Iranian cultural sites by vowing to 'follow the laws of armed conflict'

Soleimani, Iran's top military commander, was assassinated by an American drone strike on a road leading from Baghdad airport on Friday, an order given by US President Donald Trump while he was holidaying in Florida.

Iran's UN envoy Majid Takht Ravanchi called on the Security Council to condemn the attack on Soleimani, coining it 'an obvious example of state terrorism and, as a criminal act'. She added that it was a 'gross violation of international law'.

After the diplomatic chaos caused by Soleimani's death, Trump has twice pledged on Twitter that he would raze a pre-picked selection of Iranian cultural sites should the Islamic Republic respond aggressively to their warlord's death.

The destruction of cultural heritage sites is illegal under international law.

Specifically, the 1954 Hague Convention says nations must 'take all possible steps' to protect cultural property and shall refrain 'from any act of hostility, directed against such property.' It also says nations must not use cultural sites for any threatening purposes that would make such locations a military target.

The Pentagon has long had a list of potential targets both inside Iran as well as those associated with Iran throughout the Middle East. Those targets and war plans are routinely updated, including during the recent uptick in hostilities.

On Tuesday, Pentagon chief Mark Esper contradicted Trump, insisting that America would 'follow the rules of armed conflict', should war break out between the countries.

Esper's public comments reflected the private concerns of other defense and military officials, who cited legal prohibitions on attacks on civilian, cultural and religious sites, except under certain, threatening circumstances.

Trump first raised the prospect of targeting cultural sites in a tweet on Saturday and reiterated that view to reporters the following day.

'We have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD,' he tweeted.

His Twitter message caught administration officials off-guard and prompted an immediate outcry from legal scholars, national security experts and Democratic lawmakers. But the president stood by his threat the following day.

'They're allowed to kill our people. They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people,' he told reporters traveling with him on Air Force One. 'And we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way.'
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They are images that have broken hearts across the globe.

A series of gut-wrenching pictures reveal the enormity of Australia's bushfire disaster - from the devastation wrought on homes and property to its horrific impact on defenceless wildlife.

They also capture the strength and resilience of the Australian people in the face of catastrophic adversity - brave firefighters banding together to protect their beloved communities, and small acts of kindness amid the mayhem.

So far this bushfire season, 25 people have died with more still missing.

Around 500 million animals have perished and six million hectares of land destroyed.

Hundreds of families across NSW and Victoria have been forced to evacuate, not knowing if they will ever return to their homes.

And the crisis is not over yet, with experts predicting the fires will continue to rage for several months.

A passenger aircraft is seen across the glowing sun in Sydney on Saturday, as thick smoke haze continues to hang over the city and cast it in an eerie orange glow

A koala called Paul shares a heart-warming moment with Cheyne Flanagan at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital on November 29, after thousands perished in the bushfires

This little koala, called Paul, captured hearts around the world after being taken to Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in November. Volunteers are still searching for more injured koalas

A massive smoke rises from wildfires burning in East Gippsland, Victoria, on January 2. Thousands of tourists fled Australia's wildfire-ravaged eastern coast ahead of as the military started to evacuate those trapped on the shore

A long exposure picture shows a car commuting on a road as the sky turns red from smoke of the Snowy Valley bushfire on the outskirts of the NSW town of Cooma on Saturday

The carcass of a kangaroo lies next to a fence on Kangaroo Island on Monday, after the area was ravaged by bushfires. Troops were deployed to the island after fires destroyed huge swathes of land

The Australian flag flutters proudly in the wind before a backdrop of hellish red skies in the East Gippsland town of Bruthen, Victoria, on Saturday.

Exhausted firefighters grab what sleep they can at Mt Wilson RFS station late on December 15, after spending weeks battling the terrifying fires

A kangaroo rushes past a burning house in the NSW town of Lake Conjola on New Year's Eve. This fire season has been one of the worst in Australia's history

A member of the Country Fire Authority works on controlled back burns along Putty Road in the Central Coast area of Colo Heights, attempting to stop bushfire spread in November

A teenage boy gives water to a half burnt kangaroo in NSW's south coast last week, after out-of-control bushfires devastated homes and wildlife

Children are seen playing at the showgrounds in the southern NSW town of Bega where they are camping after being evacuated from nearby sites affected by bushfires on New Year's Eve

A helicopter is seen fighting a bushfire near Bairnsdale in Victoria's East Gippsland region on New Year's Eve, after thousands of locals and holidaymakers alike were forced to flee

Toni Doherty is seen using the shirt off her own back to save a koala from the Long Flat bushfire near Port Macquarie in November. But the koala, called Lewis, was later put down after suffering extensive burns

Residents defend a property from a bushfire at Hillsville near Taree, 350km north of Sydney on November 12. A state of emergency had been declared across the state, with warnings of 'catastrophic' fire danger

Jesse Collins, who organises the bushfire donations in fire-ravaged Cobargo, breaks down while speaking about how hard getting water has been, on Sunday

A horse tries to flee bushfires near the NSW town of Nowra on New Year's Eve. Around 500 million animals are believed to have died in the fires

NSW Rural Fire Service firefighters are seen back burning and fighting fires on Long Gully Road in the northern town of Drake, back in September

Firefighters are seen struggling against the strong winds in an effort to secure houses in the nearby NSW town of Nowra on New Year's Eve, as horrific conditions set in

Steve Shipton (centre) is consoled by fellow farmers Bernie Smith (left) and Peter Mercieca in Coolagolite, NSW, on New Year's Day. Bushfire-ravaged communities in NSW greeted the new year under immediate threat

The remains of burnt out buildings are seen along main street in the NSW town of Cobargo on New Year's Eveafter bushfires ravaged the town.

Mike holds his daughter Ella as the skies above turn red in the middle of the day on Saturday in Mallacoota, Victoria. Many parents with young families were unable to evacuate

Families camp out in Mallacoota after being evacuated on New Year's Eve, as they sit under an eerily red sky - which went dark in the middle of the day

Crews monitor fires and begin back burns between the towns of Orbost and Lakes Entrance in East Gippsland on January 2, after New Year's Eve proved a night of hellish conditions for firefighters

In an unprecedented peace time mission, the Australian Defence Force were brought in to support the Rural Fire Service. Here an MRH90 helicopter is seen at Polo Flat, Cooma, on New Year's Eve

A child is helped onto a helicopter as the fire-ravaged community of Mallacoota is evacuated on Sunday, after young families were unable to evacuate by sea

Two locals survey the smoke billowing from a bushfire near the NSW town of Batlow on Sunday. Many homes in the town were reduced to rubble

A home is seen on fire in the NSW town of Batlow on Sunday, which was savaged by the fires over the weekend. Many homes were lost

The small town of Batlow, NSW, was one of the worst hit areas in bushfires over the weekend, with dozens of homes lost to the flames

There was hope in Victoria, when evacuees from Mallacoota were rescued by HMAS Choules and taken to the safe port of Hastings on Saturday

Some of the 1,100 Mallacoota evacuees rescued by HMAS Choules are seen arriving at the port of Hastings, Victoria, on Saturday

There were tearful hugs as families were reunited after being saved from the East Gippsland bushfires by HMAS Choules

But the worst isn't over for Australia's embattled towns, as this Cobargo resident looks on at the buildings destroyed by fires on New Year's Day
Australian Fires Underscore the Need to Act Native

In 2016 I wrote a column about the situation at Standing Rock and the ecological harm coming about through the use of fossil fuels. I cited an Iroquois prophecy about the coming of a time when human beings would disturb the earth by extracting things deep within her. Long ago there were species of plants and animals of great size. The animals are described as lizard like brings and the plants similar to today's tobacco and ferns. These species became extinct and were covered by the earth. There were specific warnings against disturbing them and, if this was done, there would be terrible consequences.

Skaniateriio (Handsome Lake) was a Seneca prophet active from the years 1799-1815. He had visions given to him by spirit beings who taught him the way by which the Iroquois could survive the intrusions and disruptions brought about by the settlers from the east. Along with a strong moral code he also told the people events which would occur far beyond his time. These can be read, in part, in the book "Parker on the Iroquois" as edited by the anthropologist William Fenton and published by Syracuse University Press. It is remarkable reading.

Supplementing Handsome Lake's visions are the oral teachings which enhance what he saw as the fate of this planet should humans expose that which was buried beneath. Using the remains of those plants, and particularly the great lizards, would cause tears in the veil which covers the planet and this would in turn heat the oceans. This energy would then come in the form of powerful and destructive winds.

That warning was interpreted as the Black Serpent, or Snake. It would make its way across continents as it devoured the land and people. The people gathered at Standing Rock took this and it became one of the symbols of those opposed to the imposition of an oil pipeline through sacred Dakota territory. That fossil fuel was to be exported to Asia, a region already facing ecological collapse.

A wildfire in Tasmania, an island state of Australia. Photo: Steven Penton

In Australia, that semi-arid land where the sun shines most of the year, the Black Serpent has come to rest. That nation, despite the potential of alternative energy sources such as solar and wind, refuses to mandate the use of this clean energy. It generates 85% of its electrical needs from its massive coal deposits. Not content to contaminate the air, and further rip apart the earth's ozone, Australia has become the world's largest exporter of dirty coal, shipping over 475,000,000 tons to other Asian nations particularly China which is suffocating from filthy air caused by fossil fuel burning industrial plants.

That is an annual export level which cannot be sustained without further harmful consequences to humans and other life forms. It should come as no surprise that the prolonged drought in Australia is directly related to the burning of fossil fuels but what is alarming for the fate of that nation is the refusal of Prime Minister Scott Morrison to acknowledge this cause and effect relationship and turn the country away from coal. So far the fires have burned over 20,000,000 acres (close to the size of Maine) and caused the death of 23 people and hundreds of millions of animals and trees. The scars of this historic blaze will endure for generations, a bitter reminder of the consequences of an exploitative, anti-nature culture and economy.

For those who ask what is to be done, the traditional leaders of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy along wth the Hopi, Anishnabe and others have not only tried to warn the nations of the world about their actions but provided instruction as to another way of living and thinking based upon the ancestral customs and technologies of the planet's indigenous peoples. It is no mere accident that prior to the arrival of the first European colonists in Australia in 1788 the Native people there had developed and sustained a way of life stable for tens of thousands of years, one in which the needs of human beings were at an absolute balance with the rights of other species.

The challenge for Australia, if it is to survive as a nation, is to put aside generations of brutal racism and research how the original people were able to avoid ecological catastrophes by making use of innovate technologies and philosophies in harmony with the earth.

It begins with a commitment to refrain from any activity which breached the rights of the natural world. It carries on to the enactment of constitutional amendments to acknowledge that earth has legal standing in the courts and assemblies of humans. It grows to embrace the legal concept of the rights of those yet unborn, which mandates the seventh generation into the future has a right to clean air, clean water, fertile lands and liberation from the artificial constraints of economic and social classes or gender identification. It means empowering leaders who are prepared to enact and enforce legislation which gives a voice to the natural world.

What is taking place in Australia was endured by California just last year. It will be repeated in other areas of the US and Canada then across the globe if the earth is further exploited. The serpent now choking off Australia will become commonplace until the people rise up and demand radical changes in governance, spirituality and economics.

Do nothing and burn. Act Native and survive.

Doug George-Kanentiio, Akwesasne Mohawk, is the vice-president of the Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge. He has served as a Trustee for the National Museum of the American Indian, is a former land claims negotiator for the Mohawk Nation and is the author of numerous books and articles about the Mohawk people. He may be reached via e-mail at: Kanentiio@aol.com or by calling 315-415-7288.

Note: Content copyright  Doug George-Kanentiio

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The following items were taken from Barrington Police Department reports and releases. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.

DUI

Thomas J. Cullen, 52, of the 300 block of Tanglewood Avenue, Palatine, was charged Dec. 24 with driving under the influence, using improper lighting and having no insurance at Route 14 and Main Street. Cullen is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 20.

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.

Theft

An identity theft in the 400 block of Washington Street was reported Dec. 23.

Theft of a vehicle in the 1400 block of Cascade Lane was reported Dec. 27.

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.

Burglary

Burglary of a motor vehicle in the 900 block of Lakewood Drive was reported Dec. 24.

A burglary in the 800 block of Warwick Avenue was reported Dec. 17.
Bomb packed on a motorcycle targets a security personnel vehicle near busy market in the southwestern city.

Islamabad, Pakistan  At least two people have been killed and several others wounded after a bomb targeted a security personnel vehicle in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, officials say.

The attack took place at an intersection near the citys busy Liaqat market on Tuesday evening, police said.

Two people have been killed and the number of injured is 14, said Waseem Baig, spokesman for the citys main government hospital.

The explosives were packed on a motorcycle, although it was unclear if the attack involved a suicide attacker or if the bomb was planted to go off via remote control or a timer, said police official Mushtaq Hussain.

Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province, the countrys largest but most sparsely populated province, rich in mineral resources and the route of much of the $60bn China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

CPEC projects focus on transport, infrastructure and electrical power generation, culminating in a trade route that will connect southwestern China with the Arabian Sea through the length of Pakistan.

The route ends in a major commercial seaport in the Balochistan town of Gwadar.

For more than a decade, Pakistani security forces have been battling rebel separatist groups that want independence for the ethnic Baloch areas of the province.

Such groups frequently target Pakistani security forces across the province, although no group immediately claimed responsibility for Tuesdays attack.

In November, at least two security personnel were killed and five others wounded in a similar attack targeting a vehicle, local media reported.

Images from the scene of Tuesdays attack showed a moderately damaged Pakistani paramilitary vehicle, alongside debris strewn across the intersection.

Some shop fronts adjacent to the attack site were moderately damaged.

Additional reporting by Saadullah Akhtar in Quetta
A video has emerged of an attack on a Pakistani Army post at Panjgaur in the first week of December by the Balochistan Republican Army. In the video, a fiery explosive can be seen bearing down on the fortification, hitting its mark.

According to the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) reports, Balochistan has emerged as the region most affected by militancy and insurgency with over 226 fatalities in 2019. Human rights violations in the Balochistan province of Pakistan have drawn concern in the international community, being described by Human Rights Watch (HRW) as having reached epidemic proportions. The violations have taken place during the ongoing low intensity Insurgency in Balochistan between Baloch nationalists, terrorists and the Government of Pakistan over the rule of Balochistan, the largest province by land area Pakistan.
WILTON  When Darius Brubeck marks his father Dave Brubecks centennial with a talk at Wilton Library on Thursday, Jan. 16, he will start right at the beginning  1920.

In deciding to group his talk by presidential terms, Brubeck said in an interview last week, the presidential election of 1920 seemed like a natural time to start.

Its the first year women could vote in a national election in America. In a way thats what stimulated me to adopt this kind of the timeline. It plays out in an interesting way, he said, adding he will go up to Barack Obamas election.

That was the triumph of everything they had believed in, he said of not only of his father but also his mother Iola. They were very actively supporting the civil rights struggle and evolution of society to integration and decency.

Brubecks talk kicks off the 13th season of Wilton Library and the Wilton Historical Societys collaborative Scholarly Series. The theme this year is Jazzed Up  The History of Jazz in America.

An informal reception will follow the talk, which is free, although donations are appreciated. Registration is required by calling 203-762-6334 or visiting www.wiltonlibrary.org and clicking on Events.

Brubecks talk, Dave Brubeck: Twentieth Century American, which takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the librarys Brubeck Room, will coincide with two concerts  Brubecks Play Brubeck  featuring Darius and his brothers Chris and Dan Brubeck on Saturday, Jan. 11. Both are sold out.

While social and cultural events of the day were important, Brubeck stressed his father was not a spokesman for specific organizations or parties.

An artist, he said, does not create in isolation. Its a much more subtle thing that takes place, he said.

While Dave Brubeck did write a piece  Truth is Fallen  in response to the Kent State University shootings of 1970, and his sacred Gates of Justice, released in 2001 in an effort to bring African-American and Jewish communities together, other pieces were based on biblical or inspirational texts that are not easily identifiable with specific events.

But their moral message is about the kind of society we want  nonviolent, tolerant, forgiving, Brubeck said. Thats what he was doing as a composer in parallel as a jazz musician, which means going out and playing concerts.

He said the works were not directly political, but unified communities of jazz followers of different generations.

Dave Brubeck spent his teen years with his family on a ranch in California, isolated from city life and urban developments. But he had a radio, his son said, and he listened to the likes of Fats Waller, Duke Ellington and Art Tatum.

He was very influenced by the jazz masters of the early 30s and 40s, Brubeck said, long before he had any notion he might do the same thing for a living.

After a stint in the Army during World War II, when he led a racially integrated jazz band, Dave Brubeck eventually embarked on a career in jazz in 1947. By 1954 his portrait appeared on the cover of Time magazine.

Cold War era

The Cold War coincides with and is an important factor in a great age of development in jazz, Darius Brubeck said. This was a very important period for the Dave Brubeck Quartet, when he really became a global figure as opposed to a national figure.

In 1958 the U.S. State Department sent the quartet on a goodwill tour, the first time a national jazz group had been sent behind the Iron Curtain. Darius accompanied his father, just 10 at the time.

One of the compensations of getting older is big anniversaries come around, he said, noting 2018 when his own group, the Darius Brubeck Quartet toured Poland was the 60th anniversary of that tour. That year was also the 100th anniversary of Polish independence following the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I.

In 1958 Poland was still very much a destroyed country, Brubeck said of the aftermath of World War II, but by 2018 it had been marvelously rebuilt.

He learned that his father, the 1958 tour and his fathers music were still very much in the minds of Polish jazz fans. As part of the 2018 tour Darius visited the European Solidarity Centre in Szczecin, very near to Gdansk, which commemorates the Solidarity movement.

Its built underground on a square where Polish demonstrators were shot down by Soviet and Polish police in 1970, Brubeck said. It reminds you that the freedom movement was underground.

The first thing you see is a Dave Brubeck concert program in Polish and a short wave radio by which people could listen to American jazz transmitted by the Voice of America.

The jazz tour really resonated, he continued. When we played there were often people who had seen the 1958 tour and were bringing grandchildren. It was kind of a lap of honor for people who helped make that transition who were not literally freedom fighters but identified with the freedom struggle, who felt very strongly that jazz was a unifying force bringing together artists, journalists students  people who envision a new nation.

It was hugely emotional, he said and the quartet recorded their Live in Poland album in Poznan on the last night of the tour.

Asked about future sessions of the Scholarly Series, which will focus on jazz great Louis Armstrong, civil rights, the Harlem renaissance and women in jazz, Brubeck said theres a through line. It all has to do with an advancement of values that most musicians and audiences feel are inherent in jazz.

Brubeck and his wife Cathy, who is also his manager, have lived in England the past 12 years, following 23 years in South Africa. They are in the States for several events commemorating the Dave Brubeck centennial.

He, his brothers and sister are attending the Jazz Education Networks Annual Conference in New Orleans this week where they will perform, have an exhibition space and host a reception. Darius will be a panelist in a program, Dave Brubeck the REAL Ambassador, one of many at the conference dedicated to the jazz legends work.

The Brubeck family is also launching the Brubeck Living Legacy, a charitable trust that will further the values important to Dave and Iola Brubeck artistically and socially.
(JNS)Eight Republican members of Congress on Thursday called on U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to ensure that taxpayer funds do not go toward Middle East Studies centers at colleges and universities that support boycotting Israel.

In a letter to DeVos, the congressional members express alarm over Middle East Studies National Resource Centers allegedly misusing funds under Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support the anti-Israel BDS movement, consisting of, but not limited to, prohibiting conferences and other events involving Israelis or Israeli institutions; lectures by Israeli state officials or Israeli academics; and study-abroad programs in Israel, including writing recommendations for students looking to partake in them.

The letter acknowledges the U.S. Department of Education deeming that the Duke-University of North Carolina Consortium for Middle East Studies misused federal funding in hosting an anti-Semitic and anti-Israel conference in March.

The members of Congress stated that academic boycotts of Israel defy the statutory purposes of Title VI programs. Directors, faculty and staff of Title VI-funded NRCs should not be permitted to implement an academic boycott of any country under their purview.

It is the Departments responsibility to ensure that taxpayer-funded NRCs are implementing programs in good faith with the statutory purposes and requirements of Title VI, they continued. We encourage the Department to continue robust oversight efforts of NRCs compliance with Title VI.

The letter was signed by Reps. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Chris Stewart (R-Utah), Randy Weber (R-Texas) and Ron Wright (R-Texas).

Grothman recently offered an amendment to address this issue, but it failed in committee along party lines.
[January 07, 2020] HCA Healthcare Completes Purchase of Majority Stake in Galen College of Nursing

HCA Healthcare (NYSE: HCA), one of the nation's leading healthcare providers, today announced that it has acquired the majority ownership of the parent company of Galen College of Nursing, one of the largest educators of nurses in the United States. HCA Healthcare has approximately 94,000 registered nurses holding positions from bedside caregivers to leadership roles in a variety of healthcare settings and at every level throughout the organization. The partnership with Galen combines two leading nursing organizations to increase access to education and provide nursing career development opportunities that will positively impact patient care. Backed by HCA Healthcare's extensive history and on-the-ground experience in nursing practice, the partnership will strive to develop innovative and evidence-based curriculum to prepare nurses for today's workforce and best meet the needs of patients. "Every day, our nurses are on the front lines of caring for our patients, which embodies our mission at HCA Healthcare," said HCA Healthcare's chief executive officer, Sam Hazen. "Galen's commitment to expand access to quality nursing education perfectly aligns with our focus on giving our nurses - at the bedside and in leadership - great programs and career advancement opportunities that will enable them to deliver better care." Galen will remain Galen College of Nursing, led by chief executive officer, Mark Vogt, and will continue its focus on growth strategies for locations and programs. HCA Healthcare and Galen will work together to provide access to nursing programs across five campus locations and online programs for colleagues as well as the larger community, which will help in addressing the nation's nursing workforce needs. "This Academic Practice Partnership will allow two of the top nursing organizations in the country to connect the latest in evidence-based practice to the delivery of nursing education on a significant scale," said Galen's chief executive officer, Mark Vogt. "The union is an incredible opportunity to make a profound impact on nursing education and the quality of nursing care in our nation." "HCA Healthcare is committed to being the premier career destination for nurses," said HCA Healthcare's senior vice president and chief nurse executive, Jane Englebright. "Galen's graduates will help us nurture a pipeline of next-generation nurses and nurse leaders to deliver effective, evidence-based, innovative care to our patients." The purchase of Galen is the latest example of HCA Healthcare's continued focus on supporting its nurses across the country. HCA Healthcare has made it a priority to inves in technologies, capital improvements and infrastructure that support nurses professionally and personally. These initiatives include:



Expanded benefits: $300 million investment in additional benefits available to nurses, including tuition reimbursement for most full- and part-time colleagues, student loan debt assistance, expanded certification offerings and a scholarship program for children of HCA Healthcare colleagues.

$300 million investment in additional benefits available to nurses, including tuition reimbursement for most full- and part-time colleagues, student loan debt assistance, expanded certification offerings and a scholarship program for children of HCA Healthcare colleagues. Centers for Clinical Advancement: seven state-of-the-art training locations across the country that enable nurses and nursing students to hone their craft using high-fidelity, lifelike simulation equipment to replicate real-life situations.

seven state-of-the-art training locations across the country that enable nurses and nursing students to hone their craft using high-fidelity, lifelike simulation equipment to replicate real-life situations. HCA Inspire: a unique mobile app that unlocks possibilities across HCA Healthcare by empowering nurses to chart their professional growth and career paths in clinical or leadership disciplines and connect with mentors who can inspire and challenge them.

a unique mobile app that unlocks possibilities across HCA Healthcare by empowering nurses to chart their professional growth and career paths in clinical or leadership disciplines and connect with mentors who can inspire and challenge them. HCA Healthcare Nurse Care: a nursing-focused support program designed to offer real-time assistance with common workplace issues such as work-life balance, time management, effectively managing stress and self-care.

a nursing-focused support program designed to offer real-time assistance with common workplace issues such as work-life balance, time management, effectively managing stress and self-care. Advanced nursing technologies: from a system that reduces documentation burden to mobile-enabled nurse leader tools enabling personal connection with nurses throughout care facilities, HCA Healthcare continuously listens to nurses and develops custom tools to help drive high colleague engagement and improvement in clinical outcomes. HCA Healthcare's investment in nursing education is not new as the organization currently has two nursing schools, Research College of Nursing and Mercy School of Nursing. Please click here to learn more about nursing at HCA Healthcare.

About HCA Healthcare Nashville-based HCA Healthcare is one of the nation's leading providers of healthcare services, comprising 184 hospitals and approximately 2,000 sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding ERs, urgent care centers, and physician clinics, in 21 states and the United Kingdom. With its founding in 1968, HCA Healthcare created a new model for hospital care in the United States, using combined resources to strengthen hospitals, deliver patient-focused care and improve the practice of medicine. HCA Healthcare has conducted a number of clinical studies, including one that demonstrated that full-term delivery is healthier than early elective delivery of babies and another that identified a clinical protocol that can reduce bloodstream infections in ICU patients by 44 percent. HCA Healthcare is a learning health system that uses its more than 31 million annual patient encounters to advance science, improve patient care and save lives. Please click here to connect with HCA Healthcare on social media. About Galen College of Nursing Founded 30 years ago, Galen College of Nursing is one of the largest nursing educators in the United States. With a focus solely on nursing education, the College offers baccalaureate and associate degree nursing programs and practical/vocational nursing programs to students on its campuses in Louisville and Hazard, Ky., San Antonio, Texas, Tampa Bay, Fla., Cincinnati, Ohio, along with an Online Campus. Galen is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate and masters degrees. The baccalaureate degree in nursing program at Galen College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001; 202-887-6791. The associate degree in nursing program offered at Galen College of Nursing is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, 3343 Peachtree Road, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, 404-975-5000, www.acenursing.org. For more information about Galen College of Nursing, visit galencollege.edu. All references to "Company," "HCA" and "HCA Healthcare" as used throughout this document refer to HCA Healthcare, Inc. and its affiliates. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005581/en/

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US-bound flight has made an emergency landing at Shannon Airport this afternoon after the crew reported they had a psychotic passenger on board.

American Airlines flight AA-71 was travelling from Frankfurt, Germany to Dallas in the US when the flight crew issued a Mayday radio distress call at around 12.30pm.

It is understood the man had been "moving around the aircraft" and "acting strangely" at the time.

A number of passengers became concerned and are understood to have overpowered and subdued the man.

It is believed they jumped into action because others on board were worried about the mans behaviour.

On the ground at Shannon, the airports fire and rescue service was alerted while the local authority fire service, National Ambulance Service and An Garda Siochana were also notified and requested to mobilise resources to the scene.

The aircraft landed safely at 1.33pm and was met on landing by airport and local authority fire crews. There were 285 passengers and crew on board.

The airplane taxied to the terminal where it was met by airport police officers, Gardai and ambulance paramedics.

The passenger was removed from the aircraft and assessed by medical personnel before being transported to University Hospital Limerick for assessment accompanied by Gardai.

An airline spokesperson confirmed: American Airlines flight AA71 from Frankfurt to Dallas/Fort Worth diverted to Shannon due to an unruly passenger. The flight landed safely without incident and was met by security personnel. The aircraft is scheduled to refuel and to continue to Dallas/Fort Worth.

A Garda spokesman said: The passenger was assessed by ambulance paramedics after being removed from the aircraft.

"He was transported to hospital by ambulance for assessment with Gardai accompanying him. The course of the investigation will be determined by the outcome of the medical assessment.
Aston Martin vehicles sit on the production line at the Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd. factory in Gaydon, U.K.

Luxury British carmaker Aston Martin on Tuesday warned that its annual core profit would plummet more than 45% from last year, as weak demand in Europe led to a drop in wholesale volumes.

The 106-year-old firm, famed for being fictional agent James Bond's brand of choice, had in November highlighted tough trading conditions, particularly in the UK and Europe, and weak demand for its Vantage model.

The company said these conditions had continued through its peak delivery period in December and led to a 7% drop in wholesale volumes for the year.

It expects 2019 adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of between 130 million pounds and 140 million pounds, compared with 247.3 million pounds ($325.37 million) a year earlier.

"From a trading perspective, 2019 has been a very disappointing year," Chief Executive Officer Andy Palmer said, as the company now expects adjusted EBITDA margin of 12.5% to 13.5%, down from 22.6% in 2018.

The broader global automotive industry has also endured a torrid year, hit by declining sales in China and its trade war with the United States as well as tougher regulation on diesel vehicles sales.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University has extended the date for the semester registration process till Sunday since the servers have not been restored yet.

In a statement, Registrar Pramod Kumar said a few miscreants had severely damaged the information and communication service (CIS) systems of the university as part of their continuing agitation.

This has caused complete failure of the main power supply of CIS Data Centre, severe damage to Optic fibers cables, and power cables of all racks, he said. The JNU cloud and other information and communication systems are completely shut down. Intranet, wired and wireless, systems are not operational in the campus, Kumar said, adding the registration process for winter semester 2020 had completely stopped since the afternoon of Saturday.

All efforts have been made to repair the system and restore the damaged equipment and data by the administration, he said.

This is to inform all the students that registration process will remain open until January 12 without any late fee for registration, he said.

The university will make every effort to facilitate the registration of every student, the official said, while urging all students to participate in the winter semester registration as soon as the CIS Data Centre is made functional.

The registration process had commenced last Wednesday and ended on Sunday. The students union had called for a registration boycott in protest against the hostel fee hike.
The precise causes of dyslexia remain a mystery, though research out of France two years ago suggests the condition occurs when someone has two dominant eyes, rather than the usual one. This means letters appear mirrored or blurred, making it difficult to read. The Lexilight lamp tackles this problem with LEDs -- it pulses at a customizable rate, enabling the brain to process information from a single "dominant" eye and clearing up mashed-together letters instantly.

The Lexilight is completely adjustable -- knobs on the back of the light change the pulsation, allowing users to find the rhythm that works for them.

Lexilight

Lexilife is a new company out of France, and it's showing off the Lexilight at CES 2020. The lamp itself is available now in Europe and will come to the United States soon, according to Lexilife founder Jean-Baptiste Fontes. It costs 549, and is available for a free 30-day trial.

Lexilife partners with dyslexia support organizations, and it's tested the lamp on more than 300 people with dyslexia. Ninety percent of them found it improved their reading abilities.
Met Eireann has issued weather forecast warnings with commuters set to feel the brunt of at times gale force conditions during the early morning commute on Tuesday.

The forecaster has two wind warnings in place for Tuesday, January 7. Met Eireann's meteorologist Gerry Murphy gave details of what to expect in the forecast after the RTE news.

"The weather is going to be mild and windy as we go through tomorrow Tuesday," he said.

The worst of wind expected in Connacht and parts of Ulster and Leinster but Mr Murphy said it would be windy in all parts as well as being a cloudy, wet but also very mild day with temperatures as high as 13 degrees.

Winds are likely to reach gale force in parts. The forecaster said the winds would eventually slacken on Tuesday night.

The forecaster said it is worth noting that warnings coincide with the 181st anniversary of the so-called Night of the Big wind on January 6 1839 which caused significant loss of life in Ireland. MORE BELOW TWEET.

Wind Warnings issued

Status: Yellow

Location: Parts of Ulster, Connacht and Leinster

Valid: area dependent, 1am Tuesday to 8pm Tuesday



For full info for your area please see https://t.co/ozrQHtoOkt or our app on Android and IOS platforms. pic.twitter.com/vBlbfHep36  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) January 6, 2020

Two weather warnings are in place. A Status Yellow wind warning for Donegal, Galway and Mayo says southerly winds will gradually veer westerly during Tuesday reaching mean speeds of 50 to 65km/h with gusts of 90 to 110km/h, strongest near coasts and about high ground.

It is valid from 1am to 8pm on Tuesday.

Status: Yellow Wind warning is also in place for Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo.

Southerly winds are also expected to reach mean speeds of 50 to 65km/h with gusts of 90 to 100km/h. It is valid from 6am to 8pm on Tuesday.

MORE BELOW TWEET

Here is our 7 day Atlantic Chart, showing the pressure and precipitation forecast in 6 hours intervals.https://t.co/9Giuj4CR5mhttps://t.co/9gKN6SVok4 pic.twitter.com/boFcds0h4c  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) January 6, 2020

Met Eireann forecast issued on January 6 at 9.42pm

TONIGHT

Cloud will quickly thicken from the west and outbreaks of rain and drizzle will spread across the country accompanied by freshening southerly winds. The winds will become strong across west and northwest counties. Temperatures will rise overnight with values ranging 7 to 10 degrees by dawn on Tuesday.

TOMORROW - TUESDAY 7TH JANUARY

Windy on Tuesday with strong southwest winds, reaching gale force along west and northwest coasts. Overall dull with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Mild for the time of year, with afternoon temperatures ranging 11 to 14 degrees.

NATIONAL OUTLOOK

Overview: Changeable with wet and windy weather at times.

Tuesday night: Patchy rain will clear eastwards on Tuesday night and the strong southwest breeze will begin to ease. Skies will clear later on and minimum temperatures will dip to between 2 and 5 degrees.

Wednesday: A cold and mostly dry start on Wednesday with some bright spells developing. There is the threat of a spell of rain moving in across southern counties during the day but this remains uncertain. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees.

Thursday: Current indications suggest an area of low pressure will move close to Ireland on Thursday bringing some rain and the risk of strong winds. A chilly day is forecast with highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees.

Friday: A transient ridge of high pressure looks set to lie over Ireland for Friday bringing mostly dry weather conditions and light or moderate breezes. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees. Southerly breezes will freshen overnight and rain is expected to move in to affect western coastal counties.

Weekend: The weekend is expected to be unsettled with spells of rain and the risk of very strong winds.
Thorsten Stremlau, CTO, Lenovo, showcases the ThinkPad X1 Fold, which is available with the Windows 10 and Windows 10X. (Photo: IANS) 2 Attachments Image Source: IANS News

Thorsten Stremlau, CTO, Lenovo, showcases the ThinkPad X1 Fold, which is available with the Windows 10 and Windows 10X. (Photo: IANS) 2 Attachments Image Source: IANS News

Las Vegas, Jan 7 : As foldable smartphones begin to gain popularity, global PC major Lenovo has gone a step further with unveiling the world's first foldable PC 'ThinkPad X1 Fold' at the 'CES 2020' here, "the first fully functional PC with a folding OLED display that will turn the device into a big-screen phablet.

The X1 Fold, the announcement for which was made in this mega city of casinos, is built from a combination of lightweight alloys and carbon fibre and is covered in a leather folder.

With the durability and reliability expected from the ThinkPad brand, the X1 Fold has a 13.3-inch folding OLED display. It comes equipped with a separate keypad that can be wrapped inside the device.

Overall, it weighs less than one kg. It will run on Microsoft Windows operating system and will be a 5G device. The X1 Fold will be available from mid-2020, starting at US$2,499 but there are no plans for bringing it to India at the time.

There is a fair degree of circumspection on the durability of foldable devices. Lenovo seemed aware of that and was ready with the reply when asked about its foldable PC screen.

Thorsten Stremlau, Chief Technology Officer, Lenovo, said the X1 Fold was tested for durability of three-to-five years in an office environment. He said it would provide the same performance as the ThinkPad does, suggesting that the OLED screen was expected to withstand many folds over that period.

Yasumichi Tsukamoto, Director and Principal Engineer, System Innovation Commercial Notebook Development at Lenovo, said that much time was spent on how to control the X1 Fold's central area.

Tests were made with several materials, including metal, that would ensure toughness.

Finally OLED was picked and carbon fibre was used for OLED supporting structure.

On being asked of the need for a foldable ThinkPad, Stremlau said: "The need for a foldable ThinkPad is size." In landscape mode with the integrated kickstand in the leather folio case, users can review and annotate the latest presentation or use the Bluetooth Mini Fold Keyboard.

When folded closed, the keyboard is stored and wirelessly charged inside the system and secured with magnets.
In this age of social media, we all have this urge to post just about anything that is happening in our lives -- from our breakfast, outfit of the day, errands, workout routine, refreshment drink down to showing off some skin to promote "self-love."

There is nothing wrong with sharing your day-to-day whereabouts on social media, especially for celebrities as their fans crave for such photos so they can somehow take a peek at their idol's lives.

However, in this world drowned on social media, one entry can make or break your image, especially if you are someone that people look up to. Just like what recently happened to reality TV star Kylie Jenner.

Hypocrite, unreal, and so disconnected: this is how internet users now describe the 22-year-old social media queen after posting a photo of her Louis Vuitton mink slippers on her Instagram story.

In the photo, Kylie seems to be still on her pajamas and just took a photo of her "baby pink toes," which features her $1,400 homey flat mule rose pink slippers ... which happens to be made out of real fur.

You might be thinking, what is wrong with posting a photo of her thousand-dollar slipper, right? Well, let us say that the timing is not right. Internet users raged as the Instagram story came after pouring her heart over the devastating situation in Australia.

In her previous entry, Kylie posted a photo of a koala being rescued from the ongoing wildfires in the country. She even sympathized with the poor animal and wrote: "Over half a BILLION animals have been killed in Australia. This breaks my heart."

However, the koala entry was followed up by her cute mink slippers. Fans find it ironic how Kylie sympathized with the death of poor animals yet showed off her slippers knowing that some wild animals also had to die for the production of such luxury item.

Social media users started criticizing the "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" star, saying how hypocrite and disconnected she is with what is happening in the real world.

One Twitter user wrote: "Seeing Kylie Jenner post about the koalas being killed by the fires in Australia followed by a picture of her wearing mink sandals on her Instagram story really made me realize the extent to which the Kardashian family's stupidity reaches."

Another follower even assumed that the billionaire makeup brand owner, together with her family, did not even donate money for disaster relief in Australia.

"Nothing gets me more heated than to see the Kardashians/Jenners talk about climate change/wildfires & not donate even a penny," the Twitter troll wrote all the Kardashian/Jenner sisters.

nothing gets me more heated than to see people think they know what we donated to and to think we have to publicize everything https://t.co/9qW1h2eZXe  Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) January 6, 2020

While Kylie remains silent about the issue, her sister Kim Kardashian could not help but clap back on the said tweet and replied: "Nothing gets me more heated than to see people think they know what we donated to and to think we have to publicize everything."

As of writing, the Australian bushfire already took 25 lives, more than 1,500 homes, and burned down six million acres of land across the county.
Nine members of the satirical magazines staff were killed in 2015 attack by two French brothers.

Paris, France  France has marked five years since the attack on Charlie Hebdo, in which 12 people were killed, including nine of the French satirical magazines staff members.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo was on Tuesday joined by several government ministers and former French President Francois Hollande, who was in office at the time of the attack.

There is no negotiation on freedom, Hollande told French radio station France Culture Tuesday morning. It is hate that must be condemned, not laughter.

Around 50 people attended the commemoration at the magazines old headquarters in the 11th arrondissement, including staff who survived the assault.

Together they sang the Marseillaise  the national anthem  followed by a minute of silence.

It was a very powerful moment of solidarity, 59-year-old Danielle Klein, who was in attendance, told Al Jazeera.

The attack was staged by two French brothers, Said and Cherif Kouachi, who broke into the magazines headquarters the morning of January 7, 2015 during an editorial meeting.

They said the attack was an act of revenge on the magazine for publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

In total they killed nine staff members, including the magazines editorial director Stephane Charbonnier, who had already been under police protection due to earlier threats.

We avenged the Prophet Muhammad. We killed Charlie Hebdo!, they shouted as they ran onto the street. They then killed a police officer, Ahmet Merabet, who tried to stop them, before fleeing the scene.

In the following days, there were two more attacks by an accomplice, Amedy Coulibaly, who was suspected of taking hostages in a kosher supermarket and killing four people.

He was also accused of killing a police officer in the Paris suburb of Montrouge.

Three days after their initial escape, the Kouachi brothers were killed by police at a print factory near the Charles de Gaulle Airport. Coulibaly, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), was killed by police inside the kosher supermarket that he took hostage. The bloodshed left 17 victims and the three fighters dead.

Eric Guerssonier, a 64-year-old who witnessed the Montrouge attack, said: Ill never be able to forget that moment.

He attends the memorial services every year

But its something I think that also united us. We all became Charlie.

In 2015, the events prompted a rally of solidarity in the French capital, which drew more than four million people, many holding signs with the slogan I Am Charlie.

Then, Hollande was joined by 60 world leaders, including German chancellor Angela Merkel, UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

The magazine, which was struggling with a circulation of around 40,000 just before the attack, saw its readership soar to more than 300,000 in the aftermath of events. It September 2015, it moved to a high-security headquarters in southern Paris.

Laurent Riss Sourisseau, Charlie Hebdos top editor who was wounded in the attack, told French radio on Tuesday: Charlie Hebdo is still here. Still standing and just as determined. We never stopped laughing because thats part of life.

The latest issue is dedicated to censorship.

The anniversary comes as prosecutors are preparing for the trials of 14 people suspected of having provided logistical support to the Kouachi brothers and Amedy Coulibaly.

They have been charged with funding terrorism, membership of a terrorist organisation and providing the attackers with weapons. The trial will begin in early May.
Group of ministers approve Air India divestment plan

A Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by union home minister Amit Shah has approved the Expression of Interest (EoI) as well as the share purchase agreement for Air Indias privatisation, a senior government official said.

The EoI and the share-purchase agreement would be issued this month itself, he said. The last GoM meeting took place in September 2019.

Last year, the Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM) approved the re-initiation of the process for the governments 100 per cent stake sale in Air India along with Air India Express and the carriers stake in joint venture AISATS.

The high-powered GoM and senior government officials, at a meeting today, also approved further transfer of Air Indias debt of around Rs60,000 crore to a special purpose vehicle (SPV). Till date Rs29,400 crore has been transferred to the SPV.

The meeting was attended by home minister Amit Shah, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, commerce minister Piyush Goyal and aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri as well as aviation secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola.

Aviation minister Puri had recently said the government was flexible on the timeline for the proposed stake sale and has not set a deadline.

The national carrier loses Rs26 crore every day, but has like a robust service network, with domestic and international destinations, including slots at foreign airports.

But with losses swelling to about Rs69,575.64 crore over the past decade, burdened by a large workforce as well as government obligations that requires it to fly to a number of loss-making routes, Air Indias net loss for fiscal 2018-19 is provisionally estimated at Rs8,556.35 crore.
There is no more dependable career in the United States than producing high-speed rail studies. The studies are endless, since nothing ever gets built. Now, as part of his 2020 State of the State agenda, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has again revived discussion of building high-speed rail in the Empire Corridor from New York City to Buffalo via Albany.

While it is an admirable aim, American states have a dismal record of delivering on high-speed rail projects, and New Yorks uniquely high construction costs make the prospect even more unlikely. This is a state with a long list of urgent transportation infrastructure needs  many of which are needed just to keep existing systems running. Those needs must take priority.

Dreams of high-speed rail in New York state are no doubt inspired by nostalgia for the days, eighty years ago, when the 20th Century Limited sped across the state and really was one of the fastest trains in the world. It ran up to 85 mph in 1938, faster than the 79 mph speed limit west of Albany today, and covered the New York to Buffalo stretch in 7.5 hours.

But a lot has happened since the time when Carole Lombard lunched on oyster stew in the dining car on the way to Los Angeles. The train is now an hour longer and, for many decades, there has been little but false starts on improvements. Back the 1970s, Amtrak began operating Turboliners on New York state routes. Trains powered by gas turbines (as opposed to diesel-electric engines) were fashionable back then as a way to run high-speed trains without electrifying tracks, which is what pretty much every other country with high-speed rail has done. They were theoretically capable of operating at 125 mph. But, as has happened far too often, the fast trains were bought in the hope that the upgrades to the track needed to make such speeds possible would happen. They did not. In the late 1990s, the aging trains were rebuilt, again with the promise that the needed track upgrades would finally happen. Surprise: they did not.

In 2012, the New York state Department of Transportation produced a study that claimed a 160-mph service  comparable to high-speed trains in countries like France and Japan, not to mention Morocco and Uzbekistan  would cost about $37 billion dollars. The approximately 450-mile route  not all of which would be relatively expensive new line  would therefore cost about $82 million per mile. The 210-mile, 186-mph new line between Tours and Bordeaux in France, which opened in 2017, cost about $8.4 billion  about $40 million per mile  and that was considered quite an inflated figure.

By the time yet another study was completed in 2014, examination of anything faster than 125 mph (considered the international bare minimum definition of high-speed rail) was dropped. Even that was expected to cost $14.71 billion. Not much more was heard about it until the governors latest announcement.

This time, Cuomo says he has a way to control costs: he will use the same approach of seeking advice from outside experts on how to deliver the project as he did on the reconstruction of the L train subway tunnel under the East River. Theres no question that there is a lot of knowledge out there among the dozens of organizations that have successfully built and operated high speed trains  in some cases, for many decades. It recalls the proposal from SNCF, the French national railway, to build the California high-speed rail project on a more direct route for $38 billion. Californias plan, with projected costs now having ballooned to close to $100 billion, is now on life support. Since no modern high-speed railway has ever been built in the United States, it makes sense to seek advice internationally. The question is whether that advice is sought from experienced rail operators, or from high-tech entrepreneurs who are as inexperienced with building modern high-speed rail as Amtrak.

Still, any serious proposal for high-speed rail between New York City and Buffalo will be a multi-billion-dollar project. Would it be a meaningful improvement to the mobility of New Yorks residents that would bring significant environmental benefits? Absolutely. Is it going to happen? The odds are only slightly better than Andrew Cuomos odds of winning this years Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

More importantly, is it the most important priority for a state with a crumbling transportation infrastructure? Local transit systems from Buffalo to Albany are starved for the operating funds that would allow them to operate a usable service. The Buffalo Skyway needs to be removed, and the I-81 viaduct in Syracuse is crumbling. New York Citys subway infrastructure is in a parlous state, resulting in frequent service disruption, and some segments are severely overcrowded. It needs both a major overhaul of signalling and other systems, and expansion to relieve overcrowding and improve access to underserved parts of the outer boroughs. The Gateway tunnels, connecting Penn Station to New Jersey, are desperately needed both to add capacity and to provide redundancy in the event of a disruption in the existing North River Tunnels, which are over a century old.

There is a desperate need for high-speed rail on many corridors in the United States, but the Empire Corridor is hardly the top priority, even among routes passing through New York. The most obvious choice would be the Northeast Corridor, which goes from Boston to Washington, D.C. via New York City and is by far the busiest intercity rail corridor in the United States. It operates on, at best, patched-up 1930s infrastructure and is prone to constant delays as a result. Much of it is far worse, like the tunnels Acela uses in Baltimore that were built during the Johnson administration  Andrew Johnson. Compounding the problem is that a route via Albany adds at least 40 miles to the more direct Interstate highway route between New York City and Buffalo via Scranton, Pennsylvania. It is difficult to make such a route time-competitive even with significant investment.

There is no question that better inter-city rail service is needed in New York. Upstate and Western New York cities need better connections between each other and to downstate.

Even if real high-speed rail is, realistically, not going to happen, there are still affordable improvements that could make a meaningful difference. The tracks between New York and Albany are already controlled by Metro North and Amtrak, which means that their trains arent at the mercy of freight railroad dispatchers, and delicate high-speed tracks arent torn up by frequent heavy freight trains. The cost of running trains more frequently and speeding up slow sections is comparatively low. Even just lowering relatively high fares  a move that might pay for itself with existing ridership  would be a good and cheap way of getting people off the Thruway.

West of Albany is trickier, since the freight railroad CSX owns the tracks. Still, there are relatively small interventions that could speed up some of the slowest segments. The traffic on the route pales in comparison to the Lehigh Line in New Jersey, which is a pair of tracks shared both by the main freight route to the New York City area and port and by a segment of NJ Transits busy Raritan Valley Line. That shows that there is plenty of capacity for additional passenger service without major infrastructure construction. If extra capacity is needed in certain areas, the double-track line was once the New York Central Railroads famed four-track Water Level Route, so there is plenty of room in the right-of-way for additional tracks.

Real, 125mph+ high-speed rail between New York City and Buffalo is a highly improbable dream, with so many more urgent needs crying out for attention. Still, there are plenty of opportunities to improve rail service in meaningful and affordable ways, and consulting with experienced rail operators around the world is a good way to figure out how to do them.
ANN ARBOR, MI  Washtenaw County wont be keeping a $250,000 bond paid by the mother of a man who fled before being found guilty of shooting a delivery driver in Ann Arbor.

Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge David Swartz ruled Monday, Jan. 6, there was no permitted reason for the forfeiture of the bond posted by Jacob LaBelles mother, Deborah LaBelle, even though her son fled the state and was a fugitive for little more than a month.

The bond statute is clear and there is no direct evidence that the bonder (Deborah Labelle) interfered with the defendants apprehension, Swartz said.

Once court fees and other additional costs have been paid out of the bond amount, the remainder will be returned to Deborah LaBelle.

A bench warrant for Jacob LaBelle was issued Nov. 12, when he failed to appear before Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Archie Brown after jurors found him guilty on one count each of assault with intent to murder, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm, according to the Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office.

Jurors determined LaBelle, 26, unjustifiably shot delivery driver Michael Ritter during a parking dispute about 9:30 p.m. May 14, 2018, near Walgreens, 317 S. State St. in Ann Arbor. LaBelle had claimed self defense.

The truck was blocking LaBelle from leaving his parking spot and, after an argument and a struggle, he shot Ritter in the torso, said several witnesses who testified at his preliminary examination.

LaBelle was free on bond throughout his case, except for being jailed for 21 days in March 2019 and ordered to enroll in a residential drug treatment program after failing five drug tests while on bond.

Additionally, in July, a separate misdemeanor case was filed against LaBelle, alleging he assaulted utility workers and was throwing objects at vehicles, records show. That case is ongoing.

Deborah LaBelles attorney for the bond forfeiture hearing, Mark Kriger, argued Deborah LaBelle assisted authorities in locating her son and there was no reason to believe Jacob LaBelle was going to flee.

Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Michael Doby requested and was denied an evidence hearing where he intended to call U.S. Marshals to testify on Deborah LaBelles role in her sons apprehension.

The marshals will weigh in differently regarding her help in bringing him in, Doby said.

U.S. Marshals arrested Jacob LaBelle, Dec. 27, after locating him hiding in Chicago, officials said. LaBelle was in Chicago coincidentally at the same time his mother was there speaking at a symposium, Kriger said.

He had more than $9,000 in cash on him when he was arrested, Doby said. It is unclear if he is suspected of committing any additional crimes while he was a fugitive, Doby said.

LaBelle is currently lodged in the Cook County Jail in Chicago awaiting extradition to Washtenaw County. No additional court dates have been scheduled.

Jacob LaBelle, 26, is currently lodged in the Cook County Jail in Chicago.

Assault with intent to murder is punishable by up to life in prison.
She was nominated for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama at the 2020 Golden Globes.

And Jennifer Aniston looked radiant in a black Dior gown as she shared her getting ready process and some behind the scenes snaps on Instagram on Monday.

The Morning Show actress, 50, also posted pictures from the star-studded night including one of her walking hand in hand with co-star and pal Reese Witherspoon.

Team work: Jennifer Aniston, 50, posted a behind the scenes Instagram snap of her team helping her get ready in her Dior dress before the Golden Globes on Monday

Jennifer cut a sophisticated figure in her black couture dress which was fitted at the bodice before flowing into a full, floor-length skirt.

Accentuating her slim figure, the Friends star donned a small belt around her flat midriff.

She kept her accessories for the night to a minimum, only wearing a stunning diamond necklace from Leighton Jewels and two silver rings.

The blonde beauty also shared a beautiful snap of her looking over her shoulder before the awards, surrounded by her team of stylists.

Stylish pals: The Friends actress and her The Morning Show co-star Reese Witherspoon looked elegant as they walked hand in hand during the star-studded night

Jennifer was seen stood in the middle of a room while her team crouched down, with one using a lint roller, to put the finishing touches to her stylish look.

Captioning her post, Jennifer wrote: 'Last night. My little women,' she wrote along with a photoset showing her surrounded by stylists and assistants.

'Supported me all night. (Had enough room for them and then some under that gown!).'

Secret moments: Jennifer cut a sophisticated figure in her black couture dress which was fitted at the bodice before flowing into a full, floor-length skirt

She thanked Dior for creating the 'stunning piece of art' while finishing up the set with the gown's concept drawing.

While in another snap Jennifer was seen from behind walking hand in hand with her pal Reece who was wearing a chic white custom Roland Mouret dress.

The two women looked sensational as they walked down a corridor and Jennifer let her wavy locks flow over her shoulders.

Also during the night Jennifer told fans about how Reese boldly asked Jay-Z and Beyonce for a glass of the champagne they had brought for themselves.

What a night! The beauty also revealed that Reese cheekily asked Beyonce and Jay Z for a glass of their champagne (also pictured is producer Kristin Hahn)

She lavished Reese in complements in a selfie with the Southern Belle and producer Kristin Hahn holding glasses of bubbly.

'Reese!? This is one of the many reasons I love you. We ran out of water at our table so naturally she asked Jay Z and Beyonce for a glass of their champagne.'

Instead of drinking the same sauce as the other celebs, the ultra power couple brought their own supply of Ace of Spades.

The champagne brand is produced by Armand de Brignac, of which Jay-Z bought a $200million stake in 2017.

Bottom's up! Jennifer appeared to be in good spirits as she sipped on the bubbly on Monday

The next part of Jen's Instagram Story showed her sipping the special champagne.

It was a big night for Aniston, who was nominated for Best Actress  Television Series Drama alongside castmate Reese.

Other stars in the category included Jodie Comer and Nicole Kidman but it was British actress Olivia Colman who took home the gong for The Crown.

The Morning Show was also nominated for Best Television Series Drama, but missed out on a win after HBO's Succession took home the prize.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 20:35:42|Editor: xuxin

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MOGADISHU, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the EU and the UN on Tuesday kicked off a specialized training of 300 Somali police officers who will form part of the Federal Darwish Police, a special tactics unit of the police tasked with securing the country.

Augustine Magnus Kailie, AMISOM Police Commissioner, said such training was crucial in transforming the Somali Police Force (SPF) into a capable force that can protect the people of Somalia.

"As we have come to assist, build your capacity, you also should be standing ready to see how best you can tap from the various experiences and support you will receive so that as the Darwish especially, you will stand firm to defend the people of Somalia," said Kailie in a statement issued by the AU mission.

The training is being conducted as part of a joint police program backed by AMISOM, EU and the UN.

The five-year Joint Police Program which supports increased police visibility, presence, capability and accountability and the implementation of the New Policing Model in Somalia at Federal and Federal Member State level.

Abdi Hassan Mohamed, Somali police commissioner, said the government has embarked on a drive to revive the Darwish special police unit by extensive recruitment and refresher training throughout 2020.

"At the end of this training, our police special forces including the Haramcad, Darwish and the Birmad will be fully equipped and their combined capability will constitute a major force that can secure population centers," Mohammed said during the opening ceremony in Mogadishu.

Upon completion of the training, this police unit will be integrated into the Somali Police Force and deployed to all the Federal Member States of Somalia.
Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and its rival National Students' Union of India clashed here on Tuesday during a protest against the JNU violence, leaving over 10 people injured.

The incident took place during the protest organised by NSUI, the students' wing of the Congress, outside the office of the RSS-affiliated ABVP in the city's Paldi area.

The police later rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, an official said.

Both the student bodies alleged that sticks and stones were used to attack each other, and claimed more than five members each from the two sides were injured in the clash.

Gujarat NSUI general secretary Nikhil Savani sustained serious head injuries and was admitted to V S General Hospital here, a member of the Congress students' body said.

In a video clip telecast by some local channels, Savani, a close associate of Congress leader Hardik Patel, was seen being beaten by some people in the presence of policemen.

"The situation has been brought under control. As of now, no FIR has been lodged," a police official said.

Violence broke out here when NSUI members reached outside the ABVP's office to protest against the attack on students and teachers at JNU in Delhi on Sunday.

The NSUI has been alleging that ABVP members were involved in the JNU attack.

"Our protest was peaceful. However, goons from the ABVP suddenly attacked us using sticks, stones and pipes. It was a pre-planned attack in the presence of police. Over five of our members, including Savani, were injured in the attack," another NSUI general secretary Bhavik Solanki said.

However, the ABVP alleged that NSUI members came to its office with an intention to attack the activists.

"The NSUI members came to our office waiving their flags. They then removed the flags and used its wooden sticks to attack our members," ABVP member Naresh Desai said.

"Just like the ABVP members were attacked in JNU, the anti-social elements of NSUI attacked us in a pre-planned manner here," he alleged, adding that more than five of their members were also injured in the incident.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At the end of last year, the case of former Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politician Robert Moritz, an avowed neo-Nazi, highlighted the sharp shift to the right of the ruling class in Germany.

Seventy-five years after the end of the Second World War and the horrors of the Third Reich, open fascists are operating within one of Germanys ruling parties. They are defended by leading media representatives and politicians at the state and federal level. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens, which together with the CDU form the state government in Saxony-Anhalt, are not opponents but part of the shift to the right.

Moritz, who first stood on the CDU list in the Lobnitz an der Linde local elections last spring and won a seat on the local council, had been a member of the CDU youth organisation Junge Union since around August 2018. He had also been on the executive board of the CDU Anhalt-Bitterfeld district association since October of the same year. Moritz is a well-known neo-Nazi who has never made a secret of his fascist convictions and his milieu, even as a member of the CDU. His right-wing extremist activities are well documented.

A YouTube video published more than eight years ago shows Moritz as a steward and participant in a demonstration together with Enrico Marx and Jens Bauer, two close allies of Ralf Wohlleben, a supporter of the neo-Nazi terrorist group National Socialist Underground (NSU).

A Facebook photo from 2015 clearly shows that Moritz has the Black Suna Nazi symbol consisting of three swastikas placed one on top of the otheras a tattoo on his forearm. In a photo taken on December 6 of last year, the local politician, with a Uniter badge on his arm, can be seen holding the Uniter associations banner (cross, sword and laurels) in front of the camera.

The Uniter association, which disguises itself as an aid organisation for members of elite units of the German armed forces, the police and private security services, is suspected of being the linchpin of the extreme right-wing Hannibal network. Its members include reservists, police officers, members of special forces, judges, secret service employees and other German security agencies who are preparing to carry out a fascist coup on Day X, hoarding weapons and planning the targeted murder of political opponents.

The founder of Uniter, Andre S. (pseudonym Hannibal), had personally met several times in the past with the right-wing extremist Bundeswehr officer Franco A., who is now on trial for the preparation of a serious criminal offence that endangers the state. Franco A. is accused of plotting assassination attempts on left-wing politicians, cultural workers and institutions while using a fake refugee identity.

Although Moritz, as a member of the CDU, was apparently also active in this right-wing extremist terror milieu, he was protected and aggressively defended by party colleagues until he resigned on December 20. For example, the CDU secretary general in Saxony-Anhalt, Sven Schulze, claimed that Moritz had credibly distanced himself from the right-wing extremist scene and terminated his membership in Uniter. Holger Stahlknecht, the CDU state chairman, said that Moritz deserved a second chance.

The Greens, who had criticised Moritz on Twitter, were threatened by the CDU with terminating the coalition. Schulze called a tweet from the Green Party (How many swastikas have a place in the CDU?) unacceptable. If there was no immediate apology ... a continuation of the coalition is hardly conceivable.

The Greens, who have been ruling Saxony-Anhalt together with the CDU and SPD since 2016, hastened to make it clear that they had no intention of leaving the government at any time. As Greens, we have not questioned the coalition, state leader Striegel assured the German Press Agency. We have a coalition agreement; we want to work it through.

In other words, the Greens, like the SPD, are prepared to push through the right-wing government programmethe coalition agreement provides for a massive stepping up of the powers of the police and secret services as well as attacks on refugees (consistent deportations)also in cooperation with openly extreme right-wing forces.

Behind the criticism of the CDU by the Greens and SPD is above all the concern that the Moritz case has revealed how far to the right the ruling class stands.

In the case of the coalition in Saxony-Anhalt, this has long been obvious. In June, the deputy chairmen of the CDU state parliamentary group, Ulrich Thomas and Lars-Jorn Zimmer, had published a memorandum calling for an alternative coalition government with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), on the basis of an explicitly right-wing extremist programme. We must again succeed in reconciling the social with the national, it says. The longing for Heimat [homeland] and national identity must be countered by a clear demarcation against the multicultural currents of left-wing parties and groups.

In November, Stahlknecht and the Saxony-Anhalt CDU then wanted to appoint the chairman of the police union, Rainer Wendt, as a state secretary. Wendt is a figurehead of the AfD and a supporter of the former president of the secret service, Hans-Georg Maassen, who wants to ban socialist parties and left-wing ideas in Germany and openly advocates fascist positions.

The CDU, in which many old Nazis found their new political home after the fall of the Third Reich and the banning of the NSDAP, is today once again a reservoir for right-wing extremist forces. Even numerous bourgeois media have commented that Moritz is no isolated case.

As the Tagesspiegel reported, there are many overlaps between Uniter and the CDU in east Germany. For example, founding member Theo Schopfel, a CDU city councillor from the same district association as Moritz, was unanimously elected as second chairman of Uniter in 2012. The CDU local politician Robert Mehliss, a lieutenant colonel in the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces) Reserve, is said to have organised a meeting of the association in Saxony-Anhalt, according to news weekly Der Spiegel.

The right-wing extremist developments in Saxony-Anhalt illustrate what is also happening on a federal level. The grand coalition of CDU and SPD has not only made the extreme right-wing AfD, which has close ties to the neo-Nazi German National Party (NPD), the official leader of the opposition in the Bundestag after the 2017 federal elections, but has also systematically integrated it into parliamentary work. Since then, the establishment parties and media have been increasingly openly courting the extreme right and working closely with it in order to enforce their policy of militarism, stepping up the repressive powers of the state and social cuts against the enormous opposition in the population.

The renewed turn to fascism in bourgeois politics in Germany is particularly evident in the case of the extreme right-wing Humboldt Professor Jorg Baberowski. Although he is notorious internationally for his trivialisation of National Socialism (telling Der Spiegel Hitler was not vicious) and his anti-refugee agitation, and is celebrated by fascist parties and race-hate magazines such as the NPD or the Daily Stormer, the German government stood behind the professor in an official statement last year.

Now, the extreme right-wing mastermind is to play a central role in the official commemoration of the end of the Second World War. On May 4, Baberowski will speak at a central event of the Saxony Memorials Foundation in Torgau, for which the CDU chairman and current Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has also been requested as a speaker.

The fact that the German government is contemplating marking the end of the Second World War together with Baberowski confirms everything the World Socialist Web Site and the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) have declared in recent years. The ruling class must play down the crimes of the Third Reich and ultimately rehabilitate National Socialism in order to militarise Germany again and prepare it for war.
A 30-year-old woman from Ikirun in Osun State has been sentenced to 6 month imprisonment by a magistrate court in Osogbo for stealing a goat.

The police prosecutor, Mr Fagboyinbo Abiodun told the court that the accused person committed the offence on the 5th of January, 2020 at Agunbelawo area, Osogbo.

The prosecutor said the goat which was valued at N45,000 was property of one Fausat Adegboga.

The prosecutor stated that the offence committed by the accused person was in contrary to and punishable Under Sections 516 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, volume II, Laws of Osun State, Nigeria, 2002.

The accused person pleaded guilty. The defense counsel, Abimbola Ige pleaded with the court to mitigate the punishment of the accused person.

In his ruling, Magistrate Opeyemi Badmus sentence the accused person to 6 month imprisonment with an option of N15,000 fine
BALTIMORE, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Senior Helpers , the nation's premier provider of in-home senior care services, today announced its corporate partnership with the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA), a leading nonprofit organization representing 2,000 professionals in geriatric care management who offer guidance and ongoing support for families and seniors in areas such as healthcare, housing and legal assistance. Senior Helpers is ALCA's only national in-home care partner. The two companies will continue to strive toward a shared mission to ensure all seniors receive personalized and compassionate care.

This includes exploration of care delivery informed by Senior Helpers LIFE Profile, a revolutionary data-driven process for evaluating ongoing care requirements and risks associated with social determinants of health that can lead to hospitalization and lower quality of life. Used in combination with Senior Helpers' best in class caregivers, LIFE Profile has demonstrated that care plans that are personalized and prioritized towards risk reduction can significantly improve client care and reduce overall system costs. According to the 2018 Profile of Older Americans, the 85 and over population is projected to more than double from 6.5 million in 2017 to 14.4 million in 2040, a 123 percent increase. Additionally, more than one in every seven, or nearly 16 percent of the U.S. population is an older Americansomeone aged 65 and up. As the population grows older, the need for aging life care managers grows. Moreover, today, approximately 21 percent of seniors who are released from a skilled nursing facility are admitted to a hospital emergency room within 30 days.

"We are honored to partner with ALCA, the nation's premier organization for aging science and life care management," said Mike Hughes, Vice President of Strategic Development, Senior Helpers. "We look forward to working with the ALCA and its highly respected membership to elevate the quality of senior care nationwide. Together we are taking important steps forward in improving quality of life for the nation's seniors despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges."

Senior Helpers, along with its owners across Florida, will sponsor the ALCA Florida Chapter 2020 Annual Conference taking place at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota from Jan. 9-11. The ALCA Florida Chapter is dedicated to promoting the professional field of care management by training, assisting, regulating, educating, and supporting qualified senior care managers who provide a full range of services to aging individuals, their families, and caregivers. For more information on the ALCA Florida Chapter Annual Conference, please visit here.

Senior Helpers operates with a vision to be the leading home care company in each community it serves throughout the nation. Its caregivers are fully trained and certified to offer the highest level of care possible based on the company's Senior Gems Alzheimer's and dementia care program. As the gold standard for excellence in personalized in-home senior care, the program was developed in conjunction with nationally recognized dementia care expert Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC. The company also offers a Parkinson's Care Program, a specialized training program for their caregivers created in conjunction with leading experts from the Parkinson's Foundation's Centers of Excellence network.

For more information about how Senior Helpers is working to personalize senior in-home care, visit seniorhelpers.com. Learn more about Senior Helpers LIFE Profile assessment on the Senior Helpers website here. For more information on ALCA, visit aginglifecare.org.

About Senior Helpers 

Senior Helpers is the nation's premier provider of in-home senior services ranging from specialized care for those with diseases, such as dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, to personal and companion care to help individuals looking for a little assistance with daily activities. Founded in 2002 with a vision to help seniors age with dignity despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges, Senior Helpers has hundreds of franchised and owned businesses that have cared for tens of thousands of seniors.

Senior Helpers has been named by Fortune Magazine as one of the best places to work in the country in the aging services category, is included in Entrepreneur's Top 500 Franchise Ranking, is an approved partner in the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, and active in the Healthcare Leadership Councilan exclusive alliance of leading healthcare companies from all health sectors committed to advancing the American healthcare system. Learn more by visiting http://www.seniorhelpers.com.

Contact: Shelby Hudak

Havas Formula

(619) 234-0345

[email protected]

SOURCE Senior Helpers

Related Links

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The homicide was the second of the day in the city and the sixth of the new year.
HOUSTON, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Floridian Dr. Frank Rubio will join the rest of NASA's first class of astronaut candidates to graduate under the Artemis program, for a graduation ceremony and media opportunity Friday, Jan. 10, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

After completing more than two years of basic training, he will become eligible for spaceflight assignments to the International Space Station (ISS), Artemis missions to the Moon, and future missions to Mars.

The ceremony will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website. The new graduates also will be available for in-person and remote media interviews following the ceremony.

To participate, media must submit requests for credentials and interviews to Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. Those following the briefing on social media may ask questions using #AskNASA.

The class includes 11 NASA candidates, as well as two Canadian Space Agency (CSA) candidates, selected in 2017. The NASA candidates, including Rubio, were chosen from a record-setting pool of more than 18,000 applicants. The CSA candidates have been training alongside their NASA classmates.

Rubio, a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, was born in Los Angeles and now calls Miami home. He earned a bachelor's degree in international relations at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and a doctorate of medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland. Rubio has accumulated more than 1,100 hours as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot, including 600 hours of combat and imminent danger time. He was serving as a surgeon for the 3rd Battalion of the Army's 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Carson, Colorado, before coming to NASA.

All astronaut candidates have completed training in spacewalking, robotics, ISS systems, T-38 jet proficiency, and Russian language. At the ceremony, each candidate will receive an astronaut pin, marking their graduation from basic training and their eligibility to be selected to fly in space.

As astronauts, they'll help develop spacecraft, support the teams currently in space and ultimately, have the opportunity to join the ranks of only about 500 people who have had the honor of going into space. NASA continues its work aboard the space station, which is preparing to mark the 20th consecutive year of humans living onboard in November 2020. The agency also is on the verge of launching Americans from American soil aboard commercial spacecraft and is preparing to send humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis program.

Find additional photos of the astronaut candidates and their training here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/albums/72157698260056092

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


SAN FRANCISCO and NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of its 20th anniversary, branding and design agency Character is launching a new company website today, complete with a fresh URL ( https://www.character.co ), new social handles, and a slew of case studies that showcase the company's international work. With burgeoning offices in New York, NY, and San Francisco, CA, Character's new digital presence better represents the agency's global client roster and will position the company for continued growth around the world.

Character Celebrates 20th Anniversary By Launching New Digital Presence - Reel

"This year is incredibly symbolic in Character's history. Not only is it our 20th anniversary as a company, but it's the second anniversary of having our office open in New Yorkboth accomplishments that we are extremely proud of," said Myra El-Bayoumi, Head of Strategy, Character. "To honor this moment, yes, we've relaunched our websitebut it's what it took to get here that is the real point of pride. We've built an incredible team of distinct minds from around the world, partnered with brands that are truly changing the fabric of our culture, and redefined (many times) our own best practice in strategy and design. Evolving our own brand to reflect this journey has been well worth it."

While Character has become San Francisco's leading branding and design agency, the company has also been building a formidable presence in New York to cater to demand. Led by creative directors Manuel Dilone and Virgilio Santos, Character's New York studio boasts full strategy, design, and writing teams that work with brands such as Netflix, Google, and EA, to name a few.

Commenting on the growth of the New York office, Santos said, "New York has been a particularly important market for us in recent years because of its rich branding history. The success of the San Francisco office really paved the way for us to establish Character here quickly." Added Dilone, "With our new digital presence and 20th anniversary, now is the perfect time to formally introduce the New York office to the world and to carry that momentum through 2020 and beyond."

To learn more about Character, please visit www.character.co or follow Character on Instagram ( @characterdotco ) and LinkedIn . Case studies illustrating Character's extensive branding and design work can also be found on the company's new website.

About Character

Character is a branding and design agency with studios in San Francisco and New York. Its team of strategists, writers, and designers define, create, and activate systems that change behaviors and power tomorrow's brands. Some of Character's fearless brand partners include Google, Instagram, EA, Netflix, Rothy's, and Oculus, among many others.

To learn more about Character, please visit www.character.co or follow Character on Instagram ( @character.co ) and LinkedIn .

Media Contact:

Amelia Vereb Detty

Jack Taylor PR

[email protected]

614-286-7226

SOURCE Character

Related Links

http://www.character.co


ELKO  After serving 12 years as Elko County Commissioner, Demar Dahl is preparing to dedicate more time to the public lands fight.

Im termed out, Dahl said. Some people might think thats a good thing, and some people may not think its good.

Elected to District 1 in 2008 to a four-year term, Dahl was re-elected in 2012 and 2016. He represents Clover Valley, Jackpot, Jarbidge, Montello, Mountain City, Owyhee, Ruby Valley, Wells and West Wendover.

Dahl said as a commissioner, many of his responsibilities have dealt with natural resources. He has served on the National Association of Counties Western Interstate Region board, Central Nevada Regional Water Authority and Humboldt River Basin Water Authority.

As chairman of the Nevada Lands Council, Dahl plans to work with five Western states  Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming  in preparing an original jurisdiction suit for the U.S. Supreme Court.

Our primary effort is to bring about the transfer of public lands from the federal government to the state, Dahl explained. [The suit] can go directly to the Supreme Court, asking Congress to follow through with what they were supposed to do a long time ago and transfer the land to the states.

Dahl said his successor on the county commission could be Wilde Brough of Wells, who is determined to run for his seat.

He is very successful in his business and a good, straight-shooter, Dahl said. I have a lot of respect for him. He will make a great commissioner. Wilde is up to speed on [natural resources], and he will be a good representative.

Incumbents Jon Karr, representing District 3, and board chairman Rex Steninger, of District 5, also have their seats up for election in November.

Karr and Steninger were both elected in 2017. Steninger served for three years after being appointed by then-Gov. Brian Sandoval in 2014 to replace Grant Gerber, who died after surgery for head injuries suffered from a fall with his horse riding to Washington, D.C., in the Grass March.

According to the Nevada Secretary of States website, elected officials are termed out after 12 years.

As for his 12 years serving as Elko County Commissioner, Dahl said he believed he, along with the other Commissioners, had done some good things.

When I ran, I remember saying to people I think I have enough common sense to be a benefit to the County, and I think I have, Dahl said. Elko County is a conservative county, and our natural resources need to be protected along with all of the other entities in the county. I think we have done a good job with that.

I have had good people to serve with [and] weve had a good commission.

Dahl said his time would be filled with his work with natural resources and public lands.

Im going to spend time with that and my business at the ranch, which I dont spend enough time with as I should.

2020 Election

Assemblyman John Ellison and state Sen. Pete Goicoechea are also entering an election year, with both incumbents terms up for re-election in 2020.

Since 2010, Ellison has represented Assembly District 33 and has been elected to four two-year terms.

Goicoechea has served two four-year terms in the state senate since 2012.

In the federal government, U.S. Congressional District 2 Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., will also be on the ballot.

In the Elko City Council, incumbents Robert Schmidtlein and Mandy Simons are each up for re-election. Both were elected in 2012, and each won again in 2016.

The Elko County School board of trustees has four seats up for election. Incumbents are board president Teresa Dastrup, Tammie Cracraft-Dickenson, Jim Cooney and Kieth Fish.

Dastrup was appointed to the board in 2015 following the death of trustee Dean Hartwig. She was elected in 2016 to a four-year term.

Cracraft-Dickenson was appointed twice in 2016 to fill a vacancy for District 2; once to replace trustee Cindy Elquist and again to replace elected trustee Michael Ayala, who dropped out of the race before the 2016 election.

Cooney and Fish were each elected in 2016 to four-year terms.

The Elko TV Board has three seats on the ballot, currently held by Donald Tanner for Seat A, Steven Guitar for Seat D, and Kent LeBarts for Seat E.

Elko Convention Board also has two seats up for election. Seat A is held by David Zornes and Seat C by Matt McCarty.

Filing for non-judicial offices starts March 2 and ends March 13.

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On Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, in a premeditated attack, two shooters opened fire inside a kosher deli in Jersey City, New Jersey, and murdered four people. The killers included a former member of a notoriously anti-Semitic group and, reportedly, a follower of Louis Farrakhan.

Its becoming obvious to most Jews that we are living in a state of siege. Practically every Jewish institution in America now needs significant security. College campuses have become hostile territory for Jewish students. Jews are murdered in Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Jersey City, beaten on the streets of Brooklyn, bullied and harassed in the universities, defamed by The New York Times and CNN, and now maligned in the U.S. Congress.

There are many reasons for the current situation. Many are not within our control, but one thing truly ought to be: Jewish leadership.

The abolitionist leader Fredrick Douglass understood the consequences of failed leadership. He wrote: Find out what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact... measure of the injustice and wrong... which will be imposed upon them.

Its hard to ignore the simple fact that Jewish leaders have failed to stop or even slow down the accelerating epidemic of Jew-hatred in America. Good intentions and doing their best is not good enough. Its irrational to continue with the current policies and leaders and expect different results.

Part of the reason for their failure is that many mainstream Jewish leaders, with a few exceptions, most significantly Morton Klein of the Zionist Organization of America, have failed to fully understand the new threats we face. Like failed generals fighting the last war, they focused on Nazis and the political rightand ignored the changed battlefield for as long as they could. They deliberately, out of political consideration, minimized the assaults coming from progressives and Islamists.

Recently, there has been some grudging acknowledgement of the not-so-new dangers, but there is little reason to hope that our leaders will significantly shift their focus and reallocate resources to deal with these politically inconvenient threats.

Many mainstream Jewish leaders seem ideologically incapable of internalizing the Lefts betrayal of the Jews. They refuse to acknowledge the political and social consequences of the mass influx of Muslim immigrantswho have grown up steeped in anti-democratic and anti-Semitic beliefsinto Western societies. They do so even when they know that this influx threatens to force the Jews out of Europe. They fail to understand how promoting tolerance of the intolerant may be lethal.

Mainstream Jewish leaders have also tended to ignore the ugly ideological assaults on Jews and Israel by prominent African-American leaderswith the exception of Louis Farrakhan, who is too obviously and publicly toxic to disregardassaults which have led to predictable escalating physical attacks on Jews by young blacks. Only now, when it is no longer possible to ignore these repeated brutal attacks on New York Jews, have groups like the Anti-Defamation League begun to stir.

The deteriorating Jewish condition in America must be addressed immediately as an existential threat and the single most important priority for our community. We are under siege; we are in a state of emergency.

To be clear: we are referring to establishment national Jewish organizations, not to the many brave and dedicated smaller Jewish groups who fight BDS on campus, and anti-Israel bias in the media, K-12 curricula, and liberal churches. Indeed, most of these start-up groups were formed as a direct result of the decades-long failure of the ADL, the Federations, and the JCRCs to fight what is now recognized as the new antisemitism.

The Jewish community cannot prevail against these multiple and mounting assaults without strong national leadership.

There is a need for an honest self-assessment by Jewish leaders. They need to understand and recognize their responsibility for the failures noted below:

 Failing to mobilize and prioritize communal resources to protect the community both from physical and ideological assaults;

 Ignoring the fast-growing Jew-hatred promoted by progressives in our schools, our media, and politics;

 Remaining silent in the face of the genocidal teachings of Islamists in mosques and Islamic community centers;

 Refusing to deal forthrightly with the explosion of Jew-hatred by certain groups within the African American community, especially those in leadership positions in Congress and academia;

 Ignoring the failure of Jewish education that has resulted in the formation of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel Jewish organizations, cult-like groups preying on naive, vulnerable, and ill-informed Jewish youth, by offering them secular identities and virtue signaling platforms as Social Justice Warriors;

 Failing abysmally to condemn Jews who are clearly trying to undermine Israel;

 Failing to effectively address Jew-hatred from liberal mainline Protestant churches;

 Mostly ignoring the hostile environment for Jews on college campuses, and the growing hostility in K-12 education funded with billions of dollars by the anti-Semitic regimes of Saudi Arabia and Qatar;

 Suppressing, marginalizing, and even attacking dissenting voices within our own community;

 Abandoning their fiduciary responsibilities by compromising the needs of our community for the sake of progressive politics.

Sadly, the failure of establishment Jewish leadership is not a new story: during World War II, many American Jewish leaders were cowardsmore concerned with a potential backlash of anti-Semitism in America than with the fate of their fellow Jews in Europe. Today, still cowering, they fear exclusion from the progressive community. Then, they abandoned the Jews of Europe; now the Jews of Brooklyn, America, and Israel.

The biggest Jewish defense agency, the ADL, is the biggest failure. Their mission has been universalized: it changed from fighting anti-Semitism to fighting all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion, as if the Jewish community has the resources to do that, as if the community is secure and protected.

In too many instances, the ADL has failed to protect Jews. They seem more dedicated to protecting politically correct progressive causes and leaders. They are conflicted when Jew-hatred comes from progressive ideologues like themselves or certain protected minorities. The ADL has become a fraud.

The Jewish community deserves better. We need strong, proud and courageous Jewish leaders who are not ideologically conflicted or morally confused, and who are unafraid to fight courageously. ADLs leadership must be replaced.

Today, we are calling on establishment Jewish leaders, including Federation and JCRC leaders as well as rabbis to examine their failure to effectively respond to the hostility toward Jews in America. Then, consistent with the highest Jewish values, they should seek forgiveness and resign.

Only with proud, brave, and competent leadership, can we hope for a secure Jewish future.

Charles Jacobs, is co-founder and president of Americans for Peace and Tolerance and The American Anti-Slavery Group. He is also co-founder of the David Project.

Avi Goldwasser is the co-founder of Americans for Peace and Tolerance and The David Project. He is the executive producer of several documentaries including Hate Spaces, The J Street Challenge, and The Forgotten Refugees.
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Linkedin Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 8, 2020 08:18 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c32141923 1 National religious-freedom,interfaith,Christmas,west-sumatra Free

An interfaith activist defending the rights of Christians in Dharmasraya regency, West Sumatra, to hold Christmas Mass was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly spreading hate speech on Facebook.

Sudarto of the human rights group Pusaka was reported to the police by Harry Permana, the chairman of a youth group in Kampung Baru hamlet, Sikabau village, Dharmasraya regency.

The hamlet is home to 16 Christian families who were reportedly prohibited from holding Christmas Mass.

Harry decided to report Sudarto after being told that the latter had posted about the ban on social media. The activist was arrested at his residence on Jl. Veteran, said West Sumatra Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto as quoted by Antara news agency.

Stefanus said the police had interviewed witnesses and experts and examined screen captures of Surdarto's Facebook account, concluding that the activist had deliberately spread information that foments enmity against certain individuals or groups based on their ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds. He is also accused of spreading a hoax.

Sudarto has been charged with hate speech as stipulated under Article 45 and Article 28 of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law and with spreading lies as stipulated under the 1946 Criminal Code.

The police have confiscated his phone and laptop as evidence.

The Jakarta Post previously reported that the Christian families in Kampung Baru were prohibited from celebrating Christmas in public but were allowed to do so in the privacy of their own homes.

They were reportedly prohibited from inviting visitors for a Christmas celebration or gather with other Christians for a Christmas Mass. The local administration finally allowed them to hold Christmas Mass only after their plight made national headlines.

Pusaka has been leading a media campaign to highlight the issue, with Sudarto himself openly criticizing the discriminatory policy on his Facebook account.

He wrote in one of his posts: "This morning I took my wife to her office. There was a report about the prohibition of Christmas Mass [...] in Kampung Baru hamlet in Sikabau village, Dharmasraya regency, West Sumatra.

"I have notified the head of the local office of the religious affairs ministry, but there was no response. I have forwarded [the issue] to the Office of the Presidential Staff [KSP]; I hope it receives good response."

He also posted: I am not a coward, but if I have to fight intolerant groups and report the village [leaders] of Nagari Sikabau who prohibited Christmas prayers, I have the guts to do that. However, the victims will remain pressured and it [would] cost them their mental health."

The local administration denied claims that it had prohibited Christians from conducting religious services in private, but admitted that it had banned them from holding Christmas Mass.

According to Dharmasraya administration spokesman Budi Waluyo, the administration never officially prohibited the public from conducting prayers according to their respective beliefs.

The Dharmasraya administration respects the agreement between village leaders in Sikabau and Christian residents who transmigrated from Kampung Baru. Both parties agreed that conducting religious services in their respective houses was not prohibited, Budi said in a written statement received by the Post in December.

When asked about Sudarto's arrest, the regency's secretary, Adlisman, said: [We] dont need to provide further comments regarding the issue. Law enforcement officials are doing their duties, the regional government has nothing to do with it.

"The most important thing we can do is to create a comfortable atmosphere in the region.

Human rights group Setara has condemned Sudarto's arrest.

This is a strategy used by intolerant groups to silence critics. Unfortunately, the police and local government chose to placate these groups. Sudartos acts were part of his freedom of expression and it should be open for further discussion, said Setara's Bonar Tigor Naipospos.
Sadaf Jafar was arrested on 19 December and former IPS officer SR Darapuri was booked the next day in connection with violence during anti-CAA protests in the Uttar Pradesh.

Lucknow: Congress spokesperson Sadaf Jafar and former IPS officer SR Darapuri, arrested in connection with violence during anti-CAA protests in the Uttar Pradesh capital in December, were released from jail on Tuesday.

A local court gave them bail on Saturday but, they could be released only three days later because some formalities could not be completed, sources said.

On being released, Jadaf said that she would continue to protest against the CAA until the "inhuman" law is withdrawn.

Sadaf Zafar,social activist&Congress leader who was arrested during protest against Citizenship Amendment Act,in Lucknow: "The fear of being jailed and beaten up has now gone away, thanks to Yogi Ji. I will continue to protest strongly till the time this inhuman law is not withdrawn. pic.twitter.com/mOfpZD1nEA  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 7, 2020

Congress city president Mukesh Singh Chauhan told PTI that both walked out of jail at about 10 am.

"I was there along with other office party office bearers to receive them. Our party is against the CAA and against police brutality meted out to the peaceful protestors," he said.

Sadaf was arrested on 19 December while Darapuri was booked the next day.
Press point by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following a meeting of the North Atlantic Council

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

06 Jan. 2020

(As delivered)



Good afternoon.

I have just chaired a meeting of the North Atlantic Council.

We addressed current tensions in the Middle East, and implications for NATO's training mission in Iraq.

NATO and all NATO Allies take part in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.

And NATO's mission in Iraq is an important contribution to the Coalition's effort.

At the invitation of the Iraqi government, we are helping to train forces and prevent the return of ISIS.

At our meeting today, Allies expressed their strong support for the fight against ISIS and for the NATO mission in Iraq.

In everything that we do, the safety of our personnel is paramount.

As such, we have for the time being suspended our training on the ground.

And we are taking all precautions necessary to protect our people.

We are keeping the situation under close review.

And we remain in close contact with the Iraqi authorities.

NATO is prepared to continue our training and capacity-building when the situation permits.

We remain strongly committed to the fight against international terrorism.

***

At our meeting today, the United States also briefed on the regional situation, following recent attacks on coalition forces in Iraq, and the strike against General Soleimani.

For years, all Allies have expressed concern about Iran's destabilising activities in the wider Middle East region.

We agree Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon.

We share concern about Iran's missile tests.

And we are united in condemning Iran's support for a variety of different terrorist groups.

We have recently seen an escalation by Iran, including the strike on a Saudi energy facility, and the shoot-down of an American drone.

At our meeting today, Allies called for restraint and de-escalation.

A new conflict would be in no-one's interest.

So Iran must refrain from further violence and provocations.

***

With that, I am ready to take your questions.

Piers Cazalet [NATO Deputy spokesperson]: Yes please.

Teri Shultz [NPR]: It's not me, but I'll take it. [inaudible; 00:03:08]

Piers Cazalet: Sorry, okay, Teri.

Teri Shultz: Well, thank you, that's what you meant, right?

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: Yeah.

Teri Shultz: Thanks, Piers. Mr Secretary General, were any of the Allies specifically mentioning that they would like restraint on the part of the United States as well? And when the Iraqi Parliament says that it is going to kick out all foreign forces, if that should come to pass, does that mean . . . do you believe that the 500 or so NATO personnel would be leaving, or would you ask for a special dispensation to stay in Iraq? Thank you.

Jens Stoltenberg: At the meeting today, Allies expressed very strong support for the NATO Training Mission in Iraq, because the training mission in Iraq is an important part of the efforts of the Global Coalition to defeat Daesh and to make sure that Daesh or ISIS is not able to return. One of the best weapons we have in the fight against international terrorism is to train local forces, build local capacity, and that's exactly what the Coalition is doing and what NATO is doing through our training mission in Iraq. We are there by invitation from the Iraqi authorities. We have suspended our training mission now, because of the security situation on the ground. But we are ready to restart the training when the situation on the ground makes that possible. We are in close contact with the Iraqi authorities, with the Iraqi government. I visited Iraq some weeks ago, or last fall. And then the Iraqi authorities and the Iraqi Prime Minister stressed the importance of NATO's support.

NATO support, Coalition support to the Iraqi security forces is important for Iraq, but it is also important for us, because when we train them, help them in fighting ISIS and international terrorism, we're also making our own countries more safe and secure. I will not speculate more than we will continue to . . . to work closely to . . . have close dialogue with the Iraqi government. And I strongly believe that the NATO Training Mission is good for both Iraq and for NATO Allies. And we are there by invitation of the Iraqi government. What was also clearly expressed at the meeting today was a call for restraint and de-escalation. All Allies have, several times, expressed their concerns about Iran's destabilising activities in the region, including Iran's support for different terrorist groups. And, of course, all Allies agree that Iran should never be able to develop nuclear weapons. We have also expressed again and again our concerns about Iran's missile programme: missiles which are able to reach, also, many European Allied countries.

Piers Cazalet: Now, TV 2, sorry, just behind Teri.

Question [TV 2]: Should Iran retaliate in a way that makes the United States trigger Article 5? What would NATO's response be then?

Jens Stoltenberg: I think the important thing now is to really try to de-escalate and to avoid further increase . . . increased tensions in the region. And I think that if I start to speculate on how we will react, this will not help to de-escalate, it will actually do the opposite. So we call on . . . on responsible behaviour. We believe in the importance of de-escalation and restraint. And that was a clear message from all Allies in the meeting today. I will not speculate, because that will actually contribute to the opposite. That will only increase tensions.

Piers Cazalet: Philip from NRK?

Philip Lote [NRK]: Philip Lote, NRK, Norwegian Broadcasting. Was the criticism of the US by European Allies . . . Allies during the meeting relating to the assassination of General Soleimani, and what is your view, General Secretary of the killing of General Soleimani?

Jens Stoltenberg: The meeting we had today was actually a meeting where we saw a very strong unity from all Allies on the importance of standing together in the fight against international terrorism, on the importance of the NATO Training Mission in Iraq, on the importance of the training activities and the efforts of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. All NATO Allies and NATO are part of the Global Coalition. And NATO contributes to the Global Coalition in different ways, including with our troops in Iraq. Again, NATO Allies are very concerned about Iran's activities in the region. And the NATO Allies condemned, and have condemned many times, attacks on Coalition forces by Iran and supported groups. And that criticism, that position, was reiterated by many Allies in the meeting today.

Philip Lote: Did you understand the assassination of Soleimani, General Soleimani?

Jens Stoltenberg: This is a US decision. It is not a decision taken by either the Global Coalition nor NATO. But all Allies are concerned about Iran's destabilising activities in the region, Iran's support to different terrorist groups. And of course, we are extremely concerned about the recent attacks we have seen against civilian energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, or against Coalition bases in Iraq  bases which are important for our efforts to fight international terrorism in Iraq and in Syria.

Piers Cazalet: Time for one more. Michael from DPA.

Michael [DPA]: Hi, it's Michael with German News Agency. You just said, Mr Sec Gen that the US briefed on the airstrike against Soleimani. The US justified this killing by saying that Soleimani developed plans to attack American diplomats. Did they show . . . did the US show some evidence on that today?

Jens Stoltenberg: The US provided the rationale behind the action against General Soleimani. And we had several briefers from the United States, from the State and from Pentagon and they briefed and explained to other Allies why they took this action against General Soleimani. I will not go into the details of that briefing. I will leave that to the United States. But we value and appreciate the briefings provided by the United States. I think this provides, or once again shows that NATO is a platform where European Allies, North American Allies, are able to come together and address security concerns for all of us.

Piers Cazalet: That's all we have time for. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.

Jens Stoltenberg: Thank you.

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SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MI  Police in Shiawassee County became familiar over the years with the man suspected of killing Kevin Bacon.

Incident reports obtained by MLive-The Flint Journal via the Freedom of Information Act show the Shiawassee County Sheriffs Office has responded nearly a dozen times to Mark D. Latunskis Bennington Township home near Morrice and the surrounding area for 10 incidents in which Latunski was involved dating back to 2013.

Latunski is being held in the Shiawassee County Jail in connection with Bacons death. He was arraigned Dec. 30, 2019 on charges including open murder and mutilation of a body.

The police calls include multiple welfare checks in 2013 stemming from a divorce and parental kidnapping complaint against Latunski.

Latunski was arrested on a felony warrant related to the kidnapping complaint during a Sept. 19, 2013 visit by the sheriffs office, a little over two weeks after another drop-in.

Deputies were dispatched to the home on Sept. 3, 2013 to assist the Department of Human Services with a welfare check.

Michigan State Police in Lansing contacted Emily Latunski, Marks ex-wife, at 4 a.m. that morning. The couples divorce was finalized in July 2013.

In a March 2013 petition for the exclusive use of their home on Tyrrell Road, Emily Latunski noted that Mark Latunskis schizophrenia could be maintained with medicine. Emily Latunski alleged she knew he wasnt taking his medication because she was counting his pills.

Suspect in Kevin Bacon murder case has long history of mental illness, records show

A woman familiar with the couple told police upon their arrival Latunski had gone to their post this morning and had given a fake name and DOB and said that he killed Mark Latunski with the stroke of a pen, said the incident report.

The woman also told police Latunski had not been returning phone calls and his employer called to check up on him.

Shiawassee County Sheriff Brian BeGole, a sergeant at the time, searched the home in the 700 block of W. Tyrrell Road with other law enforcement officials but did not find him. All the electrical breakers to the home had been shut off.

We then located some notes on the kitchen table, the incident report reads. The(y) made references to being cursed and breaking the cycle. They also made reference to the alias he used with MSP Lansing of William Gregory Dean and the address (in the 800 block of) Tyrell Road.

Police then checked a neighboring home, which Latunski provided as his address under the name William Gregory Dean.

Latunskis ex-father-in-law drove by at the time and told police the address of the home in the 800 block of Tyrrell Road belonged to Marks father but was empty after the father suffered a stroke and moved elsewhere in the state.

Police were able to make entry into the home and found Mark Latunski laying on his back in an upstairs bedroom, unresponsive, the incident report states.

An ambulance was called, but he was breathing the entire time and had a pulse.

We then thought that he was faking being unconscious, notes the report. After about 5 minutes of telling him to knock it off, he then opened his eyes and spoke to us. He told us that he is a protected person and that he is being poisoned and wants the truth.

Mark Latunski also alleged a relative attached a bladder tank filled with lead-laced water to his home and was poisoning him and his children. He once again used the William Gregory Dean name and told police the home was his residence.

Police transported Mark Latunski via ambulance to a local hospital and petitioned for him to be seen by Community Mental Health.

A Sept. 18, 2014 police visit took place when Latunskis boss called after not seeing him at work for four days.

The deputy advised dispatch hed been sent to the home four days earlier to help police in Kentwood, located near Grand Rapids.

They had found a subject naked laying in their jurisdiction, and was looking for family to contact them, the report states. The subject they had was transported to St. Marys Hospital in Grand Rapids.

The most recent call for the Shiawassee County Sheriffs Office came on Oct. 15, 2019 for a suspicious situation call.

The exact location was redacted in the incident report.

Upon his arrival, the deputy spoke with a woman who told police a car had pulled into her driveway five days earlier and blocked it. The man was identified by police Mark Latunski.

She spoke to the man, who was searching in the ditch, the incident report reads. He said he was looking for something but would move his car.

The caller told police the man seemed strange, like something was off about him.

She was asked to keep an eye out and call 911 if he returned and she felt threatened.

Reports on incidents handled by Michigan State Police have also been sought by MLive-The Flint Journal, but state police have not yet delivered anything in response to the Freedom of Information Act request.

Mark Latunski is due back in 66th District Court in Corunna on Wednesday, Jan. 8 for a probable cause conference.

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Prince William and Prince Harry certainly did not approve their father's infidelity, that even on the day Prince Charles got engaged with Camilla Parker Bowles, they offered nothing but the same emotion.

Prince Charles and Camilla announced their relationship in 1999, which was two years after Princess Diana's tragic death in Paris. Because of the incident, Camilla struggled in winning the approval of the Queen, citizens, and Royal watchers as Prince Charles' new partner.

However, while the approval of the royal family was certainly a big deal, the real reason why Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall delayed their marriage was mainly because of the "sensitivity towards" Prince William and Prince Harry.

The Effect of Charles-Camilla Relationship

As excerpted in the 2005 book "The Firm" by Penny Junor, a royal biographer, Prince Charles and Camilla did not want to force Prince William and Prince Harry to meet and accept a stepmother wholeheartedly before they had fully grown up. They also took note of the sudden death of Princess Diana, which affected the two princes emotionally and mentally.

"Accepting Camilla as a fixture in their father's life has been difficult for them," Junor stated in the book.

Princes William and Harry knew that Camilla caused the grief and misery of their late mother and how Princess Diana became an "extra" for so long in the veiled relationship of Prince Charles and the now Duchess of Cornwall.

What Princes William, Harry Really Felt Over The Engagement

The Duke of Cambridge and Sussex, who already entered adulthood, still found it somewhat difficult to see their father marrying someone else.

On April 9, 2005, Prince Charles and Camilla finally tied the knot at Windsor Guildhall. They also had a service at St. George's Chapel to receive a special marital blessing since, at the time of their engagement, the Church of England could not support second marriages if a spouse was still living (which was the case of Camilla's ex, Andrew Parker Bowles).

Though the then-22-year-old Prince William and then-20 Prince Harry helped Prince Charles and their stepmother during their "big day," their real feelings were later revealed by a veteran royal correspondent.

According to the 2006 book "William's Princess" by Robert Jobson, the author wrote, "While Palace officials struggled to pull together the chaotic arrangements, they were forced to address a question they might rather have ignored."

Jobson stated what the two, most especially Prince William, felt about the wedding.

Instead of the official line that they were "delighted" because they got to see Prince Charles happy again, the royal correspondent corrected it and said that the royal sons' mood was "more one of 'acceptance' than undiluted joy."

In addition, Prince William had to act for his brother as the eldest and since he was the most attached to his late mother. Being the de facto spokesman, his blessing for Prince Charles and Camilla was the most important one.

Prince William Only Wanted the Best for Princess Diana

Prince William, who was only 14 years old when his parents Prince Charles and Princess Diana filed a divorce, already showed his unconditional love for his mother.

Despite his young age, William left words of love for her mother and helped her survive the tormenting event.

The narrator of "Prince William: Royalty in My Family" claimed that the Duke of Cambridge wanted to end Princess Diana's suffering as soon as possible. However, a speedy divorce meant Princess Diana would need to give up her royal title.

"You'll still be mummy," Prince William said, trying to comfort his mother.

With the close relationship he established with his late mother, it was only natural for Prince William to feel that way towards Prince Charles and Camilla's ties.
A glamorous receptionist from Sydney's affluent North Shore has appeared in court after she got so drunk before a music festival she didn't make it through the gates.

Tamara Ognenovski was arrested outside Sydney Showgrounds last November as she attempted to gain entry to Festival X a second time after being refused.

The 19-year-old told Burwood Local Court on Monday it was 'the worst thing ever' having to explain her antics to her 'strict' family after her arrest was broadcast on national television, the Inner West Courier reported.

Tamara Ognenovski appeared in Burwood Local Court on Monday over her alcohol fuelled antics at Festival X in November

The teenager told of how confessing to her strict family was 'the worst thing ever' after her arrest at the festival was broadcast on national television in November 2019

The teenager said it was a 'sobering experience' spending six hours detained in a cell at Burwood Police Station.

'I haven't drunk alcohol since, my binge drinking has got out of control,' she reportedly told the court.

She admitted she'd had far too much to drink the day she was arrested.

'We had pre-drinks and we started quite early. I drank way too much alcohol and then I refused the officers request to take 30 minutes and calm down,' she said.

The teen's social media shows multiple shots of her enjoying nights out around the CBD and northern suburbs

Magistrate Louise McManus sentenced Ognenovski to a six month conditional release order with no recorded conviction, saying that she was 'sorry [the arrest] was broadcast on television'.

The teen was arrested at the gates in a drunken state as she attempted to gain entry a second time
A police officer in Las Vegas shot a 93-year-old man for shooting a maintenance worker after complaining about water damage in his apartment.

Surveillance footage from inside an apartment building office shows Robert Thomas wearing a black coat and wide-brimmed black hat as he points a pistol at a man seated at a desk.

Mr Thomas fires a round, sending the man stumbling to the ground. Mr Thomas then stands above the man, points his gun and shoots a second time.

The Vista Del Valley apartment resident was reportedly angry with management for the flooding in his apartment and threatened staff inside the building's office on 2 January.

Body-worn camera footage shows Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officer Ronald Hornyak running to the building with his gun drawn.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. 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Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Seconds after Mr Thomas fired two shots, Officer Hornyack arrived on the scene and yelled for Mr Thomas to "drop the gun" before firing a round through a glass door.

According to police, the shot hit Mr Thomas through his jacket. Surveillance camera footage shows Mr Thomas placing his gun on a nearby desk before he's tackled to the ground.

Police say Mr Thomas "received a small cut to his head" during his arrest.

Mr Thomas was treated and released from a local hospital and charged with attempted murder, kidnapping with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm within a structure, burglary with a firearm, and carrying a concealed weapon.

During a court appearance on 3 January, Mr Thomas said he didn't want to hurt the man he shot, but he wanted to "screw him over a little."

His bond was set at $25,000.

The incident marks the city's first officer-involved shooting of 2020.

Las Vegas police Force Investigation Team is investigating the officer's use of force, and the findings will be forwarded to the Clark County District Attorney's Office for review.
A Trenton police detectives shooting of a suspect during a chase nearly five years ago has been deemed justified after a review by the Mercer County Prosecutors Office and state Attorney Generals office. this week after two agencies reviewed an incident where he shot a man in a vehicle nearly four years ago.

State officials agreed with the countys determination that the officer opened fire with the reasonable belief the shots would protect his own life, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said in a statement Tuesday.

Onofris statement did not name the detective, but previous reports about the incident identified him as Matthew Bledsoe.

The detective and his partner David Ordille were working a detail in Trenton on Feb. 4, 2015 on Chestnut Avenue near East State Street when the shooting occurred. The detectives were in an unmarked vehicle around 1:15 a.m. when their headlights illuminated a parked Saab. They thought they saw the driver Sanchez attempt to hide, authorities said. Bledsoe drove past and then reversed, stopping their car right next to the Saab, authorities said.

The man in the vehicle was later identified as Jeremiah Sanchez of Trenton, who had an outstanding warrant in a domestic violence case at the time. The detectives didnt know about his warrant or identity until after the incident, though.

Bledsoe got out and stood next to the drivers side front door, as Ordille stood a few feet away on the same side, authorities said. They were trying to see into the vehicle but it had tinted windows. They heard the car shift into gear, and Ordille went back to the unmarked car believing Sanchez was about to flee, authorities said.

Bledsoe could see Sanchez moving around but could not see his hands. Then the Saab began to move forward. Bledsoe tried to step aside but the police cruiser was in the way. The Saab then hit his knee and drove onto his left boot, authorities said.

Bledsoe fired his first shot fearing that he was going to get pinned between his police vehicle and the Saab or pulled under the Saab, the statement says.

He was moving along with the Saab as he got hit, and then fired a second shot, authorities said. As Sanchez pulled into the street, Bledsoe fired one more shot as the Saab sped past and rounded the corner onto State Street, authorities said.

After a short pursuit, Sanchez crashed on East State Street in Hamilton. He was hospitalized with a gunshot wound on the left side of his neck, one on his right bicep and a cut on his forehead. He was later charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, simple assault, eluding police and several driving offenses.

In May 2019, he was sentenced to three years probation after pleading to a third-degree count of assault on a law enforcement officer.

Bledsoe was treated for foot pain and bruising on his left knee.

The county Homicide Task Force investigated the crash scene and found a beer can wedged between the front passenger seat and door.

A January 2019 law requires the state Attorney Generals office to investigate every death of a person during a law enforcement encounter or while in custody. Since the investigation of this incident began in 2015, it followed an Attorney Generals directive enacted that year.

Bledsoes use of force was justified based on a reasonable belief that he needed to fire the gun to protect his own life.

Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Olmsted Countys Community Complete Count Committee is asking the public to pledge to be counted.

"A complete and accurate census count is essential for Minnesota and the well-being of our community," Committee Chairwoman Sheila Kiscaden said in a statement announcing a pledge event. "Minnesota could potentially lose millions of dollars in federal funding if we do not get a complete count."

To help outline the importance of being counted during the upcoming census, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and State Demographer Susan Brower will be guest speakers at the pledge event from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Rochester Public Library. They will discuss the importance of the 2020 census and its impact on the state.

Every 10 years, as mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the federal government completes a census count of the U.S. population to determine the allocation of seats held by each state in the House of Representatives. The next federal census is April 1.

Olmsted Countys count committee, comprised of community members, business and non-profit leaders, and local government officials, will invite people to sign a pledge form during Saturday's event, committing to filling out the 2020 Census form.

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The event will also include activities for children, giveaways and light refreshments.
TRIPOLI, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Monday that it evacuated more than 2,000 refugees and asylum-seekers from Libya in 2019.

"But nearly 1,000 asylum-seekers under the age of 18 are still languishing in Libyan detention centers," UNHCR said in a statement.

"UNHCR remains wholly reliant on countries to make available to us places for resettlement and other durable solutions to be able to assist the most vulnerable refugees in Libya," the UN Refugee Agency added.

On Friday, UNHCR said Libya has more than 46,000 registered refugees and asylum-seekers.

Thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, chose to cross the Mediterranean from Libya toward Europe because of insecurity and chaos in the North African nation following the overthrow of the former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Enditem
SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Council delayed a vote Monday on a preconstruction agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for the reconfiguration of Riverside Boulevard from four lanes to three.

The unanimous vote to defer until Jan. 27 came after more than an hour of discussion. Several residents voiced opposition to the reconfiguration, which would consist of re-striping Riverside Boulevard with one lane in each direction and a continuous center turn lane. Both through lanes would be 12 feet wide, along with a 14-foot-wide center turn lane and roughly 5-foot shoulders on both sides. The reconfiguration would be completed this year following the hot mix asphalt overlay project on Iowa 12 from War Eagle Drive to Military Road.

"Morningside and north side both have four lanes. Riverside is very busy and we need the same," resident Cynthia Langseth said. "I think four lanes is what's needed, not three."

Shane Tymkowicz, an assistant district engineer with the Iowa DOT, said the lane conversion is being proposed to improve safety in the corridor. Data that Tymkowicz shared with the council shows that total accidents increased from 83 from 2012 to 2016 to 114 from 2015 to 2019, while total vehicles involved in accidents rose from 155 to 208. He said the collisions are "head-on, rear-end, oncoming left turn, broadside and side swipes" and correlate with intersections and entrances on the corridor.

"Those are people that are losing their vehicles to go to work, becoming injured, maybe can't work, so that's a concern to us. So, we want to take the opportunity, if we can, to reduce the likelihood of that continuing," said Tymkowicz, who noted that traffic continues to grow slightly on Riverside Boulevard each year.

According to Tymkowicz, conversion from four lanes to three lanes is "effective" at reducing accidents by 19 to 47 percent. He pointed out successful 3-lane configurations that have been done in Storm Lake, Arnolds Park and South Sioux City, as well as Sioux City.

"This is effective at reducing speeders, particularly those that are going more than 5 (mph) over the speed limit," he said. "It's a cost-effective approach. Really, what we're talking about is just paint lines. It's the same roadway, the same width."

Mayor Bob Scott said he is bothered by the fact that the city hires additional police officers, yet citation numbers "stay the same."

"Speed is going up, but we don't enforce on that corridor either," he said. "We hire two to three extra cops and the number of citations is not increasing accordingly. The way you calm traffic is you give somebody a ticket every once in a while."

Councilwoman Julie Schoenherr asked Tymkowicz if the outsides of the new lanes would be used by cyclists. Tymkowicz told her that cyclists can legally ride there and that there is nothing to prevent them from doing so. If the city wants symbols identifying the area as a bike lane, Tymkowicz said the Iowa DOT would paint the symbols, but the city would be responsible for maintaining them.

Bob DeSmidt said he thinks there is an "exaggerated fear" of bike lanes in Sioux City. He supports the conversion to a three-lane roadway.

"We are the largest city by far in Iowa and the research we've done through Siouxland Trails Foundation, I think we're the largest city in the United States that doesn't have any bike lanes," he said. "We believe this is a natural place for a bicycle lane and it does help slow traffic down. ... The cyclists are big customers of the bars and restaurants along Riverside Boulevard."

Janet Johnson, who owns Riverside Car Wash, said none of her customers like the idea of a three-lane configuration.

"It is working well now; and I don't know why you would change it," she said. "You do have a lot of trucks coming down from Highway 12 and they do, sometimes, go fast, but a lot of times, people are going too slow, too."

Councilman Pete Groetken, a retired Sioux City Police captain, said his primary concern is "the welfare and safety of vehicles being operated on the roads" in the community.

"If anything allows us to make the streets safer, I think we are absolutely foolish not to take advantage of it," he said.

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Spain got a new left-wing coalition government on Tuesday after the countrys parliament voted to return Pedro Sanchez as prime minister.

The administration is a coalition between the centre-left Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) and the leftist group Podemos.

The decision appears to signal an end to months of political deadlock in Spain, which held two general elections last year, the most recent of them in November.

The new coalition is the first such arrangement in the countrys political history since the restoration of democracy in the 1970s.

Mr Sanchez won the vote narrowly thanks in part to the abstention of left-leaning Catalan and Basque nationalist MPs.

The new government plans to raise taxes on higher earners and restore workers rights after measures were brought in to make it easier to fire them.

The vote was on such a knife-edge that one Podemos MP, Aina Vidal, attended the chamber despite suffering from cancer and being in severe pain. She received an emotional round of applause from colleagues.

The formation of the new government is a bittersweet moment for Mr Sanchez, who called the second election of last year in the hope of securing a majority. Instead, the move proved to be a miscalculation and his party lost seats while the main opposition groups gained ground, including a surge for the far-right Vox group.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

He is expected to be sworn in and appoint his cabinet as early as next Wednesday.

Other issues facing the government include the question of Catalan independence.
Iran has decided to violate much of its uranium commitments, although it is taking a cautious approach, Rome said, adding that Iran appears to be continuing its commitments to the plutonium- and inspections-related parts of the deal.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : A Delhi court on Tuesday issued death warrants against all four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case.

Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora while issuing death warrants directed the convicts to be hanged on January 22 at 7 a.m. at Tihar Jail.

A 23-year-old woman was brutally gangraped and tortured on December 16, 2012, which led to her death. Six accused were arrested and charged with sexual assault and murder. One of the accused was a minor and appeared before a juvenile justice court, while another accused committed suicide in Tihar Jail.

Four of the convicts were sentenced to death by a trial court in September 2013, and the verdict confirmed by the Delhi High Court in March 2014 and was upheld by the Supreme Court in May 2017 which also dismissed their review petitions.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A Florida woman's intense craving for a bevy of McDonald's dipping sauces, coupled with her apparent unwillingness to pay 25 cents for the condiments, has landed her in jail after officials say she threatened to rob the fast-food eatery.

Maguire McLaughlin, 19, was arrested on the morning of New Year's Day on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence, both misdemeanors.

The Vero Beach woman was released the same day after posting $1,000 bond.

On the sauce: Maguire McLaughlin, 19, was reportedly drunk when she was arrested on New Year's Day for allegedly threatening to rob a McDonald's after being denied free dipping sauce

Workers at this eatery in Vero Beach, Florida, called the sheriff's office to report the disturbance less than four hours into the new year

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Smoking Gun, McLaughlin arrived at the McDonald's on 20th Street in Vero Beach at around 3.45am on January 1 and ordered a 'large amount of food,' which she paid for at the drive-thru window.

Before taking her leave, the hungry customer asked a staffer to give her one McDonald's dipping sauce in each of the eight flavors on offer, including honey mustard, chipolata barbecue, creamy ranch and spicy buffalo.

The worker informed McLaughlin that each packet would cost her an additional 25 cents, leading to a verbal altercation.

The irate patron allegedly began hurling insults at staff and threatened to 'rob' the eatery if she was denied her dipping sauce, according to the document.

The 5-foot-6, 130-pound blonde then added that she would get the condiments 'by whatever means necessary,' she was quoted as telling workers.

Deputies arrived on the scene and detected a smell of alcohol on McLaughlin's breath while speaking to her.

McLaughlin requested dipping sauces in each of the eight flavors on offer, and was told that it would cost her an additional 25 cents per packet (stock image)

The 19-year-old was described as having glassy eyes and slurred speech.

'McLaughlin would momentarily become cooperative and suddenly begin yelling profanities,' a deputy wrote in the affidavit.

Deputies interviewed employees at the McDonald's about the incident, with one of them saying that she was 'in fear for her own well-being' during her interaction with McLaughlin.

According to the affidavit, when it came time to take the customer into custody, McLaughlin resisted deputies by 'locking her legs' and then sticking her legs in the door jamb of a patrol car.

Deputies were forced to take her down and place her in a restrain device in order to get her in the backseat of the vehicle.

McLaughlin is due back in court on January 28.
The global benchmark for crude oil rose above $70 a barrel on Monday for the first time in over three months, with jitters rising over the escalating military tensions between Iran and the United States.

The Brent contract for oil touched a high of $70.74 a barrel, the highest since mid-September, when it briefly spiked over an attack on Saudi crude processing facilities. Stock markets were down as well amid fears of how Iran would fulfill a vow of "harsh retaliation."

"The market is concerned about the potential for retaliation, and specifically on energy and oil infrastructure in the region," said Antoine Halff, a Columbia University researcher and former chief oil analyst for the International Energy Agency. "If Iran chose to incapacitate a major facility in the region, it has the technical capacity to do so."

The U.S. killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Iraq on Friday. Early Sunday, as Iran threatened to retaliate, President Donald Trump tweeted the U.S. was prepared to strike 52 sites in the Islamic Republic if any Americans are harmed.

Fears that Iran could strike back at oil and gas facilities important to the U.S. and its Persian Gulf allies stem from earlier attacks widely attributed to Iran.

The U.S. has blamed Iran for a wave of provocative attacks in the region, including the sabotage of oil tankers and an attack on Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure in September that temporarily halved its production. Iran has denied involvement in those attacks.
San Francisco has lost several major conventions in recent years as organizers balk at sky-high hotel rates and grating street conditions.

One thing it hasnt lost: a convention of convention planners.

This week, thousands of visitors descended on Moscone Center to attend a conference called Convening Leaders, hosted by PCMA, a Chicago group for business-event organizers. For attendees, its a chance to meet colleagues and try out vendors. But for San Francisco, its a chance to make the case that the city still wants their business.

Our members love San Francisco, said PCMA CEO Sherrif Karamat, who noted that attendance is up more than 14% at this event compared with last year, when the conference was held in Pittsburgh. One draw, he said, was a rising number of direct flights to Asia.

San Francisco is eager to make a case for itself. The citys reputation has suffered amid complaints about homelessness, needles, feces on the streets and  insult to injury  the high cost charged for experiencing all of that. For JPMorgans annual health care conference next week, some downtown hotel rooms are going for more than $1,000 a night, according to travel site Expedia.

Not everyone wants to pay up. Apple, Google and Facebook once held developer conferences here but moved them south. The American Geophysical Union, a Washington nonprofit whose giant annual conference used to be a Moscone Center fixture, now rotates the meeting among multiple cities. Last month, in the highest-profile departure, Oracle announced it would move its OpenWorld conference to Las Vegas.

And, so, the citys tourism bureau is eagerly wooing the 5,000 people attending the meeting of convention planners, which is returning to San Francisco after two decades. The bureau, San Francisco Travel, has staff in orange uniforms throughout Moscone Center and on nearby streets to help guide attendees. A welcome area in Moscone Center  along with free cotton candy reminiscent of fog  allows visitors to learn more about the city.

San Francisco is one of the most dynamic cities in the world. Its this hub of creativity and innovation, said Joe DAlessandro, CEO of San Francisco Travel. Were going to talk about that. Were going to talk about the culinary scene, the fact that we have more three-star Michelin restaurants than any other city in the Americas.

At the conference opening Sunday on historic Pier 48, near the Giants Oracle Park, attendees could revel in thumping music and local food divided into themed areas named after local neighborhoods. The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band and acrobats performed next to giant murals and multicolored lights.

The city is also showing off Moscone Center, which completed a $551 million expansion and renovation last year, and the new $1 billion Chase Center.

We are one of the most expensive cities to visit in the world, DAlessandro acknowledged. But, you know what, that doesnt stop people from going to Paris or London or New York or Shanghai or Sydney, that are also equally as expensive as us. Were a world-class city.

Sandra Vura Harwood, vice president of meetings and education at the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said the citys rising costs were a major challenge for attendees.

The medical group held its 11,000-person conference in fall 2018 and had record attendance. But visitors, particularly younger ones, said the cost of hotels made it hard to come back.

Its something that my peers across the board are concerned with, she said. Harwood recently booked events in Los Angeles and Houston but is still in talks to return to San Francisco.

Harwood said street conditions appeared to be improving in the western part of Union Square and the Tenderloin. We had done that same walk two years ago, and I noticed a difference, she said. The city looks great this week.

San Francisco isnt getting conference attendees to itself. Rival cities are using the event to make pitches, too, with sponsors including visitor bureaus from Austin, Orlando, New Orleans, Toronto and Singapore.

Nathan Tollett, director of sales for Visit Houston, said each conventions needs are different. Houstons advantages, he said, include easy air links to Central America and Europe and diversity in food. Hotels are also much cheaper than San Francisco, with more than a dozen active listings in Houston under $100 a night.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Lauren Parr, the American Geophysical Unions vice president of meetings, was back for the PCMA event. She said the groups December conference in San Francisco received positive feedback, and it will return this year and once every three years afterward.

Theres a fantastic academic community here that our scientists are part of, so its great, she said. Its an expensive city, but it still offers a lot of value.

Parr said that San Franciscos street conditions are a challenge, but other municipalities are grappling with similar problems.

I think many cities are dealing with issues like homelessness, she said. So I dont think anything that were dealing with is unique to San Francisco.

DAlessandro of San Francisco Travel said that despite the challenges, preliminary data indicate that last year was the strongest on record for tourism and conventions.

The fact is that 2019 is going to be the busiest year the city has ever experienced in the convention market and the tourism market. Were looking forward to 2020 being an equally good year, he said.

Weve got a lot of very positive feedback. People love it, DAlessandro said. Were here in the beginning of January. Its a beautiful day and the city is shining.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
There is a lot of hand-wringing over President Trump's decision to take out the murderous tyrant, General Soleimani, from Iran. They say it will make the world more dangerous. They say that both Presidents Bush and President Obama chose not to kill him when they had a chance and chose not to because they thought it would escalate violence as a reason why Trump was wrong to kill the brutal terrorist.

How many additional people, including hundreds of Americans, were killed or maimed because Bush and Obama made the decision to allow the tyrant to live? Could it be that the fact that Bush and Obama let the brutal murderer roam free only empowered Iran and other terrorists and made the world more dangerous, not less?

How many people have died from terrorism or drug overdoses because Obama chose to appease Iran instead of letting law enforcement do its job by shutting down a drug operation by Hezb'allah? Were America and the world safer because we let terrorists run drugs with no ramifications to appease Iran, or were the terrorists and Iran empowered?

When Obama refused to honor our commitment to provide missile shields in the Czech Republic and Poland to appease Putin, did that make the area safer, or did it empower Putin?

When the Obama administration approved the sale of U.S. uranium resources to Russia, did that make the world safer, or did it empower Putin? Did it also give North Korea and Iran another source to buy uranium? Can anyone defend the policy to sell uranium to Putin?

How many people were killed or became refuges because President Obama wouldn't enforce his red line in Syria? How many additional people have been killed in Syria because Obama and Kerry trusted Putin to monitor Assad and his chemical weapons? Did the policy decision make Syria safer or did it empower Putin and Assad?

How many additional people were killed because Obama withdrew all the troops in Iraq and allowed ISIS to expand? Did that make the Mideast and America safer, or did it empower Iran and the terrorists?

How many people died in Ukraine because Obama and Biden chose to appease Russia and Putin instead of giving Ukraine weapons? Did that make the area safer, or did it empower Putin?

How many people have been maimed or killed because Obama and Europe chose to appease Iran and shower them with money instead of letting their economy collapse? Is it ever smart policy for the U.S. to reward a country that spreads terrorism throughout the world and has pledged death to America and death to Israel for decades? Is there any evidence that Soleimani reduced terrorism attacks after the Iran deal or because Obama and Bush allowed him to roam free? If good results don't come from a policy, doesn't that indicate a bad policy? Didn't the additional money that Iran got also help out North Korea, Russia, and other allies of Iran by allowing Iran to purchase weapons and parts from them?

President Obama also pleased Russia, Iran, and other oil-producers by blocking projects in the U.S. The more dependence the U.S. had on other countries, the more dangerous it was for us.

There is a new set of talking points that are being repeated endlessly by former bureaucrats, journalists, and other Democrats on the supposed news channels. (On almost all subjects, we get talking puppets instead of independent thinking.) The propaganda is being showered on the public that the Trump administration did not consider the consequences of killing the brutal terrorist and that these people somehow have no idea what Trump's strategy is in the Mideast.

The Trump administration clearly knows what the Iran threats would be, and it is only propagandists or abjectly ignorant people, or congenital liars, who have no idea what Trump's strategy is. How many times has Trump said the strategy is maximum pressure to cause Iran either to collapse or to start to behave like human beings? It is the same strategy that Reagan used to take down the Soviet Union. Reagan was treated by the media and other Democrats the same as Trump. He was called a dunce and a cowboy who would cause a new World War. Instead, he took out the Soviet Union with brains, not bullets. President Trump clearly learned from history. His detractors, sadly, have not.

How many people are killed, raped, robbed, and assaulted by people whom sanctuary cities refuse to turn over to federal authorities? When politicians refuse to follow their oath to enforce laws, does that make us safer, or is America more dangerous? Throughout history, has it ever been safer to let criminals and other people who wreak havoc like terrorists run free, or is it safer to keep them away from the people?

How many people died because countries throughout Europe and the World appeased Hitler instead of taking him out? Were the Germans safer or unprotected when the government took their guns?

How many people are massacred in gun-free zones? Where, in history has it made the people safer when only the government had the guns. Haven't many tyrants used their power to kill millions of unprotected people?

Here is a question for journalists: How many women and young girls were physically and mentally abused by powerful men because the media was so interested in protecting and electing the Clintons that they looked the other way on Epstein, Weinstein and the Clintons? The "Me Too" movement would have started decades ago if journalists, Hollywood and other Democrats had truly cared.

Photo credit: Pete Souza, official White House photo (cropped).
By Julia Cheever

Bay City News

REDWOOD CITY (BCN)

Two state agencies sued a Silicon Valley venture capitalist's beach management companies in San Mateo County Superior Court on Monday, seeking to establish a court-ordered right to public access to Martins Beach.

The State Lands Commission and California Coastal Commission claim that since the beach has been used as a public beach since at least the early 1900s, the public has gained a right of access under a doctrine known as implied dedication.

Beachgoers visit the crescent-shaped stretch of sand south of Half Moon Bay for picnicking, fishing, surfing, swimming and walking. It is surrounded by cliffs and the only access road is Martins Beach Road.

Vinod Khosla, a co-founder of Sun Microsystems Inc., bought 88 acres including the beach and the road in 2008 and sought to close the area to the public beginning in 2009. He claims it is private property.

In California, there is a right of public access to coastal beaches below the ordinary high tide mark. The agencies' lawsuit concerns access to the road and the sand area above the high tide mark.

The suit asks for a court declaration that a right of public access has been created through implied dedication. It also seeks an injunction barring Khosla's companies from using gates or signs to restrict access except as permitted by the Coastal Commission.

The case is the latest of several lawsuits filed during the past eight years. For now, public access to the beach continues because in one of those lawsuits, the Surfrider Foundation won a ruling that Khosla's companies must obtain a permit from the Coastal Commission before changing the historic public access to the beach.

The companies have not applied for a permit, according to a commission spokeswoman.

In another case filed by Friends of Martins Beach, however, a trial judge and an appeals court ruled there was no dedication to public use because previous owners charged a parking fee. Friends of Martins Beach filed an appeal with the California Supreme Court on Jan. 3.

Without specifically mentioning that case, the new lawsuit contends the parking fees "did not amount to a restriction on public use" because the fees were either non-existent or inconsistent between at least the 1920s and at least the mid-1960s or 1970s, longer than the five-year period needed to create implied dedication.

The suit also argues the fee applied only to parking and not to other uses such as walking on the access road.

Dori Yob Kilmer, a lawyer for Khosla, said on Monday, "The claims asserted in today's lawsuit have been extensively litigated and repeatedly rejected by the courts in a prior lawsuit."

She said, "Since the property was purchased by our client, the state, and small activist groups have endeavored to seize our client's private property without compensation.

"The U.S. Constitution precludes the government from simply taking private property and giving it to the public," Kilmer said.

Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, who chairs the State Lands Commission, said in a statement, "California's coastline belongs to everyone.

"This lawsuit is a critical part of California's ongoing efforts to ensure public access and to protect the public's rights to access its golden shores," she said.

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.
I knew Randy as a friend and a tireless businessman, said Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton. He was heavily involved in our Downtown Edwardsville revitalization, but more importantly, his investments were secondary to his philanthropy.

We are struggling to get our heads around this sickening and senseless murder, Patton said.

In 2019, Goris firm, formerly Gori Julian & Associates, donated $1 million to his alma mater, St. Louis University. Gori earned his bachelors degree from SLU in 1995 and a law degree from SLU Law in 1998. The donation prompted the institution to rename a lobby of its downtown law school the Gori Julian Grand Lobby.

Friends say Gori loomed large as a figure in the Metro East legal community.

His death was a total shock, said Troy Walton of Walton Telken Injury Attorneys. Walton knew Gori both professionally and as a friend, and said the impact on both the legal community and the local Madison County community is devastating.
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.
Gardai have arrested a man after an attempted abduction incident in Dublin on Monday.

A man tried to bundle the woman, aged in her 60s, into the boot of his car in the Blackhorse Avenue area at about 7.30am on Monday.

The suspect who approached and attacked the woman was wearing a white t-shirt and dark trousers.

She managed to flee the scene and the car drove away on Blackhorse Avenue towards the city centre.

The car, described as a silver family saloon, may have turned left and gone on to the Navan Road.

Gardai have arrested a male (30) in relation to the assault and attempted abduction of a female yesterday in Dublin 7. A sequence of information-gathering checkpoints were carried out this morning at the location of the incident. For more information https://t.co/jzKbXE2xvu pic.twitter.com/vNzpf3hXSl  Garda Info (@gardainfo) January 7, 2020

A spokeswoman said: Gardai arrested a 30-year-old male in relation to the assault and attempted abduction of a female in the Martins Grove/Blackhorse Avenue area of Dublin 7 on Monday 6th January 2020.

He is currently being detained at Blanchardstown Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act (1984) on suspicion of offence of false imprisonment contrary to Section 15 of Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act (1997).

Gardai said that they have also seized a vehicle of interest and that it is subject to a forensic examination.

Gardai are also keen to speak with anyone who was in the vicinity of Blackhorse Avenue between 6am and 8am on Tuesday morning who may have information about this incident or drivers with dashcam footage.
The UK Parliament is expected to pass landmark legislation enacting the countrys departure from the bloc.

The United Kingdom moved a step closer to leaving the European Union on Tuesday when Prime Minister Boris Johnson brought his Brexit deal back to Parliament, with MPs finally set to approve it after years of division and delay.

Having scooped a parliamentary majority in the December 12 election, Johnson now faces little threat of defeat, deadlock or delay.

Opening the debate, Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said the Withdrawal Agreement Bill delivers on the overwhelming mandate given to us by the British people to get Brexit done by the end of January.

Members of Parliament have three days to debate the legislation to enshrine Johnsons divorce deal, which will steer the countrys most significant constitutional change for a generation.

The next three days will illustrate vividly just how powerful Boris Johnsons position has become, said Al Jazeeras Paul Brennan, reporting from London.





Realistically, theres nothing that can derail the prime ministers stated ambition of the UK leaving the EU by January 31. But the thorny issue of negotiating a trade deal by the end of 2020 remains far less assured.

Attention is turning to the next phase of Brexit, in which London will seek to agree upon a new economic partnership with the EU, its largest trading partner.

The two sides have agreed on an 11-month transition phase in which to do this, lasting until December 31, with their ties remaining the same in practice during that time.

Many in the EU believe this timeframe is too tight, but London has insisted it will not seek an extension.

British officials said Johnson will emphasise this point in his first meeting with Ursula von der Leyen, the new president of the European Commission, in London on Wednesday.

The EU does not yet have a formal mandate to begin trade talks, as the UK has not left the bloc, but both sides are eager to begin preparations for the negotiations.

Failure to reach a trade deal before the end of the transition period could result in significant disruption and economic damage on both sides of the Channel.

Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said von der Leyen would discuss with Johnson how we can come out with a positive agreement at the end of the year.

Johnson is so determined that there should be no extension to the transition phase that he has enshrined the December 31, 2020, date in the Brexit bill.

British opposition MPs condemned the move, and Green MP Caroline Lucas warned Tuesday that it would tie the hands of the government in such an unnecessary way.

But addressing a nearly empty Commons chamber, Barclay insisted, With absolute clarity on the timetable, we are working to, the UK and the EU will be able to get on with it.

Johnson, a former London mayor who led the Brexit campaign in the referendum, is eager to move on from EU matters and his government has implemented an unofficial ban on the word Brexit starting next month.

His finance minister, Sajid Javid, also announced on Tuesday he would hold a new post-Brexit budget vote on March 11, to seize the opportunities that come from getting Brexit done.

The Brexit deal covers the UKs financial liabilities, protections for around 3.5 million EU citizens living in the UK after Brexit, the transition period and new trade arrangements for Northern Ireland.

The main opposition Labour party tabled numerous amendments to the bill, but has conceded it does not have the numbers to get them through.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ACON Investments, L.L.C. and its affiliates ("ACON") announced the acquisition of Pine Environmental Services LLC ("Pine"), the largest independent provider of environmental test and measurement equipment solutions in North America. Based in Windsor, New Jersey, Pine serves a highly diversified customer base, including environmental consulting firms, offering rental, sales, and service solutions for project and equipment needs. As part of the transaction, the management team of Pine will be significant shareholders alongside ACON.

Greg Rzonca, CEO of Pine, said, "We are delighted to be partnering with ACON to leverage their networks across our markets and beyond to help drive Pine's growth." Angelo Pinheiro, Pine's Founder, added, "We are proud of Pine's success having become a leading equipment provider in the EHS sector. Together with ACON, we look forward to continued growth and expansion as both private and public sectors are increasingly focused on improving environmental, health and safety standards."

"Pine's national footprint, broadest EHS equipment offering, value-added services and strategic focus has made it the market leader in its industry. We are excited to partner with the Pine management team to accelerate future growth both organically and through accretive acquisitions," said Mo Bawa, Partner at ACON.

John Roush, who has served as an executive advisor to ACON and will serve on the Pine Board of Directors, said, "I look forward to working with ACON and Pine's current leadership team to execute on a number of key initiatives in the strategic plan." Mr. Roush previously served as President of PerkinElmer's environmental instrumentation business and has more than 25 years of experience as a CEO and senior executive in other companies such as Novanta, Honeywell and General Electric.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Pine

Pine Environmental Services LLC is the largest independent provider of rental solutions for environmental test and measurement equipment, non-destructive testing equipment, and continuous emission stack testing equipment in North America. Pine offers a full suite of rentals, sales, and services solutions to its customers across 38 locations in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.pine-environmental.com.

About ACON Investments

ACON Investments, L.L.C. is a Washington, DC-based international private equity investment firm that manages private equity funds and special purpose partnerships that make investments in the United States, Latin America and Europe. Founded in 1996, ACON has responsibility for managing approximately $5.6 billion of capital. ACON has professionals in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Sao Paulo and Bogota. For more information, visit www.aconinvestments.com.

CONTACTS:

Mo Bawa ACON Investments, L.L.C. (202) 454-1109 Midhat Pawlak ACON Investments, L.L.C. (202) 386-9767

SOURCE ACON Investments, L.L.C.

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PM expressed desire to work with Trump to increase cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US President Donald Trump and expressed desire to work with him to increase cooperation in areas of mutual interest, a statement from the PMO said on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) also said that Modi conveyed his New Year greetings to the US president.
A ten-point guide to how Tehran may react to Qassem Soleimani's demise.

Somewhere in Tehran, a team of strategists is sifting through options for Irans response to the killing of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Each incendiary tweet by U.S. President Donald Trump further concentrates their minds. They will have two distinct aims: to avenge the generals assassination -- and to be seen doing so -- and to advance Irans broader strategic objectives. Which of the options that they produce will Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ultimately choose? Will he scale the ladder of escalation to war with the United States? Will he race to develop a nuclear weapon? What indicators have we gleaned so far that might penetrate the visceral anger and shed light on Irans strategic calculus?

Here are ten points worth bearing in mind as we consider what Iran might be thinking.

Iran knows what Soleimani was up to

In the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 3 strike, President Trump tweeted, Soleimani got caught! U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Defense Mike Esper, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley have all insisted that the slain general was actively planning an attack on Americans -- an attack that may have been imminent. Are they telling the truth? Or is this another misleading pretext used to rationalize an attack?

While Washington debates whether or not the attack was urgently required, there is no uncertainty about this question in Tehran. At least one party, the Iranians, knows the truth of what Soleimani was plotting. That means that Tehran knows whether Washingtons allegations have merit or not. This provides Iran with one of two conclusions about American intentions.

If Soleimani actually was planning imminent attacks on U.S. assets, then Tehran now knows that Washington has truly formidable intelligence capabilities, which is itself a deterrent. It also grasps that the United States is quite firm in defending its red line against such attacks.

On the other hand, if there were no specific attacks planned, then Tehrans reading is more dangerous. Iran will know that the strike was untethered to a concrete threat against the United States, undermining any clarity about the actual U.S. threshold for using force. Emboldened by the apparent lack of serious intelligence capacity of the Americans, Tehran may well downplay Trumps blustering tweets and be tempted to overreact.

Iran goes to great lengths to cloak its actions

There is an odd duality to Tehrans provocations and its comments about them. Iran categorically rejected responsibility for a June 13 attack on two tankers in the Hormuz Strait. After a large-scale September attack on two Saudi oil installations, Iran had its Houthi proxies in Yemen take responsibility, which was completely implausible. Iran accepted responsibility for the June 20 downing of a U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle, but Tehran insisted that the drone had flown into Iranian airspace. Iranian Vice President Eshag Jahanghiri even denied Iranian involvement in the Dec. 27 rocket attack on the K1 military base near Kirkuk that killed an American contractor and wounded U.S. soldiers. That American officials see Iran as responsible for the attack in Iraq and use that as an excuse to bomb innocent people is a big lie. There is not a more peace-seeking nation than Iran, he said, adding that Iran will stand with an iron fist against any invaders.

In an unusually direct response to Trumps tweet holding Iran culpable for the K1 attack, Khamenei said the Iranian nation deeply condemns the [U.S.] crime against Hashd Shaabi. Khamenei added, [if] the Islamic Republic decides to fight a country, it will do so quickly.

On one hand, Iran vows to defend itself aggressively. On the other, it denies responsibility for actions that would make its threats more credible. While Irans dexterity with cat-and-mouse attacks -- a specialty of the late Soleimani -- has been widely noted, its underlying anxieties have not. Clearly, Iran is afraid of being exposed for its bellicosity. That suggests that Iran is wary of escalation and therefore likely can be deterred, even after the Soleimani strike. That also poses a serious dilemma for Tehran, given the need for a robust and visible response to the spectacle of its iconic leader being incinerated by an American drone.

Iran is reluctant to leave the JCPOA

If Iran wanted a reason to leave the multilateral agreement on its nuclear program, it certainly didnt need to wait until the killing of Soleimani. Back in May 2018, when Iran was in full compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Trump administration unilaterally decided to pull out of the deal. The same held true when the administration applied punishing new sanctions against Iran this past April. It was only in the following month that Tehran began to take gradual steps toward restarting its nuclear program.

Even Irans just-issued announcement that it is now abandoning its final limitations in the nuclear deal is rife with ambiguity. Iran pledges to continue its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and will even return to the limits set on its nuclear program if sanctions are lifted. The contrast with the categorical U.S. repudiation of the nuclear deal could not be sharper.

Irans reluctance to leave the JCPOA suggests that there is a consensus among key decision-makers that the nuclear deal is fundamentally in Irans interest. Whether this is because Iran is desperate for the economic relief promised under the deal; because the United States remains alone in its walkout; because the expiration of some of the deals key restrictions is in sight; or for other reasons entirely, is not clear. Iran may yet move forward in pursuing full nuclear-weapons capability, but its behavior so far suggests this would be done only after a complete reassessment of its international and domestic position. Does Soleimanis killing alone supply a reason for such a momentous shift?

It is not clear that Iraqis have turned decisively against the U.S.

On Dec. 27, following U.S. airstrikes that killed 24 members of the Iran-backed militia blamed for the rocket attack, Iraqis stormed the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad. But the emotional funeral on Jan. 4 for the founding Iraqi commander of the very militia that the United States attacked along with Soleimani generated only negligible efforts by protesters to enter the Green Zone where the U.S. Embassy is located.

This dog that didnt bark is significant. Having directed their ire at the U.S. Embassy after ordinary soldiers were killed, Iraqis would have been expected to redouble their fury at the same location after two revered commanders were slain. After all, this would be considered a second lethal violation of Iraqi sovereignty, and far more brazen. One would have expected ordinary Iraqis to at least mass in front of the Embassy compound, burn American flags, and denounce America.

The failure to do so suggests that the initial protest was staged by pro-Iran forces in Iraq. While many Iraqis, particularly Iraqi Shiites, may well be angry at the United States, their animus appears to be quite different from that vented against Iran in months-long protests. The latter demonstrations appear to be spontaneous. Indeed, even after repeated, lethal attacks by Iraqi security forces on protesters, Iraqis have continued to protest. Citizen protesters burned the Iranian consulates in Najaf and Basra.

While the protests can easily be turned on again, the respite suggests that at least for now, the Soleimani assassination has not singlehandedly changed Iraqi public opinion.

Even in Iraqs parliament, attitudes toward the United States and Iran appear to have changed less than what is reported. The resolution demanding that U.S. troops leave was largely symbolic. Further, it passed without the votes of Kurdish or Sunni members of parliament. This is quite significant, suggesting that not just the Kurds but the Sunnis as well have deep reservations about a U.S. departure.

Completely incongruously, the resolution included an affirmative reference to the Strategic Framework agreement with the United States. If Washington is so odious, then why would Baghdad want a strategic relationship with it? Rather than proof of how anti-American attitudes have hardened after the strike on Soleimani, the resolution may simply be a case of the Iraqi parliament showing obeisance to Tehran in its hour of rage.

Iranians have condemned the killing of Soleimani

As expected, Iranians have widely, though not universally, condemned the killing of the legendary Soleimani. Advisers to Mir-Hossein Mousavi, a leading opposition figure who is still under house arrest, labeled the assassination an act of terrorism and called Soleimani a martyr.

At the same time, Soleimani represented the hardline faction behind the recent crackdown in Iran that has seen as many as 1,500 Iranian protesters killed. The brutal repression prompted an unprecedented reaction from some officials, including a member of the Majlis who, breaking a taboo, compared the regimes actions to those of the Shah.

As the bitterness over the Soleimani killing abates (and as President Trump begins to aim his provocative tweets elsewhere), anti-government fervor in Iran may return. Precedent suggests this is possible. Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic initially benefitted from national reaction to NATO bombing in 1999. Two years later he was in The Hague, having been deposed by a popular uprising.

The new sanctions that the Administration imposed in the spring also initially had a unifying effect in Iran, before melting into the recent anti-government public action. Can the Iranian regime sustain a state of permanent confrontation to cover its domestic failings?

The economic status quo for Iran has not changed

Irans concealed acts of sabotage, as well as the direct strike on the K1 base by its proxies, are primarily in response to the unilateral imposition of sanctions by the United States. Those sanctions have inflicted severe economic hardship on Iran. Indeed, the spark for the protests was a hike in the price of fuel, necessitated by outside economic pressure.

Soleimanis assassination has shaken the Middle East and the world, but the economic facts of life for Iran have not changed. It remains under unilateral U.S. sanctions that have left it effectively unable to sell its oil, decimating its economy. Iran has to calculate whether it has nothing to lose by an attack -- or whether it has everything to lose, incurring further isolation, damage to infrastructure, and potentially additional sanctions if other countries follow the U.S. approach.

Tehran faces opprobrium, but it is not a cornered animal

Tehran already enjoyed strong support from Russia and China, as well as from the Europeans, after Washingtons unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA. Brussels and key capitals in Europe have tried unsuccessfully to create a way for European companies to trade with Iran without running afoul of U.S. sanctions. China even conducted joint naval exercises with Iran last month, a clear symbolic gesture of support.

When it comes to Tehrans own military actions, that support evaporates. Berlin, Paris, and London did not hesitate to condemn Tehran in the strongest terms for the September attack on Saudi oil installations. It is clear to us that Iran bears responsibility for this attack, the three capitals declared in a joint statement. As a big oil importer, China has no interest in a conflagration in the Gulf, nor does Russia generally want one, even though it benefits from higher oil prices.

After the Soleimani killing, the politico-military dynamic remains in place: Iran enjoys a degree of international understanding about its hardships, but risks losing it if Tehran undertakes military action. French President Emmanuel Macron has been frenetically working the phones with Iran and other parties in an effort to gain restraint. Tehran continues to receive senior foreign officials, including from Arab countries such as Qatar and Oman. The United Arab Emirates also trades and communicates with Iran.

In other words, Iran is wounded, and it is warned, but it is in no sense a cornered animal that must strike out.

There is still a deal to be negotiated between the U.S. and Iran

Tehran was already furious at Trump for reneging on the nuclear deal, even before the Soleimani hit. But a deal can still be reached. As is his wont, President Trump has repeatedly expressed willingness for a high-profile meeting with his Iranian counterpart. As recently as mid-September, after the attack on Saudi Arabia, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also proposed negotiations with the United States.

Several mediators, including Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and senior Omani officials, have conveyed messages and made appeals. These efforts will not bear fruit in the frenzy of the moment, but they shouldnt be forgotten.

The Iranians are shrewd negotiators who know that Trump is easily outmaneuvered in high-stakes settings, as shown by the American presidents encounter in Singapore with North Koreas Kim Jong Un. Spectacle is not the preferred Iranian approach, but Tehran may be led to see its interests served by a direct encounter with Washington.

Soleimani is not around to influence domestic Iranian politics

In the wake of his assassination, attention has focused on the operational impact of Soleimanis absence at the helm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds force. But the legendary commander was also a powerful hardline voice within Iran. His departure injects not just an operational void that may or may not be filled, but a highly uncertain dynamic in domestic power politics. It is at least worth considering whether more pragmatic, less dogmatic factions in Tehran may emerge now that Soleimani is not there to oppose them.

Will Soleimanis demise shake Pyongyang?

Trump apparently had the Benghazi assault in mind when he ordered the strike on Qassem Soleimani. But it was a prior development in Libya, in 2011, that had broader international impact. The ignominious death of Moammar Qadhafi -- who had given up his nuclear program -- accelerated North Koreas determination to produce nuclear weapons. Kim Jong Un has surely taken note of the assassination of the high-profile Soleimani. How the North Korean leader will process the Soleimani hit -- by further intensifying his nuclear program, by restraining it, or perhaps neither -- is worth considering.

Mr. Joseph is senior fellow and adjunct professor in Conflict Management at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He has served in senior positions in U.S. and international missions in Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and for a dozen years in the Balkans. The views expressed are the author's own.
The body of General Qassem Soleimani arrived in Tehran on Sunday, after a day of mass mourning for the top Iranian general who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad on Friday. At Tehran's Mehrabad Airport, the caskets of Soleimani and others killed in the airstrike were carried through a crowd of supporters.

Earlier, hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets in the cities of Ahvaz and Mashhad to walk alongside the casket of Soleimani, who was the architect of Iran's proxy wars across the Mideast and was blamed for the deaths of hundreds of Americans in suicide bombings and other attacks.

Read: Iran exits Nuclear Deal amid rising tensions with the US

Meanwhile, the blowback over the killing mounted as Iran announced it will no longer abide by the limits contained in the 2015 nuclear deal and Iraq's Parliament called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil.

The twin developments could bring Iran closer to building an atomic bomb and enable the Islamic State group to stage a comeback in Iraq, making the Middle East a far more dangerous and unstable place.

Read: Trump steps up warning to Tehran; says US ready to strike 52 Iranian sites if Tehran retaliates

Read: Middle East on boil as Iran vows revenge on US post-Soleimani assasination
WASHINGTON: The killing of a top Iranian general by the United States was an act of state terrorism and Iran will respond proportionately, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an interview with CNN on Tuesday.

Zarif said US President Donald Trump had displayed a lack of respect for international law by threatening Iran`s cultural sites. "This is state terrorism," Zarif said of the killing of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guard`s Quds Force, in a US drone attack in Baghdad last week.

"This is an act of aggression against Iran, and it amounts to an armed attack against Iran, and we will respond. But we will respond proportionately - not disproportionately ... We are not lawless like President Trump."

Trump said on Saturday the United States was ready to strike 52 Iranian sites, including some important to Iranian culture, if Iran attacked US assets or Americans. On Sunday, he said the United States would strike back "perhaps in a disproportionate manner" if Iran attacked any American target.

Zarif said Trump had shown the world he was "prepared to commit war crimes, because attacking cultural sites is a war crime. Disproportionate response is a war crime." Soleimani was responsible for building up Tehran`s network of proxy armies across the Middle East and he was a key figure in orchestrating Iran`s long-standing campaign to drive US forces out of its neighbor Iraq.

Zarif said Washington should wake up to the reality that "the United States cannot stay in this region with the people of the region not wanting it any more."

Asked if it was worth speaking to Trump, Zarif said: "It doesn`t need speaking. He has to realize that he has been fed misinformation. And he needs to wake up, and apologize. He has to apologize, he has to change course."
LONDON  Joker, the acclaimed film that tells the back story of the comic book villain, received 11 nominations on Tuesday for the EE British Academy Film Awards, Britains equivalent of the Oscars, the most of any film.

One of those was in the best film category of the awards, commonly known as the BAFTAs, where it will compete against Martin Scorseses The Irishman, Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time  in Hollywood, Bong Joon Hos Parasite and Sam Mendess 1917, a World War I epic that won best drama at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.

The directors of all those movies will also compete for the best director prize.

As in the United States, Joker received rave reviews in Britain when it was released, but also received criticism for its depiction of mental illness and violence. Another flap centered on the movies soundtrack, which included a song by Gary Glitter, a British singer and convicted child abuser.

Joaquin Phoenix, who played the title role in Joker, has been nominated for the best actor award, a prize he also won at the Golden Globes on Sunday, and is favorite to take at the Oscars.
A man has been rushed to hospital after being stabbed near to Kennington Underground Station.

The victim, believed to be in his teens, was knifed in De Laune Street this afternoon.

Police were called shortly after 5pm where they found the victim, who was treated for stab wounds at the scene before being taken to a south London hospital.

Scotland Yard is awaiting an update on his condition.

Officers are making enquiries and no arrests have been made.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "Officers attended and a male believed to be in his teens was found with stab injuries. He was treated at the scene by the London Ambulance Service and conveyed to a south London hospital. We await an update on his condition at this time."
Rebel Wilson has been praised by fans after showing off her slimmed-down figure in active wear and pledging to focus on her health in 2020.

The 39-year-old took to Instagram on Thursday to share a photo of herself posing in black leggings and a white shirt while announcing she is going to make her health a priority this year.

Fans flocked to Rebel's page to praise her for vowing to make positive changes and insisted she is 'already looking amazing.'

'You look amazing!' Fans have praised Rebel Wilson (pictured) for showing off her slimmed-down figure and vowing to focus on her health on Thursday

'You already look amazing,' one person wrote.

'I am with you. You are looking amazing Aussie sista!!,' another agreed.

'You look amazing!! 2020 bring on health, I'm with you!!,' another said.

One wrote: '100% with you Rebel!!! This year is a year of health and self care for me. Your look amazing.'

Impressed: Fans flocked to Instagram to praise Rebel for vowing to make positive changes and insisted she is ' already looking amazing'

'Wow Rebel [you] look like you lost a lot of weight. Well done. Happy new year,' one insisted.

'You are already looking fantastic but I totally agree with you. I definitely need to put my physical and my mental health first,' another agreed.

One wrote: 'You look great, you look absolutely beautiful beforehand and still now. Such a role model.'

'I'm going to do it!' On Thursday, Rebel Wilson announced that she is going to continue to make her health a priority in 2020. Pictured in May 2019

On Thursday, Rebel took to Instagram to vow to make positive changes alongside a picture on the beach.

'Okay so for me 2020 is going to be called "The Year of Health",' she wrote.

She added:'So I put on the athleisure and went out for a walk, deliberately hydrating on the couch right now.

'And [I'm] trying to avoid the sugar and junk food, which is going to be hard after the holidays I've just had but I'm going to do it!' 'Who's with me in making some positive changes this year?' she concluded.
Days after the Jawaharlal Nehru University was rocked by violence, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said educational campuses must not become safe havens for the politics of hate and violence to thrive.

He also said academic endeavors and co-curricular initiatives must attain primacy in universities and not factionalism and divisive tendencies.

There is no doubt that there is space for every shade of opinion and every point of view in our universities, Naidu said in his address at the silver jubilee celebrations of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) here.

The Vice-President's comments come in the backdrop of the violence at the JNU on Sunday night when masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, leaving several injured.

"Our children, when they leave the portals of the educational institutions must be enlightened citizens who will take an abiding interest in protecting our democracy and preserving the fundamental values that are enshrined in our constitution.

But our campuses must not become safe havens for the politics of hate and violence to thrive. Academic endeavors and co-curricular initiatives must attain primacy in our universities and not factionalism and divisive tendencies, Naidu said.

Stressing the need for focus on research and development, the Vice President said that at present India was spending less than 1 per cent of its GDP on R&D. This must change.

Research, especially Science and Technology research, is resource-intensive, time consuming and risky. We as a society, must be prepared to bear with this risk, he said in his address, a copy of which was released to media.

Further noting that it was a matter of grave concern that Indian universities rank low in both research and teaching, Naidu said, though the number of Higher Institutions has surged in India since the 2000s, the number of students undertaking PhDs has not shown a corresponding hike.

There are over a one lakh India-born PhDs in universities around the world. We must attract at least some of this talent back home through better opportunities and incentives so that they may help fast-track the progress of our R & D sector, he said.

It was a matter of grave concern that the latest India Skills Report suggests that only 47 per cent of Indian graduates were employable, the Vice President pointed out and said, therefore, along with education, necessary skills, including life skills, should be imparted to the students.

Complementing the accreditation framework developed by NAAC, Naidu said he was certain in the time to come, NAAC will act as a friend, philosopher and guide to our Institutions of Higher Education, constantly raising standards and benchmarks for quality and excellence.

Earlier, the Vice-President visited Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha here, where Vishwesha TheerthaSwamiji of Pejawar Mutt, who passed away last month, has been interred and paid floral tributes.

The Swamiji was a true embodiment of the teachings of Srimad Bhagavadgita and his was a life dedicated to purify the cultural, religious and social values of our present day society, he said.

Naidu also visited the mechanised kitchen facility at "Adamya Chetana", that serves food to thousands of school children. It was founded by late Union Minister AnanthKumar and his wife Tejaswini.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A heartbreaking cartoon of Steve Irwin welcoming Australian animals into heaven has gone viral on social media.

Artist Sharnia-Mae Sturm, 22, shared the poignant illustration on Instagram on New Year's Eve as news of Australia's bushfire crisis broke around the world.

The heartfelt sketch shows the late Crocodile Hunter greeting kangaroos, koalas and other wildlife with open arms saying, 'Don't worry little guys! I'll take care of you!'

A poignant cartoon depicting the late Steve Irwin welcoming animals killed in bushfires into heaven has gone viral after being posted on Instagram

The post had gone viral across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, in a matter of days

By Sunday, the post had gone viral being shared across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Ms Sturm, who is from WA but now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, said her account became flooded with such a high volume of responses, it was deactivated.

Artist Sharnia Sturm, who is from WA but now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, said her account became so flooded with responses, it was deactivated

'So Instagram has deactivated my sketchy_koala account because they believe I have accumulated false likes and comments,' she told fans on her Sketchy Koala Facebook page.

'I guess it's from the sudden outburst of people liking commenting and sharing my drawing. I'm working on getting it back online though! Thank you all for your love and support.'

The cartoon has since gained more than 2.5million views, with many saying it brought them to tears.

'Look at this. Just, look. Let that sink in. I don't have words, but I sure have tears. So poignant. I urge anyone wanting to help to donate,' one Instagram user said.

Another woman shared the post on Facebook saying: 'An amazingly sad artwork reflecting on the bush fires across Australia. This one really hit home to think of all the animals that are now gone forever, now being taken of by Steve Irwin from above.'

The image even captured the attention of Irwin's daughter Bindi, who thanked Ms Sturm in the comments.

Irwin died in September 2006 after being stabbed in the chest by a stingray barb as he was filming a documentary in shallow waters at the Great Barrier Reef.

At the time, his son Robert was two while his daughter Bindi was eight.
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CES 2020 -- Green Hills Software, the worldwide leader in embedded safety and security, and Real-Time Innovations (RTI), the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) connectivity company, today announced their collaboration in the automotive industry with a demonstration of safe and secure connectivity solutions for critical embedded systems. The partnership brings together the safe and secure real-time operating system INTEGRITY from Green Hills, with the robust Connext DDS connectivity framework from RTI. Applications running on INTEGRITY can now communicate to other software environments such as ROS and Adaptive AUTOSAR using the standards-based Data Distribution Service (DDS) framework. The combined solution gives system architects a trusted real-time software foundation to build intelligent distributed systems that achieve the highest levels of safety and security in applications such as autonomous vehicles, avionics and transportation.

As more and more electronics systems in embedded systems become defined by complex software, the need for a robust, real-time and interoperable communication framework between software components grows. For data-hungry applications such as autonomous vehicles, safety and security are crucial requirements. The Connext DDS connectivity framework from RTI enables applications running on the INTEGRITY RTOS to communicate across systems both within the vehicle and outside the vehicle, while also using the DDS standard to seamlessly interoperate with other important automotive environments such as ROS2, AUTOSAR Classic and AUTOSAR Adaptive. These capabilities further enhance INTEGRITY as the safe and secure run-time platform for autonomous vehicle projects, spanning research pilot programs to high-volume production.

"We're pleased to be working with Green Hills," said David Barnett, vice president of products and markets, RTI. "RTI Connext Drive builds on proven technology already used in over 200 autonomous vehicle programs around the world, as well as over 1,300 other demanding, real-time, intelligent distributed systems. Using Connext DDS with INTEGRITY provides our customers with a complete solution for their autonomous vehicle development environments and will help OEMs and suppliers accelerate their time to production."

"Connext Drive is a key addition to our automotive technology partner ecosystem," said Dan Mender, vice president of business development, Green Hills Software. "RTI's connectivity products and experience combined with the safe and secure INTEGRITY foundation which is successfully deployed in over 100 million vehicles globally, offers next-generation vehicle electronic designs the advanced, high performance connectivity required to seamlessly communicate with a diverse range of vehicle domains using proven, automotive-grade solutions."

Demonstration at CES

An enhanced version of the INTEGRITY-based NXP Platform for Safe and Secure Autonomous Driving ("BlueBox") including the Connext DDS framework is demonstrated in the Green Hills booth at CES 2020, Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), North Hall, Booths #9000 & 9300.

About RTI

Real-Time Innovations (RTI) is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) connectivity company. The RTI Connext Databus is a software framework that shares information in real time, making applications work together as one integrated system. It connects across field, fog and cloud. Its reliability, security, performance and scalability are proven in the most demanding industrial systems. Deployed systems include medical devices and imaging; wind, hydro and solar power; autonomous planes, trains and cars; traffic control; oil and gas; robotics, ships and defense. RTI is the largest vendor of products based on the Object Management Group (OMG) Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard. RTI is privately held and headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.

About Green Hills Software

Founded in 1982, Green Hills Software is the worldwide leader in embedded safety and security. In 2008, the Green Hills INTEGRITY-178 RTOS was the first and only operating system to be certified by NIAP (National Information Assurance Partnership comprised of NSA & NIST) to EAL 6+, High Robustness, the highest level of security ever achieved for any software product. Our open architecture integrated development solutions address deeply embedded, absolute security and high-reliability applications for the military/avionics, medical, industrial, automotive, networking, consumer and other markets that demand industry-certified solutions. Green Hills Software is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, with European headquarters in the United Kingdom. Visit Green Hills Software at www.ghs.com.

Green Hills, the Green Hills logo, MULTI and INTEGRITY are trademarks or registered trademarks of Green Hills Software, in the U.S. and/or internationally. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Green Hills Software

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Morocco and the USA, which are determined to reinforce their cooperation in security matters, have discussed at a meeting in Rabat Monday ways to bolster the fight against crime under all its forms.

The meeting between Head of Moroccos public prosecutor office Mohamed Abdelnabaoui and a delegation of US attorneys general discussed best practices in the fight against crime.

In a press release, Abdennabaoui explained that the Rabat meeting, which follows the meeting held in the United States in 2019, aims at promoting the exchange of expertise and successful experiences as well as to share best practices of the two countries legal systems.

The meeting held in Rabat served as an opportunity to discuss ideas to minimize crime, attorney general of the District of Columbia, Washington, Karl Racine has said.

Attorney general of the State of Idaho, Lawrence G.Wasden, who is also part of the US delegation, said this second meeting focused on exchanging ideas on several topics of common interest. Cooperation between the two parties focuses on cases relating to drug trafficking, human trafficking, protection of personal data and money laundering, the US attorney general said.

The visit is also a way to formalize exchanges between the two countries, facilitating the organization of training sessions and strengthening communication, G. Wasden added.

A delegation of US attorneys General, including Lawrence G. Wasden, had visited Morocco in 2018, to learn about the countrys efforts to counter human trafficking, cyber terrorism and transnational organized crimes.

In a column published after this first visit in Salt Lake Tribune, under the title United front with Morocco supports security across the globe, Lawrence G. Wasden and his colleague Sean Reyes recalled the historic, longstanding ties existing between the USA and Morocco, saying these ties remain of the highest importance today, especially in the global fight against terrorism and extremism.

We learned how a Muslim majority nation is addressing these challenges, against threats both foreign and domestic, and promoting shared interests and ideals in a region growing increasingly unstable, the U.S. Attorneys General had pointed out in their column.

Moroccos security services have an excellent reputation for their efficient strategy in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

The US has extolled Moroccos approach against terrorism and crime in several reports.

In its 2019 Country Report on Terrorism, the US Department of State emphasized that Moroccos counterterrorism efforts have effectively mitigated risks of terrorism over the past three years.
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The global business process management (BPM) market is expected to reach USD 23.04 billion by 2024, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. The growth is attributed to the increasing number of benefits offered by the BPM solution, including better productivity, ease of use, flexibility, and reduction in the time to wait for customers. The growing need for the integration of key functional areas in an organization is also expected to propel demand over the next eight years. The business process management software exhibits high avenues in various application areas, especially in the IT & telecom and healthcare sectors. This may be due to its capabilities of monitoring individual processes of the entire lifecycle.

Organizations restructuring their business processes are most likely to adopt the BPM software. Several regulations, including ObamaCare and (Single Euro Payments Area) SEPA, are analyzed to significantly catapult the demand over the forecast period. Obamacare focuses on providing affordable health insurance to the U.S. citizens with the introduction of new taxes and tax breaks. The European Union introduced SEPA to simplify the inter-country bank transfers. Security concerns related to the cloud-based BPM solutions are anticipated to hinder the market growth. Additionally, the lack of knowledge in order to successfully implement business process management solutions in an organization is a key challenge for this industry.

Request a Sample Copy of the Global Business Process Management Market Research Report @

www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/business-process-management-bpm-market/request/rs1

Further key findings from the report suggest:

The process modeling and automation solution segment dominated the BPM market in terms of revenue in 2015. This is attributed to the growing need for process improvement in the manufacturing as well as service industry.

The uses of the BPM solutions in the hospital management system, including bed management and patient monitoring, are anticipated to be the key factor fostering growth in the healthcare sector.

The cloud-based BPM solutions are expected to observe a high adoption among SMEs due to their features such as scalability offered at a very low cost. Cloud-based BPaaS providers are expected to target the healthcare sector due to the growing IT spending by hospitals and pharmaceuticals.

Large enterprises dominated the industry accounting for more than 60% of total market revenue share in 2015. The large share is primarily driven by the focus of the enterprise to build central functionality in order to enhance the operational efficiency.

North America dominated the industry with more than 30% share in 2015. This is attributed to its early adoption, primarily in the government and BFSI sectors. Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness a considerable growth owing to the large scale industrialization and emergence of several startups in India, China, and the ASEAN region.

The prominent industry participants include IBM Corp., Microsoft Corp., Oracle Corp., SAP SE, Appian Corp., and PegaSystems Inc. A strong focus on the research & development initiatives is helping solution providers to create its presence in the competitive environment. Merger & acquisition is also anticipated to be a key strategy used to diversify the developers competency to provide different solutions under a single roof.

Grand View Research has segmented the global Business Process Management (BPM) market on the basis of solution, application, deployment, end-user, and region:

BPM Solution Outlook (USD Million; 2014 - 2024)

Automation

Process Modeling

Content & Document Management

Monitoring & Optimization

Integration

Others

BPM Application Outlook (USD Million; 2014 - 2024)

BFSI

IT & Telecom

Retail

Manufacturing

Healthcare

Government & Defense

Others

BPM Deployment Outlook (USD Million; 2014 - 2024)

Cloud-based

On-Premise

BPM End-user Outlook (USD Million; 2014 - 2024)

SMEs

Large Enterprise

BPM Regional Outlook (USD Million; 2014 - 2024)

North America U.S. Canada

Europe Germany UK

Asia Pacific China Japan India

Latin America Brazil Mexico

Middle East & Africa

Access full research report on global business process management market:

www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/business-process-management-bpm-market
Arunachal Pradesh Governor B D Mishra on Tuesday called upon the legislators to work in close coordination to take the state towards peace and prosperity.

In his customary address to the third session of the Seventh Legislative Assembly, the governor said the state government has set forth its vision to bring development in the state with equitable progress for all.

He said the government is seeking team spirit and hard work to achieve excellence in governance, quality education, better health services and progressive changes in agriculture and horticulture sectors.

To reduce backlog in road infrastructure, the government is adopting a comprehensive approach with better and new technologies, he added.

"The government has mooted the Chief Minister Comprehensive State Road Plan 2019-24, to bring improvement in 150 km roads in the state capital, upgrade important inter- state and inter-district roads to the specification of state highway," the governor said.

The governor further informed that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved expenditure of Rs 28,080 crore on pre-investment activities and various clearances for 2,880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project.

"The project will be completed in nine years. On completion, the state government will get 12 per cent free power, besides other industrial and commercial externalities, which will enhance the state's revenue by about Rs 26,785 crore over the project life of forty years," he pointed out.

Mishra said that the state has achieved cent per cent household electrification under Saubhagya Scheme and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gramin Jyoti Yojana.

In the health sector, the government has launched the ambitious Chief Minister's Arogya Arunachal Yojana (CMAAY) which would provide health insurance cover for a family up to five lakh per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation which are not covered under Ayushman Bharat scheme of the Centre.

Mishra said the state government is planning to tie up with Airbnb, Make My Trip and other companies for registering home-stays in order to promote tourism.

"We have approved the Arunachal Pradesh State Industrial and Investment Policy under which, we will set up a single-window system to facilitate all clearances, approvals, licenses and permissions for setting up industrial ventures," he said.

Mishra said the state government was making all efforts to operationalise Hollongi airport by March 2022, for which 667 acre of land has already been handed over to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and additional 6 acre of land would be provided shortly.

"The project will include construction of 2.5 kilometres global standard, lit, landscaped, green planted, approach road from National Highway to Hollongi Airport with provision for future expansion. For air connectivity in western part, pre-feasibility study has already been conducted by the AAI for another greenfield airport at Tawang," he said.

Mishra said that in order to ensure transparency and accountability in governance, the state government has made the Lok Ayukta functional from this year and is also constituting the Arunachal Pradesh State Human Rights Commission.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The fire area across southern NSW, northern and eastern Victoria and the ACT is now approaching a combined 4 million hectares, with widespread damage forming a ring of fire around Mount Kosciuszko and its national parkland. It's estimated that more than 6 million hectares have burned around Australia since the fire season began. With no signs of respite in the near future, the size of the fires is likely to increase further. How did so much fire spread so quickly? November In mid-November, the first fire sparked up in the Snowy Valleys, just a few kilometres to the northern side of the Victorian border. There were several fires dotted around rural Victoria, both in the north-west and near the coast, but most attention was focused on catastrophic fires that were ripping through the Blue Mountains, the Hawkesbury and parts of northern NSW.

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In particular, the Gospers Mountain fire, which started from a single ignition point in October became Australia's biggest ever forest fire. A firefighter stumbles after being hit and is helped back to safety while fighting the Gospers Mountain fire. Credit:Nick Moir By the end of the month, there were spot fires in the Currowan State Forest, north of Batemans Bay. A combination of weather conditions, heavy bushland and limited accessibility to remote fire fronts cultivated an environment for rapid growth. Within a week, the fire burned through 11,000 hectares - within a month, it was more than 300,000. The worst was to come just before New Year's. Early December Smoke from around the state lingered to the point where Sydney's air quality plummeted to the worst of any major city on Earth, as firefighters from provinces across Canada volunteered to give up Christmas with their families and flew to Australia to help with the bushfire crisis - the first of which arrived on Saturday, December 8. The fires were also about to reach the fringes of Sydney's metropolitan area, as the Green Wattle Creek fire ravaged towns and bushland south-west of the city - homes, and lives were tragically lost. Firefighters were overwhelmed by the flames of the Green Wattle Creek fire. Credit:Nick Moir

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The Sydney Morning Herald's Chief Photographer Nick Moir was on the frontline on Thursday, December 5 and said the fire advanced so quickly everyone was forced to "run from its path". Fire crews spent the next day trying to backburn around the Warragamba region ahead of forecast worsening conditions the following week. The Currowan fire reached 50,000 hectares in size on the South Coast, but the worst was still yet to come. To the south-east of Canberra, the North Black Range fire, which began in the Tallaganda National Park the previous Tuesday, was at an emergency level and eventually reached nearly 40,000 hectares in size. On Monday, December 10, more than 500 firefighters and emergency workers fought two out-of-control bushfires in East Gippsland, with warnings - which would be proven correct - that they could burn for a long time. Mid-December An estimated 20,000 protesters took to the streets of Sydney on Wednesday, December 11, marching from Town Hall to Hyde Park and taking over George Street to demand stronger climate action. This came after ongoing smoky conditions prompting school closures and worksite walk-offs around Sydney.

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Protesters accused the government of ignoring the science of climate change. Credit:Wolter Peeters Erratic weather resulted in 30 new spot fires around the state after lightning strikes and heat records began to tumble. Australia experienced its hottest ever day, with a national average temperature of 40.9 degrees recorded at weather stations around the country on Tuesday, December 17 - but that record only lasted until the following day's results were recorded. After Thursday's temperatures were measured, those three consecutive days were officially the three hottest ever experienced in Australia. The hot air mass that lingered over Australia shifted east with strong winds, making firefighting conditions more difficult. Most of southern NSW became engulfed with flames, and tragically two RFS firefighters - Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O'Dwyer - lost their lives and a further three were hospitalised when their truck rolled as they battled a bushfire in Buxton, south-west of Sydney. Andrew O'Dwyer and Geoffrey Keaton, both pictured with their young children, died fighting fires at Buxton. Late December The fires in East Gippsland began to spread quickly. Just a couple of days before Christmas, residents in several small towns about 350 kilometres east of Melbourne were told to seek shelter as the now almost 37,000-hectare fire began "creating its own weather" on Saturday, December 21. As a result, Melbourne was blanketed in smoke on Monday, December 23, which would become a recurring theme for the state.

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On the NSW South Coast, residents braced for a Christmas either away from their homes, or to never return at all as hundreds of homes were destroyed. More than 2000 firefighters spent their Christmas in the field. Just after Christmas, fire spread to the Bega Valley area for the first time - where it quickly made its way through thick state forest areas. Eventually, three fires merged with two others threatening to do so as well, and those five blazes combined to become more than 260,000 hectares in size. Volunteer firefighter Sam McPaul, pictured with his wife. Mr McPaul died at Jingellic on December 30. Fire conditions rapidly deteriorated near the border as well, as the Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park was engulfed in flames, and many nearby towns threatened. On December 30, more tragedy striked the RFS when Samuel McPaul's vehicle rolled over near Jingellic, caused by an "extraordinary weather event" when a "fire tornado" lifted a 10-12 tonne Rural Fire Service truck and flipped it onto its roof, RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said. Loading For the entire week after Christmas, firefighters around both states and the nation's capital prepared for surging emergency conditions on New Year's Eve and would, unfortunately, be vindicated.

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SUNRISE, Fla., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The home care industry is entering a transformative decade ahead. At least 10,000 baby boomers will turn 65 every day until 2029, and the U.S. will need to hire 2.3 million new healthcare workers to care for this aging population by 2025. This means the industry is ripe for innovation and growth. Interim HealthCare Inc., the leading national franchisor of home care, hospice and healthcare staffing, highlights its 2020 industry predictions. Here are five of its forecasted trends:

Caregiver shortage will continue to be front and center. We are facing both a caregiver and a nursing shortage. Organizations that continue to invest in specialized training programs and professional development opportunities will remain a step ahead. However, if they become great at recruiting, they may lose sight of figuring out how to keep talent onboard and engaged. The focus must be on both areas. It can't be one without the other. Hospice growth accelerates in 2020. Approximately 1.4 million Americans receive hospice care each year. However, most people are referred too late and unable to benefit from the specialized services hospice can provide. As more people transition to hospice care, the need for specialized programs to support multiple diagnoses and chronic conditions will also increase. The focus needs to be on earlier intervention, patient education and developing more disease specific programs and strategies. The healthcare industry will shift toward social determinants of health. The industry will continue to shift toward incorporating and improving the social determinants of health within caregiving in 2020. One example of this trend is how home health providers are now partnering with rideshare companies to help patients meet appointments and run errands with ease. To account for all health factors and enrich patients' lives, better care requires a holistic view of the variables that could improve outcomes. Millennials and Generation Z will become the primary healthcare decisionmakers. The next decade will see a shift in healthcare decision making. Soon, Millennials and Generation Z will be responsible for making critical decisions about their loved one's care. These generations think more like consumers, who want a personalized and transparent healthcare experience. Healthcare providers will need to match these shifting communication and relationship preferences to earn trust. Providers must now emphasize technology to stay competitive. Technology has the potential to unlock new opportunities. Healthcare providers should invest in and enhance their technological capabilities to make the full continuum of care more accessible. For example, increasing the use of digital applications can help better manage caregiver schedules and improve the overall patient experience.

"As the nation's first home care and staffing provider, Interim HealthCare prides itself on leading the industry forward with innovative strategies to bring high-quality compassionate care to our patients and clients in the local communities we serve," said Jennifer Sheets, Interim HealthCare Inc. CEO and President. "We believe future success across the industry will be largely based on the delivery of holistic care, smart technology use and an organization's ability to attract and retain the lifeline of our businessour caregivers and other healthcare professionals."

For more information on Interim HealthCare, please visit www.interimhealthcare.com.

About Interim HealthCare Inc.

Interim HealthCare Inc., founded in 1966, is a leading national franchisor of home care, hospice and healthcare staffing. It is part of Caring Brands International which also includes UK-based Bluebird Care and Australia-based Just Better Care, both well-known franchise brands in their countries. With more than 530 franchise locations in seven countries Caring Brands International is a global health care leader.

Interim HealthCare in the United States is unique in combining the commitment of local ownership with the support of a national organization that develops innovative programs and quality standards that improve the delivery of service. Franchisees employ nurses, therapists, aides, companions and other healthcare professionals who provide 25 million hours of home care service to 190,000 people each year, meeting a variety of home health, senior care, hospice, palliative care, pediatric care and healthcare staffing needs. For more information or to locate an Interim HealthCare office, visit www.interimhealthcare.com.

SOURCE Interim HealthCare Inc.

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Doylestown, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/07/2020 -- For years, SAFE Collecting Supplies has provided high-quality philatelic supplies, including stamp collecting albums and stamp mounts, to display and protect new and old stamps alike. As the country moves into the new decade, the United States Post Office has once again designed exceptional commemorative stamps honoring 2020 and the centuries before, many of which will be available for purchase and use later this month. SAFE Collecting Supplies is excited and impressed with the new stamp releases and has provided a few descriptions of some of them below.



The first and most prominent stamp release, according to SAFE Collecting Supplies, is the stamp honoring the new Lunar New Year: The Year of the Rat, the observance of which will go from Jan. 25 of this year to Feb. 11, 2021. This stamp features an elaborately-decorated 3D mask of a rat in the style popularly used in the dragon dance. Just as this stamp commemorates the future, many others are illuminating the greatness of the American past. One new stamp series will show respect to the African-American literary and artistic movement, the Harlem Renaissance, which took place a century ago. These stamps will feature four of the movement's most influential luminaries: Anne Spencer, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, Alain Locke, and Nella Larsen.



The 1920s was a decade of significant change for women, and there is a new USPS stamp that commemorates the ratification of the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It features a beautiful illustration of suffragists in white, holding purple and gold banners, and marching in a public demonstration. The words "Women Vote" and "19th Amendment" are written in royal purple below the illustration. There are also stamps celebrating Maine's statehood in1820 and the landing of the Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor in the early-1620s.



Stamp collecting is one of the oldest and most popular hobbies in the world, and the accessibility of stamps worldwide has made it easy for newcomers to the hobby and experienced philatelists to craft original collections. Although stamps are not the most durable collectibles, they can last for a very long time when correctly protected. With the stamp collecting supplies from SAFE, any collection can be protected and elegantly displayed for years of enjoyment. Visit https://www.safepub.com/ or call 877-395-7233 to learn more.



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Since 1953, SAFE Collecting Supplies has been the leading manufacturer of high-quality collecting supplies around the world. The company is dedicated to helping collectors find the appropriate collecting and storage system for coins, paper money, stamps, pins, postcards, rocks, minerals and more.



For more information, please visit https://www.safepub.com/.
People feel like they have no control over their lives, that their lives are controlled by these higher powers Avinash Patil, MANS

But their influence is hard to shake at home, where people looking for a purpose or cause too often turn a blind eye to spiritual leaders crimesKunal PurohitThis Week In AsiaJanuary 5, 2020A mysterious video surfaced in India last month, and soon became the source of memes and guffaws across the country. A man with a neatly trimmed beard is in the centre of the frame, with ash smeared all over his forehead and long gold and bead necklaces around his neck. Sitting in what looks like a studio, against the backdrop of a snow-clad mountain, he is wearing nothing but a maroon waistcloth.This is Swami Nithyananda, an Indian spiritual guru, and the video was the unveiling of his own Hindu nation, Kailaasa  a nation that does not exist on land, but with boundaries in the universe, in the cosmos state. It even has its own website, which describes Kailaasa as the Greatest Hindu nation and even promises universal health care, education and food security.This utopian fantasy might have evoked much mirth, but it concealed a darker side  Nithyananda is a fugitive in India, where he faces charges of rape as well as illegal confinement of children. Days before the videos release, police in western Indias Gujarat state raided his ashram after the allegations against him surfaced. By then, however, he had already fled India, with local media reports saying he had bought an island near Ecuador to be the site of Kailaasa.Nithyananda might be the latest Indian spiritual leader to gain international notoriety, but he is not alone. Bikram Choudhury is the subject of the recent Netflix documentary Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator, which details the yoga teachers meteoric global rise and the allegations of rape and sexual assault that have followed in the wake of his ascent. The list of gurus who achieve mass popularity before suffering a sharp fall on account of their own misdeeds is long  and is only getting longer.ASPIRATIONS AND TRADITIONBefore expanding internationally, many of these leaders first shored up their support base in India. One factor helping them achieve domestic popularity is the countrys increasing religiosity. Some 54 per cent of Indians surveyed believed that religion played a bigger role in society today than it did two decades ago, according to analysis by the Washington-based Pew Research Centre released in April last year.This, combined with unquestioned beliefs in religious ideas, left many Indians feeling helpless about their own lives, said Avinash Patil, head of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), an organisation that promotes rationalism and fights belief in superstitions.People feel like they have no control over their lives, that their lives are controlled by these higher powers. In moments like these, they need someone to make sense of things and give them a feeling of control, he said.These feelings are often complicated, however, by systemic failures in a developing country such as India. These include sheer poverty  13.4 per cent of the population earns less than US$1.90 per day, according to a 2015 World Bank estimate  as well as widespread hunger and deprivation. On top of this, unemployment in 2019 hit a 45-year high, while government services are often difficult to access or nonexistent.People often feel that their problems cant be solved by such a system. Hence, they turn to godmen claiming to have supernatural powers that can heal or make life better for their devotees, Patil said.Across India, spiritual leaders look to fill this vacuum by carrying out charitable activities, from running free schools and hospitals to carrying out small-scale developmental works, especially in rural areas.Said journalist Bhavdeep Kang, author of the 2016 book Gurus: Stories of Indias Leading Babas: If you are at the bottom of the socioeconomic pyramid, these gurus can offer you not just spiritual help, they also offer financial and medical aid, and even education. Often, they subsume the role of the welfare state.HOW THE WEST WAS WONWhat explains the international popularity of these gurus? According to Kang, the answer lies in the slow but sure spread of Hinduism and its spiritual ideas through the West in the 20th century. Sometime in the 1960s, there was a growing realisation, in the Western world especially, that despite enjoying material prosperity, many felt disenchanted and were looking for a higher purpose. Thats when Indias spiritual gurus stepped in and filled in the void, he said.Kang points to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, whose success opened the door for other spiritual leaders. The Maharishi was one of the earliest global spiritual leaders to hail from India, and the founder of the 1960s Transcendental Meditation movement. He at one point counted the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys among his followers.According to Amrit Wilson, a London-based author and journalist, another way that Indian spiritual gurus sought to expand their base of followers was to adopt a language they would understand. Many of these gurus tried reaching out to diverse, non-Indian audiences through propagating yoga, meditation and health fads, all of which ultimately radiate back to particular godmen, he said.As Patil of MANS explains, this growing influence worked for both the guru and his followers. The guru found fame and influence, while the followers received the guidance and the path to spiritual enlightenment they believed they needed.Celebrity endorsements, widening political influence and expanded networks of patronage slowly gave these gurus the status of cult leaders. As spiritual organisations started operating like multinational corporations, the gurus themselves started leading famously lavish lifestyles.According to his BBC obituary, the Maharishi lived in a 200-room mansion, with a fleet of cars and helicopters. Osho Rajneesh, who was the subject of the popular Netflix documentary Wild Wild Country, had a large collection of Rolls-Royce cars and a clutch of international bank accounts.Both Kang and Patil believe it is the accumulation of power and influence that ultimately corrupts many spiritual leaders.Many of them are charlatans who are only pretending to be gurus. Others  become victims of what they warn their followers against  wealth, power and influence. Proximity to these factors eventually gets the better of them, said Kang.CRIMINAL ACTSMANS, the organisation dedicated to fighting superstition, until recently had an investigative team that would conduct sting operations, using hidden cameras and recorders, against thousands of so-called gurus in India who claimed to perform miracles. These operations stopped after the provincial government of Maharashtra  where the group did much of its work  passed an anti-superstition law in 2013.MANS head Patil said the organisation had conducted at least 150 such exposes annually for the past three decades. When we investigated these tip-offs, we realised 70 per cent of them were criminals who were trying to conceal previous criminal acts by becoming spiritual gurus. But the police would often not be very comfortable taking complaints against such high-profile gurus.Even in cases where the complaints were registered, some spiritual leaders popularity showed no signs of diminishing. In recent years, major gurus Gurmeet Ram Rahim and Asaram have been sent to prison after being found guilty of rape; after Ram Rahim was jailed in 2017, his followers, many of them women, rioted across Northern India.In Nithyanandas case, the whistle-blower was a former devotee of his, who found that only two of his four daughters backed his move to approach the police; the other two continued to side with the guru, despite being the victims of his actions.Journalist and author Kang said this had much to do with the central role that such gurus often came to play in the lives of their devotees. Many are looking for a purpose, a cause, in their life. They want a guru to guide them and satisfy their spiritual needs. Ultimately, in such gurus, they find a person who they can trust absolutely in a world where it is very hard to find such people.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Throughout 2020, At War will be commemorating this historic event and its effects on the course of world history, with a variety of coverage, including accounts from people who lived through the war, but did not serve in the military: Holocaust survivors, people who joined underground antiwar movements, women who joined the stateside work force, Japanese-Americans forced into internment camps and others.

If you or a family member lived through the war  anywhere in the world  and want to tell us the story of its effect on your life, let us know via the form below. Share details of your experience, and include contact information so The Times can follow up with you. (And if you or someone you know served in the military during World War II, share your story here.)
WASHINGTON  Sen. Ted Cruz wants the Senate to go on record supporting President Donald Trumps decision to kill Irans top general as Texas Republicans in Congress rally around the president amid escalating tensions with Iran and on Capitol Hill.

Texas Republicans have emerged as some of the loudest voices supporting the U.S. airstrike in Baghdad that killed Iran military leader Qassem Soleimani, which has escalated tension between the two countries and widened the partisan chasm in Congress, just as lawmakers return from a holiday break.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

As Democrats in both the Senate and the House push war powers resolutions to limit the presidents military actions regarding Iran, saying they are trying to stave off another war in the Middle East, Cruz is pushing a resolution of his own, commending Trump for the strike. The resolution is modeled after one that passed the Senate unanimously, commending former President Barack Obama for the attack that killed Osama bin Laden. Cruz  one of the biggest Iran hawks in Congress  is hoping to persuade at least some Democrats in the Senate to support it, as well.

The hope is that all senators again put aside partisanship and support the killing of this terrorist who has the blood of hundreds of American service members on his hands, an aide to Cruz said.

The strike that killed Soleimani came days after attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, which the Defense Department has accused Soleimani of approving. U.S. officials have said Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.

For subscribers: Iraq abandons nuclear limits after generals killing

Virtually all Texas Republicans in Congress have voiced support for the move, with some drawing attention from Trump himself.

In a Fox News radio interview on Monday, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Democrats are looking for some reason to disagree.

We didnt see this kind of partisan division when President Obama decided to take out Osama bin Laden, he said.

Trump, meanwhile, retweeted Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, over the weekend.

For those claiming theres no plan, that this was reckless: Step #1 of any strategy is to stop letting terrorist regimes attack us without repercussion, Crenshaw wrote in the tweet. Why is this basic truth of foreign policy so controversial?

Democrats, however, say the strike could lead to more attacks against American troops abroad  or even pull the country into another catastrophic war in the Middle East.

The reckless decision by President Trump to assassinate General Qasem Soleimani could lead to Americans seeing more violent acts against them around the world, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, tweeted. I urge Congress to assert its constitutional authority and to enforce the War Powers (Act) to restrain the president from taking us into war. No more endless wars.

For subscribers: Impeachment adds more heat to 2020 Texas elections

The killing of Soleimani has already sparked repercussions in the Middle East. Massive demonstrations have erupted in Iran, with chants of Death to America, as Iranian leaders have vowed to retaliate and said theyll no longer abide by limits on their nuclear program contained in the 2015 nuclear deal. Iraqs parliament, meanwhile, voted Sunday in favor of a nonbinding resolution calling for the expulsion of the American forces.

ben.wermund@chron.com
Early in the 2016 Republican primaries, when Donald Trump was still a novelty item, those who supported him repeatedly justified their support by saying, "Donald Trump is competent. He gets things done." Not all candidates live up to that praise, including candidates who strongly imply that their Asian genetics promise superior intelligence.

During his decades-long career as a major real estate developer, Trump developed a reputation for getting big jobs done fast and under budget. For example, sooner or later, every conservative New Yorker who supported Trump would bring up Wollman Rink in Central Park.

Native New Yorkers knew the rink as one of the glories of post-WWII New York, but in the 1970s, it had become so decayed that Mayor Ed Koch closed it in 1980, with the promise that the city would repair it and re-open it in 1985. By 1986, not only was the rink still unfinished, but the city had run over its original $4.7-million budget by $12 million.

Enter Donald Trump, a brash young developer who had built Trump Tower, which some saw as a renaissance in New York high-rises and others as a monstrosity. Trump also had a score to settle with Koch, whom he viewed as anti-business. In June 1986, Trump promised that he would get the rink finished and open by Christmas.

Trump did not meet that promise. Instead, he exceeded it, opening the rink to the public on November 1. True, Wollman Rink was a small project, but when one considers the almost $17 million that that the city government spent to do nothing versus the six months it took Trump to finish his gift to the city  well, that resonated. Trump is competent. He gets things done.

That remained true throughout Trump's career. Sometimes, in the up-and-down world of high-end real estate, things went badly, and he had to regroup, but Trump would always come out ahead. When he entered reality TV, he got things done there, too, for The Apprentice was a huge hit in its first season, and for several years, it remained one of the more successful TV reality shows.

People believed  rightly  that if Trump attained the highest executive office in the land, he would get things done there, too. Whether one likes Trump or not, one cannot deny that he's been effective, an especially impressive feat, given the Democrats' almost mindless hostility to his every effort.

Enter Andrew Yang. Yang has trafficked on his reputation for being the smart Asian. He introduced himself to America in the first Democrat primary debate as "the Asian man who likes math." He had consistently tried to impress on the American people that he's the kind of competent, compassion-driven capitalist who will use his math skills to raise Americans up.

It turns out, though, that while Yang may know math, his managerial competency is open to question, for his campaign workers' errors left him locked out of the Ohio primaries:

Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang will not appear on the Ohio primary ballot in March after his campaign failed to submit the proper documents to the Secretary of State's office as required by law. As a result, Yang announced that he will instead launch a write-in campaign in the Buckeye State. While it appears Yang  who wears a "Math" pin on his lapel and has vowed to give everyone in America a cash payment of $1,000 per month  collected the number of signatures required in order to appear on the ballot, his canvassers neglected to fill out the top portion of the forms that identify the candidate. Ohio law requires that petitions contain information clearly identifying the name of the candidate and his party, along with the candidate's signature. Rather than circulating a single petition around the state, candidates use what's called "part-petitions" so that multiple canvassers can travel around collecting signatures. A Candidate Requirement Guide published at the Ohio Secretary of State's website explains: "Candidates may make additional copies of the form as it is provided by the county board of elections. Once the candidate has completed filling out and signing the petition, this signed part-petition may be copied prior to obtaining any elector signatures on the part-petitions." The Ohio Revised Code makes clear that "The declaration of candidacy so signed shall be copied on each other separate petition paper before the signature of electors are placed on it." There's nothing ambiguous about it, but Yang's campaign team either didn't read the rules or chose to ignore them. Rather than presenting the identifying information  the declaration of candidacy  to voters when collecting signatures, it appears his circulators simply asked electors to sign on the dotted line without indicating on the form who the candidate was. When the petitions were submitted to the Secretary of State's office, many of the part-petitions were missing the required candidate information.

There's only one question voters need to ask at this point: if Yang is too incompetent even to run his own campaign, why should the voters trust him to run the United States of America?
Over 1,100 students will take their place at Dublins RDS tomorrow as the 56th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition kicks off. The event brings together some of the countrys brightest young minds as they compete to take home the coveted title of the BT Young Scientist & Technologist(s) of the Year 2020.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will officially open the Exhibition at a special ceremony tomorrow, Wednesday 8th January, attended by students, teachers, exhibition partners and stakeholders, and presented by BT Managing Director Shay Walsh. The ceremony will be streamed live on Facebook from 2pm.

Speaking ahead of this years exhibition An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said, The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is a brilliant event; it showcases our best and brightest, and as we have seen in recent years, the winners often go on to have very successful careers in their chosen fields. Its inspirational for me to see the immense talent and new ideas being brought by our second level students. They are the change makers and problem solvers of tomorrow. I wish everyone involved the very best of luck for this years event and for the future.

In what will be an exciting time for competing students, this years winner(s) of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, to be announced on Friday 10th January, will be presented with a cheque for 7,500, the BTYSTE perpetual trophy and will represent Ireland at the 32nd EU Contest for Young Scientists when it is hosted in 2020 in Santander, Spain.

Leading communications and IT services company, BT, in their 20th year as organiser of the Exhibition is set to deliver another spectacular event for competitors and the visiting public. At the heart of the Exhibition are the 1,100 students representing 244 schools across the island of Ireland.

This years projects cover a wide variety of topics, from climate change to gender diversity and the effects of social media, and everything in between. Judging begins tomorrow afternoon, and the Exhibition opens to the public from Thursday 9th to Saturday 11th January, with approx. 50,000+ visitors, young and old, expected to visit the event over the course of the three days.

Speaking at todays launch, Shay Walsh, Managing Director, BT Ireland said: I am delighted to welcome the next wave of future scientists and entrepreneurs to the RDS this week for the 56th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. Over the next few days, they will have the experience of a lifetime. Theyll get the chance to present their projects to not only the public but also to some of Irelands most renowned scientists & technologists.

Since its inception in 1965, over three quarters of a million people have visited the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. This figure highlights just how fascinated people are with the endless possibilities of science and technology. BT Ireland is very proud to both organise and sponsor the Exhibition for the past 20 years  providing so many bright students with a platform to pursue their interests in science and technology. We wish all participating students the best of luck this week.

Also taking place alongside the BTYSTE is the 17th annual Primary Science Fair, which runs from 9th -11th January 2020. The Primary Science Fair plays a pivotal role in the primary academic calendar in Ireland and allows our very young scientists to tackle issues with science and technology and develop their love of discovery too.

As well as the projects on display, there is a thrilling line-up of science shows guaranteed to blow the mind, including Airmazing, The Physics of Breakdancing, 3D Space Challenges & Exploration, World of Robots and a show from Morgan & West that will be filled with phenomenal thrills, chemical spills and risk assessment that gives their stage manager chills. Airmazing with science demonstrations to amaze and entertain all ages. Bonnie Greer, OBE, the UK-based novelist and playwright who won widespread acclaim for her positive comments on Ireland on a BBC Question Time debate on Brexit recently, will headline an Enterprising Minds leaders lunch on Thursday 9th January in partnership with Future Human. Also speaking is Shane Curran, CEO of Evervault and former BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition winner.

Renowned physicist Professor Brian Cox will provide the keynote speech at Nextipedia, a business leaders symposium taking place on Wednesday in the RDS. Hosted by Liz Bonnin, a fantastic line up of speakers will share inspiring stories and valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that technology innovation offers, with a specific lens on sustainability and Irelands 2050 carbon neutrality objective.

Visitors can plan their visit to the RDS in advance by downloading the free BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition app, available on Android and Apple devices. Full of helpful information, the app includes an exhibition map, a search tool for student projects and exhibitors, a schedule of events, as well as links to the BTYSTE social networks for live updates throughout the event.

Open for visitors: January 9th, 09:30am  5:30pm; January 10th, 09:30am  5:00pm; and January 11th, 09:30am  5:30pm

Location: RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is a must for anyone with a passion for science and technology. For information and tickets, log onto www.btyoungscientist.com or follow the exhibition with #CreateTodayShapeTomorrow and #BTYSTE on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @BTYSTE.
The French and US finance ministers, Bruno Le Maire and Steve Mnuchin, have begun a 15-day countdown to thrash out a deal over the so-called Gafa tax to be imposed by France on American tech giants.

Last year France approved a levy on the firms such as Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Netflix as international efforts failed to find a new approach to taxing money coming from online sales and advertising.

In December, US President Donald Trump threatened to punish Paris with duties on more than 2 billion euros worth of French wines, cosmetics and leather handbags if it pursued its plan.

Le Maire said he had urged calm during a long telephone call with Mnuchin over the spat.

"We have given ourselves exactly 15 days to solve the issue at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development," Le Maire said.

Urging Washington not to impose sanctions during the talks, Le Maire told France Inter radio: "This trade war is in no one's interest and I call on our American friends to display wisdom, to return to their senses."

The proposed tax will lead to the tech companies forking out up to three percent of their revenues earned in France.

Washington says US companies have been singled out by the French tax.
The cover and an excerpt taken from a teenage neo-Nazi's 'manifesto' shown to a jury at Manchester Crown Court (PA)

A teenage neo-Nazi who listed venues in his home city as "worth attacking" has been jailed for more than six years for preparing to commit terrorist acts.

The 17-year-old boy drafted his own manifesto entitled A Manual For Practical And Sensible Guerrilla Warfare Against The Kike System In The Durham City Area, Sieg Heil.

He was sentenced on Tuesday at Manchester Crown Court, where he was given a prison sentence of six years and eight months.

A sketch drawn by a 16-year-old which was shown to a jury at Manchester Crown Court (PA)

Targets in Durham such as schools, pubs, council buildings and post offices were identified in the first chapter, Areas To Attack, to "maximise the impact of the attacks and damage the system the most".

Read more

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Boris Johnson warns Donald Trump against 'disproportionate' strikes on Iran

The youngster, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, also wrote of planning to conduct an arson spree with Molotov cocktails on local synagogues.

Various handwritten documents were seized from his bedroom in March last year by police who also found a collection of far-right literature.

Analysis of his computer devices and mobile phone uncovered numerous internet searches on firearms, explosives and knives.

A handwritten note from a teenage neo-Nazi which includes an instruction to 'shed empathy' (PA)

After a six-week trial ending last November, a jury found him guilty of preparation of terrorist acts between October 2017 and March last year.

The youth was also unanimously found guilty of disseminating a terrorist publication, possessing an article for a purpose connected with terrorism and three counts of possessing a document or record containing information likely to be useful to a terrorist.

The defendant said he had no intention of carrying out any attacks and claimed he adopted a fake right-wing persona for "shock value".
Nearly a clean 70 days after US Joint Forces took out ISIL leader Al-Baghdadi, a drone strike lands on a convoy just a stone's throw away from Baghdad International Airport. Its targeted victim, Major General Qasem Soleimani, is currently at the forefront of media coverage and public discussion from Washington to the West Bank, and for good reason.

 Reuters; Millions gathered in Tehran on Saturday to mourn Soleimani.

The Atlantic has claimed that the 'geopolitical significance' of this strike is bound to send shockwaves through every political link in the middle east for months or years to come, but before we understand just how the story may play out, both abroad and at home, we'll probably need to get a few questions answered.

Who Is Soleimani, And Why Was He Assassinated?

 Reuters; Vehicles pass under a poster featuring Soleimani in the streets of Beirut, Lebanon.

Every country has its own socio-political icons. Usually, men, these people command a significant place in history and depending on said history, show up on framed portraits everywhere from political rallies to local restaurants and barbershops.

Ever since his ascension to military command in 1998, Soleimani worked hard to retain this kind of reputation - one that made him wildly popular among pro-establishment Iranians. Often seen riding tanks and photographed right alongside the frontline militias he commanded across Iraq and Lebanon, Soleimani was even been described as Iran's 'Erwin Rommel' in the Wall Street Journal during the Syrian conflicts of 2015 - a reference to the famous Nazi general.

Over the last 20 years, Soleimani's name began to carry heavier levels of power and influence in the region, especially as his relationship with Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei deepened. The duo proceeded to consolidate and spread Iranian military influence throughout the region while dominating escalating local dissent with an iron fist - ordering a brutal crackdown on Iranian anti-establishment protestors - many of whom were young students, journalists and lawyers.

 Reuters; November saw a rise in violent protests in Iran, especially in Najaf, where dissenters destroyed public property and riot police brutally suppressed the masses.

The result is a distorted image similar to that of several political figures in high-conflict zones in the Middle East - some view him as a cold-blooded terrorist backing a regressive regime, while others - notably, the Tehran Times, describe Soleimani as a 'culture' all by himself, and turning the tables, calls out the officials behind the assassination as 'American and Zionist terrorists'.

The US Department of Defense, in its defense, has a bone to pick with Soleimani - according to NBC News, his militias are directly responsible for the deaths of at least 500 US troops, and general speculation across the Internet suggests that a multitude of targeted bombings across the world can trace their origins to Soleimani's planning rooms.

Regardless of these motives, the American consensus about the order seems shaky at best. Many feel that the decision to kill Soleimani will pull both worlds into yet another large-scale conflict - even Trump's military advisors claim(https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/04/us/politics/trump-suleimani.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage) that they did not expect the President to choose the most extreme response they offered to him.

What Does This Mean For Indians?

 Reuters; PM Modi and Iran's President Rouhani met at New Delhi, back in 2018.

To better make sense of this question, we must first get an understanding of India's historic relationship with Iran.

India first began diplomacy with Iran almost immediately after partition, in early 1950. Though being on opposite ends of the Cold War hindered early efforts at developing a relationship, both countries continued to maintain relations, which strengthened and showed their peak during the Babri Masjid crisis.

During this time, at the behest of PM Narasimha Rao, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati managed to convince his President, Akbar Rafsanjani to visit and address Indian Muslims at Lucknow - which turned out to be one of the most momentous public events of the country in 1995.

 Reuters; Rafsanjani delivers an opening speech to Iran's Assembly of Experts in 2002.

Today, however, things are a little less friendly, and for the simple reason that while Iran hasn't expressed any specific ill-will to India, PM Modi has gone out of his way to establish strong relations with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the United States - all of which are serious threats to Iran. It seems that Iran hasn't ignored this, as Iran's Supreme Leader Khameini has gone on record more than once, criticising India's handling of the Kashmir situation in 2019.

We're concerned about Muslims' situation in #Kashmir. We have good relations with India, but we expect the Indian government to adopt a just policy towards the noble people of Kashmir and prevent the oppression & bullying of Muslims in this region.  Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) August 21, 2019

When POTUS Trump made his first public statement following the assassination, he directly mentioned India in this quote; Soleimani made the death of innocent people his sick passion, contributing to terrorist plots as far away as New Delhi and London.

While the President didn't get into specifics, most news organisations took it as a reference to 2012's car bombing in New Delhi, which targeted the wife of an Israeli defence attache. On investigation, the Delhi Police concluded that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (of which Soleimani was a senior member), was behind the bombing.

 Reuters; New Delhi's car-bombing being investigated by Delhi Police.

It gets even more complicated when you consider Iran and India's robust trade relationship. Iran is the third-highest supplier of crude oil to India, behind Iraq and Saudi Arabia - that's over 425,000 barrels of oil per day.

With recent reports of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reaching out to Pakistan instead of India, it seems that we will probably not have a direct role to play in whatever unfolds as a result of Trump's actions against Iran, and with a political crisis simultaneously occurring within our own country, perhaps that's for the best.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (Reuters) - Antipodean actor Russell Crowe almost stole the show with his absence from the Golden Globe awards on Sunday - using his best actor win to send a message on climate change's role in devastating Australian bushfires.

Several actresses at the ceremony also drew attention to the crisis Down Under, where wildfires have killed 24 people and left thousands more homeless.

When New Zealand-born Crowe was announced the winner of a best actor award, presenter Jennifer Aniston told the audience he was at home in Australia "protecting his family from the devastating bushfires."

Aniston then read directly from a statement provided by Crowe in case he won: "Make no mistake, the tragedy unfolding in Australia is climate change based. We need to act based on science, move our global workforce to renewable energy, and respect our planet. That way we all have a future."Crowe, 55, who won best actor in a limited series or TV movie for playing former Fox News Chief Executive Roger Ailes in the TV series "The Loudest Voice in the Room," later posted his thanks via Twitter.

The Oscar winner's post included a self-narrated video of a firefighting truck in bushland. The footage begins with a close up of a firefighter's helmet, then shows an emergency water tank, hoses, fire blankets and respirators: "All the stuff you need for fighting fires."

Crowe's property at Nana Glen, about 550 km (340 miles) north of Sydney, was not believed to be in any immediate danger on Monday. In November, bushfire destroyed two buildings and scorched a chapel on the actor's property.

Crowe's decision to skip the glitzy ceremony in Beverly Hills, California, in favour of fire-ravaged Australia, along with his firm statement on climate change, quickly drew comparisons back home with Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The Australian leader has been criticised for flying to Hawaii last month on a family holiday as the crisis deepened, and for downplaying links between the fires and climate change.

Story continues

Another Golden Globes presenter, actress Cate Blanchett, noted the bushfires in her native country, praising the firefighters who have been at the centre of the battle against what she called a "climate disaster."

Patricia Arquette, who won best actress in a limited series for "The Act", mentioned "the burning continent of Australia" as part of a litany of potential global threats that included U.S.-Iran political tensions.

Ellen DeGeneres, a wildlife advocate, expressed her sympathy as she accepted a lifetime achievement award for her accomplishments in television.

"My heart goes out to everyone, all the animals we have lost," she said.

Closing the show, the host, British comedian and actor Ricky Gervais encouraged viewers at home to "please donate to Australia."

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine and Jonathan Oatis; Writing By Jane Wardell; Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Badrinath Singh, father of 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim expressed his satisfaction over a Delhi court order issuing death warrant against all four convicts and said that the rate of such crimes will come down if victims start to receive justice.

Speaking to ANI from outside his residence in Delhi's Dwarka, Singh said, " It is hard to say that such incidents will stop. But if victims start to receive justice, the rate of such crimes will definitely come down".

A Delhi court on Tuesday issued a death warrant against all four convicts in the case. They are scheduled to be hanged at 7 am on January 22.

The case pertains to the gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman by six persons on a moving bus in the capital on the night of December 16, 2012. The victim had later died while undergoing treatment.

While the main accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail during the trial, another accused was a minor at the time of the crime and was sent to a reform facility and released after three years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Paramedics in fire-ravaged Victoria and New South Wales are dealing with a spike in triple-zero calls from people suffering breathing problems.

Heavy smoke haze blanketing much of Victoria is being blamed for a 50 per cent jump in emergency calls involving patients with respiratory issues.

'Breathing problems calls increased from an average of 187 per day to 282 yesterday, with a spike in the evening,' Emergency Management acting director Justin Dunlop said on Tuesday.

Most of that increase involved callers from the Melbourne area and many were taken to hospital.

Air quality in East Gippsland, where devastating fires have raged, remained hazardous on Tuesday.

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Heavy smoke haze blanketing much of Victoria is being blamed for a 50 per cent jump in emergency calls involving patients with respiratory issues. Pictured: Melbourne's CBD on Monday

Air quality in Canberra improved on Tuesday but remained challenging after days of very heavy smoke that forced visitor attractions to close, and some public servants to stay home

In NSW, triple-zero calls for breathing problems jumped by 17 per cent from January 1 to 6, compared to the same time last year.

Ambulance NSW says the problem is most severe in the state's south, where the worst of the fires have been.

Breathing-related emergency calls in the south are up 50 per cent on a year ago.

Air quality in Canberra improved on Tuesday but remained challenging after days of very heavy smoke that forced visitor attractions to close, and some public servants to stay home.

The Heart Foundation is warning Australians with heart problems to take particular care in smoke-affected areas.

Cardiologist Garry Jennings says that if smoke particles cross from the lungs into the bloodstream, it can contribute to inflammation and a narrowing of blood vessels and increase the chance of blood clots in vulnerable people.

In NSW, triple-zero calls for breathing problems jumped by 17 per cent from January 1 to 6, compared to the same time last year. Pictured: heavy smoke at Sydney harbour on Tuesday

This can worsen pre-existing conditions like heart failure and high blood pressure and can trigger events such as heart attacks.

Medical authorities continue to urge people to stay indoors and limit their exposure.

Outdoor workers and people returning to fire-damaged communities are being urged to wear P2 masks, along with people who have respiratory, heart or other underlying health issues.

The masks offer protection against particles in the air, but won't filter out harmful gases in smoke including carbon monoxide.

The masks are not fully effective unless they are properly fitted and a good seal is achieved. Men with beards who need masks have been advised to shave them off.

P2 masks aren't recommended for general use as they can be uncomfortable to wear and can make it harder to breathe normally.

At least 25 people have been killed in blazes across the country since the bushfire season began in October

The best advice is to stay indoors with windows and doors closed, put air conditioners on recycle mode and avoid exercise.

Chief environmental scientist Andrea Henwood urged people to take precautions, saying the smoke will linger until Wednesday.

'Close everything up. Seal the doors. Now would be a good time to do that because this is going to persist for the rest of the day,' Dr Henwood told reporters.

'If it persists into the next couple of days you want to have as much clean air as you can within your home.'

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton advised people with lung or heart conditions, the young and old, and pregnant women to stay indoors.

He said healthy people may also experience symptoms including eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing, sneezing and congestion.
The Justice Department plans to pursue the death penalty for a member of the MS-13 gang accused in the kidnappings and killings of two Virginia teenagers in 2016, a move that comes as the Trump administration fights to restart federal executions.

Elmer Martinez is alleged to be the leader of the Fairfax County clique that authorities say killed a 17-year-old suspected of belonging to a rival gang and a 14-year-old who revealed that crime to the victim's family.

In a court filing Monday, prosecutors said Martinez was singled out for death among the dozen-plus people charged in connection with the crimes because of his substantial planning and premeditation and his lack of remorse for his violent acts.

The Trump administration announced plans in July to resume executing federal prisoners, after a 16-year moratorium. A judge blocked the executions in November, determining that the Justice Department's proposed lethal-injection procedure is not authorised by federal law.

The Supreme Court refused to let executions resume while the legal battle continues.

Tattoos of the Mara Salvatrucha Show all 9 1 /9 Tattoos of the Mara Salvatrucha Tattoos of the Mara Salvatrucha An ex-member of the MS-13 gang is pictured at Santa Ana prison, 60km northwest of San Salvador. Former members of Salvadoran gangs are willing to endure a painful process with laser technology to erase tattoos they now say were a "youth mistake" AFP/Getty Images Tattoos of the Mara Salvatrucha Inmates, members of MS-13 and Barrio 18 gangs, wait upon arrival at the maximum security prison in Zacatecoluca, 65 kilometres east of San Salvador. Forty-eight members of violent gangs were arrested in 2017 in connection with the murders of policemen and soldiers AFP/Getty Images Tattoos of the Mara Salvatrucha A member of the MS-13 gang remains in Chalatenango prison. Central American countries have a prison population of 134,800 inmates. Despite the construction of new infrastructure they are kept cramped in jails, in some cases exceeding African average detention rates AFP/Getty Images Tattoos of the Mara Salvatrucha An ex member of the MS-13 gang at Santa Ana prison AFP/Getty Images Tattoos of the Mara Salvatrucha A member of a violent gang waits at the maximum security prison in Zacatecoluca AFP/Getty Images Tattoos of the Mara Salvatrucha Former MS-13 gang leader Valmis Mejia, aka 'el Bambi', at Santa Ana prison AFP/Getty Images Tattoos of the Mara Salvatrucha An ex member of the MS-13 will spend years getting rid of the tattoos AFP/Getty Images Tattoos of the Mara Salvatrucha Former MS-13 gang leader Valmis Mejia AFP/Getty Images Tattoos of the Mara Salvatrucha View of the tattoos of an alleged member of the 18 gang as he is presented to the press in San Salvador on February 26, 2016. Members of the national civil police and the armed forces captured 240 dangerous gang members accused of homicide and extortion in the last three days in different areas of El Salvador. The country faces an escalation of violence attributed mostly to the war between the MS-13 and 18 ST gangs AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump makes frequent references to MS-13 by its full name, La Mara Salvatrucha, including in his most recent State of the Union address, in which he said a border wall was needed to keep the savage gang out.

The gang formed in Los Angeles during the 1980s by El Salvadorans and has taken over large swaths of Central America and regions in the United States, including pockets of the Washington area.

Defence attorney Robert Jenkins said he was informed by the Justice Department of its decision, a step he said he believed was taken to support the president's stance on illegal immigration.

I strongly suspect politics is playing a significant role rather than whether or not this is the appropriate thing to do to serve justice, Mr Jenkins said. Whether or not they truly believe that justice would be served by seeking the death penalty I think is maybe a secondary concern versus what political chips they can gain with his base by appearing to be tough on illegal immigrants.

Jenkins said Martinez, an immigrant from El Salvador, did not have a violent criminal history and is not alleged to have inflicted blows in either slaying.

In their filing, prosecutors said Martinez has a history of uncharged violent conduct, including assaults, stabbings and another attempt at kidnapping and homicide. While in jail awaiting trial, they say he was twice found with a shank.

Police remove crime scene tape on where two bodies were found in Holmes Run Park (The Washington Post)

The deaths of Edvin Mendez and Sergio Triminio came during a grisly spike in violence in the Washington region that has since abated amid a crackdown by law enforcement. Killings connected to the gang in the area fell from at least 33 in 2016 and 2017 to seven the following year.

It was in the summer of 2016, according to court documents, that a member of the Park View Locos Salvatrucha group saw the photos on Mendez's Facebook page that would lead to his death: a man surrounded by three 6s. The image led them to mark Mendez, an aspiring member, as a spy for the rival 18th Street Gang. Authorities said local MS-13 leaders agreed Mendez should be killed, sending members from Maryland to Virginia to help.

They lured Mendez to Holmes Run Stream Valley Park under the pretence of a gang meeting, according to an indictment, where they killed him and buried his body. They took turns filming the murder, authorities allege, a video that was sent to gang leaders to help the killers earn promotions.

Fairfax County, Virginia, Police Chief Edwin Roessler Jr talks to the media (The Washington Post)

Mendez's family spent the weeks after his disappearance searching anxiously for information. His brother reached out on Facebook to Triminio, an acquaintance. An associate of MS-13, Triminio admitted that Mendez had been targeted for death by the gang, authorities said.

A day later, according to court records, Triminio got a message on Facebook telling him to go to Fairfax for a gang meeting. His family last saw him leave their Alexandria, Virginia, apartment in his pyjamas to take out the trash. His body was found near Mendez's in another shallow grave.

That killing was also recorded. A video recovered from one participant's phone showed a young man in pyjamas being attacked with a kitchen knife and machete as he lay face down on the ground, according to a federal indictment.

Prosecutors say the gang had come to believe Triminio also spoke to the police.

Beyond Martinez, 10 more gang members will go to trial in connection with the killings but are not facing the death penalty. Two more were not charged with murder, although court records indicate they were involved. They could be called to testify at trial.

Jay Lanham, the executive director of the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force, said the Holmes Run killings represented a peak in the gang's activity in recent years.

That was high tide of homicides, Mr Lanham said. Since then, homicides have subsided somewhat. We are still seeing MS-13 members keep a low profile. We saw them lose a lot of leadership.

The Washington Post
Diane Kruger still has heart eyes for her boyfriend of nearly four years actor, Norman Reedus.

The 43-year-old bombshell shared a shirtless snapshot of the Walking Dead hunk on Instagram Monday morning in celebration of Reedus' 51st birthday.

'My teenage dream of a man right here,' proclaimed Kruger in the post's caption.

Happy Birthday Norman: Actress Diane Kruger posted a loving 51st birthday tribute to her boyfriend Norman Reedus to her Instagram page on Monday afternoon

Reedus, without his shirt, sat among a slew of colorful birthday balloons along with a 'Feliz Cumpleanos' banner slung across the sliding glass doors behind him.

He covered his face with some wacky eye wear, as he playfully put a finger to his nose.

With his hair in its signature tousled state, the birthday boy posed reluctantly.

'Happy Birthday to the love of my life' concluded Kruger.

On New Year's day, Norman delivered a dedication to his model-turned-actress wife and their one-year-old daughter.

The photo featured Kruger standing on a trampoline in the couple's backyard with their baby girl in her arms.

Cozy couple: The couple have been dating for nearly four years and share one daughter together, whose name remains unknown

Growing family: In November of 2018, the pair welcomed their first child; Norman expressed how grateful he was for his family on New Year's Eve

'Happy new year everyone onward and upward to all of u' captioned Norman.

Lately, the pair have become a lot more comfortable with the idea of flaunting their love for the public.

The couple first met on the set of their dramatic 2015 film Sky, where Reedus played Kruger's rugged, bad boy love interest.

During the press circuit for Sky, Norman shared a selfie of himself and Kruger that had the pop culture sphere wondering if they were involved.

Sky's the limit: Reedus and Kruger met on the set of the 2015 film Sky, where the pair paid runaway lovers; the duo were photographed together at the film's premiere in New York City

In December of 2015, a story broke that revolved around a steamy make-out session that allegedly took place between Reedus and Kruger in a New York bar, according to the New York Daily News.

At the time, Kruger was still dating her boyfriend of 10-years actor, Joshua Jackson.

With all the rumors swirling about Diane and Norman, the Inglorious Basterds actress would officially split from Jackson in the Summer of 2016.

Jackson is now married to and expecting a baby with Queen and Slim actress Jodie Turner-Smith.

The first move: in 2015, Norman posted this snapshot of him and Kruger promoting Sky at the Toronto film festival

Putting it out there: Norman posted this solo shot on Diane on his Instagram page following her Best Actress win at the Cannes film festival

In 2017, Kruger and Reedus would begin spending more and more time together.

Norman even made things Instagram official when he posted a solo picture of a very gussied up Diane taking home Best Actress at the Cannes film festival.

'Omg!!!!!Babe!!!!' wrote Kruger in the post's comment section.

But it wouldn't be until 2018 that the couple would make things red carpet official at that year's Golden Globes ceremony

They've been loud and proud about their relationship ever since.

Glamorous pair: The duo are both former models and paid homage to their former industry while attending the Chanel In The Snow Christmas party in New York on December 10th

In November of 2018, the pair gave birth to a baby daughter, whose name has still not been released to the public.

She was Kruger's first child and Norman's second.

Prior to his whirlwind romance with his blonde beauty, The Boondock Saints star had a lengthy relationship with supermodel, Helena Christensen.

Reedus and Christensen share a 20-year-old son named Mingus who works regularly as a male fashion model for brands such as Calvin Klein.
France and the United States have given themselves 15 days to settle a dispute over the taxation of US tech giants, French Finance Minister Bruno le Maire said on Tuesday.

Le Maire said he had a "long discussion" on the telephone Monday with his US counterpart Steven Mnuchin.

"We have given ourselves exactly 15 days" to solve the issue at the OECD, and urged Washington not to impose sanctions during this time.

Le Maire also met in Paris with EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan, who stressed the bloc would "stand together with France" in the dispute.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Patrick Mitchell's younger brother George 'The Penguin' Mitchell (68) is one of the most notorious crime bosses in the history of our State.

If he does return for his brother's funeral, it will be the first time he has been spotted back in his native city for many years.

Gardai have no warrant for his arrest so therefore he could not expect to be arrested, but the secretive gang boss is unlikely to be happy with any garda attention if he does decide to come home for his brother's funeral.

Patrick and George grew up together in extreme poverty and were first cousins of the late highly-respected former Fine Gael justice minister Jim Mitchell, who died in December 2002.

'The Penguin' is suspected of becoming a millionaire from his involvement in drugs trafficking from the early 1990s to the present day.

Mitchell has connections with the Kinahan cartel but also had links to Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch.

After the Regency Hotel bloodbath, it is understood that he made it clear to the Kinahan faction that he did not want to be dragged into the bloody feud, which has claimed up to 18 lives.

Smart

"Mitchell is too smart for that - he knows murder is bad for business," a senior source said last night.

It is understood that 'The Penguin' has been based between the Netherlands, Germany and Spain for a number of years where he is suspected of organising huge shipments of drugs from heroin to cannabis.

Back in the 1980s he had links to major league criminals such as John Gilligan and Martin 'The General' Cahill.

His son-in-law Derek 'Maradona' Dunne, who was one of Ireland's most notorious underworld figures, was shot dead in a row at his home in Amsterdam in 2000 - just one of a number of close associates of the crimelord to be murdered over the years.

However, 'The Penguin', who fled Ireland because of the garda crackdown on gangland in the aftermath of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin in 1996, has never been targeted in a shooting.

He left for Amsterdam, where he had built up relationships with Dutch drug suppliers.

His departure followed that of his son-in-law, who had left Dublin after a dispute with another of the city's criminal gangs.

'The Penguin' became notorious in the criminal underworld after building up a massive ecstasy processing plant here more than 25 years ago.

Around that time, he was arrested by English police near Luton in possession of 575,000 cash, a down payment for a shipment of drugs. The money was seized but Mitchell was released without charge and has never served a serious jail sentence in his life.
Solo trips can be a hugely rewarding experience, especially when it comes to a place which is full of cultures, attractions and beautiful sceneries like Europe. If you are looking to travel solo in Europe, then there are a myriad of destinations from which you can choose. From seaside escapes to city culture and foodie experiences, here we have listed down a few places to travel alone in Europe.

ALSO READ: Things To Do In New Jersey Which Will Help Plan Your Holidays

Amsterdam, Netherlands

For all the solo travellers, Amsterdam is a gentle, safe, progressive and friendly city. Renting a bike and exploring the city on two wheels will make you feel like a local. Everyone there speaks English, so getting around the crowd and meeting new people is very easy.

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is one of the most affordable cities in Europe and it is a beautiful place to explore. The city is very safe and you can lie on the beach or walk around the city. There is lots of ancient architecture and excellent museums in the city with a very interesting nightlife.

ALSO READ: Best Surfing Destinations In The World To Include In Your Next Trip

Berlin

There is no other place like Berlin in the entire Europe. The city is young, vibrant and ever-changing with full of historical places. It is the capital of electronic music and the largest Turkish hub outside Turkey. It features a huge amount of must-see sights, like the Berlin Walls East Side Gallery and the Brandenburg Gate.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is the perfect city for a solo travel destination. It has every element the solo traveller wishes for from exotic locations to vibrant culture to excellent food. Stunning and home to a plethora of great tapas bars, the city is a solo traveller in Europes destination. The city is not too big and moving around is quite simple.

Reykjavik, Iceland

City lovers and nature lovers both will find millions of reasons to fall in love with Iceland. With Iceland being named the most peaceful country in Europe, safety is rarely a concern for travellers in Reyjavik. You can join one of the free city walking tours and eat at the most popular spot in town to enjoy local dishes.

ALSO READ: Local Markets In Mumbai: Exploring The Streets For Shoppers

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A bill in Wisconsin would require explicit informed consent before medical students practice pelvic exams on patients under anesthesia, which is sometimes done as part of training.

Ten states have laws against unauthorized pelvic exams, four passing the measures last year after a bioethics article and the #MeToo movement brought more attention to the longstanding practice.

This is a violation of a patients rights and trust between patient and doctor, and directly ignores a patients right to bodily autonomy, said a memo by the bipartisan lawmakers who introduced the Wisconsin bill last month.

Its related to women not being treated as autonomous individuals in the clinical setting for a long, long time, said Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, one of the lead sponsors. This is a vestige of that, that just needs to end.

Other lead sponsors are Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls; Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee; and Sen. Andre Jacque, R-DePere.

The bill would require hospitals to get written and verbal consent from patients before pelvic exams are done under anesthesia for the educational benefit of medical students. Currently, some hospitals rely on general consent forms that dont specify procedures done for training.

Pelvic exams involve inserting fingers of a gloved hand into a patients vagina to examine organs including the uterus and ovaries. Surgeons do the exams before gynecologic surgeries to determine the positioning of the organs, and medical students sometimes do the exams for training.

In 2003, when California became the first state to pass a law requiring consent before pelvic exams on unconscious patients for teaching purposes, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said specific informed consent should be required. The Association of American Medical Colleges called the procedures unethical and unacceptable if done without consent.

Medical students train at academic medical centers, such as UW Hospital and Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, and at some community hospitals. The Wisconsin Hospital Association opposes the bill, spokesman Mark Grapentine said.

UW adopts policy

UW School of Medicine and Public Health adopted a policy in July covering educational sensitive exams, including breast, pelvic, urogenital, prostate and rectal exams on patients under anesthesia or otherwise sedated.

Under the policy, doctors must obtain and document informed consent before allowing medical, physician assistant and physical therapy students to do the exams, which must be a routine part of the patients procedure.

Prior to our change in official policy, patients were not routinely asked to provide specific consent for pelvic exams while under anesthesia, UW Health spokesman Tom Russell said in a statement. They were, however, asked to provide consent generally, which included the involvement of medical student learners.

Russell didnt respond to a question about how often medical students have done pelvic exams on unconscious patients for training.

The medical school has long used standardized patients  paid volunteers who let medical students practice procedures, such as pelvic exams, on them while alert. But exams on anesthetized patients are also important, Russell said.

With respect to pelvic exams, patients under anesthesia are relaxed, affording students the opportunity to examine and understand anatomy in ways not possible in non-relaxed, awake patients, Russell said. Conducting exams on surgical patients under anesthesia also allows students to gain experience with tumors, atypical anatomy, and other pathologies not usually present in standardized patients.

One womans experience

Sarah Wright, 40, a science teacher from Madison, said she had significant vulvar sensitivity after surgery in 2009 to remove ovarian cysts by UW doctors at UnityPoint Health-Meriter.

In the fall of 2018, she needed to have another ovarian lesion removed. Having read about pelvic exams under anesthesia and having failed, despite records requests, to find out what caused her pain in 2009, Wright pressed UW for details on when pelvic exams are conducted.

She didnt get a specific answer, but her 2018 surgery  again at Meriter with UW doctors  went fine. Still, she believes her pain in 2009 likely stemmed from an unauthorized pelvic exam.

If Im not going into a procedure with fully informed consent, who is? said Wright, who teaches at Eagle School in Fitchburg. Its not right.

In late 2018, Wright contacted Taylor, who inquired at UW, which then developed its policy.

When we were contacted by Rep. Taylor in February of 2019, we conducted an internal review of our procedures for obtaining informed consent across departments and determined we could improve our process and better serve our patients, Russell said.

Ethical debate

California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Oregon and Virginia have pelvic exam informed consent laws, and Delaware, Maryland, New York and Utah joined them last year, according to a University of Illinois College of Law blog that tracks the issue.

In a 2005 article in the Journal of Health Care Law and Policy, Dr. Jennifer Goedken defended pelvic exams under anesthesia as an important teaching tool.

Do we want the sexual mores of society to place restrictions on the ability of physicians to care for the whole patient? asked Goedken, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Emory University in Atlanta.

However, she argued for written consent that is specific for this activity.

Bioethicist Phoebe Friesen, of McGill University in Quebec, wrote about the issue in the journal Bioethics and in Slate in 2018, after discussing ethical issues with medical students at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Some told her they felt uncomfortable about practicing pelvic exams on unconscious women who may not have consented.

An unauthorized pelvic exam is unjust, in that it violates both the autonomy and the bodily rights of patients, Friesen wrote.

If asked, 62% of women would agree to pelvic exams under anesthesia by medical students, Friesen said, referring to a survey in Canada.

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The offer by the United Methodist Women to take a free book from the box they had installed last fall by the Little Peoples School at Katy First United Methodist Church is too good to pass up.

Its been well-used and thats what were pleased about, said Maria Perry, UMW president.

The project to add a Little Free Library at the Methodist campus at 5601 5th St. in Katy, began with the Library Circle of United Methodist Women which researched the possibility, explained Pat Kourie, who belonged to the Library Circle.

In the beginning our purpose was to promote a childrens library and an adult library within the church, said Kourie. Since that initial proposal, the Library Circle blended with another church group, but the idea didnt die.

We went ahead and had it made and installed on church grounds at Avenue A hoping that people who walk by will use it, said Kourie.

I think its really pretty, she added.

The box, which can hold between 125 and 150 books  childrens books usually are slender - is a copy of a Little Free Library box installed earlier on East Avenue in the city, said Perry. Retired Katy High School woodworking shop teacher Norman Wiea built and painted the box for the church. Credit for the librarys lettering goes to Jan Kilpatrick and Judi Phillips.

The churchs Levites Team Ministry, the handyman ministry, planted the pole to serve as the base for the box.

More Information Little Free Library* Elyson House, 23623 Elyson Falls Drive, Katy. Cane Island Little Free Library, created in 2019 for residents and community member in/around the Cane Island neighborhood *These libraries are chartered by and registered with Little Free Library, https://littlefreelibrary.org/ See More Collapse

Though the sign on the box says Take One, Leave One, both Kourie and Perry said its not mandatory that someone leave a book if they take one.

They can take books and can leave a book if they so desire, Perry said. Thats what the Free Library is all about.

The womens group approached church trustees for the go-ahead for the project. Trustees felt that a location in front of the Little Peoples School would be the best site, said Perry. She noted theres also a bench in front of the school so that someone could take a book and sit nearby to read.

Were not part of the national organization, added Perry. Little Free Library has two sites chartered on its website in the city of Katy at the Elyson House and at the master-planned Cane Island community.

The nonprofit Little Free Library fosters worldwide book exchanges according to its website at https://littlefreelibrary.org and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2019.

Its been a joy, said Perry referring to the churchs Free Little Library.

In the new year, church member Joyce Chriss will be in charge of the library box. Chriss also serves as president of the Friends of the Katy Library group.

Perry said that the church group has taken advantage of childrens books available through the Friends of the Katy Library.

We do have a fund that we can use to purchase books, said Kourie. So far, weve had books donated. It was not necessary to purchase any. We keep getting new selections. If it becomes necessary, we will purchase books.

karen.zurawski@chron.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 13:42:49|Editor: huaxia

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LHASA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The gross domestic product (GDP) in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region grew about nine percent in 2019.

Tibet's GDP was estimated at more than 160 billion yuan (around 23 billion U.S. dollars) last year, Qizhala, chairman of the regional government, said in his government work report delivered Tuesday at the third session of the 11th People's Congress of Tibet Autonomous Region.

The per capita disposable income for the region's rural residents grew about 13 percent, while that for urban residents rose more than 10 percent.

In 2020, Qizhala said in the report that Tibet's GDP is expected to maintain a stable growth of 9 percent. The total retail sales of consumer goods aim to grow 10 percent this year.

Meanwhile, the per capita disposable income for the region's urban and rural residents in 2020 is estimated to grow 10 percent and 13 percent, respectively.

Qizhala added that the region aims to create 50,000 urban jobs and ensure that the registered unemployment rate does not rise above 3.6 percent.
Photo: The Canadian Press

A stampede broke out Tuesday at a funeral for a top Iranian general killed in a U.S. airstrike, and at least 40 people were killed and more than 200 were injured as thousands thronged the procession, two Iranian news agencies reported.

The stampede took place in Kerman, the hometown of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, as the procession began, said the semi-official Fars and ISNA news agencies, citing Pirhossein Koulivand, head of Irans emergency medical services.

There was no information as to what had set off the stampede. Online videos showed people lying apparently lifeless, their faces covered by clothing. Emergency crews performed CPR on others as people wailed in the background, crying out to God.

Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions," Koulivand said. The news agencies gave the death toll of 40, with 213 injured.

Soleimani's burial was later delayed, with no new time given. Authorities cited concerns about the massive crowd that had gathered as a reason for the delay, the semi-official ISNA news agency said.

A procession in Tehran on Monday drew over 1 million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main thoroughfares and side streets in Tehran. Such mass crowds can prove dangerous. A similar stampede, though on a much smaller scale, struck the 1989 funeral procession for Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, killing at least eight people and injuring hundreds.

Soleimani's death in a drone strike on Friday has sparked calls across Iran for revenge against America, drastically raising tensions across the Middle East. The U.S. government warned ships of an unspecified threat from Iran across the region's waterways, crucial routes for global energy supplies. Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force launched a drill with 52 fighter jets in Utah, just days after President Donald Trump threatened to hit 52 sites in Iran.

Earlier in the day, Hossein Salami, the new leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard, vowed to avenge Soleimani's death as he addressed a crowd of supporters gathered at the coffin in a central square in Kernan.

We tell our enemies that we will retaliate but if they take another action we will set ablaze the places that they like and are passionate about," Salami said.

Death to Israel! the crowd shouted in response.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 17:04:16|Editor: Wang Yamei

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DAMASCUS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army is sending reinforcement to the southern countryside of Aleppo province in northern Syria as part of an imminent operation against the rebels, a war monitor reported on Tuesday.

The military operation of the Syrian army against the rebel groups may start within hours or in the next few days, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Syrian army liberated the provincial capital of Aleppo in 2016 but the rebels in the southern and western countryside of Aleppo maintained their positions and continued to launch mortar attacks against the city.

A day earlier, a woman was wounded during a fresh mortar attack by the rebels, according to state news agency SANA.

The Syrian army is already fighting the rebels in the southern countryside of Idlib province in northwestern Syria.

The recent campaign aims to secure the road connecting the capital Damascus with Aleppo, particularly the stretch of the road that passes through Idlib.
BAGHDAD - Iraqs outgoing prime minister said Tuesday that the United States has no alternative and must pull its troops out of the country, or else face an impending crisis, as the remains of a senior Iraqi militia commander killed in a U.S. drone strike was brought to Iraq from Iran for burial.

Adel Abdul-Mahdi, who resigned in November amid mass anti-government protests, said Iraq wants a U.S. troop withdrawal to avoid further escalation as tensions soar between American and Iran.

His comments came just days after the U.S. airstrike killed Irans top general, shortly after he arrived at Baghdads international airport. Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, senior Iraqi commander of an Iran-backed militia, was also killed in Fridays strike. His remains were brought back to Iraq from Iran to be buried in the holy southern city of Najaf.

Thousands of mourners followed the procession from the border, chanting America is the great Satan.

We have no exit but this, otherwise we are speeding toward confrontation, Abdul-Mahdi said in a prerecorded televised speech following a weekly cabinet meeting.

He said the historic decision was necessary, otherwise we will not be taken seriously.

U.S. troops are present in Iraq based on a request by the government in 2014, when vast swathes of the country were being overrun by the Islamic State group. But now that IS has been largely defeated, Abdul-Mahdi said, the mission has devolved into a U.S.-Iran proxy war.

Iraq was barely starting to recover from the devastating four-year war against IS when mass protests erupted in October against the countrys ruling elite, forcing Abdul-Mahdi to resign two months later. He hasnt been replaced.

Referring to the fight against Islamic State extremists, he said: Iraq did its part to fight in the war, and I see that any harm to Iraq will be harmful to all regional states and the whole world.

Iraqs parliament passed a non-binding resolution to request that the government expel foreign troops from the country on Sunday, in the wake of the U.S. airstrike. The vote was pushed by pro-Iran political factions but appeared to have the support of Shiite lawmakers from rival camps.

The session was boycotted by Kurdish and many Sunni lawmakers who opposed the decision or took issue with elements of the resolution.

Though the death of Soleimani is stoking broader regional tensions and fears of more violence, in Iraq, the killing of al-Muhandis drove a wedge between Iraq and the US. Officials in Baghdad consider the strike to be a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, as al-Muhandis, who was also the deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Forces, was assassinated on Iraqi soil without their approval or knowledge.

The PMF is an umbrella group of mostly Shiite militias and a component of Iraqs armed forces.

Politically in Parliament, there is cross-bloc support (to oust US troops), said Sajad Jiyad, managing director of Bayan Center, an Iraqi think-tank . Even people nominally pro-US, anti-Iran or neutral are not happy with what the US has done, and believe its a dangerous escalation.

The common denominator is this was an infringement on sovereignty, he said.

Al-Muhandis remains had been taken to Iran for DNA testing. They were sent back through the Shalamsheh border crossing to his hometown of Basra in southern Iraq before being transferred to the holy city of Najaf for burial late Tuesday.

Thousands of mourners in Basras city centre gathered to receive the body. Many waved banners of the Kataeb Hezbollah, or Hezbollah Brigades, that al-Muhandis founded. The U.S. has blamed the group, which is separate from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, for a rocket attack in northern Iraq in late December that killed a U.S. contractor. That prompted the airstrike last week.

Amid threats of vengeance from Iran, the U.S.-led military coalition in Iraq had said it was putting the battle against IS militants on hold to focus on protecting its own troops and bases.

A letter leaked to social media from the commander of the U.S. task force to Iraqi military authorities has also caused confusion among officials over the U.S. intentions to withdraw militarily.

A letter from Brig. Gen. William H. Seely III to his Iraqi counterpart dated Monday had said the U.S.-led coalition would be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement. Many media outlets initially reported that was formal notice that the U.S. was withdrawing forces on Iraqi soil.

U.S. Defence Secretary Mark Esper later clarified to reporters that there was no plans for American. troops to leave Iraq. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the letter had been an honest mistake.

Abdul-Mahdi responded that Iraqi authorities had thought the letter was legitimate when it was received, and were blindsided when U.S. officials said it was sent in error.

After four to five hours it was said that the letter was wrong, Abdul-Mahdi said. The letter clearly indicates a withdrawal.

So in the future, what should we do if we get such a request? We should check if it is authentic or not? If we are late, then they will tell us that we are late, he said.

The prime ministers office had immediately sent the letter to the Iraq foreign minister and Iraqs ambassador in Washington and other parties, Abdul-Mahdi said. An initial Arabic translation of the letter had contradicted the English version, he added, and another copy was then resent.

We have to hold discussions in order to reach the best ways for a withdrawal, he said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Chabad of Staten Island plans to host a series of courses later this month on Judaisms contributions to the Western world.

Amid a string of anti-Semitic attacks, the Meiers Corners congregation will host the weekly, six-session course titled Judaisms Gifts of the World starting Sunday, Jan. 26 at 10:30 a.m. For those unable to attend, a nighttime option will be offered at the Bernikow Jewish Community Center in Sea View starting Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

At a moment in which we are witnessing a rise in anti-Semitism, it is important to explore what has been the true impact of Jews and Judaism on civilization, Rabbi Mendy Katzman of Chabad said.

Understanding Judaisms historical contribution gives us a deeper appreciation for its continuing relevance and a better understanding of how the moral and ethical institutions we take for granted came into being, he added.

A series of anti-Semitic incidents in the New York metro area have occurred in recent months with the most deadly coming in early December when members of an extremist sect of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement killed four people, including one police officer, in a Jersey City attack.

Katzmans congregation suffered its own bout with anti-Semitism in May when multiple anti-Semitic graffiti tags were found on their synagogue and yeshiva. Perpetrators were never apprehended in that incident.

Community leaders along with law enforcement and elected officials have been working to address the issue. More than 10,000 people took part in a march across the Brooklyn Bridge on Sunday to protest anti-Semitism and hate.

According to a media release from Katzman, the course being offered is designed by the Brooklyn-based Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, which serves as the educational wing of the larger Chabad-Lubavitch movement -- an international branch of Hasidism.

JLI offers programs at more than 800 international locations, according to the release. Rabbi Mordechai Dinerman, the director of curriculum at JLI, edited the course coming to Staten Island.

It is widely known that Judaism gifted monotheism to the world, but for many, thats where the Jewish contribution ends, Dinerman said.

Even this contribution is often viewed rather narrowly, as a religions contribution, which is only meaningful to those interested in religion. But as this course demonstrates, the universal change effected by the Torah is much broader, he added.

The course will be offered at a cost of $79 per person, but Katzman said anyone attending the first session will not be turned away due to lack of funds. It is open to the general public, and you do not need to be affiliated with a particular synagogue, temple, or other house of worship.

Those interested should call 718.370.8953 or visit www.myJLI.com for registration and for other course-related information.

The Sunday courses will be held at Chabads West Brighton location, 530 Forest Ave., and the Tuesday sessions will be at the Bernikow JCC, 1466 Manor Rd.
Much has been said about the decline of rural Ireland in recent years and while some of the commentaries have been over the top, there is no doubt many of the pillars of rural life have been diminished.

One bastion that has always stood behind the farming community has been the local mart which, apart from being a place of business, has also provided a crucial social refuge for farmers, particularly older ones.

The establishment and widespread proliferation of marts across the country in the 1950s gave farmers protection from the vagaries and volatility of the fairs which had dominated for generations.

In tandem with becoming an economic lifeline, the marts also evolved to play a critical role in the social fabric of rural areas.

However, the marts are facing financial pressures like never before with spiralling insurance costs threatening the very future of many.

Financial challenges are nothing new for the marts. Keeping the books in the black has always been a challenge, but the insurance issue takes this to a new level.

The marts have had to invest heavily in infrastructure to make their premises safer, but increasing insurance premiums have eroded their margins.

Ironically, some of these changes, designed to protect farmers, such as removing access to the yards, have underlined their role as a social outlet.

Farmers, once scattered all over the mart looking at stock, are now gathered in the sales ring.

At one jam-packed sales ring recently, one farmer commented that 'less than 20pc of those there had business to be there'.

And that's point; the mart has never just been about business.

It's important the Government, insurers and farmers themselves are conscious of that in the face of possible closures in the years ahead.
Recipients of the Turing Awardwidely considered the Nobel Prize of computingmay not be household names, but their innovations have wired our lives. Tim Berners-Lee (2016 Turing Award recipient) invented the World Wide Web and the first web browser. Whitfield Diffie and Martin Hellman (2015 recipients) invented public-key cryptographythe security ingredient that permits us, for example, to enter credit card numbers online with confidence. Raj Reddy (1994) pioneered artificial intelligence, which enables computers to understand spoken language. Yoshua Bengio, Geoffrey Hinton, and Yann LeCuns (2018) breakthroughs in deep learning have enabled self-driving cars, facial recognition, and more.

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Nominations for the 2019 Turing Award are due to the Association for Computing Machinerythe awarding organizationby Jan. 15. The ACM typically announces the winner(s) in March. Later in June, it will honor the recipient(s), along with winners of its other, less prestigious computing prizes, at an awards banquet in San Francisco. If you attend, youll notice something stark: Nearly all of those who have received computings top prize have been men.

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Reading through the recipient list, you could easily come away with the false impression that men are responsible for nearly all computing breakthroughs. Since the Turing Awards inception in 1966, 70 computer scientists have won it, only three of whom have been women. The first female recipient didnt win until 2006it took 40 years to recognize a woman. Some hypothesize that the dearth of women Turing Award recipients reflects womens underrepresentation in the field. However, the roughly 4 percent of women recipients does not approximate the fact that women currently earn 21 percent of the Ph.D.s in computer science, down from the 1987 peak of 37 percent.

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Million-dollar prizes like the Turing Award seize the publics attention. Winners are sought-after, invited to give high-profile speeches, meet with business leaders, and advise politicians. For a certain nerdy cohortone I belong tothey are heroes. In public programming emanating from the ACM Awards Banquet and beyond, they serve as role models to inspire young people. When womens contributions are overlooked, the public forgoes opportunities to derive inspiration and gain advice from an important sector of computing pioneers.

And the ACM has definitely missed opportunities to recognize pioneering women computer scientists. Grace Hopper (19061992) worked on the first commercial computer produced in the U.S., created the first complier, and invented the first English-like data processing language. The ENIAC TeamBetty Jean Bartik, Kathleen McNulty, Mauchly Antonelli, Ruth Teitelbaum, Frances Spence, Marlyn Meltzer, and Frances Holbertonwas responsible for the worlds first general-purpose computer used for calculating World War II ballistic trajectories. Sister Mary Kenneth Keller (19131985) helped develop BASIC computer code. Radia Perlman (born in 1951) developed spanning tree protocol, making the internet possible. Judy Clapp (born in 1930) developed an air defense system prototype that used radar to track and direct aircraft courses. Karen Sparck Jones* (19352007) developed inverse document frequency, the technology underlying modern search engines. Stories of women computing pioneers could fill books. In fact, they do: A few gems include Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet, When Computers Were Human, and Grace Hopper: Admiral of the Cyber Sea.

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Fostering better gender inclusivity among Turing Award recipients and in the larger computing community is not only good for womenits also good for innovation and discovery. Gender diversity in science enhances the variety of viewpoints, questions, and areas addressed by researchersleading to a gender diversity dividend. Heterogenous groups of problem-solvers have been shown to outperform groups of homogenous, high-ability problem solvers, according to one study. Participants in diverse groups have been shown to prepare better in anticipation of dissenting opinions, which provokes thought and enhances their creativity, according to other studies. As one author wrote, Diversity jolts us into cognitive action in ways that homogeneity simply does not.

Nonetheless, research shows that systemic implicit and explicit bias impede women computer scientists. Pervasive stereotypes suggesting that they do not possess innate scientific talent also undermine women. Women who are perceived as feminine or adept at interpersonal skills are often deemed ill-suited for computing.

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However, there is good news: Many of the very influential men who have received the Turing would prefer for the award to be more inclusive. We have been trying to prime the pump by having the [ACM] committees pay more attention to encouraging nominations in accordance with this broad desire to have all of the people represented, said Vinton Cerf (2004), recent co-chair of the ACM awards committee, and current chief internet evangelist at Googlewhere he is working on an interplanetary internet, among other pursuits.

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Recognizing more women wouldnt, by itself, reduce the institutional barriers that limit womens advancement in computing. At universities, women researchers are called on for internal service roles tending to the academic family more often than men, which constrains their research time. Lack of maternity leave and affordable child care disproportionately affect women scientists during the vital early-career stages. Also, some family-friendly policies exacerbate gender inequities among research scientists, particularly as family leave policies have been shown to reduce mens teaching loads at a higher rate than womens. On-site child care has been shown to increase mens journal publicationsbut only womens teaching duties.

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We need to nominate more women, said Turing Award recipient Robert Tarjan in Heidelberg last fall.

Some of the institutional problems are mirrored in the process of identifying potential Turing Award winners. The ACM relies on prominent computer scientists to write letters of support nominating candidates for the award. Academic letters in the sciences, necessary for career advancement and award nominations, have been shown disproportionately to contain language raising doubts about women electing to pursue science, which corroborates an earlier study. Those who are charged with evaluating professional accomplishments often do not account for mens tendency to overestimate their abilities or womens tendency to underestimate theirs. The result is a pool of Turing Award nominees that bears striking similarities to 50 years worth of draw-a-scientist experiments, in which children asked to draw a scientist overwhelmingly draw men. To be sure, not every woman in computing experiences all of these challenges. But many experience some.

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We typically receive one woman nominee [for the Turing Award] every five years. Its very disturbing, said ACM President Cherri Pancake in September at the most recent Heidelberg Laureate Forum, an annual gathering of math and computer science laureates.

We need to nominate more women, said Turing Award recipient Robert Tarjan (1986) at the time. I can think of a number of women who should be nominated. They are deserving women.

Indeed. The ACM has made some progress toward gender inclusivity with regard to the Turing in recent years. Frances Allen (2006) was recognized for her work optimizing compilersprograms that translate code from one programming language into another. That laid the foundation for automatic parallel execution, in which large computational problems are divided into smaller ones that are solved simultaneously. Barbara Liskov (2008) was honored for pioneering contributions to programming languages and system design. And Shafi Goldwasser (2012) was celebrated for paving the way for the science of cryptography and inventing methods for efficiently verifying mathematical proofs in the study of complex systems.

Nonetheless, Allen, Liskov, and Goldwasser could use company not only on a potential trip to the ACM Awards Banquet or the Heidelberg Laureate Forum, but in the publics collective conscious concerning what computer science heroes look like.

Correction, Jan. 7, 2020: This article originally misidentified Karen Sparck Jones as Katherine Spark Jones.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Bharat Bandh on 27th September 2021: What is Open, What is Closed

Bharat Bandh tomorrow: 25 crore people likely to participate

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 07: Ten central trade unions on Monday said around 25 crore people will participate in a nationwide strike on January 8 to protest against the government's "anti-people" policies.

Trade unions INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with various sectoral independent federations and associations had adopted a declaration in September last to go on a nationwide strike on January 8, 2020.

"We expect participation of not less than 25 crores of working people in the forthcoming National General Strike on January 8, 2020, to be followed by many more actions seeking reversal of the anti-worker, anti-people, anti-national policies of the Government.

"The Ministry of Labour has failed to assure on any of the demands of workers which called a meeting on January 2, 2020. The attitude of the government is that of contempt towards labour as we construe from its policies and actions," the 10 central trade unions (CTUs) said in a joint statement.

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 7th, 2020

Bharat Bandh: Banking services to be hit on January 8

About 60 organisations of students and elected office-bearers of some universities have also decided to join the strike with an agenda to raise voice against increased fee structure and commercialization of education, it said.

The trade unions condemned the JNU violence and similar incidents in other university campuses and expressed their solidarity with students and teachers all over India.

The unions also expressed displeasure over no Indian Labour Conference being held since July 2015, the codification of labour laws and privatisation of PSUs.

"As many as 12 airports are already sold out to private hands, 100 per cent sale of Air India is already decided, decision to sell BPCL taken, BSNL-MTNL merger announced and 93,600 telecom workers already thrown out of jobs under the garb of VRS (voluntary retirement scheme)," it added.

The unions are also against privatisation in railways, corporatisation of 49 defence production units and forced merger of banks.

Joint platform of more than 175 farmers and agricultural workers unions will extend its support to workers' demands and observe January 8 as Gramin Bharat Bandh along with their charter of demands, they added.
We know Managed Services is well-positioned in the marketplace to grow and thrive with the right investment and resources; we only see demand increasing as IT ecosystems become more complex and the war for talent more challenging.

West Monroe Partners, a national business and technology consultancy, announced today it has signed an agreement for Boston-based private equity firm M/C Partners to acquire its Managed Services division. The acquisition closed on Dec. 30, 2019.

West Monroe Partners made the decision so it could focus on growing its core consulting business while ensuring the Managed Services unit receives the investment and attention it needs to scale into a standalone, full-service IT managed services company that can better serve clients and employees.

The operating model and target clients of a mid-market managed services business continue to be increasingly different from our consulting business. We were at a pivotal point to decide whether and how to invest in both businesses independently, and with the gap growing between the Managed Services strategy and our consulting business, it made the most sense to separate and partner differently, positioning both teams for long-term success, said Tom Bolger, chief strategy officer at West Monroe. West Monroe continues to increase its long-term focus on the consulting business where we blend our industry, functional, and technical expertise to drive financial value for our clients.

West Monroe has a vested interest in the new companys continued success, as it has formed a five-year partnership with the new company: Both will continue to partner closely on serving joint consulting and managed services clients. In addition, West Monroe will be a major client and partner to the managed services business.

We know Managed Services is well-positioned in the marketplace to grow and thrive with the right investment and resources; we only see demand increasing as IT ecosystems become more complex and the war for talent more challenging, said Kevin McCarty, CEO of West Monroe. Managed Services is a great business and we owed it to this talented team to find a path forward that could invest in its long-term success.

Three West Monroe directors went to the new company as part of the move, including Mark Nelson, Evan Callender, and Justin Stefano. Additionally, around 100 employees, primarily based in West Monroes Chicago office, moved to the new company as part of the transaction.

West Monroe launched is Managed Services division in 2009 and has since grown to an award-winning operation with more than 100 dedicated employees. The business unit is made up of a fully onshore team that offers a full suite of 24/7 managed services capabilities, including cloud and infrastructure management, cybersecurity management, application and data management and service desk.

In M/C Partners, we have found the right fit for our business to scale and for our team to thrive culturally and professionally, said Mark Nelson, leader of the managed services unit. Our collective priority has been to find the right level of investment and support; this new structure will do just that.

West Monroes advisers on the deal were Clearsight Advisors and Katten Muchin Rosenmann.

About West Monroe Partners

West Monroe is a national business and technology consulting firm that partners with dynamic organizations to reimagine, build, and operate their businesses at peak performance. Our team of more than 1,400 professionals is comprised of an uncommon blend of business consultants and deep technologists. This unique combination of expertise enables us to design, develop, implement, and run strategic business and technology solutions that yield a dramatic commercial impact on our clients profitability and performance. For more information, visit http://www.wmp.com.


By Choe Chong-dae





Recently, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven made a state visit to Korea at the invitation of President Moon Jae-in from Dec. 18 to 20. Because of my long and very good relations with Sweden, Moon invited me to the welcome dinner for the prime minister at Cheong Wa Dae on Dec. 18. It was quite an honor! Moreover, I had the pleasure of attending the address by the Swedish prime minister at the National Assembly the following day. On Dec. 20 there was a screening at the Korean War Memorial of the documentary film "Swedes in the Korean War  Celebrating our Unique Friendship" in the presence of the prime ministers of both Sweden and Korea.



The remarks delivered by Lofven at the dinner hosted by Moon and at the National Assembly were a great inspiration. He quoted a line of a poem from renowned Joseon-era poet Youn Seon-do: "We both realize that spring will always come soon, no matter how harsh the winter has been." He also described the relationship between Korea and Sweden saying, "The future is bright!"



Shortly after the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, Scandinavian nations Sweden, Norway and Denmark demonstrated their humanitarian concern for Korea by providing medical supplies. Thanks to the exemplary spirit of philanthropy, Sweden dispatched medical units and operated the Swedish Red Cross Field hospital in Busan, the first medical unit of the war. The Swedish hospital along with the Norwegian Mobile Army Surgical Hospital and Denmark's Jutlandia hospital ship provided emergency surgery to tens of thousands of war victims, both civilians and soldiers during the war.



Even after the war, the Scandinavian nations offered financial aid and medical experts to Korea which led to the establishment and longtime operation of the hospital in Seoul that later became the Korean National Medical Center.



Thanks to the visionary efforts of Lars Frisk (Major General Retired)  chairman of the Board of the Swedish Army, Navy and Air Force Film Foundation, who served as chief of the Swedish Delegation, Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission of Panmunjeom, the documentary film "Swedes in the Korean War" was produced. It features recollections of doctors, nurses and patients and focuses on the friendships that emerged between the Swedes and Koreans. It is a significant piece of war history and a fine testimony of Scandinavian humanitarianism. The screening of the documentary at the Korean War Memorial left a profound impression on me.



The invited guests at the film screening included Cho Goon-ja, who was a teenager when she received treatment at the Swedish Hospital in Busan. She told the audience that "I believe my life after age 15 is a gift bestowed by the Swedish people." She thanked the Swedish doctor who saved her life when she suffered from tuberculosis.



To commemorate the Swedish participation during the Korean War, a monument was erected by the Swedish Association of Field Hospital and the Swedish-Korean Society in 1971, at the site where the Swedish Red Cross Field Hospital was originally located. It was later Pusan Commercial High School and has since become a Lotte Hotel. Five decades ago, as a university freshman, I attended the dedicating ceremony of the monument. I keep a fond memory of my meeting a Swedish Korean War veteran, Dr. O.K. Ake who served at the Swedish hospital.



The dedication of the Swedish medical team to Korea, along with Norwegians and Danes has had a profound impact on Korea, and on me personally. It was very good to relive it again!





Choe Chong-dae (choecd@naver.com) is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International, and director of the Korean-Swedish Association.


British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab travels to Brussels on Tuesday to discuss with France and Germany the crisis sparked by the killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, the British Foreign Office said, Trend with reference to Reuters reports.

The Foreign Secretary is traveling to Brussels today for talks with his European counterparts on the situation in the Middle East following the death of Soleimani and on the escalating conflict in Libya, a spokesman said.

The E3 will... meet to discuss the tensions between the US and Iran with all three pushing for de-escalation, the spokesman said. The talks will also cover the nuclear deal following Irans latest announcement on Sunday that it is withdrawing from further commitments in the deal.
Ten graves at a Jewish cemetery in the southwest of France have been desecrated in what is feared to be an anti-Semitic attack.

Deborah Loupien-Suares, head of the Jewish community in Bayonne and Biarritz, discovered the damage Sunday while visiting the graves of her grandparents.

'There is significant damage to up to 10 tombs at the cemetery which have been smashed,' she told AFP, expressing her 'shock and horror'.

A dozen graves at a Jewish cemetery in Bayonne, south west France, were discovered smashed on Sunday by a mourner visiting the resting place of her grandparents (pictured, the graveyard as it appeared on Tuesday)

Deborah Loupien-Suares said graves had been smashed, and fears the attack was anti-Semitic because a nearby Catholic cemetery was untouched

Tombstones had been broken as well as a commemorative plaque for a girl who was deported during World War II.

No symbols or signs were left behind after the attack, so Loupien-Suares says she cannot be sure the attack was anti-Semitic.

However, she said a Catholic cemetery located opposite the Jewish site and which is easier to access was not targeted.

Prosecutors in Bayonne have confirmed an investigation was underway.

'There is no anti-Semitic graffiti and I don't want to inflame a debate. I want the investigation to take place calmly,' Loupien-Suares said.

Bayonne Mayor Jean-Rene Etchegaray visited the scene on Sunday. The Jewish cemetery was created in the late 17th century and progressively extended.

A plaque commemorating a Jewish girl who was deported during the Second World War was also defaced (pictured, a similar plaque at the entrance)

Police in Bayonne say they are investigating but have not yet ruled the attack anti-Semitic because no graffiti or symbols were left behind

'This is the first time this has happened in Bayonne, where the Jewish community has been perfectly integrated for years,' Loupien-Suares said.

Two Jewish cemeteries have been attacked in recent months in Alsace, eastern France.

Over 100 graves were defaced with swastikas and other anti-Semitic graffiti at the cemetery in Westhoffen in December, while 96 tombs were desecrated at Quatzenheim, also in Alsace, in February.

The rising number of anti-Jewish offences reported to police - up 74 percent in 2018 from the previous year - has caused alarm in a country that is home to both the biggest Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe.

President Emmanuel Macron said after the Westhoffen vandalism that 'Jews are and make France' and that 'those who attack them, even their graves, are not worthy of the idea we have of France.'
In one of those faith-based marriages we have heard so much about from Ilhan Omar, Omars ex  Ahmed Southside Hirsi  remarried in Mogadishu 37 days after the dissolution of his marriage to Omar was finalized. Its international news, first reported by Martin Gould here in the Daily Mail yesterday. The New York Post followed up on the Daily Mail story here. The Daily Mail has even acquired video of the ceremony, from which both Hirsi and his bride were absent.

The Daily Mail story repeats the received version of Omars tangled marital history, omitting the fact that Omars first legal marriage  to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi  was to her brother. Im going to have to work on getting Gould out to Minneapolis to immerse him in the rest of the story.

Meeting with two Somali sources at a diner in the uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis on November 12, a week after his divorce from Omar had been finalized, we spotted Hirsi through the window at our booth. He was entering the India Palace restaurant next door. One of the sources closed my notebook and exclaimed: Theres Southside!

Hirsi looked happy as a lark. We had no idea he was moving on in such a big way.

Meeting with another Somali source this past Friday, I was told about Hirsis remarriage and directed to a photo of the happy couple honeymooning in Mecca that had been posted on Instagram. I was advised that Hirsis new wife, unlike Omar, is a member of the same Somali clan as Hirsi.

The Daily Mail notes that Omar has congratulated the happy couple, sharing a photo of the two on her Instagram story: Mash Allah. Hambalyo boowe. Congratulations, may Allah accept your umrah and bless your union. Readers who get their news from the Star Tribune will be surprised to learn about the story one of these days.
The push for unionization in the video game industry has a new major player. In a story by the LA Times, labor union Communication Workers of America announced it's launching a new initiative to unionize game and tech workers by hiring two organizers dedicated to providing legal and logistical support for developers seeking to organize their workplaces.

The two new staffers, Emma Kinema and Wes McEnany, are launching CODE: The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees. Kinema previously co-founded Game Workers Unite and organized the group's Southern California chapters.

As the LA Times notes, the choice to align Game Workers Unite with Communication Workers of America does shift the push for unionization into a path more familiar to traditional industrial organizing, rather than the craft-based model that SAG-AFTRA has represented for video game voice actors.

CWA lead organizer Tom Smith told the LA Times the union is still open to a craft-based organizational model if that's what workers want, but Kinema presented an explanation for the company organization model.

We believe workers are strongest when theyre together in one shop in one union, so the disciplines cant be pitted against each othernone of thats good for the workers, Kinema told the Times. I think in games and tech the wall-to-wall industrial model is the best fit.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders recently expressed support for a union for video game developers. Kinema herself previously joined a panel of organizers explaining how developers can organize their workplace at GDC 2019.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said Monday, Jan. 6 that it is closely monitoring events in the Middle East "to identify potential risks to civil aviation safety." FAA's statement comes in the wake of a U.S. drone attack early Jan. 3 in Baghdad that killed Iran's top military commander, Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

"We continue to coordinate with our national security partners and share information with U.S. air carriers and foreign civil aviation authorities," the agency said. "The FAA will take actions as necessary to ensure the safety of U.S. civil aviation operations worldwide."

News of the attack sent U.S. airline stock prices tumbling 1-3% in trading Jan. 3. The stock prices of several of the largest U.S. carriers were down again Monday, but the range of declines was more modest.

FAA's Threat Analysis Division said in an information note released Jan. 3 that "while there are no indications of an intent to target civil aviation, there is an increasing inadvertent risk to civil aviation in the region, particularly if kinetic attack operations occur."

In the days since the attack, Jordanian flag carrier Royal Jordanian and Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, have suspended service to Baghdad because of safety and security concerns. Gulf Air also has suspended service to Najaf, Iraq, until further notice.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have been building for months. In September, FAA warned U.S. operators to exercise caution when operating into, out of, within or over what is known as the Tehran flight information region, which is largely comprised of the airspace over Iran and adjacent areas. In June, after Iran shot down a U.S. surveillance drone, FAA banned U.S.-registered aircraft from flying over the Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Oman. Both of those bodies of water are within the Tehran flight information region.

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NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Streambank, a leading intellectual property advisory firm specializing in the valuation and sale of intangible assets, successfully closed the sale of affordable housing credits (the "Credits") in Hawaii County, Hawaii at the end of last year. On the heels of that transaction and in response to the outpouring of interest, Hilco Streambank is offering real estate developers and investors in Hawaii County, Hawaii the opportunity to acquire additional Credits that can be used to satisfy the affordable housing obligations under the Hawaii County Code.

Hilco Streambank Executive Vice President David Peress stated, "In response to the significant interest generated from the first offering of Credits, we have made available an additional 10 Credits for sale, although more may be made available upon request." Peress stated that the Credits are especially valuable because there are no radius restrictions, adding that "the Credits may be utilized to satisfy a developer's affordable housing obligations throughout Hawaii County (the Big Island), including projects in Kona and Hilo."

Offers for the Credits are due on February 25, 2020. The minimum offer amount per Credit is $25,000. Further information regarding the Credit transfer process and offer documents can be found here.

Peress continued, "The Credits do not expire, and purchasers may re-sell their Credits in increments of one-half Credit or more. We encourage housing, hotel and industrial project developers and investors with Hawaii County projects in the planning or initial stages of development to contact us for more information regarding how the Credits can add value to their projects."

Parties interested in the Credits or learning more about the sale process should CLICK HERE or contact Hilco Streambank directly using the contact information provided below.

David Peress

EVP  Hilco Streambank

[email protected]

617.642.1909

Richelle Kalnit

Senior Vice President  Hilco Streambank

[email protected]

212.993.7214

Ben Kaplan

Associate  Hilco Streambank

[email protected]

646.651.1978

About Hilco Streambank : Hilco Streambank (www.hilcostreambank.com) is one of the foremost authorities on intellectual property asset valuation and monetization. Acting as an agent or principal, Hilco Streambank advises upon and executes strategies for both healthy and distressed clients seeking to maximize the value of their intellectual property assets including brands, trademarks, domain names, patents, copyrights, IPv4 addresses and customer lists. Hilco Streambank has established itself as the premier intermediary in the consumer brand, internet and telecom communities with successes in publicly reported Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, private transactions, and online sales through IPv4.Global. Hilco Streambank is part of Northbrook, Illinois based Hilco Global (www.hilcoglobal.com), the world's leading authority on maximizing the value of business assets by delivering valuation, monetization and advisory solutions to an international marketplace. Hilco Global operates more than twenty specialized business units offering services that include asset valuation and appraisal, retail and industrial inventory acquisition and disposition, real estate and strategic capital equity investments.

SOURCE Hilco Streambank

Related Links

www.hilcostreambank.com


Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 18:05:24|Editor: Wang Yamei

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BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Ive Pogorelich, a piano virtuoso from Belgrade, Serbia, will bring a recital for audiences at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on Feb. 23.

Born in a family of musicians in 1958, Pogorelich started his journey of music and piano at the age of seven and went to Moscow at 12 to study at the Central Special Music School and later at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory.

The pianist will perform a series of classical music such as Bach's "English Suite No. 3 in G Minor," Beethoven's "Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-flat Major," and Chopin's "Barcarolle in F-sharp Major."

Tickets for the performance are now available on the official website of the NCPA (www.chncpa.org).
MACAO, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The business performance of Macao's restaurants and retailers in October 2019 was less satisfactory than that in September, and restaurants expected the business to weaken in November, the special administrative region's statistics department said here on Monday.

The latest report from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that there were 32 percent of the interviewed restaurants and similar establishments recording a year-on-year rise in revenue in October, a decrease of 6 percentage points from September 2019.

Meanwhile, 44 percent of the interviewed establishments reported a year-on-year decline in revenue in October, representing an 8 percentage point increase from September.

For retail trade, 40 percent of the interviewed retailers registered a year-on-year sales increase in October, a drop of 3 percentage points from September.

The proportion of interviewed retailers reporting a year-on-year decrease in sales edged up by 1 percentage point from September to 40 percent.

The interviewed restaurants and similar establishments expected their business to weaken in November, with 46 percent of them anticipating their revenue to decline year-on-year, an increase of 5 percentage points from October.

On the other hand, the proportion of interviewed establishments predicting their revenue to remain steady year-on-year rose by 2 percentage points to 44 percent.

Retailers expected a slight improvement in their business in November as compared to October, with 29 percent of the interviewed retailers forecasting their sales to increase year-on-year, a growth of 2 percentage points from October.

Meanwhile, 29 percent of the interviewed retailers foresaw a year-on-year sales decrease in November, down by 3 percentage points from October.
As Chris Green was leaving a Houston store where he was shopping for formula for the baby his live-in ex-girlfriend had brought home a few days before, he was approached by FBI agents. They showed the man a missing person flyer for Austin mother Heidi Broussard and her 3-week-old baby, Margo.

Thats my baby, Green told the agents when he saw the photograph of Margo on Dec. 19, according to court documents.

But it wasnt his child.

The agents went to the house Green shared with Magen Fieramusca. They found Broussards baby inside the house near Jersey Village and the 33-year-old mothers corpse in a car in the backyard.

Fieramusca, also 33, has been charged with two counts of kidnapping and tampering with Broussards corpse in the case, which has drawn international attention. Detectives now believe Fieramusca was driven to abduct Broussard and her infant in Austin last month because of a desire to have a baby after a pregnancy that either failed to come to term or was entirely made up, according to an arrest affidavit unsealed Monday.

Broussard was killed by ligature strangulation, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science. The death was ruled a homicide.

The affidavit, which notes that Broussards corpse was stuffed into a duffel bag in the trunk, reveals Fieramuscas actions in the days on and after the abduction, including internet searches for Broussard, Amber Alerts and bodies found in Austin.

Fieramusca has not been charged with killing Broussard. The Austin bureau of the Texas Department of Public Safety did not immediately respond to a question about whether Green has been eliminated as a suspect. He has not been charged with any crime in connection with the case.

Broussard and her baby were reported missing by the Austin Police Department on Dec. 13. The last time the mother and child were seen together was on Dec. 12 at Cowan Elementary School, where Broussard dropped off her older son.

An extensive search followed, led by federal, state and Austin police.

On HoustonChronicle.com: One person arrested in Harris County in kidnapping, death of Heidi Broussard, missing Austin mom

Fieramusca and Broussard met at the Texas Bible Institute in Columbus about a decade ago, Shane Carey, Broussards boyfriend told police. The two, who talked on the phone regularly, appeared to become pregnant around the same time, with both due dates around December, Carey told investigators.

Fieramusca was in the hospital room when baby Margo was born on Nov. 26 at St. Davids South Austin Hospital, the affidavit says. It adds that Fieramusca interrupted Careys fathers first meeting with Margo so she could hold the baby. He told investigators he found that odd.

People who were at the hospital for Margos birth told investigators they heard the two women saying Fieramusca was 37 weeks pregnant at the time.

Carey said Broussard told him Fieramusca gave birth to her own child on Dec. 8 or 9, according to the affidavit.

Green told FBI agents that Fieramusca told him she became pregnant with his child in the spring of 2019. He said that her stomach appeared to grow, court records say, and he felt it. But he told investigators he never saw the womans bare stomach during the pregnancy.

Fieramusca and Green had broken up in March, Green said, but the two kept living together in his home.

Police say Broussards boyfriend was cooperative throughout the investigation and has regained custody of Margo.

Green told law-enforcement officials that when Fieramusca returned from a trip on Dec. 13, she said, Dont be mad, according to the affidavit. She told him that she went into labor and delivered their baby.

When questioned by investigators on Dec. 19, Fieramusca could not remember the name of the birthing center where she said she delivered, and she gave conflicting accounts of when the baby arrived.

Surveillance footage of the complex where Broussard lived in the 700 block of West William Cannon Drive shows a car that police believe belonged to Fieramusca being driven near the mothers home on Dec. 12, according to the affidavit.

A witness told detectives she saw the same car stopped in the middle of the lot that day and that she saw a woman believed to be Broussard holding a baby get into the vehicle, the affidavit says. The witness also told police she saw a woman who looked like Fieramusca driving the car.

Agents began investigating Fieramuscas social media, email and other online accounts, all of which used an alternative name  Maygen Humphrey on Dec. 18, the day before Broussards body was found. An online baby registry under the names Maygen Humphrey and Chris Green listed the couples expected due date as Dec. 12.

According to the affidavit, Fieramusca did google searches in her gmail account under the Humphrey name for reasons for Amber Alert and Amber Alert issued in Austin on Dec. 12, the day Broussard went missing, for bodies found in Austin Texas Dec. 14; and for the name Heidi Broussard at least 162 times between Nov. 11 and Dec. 18.

Location data from Fieramuscas cell phone placed the device in the Austin area on the day Broussard went missing.

Officials with the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety surveilled Fieramuscas home in Houston on Dec. 19, the affidavit says, and a helicopter operator noticed a car parked in the backyard.

After DPS was granted access to the property for a welfare check of the child, they discovered Broussards body in the car.

A state trooper smelled the immediate and unmistakable odor of decomposing flesh emitting from the trunk area of the 2015 Nissan, the affidavit reads.

Broussards body was later identified by the medical examiners office. After DNA testing confirmed the baby was Margo, she was returned to her father, Carey.

A funeral service for Broussard was held on Dec. 27 in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The FBIs Behavioral Analysis Unit said Fieramuscas actions fit the profile of a woman who would abduct a child due to maternal desire, according to the affidavit. It adds that, according to the FBI analysts, maternal desire can be a motive for mothers that have lost a pregnancy or falsified pregnancy and materialize the desire to have a baby by taking someone elses child.

Fieramusca is scheduled to appear in Travis County Court in February, according to the affidavit.

hannah.dellinger@chron.com
TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Top cannabis industry leaders will convene in the dedicated Cannabis House in Davos, Switzerland, January 21-24, 2020, for high-level discussions on the emerging global cannabis industry and to network with the many industry stakeholders who will participate in the iconic international gathering.

The Davos Cannabis House will highlight the economic role of cannabis in the future of healthcare, international trade, investment, and environmental and resource security, with the goal of creating a fair and viable cannabis-related industry globally.

The Davos Cannabis House is hosted by CannaTech, the world's premier international cannabis summit platform, in partnership with the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), the U.S. based OTC Markets Group, and Kannaswiss, the maker of high-quality wellness products, in the true spirit of the gathering to "Improve the State of the World."

Speakers at the Davos Cannabis House will address, among other topics, sustainability and climate change by focusing on hemp-derived products that have the potential to reduce water, energy, packaging waste and more.

Other topics to be addressed include how the growing cannabis economy can play a role in addressing social equity and justice. From Latin America to Africa, many countries with great market potential are also home to disenfranchised populations. The global cannabis industry has the potential to protect local communities and stakeholders with impact investing.

Global cooperation will be discussed in almost every Davos forum. With disparate global and domestic regulatory climates, the challenge of securing and de-risking cannabis investments will be another focal point for discussion.

"Cannabis is on the verge of seriously impacting health care and the ways people partake in leisure activities. On the global level, the threat of climate change has opened people's eyes to hemp as a sustainable plant with innumerable uses for construction, industry, and medicine. These recent developments are creating new international ecosystems that will impact everyone from local farm workers in Africa to the world's largest corporations in the Western world. Davos could not be a better place to examine the place of Cannabis in the world at the beginning of this new decade," said Saul Kaye, founder and CEO of CannaTech and iCAN: Israel-Cannabis.

Situated alongside world-leading industry and government pavilions, the Davos Cannabis House welcomes the Davos press corps to stop by and learn more.

For more information about the Davos Cannabis House click here .

About the Canadian Securities Exchange

The Canadian Securities Exchange is a rapidly-growing stock exchange focused on working with entrepreneurs to access the public capital markets in Canada and internationally. The exchange's efficient operating model, advanced technology and low fee structure help companies of all sizes minimize their cost of capital and maximize access to liquidity.

The CSE fosters positive working relationships with issuers, providing superior responsiveness to their specific needs. It offers investors in Canada and abroad access to a multi-sector stable of growth companies through a liquid, reliable and highly regulated trading platform. The exchange strongly supports entrepreneurship and has established itself as a leading hub for discourse in the entrepreneurial community.

The CSE has more than 550 listings and offers trading services for Canadian-listed securities. Its issuers, which are active in diverse industries such as cannabis, technology and mining, have raised more than $3.2 billion in the last 12 months. The exchange was founded in 2004 and has corporate offices in Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia.

For more information, please visit www.thecse.com and our blog at http://blog.thecse.com .

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 10,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com .

OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.

About iCAN: Israel-Cannabis

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Rebecca Long Bailey claimed Jeremy Corbyn was '10 out of 10' as Labour leader today, despite him overseeing the party's worst election humiliation in more than 80 years.

The shadow business secretary made clear her attempt to harness her horse to the Corbynista wagons, despite continuing to insist she was not a continuity candidate.

She was asked to rate Mr Corbyn's four years in power in an interview with ITV News, saying he was 'one of most honest kind principled politicians Ive ever met'.

She told reporter Paul Brand: 'I'd give him 10 out of 10, because I respect him and I supported him all the way through.

'What we cant ignore was that Jeremy was savaged from day one by the press...'

Her glowing endorsement came weeks after the December vote humiliation which handed Boris Johnson an 80-seat majority and potentially a decade of Tory rule.

Labour was left with a rump of just 202 seats, its worst showing since 1935, prompting a leadership battle for the soul of the party.

The shadow business secretary stressed her hard-Left credentials as the contest to succeed Mr Corbyn and won the support of shadow chancellor John McDonnell this afternoon, who said she was 'on top of her game'.

But Jack Straw, who was home and foreign secretary under Tony Blair, warned against choosing her as the new leader, telling Sky: 'The Labour party needs a true, loyal successor to Jeremy Corbyn like it needs a hole in the head.'

He added: 'If (Labour) goes with someone who says he or she is the ''continuity candidate'' that is signing a collective suicide note.'

Rebecca Long Bailey shamelessly claimed Jeremy Corbyn was '10 out of 10' as Labour leader today, despite him overseeing the party's worst election humiliation in more than 80 years

Shadow business secretary Robecca Long Bailey (pictured in London today) stressed her hard-Left credentials as she formally entered the leadership contest

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured in Westminster today) is due to be replaced in April. Party chairman Ian Lavery (right yesterday) has endorsed Ms Long Bailey

In a thinly-veiled swipe at rival Keir Starmer, Ms Long Bailey insisted she had not been happy with the party's Brexit stance in the election campaign, saying it had eroded 'trust in our communities'. She also admitted Labour should have been 'tougher' in addressing a wave of vile anti-Semitism among activists.

From pawn shop to politics: Long Bailey is left-wing standard-bearer Rebecca Long Bailey, 40, is the clear left-wing standard bearer in a contest in which centrist Sir Keir Starmer has taken an early edge. A mother of one, Ms Long-Bailey wrote of her working-class upbringing in Greater Manchester, where she saw her union official father deal with 'rounds and rounds of redundancies'. When reciting her biography, Ms Long-Bailey tends to dwell on the jobs she had before becoming a successful lawyer, such as working in a pawn shop. She has also been keen to point out her working-class credentials by saying she took jobs in call centres, a furniture factory and as a postwoman. A close ally of Jeremy Corbyn who toed the leader's line, some detractors within the party dubbed her 'wrong-daily'. The ex-phone bank worker is now hoping for a call from Labour's membership asking her to step up to the top job. Advertisement

Despite denying she is the 'continuity candidate', Ms Long Bailey gave a staunch defence of Mr Corbyn, complaining that he had been subjected to 'unprecedented levels of criticism' and she felt he was the 'right man' with the 'right ideas'.

But she was swiftly given a glowing review by Mr McDonnell, who is also backing shadow justice minister Richard Burgon to be her deputy.

Mr McDonnell said: 'I'm supporting Becky, yeah.

'I thought she was superb on the Today programme. I thought she came across as an extremely warm human being and was on top of her game, she was excellent.

'But all of them have been good. I think we've got a really good team of candidates.'

Asked about his role in the leadership campaigns, he joked: 'I'm trying to keep out of it and quietly drift into the role of an elder statesman, making pompous statements every now and then.'

The announcement came amid signs that the hard-Left is uniting behind Ms Long Bailey, amid fears Sir Keir could romp home in the contest. Party chairman Ian Lavery, another Corbyn loyalist, has revealed he will not stand.

Speaking on the BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Long Bailey said: 'We weren't trusted on Brexit.

'We weren't trusted as a party to tackle the crisis of anti-Semitism.

'We weren't trusted on our policies, no matter how radical or detailed they were. 'They simply didn't hit the ground running.'

Pressed on Mr Corbyn's performance in the campaign, Ms Long Bailey said: 'I supported Jeremy. I still support Jeremy, because I felt that he was the right man with the right moral integrity to lead the party, and the right ideas.

'Any leader who leads us into a general election defeat needs to take ultimate responsibility.

'But he also set out a radical platform for policy development that involved the grass roots and our trade unions, and developed some of the most exciting and innovative policies that we have seen in a generation.

'I think he will go down in history as being remembered as the leader that has done that.'

Rebecca Long Bailey in her own words Rebecca Long Bailey carried out media interviews today as well as penning an opinion piece for lefty magazine Tribune in which she set out her position ahead of the leadership battle. Here are some of the key comments Jeremy Corbyn's policies: 'I don't just agree with the policies, I've spent the last four years writing them.' Why she is running: 'We need a leader that can be trusted with our socialist agenda. A leader who is totally committed to the policies and has the political backbone to defend them. We need a proud socialist to lead the Labour Party, driven by their principles and an unwavering determination to see democratic socialism in our lifetime.' Immigration: 'Never again will our party put 'controls on immigration' on a mug. It would be a betrayal of our principles, and of our core supporters and activists. We must defeat Johnson and the nationalist right, never pander to them.' The Establishment: 'We must go to war with the political establishment, pledging a constitutional revolution that sweeps away the House of Lords, takes big money out of politics and radically shifts power away from Westminster. My vision of a democratic, decarbonised economy alongside a new democracy that hands power and wealth back to ordinary people is one that can win.' Nuclear weapons: 'If you have a deterrent you have to be prepared to use it. But I'm not going to be a warmonger foaming at the mouth ...' Advertisement

Ms Long Bailey took a different line from life-long CND campaigner Mr Corbyn as she suggested she would be 'prepared to use' the UK's nuclear deterrent.

'If you have a deterrent, you have to be prepared to use it,' she said.

'But I'm not going to be a warmonger foaming at the mouth and saying that I'm going to press a button, because any leader needs to ensure that they assess the situation, they address the consequences of their actions.

'And of course any country that was considering pushing the nuclear button needed to realise that we were facing nuclear annihilation right across the whole world.

'But, yes, a leader would need to be prepared to engage in that if they were going to use the nuclear deterrent going forward.'

Speaking to Sky News later, she irritably batted off the idea she represents more of the same Corbyn era.

'I'm nobody's continuity candidate, that's for sure,' she said.

Writing in Tribune magazine today, Ms Long Bailey said: 'Many candidates in the leadership election say they will not return to the triangulation and Tory-lite policies that held our party back before Jeremy.

'But we need a leader that can be trusted with our socialist agenda. A leader who is totally committed to the policies and has the political backbone to defend them.

'We need a proud socialist to lead the Labour Party, driven by their principles and an unwavering determination to see democratic socialism in our lifetime.

'For all of these reasons and more, I have decided to stand for election to become the next leader of our party.'

How does the Labour leadership election work? Under the terms of the contest, candidates need to secure the nominations of least 10 per cent of the party's MPs and MEPs - which is now 22 after the general and European election defeats last year. Those who succeed will then go forward to the second stage when they must win the nominations of five per cent of the almost 300 constituency Labour parties (CLPs) OR three Labour affiliates - of which at least two must be trade unions - comprising at least five per cent of the fully paid-up affiliate membership. Applications to become a registered supporter open at 5pm on January 14 and close at 5pm on January 16. The freeze date for new members to join and be eligible to vote will be January 20 in the postal ballot. Under the timetable set out by the NEC, nominations from MPs and MEPs will open on January 7, closing at 2.30pm on January 13. The second stage of nominations from constituency parties and affiliates then opens on January 15 and runs to February 14. The ballot of members and registered supporters opens the following week on February 21, closing at noon on Thursday April 2. A special conference will be held two days later to unveil the new party leader. Advertisement

Mr Lavery announced he is backing Ms Long-Bailey after dropping out of the running himself.

'We must ensure that we never again are seen to be taking working class communities for granted or to write them off as ignorant or ill-educated,' he said in another apparent jibe at pro-Remain contenders.

The moves came after the party's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) set out the timetable for election, with the new leader to be announced at a conference on Saturday April 4.

The NEC also confirmed that, as in 2016, 'registered supporters' will be able to vote if they pay a 25 fee.

A party spokeswoman said there would be a 48-hour window to apply from 5pm Tuesday January 14.

'We are by far the largest political party in the UK with well over half a million members,' the spokeswoman said.

'We want as many of our members and supporters to take part, so it has been designed to be open, fair and democratic.'

Under the terms of the contest, candidates need to secure the nominations of least 10 per cent (22) of the party's MPs and MEPs.

Those who succeed will go forward to the second stage where they must get the nominations of 5 per cent of constituency Labour parties or three Labour affiliates - of which at least two must be trade unions - comprising at least 5 per cent of the fully paid-up affiliate membership.

The closing date for new members to join and be eligible to vote will be January 20 in the postal ballot.

A poll of Labour members has suggested that Sir Keir Starmer (left with Ms Long Bailey last year) is in pole position to take over from Mr Corbyn

This marks a change from the last election in 2016 when a retrospective cut-off date was set.

Corbyn reshuffles his top shadow team to replace MPs booted out in election defeat Jeremy Corbyn has conducted a mini-reshuffle of his top team, as he prepares for the final four months of his leadership. Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin replaces former deputy party leader Tom Watson as shadow culture secretary and Rachael Maskell takes over from Laura Pidcock, who lost her seat at the election, as shadow employment rights secretary. Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP Luke Pollard takes ex-MP Sue Hayman's position as shadow environment secretary. Mr Corbyn said: 'Labour will be holding the Conservatives to account on their election promises, record of failure and performance in government every step of the way.' Advertisement

Under the timetable set out by the NEC, nominations from MPs and MEPs will open on January 7, closing at 2.30pm on January 13.

The second stage of nominations from constituency parties and affiliates then opens on January 15 and runs to February 14.

The ballot of members and registered supporters opens the following week on February 21, closing at midday on Thursday April 2.

The same rules and timetable will apply to the contest to succeed Tom Watson as deputy leader.

In addition to Ms Long-Bailey and Sir Keir, four other candidates have announced they intend to stand for the leadership - frontbenchers Emily Thornberry and Clive Lewis, and backbenchers Jess Phillips and Lisa Nandy.

Former cabinet minister Yvette Cooper has ruled out a leadership bid.

Ms Cooper, who stood against Mr Corbyn in 2015, said: 'The scale of Labour's defeat challenges our whole party not just the next leader.

'I'm not standing for Labour leader this time but I'll keep fighting for a Labour government.'
POWER As a local energy provider and a nationally recognized leader in using advanced technologies, we are pleased to welcome our industry colleagues to Denver."

Xcel Energy is confirmed as the host utility for the 22nd annual ELECTRIC POWER Conference & Exhibition, which convenes at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, April 1417.

The ELECTRIC POWER Conference & Exhibition is the only event serving the power generation industry year-round, providing real-world, actionable content and case studies in print, online, and in person. It is the go-to event for power sector stakeholders and decision-makers to gain a clear picture of the unfolding energy transition, understand all the changes that are reshaping the sector, and recognize how to better prepare their facilities and infrastructure for what lies ahead.

With the dramatic changes that have occurred across the global power sector in the past few years, its more important than ever to convene with peers to discuss the ongoing transformation of power generation, and how rapid changes necessitate new market designs and new business models. ELECTRIC POWER will do just that with its focus on enabling technologies, operations and maintenance, system design, and business management.

We recognize the changes occurring across the industry and have updated our exhibits as well as revamped and diversified our conference program to cut through the noise and bring to the forefront key issues, transformative technologies, and crucial insights on current trends and future market conditions impacting power generation, stated John Rockwell, ELECTRIC POWER Show Director. Plus, were very excited to be in Denver for the first-time, welcoming Xcel Energy as our Host Utility.

As a local energy provider and a nationally recognized leader in using advanced technologies, we are pleased to welcome our industry colleagues to Denver, said Kent Larson, Xcel Energy Executive Vice President and Group President, Operations. Coming together to network and engage with one another allows us to share best practices and collectively shape the future of our energy system.

To complement the learning environment, attendees will also have an opportunity to visit companies showcasing proven equipment, breakthrough technologies, and required services that provide the solutions needed to make power generation facilities and infrastructure ready to transition with the evolving power generation industry at the ELECTRIC POWER Exhibition. The exhibition takes place April 1516, also at the Colorado Convention Center.

Full conference details and registration information are now available. Make plans today for you and your entire team to join ELECTRIC POWER and host utility Xcel Energy in Denver this April for our 22nd annual event.

Who We Are

Established in 1998, ELECTRIC POWER Conference & Exhibition is an event supporting power generation. We believe in the education, training, and development of power professionals, power plant employees, students, and solution providers to continue to advance this sector of the industry. With the support of POWER magazine, an advisory board comprised of individuals from all facets of power generation, and leading industry experts, our conference is known in the industry as the best place to meet, network, and gain knowledge and insights on the pressing issues affecting power generation while staying current on regulations, policies, safety, and best practices in an ever-changing industry.

About POWER magazine

POWER, the single global resource for print, media, and events in the power and energy industry, was established in 1882 and is the only industry publication that addresses all power generation, and related technologies and fuels, utilized throughout the world, providing news and information for this increasingly complex sector. The POWER brand is dedicated to providing its global audience with exclusive analyses of the latest trends, best practices, and insight on power generation and related projects through several platforms, including print, digital, and in-person events. POWER equips generation professionals and those who support them with the resources they need to make informed decisions that power the future.
Prosecutors in Los Angeles, California, have brought new sex abuse charges against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The charges were announced Monday, the same day that his trial for rape and sexual assault began in New York City.

In Los Angeles, Weinstein is charged with raping one woman and sexually assaulting another in 2013. Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a statement that evidence will show that Weinstein used his power to commit violent crimes against his victims.

Weinstein appeared Monday in a Manhattan courthouse with his lawyers and security guards. There, he faced charges of raping a woman in a hotel room in 2013 and sexually assaulting another woman in 2006.

It was over two years ago that The New Yorker magazine and The New York Times first published accusations of sexual abuse against Weinstein. Since then, more than 75 women have publicly said Weinstein raped or sexually abused them in the past.

The accusations against Weinstein would lead to the #MeToo movement. Hundreds of women -- many from Hollywood -- made public accusations of sexual wrongdoing against well-known, powerful men.

The 67-year-old Weinstein says he is not guilty of the charges he faces in New York. He says any sexual activity was consensual. If he is found guilty of the most serious charges against him  predatory sexual assault -- he faces a life sentence in prison.

For that to happen, prosecutors must demonstrate that Weinstein violated women repeatedly through the years. Prosecutors plan to have actor Annabella Sciorra answer questions during the trial. Sciorra says Weinstein forced his way inside her Manhattan home in 1993 or 1994 and raped her. She was making a movie for his production company at the time.

Prosecutors also want jurors to hear from some of the other 75 women during the trial.

Donna Rotunno is Weinsteins lawyer. She says she will ask hard questions of the women who have made accusations.

On Tuesday, prosecutors and defense lawyers will begin trying to seat a fair jury. It could take several weeks because of the amount of publicity the case has received.

Possible jurors may think, I want to be the one to make sure he goes to jail, said Roy Futterman, a New York jury expert. He added that other possible jurors may not like the #MeToo movement and want to help Weinstein.

Weinstein and his brother Bob started their production company in 1979. The company was first called Miramax and later The Weinstein Company. It produced famous movies such as Pulp Fiction, The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love. The company says it fired Weinstein in 2017.

In December, the bankrupt company reached a $25-million agreement with many women who have accused Weinstein of sexual abuse.

I'm Susan Shand.

The Associated Press and the Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

assault  v. attack

commit  v.  to do (something that is illegal or harmful)

prosecutor  n. a lawyer who represents the side in a court case that accuses a person of a crime and who tries to prove that the person is guilty

consensual  adj. agreed to by all parties

predatory  adj. wrongly harming or using others for pleasure or profit

bankrupt  adj. unable to pay debts
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

Trend:

The Armenian Armed Forces have once again committed a provocation by flagrantly violating ceasefire on the contact line of troops on the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border, Trend reports referring to the press service of Azerbaijans State Border Service.

On Jan. 7, at 14:56 (GMT +4), Azerbaijani border guard, soldier Farzali Farzaliyev was killed as a result of sniper shelling in the direction of Gushchu Ayrim village of Azerbaijans Gazakh district.

The Chief of the State Border Service, Colonel-General Elchin Guliyev and other senior officials are currently at the site of the incident, and necessary measures are being taken together with the Military Prosecutors Office.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Prince Charles is set to make one of the key addresses at the Holocaust memorial in Israel as the world marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

In what aides at his office on Monday called the highest level British visit there has ever been to Israel or the Occupied Territories, Charles, 71, is one of a small number of international dignitaries invited to speak at the gathering at the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem on January 23. Although he has visited for funerals, he has never been to Israel for an official visit.

He will also spend some time with British Holocaust survivors at the events at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. He is looking forward to meeting a number of British Holocaust survivors . . . a remarkable group of people with whom his royal highness has long valued his relationship, Charless deputy private secretary Scott Furssedonn-Wood said at a briefing at Clarence House.

Prince Charles, who is Patron of The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, speaks to Auschwitz survivor Ivor Perl during a reception at St. James' Palace in London in 2017. | JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images

He is honored to have the opportunity on behalf of the United Kingdom honor the memory of all those who were lost in the Holocaust and to reaffirm his determination that hatred, extremism and intolerance must never prevail, Furssedonn-Wood added of the visit to Israel. Charles will also lay a wreath on behalf of the United Kingdom.

He also hopes to be able to make a poignant trip to a special site for his family  the resting place of his paternal grandmother Princess Alice. Although his officials are still looking at details of the program, he certainly hopes to be able to do that, one says. He last did so in 2016 when he as in the country for the funeral of former Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Charles at the final resting place of his paternal grandmother, Princess Alice of Greece. | Source: Clarence House Twitter

The day after the Holocaust memorials, Charles will head to Bethlehem, where he will meet with President Mahmoud Abbas at his official residence. With religious tolerance and interfaith understanding and respect a key theme of the short tour, he also hopes to visit the Church of the Nativity.

Story continues

Amid heightened security concerns following the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, the palace said that the plans for the trip are being constantly reviewed but the trip was going ahead. We always keep our plans under review, one source added. We are monitoring the situation closely.

RELATED: Prince Charles Says Father Prince Philip Is Being Looked After Very Well Amid Hospitalization

Meanwhile, Charless wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will represent the U.K. at the official anniversary ceremony held at the former Auschwitz-Birkenau camp on January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Prince William arrives in Israel, on the first official visit by a senior member of the Royal Family



   ,        . pic.twitter.com/2MCxP2scCz  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) June 25, 2018

In 2018, Prince William made the first official visit by a member of the British Royal Family to Israel. During his visit, William paid his respects to the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust during a somber visit to Yad Vashem.

Prince William attends a ceremony at the Hall of Remembrance at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem in 2018. | Ariel Schalit/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Terrifying. [Im] trying to comprehend the scale, he said as he viewed a powerful display of the victims shoes, Haaretz reported. He wore a traditional kippah on his head to show his respect as he laid a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance.
During meeting with GNA head, Abdelmadjid Tebboune calls for peace and stability in Libya.

The head of Libyas internationally recognised government has met the Algerian president during an official visit to discuss the heightened tensions in his country.

Libya was plunged into chaos after the toppling and killing of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in a 2011 NATO-backed uprising. Since 2014, it has been split into rival eastern and western administrations.

Tensions escalated in April last year when renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, who backs the eastern government, launched an offensive to capture the capital, Tripoli, the seat of the Government of National Accord (GNA).

During Mondays meeting with GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune called Tripoli a red line no one should cross.

He also urged the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to fulfil their responsibilities for achieving peace and stability in Libya, according to Algerias APS news agency.

Tebboune said since the beginning of the Libyan crisis, Algeria has adopted the principle of finding a political solution to protect the unity of the Libyan people and the territorial integrity of the country without foreign intervention.

The meeting came before a separate visit to Algeria by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu whose country has sent military units to Libya to back al-Sarrajs government.

The GNA recently sought help from Turkey, whose parliament passed a bill allowing the government to send troops to Libya to shore up the Tripoli government in line with an agreement between the two sides.

On Saturday, Libyas eastern-based parliament voted unanimously against the deals the Tripoli-based government signed with Ankara in late November.

Erdogan: Turkish forces in Libya

A day later, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that its soldiers had begun deploying in the North African country.

Erdogan said Turkeys objective was not to fight, but to support the legitimate government and avoid a humanitarian tragedy.

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Last week, Haftar, who is backed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, had called on Libyans to take up arms in response to Turkeys expected military move.

We accept the challenge and declare jihad and a call to arms, he said in a televised address on Friday.

The UN special envoy to Libya on Monday said he was angry at foreign interference in the war-torn country.

I am really angry to see that everybody wants to talk about Libya and very few people want to talk about the Libyans, what happens to the Libyans, Ghassan Salame said after a two-hour meeting with the UNSC.

The European Union expressed concern about an imminent escalation of violence around Tripoli.

The European Union calls on all sides to engage in a political process under the leadership of the United Nations, Josep Borrell, the EU high representative for foreign affairs, said on Monday.
The daughters of a man who died in an alleged plot to kill another man said their father would still be alive had he not met the woman accused of organising the plan.

Glen Cassidy shot Michael Caposiena dead at the latter's Westmeadows home on March 12, 2016, but only after the other man stabbed him during a fight, according to a prosecution summary. Both men died from their injuries.

Biannca Edmunds (left) has been charged with murder, with prosecutors alleging she directed, encouraged or assisted her husband, Glen Cassidy, (right) to kill her ex-partner.

Biannca Edmunds, 33, who had married Mr Cassidy, 49, two weeks earlier, has been charged with murder. Prosecutors allege she directed, encouraged or assisted her husband to kill Mr Caposiena, who was her ex-partner.

Mr Caposiena had travelled to Shepparton the day before the fatal fight to visit the son he and Ms Edmunds had together.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) arrives for a closed meeting with fellow Republicans as he strategizes about the looming impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 7, 2020. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Republicans Have Votes to Start Impeachment Trial Under Clinton Rules: McConnell

Republicans have at least the 51 votes necessary to start the impeachment trial for President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Jan. 7.

We have the votes, once the impeachment trial has begun, to pass a resolution essentially the samevery similarto the 100-to-nothing vote in the Clinton trial, which sets up, as you may recall, what could best be described as maybe a phase one, McConnell told reporters in Washington.

The resolution will include guidelines for the prosecution and defense to make arguments, and set aside a period for written questions. Senators arent allowed to speak during an impeachment trial, so questions will be submitted through Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who will preside over the proceeding.

At that point, during the Clinton trial, the issue of the appropriateness of calling witnesses was addressed.  That will be addressed at that time, and not before the trial begins, McConnell said.

McConnell has repeatedly said he wants to follow the precedent set in 1999 for the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, a Democrat who faced impeachment by the GOP. Clinton was eventually acquitted and remained in office. A supermajority is required for conviction, while acquittal requires a simple majority.

McConnell said the 1999 trial in the GOP-controlled Senate was fair to Clinton, and a similar trial would be fair to Trump, a Republican.

President Donald Trump speaks to media before departing the White House on Marine One on Oct. 11, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Republican leadership in the Senate said the only thing theyre waiting for is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to send the impeachment articles to them. Pelosi has withheld the articles since the House voted to impeach Trump on Dec. 18, 2019.

The Senate is waiting to do its job, were just waiting for the House to send the articles, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said at the press conference.

What youre seeing Speaker Pelosi and Chuck Schumer do is basically play to their base and play political games.

McConnell said he hopes to receive the articles soon.

Some Democratic senators also said Pelosi should submit the articles. I think the time has passed. She should send the articles over, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) told reporters on Jan. 7.

The press conference came after Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on the Senate floor that Democrats would try to force the chamber to vote at the start about whether to call witnesses.

Schumer, who has said the Clinton rules should be changed because the situations are different, had a press conference after McConnell.

The question looms: Will senators stand up for a fair trial. A fair trial with witnesses and documents. Right now, the Republican leader and I have very different visions on what it means to conduct a fair trial, he said. Democrats believe that a fair trial means all the relevant facts come out, and witnesses and documents are part of that trial.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) holds a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Dec. 16, 2019. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Schumer said hes confident he could get enough support to block the proposed vote on impeachment trial guidelines. He wouldnt say whether hed obtained commitments from any Republican senators to vote with Democrats. The GOP has a 5347 majority in the Senate.

He also praised Pelosi for withholding the articles.

By not sending the articles immediately, shes already accomplished two things, Schumer said on Jan. 7. One, he said, is that it prevented McConnell from just dismissing the articles without a trial, though McConnell never said he was considering that path.

Two, Schumer said, in the past two weeks, theres been a cascade of evidence that bolsters the case, strongly bolsters the case, for witnesses and documents.
Washington: Former White House national security advisor John Bolton, in a surprise announcement, said Monday that he is willing to testify if subpoenaed in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

Democrats believe Bolton has direct knowledge supporting charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress by the president.

But Bolton, a veteran Washington insider who was fired by Trump in September, has not publicly disclosed whether his testimony would be damaging or helpful to the president.

Republican Senate chief Mitch McConnell said Monday that a decision to call witnesses in the trial, expected to begin this month, should be made only after it has begun.

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House of Representatives, has declined to send the articles of impeachment passed by the House to the Senate until the ground rules have been established for the trial.

"Based on careful consideration and study," Bolton said in a statement, "I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify."

The House of Representatives has accused Trump of using military aid and other incentives as leverage to get Ukraine to investigate Democrat Joe Biden, his potential November presidential opponent.

During the impeachment hearings in the House, National Security Council aides to Bolton said he had told them to talk to White House lawyers following Trump's efforts to get Ukraine to investigate Biden.

Bolton is one of four Trump administration officials that Democrats want to provide testimony in the Senate trial.

The White House claimed executive privilege to prevent the four -- Bolton, White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, Trump assistant Robert Blair, and budget official Michael Duffey -- from testifying before the House.

If forced to testify in the Senate trial, Republicans fear they could provide deeply damaging evidence against Trump, raising the risk that he will be convicted and removed from office.

'Cover-up'

Bolton's willingness aside, his subpoena and testimony are not a given.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate and most are expected to support Trump in the trial.

Issuing a subpoena would require majority support from the senators, meaning several Republicans would have to cross over and join Democrats.

Republican Senator Mitt Romney said he would favor an appearance by Bolton.

"I would like to be able to hear from John Bolton," Romney said. "He has first-hand information and that is something that I'd like to hear."

In his statement, Bolton noted that the constitutional issue of Trump's ability to block his testimony was not resolved in court before the House voted to impeach Trump on December 18.

Even without a court ruling on the issue, Bolton suggested he would be ready to come forward.

It was not clear whether the White House would again claim executive privilege to try and prevent his testimony.

Citing the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton in 1999, McConnell, the Senate majority leader, said that a decision to call witnesses should be made only after the trial has begun.

"And that's the way it should be done this time," he said.

He denounced the House impeachment inquiry as "unfair" and accused Democrats of political brinkmanship at a time of rising tensions with Iran.

"Even with tensions rising in the Middle East, House Democrats are treating impeachment like a political toy," he said. "At this dangerous time, House Democrats continue to play political games with their partisan impeachment of the commander-in-chief."

Pelosi countered that Trump and McConnell "must allow key witnesses to testify" so Americans can "see the facts for themselves."

"The Senate cannot be complicit in the president's cover-up," she said.

Democratic lawmaker Adam Schiff, who led the House impeachment inquiry, also called for Bolton to testify.

"Bolton is an important witness to misconduct involving Ukraine that he called a 'drug deal,'" Schiff said. "Bolton refused to testify in the House, following Trump's orders.

"Now he is willing to come forward," he said. "The Senate must allow testimony from him, Mulvaney and others. The cover-up must end."
Two Japanese technicians spent just over a week in December giving fish plant workers in Ramea, N.L., a crash course on processing sea urchins for a picky home market.

The product is a culinary delicacy in Japan, but for the people processing it at the plant in the small island community on Newfoundland's south coast, an older, less appetizing name still rolls off the tongue.

"Normally sea urchins, locally known as whore's eggs, was nothing. It was seen as garbage, something that the seagulls ate," says plant manager Bruce Childs as the morning's urchin cracking was getting underway.

This latest attempt at exporting sea urchins  uni in Japanese  to Asian markets is the brainchild of Ramea plant owner Danny Dumaresque, who sees them as a way to increase profits, and keep the lights on in the plant and workers busy for more months of the year.

Dumaresque's company, Labrador Gem Seafood, has already sent out its first shipments, and the hope is up to two per week during the winter months if all goes well.

Dumaresque, a former member of the House of Assembly, says the plan came together in the fall after making numerous attempts to get in touch with a Japanese importer in Osaka. Once contact was made and he confirmed the importer's interest, things moved quickly.

Marie Isabelle Rochon/Radio-Canada

"I did one of the fastest trips to Japan that I've ever made, and I jumped on a plane and landed at Tokyo, arranged for the first time to get a bus from Tokyo to Osaka, sat down with these fine gentlemen who have been into the sea urchin purchasing internationally for some 30 years," said Dumaresque.

A couple of months later, Kyosuke Nishio and Shuji Nanno arrived at Deer Lake Airport and headed down the Burgeo highway to take the ferry to Ramea.

Marie Isabelle Rochon/Radio-Canada

It wasn't the first time for this pair to teach the art of processing sea urchin to newbies.

They work for Osaka-based Maruwazu Trading Co., which imports sea urchins from countries including the United States, Mexico, Chile, Peru and China.

Story continues

When it's a new operation, Nishio and Nanno get sent in.

"We try to teach all of processing. Cracking and spooning, and washing and cleaning," said Nishio.

They also teach how to grade the sea urchins based on colour. Top-grade uni on the Japanese market can fetch high prices at supermarkets and restaurants.

CBC

"Most Japanese people like a very light yellow and a lemon colour. Like a lemon. A light orange is good. Dark brown or a grey, they don't eat very much," said Nishio, who says Ramea is a good location for processing because of its low temperature.

He also says the workers are trying hard to understand the ins and outs of sea urchin processing.

"We have to do a little bit more to get more better. But we can get there," said Nishio. "Ramea has big potential, I think."

The sentiment is shared by plant veteran and 15-year quality control manager Louise Kendall.

"This is our second shift on it. It's going good," she said. "Better than I thought. It's new to us. It's the first time we've ever done sea urchin so it's a lot to learn and a lot to take in."

Patrick Butler/Radio-Canada

Kendall says her Japanese colleagues taught them a lot in a short time.

When asked if they are tough teachers, she laughed.

"Not bad. Not bad. Just getting used to them and they getting used to us."

Kendall hopes the operation is successful because it would make the plant  which also processes scallops  an almost year-round operation, a throwback to the years before the cod moratorium.

The addition of sea urchin means about 45 people would have extra work with the island's biggest employer  with a species they never thought about processing before.

Marie Isabelle Rochon/Radio-Canada

"I never thought I'd see sea urchins working in the plant. But it's wonderful," says Kendall.

As for whether she's developed a liking for the product, Kendall says the taste is good, but the raw texture is not her thing. Nevertheless, she says, everything coming out of the plant will be up to the standard set by her trainers.

The project, though, is not without its challenges.

The last time the plant was open in the winter was about quarter of a century ago, and plant manager Childs says working temperatures will have to be regulated.

"We can't have freezing temperatures because this has to be done fresh. It can't be frozen," he says.

A bigger issue is the cost of transportation when considering the bottom line.

Marie Isabelle Rochon/Radio-Canada

Once processed and put into 100-gram containers, the journey to the dinner plates of Japan is a long one.

Each shipment of roughly 300 pounds is transported to Burgeo by ferry, and then heads 900 kilometres to St. John's to be flown first to Montreal and then on to Tokyo.

"It's time-consuming, but also very expensive," says Dumaresque.

And right now, the profit margin is thin.

Dumaresque says each pound he sends over has a value of about $35, but his costs run around $28.

But he thinks that will change.

Patrick Butler/Radio-Canada

"This is a brand-new piece of product going into a brand-new market for us and it takes time for the various customers to assess and recognize your brand, and then to pay you according to the quality that you can consistently supply."

In terms of supply, Dumaresque says there is no worry on anything lacking.

"They got no tails. They will swim nowhere. So knowing that you've got this wonderful resource, firmly attached to your sea bottom is a great comfort."

Patrick Gagnon, an assistant professor at Memorial University, agrees.

"There's lots of urchins all along the coast here," he says from the university's Ocean Sciences Centre.

According to Gagnon, the island's rocky coastline is exactly what sea urchins are looking for.

Adam Walsh/CBC

"We are lucky enough in the province because we have lots of green sea urchin. That's the only species we have here in the province, but it happens to be the species that they are looking for on the Asian markets."

He says Newfoundland has the perfect conditions for developing a market overseas.

Back in Ramea, Deputy Mayor Lester Gould sees the extended plant operations as a good thing, but won't predict too much about what it could mean for the island community.

"It should be a stabilization, at least," he says.

And Ramea could use it.

In 1981, the population was 1,386, according to Statistics Canada. In the years that followed the cod moratorium, people started to drift away in droves, and by 2016, the population stood at 447. As for the next generation, the local school has 19 students.

Patrick Butler/Radio-Canada

To ensure sea urchin processing continues, Dumaresque says he's looking for other markets and is in discussions with people in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, as well as in New York, Los Angeles and other parts of the U.S.

If all goes well, his plan for next year is to start the processing in October and run through until spring.

Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
Pixelle Specialty Solutions Announces Promotion of Tim Hess to CEO

Tim Hess

Jan. 7, 2019 - Pixelle Specialty Solutions has promoted Timothy R. Hess to Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Hess will continue to report to Steven J. Klinger, Executive Chairman of Pixelle.

Hess has served as President of Pixelle since 2018, when the company was created through private investment firm Lindsay Goldberg's acquisition of Glatfelter's Specialty Papers Business Unit.

Prior to 2018, Hess served as Senior Vice President and President of Glatfelter's Specialty Papers Business Unit after advancing through assignments of progressive responsibility in technical, operations, sales and marketing, and general management. He joined Glatfelter in 1994.

Hess earned a Master of Science degree from the Institute of Paper Science and Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Tim Hess' leadership is integral on all fronts. We are excited about elevating Tim to the role of CEO as we continue working together to continuously build a high-performance business for our customers, commented Steve Klinger.

Hess said, I am highly energized by the opportunity to further advance Pixelle's position as a high-performance specialty business. We have a skilled leadership team and a talented workforce who have posted an amazing first year of performance as Pixelle. I look forward to continuing to drive Pixelle's growth as a leader in specialty papers so that we can help our customers win in the market place.

About Pixelle Specialty Solutions

Pixelle is one of the largest specialty paper producers in North America with annual sales of more than $825 million and 728,000 tons. The company has industry-leading positions in food contact papers, high speed inkjet papers, release liners, carbonless and forms, envelope paper, greeting cards, trade book paper, and playing cards.

Pixelle operates two integrated mills (Spring Grove, Pennsylvania and Chillicothe, Ohio), converting operations (Fremont, Ohio), and woodyard operations (Delmar, Maryland; Piketon, Ohio; and Washington, West Virginia). To learn more, visit: www.pixelle.com .

SOURCE: Pixelle Specialty Solutions
A student of a painting class at a university for the elderly in Changsha displays his drawing skills in a neighborhood. [Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu]

Aging citizens find renewed vigor and purpose as new policies start to see positive results

CHANGSHA  One week before the end of her course at a university for the elderly, Wu Yue'e was making notes for her speech as a student representative at the closing ceremony.

Wu, 72, has been a student for more than 10 years at Changsha Senior Cadre University in Hunan Province, where she learned a number of new skills including reading and writing pinyin, using traditional Chinese medicine and playing the erhu.

Heading back to school for further study and cultural enrichment is becoming a choice of many Chinese senior citizens.

Self-improvement

The greatest regret of Wu, an active participant in all facets of school life, is that she did not receive a full education when she was young.

"I have always loved literature, even though I dropped out of school very early," Wu said.

Before retirement, Wu was a textile worker who loved to read in her spare time. Her favorite book is The Count of Monte Christo by French author Alexandre Dumas.

After her retirement, she was able to fulfill her dream of studying at a university for the elderly. "I felt the elderly should keep up with the pace of social development, and I hadn't done well enough," said Wu.

Yin Jianlin, 57, had a similar experience. Five years ago, Yin retired, but was unable to adapt to retirement. "Once a person stops working, a sense of loss comes," Yin said.

In 2015, Yin enrolled at a university for the elderly to study folk dance and mental health. With the help of the mental health class, Yin also accepted her new role in life and learned to deal with her emotions.

"I used to take care of my family as my sole responsibility. Now I have learned to take care of myself, too," Yin said.

"Although we are old, we feel like we are still teenagers when dancing with our classmates," she said.

Students at a university for the elderly in Changsha, Hunan Province, rehearse for a program before the Double Ninth Festival in 2018. [Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu]

Caring amily

Although an increasing number of seniors are heading off in pursuit of self-fulfillment, a large percentage of the elderly in China remain the primary caregivers of their grandchildren, whose parents are tied down with busy work schedules.

Since 2014, Liu Yanping, a 37-year-old psychological consultant, has run courses on parenting and positive disciplining of children with her team in Changsha. Liu found that many children relied on their grandparents, rather than their parents, to learn about the world.

In 2017, Liu and her team set up a course of alternate-generation education at Changsha Senior Cadre University.

Huang Qijian, 60, who attended the course, has twin grandchildren, and learning how to properly educate and guide them has become his major concern. "My educational method is outdated," Huang said.

By learning advanced educational concepts and methods in the alternate-generation education class, many older people, like Huang, have learned how to balance the relationships between themselves, their children and their grandchildren.

"Having practiced the knowledge learned from the classes, I've found our family has become warmer and closer," Huang said.

Policies Taking Shape

Since China started becoming an aging society at the end of the 20th century, the proportion of the elderly in the total population has continued to grow.

From 2000 to 2018, the number of people age 60 and above increased from 126 million to 249 million, and the proportion of the elderly in the total population increased from 10.2 percent to 17.9 percent.

Chinese seniors now want to enrich their spare time and improve their quality of life by attending university and participating in community activities.

Statistics from the China Association of Universities for the Elderly show that by the end of 2018, China had 62,000 universities and schools for the elderly, with more than 8 million students attending classes and more than 5 million students participating through distance learning.

In November, the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council jointly unveiled a medium-and long-term plan for responding proactively to the aging population, proposing to build a social environment marked by filial piety, respect for the elderly and protection of the aged.

The plan highlights improving the effective supply of labor in an aging society, which requires improving the quality of new members of the labor force, establishing a lifelong learning system for senior citizens, and striving to achieve more employment and create better-quality jobs.

Yin Jianlin and her classmates were sketching the image of perfect grandparents during a class. After counting more than a dozen virtues, all the students gathered to share their feelings.

Some said that perfect grandparents should be literate and good tempered, while others said a decent appearance was also indispensable.

Yin, however, had a different perspective. "There are no perfect grandparents, we can only try our best to be better," she said.

(Source: Xinhua)
Theyre saying this particular store does not do enough business and they want to move on, he said. Were actually one of the original stores when they opened as cafes. We were store 267. This was what Starbucks was. Obviously, Starbucks thinks the old model doesnt work anymore.
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The study analysed the consumption of series on over 100 channels in 12 countries and found that locally produced series still top the preferences of channels and viewers in 2019. In all countries combined, over two-thirds of the prime-time series broadcast on the main channels are national creations, especially popular with the public and account for three-quarters of the consumption of fiction series. This was found to be especially true for the US, Turkey, Israel and Russia, which give 90% priority to national content in their broadcasts, while Sweden, Denmark and Italy mainly import series.Yet though the supremacy of local creations remains indisputable, the trend is stabilising. Indeed, their leadership at the top of the national ratings for the best prime-time series is now being challenged by the greater presence of imported programmes (21 compared to 17 last season) and co-productions (18 compared to 12 previously).The survey also identified that select channels were scheduling more co-productions this season. Commenting on their importance, Candice Alessandra, international research manager at Glance said: The series is a format that remains strategic in programming as in 2019, almost 60% of the channels studied have seen their audiences boosted by a primetime series. Although national crime dramas remain unbeatable in the hearts of viewers, we observe more co-productions among the top 15 series of countries and the recurring appearance of new themes such as feminist historical series.Examples of the growth in co-productions include Arte in France with a 1.7x increase compared with 2017; TV4 in Sweden (x5); and HBO in the US which broadcast five co-produced series compared with none last year. European players are joining forces with each other or with American players to face the competition. Notable co-production successes include: My Brilliant Friend (Italy/US), The Name of the Rose (Italy, Germany, France) and The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair (United States/France/Italy).By totalling almost 75% of the series scheduled and viewed during prime-time, drama has again imposed itself as the undisputed leader of the fictional genres in most of the countries studied. Only Israel prefers comedies. Two genres are clearly distinguishable: crime series alone accounted for 41% of the prime-time series offer, up three points compared with 2017-18; and human drama series, including medical series with 19% of the offer.Although the vast majority of crime and human drama series watched are produced locally (81% and 92% respectively), three American medical series have travelled particularly well beyond their borders. The Good Doctor alone accounts for almost a third of the consumption of imported human drama series, followed by Greys Anatomy and the recent New Amsterdam.Other dramas are successful both at home and around the world. This is the case of three new programmes that directly rank among the best in prime-time: the American Manifest, the Swedish A Wedding, A Funeral And A Christening and Britains Manhunt.In terms of consumption, the Glance study found that in France as in the UK, online viewing of series on tablet, smartphone and computer has given a boost to different titles from those present in the national top 15 charts. But genre disparities still exist: although French people mainly watch dramatic productions, like for example the series Clem broadcast by TF1 , across the Channel comedies are more popular online, such as White Gold or Fleabag
If the Iranian leadership is smart, and there is some reason to believe that it is, the Islamic state will not substantially retaliate for the assassination of Major General Qassem Soleimani. Why not? They don't need to.

The history of Iranian revenge strikes is much less formidable than being made out by our handwringing leftist elites. In fact, it's difficult to discern Iranian retaliation from provocation. In other words, Iran is going to attack Americans and American interests regardless of whether we strike back. Indeed, that is exactly the pattern of events that led to the killing of Soleimani and an Iranian-supported Iraqi militia leader a few days ago.

The attack on Soleimani followed a string of Iranian attacks on U.S. assets and personnel and those of allied nations over several months. This includes the mining of oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, the downing of a U.S. aerial drone, the attack on Saudi oil storage facilities, and finally repeated rocket attacks against Iraqi military outposts containing U.S. troops and contractors.

Supposedly, the Trump administration "provoked" these attacks by withdrawing from the Obama administration's "nuclear deal" with Iran and reinstituting economic sanctions on the country for its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons capability.

However, Islamic Iran has been launching such attacks on the U.S. and its allies for over 40 years, since the seizure of the U.S. embassy in 1979. The Iranian regime is an imperialistic, reactionary theocracy, which sees the United States as its principal obstacle to achieving regional hegemony, to include domination over its Sunni Islamic neighbors in the Gulf, and the elimination of Israel (which it regards as an American puppet state and metaphysical affront). There are and have always been Iran apologists anxious to explain away this aggression as anger for various American transgressions, real or imagined, from the 1953 overthrow of Prime Minister Mosaddegh to the Iran-Iraq War to U.S. support for Israel and the Arab Gulf states.

The bottom line for any reasonable United States government actually pursuing American interests, including the protection of its citizens and property, is that we are at odds with a permanently hostile Iranian regime that seeks to harm us and our allies at every opportunity. Nor is there a shred of evidence that this changed after Obama inked his nuke deal with the mullahs and paid them off for it.

The killing of Soleimani is only one relatively unremarkable incident over these decades of conflict. Let's put it in actual perspective, rather than overheated attempts to stir panic. Soleimani was a major general in the Iranian armed forces, a high but hardly exalted rank. He was not, as Congressman Chris Murphy and other "experts" have claimed "the second most powerful person in Iran." He was the equivalent the U.S. head of Special Forces Command and a completely legitimate military target. Soleimani was popular among some in Iran, but so what? He wasn't going to be the next ayatollah, in no small part because he wasn't an ayatollah.

And Iran will most likely act in accord with those facts. Indeed, the history of supposed Iranian reprisals is hard to separate from their regular and ordinary acts of provocation. For example, in a listing of 20 Iranian terrorist actions or plots between 1979 and 2012 compiled by the Congressional Research Office, it's impossible to clearly delineate what is "retaliation," what is "provocation," and what is just plain hitting at what Iran perceives as its enemies.

Sometimes Iran just huffs and puffs and doesn't retaliate at all. It did nothing following the assassination of Soleimani's close associate, notorious Hezb'allah terror operative Imad Mughniyeh, by Israel, possibly with U.S. help. It didn't retaliate when the U.S. mistakenly downed an Iranian airliner in 1988, or in response to Operation Praying Mantis, which preceded that downing, in which the U.S. Navy took out about half of Iran's fleet. And generally speaking, its surrogates' "retaliatory" actions against Israel for its various operations against Hezb'allah and Islamic Jihad have been weak, ineffective, and pro forma.

The fact is, it will be difficult for an Iranian strike to actually match the ominous prognostications of the Democrats and their talking-head helpmates in the media. Inevitably, at some point, Iran or some proxy will attack America, Israel, or another ally. Whether that is retaliation or just another attack will be impossible to say. But what we can say is that to a large extent, the past few days, breathless anticipation of Iranian revenge serves Iranian purposes.
Irelands tax system is the best in Europe and the fourth-best in the world in terms of the ease in dealing with local tax authorities, according to a global survey by accountants PwC.

PwC said its global league table takes account of the overall taxes companies pay but also compares a range of significant factors  such as the frequency of paying taxes to the tax authority, the ease and complexity of dealing with the tax authority through electronic reporting, and the efficiency for the company of securing refunds for sales or corporation taxes from the tax authority.

The survey places Ireland above Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as Switzerland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the UK in the league table for the ease of paying taxes in Europe.

Further afield, it is only bettered by Bahrain, Hong Kong, and Qatar for the ease of paying taxes.

The survey is based on surveying privately held, Irish indigenous companies, and the countrys high ranking may reflect the investments in online technology by Revenue in recent times.

The survey found that the average privately held Irish firm spends 82 hours, or over two weeks a year, in complying with tax returns in making a business tax payment.

That compares with an average of 161 hours that companies took to comply in the EU, and the average of 234 hours taken across the world.

The survey also found that the Irish firm pays just over 26% of its profits to meet all sort of taxes  including labour and commercial rates  compared with an average of almost 39% in the EU and over 40% across the world.

Irish Revenue has made significant investments in technology in recent years and this has allowed the majority of business taxpayers to utilise electronic filing of tax returns and payments, driving efficiency in compliance for both the tax authority and taxpayers, said PwC tax partner John Murphy.

He said real-time reporting for PAYE and plans for real-time systems for the dividend withholding tax and Vat may deliver more benefits for companies.

PwC said that efficiencies in tax-collection systems help boost investments. The more efficient a tax system, the better it is for business, said Susan Kilty, PwC Ireland head of tax.

This, in turn, helps promote economic growth and investment.
The Gujarat government on Tuesday said locust menace last month affected standing crops in over 25,000 hectare area in two districts, and announced a package of Rs 31.5 crore for farmers who suffered crop losses.

The relief package would help nearly 11,000 farmers affected by the locust menace in two districts of north Gujarat, Agriculture Minister R C Faldu told reporters here.

Locust invasion was first reported in Banaskantha district bordering Rajasthan on December 18, which escalated to cover 15 talukas of two districts before being brought under control by December 28 with the Centre's help.

Swarm of locusts affected 285 villages across 13 talukas of Banaskantha district and two talukas in Patan district, Faldu said.

"The government carried out a survey and found 285 villages were affected by locusts, 280 of them in Banaskantha, and five in Patan district. We have decided to compensate farmers affected by it and earmarked Rs 31.5 crore for the same," he said.

A total 25,222 hectare area under cultivation across these villages was affected by locusts, which damaged standing crops like cumin, wheat and castor, the minister said.

"The locust menace this time was unlike that seen in the region before," he said.

"This time, it appeared the swarm of locusts would engulf the entire north Gujarat, if not controlled. We sought the assistance of central government and managed to control it after a massive operation of two days," Faldu said.

Farmers would be provided an assistance of Rs 18,500 per hectare with a limit to two hectares, as per provisions of the State Disaster Relief Fund, the minister said.

He thanked local farmers for providing their tractors and assistance in spraying pesticides to control the menace.

The state government last month said the locust swarm which invaded north Gujarat's Banaskantha district was destroyed by spraying 4,900 litres of pesticides over 5,000 hectares of the affected area.

Locusts fed on crops like mustard, castor and wheat in Banaskantha, where the menace was more in Suigam, Danta, Tharad and Vav tehsils, the government earlier said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The woman behind the controversial "Free Kashmir" placard displayed at the protest rally at the Gateway of India here on Tuesday said she was just demanding lifting of restrictions in the new Union Territory and claimed her act has been "blown out of proportion".

The placard with "Free Kashmir" message, held aloft by a woman at the Gateway of India on Monday during the protest against the violence inside the JNU campus on Sunday night, had caught the attention of many.

As it snowballed into a controversy and triggered a war of words between ruling and opposition leaders, the woman, Mehak Prabhus, issued an apology, while Maharashtra government ordered a probe into her "antecedents".

"If by being naive in understanding the impact it would have and in the process create this stir, I apologise. I am an artist who believes in basic human compassion. Let power of love overcome hate," she said.

A large number of students, common citizens and activists had taken part in the protest rally at the Gateway of India in south Mumbai.

In a video statement, Prabhus, a resident of Mumbai, said through the poster she was just highlighting the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, which had been put under a slew of communication curbs post revocation of its special status by the Centre on August 5.

"In the last five months, the basic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been taken away. If we say they are 'ours', then we should treat them accordingly. They should get the basic rights that we are getting," she said.

"They should have the freedom of expression, and with that thought, I had raised the poster," she said.

As soon as Prabhus's photo went viral on social media, BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis objected to her "Free Kashmir" message.

In a late Monday night tweet, Fadnavis asked, "How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai."



Fadnavis sought to know what exactly was the protest for and if Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will tolerate this "anti-India campaign" right under his nose.

Maharashtra minister Jayant Patil accused Fadnavis of trying to confuse people by "decoding words" in a hateful manner.

"Devendraji, it's 'free kashmir' from all discriminations, bans on cellular networks and central control. I can't believe a responsible leader like you is trying to confuse people by decoding words in such a hatred way. Is it losing power or losing self control?" Patil tweeted.

Expressing her anguish over the way the message has been received in some quarters, Prabhus said she was just stressing on peace.

"I was quietly standing. Actually, there were flowers in my hand. It was meant to be offering peace. Let's make peace together. That was my only intension in holding that placard," she said.

But it has been "blown out of proportion" completely, she added.

"And I do not understand why they are now calling me a member of some gang or some organisation and suggesting that I have been paid to stand there," Prabhus wondered.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said the antecedents of the woman are being probed.

Talking to reporters, he said the woman's background is being verified.

"If she is involved in any anti-national activity, action would be taken against her," Deshmukh said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A procession for Qassem Soleimani was reportedly attended by as many as one million people in Tehran - Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader

At least 60 people died and 200 were injured in a stampede yesterday during the funeral for Qassim Soleimani, the Iranian general killed by the US.

Tens of thousands had gathered in a central square in Kerman, the home town of the commander, as they prepared for his burial. Witnesses say mourners were violently pushed back from the cortege as the coffin passed, with crowds trampling on men, women and children.

Video from the scene showed bodies covered in coats as paramedics worked on the wounded. Funeral processions in cities in Iraq and Iran over three days have been an unprecedented honour for Soleimani, who is viewed by many Iranians as a national hero for heading the Guards elite Quds Force. A procession in Tehran on Monday drew more than a million people.

Speaking to those gathered yesterday, Hossein Salami, head of Irans Revolutionary Guard, vowed to avenge the killing. Soleimani was now more powerful in death than in life, he said.

We will take revenge. We will set ablaze a place they like and they well know where it is, he declared, prompting cries of Death to Israel.

A procession for Qassem Soleimani was reportedly attended by as many as one million people in Tehran Credit: AP

Tehran has threatened revenge against the US and its allies since the American drone killed Soleimani near Baghdad International Airport last Friday.

Israel, a long-time regional foe of Iran, has drawn closer to the US under Donald Trump. But Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, has been notably quiet since the attack, distancing himself from the US strike.

According to ministers who spoke to the Israeli press, Mr Netanyahu reportedly said: The assassination of Soleimani isnt an Israeli event but an American one. We were not involved.

A mourner at the funeral for Soleimani and his comrades Credit: AP

He added that Israel could not be dragged into the escalating conflict  fearing an attack from Hamas in the Palestinian territories or from Hizbollah, Irans proxy force, in Lebanon.

The US and Israel have had sufficient intelligence on Soleimanis movements over the years to target him but had decided against doing so.

Story continues

Iran has medium and long-range missiles and regularly boasts that it can hit Israeli targets, including Ben Gurion International Airport.

Based on intelligence, the US has been watching for potential attacks specifically against US locations in Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

The New York Times quoted sources that claimed Iranian forces  rather than its proxies  would retaliate.

Last night, Mr Trump said on Twitter that he had seen Khalid bin Salman, a Saudi defence minister, for a very good meeting since the attack. He wrote: We discussed trade, military, oil prices, security, and stability in the Middle East!

Syrias government meanwhile hosted Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, who was looking to reassure the regime after Soleimanis death. Quds Force fighters were instrumental in quelling the uprising in Syria.

Yesterday, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Irans foreign minister, said the US had declined to issue him a visa to go to New York for a meeting of the United Nations. As host of the UN headquarters, America is obliged to allow access even to hostile states. They fear that someone comes to the US and reveals realities, Mr Zarif said.

According to a report yesterday from the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Iran has worked up 13 sets of plans to avenge Soleimanis death.
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RICHLAND (AP)  The state of Washington has issued a $1 million fine to a federal nuclear weapons production site for restricting access to critical data.

The Washington Department of Ecology issued the fine on Monday to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, which is owned by the U.S. Department of Energy.





. . .
California officials are suing a billionaire who has been fighting for more than a decade to keep a secluded beach to himself, in a move designed to ensure that the public always has access to the scenic stretch of sand.

The lawsuit filed Monday on behalf of the California State Lands Commission and Coastal Commission seeks a court order demanding that Vinod Khosla remove all gates and signs on or near the only road to the beach that runs through his private property.

The legal battle dates to 2008, when Khosla - a venture capitalist who co-founded the Silicon Valley technology company Sun Microsystems - bought the 89-acre coastal property for $32.5 million and closed a gate, put up a no-access sign and painted over a billboard at the entrance that had advertised access to the beach.

The lawsuit contends that without court orders, Khosla will keep imposing improper restrictions to public access to Martins Beach near Half Moon Bay, about 35 miles south of San Francisco.

Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla has been trying to legally block the public from accessing the beach since buying the property for $32 million in 2008

The previous owners of the property allowed the public to access the gorgeous beach for 70 years before Khosla first tried to shutter out the public in 2010

'This case goes to the heart of Californias public access mandate,' California Coastal Commission Chairman Steve Padilla said in a statement. 'We cannot allow this to be chipped away each time someone purchases beachfront property - its a dangerous precedent for the future of public access in California.'

Khosla's attorney vowed to fight the latest lawsuit.

'Since the property was purchased by our client, the state, and small activist groups, have endeavored to seize our clients private property without compensation,' attorney Dori Yob Kilmer said in a statement.

'While such tactics are commonplace in communist systems, they have never been tolerated in the American system where the U.S. Constitution precludes the government from simply taking private property and giving it to the public.'

The dispute is one of several in California over who is allowed to use the coastline, which is often accessed through neighborhoods and private property. The state Constitution guarantees public access to all beaches below the high tide line.

Martins Beach sits along the California coastline just near picturesque Half Moon Bay

The previous owners of Martin's Beach had allowed public access to the beach, charging a parking fee and operating other conveniences to generate money from the popular destination.

Khosla's attorneys said the cost to maintain the beach and other facilities far exceeded the money the fees brought in.

The nonprofit Surfrider Foundation sued, and a state appeals court ruled that Khosla needed to apply for a coastal development permit before closing off the main road.

After the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal in 2018, Khosla continued to sue over what he considers to be interference with his property rights.

In the meantime, his lawyer said he kept the road open during daylight hours to paying visitors. State officials say the gate to the road has not been consistently open.

Protesters hold up signs in support of a beach access bill near Martin's Beach in Half Moon Bay, California in 2014. The legal battle has been ongoing for a decade

Last month, a state appeals court sided with Khosla, who argued that just because the former owners gave people permission to use the road and beach, it doesn't mean the public gets a permanent right to use the property.

The lawsuit by the state agencies contends that because the beach has been used by the public for more than a century, it has acquired access rights under a common law doctrine known as 'implied dedication.'

'For as far back as can be historically documented, the public has used and treated the beach as a public beach, and the previous owners knew of that public use and did not interfere with such use,' the lawsuit said.
Andrew Bosworth. Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The New York Times this afternoon reported on a lengthy, meandering internal memo by Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth, better known as Boz both inside the company and out. Bosworth currently runs Facebooks virtual reality efforts, but for years, including during the 2016 election, he ran Facebooks targeted-ad product. In the memo, Bosworth states that while he is personally opposed to a Trump reelection in 2020, he does not think Facebook as a company should change how it operates to realize that goal. It is somehow a more candid memo than any other Facebook statement in recent memory but also contains a substantial amount of hedging.

Boz is no stranger to strong, declarative memos. In 2016, he wrote one proclaiming that We connect people. Period. Thats why all the work we do in growth is justified. All the questionable contact importing practices. All the subtle language that helps people stay searchable by friends. All of the work we do to bring more communication in. The work was important even if it got people hurt, he wrote at the time.

His newest memo, posted on December 30, is a bit more contrite. While many media reports about Facebook are wrong, he writes without getting specific, he acknowledges, The media has limited information to work with (by our own design!)  but there is almost always some critical issue that motivated them to write which we need to understand.

His primary example is the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The outrage was correct, he admits, in that it revealed how poorly monitored and widely exploitable Facebooks platform was. That we shut it down in 2014 and never paid the piper on how bad it was makes this scrutiny justified in my opinion, he writes. The distinction is that Cambridge Analytica ability to use psychographic models, and the ability to manipulate vast populations was highly overstated by the consulting firm  snake oil salespeople, in Bozs terms.

Boz makes some good points. Plenty of people misunderstand Facebook, or mistakenly conceptualize its power. But Facebook is in a hell of its own making, operating in secrecy, obfuscating how it works, and merely feigning transparency much of the time.

Later in the memo, Boz acknowledges something that no other Facebook executive has ever admitted before.

So was Facebook responsible for Donald Trump getting elected? I think the answer is yes, but not for the reasons anyone thinks. He didnt get elected because of Russia or misinformation or Cambridge Analytica. He got elected because he ran the single best digital ad campaign Ive ever seen from any advertiser. Period.

(Mark Zuckerberg infamously described the idea of Facebook swaying an election as pretty crazy and has since regretted those comments.)

Much of Bozs memo includes a lot of hand-waving. Trump just did better ads! People are always going to be polarized! Filter bubbles are natural! Facebook isnt addictive; social media is likely much less fatal than bacon. Which is a far cry from Bozs (and Zuckerbergs) previous declarations that its actually good for the world.

Responding to the Times story, Bosworth wrote, Overall I hoped this post would encourage my coworkers to continue to accept criticism with grace as we accept the responsibility we have overseeing our platform.

But perhaps the best illustration of Boz attempting to have it both ways is contained in a Lord of the Rings analogy he makes to illustrate Facebooks power.

I find myself thinking of the Lord of the Rings at this moment. Specifically when Frodo offers the ring to Galadrial [sic] and she imagines using the power righteously, at first, but knows it will eventually corrupt her. As tempting as it is to use the tools available to us to change the outcome, I am confident we must never do that or we will become that which we fear.

Facebook, in this case, is the ring. What Boz has failed to consider is, uh, what happens to the ring at the end of the story. As we all know, The Lord of the Rings ends with Frodo deciding to hold on to the ring and use it responsibly for the rest of his life. Just kidding, the ring is cast into a fiery pit and destroyed forever.
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Atos empowers researchers at the University of Luxembourg with its BullSequana XH2000 supercomputer

Paris, France, January 7, 2020  Atos, a global leader in digital transformation, has signed a 4-year contract to supply its BullSequana XH2000 supercomputer, to the University of Luxembourg, renowned European university and international leader in research. The supercomputer, named as AION, will allow the university to further accelerate research and to face global competition, by achieving cutting-edge results.

The BullSequana XH2000 supercomputer will give researchers 1.5 times more computing capacity than previously, with a theoretical peak performance of 1.7 petaflops which will complement the existing supercomputing cluster. It will be equipped with AMD EPYC processors and Mellanox InfiniBand HDR technology, connected to a DDN storage environment.

The new supercomputer will be used by the University and its European and international partners to accelerate the research performed in intensive computing and large-scale Big Data analytics. This includes cutting-edge developments for research in various domains such as particle physics, material sciences, theoretical chemistry, earth sciences, numerical weather prediction, astrophysics, cryptology, artificial intelligence, and economical simulations.

One of the key reasons Atos was selected for this contract was due to our BullSequana XH2000s highly-efficient water-cooled Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) solution, which ensures optimum energy-efficiency. said Antoine Kerrinckx, CEO Belgium and Luxembourg at Atos. As the leading European supercomputer manufacturer, were proud to be contributing to the competitiveness of Luxembourg and to enable researchers further accelerate in their work.

Modern research requires significant computing power and generates large amounts of data  therefore we needed a HPC solution which responds to our growing need for increased computing capacity in order to increase our research capabilities and enable us to go beyond the limits of traditional simulation. said Dr. Sebastien Varrette, co-leading with Prof. Pascal Bouvry the High Performance Computing service at the University of Luxembourg. With the release of the AION system, the global capacity of the HPC infrastructure provided within the University will be increased both in terms of computing (totaling 2.8 PetaFlops with both systems) and shared storage (up to 10 PetaBytes). This consolidates the Universitys ambition to offer a cutting-edge research infrastructure to Luxembourg public research and serves as edge access to the upcoming Luxembourg MeluXina supercomputer in the EURO-HPC context.

Delivery of the AION supercomputer is expected in Q1 2020.

###

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with over 110,000 employees in 73 countries and annual revenue of over  11 billion. European number one in Cloud, Cybersecurity and High-Performance Computing, the Group provides end-to-end Orchestrated Hybrid Cloud, Big Data, Business Applications and Digital Workplace solutions. The group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos Syntel, and Unify. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index.

The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information technology space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education as well as multicultural and pluralistic approaches to research that contribute to scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the group enables its customers, employees and collaborators, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably and confidently in the information technology space.

Press contact:

Laura Fau | laura.fau@atos.net | +33 6 73 64 04 18 | @laurajanefau

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SURREY, BC, Jan. 7, 2020 /CNW/ - An outpouring of holiday spirit drove students, instructors, and staff from CDI College to unite in an effort to support local food banks. In December, campuses from British Columbia to Quebec gathered over 4,000 non-perishable items to help fellow Canadians who struggle with hunger.

For each item collected, CDI College is also donating 25 cents to Food Banks Canada, for a total of $1,050. The Montreal campus took those efforts even further by raising an additional $1,200.

Recent numbers from Food Banks Canada show many people face difficulty putting food on the table. Canadian food banks get up to one million visits per month and a third of the clients are children.

"CDI College students, instructors, and staff are always very eager to assist our community and help in any way we can," said Tiffaney Bodnariuk, Campus Director, CDI College Edmonton City Centre. "Being in the heart of the city, we are exposed to a lot of individuals who are suffering and it warms our hearts knowing we've helped in some small way."

Even though the holidays are over, the importance of supporting food banks continues. If you'd like to donate to your local food bank, here are items that are urgently needed:

Pasta (canned or dry) and pasta sauces

Canned and frozen meats and fish

Meat alternatives (peanut butter, soy, assorted nuts)

Canned goods (beans, soups, and stews)

Dairy (fresh, canned, and powdered milk)

Canned vegetables and fruit

Whole grain cereals

Infant foods and baby formula

Bathroom tissue and diapers

Personal hygiene products

To learn more about special initiatives at CDI College, visit cdicollege.ca.

SOURCE CDI College

For further information: Melissa Davis, Director, Marketing and Communications, 604.915.7288 ext. 2126
(TNS)  Devine Carama knows Lexington, Ky., kids are being approached about drugs and drug use nearly every day.Its rampant, said Carama, a father of two teenage girls, a hip hop artist and local activist. When his daughters meet new friends, some of the first questions they are asked is Do you do drugs? Do you smoke?Thats why Carama is teaming up with the city of Lexington and nonprofit Preventum Initiative to launch a new smartphone application for opioid education and prevention aimed at 75,000 Fayette County youth under the age of 18.Called FEND, Full Energy, No Drugs, the app gives youth information about opioids, drugs and substance abuse disorders.Its focused on education. It does not preach, Dr. Jacquii Burgess said during a news conference Monday at city hall in Lexington.The free app rewards youth for answering questions on the application with gift vouchers, concert tickets and other stuff.Understanding what an opioid is, why theyre so addictive, and how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose can potentially save a life, Burgess said. We are thrilled to bring FEND to Lexington. During her campaign for mayor in 2018, Mayor Linda Gorton pledged to make opioid addiction and substance abuse a centerpiece of her administration. Prevention is a key piece of any strategy, she said Monday.Teaching young people about the dangers of addiction, opioids and prescription drugs better equips them to handle situations, helps arm them with useful tools and hopefully deters them from use of illicit or non-prescribed drugs, Gorton said.But funding for drug prevention efforts is scarce. FEND is funded through private donations, grants and corporate sponsorships. The William R. Kenan Charitable Trust is one of the first major financial supporters of Lexingtons FEND campaign, said Andrea James, who coordinates Gortons opioid and substance abuse efforts.James said the city will host a substance abuse event Friday that involves several Lexington high schools . FEND will be introduced at that event. They are also working with other Fayette County school personnel to get more Lexington students to download the app, she said.Carama, through his various outreach efforts , is also helping spread the word.But does a smartphone app work?Previous drug abuse prevention campaigns, such as the Just Say No campaign from the 1980s and D.A.R.E., or Drug Abuse Resistance Education, did little to stop drug use among teens, research showed. A ten-year study of the DARE program showed it may have increased drug use among teens. FEND data from a pilot program in Rhode Island showed that students who used the application shifted their attitude toward drugs, said Burgess. The app was developed using research that shows what types of messaging reaches teens, Burgess said.James said the FEND app will allow the city to get more accurate information about youth attitudes toward drugs and drug use.Gorton said in January 2019 she would name a multidisciplinary team to look at Lexingtons current drug treatment, prevention and other efforts. That team was supposed to come up with a list of recommendations.James said putting that multidisciplinary team together is still a work in progress.We had more than 100 people who wanted to be part of it, James said, but the city is now looking at creating several smaller subgroups to tackle specific issues.
One of Northern Ireland's most senior Orangemen has warned that "hybrid language legislation containing the same powers as a standalone Irish language act" would be unacceptable to his organisation's members.

Orange Order grand secretary Mervyn Gibson told this newspaper that "disguising sweeping powers that elevate one culture above another" in a piece of hybrid legislation would fool nobody.

"Any attempt to repackage a standalone Irish language act in this way won't work," he said.

Read More

"A hybrid act which treated, say, Irish, Polish and Ulster-Scots in exactly the same way is one thing.

"But if Irish was promoted above other minority languages in Northern Ireland, that would be unacceptable."

Mr Gibson was speaking as talks continued at Stormont to restore power-sharing.

Sources said the two governments will table the text of a draft deal later this week.

An Irish language act remains one of the main obstacles to progress as Stormont approaches three years without a functioning Executive.

DUP leader Arlene Foster said she believed that the main parties were in the space to reach a deal, but the Ulster Unionists said the talks process lacked urgency.

Mr Gibson said that unionism was united in opposing sweeping Irish language legislation.

"The Orange Order didn't weaponise the Irish language, Sinn Fein did," he said.

"A party spokesman once said that every world spoken in Irish was a shot for a united Ireland.

"This is not a purely linguistic issue and it shouldn't be presented as such."

Mr Gibson said he had "no problem" with the language.

He added: "As an RUC officer, I went on an Irish language course, so I have a cupla focal myself, probably as much as many in the nationalist community.

"We have had Orange banners in Irish. A past Grand Master in Belfast, Rev Dr Rutledge Kane, helped preserve the Gaelic tongue in this city at the turn of the 20th century.

"I fully respect those who have a genuine love and passion for the language, but when Irish is used as a blunt instrument to elevate one identity above another, it becomes problematic."

Mr Gibson said there would have to be a "watertight guarantee" that any legislation proposed could not be used "to promote the republican cause and promote one culture more than the other in future".

He said: "A piece of Irish language legislation may initially appear reasonable, but you have to look ahead and think of future judicial reviews and how it would end up being interpreted."

Mr Gibson also claimed the British tradition in Northern Ireland was facing discrimination.

"We have a Parades Commission which polices and limits our culture, so Irish language legislation promoting, facilitating and protecting Irish culture would be unfair," he said.

Read More

"I would welcome an audit of resources on what funds go to British culture and to Irish culture in Northern Ireland."

Mr Gibson said that the 40,000 Orangemen in Northern Ireland "just like all other citizens want our health and education crises tackled", but that any deal must not "discriminate against their community".

Secretary of State Julian Smith returned to Northern Ireland on Tuesday after updating the Prime Minister on the talks.

Boris Johnson said that everything possible must be done to restore power-sharing by the January 13 deadline, according to a government spokesman.

If a deal is not reached by then, Mr Smith could call an Assembly election.

The DUP repeated that any agreement must be "fair and balanced". Arlene Foster also played down reports of a bad-tempered meeting between the party leaders on Monday.

"Things are blown out of proportion sometimes," she said.

"I think everybody is in the space where they want to do a deal. Let's get down and focus and make sure we achieve that deal."

Ulster Unionist MLA Robbie Butler said the talks process lacked urgency.

"There really does need to be a refocusing of minds and a more concerted effort to get these talks to a conclusion," he said.

Mr Butler urged the two governments to table working papers to the parties so they could start to hammer out a deal.

"The problems and difficulties are well rehearsed," he said.

"There have been three years of intensive and non-intensive talks and, as we can see today, there is no real intensity.

"We would like to see that stepped up within the next 24 hours."

Mr Butler said parties needed to get into power-sharing to address a range of urgent social problems, including what he described as a "mental health epidemic", citing a recent spate of suicides in Northern Ireland.
It's not entirely clear who leaked the letter. According to Milley, the draft was circulated to key Iraqi officials as part of a coordination process to let them know about the increased helicopter movements. Officials say it was first posted on the website of an Iranian-backed militia group.
A federal appellate court on Monday upheld a district court judgment that requires Walmart to pay $54.6 million in damages plus interest for failing to adequately pay long-haul truck drivers for time spent during layovers, rest breaks and during inspections of their trucks.

In a 2-1 decision, a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel affirmed a San Francisco jurys decision that WalMarts employment practices violated California state labor laws. The panel rejected numerous arguments by Walmarts lawyers, including that the trial court erred in its jury instructions, by certifying a class of plaintiffs and by allowing counsel to substitute two new representative plaintiffs during litigation that spanned 12 years.

Following over a decade of litigation, a robust motions practice, and a 16-day trial, we conclude that the judgment should stand, the appellate panel said in a majority opinion written by Circuit Judge Eugene E. Siler.

Circuit Judge Diarmuid F. OScannlain dissented to a portion of the ruling. He wrote a separate opinion that he would have overruled the ruling that Walmart did not adequately pay its drivers for layovers between shifts. That portion of the judgment made up $44,699,766 of the jurys award.

Walmart can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court or ask all seven judges of the 9th Circuit to rule in an en banc decision. Michael Rubin, who

represented the truck drivers, said he doesnt believe the Supreme Court would review the decision an en banc ruling would arrive at the same conclusion.

My assumption is that this is the end of the road, Rubin, with the Altshuler Person law firm, said in an interview. Finally, after 12 years, Walmart will pay is drivers the minimum wage.

Rubin said he may appeal the decision because the court did not award liquidated damages, which would double the size of the award. The court decided that punitive liquidated damages were not warranted because Walmart acted in good faith and believed that the company was complying with state labor laws.

Walmart said in a statement that it continues to believe that its truck drivers are paid in compliance with California law.

We are proud that our drivers are among the best paid in the industry, earning, on average, between $80,000 to over $100,000 per year, the company said in a statement. We are reviewing the 9th Circuits opinion and will explore our options.

According to the majority opinion, Walmart paid most of its long-haul drivers a per-mile fee that added up to an annual salary of $80,000 to $100,000, a pay rate that is better than the industry average. Even so, four of its drivers filed suit in 2008 contending that Walmart violated California law by failing to pay drivers during 10-hour layovers between shifts while requiring them to sleep in their trucks.

Walmart paid a $42 convenience fee to drivers who had to sleep in their trucks during ten-hour layover periods between shifts. Basically they made them work as unpaid security guards, watching over their trucks, Rubin said.

The per-mile payments also did not account for time the drivers spent inspecting their trucks before departure or for rest breaks required by state law, the suit alleged. Under California law, employers must pay at least minimum wage during all periods that employees are under their control.

The district court certified a class of drivers who could sue collectively, but the litigation was stayed while the Supreme Court considered related issues in another lawsuit. During the interim, two of the four original plaintiffs died, a third lost interest in the case and plaintiffs counsel became concerned that remaining plaintiff could not adequately represent the class.

The district court allowed the plaintiffs to choose new plaintiffs to represent the class, which includes all Walmart drivers in California after Oct. 10, 2004.

After a 16-day trial, a jury found in favor of Walmart on most of the issued raised in the class-action lawsuit, but found that the plaintiffs were denied wages owed to them for layovers, rest breaks and truck inspections.

Altogether, the jury awarded damages amounting to $54,604,181. But on top of that, Walmart will have to pay pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, Rubin said.

Walmart argued on appeal that District Court Judge Susan Illston had given the jury improper instructions. Rubin said he doesnt expect that argument to go very far if theres a further appeal because Walmarts counsel at trial that the instructions were a fair compromise.

Attorneys for Walmart could not be reached for comment. Rubin said the company changed its employment practices regarding drivers during the course of the litigation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Japanese FM Motegi Toshimitsu (Photo: VNA)

They agreed to further enhance political trust via maintaining regular visits, exchanges and dialogues at all levels while bringing into full play the efficiency of the existing cooperation and dialogue mechanisms.

Informing his guest of Vietnams priorities for internal and external relations during 2020, Minh affirmed the countrys consistent policy of taking Japan as a partner of top significance. He also invited his guest to ASEAN-related meetings in Vietnam this year.

Toshimitsu, for his part, wished to further deepen the Japan - Vietnam extensive strategic partnership.

Japan supports and will work closely with Vietnam to help the country successfully undertake the role of the ASEAN Chair 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020 - 2021 tenure.

Both sides vowed to intensify collaboration across trade, investment, official development assistance, human resources development and climate change response.

Minh asked the Japanese government to encourage firms to help Vietnamese counterparts join the global supply chain, increase investment in hi-tech agriculture and support industry, soon allow the import of Vietnamese longan, and assist Vietnam in environment issues and climate change response.

Host and guest promised to partner in receiving workers and trainees, removing unhealthy labour and student brokerage firms so as to ensure their legitimate rights in Japan.

The host said the Vietnamese Government has approved Japans proposal of opening a consular office in the central city of Da Nang. He also proposed that the Japanese government should simplify procedures to issue visas for Vietnamese citizens.

The two sides agreed to continue working closely together at regional and global forums, discuss the promotion of global economic linkages, including the early implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

They exchanged ideas on regional and global issues of shared concern. As for the East Sea issue, they agreed on the importance of ensuring peace, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom, complying with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

On the occasion, they held a ceremony to exchange diplomatic notes on water drainage and wastewater treatment projects in Ha Long city signed by Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung and Japanese FM Toshimitsu, and on dioxin and environment analysis equipment worth USD2.7 million as a non-refundable aid signed between Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Umeda Kunio.

The same day, Japanese FMs spouse Motegi Emi visited Chu Van An elementary school in Hanoi./.
WINTER PARK, Fla., Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ruths Chris Steak House , known for its unmatched dining experience and its steaks served on 500-degree sizzling plates, announces its 2020 TasteMaker Dinner Series with the biggest names in wine and spirits. TasteMaker Dinners are five-course meals, hand-crafted by the Ruths Chris executive chefs, with a glass of wine or a cocktail expertly paired to complement each dish. Starting in February, Ruths Chris begins its largest lineup of TasteMaker Dinners to date, totaling 10 cant-miss dinners throughout the year.



We are proud to work with some of the most respected names in wine and spirits, and we look forward to having the opportunity to showcase their drinks with our exclusive TasteMaker Dinner menus, said Chef Abdiel Aleman, vice president of culinary development for Ruths Chris. A truly outstanding experience is crafted from the smallest details. That is why Ruths Chris pours their heart and soul into each TasteMaker Dinner to make sure the chefs passion is infused into every course and resonates with guests.

Each TasteMaker Dinner menu takes approximately four months to finalize, as the culinary team sets aside time to taste the wines and cocktails and develop each unique five-course menu based on flavors that complement each other. The culinary team at Ruths Chris is known for going beyond what is expected, also drawing inspiration from each winerys history and origin, to deliver a one-night only menu that has never been experienced before.

The outstanding lineup of wineries for the TasteMaker Dinner Series includes: Rombauer Vineyards; Justin Winery; Grgich Hills Estate; Cakebread Cellars; Stags Leap Wine Cellars; Orin Swift Cellars; Veuve Clicquot; and Caymus Vineyards. Two dinners will also feature renowned distilleries alongside distinguished wineries: The Prisoner Wine Company together with High West Distillery whiskey; and Titos Handmade Vodka with Rodney Strong wines.

For the first time, guests who are interested in experiencing all 10 of these legendary dining experiences can purchase the TasteMaker Club dining card. The commemorative metal card takes guests on an experiential journey with access to all 10 dinners and the unmatched opportunity to immerse in some of the countrys finest cuisines, wines and spirits. Additionally, each dining card purchase includes an additional $150 to dine any time and a voucher for a special tour of Stags Leap Wine Cellar in Napa Valley. Available until the TasteMaker Series begins on February 27, the dining card invites guests to enjoy unique dishes and pairings throughout the year, creating memories around the dinner table that will last a lifetime.

TasteMaker Dinner dates, times and prices vary by location. For reservations and more information about upcoming Ruth's Chris TasteMaker Dinners, please visit www.ruthschris.com/TasteMakerDinners .

ABOUT RUTH'S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE

Ruth's Chris Steak House was founded by Ruth Fertel more than 50 years ago in New Orleans, Louisiana. Ruth had a recipe for everything  from how to prepare her signature sizzling steaks to how to treat her guests. This timeless formula is a testament to how one neighborhood eatery has become the largest collection of upscale steak houses in the world, with more than 150 restaurant locations around the globe. Ruth's Chris remains true to its heritage, helping guests make their best memories on 500-degree sizzling plates. Ruth's Chris Steak House. This is how it's done.

Contact: Carey Jester

Phone: 321-236-0102

Email: cjester@uproarpr.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a2ec6240-c1a7-4b0c-92af-30c829127b66.




Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7) The Philippine government is ready to roll out a mass repatriation for Filipinos residing and working in the Middle East in case conflict in the region further escalates.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Hans Cacdac said Tuesday the agency is coordinating with other government units, including the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in reaching out Filipino communities in conflict areas.

Mass repatriation, we are preparing for it. As I said, it's been done before; we can definitely do it again, Cacdac told CNN Philippines The Source. Yes, we're ready for mass repatriation.

Cacdac added the Labor Department has reactivated its crisis management team, which is meanwhile tasked to coordinate with the families of the overseas workers.

Thousands of Filipinos in the Middle East are seen to be affected should tensions between the United States and Iran continue to rise. The conflict stemmed from the death of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed following a strike ordered by US President Donald Trump.

There are more than 7,000 Filipinos living in Iraq and Iran, according to data from the Defense Department.

With a large chunk of overseas workers stationed in the region, evacuation will not be easy, Senator Richard Gordon stressed.

To fly over there will cost you a pretty penny, Gordon said in a media briefing. You will need to hire maybe a hundred cruise liners, a cruise line carries 5,000 to 7,000 max.

It's not easy... I know that the DFA is quite good, the OWWA, the DOLE, they have plans for evacuation, Gordon maintained.

Filipinos not panicking, but urged to reach out

Despite the ongoing conflict, Cacdac noted the body has yet to receive negative feedback from Filipinos in affected and nearby areas.

However, residents in the region are urged to reach out to concerned agencies whether online or on the ground.

The official also advised families of Filipino workers to reach out to OWWAs hotlines in case repatriation is set.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in his Cabinet meeting Monday, ordered Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu his former special envoy to the Middle East to fly to the Middle East immediately to lay the groundwork for the evacuation of Filipinos in conflict areas.

A special working committee comprised of top government officials has also been set to plan the repatriation.

READ: Duterte sends team to Middle East amid US-Iran conflict

The chief executive earlier suggested for lawmakers to convene a special session to craft a standby fund for the possible repatriation of Filipinos in the region.

CNN Philippines' Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vice chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, under fire from students and faculty members for inaction when masked people unleashed violence inside the campus on 5 January, on Tuesday appealed to 'put the past behind', even as the Delhi Police file two separate FIRs against JNU student union president Aishe Ghosh, who sustained a head injury in the incident.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, under fire from students and faculty members for inaction when masked people unleashed violence inside the campus on 5 January, on Tuesday appealed to "put the past behind", even as the Delhi Police filed two separate FIRs against JNU student union president Aishe Ghosh, who sustained a head injury in the incident.

Meanwhile, 48 hours after the incident which left at least 34 people injured, the police is yet to make a single arrest in the case, despite evidence that RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) was at least partly involved in Sunday's violence. An ABVP member, Anima Sonkar, also stated that two men purportedly seen carrying rods in a video made during the attack on JNU were associated with the student body.

Hindu Raksha Dal, a far-Right group, issued a statement claiming responsibility for the assault. However, no one from the organisation has been arrested yet.

Students and faculty members were assaulted on Sunday evening after a mob went on a rampage, attacking students with sticks and iron rods and vandalising property. Reportedly, there was an atmosphere of unrest in the campus for a few days preceding the incident over the sustained protest against the proposed fee hike for the varsity's hostel along with demonstrations against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

A day after JNU students, faculty, and prominent alumni called for Kumar's resignation for loopholes in the administration's response after the violence began in the campus, the vice-chancellor issued a brief statement calling the incident "unfortunate" and urging students who have left the campus in fear, to come back.

JNU VC MJ Kumar: Around 4:30 pm (on 5th Jan) we came to know that group of students were moving aggressively towards hostel area. Then we sent our security guards to assess&control situation, but more students gathered. Immediately, police was contacted. Situation was contained https://t.co/B5voHJgGzT pic.twitter.com/6KGamvmnHg  ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2020

"Our heart goes out to all injured students. The incident (violence) is unfortunate. I would like to tell students that the JNU campus is a secure place. I urge all students to come back to the campus. Let us put the past behind. Our campus is known for debates and discussions to resolve any issues. Violence is not a solution. We will find every opportunity to make sure that normalcy returns to the university," he said.

Kumar also told the media that the campus has its own security, which undertakes the responsibility to contain a law and order situation first.

"If there is a law and order situation, we do not rush to the police immediately. We see if our security can handle it. The campus has its own security. On Sunday, when we saw that there is a possibility of aggressive behaviour among students, we informed the police," he said. The administration has been criticised for dillydallying on calling the police to intervene and bring the situation under control.

Later on Tuesday evening, Kumar said, "There were rumours that some wardens resigned. Our wardens haven't resigned. Some protesting students surrounded our wardens, shouted on them and humiliated them. Is it a way to have any dialogue?"

Referring to the boycott JNUSU had called for against the exam registration process in protest of the fee hike, Kumar said, "The registration process has been restarted. Students can register for the winter semester now. Let us make a new beginning."

FIRs filed against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, others

According to sources in the Delhi Police, an investigation has revealed that some insiders and some outsiders were involved in the violence, ANI reported.

The police has also come under flak for reaching after the mob had dispersed. The force faced more criticism on Tuesday when FIRs were registered against Ghosh.

The FIRs have been filed for allegedly vandalising the server room of the college and attacking staff members. Both the FIRs were filed against Ghosh on 5 January, which is when the violence erupted.

According to the JNU security department, on 1 January, a group of students wearing masks on their faces forcibly entered the office of the centre for information system located in a building near the Administration Building.

Including Ghosh, the police have filed FIRs against eight students, Geeta Kumari, Vivek Kumar Pandey, Surya Prakash, Satish Chandra Yadav, Saket Moon, Sarika Chaudhary and Ameksha Priyadarshini, in connection with the case.

"They switched off the power supply and evicted all the technical staff working there and made servers dysfunctional. They obstructed and stopped the public servants from doing the duties they pushed, threatened, abused, and chased the staff out of the office ad server room. Subsequently, they locked the room and squatted at the door and did not let the staff enter the server room," the university officials alleged in the complaint.

The second FIR was filed against Ghosh and 19 others for allegedly attacking security guards and vandalising the server room of the JNU on 4 January.

In the complaint filed by the JNU administration, the university alleged that the accused were involved in physical violence and pushed the women guards, verbally abused them and threatened them of dire consequences if they opened the lock of university's communication and information (CIS) office.

"They illegally trespassed the University property with the criminal intent to damage the public property. They damaged servers and made it dysfunctional. They also damaged fibre optic power supplies and broke the biometric systems inside the room," the University officials alleged.

Protests continue against JNU violence, CAA, proposed NRC

While protests continued in solidarity with JNU and against the CAA and proposed NRC project of the Centre across the country, one such rally of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) turned violent after members clashed with ABVP members in Gujarat's Ahmedabad on Tuesday morning.

The incident took place during the protest organised by NSUI, the students' wing of the Congress, outside the office of the RSS-affiliated ABVP in the city's Paldi area. The police later rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, PTI reported, adding that 10 people had sustained injuries in the clash.

Both the student bodies alleged that sticks and stones were used to attack each other, and claimed more than five members each from the two sides were injured in the clash. Gujarat NSUI general secretary Nikhil Savani sustained serious head injuries and was admitted to VS General Hospital.

In a video clip telecast by some local news channels, Savani, a close associate of Congress leader Hardik Patel, was seen being beaten by some people in the presence of policemen.

"The situation has been brought under control. As of now, no FIR has been lodged," a police official said.

"Our protest was peaceful. However, goons from the ABVP suddenly attacked us using sticks, stones and pipes. It was a pre-planned attack in the presence of police. Over five of our members, including Savani, were injured in the attack," another NSUI general secretary Bhavik Solanki said.

Mumbai's Gateway of India protests called-off; FIR against woman

On the other hand, the group that had gathered at Mumbai's Gateway of India in a protest that went on for more than 24 hours, were evicted on Tuesday morning "as roads were getting blocked and tourists and common people were facing problems", Mumbai Police was quoted by PTI as saying.

Police had appealed to protesters to shift but they didn't listen, so they were "relocated" to Azad Maidan near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the official said. Earlier, hundreds of people, including students, women and senior citizens  who assembled at the iconic Gateway of India since Sunday midnight  demanded action against those behind the JNU violence and resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

However, the protest ran into some controversy with an FIR filed against a woman attendee for holding a placard saying, 'Free Kashmir'.

A protest march was taken out by JNU alumni, students, and teachers were stopped in front of the North Gate of the campus on Tuesday afternoon.

With inputs from agencies
Spain's parliament on Tuesday narrowly confirmed Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez as premier for another term, paving the way for the country's first-ever coalition government since its return to democracy in the 1970s. But it was a very tight vote in the 350-seat chamber, with 167 votes in favour and 165 against -- with 18 crucial abstentions by Catalan and Basque separatist lawmakers. Sanchez, who has served in a caretaker role since last year's inconclusive elections, will helm a minority coalition government with the radical leftwing Podemos in the first such power-sharing agreement in Spain since the death in 1975 of dictator Francisco Franco. After the results were announced, the pony-tailed leader of Podemos, Pablo Iglesias, broke down in tears as his lawmakers chanted the party's slogan "Yes we can!" "A period of moderation, progress and hope begins today," Sanchez tweeted after his victory, which came two days after he lost an initial vote of confidence in which he needed an absolute majority of 176. Tuesday's vote only required a simple majority. The investiture vote draws a line under nearly a year of political deadlock in the eurozone's fourth-largest economy following inconclusive elections in April and again in November. Sanchez will be sworn at the royal palace at 1000 GMT on Wednesday in the presence of Spain's King Felipe VI, a palace statement said. But he was not expected to unveil the lineup of his new government until early next week, party sources said, without giving a reason for the delay. - Crucial abstentions - Although Sanchez's Socialists won the November 10 election, they emerged weakened following a ballot which saw the far-right Vox party surge into third place. Sanchez moved quickly to strike a coalition deal with Podemos, which has never governed nationally, with the two parties pledging to raise the minimum wage and hike taxes on high earners and large businesses. They are also planning to repeal elements of the controversial 2012 labour market reforms that made it easier to fire workers -- prompting warnings from business leaders it would hurt job creation. With the two parties holding only 155 seats, 21 seats short of a majority, Sanchez had to seek support of smaller regional groups. And crucially, he needed to secure the abstention of Catalan separatist party ERC, which has 13 lawmakers, and Basque separatist party Bildu, with its five seats. In return for ERC's abstention, Sanchez agreed to open dialogue with Catalonia's separatist regional government on the future of the wealthy northeastern region and to submit the results of the talks to Catalan voters. The political situation there remains in flux following a failed 2017 independence bid that triggered Spain's worst political crisis in decades. - Very ill, but present - Spain's centre-right and the far-right Vox have accused Sanchez of risking national unity through his pact with the Catalan separatists. And conservative Popular Party (PP) leader Pablo Casado warned Sanchez he would struggle to rule. "Surrendering to the worst radicals may make you prime minister but you will not be able to govern," Casado said when the investiture debate began at the weekend. Sanchez's narrow victory was in part secured by the efforts of Podemos lawmaker Aina Vidal, who missed the first vote due to severe cancer-related pain, but turned up on Tuesday, prompting a round of applause from fellow lawmakers. The successful investiture drew praise on Twitter from new European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and EU chief Charles Michel. - EU congratulations - "My congratulations to @sanchezcastejon (Pedro Sanchez) and the new Spanish government. Spain is a crucial partner and we will work closely together for a strong, united and fair Europe," tweeted von der Leyen. "Sincere congratulations Prime Minister @sanchezcastejon on your re-election. This is good news for the #EU. Lets build a greener and fairer Europe together," wrote Michel. But analysts warned there could be a long road ahead. While Spain has finally been able to form a government, its majority is tiny and the country lacks experience with multi-party coalition governments," said Moody's analyst Kathrin Muehlbronner. "As for any credit impact, the 2020 budget will be the first key indication of the new governments economic policy direction," she said, while warning any reversal of earlier labour market reforms would pose "a key risk". However, the prospect of Catalan talks would offer a better chance "for a de-escalation of the conflict" although it would take some time. burs-hmw/boc
VANCOUVERThey were chaotic scenes that grabbed international headlines: armed RCMP officers pushing their way past an Indigenous blockade in northern British Columbia.

Its been a year since those violent arrests around Coastal GasLinks contentious pipeline project but, as the anniversary arrives, another storm appears to be brewing.

And that, says one observer, presents the B.C. government with its first real opportunity to show it is committed to the values it has accepted under a United Nations declaration that affirms the rights of Indigenous peoples.

On Monday, Coastal GasLink said it will resume construction days after being ordered off the land by a group representing hereditary Wetsuweten chiefs. The chiefs are vowing to keep a close eye on the construction company.

Coastal GasLink has maintained it has the support of every elected body on its proposed pipeline route, which is meant to supply natural gas to the B.C. coast, where it would be converted to liquefied natural gas for export. The project would span 670 kilometres from Dawson Creek to Kitimat and is expected to create between 2,000 and 2,500 jobs. There are expected to be 16 to 35 permanent jobs during operation.

But within Wetsuweten territory, hereditary chiefs and other members oppose the project, saying they want to protect their traditional hunting, trapping and fishing territory for future generations.

I always have a fear when industry is steering democratically elected officials, hereditary Chief NaMoks (John Ridsdale) told the Star on Monday.

Disagreements between hereditary chiefs and elected band councils are not unusual, and regardless of whether a large energy project is at the heart of those disagreements, governments must figure out how to respect both parties, said Sheryl Lightfoot, an associate professor of First Nations and Indigenous studies at the University of British Columbia.

The B.C. government passed Bill 41 last fall, making a commitment to uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. That legislation recognizes both band councils as well as other forms of Indigenous governance.

This would be the time for B.C. to step up and bring its practices into alignment with the principles of the (UN) declaration, Lightfoot said.

But the provincial government has yet to set up a framework for how the legislation will apply in real-life scenarios such as this one.

B.C. is one of the first places in the world to attempt a legal framework that would balance both styles of governance, Lightfood said.

What we have right now is a clash between two worldviews, she said.

Lightfoot said hereditary chiefs, who are responsible for traditional territories, follow a very different governance approach than band councils, which were created by the Indian Act and have jurisdiction over reserves.

(Hereditary chiefs) responsibilities extend beyond time, she said. They are responsible to the ancestors as well as to future generations. Its a very different way of thinking than Western legal jurisdiction.

The Wetsuweten nation is comprised of five clans: Gilseyhu, Likhtsamisyu, Laksilyu, Tsayu, Gidimten.

In the latest chapter of the saga, on Dec. 31, B.C Supreme Court Justice Marguerite Church granted Coastal GasLink an interlocutory injunction against the protesters. Church said there is evidence to indicate the defendants engaged in deliberate and unlawful conduct to cause harm to the Coastal GasLink and prevent it from constructing the pipeline.

Then, on Saturday, hereditary chiefs from the Wetsuweten nation ordered Coastal GasLink workers to leave, saying the company was trespassing on unceded Wetsuweten territory. The workers left the area when given the notice.

A spokeswoman for Coastal GasLink, Suzanne Wilton, said in an emailed statement Monday that the company will hold safety meetings for workers Tuesday and Wednesday, and that construction work will resume this week.

Clearing, grading, workforce accommodation establishment and other activities are expected to continue as scheduled across the route, said a statement from the company.

But when work resumes, NaMoks said, it will be monitored by Wetsuweten people to keep tabs on the companys action in the territory.

One year ago, the dispute became international news as the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs and their supporters clashed with RCMP enforcing a B.C. Supreme Court injunction to allow pipeline workers access to the area.

Fourteen people were arrested at the Gidimten access point camp on the Morice River forest service road. Mounties set up a temporary exclusion zone there, barring members of the public, including journalists, from entering.

The Star made it into the protest camp before access was cut off and captured photos and witnessed armed RCMP officers climbing barriers and overtaking the camp, arresting protesters in the process. Some fled to the Unistoten camp further up the road, eventually ending the protest peacefully the following night.

Lightfoot said Western governments are increasingly resorting to police action to resolve disagreements with Indigenous groups.

It is a global pattern and its a disturbing one, she said. (Its) why the UN declaration came into existence. The UN declaration lays out the expectation that conflicts like this will not be resolved violently or militarily but with negotiated solutions. The document directs us to do peaceful negotiated solutions that respect everyones rights, and equally, said Lightfoot, who is also the Canadian research chair of global Indigenous rights and politics.

RCMP were ready to use lethal force, according to a report by the Guardian, published in December. But that report will not stop further action by Wetsuweten activists, NaMoks said.

There is nothing that we will change, because we were peaceful, he said. It was armed forces that came at us. We were not armed, we were not violent.

RCMP did not respond to a request for comment.

With files from the Canadian Press

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Caltex investors were buoyed by a potential second foreign suitor and the prospect of a bidding war for the prized $8.6 billion Australian petrol retailer, sending shares above an earlier offer price of $34.50 from Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard.

In a move that could signal a tussle for Caltex Australia, British-based EG Group is said to be assessing making an offer, according to a report by Bloomberg News. Shares in the ASX-listed Caltex rose more than 2 per cent to end the day trading at $35.05. EG Group has engaged Jefferies Group as financial advisers.

Caltex last month rejected Couche-Tard's latest offer of $8.6 billion as too low. Credit:Peter Braig

Backed by TDR Capital, EG Group in October completed an acquisition of 567 Cumberland Farms convenience stores in the United States, bringing its US network to 1680 sites across 31 states. Earlier in 2019 the company sealed a $1.73 billion acquisition of supermarket group Woolworths petrol network in Australia.

Industry sources on Tuesday said the speculated takeover of Caltex by the company would likely run into regulatory hurdles due to the impact on competition of combining 540 Woolworths sites with more than 1900 Caltex sites.
ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg Law today announced the availability of a new landing page that surfaces the most important news of the day from its legal, tax, and environment news channels. Bloomberg Law subscribers now have access to the top stories from across the company's newsroom of more than 200 journalists, which includes correspondents based in key markets around the country and across the globe, along with links to top stories in key news channels.

"Bloomberg Law subscribers now have a gateway to the full breadth and depth of the news we produce each day," said Cesca Antonelli, Editor-in-Chief, Bloomberg Industry Group. "From issues such as the latest Supreme Court cases and the gig economy to opioids and digital sales tax and the wide-ranging impacts of California's expansive privacy laws, we've got our finger on the pulse of what's happening today  and what to expect around the corner."

The product landing page features Bloomberg Law's insights, which are written by expert practitioners from the nation's leading law firms and top corporations on topical issues shaping the practice of law. It also showcases the news organization's videos and podcasts.

Subscribers and non-subscribers can access the new landing page and explore the wide range of news available on Bloomberg Law at https://news.bloomberglaw.com/.

About Bloomberg Law

Bloomberg Law helps legal professionals provide world-class counsel with access to actionable legal intelligence in a business context. Bloomberg Law delivers a unique combination of practical guidance, comprehensive primary and secondary source material, trusted content from Bloomberg BNA, news, time-saving practice tools, market data and business intelligence. For more information, visit https://pro.bloomberglaw.com/.

SOURCE Bloomberg Law

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STONY BROOK, N.Y., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Qunnect, LLC, a Quantum Communications Device company, announces the closing of $800,000 in Seed Financing. The round was oversubscribed. Investors include Quantonation, the Accelerate NY Seed Fund, and private individual investors.

Qunnect is developing a suite of devices to enable long-distance quantum-secured communications. All products are engineered to operate at room temperature, a critical design consideration for real-world deployment. The company's first product, a quantum memory device, can store, coherently manipulate, temporally synchronize, and retrieve quantum-states on-demand. The memory device will be used both as a stand-alone product and as an integral component in the company's future products.

"We are very grateful to our investors for supporting our vision," said Qunnect CEO, Mehdi Namazi. "Qunnect is committed to building field-stable devices that enable long-distance quantum-secure communication."

Christophe Jurczak, Managing Director of Quantonation states, "The team at Qunnect has a very strong technical and business vision that is a key factor of success for Deep Tech startups. We see countries and corporations ramping up their efforts worldwide to speed up the development of quantum-secure communications, Qunnect's technology will be a key building block for this quantum future."

Peter Donnelly, Managing Director of Accelerate NY Seed Fund adds, "Qunnect's quantum memories are an important step towards demonstrating quantum-secure communications in the field. We are pleased to support the commercialization of this groundbreaking innovation from Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Labs."

About Qunnect LLC

Qunnect was founded in 2017 to commercialize the technologies of the Quantum Information Technology Lab Directed by Eden Figueroa at Stony Brook University. The company's R&D facility is located in the Center for Excellence in Wireless Information Technology, in Stony Brook, NY. Through collaborations with the Brookhaven National Labs and ESnet, Qunnect's products will be field-tested on fiber networks connecting Brookhaven to NYC.

About Quantonation

Quantonation is the first early stage VC fund dedicated to Quantum Technologies and Deep Physics. Thanks to its scientific expertise, Quantonation aims at supporting the transition of these technologies into commercially available products for the industry. Quantonation was established in 2018 and has invested across Europe and Canada.

About Accelerate New York Seed Fund

The Accelerate NY Seed fund is an early-stage technology commercialization fund in partnership with Empire State Development. The portfolio contains 22 companies spanning deep tech, cleantech, and biotech located in the NYC, Long Island, and Hudson Valley regions of NY state.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Qunnect

Related Links

http://www.quconn.com


Transport officials have been asked to look at various options for a bridge linking Scotland to Northern Ireland, it has been confirmed in the Lords.

Transport minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton said there was even talk of a potential tunnel, now tunnelling costs had come down.

But she cautioned peers at question time not to hold their breath about any quick outcome to the investigations.

Boris Johnson raised the possibility of building a bridge last month, saying it was a very interesting idea.

If the Government can't keep Hammersmith Bridge open how on earth are they going to manage to do that?Lord Foulkes

Engineering experts poured cold water on the proposal, warning it was potentially fraught with problems and costs could spiral.

Initial estimates put the cost of such a project at around 15 billion although the Institution of Civil Engineers suggested on Monday a tunnel under the Irish Sea would be a more practical solution.

The issue was raised at Lords question time by Labour former minister Lord Foulkes of Cumnock as peers pressed the minister over repairs to Londons Hammersmith Bridge.

Lord Foulkes said: During the general election Boris Johnson pledged to consider building a bridge from Northern Ireland to Scotland even though there are hundreds of tons of explosives in Beauforts Dyke, which were put there supposedly because its a safe place to put them.

If the Government cant keep Hammersmith Bridge open how on earth are they going to manage to do that? he demanded, to laughter.

Expand Close A ferry en route from Northern Ireland to Scotland (Liam McBurney/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp A ferry en route from Northern Ireland to Scotland (Liam McBurney/PA)

Is this going to go ahead?

Lady Vere replied: Youre quite right.

We have asked officials to look at various options for bridges which would strengthen our union.

I understand there is some talk of a potential tunnel, now that tunnelling costs are much cheaper than they used to be.

I will say watch this space but perhaps dont hold your breath.
Trump Reiterates Threat to Strike Iran's Cultural Sites Amid Backlash

Sputnik News

08:59 06.01.2020(updated 09:00 06.01.2020)

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  US President Donald Trump doubled down on his threats to strike Iran's cultural sites if Tehran attacks the United States, as critics of the plan note that such strikes could amount to war crimes.

"They're allowed to kill our people, they're allowed to torture and maim our people, they're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people, and we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way," Trump said, according to a pool report, quoted by the CNN.

On Saturday, Trump said that the United States had identified 52 targets, including those important for the Iranian culture, that would be struck if Iran attacks US individuals or assets.

The statement prompted criticism since targeting cultural sites is a war crime according to the 1954 Hague Convention for the protection of cultural sites. The UN Security Council also passed a resolution in 2017 that called the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage sites a war crime. The United States has supported the document.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday that Trump's threats were an admission that the US was ready to commit war crimes.

The US military bases in Iraq have faced multiple attacks over the past two months. In late December, the United States killed dozens of members of the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia group in response to a deadly on a US military base in Kirkuk. The developments triggered Shiite protests and a siege of the US embassy in Baghdad.

On Friday, the United States carried out an airstrike near the Baghdad airport, killing Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the elite Quds Force of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi Muhandis.

The United States said the strike was required to avert an imminent attack on Washington. However, no proof of the alleged plot was provided.

Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said the White House "may discuss" releasing the intelligence on Soleimani's alleged plan to attack the United States, according to CNBC.

A Sputnik

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The United States has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on $2.4bn worth of French products over tax.

France and the United States have given themselves two weeks to try to resolve a row over a French digital tax, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday, emphasising that Paris has the European Unions backing on the issue.

Washington has threatened to impose duties of up to 100 percent on imports of champagne, handbags and other French products worth $2.4bn after a US government investigation found the French tax would harm US technology companies.

I had a long talk with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. We have decided to step up efforts to try and find a compromise, within the OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development], on digital tax, Le Maire told reporters after a meeting in Paris with EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan.

We gave each other precisely 15 days, until our next meeting, which is planned on the sidelines of Davos at the end of January, the minister said, referring to the World Economic Forum that is held annually in the Swiss ski resort.

France decided in July to apply a three percent levy on revenue from digital services earned in France by firms with revenues of more than 25 million euros ($28m) in France and 750 million euros ($836m) worldwide.

This is a more general issue between the United States and Europe, Le Maire said, stressing that other EU nations were planning their own national digital taxes. He said any international agreement on digital taxation would immediately supersede the French tax.

Do we want a deal on the digital tax within the OECD or are we bracing ourselves for a confrontational mode which wont be a conflict between France and the United States but a trade conflict between the European Union, a lot of European states, and the United States?

Le Maire said he hoped there would be no US sanctions during the two-week window convened with Mnuchin, adding that any decision by Washington to take action would in effect bring an end to the discussions.

On his first official visit to Paris as the new EU Trade Commissioner, Phil Hogan said the European Commission will stand by France in its digital tax dispute with Washington.

He also said he had discussed trade with China and reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) with Le Maire, and that he plans to meet his US counterpart in Washington to try to find common ground on these topics.

We want to see a reform of the WTO and we share the US analysis on this, Hogan said.

Last month, Washington reaffirmed its commitment to the WTO but called for long-standing concerns with the trade bodys appellate court to be addressed.

A WTO reform is one of Frances top priorities. Because its better to solve trade issues within a multilateral body than in a bilateral way, Le Maire said.

France is ready to support all efforts allowing a jump start of WTO reform negotiations and the solving of the problems affecting its dispute settlement body.
By Nancy Griffeth and Valerie Griffeth

The two leading causes of death in New Jersey are heart disease and cancer, conditions made worse by heat stress and air pollution. Both diseases stem in part from particulate matter and ozone. Asthma, one of the leading causes of hospitalization in New Jersey, also is exacerbated by climate change.

These facts alone tell us we ignore climate change at our own risk, and that continuing to rely on fossil fuels for New Jerseys energy needs is unsustainable.

The state Board of Public Utilities recently developed an Energy Master Plan to point the way to a clean energy future. The Plan included comprehensive modeling by the Rocky Mountain Institute to develop and analyze New Jerseys energy economy and find a least-cost pathway to New Jerseys goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% and using 100% clean energy by 2050. The analysis shows that a clean energy electric grid will provide reliable service and that having zero emissions is achievable.

As a result, we now know that the cost of converting to renewables is less than that of staying on our present course and paying the health costs that result from reliance on fossil fuels.

Even ignoring health and social costs, the cost of clean energy will continue to decline as a percentage of all spending.

As climate change brings warmer temperatures and heavier rains to New Jersey, the impact of New Jerseys major health problems will get worse.

Very hot days increase stress on the heart and lungs for older people and for those with existing heart or lung conditions, increasing cardiovascular and respiratory disease. From 1995 to 2010, thousands of deaths were attributable to heat waves in the U.S. and Europe. As the climate warms, this trend is likely to continue.

Because climate change expands the range of many insects, there will be more insect-transmitted diseases. Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya and dengue fever all are carried by mosquitos already found in New Jersey.

Methane emissions, such as those from fossil gas, and rising temperatures increase ground-level ozone, which is responsible for a variety of health problems. Ozone can worsen pre-existing conditions like bronchitis, emphysema and asthma. It can reduce lung function and inflame the linings of the lungs. Repeated exposure can permanently scar lung tissue.

Shorter winters will give plants more opportunity to produce pollen, aggravating asthmatics and others who suffer from various seasonal allergies.

Water-borne diseases will increase with climate change, as flooding contaminates water. New Jersey already sees regular nuisance flooding, but the impacts will worsen because of the growing health implications. Mosquito-borne diseases will increase because puddles that arent washed away allow mosquitos to breed. Large hatches of salt marsh mosquitos have already been observed in New Jersey, and increased loads of bacteria on beaches are seen now during heavy precipitation.

Compounding the problems, heavy rains and precipitation can cause obstacles to traveling, which will limit the ability to get to a hospital. Power failures due to extreme events may result in death for people who lack medically necessary equipment at home. If evacuations are necessary, displaced persons often suffer mental health problems, poor nutrition, compromised hygiene and infectious diseases. Superstorm Sandy required evacuation of two hospitals and 11 long term care facilities in New Jersey. And, 39 hospitals and 74 assisted-living facilities lost power, and over 7,000 people ended up in shelters. New Jersey suffered 35 fatalities, including seven that were work-related. We can expect more of this if we do nothing to move toward clean, renewable energy.

Climate change worsens the impact of particulate matter that forms in the atmosphere due to chemical reactions among various pollutants. Fossil fuel emissions are a major source of these unsafe particles. Particulate matter increases respiratory problems and there is recent evidence that it may induce mental issues.

Health professionals already know that continuing to rely on fossil fuels, considering what we know about the impact of climate change, would be an expensive policy  both in dollars and lives. Anyone in a flood-prone area, in an outdoor job, with damaged lungs or heart disease  as well as the very young and very old -- will need more medical care from heat stress alone.

Its crucial that policymakers make use of this knowledge and keep these implications uppermost in mind as they use the Energy Master Plan to guide us to the safest path to a healthy future for all New Jerseyans.

Nancy Griffeth is a member of the Environmental Justice Task Force of UU FaithAction NJ, Professor Emerita at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and former Bell Labs researcher. Valerie Griffeth is a Clinical Associate, Department of Emergency Medicine, at the Oregon Science and Health University Medical School, and formerly of Westfield.

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Construction workers building a school in Somerset have unearthed some of the earliest Roman burials ever found in Britain.

A total of around 50 burial sites were discovered at the site in Somerton, Somerset and are thought to date back as far as 43AD, to the very dawn of the Roman period.

Each grave contained a single bod, with both adults and children buried at the site.

The new school will replace King Ina Junior and Infants' and the archaeological haul has been described as 'significant' by archaeologists.

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A total of 50 burial sites were discovered at the site in Somerton, Somerset and are thought to date back as far as 43AD in the early Roman period (pictured)

An exact date of the skeletons is unknown as they studies are still ongoing but early estimates date the remains as potentially as old as 43AD - the date of the Roman invasion of Britain

The burials included both adults and children with a smattering of valuables in the graves,including pottery and brooches.

The form of the burials was unusual and sheds lights on the transition between Iron Age and Roman society.

An exact date of the skeletons is unknown as they studies are still ongoing but early estimates date the remains as potentially as old as 43AD - the date of the Roman invasion of Britain.

The South West Heritage Trust has overseen the excavations and archaeologist Steve Membery said: 'This site is a significant discovery - the most comprehensive modern excavation of a Roman cemetery in Somerset.

'The application of technology including aerial drones and techniques such as isotope and ancient DNA analysis offers major opportunities for insights into the lives of the Roman population of Somerton.

'The individuals were evidently of some status in native society.

'The burials also show early adoption of Roman burial practices such as offerings alongside traditionally Iron Age characteristics.'

The graves were dug into the bedrock and lined with stone curbs to create a coffin-like structure and sealed with flat slabs.

The burials included both adults and children with a smattering of valuables in the graves,including pottery and brooches

The excavations also unveiled other Roman relics besides the bodies, including traces of Iron Age round houses, field systems and a Roman building (pictured)

Somerset County Councillor Faye Purbrick, Cabinet Member for Education and Transformation, said: 'The findings are both exciting and extraordinary providing us with valuable insight into Somerset's early history'

The excavations also unveiled other Roman relics besides the bodies, including traces of Iron Age round houses, field systems and a Roman building.

Work on the new 420-pupil school had to be delayed while experts from Wessex Archaeology dug the site - and unearthed the discoveries.

Work on the school is set to resume following a short archaeological hiatus this month.

Somerset County Councillor Faye Purbrick, Cabinet Member for Education and Transformation, said: 'The findings are both exciting and extraordinary providing us with valuable insight into Somerset's early history.

'We will be able to understand so much more about the lives of Roman people in Somerton thanks to these discoveries.

The site archaeology has been carefully gathered for further scientific analysis and full findings on both the skeletons and the artefacts in the graves will be published in due course, the archaeologists say

Work on the new 420-pupil school had to be delayed while experts from Wessex Archaeology dug the site - and unearthed the discoveries

'Our team have a great track record of delivering fantastic new schools and while we'd always prefer any delay to be avoided I think that the students, parents and teachers will understand in this instance, given the scale and importance of the archaeological finds here.

'The children have already had an opportunity to visit the site hopefully inspiring some future archaeologists and I'm sure they will be excited to continue to learn more about this very special site.'

The site archaeology has been carefully gathered for further scientific analysis.

A full report of the findings will be published in due course, according to the people who dug up the site.

The graves were dug into the bedrock and lined with stone curbs to create a coffin-like structure and sealed with flat slabs and many contained other items, including pottery (pictured)
(CNN)  In the dog days of 2017, when it appeared North Korea and the United States were on the path to war, a debate raged in the halls of the White House.

If the US military conducted a limited series of strikes on North Korea, would it scare Kim Jong Un enough to stop the young leader's dogged pursuit for nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles?

North Korea's answer, at least in state media, was a resounding no. Pyongyang warned it would respond to any military action against its sovereign territory with force of its own.

"The empire of America would go to the hell and the short history of the US would end forever, the moment he destroys even a single blade of grass on this land," a commentary in state media said in February 2018, months before Trump and Kim's first meeting.

We'll never know whether North Korea was serious.

In the end, President Donald Trump never ordered a strike, thanks in large part to the diplomatic efforts that led to Kim and Trump's historic meeting in Singapore in 2018.

But behind North Korea's colorful threats was always an important message: Pyongyang is developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles capable of reaching the US, so decision makers in Washington will think twice about whether to conduct a so-called "bloody nose" strike or, say, kill a general whom is deemed a terrorist and an imminent threat.

This is likely the lens through which North Korea views the Trump administration's decision to kill Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike on Friday, a strike that has thrown the Middle East into crisis and inflamed tensions between Tehran and Washington even further. Washington didn't have to fear nuclear retaliation with Iran. But it does with North Korea.

"North Korea is right next to Iran on the state sponsor of terror list. And the administration is now justifying the assassination of Soleimani by calling him a terrorist," said Adam Mount, a senior fellow at the Federation for American Scientists.

Soleimani's killing, Mount said, would likely strengthen North Korea's resolve to expand its nuclear deterrent.

"In case something happens to their leadership, they can credibly threaten to impose costs," he said.

From 'Axis of Evil' to 'Fire and Fury'

When President George W. Bush entered the halls of Congress to deliver his first State of the Union speech after the 9/11 attacks, few -- if any -- on the Korean Peninsula knew that the Kim Jong Il regime was about to be included among the infamous "Axis of Evil" trio.

The ensuing decision to include North Korea along with Iran and Iraq, and the subsequent invasion and overthrowing of Saddam Hussein, likely helped convince Kim's regime that it needed nuclear weapons to ensure its survival.

Pyongyang has pointed to leaders like Hussein and Moammar Gadhafi of Libya as telling examples of why it needs nuclear weapons, and why it is so hesitant to give them up in negotiations. Gadhafi agreed to abandon his nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief in the early 2000s. Within years, he was overthrown and killed by rebels backed by Washington.

"North Korea already believed the US couldn't be trusted. It already believed its nuclear weapons were the only thing that made its fate different than Iraq or Libya," Van Jackson, a former official in the Defense Department under the Obama administration, told CNN.

Trump has hoped that a top-down approach to nuclear negotiations could help him succeed where his predecessors had failed. But the diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang that have followed the three summits between Trump and Kim have not made any progress in part due to the issue of trust -- or lack thereof.

Both sides have accused the other of being inflexible in their attempts to reach a deal that would see Pyongyang trade its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles in exchange for relief from the economic sanctions that have crippled the North Korean economy.

Kim was quoted as saying his country "will never" give up its nuclear weapons if the US "persists in its hostile policy" in an important speech published New Year's Day.

"The US 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," Kim was quoted as saying in a speech.

The issue boils down to a catch-22 that has eluded diplomats for years.

North Korea will likely get rid of its nuclear weapons program if it has a trusting and stable relationship with the United States. And the US will likely only develop a normal relationship with North Korea, remove sanctions, and help Pyongyang grow its economy if it abandons its nuclear weapons program.

But the decision to kill Soleimani has added another wrinkle. It proves Trump's threats are not always bluster, which could give North Korea reason for pause if it was considering doing something provocative, like testing a long-range ballistic missile or nuclear weapon.

It could also be more dangerous. If Kim believes Trump would order a drone strike on North Korea, "then he may feel greater pressure to keep his nukes on a hair trigger," Jackson said.

"There are a lot of questions about North Korean nukes that we don't have answers to, and until we do, it's crucial that we don't make foreign policy decisions that introduce greater risks of nuclear instability."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "A lesson for Kim Jong Un in the death of Qasem Soleimani"
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: An FIR has been lodged against Aishe Ghosh, two other office bearers of JNUSU among others for manhandling the guard of the university, police said.

The FIR was lodged on Sunday in connection with the incident that occurred on Saturday wherein the security guards were trying to clear the Communication and Information Services Centre that had been occupied by the students to hamper registration for the winter examinations.

On Monday, during a presser, two women students Apeksha and Tripta narrated their account of the incident that left them badly injured. Apeksha is one of the 20 named by police in the FIR.

PHOTO STORY: Bruised faces, vandalised campus: Here's how JNU looks in the aftermath of violence

Former JNUSU office bearers Sarika Chaudhary and Geeta have also been charged.

The accused indulged in violence, pushed lady guard, verbally abused them and threatened them of dire consequences if they opened the lock of the CIS office, the FIR said.

According to it, a few CIS staff members managed to enter the building and restore the information system that had been shut down by the agitating students. The administration has alleged that a large number of agitating students entered CIS and forced the guards out of it, preventing them from doing their duty.

ALSO READ: Day after attacks, JNU becomes rallying cry for pan-India student protests; no arrests yet

On Saturday, the JNUSU issued a statement, condemning "the strongest possible terms the actions of the JNU administration which is using the security as it's private lumpen army".

According to them, near the CIS, "security guards in the number of 30-40 mobilized, switched off the lights and like the police did at Jor Bagh, attacked students".

"They were shamefully wearing masks," it had said.

On Sunday, masked men and women entered the campus with rods, sticks and stones and beat up students and teachers.

The injured include Ghosh and JNU Professor Sucharita Sen.

While the left unity alleged that ABVP was involved in the attack, the RSS' left organisation said that the attack was from the other side.

Meanwhile, the police are investigating the Sunday violence and have constituted a fact finding committee to come up with details on the sequence of events.

On Tuesday, the road in front of JNU campus was blocked with barricades in place.
The London Ambulance Services two emergency operations centres (EOCs) were downgraded from Good to Requires Improvement by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) last week. EOCs handle 999 and 111 medical calls.

According to the inspectors findings, workers are concerned about staffing levels, struggle to access clinical advice and cannot always send out enough paramedics.

National Health Service (Source: Wikipedia Commons)

Between May 2018 and May 2019, there were 43 treatment delays classed as serious incidents. In March 2019, just 70 percent of shifts in the EOCs were filled. The weekend before the CQC inspection, workers reported that at one time more than 50 people were in the queue waiting for their calls to be answered.

The inspectors warned that workers receiving 999 emergency calls were not able to respond to incoming calls as quickly as they would like and that the staffing numbers and rota system in use did not enable calls to be responded to as quickly as expected and to a consistent level.

The centre handling less-serious 111 calls remained short of substantive staff on a regular basis, leading to ambulances being dispatched unnecessarily in some cases and short of medical staff in others.

EOC workers were concerned regarding their ability to cope with normal activity and especially worried about the ability of the Ambulance Service to cope with any major unplanned event.

These findings confirm that the health care structures serving nearly 10 million people in the capital city of one of the richest countries in the world are not fit for purpose and in danger of collapse.

Last December, the Labour Party examined the reports of UK hospital boards and found multiple significant risks at London National Health Service (NHS) trusts.

The Barts Health Trust, which manages the Royal London and St Bartholomews hospitals in east London, reported one catastrophic and six extreme risks, including funding gaps preventing fire safety improvement work. It also raised recruitment concerns and the consequent reliance on agency staff.

North Middlesex University Hospital Trust reported 14 extreme risks, including the regular breakdown of gamma cameras and a threat to its dermatology services created by the liquidation of private provider Concordia Specialist Care Services.

Imperial College Trust, which runs the Charing Cross, Queen Charlottes and Chelsea, Hammersmith, St Marys and Western Eye hospitals, reported a catastrophic risk of critical equipment and facility failure due to long-term underfunding and an extreme risk to Accident and Emergency (A&E) performance.

A Guardian investigation revealed messages between child intensive care doctors on December 17 saying, There are no PICU beds in London and three ventilated patients awaiting a bed across London, and on December 20 showing that there were no beds available at either St Georges or Kings College hospitals in south London or in the NHSs entire North Thames region, covering east, central and north London and Cambridge. One consultant told the newspaper, At one point over a weekend in December there were 11 intubated newborns or babies awaiting PICU beds, with none available anywhere. One of our patients went to Cambridge and another two were transferred out of London too. [This is] dangerous and rotten for the families.

Another set of CQC reports stated that Imperial College Healthcare did not always have enough staff with the right qualifications, skills, training and experience to keep people safe from avoidable harm and abuse and to provide the right care and treatment.

The Princess Royal University Hospital, managed by the capitals Kings College Hospital Trust, was noted for its overcrowding problems, with patients kept on trolleys in corridors and sometimes two patients being treated in single-person cubicles. The hospital also suffers significant handover delays for patients arriving by ambulance.

The Kings College Hospital Trust is a case study in the impossible pressures placed on the NHS by over a decade of funding cuts, privatisation, so-called efficiency savings and consequent understaffing. In May of last year, the trust was expected to run a deficit for 2018-2019 of 182 million, the largest in NHS England.

The Trust is suffering from the disastrous consequences of a Private Finance Initiative, has been fined for missing four-hour A&E targets and is being forced to make extensive use of agency staff to cover a chronic lack of nurses. Kings hospital has a vacancy rate of 19.4 percent for nursing posts in cancer care, 15.4 percent in childrens care and 12 percent in operating theatres. At the Princess Royal hospital manged by the Kings Trust, 26.3 percent of nursing posts in acute and emergency care and 12.4 percent in the childrens care unit are vacant.

Sara Gorton, head of health at the Unison trade union, explained, Such huge and sustained pressures on budgets are having a real impact on staff and patients at the hospital. Massive gaps in staffing mean sky-high agency bills, making it harder than ever for the trust to get back on an even keel, while demand on services is continually growing.

Even after emergency funds of roughly 374 million were made available to NHS trusts in the capital through the Provider Sustainability Fund (with heavy efficiency caveats attached), the situation in London was bleak. Data from NHS Improvement taken in October found that 20 out of Londons 36 NHS trusts would run deficits and a further 12 would only just cover their costs.

The London North West University Healthcare Trust, Royal Free London Trust (looking after more than 1.6 million patients a year), Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Trust (looking after nearly half a million people), Imperial College Trust, South London and Maudsley Trust, North Middlesex University Hospital Trust, Croydon Health Services Trust and Royal Brompton and Harefield Trust (the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK) all had deficits of between 1 million and 5 million.

The Lewisham and Greenwich Trust, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust and Hillingdon Hospitals Trust had deficits of between 6 million and 15 million.

Barts Health Trust (the largest in the country) had a deficit of 27.9 million, and St Georges University Hospitals Trust had one of 33.3 million. Kings College Hospital Trust was still expected to see an annual shortfall of over 55 million.

Overall, the capitals NHS trusts are expected to post a combined deficit of over 150 million.

The same pressures are also impacting Londons General Practice (GP) services. Hammersmith and Fulham Clinical Commissioning Group has a deficit of 37 million, exacerbated by the costs of hosting the GP at Hand mobile diagnosis service run by private health company Babylon. The trust plan cuts will affect overnight urgent care centres, out-of-hours GP services, diagnostics, cardiology, gynaecology, ophthalmology, radiology, dermatology, mental health and wellbeing, arts-based dementia services, stroke survivor support services, and rehabilitation facilities.

The North West London Collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups, responsible for more than 2 million people, has an expected overspend for 2019-2020 of 112 million and is planning severe restrictions on hospital referrals to cut 60 million in spending. This includes significantly reducing consultant-to-consultant referrals, follow-ups and outpatient procedures, reducing money spent on over-the counter medicines, reducing the use of intravenous feeds and cutting out-of-area referrals by 15 percentsaving money on the 30 percent tariff incurred by this process.

Dr. Gary Marlowe, the British Medical Association London regional council chair, warned, By restricting referralsbe that from GP to hospital, or between consultantspatients are prevented from receiving the best treatment for their individual condition.
DUBLIN, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Conversational AI Platform Market Outlook and Projections, 2019-2027 - Report and Datasheet" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The rising advancements and implementation of artificial intelligence in assisting systems powered by automated solutions help the users in restaurant reservations, ordering food and other similar services.



The customer support service industry is gaining momentum especially with the implementation of Artificial Intelligence technology, which has further assisted in enhancing the customer experience. This, in turn, has encouraged the businesses to adopt AI-powered customer support services, leading to the growth of the market.



Various factors that are estimated to boost the growth of conventional AI market in upcoming years include 24/7 availability of customer support with better customer assistance and availability of services, and AI-powered support solutions that are providing businesses the ability to provide reliable customer support.



About 85% of all customer support communications and related services will be conducted without engaging with customer service representatives for the major task options. Further, nearly, 42% of B2C customers have shown more interest in purchasing the utilities from the outlet after experiencing good customer services. Similarly, about 52% of customers stopped purchasing due to a single disappointing customer support interaction. Collectively, these factors are projected to boost the market growth in the forthcoming years.



Growing adoption of chatbots & Intelligent Virtual Agent (IVA) is projected to fuel the market growth over the coming years. Chatbots help customers to get an instant response to their problems and get them solved quickly. Additionally, the rising adoption of automated services is anticipated to propel the market growth.



Key Topics Covered



1. Introduction

1.1. Market Definition

1.2. Market Segmentation

1.3. Product Overview



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary - Conversational AI Platform Market



4. Market Dynamics

4.1. Drivers

4.2. Challenges

4.3. Opportunities



5. Conversational AI Platform Market Outlook



6. Competitive Landscape

6.1. Company Profiles

6.1.1. Microsoft

6.1.2. LiveChat Inc.

6.1.3. CM

6.1.4. Alphabet Inc.

6.1.5. Artificial Solutions



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/b3j7eg

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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(Sharecast News) - Luxury car maker Aston Martin Lagonda warned on full-year profits on Tuesday amid challenging trading conditions.

In an update for FY19, the company said that the challenging conditions highlighted in November continued through the peak delivery period of December, resulting in lower sales, higher selling costs and lower margins.



As a result, Aston Martin now expects adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of between 130m and 140m for the year, down from 247m in 2018. Analysts had been expecting adjusted EBITDA of about 196m.



It also pointed to higher-than-expected retail and customer financing supports and weaker core model mix weighing on the average selling price, with a shift towards the Vantage.



The group said core wholesales declined 7% year-on-year to 5,809, with Europe underperforming while the Americas, UK and Asia Pacific performed broadly in line with its volume expectations.



The year-end cash balance was 107m, giving expected net debt and leverage ranges of 875m to 885m and 6.2-6.8x, respectively.



The company said it remains in discussions with potential strategic investors which may or may not involve an equity investment.



President and chief executive officer Andy Palmer said: "From a trading perspective, 2019 has been a very disappointing year. Whilst retails have grown by 12%, our best result since 2007, our underlying performance will fail to deliver the profits we planned, despite a reduction in dealer stock levels.



"We are taking a series of actions to manage the business through this difficult period. This will include a cost saving programme alongside a focus on returning dealer stock levels to those more normally associated with a luxury company; winning back our strong price positioning is a key focus."



At 0845 GMT, the shares were down 14% at 450p.



Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, said the numbers are "pretty horrid" and the net debt figure is "a major concern".



"The only good news is the DBX order book has risen to 1,800 which means Aston can unlock an additional $100m in 2022 notes. This is a drop in the ocean though and for sure Aston needs to raise cash in some way. The bond market looks unpalatable but even an equity raise could prove tricky. The rationale to go private is impossible to resist - the brand still has the cache to make it appealing. Stroll on."



Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: "It is remarkable that a company with such a strong brand can consistently issue bad news. Aston Martin has been one of the biggest flops on the stock market in living memory and today's trading update does nothing to improve its tarnished reputation.



"Lower sales, higher costs and lower margins aren't the whole story. You also have to consider the fact that it is now about to draw an additional $100m of very expensive debt. While strong orders for its DBX vehicle have allowed it to access this additional financing, the sheer cost of this debt (15% interest rate) is not really a good reason for celebration.



"The big question is why wealthy people aren't buying its luxury cars. Working for this company should be a marketeer's dream but the team responsible for attracting customers clearly haven't got the formula right.







"There is plenty of competition for luxury cars and it seems that Aston Martin is being left behind. For example, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has just announced its highest annual sales in its 116-year history. Perhaps it is time to get someone new in the driving seat of Aston Martin?"
There was an unspecified incident involving the Secret Service at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, but authorities would not say Tuesday what happened the latest in a series of incidents at the club since the president took office three years ago.

Palm Beach police records show officers were called to Mar-a-Lago on Monday night to assist the Secret Service but most of the report is redacted, including the name of the individual who was contacted.

Police spokesman Michael Ogrodnick said the Secret Service is the lead investigative agency in the matter and his department has no comment.

The Secret Service asked that a request for comment be submitted by email. It did not immediately respond to the email.

The president and his family were not at Mar-a-Lago on Monday. They had left the club Sunday for Washington, DC, after spending the previous two weeks at the resort.

Security at the club and other Trump properties has been heightened since last week when the US military killed a top Iranian general in a surprise attack in Iraq.

On Sunday night, an hour before Trump departed from Palm Beach International Airport, a Florida man who had been dishonorably discharged from the Marines for sex offenses was arrested after authorities said he got past two checkpoints by falsely identifying himself as part of the president's helicopter crew.

Mar-a-Lago has had its own security breaches, with at least three trespassing events over the past 14 months, two of them involving Chinese nationals.

Last month, Jing Lu, 56, was confronted by the private club's security officers and told to leave, but she returned to take photos, police said. She then fled. Palm Beach officers were called and arrested her about a mile (1.6 kilometers) away in downtown Palm Beach's tony shopping district. Lu was charged with loitering and prowling. Her case is pending. Neither the president nor his family was at the club.

In March, Yujing Zhang, a 33-year-old Shanghai businesswoman , gained access to Mar-a-Lago by telling Secret Service agents she was there to swim. Club staff then confused her for a member's daughter and admitted her before she was stopped in the lobby by a suspicious clerk who alerted other agents. Zhang was carrying a laptop, phones and other electronic gear, which led to initial speculation that she might be a spy, but she was never charged with espionage and text messages she exchanged with a trip organizer indicated she was a fan of the president and wanted to meet him or his family to discuss possible deals.

Zhang was found guilty in September of trespassing and lying to Secret Service agents. She was sentenced in November to time served and ordered deported.

In another Mar-a-Lago trespassing case, a University of Wisconsin student was arrested in November 2018 after he mixed in with guests being admitted to the club. He pleaded guilty in May to a misdemeanor and received probation.

In the incidents involving Zhang and the Wisconsin student, Trump and his family were staying at the resort, but none were ever threatened.

Mar-a-Lago is more vulnerable to unlawful intrusion than previous presidential retreats because it is a working business that admits members and their guests daily on to the grounds, even when the president is present.

With the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Florida's Intracoastal Waterway to the west, Mar-a-Lago sits on the Palm Beach barrier island, a 128-room, 62,500-square-foot (5,8000-square-meter) symbol of opulence and power.

The Trump family business doubled the initiation fee to $200,000 after the president was elected in 2016. He spends many weekends between November and April there, mingling with the club's 500 members, who pay $14,000 in annual dues to belong. New members pay a $200,000 initiation fee.

Federal agencies spent about $3.4 million per Trump visit to the resort, much of it on security, according to an analysis of four 2017 trips by the US. Government Accountability Office.

The Secret Service doesn't decide who is invited or welcome at the resort; that responsibility belongs to the club. Agents do screen guests outside the perimeter before they're screened again inside.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
January 07, 2020

At the beginning of 2020s, more and more users start to think about how to protect their personal data. Technology companies come up with various solutions. We may say that technologies for protecting personal data on the Internet are widespread. A VPN is a popular solution to protect your privacy.







VPNs help to hide your IP address and encrypt all traffic. Connecting to a VPN helps unblock content that is not available in your country. Currently, it is easy to buy a VPN, as many companies offer such services.

Many users are wondering how to choose the best VPN service. To make a comparison and choose the best service, you need to know the selection criteria.

In the article, I will list the most important selection criteria. Some of them may seem unimportant to you; it all depends on purposes you want to use the VPN for.

Why do people use VPN services?

Some people want to change the IP address to unlock inaccessible content in their country. For example, in China, there is strong censorship of the Internet. The government firewall blocks access to sites such as Facebook (News - Alert), Twitter, YouTube for all residents of China.

Some people want to be anonymous on the Internet. These days Internet service providers record all users actions. People need to use a VPN to hide what sites they visit or send emails anonymously.

Some users want to protect their personal data from interception and hacker attacks. It is especially true when using public Wi-Fi networks in hotels and restaurants.

Selection criteria

VPNs provide complete almost security and anonymity on the Internet. You just need to choose the best VPN service. Let's take a closer look at the selection criteria.

Types of connections  VPN protocols

PPTP is supported by most operating systems. It is not considered the safest protocol.

SSTP was developed by Microsoft (News - Alert). This protocol offers decent security. It uses 443 port, and that is why it is hard to block SSTP.

OpenVPN is a popular open-source protocol. It is widely used and famous for its reliability.

L2TP over IPSec is a reliable and fast protocol. It is easy to configure such connections.

The best VPN service should provide its customers an opportunity to use as many protocols as possible so that they could prioritize security over speed or vice versa, depending on their needs.

No-logging policy

Most servers around the world run on the Linux operating system. Unlike Windows, Linux operating system allows to completely disable logging. Anonymity disappears when a VPN server keeps logs.

You need to carefully study the website of the company offering VPN services. The company may claim that the logs are not kept, but the service agreement, which you see when registering or buying a VPN, will say that the logs are kept.

Does a VPN try to hide its presence?

For ease of configuration, some VPN services resort to redirecting a connection from a domain to an IP address. In this case, the server address looks like a domain, for example: canadavpn.vpn-website.com.

This is convenient for company system administrators, since when you often change the IP address of the VPN server, the connection still works for all users.

All Internet service providers record user activities on the Internet. If they see that you are connecting to the canadavpn.vpn-website.com domain, this connection directly indicates that you are using a VPN. The connection address to the VPN server should look like an IP address: 17.43.298.132. If you are using an OpenVPN connection, you must also check if the certificate indicates the service domain in it.

Support all operating systems

Before buying a VPN, you should make sure that your computer platform is supported by the VPN service.

Types of issued IP addresses

There are two types of IP addresses issued by VPN services:

Shared IP  is a situation when VPN provides one common IP address for several clients. As a rule, this IP address is permanent and does not change when reconnecting to the VPN server.

Dedicated IP is a situation when each client is given its own unique IP address, which can change when reconnecting.

Is there free test access?

Good services offer free trial access to test the speed and other features. Such access will allow you to configure a VPN connection and understand how it works.

Specialized app

If the company has its own program for VPN connections, it will be easier to quickly configure the connection. As a rule, such programs are necessary when using an OpenVPN connection, since setting up this connection for a beginner may seem a bit complicated.

Payment methods and price

It is better to check if there are convenient payment methods. Currently, most VPN services accept debit and credit cards, cryptocurrencies, PayPal (News - Alert), etc.

If you find the best VPN service for yourself, then the cost of services should not play a significant role. The price should be affordable to you. Reliable companies provide discounts if you pay for a one or two-year subscription plan and so you can save on this.

Technical support

There may happen unpleasant situations when connection errors occur. In this case, technical support of the service will come to the rescue. Make sure you know how to contact support. It is important to have as many contact methods as possible including email, phone, live chat, and a ticket system.
NEW YORK

Jan. 6, 2020

$16,000

Susanne Martin Herz

University of California, San Francisco

Northeastern University's

Danielle Levac

Malawi

Belize

Zimbabwe

Katherine Herman

Juliette Schmidli

Otis College of Art and Design

Malawi

Margaret Cristofalo

Seattle University

Zimbabwe

Long Island University's

Nia Mensah

Belize

/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Cerebral Palsy Alliance Foundation (CPARF) is proud to announce the award of nearlyin funding to its 2019 Small-Grant Cohort. The winning grants fund critical researcher training, equipment, and travel to several underserved nations to help treat people with cerebral palsy (CP) and assist their families.CPARF funds research that will change the lives of people with CP, a disability that affects 18 million people globally.Each member of the 2019 Small-Grant Cohort advances CPARF's mission in a tailored way. A training grant will support Dr.of, as she learns how to administer the General Movements Assessment to diagnose CP quickly and prescribe vital early intervention therapies. She will share her experience with pediatricians in low- and middle-income countries and guide US-based pediatricians, leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment.A small equipment grant will enableDr.to set up a mobile virtual reality (VR) lab to understand how children with CP learn new movement skills in VR, as well as how they can transfer these skills to real environments. The lab's mobility will help them reach more children than they ever have before.CPARF's travel grants will take researchers to, andandofwill teach caregivers into use Appropriate Paper-Based Technology  affordable, templated, corrugated cardboard chairs that support children with CP so that they can sit upright, strengthen weakened muscles, and increase eye contact and social interaction as they observe their surroundings from a new perspective.Dr.ofwill visit the Children's Rehabilitation Unit (CRU) into study how caregivers experience raising children with developmental disabilities. She will identify ways to improve long-term outcomes for children with CP and strengthen quality of life for their families. She will support interventions for these children, ensure that their caregivers give appropriate, effective care, and help support research at the CRU.Dr.will lead occupational and physical therapy students as they treat children with disabilities on a life-changing spring break trip to a country with nearly 400,000 people that currently has no occupational therapists and only one physical therapist.CPARF will announce its Large-Grant Cohort later this year.CPARF'S MISSION Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation won't stop until people with CP can live pain-free, until they can live the lives they envision for themselves, and until they can express what's on their mind and be understood even when they can't communicate verbally. We won't stop until we can prevent CP in the first place. We won't stop until we find a cure. As the only organization in the world solely focused on CP research, CPARF is poised to reshape the disability landscape. We're poised to make breakthroughs. We are poised to change lives.To learn more about CPARF's funded research projects, visit http://www.cparf.org or contact info@cparf.org.SOURCE Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation
[January 07, 2020] Jet Parts Engineering, a Vance Street Capital Portfolio Company, Acquires Aero Parts Mart Jet Parts Engineering LLC ("Jet Parts"), a leading designer of proprietary OEM-alternative parts and repair services for the commercial aerospace industry and a portfolio company of Vance Street Capital, announced the acquisition of Aero Parts Mart, Inc. ("APM (News - Alert)"). APM is the first strategic add-on acquisition for Jet Parts, which partnered with Vance Street in July 2018. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, APM designs and sells proprietary aftermarket replacement components, known as Parts Manufacturing Approval ("PMA") parts. Its portfolio consists of over 250 PMAs, primarily for the regional jet market. Over the last two decades, APM, known for its engineering aptitude and quality, has developed strong relationships with the largest regional jet operators in North America. Steve Bowen, President of APM said, "We are very excited to partner with the Jet Parts team. APM has built a reputation and brand synonymous with safety, quality, innovation and customer satisfaction. Finding an organization that shared those values was paramount in my decision to sell the business." "APM and Jet Parts have developed a deep portfolio of PMAs and their customers view them as critical value-added suppliers," said John LeRosen, a Partner at Vance Street. "In an industry that requires quality and safety, both businesses not only deliver high caliber products, but they also pride themselves on providing high touch customer service and cost-savings." The merger will result in a catalogue of more than 1,300 PMAs, in addition to a growing portfolio of complementary proprietary component repair services. Going forward the platform will continue to expand its PMA ad DER offerings to provide a comprehensive suite of solutions to meet its customers' needs. Anu Goel, President of JPE, commented, "We are excited to work closely with Steve Bowen and the APM team to continue to grow the excellent business they have built. The addition of APM will not only expand our PMA offering at Jet Parts, but it will also strengthen our design and engineering capabilities." "Jet Parts operates in an attractive niche of the commercial aerospace aftermarket, with high degrees of intellectual property and regulatory oversight," added Nic Janneck, a Principal at Vance Street Capital. "Anu and the Jet Parts team have built a great business that continues its impressive organic growth trajectory. APM shares all of those same characteristics and is strategic to Jet Parts' growth going forward." Vedder Price LLP acted as legal advisor to Vance Street Capital LLC. Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP served as legal advisor to Aero Parts Mart. Debt financing for the transaction was provided by Neuberger Berman. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. About Vance Street Capital LLC Vance Street Capital LLC is a middle-market private equity firm focused on investing in highly engineered solutions businesses across the aerospace and defense, industrial, and medical markets. For over two decades, Vance Street's partners have worked with management teams and family owners to accelerate revenue growth, improve operations and acquire strategic assets for the companies in their investment portfolio. For more information please visit: www.vancestreetcapital.com. About Jet Parts Engineering LLC As a recognized and awarded leader in the development of FAA-approved PMA parts and engineered repairs, Jet Parts Engineering ("Jet Parts") is devoted to providing spare parts solutions to a global network of airline and MRO partners. Jet Parts helps its customers battle the increasing costs of component, airframe, and engine maintenance with its competitive pricing, reduced lead times, and customized repairs. The company's ecommerce portal gives immediate access to pricing, availability, technical information, and the ease of order placement and tracking. Comprised of some of the best and brightest in the industry, Jet Parts' staff believes in attentiveness and responsibility to its customers. For more information, please visit: www.jetpartsengineering.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005226/en/

[ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com/wimax's Homepage ]
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, January 6, 2020

Knoxville-based ad agency Tombras has been named U.S. media agency of record for realty giant RE/MAX after a formal review.

The company, based in Denver, spent nearly $40 million on measured media in 2018, according to Kantar, which estimates the firm spent an additional $32.2 million from January through September of 2019.

The appointment is effective immediately. The business was previously handled by Carat, part of Dentsu Aegis Network.

RE/MAX will continue work with San Francisco-based advertising agency Camp + King for the firms 2020 advertising campaign which will roll out this month.

Abby Lee, RE/MAX senior vice president, marketing and communications, said the company was impressed with Tombras data management capabilities. She added that the agency brings a high-quality portfolio to the table with a proven understanding of the franchising space and their commitment to investing in talent and technology is evident through their work with other leading franchising brands.

The client retained consultants Zach Rosenberg and Nancy Hill to jointly manage the review process.
Press Release

January 7, 2020 Lacson bill allows one-party consent to help authorities fight terrorism, heinous crimes A bill by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson will provide law enforcers the needed additional tools to fight terrorism and other heinous crimes. Senate Bill 1187 allows "One Party Consent" in wiretapping calls of those involved in such acts, but also contains sufficient safeguards to prevent abuse. "To further aid our law enforcement authorities in their obligation to protect the Filipino people, there is a need to provide an alternative option to the rigorous and time-consuming process of securing a court order that will still respect and comply with the right to privacy," Lacson said. Lacson said such a setup - also known as consensual monitoring - allows the recording of a private conversation with the consent of at least one of the participants in the call. Other crimes covered by the bill include treason, rebellion, coup d'etat, sedition, kidnapping, robbery in band, drug-related offenses, money laundering, plunder, bribery and corruption of public officials, and espionage. Under the bill, a law enforcement officer may record or intercept a wire, oral or electronic conversation to gather evidence and strengthen a case buildup, after securing the requisite written order. The bill allows a written authorization by the head of the law enforcement agency involved for the wiretap, after sufficient proof has been presented showing reasonable grounds to believe the evidence is essential to the conviction, and that there are no other effective means to obtain such evidence. Law enforcers must fill up an application to conduct a one-party consent recording or intercepting and provide information such as the nature of any danger to the consenting party, type of recording or intercepting device to be used, location and length of time of the recording, as well as the names of person/s, if known, whose conversation will be recorded. They should also indicate if the facts of the recording had been discussed with the legal officer of the investigating unit involved, and that the legal officer advised that the consensual recording is appropriate. Evidence secured in violation of the bill shall be inadmissible in any judicial, quasi-judicial, legislative or administrative hearing or investigation.
Russia endorses Iran's nuclear program remains under full control of IAEA

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Moscow, Jan 6, IRNA -- Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), noted that Iran's nuclear program remains under full control of the IAEA because of its importance.

Mikhail Ulyanov wrote on his Twitter account on Monday that Iran has stated that its nuclear program will no longer be limited and will be developed in accordance with its technical needs.

The Russian ambassador added that Iran's decision still does not address all issues. It takes time to clarify the situation and to understand all the facts.

But Iran insists its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency will continue as it did in the past, Ulyanov wrote on his Twitter.

These remarks mean that Iran's nuclear program remains under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency, including inspections under the Additional Protocol, he said.

The Russian official made the remark that from the point of view of non-proliferation, this situation is very important.

Iranian cabinet in a statement on Sunday announced the country's decision to take the final step to reduce commitments to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The cabinet said Iran will observe no restrictions in operational areas, including enrichment capacities, enrichment percentage, the volume of enriched material as well as research.

The cabinet further stated in its statement that as the fifth step to reduce its commitments, Iran will abandon the last key restriction in the operation field put up in the JCPOA literally "the limitations in the number of centrifuges".

Thus, it added, Iran's nuclear program will not face any kind of restrictions in such areas and will go on solely according to the country's technical needs.

9455**2050

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Grief, anger and tragedy have engulfed Iran as the body of Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian general slain in an airstrike ordered by Donald Trump last week, was laid to rest in his hometown of Kerman, where a stampede during the procession killed dozens.

At least 50 people were killed and 213 injured during the funeral march, delaying the ceremony, ISNA news agency said, quoting the provinces chief coroner.

Most of the dead and injured were elderly people who had been walking from the central Azadi Square towards Beheshti Street when they became trapped in the huge crowds, state media reported.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo defended the decision to kill Soleimani on Tuesday, as did Mr Trump, by again insisting the threat the general was plotting was imminent.

But fallout from the assassination continued to rattle the region, with Iran appearing to move towards a war footing. Nato announced it was withdrawing some of its military trainers from Iraq, citing security concerns.

This followed a vote in Irans parliament, declaring the entire United States armed forces a terrorist organisation, and any support of it, including military and financial, cooperation in a terrorist act.

Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Show all 24 1 /24 Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions Iranian mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of top general Qasem Soleimani during the final stage of funeral processions, in his hometown Kerman. Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with Iran which has vowed "severe revenge" AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranian people carry a coffin of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani during a funeral procession in Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions The assassination of the 62-year-old heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile, oil-rich Middle East and rattled financial markets AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Mourners packed the streets of Tehran for ceremonies to pay homage to Soleimani, who spearheaded Iran's Middle East operations as commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force and was killed in a US drone strike on January 3 Iranian Supreme Leader's Office/EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranians set a US and an Israeli flag on fire during the funeral procession AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, centre, with Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, second left, and President Hassan Rouhani, third left, standing next to him as he leads a prayer over the caskets of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Tehran University Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, openly weeps as he leads a prayer over the coffin of Qassem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Mourners holding posters of Qassem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Coffins of Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a US drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession, at the Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions An Iranian mourner holds a placard AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Downtown Tehran was brought to a standstill as mourners flooded the Iranian capital Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Former Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps chief Mohamad Ali Jafari prays on the coffins of Qasem Soleimani and of other victims during their funeral ceremony EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Satellite image Maxar Technologies/AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA

The bill also called on the cash-strapped government of president Hassan Rouhani to allocate the equivalent of an additional 170m ($223m) for defence, including support for the clandestine Quds Force that Soleimani led.

The allocation, if approved, would mean more resources for the force, which the US and the west accuse of wreaking havoc in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen with its support for proxy groups and clandestine paramilitary operations.

Iranian officials continued a torrent of threats against the US. Irans foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, demanded the expulsion of all US forces from the Middle East. Speaking to CNN, he said the US attack was an act of state-sponsored terrorism, and vowed that Iran would respond proportionately.

The secretary of Irans powerful Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, said Tehran was quoted in a pro-government newspaper contemplating at least a dozen possible ways of avenging the death of Soleimani and his Iraqi colleague, militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, who was killed in the same airstrike on 3 January in Baghdad. The newspaper report was later retracted.

We say to our enemy: we will take revenge, General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of Irans Revolutionary Guard, said in a speech during Soleimanis funeral. We will burn the places they love if they make another move. They know where those places are.

Senior Iranian officials frequently use such fiery rhetoric when discussing the US. But the assassination of Soleimani has galvanised anti-American sentiment among both regime supporters and a public driven by an increasingly fervent nationalism.

In Washington DC, Mr Trump defended his decision, but also stepped away from previous threats to attack cultural sites in Iran if the US launches airstrikes.

Think of it, They kill our people. They blow up our people. And then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions, But Im OK with it. Its OK with me, he said. He added: If Iran does anything they shouldnt be doing, they are going to be suffering the consequences, and very strongly.

Mr Pompeo also defended his countrys actions.

It was the right decision, he told reporters at the state department. If youre looking for imminence, you need look no further than the days that led up to the strike that was taken against Suleimani.

Mr Pompeo repeatedly failed to provide further details of the evidence the Trump administration claims it possesses, said to indicate Soleimani was about to attack US interests in the region, though defence secretary Mark Esper said that attack was days away, rather than weeks.

The secretary of state mocked the suggestion that the 62-year-old Iranian military leader was on a diplomatic mission when he arrived in Iraq.

Is there any history that would indicate that it was remotely possible that this kind gentleman, this diplomat of great order  Qassem Soleimani  had travelled to Baghdad for the idea of conducting a peace mission? he asked.

 Mike Pompeo criticises UK and other US allies for 'not being helpful' over Soleimani assassination

The possibility of an expanding war between Iran and the US or an intensification of the already volatile indirect tit-for-tat attacks by the two countries and their partners has dominated the news and public policy agenda across the Middle East.

Iran has yet to identify any targets but experts and regional insiders say that the United Arab Emirates, a pro-American federation of princedoms that hosts US and UK troops, could be a likely location for reprisal.

If I was in the Emirates, I would leave now, Mohammad Marandi, an Iranian scholar considered close to the regime, told Al Jazeera International on Sunday. If I was an American in Iraq, I would leave now. If I was an American in any part of southwest Asia, I would leave immediately.

Iranian officials and the leader of its Lebanese ally Hezbollah have ruled out attacks on civilians, and a top security official told CNN that any target would be military.

Iran may forego a spectacular kinetic response and instead attempt to leverage widespread anger over the killing among its supporters and sympathisers in the Middle East, to pressure US forces into leaving the Middle East.

The ultimate expulsion of the US from west Asia is the doomed fate of Washingtons unbridled exploitation of the tools of war, sanctions, and assassination, Mr Zarif said in a speech at the Tehran Dialogue Forum, a conference in the Iranian capital that began on Tuesday. The US will receive the definitive resolute response to its brazen, criminal act in a place and at a time it hurts most.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Bangladesh: Chittagong Shutki Pallis abuzz with fish drying activities

January 07,2020 | Source: Dhaka Tribune

Dried fish is a much-loved traditional food in the country, particularly in Chittagong. With the arrival of winter, Shutki Palli dedicated to fish drying process along Karnaphuli River in the port city are now abuzz with fish drying activities. During a recent visit to the Bakalia Bastuhara Shutki Palli, hundreds of people were seen busy with the work of dried fish processing. Some were washing the fishes while others sprinkling salt on them or were busy slitting the fishes and pulling out their entrails.



Some of them were seen busy placing the processed fishes on bamboo frames and hanging them on poles under the sun to dry. Apart from Bakalia Shutki Palli, another nine other fish processing clusters (Shutki Pallis) have been developed in Ichhanagar, Juldha and Dangarchar areas along the bank of Karnaphuli River. The fish processors in these Shutki Pallis have said the dried fishes are transported to Asadganj, a wholesale market for dried fish in Chittagong city to supply them to rest of the country. Wholesalers in Asadganj say that besides supplying dried fish to the rest of the country, they also send consignments of dried fish to Middle Eastern countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar as well as to the US and the UK  the countries that are home to a large numbers of Bangladeshi diasporas.



A decade ago, Md Yunus (a resident of Banshkhali upazila of Chittagong) was a salt trader. He switched to fish drying. As he spoke to this correspondent, Yunus said that the fish drying process continued round the year with the exception of the rainy season. Although fish drying process continues throughout the year, peak season for the activity spanned from November to February. Fifteen to twenty different varieties of fishes are being processed in the Shutki Pallis, said the dried fish processor. However, mostly Chhuri (Ribbon fish), Loitta (Bombay duck) and Faisha (Phasa) are processed as dried fish, he added. I procure fish from Fisheryghat for drying them up here, in the Shutki Palli. Subsequently, I sell processed fish to the wholesale traders in Asadganj dried fish market, said Yunus. Yunus said, of the various types of dried fishes he sells Fatra at Tk600, Loitta at Tk450, Chhuri at Tk600-1000, Faisha at 250-350 and Pata at Tk120 per kg.



According to the dried fish processors, Chittagong meets 30% of the domestic demand for dried fish; and the fish processed in the port city are exported to Middle Eastern countries, China, Thailand and Hon Kong as well. While talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Asgar Hossain, president at the Chittagong Small Dried Fish Production Marketing Cooperative Society Ltd, says out of 150 dried fish processing units in the port city, 120 units are now in operation. According to the dried fish processors, there are some 5,000 workers in Bakalia Shutki Palli. Of them, 60-700 workers are permanent while the others work on daily basis. The temporary workers get Tk250-300 per day, while the permanent workers get Tk8, 000-12,000 per month. Asgar Hossain says they have been facing unfair competition from the imported sub-standard dried fishes from India, Pakistan and Myanmar.
For collaborative research

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) at Bhubaneswar for Collaborative research and academic interaction among the faculty and scientists of both the institutes in their core areas for improving the quality of health care through the application of technology.

The Minister of HRD has been on a visit to Bhubaneswar for an interaction with the Directors of some Central Institutes and KVS officials invited on the occasion. Making use of this opportunity, the MoU was signed by Prof. R.V. Raja Kumar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar and Prof. Gitanjali Batmanabane, Director, AIIMS Bhubaneswar and exchanged in the presence of Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Minister for Human Resource Development (MHRD), Govt. of India, the dignitaries present, the faculty and senior officials of both the Institutes.

The collaborative research in healthcare is a valuable mechanism for advancing knowledge and strengthening research capacity for smooth dovetailing of skills and expertise. This collaboration will make modern research tools available to both the institutions by providing a unique platform for interdisciplinary research for students and faculty with a goal to improve health care facilities in our country.
BANFF, AB, Jan. 6, 2020 /CNW/ - The best of the craft distillery scene is coming back to Banff and Lake Louise. After a tremendous success in 2019, the MADE WITH LOVE team brings back TRIBUTE to warm up SnowDays visitors again for 12 days of discoveries.

MADE WITH LOVE, with the support of Banff & Lake Louise Tourism, presents Tribute, a winter celebration of craft spirits and local food scene in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains unlike any other.

There are over 100 cocktail creations to choose from in Banff and Lake Louise restaurant and bars during Tribute Craft Spirit Celebration, culminating in the Outdoor Tasting Experience January 24th and 25th.

Local bars, restaurants and 12 craft distilleries will present their cocktail and food creations. Held on Bear Street, in downtown Banff, guests will be able to taste and discover the best of local food and drink, among beautiful snow sculptures on display as part of SnowDays. Attendees will also have the chance to meet the distillers, taste their products and learn more about the production process in a festive atmosphere, surrounded by the spectacular scenery of Banff and the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Learn more: https://tributetocraft.com/

SOURCE MADE WITH LOVE

For further information: Catherine Simard, Catch Communications, 514-802-9659, [email protected]

Related Links

https://tributetocraft.com/


Iranian state television says over 50 people have been killed and 190 others injured in a stampede that erupted at a funeral procession for a general slain in a U.S. airstrike.

The TV says the stampede erupted in Kerman, the hometown of Gen. Qassem Soleimani where the procession was underway on Tuesday.

A procession in Tehran on Monday drew over 1 million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main thoroughfares and side streets in Tehran.

Watch | Over 50 killed, 190 injured in stampede at Qassem Soleimanis funeral procession

The leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard threatened on Tuesday to set ablaze places supported by the United States over the killing of a top Iranian general in a U.S. airstrike last week, sparking cries from the crowd of supporters of Death to Israel!

Hossein Salami made the pledge before a crowd of thousands gathered in a central square in Kerman, the hometown of the slain Gen. Qassem Soleimani. His vow mirrored the demands of top Iranian officials  from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to others  as well as supporters across the Islamic Republic, demanding retaliation against America for a slaying thats drastically raised tensions across the Middle East.

Mourners in Kerman dressed in black carried posters bearing the image of Soleimani, a man whose slaying prompted Irans supreme leader to weep over his casket on Monday as a crowd said by police to be in the millions filled Tehran streets. Although there was no independent estimate, aerial footage and Associated Press journalists suggested a turnout of at least 1 million, and the throngs were visible on satellite images of Tehran taken Monday.

The outpouring of grief was an unprecedented honor for a man viewed by Iranians as a national hero for his work leading the Guards expeditionary Quds Force. The U.S. blames him for the killing of American troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death Friday in a drone strike near Baghdads airport. Soleimani also led forces in Syria backing President Bashar Assad in a long war, and he also served as the point man for Iranian proxies in countries like Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

His slaying already has pushed Tehran to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers as his successor and others vow to take revenge. In Baghdad, the parliament has called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil, something analysts fear could allow Islamic State militants to mount a comeback.

Soleimanis remains and those of the others killed in the airstrike were brought to a central square in Kerman, a desert city surrounded by mountains that dates back to the days of the Silk Road.

Speaking in Kerman, Salami praised Soleimanis exploits, describing him as essential to backing Palestinian groups, Yemens Houthi rebels and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria. As a martyr, Soleimani represented an even greater threat to Irans enemies, Salami said.

We will take revenge. We will set ablaze where they like, Salami said, drawing the cries of Death to Israel!

Israel is a longtime regional foe of Iran.

According to a report on Tuesday by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Iran has worked up 13 sets of plans for revenge for Soleimanis killing. The report quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, as saying that even the weakest among them would be a historic nightmare for the U.S. He declined to give any details,

If the U.S. troops do not leave our region voluntarily and upright, we will do something to carry their bodies horizontally out, Shamkhani said.

Irans parliament, meanwhile, passed an urgent bill declaring the U.S. militarys command at the Pentagon and those acting on its behalf in Soleimanis killing as terrorists, subject to Iranian sanctions. The measure appears to be an attempt to mirror a decision by President Donald Trump in April to declare the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization.

The U.S. Defense Department used the Guards designation as a terror organization in the U.S. to support the strike that killed Soleimani. The decision by Irans parliament, done by a special procedure to speed the bill to law, comes as officials across the country threaten to retaliate for Soleimanis killing.

The vote also saw lawmakers approve funding for the Quds Force with an additional 200 million euros, or about $224 million.

Also Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the U.S. had declined to issue him a visa to travel to New York for upcoming meetings at the United Nations. The U.S. as the host of the U.N. headquarters is supposed to allow foreign officials to attend such meetings.

This is because they fear someone will go there and tell the truth to the American people, Zarif said. But they are mistaken. The world is not limited to New York. You can speak with American people from Tehran too and we will do that.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Solemani will be buried later Tuesday between the graves of Enayatollah Talebizadeh and Mohammad Hossein Yousef Elahi, two former Guard comrades. The two died in Operation Dawn 8 in Irans 1980s war with Iraq in which Soleimani also took part, a 1986 amphibious assault that cut Iraq off from the Persian Gulf and led to the end of the bloody war that killed 1 million people.
Women dominate Indian banks's clerical and officer rolls, but few make it to the executive office these days, notes Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

In the run-up to Business Standard's annual banking forum in Mumbai last month, many took to microblogging site Twitter to express their disappointment at not finding a single woman banker on any of the panels.

Gender diversity is always welcome, but at the moment there aren't too many women in this space.

Zarin Daruwala, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank; Kaku Nakhate, president and country head of Bank of America India; and Kalpana Morparia, CEO of JP Morgan India; are exceptions in an industry in which women CEOs were bossing over banks with at least 40% share of the total assets till just a few years ago.

There were Chanda Kochhar, a Padma awardee, heading ICICI Bank Ltd; Shikha Sharma, CEO and MD at Axis Bank Ltd; Arundhati Bhattacharya in the corner room of the country's largest lender, the State Bank of India; and Usha Ananthasubramanian, chief of Punjab National Bank; among others.

Bhattacharya retired after a one-year extension while Sharma stepped down after the Reserve Bank of India did not grant her a fresh three-year term, that was cleared by the bank's board.

Ananthasubramanian, named in the chargesheet of the Central Bureau of Investigation for her alleged role in the $2 billion fraud in Punjab National Bank perpetrated by diamantaires Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, was first transferred to Allahabad Bank and later stripped of her executive powers.

Kochhar's is the most interesting story: She moved the Bombay high court challenging ICICI Bank's decision to terminate her after the bank had approved her request for early retirement.

Meanwhile, a Delhi court has recently stayed the screening of an upcoming Bollywood film Chanda: A Signature that Ruined a Career, based allegedly on her life.

In sum, some of the women bankers are in the news for the wrong reasons and there aren't any takers for the space vacated by them.

Tarjani Vakil was the first woman to reach the top at the Export-Import Bank of India in 1996.

Ranjana Kumar became chairman and managing director of Indian Bank, four years later, playing a critical role in turning around the bank before shifting to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development in 2003.

The second woman boss in a commercial bank, H A Daurwalla, became the boss of the Central Bank of India in 2005.

Nupur Mitra took over as chairman and managing director of Dena Bank (merged with the Bank of Baroda) in 2011.

It took a little over three decades after bank nationalisation for a woman to become a bank's CEO.

However, the pace at which women bankers were moving to the corner office till a few years ago has slowed down.

Even globally, women took long to break into the male bastion in finance.

Janet L Yellen was chosen to head the US federal reserve board in 2017, the first woman to do so after a century of the Fed's existence.

No woman has ever headed the US treasury department in its 229-year history.

Back home, it was a 68-year wait at the RBI for a woman to reach the deputy governor's post (Kishori J Udeshi, the first woman deputy governor, took over in June 2003).

For the State Bank of India, the wait was 206 years to get its first woman head -- Bhattacharya.

Women currently represent 24.37% of SBI's employees and at least 2,600 of around 22,000 branches of the bank are headed by woman officers.

Its former managing director Anshula Kant has recently been appointed managing director and chief financial officer at the World Bank.

HDFC Bank Ltd's 2018 annual report says women represent around 17% Of its 88,253 employees.

It's an equal opportunity employer, but historically not too many women employees have been seen at the bank's top tier, unlike the case in ICICI Bank.

Both Daruwala and Morparia are old ICICI Bank hands.

Now, of course, except for Vishaka Mulye, an executive director, the bank does not have any other women in a senior position even though nearly 30% of its employees are women.

Citibank India, in contrast, has four women, including its consumer banking head Shinjini Kumar, in the 15-member management committee, and 32% of its employees are women.

Globally, Citibank NA aims to have 40% women employees.

A 2017 study of 71 banks in 20 countries conducted by SKEMA Business School's Observatory found that despite representing, on an average, a little over 52% of the banking industry's workforce, the representation of women, as they moved up in their careers, declined: 37.58% among middle managers and 16.45% in executive committees.

The study also points out a wide disparity in the gender balance across countries.

Sweden (45%), France (35%) and Canada (34.5%) are the top three countries for women's representation in the boards of directors of banks while Singapore (15%), China (14%) and Japan (12%) have the lowest female representation.

In India too, we see a progressive decline in women's representations in the top tier of the banking industry.

There are a few in the private sector -- Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Federal Bank -- but they are exceptions.

Similarly, the representation of women in the top executive cadre -- general managers -- in State-run banks is just about 10%.

There are a few banks that do not have a woman in the top executive cadre.

A 2010 human resources study conducted by a committee headed by former chairman of Bank of Baroda, A K Khandelwal, found women making up about 17% of the total workforce in these banks, but their representation in the executive cadre was less than 3%, in contrast to 26% in the clerical cadre and 11% among the officers.

The SKEMA Business School study, which does not include India, talks about a double glass ceiling in banking and this is a universal phenomenon.

Many banks look for equal representation at the entry level, but women become laggards for reasons other than talent while moving up.

The challenge is to nurture the pipeline.

Offering fully paid, adequate maternity leave, flexi working hours, and running creches for the children of employees can help the cause, but at the moment they don't have too many role models to look up to.

That's the problem.

Photograph: Ajay Verma/Reuters. Kindly note the photograph has been posted only for representational purposes.

Tamal Bandyopadhyay, a consulting editor with Business Standard, is an author and senior adviser to Jana Small Finance Bank Ltd.
QUEENSBURY  Jury selection began Monday in the case of a Glens Falls man who is accused of shooting a home and killing a dog last spring, with the case going forward despite a last-minute attempt to postpone it by the defendants lawyer.

Joshua P. Marco Marcantonio faces eight charges for the May 9 shooting on Charlotte Street in Glens Falls. He is accused of firing a 12-gauge shotgun through the front door of the home, nearly hitting a resident and killing a dalmatian inside.

Police said Marcantonio, 30, had been visiting the home, became upset with a friend inside, walked out to his vehicle and came back with the shotgun.

He has pleaded not guilty to three charges of attempted first-degree burglary as well as lesser felony counts of reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal mischief, and misdemeanor animal cruelty and criminal mischief.

Jury selection is to continue Tuesday, with testimony possible later in the day.

Lawyers in the case asked potential jurors about their thoughts on different scenarios that will play a part in the case, in particular which of the two witnesses to the shooting should be believed, the victim or the alleged shooter.

Warren County First Assistant District Attorney Matthew Burin asked panelists whether they could convict someone of a crime if they act crazy, if there is no motive and no proof of any mental illness.

He also referred to the fact the victim did not see who fired the shot, though he saw the alleged shooter walking toward the house with a gun, and asked whether jurors can believe a witness who has a criminal history.

Defense lawyer Jeff Matte asked potential jurors if they had ever been accused of something they didnt do, and implied that the alleged victim was responsible for the shooting.

Anybody ever accuse you of something you didnt do? he asked.

Trial began Monday after Matte unsuccessfully asked McKeighan to postpone it. Matte filed a request for an adjournment, claiming that he had not had sufficient time to review crime laboratory reports on DNA evidence to consult a DNA expert witness.

McKeighan, though, called that request disingenuous, and pointed out that Matte was told in early July, after Marcantonios indictment, that DNA would be evidence in the case.

DNA tests were done on the shotgun and other evidence to determine who handled it.

McKeighan also granted a request by the defense to inspect the home where the shooting took place. Matte was to go Monday without his client, and would be allowed a limited inspection, despite objection from the Warren County District Attorneys Office, which pointed out that dozens of photos of the home and shooting scene had been turned over to the defense.

New state laws spell out that a defendant can return to the scene of a crime for trial preparation, though McKeighan said prior state law allowed it under certain circumstances as well.

McKeighan is presiding over the case because Warren County Judge John Hall recuses from any cases that Matte handles, a policy that stems from complaints that Matte made to the state about Hall.

Don Lehman covers police and court matters, Warren County government and the outdoors. He can be reached at 518-742-3224 or dlehman @poststar.com
A man who helped a husband and wife search for gold in Western Australia remains a key suspect almost five years after one was found dead and the other vanished.

Jennie, 49, and Raymond Kehlet, 47, were last seen while prospecting near Sandstone, about 700 kilometres north-east of Perth, in March 2015.

A widespread search was launched six days later, after the couple's pet dog showed up at Sandstone caravan park unaccompanied.

Mr Kehlet's body was later discovered down a disused mineshaft but Ms Kehlet has never been found.

Jennie Anne, 49, and Raymond Keith Kehlet, 47, were last seen while prospecting near Sandstone, about 700 kilometres north-east of Perth, in March 2015

A widespread search was launched six days later, after the couple's pet dog showed up at Sandstone caravan park unaccompanied. Mr Kehlet's body was later discovered down a disused mineshaft but Ms Kehlet has never been found

On Monday, an inquest into the case at the Perth Coroner's Court heard the couple were in the area with friend Graham Milne, who was going to mentor them while prospecting, ABC reported.

Detective Sergeant Stephen Cleal told the court Mr Milne was the only remaining 'person of interest'.

'Graham Milne remains a suspect and I had the intention to charge him, which was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, but was not accepted,' Sergeant Cleal said.

'So under the circumstances there is no plan to charge Graham Milne. There could be possibly down the track, but not at this point.'

Counsel assisting the coroner Brendyn Nelson said Mr Milne denied any involvement in the death and disappearance. Mr Milne had also given four statements and was interviewed by police on two occasions.

Mr Milne will testify later during the two-week inquest.

Mr Milne said he left the at the campsite on March 22, three days after the trio entered the area.

A post mortem examination was unable to determine the cause of Mr Kehlet's death, Mr Nelson told the inquest. Sergeant Cleal believes Ms Kehlet is likely dead but 'due to decomposition' her remains had not been found

On Monday, an inquest into the case at the Perth Coroner's Court heard the couple were in the area with friend Graham Milne (pictured), who was going to mentor them while prospecting. Detective Sergeant Stephen Cleal told the court Mr Milne was the only remaining 'person of interest'

During evidence, Sergeant Cleal revealed cigarette butts near the top of the mineshaft where Mr Kehlet's body was found had his wife's DNA on them.

There was another person's DNA found too, but he did not share who it belonged to.

A post mortem examination was unable to determine the cause of Mr Kehlet's death, Mr Nelson told the inquest.

Sergeant Cleal believes Ms Kehlet is likely dead but 'due to decomposition' her remains had not been found.

The court heard the couple, who both worked for Fortescue Metals Group at the Cloudbreak mine site, had opted for a job sharing arrangement that would allow them to spend more time working on their farm.

'Ray and Jennie shared similar interests and enjoyed being outdoors and working on their farm,' Mr Nelson said.

'They were described as being 'laminated together' and doing everything with (their dog) Ella where possible.'

Mr Nelson said the Kehlets spoke to a friend about their prospecting trip and told him they were planning to abseil down old mine shafts to look for gold.

Upon Mr Milne's return home from the trip, he allegedly told his partner there had been no problems at the camp but the dog kept running off.

The inquest continues.
A day after rocking a rather revealing ensemble at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles, Salma Hayek was seen sporting a stylish but less showy look in New York City.

The 53-year-old actress was spotted arriving at the Big Apple's JFK Airport on Monday evening.

The Eternals star was not spotted with her husband of 10 years, French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault.

Before and after: A day after rocking a rather revealing ensemble at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles, Salma Hayek was seen sporting a stylish but less showy look in New York City

Hayek rocked a black and blue look as she arrived in the Big Apple, which included a shark tooth necklace.

She wore a black and blue top black pants with black sneakers, with a full-length navy blue trench coat that fell to her feet.

She completed her look with a pair of black sunglasses that she wore at night.

Salma's look: Hayek rocked a black and blue look as she arrived in the Big Apple, which included a shark tooth necklace

Sunglasses at night: She completed her look with a pair of black sunglasses that she wore at night

Hayek turned heads on the red carpet of the Golden Globes in a stunning Gucci dress with a plunging neckline with makeup by Charlotte Tilbury and hair styled by Jennifer Yepez.

The actress served as a presenter on Sunday night, alongside comedienne Tiffany Haddish in a stunning hot pink gown.

Hayek also took to Instagram to share photos of her with director Quentin Tarantino and actress Patricia Arquette.

Salma's dress: Hayek turned heads on the red carpet of the Golden Globes in a stunning Gucci dress with a plunging neckline with makeup by Charlotte Tilbury and hair styled by Jennifer Yepez

Presenters: The actress served as a presenter on Sunday night, alongside comedienne Tiffany Haddish in a stunning hot pink gown

Stars: Hayek also took to Instagram to share photos of her with director Quentin Tarantino and actress Patricia Arquette

Hayek has a busy year ahead of her, with her new movie Like A Boss, where she stars alongside Haddish and Rose Byrne, hitting theaters January 10.

She'll next be seen in director Sally Potter's The Roads Not Taken, with Javier Bardem and Elle Fanning, in theaters March 13.

The actress also returns as Sonia Kincaid in The Hitman's Bodyguard's Wife, a sequel to the 2017 surprise hit The Hitman's Bodyguard with Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds, in theaters August 28.

Busy year: Hayek has a busy year ahead of her, with her new movie Like A Boss, where she stars alongside Haddish and Rose Byrne, hitting theaters January 10

Coming soon: She'll next be seen in director Sally Potter's The Roads Not Taken, with Javier Bardem and Elle Fanning, in theaters March 13

She is currently filming the highly-anticipated Eternals, marking her debut within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, slated to hit theaters November 1.

Hayek also has Bliss in post-production, starring alongside Owen Wilson and Madeline Zima, which doesn't have a release date in place yet.

She recently made headlines by swearing off lip injections after trying them for her role in Like a Boss.

Filming: She is currently filming the highly-anticipated Eternals, marking her debut within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, slated to hit theaters November 1
Hundreds of thousands of Iranians thronged onto the streets of Tehran, Qom, Ahvaz, Mashhad, and Kerman this week to take part in the state funeral of Irans top military commander, Qasem Soleimani, killed in a U.S. drone strike on January 3.



The crowds and the grief they expressed were described by some observers as unmatched since the funeral of the founder of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, that was held in the Iranian capital in 1989.



Many held photos of Soleimani while vowing revenge for his death and chanting support for the state.



The scenes were in sharp contrast to the Iranian streets in November, when thousands of Iranians protested in some 100 cities and towns against the clerical establishment following a significant hike in the prices of gasoline. Hundreds of demonstrators were also slain by security forces during the rallies.



The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' (IRGC) Quds Force and the key figure in advancing Iranian foreign policy interests from Lebanon to Yemen and many places in between, Soleimani is accused by Washington as being responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more.



Others hold him accountable for the thousands of people -- including many civilians -- killed in the proxy wars that pro-Iranian paramilitaries have waged throughout the Middle East.



So what are the reasons behind the massive outpouring of grief at Soleimani's funeral and where are all of those Iranians who were angry at their leaders several weeks ago?



An External Enemy Has United The Deeply Nationalistic Iranians



The assassination of Soleimani was a major escalation in the already heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington. It has also worried many Iranians with vivid memories of the bloody 1980-1988 war with Iraq that it could lead to the breakout of a major military conflict between Iran and the United States.



To some, the killing of Soleimani was seen as an act of war. Iran has promised to take harsh revenge, which some fear could lead to retaliation by the United States and the breakout of a wider conflict.



During times of war, deeply nationalistic and patriotic Iranians are known to come together and rally behind their country. That sentiment was highlighted by a prominent critic of the Iranian establishment, Abdolah Momeni, who has been jailed and tortured in Iran.



"No nation is happy when its soldiers and commanders are killed by foreigners," Momeni, a widely respected former student leader, said on Twitter on January 3, adding that Soleimanis martyrdom has hurt Iranians national pride.

A businessman in Tehran who took part in the 2009 mass street demonstrations against a disputed presidential vote, told RFE/RL that Soleimani's killing has ignited a sense of national unity in Iran.



Im not a supporter of this establishment but when I see my country is under possible attack, I stand with my country and my people, he said.



"Soleimani was a genius military strategist and his death is a loss for Iran," he said, adding that now is not the time to criticize [the clerical establishment].



With the assassination of Soleimani followed by a warning that Iranian culture sites could be targeted in any future attack, U.S. President Donald Trump has brought Iranians together at a time many are still angered by the brutal November crackdown on anti-establishment protests.



Trump severely underestimates Iranian nationalism, said historian Roham Alvandi on Twitter on January 5.



"Someone should tell him about the pilots of the Imperial Iranian Air Force, who were allowed out of their prison cells by their revolutionary jailers in 1980 to fly sorties against the invading Iraqis," said Alvandi, an associate professor of International History at the London School of Economics.

Actual Results And A Big Chunk Of Propaganda



Soleimani was unknown to many Iranians only a few years ago. He was rarely seen in the media and only a few, grainy amateur photos of him were available.



But in recent years things changed dramatically when Soleimani -- who called himself a soldier of the revolution -- was turned into a national hero.



Irans PR machine also boosted his image and made him a celebrity who was shown to be a deeply pious and selfless hero working tirelessly to keep Iran safe from terrorist bands and the extremist Islamic State (IS) group, which took responsibility for an attack in Tehran in 2017 that resulted in 23 deaths.

Afshon Ostovar, an expert on the IRGC and associate professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, told The Wall Street Journal that his accolades were as deserved as they were exaggerated, the product of both years of effective operations and an elaborate, state-sponsored public-relations campaign.

Numerous photos of him on a "battlefield" battling Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria consistently popped up on social media and news blogs. He was also seen at funerals held for Iranian fighters killed in Syria and Iraq and there were pop songs, social-media posts, and documentaries devoted to him.



Media outlets interviewed his relatives, including a brother who described him as a serious but "very kind" and emotional person.

A recent poll by the University of Maryland showed that 82 percent of Iranians held a positive view of Soleimani and 59 percent a highly positive view.



In past days, many Iranians have grieved his death and honored him, including some unlikely figures, such as one of the greatest Iranian novelists, Mahmud Dolatabadi, who has had to deal with strict state censorship, and Ardeshir Zahedi, a Shah-era Iranian diplomat living in exile in Switzerland, who praised Soleimani as a "patriotic and honorable soldier."



Soleimani's Detractors Not Allowed To Express Themselves



The state has encouraged people to take to the streets to honor Soleimani by declaring three days of mourning and they closed government offices and schools.



But those Iranians who are not supportive of Soleimani and Irans regional policies are not free to express themselves due to the repressive nature of the Iranian regime.



What we don't see on TV are those who are not mourning his death.

Soleimanis new stature as a state martyr will make any criticism even more difficult.



Here is one small example.



Amir Hossein Rezazadeh, a prosecutor in Shahreza, a city in the central province of Isfahan, was quoted earlier this week as saying that four people had been detained for insulting the status of Soleimani.

Rezazadeh said the detainees had upset many mourners by making derogatory comments about Soleimani on social media.



The publishing of offensive material about martyrs is considered a criminal offenseand, due to the sanctity of martyrs, it is viewed as insulting sanctities and it results in arrest and penalty, he said.
SPRINGFIELD  In just two years, Illinois lost $12.4 billion in Adjusted Gross Income, according to IRS migration data analyzed by public finance watchdog Wirepoints.

The IRS updated its data last month. Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski said it shows more than 218,000 people left Illinois in 2017 and 2018 combined and more than $12.4 billion in income, among the worst losses of all states.

Among the many areas of analysis included in the Wirepoints report is data that show the incomes of people who leave Illinois are larger than the incomes of people who move into Illinois.

The average AGI of those who left in 2018 was approximately $85,000, while those who entered the state had incomes of just $66,000, the Wirepoints reports says.

Dabrowski said the analysis also shows Illinois is losing out to neighboring states.

The other states, our competing states, our neighboring states, have continued to grow populations. Illinois is the only one thats shrinking, Dabrowski said.

U.S. Census data released last week showed Illinois lost more than 51,000 in the 12 months that ended July 1, 2019. That was the largest annual decline in six consecutive years of shrinking population. Altogether, Illinois has lost more nearly 160,000 in population in the past decade, the largest decline of all states. Those leaving range from retirees to blue collar employees with young families.

Margy Robb retired from the state of Illinois five years ago and left from Springfield to live near Macon, Georgia. She misses food like the famous Springfield horseshoes, but thats about it. She doesnt like the weather or the politics.

Im just glad I left and now you guys have got this governor thats tax, tax, taxing, Robb said.

Illinois just increased severeal new taxes and fees, including a doubling of the states gas tax from 19 cents a gallon to 38 cents a gallon. Robb said its much cheaper to get license plate renewals in Georgia than in Illinois. In Georgia, its $18. Illinois increased its fee to $151 for typical passenger vehicles at the start of the new year. There were other fee increases as well.

I would never, ever move back to Springfield, Robb said, adding that she knows others her age that left the state.

But its not just retirees leaving. Shawn Binney, 34, and his wife and child left central Illinois last May for North Carolina. He said his wife found an opportunity in insurance that wasnt available in Illinois. He said he was able to find a job in his industry making more money.

Without the education and the other things that other people have, Im just a blue collar worker. Down here theres just opportunity upon opportunity upon opportunity and you dont have that back home, Binney said.

Binney also said he had several peers from central Illinois leave the past two years whose families are now thriving.

Asked what would bring him back to Illinois, Binney said a revamp of our government system. Get that governor out of there, mayor out of here, Chicago cut off, the list can go on.

Last year, U.S. Census data showed Illinois dropped from the fifth to the sixth most populous state, losing an estimated 45,000 people and falling behind Pennsylvania. In 2017, Illinois lost around 40,000 people. In 2016, there was a loss of around 38,000 people. In 2015, there was a loss of around 25,000. In 2014, there was a loss of around 10,000.

While its different data, Debrwoski said numbers from the U.S. Census and the IRS both show record population losses for Illinois.

The policies have to be changed, Debrowski said. We cant keep doing the exact same things weve been doing for decades. And its time for reforms, otherwise were going to lose more and more people and the tax base will shrink which means the tax rates will rise on those who are here and well just be trapped in a vicious spiral.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 04:40:31|Editor: huaxia

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HELSINKI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Finland on Tuesday called on all sides in the current tension in the Middle East to avoid violence and actions that would lead to escalation.

Finland's Cabinet Committee on Foreign affairs and Security Policy on Tuesday reviewed the situation in Iraq, Iran and the Middle East at large. The committee includes key ministers and is presided by President Sauli Niinisto.

The meeting underlined that the international community, especially the European Union, should act in a way that reduces tension.

Finland has for the time being suspended active training operations by Finnish troops in the Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR).

Active training operations were interrupted in the wake of the recommendation by Iraqi parliament that the U.S.-led coalition forces should leave. Some 80 Finnish servicemen are part of the foreign coalition forces in Iraq.

Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen told newspaper Helsingin Sanomat that if the coalition chooses to end the OIR, no separate Finnish decisions are needed.

Besides OIR, Finland is also a participant in the EU Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq) involved in civil crisis management. Enditem
Illegal immigrants cannot be allowed to hold protests against the CAA which has nothing to do with bonafide citizens of the country, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said on Tuesday.

Tiwari urged the protesters holding demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at Shaheen Bagh area here to end their road blockade saying they do not need to fear anything.

"I request those protesting at Shaheen Bagh and other places that if you are born here and are a citizen of India, you need not fear anything, but if you are not a citizen of India then you must catch the first train and leave (dheere se gaadi pakdo lo aur nikal lo)," Tiwari said at a press conference at the Delhi BJP office.

Tiwari has been at the forefront demanding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in Delhi, alleging that illegal immigrants are involved in majority of crimes like snatchings and loot in the national capital.

The protestors in Shaheen Bagh near Jamia Millia Islamia University, including women, have been camping in the area for nearly a month. As a result, the crucial Kalindi Kunj road linking south-east Delhi areas to Noida remains blocked.

The roadblock is posing hardships to motorists commuting between Delhi and Noida as there are heavy traffic jams at alternate roads including the DND flyover.

Delhi Traffic Police has been flashing alerts daily on its official twitter handle warning commuters about the closure of Road no 13A between Mathura Road and Kalindi Khunj for traffic movement, suggesting motorists to take the DND or Akshardham road to commute between Delhi and Noida.

Tiwari said the BJP and its government at the Centre have been consistently saying that CAA has nothing to do with any citizen of India, even if they are Muslims.

The minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have been given citizenship and illigrants immigrants will have to leave the country, he said.

"We cannot allow it if the illegal immigrants (ghuspaithiye) are holding protests," Tiwari stated.

The BJP leaders have been visiting people in different parts of the city explaining to them that CAA was not meant for taking away their citizenship, but was aimed at helping persecuted religious minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday led the party's door-to-door campaign in Lajpat Nagar area, visiting households and distributing literature to spread awareness about the CAA.

Union minister and Delhi BJP's Assembly poll incharge Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday visited Madrasi Camp locality in Moti Bagh area, spreading awareness about the amended law on citizenship.

Those spreading "rumours" about CAA are not well wishers of the country. Their objective will not be allowed to succeed, Javadekar stated.
The race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn formally kicks off today as candidates vying to replace him as Labour leader face questions from members of the Parliamentary Labour Party in Westminster.

As it stands there are six leadership hopefuls from across the party standing in the contest, which will culminate with the unveiling of the new leader on Saturday 4 April.

In the first round of the contest  ending on 13 January  the candidates must convince the party they can revive Labour from its worst electoral defeat since 1935 and secure the backing of 22 of the partys MPs and MEPs to remain in the race.

Keir Starmer

The shadow Brexit secretary officially confirmed his bid for the Labour leadership at the weekend in a newspaper article claiming another future is possible, but has previously admitted the party has a mountain to climb to return to power.

Before being elected to parliament to serve Holborn and St Pancras in 2015, Keir Starmer was awarded a knighthood for services to law and criminal justice for his work as the director of public prosecutions. He has previously rejected criticisms levelled at him of being too middle-class for the role and recalled how his mother worked as a nurse while his father was employed as a factory toolmaker.

The idea that somehow I personally dont know what its like for people across the country in all sorts of different circumstances is just not borne out, he told BBCs Radio 4 Today programme after the general election.

(Reuters)

Sir Keir draws supporters from across the party and is said to have already convinced enough MPs to back his leadership ambitions. Aware of Labours left-leaning membership, who will ultimately decide the next leader, he has been careful not abandon Jeremy Corbyns radical policies.

What Jeremy Corbyn brought to the Labour Party in 2015 was a change in emphasis - a radicalism that matters, and the rejection of austerity. We need to build on that, rather than oversteer and go back to some bygone age, he said in December.

The case for a radical government has never been stronger. The shift to a more radical position in 2015 and that rejection of austerity was really important.

He was also a prominent supporter in the shadow cabinet of Labour shifting to back to a pro-Final Say referendum. According to a recent poll of the partys membership by YouGov, Sir Keir enjoys 31 per cent of first preferences support  11 per cent ahead his closest rival, Rebecca Long-Bailey.

Rebecca Long Bailey

The Salford and Eccles MP entered the race to succeed Mr Corbyn with an article for the left-wing Tribune magazine, vowing to build a winning vision of a socialist future and to go to war with the political establishment.

Ms Long Bailey has repeatedly highlighted her childhood experience of growing up in the shadow of Manchester Uniteds Old Trafford stadium and watching her father worry about job losses as a docker and trade union representative. She worked as a solicitor in her twenties and was a relative newcomer into Labour politics before being elected in 2015 to replace Hazel Blears. Considered a protege of the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, she quickly climbed the ranks of Corbyns Labour Party before becoming the shadow business secretary in 2017.

Since announcing her leadership bid Ms Long Bailey has been described as a continuity Corbyn candidate  a label she rejects  after making clear she will stick with Labours radical agenda, especially the Green New Deal she claims party strategists tragically undersold.

I dont just agree with the policies, Ive spent the last four years writing them, she added.

(Reuters)

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4s Today programme, Ms Long Bailey also insisted she would not return to Ed Miliband era of controls on immigration being showcased on the side of the Labour Party mugs, adding claims that immigration depresses wages are wrong.

On Trident, the nuclear deterrent system, which Mr Corbyn refused to say he would use, she said: If you have a deterrent you have to be prepared to use it.

Ms Long Bailey is widely considered to be one of the top two candidates to succeed Mr Corbyn in April and has already attracted the prominent backing of Ian Lavery. the party chairman who had been mulling his own leadership bid, and that of her close friend Angela Rayner, who is also running for the deputy leadership position. Whether the left-leaning members are enticed by Sir Keir or another left-wing candidate, such as Clive Lewis, however, remains to be seen.

Clive Lewis

One of the first contenders to enter the leadership race in the aftermath of the disastrous general election campaign, Clive Lewis said: Im standing to leader of the Labour Party for the simple reason that if I dont, certain necessary truths may go unspoken during the debates of the coming months.

Before joining Labours parliamentary ranks, Mr Lewis grew up in a council estate in Northampton with his English mother and father, who came to the UK from Grenada, and worked in a good processing factory before becoming a full-time trade union official. Mr Lewis eventually worked as a BBC journalist, and an army reservist, who served in Afghanistan.

In a recent article for The Independent, Mr Lewis wrote: My Granddad instilled in me a great sense of civic duty through his stories of fighting the Nazis during the war. He also fostered a sense of black pride and struggle in me, as he taught me about colonial history.

Clive Lewis (Rex)

My sense of belonging didnt come from some idealised construct of the past but was created in the present, through the everyday experiences of the people I grew up with. This sense of belonging based on shared values and interests is what I want to bring to our country now.

So far in the contest, Mr Lewis, who was one of the most prominent backers of a second referendum, has backed a shift to proportional representation voting system, reform of the House of Lords and suggested that Labour should reach out to every progressive force in the country  parties, campaigns and movements  for the biggest conversation possible about how, together, we can change our country for the better.

But given a sizeable proportion of the left-wing MPs votes are likely to head in Ms Long Baileys direction, it is not yet clear whether Mr Lewis, the shadow treasury minister, will have sufficient support in the Parliamentary Labour Party to make it through to the second round.

Emily Thornberry

Announcing her decision to run for Labour leader Emily Thornberry made clear she had been an opponent of an early general election, and warned Jeremy Corbyns office it had been an act of catastrophic political folly.

She was brought up on a council estate near Guildford in Surrey by her mother when her father, a human rights lawyer and academic, walked out on his family. I was born into the Labour Party, she once said, claiming she delivered leaflets by the age I could reach the letter box. Before being elected as the MP for Islington South and Finsbury in 2005, Ms Thornberry also studied law at Kent University and went on to become a human rights barrister.

Ms Thornberry has been loyal to Mr Corbyn  a constituency neighbour  throughout his leadership but, like Sir Keir, was sidelined during the campaign for her vocal support of a second Brexit referendum  and once even dressed up as an EU flag. She has also won plaudits for her performance at the despatch box as shadow foreign secretary and has previously stood in for the Labour leader at prime ministers questions.

(PA (PA)

On policy, she has previously said there was nothing in the manifesto she disagreed with, but rather: When you put it all together, it did look like we were promising to deliver the earth, the moon and stars. In recent days, she also attacked Boris Johnson, her former opposite number in the House of Commons, over the Iranian crisis in the aftermath of the killing of Qassem Soleimani.

She accused the prime minister of sunning himself, drinking vodka martinis in the Caribbean instead of dealing with the fallout from the death of the Iranian official. She also warned of a lurch towards war because of Donalds Trumps reckless decision to kill one of the most prominent figures in the Iranian regime.

It is not yet clear with Ms Thornberry has the required support from Labour MPs to pass through to the next round of the contest. According to polling by YoGov, she also finishes in the bottom two, alongside Lisa Nandy, in terms of Labour members first preferences for the next leader of the party.

Jess Phillips

Entering the leadership contest, Jess Phillips declared that politics needs an honest voice as she launched a campaign video detailing her community activism in Birmingham over a decade ago.

People want some fairly basic things, she declared. They want to know that their children can be educated and if they are ill, that they will be made better. Those things are radical to great parts of our country at the moment because they simply dont exist.

Before being elected to parliament in 2015 she worked in womens refugees, helping victims of domestic abuse, and has since read out the names of those killed by their partners each year in the House of Commons. In an interview with The Sunday Times over the summer, Ms Phillips said she was brought up in a working-class community in Birmingham as her bearded lefty father worked as a teacher and healthcare manager.

During one recent speech to MPs, she said: I thought I had met posh people before I came here, but I had actually just met people who eat olives.

Related video: Jess Phillips launches Labour leadership bid (Reuters)

Perhaps the most prominent critic of Jeremy Corbyns leadership of the party, Ms Phillips has become a high-profile figure in the Labour Party, despite not serving on the frontbench. She has also been vocal of the partys woeful response to antisemitism allegations within its ranks.

She has been a supporter of a second referendum, but appeared to row back on her suggestion at the weekend that the party could campaign to rejoin the EU under her stewardship if the Brexit proved damaging.

Ms Phillips is likely to draw her support in the Parliamentary Labour Party from those who have been critical of Mr Corbyns leadership and more moderate-leaning MPs. But given the left-wing persuasion of the partys membership she faces a monumental challenge if she is to emerge as the next Labour leader in April.

Lisa Nandy

The Wigan MP since 2010 officially entered the race several days into the new year, and warned party members that if the party fails to change course we will become irrelevant.

Launching her campaign in the Wigan Post, she said that without what were once our Labour heartlands Labour will never win back power in Westminster.

Ms Nandy and former shadow cabinet minister launched the Centre For Towns think tank - something which could give her an advantage in understanding why voters in former industrial Labour heartlands switched to the Tories. She said that too many people "no longer feel they have a voice in our national story" and did not believe that politicians were interested in what they had to say.

Before being elected in 2010, Ms Nandy worked for the youth homelessness charity Centrepoint and The Children's Society. She grew up in a highly political household: her Indian father, Dipak Nandy, was a Marxist academic, and her grandfather Frank Byers served the Liberal Party in the House of Commons before becoming a life peer. She studied politics at Newcastle University and became a councillor before running for parliament.

(AFP/Getty (AFP/Getty)

Ms Nandy, who is often described to be from the soft left in the Labour Party, said trust was the key issue in why Labour lost the election. Hinting she will stick with key policies of Labours manifesto, she said people felt it was a no-brainer when talking about the renationalisation of the railways.

But she added: When we said that we would offer free broadband, I remember somebody in Leigh saying, I just want a functioning bus network.

She insisted it was looking very positive in regards to getting on the ballot paper during an interview at the weekend, but appears at the bottom of members first preferences for the next leader in a recent poll.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday charged Nigerians to be united in their resolve to fight terrorism and ensure peace reigns in the country.

The president also said that citizens must ensure they do not subscribe to the terrorists message of division, adding that doing the contrary would embolden what the terrorists wish, which is for Nigerians to see their beliefs as a reason to turn against one another.

The presidents statement came in the wake of the allegation of religious persecution by the Christian Association of Nigeria.

The group, reacting to a U.S. report, alleged that Christians have been victims of persecution and killings in states like Kaduna, Benue, Plateau Adamawa and Taraba.

Also, on 26 December last year, the Islamic State group released a 56-second video, produced by the IS news agency Amaq, claiming to show the killing of 11 Christian hostages. The group said its action was to avenge the death of its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was killed during a US raid in Syria in October.

Analysts believed the video was aimed at flaring religious tension between Muslim and Christians, two major religious groups in the country.

Appeal

Mr Buhari, through his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, urged Nigerians not to give in to the plot of the terrorists.

As we fight Boko Haram on the ground, so too must we tackle their beliefs: stability and unity in (the) face of their hatred is itself a rejection of their worldview, the presidential statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES read.

Mr Buhari also condemned the killings which occurred during the festive period.

To continue to see these happenings solely in religious terms  removed from social, economic and environmental factors  simplifies complexities that must be heeded.

Not seeing them as they should be is exactly what the terrorists and groups wish: they want Nigerians to see their beliefs as a reason to turn against one another, the president said.

On the contrary, Christians and Muslims alike are united in their opposition to Boko Haram and the hatred for decency that the infamous group stands for.

This government shall never tolerate religious intolerance. We clearly and unambiguously restate our support for the freedom to practice whichever belief you wish. The politicisation of religion  as forbidden by the constitution  has no place in Nigeria.
Lenovo is showing attendees at this year's CES in Las Vegas an ambitious new laptop, which the company describes as the worlds first foldable PC.

Called the ThinkPad X1 Fold, the device appears at first glance like a normal tablet featuring a 13.3-inch OLED screen.

When coupled with an external magnetic Bluetooth keyboard and set on its side with a builtin kickstand, the Fold can be used like a standard laptop.

Users can also literally bend the screen in half, either folding it closed like a book, or bending it to a 90-degree angle.

Scroll down for video

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold (pictured above) will be the 'world's first foldable PC' when it releases in mid-2020

When the screen is folded at a right angle, it can be used to multitask, with one program running on the top and another running on the bottom.

For instance, users can connect to a video conference call on the upright part of the screen, while having a spreadsheet or word processing document open on the bottom half.

The Fold will also have a virtual keyboard that can be pulled up at any time in case the external keyboard is unavailable.

Lenovo says the Fold will retail for around $2,500 and will be available in mid-2020, though an exact date has not been finalized.

The Fold can also be used like a traditional laptop in conjunction with an external Bluetooth keyboard

The durable plastic screen is actually comprised of six different layers of plastic and metal bracing to make it both flexible and scratch resistant

It uses Intel Core laptop processors, offers 8GB of memory, and will support optional 5G connectivity option.

The Fold will also come with a leather folio cover to give it the appearance of a planner or personal notebook when its folded in half.

The company engineered the device so that a small gap just big enough to store the external Bluetooth keyboard when the device is folded shut.

Users will be able to run separate programs on separate sides of the screen when it's folded

The Fold was designed around a proprietary four-point hinge mechanism that pulls the screen flat when it's fully opened, ensuring the screen doesn't bubble or warp

LENOVO FOLDING LAPTOP SPECS 13.3-inch screen when folded open

9.6-inch screen when in laptop mode

OLED display with 4:3 2K resolution

Intel processor

'All-day' battery

USB C ports

Infrared camera

Stereo speakers Advertisement

The screen itself is actually a blend of six different layers of plastic and metal framing material, designed to make the screen both flexible and durable.

Lenovo says the screen has a hardness rating of 6H, which a company representative told Gizmodo will make the device much more durable than the Samsung Galaxy Fold.

The fold built is around a four-point hinge system that connects two carbon-fiber plates.

To avoid any bulging or buckling in the screen, the hinge has been designed to pull both sides of the screen flat when fully extended.

Because of the uniquely thin housing, Lenovo developed a custom cooling system that combines a thin fan, a heat sink, and a heat spreader.

The Fold will offer an 11 hour battery life and weigh just 2.2 pounds.
(Bloomberg) -- China has included the internet industry for the first time in an envisioned overhaul of its anti-monopoly laws, potentially giving regulators the power to rein in the countrys increasingly dominant technology giants.

Proposed revisions to the Anti-Monopoly Law, published last week, included language that accords regulators responsibility to monitor the impact that internet companies have on the online sector, their scale and their ability to control products and services. More broadly, companies found to have violated the law could be fined as much as 10% of their revenue or a maximum of 50 million yuan ($7.2 million) if they dont generate significant sales, according to the revised rules posted on the State Administration for Market Regulations website. The draft is currently open to public consultation.

The proposal follows heightened scrutiny of technology companies worldwide, as regulators investigate the extent to which internet giants from Facebook Inc. to Google can use valuable data to shore up their dominance. China itself is home to some of the worlds largest corporations, from e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and WeChat-operator Tencent Holdings Ltd. to up-and-comers such as ByteDance Inc.

A handful of domestic players control swaths of online businesses from retail to social media, and their backing is often key to the success of newly emergent startups. Its unclear what other punishments Beijings regulators could mete out, but the industrys leaders have drawn criticism for years for over-aggressive competitive tactics.

Online platforms and consumers dont have equal bargaining powers, and platforms will tend to abuse their dominant positions in the market, said Zhan Hao, managing partner with Beijing-based Anjie Law Firm. Over the past years, China has encouraged innovation and development in the internet sector, going through a phase where regulators are more tolerant. There will be closer scrutiny going forward.

Story continues

Read more: Facebook and Google Face Supercharged Regulatory Risk in 2020

Chinas authorities took two decades to draft the anti-monopoly law before enacting it in 2008. Foreign governments and businesses have long urged China to enact clear laws and procedures for enforcing them. But critics say the antitrust crackdown is being enforced unevenly, and that the business environment for overseas companies is worsening as a result. U.S. President Donald Trump is now waging a campaign to get Beijing to open more sectors to foreign participation.

The latest revisions appear to be targeted at domestic operators, Susan Ning, antitrust partner at King & Wood, wrote in a report published on the law firms social media account. This definitely casts a spotlight on the internet sector and how it does business, Ning wrote. As we understand it, singling out the internet sector signals a new-found focus on the industrys unique characteristics and is intended to ensure room for its expansion. Also, it signals a renewed focus on the internet, and on internet platforms in particular.

China Steps Up Antitrust; Foreigners Feel Stepped On: QuickTake

JD.com Inc., for instance, has accused bigger rival Alibaba of unfairly locking in exclusive agreements with merchants, which Alibaba has denied. Regulators have investigated the legality of ride-hailing leader Didi Chuxings acquisition of Uber Technologies Inc.s Chinese business. And Tencents WeChat dominates many aspects of daily Chinese life from payments to gaming, though upstart ByteDance has in recent years begun to eat into its advertising business through video service Douyin and news platform Toutiao.

The proposed revisions are an attempt to update laws for the internet era, to adapt to an industry where market dominance isnt always easily quantifiable. In the past, China used revenue or market share as metrics to determine whether a company held a monopoly. But those precepts may not apply to internet companies, which sometimes control valuable information yet dont generate a lot of cash because they havent monetized that data.

The government has for a long time wanted to regulate the internet sector. Its part of a growing trend internationally as well, said Ma Chen, a Beijing-based partner at Han Kun Law Offices who specializes in antitrust. The new economy companies are having a great impact so the government wants to make sure anti-monopoly laws are keeping up with the times.

(Updates with regulatory details and analysts comment from the second paragraph)

--With assistance from Dong Cao and Lulu Yilun Chen.

To contact the reporter on this story: Zheping Huang in Hong Kong at zhuang245@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Edwin Chan at echan273@bloomberg.net, Colum Murphy

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Our clients felt like Dominion was trying to erase their community out of existence, said Greg Buppert, a lawyer for the Southern Environmental Law Center who worked on the case. Whether or not a compressor station is in fact suitable for this site, I think, is an open question  and a significant risk for Dominion if they push forward here.
Shillong, Jan 7 : Amidst speculations and uncertainty, Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy on Tuesday said that he would not make any comment about his current leave period and rejoining gubernatorial function.

"I would not make any comment about my leave period and when I would return Shillong Raj Bhavan," Roy told IANS over phone from Kolkata.

Officials of Shillong Raj Bhavan, when contacted, said that they have no information about Roy's rejoining and extension of leave.

Roy had gone on 18-day leave in the third week of December last year following his controversial tweet asking those who do not want "divisive democracy should go to North Korea" during the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the state.

Roy, a former state President of BJP's West Bengal unit from 2002 to 2006 and a staunch Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) follower, supposed to join on January 4.

As additional charge, Nagaland Governor R.N. Ravi, who is also the Centre's interlocutor for the ongoing peace talks with various Naga insurgent groups, has assumed the office of the Meghalaya governor on December 17.

According to an official source, Roy decided to extend his leave after a telephonic conversation with the officials in the Union Home Ministry but there is no official communication in the Shillong Raj Bhavan.

Roy, a former governor of Tripura and transferred to Meghalaya in August 2018, would end his normal tenure as Meghalaya Governor in May.

There has been difference between the Governor and the National People's Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government over his refusal to give his assent to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019. BJP is an ally of the MDA government in Meghalaya.

Various political parties including opposition Congress has been demanding Roy's recall as Meghalaya governor for his frequent controversial and objectionable tweets and comments in the social media.

Roy was in Jadavpur University in Kolkata as professor and founder head of the department of construction engineering after he played a key role in construction of metro rail in Kolkata as its chief engineer.
At least 17 police personnel and one patrol vehicle was stationed inside the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, and another 116 were standing by at the gate, while masked men and women attacked students and teachers on Sunday evening, according to several mid-level officers who gave fresh details of the deployment at a time when the department has come under criticism for not stopping the assault or apprehending any of the suspects.

The team inside was of plain-clothes personnel posted in the campus to maintain law and order for approximately a month now, according to the officials. They are stationed inside the campus, along with a PCR van, round the clock.

There were an additional 116 policemen outside the gates between 4pm and 8pm  the most serious assaults are alleged to have taken place between 5.30pm and 7.30pm  waiting for permission to enter the campus.

Our 15-20 personnel deployed at the administration block on Delhi high courts order were unarmed and in plainclothes. They did their best to contain the situation but the rioters were large in numbers. The policemen used public address system to warn them and stop them, said deputy commissioner of police (South West), Devender Arya, who denied accusations that the police did not act on time.

Around 30 JNU students, including the students union president Aishe Ghosh and at least one professor, sustained serious injuries in Sundays incident, which triggered anger at college campuses across the country.

On Tuesday, more than 48 hours after the attack, the police were yet to identify or apprehend any suspect. Our officers outside the gate were waiting for the permission to enter the campus. By the time our teams entered the campus with reinforcement, the mob had vanished, Arya added.

JNUSU alleged the attacks took place in front of police officials and cited images and videos that purported to show suspects leaving the campus with bats and sticks unchallenged.

How can we expect the police to arrest anyone when they themselves were escorting them outside the campus? The police are hand-in-glove with them. We demand a judicial probe in the incident because both the police and the administration are incapable of conducting an independent inquiry, said JNUSU vice president Saket Moon.

The police has strongly denied allegations of collusion.

Tensions had been simmering inside the campus for a couple of days, and the JNU administration has said that a group led by the JNUSU to protest a decision to hike fees was involved in acts of vandalism and clashes with other students.

Students group Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has been accused by the JNUSU of being behind the attack in the evening, much of which was focussed on the Sabarmati hostel. ABVP has refuted the allegations and in turn accused the JNUSU of carrying out an attack on students in the Periyar hostel earlier in the day.

Two other police officers, who asked not to be named, said that the first information about violence was reported around 3.45pm, when complaints came from the Periyar hostel. An inspector with 16 junior officials in plainclothes reached the hostel but the suspects had fled, these officers said, citing official records that logged Sundays incidents.

The assault at JNU on Sunday is now the subject of a special inquiry ordered by the Union government, to which the Delhi Police reports. Confusion over the polices conduct grew with the FIR giving a different account of when they received the approval to enter the campus. According to the document, it was approached by the university to intervene sometime in the late afternoon (soon after 3.45pm), but it adds in the FIR that it entered the premises only three hours later.
Zarifs attendance at the Security Council was planned before Soleimani was killed, escalating global tensions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said the United States declined to issue him a visa to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting scheduled in New York later this week, as tensions escalate between the two countries after the US killed Irans most prominent military commander.

They fear that someone comes to the US and reveals realities, Zarif said on Tuesday.

His comments come as Iran preparedto bury the remains of Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated on Friday nears Baghdad international airport in a US air strike.

Under the 1947 UN headquarters agreement, the US is generally required to allow access to the UN for foreign diplomats. But Washington says it can deny visas for security, terrorism and foreign policy reasons.

There was no immediate comment by the US State Department.





UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric declined to comment on the apparent visa denial.

Zarif wanted to attend a meeting of the Security Council on Thursday on the topic of upholding the UN Charter. The meeting and Zarifs travel had been planned before the escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The Security Council meeting would have given Zarif a global spotlight to publicly criticise the US for killing Soleimani.

Irans ambassador to the UN, Majid Takht Ravanchi, has described the killing of Soleimani as an obvious example of state terrorism and, as a criminal act, constitutes a gross violation of the fundamental principles of international law, including, in particular  the Charter of the United Nations.

Zarif last travelled to New York in September for the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN  after the US sanctioned him for implementing the reckless agenda of Irans Supreme Leader.

The last time Zarif was at the UN was in September when he accompanied President Hassan Rouhani to the 74th General Assembly meeting [File: Justine Lane/EPA]

The sanctions block any property or interests Zarif has in the US, but he says he has none.

Zarif also attended UN meetings in April and July. During his July visit, Washington imposed tight travel restrictions on Zarif and diplomats at Irans mission to the UN, confining them to a small section of New York City.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier on Monday.

State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement the pair discussed events in the Middle East and that Pompeo expressed his appreciation for Guterres diplomatic efforts.
Controversial cryptocurrency influencer John McAfee has withdrawn his promise to eat his own penis if Bitcoin doesnt reach $1 million per coin, which he initially pledged to do in 2017.

In a surprising tweet, McAfee said that the promise was simply a ruse to onboard new users before claiming that it worked.

The 74-year-old founder of the McAfee antivirus software went on to claim that Bitcoin is ancient technology and that newer blockchains have more potential, highlighting the rise of privacy features, smart contracts, and distributed apps.

McAfee has been an advocate for privacy coins like Monero in the past, which could be a factor in his reported run-in with American authorities over the past year.

Coin Rivet interviewed McAfee while he was allegedly on the run in Eastern Europe in August.

In the interview, he revealed how he faked a stroke to avoid deportation to the USA after being held prisoner in the Dominican Republic.

After letting the cat out of the bag in terms of his withdrawn promise, McAfee went on to advertise his bizarre 2020 US presidential campaign, in which he pleads with supporters not to vote for him.

While he is often considered a polarising figure in the cryptocurrency space, McAfee has retained a strong following across all social media platforms, with more than 1.1 million followers on Twitter.

For more news, guides, and cryptocurrency analysis, click here.

The post John McAfee sensationally backtracks on promise to eat his own penis appeared first on Coin Rivet.
On Jan. 6, a large crowd assembled in Holjes-Sheppard Park in Lebanon Borough. Folks gathered at 6:30 p.m. to watch the Burning of the Greens.

The greens that were set ablaze were the Christmas trees picked up curbside by the Lebanon Fire Co. between Dec. 31 and Jan. 6.

Firefighters piled the trees in a mound and burned them as residents watched. Hot chocolate and cupcakes were served, compliments of the Lebanon Borough Recreation Committee.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-06 23:02:31|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday China has the confidence that its development will be even stronger in 2020.

Xi made the remarks when holding talks with Kiribati's President Taneti Mamau at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi said the new year began with a mixture of good news and bad news, and unstable and uncertain factors are increasing.

"Mr. President's visit to China comes as Beijing welcomes the first snow of the new year. As the Chinese saying goes, 'a timely snowfall offers promise for a fruitful harvest,' and China has the confidence that its development will be even better in 2020," Xi said.
Reynhard Sinaga (pictured above), 36, preyed on at least 195 young men - 30 more have already called police saying they fear they were also abused

30 more men have already accused a 'monstrous' churchgoing PhD student from Indonesia of abusing them since he was unmasked as the world's worst serial rapist yesterday, it was revealed today.

Gay student Reynhard Sinaga, 36, preyed on at least 195 young men - most of them heterosexual - and police set up a specialist help line after admitting the true figure may be higher.

And now detectives in Manchester, where Sinaga drugged and filmed himself abusing his victims, say they have already been contacted by 30 more men who fear they were also raped.

Duncan Craig, who runs rape support group Survivors Manchester, told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire show: 'The police incident room had around 30 calls yesterday'.

Sinaga incapacitated victims with the date rape drug GHB before filming his attacks. Last night Home Secretary Priti Patel ordered a review into whether tougher controls are needed for the Class C drug widely used recreationally among the gay community.

Sinaga, who mostly targeted heterosexual students in Manchester, was convicted of 159 attacks, including 136 rapes, eight attempted rapes and 15 indecent assaults against 48 victims. Four trials were held over 18 months.

Footage was found of him assaulting up to 195 different men, 70 of whom have not been traced.

'He would almost certainly be the most prolific sex offender to have gone through the British courts and quite possibly any court in the world,' said Ian Rushton, North West deputy chief crown prosecutor.

Montana House on Princess Street in Manchester city centre where Sinaga operated as a serial rapist

The videos of the attacks Sinaga was charged with are believed to date from 2015 to 2017 and Sinaga arrived in Britain in 2007. A source said: 'What he did in the intervening years is unknown and it is possible there are many more victims.'

As the authorities faced questions about how Sinaga was able to get away with his crimes for so long:

Manchester University and police set up support helplines;

Detectives appealed for other victims to come forward;

It emerged that two men targeted by Sinaga attempted suicide;

Jurors were offered counselling after having to watch videos of Sinaga's rapes.

The shocking case can finally be reported after the lifting of court reporting restrictions.

Indonesian-born Sinaga was already serving a minimum of 20 years after being found guilty at trials in July 2018 and May 2019. Trials in October and December saw further convictions.

Sinaga (pictured above) posed as a Good Samaritan and would offer his victims a place to stay

Fifth Nightclub on Princess Street in Manchester city centre, and formerly known as 5th Avenue. One victim had been waiting outside the club when Sinaga approached him

He posed as a 'good Samaritan' to men who had become separated from their friends on nights out in central Manchester. The slightly-built sex attacker, who described himself in court as an effeminate gay man, would strike up conversation and invite them to his nearby flat.

Sinaga (above) would prey on victims aged 18-36

His victims ranged from 18 to 36 but the average age was 21, Manchester Crown Court was told.

Most were students and some were still at school, including the sixth former whose escape from his vile clutches led to Sinaga being arrested.

Passing sentence, Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said Sinaga was a dangerous offender who had committed evil crimes.

She added: 'I'm not aware of any other case of sexual offending on this scale and magnitude. This was a campaign of rape which, in my judgement, justifies the highest of sentences.

'One of your victims described you as a monster. The scale and enormity of your offending establishes that is an accurate description.' She called Sinaga a 'highly dangerous, cunning and deceitful individual who will never be safe to release'  also pointing out that he could have killed or seriously injured his victims by spiking their drinks.

She said she would have imposed a whole life term  a UK first for a case not involving murder  but for the fact that Sinaga did not torture his victims.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the investigation was the largest rape case it had ever handled.

Mr Rushton said: 'His extreme sense of sexual entitlement almost defies belief and he would no doubt still be adding to his staggering tally had he not been caught. He used victims as objects purely for his own gratification.'

Sinaga, who came to Manchester as a student funded by his wealthy Indonesian family, boasted to friends about using 'black magic potion' and 'secret poison' to have sex with straight men.

He denied all the offences, claiming his victims had agreed to play dead during sex in a 50 Shades of Grey fantasy.

Sinaga had two degrees from Manchester University and was taking a PhD in geography at Leeds University at the time of his arrest in June 2017. Although raised a Catholic, he attended a liberal Anglican church close to his flat.

The court heard that Sinaga's victims had suffered 'deep and lasting psychological harm'. Two of the men attempted suicide, while others told how the trauma of what happened had ruined their lives and forced them to take to drink.

Nazir Afzal, a former North West chief crown prosecutor, said law enforcement agencies were being 'overly reactive'.

He added: 'They wait for brave victims to come forward. They don't look for patterns, join the dots or assume the worst.

'It's better that we presume that predators exist in every environment and go looking for them.'

Greater Manchester Police urged other potential victims of Sinaga or anyone requiring support to come forward.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 06, 2020 | 05:23 PM | HOPKINSVILLE





According to Kentucky State Police, on Monday at 3:44 PM, Post 2 in Madisonville received a call indicating that an inmate had escaped the Christian County Detention Center.







According to officers, 19-year-old Jaquavius D. Whitlock of Hopkinsville was undergoing medical treatment when he fled on foot. He was last seen on South O'Neal Avenue in Hopkinsville at appoximately 1:50 PM.







Whitlock is a black male with black hair, brown eyes, stands at approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, and weighs 165 pounds. He was last seen wearing a red sweatshirt and jeans. He was jailed on charges of marijuana possession, drug paraphernalia, convicted felon in possession of a handgun, and using restricted ammo.







Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kentucky State Police Post 2 at 270-676-3313 or by 'Text a Tip' using the Kentucky State Police app.

Law enforcement officials are asking for the public's assistance with locating an escaped inmate.
Iranian Nuclear Deal On Life Support After Tehran Decides To Ignore Restrictions

By Golnaz Esfandiari January 06, 2020

Iran's announcement that it will not abide by the limits put on its nuclear program under a historic 2015 deal with six world powers has put the landmark accord on the verge of collapse.

But many analysts argue that Tehran's decision on January 5 to virtually exit the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) still provides a chance to salvage the wounded deal, which many argue has been on life support since the United States exited it in May 2018.

Iran's announcement increases the threat posed by the country's nuclear program, Kelsey Davenport, director for Nonproliferation Policy at the Arms Control Association, told RFE/RL.

But she added there was still a narrow window in which to preserve the deal under which Tehran agreed to curb its controversial nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

"Announcing an end to adherence with the limits imposed by the Iran deal is not the same as restarting prohibited activities," Davenport told RFE/RL.

"Withdrawing from [limited] enrichment levels is ominous but leaves to the future what exactly they will do," said Mark Fitzpatrick, an associate fellow at the Institute for Strategic Studies in London. "This keeps alive hopes for a negotiated outcome that preserves the JCPOA."

Tehran's decision to pull further back from the JCPOA came on the heels of the January 3 assassination of top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike.

Iran's announcement -- the latest in a series of withdrawals from the agreement in recent months, has also increased tensions with the European signatories to the accord: Germany, France, Britain, and the European Union, which have put great effort into trying to keep the nuclear accord afloat.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on January 6 that Tehran's announcement "could be the first step to the end of this agreement."

"What Iran has announced is no longer in accordance with the agreement, so we will sit down today with France and Britain to decide on that -- how we respond to that this week," he added.

Room To Maneuver

An official January 5 statement by Iran said it will no longer observe limits on the level of enrichment, the amount of stockpiled enriched uranium, or research and development in its nuclear activities.

"From here on, Iran's nuclear program will be developed solely based on its technical needs," the statement said without elaborating.

But Iran's pronouncement said Tehran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has been monitoring the country's nuclear activities and sites, will continue as before.

Fitzpatrick, said Tehran's actions are "more measured" than he expected.

"Iran did not say it would raise the enrichment level to 20 percent, they didn't announce anything regarding the plutonium path to a bomb, and they didn't say they are pulling out of the deal," he said. "Most importantly, Iran left in place the IAEA inspections."

Davenport said that, by not stating specifically what steps it will take, Iran has left itself considerable room to maneuver.

"If Iran wants to quickly cut into the breakout time [the time needed to amass enough weapons-grade uranium for a nuclear weapon], it could do so by rapidly reinstalling centrifuges and enriching uranium to higher levels," she said. "Alternatively, Iran could gradually chip away at the breakout time by slowly increasing its stockpile of low-enriched uranium."

Ali Vaez, the director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group (ICG), told RFE/RL that nuclear inspections are "an absolute redline even for" Russia and China, which are the other two signatories to the 2015 agreement.

"Once Iran reduces the IAEA's access [to its nuclear operations], it would signal its preparedness to abandon the JCPOA and even the [Treaty On the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons] altogether," he said.

Dispute Mechanism

If Tehran decides to boost its production of enriched uranium, which could reduce the breakout time, European countries could initiate a dispute mechanism within the deal, which could result in the imposition of UN sanctions within 65 days.

"At a minimum, this should provide Europe with one last opportunity to try to save the deal by providing Iran with some economic reprieve," Vaez told RFE/RL.

Iran has since May 2019 announced gradual reductions in its compliance with the deal in a move aimed at pressuring EU countries to help it bypass crippling U.S. sanctions, including an oil embargo, that has deprived the country of its main source of income.

Tehran said on January 5 that if the sanctions are lifted -- something the Trump administration shows no signs of doing -- and Iran benefited from the deal economically, the country is ready to return to its commitment under the nuclear deal.

On January 6, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he "deeply" regretted Iran's announcement.

"As ever we will rely on @iaeaorg verification. Full implementation of #NuclearDeal by all is now more important than ever, for regional stability & global security. I will continue working with all participants on [a] way forward," Borrell said on Twitter on January 6.

Borrell's spokesman, Peter Stano, told reporters that the EU foreign policy chief was engaged in contacts with all the relevant partners to find a way toward a "de-escalation."

"Escalation is something no one can afford and it is in no one's interest because escalation leads only to more violence, to more tension, and -- in the end -- to more suffering for the wider region and for the people in this region."

Stano added that Borrell invited Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Brussels to continue talks on the issue.

"It is up to the Iranian side to take up the invitation and proceed," he said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-nuclear-deal-on-life -support-after-tehran-decides-to- ignore-restrictions/30363196.html

Copyright (c) 2020. 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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Like many Puerto Ricans, Yaritza Llabreras experienced that loss of life firsthand from Hurricane Maria, after which she lost two grandparents. Now she is worried for her grandmother, Rosa Colon, who has Alzheimers and has been bedridden for two years. After this weeks earthquakes, the Llabreras family went to rescue Colon in Guanica.
The President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference speaks of the unprecedented calamity facing the country as bushfires continue to burn. He also announces that parishes will take up a special collection at Masses on Australia Day weekend.

As bushfires continue to burn out of control in Australia, the President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Mark Coleridge, has issued a statement on the unprecedented crisis facing the country.

In his statement, the Archbishop commends the heroic efforts of firefighters, the resilience of communities, and acknowledges the lives lost and properties destroyed.

While noting the huge amount being done around the nation, coordinated by governments and first responders, local faith communities and other groups, Archbishop Coleridge says that the scale of this crisis requires a national response from the whole Church to complement and coordinate what is happening locally.

As part of that response, the Bishops Conference has announced that parishes will take up a special collection at Masses on Sunday 26th January, Australia Day weekend, and will work to connect individuals, families and communities in need with people who are able to provide various types of support.



The statement goes on to say the bishops will be working with key partners, including national Catholic organisations and religious institutes, to coordinate the most effective response possible from the wider Catholic community.



Archbishop Coleridge also reiterates the importance of prayer at this time of crisis.



A genuine Catholic response to a crisis of this magnitude must draw strength from prayer which inspires concrete and compassionate action, he said.


The Free Senior High School (SHS) policy has recorded an increase in student enrollment of 69%, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia made the disclosure in a statement at Abiriw in the Eastern Region during the Ohum Festival celebration.

According to him, in the first three years of this policy, we have seen enrollment in Ghana for free SHS education increased by 69; that is a very high level of increase and many of these children if it had not been for free SHS would have been seated at home.

He noted that the free SHS policy is so critical for the future of this country because the key to the development of any nation is the education of its people.

If you have an educated population the evidence shows from economic history that countries that have educated their people have risen up their development ladder and this is why Nana Akufo-Addo was very keen on the introduction of the free SHS education, he told the chiefs and people of Abiriw during the festival.

Challenges

He however underscored some challenges confronting the smooth implementation of the policy such as Infrastructure deficits.

Due to the challenges, he said, Government has had to introduce the double track policy.

He linked the rational behind the introduction of the double track policy to a crowded church two or more services have to be held on Sunday to enable every member receive the gospel.

However, he said, the challenges were being addressed and that soon double track will be history.

---Daily Guide
By Online Desk

Amid tensions between Iran and US post-death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani by an airstrike at Baghdad airport last week, US has now denied a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif that would have allowed him attend a UNSC meeting in New York on Thursday.

Under the 1947 United Nations "headquarters agreement", the US is required to allow access to foreign diplomats but Washington alleges that it can deny visas for "security, terrorism and foreign policy reasons".

ALSO READ: 35 killed in stampede at funeral for slain Iranian general Soleimani

Zarif's visit to the UN had been planned before the recent flare-up however, the forum would have given Iran global spotlight to condemn and criticise the US for killing Soleimani.

Meanwhile, Iran's mission to the United Nations said: "We have seen the media reports but we have not received any official communication from either the US or the UN regarding Foreign Minister Zarif's visa."

Zarif last travelled to New York in September for the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations - after the United States sanctioned him for implementing the reckless agenda of Irans Supreme Leader.

ALSO READ: Anti-US protest in Delhi against Iranian General Qassem Suleimani's killing

UN spokesman Stephan Dujarric, as well as US State Department, declined to comment on the issue.

For Iranians whose icons since the Islamic Revolution had been the stern-faced clergy, Major General Qassem Soleimani widely represented a figure of national resilience in the face of four decades of US pressure.

For the US and Israel, however, he was a shadowy figure in command of Iran's proxy forces, responsible for fighters in Syria backing President Bashar Assad and for the deaths of American troops in Iraq.

Further, The Pentagon also accused Soleimani of plotting an attack on the US embassy and planning to carry out additional attacks on US diplomats and service members in Iraq.

Thousands gathered in Tehran on January 6 to pay their last respects to Soleimani, whose death has sparked massive tensions between the two countries.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who bestowed the country's highest honour on Soleimani last year, vowed 'severe retaliation' in response to his killing.

(With inputs from Agencies)
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh demanded strict action against perpetrators of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) violence which took place on January 5 and accused the Centre and state government for lawlessness and mayhem in the university.

"The Centre and Delhi Governments should stop indulging in blame games over the issue, and ensure urgent restoration of law and order in the country's premier university (JNU). It is necessary to identify and act against not just the assailants behind what appeared to be a pre-planned attack but also those who became co-conspirators by virtue of allowing it to continue unabated. If this kind of incident goes unpunished in the capital, one can only imagine what could happen in educational institutions in other parts of the country," Singh said, according to a press release on Monday.

"How could he (Arvind Kejriwal) not rush to the spot? Was it enough for him to simply tweet his anguish? As chief minister, and more importantly, as someone who claims to be the custodian of the welfare of Delhi's citizens, why did he not intervene personally?" the press release added.

Through the release, Singh also called upon all like-minded people to rise to the occasion and fight against the forces that were hell-bent on destroying India's glorious status as a progressive and liberal democracy, founded on the Constitutional principles of unity, amity and secularism.

On Sunday evening, more than 30 students of the university including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh were injured and were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the varsity and attacked them and professors with sticks and rods.

According to sources in the Delhi Police, the investigation has revealed that some insiders and some outsiders were involved in the violence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tokyo prosecutors issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for the wife of Nissan's former chairman, Carlos Ghosn, on suspicion of perjury, hours after the Japanese carmaker said it was still pursuing its former head for serious misconduct.

The move against Carole Ghosn, who is not in Japan, followed her husband's flight to Lebanon last week while he was out on bail awaiting trial for alleged financial misconduct.

Details on the allegations against Carole Ghosn were not immediately available. Japanese officials have said anyone caught helping a fugitive escape will face legal consequences.

Carole Ghosn was banned from meeting with her husband while he was out on bail because she was seen as someone who might help his escape.

A spokesperson for the Ghosn family said the issuance of the warrant was "pathetic".

In a statement, the spokesperson implied it was a response to a press conference Ghosn plans to give in Lebanon on Wednesday -- his first since skipping bail in Japan.

"Last time Carlos Ghosn announced a press conference and got RE-arrested. This time, the day before he is announced to speak out freely for the first time, they issued an arrest warrant for his wife Carole Ghosn," the spokesperson said.

Earlier Tuesday, Ghosn's former employer, Nissan Motor Co., said it was still pursuing legal action against him despite his escape from Japan to Lebanon.

The Japanese automaker said in a statement that Ghosn engaged in serious misconduct while leading the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance.

The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan, it said without giving details.

Japan's chief government spokesman told reporters Tokyo has told Lebanon that Ghosn left the country illegally and was seeking cooperation in finding out what happened.

Japan and Lebanon do not have an extradition treaty. Experts have said it would be difficult to bring Ghosn back to stand trial in Tokyo and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the situation had to be handled carefully.

Story continues

The foreign ministry said the Japan's ambassador to Beirut planned to meet with Lebanese President Michel Aoun later in the day.

He managed to skip bail and leave the country despite heavy surveillance while he was staying at a home in Tokyo.

Japanese news reports Tuesday gave new details of that escape, saying he left his residence alone, met two men at a Tokyo hotel, and then took a bullet train to Osaka before boarding a private jet hidden inside a case for musical equipment.

>> Questions surround former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosns brazen escape from Japan

Prosecutors are investigating why the cargo was not inspected before it was loaded, the broadcaster NHK and financial newspaper Nikkei said, citing unnamed sources.

The jet used, made by Canada's Bombadier, is designed to allow easy access between its passenger and cargo compartments.

The Nikkei report said dozens of people in various countries helped to plan his clandestine departure.

Japan to tighten border controls

Nissan's statement was the first word from the company since Ghosn's flight last week. The automaker and Japanese prosecutors allege Ghosn misstated his future compensation and diverted company assets for personal gain. He says he is innocent.

Ghosn has not appeared in public since arriving in Lebanon. He is expected to give his side of the story in a news conference planned for Wednesday in Beirut.

Earlier, he said the allegations against him were concocted by Nissan, Japanese authorities and others who wanted to block efforts toward a fuller merger between Nissan and its French alliance partner Renault SA.

Ghosn said in a statement last week that he wanted to escape injustice. Critics of the Japanese judicial system say his case exemplifies its tendency to move too slowly and keep suspects in detention for too long.

Nissan said in its statement that an investigation is ongoing in France, and the US Securities and Exchange Commission has found some wrongdoing.

Ghosn has not been charged in France or the US.

Japan's Justice Minister Masako Mori said Japan would tighten border control precautions to prevent a recurrence. She did not confirm reports that Ghosn left via the Kansai Airport in Osaka, hidden inside a musical equipment box as he was brought aboard a private jet and flown first to Turkey and then to Lebanon.

Mori told reporters Tuesday that all airports will be required to check all cargo and luggage, including items destined for private jets.

She reiterated her defence of the justice system and denounced Ghosn's escape as an unjustifiable" crime. She said each nation's system has its own way of making arrests and granting bail.

The scandal over Ghosn's case has tarnished Nissan's image and created a leadership vacuum at a time when the automaker's profits and sales are tumbling. Ghosns successor Hiroto Saikawa also resigned last year amid financial misconduct allegations related to questionable income.

Nissan will continue to do the right thing by cooperating with judicial and regulatory authorities wherever necessary, the Yokohama-based company said.

Although Ghosn is unlikely to face trial in Japan, Greg Kelly, another Nissan former executive, is still facing charges of under-reporting Ghosn's future compensation. He says he is innocent.

Kelly, an American, who is out on bail, has not been charged with the breach of trust allegations Ghosn is also facing.

Nissan has also been charged as a corporate entity. The company says it won't fight the charges and will pay the required fines.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)


This article originally appeared on Task & Purpose, a digital news and culture publication dedicated to military and veterans issues.

Two federal law enforcement agencies are investigating whether a former enlisted Marine pretended to be an officer to help an active-duty infantryman smuggle arms into Haiti, according to court filings viewed by Task & Purpose.

Marine Sgt. Jacques Yves Sebastien Duroseau was detained by local police in Haiti after he landed at the international airport in Port-au-Prince on Nov. 12 with three plastic boxes containing guns, ammo, body armor and a plan to train members of the Haitian military, the filings claim.

A federal criminal complaint filed Nov. 27 in the Eastern District of North Carolina alleges that Duroseau was aided by a "known individual" who purchased his plane ticket, and helped him bring the weapons to the Coastal Carolina Regional Airport in New Bern, North Carolina, for his flight on Nov. 11. That individual, according to a Nov. 22 affidavit in support of a search warrant of Duroseau's residence, is Taylor Hickey, a former Marine who lived with Duroseau in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Hickey declined to comment when reached by Task & Purpose. Duroseau's attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

Related: Marine Smuggled Guns to Haiti so He Could Train Military, Become President, Feds Say

The recently unsealed affidavit said that security camera footage showed Hickey at the airport wearing a Marine camouflage uniform with the rank of captain, despite leaving active duty as a sergeant. Duroseau wore civilian clothes.

"Based on conversations with other law enforcement agents and retired military members, it is reasonable to believe Hickey wore the uniform to gain a benefit or obtain preferential treatment at the airport on Veterans Day," reads the affidavit, filed by Charles J. Kitchen, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, an investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

Kitchen noted that American Airlines offers complimentary checking of up to three bags for military personnel, which may have explained Hickey's choice of dress.

According to the affidavit, Hickey and Duroseau checked three suitcases, in addition to three plastic cases containing eight firearms and ammunition. The first two plastic boxes contained the guns, while the third case held ammunition, but because of the weight, Duroseau removed some of the ammunition and handed it off to Hickey, who stood off to the side taking notes in a notebook.

Duroseau then filled out a declaration form with American Airlines stating that the firearms were unloaded. He did not have permission from the Marine Corps to leave the United States or export firearms.

Duroseau then boarded his American Airlines flight and set off for Haiti, where he was promptly stopped by customs agents for a secondary inspection when he landed the next day. According to the affidavit, agents found the following weapons: a Beretta model 65490; a Sig Sauer model SP2022; a Sig Sauer model P229; a Sig Sauer model P320; a Spikes Tactical model ST15; a Springfield Armory model Saint; a Precision Ruger model 300 WIN MAG; and a Armscor Model M1911-Al CS caliber 45. Photos of the weapons quickly circulated online, according to the Miami Herald.

Additionally, the plastic cases contained body armor, bullet-proof SAPI plates, and a "United States Marine Lieutenant Colonel uniform" with Duroseau's name on the nametags, despite the fact that he is a sergeant, the affidavit says.

Duroseau was taken into custody by Haitian authorities for "local violations," according to the Nov. 27 criminal complaint.

When questioned, Duroseau told investigators he traveled to Haiti in order to help the Haitian people, and that he wanted to "wear the uniform of the military that's been established," and to "defeat the thugs that have been creating a little bit of part of the instability in Haiti," according to the complaint.

A Marine infantryman, Duroseau said that he intended to teach marksmanship to the Haitian Army, citing his experience as a firearms instructor in the U.S. Marine Corps. He admitted that he knew that transporting firearms is illegal, but went on to tell investigators that he intended to be arrested, as part of his plan to develop a platform from which to make a statement.

"It's still a part of the attention I need," Duroseau told investigators.

On Nov. 26, investigators questioned Hickey, who said that Duroseau was going to be moving to Haiti once he left the Marine Corps, and that he planned to become president of Haiti. Hickey also said that Duroseau claimed he was in contact with the U.S. embassy there, and that he'd made them aware of his desire to be president, according to the complaint.

Currently, there is "no public information available" on the status of Duroseau or Hickey's case as "this is an ongoing investigation," Don Connolly, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Eastern District of North Carolina, told Task & Purpose.

"At this point, no charges have been filed," Connolly added.

"Naval Criminal Investigative Services and Homeland Security Investigations are jointly conducting the investigation," Jeff Houston, a spokesman for NCIS, told Task & Purpose.

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment.

Hickey enlisted in the Marine Corps on Oct. 22, 2012, and served as an administrative specialist, achieving the rank of sergeant before leaving active duty, according to Maj. Roger Hollenbeck, a spokesman for Marine Forces Reserve. The Marine Corps confirmed that Hickey is currently in the Inactive Ready Reserve, but declined to comment on when she left active duty.

Hickey's awards include a Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal; a Marine Security Guard Ribbon; two Good Conduct Medals; Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; two Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbons; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; and the National Defense Ribbon.

As for Duroseau, his first encounter with the Marines didn't begin at the recruiter's office, but when he was a kid growing up in Haiti, according to a 2016 Marine Corps story that profiled him while he was a marksmanship instructor at Quantico, Virginia.

"When I was a kid, I saw the Marines back home [because] we had a little war going on, that was the first time I saw them and I hope to be one of them," he said. "Since that day I had it in the back of my head where I wanted to be a U.S. Marine."

Duroseau enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 2011 and went through recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, before attending the School of Infantry in January 2012.

He has since been "administratively" reassigned to the 2nd Marine Division, but prior to that he was a machine gunner with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, according to a statement from 2nd Lt. Sydney Murkins, a spokesperson for 2nd MarDiv.

"Such alleged conduct is inconsistent with the high standards and ideals of the United States Marine Corps and does not represent the superior conduct of the vast majority of the United States Marines," Murkins said of Duroseau. "Furthermore, if substantiated, the situation will be expediently, firmly, and fairly adjudicated."

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 17:01 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c321392f3 1 City flood,inundation,weather,rainfall,jakarta,anies-baswedan,Jakarta-great-flood-2020 Free

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has implied that the majority of the capital was safe from the recent floods, claiming that floodwater only inundated 15 percent of Jakarta at the beginning of the year.

According to the city administration, the figure indicates that Jakarta is prepared to handle any future floods. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had warned that heavy rainfall could last a week after hours-long downpours hit Jakarta and its satellite cities on New Year's Eve, causing severe floods.

We have a total of 478 pumps spread across 176 locations, in addition to 122 mobile pumps. All pumps function well, Insya Allah [God willing], he said as quoted by Antara news agency on Sunday.

Therefore, Alhamdulillah [thank God] 85 percent of Jakarta is safe and only 15 percent was affected."

Of the 15 percent, less than 1 percent was inundated by floods more than 1.5 meters in height, Anies said, concluding from this that in terms of the system, Jakarta has prepared well".

However, Anies acknowledged that the current number pumps owned by the city administration could not cope with extreme rainfall intensity.

We are now preparing for short-term mitigation with the systems and facilities that are readily available, as the BMKG has warned of possible heavy rainfall in the upcoming weeks, Anies said. We would talk about long-term recovery afterward.

Similarly, Jakarta Water Source Management Agency head Juaini Yusuf admitted some pumps at 10 locations submerged in floodwater on Jan. 1.

We are considering elevating the height of the pumps in certain locations. There are 10 locations, according to reports from the field, Juaini said on Monday, adding that the 10 locations were lowland areas.

The severe flooding that hit parts of Greater Jakarta and Lebak in Banten has claimed at least 67 lives  16 from Jakarta  and affected over 500,000 people. About 14,535 people remained in shelters as of Tuesday at 6 a.m., according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency. (sau)
There will no longer be the smell of pulled pork and brisket on South Colony Road.

Roscoe's Traveling Smokehouse announced on Monday that they are closing their shop after six months of residence at the former Anthony's Subs building in Wallingford. The business formerly existed as a food truck and catering service before Dave Silvia and Tony "Roscoe" Silvia, owners of Roscoe's Traveling Smokehouse, decided to open a storefront on 211 South Colony Road.
HOUSTON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In preparation for immense growth initiatives in 2020, The Now Network is assembling an in-house development team at its headquarters in Houston, Texas. The team will support the expansion of The Now Network's last mile logistics platform, which provides wholesalers, 3PL carriers, drivers and end users complete visibility and accuracy throughout the fuel delivery lifecycle.

"Bringing development in-house will offer immense value to our team members, customers and 3PL partners as we continue to expand globally," said The Now Network President, Mush Khan. "This strategic commitment will improve efficiencies throughout the organization, allowing us to roll out new features quickly, troubleshoot on-demand and develop a deeper understanding of our customers' needs driving our solutions. Also, I am pleased to add to Houston's energy technology community."

Aaron Perez, Paul Sesar, Ryan Hansen and Oksana Kaliniouk joined The Now Network team as Senior Developers in Q4, bringing with them a combined 65 years of experience in software design, development, implementation and maintenance. Stacey McCroskey, Director of Product, will be leading the team. Their breadth of knowledge and innovative, customer-focused approach to software/product development will be instrumental in expanding The Now Network's current technology stack, while identifying opportunities for improvement as the platform continues to evolve.

"Over the years, The Now Network has seen immense growth, consistently advancing its technology framework to drive faster payments, increased driver retention, an expanded 3PL network, and increased business revenue," said Founder, Chairman & Owner, Sam Simon. "The addition of an in-house development team will only amplify this growth, promoting more opportunities for cross-collaboration and customer feedback, to expand upon and refine existing features."

The Now Network's office is strategically located in Houston, the energy capital of the world, home to more than 500 exploration and production firms, 800 oilfield service companies and 90 pipelines transportation establishments. Building a development team onsite at this strategic location will provide time-zone alignment for The Now Network customers, increasing support throughout implementation, product management and the entire development lifecycle.

To learn more about The Now Network and schedule a product tour, visit www.fuelnownetwork.com or call 1.833.fuelnow.

About The Now Network

The Now Network is a digital technology stack that empowers the last mile ecosystem of wholesalers, carriers, drivers and ultimate customers towards smarter, faster deliveries. They aim to be the digital marketplace and technology where everyone in the ecosystem connects and engages in a uniquely digital way, ultimately getting everyone paid exponentially faster. The Now Network is a tech startup in the Simon Group Holdings energy technology portfolio. Discover more about The Now Network's mission, culture, and team at www.fuelnownetwork.com.

SOURCE The Now Network
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Jan. 7

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

As of Dec. 31, 2019, 294.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas were imported to China via China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline, PetroChina West Pipeline Company said, Trend reports referring to Xinhua news agency.

This benefited over 500 million people in 27 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the report said.

The natural gas imports via the pipeline account for more than 15 percent of Chinas total consumption in the same period.

The China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline delivered over 47.9 billion cubic meters of natural gas to China in 2019, according to the report, while Turkmenistan planned to supply China with about 40 billion cubic meters of gas in 2019.

The gas pipeline was commissioned in 2009. With a length of 1,800 kilometers, it is the biggest cross-border gas pipeline in the world.

Turkmenistan ranks fourth in the world in terms of gas reserves, and China is the biggest consumer of energy resources.

The gas pipeline route passes through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The fourth gas pipeline branch is planned to be built through Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The volumes of the exported gas will increase after the construction of the branch.

Ultimately, the volumes are planned to be brought up to 65 billion cubic meters of gas a year.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today appealed to the people to follow the path shown by Pejavara Sri Vishveshateertha Swami Ji and work towards building a casteless society in India.

He said that seers like Sri Vishveshatirtha Swami Ji have always provided succour and solace to the suffering people and they constantly rushed to the help of the needy and poor.

Speaking after paying homage to Sri Vishveshateertha Swami Ji at Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha in Bengaluru today, the Vice President said that Pejavara Swami Ji represented and nurtured India's long tradition of Saints, Rishis and Munis, who acted as the guiding light of society.

"Our ancient sages always kept the welfare of society above everything else. The great Puranic sage Dadhichi sacrificed his life to ensure that society remained on the path of righteousness," he added.

Stating that the life and journey of Sri Vishveshatirtha Swami Ji was a noble chapter in this glorious tradition, the Vice President described him as a role-model for devoted social service. He said that Swamiji dedicated his life to purify the cultural, religious and social values of our present-day society.

Stating that Pejavara Swamiji believed in the Gandhian principle of 'Service to Humanity is Service to the God', the Vice President said that Swamiji's great and selfless deeds exemplified this noble ideal.

Naidu said that Swami ji had influenced innumerable lives across the length and breadth of the country through his yatras, discourses, teachings and interactions and said that he was a true embodiment of the teachings of Srimad Bhagavadgita.

Observing that Sri Pejavara Swamiji was a progressive visionary, the Vice President said that he was among the first spiritual leaders in modern India to consider Dalits as an integral part of Hindu society.

"Swamiji's name is synonymous with service to the scheduled castes and tribes in India and he worked hard to bring them in the mainstream of life," he said.

The Vice President also recalled Swamiji's contributions in establishing Poornapragna Vidyapeetha, a Sanskrit Spiritual Pathashala and his efforts to popularise academic research in Sanskrit.

Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka CN Ashwath Narayan and Sri Vishvaprasannatirtha Swamiji of Sri Pejavara Mutt were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pompeo Rejects Propaganda Claim Soleimani Was on Diplomatic Mission in Iraq

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo dismissed a suggestion that Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani was on a diplomatic mission in Iraq when he was killed by an American drone strike last week.

The claim, he said, is fundamentally false and a piece of Iranian propaganda.

Irans foreign minister, Javad Zarif, claimed that Soleimani, who was in charge of the shadowy Quds Force, was in Baghdad on a diplomatic visit.

Does anybody in here believe that? Pompeo sarcastically told reporters. Is there any history that would indicate that it was remotely possible that this kind gentleman, this diplomat of great order, Qassem Soleimani, had traveled to Baghdad for the idea of conducting a peace mission? We know that wasnt true. We not only know the history, we know in that moment that was not true. Zarif is a propagandist of the first order.

Its not new, weve heard these same lies before. Its fundamentally false.

Pompeo addressed a claim that Soleimani allegedly was working on a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia. The secretary of state said he spoke with Saudi officials and said they didnt share the view.

Coffins of Gen. Qassem Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a U.S. drone strike are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession at the Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square in Tehran, Iran on Jan. 6, 2020. (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

I can assure you that they will share my view that he was not there representing some kind of agreement that was going to reduce risk or reduce the risk to the lives of Americans while he was on that trip, he told reporters.

Zarif on Tuesday told NPR that the United States will face retaliation, echoing numerous statements from other Iranian officials after Soleimanis death.

[We] will respond according to our own timing and choice, he said, adding that the attack amounts to war. President Donald Trump and Pompeo have both said they are not attempting to start a war with Iran or are seeking regime change, stressing that his death was ordered because he was plotting attacks against Americans.

We are bound to protect our citizens and our military officials. It was an act that has to be reciprocated by Iran. We will make the necessary deliberations and it will be an act that we will do, not in a hurry, not in a hasty manner, he also told Qatar-backed Al Jazeera.

Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iraqs Popular Mobilisation Forces, an Iran-backed militant group, was also killed in the drone strike last week near the Baghdad airport.
WASHINGTON  As lawmakers learn more about the killing of a top Iranian general, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will push House leadership to include her resolution that would require more congressional input on future military actions in a War Powers Resolution that the House will vote on this week.

The possibility of conflict with Iran increases the need for a resolution Gillibrand introduced in November to curb presidents' ability to conduct "endless wars," the New York Democrat said.

"Now the need [for this resolution] has been clarified more than ever before because President [Donald] Trump has committed this assassination, which the Iranians have taken as a declaration of war, without the input or consent of Congress," Gillibrand said in an interview Tuesday. "I'm going to be speaking to my colleagues on a bipartisan basis asking them to sponsor this resolution and support it."

"I'm also going to be calling House leadership to urge them to pass my resolution as part of their War Powers package," she said. "I'm going to make the case as to why it should be [included]."

Gillibrand's resolution would limit a president's authorization to conduct war to a maximum of two years  unless extended  and require the executive branch to justify specific military action against only named countries and adversaries.

The senator, who was elected to Congress in 2006, said she has been dismayed at the ongoing use of military authorizations from 2001 and 2002, that permitted war in Afghanistan and Iraq, to justify more than a decade of fighting in the Middle East. Her resolution would repeal those 2001 and 2002 authorizations. It would also outline procedures for the future repeal or narrowing of war authorizations in the future by Congress.

"It is Congress's constitutional duty to declare war," Gillibrand said. "Congress has abdicated that duty over the last several years and it needs to retake that responsibility so we can keep America safe."

The House's War Powers Resolution now applies only to Iran. It will mandate that if no further congressional action is taken, the administrations military hostilities toward Iran stop within 30 days, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in a letter Sunday.

The House measure is similar to a resolution introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. Both would limit the administration's ability to act against Iran without a congressional vote and public debate.

Gillibrand said her resolution is a "complement" to Kaine's, but is more broad, applying to war with all nations. Both senators are members of the Armed Services Committee.

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

Many Democrats have decried the lack of information presented to Congress ahead of the strike. Republicans have largely praised President Trump's decision to take out Iranian Gen. Qasem Soliemani , although some not that they oppose war with Iran  a move likely to be unpopular with voters.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is circulating a resolution to applaud the president for the drone strike that killed Soliemani in Iraq last week, Fox News reported.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a key Trump ally and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on Twitter he support's Cruz's resolution and will oppose any House measure that would limit Trump's ability to attack Iran as he sees fit.

Gillibrand and other senators will participate in a briefing from the White House regarding the killing of Soliemani and the administration's plans to address the assassination's growing ripple effects.

"I think his public justifications are questionable, said Gillibrand, referring to Trump's statements on the strike. She added she is "deeply dissatisfied" with the classified letter Trump sent to Congress on Soleimani's assassination and will seek more explanation for the attack.

"America is less safe today than it was before he assassinated Soleimani," Gillibrand said. "Make no mistake: Soleimani was a very dark figure, who did not deserve our empathy or sympathy. However, if he was going to make such a strategic mission, it should have been cleared by Congress first."

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that Trump was presented with "multiple pieces of evidence" that necessitated the swift killing of Soleimani to save American lives. The strike was part of a "maximum pressure campaign" against Iran, which will continue, Pompeo added.
Lockheed Martin Corp. plans to hold a recruiting fair Thursday in Syracuse as the company seeks to fill 118 job openings this year at its plants in Central New York and near Binghamton.

At least 72 of the new jobs are at Lockheed Martins campus at Electronics Park in Salina, a company spokeswoman said Tuesday.

The defense contractor is one of the Syracuse areas largest private employers with about 1,700 employees based at the Electronics Park campus.

Lockheed will host a recruitment fair open to the public from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 9) at Destiny USA in Syracuse. The event will take place in the 3rd floor Canyon area of the mall. You can pre-register through Lockheeds website.

The company has openings for technical positions at its plants in Salina and Owego, west of Binghamton.

Entry-level and experienced professionals will be hired in manufacturing, systems engineering, product electrical engineering, hardware engineering, integration and testing, and software engineering.

Lockheed does not disclose the salary range for the open jobs, but in the past the company said salaries for engineering jobs range from $60,000 to more than $100,000 per year.

The Salina plant has landed a steady stream of military radar and electronic warfare contracts over the past year.

In September, the U.S. Army awarded Lockheed a contract worth up to $3 billion to build its next generation of radars for short-range air defenses. Its the single largest contract in the history of the Salina plant.

Read more

Lockheed Martin wins record-setting $3 billion contract; helps keep jobs in Syracuse

Why the Army gave Lockheed Martin Syracuse the biggest contract in plant history

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BARTs independent police watchdog launched an unofficial listening tour Monday morning, ambling along the platform at 19th Street Station before riding the train to West Oakland.

Some commuters stopped to shake his hand but many breezed by, unfamiliar with the tall man in a navy blue windbreaker who aims to keep BART police fair and just.

Though he remains largely out of sight and tries to steer clear of political battles, Russell Bloom plays a key role in a transit agency thats struggling to balance enforcement with civil liberties. In the past year alone, BART has grappled with high-profile violent crimes, open-air drug use, a surge of homeless people on trains and an emotional debate over whether to ban panhandling.

Its also taken a harder line on fare cheats, reflected in the uptick of fare-evasion-related complaints that come to Blooms office.

He and other officials acknowledge the challenge of policing a rail system that spans a complex and diverse Bay Area, while building trust with 400,000 commuters who board the trains every weekday. Yet Bloom praises BART for making strides since an officer shot and killed 22-year-old Oscar Grant on the Fruitvale Station platform 11 years ago.

The evolution of the department really began with the hiring of (former) Police Chief Kenton Rainey in 2010, he said. Rainey strengthened internal affairs, required patrol officers to wear body cameras and brought the police culture in line with national trends. Subsequent Chief Carlos Rojas also emphasized community relations during his two-year tenure, even as he beefed up foot patrols, hired more officers and used BARTs surveillance network to increase arrests. Rojas retired in May, and BART has not named a replacement.

What I have seen is a department thats committed itself to improving its practices, to being self-reflective and to creating a culture of accountability and responsibility, Bloom said.

He said he firmly believes that BARTs effort to connect with the communities it serves complements its work to boost public safety.

The concept of a civilian police review board or independent auditor isnt new, but only in recent years did it start to take off across the country. Traditionally, police departments were responsible for their own investigations, and to a large extent thats still the case, even at BART. Most complaints go to internal affairs, unless the person filing the allegations specifically seeks out the independent auditor.

It resembles other models of customer service.

When you buy a defective product at Target, you call Target and ask to speak to a supervisor, Bloom said. You dont call the Bureau of Consumer Protection, he said.

Still, serious cases, such as an officer-involved shooting, would automatically trigger a review by the independent auditor. He also investigates accusations of police officers lying, as well as instances of excessive force.

Bloom took the job of independent police auditor four years ago. The son of a criminal defense attorney, he studied law at the now-defunct New College of California and went on to chair the Berkeley Police Review Commission. He became an investigator for BART in 2014, under former police auditor Mark Smith.

This is the work that Russell was born to do, said BART board President Lateefah Simon, an ardent social justice advocate and the only black board director. As such, shes often the one fielding complaints when riders feel their civil rights were violated.

Whether its texts or on Twitter, the stuff comes to me, Simon said. And I call Russell immediately. I talk to him five or six times a week.

The Office of the Independent Police Auditor was among several outcomes of the fatal shooting of Grant  a moment that haunts BART to this day.

Creating a two-pronged system of accountability was key for the transit agency to claw its way out of that crisis. Bloom and his two staff members work with an 11-member Police Citizen Review Board to investigate complaints of alleged misconduct and recommend discipline when appropriate. Bloom also helps craft department policies and rules. Hes most proud of a 2015 policy that lays out guidelines for officers interacting with transgender people.

To date, the Office of the Independent Police Auditor has completed 74 investigations. Bloom receives an average of 22 complaints annually  a number that shot up to 42 last year, which Bloom attributes to greater public awareness of his office. Last year, he closed eight investigations and sustained findings for six allegations: one for improper arrest or detention, one for conduct unbecoming an officer and four for an officers failure to activate a body-worn camera.

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.

Representatives of the BART Police Officers Association say thats not enough to justify the offices $750,000 annual budget.

The majority of the complaints are for rudeness, said the associations president, Officer Keith Garcia. He (Bloom) makes one clearance a month, and we dont really have officers violating peoples rights. So what are the taxpayers getting?

Grants uncle, Cephus Johnson, noted that the Office of the Independent Police Auditor and the Citizen Review Board are not as effective as they could be. But dont blame the officials, he said. Blame the lack of resources.

While BART police have evolved over the past decade, the department has also stumbled. A Chronicle investigation in 2018 revealed that two-thirds of the people banned from BART property are black, which raised concerns of racial profiling. Nearly half of BARTs civil citations for proof-of-payment go to African American riders, despite built-in guards to ensure that enforcement is impartial.

By contrast, a 2018 customer satisfaction survey showed that blacks comprise 10% of BART passengers.

Any disparity points to a potential problem, Bloom said, even if BART has the best intentions.

Yet the biggest hurdle is capturing the publics attention. A September survey showed that only 11% of riders knew the transit agency has an independent police auditor. His office still handles far fewer complaints than the 119 that go to BART police internal affairs each year.

Its peoples natural instinct that if they want to complain about a BART police officer, they go to the Police Department, he said. But I believe people who choose to do that likely dont know we exist.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
WASHINGTON D.C.  Today, U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) will award 158 grants totaling $32 million to 118 small businesses in 32 states. Funded through DOEs Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, todays selections are for Phase I research and development.

The Phase I grants will allow small businesses to research technical feasibility of new innovations that advance the mission of the Office of Science. Phase I grants are 6-12 months in duration with a median award amount of $200,000. Successful Phase I grantees will be eligible to apply for Phase II awards in fiscal year 2021 that will allow them to develop novel prototypes or processes to validate their Phase I research findings. Phase II grants have a median award amount of $1,100,000 and a duration up to 2 years.

Highlighted below are selected grants for each of the research and development programs that provided funding for these projects:

Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Ultra-bright Quantum Light Source Using Entangled Two-Mode State An Accessible High-Performance Application for Nanophotonics Design and Optimization A Unified Profiling Infrastructure and Tool for Extreme-scale Deep Learning

Office of Basic Energy Sciences Low Cost Air Separation Via Magnetic Microchannel Arrays Nanoionics Proton Conducting Electrolyte Novel ionomer and polymer-electrolyte membrane development for solar-energy-driven carbon dioxide conversion Perfectly-absorbing photoconductive metasurfaces for high efficiency ultrafast optoelectronic switches

Office of Biological and Environmental Research Multiarray Sensors for Real Time Detection of Microbial Metabolites in Watersheds and Sub-surface Systems A New Digital Holographic Microscope for the Study of Biological Systems Low Cost Shortwave Spectroradiometer for Retrieval of Cloud Properties

Office of Nuclear Physics Use of the Magnetic Isotope Effect for Silicon Isotopomer Chemical Separations A novel approach to production of highly spin polarized electrons from III-V semiconductor/half-metal hybrid multilayers Novel Proton Alignment Aid for Isotope Production



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Small businesses play a major role in spurring innovation and creating jobs in the U.S. economy. The SBIR and STTR programs were created by Congress to leverage small businesses to advance innovation at federal agencies. Additional information on the DOE SBIR and STTR programs is available HERE.

More information about the projects announced today is available HERE.
The law regulates digital currencies and financial technologies, as well as setting out the relationship between the central bank and other state authorities

A long-awaited banking bill has been referred to Egypts House of Representatives for debate and assent, a Central Bank of Egypt source told state-run MENA agency on Tuesday.

The bill was referred to the house this week, and will be reviewed by ad-hoc parliamentary committees, then debated in plenary.

The proposed law focuses on the governance of the central bank and regulates cooperation between the central bank, government and authorities tasked with monitoring the financial sector.

The new bill is part of an integrated economic reform programme that aims at helping Egypt achieve its development plans, create jobs and encourage investments.

The draft law aims covers regulations around payment services and financial technologies, including regulation of digital currencies.

It also set rules on fair competition, prevention of monopolies, and the protection of the rights of bank customers.

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Photo: The Canadian Press Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance

The Canadian military is temporarily relocating some soldiers from Iraq to Kuwait due to security concerns, chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance said Tuesday.

The move, which Vance announced in an open letter to the families of Canadian soldiers in Iraq that was posted to Twitter, follows the lead of Germany and several other allies who have withdrawn some of their troops.

"Over the coming days, and as a result of Coalition and NATO planning, some of our people will be moved temporarily from Iraq to Kuwait," Vance wrote. "Simply put, we are doing this to ensure their safety and security."

Canada has about 500 soldiers in Iraq, most of whom are there to help train local forces to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, including about 200 with a NATO mission in the south of the country and upwards of 200 special-forces soldiers in the north.

Vance did not specify how many Canadian troops were being pulled out of Iraq.

"Naturally, the work we are doing on these missions, and the future of operations in Iraq, remain conditional on maintaining a sufficiently secure and productive operational environment," he said.

Western troops in Iraq have been on high alert since the killing of an Iranian general by a U.S. drone at the Baghdad airport on Friday night.

The death of Iranian Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was seen as the second-most powerful person in Iran, has raised fears of Iranian reprisals. Iraq's parliament and outgoing prime minister have called for the forced withdrawal of all western troops from the country.
New Delhi: In a tragic incident, a Greater Noida resident was allegedly robbed and murdered by some unidentified persons while he was returning home on his car on Monday (January 06). The incident took place near Parthala Chowk in Greater Noida. The police suspect that the deceased was murdered by the criminals while he made an attempt to resist them from robbing him. However, an official confirmation on the same remains awaited.

The family members of the deceased told police that Gaurav Chandel, who was a resident in Greater Noida West's Gaur City, was returning from his office and was on his way home. The family said that Chandel had informed them that he was close to Parthala Chowk and was reaching home in 5 minutes. They added that when he didn't reach home even after half-an-hour and stopped taking their calls, they approached the police and filed a complaint.

According to Chandel's relatives, they approached the Bisrakh police station and lodged a written complaint. On Tuesday morning. Chandel's body was discovered by his relatives between Parthala Chowk and Hindan river bridge late. However, his car, which he had bought only a month back, along with his laptop and mobile phone, was missing.

He was immediately rushed to Noida's Yatartha Hospital in sector 110 where he was declared brought dead by the doctors.

Chandel is survived by his wife and an eight-year-old daughter.
The USA TODAY Network launched a series on the Latino community in the U.S. called Hecho en USA, or made in America. Roughly 80% of all Latinos living in the U.S. are American citizens. But media coverage of Hispanics tends to focus on immigration and crime, instead of how Latino families live, work and learn in their hometowns. Hecho en USA tells the stories of the nations 59.9 million Latinos  a growing economic and cultural force, many of whom are increasingly born in the United States.

PHOENIX  Inside a banquet hall at the Corona Ranch and Rodeo Grounds, tired couples and little girls with long braids dance to the easy sway of ranchera music.

Election Day has turned into a sweaty-hot May night in Phoenix, and Carlos Garcia, the candidate everyone is here for, is waiting for the votes to be tallied. Standing under a puffy mulberry tree, hes listening to campaign supporters swap stories and nursing his beer.

The historic race is still too close to call.

If elected, Garcia, a longtime human-rights activist, will become the first Mexican immigrant to serve on the Phoenix City Council. Hell represent the fifth-largest and fastest-growing city in the nation. Hell lead a Latino-majority district once known as the segregated part of town where Latinos and black families in Phoenix could own businesses and homes.

As if to ease nerves, Garcia directs the people crowded around him to a woman whose coal-black hair whispers against her shiny hoop earrings. Shes holding a piggy bank the size of a mango. It's stamped: Carlos for Phoenix Council District 8.

Tell them about the piggy bank, Garcia says, nodding at Jacinta Gonzalez.

In 2016, Garcia, Gonzalez and other protesters set out to block a road leading to a Donald Trump campaign rally outside Phoenix. Gonzalez was arrested  by deputies of then-Sheriff Joe Arpaio, famous for being known as Americas toughest sheriff and for being held in criminal contempt of court for ignoring a federal judges order to stop racially profiling Latinos.

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After deputies questioned Gonzalez about her citizenship, she sued and won a settlement. And she turned that money into something Garcia desperately needed, the thing many rising Latino candidates lack: campaign funding.

We dont have access to big donors, we dont have access to corporations that are going to invest in his type of leadership, so we have to find other ways to support, she says. And so sometimes thats litigation, sometimes thats fundraisers, sometimes thats car washes. We do whatever were able to do, because we need hope and we need the belief that we can actually do things differently. And we can change the culture of how people get to office and what people do when theyre there.

Despite the nations ballooning Hispanic population, Latinos running and winning political offices across the U.S. are too often an anomaly. Even in Hispanic-majority districts, Latinos dont run or win elections at the rates of their white counterparts, various studies show. Now, candidates such as Garcia  and his supporters  are looking to change that.

Nationally, there are an estimated 58.9 million Latinos, making up about 18.1% of the U.S. population and accounting for the nations second-largest ethnic group, after whites. Yet only about 6,700 elected officials are Latino, according to a 2018 analysis by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, or NALEO. That amounts to a political representation rate of 1.2% in local, state and federal elected offices.

When Garcia made his campaign public, most people didnt expect him to win, and not just because of his anti-establishment background. Statistics are stacked against outsider Latino candidates as much as they are traditional ones.

But ahead of the 2020 presidential elections, Latinos across the U.S. have rallied against policies and rhetoric they feel target their community and are working to build momentum. Political activists are recruiting Latinx candidates to run in local and federal contests and aiming to win.

Latinos will need more than passion to reach political equity, said Angela Ocampo, a University of Michigan political science professor. Indeed, if Latinos continue to be elected at the same rate as they have in recent years, it will likely be more than 50 years before parity is reached, she said.

Its going to take a very long time, Ocampo said. Its even worse when we look at gender, at Latina representation.

More Latinos running for political office

In recent months, Latinos have been courted to run for congressional seats in Texas, Colorado and New Mexico. At the local level, Regina Romero was elected in early November as the first female mayor of Tucson, Arizonas second-largest city, making her the only Latina mayor in the 50 largest cities in the U.S. In 2018, Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham, a 12th-generation New Mexican, was elected as the first Latina Democratic governor of New Mexico. She replaced Susana Martinez, a Latina Republican.

Some political analysts are calling it the Trump effect, a backlash against political rhetoric and measures they believe harm Latinos, migrants and people of color. Ahead of 2020 White House and congressional races, that phenomenon could favor Democrats, who historically garner more support from Latino voters.

But for decades, Latino candidates like Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York or Garcia have received sparse support from mainstream political machines.

Like Garcia, Ocasio-Cortez, a self-identified democratic socialist, built her campaign around community support that few establishment politicos saw coming. The 29-year-old, born in the Bronx, was working in a bar to support her family before she was elected in 2018, becoming the youngest woman in Congress.

Ocasio-Cortezs ethnicity stands out. There were only four Latino U.S. senators and 34 U.S. representatives as of January 2018, according to NALEO. That number increased slightly after the 2018 election when voters sent four additional Latino members to the House and made the 116th Congress the most representative of Latinos in history. Still, thats just a fraction of the nations 100 senators and 435 representatives.

Analysts point to varied reasons for the disparity, including policies that suppress the Latino vote and political funding systems that benefit candidates perceived as viable winners, which in many cases are white people picked by top Republican and Democratic party leaders.

These parties and their donors, theyre very influential, but in many cases, Latinos are receiving limited support from the important actors as theyre trying to launch their campaign, Ocampo said.

Ocampo analyzed congressional races in Latino-majority districts. She found that even with the majority-minority advantage, electoral success falters. For example, Latinos are the largest ethnic group in California (40%) but make up only 24% of the California Legislature, according to a 2018 Ocampo study.

And in New York, where Latinos make up about 19% of the population, there are only 20 Latino state legislators, accounting for about 9% of all New York state lawmakers.

The outlook for Latina lawmakers is especially bleak, Ocampo said. Of the 6,749 elected Latino office-holders across local, state and federal levels, only 2,485 were women.

The highest rate of parity by Latino political representation is in Florida and New Mexico. New Mexico has the nations highest percentage of the Latino population at 48.8%. In Florida, the state with the sixth-largest Latino population, Latinos represent 26.1% of the population, according to 2018 U.S. Census data. But the states estimated 4.8 million Latinos in Florida have benefited from decades of political activism in Cuban, Puerto Rican, Venezuelan and other Hispanic communities largely in Miami that has resulted in an unusual number of Hispanic lawmakers holding local and statewide offices.

Data shows that when candidates of color run, their races draw more voters of color to elections, and those voters are more likely to vote for a candidate from their own racial or ethnic background, said Matt Barreto, a University of California, Los Angeles, professor of political science and Chicana/o studies and co-founder of Latino Decisions, a political research firm.

U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-TX) (L) and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) face off in a debate at the KENS 5 studios on Oct. 16, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas.

The research suggests that they arent being recruited, they are not being sought out by the Democratic Party or the Republican Party, he said.

The Latino vote isnt monolithic, but the growing demographic can wield power in competitive races won by the margins.

Mark Lopez, a Pew demographer, noted that while Latinos tend to vote at a higher rate for Democratic candidates, theres a significant conservative Latino voting bloc. He points to the 2004 election when former President George Bush captured an estimated 45% of the Latino vote. Roughly 29% of Latinos voted for Trump in 2016 after he launched his campaign by calling Mexicans rapists.

In the closely watched Texas Senate race in 2018, Ted Cruz won over Beto ORourke. Cruz, the incumbent, repeatedly pointed out to voters that he was the son of a Cuban immigrant and that ORourke was not Hispanic. Cruz ultimately captured 50.9% of the vote in the tightest U.S. Senate race in Texas since 1978. ORourke, who also targeted his campaign to appeal to Latinos, captured 64% of the Hispanic vote.

Two years before the Senate showdown, Cruz ran for president against Trump and another Latino candidate, Marco Rubio, whose father also came to the United States from Cuba. A robocall during the 2016 election on behalf of Trump and targeting Rubio suggested even Latino candidates with conservative credentials can face rhetoric and challenges winning over voters unsure about supporting non-white candidates.

"The white race is dying out in America and Europe because we are afraid to be called 'racist. Donald Trump is not a racist, but Donald Trump is not afraid. Don't vote for a Cuban. Vote for Donald Trump," the robocall said.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus chairman Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-TX, arrives for a news conference to discuss the Supreme Court case involving Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals on Nov. 12, 2019.

Latinos inspired by civil rights fight

For Democratic Texas U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, its simple: Either you have a voice on issues that affect you, your family and your community, or others make those decisions for you.

By next year, Hispanics are expected to become the largest ethnic minority voting group to be eligible to vote in a presidential election, according to a study of the 2020 electorate released earlier this year by the Pew Research Center. In all, 32 million Latinos will be eligible to vote compared with 30 million voters who are black. It would mark the first federal election where Hispanic voters outnumber black voters.

Castro said Latinos have made great strides since the civil rights era in the 1960s, when Latinos battling discrimination formed the Chicano movement to fight for the rights of Mexican Americans.

It was a community that was marginalized, and in some places, repressed, he said. When my grandmother came to Texas, there were signs that said, No dogs, Mexicans or Negroes allowed.

Former Democratic presidential candidate and former HUD Secretary Julian Castro speaks at the Liberty and Justice Celebration at the Wells Fargo Arena on Nov. 01, 2019, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Castro and his brother, former presidential candidate Julian Castro, grew up in San Antonio, a city where Latino politicians run and win. Their mother, Rosie Castro, was a Chicana activist who in the 1970s joined La Raza Unida, a third-political party seeking to engage Latinos in politics.

Castro said he and his brother entered politics because they grew up watching Latinos raise their voices as activists and successfully run for office. In 1992, San Antonio-born Henry Bonilla was the first Hispanic Republican from Texas elected to Congress. And in 1981, Henry Cisneros became one of the first Latino mayors in the U.S. when he was elected by San Antonio voters. San Antonio had not had a Latino mayor since the 1800s, before Texas became a state. Later, Cisneros was appointed by former President Bill Clinton as U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Henry Cisneros inspired a lot of young people, I think you see that often times, when theres a first in the community who runs for something, Castro said. The turnout rate for the Hispanic community was astronomical during Cisneros election.

Castros brother, Julian Castro, was the only Latino in the 2020 presidential race before he dropped out last week.

I think for a community that for many years had been marginalized and left out of politics, to now see someone from the community running for the highest office in the nation is important, Joaquin Castro said in an interview before his brother exited the campaign.

Julian Castro has always embraced his Mexican immigrant roots. He followed in Cisneros' footsteps to become mayor of San Antonio in 2009. But a recent poll by Telemundo Noticias showed he lagged in Latino voter support compared with other Democratic presidential hopefuls. The November poll showed Castro in a three-way tie for fourth place among Latino voters, with only 2% support, while Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are leading the candidates among those voters, with 26% and 18%, respectively.

Latino voters carry signs that read "Unite the Vote" as they are serenaded by mariachis on their way to their polling station to cast their ballots in the 2018 midterm general election in Los Angeles, California, Nov. 6, 2018.

More Latinos are voting in local and federal elections

The White House isnt the only political arena where Latinos are demanding a voice.

In 2006, when the nation considered a seminal immigration reform bill, there were only two Latinos in the Senate and 28 in the House.

That was a critical bill that needed more Latino voices, said Barreto, of UCLA. That issue was so consequential at the time. It was a bill that was going to affect the lives of more than 10 million undocumented immigrants, many of them Latino.

Some political analysts say the lingering effects of failed action helped spur todays hardline immigration policies and public divide over nationalism and migrants rights.

But Barreto said lagging representation goes deeper than immigration issues.

Every bill matters, he said. Theres a Latino angle to education reform, economic policies, health care.

These arent white issues, these are everyones issues, he added. Black, Latino, Asian communities, we should all be equally represented. Thats what we should expect in a healthy democracy.

And the Latino vote is only poised to become more influential. Latinos represent the greatest number of Americans under 18, at 18.3 million, according to a 2018 Pew report.

Grassroots groups and larger ones like the Latino Vote Project have launched massive voter-registration drives in recent election cycles. Latino voter turnout in 2018, at 40%, reached a record high, increasing from 6.8 million in 2014 to 11.7 million. Thats the second-largest turnout among Latinos of any election year, presidential or midterm.

Lopez, the Pew researcher, said Latinos may be motivated to protect their rights and place in the U.S. About half of Latinos surveyed said their standing in the nation had worsened in 2018, compared with 32% who said the same in the weeks after Trump won the 2016 presidential election, according to a Pew report.

An estimated 55% of Latinos said they were worried that a family member or friend could be deported, and two-thirds said the Trump administrations policies had been harmful to Latinos. Thats up from similar feelings about Barack Obama, at 15% in 2010, and George W. Bush, at 41% in 2007.

Many experienced some kind of discrimination event, like being told not to speak Spanish, Lopez said. Their lives have changed in a somewhat negative way in the last few years, primarily, since the election of Donald Trump.

From protesting the government to running for elected office

In many ways, Garcia had already taken his place in history long before election night in Arizona.

Years before his Election Day party, while attorneys for Arizona and civil rights groups were battling over Senate Bill 1070  the states notorious show me your papers law  Garcia and other protesters stood outside the Phoenix courthouse under the brutal July sun blocking the intersection. When police officers moved in to make arrests, Garcia was in the middle, wearing a white T-shirt with the words We will not comply.

After Trump was elected, he traveled to Arizona in 2017 for a speech in downtown Phoenix. Garcia joined hundreds of people protesting the presidents visit in the wake of a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that turned deadly when a white nationalist drove his car into a crowd of demonstrators. The mostly peaceful protest outside the Phoenix Convention Center turned chaotic when police used tear gas and stun grenades on the crowd.

Hundreds of people later attended a Phoenix City Council meeting demanding officials hold police accountable. By then, Trump had pardoned Arpaio for the contempt conviction, further roiling many in the crowd.

The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association wrote a Facebook post on candidate Carlos Garcia.

Garcia stood before officials in a blue T-shirt that read Not one more deportation. He told council members the community would hold them accountable.

To think that we spent three-quarters of a million dollars for this person, this president, to come spew hatred and bigotry, to come spit in our face and pardon the sheriff who was convicted," Garcia said. The city paid for a campaign rally. We have an opportunity to ... do this and to stand up for not only Phoenix but cities across the country.

Two years later, the Mexican immigrants face was plastered on campaign ads across south Phoenix where Garcia lives in a community with deep Latino roots. In the photo, Garcia wore a familiar cornflower blue traditional Mexican guayabera shirt, his baby girl on his shoulders and his wife, a teacher, and his son standing in front of him.

Latinos making political history at the voting booth

At the Election Day party, Garcia and his supporters continue to wait for voting results in the shadows of a saguaro-studded mountain.

Gonzalez and her piggy bank the size of a mango still have the floor. Earlier in the evening, Garcia called her onstage, named her the campaigns No. 1 donor and gave her the memento.

Carlos has been on the front lines  organizing, fighting against SB 1070, fighting against Joe Arpaio, she says, her eyes filling with tears. Its actually been a great joy of mine to be able to use the same money that came from Arpaio, the same money that came from the states incarceration system, to actually support his run for City Council.

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As the desert night fades, Danny Ortega, a Phoenix attorney who has fought for civil rights since the Chicano movement, leans against a wood-carved bar watching Garcia mingle with campaign supporters. Ortega says young and old Latinos backed Garcia because they saw a candidate who looked like them, cared about them and sacrificed for them.

For too long, we lost our way, Ortega says, standing with his longtime friend Alfredo Gutierrez, who served for 14 years in the Arizona Legislature and has protested with Garcia. Too many Latinos thought they had to act white to win. Now, theyre seeing the power in our own identity.

Garcia moves closer to a grove of old trees, where its quiet. He says it's justice that money won from a lawman who targeted his family and community, would help him overcome the campaign financing barrier most Latinos face when they run for office.

Ive had six people in my family that have been deported, I grew up undocumented. And I hold that truth, he says, shaking his head. I grew up working class. Im a single child of a single parent. And with my moms strength, that she was able to raise me, that she was able to succeed in this country and make sure that I got through school, went to college, Ive been able to help my community for the last 16 years.

By the nights final vote tally, Garcia holds a slim two-point margin. As his supporters leave the plaza, no one knows if Garcias lead will hold.

In the morning, the final election results are in. Garcia is at home with his family. With six words on his Facebook page, he says what everyone who supported the outsider Latino candidate  despite the odds  is waiting to hear: We got it! Thank you all!

He wins the race with 51.47% of the vote. By 384 votes, Garcia, and the community who voted for him, has made history.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AOC, Julian Castro: Underrepresented Hispanics aim to change politics
Beyond the beaches of Skiathos

Check the latest travel advice and current Covid-19 rules and restrictions by country.

Skiathos is well-known for its golden coastline offering a plethora of fine, pale-sand beaches but there's so much more to see and do on this popular Greek island than simply reclining in the sunshine such as hiking and taking the plunge scuba diving.

The other side to Skiathos, Greece - photo courtesy of Pixabay

Getting to Skiathos: check out the latest deals from Jet2holidays*, which offers great value breaks to this most charming of Greek islands from airports including Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted and Manchester among others.

Historic harbour

The natural harbour in Skiathos attracts many a yacht and sailing boat and the tiny peninsula neighbourhood of Bourtzi divides it in two. Originally built in 1207, Bourtzi was once a walled fort, ruined in 1660 but revived in 1906 with the construction of a school.

View from Bourtzi towards the old town, Skiathos  Panos - Fotolia.com

These days, the area is teeming with pine forests and the school serves as a cultural centre and summer theatre. With sweeping views over the Aegean, can you think of a better place to indulge in a show on a warm summer's night?

Skiathos Town

The island's capital is built amphitheatrically around a windless bay. Although completely destroyed in WWII, Skiathos Town was later rebuilt and is now the focal point of the island. While away your time by relaxing in one of the many cafes or browsing the shops.

Admittedly, it caters mostly to the tourist crowd but it's possible to escape by meandering through the small cobbled streets, admiring the simple white houses and tiled roofs that are quintessentially Greek. Round off your day at one of the many nightlife options available, ranging from quiet bars to livelier night clubs.

Hit the hiking trails

Whilst Skiathos doesn't offer many official walking paths, you can discover tracks into the hills and mountains that take you to various monasteries, churches and the more secluded beaches on the north coast.

Most walks range from 12 km to 20 km and can be circular, making it easy to drive your hire car out to your start/finish point.

Chapel at the Evangelistria Monastery, Skiathos  Panos - Fotolia.com

One such example is the 13 km walk to/from the Evangelistria Monastery, the only working monastery left on the island. It offers a library, ecclesiastical museum and numerous cells.

Expect to pass through forests, the occasional farm, past shrines and smaller country churches, many of which are now abandoned and home to the odd cat or two.

Unless you're a hardcore hiker, serious walking is only advisable in spring or autumn as temperatures in summer can reach up to 40C.

Old Kastro

The old castle - or, Kastro - of Skiathos sits perched atop a high cliff in the northern part of the island. It's a natural fortress, protruding out into the sea.

It has a chequered past offering multiple layers of history: built in the Byzantine period, occupied by the Venetians, Turks and Venetians again until the Greek state was formed and took control.

Part of the ruins of the old Kastro, Skiathos  Panos - Fotolia.com

The many ruins scattered around the hillside show that at one time, the Kastro district was densely populated. Nowadays, you can expect to find several churches in the vicinity, all in various states of (dis)repair.

Reaching Kastro is an adventure in itself. You can either take a small boat from Skiathos Town, which will drop you onto small, pebbly Lalaria Beach. The rest of the way is a steep climb up a twisty path. In the height of summer, this route is really only suitable for experienced walkers.

Otherwise, it's possible to drive or take the bus (alighting at 'Bus Stop 9') from Skiathos Town but note that the road is mostly a track path from the village of Agios Konstantinos. Kastro always seems to retain plenty of heat, so be sure to take plenty of water with you.

Monasteries

The Monastery of Evangelistria may be the only one still in action but there are others dotted around Skiathos that have been refurbished and give you an idea of their old, long gone, monastic way of life. Panaghia Kechrea Monastery, which was abandoned in the 15th century, is a good example of this.

Then there's the serene setting of the 17th-century Kounistra Monastery, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and integral to the religious life of the locals. Whichever you choose, a visit to the monasteries of Skiathos makes for an alternative day away from the beach.

Sea caves & shipwrecks

Skiathos offers magnificent marine-based wonders such as the two sea caves off the popular north coast beach of Lalaria. The 20-metre deep Skotini Spilia (dark cave) is characterised by a low and narrow entrance, accessible only by boat.

Lalaria Beach, Skiathos - photo courtesy of Pixabay

The larger Galazia Spilia (blue cave) is named due to its rare reflections of blue on the rock from the water. Book your boat trip from Skiathos Town, which will likely include a stop for a cooling swim as well.

With warm water temperatures and visibility down to 30 metres deep, the water surrounding Skiathos is a draw for scuba enthusiasts, especially with various shipwrecks found around the island dating back as far as Roman and Byzantine times.

Weather in Skiathos

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Maximum daytime temperature C 10 12 14 18 23 28 30 29 26 21 16 12 Hours of sunshine (daily) 4 5 6 8 10 11 13 11 9 6 5 4 Days with some rainfall 9 9 9 9 8 5 4 3 3 7 10 10 Sea temperature C 14 13 13 14 18 22 25 26 24 21 18 15

Remember to visit our Skiathos weather guide for information about the climate and see when is the best time to visit.

Ready to discover ths secret side to Skiathos? Don't miss the latest online deals from Jet2holidays which offers great value escapes to this glorious island in Greece.

More about Skiathos

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Rebecca Hall

Article updated on Tuesday 20th July 2021 in: Europe Excursions Summer

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But it was an unusual admission from Mr. Gerecht, who has regularly criticized the president, dating to the 2016 campaign, when he was among the dozens of Republican foreign policy insiders who added their names to a letter denouncing Mr. Trump as unfit to lead the nation and collectively came to be known as Never Trumpers.

I dont think it changes the larger analysis, Mr. Gerecht cautioned, arguing that Mr. Trump remained a major disappointment on foreign policy issues like his criticism of NATO allies and his lack of support for Western democratic values throughout the Middle East. But, Mr. Gerecht added, on Iran, which is the most important one in the Middle East, he is getting that one more or less right.

It was clear on Monday that Mr. Gerecht spoke for many of his ideological comrades, who generally believe that military force can be a positive tool and not always a dreaded last resort, and that Iran in particular is likely to back down when confronted with strength. Many of them are collectively known as neoconservatives, or neocons, even if not all of them accept the label.

Many of those hawks have long applauded Mr. Trumps sanctions-based maximum pressure campaign against Iran, but they had come to doubt the presidents willingness to use military force and were delighted to see him take action against someone responsible for consolidating Iranian influence at the expense of many American lives.

Other frequent Trump critics who cheered the strike against General Suleimani include Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming, a frequent critic of Mr. Trumps foreign policy who posted on Twitter shortly after the Iranian commanders death that Mr. Trump was was right to order decisive action to kill him.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he did not see any 'tukde-tukde' gang in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) when he was studying there.

"I can certainly tell you that when I studied in JNU, we did not see any 'tukde tukde' gang there," the union minister said on January 6 when asked about the situation in the premier university.

'Tukde-Tukde' is a term often used by the right-wing parties to attack the opposition, particularly Left and Left-backed outfits as well as those who support them.

After the violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University campus on January 5, Jaishankar, a JNU alumnus, had swiftly condemned the incident, saying it is completely against the tradition and culture of the university.

"What I had to say on JNU, I said it yesterday. It was very clear," said the External Affairs Minister when asked during a book release event about attacks on JNU students on Sunday.

A mob of masked people had stormed the JNU campus and systematically targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings. They also attacked a women's hostel.

"Have seen pictures of what is happening in #JNU. Condemn the violence unequivocally. This is completely against the tradition and culture of the university," Jaishankar had tweeted after the incident.

(With inputs from PTI)
Reynhard Sinaga, a student from Indonesia, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years for committing 136 rapes in Manchester. Prosecutors say he is the most prolific rapist in Britain, possibly the world.

Sinaga is convicted of sexual offences against 48 men. But police say he raped many more who they have not been able to identify.

Sinaga doped the men with a drug like GHB. They were all unconscious during the rapes and none of them remember what happened

Sinaga filmed the rapes on his phones. One man woke up when the drug wore off during an attack. When the police arrested Sinaga they found hundreds of hours of films.

Police watched the rape films on Sinagas phones to then try and contact the men involved. They are still unable to trace 70 of the victims.

Most of the men Sinaga raped were heterosexual and in their late teens / early 20s. Theyd gone out for the night in Manchester and accepted Sinagas invitation back to his flat so they could use his phone or call a cab.

Sentencing, judge Suzanne Goddard QC called Sinaga a monster and observed that he seemed to be enjoying the trial process even as he stands here to be sentenced

The scale of Sinagas offending is so huge that the case had to be split into 4 trials. We can only now report it, that the final trial has finished.

Two of Sinagas many victims were in court to see him sentenced. Of course all of them are entitled to lifetime anonymity.

The court heard that Sinagas victims have suffered terribly since finding out they were raped. Some have been unable to contemplate telling their families. Others have had suicidal thoughts.

The cases of 48 of Sinagas victims are part of this prosecution. Other men chose not to go through the courts process. Still more are yet to be identified. The police have footage of 195 men. They say the total number may never be known.

The first the men knew about their rapes was when they were later contacted by police and counsellors who broke the news to them.
The millions who turned out across Iran to mourn General Qasem Soleimani have testified to the apparent across-the-board popularity of a figure hailed as a "living martyr" for the Islamic republic. Rising above divisions in Iran, funeral processions for the Revolutionary Guard commander assassinated in a US drone strike last week in Baghdad drew massive crowds between Sunday and Tuesday in the cities of Ahvaz, Mashhad, Tehran, Qom and finally Kerman, his hometown. "The last time I remember such a crowd was at Ayatollah (Ruhollah) Khomeini's funeral 30 years ago," prominent Iranian journalist Maziar Khosravi said of the turnout in the capital, referring to the founder of the Islamic republic. The show of national unity has contrasted sharply with the downbeat mood in the country since nationwide demonstrations that were violently put down by security forces in November. Soleimani, killed at the age of 62, had been at the centre of power-broking in the region for two decades as chief of the elite external operations Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards. Powerful and always presentable, yet discreet, he was also a popular figure during his lifetime, not just in death. A survey published in 2018 by IranPoll and the University of Maryland -- one of the few considered reliable by analysts -- found Soleimani had a popularity rating of 83 percent, ahead of President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. - Roots of popularity - Declared a "living martyr" by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei while still alive, Soleimani was widely regarded as a hero for his role in defeating the Islamic State jihadist group in both Iraq and Syria. In the eyes of many Iranians, his military and strategic prowess were instrumental in warding off the multi-ethnic disintegration of neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan as well as Syria and Iraq. In a rare tribute to his status, a mosque in Qom, the spiritual capital of Shiite Iran, hoisted the red flag symbolising the blood of martyrs that is traditionally reserved for the Islamic holy month of Muharram. Khosravi, the journalist, noted that huge crowds from different sectors of society had also turned out to mourn and pay tribute to Soleimani in Ahvaz, capital of the down-at-heel province of Khuzestan and a hotspot in last year's protests. Hassan Razavi, a lawyer and University of Tehran teacher, explained the roots of the general's popularity at home. "What people liked about him is that while some other military commanders after the Iraq-Iran war shifted their life toward politics and economy, he continued his role in the military," said Razavi. He was seen to have played a "significant role in pushing (late Iraqi dictator) Saddam Hussein's army out of the country" during the devastating war that raged between the two neighbours from 1980 to 1988. "People witnessed that he never took financial advantage of his position for his personal life," the lawyer said. And, "he was so courageous that instead of leading the war out of war rooms far from the battlefield, he was in the middle of the battlefield on the frontline with his soldiers," Razavi said. Whereas previously he kept out of the limelight, Soleimani had in recent years become an unlikely celebrity in Iran -- replete with a huge following on Instagram. His profile shot up as the public face of Iran's intervention in the Syrian conflict from 2013, appearing in battlefield photos, documentaries -- and even being featured in a music video and animated film. Iranian mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of slain top general Qasem Soleimani during the final stage of funeral processions, in his hometown Kerman Mini-profile of Qasem Soleimani, the Revolutionary Guards commander who was killed in a US strike in Baghdad on Friday. Iranian mourners carry a picture of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) awarding the Order of Zolfaghar, the highest military honour of Iran, to General Qasem Soleimani Iranian mourners taking part in a funeral procession in Tehran for slain Iranian General Qasem Soleimani
Airstrikes continue to pound northern Syria, with one killing a family that was fleeing from the rebel-held city of Ariha reports Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

At least 17 people have been killed in regime and Russian airstrikes in Syria since Sunday, monitors have reported, with more than a dozen people losing their lives in strike targeting refugees in the rebel-held city of Ariha, northern Idlib province.

The Syrian Civil Defences, better known as The White Helmets, media centre in Idlib said that eight children and two women were among those killed in Ariha, while dozens of people were injured. The White Helmets published the names of those killed, who ranged in age from 10 to 75.

A correspondent for the Syrian television station Orient News said that a regime plane had dropped a bomb on the M4 road, which connects the port of Latakia to Aleppo and eastern Syria.

The highway passes through Ariha, and the airstike hit a refugee family sitting near the road.

A woman and a child were also killed in an airstrike on the city of Saraqeb this morning, while the Syrian Civil Defence said that two people were killed by another bombing in rebel-held western Aleppo province.

The regime and its ally Russia have intensified their deadly airstrikes on opposition-held Idlib province since 15 December, killing hundreds of people. It is believed that Russia and the regime want to take control of the strategic M5 road which links Damascus to Aleppo and the Turkish border.

Some horrors cannot be swallowed down in the line of duty. Our White Helmet is consumed with grief as she cradles the lifeless body of a mere child struck down and killed by the regime massacre in #Ariha City in #Idlib today.

Nearly 300,000 people have been forced to flee their homes by the regime strikes since the middle of December, according to the United Nations. The city of Maaret al-Numan, which once had a population of 110,000 is now almost totally deserted.

The Syrian first responders team told the UN Security Council on Monday that a total of 1,294,558 people out of Idlibs estimated 4,350,000 inhabitants  28.8 percent of the total population  had been displaced in 2019 and that 526 civilian facilities, including schools, hospitals, and markets had been destroyed in regime and Russian strikes.

Many people fled to Idlib province from other parts of Syria earlier in the countrys nine-year conflict, after being displaced or expelled from their homes by regime advances. Aid agencies fear a humanitarian catastrophe if regime airstrikes continue, especially amid winter conditions.

Winter conditions are exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation, said Farhan Haq, a UN spokesman, last Friday. Families are fleeing in torrential rain and temperatures at night are close to freezing.

Many of the recently displaced refugees live out in the open because there is no room for them in refugee camps and places of shelter.

More than 500,000 people have been killed in Syria since 2011, when the regime brutally suppressed pro-democracy protests, triggering an armed uprising.

The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Now that we've flipped the calendar to 2020, we're going to look at last year's 10 best-performing dividend stocks.

Even if you don't find a company here that you'd consider investing in, hopefully, this review will provide you with some insights that could help you pick a top-performing dividend stock.

The 10 top-performing dividend stocks of 2019

The stocks are ranked based upon their returns last year. Companies had to meet two criteria to be included on the list: They had to be large caps (i.e., have a market cap of at least $10 billion) and have dividend yields of at least 3% at the end of the year. Nine out of the 10 are profitable on a trailing-12-month basis; Western Digital is the odd company out.

Rank Company Market Cap* Dividend Yield* Projected 5-Year Annualized EPS Growth* 2019 Return 2010s Decade Return 1 The Carlyle Group NASDAQ:CG) $10.9 billion 4.3% 15.8% 117% N/A 2 Apollo Global Management NYSE:APO) $19.2 billion 4.2% 11.4% 107% N/A 3 The Blackstone Group NYSE:BX) $67 billion 3.5% 13.9% 96.3% 668% 4 Western Digital NASDAQ:WDC) $18.9 billion 3.1% (13.8%) 77.1% 75.4% 5 Seagate Technology NASDAQ:STX) $15.3 billion 4.3% 7.2% 62.1% 409% 6 Mobile TeleSystems NYSE:MBT) $9.3 billion 8.7% 0.1% 61.2% 11.9% 7 TC Energy NYSE:TRP) $49.4 billion 4.4% 5.8% 56.3% 136% 8 Phillips 66 Partners NYSE:PSXP) $14.4 billion 5.6% 7.8% 56.2% N/A 9 The Southern Company NYSE:SO) $65.9 billion 4% 1.5% 51.7% 205% 10 Brookfield Infrastructure Partners NYSE:BIP) $14.8 billion 4% 11.1% 51.4% 633% S&P 500 -- 1.9% -- 31.5% 257%

Investment management companies top the list

Given that 2019 was a great year for the stock market and that other investment vehicles also performed well, it's not surprising that three companies in the investment space top this list. The Carlyle Group, Apollo Global Management, and The Blackstone Group are leading global investment firms that hold assets across a range of classes, including private equity, real assets, and credit. Their investors include wealthy individuals and families, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, university endowments, charitable foundations, unions, and corporations.

At the end of the third quarter, Carlyle had $222 billion in assets under management, Apollo had $323 billion, and Blackstone had $554 billion, which was up a whopping 21% year over year. Wall Street expects all three companies to post solid earnings growth over the next five years, as the chart shows. Carlyle is expected to lead the way with average annual earnings growth of 15.8% over this period.

Three tech stocks -- including a Russian one

Technology stocks are also well represented on the list, taking slots four (Western Digital), five (Seagate Technology), and six (Mobile TeleSystems). Western Digital sells data storage devices, systems, and solutions for businesses and consumers. Its brands include Western Digital, G-Technology, SanDisk, Upthere, and WD. Seagate is also a data storage company. Between them, the two dominate the hard disk drive (HDD) market.

Mobile TeleSystems, or MTS, is Russia's leading telecommunications operator and digital services provider. Its dividend currently yields a whopping 8.7%. Stocks with such high yields tend to be risky and volatile, and indeed, while MTS stock had a great 2019, it's a long-term underperformer. It returned a paltry 1.9% over the just-ended decade.

A pair of energy stocks

It makes sense that a couple of energy stocks would make this list since energy prices rose last year. TC Energy (No. 7) operates natural gas and crude oil pipelines, storage facilities, and nuclear power plants in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The company has increased its dividend payout for 19 consecutive years.

Phillips 66 Partners (No. 8) is a master limited partnership (MLP) formed by Phillips 66 to "own, operate, develop, and acquire primarily fee-based crude oil, refined petroleum product and natural gas liquids (NGL) pipelines and terminals and other transportation and midstream assets."

And a pair of utility stocks

Lastly, we have two companies in what many investors consider the quintessential dividend stock sector -- utilities. Indeed, the vast majority of utilities pay dividends.

The Southern Company (No. 9) is the fifth-largest utility company (of any type) by market cap in the U.S. It operates electric utilities in three southern states, natural gas utilities in four states (three southern states plus Illinois), a power generation company serving wholesale customers across the country, a distributed energy infrastructure company, a fiber optics network, and telecommunications services. The company has increased its dividend for 19 consecutive years.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (No. 10) is one of the world's largest owners and operators of critical global infrastructure networks that "facilitate the movement and storage of energy, water, freight, passengers and data." It has raised its dividend for 12 consecutive years.
MIAMI - Sen. Marco Rubio on Tuesday urged the Trump administration to stay the course in Venezuela and reject the temptation to engage directly with Nicolas Maduro as the embattled socialist rides out growing international condemnation and punishing U.S. sanctions.

The Florida Republican has been a strong supporter of the Trump administrations policy toward Venezuela and its recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaido as the nations rightful leader.

But some have questioned the effectiveness of that strategy given Maduros firm control of the government administration and the armed forces, as well as fatigue among regular Venezuelans with the oppositions unfulfilled promise to oust the socialist leader.

Rubio, in an interview with The Associated Press, said the U.S. and Guaido need to do more to overcome the militarys mistrust and explain better the oppositions pledge of amnesty so that they switch sides in the year-old political battle.

Maduro is surrounded by a bunch of people who benefit greatly from him being in power, he said. No matter what problems they have with Maduro, or hopes they have of replacing him in the future, they have not been able to identify a way of getting rid of Maduro that doesnt imperil them, the money theyve stolen, the benefits their families accrued and most importantly their ability to stay out of jail.

While Rubio said he doesnt expect a quick turnaround, he believes additional pressure can be applied by governments in Europe and Latin America, which have been slower to apply sanctions.

He said he was encouraged by Mexicos strong condemnation of Maduros use of security forces to block Guaido from attending the inaugural session of the National Assembly on Sunday. Allies of Maduro then tried to wrest control of the opposition-dominated legislature, which the U.S. considers to be Venezuelas last democratic institution.

Trump since taking office has held talks with a number of strongmen hostile to U.S., such as North Koreas Kim Jong-Un. And recently, Erik Prince  a major Republican donor and founder of the security firm Blackwater  travelled to Caracas for a meeting with Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez, stirring speculation that he was seeking to open a back channel on behalf of the Trump administration.

But Rubio rejected that such an approach were advisable in Venezuela, which isnt developing nuclear weapons like other U.S. adversaries.

Echoing comments from the State Department, he said he was certain that Prince, whose sister is U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, didnt have the backing of the Trump administration when he travelled to Caracas. Prince himself hasnt spoken about the visit.

Americas politics is filled with people who believe they can parachute into some country, offer themselves up as some kind of intermediary and in the process gain a business angle,said Rubio. They create stories people point to for a day or two but ultimately they result in nothing.

Nonetheless, he insisted that the growing influence of Russia, Cuba and China, as well as the proliferation inside the country of leftist rebels from Colombia and drug-trafficking groups, are major challenges that are hurting U.S. national security interests in Latin America.

This isnt a geopolitical problem halfway around the world. Its happening in our hemisphere, he said. Sometimes your choices arent between two ideal choices but between which of the two difficult ones is the right one.

___

Follow Goodman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/APjoshgoodman
New national bushfire recovery boss Andrew Colvin has reassured devastated communities that bureaucratic hurdles won't be thrown in their way as they attempt to rebuild their lives.

The former Australian Federal Police chief says the newly established National Bushfire Recovery Agency will be successful only if it works hand-in-hand with agencies to ensure affected families, farmers and business owners get the support they need.

Former Australian Federal Police commissioner Andrew Colvin is now leading the bushfire recovery effort and he promises to keep the bureaucratic hurdles to a minimum. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Colvin told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald he was "under no illusions" about the size of the task ahead of him as he begins a two-year appointment leading the clean-up and recovery effort.

"We have over 1800 homes destroyed and that's before we even begin to count the cost of outhouses, of sheds, of public places, of schools ... the heartbeat of some of these communities," Mr Colvin said.
BEIJING - Tesla's Shanghai factory delivered its first cars to customers Monday and chief executive Elon Musk said the electric automaker plans to set up a design centre in China to create a model for worldwide sales.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In this Nov. 24, 2019, photo, a saleswoman talks about a Tesla Model 3 car at a Tesla showroom in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang Province. Tesla's Shanghai factory delivered its first cars to customers Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, and chief executive Elon Musk said the electric automaker plans to set up a design center in China to create a model for worldwide sales. (Chinatopix via AP)

BEIJING - Tesla's Shanghai factory delivered its first cars to customers Monday and chief executive Elon Musk said the electric automaker plans to set up a design centre in China to create a model for worldwide sales.

Musk presided at a ceremony where a half-dozen buyers wearing red Tesla T shirts drove away new Model 3 sedans. He expressed thanks to earlier customers who he said made Tesla's expansion in China possible by purchasing imported models from the fledgling brand.

Tesla Inc. built the Gigafactory 3, its first outside the United States, following the ruling Communist Party's 2018 decision to allow full foreign ownership in electric car manufacturing. It is due to produce the Model 3 and a planned SUV, the Model Y.

Producing in China insulates Tesla from possible duty increases on imported U.S.-made vehicles from Beijing's tariff war with Washington. Other foreign automakers including General Motors Co., Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Co. have long had joint venture factories in China.

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, center, poses with Tesla owners at a delivery ceremony for the first Tesla Model 3 cars made at Tesla's Shanghai factory in Shanghai, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. Tesla's Shanghai factory delivered its first cars to customers Monday, and chief executive Elon Musk said the electric automaker plans to set up a design center in China to create a model for worldwide sales. (Ding Ting/Xinhua via AP)

China is the biggest global market for electrics, but Tesla's manufacturing launch comes at a time when sales are sagging following the end of government subsidies in mid-2019.

Total electric vehicle sales fell almost 45% in November from a year earlier to 95,000. Sales for the first 11 months of 2019 were up 1.3% at just over 1 million vehicles.

Musk said Tesla plans to increase investment in China and set up a design centre to create a car for worldwide sale," but he gave no details.

The Chinese-made Model 3 starts at 299,050 yuan ($42,680) following a price cut announced last month.

The company said production began in December and 15 Model 3s were delivered to Tesla employees in Shanghai on Dec. 30.

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Tesla faces a crowded market flooded with dozens of electric models from rivals including GM, VW, Nissan Motor Co. and China's BYD Auto and BAIC. They are under pressure to meet government sales targets that shift the cost of promoting the technology to the industry.

Automakers that fail to meet their targets can buy credits from rivals that do. That might turn into a windfall for Tesla and other brands that earn a surplus because their whole output is electric. Beijing has yet to set the price of credits.

The Shanghai factory makes Tesla the first foreign auto brand with full ownership of its China operation.

Other global brands work through partnerships with state-owned automakers and share their revenues. Most are expected to remain in such ventures to take advantage of their Chinese partners' government relationships despite the ruling party's plans to allow full foreign ownership in the whole auto industry by next year.

Tesla reported earlier it delivered a total of 367,500 cars last year.

The company surprised investors by reporting a $143 million profit in the quarter ending in September, raising hopes Tesla may be turning to profitability. The company lost $1.1 billion in the first half of the year.
The two lawyers set to go head to head in Harvey Weinstein's New York sexual assault trial have already seen themselves thrown into the spotlight ahead of the disgraced movie mogul's landmark trial.

Defense attorney Donna Rotunno, 44, and prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon, 57, clashed on day one of the trial proceedings on Monday, forcing Judge James M. Burke to issue a stark warning to 'leave the witnesses alone'.

Their battle saw Illuzzi immediately set a combative tone by referring to Weinstein, 67, as a 'predator,' drawing an objection from the defense table.

The lawyers also sparred after prosecutors asked the judge to bar all attorneys in the trial from speaking about the evidence outside court.

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Lawyer Donna Rotunno, 44, left, has said Weinstein calls her the 'Harvey whisperer'. Illuzzi-Orbon, right, has been described as 'one of the finest trial lawyers in the nation'

Harvey Weinstein was pictured smiling as he arrived at a New York court Monday

The New York case against Weinstein involves allegations that he raped one woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and performed a forcible sex act on a different woman in 2006. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and maintains any sexual activity was consensual.

In Los Angeles prosecutors also charged Weinstein Monday with sexually assaulting two women there on successive nights during Oscar week in 2013. Lawyers for Weinstein had no immediate comment on the new charges, though he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

And with potential jurors expected to fill a New York courtroom Tuesday all eyes will be on the two women who are set to shape the outcome of what has been dubbed 'the trial of the decade'.

Donna Rotunno

Dubbed the 'Harvey whisperer' by the man himself Rotunno, 44, is known in Chicago as the 'anti-Gloria Allred' for defending men accused of sexual assault and rape.

Rotunno, who comes from a large Italian-American family and has 14 godchildren, says her line of work 'just happened', adding: 'Being a woman [defense attorney] I get a lot of those phone calls. I think men realize that could be an asset to them.

'And so you do one, you win one, you do another one, you win another one, and then you start to just get this name and people start to call you.'

After meeting with Weinstein for the job she told Vanity Fair: 'I was surprised by what he valued. He said to me, "It seems like you're a really good person," and it surprised me that that mattered to him.'

Rotunno, pictured, is known in Chicago for defending men accused of sexual assault and rape

Harvey Weinstein and his legal team arrive to court for the first day of trial. Weinstein's walker is pictured in the back of the car along with a spare white shirt and a child's car seat

'My father always taught me, 'Never let your emotions cloud your intellect,' and I really live with that principle in the back of my mind', Rotunno says, adding: 'If women want equal rights and equal pay and equal opportunity, then you have to also take equal responsibility.

'I think it's easy to look back and say, "Oh, you know, maybe I didn't love that experience". Well, okay. Regret sex is not rape.'

Having said Weinstein calls her the 'Harvey whisperer' she later backtracked, telling Vanity Fair: 'We, um, we get along. Harvey called me that at the beginning.'

But she has already made it further than Weinstein's two previous legal teams who were out before he reached trial.

In January 2019 Benjamin Brafman, Weinstein's then defense attorney, issued statement saying he is quitting, without elaborating. Later that month Weinstein appeared in court to announce new defense team.

In April his trial was delayed until September 9 to allow defense more time to gather evidence.

But by July last year Weinstein was forced to hire his third legal team after the second team of defense attorneys exited the case.

Rotunno said: 'You have to remember, this is really all Harvey has to focus on right now. I think he looks at this as an opportunity to be involved in a project.'

Dubbed the 'anti-Gloria Allred' Rotunno, pictured, says her line of work 'just happened'. She sparred with prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon as the trial kicked off Monday

Film producer Harvey Weinstein sits alongside lawyers Donna Rotunno and Arthur Aidala in Criminal Court on the first day of his sexual assault trial in Manhattan on Monday

She has already argued the case is weak and said she plans to aggressively cross-examine the accusers.

'Just because a woman makes a claim doesn't mean it's true,' lawyer Donna Rotunno said after a pretrial hearing last month. 'Just because Mr. Weinstein has been accused of a crime, that does not mean he's guilty.'

She added: 'The prosecutors are going to say Harvey Weinstein was this powerful guy that could get anything he wanted, and went to any measure to get whatever he wanted.

'I look at it the exact opposite way. I look at Harvey Weinstein and I say, 'Harvey Weinstein was the guy that held the keys to the castle that everyone wanted to get into. And what people did was they used him, and used him, and used him, and used him.'

'In this great country, you are innocent until proven guilty,' she said outside the courthouse Monday.

Joan Illuzzi-Orbon

The Manhattan Assistant District Attorney prosecuting Harvey Weinstein is no stranger to high profile trials.

Joan Illuzzi-Orbon, 57, secured a conviction for the 1979 murder of six-year-old Etan Patz nearly 40 years after he was kidnapped from a Soho bus stop in Manhattan.

She also prosecuted Lil Wayne and Ja Rule in 2007 on weapons charges and the duo ended up taking plea deals.

Manhattan defense attorney Stacey Richman who represented the two artists said: 'She calls herself a soldier in the army of the District Attorney's Office.

'She is a true believer and seeks to serve what she perceives is just.'

Illuzzi-Orbon will put her cold case skills to use as Weinstein is standing trial for crimes committed between 2006 and 2013.

Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi, left, leaves State Supreme Court after the Harvey Weinstein trial on Monday. She immediately set a combative tone to the morning's proceedings Monday by referring to Weinstein as a 'predator'

DA Office spokesman Danny Frost has previously described Illuzzi-Orbon as 'one of the finest trial lawyers in the nation, with unparalleled expertise in high-profile cold cases'.

After graduating from St. Johns University School of Law in 1988 Illuzzi-Orbon has worked in the DAs office ever since bar a brief break five years ago.

Veteran prosecutor turned defense lawyer Evan Krutoy, told The Hollywood Reporter that his former colleague's work isn't affected by the name, stature or wealth of the defendant.

'She is a great investigator and people are very comfortable discussing difficult topics with her.

'She presents as thorough, thoughtful and heartfelt.

'It would not be uncommon for victims who Joan worked with to visit her or call her years later to thank her  not simply because she did her job well but also because it was clear she cared deeply.'

She immediately set a combative tone to the morning's proceedings Monday by referring to Weinstein as a 'predator,' drawing an objection from the defense table.

A Staten Island native, Illuzzi-Orbon and her personal injury lawyer husband have two adult children.

She also served as chief of Manhattan DA Office's hate crimes unit and ran as a Republican for district attorney in 2015.

She was both The New York Daily News and The New York Post's choice for the role.

In an interview with Staten Island Live Illuzzi-Orbon said she always ensures she is convinced a defendant is guilty 'before I would walk into a courtroom and ask 12 people to decide if somebody was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt'.

She added that sending an innocent person to prison is a 'prosecutor's worst nightmare'.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW? THE CHARGES AGAINST HARVEY WEINSTEIN Harvey Weinstein, 67, has pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting two women in New York. More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct dating back decades but he only faces five criminal counts in New York - two counts of rape, one count of criminal sexual act and two counts of predatory sexual assault. He faces life in prison if convicted on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault. One of the women Weinstein was charged with assaulting, former production assistant Mimi Haleyi, has said that Weinstein sexually assaulted her in 2006. Prosecutors say Weinstein raped the second woman, who has not been publicly identified, in 2013. Harvey Weinstein, 67, has pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting two women in New York. More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct dating back decades but he only faces five criminal counts The trial is expected to last for around six weeks. Los Angeles prosecutors have also charged Weinstein with sexually assaulting two women there on successive nights during Oscar week in 2013. Lawyers for Weinstein had no immediate comment on the new charges, though he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Weinstein faces up to 28 years in state prison if he is convicted of the charges filed in LA of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint. His arraignment has not yet been scheduled and prosecutors will recommend $5 million bail. Weinstein is expected to appear in court in California after his trial in New York is finished. Here is what to expect from the trial: WHO ARE THE ACCUSERS? Weinstein is accused of sexually assaulting production assistant Mimi Haleyi, pictured, in 2006 and raping another woman in 2013 More than 80 women have publicly accused Weinstein, 67, of sexual misconduct, helping to fuel the #MeToo movement over the last two years. The criminal charges against him refer to just three accusers. Mimi Haleyi, a former production assistant on a Weinstein Company television show, has said that Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her in his Manhattan home in July 2006. Actress Annabella Sciorra, best known for her role on HBO's The Sopranos, has said Weinstein raped her in her Manhattan apartment in 1993. Prosecutors have accused Weinstein of raping another woman in March 2013 in Manhattan. She has not been publicly identified. Weinstein has said that any sexual encounters he had were consensual. WHAT ARE THE CHARGES? Weinstein is charged with a criminal sexual act in the first degree against Haleyi, and with rape for the 2013 allegation. He is charged with predatory sexual assault over both allegations. Sciorra's allegation is too old to be the basis of a separate charge, but is a crucial part of the predatory sexual assault charges, which require prosecutors to establish a pattern of serious sex crimes against multiple women. Predatory sexual assault is the most serious charge against Weinstein, carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison. WHO WILL TESTIFY AGAINST WEINSTEIN? Haleyi, Sciorra and the 2013 accuser are almost certain to testify in a trial that is expected to last up to eight weeks. Prosecutors may also call three other women to testify about encounters with Weinstein, even though he is not formally charged with crimes against them. Their testimony is intended to bolster the charges by showing that Weinstein had a consistent pattern of behavior. Prosecutors have also said that they expect to call Barbara Ziv, a professor at Temple University in Pennsylvania, to testify as an expert on the trauma resulting from sexual assault. WHAT IS WEINSTEIN'S DEFENSE? While criminal defendants and their lawyers typically avoid revealing their strategy before trial, Weinstein has dropped some hints. Weinstein's lead lawyer, Donna Rotunno, told Reuters that Weinstein had a 'slew of witnesses ready to go.' She has said the defense would be introducing emails and text messages to prove that Weinstein's accusers maintained relationships with him after his alleged assaults. His lawyers have also said they plan to call psychologist Deborah Davis, of the University of Nevada, Reno, to testify as an expert on memory, suggesting that Weinstein may try to call his accusers' recollections into question. Harvey Weinstein was pictured smiling as he arrived at a New York court on January 6 as his lawyers and a judge handle the final preparation for his trial on charges of rape and sexual assault WHAT OTHER LEGAL RISKS DOES WEINSTEIN FACE? Even if he is acquitted in Manhattan, Weinstein faces separate criminal charges announced on Monday by prosecutors in Los Angeles. Lawyer Rotunno declined immediate comment on those charges. Weinstein was charged with sexually assaulting two unidentified women in 2013, said Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey. He was charged with raping one woman and sexually assaulting the other. Lacey said the timing of the charges was unrelated to the New York trial. But there is some connection between the cases. One of the Los Angeles accusers is expected to testify in the New York case to help prosecutors establish what they say was Weinstein's pattern of forcing himself on young actresses and women trying to break into Hollywood. Weinstein is expected to appear in court in California after his New York trial, Lacey said. The Hollywood mogul stumbled up the stairs as he arrived at a Manhattan courthouse on January 8 Advertisement




Business minister Heather Humphreys has said the strategy to promote jobs in all regions is still working, as new figures showing that the growth in the number of new jobs at Irish-owned firms backed by the Government has slowed despite a booming economy .

The figures from the annual review of Enterprise Ireland  the agency that helps indigenous start-ups to expand and find new markets at home and abroad  show that a record number of 221,895 jobs were backed by firms assisted by Enterprise Ireland last year.

However, the number of job gains among its client companies, at just over 16,970, was down from the previous year. In addition, an increased number of job losses meant that the net new job gains in the year fell to around 4,700 at Enterprise Ireland-assisted firms, marking a sharp slowdown.

Minister Humphreys said the slowdown in net job gains reflected the effects of Brexit as well as the challenges faced by SMEs in hiring skilled staff, as the economy faced the prospect of full employment.

The figures from the annual review also showed that 66% of all the new jobs were created outside Dublin and all regions, with the exception of the Midlands, posted jobs gains.

Jobs created in the South and Mid West regions rose by 2% in 2019  but only in line with the rate of jobs growth in Dublin  and rose 3% in the South East.

By county, Cork and Limerick posted new-jobs growth rates of 2%, new jobs in Tipperary rose 3%, and while Clare posted growth of 4%, but Waterford and Kerry both saw the number of their Enterprise Ireland-linked new-jobs growth fall by 1%.

Minister Humphreys told reporters that since 2012, there has been a continuous increase in jobs growth and the latest Enterprise Ireland figures showed a successful 2019.

Jobs growth cannot be expected to grow at the kind of rapid pace as was the case in the past, she said.

Asked if the rate of jobs growth of Enterprise Ireland-assisted jobs outside the Dublin region should be growing faster and if this was evidence of an imbalanced economy, she said that the jobs growth across all regions was being helped by a range of initiatives, including the Governments capital spending plans through 2040.

The Government was also working to help find new jobs to replace the over 800 posts that wil set to be lost between Novartis in Cork and at Molex in Shannon. On Brexit, the Minister

she reiterated that Boris Johnsons goal of securing a free trade agreement with the EU by the end of the year was unrealistic.

Enterprise Ireland chief executive Julie Sinnamon said that the agency supported a large number of jobs in the food industry, but that the sector, although continuing to create jobs, was among the most affected by the Brexit uncertainty.

Enterprise Ireland would continue to encourage its client firms to extend markets beyond Britain, the agency said, and employment was growing strongly in sectors such as cleantech, financial technology, life sciences, electronics, and engineering the agency said.

It also launched an initiative to encourage more women managers into Irish firms. Its Action Plan for Women in Business will seek to support female-led firms led by women, provide new funding to Enterprise Ireland firms to hire senior managers, support a network of female business role models, and help fund women entrepreneurs and researchers at third level

Irish colleges.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.7

By Fakhri Vakilov-Trend:

Tajik Prime Minister Mahmadtohir Zokirzoda is visiting Uzbekistans capital of Tashkent on January 7 to sign an interstate protocol on the final demarcation and delimitation of the Tajik-Uzbek border, Trend reports with reference to the Tajik Asia Plus IA.

The document from the Uzbek side will be signed by Deputy Prime Minister Elyor Ganiev.

The protocol will confirm the full agreement of the parties on the clear passage of the state border of the two states.

The complete delimitation of the state border between the two states was completed last year.

Even then, the parties agreed on the border line; now, as a result of demarcation of the state border, the exact border line of the two states will be indicated on the maps.

The agreement between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on separate sections of the Tajik-Uzbek state border was signed on March 9-10, 2018, as part of the state visit of Uzbekistans President of Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Tajikistans capital of Dushanbe.

The Tajik parliament ratified the treaty on April 19, 2018.

The agreement on the most controversial part of the border, in particular, at the the Farhad hydroelectric power station, was reached at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Delimitation and Demarcation of the State Border in Dushanbe on January 10, 2018.

It was decided that the territory on which the Farhad hydroelectric power station is located will be recognized as the territory of Tajikistan, and the hydropower facility itself will be recognized as the property of Uzbekistan. The facility will be protected by the Tajik side, and Uzbekistan will be engaged in its maintenance.

According to the State Committee for Land Management and Geodesy of Tajikistan, the length of the Tajik-Uzbek border is 1,332 km. Of the total length, the river border is 105 kilometers, and land - 1,227 km.

---

Follow author on Twitter:@vakilovfaxri
Sir Sam Mendes has said he couldnt be more delighted by the success of his highly personal war film 1917, which received nine Bafta nominations.

Comic book villain origin story Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, leads the 2020 nominations at the British Academy film awards with 11 nods.

Following close behind are Martin Scorseses gangster epic The Irishman and Quentin Tarantinos ninth film Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, which both scored ten nominations.

Sir Sam, who was knighted in the New Year Honours, praised the team behind his First World War epic, which was inspired by a story told to him by his paternal grandfather, Alfred Mendes, about two young British soldiers at the height of the conflict.

The James Bond director told the PA news agency: What began as a highly personal project for me, turned into a hugely collaborative, labour of love for the whole production team.

I couldnt be more delighted that everyones skill and hard work has been recognised by the members of Bafta in so many categories.

Jokers producer, Bradley Cooper, praised his friend and partner Todd Phillips, who directed the feature, for working tirelessly on the project.

A Star Is Born actor Cooper said: So proud to be part of a film where all of the departments gave everything of themselves. And for Bafta to acknowledge all of their stellar work.

I couldnt be more thrilled for my friend and partner Todd Phillips, who worked tirelessly on this incredible film and for the pulsating brilliance of Joaquins performance right along with the rest of the cast.

Its a true honour to be a part of Joker.

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Phillips thanked the voting academy for connecting with the work on a cellular level.

He said: Wow. What an incredible honour for the significant recognition Joker received from Bafta across the board.

Recently, when Joaquin and I were in the UK, the love we felt for Joker was palpable and I just want to thank my British colleagues for connecting with the film on a cellular level.

A sincere well done to my wonderful cast and crew who worked tirelessly to bring this film to the big screen.

I also want to congratulate my fellow nominees, it is an honour to be in their company.

The composer of Jokers Bafta-nominated original score, Hildur Gudnadottir, added: Thank you so very much to Bafta for this beautiful nomination. Im touched by your support and your recognition for my music for Joker.

I would also like to congratulate Todd, Joaquin and all the other nominees for Joker. Working on this film has been such an extraordinary experience. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Jeff Groth, nominated in the editing category for his work on Joker, said: Im honoured to be considered, and its incredible that such an emotional and personal film can also be so widely recognised.

Veteran editor Thelma Schoonmaker, who notably worked with Scorsese on Goodfellas and Raging Bull, said it was thrilling to have her work recognised.

She said: Scorseses unique structural ideas and style for Irishman made it a joy to edit with him. To have those bold ideas recognised by Bafta members is thrilling.
Dubai/Baghdad: At least 60 people were killed and 200 injured in a stampede as tens of thousands of mourners packed streets for the funeral of a slain Iranian military commander in his hometown on Tuesday.

General Qassem Soleimani's burial began in the early evening in the south-eastern Iranian city of Kerman, four days after his killing in a US drone strike in Iraq that plunged the region into a new crisis and raised fears of broader conflict.

Tens of thousands of people had poured on to the streets of Kerman to pay tribute to him, with many chanting "Death to America", before the stampede forced his burial to be delayed by several hours, state media said.

Dozens of people were killed in a stampede at the funeral service for General Qassem Soleimani. Credit:AP

Tuesday's stampede broke out amid the crush of mourners, killing 56 people, state television said, raising the toll from 50 previously. More than 210 people were injured, an emergency services official told the semi-official Fars news agency.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in a meeting held Tuesday, allowed the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) to take its 19km Northern Peripheral Road (NPR) below the elevated sections of Phase 4 of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway.

The NHAI, on January 2, had refused the integration of Phase 4 of the Delhi-Meerut expressway, which will be an access-controlled stretch, with the NPR project.

After the authoritys proposal was rejected, the GDA officials once again tried to revive the integration of NPR with Phase 4 of Delhi-Meerut Expressway during Tuesdays meeting, but their proposal was summarily rejected by the NHAI.

The NPR is a 19 kilometre long project which is proposed to connect the Delhi-Meerut Expressway near Dasna and go further to Delhi-Meerut Road and from there to Loni. The NPR is proposed as a six-lane bypass road to connect various outer areas of Ghaziabad city.

RP Singh, project director, NHAI, said, We have told the authority that we will give the NPR a passage below the elevated sections of Phase 4 of the Delhi-Meerut expressway. For that, a structure will be constructed below the Phase 4 stretch and it will cost about 9 crore, which will be borne by the NHAI. We have asked them (GDA officials) to integrate the NPR with NH-9, which runs parallel to Phase 3 of Delhi-Meerut Expressway in Dasna, and their consultant will prepare the ground level road integration plan.

We have already declined the integration of NPR with Phase 4 because that portion of the expressway is access-controlled tolled highway, while NPR is a non-toll road, Singh added.

The GDA officials said they will now prepare the surface road integration plan from the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI).

The CRRI will prepare the NPR integration plan with NH-9 near Dasna (surface level integration) and send to NHAI for approval. There will some deviation from the NPR alignment, by about one kilometre, in order to join NPR with NH-9. Now, we will be going ahead with the surface level integration plan of NPR with the highway, VN Singh, authoritys chief engineer, said.

There were talks about integration of NPR with NHAIs Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) but that integration is not feasible as the EPE is about four five kilometres away and we do not have the land to connect the two, Singh said.

For the development of NPR, the GDA has already requested funds of 490 crore from the state government.

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[January 07, 2020] CannaTech's Davos Cannabis House Aims to "Improve the State of the World" by Creating a Fair and Viable Cannabis Industry

TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Top cannabis industry leaders will convene in the dedicated Cannabis House in Davos, Switzerland, January 21-24, 2020, for high-level discussions on the emerging global cannabis industry and to network with the many industry stakeholders who will participate in the iconic international gathering. The Davos Cannabis House will highlight the economic role of cannabis in the future of healthcare, international trade, investment, and environmental and resource security, with the goal of creating a fair and viable cannabis-related industry globally. The Davos Cannabis House is hosted by CannaTech, the world's premier international cannabis summit platform, in partnership with the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), the U.S. based OTC Markets Group, and Kannaswiss, the maker of high-quality wellness products, in the true spirit of the gathering to "Improve the State of the World." Speakers at the Davos Cannabis House will address, among other topics, sustainability and climate change by focusing on hemp-derived products that have the potential to reduce water, energy, packaging waste and more. Other topics to be addressed include how the growing cannabis economy can play a role in addressing social equity and justice. From Latin America to Africa, many countries with great market potential are also home to disenfranchised populations. The global cannabis industry has the potential to protect local communities and stakeholders with impact investing. Global cooperation will be discussed in almost every Davos forum. With disparate global and domestic regulatory climates, the challenge of securing and de-risking cannabis investments will be another focal point for discussion. "Cannabis is on the verge of seriously impacting health care and the ways people partake in leisure activities. On the global level, the threat of climate change has opened people's eyes to hemp as a sustainable plant with innumerable uses for construction, industry, and medicine. These recent developments are creating new international ecosystems that will impact everyone from local farm workers in Africa to the world's largest corporations in the Western world. Davos could not be a better place to examine the place of Cannabis in the world at the beginning of this new decade," said Saul Kaye, founder and CEO of CannaTech and iCAN: Israel-Cannabis. Siuated alongside world-leading industry and government pavilions, the Davos Cannabis House welcomes the Davos press corps to stop by and learn more.



For more information about the Davos Cannabis House click here . About the Canadian Securities Exchange

The Canadian Securities Exchange is a rapidly-growing stock exchange focused on working with entrepreneurs to access the public capital markets in Canada and internationally. The exchange's efficient operating model, advanced technology and low fee structure help companies of all sizes minimize their cost of capital and maximize access to liquidity. The CSE fosters positive working relationships with issuers, providing superior responsiveness to their specific needs. It offers investors in Canada and abroad access to a multi-sector stable of growth companies through a liquid, reliable and highly regulated trading platform. The exchange strongly supports entrepreneurship and has established itself as a leading hub for discourse in the entrepreneurial community. The CSE has more than 550 listings and offers trading services for Canadian-listed securities. Its issuers, which are active in diverse industries such as cannabis, technology and mining, have raised more than $3.2 billion in the last 12 months. The exchange was founded in 2004 and has corporate offices in Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information, please visit www.thecse.com and our blog at http://blog.thecse.com . About OTC Markets Group Inc. OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 10,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors. To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com . OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. About iCAN: Israel-Cannabis iCAN: Israel-Cannabis is building the Global Cannabis Ecosystem. iCAN is committed to accelerate Israel's Canna-Technology industry, capitalizing on Israeli innovation and a leading cannabis regulatory environment to bring premier products to market. iCAN is powered by CannaTech, the premier international cannabis summit held annually in Tel Aviv, and around the world, including London, Sydney, Hong Kong, Panama, Cape Town and Asia in 2020. About CannaTech CannaTech is the only Medical Cannabis event of its kind with a global focus that offers senior industry leaders, medical and scientific experts, and new ventures the platform to come together, drive innovation, form partnerships and promote knowledge exchange. For further information, media inquiries and interview opportunities, contact: Laura Kam, [email protected], +972-54-806-8613. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cannatechs-davos-cannabis-house-aims-to-improve-the-state-of-the-world-by-creating-a-fair-and-viable-cannabis-industry-300982784.html SOURCE CannaTech

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 01:38:48|Editor: huaxia

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ALGIERS, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Monday condemned an airstrike that targeted a military academy in the Libyan capital of Tripoli on Saturday, killing some 30 people, official APS news agency reported.

"Algeria strongly condemns the raid on a military school in Tripoli, which claimed the lives of many," APS quoted a foreign ministry statement.

"Such act, whoever stands behind it, would only stir hatred and further aggravate the crisis" in war-torn Libya, the statement said.

Algeria reiterates its "absolute rejection of any foreign interference in Libya and calls on all Libyan warring factions to work on returning to inclusive dialogue to reach sustainable solution to end this eight-year-old crisis."

Libya has been witnessing fierce battles near the capital Tripoli since April following raids launched by General Khalifa Haftar's forces to "liberate the capital Tripoli" from the control of forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Fayez al-Sarraj.

Sarraj is currently on a visit to Algeria, where he is scheduled to meet with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to discuss developments in neighboring Libya. Enditem
Iranian people attend a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at his hometown in Kerman, Iran January 7, 2020.

Mehdi Bolourian/Fars News Agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

A stampede at the funeral procession for Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian military commander killed in a US airstrike last week, is said to have killed 40 people and wounded at least 200 others, the Associated Press reported, citing Iranian media.

The incident occurred Tuesday in Kerman, the hometown of the slain Iranian general.

Soleimani's burial has been postponed as a result of the deadly stampede, which occurred as massive crowds filled the streets of the city to honor a hero to the Iranian government but a terrorist in the eyes of the US.

Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

A stampede at the funeral procession for Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian military commander killed in a US airstrike last week, is said to have killed 56 people and wounded more than 200 others, the Associated Press reported Tuesday, citing Iran state TV.

Huge crowds filled the streets of the general's hometown of Kerman, where Soleimani was to be laid to rest after a multiday funeral during which his casket visited multiple cities. More than a million mourners are said to have attended the funeral procession in Tehran the day prior.

During Tuesday's funeral activities, a stampede erupted, the cause of which was not immediately clear.

"Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions," Pirhossein Koulivand, the head of Iran's emergency medical services, told Iranian state media.

Coffins of Gen. Qassem Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a U.S. drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession, in the city of Kerman, Iran, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020.

Erfan Kouchari/Tasnim News Agency via AP

The AP, citing Iranian media, reported that 56 people were killed and 213 others were injured in the stampede. Graphic videos posted on social media showed lifeless bodies lying in the streets as others tried to save them.

Soleimani's burial has been delayed as a result of the deadly stampede.

The killing of Soleimani, a hero in his home country but a terrorist in the eyes of the US government, has raised tensions between Iran and the US, which has been moving thousands of troops into the region in preparation for confrontation.

Story continues

Speaking at the funeral in Kerman on Tuesday, Hossein Salami, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, threatened to "set ablaze" places supported by the US.

"We tell our enemies that we will retaliate, but if they take another action, we will set ablaze the places that they like and are passionate about," he said. Supporters, according to Reuters, cheered, "Death to Israel!"

Since Soleimani was killed, the Iranian government has issued multiple threats and warnings, with top leaders vowing to get their revenge.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Iranians gather in the northeastern city of Mashhad in response to the death of Gen. Qassem Soleimani on Jan. 5, 2020. (MEHDI JAHANGHIRI/IRAN'S FARS NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)

Rent-a-Mobs Will Not Ease Khameneis Grim Future

Commentary

There are demonstrations all over Iran for a big goodbye to Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

But the bulk of the demonstrators are there, not because they wish to pay tribute to the fallen martyr, but because they have to be. They have been commanded to be present, and, in addition to their fees, they are getting food and transportation to the various mob sites.

So its a very big rent-a-mob. But dont for a minute fall for the propaganda. Of the 80 million inhabitants of Iran, probably 70 million are pleased that Soleimani is dead.

The killing of Soleimani has changed the world, as the world always changes when the United States moves decisively. For 40 years, no U.S. president dared strike at the heart of the Islamic Republic. It didnt much matter if the president was a lefty or a righty, a Democrat or a Republican, the basic war game was always the same: We invaded Iran, and lost. If we played the war game today, chances are good that 80 million Iranian people would fight on our side, and the leaders of the regime would be given a choice of lamp posts.

Note that Irans key allies, Russia and China, arent adding their voices to the calls for revenge against the Trump administration. China gave the United States the keys to a Chinese app that the Iranians had been using for their secure communications. Accounts differ as to whether the transfer took place before or after the most recent round of violence in Iran, culminating in the elimination of Soleimani, but it certainly wasnt the sort of help that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hoping for.

And as for Russia, just before the New Years celebrations, this took place, as reported by Radio Free Europe:

Russian authorities say that they have taken into custody two suspects in connection with a purported plot to carry out terrorist attacks in St. Petersburg on New Years Eve that was foiled, in part, based on an intelligence tip from the United States.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced last weekend that the men were detained on December 27, based on information from their American partners.

Trump wants a working partnership with the Russians, as he does with the Chinese, and as he wanted with the Iranian dictators. But the Persian tyrants know that they have tens of millions of opponents, and relentlessly crack down on them. Khamenei recently told a would-be intermediary from Oman that he didnt want an Omani middleman to mediate the many conflicts between Tehran and Washington.

While Moscow and Beijing see the wisdom of cooperating with Trump, Tehran is banking on his defeat in November. It would be fascinating to study the exchange of documents with Trumps U.S. opponents, to see what plans the Iranians made to drag out the process of negotiation.

In any case, those plans have now been knocked into a cocked hat. With the death of Soleimani, many of Irans schemes perished. Iran is scrambling to save face, as in Iraq, where the United States is reinforcing its troop commitment, and Lebanon and Syria, where Soleimani was a principal architect of Irans domination. Iran will go all-out to achieve a U.S. withdrawal, but its chances are poor. Trump didnt order the killing of Soleimani in order to withdraw from the battlefield; if anything, he will intensify U.S. efforts.

The killing of Soleimani was only one in a series of planned U.S. responses to Iranian aggression, and in the days since the strike, there have been many arrests and there will be more. Tehran will keep ordering its proxies to hit Americans and U.S. bases, but such efforts will only lead to more Iranian deaths and arrests. The Iranian strategy of fighting to the last Arab wont work.

Indeed, Khamenei faces a grim future. Not only does he face an incipient uprising in his own country once the Soleimani circus is over, but he must deal with open rebellion against Iranian influence in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and the lesser powers. It wont be easy for him.

As we can read at the Belmont Club blog, There may have been enough resources to launch covert ops against America, but there is way too little to confront it openly.

Michael Ledeen is a freedom scholar at Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He has served as a consultant to the National Security Council and the departments of State and Defense, and as a special adviser to the secretary of state. He is the author of 35 books, most recently Field of Fight: How to Win the War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies, co-authored with retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The air pollution level in the national capital and areas around it deteriorated on Tuesday morning with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching the lower end of the 'Very Poor' category. In the morning, the AQI in Delhi docked at 314, according to the Center-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

The AQI was recorded the highest in Mathura Road at 338, followed by Airport (T3) at 328, Delhi University at 317, Dhirpur at 316, Ayanagar at 310, Chandni Chowk and Lodhi Road at 309, IIT Delhi at 302, and Pusa at 272. The AQI in Noida stood at 354 and Gurugram at 317.

The temperature at 5.30 am in Delhi's Safdarjung and Palam was 13 degrees Celcius. The minimum temperature is expected at 10 degrees Celcius and the maximum temperature at 18 degrees Celcius. The visibility at Safdarjung was 1,200 metres and at Palam was 1,500 metres. There is also the possibility of a light hail storm at the end of the day which will continue will Wednesday (January 8) evening.

Live TV

Under the influence of the approaching western disturbance, scattered to fairly widespread rainfall is expecting on January7-8. An increase in surface winds and an increase in minimum temperature are the forecasts for the coming days. Under these favourable conditions, air quality is forecasted to improve. A further improvement is expected in case of sufficient rain towards the lowe end of the poor to a satisfactory category by January 8. The fall in minimum temperature by 3-4 degree is expected from January 9-11 and the maximum temperature by 4 to 5 degrees during January 8-10.

In November 2019, the Supreme Court had come down heavily on the Centre and state government over their failure to tackle the pollution crisis in the national capital regions. A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta had remarked, "The people of Delhi are living in a gas chamber. It is better to get explosives and kill everyone".

Measures like containing stubble burning activities in the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, implementation of the odd-even scheme in Delhi and banning all sort of construction activities in Delhi-NCR were taken in order to control the air pollution in the capital and adjoining areas.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered `good`, 51-100 `satisfactory`, 101-200 `moderate`, 201-300 `poor`, 301-400 `very poor` and 401-500 is marked as `severe`. An AQI above 500 falls in the `severe plus` category.

During winter each year, most of northern India suffers from a spike in toxicity in the air due to the change in weather patterns and crop residue burning in the neighbouring states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
I am made aware of it when I ask a white, often male, bartender to tell me the style of a locally brewed beer thats referenced on the menu by an esoteric name like Blissful Kittens or some craziness that reveals nothing to even the most seasoned beer drinker. I have rarely had a bartender respond with the name of a beer style such as doppelbock, Berliner Weisse, gose or my favorite, saison. Instead they opt for more accessible information like tasting notes (its fruity; its hoppy; you might like this one instead  this one is always a lager). I think about the way white men servers at Zuni Cafe in San Francisco and Chez Panisse in Berkeley interrupted me mid-sentence. Ive noticed other white male servers pause to allow my white male dining companions to finish a thought before breaking in to explain the provenance of the mushroom dish. I think about the white woman server at GW Fins in New Orleans French Quarter who walked me and my husband through elusive menu sections like appetizers, salads and entrees. And while Im sensitive to the likelihood that in a tourist capital like the Vieux Carre, such a speech is probably part of her job and even helpful to some, I swiftly but politely cut short her intro because I sensed if she explained to me what a side dish was, I might take my butter knife (for the butter, maybe!) and jab it up her nostril with years of pent-up frustration.
Kingsley Gate Partners, the leading firm in global executive search which helps ensure a lasting fit between its clients and placed candidates through its proprietary framework, Synchronous Fit, announced today that it has acquired Everest Search Partners, an Israeli-based boutique executive search firm. Jeff Shapiro and Noam Eisenberg have joined the company as senior partners based in Tel Aviv.

Founded in 2005 and based in Tel-Aviv, Everest Search Partners specializes in recruiting world-class C-level and VP executives across the technology and life sciences spectrum. Everest Search Partners' uniquely concentrates on Israeli-founded companies around the world, focusing on seeking out the best fitting and most experienced executives in all functional areas.

As Kingsley Gate Partners continues the expansion of its global footprint and client base, the acquisition of Everest Search Partners represents an important addition towards their international reach and business.

Tel Aviv is currently one the most important tech centers globally for doing business, stated Nancy Albertini, office of the CEO, Kingsley Gate Partners. Noam and Jeff are world-class professionals with extensive search expertise, and we couldnt be more excited to have them strengthen and expand our presence in Israel and the region.

Jeffs career in executive search spans over two decades. He specializes in recruiting Board Director, CEO's, CFO's, CIO/CTO's, and VP's of Sales, Marketing, Business Development and Engineering, among other functions. Previously he worked at top international search firms, including CTPartners, Korn/Ferry International and Egon Zehnder International, where he was responsible for securing, leading and executing retained executive search assignments.

Noam brings over 20 years of professional experience in executive search, focusing on quality client experience and results. He has earned a reputation of delivering top talent for senior-level positions across a broad range of industries and companies. Drawing on his global experience and network, Noam understands clients corporate and cultural needs enabling them to establish a strong global presence. Before founding Everest Search Partners, Noam led his own executive search practice where he worked with leading VC's and Boards of Directors to build global management teams for early and late-stage companies. He started his executive search career at Christian & Timbers in 1998.

Shapiro and Eisenberg stated, Kingsley Gate Partners is at the forefront of the fast-changing executive recruiting landscape. Theyve built some of the most impressive technology and combined it with world-class methodology. We knew that we could leverage it to deliver the highest quality service to our clients. We are thrilled to be part of this exciting expansion."

About Kingsley Gate Partners

Transforming the world of retained executive search, Kingsley Gate Partners leverages the scientific interviewing approach of its Synchronous Fit framework, deep industry insights of a world-class cadre of consultants and state-of-the-art technology to deliver greater accountability, accuracy, velocity and transparency that ensures a lasting strategic fit between executives and clients. Headquartered in Dallas, the partnership employs search consultants worldwide with expertise in private equity, life sciences, financial services, technology, manufacturing and professional services. The firm works with best of breed organizations in over 29 countries.
This is a global problem, and it still isnt being taken seriously

Morrison is right about one thing  the only solution is global action, writes Ross Gittins, the economics editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, Australias oldest newspaper. While Mr. Morrison certainly deserves blame, Mr. Gittins says, nothing Australia could have done by itself would have prevented the current devastation, since the country accounts for only 1.3 percent of global emissions.

All the big, rich economies  particularly the Americans, less so the Europeans  must share the blame for the continuing rise in average temperatures, he writes.

Even the biggest developing economies  China and India, particularly  could have done more to reduce the intensity of their emissions (emissions per dollar of G.D.P.) without abandoning their efforts to raise their living standards.

If in the past year (or the past decade) the world began to understand how dangerous climate change is, it certainly didnt act like it, Elizabeth Kolbert, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction, writes in The New Yorker. In the past 10 years, she says, more carbon dioxide was emitted than in all of human history up to the election of John F. Kennedy.

Really waking up, and not just dreaming to ourselves that things will be O.K., has become urgent  beyond urgent, she writes. She paraphrases fire officials in the Australian state of Victoria: The world is in danger, and we need to act immediately to survive.

[Related: This apocalyptic Australian summer is our Sandy Hook moment.]

Adaptation means change, and change is hard

Cutting carbon emissions is no longer enough, according to David Bowman, a professor of fire science at the University of Tasmania. We still have to decarbonize but now we also have to adapt, he writes in The Conversation.

One adaptation Australians could make, he suggests, is shifting the traditional vacation season  during which schools have their summer break  to cooler months, so that families arent heading into the countrys forests and national parks at the peak of fire season.

Rearranging the calendar around risk may meet resistance, he writes, but it could reduce the strain on firefighters and make mass evacuations easier.

California could learn something from Australias fire warning system, writes Diana Leonard in The Washington Post. After the disastrous Black Saturday fires of 2009, which killed 173 people, the country developed a more sophisticated, national warning protocol, which the chief executive of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Center in Melbourne believes has saved lives.

The National Weather Service provides something of a similar function for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in the United States, but in California fire evacuation orders are issued by local law enforcement, a system that hasnt always kept pace with the most extreme blazes. A more centralized system, like the one in Australia, could allow the public to access information about the location and spread of a dangerous fire in real time, Ms. Leonard writes.

Climate change is not the only man-made reason

Australia has an arson problem, writes Paul Read in The Australian Financial Review. A senior lecturer at the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University, Mr. Read notes that as much as 50 percent of Australias wildfires are potentially set deliberately. The New South Wales Police Force announced on Monday that it had charged 24 people in connection with bush fire arson.

If we are to prevent bush fires and save lives, property and wildlife, we will also need to find solutions for the other more complex human dimensions of the causes of conflagrations like the ones we are now witnessing," he writes.
F ormer White House national security adviser John Bolton has said he is prepared to testify in Donald Trumps impeachment trial.

Mr Bolton, who left the role in September, said after "careful consideration and study" he has decided that he would comply with a subpoena by the Senate.

If he were to appear as a witness, he could provide a first-hand account of events central to the impeachment case against the president.

"If the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify," Mr Bolton said.

President Donald Trump said the impeachment 'hoax' must 'end quickly' / REUTERS

His willingness to comply with a subpoena could complicate the strategy of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has expressed resistance to calling new witnesses.

Mr Bolton left a message for Mr McConnell before he issued his statement on Monday morning, a person familiar with the matter confirmed to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because he or she wasn't authorized to speak publicly.

As a senior adviser, Mr Bolton was present for key moments that were investigated in the House's impeachment inquiry, including meetings with Ukrainian officials.

Mr McConnell has called for a swift impeachment trial, with a possible final vote after opening arguments.

He has repeatedly referred to President Bill Clinton's impeachment, when leaders decided how to proceed after the trial had started. In that case, witnesses gave closed-door depositions and some excerpts of those interviews were played on the Senate floor.

"The Senate has a unanimous bipartisan precedent for when to handle mid-trial questions such as witnesses - in the middle of the trial," Mr McConnell said as he opened the Senate on Monday.

First the Senate must receive the articles of impeachment

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has stalled the transmission of House-passed articles against Mr Trump in a bid for the witness testimony that Democrats are seeking.

Ms Pelosi did not provide any clues about her next steps Monday, but in a tweet she said Mr Trump and Mr McConnell have "run out of excuses" for not calling witnesses or producing documents that Trump has blocked.

Mr Bolton's testimony would inject an element of unpredictability to an impeachment trial that is widely expected to end with Mr Trump's acquittal. He clashed with the president while working at the White House, and the two men offered differing versions of whether he resigned or was fired when he left office.

Should he testify, Mr Bolton would almost certainly be asked about a comment he is said to have made that he did not want to be "part of whatever drug deal" European Union Ambassador Gordon Sondland and White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney were "cooking up" as Mr Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate Democrats.

That pressure, as Mr Trump was withholding security aid to Ukraine, was at the heart of the inquiry in the House, which voted to impeach him on December 18.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement after Mr Bolton's announcement that "momentum for uncovering the truth in a Senate trial continues."

Mr Schumer said that it is "now up to four Senate Republicans to support bringing in Mr. Bolton" and the other witnesses he has proposed, including Mulvaney.

Republicans hold the Senate with a 53-seat majority, and Democrats would have to find four Republicans to vote with them to issue a subpoena.

If Republicans oppose the subpoenas Democrats have proposed, Schumer said "they would make absolutely clear they are participating in a cover up."

Mr Trump tweeted on Monday morning that the impeachment "hoax" must "end quickly." He added: "It is a con game by the Dems to help with the Election!
Prosecutors have called for former White House national-security adviser Michael Flynn to be sentenced to up to six months in prison following his 2017 guilty plea to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russias then-ambassador to Washington.



The prosecutors' call on January 7 for a prison term for the former close adviser to President Donald Trump reverses their previous stance that Flynn should receive probation because of his cooperation with investigators in Special Counsel Robert Muellers probe of Russian meddling in the U.S. election process.



The 61-year-old Flynn pleaded guilty in federal court in Washington, D.C., on December 1, 2017, to lying about his communications during the presidential transition period with Sergei Kislyak, who was then Moscows ambassador to the United States.



Flynn admitted he was in contact with senior Trump transition officials before and after his communications with Kislyak, including discussions regarding his request that Russia not escalate tensions in response to sanctions imposed by President Barack Obama for election interference.



Since pleading guilty, Flynns lawyers have taken a contentious stand toward the Mueller probe and accused prosecutors of withholding documents and other information favorable to Flynn.



Prosecutors rejected those claims and asserted that Flynn has not taken responsibility for his actions and deserves to spend time behind bars.



Flynn was a top adviser to the Trump campaign and was hired as the president's first national security adviser, a powerful White House post. However, he resigned after 24 days when reports of his contacts with Kislyak surfaced.



Flynns attorneys have until January 13 to reply to the prosecutors recommendation. Sentencing is scheduled for January 28.

Based on reporting by AP, The Washington Post, and Reuters
John Delaney accepts an award from Travel Weekly Editor Arnie Weissmann On behalf of our guests, our loyal travel professionals, crew, and staff around the world, I am humbled to accept these awards, said Delaney. We strive to deliver exceptional experiences and access to incredibly special cultures and places around the world with our small ships.

Big accolades are happening for Windstar Cruises. The small ship cruise line, known for charting a course to smaller ports, islands, and waterways that larger ships cant access, recently earned the coveted Best Cruise Line (under 500 berths) designation at the 17th Annual Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards.

Windstar Cruises President John Delaney accepted the Travel Weekly honor on Thursday, December 12, during a black-tie event at the Conrad New York in Manhattan. Winners are chosen by travel advisors who write in names of favorite companies in many categories. The full list of award winners will appear in the January 20 issue of the magazine.

Two more awards announced in December include Conde Nast Travelers Gold List for Best Cruise Ships in the World and #1 for Best Boutique Cruise Line in USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice awards.

On behalf of our guests, our loyal travel professionals, crew, and staff around the world, I am humbled to accept these awards, said Delaney. We strive to deliver exceptional experiences and access to incredibly special cultures and places around the world with our small ships. Its the ultimate honor to be recognized for our efforts with these accolades.

In addition to earning the #1 Best Boutique Cruise Line by 10Best, Windstar also was named a Best Cruise Ship for Dining for its ship Star Pride (top 10), as well as the #5 Best Small Cruise Ship for motorized sailing ship Wind Surf. More awards for the small ship cruise line can be found online.

About Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly and TravelWeekly.com are the most influential B2B news resources for the travel industry. Via a multimedia portfolio of products, Travel Weekly and TravelWeekly.com deliver all the late-breaking news, analysis, and research that travel professionals need to succeed. https://www.travelweekly.com/readerschoicefinalists

About USA TODAY 10Best

The 10Best Readers' Choice Award contest launches new categories every other Monday at noon, revealing each category's 20 nominees. After 4 weeks of voting, the contest closes on the 28th day at noon. On the Friday after voting ends, winners are revealed. Nominees for all categories are chosen by a panel of relevant experts which include a combination of editors from USA TODAY; editors from 10Best.com; relevant expert contributors; and sources for both these media and other Gannett properties. The nomination panel for each award category is displayed on its associated contest page.

10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased, and experiential travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/

About Conde Nast Travelers Gold List

The Gold List is a collection of Conde Nast editors favorite hotels, cruise ships and resorts in the world. Its created by their teams in New York and London who say their choices are exceptional and classic.

About Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises operates a six-ship fleet of masted sailing ships and all-suite motor ships cruising throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, Asia, Alaska and British Columbia, Canada and New England, Tahiti and the South Pacific, Mexico and U.S. Coastal, and newly launched Australia and New Zealand cruises. Windstars fleet is the market leader in small ship cruising calling on more than 330 off-the-beaten-path and popular ports in nearly 80 countries. The boutique line caters to between 148 and 342 guests on each sailing and takes travelers on cruises that are 180 degrees from ordinary. Windstar has recently launched the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative to transform three Star Class ships with new suites, restaurants, and world-class spa and fitness center. Windstar Cruises is a part of Xanterra Travel Collection. To learn more about authentic small ship cruising with Windstar, visit http://www.windstarcruises.com.

###

Contacts:

Sarah Scoltock, Director of Public Relations, Windstar Cruises / sarah.scoltock@windstarcruises.com

Sally Spaulding, Account Director, Percepture / sspaulding@percepture.com
Just one week ago, a decision went into effect at Uber that will have major consequences for years to come:

Co-founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick resigned from Uber's board of directors, essentially cutting ties with the company he helped build from scratch.

Of course, the writing for this was on the wall for a long time. Kalanick was essentially forced out of his position as CEO back in 2017, following a string of scandals and bad PR that convinced investors a change in leadership was needed. Kalanick was replaced with former Expedia chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi.

While mostly cordial when facing the public, Khosrowshahi and Kalanick butted heads behind closed doors. Then, when the company went public in May, Kalanick wasn't allowed to join the bell-ringing ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange. This was a huge sign of disrespect to the man who had invested years of blood, sweat, and tears into building this company.

In the months that followed, Kalanick sold all of his stock in the company. By exiting the board, he's now, in effect, "washed his hands" of anything to do with Uber.

Khosrowshahi was in a unique position to help stop this from happening--and he should have done all he could to keep Kalanick on board. Because by allowing Kalanick to walk away, Khosrowshahi lost more than experience.

He lost a key part of Uber's heart and soul.

Uber's fall

When Uber burst onto the scene, it appeared to be a true disrupter. In just a few years, the ride-hailing giant sent taxi companies, insurance firms, and regulators alike scrambling to adjust to a business model that came out of nowhere.

But in 2017, Uber's budding empire began to crumble: a viral blog post from a former Uber engineer detailing a web of harassment, deception, and career sabotage at the company. A story in The New York Times that accused Uber of spying on competitors and deliberately trying to deceive regulators. A leaked video of Kalanick, Uber's CEO at the time, cursing out one of his own drivers after being challenged over falling wages.

In the end, Uber investors decided that the company needed new leadership. Kalanick resigned shortly thereafter, and was replaced by Khosrowshahi.

"What got us here is not what's going to get us to the next level," Khosrowshahi told employees at his first all-hands meeting.

Khosrowshahi may have been right, but he too has struggled to get Uber to "the next level." The company's market cap has dropped almost $30 billion since going public in May. And it continues to bleed billions of dollars in losses a year, with no clear plan to profitability in sight.

There's no question Kalanick needed to step down. In fact, I even wrote an open letter to Kalanick at the time, suggesting he consider doing so.

But I also said that this action could prove to be a huge path to personal growth for Kalanick, with the idea that after enough time had passed, he could return to lead Uber again.

Case in point is a very interesting letter Kalanick wrote to Uber employees shortly before he stepped down. It's a letter few people have read, and most have never heard of.

The letter that could have changed everything

In 2017, right in the midst of Uber's most severe challenges, Kalanick was suddenly confronted with a severe tragedy: His parents experienced a freak boating accident, leaving his mother dead and his father seriously injured.

Kalanick immediately took a leave of absence from Uber to look after his father. It was shortly thereafter, while his father was in the hospital being treated for his injuries, that Kalanick penned a long and heartfelt letter to his team. (The letter was acquired by Gizmodo and published over two years after it was written.)

In the letter, Kalanick admitted to his leadership failures.

"When Uber took off, for the first time in my life I was leading an organization that wasn't on the brink of failure each day," wrote Kalanick. "In just the last three and a half years, our service and our company has grown at an unprecedented rate ... As we grew, I held on to too many things that helped me survive and build a great company, but at scale became ever-increasing liabilities."

Kalanick went on to outline specific areas he felt the company needed to change, and how he planned to do that. This included reexamining, reinterpreting, and renewing company values that had been misappropriated, misinterpreted, and even "weaponized." Kalanick also spoke about making changes to the leadership team, which included hiring a new COO to partner with him, along with a new SVP of leadership and strategy.

Kalanick also promised to start building a culture of accountability, one that put people first and better supported what he called "the heart and soul" of Uber--the drivers.

"Putting people first means not viewing every interaction with a rider or driver as a transaction, but as a relationship--something we're committed to investing in for years to come," wrote Kalanick.

"Transforming our culture will take time, but we're committed to investing in making Uber a great place to work, for as long as it takes. This is just the start."

Were these all just empty promises? Or was Kalanick truly dedicated to change?

The truth is, we'll never know--because shortly after Kalanick penned this letter, he was forced to resign.

But one thing we know from psychology is that major tragedy often proves to be the catalyst for major habit change. In other words, a severe injury or the death of a loved one will often inspire us to do things differently.

I don't know if Uber's board ever saw Kalanick's letter. But while stepping down at that time gave Kalanick a huge opportunity to learn and grow, the board and Uber's new CEO could have benefited by giving Kalanick the chance to continue as a guiding force for the company he helped build.

Because Uber needed Kalanick just as much as it needed Khosrowshahi.

Why Uber needs both

Khosrowshahi brought along much of what Kalanick was looking for. Some of the new CEO's early moves showed signs of high emotional intelligence--the ability to invest in people and build relationships.

But Kalanick had something that Khosrowshahi didn't: Kalanick had the enthusiasm, the passion, the belief that Uber could really transform the world. If you watch Khosrowshahi's interviews, you don't see that same excitement. And that's to be expected--you simply can't replace a founder's passion.

That's exactly why Khosrowshahi was brought in--to rein in Kalanick's enthusiasm, to bring calm to the storm. But as time went on, it became clear that Uber needed both Kalanick and Khosrowshahi to increase its chances of success.

This article was supposed to be different. It was originally going to be a sort of open letter to Khosrowshahi, encouraging him to try and restore the relationship with Kalanick, and to give him a greater role.

But as Kalanick started selling his stock, it became clear he no longer viewed himself as a part of Uber.

Not this Uber, anyway.

Still, all is not lost. You might remember another founder/former CEO who was pushed out of his company. A founder who was stripped of control, then sold (almost) all of his stock in the company he helped build from the ground up.

That founder went on to build great things. Eventually, the company even asked him back. He regained his position as CEO, and proceeded to lead one of the most remarkable turnarounds in history.

The company, of course, was Apple. And the founder was Steve Jobs.

Kalanick seems to be following the same path. He's already founded a new company with lofty goals, a startup named CloudKitchens. With CloudKitchens, Kalanick is hoping to produce cheaper food for delivery, cutting costs for restaurants that want to ramp up delivery efforts. Since CloudKitchens don't have a storefront or seating area, they can take advantage of locations in neighborhoods with lots of paying customers, and where property is inexpensive.

Sounds like something that could align well with Uber Eats, doesn't it?

I wish Kalanick all the best in his new endeavors, and I hope CloudKitchens turns into something very successful.

I also hope he continues to learn and grow along the way.

And I hope that someday, once enough time has passed, Khosrowshahi and Uber's board will consider bringing Kalanick back--and together they can build something great.
Passengers were transferred to another rolling stock and were taken to Boryspil

January 7, near the station Demiyvska (Kyiv), Kyiv-Boryspil express, the airport rail link between Boryspil International Airport and Kyiv-Pasazhyrsky, which opened in November 2018, made an emergency stop. The press service of Ukrzaliznytsya (Ukrainian Railways) reports.

"January 7, 2020, at about 13:30, the train, passing the Kyiv - Boryspil Airport route, made an emergency stop near the Demiyivska station (Kyiv)" read the statement.

It is reported that the railroad made every effort to prevent passengers from being late for the plane. They were transferred to another rolling stock and delivered to the airport.

"Ukrzaliznytsya would conduct all the investigations into this case," the Ukrainian Railways stressed.

As we reported, the high-speed railway express from Kyiv to Boryspil airport broke the next day after its launch.
Four leading European powers on Tuesday condemned Turkey for deploying troops to Libya on the weekend, in a sign of rising tensions with Ankara. Britain, France, Germany and Italy put out a statement calling for an end to fighting and "continuing outside interference" following emergency talks in Brussels. Europe is scrambling to respond to two escalating crises -- Libya and Iran, which has threatened revenge for the US killing of Qasem Soleimani, one of its top generals. EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell criticised Turkey by name over its Libya intervention, telling reporters: "We asked for a ceasefire and we asked also to stop escalation and to external interference, which has been increasing in the past days. "It is obvious that this makes a reference to the Turkish decision to intervene with their troops in Libya which is something that we reject and which increases our worries about the situation in Libya." Turkey said on Sunday that its troops had begun deploying to support the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) -- which is battling a number of militant groups. - 'No military solution' - Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar -- who receives backing from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt in his bid to overthrow the GNA -- seized the coastal city of Sirte on Monday. "The EU is of the firm conviction that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis and that a protracted conflict will only bring more misery to ordinary people," the ministers said in their joint statement. "Continuing outside interference is fuelling the crisis. The more the Libyan warring parties rely on foreign military assistance, the more they give external actors undue influence on sovereign Libyan decisions, to the detriment of the country's national interests and of regional stability." The European criticism follows a blunt warning from US President Donald Trump to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the weekend not to interfere in the conflict. The oil-rich North African country has been in turmoil since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that killed longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi. - 'Trustful exchange' on Iran - The Libya talks were followed by a meeting on Iran between Britain, France and Germany -- the three are parties to a 2015 nuclear deal that saw Tehran agree to limit its nuclear ambitions in return for easing of sanctions. Iran announced on Sunday that it would no longer follow some of its commitments under the deal, which has been unravelling since US President Donald Trump withdrew in May 2018. The Europeans are mulling whether to trigger the deal's dispute resolution mechanism, which could lead to the UN Security Council voting on whether to reimpose sanctions on Iran. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas indicated patience with Tehran is wearing thin. "We still believe that this is an important agreement that will prevent Iran from coming into possession of a nuclear bomb," he said. "But we will not be able to take note of announcements with a shrug of our shoulders that the commitments in Tehran will no longer be met." An EU diplomat told AFP that ministers held a "trustful exchange of views" and were committed to "a closely coordinated approach to upcoming contacts in order to contribute to a de-escalation". French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said a decision would be made in the coming days on whether to trigger the mechanism. The EU has called an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers on Friday to discuss the nuclear deal and the possible repercussions from the killing of Soleimani -- the key player in Iran's network of alliances and proxy groups around the Middle East. The US operation took Washington's allies by surprise and NATO held an urgent meeting of its ruling council on Monday to hear from American officials and discuss the future of the alliance's training mission in Iraq. Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has invited Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Brussels for talks, but it is not clear when he might come -- or if he will come at all. Soleimani's death continued to reverberate in Iraq, where NATO is removing some of its personnel because of increased security threats. The alliance has suspended its 500-strong Iraq training mission but insists it remains committed to the fight against jihadists from the Islamic State group. burs-pdw-arp/jxb As many Iranians mourn slain general Qasem Soleimani, European ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss how to ease tensions between Tehran and their US ally Tensions are high in Libya as mutiple foreign powers intervene in the civil conflict. Europe is seeking a political solution, and has warned against any assault on the capital
The first post-Brexit Budget on March 11 will see the Government add 400m to Stormont's coffers, the Chancellor has said.

Sajid Javid has promised a spending spree to help "left behind" parts of the country.

With Brexit set for January 31, Mr Javid will today explain how the UK can take advantage of the "huge opportunities" that he claimed will be presented by leaving the European Union.

The Government is set to increase borrowing in order to fund promises made in the Tory election manifesto, with Mr Javid saying "the country voted for change" by backing Boris Johnson at the ballot box in December.

Promising an "infrastructure revolution" in his first Budget as Chancellor, Mr Javid indicated there would be up to 100bn available for "transformative" projects across the country over the coming years.

Speaking during a visit to the new 350m Trafford Park tram line project in Manchester, Mr Javid said: "The country voted for change. There are still too many people in our great country that feel left behind and we are going to deliver that change."

Mr Javid will provide an economic update to the Cabinet today before facing MPs in the Commons as they return from their Christmas break.

"With this Budget we will unleash Britain's potential - uniting our great country, opening a new chapter for our economy and ushering in a decade of renewal," Mr Javid said.

"People across the country have told us that they want change. We have listened and will deliver.

"Since 2015 we have cut taxes for 760,000 people in Northern Ireland.

"Next year we will increase the Executive's budget by 400m and by 2020 we will save the average car driver 1,000 by freezing fuel duty.

"But we need to do more to level up. With this Budget we will open a new chapter for our economy and usher in a decade of renewal."

During the general election campaign Mr Javid made a decisive break from the policies adopted by his predecessors, promising to loosen constraints on borrowing to the tune of up to 20bn a year for capital spending.

But shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: "After a decade of wrecking the economy, we can have no confidence in a Tory Government delivering the scale of investment needed for renewal especially with a no-deal Brexit still on the table."
(ANSAmed) - RABAT, JANUARY 7 - Five new museums will open this year in Morocco. Photography, music and local history will be at the center of projects to be inaugurated in Rabat, Meknes, Tetouan and Marrakech.



The president of the National Museum Foundation, Mehdi Qotbi, presented the cultural plans, including a museum of photography in Rabat, the Dar Jamai in Meknes, dedicated to Morocco's music history, and, also in Meknes, the Borj Belkari to showcase the history of imperial cities.



There will also be the Bab Okla in Tetouan and the museum Jemaa El Fna, a cultural space for immaterial heritage with the Marrakech square becoming a Unesco world heritage site.



The presentation of the new cultural locations was the occasion to discuss highlights of 2019, including the 140,000 visitors registered at the first Biennial in Rabat, which from September 24 until December 18 celebrated 63 artists from 23 countries.



The National museum foundation, which was created in 2011, is a non-profit organization that manages 13 museums across Morocco. It also has the role of promoting the country's culture and heritage. (ANSAmed)
Tenisha Pennnington, from Kidlington, Oxford, was reported missing yesterday evening

Police have launched an urgent search for a 13-year-old schoolgirl after she vanished from her Oxford home last night.

Tenisha Pennnington, from Kidlington was reported missing yesterday evening.

Police believe she has travelled to the Stratford area of east London.

She is believed to have been wearing a fur coat, black Nike trainers, a black jumper and blue ripped jeans.

She is described as a white female, brown shoulder length hair, 5'0' tall and skinny build.

Officers are appealing for anyone who may have seen Tenisha, or know where she is, to contact police.

Anyone with information should call Thames Valley Police on 101 quoting log number 1114 of January 6, 2020.
Rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran have led military leaders to place U.S. forces and air-defense missile batteries throughout the Middle East on high alert for potential Iranian drone strikes in response to last weeks killing of top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

CNN, citing a pair of U.S. officials, reported Tuesday morning that surging intelligence about a threat of imminent attack against U.S. targets prompted leaders overnight Monday to place forces on high alert to potentially shoot down Iranian drones.

News of the alert comes shortly after Javad Zarif, Irans foreign minister, told CNN that Iran planned a proportional response to the state terrorism strike that killed Soleimani, Irans longtime military and intelligence leader.

The strike, which occurred near the Baghdad airport, was ordered by President Donald Trump, who along with the Pentagon said it would prevent Soleimani from carrying through planned attacks on the U.S. and allies. U.S. officials have not provided details on potential imminent attacks prevented by the strike on Soleimani.

Tensions have flared between Iran and the U.S. since Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated by the Obama administration and placed strong sanctions against Iran. Attempts to return to the negotiating table were stalled earlier this year.

The U.S. conducted airstrikes Sunday that killed 25 fighters of Kataeb Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia operating in Iraq and Syria. The U.S. military said the strikes were in retaliation for the killing of an American contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that the U.S. blamed on the militia.

The Iranian parliament condemned the attack on Soleimani Tuesday, declaring in a resolution all U.S. forces terrorists," according to CNN.

CNN reported that U.S. intelligence officials have observed Iran moving military equipment, including drones and ballistic missiles, over the last several days, potentially an effort to secure weaponry against a potential U.S. strike or place them into position to launch attacks.

The New York Times reported that in Iran on Tuesday, Hossein Salami, leader of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, vowed to take a revenge that will be tough, strong, decisive and finishing and will make them regret. We will set ablaze the place they like, and they know where that is."

The Times reported that instead of using proxy groups, the countrys supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iranian forces would undertake a direct and proportional attack on American targets.
France stepped up security measures to protect military personnel in Iraq after a US strike on an Iranian commander in Baghdad heightened tensions in the region, the French Defence Minister said, Trend reports citing Sputnik.

"After events in Baghdad we raised the security level of 160 French troops in Iraq starting last Friday", Florence Parly tweeted.

Parly argued that France had a stabilizing presence in Iraq. She called on Iran to exercise restraint and return to the nuclear deal, which it said Sunday it was no longer bound by.

Separately, the French Foreign Ministry has updated its travel advisory for Iran to warn French citizens against going to the country over regional security concerns. Those already in Iran were asked to avoid public gatherings.
HONG KONG, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- A burning petrol bomb whirled into Chan's restaurant in the small hours on Monday, breaking his simple life in such a violent way that he had never expected.

At about 2:00 a.m. local time, the glass bottle filled with inflammable liquid exploded in the 30-square-meter spicy food restaurant in Sham Shui Po district, Hong Kong. "I and three diners in the restaurant hastily put out the fire. Fortunately, no one got hurt and my restaurant was not on fire," said Chan.

The attackers, two masked men in black, escaped. Police found an unexploded petrol bomb at the scene and the investigation was underway.

In fact, Chan has become the target of rioters for a long time as he made no secret of his support for police on online social media platforms. One of his photos taken in front of a water cannon vehicle, used by police to disperse rioters, was dubbed the evidence of his "guilt."

His personal information was leaked on the Internet. Some spread rumors that he harbored knife attackers and threatened to vandalize his restaurant. Some repeatedly lodged hostility complaints to food hygiene watchdog over the sanitary condition of his restaurant.

The livelihood of Chan, 47, and his family relies on the small restaurant, which remains open till 3:00 a.m. to attract more diners. However, the disruptive and violent acts of rioters made their life even harder.

"They (rioters) silenced people with different opinions by vandalizing shops and restaurants. It is not democracy and freedom, but pure bullying and violence," Chan said in tears. "I'm definitely against violence. They should put forward their demands in a rational way and violence is not a choice."

After Chan was doxxed, some regular customers never showed up, but more new faces come to express support. One late night, a young man came to Chan's restaurant for dinner all the way from Shenzhen just to cheer him up.

"It makes me feel more and more strongly that there are still people in the society who may not dare to make a public statement but firmly oppose violence and support the police at the bottom of their heart," Chan said.

At the beginning of 2020, Chan said he wished for a peaceful new year. "I hope more young people who used to participate in violent activities can regret what they did and make a clean break with their past."
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Prince Harry and Meghan put on a public display of affection during their first appearance today since embarking on a six-week hiatus from royal duties - to thank the people of Canada for hosting their private holiday.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex held hands and walked closely next to each other this afternoon as they visited Canada House to meet the country's High Commissioner in London, Janice Charette.

They were warmly greeted by Ms Charette and her deputy Sarah Fountain Smith, after saying they wanted to meet staff to 'thank them for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay'.

Meghan wore a mix of tans and camel colours for her appearance - pairing a coat from Reiss with a polo neck and 85 skirt from Massimo Dutti.

The Duchess was joined by Prince Harry, 35, at their first public appearance today marking the end of their six-weeks hiatus from royal duty - to thank the people of Canada for hosting their private holiday.

The Sussexes spent their first Christmas with baby Archie in a 10.7million eight-bedroom waterfront mansion owned by a mystery multi-millionaire in one of the most idyllic spots on Vancouver Island.

Harry and Meghan travelled direct to today's engagement from a private visit to The Hubb, the Grenfell community kitchen project in West London that the former actress collaborated with on the Together cookbook.

They vowed to get stuck into work today after returning 'energised and excited' from the holiday spent mostly in Canada.

In a possible indication of the months ahead - with the Sussexes' royal foundation expected to be launched this year - Harry said later about their chat with Ms Charette: 'There's a hell of a lot of work to be done and things to be talked through but a very useful conversation.'

However, the royal diary doesn't have any details of further engagements for the Duke and Duchess in the next month. Buckingham Palace told Mail Online that Harry and Meghan will be undertaking more royal events in the coming weeks, but were unable to confirm what they will be.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave holding hands after visiting Canada House in London this afternoon

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after visiting Canada House in London this afternoon, after their recent stay in Canada

Prince Harry and Meghan smile as they pose for a photograph with High Commission staff during their visit to Canada House today to give thanks for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada

Prince Harry and Meghan react as they view a special exhibition of art by Indigenous Canadian artist, Skawennati, in the Canada Gallery during their visit to Canada House

Prince Harry and Meghan listen as they showed an exhibition of artworks by Indigenous Canadian artist Skawennati, in the Canada Gallery during their visit to Canada House

Meghan and Harry's first official engagement of the new decade was to publicly thank Canada for hosting them during an extended private break over the festive period

The royals take in the artworks of indigenous Canadian artist Skawennati during today's visit to Canada House, their first engagement of the decade

Prince Harry and Meghan view artworks by Indigenous Canadian artist Skawennati during the visit to Canada House today

During their visit they gave thanks for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave Canada House in London today after their first royal engagement of the new decade

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex smile as they sit together during their visit to Canada House in London this afternoon

A smiling Prince Harry and Meghan, stand with the High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom, Janice Charette (right) and the deputy High Commissioner, Sarah Fountain Smith (left), as they leave after their visit to Canada House

Prince Harry gives a thumbs-up to the cameras as he and the Duchess of Sussex leave Canada House this afternoon

Prince Harry and Meghan sit with Canadian High Commissioner in the UK Janice Charette (second left) and deputy High Commissioner Sarah Fountain Smith (far left) during their visit to Canada House today

Prince Harry leans in to whisper something to Meghan during their visit to Canada House today, where they thanked the High Commissioner for the hospitality they received during their recent visit to Canada

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex thanked the High Commissioner for the 'warm hospitality' during their six-week sabbatical

Meghan looked relaxed and happy during the visit, which comes after a six-week sabbatical for her and Harry in Canada

The Duke of Sussex pulls a face as he leaves with Meghan after visiting Canada House in London this afternoon

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex walk out of the front door of Canada House after their visit to the building in London today

A large crowd of diplomats greeted the couple, who both spoke warmly of their experiences in Canada over the Christmas break

Prince Harry exchanged jokes with the assembled crowd, before Meghan paid tribute to Canada and the welcome they had received

At the diplomatic mission, the couple told staff about the wonderful hospitality, scenery and tranquillity they experienced in their country

Harry asked diplomats assembled on the central staircase: 'Anyone here from British Columbia?' When several shouted yes and put up their hands, he told them: 'What a wonderful place you live in'

He prompted further laughter by suggesting that Meghan would speak to them in French, much to her horror. 'No!' she said before telling the staff: 'I want to say Happy New Year and thank you'

Meghan signing a guestbook at Canada House. The couple both appeared to be refreshed and in high spirits following their break

The couple, who held a team meeting with their staff at Buckingham Palace yesterday morning, have come back refreshed and have several public engagements in the diary for next week

Asked how the couple were, Meghan said: 'Invigorated, excited. The team were all excited to see them this morning. They were disappointed that none of us had sun tans'

Sources said there was nothing to suggest so far that the couple, who have clashed with the media and attracted public criticism at times, had come back resolving to do things differently

During their visit today, Harry and Meghan were served the popular chocolate treat of Nanaimo bars from British Columbia.

At the diplomatic mission, the couple, who took the holiday after struggling with the scrutiny that accompanies being high-profile members of the Royal Family, told staff about the wonderful hospitality, scenery and tranquillity they experienced in their country.

Harry asked diplomats assembled on the central staircase: 'Anyone here from British Columbia?'

When several shouted yes and put up their hands, he told them: 'What a wonderful place you live in.

'Thank you so much for having us - not that any of you had anything much to do with it,' he said to laughter.

'But the warmth and hospitality that we were shown while there was unbelievable, and that's exactly why we chose to go out there. So thank you.'

He prompted further laughter by suggesting that Meghan would speak to them in French, much to her horror. 'No!' she said before telling the staff: 'I want to say Happy New Year and thank you, and as my husband said, my goodness it was just such an incredible time we were able to have there and with our son too.

'And just to be able to take in the warmth that we experienced from the people but also just to walk around and just see the beauty of Canada.

'To see Archie go 'ahhh' when you walk by and just see how stunning it is, so it meant a lot to us'

Aides said the couple, who were still jet-lagged and only got back very recently, had originally intended to divide their extended period of leave between the UK and the United States but then their plans changed and they decided to go to Canada to spend Christmas and New Year with Meghan's mother Doria Ragland and a number of friends.

They never set foot in the US but their choice of holiday destination stayed secret until quite late in their break, allowing them to enjoy peace and tranquillity at the seaside just outside the city of Victoria, about 60 miles from Vancouver over on the mainland.

The couple, who held a team meeting with their staff at Buckingham Palace yesterday morning, have come back refreshed and have several public engagements in the diary for next week, a senior royal aide said.

Asked how the couple were, she said: 'Invigorated, excited. The team were all excited to see them this morning. They were disappointed that none of us had sun tans.'

It rained quite a lot in British Columbia so they had no tans either, the aide said.

Sources said there was nothing to suggest so far that the couple, who have clashed with the media and attracted public criticism at times, had come back resolving to do things differently.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive at Canada House today in their first public engagement of the year

Harry and Meghan gesture while leaving Canada House after a visit in thanks for the warm Canadian hospitality they received

Meghan smiles as she and Prince Harry leave Canada House in London following the couple's visit this afternoon

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after their visit to Canada House in London today to meet with the High Commissioner

Following their first official engagement of the new year, Harry and Meghan leave Canada House in London this afternoon

Upon arriving at Canada House, the Duke and Duchess were greeted by fans, many who carried mini-Canadian flags to greet the royals

Kilvir Buttar, an IT worker at Canada House, who spoke to the couple outside, told Meghan she was from Vancouver, where the couple stayed. Meghan told her she thought it was 'so beautiful'.

Jamie Weare, another staff member at the High Commission, who was waving a flag on their arrival, added that Harry said they had enjoyed their trip but complained that 'it rained all the time'.

Sumira Osman, a consular official, added: 'They were lovely and so gracious. There was a real aura about them. We only found out about this visit at 2.30pm yesterday and it was such a surprise. It is a lovely gesture.'

It is understood that the couple flew in at the weekend from Canada. Aides confirmed the Daily's Mail exclusive story that the couple had spent their entire six-week break in the country, including Thanksgiving.

Prince Harry and Meghan hold hands outside Canada House in London today as they leave following their engagement

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex hold hands as they leave after their visit to Canada House in London this afternoon

The Duke and duchess are meeting different members of the High Commission team who work in a range of sectors

Prince Harry thanks staff at Canada House for hosting the couple this afternoon during their royal engagement

The Duchess of Sussex waves and smiles for the cameras as she leaves Canada House in London with Harry today

Prince Harry and Meghan put on a public display of affection during their visit to London's Canada House today

The couple's visit to Canada House today (pictured) followed a private visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after their visit to Canada House in London this afternoon

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's visit to Canada House in London was revealed by Buckingham Palace yesterday

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met different members of the High Commission team who work in a range of sectors

The couple thanked staff for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their stay in the country

Today's visit comes less than 24 hours after it was announced by Buckingham Palace. It is unheard of for a royal to undertake a Court Circular-documented engagement to thank a country that wasn't officially 'hosting' them.

The trip was classed as private and no official engagements took place. But Harry and Meghan have always made clear they like to cast aside convention and do what is least expected.

The couple were last seen in public together on Remembrance Sunday in November when they joined other royals in London. Harry also undertook a subsequent solo public engagement.

They then disappeared from view with son Archie, now eight months, with a spokesman saying they were taking 'extended family time' after a year in which both admitted struggling with their royal roles.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave Canada House in London following their visit today

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan visit Canada House, which houses the offices of the High Commission of Canada in the UK

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after their visit to Canada House to meet with Canada's High Commissioner to the UK

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wanted to express their thanks for the 'warm hospitality' and help they received on holiday

The couple smile outside Canada House after meeting staff in person during the engagement this afternoon

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan leave Canada House in London following their engagement this afternoon

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex thanked staff for the warm hospitality they received during their extended festive break

Meghan shows her thanks for the staff at Canada House in London hosting the royal couple this afternoon

The couple's visit to Canada House in London today followed a private visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen in West London

The Sussexes thanked staff for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their stay in the country

Harry and Meghan hold hands as they leave Canada House in London following their visit this afternoon

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex smile as they leave Canada House in London this afternoon

The mother-of-one paired a 650 coat from her favourite designer Stella McCartney with a 12.99 polo neck from H&M

Meghan was wearing an 85 skirt from Massimo Dutti for the appearance at Canada House in London today

Harry and Meghan hold hands as they leave Canada House in London today following their royal engagement

Meghan smiles as she holds her coat in her hands and leaves Canada House in London this afternoon

Harry and Meghan returned to the UK after spending six weeks away enjoying private family time with their son Archie

The Duke of Sussex smiles and waves to photographers and well-wishers outside Canada House in London this afternoon

The couple toured the Canada Gallery today and viewed a special exhibition by indigenous Canadian artist Skawennati

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after their visit to Canada House in London to meet with Canada's High Commissioner

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave Canada House in London following their visit today

Harry and Meghan leave today after meeting different members of the High Commission team who work in a range of sectors

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after their visit to Canada House in London this afternoon

Harry and Meghan leave today. The Sussexes last visited Canada House in March 2019 to mark Commonwealth Day

It meant that they missed the Queen's pre-Christmas dinner and the Royal Family's annual festivities at Sandringham.

A spokesman said that after spending the last two Christmases with the royals in Norfolk, new mum Meghan was keen to spend time with her own mother, Doria Ragland.

They stressed the decision was in line with precedent set by other members of the Royal Family  including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge  and had the support of the Queen.

Palace officials declined to discuss where the couple were staying. Shortly before Christmas, however, the Mail revealed they were spending their holiday in Canada.

The couple's visit to Canada House today comes after they had an extended festive break in the Commonwealth country

Meghan and Harry are pictured holding hands during their visit to Canada House in London this afternoon

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive for their visit to Canada House as they are greeted outside by well-wishers

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex went on their first royal engagement of the new decade with the visit to Canada House

Prince Harry and Meghan smile as they arrive for their engagement at Canada House in London this afternoon

The Duke of Sussex and Duchess of Sussex visit Canada House in London today on their first official engagement of 2020

The Duchess of Sussex arrives today to visit Canada House in London to meet the country's High Commissioner

Harry and Meghan arrive at Canada House this afternoon, less than 24 hours after announcing that they would be visiting

The couple want to thank staff 'for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay'

Prince Harry and Meghan arrive at Canada House in London for an engagement today following their recent stay in Canada

The Duke and Duchess have spent the past six weeks based in Canada where they enjoyed private family time with Archie

Buckingham Palace later confirmed: 'They are enjoying sharing the warmth of the Canadian people and the beauty of the landscape with their young son.'

Los Angeles-born Meghan lived in Toronto when she was working as an actress and has described Canada as a second home.

It was later revealed that the trio were enjoying all the luxuries on offer at a waterfront mansion in one of the most idyllic spots on Vancouver Island - and are even believed to have taken their two dogs over with them, too.

They were also seen out hiking locally with friends, including actress Abigail Spencer, a friend of former actress Meghan's from her days on the television drama Suits, with Meghan even offering to take a picture for one stunned couple they met who were struggling with their selfie stick.

The Sussexes last visited Canada House in March 2019 but today travelled to thank High Commission staff for their welcome

The couple are meeting Canada's High Commissioner and staff 'to thank them for the warm Canadian hospitality and support'

Harry and Meghan have the engagement in Canada House today after spending six weeks away enjoying private family time

Prince Harry and Meghan are pictured inside Canada House during the visit to the building in London this afternoon

The Duchess of Sussex speaks during her visit to Canada House today to meet with Canada's High Commissioner to the UK,

Harry and Meghan made their first public appearance today since embarking on a six-week hiatus from royal duties

The Duchess of Sussex is visiting the Canadians today to thank them for the warm hospitality of their homeland

Meghan and Prince Harry smile as they speak to people gathered outside Canada House in London today

Well-wishers line the street trying to get a glimpse of Harry and Meghan outside Canada House in London today

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their first royal engagement of the new decade at Canada House in London today

The Duchess of Sussex steps out of the car outside Canada House in London today as the royals arrive for their visit

They also posted a picture on Instagram of a delighted Harry holding his son, Archie, taken during their holiday to the delight of fans on New Year's Eve.

After meeting with the High Commissioner today Harry and Meghan will visit the Canada Gallery and view a special exhibition by Indigenous Canadian artist, Skawennati.

The duke and duchess will also meet different members of the High Commission team who work in a range of sectors supporting the partnership between Canada and the UK.

The couple last visited Canada House on Commonwealth Day in March 2019, when Meghan was still pregnant, where they met and spoke with young Canadians from a wide range of sectors including fashion, business and academia, about their experiences as expats.

The Sussexes are likely to have spent the US Thanksgiving celebrations with the duchess's mother Doria Ragland

Meghan, a former actress, lived and worked in Toronto during her time starring in the popular US drama Suits

The couple travelled to Canada House to meet staff and were warmly greeted by High Commissioner Janice Charette

The couple arrived at Canada House from a private visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen, run by a group of Grenfell women

The Duchess of Sussex smiles as she arrives for a visit to Canada House in London today to meet with the High Commissioner

Harry and Meghan are today meeting different members of the High Commission team who work in a range of sectors

Meghan smiles as she brushes her hair while meeting staff outside Canada House in London this afternoon

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit Canada House in London today following their six-week visit to the country

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at Canada's High Commission in London to thank staff for their warm hospitality

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are greeted by High Commissioner Janice Charette as they visit Canada House today

Harry and Meghan are welcomed by Janice Charette, Canada's High Commissioner, and her deputy Sarah Fountain Smith

The Sussexes spent around six weeks away from Britain on an extended holiday and based themselves in Canada

Harry and Meghan have recently returned from an extended private break in Canada with their eight-month-old son Archie

The couple made the visit because they wanted to express their gratitude to the Commonwealth nation and its people

On their visit, the couple are touring the Canada Gallery and viewing an exhibition by indigenous Canadian artist Skawennati

Harry and Meghan returned to Britain after spending six weeks away enjoying private family time with their son Archie

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive for their visit to Canada House in London this afternoon

During their time away, the couple missed the Queen's traditional pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace

Prince Harry and Meghan arrive at Canada House in London for their royal visit this afternoon

During 2019, Harry and Meghan faced reports of a rift, first between Meghan and Kate and then between Harry and William

Harry and Meghan Markle spent their first Christmas with baby Archie in a $14.1million mansion on Vancouver Island

Up to 500,000 Canadians currently live in the UK, a figure that reflects the strong, historic and enduring bond between the two countries.

Thanks for the break! Meghan and Harry stayed in beautiful waterfront mansion and even helped hikers with their selfie stick on Canada trip By LARA KEAY FOR MAILONLINE The Duke and Duchess Sussex jetted off to Canada after being given permission by the Queen to spend Christmas apart from the rest of the royals at her estate in Sandringham. The couple, baby Archie and Meghan's mother Doria Ragland stayed in a $14.1m waterfront mansion in Vancouver for their six-week Christmas break. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed they were staying in the country, where Meghan, 38, used to live when she worked on the Netflix series Suits. A couple hiking in the area also revealed the Sussexes helped them take a photo after they spotted them struggling with their selfie stick. The royals approached Iliya Pavlovic and Asymina Kantorowicz on New Year's Day in Vancouver Island's Horth Hill Regional Park. At first they didn't recognise them, but when they realised who it was they 'froze'. During their stay at the eight-bedroom mansion on Vancouver Island, they enjoyed the use of two private beaches and four acres of sprawling grounds. The pair were also away for Thanksgiving on November 28. Advertisement

Speaking after that visit Ms Charette said she kept dropping hints about them visiting Canada soon but got no firm commitment. 'I think their priority is the baby first,' she said at the time.

It is now believed that the couple are almost certain to undertake an official tour of the country sooner rather than later, possibly this year.

During their time away, the couple missed the Queen's traditional pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace and the gathering of royals at Sandringham on Christmas Day.

The Queen was said to have been supportive of the Sussexes' plans and it followed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's past decision to spend Christmas with Kate's parents and not with the monarch.

During 2019, Harry and Meghan faced reports of a rift, first between Meghan and Kate and then between Harry and his brother William.

In a TV documentary broadcast last October, Harry, when asked about the situation, said he loved his brother dearly but they were 'on different paths at the moment' and have 'good days' and 'bad days' in their relationship.

William, the Queen and other senior royals were said to have been left 'very worried' about the Sussexes after their emotional appearance on the ITV programme, filmed during their tour of Africa last autumn.

Harry described his mental health and the way he deals with the pressures of his life as a matter of 'constant management'.

Meghan admitted feeling vulnerable, and spoke of the difficulty in coping with intense media interest, saying: 'It's not enough to just survive something, that's not the point of life. You have got to thrive.'
When Syrian President Bashar Assad made a rare visit to Tehran last year, the powerful Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani was there to greet him, along with Iran's supreme leader and president. Iran's foreign minister wasn't, and he resigned in protest at being excluded from talks with a crucial ally. It was a telling episode on who controls Irans policy in Syria.

Iran's frontman in Syria since 2011, Soleimani helped turn the tide in the now nearly 9-year-old civil war, intervening to save Assad as armed rebels reached the capital, Damascus, and seized several key cities. He welded together Shiite militias from across the region to back Syria's military and waged a series of sieges that captured back territory, wreaked heavy bloodshed and destruction and prevented the collapse of Assad's state.

His killing in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq is likely to rattle thousands of Iran-backed fighters in Syria. The networks of militias he set up will remain in place, and Syria is likely to become a scene for confrontation with hundreds of U.S. troops stationed there. The Iranian-backed militias are scattered all over Syria, including near civilians and some near American positions, said Danny Makki, a Syrian analyst based in Britain. If the U.S.-Iranian conflict escalates  as is very likely, he said  the U.S. or Israel could strike the militias, or the Iranian-backed fighters could attack American positions, which are in the eastern part of Syria, including near Kurdish-controlled oil fields that Damascus is eager to regain.

The battleground will be Syria and Iraq," Makki said. "It could go bad on multiple levels. Soleiman's killing could also have a resounding knock-on effect in Syria. If Iraq's government forces U.S. troops to leave Iraq in protest at the killing, American soldiers in eastern Syria would lose a vital logistics and supply line and would likely have to pull out as well. That, in turn, would leave the Americans' ally, the Syrian Kurds, vulnerable. Iraq's Parliament on Sunday demanded that U.S. troops leave, but it is not immediately clear if the government will carry out the threat.

Soleimani, known simply as the General, transformed Iran's traditional role of supporting proxies focused on challenging Western influence to forging paramilitary forces that could prop up a ruler and a traditional army. He led Iran's intervention in Syria when it became clear to Tehran, early on in the war, that its only state ally in the region was on the verge of collapse in the face of rebels. That would have endangered a vital hub for Tehran: Assad's state-provided access to Iran's most important and professional militia ally, Lebanon's Hezbollah, gave depth and protection to its influence in Iraq and put Iranian influence on the border with Israel.

Soleimani, at the head of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, brought in and organized thousands of Shiite militiamen from Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran to back Assad's overstretched military, providing firepower and skills. He reorganized Syrias own various paramilitary groups into one force, injecting disciplined fighters into the otherwise drained troops. It was also Soleimani who negotiated joint military operations with Russia in 2015, two months before Russia began its airstrikes in Syria. In April 2016, Russia carried out airstrikes inside Syria from Iran, the first time a foreign state-operated inside Iran since World War II, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

He set battlefield priorities, wresting strategic areas from opposition control one by one. An early objective was Qusayr, a town near the border with Lebanon key to supply lines with Hezbollah, then central cities and suburbs around Damascus and a top prize, Syria's largest city, Aleppo. When Aleppo was recaptured in 2016, it was Soleimani, not Assad, who visited the city. His opponents say he introduced some of the most brutal tactics of the war, particularly the use of long, devastating sieges of populated areas that strangled civilians and clawed back territory until resistance collapsed. The tactic killed or displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and left urban areas in ruins. Moreover, pitting Shiite militias against the largely Sunni opposition deepened the war's sectarian nature and fueled atrocities.

"He was the godfather of demographic change in Syria ... His hallmarks are on every massacre that happened in an area cleared of its people, starting from Homs, Ghouta, Daraa and Aleppo, said Tarek Muharram, an opposition fighter from Aleppo who fought against Iranian-backed militias. "Those tactics wont change much after he dies, said Abdul-Salam Abdul-Razek, a defecting Syrian army officer who also fought against Soleimani's militias. Displaced Syrians celebrated Soleimani's killing, with some distributing sweets or shouting thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump. In one of the last opposition-held cities in northern Syria, men danced and sang in a public square.

We woke up to the best news, said Jamil Andani, a displaced man in Idlib. Soleimani made us suffer. He was our worst enemy. For Assad and his forces, Soleimani was a saviour. Eulogizing Soleimani, Assad said he left clear marks in his victories against terrorist groups in Syria. The question now is how much impact Soleimani's death will have on the forces he led. Besides his skill as a strategist and tactician, Soleimani was a powerful presence in the field, often showing up in operations rooms to direct fighting or at front lines to boost morale.

The Syrian-Iranian alliance will continue that's for sure, Makki said. "But the loss of Soleimani, the mastermind of so many victories, plans and strategies will be a big blow for Syria and Iran on a policy level and in terms of regional clout," Assad said the tactics used by the general will only grow and be entrenched in the young men he trained. Reflecting concerns over the effect of Soleimanis killing, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said advances made in Syria should not stall, urging fighters to be steadfast and all Iran proxies to fight the U.S. presence in the region. No one should be shaken or worry or be afraid, Nasrallah said Sunday. We should continue the path firmly toward victory."
In scientific pursuits, like the search for dark matter, researchers sometimes use high-power particle accelerators. But these giant machines are extremely expensive and only a handful of them exist, so teams must travel to places like the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, California, where Stanford University operates at two-mile-long particle accelerator. This may change, though. Researchers believe they have developed an alternative: a laser-driven particle accelerator that fits on a silicon chip.

Traditional particle accelerators use microwave radiation to boost the speed of electrons, but microwaves measure four inches from peak to trough, so they require more distance to nudge electrons along. The prototype particle accelerator created by a team from SLAC and Stanford uses infrared light, which has a wavelength one-tenth the width of a human hair, so it can accelerator electrons in much shorter distances.

But because the wavelengths are so much shorter, the researchers had to make the rest of the accelerator 100,000 times smaller. To do so, they used inverse design algorithms to reverse engineer a silicon chip that could meet those needs. Then, in the silicon, they etched a nanoscale channel and strategic structures, to guide the electrons and bursts of infrared light. The light pulses 100,000 times every second, and as it does, it hits the electrons, accelerating them forward.

For research or medical uses, accelerators need to boost electrons to 94 percent of the speed of light, or one million electron volts (1MeV). This silicon chip prototype isn't there yet. You would need 1,000 of these to reach those speeds. But researchers think they can make a one-inch chip that accelerators electrons to 1MeV, and they plan to do so by the end of 2020.

Stanford and SLAC compare it to the work engineers once did to compress the power from room-sized mainframes into desktop PCs. They believe it could be used for medical and other scientific researcher. For instance, today, highly energized electrons aren't used for cancer radiation therapy because they are hard to guide and would burn the skin. One of the Stanford researchers, Olav Solgaard, is already working on an application of this chip that would guide the energized electrons through a catheter-like vacuum tube inserted alongside a tumor.

"We can derive medical benefits from the miniaturization of accelerator technology in addition to the research applications," Solgaard said in a press release.
Rydzewski said the Nature Education Center, with its surrounding forest preserve, is an interesting place to visit because everythings always changing. You can observe those changes, she said. Sometimes youll see deer right next to the trail. Or sometimes youll see a cool bird or when the snow falls and all the geese are on the creek. And all the staff are happy to answer questions and are excited about what they do and sharing nature with people.
Father Mivtar and his daughter, Lirije, were among people left stateless by the dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. A programme by the Republic of North Macedonia allowed children like Lirije to obtain birth certificates and attend school.  UNHCR/Roger Arnold

North Macedonias accession to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness is an important step in global efforts to end statelessness, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, said on Monday. This brings the total number of State parties to the Convention to 75.

North Macedonias accession represents a very welcome development towards eradicating statelessness said Pascale Moreau, UNHCR Director of the Bureau for Europe.

North Macedonia acceded to the 1961 Statelessness Convention on Friday 3rd January, making it among the first countries to do so since the High-Level Segment on Statelessness held in Geneva in October 2019. During the meeting, States, civil society and international and regional organizations made a total of 358 pledges to address statelessness. In Europe, North Macedonia and other countries announced 40 commitments towards the goal of ending statelessness.

UNHCR convened the High-Level Segment on Statelessness to mark the mid-point of its ten year #IBelong campaign, which was launched in 2014 to eradicate statelessness by 2024.

Statelessness affects millions of people around the world, often denying them access to basic rights and official recognition that most people take for granted.

Some 3.9 million stateless people appear in the reporting of 78 countries, but UNHCR estimates the actual total to be significantly higher.

North Macedonia has been a party to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons since 1994. Accession to both statelessness conventions signals a governments commitment to protect stateless persons, and to address causes of statelessness such as gaps in nationality laws.

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CENTREVILLE, Va., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Parsons Corporation (NYSE:PSN) has been awarded a contract extension to continue as the Main Construction Manager for the remediation efforts of the Giant Mine in the Northwest Territories, Canada. The two-year, cost plus fixed fee amendment from Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC), continues efforts at the former gold mine to contain and manage arsenic trioxide and protect human and environmental health and safety.

"For over six years, we have been working closely with the Government of Canada to keep the site in a safe and stable condition until cleanup efforts can begin, in the interests of creating a safer, healthier and prosperous community," said Jon Moretta, executive vice president, industrial, for Parsons. "Environmental sustainability and protection is everyone's responsibility as we try to create a better world, and we're excited that Parsons can play a small role in improving life in Canada as the project shifts into the active remediation phase in the coming years."

Parsons is the sole prime contractor for the mine's final remediation program. The corporation's initial contract at the site  one of the largest environmental remediation projects in Canada  began in 2013 with the decontamination and deconstruction of the mine's roaster complex. Parsons also provides care and maintenance and construction management for CIRNAC at the Faro Mine complex in Yukon Territory.

Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider for the future of global defense, intelligence and critical infrastructure with capabilities across cybersecurity, missile defense, space, connected infrastructure and smart cities. Please visit parsons.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how we're making an impact.

Media Contact:

Bryce McDevitt

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As the tremors unleashed by the assassination of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani continue to reverberate across the region, Iraqs Kurds are quietly weighing the opportunities and risks posed by the demise of Irans most influential soldier and strategist ahead of a potential trip to Washington by Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani at the invitation of US President Donald Trump.

A resolution passed by the Iraqi parliament Jan. 5 urging the countrys caretaker government to kick out around 5,000 American troops has added a new layer of uncertainty, and as some Iraqi Kurds see it, a chance to advance their long-cherished dream for an independent state with US help.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has denied reports that the United States was pulling out of Iraq; his statement came in response to a leaked letter addressed to Iraqs Defense Ministry from Marine Brig. Gen. William Seely that speaks of "onward movement of US forces in due deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister.

But administration sources, speaking not for attribution, told Al-Monitor the possibility of a US withdrawal is real because of the Iraqi governments sharply hostile tone, albeit under Iranian pressure, and mounting force protection worries amid Iranian calls for revenge.

Might Washington turn to the Iraqi Kurds to redeploy US forces from Arab-dominated Iraq to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where the United States and coalition forces fighting the Islamic State (IS) within Iraq and in neighboring Syria, already have a sizable presence? And how would the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) respond?

Sources familiar with KRG thinking say the only condition under which they might consider agreeing to a continued US military presence (if and when US forces are formally evicted by Baghdad) would be in exchange for recognition of their independent state and written guarantees that the United States would protect the KRG from attack.

Kenneth M. Pollack, a former CIA intelligence analyst and a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, said, It will seem like a great opportunity for [the Kurds]. But I see this as completely different than, say, 2014 when [IS] attacked or other moments when a US shift to the KRG could have worked well. He told Al-Monitor, In the wake of Soleimanis killing, no one really wants to be seen as Americas ally, and if the Kurds try to take advantage of this moment, I fear they will get collectively get hammered for doing so.

Pollack sad moving US troops to KRG territory without Iraqi government authorization would be illegal under international law, constitute de facto American recognition of Kurdish independence and invite Iranian and Iraqi attacks on the KRG and the American forces there. Moreover, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey might all choose to blockade and close their airspace to flights to and from the KRG, which would put tremendous economic pressure on the KRG and make it impossible for the United States to supply its troops in the KRG.

Iran could also reignite tensions between the Barzanis and the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). The Kurdish factions went to war in 1996, with Iran weighing in on the PUKs side to drive the Barzanis out of Sulaimaniyah.

KRG officials say they do not feel any imminent danger of an Iranian attack. Iran would be loathe to settle its scores with the United States within Iraq because this would invite US retaliation of a kind that would harm the Iraqi people and undermine Iraqi Shiite support for Iran. As US sanctions bite harder and harder, Iraq has become an economic lifeline for the Iranians.

Other analysts argue that the collapse of Iraq as a state seems increasingly inevitable. This would give IS an opportunity to regroup and the United States could feel compelled to keep troops in Iraqi Kurdistan. In chaos that might ensue, Turkey for instance might be persuaded to drop its objections to Iraqi Kurdish independence in exchange for US acquiescence for Ankaras annexation of long-coveted Mosul and for the Pentagon scrapping its support for the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units and helping eradicate the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), among other things.

A PKK source disagreed, saying the more likely outcome in the event of Iraqs collapse would be a Turkish invasion to prevent the Iraqi Kurds from declaring independence. Turkey already has several thousands troops deployed inside Iraqi Kurdistan, notionally to hold the PKK in check. The Iraqi Kurds are dreaming if they believe Turkey will allow an independent Kurdistan anywhere, he said.

In any case, the withdrawal of US troops would be disastrous for the Iraqi Kurds under any circumstances, leaving them even more exposed, said a Western diplomat based in Erbil. The KRG is desperate for them to stay but do they even want to? It's hard to predict with this [Trump] administration, the envoy told Al-Monitor.

Ramzy Mardini of the University of Chicago, who has written extensively about the Iraqi Kurds, said, It's unlikely that Kurdish leaders will rely on an unstable, unpredictable and unreliable American foreign policy, certainly not when the strategic interests and risks are high. Mardini told Al-Monitor, A pivot by Erbil away from Baghdad and Tehran and toward Washington would be a major gamble. A more prudent approach would be to aim for a foreign policy of neutral engagement. That would better safeguard the multiple strategic relationships the Kurds need to balance and offer an opportunity to act as a mediator between them in time of rising tensions in the region.

While Iraqi Kurdish leaders mull their options, their government is facing intense pressure from both Iran and the United States to pick sides.

Barzani was tentatively expected to meet with Trump at the White House this month; however, it remains unclear whether the invitation relayed in November to the Iraqi Kurdish leader by Vice President Mike Pence during an unannounced trip to Erbil still stands.

A Trump administration official told Al-Monitor that the visit was not going to be happening very soon. The reason for the postponement was not because of Soleimanis death but rather linked to the resignation of Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi in late November. The administration official declined to elaborate.

Barzani is, however, expected to hold talks with US officials on the sidelines of the Davos summit in Switzerland later this month, sources told Al-Monitor.

The invitation to the White House was calculated as a means to mitigate anger over Trumps greenlighting of Turkeys Oct. 9 assault against the Syrian Kurds. Mazlum Kobane, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces and a former PKK fighter, was supposed to be hosted there but Turkish fury proved too much of an obstacle. Barzani, who has good relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, emerged as a face-saving substitute, sources familiar with the administrations internal debates speculated.

Over the past month as tensions between Tehran and Washington skyrocketed, Barzani and his cousin, KRG Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, have sought to tread a middle ground between not provoking Iran and humoring Washington. It's a near impossible task.

Today, the KRG's most influential figure and former president, Massoud Barzani, waded in with a tweet emphasizing that the Iraqi Kurds ought to remain neutral, saying, "If the process of resolving the current issue in the Middle East region is in accordance with a path of reason and wisdom, we are certainly ready to cooperate. However, we cannot be involved in any proxy wars."

Even before Soleimani died Jan. 3 in a US drone strike, Washington was nagging the KRG to formally condemn Iranian-backed Shiite Iraqi militias who besieged the US Embassy in Baghdad last month, providing KRG officials with a draft statement, according to well-informed sources. The sources told Al-Monitor that the pressure came from David Schenker, the assistant secretary for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and Joey Hood, the principal deputy assistant for the bureau. Schenker, a Trump appointee, was apparently disgruntled by the delay in the KRGs statement and with what he viewed as its limp wording when it finally came out, the sources said.

US officials have reminded the KRG of Soleimanis role in helping Iraqi forces retake the contested oil-rich province of Kirkuk from the Kurds following their ill-fated referendum on independence in September 2017. The Iraqi Kurds respond that the United States sat on its hands and ignored Kurdish pleas for help while this happened.

Still, all but one Kurdish lawmaker, the deputy speaker of the parliament who attended on procedural grounds, boycotted Sundays session in Baghdad to debate the call for the ejection of US troops. KRG leaders were instrumental in persuading Sunni lawmakers to stay away as well, denying the parliament the necessary quorum. This time, Washington registered its approval.

Kurdish parliamentarians acted very bravely by staying away from the parliamentary vote, said Bilal Wahab, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East policy. He recalled that Kurdish lawmakers had received threatening letters from Shiite militias, including Kataib Hezbollah, whose founder Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis perished alongside Soleimani in the US strike.

Unsurprisingly, the Iraqi Kurds are sensing menacing rumblings from Iran. Tehrans man in Erbil, Nasrollah Rashnoudi, aired his displeasure in an interview with Rudaw, an Iraqi Kurdish media outlet that is close to Nechirvan Barzani. The Iranian consul general said he was disappointed at local reaction to the death of Soleimani. We expected more on this terrorist act. We expected a clearer and louder denunciation of what happened.

Iran may well have been upset by the fact that not a single Barzani showed up at the Iranian Consulate to sign the condolence book set up for Soleimani; the KRG instead dispatched its foreign minister, Safeen Dizayee, and other senior Kurdistan Democratic Party figures.

Ominously, publications such as Iran's Kayhan newspaper have run provocative headlines accusing the Iraqi Kurds of conspiring with the United States in Soleimanis death and of supposedly being thanked by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for doing so.

Masrour Barzani, the KRG prime minister, called such claims fake news. Nechirvan Barzani addressed a letter of condolence to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saying Soleimanis death was a source of grief for the people and government of Kurdistan. Barzani lauded Soleimani for his role in standing with the Kurds in the fight against IS and said he hoped the slain commander would rest in paradise. The Western diplomat said the move was a bid to appease Iran.

Barzani, like many fellow Iraqi Kurds fleeing slaughter from Baghdad, was born in exile in Iran and speaks fluent Farsi. He was known to have had a good working relationship with Soleimani, who rushed to Erbils defense when it came under attack from IS in 2014, providing the KRG with weapons as Turkey looked the other way. There may have been more than a hint of sincerity in his words.
New Delhi: Actor and MP Raj Babbar on Monday remembered Om Puri on the occasion on his third death anniversary.

The 67-year-old star took to Twitter and shared a picture along with the star, along with a heartfelt note that reads, "Remembering one of the finest actors of our times - #OmPuri Ji on his death anniversary on Monday. He was a senior colleague from my early days in Acting & I cud benefit from his large-heartedness so many times. He could explore serious roles & comedy with equal ease and is sorely missed."

Remembering one of the finest Actors of our times - #OmPuri ji on his death anniv today. He was a senior colleague from my early days in Acting & I cud benefit from his large-heartedness so many times. He could explore serious roles & comedy with equal ease and is sorely missed. pic.twitter.com/VO1wK29kJG  Raj Babbar (@RajBabbarMP) January 6, 2020

In the picture shared by Raj Babbar, Om Puri is seen hugging the former along with a smile. Raj Babbar posted this picture to mark the third death anniversary of the late legendary actor.

Om Puri was born on October 18, 1950, in Ambala, Punjab and passed away on January 6, 2017, in Mumbai. The Indian actor was noted for his compelling performances in a wide range of roles in Hindi, Punjabi, British, and American films. The actor is popularly known for his epic performance in 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron' 'Ardh Satya' and 'Arohan'.
The son of a man who allegedly killed his own daughter and her husband in a New Year's Eve ambush has described his slain sister as 'the diamond in our family' who helped him escape his 'darkest places'.

Arben Shaptafaj's sister Lindita and her husband Veton Musai died in a hail of bullets on the verandah of their home in Yarraville in Melbourne's inner-west on December 31.

Mrs Musai had been trying to start a new life away from her father Osman Shaptafaj, who was found not far from their home with gunshot wounds following the attack.

A witness said he had repeatedly shot himself in the head.

He survived, but remains critically ill in The Alfred hospital in Melbourne. His condition has now been classed as stable.

Daily Mail Australia has been told police are hopeful Shaptafaj will survive the self-inflicted wounds so that he can face murder charges.

The alleged shooter's son Arben penned a touching tribute to the slain couple after their funeral this week.

'My beautiful, loving, caring, sweet, kind and angelic sister. You were the diamond in our family, our princess,' he said.

Lindita Musai, Veton Musai and Arben Shaptafaj (pictured L-R). Arben posted a heartfelt tribute to the slain couple on Facebook, who he said were 'the two most important people in my life'

Ms Musai's father Osman Shaptafaj (pictured) is accused of shooting the couple, before turning the gun on himself

'You brought me out of the darkest places with just your smile and we were always on each other's side no matter what. We always said it was us against the world no matter what.'

Arben added that he would 'take care' of the siblings mother.

He described his sister's husband as his 'best friend... golden brother'.

'You were always the brother I never had and showed me how to breathe through the tough times in my life,' he said.

'Always using your crazy sense of humour to be the centre of attention. You taught me to never give a damn what people think of you as long as you were happy.'

He urged his family and friends to remember the couple for their life, rather than their tragic death.

'Please remember Veton and Lindita for who they were, their love, their passion and their otherworldly presence, because to remember them for what happened is an injustice to love itself,' he said.

Arben Shaptafaj described his slain sister as 'the diamond in our family' who 'brought him out of the darkest places.' Pictured L-R Lindita Musai, Veton Musai and Arben Shaptafaj

The couple married about a year ago but were dating for at least five years

Shaptafaj, 55, lived just 5km from the couple, but was estranged from his daughter and her mother.

The couple were found on the front porch of their house with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies.

They reportedly had other guests at their home when the shooting unfolded.

Osman was found soon after the attack a block away with gunshot wounds to his head.

A witness told Channel 7 he had seen a man come out of a bush and shoot himself, fall to the ground, then get up again and shoot himself again.

Osman Shaptafaj in a post from Facebook. He is said to have been estranged from his family and is accused of gunning down his own daughter and her husband

Mr Shaptafaj was rushed to hospital after allegedly shooting himself twice

A gun was found at the end of the street on public land.

Investigators are trying to piece together what drove the man to allegedly open fire.

A family member, who wished to remain anonymous, said Mrs Musai had endured a 'difficult' upbringing.

He claimed Mrs Masai's mother had separated from her father about eight years ago after spending time in hospital.

'I'll just say it was nothing to do with his background or his beliefs, as he has no beliefs,' the man said.

The devastated family member spoke out amid speculation about why the couple may have been killed.

'It's really making me sick ... to be honest with you. Lindita and Veton were perfect, absolutely perfect,' he said.

Lindita and Veton Musai (pictured at their wedding) were found on the front porch of their house with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies

Mrs Musai was employed as a receptionist for real estate firm Colliers International in Melbourne's CBD while her husband worked at a nearby bank

The relative said Lindita's mother had done her best to live in the unhappy household, but found the courage to leave after a stint in hospital.

'She was trying to keep the peace, to the point of leaving him, the house, the car and money not to put (him) on edge,' he said.

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.

'May Allah bring the two gorgeous souls together again in Jannah.'

Lindita (pictured with her husband) had been trying to start a new life away from her estranged father before the attack

The Albanian Australian Islamic Society mosque in Carlton North on Saturday. Thousands lined the street to pay their respects to the couple

Hundreds of mourners gathered to farewell the couple at the Albanian Australian Islamic Society mosque in Carlton North on Saturday.

They packed the mosque to pray and to listen to short eulogies given during the hour-long service.

About three thousand more stood outside the mosque on the street to pay their respects.

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 real estate firm Colliers International in Melbourne's CBD while her husband worked at a nearby bank.
A former doctor from Southern Arizona has reached a plea agreement to spend 12 years in prison for plotting to kill a woman he suspected of reporting him to the state medical board.

Glenn G. Robertson, who practiced in Benson and Sierra Vista and was stripped of his medical license last year, recently pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder for hiring a hit man who turned out to be an undercover law enforcement agent.

Robertson, 50, also pleaded guilty to using his medical license to peddle oxycodone in Cochise County in 2017 and 2018 in partnership with an alleged local drug dealer.

The Dec. 16 plea agreement was announced Monday by the Arizona Attorney Generals Office. A sentencing hearing to finalize the deal is set for Jan. 27.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Spire Inc. (NYSE: SR) will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, Feb. 5, to discuss our fiscal 2020 first quarter financial results. We will issue our earnings news release before the market opens that day, and it will be available on our website at Investors.SpireEnergy.com under the Resources tab.

To access the call, please dial the applicable phone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time.

Date and Time: Wednesday, Feb. 5

10 a.m. CT (11 a.m. ET)



Phone Numbers: U.S. and Canada: 844-824-3832

International: 412-317-5142

The call will be webcast in a listen-only format for the media and public. The webcast can be accessed at Investors.SpireEnergy.com under the Events & presentations tab.

A replay of the call will be available from 12 p.m. CT (1 p.m. ET) on Feb. 5 until March 6, 2020, by dialing 877-344-7529 (U.S.), 855-669-9658 (Canada) or 412-317-0088 (international). The replay access code is 10138031. A replay of the webcast will be available on our website at Investors.SpireEnergy.com under the Events & presentations tab.

About Spire



At Spire Inc. (NYSE: SR) we believe energy exists to help make people's lives better. It's a simple idea, but one that's at the heart of our company. Every day we serve 1.7 million homes and businesses making us the fifth largest publicly traded natural gas company in the country. We help families and business owners fuel their daily lives through our gas utilities serving Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri. Our natural gas-related businesses include Spire Marketing, Spire STL Pipeline and Spire Storage. We are committed to transforming our business through growing organically, investing in infrastructure, and advancing through innovation. Learn more at SpireEnergy.com.

Investor Contact:

Scott W. Dudley Jr.

[email protected]

314-342-0878

Media Contact:

Jessica B. Willingham

[email protected]

314-342-3300

SOURCE Spire Inc.

Related Links

https://www.spireenergy.com


Keke Palmer may be used to life in New York City, but she recently tried out a favorite western pastime.

The actress was joined by her Good Morning America co-hosts Michael Strahan and Sara Haines on a mechanical bull Tuesday in Times Square.

She donned her own take on western chic as she gave the erratic machine a whirl in front of a sea of onlookers.

By the horns: Keke Palmer recently tried out a favorite western pastime, as she rode a mechanical bull in Times Square

The 26-year-old channeled Walker Texas Ranger realness in a mustard leather double-breasted duster with a white stetson.

The look was completed with a white hoodie, faded jeans ripped at the knee and a pair of white sneakers with red and blue accents.

She palled around with Strahan, 48, and Haines, 42, as they filmed the segment outside the Times Square studio.

They were joined by professional bull rider Ezekiel Mitchell, who gave them some pointers before getting in the saddle.

Western chic: She donned her own take on western chic as she was joined by her Good Morning America co-hosts Michael Strahan and Sara Haines

Keke Texas Ranger: The 26-year-old channeled Walker Texas Ranger realness in a mustard leather double-breasted duster with a white stetson

Serving looks: The look was completed with a white hoodie, faded jeans ripped at the knee and a pair of white sneakers with red and blue accents

Pro tips: They were joined by professional bull rider Ezekiel Mitchell, who gave them some pointers before getting in the saddle

Cowgirl vibes: Palmer seemed to be holding her own as the bull started to spin around, gradually picking up speed. But a few seconds in, the machine started spinning in the other direction, throwing her off

Good times: Haines was close by to help her co-host up, both of the women consumed in fits of laughter

Palmer seemed to be holding her own as the bull started to spin around, gradually picking up speed.

But a few seconds in, the machine started spinning in the other direction, throwing her off.

Haines was close by to help her co-host up, both of the women consumed in fits of laughter.

Strahan and Haines both got their turns on the mechanical bull, as a crowd of fans and tourists watched.

But they were both thrown off the bull in seconds as well, landing in the red, white and blue inflatable pit.

Times Square rodeo: Strahan and Haines both got their turns on the mechanical bull, as a crowd of fans and tourists watched
Irans foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the United States had declined to issue him a visa to attend a UN Security Council meeting scheduled in New York later this week, as tensions escalate between the two countries after the US killed Irans most prominent military commander.

They fear that someone comes to the US and reveals realities, Zarif said from Tehran on Tuesday.

His comments come as Iran prepares to burry the remains of general Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated on Friday in Baghdad, along with Iraqi paramilitary commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Under the 1947 UN headquarters agreement, the US is generally required to allow access to the UN for foreign diplomats. But Washington says it can deny visas for security, terrorism and foreign policy reasons.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
The California State Senate proposed a ban on all flavored vaping products on Monday, days after the Trump administration unveiled a limited ban on most flavors in cartridge systems.

Why it matters: If the bill is passed and signed into law, the cartridges and e-liquids exempted from the Food and Drug Administration's ban would no longer be sold in California.

Go deeper: All 50 states confirm cases of vaping-related illness
Soho House is banning nuts from all of its restaurants and private members clubs from next week to protect diners with allergies.

The exclusive chain boasts multiple sites across London, New York and Hong Kong and counts the Duke and Duchess of Sussex among its customers.

Its Dean Street location in central London has already banned nuts from the menu, with the brand's nine other members clubs and 14 other restaurants following suit next week, reports The Times.

It comes after the death of the British teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died after suffering an allergic reaction from a Pret A Manger with sesame seeds in 2016.

Pret and other High Street chains across Britain have since tightened their policies on food labelling as a result.

It now faces a trial over claims one of their sandwiches was 'not correctly labelled' after a student suffered a severe allergic reaction.

Soho House (London venue pictured) is banning nuts from all of its restaurants and private members clubs from next week to protect diners with allergies

The exclusive chain boasts multiple sites across London, New York and Hong Kong and counts the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured) among its clients

Soho House is believed to be the first outlet in England to ban nuts entirely.

An Indian restaurant called The Dhabba in Glasgow was the first in Scotland after introducing a ban in April last year.

Figures from Allergy UK show 44 per cent of adults in Britain have at least one allergy.

Recently jars of Sacla pesto were removed from UK supermarkets after a shopper suffered an allergic reaction to traces of peanuts in the recipe.

It comes after the death of the British teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died after suffering an allergic reaction from a Pret A Manger with sesame seeds in 2016

Soho House is renowned for its celebrity clientele. The Duchess of Sussex is believed to have thrown her hen party there in 2018 after being photographed at the Oxfordshire retreat with reality star Millie Mackintosh before she knew Prince Harry.

The club bans members from taking photos inside its venues and posting them on social media, adding to its exclusive feel.

Annual membership of a single Soho House location costs 1,130 and multi-club membership is 1,700.

Peter Chipchase, of Soho House, told The Times: 'Nuts are not integral to our recipes and given the increasing number of people with nut allergies, it was a simple decision taken to protect our customers.'
Dublin, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020 - 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.





The demand for high-quality content on TV is proliferating due to the rapid increase in internet penetration globally. The improved wired broadband infrastructure in urban areas has supported the market growth and is expected to further fuel demand in the market. This study examines both hardware and services provided by vendors in the global IPTV market.





The IPTV market was valued at USD 40.85 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach USD 104.25 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 16.9% over 2020 - 2025. The market is going through a shift from traditional modes of broadcasting like cable or satellite TV towards internet-based streaming. IPTV as a system has a significant role to play in this transitional phase. With improved communication technology and advancement in network architecture, these developments have also served the market affirmatively.



Key Market Trends



Demand for High-Definition Channels and Video On-Demand to Augment the Market Growth

Growing economies across the world are increasing the disposable income of the population. It is also improving people's lifestyle, especially in developing countries. As a result of growing economies, internet penetration has shown a drastic improvement across the globe.

These factors have made television service consumers demand better user experiences in terms of quality and on-the-go television experience. Moreover, Cisco has stated that content over the internet is moving more towards video with an average of 190 GB data usage per household in the United States in 2017 out of which 95% of data consumed by video content. Also, with the inclusion of live streaming trend the internet usage increases, internet penetration plays a vital role.

The internet penetration rate has reached 57% by the end of 2018. In this, the North America region leads with 95%, whereas the highest number of internet users is higher in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by Europe. The difference between internet users in these countries is as large as 1,300 million users.

Moreover, cheap internet data is available, resulting in consumers demanding high-quality television experiences, driving the growth for the internet protocol television market.

Asia-Pacific Expected to Grow Significantly

OTT and IPTV are gaining traction driven by increasing broadband penetration and changing content consumption behaviors in the region. The effect can be significantly observed in Asian countries like India and China, which represented 8.2% and 6.2% GDP growth rate in FY 2018. Rapid urbanization in the region, which stands at 33% and 51% in India and China is playing a significant role in the adoption of IPTV in households.

Rising investment in content has led to the creation of new content offerings, outside of Hollywood. Increasingly, India is becoming one of the content hubs, with a wealth of material being created for consumption locally and around the world. Also, the growth of smartphones users in the region since 2010, has fuelled the demand for IPTV services in mobile devices.



Indian government initiatives towards digital transformation such as digitization of cable TV and Direct-to-Home (DTH) services are also favoring the adoption of IPTV in the country. The advent of network services providers has changed the IPTV scenario in India, with the company providing free IPTV live subscription to its customers. With other companies to follow suit, the demand for mobile-based IPTV services is expected to increase in the region.

Competitive Landscape



March 2019 - Reliance Jio planned the launch of its Jio GigaFiber FTTH service which will offer data, calling, and IPTV benefits under a single plan. The company has claimed the plan will offer 100GB high-speed data at a speed of 100Mbps, unlimited voice calling, Jio Home TV subscription and access to all Jio apps.

April 2018 - Tripleplay developed a new software called Caveman 1.1. It supports the Tripleplay Interactive IPTV Portal for the Samsung HF series Hospitality Smart TV. Also, it facilitates the delivery of digital signage and IPTV to AVNU PF series with BrightSign Built-in and Samsung's Smart Signage Platform version 5 (Tizen 3).



Key Topics Covered:



1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Study Deliverables

1.2 Study Assumptions

1.3 Scope of the Study



2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY



3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



4 MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 Introduction to Market Drivers and Restraints

4.3 Market Drivers

4.3.1 Demand for High-Definition Channels and Video On-Demand

4.3.2 Interactive Services Packaged Along with IPTV Services

4.3.3 Favorable Government Initiatives

4.4 Market Restraints

4.4.1 Competition from Cable TV and Satellite TV Operators

4.4.2 Lack of Infrastructure in Developing Regions to Offer Delay and Jitter-free Service

4.5 Industry Value Chain Analysis

4.6 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Force Analysis

4.6.1 Threat of New Entrants

4.6.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers

4.6.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.6.4 Threat of Substitute Products

4.6.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry



5 MARKET SEGMENTATION

5.1 By Type

5.1.1 Hardware

5.1.2 Service

5.2 Geography



6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE



7 INVESTMENT ANALYSIS



8 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS



Companies Mentioned





Akamai Technologies, Inc.

AT&T Inc.

Cisco Systems Inc.

Ericsson AB

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Verizon Communications

ARRIS International Plc

Moftak Solutions

Sterlite Tech

Tripleplay Services Ltd.





For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/23nbbr

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.
Hyderabad: The three-member commission appointed by the Supreme Court to probe the encounter of four alleged accused in the Disha gang-rape and murder has not yet received any communication from the state government over providing the necessary office space and other paraphernalia  indicating a bureaucratic delay that has raised many an eyebrow within the government circles. This in turn is reportedly delaying the arrival of the commission in Hyderabad to kick-start the probe.

Though the commission comprising retired Supreme Court judge Justice V.S. Sirpurkar, retired former Bombay High Court judge Justice Rekha Sundar Baldota and former CBI director D.R. Karthikeyan already held its first meeting in Nagpur in the third week of December and forwarded their requirements to the TS government, they are still awaiting confirmation about the arrangements.

Sources told Deccan Chronicle that the commission had been expecting the communication since the last week of December. Due to this, the commission was left with no choice but to wait.

The date of arrival (of the commission will be decided after the government confirms the arrangements. It could take anywhere between a week and 10 days more for the government to finalise the arrangements, sources said. While the Supreme Court has granted six months to submit its findings, more than a month has passed.

During their first meeting, the commission is understood to have finalised strategy on how it would go ahead with the probe. The members prepared a list of things they would need to commence work on, which included office space and accommodation, staff and office paraphernalia. The state government is also expected to provide them with round-the-clock security cover and vehicles.

It is learnt that after the Chief Secretary's office received the communication (listing the requirements) through the law secretary, not much has moved on the ground. An official said that they are on the job of finalising all the aspects by this weekend after which the commission would be communicated about the arrangements. In case the state government confirms the arrangements, it is likely that the commission could arrive in Hyderabad before January 20.

While Disha was gang-raped and murdered on November 28, the four alleged accused  Muhammed Arif, J. Naveen, J. Shiva and Chennakeshavulu  were gunned down in an early morning encounter on December 6.
WESTPORT  A stately, gray colonial at 6 Sipperleys Hill Road sits in an enclave of less than a handful of houses in the Coleytown neighborhood.

It was built in 1987 on a 2-acre, largely level and lightly wooded property in a location that puts it conveniently close to the Merritt Parkway and to the centers of Westport and Weston. That means it is also close to Westport train stations, beaches, shops, restaurants and other recreational amenities.

Still, there are so few houses on this street that each enjoys an enormous level of privacy. This house is atop a knoll behind fieldstone pillars topped with lanterns.

A view of the house from the backyard shows three separate segments, as the house was expanded over the years. But inside, it is a unified living and entertaining space with a flexible floor plan. It features 5,429 square feet of living space and some fascinating features, among them two master bedrooms suites  one on the first floor and one on the upper level  two family rooms, and a legal rental apartment on the full finished lower level, according to the listing agent.

Should there be a fly fisherman or woman among the members of this homes new family, they will be thrilled to know one of the best fishing holes in all of Connecticut is only a half a block from this house. A section of the Saugatuck River along Ford Road is open to fly fishing only.

According to www.nutmegtrout.org website (the Nutmeg Chapter of Fairfield-based Trout Unlimited): The Saugatuck River contains some of the purest water in southwestern Connecticut. ... The (Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) stocks 6,000 trout in the river, plus another 1,500 in the fly fishing area.

The website www.bestthingsct.com calls this part of the river the best fly fishing in Connecticut, placing this site fifth among seven excellent fly fishing areas in the state.

A wide bluestone path lined in Belgium block and small rounded shrubs leads to the covered front entrance. The spacious formal living room has a marble fireplace with a decorative mantel, including fluted columns and French doors into the study, one wall of which has floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelves.

On the opposite side of the two-story foyer, the formal dining room features a coffered ceiling and wainscoting on the lower walls. In the two-story family room there is a tall vaulted ceiling, a floor-to-ceiling red brick fireplace, and interior balcony, and sliding doors to the bluestone patio with a stone sitting wall in the fenced backyard.

In the eat-in kitchen, there is a terra cotta tile floor, a center island/breakfast bar, granite counters, and good-sized breakfast nook. From the kitchen, there are stairs to a large bonus room above the attached three-car garage. This space includes a full bathroom, allowing flexibility of use as a second family room, an exercise room, an oversized home office, and even an in-law or au pair option. The legal apartment is on the lower level.

Rounding out the main living level is the master bedroom suite in its own private wing. It features a marble fireplace, a sitting area, two walk-in closets, a marble private bath with a jetted tub, and a door to the deck and yard. The second floor offers the other master suite option. It has a walk-in closet and a large bath. There are two more bedrooms on this level. They share a Jack-and-Jill-style bath.

ABOUT THIS HOUSE STYLE: Colonial ADDRESS: 6 Sipperley's Hill Road PRICE: $1,100,000 ROOMS: 13 FEATURES: two-acre level and gently sloping property, legal apartment, patio, deck, awnings, exterior lighting, underground sprinkler, professionally landscaped, generator, convenient to downtown Westport, easy access the Merritt Parkway, audio system, Thermopane windows, central vacuum, three fireplaces, attached under house three-car garage, zoned central air conditioning and natural gas heat, stone wall, attic, ridge vents, full finished basement, five bedrooms (including two master suites), five full and one half baths SCHOOLS: Coleytown Elementary, Coleytown Middle, Staples High School ASSESSMENT: $1,152,300 MILL RATE: 16.86 mills TAXES: $19,428 See More Collapse

In addition to the apartment, which has an eat-in kitchen, the full finished basement has a theater or media room. The apartment is currently used as a large home office. It could also be a game or recreation room.

There will be an open house on Jan. 12 from noon to 2 p.m.

For more information or to set up an appointment to see the house contact Beth Saunders of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties at 203-913-2762 or bethsaunders@bhhsne.com.
Advertisement

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's close confidant Tom Bradby says the couple are 'considering their options in the future' amid speculation they could move to Canada and even walk away from public life.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are rumoured to be looking at the option of relocating to the country for a significant portion of the year and sources say they may relinquish their HRH titles in the future.

The couple have recently returned from a six week break in Canada over the festive period, where they spent their first Christmas together as a family with baby Archie.

Sources told The Sun that they will start discussing their plans with senior royals  expected to include the Queen and Prince Charles  in the coming days, but the Palace told MailOnline that they would not comment on 'speculation.'

ITV News at Ten host Tom Bradby, close friends with the couple, told Good Morning Britain today that it was 'no big secret' that they have been considering what their future roles within the royal family will be.

Bradby, who spoke to the couple about the pressures they felt as members of the royal family in an ITV documentary in October, told GMB: 'I don't ask what their plans are. They keep that pretty close to their chest and understandably so.

'I don't think its a done deal, that would be my impression. There is a lot of talking to be done. 'There is a million possibilities. They could go to Canada.'

The idea of relocating their office to Canada and the claims they are looking at the possibility of relinquishing their royal titles has sparked fresh speculation they could be considering withdrawing from public life.

During the couple's 10 day visit to Africa Meghan told Bradby how she found adjusting to royal life as 'hard' and Harry spoke about how what happened to his mother Princess Diana made him want to 'protect' his wife and family.

It comes as it emerged the royal diary doesn't have any details of further engagements for the Duke and Duchess in the next month. Buckingham Palace told Mail Online that Harry and Meghan will be undertaking more royal events in the coming weeks, but were unable to confirm what they will be.

Sources said that friends of the couple say they have been 'sidelined' by the monarchy, as they continue on their 'unique path'.

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Meghan Duchess of Sussex reacts as they leave after her visit to Canada House in thanks for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada

ITV News at Ten host Tom Bradby, close friends with the couple, told Good Morning Britain today that it was 'no big secret' that they have been considering what their future roles within the royal family will be

Could the couple leave their home in Windsor (pictured above) and have a fresh start in Canada, where Meghan has previously lived

'Mille Fleurs' the 18 million dollar property where Price Harry and Megan Markle are believed to have stayed on Vancouver island in British Columbia

The family spent Christmas in Canada and Harry posed for a picture with his little boy (above). They are said to have enjoyed not being photographed over the period

A friend told The Sun: 'It is true that Harry and Meghan will spend a fair amount of time in Canada over the next couple of months and possibly going forward too.

'Right now they are starting talks with their family about their plans for the future. Those conversations are at a very early stage'.

The source also claimed that there was a 'serious process' the couple would have to go through and said changes could be varied.

'That could include being based in Canada or the possibility of walking away from their HRH titles, although hopefully it will not come to that', adding that 'everything is on the table'.

Another friend also revealed to The Sun that the couple have a strong base in the area. Meghan had lived there for seven years while filming Suits.

They also added that the couple are 'not central' to the future of the Royal family, but added that they still have a lot of work to do.

It comes after the couple visited Canada House on Tuesday afternoon.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave holding hands after visiting Canada House in London yesterday afternoon in London

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after visiting Canada House in London yesterday afternoon, after their recent stay in Canada

Prince Harry and Meghan smiled as they pose for a photograph with High Commission staff during their visit to Canada House to give thanks for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada

They visited in order to thank them for the warm hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada.

The couple put on a public display of affection during their first appearance on Tuesday since embarking on a six-week hiatus from royal duties - to thank the people of Canada for hosting their private holiday.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex held hands and walked closely next to each other yesterday afternoon as they visited Canada House to meet the country's High Commissioner in London, Janice Charette.

They were warmly greeted by Ms Charette and her deputy Sarah Fountain Smith, after saying they wanted to meet staff to 'thank them for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay'.

The Sussexes spent their first Christmas with baby Archie in a 10.7 million eight-bedroom waterfront mansion owned by a mystery multi-millionaire in one of the most idyllic spots on Vancouver Island.

Harry and Meghan travelled direct to the engagement from a private visit to The Hubb, the Grenfell community kitchen project in West London that the former actress collaborated with on the Together cookbook.

Prince Harry and Meghan react as they view a special exhibition of art by Indigenous Canadian artist, Skawennati, in the Canada Gallery during their visit to Canada House

Prince Harry and Meghan listen as they showed an exhibition of artworks by Indigenous Canadian artist Skawennati, in the Canada Gallery during their visit to Canada House

Meghan and Harry's first official engagement of the new decade was to publicly thank Canada for hosting them during an extended private break over the festive period

They vowed to get stuck into work after returning 'energised and excited' from the holiday spent mostly in Canada.

In a possible indication of the months ahead - with the Sussexes' royal foundation expected to be launched this year - Harry said later about their chat with Ms Charette: 'There's a hell of a lot of work to be done and things to be talked through but a very useful conversation.'

However, the royal diary doesn't have any details of further engagements for the Duke and Duchess in the next month.

Buckingham Palace told MailOnline that Harry and Meghan will be undertaking more royal events in the coming weeks, but were unable to confirm what they will be.

During their visit, Harry and Meghan were served the popular chocolate treat of Nanaimo bars from British Columbia.

At the diplomatic mission, the couple, who took the holiday after struggling with the scrutiny that accompanies being high-profile members of the Royal Family, told staff about the wonderful hospitality, scenery and tranquillity they experienced in their country.

At the diplomatic mission, the couple told staff about the wonderful hospitality, scenery and tranquillity they experienced in their country

Meghan signing a guestbook at Canada House. The couple both appeared to be refreshed and in high spirits following their break

Harry asked diplomats assembled on the central staircase: 'Anyone here from British Columbia?'

When several shouted yes and put up their hands, he told them: 'What a wonderful place you live in.

'Thank you so much for having us - not that any of you had anything much to do with it,' he said to laughter.

'But the warmth and hospitality that we were shown while there was unbelievable, and that's exactly why we chose to go out there. So thank you.'

He prompted further laughter by suggesting that Meghan would speak to them in French, much to her horror. 'No!' she said before telling the staff: 'I want to say Happy New Year and thank you, and as my husband said, my goodness it was just such an incredible time we were able to have there and with our son too.

'And just to be able to take in the warmth that we experienced from the people but also just to walk around and just see the beauty of Canada.

Meghan smiles as she and Prince Harry leave Canada House in London following the couple's visit yesterday afternoon

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex left after their visit to Canada House in London yesterday to meet with the High Commissioner

Following their first official engagement of the new year, Harry and Meghan leave Canada House in London yesterday afternoon

'To see Archie go 'ahhh' when you walk by and just see how stunning it is, so it meant a lot to us'

Aides said the couple, who were still jet-lagged and only got back very recently, had originally intended to divide their extended period of leave between the UK and the United States but then their plans changed and they decided to go to Canada to spend Christmas and New Year with Meghan's mother Doria Ragland and a number of friends.

They never set foot in the US but their choice of holiday destination stayed secret until quite late in their break, allowing them to enjoy peace and tranquillity at the seaside just outside the city of Victoria, about 60 miles from Vancouver over on the mainland.

The couple, who held a team meeting with their staff at Buckingham Palace on Monday morning, have come back refreshed and have several public engagements in the diary for next week, a senior royal aide said.

Asked how the couple were, she said: 'Invigorated, excited. The team were all excited to see them this morning. They were disappointed that none of us had sun tans.'

It rained quite a lot in British Columbia so they had no tans either, the aide said.

Sources said there was nothing to suggest so far that the couple, who have clashed with the media and attracted public criticism at times, had come back resolving to do things differently.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive at Canada House yesterday in their first public engagement of the year

Harry and Meghan gesture while leaving Canada House after a visit in thanks for the warm Canadian hospitality they received

Upon arriving at Canada House, the Duke and Duchess were greeted by fans, many who carried mini-Canadian flags to greet the royals

Kilvir Buttar, an IT worker at Canada House, who spoke to the couple outside, told Meghan she was from Vancouver, where the couple stayed. Meghan told her she thought it was 'so beautiful'.

Jamie Weare, another staff member at the High Commission, who was waving a flag on their arrival, added that Harry said they had enjoyed their trip but complained that 'it rained all the time'.

Sumira Osman, a consular official, added: 'They were lovely and so gracious. There was a real aura about them. We only found out about this visit at 2.30pm yesterday and it was such a surprise. It is a lovely gesture.'

It is understood that the couple flew in at the weekend from Canada. Aides confirmed the Daily's Mail exclusive story that the couple had spent their entire six-week break in the country, including Thanksgiving.

Prince Harry and Meghan hold hands outside Canada House in London on Tuesday as they leave following their engagement

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex held hands as they left after their visit to Canada House in London yesterday afternoon

The Duke and duchess were meeting different members of the High Commission team who work in a range of sectors

Prince Harry thanked staff at Canada House for hosting the couple yesterday afternoon during their royal engagement

The Duchess of Sussex waved and smiled for the cameras as she left Canada House in London with Harry yesterday

Prince Harry and Meghan put on a public display of affection during their visit to London's Canada House yesterday

The couple's visit to Canada House yesterday (pictured) followed a private visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex left after their visit to Canada House in London yesterday afternoon. Meghan has a broad smile on her face

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's visit to Canada House in London was revealed by Buckingham Palace on Monday

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met different members of the High Commission team who work in a range of sectors

The visit came after it was announced by Buckingham Palace. It is unheard of for a royal to undertake a Court Circular-documented engagement to thank a country that wasn't officially 'hosting' them.

The trip was classed as private and no official engagements took place. But Harry and Meghan have always made clear they like to cast aside convention and do what is least expected.

The couple were last seen in public together on Remembrance Sunday in November when they joined other royals in London. Harry also undertook a subsequent solo public engagement.

They then disappeared from view with son Archie, now eight months, with a spokesman saying they were taking 'extended family time' after a year in which both admitted struggling with their royal roles.
LEBANON, Ore. -- Lebanon police are currently investigating a man after he was charged with two sex crimes involving a minor.

Detectives told KEZI they started investigating 20-year-old Benjamin Jazmin in June of last year after receiving reports he abused a girl under the age of 16.

They said their investigation showed the level of contact between Jazmin and the young girl was criminal.

He was arrested Thursday and charged with third-degree rape and third-degree sex abuse for crimes police said he committed between June and September 2019.

"Right now we don't know of any other victims," said Detective Sgt. Taylor Jackson with the Lebanon Police Department. "But we are exploring that possibility. It is something we are looking into. You know, these cases can be very lengthy and time consuming, so it's still an active investigation we're working on."



Jackson also said that Jazmin has no previous criminal history in the city of Lebanon.

Police asked that if you know of any other victims, please call the Lebanon Police Department.
John Bolton says hes prepared to testify in Trump impeachment trial if subpoenaed

President Trump's former national security advisor said he is willing to testify during an impeachment trial. John Bolton had a front-row seat to decisions about withholding aid from Ukraine while pushing to investigate President Trumps political rivals. This is all in the midst of continually rising tensions with Iran as the president clashes with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on whether or not to bomb Iranian cultural sites.

Wells Fargo bank robbed at gunpoint in Chico

Police are still searching for a bank robber this morning. Chico police said the man hit the Wells Fargo on East Avenue and Cohasset.

It happened Monday morning around 11 a.m. Officers said the man pulled out a gun, demanded cash, and then took off on foot. The suspect is described as only a man with a medium build, wearing dark clothing and a mask. Officers have not released any other information regarding the suspect. No one at the bank was hurt.

Shots fired near Chico apartment complex

At about the same time as the robbery, officers responded to a drive-by shooting. It happened at the Hartford square apartments, just north of WinCo, on east 20th and Forest Avenue. Today, officers are also still looking for suspects. Investigators said it is not connected to the bank robbery. No one was hurt, according to Chico police.

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake hits Puerto Rico, killing 1 a day after another quake rocked the island

One man is dead and at least eight injured, after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake shook Puerto Rico. Its the latest in a string of earthquakes to hit the U.S. territory in the past ten days. Power is now down across the island. The U.S. geological survey said the quake was centered just south of the island.

A 13-year-old American boy is killed in an ambush in Mexico near the US border

One American teenager is dead and four other family members injured, after an attack along the U.S./Mexico border near Texas. Police said people in an SUV opened fire on a family, who were traveling in two separate vehicles. It happened along a two-lane highway running along the border. Four other family members are now in the hospital; two in critical condition.

3 teens arrested in killing of 16-year-old girl



Three teens are now in custody, accused in connection to the killing of a Sacramento girl.

Investigators said the teens shot the 16-year-old girl Saturday night, near River City High School in West Sacramento. Investigators have recovered the gun involved, and they think the shooting was connected to what officers are calling a marijuana-related transaction.

California senator proposes new bill to ban all flavored tobacco products

California Senator Jerry Hill has proposed a new bill banning store sales of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes. Nearly 30 state lawmakers have backed the bill reintroduced. This, as data, shows tremendous growth in e-cigarette use by high school students. There was a 78% increase between 2017 and 2018. Stores in California violating the proposed ban would have to pay $250 per violation. Also, the Oroville City Council will discuss tonight an ordinance prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products in the city.
Laois County Council is in contention to win national recognition in the Irish Planning Institute's annual Irish Planning Awards for Portlaoise projects.

The theme of the Institute's 2020 awards is Celebrating Excellence and Innovation in Irish Planning. Two related Laois local authority Portlaoise projects have been nominated in three categories.

The Portlaoise 2040 and Beyond plan has been recognised in three categories: Participation and Engagement, Design, Planning and Economic Development.

The project sets out a 20-year plan for the county town and how public spaces can be reconfigured to improve the landscape and living environment of the town centre.

The second project to be nominated is related to the first. The rejuvenation of Fitzmaurice Place, which was completed in 2019, is nominated in the design section.

Laois County Council Chief Executive John Mulholland welcomed the nominations.

Its always good to be nominated for such prestigious awards and it would be even more gratifying if the Portlaoise projects could ultimately prevail.

I believe the strength of our project Portlaoise 2040 and Beyond lies in its formulation through plan-making at local level where members of the public, the Council and professional planners, taking a carte blanche approach, came forward with a new and exciting vision for the future development of the core town centre.

I think its a model that works, that can be seen to work and that induces buy-in from main stakeholders who trade or live in the town centre. We hope to do well in the awards night itself but more importantly, the coming year 2020 should see the commencement on the ground of a number of priority town centre projects funded from the Urban Regeneration Development Fund, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and Laois County Council, said Mr Mulholland.

The Irish Planning Institute says it seeks, through the Irish Planning Awards, to highlight innovation and excellence in Irish planning. It says the awards acknowledge a diverse range of projects and plans nationally taking place at a local, county and regional level in complex and dynamic environments. There has been a significant increase in the quantity and quality of projects submitted for consideration. In total, the panel of judges has shortlisted 34 projects across 7 categories from a total entry of 56 projects.

President of the Irish Planning Institute Joe Corr noted the higher standard of this year's nominees.

The calibre and quantity of projects submitted to the Irish Planning Awards have greatly improved this year, reflecting the output of the Planning Sector across the country. We feel these shortlisted projects clearly demonstrate the advantages of the participatory planning process, facilitated and enabled by professional planners.

The shortlisted projects show how the cooperation and direct participation of stakeholders can have a synergistic effect of benefit to the whole planning process, he said.

The awards will be presented on February 27 in Dublin.
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Snow showers this evening. Breaks in the overcast later. Low 7F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph, becoming E and decreasing to less than 5 mph. Chance of snow 50%..

Tonight

Snow showers this evening. Breaks in the overcast later. Low 7F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph, becoming E and decreasing to less than 5 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
Joey Yap's largest conference arrived in Singapore on 5th January, and will continue its run in Malaysia and Bangkok

Nearly 8,000 participants attended Joey Yap's annual Feng Shui & Astrology seminar at Resorts World Sentosa on 5 th January 2020

Joey Yap shared about the forecasts for the Year of the Metal Rat and shed light on the global economic outlook for 2020





SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 7 January 2020 - On 5th January 2020, global best-selling author and world No.1 Feng Shui and Chinese Metaphysics expert Joey Yap held his highly-anticipated annual Feng Shui & Astrology seminar at Resorts World Sentosa -- the largest one yet, attracting nearly 8,000 participants from 21 different countries around the world. Drawing over 5,000 participants in 2019, the 2020 annual Feng Shui & Astrology seminar is back again, this time with even more valuable insights from Joey Yap.









An authoritative voice on all things Chinese Metaphysics, Joey Yap spoke on the forecasts for the Year of the Metal Rat, as well as illuminating insights on the overall economic outlook for the year. Attendees were given a clear overview of obstacles and opportunities that will follow in the coming months.

Set to be an extraordinary year according to Chinese Astrology, the Year of the Metal Rat is a pivotal year for many on both professional and personal levels. Joey Yap also shared his wealth of insights on the latest 2020 Feng Shui Outlook, as well as comprehensive forecasts on wealth, career, romance, health and family for each of the 12 zodiac groups.

Joey Yap also revealed a deep dive analysis of Feng Shui and Qi Men, as well as how one can utilise Qi Men Dun Jia charts to forecast outcomes that will benefit them in 2020.

"Joey Yap's case studies with BaZi are really relatable for me and easy to understand. So far, I've used it to practice self-awareness, and it guides me in overcoming the various challenges in my life!" shares participant Edmund, 31 who is currently working in Singapore.

Story continues

Another couple, Diana and Mark are great fans of Joey Yap as well. "He is not a fortune teller, he's a guide who will help you out with useful advice for your future.'

Design your ideal life in 2020 with Joey Yap's invaluable insights with your own BaZi chart using Chinese Metaphysics, and build 2020 as your best year yet.

Missed out on the seminar? It is never too late to start learning! Check out the FREE Thriver's Guide 2020 that everyone is raving about at: joeyyap.com/2020sg





About Joey Yap

Joey is the world #1 authority in Feng Shui and Chinese Metaphysics. He's a bestselling author of 182 books published in 7 different languages with more than 4,200,000 copies sold globally. He speaks to more than 50,000 people at his live events around the world and has been featured in BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, CNN, Forbes, The International Herald Tribune, Tatler and Time.



In the last 20 years, he has been helping thousands of students and clients from all over the world, embark on their life's journey towards a transformational experience using Feng Shui, BaZi, Yi Jing, Face Reading, Date Selection and Qi Men Dun Jia. He is also the creator of the best-selling online learning programs Grow Rich with BaZi and Design Your Destiny programs.



Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/datojoeyyap/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djoeyyap/
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese smartphone maker Realme shipped 25 million phones in 2019 hopes to ship 50 million in 2020, the company said on Tuesday at an event announcing its first 5G device.

The remarks come as the fast-growing smartphone brand, which saw fast adoption in India in 2019, steadily turns its focus towards its home market in China, as device makers hope that consumers buy new phones this year compatible with the countrys expanding 5G infrastructure.

Realmes X50 5G device is priced at roughly 2499 yuan ($359.71) for the cheapest variant, marking a lower cost mid-range entry in the recent spate of 5G devices released by Chinese brands.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and Oppo have each released four 5G models to date. Xiaomi Corp has launched three models, and CEO Lei Jun said last year the company would aim to unveil at least 10 models in 2020.

Apple Inc, which has seen sales in China struggle since their peak in 2015, is expected to release a 5G device later this year.

The 5G smartphone wave comes as China rapidly upgrades its telecommunication infrastructure to include 5G base stations. As of late November, China had 113,000 base stations in service, according to state media reports.

This has given Chinese smartphone brands an incentive to boost sales domestically. Overall Chinese phone sales dropped 4.5% annually in October 2019, according to government data.

Chase Qi, president of global marketing at Realme, said that he expects many consumers will upgrade their phones as 5G networks improve.

He also said the company will focus on selling in Europe and the Middle East this year.

Realme originated as a sub-brand under Oppo, one of Chinas top smartphone brands, before spinning off as an independent division. Both companies, along with Vivo, and Oppo, are owned by BBK Electronics Corporation, a decades-old device maker.

The brand grew shipments in India nearly four-fold between Q3 2018 and Q3 2019, according to data from research firm IDC.

Will Wong, who tracks Chinas smartphone sector of IDC, attributes the Realmes success in India to its affiliation with Oppo, which is known to give retail partners higher margins on device sales than competitors.
This story is part of #MeToo 2020, a CBC News series examining what's changed since the start of the #MeToo movement two years ago and how the trial of disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein will affect the future of the movement.

In October 2017, the New York Times published accounts by several women accusing film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, sparking a worldwide response and fuelling the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment in the workplace.

So what has changed since then?

"The confounding thing about the last two years is that everything has changed and nothing has changed," says New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor, in a recent interview with The National co-host Adrienne Arsenault.

"I think there's a lot of compassion for what women and others have faced over the years in the workplace and beyond. On the other hand, when we look at the fundamental system, when we look at laws and rules, when we look at a woman who is serving burgers for 10 bucks an hour in a restaurant, it's very hard to say that much has changed in the last two years."

Weinstein is to stand trial on charges of rape, sexual assault and predatory assault, with jury selection scheduled to start today. He denies any allegations of non-consensual sex.

While there has been a shift in social attitudes as well as a renewed appreciation of what sexual harassment is and why it has to be prevented, the two New York Times journalists who first broke the story say the judicial system does not reflect that shift.

Brendan McDermid/Reuters

In their recent book She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement, Kantor and fellow journalist Megan Twohey point to one particular area where they say change is needed most: Weinstein's "secret settlements" with women.

These non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) were at the core of their news coverage, they say, and were arguably the enablers in the Harvey Weinstein saga.

Story continues

"In the case of alleged predators like Harvey Weinstein, he would do one of these secret settlements and then go on to allegedly harm many other women," says Twohey.

"So I think now we're finally starting to have a public debate and conversation about who really benefits, and whether or not these secret settlements have in fact allowed enablers to continue to prey."

Limiting NDAs

In the course of their reporting, Kantor and Twohey say they were able to identify at least eight secret settlements that Harvey Weinstein paid to women who had come forward accusing him of sexual harassment and sexual assault, during a period spanning 1990 through 2015. In effect, they say, paying women in exchange for silence.

"So when we came knocking on the doors of these women who had been victims of alleged sexual assaults and sexual harassment, they were legally prohibited from talking to us," says Twohey.

"Slowly but surely we were able to identify, to unearth those settlements, and start to document them in ways that helped illuminate this tool that he had to use to cover his tracks."

CBC

In some American states, such as New Jersey and California, there are limits on the use of NDAs in cases of sexual harassment and assault. But in Canada there is no legislation or clarity in this area, and no guidance from law societies about when NDAs should be used.

Roxanne Davis, an employment lawyer based in Calgary, has represented victims and acted as an impartial investigator in cases involving sexual harassment allegations. Given the lack of legislation in Canada, she says, some courts have had to go their own way interpreting NDAs in sexual harassment cases, so that complainants can speak out after accepting settlements.

"In this current environment, it would be useful to have a broader discussion in Canada about whether, from a policy perspective, it is appropriate to enforce NDAs in sexual harassment cases, so courts have some guidance in that area," Davis says.

Meanwhile, the U.K. has seen some change around NDAs. Last year, the Solicitors Regulation Authority published a warning to lawyers handling these types of agreements. It now says NDAs cannot be used to discourage victims from reporting sexual misconduct to authorities.

Secret settlement

Mark Lennihan/Associated Press

More changes may come to the U.K., in part because of a lobbying effort by a woman who ultimately refused to be silenced by Harvey Weinstein: his former assistant Zelda Perkins.

She spoke with CBC's The National about her experience working with the now disgraced mogul, and gave a harrowing account of how she agreed to one of his secret settlements.

CBC News asked representatives for Harvey Weinstein for his response to these allegations. They replied via email that, "Neither Mr. Weinstein, nor his representatives will be making any comments on these matters. I hope you can remain objective."

Through the 1990s, Perkins worked as Weinstein's assistant at his Miramax office in London. Perkins is now opening up about those days and what she says was daily harassment working for Weinstein.

Pascal Leblond/CBC

Perkins described one occasion when she says Weinstein asked her to take notes as he spoke in his hotel bathroom.

"I agreed that I would sit in the bathroom whilst he was in the sauna, so I couldn't see him, and take notes. And he went in there, and within a couple of minutes he said this isn't working and came out naked, and said 'I'm going to have a bath.'"

Perkins says she tried to leave the room, but he insisted she stay to continue their work.

"He said 'I'm just going to be in the bath, don't be so prissy.' And it sounds ridiculous, particularly now that we are talking about it. But at the time that felt like a pretty safe compromise."

However, by 1998 Perkins says she had reached her breaking point.

At that time, Perkins was working with a young assistant, Rowena Chiu. While at the Venice Film Festival, both worked with Weinstein; Perkins took the day shift and Chiu was assigned the later shift.

Perkins says she advised the younger Chiu how best to deal with Weinstein's inappropriate behaviour.

On the second night in Venice, Chiu told CBC's The National in a recent interview, their work began as it had the previous evening, discussing scripts. However, she says Weinstein also engaged in flattery about her degree in English literature from Oxford, along with asking personal questions.

Zelda Perkins

"He asked me about my boyfriend. He asked me how long we'd been together, and whether he was my first boyfriend, and so on," Chiu says.

She says Weinstein removed his clothing.

"He asked if I could give him a massage. We had been working mostly on the bed in the sense I was half sitting on the bed and the scripts were spread out on the bed. He had taken his clothes off so he was naked, and so he requested a massage from me, which I was reluctant to give him."

Chiu alleges Weinstein asked her to take off some layers of her own clothing, saying it was warm in the hotel room and she would feel more comfortable.

"And so in that way it's almost an insidious, gradual path towards, you know, asking for more and more overt sexual favours. And so from there it led to him pinning me against the bed and and asking for just one thrust, and saying just one thrust and will all be over. It was pretty terrifying."

Chiu says she managed to pull herself away from Weinstein and out of the room.

"She told me the next day that he'd attempted to rape her," Perkins says. "So I went and confronted Harvey."

The women returned to London and sought legal help, and were told by their lawyers that their only option was an agreement. Perkins says what followed were long, "intimidating" sessions in the offices of Weinstein's lawyers Allen & Overy, the leading law firm in London.

Perkins recounts how she and her young assistant had to attend two 12-hour negotiating sessions with their lawyers and Weinstein's, one ending at 5 a.m.

"We weren't allowed pen and paper. We were escorted to the loo," Perkins says.

As for the agreement itself, she says it contained highly restrictive clauses, including ones that applied to any mental health counselling the two young women might seek in the future.

"We could talk to a therapist as long as the therapist signed their own confidentiality agreement. And if they broke the confidentiality agreement, we were the ones who Miramax would come after for breach of contract."

Perkins says that at her insistence, the NDA included conditions about Weinstein's future conduct, including that he receive therapy, but it's not clear whether they were met.

Perkins says a sum of 250,000 in financial compensation was also part of the agreement, to be divided between the two women.

She contends it was the "morality" of the agreement and the legal process that she found the most horrifying part of her ordeal.

Evan Mitsui/CBC

"We had six or seven very reputable lawyers in that room. Every single person in that room did not say that there was anything wrong with our signing that agreement. That agreement was unethical and egregious on every level  to me that is far more disturbing than Harvey's behaviour.

"Harvey is just a weak man. There are thousands of weak men and women who abuse their positions of power and that will always be the case  Now, if you're sitting in a room and you have these erudite lawyers and you have two 23- and 24-year-old girls, and they're telling you that this is how the law works, then for me the world was over, the world was over."

On the day the non-disclosure agreement was signed, Perkins and Chiu left the law offices and shared a taxi home. Chiu describes how they made a pact not to speak to one another.

"I think it was a clear sense that we wouldn't remain in each other's lives, because we talked about how difficult it was not to refer to this period of our lives," Chiu says. "And I think it would have just been odd to continue. What were we to do, meet socially and make chit-chat and pretend that this had never happened? It had been such a difficult and defining and traumatic event."

'Serious risk'

Almost 20 years later, the New York Times contacted Zelda Perkins and Rowena Chiu. Both decided it was time to end their silence and break their non-disclosure agreement with Weinstein.

Journalist Megan Twohey says she believes Perkins and Chiu took a great risk in speaking out.

"It is a serious risk to break a settlement. These settlements are structured in a way so that if somebody does in fact break them, if somebody does speak out and tell the truth about what's happened, Weinstein is in a position to come after her not just for the money that was paid out at the time, but often for financial damages on top of that," says Twohey.

Zelda Perkins

Perkins has since found her voice, giving testimony in the U.K. last year to a parliamentary inquiry into workplace sexual harassment. Perkins spoke to MPs about what she sees as the misuse of NDAs to cover up sexual misconduct and crimes in the work environment.

Still, the effect of the agreement on Perkins  who was forbidden to speak to anyone, including family and friends  was intense. She says it seemed safer to remove herself entirely from a life in London.

"I left the country, I moved to Central America, lived in Guatemala for five years. So I was away from family and friends. I couldn't really work in the industry anymore. I was afraid, because I couldn't explain to anybody what had happened."

Chiu says it was the enforced silence that weighed heaviest on her life.

"It was not something I was ever able to get away from. I found it an impossible burden to bear, really. And it came to a point where I tried to kill myself a couple of times. And I really felt I was never going to get away from the secret."

New York Times journalist Kantor concedes these secret settlements can offer an alleged victim momentary peace, some financial compensation to move on with their life, and an opportunity to keep their privacy. But there's also a danger.

"The problem is only visible when you look at these collectively, when you say is this really our best tool, what has this masked over the years, what has it enabled over the years," says Kantor.

"I think part of what we're beginning to see is that there's a distinction between privacy and secrecy," she adds.

"A lot of victims we've talked to, they do want to keep their privacy. But they don't necessarily want secrecy, in the sense that they want how much to tell, what to tell, to be under their control. They don't necessarily want to sign a document that says 'I'm giving up the right to talk about my own personal experiences.'"
Karan Johar is currently on a recce in Jaisalmer for his much-awaited period-saga Takht, which will go on the floors in March. Karan, along with cinematographer Mitesh Mirchandani, National Award-winning art-director Sabu Cyril and his assistant directors will be in the desert city for the next five days to extensively analyse the locations and plan the cinematography and set designs.

Johar and his team will also fly to several European locations, including Italy and France, on January 18 for another round of recce. Hed always planned to spend January on the final round of recce and will be exploring locations similar to the landscape of Rajasthan in countries across Europe. Massive sets will be erected everywhere  from Jaisalmer to Europe  for which a mammoth budget has been earmarked, says a source. As of now, the action scenes as well as the costumes have been locked for the film, which will also have battle sequences.

Takht has been described as the epic battle for the majestic Mughal throne. Its a tale of two warring brothers, based on the fight for the throne between Shah Jahans two sons Aurangzeb and Dara Shukoh, played by Ranveer Singh and Vicky Kaushal. The film also features Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Janhvi Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar in pivotal roles, with Anil Kapoor as the Mughal patriarch Shah Jahan.

There will be some workshops in February with the entire cast to get a sense of their characters before moving on to the epic battle, the source concludes.
LONDON and PALO ALTO, California, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Codewise, the industry's first provider of AI-powered online ad measurement and management and ad exchange solutions, recognized by the Financial Times as one of the fastest-growing companies in Europe for 3 years straight, today announced that the company's revenue grew by 42% in 2019, compared to 2018. Net profitability also grew by 133% over the same period.

Codewise provides two solutions, Voluum and Zeropark, to digital marketers and media buying teams at agencies and brands of all sizes, from SOHO to large transnational enterprises.

Driven by relentless customer-led innovation, Codewise's solutions are appealing to progressively wider geographies and industries, delivering YoY revenue growth of 42% for the whole of Codewise and of 54% for Zeropark.

"In a world where the dominant credo is delivering annual revenue growth at any loss, Codewise believes instead in sustainable growth - profitable growth to deliver the resources to support tireless innovation resulting in increased value to more and more customers," said Dr. John Malatesta, CEO and Executive Chairman of Codewise. "In the constant pursuit of fostering innovation and improving the state of the world, we gladly share our considerable technological and business expertise with the whole industry, including such outstanding global organizations as the World Economic Forum, the United Nations' ITU, and the European Internet Forum."

About Codewise

Founded in 2011, Codewise is the industry's first provider of AI-powered online ad measurement and management and ad exchange solutions for digital marketers. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, the Financial Times, recognized Codewise as one of Europe's fastest-growing technology companies. Codewise's solutions help thousands of businesses in 190 countries track, measure and optimize billions of dollars of advertising spend, boosting their efficiency and ROI. Codewise is currently tracking more than $2.5 billion of digital ad spending for some of the world's largest brands and ad agencies, including $400 million on Facebook. Learn more at www.codewise.com .

About Zeropark

Zeropark is an ad exchange platform connecting advertisers with high-performance traffic sources in real time. With the largest (over 100 sources in one place) and cleanest (99% bot-free) traffic inventory in the industry, Zeropark offers hand-picked traffic from parked domain redirects, Mobile App, Premium Pop and Push Notifications. It features robust targeting options and powerful optimization tools bolstered by AI, all in a user-friendly interface. Zeropark serves 150 million ad views every day and successfully enables more than 3,300 customers in 193 countries.

About Voluum

Voluum is a marketing suite that enables online ad analytics, tracking, optimization, and media buying. The suite consists of Voluum Tracker , the industry's first AI-powered ad measurement and optimization platform, and Voluum DSP , a next-generation advertising Demand-Side Platform connecting advertisers with the largest ad-exchanges in the industry. Powered by a robust proprietary database technology, Voluum tracks 1.5 billion events monthly and serves 3,000 customers in 190 countries worldwide.

Media contact: media@codewise.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/659010/Codewise_logo1_Logo.jpg
Washington's ambassador to Afghanistan ended his term and left the country on Monday as scheduled, a State Department spokesperson told AFP, even as US-Taliban peace talks remained on hold.

John Bass, a veteran diplomat, had served in Kabul since December 2017.

"Ambassador Bass's departure is long-planned and part of the normal rotation cycle. US ambassadors typically serve in Kabul for two years," the spokesperson said.

His departure comes after the US announced in early December that talks with Taliban Islamist extremists would pause following an attack near the Bagram military base in Afghanistan.

Negotiations between the US and the insurgent group had restarted just days before in Qatar, with the goal of finding a path to reduce violence or even reach a ceasefire that would allow a gradual withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan after 18 years.

The talks started earlier in 2019, though Trump unexpectedly suspended them in September just as the parties were about to reach an agreement. He cited a fatal attack in Kabul that killed an American soldier.

Bass "skillfully advanced the Trump Administration's goal of reaching a political settlement in Afghanistan," the State Department spokesperson said.

Former foreign service officer Ross Wilson will serve as charge d'affaires ad interim until a new ambassador is confirmed. Wilson has more than 30 years of experience under both Democrat and Republican administrations, the spokesperson said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Natural News) The Washington Post is coming under fire for publishing Chinese propaganda last week, just one day after the launch of another intercontinental ballistic missile by North Korea. The insert in question has long been controversial, yet many people remain unaware that it is bought and paid for by the corrupt Chinese government.

As noted by Ethan Barton of the Daily Caller, the papers China Watch section failed to mention the launch, which is consistent with its strategy of ignoring big Chinese news stories that paint the country in a negative light and focusing only on positive news. Its a huge omission as the ICBM that North Korea is claiming it tested has a range believed to be more than 8,100 miles and the ability to strike anywhere in the United States.

Just one article in the insert mentioned Chinas stance regarding North Korea, but it only said that Beijing was trying to pressure Pyongyang.

The insert, which is widely considered Chinese communist propaganda and appears regularly in the Post, is prepared by the Chinese government and is labeled an advertising supplement in small print. The Russian government, by the way, also has a similar arrangement with the paper in the form of Russia Beyond the Headlines. These two supplements have also appeared in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.

China Watch is known for choosing stories that advance the communist party line. In the past, it has published stories saying that the countrys one child policy was beneficial to the people, helping them to come out of poverty and preserve the environment  which is pretty laughable when you consider how widespread pollution is in China.

Advertising supplement can be hard to tell apart from legitimate news

Representatives from the paper refused to tell the Daily Caller News Foundation how much money the Chinese government is paying the Washington Post to publish its propaganda, and they reiterated that its an advertising supplement. One page carries the notice: This supplement, prepared by China Daily, Peoples Republic of China, did not involve the news or editorial departments of The Washington Post, but its pretty easy to miss.

It is also worth noting that the Washington Post hosts a China Watch website that is not clearly identified as being an advertising supplement, nor does it state anywhere that it is paid for by the communist Chinese government. Even the URLs of the news articles, which start with http://chinawatch.washingtonpost.com/ make them seem like part of the actual paper.

Those who are not aware of the situation can mistake it for actual news from the Washington Post fairly easily. Thats because they do their best to make it indistinguishable, using formal headlines and bylines and the logo of the Washington Post at the top of the page.

Its funny how liberal media like the Washington Post, who will be the first to accuse others of fake news for publishing anything that they do not agree with, will gladly post this type of propaganda making it seem like its all rainbows and butterflies in China even as North Korea launches its most powerful ICBM as long as they can collect a paycheck for doing so.

While its hard to fault newspapers for offering up ads  after all, thats how they make money  this goes far beyond that. There is no reason that American newspapers should be spreading Chinese propaganda, especially when they do their best to make it hard to tell it apart from the actual news the paper and its website publish. Its yet another reason we should take everything printed in the mainstream media with a grain of salt.

Sources include:

DailyCaller.com

ConservativeTribune.com

LifeSiteNews.com
Canopy Growth Corp (TSE: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) announced that it will be working in conjunction with 10 Ontario retail license holders to open new Tokyo Smoke-branded retail cannabis stores across the province.

"With 10 new stores set to open in the first half of this year, we are pleased with the momentum weve built and excited to bring the Tokyo Smoke experience to more Ontarians," Canopy Growth President Rade Kovacevic said in a statement.

"Increasing Tokyo Smokes presence across the province will expand access to high-quality cannabis products and education, continuing to migrate cannabis sales from the illicit to the regulated market."

Nine of the 10 locations have already completed the Public Notice Period, proceeding to the following stage in the licensing process, according to Canopy Growth.

The retail stores will be owned and managed by independent business owners with support from Canopy Growths retail team.

The store openings will expand Canopys retail presence over Canada to a total of 37 stores, the company said.

The government of Ontario is starting to move toward an open market for retail cannabis stores, according to Canopy Growth, and the company said this policy will be essential for consumer access to a greater variety of secure and reliable cannabis sources.

Canopy Growth shares were up 0.8% at $20.08 at the close Monday.

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(Photo : SpaceX Twitter)

With its first expected mission for 2020 to launch on Jan. 6, SpaceX is doing its final testing for the Falcon 9 rocket. The company did a static-fire test of the rocket on Saturday, Jan. 4, ahead of its launch. The Falcon 9 rocket is to be launched at Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The rocket's mission is to send 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit. The mission, named Starlink 2, aims to send 60 of Starlink's satellites into orbit, further progressing Elon Musk's mission of providing worldwide satellite internet access.

Starlink 2 is planned for liftoff on Monday, 9:19 p.m. EST.

Pre-Launch Procedures

The Falcon 9 Rocket, designated B1049, was released from its hangar last Friday, where it was set up in its launch pad ahead of its planned test firing for Saturday. The rocket went through a rehearsal, where its prelaunch procedures and engines were tested before actual liftoff. The engines were loaded with kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants.

The engine did a brief test-fire of its Merlin 1D rockets around 12 p.m. EST, where it generated more than a million pounds of thrust. The rocket, however, was held firmly in the ground as the prelaunch procedures required the rocket not to take off into orbit. SpaceX engineers use these pretest procedures to observe the rocket's mechanics and see and point out any problems that can cause the mission to fail.

SpaceX sent out a tweet regarding the success of the static test fire. "Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete-targeting Monday, Jan. 6 at 9:19 p.m. EST for the launch of 60 Starlink satellites from Pad 40 in Florida," the tweet says.

Pre-loved rocketry

The rocket B1049 was previously used in three different missions. Its first mission was back on September 10, 2018, where it launched Telstar 18V, a communication satellite owned by Canadian company Telesat. Its second mission was just a few months later on January 11, 2019, where it launched Iridium-NEXT 8, a satellite owned by Iridium Communications.

B1049 would also be the first Falcon 9 rocket to launch for 2 Starlink missions. Its first mission for Starlink was Starlink 0, where it launched test satellites which tested the viability of the Starlink project on May 24, 2019.

Space History in the making

Monday's launch is set to be an important date for both SpaceX and the United States. It will be SpaceX's second set of Starlink's satellites, which will test the viability of sending multiple satellites into space in succession. Rocket launches are usually separated by months, and SpaceX's multiple launches in the span of a month will test the company's ability to do multiple missions at once.

The launch will also be Cape Canaveral's first rocket launch of the year. It is also the first launch of the newly established U.S Space Force, the sixth branch of the military. The bill which established the Space Force was signed back on December 20, 2019 creating a new branch under the supervision of the Department of the Air Force. General John W. Raymond serves as the Space Force's first Chief of Space Operation

SEE ALSO: SpaceX Getting Read for its First Ever Launch of 2020

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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has regained and expanded its influence on civilian life more than two decades after the armed forces' wings were clipped following the downfall of Indonesias then-authoritarian ruler Soeharto.

Rights group Imparsial suggests that the militarys influence has grown stronger under the leadership of President Joko Jokowi Widodo, who is in his second five-year term of office.

The militarys growing presence can be seen from 41 agreements that the TNI made with ministries, state institutions and companies from 2000 to 2019. Thirty-three of them were signed in the last five years (2014-2019).

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The U.S. attack on Soleimani came just days after North Korea officially abandoned its push for sanctions relief from the Trump administration and declared it would return to a more confrontational approach. In a policy speech on New Years Eve, Kim made it clear that his country has no intention of relinquishing its nuclear weapons, which he views as the only guarantee of his regimes security.
[January 06, 2020] D.A. Davidson & Co. Serves as Exclusive Financial Advisor to Steripod Toothbrush Accessory Brand

D.A. Davidson & Co. announced today that it has served as exclusive financial advisor to Steripod, a leading toothbrush accessory brand, in its sale to Ranir, LLC, a subsidiary of Perrigo and a leading global manufacturer of store brand and value brand oral care products. Developed by doctors and independently tested for efficacy at an accredited lab, Steripod is a clip-on protector that fits any standard or electronic toothbrush. Each Steripod contains thymol - found in many mouthwashes and oral antiseptics - and a patented design to help keep your toothbrush fresh and clean for up to three months. "We were pleased to work with Steripod on this transaction and believe the Steripod oral care products will be a great addition to Ranir's existing product portfolio," said Dan Friedman, Director of Investment Banking at D.A. Davidson. "The D.A. Davidson Consumer Investment Banking Team was instrumental in enabling us to achieve an optimal outcome in this transaction," said Paul Krok, Founder and CEO of Steripod. "Their industry knowledge, transaction expertise, and commitment to our success has resulted in us finding the right partner to continue the growth of the Steripod brand in the oral care market." Ranir, a Perrigo company, is a leading global manufacturer of store brand private label consumer oral care products, including power and manual toothbrushes, teth whiteners, dental floss, flossers and interdental brushes. Founded in 1979, Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Ranir serves retail customers globally and is committed to delivering affordable, healthy smiles in millions of households every day. Its products, which include some of the world's largest oral care store brands, can be found at major retailers in more than 50 countries. The consumer and customer insight driven research and development-focused company also owns, manufactures and markets the Plackers and REMBRANDT brands and proudly employs more than 650 associates worldwide.



D.A. Davidson's investment banking division is a leading full-service investment bank that offers comprehensive financial advisory and capital markets expertise. The group has extensive transaction experience serving middle market clients worldwide across five industry verticals: consumer, diversified industrials, financial institutions, real estate and technology. Together with its European strategic partner, MCF Corporate Finance, D.A. Davidson originates and executes transatlantic M&A transactions under the common brand of D.A. Davidson MCF International.

About D.A. Davidson Companies D.A. Davidson Companies is an employee-owned financial services firm offering a range of financial services and advice to individuals, corporations, institutions and municipalities nationwide. Founded in 1935 and headquartered in Montana, with corporate offices in Denver, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle, the company has approximately 1,350 employees and offices in 25 states. Subsidiaries include: D.A. Davidson & Co., the largest full-service investment firm headquartered in the Northwest, providing wealth management, investment banking, equity and fixed income capital markets services and advice; Davidson Investment Advisors, a professional asset management firm; D.A. Davidson Trust Company, a trust and wealth management company; and Davidson Fixed Income Management, a registered investment adviser providing fixed income portfolio and advisory services. For more information, visit dadavidson.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200106006012/en/

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Germany is moving some of its military personnel from Iraq to neighbouring countries over security concerns, the government told lawmakers, days after the killing of a top Iranian military commander in a US drone strike.

About 30 of the 120 German soldiers in Iraq who mainly train Iraqi security forces will be redeployed to Jordan and Kuwait, the government told parliament in a letter on Monday.

Iraqs parliament called on Sunday for the United States and other foreign troops to leave after Irans most prominent general, Qassem Soleimani, was killed on Friday in a US drone strike on his convoy at a Baghdad airport.

The drawdown of German troops was ordered by the US-led joint command for fighting Isis, the German government said.

This would apply mainly to troops in Baghdad and Taji, a city just north of the Iraqi capital where close to 30 German troops are deployed.

US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early Friday 3 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures The wreckage of the car in which general Soleimani was travelling when a targeted US airstrike struck outside Baghdad International Airport on 3 January Ahmad Al Mukhtar via Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Demonstrators burn the US and British flags during a protest in Tehran after general Soleimani was killed in a targeted airstrike by American forces Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of Donald Trump AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn Israeli and US flags as thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of general Soleimani at the hands of America EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of Donald Trump pray at an 'Evangelicals for Trump' campaign event held on the day following the killing of general Soleimani. At the event, the president praised the "flawless strike that eliminated the terrorist ringleader" AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A huge procession of mourners gather in Baghdad for the funeral of general Soleimani on 4 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani during an anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iraqis perform a mourning prayer for slain major general Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the Great Mosque of Kufa AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A billboard reading 'Death to America and Israel', installed by Iran-backed shiite armed groups at a street in Jadriyah district in Baghdad, Iraq EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him visiting the family of Soleiman KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US flag as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Feiruznia, looks to a portrait of Soleimani, as he receives condolences at the Iranian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures People make their way on the street while a screen on the wall of a cinema shows a portrait Soleimani in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Aziz Asmar, one of two Syrian painters who completed a mural following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani poses next to his creation in the rebel-held Syrian town of Dana in the northwestern province of Idlib AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A demonstration in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures An anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Mujtaba al-Husseini, the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in the holy shrine city of Najaf AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US and Israeli flags as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters demonstrate in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shi'ite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters, holding a photograph of the leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Massoud Rajavi, outside Downing Street in London PA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn a US flag in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A Syrian man offers sweets to children to mark the killing AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers attend a mourning prayer for Soleimani in Iran's capital Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti American and anti Israel slogans during a protest AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshipers chant slogans during Friday prayers Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A protest against the USA, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranians burn a US flag in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin, Germany Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol a road in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel. Following morning's killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement called for the missile strike by Israel's closest ally, to be avenged AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian women take to the streets in Tehran EPA

Out of the 120 German soldiers, about 90 are stationed in the Kurdish area in the north of the country.

The German government said the forces could be moved back to Iraq if their training mission resumes.

Foreign minister Heiko Maas told public broadcaster ZDF he was concerned about a possible resurgence of Isis should foreign troops leave Iraq quickly.

Nobody really wants that, he said.

Reuters
The managing director of leading gold financing company Muthoot Finance Limited was injured in a stone-pelting incident in Keralas Kochi on Tuesday.

A group of workers, allegedly belonging to CPI(M)-backed Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), pelted George Alexanders car with stones. He suffered injuries on his head and shoulder and was rushed to a private hospital in Kochi.

A section of employees has been agitating against the Muthoot management over dismissal of 160 staff from the companys 43 branches across the state in December.

The CITU has wrecked several business establishments in the state. It wants Muthoot to pull down its shutters. When the whole country is in the grip of a severe meltdown such acts will tarnish image of the state further, a spokesperson of the group said. The spokesperson further said out of 2800 employees in the state, at least 200-250 are members of the union but they seek outside forces to disrupt work. He said more than 70 per cent employees are women and they are physically attacked when they come to work.

The CITU has, however, rejected the allegations, saying the trade union outfit has no role in the incident. We dont believe in such type of violent mode of agitation, CITU leader Ananthalavattom Anandan told the media.

The Muthoot Group, with more than 600 branches in Kerala, has been battling workers unrest for last two years. Two days back, employees supporting a strike and those opposing it came to blows.

Many industrialists like V Guard Group chairman Kochouseph Chittilapilly and others have condemned the attack on Muthoot group MD. An official of the Confederation of Indian Industries Kerala chapter also condemned the incident, saying it is a matter of great concern.

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A growing phenomenon is seeing an increasing number of couples choosing to live apart, new research has revealed.

The trend, which was analysed by emeritus professor in social policy Simon Duncan at the University of Bradford found the pressures of modern relationships meant more adults were choosing to maintain intimate relationships while 'living apart together' (LAT).

While the research found some of those living in such arrangements were young couples who were 'not ready' to move in together, a rising number of older couples were also choosing to remain in committed relationships while living separately.

A new study has found that 25 per cent of adults were choosing to maintain intimate relationships while 'living apart together'. (Stock image)

Professor Duncan told The Telegraph: 'Living apart together supposedly gives people all the advantages of autonomy  doing what you want in your own space, maintaining pre-existing local arrangements and friendships  as well as the pleasures of intimacy with a partner.

'Some even see it as 'subverting gendered norms'  or at least that women can escape traditional divisions of labour.'

The research, which involved a nationwide survey and an additional 50 detailed interviews, found that 25 per cent of couples in the country had an LAT arrangement.

These couples, who accounted for nine per cent of all adults in the UK, explained how they still maintained constant communication with their partners through messaging platforms such as text, Facebook and Facetime.

Professor Duncan also found that of the 25 per cent of the couples who had a LAT arrangement, 43 per cent were 16 to 24, some 45 per cent were 25 to 54 and 11 per cent were over the age of 55.

The figures come after statistics published by the Office for National Statistics showed that 90,871 opposite-sex couples divorced in 2018- a decrease of 10.6 per cent compared with 2017.

The new research was conducted by emeritus professor Simon Duncan at the University of Bradford (pictured)

The study found that LAT couples maintained communication through messaging platforms. (Stock image)

In 2013, a study conducted by Birkbeck, University of London, the University of Bradford and NatCen Social Research, also found that nine per cent of adults in the UK were not living with their partner.

Speaking at the time Professor Sasha Roseneil, from Birkbeck's Department of Psychosocial Studies, said: 'Nowadays very few people settle into a life-long relationship in their early twenties and stay with their partner ''until death us do part''.

'People have complex relationship histories, and they often carry with them the emotional legacies of divorce and separation.

'For some people, more or less consciously, living apart together is a way of dealing with the messiness of intimate life today, protecting themselves, their children and their homes from some of the distress that they have previously experienced when a cohabiting relationship breaks down.

'That said, most people in LAT relationships have a strong sense that they are a couple, and many are in long-term relationships to which they are deeply committed.'
The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says it will prosecute importers, manufacturers and distributors of substandard Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders and other products as provided by law.

The Director General (DG) SON, Osita Aboloma, gave the warning on Tuesday during a visit the scene of Gas explosion at Sabo Tasha, Kaduna, in which six people lost their lives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DG was represented by Nwaoma Olujie, Group Head LPG at SON.

NAN also reports that Mr Aboloma also paid condolence to Kaduna State Government over the sad incident.

We are determined to ensure diligent prosecution of importers, manufacturers and distributors of substandard LPG cylinders and other products as provided in SON Act No. 14 of 2015, he said.

Mr Aboloma said the management of SON received the sad news of the gas explosion with deep sorrow, adding that the organisation commiserates with families of the victims as well as the people and government of Kaduna state.

He explained that such avoidable explosion was one too many, noting that, If only the necessary safety measures and precautions were put in place by the gas vendors, the disaster would not have occurred.

It is necessary that we once again reiterate our recent warning to dealers and consumers, on the safe use of LPG and other gas cylinders.

This repeat warning is in view of recent explosions around the country occasioned by wrong handling of the products.

The DG urged dealers and consumers to patronise only SON certified LPG and other gas cylinders with the appropriate marking in order to safeguard our homes, offices and surroundings from avoidable accidents from substandard cylinders.

Our officers in 42 offices across the nation have been directed to inspect all LGP plants and ensure the certification or re-certification of all installed vessels as the case may be.

The full weight of law shall be brought to bear on any plant and owner who fail to comply with this mandatory requirement of SON Act, Mr Aboloma added.

He therefore warned importers of LGP and other gas cylinders to adhere strictly to SON established procedure for the importation of the product.

He added that dealers and consumers must look out for mandatory embossed marking on all imported LGP cylinders as specified in the Nigeria Industrial Standard.

Furthermore, for certified locally manufactured LGP cylinders we wish to advise dealers and users to look out for SON Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) logo and numbers in addition to the markings specified for the imported products.

Mr Aboloma disclosed that the life span of LGP cylinders in Nigeria is 15 years during which the cylinders must be requalified twice every five years.

SON has put in place a rigorous procedure for the certification of imported and locally manufactured LGP cylinders for use in Nigeria to guarantee safety and durability of the product.

He warned all LGP dispensing plants to ensure due certification of their vessels as provided by SON.

The Kaduna State Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who received the SON delegation on behalf of the government, expressed appreciation for commiserating with the state on the sad incident.

Mr Aruwan said the government had given directive to close all retailers refilling gas in residential and high risk areas.

We have also set up a committee to identify the areas to relocate them for the safety of lives and property.

Our doors are open for partnership for the benefit of the public, he said.

The Acting Director of Operations, SON, Dauda Yakubu and other senior officers were among the delegation.

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(NAN)
New Delhi, Jan 7 : Bollywood star Deepika Padukone's visit to the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus, here on Tuesday, to meet protesting students didn't go down well with a section of Twitterati who called for a boycott of her upcoming film 'Chhapaak'.

#deepikapadukone trended on Twitter with 34.8K tweets as it was reported that she had also met JNUSU leader Aishe Ghosh who received injuries in the Sunday violence.

One user posted: "Bollywood star @deepikapadukone is in JNU to support students. She's at ground zero despite knowing the backlash it will receive from RW goons who will attempt to boycott her film which releases in two days. Coming from Deepika who has largely been silent on political issues, this is BIG." A user posted: "'Chhapaak' is releasing with Ajay Devgn's 'Tanhaji' and Rajnikant's 'Darbaar'. 'Chhapaak' is not gonna work as such unless we create a massive controversy and give it free publicity." "Please keep quiet on it. Don't call for its boycott. Don't trend it. Don't attack Deepika. Let it pass," it read.

Another remarked: "You don't understand the cost-benefit analysis? One tweet can prevent thousands of #boycott tweets. Those # boycott tweets catch the attention of media and are shown on TV and debated. That's what gives publicity." "Sometimes you have to lose a battle to win a war," read a tweet.

"Don't boycott Chhapaak... boycott Deepika Padukone. Exactly! Instead, we should promote #TanhajiTheUnsungWarrior without saying a single word about Deepika and 'Chhapaak'," said one user.

A Twitter user pointed out, "Deepika was a fabulous actress for bhakts till yesterday. Today, she joined the JNU protest & suddenly became a failed actress. Anurag Kashyap was the most versatile director for bhakts till 2016. When he started talking against the establishment, he became a flop director."
The talc in talcum powder may be mined from asbestos-infested areas. [Photo: Getty]

New research throws the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer up in the air.

Pharma giant Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $4.7bn (3.5bn) in damages to 22 women last year after they alleged its talc products caused them to develop the disease, the BBC reported.

J&J denied the claims, insisting its products were safe.

READ MORE: What you need to know about talc

To better understand the potential risks of talcum powder, scientists from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in North Carolina asked more than 252,000 women if they applied it to their genitals.

Compared to those who never used talcum powder, those who did so frequently were 9% more likely to develop ovarian cancer over the next 11 years.

This was not statistically significant, which the scientists claim may be due to the study being too small to find an effect.

Other experts, however, state this outcome could be evidence of talcum powders safety.

Talcum powder has been used by women for decades to absorb unpleasant odours and excess moisture down there.

It typically contains the mineral talc, which is often mined in asbestos-infested areas. This is what initially triggered cancer concerns, the scientists wrote in the journal JAMA.

Despite US talc manufacturers agreeing to ban asbestos from their products in 1976, the International Agency for Research on Cancer maintained they still possibly cause malignant tumours.

Ovarian cancer affected around 7,470 new women between 2014 and 2016 in the UK, Cancer Research UK statistics show.

In the US, some 2,530 women are thought to have been diagnosed last year, according to the American Cancer Society.

READ MORE: Concerns over talcum powder causing ovarian cancer

Studies investigating the link between talcum powder use and ovarian cancer have thrown up mixed results.

To learn more, the North Carolina scientists analysed four studies with a total of 252,745 women.

The participants were asked whether, and how often, they applied talcum powder down there.

Story continues

Thirty eight per cent reported use of powder in the genital area, of which 22% claimed frequent use and 10% admitted to using it long term.

Years later, cancer diagnoses were confirmed via medical records.

While the studys main finding did not reach statistical significance, others did.

Among women who had not had a hysterectomy, ever users were 13% more likely to develop the disease than non-users.

Frequent users with intact reproductive tracts were 19% more at risk than their counterparts who never used talc, the results show.

Ovarian cancer affected around 7,470 new women between 2014 and 2016 in the UK. [Photo: Getty]

How could talcum powder cause ovarian cancer?

Despite asbestos being banned from talc, some products may have contained the cancer-causing substance after 1976, the scientists wrote.

It is thought to be taken up into the vagina, through the cervix and womb, and then into the ovaries.

Removal of the womb in a hysterectomy may prevent the powder reaching ovarian tissue, the scientists wrote.

Asbestos aside, talcum powder itself may irritate ovarian tissue, triggering inflammation that could end up being cancerous.

Inflammation-causing conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease and chlamydia have previously been linked to ovarian tumours.

READ MORE: Johnson & Johnson Wins New Trial In Talc Case

Writing in a linked editorial, Dr Dana Gossett - from the University of California, San Fransisco - called for larger, longer studies investigating the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer.

Yet, with the products use on the decline, she adds this may not be feasible.

Nonetheless, the rigorously conducted study contributes important and timely data about the potential link between use of powder in the genital area and risk of ovarian cancer, Dr Gossett added.

Not all experts are convinced, however.

This research is robust, analysing data from 250,000 women followed for an average of over 11 years, and concluded there is no statistically significant relationship between talc use and the development of ovarian cancer, Professor Iain McNeish, from Imperial College London, said.

Professor Justin Stebbing, also from Imperial, added: A very well conducted rigorous investigation pooled results from four studies in over 250,000 women, to show talcum powder didn't cause ovarian cancer.

There weren't many cases of ovarian cancer in the group so it's possible a small effect has been missed, but it doesn't look like talc is a carcinogen which is an important and reassuring finding, especially as they also looked at duration and frequency of use, again finding no causative effects.
The climate change we people have inflicted on Earth is now so deeply embedded; they are showing up in our daily climate.

Researchers from Switzerland and Norway, whose study was published in Nature Climate Change, claimed to have detected the "fingerprint" of climate alternate in every single day of the climate inside the international document seeing that 2012.

The distinction between weather and climate is one that scientists had been hammering on about for years. And while the two are closely intertwined, they're generally taken into consideration distinct, with the climate when relating to short-term situations and the weather when relating to longer trends.

Swiss climate scientist Reto Knutti told The Washington Post he's no longer sure the distinction is so distinct anymore. Weather, according to Knutti, is now a part of climate change.

Knutti said global mean temperature has already entirely shifted every day based on human fingerprints.

That means climate on a neighborhood scale nevertheless doesn't show a climate trade sign. But in case you roll these areas out into an international perspective, the versions in temperature and humidity do preserve the stamp of humanity. And they may be distinguishable from what would appear naturally.

Some areas of the world can still get freezing - they can even break temperature records - but if it is concurrently hotter than average in other components of the world, it may not affect the overall climate trend.

Using a machine to know onward with weather models and data, Knutti and his colleagues found daily mean climate values from 1951 to 1980 slightly matched up with those from 2009 to 2018.

Examining yearly data, the authors noticed the stamp of climate change on global weather went lower back to 1999. And from 2012, it may be seen every single day. And the signal of weather change is now so big it's higher than in global climate variability.

"Whether at the global level incorporates important statistics approximately climate," explains Knutti.

"These [data] could be used for further research that quantifies changes inside the opportunity of extreme weather events, together with regional cold spells," Knutti added.

In recent years, scientists have detected more strong links between global warming and changing weather patterns, and even as it's difficult to blame anybody hurricane on weather exchange, the general trend for heatwaves, droughts, and storms is clear.

The new findings advise weather alternate is greater deeply rooted than we thought, however, if we can figure out how to hyperlink long-time period traits with short-time period climate events, it can help us prepare for the worst.

Knutti added the results give "an upward push" to further discussions of regional climate events towards the backdrop of global warming.

Stanford University climate scientist Noah Diffenbaugh, who was not involved in the study, said advances our understanding of climate change's effects.

"The influence of global warming [is now seen] in the [regular weather forecasts worldwide] - which in some ways is the [loudest] manifestation - is another [obvious] sign of how [powerful] the signal of climate change has become," he told The Washington Post in an email.
Every year, the organization selects less than .03% of lawyers for the "Litigator of the Year" award. Based upon both peer nominations and third-party research, the award is designed to highlight the nation's attorneys who possess exceptional skills, knowledge, and experience. Attorney Jamal Tooson of Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP, has received the "Litigator of the Year" award for 2019.

Jamal Tooson attended Harvard Business School and Loyola Law School. After representing clients in more than 60 jury trials over the course of 7 years, he launched his own private practice, cultivating experience in criminal defense, personal injury, and employment law. He is now a firm partner at Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP, a highly-rated law firm that handles high-stakes criminal defense and complex personal injury cases.

For more information about the American Institute of Trial Lawyers, inquiring parties can visit https://aiotl.org/. Additional details about J. Tooson and his firm can be found at https://www.lnlegal.com/firm-overview/.

SOURCE Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP

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https://www.lnlegal.com


UPPER DARBY  Two months after claiming four of five contested races, Democrats took their seats Monday night to start a historic new chapter in Upper Darby Township.

Democrat Barbarann Keffer was sworn in as mayor with her party members Danyelle Blackwell taking the oath to serve as the 4th District counciwoman and Michelle Billups and Brian Burke also being sworn-in as councilmembers-at-large, giving the party their first go at having control over township council and the mayors office with a 7-3 margin over Republicans by the end of the meeting.

Sheikh Siddique, another Democrat, was also sworn in after winning his 6th District seat in an uncontested race.

Keffer, who resigned her seat as a councilwoman-at-large right before taking the mayoral oath, started her four-year term as mayor of one of the states largest municipalities with a non-rip roaring speech outlining her vision for the township.

Transitions arent necessarily neat and clean, but they are an important part of the democratic process, and voters in the last election voted for a seismic change, said Keffer, addressing her constituents for the first time as mayor. Please know that we will all work hard every day on behalf of all residents and business owners to make Upper Darby the best community it can be. We look forward to working with you and for you because its about we and we are going to build a great future for Upper Darby.

Some of her starting initiatives for the township include a township motto contest for residents to write a motto that best fits the township. The winning submission will be featured on official governing signs. A persons name, address, motto, and a 150-word description of that motto are needed by Jan. 24 at udtransition@gmail.com.

Further, a listening tour will start in February at various venues in the township to hear resident concerns and how to improve their communities. On top of that, advisory committees will be created in the areas of planning, communications, recreation and vacancy. Anyone interested in sitting on one of these committees is asked to submit their letters of interests or resumes to the udtransition@gmail.com

Keffers swearing in to her mayoral position came just shy on the one-year anniversary of when she first announced her candidacy in the Stonehurst Hills section of the township.

Honestly, it was a year ago? It feels like it was five years ago. A lot has been going on, she said when asked how it feels to know how the office after declaring her candidacy on Jan. 17, 2019.

The Democratic-controlled councils first action under Keffers tenure was to appoint her replacement, which went to one of their party members, Matt Silva, who will serve out the at-large seat through Jan. 2022. Silva had lost to incumbent Republican Councilwoman Lisa Faraglia to serve the townships 2nd District in the November 2019 elections.

Council then made 11 appointments to fill top-level administrative positions that were recommended by Keffer.

Scott Alberts, director of administrative services; Sekela Coles, director of parking enforcement; Vincent Rongione, chief administrative officer; Alison Dobbins, director of special projects; Sean Kilkenny, Esq., and the Law Offices of Sean Kilkenny, LLC  legal officer/solicitor; and Chris Herr, CPA and Maillie, LLP as the independent auditor.

Coles resigned her 7th district township council seat to serve as the director of parking enforcement. She holds a Ph.D. and M.B.A. and teaches in the business departments of Harcum College and Delaware County Community College.

Alberts, too, stepped down from his elected office as township treasurer for his new position. Before his appointment, Alberts was a financial administrative coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania.

Rongione was the Southeast Delegation Director for the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus and a former Democratic candidate for the 163rd District of the state House of Representatives. Dobbins was a legislative assistant to state Rep. Leanne Krueger, D-161 of Nether Providence.

Dobbins, Rongione, Coles and Alberts all served on Keffers transition team to help her new government move Upper Darby forward.

Christopher McSween was appointed as the director of licenses and inspections to succeed Jeff Gentile.

Many positions, including chief administrative officer, police superintendent and director of licenses and inspections, were left empty when many of the Republicans holding those positions resigned or retired before the incoming Democratic administration.

The retention of four people held over from the Republican administration were approved: John McMullan, director of finance; Michael Gove, interim chief of the fire department; Joe Martin, director of the electrical department and Timothy Bernhardt as interim police superintendent. Gove and Martin also served on Keffers transition team. Of the four, only Gove was not approved unanimously when Republican Councilman Don Bonnett voted no to his appointment, saying after the meeting that he did not have enough time to meet with Gove, and some other appointees, before Mondays meeting.

Salary figures were not available Monday for the 11 appointees.

Despite the promotions of at least three elected officials to other positions, Democrats hold a 7-3 majority on council due to Coless resignation, and the treasurers office is also vacant. These positions will be filled by interested persons who are asked to submit resumes or letters of interests to council@upperdarby.org until 6 p.m. on Jan. 20. Interviews will occur in late January.
Donald Trumps former national security adviser should go to jail rather than serving probation, prosecutors have said, in a major set-back for the presidents one-time ally.

Prosecutors had originally said Michael Flynn, the former army general convicted of lying to the FBI over his contact with a Russian official, should serve probation after he pleaded guilty to the accusations in December 2017.

Yet, in the latest twist to the case of the one of the most senior members of the Trump campaign to have been caught up in special prosecutor Robert Muellers Russia probe, prosecutors have now reversed course.

It is within the governments sole discretion to determine whether the defendant has substantially assisted the government, prosecutor Brandon Van Grack wrote in a 33-page court filing, according to the Washington Post.

In light of the complete record, including actions subsequent to December 18, 2018, that negate the benefits of much of the defendants earlier cooperation, the government no longer deems the defendants assistance substantial.

Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Show all 26 1 /26 Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Donald Trump Accused of abusing his office by pressing the Ukrainian president in a July phone call to help dig up dirt on Joe Biden, who may be his Democratic rival in the 2020 election. He also believes that Hillary Clintons deleted emails - a key factor in the 2016 election - may be in Ukraine, although it is not clear why. EPA Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal The Whistleblower Believed to be a CIA agent who spent time at the White House, his complaint was largely based on second and third-hand accounts from worried White House staff. Although this is not unusual for such complaints, Trump and his supporters have seized on it to imply that his information is not reliable. Expected to give evidence to Congress voluntarily and in secret. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal The Second Whistleblower The lawyer for the first intelligence whistleblower is also representing a second whistleblower regarding the President's actions. Attorney Mark Zaid said that he and other lawyers on his team are now representing the second person, who is said to work in the intelligence community and has first-hand knowledge that supports claims made by the first whistleblower and has spoken to the intelligence community's inspector general. The second whistleblower has not yet filed their own complaint, but does not need to to be considered an official whistleblower. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Rudy Giuliani Former mayor of New York, whose management of the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001 won him worldwide praise. As Trumps personal attorney he has been trying to find compromising material about the presidents enemies in Ukraine in what some have termed a shadow foreign policy. In a series of eccentric TV appearances he has claimed that the US state department asked him to get involved. Giuliani insists that he is fighting corruption on Trumps behalf and has called himself a hero. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Volodymyr Zelensky The newly elected Ukrainian president - a former comic actor best known for playing a man who becomes president by accident - is seen frantically agreeing with Trump in the partial transcript of their July phone call released by the White House. With a Russian-backed insurgency in the east of his country, and the Crimea region seized by Vladimir Putin in 2014, Zelensky will have been eager to please his American counterpart, who had suspended vital military aid before their phone conversation. He says there was no pressure on him from Trump to do him the favour he was asked for. Zelensky appeared at an awkward press conference with Trump in New York during the United Nations general assembly, looking particularly uncomfortable when the American suggested he take part in talks with Putin. AFP/Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Mike Pence The vice-president was not on the controversial July call to the Ukrainian president but did get a read-out later. However, Trump announced that Pence had had one or two phone conversations of a similar nature, dragging him into the crisis. Pence himself denies any knowledge of any wrongdoing and has insisted that there is no issue with Trumps actions. It has been speculated that Trump involved Pence as an insurance policy - if both are removed from power the presidency would go to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, something no Republican would allow. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Rick Perry Trump reportedly told a meeting of Republicans that he made the controversial call to the Ukrainian president at the urging of his own energy secretary, Rick Perry, and that he didnt even want to. The president apparently said that Perry wanted him to talk about liquefied natural gas - although there is no mention of it in the partial transcript of the phone call released by the White House. It is thought that Perry will step down from his role at the end of the year. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Joe Biden The former vice-president is one of the frontrunners to win the Democratic nomination, which would make him Trumps opponent in the 2020 election. Trump says that Biden pressured Ukraine to sack a prosecutor who was investigating an energy company that Bidens son Hunter was on the board of, refusing to release US aid until this was done. However, pressure to fire the prosecutor came on a wide front from western countries. It is also believed that the investigation into the company, Burisma, had long been dormant. Reuters Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Hunter Biden Joe Bidens son has been accused of corruption by the president because of his business dealings in Ukraine and China. However, Trump has yet to produce any evidence of corruption and Bidens lawyer insists he has done nothing wrong. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal William Barr The attorney-general, who proved his loyalty to Trump with his handling of the Mueller report, was mentioned in the Ukraine call as someone president Volodymyr Zelensky should talk to about following up Trumps preoccupations with the Bidens and the Clinton emails. Nancy Pelosi has accused Barr of being part of a cover-up of a cover-up. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Mike Pompeo The secretary of state initially implied he knew little about the Ukraine phone call - but it later emerged that he was listening in at the time. He has since suggested that asking foreign leaders for favours is simply how international politics works. Gordon Sondland testified that Pompeo was "in the loop" and knew what was happening in Ukraine. Pompeo has been criticised for not standing up for diplomats under his command when they were publicly criticised by the president. AFP via Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Nancy Pelosi The Democratic Speaker of the House had long resisted calls from within her own party to back a formal impeachment process against the president, apparently fearing a backlash from voters. On September 24, amid reports of the Ukraine call and the day before the White House released a partial transcript of it, she relented and announced an inquiry, saying: The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Adam Schiff Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, one of the three committees leading the inquiry. He was criticized by Republicans for giving what he called a parody of the Ukraine phone call during a hearing, with Trump and others saying he had been pretending that his damning characterisation was a verbatim reading of the phone call. He has also been criticised for claiming that his committee had had no contact with the whistleblower, only for it to emerge that the intelligence agent had contacted a staff member on the committee for guidance before filing the complaint. The Washington Post awarded Schiff a four Pinocchios rating, its worst rating for a dishonest statement. Reuters Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman Florida-based businessmen and Republican donors Lev Parnas (pictured with Rudy Giuliani) and Igor Fruman were arrested on suspicion of campaign finance violations at Dulles International Airport near Washington DC on 9 October. Separately the Associated Press has reported that they were both involved in efforts to replace the management of Ukraine's gas company, Naftogaz, with new bosses who would steer lucrative contracts towards companies controlled by Trump allies. There is no suggestion of any criminal activity in these efforts. Reuters Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal William Taylor The most senior US diplomat in Ukraine and the former ambassador there. As one of the first two witnesses in the public impeachment hearings, Taylor dropped an early bombshell by revealing that one of his staff  later identified as diplomat David Holmes  overheard a phone conversation in which Donald Trump could be heard asking about investigations the very day after asking the Ukrainian president to investigate his political enemies. Taylor expressed his concern at reported plans to withhold US aid in return for political smears against Trumps opponents, saying: It's one thing to try to leverage a meeting in the White House. It's another thing, I thought, to leverage security assistance -- security assistance to a country at war, dependent on both the security assistance and the demonstration of support." Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal George Kent A state department official who appeared alongside William Taylor wearing a bow tie that was later mocked by the president. He accused Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trumps personal lawyer, of leading a campaign of lies against Marie Yovanovitch, who was forced out of her job as US ambassador to Ukraine for apparently standing in the way of efforts to smear Democrats. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Marie Yovanovitch One of the most striking witnesses to give evidence at the public hearings, the former US ambassador to Ukraine received a rare round of applause as she left the committee room after testifying. Canadian-born Yovanovitch was attacked on Twitter by Donald Trump while she was actually testifying, giving Democrats the chance to ask her to respond. She said she found the attack very intimidating. Trump had already threatened her in his 25 July phone call to the Ukrainian president saying: Shes going to go through some things. Yovanovitch said she was shocked, appalled and devastated by the threat and by the way she was forced out of her job without explanation. REUTERS Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Alexander Vindman A decorated Iraq War veteran and an immigrant from the former Soviet Union, Lt Col Vindman began his evidence with an eye-catching statement about the freedoms America afforded him and his family to speak truth to power without fear of punishment. One of the few witnesses to have actually listened to Trumps 25 July call with the Ukrainian president, he said he found the conversation so inappropriate that he was compelled to report it to the White House counsel. Trump later mocked him for wearing his military uniform and insisting on being addressed by his rank. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Jennifer Williams A state department official acting as a Russia expert for vice-president Mike Pence, Ms Williams also listened in on the 25 July phone call. She testified that she found it unusual because it focused on domestic politics in terms of Trump asking a foreign leader to investigate his political opponents. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Kurt Volker The former special envoy to Ukraine was one of the few people giving evidence who was on the Republican witness list although what he had to say may not have been too helpful to their cause. He dismissed the idea that Joe Biden had done anything corrupt, a theory spun without evidence by the president and his allies. He said that he thought the US should be supporting Ukraines reforms and that the scheme to find dirt on Democrats did not serve the national interest. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Tim Morrison An expert on the National Security Council and another witness on the Republican list. He testified that he did not think the president had done anything illegal but admitted that he feared it would create a political storm if it became public. He said he believed the moving the record of the controversial 25 July phone call to a top security server had been an innocent mistake. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Gordon Sondland In explosive testimony, one of the men at the centre of the scandal got right to the point in his opening testimony: Was there a quid pro quo? Yes, said the US ambassador to the EU who was a prime mover in efforts in Ukraine to link the release of military aid with investigations into the presidents political opponents. He said that everyone knew what was going on, implicating vice-president Mike Pence and secretary of state Mike Pompeo. The effect of his evidence is perhaps best illustrated by the reaction of Mr Trump who went from calling Sondland a great American a few weeks earlier to claiming that he barely knew him. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Laura Cooper A Pentagon official, Cooper said Ukrainian officials knew that US aid was being withheld before it became public knowledge in August  undermining a Republican argument that there cant have been a quid pro quo between aid and investigations if the Ukrainians didnt know that aid was being withheld. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal David Hale The third most senior official at the state department. Hale testified about the treatment of Marie Yovanovitch and the smear campaign that culminated in her being recalled from her posting as US ambassador to Ukraine. He said: I believe that she should have been able to stay at post and continue to do the outstanding work. EPA Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Fiona Hill Arguably the most confident and self-possessed of the witnesses in the public hearings phase, the Durham-born former NSC Russia expert began by warning Republicans not to keep repeating Kremlin-backed conspiracy theories. In a distinctive northeastern English accent, Dr Hill went on to describe how she had argued with Gordon Sondland about his interference in Ukraine matters until she realised that while she and her colleagues were focused on national security, Sondland was being involved in a domestic political errand. She said: I did say to him, Ambassador Sondland, Gordon, this is going to blow up. And here we are. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal David Holmes The Ukraine-based diplomat described being in a restaurant in Kiev with Gordon Sondland while the latter phoned Donald Trump. Holmes said he could hear the president on the other end of the line  because his voice was so loud and distinctive and because Sondland had to hold the phone away from his ear  asking about the investigations and whether the Ukrainian president would cooperate. REUTERS

Flynn pleaded guilty to lying about his communications with then-Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 presidential transition.

At the time, he was the closest Trump associate to agree to cooperate in Mr Muellers investigation into Russias alleged inference in the election, and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

He met repeatedly with prosecutors over the following months as they investigated whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to sway the election.

 Sarah Sanders says the FBI broke protocol when interviewing Michael Flynn

The investigation lasted almost two years, and Mr Mueller said he could not find no evidence of collusion, though he pointedly said he could not clear Mr Trump on accusations of obstruction of justice.

Flynn was to have been sentenced in December 2018, but the hearing was upended when a sharp rebuke from a judge raised the prospect that he might send the former general to prison even though prosecutors hadnt sought that punishment.

Flynn asked for the hearing to be postponed so he could continue cooperating with the government in hopes of avoiding prison and proving his value as a witness.

But the department of justice opted not to have Flynn testify in the Virginia trial of a former business associate, denying him a chance to be credited for that cooperation.

Flynn is one of a half-dozen Trump associates charged in the Mueller investigation. All six have either pleaded guilty or been found guilty in a jury trial.

Flynns lawyers have until January 13 to respond and sentencing is set for January 28.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
THE beef industry faces a battle for survival unless there is a sea-change in the attitude of meat processors towards their farmer suppliers, the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, has warned.

Speaking to the Farming Independent, Minister Creed said the beef processors need to learn from the dairy co-operatives sophisticated level of engagement with their suppliers.

Beef farmers feel, rightly or wrongly, that theyre being taken for a ride, said Minister Creed. We have potential in the Beef Market Taskforce. But it does require the beef processors to be prepared for the changes that are necessary.

If they dont, then its very hard to see how an industry can survive on the basis of the adversarial relationships that are there at present.

The Minister stressed that he can have no direct role in determining prices.

The price is what is returned from the market, he insisted, pointing to specific problems for Irish beef exports due to the fall of Sterling values.

But he pointed out that the Department of Agriculture had made every effort to support beef farmer incomes with 120m extra for various schemes. He said they are continuing to develop new markets, with 14 factories licensed to export to China.

Its never going to be full compensation for price falls, but 120m is not to be sneezed at, he said.

On Brexit, Minister Creed said Ireland will focus on the best possible Brexit trade deal and avoid references to compensation in the upcoming talks.

Ireland 'going hell for leather' for optimum Brexit deal says Creed

Mr Creed was speaking ahead of new EU-UK trade talks expected to open after Britain formally leaves on January 31. He said the upcoming talks will be hard for Ireland as all 27 remaining EU states now have a direct interest in the details.

But he insisted that he will not discuss compensation for Irish losses. "Doing that would risk compromising Irish interests. It risks supporting the view in the EU that 'sure, look Ireland will take a cheque,'" Mr Creed said.

"We're going hell for leather for the optimum trade deal that we can get."

Mr Creed said the EU-UK talks cannot be concluded in time for an ending of the transition period on December 31 next. He suggested that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's insistence that there can be no extension of the grace period might be a "hardball negotiating tactic" at this point.

Concerns

The Minister said it was fortunate that the trade talks are being led by EU Commissioner Phil Hogan, and the other non-trade issues are in the hands of chief negotiator Michel Barnier.

He said both had a clear understanding of Ireland's concerns.

Mr Creed said the Agriculture Department's other priorities in 2020 are securing a good deal on CAP reform; framing a detailed climate change incentive programme for farmers; and developing a new food production strategy.
(Newser)  A judge in Cyprus says he's giving a "second chance" to a young woman who came before his bench, handing down a four-month sentence that's been suspended for three years after she was convicted of lying about being gang-raped. Per the BBC and the Sun, the unidentified 19-year-old claimed in July she'd been sexually assaulted in a hotel room on July 17 by 12 Israeli men. After the alleged incident in Aiya Napawhich the Guardian notes has a "reputation as a party town," often advertised as a destination for a "lads' holiday"the woman, then 18, sought medical attention and had injuries consistent with rape. Two weeks later, however, during an eight-hour interview with police, she took back her claim in a statement signed without a lawyer present, and without it being recorded. She was found guilty of public mischief last month, though she says the police pressured her into recanting.

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Judge Michalis Papathanasiou, however, didn't buy it. "All the evidence shows that she had lied and prevented the police from doing other serious jobs," he said during the sentencing hearing Tuesday. He said he gave her a suspended sentence due to her age, psychological stateher lawyer says she has severe PTSDand the fact she'd been in Cyprus for six months already. Still, women's rights advocates are railing against the sentence. "She is not to blame at all," one tells the BBC. "The judge here must learn what happens to the victim of sexual abuse." Other protesters agreed, gathering outside the Paralimni court to show support, chanting, "Stop blaming the victim!" per the Sun. The lawyer for the teen, who was also ordered to pay $165 in legal fees, tells the BBC they'll appeal her conviction. There's also still a chance she could be pardoned by Cyprus' president. (Read more false accusations stories.)
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Linkedin Novan Iman Santosa (The Jakarta Post)  Tue, January 7 2020

The latest incidents in the North Natuna Sea should serve as another wake-up call for the government to immediately and expediently improve the countrys naval and other related capabilities to safeguard the sovereign rights of the nation, particularly on the southern fringe of South China Sea.

Still fresh in our minds is the skirmish between warship KRI Imam Bonjol and a Chinese fishing vessel in 2016, after which President Joko Jokowi Widodo held a meeting on board the warship to assert Indonesias rights in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). An integrated military base was then built on the Natuna Islands to deter any threat from the South China Sea. Late last year, the military presence was further strengthened after Jokowi inaugurated three Joint Defense regional Commands (Kogabwilhan), one of which is headquartered in the Riau Islands provincial capital of Tanjung Pinang and oversees western Indonesia.

The military buildup, however, remains unable to prevent or mitigate encroachments by foreign fishing vessels in the North Natuna Sea, the most recent of which was reported by local fishermen as early as Oct. 26, 2019, and picked up by local media over two months later.

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Pedro Sanchez during the investiture debate on Saturday. ULY MARTIN

The parliamentary arithmetic and the statements of intent from Spains political parties in Congress point to a term in office for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez that will be filled with problems. The Socialist Party (PSOE) politician was today voted back into office by deputies, but with a margin of just two seats.

His term in office is likely to come under all kinds of threats, right from the first days. The two-part investiture debate that took place over the weekend and concluded today has only confirmed fears of a highly charged atmosphere in Spains lower house of parliament going forward.

The PSOE and Unidas Podemos together have 155 lawmakers in Congress, and will require support from 21 other deputies in order to pass promised reforms on economic, judicial, social and environmental issues.

Sanchez had been trying to form a government since the general election of April 2019, and again after the repeat election in November, which gave him an indecisive victory. In the meantime, far-right Vox surged to become the third-largest force in Congress, prompting Sanchez and Unidas Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias to quickly clinch a leftist coalition deal that had previously been rejected by the PSOE leader.

The difficulties faced by Sanchez reflect the political fragmentation in Spain, where new parties emerged on the back of the economic crisis, breaking the traditional two-party rule by the PSOE and the conservative Popular Party (PP). Spaniards have voted at four general elections since 2015.

The Constitutional Court is due to replace four of its 12 current judges. The PP could block any such changes

Key to Sanchezs success today was a deal with the Catalan Republican Left (ERC), a separatist group that agreed to abstain at the second round in exchange for opening talks between the central and Catalan governments regarding the ongoing situation in Catalonia.

Gabriel Rufian, the spokesperson for the ERC in Congress, had a warning for Sanchez during his recent speech in Congress at the investiture debate: If there are no negotiations [on the future of Catalonia], there will be no term, he stated.

The first meeting between the central government in Madrid and the regional government of Catalonia is due to be held in two weeks at the latest. The PSOE is hoping to convince the Catalan executive to seek an agreement to improve its self-governance, leading to a reform of the Estatut, the charter setting out regional powers. This reform would have to be approved by Congress and put to a vote by the citizens of the northeastern Spanish region.

Tweaking labor reforms will be more difficult, given that this will require prior negotiations with the unions and employer associations

The ERC, meanwhile, wants to secure a commitment to authorizing a legal referendum on Catalan independence from Spain. Both of these standpoints are very far apart, raising question marks about the outcome of negotiations upon which the future of the new coalition will, in part, depend.

This is not the only threat faced by the PSOE-Unidas Podemos administration. There are two key numbers in Sanchezs immediate future: 176 and 210. He will need an absolute majority in Congress  176 deputies  to approve organic laws (defined in the Constitution as those related to the development of fundamental rights and public liberties, those that approve Statutes of Autonomy and the general electoral regime, and others foreseen in the Constitution), and three-fifths of Congress  210 deputies  to make changes to institutional bodies such as Spains legal watchdog, the CGPJ, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court and the Ombudsman.

Sanchezs government is facing a situation similar to that suffered by former PSOE Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero when he tried to shake up the CGPJ. Between November 2006 and September 2008, the judicial oversight body was governed by an acting conservative majority, while the right-of-center Popular Party (PP) blocked all attempts at overhauling the institution for two years.

In the next few weeks, the CGPJ will decide on who will occupy the current vacancies in the Supreme Court, a key institution when it comes to trying cases involving politicians. The tribunal will, for example, have to deal with appeals by the PP in the so-called Gurtel corruption case, a kickbacks-for-contracts scandal that has plagued the party for years, as well as the appeal filed by Catalan regional premier Quim Torra against his disqualification from office for refusing to remove banners in favor of jailed pro-Catalan independence leaders from public buildings during an election campaign.

Sanchez had been trying to form a government since the general election of April 2019

The Constitutional Court is also due to replace four of its 12 current judges. The PP could potentially block any such changes, or reach agreement on candidates with the PSOE. The latter option would see the court retain the conservative majority currently in place.

The government will need a simple majority in order to get its budget plans approved for 2020. The April 2019 election was called when the budget that had been agreed with Unidas Podemos was rejected by the deputies in Congress. If Sanchez manages to get the 2020 plan through the lower house, he should be guaranteed at least a few years in power.

Repealing or reforming other laws  such as the controversial so-called Gag Law, which introduced major restrictions on citizens rights to protest  should be relatively simple for Sanchez, despite the need for an absolute majority.

Reforming or repealing the PPs labor reforms will be more difficult, given that this will require prior negotiations with the unions and employer associations. Business leaders have already voiced their rejection of the future policies announced by Sanchez. In Congress, a simple majority would be sufficient to pass what could end up being one of the star policies of the prime ministers term.

Sanchez originally came to power thanks to a motion of no confidence he tabled against then-PP Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. One advantage that Sanchez will have in this upcoming term is that it is almost impossible that current PP leader Pablo Casado could scrape together the 176 votes to oust him from power in a similar way.

English version by Simon Hunter.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 11:04:35|Editor: xuxin

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Photo taken on Jan. 6, 2020 shows the Fuyao Dayton plant in Dayton, Ohio, the United States. Fuyao Glass America plant in Dayton has opened a 1,200-square-meter cafeteria that can accommodate 1,000 people to dine and rest. The new cafeteria started to offer free lunch to its employees this week. (Xinhua/Xu Jing)

DAYTON, the United States, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese company's cafeteria in the United States started to offer free lunch to its employees this week.

Carrie Younz tried a big bowl of egg drop soup at the cafeteria, also called "Family cafe" by the employees.

"It was fabulous," she said with a beaming smile.

Fuyao Glass America plant in Dayton, Ohio, has opened a 1,200-square-meter cafeteria that can accommodate 1,000 people to dine and rest.

The new cafeteria offer American food as well as Chinese food. "They have different kinds of bread (with) like the dumpling. I don't know all the names, but I just know that I love it," the 38-year-old technical supervisor told Xinhua.

Stephan Marshall has worked for this company for two years and is a shift supervisor in ARG lamination at present. He once worked as a quality control supervisor at an American company.

"No other American companies offer lunch for free. I personally have never seen anything like that," said the guy in his twenties.

Before working for Fuyao, Josh Herby was self-employed.

"How they give us free is unheard of," the 31-year-old first shift supervisor said, adding that he is a fan of Chinese food.

As many employees struggle to make ends meet, "this (free lunch) will help them out," said Suzanne Burden, a supervisor for shift. "They like the free lunch really well. That's a really good thing."

Talking about the company's free lunch, Fuyao Glass America CEO Jeff Liu told Xinhua that "I just want the workers to feel at home here in the factory."

Chinese enterprises follow the principle of respect and love, Cao Dewang, chairman of Chinese Fuyao Group, told Xinhua.

"If you want employees to love, to be loyal to the company, you must learn to love them and respect them first," Cao said.

Younz said it is a "blessing" to work in a Chinese company, adding that "Never in all of my years (have I) ever seen anyone give the people as much here, I mean, bonuses, they're giving us bonus to come to work on time. They're giving us free lunch, so much they're giving us."

Addressing a ceremony held on Monday, Chinese Counsel General in New York Huang Ping said Fuyao's investment has demonstrated that China and the United States can work together.

"Although we have lots of differences in culture, history, in the way we develop our country, it doesn't mean that we cannot work together," Huang said.

At the ceremony, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recalled the gloomy days when U.S. automaker General Motors closed its assembly plant here in 2008, and then hailed Fuyao's investment in Ohio.

"In total, you have invested nearly 600 million dollars to convert this plant into the world's largest glass production facility," he said.

"Today's celebration is a reminder of the good things that can happen when people from different countries work together for a common goal," the governor said.

As one of the largest glass manufacturers in the world, Fuyao Group has opened five factories in the United States. The Dayton factory now has 2,300 employees.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Tuesday backed away from his threats to target Iranian cultural sites if Iran retaliates against the U.S. for killing one of its top generals.

Targeting cultural sites is a war crime.

After first tweeting the threat and later reiterating it to reporters as he flew back to Washington over the weekend, Trump retreated Tuesday, saying, I like to obey the law.

But he still sounded offended by the idea that such sites would be off limits during armed conflict.

Think of it, Trump said during an Oval Office appearance. They kill our people. They blow up our people. And then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions?

Trump added: But Im OK with it. Its OK with me. He then issued yet another stern warning to Iran to stand down, saying, If Iran does anything they shouldnt be doing, they are going to be suffering the consequences, and very strongly.

On Monday, Defence Secretary Mike Esper had distanced the Pentagon from Trumps threats to bomb Iranian cultural sites despite international prohibitions on such activity.

Esper said the U.S. will follow the laws of armed conflict. Asked if that ruled out targeting cultural sites, Esper pointedly added, Thats the laws of armed conflict.

It all began over the weekend when Trump tweeted Saturday that if Iran attacked any American assets to avenge the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the U.S. had 52 targets across the Islamic Republic that WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD.

He added that some are important to Iran & Iranian culture.

Anger spread quickly across Iran, and Trump repeated the threat to reporters travelling with him as he flew back to Washington on Sunday after spending two weeks at his Florida resort.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalated sharply after Trump ordered a drone strike in Iraq that killed Soleimani, head of Irans powerful Quds Force. The U.S. has said Soleimani was killed because he was making plans to attack American diplomats and service members in the Middle East.

Targeting cultural sites is a war crime under the 1954 Hague Convention for their protection. Separately, in 2017, the U.N. Security Council unanimously passed a resolution condemning the destruction of heritage sites. Attacks by the Islamic State group and other armed factions in Syria and Iraq prompted that vote.

UNESCO, the United Nations cultural agency, has called on governments to remember that cultural sites are not targets.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the importance of the worlds cultural heritage at Tuesdays long-planned opening of an exhibition sponsored by Italys U.N. Mission of masterpieces that had been stolen and recovered.

It has been painful to see how much of mankinds cultural heritage has been lost in recent years from Iraq and Syria to Yemen, Mali and Afghanistan, Guterres said. Indeed, we face an array of challenges that imperil efforts to protect our common heritage from the climate crisis to civil unrest, from armed conflict to terrorism.

The U.N. chief made no mention of Trump but stressed that international co-operation must continue to preserve humanitys treasures.

Trumps tweet also caused concern in Washington. One U.S. national security official said the threat against Iranian cultural sites had caught many in his administration off-guard and prompted calls for others in his government, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to clarify the matter. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly to the issue, called such a clarification necessary to affirm that the U.S. military would not intentionally commit war crimes.

When asked about the presidents tweet, Pompeo said Sunday that the U.S. will behave within the law. Questioned about the matter again Tuesday, Pompeo said every action taken by the U.S. will be consistent with the international rule of law, though he did not specifically rule out Iranian cultural sites.

He then blamed Iran for damaging its culture.

Iran is home to two dozen UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Persepolis, with its ancient ruins that date to 518 B.C.; the 17th century grand mosque of Isfahan, located in a teeming bazaar; and the Golestan Palace in the heart of Tehran, where the last shah to rule Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was crowned in 1967.

___

Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap
CHICAGO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BNY Mellon Wealth Management has named Stacie B. Kuhlman as Midwest Regional President, based in Chicago, IL. Kuhlman is responsible for generating new business and increasing the visibility of our brand within the market, reporting directly to President of Central Region Andrew Paterson. She began in the role on September 30, 2019.

"Stacie has a strong network and a great reputation in this market," said Paterson. "She's an incredible resource for high net worth individuals, families and foundations, and we're excited to have her leading our wealth management team in Chicago."

Stacie has been advising wealthy families and business owners for 25 years. Prior to joining BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Stacie served as a managing director at J.P. Morgan's Private Bank. In that role, she created and ran J.P. Morgan's technology entrepreneur and executive practice for the Central Region. Before that, she was a senior vice president and division manager for J.P. Morgan Chase Middle Market Commercial Bank.

Stacie earned her B.A. from Indiana University and an MBA from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. She and her husband have three children and live in the Chicagoland area. She is active in her community, serving on the Children's Service Board of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. In 2014, Stacie was recognized by the Financial Times as one of the Top 100 Women Financial Advisors, and has also been recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager by Chicago Magazine.

Contact: Michael Brady, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, 617-722-7263, [email protected]

ABOUT BNY MELLON WEALTH MANAGEMENT

For more than two centuries, BNY Mellon Wealth Management has provided services to financially successful individuals and families, their family offices and business enterprises, planned giving programs, and endowments and foundations. It has $259 billion in total client assets, as of September 30, 2019, and an extensive network of offices in the U.S. and internationally. BNY Mellon Wealth Management, which delivers leading wealth advice across investments, banking, custody and wealth and estate planning, conducts business through various operating subsidiaries of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. For more information go to bnymellonwealth.com or follow us on Twitter @BNYMellonWealth.

ABOUT BNY MELLON

BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment management and investment services in 35 countries. As of September 30, 2019, BNY Mellon had $35.8 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $1.9 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at www.bnymellon.com/newsroom for the latest company news.

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Letter writer Gary Rayner is no doubt a follower of the Conservatives and one who will blame the two $10-million agreements with the two Arab Canadians on Trudeau, when the facts show both the problems began with Harper and ended with Trudeau.

Also, note the reported $900,000 Andrew Scheer was paid for his kids to attend school, which was illegal.

Kelowna's MP before Stephen Fuhr brought $3 million to the economy, and Fuhr brought over $100 million.

We now have gone Conservative again here in the valley, meaning for about four more years we will receive little or nothing from the Liberal government for anything badly needed by us.

So, the rest of Canada who voted the Liberals in will be well off  but of course they will be blamed by Mr. Rayner. Also, he should look at the leadership of the Conservative party. Then compare it to who now is in power again.

Dale Dirks, Kelowna
Boris Johnson revels in his project to build a new kind of conservatism, spending just as much time in the election campaign distancing himself from his own party as from the opposition. One of the great mysteries of his premiership is the extent to which his hard-wired social and economic liberalism will triumph over the communitarian and protectionist compulsions of many of the new voters who brought returned him to office.

The swift reaction this week from No 10 to the revelation that a senior advisor, Tim Montgomerie, had emphasised a spiritual connection between Johnsons leadership and Viktor Orbans right-wing populist government in Hungary suggests that, at least for now, liberalism remains the public line.

The relationship between the Conservative Party and the Hungarian government has been under scrutiny since the bizarre decision of Conservative MEPs in Brussels to defy their counterparts on the centre-right and vote against a motion to activate the Article 7 process against Hungary, which seeks to challenge the countrys slide into illiberalism.

Since then, Johnson and his government have been keen to emphasise that their "Global Britain" plans will be steeped liberal values, defending media freedoms, global trade and protecting womens rights.

Yet, the proposals set out in their winning manifesto for a Democracy Commission, and particularly its scope to address the relationship between the executive and the courts, has unsettled  encouraging Lady Hale, the outgoing Supreme Court president, to warn against Britain adopting a more politicised judiciary.

It is true that Johnson, like Corbyn, ran a populist campaign  pitting "the people" against their parliament  and that populism is a dangerous and slippery slope towards polarisation and the erosion of trust. It is also the case that many of comparisons that have been made between a dysfunctional British political system grappling with the enormity of Brexit and the rise of genuine right-wing populist parties in Europe have been lazy.

Orban holds a particular fascination to those wrestling with the notion of a post-liberal Europe. Afforded special status as one of a handful of truly "intellectual" leaders, his trajectory from liberal dissident to the architect of Europes most troublesome illiberal democracy both repels and entices.

His strategic approach to democratic transformation is now the textbook example of how to wield the office of state to its full capacity  systematically bringing courts, the media, universities, and the entire democratic process under his control.

Like Putin in Russia, and Kaczynski in Poland, Orban understands that the semblance opposition can be helpful for maintaining a degree of democratic legitimacy. Flagrant corruption means he hands plum jobs running media companies to his loyal friends, but Hungarians can continue to access to a smattering of contrarian local news sources. And while they face an uphill battle to raise funds and gain footholds, opposition parties are often able to put in a good fight.

His dramatic political agenda touches all points of life in Hungary, and focuses not only on democratic change but also deep social engineering. Migration is positioned as an existential threat to Hungarys Christian culture, history is rewritten to minimise the countrys role in the Holocaust, and Jewish philanthropist George Soros and the university he founded hounded out of the country.

One of the most concerning aspects of Montgomeries comments on Hungary was his support for its "family policies"  a series of welfare payments and incentives regarded as both a transactional form of voter bribery and a stealth effort to roll back womens freedoms by embedding their value in their capacity to bear children. With Hungarys population in long-term decline and emigration rife, Orban believes encouraging women to produce "home-grown" children can reinstate the traditional family values lost in their emancipation, and also counter the need for migrant workers.

The EU has watched Hungarys transformation with a growing sense of horror, each new transgression a nail in the coffin of its dreams for democratic renewal after the fall of communism in 1989. Orban, once himself a revolutionary activist, appears to embody the failure of the liberal project.

Biggest lies told by Boris Johnson Show all 5 1 /5 Biggest lies told by Boris Johnson Biggest lies told by Boris Johnson Made-up quote for The Times Johnson was sacked from The Times newspaper in the late 1980s after he fabricated a quote from his godfather, the historian Colin Lucas, for a front-page article about the discovery of Edward IIs Rose Palace. The trouble was that somewhere in my copy I managed to attribute to Colin the view that Edward II and Piers Gaveston would have been cavorting together in the Rose Palace, he claimed. Alas, Gaveston was executed 13 years before the palace was built. It was very nasty, Mr Johnson added, before attempting to downplay it as nothing more than a schoolboy blunder. PA Biggest lies told by Boris Johnson Sacked from cabinet over cheating lie Michael Howard gave Boris Johnson two new jobs after becoming leader of the Conservatives in 2003  party vice-chairman and shadow arts minister. He was sacked from both positions in November 2004 after assuring Mr Howard that tabloid reports of his affair with Spectator columnist Petronella Wyatt were false and an inverted pyramid of piffle. When the story was found to be true, he refused to resign. PA Biggest lies told by Boris Johnson Broken promise to boss In 1999 Johnson was offered editorship of The Spectator by owner Conrad Black on the condition that he would not stand as an MP while in the post. In 2001 he stood - and was elected - MP for Henley, though Black did allow him to continue as editor despite calling "ineffably duplicitous" PA Biggest lies told by Boris Johnson Misrepresenting the people of Liverpool As editor of The Spectator, he was forced to apologise for an article in the magazine which blamed drunken Liverpool fans for the 1989 Hillsborough disaster and suggested that the people of the city were wallowing in their victim status. Anyone, journalist or politician, should say sorry to the people of Liverpool  as I do  for misrepresenting what happened at Hillsborough, he said. PA Biggest lies told by Boris Johnson I didnt say anything about Turkey Johnson claimed in January, that he did not mention Turkey during the EU referendum campaign. In fact, he co-signed a letter stating that the only way to avoid having common borders with Turkey is to vote Leave and take back control. The Vote Leave campaign also produced a poster reading: Turkey (population 76 million) is joining the EU

The rise of populism and the growing volatility amongst voters have made clear that traditional politicians in western democracies need to reflect on the substance of the social, economic and political settlement that emerged in the age of globalisation. It is healthy for us to question the consequences of this transformative period on national culture, community and belonging and imagine how our fragile societies can be strengthened.

We are about to walk away from the European Union, and if there is indeed a dividend to this moment, it is the opportunity we have to consider not just what we can learn, but what we can teach the world. Despite our recent troubles, we remain a robust democracy, with a strong foundation of liberalism at our heart. Let us be the light on the hill.

Sophia Gaston is the director of the British Foreign Policy Group
For years developers have tried and failed to revitalize the Lone Star Brewery, a dilapidated complex south of King William that closed in 1996.

The latest setback: The propertys owner filed for Chapter 11 reorganization Monday, a day before the development was scheduled to be sold at a foreclosure auction.

Lone Star Brewery Development Inc., a subsidiary of Houston investment firm Parkview Capital Credit, reported $30 cash on hand and debts of $27 million. The brewery and an adjacent property, which together total roughly 32 acres, are appraised at $30 million, according to a bankruptcy petition.

However, the Bexar Appraisal District valued the properties at 500 and 600 Lone Star Blvd. at $11 million, property records show.

The bankruptcy petition indicates Lone Star owes $14 million to Princeton Capital Corp. and $12 million to BridgeInvest.

Parkview didnt immediately respond to inquiries, and a call to Lone Stars bankruptcy attorney was not immediately returned.

The owner has faced foreclosure on the properties before and avoided a sale last year by refinancing its debt with the loan from BridgeInvest.

Multiple attempts to redevelop the brewery over the years have been stymied by costs, a bankruptcy and environmental issues. Most recently, in 2017, a $300 million plan to turn it into shops, offices, apartments, a hotel and a park collapsed.

National retail developer CBL Properties pulled out of the project after discovering that its partner, Mark Smith of San Marcos-based Aqualand Development, had a history of legal and financial problems. CBL received an anonymous letter accusing Smith, Aqualands president, of having spent two years in federal prison and filing nuisance lawsuits against former business partners.

Parkview took control of Lone Star Brewery Development, the entity Aqualand used to buy the brewery, in 2017.

Later that year, developer NRP Group sued Parkviews subsidiary for not refunding a $550,000 deposit after a deal to buy land for an apartment complex at the site fell through.

In the bankruptcy petition, Lone Star reported its top unsecured creditor was NRP Group, reportedly owed $550,000. Lone Star disputes the claim, and the lawsuit is still being litigated.

Last month a fire caused extensive damage to a large hall at the brewery.

Patrick Danner contributed to this story.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
BHB compliments our focus on the aging demographic and allows us to expand our coverage beyond post-acute and senior care.

Aging Media Network, Inc. (Aging Media), is proud to announce the launch of Behavioral Health Business (BHB), a new publication covering the $250 billion business of mental health and substance abuse.

BHB marks Aging Medias sixth publication and further solidifies its position as the leading business media company covering the senior and post-acute healthcare market.

We are excited to provide news, information, and analysis that behavioral healthcare executives and government officials need to build out this important industry, said John R. Yedinak, president, and co-founder of Aging Media. BHB compliments our focus on the aging demographic and allows us to expand our coverage beyond post-acute and senior care.

BHBs editorial team will be led by Bailey Bryant, a Columbia University alumna who cut her teeth at Aging Media Network reporting for Home Health Care News. Previously, she's lent her talents to outlets such as Newsweek, CBS and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting.

Kyle Coward, a former behavioral health care professional, also joins the team as a reporter. Cowards journalistic work has been published in the Chicago Tribune, The Atlantic and Reuters, among other publications.

Backed by Aging Media, BHB will utilize its unparalleled access to the healthcare landscape to ramp up the site and position it for growth.

Our clients continue to seek solutions on how to connect with owners, operators, capital partners and industry professionals in the mental health and addiction markets, Yedinak added. The launch of Behavioral Health Business is a natural fit to meet the demands of our readers and our business partners."

View the site at https://bhbusiness.com or sign up for the daily or weekly newsletter here.

Follow us on social media at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/behavioral-health-business

Twitter: @BHBusinessNews

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/behavioralhealthbusiness/

About Aging Media Network

Aging Media Network is the largest business-to-business media (B2B) company covering the $7.6 trillion business of aging, and is the premier source for digital news and thought leadership in the longevity market.

Founded in 2011 and based in Chicago, Illinois, AMN owns and operates the leading business publications Senior Housing News, Reverse Mortgage Daily, Home Health Care News, Skilled Nursing News, Hospice News, and Behavioral Health Business.

View AMNs website at http://agingmedia.com

For further information, please contact:

John Yedinak

President

Aging Media Network, Inc.

312-809-5755
File Image: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (C) speaks during a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Reuters)

Muslim countries should unite to protect themselves against external threats, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on January 7.

Mohamad described the United States' killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani as immoral.

The world's oldest premier, who has in recent months stoked diplomatic tensions by speaking out on issues concerning the Muslim world, also said the US drone attack on Soleimani was against international laws.

Soleimani's killing in Baghdad on January 3 sparked fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East. Mahathir, 94, said it could also lead to an escalation in "what is called terrorism".

"The time is right for Muslim countries to come together," Mahathir told reporters. "We are no longer safe now. If anybody insults or says something that somebody doesn't like, it is all right for that person from another country to send a drone and perhaps have a shot at me."

About 50 people gathered outside the Iranian embassy in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, to shout "Down, Down USA".

Mahathir has tried to maintain good relations with Iran despite US sanctions on the Middle Eastern country. An estimated 10,000 Iranians live in Malaysia.

In December, Mahathir hosted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at a conference of Muslim leaders in Malaysia where they discussed boosting business, trading in each other's currencies and keeping up with non-Muslim countries.

Mahathir's recent comments on the treatment of Muslims in India and his criticism of the Saudi Arabia-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have soured Malaysia's relations with both New Delhi and Riyadh.

"I speak the truth," Mahathir said. "You do something that is not right, I think I have the right to speak out."
Glaciers in New Zealand have turned a caramel colour from bushfire ash blown across from Australia, 1 January 2020. Photo: Fabulousmonster @Rachelhatesit / Twitter

By Eleanor Ainge Roy

1 January 2020

WANAKA (The Guardian)  Snow and glaciers in New Zealand have turned brown after being exposed to dust from the Australian bushfires, with one expert saying the incident could increase glacier melt this season by as much as 30 percent.

On Wednesday many parts of the South Island woke up to an orange haze and red sun, after smoke from the Victorian and New South Wales blazes drifted east on Tuesday night, smothering many parts of the island for most of the day.

On Thursday, pictures taken from the Southern Alps showed the smoke haze carrying particles of dust had tinged snow-capped mountain peaks and glaciers a shade of caramel, with former prime minister Helen Clark expressing concern for the long-lasting environmental impacts on the mountains.

Satellite view of smoke from the Australia bushfires passing over Aotearoa, New Zealand, 1 January 2020. Photo: JMA / MetService

Impact of ash on glaciers is likely to accelerate melting, Clark tweeted. How one countrys tragedy has spillover effects.

There are more than 3,000 glaciers in New Zealand and since the 1970s scientists have recorded them shrinking by nearly a third, with current estimates predicting they will disappear entirely by the end of the century.

Professor Andrew Mackintosh is head of the school of earth, atmosphere and environment at Monash University, and the former director of the Antarctic Research Centre.

Glaciers in New Zealand have turned a caramel colour from bushfire ash blown across from Australia, 1 January 2020. Photo: Fabulousmonster @Rachelhatesit / Twitter

He said in nearly two decades of studying glaciers in New Zealand he had never seen such a quantity of dust transported across the Tasman, and the current event had the potential to increase this seasons glacier melt by 20-30%, although Mackintosh stressed this was no more than an estimate.

It is quite common for dust to be transported to New Zealand glaciers, but I would say that the amount of transport right now is pretty phenomenal  I dont think Ive ever seen anything like it, Mackintosh said.It is concerning to me to see so much material being deposited on the glaciers. [more]

New Zealand glaciers turn brown from Australian bushfires smoke, ash and dust
Federal prosecutors recommended in a sentencing memo Tuesday that President Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn receive a sentence of zero to six months in prison, arguing that he should not receive credit for cooperating after his new legal team attempted to dismiss his charges and accused the government of misconduct.

Why it matters: Flynn was the first Trump associate to face charges in the Mueller investigation, pleading guilty to lying to FBI agents in December 2017 about his interactions with the Russian ambassador.

What they're saying, via the sentencing memo:

"The defendant is now scheduled to be sentenced almost exactly three years from the date of his primary criminal conduct  lying to the FBI  and the intervening years have included periods where the defendant has sought to assist and aid the government, and periods where the defendant has sought to thwart the efforts of the government to hold other individuals, principally Bijan Rafiekian, accountable for criminal wrongdoing. Given the serious nature of the defendants offense, his apparent failure to accept responsibility, his failure to complete his cooperation in  and his affirmative efforts to undermine  the prosecution of Bijan Rafiekian, and the need to promote respect for the law and adequately deter such criminal conduct, the government recommends that the court sentence the defendant within the applicable Guidelines range of 0 to 6 months of incarceration.

Read the full sentencing memo.

Go deeper ... Timeline: Every big move in the Mueller investigation
US unilateral statement, media speculation not final unless confirmed by China: analyst

There is still uncertainty regarding when China and the US will sign the phase one trade agreement as final details remain to be worked out and other complicating factors have arisen, such as the escalating conflict between the US and Iran, Chinese analysts said on Monday.

Unilateral announcements from US officials and media speculation about the date and other details about the signing ceremony should not be taken as final until they are confirmed by Chinese officials, the analysts noted.

Since Chinese and US officials agreed on the text of the phase one trade agreement, there has been much speculation about the time for signing the widely anticipated deal. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Sunday that China's trade delegation will travel to Washington on January 13 to sign the deal. The SCMP last week reported that the trip was scheduled for Saturday.

US officials have also been unilaterally announcing different dates for the signing ceremony. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer previously suggested the deal could be signed in the first week of January. US President Donald Trump last week said that the deal would be signed on January 15 at the White House.

No final date

"This is nothing strange because the US has always been rushing to unilaterally release information because it is anxious to gain some points, but nothing is final unless China also makes the same announcement," He Weiwen, a former senior trade official and an executive council member of the China Society for World Trade Organization Studies, told the Global Times on Monday.

But Chinese officials have not confirmed either Trump's tweet or the SCMP's report. Asked about Trump's tweet on Friday, Geng Shuang, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, declined to comment and referred questions to the Commerce Ministry, which had maintained that both sides were still working on legal and translation reviews of the deal.

He noted that China would not be swayed by unilateral announcements from the US or media speculation. "China will move forward at its own pace in the trade talks, as it has always done," he said, adding that the US has a tendency to prematurely and selectively disclose information to its favor, including some content of the unsigned agreement.

Since announcing the agreement on the text of the phase one deal, US officials have released some points of the deal, including China's purchase of US goods, while Chinese officials remained cautious in releasing the content of the deal, insisting that it will be released only after the deal is signed.

"I think the phase one trade agreement did not come easily, so it's important that we focus on implementation of the deal," Wei Jianguo, a former Chinese vice commerce minister, told the Global Times on Monday, noting that caution is necessary prior to the signing of the phase one deal.

Rising complication

Apart from the uncertainty over the specific date, there are also increasing complications for the signing of the phase one trade agreement, such as rising tensions between the US and Iran, which could complicate scheduling for the signing of the trade agreement, analysts said.

"Geopolitical flare-ups might have some impact on the trade negotiations," Li Yong, a deputy chairman of the expert committee of the China Association of International Trade, told the Global Times on Monday. He noted that US officials could be preoccupied in dealing with "the situation."

Also, even after the agreement on the text of the phase one deal, the US has continued to escalate tensions over technology. The US on Monday put in place new rules that would restrict exports of certain technology to China, including artificial intelligence software.

However, despite the uncertainty, the trade one deal is likely to be signed soon and talks over a second phase agreement could commence shortly thereafter, as both sides appear eager to continue talks to resolve the long-running trade conflict that remains a major drag on global economic growth, Chinese analysts said.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday targeted the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress for misleading people on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and instigating riot-like scenes in the national capital, which left the city burning for days.

For days, there were riotous scenes in Delhi and residents across the city were gravely inconvenienced. The Congress and AAP are responsible for this. The likes of Rahul (Gandhi) and Priyanka (Gandhi Vadra) are misleading minorities in the country.

They are telling people that they will lose citizenship due to CAA. There is no provision in the amended law that takes away the citizenship of the people. CAA is about giving citizenship, Shah said.

ALSO READ | JNU violence akin to 26/11 Mumbai terror strike: Uddhav Thackeray

Taking a dig at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the home minister said he is protecting anti-nationals from prosecution. Some students raised anti-national slogans (on JNU campus). They said Bharat tere tukde hazar (India will be splintered to bits). Shouldnt they be put behind bars? However, Kejriwal is sitting on his hands and not granting sanction to prosecute them. Who do you want to save, Kejriwal? Shah said while speaking at inauguration of a cycle walk in the Tughlakabad area of Delhi on Monday.

Shah said that the Congress adopted double standards on the issue of building a Ram temple in Ayodhya and delayed resolution of the issue for their vote bank politics.

Let Rahul (Gandhi), Kejriwal and company do whatever they want. A temple will be built in Ayodhya, he said.

Shah went on to attack the Kejriwal government over spending public money on advertisement adding that the AAP has done the most harm to the poor and those living in villages.

Stir on at Jamia, shaheen bagh

Protesters continued demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Registration of Citizens (NRC) on Monday at Delhis Shaheen Bagh and outside Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI).

Locals from neighbouring areas and students massed at both the venues and chanted slogans such as Azaadi (Freedom), Inquilab Zindabad (Long Live Revolution), as well as verses from poems. They also condemned the attack on JNU students and teachers by a masked mob on Sunday evening. Protesters had gathered in their thousands outside the two venues. The women at Shaheen Bagh are determined to continue their protest, which is over three weeks old now.
The family of Damon Grimes, a Detroit teen killed in 2017 by Michigan State Police (MSP), reached a $12 million settlement last month in a civil suit against troopers Mark Bessner, Ethan Berger and Jacob Liss.

Damon Grimes

Grimes was killed in August of 2017 in a high-profile act of police brutality. He was riding his ATV around his neighborhood when Bessner fired a taser at him from their moving police vehicle, causing Grimes to lose control and crash into a parked vehicle at between 35-40 miles per hour, killing him. He was 15 years old.

Liss, Bessners partner, and fellow trooper Berger helped cover up the killing afterward, according to a police internal affairs report. Both were later subjected to disciplinary actions by MSP, but neither were charged as accessories to the crime. Bessner was charged and convicted earlier last year of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

Bessner had a history of violence prior to the killing and was the target of two separate use-of-force lawsuits which were later dismissed. One alleged that Bessner and several other troopers attacked someone for no reason as they left the hospital. Bessner repeatedly struck the plaintiffs body and gratuitously kneed him in his face and head multiple times as plaintiff was lying defenseless on the ground, according to the suit.

In the other suit, Bessner is alleged to have tasered a suspect on multiple and continuous occasions with the specific intent of inflicting pain, including after the victim was in handcuffs.

A spokeswoman for MSP released a hypocritical and self-serving statement which read, Damon Grimes death is a tragedy that could have been avoided if not for the criminal and unforgivable actions of a former MSP trooper.

The MSP recognizes that while this monetary settlement does not change how this has affected the Grimes family, it may help to begin to bring some closure. The MSP sincerely apologizes to everyone impacted by this senseless act and we have prioritized working with our troopers and the community to avoid this from happening again.

Grimes was one of 1,147 people nationwide killed by police in 2017, according to killedbypolice.net, a community-run database. At least 14 people were killed in the state of Michigan, including nine in metro Detroit.

At one point, Bessner was one of four Detroit-area cops awaiting trial simultaneously for separate incidences of police brutality. However, charges against police officers in such cases are the exception. Only 80 officers were charged for on-duty killings between 2005 and April 2017, according to a 2017 CNN report.

According to a separate count by the Washington Post, 931 people were killed by police in the US in 2019. However, it is likely that this is an undercount due to cover-ups which claim police killings as drug overdoses, suicides, or deaths from natural causes or excited delirium.

The settlement in the Grimes case comes in the aftermath of a string of high-profile developments nationwide. In October 2019, a video leaked online of the murder of 16-year-old Isiah Murrietta-Golding in Fresno, California in April of 2017 who was fatally shot in the head after jumping a fence and walking across a schoolyard away from police.

The officers involved in the killing filed reports stating that Murrietta-Golding had reached into his waistband several times, prompting them to use self-defense against the teen.

New York City Police killed five people in the month of October 2019 alone. NYPD Chief Kevin Maloney responded cynically: Its high in the last couple of weeks, but its part of where weve been consistent in the last couple of years.

While a disproportionate number of those killed by police are black, a plurality are white, and almost all are poor. It is class, not race, which is the primary risk factor for victims of police killings.

The viciousness with which police regularly murder is a symptom of a much deeper crisis in American society. The epidemic of police murders are the direct product of the bolstering of police forces by the entire political establishment in order to deploy them against an increasingly restive working class. The Obama administration funneled billions of dollars in surplus military equipment, through the infamous 1033 program, to local law enforcement. The assault rifles, snipers and armored vehicles acquired through this program were deployed in 2014 and 2015 against protesters in St. Louis and Baltimore demonstrating against the police murders of Michael Brown and Freddie Gray.

With the election of Trump, the ruling elites bolstering of police has taken on an overtly fascistic form. Trump resumed the 1033 program, which had been suspended since 2015 by Obama, shortly after taking office. Trump is deliberately seeking to build a base of support for himself among right-wing and fascist-minded police officers. Speaking to the annual convention of the International Association of Chiefs of Police in Chicago last October, Trump condemned the political left and immigrants including radical politicians and prosecutors who refuse to enforce the law and those who open borders and sanctuary cities.

In his particularly right-wing rant Trump declared, We face an onslaught from far-left activists who want to erase Americas borders and nullify our federal laws. This includes activist judges. He also stated that he had recently given police departments around the US $600 million in surplus military equipment.

This is a clear indication that the support coming directly from the White House and the state as a whole are laying the groundwork for violent crackdowns on the working class more broadly. There can be no doubt that mass violence by militarized police forces will be deployed against anti-war protesters in the event of a war with Iran.
US President Donald Trump has said his decision to order the killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani has saved a lot of lives, calling Gen Soleimani a monster.

Mr Trump and his top advisers are under pressure to disclose more detail about the intelligence that led to the killing, which has greatly heightened tension with Tehran.

Mr Trump said Tuesday that his decision saved American lives and that members of Congress will be briefed on the reasons for the US attack.

He's been called a monster, and he was a monster, and he's no longer a monster, he's deadDonald Trump

We saved a lot of lives, he said. They were planning something.

So far, Mr Trump and top national security officials have justified the air strike with general statements about the threat posted by Gen Soleimani, who commanded proxy forces outside Iran and was responsible for the deaths of American troops in Iraq.

But the details have been scarce.

Mr Trump said: Hes been called a monster, and he was a monster, and hes no longer a monster, hes dead.

And thats a good thing for a lot of countries. He was planning a very big attack, and a very bad attack for us and other people, and we stopped him and I dont think anybody can complain about it.

Gen Soleimani was targeted while he was at an airport in Baghdad with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a veteran Iraqi militant who also was killed.

Mr Trump said they were not in Baghdad to discuss holiday plans or visit a nice resort, but were there to talk over bad business.

The lack of detail does not sit well with Democrats, who recall how President George W. Bush justified his invasion of Iraq by accusing Saddam Hussein of having non-existent weapons of mass destruction.

Lawmakers in recent days have been pressing for more detail to explain why Mr Trump ordered the killing  a decision that previous administrations passed up because of fears it would unleash even more violence.

Expand Close Mourners attend a funeral ceremony for Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran (Erfan Kouchari/Tasnim News Agency/AP) / Facebook

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Gen Soleimani travelled frequently and relatively openly, with visits to Baghdad more frequent in recent months. He also often showed up in Syria, including along the border between Iraq and Syria.

Secretary of state Mike Pompeo said it was clear that Gen Soleimani was continuing his efforts to build a network of activities that were going to lead potentially to the death of many more Americans.

Defence secretary Mark Esper told reporters that Iranian threats against Americans were days away from being executed.

Democratic lawmakers are not convinced.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate foreign relations committee, called on Mr Trump to declassify the written notification the president sent to Congress after the fatal strike on Gen Soleimani.

The notification was required under the War Powers Resolution Act of 1973, which requires the president to report to Congress when American forces are sent into hostile or imminently hostile situations.

It is critical that national security matters of such import be shared with the American people in a timely manner, the senators wrote.

An entirely classified notification is simply not appropriate in a democratic society, and there appears to be no legitimate justification for classifying this notification.
Mayor Randall Woodfin urged Birmingham business owners to partner with the Birmingham Promise during his State of the City Address at the Birmingham Kiwanis Club Meeting Tuesday afternoon.

Woodfin focused his State of the City address on his vision for Birminghams economic development. He told Kiwanis Club members that engaging with Birmingham students before they graduate is crucial to growing Birminghams workforce and keeping young talent from leaving the city after graduation.

A strong economy doesnt work if we dont engage students post high school. We have to make the right investments at the right time, Woodfin said.

Woodfin has lauded the internship-scholarship program as a means to provide students real-life skills and provide employers with trained workers ready to enter the workforce after they graduate high school.

Remember there are things we can control and there are things beyond our control. Investing in our youngest generation is 100 percent in our control, Woodfin said. None of us can afford to sit on the sideline -- no citizen, individual, organization, small business, start up, corporation, nonprofit or members of our religious community. None of us as adults in our organizations can afford to sit on the sideline and say thats (investing in the younger generation) somebody elses job.

On Wednesday, the city will host its second signing day for students in the Birmingham Promise apprenticeship program. The apprenticeship program links high school juniors and seniors with a local employer to work about 15 hours per week for 16 weeks. The employer will pay the student $7.50 per hour and the city will pay $7.50 per hour.

The Birmingham Promise also provides college scholarships to 2 and 4 year public universities for students who graduate from Birmingham City Schools. Students graduating this May will be able to use the scholarship for the Fall 2020 semester.

Students who attended Birmingham schools since first grade are eligible to have 100 percent of their tuition costs paid by the Birmingham Promise scholarship.

This means, if a student attended Birmingham City schools for 12 years, graduates and is accepted into college, has received grants and scholarships, but still has a balance, the Birmingham Promise will pay for the remainder of that students tuition. However, if a student only attended Birmingham City schools for four years, the Promise will only pay 4/12 (one-third) of the remaining balance.

Also during his address, Woodfin announced the names of the three co-chairs who will work to oversee fundraising for the scholarship portion of the Birmingham Promise. Those co-chairs are all CEOs of Birmingham-based companies. They are Altec CEO Lee Styslinger, Regions Bank CEO John Turner and Alabama Power Company CEO Mark Crosswhite.

Birmingham Mayor @randallwoodfin is giving the state of the city address at the Kiwanis Club lunch. pic.twitter.com/32I6yeC4px  Anna Beahm (@_AnnaBeahm) January 7, 2020

The city has not yet announced other major fundraising partners of the Birmingham Promise. Woodfin has previously said he aims to endow the Birmingham Promise Scholarship fund with around $35 million. Students graduating from Birmingham City Schools in May will be able to use the Birmingham Promise scholarships.

In October, the city council approved a $10 million agreement between the city and the newly-formed Birmingham Promise Inc. The city will provide $2 million per year for five years.

If you want to see real change in this city, you have an opportunity to be on right side of city of Birmingham history, Woodfin said.

Read more coverage of the Birmingham Promise here.
Protesters shout slogans outside a court before the arrival of the 19 year-old British woman at court (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

A British teenager found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus can return home after a judge said he was giving her a "second chance" and suspended her prison sentence.

The 19-year-old woman hugged her family and legal team and left court weeping, with her head in her hands, after she was sentenced for public mischief.

The teenager's mother shouted "she's coming home" to supporters outside Famagusta District Court, telling reporters she feels "relieved".

Her lawyer Lewis Power QC said she will be returning home later on Tuesday but said her legal team would be challenging her conviction and were prepared to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

The teenager, from Derbyshire, has been stuck on the island after claiming she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party town of Ayia Napa on July 17.

She was charged and spent about a month in prison before being granted bail in August.

The dozen young men and boys, aged between 15 and 20 arrested over the incident were freed after she signed a retraction statement 10 days later.

But she maintains she was raped after having consensual sex with one of the Israelis and forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police following hours of questioning alone and without legal representation.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he has raised concerns over her treatment with the Cypriot authorities, after the teenager's conviction provoked outrage in Cyprus and the UK.

And her family had raised fears she would suffer permanent damage to her mental health if she was sent to prison, having been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder .

Judge Michalis Papathanasiou told the court he would not be jailing her, despite insisting that all the evidence suggested she was guilty.

He told the packed courtroom: "I admit, I have been troubled over this.

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"All the evidence shows that she had lied and prevented the police from doing other serious jobs.

"Twelve people were arrested and seven of them were there for at least 10 days. That was also a serious offence.

"Her psychological state, her youth, that she has been away from her family, her friends and academic studies this year, this has led me to decide to give her a second chance and suspend the sentence for three years."

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the court, including a group of women who had travelled from Israel.

Holding placards reading "we believe you" and "don't be afraid", they chanted "Cyprus justice, shame on you", "stop blaming the victim" and "you are not alone".

Addressing applauding supporters after the hearing, the teenager's mother said: "I just want to thank each and every one of you for turning up today, having belief, having faith and making sure we get justice.

"On behalf of the family, I would like to say we are very relieved at the sentence that has been passed down today.

"I would also like to say thank you for all the support we have received throughout the globe."

Mr Power QC said: "Whilst we welcome the fact that the sentence imposed today allows her to go home, we strongly contest the conviction and the fight for her innocence will go on regardless.

"We will be appealing the conviction and will take this case to the Supreme Court of Cyprus and are prepared to fight this case all the way to the European Court of Human Rights.

"We say and will maintain that this young girl was stripped both of her dignity and her basic human rights."
[January 07, 2020] Chase Partners with DoorDash to Deliver New Benefit for Freedom, Sapphire and Slate Cardmembers When Ordering In

Today Chase announced a new relationship with DoorDash, the nation's leading on-demand food platform, to offer complimentary DashPass subscriptions for Sapphire, Freedom, and Slate cardmembers. Starting today, eligible cardmembers can activate and enjoy the convenience of DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service that offers unlimited $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on orders of $12 or more from DoorDash's industry-leading selection of participating restaurants nationwide. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005596/en/ Chase cardmembers can activate for complimentary DoorDash DashPass (Graphic: Business Wire) "Across Chase branded cards, we've seen spending with food delivery more than double in the last year, and the majority of those cardmembers are ordering-in on average at least one time per month," said Catherine Hogan, President of Chase Branded Cards. "We're excited to team up with DoorDash to bring their industry-leading selection of restaurants to our cardmembers with an added perk to make dining in more rewarding." To activate the complimentary DashPass membership offer, cardmembers will need to add an eligible Chase credit card as the default payment in the DoorDash app. Once the membership is activated, the benefit with Chase credit cards will be: Chase Sapphire Reserve and Preferred cardmembers will have access to complimentary DashPass for minimum of one year*, valued at over $100.

Chase Freedom, Freedom Unlimited, Freedom Student and Slate cardmembers will receive complimentary DashPass for the first three months**, followed by a 50% discount price at the current rate for the next nine months. Cardmembers will need to activate by December 31, 2021 to enjoy the new benefit. "We are excited to partner nationwide with Chase and add our subscription service DashPass to their renowned list of credit card benefits, while growing our industry-leading subscriber base," said Keith Yandell, DoorDash's Chief Business & Legal Officer. "This partnership will make ordering from our unmatched selection of restaurants even more rewarding and provide Chase customers with access to incredible deals they can only find on DoorDash." Since its launch in August 2018, DashPass has become the largest subscription service in the industry with more than 1.5 million active subscribers. With members saving an average of $4-5 per order, users are reaping the rewards of the subscription with 1 in 3 orders on DoorDash coming from DashPass members in top markets. Cardmmbers that activate their membership will have access to hundreds of thousands of participating restaurants nationwide, including national favorites like The Cheesecake Factory, Burger King, and Chipotle and local favorites like Bay Cities in LA and Portillo's in Chicago.



Chase cardmembers can activate the complimentary DashPass subscription by visiting the website here or in the DoorDash app. To search DoorDash for local favorites or to discover your next go-to, visit doordash.com or download DoorDash for Android or iOS. *Complimentary DashPass Subscription for Chase Sapphire Reserve and Preferred cardmembers: Your Chase Sapphire account will receive one complimentary DashPass subscription from DoorDash for at least 12 months when the subscription is activated by 12/31/21. After the DashPass discounted period ends, you can choose to continue to be enrolled and charged the then current monthly DashPass rate. Subscription will be registered in the name of the primary cardmember or an authorized user, whoever activates the benefit first. To receive the subscription benefits, the primary cardmember or authorized user(s) must first add their Chase Sapphire card as payment method in the DoorDash mobile application, and then click the activation button. Benefits of DashPass from DoorDash include no delivery fees on orders that total over $12 (amount subject to change - see DoorDash site for current minimum); however service fees and other fees on food orders will apply.

**Complimentary DashPass Subscription for Chase Freedom, Freedom Unlimited, Freedom Student and Slate cardmembers: Your credit card account will receive one complimentary 3 month DashPass from DoorDash when the subscription is activated by 12/31/21. After your complimentary period ends, you'll be automatically enrolled for 9 months at 50% off the then current monthly DashPass rate. After the DashPass discounted period ends, you will continue to be enrolled and charged the then current monthly DashPass rate. You can cancel at any time on the DoorDash mobile application. Subscription will be registered in the name of the primary cardmember or an authorized user, whoever activates the benefit first. To receive the subscription benefits, the primary cardmember or authorized user(s) must first add their eligible Chase credit card as payment method in the DoorDash mobile application, and then click the activation button. Benefits of DashPass from DoorDash include no delivery fees on orders that total over $12 (amount subject to change - see DoorDash site for current minimum); however service fees and other fees on food orders will apply. About DoorDash DoorDash is a technology company that connects customers with their favorite local and national businesses in more than 4,000 cities and all 50 states across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Australia. Founded in 2013, DoorDash empowers merchants to grow their businesses by offering on-demand delivery, data-driven insights, and better in-store efficiency, providing delightful experiences from door to door. By building the last-mile delivery infrastructure for local cities, DoorDash is bringing communities closer, one doorstep at a time. Read more on the DoorDash blog or at www.doordash.com. About Chase Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.8 trillion and operations worldwide. Chase serves nearly half of America's households with a broad range of financial services, including personal banking, credit cards, mortgages, auto financing, investment advice, small business loans and payment processing. Customers can choose how and where they want to bank: Nearly 5,000 branches in 32 states and the District of Columbia, 16,000 ATMs, mobile, online and by phone. For more information, go to chase.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005596/en/

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The Delhi Police has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) leader Aishe Ghosh and 19 others for allegedly destroying the varsitys property. Ghosh and others have been accused of destroying the server room on Saturday, a day before masked men and women armed with rods and hammers went about beating students and teachers on campus.

The complaint against Ghosh was filed by the JNU administration. The case against her was registered on Sunday evening.

Ghosh was badly injured in the mob attack that took place on Sunday evening. She was hit on her head. Her face, with blood streaming down it, was all over the internet. Several students and faculty members were also hurt in the incident.

Also Watch l JNU violence: Injured student leader describes assault; wants VC sacked

Ghosh alleged that the JNU administration colluded with the mob to disrupt the students movement against the hostel fee hike.

Ghosh also alleged that she had contacted the SHO of the nearest police station, other senior officers and the JNU security staff when she got to know about the mob entering the campus, but she got no response. Ghosh alleged that while some of the ABVP men were from JNU itself, the others had been called in.

They first vandalised a car parked nearby before besieging us. My sister managed to escaped, but my friend and I were caught by the mob. They first struck me on my head with a rod before kicking and thrashing me. I screamed at them that they couldnt do that, but they didnt stop, she said.

She also named Ashwini Mohapatra, chairperson of Centre for West Asian Studies (CWAS), and accused him of assaulting students during a protest last week, a charge denied by Mohapatra.

The Left-backed JNUSU and the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) have blamed each other for the violence that continued for nearly two hours on Sunday.

Ghosh and other injured were admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre in New Delhi. They were discharged on Monday.
Ben Johnsons The New Paradigm Coffee Roasters company is a roaster with an agenda. The Sydney-based micro-roastery was launched by Johnson with the intent to enact social justice through coffeefocusing on providing as much benefit as he could to leverage and support the Australian coffee industry, particularly through underrepresented members of its community. Focused on wholesaleNew Paradigm doesnt operate a cafe of its ownJohnson works hard to supply only to cafes who are challenging or are outside the status quo. No bro-asters, please.

Australia is quite economically left, but for many social issues, theyre not as progressive, Johnson explains. I usually ask a question with an answer that would reveal if [a cafe owner] is racist or bigoted towards the LGBTQIA+ community. He also doesnt supply to cafes staffed and run exclusively by cisgender white people, or those who call him bro six times a minute, he says. Its not out of a sense of elitism, insists Johnson, but to instead support businesses that create a safe environment.

Johnson says, I used to have a more rigid quota, but I ran out of cafes, and it was also illegal. Although there is no explicit advertising about New Paradigms selection criteria, the roasterys semi-official slogan is no cafes with a bunch of white dudes standing at a coffee machine acting smug. Johnson says, Pretty much everyone I supply to has been screwed over by a big company.

Striving to be progressive in this way has had its own set of challengessuch as running out of places to supply to that fit his criteria, only six months in. There were no [more] places that were doing guest roasters, who were female or people of color at the ownership or management level, Johnson says.

The second challenge is that of people turning hostile, which would often happen when Johnson would explain why he wouldnt supply to them. The general consensus is, people think that I think theyve had it easy, which is untrue. All I am saying is society hasnt been against you. And as a whole, your experience with society has been different.

A background in Chemistry led Johnson to coffee roasting. And in 2015 he started working at a commercial coffee company in Sydney. There were a bunch of dudes with sometimes a female sales rep and admin staff, he says. He stayed at the company for three years. My job was to turn a blend of $5-7/kg coffee into a $23-28/kg coffee, he says. I got tired of that.

Then a trip to origin forced Johnson to question his own privilege and position of power. He came back feeling disenfranchised from the industry. He says this happens to a lot of roasters. My success has been due to my privilege. I will be open about that. My mom is Mapuche Chilean and has a dark complexion. If I were darker, then I wouldnt have succeededno doubt, Johnson says. Society and the Anglo-Italian-centric, Christian coffee community has definitely helped my career.



After securing the capital and connections needed, Johnson started New Paradigm. I wanted to step away from the wholesaler/blend sort, he explains. Where you buy cheap coffee and hide its defects to make it seem good. I wanted to buy the best coffee and make it good. To get the business up and running, Johnson roasted at Collective Roasting Solutions, a shared roasting space in Sydney. The idea for the name came after watching The Shield. In the last episode, Andre 3000 from OutKast played a mayoral candidate who ran on the promise of a New Paradigm, explains Johnson. The name stuck.

Now a year down the road, and with industry support, he has been able to invest in his own coffee roaster, based at another co-roasting space in Sydney, Specialty Coffee Curators. Using a shared roasting space ensures that weekly operating costs remain low and allows for New Paradigm to stay selective with customers by not having to rely on volume. I buy from exporters, mills, and producers with other roasters in little buying groups. It provides a better cost breakdown along the supply chain, he explains.



A few of New Paradigms green coffee suppliers include Melbourne Coffee Merchants, Langdon Coffee Merchants, Caravela Coffee, and US-based Cafe Imports. All are known for hiring and buying well, he says. For roasters early on in their career, Johnson suggests not to overbuy green coffee and to have a clear sourcing philosophy. Turnover is easy if youre small, so dont let it distract you, he says. Also, make sure to have a point of difference. Roasting light to preserve terroir and sourcing traceably, sustainably, and ethically is a requirement these days. Not a point of difference, Johnson stresses.

Australias coffee sector is on a healthy trajectory. But the same cannot be as confidently said about the industrys take on inclusivity and diversity. We are not as progressive in coffee as we seem, Johnson says. But a lot of young people are quite progressive in the industry. They are the ones wholl move past this monoculture within coffee. The fourth wave of coffee will address power imbalances both at producing and consuming countries, he says.

Anastasia Prikhodko is a freelance journalist based in Amsterdam. This is Anastasia Prikhodkos first feature for Sprudge.

Photos courtesy of The New Paradigm Coffee Roasters
James Manning died at Southampton General Hospital (PA)

A mother whose two-year-old son died at a Butlins holiday park said staff did nothing to help as he choked on a piece of sausage.

James Manning was on a trip to Butlins in Bognor Regis with his mother and grandmother when tragedy struck on 6 June 2018.

Speaking at the inquest into his death, Jamess mother Natalie Reeves said it seemed like everybody was just standing around, while two holidaymakers gave cardiopulmonary resuscitation to James.

The toddlers grandmother also told assistant coroner Karen Harrold that Butlins staff did not assist with James as he was choking outside the resorts Ocean Drive Restaurant, a claim Butlins does not accept.

James Manning's mother Natalie Reeves, left, and grandmother Angela Knight arrive at Centenary House in Crawley, West Sussex, for the inquest into his death (PA)

Just days before the incident, Miss Reeves had called to ask about James place on a hospital waiting list, and told a hospital secretary if you do not do something for my son something bad is going to happen.

James died on 20 June 2018 at Southampton General Hospital, two weeks after the incident at Butlins in Bognor Regis, West Sussex.

An inquest into his death began on Monday at Centenary House in Crawley. The inquest heard that James started choking while eating a sausage on the third day of their holiday.

READ MORE FROM YAHOO NEWS UK:

Miss Reeves said: He must have had a piece that we hadnt cut up small enough yet.

At that point I said to mum, I think hes choking, but I didnt honestly know how big it was.

She told the coroner that she rushed James out of the restaurant, laid him across her knees face down and started hitting him on the back, and performing the Heimlich manoeuvre to try to clear his airway.

Ms Knight, who was also present, said two women she thought were holidaymakers told her they were first aid trained and offered to help.

Story continues

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---

Another man also hit James on the back to try to stop him choking before paramedics eventually arrived and James was taken to Southampton General Hospital.

Asked if she was aware of any Butlins staff being around to help, Ms Knight said some were present but there werent any Butlins staff who helped with James.

Chris Green, representing Butlins at the inquest, suggested that in fact six members of staff had been present, including two first aiders.

Ms Knight replied: They may have been present, but they did not assist with James.

Mr Green said this was not accepted by Butlins and a staff member would give evidence at the inquest in due course.

The inquest continues.
[January 07, 2020] Galecto and PharmAkea Merge to Create Strong Clinical-Stage Company Developing First-in-Class Therapeutics in Fibrosis and Cancer

Clinical programs in IPF, NASH and cancer

Joint entity to be named Galecto, Inc. SAN DIEGO and COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galecto, the leading developer of galectin modulators for the treatment of fibrotic diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and cancer, and PharmAkea, Inc., a privately held San Diego-based pharmaceutical company developing novel small molecules against protein targets involved in fibroproliferative disease, today announced the two companies will merge. Financial terms have not been disclosed. Following completion, the joint company will retain the Galecto name and current senior management team, including Hans Schambye as CEO. Galecto, Inc. will be incorporated in the US and will retain its operating headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. The merger brings together two clinical stage companies with strong programs in fibrosis and cancer, including an inhaled galectin-3 modulator currently in phase IIb for the potential treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Galecto has built a broad pipeline of drug candidates targeting the role of galectin-3 in inhibiting cells involved in fibrosis. This is complemented by PharmAkea, which has developed small molecules that target LOXL2, a key enzyme involved in the formation of the extracellular matrix during the fibrotic process. The merger between Galecto and PharmAkea brings together two highly complementary companies, which with our strengths in fibrosis and cancer will help us build a future global player in this space. PharmAkea, which included team members from Amira Pharmaceuticals, previously acquired by BMS, has a highly validated target and an exciting next generation small molecule inhibitor that is very potent and penetrates the fibrotic tissue. We are very much looking forward to working as a combined entity, said Hans Schambye, CEO of Galecto. Galecto has vast experience in developing galectin-3 modulators that have potential to open up new treatment options, particularly in fibrotic indications. The synergy achieved by combining our complementary scientific approaches, first-in-class product candidates, supportive long-term investors and dedicated employees with extensive experience of drug development, will ensure that we address these debilitating disease sooner, said Robert Williamson, CEO of PharmAkea.



As a consequence of the merger, Carl Goldfischer from Bay City Capital will join the Galecto Board of Directors. About Galecto, Inc.

Galecto is focused on developing novel drugs for the treatment of fibrosis, inflammation, and other serious human diseases. The companys products target galectins or galactoside binding lectins, which are a group of proteins shown to be involved in many disease processes. Since its founding in 2011, Galectos R&D team has proven that galectin-3 is an attractive drug target and that galectin-3 inhibitors are effective in reducing fibrosis in several different organs in preclinical models. Based on this research and recently completed clinical studies, Galectos high potency galectin modulators may open new treatment possibilities for many patients. The company is incorporated in the US and has its operating headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. Galecto is funded by Novo Holdings, OrbiMed, Ysios, HBM Healthcare Investments, Sunstone Capital, M Ventures, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Maverick Ventures, Seventure and SEED Capital.

Further information can be found at www.galecto.com. About PharmAkea, Inc.

PharmAkea is a privately held San Diego-based clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel small molecules against protein targets involved in fibroproliferative diseases. The company was funded through a collaboration with Celgene and a venture round by Bay City Capital. The companys lead program is PAT-1251, a Phase 2 ready LOXL2 inhibitor, for the treatment of fibrotic diseases and some cancers. PharmAkea spun out PAT-409, a Phase 1 ready autotaxin inhibitor, in 2019, and that program was subsequently purchased by Blade Therapeutics. For more information, contact: Galecto, Inc. LifeSci Advisors (media) Hans Schambye, CEO Hans Herklots +45 26 3737 26 +41 79 598 7149 [email protected]

[email protected] PharmAkea, Inc. Russo Partners LLC Robert Williamson, CEO David Schull +1 (510) 470-1760 +1 (212) 845-4271 [email protected] [email protected]

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A plan announced by Mexicos President to re-route a pipeline under construction in order to go around indigenous lands has sparked concern among some in the industry regarding future energy projects.

BNN Bloomberg cites analysts as saying the plan could create a risky precedent for indigenous communities that are already protesting a number of pipeline projects. This has already led to a decline in investments.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced the plan to re-route the pipeline last week. Currently under construction, the project managed by TC Energy (former TransCanada) will transport natural gas from Veracruz to Puebla and Hidalgo across 176 miles that include an area that is considered sacred by several local communities in the state of Puebla.

Even if we have to pay, the gas pipeline will not go through the sacred hills, Lopez Obrador said, as quoted by Reuters, over the weekend, after a consultation with four local indigenous communities.

They are trying to avoid any legal problems, and international controversies, Wood Mackenzie gas analyst Rodrigo Rosas told Bloomberg.

Indeed, anti-pipeline activism has turned into a trend in recent years. Indigenous communities in both the United States and Canada have been active in opposing several large-scale projects, including the Keystone XL pipeline, Dakota Access, and, in Canada, the Trans Mountain expansion.

However, not all agree that the re-routing of the Tuxpan-Tula pipeline in Mexico is a problem. In fact, some see it as good news.

A Natural Gas Intel article by Andrew Baker quoted a Mexico-based energy consultant who said the re-routing could actually speed up the completion of the pipeline. This will in turn allow several power plants in the region to switch from more expensive fuel oil to cheap gas.

They [the Mexico state power utility CFE] need it to be done, Gonzalo Monroy said. I think that it was actually a very pragmatic decision by Lopez Obrador, saying if they have to pay extra for the rerouting, so be it.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The Hobart Private Hospital is the only private hospital in Hobart that is co-located with a tertiary hospital, the Royal Hobart Hospital, which is the largest in the island state. Licensed for 142 overnight beds, it features an emergency department, five operating theatres, a cardiac catheterisation lab, maternity unit, and critical care unit.

The hospital directly employs more than 550 people, including 350 nurses. It has more than 350 consulting doctors. On average each year, the hospital treats more than 23,500 patients and is the site for 14,000 procedures.

G+T said that it advised Healthscope on all aspects of the tender process, including extensive contract negotiations with the Tasmanian Government. Healthscope was appointed as the preferred tenderer in August, which when exclusive negotiations commenced.

The G+T team was headed by banking and infrastructure partner Alexander Danne, who was supported by senior lawyer Daniel Yim, and lawyers Dylan Gardner and Christopher Ashen.

The hospital plays a central role in the overall Tasmanian healthcare system, and the new contract provides certainty to the Tasmanian public around emergency and key clinical services, eases pressure on the Royal Hobart Hospital, and paves the way for continued capital investment, Danne said.
GRAPHIC CONTENT

Hela province, PNG: It is often said that tribal fighting in the Papua New Guinea Highlands is part and parcel of the socio-cultural fabric of the region.

With a history stretching back hundreds of years (if not more), it can be seen simply as an indivisible feature of the Highland way of life. While to some extent true, tribal fighting in the last 30 years has become more akin to conventional warfare on the battlefields of the Middle East or sub-Saharan Africa than the pitched battles using the bows and arrows that characterised pre-colonial confrontations in the Highlands.

In the last 30 years, modern weapons, along with other accoutrements of modern technology, have made their way into Papua New Guinea0. They have disrupted the traditional rules of tribal fighting that had historically limited the effects and consequences of the fighting and restrained fighters from going too far.
NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Global Microfluidics Market to Grow at a CAGR of 13.73% from 2019-2029



Key Questions Answered in this Report:

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05835674/?utm_source=PRN

 What are the major market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global microfluidics market?

 What are the factors resulting in the emerging trends within the global microfluidics market?

 How is each segment of the global microfluidics market expected to grow during the forecast period and what is the estimated revenue to be generated by each of the segments by the end of 2029?

 What is the expected compound growth rate to be witnessed by the leading players in the market during the forecast period 2019-2029?

 What are the key applications in the global microfluidics market? What are the major segments of these applications?

 Who are the key manufacturers the global microfluidics products, and what are their contributions?

Global Microfluidics Market Forecast, 2019-2029



The global microfluidics industry analysis projects the market to grow at a significant CAGR of 13.73% during the forecast period, 2019-2029. The microfluidics market generated $10,260.6 million revenue in 2018, in terms of value.



The microfluidics market growth has been primarily attributed to the major drivers in this market such as, growing demand for non-invasive and rapid diagnostics, increase in adoption of personalized medicines on a global level, significant external funding for executing research and development exercises and growing demand for point-of-care testing. The challenges include lack of standardization, a lack of high-complexity testing centers, and high capital requirement hampering the global reach



Expert Quote



"We strongly believe such a technology will help to fill the gaps in existing immunoassay technology and be applied directly to biological samples such as blood, saliva, or urine."



Scope of the Market Intelligence on Microfluidics Market



The microfluidics research provides a holistic view of the market in terms of various factors influencing it, including strategic developments and technological advancements.



The scope of this report is centered upon conducting a detailed study of the products and manufacturers allied with the industrial and biological research. In addition, the study also includes exhaustive information on the unmet needs, perception on the new products, competitive landscape, market share of leading manufacturers, growth potential of each underlying sub-segment, and company, as well as other vital information with respect to global microfluidics market.



Market Segmentation

The microfluidics market segmentation (on the basis of application) is segmented point-of-care testing, cell analysis, drug development and discovery, organ-on-ac-chip, agro-food industry, microbiological research and other applications.



The microfluidics market segmentation (on the basis of type) is segmented into microfluidic chips and microfluidic platforms



The microfluidics market segmentation (on the basis of end-user) is segmented into research and academia, biopharmaceutical and biotech companies, diagnostic centers, and other end-users



The microfluidics market segmentation (on the basis of geography) is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Rest-of-the-World.



Key Companies in the Microfluidics Market



The key manufacturers who have been contributing significantly to the microfluidics market include 1CellBio Inc., Agilent Technologies Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Cellix Ltd., Micronit Microtechnologies, Fluidigm Corporation, Perkin Elmer Inc., microfluidic Chipshop GmbH, Mission Bio, Merck KgaA, Sphere Fluidics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Takara Bio Inc., Qiagen N.V. and uFluidix., among others.



Countries Covered

 North America

 U.S.

 Canada

 Europe

 Germany

 U.K.

 France

 Italy

 Spain

 Rest-of-Europe

 Asia-Pacific

 China

 Japan

 India

 Australia

 Singapore

 Rest-of-APAC

 Latin America

 Brazil

 Mexico

 Rest-of-Latin America

 Rest-of-the-World



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05835674/?utm_source=PRN



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

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Investing.com - Hong Kong-listed tech company Lenovo Group (HK:0992) is set to launch its new foldable ThinkPad computer this year.

The computer will be sold for $2,499 and will ship mid-year, according to Bloomberg. The 13-inch tablet was shown in a demonstration at the CES consumer technology show in Las Vegas.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Lenovo commercial PC President Christian Teismann said the company spent four years developing its folding screen technology and that the computer is designed to last a typical three- to four-year life cycle.

Bloomberg noted that the new computer will be running on a new Intel Corp. chip that is slower than those found in computers in similar price ranges.

The machine likely will appeal first to early adopters, but technology companies are pushing for foldable devices to eventually become mainstream hits, the article said.

Lenovos shares in Hong Kong last traded at HK$5.31, up 0.2%.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex viewed an exhibition by Mohawk artist Skawennati while visiting Canada's high commissioner to the United Kingdom at Canada House in London on Tuesday.

Harry and Meghan's visit was to thank Canada for the hospitality they received during their stay over the holidays.

"I feel very lucky that it's my show that's on right now when the royals are visiting," said Skawennati, who is based in Montreal and originally from Kahnawake, Que.

Her exhibition Avatars Aliens Ancestors (or Kaia'tonnihseronnia:nion Ratironhia'kehshon:'a Kahsotshera'okon'kenhen in Mohawk) has been running at the Canada House gallery since November.

Skawennati uses virtual environments and video games to reimagine Indigenous peoples' past and present, while looking ahead to the future.

WATCH | Harry and Meghan visit Canada House:

Skawennati is renowned for her machinimas and machinimagraphs (videos and photographs, respectively, made within virtual environments) such as her TimeTraveller portraits, which feature a range of Indigenous people from the 15th to 23rd centuries.

Skawennati said that before travelling to London to set up the exhibition, she thought about the relationship through history between the Haudenosaunee  the confederacy which includes the Mohawk  and the Crown, and those who met with royalty to discuss treaties.

She thought about creating a new machinima in which her avatar, her virtual persona, met the Queen.

She said she was "pretty surprised and pretty thrilled" to learn that Harry and Meghan would see her avatar as part of the exhibition.

"What I would like is for them to remember our long relationship," said Skawennati "Not only have we survived colonization, attempts at assimilation and genocide, but that we are in the process of revitalizing our languages and our culture. We've remembered a lot, and I'd like them to think about using their influence to see what role they can play in that revitalization."
REUTERS/Candace Elliott

Despite a Santa Claus rally to close 2019, Canadian energy stocks remain undervalued as the sector strengthens into the new year, according to analysts at Laurentian Bank.

The iShares S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index ETF (XEG.TO), a basket of large Canadian energy companies, has climbed 15 per cent since early December as oil prices pushed higher. Those shares gained additional momentum in the wake of the U.S. attack that killed a prominent Iranian military leader last week. The incident continues to raise fear of a supply-disrupting conflict in the key crude-producing region.

A one-month view of the iShares S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index ETF. (Yahoo Finance Canada)

Analysts have forecast European Brent crude could reach $150 per barrel under such a scenario. West Texas Intermediate, the North American benchmark, could climb to $80 per barrel, according to Henry Rome at Eurasia Group.

We believe a prolonged strength of WTI pricing could result in companies shifting from maintenance mode to growth once again and generating additional free cash flow, Laurentian analyst Todd Kepler wrote in a note to clients on Monday. Even after the sector rally in December, we believe investors can find bargains on the buy side of the trade.

Despite the recent strong performance, he said valuations for companies under the banks coverage remain at historic lows after delivering an average loss of 23 per cent in 2019.

Illustrative of investor apathy toward the oil and gas equities in 2019, the WTI benchmark increased 31 per cent throughout 2019, while the S&P/TSX Energy Index decreased 13 per cent, Kepler added.

Greg Taylor, chief investment officer at Purpose Investments, agrees that investor sentiment around Canadian energy has largely ignored rebounding oil prices.

Energy has come into this year as being one of the most-hated sectors out there, and most under-owned. People havent really been paying attention to the stabilization in the oil price, he told Yahoo Finance Canada last week.

Taylor expects large energy firms like Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ.TO) and Suncor Energy (SU.TO) to deliver strong returns, as well as mid-cap companies like Tourmaline Oil (TOU.TO).

Story continues

Kepler said his top pick heading into 2019 was Whitecap Resources (WCP.TO), which delivered a 29 per cent total return for the year, including dividends.

After a tumultuous year in oil and gas equities, we believe companies have taken the necessary steps to set a budget that maximizes free cash flow in a muted growth environment, but can react quickly to higher commodity prices to grow production, he wrote.

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.
Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, killed last week by a U.S. drone in Baghdad, has been credited with persuading Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene militarily in Syria in 2015, a claim the Kremlin denies. Regardless of the truth of that particular story, though, the inevitable escalation following Soleimani's death has the potential to change Putin's calculus in the region.

Commenting on Soleimani's demise, the Russian Defense Ministry praised his "indisputable contribution" to defeating the Islamic State in Syria. The ministry credited him for organizing an armed resistance to ISIS long before the U.S. created its own anti-ISIS coalition. Indeed, if it weren't for Iran's so-called Axis of Resistance, which includes the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and other regional armed groups, it would have made no sense for Russia to enter the Syrian conflict.

Hezbollah and Iranian forces commanded by Soleimani provided the boots on the grounds that Russia was unwilling to spare, supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's bloodied and exhausted troops to turn the tables on Assad's enemies, including the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. It was important to Putin that Assad didn't stand alone. If that were the case, he'd be easier to write off than to back.

Some analysts have argued that it's always been in Russia's interest to limit Iran's role in Syria, because the Kremlin has no control over Iran or Hezbollah. That argument, however, assumes that Russia wants control. Putin, for his part, never wanted to own the Syrian crisis, but rather to prop up forces willing to consider Russia's economic and military interests ahead of U.S. ones. That meant maintaining the status quo - and from Moscow, the Axis of Resistance, not just the Assad regime, was the status quo. Alexander Zasypkin, the Russian ambassador to Lebanon, said this in a March, 2019 interview:

I'll say it straight: The Iranian influence on the Syrian regime shouldn't be restricted. A strong, unshakable alliance exists among Damascus, Tehran and Hezbollah. It'll remain that way in the future.

At the same time, Russian diplomats and Putin himself have avoided calling Iran a Russian ally. To them, it was merely the central part of a geopolitical arrangement that they didn't want replaced with a pro-U.S. one. That's an important distinction. An alliance is defined by mutual commitments. But when it comes to the Iranian regime, Putin has avoided any kind of serious commitment. In an attempt to set himself up as a Middle Eastern mediator rather than part of one of the region's warring camps, he's cooperated with Iran's arch-enemy, Israel, and with Turkey, whose regional ambitions sometimes clash with Iran's.

Soleimani's death changes nothing about this basic setup. All Russia feels compelled to do is offer condolences, as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov did to his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif; express concern, as Putin did to French President Emmanuel Macron; and keep up its military cooperation with Soleimani's successor, Esmail Ghaani. Putin won't back any Iranian attempts at retaliation.

Yet he will need to react if Iran does retaliate and the situation gets out of hand. Russian military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer has even likened Soleimani's killing to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914, the event that set off World War I. One possible scenario he described was an Iranian strike on Israel and an Israeli response against Iranian forces and proxies in Syria, which might endanger Russian troops. Putin has planned a visit to Israel this month; deconfliction in Syria will be one of the key subjects of his discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On a strategic level, further escalation between Iran and the U.S. might disturb the geopolitical balance that Russia intervened in Syria to maintain. That's something Putin wants to prevent with the help of European leaders. In addition to talking to Macron, he has invited German Chancellor Angela Merkel to visit Russia next weekend, with Iran atop the agenda.

Putin can't, however, discount the possibility of a full-scale war between the U.S. and Iran, a war the Iranian regime cannot win. In such a situation, Putin would need a replacement for the Axis of Resistance in Syria - some sort of arrangement that would make it unnecessary for him to commit more troops but prevent U.S.-friendly regime change, thus allowing Russia to maintain its military bases.

Putin's options for such an arrangement are currently limited to working with Turkey, the only other strong player in the region that isn't a firm U.S. ally. On Wednesday, Putin will visit Ankara to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They will have more urgent things to discuss than the launch of a new natural gas pipeline. Though Russia and Turkey have weighed in on opposite sides of the civil conflict in Libya, Putin and Erdogan have a proven ability to work together. Last year, the two cooperated when Erdogan launched a military operation against the Syria-based Kurds.

That Erdogan is Putin's only possible Plan B doesn't augur well for Assad. The Turkish president would prefer him gone, and if Iranian support ceases, Putin is more likely to seek a compromise with Erdogan than to keep propping up Assad. The Syrian ruler, ironically, must be praying fervently that the Iranians do nothing rash.

- - -

Bershidsky is Bloomberg Opinion's Europe columnist.
Mumbai, Jan 7 : BJP leader Shaina NC was on Tuesday flayed by a section of Twitterati after she questioned film director Anurag Kashyap on his opposition to the government.

She wrote on @ShainaNC: "To Anurag Kashyap I ask?? We must be the only country where you can criticise @narendramodi, the PM of the country, without any compunction. Enjoy this freedom, but your insidious activities may end up killing the golden goose. Think... or maybe, that's beyond you." It got 557 retweets and 2K likes.

One user posted: "He is exercising the exact same right you did in criticising the previous PM..." "Yup, Shaina. Why was it OK to criticise every PM earlier," asked one user.

One user tweeted: "'India is the only country...' made me recall an old joke. American: 'We are a free people. I can march up to the White House and call the President an idiot.' Russian: 'We too are a free people. I can march up the steps of the White House & call your president an idiot.'" One post read: "Oh, and HOLD on to your chair when I tell you this, Shaina: In other democracies, people do not get called anti-nationals or Urban Naxals for criticising the leaders THEY have elected." A user remarked: "No madam, every democracy has that freedom. In fact, in the US, one is not called anti-national or terrorist for criticising the government. And no matter how fascist Donald Trump is, he doesn't have terrorists in his students wing." On Monday, Anurag Kashyap had changed his Twitter display picture in which Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were shown in masks. The filmmaker was criticised by a section of Twitterati on the issue.

Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston
A protest was organised near Mumbai's busy Churchgate station on Tuesday evening against the Sunday violence on JNU campus in Delhi.

The protesters, mainly comprising women, held placards criticising the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which is accused of orchestrating the attack on JNU students, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The demonstration was held peacefully near a footpath by the 'Mulbhut Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti'.

On Sunday night, masked men armed with sticks and rods ran riot on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus and attacked students and teachers. Nearly 34 people were injured in the violence.

The incident evoked angry protests, mainly from the student community, across the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[January 07, 2020] Joe Mazzarella Appointed President of Mutualink

Mutualink, Inc. today announced that its board of directors has appointed Joe Mazzarella as its president. Mark Hatten will continue in his current role as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Mazzarella previously served as Mutualink's General Counsel and Senior Vice President and, most recently, assumed management responsibility for Mutualink's sales, marketing and government relations functions in addition to managing legal affairs. "We are fortunate to have someone of Joe Mazzarella's talent and capability to step into the role of president," said Hatten. "Through many years of hard work and significant market advances made in this past year we are positioned for extraordinary growth. Our ability to maximize and build upon this foundation depends upon strong leadership. Mr. Mazzarella is an industry visionary with a proven track record. He is a strong communicator with a deep understanding of customer needs, has expansive technology expertise, and is a sharp business and financial mind. He has been instrumental in creating value for our company in any number of roles over the course of his career. As a long-standing board member, he also brings a solid understanding of the company's history and mission." Mazzarella said, "I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead the next chapter of Mutualink's success story. We enter the New Year on solid footing due to the extraordinary commitment, creativity and skill of our Mutualink team. We have the awesome responsibility of serving the best of the best - our first responders and emergency support organizations that maitain safe communities for our families, friends and neighbors. Our mission is to deliver high value innovative solutions to our first responder customers by breaking down existing communication and information sharing barriers to enhance public safety, increase situational awareness, and speed-up life-saving emergency response. Sadly, many of the problems our first responders endure were created and persist due to legacy players focused on maintaining market control and extracting profits rather than ensuring open communications systems that serve and keep our responders safe. We are on the side of our customers in the first, second and every instance. They deserve nothing less. We will relentlessly pursue interoperability and break down artificial barriers because it is the right thing to do. We will continue to operate on a simple, yet powerful principal. Serve for the good of our customer, and greater good follows."



Mr. Mazzarella holds a B.S. in Chemistry with honors from Hobart College, Geneva, N.Y., and earned a J.D. Cum Laude, from Tulane University School of Law, New Orleans, L.A. He was named a New England Top 25 in-house counsel in 2018, and earlier in his career was named a Connecticut "Top Forty under Forty" business executive by the state's two largest news publications, the Hartford Courant and New Haven Register. Mr. Mazzarella is an inventor with over 20 US Patents covering interoperable multimedia communications, artificial intelligence, biosensor-based communications, autonomous aerial networks and terrestrial mesh networks, among other areas. ABOUT MUTUALINK

Mutualink, Inc. provides an interoperable communications platform that enables community-wide multimedia sharing of radio, voice, text, video, data files and telephone communications in a secure environment. Mutualink's system is deployed by thousands of public and private entities, including homeland security, police and fire departments, schools and universities, transit authorities, hospitals, shopping malls, casinos, and more. Mutualink is a privately held company headquartered in Wallingford, CT, with R&D facilities in Westford MA, Allen TX and Mayaguez PR. For more information please visit www.mutualink.net. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107006006/en/

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Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) stands between Boris Johnson (l), Prime Minister of Great Britain, and Emmanuel Macron, President of France, at the beginning of the summit. picture alliance

With hostility between Iran and the U.S. running high and Tehran vowing to backtrack on its commitment to the 2015 international nuclear deal, questions have arisen over whether European nations will stand by the pact, or side with the U.S. The EU has attracted criticism for its slow response to the crisis that erupted last week following the U.S. airstrike on Baghdad that killed Iran's top military commander Qasem Suleimani, prompting public and political outrage in Iran. Only on Monday (four days after the attack and a day after Iran said it would no longer abide by uranium enrichment limits in the nuclear deal struck with the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Russia and China), did European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen comment on the crisis. Von der Leyen said in a statement that "now it is important to halt the cycle of violence" and that a space for diplomacy was created; "Europe has a special responsibility here," she said.

Deal 'dead in the water'

Europe might well feel a special responsibility toward Iran given that its most powerful member states  the U.K., France and Germany  were signatories of the 2015 international nuclear deal that was signed with the Islamic Republic. Following the U.S.' withdrawal in 2018 and re-imposition of sanctions on Iran, the other signatories have tried to keep the pact alive but Iran, and the U.S., haven't made it easy. The U.S. has been ready to impose secondary sanctions on any company, including European ones, doing business with Iran. Tehran's commitment to the deal was shaken after the U.S.' withdrawal and it has pressured the remaining signatories to help it to circumvent U.S. sanctions. Iran has disengaged from the conditions of the deal and announced that it was to restart uranium enrichment activities. Last September, the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini admitted that preserving the pact was "increasingly difficult." Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, told CNBC Tuesday that he feels the Iran nuclear deal "is largely dead as Iran feels no longer bound by it," and that limits Europe's influence over both Iran and the U.S. "As Trump does not listen to allies, Europe's role is very limited in the region. Europe is mostly a bystander, having to grapple with the potential fallout of instability in the region without being able and willing to influence events much," he said. Neil Dwane, global strategist at Allianz Global Investors, echoed that perspective and told CNBC that he too thought the deal was dead. "I think (the deal) is dead in the water but that's probably because I don't trust Iran anyway  They'll say one thing with one hand and move on," he noted. "To me it (the deal) felt like a minimal way to keep Iran inside the international system." He noted that one of the tensions between Europe and the U.S. over Iran was that "Europe, and particularly France, has wanted to open up Iran as a new market and suddenly if they don't get compliance (with the nuclear deal) and America can drive a wedge, Europe will have to choose  do you pull out of Iran or not?"

Distrust
An Instagram model is bringing plenty of exposure to her effort to help charities assisting Australia as it battles devastating wildfires.

According to reports, Kaylen Ward, 20, a California resident, estimates she has raised about $1 million by offering to send nude photos of herself to anyone who can prove they donated at least $10 to a charity helping Australia.

Ward tells the Guardian she started her campaign with a risque tweet last Friday, which included a list of charities for donations. She says she made a $1,000 donation herself.

The next morning I woke up and it had gone absolutely viral and I was flooded with messages," Ward tells the Guardian. "It quickly just blew up and went upwards of $100,000 before I knew it.

Ward tells the Washington Post that by Sunday at least 50,000 people had responded to her offer. When she started her campaign, she had about 30,000 Twitter followers. As of early Tuesday morning, she has nearly 300,000 followers. However, it has resulted in the suspension of her Instagram accounts because of violations of its guidelines for sexual content, the Post reports.

Buzzfeed reports Ward has hired four people to help her sift through responses to ensure they made donations, and then to send the promised nude photos. Ward tells Buzzfeed her family had to flee wildfires in California last year, adding to her concern for Australia.

Its so surreal and didnt feel like this could be happening, Ward tells the Post. Im so happy because its really personal to me, and I wanted to see people making a difference.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 03:28:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

by Nathan Morley, Petros Petrides

NICOSIA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The ambitious agreement by Cyprus, Greece and Israel, concluded in Athens on Jan. 2, to construct the Eastern Mediterranean (EastMed) natural gas pipeline faces steep economic and political obstacles, according to Cypriot former energy minister.

The nearly 1,900- EastMed pipeline is expected to transfer liquefied natural gas from the region's reserves across the Mediterranean directly to mainland Europe.

Nicos Rolandis, who served as the Cyprus's minister of commerce, industry and tourism between 1998 and 2003, told Xinhua that he had reservations about the project.

"From a political and strategic point of view it is a good project because it strengthens relations between Cyprus and Israel and other countries, including Jordan, Egypt and Greece," he explained.

However, when it comes to practical problems -- and there are many such problems -- you have to take into account that the extraction costs of natural gas in Cyprus are higher than elsewhere because the gas deposits are buried deep under the seabed, he said.

Despite the obstacles, the supporters of the project insist that the six-billion-euro (6.72-billion-U.S.-dollar) venture will have vast geopolitical, economic and diplomatic significance.

During the signing ceremony in Athens, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades heralded the endeavor as a practical project with geopolitical importance.

Energy giants ENI, Total and ExxonMobil are carrying out exploratory hydrocarbons drilling off the coast of Cyprus, but are not currently pumping.

However, further east, Israel is already extracting gas from its largest offshore natural gas field.

Engineers say that when completed, EastMed will be able to transport 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to Greece, Italy and other countries in southern Europe.

In addition, Rolandis questioned the cost of transporting a relatively small quantity of natural gas through the longest pipeline in the world.

Compared with other pipelines which transport five or six times as much gas in Europe, the accumulated cost of the EastMed project will be higher, he said.

Meanwhile, current Cypriot Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis believed that the EastMed project was technically feasible and economically viable.

Lakkotrypis told Cyprus state radio that the preliminary results of EU-funded studies showed that EastMed was an economically beneficial project.

He also acknowledged that the actual construction will last up to seven years.

While the EastMed project enjoys the support of the United States and the European Union, it has angered Turkey, which argues that the scheme ignores the rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots and that it unfairly excludes them from a potential energy bonanza.

To complicate matters, Turkey has recently concluded a maritime border deal with Libya in the Mediterranean that cuts through the planned route of the pipeline.

"The reaction of Turkey in this particular case was easily predictable," Rolandis said, recalling the long-standing tensions between Turkey and Cyprus.

In spite of the difficulties, Cyprus, Greece and Israel said they wanted to reach a final investment decision by 2022 and have the pipeline completed by 2025.
The Ukrainian government is ready, if necessary, to provide assistance to the Australian people due to massive bushfires across the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said this in a statement on the wildfire situation in Australia.

"For its part, the Government of Ukraine is ready to render assistance to the friendly Australian people if the situation requires it. The Ukrainian Embassy in Australia is in constant contact with government and local authorities, including to determine the presence of Ukrainian citizens among the victims," the statement says.

The Foreign Ministry also emphasizes that Ukraine is deeply saddened by the development of the situation, which remains critical and claimed the lives of a large number of people, as well as dozens of missing persons as a result of wildfires in Australia.

"Our heartfelt condolences to the families of victims, as well as wishes of fast recovery to those injured and success to rescue teams and firefighters, who are involved in relieving the tragic effects of wildfires," the statement reads.

The Foreign Ministry adds that the Australian Government is taking all necessary steps to minimize the effects of fires.

As Ukrinform reported, at least 24 people have been killed as bushfires have burned more than 12 million acres in Australia.

The fire season in Australia is far from over, and already it is shaping up to be one of the most intense in the countrys history.

ish
: cellcycle (vacoule), : USANews

 : CNN Soleimani

: BBS  (Mon Jan 6 17:04:04 2020, )



CNNs New Day Friday morning, the co-host infobabe is Poppy Harlow, and

shes speaking to the CNN chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward

about the death, the sad death of the Quds Force commander, General Qassem

Soleimani.



Question: I dont think it can be overstated who he was, how powerful

Soleimani has been, and for how long. This is not just taking out a

terrorist. This is much more significant than al-Baghdadi or Osama Bin Laden

. Stop and think of that for a minute. Petraeus said it and thats

probably who shes echoing. This is bigger than taking out bin Laden? You

believe these people admitting Trump did something bigger than Obama did?

Bin Laden? This is bigger than bin Laden? Just to give it perspective. So

here is the response from the CNN chief international correspondent.



WARD: Hes almost something of a living legend in Iran. And when I spent

time in the capital just last year, you could see that clearly. We visited

the Museum of Holy Defense. The entire gift store is full of souvenirs

bearing his image. You turn on the television, look online, you see people

sharing videos of him reciting poetry hes attending the funerals of

fighters who have been killed. Not only that, he is the architect of Iran

s so-called access of resistance. This cannot be underestimated.







--

 :cellcycle  Jan 6 17:45:36 2020 [FROM: 165.]

 :WWW  mitbbs.com [FROM: 165.]


Imperial Valley News Center

Sacramento Fugitive Extradited From Mexico

Sacramento, California - The Federal Bureau of Investigation Sacramento Field Office announces the extradition of Jose Cruz Naranjo Silva, 77, from Mexico.

The Sacramento County Sheriffs Department arrested Silva for committing a lewd or lascivious act with a child under the age of 14 and he was charged by the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office on July 20, 2006. Silva fled while on bail.

The FBI obtained a federal warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution on May 9, 2008, at the request of the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department. The Mexican government recently located and arrested Silva in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Mexican authorities detained him on August 19, 2019, pending extradition to the United States.

FBI agents escorted Silva from Mexico to Sacramento on January 3, 2020, and remanded him to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department for transport to the Sacramento County Jail.

The FBI Sacramento Field Office and FBI Legal Attache in Mexico City, INTERPOL in Mexico City, Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, and the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office all worked collaboratively to facilitate Silvas arrest and extradition.

Silvas return was funded by the United States Governments Project Welcome Home, which provides funding to assist in the transportation of federal fugitives to the United States.

The FBI continues to work with its law enforcement partners to apprehend criminals charged with state crimes who then flee the jurisdiction.
Katie McGlynn was forced to pull out of her panto stint due to a mystery illness over the festive season.

And on Tuesday, the former Coronation Street actress spoke to Lorraine Kelly about what happened - how she fainted then waking up in A&E in her Tinkerbell costume.

'I was feeling a bit under the weather but knowing me, I just powered through, didn't think about it. I was feeling off, sick and stumbly and I thought, 'This is weird' I just feel really spaced out.

Overdid it: Katie McGlynn was forced to pull out of her panto stint due to a mystery illness over the festive season - now explaining what happened

'In between shows, I fainted. [It was] all a bit of a blur, it was very dramatic. There was an ambulance. I don't remember that, I just remember waking up in A&E in my Tinkerbell costume.

'The doctor put it down to exhaustion and being ill but I had a virus. I needed bed rest and I went to the doctor again and he said I needed one to two weeks.

'But I hate having a day off work. I don't sit well with it. So this was really tough for me. I loved everyone there.'

The star, 26, was performing in Peter Pan, alongside ex-EastEnders actor John Altman (Nick Cotton), at Northwich Memorial Court - but pulled out with four shows left to go.

She explained: 'In between shows, I fainted. [It was] all a bit of a blur, it was very dramatic. There was an ambulance. I don't remember that, I just remember waking up in A&E in my Tinkerbell'

Bad news: The theatre's announcement at the time

Taking to Twitter after falling ill, she wrote: 'Absolutely gutted but on doctors advice I've had to take the final week out of panto as I'm unwell...

'I've loved my time as Tinkerbell in Peter Pan @ABPtheatreshows 'I'm so sorry to everyone who has booked tickets.

'but you'll still have a fab time with the rest of Peter Panto x (sic)'

A post on the Northwich Panto's Facebook account confirmed an understudy would be used for the final four shows.

Overdoing it? 'The doctor put it down to exhaustion and being ill but I had a virus. I needed bed rest and I went to the doctor again and he said I needed one to two weeks,' she went on

Explanation: 'I hate having a day off work. I don't sit well with it. So this was really tough for me. I loved everyone there,' she said

Oh no! The 26-year-old was forced pull out of her panto four days from the end

It read: 'Katie Mcglynn took poorly shortly before the evening performance on 28th December. She is still recuperating and the doctors advice is for her to continue to rest.

'As such she will not be returning for the final performances and the role of Tinker Bell will be played by an understudy for the last 4 shows.

'We understand how disappointing this will be for those of you who have booked to see Katie and she is devastated that she is not well enough to return.

Disappointed: The star, 26, was performing in Peter Pan, alongside ex- EastEnders actor John Altman (Nick Cotton), at Northwich Memorial Court - but pulled out with four shows left to go

On reality TV, she added: 'I'd never say never because I think it's an amazing opportunity to learn all those things, but just for me to be totally out of my comfort zone'

'However we hope you will join us in wishing Katie well and all the best for 2020. We look forward to working with her again in the future.

'Everybody who is still to join us in Neverland can expect a fantastic show, that has been receiving rave reviews and upholds our high standard of production values. (sic).'

Also on Lorraine, Katie admitted she was in 'shock' at being announced as a nominee for Serial Drama Performance as Sinead Tinker in Coronation Street at the NTAs.

'When I first found out about the storyline, my main concern was getting it right and making it as real as possible so the response we've had has been incredible. And to get nominated. I'm just shocked,' she said.

Happier news: She also admitted she was in 'shock' at being announced as a nominee for Serial Drama Performance as Sinead Tinker in Coronation Street at the NTAs

Exit stage left: She was seen leaving the Lorraine studios after the broadcast

Stepping out: She rocked leather pants and a black bomber jacket

Asked if she wanted to leave the soap, Katie said: 'Yeah, I just think I'd hit a time in my life where I felt a bit lost. I'd been at Corrie for a while and I just thought, 'Where can we go?' and they said about the storyline initially and they said they weren't sure how to end it and I said, 'I think it should be a very sad ending because I know people do survive, but a lot of people don't and I think some soaps sugarcoat it a lot... and I just wanted to make it real.'

'I've learnt so, so much and I've got so many memories but the main thing that I am going to miss is the people. It's such a big family. I do miss everyone.'

On reality TV, she added: 'I'd never say never because I think it's an amazing opportunity to learn all those things, but just for me to be totally out of my comfort zone.

Emotional role: 'When I first found out about the storyline, my main concern was getting it right and making it as real as possible so the response we've had has been incredible. And to get nominated. I'm just shocked,' she said

Gutted: The actress was 'gutted' to have to quit Peter Pan

'I love doing acting, I like playing other people so to be myself on TV doing all these weird and wonderful things, I'm not sure.'

Katie bid an emotional farewell to Coronation Street after her character Sinead lost her battle with cervical cancer, in scenes which aired at the end of October.

The actress recently admitted she 'felt a bit lost' on Coronation Street when she played Sinead, because the character didn't initially live up to her expectations.

She said: 'I'd just turned 24 and was on this big show, but I wasn't doing much. I felt a bit lost.

'I'd come from a lot of drama at my previous job on Waterloo Road, where I was getting big, challenging storylines left, right and centre.

Moving on: She has bid an emotional farewell to Coronation Street after her character Sinead Tinker lost her battle with cervical cancer

'I went to Corrie and I pinched myself that I was there, but the character took a while to develop to make her the quirky girl she became.'

But the actress was eventually given an emotional storyline which saw Sinead diagnosed with cervical cancer, and then lose her battle.

She added: 'I didn't feel Sinead was reaching her full potential, and unless something really bad happened to her I didn't think there was anywhere for her to go.

'She was too sweet, her life was very normal and I wasn't sure about what to do.'
Mayor Bob Donchez apologized Monday for not notifying Bethlehem City Council after a man in a city police holding cell committed suicide in September and vowed more transparency going forward.

When such sensitive matters do occur, we will include notification to council and to the public at a proper time in a proper manner as appropriate under the circumstances, Donchez said.

In December, it was disclosed that 40-year-old Dale Bice, of West Rockhill Township, Montgomery County, was found unresponsive in his cell at 3:14 a.m. Sept. 8, 2019. He died Sept. 11 at St. Lukes University Hospital in Fountain Hill and his death was ruled a suicide. A review by then-Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli found possible lapses in monitoring of Bice, but nothing that rose to the level of criminal charges.

After Bice died, the administration was focused on respecting his familys privacy, handling the related personnel matters and awaiting the results of Morganellis investigation, the mayor said. In retrospect, council should have been notified sooner and Donchez offered an apology.

I did not issue a directive not to notify council, Donchez said.

Bethlehem officials have declined to say publicly whether any officers had been disciplined related to the death.

The Morning Call reported Dec. 23 that the Fraternal Order of Police is challenging the termination of a Bethlehem officer let go after Bices death. The newspaper obtained a personnel transaction form under Pennsylvanias Right-to-Know Law, which shows officer Eric Kaintz was let go Nov. 23, and sources confirmed to the paper that he was dismissed in connection with the suicide.

Morganelli wrote a letter Nov. 7 to Bethlehem police Chief Mark DiLuzio sharing the results of his investigation. Bice was arrested by city police on charges of public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Electric power holding company joins Doble in empowering the next generation of engineers during the annual transformer training seminar in Florida

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Doble Engineering Company, a subsidiary of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE), today announced that Duke Energy Corporation, one of the nation's largest power holding companies, will host the 18th annual Life of a Transformer Seminar, Feb. 10  14 in Orlando, Florida. Duke was chosen as this year's host utility because of the company's demonstrated support for nurturing the power industry's workforce.

The premier seminar puts training and education around critical aspects of modern life-cycle transformer management at the core of its agenda. Throughout the week, an anticipated 300400 attendees will choose from expert-led sessions on a variety of topics including transformer design and manufacturing; diagnostics and maintenance; and factory and field-testing safety and reliability, each designed to help them make more informed asset decisions.

"We designed this seminar to equip electric power engineers with the training necessary for combatting an increasingly complex industry landscape," said Bryan Sayler, President of Doble Engineering Company. "With a mutual commitment to proactively bridging the skills gap and partnerships with many of the same prestigious technical colleges as Doble, including Richmond Community College and Lake-Sumter State College, we knew Duke Energy would be a natural fit and are thrilled to welcome them as host utility for this year's seminar."

Attendees will have several opportunities to hear from Duke Energy professionals and learn from the utility's experience providing electricity, gas and renewables to its 8.9 million customers. Duke Energy's Senior Vice President and Chief Transmission Officer, Nelson Peeler, will make the opening address. Scott Digby, Principal Transmission Equipment Engineer, will lead a session around transformer loading, and Tom Rhodes, Senior Engineering Technologist, will give an overview around the utility's health risk management grid analytics system. Duke representatives will also present on integrating renewables into the electric grid and transformer life-cycle optimization through technology innovation.

"It's our mission to create a smarter energy future for our customers, and that level of innovation is dependent on strong talent to power it," said Peeler. "Equipping both rising and established engineers with the skills they need to lead transformative initiatives is a priority not just for our company, but the overall industry, and we're excited to work with Doble to empower the next wave of engineers through this seminar and beyond."

Seminar attendees can earn IACET-standardized Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through participating in the sessions and can close the seminar with Doble's renowned laboratory diagnostics course for transformer condition assessment.

More than 9,000 global engineers from over 50 countries have attended the Life of a TransformerTM Seminar over the years. To register for the 2020 seminar, or obtain more information about the event, please visit the website.

About Doble Engineering Company

The team at Doble Engineering Company ensures that all people have reliable, safe and secure energy. We do this by being the leading global provider of advanced diagnostics and engineering expertise for the energy industry.

Founded in 1920, Doble is committed to the continuing education of our customers, and the support and training of the next generation of power industry workers  uniting the utility sector for an innovative future.

Doble serves customers around the globe; our companies and product lines include Manta Test Systems, Morgan Schaffer, Vanguard Instruments, and Xtensible Solutions.

Doble is part of the Utility Solutions Group of ESCO Technologies Inc. For more information, visit: www.doble.com, follow us on Twitter and connect with us on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Doble Engineering Company

Related Links

http://www.doble.com


A MAJOR multi-million euro development at the site of the long-derelict Horizon Mall shopping centre has taken a huge step forward.

Thats after the new owners of the site Novelty Icav announced its intention to seek planning permission for its 60m transformation of the Dublin Road lands.

As exclusively revealed by the Limerick Leader at the end of 2019, the Singaporean investment vehicle is seeking a residential and office development on lands which have largely lain idle since 2007.

According to the planning notice, the proposed development will feature 245 bedrooms across a range of blocks ranging in height from three to 14 stories.

Of these, the plans provide for 122 duplex units and 123 apartments. Some 76 one-bed units are planned, 127 two-bed units, and 42 three-bed units.

Four office blocks are in the plan, over basement parking providing 12,262 square metres.

A 152 bedroom, four storey hotel also forms part of the mammoth development, alongside a filling station, and a community building which will rise up three-storeys.

This complex will provide a creche and a multi-use games area, while a public park will also form part of the scheme.

City East councillor Jerry ODea has welcomed the proposed application, saying: Im delighted it has happened so quickly after the Limerick Leader revealed the plans. I believe it was down to council serving a derelict sites notice on it. It seems to be going at a favourable pace. In terms of the plan overall, it will give a fantastic boost to the area.

It is a far cry from plans for the site at the height of the Celtic Tiger period in Ireland.

Then, the site  named the Parkway Valley  was earmarked for a shopping centre, multiplex cinema and even an ice-rink.

Even as late as 2013, when retail strategies disallowed major out-of-town retail, plans for a shopping centre at the then renamed Horizon Mall were mooted.

It would have seen Marks and Spencer open its first Limerick store. Instead, the British retailer is focusing its attentions on the city, after those plans were allowed, but only subject to very strict time conditions.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistan Taliban, has regained its ground in the tribal belt of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after overcoming the challenges arising out of the killing of its key commander Saifullah Mehsud in Afghanistan.

According to Pakistan media reports, Saifullah Mehsud, the head of TTP's suicide bombing wing, was shot dead by unknown gunmen outside the Guloon camp in Khost province of eastern Afghanistan last month.

Mehsud was the mastermind of a bus attack in Karachi, which killed at least 59 people in 2015. He had claimed the responsibility for the attack. He was also involved in several suicide attacks in the country.

He fled from the country to Afghanistan after a security operation launched in the Waziristan region, according to the report.

Despite multiple operations in FATA-KP, the TTP has resurfaced in the region as Mehsud was trying to unite all the split groups.

In a one-page message seen by the people in Miramshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan tribal district, the banned jihadist group last year, cautioned the people against playing loud music, polio vaccination and women going out without being accompanied by a man, saying that the people defying the warning will face consequences.

"We remind you [residents] that similar statements issued by the Taliban several times in the past had fallen on deaf ears, but this time we are going to take to task those who violate the Taliban order," the message read.

"There will be no use of DJs, neither inside the house nor in open fields and those ignoring the warning will be responsible for consequences," it added.

Polio workers have been asked to do finger-marking of children during the vaccination campaign but told not to administer polio drops to children or be ready to face dire consequences for defying the instruction.

The pamphlet further prohibited playing loud music on the computer and other shops with a warning that any place from where songs were heard could be blown up any time.

"Women shouldn't go out of their homes alone as it is harmful to our society. There is one informer of Mujahideen in every three people and it was a misconception on the part of the people to think we will not get information about non-compliance of our order. Follow the order or be ready to face the worst consequences," the message concluded.

Analysts note that the TTP's formal resurfacing in the region came in the immediate aftermath of Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to the United States.

Khan had reportedly vowed during his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington that Islamabad would facilitate the solution eyed by America in Afghanistan. That would require coordination with the Afghan Taliban.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Ross character Richie Roche lived an alternative lifestyle and did it his own way
Most New Years resolutions focus on improving an aspect of their lives that is lacking, but sometimes preserving the good things can be just as valuable. The end of the 2010s clears the way for a fresh new decade of bad policy ideas to watch out for  here are some incipient proposals that the country should resolve to say no to this decade.

Two similar proposals, a wealth tax and mark-to-market taxation, stand out as being particularly dangerous. Either proposal would dramatically change the tax treatment of assets, while harming start-ups and cash-poor investors  not to mention the administrative nightmare enforcing either regime would require.

But the list of bad ideas doesnt end there. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with numerous Congressional Democrats, has also proposed a financial transactions tax (FTT) in order to limit Wall Street speculation. However, a Congressional Budget Office report from 2011 on a far more modest FTT proposal than Warrens found that such a tax would make it more expensive to finance new investment, reducing economic output and employment.

On top of these economic problems, an FTT may not even raise as much revenue as predicted. Though Warren claims her FTT would raise $800 billion a year, evidence from other countries with similar policies suggests that trades could shift to different markets, driving down trading and lowering capital gains tax revenue as well.

Another proposal that Warren has endorsed, along with most other Democratic primary candidates, is the elimination of the so-called step up in basis. Reviled by the left as a means of shielding inherited wealth from tax, the step up in basis allows heirs to face tax based on the price of an asset when they acquire it, rather than the initial purchase years (or decades) earlier by a decedent.

While the step up in basis is nobodys idea of perfect tax policy in a vacuum, it does serve to reduce the governments bite out of an estate when someone dies, which is an important goal given the inherent unfairness and unworkability of the estate tax.

Another popular idea in Democratic primary circles is a hike in the corporate tax rate, in response to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)s cut. While the TCJA lowered the corporate income tax (CIT) rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, Sens. Warren and Sanders (I-VT) have proposed restoring the old 35 percent rate, as has Pete Buttigieg (Joe Biden has called for a 28 percent rate).

While corporate tax hikes are always popular on the left, they primarily fall on labor  70 percentor more of the tax is paid by labor. At the same time, even the new 21 percent rate (not taking into account state and local CITs) is still higher than the European average, meaning that U.S.-based businesses are at a disadvantage. Restoring the old 35 percent rate, or even a 28 percent rate, would further exacerbate this problem.

Thankfully, other dangerous proposals havent worked their way into the American mainstream...yet. France and the U.K. have each crafted proposals that would establish a substantial corporate income surtax on digital companies reaching as high as 5 percent, and the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development is drafting a worldwide proposal to expand these taxes reach across the globe.

In pursuing these digital taxes, these countries are targeting an industry that has providedtrillions of dollars in benefits to the world economy in the name of a crass pursuit of extra revenue. Good tax policy should never target specific industries that lawmakers see as cash cows, but with the dramatic revenue shortfalls that Democratic primary candidates are experiencing relative to their extravagant spending proposals, its not hard to imagine one of them latching on to this idea.

Most resolutions involve doing more of something in an effort to improve ones life, but sometimes doing less of something is just as important. In the 2020s, the U.S. should commit to avoiding these (and other) tax policy pitfalls that could threaten the historic economic expansion that characterized the end of the last decade.
A MAN has been taken to University Hospital Limerick this Tuesday afternoon after being escorted off a plane by gardai who responded to an incident at Shannon Airport.

An American Airlines Flight travelling from Frankfurt to Dallas was diverted to Shannon Airport where it made an emergency landing today at approximately 1.30pm.

It's understood the plane, which has since resumed its journey, was diverted after a passenger became 'unruly' during the flight.

"A male was escorted from the plane by Gardai and was brought to University Hospital Limerick for assessment," said a garda spokesperson, "the plane has since continued on its journey to Dallas."

Three fire units were deployed to the scene prior to the Boeing 777-200(ER)'s landing, as well as units from Clare County Fire and Rescue Service and back-up crews from Ennis.

A Shannon Airport spokesperson said: "Shannon Airport has confirmed that American Airlines flight AA-71 routing from Frankfurt, Germany to Dallas Forth Worth diverted to Shannon Airport this afternoon.



"The flight landed safely at 1.31pm and a passenger was removed from the aircraft and transferred to University Hospital Limerick. The flight took off from Shannon Airport at 4:10 pm to continue its journey."
ISTANBUL  The historic neighborhood of Dolapdere serves as an unlikely setting for Istanbul's first purpose-built contemporary art museum, towering above the area's rundown terracotta rooftops. Arter, which opened its doors last fall, has high hopes of pushing boundaries by working across disciplines and with international peers to fuel artistic dialogue at a time when expression in Turkey has been muted.

Among the projects Arter slated for 2020 is a retrospective of the German artist and filmmaker K.P. Brehmer co-produced with institutions in Germany and the Netherlands. The museum will also probe the relationship between art and sound with an exhibition by the Turkish artist and musician Cevdet Erek, a group show in Arters Sound Art series, and a new music festival.

The new landmark enables Arter to assume its role as a multi-disciplinary contemporary arts institution with a strong conceptual art collection at its core while pursuing its mission of encouraging contemporary artistic production across all disciplines, from music to dance, theater to sonic arts, film to literature, said Melih Fereli, Arters founding director.

The museum, whose construction and collection cost $130 million, put its mark on Turkey's biggest city even before it opened. Built on the site of a former auto repair shop, it emerged as the centerpiece of the transformation of Dolapdere, a working-class district where commercial galleries, hotels and residential towers have sprouted in anticipation of Arters arrival.

The pearlescent coating of Arter's sheath of tessellated Turkish ceramic tiles reflects different colors while also serving as a screen for sunlight that seeps into the galleries. [A central atrium] provides permeability and connectivity throughout the entire building, said James Pearson of Grimshaw Architects, the London-based firm that designed the museum.

The 43,000 square feet of staggered galleries vary in size, some of them three stories in height. The basement includes the versatile performance space Karbon and an auditorium for films, conferences and concerts.

The Vehbi Koc Foundation announced its intention to build Arter in 2013. The foundation is funded by the Koc family, which owns Turkeys largest holding company and sponsors the prestigious Istanbul Biennial. Arters original opening date of 2016 was delayed to address changes in building regulations.

The museum stands in sharp contrast to its surroundings. The area was once part of the historic Tatavla neighborhood, home to ethnic Greeks before economic and political pressure forced their exodus decades ago. An Orthodox church represents one of the last remnants of this past. Today, the area has attracted migrants from Africa and Syria who crowd into its dense, dilapidated housing to be close to the city center.

The museum's glass cube structure puts the neighborhood on display, with windows at the rear opening onto a patchwork of old houses climbing up a slope.

A driving factor in how we thought about the space was its location in a neighborhood that had not been exposed to art. We looked for potential connections and a way to give back to the space, including a small park at the back, Pearson told Al-Monitor.

Before opening, Arter undertook research to get to know its neighbors and their expectations for the museum. It has continued to build on these relationships by offering local residents free membership, holding a weekly childrens workshop and creating a Teen Council that encourages older kids to engage more deeply with art.

The works of Altan Gurman on display inside the Arter in Istanbul, photo uploaded Nov. 23, 2019. Credit: Facebook/arteristanbul

Since its inauguration in 2010, Arter has been located in a grand 19th-century apartment building on Istiklal Avenue. The building now houses Mesher, an exhibition space highlighting different historical periods, places and disciplines. Its first show of 2020, opening next month, is Alexis Gritchenko: The Constantinople Years, examining the Ukrainian avant-garde painters brief sojourn in Istanbul after fleeing the Russian Revolution.

Despite a sweeping government crackdown on civil society in the wake of a 2016 failed military coup, Turkey has witnessed a spate of museum openings, including a permanent contemporary art space in the city of Eskisehir and a museum of painting and sculpture in Istanbul.

Fereli acknowledged the prevailing circumstances in Turkey, but said Arter remains committed to providing a platform for artists voices. I believe that the worst would be for an institution or an artist to exercise self-censorship, he said. I am not advocating provocative blatancy but would suggest that it might have to be a last resort for any artist or institution if it means securing a world without censorship.

Arters collection of some 1,400 works includes works by international artists such as Mona Hatoum and Sophie Calle and has a strong Fluxus representation. About a third of the works are by Turkish artists. The non-profit has opted to present these works in temporary exhibitions, rather than devote permanent space to the collection.

Six exhibitions from the inaugural program remain on view this month and include shows on the multimedia artist Ayse Erkmen and the painter Inci Furni. The big draw, however, is Altan Gurman, a pioneering figure in Turkish art whose rejection of the orthodoxy of his time forced him into obscurity. Gurman finally gets his due in Arters retrospective.

At a time when Gurman's Turkish counterparts were still painting with oil on canvas, he used a pump to spray blocks of wood with car paint and then dressed them in barbed wire. He was largely ignored because people could not make sense of his work, said Basak Doga Temur, curator of the Gurman exhibition. This exhibition is an insertion of a missing piece in our art history.

Gurman died in 1976 at the age of 41, having had only one solo show. His wife kept all his work, which Arter acquired in 2014. Gurman's retrospective coincides with the digitalization of his notes along with documents and material he used in his work and lectures by archivists at Arter and the research center SALT.

Memory is the core of Arter's main exhibition, What Time Is It?, in which half of the 44 works are by Turkish artists. It offers visitors a chance to reconnect with works from previous Istanbul Biennials and other past shows in the city, like Caylak Sokak, the sprawling piece by the conceptual artist Sarkis that reimagines the 81-year-old Turkish Armenians childhood, spent on a street near Arter. The exhibit marks the first time since 1986 that the installation is shown in Istanbul.

These questions about memory, time and space are raised by the new building, said Eda Berkmen, who co-curated What Time Is It? with Emre Baykal, the museums chief curator. The pieces look at notions of interior and exterior and how we define boundaries when they are always blurred.

In We didnt go outside; we were always on the outside/We didnt go inside; we were always on the inside, a work by Hale Tenger, a bleak guardhouse hemmed in by barbed wire invites visitors inside, where Turkish pop songs play from a transistor radio and vivid photographs of natural attractions are taped to the walls and windows.

Tenger produced the installation in 1995, but the disconnect between the militaristic exterior and idealized interior seems apt in Turkeys current political climate, where critical discourse is mostly confined to the private sphere and artists have been caught up in the government's clampdown.

At Arters opening, supporters of the philanthropist Osman Kavala, a major benefactor of culture in Turkey before being jailed two years ago on thinly evidenced coup plot charges, hoisted placards to remind the art crowd of his absence. It was a quiet, yet powerful protest, a demonstration of arts capacity to spark debate even when expression is not free.
India secured a massive seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second T20I match at the Holkar Stadium here on Tuesday.

With this victory, India has taken a 1-0 lead over Sri Lank in the three-match T20I series. The first match was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain.

Chasing a decent target of 143 runs, India got off to a flying start as Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul struck regular boundaries to Sri Lanka bowlers.

Both formed a 71-run partnership before Rahul, who missed his half-century by five runs, was bowled by Wanindu Hasaranga in the 10th over. Soon after, Hasaranga sent Dhawan too back to the pavilion as the latter was given LBW after scoring 32 runs.

Shreyas Iyer and skipper Virat Kohli then took the charge and played furiously. Iyer (34) gave away an easy catch to Dasun Shanaka in the 17th over, bowled by Lahiru Kumara. However, India only needed six runs and Kohli struck a brilliant six in the same over to take India over the line.

Kohli played an unbeaten knock of 30 runs from 17 balls in the match.

After being sent to bat first, Danushka Gunathilaka and Avishka Fernando provided Sri Lanka with a good start.

Washington Sundar provided India with their first breakthrough as he got hold of Fernando, who scored 22 runs. Kusal Perera then came out to bat but could not form a good partnership with Gunathilaka as the latter was bowled by Navdeep Saini.

Oshada Fernando then joined Perera out on the field. The duo added 28 runs on the board before Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Fernando (10). In his next over, Yadav got hold of Perera (34).

Sri Lanka utterly failed to form a good partnership and Indian bowlers kept the visitors under immense pressure. In the 19th over, Shardul Thakur picked three wickets which reduced Sri Lanka to 130/9.

However, in the final over, Wanindu Hasaranga smashed three consecutive boundaries to Jasprit Bumrah to help Sri Lanka post a respectable total.

The third T20I between both teams will be played on January 10.

Brief scored: India 144/3 (KL Rahul 45, Shreyas Iyer 34, Wanindu Hasaranga 2-30) defeated Sri Lanka 142/9 (Kusal Perera 34, Avishka Fernando 22, Shardul Thakur 3-23) by seven wickets.

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

LONDON: The UK's most prolific serial rapist, convicted of 159 sex offences, including 136 rapes, has been jailed for at least 30 years.

Indonesian-origin Reynhard Sinaga, 36, has been linked to more than 190 potential victims - 70 of whom police have yet to identify, reports metro.co.uk.

His convictions relate to crimes he committed from January 2015 to June 2017, but police believe he began offending years earlier.

He prowled the streets of Manchester in the early hours hunting for lone, drunk young men around the nightclubs near his flat. Posing as a Good Samaritan, the slightly-built student would offer them a floor to sleep on or the promise of more alcohol before lacing their drinks.

His victims, most of whom were heterosexual, had little or no memory of the hours that followed when Sinaga, who was studying for a PhD at the University of Leeds, videoed himself taking advantage of them.

Many left his flat unaware they'd even been attacked, jurors at Manchester Crown Court were told.

He was caught when one of the men regained consciousness and fought him off before snatching his phone and later handing it to police.

While sentencing Sinaga on Monday, Judge Suzanne Goddard said: "You are an evil serial sexual predator who has preyed upon young men... One of your victims described you as a monster."

She told the court the true scale of Sinaga's offending may never be known but that police appeared to have established 195 men were filmed by the defendant while unconscious.

Sinaga has insisted that the encounters were consensual, claiming his victims approached him in the street before accompanying him back to his flat and pretending to be dead during sex games, metro.co.uk reported.

He said they agreed to be filmed and told jurors they slept together on the floor because he didn't want to "make a mess of my bed".

Sinaga kept "trophies" of his crimes, such as watches and wallets, downloaded social media pages belonging to some of them and took photos of them while they lay naked or semi-naked.
Delhi police arrested four outsiders from the JNU's North Gate on Monday, and they are being investigated in connection with the brutal violence that took place on the University campus on Sunday evening, an official said. The four were caught while escaping from the campus and were taken to Vasant Kunj police station for interrogation.

Sunday evening witnessed an intrusion of several masked "goons" who barged into JNU campus and created havoc among students, attacking them with sticks, metal rods, and stones. The injured have accused the ABVP activists of the attacks, while the ABVP activists on campus have blamed the Left student activists. Both groups of students filed complaints against each other at the Vasant Kunj police station.

READ | JNU Violence: Teachers Raise Question On University's Security

Eyewitnesses alleged the attackers entered the JNU premises when a meeting was being held by JNU Teachers' Association on the issue of violence on campus and assaulted students and professors. They also barged into three hostels.

Delhi police are waiting for the medico-legal reports of the students injured in the violence. At least 20 persons were rushed to the hospital for injuries sustained in the brutal assaults.

READ | Delhi Police File First Report On JNU Violence: 'Masked Outsiders Attacked Students'

Delhi Police give assurance

Earlier in the day, Delhi Police PRO M S Randhawa had held a meeting with a delegation of students and teachers after violence broke out at the Jawaharlal Nehru University here, officials said on Monday. "The police have assured us that they will look into the matter and our demands," president Federation of Central University Teachers' associations Rajib Ray said. The students demanded that the police leave the JNU campus. Earlier, police said peace has been restored in the JNU after the violence.

Active protests had been taking place in the JNU campus for the past few weeks over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, which grants citizenship to non-Muslim minorities of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

READ | JNU violence: Home Minister Amit Shah speaks to Delhi Police Commissioner, orders probe

READ | JNU Violence: Delhi Police Holds Meeting With Students, Teachers
Cynthia Abcug, 50, was arrested in Montana last Monday on a charge of conspiracy to commit second-degree kidnapping

A mother has been accused of planning to kidnap her child with the help of a man from the far-right conspiracy group QAnon, after the minor was taken from her custody.

Cynthia Abcug, 50, was arrested in Montana last Monday on a charge of conspiracy to commit second-degree kidnapping after her other child - a girl - reported the plot to police and social workers.

The girl, who is still in Abcug's custody. told law enforcement that her mother had become involved with a man by the name of Ryan, who was 'definitely a part of QAnon'.

QAnon believes that a 'deep state' full of powerful pedophiles is locked in a battle against President Trump and his supporters.

The FBI classified QAnon extremists as a domestic terrorism threat last May.

According to one Salon article, QAnon believe 'there is a worldwide cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles who rule the world and... control politicians, the media and Hollywood ... The cabal would have continued ruling the world, were it not for the election of President Donald Trump'.

Abcug's daughter claimed her mother had become obsessed with conspiracy theories and was 'spiraling' after her other child was removed from the home several months ago.

Abcurg's well-being reportedly went downhill after one of her two children was removed from her custody. She is pictured in a social media snap

The mom-of-two had stopped attending therapy, and only left the house for QAnon meetings or shooting practice at her local gun range.

Abcug also grew increasingly dependent on Ryan, who moved into the home, according to the arrest report.

He was said to be armed and slept on the couch to fend off any potential invaders.

Abcug told her daughter that Ryan was 'a sniper' and that he was going to assist her in the raid to retrieve her other child. The age and sex of the child has not been revealed.

The mom allegedly began talking increasingly about the 'raid' and feared that it might turn violent, before her December 30 arrest.

Abcug has since posted bond and has been released.

NBC reports that Abcug was previously suspected of medical child abuse and factitious disorder imposed on another - otherwise known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

Police have not revealed the ages of Abcug's children, or whether the daughter who reportedly the plot is still in her care.

They have not stated whether 'Ryan' is facing charges.

What is QAnon and who is Q? The QAnon theory holds that a high-level government insider known only as Q has been anonymously dropping cryptic clues or 'breadcrumbs' on the messageboard 8chan. There, thousands of fans known as anons spend countless hours piecing the breadcrumbs together. The theory maintains that President Donald Trump is locked in a secret battle with the forces of evil within the government and the Democratic Party, and at any moment is prepared to unseal tens of thousands of secret indictments. One unusual feature of the theory maintains that special counsel Robert Mueller is secretly allied with Trump, and is using the Russia investigation as cover to prepare sealed indictments against the president's enemies. The theory is often considered an offshoot of PizzaGate. Like that theory, the QAnon theory maintains that high-level deep state and Democrat operatives are involved in child sex trafficking. Advertisement
The future of e-Commerce in India 2020 is one of the most talked-about topics as more and more Indians are taking the online route to fulfil their shopping needs. Ecommerce has gained huge popularity over the last decades, and in ways, it's replacing traditional brick and mortar stores. As people dont have the time to go out and buy something that they need right away and that's the reason people are buying a lot of things online mainly due to time and convenience. Here's is the list of the next big players in India's e-Commerce industry.

Digital Mall of Asia - A breakthrough in the worlds of digital disruption and retail, Digital Mall of Asia (DMA) is the first-of-its-kind digital e-commerce platform merging the real estate and the digital space. DMA is a unique concept that brings the best of online and offline shopping experiences to the customer. DMA is not just a typical e-commerce portal meant for shopping onlineit will house exclusive towers of digital retail shops, trial rooms, hypermarket, electronics, education, financial services, food courts, multiplexes, night clubs, and much more. It will have all the entities that make up a physical mall, thereby recreating one virtually. Therefore, a user would feel as if they are inside a virtual mall when they would visit the website, thanks to a simulated environment incorporating visual and sensory elements.

Reliance - Reliance Industries Ltds retail arm is testing its food and grocery app among its employees before the commercial launch of its e-commerce venture The grocery app would be made available to the public by this year-end and orders made on the app fulfilled by local merchants, two people aware of the matter said, requesting anonymity. Reliance Retail has the capital strength, a big offline presence, good brands in their kitty and significant grocery operation.

BigBasket - Bigbasket is the largest online grocery supermarket in India quite. Bigbasket was launched at a time when India's busy workforce in cities was finding it difficult to allocate time to buy groceries and home essentials. It gave them the flexibility to place their orders anytime and get the things delivered at their preferred time. Bigbasket offers groceries and food supplies in various categories such as fruits & vegetables, food grains, oil, masalas, bakery items, beverages, branded foods, personal care products, household supplies, eggs, meat, fish, etc. Bigbasket currently offers more than 18,000 products across various categories and features more than 1000 brands in its catalogue. Bigbasket comes with the promise of lowest rates and prompt delivery services.

Pepperfry - Pepperfry is an online home and lifestyle shopping store in India selling products with cash on delivery facilities? Pepperfry.com opened for business on the 3rd of January 2012 to give customers a wide selection of amazingly priced furniture, home, and living products and consistently great shopping experience.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Sajid Javid will head to the Alps later this month to meet world leaders and the globe's most powerful business figures in Davos despite Boris Johnson banning ministers from attending, it emerged today.

The Chancellor has been given 'special dispensation' from a No 10 block on UK Government attendance at the World Economic Forum, which is held annually in the upmarket Swiss resort.

Last month Downing Street said ministers should focus on 'delivering' rather than sipping 'champagne with billionaires' in the swanky alpine hideaway for the elite.

But a No 10 spokesman told the Financial Times: 'It was decided that this was the appropriate level of representation.'

It comes as the Chancellor prepares for his first post-Brexit budget, which is due to be held on March 11, with the Chancellor promising a spending spree to help 'left behind' parts of the country.

Travelling to Davos: Sajid Javid (pictures today in Manchester), will head to the Swiss Alps later this month

The World Economic Forum in the elite resort brings together power players from global politics and business

Previously premiers and senior ministers have been keen to go to the event, with takes place from January 21 -24. where the global elite gather to network.

But the opulent surroundings of the Swiss ski resort, where business leaders and politicians have lavish dinners, was seen as grating with the new-look Conservatives after the election in December, where the party won an 80-seat majority.

A Government source said at the time ministers would be too busy getting on with implementing the manifesto, adding: 'Our focus is on delivering for the people, not champagne with billionaires.'

Mr Javid today announced the Government plans to increase borrowing in order to fund promises made in the manifesto, saying 'the country voted for change' by backing Boris Johnson at the ballot box in December.

All change: The Chancellor will present his first post-Brexit budget on March 11, promising a spending spree to help 'left behind' parts of the country

Promising an 'infrastructure revolution' in his first Budget as Chancellor, Mr Javid indicated there would be up to 100 billion available for 'transformative' projects across the country over the coming years.

Speaking during a visit to the new 350 million Trafford Park tram line project in Manchester, Mr Javid said: 'The country voted for change. There are still too many people in our great country that feel left behind and we are going to deliver that change.'

Mr Javid will provide an economic update to the Cabinet on Tuesday before facing MPs in the Commons as they return from their Christmas break.
Rabat, Morocco (PANA) - Morocco Tuesday expressed deep concern with the ongoing military escalation in Libya and rejected any foreign interference, including military intervention in the Libyan affair, an official source told PANA here
Among the many questions raised by the killing of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, perhaps the most pressing is, Why? Yes, General Suleimani was responsible for hundreds of American deaths, and he may have been planning another attack on United States forces. But the greater concern, raised by people from Tucker Carlson on the right to Elizabeth Warren on the left, is how this provocative act fits into Americas overall interests  in other words, our grand strategy.

Disturbingly, its a bit of a trick question. America doesnt really have a grand strategy. What we do have, a patchwork of doctrines left over from the Cold War, fails to match our abilities, our national goals and the changing shape of global threats and opportunities.

America desperately needs a new grand strategy  a concise, high-level vision for our role in the world. Without one, we are just wasting lives and resources.

The lack of a useful grand strategy has been apparent for a long time. Shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, one of us, Ms. Field, at the time an Army officer, was dispatched to Central Command to help prepare for the invasion of Iraq, a country that wasnt involved in the assault on our cities. She wondered what objective would lead us to target a third party a thousand miles from Afghanistan. What overarching plan, what strategy, justified such a major undertaking? Four tours of duty overseas never revealed the answer to her.
3 1 of 3 John Badman | The Telegraph Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Show More Show Less 3 of 3





ALTON  Police are offering a reward in connection to the death of an Alton man.

At about 8 a.m. Monday, Alton Police discovered a deceased man while responding to a request for a welfare check. On Tuesday, Alton Police announced the deceased man has been identified as Larry F. Singleton, 69, of 1129 Highland Ave., Alton.
Thats going to be up to the lawyers, Trump said. Itll be up to the Senate, and well see how they feel. He would know nothing about what were talking about, because as you know, the Ukrainian government came out with a very strong statement: No pressure, no anything. And this [is] from the boss; thats from the president of Ukraine.
New Delhi:

CP Chandrasekhar, a professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), has resigned from a government-appointed committee, which was tasked to review Indias economic data.

In his resignation letter, professor CP Chandrasekhar said, "I regret to inform you that, because of the situation in JNU where I stay, I will be unable to attend tomorrow's meeting. Further, I feel that, under current conditions, this Committee is unlikely to be able to restore the credibility of the statistical system, which has been undermined in the recent past.

"I wish to record my appreciation of the sustained efforts of the large number of colleagues within the statistical system whom I have greatly valued working with in the past to build a robust and credible statistical base," he said.

Professor CP Chandrasekhar further said, "It is unfortunate that political pressures have reduced their autonomy now, and efforts to consolidate a well-designed system are being subverted. In these circumstances, I will not be able to serve on this Committee. "The most disturbing part is a narrative is being built to make anti-national elements be perceived as the truth," he added.

Also Read: Hindu Raksha Dal Claims Responsibility Of JNU Violence, Says Such Attacks To Continue In Future

On Sunday, a mob of masked young people stormed the JNU campus in south Delhi and systematically targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones, and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings. They also attacked a women's hostel.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for a direct attack on US interests in revenge for the death of Qassem Soleimani while the head of Iran's revolutionary guard vowed to 'set ablaze' American allies.

Khamenei has ordered Iranian forces to carry out a direct retaliation rather than relying on Tehran's proxies in the region.

The supreme leader, who wept in public over Soleimani's coffin in Tehran yesterday, has vowed 'severe revenge' for the drone strike which killed the general.

Meanwhile the revolutionary guard chief Hossein Salami told mourners at Soleimani's funeral today that Iran would hit places supported by Washington.

Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured in Tehran yesterday) has called for a direct attack on US interests following the death of Qassem Soleimani

Salami made the pledge before a crowd of thousands gathered in a central square in Kerman, where a deadly stampede later broke out.

'The martyr Qassem Soleimani is more powerful... now that he is dead,' the revolutionary guards leader told mourners today.

'The enemy killed him unjustly. We will take revenge. We will set ablaze where they like,' Salami said, drawing cries of 'Death to Israel!'

He also praised Soleimani's exploits as leader of the guards' expeditionary Quds Force, which had backed Yemeni rebels and militias in Iraq and Syria.

Khamenei made a rare appearance at a meeting of the Iranian National Security Council on Monday to plot Iran's response, The New York Times reported.

In a sign of Iran's fury, Khamenei wants Iran to carry out reprisals itself rather than relying on its proxies in the region as it has frequently done in the past.

Khamenei has ordered Iranian forces to carry out a direct retaliation against US interests after an American drone strike killed military commander Qassem Soleimani (pictured)

Tehran says it has worked up 13 sets of plans for revenge for Soleimani's killing, but has not provided details.

Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said that even the weakest among them would be a 'historic nightmare' for the U.S.

'If the U.S. troops do not leave our region voluntarily and upright, we will do something to carry their bodies horizontally out,' Shamkhani said.

American forces are braced for retaliation and the US-led coalition against ISIS said in a statement that it was pausing its fight against the jihadists to shore up its own defences.

One official said the US anticipated a 'major' attack of some type within the next day or two.

There are also fears that Iran will harass shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which is critical to the world's oil supply.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (fourth from right), Iranian president Hassan Rouhani (fifth from right) and others mourn over Soleimani's casket in Tehran yesterday

Iranians carry the coffin during the funeral ceremony of Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Forces, who was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq

Donald Trump has threatened a 'disproportionate response' targeting cultural sites if Iran strikes, brushing off claims that such an action could be considered a war crime.

The president said America had lined up attacks on 52 targets 'important to Iran and the Iranian culture', representing the number of Americans held hostage at the US embassy in Tehran after a raid in 1979.

Iran's parliament has meanwhile passed an urgent bill declaring the US military's command at the Pentagon and those acting on its behalf as 'terrorists.'

The measure appears to be an attempt to mirror a decision by Trump in April to declare the Revolutionary Guard a 'terrorist organization.'

The US Defense Department used the Guard's designation as a terror organization in to support the strike near Baghdad airport that killed Soleimani.

Iranian lawmakers hurried the bill through with a special procedure today while some chanted 'Death to America'.

The vote also saw lawmakers approve funding for the Quds Force with an additional 170million.
Weather Alert

...WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 PM EST TUESDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 35 below zero. * WHERE...In Vermont, Western Franklin County. In New York, Eastern Clinton County. * WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 3 PM EST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...The cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The coldest wind chill values will occur between 2 AM and 11 AM on Tuesday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. &&
A miniature battery-powered fire engine that can transport the same equipment as a full-sized fire truck at a fraction of the cost has been unveiled.

The tiny electric truck is being showcased at the Panasonic display at the 2020 Consumer Electronic Show, which is being held in Las Vegas in the US.

Not only is the truck more economical and environmentally friendly that its larger cousins, but its size makes it ideal for navigating in tighter and enclosed spaces.

Scroll down for video

A miniature battery-powered fire engine, pictured, that can transport the same equipment as a full-sized fire truck at a fraction of the cost has been unveiled

ABLE FIRE RESPONSE VEHICLE SPECS Drive train: all-electric Range: 40120 miles Max speed: 40+ miles per hour Efficiency: 144 MPGe Turning radius: 12.5 feet Charge requirements: 110 v outlet Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.5 x 12.5 feet Advertisement

The tiny ABLE fire response vehicle (FRV) is the product of a collaboration between Panasonic and US-based electric vehicle firm Tropos Motors.

The back of the truck is equipped with a Kimtek Firelite Transport Deluxe  a 125 gallon water tank unit and a 5 gallon foam pump.

The vehicle stands at around only 6.5 feet tall by 4.5 feet wide and 12.5 feet long (or 2.0 by 1.4 by 3.8 metres).

According to the designers. the cart-sized truck 'is ready to serve in spaces large or small, indoors or out'  and would be ideal for use in 'tight metropolitan areas'.

EQUIPMENT SPECS Water tank: 125 gallon capacity Electric water pump: 9 horsepower Foam tank: 5 gallon capacity Water hose: 100 feet long Suction hose: 20 feet long Siren / public address system Fully enclosed tool box area Power hose retractor 20 lb fire extinguisher Advertisement

'The heavy-duty ABLE FRV utilises both the superior performance and the substantial payload capacity of the platform to enable an emergency crew to swiftly and safely respond with proven equipment and tools,' Tropos Motors wrote on their website.

The truck, they added, 'produces significantly fewer emissions than a gas-powered truck and it is safer to operate indoors with an emissions-free, all-electric drive train, and an industry standard gas-powered water pump.'

'This is a great option for a budget-minded operation looking to add an indoor-safe fire response unit to their fleet of apparatus.'

The tiny ABLE fire response vehicle, pictured, is the product of a collaboration between Panasonic and US-based electric vehicle firm Tropos Motors

The tiny electric truck is being showcased at the Panasonic display at the 2020 Consumer Electronic Show, which is being held in Las Vegas in the US

'Panasonic is advancing hyper-efficient electric compact utility vehicles (eCUVs) through a collaboration with Tropos Motors,' a Panasonic spokesperson told the MailOnline.

'Featuring electrification and connectivity solutions that enable a variety of use cases, the low-speed eCUV addresses the needs of businesses and government agencies with the capabilities of a larger truck in a smaller package.'

'At CES, Panasonic [is] showcasing two Tropos eCUV concept trucks: an emergency fire truck and a refrigeration cargo truck.'

'Both trucks are operational and available now.'
Tax officials made a string of 'mind- boggling' blunders which cost thousands of people their retirement savings, Money Mail can reveal.

HMRC refused to warn people it had launched investigations into the administrators of fraudulent pension schemes registered with it, enabling the scammers to continue to fleece hundreds more victims.

Some lost nest eggs worth more than 200,000 after unwittingly transferring them into the rogue schemes, even after the swindlers running them had been arrested by Inland Revenue officers.

HMRC refused to warn people it had launched investigations into fraudulent pension schemes registered with it, enabling the scammers to continue to fleece hundreds more victims

HMRC officials also privately raised concerns and started looking into the legality one of the first major rogue pension schemes but took no action for months while 300 more people signed up and lost millions.

And government departments and private companies also approved transfers of staff pensions pots to scam schemes for years despite explicit warnings to be 'vigilant' from the regulator.

Andy Agathangelou, from the Transparency Task Force which is demanding a public enquiry into the scandal, said the situation would be farcical if it weren't so tragic.

'Some of HMRC's failures are mind boggling and ordinary hard working people have paid the price for their failings by losing everything they have worked and saved for,' he said.

Here we expose some of the worst errors that allowed rogue pension schemes to flourish causing untold misery to thousands of families.

Blunder 1

HMRC allowed more than 100 victims to transfer their retirement savings to scam pension schemes after investigators had arrested the fraudsters running them.

How scams snared vulnerable 1. Scammers registered occupational pension schemes with HMRC. All HMRC-registered schemes were registered with The Pensions Regulator. 2. They targeted victims, promising better rates if they transferred their savings. 3. They took hefty fees from victims' pension funds, then put the money into high-risk investments which paid them large commissions. 4. HMRC later ruled many schemes unauthorised. Those under 55 who got a lump sum from their retirement savings when they transferred to scam schemes also face tax bills of 55 per cent.

It continued to register Tudor Capital Management's 25 pension schemes despite launching a criminal investigation into its bosses for a 5.1 million tax fraud.

Two of the company's directors  one who had previously worked for the Inland Revenue  were later convicted and each jailed for eight-and-a-half years for what a judge described as 'stealing money hand over fist'.

The company continued to target people to transfer their existing pensions to the fraudulent scheme during this period, and used its HMRC registration as its key selling point to convince around 100 people to transfer their pension savings to it.

Blunder 2

HMRC privately raised concerns about one of the first major pension scams but took no action for months while 300 more victims signed up and lost millions.

The Inland Revenue called a meeting with the founder and other major promoters of the Ark scheme in February 2011, a few months after it launched and told the organisers they 'didn't like the look of it'.

The scheme's founder offered to suspend it while they investigated but HMRC declined, and 300 of the Ark's 500 victims joined after this date, losing 25 million.

Later that year HMRC appointed an independent trustee to take over the scheme and by December 2011 High Court judgments ruled that the Ark schemes were vehicles for illegal activity with a judge describing the arrangements as a 'fraud on the trustees' powers'.

'It's easier to steal a pension than a TV ': Fraud detective tells how investigating scandal was worse than serving on a murder squad An anonymous former senior detective who investigated the scandal has told how lax regulations meant it was easier to get away with stealing a pension than a TV. Now, in their own words, they reveal the devastating impact on the victims they have met. One couple I visited who'd had their pension taken had no electricity and relied on a generator they could only afford to put on for a few hours per day. The man's pension had been his financial lifeline, which he had hoped to take when he was 70 to supplement his state pension. The couple had trusted a man to come into their home and explain to them that they would be better off moving their pension pot, which was held with a large, established provider. He seemed such a nice man, with his sharp suit and fancy car, and they trusted him. Unbeknown to them, they were being put into an unregulated, high-risk venture and paying high commission. As a result, they lost their pension. As a former detective with 32 years' experience, who has worked on murder and gang teams, in terms of scale of this type of crime, it is the worst I have ever seen. I still find it heartbreaking to sit with a 70-year-old man sobbing his heart out because he has lost what was in effect his life savings. He now has only a few hundred pounds left in the bank and has to rely on his modest state pension to survive. He told me his 12-year-old car needed a service and MOT and he didn't know how he was going to pay for it. He feared that he and his wife would lose their home. A common theme I have found behind all the victims is their vulnerability. Each of the victims has an emotive story which motivated them to make the change. Many had fallen on hard times  divorce, serious illness, redundancy, unemployment, family breakdown, loss of a spouse, to name but a few of the issues. One victim was recovering from cancer, he was in the middle of a messy divorce and looking after his ill, elderly father. He told me he felt he had nowhere to turn, he had no money and was losing his home and family. The van driver, who was earning 12,000 a year, said he knew nothing about pensions, so when a slick salesman offered him a lifeline that was approved by HMRC, he believed him. He was promised a legal, tax-free lump sum, so the victim transferred in his pension, then booked his first holiday abroad and ordered new windows in anticipation of his cashback. But the money never arrived. He had to take out a loan at very high rates to pay for the holiday and the windows. One elderly couple were persuaded to transfer their money from a secure bond, which had matured, to an unregulated high-risk scheme on the promise of high returns. These never materialised. As a result, the couple are living hand to mouth. She has anxiety and he has just suffered a stroke, which he believes has been brought on by the stress and worry of having their money taken from them. There are no safety mechanisms for vulnerable people who are approached by well organised and unscrupulous pension providers. General understanding of pension regulations by the public is almost zero, making an easy opportunity for dishonest companies with sharp salesmen to make rich pickings. Policing and regulation of these firms is poor, so it's simple for criminals to set up such dishonest schemes, which can quickly rake in large sums of money and just as quickly destroy the lives of the pension holders in the process. pensionscams@dailymail.co.uk

Blunder 3

Government departments and private companies transferred staff pension pots to scam schemes for years after explicit warnings from the regulator to be 'vigilant'.

A pamphlet called Shark, aimed at preventing transfers to rogue schemes, was sent to all trustees and managers of occupational pension schemes in 2002 and 2004 by the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (OPRA), the forerunner of The Pensions Regulator.

Advice included checking if the recipient scheme was new and 'recently registered with Companies House', which indicated a potential scam.

If in doubt, they were urged to delay any transfer while the authorities investigated.

Despite the stark warnings, thousands of people were allowed to transfer their pensions into scam schemes.

In almost all cases the fraudulent schemes had been established within a few months of transfer and usually only recently registered with Companies House.

Blunder 4

A policeman fleeced out of his own police pension found it almost impossible to get anyone to investigate the scam.

The officer lost his entire retirement savings after transferring out of the Northumbria police pension into the London Quantum scheme in 2014.

The Pensions Ombudsman later ruled that London Quantum was a scam and that Northumbria Police should not have transferred the cash.

But the officer said when he tried to investigate he faced a wall of silence, despite complaining to HMRC and Action Fraud.

He told the Mail: 'I kept hitting brick walls. It was part of a 5 million scam.

'If they don't feel justified investigating that, what do they feel is worth investigating?'
Stop escalation, urges UN chief, as geopolitical tensions reach 'highest level this century'

6 January 2020 - The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on world leaders to de-escalate geopolitical tensions on Monday, which he described as being "at their highest level this century" as the new decade dawns.

The New Year has begun with our world in turmoil. We are living in dangerous times", said the UN chief, noting that turbulence is only escalating.

"Even nuclear non-proliferation can no longer be taken for granted" he added, without specifically referencing the events of recent days following the targeted killing by a United States drone, of Iran's most influential general, Qasem Soleimani, in Iraq last Friday.

Iran has vowed to avenge the killing of the elite Quds Force commander, and on Sunday it signified it would no longer be bound by the restrictions on its nuclear programme, outlined in the 2015 deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. The deal was debated in the Security Council just last month.

'Cauldron of tensions'

On 1 January, Mr. Guterres also expressed his deep concern at the announcement by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea, that it was ending its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear missile testing.

On Sunday, the Iraqi parliament also passed a non-binding resolution calling for US troops to leave the country, in a clear response to the killing of the Iranian general on their soil. In response, President Trump has threatened Iraq with sanctions if forced to withdraw its forces, and also threatened on Twitter, to destroy multiple sites of "cultural" significance within Iran, if there are reprisal attacks against Americans.

Mr. Guterres told the noon stakeout for correspondents at UN Headquarters in New York, that a "cauldron of tensions is leading more and more countries to take unpredicted decisions with unpredictable consequences and a profound risk of miscalculation.

At the same time, we see trade and technological conflicts that fracture world markets, undermine growth and widen inequalities", he added.

'Climate crisis rages on'

Furthermore, said the UN chief, "our planet is on fire. The climate crisis rages on.

In many parts of the world, we see many people frustrated and angry. We see increased social unrest and growing extremism, nationalism and radicalization, with a dangerous advance of terrorism, notably in Africa.

He said it was clear that "this situation cannot go on. I have been following the recent rise in global tensions with great concern. I am in constant contact with leading officials around the world.

Four key action points

The UN chief had a clear four-point message for what needs to happen now, in capitals across the world: "Stop escalation. Exercise maximum restraint. Re-start dialogue. Renew international cooperation."

"Let us not forget the terrible human suffering caused by war," he concluded. "As always, ordinary people pay the highest price. It is our common duty to avoid it."

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The bitter congressional fight over a 2005 bankruptcy bill might not be fresh on many minds this election year. But Elizabeth Warren wants to change that. On Tuesday, the Massachusetts senator released a plan that would repeal what she characterized as harmful provisions of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which increased the expense of credit-card debt and contributed to higher rates of bankruptcy and foreclosure. By doing so, shes revisiting one of the most pivotal moments in her early public life right as her presidential campaign appears to be faltering.

Warrens reputation as a liberal reformer is due in part to her work on bankruptcy reform. In the years leading up to the bankruptcy bills passage, Warren, then a professor at Harvard Law School, had established herself as a leading national advocate for stronger consumer protections. That quest formed the basis not just for her national profile but for the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which she led. It also put her in direct and public conflict with members of Congress who opposed her proposed reforms. One was a Democratic senator from Delaware named Joe Biden.

Warrens new bankruptcy proposal will put those old fault lines on display again. In her plan, published as usual on her campaigns official Medium account, she says shed make it possible for borrowers to discharge student-loan debt in bankruptcy. She would also abolish Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy categories in favor of a single, streamlined system with fewer requirements for filing. In the process, shed end a means test that extends the amount of time that Americans in certain income brackets currently spend in Chapter 13 bankruptcy, would waive filing fees for individuals below the federal poverty line, and reduce the amount of paperwork a person must submit in order to declare bankruptcy in the first place. Warren says her reforms would relieve the financial cost and human effort required to file to file for bankruptcy. The 2005 bill imposed the same onerous paperwork requirements on a middle-class American filing bankruptcy that it did on a wealthy real-estate developer, she explains. Both must file the same documentation  including months of pay stubs and old tax returns  much of which is useless to creditors looking to get debts repaid.

The plan is peak Warren. Its a savvy callback to her record as a consumer advocate, and highlights her familiar technocratic spin on progressive issues. For these reasons, the plan may be understood as an attempt by Warren to distinguish herself from Bernie Sanders, the only primary candidate to her left. She and Sanders have refrained from criticizing each other directly on the campaign trail. But the Warren campaign has had a difficult few weeks: Her fundraising slowed significantly last quarter, and her totals lagged far behind Sanderss, as well as Biden and Pete Buttigiegs. In a new Monmouth poll of voters who say they prioritize progressive positions, Sanders leads Warren by 18 points. As Sanders surges, Warren finds herself obligated to set herself apart from the Vermont senator in nonconfrontational ways. Highlighting her background on bankruptcy reform is one way to fulfill that objective.

But the Warren plan is chiefly Biden bait. Though she doesnt mention Biden by name, the former vice-president is clearly in her sights.

In certain states like Delaware, she writes, wealthy individuals can file for bankruptcy and get debt relief while shielding their assets by placing them in trusts for their own benefit. This is known as the Millionaires Loophole. This is familiar territory for Warren, and Biden, too. In his capacity as a senator from Delaware  the home of many major credit-card companies  Biden was one of Warrens chief antagonists in her quest for bankruptcy reform. Warren herself has referenced that history on the campaign trail. I got in that fight because [families] just didnt have anyone  and Joe Biden was on the side of the credit-card companies, she said at a rally last April. Bidens son, Hunter, started working for MBNA, a credit-card company, in 1996; as Luke Darby noted in a recent piece for GQ, the younger Biden stayed on as a consultant for MBNA, making $100,000 a year after he became a federal lobbyist in 2001. ProPublica reported in 2008 that the company had been Joe Bidens single-largest contributor for 20 years, and Biden eventually voted for the bankruptcy bill four times until it finally passed.

I lost that fight in 2005, and working families paid the price, Warren concedes in her post. But 15 years after the fact, shes prepared to put Biden on the defensive again.
Australias timber industry is facing disaster, with "significant" areas of East Gippslands native hardwood logging allocations destroyed by the bushfires.

The devastation leaves the Victorian governments plan for a slow shut-down of the native logging industry looking uncertain, according to the forestry union, with large areas of plantation timber also burnt in Victoria, NSW and South Australia.

Vast tracts of forest that had been set aside for logging have been destroyed. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

An industry source said on Tuesday they feared up to 40 per cent of the state forest allocated to timber agency VicForests to harvest in East Gippsland had been destroyed in the fires, which have burnt through 1.2 million hectares of Victoria.

The forest industries lobby group says the consequences of the plantation destruction will take years to play out for communities in the three states reliant on timber jobs.
Barely 24 hours after accusing soldiers of extortion, the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, has accused the military of plotting to evacuate two communities without following due process.

The governor was Tuesday morning in Jakana and Mainok villages where he stopped an ongoing move to mandatorily move the villagers to an IDP camp in Maiduguri.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Nigerian soldiers recently repelled a Boko Haram attack on Jakana.

It is not clear if the armys decision to evacuate the community is related to the recent attack.

The army, according to the governor, did not notify the state government or the federal government before embarking on the evacuation.

Mr Zulum said, no formal piece of notice was given to his government, nor the state emergency management agency nor the Northeast Development Commission that such exercise would be carried out.

The governor, according to government sources, got the hint that the soldiers had stormed Mainok village, 65km from Maiduguri, with dozens of trucks, at about 4 a.m. with the plan to move the people out of the communities.

Driving to Mainok and Jakana villages, this reporter noticed that vehicles were not allowed to ply the route as soldiers barricaded the highway at Mainok and profiled the villagers to be taken to Maiduguri.

However, at about 11.30 a.m., the governors convoy came across the Theatre Commanders convoy heading towards Maiduguri from Mainok.

The Theatre Commanders vehicle stopped by the roadside and he was later seen to have alighted his vehicle and hailed the governors convoy to stop.

Mr Zulum stopped his car as the army general, Olusegun Adeniyi, approached him for a brief talk.

Journalists were not allowed to go near the two officials.

The governors convoy later proceeded to Mainok as the theatre commanders travelled the opposite direction to Maiduguri.

Along the way, several empty trucks were sighted coming from the direction of Mainok accompanied by patrol vehicles filled by armed soldiers.

Shortly after that, this reporter noticed several commercial vehicles parked on a long queue outside Mainok village.

Inside the village, thousands of the villagers, mostly women and children, were seen standing along the roadside with their baggage.

The villagers told this reporter that soldiers ordered them out of their homes at about 5 a.m.

We dont know what is happening; all we know is that the soldiers came in here at about 5 a.m. and asked us to gather by the roadside. They said they are going to take us to Bakassi IDP camp in Maiduguri, said a young man who identified himself as Wuri Yaa.

Another villager, Modu Mussa, said: We have been out in the cold since the early morning Islamic prayer.

They said they are taking us to camp in Maiduguri. They blocked the road all morning until about 11.30 a.m. when the soldiers heard that the governor was coming before they hurriedly left and asked us to return to our houses.

They hurriedly left towards the direction of Damaturu with the trucks, while few others went towards Maiduguri.

The governor later addressed the agitated crowd who were lamentingvery loudly that their rights have been abused by the soldiers who forced them out in the cold.

The governor, who spoke to them in Kanuri dialect, later briefed the press, explaining his mission to Mainok and Jakana villages.

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Im back here in Jakana and Mainok community because I received information that the Nigeria military would be evacuating Mainok and Jakana,  he said.

I have called and spoken with the Chief of Army Staff to refrain from this action.

As much as possible, we want to commend the efforts of the federal government in reducing the menace of insurgency in the state.

But instead of asking them to leave, what we are looking at is to ensure that these communities are protected. We are not in support of displacing the communities.

We are fully in support of the Nigeria military and the police going to search communities and arresting culprits in this insurgency and other nefarious activities.

The governor said the displacement of the communities without adequate logistics preparation would further create a humanitarian crisis for the state government.

It is expected that whenever such evacuation activities would be conducted , the military must duly notify the state and federal governments; the SEMA and NEMA shall also be notified; other security operatives like the police and DSS must be notified as well.

I am quite sure that no information has been passed to the Nigerian police, neither the DSS nor Civil Defence were informed about this evacuation of these communities to Maiduguri. Therefore, the government of Borno will not accept this and we are never in support of this evacuation exercise.

Warning to the residents.

Despite his move to stop their forced evacuation, Mr Zulum also warned the residents of the two communities that they must cooperate with the government and its security operatives to expose members of Boko Haram in their communities.

I have told them that it is very important for them to expose such culprits if they exist in their communities  he said.

Government of Borno state will continue to support the Nigeria military in exposing the culprits behind this insurgency. But this Maiduguri-Kano road has never been closed since 2011. Jakana community has never been displaced, and therefore displacing these communities located on this highway means closing the road and restricting commuters movement along Maiduguri-Kano highway. And that entails closure of this road.

We are pleading with the federal government and the Nigerian army to rather ensure the communities along this highway are protected and the route secured. We insist people should freely move along this road while supporting their desire to expose and arrest the culprits, he said.

Military Response

The military has not reacted to the development in Jakana and Mainok.

But the Nigeria Army Operations Media Coordinator, Aminu Iliyasu, responded to the governors allegation on Monday that soldiers were extorting travellers who do not have national ID cards.

His statement reads:

The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to an online publication on 6 January 2020 by Premium Times as well as some amateur video clips circulating on some social media platforms.

In the said publication, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum was alleged to have accused soldiers of Operation LAFIYA DOLE deployed along Maiduguri  Damaturu Road of extorting commuters and causing them unnecessary hardship.

The Nigerian Army as a professional and disciplined institution views such allegations seriously, particularly coming from a State Executive.

It is on record that, whenever such allegations of troops misconduct were made in the past, the Nigerian Army never reneged in conducting thorough investigations to establish them and where any infractions were established against any personnel, appropriate sanctions were applied in line with extant rules and regulations as provided for in the Armed Forces Act CAP A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Thus, the Nigerian Army wishes to assure the good people of Borno State and indeed the nation at large that any allegations of misconduct by Nigerian Army troops will be duly investigated and culprits will be dealt with accordingly.

However, it is important to unequivocally observe that public outbursts, particularly by eminent personalities such as a State Executive, could be counterproductive and indeed capable of reversing the gains recorded so far in the ongoing fight against insurgents and other criminal elements across the nation.

The Nigerian Army wishes to emphatically reiterate its steadfastness on the protection of lives, properties of all law-abiding citizens as it is committed to wiping out insurgency in the North East and other forms of criminality across the country. Additionally, citizens continuous support and cooperation are highly appreciated.

Any observed misconduct by troops could be reported directly through a toll  free code 193 for immediate remedy.
English French

MONTREAL, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Goodfood Market Corp. (Goodfood or the Company) (TSX: FOOD), a leading online grocery Company in Canada, will release its financial results for the first quarter of Fiscal 2020 on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, before markets open. Jonathan Ferrari, CEO, Neil Cuggy, President and COO, and Philippe Adam, CFO, will hold a conference call to review the results at 8:00 a.m. (ET) on the same day. In addition, Goodfoods Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will also be held January 8, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (ET).



Details of the Conference Call:

When: January 8, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. ET

Dial in number: 877-223-4471 or 647-788-4922

Conference call replay available until January 15, 2020:

1-800-585-8367 or 416-621-4642

To access the webcast and view the slide presentation, click on this link:

https://www.makegoodfood.ca/en/investisseurs/evenements

The conference ID is 9475358.

Annual General Meeting:

When: January 8, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. ET

Location: Offices of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, 800 Victoria Square, Suite 3700, Montreal, Quebec, H4Z 1E9

You can access the slide presentation on Goodfoods website:

https://www.makegoodfood.ca/en/investisseurs/evenements

About Goodfood

Goodfood (TSX:FOOD) is a leading online grocery company in Canada, delivering fresh meal solutions and grocery items that make it easy for members from coast to coast to enjoy delicious meals at home every week. Goodfoods mission is to make the impossible come true, from farm to kitchen, by enabling members to do their weekly meal planning and grocery shopping in less than 1 minute. Goodfood members get access to a unique selection of products online as well as exclusive pricing made possible by its world class direct to consumer fulfilment eco-system that cuts out food waste and expensive retail overhead. The Company has its main production facility and administrative offices based in Montreal, Quebec, a second production facility in Calgary, Alberta, a breakfast facility in Montreal, Quebec and is currently building out its new production facility in Vancouver. Goodfood had 230,000 active subscribers as at November 30, 2019. www.makegoodfood.ca

For further information:
He spent one of last days of 2019 delivering presents to children in La Guaira, trailed by two government minders on motorbikes. In a lengthy interview between toy drops, he said his wife, Fabiana Rosales, and their toddler are followed even to their daughters preschool.

The rented apartment they share in a middle-class neighborhood in Caracas is half-empty, the home of a man who seems unsure where he will sleep tomorrow. The television is on the floor, childs toys are stuffed in a corner, and the walls are bare, save for a large portrait of a Venezuelan nun named Maria de San Jose, known for aiding the ill.

Like many Venezuelans in the capital, he has running water about two hours a day.

At one point, when he raised the topic of his mother, who left the country for medical treatment that she could not find in Venezuela, his eyes turned red and he began to cry. Of course I miss her, he said.

Mr. Guaidos popularity has declined significantly in the last year, according to polling from the Caracas firm Datanalasis. But he remains the most popular politician in the country, according to the firm.

And in an interview, the firms director, Jose Gil Yepes, said Mr. Guaidos popularity may rise in the coming weeks, because of all the things the government did wrong on Sunday.

Mayrely Calderon, 39, a pharmacist, was among those who remained faithful to Mr. Guaido. Hes the one who will help us get rid of Maduro, she said.

Julie Turkewitz and Ana Vanessa Herrero reported from Caracas. Lara Jakes reported from Washington.
A trial court in Delhi gave orders on Tuesday to hang the four convicts in the Delhi gang-rape case on January 22, at 7 am. The decision came on a petition filed by the mother of the 23-year-old physiotherapy student was gang-raped in a moving bus in Delhi in December, 2012.

The parents of the victim have hailed the verdict which came after seven years.

But what are the rules to be followed in India before a condemned person is hanged? Different states have different laws, and since these prisoners are lodged in Tihar Jail, the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018 will govern the process.

ALSO WATCH | Death warrant in Delhi 2012 gangrape case: Rapists to be hanged on Jan 22

Also Read: 2012 gang rape verdict: The men who killed the Delhi braveheart

The four men - Akshay, Vinay, Pawan and Mukesh - were convicted of the crime by the Supreme Court which rejected their review petitions. There were six people who were convicted by the court, but one of them was a juvenile who appeared before a juvenile justice court, while another accused committed suicide in Tihar Jail.

Arrangement for execution

The Delhi Prison Rules empower the Superintendent to fix the time of execution sufficiently in advance. It also categorically mentions that the execution should take place early in the morning before it gets bright. The time in different seasons will be in accordance with orders passed separately by the government.

An engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) has been tasked with inspection of the gallows every quarter and before the date of a hanging as and when intimated by the Superintendent. The gallows shall be inspected and the rope tested in the presence of the Superintendent, the evening before the execution, he being personally responsible that these arrangements are properly made, says the manual.

Also read: Four men who raped Delhi girl in 2012 to be hanged on 22 January, orders Delhi court

It also goes into great detail about the weight of the prisoner and the corresponding height from which he should be hanged. For example, the manual says that if a person weighs less than 45.360 kg, he should be given a drop 2.4440 metres.

Who will be present during execution?

The prison rules say that Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, medical officer in-charge and resident medical officer should be present at all executions. The rules also require the presence of District Magistrate, and in his absence, the Additional District Magistrate. If the prisoner so desires, a priest of his faith may be allowed, at the discretion of the Superintendent, say the rules.

No other person, especially relatives of the prisoner, should be allowed to witness the execution, the prison rules categorically say, adding that the Superintendent can permit social scientists, psychologists etc for research purposes but only after prior approval from the government.

Also read | She got justice: Delhi-gang rape victims kin on courts execution order

The rules also specify the number of officials to be present during an execution: 10 constables/warderers, two head constables/head warderers and an equal number from the Prison Armed Guards.

On the day of execution

The Superintendent should ensure on the morning of the execution that no communication is waiting for him regarding the execution. They will then visit the prisoner in his cell and get any document - his will etc - signed.

After this, the officials will tie the hands of the prisoner and take him to the gallows. A cotton cap with flaps should be put on the prisoners face just before he enters the enclosure. The prisoner whould not be allowed to see the gallows, says the manual.

The prisoner is then handed over to the executioner who ties his legs, adjusts the rope around his neck and draw the bolt at a signal from the Superintendent. The body will remain suspended for half an hour before being taken down, or until the resident medical officer has certified that the life is extinct, the rules say.
SAN FRANCISCO  Since the 2016 election, when Russian trolls and a tsunami of misinformation turned social media into a partisan battlefield, Facebook has wrestled with the role it played in President Donald Trumps victory.

Now, according to a memo obtained by The New York Times, a longtime Facebook executive told employees that the company had a moral duty not to tilt the scales against Trump as he seeks reelection.

On Dec. 30, Andrew Bosworth, head of Facebooks virtual and augmented reality division, wrote on his internal Facebook page that, as a liberal, he found himself wanting to use the social networks powerful platform against Trump. But citing the Lord of the Rings franchise and philosopher John Rawls, Bosworth said that doing so would eventually backfire.

I find myself desperately wanting to pull any lever at my disposal to avoid the same result, he wrote. So what stays my hand? I find myself thinking of the Lord of the Rings at this moment.

Specifically when Frodo offers the ring to Galadrial and she imagines using the power righteously, at first, but knows it will eventually corrupt her, he said, misspelling the name of the character Galadriel. As tempting as it is to use the tools available to us to change the outcome, I am confident we must never do that or we will become that which we fear.

In a meandering 2,500-word post, titled Thoughts for 2020, Bosworth weighed in on issues including political polarization, Russian interference and the news medias treatment of Facebook. He gave a frank assessment of Facebooks shortcomings in recent years, saying that the company had been late to address the issues of data security, misinformation and foreign interference. And he accused the left of overreach, saying that when it came to calling people Nazis, I think my fellow liberals are a bit too, well, liberal.

Bosworth also waded into the debate over the health effects of social media, rejecting what he called wildly offensive comparisons of Facebook to addictive substances like nicotine. He instead compared Facebook to sugar and said that users were responsible for moderating their own intake.

If I want to eat sugar and die an early death that is a valid position, Bosworth wrote. My grandfather took such a stance towards bacon and I admired him for it. And social media is likely much less fatal than bacon.

The post by Bosworth, a former head of Facebooks advertising team, provides an unusually candid glimpse of the debates raging within Facebook about the platforms responsibilities as it heads into the 2020 election.

The biggest of those debates is whether Facebook should change its rules governing political speech. Posts by politicians are exempt from many of Facebooks current rules, and their ads are not submitted for fact-checking, giving them license to mislead voters with partisan misinformation.

Last year, platforms like Twitter and Google announced restrictions to their political advertising tools ahead of the 2020 election.

Facebook and its chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, have faced heavy pressure from Democrats and Republicans, including Trumps campaign, not to restrict its own powerful ad platform, which allows political campaigns to reach targeted audiences and raise money from supporters. But other politicians, and some Facebook employees, including a group that petitioned Zuckerberg in October, have argued that the social network has a responsibility to stamp out misinformation on its platform, including in posts by politicians.

Bosworth said that even though keeping the current policies in place very well may lead to Trumps reelection, it was the right decision.

Dozens of Facebook employees pushed back on Bosworths conclusions, arguing in the comments section below his post that politicians should be held to the same standard as other Facebook users. They debated whether Facebook should ban or remove posts by politicians, including Trump, that included hate speech or forms of misinformation.

One Facebook employee warned that if the company continued to take its current approach, it risked promoting populist leaders around the world, including in the United States.

A Facebook spokeswoman provided a statement from Bosworth in which he said that the post wasnt written for public consumption but that he hoped this post would encourage my coworkers to continue to accept criticism with grace as we accept the responsibility we have overseeing our platform.

Ultimately, the decision on whether to allow politicians to spread misinformation on Facebook rests with Zuckerberg. In recent months, he has appeared to stand firm on the decision to keep the existing ad policies in place, saying that he believes Facebook should not become an arbiter of truth. But he has also left himself room to change his mind. In November, a Facebook spokesman said that the company was looking at different ways we might refine our approach to political ads.

Among those lobbying Zuckerberg is Trump himself, who claimed on a radio show Monday that Zuckerberg had congratulated him on being No. 1 on Facebook during a private dinner.

Bosworth said he believed Facebook was responsible for Trumps 2016 election victor, but not because of Russian interference or the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which saw millions of Facebook users data leaked to a political strategy firm that worked with the Trump campaign. Bosworth said the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica revelations  uncovered by The New York Times, working with The Observer of London and The Guardian  rightly changed the conversation around how Facebook should handle user data and which companies should be allowed to access that data.

But, he said, Trump simply used Facebooks advertising tools effectively.

He didnt get elected because of Russia or misinformation or Cambridge Analytica, Bosworth wrote. He got elected because he ran the single best digital ad campaign Ive ever seen from any advertiser. Period.

Bosworth, a longtime confidant of Zuckerbergs who is viewed by some inside Facebook as a proxy for the chief executive, has been an outspoken defender of the companys positions in the past.

In 2018, BuzzFeed News published a memo Bosworth wrote in 2016 justifying the companys growth-at-all-costs ethos, in which he said that the companys mission of connecting people was de facto good, even if it resulted in deaths.

After the memos publication, a Facebook executive said the company wished it could go back and hit delete on Bosworths 2016 post.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Emol.gov.sa scored 41 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

This CoolSocial report was updated on 4 Dec 2012, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the emol homepage on Twitter + the total number of emol followers (if emol has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the emol homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the emol homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if emol has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the emol homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the emol homepage on Delicious.

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE    | Ministry of Labor Saudi Arabia DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS



The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 SERVER Microsoft-IIS/7.5 (ASP.NET) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2

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Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for emol.gov.sa by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

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The type of Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
The leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard has threatened to set ablaze places supported by the United States over the killing of a top Iranian general in a US air strike last week.

Hossein Salami made the pledge before a crowd of thousands gathered in a central square in Kerman, the home town of General Qassem Soleimani.

His vow mirrored the demands of top Iranian officials  from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to others  as well as supporters across the Islamic Republic, demanding retaliation against America for a killing that has drastically raised tensions across the Middle East.

Mourners in Kerman dressed in black carried posters bearing the image of Gen Soleimani, a man whose death prompted Irans supreme leader to weep over his coffin on Monday as a crowd said by police to be in the millions filled Tehran streets.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, weeps as he leads a prayer over the coffin of General Qassem Soleimani (Iran Press TV via AP)

Although there was no independent estimate, aerial footage and Associated Press journalists suggested a turnout of at least one million, and the throngs were visible on satellite images of Tehran.

The outpouring of grief was an unprecedented honour for a man viewed by Iranians as a national hero for his work leading the Guards expeditionary Quds Force.

The US blames him for the killing of American troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death on Friday in a drone strike near Baghdads airport.

Gen Soleimani also led forces in Syria backing President Bashar Assad in a long war, and he also served as the point man for Iranian proxies in countries such as Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

His killing has already pushed Tehran to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers as his successor and others vow to take revenge.

In Baghdad, the parliament has called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil, something analysts fear could allow militants from so-called Islamic State to mount a comeback.

Gen Soleimanis remains and those of the others killed in the air strike were brought to a central square in Kerman, a desert city surrounded by mountains that dates back to the days of the Silk Road, where he will be buried later.

Story continues

It is believed that more than a million people turned out for the funeral service in Tehran (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Mr Salami praised Gen Soleimanis exploits and said as a martyr, he represented an even greater threat to Irans enemies.

We will take revenge. We will set ablaze where they like, Mr Salami said, drawing cries of Death to Israel! from the crowd.

Israel is a longtime regional foe of Iran.

According to a report on Tuesday by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Iran has worked up 13 sets of plans for revenge for Gen Soleimanis killing.

The report quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, as saying that even the weakest among them would be a historic nightmare for the US.

If the US troops do not leave our region voluntarily and upright, we will do something to carry their bodies horizontally out, Mr Shamkhani said.

Irans parliament, meanwhile, passed an urgent bill declaring the US militarys command at the Pentagon in Washington and those acting on its behalf terrorists, subject to Iranian sanctions.

The measure appears to mirror a decision by President Donald Trump in April to declare the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organisation.

The US Defence Department used the Guards designation as a terror organisation in the US to support the strike that killed Gen Soleimani.

The decision by Irans parliament, done by a special procedure to speed the bill to law, comes as officials across the country threaten to retaliate for Gen Soleimanis killing.

Also on Tuesday, Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the US had declined to issue him a visa to travel to New York for upcoming meetings at the United Nations.

The US as the host of the UN headquarters is supposed to allow foreign officials to attend such meetings.

They fear that someone comes to the US and reveals realities, Mr Zarif said, adding: The world is not limited to New York and you can talk to the American people from Tehran and we will do that.

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Information publiee le 7 janvier 2020 par Universite de Lausanne (source : Mariana Kunesova

Brno, Czech Republic

Czech Historical Avant-Garde in the European Context

The international symposium BRNO THEATRALIA CONFERENCE 2020, hosted by the Department of Theatre Studies, Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic), is dedicated to historical avant-gardes and their development in Czechoslovakia and Europe.

The aim is to reassess the Czech interwar theatre, built up at a crossroad of the European avant-garde. This aim is closely related to the topic of the particularities of the avant-garde theatre in Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia,...) and of the way individual European countries influenced each other in this respect. We welcome, therefore, paper proposals focusing on historical avant-gardes in both the Czech as well as in the European milieu related to theatre: in the field of theatre studies, performing arts, dance, music, art history, architecture, cinema, photography, ethnography and folklore, literature, translation...

The conference will be held on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the foundation of the association of Czech avant-garde artists Devetsil. Founded in October 1920 in Prague, Devetsil (butterbur), the most influential Czech avant-garde circle, linked artists across a very wide range of fields, from architecture to performance, from aesthetics to sociology. Its members, e.g. Karel Teige, Vitezslav Nezval, Toyen, Jindrich Styrsky, Adolf Hoffmeister, Josef Chochol, Jiri Frejka, Jindrich Honzl, Emil Frantisek Burian, Jiri Voskovec, and Jan Werich, were constantly following European avant-garde trends.

Only limited attention has been paid to the position and specificities of the Czech avant-garde in the European context. Hence, this is the main question the conference shall seek to answer.

We propose the following topics :

new results of research concerning the European avant-gardes

new results of research concerning the Czech avant-gardes

the legacy of the Czech avant-garde theatre theory

contacts among the members of the Czech theatre avant-garde with the European avant-garde; cooperation projects

reception of the Czech theatre avant-garde in Europe

reception of the European avant-garde in the Czech milieu

translation (from or into Czech)

Further suggestions contributing to the dialogue are welcome and will be considered.

Scholars as well as theatre practitioners, translators, historians of art, stage designers and theatre critics are warmly invited to join us and participate in the event either as speakers or as an audience.

Selected contributions from the conference will be published in a special issue of THEATRALIA (vol. 2022/1; the deadline for submission of the paper is April 30, 2021).

Paper proposals should include:

the title of the paper

an abstract of 250-300 words

the name(s) of the author(s)

contact address

telephone number

email address

institutional affiliation

short biographical note (maximum 300 words)

Please send the proposed title of the paper, abstract, biographical note, and other relevant information to the conference email contact (below) no later than on January 31, 2020.

Conference Organisers:

Andrea Jochmanova (Academy of Performing Arts, Masaryk University): ajochmanova@mzm.cz Mariana Kunesova (University of Ostrava): mariana.kunesova@osu.cz Katerina Salounova (Masaryk University): 217442@mail.muni.cz

Contact: theatralia.conference@phil.muni.cz

Conference fee for speakers: will be specified

On Behalf of the Project Organising Committee:

Pavel Drabek (University of Hull, Masaryk University)

David Drozd (Masaryk University)

Sarka Havlickova Kysova (Masaryk University)

Andrea Jochmanova (Academy of Performing Arts, Masaryk University)

Mariana Kunesova (University of Ostrava)
English may be the official language of the nation, but theres still a way to go before Nigerian linguists can match the skills of their counterparts in other countries where the English is a primary mother tongue. On the other hand, Nigerians are well ahead of most other African nations in this regard, but thats not saying so much. Well look at this challenge and consider ways to raise the bar of Nigerians who need to communicate abroad, both in English and in translation. Well also think about those who want to communicate to Nigerians in their own local mother tongues. Well consider various language resources, both professional language service providers, freelancers, and software applications that can assist in this language upgrade.

A Professional Translation Services Perspective on Pidgin English

As a writer and researcher for a translation company, and a world traveler myself, I always find it fascinating to explore the language situation in a new country. Nigeria is in a class of its own!

Consider this: though English is Nigerias official language for business, its only spoken by maybe 30% of its 200 million people  most of whom speak Pidgin, a dialect that only slightly resembles the English that an English speaker might possibly understand. While Most Nigerians speak a smidgen of Pidgin, the truth is that it has become the great equalizer  a way to communicate that cuts across class and gets things done.

Locals  dem area boys  may make their meaning clear when they call out How bodi?  or How far?  but most of the world will no sabi and will wonder why you are giving them a wahala or pure K-leg. They may think dem sent you to vex for even some wayo  never a good first impression. So Abeg! listen well well to what follows. It may butta ya bread!

Pidgin may work just fine in greater Lagos, but it wont pass muster  or even get the guys at the next table to pass the mustard  elsewhere in the world. True, it may stand a better chance of getting your meaning across than the other 521 languages and dialects in use in Nigeria. But Pidgin is for street talk: The use of a more proper professional English is confined to the upper and middle classes, officials and professionals, university graduates.

Professional Language Services for a Nation of 521 Tongues in a Stew Pot

Outside of Nigeria, it is not generally known that Hausa is primarily the language of the countrys Muslims. Perhaps 20 million people speak Hausa natively while another 6 to 10 million speak it as a second or third language. So that only around 10-15% of the countrys population, and its much less familiar to non-Islamic tribes. In second place comes Igbo, with 23 or so million native speakers. Yoruba comes in just third with 20 million mother-tongue speakers. Then there are those who speak Fulfulde, Kanuri, Tiu, Ijaw, Ibibio, and Edo.

For the outside world, this level of linguistic diversity is a shocker. It is, therefore, no wonder that some have simply abandoned any attempt to seriously tackle Nigeria as a market in any language other than English.

So what is a Professional to Do? The Translation Services Options

If you are a Nigerian professional seeking to communicate with the outside world, either by exporting a product or marketing a digital service, selling software or mobile apps, or promoting IT services, this means you may have a problem. To achieve the goals required for any of the above, you need to come across to foreign partners and customers as credible. And Foreign companies entering Nigeria must come to terms with the linguistic complexity as well.

The obvious course of choice, if you have the budget, is to turn to a professional language service provider that knows the Nigerian market as is expert in the nuances of what is Nigerian English. Its not just a matter of knowing Nigerian English technically or reading a Nigerian newspaper. The translation company of choice needs professional translators and have a professional understanding of Nigerias cultural nuances.

What to look for in a translation company? For sure, they should offer quick professional quotations for your service request, turning it around in hours or a max a day or so. It should include a per word rate based on original documents or web pages you supply and a detailed timetable. If you have domestic target languages or source documents, you should make sure the translation agency has mother-tongue Yoruba or Igbo or Hausa talent.

Freelance Professional Translation Services as an Option

This need for local polyglots is, of course, a business opportunity for the bilingual. If you are skilled in one or more of Nigerias tribal languages and possess fluency in one or more foreign languages, then you are likely to be a hot prospect to engage with a professional translation services company. They likely are looking for professionals with your talents.

The advantages of working with an agency are professionalism, translation quality and time to market. Another big plus is the ability to easily add languages are your global or local expansion plans increase.

The main disadvantage of an agency is cost: expect to pay a premium of 50% to 200% for working with a translation agency versus a translator. Indeed, you may be able to find local translators though local Nigerian websites and newspapers. But if you are outside Nigeria, you can find translation talent in virtually any language and field of expertise on marketplaces like Upwork, Freelancer.com or Fiverr.

On these sites you can review the profiles, rating, reviews, and portfolios of would-be translators. You can solicit bids from them, interview and negotiate with them directly. That gives you a lot of power, but its a time-consuming process, so make sure its worth the effort. One tip is to hire two freelancers per language, one to check the work of the other, or to fill in if the other lets you down.

Welcome to the Machine: Translation Services as Software

In recent years, the quality of machine translation has dramatically increased. That is generally a good thing. You can use Google Translate or Microsoft Translator to do research, rough translations, and to help out in customer support. But these tools are still no replacement for a talented human translator, and you should not consider them as a substitute. You should also watch out for the possible use of these tools by the professional translators you hire. It happens a lot, and you should preclude this possibility in your discussions and contracts.

The good news is that the two free online services mentioned do support the top three Nigerian languages, so this can be a valuable check tool for you to audit the work of your contractors. And, if you are a freelancer, you can use these tools  judiciously and sparingly  to enrich your vocabulary and to consider alternative ways to express yourself in translation.

Nigeria was blessed with more than 500 languages, so we may as well make the best of the mix. As is said in Pidgin English: If life dey show you pepper, my guy make pepper soup!
The infrastructure credit had witnessed a 19 per cent growth in FY19 to Rs 21.1 lakh crore.

Overall, the growth in the total infrastructure credit in FY20 is likely to remain lower than last year, he said.

Mumbai: Credit to infrastructure sector from banks and non-bank financing companies remained muted at Rs 21.2 lakh crore in April-September period of the current fiscal, says a report.

The infrastructure credit had witnessed a 19 per cent growth in FY19 to Rs 21.1 lakh crore.

The tepidness in the first half of FY20 has been led by de-growth in banking sector credit to infrastructure segment, though infrastructure finance non-bank companies (IFCs) continued to grow at a modest pace of 17 per cent year-on-year, and and 12 per cent sequentially, Icra said in the report.

"Majority of the infrastructure credit growth in FY19 was also back ended. Hence, a pickup in H2 FY20 cannot be ruled out, though the pressure on fiscal position may limit the government's push towards expenditure on infrastructure and hence constrain a major reversal in trend," the rating agency's vice president and head (financial sector ratings), Manushree Saggar.

Overall, the growth in the total infrastructure credit in FY20 is likely to remain lower than last year, he said.

The decline in share of banks during past few years was largely attributable to the conversion of their exposures to state distribution companies (discoms) into bonds and the subdued lending amid asset quality issues and capital constraints, the report said.

The rating agency said the progress on stressed thermal asset resolution is slow, despite the various measures undertaken by the government and the lenders.

"Only about 10 per cent of the stressed capacity has achieved resolution, with another 4 per cent resolved, but remaining under stress," it said.

The positive development is that around 20 per cent affected capacity has recently got admitted to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

Overall, about 38 per cent stressed capacity is admitted/referred to the NCLT with remaining being under resolution by the lenders.

"While the stress related to thermal power sector has already been recognised by IFCs, any stress build-up in near to medium term from spill over due to headwinds faced by renewable energy sector remains a concern," it said.

Aggregate exposure of IFCs to the renewable energy sector was about Rs 90,000 crore in September 2019.

Icra said while the credit costs have eased during past eighteen months, the profitability of public sector IFCs remains lower than historical average ROA of 2.1 per cent up to FY18.

Saggar said overall, recoveries from stressed assets remain critical for sustained improvement in profitability of IFCs.
The only banking center headquartered in Hunterdon County is delivering record amounts of aid to neighboring banks in the county -- though these banks are not the financial kind.

In early December 2019, employees of the Clinton-based Unity Bank donated $28,500 to 19 food banks across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including three within Hunterdon County.

For over 10 years, employees from Unity Bank branches have voluntarily contributed a portion of their paychecks that is matched by the bank to local food pantries each holiday season.

This years contribution total -- compiled from donations made by a majority of the banks 205 employees, 150 of which are in Hunterdon County -- is over $6,000 more than last years. Unity Bank donated checks of $1,200 to 19 separate food pantries in 2018; this year, that amount climbed to $1,500 a piece.

Marketing Director Crystal Rose described the record donations as really remarkable.

It says a lot about our employees and their generosity," Rose said. "People are allowed to donate five dollars from each paycheck, a dollar, a hundred dollars if they wanted to, knowing that the bank will match those funds at the end of the year and give them out to the local food banks.

Nineteen Unity Bank branches donated to 19 food pantries within their surrounding communities.

The whole idea was that for every branch that we have, we wanted to donate to a local food pantry. So, all of the food pantries are within our footprint and the community that we serve," Rose explained.

Rose added that she hopes Unity Banks efforts will encourage other companies in the area to follow our lead, as well as highlight and bring attention to the nonprofit organizations.

A lot of them are smaller food pantries," Rose said. "Theyre doing great work, and we just want to support it. "We selected the food pantries because theyre very deserving; they provide vital services to those in need throughout our personal footprint of each branch.

"And its really important to the bank that the money that we give out goes out to the communities that we serve.

The Flemington, Clinton and Whitehouse Station Unity Bank branches respectively donated $1,500 to three local food pantries in Hunterdon County: the Flemington Area Food Pantry, Open Cupboard Food Pantry, and Readington Area Starfish.

Jeannine Gorman, executive director of the Flemington Area Food Pantry, confirmed that the entire $1,500 will go towards providing meals for the organizations growing number of clients.

This year we had a 15% increase in client visits; we were visited over 10,000 times," Gorman said. So, the need just keeps on getting greater, and without the community support from organizations like Unity, it would just be tough for us to serve the increased need.

Executive Director of the Open Cupboard Food Pantry Jennifer Tavormina said that the funds the organization received will be used to purchase both food and grocery gift cards for their clients, which average to about 200 individuals during the holiday season and 700 year-round.

We serve northern Hunterdon County and believe that we have a responsibility to fill the very basic need of food to those in our community who are in need, Tavormina said.

Readington Area Starfish Coordinator Nancy OMalley said the funds will go towards acquiring food, toiletries, and household cleaning products for the dozens of families and individuals helped by the organization -- a number she believes will escalate with the addition of affordable housing units in the area.

Unity Bank Assistant Relationship Manager Neetu Singh (left) presents donation to Coordinator of the Readington Area Starfish Nancy OMalley (right).Courtesy - Unity Bank

(Our services) help people that fall through the cracks, who might not be eligible for some of the other government programs," OMalley said. They have to fill out a form to make sure theyre really in need, but its not the same as welfare. So maybe some people who dont qualify for welfare, qualify for us.

Reflecting upon the value of these organizations to their communities, Rose said that it was a privilege to support the food pantries shared goal of improving the lives of Hunterdon County residents.

Were very lucky to be based in Hunterdon," Rose said. Theres such a sense of community, and theres a lot of volunteerism, yet theres still a need -- like in every community.

Theres a lot of great things happening in the business side of things in the county, but we want to make sure that were helping everyone ... We always try to make sure that were giving back, especially to the underserved community.

In expressing her satisfaction with Unity Banks charitable endeavors, Rose said that she anticipates that the companys contributions to the region will grow a little bit more every year.

With being headquartered in Hunterdon County, were hiring more, and employ a lot of people who live within the county," Rose said. "So, as our employee numbers grow, I think you will see this donation program and outreach grow as well.

Caroline Fassett can be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com.

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Royoles Mirage smart speaker takes folding screens in a new direction: It wraps an entire OLED screen around the outside of a cylindrical smart speaker.

Remember Royoles FlexPai, that folding phone, shown off last year at CES? It garnered a lot of press for the new folding phone craze. Well, Royole has done it again this year, wrapping an 8-inch AMOLED touchscreen around an Amazon Alexa-powered smart speaker, the Mirage Smart Speaker.

Its not entirely clear how Royole will use the Mirages touch capabilitiesin general, most smart speakers are hands-free, voice-operated devices. However, the Mirage will be more than just a smart speaker, as theres a 5-megapixel camera embedded in it, allowing you to beam your face as well as your voice to friends. The camera has a physical mute switch, though Royole didnt give any confirmation that theres a physical shutter to hide yourself. A T-shirt or towel will probably do just as well.

Inside the Mirage are three full-range drivers and a passive bass radiator. A pair of far-field mics will serve to pick up your voice and allow you to order more pizza rolls from Amazon from the comfort of your recliner.

If youll remember, there were questions over whether Royole was serious about shipping devices like the FlexPai, or whether the company was simply searching for partnerships with American manufacturers. At this years CES, Royole has tried to put questions to rest with an actual price and ship date: The Mirage will cost a whopping $899 when it ships in the second quarter. Thats about the price of eight Echo Show 8s, but whos counting?
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 06:10:39|Editor: ZX

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LONDON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- British lawmakers started a three-day Brexit debate Tuesday on their first House of Commons sitting of the new year.

MPs debated details of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit Withdrawal Bill which was passed last month with an overwhelming majority.

Opposition MPs tabled a long list of amendments to the bill, with a series of votes scheduled at Westminster over the coming days.

Politicians focused on the first day of the debate on the implementation period under which Britain will leave the EU at the end of the year, and also on citizen's rights after Brexit.

The first round of voting on EU citizen rights resulted in three wins for the government, each with majorities of around 90.

Johnson's commanding 80-strong majority in the 650-seat chamber meant the government expected to comfortably defeat all amendments, ahead of the bill being handed over to the House of Lords.

The bill's legislative journey is part of Johnson's strategy to bring Britain out of the European Union.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay opened the debate, stressing the government's determination not to extend the post-Brexit transition period, which will finish on Dec. 31. It means a new permanent trade deal with Brussels will have to be agreed by then.

Much of the focus on the first day revolved around the more than 3 million European citizens living in Britain and the status of the 1.2 million British people living in EU countries.

The government insisted every EU citizen living and working in Britain before Britain leaves the bloc will be entitled to stay.

The opposition's proposed amendment to allow all EU citizens resident before Exit day to have a right to permanent residence in the UK was the first victory of the day for Johnson.

Like two allied amendments on citizens rights, it was lost by a margin of around 90 votes.
What gets lost in the numbers is the ripple effect. Those 223,000 people wont be paying taxes in Illinois  not income, sales, property, gasoline, alcohol, cigarette, cannabis, you name it. They wont be buying homes or cars or groceries or home goods. Theyre not raising kids here, buying school supplies or signing them up for sports. Theyre not opening new businesses or expanding existing ones. Just about every corner of the Illinois economy is affected by population loss. Even the funeral business.
In this aerial photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, mourners attend a funeral ceremony for Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and his comrades, who were killed in Iraq in a U.S. drone strike on Friday, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. The processions mark the first time Iran honored a single man with a multi-city ceremony. Not even Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who founded the Islamic Republic, received such a processional with his death in 1989. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) Read more

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  A stampede broke out Tuesday at the funeral for a top Iranian general slain in a U.S. airstrike, and at least 56 people were killed and more than 200 were injured as thousands thronged the procession, Iranian news reports said.

The stampede took place in Kerman, the hometown of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, as the procession began, said Pirhossein Koulivand, head of Irans emergency medical services.

There was no information about what set off the crush. Online videos showed people lying apparently lifeless, their faces covered by clothing. Emergency crews performed CPR on others as people wailed and cried out to God.

Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions," Koulivand said.

State TV reported the death toll of 56, with 213 injured, citing Koulivand.

Soleimani's burial was delayed, with no new time given, because of concerns about the massive crowd that had gathered, the semi-official ISNA news agency said.

A procession in Tehran on Monday drew over 1 million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main avenues and side streets in Tehran. Such mass crowds can prove dangerous. A smaller stampede at the 1989 funeral for Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini killed at least eight people and injured hundreds.

Soleimanis death in a drone strike Friday has sparked calls across Iran for revenge against America, drastically raising tensions in the Middle East. The U.S. government warned ships of an unspecified threat from Iran across the regions waterways, crucial routes for global energy supplies. Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force launched a drill with 52 fighter jets in Utah, just days after President Donald Trump threatened to hit 52 sites in Iran.

Earlier in the day, Hossein Salami, the new leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard, vowed to avenge Soleimani's death as he addressed a crowd of supporters gathered at the coffin in a central square in Kernan.

We tell our enemies that we will retaliate but if they take another action we will set ablaze the places that they like and are passionate about," Salami said.

Death to Israel! the crowd shouted in response. Israel is a longtime regional foe of Iran.

The funeral processions in major cities over three days have been an unprecedented honor for Soleimani, viewed by Iranians as a national hero for his work leading the Guards expeditionary Quds Force.

The U.S. blames him for killing U.S. troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before he was killed in the drone strike near Baghdads airport. Soleimani also led forces supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad in that country's civil war, and he also served as the point man for Iranian proxies in countries like Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

The U.S. is continuing to reinforce its own positions in the region, including repositioning some forces.

Soleimani's slaying already has pushed Tehran to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers as his successor and others vow to take revenge. In Iraq, pro-Iranian factions in parliament have pushed to oust American troops from Iraqi soil following Soleimani's killing at the Baghdad airport.

In his eulogy to the crowd, Salami praised Soleimanis work, describing him as essential to backing Palestinian groups, Yemens Houthi rebels and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria. As a martyr, Soleimani represented an even greater threat to Irans enemies, Salami said.

According to a report on Tuesday by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Iran has worked up 13 sets of plans to avenge Soleimani's death. The report quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, as saying that even the weakest among them would be a historic nightmare for the U.S. He declined to elaborate,

If the U.S. troops do not leave our region voluntarily and upright, we will do something to carry their bodies horizontally out," Shamkhani said.

The state-run IRNA news agency later published a statement from the Supreme National Security Council denying Shamkhani made the comment.

The U.S. Maritime Administration warned ships across the Mideast, citing the rising threats. The Iranian response to this action, if any, is unknown, but there remains the possibility of Iranian action against U.S. maritime interests in the region, it said.

Oil tankers were targeted in mine attacks last year that the U.S. blamed on Iran. Tehran denied responsibility, although it did seize oil tankers around the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of the worlds crude oil travels.

The U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet said it would work with shippers in the region to minimize any possible threat.

The 5th Fleet has and will continue to provide advice to merchant shipping as appropriate regarding recommended security precautions in light of the heightened tensions and threats in the region, 5th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Joshua Frey told The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, Iranian Gen. Alireza Tabgsiri, the chief of the Guards navy, issued his own warning.

Our message to the enemies is to leave the region," Tabgsiri said, according to ISNA. The Guard routinely has tense encounters with the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf.

Separately, Iran summoned the British ambassador over comments by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the British defense minister about Soleimani's killing, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

Irans parliament, meanwhile, has passed an urgent bill declaring the U.S. militarys command at the Pentagon and those acting on its behalf in Soleimanis killing as terrorists," subject to Iranian sanctions. The measure appears to be an attempt to mirror a decision by Trump in April to declare the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization.

The U.S. Defense Department used the Guards terror designation to support the strike that killed Soleimani. The action by Irans parliament, done by a special procedure to speed it into law, comes as officials across the country threaten to retaliate for Soleimanis killing.

The vote also saw lawmakers approve funding for the Quds Force with an additional 200 million euros, or about $224 million.

Also Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the U.S. had declined to issue him a visa to travel to New York for upcoming meetings at the United Nations. As the host of the U.N. headquarters, the U.S. is supposed to allow foreign officials to attend such meetings.

This is because they fear someone will go there and tell the truth to the American people, Zarif said. "But they are mistaken. The world is not limited to New York. You can speak with American people from Tehran too and we will do that.

Asked about Zarif, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told journalists America would comply with its obligations under U.N. rules to grant visas. He then referred to the Iranian diplomat as a propagandist of the first order.

Soleimani will ultimately be laid to rest between the graves of Enayatollah Talebizadeh and Mohammad Hossein Yousef Elahi, two former Guard comrades killed in Iran's 1980s war with Iraq. The two died in Operation Dawn 8 in which Soleimani also took part, a 1986 amphibious assault that cut Iraq off from the Persian Gulf and led to the end of the bloody war that killed 1 million people.

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
Bollywood star Deepika Padukone on Tuesday visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to express solidarity with the students who were attacked by a mob but did not address the crowd.

The actor reached the university campus at around 7.40 pm and attended a public meeting, called by JNU Teacher's Association and JNUSU in response to Sunday's attack on students and teachers by a masked mob armed with sticks and rods.

Deepika stood as former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was raising azaadi slogans and left by the time current president Aishe Ghosh started speaking.

The actor's decision to not address the crowd prompted Ghosh to comment, "when you are in a position, you should speak up".

"There are many people in Bollywood who do not put forth their views when they are not be aired. They are considered role models. I appeal to them: Make inspiring films after something has happened but when you are in that position, also talk about the story that is currently happening," she said.

JNUTA secretary Surajit Majumdar said the actor came to express solidarity with the students.

Deepika is in the capital to promote her upcoming release, Meghna Gulzar-directed "Chhapaak".

On Monday, the 34-year-old actor told a channel that she feels proud that people have come out and raised their voice without fear, in reference to the protests against the amended Citizenship Act, the National Register of Citizens and violence in JNU.

"I feel proud to see that we aren't scared to express ourselves... I think the fact that we are thinking about the country and its future.... Whatever may be our point of view, it's nice to see," Deepika told NDTV India.

"I feel proud about it that people are coming out -- be it on the streets or wherever they are -- they are raising their voice and expressing themselves as it is important. If we want to see change in life and society, it is important that a point of view be put forward," she added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On Jan. 7, Russias President Vladimir Putin made a snap visit to Syria. Putin proceeded from the Damascus airport to the command post of the Russian forces, where he was welcomed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the two presidents listened to reports from their militaries about the ongoing situations in different parts of Syria.

The presidents later held a bilateral meeting where, according to Peskov, Putin noted to Assad that one can be safe to say a long way has been covered in the restoration of Syrian statehood and territorial integrity.

[The president] noted that sparks of restoring life are observable in Damascus, Peskov added.

In turn, Assad thanked Putin for the visit and expressed appreciation for Russias help in the fight against terrorism and restoration of peaceful life.

Assad also sent along warm wishes to Putin and the Russian people for the Christmas holiday, Peskov stressed. The majority of Russians identify as Orthodox Christians, and accordingly celebrate Christmas Jan. 7, coinciding with the visit.

Putin will also visit a few other facilities while in Syria, Peskov said, without detailing what these are.

Putins visit comes at a critical time of growing regional tensions following the US strikes that killed the top Iranian general, Quds Force Cmdr. Qasem Soleimani. On Jan. 8, Putin will head to Turkey for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where the two have a busy agenda on Syria, including the situation in Idlib and east of Euphrates River as well as Libya, where Russian mercenaries and Turkish troops are fighting for opposing camps.

Putins Syria visit, hence, has special meaning against the background of these two contexts.

The Russian president kept mum on the regional escalations for over a week and now seems to have seized the moment by setting the stage to reassert Moscow as a key mediator and security provider for the region.

The Putin-style shuttle diplomacy between Turkey and Syria may reveal its results tomorrow when Putin lands in Istanbul. While consulting with Damascus before any contact with Assads enemies  be it Erdogan or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  is a norm in Russian diplomacy, the fact that Putin himself is doing it this time may mean Moscow is up to some significant initiative and is serious about having it materialize.

As for the Iranian angle, on Jan. 6, Russias Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke over the phone with Iran's chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri. The top military officials discussed de-escalation measures in Syria and the broader Middle East following the killing of Soleimani.

Iran, Russia and China just wrapped up joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman.

In the stream of reactions from Moscow, Russias Defense Ministry issued the strongest condemnation of the US attack and support for Iran.

Gen. Soleimani was an intelligent military leader, established a well-deserved authority and significant influence throughout the Middle East, read a Russian Ministry of Defense statement.

Under his direct guidance and command, long before the so-called international coalition led by the United States, military resistance to [the] international terrorist groups [the Islamic State (IS)] and al-Qaeda was organized in Syria and Iraq. His personal ontributions to the fight against [IS] in Syria are undoubtable, the Russian military stressed in the statement.

It added, Short-sighted steps by the US in the form of the assassination of Qasem Soleimani led to a sharp escalation of the military-political situation in the Middle East and serious negative consequences for the entire system of international security.

Earlier, commander of the Russian forces in Syria Lt. Gen. Alexander Chayko, appointed to this position in September 2019, led a Russian military delegation to the Iranian Embassy in Damascus to lay wreaths and pay tribute to Soleimani.

Later that day, speaking to Iranian media, Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, noted that Qasem Soleimani was key in [Irans] partnership with Russia and that [Soleimani] had great respect for President Putin  a message widely cited in Russian media.

Since the killing of Soleimani, Moscow has been particularly concerned with how this, among other things, may affect Russia-Iran cooperation in Syria, the domestic situation in Iran and the American presence in the region.

Nadana Fridrikhson, a Russian journalist covering the Middle East, says the US strike sought four goals: first, to behead the Hashid Shaabi (also known as the Popular Mobilization Units, an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization composed of 40 mostly Shiite militias); second, to break the spine of the Iranian axis of resistance; third, to impact the situation in Syria; and fourth, to impact the domestic situation in Iran.

Qasem Soleimani was very much personally involved in saving the Assad regime. When they say Assad owes Iran a lot, we should primarily think of Soleimani. But this was during the war times. In the political process, Soleimani could have become a problem for Assad. The Syrian president would, at best, have to coordinate every step of his own with the Iranian general and in the worst-case scenario be a conductor of Iranian decisions, Fridrikhson argues.

She added, The killing of Soleimani potentially opens some space for Americans in Syria. They may come up with some 'interesting proposals' [to Damascus]. Trump will continue to aggressively push out all pro-Iranian militias from the country, including with bombings. Soleimanis death closed the ranks for [the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps], but replacing him on the ground may be challenging.

Putins visit, perhaps, gives Assad necessary reassurances and eyes strengthening Russias own positions in Syria in the areas of strategic importance to Moscow.

In fact, Moscow received the liquidation of Soleimani with satisfaction, envy and awe, Arkady Dubnov, a Moscow-based political analyst, argues.

With satisfaction, because the elimination of the No. 2 person in Iranian leadership weakens the regional positions of Tehran and strengthens those of Moscow, Dubnov explains.

With envy, because the White House openly showed who the main shaper of the world order today is. This status is still out of reach for the Kremlin, and it has to conduct its own operations clandestinely since its not really certain whether it has the 'right of the powerful.' With awe, because the American operation was effective, targeted and swift, he adds.

We prefer to deal with things how they are  weigh in pros and cons for us  not rejoice over our partners losses. Soleimani was a man of his word, and we enjoyed working with him on a few occasions over Syria, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry who spoke with Al-Monitor not for attribution said.

In this impudent assassination of the top official, we see huge risks first and foremost; everything else is expert speculation, he added.

Even if we assume this development leads to the significant departure of the US from the region, it doesnt automatically mean Moscow is the ultimate winner here; its a bit more nuanced, the diplomat said.

Putin is set to conclude his January Middle East tour in Israel on Jan. 22-23 to commemorate the freeing of thousands of people from the Auschwitz concentration camp. Things may change in the region by that time, but the issue of Iran will obviously loom large at his meeting. For now, Syria and Libya are the main concerns for the Russian president as he heads to Turkey.
The 60 Starlink broadband internet satellites of SpaceX's Starlink-2 mission are seen with the Earth as a stunning backdrop in this view from their Falcon 9 rocket second stage after a successful launch into orbit on Jan. 6, 2020.

SpaceX just launched its third big batch of Starlink internet satellites, and you might be able to spot the craft overhead if you know where to look.

The 60 satellites lifted off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Monday (Jan. 6) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, deploying into an orbit about 180 miles (290 kilometers) above our planet.

If the two previous 60-member Starlink launches, which occurred in May and November of last year, are any guide, these newly orbited satellites will be quite visible to observers under clear, dark skies, at least for the time being. The tightly clumped spacecraft will look like a bright string of pearls moving across the firmament.

Related: SpaceX's 1st Starlink Satellite Megaconstellation Launch in Photos

Video: Watch SpaceX's Starlink-2 Falcon 9 Rocket Landing!

It helps to know when and where to look, of course, and several websites can point you in the right direction. The tracking site Heavens-Above.com is a good option, as are N2YO.com and CalSky . All are easy to use; just follow the directions, and you'll get observing instructions tailored to your particular location here on Earth.

The bright string-of-pearls view won't last forever, however. The operational altitude of these Starlink satellites is 340 miles (550 km), and they'll make their way up there via thruster firings over the next one to four months, SpaceX representatives wrote in a mission description .

As they climb, the spacecraft will spread out and become dimmer, partly because they'll shift their solar arrays out of a special low-altitude, low-drag orientation.

"Once the satellites reach their operational altitude of 550 km and begin on-station service, their orientation changes and the satellites become significantly less visible from the ground," SpaceX representatives wrote in the mission description.

While the Starlink satellites' visibility has excited many skywatchers, other people have expressed concerns. Professional astronomers have complained about Starlink streaks interfering with observations , for example, and some dark-sky advocates note that the megaconstellation will alter everyone's view of the heavens .

"Megaconstellation" is no exaggeration. SpaceX already has permission from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to launch up to 12,000 Starlink craft, which are designed to provide cheap and efficient internet service to people around the globe. And the company has filed paperwork with the International Telecommunication Union for the potential use of 30,000 additional satellites. (It's unclear whether SpaceX will actually launch all of those craft, however. Company founder and CEO Elon Musk said last year that Starlink might be economically viable with about 1,000 satellites.)

For perspective, only about 2,000 operational satellites currently circle Earth, and humanity has launched only about 9,000 craft since the dawn of the Space Age, according to the U.N. Office for Outer Space Affairs.

Successful deployment of 60 Starlink satellites confirmed! pic.twitter.com/hA8eUp7dNIJanuary 7, 2020 See more

Such concerns will be aired Wednesday (Jan. 8) at the 235th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), during a special session called " Challenges to Astronomy from Satellites ." Those challenges aren't coming just from Starlink; other companies plan to loft internet-satellite networks as well. Both Amazon and OneWeb have similar ambitions, for example, though their envisioned constellations will be much smaller than SpaceX's.

Musk and other SpaceX representatives have expressed a desire to minimize Starlink's impact on the night sky, stressing that they're engaging with astronomers to help make this happen. For instance, Patricia Cooper, SpaceX's vice president of satellite government affairs, is presenting a paper during the special AAS session on Wednesday. And one of the 60 satellites that launched tonight features an experimental coating designed to reduce the object's brightness.

Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, " Out There " (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate ), is out now. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook .
Four small children were shot dead while trying to take refuge from the latest al-Shabaab extremist attack in Kenya early Tuesday, authorities said.

A Kenyan national police statement said the attackers targeted a telecommunications mast in eastern Garissa county near the border with Somalia, where the al-Qaeda-linked extremist group is based.

Police officers on patrol killed two attackers in the early morning assault near the village of Saretho, the statement said. It said a teacher was among the dead.

But a government security report of the incident seen by The Associated Press said four students from the Saretho primary school were killed.

The young pupils had taken refuge at the nearby Saretho police post when the attacks began and were guarded by the police when the militants fired at them, killing them instantly and wounding two of their school mates, the report said.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The report said some attackers escaped with injuries and were being pursued.

Kenyan authorities said bomb-making materials were seized after the attack.

Recommended Three Americans killed in terrorist attack on Kenyan military base

Since December, Al-Shabaab has increased attacks inside Kenya including Sunday's attack on a military base that killed three US military personnel and destroyed five US aircraft.

It was the first time al-Shabaab had attacked US troops inside Kenya.

The US on Monday said additional troops had arrived to increase security at the Manda Bay airfield in coastal Lamu county.

The US Africa Command also said it did not assess that the attack was linked to Iran, as Middle East tensions are soaring.

Al-Shabab is linked to al-Qaeda and has no known links to Iran or its proxies.

Al-Shabaab has vowed retribution on Kenya for deploying its troops in 2011 to fight the extremists in neighbouring Somalia, where the group is based. Garissa county borders Somalia and Lamu county is nearby.

The extremists often target police as well as civilian targets including buses, schools and infrastructure, mainly in the border region.

Associated Press
China Broadcasting Network (CBN) has been cleared by the countrys government to deploy a 5G network across 16 cities using spectrum in the 4.9GHz band.

The state-owned cable TV broadcaster received its commercial 5G licence at the same time as Chinas Big Three operators in June last year, having been granted a telecoms licence in 2016 by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) as part of a push towards convergence across telecoms and broadcasting.

CNB began trialling standalone (SA) technology on the 700MHz band in Shanghai in October last year. It is lining up an investment of CNY250 million ($35.8 million) for its 5G network, which will be based on SA technology.

The initial deployment will cover the major urban centres of Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen, along with 12 other cities. The firm aims to achieve nationwide coverage by 2021, having signed a deal in December 2019 with the countrys State Grid Corp allowing it to access the power companys extensive network of infrastructure.

China Mobile was granted 260MHz of spectrum across the 2.6GHz and 4.8GHz bands, while China Telecom and China Unicom each received 100MHz in the 3.5MHz band. The latter two operators are joining forces for their 5G deployments.
Germany plans to move some of its small troop contingent in Iraq to neighbouring Jordan and Kuwait amid tensions over the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general in an airstrike in Baghdad last week, the news agency DPA reported on Tuesday. The killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani has drastically raised regional tensions and escalated a crisis between Washington and Tehran.

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas wrote to lawmakers that the troops in the Iraqi bases in Baghdad and Taji would be temporarily thinned out, DPA said. The two officials stressed that talks with the Iraqi government on a continuation of the mission to train Iraqi troops would go on.

Germany has some 120 soldiers in Iraq, though the majority of them are not stationed in Taji and Baghdad but elsewhere in Iraq. The two ministers, speaking about those two locations, said that the soldiers deployed there will promptly be moved to Jordan and Kuwait and can be moved back if training resumes. Germany had already ordered its soldiers in Taji and Baghdad not to leave their bases after the killing of Soleimani last week near the Baghdad airport.
LA JOLLA, CALIF. - JANUARY 7, 2020 - Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have identified a new way to boost the immune system's ability to fight cancer. The study, which was performed in collaboration with NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center, used a mouse model to identify the importance of the Siah2 protein in the control of immune cells called T regulatory cells (Tregs), which limit the effectiveness of currently used immunotherapies. The research, which offers a new avenue to pursue immunotherapy in cases where the treatment fails, was published today in Nature Communications.

"While Siah2 is involved in control of activities that govern cancer development, this study offers the first direct evidence for its role in the immune system, namely in anti-tumor immunity," says Ze'ev Ronai, Ph.D., professor in Sanford Burnham Prebys' Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program and senior author of the study. "Our study shows that a PD-1 inhibitor can be used to treat tumors that currently do not respond to this therapy, when administered in mice lacking the Siah2 gene, thereby offering a means to expand the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The findings also provide further justification for our efforts to find a drug that blocks Siah2."

The development of cancer immunotherapies, which harness the power of an individual's immune system to destroy tumors, has revolutionized the treatment of certain cancers. For some people with advanced melanoma, a deadly skin cancer, the treatment has extended survival to years instead of months. However, the treatment only works for about 40% of people with advanced melanoma. The study from the Ronai lab offers a new means to make this treatment effective in individuals who at present do not respond to anti-PD-1 therapy.

Ronai explains, "In our study, mice lacking the Siah2 gene were able to mount an immune attack against melanoma. Moreover, the effectiveness of Siah2 in immunotherapy was demonstrated for 'cold' tumors--those that do not respond to immunotherapy--which were effectively eliminated by a PD-1 blockade in Siah2-mutant mice."

Understanding the basic mechanisms of tumor immunity will ultimately help us improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy, says Michael Rape, Ph.D., Howard Hughes Investigator and professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at University of California, Berkeley. This study uncovers an important layer in the regulation of key immune cell components that impact the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy, highlighting the need to develop inhibitors for Tregs, in which a Siah2 inhibitor holds promise.

Scientists have known for many years that Siah2 is involved in cellular responses to hypoxia (low oxygen) and the unfolded protein response--two processes that are exploited by tumors to keep growing. Ronai has studied the protein for nearly a decade in hopes of finding better cancer treatments: His team is currently working to develop a small molecule drug that blocks the protein. Now, Ronai's study shows that the protein also plays an important role in regulating the immune system's response to a tumor.

In the study, the scientists used genetically engineered mice that did not produce the Siah2 protein and then introduced BRAF-mutant melanoma--a mutation that occurs in about half of human melanomas. This approach allowed the researchers to study the role of Siah2 in the tumor's microenvironment, of which the immune system is a major component. In the absence of the Siah2 gene, the melanoma tumors receded--a stark contrast to mice with the Siah2 gene, in which the tumor continued to grow. Giving these mice anti-PD-1 therapy effectively eliminated melanoma that otherwise resisted this therapy, demonstrating a new path to enhance the effectiveness of current immunotherapies.

Digging deeper into their findings, the scientists discovered that in the Siah2 mutant mice, the tumors were infiltrated by killer but not Treg immune cells--indicating the immune system was more active in clearing the tumors. The lack of the Treg cells was attributed to reduced proliferation and recruitment into the tumor due to the role of Siah2 and its control of cell cycle regulatory proteins.

"Our discovery only fuels our sense of urgency to find a drug that inhibits Siah2," says Ronai. "Using an arsenal of novel approaches should enable us to advance the targeting of Siah2 in both the tumors and their microenvironment."

###

The first author of the study is Marzia Scortegagna, Ph.D., of Sanford Burnham Prebys. Additional study authors include Yongmei Feng, Ph.D., Dennis C. Otero, Ph.D., Linda M. Bradley, Ph.D., and Yan Li, M.D., Ph.D., of Sanford Burnham Prebys; Kathryn Hockemeyer, M.D., Ph.D., Igor Dolgalev and Ioannis Aifantis, Ph.D., of NYU School of Medicine; Joanna Po?niak, Ph.D., Florian Rambow, Ph.D., and Jean-Christophe Marine, Ph.D., of VIB; Roberto Tinoco, Ph.D., of Sanford Burnham Prebys and the University of California, Irvine; Tongwu Zhang, Ph.D., and Kevin Brown, Ph.D., of the National Cancer Institute; and Marcus Bosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., of Yale School of Medicine.

The study's DOI is 10.1038/s41467-019-13826-7.

Research reported in this press release was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (R35CA197465, P01CA128814, 509524, R01CA202025, R01CA202027, R01CA13379 and P30CA016087).

About Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Research Institute

Sanford Burnham Prebys is a preeminent, independent biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding human biology and disease and advancing scientific discoveries to profoundly impact human health. For more than 40 years, our research has produced breakthroughs in cancer, neuroscience, immunology and children's diseases, and is anchored by our NCI-designated Cancer Center and advanced drug discovery capabilities. For more information, visit us at SBPdiscovery.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/SBPdiscovery and on Twitter @SBPdiscovery.
By HONG XIAO

China's top envoy to the United Nations said the country is committed to playing a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

Concerning the escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran and the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region, Ambassador Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said at UN headquarters in New York on Monday that "China follows the situation very closely, and the pressing task at the moment is to prevent the situation from further escalating and running out of control."

Zhang said that as a permanent member of the Security Council, China is carrying out active diplomatic efforts.

"State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has had telephone conversations with the Russian, French and Iranian foreign ministers in firm commitment to regional peace and stability," he said.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on world leaders to de-escalate geopolitical tensions, which he described as being "at their highest level this century" as the new decade dawns, according to the UN News website.

"The New Year has begun with our world in turmoil. We are living in dangerous times", said the UN chief at the noon "press stakeout", noting that turbulence is only escalating.

On Sunday, the Iraqi parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling for US troops to leave the country, in a clear response to the killing of the Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani on their soil.

In response, US President Donald Trump has threatened Iraq with sanctions if the US is forced to withdraw its forces. He also mentioned on Twitter that sites of "cultural" significance in Iran were potential targets if there were reprisal attacks against Americans.

Guterres stated that a "cauldron of tensions is leading more and more countries to take unpredicted decisions with unpredictable consequences and a profound risk of miscalculation".

Zhang stated that China opposes the arbitrary use of force in international relations.

"The US unilateral adventurist acts have violated basic norms governing international relations and led to aggravation of tensions," he said.

"We urge the US side not to abuse force and call on relevant parties to exercise restraint and seek solution through dialogue," he said, adding that the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq should be respected at the same time.

As the Security Council shoulders the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, Zhang called for the international community, including the Security Council, to make effors to de-escalate tensions.

According to Zhang, China has noticed that the permanent representative of Iran has presented a letter to the president of the Security Council, asking the council to pay close attention to US actions and to uphold council responsibilities.

"China is ready to keep close communication with relevant parties, uphold just and objective positions, stand for international law, fairness and justice, and maintain peace and stability in the Gulf region and the Middle East," Zhang said.

Earlier on Monday, the United States accused China and Russia of blocking a UN Security Council statement "underscoring the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises" after a Dec 31 attack on the US embassy in Baghdad, according to Reuters.

Such statements by the 15-member Security Council have to be agreed to by consensus.

Zhang responded that "China does not accept the US accusation.

"China firmly supports protection of the safety of foreign missions in accordance with international law," Zhang said.

"The US unilateral military action has led to drastic changes in the regional situation. Action taken by the Security Council should reflect the latest developments of the situation and help prevent escalation of tensions," Zhang added.

According to UN News, the UN chief had a clear four-point message for what needs to happen now, in capitals across the world: "Stop escalation. Exercise maximum restraint. Restart dialogue. Renew international cooperation."

"Let us not forget the terrible human suffering caused by war," he concluded. "As always, ordinary people pay the highest price. It is our common duty to avoid it."
The Internal Revenue Service is ready to accept your federal tax returns starting Monday, Jan. 28.

You can file for free electronically through the IRS website or download paper forms. Tax preparation companies such as TurboTax and H&R Block are also filing tax returns to the IRS on behalf of their customers beginning Monday.

The agency recalled all its employees after the government reopened on Friday. It said in a statement Monday that it's "working to promptly resume normal operations."

The IRS expects 150 million individual returns to be filed this year, with the first refunds to go out in the first week of February. In general, the agency expects most refunds to be issued in less than 21 days. You can check the status of your refund by going to the agency's "Where's my refund?" tool online or by mobile app.

Tax help

This tax-filing season marks the first since the new tax law that passed in December 2017. The most significant changes are the increased standard deduction, the doubling of the child tax credit and the $10,000 cap on the state and local tax deduction.

The IRS expects heavy phone traffic in the the early weeks of tax season, so it encourages you to use its website to find answers before calling. Check out Publication 5307: Tax Reform: Basics for Individuals and Families.

Low- and moderate-income taxpayers can get free help with filing their tax returns at the more than 12,000 community-based tax help sites. To find one, use the site locator.

Other key tax dates

You have until Monday, April 15, to file your 2018 taxes. Taxpayers in Maine and Massachusetts have until April 17 to file their returns because of local holidays.

Here are other important tax dates:

January 31, 2019: Deadline for employers to mail out W-2 forms and for businesses to send certain 1099-MISC statements.

March 15, 2019: Tax returns for LLCs and S-corporations are due.

April 15, 2019: This is the last day you can file your taxes electronically or postmark your paper taxes.

Story continues

Get ready

Collect documents: Print out a tax checklist from the IRS, TurboTax or H&R Block. Collect and file necessary tax documents like your W-2s from your employers and 1099s from your bank. Gather receipts as proof of charitable contributions, if needed.

Take out old returns: Use last years tax return to help you remember what credits and deductions you claimed. This can help you identify key life events that could affect your taxes, such as marriage, divorce, a home purchase, a new baby or retirement.

Anticipate changes: Use TurboTaxs TaxCaster or H&R Blocks free income tax calculator to estimate your tax situation post-tax reform law. If you need to lower your 2018 taxable income, you can fund an IRA until April 15.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Taxes 2019: When does income tax season start?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced the introduction of a multiple-entry tourist visa scheme valid for five years for all nat...





The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced the introduction of a multiple-entry tourist visa scheme valid for five years for all nationalities.





Dubai, the countrys commercial city, is one of the favourite destinations of Nigerian travellers.





Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, announced the development on Monday after his first cabinet meeting for the new year.





Maktoum said the move is part of plans to turn the Gulf state into a tourism hub and to establish the country as a major global tourist destination.

Prior to the extension, tourists could only get a 30-day or 90-day visa duration, depending on the country.





According to the prime minister, the UAE receives 21 million visitors annually.





Today we approved the change of the tourist visa system in the country  so that the duration of the tourist visa is five years, multi-use .. for all nationalities .. we receive more than 21 million tourists annually and our aim is to establish the country as a major global tourist destination, Maktoum said on Twitter.





I chaired the first meeting of the Council of Ministers in the new year  We reviewed the achievements of a year ago  Our plan for a new year has come  The year 2020 will be a different year because it is the year of preparation for its fifty .. the year in which we design the future emirates




New York: Harvey Weinstein has been indicted on new sex crime charges in Los Angeles, just as his trial on separate rape and sexual assault charges in New York was poised to get underway, prosecutors announced Monday.

The Hollywood mogul has been charged with raping one woman and sexually assaulting another in separate incidents over a two-day period in 2013, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a news release. "We believe the evidence will show that the defendant used his power and influence to gain access to his victims and then commit violent crimes against them," Lacey said in a statement.

"I want to commend the victims who have come forward and bravely recounted what happened to them. It is my hope that all victims of sexual violence find strength and healing as they move forward." Weinstein allegedly raped a woman in a hotel room on February 18, 2013, after he pushed his way inside her room, prosecutors said. The next night, he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in a Beverly Hills hotel suite. Weinstein faces up to 28 years in state prison if he is convicted of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint. His arraignment has not yet been scheduled and prosecutors will recommend USD 5 million bail. The news came the same day that Weinstein and several of the women who have accused him of sexual misconduct converged Monday at the New York City courthouse where a judge and his lawyers handled the final preparations for his high-stakes trial on charges of rape and assault.

Speaking at the New York courthouse Monday prior to the announcement, Weinstein's attorneys suggested they knew charges might be coming. They asked the judge for potential jurors to be sequestered partly because of the possibility that charges could be brought elsewhere against Weinstein while the trial was ongoing. The denied that request. "There is a potential LA situation going on," his lawyer, Donna Rotunno, told reporters after the hearing. "We don't know what is going to happen. We're hoping not," added another of his lawyers, Damon Cheronis. "We have no control over what happens in Los Angeles or anywhere else."

Earlier Monday, Weinstein, 67, entered the courthouse in New York leaning on a walker following a recent back surgery. When asked outside the courtroom how his back felt, Weinstein responded with a thin smile and a so-so gesture with his hand. "Not so good," he said. "Better." Inside, his lawyers and prosecutors spent the morning sparring about procedural matters, including how to keep publicity surrounding the trial from influencing the jury's thinking. In a brief hearing, the judge declined to gag Weinstein's attorneys from speaking to the media  in addition to denying the motion to sequester jurors. The judge also turned down a defense request to call as a witness a police detective who had been accused of mishandling part of the case. Across the street, actresses and other women who say they were sexually harassed or assaulted by Weinstein dismissed him as a villain undeserving of anyone's pity. "He looked cowardly. He wouldn't look at us. He wouldn't make eye contact," said Sarah Ann Masse, a performer and writer who said Weinstein once sexually harassed her in his underwear during a job interview.

"This trial is a cultural reckoning regardless of its legal outcome," she said. Jury selection in the trial will start Tuesday, more than two years since the allegations first came to widespread public attention and catalyzed the #MeToo movement. Weinstein's lead lawyer, Donna Rotunno, said she was hopeful a fair jury could be found that wouldn't pre-judge the case. "In this great country, you are innocent until proven guilty, she told reporters outside the courthouse.

Weinstein faces allegations that he raped one woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and performed a forcible sex act on a woman, Mimi Haleyi, who had come to him seeking film work in 2006. He has pleaded not guilty and says any sexual activity was consensual. If he's convicted of the most serious charges against him, two counts of predatory sexual assault, Weinstein faces a mandatory life sentence. For that to happen, prosecutors must demonstrate Weinstein had a habit of violating women, beyond the two directly involved in the encounters in which he's charged. To that end, they plan to call actress Annabella Sciorra, who says Weinstein forced himself inside her Manhattan apartment in 1993 or 1994 and raped her after she starred in a film for his movie studio. They also wanted jurors to hear from a few of the more than 75 women who have come forward publicly to accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct ranging from harassment to assault.

The first allegations were brought to light by The New York Times and The New Yorker in October 2017. Prosecutors got permission from the court to try to buttress their case with four other witnesses: Sciorra and three other accusers who haven't been named. One of those women said she had an encounter with Weinstein at a Manhattan hotel in 2004. A second was to testify about an interaction with Weinstein at a SoHo apartment in 2005. A third was described in court papers as having had an incident with Weinstein at a hotel in Beverly Hills, California, in February 2013.
paul gosar

AP

GOP Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona tweeted a fake photo of former President Barack Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani that appears to show the two men smiling and shaking hands.

"The world is a better place without these guys in power," Gosar tweeted.

Obama and Rouhani have never met. Rouhani is also still in power.

Gosar made headlines during the 2018 midterm elections when six of his siblings endorsed his opponent, David Brill, and skewered Gosar's candidacy in a Brill campaign ad.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Republican Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona tweeted a doctored photo showing former President Barack Obama shaking hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

"The world is a better place without these guys in power," Gosar tweeted.

Obama and Rouhani have never met. Rouhani is also still in power.

CNN reported that the original photo that the fake picture was based on shows Obama shaking hands with Manmohan Singh, who was India's prime minister at the time.

Obama and Rouhani spoke by phone in September 2013 in a historic moment that reflected the highest level contact between a US president and an Iranian president in 30 years. It came as the Obama administration was in the process of negotiating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran nuclear deal, with Rouhani's government.

Iran signed the deal in 2015, but the pact unraveled when President Donald Trump withdrew the US from it in May 2018. Iran continued to comply with the deal at the urging of other western nations, but it officially pulled out of the agreement over the weekend after Trump ordered a drone strike that assassinated Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the most powerful military official in Iran, who was also widely revered throughout the country.

Story continues

Gosar responded after his tweet made the rounds.

"To the dim witted reporters like @dmedin11: no one said this wasn't photoshopped. No one said the president of Iran was dead. No one said Obama met with Rouhani in person," he tweeted. "The tweet says: 'the world is a better place without either of them in power'."

Gosar added: "The point remains to all but the dimmest: Obama coddled, appeased, nurtured and protected the worlds No. 1 sponsor of terror. The world is better without Obama as president. The world will be better off without Rouhani."

The congressman made headlines in 2018 after six of his siblings endorsed his opponent, Democratic candidate David Brill, in the midterm elections. In a campaign ad for Brill, Gosar's siblings skewered him for his positions on healthcare and Social Security.

"I'm just hoping either in this election cycle or next, the people get the idea that he's just not fit for that office and he needs to be removed," Gosar's brother David said in the ad.

Gosar responded by tweeting: "My siblings who chose to film ads against me are all liberal Democrats who hate President Trump." He also said they were "disgruntled" by Hillary Clinton's loss in the 2016 US presidential election, adding that they were "related by blood to me but like leftists everywhere, they put political ideology before family. Stalin would be proud."

Gosar ended by saying, "To the six angry Democrat Gosars  see you at Mom and Dad's house!"

Read the original article on Business Insider
Months after he was fired by US President Donald Trump, former national security advisor John Bolton on Monday said he is ready to testify before the Senate on Trump's impeachment trial.

The surprising move by 71-year-old Bolton adds a new dimension to the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Trump, who is only the third president in the US' history to face such an attempt to remove an elected president from power.

"I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify," he said in a statement on Monday night.

The House, he said, has concluded its Constitutional responsibility by adopting articles of Impeachment related to the Ukraine matter.

"It now falls to the Senate to fulfil its Constitutional obligation to try impeachments, and it does not appear possible that a final judicial resolution of the still-unanswered Constitutional questions can be obtained before the Senate acts," he said.

Bolton said accordingly, "since my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study."



He added that during the present impeachment controversy, he has tried to meet his obligations both as a citizen and as a former national security advisor.

Unlike the House of Representatives, where the opposition Democratic party enjoyed a majority, the ruling Republicans have majority in the Senate.

The Democrats have alleged that they do not expect a fair trial in the Senate. The charges have been denied by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer, on the Senate floor demanded that Bolton be subpoenaed during the trial for his testimony. He described, Bolton as one of the key witnesses with knowledge of the president's dealings with Ukraine, about how decisions were made to withhold security assistance, and how opposition within the administration to that delay that Trump seemed to want, was overcome.

Given that Mr. Bolton's lawyers have stated he has new and relevant information to share, if any Senate Republican opposes issuing subpoenas to the four witnesses and documents we have requested they would make absolutely clear they are participating in a cover up, in one of the most sacred duties we have in this Congress, in this Senate. And that is to keep a President in check, Schumer said.

On the other hand, McConnell has suggested the Senate follow the 1999 example of beginning the impeachment trial first and then deciding on witnesses and documents after the arguments are complete.

In 1999, every single US senator agreed to establish basic parameters for the start of the trial up front, and we reserved mid-trial questions such as witnesses until later. The vote was 100-0, McConnell argued.

Schumer dismissed the argument.

He keeps making this argument, it doesn't gather any steam, because it's such a foolish one. Let me again respond, for the benefit of my colleagues: witnesses and documents are the most important issue and we should deal with them first, he said.

Republican Senator Mitt Romney, and a bitter Trump critic, favoured Bolton's appearance before the Senate. He said he wanted to hear from Bolton what he knows.

Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein demanded that the Senate issue subpoena to Bolton.

Given John Bolton's willingness to appear before the Senate, I can see no reason not to call on him to testify. As President Trump's national security advisor, he had firsthand knowledge of the president's actions and thinking with respect to Ukraine, she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Flula Borg, Vir Das, Bassem Youssef, and Gad Elmaleh. Photo: Vulture and Getty Images

Taking the stage and sharing their best five minutes is already as terrifying an experience as any stand-up comedian is likely to white-knuckle their way through. Now imagine partaking in that self-inflicted humiliation in a foreign country speaking a language youre still learning. This is the life of countless stand-up comics who have made the leap from their native land and decided to ply their comedic trade in their second  or in some cases fourth  language, English.

For many comics, its the natural progression from the corner theyve carved out in their native homeland. For high-profile performers like Gad Elmaleh, the anointed Jerry Seinfeld of France, it was the last remaining milestone in a landmark career in comedy. Either way, its a considerable challenge that starts with taking on a working understanding of a foreign language. But the journey to Americas ruthless stand-up clubs doesnt end there. The path also requires gaining a working understanding of the tone and nuance of Western comedy as well as a familiarity with certain cultural cues.

Even after mastering these elements, it doesnt take long for most foreign-tongued comedians to realize that a word-for-word translation of their best material simply wont do. Translating your act to English, be it in the U.S. or the U.K., typically involves a far greater degree of complexity  a unique wrinkle that took Elmaleh two years to fully understand when he came to the United States and established an English-language act.

In order to grasp the enormity of this career pivot, Vulture spoke with ten different comedians, including Elmaleh, hailing from a cross-section of nations. Some grew up functionally bilingual, while others had to learn English from scratch. All overcame linguistic, cultural, and a variety of other hurdles to translate their acts for an English-speaking audience, which can potentially take their act from quiet clubs to packed theaters. They addressed a variety of topics, including the beauty of foreign accents, how American and British audiences are simultaneously more and less approachable, and why Germans arent exactly known for their sense of humor.

Gad Elmaleh

Native Tongue: French, Arabic, and Hebrew

Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for GOOD+ Foundation

In the beginning, I would write my material in French and then I would give it to a translator so then he could give it to me in the right English. And every time I gave him ten pages, he would give me back seven pages. I was like, There is some material missing, no? Then I discovered the English language is so quick, efficient, and short. You dont have to use that many words. But an interesting fact is there are more words in the English language than in French.

Also, words in English mean what you hear. They dont mean something else. In Arabic its very complicated, in French its complicated, in Hebrew too. Also, some expressions make my life much easier. In the beginning, I would say to someone, I understand what you are trying to explain to me. The day I discovered Got it, I was so happy. In French, it takes so many words to say you understood what the people are telling you.

I have to say, I was really surprised in a good way to see that you can make fun of Americans in front of them and theyll patiently laugh. It means comedy is in the culture. More than the French, they agree to be self-deprecating.

If I go back to America, I would love to write a bit about how I started to do comedy in English two years ago and I just had to talk about my accent. But now that I know English, [and] my accent is not that strong, I need jokes. I used to be this sweet, cute little French guy trying to do things in English, and it was charming. Now that I speak English, its not enough.

Bassem Youssef

Native Tongue: Arabic

Photo: Tara Ziemba/Getty Images

[Comedy] is a third language. You can be the best English speaker out there, but thats a third language. Its timing, delivery, pacing, cadence, references, knowing your audience, reading the room, voice pitches. I dont say that I got all of that, but I started learning the hard way, and I started recording myself. I knew that my jokes were funny, but I didnt know why people didnt laugh. I listened to myself and I was saying the jokes, not telling the jokes.

I think this was more a personal journey, much deeper than being funny or not. Dealing with your insecurities. Accepting that you, at the age of 45, are doing something that people in their 20s are doing. After being an established doctor, after being the most famous person in your own region, and youre coming here and starting from scratch. Its scary, but its very fulfilling to expand your mind and expand your ability to continue to learn something new.

The funny thing is that I cannot do stand-up in Arabic. I cant. Its crazy now that Im thinking in English. People tell me, We want you to do stand-up in Arabic, and I sit down and write and I dont find it in me. Im not saying I wont, but its crazy that Im in a place where Im developing myself in English.

Flula Borg

Native Tongue: German

Photo: Jim Spellman/Getty Images

In Germany, I am not considered funny. Im just considered very German. Just another one of those guys waiting in line at the supermarket purchasing fresh blueberries. That was always what it was like in Germany.

German, I think, has some very interesting words. For example, we have something called treppenwitz. It means staircase joke. Let us say you and I are having a debate and we are insulting each other, and you say something really good to me and I feel stupid. As Im leaving your apartment, Im going down the stairs, and then this is when I realize a nice comeback for you. Its too late. Im in the staircase. This is what is wonderful about German.

I would say German has some more interesting words, but English has the most dope slang. There are many slangs I think are weird and fun, and I have explored some of these many times after a techno session in my automobile. [There was] a colleague I had who was called Jennifer, and I heard people saying in my office as I worked there that she was a real party-pooper. I did not understand how people know that she poops at parties. This should not be something people would know.

Our word structure is very different. In German, often the verb is at the very end. So if you are telling a joke in German, there is a very long delay sometimes, because you do not know where this is going. What will happen in the end? In English, it is not like this. So this can make a structure of storytelling or a weird joke feel very different.

Vir Das

Native Tongue: Hindi and English

Photo: Rick Kern/Getty Images

I write in Hindi for movies and series and that stuff. I feel like you have to do stand-up in the language that you think. And for me, that is English. I think I could write [stand-up in Hindi], but it wouldnt be as good because its not the first thought that you have. It would be derivative.

In terms of thinking in one language and writing in another, the one difference is in Hindi you have to get to the punch line and get to the laugh faster. I think Hindi is just a more direct language than English in those terms. There are more direct ways to convey any emotions or what you want to convey in Hindi.

Different areas of the world throw different things at you. I think people laugh in Norway at things that they wouldnt laugh at in France or that they wouldnt laugh at in London. All of a sudden, it starts to be clear that if one joke works in 17 different countries unequivocally, then that really is a good joke and its culture agnostic. Then you try and write more jokes like that.

Language is a bubble at the end of the day. Whether I speak Hindi or not, I have an Indian face to my English. I have an Indian cadence to my English, Indian pronunciation, I pause at different points, and thats dictated by who I am. Even my English is different from your English, and thats very visible onstage. Thats an entity that I own.

Jocelyn Chia

Native Tongue: Mandarin and English

Photo: YouTube

When I do my jokes in Asia, even if I do it in English, things have to be changed or shaped or just completely cut out just so it can culturally translate. Because its very tiring going to a different country and writing a whole new set for them.

You always want to end on the funny word. In English that is very easy to do. The reason why Germans are known for not having the greatest sense of humor, linguistically what Ive heard is its harder for them based on the syntax of their language to put the punch line at the end. So German humor ends up being pretty different from English humor.

In English, you do have to get to the punch line faster. I dont know if its different in any other language. It could be a cultural thing because in Asia, in the U.K., in Australia, audiences can be more patient. Theyre willing to let you go on a little bit longer. So I dont think its a language thing, I think its a cultural thing.

[In English, if] you start any line with Bitch! youre going to get a laugh. In Singapore, for those who speak Mandarin, if somebody pisses you off you just have to say, Ta ma de! which is like our cuss word for your mother. They always laugh.

Singaporeans talk really fast. I have to remind myself to speak more slowly. We speak quickly, so I have to slow down a little in America. Especially having an accent, it just helps them understand more. So I have to consciously slow down in America. At least, I try to.

Francisco Ramos

Native Tongue: Spanish

Photo: YouTube

When I think of bits, I think in English; I write them in English. Theres no translating. I actually do the opposite: I take bits that work in English and try to translate them to Spanish and see if they work.

English is a very short, right-to-the-point language, which is why stand-up works. With stand-up, its finding the word that could get to your point faster, to get to the joke faster. The more you talk, the more people are like, Hurry up, get to the point.

One of the things Ive found that is most challenging is in Spanish there is Central and South America and Spain. Everybody has their own way of talking, accents, and different words that they use. For me its finding the word that everybody understands. If I do a bit in Spanish and I use Venezuelan slang or Venezuelan words, then people from Mexico or Colombia are not going to get it. Spanish allows you to talk more, and the audience kind of respects that or is used to that. In English, youve got to go fast.

I definitely have my Venezuelan accent, but I try to neutralize it as much as possible in order for anyone to understand me. If I speak too fast, some people might not understand what Im saying. When I started doing stand-up, I would always remind myself, Go slow. Because I speak fast already, so if you speak slow people will understand you. Its not like youre speaking slow, youre speaking normal.

Ismo Leikola

Native Tongue: Finnish

Photo: Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images

Its easier to talk about America to Finnish people than the other way around. Everybody knows something about America, but nobody knows shit about Finland. Sometimes the idea and the joke or the observation can be translated, but for some reason its only funny in one language. Thats the mystery.

For example, this is a bit Ive been doing about the phrase If Im completely honest and wondering about that. We have the saying in Finnish, but in Finnish everything is in passive form. So in English its If Im completely honest and in Finnish its like If honesty is happening. So things like that  some parts of that bit can be translated, but some cant be translated.

Even if you find the exact translation of something, there might be hidden feelings. Kind of like the tone, which can be completely different or wrong. Its really hard to tell the tone in a second language. Sometimes you just dont know the word and you just have to ask.

Im actually planning to do this social-media post about some of the silliest expressions that we use regularly [in Finnish]. We say, Not even with an axe. Like, I couldnt pass that car, not even with an axe. Meaning I just couldnt do it. Its really ridiculous. How would an axe help unless it was with killing something? We use that in everything. Like you need an axe to do everything. It could be, I couldnt find my keys, even with an axe.

There are way sillier ones. The amount of words we have for a penis, for example. There are so many and they are so funny. Theres lots in English, too, but they are too weird. Like wiener.

Christian Schulte-Loh

Native Tongue: German

Photo: Comedy Store/Wikipedia

In other European countries, people think Germans have just no sense of humor whatsoever. I wasnt really aware that this was such a big thing, but apparently it was and still is. When I say that Im German, people who havent seen me before think thats funny that a German can be a comedian. They think Germans can be funny, but not intentionally.

I think I have two comedy brains. I write stuff in German and I write stuff in English, because I do very different material when Im gigging in German compared to when Im gigging in English. If I do a one-hour show, maybe ten minutes of that would be the same in both languages. The rest would be completely different.

You get away with more stuff in English. In England, if you said Shut the fuck up to somebody in the front row, that would be something that you hear quite often in Britain. People would even laugh. If you literally said that in German, it would be too harsh. [Its] the same with certain jokes. In Britain, they drink more, so there is more energy in the room; its rougher. If people dont like the act they start to interrupt, and then they get up and have a drink. In Germany, they watch it and sit through it.

Theres the famous line: Germans are too honest to be polite, and Brits are too polite to be honest. I think in Britain there is more coding, sarcasm. In Britain and America, if you say I love this guy, it doesnt mean you love the person. You like the person. In Britain, I think the entire society is being held together by sarcasm. Its a very important tool to use.

Rafi Bastos

Native Tongue: Portuguese

Photo: Vanessa Carvalho/Shutterstock/Vanessa Carvalho/Shutterstock

A few jokes you can translate and they work in English as well. When you talk about marriage and dating and Tinder, those subjects are international. Talking about my kid and pregnancy  we are the same in those areas. Those jokes work on the same level. Of course, you have to change a little bit, find the right word, find the right verb. There is a math behind the joke, and I respect the math when Im translating.

In order for me to do a joke in English, I have to be completely memorized to make it look fresh. I can change the rhythm, I can make it quicker and make it slower. I can play with the joke. If Im not memorized, Im thinking so much in the way Im going to say it that it looks memorized. Its crazy. Its almost like reverse psychology.

What I think is amazing is there is a likability to a foreigner talking in English. In my language I am considered an asshole. In English, there is a likability behind the way I speak, and Im taking advantage of it. I dont feel Im starting again writing the material, but also, I found a new perspective on my own personality talking in a different language. Thats the craziest thing for me.

I feel clubs treat us as a special type of comedian: We need to have a woman and we need to have a foreigner. Its almost like a brand. So thats what Im trying to run away from. Because otherwise Im a category. I dont want to be a category.

Yuriko Kotani

Native Tongue: Japanese

Photo: SOPA Images/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

I dont think in Japan we even call it stand-up comedy. Its more like two people talking, like a double act. One person just talking and doing set-up and punch line was very difficult for me at the beginning, because in Japan you say something and then the other person says something. Its different.

Right now my rhythm is an English rhythm. In my case its about rhythm, so when Im writing or thinking material, its in English. I must write it down in English. One time a while ago, I MC-ed in Japan in Fukuoka. So I translated my English set into Japanese. Some stuff got laughs, but one bit I did the joke and the audience went Uuuhh. They acknowledged the information. Its live and learn.

As a Japanese thing  this is not comedy, but its a general thing  swear words were very interesting. Like the F-word. For example, in movies people say, Fuck you. But this F-word can be used for everything. Like, This fucking chair. It becomes an adjective? Or Fuck off. It becomes something like Get out or some similar meaning. In Japan, we have swear words or something to say harshly or make others feel bad. But the F-word can be used in many ways.

It is difficult, but it is awesome when you get a laugh. It is just tremendous. Anyone who wants to do it, Im telling you, please do it. Sometimes you hear someone say its not good enough doing it in a second language. Ignore those people. Just go for it.
Agartala, Jan 7 : Around 250 tribals belonging to various parties were arrested for "unlawful assembly" while protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), here on Tuesday.

Activists of the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), a junior partner in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the state, have started sit-in on Monday at Khumulwng, headquarters of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

The Joint Movement Against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (JMACAB), a group of many tribal parties, led by the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), which called off the ant-CAA stir on December 11 after a meeting with Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, resumed the protest and held a protest here on Tuesday.

The JMACAB has been demanding that Tripura and other northeastern states be kept out of the CAA purview.

Animesh Debbarma, chief of the National Conference of Tripura (NCT), a part of the JMACAB, said 80 years ago the indigenous tribals were in majority. But they were now only one third of the state's four million population, he said.

"If the Bangladeshi refugees are given citizenship as per the CAA, the tribal population will be reduced further and their traditional life, culture and economy -- already under pressure -- would be endangered," Debbarma, a former legislator, said.

JMACAB convener Anthony Debbarma said after a meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah on December 12, the group met the Chief Minister on December 18 and January 2, but nothing happened.

"Shah assured another meeting within December. But even after a month, we have not received any intimation from Delhi," he said.

The JMACAB and various tribal parties, including the tribal front of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, the Tripura Rajya Upajati Ganamukti Parishad (TRUGP), the state's oldest tribal-based party, have been demanding that the northeast be kept out of the CAA.

Tribal Welfare and Forest Minister and IPFT General Secretary Mevar Kumar Jamatia told IANS that they would continue the sit-in till the demands were met.

The IPFT has also been demanding a separate state for tribals since 2009 by upgrading the TTAADC, and inclusion of "Kokborok", the tribal language, into the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.

The TTAADC has jurisdiction over two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km area, home to over 12,16,000 people, mostly tribals.
London: The British opposition Labour Party has set out plans for a three-month contest to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as leader.

The party's National Executive Committee said nominations would open on Tuesday, London time, and stay open until 2.30pm on January 13. In 2015, Corbyn only just managed to get his papers submitted in time.

So far five MPs have said they want to run: Keir Starmer, Jess Phillips, Emily Thornberry, Lisa Nandy and Clive Lewis. Labour's business spokeswoman, Rebecca Long Bailey, is also likely to stand.

Sir Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips appear on The Andrew Marr Show on January 5, 2019 in London. Credit:BBC/Getty Images

The threshold for nominations has been lowered, so that to get on the ballot paper, a candidate needs to be nominated by 10 per cent of members of Parliament and members of the European Parliament, or 22 people. But a new hurdle requires a candidate to get the support of 5 per cent of local party groups, or some Labour-supporting trade unions, by February 14. Voting will run from February 21 to April 2, with the result to be announced on April 4.
The coffins of General Soleimani and colleagues killed by the US drone strike in Iraq last week are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession in Tehran on Monday (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP)

Two former foreign secretaries have joined debate over the assassination of General Qassem Suleimani, with Jeremy Hunt saying it exposes cracks in the Western alliance and Jack Straw calling it a gamble by Donald Trump and linking it to his re-election bid.

Mr Hunt, the Tory foreign minister for a year under Theresa May, says the killing of the Iranian general without consultation from the United States to countries including Britain reflected a growing disregard toward Europe from Washington.

This stemmed mostly from American disenchantment with defence spending by European countries, which invest 2% of their GDP or less on defence whereas the US spends 4%.

Expand Close A crowd said by Tehran police to be in the millions turns out for the funeral of General Suleimani on Monday (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp A crowd said by Tehran police to be in the millions turns out for the funeral of General Suleimani on Monday (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP)

American taxpayers still fund around one third of the cost of defending Europe, a massive subsidy to already-prosperous Europeans, Mr Hunt wrote in The Daily Telegraph.

If the best the Europeans can manage is half the proportion spent by the US it hardly reassures the hawks in Washington.

In the end, money matters. If were not prepared to cough up we should not be surprised if we are not consulted ahead of big decisions such as the taking out of General Suleimani. Nor should we be surprised if the Western alliance slowly starts to fracture as resentment builds up at European free-riding. To allow that would be a historic mistake.

Mr Hunt said many in Washington would happily abandon institutions such as NATO for an alternative scenario in which powers like the US, Russia and China carve up the world into spheres of influence. If Britain did not want that, it had to behave like a real ally to the US and pull its weight in global affairs, including making proper contributions to world peace and security and persuading EU countries to do the same.

Mr Straw, Labours foreign secretary from 2001-06, said Mr Trump had done what other major stakeholders had decided was not worth doing in ordering the killing of General Soleimani, saying predecessors George W Bush and Barack Obama, along with Israel, had judged the costs of doing so far outweighed any benefits.

We should not be surprised if we are not consulted ahead of big decisionsJeremy Hunt

They were right, Mr Straw wrote in The Times. Aside from any deaths of American, Israeli, or other westerners in reprisal for Soleimanis killing, there will be wider consequences adverse to US and Israeli interests, and beneficial to Iran.

Rather than a pre-emptive strike against the killing of Americans by Iranian-backed forces, Mr Straw linked the strike to Mr Trumps re-election bid, and called it a gamble which would play into the hands of the hardliners in Iran.

Whether it all helps President Trumps re-election remains to be seen, he wrote. But if so, what a price to pay.

Meanwhile, retired diplomat Sir Paul Lever, former chairman of the UKs Joint Intelligence Committee, concurred with Mr Hunt that Britain  like France and Germany  should not expect to be involved in Americas manoeuvrings in regard to Iran.

We have interests to protect in the region (by re-grouping our forces in Iraq to more defendable locations and by re-instituting convoys in the Strait of Hormuz), Sir Paul wrote in a letter to The Times.

But we should not pretend that we are a significant political player. We are not consulted by the United States and we have no influence over Iran. We can only watch and wait. This is the reality of being a middle-sized power.
"We contacted the UP jail Director General Anand Kumar for a hangman to which he said that he will arrange a hangman from Meerut jail," said Goyal.

When asked that before how many days a hangman will be required, he said, "It is a long process but yes the place from where UP jail administration will be sending the hangman to Tihar is not too far from Delhi so we will call the hangman accordingly."

Pawan Jallad, who is expected to carry out the hangings, told IANS: "As of now I am in Saharanpur. I was been told to be ready to conduct the hangings of the Nirbhaya case convicts. As soon as I receive an official information from the Meerut jail, I will reach Tihar jail."

"I have said earlier also that the execution in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder should happen as early as possible. If the government had expedited on executing the hanging of the Nirbhaya case convicts, the Hyderabad case might not have happened," said Pawan.

"I come from the family of executioners. I don't need much practice. I will only have to inspect the noose and the execution place once, see the measurement of the convicts and prepare myself for the execution," added Pawan.

He said I am the fourth generation after my great grandfather (Lakshman Jallad), grandfather (Kalu Ram Jallad) and father Mammu Jallad. I leant the execution from them only. "It is not an easy job. It is a job which has a lot of responsibilities because on mistake of the hangman can put the convict in more pain," Pawan said.

For the first time, Pawan executed a hanging at Patiala Central Jail with his grandfather, when he hanged two brothers. Pawan, who has executed five hangings with his grandfather till now, said: "When I executed my first hanging with my grandfather, I was 20-22 year old now I am 58."

Pawan recalls that the last execution that he did with his grandfather was of a convict in the Bulandshahar gang rape and murder case in 1988 at the Central Jail.

Pawan said that he is happy to know that there are all the possibilities that he will only execute the hangings of the Nirbhaya case convicts. He is also happy that despite being executing the hangings for whole of his life he remained poor.

Now, he will get around Rs 1 lakh (Rs 25,000 per convict) for hanging four convicts which will improve his financial situation for a few days at least.

(Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be reached at sanjeev.c@ians.in)
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Jan. 07, 2020 | EDDYVILLE

By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 07, 2020 | 10:13 AM | EDDYVILLE

A former Kuttawa city clerk and her husband will both be spending several years in prison for their roles in the theft of more than $30,000 from the city's bank account.



Court records show Judge C.A. Woodall sentenced Katie Harrison Monday to nine years in prison on 24 counts of second degree forgery, abuse of the public trust, tampering with physical evidence, theft by unlawful taking over $10,000 and theft by deception over $500. Her husband Clayton Harrison was also sentenced to three years on 10 counts of second degree possession of a forged instrument, theft by unlawful taking over $10,000 and theft by deception over $500. The Harrisons were also ordered to pay $17,000 in restitution.



Charges against the couple stemmed from $31,000 they reportedly stole from the City of Kuttawa during Katie's time as Kuttawa's City Clerk. They both accepted plea deals in December.



All of the charges followed a Kentucky State Police investigation in August 2018, after officials discovered financial irregularities in two different Kuttawa city accounts. Police found and arrested the couple in Sevier County, Tennessee in November 2018.
Another language, Wakhi, from eastern Iran as well as parts of Pakistan, China, Tajikistan and Afghanistan, is believed to be spoken by less than a handful of people in New York, according to the language alliance.

One speaker, Husniya Khujamyorova, 31, who works as a linguist at the organization, is writing childrens books in Wakhi in the hopes of passing down the language, which is spoken by about 40,000 people worldwide. People like me, they move at an early age from their country, Ms. Khujamyorova said. There is not enough material to pass their language to the new generation.

Even if a language is spoken by only a few people, language experts say it still plays a vital role.

Its absolutely invaluable to document, analyze, understand and maintain the linguistic diversity of the planet, said Ross Perlin, a director of the language alliance and an adjunct professor of linguistics at Columbia University. But we also see it as a matter of justice  languages are not dying a natural death. Theyre disappearing because people have been marginalized and pressured and made to feel bad to speak their language, or theyre swamped by a dominant language.

Just like diversity with the environment, language loss represents an immense tragedy for the world, he added.

As for Seke, which means golden language, legend has it that it was passed down from people living in the snowy peaks of the Himalayas who settled in Mustang, a former kingdom whose terrain was formed, so the story goes, from the heart and innards of a demon defeated in battle by a Buddhist monk.

The apartment building in Flatbush where a number of Seke speakers now live is a microcosm of life back home and a bastion of the language.
Bharat Bandh 2020 Updates:Hitting out at the Left and the Congress, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that those who don't have any political existence in the state are trying to ruin its economy by pursuing 'cheap politics' of strikes.

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Police vehicles have been set on fire. In retaliation, the state police fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse protestors. The National Highway 34 has been shut.

The nationwide strike called by the trade unions against the Centre's labour and economic policies have turned violent in West Bengal's Malda district CNN News18 reported.

Meanwhile, four crude bombs were recovered by the police from a railway track near Hridaypur station in North 24 Parganas.

A clash erupted allegedly between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Students' Federation of India (SFI) workers in Burdwan during the Bharat Bandh called by ten trade Unions against 'anti-worker policies of Central Government'.

Several bank employees under the banner of the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and All India Bank Officers Association among others took out a rally at MP Nagar. However, operations of the State Bank of India remained unaffected, as its employees refrained from taking part in the protest, an SBI official said.

Banking services in Madhya Pradesh were affected amid the nationwide strike, but transport and other services remained unaffected with markets and petrol pumps remaining open across the state.

At some places like Ashoknagar and Habra in Sealdah North section, banana leaves were thrown onto overhead electrical wires, while railway sleepers were placed on the tracks at Deula and Magrahat stations in Sealdah south section, to stop train movement.

Sealdah division of Eastern Railway was the most affected with cancellation of 128 local trains since morning, ER spokesman Nikhil Chakraborty said. In its Howrah division, 47 more EMU locals were cancelled and 10 mail and express trains were detained enroute, he said. Train services in all the divisions were normalised by 1 pm after the blockades were lifted, Chakraborty said.

In the Howrah-Kharagpur section of South Eastern Railway, there were blockades at some places for durations from 10 minutes to half an hour, but no train was cancelled, its spokesman Sanjoy Ghosh told PTI.

At least 175 local trains were cancelled in the Sealdah and Howrah divisions of Eastern Railway (ER) owing to the blockades put up by supporters of the strike.

Till noon, around 55 people were arrested from different parts of the city for allegedly trying to block vehicles, stall government buses or forcibly stop shopkeepers from opening their establishments, a senior officer of the Kolkata Police told PTI.

Demonstration was also held in Delhi University's North Campus on Wednesday in support of Bharat Bandh called by ten trade unions and against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

"We will not allow any strike in Bengal. Those who don't have any political existence in the state are trying to ruin its economy by pursuing cheap politics such as strikes," she said.

Mamata said she supported the cause of the strike, which has been called to protest against the Centre's economic policies, the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed nationwide NRC, but reiterated that her party and government is against any sort of shutdown.

Hitting out at the Left and the Congress, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that those who don't have any political existence in the state are trying to ruin its economy by pursuing "cheap politics" of strikes.

Flight services were normal at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport but, train services were partially affected in some sectors of the Sealdah, Howrah and Kharagpur sections due to obstruction by protesters.

Officials said no trains have been affected in the National Capital, but some Delhi-bound trains from Odisha and West Bengal could be affected. Widespread intermittent rains also reduced the intensity of the strike.

Metro and the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) services functioned normally despite the strike call.

The National Capital largely remained unaffected by the nation-wide strike called by trade unions on Wednesday, though most industrial workers stayed away from work.

Suburban trains, which are called as the "lifeline of Mumbai" with a ridership of more than 75 lakh commuters per day, public buses, taxis and autorickshaws are running normally in the island city and suburbs.

No untoward incident was reported so far from any region of the state.

The nationwide strike seems to have failed to evoke much response in Maharashtra till Wednesday afternoon with transport and banking services remaining largely unaffected in many districts as well as in the country's financial capital.

However, the officer said a team will visit the houseboat and enquire about the incident and seek details from the driver. The driver claimed that the protesters blocked the boat for around two hours.

Police said that Levitt, who received the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was in Alappuzha with his wife and was stopped by the protesters near Kainakary. "We received a call from the boat driver saying the protesters were not allowing to take the boat for the ride. When we were about to leave for the place, the boat driver called us back and told us that the issue was solved and they have left," a police officer told PTI.

A houseboat carrying Nobel laureate Michael Levitt in the backwaters in Kerala's Alappuzha was blocked for some time by trade union activists who are on a nationwide strike against the Centre's "anti-labour" policies on Wednesday.

The Jadavpur University students' union joined the nationwide strike called by labour unions against the "anti-labour" policies of the BJP-led government at the Centre. The students staged a demonstration near their campus, News18 reported.

Though a faction of Haryana Roadways had announced to join the strike, public transport services were not affected much, barring a few places including Sirsa and Hisar. At some bus depots in Haryana, the police ensured protesters do not disrupt plying of buses, PTI reported.

With the state roadways employees joining the nationwide strike, buses remained off road at several places including Amritsar, Nawanshahr, Ludhiana, Roopnagar and Kapurthala in Punjab.

A day-long nationwide strike call, given by the central trade unions against the government's "anti-people" policies, on Wednesday evoked partial response in Punjab and Haryana. Protesters resorted to blocking roads and squatting on rails tracks at a few places and also took out processions against the Central government in support of their demands in Punjab.

Ten central trade unions had claimed claimed participation of around 25 crore people in the nationwide strike called to protest against the union government's labour reforms, FDI, disinvestment, corporatisation and privatisation policies.

"Bank employees while endorsing the demands put forth by the central trade unions are focusing on recruitment, early wage settlement, pension updation, and old pension scheme to newly joined employees," the All India Banks Employees' Association said. Public sector banks, old generation private banks and a few foreign banks joined the Wednesday strike, it said.

Banking services across Maharashtra were hit on Wednesday as nearly 40,000 bank employees, including 10,000 officers, joined the day-long nationwide strike called by 10 major trade unions on Wednesday against the Centre's "anti-people" policies. The RBI's workmen staff from its various offices, including from the central office in Mumbai, also went on strike on Wednesday, a union leader said.

The strike led to less than normal attendance at banks, government offices and educational institutions where those owing allegiance to the trade unions involved in the strike stayed off work. However, no incident of violence or conflict was reported from anywhere across the state, police sources said.

The state capital woke up to huge inconveniences caused by auto-rickshaws staying off the roads, throwing normal life out of gear in a city where public transport is virtually non-existent and the three-wheeler is the most popular form of commute.

and denouncing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the proposed country-wide implementation of NRC. The Left parties have extended their support to the strike.

The strike called by trade unions and farmers bodies had a perceptible impact in Bihar where people hit the streets on Wednesday demanding workers rights

Similar protests were held at Valparai, Pollachi and Mettupalayam in the district and Tirupur, police said.

Two MPs of Left parties were among 800 workers of eight trade unions who were arrested in Comibatore on Wednesday while attempting to stage a demonstration as part of the nationwide strike. As the workers attempted to stage demonstration near the district collectorate, police arrested them, reports PTI.

On the streets of the Patna, thousands of men and women marched carrying gigantic banners inscribed with slogans in support of their demands and critical of "divisive government policies", beside names of parties like CPI, CPI(M) and CPI (ML) and affiliates like All India Progressive Womens Association. A large number of Anganwadi workers, wearing headbands inscribed with slogans opposing the Labour Code Bill and demanding regularization of jobs and increase in wages were also seen among the protesters.

Operations in all public sector banks except SBI were affected. However, most of the shops and business establishments were open while transport services remained unaffected.The strike by as many as three lakh employees and workers passed off peacefully with the participation of members of various trade unions in the state, senior leader of Telangana CPI, Sudhakar told PTI.

Barring banking services being hit, it was business as usual in Telangana on Wednesday despite the nationwide strike called by various trade unions protesting the Centre's 'anti-people' policies.

"None of the protesters or strike supporters were involved in violence. It is Mamata Banerjee who instigated violence. The TMC cadres and police personnel in order to please the chief minister, indulged in arson. Despite threats, the strike has been successful in Bengal," PTI quoted Salim as saying.

CPM politburo member Mohammed Salim alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee instigated TMC cadres and police personnel to indulge in violence in the state during the one-day strike called by 10 central trade unions. Salim also denied claims that Left cadres and Congress workers were involved in arson in Malda district.

Transport services are absolutely normal across the state while offices of various business establishments also remained open. Although trade unions claimed that factory production was hit in many parts of Gujarat, industrialists said it was business as usual.

As a result, some nationalised banks are either shut or are only partially functional, he added. However, the strike has had no impact on the operations of the State Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank and Bank of Baroda in the state, as majority of the employees of these banks are associated with other unions, which have not joined the strike, he said.

"Banking services in Gujarat were partially hit as employees associated with All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA) joined the strike," said Dhiraj Desai, general secretary of Bank of Baroda Employees Union.

However, the officer said a team will visit the houseboat and enquire about the incident and seek details from the driver. The driver claimed that the protesters blocked the boat for around two hours.

Police said that Levitt, who received the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was in Alappuzha with his wife and was stopped by the protesters near Kainakary. "We received a call from the boat driver saying the protesters were not allowing to take the boat for the ride. When we were about to leave for the place, the boat driver called us back and told us that the issue was solved and they have left," a police officer told PTI.

A houseboat carrying Nobel laureate Michael Levitt in the backwaters in Kerala's Alappuzha was blocked for some time by trade union activists who are on a nationwide strike against the Centre's "anti-labour" policies on Wednesday.

The Jadavpur University students' union joined the nationwide strike called by labour unions against the "anti-labour" policies of the BJP-led government at the Centre. The students staged a demonstration near their campus, News18 reported.

Though a faction of Haryana Roadways had announced to join the strike, public transport services were not affected much, barring a few places including Sirsa and Hisar. At some bus depots in Haryana, the police ensured protesters do not disrupt plying of buses, PTI reported.

With the state roadways employees joining the nationwide strike, buses remained off road at several places including Amritsar, Nawanshahr, Ludhiana, Roopnagar and Kapurthala in Punjab.

A day-long nationwide strike call, given by the central trade unions against the government's "anti-people" policies, on Wednesday evoked partial response in Punjab and Haryana. Protesters resorted to blocking roads and squatting on rails tracks at a few places and also took out processions against the Central government in support of their demands in Punjab.

Ten central trade unions had claimed claimed participation of around 25 crore people in the nationwide strike called to protest against the union government's labour reforms, FDI, disinvestment, corporatisation and privatisation policies.

"Bank employees while endorsing the demands put forth by the central trade unions are focusing on recruitment, early wage settlement, pension updation, and old pension scheme to newly joined employees," the All India Banks Employees' Association said. Public sector banks, old generation private banks and a few foreign banks joined the Wednesday strike, it said.

Banking services across Maharashtra were hit on Wednesday as nearly 40,000 bank employees, including 10,000 officers, joined the day-long nationwide strike called by 10 major trade unions on Wednesday against the Centre's "anti-people" policies. The RBI's workmen staff from its various offices, including from the central office in Mumbai, also went on strike on Wednesday, a union leader said.

Bharat Bandh 2020 Updates: Hitting out at the Left and the Congress, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that those who don't have any political existence in the state are trying to ruin its economy by pursuing "cheap politics" of strikes.

Two MPs of Left parties were among 800 workers of eight trade unions who were arrested in Comibatore on Wednesday while attempting to stage a demonstration as part of the nationwide strike. As the workers attempted to stage demonstration near the district collectorate, police arrested them, reports PTI.

Banking services in Madhya Pradesh were affected on Wednesday due to the nationwide strike called by 10 Central trade union to protest against the Central government's "anti-labour" policies. The National Capital largely remained unaffected by the nation-wide strike called by trade unions on Wednesday, though most industrial workers stayed away from work.

Till noon, around 55 people were arrested from different parts of the city for allegedly trying to block vehicles, stall government buses or forcibly stop shopkeepers from opening their establishments, a senior officer of the Kolkata Police told PTI.

The nationwide strike called by the trade unions against the Centre's labour and economic policies have turned violent in West Bengal's Malda district CNN News18 reported.

Police vehicles have been set on fire. In retaliation, the state police fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse protestors. The National Highway 34 has been shut.

In the nationwide strike called by ten trade unions against the Centre's wrong labour and economic policies, about 25 crore workers are expected to join the strike on Wednesday.

Services at public sector banks across the country are expected to be affected in the Bharat Bandh on Wednesday. However, private sector banks may not be affected during the strike. Apart from banking services, transport and other services across the country are likely to be hit on Wednesday.

ATM services across the country are expected to be affected in Wednesday's general strike.

However, the strike may not affect the net banking facility as the NEFT services are available round the clock now.

Most of the banks have already informed stock exchanges about the Bharat Bandh and its impact on banking services, reported PTI.

Various bank employee associations, including AIBEA, All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), BEFI, INBEF, INBOC and Bank Karmachari Sena Mahasangh (BKSM), have expressed their willingness to participate in the strike.

Banking services like deposit and withdrawal, cheque clearing and instrument issuance are expected to be impacted due to the strike.

However, services at private sector banks are unlikely to be impacted.

Nearly 25 crore people are likely to take part in the all-India strike on Wednesday to protest against the government's "anti-people" policies.

Country's leading lender State Bank of India (SBI) said the strike is set to have minimal impact on its operations adding very few SBI employees will be a part of the six bank unions participating in the strike.

However, Bank of Baroda expressed concerns that the strike could hit its operations.

Last week, state-owned Syndicate Bank said it was taking necessary steps for the smooth functioning of its branches on Wednesday.

In a BSE filing, the lender said it received notice from the AIBEA, BEFI, INBEF and INBOC on the proposed one-day strike.

Other than banking, transport and other key services are also likely to be disrupted in many states due to this nationwide strike call.

In West Bengal, trade unions affiliated to Left and other parties called for a bandh against the economic policies of the BJP-led government at the Centre.

However, the state government said it will not support any bandh.

Meanwhile, in Kerala, the trade unions exempted the state's tourism sector from Wednesday's general strike.

Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) Society hailed as "exemplary" the decision by political parties and trade unions to exempt the state's tourism sector from Wednesdays general strike.

"Any employee going on strike in any form, including protest, would face the consequences which, besides deduction of wages, may also include appropriate disciplinary action," said an office memorandum issued by the government.

"Suitable contingency plan may also be worked out to carry out the various functions of the ministry/department," it added.

Trade unions INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with various sectoral independent federations and associations had adopted a declaration in September last year to go on a nationwide strike on 8 January 2020.

"The Ministry of Labour has failed to assure any of the demands of workers which called a meeting on January 2, 2020. The attitude of the government is that of contempt towards labour as we construe from its policies and actions," the 10 CTUs said in a joint statement.

"We expect participation of not less than 25 crore of working people in the forthcoming National General Strike on 8 January 2020, to be followed by many more actions seeking reversal of the anti-worker, anti-people, anti-national policies of the government," it said.

 With PTI inputs
With a rich history full of notable patrons and incredible timepieces, Breguet is never short of occasions where historical pieces are showcased in prestigious Museums across the globe, for the watch-loving public to view and admire. A rare treat considering the majority of early timekeeping creations still remain in the hands of private collectors.

ABU DHABI

Louvre Abu Dhabi Exhibition

10,000 YEARS OF LUXURY  Running until Tuesday 18th February 2020

Presenting multiple narratives of luxury across the ages, this exhibition celebrates how different cultures and time periods define luxury; including the opulence and finery of the 18th Century court of Versailles. As a most esteemed watchmaker at this time, Abraham-Louis Breguet was recognised and reputed for his craft in the eyes of European courts. 10,000 Years of Luxury explores what elevates an object into the realm of being precious and luxurious, whether this may be time, craftsmanship or rarity and these categories are all easily achieved by the Breguet Travel Clock on show.

Usually housed at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs (MAD) collection in Paris, Travel Clock no. 3778 was delivered to Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, wife of Anatole Demidoff, in 1842, and so fulfils the definition of precious luxury as coined by this exhibition.

Travel Clock No. 3778  Breguet

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LONDON - UK

Queens Gallery Exhibition

GEORGE IV: ART & SPECTACLE  Running until Sunday 3rd May 2020

Widely known as a significant Breguet collector, George IV in his time as ruler of England compiled an unrivalled collection of art, much of which remains in the Royal Collection today. Two Breguet creations are on display within this exhibition: Double Pendulum Clock No. 3671 sold to King George IV by Breguet in 1825 and a Sympathique Clock, now owned by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II and used by H.R.H. Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.

The Synchronising (or Sympathique) clock was designed to hold the watch which, when placed in a recess, was automatically adjusted and reset. The term sympathique was chosen by Breguet to express the notion of harmony and sympathy between the two objects. Although the Sympathique clock enhanced Breguets fame, it remained very complex to make. All five examples, each different, that Abraham-Louis Breguet sold before his death in 1823, were bought by kings or princes.

The Synchronising (or Sympathique) clock  Breguet

Discover more
The head of the French Jewish community expressed fear that last weeks decision by prosecutors in Paris to excuse the murderer of a Jewish woman from a criminal trial symbolized a deeper reluctance to confront anti-Semitism among Muslims in France through legal means.

In a forthright letter to Paris Attorney General Catherine Champrenault, Francis Kalifatthe president of CRIF, the representative organization of French Jewsintimated that the decision not to try Kobili Traore for the Apr. 4, 2017 torture and murder of Sarah Halimi, a 65-year-old widow, in her Paris apartment, was ultimately political in nature.

Did your Public Prosecutors Office want to avoid, through the trial of Sarah Halimis murderer, a trial at the same time of the Islamist anti-Semitism that kills in France? Kalifat asked pointedly.

Kalifat said he had been left speechless by the decision to excuse Traore on the grounds that his intake of cannabis on the night of Halimis murder had left him temporarily insane, and therefore not legally responsible for his crime.

I want you to know, Madam Attorney General, that beyond my own incomprehension, it is all French Jews who are plunged into a state of collective consternation, and who now know that it is possible in our country to torture and kill Jews in cold blood without being judged, Kalifat wrote.

Advocates for the Halimi family stepped up their public criticism of the decision over the weekend. In an extensive interview on the Europe 1 network on Sunday night, Francis Szpinerthe lawyer representing Halimis childrencalled it an aberration.

He confirmed that he planned to appeal the decision before the Court of Cassation, the highest court in the French judicial system.

Several politicians also spoke out against the decision.

Appalled by the incomprehensible decision of the Paris Court of Appeal, which concludes that the murderer of Sarah Halimi is not responsible because he was under the influence of cannabis! tweeted the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo.

As a Christian, I worry about the lack of outrage over this affair, wrote Alain Houpert, who represents the center-right Republican Party in the French Senate. Justice must be done for Sarah Halimi.

Some of Frances leading political commentators lambasted the decision as a new low for the French judiciary.

After having shown great cowardice during the Nazi occupation, French justice from time to time experiences major relapses, wrote columnist Franz-Olivier Giesbert in Le Point.

Journalist Francoise Laborde charged that it was the French legal system that had taken a delusional puff when it concluded that Traore could not be held criminally responsible because of his cannabis intake.

In a sign that French Jews remain determined to eventually bring Traore to trial, Ariel Goldmann, a lawyer and the president of the United Jewish Social Fund (FSJU) in France, urged the community to take the case to Francois Molins, the public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation known for his tough stance toward Islamist terrorism and violence in France during the last decade.

Among the cases tried by Molins was that of Mohammed Merah, whose 2012 shooting spree included an attack on a Jewish school in the city of Toulouse where he murdered a rabbi and three small children.

Ben Cohen is a New York City-based journalist and author who writes a weekly column on Jewish and international affairs for JNS.
WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that he is prepared to begin President Donald Trump's impeachment trial with no agreement with Democrats on witnesses, even as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled she is not ready to transmit the impeachment articles until she knows more about how Republicans would conduct the Senate proceedings.

That the top two congressional leaders were hardening their respective positions indicated the standoff at the Capitol over launching Trump's trial - only the third in history of a U.S. president - would drag on, even as members of Pelosi's own party in the Senate said Tuesday that it was time to proceed with the initial phase of the trial.

Pelosi, D-Calif., told House Democrats in a closed-door meeting Tuesday evening that she would not send the two charges - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress - to the Senate because she wanted to see the specific rules of procedure for a trial, according to three people present for the remarks who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk frankly.

"I think it's the most important action, short of declaring war, that this Congress will do. And to have a trial on whether or not the president has abused the Constitution and violated it - to go into it without assurances that it would be fair would be wrong to the American public," said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), a member of the House Judiciary Committee.

Earlier at his own closed-door meeting and at a news conference, McConnell (R-Ky.) announced that he has the votes to begin the trial in the format that he and most of his members have long envisioned: opening arguments for both the House impeachment managers and Trump's defense team, as well as ample time for senators to submit questions in writing.

Under the majority leader's plan, a decision on whether to call witnesses would be made once that first phase of the trial is over - a move announced Tuesday to put the pressure back on Pelosi amid simmering frustration from GOP senators over the speaker's delay in sending the articles.

That echoes the format of former president Clinton's trial 21 years ago, and McConnell has been able to persuade his members that Trump should be treated in the same fashion as Clinton.

Asked if he could guarantee witnesses will be called, McConnell said that matter would be discussed after the Senate votes to proceed - not before.

"The way it works, at the risk of being redundant, is that 51 senators determine what we do, and there will be, I'm sure, an intense discussion . . . about the whole witness issue," McConnell said. "The people calling the witnesses won't necessarily be us; it will be the prosecution or the defense."

Though the House voted on Dec. 18 to impeach the president, Pelosi has declined to send the two articles of impeachment to the Senate, effectively hamstringing the chamber from launching the trial.

Pelosi's refusal to transmit the articles as she sought information about the scope of the trial, including witnesses, has also spurred a number of Republican senators to craft legislation and strategize about how they could begin the trial without the House's blessing. But McConnell, speaking privately to his members, made clear that he would not make any moves on a trial until the articles had been formally transmitted.

McConnell's remarks inside the lunch was confirmed by two officials who requested anonymity to discuss a private meeting. Senate Republican leaders did a final vote check of their 53 members Tuesday morning to make sure they had the votes for McConnell's plan, according to a GOP senator familiar with the discussions.

For weeks, Democrats have been pressuring a cadre of persuadable Republican senators to demand a slate of four witnesses before the trial begins. Their efforts only ramped up Monday after former national security adviser John Bolton, who would have firsthand knowledge of Trump's demands of Ukraine and the delay in military aid, said that he would testify if subpoenaed by the Senate.

But Bolton's announcement did not move any of the Republicans who may have sided with Democrats, such as Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who both indicated Monday that a decision on witnesses could be made further into the trial. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, has said he would like to hear from Bolton but did not endorse subpoenaing him to provide testimony.

"The Clinton trial process provided a pathway for there to be witnesses," Romney said Tuesday. "And presuming we have a process like that, again I would be able to support the Clinton impeachment process."

In January 1999, the Senate voted unanimously after the trial began on a framework that gave the opposing sides 24 hours each to make their opening arguments, as well as 16 hours allotted to the senators for questioning. A vote on calling witnesses did not happen until weeks into the trial.

But this time, the partisan sniping over witnesses spilled into the open even before McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., sat down to negotiate in earnest over the structure of Trump's trial - making a bipartisan deal unlikely from the start.

"We've gotten so snarled up with debate over witnesses that the two leaders haven't been able to come to terms on this first phase," Murkowski, who met privately with McConnell on Monday evening, said Tuesday. Stressing her support for the majority leader's plan, she added: "I'm going to make sure that we've laid out very clearly what this framework is in terms of timeline and the ability to move to witnesses."

After McConnell's announcement Tuesday that he would effectively steamroll Democrats, but before Pelosi's comments to her members later that day, Schumer argued that Pelosi secured what she wanted by delaying sending the articles to the Senate: A clearer view of how McConnell planned to run the trial.

"Let me say this: By not sending the articles immediately, she has already accomplished two things which we fully support," Schumer said. "One, Mitch McConnell couldn't do what some thought he might want to do - right before Christmas or after Christmas, just dismiss."

Schumer added: "And second, in the last two weeks there has been a cascade of evidence that bolsters the case, strongly bolsters the case for witnesses and documents, so now we have a greater feel for where we're headed."

But a wide array of Schumer's rank-and-file - from the most moderate Democrats to the caucus's liberal flank - were more blunt than their leader, saying it was time to begin the trial.

"I think that's up to her," Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said on whether Pelosi should transmit the articles to the Senate promptly. "But I do think we need to get this thing going."

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said now that it is clear McConnell has Republicans in line against a witness deal, "I think the time has passed. She should send the articles over."

"I think it needs to start; I really do," added Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. He argued that the delay helped prompt Bolton's statement Monday that he would be willing to testify in the Senate, and added: "Let us do what we have to do over here."

The White House's chief liaison to Capitol Hill on Tuesday endorsed McConnell's strategy.

"We're very heartened that there's a majority in order to be able to move on ahead under a process that is clear, defined, represents the president, and that we're able to operate inside of whenever the speaker sends the articles over," Eric Ueland, the legislative affairs director, told reporters on Capitol Hill. "We welcome the progress and we're hopeful that the articles come over as quickly as possible so we can get underway as quickly as possible."

What remains unclear is whether Bolton would be summoned by the House, if not the Senate for now. Though he said he would be ready to testify before the Senate, Bolton's statement Monday was silent on whether he would do the same for the House, and his lawyer did not elaborate when asked.

From the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump did not weigh in on whether Bolton should appear before the Senate, which the president said was a decision for senators and for the lawyers.

Still, Trump said Bolton "would know nothing about what we're talking about, because as you know the Ukrainian government came out with a very strong statement, no pressure, no anything."

A senior White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to talk frankly, said Bolton provided no notice of his decision Monday, and the White House would exert executive privilege if he sought to include any deliberations with the president in his testimony.

- - -

The Washington Post's Josh Dawsey, Colby Itkowitz, Elise Viebeck and John Wagner contributed to this report.
Card firm CEOs listen to then Financial Services Commission Chairman Choi Jong-ku during a meeting at the Government Complex Seoul in this April 2019 file photo. / Yonhap



By Park Jae-hyuk



Credit card issuers are accelerating their digital transformation drive this year amid worsening market conditions, falling growth rates and intensifying government regulations, according to the companies, Tuesday.



They are expected to emphasize this during a forthcoming meeting with Financial Services Commission Chairman Eun Sung-soo this Thursday.



According to Hana Institute of Finance researcher Park Ji-hong, card firms will not be able to avoid declining profitability in the long run, although their efforts to cut costs may improve their profits slightly this year.



"They should seek new businesses here by developing innovative financial services," he said. "Eventually, they need to expand their global presence, escaping the domestic market's boundaries."



Against this backdrop, the CEOs of local card firms have unveiled plans for digitization in their New Year messages.



Lim Young-jin, head of business bellwether Shinhan Card, urged his employees to be prepared for a futuristic payment market using mobile devices, biometrics and the internet of things.



"We will lead the digitized use of credit cards affiliated with super-individual marketing," he said.



Samsung Card CEO Won Gee-chan, who has led the runner-up company since 2013, vowed to enhance his company's ability to analyze data and utilize digital technologies, as he expects competition with large tech firms will become fiercer this year.



Lee Dong-cheol, KB Kookmin Card's CEO, called for efforts to adopt new technologies, read the trends with a new perspective, and lead the market.



Lotte Card boss Kim Chang-kwon said: "We should advance and speed up our digital innovation."



Hana Card CEO Chang Kyung-hoon asked his employees to develop the company into a "digital payment firm" by digitizing the firm's entire business procedures.



Chung Tae-young, the CEO of Hyundai Card, who did not announce a New Year message, is planning to enhance his company's enterprise value through digital businesses based on artificial intelligence.



Their attempts are drawing keen attention from observers who have been wondering whether their market shares will change or not.



According to the Financial Supervisory Service, Shinhan Card accounted for 22 percent of the credit card market as of the third quarter of 2019, followed by Samsung Card with an 18 percent market share, KB Kookmin Card with 16.5 percent and Hyundai Card with 15.3 percent.


The Lucknow University (LU) has decided to construct a gate to mark its centenary year celebrations. The proposed Centenary Gate is expected to come up, by November 2020, at the spot where currently Gate number 2 stands -- leading to Malviya Hall. The decision was taken at a works committee meeting, chaired by vice-chancellor Prof Alok Kumar Rai, on Tuesday.

The Centenary Gate will be constructed with financial help from the LU alumni. For this, the university will reach out to the past pupils. It will give our old students an opportunity to give back to their alma mater, as it enters its 100th year (on November 25, 2019), said LU spokesperson Sanjay Medhavi.

As of now, the university has just one ornamental gate -- the Bhaoras Deoras Gate facing the Hanuman Setu temple. It also goes by the name of Gate number 1. However, the VIPs who visit the varsity for official functions usually enter the campus through Gate number 2.

As guests often enter from there, we feel that is where the Centenary Gate should be. Currently, there is nothing there except an iron gate, said Medhavi.

Apart from that, the university would also generate funds for its centenary year celebrations and work to strengthen its infrastructure through crowdfunding, said V-C Prof Alok Kumar Rai. In a step aimed in that direction, it was decided at the meeting that the Human Resource Development Centre guest house would be furnished and made functional soon.

Prof Rai also said that he would request the HRD ministry and other agencies in Delhi to help make the centenary celebrations a memorable event. The university entering its centenary year is big milestone and we plan to have celebrations fitting this landmark occasion. The celebrations will require financial support and I have planned to visit Delhi to organise crowdfunding, said the V-C.

Rai, who was a professor of management at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) prior to his appointment as the LU V-C, said that BHU collected a fund of  1,000 million for its centenary year celebrations in 2019. The idea is to ensure that the celebrations are not treated as a routine affair. We plan to make it memorable by building a guest house to mark the centenary year, he said.

VARSITY REOPENS

Amid elaborate security arrangements, the Lucknow University reopened after the winter break on Tuesday. On the opening day, the LLB course examinations were resumed. The exams had been cancelled amid paper leak allegations last month. To recall, audio clips of a purported conversation between an LLB third semester student and two professors of the law department had leaked on social media, triggering controversy. The university had cancelled the exams and announced a fresh schedule.


Tokyo is the land of timelessness,with age-old Japanese traditions mixed in with state-of-the-art technology. Where Harajuku fashion and Kimonos, matcha (traditional green tea)and karaoke, metropolis and volcano meet. Japan has always been fond of the outdoors, with hot springs on every turn, but the adoration for cherry-blossoms (sakuras) dates back to the Heian period, more than 1,000 years ago (794-1185), which has developed into a festival of viewing cherry-blossoms in open air, known as Hanami honourable flower-viewing, which only emerges for a short time in the spring. Thousands travel to Japan just to view these pink blossoms like snowflakes blanket streets, parks and the whole country.

Canal in Nakameguro. (Instagram/tokyo)

The enigmatic emergence of these flowers has added to the fascination around the flushes of pink throughout the country and the world. Sakuras are known as a meditation on life, death, renewal and the ephemeral nature of being in Japanese tradition. This festival only lasts for a fortnight, between March and early April. Hanami season is expected to start from March 28th in 2020. Keep an eye on cherry blossom forecasts for more news on dates.

Also read: Planning holidays for 2020? Check out the safest international airlines this year

There are more than 1,000 places to view the sakura in Japan. From the North to South unbelievably stunning locations are present to have a traditional Hanami picnic in. In Tokyo itself, Shinjuku Gyoen, a calm and peaceful Hanami destination in the heart of Tokyo, Ueno Park, one of Tokyos liveliest and popular cherry blossom party locations featuring more than 1,000 sakura trees best for socialising and festivals, and lastly Chidorigafuchi, the moats of the former Edo castle at Kitanomaru Park are lined with hundreds of cherry blossoms trees, making for one of Tokyos most picturesque locations for viewing the sakura. Other locations include, Mount Yoshino, Fuji Five Lakes and The Northern Shores of Kawaguchiko.

Sakura blooms in Tokyo. (Instagram/bearlion)

So grab a plate of dango (tri-coloured dumpling snack) and a bottle of sake to set a blanket under a sakura tree and let the blush petals bring your peace.

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NEW DELHI - A death warrant was issued Tuesday for the four men convicted in the 2012 gang rape and murder of a young woman on a New Delhi bus that galvanized protests across India and brought global attention to the countrys sexual violence epidemic.

A New Delhi court scheduled the hangings for Jan. 22, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

The warrant has been anticipated since Indias Supreme Court rejected one of the mens final review pleas last month. Indias president can still intercede, but that is not expected to happen.

The victim, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student whom Indian media dubbed Nirbhaya, or Fearless, because Indian law prohibits rape victims from being identified, was heading home with a male friend from a movie theatre when six men lured them onto a bus. With no one else in sight, they beat the man with a metal bar, raped the woman and used the bar to inflict massive internal injuries to her.

The pair were dumped naked on the roadside, and the woman died two weeks later.

The assailants were tried relatively quickly in a country where sexual assault cases often languish for years. Four defendants were sentenced to death. Another hanged himself in prison before his trial began, though his family insists he was killed. The sixth assailant was a minor at the time of the December 2012 attack and was sentenced to three years in a reform home.

Swati Maliwal, the chair of the Delhi Commission for Women, applauded Tuesdays court announcement on Twitter.

I salute her mother who has fought for so long, she tweeted. It is a victory for all the fearless people of this country. This is the time to punish every rapist in the country so that a strong message is sent out.

The scheduled executions come amid a revived debate over sexual violence in India after several headline-grabbing cases in recent months. A woman in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh was doused with gasoline and set on fire by five men  including two who were out on bail after she had accused them of gang rape  on her way to attend a court hearing in her case. She died last month at a hospital in New Delhi.

In late November, the burned body of a 27-year-old veterinarian was found near the city of Hyderabad in southern India. Police later fatally shot four men being held on suspicion of raping and killing the woman after investigators took them to the crime scene, drawing praise from people frustrated by the pace of the 2012 New Delhi case and condemnation from those who decried it as extrajudicial.
(CNN)  US forces and air-defense missile batteries across the Middle East were placed on high alert overnight Monday to possibly shoot down Iranian drones as intelligence mounted about a threat of an imminent attack against US targets, two US officials tell CNN.

The alert reflects the heightened tensions between the US and Iran in the wake of last week's US drone strike that killed a top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani. US officials have claimed the strike against the general was carried out to prevent an "imminent" attack in the region that would have put American lives at risk, but have so far declined to provide details about the intelligence.

US intelligence also has observed Iran moving military equipment, including drones and ballistic missiles, over the last several days. US officials said the movement may be an Iranian effort to secure its weapons from a potential US strike, or put them in positions to launch their own attacks.

"There were indications that we needed to monitor the threats" even more closely than is already being done, one of the US officials said, referring to Monday night's state of heightened alert. The second official described it as "all Patriot batteries and forces in the area on high alert" against an "imminent attack threat."

Iran has put missiles on its drones that have been used in other attacks, including a significant attack on Saudi oil installations last year. While forces have already been on high alert for several days, they were even more vigilant Monday night, both officials said.

Based on the intelligence, the US was watching for potential attacks specifically against US locations in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. On Monday, the US Maritime Administration issued a warning to commercial vessels operating in the Middle East that "there remains the possibility of Iranian action against U.S. maritime interests in the region."

On Tuesday Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the US is closely monitoring Iranian activity.

"We watch them very closely, we see their movements. I don't want to get anymore into that because it starts to get into intelligence issues so I'll just leave it at that," he said.

US officials again decline to provide intelligence behind attack

The decision to kill Soleimani has touched off a fresh crisis between the US and Iran. In an interview with CNN's Frederik Pleitgen on Tuesday, Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called the drone strike an act of "state terrorism."

"This is an act of aggression against Iran and amounts to an armed attack against Iran, and we will respond. But we will respond proportionally not disproportionally," he said. "We will respond lawfully. We are not lawless people like President Trump."

Later Tuesday morning, national security adviser Robert O'Brien said the US had intelligence leading to the Soleimani killing that American diplomats, facilities and military personnel were at risk of attack.

"He was plotting to kill, to attack American facilities and diplomats, soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines (who) were located at those facilities, correct," O'Brien said during a gaggle with reporters at the White House.

O'Brien would not provide additional details on the threat, only saying the US had "strong evidence and strong intelligence."

Pressed as to whether there continues to be an imminent threat, O'Brien said, "I think the Iranians are talking about retaliating every day in the open sources and we're monitoring it and we're taking it very seriously."

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also declined on Tuesday to present direct evidence on imminent threats against the US in the region, saying at a press briefing at the State Department that he had answered such questions during TV interviews earlier this week.

"There's been much made about this question of intelligence and imminence," Pompeo told reporters. "Any time a president makes a decision of this magnitude, there are multiple pieces of information that come before us." He added that senior officials presented Trump with the threats "in broad detail."

"If you're looking for imminence, you need look no further than the days that led up to the strike that was taken against Soleimani," Pompeo said, referring to the death of an American contractor in Iraq in late December. He said the action against Soleimani "fit perfectly within our strategy" for countering Iran.
Shortly after a Delhi court issued death warrant to four convicts in the Nirbhaya case on Tuesday, the victim's father said that the order will instill fear in people who commit such crimes.

"I am happy with the court's decision. The convicts will be hanged at 7 am on January 22. This decision will instill fear in people who commit such crimes," Badrinath Singh, father of 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim told ANI.

Earlier in the day, Delhi's Patiala House court said that all four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya case will be hanged on January 22,

The convicts-- Pawan Kumar Gupta, Akshay, Vinay, and Mukesh -- will be hanged at 7 am.

Additional Session Judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the death warrant in the presence of all convicts who were produced before the court through video conferencing.

The court said that convicts can use their legal remedies within 14 days.

Lawyers of the convicts had also informed the court that they are in the process of filing a curative plea.

The court gave the order while hearing the plea of parents of Nirbhaya who were seeking death warrant against all the four convicts in the case.

The main accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail during the trial. Another accused was a minor and was sent to a reform facility. He was released after three years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Good morning, Bay Area. Its Tuesday, Jan. 7, and were looking back on a year of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Heres what you need to know to start your day.

Disappearing Champagne and Chianti?

The Trump administration is considering two new tariffs on European wines of up to 100% as payback for European measures that are seen as hurting American companies.

On the surface, the tariffs are intended to target European companies and while one might assume that the taxes could benefit domestic wineries, many American vintners say the opposite is true.

Esther Mobley explains why the American wine industry has come out in force against the proposed tariffs.

Housing, health care and wildfires

Chris Carlson / Associated Press

When Newsom was sworn in as governor a year ago, he vowed to confront the problems that California deferred for too long and make the state a progressive, principled beacon for the rest of the country.

His sweeping agenda quickly differentiated Newsom from his predecessor, but he also turned his attention frequently to the national stage, charging into battle against President Trump.

As Newsom finishes his first year in office, Alexei Koseff reports on how his key campaign promises have fared so far.

SB50 returns: State Sen. Scott Wiener introduces changes to his housing legislation designed to disarm cities objections that they would lose control over their neighborhood character.

California Green New Deal: New climate change initiative unveiled in Sacramento has far to go.

Week One

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

After Chesa Boudin is sworn in this week as San Franciscos district attorney, one of his responsibilities will be deciding whether to charge officers in a handful of police shooting investigations that were left unresolved by his predecessor, George Gascon.

Of particular note: the 2017 fatal shooting of an unarmed man by a rookie police officer, who was later fired. Boudin was the only candidate in the four-way D.A. race who said he would have charged officers in one of San Franciscos most incendiary police killings  the 2015 shooting of Mario Woods in the Bayview.

Evan Sernoffsky reports on why the case is being closely watched.

 From Heather Knight: In her last act, S.F. interim D.A. Suzy Loftus pushes a new sexual assault prosecution policy.

 Boudin is not the first San Francisco district attorney with radical roots, legal reporter Bob Egelko writes.

Crown jewel or rip-off?

Michael Macor / The Chronicle 2016

This may not be a big deal in some peoples minds, says Elizabeth Powell, an Ahwahnee hotel guest who recently found wasps in her room that had apparently flown in through a hole in a screen door. But it was $690 a night.

Guests at the landmark property in Yosemite National Park where presidents and queens have wined, dined and snoozed at the foot of Half Dome, are reporting bad food, shabby rooms and indifferent staff. Inspectors with AAA, meanwhile, have revoked the Ahwahnees prestigious four-diamond rating, a distinction the hotel had since 1991.

The hotel says thats due to AAAs rising standards and modern amenities that dont make sense for a remote wilderness, but the Ahwahnees apparent slide follows rising frustration with services run by the new concessionaire Aramark throughout Yosemite, reporter Kurtis Alexander writes.

A multiuse bay

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Two search-and-rescue missions, mystery sheens in the Oakland estuary and Half Moon Bay, two boats sunk at harbor; a ferry without propulsion and container ships and oil tankers adjusting their schedules for the fog: all in a weekends work for the U.S. Coast Guards San Francisco sector.

And the woman in charge of all this? Capt. Marie Byrd.

As chief, Byrd is ultimately responsible for what happens on 16,000 square miles of water inside the Golden Gate  bays, sloughs, estuaries, channels, rivers and wetlands covering an area larger than Rhode Island, as well as the coastline from the Oregon border to San Luis Obispo County.

Reporter Carolyn Said talks to Capt. Byrd about her backstory and what the Coast Guard does in the ever-changing bay.

Around the bay

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.

 From the Associated Press: Trumps threats draw Irans cultural sites into tensions. More: Thousands march in San Francisco to denounce the U.S. attack and a potential war with Iran and a group of Iranian Americans rally in S.F. to celebrate the killing of General Qassem Soleimani.

 SROs: San Francisco to lease buildings for formerly homeless as it struggles to get people off the streets.

 Likely weeks before testimony: Trial begins in Nia Wilson murder case.

 Menthol and e-cigs: California bill would ban flavored tobacco sales, going further than feds propose to go.

 Saving convention business: San Francisco pitches the city to convention planners  during their convention.

 Headliners and more: Lineup for BottleRock Napa Valley unveiled.

 Clearly possible: Move over, Impossible Burger. Impossible Pork is coming.

 From Ann Killion: 49ers Jimmy Garoppolo is a playoff virgin: Does experience matter? More: Still need a ticket to Levis for 49ers-Vikings? Dip into your pockets.

 Expansion: San Franciscos Rooh to open live-fire Indian restaurant in Palo Alto.

Your 2020 winery list

Erick Madrid / Special to The Chronicle

From Santa Barbara to the Sierra, Humboldt to Temecula, California has wineries - and tasting rooms - at seemingly every turn. But with wine prices and tasting fees creeping ever higher, it can be hard to know which ones are actually worth the money  and hard to know what youre getting yourself into.

Its a lot to consider before you set out for a drive to Wine Country. Our team of wine experts at The Press and The Chronicle has visited hundreds of wineries and evaluated tasting experiences and the quality of the wine. Now weve got a list to take you through this entire year.

Read The Press 52 wineries to visit this year.

Bay Briefing is written by Taylor Kate Brown and sent to readers email inboxes on weekday mornings. Sign up for the newsletter here, and contact Brown at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com.
A view of the roof structure designed by architect Norman Foster that sits above Canary Wharf Crossrail station, in the North Dock of the Canary Wharf financial district, London. Photo: Jim Dyson/Getty Images

The City of London has called on the government to protect the financial services sector from the worst effects of Brexit, as new figures reveal the financial sector contributed 75.5bn ($99.3bn) in tax last year.

A PwC report, commissioned by the City of London Corporation, found financial services firms paid around 10.5% of all UK tax last year. The proportion of total tax and the total amount paid were broadly flat compared with 2018.

Despite a challenging economic climate and uncertainty around Brexit, the sector has maintained its tax contributions from the record high of last year, Catherine McGuinness, policy chair at the City of London Corporation, said in a statement.

With Brexit looming, however, the UK must remain competitive to safeguard the sectors employment base and significant tax contribution. The sector is vital to supporting prosperity right across the country. It will play a critical role in fuelling our economic success after we leave the European Union.

Finance bosses are concerned that London will lose ground to rival hubs like Paris, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam after Britain officially leaves the European Union. Many firms are already choosing to locate new jobs elsewhere on the continent rather than in Britain.

The City wants UK prime minister Boris Johnson to ensure banks, asset managers, and insurers can maintain access to the EUs single market after Brexit.

Britain is set to officially leave the European Union on 31 January and move on to trade negotiations with the EU. The topic of financial services access to the EU will be high on the agenda.

Financial services employs 1.1 million people in the UK, equivalent to about 3% of all employment.

Corporation tax across financial services fell for the first time since 2014, the report said, due to declining profitability. Finance still accounts for around a quarter of all corporation tax.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Exercises and Training (SummitET), a Preparedness Solutions Company, announces the addition of Scott Glick to the role of Vice President and General Counsel. Scott's key focus will be to provide advice to customers regarding counterterrorism, weapons of mass destruction, law enforcement, intelligence, and consequence management related matters to ensure that preparedness planning is cohesive.



Before joining SummitET, Scott served in a number of high-ranking positions at the U.S. Department of Justice, including as the Director of Preparedness and Response, the Deputy Chief in the Counterterrorism Section, and the Deputy Counsel in the Office of Intelligence Policy and Review.

Scott Glick, SummitET Vice President and General Counsel

"I'm thrilled to be joining a company that emphasizes both a commitment to preparedness and its close-knit team," comments Scott. "SummitET offered me an opportunity to work alongside a diverse cadre of subject matter experts to prepare customers for a variety of disasters."

Scott brings more than thirty-five years of experience, including prosecution, critical incident response, management, policy, exercise and teaching to SummitET. He is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Maryland and received his law degree from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, where he was a member of the law review. He is licensed to practice law in the State of New York and Washington, D.C. Scott will be based in SummitET's new D.C. office.

"Scott has played a major role in the development and drafting of national preparedness policies, plans, and strategies. We are honored to have one the nation's leading experts in his field join our team," said John Duda, Chief Executive Officer of SummitET. "Bringing on Scott was a strategic decision to provide better value to our customers in their planning efforts."

To learn more about Scott's background, click here.

About SummitET

Summit Exercises and Training is a U.S.-based, veteran-owned preparedness solutions company that provides proven full spectrum preparedness solutions through industry-leading experts and impeccable customer service. Our diverse and highly trained team supports our corporate and governmental partners in developing solutions that address issues of critical infrastructure, radiological and emergency preparedness, cybersecurity, workplace safety, active shooter programs, counterterrorism, and other disaster-related training.

Media Contact

Ron Edmond

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 865-567-2248

SOURCE SummitET
Spain: Sanchez wins parliamentary vote to govern 167 votes, 165 Nos and 18 abstentions

(ANSAmed) - ROME, JANUARY 7 - Spain's caretaker Socialist Premier Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday won a vote of confidence in parliament to form a coalition government with Podemos. Sanchez won with 167 votes against 165 Nos and 18 abstentions, El Pais reports.



Sanchez won the second vote by a simple majority after failing to reach an absolute majority on Sunday.



The Socialist obtained the premiership again thanks to the support of his party and Podemos, with which it will govern in coalition, and the backing of MPS from Pnv, Mas Pais, Compromis, Nueva Canarias, Teruel Existe and Bng.(ANSAmed).




The first test of Britain's post-Brexit diplomatic capabilities kicked off in Brussels today as the Foreign Secretary met for emergency talks with his European counterparts to find a joint way forward on unfolding the Iran crisis.

Dominic Raab held meetings with the French and German foreign ministers, as well as the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell, to work out the details of the united front on the issue the powers want to present.

The sensitive talks broke up as night fell on Brussels with little to show in public, though the Foreign Office described the meetings as "productive".

The foreign ministers are understood to have discussed how, if at all, they should react to expected retaliatory Iranian breaches of the JCPOA nuclear deal, which the European powers still stand behind despite Donald Trump's repudiation.

The countries want to enforce Iran's compliance with the deal, but are keen not to escalate the situation in the wake of the assassination of general Qasem Soleimani, which has thrown relations into chaos. Talks are understood to have focused on the balance to strike.

A separate meeting also took place involving Mr Raab's Italian counterpart on the ongoing situation in Libya, where where the EU earlier this week warned of an "imminent" escalation of violence in the environs of the country's capital Tripoli.

The format of talks, which are taking place outside the usual structures of the European Union's council system, will likely become more familiar after Britain leaves the EU at the end of the month and can no longer directly influence EU positions from the inside.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Raab said: "What we're looking to do is de-escalate the tensions with Iran and with relation to Iraq, making sure that we don't lose the hard-won gains that we've secured against Daesh.

"We are concerned that if we see a full blown war it will be very damaging and actually the terrorists, in particular Daesh will be the only winners.

He said the European countries were searching for a "diplomatic breakthrough" and said he had spoken to prime minister of Iraq and the Iranian foreign minister.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: E3 foreign ministers had a useful and productive discussion about the latest developments in Iraq, Iran and Libya.

Also on Tuesday European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen called for the US and Iran to "halt the cycle of violence" and said Brussels would host a special Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Friday. The UK will be allowed to attend the meeting, but will be locked out once it has left the EU in February.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

"We are deeply concerned by Irans announcement that it will not respect the limit set by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) any longer," she added.

"This announcement comes at a time of severe tensions in the region. From a European viewpoint, it is important for Iran to return to the nuclear deal. We have to convince Iran that its also in its own interest.

"After the devastation wrought by Daesh, Iraq is developing well and its people deserve to see the continuation of progress towards reconstruction and greater stability. Iraq deserves to stay on the path of balance and reconciliation. We call on all parties to show restraint."
The central government's Group of Ministers (GoM) led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved the draft inviting bids for the sale of India's state-owned carrier.

Apart from giving nod to receiving the Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the sale of Air India, the GoM also approved the share purchase agreement, under which the airline's total debt of around Rs 60,000 crore would be transferred to a special purpose vehicle (SPV).

Of the total amount, around Rs 29,400 crore has already been transferred to the SPV.

The national carrier has been making losses for long and as part of revival efforts, the government has decided on its disinvestment. "The Expression of Interest as well as share purchase agreement for Air India's sale would be issued this month," an official told PTI.

Apart from Shah, the meeting was attended by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Union Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola.

The announcement on receiving bids comes in wake of Puri's statement last month, wherein he said the government was interested in selling the entire 100 per cent stake in Air India.

"AISAM (Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism) has approved the 100 per cent sale of Government of India stake in Air India for the re-initiated strategic disinvestment of Air India," he said in the Lok Sabha.

Air India's net loss in 2018-19 is provisionally estimated to be Rs 8,556.35 crore.

Also read: Govt to sell 100% stake in Air India, says Hardeep Singh Puri
The chemo is rough, but he can always just turn it on," Jennings said. "The music came on, the lights came on, he would just stride out there and nail that show like nobody else. It was exciting to see him doing so well and taking that diagnosis so bravely. To me, hes the last of that kind of old-school broadcasters, and its such a pleasure to watch.
Newcomb

For the seventh year in a row, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and others will host interpretive tours at Camp Santanoni, which is reached by a popular wintertime cross country ski trail in the Adirondacks.

The trail is open year round, but the special weekends will allow visitors to tour the historic lakeside buildings, which were once part of a classic Adirondack great camp. The buildings are not typically open to the public during winter.

The Winter Weekend events will be during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, January 18-20; Presidents Day holiday weekend, February 15-17; and the weekend of March 14 and 15.



During these special Winter Weekends, visitors to Camp Santanoni will be able to enjoy winter outdoor recreation with family and friends, while immersed in the beautiful wilderness setting and rich cultural heritage of the Adirondacks, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a prepared statement. These annual weekend open houses support New Yorks ongoing efforts to work with local communities to increase sustainable tourism and economic activity by showcasing this wondrous part of the state.



In addition to DEC, the Friends of Camp Santanoni and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestrys (ESF) Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) are involved in the events.

The Friends of Camp Santanoni is a partnership between DEC, Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), the town of Newcomb, as well as volunteers who support preserving the camp.



We are happy to work with our partners, Newcomb Supervisor Robin DeLuria said.

This year the town of Newcomb proudly announces that the Newcomb Cafe and Lake Harris Lodge Restaurant will be open to provide dining options for our visitors.



A 9.8-mile round trip cross-country ski or snowshoe excursion begins at Camp Santanonis Gate Lodge complex off Route 28N and extends to the remote lakeside main lodge complex. The trip requires moderate physical activity.

The neighboring Adirondack Interpretive Center will provide snowshoes at the Gate Lodge for any visitors without their own.



During the three weekends, cross-country skiers and snowshoers will be able to visit both the Gate Lodge and Main Lodge of Camp Santanoni, view displays about the Great Camp, and take interpretive tours with AARCH staff.

The Artists Studio, a log and stone building next to the Main Lodge on the shores of Newcomb Lake, will be open as a warming hut. Visitors should bring their own reusable cups to enjoy the free coffee, tea or hot chocolate.



Camp Santanoni is a marvelous destination in any season. In winter, the reliably excellent snow conditions on the five-mile carriage road and seeing the Great Camp at the other end make for a great outdoor experience, said Steven Engelhart, Executive Director of AARCH.

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

Great Camp Santanoni is a remarkable cultural, educational, and recreational resource  one that provides new and exciting experiences and vistas in every season, said Paul Hai of SUNY ESF's Northern Forest Institute, which manages AIC.

The February Winter Weekend also comes during the Great Backyard Bird-count, a nationwide citizen science initiative in which ESF participates. Binoculars will be available at the AIC, and ESF staff will be on hand to introduce birders of all ages and experience levels to the diversity of winter birds in the Adirondacks.



Through the collaborative efforts of the Friends of Camp Santanoni, restorations and updates are underway to the camps historic buildings and grounds. The Gate Lodge electrical system has been replaced, the Gate Lodge entryway roof was repaired this past fall, and DEC recently installed a new, larger woodstove and a cook top in the Artists Studio in preparation for the Winter Weekends. In addition to routine road maintenance, several projects are planned for key buildings. Work on the Main Lodge roof and foundation will begin this spring.



Robert and Anna Pruyn, the original owners of Camp Santanoni, commissioned construction of the Great Camp in 1892. Spanning 12,900 acres, the camp consisted of three groupings of buildings: the Gatehouse Complex; the Farm Complex; and the Main Camp. Pruyn heirs sold the camp to the Melvin family of Syracuse in 1953, and the camp remained in private ownership until 1972, when the property was sold to the State of New York and incorporated into the State Forest Preserve. Over the last several decades of state ownership, the camp has gradually been restored through a partnership between DEC, AARCH, and the town of Newcomb. Santanoni is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark.



Reservations are not required. Contact AARCH at 518-834-9328 for more information on upcoming Winter Weekends.

Additional information about Camp Santanoni, the AIC, and the Newcomb area may be found at: DECs Camp Santanoni website; Adirondack Architectural Heritage; Adirondack Interpretive Center; and town of Newcomb.
Chennai, Jan 7 (IANS) For the second day in succession members of the DMK led by party President M.K. Stalin on Tuesday walked out of the Assembly after the Speaker P. Dhanapal denied him chance to speak on Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

The Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Stalin raised the issue of CAA and said the house pass a resolution on the matter.
As promised, OnePlus is showing off its first concept device at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week and the most interesting new feature is the one the company already told us about last week.

The Oneplus Concept One has an invisible camera system with electrochemical glass that changes to black when youre not using the rear cameras, giving the black camera strip a nearly seamless look.

Whats a bit weird is that its not like the entire back of the phone is black  the other new features in this concept device are the materials used to build it.

OnePlus appears to want in on the luxury phone market, because the phones aluminum frame is covered with 24-carat gold, and the black glass camera strip is surrounded by orange stitched leather, giving the OnePlus Concept One a design that quite frankly looks like it was borrowed from the Huawei Porsche Design line of phones.

Folks who got a chance to check out the OnePlus Concept One in person report that it takes about a second for the camera glass to transition from black to transparent, or vice versa  which means that by the time you open the camera app on your phone and prepare to take a picture, the cameras should have an unobstructed view. And by the time you close the app, the cameras will seem to disappear.

OnePlus hasnt committed to bringing this phone to market, and its unclear if the invisible camera or leather-and-gold materials will show up in any future products from the company. But showing off new ideas at a major electronics industry show seems like as good a way as any to gauge interest in the ideas.

via Gizmodo and Android Police
Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday during a surprise visit to Damascus, his first since the start of the nearly nine-year war, Syrias presidency said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Damascus for a visit during which he met President Assad at the headquarters of the Russian forces, it said in a statement.

The two leaders listened to a military presentation by the commander of Russian forces in Syria, said the presidency, which posted a picture of the two leaders shaking hands.

Putin extended his greetings to Russian forces for Orthodox Christmas which is celebrated on January 7.-

He also said enormous progress had been made in the Syrian conflict, Russian news agencies reported.

In his conversation with Assad, Putin noted that we can now say with confidence that a huge distance has been travelled towards restoring Syrian statehood and the countrys territorial integrity, the agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Peskov told Interfax, RIA Novosti and TASS that Putin had met Assad at a command post for Russian forces in Syria, driving through Damascus on the way.

Putin also noted that on the streets of Damascus the signs of how peace has been restored can be seen with the naked eye, according to Peskov.

He said the two men had heard military reports on the situation in various parts of Syria, where Russias armed forces intervened in 2015 in support of Assad.

The Syrian president expressed appreciation for the help of Russia and the Russian military in the fight against terrorism and the restoration of peaceful life in Syria, Peskov said.

Putin was due to visit several more sites, Peskov said, without providing further details.

The Russian leader is expected in Turkey on Wednesday to inaugurate a gas pipeline with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Russian leader visited Syria in December 2017 but had not been to the capital, only stopping at the Russian base of Hmeimim on the Mediterranean coast.

SOURCE: AFP | PHOTO: AFP
By IANS

NEW DELHI: A day before the nationwide strike called by the central trade unions to protest against the alleged 'anti-people' policies of the government, many Twitter users on Tuesday expressed support to the 'bandh' while others opposed it.

#BharatBandh trended with 2,630 tweets.

A user wrote: "We support Bharat bandh... a fascist government has to be shown its place."

One user tweeted: "Our democracy is designed to speak truth to the powers that be. Support #bharatbandh

"And if the government fails to fulfill even a single demand... show them the TRUE POWER Of DEMOCRACY."

ALSO READ: Banking, transport to be hit during Bharat Bandh on January 8. Here's all you need to know

Those opposed to the proposed strike were also quite vocal in their views.

One user asserted: "I don't want my tax money to be used for nefarious activities... we support Bharat bandh."

Another remarked: "We don't want Bharat bandh. We are sick and tired of the violence and we are sick and tired of the bandhs...."

"Try every trick in the book, call for a #BharatBandh tomorrow, for what? This is getting scarier day by day...I don't quite understand the motive for strikes. Nothing is going to change if you sit back instead. No Bharat bandh," wrote one user.

A post read: "For its demands the communists should go to China or Russia. Why India" commented another user.

A Twitter user said: "We do not support the Bharat bandh... why should the poor suffer for your politics?"
WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- National accounting firm TYS, LLP (TYS) is pleased to announce that it finalized a merger with Lefkowitz & Company LLP on January 1st. TYS, a full-service tax, accounting, and business consulting firm will welcome David L. Lefkowitz and Lori Lefkowitz as Partners, along with four other employees. The combined firm will operate under the TYS name.

"I was once told by a friend and client, 'Bigger is not always better, but better is almost always bigger," said Glen A. Thomas, TYS Partner and Co-Founder. "At TYS, we've always believed in being better. The merger with Lefkowitz clearly makes us bigger. The addition of David, Lori, and their team increases our service offerings, broadens our human capital, extends our geographic reach and brings new clients. Simply put, the merger with Lefkowitz & Company makes TYS better."

Along with Christopher York and Tim Shortsleeve, Thomas founded the firm in 2010, and set out to create a new brand of accounting firm, ending the constraints of traditional CPA firms.

Within their new construct, a new culture was formed. The professionals at TYS phased out the antiquated notion of focusing on the billable hour. Instead, employees are client-centric and engaged in constantly improving TYS. By offering quality benefits and supporting work/life balance, the founders believe employees are able to better serve clients. The employees agreed  in 2019, the firm was named one of the Top 100 Accounting Firms to Work For by Accounting Today.

When looking to expand its roster of talent during a merger, finding a CPA firm with a similar culture and work philosophy was important. The Lefkowitz team fits culturally while also bringing new skill sets to the table.

"We have a great team and great clients. With these clients comes great amounts of work. We realized we needed to make a change when our client commitments increased, and we weren't able to deliver. We owe it to our staff, our clients, and business to bring these two firms together," said Lori Lefkowitz.

"TYS puts people first and doesn't discriminate about who should be 'sitting at the table' as long as they're active contributors. That's what we want, too. The holistic and practical approaches that both firms bring is what sets us apart from the others."

With the merger, TYS office locations will include Rochester, New York, Summerville, SC and Miami, Florida, as well as two California offices in San Francisco and Walnut Creek. The expert team of accounting specialists, tax planners, business advisors, audit specialists, and bookkeepers, now serves more than 1200 clients across the country.

For more information, please contact Melissa Wallace at [email protected]

About TYS, LLP:

TYS is not your typical CPA firm. At TYS, we strive for meaningful relationships in everything we do. Going beyond traditional accounting and tax services provided by most CPA firms, we strive to serve as our clients' trusted advisors, taking a personal stake in their success. Our clients guide our firm's vision and pledge - to always remain proactive, rather than reactive, and applying our expertise to identifying needs and areas of opportunity. We are a results-oriented firm that will never track time and always delivers what's promised, and more. For more information, visit https://tysllp.com/



SOURCE TYS, LLP

Related Links

https://tysllp.com/


A staff checks body temperatures of people entering Vietnam at Mong Cai Border Gate at the Vietnam-China border line in the northern province of Quang Ninh. Photo by VOV.

Those coming from a Chinese city affected by an unidentified pneumonia strain must be closely watched, warn Vietnam health authorities.

As requested by the Ministry of Health, hospitals have to closely monitor patients from or who have visited Wuhan in central China where a strain of pneumonia has infected 59 people, with seven in critical condition as of Tuesday, according to official data.

The ministry demanded health departments across the country tighten health checks at border gates, and utilize remote body temperature meters for quarantine and test purposes.

China's Ministry of Health is investigating the source of the outbreak, which it seeks to contain as soon as possible.

The viral illness was first reported in Wuhan last week, though Chinese health officials have ruled out a resurgence of the highly contagious SARS virus, which killed hundreds more than a decade ago, after fears spread online it had made a comeback.

Avian flu and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) have also been ruled out, AFP reported.

In Hong Kong, authorities say 21 people have been hospitalized after returning from Wuhan in recent days and displaying flu-like illnesses but none were confirmed to have contracted the mystery new strain.

"The reported link to a wholesale fish and live animal market could indicate exposure to animals," the World Health Organization stated Sunday.

"Pneumonia is common in winter," it added, saying the concentration of cases should be handled "prudently."
About a year ago it was becoming clear to Johnsonville Sausages IT department that it had to modernize its wide area network to get costs down and simplify the overall enterprise network environment to effectively move the business forward.

The company embarked on a two-pronged path that moved its US and global business and industrial networks toward a software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) environment -- eliminating costly MPLS links -- and a more automated, controlled system that has restored quality of life back to IT, said Johnsonville Sausage Global Network Operations Manager Anthony Wild.

Johnsonville Sausage is privately owned, has about 2,000 employees and is headquartered in Sheboygan Falls, Wis. Founded in 1945, the company is known worldwide for its variety of sausage products, including Italian, breakfast and chicken sausage, bratwurst and meatballs.

Wilds IT team of four is responsible for the core network, wireless , data center fabric, telecom and WAN. Its hub-and-spoke designed network stretches from two data centers in Wisconsin  one in Sheboygan and one Milwaukee  to five other core campus locations across the US as well as international locations in Singapore, Japan and the Philippines. The network supports eight core production facilities, a number of water treatment plants and upkeeps some 50,000 endpoints with a host of business and industrial network servers, IoT devices and applications.

At the outset, the idea was to eliminate confusing topologies, multiple management siloes and disjointed alerting to problems, Wild said. The network did feature a number of Dynamic Multipoint VPN (DMVPN) overlays which offered enterprise scale VPN support but it wasnt supporting what we needed, Wild said.

As it turned out, the revamping the WAN plan came at about the same time Cisco said its SD-WAN software would be supported across its family of core ISR/ASR routers. Johnsonville had 16 model Cisco ISR/ASR 4000s in core sites across its global network  some over five years old  and made the aggressive decision to upgrade the software on all of them to support SD-WAN features.

We basically blew the dust off of some of them, upgraded the software, turned them on and did a live cutover, Wild said. Each site has two ISRs so the company upgraded one at each site first, then if it worked as expected the other followed. We were very aggressive in our rollout, Wild said.

In its branch and sales offices, the company rolled out SD-WAN support in the form of Ciscos Enterprise Network Compute System (ENCS). ENCS is a package of Cisco software and appliances that support SD-Branch, wireless and Enterprise Network Functions Virtualization (ENFV) capabilities in small branch offices.

We were challenged by the business to provide low cost, consolidated services for beachhead locations. ENCS runs the latest and greatest WiFi 6 controller, latest most sophisticated NGFW, and SD-WAN plus has the room for additional workloads like Windows Servers. This lets us serve our remote office customers with the absolute latest in secure and robust connectivity in a 1U form factor, Wild said.

This is an absolute necessity for places where we also dont have the floor capacity or HVAC requirements to place big iron, without sacrificing performance/capability. Someday as we refine our Cloud and IaaS strategy this will help us bridge the gap and balance premise and Cloud services through a graceful and sane migration path, Wild said.

The rollout was simplified by the fact that in the core network no additional hardware was required. Across the branch sites, a home-grown template that defined what security, services and features got gear there configured and working quickly. We live and die by templates, Wild said.

All of those sites can now use high-bandwidth direct internet access lines. "With ENCS/ENFV we can bring up additional branch offices quickly across the globe with a few clicks, and we now have application visibility, assurance and alerting, and we can manage it all from one central location," Wild said.

Rolling out the SD-WAN environment also let the company revamp its telecom contracts as well  eliminating $200,000 in annual MPLS costs globally. That move saved incalculable in human effort and man-hours and a substantial amount of money the company could reinvest in innovation, he said.

In addition to the ISR SD-WAN rollout, Johnsonville is also piloting SD-WAN for industrial automation and factory deployment using Cisco SD-WAN software on the Cisco IR 1101 ruggedized integrated services router that will connect their wastewater treatment-plant facilities to the corporate network. There is usable data in those locations that we never had any great access to, and we are trying to change that, Wild said.

While the SD-WAN portion of the network was solidified and modernized, the company set out to further integrate the network and develop a central control tower for operations that allows Johnsonville to do even more with less, Wild said.

Core for this part of the companys plans was the deeper integration of Ciscos DNA Center and becoming an early adopter of its AI Network Analytics service. Johnsonville already had DNA Center to help manage its wireless networks and its Cisco-based core data-center networking environment made up of Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI)-driven Nexus 9000 switches.

ACI is Ciscos core networking software that gives customers the flexibility to run and control applications anywhere they want across private or public clouds or at the edge while maintaining consistent network and security policies across their entire domain.

DNA Center is Ciscos core-networking control platform that features myriad services from analytics, network management and automation capabilities to assurance setting, fabric provisioning and policy-based segmentation for enterprise networks.

AI Network Analytics is a software package that uses AI and machine learning techniques to learn network traffic and security patterns that can help customers spot and fix problems proactively across the enterprise.

"The idea was to simplify things further by having SD-WAN included in what we were doing with ACI and DNA Center," Wild said. DNA Center lets Johnsonville push security policies and manage the entire network from a central location.

The Analytics program helps us spot problems quickly that no human would be able to figure out without a ton of work, Wild said. He cited an example that involved what was a mystery network-performance problem at one of the companys sites. A tiny Bluetooth radio on a forklift was throwing off so much interference it was bringing an operational network to its knees, and the Analytics program figured it out quickly. There was no human way to sit and watch the data that was needed to figure that out, Wild said.

"The Analytics program also reduces the amount of alerts the IT team gets because it is homed in on what we consider to be important," Wild noted.

The company expects to move toward a more automated, intent-based network in the future. As the technology matures, the automation gets better and everything becomes more tightly integrated, the opportunities are boundless, Wild said.
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Iran has launched what it promised would be a 'crushing revenge' strike against the US over the death of General Soleimani - but succeeded only in damaging two airbases in neighboring Iraq.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired 22 ballistic missiles at the Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq and Erbil International airport in the north in the early hours of Wednesday, but failed to kill a single US or Iraqi solider.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaking on Iranian TV shortly after the missiles were launched, described the strikes as 'a slap' and said they 'are not sufficient (for revenge)' while vowing further action to kick US troops out of the region.

But foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the attack was now 'concluded', praising Iran's 'proportionate' response and adding: 'We do not seek escalation or war.'

President Donald Trump is expected to make his own statement on the attacks at 11am Wednesday EST, but tweeted late Tuesday to say 'so far so good' and 'all is well 'as American forces assessed the damage.

Iranian television had tried to claim that 80 'American terrorists' were killed, but that figure was quickly rubbished by Iraqi and US officials.

Images showed several missiles had either failed to explode on impact or else missed their targets. The remains of one was found near the town of Duhok, some 70 miles from Erbil air base, which was the intended target.

Iran has fired 22 ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases housing American troops in a revenge attack for the U.S. drone strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani

The Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq that was visited by Donald Trump in December 2018 and the Erbil base in Iraqi Kurdistan were both struck by the missiles on Tuesday at about 5.20pm EST (1.20am local time)

It is thought Iran used Fatteh-110 and Qaim-1 ballistic missiles during the attack, which failed to kill any US or Iraqi troops (pictured, one of the missiles is launched in Iran)

While the attack marks a significant escalation in tensions between the US and Iran, it falls far short of direct attacks on US commanders that had been feared

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (left) said the attack it is 'not enough' for revenge against the US, before Iraqi militia commander Qais al-Khazali (right) vowed to exact his own revenge for the killing of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis

Iraqi security forces clear away pieces of shrapnel from the Ain al-Asad airbase after it was struck by ballistic missiles fired by Iran as part of operation 'Martyr Soleimani'

Initial reports indicate at least 15 missiles were fired at two American bases in Iraq, though officials said early warning systems sounded alarms at the Ain al-Asad base (pictured) allowing troops to scramble for cover

A man holds shrapnel from a missile launched by Iran on U.S.-led coalition forces on the outskirts of Duhok, in northern Iraq 70 miles from Erbil, following Iranian missile strikes

Wreckage of a missile that was fired at Ain al-Asad military base in western Iraq but failed to explode on impact

US officials said early warning systems sounded alarms at the Ain al-Asad base, allowing troops to scramble for cover

Iraq said 17 missiles were fired at the Ain al-Asad base, two of which failed to explode (pictured, unexploded wreckage)

In an attempt to talk-up the impact of the strikes, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said they show 'we don't retreat in the face of America.'

'If America has committed a crime... it should know that it will receive a decisive response,' Rouhani said in a televised address. 'If they are wise, they won't take any other action at this juncture.'

It is thought Iran gave advanced warning of the strikes, after Iraq, Finland and Lithuania - which all had troops stationed at the bases which were targeted - all said they were informed in advance.

America said that 'early warning systems' detected the missile launches and sirens were sounded at the Asad base, allowing soldiers to seek shelter. It is not clear whether they were also informed by Iran.

Prominent analysts suggested Iran may have deliberately pulled its punches because they are fearful of the 'disproportionate' response threatened by Trump if US personnel were killed.

'With the attacks, Tehran signalled its capacity and readiness to respond to US attacks, thus saving face, and yet they have been well targeted to avoid fatalities and thus avoid provoking Trump's reaction,' said Annalisa Perteghella of the Institute for International Political Studies in Milan.

President Donald Trump says 'all is well' and 'so far so good' as the damage and casualties continue to be assessed after Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases housing American troops

Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif called the attacks 'self-defense' but said they did 'not seek escalation' but would defend itself against further aggression

Hours after the launch, a Ukrainian Airlines Boeing 737 caught fire crashed near Tehran killing all 177 passengers and crew - including 63 Canadian and three Britons - amid fears it could have been caught up in the attack.

The Ukrainian embassy in Tehran initially stated that the crash had been caused by an engine failure rather than terrorism or a missile attack, but later deleted that claim.

Iran has blamed technical failure and an engine fire for the crash, after earlier saying the pilot had lost control during an engine fire.

If it emerges that Iran did shoot down the plane - either accidentally or on purpose - then it is likely to prompt a global response that will escalate tensions in the region even further.

Ukraine's foreign ministry said of those killed, 82 were Iranian, 63 Canadian, 11 Ukrainian, three British, with the remainder hailing from Sweden, Afghanistan, and Germany.

Saeed Tahmasebi a newlywed from London who had flown to Tehran for a second wedding ceremony with bride Niloofar Ebrahim after trying the knot in the UK capital, was among those killed.

Also killed was dry cleaning boss Mohammad Reza Kadkhoda-Zadeh, from Brighton, and Sam Zokaei, a BP engineer who also lived in London.

International airlines have begun rerouting flights away from Iranian and Iraqi airspace amid fears they could be accidentally targeted by missiles.

One British Airways flight, BA134, was spotted performing an abrupt U-turn and flying off across Saudi Arabia instead of taking its expected route across Iraqi airspace.

The timing of the Iranian strikes - around 1.20am local time - occurred at the same time as the US drone strike which killed Soleimani.

Following the strikes, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned any further strikes by America would be met with fresh attacks, and that any allied countries used as a base for such strikes would themselves become targets.

The Iraqi military said 22 missiles were fired in total - 17 at the Asad base, two of which failed to explode, and five more that struck Erbil International Airport. US officials put the total slightly lower at 15 - ten of which hit Asad, one which hit Erbil, four which failed in flight.

Iran said it had used Fatteh-110 ballistic missiles for the attack, though analysts said images of wreckage near the Aasd base also appears to show Qaim-1 ballistic missiles were used.

The Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq - visited by Trump in December 2018 - and Erbil base in Iraqi Kurdistan were struck by the missiles around 5.20pm EST Tuesday in an operation dubbed 'Martyr Soleimani' by Iran.

The Pentagon says the missiles were 'clearly launched from Iran' to target U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq. A US official said there were no immediate reports of American casualties, though buildings were still being searched. Iraqi officials say there were no casualties among their forces either.

There are still fears for US forces in the region after Qais al-Khazali, a commander of Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, vowed to exact revenge for the killing of deputy-leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

'The first Iranian response to the assassination of the martyr leader Soleimani took place,' he tweeted. 'Now is the time for the initial Iraqi response to the assassination of the martyr leader Muhandis.

'And because the Iraqis are brave and zealous, their response will not be less than the size of the Iranian response, and this is a promise.'

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran had delivered a 'slap in the face' to American forces but added that missile strikes are 'not enough' and called for the US to be 'uprooted' from the region

The Ayatollah spoke in a televised address early Wednesday during which he praised a 'measured' strike against the US, which he said embodied the spirit of slain general Soleimani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the attack shows 'we don't retreat in the face of America', while also urging Washington not to escalate tensions further

The Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq and the Erbil base in Iraqi Kurdistan were both struck by the missiles on Tuesday at about 5.30pm (EST)

President Trump and First Lady Melania visited the al-Asad airbase in western Iraq in December 2018. The airbase was targeted by Iran on Tuesday in a missile attack

Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were spotted arriving at the White House soon after news of the strikes broke

Iraqi security forces and citizens gather to inspect the site where missiles fired by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps landed outside the Ain al-Asad airbase

Pieces of shrapnel are seen near the Ain al-Asad airbase after a missile strike by Iran

Members of Peshmerga fighters stand guard in center of Erbil in the aftermath of Iran's launch of a number of missiles at bases in Iraq

Members of Kurdistan's regional government attend a meeting to discuss security after Iranian missiles targeted Erbil International Airport early Wednesday

Britain, Australia, France, Poland, Denmark and Finland have confirmed that none of their troops stationed in Iraq were hurt in the attack, while calling for an end to hostilities and a return to talks.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has condemned what he called Iran's 'reckless and dangerous' missile attacks on bases in Iraq used by U.S. troops, and he called for 'urgent de-escalation' by Tehran and Washington.

China and Russia, both key Iranian allies, also warned against escalating strikes with Vladimir Dzhabarov, lawmaker with Russia's upper house of parliament, warning the conflict could easily lead to a nuclear war.

In a surprise move Barham Saleh Iraq's president, condemned the attacks, calling them a violation of sovereignty.

The Syrian government, another key ally of Iran, has expressed full solidarity with Iran, saying Tehran has the right to defend itself 'in the face of American threats and attacks.'

The foreign ministry said in a statement Wednesday that Syria holds the 'American regime responsible for all the repercussions due to its reckless policy and arrogant mentality.'

Meanwhile Turkey, which is a NATO member but also has ties to Iran in Syria, said its foreign minister will visit Iraq on Thursday as part of diplomatic efforts to 'alleviate the escalated tension' in the region.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed the EU will 'spare no effort' in trying to save the nuclear deal that Iran signed with President Obama and was ripped up by Trump, sparking the current tensions.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which controls the country's missile program, confirmed that they fired the rockets in retaliation for last week's killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

They reported the operation's name was 'Martyr Soleimani' and it took place just hours after the slain general's funeral.

The rockets used in the attack, according to Iranian TV, were Fatteh-110 ballistic missiles, which have a range of 186 miles or 300km.

The Iranian air force has since deployed multiple fighter jets to patrol it airspace, according to reports - as Iran warned the U.S. and its allies in the region not to retaliate.

The Pentagon said it was still working to assess the damage.

Iranian missiles that blitzed Iraqi airbases can deliver a precision-guided 500lb warhead over a range of more than 180 miles Two types of ballistic missiles were reportedly used to hit U.S. Military bases in Ain al-Asad in western Iraq and also around Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. The majority of those used are believed to be the Fateh-110, which can travel 180 miles or 300km and have a payload of around 500lb. Reports also suggest the Qiam-1 was also used, a short range ballistic missile produced by Iran which can travel 500 miles and carry 750lb warheads. The Fateh-110 is an Iranian-designed, short-range, surface-to-surface ballistic missile that can be launched from any location. While the Qiam-1 was specifically built to target U.S. bases in the Middle East, which have 'encircled Iran', according to Iranian sources. When it was launched the Fateh-110 was described by Iranian defence minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami as '100-percent domestically made - agile, stealth, tactical (and) precision-guided'. Both missiles are reported to have been fired from Tabriz and Kermanshah provinces in Iran. Advertisement

'In recent days and in response to Iranian threats and actions, the Department of Defense has taken all appropriate measures to safeguard our personnel and partners. These bases have been on high alert due to indications that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces,' a statement from the Pentagon read.

'It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and coalition personnel at al-Assad and Irbil. We are working on initial battle damage assessments.

'As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend U.S. personnel, partners, and allies in the region.'

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, reportedly said Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei was personally in the control center coordinating the attacks.

They also warned U.S. allies in the Middle East that they would face retaliation if America strikes back against any Iranian targets from their bases.

'We are warning all American allies, who gave their bases to its terrorist army, that any territory that is the starting point of aggressive acts against Iran will be targeted,' they said. It also threatened Israel.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were spotted arriving at the White House soon after news of the strikes broke.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham said on Tuesday night that the missile strikes were an 'act of war' and said Trump had all the power he needed to act.

'This is an act of war by any reasonable definition,' Graham told Fox News' Sean Hannity. 'The President has all the authority he needs under Article II to respond.'

People stand near the wreckage after a Ukrainian plane carrying 177 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport

Rescue workers in protective suits gather up the bodies of passengers who were killed in the Boeing 737 crash in Iran today

An aerial view of the crash site where rescuers searched the debris this morning with the cause of the crash still unclear

Newlywed Saeed Tahmasebi Khademsadi, 35, pictured with his wife Niloofar Ebrahim, was an engineer at construction firm Laing O'Rourke

Mohammad Reza Kadkhoda-Zadeh, 40 (left), was identified as one of the British victims of the Ukrainian Airlines disaster, while BP engineer Sam Zokaei (right) was named as another

The Ukrainian pilots and crew of the plane which crashed are captured in an image thought to have been taken in Tehran shortly before their doomed flight

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted that the U.S., as well as the rest of the world, 'cannot afford war'.

'Closely monitoring the situation following bombings targeting U.S. troops in Iraq. We must ensure the safety of our servicemembers, including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence. America & world cannot afford war,' she tweeted.

After the strikes, Saeed Jalili - a former Iranian nuclear negotiator and foreign minister - posted a picture of the Islamic Republic's flag on Twitter, appearing to mimic Trump who posted an American flag following the killing of Soleimani and others in the drone strike in Baghdad.

Ain al-Asad air base was first used by American forces after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, and later saw American troops stationed there amid the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. It houses about 1,500 U.S. and coalition forces.

About 70 Norwegian troops also were on the air base but no injuries were reported, Brynjar Stordal, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Armed Forces said.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday it would ban U.S. carriers from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, the Gulf of Oman and the waters between Iran and Saudi Arabia after the missile attack on U.S.-led forces.

Earlier on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the United States should anticipate retaliation from Iran over the killing in Iraq of Soleimani.

'I think we should expect that they will retaliate in some way, shape or form,' Esper told a news briefing at the Pentagon, adding that such retaliation could be through Iran-backed proxy groups outside of Iran or 'by their own hand.'

'We're prepared for any contingency. And then we will respond appropriately to whatever they do.'

Trump had also earlier told reporters about the prospect of an Iranian attack: 'We're totally prepared.'

'They're going to be suffering the consequences and very strongly,' he said from the Oval Office during a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Meanwhile, early reports of an attack at the al-Taji military base, just outside Baghdad, was later reported as a drill.

Local reports initially suggested that five rockets had struck the base after 'shelter in place' sirens were heard ringing out around the compound.

Sirens were also heard blaring out inside the U.S. consulate in Erbil, which was one of the bases struck in the missile attack.

Muslim worshippers hold a candlelight vigil in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, to honour Iran's slain general Soleimani

Shia Muslims prayed in support of Soleimani in Pakistan as Iran launched what it said were revenge strikes on the US

Iran said the attack, dubbed Operation Martyr Soleimani, was launched hours after the funeral service for General Qassem Soleimani (pictured) - who was killed in a US drone strike - had finished

Mourners attend funeral and burial of General Soleimani in his hometown in Kerman early Wednesday morning

People lower the coffin of Qassem Soleimani into his grave in the city of Kerman, central Iran

Mourners rush to lay their hands on the coffin of General Soleimani before it is lowered into a grave in the cit of Kerman

Was the Ukrainian jet brought down by an Iranian missile - or were the 176 people on board killed by a mechanical failure? Here are the five key theories Theory one: Mechanical failure or pilot error Iranian authorities have said that initial investigations point to either an engine failure - or a catastrophic pilot error. The three-year-old Boeing 737 jet came down just three minutes after take-off from Imam Khomeini International Airport. Iranian officials said the pilot had lost control of the Boeing jet after a fire struck one of the plane's engines, but said the crew had not reported an emergency and did not say what caused the fire. Footage of the crash appears to show the plane streaking downwards with a small blaze on the wing, near its jet engines (pictured above on the ground). But critics have questioned the Iranian account, calling it the 'fastest investigation in aviation history' - and said the Boeing 737 has a largely outstanding safety record with no recent history of an engine failure of this kind. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has instructed prosecutors to open criminal proceedings - a clear signal that he is unsure about Iran's version of events. His Government also revealed the plane was inspected just two days ago. Theory two: Accidentally hit by an Iranian missile The plane came down shortly after Iran launched its missile attacks Iraq with tens of ballistic weapons fired from the rogue state. Photographs of the downed Ukrainian airlines jet show that the fuselage appears to be peppered with shrapnel damage. Experts have said that an engine fire or pilot error does not explain those holes (pictured). Ilya Kusa, a Ukrainian international affairs expert, said amid the US-Iranian tensions and said: 'It is difficult not to connect the plane crash with the US-Iran confrontation. The situation is very difficult. One must understand that this happened shortly after Iran's missile attacks on US military facilities'. Just hours before the crash, the US Federal Aviation Administration had banned US airlines from flying over Iran, Iraq and the waters of the Persian Gulf due to the Middle East crisis. This was due to the possibility of missiles flying towards Iraq - and airlines are still skirting the region as they head to and from Asia. Theory three: Jet was deliberately brought down by a missile Video footage tweeted by the BBC's Iran correspondent, Ali Hashem, appeared to show the plane already burning in the sky before it crashed in a massive explosion. It sparked speculation that the jet could have been shot down accidentally by nervous Iranian air defence soldiers, hours after Iran fired 22 ballistic missiles at US bases in retaliation for the killing of general Qassem Soleimani. But there is a major question mark over whether Iran would shoot down a plane with so many of its own citizens on board. Many of the world's major airlines have stopped flying through or even near Iranian airspace as they cross the globe amid safety fears after US/Iran tensions boiled over in the past week. Iran is a key ally of Vladimir Putin's Russia, which grabbed Crimea from Ukraine and has been involved in an on-off conflict with its neighbour since 2014. Russia has denied shooting down the ill-fated MH17 jet five years ago - but experts say otherwise with three Russians arrested over the disaster. Theory four: An accidental drone strike Experts have speculated that the Ukrainian aircraft could have collided with a military drone before crashing. The drone may have smashed into the engine - or been sucked in - with the pilot unsighted because it was after dark. This could cause an explosion and the fire seen as the plane hit the ground (pictured). Experts said Iranian were in the air at the time - in case the US decided to fight back - and not always picked up by radar. Russian military pilot Vladimir Popov said: 'It could have been an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, which are small in size and poorly visible on radars. A plane in a collision could get significant damage and even catch fire in the air.' Theory five: Sabotage or a terror attack Aviation experts have urged investigators to rule out whether the plane was brought down by terrorists or as an act of sabotage. They say that while a flaming engine is highly unusual, the sudden loss of data communications from the plane is even more so. This could be caused by a bomb, that blew up after the 737 took to the air, wrecking its systems. An electronic jammer weapon that knocked out the plane's controls could also explain it. British expert Julian Bray said it 'could be an altitude triggered device set to detonate during take off. Unusual that engine seen to be on fire before crash, points to catastrophic incident' or being 'deliberately brought down'. He added that based on the footage pilot error looks 'unlikely'. Experts have said that if the black box is not recovered by Iranian security officials (pictured) from the wreckage it could point to it being a deliberate act. After the crash the Ukrainian embassy in Tehran reported that the crash had been caused by an engine failure rather than terrorism - but this was later deleted on social media. Advertisement

The strikes by Iran were a major escalation of tensions that have been rising steadily across the Mideast following months of threats and attacks after Trump's decision to unilaterally withdraw America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers.

Soleimani's killing and Iran's missile strikes also marked the first time in recent years that Washington and Tehran have attacked each other directly rather than through proxies in the region.

After the strikes, Saeed Jalili - a former Iranian nuclear negotiator - posted a picture of the Islamic Republic's flag on Twitter, appearing to mimic Trump who posted an American flag following the killing of Soleimani and others in the drone strike in Baghdad

It raised the chances of open conflict erupting between the two nations, which have been foes since the days immediately following Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The revenge attack came a mere few hours after crowds in Iran mourned Soleimani and as the U.S. continued to reinforce its own positions in the region and warned of an unspecified threat to shipping from Iran in the region's waterways, crucial routes for global energy supplies.

U.S. embassies and consulates from Asia to Africa and Europe issued security alerts for Americans. The U.S. Air Force launched a drill with 52 fighter jets in Utah on Monday, just days after Trump threatened to hit 52 sites in Iran.

Meanwhile a stampede broke out Tuesday at Soleimani's funeral in his hometown of Kerman and at least 56 people were killed and more than 200 were injured as thousands thronged the procession, Iranian news reports said.

There was no information about what set off the crush in the packed streets. Online videos showed only its aftermath: people lying apparently lifeless, their faces covered by clothing, emergency crews performing CPR on the fallen and onlookers wailing and crying out to God.

A procession in Tehran on Monday drew over one million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main avenues and side streets.

Hossein Salami, Soleimani's successor as leader of the Revolutionary Guard, addressed a crowd of supporters gathered at the coffin in a central square in Kernan.

He vowed to avenge Soleimani, saying: 'We tell our enemies that we will retaliate but if they take another action we will set ablaze the places that they like and are passionate about'.

The al-Asad base for American and coalition troops (pictured above in December) was struck by missiles 'clearly launched from Iran', U.S. officials say
A Cypriot court on Tuesday handed a British teenager a four-month suspended prison sentence after convicting her of falsely accusing a dozen Israeli tourists of gang rape. The 19-year smiled and hugged family after the sentence was handed down following a months-long trial that her lawyers say was littered with investigatory and legal mistakes and issues, including repeated refusals by the judge to consider whether she was raped. The case has sparked protests in Britain and calls for tourists to boycott the island. The sentencing took place to loud shouts from protesters outside the court room, including around 50 Israelis -- mainly women, but some men -- who travelled to Cyprus to offer moral support to the woman. As the judge delivered his sentencing, shouts of "Cyprus justice, shame on you" were audible in the court, despite police ordering journalists to close windows and blinds. Lawyers for the woman, whom AFP is not naming, say she was raped in the seaside resort of Ayia Napa by 12 Israeli teenagers in their hotel room on July 17. She fled in distress to her own hotel and was examined by an in-house doctor, who called the police. A group of Israeli teenagers were arrested and appeared in court, but 10 days after making a complaint of rape she was interviewed again by police and signed a retraction. The Israelis were allowed to return home and not called as witnesses. Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said he has "firmly and categorically registered" concerns with Cypriot officials about the case. Judge Michalis Papathanasiou had told the young woman "statements you have given were false", as he convicted her on December 30. He said during the trial that her account was beset by "contradictions, confusion, lack of logic and exaggeration". Lewis Power, a British lawyer who is part of the woman's legal team, said she would leave Cyprus by the end of the day. An appeal to the Supreme Court "will begin in the next few days", but it is not clear when any case will be heard, because the "wheels of justice move very slowly in Cyprus," he said. The case has highlighted "a gaping chasm in the treatment" of victims of sexual assault in Cyprus relative to other jurisdictions, Power added.
The Daily Wire reports:

Chief Washington Correspondent CBS News Host Major Garrett said during the most recent broadcast of CBS News Face The Nation that President Donald Trump s efforts, and subsequent successes, to improve the lives of minority communities in the United States was the most underreported news story of 2019. 

And yet it can be fairly said that this administration, because of President Trumps quiet prodding, has done quite a bit for funding of historically black colleges and universities, Garrett said. The First Step Act, which was a massive first step toward criminal justice reform. Just a couple of weeks ago, in this newly signed defense bill, there is a law that says if you are seeking work for the federal government or any contractor, you dont have to be asked and you cannot be asked about your criminal history until right toward the end. Thats a significant change long sought by criminal justice advocates, plus opportunity zones in the tax bill directed at communities of color.

Garrett noted that Trumps achievements for minority communities have been so historic that it is a record that almost any president after three years would want to claim, particularly President Obama.
A Delhi Court issued death warrants against four death row convicts in the sensational 2012 Nirbhaya Gangrape and murder case. The convicts will be hanged on January 22 at 7 AM in Tihar Jail in the national capital.



Four convicts - Akshay, Mukesh, Vinay and Pawan - are facing the gallows for rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012.

During the hearing, the prosecution said there was no application pending before any court or the President right now by any of the convicts and the review petition of all the convicts was dismissed by the Supreme Court.

The order was pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora who issued death warrants against them.



While urging the court to issue the death warrants, the prosecution said, "In between issuance and execution of death warrants of the convicts want to file curative petitions they can do so."

Moments after death warrant against all four convicts in 2012 Nirbhaya Delhi gang-rape case was issued, Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi expressed satisfaction over the judgement saying that her daughter has got justice and the order will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system.

"Absolutely. Execution of the four convicts will empower the women of the country. This decision will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system," she said.

She was responding to a question whether the order will serve as a deterrent. "January 22 will be a big day for us. My daughter has got justice," she added, and thanked the judge and the judiciary for the verdict.

The counsel for two of the convicts  Mukesh and Vinay  said they were in process of filing a curative petition in the apex court.

(With Inputs From Agencies)
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US denies plans to pull troops from Iraq after leaked letter confusion

The US defence secretary has denied claims that the US is planning to pull troops from Iraq amid mounting tensions with Iran.

A push led by pro-Iran factions to oust US troops from Iraq had followed the US airstrike that killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

However, defence secretary Mark Esper said: "There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq."

PM's Brexit deal set for Commons return as MPs prepare for three-day debate

Boris Johnson's Brexit deal is set to return to the Commons.

MPs, who are returning following the Christmas break, will today begin a mammoth three days of detailed debate on the withdrawal Bill.

Opposition parties have tabled a number of amendments to the legislation.

But with the Government now enjoying a Commons majority of 80 they look unlikely to succeed.

Long-Bailey joins Labour leadership race

Rebecca Long-Bailey has announced she is standing in the Labour leadership race.

She joins Clive Lewis, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips, Sir Keir Starmer and Emily Thornberry in the battle to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.

The shadow business secretary, a close ally of Mr Corbyn, said the party needs a proud socialist leader" to replace him.

Cyprus rape case teen's mother says daughter 'terrified' of jail

The mother of a British teenager found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus has said her daughter is "terrified" of being sent to prison.

The 19-year-old woman will be sentenced on Tuesday at a court in Paralimni, where she could be jailed for up to a year.

She maintains she was raped and says she was forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police.

Local media reports suggest she will be pardoned by Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades if the judge does impose an immediate jail term, allowing her to go home.

Large fire rips through iconic music venue in north London

A large fire has ripped through the iconic music venue Koko in Camden, north London.

Dozens of firefighters were battling the blaze at the historic building, which had been closed for refurbishment, last night.

The venue, which was scheduled to reopen in April, has hosted acts including Madonna, Ed Sheeran and Prince.

Winter Love Island line-up revealed

It's been a long wait and a cold few months but at long last, the Winter Love Island line-up is here.

ITV has unveiled the first batch of people heading into the Cape Town villa and it is full of characters.
In November, the Trump administration stepped away from a major escalation in relations as it quietly allowed a deadline to impose tariffs on European cars to expire. But it has moved ahead with other tariffs on European products  some in response to a dispute over aircraft at the World Trade Organization, and others in response to Frances new tax on digital services.

Like other European countries, France has long been frustrated that platforms like Google, Facebook and Amazon have large digital presences and conduct a lot of commerce in their country, but pay few taxes because they have little physical presence there. In July, France passed into law a 3 percent tax on the revenue some companies earn from providing digital services to French users.

American officials have called the tax discriminatory and unreasonable and detailed a plan to retaliate by imposing tariffs on porcelain, soap, handbags, wine, yogurt, lipstick and other French products, though they have not specified the rate or total dollar value of the tariffs that might be imposed.

A spokesman for the United States trade representative said the administration was now considering duties of up to 100 percent on certain French products, as well as fees or restrictions on French services, commensurate with the level of harm to the American economy that results from the tax. A Treasury spokesman declined to comment.

International negotiators have been trying to head off such conflicts by developing a broader framework for digital taxes. Negotiations are continuing at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, but the slow pace of the talks has frustrated European officials.

On Tuesday, Mr. Le Maire met with Phil Hogan, the new European trade commissioner, who will travel to the United States next week to discuss how to respond to potential American tariffs. If no deal is struck at the O.E.C.D. and American tariffs are imposed, France has vowed to retaliate with its own levies, as well as call on the European Union to move ahead with a broader European project for digital taxation.

Mr. Le Maire said that if the United States imposed tariffs during the negotiating period it would effectively end the talks. He added that other European countries were in the process of establishing similar taxes, with about 15 countries around the world planning to impose their own national digital tax by June.
Radisson Blu has announced the opening of a new hotel in Sakarya, in northwestern Turkey.



Sakarya is one of the largest industrial hubs, dynamic and fast-growing cities in Turkey. Located in the Marmara region, close to the Black Sea, Sakarya is well-connected through both road and rail with Istanbul and is serviced by Istanbuls International Airport. Apart from an economic importance, the city of Sakarya also has a rich heritage with historical relics dating back to the Byzantine and Ottoman eras and scenic beauty such as highlands and thermal springs.



Michel Stalport, area senior vice president Eastern Europe, Russia and Turkey, said: We are delighted to bring our leading Radisson Blu brand to Sakarya. This marks our 16th Radisson Blu and 27th Radisson Hotel Group property in operation and under development in Turkey and reinforces our network in the country. The hotel has a prime location in one of the countries most important and upcoming cities, making it ideal for business as well as leisure travellers. The exclusive address of the hotel in the city perfectly complements the upper upscale positioning of the Radisson Blu brand."



The newly-built Radisson Blu Hotel, Sakarya features 139 modern guest rooms and suites with a restful ambience and stylish design. For guests who like to relax and recharge during their stay, the hotel offers a fully equipped gym and fitness area, including an indoor pool, Turkish hammam, steam bath, sauna as well as personal care programs. And while Allegro Restaurant serves international delights, the Blu Bar has a rich variety of mouth-watering snacks, which guests can enjoy on a pleasant terrace. The hotel also features 800-sq-m of meetings and events space, equipped with the latest technology.



Ugur Ofluoglu, general manager of Radisson Blu Hotel, Sakarya, said: We are pleased to welcome our guests in the first Radisson Blu hotel in Sakarya. We have a fantastic team in place ready to create memorable moments for our guests in a region of Turkey that has so much to offer. - TradeArabia News Service
The request marked the latest twist in the legal saga of the former Army lieutenant general and adviser to President Trump, whose rocky path after his candidate won the White House included serving the shortest tenure of a national security adviser on record  just 24 days  before resigning in February 2017. He then became a key witness in a probe into the administration, before breaking with the prosecutors who had credited him with helping them.
Oil prices have continued to rise in the wake of the U.S. killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and the situation has been having a ripple effect on the Saskatchewan and Canadian economy.

On Friday morning, a U.S. airstrike killed Soleimani, 62, and others as they travelled from Baghdad's international airport.

West Texas Intermediate Crude is hovering around $63 US per barrel, its highest point since mid-September. The other major price benchmark, Brent Crude, hit $70 US per barrel on Monday.

Western Canadian Select, heavy crude oil from the prairies, was trading for about $40 US per barrel on Monday.

About 60 per cent of the oil produced in Saskatchewan is non-heavy and sells above the Western Canada Select price.

The Saskatchewan government's budget prediction for WTI for 2019-20 was $59.75 US per barrel, which was reduced to $57.03 at mid-year.

"When the global oil price goes up, it doesn't take that long for oil and gas prices to go up for consumers and for producers," said Richard Masson, executive fellow at the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy and vice-chair of the World Petroleum Council of Canada.

A volatile situation

Masson said because of the volatility of the situation, Canadian companies are unlikely to increase drilling.

"Right now we're seeing higher prices and that's helping companies pay down debt but it's probably not going to result in a lot of extra activity this spring because it's not a guarantee it can last for an extended period of time."

"Forty to 45 percent of every incremental dollar we get from higher prices flows through to governments. If there is a price spike that lasts for a few months it will help budget situations. But again, governments shouldn't count on that being sustained."

On the rising WTI price, the Saskatchewan government said in a statement: "While an increase in the price of oil would be beneficial, there are a number of other factors that affect revenue, including the Canadian dollar and the light-heavy oil differential (as a percentage of WTI)."

Story continues

"The 2019-20 Budget forecast oil at $59.75 and today's prices is $63.35. However, it is too early to know what result the price will have on revenue. The 2019-20 budget remains on track to balance without relying on an increase to non-renewable resource revenues to reach this balance."

The government added that because of the volatility of the market conditions and international relations, it has made an effort to reduce its dependency on resource revenues. In 2008-09 non-renewable resource revenue accounted for 32 per cent of its budget. The government has reduced that to 12 per cent in 2019-20.

Masson said Canadian producers and governments would end up with more tax and royalty revenue from increased oil prices but because of a shortage of capacity, Canadian companies wouldn't be able to step up and supply needy markets with oil.

"We couldn't do much to help them because we don't have any spare pipeline capacity or any spare rail capacity right now," he said.

CBC

Escalating tensions

Masson said oil prices are secondary to concerns about escalating military conflict in the Middle East.

"The concern about oil supply in the world is something we really need to pay attention to. Way more important to us is going to be if this turns into a big conflict."

"Oil is a small part of all of that. It'll be one of the things to react quickest but we've got much bigger worries right now."

Associated Press

In September, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched drone attacks on the world's largest oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia. The strike briefly took out about half of the supplies from the world's largest oil exporter. The U.S. directly blamed Iran, which denied involvement.

Saudi Arabia accounts for 10 million barrels of crude oil per day. The facility accounts for about five per cent of worldwide oil production.

The total volume of Canadian oil imports from Saudi Arabia has increased by 66 per cent since 2014, with imports rising every year during that period.

"This just reinforces how vulnerable the world is to the oil that comes out of the Persian Gulf," Masson said. "So there's something on the order of 20 million-plus barrels a day of the world's 100 million barrels a day go through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and so we're hugely vulnerable to a war in that region or to Iran targeting tankers or doing things to slow oil traffic."

Masson said Iran could see Saudi Arabia as a "proxy" for retaliation against the U.S. "which could lead to big outages and price spikes."
Tawfeeq was initially arrested after prosecutors said he picked up the woman in Elgin about 8:30 a.m. June 16, 2017, and, while driving to her home in Prairie Grove, began making unwanted sexual comments ... including asking her if she had any interest in being a prostitute." Later, prosecutors said, he turned off the Uber app and sexually abused her in a parking lot while she begged him to stop.
Foo Fighters fans may be in for a huge treat in 2020 if the band's cryptic clues across the internet are to be believed. Alongside several photos on social media over the last few weeks were the hashtags #FF2020 and #FF25, alluding to the fact that this year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Foo Fighters' 1995 self-titled debut album.

Earlier this week the band put up a Facebook video of a black and white disassembled drum kit, paired with about a minute of a simple drum beat audio.
There is huge potential for regional cities, but appropriate capital spending is a must, writes Marie Hunt

ONE of the key trends noted in the Irish commercial property market in 2019 was the increased focus on regional locations, with appetite from investors and office occupiers alike for opportunities in cities such as Cork.

Although admittedly low relative to the volume of activity experienced in Dublin, which once again was boosted by significant tech-related activity during 2019, there was a welcome improvement in transactional activity in regional cities including Cork, Galway and Limerick during the last 12 months. In addition to good take-up volumes in the occupier markets (particularly offices) in regional cities, there was an increase year-on-year in investment activity in the regions during the year. There are several new schemes currently being developed in regional cities, which clearly augurs well for 2020.

The investment market in regional cities remains strong with many investors now looking to diversify out of the core Dublin market and looking for regional opportunities, hampered only by a shortage of sizeable opportunities. The regions will, for the first time in a long time, be able to boast new supply from 2020 onwards. This is significant on two fronts. It is important from an occupier perspective, as occupiers wont commit to regional locations unless there is clear visibility on supply, which has been lacking for several years now. It is also significant from an investment viewpoint as new stock coming on stream in the office, residential, and hotel sectors in Irelands regional cities during 2020 will give rise to new investment opportunities once this stock is leased up in due course.

Regional cities clearly have huge potential, as recognised by the Governments ambitious Ireland 2040 programme. Indeed, the Governments aspiration is that 75% of the 1m extra people that will call Ireland home by 2040 will be accommodated outside of the Dublin market.

However, without appropriate capital spending, this wish will never materialise. To enable the regions to reach their full potential and reduce reliance on Dublin, the delivery of high-quality supporting infrastructure (transport, housing, broadband etc) needs to be urgently prioritised by Government. In this respect, the rollout of 5G technology in Ireland from this year onwards, which will enable download speeds of up to 100 times faster than at present, will be hugely significant in terms of supporting more balanced regional development.

In order for Cork, and more specifically the docklands region of the city, to reach its full potential, transport infrastructure provision is vital with investment needed in roads and bridges in particular. We therefore urge the public and the private sector and all stakeholders to work together to ensure that projects such as the long-promised Dunkettle interchange and the M28 project are prioritised and fast- tracked during 2020. We also clearly need to see the delivery of apartments to support the volume of office construction that is under way and planned for the Cork City and urge Government to assist with unlocking viability to enable this to happen.

As we finish what has been a tumultuous decade both for the Irish economy and the property real estate sector, the prospects for Irelands regional cities have probably never been better. There is a realisation at government level that Irelands regional cities have huge untapped potential, and from an affordability and quality of life perspective, more people (aided by improvements in technology) are opting to live, work and play in cities other than Dublin. If the Government is serious about balanced regional development and commit to infrastructure provision, the next decade could bring radical changes for Irelands regions.

Balanced regional development and reduced reliance on Dublin wont happen without joined-up thinking and effort on everyones part, however. We need to get better at collating data and information about our regional cities and using marketing collateral to sell Ireland and our cities and regions to encourage occupiers and investors to consider options other than or in addition to Dublin.

Reports produced by CBRE Ireland during 2019 on The Case for Cork and The Case for Galway have been extremely well received, particularly amongst international occupiers and investors who heretofore probably couldnt have identified these cities on a map.

We also need to ensure that there is dialogue between employers and third-level education providers in the regions so that we can deliver a ready supply of talent with the right set of skills and education to match what employers are specifically looking for.

Marie Hunt is executive director head of research, CBRE Ireland
Venezuelan legislative chief Juan Guaido on Tuesday entered the congressional palace following a tense standoff with security forces at the entrance, after the ruling socialist party on Sunday installed a rival parliamentary leadership.

Guaido had pledged to attempt to preside over Tuesday's session anyway. Local television images showed Guaido arguing for half an hour with troops who blocked the entrance to the legislative building but eventually allowed him and a handful of allied lawmakers to pass.

But inside, a brief session led by Luis Parra - who was sworn in by allies of President Nicolas Maduro as parliament chief on Sunday - had already ended, according to Reuters witnesses.

Parra's swearing in on Sunday gave Maduro sway over the last major state institution that had remained outside his control and appeared to mark a setback to Washington's efforts to unseat him.

Parra, who was elected to congress in 2015, had been expelled from the First Justice opposition party in late 2019 due to corruption allegations, which he has denied.

Dozens of countries, including the United States, denounced Parra's appointment as illegitimate, and said they continued to recognize Guaido as the parliament's head and as Venezuela's rightful president.

On Sunday, soldiers with riot shields blocked Guaido from entering parliament for what was expected to be his re-election. After Parra's swearing-in, Guaido held a separate session elsewhere in which 100 lawmakers backed his bid. The legislature has 167 seats.

Guaido has vowed to preside over Tuesday's legislative session despite what he called Parra's "parliamentary coup."

Parra has rejected that description and said in a post on Twitter: "We came to save parliament from destruction."

Guaido was elected head of the congress in January 2019 and invoked Venezuela's constitution to assume an interim presidency, denouncing Maduro as a usurper who had secured re-election in a 2018 vote widely considered fraudulent.

So far, Maduro has fended off Guaido's challenge, retaining control of the armed forces and tightening the noose around opposition lawmakers. More than 30 of Guaido's congressional allies are in hiding, in prison, or in exile.

Parra's new policy agenda focuses on reducing conflict with the government. Maduro was quick to celebrate his swearing-in, highlighting a "rebellion" among opposition lawmakers.

Parra said on Monday his priority was to set up a new electoral council to preside over free and fair elections.

Tuesday's session, he said, would debate proposals to tackle widespread shortages of gasoline, the freedom of political prisoners, and increases to workers' salaries. The session began around 10 a.m. local time (1400 GMT) and had ended before 11 a.m.

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[January 07, 2020] INVESTIGATION ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Announces it is Investigating Claims Against The We Company a/k/a WeWork and Encourages Investors with Losses to Contact the Firm

The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of The We Company a/k/a WeWork ("We Co." or "the Company") for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. The Wall Street Journal published an article titled "WeWork Employee Options Underwater as Ex-CEO Reaps," on October 23, 2019. The article includes the fact that We Co.'s founder and CEO, Adam Neumann, "stands to receive up to $1.7 billion as part of a deal with SoftBank Group Corp. to step away from office-space startup WeWork." The article continues by stating that the agreement "calls for SoftBank to buy WeWork's private shares from investors and some employees at $19.19 each, a fraction of the $110 a share price reached in January, when WeWork was valued at $47 billion." Bloomberg (News - Alert) reported on November 15, 2019, hat the Company is "drawing scrutiny from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over whether the co-working company violated financial rules in the run-up to its failed initial public offering," and that the SEC's (News - Alert) "enforcement division is reviewing WeWork's business and its disclosures to investors." Reuters reported on November 18, 2019, that the Company is facing an investigation by the New York State Attorney General to determine "whether WeWork's founder and former chief executive, Adam Neumann, indulged in self-dealing to enrich himself."



If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 404, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 424-303-1964, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107006020/en/

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More than 50 mourners have been killed and more than 200 injured after a stampede broke out on the final day of Qassem Soleimani's funeral in Iran today.

Iran's farewell to the general descended into chaos after thousands of people thronged to his home town of Kerman, where he is being buried on the third day of his funeral.

With a sea of mourners clamouring to see Soleimani's coffin, state media said the overcrowding had caused a stampede which left 56 people dead and 213 injured.

Footage which circulated online appeared to show emergency workers desperately trying to rescue mourners who had been thrown to the ground and badly hurt during the crush.

Soleimani's burial was postponed after the stampede, but later got underway at the 'martyrs' section' of a cemetery in Kerman.

Iran today renewed its vows of revenge against America, which regarded the general as a terrorist leader and killed him in a drone strike in Iraq last Friday.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who yesterday wept in public over Soleimani's casket, has ordered his country's forces to retaliate directly against US interests rather than relying on its proxies in the region.

Tehran says it has lined up 13 'revenge scenarios' and revolutionary guards leader Hossein Salami told the crowds today that Iran would 'set ablaze' US allies.

US forces are braced for a reprisal but their future in the Middle East was thrown into confusion yesterday when a letter confirming a withdrawal from Iraq was apparently circulated by mistake.

Donald Trump has vowed to retaliate if Iran strikes against US targets, despite lukewarm support from his allies including Israel which today declared its intention to 'stay out of it'.

Iranian mourners look around in panic after a stampede broke out at Qassem Soleimani's funeral in Kerman today, killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds

With a sea of mourners rushing to see Soleimani's coffin, state TV said a stampede had broken out which left more than 50 people dead and more than 200 injured

Footage which circulated online appeared to show the aftermath of the stampede with injured people lying on the ground

An injured man lies on a hospital bed in Kerman after he was one of more than 200 people wounded at Soleimani's funeral

An injured Iranian woman is wheeled into a ward in Bahonar hospital in Kerman after she was wounded in today's stampede

Iranian mourners gather for the burial of slain top general Qassem Soleimani in his hometown of Kerman on Tuesday

Crowds throng around the vehicle bearing Soleimani's coffin today as the general's funeral concludes in his home town

A woman holds up a placard declaring 'we want revenge' during today's funeral gathering in Soleimani's home town

Iranian MPs chant 'Death to America' as they brand all US forces 'terrorists' Iran's parliament passed a bill on Tuesday designating all US forces 'terrorists' over Soleimani's killing. Under the newly adopted bill, all US troops and employees of the Pentagon and affiliated organisations, agents and commanders and those who ordered the 'martyrdom' of Soleimani were labelled as terrorists. 'Any aid to these forces, including military, intelligence, financial, technical, service or logistical, will be considered as cooperation in a terrorist act,' the Iranian parliament declared said. Some Iranian lawmakers held up pictures of Soleimani and chanted 'Death to America' while voting to hurry the bill through with a special procedure. Iranian MPs chant 'Death to America' as they vote on a bill which designates all US forces as 'terrorists' The measure appears to be an attempt to mirror a decision by Trump in April to declare the Revolutionary Guard a 'terrorist organization.' The US Defense Department used the Guard's designation as a terror organization in to support the strike near Baghdad airport that killed Soleimani. Lawmakers also voted for a 170million increase in the budget of the Quds Force - the foreign operations arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards that was headed by Soleimani. The bill was an amended version of a law adopted in April last year that declared the United States a 'state sponsor of terrorism' and its forces in the region 'terror groups'. Iran's top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, said that blackisting came after the US designated Iran's Revolutionary Guards a 'terrorist organisation'. Advertisement

In Kerman, mourners dressed in black converged on Azadi Square where Soleimani's coffin and that of his closest aide Hossein Pourjafari were on display.

'No compromise, no submission, revenge!' they yelled as they tried to catch a glimpse of the casket containing Soleimani's remains.

Later the head of Iran's emergency medical services, Pirhossein Koulivand spoke by telephone to state TV and confirmed that a stampede had broken out in the packed streets.

'Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions,' he said.

Officials said the stampede had broken out because of overcrowding and said men, women and teenagers were among the injured.

The injured were immediately transferred to hospital, he added. Some mourners were in the streets while others took refuge on nearby hillsides.

The death toll has been revised multiple times.

President Hassan Rouhani has promised an investigation into the stampede.

The British ambassador to Iran, Rob Macaire, tweeted in English and Farsi to say he was 'deeply sorry to hear about the loss of life' in Kerman.

Before the stampede, crowds were waving flags and holding up pictures of Soleimani as they mourned a man who was regarded as a national hero by many Iranians.

Schoolgirls were heard shouting 'death to Trump' while crowds chanted 'death to Israel' when Hossein Salami swore revenge on Washington.

'The martyr Qassem Soleimani is more powerful... now that he is dead,' the revolutionary guards leader told mourners today.

'The enemy killed him unjustly. We will take revenge. We will set ablaze where they like,' Salami said, drawing cries of 'Death to Israel!'

One mourner, Hemmat Dehghan, said he had travelled from the southern city of Shiraz to 'pay respects to the great commander of the holy defence'.

'[Soleimani] was not only loved in Kerman, or Iran, but also the whole world,' the 56-year-old war veteran said. 'The security of the whole world, Muslims, Shiites, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and especially Iran, all owe it to him.'

Another mourner said Soleimi's assassination 'boils the blood of the Iranian people'.

'He was seen as a great man who was ready to serve his people both then in the war and now. He must certainly be avenged,' said Sara Khaksar, an 18-year-old student.

Chants in isolated areas turned to a chorus of 'revenge, revenge!' as drummers started beating to rhythm usually played in mourning for Imam Hussein, the Shi'ite martyr.

In a separate funeral in Iraq, Iranian-backed militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was laid to rest after he too was killed in Friday's drone strike.

People were lying on the ground in the aftermath of the deadly stampede which broke out at the general's funeral today

This man was sitting in a crowd of mourners as chaos erupted on the third day of the general's funeral procession in Iran

Iranian officials said that 'as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed'

The stampede (the aftermath of which is pictured) forced Soleimani's burial to be postponed

An injured Iranian woman rests on a bed at Bahonar medical facility in Kerman after she was wounded in today's stampede

An Iranian nurse tends to a man wounded in a stampede that broke out at the funeral of general Soleimani today

Flag-waving mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of assassinated Iranian general Qassem Soleimani

Iranian mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of the slain military commander. A stampede broke out at the funeral procession which killed more than 50 people, according to state TV

In Kerman mourners converged on Azadi Square where Soleimani's coffin and that of his closest aide Hossein Pourjafari were on display

A sea of mourners converged on Kerman today where Soleimani will be buried later, four days after he was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad

Protesters today burned a poster of Donald Trump which called the US president an 'embarrassment to humanity'

Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel should 'stay out' of Soleimani stand-off Israeli should 'stay out' of the crisis over the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the country's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said. Netanyahu told his cabinet ministers that the Iranian general's death was 'a US event, not an Israeli event', according to Axios. The PM has given only lukewarm backing to Trump over the crisis, saying cautiously on Friday that the US had the 'right of self-defence'. Israel's energy minister Yuval Steinitz also sought to distance the country from the attack, telling Israeli radio that the government was 'standing on the sidelines, observing events'. Iran could retaliate against Israel and a top Iranian official threatened on Sunday to turn the Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv 'to dust'. Angry mourners have chanted 'Death to Israel!' and burned Israeli flags at the huge funeral processions for Soleimani in recent days. However, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said the 'American military presence in the region' should be the target of reprisals. Israel has vowed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and may find it hard to stay on the sidelines if Tehran continues to abandon the deal. Israel is widely believed to posses its own arsenal of nuclear warheads, but neither confirms nor denies it. Advertisement

Soleimani's death already has pushed Tehran to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal, and a series of top Iranian officials have sworn revenge on Washington.

Today the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said the country had lined up 13 'revenge scenarios' in retaliation for Soleimani's death.

'The Americans should know that until now 13 revenge scenarios have been discussed in the council and even if there is consensus on the weakest scenario carrying it out can be a historic nightmare for the Americans,' Ali Shamkhani said.

'If the U.S. troops do not leave our region voluntarily and upright, we will do something to carry their bodies horizontally out,' Shamkhani said.

American forces are braced for retaliation and the US-led coalition against ISIS said in a statement that it was pausing its fight against the jihadists to shore up its own defences.

One official said the US anticipated a 'major' attack of some type within the next day or two.

US bases in the region are shoring up their defences and there are also fears that Iran will harass shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which is critical to the world's oil supply.

Officials have warned ships across Middle East waterways about the 'possibility of Iranian action' against US maritime interests in the region.

The global benchmark for crude oil rose above $70 a barrel on Monday for the first time in over three months, with jitters rising over the escalating military tensions.

One Iranian MP also warned of an attack on the White House while an adviser to Hassan Rouhani posted a list of Trump-owned properties in a hint of a possible reprisal.

Khamenei made a rare appearance at a meeting of the Iranian National Security Council on Monday to plot Iran's response, The New York Times reported.

In a sign of Iran's fury, the country plans to carry out reprisals itself rather than relying on its proxies in the region as it has frequently done in the past.

The supreme leader has vowed 'severe revenge' and president Hassan Rouhani yesterday warned Trump to 'never threaten' Iran.

Donald Trump has threatened a 'disproportionate response' targeting cultural sites, brushing off claims that such an action could be considered a war crime.

The president said America had lined up attacks on 52 targets 'important to Iran and the Iranian culture', representing the number of Americans held hostage at the US embassy in Tehran after a raid in 1979.

Iranian mourners stand on a bridge during the final stage of funeral processions for Soleimani in Kerman today

Three Iranian women hold up pictures of a smiling Soleimani as they join in the third day of public mourning today

In the Iranian parliament, lawmakers chanted 'Death to America' as they voted to declare US forces as 'terrorists'

Some of the mourners at Soleimani's funeral hold up a poster of the Iranian military general holding a weapon

Mourners in Kerman dressed in black carried posters bearing the image of Soleimani

The outpouring of grief was an unprecedented honor for a man viewed by Iranians as a national hero for his work leading the Guards expeditionary Quds Force

Britain yesterday distanced itself from the plan to target cultural sites, pointing to international agreements on preserving cultural heritage.

Israel has also been lukewarm in its support for Trump, with Benjamin Netanyahu telling his cabinet ministers that Soleimani's death was a matter for Washington and that Israel should 'stay out of it'.

Dozens of mourners perch on the side of a building to watch today's funeral ceremony for the top Iranian general

Saudi Arabia, another US ally, said the kingdom was 'not consulted' by Washington before the killing amid fears that of an Iranian reprisal against its regional arch-enemy.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned on Monday that Iran must avoid 'further violence and provocations' after the alliance held emergency talks on the crisis.

The European Union, whose foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on the crisis Friday, said it was in both Iran and Iraq's interests to 'take the path of sobriety and not the path of escalation'.

Yesterday Khamenei wept in public over Soleimani's coffin at an outpouring of public grief in Tehran where as many as a million people turned out to mourn the general.

Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif shared pictures of the huge 'sea of humanity' at the funeral - taunting Trump who is famously attentive to crowd sizes.

Today Zarif said he had been refused a US visa to travel to New York for upcoming meetings at the UN.

'The world is not limited to New York and you can talk to the American people from Tehran and we will do that,' Zarif declared.

He added: 'The ultimate expulsion of the U.S. from West Asia is the doomed fate of Washington's unbridled exploitation of the tools of war, sanctions, and assassination.

'The US will receive the definitive resolute response to its brazen, criminal act in a place and at a time it hurts most.'

Authorities later brought Soleimani's remains and those of the others killed in the strike to Iran's holy city of Qom, turning out another massive crowd.

The scale of the crowds in Tehran mirrored those who turned out in 1989 for the funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic republic.

Many Iranians considered Soleimani, a decorated veteran of the eight-year war with Iraq, as a national hero, particularly for mobilising Shi'ite Muslim groups in Iraq to help crush the militant Sunni jihadists of ISIS.

In Thailand, security was tightened outside Iran's embassy in Bangkok where a poster paid tribute to the 'martyred' general

Iranian mourners gather for the burial of slain top general Qasem Soleimani in his hometown of Kerman today

A group of Iranian mourners unfurl the national flag during Soleimani's funeral procession in Kerman on Tuesday

Iran's parliament on Tuesday voted to designate the US military and the Pentagon as 'terrorist organizations' in response to the killing of Soleimani (seen above)

A huge picture of the assassinated general Qassem Soleimani is displayed to the crowds at his funeral procession in Kerman

Crowds chanted 'death to Trump' and 'death to Israel' as they waved pictures of Soleimani amid angry exchanges of rhetoric between Washington and Tehran

The US blames Soleimani for the killing of American troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before his death on Friday.

Soleimani also led forces in Syria backing President Bashar Assad in a long war, and backed Iranian proxies in Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

In Baghdad, the Iraqi parliament has called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil, something analysts fear could allow ISIS militants to mount a comeback.

On Monday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said no decision had been made about withdrawing troops from Iraq.

The Pentagon's plans were thrown into confusion when a letter from a US Marine general appeared to show that a withdrawal had been ordered, but it was later declared a mistake.

'There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq,' Esper said.

Trump has also warned he will demand billions of dollars in compensation from Iraq or impose 'sanctions like they've never seen before' if Baghdad goes through with expelling U.S. troops.

Possible sanctions on Iraq would would make those on Iran look 'tame', Trump said, adding: 'We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that's there... we're not leaving unless they pay us back for it.'

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured praying over Soleimani's coffin in Tehran yesterday), wants Iranian forces to openly and directly retaliate against US interests

Iranians set a US and Israeli flag on fire during Monday's funeral procession for military commander Qasem Soleiman

Meanwhile, Iran's parliament on Tuesday approved a bill designating the United States military and the Pentagon as 'terrorist organizations.'

According to reports on social media, Iranian lawmakers chanted 'Death to America' while voting for passage of the bill.

On Sunday Iranian state TV said the country would no longer respect any of the nuclear limits in the 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump abandoned last year but which European powers are desperately trying to preserve.

Under the deal, Tehran had pledged to reduce its nuclear capacities for several years, including by capping its enrichment of uranium at 3.67 percent, far below the more than 90 percent required for a nuclear weapon.

Iran has already overstepped some of the limits since Trump pulled out of the deal last year, which include restrictions on Iran's supply of centrifuges and the level to which uranium can be enriched.

Germany also said today it was withdrawing some of its troops deployed as part of the anti-ISIS coalition in Iraq.

A total of 32 German soldiers based in Camp Taji near Baghdad were flown by a military transporter A400m to the al-Azraq airforce base in Jordan, the German military said in a statement.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, France's president Emmanuel Macron and British PM Boris Johnson have urged Iraq to not jeopardise the battle against ISIS.

'Preserving the coalition is of great importance in this context. We call on the Iraqi authorities to continue to provide the coalition with the necessary support,' they said.

Thousands of people also took to the streets in Basra, southern Iraq, on Tuesday to mourn the death of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis - the deputy-leader of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces who was also killed in Friday's strike

Munhandis, who helped command Iraqi forces backed by Iran and led protests at the US embassy in Baghdad, was among five PMF commanders killed in the drone strike

The coffin of Muhandis is driven through the streets of Basra, in southern Iraq, during his funeral on Tuesday

The body Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis is welcomed in the southern city of Basra after it was flown from Iran ahead of his burial
It was supposed to be a month of shrugging off impeachment and starting to pivot toward the 2020 election.

Instead, White House aides and other Republicans are now spending the early part of January in suspense about a presidency-defining moment  for the U.S. relationship with Iran and its profound implications for Americas position in the Middle East.

Iran has taken impeachment off the front burner, or at least, makes it look quaint, one GOP congressional aide quipped Monday.

Days after one of Irans top leaders was killed in a U.S. drone strike, President Donald Trump spent his first day back in Washington after two weeks in Mar-a-Lago in a business-as-usual posture  but with no public events. He held his usual weekly lunch with Vice President Mike Pence. He tweeted six times. He met with new foreign ambassadors. And then Trump went on Rush Limbaughs talk show to defend his decision to kill the Iranian general who he insisted should have been taken out years ago.

Without Twitter I think wed be lost. We wouldnt be able to get the truth out, he said, referring to his prolific messages about both Iran and impeachment.

Trumps top aides were met Monday with stark reminders of the new risks facing the administration in the new year: enhanced security measures across the White House including additional Secret Service agents, tighter security at entrances and greater scrutiny of visitors.

One White House official said the new posture involved guards taking a bit more time, or more closely screening cars entering the complex, but nothing over the top that would disrupt entry for people with legitimate reasons to enter. The official also said officers are making extra-sure people are alone in their cars when driving in, and using Secret Service dogs for a longer-than-usual time.

Protesters, holding placards a picture of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, gather during a demonstration against his killing, close to United States consulate in Istanbul, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020.

A senior Pentagon official said the administration has increased our force posture throughout CENTCOM. A member of Irans Parliament even said Iran could attack the White House itself, according to an Iranian news agency.

Story continues

Senior administration officials also have been told to be on the lookout for cyberattacks that often arrive in inboxes as suspicious emails, one of those officials said.

I would assume there would be an increase in terms of the intelligence with respect to the White House being a potential target, but generally the security around the White House is maintained at a very high level every day, said a former senior Secret Service official. Cyber is obviously a potential target and trying to target the White House, the Pentagon, Congress and other targets in the Washington, D.C., area from a cyber perspective.

Asked about the increased security around the White House campus, a Secret Service spokesperson said: While the agency does not discuss the specifics of our protective operations, the U.S. Secret Service continuously assesses the threat environment surrounding all protectees and will adjust postures as necessary as part of the robust execution of our zero-fail mission.

The bigger challenge now for the White House is answering tough questions from lawmakers and foreign policy hands about why the government opted to kill Iranian General Qassem Soleimani at this particular moment  as well as Trumps plan for handling Irans potential retaliation. Soleimani was killed in a drone strike at the Baghdad airport early Friday Iraqi time after American officials determined he was planning attacks in the near future on Americans in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

If it happens, it happens. If they do anything, there will be major retaliation, Trump said Sunday night on Air Force One as he returned to Washington from his two-week break at Mar-a-Lago.

One Mar-a-Lago member said the president seemed like he was in a great mood on Saturday night, roughly 48 hours after the strike, shaking hands and stopping to talk with club members over dinner.

The scene and Trumps exuberant mood was a sharp contrast to the level of anxiety that awaited the president on Monday in Washington.

Right now, were in the process of waiting to be struck by a country that, from a conventional military point of view is not very capable compared to us, but theyre very capable in the cyber world, a former White House official said. Theyre very capable in terms of terrorism. Theyve got cells heavily represented in places like Africa, the Middle East and Europe but Latin America as well.

The former official characterized the presidents current tweeting and rhetoric about hitting Iranian cultural sites as him just huffing and puffing in the moment. This is just a big testosterone thing for [Trump], and he doesnt think about the next step.

A second former White House official said he was surprised by Trumps decision to kill Soleimani  long seen as a threat by U.S. officials  because historically Trump is not a person who likes to engage the American military in international conflicts. He doesnt want to risk American lives for unnecessary actions, the former official said.

The senior Pentagon official characterized the strike against the No. 2 in Iran as a culmination of recent events.

It was the result of a major uptick of violence by Iran over the past 30 days. You had the British oil tanker situation, the shoot-down of one of our drones and then the U.S. Embassy demonstration last week. The administration has demonstrated tremendous restraint, but I think that dynamic changes when you have a U.S. citizen killed on Iraqi soil by Iranian proxies, the official said. Everyone sees it as different when theres a loss of life, rather than an attack against a capability of some kind.

The White House is expected to brief lawmakers on Wednesday about Trumps decision to kill Soleimani, with Democrats demanding the administration explain its justification for both the strike and its timing. The secretary of State, secretary of Defense, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the director of the CIA are all expected to present information in a classified briefing on Wednesday with senators and no staff, according to a Republican aide.

They will be briefed, but they also should calm down and celebrate, not denigrate, the fact that the worlds greatest terrorist, who is single-handedly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans ... they should celebrate not denigrate that he was killed, top White House official Kellyanne Conway told reporters on Monday morning, adding that the president is open to renegotiating a nuclear deal with Iran if Iran wants to start behaving like a normal country.

In Tehran on Monday, Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said prayers over Soleimanis coffin as millions of people took to the streets.
A convicted killer has announced his release from prison after spending years behind bars for the brutal bashing of a pool builder.

Nelson Patea, 24, has been locked up since May 2016 over the death of Gold Coast man Greg Dufty.

Patea was sentenced to eight years in jail in 2018 for the manslaughter of Mr Dufty but was released on parole from the Woodford Correctional Centre in Queensland on Monday.

The 24-year-old posted a gloating selfie to Facebook to celebrate his release with the caption: 'Back on the streets.'

Nelson Patea (pictured) was released on parole on Monday after he was sentenced over the manslaughter of pool builder Greg Dufty

Mr Dufty died after he was beaten so severely by a group including Patea in July 2015 - but his body has never been found.

Meanwhile, his brother, Lionel Patea, is serving a life sentence.

Lionel Patea ran his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child, Tara Brown, off a road down a Gold Coast embankment before bashing her to death with a fire hydrant cover in September, 2015.

The then 25-year-old was sentenced to life in prison in 2017 after pleading guilty to her murder.

He also plead guilty to his part in Mr Dufty's murder and won't be eligible for parole until 2048.

Nelson Patea had been sentenced to eight years for the manslaughter in 2018 and had already spent time in prison since May 2016

Nelson Patea will be living with his parents while out on parole and will work as a plumber,' The Courier Mail reported.

He will also have to wear a GPS tracker and will have a 9pm curfew.

While in prison, Nelson Patea had completed anti-violence and fitness courses and cared for an abused dog before it went up for adoption.

The 24-year-old's solicitor Campbell MacCallum said he was a 'a delightful young man'.

He had previously been refused parole after he allegedly took drugs and stood over other prisoners.
A Garda has described the impact of a violent assault on her during her first ever arrest on the job, outlining how her children could not understand why she would be left with marks and bruises on her face while at work.

As a member of An Garda Siochana I find that people forget that we are human, the Garda said in her victim impact statement. We have personal lives and live like they all do.

It hurt me to explain to my children what had happened to me at work when they saw the cuts on my face and arms.

The victim impact statement was read out at Clonakilty District Court where Anna Kowalik was due to have her sentencing finalised in relation to the incident, which took place in August 2017.

The 29-year-old, with a previous address at 18 Stonewood in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on the Garda on August 28, 2017, at the Timoleague Music Festival.

A year ago she paid fines totalling 1,000 in relation to other public order offences committed during the same incident, and she was told to gather and pay 1,000 in compensation to the victim.

When the matter came back before Judge James McNulty today, Ms Kowalik said she did not have the money and, alongside her solicitor, Eamonn Fleming, explained the circumstances.

Ms Kowalik said that in the past year her mother had died in Poland and she had to cover the funeral costs. She also said her relationship had ended and that she had become homeless and was currently staying with a friend, with her children, and also working 19 hours a week.

Mr Fleming said if his client had another six months she would gather the sum of compensation.

Judge McNulty asked Ms Kowalik to look at photographs of the Garda taken after the assault.

I really apologise for what I did and I really understand how bad it was, Ms Kowalik said.

She said she had very little recollection of the incident and was really shocked when she later saw the statements.

I would have never thought I would have done anything like this, she told the judge. I am really disappointed with myself.

Mr Fleming said his client had written a letter of apology to the Garda and had two previous convictions for road traffic offences.

Judge McNulty then read out the victim impact statement, in which the Garda outlined how her children could not understand why anyone had injured their mother when at work.

She said she had already dealt with a number of intoxicated people that night and was then subjected to a violent assault.

In her letter she [Ms Kowalik] said she did not remember anything of the night. Funnily, I will never forget the incident.

She said as a junior Garda it was her first arrest and that it did knock her confidence, although only temporarily.

Judge McNulty sentenced Ms Kowalik to seven months in prison, and another seven months in jail for obstruction, but suspended both for two years on the basis that she keep the peace and pay compensation to the victim within six months - for her to spend with her children as she sees fit.
The assassination of the commander of Irans Quds force, Qassem Soleimani, came as a shock to both Iranians and Americans. Although Soleimani and his force had been designated by the US as a terrorist organisation, it was never expected that Washington would kill him this way.

But many are still surprised, asking how Donald Trump, a vocal critic of endless Middle East wars, got to this point.

Experts have been warning that Mr Trump was eventually going to stumble into a serious conflict. And while his more seasoned batch of initial advisors were able to stave off a potential conflict, his current circle of close aides seems to be pushing him towards conflict.

The adults left the administration and they were left with no one willing or able to speak truth to Trump. He drove past the warning signs and crashed us into this crisis, says Brett Bruen, former White House director of global engagement, adding that unlike many of Mr Trumps other mistakes, a summit or a trade deal is not going to solve this one.

Mr Bruen said Mr Trump assumed that Iranian leaders were similar to the North Koreans, and tried again and again to entice them with a splashy show and financial favours. All he did was create even greater animosity and anti-American sentiment, both within Iran and amongst our traditional allies. Tehran knew Washington was in a tough spot and tried to elevate the costs on countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, he told The Independent.

US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early Friday 3 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures The wreckage of the car in which general Soleimani was travelling when a targeted US airstrike struck outside Baghdad International Airport on 3 January Ahmad Al Mukhtar via Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Demonstrators burn the US and British flags during a protest in Tehran after general Soleimani was killed in a targeted airstrike by American forces Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of Donald Trump AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn Israeli and US flags as thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of general Soleimani at the hands of America EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of Donald Trump pray at an 'Evangelicals for Trump' campaign event held on the day following the killing of general Soleimani. At the event, the president praised the "flawless strike that eliminated the terrorist ringleader" AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A huge procession of mourners gather in Baghdad for the funeral of general Soleimani on 4 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani during an anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iraqis perform a mourning prayer for slain major general Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the Great Mosque of Kufa AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A billboard reading 'Death to America and Israel', installed by Iran-backed shiite armed groups at a street in Jadriyah district in Baghdad, Iraq EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him visiting the family of Soleiman KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US flag as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Feiruznia, looks to a portrait of Soleimani, as he receives condolences at the Iranian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures People make their way on the street while a screen on the wall of a cinema shows a portrait Soleimani in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Aziz Asmar, one of two Syrian painters who completed a mural following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani poses next to his creation in the rebel-held Syrian town of Dana in the northwestern province of Idlib AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A demonstration in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures An anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Mujtaba al-Husseini, the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in the holy shrine city of Najaf AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US and Israeli flags as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters demonstrate in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shi'ite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters, holding a photograph of the leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Massoud Rajavi, outside Downing Street in London PA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn a US flag in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A Syrian man offers sweets to children to mark the killing AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers attend a mourning prayer for Soleimani in Iran's capital Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti American and anti Israel slogans during a protest AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshipers chant slogans during Friday prayers Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A protest against the USA, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranians burn a US flag in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin, Germany Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol a road in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel. Following morning's killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement called for the missile strike by Israel's closest ally, to be avenged AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian women take to the streets in Tehran EPA

On the other hand, the response in Iran to Soleimanis killing seems to have caught the Trump administration off-guard. Iranians showed up huge numbers for the generals funeral with massive crowds filling the streets in multiple cities across Iran. Although a controversial figure disliked and despised by many Iranian dissidents for masterminding and leading Irans regional proxies, Soleimanis key role in the fight against Isis brought him respect across various socio-political groups inside the country.

The massive turnout for the funeral of Soleimani reminds us that the theme of anti-imperialism and nationalism is still a very powerful force in Iranian politics, said Nader Hashemi, Middle East Studies director at the University of Denver, told The Independent:

Mr Hashemi said Soleimanis ugly role in Syria, defending Bashar al-Assad, via war crimes, is not generally known in Iran. What is also not known is his involvement in the bloody repression more recently in Iraq, where at least 500 peaceful protesters have been killed by forces linked to Soleimani.

He added: Any attempt to question Iranian policy in Syria or Iraq has been repressed by the Islamic Republic, hence the very one-sided view of Soleimani as a war hero among the general public. Many Syrians and Iraqis would beg to differ on these points.

Many activists have been warning that the Trump administrations hawkish policy towards Iran contributes to authoritarianism inside the country and undermines prospects for democracy. Iran had seen a massive wave of anti-government protests just recently and before the killing of Soleimani, the focus of Middle East politics was on anti-government protesters demanding their rights across the region.

Now the focus of politics is American imperialism. This is a huge ideological gift to the leaders of the Islamic Republic, especially hard-liners, who dont want to talk about democracy or human rights. Their preferred topic of conversation is American aggression. Trump has just handed them a huge victory and made their job much easier, Mr Hashemi told The Independent, adding: This is part of a longer tradition of Western foreign policy towards the Middle East that has deep roots and continues until today.

 Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei weeps at Soleimani prayers

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei weeps at Soleimani prayers

Here in Washington, Mr Trump and his close aides have been pushing the narrative that the assassination of Soleimani was a move to prevent war and make Americans safer. But their narrative is facing serious pushback from Democratic leaders, even those Democrats who have long been known to hold hawkish positions towards Iran.

Critics argued that the killing would not stop the Quds force and, to the contrary, would throw an already volatile region into more chaos.

Narges Bajoghli, assistant professor of Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins University, warned against expecting a big change in the Revolutionary Guards elite unit. The only difference is that now with the assassination of Soleimani, there is a renewed energy in the force and a more focused mission to push the US military out of the region, Ms Bajoghli told The Independent, adding that she believed the Quds force would play the long game, trying to make it untenable for American forces to stay.
A recent study shows many South Koreans in their 20s no longer believe hard work alone is a guarantee of success.

South Koreas president has promised to create more jobs, boost workers pay and help the poor.

It comes as a new study reveals young people in the country are feeling increasingly pessimistic about the future as the economy worsens.

Al Jazeeras Rob McBride reports from Seoul.
A Kenyan government official says four residents have been killed by stray bullets during a raid by suspected al-Shabab extremists in eastern Garissa County.

Deputy county commissioner Kibet Bowen said Tuesday the gunmen targeted police officers at a roadblock near the village of Saretho. Two of the suspected extremists were killed by police, he said.

The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab since December has increased attacks inside Kenya including Sunday's attack on a military base that killed three US military personnel and destroyed five US aircraft.

It was the first time al-Shabab had attacked US troops inside Kenya. The US on Monday said additional troops had arrived to increase security at the Manda Bay airfield in coastal Lamu county.

The US Africa Command also said it did not assess that the attack was linked to Iran, as Middle East tensions are soaring. Al-Shabab is linked to al-Qaida and has no known links to Iran or its proxies.

Al-Shabab has vowed retribution on Kenya for deploying its troops in 2011 to fight the extremists in neighboring Somalia, where the group is based. Garissa county borders Somalia and Lamu county is nearby.

The extremists often target police as well as civilian targets including buses and schools, mainly in the border region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sinaga was unmasked yesterday after being sentenced to at least 30 years in prison.

He has been found guilty of a total of 159 offences committed between January 2015 and May 2017.

These include 136 counts of rape, 13 counts of sexual assault, eight counts of attempted rape and two counts of assault by penetration.

CCTV of the serial rapist Reynhard Sinaga on Princess Street, Manchester / PA

Police have linked Sinaga to more than 190 potential victims and encouraged others who suspect they may have been targeted by him to contact authorities.

Greater Manchester Police said since his sentencing, in which he was described as an "evil serial sexual predator", there have been "multiple calls" to its incident room.

The force has not confirmed a specific number but said some the calls were potentially further victims of Sinaga, who is Britain's most prolific serial rapist.

The 36-year-old went out in the early hours of the morning searching for men near his flat in Manchester.

The bedroom floor in the home of Sinaga, where he lured his victims too / PA

Manchester Crown Court was told how he posed as a Good Samaritan who offered them a floor to sleep on or promised them more drink.

Judge Suzanne Goddard QC, who told the court his total number of potential victims was 195, told the defendant: "You are an evil serial sexual predator who has preyed upon young men who came into the city centre wanting nothing more than a good night out with their friends.

"One of your victims described you as a monster. The scale and enormity of your offending confirms this as an accurate description."

It is thought he laced victims drinks with GHB, also known as liquid ecstasy, and many left his apartment unaware that they had been violated.

His charges were split across four different trials, the last of which finished yesterday.
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At CES 2020, FlashParking , the leader in parking technology, will unveil their Mobility Hub Operating System: a platform powering the evolution of isolated parking assets into connected mobility hubs that are more efficient, intelligent, and adaptable than garages and surface lots of the past. From January 7th - 9th, FlashParking will demo how their operating system offers asset owners and operators a single management platform for maximizing parking asset value, diversifying revenue, and integrating into smarter cities.

FlashParking

The explosion of electric vehicles, ride-sharing services, and scooters coupled with the current trends of urbanization, e-commerce, electrification, and autonomy requires a significant infrastructure evolution to meet the growing demands of the mobility ecosystem of today and tomorrow. To face this problem head-on, FlashParking is elevating the role of parking assets in smart city environments by empowering to become modern hubs, where parking, mobility, logistics, and transportation intersect. With FlashParking's Mobility Hub Operating System, built on Microsoft Azure, asset owners and operators can manage the threshold of these new connected mobility hubs through a cloud-based platform that delivers enhanced parking, unrivaled business intelligence, and mobility ecosystem extensibility.

"Trends in mobility are moving so fast that if each stakeholder tries to optimize the system for only their best interest, we risk grid-locking our city streets into one giant parking lot," said Neil Golson, EVP of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships. "FlashParking's vision to transform parking assets into mobility hubs that act as congestion capacitors, as multi-modal logistics hubs, and as a marketplace for busy consumers and their autonomous, electric vehicles is a simple and somewhat obvious solution to cleaning up the littered landscape and unlocking the smart city. Our EV charging demo with mobility partner EVgo at CES is just a sample of what's possible with the power of our operating system that is helping build more efficient cities with parking infrastructure at the center."

"As we work with local leaders to bring smart cities to life, integrating new and evolving forms of mobility in a sustainable way is a challenge, and we're excited to collaborate with FlashParking to deliver enhanced parking and mobility services," said Cameron Carr, Director, IoT Strategy, Scale Solutions and Smart City, Microsoft. "FlashParking's Azure-based cloud platform delivers an extensible foundation of parking technology, robust business intelligence to inform strategy and the open-API architecture to connect with other smart city infrastructure."

A mobility hub starts with the physical asset: parking garages and lots that have been a part of the city landscape for the last century. For the large part of that century, those parking assets remained isolated and stagnant while innovation in mobility surged  until now. FlashParking's Mobility Hub Operating System is the foundation for these assets to become more than just parking; mobility hubs are configured to offer a strategic set of services based upon platform insight and intelligence. FlashParking's technology platform is comprised of:

Mobile-first, Cloud-based Platform  Dynamic, future-ready system that delivers anytime, anywhere access and visibility across a portfolio for easier management, while a mobile-first approach creates a more modern, enhanced customer experience.

 Dynamic, future-ready system that delivers anytime, anywhere access and visibility across a portfolio for easier management, while a mobile-first approach creates a more modern, enhanced customer experience. Real-time Visibility and Intelligence  Instantaneous insight and intelligence across every asset, from a single-site to an enterprise-level portfolio.

 Instantaneous insight and intelligence across every asset, from a single-site to an enterprise-level portfolio. Frictionless Access  Effortless entry and exit for a world-class customer experience that keeps guests coming back.

 Effortless entry and exit for a world-class customer experience that keeps guests coming back. Evergreen System  Over-the-air software updates deliver complete extensibility without any downtime and ensure you're running the latest and best version of the platform.

 Over-the-air software updates deliver complete extensibility without any downtime and ensure you're running the latest and best version of the platform. Extensible Ecosystem of Partners  Open-API architecture enables assets to integrate with an ecosystem of partners that offer staging for TNCs, charging for electric vehicles, cleaning and servicing, drone launching and landing, and points for delivering.

For more info on FlashParking's mobility hub integrating with off-street EV charging partner EVgo, contact [email protected] or, to learn more about FlashParking's mobility hub operating system, visit www.flashparking.com .

About FlashParking

FlashParking is a leading parking technology company that addresses some of the most complex transportation problems facing urban societies. Founded in 2011 with a simple mission to perfect the parking experiences, FlashParking has grown to serve thousands of operations, enterprise portfolios, and smart cities nationwide. Today, the company is enabling traditional parking assets to evolve into next-generation mobility hubs by implementing future-ready hardware and software infrastructure, a powerful business intelligence engine, and a robust partner ecosystem. FlashParking is the best parking solution for today and the only mobility solution for tomorrow. Visit us at flashparking.com to learn more.

On-site Media Contact:

Alessandra Gonzales

Carve Communications for FlashParking

[email protected]

786-337-3026

SOURCE FlashParking
Amazon is gearing up at CES 2020 to bridge the gap between its Alexa assistant, Echo Auto or Fire-branded gadgets, and the automotive industry. Thats according to recently reported plans revealed by the company and its partners in conjunction with this years annual tech event in Las Vegas.

The company not only announced new partnerships with some of the most prestigious names in the business. It also unveiled forward-thinking skills to make Alexa-equipped vehicles more IoT friendly than ever. Thats in addition to plans to bring its Fire TV platform onboard in cars. All of which appears to be part of a multi-faceted assault on traditional in-car systems.

In terms of Alexa Auto, the biggest announcements made at CES 2020 are likely those tied in with skills. The company announced, for instance, that it is adding the ability for drivers to pay for gas at 11,500 Exxon and Mobil stations by voice. Theyll simply need to tell their Alexa device to pay for gas.

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Fire TV will take auto infotainment beyond Alexa and Echo Auto

Another major step forward for Amazon comes in the form of a partnership that was already announced with General Motors. In 2019, the company was just starting out with Echo Auto. But its partner at the time was already promising to include Alexa in infotainment systems for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles. That was slated for the first half of this year. And Amazon hasnt diverged from that plan at this years event.

Now, Amazon is not only vowing to include a Fire TV edition of Alexa in the infotainment systems for BMW and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles vehicles. Its working to build out entirely new voice-driven mapping and navigation experiences with companies such as Bosch. Thats in addition to mapping companies HERE and TomTom, Telenav, and MELCO.

The addition of Fire TV-branded solutions to infotainment systems will arguably have a greater impact. One area where Amazons in-vehicle systems are severely lacking is on the visual side of things.

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Fire TV could act as a buffer there since thats the sole purpose of that segment of Amazons business. Joining forces with mapping companies will, presumably, give the company the chops to compete with Googles Auto-specific navigation solutions.

Expanding Alexa and Echo Auto beyond the US from CES 2020

Amazon is also expanding Alexa Auto, to begin with. Starting in India as of January 15 before expanding over the year to other regions, Echo Auto will finally be available outside of the US. The retail and e-commerce giant did not provide any specifics regarding which regions will see Echo Auto in 2020. Theres also no solid timeframe in place, as a result. But the solution is coming to more regions this year.

Beyond that, Amazon revealed that its AWS and Amazon Vehicles units are working closely with Cadillac and ZeroLight. The goal from that partnership is to revolutionize the car buying experience by creating a visually appealing personalized experience. That will start with a concept centered around buying the Cadillac XT6 and Amazon will be showcasing that at CES 2020.
He most recently served as president of the Owens Group, where he primarily focused on private equity, family office, and M&A insurance solutions. Prior to joining the Owens Group, Ehrlich practiced corporate private equity and M&A law at OMelveny & Myers LLP, as well as at the firms predecessor, OSullivan Graev & Karabell LLP.

We are very excited to expand and enhance our capabilities, as they relate to private equity, family offices, and our clients need for solutions that facilitate M&A activity, said Beecher Carlson CEO Joe Siech, who also noted that Ehrlichs expertise makes him the ideal person to deliver the companys related services and solutions.

Chief operating officer Bill Daly also welcomed Ehrlich to the team, adding that Ehrlichs experience as a lawyer will take the companys M&A practice to the next level.

Ehrlich received his bachelor of arts degree in classics from Columbia University, and his JD from New York Universitys School of Law. He currently serves on the Columbia University School of General Studies Board of Visitors, and he is the chair of Columbia Universitys Benefits Committee. He is also a member of the Strategic Planning Committee of the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA), as well as in other committees within the organization. Ehrlich is a member of the board of trustees for the Saint Anthony Hall of New York, the board of directors of the Columbia University Club of New York, and the NYU Law Alumni Association Board, where he was the previous president.
Millions of workers belonging to 10 central trade unions will go on a strike on Wednesday against the governments disinvestment, privatisation and labour reform policies.

The unions have said more than 250 million workers will participate in the Bharat Bandh to press for a 12-point common demand related to minimum wage and social security, among others.

Also read: Centre preps for Bharat Bandh tomorrow with a stern warning to employees

Several bank and agricultural unions will also participate in the strike.

Heres all you need to know about the Bharat Bandh on Wednesday:

What time will the strike start?

The 24-hour all-India strike will begin at 6am on Wednesday.

Which trade unions are participating in Bharat Bandh?

* Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)

* All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)

* Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS)

* Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)

* All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC)

* Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC)

* Self Employed Womens Association (SEWA)

* All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU)

* Labour Progressive Federation (LPF)

* United Trade Union Congress (UTUC)

Also read | Bharat Bandh: Bengal to run more buses, give insurance up to Rs 6 lakh for vehicles damaged

Which bank unions are supporting the strike?

All India Bank Employees Association

All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA)

Bank Employees Federation of India

Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF)

Indian National Bank Officers Congress INBOC

Bank Karmachari Sena Mahasangh (BKSM)

Why are bank unions joining the strike?

Bank unions will strike to protest against banking reforms and mega-merger of PSU banks. They are also demanding a pay hike beside a uniform five-day week.

Which banking services will be affected?

Banking services at branches and ATMs could be hit at several places because of the strike. You wont be able to withdraw and deposit cash from the banks and cheque clearing also will not be done. However, there will be no impact on online banking.

What are the other organisations supporting the strike?

Several farmers and agricultural workers unions will also extend support to the strike and observe Gramin Bharat Bandh. Sectoral independent federations and associations will be part of the Bharat Bandh.

What has the government said?

The government has asked public sector undertakings (PSUs) to dissuade their employees from participating in the Bharat Bandh and said striking workers would face consequences which, besides deduction of wages, may also include appropriate disciplinary action.

It has also advised PSUs to prepare a contingency plan to ensure the smooth functioning of the enterprises.

Which union is not participating?

News agency PTI has reported that the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh is not participating in the Bharat Bandh.

(With agency reports)
A health surveillance officer uses a device to check temperature of passengers near the immigration counters at the Hong Kong International airport, on Jan. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Asian Regions on High Alert After Mysterious Virus Erupts in Central China

An unidentified form of pneumonia that recently broke out in the central Chinese city of Wuhan has put neighboring regions on high alert, as authorities in China scramble to identify the source of the mysterious virus.

On Jan. 6, Hong Kongs public hospitals admitted six more patients who presented symptoms of respiratory infection or pneumonia, bringing the total to 21, according to the citys Hospital Authority. The patients have been to Wuhan in the past 14 days.

The local government in Wuhan, a major industrial and commercial city in Central China, has confirmed 59 cases of the unknown virus with seven in serious condition. All 59 are receiving medical treatment in quarantine.

The health commission in Wuhan on Jan. 5 ruled out flu, bird flu, adenovirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), upon initial investigations. The cause of the outbreak remains unclear.

An investigation has linked the illness to a local wholesale seafood market. Officials said they are still conducting medical observation on 163 people who had close contact with the patients.

The first case was discovered in Wuhan on Dec. 12, the health commission said. The authority first confirmed the outbreak on Dec. 31.

News of the virus has stirred panic across the country, prompting comparisons with the large-scale SARS outbreak that emerged in late 2002. Due to the regimes heavy censorship, the disease spread to 37 countries and infected more than 8,000 people worldwide, causing close to 800 deaths.

People wear masks on the street to protect against a deadly pneumonia virus in Hong Kong, on March 31, 2003. (Peter Parks/AFP/GettyImages)

Neighboring Regions

In Hong Kong, local authorities said they have initiated a serious response levelthe second level of three-tier response systemsince Jan. 4 in response to the cluster of cases of viral pneumonia, and would isolate any suspected case for treatment.

Fears of another potentially deadly outbreak have propelled residents in the city to stock up on face masks.

Out of the 21 who have presented symptoms after returning from Wuhan, seven have been discharged while the others remain in stable condition. The youngest patient is 2-years-old.

The Hong Kong government is also stepping up measures to monitor the inbound flights from Wuhan and has installed infrared machines to detect signs of fever at checkpoints of the Hong Kong International Airport and high-speed railways, a spokesperson for the citys Food and Health Bureau said on Jan. 4.

In a Jan. 6 conference on the issue, Hong Kong officials said it has alerted all medical professionals in the city to pay special attention to patients exhibiting symptoms of the suspected illness.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Jan. 5 said it is in close contact with national authorities in China and monitoring the situation, but said that travel or trade restrictions are not necessary at the current stage.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention told The Epoch Times that it is coordinating closely with WHO. The agency also posted a level 1 travel notice on Jan. 6 advising travelers to Wuhan to exercise usual precautions, including staying away from living or dead animals, animal markets, and contact with sick people. It also suggested that travelers wash hands often with soap and water.

The U.S. State Department has not updated its travel advisory, and did not respond to an inquiry from The Epoch Times about this issue.

Eight people in Taiwan have shown light fever symptoms after returning from Wuhan. Taiwans Center for Disease Control has implemented screening at airports for direct flights from Wuhan.

Macau authorities have also raised alert levels for infectious diseases and advised casinos to set up temperature-scanning devices at entrances. The city has seen five suspected cases, with four found to be false alarms after they were diagnosed with flu or regular cold. An investigation is underway on a 44-year-old woman, who became feverish following a visit to Wuhan in late December.

A suspected virus infection reported in Singapore on Jan. 4 turned out to be a false alarm.
For the next five weeks, more than 300 restaurants are offering Australian patrons 50 per cent off their entire food menu when they make a reservation via The Fork.

To get half price sit-down meals, diners can book a table for up to 10 guests for breakfast, lunch or dinner from now until Sunday, February 9.

The Fork Festival 2020 deals are available across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.

Australian diners can their food bills slashed in half at participating restaurants, including The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay (pictured) in Sydney

There are 73 restaurants in Sydney to book from, including Harajuku Gyoza (pictured)

There are 73 restaurants in Sydney to book from, including Harajuku Gyoza, The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay, The Meat & Wine Co Barangaroo, Little Jean, Uccello and Atelier by Sofitel.

In Melbourne, diners can expect 50 per cent off their entire food bill at 84 participating restaurants, including Din Tai Fung, Pretty Boy Italian Steakhouse, Pascale Bar & Grill, Vamos and Akachochin.

Diners can get half price meals at 21 restaurants around Adelaide, including Madame Hanoi, Sean's Kitchen, River Cafe, Red Ochre Barrel and Grill, The Baths Middle Brighton and Cruising Yacht Club of SA.

For anyone who lives or holidaying in Brisbane, you can make a reservation at 13 different eateries, including Sake Restaurant & Bar, Fritzenberger - Petrie Terrace, Malt Dining and Vietnam House.

And in Perth, you can make a reservation at 13 venues, including Hunter & Barrel, Springs Kitchen, Ficus, The Corner Italian, Curry Munchers and Brando's Pizzeria.
Securing peace with the North has been a key goal of Moons term in office, which comes to an end in May.
Astronomers using data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) have shown that Alpha Draconis, a well-studied star visible to the naked eye, and its fainter companion star regularly eclipse each other. While astronomers previously knew this was a binary system, the mutual eclipses came as a complete surprise.

"The first question that comes to mind is 'how did we miss this?'" said Angela Kochoska, a postdoctoral researcher at Villanova University in Pennsylvania who presented the findings at the 235th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Honolulu on Jan. 6. "The eclipses are brief, lasting only six hours, so ground-based observations can easily miss them. And because the star is so bright, it would have quickly saturated detectors on NASA's Kepler observatory, which would also mask the eclipses."

The system ranks among the brightest-known eclipsing binaries where the two stars are widely separated, or detached, and only interact gravitationally. Such systems are important because astronomers can measure the masses and sizes of both stars with unrivaled accuracy.

Alpha Draconis, also known as Thuban, lies about 270 light-years away in the northern constellation Draco. Despite its "alpha" designation, it shines as Draco's fourth-brightest star. Thuban's fame arises from a historical role it played some 4,700 years ago, back when the earliest pyramids were being built in Egypt.

At that time, it appeared as the North Star, the one closest to the northern pole of Earth's spin axis, the point around which all of the other stars appear to turn in their nightly motion. Today, this role is played by Polaris, a brighter star in the constellation Ursa Minor. The change happened because Earth's spin axis performs a cyclic 26,000-year wobble, called precession, that slowly alters the sky position of the rotational pole.

TESS monitors large swaths of the sky, called sectors, for 27 days at a time. This long stare allows the satellite to track changes in stellar brightness. While NASA's newest planet hunter mainly seeks dimmings caused by planets crossing in front of their stars, TESS data can be used to study many other phenomena as well.

A 2004 report suggested that Thuban displayed small brightness changes that cycled over about an hour, suggesting the possibility that the system's brightest star was pulsating.

To check this, Timothy Bedding, Daniel Hey, and Simon Murphy at the University of Sydney, Australia, and Aarhus University, Denmark, turned to TESS measurements. In October, they published a paper that described the discovery of eclipses by both stars and ruling out the existence of pulsations over periods less than eight hours.

Now Kochoska is working with Hey to understand the system in greater detail.

"I've been collaborating with Daniel to model the eclipses and advising on how to bring together more data to better constrain our model." Kochoska explained. "The two of us took different approaches to modeling the system, and we hope our efforts will result in its full characterization."

As known from earlier studies, the stars orbit every 51.4 days at an average distance of about 38 million miles (61 million kilometers), slightly more than Mercury's distance from the Sun. The current preliminary model shows that we view the system about three degrees above the stars' orbital plane, which means neither star completely covers the other during the eclipses. The primary star is 4.3 times bigger than the Sun and has a surface temperature around 17,500 degrees Fahrenheit (9,700 C), making it 70% hotter than our Sun. Its companion, which is five times fainter, is most likely half the primary's size and 40% hotter than the Sun.

Kochoska says she is planning ground-based follow-up observations and anticipating additional eclipses in future TESS sectors.

"Discovering eclipses in a well-known, bright, historically important star highlights how TESS impacts the broader astronomical community," said Padi Boyd, the TESS project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "In this case, the high precision, uninterrupted TESS data can be used to help constrain fundamental stellar parameters at a level we've never before achieved."

###

TESS is a NASA Astrophysics Explorer mission led and operated by MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Additional partners include Northrop Grumman, based in Falls Church, Virginia; NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley; the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts; MIT's Lincoln Laboratory; and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. More than a dozen universities, research institutes and observatories worldwide are participants in the mission.

Media contact:

Claire Andreoli

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

(301) 286-1940
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sprint (NYSE:S) today at CES 2020 announced it is the winner of Frost and Sullivan's 2019 North American Business Communications Solution New Product Innovation Award for Sprint Smart Messaging  a solution to help businesses communicate with their customers through an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered text messaging system. Sprint's innovative solution allows businesses to use their existing phone number to communicate in real-time using AI, and as a result rescue missed customer calls. Sprint Smart Messaging re-engages customers through text messaging  earning recognition through Frost & Sullivan's prestigious award program.

"Our vision to connect our customers to people, places and things in ways that matter most to them continues to expand as customer needs evolve, pushing our team to develop forward-thinking technologies that change the way our customers do business," said Sasha Gorman, who leads product development for Sprint Business. "By providing businesses with a solution that streamlines communication without increasing labor costs, we're offering small and medium-sized businesses a way to keep up with evolving consumer demands, like instant communications. We are incredibly honored to have been presented with this award and look forward to continuing to create unique solutions that optimize business needs."

Sprint Smart Messaging:

Small and medium size businesses (SMB) use their existing mobile phone, tablet or desktop computer landline or wireline telephone number to receive and respond to text messages from customers.

The AI-powered messaging assistant allows prospective customer questions to be answered immediately, ultimately reducing labor costs and increasing response times.

Customer communications  from inquiries as simple as requesting business hours to complex requests like placing orders or setting appointments  can be made through automated text conversations, increasing efficiency for both the customer and the business.

Eatmoji, an add-on for Sprint Smart Messaging specifically for restaurants, takes phone orders to avoid losing customers to busy signals, holds or errors, and automates the entire process all the way through to payment. Missed calls don't have to mean missed orders.

Statistics show that 62% of calls to small business are left unanswered, according to 411 Locals. Sprint Smart Messaging can automatically text the customer, to re-engage them and increase their interest. With Sprint Smart Messaging, 50% of customers whose call went unanswered are saved from going to a competitor.

"Broadly applicable across a range of main street businesses, Smart Messaging expands capabilities and functions with an AI engine to respond to customer calls and questions via text messaging. When the business cannot answer the phone, the call automatically gets ported to text capability," said Brent Ladarola, industry manager at Frost & Sullivan. "No other carrier currently supporting the SMB segment offers this level of enterprise-grade customer engagement. When callers leave a voicemail, the Smart Messaging system transcribes it and transmits it to the business owner (or designated employee) to read, callback, or send a follow-up text."

Sprint Smart Messaging is one Capability of many offered by Sprint. Learn more about Sprint Capability at CES 2020 in Las Vegas. The Sprint meeting area is located at the ARIA Resort and Hotel. To set up a briefing with a Sprint executive or to schedule a demo in person, contact [email protected].

Frost & Sullivan is a leading 56-year-old market research and consulting firm that tracks multiple industries including automotive; healthcare; information and communication technology; and more. This award recognizes companies like Sprint that have leading technological assets, unrivaled innovation and leadership among companies, products, processes and executives.

Certainty  Capability Curiosity

Sprint Business is changing the way SMBs, enterprises and government entities connect, manage and secure its people, places and things  orchestrating an array of next generation technologies and insights, artificial intelligence and the power of Sprint's converged wireless, wireline and Curiosity IoT capabilities to create unparalleled products and solutions.

About Sprint:

Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served 53.9 million connections as of September 30, 2019 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Today, Sprint's legacy of innovation and service continues with an increased investment to dramatically improve coverage, reliability, and speed across its nationwide network and commitment to launching a 5G mobile network in the U.S. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

SOURCE Sprint

Related Links

http://www.sprint.com


CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rebel Capital 2.0 Corp. ("Rebel" or the "Corporation") (TSXV: RBZ.P) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement dated January 3, 2020 (the Definitive Agreement) with Alzex Biomedical Group Inc. (Alzex), a privately held corporation existing under the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the BCBCA), in furtherance of Rebels proposed business combination (the Qualifying Transaction) with Alzex all as previously disclosed in Rebels news release dated September 30, 2019, a copy of which, along with the Definitive Agreement, is available on Rebels company profile at www.sedar.com.



Definitive Agreement

Pursuant to the terms of the Definitive Agreement, a special-purpose subsidiary of Rebel will amalgamate with Alzex under the BCBCA (the Amalgamation) and Rebel (then, the Resulting Issuer) will carry on the business of Alzex under the name Alzex Biomedical Group Inc..

Immediately prior to the completion of the Amalgamation, Rebel will consolidate all of its issued and outstanding common shares (Rebel Shares) on the basis of one post-consolidation Rebel Share for every two pre-consolidation Rebel Shares. At the effective time of the Amalgamation (the Effective Time), each issued Alzex common share will be cancelled and replaced by one common share in the capital of the Resulting Issuer (a Resulting Issuer Share) and all other outstanding convertible securities of Alzex will become exercisable for Resulting Issuer Shares in accordance with the terms of the Definitive Agreement.

Upon completion of the Qualifying Transaction, it is expected that the Resulting Issuer Shares will be composed of the following:

37,925,863 common shares;

Shares purchased through the Alzex Financing (as defined in the Definitive Agreement) of up to 10,000,000 Alzex Units (as defined in the Definitive Agreement) at a price of $0.25 per Alzex Unit for gross proceeds of $2,500,000, which shall close prior to the Amalgamation, and in any event, shall close no later than March 31, 2020. Each Alzex Unit will be comprised of one common share and one whole share purchase warrant, each warrant exercisable for one Resulting Issuer Share at a price of $0.50 for a period of 24 months following closing of the Alzex Financing; and,

Shares purchased in the Subscription Receipt Offering (as defined in the Definitive Agreement) of at least 8,333,333 units and up to 16,666,666 units at a price of $0.30 per unit for gross proceeds of between $2,500,000 and $5,000,000 whereby each subscription receipt shall be exchangeable into units of the Resulting Issuer. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share and one whole share purchase warrant, each warrant exercisable for one Resulting Issuer Share at a price of $0.60 for a period of 24 months following closing of the Subscription Receipt Offering.

Each of a, b and c above shall be completed in accordance with the terms of the Definitive Agreement and are subject to any regulatory, shareholder, director, TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange) or other approvals that may be required.

Trading Halt

The Rebel Shares will remain halted from trading and the shares are not expected to resume trading until after completion of the Qualifying Transaction.

Officers and Board of Directors of the Resulting Issuer

Upon completion of the Qualifying Transaction, all directors and officers of Rebel shall resign and be replaced by nominees of Alzex. The following sets out the names and backgrounds of all persons who are currently expected to be considered directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer:

Fabrice Heitzmann  Rouen, France - Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director

Mr. Heitzmann has over 21 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in France and abroad. His experience includes contract and budget negotiations with customers, drafting product development studies/strategies, and managing clinical studies. He began his career in 1998 as a Chemical Buyer for Synkem SAS manufacturer and supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients. He then moved to more senior supply chain and procurement roles at Fournier Laboratories Ireland Ltd., Rhone Poulenc Biochimie AS, and Sanofi S.A. In addition to his current role with Alzex, Mr. Heitzmann also serves as the Vice President of Global Resources for Chrysalis Pharma Partners, LLC, a drug development consulting company and Senior Procurement Consultant of BuyingPeers SAS, a procurement and sourcing consulting firm based in Paris. Mr. Heitzmann also serves as general Manager of Clemann Group, a global resources management consulting firm for biotechnology firms and start-ups. He obtained his masters degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell biology from the University of Burgundy and his doctorate in life sciences from the University of Claude Bernard. Mr. Heitzmanns experience and background in the pharmaceutical industry are beneficial to the Company as he has experience in identifying sourcing and procurement opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, preparing clinical development plans, and managing clinical studies.

Scott Davis  Vancouver, British Columbia - Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Mr. Davis is a partner of Cross Davis & Company LLP Chartered Professional Accountants, a firm focused on providing accounting and management services for publicly-listed companies. His experience includes CFO positions of several companies listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange and the Exchange. His past experience consists of senior management positions, including four years at Appleby as an Assistant Financial Controller, two years at Davidson & Company LLP Chartered Professional Accountants as an Auditor and five years with Pacific Opportunity Capital Ltd. as an Accounting Manager.

It is anticipated that an additional 2 individuals will be appointed to the board of directors of the Resulting Issuer prior to closing.

Further Information

Further information in respect of the Qualifying Transaction and the Resulting Issuer will be provided in the filing statement (the Filing Statement) to be prepared in connection with the Qualifying Transaction and filed on Rebels company profile at www.sedar.com .

Additional terms of the Qualifying Transaction including consideration payable pursuant to the Qualifying Transaction, information relating to sponsorship (if applicable), summary financial information in respect of Alzex, the controlling shareholders of Alzex, and to the extent not contained in this press release, additional information with respect to the history of Alzex and the proposed directors, officers, and insiders of the Resulting Issuer upon completion of the Qualifying Transaction.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the Filing Statement, any information released or received with respect to the Qualifying Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in Rebel Shares should be considered highly speculative.

All information contained in this news release with respect to Rebel and Alzex was supplied by the parties respectively for inclusion herein, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party.

Completion of the Qualifying Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable pursuant to Exchange Requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Qualifying Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Qualifying Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

For further information please contact:

Rebel Capital 2.0 Corp.:

Charles MaLette,

Email: bud@criticalco2.ca

Telephone: (604) 428-5171





Charles MaLette, Email: bud@criticalco2.ca Telephone: (604) 428-5171 Alzex Bio Medical Inc.:

Fabrice Heitzmann - CEO and Director

Email: fabrice.heitzmann@alzex.ca

Cautionary Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the proposal to complete the Qualifying Transaction and associated transactions, including statements regarding the terms and conditions of the Qualifying Transaction, the Alzex Financing, the Subscription Receipt Offering, and the Consolidation and the Name Change. The information about Alzex contained in the press release has not been independently verified by Rebel. Although Rebel believes in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Rebel can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the parties will not proceed with the Qualifying Transaction, the Alzex Financing, the Subscription Receipt Offering, the Consolidation, the Name Change and associated transactions, that the ultimate terms of the Qualifying Transaction, the Alzex Financing, the Subscription Receipt Financing, the Consolidation and the Name Change and associated transactions will differ from those that currently are contemplated, and that the Qualifying Transaction, the Alzex Financing, the Subscription Receipt Offering, the Consolidation, the Name Change and associated transactions will not be successfully completed for any reason (including the failure to obtain the required approvals or clearances from regulatory authorities). The terms and conditions of the Qualifying Transaction may change based on Rebels due diligence (which is going to be limited as Rebel intends largely to rely on the due diligence of other parties of the Qualifying Transaction to contain its costs, among other things) and the receipt of tax, corporate and securities law advice for both Rebel and Alzex. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. Rebel undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of Rebel, Alzex, their securities, or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable).

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the polices of the TSX Venture Exchange) has in any way passed upon the merits of the Qualifying Transaction and associated transactions and neither of the foregoing entities has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The common shares 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 the registration requirement. 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 jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
TUI Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Passengers flying between the UK and India were delayed for more than 36 hours over the weekend, with airline TUI blaming "airspace restrictions" in the Middle East for the travel nightmare.

Tensions have flared in the region since the US assassinated Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq last week, prompting the US and UK to advise against going to the country.

TUI ultimately flew passengers on an altered route that did not fly over Iraq, but did not explain what restrictions are in place.

Many other airlines are still flying routes that take their planes over Iraq.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Passengers trying to fly between the UK and India were delayed for 36 hours, with the airline blaming "airspace restrictions" along the flight route before it ultimately plotted a route that avoided Iraq's airspace and flew further from Iran.

The delay to TUI flight TOM30 comes as a number of countries advise their citizens to avoid both Iran and Iraq after the US assasinated Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq last week, heightening tensions in the region.

UK newspaper The Independent reported that TUI told passengers trying to fly in both directions: "Due to recent political issues in the Middle East, this has resulted in airspace restrictions along the route of your flight."

The airline did not clarify what restrictions are in place.

The flight  which took off for Goa from London Gatwick on Monday morning, and was supposed to do so on Saturday evening  ultimately avoided Iraq's airspace and flew further from Iran. The alternate route took the plane over Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

This is what the flight looked like:

TUI Iraq

FlightAware/Business Insider

But other airlines are not avoiding flying over Iraqi airspace.

A spokesperson for British Airways told The Independent: "Our teams are closely monitoring the situation. Flights continue to operate normally."

Story continues

The TUI plane had last flown the route between London and Goa on December 28, when it went over Iraq, and close to Iran.

This is what that the original route looked like:

Iraq TUI

FlightAware/Business Insider

EASA, Europe's aviation regulator, already had warnings for flights over Iraq in place. It identified a "potential risk from dedicated anti-aviation weaponry in Iraq."

It leaves airlines able to decide if they want to fly over the country, saying airlines are "advised to take this information into account in their own risk assessments and routing decisions."

The Independent reported that TUI said it would pay each passenger 600 ($671) in compensation, but noted that it was not clear why they were doing so as airspace restrictions are not conditions that require compensation, instead counting as an "extraordinary circumstance."

Both the US and UK are warning citizens against travel in the two countries.

The UK advises citizens against all travel to Iraq, except for one region where it advises "against all but essential travel."

The UK advises its citizens against "all but essential travel" to most parts of Iran, and advises against "all travel" to the areas along Iran's borders. It advises "against all travel" to dual UK-Iran citizens, warning the country does not recognize dual citizenship.

The US told its citizens to leave Iraq after Iran threatened retaliation after Soleimani's death, and the Department of State warns: "Do not travel to Iran due to the risk of kidnapping, arrest, detention of U.S. citizens."

Read the original article on Business Insider
As firefighters battle wildfires across Australia, police in New South Wales have arrested dozens of people for offenses related to fires, including 24 for deliberately lighting fires and three for looting fire-ravaged communities.

The big picture: NSW police said in a statement Monday that officers have taken legal action against 183 people for fire-related offenses since Nov. 8, including for "allegedly discarding a lighted cigarette or match on land."

The community and the government have a right to be outraged. We are not living in South Central LA, we don't live in Syria, we don't do this to each other. This is the South Coast of New South Wales."

 NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott on the looting suspects

On Tuesday, NSW Police and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott told reporters three men were charged with looting near Nowra. He said anyone who wants to loot the home of a family that has "potentially lost everything" is "the lowest of the low" and should face the full force of the law.

Go deeper:
The researchers, in collaboration with a West Coast biotech firm, are investigating an ion channel that may be used to reduce pain.

Research conducted by scientists in Temples College of Science and Technology (CST) has identified a potential next-generation chronic pain relief strategy that could provide a safer alternative to opioids.

The research, a collaborative effort between CST and Genentech, Inc., a leading biotechnology firm, was recently published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Given the worldwide opioid abuse epidemic, to address chronic pain, we need to develop molecules that can offer relief to patients without the nasty side effects known to occur with opioids, said CST Associate Professor of Biology Vincenzo Carnevale, one of the studys co-principal investigators. Our goal is to inhibit pain signals in the nerve fibers where such signals originatein your finger if you touch something hot, for instancerather than treating it downstream in the central nervous system.

For the past five years, Carnevale and a team of researchers in Temples Institute for Computational Molecular Science (ICMS) have developed world-renowned expertise in the study of an ion channel called TRPA1, which generates the electrical signals that enable the nervous system to sense pain. All cell membraneseven those in the simplest bacteriaare studded with ion channels, the proteins that are natures device for detecting environmental conditions and moving ions, or atoms with a positive or negative charge, into or out of a cell.

The Temple researchers began by using machine learning approaches to analyze the TRPA1 ion channel across a wide range of species. By focusing on the complex patterns of evolutionary mutations, they were then able to infer the principles underlying the functioning of TRPA1.

Based in South San Francisco, California, Genentechone of the leading founders of the biotechnology industrythen relied, in part, on this ICMS research conducted at CST to design and synthesize molecules that target the TRPA1 ion channel.

To test the molecules developed by Genentech, the Temple researchers used molecular simulations to generate structural models, made predictions about modifications of these molecules that would increase their potency and proposed a theoretical model for how they act.

Subsequent in vitro testing by Genentech has validated the hypotheses. According to Carnevale, basic proof-of-concept testing in laboratory animals could occur as early as next year.

Weve established design principles for the next drug candidates, Carnevale said.

Research collaborators on the project included: Jun Chen, a senior scientist with Genentech who was the co-principal investigator and the firms research team leader; Michael L. Klein, Laura H. Carnell Professor of Science and Dean of the College of Science and Technology at Temple; and Elenora Gianti, a former research assistant professor of chemistry at Temple who is currently a visiting assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Swarthmore College.

The research was supported by Genentech, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation. The NSF, NIH and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory also funded Temples high-powered computing resources, which were used for computations.

Bruce E. Beans

Temple University
Officers who responded to a shooting report Saturday night on the north side of Milwaukee found the injured children and gave them first aid until they were taken to a hospital.
In 2019, when Wolf Cukier finished his junior year at Scarsdale High School in New York, he joined NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, as a summer intern. His job was to examine variations in star brightness captured by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and uploaded to the Planet Hunters TESS citizen science project.

"I was looking through the data for everything the volunteers had flagged as an eclipsing binary, a system where two stars circle around each other and from our view eclipse each other every orbit," Cukier said. "About three days into my internship, I saw a signal from a system called TOI 1338. At first I thought it was a stellar eclipse, but the timing was wrong. It turned out to be a planet."

TOI 1338 b, as it is now called, is TESS's first circumbinary planet, a world orbiting two stars. The discovery was featured in a panel discussion on Monday, Jan. 6, at the 235th American Astronomical Society meeting in Honolulu. A paper, which Cukier co-authored along with scientists from Goddard, San Diego State University, the University of Chicago and other institutions, has been submitted to a scientific journal.

The TOI 1338 system lies 1,300 light-years away in the constellation Pictor. The two stars orbit each other every 15 days. One is about 10% more massive than our Sun, while the other is cooler, dimmer and only one-third the Sun's mass.

TOI 1338 b is the only known planet in the system. It's around 6.9 times larger than Earth, or between the sizes of Neptune and Saturn. The planet orbits in almost exactly the same plane as the stars, so it experiences regular stellar eclipses.

TESS has four cameras, which each take a full-frame image of a patch of the sky every 30 minutes for 27 days. Scientists use the observations to generate graphs of how the brightness of stars change over time. When a planet crosses in front of its star from our perspective, an event called a transit, its passage causes a distinct dip in the star's brightness.

But planets orbiting two stars are more difficult to detect than those orbiting one. TOI 1338 b's transits are irregular, between every 93 and 95 days, and vary in depth and duration thanks to the orbital motion of its stars. TESS only sees the transits crossing the larger star; the transits of the smaller star are too faint to detect.

"These are the types of signals that algorithms really struggle with," said lead author Veselin Kostov, a research scientist at the SETI Institute and Goddard. "The human eye is extremely good at finding patterns in data, especially non-periodic patterns like those we see in transits from these systems."

This explains why Cukier had to visually examine each potential transit. For example, he initially thought TOI 1338 b's transit was a result of the smaller star in the system passing in front of the larger one -- both cause similar dips in brightness. But the timing was wrong for an eclipse.

After identifying TOI 1338 b, the research team used a software package called eleanor, named after Eleanor Arroway, the central character in Carl Sagan's novel "Contact," to confirm the transits were real and not a result of instrumental artifacts.

"Throughout all of its images, TESS is monitoring millions of stars," said co-author Adina Feinstein, a graduate student at the University of Chicago. "That's why our team created eleanor. It's an accessible way to download, analyze and visualize transit data. We designed it with planets in mind, but other members of the community use it to study stars, asteroids and even galaxies."

TOI 1338 had already been studied from the ground by radial velocity surveys, which measure motion along our line of sight. Kostov's team used this archival data to analyze the system and confirm the planet. Its orbit is stable for at least the next 10 million years. The orbit's angle to us, however, changes enough that the planet transit will cease after November 2023 and resume eight years later.

NASA's Kepler and K2 missions previously discovered 12 circumbinary planets in 10 systems, all similar to TOI 1338 b. Observations of binary systems are biased toward finding larger planets, Kostov said. Transits of smaller bodies don't have as big an effect on the stars' brightness. TESS is expected to observe hundreds of thousands of eclipsing binaries during its initial two-year mission, so many more of these circumbinary planets should be waiting for discovery.

TESS is a NASA Astrophysics Explorer mission led and operated by MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Additional partners include Northrop Grumman, based in Falls Church, Virginia; NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley; the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts; MIT's Lincoln Laboratory; and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. More than a dozen universities, research institutes and observatories worldwide are participants in the mission.



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The Undersung Our critics on great artists who might've been lost to the canon. Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection

Fame, at least lasting fame  the your-work-goes-down-in-history kind, often accompanied by fat royalty payments  is a club that thinks of itself as an unbiased meritocracy, blind to everything but aesthetic innovation and popular success. Its never quite worked out that way. When we look at the past, we still see generations of great talents who never quite got their due critically or commercially, many of them left relatively unsung. In this ongoing series, our critics pick artists they feel remain underappreciated and tell their stories and sing their praises.

I was first introduced to AfroPuerto Rican actor Juano Hernandez in the uneven, treacly 1950 drama Young Man With a Horn. It may have been top-lined by icons like Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall, and Doris Day, but it is Hernandezs eyes  luminous, soulful, warm  that have singed themselves into my memory. He has a somewhat thankless role as the mentor and father figure who nurtures Douglass characters musical gifts, but his greatest strengths as an actor can be found within the folds of this role: the ability to reveal untold depths in characters positioned more as narrative devices than as full-fledged human beings, a palpable sense of warmth, and the determination to take up space even when he isnt afforded any.

Hernandez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and had no formal education; the particulars of his biography are hard to glean. After coming to the United States, he reportedly moved through various careers as a carnival performer, boxer, vaudeville entertainer, and a voice actor for radio, which put his rich baritone to marvelous use. He performed in a variety of mediums  from all-black revues on Broadway to blunt noirs to sleek Hollywood productions  but remains curiously absent in larger conversations about the art of acting and reexaminations of black identity throughout film history. He died in his hometown in 1970, at the age of 74, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. Its hard to sketch Hernandezs place in Hollywood. He was a recognizable character actor who earned a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year for the 1949 crime drama Intruder in the Dust, but he wasnt spoken about fervently or exalted like Dorothy Dandridge, the marquee black star who cemented a place in Hollywood history.

Juano Hernandez Actor (18961970) Acquaint yourself with Hernandezs unique grace by watching his acclaimed turns in 1949s Intruder in the Dust and the 1950 smuggler noir The Breaking Point, both of which can be rented online from multiple sources.

Black artistry within film history is most often defined in terms of loss  we talk about what was withheld because of racist strictures more than the work that glimmers onscreen. As an Afro-Latino, Hernandez occupied an even more confined place in film, with an inability to find stature in Latin American cinema and a lack of opportunities to play Latino roles in Hollywood due to the industrys myopic understanding of that identity.

(Hernandez played a Latino character in film just twice: in the 1932 Oscar Micheauxhelmed The Girl From Chicago, as the Cuban racketeer Gomez, and in 1958s Machete, as a majordomo on a Puerto Rican plantation.)

Like many actors of color, Hernandez presents an intriguing what-if. What if he had been given lead roles that matched his talents? What if he were truly given the star treatment that his brushes with fame, including that Golden Globe nomination, would have you expect? What if Hollywood ever knew what to do with an AfroPuerto Rican like him? But Hernandez is more than an emblem of the painful limitations that have prevented black actors across the diaspora from realizing the full breadth of their gifts in film.

Whether playing the doomed partner to John Garfields captain in 1950s The Breaking Point, a yearning loner in 1964s The Pawnbroker, or Mealie Williamson, his final role in 1970s They Call Me Mister Tibbs!, Hernandez embodied an eloquence that made it hard to take your eyes off him, from the crinkle of his brow to how he moved with rough-hewn grace. But what remains most memorable to me about Hernandezs work during Hollywoods mythologized golden age is his pride. I have never seen a black actor during that swath of film history in America more unapologetically proud and self-possessed. His performance in Intruder in the Dust, in which he plays Lucas Beauchamp, a black farmer accused of murdering a white man, is his best work because of this quality.

Hernandez inhabits Lucas as the kind of proud black man who refuses to bend to the racist world around him. The white southern townsfolk clamoring for his blood grow incensed at his refusal to play the role expected of black mento cower, to plead, to shrink. Hernandezs walk is wide yet measured as he makes his way in handcuffs through a throng to the police station. In doing so, he becomes a Hollywood rarity: an AfroPuerto Rican man purposely taking up space in the world.

*This article appears in the January 6, 2020, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now!
NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- American Jewish Committee (AJC) welcomes Ukraine's decision to withdraw its membership from the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP).

"Ukraine has recognized the true nature of this UN body and acted laudably by withdrawing its membership," said AJC CEO David Harris. "The CEIRPP uses precious UN resources to promote an agenda that does nothing to advance Israeli-Palestinian peace or improve the living conditions of Palestinians. Quite the contrary. Its very existence only serves to perpetuate the conflict and convince the Palestinians to avoid the negotiating table with Israel, the only venue to resolve the conflict."

AJC calls on other well-intentioned CEIRPP members to follow Ukraine's move and withdraw from this counter-productive, anachronistic committee.

The CEIRPP was established by the UN General Assembly on November 10, 1975, the same day the infamous resolution 3379 equating Zionism with racism was adopted. The committee's main function is to promote the Palestinian cause against Israel at the UN. Its 26 permanent members include countries openly hostile to Israel, such as Pakistan, Turkey, and Venezuela.

The existence, within the UN system, of an entity with a mandate to promote a one-sided political agenda in a longstanding and complex conflict is contrary to the purposes and principles of the UN.

"AJC has had close ties with Ukraine since the rebirth of its independence in 1991," Harris added. "We were the first Jewish organization in the world to call on the Bush Administration to recognize that independence and the only Jewish organization to establish a solidarity office in Kyiv, directed by my AJC colleague, Dr. Sam Kliger, during the Maiden Revolution in 2014."



SOURCE American Jewish Committee

Related Links

http://www.ajc.org


[January 07, 2020] Farmers & Merchants Bank Selects Newgen to Transform its Online Account Opening Process

LONG BEACH, California, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Newgen Software Inc., a global provider of low code automation platform managing content, processes, and communication, today announced that Farmers & Merchants Bank (F&M) has chosen its online account opening application for end-to-end automation of their personal and business customer on-boarding processes. Using Newgen's application, the bank aims to streamline every step of its customer acquisition process, from omni-channel initiation to the actual opening of the account. Built on a low code automation platform, the application helps the bank minimize data entry and increase cross/up-sell opportunities for a smooth and delightful customer journey. "F&M Bank's partnership with Newgen is critical in our ongoing strategic and financial commitment to creating leading-edge, best-in-class digital experiences for our clients. We realized early on that a seamless unified online account opening platform would be the key to taking our technology to the next level, and Newgen, with their smart insights, responsiveness, and customized POCs, was the clear choice for F&M. Their application will provide new potential clients with an intuitive appointment scheduling interface and easy multi-channel onboarding, all within a warm, welcoming, and intuitive digital design framework. We are proud to have Newgen join us, and we look forward to have them help F&M Bank stay California's Strongest for many ears to come," said Melissa Lanfre, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of F&M Bank.



"Newgen is committed to enable F&M's digital transformation journey. From the beginning our approach was to work closely with them and build a tailor-made yet flexible offering for a robust online account opening application. F&M team has been a terrific partner in this journey, and we look forward to helping them in their growth initiatives," said Diwakar Nigam, CEO, Newgen Software. About Farmers & Merchants Bank:

Founded in Long Beach in 1907 by C.J. Walker, Farmers & Merchants Bank provides white-glove service to clients at 25 branches across Orange County, Long Beach, the South Bay and Santa Barbara, as well as through robust Online and Mobile Banking platforms. The Bank offers commercial and small business banking, business loan programs, home loans, and consumer retail banking products, including checking, savings and youth accounts. Farmers & Merchants Bank is a California state-chartered bank with deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Member FDIC) and an Equal Housing Lender. For more information about F&M, please visit the Bank's website, www.fmb.com. About Newgen Software Inc.: Newgen Software is a global provider in banking process automation with more than 200+ banks and financial services institutions as its clients. Newgen's banking process management framework automates critical business processes for banking institutions across commercial lending, consumer lending, customer on-boarding, online account opening, trade finance, digital and mobile customer experience strategy. Newgen offers flexible on premise and cloud-based solutions to its banking customers. To know how Newgen is connecting enterprises and transforming experiences, visit: http://www.newgensoft.com/ Connect Details: Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter

Watch our videos on YouTube Media Contact:

Asif Khan

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/farmers--merchants-bank-selects-newgen-to-transform-its-online-account-opening-process-300982628.html SOURCE Newgen Software Inc.

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A scuffle broke out between Bajrang Dal, Durga Vahini workers and security forces near Pakistan High Commission during a protest against mob attack on Nankana Sahib Gurdwara on January 3.

Police detained the protesters after the incident took place.

A group of local residents had pelted stones at the holy Sikh shrine in Pakistan on January 3. The group was led by the family of a boy who had abducted a Sikh girl, Jagjit Kaur, from her home in August last year.

India had strongly condemned the vandalism at the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and called upon the Pakistan government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of the Sikh community in the neighbouring country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Natural News) Everybody knows that there is an ongoing debate in America and around the world regarding the safety of vaccinations, but what if the entire vaccine paradigm itself is deliberately flawed? What if, despite what we are constantly told by so-called medical experts and politicians alike, vaccinations have never been soundly confirmed to be either safe or effective? What if the Centers for Disease Control knew that vaccinations werent safe, but decided to ignore the health threats and risks associated with them anyway so that the American people would continue to take advantage of them?

In the year 2014, Dr. William Thompson, a senior epidemiologist at the CDC, risked persecution and national condemnation when he courageously stepped forward and made public thousands of pages of CDC documents that revealed numerous fraudulent studies and medical cover-ups regarding the risks associated with vaccinations.

Dr. Thompson has admitted in the past that he was regretfully part of the CDCs effort to distort and hide scientific evidence proving that thimerosal and the MMR vaccines can and have lead to autism. In an interview with the Autism Media Channel, Dr. Thompson explained that he has made the choice never to give his wife, who was pregnant at the time, a flu shot because of the significant amount of mercury that she would be injected with. I dont know why they still give it to pregnant women, Dr. Thompson said in the interview. Thats the last person I would give mercury to.

Are you still not convinced that the entire vaccine paradigm could be deliberately flawed? Consider this: A few years ago, the Council on Foreign Relations accidentally proved that countries that have the most highly vaccinated populations also have the largest number of outbreaks of infectious diseases. Specifically, a report released in early 2014 revealed that the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand and Japan all had large numbers of mandated vaccines while also leading the list of nations with the greatest number of infectious diseases.

While the debate over the safety of vaccinations will likely continue for years to come, in the meantime, it would probably be a good idea to arm yourself with the facts. In 2013, Natural News founder Mike Adams compiled a list of ten facts about vaccines that the Centers for Disease Control and the vaccine industry dont want you to know.

First and foremost, you need to know that mercury is still used in vaccines and the CDC even admits it. Despite what some medical experts and people within the vaccine industry say, there is no level of mercury that is safe to inject into the human body, especially young children. Even small amounts are not safe, because mercury is one of the most neurotoxic elements there is. (Related: Here is the shocking reason why aluminum is added to vaccines.)

Second, the Health Ranger explained in his 2013 article that polio vaccines, which have been injected into millions of people for decades, actually contained hidden cancer viruses, a disturbing truth that was admitted by a top scientist in the vaccine industry named Hilleman. Up to 98 million Americans were exposed to hidden cancer viruses in polio vaccines, Mike Adams wrote. This is an historical fact.

The third point, which also happens to be one of the most significant, has to do with the mainstream media and how they receive a significant amount of money from drug companies that sell vaccinations. As a result of this conflict of interest, the mainstream media intentionally reports on stories that are favorable towards vaccines while simultaneously refusing to cover stories that are critical of them.

Educate yourself. Think outside of the box. Because when it comes to vaccinations and the medical industry, everything might not be exactly as it seems.

Sources include:

GlobalResearch.ca

NaturalNews.com
China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region received over 200 million tourists in 2019, generating tourism revenue of 340 billion yuan ($48.9 billion), according to the third session of the 13th People's Congress of the autonomous region held this Monday.

Tourists dance in a scenic zone in Awat County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on Oct. 26, 2019. (Photo/Xinhua)

Both the figures represented a year-on-year growth of 40 percent.

Shohrat Zakir, chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regions government, delivered a government work report during the session, saying Xinjiang's GDP is expected to hit 1.4 trillion yuan in 2019, 6 percent more than that of a year before.

According to the government work report, Xinjiang's efforts to improve quality and efficiency of its agriculture and animal husbandry have been successful, and the fruits grown in southern Xinjiang have been exported on a large scale for the first time.

Xinjiang's industrial investment in the last year is estimated to have grown by 9 percent, and the value added for industrial enterprises above the designated size is expected to increase by 5 percent.

Tertiary industry contributed to over 63 percent of Xinjiang's economy last year, the government work report said, adding that the autonomous region will strive to attract 300 million visitors the next year.

Shohrat Zakir explained that Xinjiang spent more than 70 percent of its financial budget on securing and improving people's livelihoods. The number of jobs created in the region the last year is expected to reach 480,000, and more than 2.8 million surplus rural laborers have secured jobs in other regions.

In addition, Xinjiang has also accelerated its project to improve drinking water safety in rural areas, offering cleaner water for over 340,000 people.

Xinjiang renovated more than 9,300 households, putting an end to the era of impoverished people living in dilapidated houses.
Prosecutors in Japan on Tuesday obtained an arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn, wife of former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, who last month jumped bail and fled the country.

The warrant was issued as the fallout from the escape of one of Japan's most high-profile criminal suspects continues, with authorities pledging tighter border controls and seizing the bail money that Ghosn forfeited by fleeing the country.

He had been facing trial in Japan on charges of financial misconduct, which he denies, before fleeing the country in late December for Lebanon, where he was reunited with his wife.

In a statement, prosecutors said they had obtained the warrant on suspicion that Carole Ghosn "made false statements" during April testimony to the Tokyo district court about meetings with an unnamed individual.

Carlos Ghosn had been freed on bail after agreeing to strict conditions, with prosecutors arguing he posed a flight risk.

The conditions included restrictions on contact with Carole, which was reportedly among the reasons he decided to jump bail and flee the country in an elaborately planned escape that has outraged Japanese officials.

A spokesperson for the Ghosn family called the warrant "pathetic" and implied it was a response to a press conference the tycoon is due to give in Beirut on Wednesday.

- Elaborate escape plan -

Ghosn's second wife, Carole vocally led the campaign for her husband's freedom, insisting on his innocence and slamming Japanese prosecutors for what she deemed ill-treatment after his shock November 19, 2018 arrest.

She was initially prevented from seeing her husband, who was held in detention for more than 100 days after his arrest, and petitioned everyone from French President Emmanuel Macron to the White House in seeking his release.

Ghosn, a globe-trotting auto mogul who was once a giant of the industry, accuses executives at Japanese automaker Nissan of manufacturing the allegations against him in a "plot" to prevent closer integration with alliance partner Renault.

Story continues

The warrant for Carole's arrest comes as Japanese authorities piece together how Ghosn was able to evade surveillance and airport security.

Snippets have emerged suggesting he was aided by a security expert, and took advantage of loopholes in security at Japan's Kansai airport.

He appears to have left his residence in Tokyo, which was monitored by surveillance cameras under his bail conditions, alone. He reportedly later met up with two US citizens and boarded a bullet train to Osaka on December 29.

In Osaka, he is reported to have been put into a large box with holes drilled into it to ensure he could breathe and then loaded onto a private jet that flew to Istanbul.

Airport security rules meant large items loaded onto private planes were exempt from screening -- a loophole that appears to have allowed Ghosn to escape unnoticed.

- Press conference -

In Istanbul, he boarded a second private jet that took him to Lebanon, where he entered on a French passport.

Under his bail conditions, his French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports were confiscated and held by his lawyers.

But he was allowed to retain a second French passport -- in a locked case with the key held by his lawyers -- so he could prove his short-term visa status if needed when travelling in Japan -- which was allowed in the terms of his bail.

His lawyers in Japan said they had no idea about Ghosn's plans to escape, with his lead attorney saying he learnt of the news from the media.

Interpol, the international police cooperation body, has issued a "red notice" for Carlos Ghosn's arrest, but Beirut and Tokyo do not have an extradition treaty.

It was not immediately clear whether a similar notice would be issued for Carole Ghosn.

The shock arrest of the leading executive rocked the auto industry, where he was once a leading figure credited with turning around Nissan.

Ghosn alleges the case against him was manufactured by disgruntled Nissan executives and Japanese officials opposed to his plans to more closely integrate the firm with Renault.

He is due to give a press conference in Beirut on Wednesday, and has told Fox Business that he has "actual evidence" that will prove the charges were a plot against him.
Jet Airways (India) hit an upper circuit of 5% at Rs 37.65 after the media reported that South America's Synergy Group has submitted a fresh bid for the Indian airliner.

The stock has surged 33.51% in last six trading sessions from its previous closing low of Rs 28.2 on 30 December 2019.

Synergy Group, a South American group has reportedly shown an interest in debt ridden Jet Airways by submitted a fresh expression of interest (EOI) for investment. Lenders to Jet Airways have set a final deadline of 15 January for the submission of expressions of interest. While Synergy wants Jet's lenders to make a huge haircut on its debt of over 8,500 crore, it will also need to find an Indian partner for the acquisition, reports added.

Last month, media reported that UK-based Hinduja Group, run by brothers Gopich and Hinduja and Ashok Hinduja, is preparing a bid to buy the grounded air carrier. The group plans to submit an expression of interest by the 15 January deadline, signaling its intent to make a formal offer. Hinduja is seeking a partner to bid, the reports added.

Hinduja Group had earlier this year considered bidding for Jet Airways in partnership with Etihad, but Etihad jettisoned the proposal, dealing a severe blow to efforts aimed at rescuing the debt-laden airliner that has suspended flights for nearly two months.

After Jet Airways went bust in mid-April, the government temporarily allotted the hundreds of airport slots owned by it to other carriers, with an aim to contain soaring airfares in the peak holiday season.

Jet Airways was admitted for insolvency on 20 June 2019, after lenders failed to sell the grounded airline. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on 20 December 2019 allowed Ashish Chhawchharia, resolution professional (RP) for Jet Airways, to extend the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) of the grounded airline by 90 days. Earlier this month, the RP had sought an extension for the resolution period after the Colombian Synergy Group failed to submit a business plan for the revival of Jet Airways by 16 December.

Jet Airways is debt ridden non operational airline company.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over the past year, there were many challenging situations that I faced as a founder and CEO of a regulated California cannabis business that tested my leadership and endurance. There were also lifes wrenches that snuck up to give me a reality check when I least expected it. It felt like Mercury was in retrograde the entire year.

Running a startup means youre always in a growth phase, which equates to a situation that can be both bad and good. (So long as youre growing, right?) Last years challenges included shifting team dynamics and replacing critical team members. Cash flow that had to be very closely managed as we experienced high growth and demand in the market, which involved getting product to the shelves, only to be paid later than the net 30 terms. We handled complex investor situations as the fundraising landscape changed drastically in the latter part of 2019.

Those were just a few bumps.

Then, just as everyone who runs a company knows, there are unpredictable personal challenges. My normal day includes being a mom to a tornado toddler and doting husband, who requires all my attention when Im not working on my business. This year, everyone in my house had a heavily rotating case of bad colds, pink eye, and ear infections. My nanny was hospitalized unexpectedly and out of work for three months challenging the juggling skills. And then there was the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County, which literally burst onto the scene within miles from my house.

Overnight, our house became a refuge to many, including our best friends family whose property was lost within hours of the fires breaking out, and shortly thereafter we all had to evacuate somewhere else when the fire came within 300 yards of my home.

Heres where the greatest realization of the year hit me. Where did we go, with extra kids and pets in tow? My co-founder Karlis house. She has been my rock through all the challenges that were presented this past year, both professional and personal. To have partnered with someone I can turn to when push comes to any sort of shove, Im eternally grateful.

Find yourself a pillow and a mirror

I believe passionately that every founder needs a co-founder. Someone who will know all the details of the businessgood bad and ugly, and can be there to support you endlessly in whatever capacity is needed. Melissa Bradley from 1863 Ventures said: Every founder needs a mirror and a pillow. A mirror is the person who will tell you the truth, even when it hurts. The pillow is the person who cushions the blows and makes you feel better when things dont go your way.

A strong co-founder is exactly this. My co-founder is my mirror to have honest, difficult conversations and level-setting reality checks when they are needed most. She is also my pillow to commiserate on all the challenges in our business and my home life. Over the difficult year, she physically handed me a pillow upon which to rest when fire threatened our house, and more so became a safe refuge, both literally and figuratively.

She is my backstop, who I know has my back at any turn. I have had to make difficult decisions choosing between family and work, and know that she supports these decisions, as do I for her. She can also pinch-hit on a moment's notice, in whatever type of meeting I throw her into.

As challenging as 2019 was for our industry, business, and my family, Im so energized and optimistic for 2020 and all that is throws at both of us. I have the best partner possible in my co-founder to work with to capture our opportunities and realize our true potential as a regulated cannabis business in California and female leaders.

Here are some tips for how to choose a co-founder youre bound to be grateful for:

Map out your core values

It is critical for co-founders to be aligned in their core values because they will definitely be tested to the extreme. By mapping out your core values, you can be sure to have them as a guiding light to share with your co-founder. Make sure you share the same work ethic, similar priorities in life and goals for oneself. Its OK if not everything is the same, but make sure you understand each other, so can understand and support decisions that align to ones core values. Is it family first? Is your interest a part-time gig to have some fun? Is it making the most amount of money possible no matter what it takes? Get clear so when the going gets tough, you know where you each stand.

Understand yours and your co-founders' strengths and weaknesses

Self-awareness is core to understanding what skills you are looking for in any potential partner. Ideally, co-founders compliment each other's strengths and weaknesses. In order to understand what skills youre looking for, spend the time understanding yourself. When looking at building a business, its much more powerful to be able to block and tackle different parts of the business, with trust in each other. For example, if youre looking to build a product company like I did, having two graphic designers or two operations specialists are less valuable than having one of each. By having a wide range of skills on your founding team, you can build a scrappy business and spend less on consultants and services in the early days of your company.

Network with everyone and share your vision

You never know where you may find your co-founder. Network at industry events, with friends, and colleagues. Share your vision for what youre wanting to build and passionate about. If no one knows what youre working on, there is no way they can know who may be a great partner for you! When looking for a co-founder for a cannabis company, I suggest networking in complementary industries like the wine industry or CPG companies.

As 2020 begins, I can say with certainty that, despite the bumps and bruises that come with running a growing business and the realities of everyday life, I am so grateful for choosing the right partner on the journey.

I wish you the same.

Related:

Resolutions to Make Businesses Better in 2020

How to Build Buy-In By Saying 'Thank You'

Do You Need A Co-Founder? You Better Believe It.



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
[January 07, 2020] DPW Holdings Reschedules Its Investor Conference Call to January 8, 2020

DPW Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: DPW) ("DPW" or the "Company"), a diversified holding company, announced today that it has rescheduled its investor conference call and webcast to tomorrow, Wednesday, January 8, 2020, which will start at 5:00 pm ET (2:00 pm PT). The Company's Chairman and CEO, Milton "Todd" Ault, III, will lead the conference and will be joined by the Company's Vice Chairman and CFO, William B. Horne. Both will provide a business update including some of the plans and goals targeted for 2020. This meeting was previously announced and scheduled for December 21, 2019, which was postponed until January 5, 2020. All shareholders, investors and other parties interested in participating must register prior to the start of the conference and webcast by using this link. A corporate presentation will be made available under the Investor Relations section at www.DPWHoldings.com or by visiting www.sec.gov the morning of the conference call and webcast, upon the filing of a Form 8-K with the SEC (News - Alert). For more information on DPW Holdings and its subsidiaries, the Company recommends that stockholders, investors and any other interested parties read the Company's public filins and press releases available under the Investor Relations section at www.DPWHoldings.com or available at www.sec.gov.



About DPW Holdings, Inc. DPW Holdings, Inc. is a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies with a global potential. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, the Company provides mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including defense/aerospace, industrial, telecommunications, medical, and textiles. In addition, the Company owns a select portfolio of commercial hospitality properties and extends credit to select entrepreneurial businesses through a licensed lending subsidiary. DPW's headquarters are located at 201 Shipyard Way, Suite E, Newport Beach, CA 92663; www.DPWHoldings.com.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "may," "will," "should," "could," "potential," or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. More information, including potential risk factors, that could affect the Company's business and financial results are included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All filings are available at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at www.DPWHoldings.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005350/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Agra, Jan 7 : IndiGo will start daily non-stop flight services from Bengaluru to Agra, in response to growing demand for connectivity by tourists and a large number of students and professionals employed in the tech capital of the country.

"It gives us immense pleasure to announce Agra as the 63rd domestic destination in our network. These flights will enable us to offer point-to-point connectivity from a city which houses one of the wonders of the world, witnesses an exceptional tourist footfall, and hence high demand for connectivity, said William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo, in a statement.

"Operating exclusively on the Agra-Bangalore route under the government's UDAN scheme, IndiGo flights will promote trade and tourism in the region through increased mobility," he added.

Tourism industry leader Surendra Sharma said "this was a long pending demand of the Taj city. We hope more southern destinations will be added, in particular Mumbai." This flight will prove a boon for people not only in Agra but also for businessmen from neighbouring districts like Aligarh, Mathura, Firozabad, Bharatpur, say hoteliers in the Taj city.

Presently Agra is visited by seven million tourists annually. The number is likely to see an upward trend as infrastructural facilities are streamlined.
CP Chandrasekhar, a Jawaharlal University professor, has resigned from the Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCES), which was formed recently by the government to review India's economic data. Prof Chandrasekhar's resignation came a day after the violence at the JNU campus left 24 students injured. "It's hard to work with a government in which you have lost faith," Prof Chandrasekhar told Business Standard, adding the JNU incident had shown that "we are now living in a different world".

The Centre last month formed a 28-member panel to review India's statistical system. The decision to constitute the panel to look into statistics related to economic activity was taken in wake of widespread criticism of the Narendra Modi government over shelving reports on economic activity and credibility of the official data. The panel will hold its first meeting review meeting on the IIP (Index of Industrial Production) data for November 2019 under former chief statistician Pronab Sen today.

Also read: India must be more transparent on fiscal numbers: IMF

In an email, Chandrasekhar informed all the committee members that he would not be able to serve on the panel anymore. "...I feel that, under current conditions, this committee is unlikely to be able to restore the credibility of the statistical system, which has been undermined in the recent past," he said, reported the daily. Interestingly, Chandrasekhar was also among 108 academicians who signed a joint statement in March 2019, flagging serious concerns over increasing "political interference" in the handling of economic data.

Violence broke out inside the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus.

Also read: IMF economist Gita Gopinath hints India's dream to achieve $5 trillion economy doubtful

At least 28 people, including JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh, were injured. The Left-backed JNUSU and the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) have blamed each other for the violence that continued for nearly two hours.

The SCES has representation from various quarters. Apart from Sen as its Chairman, the panel comprises representatives from the United Nations, Reserve Bank of India, Finance Ministry, NITI Aayog, industry chambers, Tata Trust, and economists and statisticians from educational institutions. So far, only the Advisory Committee on National Accounts Statistics (ACNAS) has such a widespread representation.

The key responsibilities of the panel include a review of periodic labour force survey, annual surveys of industries, services and unorganised sectors, time use survey, index of service production, IIP, economic census, among others.

Also read: IMF flags issues with India's GDP calculation method; says it's complex

Edited by Manoj Sharma
Bay Area gang members have apparently found some new turf for their smash-and-grab robberies: Southern California.

Authorities in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills are grappling with robbery crews hailing from San Francisco, Oakland, Antioch and Pittsburg that rent cars, travel to Southern California and scour parking lots and garages for cars out-of-state license plates to hit, according to a recent report in The Los Angeles Times.

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department said Tuesday authorities are not providing additional information about the issue.

Auto burglary crews in the Bay Area have focused on large retail areas and tourist attractions, both of which are abundant in Southern California, said Lt. Matt Stonebraker, a Richmond police spokesman.

Stonebraker said there were several reasons why Bay Area crews are targeting Southern California, including: Residents and private businesses enhancing security and prolific suspects have become known to authorities.

Although those measures have by no means put a stop or even a dent into the problem, they have made it more difficult and slightly less lucrative for burglars in the Bay Area, Stonebraker said. The increased preventative efforts coupled with the increasingly large pool of burglary suspects, have caused those suspects to move on to different locations.

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.

A San Francisco police spokesman declined to comment, referring a reporter to Los Angeles authorities.

Alejandro Serrano is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alejandro.serrano@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @serrano_alej
But Cleanness is not unrelentingly bleak. Indeed, the range in these stories is part of their triumph and part of what makes their existential sorrow so profound. Three stories at the center of the book are presented under the title Loving R. They offer a layered account of the narrators relationship with a 21-year-old student from Lisbon. So gray is the climate of Sofia and so wary is this narrator that his relationship with R. feels like the arrival of spring. Each time he smiled it filled me with a happiness I had never felt before, he says, a happiness that was particularly his to give. In their love, he finds a kind of cleanness that hes been craving, something to scrub away the shame and anxiety and fear that have dogged him since his father taunted and beat him as a boy. How this complicated relationship between the narrator and his lover  two men from different countries and at different points in their lives  plays out is one of the many incomparably bittersweet elements of Cleanness.
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2020) - White Metal Resources Corp. (TSXV: WHM) ("White Metal" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received from the Namibian Government (Ministry of Environment and Tourism), the required Environmental Clearance Certificates ("ECC") for Exclusive Prospecting License ("EPL") 7071 (the "Taranis Property") and EPLs 7028, 7029, and 7030 (the "Altan" or "DorWit Property"), clearing the way for the Company to begin its exploration programs in Namibia. The Company is planning to complete several geophysical surveys and drilling programs in the coming months. The Taranis and DorWit properties are held by White Metal's 100% owned Namibian subsidiary companies Aloe 238 and Aloe 237, respectively (see Company news release dated June 18, 2019).

Michael Stares, Interim President & CEO of the Company, stated, "I am very encouraged to have received the EEC clearance from the Namibian Government and now we can begin planning the work programs to advance the properties."

The Taranis Property (EPL 7071), covering about 19,850 ha, includes the Okohongo Copper-Silver Deposit ("Okohongo Project") which has been outlined by historical drilling, showing it extends over 600 metres in strike length, 400 metres down-dip, and is open in all directions (see INV Metals news release dated August 3, 2011). The Okohongo deposit, situated within the Kaoko Belt of northwest Namibia about 700 km northwest of Windhoek, is hosted by metasedimentary stratigraphy and is considered to be analogous with the stratiform sediment-hosted Central African Copperbelt deposits of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This deposit contains historical Inferred Mineral Resources of 10.2 million tonnes grading 1.12% Cu and 17.75 g/t Ag, using a 0.3% Cu cut-off (Table 1; INV Metals Inc. NI 43-101 Technical Report, Effective Date March 31, 2011).

Story continues

Table 1. Historical Mineral Resources for the Okohongo Copper-Silver Project, Namibia.

Cut-off Specific

Gravity Tonnes Cu (%) Ag (g/t) Cu (tonnes) Ag (ounces) Category 0.0 2.45 11,691,539 1.01 15.85 117,645 5,957,874 Inferred 0.1 2.45 11,682,796 1.01 15.86 117,640 5,957,640 Inferred 0.2 2.45 11,453,414 1.02 16.13 117,219 5,940,047 Inferred 0.3 2.45 10,196,456 1.12 17.75 114,046 5,818,534 Inferred 0.4 2.45 9,535,538 1.17 18.66 111,731 5,719,226 Inferred 0.5 2.45 8,705,239 1.24 19.73 107,993 5,522,454 Inferred 0.6 2.45 8,142,684 1.29 20.50 104,877 5,366,572 Inferred 0.7 2.45 7,366,110 1.35 21.61 99,810 5,116,714 Inferred 0.8 2.45 6,379,793 1.45 23.16 92,402 4,750,190 Inferred

source: NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Okohongo Copper-Silver Property in Northwest Namibia, INV Metals Inc.; Prepared By: Caracle Creek International Consulting (Pty) Ltd., South Africa, Effective March 31, 2011.



Management of the Company is relying on the Inferred Mineral Resource estimation reported in Table 1 for the Okohongo Copper-Silver Deposit as it was prepared by expert and qualified authors and used industry standard procedures (NI 43-101) at that time. This resource estimate is relevant to the Company's future exploration programs as it identifies significant mineralization that will be the target of future exploration and development.

The DorWit Property (EPLs 7028, 7029, and 7030), subject to a binding letter of intent with RZJ Capital Management LLC (see Company news release dated October 16, 2019), is located about 150 km east of Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia. The Property covers about 65 km of prospective stratigraphy on the Namibian portion of the Kalahari Copper Belt, which extends eastward into Botswana, a region of active copper exploration and development (e.g., Cupric Canyon Capital; Kalahari Metals Ltd.; MOD Resources Ltd.).

Six historical copper deposits occur within the DorWit Property along with other zones with anomalous copper in historical drill core intercepts that the Company believes can be expanded upon through further exploration. Historical resource estimates contained within the Property were published by the Geological Survey of Namibia (Resources of Namibia, 1999) and are summarized in Table 2.

Table 2. Historical Mineral Resources from the Dordabis-Witvlei areas, Namibia.

Deposit Tonnes Cu (%) Ag (g/t) EPL Dordabis98 290,000 1.70 - 7030 200,000 0.50 - 7030 Gemsbokvley214 447,000 1.75 - 7028 Christiadore104 1,200,000 2.27 - 7028

Highlight drill holes: 2.5% Cu over 9m; 2.9% Cu over 7m; 3.7% Cu over 5m



Deposit Tonnes Cu (%) Ag (g/t) EPL Okasewa 6,000,000 1.85 7.00 7028 Malachite Pan 2,625,300 1.36 7.47 7029 2,368,400 1.11 6.19 7029 Witvlei Pos 2,850,000 1.52 - 7029 Witvlei Pos* 9,510,000 - - -

*global resource tonnage based on 300 m hole spacing and an extrapolated zone.

The Company is treating the tonnages and grades reported in Table 2 as historical mineral resource estimates. These historical estimates do not use categories that conform to current CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as outlined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and have not been redefined to conform to current CIM Definition Standards. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and the Company is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources. Investors are cautioned that the historical estimates do not mean or imply that economic deposits exist on the properties. The Company has not undertaken any independent investigation of the historical estimates or other information contained in this press release nor has it independently analyzed the results of the previous exploration work in order to verify the accuracy of the information. The Company believes that these historical estimates and other information contained in this news release are relevant to continuing exploration on the properties.

Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans (P.Geo.), Vice President Exploration and a Director of White Metal, who is a Qualified Person under the definitions established by the National Instrument 43-101.

About White Metal Resources Corp (TSXV: WHM):

White Metal Resources Corp. is a junior exploration company exploring in Canada. For more information please visit the Company's website at www.whitemetalres.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of White Metal Resources Corp.

"Michael Stares"

Michael Stares

President & CEO, Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information contact:

Michael Stares

684 Squier Street

Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, P7B 4A8

Phone: (807) 628-7836 Fax: (807) 475-7200

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51219
Dozens of people were crushed to death after a stampede broke out Tuesday during a massive funeral procession for a top Iranian general assassinated in a US drone strike.

The tragedy came as grieving crowds packed the hometown of Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, a hugely popular figure in the Islamic republic.

More than 50 people were killed and 212 people injured in the stampede in Kerman, semi-official news agency ISNA said, citing the emergency services chief in the southeastern city, Mohammad Saberi.

Anxious Iranians gathered outside a city hospital to check the lists of victims or show doctors pictures of their missing relatives.-

AFP correspondents in Kerman said the streets were filled with mourners, while others took refuge on hillsides around the city, where the general was to be buried at the martyrs cemetery.

Soleimani, the head of the Guards Quds Force foreign operations arm, was killed on Friday in a US strike near Baghdad international airport, an operation that shocked Iran.

The enemy killed him unjustly, the Revolutionary Guards top commander, Major General Hossein Salami said, adding the process of expelling the United States from the region has begun.

Our will is firm. We also tell our enemies that we will take revenge, and that if they (strike again) we will set fire to what they love, he told the sea of black-clad mourners.

Schoolgirls joined chants of Death to Trump from the crowd, an AFP correspondent reported.

Tuesdays funeral comes after days of processions through the southwestern city of Ahvaz and the shrine cities of Qom and Mashhad as well as the capital Tehran.

The assassination of Soleimani set off an escalating war of words between Iran and the United States.

In Tehran, President Hassan Rouhani on Monday warned Trump to never threaten Iran, after the US leader issued a US strike list of 52 targets in the Islamic republic.

On Tuesday, Iranian lawmakers voted to designate all US forces around the world terrorists over Soleimanis killing.

Parliament also agreed to bolster the coffers of the Quds Force, which Soleimani led, by $244 million (200 million euros).

 Boils the blood 

In Kerman, people converged from afar on Azadi Square where two flag-draped coffins were on display, with the second one reportedly containing the remains of Soleimanis closest aide, Brigadier General Hossein Pourjafari.

Were here today to pay respects to the great commander of the holy defence, said one of the mourners who came from the southern city of Shiraz.

Haj Qasem was not only loved in Kerman, or Iran, but also the whole world, Hemmat Dehghan told AFP.

The security of the whole world, Muslims, Shiites, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and especially Iran, all owe it to him, said the 56-year-old war veteran.

Another mourner said Soleimanis assassination boils the blood of the Iranian people.

He was seen as a great man who was ready to serve his people both then in the war and now. He must certainly be avenged, said Sara Khaksar, an 18-year-old student.

Fridays assassination of Soleimani, 62, heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile Middle East.

Iraqs parliament has demanded the government expel the 5,200 American troops stationed in the country in response to the drone attack which also killed top Iraqi military figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Baghdad requested in a letter to the UN  seen by AFP  that the Security Council condemn the US strike so that the law of the jungle is not allowed to prevail.

The operation represented a dangerous escalation that could lead to a devastating war in Iraq, the region and the world, wrote Iraqs UN ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr-Aluloom.

 Path of sobriety 

On Sunday night, the US mistakenly notified Baghdad of an imminent troop pullout in a letter that sparked confusion in Washington.

We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure, said the letter, whose authenticity was confirmed to AFP by both Iraqi and US defence officials.

In the letter, US Brigadier General William Seely said the US-led coalition would be repositioning forces.

But Pentagon Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley said the letter was a mere draft that was sent by mistake.

Germany said Tuesday it was withdrawing some of its troops deployed to the anti-IS coalition in Iraq.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned on Monday that Iran must avoid further violence and provocations.

The European Union, whose foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on the crisis Friday, said it was in both Iran and Iraqs interests to take the path of sobriety and not the path of escalation.

Saudi Arabia  an oil-rich US ally seen as vulnerable to Iranian counter strikes  also appealed for calm after a very dangerous escalation.

Irans foreign minister said he has been informed by UN chief Antonio Guterres that Washington has denied him a visa for a planned trip to UN headquarters in New York.

What we know is that the US State Secretary (Mike Pompeo), in a call to the Secretary General of the United Nations, said: We did not have time to issue a visa for Mohammad Javad Zarif and we will not issue a visa, Zarif said.

SOURCE: AFP | PHOTO: AFP
She's the wildlife warrior who cares about all animals, big and small.

And Bindi Irwin took to Instagram on Tuesday to share the 'sweet faces' of bats that were brought to Australia Zoo from New South Wales wildlife hospitals.

The 21-year-old conservationist shared three adorable snaps of the tiny, wide-eyed animals wrapped in colourful blankets.

Cute! Bindi Irwin took to Instagram on Tuesday to share the 'sweet faces' of bats that were brought to Australia Zoo from New South Wales wildlife hospitals

'Over 600 bats were transported from caring facilities evacuated in New South Wales due to fire,' Bindi explained.

She added: 'Our Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital has treated over 100 of these beautiful little souls. I wanted to share with you some of the sweet faces that are getting a second chance at life.'

Bindi has been using her platform over the past week. to share information about the animals that have been affected by the bush fires.

Saved: 'Over 600 bats were transported from caring facilities evacuated in New South Wales due to fire,' Bindi explained.

On Sunday, she shared footage of 'hundreds of grey-headed flying foxes, a species listed as vulnerable', that were also evacuated after the rescue centre they were in was threatened by the bushfires.

'Our Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital takes in animals from all over Australia,' she explained.

She continued: 'In September, flying fox admissions to the hospital skyrocketed by over 750 per cent due to drought conditions and lack of food.

Emotional: She also shared footage of 'hundreds of grey-headed flying foxes, a species listed as vulnerable', that were also evacuated after the rescue centre they were in was threatened by the bushfires

'Flying foxes are now being drastically affected by wildfires and were again seeing an influx of these beautiful animals from across the country.'

She went on to reveal that the wildlife hospital had treated their 90,000th patient last week, before asking for donations for to open a new ward to facilitate the increase of at-risk animals.

In her Instagram bio, she has also shared a fundraiser that aims to provide much needed water stations for the suffering native wildlife.

Saving lives: She went on to reveal that the wildlife hospital had treated their 90,000th patient last week, before asking for donations for to open a new ward to facilitate the increase of at-risk animals

Donation efforts: In her Instagram bio, she has also shared a fundraiser that aims to provide much needed water stations for the suffering native wildlife

Australia continues to battle raging fires across New South Wales and Victoria.

The bushfires have so far claimed at least 25 lives, destroyed 2,000 homes and killed approximately 500 million animals.

If you'd like to donate to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief, click here.

For donations to Victoria's Country Fire Authority click here and here for the NSW Rural Fire Service.

To donate to Foodbank click here and here for the World Wildlife Fund.
A 49-year-old Great Falls man has been charged with one felony count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and obstructing a peace officer or other public servant.

A Helena police officer was dispatched to the 2900 block of N. Sanders Street at about 4 p.m. on Jan. 1 for a report of a male trespassing on private business property. Upon arrival, a store employee pointed out the defendant, John Dailey, to the officer who recognized Dailey from previous encounters.

Dailey had an active warrant for his arrest, and when the officer went to put Dailey in handcuffs, Dailey refused and backed away.

Dailey pushed the officer and fled the scene. According to the arresting officer's affidavit, he pursued Dailey "on foot for some time."

As he ran, Dailey "removed and threw several items from his pocket, notably 3 checks from an account belonging to 'John A Myre' at 1824 6th Ave S. in Great Falls, MT." Dailey had previously used similar aliases to pass forged checks, and the address does not exist.

The officer reported that Dailey refused to speak about the checks, but told the officer "without prompting" that he "hadn't used any," which the officer took as an indication that Dailey knew he should not have been in possession of the checks.

Dailey was arrested and booked into the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center.

All charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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The Supreme Court will hear on January 10 the petition by Tata Sons Private Ltd (TSPL) challenging the NCLAT decision restoring Cyrus Mistry as executive chairman of the Tata group.

The apex court website on Tuesday showed the plea is to be listed before a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant.

TSPL has challenged the December 18 decision of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) that gave a big relief to Cyrus Investment Pvt Ltd and Mistry, restoring him as the executive chairman of TSPL, and ruling that the appointment of N Chandrasekaran as the head of the holding company of the USD 110-billion salt-to-software conglomerate was illegal.
A human skull found in an active mining pit was from a man with ties to Easton. State police are seeking information that could lead to information about why his skull was there.

Jason Gold, 34, had not been reported missing, but DNA testing showed that the skull was his, according to officials with the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers.

Golds drivers license listed his address in Easton, according to a news release. His last known address was on Tar Road in Lost Creek in Schuylkill County.

There were several active warrants open for Golds arrest, authorities said.

The skull was found at the bottom of an embankment in the mining pit in August 2019. The mining pit is located just off of Yatesville Road in Mahanoy Township, Schuylkill County.

After, extensive searches of the area no other bones were located, Crime Stoppers said in a news release.

An anthropologist was able to determine that the skull was male, and it was eventually sent to the University of North Texas for DNA testing, according to the release. In November, the testing indicated that the skull was Gold, Crime Stoppers said.

Gold was not reported missing by any agencies," they said. Several family members were interviewed and were unable to provide further information on why Gold would have been where his body was discovered or why only his skull was discovered.

Gold was described in the release as a white man with brown hair, blue eyes and tattoos on his arms. He was about 6 feet, 1 inch tall and 165 pounds.

Anyone with information about Golds death has been asked to contact state police at 610-378-4454 or the Crime Stoppers at 1-800-472-8477.

Callers can remain anonymous.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
New Delhi/IBNS: Expressing concern over Sunday's attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students and teachers, Nobel Laureate economist Abhijit Banerjee said he could hear in the attack the echoes of the years when Germany moved towards the Nazi rule.

"I think any Indian who cares about the nations image in the world should worry. This has too many echoes of the years when Germany was moving towards Nazi rule," Banerjee, a JNU alumnus, told News 18.

Through his words, Banerjee compared the present Indian political system with Hitler's dictatorial regime in Germany when the country was transformed into a totalitarian state.

About 20 odd people including JNU Students' Union Aishe Ghosh and Professor Sucharita Sen were injured after a huge number of people armed with sticks, rods and sledgehammers barged into the university campus, girls' hostel and carried out an attack at a time the students were protesting against the fee-hike.

Reacting to the university Registrar's comment where he blamed the students for protesting against the fee-hike, Banerjee said the media, "The government needs to actually establish the truth of what happened and not let it get drowned in the chorus of counter accusations."

"I am really concerned about those who were injured. I wish everyone injured a speedy recovery," he added.

While the Left- which the rules the JNU Students' Union- blamed the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for the attack, the latter alleged the violence was carried out by the Leftists only.

ABVP is the students' wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) which is the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Meanwhile, Hindu Raksha Dal has claimed responsibility for the attack and also warned all universities of similar assaults if they carry out "anti-national activities".




Haiti - Politic : Visit of the Secretary General of the OAS





Early Monday afternoon Luis Almagro, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), arrived in Haiti for a brief 24-hour visit.



Almagro was received in audience by President Jovenel Moise, in particular the socio-political situation in Haiti was discussed. However, no official press release was published on the content of the meeting, but a joint conference is scheduled for Tuesday by the Head of State and the Secretary General of the OAS, who will leave Haiti in the afternoon.



"We appreciate the warm welcome from President Jovenel Moise. We highly appreciate the hospitality of Haiti. We recognize in its people fundamental values of freedom and equality. A country with a unique history in the world," said Luis Almagro



Secretary Almagro also met with members of the Core Group to discuss the urgent challenges facing Haiti "[...] I stressed the importance of providing support to maintain the stability of the system [...]" a writes Almagro on his twitter account



He also had a meeting with the American Ambassador accredited to Haiti Michele Jeanne Sison about the situation in Haiti "I had a fruitful conversation with Ambassador Sison about the political situation in Haiti and the importance of the collaboration between the OAS and the United States in the implementation of projects aimed at strengthening democracy and human rights in the country," Almagro said on Twitter.



Recall that Haiti will assume from April 1 to June 30, 2020 the rotating Presidency of the Permanent Council of the Hemispheric Organization.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















WARNING: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS EXPLICIT LANGUAGE

GARY  Tactical officers seized an arsenal of guns and ammunition Monday from two Gary homes associated with a 20-year-old man police believe was the subject of a social media recording showing him allegedly firing shots on New Year's Eve that damaged an electric pole.

Altogether, 28 weapons were found in the homes in Gary's Midtown neighborhood, including shotguns, rifles, AR-15 style assault rifles and 12 handguns, police said.

Gary police and an FBI task force began investigating the alleged New Year's Eve shooter after receiving tips from people who saw an online video of the "reckless and foolish act," which police said was shared thousands of times.

The weapons were discovered after Gary police, SWAT and the FBI gang response team executed two simultaneous search warrants.

Charges against the alleged shooter are pending at the Lake County prosecutor's office, police said.
The mother of Delhi gang-rape victim has hailed the verdict given by a Delhi court, saying her daughter has finally got justice.

My daughter has got justice. Execution of the four convicts will empower the women of the country. This decision will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system, the womans mother Asha Devi said after the verdict.

The trial court on Tuesday issued the black warrant to execute the four men who raped and tortured the 23-year-old physiotherapy student in 2012. The execution to be held on January 22, the court said in its order. It has given convicts time for 14 days to use legal remedies available to them.

ALSO WATCH | Death warrant in Delhi 2012 gangrape case: Rapists to be hanged on Jan 22

Also Read: 2012 gang rape verdict: The men who killed the Delhi braveheart

We will file curative petition in Supreme Court, said the convicts lawyer AP Singh.

The trial court had completed the trial and delivered its guilty verdict within a year. But it was much later that the high court confirmed the death penalty. In 2017, the Supreme Court rejected the first set of appeals against the conviction.

Judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the warrant at the request of the police and the victims mother who had celebrated the top courts 2017 verdict rejecting an appeal against the death sentence as justice at last.

The 23-year-old woman was gangraped and tortured on December 16, 2012, which led to her death. All the six accused were arrested and charged with sexual assault and murder. One of the accused was a minor and appeared before a juvenile justice court, while another accused committed suicide in Tihar Jail.

Four of the convicts - Akshay, Vinay, Pawan and Mukesh - were sentenced to death by a trial court in September 2013, and the verdict confirmed by the Delhi High Court in March 2014 and upheld by the Supreme Court in May 2017, which also dismissed their review petition in July 2018.
[January 07, 2020] TA Associates Announces 2020 Global Staff Promotions

TA Associates, a leading global growth private equity firm, today announced promotions earned by eight staff members in the firm's Boston, London and Mumbai offices, effective January 1, 2020, including two new Managing Directors. "It is an honor to recognize the promotions earned by these talented and dedicated team members who have provided a tremendous level of value-add to TA Associates' portfolio companies and ultimately for our investors," said Brian J. Conway, Chairman and Managing Partner at TA Associates. "We look forward to their continued success and contributions through their judgment, creativity and work ethic. We are particularly pleased that seven of the eight promotions were earned by investment staff who were former Associates at TA." Ethan Liebermann earned the promotion to Managing Director from Director. He is based in TA's Boston office, focusing on investments in healthcare companies. Mr. Liebermann led TA's investments in Aldevron, InHealth MD Alliance and MedRisk; co-sponsored TA's investments in CCRM, RLDatix and SoftWriters; and was actively involved in the firm's investment in eviCore healthcare (formerly MedSolutions). He serves on the Board of Directors of Aldevron, CCRM, InHealth MD Alliance and RLDatix, and formerly served on the Boards of MedRisk and SoftWriters. Prior to joining TA in 2007 as an Associate, Mr. Liebermann worked in the Global Healthcare Corporate and Investment Banking group at Banc of America Securities. He received a BA degree in Biology and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA degree from the Harvard Business School. Kevin Masse earned the promotion to Managing Director and will continue to serve as Chief Portfolio Officer and as a member of the firm's Portfolio Committee. He is based in TA's Boston office, where he leads the Strategic Resource Group ("SRG"), the firm's team of operations experts who help drive scale and growth at TA's portfolio companies, supporting value creation across the TA portfolio. Prior to joining TA in 2013, Mr. Masse was a Partner at Deloitte (News - Alert) & Touche LLP where he was a senior member of the U.S. M&A executive committee and a co-leader of the firm's M&A private equity practice. Mr. Masse received a BS degree from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. Lovisa Lander earned the promotion to Principal from Senior Vice President. She is based in the London office of TA Associates (UK), LLP, focusing on investments in the healthcare and education sectors across Europe, as well as cross-sector Nordic investments. Ms. Lander co-sponsored TA's investment in Vivacy, and has been actively involved in the firm's investments in Babilou, Biocomposites, Cath Kidston, Inspired, Internationella Engelska Skolan (IES), Kiwoko, PhysIOL, Soderberg & Partners and Zadig & Voltaire (News - Alert). She serves on the Board of Directors of Biocomposites, and is a Board Observer of Vivacy. Ms. Lander formerly served on the Board of Cath Kidston, and was a Board Observer of IES and PhysIOL. Prior to joining TA in 2010 as an Associate, she worked in theInvestment Banking Division, Consumer Products and Retail Group at Rothschild. Ms. Lander received an MSc degree in Technology Management and Economics from Chalmers University of Technology.



Aditya Sharma earned the promotion to Principal from Senior Vice President. He is based in the Mumbai office of TA Associates Pvt. Ltd., focusing on investments in companies across multiple industry sectors in India. Mr. Sharma advised on TA's investment in Prudent Corporate Advisory Services, and has been actively involved in the firm's investments in Atria Convergence (News - Alert) Technologies (ACT), Dr Lal PathLabs, IndiaIdeas.com (BillDesk), Shilpa Medicare (NSE: SHILPAMED), TCNS Clothing Company (NSE: TCNSBRANDS) and Tega Industries. He serves on the Board of Directors of Prudent Corporate Advisory Services. Prior to joining TA in 2008 as an Associate, Mr. Sharma worked in the Telecoms and Media Investment Banking Division at Lehman Brothers (News - Alert) in London. He received a BSc degree, with First Class Honors, in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and an MBA degree from The Wharton School of Business. Amara Suebsaeng earned the promotion to Principal from Senior Vice President. She is based in TA's Boston office, focusing on investments in business, technology-enabled, information and other services companies in North America. Ms. Suebsaeng co-sponsored TA's investment in OMNIA Partners and Weiman Products, and was actively involved in the firm's investments in Cosentry and MicroSeismic. She serves on the Board of Directors of OMNIA Partners and Weiman Products. Prior to joining TA in 2010 as an Associate, Ms. Suebsaeng worked in the Investment Banking Division, Global Power and Utilities Group at Morgan Stanley. Prior to re-joining TA in 2015, she worked in the Product Management and Business Development Group (News - Alert) at Logi Analytics. Ms. Suebsaeng received a BA degree, Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, in Economics from Princeton University and an MBA degree, with Distinction, from the Harvard Business School.

Stefan Dandl earned the promotion to Senior Vice President from Vice President. He is based in the London office of TA Associates (UK), LLP, focusing on investments in technology and financial services companies in EMEA. Mr. Dandl also leads TA's effort in German-speaking countries across sectors. He has been actively involved in TA's investments in 10bis, CMOSIS, Compusoft, LIST, thinkproject and W.A.G. payment solutions ("Eurowag"). Mr. Dandl serves on the Board of Directors of Compusoft, LIST and thinkproject, and formerly served on the Board of 10bis. Prior to joining TA in 2013 as an Associate, he worked in the Investment Banking Division, Media & Technology Group at J.P. Morgan. Mr. Dandl received a BA degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen (HSG). Jeremy Drean earned the promotion to Senior Vice President from Vice President. He is based in the London office of TA Associates (UK), LLP, focusing on investments in financial and business services companies across Europe. Mr. Drean also is a member of the team leading TA's effort in French-speaking Europe. He has been actively involved in TA's investments in CIPRES, DNCA Finance, Hana Group, Merian Global Investors, Odealim Group, PhysIOL, Russell Investments, Solabia Group, The Access Group and Zadig & Voltaire. Mr. Drean serves on the Board of Directors of Odealim Group and Solabia Group. Prior to joining TA in 2013 as an Associate, he worked in the EMEA Consumer Group at Morgan Stanley, and also worked at GSV Asset Management (fka NeXt AM). Mr. Drean received a BA degree, magna cum laude, in Business Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles and an MSc degree in Management from the HEC School of Management, Paris. Jessica (Cohen) Gilligan earned the promotion to Senior Vice President from Vice President. She is based in TA's Boston office, focusing on investments in consumer products, services and related companies. Ms. Gilligan has been actively involved in TA's investments in Amplify Snack Brands, MAV Beauty Brands and Thermacell. She serves on the Board of Directors of MAV Beauty Brands and Thermacell. Prior to joining TA in 2012 as an Associate, Ms. Gilligan worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group at Sagent Advisors Inc. Prior to re-joining TA in 2017, she worked in Corporate Strategy at Paula's Choice. Ms. Gilligan received a BS degree, magna cum laude, in Finance, Economics and International Business from Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School and an MBA degree from the Harvard Business School. About TA Associates

TA Associates is a leading global growth private equity firm. Focused on targeted sectors within five industries - technology, healthcare, financial services, consumer and business services - TA invests in profitable, growing companies with opportunities for sustained growth, and has invested in more than 500 companies around the world. Investing as either a majority or minority investor, TA employs a long-term approach, utilizing its strategic resources to help management teams build lasting value in high quality growth companies. TA has raised $33.5 billion in capital since its founding in 1968 and is committing to new investments at the pace of over $2 billion per year. The firm's more than 85 investment professionals are based in Boston, Menlo Park, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong. More information about TA Associates can be found at www.ta.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200106006059/en/

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

Iran's exports of goods via border markets of its West Azerbaijan province increased by 14 percent in terms of weight and by 99 percent in monetary terms in the first nine months (from March 21 to Dec. 21, 2019) of the current Iranian year, compared to the same period of the previous Iranian year, Deputy Chairman of West Azerbaijan Industry, Mine and Trade Organization Mohammad Dehghan said, Trend reports with reference to the organization's website.

During the reported nine-month period, 541,000 tons of goods worth over $798 million were exported via border markets of West Azerbaijan province, Dehghan said.

Meanwhile, 463,000 tons of goods worth $622 million were exported via customs of the province, which indicates 49 percent growth in monetary terms, compared to the same period of the previous Iranian year.

Main goods exported via customs and border markets of West Azerbaijan province were light oils and other petroleum products excluding gasoline, fruit and vegetables, dairy, various rubber and weaving products, foodstuffs, Dehghan said.

During the reported nine-month period, Iran imported 379,000 tons of goods worth $506 million via West Azerbaijan province, Dehghan said, adding that the imports increased by 48 percent in terms of weight and by 59 percent in monetary terms.

According to the deputy chairman, the imports included various tires, spare parts for heavy vehicles, and weaving equipment.

Iran's West Azerbaijan province has six border markets and nine customs checkpoints. The province shares 967 kilometers of borderline with Iraq, Turkey and Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
Luis Parra, the lawmaker who was abruptly sworn in as the bodys new president on Sunday  and whom the opposition accuses of being bribed to switch sides  made a public display on Monday of moving into Guaidos presidential office in the assembly building. In a video posted to Twitter on Monday morning, Parra was shown shaking hands with a national guardsman and sitting in the chair reserved for the bodys president. He also had a new Twitter bio up: President of the National Assembly of Venezuela for period 2020-2021.
A young Perth mother and her baby boy who have been missing for just over three days have been found safe and well on Tuesday evening.

Alexandra Irene Talbot, 25, and her four-week-old baby were reported missing after last being seen at her home address in Maida Vale on Saturday January 4.
New York-listed Sea Limited is based in Singapore. (PHOTO: Sea)

By Yoolim Lee

(Bloomberg) -- Singapores Sea Ltd., Asias best-performing internet stock in 2019, is seeking a full digital banking license in Singapore, becoming the first declared sole applicant for that category.

New York-listed Seas digital bank would focus on addressing the unmet needs of millennials and small businesses through technology, the company said in a statement. The Monetary Authority of Singapore said Tuesday that 21 groups made bids for the digital licenses, including seven for full digital banking licenses. Fourteen were for wholesale permits.

MAS unveiled plans last year to grant as many as five virtual bank licenses to boost competition and innovation, and is set to announce the winners in June. Efforts to open up the Singapore banking industry to technology companies come on the heels of a similar move in Hong Kong, where units of Ant Financial and other Chinese firms including Tencent Holdings Ltd. obtained licenses. Ant has applied for a Singapore wholesale digital banking license.

Southeast Asias digital lending market is expected to more than quadruple to $110 billion by 2025, according to a report by Bain & Co., Google and Temasek Holdings Pte.

The two main operating divisions of Sea, which counts Tencent as its largest outside shareholder, are Shopee, a popular online shopping platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, and gaming arm Garena. Shopees users include SME and millennial consumers. Sea also has a digital financial services arm, SeaMoney.

Through Garena, Shopee, and SeaMoney, we have unrivaled insight into the needs and wants of millennials and SMEs across the region, said Forrest Li, Seas chief executive officer. We have also developed exceptional capabilities in addressing these unmet needs, and have the technology, infrastructure, data analytics capabilities, and management experience to design and scale Singapores first full digital bank.

The full digital banks will require total capital of S$1.5 billion ($1.1 billion) and must be controlled by Singaporeans. They will be allowed to provide a range of financial services as well as take deposits from retail customers. The MAS plans to award as many as two such permits.

Story continues

Earlier this month, gaming company Razer Inc. said it had teamed up with homegrown Singaporean entrepreneurs and Asian billionaires to apply for a full banking license. The Razer-led group also targets younger users. Other bidders include the Grab Holdings Inc.-Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. group and Beyond Consortium, which is led by one of Asias largest massage chair makers, V3 Group Ltd. and stored-value card company EZ-Link Pte.

One of Seas key advantages over the other known applicants is its potential to tap its sizable user base across gaming and e-commerce to become customers of its digital bank, said Vey-Sern Ling, a senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.

These are young, generally tech savvy, and many have established paying-relationships with Sea, Ling said. Shopees leading position in regional e-commerce will likewise provide multiple business cases for Seas digital bank.

In 2019, Sea went on to outperform all other major Asian internet stocks with a gain of 255%, its best year since going public in New York in 2017. Investors are optimistic about the companys revenue outlook. Seas stock closed at an all-time high of $40.49 on Friday.

 2020 Bloomberg L.P.
This week at CES in Las Vegas, Audi gave hands-on demonstrations of its newest concept car, a self-driving vehicle called AI:Me, or Amy.

The German luxury car manufacturer describes AI:Me as an empathetic mobility partner that will transport passengers into an oasis of calm while the cars autonomous navigation system cuts through stressful city traffic.

AI:Me was built with a compact frame that was specifically designed to be able to move through high-traffic urban spaces and fit into tight parking spots.

Audi gave demonstrations of a new concept car, AI:Me (pronounced Amy), at CES in Las Vegas this week

Its roomy interior cabin was designed to give passengers the option to forget about big city anxiety and focus on inner tranquility and self-care.

AI:Me actually features a Well-Being mode that allows users to customize light levels, dampen noise from outside the car, and purify the air inside the cabin.

The cabin itself was designed to emphasize natural materials, including a long wooden dashboard that can function as a table or small desk space, and carpets that are made from recycled fishnets found on the seafloor.

We brought the nature from outside in the inside Audis Simona Falcinella said last year when AI:Me was first revealed in Shanghai.

The AI:Me was designed to give passengers an oasis of calm inside the self-driving compact car

The cars UI was designed to be controlled through a blend of voice commands, gestures, and eyetracking, through which passengers can make a selection on the cars control screen by looking at it

The car will also come with a built-in VR headset and several custom designed VR experiences to help pass the time during stressful trips

The AI:Me will feature a Well-Being mode that will dim the interior lights, purify the cabin air, and dampen outside noise

The colors and the material give you a lot of light and a lot of space feeling.

AI:Me will also feature an advanced UI system that will let passengers change the cars interior settings and even ask for a snack from a hidden food compartment.

WHAT IS THE AUDI AI:ME? The Audi AI:Me (pronounced 'Amy') is a new concept car from the German car manufacturer. The self-driving car emphasizes passengers calmness and tranquility. It was designed on a compact frame and intended for busy city driving. However, the interior was designed to be 'an oasis of calm.' The car features a 'Well-Being' mode that will dampen outside noise, purify cabin air, and dim the interior lights. Advertisement

The front dashboard features a long black screen that will respond to voice commands, gestures, or even eyetracking, letting them select an option on the screen by looking at it for a few seconds.

The car will also come equipped with a virtual reality headset that will work with a number of custom designed experiences meant to help passengers stay calm in traffic.

In one demo, described by Engadget, passengers will be able to imagine theyre flying in a helicopter above a city in China, with the movements of the helicopter synchronized to the movement of the car.

Audi hasnt announced any pricing or release date information.
TDSAT had on 21 December 2018 directed the Centre to return around Rs 104 crore to RCom after encashing bank guarantee of Rs 908 crore against spectrum charges of Rs 774 crore.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the Centre's plea challenging TDSAT's order directing refund of around Rs 104 crore to Reliance Communication.

A bench of justices R F Nariman and S Ravindra Bhat said, "We don't find any merits in the appeal".

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) had on 21 December 2018 directed the Centre to return around Rs 104 crore to RCom after encashing bank guarantee of Rs 908 crore against spectrum charges of Rs 774 crore.

The Department of Telecom has already adjusted Rs 30.33 crore.
The past decade has been defined by truly historic and significant social progress, enabling Ireland to break with out-of-date preconceived ideals and emerge as one of Europes most inclusive societies.

The nature of a government-promoted commitment to socially reformative policies is that there is a constant necessity that the electorate confronts and considers fundamental moral questions relating to our Constitution.

Over the past eight years, since the ascent of Fine Gael to government, either in coalition with Labour or in a minority government, the ability of the party to be fiscally responsible and return Ireland to economic stability and growth has been a more subdued feature of its governance.

Instead, delivering referendums on marriage equality and abortion  which have exhibited an overwhelming and relatively universal desire across the country to create an open and progressive, modern Ireland  will be its most pivotal and lasting legacy.

With regard to this, I fully expect without question that, within the next 10 years, the Government will take a further step forward into the 21st century and facilitate a referendum on the legalisation of euthanasia for patients diagnosed with terminal or regressive incurable illness.

In passing a referendum of such a nature, Ireland would join its European Union counterparts, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland, where varying procedures have been legalised.

The approval to establish a government-supported euthanasia programme would require people across Ireland to carefully consider the question and more profoundly its impact on patients who understand the terminal or incurable nature of their illness, and wish to bring their lives to an end with peace, dignity and respect in medically supervised circumstances.

The ability of patients who meet a medically agreed criteria, fully desire and can consciously consent to access euthanasia is a human right.

Cillian Boggan

Wexford town

Trump should be indicted for murder of Soleimani

Further to Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob (Letters, January 6), Donald Trump should be indicted at The Hague for the murder of Qasem Soleimani.

US troops  and Britains  have no business in Iraq. Britain and America interfered in the Gulf, Iran, Syria, Libya and betrayed the Palestinians. The Muslim world should unite as one and stand up to the likes of Trump.

As the British Empires former subjects  including Ireland  have experienced, Britain, then America, ruthlessly subjugated and exploited innocent people.

The US should hand back Guantanamo Bay to Cuba and my country, Britain, should stop kowtowing to Trumps fascist administration.

George W Bush and Tony Blair, too, should be tried as war criminals over Iraq.

Dominic Shelmerdine

London, UK

Desperate leaders take desperate measures

Desmond Fitzgerald, and Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob (Irish Independent, January 6) highlight the imminent dangers of a war in the Middle East  a war that could be walked into by a simple error.

Alas, as with the rush to wage war on Iraq by the Christian Horsemen, George W Bush, Tony Blair and John Howard, those currently in power still remain as ignorant as the former of the many tribes in the Middle East.

The Ottoman rulers kept the peace in the Middle East for centuries, until its destruction by the 1915 Sykes-Picot agreement of Britain and France. Sykes-Picot made things worse by forcibly dividing the tribes, the Islamic sects and the nations they belonged to.

Current world leaders include Donald Trump, Boris Johnson and Scott Morrison here in Australia  three men who, when they become desperate, will opt for danger merely to protect their selfish interests. Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey is another man too many are overlooking.

At least Johnson is not in the sway of evangelists who imagine they alone have the God-given right to decide the fate of the world as they impatiently await the Second Coming.

The time for strong leadership, devoid of personal politics, is now a necessity, at least in Europe.

Declan Foley

Berwick, Australia

Co Kerry has become the Kingdom of the Healy-Raes

I was years ahead of Billy Keanes seer. Shortly after the last general election I predicted, in a letter to this paper, that after the next election every seat in Co Kerry would be held by a Healy-Rae.

Mattie Lennon

Blessington, Co Wicklow
Diane Cornelius

Phil Cornelius

Seacliff Park, Australia

To the Editor:

We woke recently to heavy smoke in the air. We live in Stanley, a small village in the Victorian High Country, a three-hour drive north of Melbourne. The fire authorities were suggesting that the three bush fires could join to form a mega-fire. We made the decision to evacuate. We loaded the car and joined the thousands of other Australians across the country who were evacuating their homes in regional areas.

Richard Flanagans article was compelling reading and succinctly reflected the appalling leadership void the Australian community is facing.

For many Australians, it seems as if weve entered some sort of Back to the Future parallel universe and somehow Biff is in charge.

Robert Craig

Stanley, Australia

To the Editor:

Suicide is an individual action. Richard Flanagan seems to believe that Australia has some significant control over atmospheric carbon dioxide, and that by government action, wildfires and changes to the Great Barrier Reef potentially associated with climate change can somehow be mitigated.

Australia is a country with under 25 million people. If all Australians stopped use of fossil fuels entirely, there would be no significant effect on any environmental consequence of carbon emission. Countries buying Australian coal and gas would get it somewhere else.
[January 07, 2020] C3 Achieves VMware Cloud Verified Status

Cloud Computing Concepts, an award-winning provider of technology and communications services throughout North America, today announced it has achieved VMware Cloud Verified status. The Cloud Verified badge signals to customers that C3 (News - Alert) offers a service running on top of the complete VMware Cloud infrastructure. Through Cloud Verified partner services, customers attain access to the full set of VMware Cloud Infrastructure capabilities including integration and interoperability, cost optimization and flexibility. "Achieving VMware Cloud Verified status is a milestone achievement for C3," commented Rick Mancinelli, CEO of C3. "It further demonstrates our steadfast commitment to our clients and partners to provide high performance, secure, and compliant cloud services built atop one of the industry's leading and most ubiquitous platform." "Partners that are VMware Cloud Verified provide organizations with complete and advanced VMware Cloud technologies, along with interoperability across clouds for greater advantage for their customers' businesses," said Jim Aluotto, Senior Director, Cloud Provider Business, Americas Region, VMware. "Cloud Verified services delivered by VMware Cloud Providers can povide the efficiency, agility, and reliability inherent in cloud computing. We look forward to supporting C3 as it empowers organizations with a simple and flexible path to the cloud."



VMware's global network of more than 4,000 VMware Cloud Providers leverage VMware's consistent cloud infrastructure to offer a wide array of services, provide geographic and industry specialization, and help customers meet complex regulatory requirements. Cloud Providers operating under the VMware Cloud Provider Program deliver individually tailored cloud solutions and services in more than 120 countries. About C3

C3 is an award-winning provider of technology and communications services to organizations throughout North America. The company currently owns and operates a geo-diverse VMware powered Cloud infrastructure which provides high performance, secure, and compliant Infrastructure, Desktops, Backup and Disaster recovery solutions. C3 also operates a state of the art Broadsoft powered Hosted PBX (News - Alert), UCaaS and CCaaS platform as well as a nationwide SD-WAN network based on industry leader VeloCloud's technologies. C3 maintains an extensive list of wholesale carrier relationships for private, internet and wireless connectivity, and also has a broad portfolio of technology related authorizations and certifications. C3's expert team of certified network engineers design and implement complex solutions and its bilingual service center is available for support 247. Additional information about C3 is available online at www.c3cloud.com or by calling 561-939-4000. VMware, VMware Cloud, VMware Cloud Verified and VMware Cloud Provider are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005103/en/

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(CNN)  Tehran's streets were packed with black-clad mourners Monday as a sea of people turned out to pay their respects to Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian general killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad last week.

The mourners carried photographs of Soleimani, a revered and powerful figure who headed the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps elite Quds Force and led Iran's overseas operations.

Many of those on the streets of the Iranian capital were visibly upset and angry; others shouted "down with the USA" and "death to the USA." Iranian state television said millions attended, although this was yet to be verified.

Soleimani has been hailed a martyr and a hero inside Iran, especially due to his work in the fight against ISIS. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's ultimate political and religious authority, was photographed praying over Soleimani's body during the funeral ceremony alongside President Hassan Rouhani.

The US, however, has long viewed Soleimani as a terrorist and adversary. Washington claims he is responsible for aiding and abetting attacks by Iran's Shia allies against American troops, many of whom were killed during the bloodiest days of the Iraq War and in sectarian conflicts throughout the Middle East.

President Donald Trump said the decision to kill Soleimani was based on intelligence that he had been involved in planning an "imminent attack" that put American lives at risk.

Washington had already carried out a series of airstrikes in Iraq targeting Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group the US held responsible for a series of rocket attacks on American facilities that killed a US contractor.

Trump said Soleimani was killed "to stop a war," but the action marks a significant escalation that has seen both sides inching dangerously close to the brink of conflict.

Iran has vowed revenge and threatened both the US and Israel. Maj. Gen. Hossein Dehghan, the top military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, told CNN that Tehran would retaliate by targeting military sites. The US operates about 800 military bases and logistical facilities outside its sovereign territory.

And Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said the country will no longer limit itself to the nuclear restrictions set forth by the international nuclear deal reached in 2015 between Iran and a handful of other countries. The Trump administration abandoned the deal in 2018.

Trump has responded to Iran's talk of vengeance by threatening to carry out a series of attack a number of Iranian targets, including cultural sites  a potential war crime.

"Iranian proxy forces in Iraq have thought that they could act with impunity, and that if they acted we wouldn't take strikes against Iran proper," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told CNN when asked about Trump's statement. "We've made clear for months to the Iranian regime that that wouldn't be the case, that we were going to hold responsible the actors, the leaders who took these actions and who orchestrated these actions."

However, the Trump administration's domestic and foreign critics accused the President and his advisers of failing to think through the cost of killing Soleimani.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to her fellow democrats that the decision was "provocative and disproportionate" and argued that it endangered US personnel in the region.

The future of US troops in Iraq

Gulf Arab states and European leaders have called for restraint.

In a joint statement Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there is "an urgent need for de-escalation" concerning rising tensions with Iran.

Iraq's Parliament voted nearly unanimously to force the government to work toward the removal of US and other foreign troops inside the country, a clear rebuke to Washington over the strike that killed Soleimani.

"Iraqi priorities and the US are increasingly at odds," caretaker Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi said during his address to parliament.

He said a US troop withdrawal was the only way to "protect all those on Iraqi soil," especially American forces that require protection from the Iraqis.

Muqtada al-Sadr, a firebrand Shia cleric and fierce critic of the US, said the response by Iraq's parliament was weak "in comparison to American violations of Iraqi sovereignty."

Meanwhile, Trump said any move to expel US troops from the country would be met with "sanctions like they've never seen before ever."

"It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame," Trump said.

This story was first published on CNN.com. "Huge crowds flood Tehran streets for Soleimani's funeral, calling for revenge and retaliation."
A convicted murderer has revealed how he did not hesitate to help fight off a terrorist on London Bridge.

Serving prisoner Steve Gallant told how he took on Usman Khan as he embarked on a killing spree armed with two knives and wearing a fake suicide vest during the Learning Together rehabilitation project event at Fishmongers' Hall in London on 29 November.

Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones died in the attack.

Gallant, one of two men convicted of killing Barrie Jackson in Hull in 2005, had been allowed out on licence that day for the first time since his sentencing.

The 42-year-old, who was jailed for a minimum of 17 years, helped restrain Khan on London Bridge before the terrorist was shot dead by police.

London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Show all 29 1 /29 London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Bystanders and police surrounding a person at the scene of an incident on London Bridge HLOBlog/PA London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Police and emergency services PA London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Armed police on London Bridge Twitter London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing A bystander holding a knife after police surrounded a person at the scene HLOBlog/PA London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing People fleeing from Borough Market PA London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Police during the incident Twitter London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing A white truck across part of London Bridge SophK05/PA London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing A British Transport Police officer runs after reports of an incident Getty London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Boats from the Metropolitan Police Marine Policing Unit patrol near the scene Getty Images London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing A lorry on the bridge crosses over lanes Luke Poulton via Reuters London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Members of the police and emergency services arriving at Monument tube station AFP via Getty Images London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Members of the public held behind a police cordon Getty Images London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Police at the scene PA London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Police evacuate people from Borough Market AP London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Police surrond a part of the bridge Timothy Johnson/Twitter London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing A person is assisted after falling when Police evacuated people from Borough Market AP London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing A Police Officer cordons off London Bridge Station Getty Images London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Members of staff are ushered into a Fitness First gym Getty Images London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing PA London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing People head away from the vicinity of Borough Market PA London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Office workers look out of a window at a scene EPA London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing PA London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Men in forensics suits walk away from the site REUTERS London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing People are evacuated from London Bridge PA London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing ArrowontheHill/Twitter London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Police at the scene of an incident on London Bridge PA London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Armed police on the scene Alexandra Carr /SWNS.COM London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Buses on London Bridge during the incident AFP via Getty Images London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing Police on the scene @joebxggs /SWNS.COM

Speaking publicly for the first time about Khan's rampage, Gallant said he heard noises downstairs and went to investigate despite orders to stay in the conference hall.

He said: I could tell something was wrong and had to help. I saw injured people.

Khan was stood in the foyer with two large knives in his hands. He was a clear danger to all, so I didn't hesitate.

Using a chair and narwhal tusk handed to him by civil servant Darryn Frost, who revealed last month how he had also risked his life to take on the attacker, Gallant tried to hold Khan back.

He said: Khan also showed us the bomb around his waist in an attempt to frighten us. We then chased him onto London Bridge and restrained him until the police arrived.

Gallant and James Gilligan were jailed for carrying out a revenge attack on 33-year-old ex-fireman Mr Jackson.

The pair lay in wait for their victim outside a pub, bludgeoned him with a hammer before kicking and punching him to death after Mr Jackson attacked Gallant's girlfriend, according to media reports of the court case.

But since going to prison Gallant has vowed never to turn to violence again. Instead he learnt to read and write and is now in his third year of a business studies degree.

He has co-written several plays, one of which was recently performed at the Royal Court Theatre in London, his lawyers at Hudgell Solicitors said.

Gallant was one of two men convicted of killing Barrie Jackson in Hull in 2005 (PA)

Gallant said: Nobody has the right to take another's life and I offer my sincere apologies to my victim's family for the hurt caused.

I can never bring that life back, and it is right that I was handed a severe penalty for my actions.

Once I'd accepted my punishment, I decided to seek help.

When you go to prison, you lose control of your life.

Your own future relies on the decisions of others.

Bettering yourself becomes one of the few things you can do while reducing the existing burden on society.

Inspired by the Learning Together project after he met the founders, Gallant applied to take part from behind bars.

As part of the programme he has worked with a team of students in Cambridge producing legal advice guides and has become a mentor.

Losing course co-ordinators Merritt and Jones is an unbearable blow and the sense of loss is immense, he said.

Merritt, who Gallant met in 2016, was a role model and friend, he said, adding: Jack didn't care who you were, he cared about you and your future, he saw who you could become and did not define you by your past.

I will miss him badly.

Jones was highly respected and loved by those involved with the course, he added.

Gallant has resolved to keep doing positive things and was certain the pair would wish for the programme to continue.

Although initially reluctant to speak out, Gallant decided to come forward after Ministry of Justice employee Mr Frost revealed how he took on Khan.

Gallant said: I would like to say a special thanks to Darryn.

Had he not passed me the narwhal tusk at that crucial moment, not only could I have been killed, the situation could have been even worse.

Mr Frost, a 38-year-old South African who has lived in the UK for 14 years, spoke exclusively to the Press Association news agency last month in a bid to urge people to unite against terrorism and raise money for the victims' families.

He has since launched the website extinguishhate.co.uk as part of his campaign.

Gallant described former prisoner John Crilly and the chef called Lukasz who also stepped in as extremely brave, adding: I would like to say thank you to everyone who did their best on that tragic day and I hope that the injured recover as quickly as possible.

Press Association
'The focus for IT companies will shift from adding scale to building a smaller, more specialised, talent pool with specific domain expertise,' says Shyamal Majumdar.

Mohandas Pai, the former chief financial officer of Infosys, created a flutter recently when he said the Indian information technology industry could be staring at 30,000 to 40,000 mid-level job losses.

In fact, this will become a regular phenomenon in line with the maturing of the industry.

Pai, who is currently chairman of Manipal Global Education Services, is bang on, as it is inevitable that people who are not adding value to the salary they get will have to look elsewhere as companies will have no option but to periodically reset their pyramids, and shed people.

Technological unemployment is a term one has to be ready for at a time when technological progress will increasingly have deep consequences for skills, wages and jobs.

So repetitive coding jobs, for example, would be increasingly irrelevant in many IT companies.

Unfortunately, humans and organisations aren't keeping up with the pace of technology.

For example, the computer processor doubles in power every 18 months, 10 times greater every five years.

Faster, cheaper computers and more 'intelligent' software are giving machines capabilities that were once thought to be distinctively human-like -- understanding speech, translating from one language to another and recognising patterns.

As the industry now pivots towards delivering high-end services, the focus for IT companies will also shift from adding scale to building a smaller, more specialised talent pool with specific domain expertise.

There is no surprise therefore that yesterday's ubiquitous call centre operators are gradually being replaced by question-answering, automated systems.

Vishal Sikka, former Infosys managing director, had talked about this danger long ago.

The biggest disruption that is taking place, he had said, is the 'tidal wave' of automation and artificial intelligence that can easily replace tech jobs.

So in order to stay ahead, they must bring 'greater value' to customers, instead of just mechanically executing the jobs.

Indian IT companies, Sikka said, will not survive if they remain in the constricted space of doing as they are told, depending solely on cost arbitrage, and working as reactive problem solvers.

Many studies have in fact said AI techniques of today can automate half the jobs that exist in the US now within a couple of decades.

This means a vast number of employment in production occupations is likely to diminish.

Boston Consulting Group has estimated that in the US, a human welder is about three times more expensive per hour of employment than a robotic welder.

So, companies will recruit, but only those who have the required skill for a higher-end job.

In their report, The Future of Jobs, World Economic Forum said in 2018, an average of 71% of total task hours across 12 industries covered in the report were performed by humans, compared to 29% by machines.

By 2022, this average is expected to shift to 58% task hours performed by humans and 42% by machines.

For example, by 2022, as much as 62% of an organisation's information and data processing and information search and transmission tasks will be performed by machines compared to 46% in 2018.

Many experts, however, say these fears are misplaced, because technology adoption will also free people from performing menial and repetitive tasks.

There have always been fears of mass destitution with each sudden shift in technology, but the so-called losers have eventually been absorbed back into new industries.

While this debate will go on, the simple fact is that there is no option but to go in for a dramatic shift in skilling and retooling the job aspirants.

Experts have suggested that by 2022, more than half the global workforce will require significant upskilling.

The likelihood of hiring new permanent staff with relevant skills is nearly twice the likelihood of strategic redundancies of staff lagging behind in new skills adoption.

Imagine the consequences for countries like India where more than 10 million people (mostly unemployable) enter the job market every year.

The irony is that while more than half the top management in Indian companies believe that traditional job descriptions will become obsolete, less than a quarter have taken any initiative to redesign jobs in their organisations, which is a must to identify the exact skill gaps and the specific training required.
Amethi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Jan 7 (ANI): Union Minister Smriti Irani on Monday hit out at Gandhi family by stating that the post of Congress president is a "family matter".



Being asked if Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi who has been very active in politics will become Congress president, Irani told media, "Only Sonia Gandhi (Congress interim president) could answer. Because we all know that the post of the Congress president is a family matter."

The Union Minister on Monday visited her parliamentary constituency Amethi to inaugurate various development projects, including skill programmes for girls.

Irani, who was also asked about Priyanka's continued attacks on the BJP, she said: "Amethi and its people can tell everything about this and the result given by Amethi in Lok Sabha polls is an example for them." (ANI)
An American Instagram model has raised more than $100,000 for Australian bushfire victims by encouraging her followers to donate in exchange for naked selfies.

Kaylen Ward, 20, said she wanted to help after seeing the devastation the bushfires had caused and thought her x-rated images would be the best way to raise funds, The Daily Mail said in the report.

Im sending nudes to every person who donates at least $10 to any one of these fundraisers for the wildfires in Australia, American model Kaylen Ward posted on Twitter on Saturday, alongside a list of charities and fire services.

Within minutes of posting her offer on social media, her private messages on Instagram and Twitter were bombarded by hundreds of people sending in their receipts to prove they had donated.

After the post went viral, the Netizens hailed the idea and commitment of the model.

A user on micro-blogging site Twitter wrote, Sex workers are single-handedly saving Australia and I am here for it.

Thank you so much! It means a lot to see people all over the world doing things to help my country... Im so scared right now but your kindness and generosity means more than you know, added another.

A post read, Your a true hero to Australia thank you for your sacrifice.

A tweeple remarked, I often question the motivations and dignity of women who expose themselves online, but honestly, this is the most selfless motivation I have seen for such a thing! I am going to try to donate even without any nudes. Kudos to you!

However, Instagram has deactivated the account of 20-year-old American model Kaylen Ward.

INSTAGRAM DEACTIVED MY SECOND ACCOUNT. I dont have an Instagram. None of these are real pic.twitter.com/YXDiGQJyAh  THE NAKED PHILANTHROPIST (@lilearthangelk) January 5, 2020

My Instagram got deleted  pic.twitter.com/nBRQlByYAR  THE NAKED PHILANTHROPIST (@lilearthangelk) January 5, 2020

In a screenshot posted by Ward, Instagram said she posted sexually suggestive content.

Taking on Twitter she wrote, My IG got deactivated, my family disowned me, and the guy I like wont talk to me all because of that tweet. But f**k it, save the koalas.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By Tamilla Mammadova  Trend:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia cannot yet confirm whether Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is planning to visit Georgia to attend Council of Europe (CoE) ministerial, Trend reports citing Georgian media.

The ministerial is planned to be held in Tbilisi in the spring of 2020. The venue of the meeting was chosen due to the fact that since November 27, 2019, Georgia has been chairing the Committee of Ministers at the Council of Europe, of which Russia is a member.

"Georgia will host a meeting of the Committee of Ministers of CoE in Tbilisi in May 2020. Currently, we coordinate organizational issues with the secretariat of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe," the press service of the Ministry said.

Georgia will hold chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers at the Council of Europe till May 15, 2020. The chairmanship was handed over to Georgia from France.

Georgia has four priorities as the chairman: human rights and environment protection; civil engagement in decision-making process; jurisdiction oriented on children and strengthening of democracy with the engagement of education, culture and youth.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356
BAY CITY, MI  Before being sent to prison on his 11th drunken driving conviction, a Bay City man claimed his erratic driving was due to a flock of turkeys in the roadway.

His assertion prompted the judge to ask him if what he had seen were wild turkeys - a reference to a bourbon of the same name.

The dialogue occurred Monday, Jan. 6, between defendant Gary D. Griffus, 64, and Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran.

Sheeran sentenced Griffus to 46 months  or 3.83 years  to 15 years in prison. The judge gave him credit for 179 days already served in the county jail and ordered him to pay $67.39 in restitution to the Bay County Prosecutors Office. That amount stems from the cost of a blood sample taken from Griffus.

Griffus in November pleaded no contest to one count of third-offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. The charge is a five-year felony, but Griffus also pleaded as a fourth offense habitual offender, which increases the maximum potential penalty to life imprisonment.

In exchange, the prosecution dismissed a one-year misdemeanor count of second-offense operating while license suspended, denied, or revoked.

Griffus most recent conviction stems from Bay County Sheriffs deputies on the evening of July 11 responding to Party Dock, 3031 Patterson Road in Bangor Township, for a report of an inebriated man in the store. The subject left before deputies arrived, with dispatchers being advised he had headed north in a blue 2008 Saturn Vue.

Deputies soon spotted the Vue. They say it kept braking in the roadway for no apparent reason. It made a wide turn and crossed the center line, eventually stopping on Spruce Ridge Road, according to deputies reports in court files.

As deputies approached the car on foot, they noticed several beer cans on the backseats floorboard. The driver identified himself as Griffus, adding he didnt have a license but was close to his destination, the police report states. The Vue contained one passenger.

Deputies say Griffus told them he had consumed three Natural Light beers. The officers said Griffus smelled of alcohol and had glassy eyes.

Gary advised he was good to drive and he only had to drive up the road to do maintenance at someones house, deputies wrote.

Griffus performed poorly on roadside sobriety tests and refused to submit to a preliminary Breathalyzer test, the police report shows. Regarding the open can of beer, both Griffus and the passenger claimed ownership, leading deputies to issue them both a citation for open intoxicant in a motor vehicle.

On running Griffus background, deputies learned he had 10 prior drunken-driving convictions and two convictions for driving on a suspended license, court records show.

Deputies arrested Griffus.

Deputies obtained a warrant for a blood draw and took Griffus to McLaren Bay Region hospital for the sample to be drawn. The sample was to be sent to the Michigan State Police Crime Lab in Bridgeport for analysis, results of which indicate his blood alcohol level was 0.121.

Michigan Department of Corrections records indicate Griffus has been sent to prison six times since 1993 on convictions of operating while intoxicated, resisting police, fleeing police, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and escaping jail. In all, he has at least 12 felony convictions.

Griffus most recently was imprisoned in August 2014, a Saginaw County judge giving him three to 15 years for operating while under the influence of a controlled substance.

The MDOC paroled Griffus in December 2016 then discharged him from parole on July 14, 2018.

On Monday, Griffus said in court his most recent problem was that he had been walking with Jack Daniels instead of Jesus.
ALBANY - Former Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove is asking the state's highest court to allow him to appeal a lower court ruling that reinstated criminal charges state prosecutors filed over his handling of a police shooting.

Abelove's request is in the hands of one of the judges on the Court of Appeals. The case will require permission from that judge - Senior Associate Judge Jenny Rivera - to go forward because the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court ruled unanimously to reinstate charges against him. The high court usually rejects requests from defendants looking to appeal unanimous rulings.

The appeal request was filed Dec. 30.

The likely trial judge, state Supreme Court Justice Jonathan D. Nichols of Columbia County, has scheduled Abelove's trial to start Aug. 3.

On Nov. 21, the Appellate Division judges reinstated the felony charge that accuses Abelove of lying to a grand jury about the 2016 fatal police shooting of unarmed drunken driving suspect Edson Thevenin in Troy.

The appeals court ruled Nichols wrongly ruled in 2018 that former state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office lacked the authority to prosecute Abelove for perjury and "erred in granting defendant's motion to dismiss the indictment."

The court reinstated an indictment of Abelove on one count of first-degree perjury, a felony that carries up to seven years in prison, as well as two counts of official misconduct, a misdemeanor.

In the predawn hours of April 17, 2016, Troy police Sgt. Randall French shot Thevenin during a DWI stop near the entrance to the Collar City Bridge. Two days later, the decision said, Schneiderman's office sent Abelove a letter to determine if the attorney general had jurisdiction over the matter. A 2015 executive order issued by Gov. Andrew Cuomo named the attorney general as the special prosecutor in cases where an unarmed civilian is killed by police and there is a "significant question as to whether the civilian was armed and dangerous at the time of his or her death."

Abelove contended the Thevenin case did not fit the criteria, saying Thevenin's use of a vehicle did not make him unarmed. On April 22, 2016, just five days after the shooting, Abelove put the case before a Rensselaer County grand jury, which cleared French of any criminal wrongdoing.

In the application for permission to appeal filed with the state's highest court, Abelove's appeals attorney Joshua R. Friedman of Dreyer Boyajian argues that the Appellate Division erred in sending the case back to the lower court for trial. The request to appeal argues that the Appellate Division ruling was incorrect when it agreed with the attorney general's office that it could prosecute the former district attorney for perjury in any investigation it conducts whether it was under the authority of an executive order or statute.

Abelove's attorneys argue that he could not be prosecuted under the executive order issued by Cuomo.

"As a result of its erroneous holding that Executive Law... provided the OAG (Office of the Attorney General) with authority to prosecute Mr. Abeloves alleged perjury the Appellate Division reversed Supreme Court, reinstated the Indictment, and did not reach the additional issues on appeal

concerning the dismissal of the official misconduct counts," Friedman stated.

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

The Court of Appeals is asked to hear Abelove's appeal as the Appellate Division ruling "expands the prosecutorial authority of the OAG to an entirely new category of cases and, it is submitted, beyond the bounds contemplated by the legislature," according to Friedman's leave for appeal..

Previous coverage

Violent felony charges dismissed due to flawed indictment

Judge rejects AG's motion to reconsider Abelove criminal charges

Churchill: Thevenin mess is a stain on Mayor Patrick Madden

In February 2017, Cuomo issued another executive order allowing the AG's office to investigate the death. A grand jury indicted Abelove in late 2017 on the perjury and official misconduct charges.

The AG's office appealed Nichols' decision to the Appellate Division. In October, the appeal was heard by Presiding Justice Elizabeth Garry and Justices Robert Mulvey, Michael Lynch and Eugene "Gus" Devine, all of whom ruled that Nichols' ruling should be reversed.
BGC Insurance Group (BGCI), a global broker and division of BGC Partners Inc., announced it has rebranded its global aerospace re/insurance brokerage as Piiq Risk Partners.

Since the division was launched during the second half of 2019, it has been building a select team of experts in the key aviation insurance hubs across the globe.

To date, Piiq has hired 28 individuals in the U.K. and U.S. and aims to attract additional talent into the organization in 2020.

The biographies of some of Piiq Risk Partners key hires made during the last six months include:

Marcel Chad , Piiqs president, joined BGC Insurance in June 2019. He previously was a partner at JLT Aerospace and prior to that he was CEO and deputy global chairman, Marsh Aviation Practice.

, Piiqs president, joined BGC Insurance in June 2019. He previously was a partner at JLT Aerospace and prior to that he was CEO and deputy global chairman, Marsh Aviation Practice. Philip Smaje was named CEO of the aviation division in July, although he joined the company this month after completing his notice period obligations. He previously worked at Willis Towers Watson where he began his career in 1988 in the Aviation Division. Smaje went on to hold various senior roles including CEO for Willis Towers Watsons Global Aviation Practice and was most recently global head of Broking.

was named CEO of the aviation division in July, although he joined the company this month after completing his notice period obligations. He previously worked at Willis Towers Watson where he began his career in 1988 in the Aviation Division. Smaje went on to hold various senior roles including CEO for Willis Towers Watsons Global Aviation Practice and was most recently global head of Broking. Bruce Fine joined in September 2019 as managing partner U.S., leading the U.S. team and the aircraft finance solutions division, based in Atlanta and Chicago. Previously, he had been executive vice president and Global Aerospace Manufacturers and Infrastructure Industry leader at JLT Specialty. Fine began his industry career in 1984 as an aviation underwriter for Cigna and has held a number of senior aviation roles, including vice president at Alexander & Alexander, senior vice president at Willis Global Aviation and was a managing director at Marsh until 2018

joined in September 2019 as managing partner U.S., leading the U.S. team and the aircraft finance solutions division, based in Atlanta and Chicago. Previously, he had been executive vice president and Global Aerospace Manufacturers and Infrastructure Industry leader at JLT Specialty. Fine began his industry career in 1984 as an aviation underwriter for Cigna and has held a number of senior aviation roles, including vice president at Alexander & Alexander, senior vice president at Willis Global Aviation and was a managing director at Marsh until 2018 Oyin Heath was appointed senior partner in August. She was hired from Marsh JLT Speciality where she was a managing director and leader of the Aerospace and Manufacturer Segments of the Aviation and Aerospace Division. She joined Marsh from Aon in 2012.

was appointed senior partner in August. She was hired from Marsh JLT Speciality where she was a managing director and leader of the Aerospace and Manufacturer Segments of the Aviation and Aerospace Division. She joined Marsh from Aon in 2012. Mark Costin was appointed as senior partner in August. Previously, he worked at Marsh JLT Specialty where he most recently held the role of CEO of its Aviation and Aerospace Division. He joined Marsh from Willis Towers Watson in 2002.

was appointed as senior partner in August. Previously, he worked at Marsh JLT Specialty where he most recently held the role of CEO of its Aviation and Aerospace Division. He joined Marsh from Willis Towers Watson in 2002. Kostya Zolotusky was appointed managing partner in September. Based in Seattle, Zolotusky brings 34 years of aviation experience to the role after a career at the Boeing Co. Zolotusky joined Boeing in 1985 as an avionics engineer before going on to hold a number of leadership roles in commercial aircraft engineering, sales and financing.

Commenting on the rebranding of the BGCs aviation brokerage, Piiqs CEO Philip Smaje said: Piiq is a bold and distinct name that matches our desire and ambition for this business. Our platform will provide an important independent and differentiated alternative for clients. We are committed to respecting the past as well as providing modern solutions for our clients. As we begin our journey as Piiq, we will be looking to invigorate the aerospace industry.

Piiqs President Marcel Chad said: Piiq has a unique opportunity to align the resources of our parent company, which is focused on the use of innovative technology, with an entrepreneurial spirit that puts clients outcomes first. We believe that we are the standout firm in the current evolution of the aerospace re/insurance sector.

In June, at the time the formation of aviation division (now called Piiq) was announced, Andrew Wallin, chief commercial officer, BGC Insurance Group, said: The current market is stacked against aviation clients, with three brokers dominating this line of business because of their scale. For a significant independent player like us with a client-focused approach, vision and technical prowess, the gap in the market offers huge disruptive potential. Our proposition will be compelling: a truly bespoke aviation offering from a concentration of the industrys top talent and tailored to clients, as opposed to the one-size fits all offered by many of our competitors.

The company said it aims to provide the market with an independent alternative, which will use advanced technology to drive down costs and drive up service.

About BGC Insurance Group

BGC Insurance Group provides global wholesale specialty insurance and reinsurance broking solutions, operating a group of specialist brands: Besso, Cooper Gay France, Ed, Junge and PiiQ. The groups underwriting operations  Epsilon, Globe Underwriting and Cooper Gay France  provide specialist insurance products and services in the U.K., France and Australia. BGC Insurance Group is the insurance division of BGC Partners, a New York and London-based global financial brokerage and technology company.

Source: BGC Insurance Group

Related:

Topics Agencies Aviation Aerospace France
In which Hunter Harris attempts to exorcise the movie quotes haunting her brain. Adam Driver, biggest boy. Photo: Vulture and Netflix

Who knows why certain line readings stick in the brain. Maybe its a special alchemy of text and diction that reminds you of a thing you wish youd said that one time, or the way your own voice never seems to sound as right. So many bits of movie dialogue bounce around in my brain: Carrie Fisher saying married in When Harry Met Sally. Beanie Feldstein saying titular role in Lady Bird. Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw snatching a bag of weed from her boyfriends mom.

There is a line like this in Marriage Story that, at face value, is totally innocuous, but I cant get it out of my head. It crosses my mind as I ride the train, sneaks into my subconscious as I swallow a melatonin and drift off to sleep. Ill be walking down the street and start breaking out into hysterics because, my God, this line! By some stroke of fortune or the ire of a certain bog witch I upset in a previous life, there it plays, in a loop, in my mind: You shouldnt be upset that I fucked her, you should be upset that I had a laugh with her!!!1!!!1!1!!! You shouldnt be upset that I fucked her, you should be upset that I had a laugh with her. You? Shouldnt be upset that I fucked her. You? Should be upset that I had a laugh with her! YoU shOUldNT Be uPsET thAt i FuckEd HEr, yoU ShOUlD bE upSET thAt i hAd a LAUgH wiTh hEr!

And sometimes, in the key of Blac Chyna from her short-lived reality show with Rob Kardashian: Are you still having a laugh with her, yes or no?!

Its easy to dunk on this scene, presented out of context or in memes. But Marriage Story earns its boiling point: At this point, soon-to-be-exes Charlie (Adam Driver, big) and Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) have spent so much time talking around their problems  via their divorce lawyers or in half-seconds of privacy as they exchange custody of their son  that by the time they sit down and actually talk through them, it feels like a release and a reckoning all at once. They have fundamentally different ideas about what happened in their marriage. They have fundamentally different ideas about the people they were married to, ideas that dont neatly fit within categories of villain or victim. They start discussing why Nicole wants to leave their family home in New York for Los Angeles, the both of them veering into vicious digs, personal and professional. Charlie is too selfish to be a great director. Nicoles best acting is behind her.

Then it happens. Nicole plays her trump card: Shes divorcing Charlie because he fucked someone else. He did the bad thing; he cheated! This is a fight she can win!

And here is Charlies defense: You shouldnt be upset that I fucked her, he says. You should be upset that I had a laugh with her!

Let me be unambiguous: This is the funniest freaking thing Ive ever heard in my entire freaking life.

For all the quibbles I might have with Marriage Story  it needed more lawyers bickering, more Merritt Wever, less of that heinous Halloween shoe-tying  Noah Baumbach has a keen sense of humor: Why is there always a flirty grip? is such a specifically funny thing to say. (Ditto Nicoles drunken hookup with said flirty grip in his car: Just fingering. Im changing my whole fucking life! should be embroidered onto a blanket, like, yesterday.) When I first heard the Charlie line in question, in a darkened theater in Toronto, it took me out of the scene. It took me out of my body. I actually ascended to a higher level of existence called the Heaviside Layer. Charlies wife has just shamed him for breaking the most important bond of their marriage, and his response is: Sure, but its actually your priorities, in this moment, that are incorrect. Its not heartbreaking that I fucked a woman we worked with; its heartbreaking that I had a good time with a woman we worked with. Maybe before or after we fucked, who can be sure, really? Charlies wife has confronted him with how much his infidelity hurt her  and by extension, their marriage  and this adult mans response is: Stop focusing on the sex. Start focusing on the laughs!

Like I said  pure comedy! I love this line and its utter absurdity, the way he suggests that it, uh, matters more that he enjoyed himself, even superficially. He slept with another woman! I wish I could inject this line and all its hilarity into my veins. I wasnt sure how to do that, though, so I wrote it down on a scrap of paper from a bag of Dos Toros (sponsor me) and placed it upright on my desk.

Photo: Hunter Harris

This will do until I can print out this script excerpt and pin it to my desk:

Photo: Netflix

In just this one line, all of Charlies shortcomings are laid bare. One of which is the fact that he fucked some other woman with whom he had a laugh, and the other is that even now, when confronted with his own actions, he makes such a shallow, pretentious attempt at avoiding accountability. Its too illuminating to be just a throwaway line or an earnest distillation of Baumbachs own opinion regarding Charlies infidelity  this is Charlies opinion, not his directors. Hes the one who seems big and generous and humble at the outset: He doesnt have the big house, the lovable L.A. family, the fancy lawyer. But this is, really, what he thinks of this divorce: If he made mistakes in his marriage, maybe he was entitled to them. Whats more: Shouldnt his wife pity him for not making a few more? He was on the cover of Time Out New York!

Do you love her? Nicole asks. (The real problem with the scene is that she, while not accepting Charlies proclamation, drops it. If this script were written by me or any woman I know, Nicole wouldve rolled her eyes, murmured fuck off, and stomped out.) Obviously Charlie doesnt love her, because by now weve met the woman Charlie had an affair with, and she sucks. Shes simply interested and available and willing to spend a few hours in the library looking for obscure books to please him. Its boring.

But this line  I wish I could make a citizens arrest; it owns me now. Marriage Story has become the most fun movie to talk about because people love it or hate it for so many different reasons, in so many different ways. (We all love Parasite, we all love Little Women, our knives are out, our gems are cut, and no one wants to live in a world where Joker wins Best Picture.) Im mostly blase on Charlie and Nicole and their separation, but imagine opening your mouth, twisting your lips, and saying such a thing. Its nuts! You shouldnt be upset that I fucked her, you should be upset that I had a laugh with her! Its tragic. Its nuts. It is  and I mean this very sincerely  a laugh! Im laughing.
[January 07, 2020] Technology Firms Launching First ATSC 3.0 NEXTGEN TV Consumer Products for U.S. Market The first U.S. consumer television receivers equipped with NEXTGEN TV capabilities are coming to retail stores later this year, with the announcements at CES (News - Alert) 2020 from the biggest names in the TV industry launching 20 ATSC 3.0-enabled TV models. The introductions by LG Electronics, Samsung and Sony mirror the initial nationwide rollout of NEXTGEN TV service, powered by the ATSC 3.0 broadcasting standard, planned for more than 60 markets across the U.S. ATSC released a Guide to ATSC 3.0 at CES, which is available for download at ATSC.org and will be handed out to showgoers at ATSC's first-ever CES exhibit floor booth (#11329 in Central Hall). Leading participants in the booth include ATSC sponsors Pearl TV and the Phoenix Model Market, Sinclair Broadcast Group and ONE Media, Gaian Solutions, and Sony. ATSC 3.0, the FCC (News - Alert)-approved standard behind NEXTGEN TV, also will be spotlighted during an official CES session, "What NEXTGEN TV Means for Tech," at 9 a.m. Thursday, January 9 at the Venetian Convention Center (Marcello Room 4406, Level 4). Further illuminating the rollout of NEXTGEN TV throughout the U.S., this panel will include representatives from Pearl TV, Samsung, LG Electronics (News - Alert), NAB and ATSC. "Developed by hundreds of consumer technology and broadcasting experts across the globe, the ATSC 3.0 suite of standards has the capability to easily deliver 4K Ultra HDTV signals to give viewers access to more 4K content - along with a host of other features comprising NEXTGEN TV," said ATSC president Madeleine Noland. ATSC sponsors Pearl TV with the Phoenix Model Market, Sinclair Broadcast Group and ONE Media, Gaian Solutions, and Sony are offering examples of NEXTGEN TV technologies at the ATSC booth in Central Hall: Pearl TV and broadcasters who are part of the Phoenix Model Market are demonstrating the new NEXTGEN TV Application Framework that gives broadcasters and consumer device manufacturers a clear view of what's availble with NEXTGEN TV on each channel. Dolby is offering a demonstration of Voice Boost, which tests remarkably high with consumers in recent NEXTGEN TV research conducted in Phoenix by Magid. Broadcasters are planning the immediate availability of the technology to boost dialogue over background noise and normalize the audio levels with NEXTGEN TV. Research by Magid also shows strong appeal for the new technology.

and broadcasters who are part of the are demonstrating the new NEXTGEN TV Application Framework that gives broadcasters and consumer device manufacturers a clear view of what's availble with NEXTGEN TV on each channel. Dolby is offering a demonstration of Voice Boost, which tests remarkably high with consumers in recent NEXTGEN TV research conducted in Phoenix by Magid. Broadcasters are planning the immediate availability of the technology to boost dialogue over background noise and normalize the audio levels with NEXTGEN TV. Research by Magid also shows strong appeal for the new technology. For introduction in 2020, Sony will showcase its TVs designed with integrated NEXTGEN TV reception. Sony is among the manufacturers supporting the Phoenix Model Market project.

will showcase its TVs designed with integrated NEXTGEN TV reception. Sony is among the manufacturers supporting the Phoenix Model Market project. Sinclair Broadcast Group and ONE Media will enable live NEXTGEN TV demonstrations across the CES show floor with signals from KSNV-TV, the Sinclair NBC Las Vegas station which has switched its back-up transmission to ATSC 3.0. Using an LG OLED TV, Sinclair and ONE Media are demonstrating the first home over-the-air (OTA) and over-the-top (OTT) converged application to make switching effortless between broadcast and broadband-delivered channels. The live NEXTGEN TV broadcast will also provide live signals for other CES demonstrations.

and will enable live NEXTGEN TV demonstrations across the CES show floor with signals from KSNV-TV, the Sinclair NBC Las Vegas station which has switched its back-up transmission to ATSC 3.0. Using an LG OLED TV, Sinclair and ONE Media are demonstrating the first home over-the-air (OTA) and over-the-top (OTT) converged application to make switching effortless between broadcast and broadband-delivered channels. The live NEXTGEN TV broadcast will also provide live signals for other CES demonstrations. Gaian Solutions is showcasing the first ever "AI & Data Lake powered NEXTGEN TV Broadcast Platform as a service" that spans across broadcast control systems, full stack receiver solutions and cloud based microservices addressing business management functions, Ad-tech, data analytics, app designer tools and AI agents for rapid service curation and spectrum monetization. Gaian is showing its "3 in 1" service that enables broadcasters to immediately begin offering NEXTGEN TV services with low cost modular receivers and negligible capital investment by only utilizing the existing ATSC 1.0 infrastructure. "Viewers in South Korea have been enjoying 4K video and immersive audio delivered via ATSC 3.0 since 2017 and a number of U.S. broadcasters are already on-the-air with NEXTGEN TV. Many more channels in the U.S. are expected to sign on as the spectrum repack is completed and stations work cooperatively to launch this revolutionary new service while also preserving current digital TV broadcasts. With a focus on the Top 40 Nielsen markets and more than 20 additional cities, NEXTGEN TV is expected to reach more than 70 percent of the U.S. population over the next year," Noland explained. To take advantage of the growth in Internet-delivered content, ATSC 3.0 is the first broadcast standard built on an Internet Protocol backbone and it promises to deliver new choices through both over-the-air broadcasts and broadband connections. Consumers will be able to watch broadcast content with sharper images and crisp audio quality with additional, customizable audio features such as "voice boost" and consistent audio levels. And the ATSC 3.0 capabilities of NEXTGEN TV can be upgraded for future advanced interactivity and more comprehensive and detailed emergency messages. With NEXTGEN TV powered by ATSC 3.0, broadcasting gets better and better. "CES is just the beginning of NEXTGEN TV for the consumer technology industry. And I know we will be back next year with even more stations on the air offering a growing list of new NEXTGEN TV features and welcoming news of even more receivers to be introduced for viewers," Noland said. About ATSC: The Advanced Television Systems Committee is defining the future of television with the ATSC 3.0 next-generation broadcast standard. ATSC is an international, non-profit organization developing voluntary standards for digital television. ATSC's 130-plus member organizations represent the broadcast, broadcast equipment, motion picture, consumer electronics, computer, cable, satellite, and semiconductor industries. For more information visit www.atsc.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005306/en/

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WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Police say three teenagers have been arrested in the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old girl on a West Sacramento trail.

Officials say two boys are each facing possible charges of homicide, robbery and conspiracy. A girl is being held as a possible accessory to the crimes. Police say all three suspects are 16 years old.

West Sacramento police say officers found a teen girl with at least one gunshot wound Saturday and pronounced her dead at the scene.

The Sacramento Bee reports police say the shooting was possibly related to a marijuana transaction.
China's Ministry of on Tuesday banned all primary and junior high schools from using overseas textbooks.

If domestic textbooks can not meet their needs, high schools, vocational schools and Chinese-foreign-run schools are encouraged to use foreign textbooks that have been translated and published by Chinese publishing houses, the ministry said in a regulation cited by China Daily.

High schools, vocational colleges, and universities can use overseas textbooks in accordance with relevant state policies, the regulation added.

According to the state media, some schools in Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong Province have used overseas textbooks as a supplement to their English teaching.

Most of the local schools said that the new regulations will have little impact on their teaching as they had already made adjustments to their curriculum.

The regulation also said that authorities should revise the textbooks when they contain disputable topics.

The authorities should carry out checks on the political correctness of textbooks, and focus on reviewing the books' political direction and values, it said.

"The political standpoint, orientation and standards should be organically integrated into the content of the textbook," it added.

If an article in the textbook is negative and if the author's historical evaluation or social image is negative, or if there is a major dispute, the article must be replaced, according to the regulation.

Textbook writers and editors, whose political positions, values and morality are negative or controversial, must be replaced, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: Amid the ongoing protests in several parts of India against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (January 7) asserted that the agitation over the CAA and the National Population Register (NPR) will continue as long as it is needed in the country.

Addressing an anti-CAA rally Pathar Pratima, South 24 Parganas, the West Bengal CM told the people that if anyone comes and asks you for your details then you should not give any details to anyone.

Mamata reiterated that her government will not implement the CAA, NPR and NRC in state. "If anyone comes to snatch your right then they will have to go over my dead body," she said.

"We will not allow anyone to take away our democratic rights to be citizens. We will not NRC here, we will not allow NPR. We will not let anyone divide Bengal, fuel riots and create lawlessness," added Mamata.

The West Bengal chief minister also attacked the Centre for giving funds to Uttar Pradesh government for organising the Kumbh Mela but refusing to provide any help to West Bengal government for Gangasagar.

Earlier, Mamata had said that the protest against the CAA and the NRC will continue in democratic way and she will urge the people to keep protesting against the new legislation.
Army of locusts from Pakistan continues to be a headache for the farmers of the western border states. Earlier in December, it was Gujarat where the Ministers used 'thalis' to drove them away, however, this time ultra hi-tech drones are being used. To combat the menace, India is using drones to fight the sea of grasshoppers which have landed on standing crops spread over millions of acres in Rajasthan and destroying them.

'They are very dangerous'

"They (grasshoppers) are very dangerous... And have entered from Pakistan. We have sought help from American experts to deal with the locusts army destroying our crops at a large scale," said Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers'' Welfare.

For the last 10 days, Choudhary said, the grasshoppers are eating into crops in Barmer, Jalore, Jaisalmer and adjoining districts near the Indo-Pakistan border falling under the state of Rajasthan.

"What disappoints me is the fact that even in this moment of crisis, the Rajasthan government is not cooperating. Thousands of farmers, worried about the severe damage to their crops, seem to be in distress, but Rajasthan government is not bothered," Choudhary said, adding, "In Gujarat, we faced the same tiddis (grasshoppers) but due to proactive support of the state government, the Centre crushed them and saved the livelihood of innumerable farmers."

READ | Pakistan: Locust attacks on crops to be more severe in coming two-three years

READ | Survey to be conducted to assess loss due to locust attack: Ashok Gehlot

'We have now consulted American experts'

Choudhary, who comes from Barmer, has instructed officials to tackle the menace of grasshoppers which by the time emerged on the large strips of cultivated land. "Initially we used two hi-tech Japanese drones to spray pesticides over standing crops. We have now consulted American experts and would soon find a permanent solution to the problem," said Choudhary, one of the youngest ministers in the Union council. On being asked how he got the idea of deploying drones to fight the grasshoppers, the minister said that he came to know that Gujarat government had earlier used such air machines to tackle swarms of locusts.

The locust invasion in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan since December has resulted in an estimated loss of Rs 5 crore so far, according to media reports. Most of the damage has been done to the crops of mustard, castor, cumin and wheat in the two states. This is said to be the biggest locust attack in Gujarat and Rajasthan since 1993-94.

READ | Locust invasion: Centre sends 11 teams to Gujarat, BJP leaders use 'thali' to help farmers

READ | Need Centre's support for locust control in western Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot

(With agency inputs)
TOWN OF WATERFORD  Following months of acrimony between the Town of Waterford and the Village of Waterford, the town filed a petition in Racine County Circuit Court on Friday to incorporate as the Village of Tichigan.

The most populated area of the town is called Tichigan and a large part of the town surrounds Tichigan Lake.

The town began circulating a petition for incorporation in July, and quickly surpassed the required 50 resident signatures needed to file the petition.

The petitioners are looking to incorporate the entire area that currently makes up the Town of Waterford: bordered to the north by Waukesha County, to the east by the Town of Norway, to the west by Walworth County and to the south by the villages of Rochester and Waterford.

In addition to Tichigan, other populated areas of in the town include Caldwell and Waterford Woods.

Town Chairman Tom Hincz is listed as the designated representative for the petition. He explained that the move toward incorporation is in an effort permanently protect the towns boundaries.

Its pretty simple, Hincz said. The village (of Waterford) has attempted to take over the towns property and annex it.

The incorporation process can be lengthy. Following a hearing, if the court does not dismiss the petition, the court would forward the petition to the state Incorporation Review Board, which would submit its findings back to the court. After that, the court would either dismiss the petition or grant it and order an incorporation referendum in which residents would vote on whether to incorporate.

State statutes say areas seeking incorporation must be reasonably homogenous and compact and have an average of more than 30 housing units per quarter section, or 160 acres. The petition claims that the town meets these requirements.

Boundary agreements

Hincz said that the town is expecting to enter into boundary agreements with all the municipalities bordering it (the Town of Vernon, Village of Mukwonago, Town of East Troy, Town of Norway and Rochester), with the Village of Waterford being the exception.

A possible boundary agreement between the town and village has been a topic of discussion by the boards governing both entities, but so far thats all it has been.

The Village of Waterford has not made any effort to follow up on that, Hincz said.

Those at the village say that is untrue.

From our perspective, we dont understand why the town will not or has not met with us regarding a boundary agreement, said Waterford Village Administrator Zeke Jackson. Weve extended a number of opportunities to meet. They dont seem to want to meet. Were confused by it.

Regarding the petition, Jackson said that the village is looking forward to working with the town in accordance with state statute.

The village will have the option to object to incorporation, but Jackson said the decision whether to do so would be made by the Village Board.

They can do whatever they want, said Village Board President Don Houston.

Houston added that the village is still willing to meet with the town to work out an agreement.

The balls in their court, whenever they want to meet, Houston said.

However, he added that the village took it as an indication that the town was not interested in further negotiation when town supervisors shot down a motion on Sept. 18 to continue talks around a fire and EMS contract, police contract and boundary agreement with the village.

In August the town voted to cancel its fire and emergency medical services contract with the village, amid tension between the two entities. That contract allowed the Waterford Fire Department to serve the southern half of the town. The Tichigan Fire Company now protects the entire town.

Hincz said when comparing the taxes in the Town of Waterford versus the village, Why would we want to be annexed into the village?

Recent incorporations by towns to become villages, which affords the local government more powers under state statutes, include Yorkville and Raymond in Racine County and Somers, Bristol and Salem Lakes in Kenosha County.

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Houston and St Louis, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RadioMedix Inc. and its commercial partner Curium announced today that the New Drug Application for copper Cu 64 dotatate injection was filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Copper Cu 64 dotatate injection is a PET diagnostic agent intended for somatostatin receptor (SSTR) expressing neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The FDA previously granted Fast Track designation to copper Cu 64 dotatate injection. "If approved, we expect that copper Cu 64 dotatate injection will be the first FDA approved Cu 64 labeled radiopharmaceutical for PET/CT imaging. In addition, this drug will provide an exciting new imaging agent for NET physicians, patients and caregivers," said Ebrahim Delpassand, MD, CEO of RadioMedix. "Copper Cu 64 dotatate injection will be the first neuroendocrine PET diagnostic agent available to all medical centers with PET capability across the country. This will alleviate the scheduling and supply challenges many geographies have experienced with other somatostatin analogue PET agents. We are currently pursuing a Priority Review with the FDA to expedite commercial availability." "If approved, the clinical utility of this new agent will allow Curium to enhance patient care in the U.S. by bringing the accuracy of PET SSTR to all hospitals and imaging centers," said Curium CEO, North America, Dan Brague. "Our ability to manufacture copper Cu 64 dotatate injection at a central location and distribute quantities to meet the needs of hospitals and imaging centers demonstrates our continued focus on patients with neuroendocrine tumors. We are excited to be bringing Cu 64, an exciting new isotope for PET imaging, to the market. We look forward to exploring additional applications that can help patients and physicians." About RadioMedix RadioMedix, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company, based in Houston, Texas, focused on innovative targeted radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy of cancer. The company is commercializing radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging and therapeutic (alpha and beta-labeled) radiopharmaceuticals. RadioMedix has also established contract service facilities for academic and industrial partners: Full cGMP manufacturing and analytical suites for human clinical trials, and commercial phase manufacturing of the radiopharmaceuticals, in addition to small animal Molecular Imaging Center for the pre-clinical evaluation of new targets in vitro and in vivo. To learn more, visit www.radiomedix.com. For more information about this press release, please contact: media@radiomedix.com About Curium Curium is a world-class nuclear medicine solutions provider with more than a century of industry experience. Curium is the largest vertically integrated radiopharmaceutical product manufacturer in the industry. With manufacturing facilities across Europe and the United States, Curium supports over 14 million patients around the world with SPECT, PET, and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. The Curium brand name is inspired by the work of radiation researchers Marie and Pierre Curie and emphasizes a focus on nuclear medicine. To learn more, visit curiumpharma.com. For more information about this press release, please contact Janet Ryan media contact for Curium: janet@ryan-pr.com. About Neuroendocrine Tumors Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of rare neoplasms that originate from neuroendocrine cells. These neoplasms occur mostly in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas, but can also occur in other tissues including thymus, lung, and other uncommon sites such as cervix, heart and prostate. Most NETs strongly express somatostatin receptors (SSTRs).

Attachments
Indian trade unions do not have the practice of knowing the views of members of unions before going on strike by conducting secret ballot.





by N.S.Venkataraman





The constituents of united platform of trade unions namely AITUC , HMS, CITU , AIUTUC , SEWA , AICCTU , LPF , UTUC and a few others have decided to go on All India strike on 8th January 2020 against the decision of Government of India to prepare labour code and a few other issues. The unions have said that the strike would take place in a massive way with the active support of the various sections of working class. However, another trade union namely BMS has said that it would not be participating in the All India strike, as the motive of the strike is political.













This strike would be one more of the several number of All India strikes that have taken place in the past few years on regular basis. These strikes have caused near paralysis of public life and government functioning and loss of several crores of rupees to the country in several ways.





The trade unions do not seem to be concerned about the national loss and sufferings of the common man because of these frequent strike. It appears that the striking has become a habit for trade unions in India and they seem to think that striking is the be all and end all trade union movement .





Strikes are organized so frequently that the public have taken strike calls as matter of routine and do not even care to know the reasons for the strike. Even several striking employees do not understand the cause for the strike, as they are not consulted by the trade union leadership and their views are not considered. Members of the trade unions simply follow the dictates of the leadership and abstain from work. Many of them relax in their homes or attend their personal work or go on holidays in these strike days.





Indian trade unions do not have the practice of knowing the views of members of unions before going on strike by conducting secret ballot.





It is unfortunate that the trade union activity in India has become political activity, as most of the trade unions are now under the vice like grip of political parties. Political parties use the trade unions for meeting their political ends. It is sad that trade unions have lost the sense of direction and now have become hand maids of politicians.
Generational Equity Advises T3 Computer Services in Sale to Total Network Consulting

Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, T3 Computer Services to Total Network Consulting. The acquisition closed December 9, 2019 and details were not disclosed.

Located in Concord, NC, T3 Computer Services (T3) provides Information Technology services to small and medium sized businesses throughout the greater Charlotte, North Carolina area. T3 provides comprehensive design, installation and support services and is the go-to source for many single and multi-location businesses in its operating region.

Total Network Consulting, headquartered in Norcross, GA, with additional offices throughout the Southeast, delivers tailored technology solutions from conception, design, consulting, deployment, management, and support of complex communication issues. The Company is a "total network" service provider offering value driven design, project management, installation and customer support for the implementation of commercial and high-end residential networks.

Generational Equity Executive Managing Director of M&A - Eastern Region, David Fergusson'steam, led by Sr. Managing Director Southeastern Region, Julie Sandoval and supported by Vice President Mergers & Acquisitions, Alex Mironov successfully closed the deal. Senior Managing Director, Rick Buchoz established the initial relationship with T3 Computer Services.







"Both the sellers and buyer were driven to get the deal done," said Sandoval. "It was a privilege and honor to work with them on this transaction."

About Generational Equity

Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America.

With over 250 professionals located throughout North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. Their five-step approach features exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A transactional services, and wealth management.

The M&A Advisor named the company the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Investment Banking Firm of the Year. For more information, visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005038/en/
Students at one of Indias top universities say they have been beaten for protesting against a controversial new citizenship law.

Students at one of Indias top universities say they have been beaten and abused for voicing concern against a new controversial citizenship law.

The group says rival students linked to the governments ruling Bharatiya Janata Party are behind the attacks.

Al Jazeeras Anchal Vohra reports.
Appointment

7 January 2020

Four Seasons Resort Nevis, the award-winning Resort consistently ranked by travellers and travel experts as one of the top resorts in the Caribbean, has named Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Regional Vice President Yvette Thomas-Henry as its newest General Manager, effective January 2, 2020. Born in St. Thomas, USVI and raised in St. Croix, Thomas-Henry is returning home to the region, becoming the first Caribbean native to serve in the top position in Nevis or any other Four Seasons property in the Caribbean. In addition to her role in Nevis overseeing a property that recently completed a multi-year, multi-million dollar enhancement project, Thomas-Henry is also responsible for the operational oversight of several properties, including two Caribbean resorts.

Prior to joining Four Seasons Resort Nevis, Thomas-Henry most recently served as General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta since 2015, during which time she received a promotion to Regional Vice President of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in 2018. As a part of the Four Seasons family since 2007, Thomas-Henry has also held leadership positions at Four Seasons Hotel New York and Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC, as well as hospitality experience with Loews Hotels, The Plaza Hotel, The Waldorf-Astoria NYC and The Ritz Carlton Boston.

Encouraged by her mother - who was born and raised on Nevis' sister island of St. Kitts, where Thomas-Henry also attended primary school - she always strived to be the best at whatever she did. After earning her Bachelor of Arts from Pace University, Thomas-Henry went on to receive a Master of Science from Audrey Cohen College in New York. Throughout her career, Thomas-Henry has developed a sharp eye for detail, a dedication to giving back to the community and a focus on women in leadership. During her tenure in Atlanta, the Hotel has continued to thrive as the only AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Five-Star hotel in the city - an accolade it has held since opening in 1997.
Amid the outrage over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which sparked violent protests in several places across the nation followed by a section of Bollywood supporting the Anti-CAA protests, several groups of academicians, filmmakers, actors and artists from West Bengal have written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi extending their support to CAA.

READ | Illegal Immigrants Can't Be Allowed To Protest CAA, They Will Have To Leave: Tiwari

'CAA - A final settlement of excruciating episode'

"We the people of West Bengal express our sincerest gratitude and unreserved admiration from the deepest core of our heart to you for enacting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and for finally settling this excruciating episode, which has been tormenting and afflicting the Bengali psyche and soul for the last seventy years, since the time of partition," reads the letter, a copy of which was accessed by ANI.

READ | BJP Plans More Interactions Like The One With Bollywood Celebrities On CAA

Nine signatories -- Anjana Basu, Prof Debashish Chowdhury, Arindam Chakraborty, Advocate Joydip Sen, Supriyo Bandyopadhyay, Anindya Pulak Banerjee, Milan Bhowmik, Sanjay Som, and Rantidev Sengupta have confirmed to ANI that they have signed the letter along with others addressed to the Prime Minister, extending support to CAA.

READ | UMAC To Hold Silent Protest Against CAA & NRC In Hyderabad On January 30

"History bears witness to the fact that partition has caused more pain and penury to the Bengali people than any other. A few far-sighted Bengali leaders and thought-leaders in the past had foreseen the calamitous consequences of partition. Their wholehearted efforts resulted in the creation of West Bengal. The long list of these sagacious personalities includes Sir Jadunath Sarkar, historian RC Majumdar, Prof Suniti Kumar Chattopadhyay, Dr Meghnad Saha and last but not the least, Dr Syama Prasad Mukhopadhyay," the letter adds.

"This painful episode of our history of partition and its continuing suffering in aftermath of partition, especially on the Bengal front would have remained suppressed and the victims neglected and marginalized through relentless propaganda of the combined opposition, had it not for this humane and historic step of yours, making this a watershed moment of our history," the letter states.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, 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.

READ | NESO, AASU Demand Scrapping Of CAA; Vow To Continue Non-violent Agitation
Global rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) has said that the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani by the US and the ongoing fallout have rapidly escalated event risk in the Gulf region and the development does not alter the rating base-case assumption that any military action by either side will not lead to a fully-fledged direct military confrontation.

Tensions soared in the Gulf region after Soleimani, the 62-year-old head of Iran's elite al-Quds force, was killed in a US drone strike outside Baghdad airport on Friday.

While Iran vowed "severe revenge" for Soleimani's death, US President Donald Trump said there would be "major" retaliation if Tehran hits back.

"For now, this development does not alter our base-case assumption that any military action by either side will not lead to a fully-fledged direct military confrontation," the S&P said in a statement.

"We continue to believe that any escalation will remain contained given that a direct conflict would be economically, socially, and politically destabilising for the entire region, including US-Gulf allies," it said.

The rating agency said a potential intensification of proxy conflicts will further undermine confidence and investment in the region.

"Our ratings on Gulf sovereigns already take into account a certain level of regional geopolitical volatility," it said.

According to S&P, if a protracted and wider conflict emerges, assuming export routes remain functional, the fiscal benefit of potentially higher oil prices for Gulf sovereigns will likely be offset by the adverse effect on capital outflows and weaker economic growth.

"In such a scenario Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia would likely be better cushioned by their large stocks of deployable government external assets. On a flow basis, we view Bahrain and Qatar as more vulnerable to outflows given their high external financing needs, relating to their respective banking sectors," it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Sonam Kapoor penned an emotional post after the violence on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday night. She took to Instagram to write a candid note on how she saw the world.

She wrote: Very rarely do I get into politics on social media because my first thought is who really cares what I think? Am I equipped to give an opinion on a public platform about things that I may barely understand? But now I have to say that I know our generation and when we look back Im afraid we may be remembered for things we didnt stand for. I know this is not who we are. This is not what we believe. So then I guess for those afraid to speak up fearing they may make a mistake, this is the only way to use your voice. To say, I dont know everything and there may be things that i do not understand. But I know this isnt right. For everyone who feels pressure to pick a side dont. Say what you feel. Most good people I know react to sincerity with understanding and empathy. Be sincere, use your voice and tell the truth. Whats happening in our country seems alien and unrecognisable. Im not sure how we got here. Its always been a hidden truth that you may be punished if your opinions are too loud or unpopular. But now its there to see. And that scares the shit out of me. My thoughts are with the students at JNU you are so much braver than I could ever be.

On Sunday night, a group of masked men barged into the university campus and beat up students and teachers, reportedly in the presence of police. The violence has provoked sharp and concerned reaction from many prominent names across Bollywood and political class. Many celebrities including filmmakers Anurag Kashyap, Swara Bhasker, Sudhir Mishra, Vishal Bhardwaj, Rekha Bhardwaj, Anubhav Sinha, Dia Mirza, Rahul Dholakia, Ali Fazal, Neeraj Ghaywan, Reema Kagti, Hansal Mehta, Vikramaditya Motwane, Saurabh Shukla, Rajkumar Gupta, Zoya Akhtar, Taapsee Pannu and Richa Chadha, to name a few, have forcefully voiced their concern over the attack on students.

Also read: Taapsee Pannu, Dia Mirza turn emotional as they join protest against JNU violence, Anurag Kashyap says We arent fools, we are watching

Many of the above mentioned personalities turned up at Carter Road, Mumbai for a peaceful protest against the violence at the JNU on Monday. Anubhav Sinha was quoted by PTI as saying: We are with the students of all the three universities (Aligarh, Jamia and JNU) who were attacked. We want to tell them, we are with them and we will stand for them every time.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
The killing of top Iranian military official, Qassem Soleimani, targeted by US drones last Friday near the Iraqi capital Baghdad, resulted in a massive outpouring of grief and indignation in Iran. According to Foad Izadi, a political scientist at Tehran University, the American attack will backfire badly.

Soleimani has united the country. He has basically done more in his death than what he has done during his life, says Izadi. His lifetime goal was to reduce the power of the US in the Middle East, and to lessen the hegemony of the Americans."

Izadi points to the vote in favour of expelling US troops in the Iraqi parliament last Sunday. This was one of his goals. He achieved this goal now to a greater extent than when he was alive.

According to the political scientist, the Soleimani attack backfired badly, and created side effects Washington may not have calculated before. A lot of young people in Iraq did not experience the time under the Shah, they had not seen American imperialism first hand in Iran.

Soleimani's death woke up this new generation and has taught them a lesson on what the US is all about."

A stampede at the funeral for Soleimani killed 40 people and injured more than 200 on Tuesday in the southeastern city of Kerman, state television reported.

Meanwhile the Mehr news agency, an Iranian news outlet owned by the Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organisation, quoted Iran's Supreme National Security Council Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani as saying that Iran has planned 13 scenarios of revenge.

Thirteen scenarios of revenge

What kind of revenge is possibly being planned?

It could be the killing of American soldiers, Izadi says bluntly, but other scenarios are less obvious. What the Iranian government is trying to do is to exert maximum damage on the US."

Meanwhile, European countries have been criticised by Trump for failing to support America. Tehran, meanwhile, says Europe is following US policy too closely. How does the killing of Qassem Sulaimani affect the relationship between Tehran and the EU?

Tehran is disappointed, says Izadi. Because what Trump has done was illegal under international law.

Europeans often talk about supporting international law, but when it comes to practice, they fall short.

When Trump threatens to attack Iranian cultural sites, there is silence from countries that say they want to protect world heritage sites.

So there is a double standard, there is hypocrisy when it comes to Europe. And given the inaction of Europe, this silence is changing the opinion many people have on Europe."

Spying charges dropped against French academic

On Tuesday, Iran dropped spy charges against French academic Fariba Adelkhah. Is this a beginning of a thaw between the EU and Iran in spite of the current tensions?

I don't connect these two things, says Izadi.

Iran has a judicial process, It was time for that decision, and they made it. I don't think there is a connection with other things that are going on."

On Monday, a letter, attributed to, but not signed by, US Marine Corps Brigadier General William H. Seely III, stated that the Combined Joint Task Force will reposition forces over the course of the coming days.

The letter, addressed to Iraqi Ministry of Defense, says the US will respect your sovereign decision to order our departure.

Hours later, top US military chief, General Mark Milley told reporters that the letter itself was a draft and its release was an "honest mistake".

Either they leave under peaceful terms, or they are being kicked out, says Izadi.

In Iran we had to kick them out in 1979, as a result of the revolution. Iraq asks that their sovereignty be respected. They are a member of the UN, and the parliament and the Prime Minister ask the foreign forces to leave, so they need to leave, he says.
Sydney Festival director Wesley Enoch has unloaded on legendary French actress Isabelle Adjani and the producers of Opening Night who cancelled their show due to fears about how Sydney's bushfire smoke might affect cast members.

A furious Enoch said he felt abandoned and was "incredibly disappointed" about the cancellation, which Adjani's team says was necessary to avoid "endangering her life".

Isabelle Adjani won't be coming to Sydney because of bushfire fears. Credit:Getty Images

"I've been told not to swear about this," Enoch said. "It's very demoralising for us who are already living through this. Im very ... angry and I'm upset.

"The signal it gives to the people of Sydney is that this company of artists don't care about us, that they care more about themselves and their fears. I'm not at all sympathetic to their issue."
Mourners gather to pay their respects to the slain Gen. Qassem Soleimani who was killed in a U.S. airstrike, in Kerman, Iran on Tuesday.
SANTA ROSA (BCN)

Sonoma County sheriff's officials have released the name of a man who died Friday after a metal conveyor system he was dismantling collapsed on him.

Adolfo Sanchez, 31, of Fairfield, died at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, according to Frank Polizzi, a spokesman for the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA.

Sanchez, an employee of Lind Marine, a regional dredging company, was welding on top of a silo near the D Street Bridge in Petaluma when the conveyor system collapsed and trapped him, Polizzi said.

Bystanders said they saw a large metal tower collapse and heard Sanchez screaming for help, Petaluma Fire Department Battalion Chief Chad Costa said.

Firefighters responded around noon and used a 35-foot ladder to reach Sanchez. Crews lifted the structure to free Sanchez and he was airlifted to the hospital, Costa said.

Polizzi said the investigation into possible safety and training violations would take about six months.

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.
Burma Blocking Access to Spending Report May Violate Myanmar Graft Law, Watchdog Warns Yangon Govt

Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein (standing) and members of his government appear at a press conference in June 2019. / The Irrawaddy

YANGONAn independent watchdog monitoring the Yangon governments performance has warned that the regional administrations ban on distributing the auditor-generals report to lawmakers for parliamentary debate could lead to violations of the countrys anti-corruption law.

In June last year, the Yangon regional government intervened to limit distribution of the Yangon Auditor-Generals report on its spending in fiscal 2017-18. The Yangon government chief minister and the regional parliament speaker assigned the parliaments Public Accounts Committee to review the report, rather than delivering copies to every lawmaker for their prior review, as was the case in previous years. The committee will have to report its findings back to the parliament. But a majority of the lawmakers were left wondering whether the committees review would thoroughly cover irregularities in government spending.

As the current Yangon government took office in 2016, the auditor-generals report for fiscal 2017-18 will be an assessment of the two-year-old U Phyo Min Thein administrations management of public funds.

Annually, the office prepares the report and submits its findings to the Yangon parliament as dictated by the Union Auditor-General Law. It is also customary to send copies of the report to each regional lawmaker in advance so they can study it before joining parliamentary debates on the governments spending.

Normally, the Yangon parliament discusses the annual report on the governments expenditure in October. However, with the government having blocked the reports circulation in June, the governments spending for fiscal 2017-18 has yet to be discussed by lawmakers.

The Public Accounts Committee said the 2017-18 audit report was blocked in order to bring the regional parliaments procedures in line with those of the Union Lower House, which does not allow prior review by lawmakers of audit reports. But there has been speculation that the restriction reflects the governments desire to avoid a repeat of regional lawmakers fiery debate over irregularities in government spending found in the fiscal 2016-17 report.

Based on the contents of the report, lawmakers in the Yangon parliament in 2018 raised questions about the loss of US$2.3 million (3.5 billion kyats) of public funds spent on the city bus service, and the regional governments borrowing of 13.5 billion kyats from two private banks for school buses without the parliaments knowledge. To the governments embarrassment, a lawmaker even said the Yangon government had abused its power by investing 10 billion kyats in a controversial new city project without the parliaments approval.

In its statement released on Monday, Yangon Watch warned that any failure to follow procedures by misusing ones power to favor someone elses interests fits the definition of corruption, citing Article 3(a) of the Anti-Corruption Law.

Daw Nyo Nyo Thin, the founder of Yangon Watch, told the media on Monday: Someone, or a group of people, could get a chance to fix or cover up their wrongdoing during the period in which the report was not released for everyone to access.

The law states that anyone with a political position found guilty of corruption faces a maximum of 15 years imprisonment.

The Yangon Watch leader added that the 2017-18 report would contain some interesting findings on government spending on controversial projects like the public bus service or the Yangon New City development.

In 2018, Daw Nyo Nyo Thin  who had earlier served as a regional lawmaker under the previous government  complained to the countrys Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) about the Yangon governments mismanagement of public funds, calling for an investigation into losses revealed by the audit of the regions fiscal 2016-17 budget.

Responding to the complaint, the commission said in October 2018 that there was no need for it to investigate the losses because the government and auditor general were still working through the procedures that must follow the release of any audit report. It pointed out that the incidents listed in the complaint predated Article 3(a) (2) of the Anti-Corruption Law, which the complaint cited but which only took effect in July of that year when the law was amended.

Asked if she would file a complaint with the ACC this time, Daw Nyo Nyo Thin told The Irrawaddy that she would wait to see how the issue unfolds in the Yangon parliament, which will resume on Wednesday after a long recess.

If there is no progress in the parliament, she said, Yangon Watch would file a complaint, including evidence, with Myanmar President U Win Myint, who has made the fight against corruption one of his top priorities.

If there is no response, we will go ahead with the ACC, she said.

U Khine Win, the executive director of the Sandhi Governance Institute in Yangon, said the restriction on access to the auditor-generals report didnt make sense, pointing out that not even the previous quasi-military government had imposed such a measure, referring to the administration of former general U Thein Sein, which was in power prior to the current National League for Democracy government.

It should be more open now under the NLD government, which takes budget transparency seriously. If you keep the report secret, people will be more suspicious [of the governments intention and the reports content], he said.

Daw Nyo Nyo Thin said it would be satisfactory to her if the full report were made available to the lawmakers and the public during the upcoming session of parliament.

If it really happens, there is no need for us to go ahead and we will let it go. What really annoys us is the abuse of power to block the peoples constitutional right to know.

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Some of Canadas 500 military personnel based in Iraq will be temporarily moved to Kuwait for safety reasons, the countrys top military official said on Tuesday, due to fears of possible retaliation there after a U.S. drone strike on Irans top military commander, Trend reports citing Reuters.

General Jonathan Vance, chief of the defense staff, said in a letter to military families that the news coming out of the Middle East is alarming for many of you.

Some of our people will be moved temporarily from Iraq to Kuwait, he added. Simply put, we are doing this to ensure their safety and security.

Some of the Canadian troops are taking part in a NATO mission while others are running Operation Impact, a Canadian initiative to train soldiers in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Kuwait. In all some 800 Canadian troops are in the Middle East.

Earlier in the day, NATO said it was moving some of its trainers out of Iraq, without giving details.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday and the two men emphasized the importance of de-escalating tensions and the need to support security and stability in Iraq, Trudeaus office said in a statement.
FDA officials approved a record number of rare disease treatments in 2018. One groundbreaking medicine treats an inherited bone condition that causes intense pain and immobility. Another treats Fabry disease, a genetic condition that can lead to kidney failure or stroke.

Breakthroughs like these offer hope to 30 million Americans living with rare diseases. But theres still a long way to go. Scientists estimate there are 7,000 rare diseases, each of which afflicts fewer than 200,000 people. The majority of these ailments  95 percent  lack a single approved treatment.

Unfortunately, one prominent healthcare nonprofit could undermine research into rare diseases.

The group, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), analyzes the cost-effectiveness of many new FDA-approved drugs, including treatments for rare diseases. Because it relies on flawed assumptions, ICER mostly concludes that rare disease treatments arent worth the price.

ICER hopes that health insurers will use its findings to decide which medicines to cover. If the groups message  rare disease treatments arent worth it  wins the day, drug companies may well stop researching and developing rare disease treatments. And millions of Americans would lose access to life-changing therapies.

ICER analyzes drugs cost-effectiveness using a metric called a quality adjusted life year. A QALY quantifies the cost of providing a patient with 12 additional months of perfect health.

Imagine a healthy woman has an incurable  but dormant  genetic disease that will kill her almost instantly once its activated. If a treatment could delay activation by one year and it costs $30,000, then ICER would say the treatment costs $30,000 per QALY.

This metric effectively discriminates against the elderly, persons with chronic conditions and other sicknesses, and people living with disabilities. ICERs position is that these individuals arent in perfect health to begin with. So, the group doesnt count an additional 12 months of life expectancy as a full QALY.

For example, our hypothetical treatment for a genetic disease might still extend a 90-year-old infirm patients life by one year, but ICER might count the gain as only 0.5 QALY, due to the perceived lower quality of his/her life. As a result, that same $30,000 treatment would cost $60,000 on a QALY-adjusted basis  potentially blocking access and affordability for patients.

Rare disease drugs are expensive for a reason. It can take over a decade and $2.6 billion to bring a new medicine to patients. Few experimental compounds even make it out of the lab.

Pharmaceutical companies have to charge enough to earn back their development costs. For common conditions that afflict millions of patients, companies might only need to charge a few dollars per pill to recoup their development costs.

By contrast, rare diseases affect just 200,000 people at most. So companies need to generate far more revenue per patient just to break even. Rare disease treatments also tend to be fragile, large-molecule drugs that require numerous manufacturing, shipping, and storage precautions  further inflating costs.

ICER largely disregards these differences. The group evaluates rare disease drugs using roughly the same cost-effectiveness thresholds it uses for traditional, mass market medicines. Given this rigged scale, its no wonder that rare disease treatments score poorly.

Scientists are developing more than 560 medicines to treat rare diseases. That research will likely come to a halt  causing patients to lose access to lifesaving drugs  if insurers fail to recognize the faults in ICERs reasoning.

Randall Rutta, the former president and CEO of Easterseals, is board chairman of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (https://www.fightchronicdisease.org).
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Monique Baugh, 28, was shot three times in an alley in Minneapolis on New Year's Eve

A 'vicious' gangster has been charged with the abduction and murder of a rapper's girlfriend who was shot three times in an alley on New Year's Eve.

Cedric Lamont Berry, 41, was charged with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder and kidnapping after Monique Baugh, 28, was found 'gravely injured' from gunshot wounds in an alley in Minneapolis on December 31.

Berry, who has previous convictions for drug dealing and possession, was said to have bound her hands before shooting her in the face and torso at close range, Fox News reported.

He was also charged with the attempted murder of the real estate agent's boyfriend, a Minnesota rapper known as Momoh, earlier in the same day.

Police said Berry had entered Baugh's home wearing a black mask and shot at Momoh while the musician was with his two daughters, aged one and three, at around 5.30pm on New Year's Eve.

The rapper, who recently released a song featuring the late Nipsey Hussle, was allegedly shot multiple times before Berry fled the home. Momoh then called police and is expected to recover from his injuries.

Around an hour later, three gun shots were reported four miles away near 1300 block of Russell Avenue North. Officers then arrived and found Baugh 'gravely injured' from three gunshot wounds in the alley.

Cedric Lamont Berry (left) was charged with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder and kidnapping after the attack

He was also charged with the attempted murder of the real estate agent's boyfriend, a Minnesota rapper known as Momoh (left), earlier in the day

Baugh, who worked as a real estate agent for Kris Lindahl Real Estate, was rushed to North Memorial Medical Center where she later died.

Authorities were said to have found .45-caliber Federal brand discharged cartridge casings at the scene of both attacks.

'I cannot begin to describe how vicious the behavior was in this case', County Attorney Mike Freeman said.

'We have charged Mr. Berry with setting a trap for Ms. Baugh, assassinating her at close range and shooting at her boyfriend while in [a] house with two small children. We are seeking high bail and will do all in our power to prove him guilty'.

Berry had allegedly lured Baugh to a house viewing in Maple Grove before reportedly forcing her into a rented U-Haul truck, MPR News reported.

CCTV footage is said to show the mother-of-two arrive at the home at around 3pm, not long before a U-Haul truck parks near the garage of the property.

The rapper, who recently released a song featuring the late Nipsey Hussle, was allegedly shot multiple times before Berry fled the home (Pictured: Police at the scene)

Footage is then said to show a person appearing to force another into the back of the van before departing the property. A van with the same licence plate number was seen on CCTV at the scene of both attacks, police said.

Momoh, who released his song featuring the late Nipsey Hussle 'Westside' last year, had recently signed a recording contract and police said he had been 'flaunting cash on social media'.

A clip posted to his Instagram shows dozens of $100 notes inside a tumble dryer. In the caption, he wrote: 'I can show u how to clean that dirty money'.

Hussle was killed after a shooting near a clothing store he owned in Los Angeles in March.



Momoh, who released his song featuring the late Nipsey Hussle (pictured) 'Westside' last year, had recently signed a recording contract

Berry was arrested at around midnight on January 2. Police found a black mask and 13 bags of suspected heroin inside his car.

His bail was set at $2 million, which police said was due to his 'extensive criminal history and the danger he poses to public safety'.

Berry had previously been sentenced to five years in jail in 2001 after a passenger in his vehicle shot and killed a rival gang member.

He also has previous convictions for drug dealing, drug possession, aggravated robbery, illegal weapons possession and fleeing police.

Berry is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
A gunfight between sea pirates and some Nigerian Navy personnel on Thursday January 2, allegedly left 4 of the security operatives who were part of a six-man Naval rescue squad dead.

It was reported that four Naval ratings were allegedly killed in the attack which occurred within the jurisdiction of NNS Delta, an operations base in Warri which is one of the seven units under the jurisdiction of the Central Naval Command.

The Nigerian Navy personnel were reportedly sent in to counter an attack launched by the sea pirates on one of Nigerias dredgers, MV AMBIKA, a Sterling Oil dredger close to Ramos River entrance.

The source said;

The suspected sea robbers had boarded the vessel and abducted three crew members (two Russians and one Indian), leaving behind five other crew members before the team arrived.

Some of the Nigerian Navy personnel who allegedly died in the gunfight that ensued after they arrived the scene of the attack were said to be on the ranks of Petty Officer, Able Seaman, Seaman and an Ordinary Seaman.

Though two other Nigerian Navy personnel escaped unhurt, a vessel was allegedly stolen by the sea pirates.

Corpses of the late security operatives have reportedly been moved to the navy hospital in Warri, while efforts to rescue the three foreigners has been intensified.
Kolkata, Jan 7 : Three persons were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the alleged gang-rape and murder of a minor girl -- a virtual re-run of the Hyderabad incident -- at Kumarganj in the South Dinajpur district of West Bengal, the police said.

The arrested persons included the lover of the girl, whose charred body, bitten by animals, was discovered on Monday. The girl had left home saying she wanted to buy a dress.

According to the police and the locals, the girl was in a relationship with Mahbubur Mian who took her to a secluded spot in the Belkhor area on Sunday. They were joined by Pankaj Burman and Gautam Burman.

The trio gang-raped and killed her. To destroy the evidence of crime, they poured petrol and set the corpse ablaze.

On Monday, the body was discovered from under a culvert by locals after they saw stray dogs fighting over charred flesh. The body was sent for autopsy and was identified by the victim's family members.

After the preliminary investigation, three persons were arrested and presented before the Balurghat sessions court.

The incident triggered rage and indignation. Her relatives, locals and school teachers blocked the National Highway at Fulbari.

Sumi Dutta, teacher of Phulbari High School, said, "on behalf of school, we want capital punishment for the perpetrators. Unless such people are punished, the society will not be rectified."
Representative Image

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the country will follow the laws of armed conflict, an indication that the Pentagon has distanced itself from US President Donald Trump's assertions that he would bomb Iranian cultural sites despite international prohibitions on such attacks.

When asked if that ruled out targeting cultural sites, Esper said That's the laws of armed conflict.

The split between the president and his Pentagon chief came amid heightened tensions with Tehran following a US drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force.

Trump had twice warned that he would hit Iranian cultural sites if Tehran retaliates against the US.

Esper's public comments reflected the private concerns of other defense and military officials, who cited legal prohibitions on attacks on civilian, cultural and religious sites, except under certain, threatening circumstances.

Trump first raised the prospect of targeting cultural sites in a tweet on January 5 and reiterated that view to reporters the next day.

His Twitter message caught administration officials off-guard and prompted an immediate outcry from legal scholars, national security experts and Democratic lawmakers. But the president stood by his threat the following day.



....targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!

 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2020

They're allowed to kill our people. They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people, he told reporters traveling with him on Air Force One. And we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way. By international law, however, it does.

Specifically, the 1954 Hague Convention says nations must take all possible steps to protect cultural property and shall refrain from any act of hostility, directed against such property. It also says nations must not use cultural sites for any threatening purposes that would make such locations a military target.

The Pentagon has long had a list of potential targets both inside Iran as well as those associated with Iran throughout the Middle East. Those targets and war plans are routinely updated, including during the recent uptick in hostilities.

Officials won't discuss the list, but it is certain to include an array of Iranian military sites and capabilities, including missile, air defense and command and control locations.

Any targets would go through a lengthy vetting process within the military and the Pentagon to determine that they are legal, appropriate and proportionate to any Iranian action. Only after that process is complete would a list of potential sites go before the president for approval.

Outside the Pentagon, Trump's threats were met with condemnation. It shows that he is somewhat deranged about this," said Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va. The pledge to attack cultural sites, likely, is a violation of international law.

Kaine said that all Trump is doing is escalating tensions and he seems to believe, 'I can strike you, but you can't strike me.' That's not the way the world works. He added that Trump needs to confer with Congress. The threats also drew reaction from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

The targeting of sites of global cultural heritage is abhorrent to the collective values of our society, museum leaders said in a statement. "At this challenging time, we must remind ourselves of the global importance of protecting cultural sites  the objects and places by which individuals, communities, and nations connect to their history and heritage.

Ahead of Esper's comments, other administration officials tried to make clear that the U.S. would follow the law without directly contradicting the president.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on January 5 said that any US military strikes inside Iran would be legal. We'll behave inside the system, Pompeo said. We always have and we always will.

(With inputs from Reuters)
The conservatives have a point. But the fact that leftugees move in pursuit of more-affordable housing or to escape chronic traffic jams does not mean they all prefer a pure red policy model of low taxes and fewer services. To the contrary, blue-state migrants may nudge the politics of their new homes  and the new congressional districts to be drawn around them  leftward, while avoiding the worst liberal excesses they left behind.
Addressing the Senate on Monday, Qureshi said that according to regional experts, the repercussions of Soleimani' death could be more severe than the 2011 raid that killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and the 2019 killing of Islamic State (IS) chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Dawn news reported.

Islamabad, Jan 7 (IANS) Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has confirmed that Islamabad would not become party to the ongoing US-Iran conflict that heightened after the death of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in an American drone attack last week.

"I decided to contact the important foreign ministers of the region. Yesterday (Sunday) I talked in detail with the Iranian Foreign Minister and presented Pakistan's stance on the incident and gained information from him," he said.

"The situation in the Middle East is very sensitive, fluid and concerning."

Qureshi reiterated that Pakistan "does not support any unilateral action and is against the use of force as it never resolves matters".

"Pakistan backs principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity as enshrined in the UN charter," he said, adding that Pakistan urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint.

"Pakistan's soil will not be used against any other state," Qureshi said, adding that Islamabad "will not be party to this regional conflict".

Pakistan had on Sunday reaffirmed its resolve not to become a part of any conflict in the region and renewed its offer for mediating in the Middle East crisis, Dawn news reported.

The offer was formally conveyed by Qureshi during the telephonic conversation with his counterparts from Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

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Nikki Haley said on Fox News that the only people who are mourning Soleimanis death are Democrats and Democratic presidential candidates.

Haley said on Fox News, You dont see anyone standing up for Iran. Youre not hearing any of the Gulf members. Youre not hearing China. Youre not hearing Russia. The only ones who are mourning the loss of Soleimani are our Democrat (sic) leadership and our Democrat (sic) presidential candidates. No one else in the world, because they knew that this man had evil veins. They knew what he was capable of and the destruction and the lives lost based from his hands.

Video:

The only ones mourning the loss of Soleimani are our Democrat leadership and Democrat Presidential candidates. pic.twitter.com/IZJJqpxkBE  Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) January 7, 2020

Haleys comments are a textbook example of why so many Republicans wont vote for a Democrat, no matter who that Democrat is. In the Republican Party, Democrats arent the political opposition. Democrats are worse than Putin and equal to Iranian terrorists.

Haley took one true statement, Soleimani was a bad guy and mixed it with a false statement. Democrats are not mourning the death of the Iranian general. They point out that no one should shed a tear over his death. Democrats are concerned about Trumps decisionmaking process, failure to consult with Congress, and the long-term ramifications that could potentially start a new war in the Middle East.

Nikki Haley wasnt just pandering to the Fox News crowd. She was showing why Trumps Republican Party has become a faction that is hostile toward the majority of the American people.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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"I was putting a lot of pressure on myself," she told the host, noting that DeGeneres has received honors in the past from the likes of former President Barack Obama. "And then it was like a month leading up to it, and I was like, 'Ah, gosh, I gotta write that speech. I gotta write that speech.' And instead I cleaned my closets. You have no idea what you did for me and my closet. ... I found space that I didn't even know I had."
Iranian mourners gather for the burial of slain top general Qasem Soleimani in his hometown Kerman on January 7, 2020. (AFP)

Tehran: Iran's parliament passed a bill on Tuesday designating all US forces as "terrorists" over the killing of its top Iranian military commander Gen Qassem Soleimani in a US strike last week. The measure appears to mirror a decision by President Donald Trump in April to declare the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization.

Qasem Soleimani, the popular head of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm, was killed in a US drone strike outside Baghdad airport on Friday, ratcheting up tensions between the arch-foes.

Gen Soleimanis funeral in his home town of Kerman was attened by a large number of people.

Speaking at the funeral, the leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened to set ablaze places supported by the United States to avenge the assassination of the nations top general Qassem Soleimani. His threat sparked cries Death to Israel! from the crowd.

Hossein Salami made the pledge before a crowd of thousands gathered in a central square in Kerman, hometown of the slain Gen. Soleimani.

Soleimani's remains and those of the others killed in the airstrike were brought to a central square in Kerman, a desert city surrounded by mountains that dates back to the days of the Silk Road where he will be buried later on Tuesday.

Salami praised Soleimani's exploits and said as a martyr, he represented an even greater threat to Iran's enemies. We will take revenge. We will set ablaze where they like, Salami said, drawing cries of Death to Israel!

Iran's parliament, meanwhile, passed an urgent bill declaring the U.S. military's command at the Pentagon in Washington and those acting on its behalf terrorists, subject to Iranian sanctions.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said that signatories of the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran are considering invoking a dispute resolution clause, indicating the agreement could be jeopardy.

He said a decision on the question could come within days.

Le Drian's remarks on Monday came after Tehran announced that it no longer considers itself limited by the accord, meant to stop Iran from pursuing its atomic weapons programme.

Iran's announcement followed the U.S. killing three days ago of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

However, the drastic new step-backs by Iran on the nuclear deal were the latest in a series of moves since the United States withdrew from the deal in 2018.

Iran insisted it remains open to negotiations over the accord with European partners, even if does not observe the nuclear deal's restrictions on fuel enrichment, on the size of its enriched uranium stockpile and on its research and development activities.

Le Drian said that the remaining signatories - France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China - "think that agreement is still valid but these violations are raising questions."

He added: "We will take a decision in the days ahead."
John Bolton, the former White House national security advisor, said on Monday that he was willing to testify at President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, putting new pressure on Republicans to call witnesses and raising the possibility of revelations as the Senate weighs Trump's removal

Washington: John Bolton, the former White House national security advisor, said on Monday that he was willing to testify at President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, putting new pressure on Republicans to call witnesses and raising the possibility of revelations as the Senate weighs Trump's removal.

Bolton's surprise declaration, in a statement on his website, was a dramatic turn that could alter the political dynamic of the impeachment process in the Senate and raise the risks for Trump of Republican defections. The former national security advisor is a potentially vital witness, with direct knowledge of presidential actions and conversations regarding Ukraine that could fill in blanks in the narrative of the impeachment case.

It came as the House continued to withhold the articles of impeachment necessary to start the trial in a bid to increase Democratic leverage in Senate negotiations over calling Bolton and three other administration witnesses the president blocked from testifying in the House inquiry.

"I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify," Bolton said in the statement.

His decision raised immediate questions for Senator Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, around how to proceed with the trial. He has steadfastly refused to commit to calling witnesses, but as majority leader, he must also weigh the wishes of a small group of moderate Republicans who may press to hear from them.

Bolton announced his intentions minutes after leaving a voicemail message alerting McConnell of them.

Democrats quickly seized on Bolton's public declaration to press their case that the Senate must hear from him and the other senior officials at the outset of any trial, training attention on the few Republicans who have said they are open to calling witnesses.

"Given that Bolton's lawyers have stated he has new relevant information to share, if any Senate Republican opposes issuing subpoenas to the four witnesses and documents we have requested, they would make absolutely clear they are participating in a cover-up," the Democratic leader, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, said in a speech on the Senate floor.

But McConnell appeared unmoved by the development, and there was no immediate clamor from rank-and-file Republicans for him to change his stance. Instead, the loudest voices in the party Monday were from a group of Republican senators who spent the day trumpeting a newly-introduced resolution that would alter Senate rules to allow the chamber to dismiss the House case without a trial.

It was unclear how the White House would respond to Bolton, who left his post in September amid sharp disputes with Trump. The president did not address his former advisor in an interview with Rush Limbaugh, a conservative talk radio host, that aired Monday, but he accused Democrats of trying to "affect the election illegally" by impeaching him.

Bolton did not say precisely what he would be willing to tell Congress. But his lawyer, Charles J Cooper, told the House's top lawyer in November that Bolton knew about "many relevant meetings and conversations" connected to the Ukraine matter that had not been shared with House impeachment investigators. And former White House officials and people close to Bolton have indicated that his testimony would most likely be damning to Trump and put additional pressure on moderate Republicans to consider convicting him.

While that could cause some Republican defections, it is unlikely to put him at great risk in the Senate, where a two-thirds vote  67 senators  is needed to remove a president. McConnell has confidently predicted Trump's acquittal.

The two parties have been at an impasse over the issue of witnesses for weeks now, and the dispute has delayed the start of Trump's trial. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, has declined to send the Senate the charges against Trump, which would prompt the start of the trial, saying that she first wants assurances that McConnell would run a fair process.

McConnell argues the Senate should not even consider admitting new information in the trial until after it hears opening arguments from the prosecution and the defense. He addressed the only development obliquely in a speech Monday afternoon, accusing Democrats of trying to "pre-commit the Senate to redoing House Democrats' slapdash work for them, and pursuing avenues" that the House did not.

"The Senate has a unanimous, bipartisan precedent for when to handle mid-trial questions such as witnesses: In the middle of the trial," McConnell said.

The matter is all but certain to come to a vote at some point, and under Senate rules, it takes only 51 senators to call a witness or request new evidence, meaning McConnell's ability to call the shots is limited. Democrats are focused on persuading moderate Republicans  like Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah  to join them in insisting on witnesses.

Romney told reporters Monday that hearing from Bolton would be a "good thing" that he hoped would come to pass, though he declined to commit to voting for a subpoena until the shape of the trial was clear. Collins said that she would make determinations about witnesses only after the Senate heard opening arguments in the eventual trial.

Murkowski said she, too, agreed with McConnell's position and would prefer to wait to address the need for witnesses until mid-trial, as was done in the 1999 impeachment of then-president Bill Clinton.

Despite Bolton's offer, many Republicans made clear they were opposed to hearing from any new witnesses. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida wrote on Twitter that the Senate should only consider "the same testimony & evidence the House relied upon when they passed the Articles of Impeachment".

"Our job is to vote on what the House passed, not to conduct an open ended inquiry," he tweeted.

Senator Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, went further, introducing a long-shot resolution to allow the Senate to dismiss the articles of impeachment if the House failed to deliver them within 25 calendar days.

"If Pelosi is afraid to try her case," Hawley said, "the articles should be dismissed for failure to prosecute and Congress should get back to doing the people's business."

If he did appear under oath on Capitol Hill, Bolton would be the closest adviser to the president to answer questions about what Trump said behind closed doors as he pressured the Ukranians to investigate his political rivals as he was withholding nearly $400 million in military aid from the country.

The Democratic-led House impeached Trump last month for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, charging him with a corrupt scheme to solicit help from Ukraine in the 2020 election and concealing his actions from Congress.

The president has repeatedly sought to block his most senior aides, as well as former advisors who have left the White House, from speaking to Congress, and has gone to court to stop several of them from cooperating.

Bolton's statement strongly suggested that he would be willing to testify regardless of whether Trump sought to prevent him, and even in the absence of a legal ruling compelling him to do so.

"It now falls to the Senate to fulfil its constitutional obligation to try impeachments, and it does not appear possible that a final judicial resolution of the still-unanswered constitutional questions can be obtained before the Senate acts," Bolton wrote, "Accordingly, since my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study."

Although Bolton never spoke with House investigators, his aides testified that he had been deeply concerned about how Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani pressured the Ukranians to investigate Democrats. A top former deputy said Bolton alluded metaphorically to a "drug deal" that some top White House officials were involved in regarding the investigations, and called Giuliani "a hand grenade whos going to blow everybody up".

Others described a campaign by Bolton to persuade Trump to release his hold on the military assistance for Ukraine  a case he made to the president at one point.

Bolton had previously said he would abide by the ruling of a federal judge in a separate lawsuit by his former deputy, Charles M Kupperman, over whether to appear as requested in the House impeachment inquiry or comply with a White House directive to stay silent. But House Democrats withdrew their subpoena for Kupperman, arguing that they did not have time to await the outcome of a potentially years-long lawsuit before moving to impeach Trump.

The judge ruled late last month that the issue was moot, which Bolton said left him no choice but to make his own decision.

Nicholas Fandos and Michael S Schmidt c.2020 The New York Times Company
[January 06, 2020] Uber and Hyundai Motor Announce Aerial Ridesharing Partnership, Release New Full-Scale Air Taxi Model at CES

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Uber and Hyundai Motor Company have today announced a new partnership to develop Uber Air Taxis for a future aerial ride share network and unveiled a new full-scale aircraft concept at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Hyundai is the first automotive company to join the Uber Elevate initiative, bringing automotive-scale manufacturing capability and a track record of mass-producing electric vehicles. The air vehicle concept Hyundai released today was created in part through Uber's open design process, a NASA-inspired approach that jump-starts innovation by publicly releasing vehicle design concepts so any company can use them to innovate their air taxi models and engineering technologies. In this partnership, Hyundai will produce and deploy the air vehicles, and Uber will provide airspace support services, connections to ground transportation, and customer interfaces through an aerial ride share network. Both parties are collaborating on infrastructure concepts to support take-off and landing for this new class of vehicles. "Our vision of Urban Air Mobility will transform the concept of urban transportation," said Jaiwon Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai's Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Division. "We expect UAM to vitalize urban communities and provide more quality time to people. We are confident that Uber Elevate is the right partner to make this innovative product readily available to as many customers as possible." "Hyundai is our first vehicle partner with experience of manufacturing passenger cars on a global scale. We believe Hyundai has the potential to build Uber Air vehicles at rates unseen in the current aerospace industry, producing high quality, reliable aircraft at high volumes to drive down passenger costs per trip. Combining Hyundai's manufacturing muscle with Uber's technology platform represents a giant leap forward for launching a vibrant air taxi network in the coming years," said Eric Allison, head of Uber Elevate. In preparation for this announcement, Hyundai has worked with Uber Elevate to develop a PAV (Personal Air Vehicle) model, S-A1, that utilizes innovative design processes to optimize electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for aerial ridesharing purposes. The Elevate initiative based this process on NASA's historical approach of putting design concepts out publicly to inspire innovation amongst multiple companies, spurring the developent of common research models to investigate novel aerodynamic concepts and catalyzing industry progress in wing design, noise, aerodynamics, and simulation verification.



As a result, Hyundai's S-A1 model unveiled at CES reflects previous eVTOL designs Uber Elevate has released in the following ways: It is designed for a cruising speed up to 180 miles/hr (290 km/hr), a cruising altitude of around 1,000-2,000 feet ( 300 - 600 mt ) above ground, and to fly trips up to 60 mile (100 km).

) above ground, and to fly trips up to 60 mile (100 km). The Hyundai vehicle will be 100% electric, utilizing distributed electric propulsion and during peak hours will require about five to seven minutes for recharging.

Hyundai's electric aircraft utilizes distributed electric propulsion, powering multiple rotors and propellers around the airframe to increase safety by decreasing any single point of failure. Having several, smaller rotors also reduces noise relative to large rotor helicopters with combustion engines, which is very important to cities.

The model is designed to take off vertically, transition to wing-borne lift in cruise, and then transition back to vertical flight to land.

The Hyundai vehicle will be piloted initially, but over time they will become autonomous.

The cabin is designed with four passenger seats, allowing riders to board / disembark easily and avoid the dreaded middle seat with enough space for a personal bag or backpack / rider. Ushering in the era of seamless mobility, Hyundai's exploration of future urban transportation incorporates the electric PAV concept with a new ground transportation, the Purpose Built Vehicle (PBV) concept. Hyundai's vision for creating communities from future transit systems comes into focus with yet another new infrastructure concept, called the Hub. When many PBVs and PAVs are docked and connected to a Hub, they make a new public space where diverse groups of people can come together.

Hyundai Motor's innovative smart mobility solutions including UAM, PBV, Hub and more will be showcased at Hyundai's CES booth in Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall, Booth 5431. About Uber Elevate

Uber has announced a goal of flight demonstrations in 2020 and Elevate commercially available to riders in 2023. Uber entered into partnerships with several highly experienced manufacturers including: Hyundai Motor Group, Aurora Flight Sciences (now a subsidiary of Boeing), Bell, Embraer, Joby Aviation, Pipistrel Aircraft, Karem Aircraft and Jaunt Air Mobility. Uber has also entered into a real estate partnerships with Hillwood Properties, Related, Macquire, Oaktree and Signature. Uber has signed two Space Act Agreements with NASA one for the development of new Unmanned Traffic Management concepts and Unmanned Aerial Systems and another to explore concepts and technologies for Urban Air Mobility. Uber's analysis projects that an electric vehicle will travel at a speed up to 200mph and that eventually, after several years in a market, an Uber Elevate ride will cost the same as an UberX trip of the same distance. About Hyundai Motor Company

Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is committed to becoming a lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond with its range of world-class vehicles and mobility services available in more than 200 countries. Employing more than 110,000 employees worldwide, Hyundai has sold more than 4.5 million vehicles globally. Hyundai Motor continues to enhance its product line-up with vehicles that are helping to build solutions for a more sustainable future, such as NEXO, the world's first dedicated hydrogen-powered SUV. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/uber-and-hyundai-motor-announce-aerial-ridesharing-partnership-release-new-full-scale-air-taxi-model-at-ces-300981947.html SOURCE Hyundai Motor Company

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The Eastern Cape of South Africa is blessed with a coastline that is so incredible it attracts wanderlusters from all over the world.

Known as the wild province, life here remains naturally beautiful and perfect for those who enjoy the great outdoors. Rugged cliffs, sheltered bays and wild beaches are just some of the things that are waiting for you in South Africas Wild Coast.

Tour guide and coastal wanderer Siseko Yelani has devoted the past 10 years to taking guests on journeys around this magical region. He says that the area is as rich in natural beauty as it is in culture and that the local people help to provide a wonderful experience for visitors.

Ive been a tourist and cultural guide for the province of the Eastern Cape of South Africa since 2009. My job in two words  its crazy! It involves organising the whole tour experience. From the start to the very last day when the client departs. I love getting involved with the communities here, they play an active role in tourism and I love that so much. I get to showcase how we live as South Africans and how we live as Xhosa people in the Eastern Cape.

Wildlife adventures

Siseko says that the unspoiled and wild terrain makes the Eastern Cape the perfect place to have some unforgettable outdoor adventures.

The Eastern Cape is very natural with its coastline and the waterfalls. Visitors get to see our destinations in their natural form. For outdoor activities, you can do things like hiking trails where you walk along the coast. You can hike from one lodge to the next in about four or five hours. Thats one activity that is very popular in this area. Activities like canoeing and horseback riding are also very popular. You can go crazy and do some cliff jumping into natural pools too.

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Hikers have lots of trails to choose from in this region. For coastal views, check out the Wild Coast Walk or for a challenging forest hike, the Amatola Hiking Trail is a 100km trail that takes you into an ancient and indigenous rainforest.

For those who prefer to travel in comfort, there are also lots of 4x4 trails where you can take in the sights as you drive. However, you will still have to get sand between your toes if you want to really enjoy the beaches as, rightly so, they are off limits to drivers. South Africans take the preservation of their wildlife very seriously, which is partly why there are still so many natural experiences to enjoy there.

Traditionally we have been very concerned with the environment and conservation, so you will find there are certain types of trees and certain types of plants that hold significant roles into our day to day lives.

The area is coastal and has some huge mountains. There are many different biomes, meaning you get the grassland and the forest. Its very diverse. Its warm because we are on the Indian Ocean side. The waters and temperatures are really favourable for outdoor activities. These things make it so different to other areas.

The warm waters make this region ideal for those who love to snorkel and take in the local aquatic life. It is also a divers paradise with lots of shipwrecks ready to be explored - you can even search for lost treasure in these parts!

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Bucket list sights

There are many things to put on your bucket list when visiting the Eastern Cape and The Hole in the Wall, which stands tall in Coffee Bay, is a must see for anyone travelling to the area. This natural arch is steeped in local legend and is of huge significance to the Xhosa people to this day.

You can walk up close to it. Its a huge rock and the constant bashing of the sea waves has managed to dig a hole within that big rock in the ocean. Its a phenomenal thing.

Morgan Bay is another key destination for those looking to make the most of South Africas wild landscape. The cliffs here have over 600 climbing routes and at their highest peak drop 50m into the ocean. If you are really lucky, you may even see some dolphins playing in the surf below you while you climb.

As well as boasting an abundance of wildlife and natural attractions, the region is also home to Port Elizabeth, a city which is fondly referred to by locals as Friendly City. The city is a great place to begin your journey of Eastern Cape and is a urban oasis amongst the wild surrounding areas.

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History

The history of the province takes in ancient tribes and modern day heroes. Many will know it as the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, who was a driving force behind the changes that shaped South Africa into the Rainbow Nation it is today. Visitors can take a trip to the village where Mandela grew up and see where the Father of the Nation came from. Siseko says that visiting the village is a great way to discover local and authentic cuisine.

Local cuisine is very big. Yesterday we had a media tour with local newspapers where we went to Mvezo, which is the home village of Nelson Mandela. We got to walk around his village and have the local cuisine  the normal food that the people here eat on a day to day basis. That creates a real interest for visitors. Weve noticed that they want to visit South Africa and eat like Africans.

If you are looking to go somewhere that boasts a flawless balance between culture and wildlife, then look no further than the Eastern Cape. Local guides like Siseko are just waiting to show you exactly what the region has to offer and what makes it so special.

I highly recommend someone to visit because we have a unique tourism offering. We come to offer you something different to the big cities - we give that home environment which is highly rooted in culture.

Fly to East London or Port Elizabeth to explore the Wild Coast. Book your holiday to South Africa now.

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TV serial 'Jamai Raja' has been increasing its viewership in a very short time. The show has also found a satisfactory place in the TRP list. But Shiney Doshi, who has identified with the Jamaai Raja, has once again come into the discussion. This time she is making headlines about her love life. Shiny Doshi is currently vacationing in Vietnam. Shiney Doshi has also posted some of her great photos on her Instagram.

BB13: Seeing the new style of Siddharth Shukla, from the celebs, the fans said - 'Complete package ....'

Beautiful actress Shiny Doshi has recently shared pictures of Vietnam with her boyfriend Lavash to tell her fans. The pair of these two looks beautiful in these pictures. Both Shiney and Lavesh look madly in love. Usually Shiney refuses to talk about her personal life, but this time she has shared her pictures with fans on her Instagram.

BB13: This one week old video is going viral, Siddharth slapped Shehnaz in front of everyone

Let us tell you that information was received about Shiney and Lavesh's relationship in the past. Shiney is currently dating Lavesh. Shiney's fans have also started wishing him on the pictures he has shared. From celebrating festivals together to going to parties, Love and Shiney seem quite vocal about their relationship. Shiney is very fond of traveling. She gets to roam somewhere as soon as she gets time. Let us know that Shiney Doshi worked in the television show 'Saraswatichandra' directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali in the year 2013. She played Kusum Desai, Jennifer Winget's sister, in the show. Subsequently, Shiney Doshi was signed for the lead role with Ravi Dubey in 'Jamai Raja'.
WASHINGTON  The killing of a top Iranian general has ratcheted up the anxiety of families of Americans held in Iran, one month after the release of a New Jersey student had given them hope.

The Trump administration has made a priority of bringing home hostages held abroad, but the prospect of a forthcoming resolution for the handful of captives in Iran seems to have dimmed with the two nations edging dangerously close to conflict and warning of retaliatory strikes and continued agitation.

He wasnt safe before now, but now hes really not safe, said Joanne White, whose son, Navy veteran Michael White of Imperial Beach (San Diego County), has been imprisoned since July 2018 while visiting a girlfriend in Iran. I dont know if anyone is going to retaliate.

The tensions are the worst in 40 years and are in contrast to the diplomatic breakthrough that resulted in Decembers release of Princeton University graduate student Xiyue Wang in exchange for the U.S. freeing a detained Iranian scientist. Crushing U.S. sanctions on Iran remain in place, but the release suggested Tehran could be open to using additional American captives as bargaining chips for future negotiations.

Weeks earlier, Iran had acknowledged in a filing to the United Nations that it had a missing person file on former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in the country in 2007. One of his daughters, Sarah Levinson Moriarty, told reporters last month that she considered the notice from Iran a significant development and an acknowledgment that the country had her father and knew where he was.

Even so, there were already concerns about how recent protests in Iran tied to spiking gas prices were going to affect the fate of Western prisoners.

The new tensions have caused even greater uncertainty.

Babak Namazi said he has tried to stay even-keeled in the more than four years that his brother, Siamak, has been imprisoned in Iran. His father, Baquer, is in a highly restrictive medical furlough there. Both are being held on what the family says are manufactured charges of collaborating with the United States.

Joanne White said she is particularly concerned about her son, who was convicted of insulting Irans supreme leader and posting private information online. She said her son, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison, is ill with cancer and recently complained to her that he was starving in prison.

Eric Tucker is an Associated Press writer.
SYRACUSE, N.Y.  Dr. Howard Simon, a prominent Syracuse surgeon, has been sanctioned by the state for failing to diagnose and treat a patients cancerous tumor.

The state Board for Professional Medical Conduct put Simon on probation for three years. Simon can only practice during that time period if he has another doctor monitor him by reviewing his records at least once a month.

The patient is now dying from stage 4 terminal cancer, according to her attorney. Simons attorney acknowledged he missed the cancerous tumor.

In a signed consent agreement Simon did not contest the charge of practicing with negligence on more than one occasion in this case.

Simon, 66, retired in 2018 from Upstate Medical University where he served on the faculty and medical staff. He launched Upstates bariatric surgery weight-loss program and served as its director 15 years. He now works at Oswego Hospital.

The state board said Simon did not perform an adequate preoperative work-up and provide adequate post-operative care in 2014 to a then 54-year-old woman he operated on.

The patient, Traci-Ann S. Reynolds, subsequently sued Simon and University Surgical Associates, a practice affiliated with Upstate, for medical malpractice in 2015. Simon and the practice paid Reynolds $1.5 million in 2017 to settle the case.

Reynolds had CAT scans and an ultrasound performed in 2014 after experiencing abdominal pain. She was referred to Simon, who mistakenly diagnosed the problem as an adrenal gland tumor, according to Laura Jordan, Reynolds attorney.

Simon removed her adrenal gland, which sits on top of the kidney. Lab tests showed the adrenal gland was not cancerous. Simon gave Reynolds a clean bill of health, Jordan said. Simons attorney confirmed that he missed the tumor, but said the surgeon would have discovered it if Reynolds had returned for follow-up care.

Reynolds, who used to live in Oswego County, moved to Colorado after the surgery. She had plans to move before the operation, according to Jordan. She said there was no need for follow-up care because Simon told Reynolds, Theres nothing to worry about.

About six months later, Reynolds developed abdominal pain again. Doctors in Colorado determined the tumor causing the problem had never been removed, Jordan said. Instead of being on the adrenal gland, the tumor was next to the kidney and was cancerous, she said. It had grown and spread to her lungs and other organs. He (Simon) completely missed that, Reynolds said.

Reynolds now has stage 4 terminal leiomyosarcoma, a soft issue cancer, according to Reynolds. Her life expectancy is not very long, she said. Jordan said Reynolds has had numerous surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation.

When contacted by Syracuse.com, Reynolds said she did not want to discuss her case.

Life goes on, Reynolds said. I pray for him (Simon) every day.

Catherine Gale, Simons attorney, said the doctor has practiced 35 years and performed more than 15,000 surgeries. This is the first time the state has looked at him and found cause, Gale said. He readily admitted there was an error, which can happen even in the best of hands.

She declined a request by Syracuse.com to interview Simon.

The states decision not to impose a harsher penalty on Simon suggests the board believes he is competent, Gale said.

But Jordan said Simons punishment should have been stiffer.

I dont think theres a direct proportional line you can draw between the fact she is going to be dying an early death and 36 months of probation, Jordan said. What happened to her should not have happened, period.

How to check up on your doctor

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Weekly News Digest January 7, 2020  In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today. For other up-to-the-minute news, check out ITIs Twitter account: @ITINewsBreaks.



CLICK HERE to view more Weekly News Digest items. Fine-Free in the New Year More and more public libraries are announcing that they are going fine-free. According to Colorado Public Radio (CPR), Mesa County Libraries in Colorado went fine-free as of Jan. 1, 2020. While researching whether to make this change, library employees found that the county zip codes with the most overdue fees also had the lowest incomes.  10,000 [library accounts] are blocked because of a combination of overdue fines and bills for unreturned items. After $10 accrues, people arent allowed to check out materials. With this change, 3,000 of those users will immediately have their borrowing rights restored. The Denver Post reports that since Denver Public Library went fine-free in January 2019, 35% of patrons with fines who had stopped using the library have returned. Fines were a penalty, and they were our approach to be good stewards and get materials back, but what we found was they did not result in getting materials back. They penalized the person after they did the right thing and returned their items, Jennifer Hoffman, manager of the librarys Books and Borrowing department, told the newspaper. According to the Los Angeles Times, 3 years ago, the Los Angeles Public Library gave amnesty to patrons with overdue materials, which led to the return of 64,633 overdue items and the issuance of nearly 8,000 new library cards. During that campaign, around 13,700 delinquent library users had their cards unblocked, allowing them to begin borrowing again.  Getting rid of the late fees systemwide was the logical next step, said library commission president Bich Ngoc Cao.  For more information, read the article about Mesa County Libraries, the article about Denver Public Library, and the article about Los Angeles Public Library.

Send correspondence concerning the Weekly News Digest to NewsBreaks Editor Brandi Scardilli
Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar's forces Monday seized the coastal city of Sirte from factions loyal to the Tripoli government, raising tensions as Turkey said it was deploying troops in the North African country.

Sirte, some 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of the capital Tripoli, had been held since 2016 by forces allied with the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA).

But on Monday, a spokesman for Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) said the city had fallen to his fighters within hours.

"Sirte has been totally liberated," Ahmad al-Mesmari announced on television.

"The operation was quick and lasted only three hours," Mesmari said, although preparations had started months earlier with air strikes on positions of pro-GNA forces.

Map of Libya locating Sirte. By Laurence SAUBADU, Simon MALFATTO (AFP)

He said Haftar loyalists struck from five land and sea positions and had air cover. He did not give further details.

The GNA did not immediately confirm the fall of Sirte, but a pro-GNA military commander in the city, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the loss.

The oil-rich North African country has been plunged into chaos since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

It is now divided between the GNA based in the capital Tripoli and Haftar's forces in the east and which also control most of the country's south.

Tensions escalated last year when Haftar launched an operation in January to "purge" southern Libya "of terrorist groups and criminals" and seized several towns with support from local tribes.

Haftar then set his eyes on Tripoli, launching an offensive on the capital in April to unseat the GNA.

The GNA has sought help from Turkey, whose parliament passed a bill allowing the government to send troops to Libya to shore up the Tripoli government.

On Sunday, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his soldiers had begun deploying in Libya.

Fears of escalation

Although there has been no immediate confirmation from Tripoli of that deployment, Turkey's involvement has raised concern among Libya's neighbours and in Europe.

Egypt said it will hold a meeting Wednesday with the foreign ministers of France, Italy, Greece and Cyprus for talks on "ways to push efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement" in Libya.

Algeria, which on Monday hosted GNA prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj as well as Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, urged the UN Security Council to impose a ceasefire in Libya.

Algeria's President Abdelaziz Tebboune (R) holds talks with Libya's UN-recognised Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj as concerns mount of an escalation in Libya. By - (APS/AFP)

The European Union, for its part, expressed concern over an "imminent" escalation of violence around Tripoli.

While the GNA is backed by Turkey and Qatar, Haftar has the support of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia.

On Friday, Haftar urged all Libyans to take up arms in response to any Turkish involvement in his country.

Sirte was at one stage a bastion of the Islamic State group which moved into Libya amid the chaos that followed Kadhafi's ouster.

IS controlled Sirte from early 2015 until the GNA, backed by US air strikes, evicted the jihadists in a seven-month battle that cost hundreds of lives.

Haftar's LNA earlier Monday said on social media they were "steadily advancing towards the heart of Sirte" after seizing control of Ghardabiya airport on the outskirts.

It said forces at the airport surrendered with their equipment and reported clashes in several parts of Sirte.

Pro-GNA forces said in a Facebook post they had come under attack in Sirte and that mercenaries from Chad were fighting alonside the LNA.
It follows a fact-finding mission to Sweden, where approximately 10 per cent of the oilseed rape area is grown organically.

Canola is a potentially high-value break crop. There is demand for the oil for specialist livestock such as hens, while the high-protein meal is valuable as a ruminant feed.

Scotlands Rural College is leading the Scottish Organic Canola (SCOCAN) project with a 30,000 grant from the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF).

The project, in turn, follows on from a Rural Innovation Support Service (RISS) group. The initiative was originated by Norvite with a view to expanding the activities at its NEOS crushing plant facility in Aberdeenshire.

The animal feed company now has certification which allows its crushing facilities to be used for oil that can be sold for human use, with Germany among the main target markets.

Led by Dr Robin Walker and the research team at SRUCs Aberdeen campus, the project will primarily be driven by farmers using a number of approaches, some based around the Swedish model, which included best options for establishing and fertilising the crop, as well as precision weed control.

Dr Walker said:

The securing of the KTIF funding provides a great opportunity to help facilitate and maintain a good dialogue between the various farmers and advisors who have taken on growing this novel organic crop, as well as other parties along the production and marketing chain interested in making this innovative crop a success.

The project has provided a route for a more participative steer on what should be investigated within the demonstrations on the pilot farms as well as providing a number of opportunities to highlight the crop and the information derived from the SCOCAN project to the wider public.

With guidance from agronomist Andy Cheetham from Ceres Agri Services, large plots of oilseed rape have been planted on five farms across the north east of Scotland: one in Moray, three in Aberdeenshire and one in Angus.
EXPERT OBSERVER

For 40 years I have studied bushfires in Australia. It has been my lifes work to try to better understand Australian landscapes and the interaction of humans and landscape fire.

As we contemplate a future where catastrophes like the one currently engulfing Australia become increasingly frequent, theres an idea to which I keep returning: maybe its time to say goodbye to the typical summer Australian holiday.

Perhaps its time to rearrange Australian calendar and reschedule the peak holiday period to March or April, instead of December and January.

Its easy to dismiss this idea as stupid but thats the nature of adaptation. Things that once seemed absurd will now need serious consideration.

Whats truly absurd is the business-as-usual approach that sees thousands of holidaymakers heading directly into forests and national parks right in the middle of peak bushfire season.

All of the indications are that we are galloping into changing fire regimes. We can certainly see that with whats occurred in the Australian alps (the snow country in southeastern Australia, near Mount Kosciuszko). There were incredibly intense fires there around the early 2000s and now those areas are re-burning.

To me, as a fire researcher, thats an astonishing thought.

Yes, there have been very large fires in the past but they werent followed up with yet more very large fires a mere 15 years later. Normally, youd be expecting a gap of 50 or 100 years. So the ecology is telling us that we are seeing the intervals between the fires shrinking. That is a really big warning sign.

And this increasingly frequent fire activity is completely consistent with what climate modelling was suggesting. The whole system is moving to a world that is hotter, drier, and with more frequent fire activity. Its what was forecast and its what is now happening.

Big holidays in peak fire season

One of the great exacerbating factors of this crisis is the fact that its occurring in a holiday period. It makes things incredibly difficult for emergency management. The fact is that it would be a lot easier for firefighters to focus on stemming fires if they didnt also have to manage mass evacuations, and deal with populations that are dispersed and far from home.

Scheduling the major Australian holiday at the same time as bushfire season also makes things extremely difficult for the enterprises that depend on the holiday trade. You need certainty to run a business and timing the major annual Australian holiday period with bushfire season strips certainty away from these business owners.

Its also really terrible for holidaymakers themselves. People are in desperate need of a break, to spend time with family. Instead of returning to work rested and re-energised, many will be stressed, tired, perhaps even traumatised. (And lets not forget the firefighters themselves, also denied a break with friends and family over the holidays).

And having the major holiday right in the middle of bushfire season also means that many people are denied a chance to experience national parks, as authorities close them off to reduce risk.

Adaptation means change, and change is hard

The old idea was that we can head off the crisis by reducing our emissions through decarbonisation. We had an opportunity to do that and we didnt take it. We still have to decarbonise but now we also have to adapt.

And the sort of adaptation needed is not just about infrastructure, its also about the way we shape our lifestyle, our culture and traditions.

Climate change adaptation will nearly always be met with political, social and cultural resistance. It is not easy. But something like completely rearranging the Australian calendar around increased risks  its not even the biggest change required of us.

Some of the other things we are going to have to do will at first seem absurd, will be unbelievably painful economically and will require major adjustments.

Theres going to need to be a systematic change in behaviour and lifestyle as we adapt.

This crisis occurring in peak holiday time is highlighting the fact that the assumptions of normality we have got are being challenged by climate change.

It is confronting, but adaptation also brings with it great benefits  less loss of life, greater certainty and opportunity for businesses and holidaymakers, and smoother handling of fire crises as they emerge.

We need to put some serious thought into what future life will be like under climate change. Perhaps shifting peak holiday season to the cooler months is the place to start.

David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Toyota on Jan. 6, 2019 revealed plans to build a prototype "city of the future" on a 175-acre site at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan. The project, known as the Woven City, is expected to break ground in 2021. Toyota

Toyota plans to build a "prototype city of the future" on a 175-acre site at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan to test and develop new emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles. Akio Toyoda, president of the automaker, described the "Woven City" as a "living laboratory" that will include thousands of residents and will test autonomous vehicles, robotics, personal mobility, smart homes and artificial intelligence in a real-world environment.

"Imagine a fully controlled site that will allow researchers, engineers and scientists to freely test technologies," he said Monday night when announcing the plans in conjunction with the CES technology conference in Las Vegas this week. "This will be a truly unique opportunity to create an entire community or city from the ground up." The company did not announce a cost or timeframe for completion of the project, which plans to break ground in 2021. A Toyota spokesman did not immediately respond for comment.

Toyota on Jan. 6, 2019 revealed plans to build a prototype "city of the future" on a 175-acre site at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan. The project, known as the Woven City, is expected to break ground in 2021. Toyota

The master plan for the city includes three sectors for research of such technologies: fast vehicles; mix of lower speed, personal mobility and pedestrians; and a park-like promenade for pedestrians. Toyota expects about 2,000 people  from employees to retailers and visiting scientists  to initially live in the Woven City, according to Toyoda. "I suppose you could say this is my personal field of dreams," he said. "You know, if you build it, they will come." The city is planned to be fully sustainable, according to the company. That includes buildings made mostly of wood to minimize the carbon footprint; fully autonomous, zero-emission vehicles; and solar power in addition to power generated by hydrogen fuel cells.

Envisioned as a "living laboratory," the Woven City will serve as a home to full- time residents and researchers who will be able to test and develop technologies such as autonomy, robotics, personal mobility, smart homes and artificial intelligence in a real-world environment. Toyota

Residences, according to the company, will be equipped with the "latest in human support technologies, such as in-home robotics to assist with daily living." "I truly believe this is a project that can benefit everyone. Not just Toyota," Toyoda said. The city was designed in conjunction with renowned Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, whose firm is responsible for designing the upcoming 2 World Trade Center in New York, Google's new headquarters and other modern or futuristic developments such as a Mars simulation city for Dubai.
Reuters

British trade minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan will visit India this week to hold talks to try to deepen trade and economic ties as part of London's push in the Indo-Pacific region, her department said on Sunday. As part of a two-day visit to New Delhi, Trevelyan will hold bilateral talks with Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Thursday on green trade, the removal of market access barriers and other issues. They are also expected to confirm the launch of official negotiations on a new UK-India free trade deal, the trade department said in a statement.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday brushed aside critiques that President Donald Trump had called for war crimes by targeting Iranian cultural sites, arguing any U.S. strikes would fall within international law and that it was the Iranian regime actually threatening culture through oppression and murder.

The real risk to Persian culture is Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Pompeo told reporters in his first news conference in 2020, citing a litany of Iranian moves to block religious freedom and to support terror networks across the Middle East. The real risk to Persian culture does not come from the United States of America.

Pompeos remarks came as rising tensions have prompted military leaders to place U.S. forces on high alert for potential Iranian drone strikes in response to last weeks killing of Qassem Soleimani, Irans longtime military and intelligence leader.

The Trump-ordered drone strike that killed Soleimani followed U.S. attacks against an Iranian-backed militia, which were in response to the killing of an American contractor.

Trump sparked sharp rebuke from Democrats and Iranians alike after tweeting that the U.S. had prepared for any retaliation by targeting 52 sites for potential strikes, including cultural sites in Iran.

....targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2020

Pompeo tried to tamp down the apparent conflict between Trumps statements and Defense Secretary Mark Espers comment Monday that the U.S. would follow the laws of armed conflict.

Every target that is being reviewed ... every effort that will be made will always be conducted within international laws, Pompeo said. Despite the U.S. being a signatory to the 1954 Hague Convention, which bars any act of hostility against cultural property, Pompeo claimed the presidents message was consistent with U.S. and international policy.

Trump and the Pentagon say the strike against Soleimani saved American lives by preventing imminent attacks.

Pressed for details on the intelligence leading up to the strike, Pompeo said an Iranian-backed terror campaign in the region" included enormous destruction in Iraq and Syria, denying soveigntry, independence and freedom through Soleimanis handiwork."

If youre looking for imminence, you need look no further than the days that led up to the strike, he said, adding that the president was given detailed advice on the move by military, diplomatic and legal advisers. It was the right decision ... that fit perfectly within our strategy of countering a threat from Iran."

The strike against Soleimani, Pompeo said, was part of a maximum pressure campaign that included diplomatic, economic and military components executed with enormous vigor.

U.S. forces, intelligence agencies and allies have expected retaliation from Iran, with Javad Zarif, Irans foreign minister, and Khamenei, vowing revenge on Tuesday. Both noted the response would be proportional, with Zarif saying Iranian people were not lawless, like Trump.

Zarif told CNN that Soleimani had been in Iraq on a diplomatic mission before he was killed.

When asked about Zarifs interview, Pompeo chuckled and said, "Does anybody here believe that? I made you reporters laugh this morning. We know that wasnt true. He was not there on a diplomatic mission trying to resolve a problem. Zarif is a propagandist of the first order.

The rising tensions between the nations stem in part from Trumps decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal Tehran had negotiated with the Obama administration. Trump has placed strong economic sanctions on Iran, and attempts to renegotiate have faltered without a commitment from the U.S. that sanctions might be lifted.

Pompeo said the differences between the Trump and Obama administrations were not political.

They chose to underwrite and appease. We chose to confront and contain. Those are different strategies, he said. He argued the Trump team would be successful in keeping Americans safe and getting Iran to act like a normal nation and suspend nuclear activities.

On Monday, multiple outlets reported that Iranian leaders said they would no longer abide by the terms of the 2015 nuclear agreement.
With the firms ability to provide an integrated platform, Orion has a unique capability to bring the right financial technology to support our back office operations and ultimately our advisors client facing activities.

The Financial Services Network (The Network), a leading LPL Financial Enterprise Office, announced today that they will be partnering with Orion Advisor Technology, LLC (Orion), a division of Orion Advisor Solutions and the premier provider of financial advisor technology and investment solutions, to support the organizations Portfolio Consulting services arm.

The Portfolio Consulting team offers customized research, trading and overlay portfolio management through their Enterprise Office/Multi-custodial Hybrid RIA with partnerships that include LPL Financial, Schwab, Fidelity and TD Ameritrade. The Network found a kindred spirit in Orions mission to innovate their platform, disrupt the status quo and help financial professionals win by realizing their unique vision for success, while fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities.

We could not be more excited to align ourselves with Orion. With this partnership, we are rounding out our research and technology suite, including factorE, Morningstar Direct, Bloomberg and Wilshire Investments, and demonstrating our commitment to investing in top technology as we enhance our ability to support our advisors and help them take their businesses to the next level, says Jeremy Olen, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer with The Network.

Orion gives advisors the technology and next-generation client experience to stand out in a competitive marketplace, winning clients with best in class solutions for reporting, billing and trading, along with an intuitive client portal and tools to leverage business intelligence and risk management strategies. The platforms extensive integrations with industry leaders like eMoney, Redtail, AdvicePay and others let advisors tailor their tech stacks to drive the unique value of their businesses.

The Network has its eyes on the future, and it understands how the right technology can transform an advisors practice and accelerate their growth, says Kyle Hiatt, Orions Chief Revenue Officer. were proud to support their Portfolio Consulting team with our platform and cant wait to see the success theyll enjoy with our solutions.

With the firms ability to provide an integrated platform, Orion has a unique capability to bring the right financial technology to support our back office operations and ultimately our advisors client facing activities says Olen. The ability to scale our operations, and in turn those of our advisors, will positively drive client outcomes, which is the goal towards which we consistently strive.

The Financial Services Network (The Network)  http://www.fsnweb.com, is a national enterprise office (OSJ) and multi-custodial hybrid RIA with over $16B under advisement across the organization. Assets are custodied at their affiliated broker/dealer  LPL Financial, and/or their custodial partners, including LPL Financial, Schwab, Fidelity, and TD Ameritrade. Strategic Wealth Advisors Group (SWAG) is The Networks wholly owned RIA with over $3.5B in assets under management. The Network supports advisors who are independent and affiliate traditionally with an independent broker/dealer (for both brokerage and advisory business through the corporate RIA) through their OSJ model. The Networks hybrid RIA, SWAG, also supports advisors who manage a Fee Only/RIA Only business as well as those in need of a Hybrid RIA.

Portfolio Consulting is a service provided through The Network that provides customized portfolio solutions for advisors that are proprietary to each independent advisors practice. The service includes customized model creation, investment research and due diligence, monitoring, trading/rebalancing, tax harvesting, concentrated stock management, investment committee meetings, as well as trade logs, rationale and documentation modeled after an institutional investment process. Overseeing nearly $2B in assets, the firm is currently providing services to select group of advisors with assets custodied at LPL Financial, Schwab, Fidelity, and TD Ameritrade.

The consultants of The Financial Services Network are registered representatives with, and securities are offered through, LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Fee-based investment advisory services may be offered through Strategic Wealth Advisors Group (SWAG) or LPL Financial. Neither SWAG nor The Financial Services Network are affiliated with LPL Financial. Schwab, Fidelity and TD Ameritrade are separate entities from LPL Financial.

About Orion

About Orion Advisor Tech

Orion Advisor Technology, LLC, exists to help fiduciary minded advisors realize their unique vision for success. Our innovative technology includes client experience tools, tax-intelligent rebalancing, efficient billing, integrated planning, and automated compliance monitoring, all aimed at empowering advisors to improve their firms productivity, strengthen client relationships, and disrupt traditional ways of thinking. With more than $930+ billion in AUA and 3.3 million accounts on our platform, we have the experience and expertise necessary to help advisors grow and win more than their fair share. For more information, visit http://www.orion.com.
Harvey Weinstein's former assistant has said she was so alarmed by his behavior that she would wear two pairs of tights to work as he paraded around 'naked or in a gaping robe'.

Rowena Chiu told the Dr. Oz show how the disgraced movie mogul, 67, would 'frequently' ask her to wear less clothes or to take layers off.

She described 'a lot of cajoling' during late night meetings in hotel rooms where she says Weinstein would see trying to remove her clothing as 'a game'.

The married mother also revealed how the shamed producer 'would typically be either naked or just dressed in a robe that was gaping open', adding: 'He would frequently ask me to be dressed in less clothes, and he would ask me to take off layers of clothes.'

Weinstein arrived at court Tuesday hunched over his walker. He is charged with raping a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing a sex act on another woman in the city in 2006. Weinstein, 67, has said any sexual activity was consensual.

Chiu said: 'He would try to cajole you into taking off a pair of tights or allowing him to take off a pair of tights, and he would do that and he would be, "I don't understand why you're wearing so many layers. Come on, let's relax a bit, let's have fun".'

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Harvey Weinstein's former assistant Rowena Chiu said she was so alarmed by his behavior that she would wear two pairs of tights to work as he paraded around 'naked or in a gaping robe'

Harvey Weinstein arrives to court for the start of jury selection in his sexual assault trial on Tuesday. Chiu told the Dr. Oz show how the disgraced movie mogul, 67, would 'frequently' ask her to wear less clothes or to take layers off

She added: 'He would say, it's warm in the hotel room, and I'd be more comfortable if I took off some layers of clothes which I was reluctant to do.

'He would request massages for sure. He would ask me to massage him. He would ask to massage me. So yes, things got physical very quickly as well.'

Chiu alleged the producer 'pushed her back against the bed' after the pair worked at a hotel together in Venice, Italy, in 1998. She later received a settlement.

When asked why she continued to work for Weinstein in the wake of the alleged attack Chiu said in an interview last year that she struggled to get another job.

She said in an interview with Dr Oz which airs Tuesday: 'You could lose a second pair of tights and so on and he would talk about that and he would try to get me to take them off or he would try to take them off himself.

'So it was a bit of a game, a power play if you will, where it's a struggle between something that I'm reluctant to do and something that he is keen to have me wearing as little clothes as he.'

Chiu was joined by the New York Times journalists who broke the story

Weinstein arrived at court Tuesday hunched over his walker. He is charged with raping a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing a sex act on another woman in the city in 2006. Weinstein, 67, has said any sexual activity was consensual

Los Angeles prosecutors also charged Weinstein Monday with sexually assaulting two women there on successive nights during Oscar week in 2013.

Lawyers for Weinstein had no immediate comment on the new charges, though he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Chiu was joined by reporter Jodi Kantor, one of the two New York Times journalists who broke the story.

When asked about why Weinstein was 'so worried' about Gwyneth Paltrow she told Dr. Oz: 'Well, we have a pretty strong theory on that. Now, keep in mind, this is only something we found out later, and that Gwyneth found out later once we broke the story.

'But if you really listen to Weinstein victims, to these 80 plus women who have come forward with allegations about his behavior, one of the things they say, there's a motif. They say that, he pressured me by saying, 'Don't you want what Gwyneth has? How do you think she got that Oscar?' Etc, etc.

'Essentially, implying or stating outright, Gwyneth slept with me. She submitted to my advances, and that's why she's successful in her career.'

Harvey Weinstein's former assistant speaks out exclusively about how he silenced her about his alleged rape attempt on the Dr. Oz Show on Tuesday.
Entergy New Orleans will reach its goal of installing 5 megawatts of distributed-scale solar in the city of New Orleans through its Commercial Rooftop Solar Program.



The solar program leases commercial building rooftops to install utility-owned solar that will capture the power of the sun and put clean energy directly on the electric distribution grid for the benefit of all customers.

Nearly two years ago, with approval from the New Orleans City Council, Entergy New Orleans piloted the rooftop program to help meet its commitment to install up to 100 megawatts of renewable resources, helping further decarbonize the economy and support a more sustainable New Orleans. The company reached its 5 megawatt goal for the program by building partnerships with the Regional Transit Authority, the University of New Orleans, Transportation Consultants, Inc., and local small businesses.

"Entergy New Orleans is committed to finding innovative ways to increase renewable energy for the benefit of our customers and the communities we serve," said David Ellis, Entergy New Orleans president & CEO. "It is remarkable to see how far we've come, and with the help of our partners, this forward-thinking project will bring us closer to our clean energy goals for New Orleans."

Recently, Entergy New Orleans finalized plans to expand its existing rooftop solar panel installation at Transportation Consultants' Alvar St. building, which will total approximately 1.9 megawatts once fully constructed. The addition will make Alvar St. the largest single rooftop solar system in Louisiana.

"TCI is proud to partner with Entergy in this rooftop solar program. With multiple commodity warehouses located in Orleans Parish, we were naturally a good fit to provide large rooftops for the program. We will continue developing our rooftop space for future solar investments as new opportunities arise," said Christian Jensen, representative at Transportation Consultants Inc.

The company has also partnered with two forward-thinking New Orleans small businesses, Michoud Global Properties LLC and Cantelli Almonaster Properties LLC, to install 300 kW on the roof of each property. Cantelli Almonaster is home to the Affordable Pallet Company, which recycles used pallets, putting them back into commerce and reducing environmental waste.

"Local renewable power generation provides an opportunity to reduce the amount of power purchased from outside the city, provides job opportunities for the local community and attracts companies that want to be a part of a cleaner, brighter and more sustainable future," said Seth Cureington, Entergy New Orleans director of economic development and tech innovation. "By thinking creatively, Entergy New Orleans is able to build upon our already clean energy portfolio through investments in additional innovative renewable energy in a way that makes sense for our customers and environment."

As of 2019, Entergy New Orleans has approval to add 95 megawatts of renewable energy to its clean energy mix through a combination of rooftop solar and utility-scale solar facilities, which includes the New Orleans Solar Station, a 20 megawatt self-build project to be constructed at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East.

To learn more about Entergy's commitment to the environment, visit the Climate Scenario Analysis and Evaluation of Risks and Opportunities. For more information about how Entergy New Orleans is integrating solar energy into its distribution grid for the benefit of all customers, visit entergyneworleans.com.

Entergy New Orleans, LLC is an electric and gas utility that serves Louisiana's Orleans Parish. The company provides electricity to more than 200,000 customers and natural gas to more than 106,000 customers. The company is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation.

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 9,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of $11 billion and nearly 13,700 employees.
US Deploys Reinforcements to African Base

By VOA News January 06, 2020

The United States has sent reinforcements to a military base in Kenya following Sunday's deadly attack on the base by militant group al-Shabab.

The military's Africa Command said in a statement Monday that its East Africa Response Force has arrived at the Manda Bay airfield to augment security.

AFRICOM also said it sees no indication that al-Shabab's attack was linked to Iran.

Three U.S. Department of Defense personnel were killed Sunday when al-Shabab fighters assaulted the Manda Bay airfield, which is used by Kenyan and U.S. counterterrorism forces.

A Chicago woman told local media that her son, Henry Mayfield Jr., was one of the three killed. The U.S. military has not yet identified the victims.

The Kenya Defense Forces said in a statement that five attackers were killed.

Manda Bay is used by U.S. forces to train African partner forces, respond to crises and protect U.S. interests in the region. AFRICOM said that six civilian aircraft operated by contractors were damaged in the attack.

The attack came days after al-Shabab fighters killed three people on a passenger bus in Lamu County. The Somalia-based militant group was also responsible for a massive explosion in Mogadishu that killed more than 80 people.

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By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Protest marches in solidarity with the students and teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi who were beaten up by masked goons on Sunday, were taken out on Monday in the campuses of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), University of Hyderabad (UoH)and Osmania University (OU).

Apart from students, the protests in MANUU saw the participation of teaching and non-teaching staff and family members of the staff of the university. The rally was from the Directorate of Distance Education to the main gate of the university.

At the end of the rally, various speakers from the staff and students spoke on the issue. Expressing anguish over the JNU incident, Dr Firoz Alam vehemently condemned the shameful act and said, They are the victims for raising their voice against fee hike in that university, it is that simple. Another faculty, Prof Shahida said, It is a matter of deep concern for all students and teachers, especially for girl students who do not feel safe even in university campuses. Everyone dispersed after singing the National Anthem.

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi speaks about JNU violence in Hyderabad on Monday

In UoH, students gathered in large numbers on Sunday night and conducted a protest. The UoH Students Union also gave a call for the students in varsity to boycott classes and assemble at the Life Sciences building in the university as part of nationwide strike against the CAA, all-India NRC and NPR.

In Osmania University (OU), a large number of students from the campus as well as from other educational institutions in the city gathered to conduct protest march in the morning, holding placards and raising slogans demanding action against the culprits of the JNU incident.

Flash protest at Darulshifa

A flash protest broke out at Darulshifa grounds in Old City. A couple of hundred people participated in the flash protest which carried on for an hour. It was undertaken under the supervision of Maulana Jaffar Pasha.A protester at the venue said, We are condemning the violence and standing in solidarity with the violence. BJP is now targeting students and universities, which means it is not a issue of politics anymore. It is BJP against students. They are trying to make educational institutes into a war zone.

All India Muslim Personal Law Board Member Asma Zohra said, The government claimed power with our votes and if it fails to protect our sons and daughters, it must dissolve and vacate the corridors of power. The fight and the protests are against unconstitutional moves, and to protect the constitution that is why the government must retract its unconstitutional decisions and restore peace in the nation.

Asaduddin Owaisi @asadowaisi

In solidarity with the brave students of JNU. This cruel attack is meant to punish JNU students because they dared to stand up. Its so bad that even Union Ministers are tweeting helplessly. Modi Sarkar must answer why cops are siding with goons
Thousands of US paratroopers and Marines are being deployed to positions for striking targets in Iran as the Trump administration prepares to follow up the murder of General Qassem Suleimani with new and greater imperialist war crimes.

The US military build-up comes amid extraordinary scenes of mass anger and outrage, not only in Iran but also in several other countries in the Middle East with large Shiite populations and religious and political links to Tehran.

Millions turned out in the Iranian capital itself to pay tribute to Suleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for the past 20 years and a leading figure in Irans efforts to combat the Sunni terrorist group ISIS, as well as in support of the Lebanese Hezbollah movement and the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad.

Coffins of Gen. Qassem Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a U.S. drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession at the Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

The crowds were said by observers to be the largest in Tehran since the funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, in 1989. Hundreds of thousands more turned out in Isfahan, Ahwaz and other Iranian cities. Suleimani is to be buried Tuesday in Kerman, the city of his birth.

The US troops being deployed include a specialized unit of Army Rangers, a battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment. According to a report in the Hill, Rangers are the Armys elite light infantry force, specializing in raids to kill or capture enemy leaders. At the height of the Iraq War, the Rangers led a secretive unit responsible for hunting Iranian operatives and the leaders of Iranian-backed Iraqi Shiite militias in the country, known as Task Force 17.

The military web site Army Times added, Rangers are known for airfield seizures and direct action raids. During joint forcible entry operations, Rangers assault and secure airports and terminals for follow-on operations, including mass airdrops of paratroopers and equipment, until eventually aircraft can land and unload equipment and supplies on the ground The 75th Ranger Regiment is also known for conducting direct action raids to capture or kill high value targets.

Qassem Suleimani was one such high value target, albeit in his case the attack was mounted by a drone-fired missile. But the troops being deployed to the Middle East could well be used to capture or assassinate pro-Iranian militants in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, or to mount cross-border operations into Iran itself.

The mobilization of the Army Rangers gives substance to the comments made by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a series of Sunday television interviews, when he directly threatened that Suleimani might not be the last Iranian leader targeted by the US military. Any retaliation by Iran for the killing of Suleimani would meet a US response that would be borne by Iran and its leadership itself, he said.

Other forces dispatched in recent days include a brigade of 4,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, deployed to Kuwait, and 2,000 Marines on board the USS Bataan, who were diverted from planned war games off the coast of Africa to take up positions in the Persian Gulf. An Army unit stationed in Italy was alerted for possible deployment to the Middle East.

The Pentagon also mobilized an undisclosed number of soldiers for deployment to Kenya, where the Somali Islamic group Al-Shabab has staged two attacks on US military targets in the past week.

The mass outpouring of popular outrage over Suleimanis murder and hatred for US imperialism was indicative of a growing wave of strikes and protests by workers and youth around the world against social inequality, war and repression.

The funeral convoy for Suleimani proceeded first from Baghdad through southern Iraq, stopping in Najaf and Karbala, holy cities for Shiite Islam, before moving east into the Iranian province of Khuzestan, then north to Tehran. There the coffins of Suleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, another victim of the US drone missile strike on January 3, were passed along over the heads of the huge crowd of mourners.

There was another massive turnout of more than one million people in the Yemeni city of Saada, which is controlled by the Houthi movement, affiliated with the Zaidi branch of Shiism. An honorary funeral for Suleimani was also held by Lebanons Hezbollah movement on Sunday, mobilizing tens of thousands.

Media reports cited the remarks of Suleimanis daughter Zeinab, broadcast over Iranian state television, warning that the assassination would bring a dark day for the United States. Crazy Trump, dont think that everything is over with my fathers martyrdom, she said.

Iranian leaders cited the huge turnout in the streets as an answer to Trumps threats against their country. Have you EVER seen such a sea of humanity in your life, @realdonaldtrump? Irans foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, wrote on Twitter, addressing the US president. And do you still imagine you can break the will of this great nation & its people?

Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared, Americans made a foolish move by assassinating Suleimani, and they must leave the region, the Iranian news service Fars reported. If they do not leave the region, they will face another Vietnam, this time in the Middle East, Velayati said.

The Iranian government announced Sunday that it was suspending its remaining commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal with six world powersChina, Russia, Germany, France, Britain and the United States. Trump pulled the US out of the deal in 2018 and unilaterally imposed illegal financial and trade sanctions, tantamount to economic warfare, which have crippled the Iranian economy. Iran has continued to observe some of the treaty limitations on its nuclear power activities, but the European powers have refused to defy US threats and maintain trade and investment ties.

The Suleimani assassination continues to drive diplomatic and military discussions, not only in the Middle East but around the world.

In Iraq, the scene of the US crime, there was confusion among US military officials Monday as the commander of US forces in Iraq sent a note to the Iraqi government acknowledging the vote of the Iraqi Parliament Sunday to demand the withdrawal of all US forces from the country. The US officer said that US troops would be shifting their positions within the country in preparation for actual pullout. Within hours of this note being reported in the press, the Pentagon issued a statement flatly denying any intention of removing US troops from Iraq.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One as he flew from his vacation home in Florida back to the White House, President Trump threatened very big sanctions on Iraq if the Iraqi government made good on its threat to demand a US withdrawal (the resolution passed by the Parliament was non-binding). Bullying Iraq just as he sought to bully Iran, he said that Iraq would have to come up with billions of dollars to repay the cost of the US airbase at al-Asad, which has been the center of US military operations in the region for more than a decade.

Also Monday, the Saudi defense minister flew to Washington for urgent consultations with the Pentagon. Saudi Arabia is the largest single purchaser of American-made weapons, most of them bought with an eye to eventual war with Iran. The Saudi oilfields were the target in September of drone attacks by the Houthis in Yemen, an act of retaliation for the protracted Saudi war against the people of Yemen, which has produced one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

The NATO alliance held an emergency meeting of ambassadors in Brussels Monday to discuss the crisis in Iraq and Iran. They heard a video presentation from US officials about the killing of Suleimani, after which NATO officials declared their full support.

We are united in condemning Irans support of a variety of different terrorist groups, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. At the meeting today, allies called for restraint and de-escalation. A new conflict would be in no ones interest. So, Iran must refrain from further violence and provocations.

The imperialist hypocrisy is staggering. The calls for restraint are directed against Iran, the victim of US military violence, while the US assassination of Irans most prominent military official draws support rather than censure. Officials who attended the meeting said no ambassador raised any objection to the drone missile killing during the briefing by State Department and Pentagon officials. There was also no discussion, let alone criticism, of Trumps threat to destroy 52 sites in Iran, including cultural sites, in the event of an Iranian retaliation for the Suleimani killing.

The unease among some of the leading NATO members, including Germany and France, is obvious, however. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to travel Saturday to Moscow, along with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, for consultations on the crisis with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This will follow Wednesdays meeting between Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul.

In Washington, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Democratic members that she would support the introduction of a War Powers Resolution limiting any US military hostilities with Iran to 30 days, unless a formal congressional authorization was enacted. This is a completely cynical and toothless measure on at least two grounds.

First, even if it were to pass the House, the Republican-controlled Senate would not take it up and Trump would likely ignore it.

Second, a 30-day limit on military action amounts to giving Trump an incentive for massive bomb and missile strikes, including the use of nuclear weapons. He has already tweeted the threat that, in the event of any Iranian retaliation for the killing of Suleimani, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner.

It should be recalled that last summer, Trump expressed the desire to end the war in Afghanistan with a quick military victory. I could win that war in a week, I just dont want to kill 10 million people, he said, adding, Afghanistan would be wiped off the face of the earth. Similar dangers now threaten the people of Iran and the entire world.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 13:52:50|Editor: huaxia

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LHASA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region strengthened ecological protection with more investment earmarked for 2019, according to the ongoing third session of the 11th People's Congress of the region.

There was a 20-percent growth of investment in ecological protection in 2019, said Qizhala, chairman of the regional government, in the government work report delivered Tuesday at the session.

Dubbed as the "world's third pole," Tibet is one of the regions with the best environmental quality in the world.

In 2019, various types of ecological compensation, awards and subsidies totalled 9.77 billion yuan (1.4 billion U.S. dollars). The regional government designated 17 counties, 213 towns and 2,373 villages as key ecological security barrier areas for strict ecological supervision, Qizhala said.

In 2019, 4,058 people moved out of extremely high altitude areas, and 86,667 hectares of afforestation coverage was added in Tibet.

Qizhala said the region will continue carrying out a strict ecological protection mechanism, tightening supervision on resource exploitation and improving ecological protection and restoration efforts in protecting the region's forests, grasslands, wetlands and biodiversity, building ecological safety barriers and curbing desertification and soil erosion.

"The year 2020 is the final year of the country's 13th Five-Year Plan. Tibet will make sure all major ecological protection tasks meet the targets," Qizhala said.

He said the region will start the building of the Tibet part of the planned Sanjiangyuan National Park this year, which is home to the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers.
White House Correspondents' Association President Jonathan Karl called the lack of transparency surrounding President Trump's meeting with the Saudi Arabia's deputy defense minister "disturbing," adding Monday's unannounced Oval Office visit broke precedent.

The big picture: Photos of the meeting, which included several senior White House advisers, were tweeted out Tuesday by Saudi Arabia's deputy defense minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, indicating he delivered a message to Trump from his brother, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Background: After Trump's decision to kill Iranian general Qasem Soleimani last week, Prince Khalid was urgently sent to Washington for fear that Saudi Arabia could get caught up in the rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

Read the statement:

"President Trump met with Saudi Arabias Vice Minister of Defense at the White House yesterday, but the public did not learn about the meeting until the Saudi government released a statement about it today. The Saudi government also released photographs of the President and his senior advisers meeting with the Vice Minister of Defense in the Oval Office. A meeting with a foreign leader in the Oval Office should, at the very least, be on the public schedule with a read-out of the meeting released after it is over. This has been the long-standing precedent for presidents of both political parties. It is disturbing to see the government of Saudi Arabia have more transparency than the White House about a meeting with the President in the Oval Office."

 Jonathan Karl, president, White House Correspondents' Association

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United Methodist Church leaders officially propose split over gay marriage, clergy

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United Methodist Church leaders have proposed a plan that would formally split the denomination after years of division over non-celibate LGBT clergy and same-sex marriage, with the formation of a new denomination for Methodists who hold to a biblical understanding of marriage and sexuality.

The proposal, released Friday from a 16-member group of bishops and church leaders on both sides of the debate, says a separation was "the best means to resolve our differences, allowing each part of the Church to remain true to its theological understanding, while recognizing the dignity, equality, integrity, and respect of every person."

Under the nine-page plan, a new traditionalist Methodist denomination would be created for more conservative Methodists. The new denomination would continue to hold to a biblical understanding of marriage and oppose the ordination of non-celibate gay and lesbian clergy.

Conservative churches that leave would be given $25 million to start their own denomination, under the new agreement. Additionally, clergy members who leave would keep their United Methodist Church pensions.

Meanwhile, the remaining portion of the United Methodist Church would permit same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy for the first time in its history.

The United Methodist Church is the United States largest mainline Protestant denomination.

A restructuring of the denomination over LGBT issues had been anticipated since last February, when 53% of church leaders and lay members voted to maintain its traditional stance against same-sex marriage and non-celibate gay clergy. As laid out in the Book of Discipline, the UMC defines homosexuality as incompatible with Christian teaching.

In the months following, a plan was put together by a 16-member committee of bishops and other church representatives with the help of Kenneth Feinberg, a mediation expert who handled the compensation fund for victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The United Methodist Church and its members  after careful reflection, discussion and prayer  have fundamental differences regarding their understanding and interpretation of Scripture, theology and practice, notes the proposal.

The proposal requires approval by the 2020 General Conference in May, according to UM News. Drafting of legislation is still underway for the legislative assembly, which is the only body that speaks for the 13 million global denomination. Conservative and liberal church leaders said they expect the agreement to pass.

The solution that we received is a welcome relief to the conflict we have been experiencing, said pro-LGBT pastor Thomas Berlin, according to The New York Times. I am very encouraged that the United Methodist Church found a way to offer a resolution to a long conflict.



Keith Boyette, a signatory to the deal who is president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a collection of more than 1,000 conservative congregations that oppose same-sex marriage, told The Wall Street Journal that with the new proposal, the church has essentially put this conflict behind us.

For traditionalists, we can now focus on the next steps. That would not be achievable if there were not this kind of plan in place, he said, adding that he, along with other members of the association, had already put out a draft book of bylaws that a new, traditionalist denomination could use.

He estimated that as much as 30 to 40% of the denomination in the U.S. would leave the United Methodist Church.

The Washington Post notes that Fridays announcement came as new sanctions were set to go into effect, including suspension and/or expulsion for clergy who officiate same-sex weddings.

However, leaders from liberal and conservative groups signed an agreement saying they will postpone those sanctions and instead vote to split at the worldwide churchs May general conference, according to the Post.

The United Methodist Church has fought bitterly about LGBT inclusion for years, with some church leaders seeing a split as inevitable.

In December, the 2,800-member Grace Fellowship UMC of Katy, Texas, voted to leave the mainline denomination because of its debate over homosexuality.

Jim Leggett, the founding pastor of Grace Fellowship, told The Christian Post that his congregation wanted to remove ourselves from the dysfunctional fighting going on in the United Methodist Church so that we can fully devote our energies to fulfilling the mission and vision that God has given to us.

At one point, we looked up and noticed that we were spending easily 30 percent of our leadership meeting time discussing the issues of the UMC, and we realized that this was not good stewardship of our time and resources for the Kingdom of God, said Leggett.

In the last year, it has become clear to us that despite having biblical standards of morality on paper in the denominations Book of Discipline, the leadership of the United Methodist Church is unable or unwilling to live by those standards.

The details of the agreement are outlined in the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, which was released today.
Already, this flu season had doctors worried as it became widespread earlier on than the virus usually does - and now the holidays seem to have fueled a further spike in illnesses across the US.

Flu is now widespread in 45 out of the 50 US states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) latest data.

During the week after Christmas - ending in December 28 - more than 12,000 Americans tested positive for the flu, accounting for more than 20 percent of overall diagnoses this season.

Although the flu season is on its annual upswing this time of year any way, the travel and togetherness of the holidays may help fuel the lat December spike.

In an unusually early surge, flu cases have hit 6.4 million in the US and diagnoses confirmed the week of Christmas (far right bar) accounted for 20% of those made all season. The flu this year is driven by an unusual dominant strain: influenza B (green)

The first flu death of the 2019-2020 season was reported in California in September - an unusually early point for a fatality to occur.

At the time, experts were hesitant to cause panic, but warned that it could be a harbinger of a harsh season that would come on quickly.

They were right to be concerned.

Already, an estimated 6.4 million Americans have come down with the flu, the CDC said on Friday.

By the end of the final week of the deaths of 27 children in the US had already been reported.

Never before have so many children perished in so early in a flu season since the CDC started tracking pediatric deaths 17 years ago.

In part, this season has been unusually lethal to kids because its followed an unusual pattern.

'Children are at higher risk this flu season primarily due to a greater susceptibility to influenza B, the dominant strain we are seeing so far,' Dr Robert Glatter, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital told DailyMail.com in an email.

'Compared to influenza A, Influenza B is a more stable type of flu, not undergoing much change from prior years. As a result, a large number of adults are immune from previous exposure.

'As a result, its children and teens who are most at risk.'

In turn, children may be more likely to pass the flu on to adults.

Flu is now widespread in 45 states, with high activity levels (red) in most of them, as a CDC map shows

Children tend to have poorer hygiene practices - especially hand-washing - than do their adult counterparts and relatives.

Proper hand-washing with warm water and soap kills germs and mechanically removes them.

But when kids, who are more susceptible to the flu virus any way, skip or cut short hand-washing, they're more liable to spread it to others around them.

And as families gathered for the holidays, more children may have been packed together in tighter spaces and exchanged more hugs and kisses with relatives - a ripe environment for flu transmission.

The week of December 28 was just the latest spike in a generally active flu season, however.

'We are hoping that the current uptick in flu cases will start to dissipate, otherwise this could be quite concerning,' said Dr Glatter.

'Already this season, flu activity has surpassed the peak for the 2014-2015 season, and is headed toward the peak seen for the quite deadly 2017-2018 season.

'The best way to protect yourself is to get a flu shot, and by washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.'
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Marine veteran Lyndon Villone is never without his service dog, Ice, by his side.

"Ice is a Siberian husky, and he just turned 8 in July," Villone shared.

Villone suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after returning from Iraq and learning he lost six fellow soldiers to suicide.

"It was after that that I brought the shotgun back to my parent's house and went to sleep with him underneath the picnic table," Villone added.

"Unfortunately, the statistics show that 20 veterans a day are taking their own life, but that's underreported," said Cheryl Krause-Parello, the director of Canines Providing Assistance to Wounded Warriors (C-P.A.W.W.) and a professor at Florida Atlantic University.

Krause-Parello first witnessed the bond between Villone and Ice.

"It was like watching him pet his trauma away," continued Krause-Parello.

She created C-P.A.W.W. to study the connection between them.

"They can help them sleep better, get off medications that maybe they were on for insomnia, anxiety," said Krause-Parello.

Her team uses saliva samples from veterans to measure stress levels.

"People are really looking at this now as alternative, non-pharmacological intervention," stated Krause-Parello.

"I spent 15 months in Iraq," said Austin Capers, a U.S. Army combat veteran.

Capers was taking anti-depressants before meeting his boxer, Rita.

"I think had I not had Rita in my life, I would still be on those today," said Capers.

Krause-Parello said veterans returning to civilian life need a purpose these pets can provide, but training a service dog can cost up to $30,000.

"Service dogs for veterans with PTSD or invisible wounds, it's not reimbursable," said Krause-Parello.

She's hoping her research will change that.

"I probably would have made a very poor decision and I probably would have taken my life," Villone stated.

Krause-Parello's work through C-P.A.W.W. is funded by donations and grants. The program recently received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to follow veterans interested in training a service dog, not for themselves, but for other veterans.

Villone started his own nonprofit, called Heel the Heroes, which helps veterans reconnect to society and their families through coping mechanisms and training their own pets for emotional support.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that the government will resolve issues concerning traders and that GST would be further simplified.

Speking at the second day of the National Traders Convention of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Sitharaman assured them that the government is making all attempts to simplify and rationalise the GST tax structure to the extent that even an ordinary trader can comply with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) provisions.

"Under the chairmanship of the Revenue Secretary, a committee has been constituted, which is working day and night to explore the ways and means to simplify GST", she said.

Traders from across the country are attending the three-day convention.

Sitharaman lauded the role of the trading community for increasing the GST tax data.

CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said the body has set itself a target of enhancing the number of traders registered under GST to 2 crore.

Sitharaman said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed the trading community as his priority and in line with this, various announcements have been made by the government to facilitate traders on growing their businesses.

The Finance Ministry is seized of the problems being faced by traders in the taxation system and the government would do its utmost for providing maximum relief to traders, she said.

According to Sitharaman, while traders bring in tax revenue earners and no prudent government would like to annoy them, they, however, also need to bring their businesses into system and modernise their existing business formats.

The government plans to hold big shopping festivals across the country and will involve CAIT so that traders may get more opportunities to showcase their products, she added.
ORLANDO, Fla. (RNS)  Reinhard Bonnke, the German evangelist known as The Billy Graham of Africa, was lauded at a Saturday (Jan. 4) memorial service as a giant and a general in the army of God.

The Pentecostal pastor died Dec. 7 at the age of 79 in Orlando, where he moved his international ministry, Christ for All Nations, in the early 2000s. He retired as head of Christ for All Nations in 2017, citing declining health.

During more than four decades of mass crusades in Africa, Bonnke preached in 51 of the continents countries and claimed to have converted 79 million people to Christianity.

About 2,000 people gathered from around the U.S. and around the world in the sanctuary of the Faith Assembly of God for a three-hour celebration of Bonnkes life and ministry.

More than a dozen speakers, including a number from African ministries and denominations, lauded Bonnke, for both his zeal and his personal humility. Other Pentecostal leaders, including T.D. Jakes, Benny Hinn and Paula White, appeared on the three large screens above the sanctuarys stage with filmed tributes.

Members of the racially diverse crowd sang Bonnkes favorite hymns, waving their arms.

A large, red floral arrangement in the shape of the African continent was placed on an easel next to the speakers lectern. Along the front of the stage stood sheaves of wheat, symbolizing the harvest of Bonnkes evangelism.

Between the mornings speakers, clips of Bonnkes African crusades, some to audiences of hundreds of thousands, played on the screen.

The best known of these was in Lagos, Nigeria, in November 2000, when an estimated 1.6 million heard Bonnke preach. In 2001, Christianity Today magazine called Bonnke one of the continents most recognizable religious figures.

In a tweet after Bonnkes death, Muhammadu Buhari, the president of Nigeria, said the country joins Christendom at large in mourning the passing of renowned evangelist, Reinhard Bonnke."

Bonnke's death, Buhari said, was a great loss to Nigeria, Africa (and the) entire world.

Pia Sebastian, 46, came from Dallas to attend the celebration. In 2013, Sebastian said, she gave up a corporate career to study evangelism at one of Bonnkes training schools.

I honor Reinhard Bonnke, and I believe that Im called to carry the torch and fulfill the work of sharing the gospel, Sebastian said.

Bonnke was the son of a German soldier who became a minister after World War II. Mesmerized by tales of 19th century European missionaries like David Livingstone, young Reinhard would later say he heard the voice of the Holy Spirit say to him: Africa shall be saved!

In a Facebook post in 2018, Bonnke cited another role model.

Billy Graham has inspired me personally, he wrote after the American evangelists death in 2018. When he preached in a tent in Hamburg, Germany. I always felt connected to him.

Early in his evangelical career, Bonnke acknowledged in a 2003 interview, he made a strategic decision that proved controversial. He based his ministry in an all-white area of Johannesburg, South Africa, and did not publicly oppose the apartheid regime. Bonnke said he did make known his opposition to apartheid, but indirectly through his ministry. His associate was a black minister who always traveled with him.

I had a choice," he said. To become politically active and oppose apartheid from the pulpit. Or, to preach the gospel and make people find salvation in Jesus Christ.

Bonnkes healing claims have also drawn controversy.

"The most remarkable things are happening: blind eyes open, cripples walk, people jump out of their wheelchairs, he said in a 2003 interview with the Orlando Sentinel.

I am as amazed as anybody else. It is just too wonderful. But I personally am not the miracle worker  it is Jesus.

Bonnke's followers claimed that he did in fact perform a miracle. In November 2001, they say, the evangelist raised a Nigerian minister from the dead.

The Rev. Daniel Ekechukwu was twice pronounced dead after a car crash, according to the story, and embalmed  although by African custom his organs were not removed. Three days later, after hearing a prophecy, his wife brought the body to the basement of a church where Bonnke was praying in the sanctuary above.

At the same time, others later told the evangelist, Ekechukwu sat bolt upright and began to breathe again.

That man was dead as a stone," Bonnke said, although he did not know the man was in the church basement at the time he was preaching above. There is no doubt about it.

Christ for All Nations ministry officials investigated the account, Bonnke said, and found it to be so true, so genuine, so fantastic that they embraced it as a miracle, and produced and distributed a video on the episode.

Rick DuBose, assistant general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, lauded Bonnke for his decades of missionary work.

Bonnke "literally pushed back the darkness," he said.

Toward the end of his career, Bonnke held his first crusades in the United States, a country he said needed to experience Gods power.

"I have seen whole countries shaken by the power of God," he told Jeff Kunerth of the Orlando Sentinel in 2013. "That experience in Africa has turned me into an incurable believer that God will do it in other parts of the world as well. And I pray for America."

(Religion writer Mark I. Pinsky covered Reinhard Bonnke's career for the Orlando Sentinel until 2008.)

READ THIS STORY AT RELIGIONNEWS.COM

Article originally published by Religion News Service. Used with permission.

Photo courtesy: RNS/Reinhard Bonnke/Sarah M. Brown
Mumbai police on Tuesday filed an FIR against the woman holding the controversial "Free Kashmir" placard during a protest against the JNU violence at Gateway of India on Monday.

Images and videos of the woman holding up a large poster with the words "Free Kashmir" written in big bold letters at the Gateway of India protest went viral.

They triggered outrage among BJP leaders and many social media users who asked how can such "separatist elements" be tolerated in the city.

The FIR has been registered against the woman, Mehak Mirza Prabhu, under section 153 B of IPC, a Mumbai police spokesperson said.

In a video statement, Mehak Prabhu, a resident of Mumbai, said through the poster she was just highlighting the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, which had been put under a slew of communication curbs post revocation of its special status by the Centre on August 5.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Trump administration is considering publishing its long-awaited Israeli-Palestinian peace plan before Israel's March 2nd elections, Israeli officials tell me.

Why it matters: The plan's release would be a potential bombshell that could influence the results of the elections.

Context: The release of the peace plan was postponed twice in the lead-up to Israeli elections, with the White House saying it did not want to interfere with Israel's political process.

While the White House has not made its final decision, Trump envoy Avi Berkowitz's visit to Israel this week was part of the preparations for a possible launch of the peace plan, the Israeli officials say.

Berkowitz met on Monday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and today with the leader of the opposition Blue and White party, Benny Gantz. He discussed the peace plan with both leaders.

The plan has had to be updated as a result of nearly one year of postponements, though it's not clear what those updates consist of.

What to watch: Senior members of Blue and White are concerned the plan's release could serve the interests of Netanyahu, who is campaigning despite three corruption indictments.

One of Netanyahu's main campaign promises is to annex the Jordan Valley in the West Bank. If that step is included in the U.S. peace plan, it could give him an edge over Gantz.

The White House declined to comment.
Israel Braces for Possible Retaliation After Soleimani Killing

By Linda Gradstein January 06, 2020

Israel is on high alert fearing possible retaliation for the U.S. killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. President Donald Trump has stepped up his rhetoric and Iranian leaders are threatening both the U.S. and Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasted no time in praising President Trump for the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards leader Qassem Soleimani.

"Just as Israel has the right of self-defense, the United States has the same right. Qassem Soleimani is responsible for the death of American citizens and many other innocent people. He was planning more such attacks. President Trump deserves all the credit for acting swiftly, forcefully, decisively. Israel stands with the United States in its just struggle for peace, security and self-defense," he said.

Netanyahu also cut short a trip to Greece to return home immediately. Israel is concerned that retaliation could come either directly from Iran or through the Iranian proxy Hezbollah. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the killing was the start of a new war with the U.S., and called on Shi'ite militias to attack U.S. military assets throughout the Middle East. He also said that Israel had asked the U.S. to kill Soleimani.

Trump has threatened to target 52 Iranian sites if Tehran retaliates against U.S. interests.

Israeli officials say Hezbollah has more than 100,000 rockets that can hit all parts of the country. At the same time, they do not believe that Hezbollah wants an all-out war with Israel.

Israel closed the Mount Hermon ski resort on the border with Syria and Lebanon on Friday, fearing possible attacks, and kept it closed Saturday because of a major storm in the area. It is now open, however, meaning that intelligence officials do not believe an attack is imminent.

Israel also urged its embassies abroad to step up security procedures, fearing possible retaliation; but, Israel's former chief of military intelligence said it is more likely that any retaliation will focus on U.S. interests.

Israeli analysts also debated how serious a blow the death of Soleimani will be to Iran. Dan Orbach, a military historian, told Israel Radio that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards are known to be decentralized and that Soleimani's killing will not paralyze the organization.

"On the other hand, Soleimani was a very charismatic person  he had a lot of experience, he had a lot of knowledge. He [was] directing operations especially in the Arab world and against Israel. We don't know for certain but his successor, Ismail Raraby, probably does not even speak Arabic," Orbach said.

Israeli officials say they will continue to stay on high alert both in Israel and abroad for several months.

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The Supreme Judicial Court on Thursday will hear arguments in a case that could create a new right to a court-appointed attorney, paid for by the state, for people at risk of jail time for failure to pay child support.

Today, indigent defendants in criminal cases are entitled to a public defender, as are litigants in DCF-related cases and people facing civil commitment for mental health or substance abuse matters or in guardianship cases. An effort is afoot to expand that right to tenants and landlords in eviction cases. Some assistance is also available to poor civil litigants through legal aid organizations.

In this case, Department of Revenue vs. Joshua Grullon, Grullon argued that he should have been entitled to a court-appointed attorney because he faced jail time.

Martin Healy, general counsel of the Massachusetts Bar Association, which filed an amicus brief in support of Grullon, said the goal is to level the playing field between the parent who owes child support and the Department of Revenue, which often represents the custodial parent.

Youre dealing with laypeople going into an imposing situation in a courtroom with a judge going against a highly trained attorney for the Department of Revenue, Healy said. People dont feel comfortable, dont know how to assert their rights in that situation.

We recognized whenever an indigent individual is facing any kind of imprisonment or loss of liberty, they should be entitled to counsel before they risk that liberty, Healy said.

Grullon and his wife divorced in 2017, and Grullon was ordered to pay $123 a week in child support. He fell behind by more than $5,600, and faced a hearing in Essex County Probate and Family Court. Grullon obtained limited help from Veterans Legal Services but did not have a lawyer at the hearing.

The Department of Revenue asked that Grullon be incarcerated. After an eight-minute hearing, a judge ordered him jailed for 10 days unless he could pay $500. Grullon served the 10 days in jail.

In addition to challenging other aspects of the judges order, Grullon is arguing that he should have been eligible for a court-appointed attorney. Both the Massachusetts Constitution and the Constitution of the United States protect an indigent defendant's right to due process before the government may incarcerate him, Grullons attorneys wrote in a court brief. Here, in Mr. Grullon's civil contempt hearing for failure to pay child support, he faced likely imprisonment, and therefore the Probate Court should have appointed counsel to represent him.

The Department of Revenue argues that courts should not require appointed counsel for indigent defendants in child support cases. The department wrote that the question of a parents ability to pay can, in most cases, be decided without a lawyer. Rather, courts can institute other safeguards to protect the parent from incarceration, such as determining and taking into account the parents ability to pay or allowing for structured repayment.

Under state law, a parent can be jailed for refusing to pay child support, but only if a judge determines that the parent can actually afford to pay the debt.

Civil contempt proceedings based on nonpayment of child support are typically legally and factually straightforward, attorneys for the Department of Revenue wrote. While significant liberty interests may be implicated in civil contempt proceedings, those interests can be adequately protected by substitute procedural safeguards that do not require recognizing an automatic right to counsel.

The department said creating a right to counsel could be unfair to the parent to whom child support is owed.

The Massachusetts Bar Association and the Boston Bar Association both weighed in on behalf of Grullon, arguing that indigent defendants should have a right to counsel in civil contempt cases for failure to pay child support in which there is a realistic risk of loss of personal liberty by imprisonment for debt.

There is no substitute for having competent attorneys on both sides of a case to increase the probability of a correct decision and to avoid the slightest appearance that particular litigants or attorneys obtain preferential treatment or wield undue influence over the outcome of court proceedings, attorneys for the bar associations wrote.

The attorneys groups say calculating someones ability to pay can be complex, and the average indigent defendant is no match for Department of Revenue attorneys.

Court ordered imprisonment for a debt one cannot pay, at the request of government attorneys in a judicial proceeding at which an indigent defendant had no legal counsel, violates the due process of law guaranteed by our Massachusetts Constitution, the bar associations wrote.

The Committee for Public Counsel Services, which would be responsible for providing the attorneys, wrote a letter to the SJC supporting a right to counsel. CPCS wrote that judges must strike a difficult balance in determining that the client is indigent, but also that the client can pay the child support judgement. Without an attorney, someone who owes money may be unable to prove that they cannot pay child support, and therefore may be improperly incarcerated.

None of the briefs directly address the additional cost to the public defenders office  and therefore to taxpayers  of providing these attorneys.

The bar associations brief says only a small percentage of child support cases result in incarceration. Healy said the Massachusetts Bar Association was unable to estimate how many cases would require an attorney and how much that would cost.

Correction: An update was made to clarify who is entitled to a public defender today.
There is still up to a 50 percent chance that Paris Notre Dame cathedral may not be salvaged almost a year after a devastating fire engulfed the beloved site.

Notre Dame is not saved because ... there is an extremely important step ahead, which is to remove the scaffolding that had been built around the spire before the fire, Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin told French broadcaster CNews. "The cathedral is still in a state of peril."

There is still a significant chance the scaffolding may fall on the cathedrals vaulted ceilings.

The current condition of the vaults is unknown as more observations and work are required before moving forward in the renovation. The spire was undergoing renovation when the fire broke out in April last year.

The scaffolding is due to be removed by the middle of this year and restoration work should commence in 2021. French President Emmanuel Macron said he wants the renovation completed by 2024, when Paris hosts the Olympic games, but experts have said that is not a realistic timeframe.

More than $1 billion (922 million) has been pledged to renovation efforts, Georgelin said, and about half of it has already been received by the church.

No decision has yet been made as to how the spire and roof will be rebuilt, nor what materials the renovation team will choose.

There have been numerous arguments in Paris whether or not to reconstruct the spire exactly as it was or to replace it with something more modern and symbolic. The spire wasnt part of the original cathedral but added in 1859. France will host a design competition later this year for spire redesigns.

In June it was reported that the fire was a result of negligence, meaning either a cigarette that was not put out properly or an electrical misalignment could have caused the fire.
Joe Bastianich Photo: FOX Image Collection via Getty Images

The office of Letitia James, the New York State attorney general, is investigating the restaurant group owned by Joe Bastianich, the former partner of disgraced celebrity chef Mario Batali. The restaurant group was previously known as Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group and is now called RSC Management Services, after officially cutting ties with Batali late last winter, a lengthy process that began when multiple sexual-misconduct reports surfaced in various media outlets, including the New York Times and 60 Minutes, starting in December 2017. Prior to the first report, published in Eater, the group had reported more than $250 million in annual revenue.

At a press conference today, James announced that her office also brokered a settlement in which, according to the Times, the Spotted Pigs principal owner, Ken Friedman, has agreed to pay $240,000 and a share of his profits to 11 former employees who have accused him of sexual harassment, retaliation, and discrimination. Friedman will also step down as an operator of the Spotted Pig and will no longer have any role in its operations or management.

At that conference, James also announced that her office is actively investigating Batali and his former business partner. According to a person who spoke with investigators, the inquiry involves the restaurant groups handling of past sexual-harassment complaints, which extend beyond Batali, and whether the companys actions were inappropriate. Its notable that the investigation is occurring after the company officially severed ties with Batali ten months ago.

at spotted pig press conference, AG letitia james on mario batali: "As a result of our investigation, we have received credible information about his alleged actions, and separately, we are looking into him, his business partner, his management company, and his three restaurants"  maria yagoda (@mariayagoda) January 7, 2020

The ongoing investigation into RSC could challenge the assertion Bastianich has repeatedly made that he was in the dark about the full extent of Batalis behavior. Echoing previous statements, Bastianich told the Times in March, While I never saw or heard of Mario groping an employee, I heard him say inappropriate things to our employees. Though I criticized him for it from time to time, I should have done more. I neglected my responsibilities as I turned my attention away from the restaurants. People were hurt, and for this I am deeply sorry.

While the company immediately distanced itself from Batali in late 2017, employees have repeatedly voiced skepticism about whether Bastianichs claim of ignorance is credible. Today, the company is lead by Bastianich; his sister, Tanya Bastianich Manuali; his mother, chef Lidia Bastianich; and chef Nancy Silverton. Additionally, after Batali stepped away from the group, but before his ties were officially cut, a new human-resources director, Missy Adriazola, was brought on as well.

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Ghassan Salame says Libyans are suffering as a result of the unrest and foreign countries should keep out.

The United Nations special envoy to Libya on Monday said he was angry at foreign interference in the war-torn country, as the Security Council expressed concern at the recent escalation in fighting.

I am really angry to see that everybody wants to talk about Libya and very few people want to talk about the Libyans, what happens to the Libyans, Ghassan Salame said after a two-hour meeting with the UN Security Council.

Enough is enough, the Libyans have suffered enough, he added.

Asked about Turkeys decision to deploy troops in Libya to support the United Nations-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, Salame responded that the country is suffering too much from foreign interferences in different ways.

What I asked these countries is very clear: keep out of Libya. There is enough weapons in Libya, they dont need extra weapons.





There are enough mercenaries in Libya, so stop sending mercenaries, as it is the case right now, he said, estimating the number of foreign fighters in the country to be in the hundreds, probably thousands.

The Security Council held a closed-door meeting on Libya on Monday and after the session with Salame, expressed concern at the spike in unrest.

The council reiterates the need to comply with the [UN] arms embargo and cease foreign interference, it said in a statement.

Russia has denied direct involvement with Russian mercenaries who are reported to have been operating in Libya since last summer in support of renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, who is battling the Tripoli government and whose forces said on Monday they had taken control of the coastal city of Sirte.

Get out of the Libya nightmare, said Salame, reminding members of an arms embargo on the country since 2011, when an uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Thats what I am asking all the countries to remain outside this situation because there is no military solution.

Salame also criticised the Security Councils failure to reach an agreement on a ceasefire resolution, which it has been trying to draw up since April.

Libya is not only a geopolitical story, it is also a human story. And people are suffering. But there is no international clear message, the special envoy said.

Asked about the timing of an international conference called by Germany and which is provisionally slated for the end of January, Salame said he hoped the gathering would be held as soon as possible.

A diplomatic source said a scheduled meeting in Moscow on Saturday between German leader Angela Merkel and her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin could prove decisive to the conference if Putin agreed to attend. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also been invited.
The head of the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) has hit out at the Government's plans to introduce calorie information on menus.

RAI CEO Adrian Cummins criticised the proposed new legislation, which would see displaying calories on menus becoming mandatory for all restaurants, pubs, catering establishments and eateries.

The Deaprtment of Health says the proposal aims to "ensure that calorie information is available at the point of choice for the consumer" as more consumers opt for take-aways, eating on the go, and restaurant meals.

"Its objective is to empower customers to make informed choices about the food they consume and provide the information they need to manage their calorie intake."

Mr Cummins said it is "nanny-statism at its best" and will cost the State millions of euro.

It looks like this proposed legislation for presenting calories on menus is being rammed through by the Government with little thought about the negative effects it will have," he said.

"Enforcing calorie count menus will cost the State tens of millions of euro to implement, money that would quite frankly be better spent elsewhere. Chefs will also be spending more and more time doing paperwork than in the kitchen, which will do nothing to make the career more appealing when we are facing a chef shortage."

Mr Cummins has called for more food education in primary and secondary schools instead.

The RAI has called on its members to make a submission to The Department of Health's consultation with food businesses on the introduction of mandatory calorie posting on menus.
Tehran, Iran

Iran's supreme leader wept Monday over the casket of a top general killed in a U.S. airstrike, his prayers joining the wails of mourners who flooded the streets of Tehran demanding retaliation against America.

The funeral for Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani drew a crowd said by police to be in the millions in the Iranian capital.

Authorities later brought his remains and those of the others to Iran's holy city of Qom, turning out another massive crowd.

The outpouring of grief was an unprecedented honor for a man viewed by Iranians as a national hero.

His slaying already has pushed Tehran to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Soleimani's daughter, Zeinab, directly threatened the U.S. military in the Middle East while also warning President Donald Trump, whom she called "crazy."

"The families of the American soldiers ... will spend their days waiting for the death of their children," she said to cheers.

Her language mirrored warnings by other Iranian officials who say an attack on U.S. military interests in the Middle East looms.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei prayed over the caskets of Soleimani and others at Tehran University after a brief mourning period at the capital's famed Musalla mosque.

Khamenei, who had a close relationship with Soleimani and referred to him as a "living martyr," broke down in tears four times while offering Muslim prayers for the dead.

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

"We promise to continue down martyr Soleimani's path ... and in return for his martyrdom we aim to get rid of America from the region," said Esmail Ghaani, Soleimani's successor.

On the nuclear deal, Iran now says it won't observe the accord's restrictions on fuel enrichment, on the size of its enriched uranium stockpile and on its research and development activities. That's a much-harsher step than they had planned to take before the attack.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have urged Iran to "withdraw all measures" not in line with the deal.

Iran insisted it remains open to negotiations with European partners over its nuclear program. And it did not back off from earlier promises that it wouldn't seek a nuclear weapon.

However, the announcement represents the clearest nuclear proliferation threat yet made by Iran since Trump unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018.
Never Again Again

I may not get around very much these days. I may not see and hear everything that's going on. But in all of the "news" coverage of the vicious attacks on Jewish people in the streets, lately, or even in their own homes at Chanukah, there has been a highly conspicuous absence of one vital concept. Forget all of the mindless blather about "hate". Hate is a ghost. It's an immortal ghost. Trying to fight hate is like trying to nail Jell-o to a wall. After all of the empty, futile moaning and groaning on TV, what we have here is a practical problem that can only be solved by practical means.

I have been called a widely-recognized expert on the ethics of self-defense. I am a freelance writer by trade. I am not religious at all. Yet I was chosen to write for a Jewish civil rights organization about twenty years ago. I wrote two books for them and hundreds of essays like this one. In the end, they were generous enough to make me an honorary Life Member, something I treasure as much as my hard-earned rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts of America.

That organization was, and remains today, Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership. It was the conviction of their illustrious founder and leader, the late, great Aaron Zelman, that if Jews had possessed personal weapons in Germany in the 1930s, and refused to give them up, there would never have been a Nazi Holocaust. Many a hand-wringing "liberal" idiot -- for example, the thick-headed, myopic leadership of the Anti-Defamation League, which might be more accurately labeled "We Who Refuse To Learn From History" -- argued with Aaron about that, but I agreed with him wholeheartedly, having written the first novel that I know of -- 1980's The Probability Broach -- advocating that everybody in society should be armed. I was more than happy to help him spread the message any way I could.

The historical problem of Nazi Germany in the 1930s might have been solved the Swiss way, with a competent battle rifle -- yes, a "weapon of war" -- in every home. Try not to faint on the coffee table, Mrs. Grundy. Today's war against soulless evil and mindless violence needs to be fought with different weapons, personal weapons, weapons that we carry with us all the time. That recent attempted mass shooting in a Texas church should give us a clue. The murderer was armed with some kind of shotgun. The cool, heroic defender put him down with a single round from a SIG Sauer P229, a lightweight and handy concealable high-capacity 9mm pistol. I have professional objections to that caliber (most of the time, it's inadequate), but it did its job in this case, and if it hadn't, there were six other defenders in the church with their guns out. Of course there should have been sixty.

In some ways, the specific caliber doesn't matter. I, myself, prefer weapons that "begin with a four", like .40, .41, .44, or .45. Yet I have long believed that if each and every human being in America (or anywhere else), man, woman, and responsible child, carried at least a tiny .380 automatic (look it up), or a "snubbie" .38 Special revolver in his pocket or her purse, street crime would completely vanish. Vile predators like Jeffrey Epstein and his evil helpers would have to find other ways of amusing themselves. History is full of ample demonstrations that would-be criminals and bullies detest the idea of their victims fighting back, and won't risk being injured or killed by someone they wanted to rob or rape. .380 and .38 Special may be relatively small and weak, as these things go, but they can injure or kill. An early 20th century ad for Savage automatic pistols said it best: Banishes Fear!

Please understand that it doesn't matter why some goblin wants to maim or murder Jewish people (or anybody else, for that matter) if he (or she) is deterred by the knowledge that his potential victim can easily humiliate or kill him. And how much longer would organized thugggery like Anti-fa or Black Lives Matter last if they understood the mortal risk they were taking when they try to hurt people? Most politicians are horrified by this because -- for reasons that would require another whole essay -- they identify with criminals and killers, and not with you. They are the enemy, as much as any rapist or home invader. Politicians don't want you to be armed and are doing everything they can to stop it.

Don't let them. I have always believed strongly that, given history and human nature, the Second Amendment is more than merely the declaration of a right to own and carry weapons, it is an absolute imperative. A free society and civilized order depend on it. Thomas Jefferson agreed with me, writing, "Take your gun with you on all your walks." There will always be weaklings and cowards who object to this. I heard some female newsie weenie-wailing that she was terrified at the idea of sitting next to somebody in church who had a gun. To her, I would say, fine, let Darwin choose his own. It's time for the rest of us, men, women, responsible children, and even little old Jewish grandmas to start packin'.

************************

Award-winning novelist and essayist L. Neil Smith is a retired gunsmith, Publisher and Senior Columnist of L. Neil Smith's The Libertarian Enterprise and the author of over thirty books. Look him up on Google, Wikipedia, and Amazon.com. He is available, at professional rates, to write columns, articles, and speeches for your organization, event, or publication, fiercely defending your rights, as he has done since the mid-1960s. His writings (and e-mail address) may also be found at L. Neil Smith's The Libertarian Enterprise, at JPFO.org or at https://www.patreon.com/lneilsmith, to which you can contribute, directly. His many books and those of other pro-gun libertarians may be found (and ordered) at L. Neil Smith's THE LIBERTARIAN ENTERPRISE "Free Radical Book Store" The preceeding essay was originally prepared for and appeared in L. Neil Smith's THE LIBERTARIAN ENTERPRISE. If you like what you've seen and want to see more, he says, "Don't applaud, throw money."

The L. Neil Smith Archive.

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by Steve Ellwanger , January 6, 2020





What do Martha Stewart and the Hooter Girls waitresses at Hooters restaurants have in common? Theyre all amazed at the taste of plant-based meatballs and chicken-free wings in new campaigns for Subway in Canada and Hooters in the United States.

In a video for Subway Canada, lifestyle guru Stewart provides a tongue-in-cheek explanation of her eight-week guide to growing a marinara version of plant-based meatballs on miniature trees. They must be kept at approximately 62.7 degrees Celsius. Any higher and I fan them by hand, Stewart explains as she tends to one such fully grown tree.

Subway had me at 'an exciting new plant-based protein choice,' because that's perfect for my lifestyle, Stewart said in a news release.

advertisement advertisement

In reality, the meatballs that inhabit Subways new Beyond Meatball subs are supplied by plant-based food marketer Beyond Meat.



Subway is using a wide array of media for the new campaign, including digital, out-of-home, television and radio, a Subway rep tells Marketing Daily.

Last September, Subway began limited-time testing of Beyond Meat marinara meatball subs in California, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi and Pennsylvania, as reported by VegNews. The chain has yet to roll them out nationwide.

For the rollout of Unreal Wings at 318 Hooters restaurants, the new campaign features Hooter Girls in Arizona, Florida and Georgia expressing surprise that the boneless wings do not contain meat. The worlds first unreal wings, says the voiceover.

Hooters is partnering with global meat alternatives provider Quorn, which is headquartered in the United Kingdom, has an office in Chicago and says it has been involved with meat alternatives since 1985.

The rise of meatless options, especially at quick service and fast casual restaurants, has largely centered on burgers, and were excited to partner with Hooters to roll out the first meatless poultry item on a national scale in the U.S., Quorn CEO Kevin Brennan said in a statement

The Unreal Wings campaign is running on social media and mobile video platforms plus national and local cable television, according to a Hooters rep.
A passenger plane has skidded off the runway in the Turkish city of Istanbul this morning, causing dozens of flights at the airport to be diverted or cancelled.

The Boeing 737-800 from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, operated by Turkish low-cost airline Pegasus, skidded as it landed at Sabiha Gokcen International Airport amidst wet weather conditions.

Storms and heavy rain have affected the city and transportation since Sunday night.

An image on social media shows how the plane ended up in soft ground, just off the runway, after it skidded to a halt

Footage shows crews responding to the stricken plane where it rests in a patch of grass just off the runway at Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey

Images on social media show how the plane appeared to have skidded across the runway into a patch of soft grass.

One image shows the stricken plane, splattered with what looks like dirt across its body, and inflatable slides deployed outside each exit. Firetrucks and emergency personnel can be seen gathered around the plane.

Another photograph shows a close-up of crew, and a tractor, working to extricate the plane from the soft ground.

Istanbul governor's office said there were no deaths or injuries and all 164 passengers were safely evacuated, by emergency slides.

In a statement a Pegasus airline spokeswoman confirmed one of its planes travelling from the UAE had experienced a 'runway excursion'.

She said all passengers and cabin crew had disembarked the aircraft safely, and investigations were underway into what happened.

'We will continue to provide information with regards to any further updates,' she said.

A tractor can be seen digging up the dirt at the rear of the aircraft which appears to have sunken into the soft earth alongside the airport runway

Flights to and from the airport have been cancelled as officials deal with clearing the stricken plane from where it landed

The official Anadolu news agency said the international airport was expected to be closed for much of the morning.

However, the website for the airport on the Asian side of Turkey's largest city, indicated flights to and from the airport were cancelled at least until early afternoon.

Passengers due to travel are being advised to contact their airlines directly for the latest information.
[January 07, 2020] Continued Success of Novoheart to Receive R&D Grants: Innovation Technology Fund for Developing Smart Cardiac Screening Technologies

Grant will fund advanced R&D and incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to accelerate drug development using Novoheart's bio-engineered human heart chambers and tissues

Potential advancements expected to increase scale and capabilities of Novoheart's MyHeart Platform and expand commercialization opportunities for Novoheart's market-leading technologies VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Novoheart ("Novoheart" or the "Company") (TSXV: NVH; FWB: 3NH), a global stem cell biotechnology company, is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary Novoheart Limited has been awarded a further grant from the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of Hong Kong SAR Government. Combined with a cash rebate scheme and funding for hiring R&D talent, the Company is expected to receive a total of over HK$10 million ($1.67 million CAD) in grant awards from the ITC over the next 2 years. This is the third major R&D matching grant that the ITC has awarded Novoheart in recognition of the company's pioneering work involving its award-winning MyHeart Platform of bioengineered human heart tissues, making the total awarded grant to over $22 million HKD ($3.7 million CAD). The new grant will fund research to further enhance the drug screening capabilities of its proprietary human ventricular Cardiac Organoid Chamber (also known as 'human heart-in-a-jar') and human ventricular Cardiac Anisotropic Sheet (hvCAS). Moreover, building on Novoheart's proprietary machine learning platform, a holistic artificial intelligence (AI) approach with enhanced multiplexed machine learning technology will also be developed to integrate data from multiple MyHeart assays as a "smart system". The system will weigh the unique strengths of each assay to maximize Novoheart's ability to automate screening and drug classification and thereby accelerate the pursuit of safer and better drugs. Novoheart aims to revolutionize drug discovery with its proprietary MyHeart Platform and is the only company in the world offering the unique hvCAS and 'human heart-in-a-jar' assays that can model the human heart in the laboratory and provide high-accuracy drug screening platforms for drug developers worldwide. The new ITC grant will support the development of the automated next generation of these human heart assays, with further enhanced throughput, accuracy and sensitivity in screening drugs for toxic or therapeutic effects on the heart. The platform has beendesigned to help drug developers increase their confidence in the selection and investment of candidate drugs that are most likely to succeed in clinical trials.



"Novoheart is delighted to receive this latest round of grant funding from the ITC -- a great recognition of our work throughout the past years. We are grateful for the continued support as we advance towards our goal of revolutionizing drug discovery and improving the lives of patients around the world," said Novoheart Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Kevin Costa. NOVOHEART RETAINS MARKET-MAKING SERVICES

Novoheart has, subject to regulatory approval, retained Venture Liquidity Providers Inc. ("VLP") to perform market-making service to assist in maintaining an orderly trading market for the common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares"). VLP will buy and sell the Common Shares through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V") to maintain an orderly trading market and/or provide liquidity in the Common Shares. The market-making service will be undertaken by VLP through a registered broker, W.D. Latimer Co. Ltd., in compliance with the applicable policies of the TSX-V and other applicable laws. For its services, Novoheart has agreed to pay VLP $5,000 CAD per month for a period of 12 months. The agreement may be terminated at any time by the corporation or VLP. The corporation and VLP act at arm's length, and VLP has no present interest, directly or indirectly, in the corporation or its securities. The finances and the shares required for the market-making service are provided by W.D. Latimer. The fee paid by the Company to VLP is for services only. VLP is a specialized consulting firm based in Toronto providing a variety of services focused on TSX-V-listed issuers. About Novoheart: Novoheart is a global stem cell biotechnology company pioneering an array of next-generation human heart tissue prototypes. It is the first company in the world to have engineered miniature living human heart pumps that can revolutionize drug discovery, helping to save time and money for developing new therapeutics. Also known as 'human heart-in-a-jar', Novoheart's bio-artificial human heart constructs are created using state-of-the-art and proprietary stem cell and bioengineering approaches and are utilized by drug developers for accurate preclinical testing of the effectiveness and safety of new drugs, maximizing the successes in drug discovery whilst minimizing costs and harm caused to patients. With the recent acquisition of Xellera Therapeutics Limited for manufacturing Good Manufacturing Product (GMP)-grade clinical materials, Novoheart is now developing gene- and cell-based therapies as well as next-generation therapeutics for cardiac repair or regeneration. 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. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements about the expected size of the grant from ITC, the use proceeds from such grant, the resulting advancements and the expectation that such advancements will increase scale and capabilities of Novoheart's MyHeart Platform and expand commercialization opportunities, Novoheart's aim to revolutionize drug discovery with its MyHeart Platform and future purchases and sales of the Company's shares by VLP are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risks identified in under the heading "Risk Factors" in Novoheart's annual information form for the year ended June 30, 2019 or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191126/2654235-1LOGO SOURCE Novoheart

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Intel Corp said on Monday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that it is working with Facebook Inc to finish a new artificial intelligence chip in the second half of this year.

The chips are Intel's gambit to retain hold of a fast-growing segment of the artificial intelligence computing market but will face competition from similar chips from Nvidia Corp and Amazon.com Inc's Amazon Web Services unit.

The new chip will help with what researchers call inference, which is the process of taking an artificial intelligence algorithm and putting it to use, for example by tagging friends in photos automatically.

Intels processors currently dominate the market for machine learning inference, which analysts at Morningstar believe will be worth $11.8 billion by 2021. In September, Nvidia launched its own inference chip to compete with Intel.

In November, Amazon also said it had created an inference chip. Amazon's chip is not a direct threat to Intel and Nvidias business because it will not be selling the chips. Amazon will sell services to its cloud customers that run atop the chips starting next year. If Amazon relies on its own chips, it could deprive both Nvidia and Intel of a major customer.

Also at the Consumer Electronics Show on Monday, Intel said that Dell Technologies Inc will feature Intel's next generation of processors in its XPS line of laptops. The so-called 10-nanometer chips have been plagued by delays.

But Navin Shenoy, Intel's data center chief, reiterated that the new chips will be available in laptops by the 2019 holiday shopping season and in data centers by early next year.

Also at the conference, Amnon Shashua, the head of Intel's Mobileye self-driving car computer unit, said Mobileye has mapped out all of the roadways in Japan, using cameras that were already embedded in vehicles produced by Nissan Motor Co Ltd that come with Mobileye systems from the factory. Intel's tech rivals such as Alphabet Inc and Apple Inc are gathering mapping data through special vehicles with cameras mounted on top of them.
A large group of people held a protest near the United States embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday over the killing of top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in a US airstrike in Baghdad last week.

The demonstrators gathered at the Teen Murti Lane in the national capital, carrying the posters of Suleimani and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and raising slogans of 'Down with America and Israel'.

Soleimani, who was Iran's most powerful military commander, was killed on Friday in a US airstrike carried out near the Baghdad international airport. His assassination has triggered a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East and marked the most significant confrontation between the US and Iran in recent years.

"General Suleimani always helped in enhancing the relations between India and Iran. He backed New Delhi on a number of significant issues, be it the negotiations on the Chabahar port or the Kulbhushan Jadhav case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)," said a protester.

Soleimani's killing had earlier triggered protests in Shia dominated Kargil in Ladakh UT, and Budgam in central Kashmir.

The protests at New Delhi have come at a time when tens of thousands of mourners have poured into the streets of the Iranian city of Kerman to attend the funeral of Soleimani.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ISTANBUL - As U.S. officials on Tuesday defended the decision to kill Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad last week, Iranian leaders have stepped up calls for revenge against the United States, which says it has no intention of removing troops from neighboring Iraq.

The calls for retaliation came as Iranian authorities prepared to bury Soleimani in his hometown in Kerman, a city in the southeast of the country. Hours earlier, authorities had been forced to halt the burial proceedings after a deadly stampede killed dozens of people.

In Washington, Defense Secretary Mark Esper reaffirmed that U.S. troops will not be withdrawing from Iraq, saying that a letter sent by the U.S. commander in Baghdad to Iraqi officials "has no value" and that the Trump administration wants a continued U.S. presence.

Esper, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon for the second day in a row, called the letter a "draft." He said that he had asked whether a signed copy had been sent to Iraqi officials and that, "to the best of my knowledge," it had not.

However, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who resigned in November but is operating in a caretaker capacity, said earlier in the day in Baghdad that he had received a copy. A U.S. military official with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, also said Tuesday that a signed copy was sent.

The letter does not say explicitly that the U.S. military will withdraw forces, but it appears to leave open the possibility. Marine Brig. Gen. William Seely wrote in it that U.S. forces "will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement" and that "we respect your sovereign decision to order our departure."

Esper said Tuesday that "there may be some people trying to create confusion" in regard to the letter.

On Monday, the Pentagon's top officer, Army Gen. Mark Milley, said sending the letter was "a mistake," but Iraq's prime minister is interpreting the letter as a "withdrawal announcement."

According to senior officials in the Iraqi prime minister's office, Milley's comments are not being officially recognized, and the Iraqi government will now request a withdrawal timetable from Washington.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that the Trump administration "got it right" when it launched the airstrike that killed Soleimani, raising the risk of reprisal attacks on U.S. targets.

"It was the right decision," Pompeo said at a news conference at the State Department. "We got it right. The president had an entirely legal, appropriate and a basis [for] a decision that fit perfectly within our strategy of how to counter the threat, the malign activity from Iran."

Pompeo said he was confident that President Donald Trump's decision to target Soleimani was fully vetted by White House lawyers and that future actions would be legal.

But he grew heated when asked about the growing criticism of Trump's threat to strike Iranian cultural sites if Iran retaliates, a potential war crime.

"Every action we take will be consistent with the international rule of law," he said. "Let me tell you who has done damage to the Persian culture. It's not the United States of America. It's the ayatollah."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Trump's calls for targeting such sites "not appropriate." Tuesday afternoon.

McConnell made his comments unprompted at the top of his first news conference of the year, before even being asked a question. However, McConnell also defended the president's handling of the killing of Soleimani, telling reporters that he did not expect the "Gang of Eight" to be notified before action was taken.

"When President Obama took out Osama bin Laden, I was not told in advance, I was called by the VP afterwards and my response was, you did the right thing," he said. "Where is the applause on the other side for the killing of one of the heinous killers who ever walked the earth? It's mind-boggling."

The funeral for Soleimani resumed Tuesday evening after a stampede among mourners killed at least 50 people earlier in the day. Iranian news outlets reported that Soleimani's remains reached the Martyrs' Cemetery in Kerman.

The graveyard in Kerman, a southeastern city of about half a million people, is in a well-manicured lot near the teal-domed Saheb Zaman mosque. Earlier Tuesday, as mourners gathered to march to the site, the crowd surged near Azadi Square. In the ensuing panic, 50 people were killed and 200 injured.

"Today, I think that there are more than one million people here. The city was definitely not prepared for such a crowd," a local resident, Morteza, told BBC Persian.

Soleimani, a divisive but popular figure, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad last week. His funeral procession started Saturday in the Iraqi capital and included stops in the shrine cities of Karbala and Najaf, as well as in Ahvaz, Mashhad, Tehran, Qom and Kerman in Iran.

In the wake of the commander's death, Iranian leaders have stepped up calls for revenge against the United States. Security council head Ali Shamkhani said 13 scenarios for retaliation are being considered, and specifically mentioned that U.S. bases in the region were under surveillance.

Shamkhani said even the mildest of these options would be a "historical nightmare" for the United States. He added that the retaliation would "not be limited to a single operation."

The leader of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps said Tuesday that locations loved by the United States would be set on fire in revenge - a possible reference to Israel.

Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami spoke to hundreds of thousands gathering in the southern Iranian town of Kerman, birthplace of Soleimani, leader of the Guard's Quds Force.

"We will set fire to the place they love, and they know where that is," said Salami. Some commentators have suggested that he could have been referring to Israel. As he spoke, the crowd chanted "Death to Israel!"

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued an alert advising U.S. commercial ships to "exercise caution" when passing through waters near Iran, citing the threat from "Iran and its proxies."

The alert listed the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and the entire Indian Ocean as areas in which to be cautious.

After a U.S. airstrike killed a top Iranian commander early Jan. 3, the alert said, "the Iranian response to this action, if any, is unknown, but there remains the possibility of Iranian action against U.S. maritime interests in the region."

A series of incidents occurred during the summer in the narrow waters between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula through which pass vast amounts of the world's oil. The incidents included attacks on six commercial vessels and the seizure of three tankers.

NATO has begun moving troops out of Baghdad's Green Zone to other locations in Iraq and the broader region, citing a need to keep personnel safe. Military officials reported that the drawdown had already started, with helicopters evacuating a first wave of personnel overnight. The NATO mission in Iraq is focused on training Iraqi security forces fighting remnants of the Islamic State.

Germany has temporarily moved all its military personnel stationed in non-Kurdish Iraqi territory to either Jordan or Kuwait, a German military spokesman said Tuesday.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has warned that militants "would be the only winners" of a full-blown war as a result of U.S.-Iran tensions. Raab singled out the Islamic State group as having most to gain.

The U.S.-led international coalition fighting the Islamic State has suspended its operations over safety concerns, even though the move is so far only temporary.

Raab's warning came after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement, which called on "all parties to exercise utmost restraint and responsibility."

While nearly every U.S. ally has declined to support Trump's order to kill Soleimani, the U.S. leader has found support in one surprising location: Brazil. razilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has made strengthening ties with Trump the fulcrum of his foreign policy, said Brazil stood with "any country in the world in the fight against terrorism."

In Washington, the bipartisan group of senators known as the"Gang of Eight" will receive a briefing on the killing of Soleimani on Tuesday from CIA Director Gina Haspel, National Security Agency Director Paul Nakasone and Joseph Maguire, acting director of national intelligence, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Top Democratic leaders in Congress have said that they were not informed in advance about the strike.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tuesday that the United States had denied his request for a visa to attend a meeting at the New York headquarters of the United Nations.

The move appears to violate an agreement the United States made with the United Nations in 1947 requiring the U.S. government to facilitate the entry of foreign officials attending the organization's meetings.

White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said Tuesday that the State Department may have refused to give Zarif a visa to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting this week because the timing was not right.

"I don't think Secretary [Mike] Pompeo thought that this was the right time for Mr. Zarif to come to the United States," O'Brien told "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday morning.

The State Department, which had no immediate comment on Zarif's visa, has granted Zarif visas only reluctantly in the past.

Senior Trump administration officials have begun drafting sanctions against Iraq after President Donald Trump publicly threatened the country with economic penalties if it proceeded to expel U.S. troops, according to three people briefed on the planning.

The Treasury Department and White House will probably take a lead role if the sanctions are implemented, the officials said. Such a step would represent a highly unusual move against a foreign ally that the United States has spent almost two decades and hundreds of billions of dollars supporting.

- - -

The Washington Post's Adam Taylor, Carol Morello Josh Dawsey, Karoun Demirjian, Jeff Stein, Dan Lamothe, Paul Kane and Colby Itkowitz in Washington, Louisa Loveluck in Baghdad, Rick Noack in Berlin, Mustafa Salim in Baghdad, and Paul Schemm in Dubai contributed to this report.
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- Qassem Soleimani was killed in the US military strike in Baghdad on January 3

- The Iranian government held prayer mass in honour of the military general

- The funeral service of the Quds Force leader was underway at his home town of Kerman

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes

At least 40 mourners have been confirmed dead while 213 others are fighting for their lives following a stampede during the burial of slain Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.

A sea of humanity had turned up Soleimani's home town of Kerman to pay its last respect to the Iran's elite Quds Force who was killed in one drone strike by the US army on January 3.

READ ALSO: You are not president if current voters' register isn't credible-Ayariga tells Nana

The late Qassem Soleimani was killed on January 3. Photo: Getty Images.

Source: Getty Images

READ ALSO: 5-bedroom house burns to ashes over lack of fuel on Fire Service car on duty

According to Al Jazeera, the mourners some of whom had missed out on the earlier mass prayer in Ahvaz, were travelling in narrow spaces in one direction to the graveyard.

Similar prayers were also conducted by the Iranian embassy in Kenya at the Jaffery Islamic Centre Mosque in Nairobi on Sunday, January 5.

Mourners gathered at Soleimani's home town of Kerman for his burial. Photo: BBC News.

Source: UGC

Following the incident, the state national broadcaster announced postponement of the general's internment pending confirmation of a new time.

Soleimani's assassination sparked off deep-seated tensions between the US and Iran.

However, President Donald Trump said the killing was necessary to avoid stop war.

We took action last night to stop a war, we did not take action to start a war. I have deep respect for the Iranian people who are remarkable with an incredible heritage and unlimited potential. We do not seek regime change, however, the Iranian regime aggression in the region including use of proxy fighters to destabilise its neighbours must end now, he explained.

In other foreign news, the UK royal family has released a very significant portrait covering four generations. The picture has Queen Elizabeth, Prince Williams, Prince Charles and 6-year-old Prince George.

Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Shares of Google's parent company hit a record high on Monday despite facing pressure over antitrust investigations.

Tech giant Alphabet reached $1,397.81 per share, a rise of 2.7 per cent.

It comes just a month after Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin stepped down as leaders and new Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai, was handed a $240 million bonus.

Trusted lieutenant Pichai, who has spent 15 years at Google, is now the public face of a company that is facing criticism from U.S. lawmakers as well as its employees over a number of issues ranging from privacy to monopoly.

Shares of Google's parent company hit a record high Monday despite antitrust investigations. The company's rising share price over the last five days is pictured

Tech giant Alphabet reached $1,397.81 per share, a rise of 2.7 per cent. The company's rising share price over the last month is pictured

It comes just a month after Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin stepped down as leaders and new CEO, Sundar Pichai, was handed a $240 million bonus. The company's rising share price is pictured

Pichai will receive a hefty $240million in performance-based stock awards over the next three years, the highest ever promised to any executive of the search giant.

He will also take home $2million in annual salary starting 2020, according to a regulatory filing.

Google has been facing pressure from privacy advocates over its collection and use of personal information to target advertising. It also faces allegations that it abuses its dominance in search and online advertising to push out rivals.

Google is the subject of antitrust inquiries from Congress, the Department of Justice and a contingency of states in the U.S. and from European authorities.

The company has also faced harsh criticism about the material on its services. Its video streaming business, YouTube, was fined $170 million to settle allegations it improperly collected personal data on children without their parents consent.

Alphabet  an umbrella corporation that the two created in 2015  still boasts Google as its central fixture and key moneymaker.

U.S. Attorney General William Barr said in December last year that he hoped to have Justice Department investigations of the big tech platforms - Facebook Inc, Alphabet Inc's Google, Amazon.com Inc and Apple Inc - completed next year.

The four tech companies have been lightning rods for regulator probes this year.

It was announced in July that the Department of Justice had opened a sweeping antitrust investigation of big technology companies to look at whether their online platforms have hurt competition, suppressed innovation or otherwise harmed consumers.

The move came as a growing number of lawmakers called for stricter regulation or even breaking up of the big tech companies, which have come under intense scrutiny following a series of scandals that compromised users' privacy.

Sundar Pichai will receive a hefty $240million in performance-based stock awards over the next three years, the highest ever promised to any executive of the search giant. He will also take home $2million in annual salary starting 2020, according to a regulatory filing

Google Inc.'s headquarters in Mountain View, California. Google is the subject of antitrust inquiries from Congress, the Department of Justice and a contingency of states in the US

Shares of Google's parent company Alphabet were down nearly 0.2 per cent by 4pm Tuesday

In addition to the Justice investigations, the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general and Congress are looking at one or more of the companies.

'We started in earnest in July. It's been moving very quickly,' Barr told the Wall Street Journal CEO Council.

Google will likely face questions over how its algorithms determine what the public sees when they search for things online.

Critics say Google's dominance in search has allowed it to squash rivals - notably because Google can show its own products above competitors' or feature its own ads prominently.

Google has also faced scrutiny over the practices it uses to get its search and other products featured on smartphones. Some say Google imposes too many self-serving regulations on smartphone makers who use Google's Android operating system.

But Google might simply argue that Android users like Google products and want them on their phones.
Monday, January 6, 2020 at 5:10PM

by Claudio Alves

Two years ago, Rachel Morrison made history when she became the first woman to be nominated for Best Cinematography at the Oscars. By no means does that imply Mudbound's wondrous DP is a pioneer. There are many awards-worthy female DPs working in cinema, past and present, and the Academy's sketchy record should be understood as nothing more than the industry's internalized sexism and biases. Where were the nominations for Maryse Alberti, Agnes Godard, and Ellen Kuras, among others?

This year, critics have been united in their praise of a particular DP whose double dose of photographic genius could make History, just as Morrison did in 2018. However, Claire Mathon is fighting against even more of the Academy's treacherous biases, including their disinterest in African cinema, LGBTQ stories, and non-English speaking narratives

First up, we have Mati Diop's Atlantics, a Best International Feature finalist for Senegal and one of the most audacious genre experimentations of the decade. This ghost story of migrant precarity and female oppression starts with a perfect shot of urban development crushing the smallness of the human lives that work on it, and it only gets better from there. Whether she's pointing her camera at the crashing waves of the Atlantic or peering at bodies intertwined on a last embrace, Mathon's work is always a marvel of naturalism transformed into poetry.

The dual quality of her lensing, both tethered to a material reality and interested in lyrical imagery, makes the film's cinematography a mirror of the script's tonal plasticity. A moonlit landscape can be photographed like a postcard of urban turpitude one moment and become a fantasy land of vengeful spirits the next with just a slight change of focus. It never feels incoherent, but rather organic, fluid in a way that's only possible when the magic of cinema is being conjured by master filmmakers.

Still, even with nightly gravedigging and fiery wedding parties, the most visually astounding parts of Atlantics are the interludes in a beach bar. In there, the walls are mirrors were the dead can see their true faces and the lights paint black bodies with neon stars. It's a space that invites dreamy reverie and the eroticism of dancing lovers and Claire Mathon shoots it all with an eye attuned to its sensorial possibilities. It's spellbinding and Oscar-worthy, no doubts about it.

Celine Sciamma's Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a horse of a very different color. While Diop's film weaves magic out of realism, this 18th-century lesbian romance is a study on the inherent eroticism of looking. Its images are never particularly natural, always heightened by a painterly staginess and the hot desire coursing through its protagonists' veins. Pardon the cliche, but it looks like a collection of moving paintings.

The painterly quality of Portrait of a Lady on Fire is thematically necessary, too. The story might be of two lovers, but only one of them is showing the audience the way to look at this world. Noemie Merlant's Marianne is a portraitist whose latest project blooms into an unexpected romance. If Atlantics conveyed a point of view closer to atmosphere than to character, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is all about the subjectivity of the eye that beholds.

The film submerges the audience in the observations of a woman falling in love with another, teaching us how to regard someone else, not just as a painter but as an enamored devotee to a body and mind. The experiment is intoxicating and full of feeling, the power of its images and saturated colors rubbing against the period restrictions and compositional rigidity of every tableau. If there's ever been a cinematographer capable of making the process of falling in love into a cinematic language, that's Claire Mathon.

As Oscar voting closes, we dearly hope Mathon's work will be given appropriate consideration. That said, which one of her two masterpieces would you nominate if you had to choose just one?
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 02:05:50|Editor: ZD

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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a statement at the UN headquarters in New York, Jan. 6, 2020. Antonio Guterres on Monday called on parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint to stop escalation of global tensions. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called on parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint to stop escalation of global tensions.

Warning that "geopolitical tensions are at their highest level this century," the UN chief told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York that he is "in constant contact" with leading officials around the world and his message is simple and clear: "stop escalation, exercise maximum restraint, re-start dialogue and renew international cooperation."

"The New Year has begun with our world in turmoil. We are living in dangerous times. Geopolitical tensions are at their highest level this century. And this turbulence is escalating. Even nuclear non-proliferation can no longer be taken for granted," the UN chief said.

"This cauldron of tensions is leading more and more countries to take unpredicted decisions with unpredictable consequences and a profound risk of miscalculation," he said.

"At the same time, we see trade and technological conflicts that fracture world markets, undermine growth and widen inequalities. And all the while, our planet is on fire. The climate crisis rages on," the secretary-general added.

"In many parts of the world, we see people frustrated and angry. We see increased social unrest and growing extremism, nationalism and radicalization, with a dangerous advance of terrorism, notably in Africa," said Guterres.

"This situation cannot go on," the UN chief said.

"Let us not forget the terrible human suffering caused by war. As always, ordinary people pay the highest price. It is our common duty to avoid it," said the UN chief.
No arrests made in JNU campus violence case in over 1.5 years: Govt informs Parliament

JNU to impose night curfew in campus between 10 pm-5 am

We responded to PCR calls on time says Delhi Police on JNU violence

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 07: The Delhi Police rejected the charge of reaching the Jawaharlal Nehru University late despite several pleas by students' unions, asserting that they responded to PCR calls and law-and-order situation professionally to control the violence on the campus.

Addressing reporters, Delhi Police spokesperson Mandeep Singh Randhawa said the internal security of the JNU lies with the varsity administration.

JNU violence: Fact-finding committee begins probe into sequence of events

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 7th, 2020

"We have responded to PCR calls, and law-and-order situation professionally," he said.

On the probe initiated after a masked mob attacked students on the campus on Sunday, he said the Crime Branch had found some vital clue and were working on it.
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HARTFORD  Both houses of the Connecticut General Assembly might have enough Democratic votes to pass Gov. Ned Lamonts proposal for limited, trucks-only highway tolls before the regular legislative session begins in February.

But support in the House and Senate remains dicey as details that could make or break the deal have yet to be worked out.

We have a contingent consensus of 18 members who have not rejected the concept of a bill to toll trucks on bridges only, said Senate President Pro-Tem Martin Looney, D-New Haven. Members said their vote is in many cases contingent on things that are yet unclear.

Revenue estimates for the truck-tolling plan range from $170 million to $190 million at a dozen bridges around the state. Under the latest discussions, only the largest trucks would pay the tolls, which would exclude, for example, many in-state vehicles such as poil delivery trucks.

Looney and the rest of the Senate Democratic caucus spent nearly six hours Tuesday behind closed doors, discussing their legislative priorities for the upcoming session, emerging long after the television crews and the anti-toll and pro-toll activists  about a dozen from each side  had left the Capitol.

Their counterparts in the House of Representatives held a similar closed-door meeting earlier in the day, but only discussed the truck tolling proposal which is now limited to trucks with four or more axles.

House Democrats also believe they have more than enough votes to pass Lamonts proposal, but Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz noted many of his members are dissatisfied with the proposal because it does not toll cars.

I feel very comfortable that were in a good position, said Aresimowicz, who declined to give a vote count for the House. There are a few things left to be negotiated.

Republicans remain solidly against tolls in an form, as GOP leaders said they believe truck-only tolling would be a precurser to broader highway levies  despite assurances from Democrats that the statute would explicitly exclude cars.

Both Democratic leaders said they believe the issue can be settled prior to the start of the legislative session in February, but have yet to schedule a public forum or set a date for a special session. Legislators also expressed concerns about minority hiring and addressing bus transportation in urban areas where more than 30 percent of residents do not have cars.

Those are issues that members have said that if they are solved to their satisfaction, they could vote yes for this proposal, Looney said. When pressed further on the specific number of legislators who could vote yes, he said, We dont have more than four Nos that would defeat the bill all together.

As majority Democrats headed to the Capitol Tuesday, Lamont himself was cautious on the issue.

In recent weeks, Democratic leaders have said there is enough support for trucks-only tolling at a dozen locations on the states interstate highways, but rank-and-file lawmakers, who balked last year, may not want to make controversial votes at the beginning of an election year.

I think theyd like to get it done this month, Lamont said in a morning appearance on WNPR-FMs Where We Live radio show. Id like to get it done this month. You know, we put this off for about 15 years.

A traditional package of long-term capital projects has been delayed for months by Lamont as he attempted to round up support for his 10-year, $19-billion infrastructure program, which is predicated on highway tolling as part of the revenue stream. But Republicans have been uniformly opposed to tolls, and offered a $700-million annual bonding program for a smaller-scale infrastructure package.

That was going to crowd out other initiatives, Lamont said of the GOP plan. Were pretty sure thats not going to happen, so as part of our transportation plan now were going to be able to do the bonding bill, which is necessary with money for municipalities, snow removal, new schools, affordable housing, get that process back in play.

I cant speak for the Republicans, Lamont said. I wish they would, so I know where they stand.

Republican leaders stopped by the Capitol following the House caucus to make their stance known: they do not support the trucks-only plan, and they remain skeptical of the support by Democrats.

Both chambers are absolutely against any sort of toll, said Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven. He added, If they had the votes, theyd vote. Its really simple.

House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, is already taking the issue to the streets as she helps campaign for Republican candidates in special elections.

I think its an issue in every town in the state of Connecticut, Klarides said. What were running on in these three special elections, and quite frankly, what well be running on in November for any of our races is the state has been run badly, the state continues to get worst, and most importantly there has been trust lost for elected officials in the state of Connecticut.

One of the chief opponents to tolls, Joe Scully, president of the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut, representing state trucks, said after the governors radio appearance that he believes the arithmetic is wrong in Lamonts revenue projections.

Governor Lamont firmly stated on WNPRs Where We Live this morning that truck tolls will raise $186 million per year, Scully said in a written statement. However, the financial pro forma documents released by his administration on December 6, 2019, say they will raise $230.1 million, Sculley said, stressing that federal loans could be tougher to get if the projections have declined.

After the House and Senate Democrats met, Lamont issued a statement saying he will move quickly toward a final plan. Connecticut can no longer afford to kick the can down the potholed road, he said.
Japan has the most powerful passport in the world, according to a new index.

The country has scored the number one position in the ranking for the third year in a row.

Compiled by residence and citizenship planning company Henley & Partners, the Henley Passport Index ranks all the worlds passports based on data from the International Air Transport Association (Iata) and the firms research department.

The Index put Japan at the top of the list thanks to the impressive number of countries it offers access to visa-free or where its possible to get a visa on arrival: 191.

Singapore kept its place at number two, with a score of 190, while South Korea dropped to join Germany in third place with 189.

Fifteen most powerful passports in the world Show all 15 1 /15 Fifteen most powerful passports in the world Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 5. Switzerland Joint 5th Getty Images/iStockphoto Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 5. Portugal Joint 5th Getty Images/iStockphoto Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 5. The Netherlands Joint 5th iStock Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 5. Austria Joint 5th Getty Images/iStockphoto Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 4. Sweden Joint 4th Getty Images/iStockphoto Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 4. Spain Joint 4th Getty Images/iStockphoto Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 4. France Joint 4th Getty Images Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 3. Luxembourg Joint 3rd Getty Images/iStockphoto Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 3. Italy Joint 3rd Getty Images/iStockphoto Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 3. Denmark Joint 3rd Getty Images/iStockphoto Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 2. Germany Joint 2nd Getty Images/iStockphoto Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 2. Finland Joint 2nd Getty Images/iStockphoto Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 2. South Korea Joint 2nd Getty Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 1. Singapore Joint 1st Getty Images Fifteen most powerful passports in the world 1. Japan Joint 1st Getty Images/iStockphoto

The top five was rounded out by Finland and Italy in fourth place (188) and Denmark, Luxembourg and Spain in fifth (187).

Although the UK and the US remain in the top 10, sharing eighth place with Norway, Greece and Belgium, its a significant decline from the number one spot they jointly held in 2015.

Dr. Christian H Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners, said: Asian countries dominance of the top spots is a clear argument for the benefits of open-door policies and the introduction of mutually beneficial trade agreements.

Over the past few years, we have seen the world adapt to mobility as a permanent condition of global life.

The latest rankings show that the countries that embrace this reality are thriving, with their citizens enjoying ever-increasing passport power and the array of benefits that come with it.

By analysing historical data from the passport index, political science researchers at Syracuse University and the University of Pittsburgh found a strong positive correlation between travel freedom and other kinds of liberties, such as economic, political and individual freedoms.

Theres a distinct correlation between visa freedom and investment freedom, for instance, said scientists Ugur Altundal and Omer Zarpli.

Similar to trade freedom, countries that rank highly in investment freedom generally have stronger passports.

European states such as Austria, Malta, and Switzerland clearly show that countries with a business-friendly environment tend to score highly when it comes to passport power. Likewise, by using the Human Freedom Index, we found a strong correlation between personal freedom and travel freedom.

At the bottom of the index is Afghanistan, with a score of just 26.

Most powerful passports

1. Japan

2. Singapore

3. Germany

3. South Korea

4. Finland

4. Italy

5. Denmark

5. Luxembourg

5. Spain

Least powerful passports

107. Afghanistan

106. Iraq

105. Syria

104. Somalia

104. Pakistan

103. Yemen
HOUSTON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bracewell LLP added 16 lawyers to its partnership in 2019, including four lawyers promoted to partner, effective January 1, 2020, and 12 lateral partner hires.

"This group of outstanding lawyers represents the very best of our profession," said Bracewell Managing Partner Gregory M. Bopp. "Each of these lawyers has a long track record of success as trusted advisers in their respective areas of practice and will further our commitment to client service excellence worldwide."

E. Steve Bolden II - Bolden joined Bracewell's Dallas office in September 2019, with a broad public finance practice. He also has an active corporate and securities practice, representing clients in the merger and acquisition of publicly traded and privately held companies. Bolden earned his A.B. in government from Dartmouth College and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University.

Stephen L. Braga - Braga joined Bracewell's Washington, DC office in January 2019, with over 35 years of experience representing clients in white collar, appellate and civil litigation matters. He has played a leading role in many high-profile white collar cases and investigations in DC over the course of his career. Braga received his B.A., cum laude, from Fairfield University and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Michael Chibib - Chibib rejoined Bracewell's Austin office in December 2019, with over 25 years of experience advising companies in the semiconductor, telecommunications, electronics and software fields on various IP litigation matters. From 2000 to 2006, he was general counsel at a publicly traded company in the alternative energy space. Chibib earned his B.S. in electrical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and his J.D., with honors, from The University of Texas School of Law.

Conor M. Civins - Civins rejoined Bracewell's Austin office in December 2019, with over 16 years of experience handling IP litigation and general commercial litigation. He represents a range of clients in patent litigation, trademark and trade secret disputes, as well as disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, unfair competition and breach of fiduciary duty. Civins graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. from Emory University and earned his J.D., with honors, from The University of Texas School of Law.

William H. Ebert - Resident in Bracewell's Washington, DC office, Ebert was promoted from senior counsel to partner, effective January 1, 2020. He represents large financial institutions, private equity funds and companies in secured and unsecured commercial lending transactions, primarily in the upstream, midstream and renewable energy sectors. Ebert received his B.A. from University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law.

Todd W. Eckland - Eckland joined Bracewell's New York office in September 2019, with over 30 years of experience representing investment banks and public and private companies in capital markets transactions. He has advised clients in more than 250 public offerings of debt, equity and hybrid securities across the energy, technology and life science sectors. Eckland earned his B.S., summa cum laude, from the University of Minnesota and his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

Catherine Hood - Hood joined Bracewell's New York office in June 2019, with over 30 years of experience representing clients in capital markets transactions, primarily in the utilities sector. She advises public utilities, competitive energy companies, and the financial institutions that underwrite and purchase securities of such companies, on a range of offerings. Hood received her A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard University and her J.D., cum laude, from Cornell Law School. She is a fellow and trustee of the American College of Investment Counsel.

Nina Howell - Howell joined Bracewell's London office in June 2019, with over 20 years of experience advising energy companies on projects and corporate transactions around the world, including cross-border pipelines, upstream joint ventures, unitization and various oil and gas projects. She has advised on major LNG import and export projects in Africa, Australia, Europe, South America and the United States. Howell earned her B.A. at The University of Manchester and her C.P.E. and L.P.C. from College of Law, London.

Andrej Kormuth- Kormuth joined Bracewell's Dubai office in March 2019, with significant experience as a projects and infrastructure lawyer, including the latest wave of Saudi Arabian renewables, water and waste water projects and Qatar's first renewables IPP. Kormuth earned an L.L.B., summa cum laude, at Howard College, University of KwaZulul-Natal, and an LL.M. at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, where he was a Cecil Renaud Scholar. He has been recognized as a next generation lawyer in Legal 500 United Kingdom (2017-2018), and as a rising star in IFLR1000 (2018-2020).

William Mahomes Jr. - Mahomes joined Bracewell's Dallas office in July 2019, with over 30 years of experience in public finance, real estate and other transactional disciplines. He provides practical advice on public projects and public-private partnerships (P3s) based on his service on the board of directors of major transportation agencies. Mahomes received his B.A. from Texas A&M University and his J.D. from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law.

Eimear Murphy - Resident in Bracewell's London office, Murphy was promoted from senior associate to partner, effective January 1, 2020. Murphy advises borrowers and lenders in the upstream oil and gas finance market. Her experience includes advising on cross-border upstream financings in Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Murphy graduated with distinction with a BBLS from University College Dublin, with distinction with an LL.M. from London School of Economics and with distinction with a L.P.C. from BPP Law School. Murphy has been recognized as a rising star in emerging market finance in Legal 500 United Kingdom (2018-2020).

Matthew G. Nielsen - Nielsen joined Bracewell's Dallas office in March 2019, with over 18 years of experience representing individuals and companies in civil and criminal investigations, internal investigations, securities-related litigation and compliance counseling. He advises clients in matters relating to federal and state securities laws, accounting fraud, US export control and sanctions laws, and anti-bribery laws. Nielsen received his B.B.A., cum laude, from Texas Christian University and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Baylor Law School.

David A. Shargel - Shargel rejoined Bracewell's New York office in September 2019. He advises companies and individuals in complex commercial litigation, internal investigations, white collar defense, and regulatory and compliance matters. Prior to Bracewell, he served as a law clerk to US District Judge Richard M. Berman in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Shargel earned his B.A. from Kenyon College and his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School.

Clint Steyn - Steyn rejoined Bracewell's Dubai office in May 2019, after serving two years as general counsel at Alcazar Energy. He has over 20 years of M&A, project development and project finance experience, including 10 years on the ground in the Middle East. Recognized as a leading energy and infrastructure lawyer by Chambers Global (2016) and Legal 500 EMEA (2015-2017), Steyn holds a B.A. and L.L.B. from University of Cape Town and a Diploma in Finance from London Business School.

Tom Swarbrick - Resident in Bracewell's Dubai office, Swarbrick was promoted from senior counsel to partner, effective January 1, 2020. He represents governments, developers, funders and contractors on major construction and infrastructure projects in and the Middle East and Africa. Swarbrick earned his B.A. at the University of Manchester and his G.D.L. and L.P.C. at Nottingham Law School. Swarbrick has been recommended for construction by Legal 500 United Kingdom since 2017, ranking as a next generation lawyer in 2017.

Christine G. Wyman - Resident in Bracewell's Washington, DC office, Wyman was promoted from senior counsel to senior principal, effective January 1, 2020. Wyman represents clients before the US Congress and federal agencies, assisting them with the development and implementation of effective policy solutions. She works on a range of issues, including energy, environmental, permitting and pipeline safety. Prior to joining Bracewell, Wyman was senior counsel at the American Gas Association. Wyman graduated with a B.A. from University of North Carolina at Asheville, earned her Master of Environmental Management from Duke University, and graduated cum laude with a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

About Bracewell LLP

Bracewell LLP is a leading law and government relations firm. Our knowledge of the commercial, legal and governmental challenges faced by clients across industries enables us to provide innovative solutions to facilitate transactions and resolve disputes.

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New Delhi, Jan 7 : Bank customers may face hardships with services as several bank branches and ATMs could be affected on Wednesday as bank employees have threatened to go on a day-long strike.

The strike call of five bank employee unions is part of a 'Bharat Bandh' call given by 10 central trade unions. Bank unions are joining the strike to protest against banking reforms and mega-merger of PSU banks.

They are also demanding a pay hike besides a uniform five-day week. Ten central trade unions -- INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC -- are expecting that around 25 crore people will join their nationwide strike call in protest against the economic policies of the government. Banking services at branches and ATMs could be hit at several places because of the strike.

The All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC) has issued a circular asking members to not demand nor accept any keys on Wednesday. They have also been asked to not perform any clerical duties and join the protest.

India's largest lender, the State Bank of India (SBI), however expects little impact on its operations. The lender has announced that since only a few of its employees are part of the striking unions, the impact on its operations will be minimal.

"The membership of our bank employees in unions participating in the strike is very few, so the impact of the strike on banks operation will be minimal," SBI has told stock exchanges. Another public sector lender, Bank of Baroda, which is the third-largest bank in India, fears that its operations could be affected.

In a regulatory filing, the bank stated, "The bank is taking necessary steps for smooth functioning of bank's branches/offices on the day of the strike in the event the strike materialises, the functioning of the branches/offices may be affected/paralysed." Syndicate Bank has issued a public notice asking customers to bear with them and make transactions before the bank strike on January 8. It is to be noted that PSU banks are likely to be among the most affected by the strike.

AIBEA, All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF) and Indian National Bank Officers Congress (INBOC) had jointly issued a circular last month on the decision to join the nationwide general strike called by trade unions.
Australian Greens leader Richard Di Natale has angrily insisted his party supports hazard-reduction burns as a way of preventing bushfires

Australian Greens leader Richard Di Natale has angrily insisted his party supports hazard-reduction burns as his critics accuse him of causing bushfires.

The campaign against the Greens has intensified on Facebook after blazes destroyed more than 6million hectares of bushland in Australia.

Conservative commentators, including News Corp columnist Miranda Devine, have consistently accused the left-wing minority party of being responsible for raging infernos.

More extreme critics have accused the Greens of being responsible for lives being lost, with 25 people now killed as a result of recent bushfires.

Senator Di Natale, a Victorian, has hit back at claims his party opposes hazard-reduction burning operations to reduce fuel loads ahead of the summer bushfire season.

Conservative commentators, including News Corp columnist Miranda Devine, have consistently accused the left-wing minority party of being responsible for raging infernos (pictured is a member of the Australian Young Greens doing a hazard reduction burn)

'Repeating a lie often enough doesn't make it true,' he told Melbourne radio station 3AW on Monday.

'The Greens, at state level, and federal level and local government level, have always supported hazard reduction burning.

'People who make these claims can never point to a specific instance where a Greens state member has said "we don't support hazard reduction, or we're going to make it more difficult for you".'

While the Australian Greens regard hazard reduction as 'appropriate in some circumstances' the New South Wales branch of the party is lukewarm about this strategy.

'Prescribed burning is only one method of fuel management and should be considered in the context of other available options and the management objectives of the land in question,' the NSW Greens said on their website.

Ian Cohen, a former NSW Greens MP, was critical of hazard-reduction burning and used a parliamentary hearing in 2008 to ask Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons how many bushfires had been caused by the practice.

The Australian Young Greens declared their support for hazard-reduction burns this week, posting on Facebook an image of a young woman carrying out back burning wearing green, fire-proof overalls

'Could you inform the committee how many bushfires occurred last year?,' he asked.

'How many resulted from hazard reduction burning over that period of time?'

Mr Fitzsimmons's father George Fitzsimmons was killed in 2000 conducting an RFS hazard-reduction burn at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park on Sydney's northern outskirts.

The Australian Young Greens this week declared their support for hazard-reduction burns, posting on Facebook an image of a young woman carrying out burning wearing fireproof overalls.

'It would be a real shame if people shared this picture of Greens member Elly doing the hazard reduction burning for this season, the right wing wouldn't cope!,' the caption said.

While Senator Di Natale has declared his support for hazard-reduction burning, his critics on Facebook have accused him of being responsible for the bushfires (pictured is a volunteer carrying out back burning in January at Ulladulla on the New South Wales South Coast)

The post was later deleted after it had attracted more than 600 comments and nearly 2,000 shares.

Not all the comments were positive.

Senator Di Natale's Facebook page has also attracted comments suggesting he opposed hazard-reduction burning.

'I hope you're not sleeping at night Senator Richard Di Natale,' one man said.

'I hope you lie awake thinking of the death and devastation you and your Greens Party has caused by stopping back burning and land clearing.

'I'm sure you'll come up with some excuse as to why you were right and everyone else was wrong.'
T he British teen at the centre of a Cyprus gang rape case is heading home to the UK after she was spared jail following a five-month ordeal.

The 19-year-old, who has not been named, arrived at Cyprus's Larnaca airport with her parents just hours after a judge said he was giving her a second chance.

The Derbyshire woman was given a suspended sentence at Famagusta District Court on Tuesday morning after she was found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Ayia Napa.

She hugged her family and legal team and left court weeping after she was sentenced for public mischief.

Her mother shouted 'She's coming home!' / Getty Images

Judge Michalis Papathanasiou took into account her age - 18 at the time of the offence - and her "psychological state" before sentencing her to four months in jail, suspended for three years, and a fine of 140.

Her relieved mother shouted shes coming home.

The teenagers lawyer, Lewis Power QC, said her legal team would be challenging the conviction and were prepared to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Protesters gathered outside court / REUTERS

The young woman was held on the island for almost five months after claiming she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in an Ayia Napa hotel room on July 17.

She was charged and spent around a month in prison before being granted bail in August.

The dozen young men and boys, aged between 15 and 20, who were arrested over the incident were freed after she signed a retraction statement 10 days later.

But the 19-year-old maintains she had consensual sex with one of the Israelis before he pinned her down and raped her with others  a claim all of them deny.

Protesters march on Downing St in support of Cyprus rape case teenager

The woman says she was forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police following hours of questioning alone and without legal representation.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he had raised concerns over her treatment with the Cypriot authorities, after the teenagers conviction provoked outrage in Cyprus and the UK.

After the sentence, he said: We will be following up on some of the issues in relation to the case. I spoke to the Cypriot foreign minister about that.

There is a broader issue for Brits travelling abroad  not just in Cyprus, or indeed in Europe  whether it is holiday, whether it is backpacking, to make sure they can do so as safely and securely as possible.

What we will want to do is have a conversation with our Cypriot friends and partners about that case once I have downloaded the full facts.

Protesters gathered outside court to support the teen / AFP via Getty Images

The teenagers family had raised fears she would suffer permanent damage to her mental health if she was sent to prison, having been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

But Judge Michalis Papathanasiou told the court he would not be jailing her, despite insisting that all the evidence suggested she was guilty.

Issuing her sentence he told the packed courtroom: I admit, I have been troubled over this.

All the evidence shows that she had lied and prevented the police from doing other serious jobs.

The British teen is on her way home after being given a suspended sentence / AP

Twelve people were arrested and seven of them were there for at least 10 days. That was also a serious offence.

Her psychological state, her youth, that she has been away from her family, her friends and academic studies this year this has led me to decide to give her a second chance and suspend the sentence for three years.

Around 100 protesters gathered outside the court, including a group of about 60 from Israel.

Holding placards reading we believe you and dont be afraid, they chanted: Cyprus justice, shame on you; Stop blaming the victim, and: You are not alone.

Their voices could be heard inside court as the judge passed sentence, even after security guards had asked for the windows and blinds to be closed.

Addressing applauding supporters after the hearing, the teenagers mother said: I just want to thank each and every one of you for turning up today, having belief, having faith and making sure we get justice.

On behalf of the family, I would like to say we are very relieved at the sentence that has been passed down today.

I would also like to say thank you for all the support we have received throughout the globe.

Supporters have called for the conviction to be quashed entirely / AP

Adi Izrael, who had travelled to Cyprus from Israel, said: Many people say, we dont know she was raped. But the way they (the Israelis) behaved, something is wrong with this case.

The rape was obvious and its obvious she deserves our support.

The teenagers lawyer Mr Power said: Whilst we welcome the fact that the sentence imposed today allows her to go home, we strongly contest the conviction and the fight for her innocence will go on regardless.

We will be appealing the conviction and will take this case to the Supreme Court of Cyprus and are prepared to fight this case all the way to the European Court of Human Rights.

We say and will maintain that this young girl was stripped both of her dignity and her basic human rights.

Nir Yaslovitzh, a lawyer who represents four of the Israelis arrested over the alleged rape, had previously called for a harsh sentence.

But he said on Tuesday: Whats important isnt the decision that the judge gave today.
FILE PHOTO: An employee works near a Boeing 737 Max aircraft at Boeing's 737 Max production facility in Renton

(Reuters) - American Airlines <AAL.O> is the latest airline to reach a settlement with Boeing Co <BA.N> regarding the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX airliner.

Boeing's best-selling plane was grounded in March 2019 after two fatal crashes in which all 346 passengers and crew were killed.

There were 387 737 MAX planes being operated by 59 airlines at the time and a backlog of orders worth more than $500 billion at list prices.

Following are the airlines that have reached compensation agreements with the planemaker (in alphabetical order):

AEROMEXICO <AEROMEX.MX>

Aeromexico said on Jan. 6 it had reached a compensation agreement with Boeing over the grounding of the 737 MAX. The Mexican airline did not disclose the size of the payment and said it remained in talks with Boeing and regulatory authorities.

AMERICAN AIRLINES <AAL.O>

The largest U.S. airline said on Jan. 6 it had reached a confidential agreement with Boeing. It said the compensation would be received over several years and that it would use more than $30 million of the compensation for its 2019 employee profit-sharing program.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES <LUV.N>

The worlds largest 737 MAX operator said in December that it had reached a confidential agreement with Boeing for a portion of a projected $830 million hit to its 2019 operating income caused by the grounding of the 737 MAX.

TURKISH AIRLINES <THYAO.IS>

Turkish said on Dec. 31 that it had come to an agreement with Boeing concerning compensation for certain losses caused by grounded and non-delivery Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

The airline did not specify the size of the payment but Turkeys Hurriyet newspaper reported it was worth $225 million.

(Reporting by Tommy Lund and Milla Nissi; editing by Tomasz Janowski and Jason Neely)
By Laman Ismayilova

Works of Nizami Ganjavi, the most prominent figure of medieval Azerbaijani philosophical poetry, occupies a special place in Azerbaijani literature. His five poems, collectively known as the Khamsa (Quintet), are considered the treasury of Azerbaijani poetry.

A monument to the prominent poet will be erected in Kharkov, Ukraine. In 2020, it is also planned to open a park named after Nizami Ganjavi. The park will be laid in the center of Kharkov city.

In addition, Days of Azerbaijani Culture will be held in Ukraine all year round.

Over the past two years, monuments to such famous personalities as Muslim Magomayev and Nasimi have been also erected in Ukraine.

Nizami's legacy is of great importance for Azerbaijani culture. The poet, who began by writing lyrics in short forms  gasida, gazal, rubai has gained popularity all over the world.

The works of Nizami Ganjavi were translated into many languages. The rare manuscript copies of his works are kept and preserved like precious pearls in famous libraries, museums and literary foundations in cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Baku, Tashkent, Tabriz, Tehran, Cairo, Istanbul, Delhi, London, Paris and others.

In Khamsa (Quintet), the poet revealed the living pages of history. The attack of the Russians on Barda city, a fairy tale of the Russian Princess, the beautiful Shirin amazons, battles, described in various poems of Nizami - all this is historically and geographically related to medieval Azerbaijan and the Caucasus.

The description of a man's inner world, his feelings, and thoughts along with the dynamic development of the main hero's characters underlies the basic aim and content of Nizamis literary school.

Nizami Ganjavi passed away in 1209 in his native city of Ganja. A grandiose tomb was raised over his grave.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.

That marvelous insight is commonly credited to Mark Twain, and emphasizes the fact that reading gives you an edge. It stimulates the mind, shapes one's thinking, improves one's grasp of the language and ability to articulate an idea, and slows down cognitive decline.

I reached out to a few colleagues who are voracious readers, to ask them what gripped their attention. I was pleasantly surprised to note that the recommendations span different genres; business, behavioural finance, geo-politics, sci-fi and fiction.

Book: Shoe Dog

Author: Phil Knight

Recommended by: Kunal Kapoor

This book tells the story of the origins of Nike, by none other than its creator. Expect an interesting journey that is refreshingly honest with its share of wisdom and anecdotes. The book is inspirational, but points to the fact that it is a perilous and messy ride that demands struggle and sacrifice. The book is aspirational, but refrains from the talk-me-down tone of this is how you must do it.

Book: Prisoner of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics

Author: Tim Marshall

Recommended by: Kunal Kapoor

The relationship between geography and socioeconomic outcomes is handled best when geography is the shaping agent. Nations are constrained by geography. As a result, to get a holistic comprehension of world events and political movements, you need to look at geography. For instance, the threat open plains pose in this age of drones and cyber attacks. The physical characteristics of a country affects its strengths and vulnerabilities and impacts the decision made by its rulers. Tim Marshalls book discusses how geography and ideology collide, and is a reminder of the salience of geography in international affairs.

Book: In Our Mad and Furious City

Author: Guy Gunaratne

Recommended by: Kunal Kapoor

The novel is extremely engaging and written by a Londoner born to Sri Lankan immigrants. This is supposed to be a mad and furious book about a mad and furious city. It rotates through the perspectives of different characters whose lives have all been touched by extremism.

Kunal Kapoor is the chief executive officer of Morningstar.

Book: Zucked: Waking up to the Facebook Catastrophe

Author: Roger McNamee

Recommended by: Rob Pinkerton

Roger met the 22-year old Mark Zuckerberg in 2006, when he himself was 50. He introduced Mark and Sheryl Sandberg to each other and was certain that Facebook would be a spectacularly successful company. An American fund manager and venture capitalist, he has made investments in, among

Roger made a fortune as one of Silicon Valley's earliest champions, with investments in Electronic Arts, Sybase, Palm Inc, and Facebook, among others. Now he's one of its most fervent critics, Brian Barth writes. He had also warned Facebook in 2016 about platform manipulation before the election.

The book is an entertaining eye-opener that offers a global view of the impact of Facebook and Google.

Book: Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

Author: David Epstein

Recommended by: Rob Pinkerton

This book attempts an analytic counter to Malcolm Gladwells 10,000-hour rule. According to the latter, your time, energy and attention are finite. If you concentrate on doing one thing, you might have a chance of doing it really well. To attain genuine excellence in any area  sports, music, science, whatever  you have to specialize. If you dont, others will have a head start on you in the 10,000 hours of deliberate practice necessary for breakout achievement.

In this compelling and rigorous read, David seeks to prove that message wrong. Early specialization is the exception, not the rule. Generalists often find their path late, and they juggle many interests rather than focusing on one. Theyre also more creative, more agile, and able to make connections their more specialized peers cant see.

Rob Pinkerton is Morningstars chief marketing officer.

Book: Finance for Normal People

Author: Meir Statman

Recommended by: Christine Benz

The book is about behavioural finance. In contrast with some other books on the topic, Statman brings a tremendous amount of warmth and empathy to the proceedings. He doesnt pathologize behaviours that arent purely rational; rather, his observation is that we make money decisions based on factors that arent strictly rooted in the numbers, but its all normal. For example, we might invest in a hedge fund because it confers bragging rights, or we might invest in an ESG fund so that we can feel virtuous.

Christine Benz is Morningstars director of personal finance.

Book: The Prize

Author: Daniel Yergin

Recommended by: Ben Johnson

The Prize is a fascinating history of oil; a Pulitzer Prizewinning account of the unwavering significance of black gold throughout the modern era, and how it has shaped the world. The narrative spans the drilling of the first well in Pennsylvania through two world wars to the Iraq invasion of Kuwait, Operation Desert Storm, the Iraq war and climate change.

Book: The Lost City of Z

Author: David Grann

Recommended by: Ben Johnson

The Lost City of Z tells the tale of British explorer Colonel Percy Harrison Fawcett, who went in search of a lost civilization in the heart of the Amazon, which he had named the City of Z. In 1925, he disappeared in the forest, along with his son and another companion. After stumbling upon a hidden trove of diaries, acclaimed New Yorker writer David Grann set out to solve the greatest exploration mystery of the twentieth century: What happened to Fawcett?

Ben Johnson is of the opinion that both books speak to human ingenuity, tenacity, and our ability to impact (for better or worse) and adapt to our environment.

Ben Johnson is Morningstars director of global ETF research.

Book: Fall; or, Dodge in Hell: A Novel

Author: Neal Stephenson

Recommended by: Nicolas Owens

The sci-fi guru, who has a reputation as a tech Nostradamus, came out with a new book this year.

Way back in 1992, Stephenson published his breakthrough novel, Snow Crash, where he coined the metaverse; a dystopian future in which people regularly disappeared into  a 3D virtual high street where avatars of all kinds could mingle, regardless of their real-world location. Here he starts with a culture cleaved in two, its divisions reinforced by AR-enabled filter bubbles. And is packed with a wealth of concepts and stark imagination.

Book: Popularity: A Bridge between Classical and Behavioral Finance

Recommended by: Nicolas Owens

Popularity is a word that embraces how much anything is liked, recognized, or desired. Popularity drives demand.

In this book, Roger Ibbotson, Thomas Idzorek, Paul Kaplan and James Xiong apply this concept to assets and securities to explain the premiums and so-called anomalies in security markets, especially the stock market.

Nicolas Owens is Editor in Chief for Morningstar.

Book: Good Habits, Bad Habits

Author: Wendy Wood

Recommended by: Steve Wendel

A mix of neuroscience, case studies, and experiments are what make this book very practical. It will help you harness the power of your unconscious mind, which already determines so much of what you do.

Steve Wendel is Morningstars head of behavioural science.
President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn to board Marine One at the White House in Washington on Dec. 18, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Trump Vows Iran Will Never Have Nuclear Weapons

President Donald Trump over the weekend reiterated his threat to target Iranian cultural sites and vowed on Jan. 6 that Iran would never have enough material to build an atomic weapon.

On Jan. 5, Trump invited reporters into his Air Force One cabin for roughly 30 minutes as he spoke on and off the record about the threat of Iran. In on-the-record remarks, he threatened sanctions against Iraq after its Parliament called on U.S. troops to leave the country.

[Iran is] allowed to kill our people. Theyre allowed to torture and maim our people. Theyre allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And were not allowed to touch their cultural site? Trump said. It doesnt work that way.

When asked by a reporter about potential retaliation by Iran, Trump said: If it happens, it happens. If they do anything, there will be major retaliation.

The laws of armed conflict prohibit the deliberate targeting of cultural sites under most circumstances. Trumps message comes after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said any target the U.S. military may strike in Iran in retaliation to a possible attack on the United States or its interests by Tehran would be a lawful target orchestrated solely to safeguard U.S. interests.

In a Jan. 6 tweet, Trump wrote that Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.

The Iranian regimes top military official, Qassem Soleimani, was killed early on Jan. 3 in a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad International Airport. His death is considered a major blow to the Islamic regime.

Trump ordered the strike following repeated attacks in recent months on bases hosting U.S. troops in Iraq by Iranian-backed Shiite terror groups. On Dec. 27, one such attack killed a U.S. defense contractor and injured four U.S. troops and two Iraqi Security Forces members.

The presidents pledge comes a day after Iran said it would no longer abide by any of the limits of its crumbling 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Tehran would abandon the accords key provisions that block the regime from having enough material to build an atomic weapon.

The Iranian regime had already formally breached the deal in 2019 when officials announced they had begun to increase uranium enrichment above a previously agreed purity limit. Iranian officials announced the increase on July 7, 2019, in line with earlier signals that they planned to push ahead with raising uranium enrichment to a 5 percent concentration.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), meanwhile, said in a Jan. 5 letter to Congress that the House will vote on a war powers resolution this week in a bid to curb Trumps authority to pursue military initiatives against Iran. The resolution seeks to put an end to military action against Iran within 30 days unless authorized by Congress.

The president, in his comments to reporters on Jan. 5, also issued a warning to Baghdad after the Iraqi Parliaments call for the United States and other foreign troops to leave the country after the killing of Soleimani.

We have a very extraordinarily expensive airbase thats there. It cost billions of dollars to build, long before my time. Were not leaving unless they pay us back for it, Trump told reporters.

Trump said that if Iraq asked U.S. forces to leave and it wasnt done on a friendly basis, we will charge them sanctions like theyve never seen before, ever. Itll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame.

Tensions between Iran and the United States and its allies, including Saudi Arabia, have risen since Washington pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions.

Trump pulled the United States out of the deal because it failed to protect Americas national security interests and enabled its malign behavior, while at best delaying its ability to pursue nuclear weapons and allowing it to preserve nuclear research and development, according to the White House.

This was a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made, Trump said at the time. It didnt bring calm, it didnt bring peace, and it never will.
Former Indonesian fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti calls for sinking illegal foreign fishing boats

January 07,2020 | Source: TEMPO

Susi Pudjiastuti, former minister of maritime affairs and fisheries, unceasingly voiced her hopes that the government acts firmly in upholding the law against illegal foreign fishing vessels in Indonesian waters.



Susi stressed that Indonesia as a sovereign nation must be able to distinguish between foreign vessels that must be respected or those that must be captured.



"When [a foreign country] invests [in Indonesia], we respect and protect them. But when [a country] steals (conducting illegal fishing), we must catch and sink them," said Susi in her official Twitter account @susipudjiastuti, Monday evening, January 6.



Susi made similar remarks at the end of last week following Chinas violations in the Indonesian territorial waters, Natuna. "Treat fish thieves by enforcing the law on them for what they have [violated]. This is different from maintaining a friendship or investment climate," she remarked on Saturday, January 4.





Furthermore, the former minister emphasized that friendship between countries does not mean protecting fish thieves. "Friendship between countries cannot protect fish thieves and set aside law enforcement against perpetrators of illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing (IUUF). This is a transnational crime," she tweeted.



Susi Pudjiastuti conveyed her statements in response to the peaceful solution proposed by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto regarding Chinas violation in Natuna Sea.



"We will settle it well. After all, China is a friend country," said Prabowo at the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment Office, Jakarta, Friday, January 3. Prabowos opinion was seconded by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan.

 Tempo Media Group 2017

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
Anti-semitic graffiti in the form of numbers, 9 11, and a Star of David, on a shop window in Belsize Park, north London (PA)

Antisemitic attacks in north London have blighted Hanukkah celebrations and could turn more violent, a non-governmental organisation has warned.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism group said politicians need to realise the scale of the problem or risk violent antisemitic attacks like a recent stabbing in New York being replicated in the UK.

The groups fears follow a series of attacks aimed against Jewish people over Hanukkah, which was observed from 22-30 December, and have carried on into 2020  with several reported in Stamford Hill, north London.

Stephen Silverman, the director of investigations and enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: We are seeing violent attacks being perpetrated with increasing frequency on the observant Jewish community in Stamford Hill.

Police, politicians and above all prosecutors must now urgently take on board the reality that the epidemic of anti-Jewish hate crime on the streets of London can only be stemmed through rapid and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law.

Failure to act urgently may result in the atrocities that have been committed on the other side of the Atlantic being replicated here in the UK.

That appears to be a reference to the five people who were stabbed at a Hanukkah celebration at a rabbis home north of New York City on December 28.

A police officer exits the house where five people were stabbed at a Hasidic rabbi's home in Monsey, New York (Reuters)

The group has noted a series of alleged antisemitic attacks that took place in the last two weeks in north London, which have marred Hanukkah celebrations.

It has listed nine reported incidents on its website, all reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, a Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol that works to fight against antisemitism and prevent crime in the wider community.

The alleged incidents in the area include a Jewish man being pelted with a glass bottle by someone who shouted dirty Jew on 21 December, and a pedestrian who spat at the car of Jewish motorists while shouting f***ing Jew the following day.

On 26 December, a man allegedly walked into a kosher butchers shop shouting antisemitic abuse while pointing at Jewish people with a gun gesture.

Story continues

High Road, in the Stamford Hill area, where a teenager is alleged to have been punched in the stomach (Google Maps)

On 1 January, the Campaign Against Antisemitism and Shomrim say a couple told a Jewish woman that you Jewish people, you think you own the world, you stink.

A Jewish man was punched in the face in an unprovoked attack on 4 January while two men threatened worshippers at a synagogue a day later, according to Shomrim.

On 5 January, a 13-year-old boy is reported as having been punched in the stomach while travelling on a bus and the attacker shouted you stupid Jews think you own the world.

The following day, a man shouted f***ing Jewish c*** at a Jewish mother who was waiting with her baby for a taxi to the hospital, Shomrim has reported.

All incidents were reported to police and arrests have been made in relation to some of the cases.

Antisemitic graffiti also appeared in the Belsize Park area of north London between Christmas and the new year.

Symbols, including a Star of David and the numbers 9 and 11, were daubed in red and purple spray paint over several shopfronts and a synagogue.

Anti-semitic graffiti in the form of a 9/11 sprayed onto the outside of the South Hampstead Synagogue in north London. (PA)

That piece of graffiti is believed to be an antisemitic conspiracy that Jews were responsible for the 9/11 terror attack.

The graffiti was found less than two hours after the New York stabbings.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism says its analysis of Home Office figures show an average of more than three hate crimes are directed at Jews every day in England and Wales.

The group believes Jewish people are four times more likely to be targeted by hate crime than other faith groups.
Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, the husband-and-wife duo behind State Bird Provisions and the Progress, are opening their first oyster bar in the Fillmore district.

Called the Anchovy Bar, its the teams spin on a classic oyster bar with an emphasis on local anchovies, West Coast oysters, wine and beer, and one that will purposefully go without entrees and courses. Brioza hopes to open its doors in late April, timed with the local anchovy season.

The bar takes over the recently vacated Fat Angel space, just around the corner from State Bird and the Progress. Brioza said the location was the main draw, and at just 1,000 square feet, the space is the shoebox dream that we as chefs all gravitate toward.

Brioza already serves anchovies at State Bird and the Progress. For the six months the fish are in season, the restaurants go through an average of 20 pounds per day. Brioza first started toying with a Californian version of boquerones, pickled Spanish white anchovies, back when he was the chef at Rubicon. He swapped out vinegar for citrus and threw in basil and jalapeno, creating something that truly celebrates the humble fish.

Those little oily fish  local and imported  will star at the Anchovy Bar in a range of dishes. There will also be a few oyster options each day sourced from Hog Island Oyster Co. While hes still working on the menu, Brioza imagines including some meat and seafood tartares; small vegetable dishes; sliced European hams; pickles with breads and seasoned butters; smoked fish; and, of course, a killer Caesar salad.

A dish I cant get out of my mind right now is a smoked black cod roe butter over steamed potatoes, he said as an example, adding that hes working with Red Boats fish sauce-infused salt to sprinkle extra anchovy on various dishes.

Stuart Brioza

No entrees will be on offer  after all, this is a bar. Partner Jason Alexander is compiling a list of 20-30 bottles of wine, emphasizing sparkling wines and crisp whites from all over. The teams cicerone, Ben Henning, will create a rotating list of 15 beers. The Anchovy Bar will not have a full liquor license.

Wiley Price, who designed State Bird and the Progress, is overhauling the Fat Angel interior with interesting tiles, dark marble, stone and greens  a palette of colors and textures meant to evoke an oyster shell.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Since the 35-seat space is small and doesnt have a full kitchen, Brioza plans to use condiments produced at his other restaurants  and the resources, like smokers and butcher room  to help make the flavors robust.

Im looking at it as a little extension of the Progress and State Bird, he said. The idea is to keep it incredibly simple and really focus on the integrity of the fish themselves.

The Anchovy Bar. Opening late April. 1740 OFarrell St., San Francisco.

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
The Pentagon on Monday distanced itself from President Donald Trump's assertions that he would bomb Iranian cultural sites. (Photo Credit: File Photo)

New Delhi:

The Pentagon on Monday distanced itself from President Donald Trump's assertions that he would bomb Iranian cultural sites. Defence Secretary Mark Esper said the US will follow the laws of armed conflict. When asked if that ruled out targeting cultural sites, Esper said pointedly, That's the laws of armed conflict. As per the 1954 Hague Convention, nations must take all possible steps to protect cultural property and shall refrain from any act of hostility, directed against such property. It also says nations must not use cultural sites for any threatening purposes that would make such locations a military target.

Tensions are high between Tehran and Washington after a US airstrike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani inside Iraq. Soleimani, 62, the head of Irans elite al-Quds force and architect of its regional security apparatus, was killed when a US drone fired missiles into a convoy that was leaving the Baghdad International Airport last week. The strike also killed the deputy chief of Iraqs powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force.

Trump first raised the prospect of targeting cultural sites in a tweet on Saturday and reiterated that view to reporters the next day.

We have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD (sic), he tweeted.

Iran has already made the announcement to pull out of the nuclear deal or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that it signed with UNSC permanent members plus Germany.

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The Philippine National Police (PNP) reiterated that the governments war on drugs is a success, contrary to the figures reported by Vice President Leni Robredo.

PNP Officer-in-Charge Archie Gamboa said the campaign against illegal drugs was one hundred percent successful; this was after Robredo called the drug war unsuccessful during her report on Monday (January 6).

Whether her numbers are merely an estimate or the exact value, in any case, the figure derived is totally wrong, Gamboa said.

Gamboa also said that since 2016, they already destroyed 14 clandestine drug laboratories and 419 drugs dens.

The PNP had also confiscated around P40.39 billion worth of illegal drugs. These include 5.1 tons of shabu, 2.3 tons of marijuana, 500 kilos of cocaine, and over 42,000 pieces of the party drug, ecstasy.

Authorities have also arrested 220,728 individuals in 2016, with 8,185 high value targets.

Gamboa also reported that 5,552 drug personalities and 55 policemen were killed during illegal drug operations. Meanwhile, a total of 16,706 barangays are drug-free.

Gamboa said Robredos appreciation of statistics in her report was not mathematically acceptable. He also said that her 18 days as the co-chairman in the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) was not enough for her to provide estimates of the totality of the illegal drug campaign.

Ang ginawa niya kin-quote niya iyong PDEG (What she did was, she quoted the PDEG) [Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group] that there are three tons of consumption per week for the drug problem of the Philippines and then in-equate niya ito sa drug recovered (then she equated it with the drugs recovered), he said.

Iyong appreciation niya doon sa statistics na iyon is wrong. Kung ganiyan ang appreciation niya (Her appreciation of the statistics is wrong. If that is her appreciation) its quite risky because if you have little knowledge that you present it could be very risky, Gamboa added.

Meanwhile, the PNP official said despite the success of the governments drug war, regional directors and head of national support units are doubling their efforts in the governments war on drugs, terrorism, criminality, and corruption.AAC (with reports from Lea Ylagan)

The post PNP reiterates drug war successful, Robredos figures totally wrong appeared first on UNTV News.
Though many suburban shopping centers were handed over three to five years ago, they remain deserted. Tens of thousands of square meters of commercial premises have been left idle.

The apartment project on Le Trong Tan street in Hoai Duc district in Hanoi was handed over in late 2016. The buildings there are designed in five blocks to be used as shopping centers with total floor area of 20,000 square meters.

After four years of operation, 70 percent of commercial area remains unused.



The projects investor once planned to divide the area into small shops and kiosks for sale. However, distributors did not show interest though they could get preferential loans.



Not far away, there is another building in the same situation. Hundreds of kiosks and shophouses on three commercial floors of the building remain deserted.

Though many suburban shopping centers were handed over three to five years ago, they remain deserted. Tens of thousands of square meters of commercial premises have been left idle.

The investor of the project many times opened the kiosks and shophouses for sale at the price of VND12-14 million per square meters (50-300 square meters) together with apartments.



However, two of the commercial floors there remain unsold. Meanwhile, some kiosks have had to shut down after a period of operation because of the lack of custom.



At a project on To Huu street, the kiosks are still on sale, but very few people are interested in them. The commercial area on the first floor is not fully occupied.



According to Ngoc, a real estate broker who has deep knowledge about the western part of the city, the unprofessional operation of the investor is one of the reasons behind the lack of sales.



The slump is not only seen at the projects in suburban areas, but also at ones near Belt Road No 3. The project on Pham Van Dong Road which has been operational for the last two years is an example.



The first floor of the project is not fully occupied, while tens of thousands square meters on the upper floors remain unused.



According to JLL, the demand for retail premise leases grows steadily, but the commercial areas in apartment projects in suburban areas have a very low occupancy rate.



JLL believes that the investors of the projects lack experience in developing retail real estate. They do not have the ideas and business models suitable to the scale, area and characteristics of the projects and the surrounding areas.



Pham Duc Toan, CEO of EZ Vietnam, a real estate investment and development company, also thinks that some investors lack experience in assessing the potential of the commercial premises segment.



The commercial areas in suburbs mostly serves residents in buildings, so it is difficult to attract clients to the second and higher floors. And some investors will reserve up to five commercial floors.

Linh Ha

Japans retailers reaching out to Vietnams market Japanese retailers are increasingly amplifying business activities in Vietnam as the countrys middle class expands amid market conditions in their home country slowing down.
The crossing paths of Star Wars and the MCU might be blurring thanks to both being on the same streaming platform of Disney+. News has been out a while about the so far unseen Marvel character Moon Knight appearing in his own Disney+ series, maybe with a Star Wars actor already becoming a household name.

Those uninitiated to the Moon Knight character should know his real name is Marc Spector, a man who works behind-the-scenes for the CIA as a spy and who so happens to have multiple personalities. After being left for dead by a terrorist in the Egyptian desert, he gains superhero powers from an Egyptian deity.

Becoming Moon Knight when back in the U.S., he takes on multiple identities to keep his guise under wraps. Will Marvel really introduce him into the MCU fold with one surprising actor name?

There have already been some allusions to Moon Knight in the MCU

Pedro Pascal | Rich Fury/Getty Images

Anyone whos read Marvel comic books long enough knows Moon Knight was considered one part of the Avengers team. He hasnt been seen in the movies yet, outside of subtle references in the Captain America movies.

Some fans even think there was a setup in one of those film showing an incident in Egypt, the center of where the comic book origin story of Moon Knight begins.

At stake here, though, is who will play Moon Knight/Marc Spector if such an introduction happens. Reports are many creatives within the MCU have been trying to bring the character into the fold. For some fans, it seems like a long wait for such a pivotal character, despite having some controversial personality issues.

First of all, hes deemed to be schizophrenic, which would finally bring a sense of mental illness into the superhero fray. Plus, hes considered an anti-hero, with Spider-Man being a nemesis sometimes in the comics.

Who would be the best actor to play this type of role so its believable?

Would Pedro Pascal fit into the MCU?

Rumor: The Mandalorians Pedro Pascal on Short List to Play Moon Knight! https://t.co/4Cpf54Vu1e pic.twitter.com/36hyPFTido  Bounding Into Comics (@BoundingComics) January 2, 2020

One advantage to playing a role with ones face covered 99% of the time is it frees up the actor to avoid typecasting for other roles. Pedro Pascal is in a fortunate place right now thanks to The Mandalorian making his name known in a million more households without necessarily making him recognizable.

While rumors are hes not always in every show scene, its definitely his voice. Hes also able to emote well behind that mask where you dont have to see his face to feel the emotions.

Only briefly was his face exposed after being badly injured during the final episode of Season One. Even then, he was fairly bloodied up and survived thanks to IG-11 giving him a healing injection.

Managing to still maintain a mysterious aura for Dyn Jarren, its no wonder theres a rumor that Pascal has now been floated around as being cast as Moon Knight.

Yet, it seems unlikely hell work for Star Wars and Marvel

The Marc Spector character would be living behind a mask a lot of the time as well. If this helps Pascal if he wins the role, his voice is more than recognizable now in The Mandalorian.

Chances are, this could conflict since The Mandalorian will likely be on Disney+ for years to come, making it difficult on differentiation between characters.

Not that the rumor has too much credibility anyway. The source on the above Reddit thread has been called out as a bit unreliable based on prior rumors.

Should the casting of Moon Knight go to an unknown, or someone already familiar within the Disney inner circle? Some reports a while back had Shia LaBeouf maybe taken the role, a probable perfect role based on his own personal troubles.

If Pascal wins the part, itll be proof using masks will become a handy tool in the acting world to avoid familiarity becoming too familiar.
Iran and India held their 19th joint commission meeting Dec. 22-23, as the countries bilateral relations are at their lowest in probably a decade.

This commission framework was supposed to be a milestone for enhancing Tehran-New Delhi cooperation. Though some progress was made this year, the meeting is now a barely meaningful event, mainly because of the tension between Iran and the United States.

The India-Iran Joint Commission began in the late 1960s. At the time, its main agenda was expanding economic and cultural ties. While it achieved promising results during its early years, bilateral relations cooled over conflicts on the subcontinent. Iran, as part of the Western bloc of the Cold War and a member of the Central Treaty Organization, chose to support its Islamic and allied neighbor Pakistan during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war.

However, by the end of the 1970s, numerous circumstances had changed, including Irans allegiance to the West. Iran-India bilateral relations entered a new era.

While the early joint commission suffered because of friendly Iran-West relations, in recent years the body has faced tension caused by Indias close ties to the West. The disappointing course of the commissions only significant goal in recent decades  developing Chabahar Port  speaks for itself. The strategic ports joint development was agreed on in 2003, halted in 2016 as a result of international sanctions against Iran, initiated again in 2016 as part of a trilateral agreement between Iran, India and Afghanistan, and interrupted again by US President Donald Trumps withdrawal in 2018 from the Iranian nuclear deal and unilateral US sanctions. Although Trumps administration exempted Chabahar Port from sanctions, the general considerations about collaboration with Iranian institutions prevented companies from getting engaged in the project. Therefore, India cut the projects budget by more than two-thirds for the current fiscal year compared with the previous one.

Now, however, almost four years after the trilateral agreement, the United States has reassured would-be participants in the project by issuing a written version of the sanctions waiver, and the Indian companies "are trying to go ahead." Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar described the recent session as "very productive."

Thats just a sample of how the United States factors into Iran-India relations. The consequences and implications arent simply limited to a port development or economic collaboration between Iran and India. India highly values its relations with Iran, and it is now plagued by Iran-US tensions  hostility that could even prove harmful to Americas long-term interests in the region.

During the past two decades, Iran and India have been developing a strategic partnership that is broadly part of Indias plans for what it calls its extended neighborhood. There are two regions at the heart of the giant rising powers geostrategic interests: the Indian Ocean, and central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) plus Afghanistan.

Moreover, Indias rapidly developing economy is thirsty for energy and markets for export, with Europe as the top destination. Iran was a crossroads for all of these ambitions. It has the worlds richest gas reserves as well as the fourth-largest global oil reserves, while its troubled relations with the developed world could work in the favor of newer Indian companies looking to invest and work in Iranian energy industries.

Also, Iran sits on Indias path toward both central Asia and Europe. Chabahar could have been a precious gate to Afghanistan and central Asia through Chabahar-Zahedan railways and the Indian-built Zaranj-Delaram highway in Afghanistan, as well as an entry to Europe through the International North-South Transport Corridor. But all of those ambitions are at stake due to the US sanctions against Iran and are putting pressure on India to downgrade its partnership with Iran overall.

As if thats not enough, India bowing to pressure and cutting off its oil imports from Iran struck a huge blow to their bilateral relations. This came on top of Indias vote against Iran before the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2005, 2006 and 2009. Tehran was, and still is, so greatly taken aback by those decisions that they will affect Iranian leaders perception of their relations with India in the future, without a doubt. Iran's recent joint naval exercise with China and Russia in the Indian Ocean could partly be interpreted as an answer to those controversial moves by New Delhi.

But what could US pressure on Iran-India relations do for Washington's interest? First, it ties the hands of India, a crucial partner in any potential confrontation with China. India is an inevitable partner for the United States in Asias balance of power against China, and being deprived of irreplaceable benefits that Iran could provide does not help India geopolitically or economically. Second, under the current circumstances, the United States risks losing all relations with Afghanistan. Washington already is dependent on Pakistan to supply its troops in Afghanistan and protect its interest in the crisis-prone country. Considering the intimate relations between Pakistan and China, if rivalries in Asia rise up and Islamabad chooses to stand by China  a very probable assumption  the United States will face great difficulty connecting with Afghanistan.

Moreover, Washington has been trying desperately to outsource some of its responsibilities in providing order and security in Afghanistan, and India is the most valid option. Considering Indias geopolitical limitations, close ties with Iran are a must, and the current state of their relations does not help. And finally, with the rapidly growing rivalry between the United States and China, which could be approaching the direct-confrontation point, Washington needs to keep some actors neutral if it expects to have a functional containment strategy against China.

Iran, considering its broad geopolitical potential and rich resources, is one of those actors. If Tehran joins Beijing wholeheartedly, it could give China a boost and bring about more difficulties for the United States grand strategy. Promoting an India-Iran partnership could have been a very simple, trouble-free way to keep Iran at bay. The recent Iran-China-Russia naval drill might act as a warning for US leaders.
Our clients are going to benefit tremendously from this acquisition, as this allows us to continue to expand the range of services we offer, said Learn on Demand Systems CEO, Corey Hynes.

Learn on Demand Systems, a global leader in hands-on learning, today announced the acquisition of Wadeware, a technical training and content development firm. Financial terms were not disclosed.

With more than 20 years in the technology industry, Wadeware is a highly respected partner to some of the worlds leading software companies," says Learn on Demand Systems CEO, Corey Hynes. Their track record with Microsoft content alone is impressive.

Wadeware CEO, Bill Wade, explains, "Wadeware has worked with Learn on Demand Systems for more than 10 years, creating Microsoft learning labs with its cloud-hosted platform. I have always been impressed with the Learn on Demand Systems' innovative solutions, constant professionalism and superior quality."

Hynes and Wade formally signed the agreement to complete the purchase.

The acquisition deepens Learn on Demand Systems' content development and courseware development capabilities, both in experience and by the number of experts available.

Our clients are going to benefit tremendously from this acquisition, as this allows us to continue to expand the range of services we offer, said Hynes.

"Learn on Demand Systems truly cares about its clientsand about the IT professionals those clients support," Wade said. "I'm thrilled that Wadeware clients are now Learn on Demand Systems' clients, with all the expertise and benefits that brings."

Wadewares employees are focused solely on content development. These employees will remain in the Seattle, Washington area.

About Learn on Demand Systems

Learn on Demand Systems, an Inc. 5000 company, empowers organizations to accelerate technology learning through hands-on experience and skills validation. A global leader in hands-on live learning, Learn on Demand Systems recognizes the challenges companies face to create and maintain engaging labs, workshops, courses and assessments that make technical concepts tangible across the globe. To address these challenges, the company offers a suite of products and services to develop, manage and deliver effective hands-on training, assessments and validation. To learn more, visit http://www.learnondemandsystems.com or follow Learn on Demand Systems on Twitter at @LodSystems.
Netflix have released the first trailer for upcoming show The Goop Lab which will see Gwyneth Paltrow explore wellness issues.

Produced and hosted by Paltrow and featuring Goop's chief content officer Elise Loehnen, the series is titled after Paltrows lifestyle brand, which launched in 2008.

Each of the six episodes in the first season will focus on a different area of wellness, including female sexual pleasure, therapy and energy healing.

The new trailer promises discussion around boundary-pushing wellness topics with experts and practitioners, while a poster features Paltrow against a backdrop that resembles the inside of a vagina.

One featured clip includes a discussion in which Paltrow and Loehnen are asked if theyve ever examined their own vulvas by a sex therapist.

Recommended Gwyneth Paltrow uses Goop face vibrator for Golden Globes prep

Another snippet shows a woman commenting that she underwent an exorcism", while Paltrow then enthusiastically talks about visiting a psychic who she says "knew things" her "own husband" didn't.

But some reactions to the series, which starts on 24 January, are less than impressed, highlighting the company's controversial history.

The most horrifying thing abt this is the word lab which implies some sort of science which goop has NOTHING to do with!! tweeted writer Amanda Rosenberg.

Also the boldness of gwynnie coming to us from a vagina  a place she told us to stick jade eggs!!! this whole show is a danger to our health!!#

In September 2018 Goop paid out $145 million (110 million) in a settlement with the Orange County District Attorneys office after advertising jade eggs for sale via Goop, claiming they should be placed inside vaginas to cleanse them.

Other supposed health benefits of the eggs  which Goop promoted as a guarded secret of Chinese royalty in antiquity,  included apparently being able to balance hormones and improve both vaginal muscle tone, and orgasms.

But critics said that placing the eggs inside the vaginal cavity could increase the likelihood of infection, especially as jade was porous and could trap bacteria.

An investigation by the California Food, Drug and Medical Device Task Force prompted Goop to make the million-dollar payout.

The company has also come under fire for promoting pseudoscience but equally has been praised for its part in bringing wellness techniques and remedies into popular consciousness.

For its part, Goop has revealed little of the content that will make up their new collaboration with Netflix, only promising it will be goopy as hell, in a blog post uploaded to the site.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 19:09:31|Editor: Xiang Bo

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CHANGCHUN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's leading automaker FAW Group saw its total revenue reach 620 billion yuan (about 89.2 billion U.S. dollars) in 2019, up 4.4 percent, the automaker said Tuesday.

FAW sold over 3.46 million units of vehicles last year, up 1.3 percent.

FAW's iconic sedan brand Hongqi sold over 100,000 units in 2019. The brand has six models currently on sale, including an electric battery vehicle and high-end customized sedan.

FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co., Ltd., a passenger car joint venture between FAW and Volkswagen AG, said its Audi brand set a new sales record in China in 2019. A total of 688,888 Audi vehicles were sold in China last year, up 4.2 percent.

In addition, FAW had stepped up efforts to reinforce innovation, research and development and made breakthroughs in fields including new energy and key technologies. FAW said it had applied for 2,927 patents last year.

Founded in 1953 in the northeastern city of Changchun, FAW was the first automaker in China to own brands including Hongqi, Jiefang and Besturn. It also has joint ventures with carmakers such as Volkswagen, Mazda and Toyota.
A group of 23 Purple Box Kids will represent Friendswood Jan. 17-19 at the Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta, Ga.

The young thespians from Purple Box Theater will perform a 15-minute cutting from Frozen, Jr. as they compete for individual and group honors and mingle with some 6,000 other festival participants from across the globe.

It is an opportunity to meet other kids from around the world just like these kids with the same interests, said Cathy Holbrook, the founding artistic director and owner of Purple Box Theater.

Sponsored by Playbill, Disney Musicals and Music Theatre International, the weekend of musical theater and mayhem and madness also introduces youngsters to Broadway professionals who share their journeys from being starry-eyed kids to performing on elite stages.

We learn from professionals and hear backstories from those in the industry, said Holbrook.

A highlight of the trip will be the opportunity for the Friendswood thespians to reprise a cutting from the groups 2019 summer production of Frozen, Jr., which they developed with other students in PBTs musical theater production classes.

Again, Mylana Valdina will portray Elsa, opposite Jovia Windom as Anna in an abridged version of the 2018 Broadway musical, Frozen, which was based on the animated film with the same name.

Rounding out the cast of Frozen, Jr. will be: Hannah Brueggeman as Young Elsa, Addy Rosenthal (Young Anna), Carter Payne (Olaf), Abbey Pearce (Sven), Luke Duckett (Kristoff), Elena Vasquez (Queen) and Hunter Hovorka (King).

In addition to their performance being critiqued, the Purple Box Kids will take workshops from Broadway professionals, who will share stories and host clinics and talkbacks.

Previously, we heard from Thomas Schumaker, the head of Disney Theatrics; Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who won Tony Awards for writing the music and lyrics for Dear Evan Hansen; and Cameron Mackintosh, the producer of such shows Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Hamilton, said Holbrook.

The weekend also features professional development for teachers, workshops for parents and a New Works Showcase featuring new musical adaptations soon to be released.

It concludes with a grand finale concert headlined by a top Broadway performer.

Last year, it was Cynthia Erivo, said Holbrook, referring to a Tony winner for the revival of the musical The Color Purple.

The year before was Megan Hilty, and previously Darren Criss, she said.

Completing the Friendswood contingent will be: Kate Wilds, Alayna McClure, Mya Ott, Jaxson Carr, Carmen Schultz, Hayden Bibb, Candy Linton, Mia Stoler, David Shaw, Juliette Molina, Gisella Alcala, Juan Araujo, Claire Hermes and Mia Alvarez, along with Holbrook, music director TMar Bunch and choreographer Sydney Moore.

Don Maines is a freelance writer who can be reached at donmaines@att.net
(Updates with context, background on impact from protests, analyst comment)

By Dave Sherwood and Fabian Cambero SANTIAGO, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Copper output slumped at Chile's state miner Codelco and BHP's sprawling Escondida mine in November, according to Chile state copper agency Cochilco, amid a turbulent month of riots and mass protests that rocked the mineral-rich South American nation.

Cochilco said output at Codelco, the world's largest copper miner, plummeted 11% in November over the same month in 2018, to 155,200 tonnes. Production at BHP's Escondida, the globe's largest copper mine, fell 1.5% to 103,200 tonnes.

The Collahuasi copper mine in northern Chile, a joint-venture between Anglo American and Glencore , nonetheless saw its November production jump 9.7%, to 56,700 tonnes, the agency said. Cochilco, which tabulates the monthly production data, did not comment on the reasons behind the mixed results. But analysts say the varying output from Chile's top mines reflects a range of factors impacting the normally volatile sector, from the recent social unrest to small-scale labor disruptions and internal upgrades at individual mines.

Gabriel Cestau, an economist at Santander, downplayed the fall in mining activity in November. He blamed the poor results on an unfavorable basis of comparison, a reflection of strong production the previous November, when production spiked.

"The fall in mining activity in November, in our view, is not related to the social unrest in Chile, but rather, it is tied to mining-specific factors," Cestau told Reuters.

Chile's vast copper mines -- the country produces nearly a third of the world's copper -- said they had largely maintained production and operated normally through early November at the height of the unrest, though some mining companies have warned that protests, strikes and road blockades were taking a toll.

(Reporting by Dave Sherwood and Fabian Cambero; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Sandra Maler) 4224; Reuters Messaging: dave.sherwood.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
When Negah Hekmati and her family, who are American citizens, arrived at the US-Canada border early on Sunday, skis strapped to the rack on top of their car, she figured they would be waved through and quickly be on their way.

With Nexus cards in hand  a pre-screening service for expedited travel over the border  Ms Hekmati, 38, was expecting little more than the two more hours of driving that remained before she and her husband could put their five-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son to bed in their suburban Seattle home.

But the shock waves of Donald Trumps decision to kill an Iranian general just days earlier appeared to have already reached their far northwestern corner of the contiguous United States: Even after several no-hassle trips between their home and Vancouver over the holidays, the family of American citizens found themselves ushered into a room where they waited for roughly five hours alongside as many as 200 others of Iranian descent, some of whom claimed they were held much longer than that.

As those hours wore on, Ms Hekmati said the 12-year-old daughter of friends travelling with them couldnt sleep for fear she would wake up with her parents in jail. And Ms Hekmatis own daughter, born in the US, suggested that they all avoid speaking Persian  a temporary abandonment of heritage by a citizen of a country that prides itself on cultural diversity.

The problem is I dont want my kids to be OK with such things, Ms Hekmati told The Independent. Im a proud Iranian-American. My kids can speak Farsi fluently, both of them. And I want them to be proud of their ancestors, their heritage. I dont want them to be scared.

US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early Friday 3 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures The wreckage of the car in which general Soleimani was travelling when a targeted US airstrike struck outside Baghdad International Airport on 3 January Ahmad Al Mukhtar via Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Demonstrators burn the US and British flags during a protest in Tehran after general Soleimani was killed in a targeted airstrike by American forces Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of Donald Trump AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn Israeli and US flags as thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of general Soleimani at the hands of America EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of Donald Trump pray at an 'Evangelicals for Trump' campaign event held on the day following the killing of general Soleimani. At the event, the president praised the "flawless strike that eliminated the terrorist ringleader" AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A huge procession of mourners gather in Baghdad for the funeral of general Soleimani on 4 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani during an anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iraqis perform a mourning prayer for slain major general Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the Great Mosque of Kufa AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A billboard reading 'Death to America and Israel', installed by Iran-backed shiite armed groups at a street in Jadriyah district in Baghdad, Iraq EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him visiting the family of Soleiman KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US flag as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Feiruznia, looks to a portrait of Soleimani, as he receives condolences at the Iranian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures People make their way on the street while a screen on the wall of a cinema shows a portrait Soleimani in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Aziz Asmar, one of two Syrian painters who completed a mural following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani poses next to his creation in the rebel-held Syrian town of Dana in the northwestern province of Idlib AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A demonstration in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures An anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Mujtaba al-Husseini, the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in the holy shrine city of Najaf AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US and Israeli flags as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters demonstrate in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shi'ite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters, holding a photograph of the leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Massoud Rajavi, outside Downing Street in London PA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn a US flag in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A Syrian man offers sweets to children to mark the killing AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers attend a mourning prayer for Soleimani in Iran's capital Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti American and anti Israel slogans during a protest AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshipers chant slogans during Friday prayers Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A protest against the USA, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranians burn a US flag in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin, Germany Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol a road in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel. Following morning's killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement called for the missile strike by Israel's closest ally, to be avenged AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian women take to the streets in Tehran EPA

Those stopped and questioned at the US-Canada border over the weekend included up to 200 Iranian-Americans, all of whom were ushered into a room at the Blaine Border Checkpoint and asked to wait, told only that new procedure had necessitated the extended delay.

The delays have caught the attention of several prominent politicians, pundits and civil rights groups, including congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and congressman Ro Khanna, both of whom say their offices are monitoring the situation. The governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, has also spoken out on the issue to condemn the US governments actions.

For some, the reports of these detentions has evoked a sordid American history dating back to the Second World War, when the US opened internment camps for Japanese Americans fearing internal uprisings from descendants of a foreign power it was at war with.

From a policy standpoint, detaining and questioning, without charge, innocent Americans because of their ethnicity and then releasing them is not that far removed from the even more insidious kind of permanent detention without charge we saw imposed on Japanese Americans in World War II, said Patrick Eddington, a policy analyst in national security and civil liberties at the Cato Institute, noting that US Supreme Court has as recently as 2018 in its decision on the Trump v Hawaii case  which undercut Mr Trump's attempt to implement a travel ban on predominantly Muslim countries  determined that it is unconstitutional for the executive branch to forcibly relocate US citizens based on race.

Mr Eddington told The Independent: Congress needs to investigate whether the Administration has, in violation of the Supreme Court ruling in Trump v Hawaii, actively developed plans for the identification and detention of Iranian Americans or any other American ethnic group in the event of another American war in the Arab and Muslim .

The group of travellers in northwest Washington included concert-goers who had travelled to Vancouver for an Iranian pop concert, alongside several families like the Hekmatis who had visited friends or family in Canada. Many of those families included children born in the United States to parents who had become naturalized American citizens after moving to the western hemisphere decades ago. On the other side of the US, at New York's JFK airport, at least one other American citizen  a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who is of Iranian descent  was also questioned briefly, showing that the reportedly new policies may not be isolated to one point of entry.

 The rising tensions between the US and Iran explained

In many cases, according to interviews with individuals who were stopped or whose family was stopped, the agents were civil, and provided snacks and drinks as they worked through what was described as a new policy. They were asked for personal details like parent names, the names and locations of their high schools or colleges, and in some instances for the handles of social media accounts. Some were asked for their thoughts on the unfolding situation in Iraq and Iran where mourners have demonstrators have protested against the US after the targeted killing of Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani.

In a statement, a spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said that, Social media posts that CBP is detaining Iranian-Americans and refusing their entry into the US because of their country of origin are false, and that further reports that the US government had issued a related directive are false.

Mr Inslee and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have both countered those claims, with CAIR claiming they have received information from a source with CBP notifying agents to report or detain anyone of Iranian heritage entering the US and deemed potentially suspicious or adversarial.

Customs and Border Protection denials of these reports are simply not credible, Mr Inslee said on Monday. There are multiple firsthand accounts of CBP agents seizing peoples passports while they waited for up to 12 hours for re-entry into the United States. By all accounts, this is detention, regardless of whether the waiting area has bars on the windows.

Further information provided to The Independent by CBP indicates the agency is operating under an enhanced threat environment as the US awaits a potential response from Iran, and that average wait times at the Blaine port of entry only briefly increased to an average of two hours late Saturday and early Sunday, in spite of accounts of people waiting between four and 12 hours.

But as reports have surfaced of the apparent detentions at the border, many have noted that the targeting of Iranian Americans is nothing new under the administration, which has frequently described the government in Tehran as one of the biggest threats to the US.

Jamal Abdi, the president of the National Iranian American Council in Washington, DC, said that the administration has been targeting Iranian Americans for three years, and that escalating tensions are likely to make things worse.

Iranian Americans have lived in uncertainty over the 3 years since the chaos of Trumps Muslim ban, Mr Abdi told The Independent. If Trump was willing to put us through that when the US and Iran had a diplomatic agreement and were on a positive track, many of us fear now that he has put the two countries on war footing.

Among those to be stopped were a woman named Mercedes, and her two children. Mercedes, whose husband Mike spoke to The Independent but asked that their last name not be published out of concern for retribution from the Iranian or American governments, is an American citizen of Iranian descent who has lived in the Seattle area for 10 years.

Mike said that it is outrageous that the US government would stop a family of American citizens, including two kids born in the country they were returning to. His kids dont need to be treated like that, he said, and he does not see how stopping Americans who trace their heritage to Iran, will make the United States any safer.

My wife and two little children are not a danger, he said. Let alone that they are citizens and they should not be treated differently. They should not discriminate  if somebody is a US citizen theyre a US citizen. They should respect that, theyre like any other citizen.
KARACHI, Pakistan - A prominent Pakistani novelist and New York Times columnist said on Tuesday that security agents raided the offices of his publisher and confiscated all the copies of his book about the countrys former military dictator Ziaul Haq.

The raid took place on Monday in Karachi, the largest city and key port in Pakistan, according to the novelist, Mohammad Hanif.

Hanif, whose acclaimed A Case of Exploding Mangoes is a parody about the former dictator, killed in a plane crash in 1988, blamed the Pakistani spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI, for the raid.

However, an official at the agency described Hanifs claim as a cheap attempt to gain popularity by hurling false accusations on a national institution. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under ISI regulations.

The agents who arrived at the publishers offices identified themselves as being from the ISI, said the author, an air force pilot turned journalist. His Karachi publisher had released the Urdu translation of the novel last October.

They asked about my book and took all copies of it, he said, adding that he was consulting his lawyer about filing a complaint with the police.

Hanif rose to fame when the novel was first published in 2008 in English, two decades after Haq who was killed when his plane went down in eastern Punjab province. Authorities never released the results of their investigation or say what had caused the crash, which also killed U.S. Ambassador Arnold Raphel and then-ISI chief Gen. Akhtar Abdur Rahman.

Hanif also alleged the raid came after members of his family sent a note to his publisher complaining that the novel tarnished the image of Haq, who seized power in a coup in 1977. It was unclear his relatives would complain about his work so many years later but Hanif speculated they were unconcerned when it was only available in English but became worried once it was translated, presumably because many more Pakistanis would read it in Urdu.

The book cites a rumour that a bomb had been planted inside a crate of mangoes that were gifted to Haq and that was also aboard the plane.

Pakistan has witnessed an intensified crackdown on human rights defenders, activists, journalists and members of civil society over the past years. Journalists, who have taken on military dictators and been beaten and jailed in the pursuit of a free press, say they now face a form of censorship that is more subtle but no less chilling, spearheaded by the security services and the ISI, to quash critical coverage.

___

Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.
With the recent legalization of cannabis edibles in Canada, physicians and the public must be aware of the novel risks of cannabis edibles, argue authors in a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal): http://www. cmaj. ca/ lookup/ doi/ 10. 1503/ cmaj. 191217

Although edibles are commonly viewed as a safer and more desirable alternative to smoked or vaped cannabis, physicians and the public should be aware of several risks related to the use of cannabis edibles." Drs. Jasleen Grewal and Lawrence Loh from the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

Cannabis edibles take on average four hours longer to produce noticeable effects in comparison to inhaled cannabis, which can increase the risk of overconsumption. With effects lasting up to 8 hours, edibles can also lead to a longer period of impairment compared to inhaled cannabis. While federal regulations have standardized the presentation of dosing information, the authors warn that "individuals' responses to different products may vary and overdosing may still occur, with cannabis-naive individuals particularly at risk."

At particular risk are children and pets as many edibles look like candy and other appetizing food and drink. Other vulnerable groups include older people and youth; of note, a recent Canadian report found that youth believe cannabis edibles have positive effects on sleep, mood and anxiety, which actually runs counter to what is seen in evidence.

"Physicians should routinely question patients who ask about cannabis about their use or intended use of edible cannabis products so that they can counsel these patients regarding child safety, potential for accidental overconsumption and delayed effects, and potential for interactions with other substances such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, sleeping aids and opioids," caution the authors.

Population-level monitoring, and evaluation of the effects of legalized edibles will ensure that regulations are best able to protect children, youth, seniors and other age groups from health effects related to the consumption of cannabis edibles.

"Health considerations of the legalization of cannabis edibles" is published January 6, 2020.
The gates at Girdwood community hub should be closed every night in order to stop sectarian attacks at a north Belfast interface, a DUP MLA has said.

The call comes after residents in the Lower Oldpark area were targeted by a group of around 20 young people on Saturday, December 28.

Property and vehicles in the area were attacked and residents reported being subjected to sectarian abuse and intimidation.

In a meeting yesterday with the PSNI, Belfast City Council and Janice Beggs of the Lower Oldpark Community Association, the DUP's William Humphrey said additional steps should be taken by police and the statutory bodies to protect residents.

He said: "These were disgraceful attacks in which property and vehicles were damaged and residents were subjected to sectarian abuse and threats of further attacks in the main week of Christmas.

"Due to concerns of further attacks over the New Year period, we welcome (the fact) the gates of the Girdwood complex onto Cliftonpark Avenue were subsequently closed on the evenings of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

"It has long been the desire of residents in Lower Oldpark that these gates should be closed every evening when the complex is closed, due to the regularity of sectarian attacks upon their homes and property.

"We welcome that the PSNI has confirmed that the attacks on December 28 are being investigated as sectarian hate crimes."

Resident and community worker Ms Beggs echoed the call. She said the violence witnessed on December 28 marked an "escalation" of tensions in the area since August, with the gates providing an access point for violence.

"We haven't seen this type of sectarian attack in the area before," she said.

"It is quite frightening. The youths tended to go through the Girdwood site as a run-through. The gates are always open but residents have been asking for the last year or so that they be closed when the facility is not in use.

"Parents need to step up and consider where their young people are at night. We need to put a stop to these sectarian attacks."

In a statement the PSNI said: "Over the festive period, police received and responded to an increase in the number of reports of criminal and anti-social behaviour at several areas across north Belfast with the Ligoniel and Lower Oldpark areas showing the biggest increase in reporting.

"Following further discussion with the community and local representatives, I can confirm that we are treating a number of these incidents as hate crimes.

"We again urge parents and guardians to take control of their young people."
A Crown Court judge has told Northern Ireland's politicians to "get off their backsides" to tackle what he described as the shambles within the health system

A Crown Court judge has told Northern Ireland's politicians to "get off their backsides" to tackle what he described as the shambles within the health system.

Judge Philip Babington, the Recorder of Derry, said the lack of adequate healthcare facilities to deal appropriately with defendants who had mental health issues was a disgrace.

He was speaking at the County Court in Londonderry, where Leona Devlin (38), from Spencer Road in the Waterside area of the city, was appealing against a six month jail term.

It had been imposed on her at the city's magistrates' court last month when she was sentenced for two acts of disorderly behaviour in Altnagelvin Hospital's A&E department last August and December.

In the August incident Devlin, who had 28 previous criminal convictions, grabbed a pair of scissors from a doctor and threatened to stab herself.

Police officers, who had taken her to hospital after she was found on Craigavon Bridge with several lacerations on her arms, had to apply a Taser to her inside the hospital.

In the December incident, again in the A&E, Devlin, who had been taken there by the police, grabbed several medical needles and told the medical staff "come any closer and I will stick these into my neck".

Appealing against the sentence, barrister Stephen Chapman said Devlin had been diagnosed with a particular personality disorder for which residential treatment was available in England and Wales, but not in Northern Ireland.

"The District Judge who sentenced her has great sympathy for her because of the lack of adequate mental health facilities here," Mr Chapman said. "She does not pose a threat to anyone but herself, she is not a danger to the public."

He added: "The question is, is prison the appropriate place for her?"

Judge Babington asked where else could she go.

"The problem is what about the members of the public who have witnessed her offending in hospital?" he said. "What about the health service which is a shambles because our politicians won't get off their backsides and do something about it?

"Members of the public in accident and emergency are in discomfort, in pain and some are frail and they see this woman with needles and scissors behaving like she does.

"If she was in another part of the UK, appropriate treatment would be available to her."

Addressing Devlin, Judge Babington said the court was aware of her personal problems.

"Unfortunately in this country there is a lack of resources and facilities to help you on your way to resolving your issues and difficulties," he said.

"That in itself is a disgrace and it is not your fault. However, what is your fault is that when you were twice in the accident and emergency department in this city your behaviour was absolutely appalling."

He suspended the six month jail sentence for two years.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-06 22:48:29|Editor: huaxia

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The Qiankun Bay of the Yellow River on the border between Yanchuan County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Yonghe County, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 14, 2019. (Xinhua/Tao Ming)

The environment along the Yangtze and Yellow rivers, important ecological barriers and economic zones in China, have seen marked improvements.

BEIJING, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's ecological ambition is engraved in the enhanced protection of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers, the two longest in the country, with an aim of realizing a balanced relationship between economic growth and environmental protection.

From Jan. 1, 2020, China began a 10-year fishing ban in key areas of the Yangtze River to protect biodiversity. Observed in 332 conservation areas in the Yangtze River Basin, the ban will also be expanded to all natural waterways of the river basin and its major tributaries from no later than Jan. 1, 2021.

On Jan. 3, the Chinese leadership stressed efforts to enhance ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, urging curbs on unreasonable water use in the region and differentiated efforts based on local conditions to push for coordinated protection.

The latest measures to protect the two river basins are no coincidence, as China is making unprecedented efforts to step up environmental protection and fight against pollution for sustainable development.

China has listed the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, and the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt as national strategies.

The country is mobilizing resources to promote green development of these regions.

The Zigui Yangtze River Bridge in Zigui County, central China's Hubei Province, Sept. 27, 2019. (Xinhua/Zheng Jiayu)

By the end of November 2019, the central budget had earmarked 123.7 billion yuan (17.67 billion U.S. dollars) to support environment rehabilitation in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, according to the People's Daily. In the first 11 months of 2019, the China Development Bank and the Agricultural Development Bank of China issued loans of 362.1 billion yuan and 152.9 billion yuan, respectively, to support Yangtze River protection and green development. The 11 provinces and municipalities along the Yangtze River are making coordinated efforts to protect the region from environmental deterioration.

In the Yellow River Basin, the central authority has ordered attention be given to major issues in the ecological protection and high-quality development of the basin by implementing projects including water source conservation and water and soil loss control.

Thanks to joint efforts, the environment along the Yangtze and Yellow rivers, important ecological barriers and economic zones in China, have seen marked improvements.

By the end of 2019, more than 80 percent of the waters along the Yangtze River Economic Belt were categorized as good quality. Economic output in 11 provinces and municipalities along the river increased 7.1 percent to 31.46 trillion yuan, faster than the growth rate recorded nationally.

The proportion of water with quality higher than third-class in the Yellow River grew 8.7 percentage points year on year in 2018, while that of fifth-class water dropped 3.7 percentage points.

Progress has been made, but much more arduous work lies ahead. China must always guard against ecological risks.

China aims to complete building a moderately prosperous society in all respects in 2020. The country must win the battle to ensure blue skies and clean water and soil.

As long as China maintains strategic focus in improving the ecological environment, the Yangtze and Yellow rivers will be handed down to future generations, clean and beautiful. 
A teenage girl from Maharashtra's Raigad district, who had filed a case against a senior police officer last year for molesting her, has left her home in Taloja area to "commit suicide" due to "pressure" from the officer, her brother alleged on Tuesday.

Taloja police have registered a case under section 363 (Punishment for kidnapping) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), without naming the officer who was a friend of her father.

"The teenage girl's brother approached the police on Tuesday claiming that his sister had left behind a note on Monday night saying that she is going to kill herself due to pressure from the DIG," a police official said quoting the complaint.

The girl's brother told PTI that his sister has written that she would kill herself on a railway track.

"Don't try to find me. Love you all and miss you all," reads the one-page English transliterated note, purportedly written by the girl.

"The DIG is responsible for my suicide," it stated.

The police are yet to trace the girl.

The alleged molestation incident had occurred at the residence of the girl, then 17-year-old in Taloja in June last year, following which the officer, a Deputy Inspector General with the Motor Transport in Pune, was booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

He was never arrested.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- A murder-suicide during a church service in Kenya leaves a congregation in shock

- The murder is committed by Pastor Elijah Misiko of Ground for God's Gospel Church in Mombasa who killed wife, senior pastor Ann Mughoi, by stabbing her

- Misiko then stabbed himself three times in the stomach and slit his throat after the murder

- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

A congregation in Kenya was shocked when a pastor stabbed his wife during a church service and then slit his throat shortly after.

CNN, citing local police on Monday, January 6, reported that Elijah Misiko, an assistant pastor with the Ground for God's Gospel Church in Mombasa killed wife, senior pastor Ann Mughoi, on the pulpit on Sunday with one of the knives he'd hidden in an envelope.

"He walked up to his wife while the church was praying as if he wanted to whisper something to her. Then he took one of the knives and stabbed her (wife) two times. He believed she was dead. He then stabbed himself three times in the stomach and slit his throat, the Mombasa sub-county police commander Julius Kiragu said.

READ ALSO: Powerful clergyman dies at age 69 in Takoradi

The police said Pastor Misiko died instantly from his stab wounds while his wife Mughoi, died at a local hospital hours later.

The police commander explained that the couple who had been engaged in a feud over the ownership and leadership of the church had four children. They were said to have been living apart since the dispute started.

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Back in 2017, Misiko was reportedly detained by the police in Mombasa after his wife alleged that he planned to kill her but was released the following day after the force said they found the accusations untrue.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Adamawa chapter, Reverend Lawan Andimi, has reportedly been kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents.

Daily Trust reports that the cleric was kidnapped during the recent attack by the insurgents on Michika in the northeast state.

READ ALSO: Top pastor labels instrumentalists who get paid in church as thieves and Satan's cousins (video)

According to the national daily newspaper, Reverend Andimi's abduction was confirmed by traditional rulers in the area to the deputy governor of the state, Crowther Seth

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Police in Oklahoma delivered a special gift to a local family after their son, who has Down syndrome, had his tricycle stolen.

According to Shawnee police, officers responded to a home Dec. 26 to investigate a report of stolen property. The owner told police that several items were stolen from the back porch, including an adult tricycle.
Luxury car maker Aston Martin Lagonda has had a dreadful first calendar year on the market, losing over half its value. Photo: Rebecca Naden/Reuters

100 invested in the worst performing stock of the year would have left you with just 40 come December.

The FTSE 350, which combines the FTSE 100 and the more domestically-focused FTSE 250, has risen 15% during 2019 but not everyone has shared the spoils.

Oil and gas company Tullow Oil was the worst performer across the FTSE 350, according to data compiled by stock broker AJ Bell. The share price has collapsed by 60.7% between the start of January and 27 December.

Here are the ten worst performing stocks of the year and why theyve had such a rough time of it:
More than 61,000 people have been forcibly disappeared in Mexico in recent years, government officials announced on Monday, a drastic increase of an earlier estimate of the toll of the countrys endemic drug-related violence and cartel warfare.

These are data of horror, Karla Quintana, head of Mexicos National Search Commission which leads the efforts to find the missing country wide, said in a news conference. Behind the numbers, there are many painful stories from families both in Mexico and of migrants, she said.

The new figures showed a sharp increase from a prior official estimate of 40,000 disappearances from early 2018, and Ms. Quintana said it comes from updated and carefully revised information from the offices of local prosecutors.

The official tally is now 61,637 people who have disappeared since 1964, Ms. Quintana said, the vast majority since 2006, the year the crackdown on drug cartels was launched by then-president Felipe Calderon.
The Ukrainian authorities are waiting for the Australian government's feedback.

Ukraine is ready to send about 200 seasoned firefighters to Australia to help combat massive wildfires that continue ravaging parts of that country.

"The Ukrainian government has informed the Australian side of its readiness to send about 200 specially trained workers of the State Emergency Service. The Ukrainian side has informed Australia of their readiness to arrive at the scene of the tragedy within 24-36 hours with the needed equipment on a specially chartered long-hauled aircraft," Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov said on Facebook on January 6.

Read alsoCNN: There's a fire in Australia the size of Manhattan

"The fires in Australia have not left the Ukrainians indifferent," he added.

According to the minister, the Ukrainian authorities are waiting for the Australian government's feedback.

The wildfires in Australia have ravaged roughly 12.4 million acres of land and killed at least 24 people and millions of birds, reptiles, and mammals.

On January 6, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said that the Ukrainian government was ready, if necessary, to help Australia battle the flames. What is more, the Embassy of Ukraine in that country is in constant contact with the Australian government and local authorities to identify whether there are Ukrainian citizens among the victims.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been named the 'Pacific Person of the Year' for her leadership on climate change.

Ms Ardern was given the award by regional magazine Islands Business who also commended her compassion after the Christchurch massacre.

It is only the second time the award has been given to an individual of non-Pacific heritage after John Howard in 2003.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured) has been named the 'Pacific Person of the Year' for her leadership on climate change compassion during the Christchurch massacre

The publication's editor, Samisoni Pareti, told TVNZ the 39-year-old leader's ability to bring consensus to climate change issues at the international meeting in August brought a great benefit to his region.

'It was Prime Minister Ardern's skills at negotiation, diplomacy and her charisma that saved the day for Pacific Island countries, Pacific Island leaders,' he said.

'She got, particularly her counterpart across the Tasman Sea, Scott Morrison to come to a middle ground when it comes to a climate change position.'

During the conference Ms Ardern controversially claimed that 'Australia has to answer to the Pacific' about what steps it took to combat climate change.

The Pacific Island nations are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change such as rising seas levels and tropical storms.

During the Pacific Island Forum Ms Ardern controversially claimed that 'Australia has to answer to the Pacific' about what steps it took to combat climate change

Ms Ardern has been vocal about her support for combating climate change and declared it the 'biggest challenge of our time' after passing legislation in November that would see New Zealand by carbon neutral by 2050.

Mr Pareti said it was her compassionate response to the Christchurch massacre that initially saw his publication recognise her leadership ability.

'That really drew our attention to Prime Minister Ardern and from then on we started watching how she performed, not only in parliament but in her dealings with crisis and her own electorate and country,' he said.
Paramedics have handled a spike in calls for help from Victorians suffering the effects of poor air quality, as smoke from bushfires blankets Melbourne and drifts as far as South America.

Ambulance Victoria said 51 per cent more people needed help for breathing problems than normal on Monday, with a rush of calls overnight after air quality in Melbourne dropped to "very poor". Calls related to breathing problems were up by about a third by 2.30pm on Tuesday.

"Breathing problems calls increased from an average of 187 per day to 282 on Monday, with a spike in the evening," said acting director of emergency management Justin Dunlop.

Smoke from the War Memorial to the city on Monday. Credit:Jason South

"Most of that increase was in Melbourne where there's a bigger population. Many of those we were called to were taken to hospital."
On the penultimate day of menswear shows in London, cult-favorite designer Martine Rose sent models down the runway in clothes reinterpreted from past archival looks. But it was the peculiar shoes that really made the biggest statement, one that could even jumpstart a new footwear trend for guys next season.

The collection included a pair of looks with leather boots that rose well above the knee and up to mid-thigh. They're somewhat slouchy, slightly western and very of-the-moment (cowboy style has been percolating for a few seasons now). Python prints on the tip are added for an extra yeehaw touch.

In addition, a series of shoes came equipped with flat, extended soles that resemble platypus feet. The exaggerated, angular soles are a natural fit for Rose, who is known for taking classic menswear staples and giving them a subversive bent.

The shoes on Rose's runway were designed in partnership with Six London, the license company founded by Farfetch creator Jose Neves that's worked with brands like JW Anderson, Opening Ceremony, and Acne Studios in producing and distributing their shoes.
EDWARDSVILLE  The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will celebrate Empyre Laundrys first anniversary in East St. Louis on Sunday, Jan. 19.

Empyre Laundry owner Maria Jones provides commercial-grade, self-service laundry and laundry cleaning services. Customers are able to utilize a clean, comfortable and safe setting with various sized washers and dryers. Empyre also offers a drop-off service for $1 per pound.

I am absolutely thrilled the community has supported Empyre Laundry during the past year, giving me the opportunity to celebrate this anniversary, Jones shared.

A passionate entrepreneur, Jones first decided to open Empyre Laundry upon realizing that numerous East St. Louis area laundromats had closed. She knew this business was a necessity for the community and wanted to fill that need.

Jones is proud to provide the East St. Louis area with an accessible laundromat and offer customers a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere while managing their laundry.

The SBDC and Director Jo Ann DiMaggio May have guided Jones in the right direction, helping her to acquire the information and assistance she needed to accomplish her goals of opening and growing the business.

The SBDC has continued to offer ideas for business growth, including increasing advertisements and awareness, and even revamping my logo, Jones shared. Once you open a business, you must constantly do different things to improve and promote your business to ensure that it is consistent enough to have not just one, but 10 anniversaries.

She encourages fellow entrepreneurs to find their passion and go for it  it is not always going to be easy, but never give up on that dream.

Maria has been working hard and is dedicated to making her business succeed, says DiMaggio May. It has been a pleasure guiding and supporting her. I look forward to Empyre Laundrys continued growth.

Jones is extremely thankful to have had the communitys support. In the future, she plans to open a second Empyre Laundry location, Empyre 2.

Located at 3600 State St., East St. Louis, Empyre Laundry is open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. For more information, call 618-857-2142.
High River, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 6, 2020) - The Western Investment Company of Canada Limited (TSXV: WI) ("WICC") announced today that it has purchased an additional 11.25% of GlassMasters ARG Autoglass Two Inc. ("GlassMasters") from a company controlled by its founder and former CEO, Miles Palmer. In a concurrent transaction, GlassMasters co-investor ATB Private Equity has also purchased an equivalent amount of shares, thereby facilitating the exit of Mr. Palmer from GlassMasters ownership, governance and management.

In a message to shareholders, WICC CEO Scott Tannas provided the following commentary: "We are happy to increase our ownership in GlassMasters alongside our partners at ATB Private Equity, and are excited about the future for this company. On behalf the Board and employees of GlassMasters, I want to thank company founder Miles for his visionary leadership. We have completed a smooth transition over the past number of months, with leadership succession coming from within. Newly promoted General Manager Roger Tulk and his management team are in full operating control of the business."

The combined purchase price paid by Western and ATB Private Equity to acquire the remaining shares of GlassMasters, owned by a company controlled by Milles Palmer, totaled $1.2 million. As a result, WICC now owns 61.35% of the common shares of GlassMasters.

About The Western Investment Company of Canada Limited

WICC is a unique publicly traded, private equity company founded by a group of successful Western Canadian business people, and dedicated to building and maintaining ownership in successful Western Canadian companies, and helping them to grow. The company's shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol WI. For more information on the company, please visit its website at www.winv.ca

CONTACT INFORMATION

The Western Investment Company of Canada Limited

Scott Tannas

President and Chief Executive Officer

(403) 652-2663

stannas@winv.ca

Advisory

This news release may contain certain forward-looking information and statements, including without limitation, statements pertaining to future plans, acquisitions, financings and returns. Statements containing the words: 'believes', 'intends', 'expects', 'plans', 'seeks' and 'anticipates' and any other words of similar meaning are forward-looking. All statements included herein involve various risks and uncertainties because they relate to future events and circumstances beyond Western's control. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. A description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Western's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Any forward looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Western does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51196
Lipinski released a statement Monday defending his record and said he signed the amicus brief because he agreed with the intention of the law as stated by the author, Democratic Louisiana state Rep. Katrina Jackson: If you are going to perform abortions in the state of Louisiana, youre going to do so in a safe environment and in a safemanner that offers women the optimal protection and care of their bodies.
Mark Hemingway remembers the launch of First Direct vividly.

In October 1989, the public relations veteran  who would later run communications at its owner HSBC  was working at fellow Yorkshire-based lender Halifax, then still a building society, preparing to launch its own bank account.

He recalled: 'The end of the 1980s was a really exciting, and as it turned out, ground-breaking time for banking.

'Midland Bank, bought by HSBC in 1992, launched what was then very much a revolutionary offering  the opportunity for people to do their banking, not via branches, but via the telephone.'

Originally launched as a telephone bank, First Direct is embarking on a digital revamp to catch up with new challengers designed for the mobile, not the landline

He adds: 'Until the late 1980s, building societies could not offer such products as credit cards, current accounts or personal loans.

'There was no internet or even telephone banking and people depended upon branches or the post.

'It was a different world from the one we know today.'

Now entering its fourth decade of existence, First Direct is entering its middle-aged period during a boom in digital and mobile banking from younger, nimbler upstarts.

Once more, the world of banking is changing rapidly - can Britain's original challenger bank keep up?

Charlie Barton, from finance comparison site Finder, said: 'One of First Direct's unique selling points has always been the great customer service it offers over the phone, but the increasing growth of digital banking and apps has reduced the importance of call centres.'

First Direct's own figures appear to back this up. A huge 95 per cent of its customers come to it via its mobile app or online banking and they're 21 times likelier to engage with it digitally than over the phone.

There's no doubt that though it continues to stack up the accolades  best bank account at the 2019 Moneyfacts Awards, named number one in two of the three Competition and Markets Authority bank account rankings that have so far been published  its digital offering could be argued to look a little dated.

Especially so compared to new-wave banks like Monzo and Starling designed first and foremost for the mobile, not the landline.

'It is still at risk of being left behind by new challengers Monzo and Starling', Charlie added.

First Direct likely knows it too.

In October, as the bank celebrated its thirtieth birthday, attention turned to the future, with news of an extensive digital revamp that'd take place over the next 12 months in a bid to attract a greater number of younger customers.

If that's the case, the bank perhaps has the ideal person for the job.

Joe Gordon, 33, has run First Direct since 2017 and is Britain's youngest bank boss. He is also one of the few older than the bank he's in charge of.

By comparison the interim chief executive of First Direct's owner, 57-year-old Noel Quinn, is 155 years younger than HSBC.

Some of the changes Gordon reportedly has planned include an in-app marketplace, like Starling and some kind of financial adviser which uses AI to make personalised recommendations and carry out activities like topping up savings accounts.

Millennial Money-man: 33-year-old First Direct boss Joe Gordon has big plans for the 30-year-old bank's digital offering

So far, the only thing the bank has introduced is the ability to freeze and unfreeze your card in-app, a feature initially introduced by Monzo and Starling and since copied by most other banks.

Meanwhile, the AI financial adviser sounds a bit like what big high street bank NatWest has planned with the trial of personal assistant Mimo, both of which raise the question as to whether First Direct remains a challenger bank, or is now more like the lenders it was created to take on three decades ago.

Andrew Hagger, the founder of personal finance site Moneycomms, said: 'I no longer think of First Direct as a challenger, I think it sits somewhere in between Starling or Monzo and HSBC.'

Though for what it's worth, he's not particularly bothered by news of a big digital upgrade.

'I've been a customer of First Direct for about 10 years, they're always efficient, reliable and do the basics well.

'The online banking does look very outdated compared with the neo-banks but I'm not fussed about coloured bar charts and pie charts showing me how much I've spent in coffee shops or on Amazon.

'I like the fact that there's a 24 hour UK call centre if you need it and the staff are well trained and professional.'

What's more, 'historical challenger bank looking to a digital revamp to boost its future prospects' is an increasingly crowded space.

Virgin Money announced a re-brand and a digital current account just before Christmas and new TSB chief executive Debbie Crosbie appears to believe digital banking is the way back to profitability.

Though First Direct does have things in its favour which something like TSB does not.

As well as its consistently lauded customer service, it has been profitable since 1995, and has a strong customer base of around 1.45million customers. It has also avoided reputation damaging IT meltdowns.

Challenging space: First Direct's digital revamp puts it on a collision course with Virgin Money (left) and TSB, whose chief executive Debbie Crosbie believes digital is the way back to profit

It is difficult to work out how much, or if at all, First Direct is growing on a shorter-term basis.

This is because the Current Account Switch Service figures  which show Monzo and Starling consistently drawing customers away from established names  lump the bank in with the rest of HSBC.

Though it definitely doesn't have, and it's unclear if this is something it is even after, the voracious customer growth of the new challenger banks.

The bank had 500,000 customers by 1995, while in a short space of time Monzo has more than 3million account holders and Starling is reportedly closing in on First Direct's numbers.

It's equally possible that First Direct's digital revamp is an ambitious Virgin Money-style play for territory, or simply a way to hold onto its current customer base and offer them a better online banking experience.

After all, maybe the bank, a plain black card in a sea of increasingly vibrant colours, is comfortable with where it's at; a profitable customer base using it as their main bank rather than for cheaper spending abroad or as a secondary account.

And after three decades challenging the UK's biggest banks, perhaps it is time for it to put its feet up, enjoy its middle age and let others do the running.
GOP Leaders Call on Trump to Revoke Irans Nuke Waivers, Reimpose International Sanctions

WASHINGTONRepublican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Ted Cruz of Texas joined with Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) in calling for President Donald Trump to drop waivers on domestic Iranian power projects under the U.S. nuclear deal with Iran and to reimpose tough international sanctions against Tehran.

On Sunday, Iran backed out of catastrophic Obama-Iran nuclear deal, which theyve long exploited to build up their nuclear facilities, the lawmakers said in a joint statement released Jan. 6.

There are no more pretenses. Iran has made it very clear that they are just trying to wait out the Trump administration and among other things secure an end to the arms embargo, which is set to expire in October 2020. The United States gains nothing by pretending otherwise, they said in the statement.

Cruz and Graham are members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, while Cheney is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Referring to the deal negotiated by former President Barack Obama and then-Secretary of State John Kerry, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the legislators pointed to two actions they believe Trump should take as soon as possible:

First, President Trump should immediately end all civil-nuclear waivers. Second, he should order our diplomats to invoke the United Nations snapback to restore international sanctions and restrictions on Iran.

The snapback sanctions are those that were in place through the United Nations when the JCPOA was signed in 2015. They were aimed at Irans nuclear research and development efforts.

The JCPOA included a provision that would renew the sanctions in the event that Iran violated the agreement and at least one of the other nations that entered the deal objected. Besides the United States, the signers included Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China.

The project waivers are crucial to Irans ability to continue development on three projects.

The Fordow Project is an underground enrichment facility thats clearly intended for use as a nuclear weapons resource, in violation of the JCPOA, according to the three legislators.

Under the JCPOA, Iran negotiators agreed that the project would be converted to a research center, for which its centrifuges used in uranium enrichment would no longer be useful.

Iran skated on the obligation to fully convert the facility and earlier this month injected uranium into centrifuges there, the three said in a Nov. 18, 2019, statement.

The Arak Reactor is a heavy-water reactor capable of making enough plutonium to complete at least one nuclear weapon annually. Under the JCPOA, Iran said it would redesign the reactor to reduce its capabilities.

However, Irans nuclear chief bragged the project can be easily reversed because Iran secretly imported illicit parts, allowing them to quickly reverse all the changes, the legislators said last year.

The Tehran Research Reactor is allowed under the JCPOA to use imported highly enriched uranium in activities devoted solely to civil nuclear power technology development, as defined under the international nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

But the three legislators pointed out in their November 2019 statement that the Trump administration confirmed to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in May 2018 that Irans standing as a non-nuclear-weapon State Party to the NPT cannot be described as good.'

Both the Obama and Trump administrations issued waivers covering the three projects following the adoption of the JCPOA. Trump didnt remove the waivers, however, after announcing in 2018 that the U.S. no longer recognizes the JCPOA.

Cruz, Graham, and Cheney introduced anti-waiver bills in November 2019.

The U.S. must revoke waivers for civil nuclear projects established by President Obamas nuclear deal. These waivers legitimize Irans illicit nuclear infrastructure-even as the regime continues on a path of nuclear escalation at sites like the Fordow bunker, where Iran recently resumed uranium enrichment, Cheney said in November.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
CEMEX has invested over 300,000 into its Salford railhead, upgrading its track and storage bays to improve safety and allow delivery of hardstone into the site.

This important work forms part of a strategic programme to upgrade all CEMEX rail sites across the UK.

So far, 300 metres of track have been replaced at Salford, along with new ballast, with a further 300 metres planned for this year.

In addition, improvements to the storage bays mean that for the first time carriages can travel the full length of the storage shed, utilising all 10 bays.

As a result, the site can now receive hardstone deliveries from South Wales every two weeks by rail, when trucks had to be used until now. This reduces road movements and offers sustainability benefits. These upgrades also ensure increased safety during transportation and discharge.

David Hart, CEMEXs Supply Chain Director for UK & France, commented: This investment into our railhead at Salford is part of a national four-year programme to raise safety standards across our UK rail operation. We expect to spend a similar figure every year, with work also completed at our Dove Holes site last year.

The improvements at Salford are complemented by the introduction of new CEMEX-branded wagons, operated in partnership with GB Railfreight. These wagons, used alongside the company's Class 66 locomotive unveiled in June 2019, form the CEMEX Express.

Hart added: Rail is an integral component of our supply chain strategy, meaning we are investing into our network to ensure it boasts industry-leading safety standards and operates efficiently.

As we look to grow our transport by rail in order to maximise the time, capacity and efficiency benefits it offers, this expenditure will allow us to increase our rail deliveries into Salford; all while using stylish CEMEX-liveried wagons.

John Smith, Managing Director of GB Railfreight, said: We are delighted to continue our partnership with CEMEX. The introduction of new wagons and CEMEXs commitment to supporting rail freight is very exciting, especially considering the need to reduce carbon emissions.

Our services have already removed a considerable number of trucks from the road, helping to ensure operations are carried out it the most sustainability way. We look forward to working with CEMEX in 2020 to ensure this partnership continues to flourish.




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Luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce said on Tuesday it recorded a 25% jump in sales in 2019, underpinned by solid demand for its first-ever SUV, Cullinan, just a year after the launch.

The 116-year-old British company said it sold a record 5,152 cars in 2019, compared with 4,107 units in the prior year.

"Worldwide demand last year for our Cullinan SUV has driven this success and is expected to stabilize in 2020," Chief Executive Officer Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes said in a statement. The Cullinan was unveiled in 2018.

The BMW-owned brand's strong numbers serve as a breather at a time when the global automobile industry is still grappling with various challenges amid a broader economic slowdown that dented sales of many automakers.

North America continued to be the biggest contributor with about a third of Rolls-Royce's total sales, followed by China and Europe.

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I begin my shift on labor and delivery with two patients. Patient A has been on oxytocin to make her contractions stronger after her water broke without labor. She has been on this medication for almost 12 hours and has been making slow progress. Her heart rate and temperature are trending up; she is probably on her way to getting an infection. When I click to enter her chart, the electronic medical record throws up a window, a blinding orange and red. This patient has a high hemorrhage risk, it says. Would you like to place the following recommended orders for this patient? They are good suggestions; I click yes. The window turns a soothing yellow and disappears.

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Patient B came in for an induction of labor. She was recently started on oxytocin, but she is already in active labor. No fibroids, no fevershell probably have a baby in the next few hours. This patients chart looks medically uninteresting, until I click on the social tab. There I find that in her first trimester, this patient attempted suicide via a Tylenol overdose. She was found by her boyfriend before she had taken very much; she was brought to the emergency department. She was discharged from the psych ward after three days of observation. The pregnancy continued; she came to most of her appointments. She was seen by the clinic social worker during the pregnancy. She refused referral to a psychiatrist to discuss antidepressant therapy. She told the social worker that she has been feeling better; she has always denied further suicidal impulses.

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When she was admitted to the hospital that day, Patient B denied signs or symptoms of depression. She is planning on moving out of state right after she delivers, and has declined postpartum follow-up with an obstetrician or a mental health provider. No window pops up here while Im in her chart; everything stays a nice reassuring blue.

Which of these patients is in more danger? I thought I knew.

Maternal mortality is big news in this country. Women are dying in pregnancy, more than ever, and shamefully, undeniably, women of color more than anyone else. High-profile op-eds talk about this issue, Democratic candidates offer platforms to combat pregnancy-related death, and Congress was even moved to take action. The large leadership organizations for OB-GYNs are rolling out campaigns and action items to address this crisis.

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When we talk about maternal mortality in a high-resource country like the United States, we generally talk about the same list of causes over and over again: hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (such as preeclampsia), embolic disease (that is, clots), infection, bleeding, heart disease. These are the causes that we focus on during prenatal care, and during labor and delivery hospital admissions. I want my patients to be safe. I pay very close attention to fevers, I have new tools for quantifying blood loss, and I review the list of medications to give for high blood pressure emergencies with my trainees until they can recite them in their sleep.

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But to really understand maternal mortality, I think we have to realize that when public health institutions count pregnancy-related deaths, they first make some choices. These choices are aimed toward giving us the most helpful set of data. To do so, they define their terms to exclude deaths that are not directly related to the pregnancy. On first glance, that makes sense: They are, after all, in the business of pregnancy-related health care.

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But when you look at the overall deaths for women in and around pregnancy, without regard to whether the cause is traditionally considered pregnancy-related, the number of dead women goes up a lot. And the list of causes of death becomes a very different one: motor vehicle collisions, homicide, suicide, substance abuse. This makes some sensethese are the things that young women die from, more generally, pregnant or not.

So perhaps this is obvious. Of course, women die from what women die from, and some of those women are pregnant. But see this chart, which is from research about women who died in and after pregnancy in Illinois:

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Illinois is an extreme example, and these numbers vary, from state to state and from year to year. But to me this chart is shocking, because I used to spend almost all of my professional time thinking about those blue bars, and almost none thinking about those red bars.

When I did sit down to think about those red bars, I ended up with this: I dont think we can be entirely sure that there is such a big difference between the red bars and the blue bars. How many of those not-pregnancy-related deaths are really, truly, absolutely not affected by pregnancy?

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Lets take, for example, the most obvious connection: pregnancy-related depression (or postpartum depression). Mood disorders during and after pregnancy are real and incredibly common. Why wouldnt we think about suicide risk, which in the chart above kills 2 to 3 out of every 100,000 women during or after pregnancy, as being related to their pregnancy?

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To really understand maternal mortality, I think we have to realize that when public health institutions count pregnancy-related deaths, they first make some choices.

There are other connections to draw. Pregnant and postpartum women are also at higher risk for intimate partner violence. This probably contributes to that long red bar of homicide risk, but its hard to know by how much, because this is data thats not routinely collected in every state, or studied.

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And what about those motor vehicle collisions? Not entirely unrelated, either. Women who get in a serious collision during pregnancy are more than twice as likely to die, to some extent because being pregnant means we have more places to be injured, but also (and more frustratingly) because the performance standards for vehicle safety designs are based on the stature and anatomy of average male drivers, according to the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. (Thats a major problem for the nonpregnant women amongst us as well, but I digress.)

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I know that we have to chop up death when we study it. I know thats how epidemiology worksits how we quantify and analyze and figure out where death is coming from. It is how, ultimately, we increase our understanding and make progress on beating it back. Chopping up the data provides us with a way to attempt to sort out which deaths of pregnant women are tragic and deserve resources and which ones we will just live with.

The way we chop them up is also changing: The CDC has added indicators for homicide, suicide, and mental health issues to its maternal mortality review data system that the agency has rolled out nationwide. Its on track to being used in close to 40 jurisdictions by the end of this year.

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But for me, a doctor in the field, my job isnt just to stop pregnancy-related disease and suffering and death. It is to stop disease and suffering and death for my patients, period. If Im going to do that job, I will need to take a more comprehensive view of the dangers my patients face. And I need to understand how the assumptions were making when we analyze the data might end up sorting some deaths that are really in the first category into the second category.

Once I found this larger way of looking at maternal mortality, it changed the way I practice and the way I teach. For example, at one of my clinics, we had a policy of universal perinatal depression screening. But our screening rate was lowdepression screening was always the first task to get lost when the clinic got busy or when we were running late. And that seemed to make sense: We had to check blood pressure, and weight, and fetal heart tones, because we thought that those were more important. Wed definitely catch that depression screening next time, or the time after that, wed say.

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This isnt the way I feel about perinatal depression screening now. And so, one day during a staff meeting, I pulled out this graph. I showed the clinic staffthe doctors, but also the nurses and the secretariesthat the women we served were more likely to die of suicide during and after pregnancy than of all elevated blood pressures we would catch. This didnt mean we would stop checking blood pressure, but it sure as hell meant we needed to check for depression. And that information put new urgency and consistency into our depression screening. Our screening rate went up dramatically the following month.

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Maternal mortality is a crisis. But its a more complex one than we currently understand. When we dont widen our understanding of what these women truly face, we narrow, too, our ability to solve it.

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Patient A went on to deliver; she did bleed, but our team was ready with medications and other techniques. We stopped her hemorrhage as quickly as we could. She was shaky and pale after delivery and did end up needing a transfusion. She stayed an extra day in the hospital to receive it and recover. She felt much better on the day of her hospital discharge. We had solved her problem. She was no longer in danger.

Patient B had a completely uncomplicated delivery. She declined to talk with our social worker on the postpartum unit. She was discharged home with her baby 48 hours later. Patient B never came to her postpartum checkup. I dont know where she is today. I just know that we did not come anywhere close to solving her problemand I know that she left my care in more danger than she should have.
Dozens of mourners have been killed in Iran during a stampede that erupted during a funerary procession for a top general killed in a US airstrike, Iranian state TV has reported.

At least 35 people have been killed and 48 injured during the procession for Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite al-Quds force, who was killed in a US drone strike on Friday.

The burial ceremony for Soleimani, in his hometown of Kerman, in southeast Iran, was later cancelled because of the deaths.

"Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions," Koulivand said.

State media reported that most of the injured were elderly people who had been going from Azadi Square in Kerman towards Beheshti Street when they got trapped in the huge crowds and died.

Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Show all 24 1 /24 Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions Iranian mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of top general Qasem Soleimani during the final stage of funeral processions, in his hometown Kerman. Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with Iran which has vowed "severe revenge" AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranian people carry a coffin of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani during a funeral procession in Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions The assassination of the 62-year-old heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile, oil-rich Middle East and rattled financial markets AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Mourners packed the streets of Tehran for ceremonies to pay homage to Soleimani, who spearheaded Iran's Middle East operations as commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force and was killed in a US drone strike on January 3 Iranian Supreme Leader's Office/EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranians set a US and an Israeli flag on fire during the funeral procession AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, centre, with Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, second left, and President Hassan Rouhani, third left, standing next to him as he leads a prayer over the caskets of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Tehran University Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, openly weeps as he leads a prayer over the coffin of Qassem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Mourners holding posters of Qassem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Coffins of Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a US drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession, at the Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions An Iranian mourner holds a placard AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Downtown Tehran was brought to a standstill as mourners flooded the Iranian capital Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Former Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps chief Mohamad Ali Jafari prays on the coffins of Qasem Soleimani and of other victims during their funeral ceremony EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Satellite image Maxar Technologies/AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA

Thousands had gathered in Kerman's central square on Tuesday morning to pay their respects to the leader of the al-Quds force, the clandestine foreign arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

Earlier in the day Hossein Salami, the leader of the IRGC, spoke at the gathering where he threatened to "set ablaze" places supported by the US.

A US airstrike Baghdad airport on Friday killed Soleimani as well as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the head the Popular Mobilisation Forces, an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, sparking fury across the region.

Salami praised Soleimani's work abroad, describing him as essential to backing Palestinian groups, Yemen's Houthi rebels and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria.

Soleimani, known as the architect of Iran's proxy wars abroad, has been accused of being responsible for the deaths of hundreds of US servicemen in Iraq as well as killings and sieges in Syria.

His death has galvanised his support in places like Iraq but also Iran, Gaza and Lebanon where he has backed mostly-Shia armed groups.

Salami said as a martyr, Soleimani represented an even greater threat to Iran's enemies.

"We will take revenge. We will set ablaze where they like," Salami said, as the crowd chanted "Death to Israel!"

Israel is a longtime regional foe of Iran.

It comes a day after funeral prayers in Tehran drew over 1 million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main thoroughfares and side streets.
The entities that make up CarePoint Health are suing the new owners of the Hoboken and Bayonne hospital properties, alleging they are interfering with efforts to lock down offers with potential operators of Bayonne Medical Center and Christ Hospital in Jersey City.

Avery Eisenreich, the owner of the Alaris Health nursing home chain, purchased the land that both Hoboken University Medical Center and Bayonne Medical Center sit on in November.

CarePoint previously announced that RWJBarnabas would take over Christ Hospital and Hoboken University Medical Center, while it would search for a new operator of the Bayonne hospital.

Eisenreich, however, has interfered with CarePoints efforts to close the deal with RWJBarnabas, putting Christ Hospital at risk of closure, the lawsuit alleges.

A spokesperson for Alaris Health did not immediately respond for comment on the lawsuit. CarePoint Health declined to comment.

The lawsuit, dated Dec. 10, also states that Eisenreich has been in communication with at least one party interested in assuming Bayonne Medical Centers hospital license and is encouraging that party to wait for Bayonne Medical Center to file for bankruptcy protection before submitting a bid.

The plaintiffs allege Eisenreich is seeking to ultimately close the hospital and turn it into a long-term care or nursing home facility.

The lawsuit was filed in Delaware Chancery Court. The limited liability companies that filed the suit and several of those listed as defendants are based in Delaware. The complaints 11 counts include six claiming breach of contract.

The plaintiffs request a temporary restraining order to preserve the status quo and prevent Eisenrich from continuing to violate their legal and contractual obligations, misuse confidential information, and engage in any further tortious conduct."

The lawsuit alleges the defendants have not shown CarePoint a new lease for Christ Hospital, and a lease is key to finalizing the transaction with RWJBarnabas.

The defendants also inserted themselves in the initial negotiation with RWJBarnabas without obtaining prior consent from, or the approval of, the entities that owned and operated the Hospitalsand the entities that owned the related real estate, the lawsuit states.
The Associated Press

From the face scanner that will check in some attendees to the cameras-everywhere array of digital products, the CES gadget show is all-in on surveillance technology  whether it calls it that or not.

Nestled in the smart home and smart city showrooms at the sprawling Las Vegas consumer tech conference are devices that see, hear and track the people they encounter. Some of them also analyse their looks and behaviour. The technology on display includes eyelid-tracking car dashboard cameras to prevent distracted driving and rapid DNA kits for identifying a person from a cheek swab sample.

All these talking speakers, doorbell cameras and fitness trackers come with the promise of making life easier or more fun, but theyre also potentially powerful spying tools. And the sceptics who raise privacy and security concerns can be easily drowned out in the flashy spectacle of gee-whiz technology.

Many, many horrible stories have come out of consumer electronics, said Cindy Cohn, executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, who is speaking on a CES panel about the future of internet-connected devices. Its often about hyping the next thing you can buy and not considering the trade-offs.

CES runs Tuesday to Friday after two days of media previews. The annual showcase is where big companies and startups unveil and promote their latest gadgets, many of them infused with microphones, cameras and artificial intelligence. Though weighted toward the consumer market, much of whats on display may also be useful to law enforcement, not to mention prying employers or heavy-handed governments.

Marcus Yang, CEO of the camera startup Amaryllo, said hes had a difficult time persuading customers to pay more for safeguards such as faster processors to enable end-to-end encryption when an array of cheaper, but less secure options are available.

CES attendees want to see technology and something fresh, Yang said. Theyre only interested in looking at your cameras and what kind of features they have.

Yang said hes hopeful that something is changing this year after a series of privacy scandals and security breaches have brought attention to the dangers of unfettered surveillance technology. And eventually, he said, regulators are likely to step in with security requirements.

Amazons security camera division Ring, which has set up a Ring House to show off its home devices, recently had to defend its safety practices following reports of hackers breaking into Ring camera systems and harassing children. Its also faced criticism from privacy advocates and US lawmakers over its growing partnerships with police. At CES on Monday, the company announced a new control centre for camera owners to adjust their privacy settings and opt out of police requests for footage.

Ring competitor Wyze Labs, an honoree in the CES 2020 innovation awards, announced a data breach just after Christmas affecting 2.4 million customers. And widely used voice assistants made by Google, Amazon and Apple all came under scrutiny in 2019 for data retention practices that allowed employees and contractors to listen to users audio recordings.

Theres been some push back, at least on facial recognition and other surveillance technology from China. Hikvision and iFlytek, two Chinese tech companies that showed off their artificial intelligence at CES 2019, now face US export restrictions because the Trump administration says the technology has been used in the repression of Chinas Muslims.

But China isnt the only place where the lines have blurred between consumer technology and government surveillance operations. Watchful residents of American neighbourhoods are increasingly encouraged by Ring to share their doorbell video footage with police detectives. And device-makers are counting on consumers buying into ever-more elaborate forms of computer vision and other AI technology to give them peace of mind.

Camera-maker, Arlo, this week launched its first wireless floodlight camera, with night vision, a siren, two-way audio to converse with intruders and an ambient light sensor to automatically adjust its brightness.

Another company, Sunflower Labs, is using CES to show off its home drone security system. If trespassers step onto your lawn, a camera-equipped drone flies out from its resting place to take a look at them and streams the live video to your phone.

Sound like something that might guard the lair of a James Bond villain? CEO Alex Pachikov says its actually less intrusive to neighbours than your run-of-the-mill doorbell camera because its only looking down at your own property.

Serious talk about privacy protections and regulations isnt completely absent at CES. The schedule includes panel talks connecting policymakers with privacy executives from companies like Apple and Facebook.

Venture capitalist Rajeev Chand, who is moderating one of those panels, said tech companies are getting better at seeing themselves as custodians, not the owners, of user data, but much more needs to be done.

We are probably at the first or second inning for how privacy re-shapes the consumer tech industry, said Chand, a partner and head of research at Wing Venture Capital.

But even as some US policymakers seek to restrict or ban facial recognition, the conference is getting its attendees more accustomed to everyday uses of surveillance technology in commercial and security settings.

Attendees at the gadget show can use their face to pick up their event badges for the first time.

Were experimenting with it, said Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, which organises CES.

He dismissed privacy concerns, saying that attendees have a choice.

Youre opting in, he said. If you want to do it, youll have an opportunity to do it.

Cohn, of EFF, said she plans to skip the face scanners because she doesnt know who has control over the images they collect. She said theres only so much that consumers can do to guard against misuse.

There is a risk treating this as an individual decision, she said. Thats not really fair or right to do to people. We need to fix the policies.
Rantoul, IL (61866)

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Wolfingbarger said law enforcement had warned that a local ethics investigation could interfere with an ongoing federal probe into Evans. But the law firm hired by the council to investigate Evans said federal prosecutors raised no such objections to their review.
RISHON LEZION, Israel, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cymulate , the most comprehensive SaaS-based Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) platform, today announced it has achieved 240% revenue growth in global 2019 new bookings compared to its strong, treble-growth performance of 2018. The company attains 91% customer retention and the number of employees has grown by over 220% over the last 12 months as operations extend across Europe and the US to support sales.

The impressive growth and renewal rate is attributed to companies valuing BAS as the most effective method to assess their real security posture and prepare for oncoming cyber attacks. Moreover, Cymulate's automated capabilities and ease of use require minimal skills and resources by security teams and enable continuous testing across the full kill-chain. Ceaselessly developing its offering to adapt to risks that digital transformation presents and remain at the forefront of BAS, Cymulate launched the industry's first agentless APT simulation, allowing companies to replicate simulations of a full-scale APT attack on their network with a simple click of a button, challenging security control mechanisms through the entire cyber kill chain.

Cymulate secured two rounds of funding in 2019 totalling $22.5M, and a new investor Vertex Growth Fund joined their current funding partners Vertex Ventures Israel , Dell Technologies Capita l, Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE) and Eyal Gruner. Cymulate has raised $26M since launching in 2016.

"From a hospital in France to public libraries in NY state and the city of New Orleans, 2019 has proven that no organization is safe from cybercriminals. Our continuous and automated approach to security testing is being swiftly adopted by every type of business as it is the most powerful, pre-emptive tool to prevent such attacks. Automated BAS is now favored over manual, periodic penetration testing and red teaming as it detects security gaps and suggests mitigation tips to bolster network defenses," says Cymulate's CMO Gily Netzer. "We're delighted with our results over the last 12 months and we look forward to strengthening our platform in 2020, adding more tools to enable companies to conduct further pre-reconnaissance to withstand the cyber onslaught."

During 2019, Cymulate launched an affordable offering for small and medium sized businesses (SMBs), empowering them with cost-effective enterprise-grade security testing. Their continuous, year-round, unlimited Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) testing is equivalent to one-off cost of penetration testing or red-teaming exercise. Cymulate's SMB offering is also available via Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) and Managed Detection and Response providers.

Cymulate's BAS platform plays a critical role in empowering organizations to automatically assess and improve their overall security posture. Simulations of the latest threats in the wild test an organization's security defenses and controls, across the entire kill chain of attack vectors and APT attack configurations. Simulations can be run on-demand or scheduled to run at regular intervals. Within minutes, the platform provides specific, actionable insights and data on where a company's network is vulnerable, highlighting security gaps and mitigation procedures.

Cymulate's technology has received several accolades in recent months including:

Winner, Breach and Attack Simulation Solution of the Year Award, Cybersecurity Breakthrough Awards

Top 10 Cybersecurity Startups of the Year, CRN

Bronze, Tech Start-up of the Year (Software), The Stevies, the 17th Annual American Business Awards 2019

Silver, Product Category, 2019 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards

Cutting Edge award, BAS category, Infosec Awards 2019

Editors Choice, BAS, Cyber Defense Global Award

Gold for Best BAS Platform, American Security Today 'Astors'

About Cymulate

Cymulate is a SaaS-based breach and attack simulation platform that makes it simple to know and optimize your security posture any time, all the time and empowers companies to safeguard their business-critical assets. With just a few clicks, Cymulate challenges your security controls by initiating thousands of attack simulations, showing you exactly where you're exposed and how to fix it  making security continuous, fast and part of every-day activities.

For more information, visit www.cymulate.com and register for a Free Trial .

SOURCE Cymulate

Related Links

http://www.cymulate.com


Apeejay School in Kharghar celebrated its 19th Annual Day at the schools premises. The programme started with a musical odyssey presented by the school choir and a team of musicians.

The chief guest for the event was by Navi Mumbai Police commissioner Sanjay Kumar. The education advisory head and creative mentor of the school, NN Nayyar, and other dignitaries also attended the event.

The event unfolded with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and the chanting of shlokas, followed by a dance and welcoming the dignitaries.

The principal, Tejaswini Katdare, presented the annual school report, following which students who had achieved curricular and co-curricular feats were given prizes. One of the awards, the Master Jagannath Award, was given to the student who scored the highest marks in the Commerce stream, while the presidents silver medal is given to the student who has been dedicated and sincere in academics and co-curricular activities. The presidents gold medal which given to the schools Class 12 topper.

Kumar congratulated the schools chairperson Sushma Paul Berlia, the school management and principal for having been adjudged the Best School For Innovation And Pedagogical Practices in the ELETS School Ranking Survey 2019, conducted by Digital Learning, India, and for being ranked as one of the top 10 schools in Navi Mumbai. He exhorted the students to put in their best and work towards the development of self, society and the country.

Students performed a cultural extravaganza, Native Beats, to celebrate the spirit of India and the development. An array of dance performances of various Indian states was performed by the Apeejayites.

A skit on Vikram and Betal was presented in which students of primary section exhibited Indias progress over the years, highlighting the changing social fabric of India, women empowerment, digitalisation and Tourism. The middle and senior school students presented qawwali, Sufi and classical dances of different states.

Christmas festivities at Vasai school

Students of St Francis High School, Vasai, recently celebrated Christmas with great festivity and gaiety. The schools entrance was decorated with stars, bells, Christmas tree and pictures of Santa Claus for the event. Students and teachers also visited Fatima Mata orphanage and distributed goodies to the children, promoting the schools theme of Joy of Giving.

Ulwe school hosts Christmas Carnival

Radcliffe School-Ulwe, recently observed a pre-Christmas celebration. Students and teachers took part in carol singing, live crib, Christmas symposium and grand entry of the Santa Claus during the celebration.

Students engaged themselves in activities like dance, games, etc. The school also shared joy of Christmas with the underprivileged children by offering eatables to them. Competitions like solo singing, solo dance and group dance were also held. Students dispersed for the Winter Break after the celebrations.

Students ring in Christmas with cheer and joy

The Holy Angels English High School, Bhayander, organised Christmas celebrations for students recently. The students actively participated in the festivities and decoration of the six-foot-tall X mas tree.

The programme began with the chief guest, Fr Bibin Cheenothuvattukulam, the founders and principal of the school Joseph Sebastin enlightening the students with a speech on the importance of Christmas. Students dressed up in red attire and sang Christmas carols.

A fun-filled carnival for kids

The Seven Square Academy (SSA), Mira Road organised a carnival for students, teachers and parents. The carnival had various attractions like planetarium, human snake and ladder, breakdance car, tora tora, food zone and astrology and tarot card reading. Principal Kavita Hegde spoke about developing a spirit of humanity.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  President Rodrigo Duterte did not hold back in his criticism of Vice President Leni Robredo, calling her a "colossal blunder" at an ambush interview Tuesday.

Duterte spoke to members of the media after conferring the Order of National Scientist on agronimist Emil Javier at a ceremony in Malacanang.

For all of these years, she has done nothing. Shes a colossal blunder, he said.

He struck back after Robredo called the government's drug war a "failure."

"She has been there how many days, 17? Eighteen days. I hate to say this but how many voters are there in the Philippines and just do away with the 200,000 plus that she got over Marcos  it was really a mistake. With a slim margin and you talk this big," Duterte said.

Robredo was co-chairman of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, a position she held for less than three weeks before she was fired by Duterte.

On Monday, the Vice President bared her findings and recommendations on the drug war, saying the government failed in its anti-narcotics campaign with a measly score of 1 over 100, with the way it implemented the narcotics campaign since President Rodrigo Duterte took office.

"Failure talaga siya, dahil 'yung kampanya sa droga, maraming aspeto. Masyadong tinutukan 'yung street-level enforcement," she said.

[Translation: The anti-drug campaign really was a failure. There are a lot of aspects. They focused on street-level enforcement.]

Robredo cited official data from various government agencies, implying that drugs continued to proliferate not just in small communities but also among big drug networks.

Duterte also said Robredo's recommendation to make the Dangerous Drugs Board instead of ICAD the lead agency in the anti-drug campaign was something she could do if she ever became President.

"Gawin niya 'yan [She can do that]. She does not lecture me," he said.
TEFEN, Israel, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers can now enjoy delicious antioxidant-rich pomegranates for an extended season, thanks to the packaging experts at StePac L.A., Ltd., who have been pioneering advances in pomegranate packaging since 2003. The company introduces its latest range of sustainable packaging solutions, perfect for preserving the freshness and extending the shelf life of pomegranates and their extracted arils.

Sustainable packaging extends the pomegranate season

StePac has expanded its range to include new recyclable solutions, as well as packaging formats tailored to automation of both bulk and retail packing. These will be showcased at the upcoming Fruit Logistica in Berlin, February 5-7, hall 26, booth #D10.

In spite of their tough exterior, whole fresh pomegranates host a range of challenges that arise with prolonged storage. In the absence of proper protection, the fruit can suffer significant dehydration and weight loss, causing it to shrivel. This may be accompanied by the development of skin blemishes and crown decay that eventually leaches into the fruit and impairs the quality and taste of the arils.

From orchard to table

StePac's pomegranate packaging portfolio incorporates long storage packaging formats to meet the requirements of growers seeking glut management solutions for post-harvest bulk storage.

Pomegranate growers and packers are now able to load fresh-picked pomegranates directly at the orchard and store up to 400kg of the fruit in each specialized StePac Xtend bin liner for periods of three months or longer, with no negative effect on the fruit. This is in addition to storage liners for weight of 10-80kg that are already widely used in many countries.

The Xtend line also includes unique carton liners that offer the ideal solution for maintaining fruit quality during the lengthy shipments to distant locations.

Leaner flowpack packaging for whole fruits

StePac developed film structures containing a unique sealing layer that facilitates leaner packaging and induces savings of up to 40% in material use as well as reduced labor costs, by enabling pomegranates to be flow-packed in both bulk and retail formats.

100% recyclable retail packaging for arils

The company recently finalized development of fully recyclable Xgo lidding films and standing pouches to add to this category of retail-packaging products. These solutions are designed to inhibit postharvest microbial decay and extend the shelf life of extracted pomegranate arils for up to 17 days, preserving the fruit's organoleptic properties. The lidding films are available in lean easy peel and resealable formats.

The company's comprehensive range of lean and sustainable packaging solutions is designed to maintain pomegranate freshness throughout all stages of the supply chain. The technology is based on a unique modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) system that reduces respiration rates and ethylene production for a combined effect of slowing down ageing and ripening. It also inhibits the proliferation of pathogens.

Water vapor transmission technology enhances performance

StePac has developed a comprehensive repertoire of films with built-in abilities to regulate water-vapor transmission rates as well as provide optimal modified atmosphere conditions. The films incorporate distinct properties to cater to a range of pomegranate packaging applications.

"During prolonged storage of this fruit, it is paramount to strike the perfect balance between eliminating excess free moisture to mitigate the risk of microbial decay and to concurrently avoid excessive product dehydration," explains Gary Ward, Ph.D., Business Development Manager for StePac. "Such balance depends on multiple synergistic factors, including surface area to volume ratio, produce weight, supply chain length, and shipping and storage conditions."

"Pomegranates are in demand in every continent," Ward enthuses. "The global reach of our technology is instrumental in addressing the challenges facing the pomegranate industry and for ensuring that both the whole fruit and the extracted arils reach the consumers wherever they might be  in prime condition, while keeping waste to a minimum. Our holistic vision and pragmatic approach are embedded in a range of complex structures and packaging formats that deliver the extended shelf life and sustainability principles our customers seek. This approach evolved from our deep-rooted understanding and 25-year history of researching fresh produce pathology and physiology and its interaction with packaging design."

Meet us at Fruit Logistica 2020, Berlin, February 5-7, hall 26, booth #D10

About StePac

StePac specializes in functional packaging for fresh produce. Its globally recognized brands include Xtend, Xgo, Xflow and Xbloom modified-atmosphere/modified-humidity packaging solutions. These solutions reduce weight loss, slow respiration and aging, and inhibit microbial decay, while prolonging storability and shelf life. They are supported by a wealth of post-harvest expertise for enhanced performance and sustainability. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson Matthey, plc, UK.

SOURCE StePac
100 years ago, Jan. 7, 1920

MATTOON  There is a new $100,000 corporation doing business in Illinois and the head offices are located in Mattoon. It is the Crescent Agency Corporation, writing automobile insurance and health and accident insurance. At a meeting of the stockholders yesterday, the following were elected as officers: E.C. Craig, Mattoon, president; W.H. Ownby, Mattoon, first vice president; J.S. Quirk, Arcola, second vice president; W.T. Osborne, Mattoon, secretary; D.B. Craig, Mattoon, general counsel; Ben F. Cox, Arcola, treasurer; and Lincoln Bancroft, Greenup, general manager. Mr. Bancroft, for several years, has been superintendent of agents for the Bankers Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Freeport. He also serves in the Illinois Legislature, representing the 40th District... MATTOON  The Broadway Avenue pavement is knocked out! The matter, set for a hearing this morning in City Court before Judge McNutt, was dismissed by City Attorney Real after telling the judge that a number of aldermen were uncertain whether the ordinance used as a basis for the improvement was ever passed. Nothing remains now, according to the city attorney, but to frame a new ordinance and be sure it gets passed by the Mattoon City Council.

50 years ago, 1970

MATTOON  Three members of the Mattoon City Council have been named by Mayor Morgan Phipps to act as liaison between the city and Operation Progress, the downtown development group considering development of a pedestrian mall in downtown Mattoon. Phipps, who said he was requested to make the appointment by officers of Operation Progress, appointed himself, Commissioner Roger Dettro and Commissioner James Leming. Appointed as ex officio members were City Attorney Joseph Spitz and City Clerk Charles White. Operation Progress will be represented by John R. Phipps, Don Cason and Robert Isom... MATTOON  Forty-five degrees below zero! Impossible in Mattoon? Definitely not. It was that cold this morning. When wind accompanies cold temperatures, the effect on skin is far below the reading on thermometers. At 6 a.m. today, the temperature was 12 degrees below zero at Central Illinois Public Service Co. The wind was out of the west at 15 miles an hour. Using a "Chill" index, the combination of 12 below zero and 15 mph wind gives a temperature effect on exposed skin of 45 degrees below zero. The official low recorded by CIPS this morning was 13 below at 3 a.m. The forecast for tonight is for a low between minus 5 and minus 12.

25 years ago, 1995

CHARLESTON  The first real storm of the winter arrived yesterday and seemed to be making up for lost time. Snowfall by late afternoon totaled almost four inches, with two inches of that coming before 11 a.m. before a pause until early afternoon. I suspect there will be areas that will end up with half a foot of snow, said Dalias Price, local weather observer. It seems to be coming in batches. The snow wasnt heavy enough to cancel school in Mattoon and Charleston. Schools were canceled in Casey, Cumberland, Neoga, Findlay, Martinsville, Stewardson-Strasburg and Windsor while Arcola schools dismissed early SPRINGFIELD  A Charleston woman will be among those performing at Gov. Jim Edgars inauguration Monday. Charlotte Martin, Miss Illinois Teen USA, will sing during opening ceremonies at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield. Martin is the daughter of Joseph and Rebecca Martin of Charleston. Lou Rawls, a native of Chicago, is the featured entertainer for the ceremonies marking the beginning of Edgars second term as governor. CHARLESTON  Wayne Figgins made a good night of bowling even better when he rolled his first-ever 300 game recently at Charleston Lanes. Figgins had scores of 212 and 201 in league play when he bowled the perfect game. Figgins, who averages 206 in league play, said the closest he had ever come to perfection was a 298 when bowling at Greenup.

100 years ago, Jan. 8, 1920

MATTOON  Benjamin N., "Uncle Ben," Berry, who has lived for half a century at 1121 Wabash Ave., will be 95 years old tomorrow. "Uncle Ben," who is hale and hearty and bids fair to reach the century mark in life's journey, is said to be the oldest living resident of Mattoon. During fair weather, despite his advanced years, he may be seen almost any day up in the business district... MATTOON  Twenty-five train car loads of whiskey passed through Mattoon over the Illinois Central Railroad yesterday evening. The train arrived in the city at 5:20 p.m. and remained for about 10 minutes. Each of the cars was labeled with a large sign marked "Inflammable." The arrival of the train was unheralded. It is part of a number of consignments taking the bonded whiskey from warehouses in Peoria to Cuba. Even without a soul knowing the train was coming, guards had been posted by the railroad at strategic points in the yard to prevent any raid on the contents of the cars. Various estimates have placed the value of the cargo on the Cuba-bound train at $1.3 million.

50 years ago, 1970

MATTOON  Snow, whipped by winds up to 25 mph, clogged north-south roads in the Mattoon area and forced an early closing of Mattoon schools. Elementary schools closed at 2:30 p.m. while Mattoon High School students went home at 2:45 p.m. There was no school today at Cooks Mills Elementary School where water pipes had frozen. Humboldt students went home at noon. Four of 22 Mattoon school buses refused to start this morning and three that did start were stuck in drifted snow. Early today the temperature was 12 degrees below zero. The mercury is not expected to climb much above zero today. Central Illinois Public Service Co. officials said customers used a record amount of natural gas in Central and Southern Illinois each of the past two days... MATTOON  Terry D. Watts and Lawrence E. Gaskill were selected to guide the Mattoon High School cadet ROTC battalion through its 35th year. Watts, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Watts, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Gaskill, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gaskill, was promoted to the rank of major... MATTOON  William A. Hurlburt, administrator of Mattoon Memorial Hospital, this morning called a special meeting of the utilization committee of the medical staff to discuss ways of alleviating the critical room shortage in the hospital. He announced that at 9:30 a.m. today there were eight patients in beds in the hallways. The situation has been building for a few weeks with two or three patients regularly being placed in the hallways in the morning but by afternoon having rooms available, Hurlburt said. With eight patients in the hallways, the situation had become critical, he added.

25 years ago, 1995

Sunday. No paper.

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The police have released photos from the CCTV footage of the killing and robbery of a mobile store owner, who was recently gunned down at Kalwa town in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said on Tuesday.

In the incident that occurred on December 28 last year, Jitendra Singh Rajpurohit was shot dead by unidentified accused, who also stole money from the store's cash box, he said.

The photos and CCTV footage indicate that there were three persons, including two women, who were seen boarding the last train from Kalyan to commit the crime at Kalwa, after which they headed to Dadar in Central Mumbai, he added.

After making frantic efforts to trace the accused, the police have now appealed to citizens to help them identify and nab the perpetrators, the official said.

The Kalwa police have registered an offense under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act in the case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Duckett says Wayland told her that he could help get a loan modification to shrink her monthly mortgage payments from $1,200 to $900 or $1,000. She had worked at least two jobs for most of her life to pay for the house, which she had carefully renovated over the course of nearly two decades.
Iran support militant groups and is actively working to undermine the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed on Tuesday, cautioning that Taliban's entanglement with Tehran will only harm peace talks in the war-torn country.

Speaking with reporters at the State Department, Pompeo said Iran's involvement in Afghanistan deserved more attention.

"Most people know about Iran's proxy networks in the Arab world, but the regime also has a relationship with the Taliban and related groups, such as the Haqqanis, the Tora Bora, and the Mullah Dadullah group. The Taliban's entanglement in Iran's dirty work will only harm the Afghanistan peace process," Pompeo told reporters at a conference here.

In Afghanistan, there is an aspect of that conflict that deserves more attention, and that is Iran's involvement there.

"Iran has refused to join the regional and international consensus for peace and is, in fact, today actively working to undermine the peace process by continuing its long global efforts to support militant groups there," Pompeo said.

US President Donald Trump has prioritised peace efforts in Afghanistan and his special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has initiated direct talks with the Taliban.

Khalilzad has held several rounds of talks with the Afghan Taliban in order to reach a settlement that would allow the US to withdraw its army and end the 17-year-old Afghan war, America's longest.

Pompeo, while speaking at his maiden New Year Conference, also said China needed to honour its commitments made to Hong Kong in the Sino-British Joint Declaration filed at the United Nations, asserting that it was the right path.

Pompeo said the US was aware of Luo Huining's appointment as the new head of the Hong Kong Chinese Central Government Liaison Office.

"The right path, as I've said before, is for the Chinese Communist Party to honour its commitments made to Hong Kong in the Sino-British Joint Declaration filed at the United Nations, a commitment that guarantees the territory's independent rule of law and freedoms that the Chinese living on the mainland unfortunately do not enjoy," Pompeo said.

The United States will continue to work with Hong Kong and the Chinese Communist Party officials to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, and to promote the financial hub's high degree of autonomy, he said.

Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous territory which operates under the 'one country, two systems' principle - a structure that grants the city's citizens some degree of financial and legal independence from the mainland.

The city has been shaken by massive, sometimes violent, protests initially organised to oppose a now-suspended bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. These protests have now turned into a wider movement for democratic reforms.

Until 1997, Hong Kong was ruled by Britain as a colony but then returned to China.

Under the "one country, two systems" arrangement, it has more autonomy than the mainland. It has its own judiciary and a separate legal system from mainland China.

Pompeo also commended members of Bahrain's Council of Representatives for their recent statement in which they expressed deep concern over the inhumane and painful conditions to which Uighur Muslims in China are subjected.

"Bahrain is recognising what I've been saying for months: the Chinese Communist Party is committing mass human rights violations and abuses against Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Muslims held in detention in Xinjiang," he said.

"We're happy with what Bahrain did, and we ask all countries, particularly those belonging to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League, to denounce the Chinese Communist Party's brutal treatment of Uighurs, which is part of the party's broader war on faith," Pompeo said.

China is facing severe criticism from western countries over persistent reports of mass detention of Uighurs in Xinjiang, bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), in bid to control violent attack by the separatist East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM).

UN's Geneva-based Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination last year said that it was alarmed by "numerous reports of mass detention of ethnic Uighurs and other Muslim minorities".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As you undoubtedly know, the Babylon Bee is Americas leading satire site. It gently mocks contemporary leftism, something that leftists cant abide. Humor is, after all, a powerful tool. So the Leftspecifically, the Democratic Partyis out to get the Bee. Thats not funny!

Todays flap is over this Babylon Bee post: Democrats Call For Flags To Be Flown At Half-Mast To Grieve Death Of Soleimani.

At a press conference held on Capitol Hill Friday, mourning Democrat leaders called for flags to be flown half-mast to honor the death of Qasem Soleimani. Flags were spotted flying at half-mast around the country, notably at The Washington Post, The New York Times, and in front of several celebrities homes. The celebrities went out and bought an American flag for the first time just to fly it at half-mast for this important time of grief. The grieving process is painful but necessary, said Rep. Ilhan Omar. As a nation, we need to stop and grieve this great, austere, revered religious scholar. He was one of the good ones. In a rare moment of unity with The Squad, Pelosi gave each of the girls a hug, telling them to just let it all out in their time of sadness. Ocasio-Cortez didnt seem to know what was happening but adjusted her glasses to look smart. A teary-eyed Barack Obama was also seen solemnly lowering the flag in front of his seaside mansion. To think, this all could have been prevented with a few pallets of cash. He sighed and stared off into the distance, a look of pain and regret on his face. If only Trump had targeted a U.S. citizen with a drone strike instead. Later, Democrats clarified they meant we should fly the Iranian flag at half-mast, not the offensive and problematic American flag.

Memo to liberals: This is funny. Now, like all good satire, it bites. Because Democratic Party leaders have universally condemned the killing of a terrorist and mass murderer who killed hundreds of Americans, ran Assads murderous war in Syria, and most recently organized the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Yet the Washington Post did refer to him as a revered leader.

Still, you would have to be a complete moron to read the Bee article and not recognize it as satire.

Which didnt stop Democrats from panicking over the articles popularity. This comes from Cindy Otis, who bills herself as a former CIA analyst. That figures:

A post from a satirical website has been shared more than 500k times saying the DNC called for the flag to be at half-mast because of Soleimani. Some family members just called bc their Republican friends on FB are circulating it like it's legit. We have a lot of work to do, all.  Cindy Otis (Pre-order TRUE OR FALSE now!) (@CindyOtis_) January 5, 2020



It turns out that the Babylon Bees article has been shared as much, on social media, as the most popular news stories from the New York Times and the Washington Post:

To put this in perspective, this is the same number of engagements the top NY Times and CNN stories on Facebook had over the past week. A lot of people sharing this "satirical" story on Facebook don't know it is satire. https://t.co/HnDjuqw2si  Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) January 5, 2020



Actually, I think the Bees numbers are better than the Timess and the Posts. But that is a minor point. What, exactly, is the evidence for the claim that A lot of people sharing this story on Facebook dont know it is satire? There is none. People share Babylon Bee posts because they are funny and because, like all good satire, they direct laughter in an appropriate directionhere, at the Democratic Party.

It is conceivable that a few people seriously believed that Barack Obama lower[ed] the flag in front of his seaside mansion and said, To think, this all could have been prevented with a few pallets of cash. But Im guessing that number is many orders of magnitude smaller than the number who bought the lie, peddled by the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, etc., that Trump campaign officials colluded with Russians in connection with the 2016 election. And the Times, the Post, et al. dont have the defense that any normal person would understand they were trying to be funny.
Courtesy from the Hispanic Equity Committee at the University of Texas at Austin / Courtesy

Texas education leaders are discussing how to address the findings of a recent report that detailed gross disparities and discrimination in compensation, leadership opportunities and other measurements for Hispanic professors at the states flagship university.

The 188-page Hispanic Equity Report, released last fall by a group of eight professors at the University of Texas at Austin, found that UT faculty of Latino origin earn thousands of dollars less than their white peers at all levels of professorships. The gaps occur even after taking account of field, rank and scholarship, the report says.

We found that Hispanics are grossly underpaid and underrepresented in positions of leadership in a university that makes diversity one of its central missions, said Alberto Martinez, a history professor and chair of the Independent Equity Committee that produced the report.

Hispanic professors say they have long known about the inequalities and underrepresentation. The universitys Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, for example, has had 13 directors since its 1940 founding; none was of Hispanic or Latin American origin. The institute is named after a Hispanic alumna who endowed it with $15 million.

Thats simply grotesque, said Jorge Canizares-Esguerra, a UT history professor. Thats like having a prestigious center of African American studies (that has) never had an African American director; it would be unthinkable.

But, he added, thats where we are.

UT officials recognize the problem but disagree on the scale of salary disparities.

Speaking at a recent Faculty Council meeting, Gregory Fenves, the president of UT Austin, said that a university council on racial and ethnic equity and diversity completed the first phase of a study on Latino faculty pay and found issues similar to those in the equity committee report.

There were some differences especially in interpretations of data, Fenves said, according to an official transcript of the meeting. But there clearly are inequity issues. He said the council would be working through this information very, very diligently.

Joey Williams, a spokesman for UTs executive vice president and provost, stressed that the university is strongly committed to further understanding this potential inequity and fixing it.

Salary gaps

For the analysis, the committee used methodology similar to the Gender Equity Report of 2008 that prompted changes to address disparities between female and male scholars, according to the document.

One of the most alarming discoveries is that the inequities grow and get larger the longer a Hispanic professor is at UT, Martinez said.

The most significant compensation gaps in net terms were found among full professors, where Latinos were paid approximately $25,300 less on average than their Anglo peers in 2017, the focus year of the report. Assistant professors faced a gap of roughly $19,600 on average, and the difference was about $10,600 for associate professors.

The report analyzed data from different sources, including the Texas Tribunes Government Salaries Explorer, which publishes payroll information from state public entities responding to open records requests.

Another major problem is that Hispanic women are the most underpaid (professors) in the university in almost every category, and they are extremely underrepresented, Martinez said.

Hispanic women who are full professors at UT were paid $37,100 less on average than white men with the same tenure status; $15,800 less than equivalent white women; and $10,200 less than men of Latino origin. The report found a similar pattern for assistant professors, where white men were paid 44 percent more than Latinas.

Williams, the spokesman for the provost, said the universitys analysis found the difference (in compensation) is a little over 3 percent for full and associate professors favoring white faculty. He said that in some job classifications, Latina professors even earn more than their white peers.

He said that pattern is reversed with a much larger difference favoring our Latina over white assistant professors and not much of a difference at all when we compare salaries across races for assistant tenure track professors who are men.

Regardless, this difference favoring white over Latinx faculty at the senior ranks needs to be investigated further, he said.

Defining the problem

Gloria Gonzalez-Lopez, a sociology professor at UT, said race and gender are also factors.

I use the concept of academic domestica (domestic servant) to describe this, where Latina professors do a lot of services for which they are not paid or paid worse than anybody else in academia, she said.

Part of the burden that faculty members of color have in majority-white educational institutions is a sense of responsibility to serve as mentors and role models, frequently helping disadvantaged students who are first-generation college students, Gonzalez-Lopez said.

A basic tenet of education across the lines, whether youre talking about kindergarten kids or college students, is that in order for students to learn, they need to feel connected to the classroom and the faculty, and they are more likely to feel that with someone who shares their background, said Natasha Warikoo, a Harvard University professor and author of the new book The Diversity Bargain: And Other Dilemmas of Race, Admissions, and Meritocracy at Elite Universities.

The overwhelming majority of full-time professors at UT  80 percent  are white. By contrast, only 7 percent are Hispanic even as students of Hispanic ethnic origin are 23 percent of the undergraduate population and 11 percent of graduate students.

At colleges and universities where there are more Latino students than faculty, such as at UT, students are going to go disproportionately to those professors, who, in turn, are disproportionately asked to serve on committees, Warikoo said. Thats in part because of the background and cultural knowledge that they bring to campuses.

Fenves has stressed that diversity and inclusion are priorities, according to his official bio. Under Fenves, the university successfully defended its admissions practices before the U.S. Supreme Court in the 2016 Fisher vs. University of Texas at Austin case, winning and consolidating the right to use race as a valid criterion in its so-called holistic admission policies.

On HoustonChronicle.com: U.S. Supreme Court upholds UT use of race in admissions, but affirmative action remains divisive

University leaders say they want a more diverse faculty. As we explore improving faculty equity issues, we also want to seek ways to improve the supply of future Hispanic professors through graduate opportunities, said Williams, the UT spokesman.

Hispanic professors say they frequently hear the argument that there are not enough Latinos with graduate degrees to increase faculty representation.

Thats a convenient, false argument for a university like UT, Canizares-Esguerra said. He contended that this is the wealthiest institution (of higher education) in the country after Harvard, capable of attracting talented (Latino) professors from anywhere.

The equity committees analysis also found that of the 130 deans, vice deans and associate and assistant deans at UT-Austin, only 7.7 percent are Latino; none is a Hispanic woman. The underrepresentation of Latinos is a pattern observed at all levels of leadership, endowments and recognition, according to the report.

Its ironic that in this state where almost 40 percent (of residents) are Latinos, we are having these inequalities at the public state university, Gonzalez-Lopez said.

What comes next?

Among other remedial actions, the provosts office has asked UT Austin deans to review how leadership and committee roles are assigned, Williams said. And Provost Maurie McInnis recently created a group of deans to pilot new approaches to address issues of salary equity, diverse faculty recruitment and retention, departmental governance and academic unit climate.

State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, said hes contacted Fenves office and wants a meeting as soon as possible to discuss the equity report and disparities.

The report is quite compelling, particularly the disparity in pay, said Rodriguez, who is policy chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus. It seems that the University of Texas can do a much better job in incorporating more Latinos and Latinas, not only as professors but as deans and higher levels of academia.

Martinez, the equity committee chair, said the group will continue pushing for changes at the university.

I dont think these are intentional biases that are executed by individuals who consciously dislike Hispanics, he said. But whether these patterns are intentional or not, the consequences are similar. We feel excluded because we are.

olivia.tallet@chron.com

twitter.com/oliviaptallet
Bob Evans Restaurants is expanding family dinner offerings through the official rollout of the companys branded dinner value platform, Dinner Bell Plates. The new value menu consists of eight diverse entrees made with homemade, farm fresh ingredients.

The Dinner Bell Plates were carefully chosen for variety and quality of ingredients as a part of our ongoing strategy to bring even more value to our guests in new ways this year, said Saed Mohseni, chief executive officer for Bob Evans Restaurants. Our goal is to make it even easier for families to enjoy a meal together, whether theyre visiting their local Bob Evans restaurant or placing an order for pick up or delivery to enjoy at their own table.

The Dinner Bell Plates, now available at all Bob Evans restaurants for $7.99 each, honor the days when a homemade family dinner was a daily priority.

Dinner bells were traditionally used to call people working across the farm to the house for dinner, so this is a great way for us to pay homage to the hard-working roots of our founder Bob Evans and his wife, Jewell, who made family dinner a priority every night, said Bob Holtcamp, chief marketing officer for Bob Evans Restaurants. We know its become even more difficult for todays busy families to sit down at the dinner table for a homecooked meal, so were thrilled to provide our guests with eight great, farm fresh dishes that they can rely on any day of the week.

The eight Dinner Bell Plate entrees consist of guest-favorites, as well as two brand new dishes:



(NEW) Tender Fried Pork Loin: breaded, country-fried and topped with gravy, served with mashed potatoes with gravy and Bob Evans signature coleslaw.

(NEW) Lemon Pepper Sole Fillet: a wild-caught, mild white fish fillet seasoned with a blend of lemon and pepper then perfectly seared, served with a baked potato and sugar snap peas.

Smaller Portion Turkey & Dressing: a smaller serving of our iconic slow-roasted turkey and dressing, served with mashed potatoes and gravy.

Grilled Chicken Breast: a chicken breast grilled to perfection, served with mashed potatoes with gravy and fresh, buttered broccoli.

Country-Fried Steak: a down-home, country-fried steak smothered in country gravy, served with mashed potatoes with gravy and green beans with smoked ham.

Mushroom and Onion Chopped Steak: topped with sauteed mushrooms and onions and beef gravy, served with mashed potatoes with gravy and fresh, buttered broccoli.

Homestyle Boneless Fried Chicken: a crispy, boneless fried chicken breast, served with mashed potatoes with gravy and corn.

Ham Steaks: hickory-smoked ham steaks, served with mashed potatoes with gravy and fresh, buttered broccoli.

For more information about the Dinner Bell Plates or Bob Evans Restaurants, please visit BobEvans.com.

###

About Bob Evans Restaurants, LLC

Bob Evans Restaurants is a chain of family style restaurants founded and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, which owns and operates over 480 locations in 18 states, primarily in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the United States. Founder Bob Evans believed in treating strangers like friends and friends like family; and those principles are alive today at every Bob Evans Restaurant. As a private company owned by Golden Gate Capital, Bob Evans Restaurants is focused on providing quality food and hospitality to every guest at every meal, each and everyday. For more information and restaurant locations, visit BobEvans.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media Contact:

Lauren English, Fahlgren Mortine

lauren.english@fahlgren.com

614-383-1619
A man who tried to rob a small sweet shop in London at gun point has been jailed for 12 years.

Darren OShea, 45, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday having pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and another of attempted robbery.

The court heard how OShea, of no fixed address, entered a Co-op convenience store on Westhorne Avenue, Eltham, at around 9.05pm on July 13.

He threatened the shop worker with a gun and demanded money from the register, fleeing with around 300 in cash.

After the robbery, a family member of one of the stores staff members viewed recognised OShea in CCTV footage.

Just five days later, on July 18, the 45-year-old attempted to rob a small sweetshop at gunpoint, this time in Charlton.

Police seized the imitation handgun O'Shea used to commit both offences / Met Police

However, the shop assistant managed to trigger the panic button, causing him to flee the scene.

The police rushed to the scene and viewed CCTV footage, identifying OShea as the culprit for both offences.

A manhunt was launched and Flying Squad officers were able to track down the 45-year-old at an apartment close to the second attempted robbery.

He was arrested and the premises were scoured by officers. During the search, a firearm and the clothing worn by OShea for both offences was seized.

After the firearm was recovered, forensics determined that it was actually an imitation gas-powered handgun.

OShea told police he had used the firearm to steal the money and admitted committing both robberies to fund his drug addiction.

He was charged on August 19 and remanded in custody.
In a big development, Delhi's Patiala House court on Tuesday (January 7) issued a death warrant for the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case. The four convicts - Mukesh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Singh and Pawan Gupta - will be hanged at 7 am on January 22.

Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi welcomed the court's verdict and said that her struggle of seven years has finally ended. "My daughter has got justice. Execution of the four convicts will empower the women of the country. This decision will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system," she said.

"I am happy with the court's decision. The convicts will be hanged at 7 am on 22nd January. This decision will instil fear in people who commit such crimes," said Badrinath Singh, father of Nirbhaya.

This is the first time in the history of India that four death row convicts will be hanged together.

You must have seen in several Bollywood films that the jail authorities ask the last wish of death row convicts but according to jail manual it is not necessary to ask the last wish of the convict before the hanging. Talking to Zee News, former Director General of Tihar Jail Ajay Kashyap said that the tradition to ask last wish is shown only in films and it has no legal value.

The argument behind this is that the death row convict can ask for delay of hanging as last wish and it cannot be fulfilled because hanging is a judicial order which should be carried out at the decided time. But the convicts who are to be hanged are allowed to pen their will before being taken to the place where the convict will be hanged.

The issuance of death warrant means that the four convicts will now be not allowed to work inside jail and they will be kept under round-the-clock surveillance. The medical check-up of convict against whom death warrant is issued is done two times in a day. The black warrant issued by the court is sent to the jail in a red envelope and convicts and their family members are informed about the death warrant by the jail authorities. Death warrant is called Black Warrant of Form No 44 in legal parlance. The death warrant is sent to jail superintendent by the court.

Live TV

When a death row convict is made to stand on the platform meant for hanging, the hangman ties both the legs of the convict and then places the noose around the neck of the convict. Initially, the noose is kept loose and then the medical team inspects the rope. Once the medical team finishes the inspection then the hangman tightens the noose and pulls the lever of the platform on which the convict is standing.

The convict is kept hanging for around 30 minutes and when the medical team confirms that the convict is dead then the team issues the death certificate of the convict and gives it to the jail superintendent. The jail authorities then attach the death certificate with the black warrant and send it to the court.

As per the jail manual, the body of the convict is then sent to their family members in an ambulance but if the jail superintendent thinks that the handing over of the body could create law and order situation then the last rites are performed inside the jail premise. Before hanging the convict, the jailor goes to his office to check whether any order has come at the last moment to stop the hanging of the death row convict. On the day of hanging, the convicts are woken up before sunrise. The platforms on which hanging is done are designed as per the weight of the convict.

The convict is made to take bath and is given tea and breakfast before hanging. The convict is then given black cloth to wear because when the body of the convict goes down the platform after pulling of lever then the convict discharge urine and stool due to the sudden fracture of bone in the neck and this is the reason why convict is made to wear black clothes.
[January 07, 2020] Aryballe Announces New High-Volume, Low-Cost Universal Odor Sensor for Consumer Applications

Aryballe (www.aryballe.com), the pioneer in digital olfaction, today announced a new high-volume, low-cost universal odor sensor, capable of detecting any odor in near real-time. Built on a silicon photonics platform, Aryballe's new sensor is ideal for the automotive and consumer appliances industries due to its miniature enabling companies to develop innovative solutions for new consumer application challenges. Featuring the same sensitivity as Aryballe's NeOse Pro, the new sensor device is smaller than a paperclip in size, more durable, and can be integrated more easily into existing smart sensor networks. This is especially important for companies developing smart home appliances as consumers more frequently demand a more seamless experience in the smart home. The automotive industry is also experiencing a fundamental shift as the shared economy trend continues to gain momentum, and all aspects of consumer interaction and experience with cars have become important. Integrating Aryballe's new sensor device into vehicles will enable fleet providers and vehicle manufacturers to continuously assess the impact of smell in a car to prevent a negative customer experience. In fact, Hyundai Motor Company has already teamed up with Aryballe to use its sensors to better inform drivers of the interior conditions of their vehicles after investing in the company earlier this year. International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) has also invested in the company, both in January 2019 and in the company's most recent funding round in July, to refine and further develop the applications of Aryballe's technology in the food, fragrance, cosmetics and other industries.



"Aryballe has been a leader in digital olfaction since our founding with a commitment to delivering products that enable our customers to make smarter and more informed business decisions," said Sam Guillaume, CEO, Aryballe. "We dramatically reduced the size and cost of our newest device to further provide companies in consumer-facing industries with options they never had before. Now, our customers benefit from a much wider range of potential use cases, all of which improve the user experience as well as their bottom line." The new device is equipped with a silicon photonics biosensor, making it vibration resistant and less sensitive to outside influences. The sensor is functionalized with Aryballe's proprietary combination of biosensors, which capture unique odor signatures in mere seconds. Once captured, Aryballe's software then interprets those signatures based on a database of previously collected and analyzed odors, effectively mimicking the human sense of smell.

The new device will be available later this year, with the first samples shipping in Q2 2020. Aryballe will be showcasing the device at CES (News - Alert) 2020 from January 7-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Attendees are invited to visit Suite 30-102 in the Venetian Hotel to further explore each of Aryballe's products and their use cases. Please also visit the Aryballe website or contact us for more information. About Aryballe

Based in Grenoble, France, Aryballe combines biochemistry, advanced optics and machine learning to mimic the human sense of smell. Founded in 2014, Aryballe released its first product, the digital nose NeOse Pro, in early 2018. Fast, portable and sensitive to hundreds of odors, NeOse Pro captures odor signatures for display and analysis via software solutions that enable better decision making for R&D, quality control, manufacturing and end user experiences. With operations in France and the USA, Aryballe works with global leaders in automotive, consumer appliances and flavor & fragrances. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005524/en/

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MULTAN, Pakistan - Pakistans air force said one if its aircraft crashed during training Tuesday in the eastern Punjab province, killing the two pilots.

The FT-7 jet trainer went down in an open area and caused no damage on the ground, the air force statement said.

It said an investigation had been opened to determine the cause of the crash, which took place near the district of Mianwali, 300 kilometres (186.41 miles) from the city of Lahore.

Pakistani authorities rarely release details of military training crashes, which are relatively common.

Last July, 19 people died when a Pakistani military aircraft crashed into a residential area on the outskirts of the garrison city of Rawalpindi, most of them in their homes.

Pakistans air force has been on high alert since last February, when India launched airstrikes inside Pakistan. The strikes targeted Pakistan-based militants responsible for a suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian troops in Indian-administered portion of Kashmir.

At the time, Pakistan retaliated and shot down two Indian air force planes. One Indian pilot was captured and later released. But tensions have continued to remain high between the two nuclear-armed neighbours over the disputed Kashmir region, which is divided between them and claimed by both in its entirety.

Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir after gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Moon said on Tuesday he regretted the lack of progress in negotiations with North Korea, but vowed to keep trying to talk to the reclusive leader in Pyongyang. Cooperation programmes between the neighbours have stalled amid rising tension with North Korea, which has blocked further public denuclearisation talks with the United States and threatened a harder line unless Washington offered concessions. In his annual New Year's speech in Seoul, Moon said he was 'desperate' for practical ways to improve ties, called for new talks between the two sides, and vowed to keep up work to facilitate U.S.-North Korea talks.

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Moon said on Tuesday he regretted the lack of progress in negotiations with North Korea, but vowed to keep trying to talk to the reclusive leader in Pyongyang.

Cooperation programmes between the neighbours have stalled amid rising tension with North Korea, which has blocked further public denuclearisation talks with the United States and threatened a harder line unless Washington offered concessions.

In his annual New Year's speech in Seoul, Moon said he was "desperate" for practical ways to improve ties, called for new talks between the two sides, and vowed to keep up work to facilitate U.S.-North Korea talks.

(Reporting by Josh Smith and Sangmi Cha; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Lombard, IL, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pinnacle Dermatology, a leader in population skin health management, has acquired Academic Dermatology in Edina, Minnesota. The acquisition of Academic Dermatology is a further demonstration of Pinnacle Dermatologys commitment to serving the Twin Cities market with high quality, patient-centered dermatologic care.

I want to personally welcome the patients and staff of Academic Dermatology to the Pinnacle Dermatology network of practices, said Chad A. Eckes, CEO, Pinnacle Dermatology. We entered Minnesota with our first acquisition one year ago and were happy to have expanded our presence there to 8 locations with the acquisition of Academic Dermatology. The Twin Cities area of Minnesota is a key strategic market for our business, and we look forward to continuing to grow there. Were excited to partner with Doctor Whitney D. Tope and Doctor Dawn H. Tope at Academic Dermatology to further serve the residents of this area through population skin health management and excellent dermatologic care. Were confident that our model of providing shared services to practices while allowing for local physician autonomy will build value for Academic Dermatology and the patients and community it serves.

"I am excited to partner with Pinnacle Dermatology. As any medical practice owner knows, running such a business is increasingly challenging, largely due to time consuming back office operations. I became a physician to provide excellent health care to patients," said Whitney Tope, MD. "Our partnership will allow us to direct even more of our time to patient care," said Dawn Tope, DNP. "I believe this partnership will enhance patient experiences and help us continue to deliver the best outcomes for our patients and our community."

This integration is yet another step in Pinnacle Dermatologys strategy to build a strong, multi-site dermatology practice operating in multiple geographic markets. Pinnacle provides a preeminent patient experience in comprehensive and compassionate skin care and has expanded services throughout the region with offices whose values and standard practices are aligned with this mission. Pinnacle Dermatology is committed to providing responsive and passionate patient care, including patient education and population skin health management.

Pinnacle Dermatology will continue serving the patients of Academic Dermatology at its current location. Medical insurance coverage will remain the same. To schedule an appointment, call Academic Dermatology at 952.746.6090.

About Pinnacle Dermatology, LLC

Pinnacle Dermatology is proud to be a place where extraordinary things happen. Our physicians, clinic staff members and corporate employees all work together to help our patients get and keep healthy skin, hair and nails in every clinic, every day. If you are looking for extraordinary medical and cosmetic dermatology services, let us show you what is possible. www.pinnacleskin.com
07.01.2020 LISTEN

Around the globe, there are many national awareness days in any given month. Many of these bring awareness to health concerns and important issues.

However, some are official or unofficial days probably declared by the bored, irked or goofy, I assume. Some celebrations are silly, some weird, and some ridiculous. Many revolve around glorifying food. Some are bizarre, some unique, and some funny.

Heres a solution to the problem of how to celebrate all these days. Lets group the days together and acknowledge them on the same day of the month to save energy and sanity.

The following days are given kudos in January: Spaghetti Day, Squirrel Appreciation Day, Peanut Butter Day, and Shortbread Day. Why not celebrate by eating spaghetti with a squirrel or eating a squirrel with spaghetti? Dessert can be peanut butter slathered on short bread. Yummy! Any objections.

The following days are given attention in February: Do A Grouch a Favor Day, Tortellini Day, Almond Day, World Thinking Day. The favor is the forgoing of throwing almonds and a bowl of pasta at the grouch. Think about it.

The following days are given esteem in March: Umbrella Month, Potato Chip Day, Napping Day, Old Stuff Day. Try to eat potato chips while holding an umbrellasounds like a new Olympic sport. Im getting older and need more napsso Ill celebrate these holidays.

The following days are noticed in April: Stress Awareness Day, Mathematics and Statistics Day, DNA Day in the USA. Oh, lets all be more aware of our stressthen we can stress out more. Focusing on math and DNA will take our minds off of stress or not.

The following days are given observance in May: Zombie Awareness Month, National Twilight Zone Day. Find a zombie in the Twilight Zone and say, Thank you for your service. But please dont eat me.

The following days are applauded in June: Hug Your Cat Day, National Catfish Day. What a coincidence that Hug Your Cat Day and Catfish Day land in the month of June. Heres an idea. Hug the cat and the fish, then let the cat eat the fish. Its a win-win.

The following days are commended in July: International Kissing Day, Cow Appreciation Day, Sugar Cookie Day. Yes, Im going to say the obvious. Kiss a cow while nibbling a cookie.

The following days are regarded in August: National Thrift Shop Day, Wiggle Your Toes Day. I like thrift shops as much as the next frugal lady, so lets make it an entire month instead of just one day. For the person that created Wiggle Your Toes Day, I invite the population to send her/him some stinky socksworn at least a month for putrid smell effect.

The following days are credited in September: Fight Procrastination Day. Ill contemplate about this day and get back to you. National No Excuses DayIm too busy to care.

The following days are noted in October: National No Bra Day. Older gals need to skip this saggy daynot a pretty sight. International Day of Older Persons and Active Aging Week are both in October. Grasp! Combine them and rename to Mind Your Own Business About My Age Month and instead celebrate National Dessert Day.

The following days are saluted in November: National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day, Stay Home Because Youre Well Day. Heres what you do. Call your workplace and say, Im well. Im wont be in today. Can I still get paid? Confuse will ensue among the Human Resources staff. The director will scramble to make a new policy whereas employees cannot receive compensation for wellness when they are not sick. I call discrimination on the excluding of anchoviestheyre just looking for a little acceptance.

The following day is given a high five in December: National Bacon Day. Mmmm, bacon. A unique day of lusciousness. Brunch will never be the same after munching bacon cinnamon rolls. Salty, sweet, and swanky. Maple and bacon cupcakes for all. Party-worthy and savory. I have no beef with Bacon Day celebrations.

The fact that I writing about wacky and wild appreciation/awareness days is a sign that its winter and Im experiencing Cabin Fever. So, Ill create my own unofficial days: Husbands Clean out the Garage in Spring Month, Adult Children Finance Your Parents Way to a Tropical Island Vacation Day, Read a Book while Eating Carrot Cake with Cinnamon Tea on a Rainy Day.

Im just sayin.

Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author, columnist, educator, and therapist. She lives in US.
The committee established by the University of Ghana (UG) to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against two of its lecturers...





The committee established by the University of Ghana (UG) to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against two of its lecturers exposed in the BBC sex-for-grades documentary says the piece is misleading and sensational.





Yaw Gyampo, a professor of political science at the University of Ghana, and Paul Butakor, a lecturer at the college of education, were seen soliciting sex from students in a 13-minute video documentary released by the BBC Africa Eye in October.





Gyampo and Butakor were referred to the committee following the release of the documentary.





According to JoyOnline, a Ghanaian news medium, the six-member committee exonerated the lecturers, saying there was no evidence that the lecturers breached the universitys policy on sexual harassment.

In its report, the committee said the evidence had a huge variance between the title of the documentary and the content of the actual video recording.





The committee said it does not find any prima facie evidence that satisfies the ingredients of sexual misconduct as stated by the universitys code of conduct for senior members.





The title of the documentary Sex for Grades is misleading and sensational, the committee said in the report.





The Committee finds that the totality of the evidence before it, there is a huge variance between the import title Sex for Grades and the content of the actual video recording of the affected lecturers of the University of Ghana.





The committee said under paragraphs 10.1, 12.1 and 12.4 of the code of conduct of senior members of the University of Ghana and the anti-sexual harassment and misconduct policy of the university, the victims of the sexual misconduct must be a member of the university.





Consequently, the committee notes that, in the absence of any evidence that Zara Abigail  the BBC undercover journalists  are students or members of the University of Ghana, the provisions of paragraphs 10.1, 12.1 and 12.4 of the Code of Conduct of Senior Members of the University of Ghana and the Anti-Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy of the University cannot be triggered against the affected lecturers, it said.





However, the committee said after examining the available evidence, it found credible evidence of misconduct against Gyampo and Butakor contrary to paragraph 6.4 of the code of conduct of senior members of the university.





The paragraph stipulates that Academic staff shall at all times comport themselves in ways that will enhance their image and that of the University, it said.





In addition, the committee also finds credible evidence of misconduct against Prof Gyampo contrary to Statute 42(1)(e) (i) of the University Statutes which states that no member of the University shall (e) engage in a course of vexatious conduct that is directed at one or more specific individuals, and (ii) that is known to be unwelcome.




Like I said, part of me admires the consequences-be-damned quality of Lipinskis decision to sign the brief knowing it would energize his opponents not only in the district but nationwide, where abortion rights groups are raising money in an attempt to defeat him. The pragmatic approach would have been to try to downplay the issue  particularly in a year when access to abortion is in great peril from an increasingly conservative judiciary  but he took the risky stand rooted in his long-held principle.
A new nine-judge bench has been constituted by the Supreme Court to hear Sabarimala case.

The new bench constituted will be headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde.

Other judges in the bench are Justices R Banumathi, L Nageswara Rao, Ashok Bhushan, Mohan M Shantanagoudar, S Abdul Nazeer, R Subhash Reddy, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant.

Two judges, Justices RF Nariman and DY Chandrachud who ruled in favour of women's entry in Sabarimala case aren't part of the new bench and the woman judge, Justice Indu Malhotra who ruled against women's entry, is also not part of the new bench either.

In 2018, the five-judge bench of the top court had allowed women of all ages to enter Kerala's, Sabarimala Temple. The order came under stiff opposition from various groups who later sought a review of the verdict.

Acting on the numerous petitions, in November this year, the Supreme Court referred the issue to a larger, nine-judge bench.

The bench will re-examine other religious issues, including the entry of women into mosques, the practice of female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra community and also Parsi women married to non-Parsi men being barred from the holy fire temple.

The nine-judge bench will hear the case on January 13.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MONTREAL, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imperial Mining Group Ltd. ("Imperial") (TSX VENTURE: IPG) is pleased to announce that geophysical and geological data compilation for the Opawica Gold project has been completed and has identified important gold targets for a 1,500-m diamond drilling program during the Winter 2020 period.



The drilling will follow-up on areas of historical drilling from the Central Zone target area which returned up to 6.9 g/t gold (Au) over 3.8 m and 87.7 g/t Au over 1.5 m. The Central Zone has never been drill-tested below the 125 m vertical level and is open along strike and at depth.

The 100%-owned Opawica gold property is located 20 km east of Desmaraisville and is accessible via Highway 113 from Val d'Or to Chibougamau, Quebec, and by a network of forestry roads (Figure 1).

GROUND MAGNETIC GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY

During Fall 2019, a GPS-positioned ground magnetic survey was completed on the property over the grid in which the OreVision Induced Polarization (IP) survey (see Press Release: November 7, 2018) was previously carried out by Abitibi Geophysics. This new ground magnetic survey was performed by Abitibi Geophysics of Val dOr, QC and a total of 68-km was completed by a two-men crew on October 20th, 2019.

Results of this survey provide more precise definition of the gold bearing structures on the property. The NE-trending deformation corridor can be traced for over 2.2 km and two highly magnetic features are identified within this corridor. From the magnetometer data, magnetic lows were identified in the western and eastern parts of the study grid, interpreted to be related to gold mineralization alteration zones. Interestingly, some of these interpreted magnetic features, within the deformation corridor, coincide with highly anomalous IP axis interpreted from the previous OreVision IP survey.

3D GEOLOGICAL MODEL

The 3D geological model was completed by Geologica Group Conseil of Val dOr, QC in November 2019. All previous boreholes were compiled with an emphasis on the modelling of the quartz-carbonate veins, gold-related sulphide mineralization and the various alteration zone types described in the historical drillhole records.

This model was focused on the Central Gold Zone, characterized in historical drilling as a 75-150 m wide deformation and alteration corridor consisting of several shear zones with strong, pervasive carbonate, sericite, and fuchsite alteration. The mineralization is characterized as fine-grained disseminated pyrite and quartz veinlets with gold and silver and occasional visible gold (VG). Results of the new model shows that the mineralization and quartz veins and veinlets might have a shallower dip to the north then previously interpreted. The model was developed by machine learning techniques, taking in consideration of favourable geology, structure, alteration intensity and presence of anomalous gold. This work led to the identification of two significant target areas in a Heat Map: the known Central Gold Zone and a new target area to the west, the New West Zone (see Figure 2).

WINTER 2020 DIAMOND DRILL PROGRAM

Imperial Mining Group plans to initiate a 1,500 m diamond drill program in early January 2020. The drilling contractor for the program will be Orbite Garant of Val dOr, Quebec. All analytical work will be undertaken by AGAT Laboratories, also of Val dOr. Between 4 to 6 diamond drill holes will be completed during this phase of drilling.

Drilling will be carried out on the two areas identified from Imperials modeling efforts. These targets were also defined by using an automatic predictive method known as CET Grid Analysis. This method highlights the zones of high, gold-favourable structural complexity using lineaments automatically mapped within the total magnetic field reduced to pole as well as favourable geology and geochemistry. The program is anticipated to be completed by mid-February 2020.

QUALIFIED PERSON

The technical content in this press release was provided and certified by Pierre Guay, P. Geo., Imperial's Vice-President, Exploration, and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

ABOUT IMPERIAL MINING GROUP LTD.

Imperial is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focussed on the advancement of its copper-zinc, gold and technology metals properties in Quebec. Imperial is publicly listed on the TSX Venture Exchange as IPG and is led by an experienced team of mineral exploration and development professionals with a strong track record of mineral deposit discovery in numerous metal commodities.

For further information please contact:

Peter J. Cashin

President and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: +1 (514) 360-0571

Email: info@imperialmgp.com CHF Capital Markets

Cathy Hume, CEO

Phone: +1 (416) 868-1079 x231

Email: cathy@chfir.com

Website: www.imperialmgp.com ; Twitter: @imperial_mining ; Facebook: Imperial Mining Group

This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to the Companys operations or to its business environment. Such statements are based on the Companys operations, estimates, forecasts, and projections, but are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict or control. Several factors could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed. These factors include those set forth in the corporate filings. Although any such forward-looking statements are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot guarantee that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. In addition, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, for any reason. We also do not commit in any way to guarantee that we will continue reporting on items or issues that arise. Investors are cautioned that this press release contains quoted historical exploration results. These are derived from filed assessment reports and compiled from governmental databases. The Company and a QP have not independently verified and make no representations as to the accuracy of historical exploration results: these results should not be relied upon. Selected highlight results may not be indicative of average grades.

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.

Figure 1 is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6e37e884-ad23-46c9-99b9-ee4ade3e39cf

Figure 2 is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5aa0dbc4-fad4-4a11-9d19-954f8341f6f2
Police in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh have arrested the former director of a local branch of state-run lender Agribank for appropriating VND2.35 billion (US$101,250) from a client.

A source close to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper confirmed on Monday that the provincial Department of Police had apprehended and initiated legal proceedings against Nguyen Van Minh, 58, ex-director of Agribank branch No. 2 in Tra Vinh, for fraud and appropriation of property.

During his time in office, Minh colluded with a man named Tran Huu Tho to steal a total of VND2.35 billion ($101,250) from Do Trong Huan, representative of Dat Minh, a local company.

Tho was previously detained by police officers as part of the investigation.

Minh took advantage of his business relationship with Huan in order to execute the fraud.

On December 6, 2017, Tho took Huan to the Agribank branch where Minh was director and persuaded his business partner to transfer VND2.35 billion into a bank account owned by Phuc Thao Company, where Tho is general director.

Both Huan and Tho signed a commitment to keep the money in the bank account for 45 days as a deposit for local construction projects.

The Agribank branch No. 2 in Tra Vinh was authorized to return the money to the bank account of Huans company after the 45-day period was over.

However, Tho called Minh two days later, asking Minh to let him withdraw the VND2.35 billion without Huans knowledge.

Minh agreed on the condition that Tho would lend him VND1 billion ($43,000).

The two then proceeded with the transaction without the consensus of Huan.

After the 45-day period, both Tho and Minh failed to give Huan back his money pursuant to their previous deal.

Huan then reported the case to police officers.

Agribank, officially the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, is the countrys biggest bank by total assets, which were over VND1,282 trillion (US$52.2 billion) in 2018.

The lender targeted a pretax profit of VND10 trillion ($429 million) in 2019, but the years official figure has not been released.

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Vincent Strully, President and CEO of The New England Center for Children, with Massachusetts State Representatives Kate Hogan (D-3rd Middlesex District) All of us at NECC are honored to host these Massachusetts state legislators, said Vincent Strully, President and CEO of NECC. With the States support and the work of dedicated teachers and parents throughout Massachusetts, all of us can help transform the lives of children with special needs.

The New England Center for Children (NECC), a global leader in education and research for children with autism, announced today a successful Legislators Day on Dec. 13 in which six Massachusetts State Representatives visited NECC to learn about the unique needs of private special education schools, also known as Chapter 766 schools.

Attending the Legislators Day were State Representatives Kate Hogan (D-3rd Middlesex District), Carmine Gentile (D-13th Middlesex District), Hannah Kane (R-11th Worcester District), David Muradian, Jr. (R-9th Worcester District), Legislative Aide Ben Kaplan for Representative Carolyn Dykema (D-8th Middlesex), and Legislative Aide Danillo Sena for Senator James Eldridge (D-Middlesex and Worcester Districts).

The Representatives observed NECCs transformative teaching, research and technology for children with autism. They received a tour, met with administrators, teachers and students, and learned about the funding issues of special needs schools from Elizabeth Becker, Executive Director of The Massachusetts Association of Chapter 766 Approved Private Schools (MAAPS).

Chapter 766 schools (referring to the Massachusetts law that guarantees the educational rights of children with special needs) are private special education schools for children whose educational needs are beyond what can be offered in their local public schools. Funding is provided by the State.

"It was important to me as a lawmaker to meet with New England Center for Children (NECC) students, faculty, and staff at their Legislators Day and experience first-hand the inclusive learning environment they provide for students right here in our community, said Representative Kate Hogan (D-Stow). NECC is a steward of the Commonwealths commitment to reaching each and every student with educational excellence  working with passion and expertise to break down barriers to opportunity for exceptional learners and students living with autism.

All of us at NECC are honored to host these Massachusetts state legislators. Special education and Chapter 766 schools must remain a priority for Massachusetts, said Vincent Strully, President and CEO of NECC. With the States support and the work of dedicated teachers and parents throughout Massachusetts, all of us can help transform the lives of children with special needs.

It is always special to have Massachusetts state legislators take the time to visit our member schools, said Elizabeth Becker, Executive Director of The Massachusetts Association of Chapter 766 Approved Private Schools (MAAPS). Meeting students and speaking with a few of the hundreds of employees about their experience at The New England Center for Children was incredibly meaningful. NECC has not only changed thousands of lives, it has changed the entire field of education around autism spectrum disorder. Massachusetts is lucky to be the founding site for this special school.

The legislators also learned about NECCs graduate-level teacher training program, which educates tomorrows teachers in best practices that will benefit students in Massachusetts classrooms and beyond. NECC also partners with public schools in Massachusetts to provide classrooms that apply behavioral principles that mirror the structure and support often found only in private school settings. NECC consultants work with public schools to design effective solutions to improve student progress and increase independence.

About The New England Center for Children

The New England Center for Children (NECC) is an award-winning autism education center and research institute. Our community of teachers, researchers, and clinicians have transformed the lives of thousands of children with autism worldwide through education, research, and technology. The Center provides comprehensive services to maximize independence: home-based, day, and residential programs, partner classrooms in public school systems, consulting services, the ACE ABA Software System (http://www.acenecc.org), teacher professional development, and research on educational best practices.

NECC is committed to staff professional development, partnering with local colleges to provide on-site graduate training and degrees at little to no cost to the NECC teacher. The result is a growing pool of exceptional teachers trained in best-in-class methodologies, whether they continue their careers at NECC or move on to public schools or private agencies. The New England Center for Children is based in Southborough, MA, and operates a center in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Learn more at http://www.necc.org.


A Kenyan pastor, on Sunday, stabbed his wife to death and then slit his own throat in front of the congregation. Elijah Misiko, an...





A Kenyan pastor, on Sunday, stabbed his wife to death and then slit his own throat in front of the congregation.





Elijah Misiko, an assistant pastor with the Ground for Gods Gospel Church in Mombasa, reportedly left his front row seat, approached his wife, Ann Mughoi, who is also a senior pastor, on the pulpit and stabbed her with one of the knives hed hidden in an envelope .





Julius Kiragu, Mombasa sub-county police commander, confirmed the incident saying investigations were underway.





The police said they found a 17-page suicide note on Misiko where he accused his wife of changing ownership of the church to her name, despite being founded by both of them.

He walked up to his wife while the church was praying as if he wanted to whisper something to her, Kiragu said.





Then he took one of the knives and stabbed her two times. He believed she was dead. He then stabbed himself three times in the stomach and slit his throat.





Misiko was said to have died instantly from his stab wounds while his wife died at a local hospital a few hours later.





According to Kiragu, the couple, who had four children, had been engaged in a feud over the ownership and leadership of the church.





The were said to have been living apart since the dispute started.





In 2017, Misiko was reportedly detained by the police in Mombasa after his wife alleged that he planned to kill her but was released the following day after the force said they found the accusations untrue.





She had been trying to stay away from the husband since the dispute over the ownership of the church began, Kiragu said.





They had even reported the matter to church leaders but they were unable to resolve the dispute.





The bodies of the deceased had since been moved to the mortuary.




Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said there are no plans to pull troops out of Iraq (Evan Vucci/AP)

Senior Pentagon leaders have said the US has no plans to withdraw troops from Iraq, despite a draft letter from a senior military officer that appeared to suggest plans for withdrawal were under way.

The denial comes as Iraq urged the UN Security Council to condemn the air strike that killed Irans top military commander as a flagrant violation of the terms of the American forces presence in the country.

General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters the US is moving forces around Iraq and neighbouring Kuwait.

He said a draft letter circulated internally by a US Marine commander was a poorly written honest mistake that should never have got out.

Expand Close Protesters demonstrate outside the US Embassy in London (Gareth Fuller/PA) / Facebook

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The draft letter appeared to suggest the US was preparing to pull troops out of Iraq in response to a vote by the Iraqi parliament over the weekend.

The draft said troops would be repositioning over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement, and warned of an increase in helicopter travel around the Green Zone in Baghdad. It added: We respect your sovereignty decision to order our departure.

Gen Milley and defence secretary Mark Esper said the US has been repositioning troops, largely due to increased security threats from Iran. The letter was meant to co-ordinate with the Iraqi military on an increase in US helicopter and troop movements as they shift positions around the country.

Theres been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq, Mr Esper said. Theres no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave.

Gen Milley acknowledged that some language in the letter implies withdrawal, but that is not what is happening.

The long and the short of it is, its an honest mistake, he said, adding that he had just got off the phone with the US commander in the Middle East, who explained the effort.

Expand Close Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to chair an upcoming meeting of the UN Security Council (Stefan Rousseau/PA) / Facebook

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Iraqs UN ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr Aluloom issued a letter to the security council on Monday, calling the air strike a dangerous escalation that might ignite a devastating war in Iraq, the region and the world.

He also urged the council to hold accountable those who have committed such violations.

Mr Esper said the US remains committed to the campaign to defeat the so-called Islamic State group in Iraq and the wider region.

Any Security Council action sought by Iraq against the Trump administration, however, is virtually certain to be vetoed by the US.
The United States last night said it was moving troops out of Baghdad at the request of the Iraqi government.

An official letter said the US-led task force was preparing for "onward movement" over "the coming days and weeks", in what was seen as a conciliatory step following the assassination of Iran's most senior general by drone strike in the Iraqi capital last week.

It comes as the UK warned the killing of Qasem Soleimani had opened the "biggest ever cracks" in the Western alliance, after Downing Street rebuked Donald Trump over his threats against Tehran.

The US letter to the Iraqi authorities followed a vote in Iraq's parliament to expel Western forces.

Initially there were questions over whether the troop movements were the start of a full withdrawal.

However, Mark Esper, the US defence secretary, said Washington had no plans to pull its 5,000 troops out of Iraq, adding that such an interpretation of the letter was "inconsistent with policy at this time".

"There has been no decision to leave Iraq. Period," he added.

A coalition source said the "onward movement" in the letter referred to the relocation of hundreds of troops from the Green Zone to less "hot" areas.

Expand Close Mourned: Iranian military leader General Qasem Soleimani. Photo: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mourned: Iranian military leader General Qasem Soleimani. Photo: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP

The letter, signed by the commanding general of the US-led military coalition against Isil and delivered to Iraqi officials, said: "We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure."

"Sir, in deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi parliament and the prime minister, [the US joint task force] will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement," the letter stated.

But Mr Esper said the United States was still committed to countering Isil in Iraq, alongside America's allies and partners.

The letter was delivered to Iraqi officials as Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept in grief with huge crowds of mourners in Tehran at Soleimani's funeral.

Iran's demand for US forces to withdraw from the region gained traction on Sunday when Iraq's parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling for all foreign troops to leave the country.

Iraqi caretaker prime minister Abdel Abdul Mahdi told the US ambassador to Baghdad yesterday that both nations needed to implement the resolution.

Earlier, US president Donald Trump warned Iraq he would levy punishing sanctions if it expelled American troops in retaliation for the Baghdad air-strike which killed Solemaini.

Mr Trump said the US would not leave without being paid for its military investments in Iraq over the years - then said if the troops do have to withdraw, he would hit Baghdad with economic penalties.

"We will charge them sanctions like they've never seen before ever. It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame," he said.

"We're not leaving until they pay us back for it."

Mr Trump last night continued to insist Iranian cultural sites were legitimate targets for US military strikes, despite international prohibitions.

"They're allowed to kill our people. They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way," he said.
Naturally, Breitbart, founded in Israel and thoroughly Zionist in tone, is an enthusiastic supporter of assassination and serial violations of international law.

Nancy Pelosi to Introduce Resolution Implying Pre-emptive Surrender to Iran. https://t.co/YL8O15h2X0 She needs to be removed as Speaker, post haste  Jack Blaine (@JackBlaine3) January 6, 2020

By declaring the attack provocative and disproportionate,  [Pelosis war powers] resolution also invites international prosecution of the president, as well as members of the administration and the military itself, who carry out his orders. The U.S. does not recognize the authority of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute Americans for war crimes, but the ICC takes a different view, and a future Democratic administration might well side with the ICC instead.

As it should be. Trump and his gaggle of war criminals must be removed from office and prosecuted, same as Slobodan Milosevic was prosecuted (the crisis in Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo were small brushfires compared to what the neocons and fellow traveling Democrats have done in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, and much of Africa).

Breitbart, Infowars, The Gateway Pundit, and the rest of the alt-right (for lack of a better term), including conservatives such as Sean Hannity and the blonde bimbo lineup at Fox News, are responsible for effusive propaganda depicting Iran as a terrorist pariah state and encouraging military action against it (arguably in the name of Israel for its regional ambitions, that is to say splintering the Arab and Muslim world into balkanized failed states rife with religious and political tension, thus no longer a threat to the racist settler state of Israel and unable to effectively support the Palestinians).

These folks are responsible for motivating witless millions to vote for the washed up reality TV star and renowned loudmouth, narcissist, and geopolitical ignoramus Donald Trump. They are responsible for allowing Trump to violate international law on numerous occasions, most notoriously and brutally the drone killing of Iranian General Qasem Suleimani.

Im not seeing headlines condemning this brazen assassinationa side project of Israels long-running assassination of Palestinian activistson the pages of Breitbart and Infowars.

Breitbart:

Pelosis letter begins with the declaration that President Donald Trumps airstrike last week targeting Iranian General Qasem Suleimani, leader of the terrorist Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC) Quds Force, responsible for the murders of hundreds of Americans and for recent attacks on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, was provocative and disproportionate, terms suggesting the attack was illegal under international law and could constitute a war crime.

Breitbart, ideologically aligned with Bibi Netanyahu and the Likud fanatics, routinely calls the IGRC terrorist, while ignoring the crimes of the US and the Zionist statecrimes that are truly terroristic (killing over in million in Iraq, half a million or more in Syria, 30,000 in Libya, and an undetermined number in Afghanistan).





Dim-witted WH counselor Kellyanne Conway has defended Trumps decisionreiterated this weekto bomb cultural sites in Iran, which the intellectually challenged Conway believes are military sites.

He didnt say hes targeting cultural sites. He said that he was openly asking the question why in the world theyre allowed to maim people, put out roadside bombs, kill our people, torture our people  he said that they identified 52 sites, said Conway (the first syllable of her last name is apropos).

President Trump threatened to target Irans cultural sites. But military attacks against cultural sites are against international law and the U.S. has condemned the Islamic State for similar destruction. https://t.co/8HwLSldSjA  The New York Times (@nytimes) January 6, 2020

This is almost a joke. Here we have the NYT lambasting Trump for saying he will target ancient Sumerian ruins and monumentssame as Wahabbi fanatics blowing up Buddha statues in the Bamiyan valleywhile the newspaper of (propaganda) record previously shucked and jived in favor of killing a million and a half Iraqis. Few seemed to care when the US pockmarked a 4,000-year-old ziggurat in the Iraqi city of Ur with shrapnel. An ancient Babylonian site paid an extremely high price after the US used the site as military headquarters for 5 months, according to the Global Policy Forum.

Coalition military operations have seriously damaged historic sites, landmark buildings and old city neighborhoods. They have had an especially harsh impact on old neighborhoods, including much of the central area of the holy city of Najaf , destroyed in a confrontation of Coalition forces with Mahdi Army irregulars in August, 2004. Coalition bombardment destroyed 65 mosques in the attack on Falluja in November 2004, while Coalition aerial and ground attacks have reduced old buildings to rubble in Tal Afar, Ramadi, Samarra and a number of other cities. In some cases, Coalition forces have caused serious, irreversible damage to important archeological sites. The US military built bases on the sites of ancient Babylon and Ur . At Babylon , construction crews used heavy earth-moving equipment as they built a helicopter landing pad, installed fuel tanks and concrete walls, and dug a dozen deep trenches. They brought in tons of gravel to make parking lots for military vehicles, next to a Greek theatre built for Alexander of Macedon. Polish troops camped at Babylon (known as Camp Alpha ) from September 2003 to January 2005. Dr. John Curtis, Keeper of the British Museum s Near East Department, issued a scathing report on the overall damage. He found military fortification sandbags shoveled full of archaeological material from the site, including shards, bones, and ancient bricks. Parts of ancient buildings had collapsed. International scholars and Iraqi leaders pled with US commanders, but the camp was not vacated until January 15, 2005 . The Polish government later apologized for its complicity.

Destruction of cultural sites, inadvertent or otherwise, is part of the overall strategy to rollback Arab and Muslim culture and influence in its own neighborhood. However, the US military concentrated on destroying the very fabric of Iraqi civil life, bombing hospitals, schools, water and waste facilities, and agricultural production, to name a few. It has done the same in Syria and Libya.

Now its Irans turn. Iran is the Big Kahuna, the prized target of neocons controlling Trumpthrough his orthodox Jewish son-in-lawwho take their lead from psychopaths in Israel responsible for ordering the mass murder and torture of not only Palestinians, but Lebanese and Syrians as well (while simultaneously assassinating Iranian scientists).

Trump should realize that if he in fact does bomb dozens of cultural landmarksPasargadae, Bisotun, the Sassanian cities in Fars, Gonbad-e Qabus, etc.he can expect the possibility of retaliation, most likely on US landmarks and heritage sites. Independence Hall in Philadelphia comes to mind, as does Monticello, and the Statue of (sic) Liberty.

Unlike the divided and ineffectual Iraqis following the US invasion in 2003, the Iranians will take Trumps war to the American homeland. If the mullahs and Iranian leadership decide there is no other viable response to the destruction of their country than striking deep inside the United States, they will do this with a vengeanceand they surely wont stop with a suicide bombing of the Liberty Bell (which we no longer need because liberty is now an antiquity run over by tank treads).
The Bethlehem Parking Authority is forging ahead with plans for a 593-space parking deck at Third and Polk streets although the garage is projected to cost $2.6 million more than first estimated.

Slated for a high-profile Southside Bethlehem corner, the parking garage is seen as a crucial component of the ongoing resurgence of East Third Street, but the number of parking spaces has remained in flux for months as the authority negotiated parking space lease contracts and bid a portion of the project.

Once estimated to cost $16.8 million, costs have grown due to the competitive construction climate in the Lehigh Valley, but the authority says financial projections show it can still afford the more costly garage. The authority initially rejected its first round of bids for the garage when they came in $2.5 million over estimates and rebid the project.

At minimum, the deck was expected to have 470 parking spaces with a 30-space parking lot. The authority plans to exercise a bid alternative that grows the deck to 593 spaces by adding one-and-a-half floors to the garage, according to a memo authority Interim Executive Director Steven Fernstrom sent to Bethlehem City Council.

The cost increase is due to the increase in spaces and market cost. The BPA went out to bid on the precast twice, Fernstrom said Monday. The first bids came in over budget, so the BPA rejected all bids and went back out to bid again. The second bid also came in above budget but lower than the first bid.

In the future, the authority still could add another 159 spaces by building garage space over the parking lot. Construction is expected to begin in October of this year and wrap up in the fall of 2021, later than initially anticipated.

In order to not waste prime real estate along one of the citys fastest changing corridors, the authority has selected Peron Development and J.G. Petrucci Co. to construct a five-story building to front the parking garage. It will include 32-luxury apartments on the top floors and a Factory LLC retail store on the first floor.

Built atop land the authority bought from Las Vegas Sands Corp. for $2.1 million, the deck will connect to Northampton Community Colleges adjacent Fowler Center via a pedestrian bridge. The authority has lease agreements with NCC for 300 spaces in the garage; 45 spots with Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts and 35 spaces with the neighboring Factory LLC. Peron committed to another 32 spaces, but the sale is not yet complete.

Back in August, the board authorized the issuances of up to a $25 million private bank loan to fund the project. The authority has secured $2.5 million in state Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program grants and plans to take out a private loan to cover the balance of the project cost.

The parking authority system will be able to shoulder the debt of another garage, in part, because starting in 2021 it will stop paying the city $450,000 of its annual revenues. This is timed to coincide with the expiration of the Southside tax increment financing district covering former Bethlehem Steel Corp. land.

The authoritys board has authorized Chairman Joe Hoffmeier to sign off on all of the projects contract.

The precast bid is going to the lowest bidder and it will be awarded when contracts are signed within the next 30 days, Fernstrom said. The authority plans to put the trades contracts out to bid Jan. 13 with responses due back in a month.

The parking authority inherited the Polk Street project from the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority and the mayor has long touted it as a top priority.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Inside, Guaido managed to preside over a session in which lawmakers passed a resolution denouncing the illegal takeover of the chamber on Sunday, when a legislator the opposition claims was bribed by Maduros government was sworn in as the bodys new president. On Tuesday, the opposition lawmakers ratified Guaidos new term as the chambers chief and swore him in. That title forms the constitutional basis of his claim  made one year ago this month  to be the nations true interim leader. The opposition argues that Maduro is illegitimate because his reelection in 2018 happened in a vote internationally condemned as fraudulent.
Mayor of Babessi Council The Eye Newspaper

The Mayor of Babessi council in Ngoketunjia Division of the North West, Choh Issa Bouba has been kidnapped along with some councillors of his municipality.

The incident which occurred on Sunday January 5, was only pronounced this day, as many see it as an attempt to disrupt upcoming municipal and legislative elections.

Reports say he was kidnapped under the instructions of an armed separatists locally called "General Man Pass Man of Babessi Restoration Forces".

This is not the first time the mayor and other councillors of the municipality have been kidnapped. In a recent kidnapping, he was tortured by his abductors.

Despite attempts to stop his kidnappers from taking him in Mambim, suspected armed forces took him and further sources say he is still in captivity.

One of the elites of Babessi, Momoh Dero said all attempts to reach him are futile.

" When I learned of his kidnap, I tried reaching out to him on phone to no avail..For now, the community has turned to God for his release", said the elite.

This incident comes at a time when neighbouring villages in Ngoketunjia subdivision are rising against what they termed excesses of armed separatists.

Mayor Choh is from the ruling Cameroon People Democratic Movement (CPDM) party, and some members of his community have been expressing worry about his current predicament. In some cases, hopes are high that he will be returned safely to his family, following previous attempts.
Indian Institute of Ahmedabad Director Errol D'Souza has condemned the violence in JNU, dubbing it as a "very low point" in the country's post Independence history.

He said a university stands for tolerance, dialogue and an "agreement to disagree", and violence violates the foundations of a civilization.

Violence broke out in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus.

"A university stands for tolerance, dialogue and an agreement to disagree. Violence is anathema to the idea of a university and violates the foundations of a civilization" D'Souza said in a tweet late Monday night.

"The incidents yesterday (Sunday) on the JNU campus are a very low point in our post independence history," the IIMA director added.

Earlier on Monday, over 100 college students, activists and citizens held a peaceful protest outside the IIMA to denounce the violence on the JNU campus.

Students from various prominent institutes, including the IIMA, Cept University, Ahmedabad University, National Institute of Fashion Technology, National Institute of Design and Gujarat Vidyapith, took part in the protest by standing in a row on a footpath outside the top business school here.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020 19:55 734 48be62e941b44f04afae568c32141e3a 1 Politics Susilo-Bambang-Yudhoyono,SBY,Iran-US,tension,crisis Free

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has called on world leaders to do something to defuse tensions in the Middle East following the recent killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, fearing it could trigger a conflict that would significantly impact the current world order.

In a public statement dated Jan. 6, SBY shared his concern regarding the current state of the world following the political unrest and protests that dominated last years headlines. Of particular interest to him was the chain of events that ultimately led to the death of Soleimani on Jan. 3  an event that SBY feared could endanger the lives of hundreds of millions of people living in Iran and the rest of the world.

Personally, I am not among those who immediately believe that the crisis in the Middle East will lead to an all-out war, let alone another World War. But I do have a right to be concerned and call on world leaders to do something [about the crisis], he wrote in the statement.

Its too dangerous to leave the fate of the world, especially the lives of over 600 million of our brothers and sisters who live in that region, in the hands of politicians and generals in the United States, Iran and Iraq.

SBY said that every world leader should feel obligated to prevent any future "strategic miscalculation", given that similar miscalculations were responsible for kicking off the two World Wars.

Wars could easily happen under erratic and warlike leaders. Right now, history is testing President [Donald] Trump and [Iranian President] Hassan Rouhani  whether or not they will be remembered as erratic and warlike leaders, he wrote.

The US announced on Friday that it had killed the top Iranian general  the commander of the Iranian Quds Forces  in a strike on Baghdad's international airport, in which the deputy chief of Iraq's powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force was also killed.

AFP reported that the US had launched another air strike in Iraq on Saturday.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi summoned Iranian Ambassador to Indonesia Mohammad Azad on Monday evening and later US Ambassador Joseph R. Donovan Jr. to raise concerns about the situation between the two countries. (rfa)
The latest developments came as a sea of black-clad mourners paid homage on Monday in Tehran to Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force killed Friday in a US drone strike in Baghdad.

Baghdad: The US military on Monday told the Iraqi government that American troops were preparing to pull out of the country but a top US general in Washington said the message was sent by "mistake".

It came after a deadly American drone strike on Baghdad on Friday that killed senior Iranian and Iraqi military commanders, sparking fury in both countries with Tehran vowing "revenge".

The head of the US military's Task Force Iraq, Brigadier General William Seely, informed his Iraqi counterparts in a letter dated Sunday that troops were preparing to leave.

"We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure," said the letter, whose authenticity was confirmed to AFP by both Iraqi and US defence officials.

Seely said the US-led coalition would "be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks".

"In order to conduct this task, Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner," said the letter.

It said helicopters would be travelling in and around Baghdad's Green Zone where the US embassy is located as part of the preparations.

AFP could hear helicopters flying low over Baghdad throughout the night on Monday. But Pentagon Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley said on Monday the letter was a mere "draft" and "should not have been sent".

"This was a mistake," Milley told reporters. "It was a mistake, an honest mistake, a draft unsigned letter, because we are moving forces around," he said.

"It shouldn't have been sent," Milley said.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said the letter was "inconsistent" with Washington's position, denying there has been a decision to leave Iraq.

The latest developments came as a sea of black-clad mourners paid homage on Monday in Tehran to Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force killed Friday in a US drone strike in Baghdad.

Following his death along with Iraqi military figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Iraqi lawmakers on Sunday urged the government to oust all foreign troops from Iraqi soil.

Some 5,200 US soldiers are stationed across Iraqi bases to support local troops preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State group. They make up the bulk of a broader coalition, invited by the Iraqi government in 2014 to help combat the jihadists.

On Monday, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei fought back tears as mourners flooded the streets around Tehran University to honour Soleimani.

The targeted killing of the 62-year-old Soleimani ordered by US President Donald Trump saw Iran vow "severe revenge" and step back even further from the already tattered 2015 nuclear accord with world powers.

In an escalating war of words that has heightened international concern and rattled financial markets, Trump threatened yet more "major retaliation" if Tehran hits back, including strikes on Iranian cultural sites.

Writing in all-caps on Monday, Trump tweeted: "IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!"

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned Iran must avoid "further violence and provocations" after the alliance held emergency talks in Brussels on the crisis.

"At our meeting today, allies called for restraint and de-escalation. A new conflict would be in no-one's interest," he said.

The European Union, whose foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on the crisis Friday, said it was in both Iran and Iraq's interests to "take the path of sobriety and not the path of escalation".

Saudi Arabia  an oil-rich US ally seen as vulnerable to Iranian counter strikes  also appealed for calm after a "very dangerous" escalation.

The EU's diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said he "deeply regrets" Iran's latest step back from the nuclear deal.

The agreement had offered Tehran relief from sanctions in return for curbs to prevent it acquiring nuclear weapons  but Trump's withdrawal from it in 2018 dramatically weakened the agreement.

Despite its latest step, Iran insisted it will continue to fully cooperate with the UN agency overseeing its atomic programme.

The emotions sparked by the killing of Soleimani were on full display in Tehran, where mourners formed a sea of black, dotted with red Shiite flags and white signs, in what state television said was a "several million-strong" turnout.

"The last time I remember such a crowd was at Ayatollah Khomeini's funeral 30 years ago," said Iranian journalist Maziar Khosravi.

As they marched down a main artery of Tehran, the mourners chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel".

Soleimani was one of Iran's most popular public figures, seen as a hero of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.

He will be laid to rest in his hometown Kerman on Tuesday next to a war veteran he used to fight alongside with.

Khamenei was flanked by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and other top political and military figures as well as the slain general's replacement as Quds commander, Esmail Qaani.

Trump on Saturday issued a US strike list of 52 targets in the Islamic republic.

"Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290. #IR655 Never threaten the Iranian nation," Rouhani tweeted, referring to 290 lives lost in July, 1988 when a US warship shot down an Iran Air plane in the Gulf.

Trump said his figure of 52 targets represented the number of Americans held hostage at the US embassy in Tehran for more than a year starting in late 1979.
Andrew Burkle, son of billionaire tycoon Ronald Burkle, has been found dead aged 27 at his home in Beverly Hills just days after celebrating Christmas with his family.

Andrew, a producer, was confirmed dead by his family on Monday after police were called about an 'unconscious male on the 100 block of Spalding Drive' at 7.36pm.

Father Ron, worth $1.5billlion, is the founder of investment firm Yucaipa, co-owner of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins and was also a big donor to Bill and Hillary Clinton.

In a statement to People, the family said: 'It is with the deepest regret and sadness that we announce the death of Andrew C. Burkle on January 6, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California.

Andrew Burkle, son of billionaire tycoon Ronald Burkle, has been found dead aged 27 at his home in Beverly Hills on Monday. Ron Burkle pictured with his son Andrew at the LACMA's 50th Anniversary gala in 2015

Billionaire Ronald Burkle (centre) with his sons Andrew (right) and John (left) celebrating the Pittsburgh Penguins victory in the Stanley Cup in June 11, 2017 in Nashville. Ron Burkle is a co-owner of the team

Police were called about an 'unconscious male on the 100 block of Spalding Drive' at 7.36pm Monday

'He is deeply loved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed. Andrew was known as a young man full of life and entrepreneurial energy. Everyone he met commented on his humble demeanor and hard work.'

The statement did not include the cause or details of Andrew's death.

'While the family appreciates the outpouring of love and support, they ask that the privacy of the family be respected during this difficult time. There are no further details at this time,' the statement added.

Andrew, the youngest of three siblings, is survived by father Ron, mother Janet Steeper, sister Carrie Anne Harr and brother John Burkle.

Ron, 66, had a bitter divorce from Janet in 2006 which revealed the extent of the family's wealth.

His ex-wife stated in a 2003 divorce filing: 'For the vast majority of our marriage - the last 20 of our 28-year marriage - my husband and I lived among the most lavish of American lifestyles.'

In one of the filings Janet said the couple had six homes, a Yucaipa ranch, a Laguna Beach estate, an oceanfront mansion in La Jolla, the renowned Greenacres mansion in Beverly Hills, and two properties in Palm Springs, the Los Angeles Times reported.

She added, 'at Greenacres alone, we had (at the same time) two Porsches, one Ferrari, two Mercedes, and two hybrid electric-gasoline-powered cars.'

Andrew, the youngest of three siblings, is survived by father Ron, mother Janet Steeper, sister Carrie Anne Harr and brother John Burkle. The family did not reveal the cause or details of Andrew's death

Andrew pictured above in a post on his now-private Instagram. On Father's Day he shared on his father: 'It's hard to find words to describe my dad but here goes. He is one of the smartest people in the world, he's kind, loving, and incredibly generous'

Andrew was a producer with Good Company Films in Los Angeles, which he ran with his partner Andrew Alter. In 2019 he helped produce Airplane Mode and The Juiceman. He also appeared in a small role on screen in the 1998 movie Breakfast with Einstein, according to his IMDb page

Andrew pictured right with his Good Films Company partner Andrew Alter

In 2003 she tried to get a restraining order against Ronald, which was denied, accusing him of spying on her and Andrew.

She also described how Ron owned a private Boeing 757 jet and a helicopter.

The former she said was used by Ron to fly himself and their youngest son Andrew, then around ten-years-old, with the Clintons to South Africa for Nelson Mandela's birthday party in 2003.

Bill Clinton, a close friend of Burkle, called his private jet 'Ron Air'.

A source told People that Andrew is believed to have died early on Monday but was not found until that evening. His father Ron rushed to the scene and was present with police at the scene by evening.

Brothers: Andrew's brother shared this picture of the two of them spending Andrew's birthday on a race track on December 2

Andrew's mother Janet Duitsman, formerly Janet Steeper, pictured left. Andrew's brother John Burkle pictured right with his son

It comes after Andrew shared heartfelt pictures with his family over the Christmas holidays on his now-private Instagram, sharing one beaming photo with a young girl believed to be a relative.

The caption said: 'Merry Christmas from me and the munchkin! 2nd year of this photo, definitely a tradition now.'

In another Instagram snap from December 2, he celebrated his birthday at the same time as his brother John. John shared a snap of their celebration racing cars on a track with the caption: 'Sometimes we slide cars around tracks and try to look really cool doing it. Great way to celebrate my bro's birthday.'

Andrew Burkle, Ron Burkle and Mike Shinoda attend Relief Live at L.A. River Studios on November 14, 2015 in Los Angeles, California

Ronald W. Burkle (right) with Barack Obama after the President welcomed the Penguins to the White House to honor the team on their 2016 Stanley Cup victory

On Father's Day last year Andrew posted a photo with Ron and John with the Stanley Cup after it was won by the Penguins the year before.

'It's hard to find words to describe my dad,' Andrew wrote, 'but here goes. He is one of the smartest people in the world, he's kind, loving, and incredibly generous.'

During Bill Clintons presidency, Ron Burkle was a key fundraiser and the two became close friends. Burkle donated heavily to Hillary's 2008 campaign

'For these of you that know him you already know what Im speaking about. And for these of you that dont, I hope you will have somebody in your life that has had the identical affect in your life as he has on mine. I wouldnt be the person Im right now with out his steerage and Ill all the time cherish that,' he added.

Andrew was a producer with In Good Company Films in Los Angeles, which he ran with his partner Andrew Alter.

In 2019 he helped produce Airplane Mode and The Juiceman. He also appeared in a small role on screen in the 1998 movie Breakfast with Einstein.
No animal lover will ever forget the contributions of Steve Irwin to the animal world and his family is continuing his legacy. The Australian wildfires are bringing down hell for the wildlife in the country and the Irwin family is involved in saving the lives of helpless animals.

In an Instagram post, Irwin's 21-year old daughter, Bindi Irwin revealed that their family's Wildlife Hospital has treated and saved 90,000 animals, a lot of which were injured during the Australian wildfires. Bindi's brother, Robert Irwin posted a picture of Olli who is an orphaned platypus and informed the world that he is their hospital's patient number 90,000.

Instagram/RobertIrwinPhotography

Given how dedicated the Irwin family is towards saving and conserving animals, Bindi also confirmed that their hospital is free from any wildfires and their conservation properties are absolutely safe. She mentioned that their hospital is witnessing a "busier than ever" phase and they're working hard towards saving each and every animal that is being treated there. She added,

"My parents dedicated our Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital to my beautiful grandmother. We will continue to honour her by being Wildlife Warriors and saving as many lives as we can."

Instagram/BindiSuIrwin

The Australian wildfires have been raging since September 2019 and have claimed the lives of over half a billion animals till now.



Steve Irwin passed away after being stung by a stingray in 2006 but his family continued his dreams and today, both his son and daughter are dedicating their lives in conserving the animal community, especially the wildlife.


The murder trial against the man accused in the brazen 2018 stabbing of Nia Wilson at an Oakland BART station officially began Monday, in a case that sparked a national outcry amid speculation that the crime was racially motivated.

John Lee Cowell, 29, is charged with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder for the July 22, 2018, knife attack that left 18-year-old Wilson dead on the MacArthur BART Station platform and her sister, Letifah Wilson, grievously injured with a wound to her neck.

Cowell could face life in prison if convicted. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.

While a Monday hearing in Oakland formally initiated trial proceedings, it likely will be weeks before arguments or testimony are presented to a jury.

The trial comes after months of legal proceedings over Cowells mental competency to assist in his own defense.

The criminal case was put on pause in December 2018 after defense attorney Christina Moore said her client suffered extreme delusion and extreme paranoia. A medical report last year restarted Cowells criminal proceedings, after the doctor found Cowell was fit to stand trial.

Cowell has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Disheveled Cowell, dressed in red jail garb, sat silently in the courtroom next to Moore as Alameda County Superior Court Judge Allan D. Hymer ticked off dates for upcoming hearings, one of which will decide whether the trial should be held in Alameda County at all.

Late last month, Cowells attorneys filed a motion for a change of venue, arguing that it would be impossible for him to receive a fair trial with an Alameda County jury.

As details of Wilsons slaying emerged, approximately 1,000 people took to the streets of Oakland, gathering for marches, vigils and rallies over what many perceived as a hate crime. The Wilson sisters are black, and Cowell is white.

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.

Media coverage was far-reaching, with politicians and celebrities including Anne Hathaway, Reese Witherspoon and Regina King weighing in on the cases racial undertones.

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, the motion states.

Defense attorneys cited a recent study of potential Alameda County jurors, showing that 55% of the 470 people polled said they believed Cowell was definitely guilty or probably guilty of murder.

Hymer will hear arguments on the motion to change venue on Jan. 13, and said he anticipates having the first jury panel in his courtroom on Jan. 15.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
A stranger who grabbed a teenage girl in the dark had his head smashed in by her stepfather.

Amos Carpenter, 40, clad in a hoodie, grabbed the 17-year-old and pulled her towards him after she got out of her car in Noosa, Queensland, in last September.

After the young girl pushed Carpenter away from her and started to scream, her stepfather ran out of the house and began knocking him on the head with a metal pole.

Carpenter pleaded guilty to common assault on Tuesday at Noosa Magistrates Court.

Amos Carpenter grabbed a 17-year-old girl outside her home in Noosa last September (file image)

Defence lawyer Joshua Bradbury told the court Carpenter had been hit multiple times on his head.

'He was then struck a number of times, struck to the back of the head,' defence lawyer Joshua Bradbury said, The Courier Mail reported

'[He] took matters into his own hands.'

Mr Bradbury said Carpenter had drank a bottle of spirits before the incident in which he 'copped a flogging' from her father.

Carpenter went to hospital after a neighbour called an ambulance and received 13 stitches to his forehead.

Mr Bradbury said he had metal fragments left in his head.

Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin said it was unclear what Carpenter had planned to do to the teenager who he said would have been 'terrified'.

Mr McLaughlin said he sentenced the man on the basis he had no 'sinister intention'.

'It's chilling isn't it, we don't really know what your intention was,' he said.

Carpenter had been on a disability pension for two years.

The 40-year-old was fined $600 and did not have a conviction recorded.
HOUSTON, Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Four astronaut candidates with ties to Colorado, including two that call Colorado home, will be honored as part of the first class of astronaut candidates to graduate under the Artemis program Friday, Jan. 10, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

After completing more than two years of basic training, these candidates will become eligible for spaceflight, including assignments to the International Space Station (ISS), Artemis missions to the Moon, and ultimately, missions to Mars.

The ceremony will air live at 10:30 a.m. EST on NASA Television and the agency's website. The new graduates also will be available for in-person and remote media interviews following the ceremony.

The class includes 11 NASA candidates, as well as two Canadian Space Agency (CSA) candidates, selected in 2017. The NASA candidates were chosen from a record-setting pool of more than 18,000 applicants. The CSA candidates have been training alongside their NASA classmates.

To participate, Colorado media must submit requests for credentials and interviews to Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. Those following the briefing on social media may ask questions using #AskNASA.

Matthew Dominick, a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, was born and raised in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of San Diego and a master's degree in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. Dominick was at sea on the USS Ronald Reagan, serving as department head for Strike Fighter Squadron 115, when he got the call saying he'd been selected as an astronaut candidate.

Jessica Watkins was born in Gaithersburg, Maryland and now calls Lafayette, Colorado home. She graduated from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, with a bachelor's degree in geological and environmental sciences, then went on to earn a doctorate in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Watkins has worked at NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology, where she collaborated on NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity.

Raja Chari, a U.S. Air Force colonel, hails from Cedar Falls, Iowa. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado with bachelor's degrees in astronautical engineering and engineering science. He continued on to earn a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and also graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Chari served as the commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and the director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Dr. Francisco "Frank" Rubio , a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, was born in Los Angeles and now calls Miami home. He earned a bachelor's degree in international relations at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and a doctorate of medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland. Rubio has accumulated more than 1,100 hours as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot, including 600 hours of combat and imminent danger time. He was serving as a surgeon for the 3rd Battalion of the Army's 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Carson, Colorado, before coming to NASA.

All astronaut candidates have completed training in spacewalking, robotics, ISS systems, T-38 jet proficiency, and Russian language. At the ceremony, each candidate will receive an astronaut pin, marking their graduation from basic training and their eligibility to be selected to fly in space.

As astronauts, they'll help develop spacecraft, support the teams currently in space and ultimately, have the opportunity to join the ranks of only about 500 people who have had the honor of going into space. NASA continues its work aboard the space station, which is preparing to mark the 20th consecutive year of humans living onboard in November 2020. The agency also is on the verge of launching Americans from American soil aboard commercial spacecraft and is preparing to send humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis program.

Find additional photos of the astronaut candidates and their training here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/albums/72157698260056092

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


All told, the ACH130 Aston Martin Edition comes with a range of four exterior and interior designs created specifically by Aston Martin. The ACH130 Aston Martin Edition is already available on request and deliveries are expected to start in the first quarter of 2020. No word yet on how much one costs, but be advised that a standard Airbus ACH130 starts at $3.3 million.

Aston Martin is ringing in the new year with its first product launch, except its not really an official Aston Martin creation. Its called the ACH130 Aston Martin Edition, and its the first fruit in what is expected to be a long and lasting partnership between the British luxury car maker and Airbus Corporate Helicopters. Yes, the ACH130 is not a car, but, rather, a luxury private helicopter thats been dressed from cockpit to tail rotor with all the luxury goodness that weve come to expect from Aston Martin.

The First Fruit of a New Partnership

It wasnt that long ago  December 9, 2019, in fact  that Aston Martin and Airbus Corporate Headquarters teased the start of a new partnership that would merge the automotive and aeronautic worlds, creating a series of new products in the process.

Last months teaser came with the promise of the first product launching sometime in the early part of the first quarter of 2020. But even our best-laid expectations didnt think that the launch would actually happen six days into the new year.

Not that were complaining.

The Airbus ACH130 Aston Martin Edition is a jaw-dropper. Theres no other way to describe it.

The design is peerless in its details and Aston Martins involvement adds a layer of class, refinement, and luxury that only the British automaker can provide.

More importantly, if the ACH130 Aston Martin Edition is the start of a long collaboration that would give birth to more products of this ilk in the future, then sign us up for all of those. Were ready for whats to come. That also includes the AMB 001, the motorcycle Aston Martin co-created with Brough Superior.

The Airbus ACH130 Aston Martin Edition in Detail

Where do we even begin here? I suppose we can start by saying that the overall design of the Airbus ACH130 remains unchanged.

Aston Martin had no involvement in the development of the seven-seater helicopter thats most often used for charter operators, emergency medical services, or sightseeing services. Thats all-Airbus, all the way.

Aston Martins involvement revolves around jazzing up the aesthetics of the ACH130, and thats exactly what the British automaker did when it designed and created four exterior color combinations for the chopper to go with a fully embellished interior that looks just like a typical Aston Martin interior.

The ACH130 Aston Martin Edition thats seen in the press photos wears a Stirling Green shade that ever-so-subtly fades into a Jet Black color underneath. Skyfall Silver cowlings serve as perfect accents to the specific color combination. If this particular color isnt to your liking, you can opt for the other three available exterior color combinations, including Xenon Grey, Arizona, and Ultramarine Black. The three liveries feature unique design treatments in the vein of the Sterling Green-to-Jet Black color transition. In other words, youre going to have a hard time picking among these four liveries. Other exterior details, at least the important ones, include a unique serial number, suffixed with Aston Martin Lagondas initials, on the rear cowling.

As fanciful as the choppers exterior is, the ACH130 Aston Martin Editions interior is where youll see Aston Martins influence in full bloom.

The seats, for example, are profiled to reflect the seats youll normally see in an Aston Martin Vanquish or DB11. Theyre even dressed in some of the automakers go-to leather options. Care for Oxford Tan-dressed seats on your ACH130 chopper? How about Ivory leather seats or Cormorant seats? Pure Black is an option, too, should you choose to go down that path.

In typical Aston Martin fashion, the ACH130 AMs interior also comes with enough high-class details to make you not want to leave the cockpit. Brogue detailing  you can see this in the Aston Martin DB11  decorates the strip of Pure Black ultra-suede material that runs down the center of the front seatbacks. The material is only interrupted by hand-crafted leather satchels that are affixed to the lower portions of the seats. Aston Martins iconic wings logo is also prominently displayed in the cockpit while a special commemorative plaque with the edition number of a particular ACH130 AM is present in the helicopters instrument panel.

When Aston Martin and Airbus decided to launch this partnership, not a lot of people had high expectations of what kind of products that two could come up with. Part of that is not knowing what to expect from the collaboration. But now that the first product is out, its safe to say that a lot of them didnt set the bar high enough.

This bird can fly

Needless to say, the Airbus ACH130 Aston Martin Edition is one fast bird.

The chopper gets its power from an Arriel 2D jet engine producing a whopping 925 shaft horsepower at take-off. The ACH130 can cruise at 134 knots  thats 154 mph  and has enough fuel to go about four hours in the air before it needs to refuel.

The French turboshaft engine is considered one of the most popular aeronautic engines in the market so its no surprise that the Airbus ACH130 is equipped with one. In fact, the Arriel 2D engine, which powers most H125 and H130 helicopters, has logged more than 1 million flight hours since it was introduced in the market in 2011. Its not necessarily new by 2020 standards, but it remains one of the most reliable helicopter engines in the market today.

Youll need some serious dough to buy one

Helicopters are not unlike exotic cars. Theyre fast, awesome, and theyre more or less showcases of wealth and opulence. Theyre also ridiculously expensive, and the Airbus ACH130 is no different. Granted, neither Airbus nor Aston Martin has announced pricing details for the ACH130 Aston Martin Edition, but we do know that the standard ACH130s price tag starts at $3.3 million. Considering Aston Martins involvement in this special edition chopper, the price of this limited-run helicopter will probably fetch in excess of $4 million.
When it comes to human rights there is much relief leaving the turbulent 2010s behind. But we face enormous challenges in the decade ahead. Here are eight ways that Canada can champion human rights in the 2020s.

First step is to adopt overdue legislation making the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Canadas framework for rights and reconciliation. And to show we truly mean it: address mercury poisoning at Grassy Narrows First Nation, halt construction of the Site C dam in NE British Columbia and redress years of discrimination against First Nations children.

Second, the final report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls has been released. Now is time to create a National Action Plan to End Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People, harmonized with a wider National Action Plan to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence.

Third, across the globe, refugees face increasing hostility when they seek safety. Disgracefully, Canada restricts access to protection in Canada for refugees who fear the perils of Donald Trumps assault on the rights of refugees and migrants. Lifting the Canada/US Safe Third Country Agreement would show the world that we embrace the fundamentals of refugee protection.

Fourth, we are beginning to shake off the smug denial that racism is a concern in Canada. We need to move from anguished hand-wringing to meaningful action. Governments across the country should work to address racism in policing, beginning with consistent laws to ban carding and random street checks.

Fifth, naming the first Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise last April may help address human rights abuses by Canadian mining and other companies when they operate abroad. But that will remain an empty gesture unless the federal government grants her office the powers to conduct effective investigations.

Sixth, Canada has been legally bound to uphold the UN Arms Trade Treaty since September. That means it is more essential than ever to cancel the deal to sell $15 billion worth of armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia, at a time when that countrys military is responsible for extensive war crimes in Yemen.

Seventh, one vital way for Canada to show genuine human rights commitment is consistency in how we respond to concerns around the world. It is of course vital to speak out about Iran, Venezuela and North Korea. But there must be the same resolve with respect to grave concerns in Israel, Colombia and China.

And finally, what of the global climate crisis, likely the most serious human rights challenge the world faces? Are we doing enough? Not even close. This decade must begin by prioritizing more ambitious nation-wide action to reduce Canadas carbon emissions. Without it, all other human rights struggles are for naught.

The bottom line? Canada cannot afford to be casual about human rights in the 2020s. This is the decade for human rights to come out on top.

Alex Neve is secretary general at Amnesty International Canada.

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Three Capes Winter Top Ten: Wild at Oceanside, Pacific City, N. Oregon Coast

Published 01/06/2020 at 1:05 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Tillamook, Oregon)  Every winter, its a new, crazy scene along the north coasts Three Cape Tour, where Oceanside, Tierra Del Mar, Neskowin and Pacific City meet with the Tillamook Bay and Garibaldi. Weird beaches that chat with you, ancient objects popping up, holiday train rides and fun little secrets abound.

Here are the top ten reasons to hang out along the Three Capes Tour and Tillamook Bay in winter.





Talking Rocks at Bayocean, Oceanside. Theyre nicknamed Magic Rocks beaches, actually because of the first beach to get that name, up by Oswald West State Park and Arch Cape. Essentially, the large, rounded stones here make a funky chattering, clicking noise as the ocean disturbs them. Its more prominent at Bayocean (the village of Cape Meares) than Oceanside, but it can happen there. Its really only found in winter in these spots.





Ghost Forests. Winter scours out lots of sand  some years more than others  and this can bring ghost forests into the light, often 3,000 to 4,000 years old. Those at Neskowin are present year-round, but the rarer ones of Cape Lookout State Park and McPhillips Beach (immediately north of Cape Kiwanda) are freaky looking and well, simply more interesting. These are rarely seen, however  not every winter.

Storm Watching. So much of the Three Capes Route is a gem for wave watching: anything with a good rocky area causes waves to explode. At Cape Kiwanda, really big storms can cause waves to tower and climb from the outer edge to slam onto the inland side. Oceanside is not safe at all during large storms, but excellent to watch from the parking lot as the point gives birth to monsters. Looking down on nearby Short Beach is good too, and Cape Meares can show off true titans coming in towards the shore (but its not a place you want to be in high wind situations).

Three Capes Relay Every February. On February 29 in 2020, theres the Three Capes Relay. From Cape Meares to Cape Kiwanda, you can watch people running solo or in teams of two to five through the beautiful scenery of the entire Three Capes. It starts off at Cape Meares and ends in Pacific City. This one-day race helps to support the three legs of the Ultimook non-profit organization; Tillamook Distance Project, Ultimook Running Camp, and Ultimook Track Club. Cape Meares, Oregon. www.yourlittlebeachtown.com.

Pacific City Lodging Secrets. Need to hide from the rain with a great view of the storm? See Pacific Citys Inn at Cape Kiwanda (503 965 7001, www.InnAtCapeKiwanda.com) and Headlands Lodge and Spa (503-483-3000, Website here) for front row seats to the tidal madness and a lot of pampering. Looking for glamping in the wild winds? Harts Camp (503 965 7006, Hart's Camp Website) is luxury in the great outdoors, inside restored vintage camping trailers.

Down the road, at off-the-beaten-path Tierra Del Mar, Idyllic Beach Houses (503-662-5420, www.IdyllicBeachHouse.com) features two stunning and charming vacation rentals just steps from the beach. Listen in awe as the winds whip through the thick forest around you. Further north, at the Sand Lake area, Sandlake Country Inn (www.sandlakecountryinn.com 877-726-3525) is a warmth-inducing bit of history packed in a BnB: parts of the wood were made from a shipwreck about 100 years ago.

February Mini Spring. A little known secret about the Oregon coast is the peculiar warming trend that can happen fairly often in February  in many years, but not all of them, that is. Blues skies and temps around 60 can be found dotted throughout the month, and it's often much warmer than inland. See more at Oregon Coast Weather Secrets.

Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. As winter really kicks in, not much happens with these ancient and charming old choo-choos until spring. But the holidays do feature some warmth-inducing events. The Candy Cane Express boasts Santa and the Mrs. on a steam-powered excursion from Garibaldi to Rockaway Beach, including goodies like hot cocoa and cookies. The Rockaway Beach Lighting Train takes you to the lighting festival with  again  lots of holiday treats. See the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad for dates and schedules each winter.





Cape Meares Lighthouse. This old beauty is always worth a gander no matter the weather. At only 38 feet its the Oregon coasts shortest lighthouse, but the cape itself is 2000 feet high, making it actually the tallest on these shores.

Excuse Me, Your Bedrock is Showing. Winter sand levels can drop to a phenomenally low height and more than just ghost forests show up. At McPhillips Beach, just north of Pacific City, 18 million-year-old bedrock can emerge, revealing all sorts of weird cracks and cragginess. The same thing can occur at Cape Lookout State Park, where it appears to be more basalt than anything. Lots of agates can pop up around Oceanside during these events as well.

Holiday Lights. All of Tillamook County gets quite lit up for Christmas, in the sparkling bulb way, that is. From Neskowin and Pacific City up to Wheeler and Manzanita, everyone puts on a big show. One of the highlights is the giant G above Tillamook Bay in Garibaldi all decked out.

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The wiring issue came to light after the Federal Aviation Administration asked Boeing to audit key systems on the Max after two crashes in which new software and faulty sensors were implicated. During that review of changes Boeing is making to the plane, Boeing discovered that bundles of electrical wiring were too close together and  at least in theory  raised the potential for a short circuit that could cause pilots to lose control of the plane.
GRANBY, Que. - A 38-year-old Quebec man appeared in court Tuesday on charges of inciting hatred and advocating genocide in connection with racist and homophobic posts on a social media account.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/1/2020 (734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GRANBY, Que. - A 38-year-old Quebec man appeared in court Tuesday on charges of inciting hatred and advocating genocide in connection with racist and homophobic posts on a social media account.

A judge ordered that Valentin Auclair of Granby, Que., be sent for a psychiatric evaluation to determine his fitness to stand trial, and he is due back in court Jan. 13.

Auclair faces two charges of inciting hatred against an identifiable group and one charge of advocating genocide. The charges relate to communications between July 30 and Aug. 10, 2019 and between Nov. 4, 2019 and Jan. 5, 2020.

Granby police spokeswoman Caroline Garand said police began an investigation after receiving a complaint Sunday from a Montreal resident about a local man's posts on VK, a Russian social media site.

A junior college philosophy professor who has previously written about the far right was the first to expose the posts, writing about them on his blog Sunday, and on Monday an article appeared in the local newspaper La Voix de l'Est.

The suspect was arrested that evening at his home in the town, about 85 kilometres southeast of Montreal.

The posts in question include alleged hate speech against Muslims, Jews, blacks and homosexuals as well as several posts promoting Aryan supremacy.

There were also messages praising the murderers behind the attacks on Montreal's Ecole polytechnique in 1989 and the Quebec City mosque in 2017.

After his writings were brought to light, the author of the posts took to the site to say he was a victim of slander and that his right to freedom of speech was being trampled.

Garand says the man is not someone previously known to the police.

David Ouellette, research and public affairs director for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs in Quebec, said the centre contacted authorities on Monday after seeing academic Xavier Camus' blog post denouncing the online hatred.

Ouellette said he personally reviewed the VK publications and was "really taken aback by the breadth and scope and sheer intensity of his hatred of Jews, Arabs, Muslims, Latino, blacks, you name it."

He said the writing is particularly troubling in the current international context of violent anti-Semitic attacks. "This is the kind of threatening language that should be taken very seriously," he said.

The charge of advocating genocide carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, while the maximum for inciting hatred is two years.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2020.
In all those long months of Brexit negotiations and debate, Europe and the United Kingdom generally agreed on one thing: Their security partnership was too important to be dragged into the maw of Brexit politics. The U.S. assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, and the threat of "nightmare" retaliations from Tehran, will test both that principle and the limits of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's relationship with President Donald Trump.

According to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, the U.K. learned of the drone killing at the same time as the rest of us. Whatever was said when Johnson finally spoke with Trump in the aftermath, you can bet it didn't resemble Ronald Reagan's conversation with Margaret Thatcher in 1983 after the U.S. invaded Grenada, a Commonwealth country.

When Reagan sheepishly called the prime minister to explain why she wasn't given advance warning, he opened the conversation with his trademark charm: "If I were there Margaret, I would throw my hat in the door before I came in." Thatcher listened, a little icily, as Reagan went on: "I'm sorry for any embarrassment we caused you, but please understand it was just our fear of our own weakness over here with regard to secrecy."

He was also thinking, he assured her, of the broader goal of building democracy after the military action; he didn't want the "taint of big, old Uncle Sam trying to impose a government." Thatcher ended the call, reminding him that she had to face a "tricky" Parliament debate. "Go get 'em. Eat 'em alive," were Reagan's words of encouragement.

We live in very different times. The targeted killing of a major Iranian figure on Iraqi soil is quite unlike the invasion of a small Commonwealth outpost. Certainly, Trump and Johnson aren't bound together as their predecessors were at the height of the Cold War.

Yet Britain has lost blood and treasure fighting wars with America in the Middle East and has assets and people there who are at risk. It might have been offered a little notice, especially given the potential for escalation and the fact that in any wider conflagration the U.S. would expect, and even depend on, British support.

Johnson's cautious response to the Soleimani assassination speaks volumes about Britain's room for maneuver and its changing ties to both Europe and the U.S. After an initial silence, he issued two statements. The first, on his own, said Britain wouldn't lament the Iranian's demise, but called for a "de-escalation from all sides."

A separate statement, together with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, didn't even mention the killing, but urged Iran to "reverse all measures inconsistent with" the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and called on Iraq to continue to cooperate in the war against Islamic State.

Britain has walked a fine line on Iran, where it has diplomatic ties and a long and complex historical relationship. It has tried to balance constructive engagement (Europe's priority) with strict containment (Trump's imperative). That sort of stance works okay - but only if things don't escalate. But it's unclear whether Iran will respond rationally. If it attacks U.S. or allied interests, the U.K. will be expected to join the response.

"The problem for the U.K. now is that it doesn't want to be isolated," says Ian Bond, a former British diplomat who's director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform. "In economic terms, Boris Johnson is looking for a quick something that he can announce on trade with Trump, even if it would be meaningless and there will be a lot of problematic areas. If he offends Trump he's less likely to get it."

That's a precarious place to be, as I noted when Iranian Revolutionary Guard troops seized a U.K.-flagged tanker last year. The U.K. had been vocal in opposing the Trump decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. When the tanker got into trouble, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Britain it was on its own.

It is not the British way to chastise its closest ally publicly over a foreign policy disagreement, though Downing Street did issue a swift rebuff to Trump's astonishing idea that Iranian cultural sites might be targeted. That gets to the rub of the dilemma for Britain: What happens if Trump wants it to follow where it doesn't want to go?

Jack Watling, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, says Britain's balancing act is sustainable "until you get into that sort of scenario when Iranian retaliation is forcing escalation and at that point you have to decide."

If Britain did join military action, "all of those operations would be coordinated through a combined war room, and in that context the targeting process would be integrated," Watling notes. The U.K., however, has a different relationship with Iran and Iraq than its U.S. ally, and a much lower tolerance of collateral damage, as it showed during military action in Iraq and Syria.

Were it to follow Trump, there would be inevitable trans-Atlantic tensions, especially given France and Germany's long-standing preference for engaging with Iran diplomatically. It's a tension Iran is certainly aware of as well.

"Johnson will do his best to ride two horses," says the CER's Bond. "He won't want to irritate the Americans. But equally, on the substance, he is closer to the European center of gravity than he is to Donald Trump's view."

The broader question, as Watling notes in a blog post for RUSI - and the decisive one for Britain's place in the world - is whether the U.K.'s historic insistence on a rules-based international order can withstand pressure from Washington; and how much damage will be done to Britain's ties with France and Germany at a delicate moment.

Post-Brexit trade talks will present London with plenty of difficult choices between the Americans and the Europeans. Johnson will hope that an Iranian escalation doesn't do the same.

- - -

Raphael writes editorials on European politics and economics for Bloomberg Opinion.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Retired IPS officer SR Darapuri, Congress worker Sadaf Jafar and several others were released on Tuesday morning from Lucknow jail, following the bail granted to them by the district court last week. The activists were arrested during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests which had turned violent witnessing heavy stone-pelting, arson and vandalism by the protestors in Lucknow on December 19. The stir in the state capital had claimed a life and had left 35 injured including 16 cops.

Lucknow Sessions Court granted bail to Darapuri and Sadaf Jafar on January 4. After getting released, SR Darapuri accused Lucknow police of treating the anti-CAA protestors brutally He claimed that even the women were beaten up in presence of Lucknow SSP.

Taking to Twitter, to launch an attack on state police system and the BJP, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said: "Ambedkarite thinker and former IPS SR Darapuri and Congress leader Sadaf Jafar released from jail today. The UP Police could not produce evidence against them when asked by the court. By arresting innocent people and also those who are taking forward the principles laid down by Baba Saheb (Ambedkar), the BJP has shown its true face, however, lie can never win."

Additional Sessions Judge SS Pandey asked the two to furnish security of Rs 50,000 each and personal bonds of an equal amount. The court observed that the Uttar Pradesh Police failed to present any direct evidence against Jafar, Darapuri and others for their role in vandalism and arson during the protests.

However, both were allegedly arrested from the site of protests on December 19. Harjot Singh, Jafar's lawyer said that the court had granted bail on Saturday. He claimed that the police had registered a generic FIR implicating over 40 people in serious sections like 307 (attempted murder). But the police failed to fetch the relevant evidence.

The judge had reserved his orders on the bail applications of Jafar, Darapuri and the other accused on Friday, after hearing the individual pleas as well as the submissions of the government lawyer.

According to the government prosecutor Deepak Yadav, Hazratganj Police had arrested them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Section 7 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1932 and sent them to judicial custody.
RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Senator Jeremy McPike and Delegate Mike Mullin introduced the Clean Energy Choice Act so that competitive suppliers may continue to deliver renewable power to Virginia customers with strict oversight by the State Corporation Commission. This 100% renewable purchase option is currently being threatened by Dominion's pending application for an 100% renewable energy product which could shut down sales by competitive suppliers to new customers under Section 56-577 A 5 ("Section A 5") of the Virginia code. Direct Energy supports The Clean Energy Choice Act which will allow both competitive suppliers and Dominion to offer renewable products to all customers and will allow customers to more easily combine the usage of multiple locations for renewable energy, giving businesses more options for a holistic energy solution. Lastly, the SCC will be empowered to review and remove licenses of unscrupulous market participants and to provide tools to customers to help them select a licensed Competitive Service Provider.

"The Clean Energy Choice Act will protect choice and encourage renewable energy development for the benefit of the millions of customers and ratepayers across Virginia," said Senator Jeremy McPike (SD29 - Woodbridge). "If we're serious about achieving 100% clean energy in Virginia by 2050, we've got to take steps like this that enable customers to switch to clean energy."

"Virginia's energy policies should promote choice and clean energy development; but the reality is choice is limited and affordable clean energy development has not been a priority of our utilities," said Delegate Mike Mullin (HD93 - Newport News). "It's no surprise that Virginia customers of all sizes are asking the General Assembly for the ability to shop for clean energy. We should be promoting more ways to purchase clean energy, not fewer."

"Virginia energy customers, large and small, are demanding clean energy at fair prices," said Karen Schaufeld, who leads renewable energy advocacy group Powered by Facts. "The Clean Energy Choice Act includes modest but impactful improvements to existing law that will allow for the renewable retail electricity options businesses and residential consumers want."

"Clean energy is our future, and it's time to lift the restrictions that stand in the way of seeing that future realized. The Clean Energy Choice Act will expand options for individuals and large customers to shop competitively for clean energy, level the playing field between large and small providers, and create an incentive for companies to develop true carbon-free, renewable energy. In turn, Virginia will grow its clean energy economy, while reducing carbon pollution and safeguarding clean air," said Danielle Simms, Interim Political Director, Virginia League of Conservation Voters.

"The Clean Energy Choice Act will help grow Virginia's clean energy market to meet the Commonwealth's goal of 100% clean energy by 2050 by giving Virginians more options when it comes to shopping for renewable energy," said Ronald Cerniglia, Director of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs for Direct Energy. "Since September 18th, customers representing all sectors of the business community have committed to an astounding 200 MWs of 100% clean power from Direct Energy Business, demonstrating that customers want an alternative to the existing and pending products offered by the utility. We have been working alongside the Virginia legislature, regulators, and other key stakeholders for several years to create an energy market that gives customers more renewable energy choices, and the Clean Energy Choice Act is an important step towards giving Virginians a robust energy market."

In May of 2019, Dominion filed its Rider TRG proposal seeking expedited approval as a Section A 5 tariff that would eliminate renewable sales by competitive suppliers like Direct Energy to new customers, even though Dominion is proposing to charge a premium for a product that includes biomass co-fired from a coal plant and hydro power that is over [60] years old. After the SCC chose not to expedite its consideration of Rider TRG, Dominion then unilaterally halted sales of renewable supply by Direct Energy and asked the SCC to issue a declaratory judgment sanctioning its behavior based on a standard that had never been established by the SCC. In September of 2019, the SCC expeditiously rejected Dominion's declaratory judgment petition and ordered Dominion to stop blocking customer purchases of competitive renewable supply. Today, customers representing over 200 MWs of power have chosen to purchase 100% renewable power from Direct Energy Business. However, absent passage of this legislation, future sales to new customers may be eliminated if the SCC issues a final order approving the Rider TRG proposal in 2020.

"Costco Wholesale applauds the leadership of Senator McPike and Delegate Mullin on retail choice and clean energy," said Shay Reed, Buyer: Energy, Utilities & Environmental Reporting, Costco Wholesale. "With 17 warehouses and a regional office in Virginia, energy costs remain a major economic driver for Costco. The Clean Energy Choice Act provides clarity and certainty for companies like ours who are seeking to purchase reliable, clean, and affordable energy in Virginia."

About Direct Energy

Direct Energy is one of North America's largest retail providers of electricity, natural gas and energy-related services to over three million homes and business. It is part of Centrica plc (LSE: CNA), a leading international energy services and solutions provider that is founded on a 200-year heritage of serving people. Direct Energy, its subsidiaries and/or affiliates, operate in 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and 8 provinces in Canada. We are focused on satisfying the changing needs of our customers, enabling them to transition to a lower carbon future. Our aim is to reduce emissions in line with Paris goals by 2030 and develop a path to net zero by 2050. To learn more about Direct Energy, please visit www.directenergy.com.

SOURCE Direct Energy

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Syraqistan

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We cant just be in crisis response mode, said Isa Noyola, co-president of the Womens March. Yes, the world is on fire. Yes, we have an administration that is constantly attacking us  and thats all scary. But we also have to kind of ground ourselves in this moment and figure out how to make connections and grow in a way that is sustainable for the bigger fight.
Health Minister, Simon Harris, has apologised to patients and their families affected by this week's extreme overcrowding crisis in Ireland's hospitals.

For the second day in a row, 760 admitted patients were waiting for beds, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

The INMO said the number of patients without beds was more than the total bed capacity of any hospital in the State.

The worst-hit hospitals included University Hospital Limerick with 75 patients waiting, Cork University Hospital that had 47 and South Tipperary General Hospital with 44.

The INMO wrote to the minister asking for elective procedures to be cancelled in the worst affected hospitals.

Responding, Mr Harris said no politician and no trade union would decide on clinical matters. These are decisions that need to be made by doctors, he said.

Mr Harris apologised to patients and families affected by the extreme overcrowding. Nobody would ever want to see anybody in this situation, he said.

However, he did not accept that the extreme overcrowding experienced by the country's acute public hospitals could have been avoided.

General secretary of the INMO, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, said the situation requires immediate political intervention".

760 patients on trolleys means the health service is simply not functioning. The longer this level of overcrowding continues, the greater the threats to patient safety, said Ms Ni Sheaghdha.

We have written to the minister calling for action. We need to grasp the nettle and declare a major incident, cancel electives, and immediately approve recruitment for the worst-hit hospitals.

Rising trolley figures. Picture: Irish Examiner graphic

Responding, the minister said he did not think the analysis of the situation was fair and that nurses know that significant extra capacity, both in terms of beds and staff, is needed.

We're doing both, he said, pointing out that 500 more nurses are working in the Irish health services than there were in 2018.

Mr Harris has told HSE officials that any further resources they need to bring short-term relief will be provided.

He said that some of the 199 beds for hospitals to tackle the crisis opened in December. He has already pledged that all of the beds will be opened by the end of the month.

If those beds can be staffed earlier they will be opened earlier, he said.

Emergency medicine consultant at Cork University Hospital, Dr Conor Deasy, said the hospital needs 70 extra beds.

Dr Deasy, who was speaking on Virgin Media News, said they need an immediate commitment from the Government this week to fund the beds so they can staff them.

Right now, in terms of what I am seeing in the ED, I haven't witnessed the likes of that when I worked in the Third World. They are Third World conditions, he said.

Meanwhile, INMO representative, Liam Conway, said staff and patients were enduring horrendous conditions in the Mercy University Hospital's ED.
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday accused the Congress party of creating disturbances in the country over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

"10, Janpath (Sonia Gandhi's residence) is creating disturbance in the country. This (Congress) is the same party which indulges in mob lynching and once again wants to spread chaos ... BJP will not let them succeed. CAA will be implemented in the country," Chouhan told ANI.

The BJP leader asserted that everyone is bound with laws enacted by Parliament as some of the non-BJP chief ministers have said they will not implement CAA in their respective states.

Protests have erupted across the country against the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 which grants Indian citizenship to Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and 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.)
As part of the incendiary and escalating crisis surrounding the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, there has come an explanation of why the Iranian commander was actually in Baghdad when he was targeted by a US missile strike.

Iraqs prime minister revealed that he was due to be meeting the Iranian commander to discuss moves being made to ease the confrontation between Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia  the crux of so much of strife in the Middle East and beyond.

Adil Abdul-Mahdi was quite clear: I was supposed to meet him in the morning the day he was killed, he came to deliver a message from Iran in response to the message we had delivered from the Saudis to Iran.

The prime minister also disclosed that Donald Trump had called him to ask him to mediate following the attack on the US embassy in Baghdad. According to Iraqi officials contact was made with a number of militias as well as figures in Tehran. The siege of the embassy was lifted and the US president personally thanked Abdul-Mahdi for his help.

There was nothing to suggest to the Iraqis that it was unsafe for Soleimani to travel to Baghdad  quite the contrary. This suggests that Trump helped lure the Iranian commander to a place where he could be killed. It is possible that the president was unaware of the crucial role that Soleimani was playing in the attempted rapprochement with the Saudis. Or that he knew but did not care.

US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early Friday 3 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures The wreckage of the car in which general Soleimani was travelling when a targeted US airstrike struck outside Baghdad International Airport on 3 January Ahmad Al Mukhtar via Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Demonstrators burn the US and British flags during a protest in Tehran after general Soleimani was killed in a targeted airstrike by American forces Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of Donald Trump AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn Israeli and US flags as thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of general Soleimani at the hands of America EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of Donald Trump pray at an 'Evangelicals for Trump' campaign event held on the day following the killing of general Soleimani. At the event, the president praised the "flawless strike that eliminated the terrorist ringleader" AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A huge procession of mourners gather in Baghdad for the funeral of general Soleimani on 4 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani during an anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iraqis perform a mourning prayer for slain major general Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the Great Mosque of Kufa AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A billboard reading 'Death to America and Israel', installed by Iran-backed shiite armed groups at a street in Jadriyah district in Baghdad, Iraq EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him visiting the family of Soleiman KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US flag as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Feiruznia, looks to a portrait of Soleimani, as he receives condolences at the Iranian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures People make their way on the street while a screen on the wall of a cinema shows a portrait Soleimani in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Aziz Asmar, one of two Syrian painters who completed a mural following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani poses next to his creation in the rebel-held Syrian town of Dana in the northwestern province of Idlib AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A demonstration in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures An anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Mujtaba al-Husseini, the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in the holy shrine city of Najaf AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US and Israeli flags as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters demonstrate in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shi'ite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters, holding a photograph of the leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Massoud Rajavi, outside Downing Street in London PA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn a US flag in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A Syrian man offers sweets to children to mark the killing AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers attend a mourning prayer for Soleimani in Iran's capital Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti American and anti Israel slogans during a protest AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshipers chant slogans during Friday prayers Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A protest against the USA, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranians burn a US flag in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin, Germany Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol a road in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel. Following morning's killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement called for the missile strike by Israel's closest ally, to be avenged AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian women take to the streets in Tehran EPA

One may even say that it is not in the interest of a president who puts so much emphasis on American arms exports, and whose first official trip after coming to office was a weapons-selling trip to Saudi Arabia  during which he railed against Iran  to have peace break out between the Iranians and the kingdom. But that would be far too cynical a thought.

Abdul-Mahdi spoke of his disappointment that while Trump was expressing his gratitude over the mediation, he was also simultaneously planning an attack on Soleimani. That attack took place not long after the telephone call from the president.

There is also the possibility that the US military planners knew nothing about the conversations between Trump and Abdul-Mahdi, and took out Soleimani when the opportunity presented itself.

There may be credence to this, if one follows the narrative which is emerging from defence and intelligence officials in Washington: that the assassination option presented to Trump was bound to be refused, as it had been by his predecessors in the White House. And that there was a desperate scramble to track down Soleimani when, much to their shock, Trump ordered the hit.

The existence of the talks between the Saudi and the Iranians and, more importantly, the threat of impending violence, has meant reaction in Riyadh at the killing has been markedly muted.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, not a stranger to sabre rattling, has sent his younger brother, deputy defence minister Khalid bin Salman, to Washington to urge restraint.

The very real risk of the region becoming an arena for conflict has led to rare cooperation in the stand-off between the Saudi-led Gulf block and Qatar, whose foreign minister was dispatched to Tehran with a similar appeal for calm.

In Tehran, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met with Iranian president Hassan Rouhani to discuss measures to maintain the security and stability of the region, the state-run Qatar News Agency reported. While in the UAE the foreign minister, Anwar Gargash, called for rational engagement, tweeting: wisdom and balance must prevail.

 Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei weeps at Soleimani prayers

As well as being in danger of getting caught in the crossfire of a war between the US and Iran, the Arab states in the region are vulnerable to Tehrans allied militias  in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria. There is concern whether the US, after unleashing a wave of missiles, would do anything when retribution is taken on its partner countries.

The Saudis learned only too clearly last summer that one cannot always depend on American commitment, when drone and missile attacks on oil-processing facilities in the kingdom halved oil production. Trump directly blamed Iran for the attacks but there was no American military response, just as there has not been to the many attacks on the kingdom from the Houthis in Yemen.

In the light of all this Khalid al-Dakhil, a Saudi political sociologist, pointed out: Saudi Arabia and all the Gulf countries are just quiet. They dont want to antagonise the Iranians, because the situation in the region is so delicate, so divided, so sensitive, that you dont want to stir it up further.

Robert Emerson, a British security analyst, said that it was clear why caution was prevailing. You dont know whether Trump will just light the blue touchpaper and then just disappear, he said. The Arab states are right to be wary. The talk about Iran and Saudi negotiations is intriguing, further details should be emerging.

The Trump administration continues to insist that Soleimani was killed because he was about to launch an imminent terror campaign, without providing any evidence for the assertion. There is increasing scepticism about the claim and the questions are not going to go away. There are too many memories of Saddam Hussein and his non-existent WMD arsenal. The repercussions from the assassination in Baghdad will continue for a very long time.
Citigroup is making David Chubak its new head of U.S. retail banking at a critical time for the third-largest U.S. bank.

Chubak, who held largely strategic roles across the New York-based bank since joining Citigroup from McKinsey in 2013, will report directly to Anand Selva, head of the U.S. consumer banking division, according to a memo obtained by CNBC.

It's one of the first major changes after Citigroup's Jane Fraser ascended to president and head of the firm's global consumer bank in October, replacing Stephen Bird as chief of retail businesses at the bank. In fact, five years ago Fraser had a role similar to the one that Chubak is assuming now, signaling the rise of the 39-year old Chubak within the Citi organization.

The move comes at a critical time for Citigroup and CEO Michael Corbat. Recognizing that it lacked the vast branch network and cheap funding source of rivals J.P. Morgan Chase and Bank of America, last year the firm launched initiatives to raise retail deposits using digital channels and a revamped product set.

Chubak will lead retail channels including branches, wealth management, mortgage and small business, as well as risk management, according to the memo.

"David will be responsible for continuing to transform and grow these businesses while delivering bestin-class customer experiences," Fraser and Selva said in the memo. "He will focus on driving scale in retail, expanding wealth management, rethinking our branch network, accelerating digital capabilities, strengthening customer value propositions, and charting the path to growth in mortgage and small business."




UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is concerned by events in Venezuela surrounding the election of the National Assembly's president, a U.N. spokesman said in a statement on Monday.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is concerned by events in Venezuela surrounding the election of the National Assembly's president, a U.N. spokesman said in a statement on Monday.

"The Secretary-General calls on all actors to take immediate steps to lower tensions and to work towards a peaceful and sustainable solution to the political crisis," the spokesman said in a statement.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The decision by an appellate division of the New York Supreme Court granted Trumps legal teams request to have the case heard by the New York Court of Appeals. Trumps team has argued that he should not be subject to actions in state courts while he is in the White House.
TORRINGTON  Residents are invited to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Saturday at 9 a.m., at Workman Memorial AME Zion Church, 60 Brightwood Ave. Torrington.

Refreshments will be provided.

The event is sponsored by the Brotherhood of Diversity; a local mens group supporting the growth and development of youth and men in the community. Call 860-489-3287 or 860-921-8041 for more information.

The event is free; donations of non-perishable good or a free will donation are welcomed to support local food banks.

Robotics competition is Saturday

WINSTED  Gearheads, a robotics team, is hosting a robotics competition at Northwestern Regional District #7 Middle/High School, 100 Battistoni Dr., Winsted, Saturday starting at 7 a.m.

There will be 19 teams from across the state, comprised of 7th-12th graders from public/private schools and community organizations.

Nursery school holding registration

NEW HARTFORD  Bakerville Community Nursery School is now accepting registrations for the 2020-21 school year for both the 3-year-old and 4-year-old preschool programs. A discount for early registration is offered if registered by March 1.

BCNS, now entering its 54th year of operation, is a community outreach program of the Bakerville United Methodist Church, 1087 Litchfield Turnpike in New Hartford. For more information, contact the school at 860-496-1852 or bcns1967@gmail.com or on Facebook. You can also visit the website of bakervillecn.weebly.com

Kintergarteners can register

BARKHAMSTED  Parents and guardians of children living in Barkhamsted who are eligible for the 2020-21 school year are asked call the school at 860-379-2729. Children must be 5 years old by Dec. 31, 2020.

Police announce fingerprinting schedule

WINSTED  In a continuing effort to provide adequate customer service to the public, the Winchester Police Department has revised its fingerprint schedule to improve the use of this service.

The current schedule limits access to many residents in need of this service.

Starting Jan. 13, the fingerprint schedule will now be available every day of the week, at any time, dependent on availability of staff. For information, call the police department at 860-379-2721.

Bank offers free planning, strategy seminar

LAKEVILLE  Salisbury Bank has partnered with the Scoville Memorial Library and the Entrepreneurial Center of Northwest Connecticut to offer a free seminar: Taxation Planning and Strategies for Small Business Startups.

This two-part seminar will cover topics for those who are considering starting their own business, presented by Kristin Roberts, MBA, EA, ABD, of the Roberts Tax Group.

Part 1 will cover how to select the best legal entity for your business, as well as the tax and liability implications of the entity selection. The program will also include the steps needed to register a business or change its existing legal structure, and what types of taxes (beyond income tax) any business may be subject to.

Part 2 will focus on financing and organizational structure, with an introduction to financial statements analysis and why they play an important role in any business. Presenters will also discuss record keeping options and strategies, as well as an overview of banking and insurance needs for the small business.

Roberts is a qualified tax professional with more than 20 years of experience representing clients before federal and state tax agencies. She concentrates on the special tax preparation and consulting needs of s and c corporations, multi-state entities, as well as limited liability companies, partnerships, and fiduciary entities. She also assists her clients with tax audits, offers in compromise, bankruptcy, individual tax planning, payroll taxes, and amended returns.

This seminar will be held Jan. 15 and Jan. 22, 6-7:30 p.m. at Scoville Memorial Library, 38 Main St., Salisbury. Snow dates are Jan. 16 and 23.

Reservations are suggested, but not required. To reserve a spot go to salisburybank.com/seminar, or contact Genia Wilson by calling 860-453-3496, or email at evwilson@salisburybank.com; type Taxation in the subject line.

Connecticut Audubon Society receives grants from United Illuminating

The Connecticut Audubon Society has received two grants totaling $11,215, from The United Illuminating Company under Connecticuts Neighborhood Assistance Act tax credit program. The funding will be used for modifications to convert all light sources to energy efficient lighting at Connecticut Audubons Center at Fairfield and Birdcraft Museum in Fairfield, and at the Coastal Center in Milford.

United Illuminating (UI), Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG) and Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG)  all subsidiaries of AVANGRID, Inc.  distributed a total of more than $413,000 in grants to 53 organizations at a recent ceremony held at the Energize Connecticut Center in North Haven.

The grants, made possible under Connecticuts Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) Tax Credit Program, are aimed at helping nonprofit community and neighborhood organizations across the state improve energy efficiency and reduce their energy costs.

Since 2010, UI, SCG and CNG have awarded more than $3.8 million in grants through the NAA Program, which offers a corporate tax credit to encourage businesses to provide financial support to qualified local nonprofit organizations.
Washington [US], Jan 07 (ANI): Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has informed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday that he does not have the plan to run the US Senate seat in Kansas, CNN reported citing a source.



The source said that although the filing deadline for Pompeo to run for the open seat in Kansas has not passed, the secretary of state told McConnell not to wait for him and the National Republican Senatorial Committee should assume he's not running.

McConnell declined to discuss the matter with CNN as he left the Senate floor. (ANI)


Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 16:25:08|Editor: huaxia

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File photo taken on July 11, 2018 shows the Pentagon seen from an airplane over Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Iran designates U.S. Pentagon "terrorist organization" over the killing of a top Iranian military commander in a U.S. strike last week.

TEHRAN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran's parliament on Tuesday announced U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon, as "terrorist organization," official IRNA news agency reported.

"According to the vote by the Iranian lawmakers, all members of the Pentagon, the affiliated institutions and companies, and the U.S. commanders who planned and perpetrated assassination" of Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), are blacklisted, the report said.

The vote of the parliament also obliged the Iranian government to allocate 200 million euros (223 million U.S. dollars) to the IRGC's Quds Force to strengthen its defense power.

People attend a protest against the killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 3, 2020. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)

The generalities and details of the "emergency motion" were unanimously passed during an open session of the parliament on Tuesday.

On Friday, Soleimani was killed in a U.S. airstrike at Baghdad Airport.

In April 2019, Iran's Supreme National Security Council also announced U.S. Central Command forces in West Asia as "terrorist group" in retaliation for designation of the IRGC as "a foreign terrorist organization" by the United States.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on January 7, 2020

2020/01/07

Q: We understand President Maamau of Kiribati is visiting China. Chinese leaders met and held talks with him yesterday. Could you share more information? What concrete consensus have the two sides reached on growing bilateral relations?

A: In September 2019, Kiribati resumed diplomatic relations with China, making it the 180th country that have diplomatic ties with China and the 10th Pacific island nation to join China-Pacific islands cooperation. President Maamau is paying a state visit to China at the beginning of the year as agreed previously, which is also the first state visit China has received in 2020. Yesterday, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang met and held talks with him respectively. Leaders of the two sides had in-depth exchange and blueprinted development of China-Kiribati relations. Important consensus was reached in the following three aspects:

First, to deepen political mutual trust. President Maamau said, Kiribati made the major decision to resume diplomatic ties with China based on its trust and confidence in China. It will stay committed to the one-China principle. The Chinese side expressed respect for Kiribati's independent choice of its development path in keeping with national realities, and its readiness to enhance exchange at all levels to share experience in state governance. The two sides also agreed to strengthen communication and cooperation in such multilateral fora as the UN and the Pacific Islands Forum, and to jointly address challenges like climate change under the South-South cooperation framework to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Second, to expand practical cooperation. Since the resumption of diplomatic ties, China-Kiribati cooperation in various sectors has been booming with fruitful "early harvests". The MOU on Belt and Road cooperation signed during this visit will synergize BRI cooperation and the Kiribati 20-year Vision (KV20), supporting and planning for stronger bilateral cooperation. The two sides agreed to step up cooperation and exchange in sectors like trade, agriculture, fishery and infrastructure for sustainable development and common prosperity.

Third, to advance people-to-people and cultural exchange. The two sides agreed to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchange and sub-national cooperation, which will serve as a bridge of mutual understanding and friendship across the vast Pacific ocean. Kiribati is the only country in the world straddling the Equator and the International Date Line. It is also one of the earliest places to embrace the dawn of a new year. China has listed Kiribati, a country endowed with unique tourism resources, on its outbound group tour destinations. I'm sure more Chinese tourists will travel there to enjoy the beautiful sights.

Facts have shown that the resumption of diplomatic ties serves the interests of both China and Kiribati. We are confident that our bilateral relationship will retain the momentum of rapid growth and yield more fruitful outcomes in a bright future of shared development and prosperity.

Q: A question on the China-US trade talks. According to reports, Vice Premier Liu He, as head of the Chinese delegation, will travel to Washington on January 13 to sign a phase one deal with the US. Can you confirm that?

A: I'd refer you to the Ministry of Commerce for details of China-US trade talks.

Q: The United States has denied Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif's visa that would allow him to attend a Security Council meeting on Thursday in New York. I wonder if you have any comment on this?

A: As the host of the United Nations headquarters, the US has a due international obligation to issue visas and provide other kinds of convenience for foreign representatives attending UN meetings. We urge the US to earnestly fulfill this obligation and offer convenience to member states representatives to attend UN meetings.

Q: This year is the 70th anniversary of China-Indonesia diplomatic relations. How is the preparation for the celebration? What will be the highlight? Second question, will there be a summit meeting in China or in Indonesia? Last question, does the current issue of Natuna affect the preparation of celebration?

A: Indonesia was among the first group of countries that established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Indonesia, which is also an important year of national development in both countries. We both attach high importance to this and have agreed to hold a series of celebratory activities to promote exchange and cooperation, bring bilateral relations to a new height and inject positive energy into both countries and the region.

As comprehensive strategic partners, China and Indonesia enjoy broad cooperation with great potential. As long as we make joint efforts towards the same goal, we will achieve greater development with new growth areas in bilateral relations as we mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

I would like to stress in particular that effective China-Indonesia cooperation under the BRI has brought tangible benefits to both peoples. China stands ready to work with Indonesia to further deepen BRI cooperation.

As to meeting between the two sides' leaders that you are interested in, I would like to say that high-level exchange has always been an important part of China-Indonesia relations. The two sides are in communication regarding relevant arrangements.

Regarding some recent maritime developments you asked about, China and Indonesia have been in communication with each other through diplomatic channels. China and Indonesia are comprehensive strategic partners. Between us, friendship and cooperation is the mainstream while difference merely a branch. As littoral countries of the South China Sea and major countries in the region, both China and Indonesia shoulder the important task of safeguarding regional peace and stability. China always views bilateral relationship with Indonesia from a strategic and long-term perspective. We believe Indonesia will also bear in mind the bigger picture of bilateral relations and regional stability, properly resolve differences with China, and foster favorable atmosphere and conditions for celebrating the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic ties.

Q: The second phase of Pakistan-China Free Trade Agreement has recently come into effect, with tariff reduction measures effective since January 1. Do you have more details to share with us?

A: The Amending Protocol to the Free Trade Agreement between China and Pakistan entered into force on December 1, 2019.

The Protocol upgraded and revised the contents of the original free trade agreement on market access for trade in goods and tariff reduction schedules, rules of origin, trade remedies and investment. And it added a new chapter on customs cooperation. Among them, the core content is to substantially increase the level of liberalization of trade in goods based on the original free trade agreement. The Protocol stipulates that the proportion of tariff lines with zero-tariff products will gradually increase from 35% to 75%. In addition, we will also have a 20% reduction in tariffs on other products that account for 5% of their respective tariff lines. The tariff reduction measures came into effect on January 1, 2020.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, and bilateral relations have been growing with a sound momentum. China stands ready to work with Pakistan to consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen all-around cooperation including trade and investment, pursue high-quality development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and deliver more benefits to both countries and peoples.

Q: Indonesian President Joko Widodo yesterday said he would mobilize fishing vessels to join naval vessels in the South China Sea. He also said there would be no negotiating on matters of sovereignty. As you said there were diplomatic channels open, have they been open since he made this comment yesterday? And any specific comment about the situation that's unfolding there?

A: Like I said, regarding some recent maritime developments, China and Indonesia have been in communication with each other through diplomatic channels. China and Indonesia are comprehensive strategic partners. Between us, friendship and cooperation is the mainstream while difference merely a branch. As littoral countries of the South China Sea and major countries in the region, both China and Indonesia shoulder the important task of safeguarding regional peace and stability. China always views bilateral relationship with Indonesia from a strategic and long-term perspective. We believe Indonesia will also bear in mind the bigger picture of bilateral relations and regional stability, properly resolve differences with China, and foster favorable atmosphere and conditions for celebrating the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic ties.

Q: The Iranian parliament has voted to designate US military as terrorist entities. I wonder if China has any comment on the latest development in the Middle East?

A: China is highly concerned about the current situation in the Middle East. Worsening of tensions in the Gulf region doesn't serve the interest of anyone. Ensuring peace and stability in the region is of vital importance to the whole world.

China holds that all sides should earnestly abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations. All countries' independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected. Peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region should be upheld.

We urge the US not to abuse force. Meanwhile, we call on relevant parties to exercise restraint to prevent a spiral of escalation. Dialogue and consultation should be resumed to cool off tensions as soon as possible.

Q: Russia and China decided to block the UN Security Council statement on condemning the attack on the US Embassy in Baghdad, as Russian ambassador said that because it would be impossible not to take into account the US killing Soleimani. I wonder if China thinks there should be another statement at the Security Council about the killing of Soleimani?

A: The Iranian permanent representative to the UN sent letters on the relevant issue to the Security Council president and the Secretary-General. As the Security Council has the primary responsibility to uphold international peace and security, it should earnestly fulfill its duties enshrined in the UN Charter.

As a permanent member of the Security Council, China will, in an objective and fair spirit, continue to work with other parties to uphold international law, international justice as well as peace and security in the Middle East and the Gulf region .

In the meantime, we will keep in close contact with Russia - China's comprehensive strategic partner of coordination - and other Security Council members.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  A scientist recognized for his great contributions to agricultural developments in the country said not enough attention has been given to local farmers and fisherfolk.

The Order of National Scientists was conferred by President Rodrigo Duterte on agronomist Emil Javier at a ceremony in Malacanang Tuesday. In his speech, Javier said he accepted the honor with "great joy," at the same time "with some pain and embarrassment."

READ: Agronomist, former UP President Dr. Emil Q. Javier named National Scientist

He said his happiness at the conferment of the title national scientist, which he said was the "highest recognition" that could be given to a "lifelong academic," was not only elevated because it was endorsed by his peers, but also because it happened in Malacanang.

"One really cannot ask for more," added Javier.

However, he said, the honor was "diminished" by the impoverished conditions of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk.

"Clearly, collectively, including myself, we have not done enough to help our farmers and fisherfolk. For far too long, we have not invested enough and allowed agriculture to stagnate," he said in his speech.

"There is no virtue in pointing fingers now because there is so much blame to spread around. And yet, Mr. President, we have the expertise and technology to move agriculture forward. We can do much better if only we can put our act together,"added Javier.

Javier also said he was hopeful that attention would finally be given to the agriculture sector given the appointment of a new agriculture secretary, along with new laws that aim to help farmers.

RELATED: Rice tariffication bill enacted into law

In his speech, Duterte praised Javier's achievements, saying his work "played a significant role in alleviating poverty."

"It is my hope that his success will encourage more Filipino scientists across the nation to carry on with the work and help achieve a sustainable and inclusive future for every Filipino," said Duterte.

A Presidential Decree signed in August 2019 gave Javier the title of National Scientist.

Javier earned his bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of the Philippines Los Banos, a Master of Science in Agronomy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics from Cornell University.

He also served as the 17th President of the University of the Philippines from 1993 to 1999.
SPRINGFIELD  Two Republican Illinois lawmakers say they wont sign off on a draft report by the Illinois Property Tax Relief Task Force because it doesnt include substantive changes.

The task force, formed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker last year with state Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, as a co-chair, was supposed to issue a report on how to lower Illinois second highest in the nation property taxes by the end of 2019. That report was not filed, although a draft of it has been circulating online.

A letter obtained by The Center Square, sent by two Republicans to Democratic leaders in the General Assembly, states Republican ideas were mostly excluded from the report and they wont support it until it includes meaningful reforms.

Aside from the failure to include House Republican substantive reform ideas, the draft report includes recommendations from subcommittees that never debated and approved policy recommendations for consideration by the full Task Force, the letter from state Reps. Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, and Deanne Mazzochi, R-Elmhurst, said.

We believe that we cannot authorize our caucus to approve a draft Report that (1) fails to address core issues that impact the failed property tax system in Illinois, and (2) has been improperly presented by a few members of the Task Force without proper process and public consideration, the letter said. Meaningful, substantive property tax relief for beleaguered Illinois homeowners is critical, and the issue deserves serious and meaningful deliberation and reform ideas.

The Republican letter said the task force lacks transparency and infringes on the rights of the task force members to provide input on a document to which you proposed to attach their name.

Democratic leaders didnt immediately return messages seeking comment.

More Information Task Force Members Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, co-chair Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Centreville Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville See More Collapse

Task force member state Rep. Mike Murphy, R-Springfield, said the draft seemed to be mostly old ideas.

I dont think theres anything in here, Murphy said. I just think there are some suggestions. Theres nothing in here that says, Tomorrow were going to file legislation saying this.

There was one suggestion I thought was unique, that a school district applies for more money with no parameters, he said. What does that mean? Who wouldnt then? Id like to see what that looked like; thats a little scary.

The real fix Murphy said was for schools to get more state funding, not through tax increases, but through cuts to inefficient programs.

And I think you can look at any study, Illinois doesnt need more revenue, Murphy said. We need to spend it wisely.

If you dont like the way the districts been running and spending your money, lets make a change there, Murphy said. Thats all it needs. Its local control. And thats why I dont [want] the state getting involved. Were getting involved and trying to tell local entities how to spend their money.

Murphy also said that, while he the draft report doesnt call for a progressive income tax, he still believes task force members will use it to promote a proposed progressive income tax.
A South Australian man will stand trial over the 1973 cold case murder of his wife, after her remains were found in the backyard of their home.

Geoffrey Adams pleaded not guilty in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday to the murder of his wife Colleen, who went missing from their Maitland home 46 years ago.

But Adams, who led police to Mrs Adams' body during a dig on the site in 2018, has pleaded guilty to her manslaughter but the plea was not accepted by prosecutors.

Geoffrey Adams pleaded not guilty in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday to the murder of his wife Colleen (pictured together), who went missing from their Maitland home 46 years ago

Adams, who led police to Mrs Adams' body during a dig (pictured) on the site in 2018, has pleaded guilty to her manslaughter but the plea was not accepted by prosecutors

Magistrate Elizabeth Sheppard remanded him in custody to appear before the Supreme Court in April.

At earlier court hearings it was revealed Adams had provided police with 11 hours of interviews which were described as the 'core piece of evidence'.

The court also heard that the examination of the remains of Mrs Adams was not a 'straightforward autopsy' as forensic scientists were dealing with a 'fragmented' skeleton.

Prosecutors said on Tuesday the case would be a 'relatively complex' one to prepare.

Adams had previously told police he awoke about 7am on Thursday, November 22, 1973, to find his wife fully dressed with two packed suitcases.

According to Adams, she said she was leaving and never wanted to see him or the children again, before getting into a car with a middle-aged woman he did not know.

Adams (left) had previously told police he awoke about 7am on Thursday, November 22, 1973, to find his wife (right) fully dressed with two packed suitcases

Mrs Adams was reported missing by her mother about a month later, but the case was not declared a major crime until 1979.

After the discovery of her body, her youngest daughter Kaye visited the site and delivered a statement to the media through a victim contact officer.

'Today I have finally found my mother,' the statement said.

'After 45 years of hoping, we have found her.

'It's hard to say in a few words what I am feeling, but I am so grateful to the South Australian police and everyone who has worked to help find her.'

Relatives of Mrs Adams were in court on Tuesday but made no comment following the hearing.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper strongly suggested on Monday that the U.S. military would not violate the laws of armed conflict by striking Iranian cultural sites, a move threatened by President Donald Trump.

Asked whether he was willing to target cultural sites, Esper told Pentagon reporters: We will follow the laws of armed conflict.

Pressed on whether he would then not target such sites, because that would be a war crime, Esper said: Thats the laws of armed conflict. He did not elaborate.

Targeting cultural sites with military action is considered a war crime under international law, including a U.N. Security Council resolution supported by the Trump administration in 2017 and the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property.

The U.S. drone strike on Friday that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani has sharply escalated tensions with Iran, raising fears of all-out conflict. Washington says it killed Soleimani in self-defense, aiming to disrupt his plans to attack U.S. personnel and interests.

Amid Iranian threats of retaliation over Soleimanis killing, Trump tweeted over the weekend that the United States had targeted 52 Iranian sites, some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture if Iran struck any American or American assets in retaliation.

Theyre allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people and were not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesnt work that way, Trump said on Sunday, speaking to reporters.

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Father and 15-year-old son stabbed before house was set ablaze.

Seven members of one family had been found dead inside their house in a village in Egypts Nile Delta, local police said.

The victims included the head of the family, his wife, his mother and four children.

Preliminary investigations revealed that unidentified perpetrators fatally stabbed the father and his eldest 15-year-old son before setting ablaze the semi-detached house in the Delta province of Beheira, according to security sources. The other fatalities, including two children aged three and four years, apparently died of burns.

The familys two-floor house is located inside farmland around 400 metres from the main village, a matter that made the mystery crime discovered on Sunday hours after it was committed.

Police believe that the crime had been perpetrated by more than one person, making it difficult for any member of the family to escape and seek help from locals.

Relatives said the family was on good terms with others.

My uncle was a wallpainter and was a peaceful person, Saad Ashraf, 19, told private newspaper Al Masry Al Youm.

However, the crime is believed to have been perpetrated out of revenge.

Investigations revealed that the murdered father was a witness in a court case in which 11 defendants were later given 10 years in prison each, private newspaper Al Watan reported.
Amanda Knox is gearing up for her wedding day and kicked off the festivities with an extravagant bachelorette party.

Knox, 32, who was twice acquitted of the murder of British student Meredith Kercher, partied with her close friends at circus cabaret Teatro ZinZanni in Seattle, Washington, in late December to celebrate her upcoming nuptials to her novelist boyfriend Christopher Robinson.

She posed with a beaming smile and a sash that read 'Bride to be' on Instagram in front of the theater on December 18.

Excited over the night of festivities she shared a photo smiling with eight friends at the bachelorette party thrown by her sister Deanna Knox.

Amanda Knox is gearing up for her wedding day and kicked off the festivities with an extravagant bachelorette party in Seattle in late December. She posed with a sash that read 'Bride to Be' in front of the circus cabaret Teatro ZinZanni

Excited over the night of festivities Knox (third from left) shared a photo smiling with eight friends at the bachelorette party thrown by her sister Deanna Knox (center standing above group)

Knox gleefully posted a '75 days to go' countdown on her Instagram on December 15, revealing her wedding will take place the last weekend in February

Amanda Knox and her fiance novelist Christopher Robinson announced their engagement in November 2018

Knox gleefully posted a '75 days to go' countdown on her Instagram on December 15, revealing her wedding will take place on February 28.

'@deannaknox et al. threw me a bachelorette party this weekend that was so good I cried. I'm feeling so loved. And now, we have only 75 days left!!! GAH!!!'

'I have seen in the flesh proof that Wonder and Spirit and Beauty are not just ideas. You my dear deserve to be celebrated,' Knox's friend Taige Lauren said sharing a flick of the bride-to-be.

Knox announced she was engaged to Robinson in November 2018 by sharing a video of the bizarre alien-inspired proposal.

The two had been dating since 2015 when Knox was engaged to someone else, but sparks flew after she reviewed his book.

Knox 32, who was twice acquitted of the murder of British student Meredith Kercher, partied with her close friends at circus cabaret in Seattle

The theaters website describes it as a 'three-hour whirlwind of international cirque, comedy, and cabaret artist all served up with a scrumptious multi-course feast and elegant libations'

In the proposal video Robinson staged a fake meteor crash that held a 'data crystal' inside. That crystal read: 'No other pre-singilarity union produced as much cerebral-empathic heat as the joining of Amanda Marie Knox and Christopher Gerald Robinson.'

He proposed to her on their front yard saying, 'I don't have a ring, but I have a big rock. Amanda Marie Knox, will you marry me?'

Knox returned to the US in 2011 after her murder conviction for the killing of British student Meredith Kercher was overturned.

She had spent four years in an Italian prison following the 2007 conviction.

Knox was convicted twice in Italian court of murdering her British roommate Mereditch Kercher, but those convictions were later overturned. She spent a total of four years in an Italian prison during the high-profile case

Knox announced she was engaged in November 2018 by sharing a video of the bizarre alien-inspired proposal. Stills from that proposal video pictured above

She was retried in 2014 but never returned to Italy for that trial. She was convicted in that case too.

In 2015, Italy's Supreme Court overturned her second conviction and brought an end to her legal saga.

Since settling in Seattle, Knox has taken part in a Netflix documentary about her case and has written books and articles advocating for people wrongfully convicted of crimes.
The following day, after Rodriguez had taken the last photographs of the now ragged, long-haired, thick-bearded Guevara alive so that the CIA could confirm his identity, the guerrilla icon was executed by Bolivian army sergeant Mario Teran with two bursts of his semiautomatic rifle. The CIA man had told Teran to shoot him from the neck down to make it look as though he had died in combat.
Ahmedabad: Nearly 10 people were injured in a clash that broke out between students belonging to the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Congress-backed National Students Union of India (NSUI) place outside the latter's office here on Tuesday.

The NSUI workers were protesting outside the ABVP office here against the violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi. Police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.

In a statement, NSI national president Neeraj Kundan condemned the incident and alleged that the "autocratic behaviour of the BJP has resulted in another event where NSUI workers were brutally beaten".

The real face of this government has now been unveiled and is working against constitutional values. It is time that the country stands together against these fascist forces, he said.

The Congress demanded strict and quick action against the perpetrators.

A deplorable act by ABVP goons & clearly reflective of their violent tendencies. We strongly condemn this act of terror & demand swift action against the perpetrators. How can the BJP stand idly by as innocent students are brutalised? They have turned India into a war zone, the party tweeted.

The clash in Ahmedabad comes two place days after more than 30 students, including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, were brutally attacked by a masked mob. A fringe outfit called the

Hindu Rashtra Dal claimed responsibility for the attack at JNU.
Representatives with Miami-based Fame Tattoos announced today that they have launched a gift card that lasts forever.

We are very excited to launch our tattoo and piercing gift card, said Omar Gonzalez, spokesperson for Fame Tattoos and went on to add, buy the gift card for your friends, family or loved ones and give the gift that lasts forever.

You have two options to buy, an Electronic Gift Card, or you can come in in-person to purchase a Physical Gift Card, highlighted Omar.

Gift cards are available in the denomination of $50, $100, $200, $300 up to $2000, and can be purchased online where you can send the gift card to the recipient instantly or on a future date.

You can even add a personal message to the card, revealed Omar.

Fame Tattoos services include tattoos, tattoo removal, piercings, permanent makeup and microblading, hair micropigmentation, aftercare, and more.

We take tattoo art to a different level spiritually and mentally, Omar said, before adding, We have a high level of continuous local clientele, athletes and celebrities. We don't consider ourselves average tattoo artist. Our work is based on passion and vision, where we like to picture ourselves as if we're writing or drawing a story of our clients life, past, future, and artistic Passion. We will help guide you with the best option and best look for your new work of art.

As to why anyone should visit Fame Tattoos, one customer identified as Dianna Anak said the award-winning tattoo shop provided her with the best experience possible and went on to recommend Fame Tattoos to others.

Let me start off by saying this place is phenomenal, she said in her Google review. I went in today to get two tattoos. The atmosphere when I first walked in was super clean, definitely a more modern vibe, and awesome customer service. Every single person I encountered was very nice. Once I got there, I felt like I was in great hands. My artist was hector, and the owner Omar was very helpful and he did advise me on what I should do. Everyone was super professional, they took their time with what I wanted and Im so happy with the result. Definitely will be back.

However, she isnt the only one raving about Fame Tattoos. Customer Damaris Gonzalez, in his Google review, described Fame Tattoos as amazing.

Aside from having a gorgeous location, their tattoo artists are spectacular, he stressed. I traveled all the way from North Carolina to see Mr. Fame himself. Super impressive place.

For more information, please visit https://www.fametattoos.com/blog and https://www.fametattoos.com/tattoo-awards

About Fame Tattoos

We are the top tattoo artist in Miami with over 50 years of combining Tattoo experience; this has been a passion of ours since we could remember. During our years of experience, we have been to many tattoo conventions throughout the world where we have gained knowledge and experience from different artists. We're the top award-winning tattoo shop in Miami that has won over 100 awards throughout conventions. Our shop is very relaxed and peaceful, giving you the best tattoo experience ever. We also provide all-natural, non-laser tattoo removal. Tattoo Vanish Method is far less painful, more cost-effective as it requires up to 50% Fewer Treatments. We started to provide tattoo removal because there has been a large amount of poor-quality tattoos that are so far from Help, that we will help make a change!

Contact Details:

Omar Gonzalez

1409 West 49th Street Suite 1

Hialeah, FL 33012

Phone: 305-303-2025

Source: Fame Tattoos
The international response was indeed collective, a near-universal eruption of outrage and dismay at the loss. At the United Nations, after the Taliban announced its intent to destroy the statues, representatives of countries from around the world, Muslim and Christian alike, spoke of the Talibans intent as barbaric, and condemned the threatened vandalism. After the deed was done, and the ancient statues were reduced to rubble, the event defined the Taliban as an outlaw regime, uncivilized and evil. The fundamentalist religious government had committed countless outrages against its own people, especially women, but the destruction of the statues at Bamian created a monumental symbol of its barbarism that was somehow more tangible, more communicable, more purely distilled than its myriad acts of interpersonal cruelty. Fourteen years later, the Islamic States destruction at Palmyra did much the same work of branding, defining the cruel so-called caliphate as an organization beyond all bounds.
ALBANY  Micky Jimenez spent her morning calling her brother who lives in Puerto Rico, praying he would pick up the phone. Instead of his voice, she heard a recording telling her the lines were down.



A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the island early Tuesday morning, killing at least one person and injuring several others, according to an Associated Press report. Many residents were left without power because power plants had to shut down for safety reasons. Authorities said two plants suffered light damage and they expected power to be restored later Tuesday.

Jimenez worries about her brother, Jorge Hernandez, who has congestive heart failure and often needs neighbors and friends to check up on him. Hes a veteran and was recently discharged from the veterans hospital.

Hes in frail medical condition. My concern is if his friends cant get to him and he has a need, we dont know what to do, Jimenez said. Im sure hell be fine for a day or two, but I don't know how hell get by long term without any power.

Shes not the only one who is worried. Jimenez, who is also the executive director of Capital District Latinos, has been flooded with messages from other people in her situation trying to reach family members. She said the most common request is people looking for a hotline they can call for information about family members.

She has been working with her organizations parent company, Acacia Network, to find such a number.

MORE: 6.4 quake strikes Puerto Rico amid heavy seismic activity

The southern part of the island was hit the hardest, but those from all over have been affected. For Jimenez, Hernandez and many others, the earthquake has been another traumatizing experience. Many Puerto Ricans had also endured the effects of Hurricane Maria, which hit in September 2017. Hernandez was fortunately to be in the continental U.S. when the storm hit, but when he returned home found his windows and front porch destroyed.

The hurricane was the reason Raquel Perez and her family had to leave the island. Their home in Morovis, a city in the northern part of Puerto Rico, was in ruins with only a tarp to cover exposed areas.

We lost our home. We tried to make it work, but life was too hard for us there, Perez said. We lived under a tarp for quite some months without any running water or electricity.

Since then she moved to Amsterdam, and works at Centro Civico, a nonprofit that serves the Latinx community. Perez left with two of her three children -- her youngest stayed back because she is finishing a nursing degree there.

The night before the earthquake Perez had nightmares and slept restlessly, so she awoke early and heard the news at 6 a.m.

She saw social media posts and news reports of buildings collapsing and thought of her daughter who lived on a higher floor in a multi-story building. Perez frantically called her daughter and grew more worried when she wasnt able to get a hold of her.

I was terrified. I just kept thinking of her being trapped up there, Perez said.

By 9 a.m. she got the good news that her youngest was safe. She didnt have any water or electricity and the building where she lived was evacuated, but her mother was relieved she was OK.

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

Those early hours of the morning were really painful and really terrible because I was reliving everything we went through in the hurricane, Perez said.

The island is experiencing several infrastructural challenges, according to the Associated Press. In Ponce, a city on the southern coast, hundreds of people sat in the streets, some cooking food on barbecue grills, because they were too afraid to return home to the structural damage and aftershocks.

Guayanilla, another city on the southern coast is among the places that saw a high level of damage. Felix Quinones-Nieves, who is originally from Puerto Rico, but now works at UAlbany heard about some of the structural issues the island is facing from his brother who is an engineer there.

He said his brother attempted to drive to Guayanilla from the mid-eastern part of the island to do building inspections, but couldnt make it due to bridges and roads being deemed unsafe after the earthquake tore through the area.

The state of New York has put forth some aid to help with some of Puerto Ricos infrastructural struggles. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo directed the New York Power Authority to deploy technical experts to work with the Puerto Rican Electric Power Authority to restore power to the island.



Cuomo said in a statement that the team will begin a damage assessment Tuesday and assist with the process of restarting the electric grid as soon as they feel major power plants are stable once aftershocks have ceased.

Perez said people need a wide range of services, but the demand seems to outweigh the supply.

There are places where people are hurt and they are in need of medical attention, but there are no ambulances ... people are in need of services and there are none, Perez said. Its terrifying.
The Wagoner County OSU Extension/Agriculture Program is looking for individuals interested in taking the OK Master Cattleman class.

This is a comprehensive educational curriculum for beef cattle producers with opportunities for continuing education. It includes research based information with production information, business planning and analysis, marketing and risk management, natural resources, Beef Quality Assurance and biosecurity.

The class is limited to 35 students and will include 14 nights of classes instructed by OSU educators. Classes are scheduled on Tuesday nights from Jan. 28 through April 30 and will be held at the Wagoner County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall in Coweta.

Cost for the program is $150 and fees will pay for instructional materials, an Oklahoma Beef Cattle manual, a Master Cattleman certificate, farm gate sign and an embossed Master Cattleman notebook.

Deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 24.

For more information, call the Wagoner County OSU Extension Office at 918-485-4589.

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Mumbai, Jan 7 : Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday demanded a thorough investigation into the attacks on students and teachers in Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday.

"Such an attack on a renowned university like the JNU is a blot on the country's democratic political system. I strongly condemn the incidents," Athawale said, adding he will soon visit the varsity campus.

The minister said that whosoever may be the masked perpetrators of the violence, they must be arrested and stringent action should be initiated against them.

"This is imperative to ensure that such incidents do not recur in future and the government must remain vigilant against such elements," Athawale said.

The RPI(A) leader's statement came as protests erupted all over India including Maharashtra on the JNU violence since late Sunday, and continued for the second day in Mumbai.
It is December, 2049.

Australia is commemorating the 30th anniversary of the 2019-2020 bushfires. For many years now there has been a national day of remembrance, occurring each summer solstice to remember all citizens whove perished in the many fires, floods, cyclones, droughts and extreme weather events that have plagued the continent in the 21st century. On the cusp of 2050, casualties linked to natural disasters in Australia sadly number in the thousands.

A fire burns through Mangrove Mountain in NSW in December. Credit:Wolter Peeters

The politics of climate change are still present; but the national discourse is different, more accepting of the reality of lived experience. Small pockets of the population have still not directly experienced the worst of climate change, and some voices still make claims of exaggeration and special interest: but these have long been the exception, not the norm.

In the midst of that gloomy summer 30 years ago, the situation felt hopeless. Had the countrys charmed run of economic growth run out? People feared for their homes, jobs and communities; while politicians and business wondered how prosperity could continue if extreme summers and volatile air quality were set to become the new Australian normal.
Lockheed Martin, famous for its fighter planes, helicopters and missiles, saw its stock price spike to over $416, a jump of seven percent almost overnight. Raytheon and General Dynamics saw similar increases.

Millions of mourners came out for Soleimanis funeral, turning the occasion into a show of strength and an act of collective defiance against Trumps moves against Iran. Meanwhile, after the government of Iraq voted to expel American forces from its country as a response to the drone strike, the president announced he would send thousands of extra troops to the region. Iran is currently considering its response, but the hashtags #ww3 and #wwIII trended for over a day on Twitter, suggesting the global public was extremely worried the action could spark a worldwide conflict. Over the weekend the United States saw over 70 antiwar demonstrations across the country.

However, economist and co-founder of the Center for Economic Policy Research Dean Baker pointed out that Lockheed Martins stock went up by over two percent and Northrop Grumman by nearly four percent on Thursday, the day before Soleimanis killing. Looks like a lot of people should go to jail, he remarked, suggesting there was some serious insider trading afoot. (MintPress recently spoke to Baker about how pharmaceutical corporations are withholding life saving drugs from the public for profit.)

very interesting that Lockheed's stock went up 2.0 percent on Thursday, the day before the attack. Looks like a lot of people should go to jail. https://t.co/VvlSl4XTpX  Dean Baker (@DeanBaker13) January 4, 2020

The biggest beneficiaries of an unfair stock market are often politicians, whose portfolios, for decades, have done far better than is statistically plausible. Using the financial disclosures of politicians, Professor Alan Ziobrowski of Georgia State University found that members of the House earn abnormal returns on their stocks, outperforming the market by six percentage points. Senators, in higher office than House members, perform even better, showing some of the highest excess returns ever recorded over a long period of time, significantly outperforming even hedge fund managers, in Ziobrowskis studys words. Its not rational to assume that they are just plain dumb-lucky, he concluded. In the five years to 1998, senators stock portfolios beat the market by an average of 12 percent a year.

The global wave of right-wing populism has been very good for weapons producers. Despite presenting himself as an antiwar candidate, Trump has greatly increased the military budget and expanded the U.S. role in Yemen. More than half of all discretionary spending goes to the military, with America spending almost as much on arms as the rest of the world combined, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The president often likes to remind the country that the stock market is at an all time high. Military contractors are among the best performing of those; Yahoo! Finance notes that if you had bought Northrop Grumman stock five years ago, you would have seen a 146 percent gain today. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, nine of the ten largest weapons manufacturers saw their stock prices increase immediately after Conservative Boris Johnson defeated socialist antiwar candidate Jeremy Corbyn in Decembers General Election.

The recent rocketing of military contractors stock values highlights the growing contrast between the profit motive of capitalism and human survival. So often, what is bad news for the world is good news for the military-industrial complex.

MintPress is covering the Iran conflict closely. For more content, click here.

Feature photo | President Donald Trump talks with Lockheed Martin president and CEO Marilyn Hewson, right, and director and chief test pilot Alan Norman in front of a F-35 as he participates in a Made in America Product Showcase at the White House, July 23, 2018, in Washington. Evan Vucci | AP

Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.
BAGHDAD  Iraq's new elections law, passed by parliament in response to the ongoing protests that began in October, has raised major controversy among various political groups.

The new law gives voters the freedom to choose individual candidates rather than political parties and lists.

It also organizes the elections in single-winner districts that consist of 100,000 people. This means the candidates cannot compete as part of a national or provincial list under a proportional representation system but instead must run in a specific district; each electoral constituency is to have one deputy in parliament. Consequently, some of the large political blocs that have managed to come to power through list-based voting and large constituencies in Iraqi provinces could disintegrate.

Previous elections in Iraq have taken place in a semi-closed list system, with each province considered an electoral constituency, and the Sainte-Lague method was used to allocate seats to various parties in a proportional representation system.

Although the new system could end the domination of conventional political parties such as the Hikma movement, the Dawa party and the Sunni Islamic party, it could increase the power of populist groupings such as the Sadrist movement and some political organizations that are part of the Popular Mobilization Units such as Asaib Ahl al-Haq. Moreover, these latter groups have strong military and financial positions whose power and spending could give them a major advantage over other parties and blocs. Some political groupings, especially the Kurds, are seeking amendments that would allow fairer competition between various political forces.

The protesters also have issues with the new law and say the winner of each district should get more than 50% of the vote, not just a plurality. In the protesters' proposal, if no one receives above 50%, runoff elections would be held. Protesters also say the new law has been written to guarantee the victory of existing political parties.

Under the old system, many seats were allocated along sectarian and ethnic lines. Some Sunni and Kurdish parties boycotted the vote on the new law in protest against the adoption of the district system, given that the parties would lose many of the seats they won previously. Kurdish blocs said they will lose parliamentary seats in areas disputed between Arabs, Turkmens and Kurds, especially in areas with a Shiite majority. Kurdish representatives said Dec. 26 during a press conference that the vote on the new law was illegal due to an incomplete quorum and because no electronic vote count was taken in parliament on the provisions of the law.

Among the most prominent objections to the new law is its adoption of electronic counting and sorting, which raised fears of the possibility that elections could be rigged. Many are opposed that the law does not exclude dual citizens as candidates, as protesters demand.

The biggest problem remains how to determine and draw electoral districts. The law leaves this task to parliament, meaning that the parliamentary blocs will likely negotiate and make political deals to determine the number of electoral districts and how to configure them.

Parliaments legal committee said the voting districts that currently exist  the custom has been for each province to be considered as an electoral constituency  have widely varying numbers of people and cannot be considered electoral districts in legal terms, as the constitution stipulates that there should be only one deputy for every 100,000 citizens. But figuring out to reconfigure the districts will be difficult because of the absence of a census.

Najm al-Kassab, who heads the Al-Mawrid center for political studies, told Al-Monitor, Groups organizing the protests have presented ideas regarding the election law, most notably that the election be completely based on individual candidates [as opposed to lists or parties] and that the candidate who gets the most votes wins.

The new law fulfills only some parts of the protesters' demands, said Kassab, who added that he has attended many protests and held a number of seminars regarding past and current Iraqi electoral law.

But there is no unified opinion in this regard and there is no draft proposed by the protesters, yet they are all against closed lists, which do not allow the voter to amend or exclude some candidates from them, because such a system brought undesirable figures to power in the past and they reject any other system that allows for the nomination of parties, Kassab added.

This approach is close to the position of Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr and his Sairoon (Alliance Toward Reforms) bloc regarding the election law. On his Facebook page, where he uses the name Salih Mohammad al-Iraqi, Sadr said elections must be in multiple constituencies with 100% of the nominations being for individuals [as opposed to lists or parties], and votes from abroad must be canceled, even if just temporarily, or they need to be properly audited, or those outside the country must be helped to come back to vote inside Iraq as much as possible." He also said the law should have strict conditions when it comes to the votes of people involved in the security establishment, because of fears that the vote of soldiers and others could be manipulated.

After the law passed, Sadr congratulated the Iraqi people, saying the legislation will wipe out all corrupt parties.

Kurdish parties, led by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), demanded that Iraq allow proportional representation at the national level, allowing the aggregation of Kurdish votes in all areas of the country as opposed to their votes being lost where they are a minority in single-winner districts, KDP deputy Rebin Salam told Al-Monitor.

He said Kurds rejected the idea of not allowing votes from those living abroad because this would deprive millions of Iraqis of their right to choose their representatives in parliament. He also said there are great difficulties in mapping out the single-winner districts because of the absence of a census and because there is a large disparity in the number of citizens in current districts.

The National Coalition led by former Vice President Ayad Allawi said the new law will prolong the transitional period to new elections because the process of forming electoral districts will take a lot of time. His grouping said in a statement, "The recently passed election law is full of complications and difficulties that will abort the dream of early elections. They should be characterized by a high degree of transparency and integrity, but the new law is vague and full of obstacles."

Additionally, while the new law will certainly change the political class in the parliament, it remains to be seen whether methods can be developed to prevent tribes and militias in various areas from unfairly interfering in the elections.
Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said Reval2020 was of "crucial importance" to retailers

Over 74,000 businesses, from shops to restaurants and law firms, will find out their new rates valuations today.

Land & Property Services is publishing new valuations for business premises around Northern Ireland, after revaluation Reval2020 was carried out.

Businesses, in particular shopkeepers, have been calling for rates reductions to reflect changes in their sector, such as growing competition from online retailers.

Rates are one of the biggest overheads facing many businesses.

From 11am today, they will be able to find estimates of their new valuations online, giving them an indication of what their bills will be from April.

Trade body Retail NI and commercial property agents Osborne King will hold an information seminar about the new rates on January 20.

Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said Reval2020 was of "crucial importance" to retailers.

"In the last revaluation, over 70% of Retail NI members saw an increase in their rates bill," he said.

"It is our hope that this revaluation will not be a repeat of this.

"It is absolutely crucial to get across to business owners that they can appeal if they are unhappy with the draft valuation."
University of Cincinnati geography researchers have identified a tipping point for deforestation that leads to rapid forest loss.

Geography professor Tomasz Stepinski used high-resolution satellite images from the European Space Agency to study landscapes in 9-kilometer-wide blocks across every inch of the planet between 1992 and 2015. He found that deforestation occurs comparatively slowly in these blocks until about half of the forest is gone. Then the remaining forest disappears very quickly.

The study was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

Stepinski and former UC postdoctoral researcher Jakub Nowosad, the lead author, discovered something surprising and fundamental: nature abhors mixed landscapes, at least on a scale of 81 square kilometers. The study showed that mixed landscapes (like agriculture and forest) are comparatively few and, more surprisingly, do not stay mixed for long. These mixed blocks tend to become homogeneous over time, regardless of the landscape type.

"I think it's very intuitive. It corresponds to the different climatic zones. The Earth before people was certainly like that. You had forests and mountains and wetlands and deserts," Stepinski said. "You would expect people would create more fragmentation, but as it turns out, people never stop. They convert the entire block on a large scale."

Stepinski said landscapes are always changing through natural or anthropological causes. Human causes are both direct, like clear-cutting, or indirect like climate change.

Last year, Stepinski used the same data to demonstrate that 22% of the Earth's habitable surface was altered in measurable ways between 1992 and 2015. The biggest change: forest to agriculture.

For the new study, Stepinski examined nearly 1.8 million blocks covering Earth's seven continents. Blocks were categorized by 64 landscape combinations. Researchers observed transitions in these blocks from predominantly one type to predominantly another in nearly 15% of the blocks between 1992 and 2015.

"The data we have covers 23 years. That's a relatively short period of time. But from that we can calculate change in the future," Stepinski said.

Deforestation was the most pronounced example of human-caused landscape change, researchers found. They used probability modeling known as Monte Carlo methods to determine the likelihood of different types of landscape change over time (in this case hundreds of years).

The result? Researchers found that the most likely trajectory of change was from one homogeneous type to another.

"Planet Earth wants to be homogeneous. The land wants to be the same in all these patches. And when they start to change, they don't stop until they convert everything into another homogeneous block," he said.

The authors did not examine why blocks change so quickly once a transition begins. But Stepinski said it's possible that development such as logging roads or drainage required to clear forest makes continued change that much easier.

"I can only speculate because that was not part of the study, but I would imagine two things are happening," he said. "If you are cutting forest, you have the infrastructure to finish it. It's so much easier to cut the rest. Second, the forest is more vulnerable to change when there has been a disturbance."

Wildlife managers often try to preserve larger intact blocks to prevent fragmentation, said Martin McCallister, the Appalachian Forest project manager for the Edge of Appalachia Nature Preserve in southern Ohio. The preserve is managed by the Nature Conservancy, one of the world's largest wildlife conservation organizations.

"You'd be hard pressed to find land managers who wouldn't be strongly in favor of protecting larger tracts because they're more resilient to a variety of challenges, including invasive species and climate change," McCallister said. "Once a property gets fragmented by roads, it's easier to extract resources. It's also easier for invasive species and pests to get a foothold."

McCallister said woodlands can be fragmented on paper, too.

"In Ohio, 96 percent of our woodland owners have less than 50 acres. They represent a lot of small parcels," he said.

The UC study found that mixed land types don't stay mixed for long.

"I think it is interesting that this property applies both to natural and human landscapes," said co-author Nowosad, a former UC postdoctoral researcher who now works as an assistant professor at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poland.

Nowosad said the study provides a data-driven model of long-term landscape change. While researchers only looked at changes between forest and agriculture, Nowosad said it would be worthwhile to examine whether tipping points exist for other landscape transitions.

"This model can be used to help understand how landscapes evolved and are going to evolve in the future," Nowosad said.

Stepinski, a physicist who worked for NASA before coming to UC, said the principle borrows from other disciplines, particularly astrophysics.

"If you look at the evolution of stars, the principle is you predict a long-term path statistically from short-term knowledge," Stepinski said. "It's an idea that has been used elsewhere but never for environmental study."

While it's only a theory, it's one that could be borne out by time, he said.

"It's thought-provoking. My hope is that people will criticize it and come up with different ideas," Stepinski said.

###
Rolls Royce Cullinan

Luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce on January 7 said it recorded a 25 percent jump in sales in 2019, underpinned by solid demand for its first-ever SUV, Cullinan, just a year after its launch.

The 116-year-old British company said it sold a record 5,152 cars in 2019, compared with 4,107 units in the prior year.

"Worldwide demand last year for our Cullinan SUV has driven this success and is expected to stabilise in 2020," Chief Executive Officer Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes said in a statement. The Cullinan was unveiled in 2018.

The BMW-owned brand's strong numbers serve as a breather at a time when the global automobile industry is still grappling with various challenges amid a broader economic slowdown that dented sales of automakers such as Volkswagen and Ford Motor Co.

North America continued to be the biggest contributor with about a third of Rolls-Royce's total sales, followed by China and Europe.
Intel, the chip-making giant, has been on the road of refocusing its strategy in recent months. While it has sold its mobile chip operation to Apple and is reportedly looking for a buyer for its connected home division, it's also been going through the difficult task of rethinking how best to tackle the longtime bread and butter of its business, the PC.

Part of that latter strategy is getting a big boost this week at CES 2020. Here, Intel is today announcing a deeper partnership with Google to design chips and specifications for Chromebooks built on Project Athena. Project Athena is framework first announced last year that covers both design and technical specs, with the aim of building the high-performance laptops of tomorrow that can be used not just for work, but media streaming, gaming, enterprise applications and more, all on the go -- powered by Intel, naturally.

(The specs include things like requiring 'fast wake' using fingerprints or push-buttons or lift lids; using Intel Core i5 or i7 processors; "Ice Lake" processor designs; better battery life and charging; WiFi 6; touch displays; 2-in-1 designs; narrow bezels and more.)

Alongside the Google/Athena announcement, Intel also unveiled its latest Core mobile processor. Codenamed Tiger Lake (like Ice Lake from a previous range, the name comes from a natural spot in Oregon), they are being built using intel's Xe graphics architectue-based GPUs, the first instance of using this, with the aim being to use these chips in AI and other computing-intense applications. And it also showed off a new concept device called "Horseshoe Bend," a giant, 17-inch foldable tablet that would run on said Tiger Lake processors. Both of these are very much in keeping with the Project Athena ethos, where Intel is working to focus on what the computing environment of tomorrow will be and how Intel can fit into it.

Earlier today, the first two Chromebooks built on those Athena specifications -- from Samsung and Asus -- were announced by the respective companies, and Intel says that there will be more to come. And on stage, Google joined Intel during its keynote to also cement the two companies' commitment to the mission.

Story continues

"Were going a step further and deepening our partnership with Google to bring Athena to Chromebooks," Gregory Bryant, the EVP and GM of Intel's client computing group, said in an interview with TechCrunch ahead of today. "We've collaborated very closely with Google [so that device makers] can take advantage of these specs."

For Intel, having a Chromebook roster using Athena is important because these have been very popular, and it brings its processors into machines used by people who are buying Chromebooks to get access to Google services around security and more, and its apps ecosystem.

But stepping up the specifications for Chromebooks is as important for Google as it is for Intel in terms of the bottom line and growing business.

"This is a significant change for Google," said John Solomon, Google's VP of ChromeOS, in an interview ahead of today. "Chromebooks were successful in the education sector initially, but in the next 18 months to two years, our plan is to go broader, expanding to consumer and enterprise users. Those users have greater expectations and a broader idea of how to use these devices. That puts the onus on us to deliver more performance."

The renewed effort comes at an interesting time. The laptop market is in a generally tight spot these days. Overall, the personal computing market is in a state of decline, and forecast to continue that way for the next several years.

But there is a slightly brighter picture for the kinds of machines that are coming out of collaborations like the one between Intel, Google, and their hardware partners: IDC forecasts that 2-in-1 devices -- by which it means convertible PCs and detachable tablets -- and ultra-slim notebook PCs "are expected to grow 5% collectively over the same period," versus a compound annual growth rate of -2.4% between 2019 and 2023. So there is growth, but not a huge amount.

Up against that is the strength of the smartphone market. Granted, it, too, is facing some issues as multiple markets reach smartphone saturation and consumers are slower to upgrade.

All that is to say that there are challenges. And that is why Intel, whose fortunes are so closely linked to those of personal computing devices since it makes the processors for them, has to make a big push around projects like Athena.

Up to this month, all of the laptops built to Athena specs have been Windows PCs -- 25 to date -- but Intel had always said from the start Chromebooks would be part of the mix, to help bring the total number of Athena-based devices up to 75 by the end of this year (adding 50 in 2020).

Chromebooks are a good area for Intel to be focusing on, as they seem to be outpacing growth for the wider market, despite some notable drawbacks about how Chrome OS has been conceived as a "light" operating system with few native tools and integrations in favor of apps. IDC said that in Q4 of 2019, growth was 19% year-on-year, and from what I understand the holiday period saw an even stronger rise. In the US, Chromebooks had a market share of around 27% last November, according to NPD/Gfk.

What's interesting is the collaborative approach that Intel -- and Google -- are taking to grow. The Apple -style model is to build vertical integration into its hardware business to ensure a disciplined and unified approach to form and function: the specifications of the hardware are there specifically to handle the kinds of services that Apple itself envisions to work on its devices, and in turn, it hands down very specific requirements to third parties to work on those devices when they are not services and apps native to Apple itself.

While Google is not in the business of building laptops or processors (yet?), and Intel is also far from building more than just processors, what the two have created here is an attempt at bringing a kind of disciplined specification that mimics what you might get in a vertically integrated business.

"It's all about building the best products and delivering the best experience," Bryant said.

"We cant do what we do without Intel's help and this close engineering collaboration over the last 18 months," Solomon added. "This is the beginning of more to come in this space, with innovation that hasnt previously been seen."

Indeed, going forward, interestingly Bryant and Solomon wouldn't rule out that Athena and their collaboration might extend beyond laptops.

"Our job is to make the PC great. If we give consumers value and a reason to buy a PC we can keep the PC alive," said Bryant, but he added that Intel is continuing to evolve the specification, too.

"From a form factor youll see an expansion of devices that have dual displays or have diff kinds of technology and form factors," he said. "Our intention is to expand and do variations on what we have shown today."
She partied the night away the day before at the InStyle Golden Globes after-party.

Bella Thorne got comfortable on Monday when she shared a photo of herself in a sleek black bikini.

The 22-year-old actress and author showcased her svelte figure while promoting her most recent book, 2019's The Life Of A Wannabe Mogul: Mental Disarray.

Literary star: Bella Thorne, 22, got comfortable on Monday when she shared a photo of herself in a sleek black bikini while promoting her book from last year

Bella looked completely relaxed as she sat on the edge of an ottoman in her black two-piece suit.

The bikini top featured triangular cups and contrasted the black fabric with white straps and trim.

She rocked her natural brunette tresses in messy strands and added some flair with multiple rings and a luxury wristwatch.

The former Disney star looked to be deep in thought as she gazed at a copy of her unclassifiable book The Life Of A Wannabe Mogul.

Opening up: Bella released The Life Of A Wannabe Mogul: Mental Disarray in July, and it features a mix of memoiristic poems, essays, drawings and photographs; pictured Sunday

Woman in white: The day before her bikini shot, Bella showed off her glamorous looks in a white dress at the InStyle Golden Globes after-party; pictured Sunday

The literary effort combine's Bella's memoiristic poems with short essays, drawings and photos to give a multifaceted portrait of her life.

On Sunday, Bella skipped the Golden Globes but was out in full force for the InStyle after-party, held in Beverly Hills.

The Her & Him director stunned on the red carpet in a low-cut white gown in flower-like patterns of beads.

The elegant look also featured dual high slits to highlight her toned legs.

Look-alikes: Joining her for the celebration was her sister Dani Thorne, who matched her in a busty off-the-shoulder gown with a long train and white feathers adorning it; pictured Sunday

On the move: Bella recently recently returned to her Southern California home after vacation in the Dominican Republic over the holidays

Too cute! She shared multiple photos during her trip from an adorable encounter with a tiny monkey that could sit comfortably in her palms

Also joining her for the celebration was her sister Dani Thorne, who matched her in a busty off-the-shoulder gown with a long train and white feathers adorning it.

Bella recently recently returned to her Southern California home after vacation in the Dominican Republic over the holidays.

She shared multiple photos during her trip from an adorable encounter with a tiny monkey that could sit comfortably in her palms.

'STOP IT'S SO CUTE,' she captioned her post

Flashing it: The multihyphenate showed off her stunning figure while lounging in the tropical climate over the holidays

Though Bella is best known for her acting work, the multi-hyphenate has recently taken an interest in directing.

After helming the adult film Her & Him, she's looking forward to making her mainstream feature debut with a still-untitled 'elevated thriller,' according to Deadline.

The movie will be scripted by Zander Cote, and Bella is expected to also play a supporting role.

On December 26, she seemed overjoyed to show off a black director's chair she got for Christmas with her name emblazoned on it.
ALBANY - South End community advocates and residents called on the Port of Albany to work with federal, state and local entities to devise a plan that would move Ezra Prentice Homes residents away from the industrial zone that surrounds the federally subsidized, low-income community.

"At some point, the community needs to talk about moving Ezra Prentice somewhere safe," said Tom McPheeters, executive advisor for the neighborhood grassroots group AVillage. "There are options available and the community is ready to talk about it, so let's get that on the table."

Several dozen area residents and community leaders on Monday crowded into the Albany Housing Authority headquarters at 200 S. Pearl St. to learn more about a planned expansion of the Port of Albany. No specific plans for the 80 acres the port purchased in 2018 in the town of Bethlehem have been crafted, and so officials currently are providing five different scenarios ranging from low to high impact.

"You continue to act as if you don't understand what the concern is. The bottom line is people who are going to be affected need to be in it at day one," one attendee, Noele Smith, said. "It's not fair that you bring out something after the fact."

The port purchased the land for potential expansion or storage and assembly of offshore wind turbine parts. Port officials said Monday night's meeting is one of several they will have with the community as more concrete plans for expansion take shape.

"We do not currently have anyone under contract," Port CEO Rich Hendrick said to attendees, referring to potential tenants for the expanded property. "One thing you'll come away with tonight is this project is not going to negatively impact your way of life and your health. We are 100 percent behind that."

The meeting with Albany residents comes months after state and county officials called on the port to include an analysis of environmental justice and the impacts of the expansion on health and quality-of-life issues for South End residents. They also demanded that those impacted by the expansion be included in the discussions.

Residents of Ezra Prentice, located in the middle of a heavy industrial zone on South Pearl Street, have dealt with health issues and traffic concerns from the neighboring port for years. They live with idling freight trains and 18-wheelers rumbling through their neighborhood, spewing diesel fumes as they exit Interstate 787.

Traffic and air quality studies have been conducted to determine the extent of the industrial impact on residents as well as consider ways to mitigate the issues.

The nearly 700 page draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement completed by port officials and the town of Bethlehem  where the property for expansion is located  outlines impacts on various local elements, from water, sewer and air quality to community character and aesthetics.

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

In the draft statement, the port recognizes expansion would impact residents of Ezra Prentice, but provides alternative routes to be used to avoid heavy truck traffic through the neighborhood. It also notes an increase of one to two trains per month, which is not expected to have an impact.

Port officials said they are committed to diverting truck traffic from South Pearl Street, and will have a clause in any property leases requiring delivery trucks to use two specific routes that will traverse the interior of the port. Additional security cameras also will be installed to ensure compliance, and six violations will be seen as a breach of contract.

Aaron Mair, national Sierra Club board of directors president and a local leader on environmental justice issues, also called on officials to do the "just" thing and move Ezra Prentice residents. He pitched using a portion of the Harriman Campus in uptown Albany for relocation, which would be a healthier environment as well as provide residents with access to healthier food options  a nod to the South End's lack of grocery stores.

"As for people of color, you are the wrong complexion for protection," Mair said to the crowd, adding the Albany Housing Authority should negotiate in good faith to get land at Harriman Campus. Turning his attention to port officials, he continued: "Do the humane, just and deserved thing. You now must include the people of the South End, and the actions and the treatments must be just."

The idea of relocating families living at Ezra Prentice is not new, but it has yet to gain much traction. Some challenged whether families would be willing to move.
NORTHAMPTON  The citys newly elected officials, including City Council and School Committee members who were chosen at the ballots in November, were sworn in Monday night in a ceremony at the Northampton Community Arts Trust building at 33 Hawley St.

The standing-room-only event lasted just over half an hour and was led by retired Judge Gail L. Perlman. The director of Central Hampshire Veterans Services, Steven J. Connor, led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an invocation from the Rev. Andrea Ayvazian, associate pastor at Alden Baptist Church in Springfield.

This community is counting on these individuals to lead with open minds, Ayvazian said. May they experience delight ... laboring together as a productive and harmonious team.

Ayvazian also asked the officials to do what is right, not just what is popular.

City Clerk Pamela Powers, who was reelected to her post in November, was sworn in first by Perlman.

Powers then swore in the remaining officials by group, starting with the City Council, followed by the School Committee, Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School trustees, Forbes Library trustees and the Community Preservation Committee.

Perlman said she hopes to see cross-generational work between the board and committee members, who represent a variety of ages and backgrounds and who she said can all learn from one another.

Those experiences will inform the way you write laws, Perlman said.

In a closing benediction, Rabbi Justin David of Congregation Bnai Israel in Northampton thanked the officials for their service. He also thanked the officials friends and family for their sacrifice and contribution to the community, and led a prayer asking the leaders to be gracious and compassionate ... and love your neighbor as yourself.

The City Council will hold an organizational meeting Jan. 7 at 4 p.m. to elect a new president and vice president and to adopt the council rules, among other items. The School Committee will hold its organizational meeting Jan. 9 at 6:45 p.m. in JFK Middle Schools community room.
New Jersey schools are one step closer to mandatory depression screening amid a mental health crisis thats driving an increase in teen suicide.

A state Assembly committee on Monday signed off on a bill requiring depression screening for public school students in seventh through 12th grade in the stare as long as their parents consent.

Students would take a computerized screening survey at school, and the district would notify parents if their child has been flagged for signs of depression. Parents would be advised by the school that the screening is not the same as a diagnosis, and they should share the results with their childs doctor.

This is a way to make sure that every kid gets screened, so that we can prevent future tragedies, said Assemblyman Herb Conaway, D-Burlington.

Conaway, a physician who proposed the bill in 2018, pointed to an American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that all children 12 and older get screened for depression.

Though still rare, suicide has increased among young people both in New Jersey and nationwide. The number of suicides among 10 to 24 year olds increased 56% between 2007 and 2017, according to federal data. In 2017, New Jersey documented 100 suicides in the 15- to 24-year-old age group, its highest total since the 1990s.

An NJ Advance Media investigation published in October found tens of thousands of New Jersey students attend schools without the recommended number of counselors, and mental health treatment remains inaccessible or unaffordable for many families.

Depression screening in schools could help parents identify their childs symptoms and get treatment before they are in crisis, lawmakers said.

The last thing we want to do is hear in the news that there is another young child committing suicide, said Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera, D-Camden.

The bill passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee unanimously, despite questions about the confidentiality of the screening results and the potential for false positives.

Conaway said a students screening results would remain private like other school health records. He expects a small percentage of students to be flagged, he said.

The proposal still needs approval from the full Assembly and the state Senate as well as Gov. Phil Murphy before it would become law.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Supplier News

7 January 2020

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Over the weekend, the New York Times and the Associated Press both reported that the choice to launch the drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani had been on a menu of options that top officials had presented to President Donald Trump for how to respond to recent Iranian-orchestrated violence against U.S. personnel in Iraq. According to the Times, Pentagon officials have often offered improbable options to presidents to make other possibilities appear more palatableand they were surprised that he chose this one.

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What were these officials possibly thinking? After three years of Trump repeatedly upending traditional U.S. military and foreign policy practice on a whim, what made Trumps aides so confident he wouldnt take the most extreme course of action? Perhaps they took him at his word that he wanted to make peace with Iran and avoid endless wars in the Middle East. But this episode suggests that the people whose job involves analyzing the behaviors of foreign countries leaders dont have all that good a grasp of their own.

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The report also flatly contradicts the administrations initial rationale for the strike: that it was defensive action necessary to prevent Soleimani from carrying out an imminent attack. Trump reiterated this official line in a statement from Mar-a-Lago on Friday. Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel but we caught him in the act and terminated him, the statement read.

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But subsequent reporting suggests there was no ticking bomb. The Soleimani strike was first raised not as a preventive measure, but as a response to an attack on a U.S. facility in Iraq that killed an American contractor a week earlier. Trump initially opted for one of the more moderate options, airstrikes against five facilities of the Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah. According to the Times, he only opted for the more extreme step of killing Soleimani after he watched, fuming, as television reports showed Iranian-backed attacks on the American Embassy in Baghdada scene that he felt was reminiscent of the attack on the consulate in Benghazi, Libya, during the Obama administration, which he feared would make the U.S. look weak. Its also not as if this idea came out of nowhere. According to the Washington Posts reporting, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a longtime Iran hawk, first spoke with Trump about killing Soleimani months ago, but the president wasnt interested.

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The timeline is a little murky, but in the APs account, officials prepared a legal justification and to cite intelligence suggesting that Soleimani was traveling in the Middle East to put final touches on plans for attacks that would have hit U.S. diplomats, but did so after Trump had ordered a strike on Soleimani, as they were learning theyd have an opportunity to take him out during his visit to Baghdad on Jan. 2.

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Some reporters and lawmakers have since questioned just how solid that intelligence and how imminent the threat really was. And even Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley has conceded that its possible the attack in question might still happen even with Soleimani gone.* But more to the point, it would be quite a coincidence if it became a military necessity to kill Soleimani to prevent an attack at the exact time that the administration needed a justification for what officials viewed as a disproportionate response to a previous attack. A lot of comparisons have been made to the disingenuous pitch made for the Iraq war, but this behavior is beyond even those lies. Its as if the Bush administration had started accusing Saddam Hussein of developing weapons of mass destruction a day after the U.S. invaded.

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In any case, by the day after the strike, Trump had more or less dispensed with the prevention charade, tweeting, They attacked us, & we hit back as well as retweeting others blaming Soleimani (correctly) for the deaths of American troops in Iraq and (incorrectly) for Benghazi.

Soleimani has been considered a threat for some time. Two previous presidents as well as this president up until last week considered the risks of killing him greater than the risks of keeping him alive.

As with the legal rationale for the strike, Trumps team may consider this needless quibbling. The point is that we took a bad guy off the battlefield, as Pompeo put it. Or as an exasperated anonymous State Department official told reporters, Jesus, do we have to explain why we do these things?

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The problem, in a situation of military escalation as volatile as this one, is that misinterpretation and misread motives are already inevitable. If this was really done to prevent a concrete attack, the administration needs to present evidence. If Trump believes this was a proportionate response to last months attacks, and a means of deterring future ones, he should make that case. By appearing to be crafting his rationale on the fly, Trump makes it easier for Iran to portray this as a wholly unwarranted act of aggression and sidestep discussion of Soleimanis own acts of violence.

If you cant even define your own motives, the enemy will do it for you.
Crude Oil Price Reverses Lower Again After US Missile Attack

Normally, after tensions between Iran/Iraq and the US flare-up, Oil and Gold rally quite extensively but reversed sharply lower by the end of the session.

Yes, Gold is 1% higher today and was up over $35 overnight, but Crude Oil has actually moved lower today which is a fairly strong indication that disruptions in oil supply from the Middle East are not as concerning as they were 10+ years ago. Traders and investors dont believe this isolated targeted missile attack will result in any extended aggression between the US and Iran.

When past conflicts in the Middle East happened, Oil would typically rally and Gold would spike higher as well. Consider this a reflex action to uncertain oil supply issues and concerns that global market uncertainty could crash the markets. Gold seems like an easy expectation related to this type of uncertainty as it continues to act as a hedge against many risks like missiles/war, financial uncertainties etc

In my pre-market video report to subscribers today (Monday, Jan 6th) I pointed out how the price of crude oil was testing a critical resistance area form the last time there were missiles fired. Todays reversal is not a huge surprise and in fact, it looks like an exhaustion top.

Oil, on the other hand, has experienced one of the longer price declines in recent history, from the peak price near $147 near July 2008 to levels currently near $63. But we saw a low price for oil below $30 (near February 2016).

Crude Oil Daily Chart

I believe a technical resistance channel may be pushing Oil prices lower today as the price has continued to rotate lower after moving into this extended Resistance Channel. It may be that global traders dont believe this conflict with Iran will result in any type of massive oil supply disruption or risk for the global markets right away. The Resistance Channel, between $63 and $65.50, has continued to act as a price ceiling over the past 7+ months.

Crude Oil Weekly Chart

Our proprietary Fibonacci Price Modeling system is highlighting similar levels near $64 and $50. This price modeling system maps and tracks price rotation using a proprietary adaptive Fibonacci price theory model. These levels, highlighted on this chart, represent immediate price target levels for any upside move (CYAN, already reached) and any downside move (BLUE, suggesting a move back towards $50 may be in the works).

If Oil is not capable of breaking above this Resistance Channel, then Fibonacci Price Theory would suggest price must turn lower and attempt to establish a new LOW PRICE level that is below recent low price levels.

If this Resistance Channel continues to act as a solid price ceiling, Crude Oil may turn lower over the first few quarters of 2020 and attempt to target levels near or below $50 fairly soon. Skilled traders should prepare for this type of move and identify opportunities for profits in the near future.

In fact, I also gave subscribers a head up that GDXJ and TLT were going to gap higher and likely be under pressure all session. Also, I showed how the SP500 was going to gap lower deep into oversold territory and likely rally strongly just like last Friday, all of these things happened perfectly today.

Pre-market GDXJ, SPY, TLT warning of price gaps into extreme territories beyond the small colored lines: Red (overbought level), and Green (oversold level)

Pre-Market Chart Analysis

End Of Day Market Movements

My point is my team and I have a good pulse on the major markets and can profit during times when most others cant which is why you should join my Wealth Trading Newsletter for index, metals, and energy trade alerts. Visit our website to learn how you can see what this research is telling us.

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Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic



Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better.



His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility.



He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk

Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect.

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Mark Esper would not explicitly confirm Tuesday if he would resign as Defense Department secretary if Donald Trump instructed him to carry out war crimes.

'My question is not hypothetical. The president is out there with his position. If you get an order, would your resign from office rather than violate the law?' CNN's Pentagon reporter Barbara Starr asked Esper during a press briefing Tuesday afternoon.

'Barbara, I'm not going to get into some hypothetical that you're portraying here,' Esper shot back. 'I'm fully confident that the president is not going  the commander in chief will not give us an illegal order. And like I said, the United States Military will  as it always has  obey the laws of armed conflict.'

Trump directed an attack on an Iraqi airport that took out Iranian General Qassem Soleimani on Friday.

Department of Defense Secretary Mark Esper wouldn't answer a question Tuesday on if he would rather resign than carry out an illegal attack on Iranian cultural sites if the president ordered it. 'The United States Military will obey the laws of armed conflict,' he deflected

Trump threatened Saturday that if Iran retaliated against America, he would hit back harder by targeting 52 Iranian sites that are 'important to Iran & the Iranian culture'

He walked back on this claim during an Oval Office meeting Tuesday, claiming he would 'obey the law'

Two days after Soleimani's death, Trump threatened the U.S. would target 52 different Iranian sites if the Middle Eastern nation launched a retaliation to the drone strike that took out one of its top military leaders.

'Iran has been nothing but problems for many years,' Trump tweeted Saturday. 'Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!'

Trump walked back on his previous threat Tuesday afternoon, claiming in an Oval Office meeting that he would not attack sites that are significant to Iranian culture.

'They're allowed to kill our people, they're allowed to maim our people, they're allowed to blow up everything that we have and there's nothing that stops them,' Trump said. 'And we are, according to a various laws, supposed to be very careful with their cultural heritage.'

'And, you know what, if that's what the law is  I like to obey the law,' he said, contradicting the tweet he sent a day after a drone strike he ordered took out Soleimani.

'But think of it,' he continued, 'they kill our people, they blow up our people and then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions.'

'But I'm OK with it, it's OK with me,' he insisted. 'I will say this: If Iran does anything that they shouldn't be doing, they're going to be suffering the consequences, and very strongly.'

He also posted to Twitter on Sunday, two days after the attack, that the U.S. would strike back against Iran 'in a disproportionate manner' if Tehran retaliated against America.

Iranian General Qassem Soleimani (pictured) was killed in a U.S. ordered drone strike on Friday

'These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner. Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!' Trump tweeted.

Democratic politicians and lawmakers claimed these threats, if carried out, would constitute war crimes.

The CNN reporter also asked if Iran was solely responsible for de-escalating tensions between D.C. and Tehran.

Esper essentially said since they were the ones instigating, Iran should now stop the situation from boiling over. The Defense secretary also said the U.S. was only acting in 'self defense' in ordering the strike that took out Soleimani.

'Well we are not the ones who have escalated this over the past arguably 40 years and certainly over the past several months,' Esper responded to Starr. 'It's been Iran through its proxies and it has consistently escalated this terms of the size, scale, scope of its attacks.'

'So we've reached the point where we had to act in self defense we had to take appropriate action,' he continued. 'So at this point, as I've said a few times now, the ball is in their court. What they do next will determine what happens in the subsequent moves.'

Esper officially assumed office as Trump's second Pentagon chief on July 2019  almost six months after ex-Defense Secretary James Mattis stepped down from his post. Mattis was one of Trump's original administration officials.

If Esper resigned, Trump would face selecting the third DoD secretary of his first term.
The state of unrest in the nation intensified furthermore ever since masked people entered the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Sunday night and vandalised a dormitory and severely injured a lot of students.

A wave of support has been unleashed for the students both online and on the streets as well. Bollywood celebrities also joined the chorus and took to the streets of Mumbai to raise their voice against the JNU attack.

One prominent celeb who has been tweeting and retweeting everything related to the JNU attack is filmmaker Anurag Kashyap who also joined the protests in Mumbai. Anurag outrightly blamed Home Minister Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi for the current turbulence in the nation.

He tweeted, The real tukde tukde gang is @BJP4India and ABVP and the leader of the Tukde tukde Gang is @AmitShah and @narendramodi . And let's write that in stone. They are the ones breaking and dividing the country.

The real tukde tukde gang is @BJP4India and ABVP and the leader of the Tukde tukde Gang is @AmitShah and @narendramodi . And let's write that in stone . They are the ones breaking and dividing the country .  Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 5, 2020

Moreover, he also changed his Twitter display picture wherein you can Narendra Modi and Amit Shah in masks.

Just after him changing his display picture, the director started to face severe backlash and a certain section of people on Twitter started branding him as an 'ISIS terrorist'.

2001 me parliament attack k



aatankwaadio k lie mercy petition daalne waale bollytrds



Nd miyaan @anuragkashyap72



think dt Hindu as a terrorist



Bt we don't hav ny thing to wet wth him  @anuragkashyap72



#AnuragKashyapISIS_Terrorist



Bcz terrorist hs no religion at all https://t.co/T6U2UAn73f  #ISUPPORTCAA (@prakashcruise51) January 7, 2020

#AnuragKashyapISIS_Terrorist New terrorist in our country.  Dheeraj Singh (@dheerajsingh73) January 6, 2020

@PMOIndia you should take serious action against @anuragkashyap72 .



He upload profile picture @narendramodi and @AmitShah as a "Gunda" ?



How Dare You #AnuragKashyapISIS_Terrorist ,if you are front of me I seriously tell you I'm put in your ass one large stick.@pkmhindu  Indian Politics News (@IndianPoliticsN) January 6, 2020

#AnuragKashyapISIS_Terrorist This Bastard @anuragkashyap72 is trying to ruin India. @PMOIndia and Honorable Home Minister @AmitShah, I request you to arrest this bastard and interrogate him. I suspect that He has connections with PFI, ISIS and Many terrorist outfits.  Arjun C Shekar (@arjuncshekarth1) January 7, 2020

Govt should start calling them terrorist instead of urban naxal #AnuragKashyapISIS_Terrorist  Rajesh Sharma (@RajeshS29538751) January 6, 2020

Not only Anurag Kashyap there are many ISIS terrorists in bollywood like Farhan Akhtar, Zeeshan Ayyub, Swara Bhaskar and many more. #AnuragKashyapISIS_Terrorist  Halala Expert (@HalalaaExpert) January 7, 2020

A lot of people were also quick to defend the director and flooded Twitter with the hashtag #IStandWithAnuragKashyap.

When exposing a crime is treated as committing a crime, we are being ruled by criminals.

Thanks sir @anuragkashyap72#IStandwithAnuragKashyap pic.twitter.com/ZAw8avbJvo  Sumit Saxena (@vizsumit) January 6, 2020

#IStandwithAnuragKashyap b'coz at least someone raised his voice against this fascist govt.

Remember the song"   " from"gangs if " . that's what he is doing now#IStandwithAnuragKashyap pic.twitter.com/u6wpnFaReY  sourav sunelwal (@DADDY_COOL_07) January 7, 2020

These are the real hero of Bollywood, they have guts to face all this shit as compare to so called actors..#IStandwithAnuragKashyap pic.twitter.com/b68EGZRzIK  Shahwaz siddiqui (@rehaansiddiquei) January 7, 2020

In an interview with Indian Express earlier, Kashyap said, I condemn the way police are controlled. The common man has been intimidated so much that now he is not afraid. We stand by the students, and they are our inspiration. I don't want to give them any message. The students' message has woken us up. I ran away from Twitter and was busy with my work. I was like, 'Why should I bother? I am earning money and doing work.' Students have shown me the way. They have woken me up. I returned because of them. I stand with them. I stand behind them. I am learning from them.

What are your thoughts about this current state of unrest in the country? Do let us know in the comments section below.
The United Campus Workers of Georgia and the Athens Coalition for Recognition and Redress rallied outside the University System of Georgia Board of Regents meeting at the Georgia Center on Oct. 15. The groups protested against the $450 special institutional fee and for raising the University of Georgia's minimum wage.
New Delhi, Jan 7 : The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of upto 2.39 per cent stake in Star Health and Allied Insurance Company by ROC Star Investment Trust under the green channel mode.

Green channel is an automatic approval system, whereby a combination is deemed to have been approved by the CCI upon receiving the filing of the notice for the combination by the concerned parties. Officials with the anti-trust body said that it is this combination is the first filing and approval under the green channel route.

"The proposed transaction entails acquisition of upto approximately 2.39 per cent of the equity share capital of Star Health from Snowdrop Capital PTE Limited. Post the consummation of the proposed combination, ROC will have certain rights including non-control conferring veto rights in Star Health," said the summary of the combination on the CCI website.

"The proposed combination is in the nature of an acquisition under Section 5(a) of the Competition Act, 2002," it added.

Star Health is a general insurer and is currently also engaged in the business of health insurance and deals in personal accident, mediclaim and overseas travel insurance as well. The company operates its business of selling policies through licensed intermediaries such as corporate agents, brokers and insurance agents in India.

ROC Star Investment is an investment vehicle managed by ROC Capital Pty Limited, an Australian investment management company.
Michelle Williams thanks God for abortion; pro-life women respond: Babies worth more than trophies

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After Michelle Williams used her platform to promote abortion at the Golden Globes Sunday, pro-life advocates and conservative leaders took to social media to condemn the actresss sad comments.

Williams, who won Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie for her role on "Fosse/Verdon," told the crowd Sunday evening that she was grateful to have lived at a moment in our society when choice exists, because as women and as girls, things can happen to our bodies that are not our choice.

I've tried my very best to live a life of my own making and not just a series of events that happened to me, but one that I could stand back and look at and recognize my handwriting all over it  sometimes messy and scrawling, sometimes careful and precise, but one that I have carved with my own hand.

I wouldn't have been able to do this without employing a woman's right to choose, she added. In an interview afterward, when asked by a reporter if she had personal experience to back up her statement, Williams refused to elaborate.

The actress, who also used the occasion to show off her new pregnancy at the ceremony with fiance Thomas Kail, a film director, encouraged women to vote to support abortion. I know my choices might look different but thank God or whomever you pray to that we live in a country founded on the principle that I am free to live by my faith and you are free to live by yours," Williams said. "So women, 18 to 118, when it is time to vote, please do so in your own self-interest; it's what men have been doing for years, she added.

Williams speech came after British comedian Ricky Gervais urged Golden Globes attendees to avoid political issues. So if you do win an award tonight, dont use it as a platform to make a political speech, he said. Youre in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world.

While Williams speech was met with applause from the audience, pro-life advocates and conservative leaders took to social media to condemn her comments.

Lila Rose, anti-abortion activist and founder of Live Action, tweeted. No trophy is worth more than a child's life. Sacrificing our children to pursue our dreams is the total antithesis of women's empowerment.

She later added, Babies do not keep us from our dreams. Babies make us better, more loving, more giving. They are the source and inspiration for our best dreams. So grateful that Ive been privileged with the precious gift of being a mother.

Babies do not keep us from our dreams. Babies make us better, more loving, more giving. They are the source and inspiration for our best dreams. So grateful that Ive been privileged with the precious gift of being a mother.  Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) January 7, 2020

Planned Parenthood Director turned Pro-Life Advocate Abby Johnson tweeted: Michelle Williams wants you believe that you have to kill your children in order to be successful. Well, I have eight children and have met all of my educational and career goals. To say that we must choose is an insult to the strength of women and motherhood.

How sad it must be to trade an innocent human life for a tiny golden statue. Praying for Michelle Williams, she added.

Michelle Williams wants you believe that you have to kill your children in order to be successful. Well, I have 8 children and have met all of my educational and career goals. To say that we must choose is an insult to the strength of women and motherhood.  Abby Johnson (@AbbyJohnson) January 6, 2020

Conservative writer Matt Walsh tweeted, Michelle Williams got up on stage while pregnant and bragged about killing her child, then the audience full of rich, drug addled narcissists applauded while crying tears of joy. Hollywood is a cesspool. Gervais was way understating the case.

Michelle Williams got up on stage while pregnant and bragged about killing her child, then the audience full of rich, drug addled narcissists applauded while crying tears of joy. Hollywood is a cesspool. Gervais was way understating the case. https://t.co/5vMk8RngoK  Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) January 6, 2020

Author Melissa Ohden, a pro-life advocate who survived a botched abortion, wrote: As usual, the Hollywood elite take a stand on abortion and show how little they really know about the issue. Its sad, really, to see Michelle Williams (currently pregnant, nonetheless), state that shes achieved what she has because of her right to choose. Clearly, shes achieved what she has in spite of abortion, not because of it.

Williams speech came just a week after a group of Republican lawmakers submitted a brief to the Supreme Court urging it to reconsider the landmark case Roe v. Wade.

In an amicus brief signed by 38 senators and 168 members of the House, the federal legislators urged the nation's highest court to revisit the core holdings in the cases that have enshrined abortion as a constitutional right for decades, particularly Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, a 1992 decision that upheld and reinforced Roe and created the undue burden standard to evaluate laws that restrict abortions.

On Twitter, the pro-life group Americans United for Life said Williams had clearly embraced the false choice of Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

The group tweeted, Michelle Williams embraces the false choice of SCOTUS's Casey decision, which ignored the morality of abortion itself and lamely claimed that women can only achieve equality through the violence of abortion. We can do better.
An undertrial prisoner allegedly slapped an advocate at a court in Maharashtra's Thane district, a police official said on Tuesday.

The incident took place at Chopda Court in Ulhasnagar township on Monday following which lawyers went on a day-long strike in protest, he said.

The accused, Rahul Tak, was brought to the court for a case hearing, inspector R K Kote said.

While standing in a corner, Tak called advocate Rajendra Bhalerao, who had defended him in earlier cases, towards him to say something, the official said.

As the advocate went to the accused, the latter allegedly used abusive language and slapped him, Kote said.

When a woman lawyer tried to rescue her colleague, the accused threatened both of them with dire consequences, the official said.

The police later caught hold of Tak and took him away, he said, without giving details of the charges against the accused and the prison where he was lodged.

The local bar association took serious note of the incident and submitted a written complaint to the court.

The lawyers condemned the incident and later went on a day-long strike.

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

* Amity Middle School in Bethany was recognized as one of the top middle schools in Connecticut in the Governors 2019 Summer Reading Challenge. Two of the schools avid readers, Virginia Luciano and Sebastian Kohncke, represented Amity Middle School in Bethany along with Dr. Marie McPadden, Amitys Director of Curriculum and Staff Development, at the award ceremony on November 21, 2019 at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford. Governor Ned Lamont and Dr. Miguel A. Cardona, Commissioner of Education, presented the award. Students at Amity Middle School in Bethany read 1,622 books, and 100 percent of the student body participated in the challenge.

* Kiana Tan, a Westover School sophomore from Seymour, organized a community service project that provided 11 holiday gift bags to children affiliated with Regional Hospice, based in Danbury. In the fall, Kiana worked on the project with Robyn Ames, Westovers Community Services Director, and Mary Beth Hickey, Director of the Regional Hospices Volunteer Youth Program and School Outreach. She organized her fund-raising efforts through social media and door-to-door solicitation, as well as additional funds through the sale of PuraVida bracelets to Westover students. As a result, she purchased enough gifts to provide holiday bags for children and teenagers, ranging from 10 months to 18 years old. All of the children are affiliated with the Regional Hospice program and include patients, their siblings, and one child of a Hospice patient.
Its amazing Deion Shumate was alive to testify Tuesday during the Dauphin County trial for the man who is accused of nearly killing him.

On the night of March 24, 2018, Shumate was shot 12 times outside Double Ds bar in Harrisburg. His friend, 20-year-old Jawan Washington, took three bullets in the chest and was killed.

Yet when he was called to the witness stand, Shumate told the jury he doesnt know who shot him. He said he cant really remember the shooting, either.

Its just a blur, Shumate said under questioning by District Attorney Fran Chardo.

Charles Williams, the man Chardo claims committed the shooting, was sitting just a few feet away in Judge William T. Tullys courtroom.

Chardo is seeking convictions of first-degree murder and attempted murder for the gunplay at the bar in the 500 block of South 19th Street. Those would send the 43-year-old Williams to prison for the rest of his life.

Shumate testified that he only remembers leaving Double Ds, then waking up in the hospital weeks later.

Chardo asked him to list his wounds for the jury. Shumate said he was hit in the lip and chin and both arms. Six bullets pierced his chest. He has to wear a colostomy bag because of his internal injuries.

Chardo asked Shumate to describe the severity of the pain he still feels. Sometimes its bearable, Shumate said. Sometimes its unbearable.

On cross-examination by defense attorney Petra Gross, Shumate said he and Washington were at the bar that night to celebrate Washingtons birthday. They were drinking alcohol, taking Percocet and smoking marijuana, he said.

Shumate said they had no conflict with Williams. He said he barely knew who Williams was, and that he believes Washington didnt know Williams at all.

He said he told police he didnt see Williams in the bar that night.

Gross noted that $2,535 in cash and two cell phones were found in Shumates pockets after he was rushed to the hospital.

Shumate was wearing handcuffs and an orange prison uniform as he testified. His next stop is federal prison, where hes serving an 81-month sentence after pleading guilty to charges of drug dealing and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Michael Rudy, a member of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, testified about how Williams was captured after being tracked to an apartment in Williamstown in northern Dauphin County in June 2018.

A warrant for Williams arrest had been issued three days after the shooting. Rudy said Williams holed up in the apartment for about two hours before surrendering to a squad of heavily armed officers.

Williams, meanwhile, told Tully he doesnt intend to testify when his trial resumes Wednesday.

Chardos next witness, scheduled to appear Wednesday morning, is an expert who will testify regarding surveillance video from Double Ds that the prosecutors says shows Williams was the gunman.
Adolescent boys who are cyber bullied are more likely to exhibit adverse psychological problems, including depression and risky behaviours such as substance use, and unprotected intercourse with multiple partners.

Based on previous studies, the researchers, including those from the Louisiana State University (LSU) in the US, said boys who are subject to cyber bullying pursue risky sexual behaviours more frequently than girls, reflecting a culture of toxic masculinity.

They added that the study highlights the need to pay special attention to male victims, who may be reluctant to self-identify, and are therefore, at greater risk of negative health outcomes.

As part of the study, the scientists examined gender differences in the relationships between four types of peer victimisation -- school bullying, cyber bullying, physical dating violence and sexual dating violence, depression, and risky sexual behaviors among US high school students.

They assessed the 2015 Youth Risk Behaviour System Survey -- a nationally representative survey of US high school students containing data from more than 5,200 individuals who reported having engaged in sexual intercourse.

Based on the survey inputs, the researchers found that all types of peer victimisation are related to symptoms of depression for both females and males.

Additionally, they said physical and sexual dating violence are associated with increased risky sexual behaviours.

However, the study did not find any relationship between school bullying and risky sexual behaviours.

Among males, it noted that cyber bullying predicts increased risky sexual behaviours, with a greater association between the two when a boy is depressed.

"It is critical to create safe and private spaces for boys to share their experiences, and we hope that this research will encourage schools to consider efforts to destigmatise victimisation through peer mentorship and open communication," said Youn Kyoung Ki, study co-author from LSU.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Local tradespeople from fire-devastated communities will be prioritised to get money from the $2 billion recovery fund to lead the rebuild of Australian towns.

Authorities are also working out the best way to stimulate businesses in tourism centres and farming communities where businesses and roads have been destroyed.

A property destroyed by bushfires at Cobargo on the NSW south coast. Credit:James Brickwood

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told insurance bosses at a meeting in Canberra on Tuesday to prioritise local tradespeople when they started paying out for rebuilds.

"The insurance companies have already lined up builders to start the rebuild process, and what is very pleasing and I underlined this point to the insurance companies today, [is] to prioritise the use of local tradespeople," he told reporters.
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LWF World Service is the humanitarian and development arm of

the Lutheran World Federation. We are a widely recognized, international,

faith-based organization working in over 20 countries. We seek to bring people

of all backgrounds together in the common quest for justice, peace, and

reconciliation in an increasingly complex and fragmented world.

A commitment to the human rights of every individual,

regardless of their status, guides our work, actions, and operations. We are

particularly known for our timely, compassionate, and professional humanitarian

work, and for our field presence in hard-to-reach areas. Our work is

people-centered and community- based. Above all, we work with the most

vulnerable, and in order to claim and uphold their rights, we engage

proactively with local government and community structures.

Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Uganda is part of the LWF

World Service and we are currently supporting Congolese and South-Sudanese

refugees living in settlements in the districts of Kamwenge, Adjumani, Moyo,

Kyangwali and Lamwo respectively.

Job Summary: The Finance Manager is a key member of the

Core Management Team, the Finance Manager is responsible for providing

strategic financial management leadership and support the implementation of

financial policies to ensure effective resource utilization and safeguarding of

LWF Uganda assets. He/she is responsible for having in place efficient and

effective management of LWF cash flows, managing the end-of-period procedures,

ensuring the generation of periodic financial reports, budgeting & budget

control, upholding internal controls, Managing the SAGE accounting System and

technical supervision of all staff in the finance unit.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:



Develop and oversee the implementation of a

comprehensive financial management strategy that allows the country Program to

meet the requirement of LWF and donors policies.



Supervise and manage day-to-day accounting

functions including data entry, regular cash counts, bank reconciliation and

timely submission of financial reports to CMT, Global HQ and donors.



Undertake periodic financial and programmatic

risk assessment while identifying current and potential exposure to risks

across LWF programmes as well as developing an overall risk management

strategy.



Participate in budget preparation and perform

Budget Follow Ups, Co-funding setup and Budget amendments.



Ensure timely donor financial reporting.



Coordinate all internal/external audits, perform

regular reviews of audit reports and follow up on the implementation



of audit recommendations.



Manage liquidity by ensuring LWF Uganda has

adequate cash flow atanyonetime.



Monitor the performance of all projects on a monthly

basis and ensure all high risk items are brought to management attention within

shortest time possible, ensure projects are closed within shortest time

possible.



Perform Budget Vs Actual analysis on monthly

basis and advice management of areas of red flag on over/underspent.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



The applicant must hold a University degree in

Accounting or equivalent. Masters in Finance or Business Administration is

required.



Professional qualification such as ACCA, CPA or

CMA is mandatory.



Eight years of relevant working experience in

working for International NGOs in a humanitarian and development setting.



Significant senior level leadership and

management experience in a large and complex international NGO in finance



Knowledge and use of accounting software

(Preferably SAGE)



Experience in financial reporting and knowledge

of major donor rules including BPRM, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, ECHO, EU



Proven experience in managing large budgets for

multiple donors.



Ability to present complex financial information

in a succinct and compelling manner



Demonstrable experience in strategic management,

results based management in financial matters.



Strong team building skills, Organized and

methodical.



Independence, objectivity and integrity.



Demonstrated ability to thrive in a matrix

management environment.



Highly developed cultural awareness and ability

to work well in an international environment with people from diverse

backgrounds and cultures

How to Apply:

All candidates should submit an updated CV and Application

letter giving a day time telephone contact and email addresses of 3 (three)

work related referees only through our recruitment email to:

recruitment.uga@lutheranworld.org clearly indicating the job title in the email

subject.

Hand delivered applications can also be sent to our Offices

in Kampala. Please indicate the position you have applied for on the top of the

parcel addressed to:

The Human Resource Manager Lutheran World Federation

Plot 1401, Ggaba, Road next to Quality Hill

P.O. Box 5827

Kampala, Uganda.

Deadline: 13th

January 2020 by 5:00pm.

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or

find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 02:55:23|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DUBAI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Tuesday discussed with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison over the phone the latest developments of the bushfires in Australia.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan posted on his official tweeter account, "During a phone call with the Australian Prime Minister I discussed efforts to fight bushfires in the country and I assured him of the UAE's readiness to provide various types of help."

Sheikh Mohamed added that the UAE is ready to support the Australian people by providing necessary expertise, equipment, manpower and other forms of support in the fighting of bushfires and rebuilding efforts.

UAE's Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy will coordinate with the Australian government over the aid provided by the UAE to tackle the crisis, according to the official WAM news agency.

The two leaders also discussed the importance of enhancing cooperation and intensifying regional and international efforts to boost security, stability and peace in the region and globally, WAM said.
Aucklanders are struggling to afford rent, with some ending up sharing rooms with five other adults or sharing beds with flatmates to cut costs  and an expert has warned that the situation could get worse this year.

A small apartment for rent for $360 per week, for example, was expected to be suitable for up to two people but was later found to be too small even for only one person. Some low-wage workers resort to hot bedding, wherein a bed is shared by two people who work on different shifts.

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub predicts that young people would be living in even more cramped space as housing costs continue to rise in proportion to incomes.
Brisbane seniors are unlikely to be given free off-peak travel on trains any time soon, after Brisbane City Council gave them free off-peak travel for ferries and buses.

A petition launched by Enoggera ward councillor Andrew Wines to the parliament requested the state government afford seniors the same perk for trains as for the council-operated buses and ferries.

Seniors won't be given free off-peak travel on trains any time soon. Credit:Robert Shakespeare

Transport Minister Mark Bailey ruled out any immediate changes to fares for seniors, writing in a petition response tabled on Monday evening that TransLink would "continue to work with its delivery partners" to provide affordable transport, but free off-peak travel for seniors was "not under consideration at this time".

Brisbane City Council announced seniors would be given free off-peak travel for all council-operated public transport from October 1 last year, with lord mayor Adrian Schrinner estimating it would cost the council about $3 million in the first year.
Last year in May, Lenovo previewed a foldable PC which it promised to release in 2020. That time has finally arrived as at CES 2020, the company has taken the wraps off the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold  a foldable laptop.

The ThinkPad X1 Fold is largely the same device that Lenovo previewed last year. It features a 13.3-inch touchscreen 2K (2048 x 1536) OLED display with a 4:3 aspect ratio that supports pen input. Theres no word on Lenovo about the internal specs of the X1 Fold, though the company says it runs on Intels hybrid technology platform. The device is stated to offer up to 11 hours of battery life.

The display has been provided by LG and both companies have worked on it for over four years now. Lenovo is also confident about the reliability of the foldable display  something which has become of prime importance after the entire Galaxy Fold fiasco.

The Verge notes that while the middle of the foldable display has a crease, it cannot be easily seen in person. While the ThinkPad X1 Fold runs on Windows 10, Lenovo has customized it for the foldable display. The device will get the Windows 10X update later on which is meant specifically for foldable devices.

Lenovo came up with six different hinge designs and over 20 variations to create its multi-link torque hinge mechanism to better manage stress during fold actions.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold will ship in mid-2020 with a starting price tag of $2,499. A model of the device with optional 5G connectivity will also be available down the line.

Our Take

More than foldable smartphones, I think foldable laptops and tablets make a lot more sense. When traveling, one can fold the device so that it takes up less space and for typing or consuming large content, the device can be unfolded for more screen real estate. What are your thoughts on a foldable PC? Drop a comment and let us know!

[Via The Verge
Burkina Faso: Islamic radicals kill 250 civilians; human rights group details attacks on Christians

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Islamic extremist groups in Burkina Faso killed at least 250 civilians since last April, according to a new report released by a human rights watchdog group that also sheds more details surrounding attacks against churches and worshiping Christians.

On Monday, the nongovernmental organization Human Rights Watch released a new report highlighting the escalation of extremism in the West African country in which one of the fastest-growing displacement crises on the continent is developing as hundreds of thousands fled for their lives last year.

The report is based on interviews with dozens of victims and witnesses of abuses that took place between April and December of last year. The report documents at least 256 civilians murdered in 20 attacks since April 2019.

The al-Qaeda-aligned groups responsible for such attacks, HRW reports, formed in neighboring Mali and have since spread to Burkina Faso. Those groups include Ansaroul Islam and the Islamic State in Greater Sahara.

The report detailed one attack on a Catholic Church that took place on May 12 in the town of Dablo located in the Centre-Nord region. Six people were said to have been killed, including the parish priest, Father Simeon Yampa.

One witness told HRW that the attack began about 15 minutes after the beginning of the 8:30 a.m. Sunday service.

[W]e heard the motorcycles  then saw them through the windows, the witness said. The church was so full that dozens of worshipers had to celebrate outside. One group of jihadists surrounded those outside then another entered the church, creating panic.

Witnesses said the jihadis blocked the doors so no one could escape.

Father Yampa fled outside through his dressing chamber, another witness was quoted as saying. He ran about three meters, but a jihadist pointed his gun at him saying, You will not escape. The priest turned around, raised his hands, clutching the Bible, and sunk to his knees. And the jihadist shot him in the chest, saying, Allahu Akbar.

Inside the church, dozens of worshipers were trapped, witnesses said. The churchgoers were ordered to exit the church one-by-one and hand the extremists their identification cards and cellphones.

Another witness said the extremists ordered churchgoers to abandon Christianity. After the executions, another witness said the extremists burned robes, church documents, Bibles, musical instruments and two cars.

They ordered about 20 men to lie down outside, a few meters from the church, all face down in a row, a witness was quoted as saying. Then they started killing. I couldnt look.  I just prayed. ... Then one of them received a phone call and the killing stopped.

While Burkina Faso was formerly known as a somewhat peaceful country, attacks carried out by Islamic extremist groups have increased since 2016. Attacks on civilians and summary executions increased exponentially in 2019 as violence in the country has become one of the most disturbing global trends of the past year.

Although attacks had been largely concentrated in Burkina Fasos northern region, violence spread to other regions in 2019 since extremist groups are concentrating recruitment efforts on the nomadic Fulani herding communities, according to HRW.

Meanwhile, victims of attacks have largely been farming communities.

Witnesses told HRW that assailants tried to justify the killings by associating the victims with the government, the West or Christianity. Witnesses said the victims were gunned down in marketplaces, in villages, at churches and mosques, and while on the way to displacement camps.

Despite being blamed for the atrocities, HRW notes that Islamic extremist groups have rarely claimed responsibility for attacks.

Armed Islamist groups in Burkina Faso have attacked civilians with unmitigated cruelty and utter disregard for human life, HRW West Africa director Corinne Dufka said in a statement. Deliberately targeting farmers, worshipers, mine workers, displaced people and traders are war crimes.

On May 13, 2019, extremists killed four Catholics as they participated in a Marian procession in the Bam province and burned their statue of Mary.

We were around 70 people accompanying the virgin from village to village when suddenly, I saw seven motorcycles with two heavily armed men on each come racing towards us, a victim of the attack told HRW.

The virgin was in a motorized tricycle with about 10 people and the rest of us were walking. All who could, including me, scattered, but those in the tricycle didnt have time. Some minutes later, I heard gunfire. Around 4 p.m., we returned and found the bodies of our four brothers, face down, about 40 meters from the path.

The HRW report also documents another church attack that took place in Silgadji village after service on April 28. A pastor and five congregants of an Assemblies of God congregation were killed in the attack.

As the service ended, I saw around 20 armed men surrounding the church as the women prepared lunch, a witness told HRW. Twenty others blocked the paths out of the village. One jihadist took out a list of people they said were working with the Kogloweago [a local defense group], calling out the names, which included the elderly Pastor Pierre Ouedraogo and his son.

They ordered them to lie face down, then a jihadist shot them ... two times each in the head, the witnessed continued. People were horrified. ... The victims were all [ethnic] Mossi. Then they took the food that had been prepared, put it in the tricycle belonging to one of the men executed, and left.

Suspected Islamic extremists attacked a Protestant church in the Est region on Dec. 1, 2019. A total of 14 were killed, including pastor Woba Noe and a 12-year-old boy.

The women wailed in grief, one witness told HRW. My cousin was among the dead. The jihadists took the mens [identity cards] and, from my cousin, they also took his Bible.

The HRW report also documented the killing of 35 civilians in Arbinda in December as well as an attack on Dolmane mine workers in November.

Last September, 19 civilians were killed during an attack on a convoy of motorized tricycles bringing humanitarian aid from Dablo to Kelbo.

Last October, 23 were killed in an attack on an artisanal goldmine in the Sahel region. In the same month, 13 were killed in Pobe Mengao village after being accused of collaborating with government forces.

On Oct. 11, at least 14 men were executed as they left a village mosque in the Salmossi village.

In July, 22 people were reportedly killed in an attack on Dibilou village, HRW reports.

The Islamist armed groups need to immediately end their attacks on civilians, Dufka said in a statement. At the same time, the Burkina Faso government should take stronger steps to protect vulnerable communities from harm and impartially investigate and appropriately prosecute those implicated in war crimes.



Kristen Knutson, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, believes that the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso will likely increase in 2020.



The situation is really unprecedented for Burkina Faso, she told The New Humanitarian. The impact on the affected population has been quite severe, and the number of people in need of assistance has grown rapidly over the course of the year."
The Dental Studio of Midland Offers Life-Changing Full Mouth Dental Implants Dr. Thompson has really changed the way I personally feel. Now, I can actually smile.

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New York: Mexicans seeking asylum in the United States could be sent to Guatemala under a bilateral agreement signed by the Central American nation last year, according to documents sent to US asylum officers in recent days.

In a January 4 email, field office staff at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) were told Mexican nationals would be included in the populations "amenable" to the agreement with Guatemala.

The first Central American asylum seeker sent to Guatemala under that country's "safe third country" agreement with the US, Erwin Jose Ardon, right, is welcomed home by his grandmother Elda Bardales, in Colon, Honduras, in November. He opted to return to his home in Honduras instead. Credit:AP

The agreement, brokered last July between the administration of Republican President Donald Trump and the outgoing Guatemalan government, allows US immigration officials to send migrants requesting asylum at the US-Mexican border to apply for protection in Guatemala instead.

Trump has made clamping down on unlawful migration a top priority of his presidency and a major theme of his 2020 re-election campaign. His administration penned similar deals with Honduras and El Salvador last year.
NORWALK, Connecticut, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Charles Hinnant, founder of the Charkit Chemical Company ("Charkit") and a member of the LBB Specialties Advisory Board, announced today that Darren J. Birkelbach has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of LBB Specialties LLC ("LBB Specialties").

Mr. Birkelbach, who joined LBB Specialties in May 2019 as President, American International Chemical ("AIC"), will have oversight for all commercial and operational functions across LBB Specialties - including AIC, Charkit, and future acquisitions. A seasoned industry executive with over 25 years' experience in specialty chemical distribution, Mr. Birkelbach has a successful track record driving business growth in diverse roles that include sales and marketing, operations, and finance.

In addition, Jay Lang, formerly President of Charkit, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Strategic Business Development for LBB Specialties. In this capacity, Mr. Lang will lead key commercial growth initiatives for both organizations. He also will play a key role in assessing potential acquisition targets for fit within the LBB Specialties portfolio.

Commented Mr. Hinnant, "LBB Specialties' growth strategy will enable AIC and Charkit to offer our customers and principals even stronger partnerships than we can today. Redeploying our two Presidents to enterprise-wide roles will facilitate strategic alignment to maximize growth, which LBB Specialties is committed to pursuing via the AIC and Charkit brands."

Concludes Mr. Birkelbach, "LBB Specialties is perfectly positioned for accelerated growth through our focused market coverage, strong relationships with specialty product principals, acquisition strategy, and commitment to provide top-notch service and quality to our growing customer base. I'm excited to begin my expanded role and the opportunity to work alongside the entire team to meet and exceed expectations."

About LBB Specialties LLC

LBB Specialties LLC, through its subsidiary companies American International Chemical, LLC ("AIC") and Charkit Chemical Company, LLC ("Charkit"), is a leader in the North American specialty chemical and ingredients distribution industry, with annual sales surpassing $200 million.

The LBB Specialties companies source high quality products from hundreds of suppliers and serve thousands of customers in all of the specialty ingredient markets. These include but are not limited to the aroma, biotech, flavor and fragrance, food and beverage, HI&I, imaging, life sciences, metal and water treatment, nutritional, paint and coatings, personal care, pharmaceutical, and specialty industrial markets. LBB Specialties is a subsidiary of LeBaronBrown Industries LLC.

About American International Chemical, LLC

AIC is an ISO Registered specialty chemical and ingredient sales and marketing company serving the North American market since 1972. AIC's success reflects its customer-focused company culture, along with strategic partnerships with global manufacturers committed to quality and product innovation to meet the demands of the North American markets.

About Charkit Chemical Company, LLC

Founded in 1982 by Charles Hinnant, Charkit has built a reputation as a leading provider of unique specialty chemicals across a spectrum of diverse industries. Their team of experienced sales representatives collaborate closely with customers to provide solutions to complex issues while creating long-term business relationships. In June 2019, Charkit added custom blending capabilities to the LBB Specialties portfolio with its acquisition of Custom Ingredients and CA Specialities.

Media Contact:

Carolyn Finn

Vice President, Human Resources

LBB Specialties LLC

32 Haviland Street, Norwalk, CT 06854

203-299-3299 (office)

cfinn@lbbspecialties.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1062686/LBB_Specialties_Darren_Birkelbach.jpg
New Delhi, Jan 8 : As a Delhi court issued death warrants for the four convicts on Tuesday, the Tihar jail administration has started the preparations for the hangings.

Tihar Jail Director General Sandeep Goyal told IANS on Tuesday that Uttar Pradesh jail administration has agreed to provide a hangman required to conduct the hangings.

"We contacted the UP jail Director General Anand Kumar for a hangman to which he said that he will arrange a hangman from Meerut jail," said Goyal.

When asked that before how many days a hangman will be required, he said, "It is a long process but yes the place from where UP jail administration will be sending the hangman to Tihar is not too far from Delhi so we will call the hangman accordingly." Pawan Jallad, who is expected to carry out the hangings, told IANS: "As of now I am in Saharanpur. I was been told to be ready to conduct the hangings of the Nirbhaya case convicts. As soon as I receive an official information from the Meerut jail, I will reach Tihar jail." "I have said earlier also that the execution in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder should happen as early as possible. If the government had expedited on executing the hanging of the Nirbhaya case convicts, the Hyderabad case might not have happened," said Pawan.

"I come from the family of executioners. I don't need much practice. I will only have to inspect the noose and the execution place once, see the measurement of the convicts and prepare myself for the execution," added Pawan.

He said I am the fourth generation after my great grandfather (Lakshman Jallad), grandfather (Kalu Ram Jallad) and father Mammu Jallad. I leant the execution from them only. "It is not an easy job. It is a job which has a lot of responsibilities because on mistake of the hangman can put the convict in more pain," Pawan said.

For the first time, Pawan executed a hanging at Patiala Central Jail with his grandfather, when he hanged two brothers. Pawan, who has executed five hangings with his grandfather till now, said: "When I executed my first hanging with my grandfather, I was 20-22 year old now I am 58." Pawan recalls that the last execution that he did with his grandfather was of a convict in the Bulandshahar gang rape and murder case in 1988 at the Central Jail.

Pawan said that he is happy to know that there are all the possibilities that he will only execute the hangings of the Nirbhaya case convicts. He is also happy that despite being executing the hangings for whole of his life he remained poor.

Now, he will get around Rs 1 lakh (Rs 25,000 per convict) for hanging four convicts which will improve his financial situation for a few days at least.

(Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be reached at sanjeev.c@ians.in)
Louth councillor Ruairi O Murchu has submitted a motion to Louth County Council which calls on the government not to organise State commemorations for British forces of occupation.

Explaining the reasons for the motion, Cllr O Murchu stated:

The decision of the government, instigated by the Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan, to hold a State commemoration on 17th January for members of the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police is an insult to those who resisted the brutal and bloody oppression of British rule.

The RIC maintained and enforced British misrule in Ireland. They acted as the eyes and ears of the British Empire, operating out of Dublin Castle.

They used brutal and bloody means to uphold the British occupation and to suppress the will of the Irish people for self determination and national independence. These deeds should certainly not be commemorated in any official way by the Irish state.

While many who joined the RIC did so out of economic necessity or civic mindedness, the fact remains that the RIC was an arm of British occupation in Ireland.

Everyone has a right to remember their dead as they see fit, however it is unheard of for a State which continues to struggle for national freedom and self determination to honour those who worked to deny this.

There remain six Irish counties which are still under British jurisdiction. Ireland still has not achieved full independence.

This latest decision by Fine Gael is a reminder although they may pay lip service to Irish freedom and reunification, their actions do not inspire confidence.

Sinn Fein has called on the government to cancel this event and I am calling on members of Louth County Council to ensure that State commemorations of this nature do not take place in the future.
ACWA Power, a leading international developer and operator of power generation and water desalination projects, signed two long-term power purchase agreements (PPA) with Ethiopia's state-owned electricity producer Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) for two 125 MWac solar photovoltaic (PV) projects at USD 2.526 cents/kWh over 20 years. Implementation Agreements were also signed with the Government of Ethiopia, represented by the Ministry of Finance. The signing ceremony was attended by H.E. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, H.E. Sami bin Jameel Abdullah, Saudi Ambassador to Ethiopia, H.E. Ato Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia's Minister of Finance, Dr. Abraham Belay, Chief Executive Officer of EEP, Tilahun Haile, Director of Ethiopia's Public-Private Partnerships Directorate General (PPP-DG) of the Ministry of Finance, and Paddy Padmanathan, President and Chief Executive Officer of ACWA Power.

ACWA Power won the bid for the two PV plants of 125 MWac each during the first round of Ethiopia's solar programme organised by the PPP-DG under the new PPP law, and signed a Letter of Intent with the Ministry of Finance and EEP in October 2019.

Ethiopia has highly ambitious growth plans that require a reliable, secure and affordable supply of energy. Our focus is to expand our renewables capacity and we are confident that ACWA Power's leadership and international expertise in this sector will benefit us significantly. We are proud to be working with ACWA Power on the lowest-tariff project in Africa. We believe this partnership will aid us tremendously in creating long term sustainable value for our nation and communities

H.E. Ato Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia's Minister of Finance

The two projects are key to strengthening our renewable energy delivery. Though the first under the public-private partnership framework, we believe that they will set the stage for future collaborations in the Ethiopian energy sector. With the PPAs in place we are confident of achieving the development and implementation of these two solar projects in a timely manner and securing sustainable power to meet our growing demands

Tilahun Haile, Director of Ethiopia's Public-Private Partnerships Directorate General (PPP-DG) of the Ministry of Finance

With a combined capacity of 250 MWac, the PV projects are estimated to power 750,000 homes in Ethiopia and offset 320,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. The new plants will be located in Dicheto, in the Afar region, and in Gad, in the Somali region of the country.

The signing of the PPAs is of great importance and signifies the confidence that the Ethiopian government has in our ability to support their energy building ambitions. We are pleased to have been selected to deliver the first projects to be tendered under the new public-private partnership framework in Ethiopia. As a leader in the renewable energy sector, we are confident that our expertise will help support the government in achieving its goal of increasing the electricity generation capacity from the current 4,300 MW to 17,300 MW by 2020

Paddy Padmanathan, President & CEO of ACWA Power

"The 250MWac projects are the first of a kind in the Ethiopian utilities landscape and will be a support the diversification of the energy mix within the country." Padmanathan added.

This partnership is a strong reflection of the Ethiopian government's trust in ACWA Power's expertise and business model. Our strategy to provide low tariffs not only cements ACWA Power as the partner of choice, but is a reinforcement of our ability to help sustain the nation's positive economic growth and improve living standards by providing safe and affordable access to electricity

Rajit Nanda, Chief Investment Officer of ACWA Power
The 19-year-old co-defendant in a double homicide case will be tried on all counts as an adult, a Missoula County District Court judge ruled last week.

The defense for Preston Rossbach had requested he be tried as a juvenile. Rossbach was 18 when the homicides occurred, but 17 years old when prosecutors say he stole the gun used in the killings.

Rossbach and Jonathan Whitworth are accused of rushing into a motel room in downtown Missoula in October 2018 to confront a dealer who had reportedly sold them "bad" drugs. While the dealer was not there, authorities say Whitworth shot the three people in the room and Rossbach stabbed them as they were dying. Megan McLaughlin, 31, and Jason Flink, 23, were killed in the attack. A third person, Kaleb Williams, survived.

In her Dec. 31 order on Rossbach's request, Judge Leslie Halligan acknowledged the defense's argument that Youth Court may be better suited to provide rehabilitation. Prosecutors, however, presented testimony at a November hearing indicating that Youth Court would not have the resources to sufficiently evaluate, rehabilitate and supervise a defendant such as Rossbach.

Halligan wrote she saw "no clear advantage to Rossbach in prosecuting this case in Youth Court versus" continuing in District Court.

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Four people were killed and 24 others injured in a fire that broke out early on Monday at a hospice in Chojnice, a town in the Pomorskie Voivodship in northern Poland.

A spokesman for the police in Gdansk, quoted by the Polish Press Agency (PAP), said the fire started at around 3 a.m. on Monday, with the most likely cause being a cigarette lit inside the building by one of the patients of the hospice.

The fire has now been extinguished.

That man and three other patients died as a result of the fire -- three of them on the spot and another at the hospital.

Twenty-four others were injured. Authorities said their injuries were not life threatening. The 24 injured included 20 patients, two members of the hospice staff and two policemen who were taking part in the rescue operation.

The prosecutor's office has already started an investigation into the fire. Local authorities in Chojnice said that the hospice would be closed at least temporarily, with the patients relocated to other hospices.

The police spokesman said the firefighters were on location only minutes after the hospice personnel rang the emergency number and that the fire was put out very quickly.

The hospice staff had started carrying patients out of the building but a locked door prevented them from taking the pensioners out. As a result, the firefighters had to tear down the door in order to get in.

The rescue operation was made even more difficult, since the elderly patients were not able to walk independently and had to be carried out of the building on their beds.

The mayor of Chojnice declared two days of mourning following the tragedy.




After an autopsy performed Monday, the office determined Greenwood died as a result of multiple injuries to his head and brain that he suffered during an assault in the 3500 block of West 24th Street. His death was ruled a homicide.
If I learned anything growing up in the Bronx in the 1970s and 1980s it is this: When someone says they are going to kill you, you should believe them. Iranian leaders have been vowing, Death to America for four decades. Successive presidents have striven mightily to not only ignore their declaration but also to maintain it lacked the solemnity of true intent.

Why else would the smartest president ever, Barack Obama, through his sham legacy foreign policy accomplishment, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agree to cede Iran a secured path to developing nuclear weapons?

As a corollary, it is almost an aphorism to state that when someone keeps pushing, at some point, you must push back, or attrition will be your fate.

In this, the simplicity in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys combination statement/oath uttered in reference to an obscure phone call about military aid cant be beaten. He said, Nobody pushed me.

Trump exercises great forbearance when it comes to military response. He did so with Iran. Even as it ratcheted up its provocations, he exercised due discretion. But Iran crossed a line, and nobody pushes Trump. When Iran killed an American, Trump killed dozens. In response, they tried to overrun our embassy and Soleimani became a smear on a road to historical infamy.

Qassem Soleimani was in a Baghdad meeting with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the leader of Kataib Hezb'allah, his new pet militia -- mere miles away from our embassy, and immediately subsequent to the militias test-assault. They were there to plot and execute more terrorist attacks on America. Democrats ignore this.

One of these planned attacks was rumored to be a full-scale takeover of the embassy, as in Iran in 1979. Incidentally, 1979 was the year Iran began its war on America.

Democrats like to pretend Obama didnt spend eight years burning down the world: Barry invited Russia back into Syria (after a 25-year absence); gave Syria to Iran and Russia; destroyed Libya (without congressional authorization); gave Iraq to Iran, while guaranteeing Iran a nuclear weapon (in a few years) through the JCPOA non-treaty; as well as financing its worldwide terrorism network (run by Soleimani) with a $150 billion gift. Plus, $1.4 billion in pallets of cash was paid as ransom for the return nine kidnapped and humiliated American sailors.

They also ignore that it was Barry who opened the floodgate of refugees and potential terrorists, now raping and pillaging their way across Europe, perhaps culturally transforming the continent forever (Barry was always big on transformation).

Its almost as if Obama was working for Iran.

Trumps assassination of Soleimani and Muhandis was a brilliant tactical move. Done on a quiet road near the Baghdad International Airport to minimize collateral damage, it was a decapitation of Irans military; it was Irans Yamamoto Moment.

Soleimani commanded the IRGCs Quds Force, which is the primary instrument of control in Irans attempt at regional hegemony by establishing a Shiite Crescent land bridge to the Mediterranean Sea, as well as its weapon of choice to foment terror and exercise control over its satrapies, Lebanon, Syria, and now, Iraq.

General David Petraeus called Soleimani our most significant and evil adversary. He also said Soleimanis elimination was bigger than bin Laden and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

After all, Baghdadi died like a dog in a cave after the demise of his caliphate and bin Laden was in hiding, spending his final days surfing the net for kiddy porn. Soleimani was king of the terrorist world. Yet as austere and revered Soleimani might have been, it didnt matter to Trump, he counterpunched the Quds leader down the chute to hell.

Trump does not lead from behind, he kicks behind. With the killing of Soleimani, Trump has given notice to the mullahs that there will be no more tit-for-tat because from now on, America will do the escalating.

Somewhere across the globe Ali Khamenei and Kim Jong-un are destroying the SIM cards from their cell phones.

Of course, the Democrats and the media, having copyrighted the slogan, Death to America didnt see it that way. The Democrats sole interest is partisan political advantage, no matter how damaging to America. And the medias sole interest is advancing the interests of the Democratic Party.

They are up in arms about Congress not being notified before the attack. Yet, everyone knows that had Trump notified Congress, there would have been several Democrats on the phone to the ayatollah within minutes.

Theyve called the killing a dangerous escalation. Dismissing the fact that Iran has been waging war on America for 40 years, they claim America will now be subject to vicious Iranian reprisals.

Spengler says it best:

Iran revealed part of its strategic capability in September when Iranian infiltrators used ground-hugging cruise missiles and autonomous drones to destroy Aramco facilities in Saudi Arabia. Iran tested its Khorramshahr  missile with an estimated 2,000-kilometer range in 2017. It is not known how effective the weapon is or how many Iran possesses. It is possible that Iran has enough ordnance to swamp American anti-missile defenses at its Doha airbase or to overcome the air defenses on an American warship in the Persian Gulf.

He added this:

[Irans] September attack on Aramco facilities in Saudi Arabia exposed the weakness of US air defenses. The Patriot anti-missile system cant shoot anything flying lower than 60 meters, and Iran has low-flying cruise missiles. A successful strike against Doha certainly figures in American calculations.

But he also noted the potential options available to Trump:

If Iran were to attack Doha, Americas response likely would be devastating. Two dozen missiles or bombing sorties could wipe out Irans economy in a matter of hours. Fewer than a dozen power plants generate 60% of Irans electricity, and eight refineries produce 80% of its distillates. A single missile strike could disable each of these facilities, and bunker-buster bombs of the kind that Israel used last month in Lebanon would entirely destroy them. Without much effort, the US could destroy the Port of Kharg from which Iran exports 90% of its hydrocarbons.

Iran is a bully. Like every bully, it was testing Americas limits -- pushing to see how far it could go. They ate Obamas lunch for eight years -- they expected to do the same with Trump. There is a valuable lesson from the investment realm Iran would do well to heed: Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

And -- Trump is no Barack Obama.

Please follow the author on Twitter @williamlgensert
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US President Donald Trump has said his decision to order the killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani has saved a lot of lives, calling Gen Soleimani a monster.

Mr Trump and his top advisers are under pressure to disclose more detail about the intelligence that led to the killing, which has greatly heightened tension with Tehran.

Mr Trump said Tuesday that his decision saved American lives and that members of Congress will be briefed on the reasons for the US attack.

He's been called a monster, and he was a monster, and he's no longer a monster, he's deadDonald Trump

We saved a lot of lives, he said. They were planning something.

So far, Mr Trump and top national security officials have justified the air strike with general statements about the threat posted by Gen Soleimani, who commanded proxy forces outside Iran and was responsible for the deaths of American troops in Iraq.

But the details have been scarce.

Mr Trump said: Hes been called a monster, and he was a monster, and hes no longer a monster, hes dead.

And thats a good thing for a lot of countries. He was planning a very big attack, and a very bad attack for us and other people, and we stopped him and I dont think anybody can complain about it.

Gen Soleimani was targeted while he was at an airport in Baghdad with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a veteran Iraqi militant who also was killed.

Mr Trump said they were not in Baghdad to discuss holiday plans or visit a nice resort, but were there to talk over bad business.

The lack of detail does not sit well with Democrats, who recall how President George W. Bush justified his invasion of Iraq by accusing Saddam Hussein of having non-existent weapons of mass destruction.

Lawmakers in recent days have been pressing for more detail to explain why Mr Trump ordered the killing  a decision that previous administrations passed up because of fears it would unleash even more violence.

Expand Close Mourners attend a funeral ceremony for Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran (Erfan Kouchari/Tasnim News Agency/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mourners attend a funeral ceremony for Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran (Erfan Kouchari/Tasnim News Agency/AP)

Gen Soleimani travelled frequently and relatively openly, with visits to Baghdad more frequent in recent months. He also often showed up in Syria, including along the border between Iraq and Syria.

Secretary of state Mike Pompeo said it was clear that Gen Soleimani was continuing his efforts to build a network of activities that were going to lead potentially to the death of many more Americans.

Defence secretary Mark Esper told reporters that Iranian threats against Americans were days away from being executed.

Democratic lawmakers are not convinced.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate foreign relations committee, called on Mr Trump to declassify the written notification the president sent to Congress after the fatal strike on Gen Soleimani.

The notification was required under the War Powers Resolution Act of 1973, which requires the president to report to Congress when American forces are sent into hostile or imminently hostile situations.

It is critical that national security matters of such import be shared with the American people in a timely manner, the senators wrote.

An entirely classified notification is simply not appropriate in a democratic society, and there appears to be no legitimate justification for classifying this notification.
The new Jharkhand government on Tuesday pledged an honest all-round development of every section of the society keeping away "malice, hatred, arrogance and vengefulness" while discharging work to live up to words of Jawaharlal Nehru tbat history cannot be changed merely by changing photo-frames on the walls.

The commitment of the JMM-Congress-RJD ministry was spelled by Governor Droupadi Murmu while addressing the maiden Assembly session after formation of the coalition government.

She said the government favoured an industrial policy in which local youth would get maximum employment, besides encouraging cottage and minor industries.

Murmu said man-days of MGNREGA would be increased to help agriculture workers get employment during off season.

"Our government favours such an industrial policy in which local youth gets maximum jobs. For this, a secure and fearless environment will be enabled. Cottage and minor industries will be promoted and for that mandatory provision of license and no objection certificate will be dispensed with," Murmu said.

She said the government, respecting the sacrifice of martyrs would keep away "maliciousness, hatred, arrogance and vengefulness" while working and taking forward good works of the previous governments.

She, however, said some irrigation and dam projects would be reviewed.

"With an aim to protect secularism and freedom of speech, stringent action will be taken against mob violence," she said, adding the government supported liberty of expression and faith of all communities.

She said the government would ensure the police worked impartially and without any pressure.

The governor said administration system would be made more accountable, transparent and effective.

Pledging to work for the welfare and development of the deprived, dalits, tribals, the poor and minorities, the governor said people living in slums would be ensured drinking water, electricity, healthcare, education, roads and housing.

The government, she added, would also cover the middle class with housing, education, health and other basic amenities.

The governor called upon the members of the newly elected House to work for the people and states development with commitment and dedication.

Quoting Jawaharlal Nehru once saying "you cant change history by changing photo-frames on the walls", Murmu said respecting the dignified legacy, the government would script a new history by making a welfare state in the interest of the people.

"Along with change, continuity is the basic nature of democracy. In a democracy, peoples representatives are reflections of peoples aspirations. After a peaceful election, a stable government has been formed in the state, and (it) will move forward with all-round development,' she said.

The governor said, "I believe, your debates will become the witness to the all-round development of Jharkhand.

She also said that MSP will be given to the produce of farmers, empowering women and maintaining the security shield of tribal rights enshrined in the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT) and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Acts.

The traditional system of self-rule of tribal would be made stronger and CNT and SPT Acts would be strictly maintained, she said.

All vacancies in government departments will be filled up, she said.

Tourism, including eco-tourism, would be developed and local youths would be connected with jobs (related to tourism), she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Stubbs says that BNZs parent National Australia Bank is one of the more stressed banks as it deals with tighter margins, increasing compliance costs and the Reserve Banks new capital requirements. However, the Reserve Bank is allowing banks to raise up to $9 billion of the total capital through redeemable preference shares, a major compromise which means banks would be less likely to pull out.

Would they sell a crown jewel to fund themselves out of that? Stubbs said. They could but it would be a strange transaction."

Massey University banking expert Claire Matthews agrees that such a purchase would be a quick way for Kiwibank to drive its growth, but the transaction would require a lot of funding.

"Purchasing one of the big four banks would be a relatively easy way for Kiwibank to grow and be able to operate as a full-service commercial bank, rather than the more limited retail bank that it currently is, and also be better positioned to be able to take over the government banking from Westpac, Matthews said.

"However, I would wonder where the funding would come from, because it would require a lot of capital. And I would expect to see changes to management and governance at Kiwibank, given the different scale and nature of operations at BNZ."
Donald Trump walked back on his previous threat, claiming in an Oval Office meeting Tuesday that he would not attack sites that are significant to Iranian culture.

A reporter asked the president during a pool spray with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the White House if he would target Iranian culture sites in any potential counterattacks.

'Well as I said yesterday, it was very interesting: they're allowed to kill our people, they're allowed to maim our people, they're allowed to blow up everything that we have and there's nothing that stops them,' Trump said. 'And we are, according to a various laws, supposed to be very careful with their cultural heritage.'

'And, you know what, if that's what the law is  I like to obey the law,' he said, contradicting a tweet he sent a day after a drone strike he ordered took out Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

'But think of it,' he continued, 'they kill our people, they blow up our people and then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions.'

'But I'm OK with it, it's OK with me,' he insisted. 'I will say this: If Iran does anything that they shouldn't be doing, they're going to be suffering the consequences, and very strongly.'

Donald Trump insisted in an Oval Office meeting Tuesday that he would not target Iranian cultural sites in reaction to a potential retaliation from the Middle Eastern nation for the drone strike that took out one of its top military leaders

'I like to obey the law,' Trump said during press questioning following his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis

This was a walk back on his threat Saturday where he claimed if Iran attacked Americans, the U.S. would hit back harder by targeting 52 Iranian sites that are 'important to Iran & the Iranian culture'

Trump warned in a tweet Saturday, just one day after Soleimani was killed, that if Iran retaliated he would target more than 50 sites important to its culture.

'Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!' he posted in a string of tweets.

Several Democratic lawmakers and politicians accused the president of threatening to commit a war crime with those comments.

The attack on Soleimani came a few days after protesters raided on New Years Eve the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, which had never been breached before. The demonstrators supported pro-Iranian Shia militia groups.

A Fox News reporter in the White House Tuesday asked Trump what the U.S. response would be if Iran engaged in a counterattack for the airstrike that killed one of their top military leaders  who was classified as a terrorist by the U.S. during Barack Obama's presidency.

'If you look at what's going on: Our's was an attack based on what they did,' Trump said of his directive to take out Soleimani.

'We weren't the first ones out. He killed an American, now two people are dead from the same attack and some people very badly wounded. And that was one of his smaller endeavors,' Trump recalled.

Trump also said Sunday that the U.S. response to Iran would be 'disproportionate'

Trump ordered a drone attack on an Iraq airport in Baghdad that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani (pictured) on Friday

'You look over his past, his past  he's been called a monster and he was a monster. And he's no longer a monster, he's dead. And that's a good thing for a lot of countries,' he continued.

The White House has insisted the attack was carried out because it received intelligence that Solemani was planning attacks on Americans.

Democrats have demanded the intelligence information be declassified to confirm if an Iranian attack on the U.S. at home or overseas was 'imminent.'

'He was planning a very big attack and very bad attack for us, and other people, and we stopped him,' Trump said. 'And I don't think anybody can complain about it. I don't hear many people  other than politicians who are trying to win the presidency  those are the ones that are complaining, but I don't hear any anybody else complaining.'
(Recasts; adds comment, details and updates prices)

* No plans to pull troops out of Iraq: U.S. Defense Secretary

* Palladium hits record high of $2,032.94

* SPDR Gold holdings rose to highest since Nov. 27

* Gold specs raise bullish positions in week to Dec. 31

By Asha Sistla Jan 7 (Reuters) - Gold prices erased early losses and inched up on Tuesday, as fears of a widespread conflict between the United States and Iran persisted, while palladium scaled a new high.

Spot gold rose 0.2% to $1,569.27 per ounce by 0741 GMT after falling as much as 0.7% earlier in the session, its biggest daily percentage decline in about a month. In the previous session, prices had touched $1,582.59, their highest since April 2013.

U.S. gold futures edged 0.2% higher to $1,571.10. Warnings of new strikes and retaliation by both the United States and Iran stoked concerns about a broader Middle East conflict, which led to calls in the U.S. Congress for legislation to stop U.S. President Donald Trump going to war with Iran.

"There's no escalation in the geopolitical situation, but the tensions have not receded completely and because of that after a good correction in gold, prices have bounced," said Jigar Trivedi, a commodities analyst at Anand Rathi Shares & Stock Brokers in Mumbai.

The sentiment was also boosted after the United States denied a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that would have let him attend a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday.

Gold, considered a safe asset in times of political and economic uncertainty, had jumped in the last two sessions on concerns of a wider escalation after a U.S. air strike killed Iran's top military commander Qassem Soleimani last week. Markets were also worried about conflicting reports about American military repositioning troops in preparation for leaving Iraq.

"If things de-escalate (with Iran), then gold will hit lower quite quickly. We would see it go down below $1,500," said Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst for the Asia-Pacific region at OANDA.

Holdings of the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Trust , rose 0.10% to 896.18 tonnes on Monday, their highest since Nov. 27. Speculators increased their bullish positions in COMEX gold and silver contracts in the week to Dec. 31, data showed. Elsewhere, spot palladium fell 0.3% to $2,024.86, off an all-time peak of $2,032.94 an ounce hit earlier in the session.

The industrial metal, suffering from sustained supply woes, gained about 54% in 2019. Silver rose 0.3% to $18.19 an ounce, after touching a more than three-month high at $18.50 in the previous session, while platinum advanced 0.5% to $967.65.

(Reporting by Asha Sistla in Bengaluru; Editing by Uttaresh.V and Rashmi Aich)
An Australian firefighters rescue of a kangaroo joey and his appeal for help to the fire survivors won him praise after he posted the clip on Instagram.

The firefighter posted the rescue clip and wrote: Australia is on fire! 500 million animals have been killed. I saved this little baby kangaroo that was left by itself! This is heartbreaking. 10 million acres burned. Please spread. Please donate. We need your help!

The post got 244,808 views on Instagram.

One user remarked: You are a hero! Sending you all the love and prayers from The Netherlands.

Thank you so much Sam, for what youre doing, said another netizen.

Doing a great job, Aw man, you absolute hero, You beautiful soul!, Omg, this is lovely, and God bless you and thank you a trillion times were some other remarks from Instagram users.

OMG! This poor baby, I hope this little joey survives without its mom. Praying for all first responders, volunteers and all those who are putting themselves in harms way to save others. #PrayersforAustralia.

How amazing are you. My heart is broken after watching this and what is happening in Australia, read one post.

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Flint Beecher and Benton Harbor fight for a loose ball during the Don Jackson Holiday Classic at Kalamazoo Central High School on Jan. 4, 2020. Both Beecher and Benton Harbor are on the list of Michigan's least-affluent school districts. (Joel Bissell / MLive)

Highland Park is Michigan's least-affluent school district, according to new Census data, while Detroit -- the state's largest district -- ranks No. 9.

That's based on median income for families with children under age 18, using the Census Bureau's five-year average for 2014-18.

The median is $16,847 for families living in the Highland Park school district, compared to a state median of $69,790.

This post looks at Census data for Michigan's 70 least-affluent school districts.

Michigan's most-affluent school districts

A couple of caveats about the data: These are estimates versus exact numbers, and the margin of error is higher for smaller districts.

In addition, the estimates are based on all residents who live within a school district's boundaries and not just the families with children in the district schools. (And keep in mind school district boundaries typically differ from city and township boundaries.)

You can click here for an online database with numbers for every Michigan school district.

Below is an interactive map shaded specifically by 2014-18 estimated average median income for families with children. You can put your cursor over a district to see the underlying data.

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Below are the 70 school districts with the lowest median income for families with children.

The other data included with each district also comes from the Census Bureau's five-year averages for 2014-18.

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1. Highland Park (Wayne County): $16,847

Population: 10,915

Median income, families with children under 18: $16,847

Median income, married couples with children: $32,000

Median income, single mothers: $15,224

Non-Hispanic white residents: 6%

Families with children headed by single parent: 83%

School-age children in private schools: 7%

Children in poverty: 57%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 12%

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2. Beecher (Genesee County): $17,247

Population: 8,741

Median income, families with children under 18: $17,247

Median income, married couples with children: Not available

Median income, single mothers: $16,145

Non-Hispanic white residents: 29%

Families with children headed by single parent: 76%

School-age children in private schools: 7%

Children in poverty: 57%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 9%

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3. River Rouge (Wayne County): $18,637

Population: 8,200

Median income, families with children under 18: $18,637

Median income, married couples with children: $32,283

Median income, single mothers: $13,297

Non-Hispanic white residents: 42%

Families with children headed by single parent: 67%

School-age children in private schools: 2%

Children in poverty: 58%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 8%

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4. Flint (Genesee County): $21,072

Population: 97,147

Median income, families with children under 18: $21,072

Median income, married couples with children: $44,560

Median income, single mothers: $15,713

Non-Hispanic white residents: 40%

Families with children headed by single parent: 71%

School-age children in private schools: 6%

Children in poverty: 58%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 12%

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5. Muskegon Heights (Muskegon Heights): $21,250

Population: 10,735

Median income, families with children under 18: $21,250

Median income, married couples with children: $37,015

Median income, single mothers: $16,589

Non-Hispanic white residents: 20%

Families with children headed by single parent: 75%

School-age children in private schools: 5%

Children in poverty: 58%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 8%

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6. Baldwin (Lake County): $23,088

Population: 7,733

Median income, families with children under 18: $23,088

Median income, married couples with children: $46,250

Median income, single mothers: Not available

Non-Hispanic white residents: 81%

Families with children headed by single parent: 51%

School-age children in private schools: 5%

Children in poverty: 54%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 10%

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7. Ecorse (Wayne County): $23,688

Population: 8,708

Median income, families with children under 18: $23,688

Median income, married couples with children: $62,050

Median income, single mothers: $16,108

Non-Hispanic white residents: 40%

Families with children headed by single parent: 74%

School-age children in private schools: 2%

Children in poverty: 46%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 10%

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8. Hamtramck (Wayne County): $24,411

Population: 21,941

Median income, families with children under 18: $24,411

Median income, married couples with children: $27,309

Median income, single mothers: $12,545

Non-Hispanic white residents: 52%

Families with children headed by single parent: 22%

School-age children in private schools: 6%

Children in poverty: 59%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 13%

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9. Detroit (Wayne County): $24,945

Population: 677,223

Median income, families with children under 18: $24,945

Median income, married couples with children: $46,494

Median income, single mothers: $18,730

Non-Hispanic white residents: 15%

Families with children headed by single parent: 71%

School-age children in private schools: 6%

Children in poverty: 52%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 15%

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10. Benton Harbor (Berrien County): $25,254

Population: 29,932

Median income, families with children under 18: $25,254

Median income, married couples with children: $63,750

Median income, single mothers: $19,090

Non-Hispanic white residents: 40%

Families with children headed by single parent: 67%

School-age children in private schools: 4%

Children in poverty: 48%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 13%

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11. Van Dyke (Macomb County): $27,125

Population: 19,149

Median income, families with children under 18: $27,125

Median income, married couples with children: $46,087

Median income, single mothers: $21,264

Non-Hispanic white residents: 56%

Families with children headed by single parent: 68%

School-age children in private schools: 1%

Children in poverty: 47%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 8%

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12. Muskegon (Muskegon County): $27,255

Population: 37,443

Median income, families with children under 18: $27,255

Median income, married couples with children: $50,230

Median income, single mothers: $20,060

Non-Hispanic white residents: 64%

Families with children headed by single parent: 66%

School-age children in private schools: 4%

Children in poverty: 45%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 13%

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13. Saginaw (Saginaw County): $27,675

Population: 57,942

Median income, families with children under 18: $27,675

Median income, married couples with children: $56,218

Median income, single mothers: $17,379

Non-Hispanic white residents: 48%

Families with children headed by single parent: 65%

School-age children in private schools: 8%

Children in poverty: 42%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 12%

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14. Harrison (Clare County): $27,694

Population: 12,780

Median income, families with children under 18: $27,694

Median income, married couples with children: $48,355

Median income, single mothers: $20,385

Non-Hispanic white residents: 96%

Families with children headed by single parent: 47%

School-age children in private schools: 7%

Children in poverty: 46%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 9%

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15. Atlanta (Montmorency County): $27,986

Population: 3,514

Median income, families with children under 18: $27,986

Median income, married couples with children: $41,250

Median income, single mothers: Not available

Non-Hispanic white residents: 95%

Families with children headed by single parent: 43%

School-age children in private schools: 19%

Children in poverty: 46%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 11%

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16. Westwood Heights (Genesee County): $28,286

Population: 5,602

Median income, families with children under 18: $28,286

Median income, married couples with children: $57,426

Median income, single mothers: $19,608

Non-Hispanic white residents: 52%

Families with children headed by single parent: 58%

School-age children in private schools: 2%

Children in poverty: 42%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 11%

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17. Bendle (Genesee County): $30,515

Population: 5,807

Median income, families with children under 18: $30,515

Median income, married couples with children: $43,654

Median income, single mothers: Not available

Non-Hispanic white residents: 95%

Families with children headed by single parent: 45%

School-age children in private schools: 10%

Children in poverty: 39%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 8%

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18. Carman-Ainsworth (Genesee County): $31,105

Population: 30,524

Median income, families with children under 18: $31,105

Median income, married couples with children: $57,576

Median income, single mothers: $17,585

Non-Hispanic white residents: 63%

Families with children headed by single parent: 55%

School-age children in private schools: 10%

Children in poverty: 41%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 18%

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19. Mount Morris (Genesee County): $31,109

Population: 13,110

Median income, families with children under 18: $31,109

Median income, married couples with children: $43,977

Median income, single mothers: $18,125

Non-Hispanic white residents: 89%

Families with children headed by single parent: 50%

School-age children in private schools: 9%

Children in poverty: 32%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 8%

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20. Covert (Van Buren County): $31,250

Population: 2,948

Median income, families with children under 18: $31,250

Median income, married couples with children: $43,309

Median income, single mothers: $20,221

Non-Hispanic white residents: 61%

Families with children headed by single parent: 20%

School-age children in private schools: 11%

Children in poverty: 38%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 10%

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21. Genesee (Genesee County): $31,310

Population: 2,813

Median income, families with children under 18: $31,310

Median income, married couples with children: $63,267

Median income, single mothers: $22,829

Non-Hispanic white residents: 93%

Families with children headed by single parent: 46%

School-age children in private schools: 14%

Children in poverty: 29%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 7%

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22. Walkerville (Oceana County): $32,679

Population: 1,450

Median income, families with children under 18: $32,679

Median income, married couples with children: $50,833

Median income, single mothers: Not available

Non-Hispanic white residents: 95%

Families with children headed by single parent: 40%

School-age children in private schools: 6%

Children in poverty: 23%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 11%

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23. Westwood (Wayne County): $32,984

Population: 18,948

Median income, families with children under 18: $32,984

Median income, married couples with children: $53,969

Median income, single mothers: $16,571

Non-Hispanic white residents: 47%

Families with children headed by single parent: 56%

School-age children in private schools: 2%

Children in poverty: 46%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 14%

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24. Whittemore-Prescott (Iosco County): $33,657

Population: 7,087

Median income, families with children under 18: $33,657

Median income, married couples with children: $68,125

Median income, single mothers: $10,117

Non-Hispanic white residents: 97%

Families with children headed by single parent: 46%

School-age children in private schools: 8%

Children in poverty: 34%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 8%

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25. Hale (Iosco County): $33,750

Population: 4,842

Median income, families with children under 18: $33,750

Median income, married couples with children: $59,000

Median income, single mothers: $18,813

Non-Hispanic white residents: 97%

Families with children headed by single parent: 38%

School-age children in private schools: 8%

Children in poverty: 34%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 13%

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26. Fitzgerald (Macomb County): $34,067

Population: 16,777

Median income, families with children under 18: $34,067

Median income, married couples with children: $48,618

Median income, single mothers: $19,425

Non-Hispanic white residents: 53%

Families with children headed by single parent: 46%

School-age children in private schools: 3%

Children in poverty: 50%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 14%

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27. Alma (Gratiot County): $34,706

Population: 14,741

Median income, families with children under 18: $34,706

Median income, married couples with children: $65,515

Median income, single mothers: $17,031

Non-Hispanic white residents: 96%

Families with children headed by single parent: 49%

School-age children in private schools: 7%

Children in poverty: 33%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 19%

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28. Lansing (Ingham County): $34,825

Population: 124,494

Median income, families with children under 18: $34,825

Median income, married couples with children: $63,497

Median income, single mothers: $19,361

Non-Hispanic white residents: 63%

Families with children headed by single parent: 53%

School-age children in private schools: 8%

Children in poverty: 40%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 26%

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29. Battle Creek (Calhoun County): $35,240

Population: 41,568

Median income, families with children under 18: $35,240

Median income, married couples with children: $63,510

Median income, single mothers: $19,530

Non-Hispanic white residents: 67%

Families with children headed by single parent: 55%

School-age children in private schools: 7%

Children in poverty: 41%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 13%

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30. Bridgeport-Spaulding (Saginaw County): $35,625

Population: 16,001

Median income, families with children under 18: $35,625

Median income, married couples with children: $58,154

Median income, single mothers: $9,752

Non-Hispanic white residents: 58%

Families with children headed by single parent: 56%

School-age children in private schools: 15%

Children in poverty: 40%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 12%

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31. Pontiac (Oakland County): $35,659

Population: 78,675

Median income, families with children under 18: $35,659

Median income, married couples with children: $58,766

Median income, single mothers: $21,264

Non-Hispanic white residents: 47%

Families with children headed by single parent: 59%

School-age children in private schools: 10%

Children in poverty: 41%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 21%

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32. Clintondale (Macomb County): $35,795

Population: 16,542

Median income, families with children under 18: $35,795

Median income, married couples with children: $67,708

Median income, single mothers: Not available

Non-Hispanic white residents: 66%

Families with children headed by single parent: 56%

School-age children in private schools: 7%

Children in poverty: 34%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 11%

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33. St. Ignace (Mackinac County): $36,042

Population: 3,712

Median income, families with children under 18: $36,042

Median income, married couples with children: $61,125

Median income, single mothers: Not available

Non-Hispanic white residents: 62%

Families with children headed by single parent: 52%

School-age children in private schools: 10%

Children in poverty: 27%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 18%

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34. Watersmeet Township (Gogebic County): $36,250

Population: 1,283

Median income, families with children under 18: $36,250

Median income, married couples with children: $59,722

Median income, single mothers: $25,625

Non-Hispanic white residents: 71%

Families with children headed by single parent: 53%

School-age children in private schools: 16%

Children in poverty: 24%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 23%

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35. Whitefish Township (Chippewa County): $36,875

Population: 545

Median income, families with children under 18: $36,875

Median income, married couples with children: $36,875

Median income, single mothers: Not available

Non-Hispanic white residents: 92%

Families with children headed by single parent: 0%

School-age children in private schools: 70%

Children in poverty: 73%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 29%

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36. Vandercook Lake (Jackson County): $36,964

Population: 4,866

Median income, families with children under 18: $36,964

Median income, married couples with children: $75,625

Median income, single mothers: $30,670

Non-Hispanic white residents: 98%

Families with children headed by single parent: 44%

School-age children in private schools: 5%

Children in poverty: 41%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 16%

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37. Pentwater (Oceana County): $37,386

Population: 2,390

Median income, families with children under 18: $37,386

Median income, married couples with children: $75,833

Median income, single mothers: $30,921

Non-Hispanic white residents: 98%

Families with children headed by single parent: 45%

School-age children in private schools: 13%

Children in poverty: 22%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 36%

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38. Marion (Osceola County): $37,417

Population: 3,986

Median income, families with children under 18: $37,417

Median income, married couples with children: $47,404

Median income, single mothers: $15,972

Non-Hispanic white residents: 97%

Families with children headed by single parent: 40%

School-age children in private schools: 8%

Children in poverty: 38%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 12%

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39. Arenac Eastern (Arenac County): $38,000

Population: 2,149

Median income, families with children under 18: $38,000

Median income, married couples with children: $46,875

Median income, single mothers: $16,875

Non-Hispanic white residents: 96%

Families with children headed by single parent: 39%

School-age children in private schools: 3%

Children in poverty: 38%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 5%

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40. North Adams-Jerome (Hillsdale County): $38,571

Population: 3,275

Median income, families with children under 18: $38,571

Median income, married couples with children: $49,438

Median income, single mothers: $23,419

Non-Hispanic white residents: 97%

Families with children headed by single parent: 38%

School-age children in private schools: 9%

Children in poverty: 20%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 10%

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41. Madison (Oakland County): $38,596

Population: 12,706

Median income, families with children under 18: $38,596

Median income, married couples with children: $63,523

Median income, single mothers: $19,360

Non-Hispanic white residents: 82%

Families with children headed by single parent: 48%

School-age children in private schools: 12%

Children in poverty: 37%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 23%

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42. L'Anse (Baraga County): $38,906

Population: 4,671

Median income, families with children under 18: $38,906

Median income, married couples with children: $74,306

Median income, single mothers: $16,250

Non-Hispanic white residents: 84%

Families with children headed by single parent: 46%

School-age children in private schools: 14%

Children in poverty: 29%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 17%

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43. Hartford (Van Buren County): $39,625

Population: 6,477

Median income, families with children under 18: $39,625

Median income, married couples with children: $63,125

Median income, single mothers: $22,500

Non-Hispanic white residents: 79%

Families with children headed by single parent: 39%

School-age children in private schools: 2%

Children in poverty: 37%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 8%

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44. Eastpointe (Macomb County): $39,654

Population: 38,271

Median income, families with children under 18: $39,654

Median income, married couples with children: $74,452

Median income, single mothers: $30,229

Non-Hispanic white residents: 50%

Families with children headed by single parent: 59%

School-age children in private schools: 6%

Children in poverty: 32%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 13%

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45. Rudyard (Chippewa County): $40,000

Population: 9,428

Median income, families with children under 18: $40,000

Median income, married couples with children: $69,545

Median income, single mothers: $18,790

Non-Hispanic white residents: 59%

Families with children headed by single parent: 40%

School-age children in private schools: 15%

Children in poverty: 30%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 11%

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46. Godwin Heights (Kent County): $40,116

Population: 12,749

Median income, families with children under 18: $40,116

Median income, married couples with children: $68,585

Median income, single mothers: $25,340

Non-Hispanic white residents: 63%

Families with children headed by single parent: 50%

School-age children in private schools: 5%

Children in poverty: 29%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 13%

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47. Republic-Michigamme (Marquette County): $40,521

Population: 1,297

Median income, families with children under 18: $40,521

Median income, married couples with children: $48,125

Median income, single mothers: $27,031

Non-Hispanic white residents: 98%

Families with children headed by single parent: 28%

School-age children in private schools: 13%

Children in poverty: 14%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 24%

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48. Watervliet (Berrien County): $40,714

Population: 6,469

Median income, families with children under 18: $40,714

Median income, married couples with children: $77,431

Median income, single mothers: $28,145

Non-Hispanic white residents: 92%

Families with children headed by single parent: 56%

School-age children in private schools: 9%

Children in poverty: 16%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 15%

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49. Alcona (Alcona County): $40,833

Population: 6,789

Median income, families with children under 18: $40,833

Median income, married couples with children: $60,156

Median income, single mothers: $14,464

Non-Hispanic white residents: 97%

Families with children headed by single parent: 33%

School-age children in private schools: 2%

Children in poverty: 26%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 18%

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50. Comstock (Kalamazoo County): $40,962

Population: 16,796

Median income, families with children under 18: $40,962

Median income, married couples with children: $72,601

Median income, single mothers: $20,882

Non-Hispanic white residents: 79%

Families with children headed by single parent: 48%

School-age children in private schools: 11%

Children in poverty: 29%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 21%

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51. Bangor Township (Bay County): $41,136

Population: 14,165

Median income, families with children under 18: $41,136

Median income, married couples with children: $85,417

Median income, single mothers: $16,169

Non-Hispanic white residents: 94%

Families with children headed by single parent: 48%

School-age children in private schools: 4%

Children in poverty: 42%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 17%

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52. Harper Woods (Wayne County): $41,176

Population: 8,371

Median income, families with children under 18: $41,176

Median income, married couples with children: $76,563

Median income, single mothers: $32,266

Non-Hispanic white residents: 28%

Families with children headed by single parent: 63%

School-age children in private schools: 3%

Children in poverty: 18%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 20%

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53. Tekonsha (Calhoun County): $41,324

Population: 1,986

Median income, families with children under 18: $41,324

Median income, married couples with children: $73,750

Median income, single mothers: $12,361

Non-Hispanic white residents: 96%

Families with children headed by single parent: 45%

School-age children in private schools: 13%

Children in poverty: 43%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 15%

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54. Houghton Lake (Roscommon County): $41,344

Population: 14,801

Median income, families with children under 18: $41,344

Median income, married couples with children: $54,444

Median income, single mothers: $22,174

Non-Hispanic white residents: 97%

Families with children headed by single parent: 50%

School-age children in private schools: 10%

Children in poverty: 29%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 13%

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55. Sturgis (St. Joseph County): $41,607

Population: 17,406

Median income, families with children under 18: $41,607

Median income, married couples with children: $63,966

Median income, single mothers: $15,722

Non-Hispanic white residents: 89%

Families with children headed by single parent: 38%

School-age children in private schools: 5%

Children in poverty: 40%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 11%

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56. Vanderbilt (Otsego County): $41,719

Population: 1,931

Median income, families with children under 18: $41,719

Median income, married couples with children: $53,125

Median income, single mothers: Not available

Non-Hispanic white residents: 95%

Families with children headed by single parent: 34%

School-age children in private schools: 16%

Children in poverty: 24%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 12%

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57. Niles (Berrien County): $41,827

Population: 23,333

Median income, families with children under 18: $41,827

Median income, married couples with children: $70,754

Median income, single mothers: $18,438

Non-Hispanic white residents: 84%

Families with children headed by single parent: 47%

School-age children in private schools: 10%

Children in poverty: 30%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 19%

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58. North Huron (Huron County): $41,856

Population: 4,375

Median income, families with children under 18: $41,856

Median income, married couples with children: $68,125

Median income, single mothers: $28,125

Non-Hispanic white residents: 98%

Families with children headed by single parent: 46%

School-age children in private schools: 1%

Children in poverty: 32%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 15%

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59. Atheron (Genesee County): $41,922

Population: 4,375

Median income, families with children under 18: $41,856

Median income, married couples with children: $68,125

Median income, single mothers: $28,125

Non-Hispanic white residents: 98%

Families with children headed by single parent: 46%

School-age children in private schools: 1%

Children in poverty: 32%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 15%

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60. Coleman (Midland County): $42,188

Population: 5,915

Median income, families with children under 18: $42,188

Median income, married couples with children: $63,750

Median income, single mothers: $15,735

Non-Hispanic white residents: 97%

Families with children headed by single parent: 33%

School-age children in private schools: 6%

Children in poverty: 29%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 15%

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61. Gladwin (Gladwin County): $42,244

Population: 13,411

Median income, families with children under 18: $42,244

Median income, married couples with children: $57,708

Median income, single mothers: $19,122

Non-Hispanic white residents: 97%

Families with children headed by single parent: 33%

School-age children in private schools: 11%

Children in poverty: 30%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 16%

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62. Mio-AuSable (Oscoda County): $42,353

Population: 4,955

Median income, families with children under 18: $42,353

Median income, married couples with children: $63,527

Median income, single mothers: $21,875

Non-Hispanic white residents: 97%

Families with children headed by single parent: 47%

School-age children in private schools: 11%

Children in poverty: 16%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 10%

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63. Marlette (Sanilac County): $42,417

Population: 6,612

Median income, families with children under 18: $42,417

Median income, married couples with children: $64,583

Median income, single mothers: $15,000

Non-Hispanic white residents: 97%

Families with children headed by single parent: 35%

School-age children in private schools: 12%

Children in poverty: 35%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 11%

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64. Owendale-Gagetown (Huron County): $42,500

Population: 1,687

Median income, families with children under 18: $42,500

Median income, married couples with children: $46,932

Median income, single mothers: Not available

Non-Hispanic white residents: 95%

Families with children headed by single parent: 34%

School-age children in private schools: 15%

Children in poverty: 32%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 10%

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65. Tawas (Iosco County): $42,500

Population: 10,973

Median income, families with children under 18: $42,500

Median income, married couples with children: $70,833

Median income, single mothers: $21,167

Non-Hispanic white residents: 96%

Families with children headed by single parent: 40%

School-age children in private schools: 7%

Children in poverty: 23%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 19%

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66. Reed City (Osceola County): $42,500

Population: 10,817

Median income, families with children under 18: $42,500

Median income, married couples with children: $62,321

Median income, single mothers: $16,845

Non-Hispanic white residents: 95%

Families with children headed by single parent: 42%

School-age children in private schools: 9%

Children in poverty: 32%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 14%

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67. Ypsilanti (Washtenaw County): $42,524

Population: 59,484

Median income, families with children under 18: $42,524

Median income, married couples with children: $86,895

Median income, single mothers: $18,307

Non-Hispanic white residents: 59%

Families with children headed by single parent: 53%

School-age children in private schools: 13%

Children in poverty: 33%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 34%

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68. Cheboygan (Cheboygan County): $42,604

Population: 14,391

Median income, families with children under 18: $42,604

Median income, married couples with children: $60,194

Median income, single mothers: $24,087

Non-Hispanic white residents: 91%

Families with children headed by single parent: 29%

School-age children in private schools: 11%

Children in poverty: 26%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 20%

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69. Jackson (Jackson County): $43,105

Population: 54,663

Median income, families with children under 18: $43,105

Median income, married couples with children: $74,489

Median income, single mothers: $19,185

Non-Hispanic white residents: 77%

Families with children headed by single parent: 51%

School-age children in private schools: 12%

Children in poverty: 33%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 22%

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70. West Iron (Iron County): $43,125

Population: 6,785

Median income, families with children under 18: $43,125

Median income, married couples with children: $62,083

Median income, single mothers: $19,036

Non-Hispanic white residents: 95%

Families with children headed by single parent: 48%

School-age children in private schools: 8%

Children in poverty: 23%

Adults with bachelor's degree: 19%
Kolkata and various districts of West Bengal on Monday erupted in protest against the attack on students and professors of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, as students hit the streets in large numbers blockading roads and railway tracks and shouting slogans railing against right-wing Hindutva forces, like ABVP, BJP and the RSS.

Holding aloft banners and posters condemning the "fascist attack" at JNU, the CPI-M affiliated Students Federation of India led a rally from Presidency University and lit fires and burnt an effigy of the RSS' student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad at the College Street crossing as a mark of protest.



The Congress' student wing Chhattra Parishad protested outside the College Street campus of Calcutta University.





A group of protesting students tried to reach the BJP state headquarters at Muralidhar Sen Lane but were stopped by the police at the nearby P.C. Sarkar Street. The angry students scuffled with the police and accused the state's Mamata Banerjee government of being "hand in glove" with the BJP.



The All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) brought out a condemnation rally from near Presidency University and staged a demonstration by obstructing the College Street-M G Road Crossing.



"We are observing this day as protest day across the nation. The goons have carried out dastardly attack on fellow students. We cannot but protest," said an AIDSO leader.



Jadavpur University, known for its volatile student politics, was another centre of the protests. Through the day, students brought out processions and rallies in the campus and its neighbouring areas.



In the afternoon, hundreds of JU students from the Arts faculty led by the SFI took out a colourful protest march from the campus. With songs and slogans of "Hum Chin ke lenge Azaadi" and "Hallabol Hallabol" on their lips, they went round the campus beating the daffli and clapping in rhythm. A JNU student, who was in the city on leave, also joined the march.



"My friends in JNU are in panic. Also, they are seething in rage after the dastardly attack. I couldn't sit at home and joined the protest here," she said.



Later, students from all streams rallied together, raising incessant slogans and moving around the campus with a banner "Tomar buke Nathuram, Amar buke Khudiram" (In your heart is Nathuram, in my heart is Khudiram)" in the vanguard. Music director Debojyoti Mishra and film maker Aneek Dutta joined the students.



"My age is not the same as yours. But the JNU violence has ignited a fire in me whose age is same as yours. I believe hitting the streets today won't be in vain. I have come here as a student. You go ahead with your struggle," said an emotional Mishra.



Said Dutta: "I won't ask you to jump into the protests with sticks and spears. Because then they will seize on the opporutunity. But continue a structured movement. We will be with you".



Jadavpur University Teachers Association also took out a procession in the campus condemning the JNU violence.



In West Burdwan district's Durgapur, the SFI blockaded the rail tracks for some time.
OTSEGO, MI  The cause of the Friday, Jan. 3, fire that claimed the lives of 300,000 cage-free hens at an Otsego Township egg farm is yet to be determined, though the facility continues to operate out of a second barn at the site.

Due to the amount of damage, its going to be hard to piece together for a little while, Otsego Fire Department Chief Brandon Weber told MLive Tuesday afternoon.

Were working at getting some security footage and talking to some of the employees who were there to see if we can get any first-hand accounts of what may have started the fire," Weber said.

What is known at this time is the fire at the Konos Inc. farm, a distributor of Vande Bunte Eggs, began around 11 a.m. Friday and raged for approximately two hours before being contained.

Firefighters from Otsego and more than a dozen surrounding communities worked in unison throughout the day to contain the fire to one of two barns on the property, located on 110th Avenue about five miles northwest of Otsego.

That effort helped to save the lives of 250,000 egg-laying hens, company spokesperson Erin Cataldo said.

The other barn, just four years old, Cataldo said, was deemed a total loss. An estimated 300,000 hens were inside that barn at the time of the fire, she said.

Prior to the fire, the farm supplied more than 13 million cage-free eggs per year to grocery stores and restaurants across Michigan, Cataldo said. The fires impact on foreseeable production is not yet known.

Its hard to say at this point as there is no way to build the flock back up until the barn is rebuilt," she said. We plan to rebuild, but no timeline has been set.

The company does not anticipate supply interruptions to any of its customers or changes to the price of eggs, Cataldo said.

The Otsego farm is one of two cage-free farms in the companys portfolio. The other cage-free farm, home to 350,000 hens, is located in Grant Park, Illinois. The company also has a third egg farm in Martin, Michigan.

The company announced in 2015 that it planned to spend $8.2 million to build the new farm on the Otsego property. The amount of losses incurred as a result of the fire are not yet known, Cataldo said.

All employees at the facility, which staffs about 50, were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported. Operations at the farm, according to a statement from Rob Knecht, vice president of operations at Konos, were scheduled to resume the day after the fire.
Were proud to recognize AP Inbox Assist and Collections Management as Acumatica-Certified Applications. They masterfully utilize the Acumatica platform to meet customers growing business demands, said Christian Lindberg, Vice President of Partner Solutions at Acumatica.

Crestwood Associates is proud to announce that two of our add-on products (AP Inbox Assist and Collections Management) have been recognized as Acumatica-Certified Applications (ACAs). AP Inbox Assist is an accounts payable add-on that seamlessly integrates email with Acumatica, and Collections Management is an accounts receivable add-on that automates the collection process.

The ACA title highlights outstanding development partners whose applications have met the highest standards set for Acumatica integration and functionality. To become an Acumatica-Certified Application, Crestwood has demonstrated commitment to quality by passing the Acumatica software test and aligning to future Acumatica roadmap releases.

Customers who want to stay competitive need flexible, responsive technology to execute their long-term business strategies, said Christian Lindberg, Vice President of Partner Solutions at Acumatica. Our ACA label is built to help customers find applications capable of delivering that. Were proud to recognize AP Inbox Assist and Collections Management as Acumatica-Certified Applications. They masterfully utilize the Acumatica platform to meet customers growing business demands.

Acumatica, the worlds fastest-growing cloud ERP company, has been recognized as a Visionary in Gartners Magic Quadrant for Cloud Core Financial Management Suites for Midsize, Large and Global Enterprises 2019, as well as in The Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud ERP for Product-Centric Midsize Enterprises.

About Crestwood Associates, LLC

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Mount Prospect, Illinois, Crestwood Associates is a premier Cloud Service Provider (CSP), Gold-Certified Microsoft Dynamics Partner, 10-time Presidents Club Award Winner, and 2017 Inner Circle recipient. In addition, Crestwood was honored to be chosen as Acumatica's US Partner of the Year in 2016 and 2017, as well as being inducted into the inaugural class of Acumaticas Presidents Club for 2018. Crestwood delivers a variety of business solutions, including: Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics SL, Microsoft Dynamics CRM (now called Dynamics 365 for Sales), Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Acumatica Cloud ERP, and Greentree applications. From accounting and financial reporting, to CRM, manufacturing, distribution, payroll and human resources, Crestwood Associates provides the tools and services that help businesses perform above and beyond the competition. The Crestwood team is comprised of over 50 certified professionals who provide in-depth industry experience and functional expertise.

About Acumatica

Acumatica provides cloud-based business management software that enables small and mid-size companies to accelerate their businesses. Built on cloud and mobile technology and a unique customer-centric licensing model, Acumatica delivers a suite of fully integrated business management applications, such as Financials, Distribution, CRM, and Project Accounting, on a robust and flexible platform. For more information, visit http://www.acumatica.com.
Prime Minister Netanyahu on Monday distanced Israel from Soleimani's killing while Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia said the kingdom does not want to see further escalation of tension in the region and Pakistan announced it will not take sides in the escalating confrontation between Iran and the U.S.

In a cabinet meeting on Monday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the killing of Iran's Qods Force Commander Qassem Soleimani was an American event and "should better left as such", Haarez reported.

According to the Israeli newspaper, Israeli defense officials told security cabinet ministers Monday that the likelihood of an Iranian response against Israel is low as of now.

Meanwhile, Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia said on Monday that his country does not want to see further escalation of tensions in the region.

We are very keen that the situation in the region doesnt escalate any further. Its certainly a very dangerous moment and we have to be conscious of the risks and dangers not just to the region but to wider global security, Reuters quoted him as saying at a news briefing in Riyadh on Monday.

The Saudi foreign minister also called on all actors to take all the steps necessary to prevent any further escalation and any provocation.

The Foreign Minister of Iran's neighbor Pakistan, Shah Mehmood, on Monday also expressed his country's wish to remain out of the current conflict between Iran and the U.S. over the killing of Iran's Soleimani last Friday.

According to a Reuters  report, Shah Mehmood told the upper house of parliament in a policy statement on Monday that "Pakistans soil will not be used against any other state, and nor will Pakistan become a part of this regional conflict.
Despite a $1 toll increase in 2019, the Delaware Memorial Bridge had the most vehicles cross the twin span than ever before.

A record of 18,288,314 vehicles traveled over it  a 2.9% increase year-over-year, according to the Delaware River and Bay Authority. The figure is 474,650 vehicles more than the previous record set in 2016.

The twin-span bridge, which connects Salem County with Delaware, also broke records in eight out of the twelve months in 2019, with the bridge handling more than 1.5 million vehicles in both October and November.

We want to thank our customers for choosing to use the Delaware Memorial Bridge - whether its for transporting goods and services, traveling for a family vacation, or commuting to work every day, DRBA Executive Director Thomas J. Cook said in a statement. It says something about the loyalty of our customers when the Delaware Memorial Bridge can set so many all-time records despite lane closures associated with our capital investment projects on the bridges and approach roads.

DRBA Chief Operations Officer Vincent P. Meconi said factors such as an improving economic climate, stable gasoline prices, and favorable weather conditions were attributed to the record.

Not only was the fall and early winter one of the warmest on record, but the region did not experience the tropical or winter storms that have a significant effect on overall traffic during a more typical season, Meconi said in the statement. The Bridge experienced positive year-over-year growth in all vehicle classes and; hopefully, this trend can continue for another year.

The record comes after the DRBA raised toll prices for standard passenger vehicles and small trucks from $4 to $5 in May 2019 to help fund capital improvement projects. A few of the capital projects currently underway and planned for the bridge include a pin & link replacement, steelwork repair, the Suspender Rope Replacement Program, and bridge painting projects.

Merconi said there might be future lane closures as a result of the projects.

Our engineers have designed these important capital projects to minimize traffic delays to the extent possible, but we do occasionally expect them, particularly during peak travel times, Meconi said. Motorists are encouraged to follow us on Twitter for the latest construction news and traffic conditions.

Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews or on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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WINONA/MINNEAPOLIS  The Rev. Stephen Joseph Fichter, Ph.D., research associate for the Center for Applied Research at Apostolate, Georgetown University, will present "Church Leadership in the Third Millennium: Recent Research on Catholic Bishops in the U.S." for the next Cardinal Virtues presentation at Saint Marys University.

Fichter co-authored the book, "Same Call, Different Men: The Evolution of the Priesthood since Vatican II," published by Liturgical Press in 2012. His newest book, "Catholic Bishops in the United States: Church Leadership in the Third Millennium," was published by Oxford University Press in 2019.

Based on his research, Fichter will provide an overview of how the bishops are leading the Church in the United States in the era of Pope Francis.

The public is invited to his two presentations:

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 4 p.m., Saint Marys University Center, 2540 Park Ave., Minneapolis

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Thursday, Jan. 16, noon, Saint Marys Science and Learning Center, 700 Terrace Heights, Winona

A reception will follow both presentations.

RSVP by Wednesday, Jan. 8, at smumn.edu/cvrsvp. For more information, call 507-457-1597.

Sisters of St. Francis offering centering prayer

Starting this week, the Sisters of St. Francis, 1001 14th St. NW, is offering "centering prayer" every Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m.

Centering prayer is a method of contemplative prayer that explores ways of "praying beyond words." It is not so much about attention, as it is about intention. The source of centering prayer is the indwelling of the Spirit, and the focus of it is deepening your relationship with God. Its method is listening in silence.

In the 6th century, Gregory the Great called it "resting in God." St. John of the Cross said, "Silence was the first language of God." Join us for silent prayer on Thursday evenings.

The sessions will be led by Sister Beth Lynn, a member of the Poor Clare Sisters and longtime teacher and practitioner of centering prayer. Guest leaders will assist on occasion. Donations are appreciated.

ADVERTISEMENT

St. Lukes Episcopal Church hosting diversity program

St. Lukes Episcopal Church, 1884 22nd St. NW, is hosting a program presented by the Rochester Diversity Council on how to become an ally and advocate when we encounter uncomfortable diversity situations.

The session will include instruction for "courageous listening and observing", some culturally specific insights and role-playing exercises, with tips and tactics for de-escalation, respectful intervention and accountability.

It will be held Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Light refreshments will be served afterward. For more information, please call 507-288-2469.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 13:40:49|Editor: ZD

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NEW YORK, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Hollywood magnate Harvey Weinstein appeared in a court here on Monday, marking the start of his long-awaited sex crime trial.

Weinstein, 67, hobbled into and out of the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, leaning on a walker following a recent back surgery.

The film producer faces five charges from two women. He allegedly raped one woman in a Midtown Manhattan hotel in March 2013 and performed a forcible sex act on another woman at his apartment in Manhattan in 2006.

If he were convicted of predatory sexual assault, Weinstein would face life in prison.

The Hollywood heavyweight has been involved in some 80 allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct since investigative reports about his alleged sexual abuse were published on several mainstream media outlets in 2017.

Outside the courthouse, a group of Weinstein's accusers waved signs demanding accountability for him.

"As we stand here at the beginning of a new year and a new decade, time's up on sexual harassment in all workplaces," said actress Rosanna Arquette, one of the accusers.

"Time's up on the pervasive culture of silence that has enabled abusers like Weinstein," she said.

Weinstein has denied all the allegations, saying any sexual activity was consensual.

The trial in New York is expected to last until March with jury selection beginning on Tuesday.

Just hours after proceedings started in the New York court, prosecutors in Los Angeles charged Weinstein with sexually assaulting two women in 2013.

"We believe the evidence will show that the defendant used his power and influence to gain access to his victims and then commit violent crimes against them," said Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey in a statement.

Weinstein is expected to appear in court in California after finishing his trial in New York, Lacey said.
NEW ALBANY, Ohio, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) today announced that Chief Executive Officer Fran Horowitz will be presenting at the ICR Conference 2020 held at the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando, Florida on Monday, January 13, 2020 at 9:00 AM, ET.



A live audio webcast of the fireside chat will be available to the general public on the Investors section of the Companys website at http://corporate.abercrombie.com at approximately 9:00 AM, ET on Monday, January 13, 2020. An online audio archive will be available for a period of 90 days following the presentation.

About Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) is a leading, global specialty retailer of apparel and accessories for Men, Women and Kids through three renowned brands. For more than 125 years, the iconic Abercrombie & Fitch brand has outfitted innovators, explorers and entrepreneurs. Today, the brand reflects the updated attitude of the modern customer, while remaining true to its heritage of creating expertly crafted products with an effortless, American style. The Hollister brand epitomizes liberating the carefree spirit of an endless California summer for the teen market. abercrombie kids creates smart, playful apparel for children ages 5-14, celebrating the wide-eyed wonder of childhood.

The brands share a commitment to offering products of enduring quality and exceptional comfort that allow consumers around the world to express their own individuality and style. The company operates over 850 stores under these brands across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the e-commerce sites www.abercrombie.com and www.hollisterco.com.
Pelosy: US House will vote to limit Trump's war powers on Iran

Iran Press TV

Monday, 06 January 2020 10:42 AM

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced that the legislative body will seek to limit President Donald Trump's "military actions regarding Iran" in the wake of increased tensions between the two countries.

Tensions between the US and Iran escalated after Trump ordered the assassination of a top Iranian commander who had played a leading role in the Middle East in the fight against Daesh terrorists.

Fears of a new war in the Middle East emerged following the assassination of Major General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU).

The "provocative and disproportionate" airstrike on Soleimani "endangered our servicemembers, diplomats and others by risking a serious escalation of tensions with Iran," Pelosi wrote In a letter to Democratic members of the House on Sunday.

"As Members of Congress, our first responsibility is to keep the American people safe. For this reason, we are concerned that the Administration took this action without the consultation of Congress and without respect for Congress's war powers granted to it by the Constitution."

Pelosi thanked lawmakers for their "patriotic leadership" during the tense period.

"I greatly appreciate the solemnity with which all of our Members are working to honor our responsibility to protect American lives and values," Pelosi wrote in concluding her letter. "Thank you for your patriotic leadership during this difficult time."

She is scheduled to present the new legislation limiting Trump this week.

It will mandate that military hostilities with Iran cease within 30 days unless further congressional authorization like a declaration of war is taken.

There is high probability that resolution will be endorsed in the Democratic-led House, but the Senate remains in Republican hands and it is uncertain whether the upper chamber will approve the motion.

Pelosi's promise to deliberate and vote on the war powers legislation comes as Congress returns from its holiday recess on Monday and could alter the politics around Trump's impeachment.

The House voted to impeach Trump on Dec. 18 but has declined to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate over concerns about a fair trial. Senate Democrats and Republicans have deadlocked in negotiations over the format of a trial.

On Sunday, the Iraqi Parliament voted to expel American soldiers from the country, drawing the threat of very intense sanctions from Trump.

"We will charge them (Iraqis) sanctions like they've never seen before ever. It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame," the US president said, in reaction to the Iraqi lawmakers' vote against US military presence.

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Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday conferred the first 'Antarrashtriya Yoga Diwas' awards to 30 media organizations at an event organised at Media Centre here.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister described the award as a unique honour which will contribute to spreading Yoga for the benefit of society.

Appreciating the efforts of various media organizations, the Minister said the event also marks a new trend of recognising the endeavour of media organisations who go beyond news, views and advertisements and work in a mission mode for the larger benefit of society.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State for AYUSH, Shripad Naik described Yoga as an ancient heritage through which one can attain mental and physical well-being.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 17:29:20|Editor: Wang Yamei

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NAIROBI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military said on Monday that its African Command's (Africom's) East Africa Response Force (EARF) has arrived at Kenya's Manda Bay to augment security after three Americans were killed in an attack launched by al-Shabab terrorists on Sunday.

"The EARF provides a critical combat-ready, rapid deployment force. The EARF's ability to respond to events spanning a vast area of responsibility provides a proven and invaluable on-call reinforcement capability in times of need," William Gayler, Africom's director of operations, said in a statement issued on Monday evening.

The EARF falls under the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa and is tasked to respond to a variety of military operations, including providing humanitarian assistance or safeguarding Americans and diplomatic facilities in Africom's area of operations.

Al-Shabab, an extremist group, attacked Kenyan and U.S. troops in Manda Bay on Sunday morning in what the U.S. military described as an indirect and small arms fire.

According to Africom, six contractor-operated civilian aircrafts suffered damage during the attack that left a U.S. service member and two civilian contractors working for the Defense Department dead.

However, al-Shabab said its suicide bombers killed 17 American and nine Kenyan troops in its first attack against U.S. forces in Kenya.
After giving birth to the child, McClain pressed her hands on the boys chest until he stopped breathing, according to the prosecutors office. McClain contacted Mohammed, and later that morning, the two disposed of the childs body in an outdoor trash bin near a public housing complex in Asbury Park, the prosecutors office said. Investigators later recovered surveillance video that captured Mohammed disposing of the childs body, which wasnt recovered.
Since joining BancorpSouth as an accountant in 2006, Lambert has held a variety of management positions, including his most recent role as executive vice president and chief data analytics officer. He will continue to have an active role in quantitative analytics, balance sheet management, credit risk management, capital stress testing and corporate planning. In addition, his responsibilities will span all efforts in enterprise risk management, compliance, vendor management and Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering efforts.

"I look forward to working with Ty to maintain a robust risk management program at our company," said Dan Rollins, BancorpSouth's chairman and chief executive officer. "Ty's strong background in data analytics and risk management positions him well to help BancorpSouth continue to evaluate the wide range of current and emerging challenges we face daily, whether related to our markets, products, operations or regulatory compliance."

Lambert earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi, and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi.

He currently serves as an adviser to the Center for Financial Professionals and previously served on the American Banker's advisory board for stress testing.

About BancorpSouth Bank

BancorpSouth Bank (NYSE: BXS) is headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi, with approximately $21 billion in assets. BancorpSouth operates approximately 310 full-service branch locations as well as additional mortgage, insurance, and loan production offices in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas, including an insurance location in Illinois. BancorpSouth is committed to a culture of respect, diversity, and inclusion in both its workplace and communities. To learn more, visit our Community Commitment page at www.bancorpsouth.com ; "Like" us on Facebook; follow us on [email protected]; or connect with us through LinkedIn.

SOURCE BancorpSouth Bank

Related Links

http://www.bancorpsouth.com


Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday tacitly acknowledged the depressed sentiment and reached out afresh to India Inc to revive the economic momentum in the country.

At the beginning of the new year, today from this platform, I will again tell the Indian industry not to let disappointment pass with you. Go ahead with new energy. Whichever corner of the country you go to, for your expansion, the Indian government will walk with you, the Prime Minister said speaking at the centenary celebration of the Kirloskar Group in New Delhi.

Slowing down the anti-corruption drive, Modi said that a company, if not successful, may not be necessarily involved in any conspiracy or greed. Hence, it was crucial to prepare a way for such entrepreneurs in the country and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) set the basis for this, he said, urging the industry to move ahead without any fear.

In a similar tone,the Prime Minister had last month said that his government has corrected past weaknesses of the economy, and urged industrialists to invest boldly, promising protection against wrong actions in genuine commercial failures.

Modis comments assume significance amid a deep downturn in the economy, led by sluggish consumption, and subdued private investment in the country. While the Centre has taken slew of measures in the last five-six months to being India back to a high growth trajectory, including a sharp cut in corporate tax, steps are yet to yield significant results.

The government has undertaken several reforms in the last five year and has continued to listen to the industry and address their concerns he said, adding that Indian tax system has witnessed massive reforms, which includes ending Inspector Raj as well as the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST). Right now, the government is trying to increase efficiency, transparency and accountability by ending human interface between tax departments and human interface.Besides, in case of not adhering to tiny provisions under the companies law, offences have been decriminalized.

Indian industry, in a transparent environment without fear, without hindrance, move ahead, create wealth for the country, create wealth for ourselves, this has been the endeavour of all of us. It has been a constant effort to liberate Indian industry from the trap of laws, he said.

Modi urged the industry to produce world-class products, such that India is able to invest more and with the rise in the number of young entrepreneurs, business culture, the government will continue to support innovation.

Now if such a club is formed today, it will be called Bharat Club, in which different sectors, different sectors, old veterans and new entrepreneurs will all be represented Modi said.

As far as innovation is concerned, he said real-time payments system Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and LED bulb scheme UJALA has gained immense popularity.

In the last five years, there has been an environment in the country to work with integrity, to work with integrity, to work with complete transparency. This environment has given the country the courage to set big goals, and achieve on time the Prime Minister said, indicating the governments goal to become $5 trillion economy by 2024-25.
Two of four $1-million winning tickets for the Pennsylvania Lotterys New Years Millionaire Raffle Drawing were sold in central Pennsylvania.

The two tickets for Saturdays drawing were sold in York County, according to a news release from the Pennsylvania Lottery.

The winning numbers were 00041917, 00057711, 00363839, and 00498283. Heres where all four winning tickets were sold:

Turkey Hill, 4001 Carlisle Road, Dover, York County

Rutters, 1425 Seven Valleys Road, York, York County

GetGo, 6586 State Route 22, Delmont, Westmoreland County

Country Fair, 4646 W. 12th St., Erie, Erie County

One of four winning tickets for $100,000 was sold in Dauphin County, according to the release. The winning numbers for those tickets were 00194891, 00326221, 00421809, and 00451728. Heres where those tickets were sold:

Turkey Hill, 686 2nd St., Highspire, Dauphin County

Giant Eagle, 9901 Mountainview Dr., West Mifflin, Allegheny County

Sims Quality Market, 2401 Walbert Ave., Allentown, Lehigh County

Boyers Food Market, 408 Park Road, Fleetwood, Berks County

Millionaire Raffle winners have one year from the drawing date to claim prizes. Players are urged to immediately sign their winning tickets.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
(Natural News) On Monday, conservative talk radio behemoth Rush Limbaugh reminded listeners that Democrats who are criticizing President Donald Trump over his decision to take out one of our countrys biggest enemies are showing all of us just who they really are.

He noted:

So what happened? The president kills a well-known terrorist who is responsible for the death of hundreds of Americans, including uniformed military personnel, and the left melts down. The left has a breakdown. If anybody is puzzled by this, all you have to do is go back to when Trump came down the escalator on June 15th of 2016 and announced his slogan Make America Great Again. Remember how controversial that was?

The point he was making is this: Democrats hate America as it was founded, theyve always hated America, and now theyre just open and brazen about it, claiming that Trump is responsible for our transition.

But by their actions they defy their own explanations.

Its one thing to oppose the president on political and policy issues. Democrats have constituents too, after all  people who voted for them to represent them a certain way on key issues.

However, its something else entirely to put our country at risk then couch your actions in political opposition.

On Monday following President Trumps order to target Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, former head of the Quds Force, responsible for thousands of deaths and maiming of Americans, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to her unhinged caucus explaining that she would be introducing a resolution to tie the presidents hands when it comes to dealing with Iran.

As The National Sentinel reported:

She also accused the Trump administration of taking provocative and disproportionate action against the Iranian general, Soleimani, who actually took provocative and disproportionate action in Iraq when he was supplying insurgents with Iranian-made weapons to kill American troops.

That blood is in Irans hands

In addition, Pelosi said in her letter that the resolution would mandate that if no further Congressional action is taken, the Administrations military hostilities with regard to Iran cease within 30 days.

We like to call this the Iran Protection Act because for all intents and purposes, thats what it is.

Thats all it is. And its a disgrace.

Trump, by his actions targeting Soleimani, is actually trying to prevent a war. In Soleimanis killing, which also resulted in the deaths of several other top Iranian military commanders, the president sent the Iranian regime an unmistakable message: The days of putting up with Iranian aggression and provocations is over.

According to an analysis published in Arab News, Soleimanis death leaves Irans strategy to dominate the region in tatters.

The killing of Quds Force Commander Qassim Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary leader Abu-Mahdi Al-Muhandis changes everything. With one fell blow Trump has taken out the two dominant figures exporting Iranian militancy across the region, Baria Alamudden wrote.

Also, Soleimani and the militant minions he used as Iranian proxies have been targeting Americans and American interests for nearly two decades. In 2015, CNS News reported that a U.S. Marine general blamed Soleimani for 14 percent of U.S. troop fatalities in Iraq.

According to the [U.S.] Central Command, at least 196 U.S. service members were killed in Iraq by Iranian-made explosive-formed penetrators (EFPs) from 2003 to 2011, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said during a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing.

He added that around the same time Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford testified that about 500 U.S. troops in sum were killed by Iranian activities.

That blood is in Irans hands, the general said.

That Left-wing Democrats like Pelosi are attempting to tie the presidents hands in dealing with Iran after ignoring the way in which their President enabled and empowered that murderous regime for eight years is the textbook definition of providing aid and comfort to an enemy.

Sources include:

CNSNews.com

TheNationalSentinel.com

RushLimbaugh.com
The Great Lakes Bay Economic Club invites the community to a special edition luncheon on Friday, Jan. 17, at Curtiss Hall Banquet Rooms at Saginaw Valley State University, with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Registration will take place from 11:30 a.m. to noon with lunch to follow. The program will take place from 12:20 to 1 p.m.

Whitmer will be presenting a Lansing update as she provides a preview of her "State of the State" address.

Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander. She is a lawyer, educator, former prosecutor, state representative and senator. She was the first woman to lead a Senate caucus. Inspired by her family, she has devoted her life to building a stronger Michigan for everyone.

Whitmer was elected to the House of Representatives in 2000 and elected to the Michigan State Senate in 2006, where she served as the Senate Democratic leader. In the 2018 gubernatorial election, Whitmer won all 83 counties in the primary and won the general election with 53% of the vote. Since taking her oath of office, she has put together the most diverse cabinet in the state's history. She has signed executive directives to clean up our drinking water, end discrimination in state government based on sexual orientation and gender identity, secure equal pay for equal work, and expand opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses.

Whitmer said she is committed to solving the problems Michiganders face every day, including ensuring every Michigander has an excellent public education and a path to a good-paying job, and that every community has clean, safe drinking water.

Whitmer and her husband, Marc Mallory, live in Lansing with her two daughters, Sherry and Sydney. Her three step-sons, Alex, Mason and Winston, all live in Michigan as well. Whitmer earned a bachelor's degree and a law degree from Michigan State University.

Space will be limited for this event and walk-up registration will not be permitted. RSVPs are due by Thursday, Jan. 9. To secure a spot, visit https://glbec.wufoo.com/forms/m15gzt241w2yeoa/

Admission is $25 for GLBEC members and $35 for guests.
The Buxar Central Jail is ready to supply its famed Manila rope for the hanging of the convicts. (Photo Credit: File photo)

New Delhi:

Four convicts in the sensational 2012 Nirbhaya Gang rape and murder case will be hanged on January 22 at 7 am in Tihar jail, a Delhi court said on Tuesday. The order was pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora who issued the death warrants against the four death row convicts -- Mukesh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31).

According to an earlier report by The Indian Express, the Buxar Central Jail is ready to supply its famed "Manila" rope for the hanging of the convicts, and 10 such ropes have been readied to be supplied to the capitals Tihar Jail.

The jail has expertise in making the wax-coated manila rope that it sells for Rs 180 a kg and which can easily withstand the tension caused by the fall of a person weighing up to 80 kg sent.

The jail produced several kinds of ropes used with handcuffs and for pitching tents. Clothes and durries are also woven by its inmates.

The last time a manila rope was sent from Buxar jail was in 2004 for the hanging of a rape convict was Dhananjay Chatterjee at Alipore Jail following his conviction in a rape-cum-murder case.

The jail, probably the only one in the country making manila rope, supplies several types of ropes to different jails.

Why is it called Manila rope?

The rope got its name in Philippines because they are made from a type of fiber obtained from the leaves of the abaca tree that grows in the island nation. That fiber is called Manila hemp.

It is made by the inmates of the Buxar Jail only when the government asks for the supply of the ropes for hanging convicts on death row.

It is used for various purposes including as ship lines and fishing nets because of its strong resistance to salt water.

The jail is located on the banks of river Ganga, making it extremely humid on normal days. Humidity is very essential for making the rope. Humid conditions make the rope smoother yet stronger, which is a necessity since it would be used to hold a body mid-air for a few seconds without snapping.

The rope has to be 1.6 times the height of the convict and heavy enough to ensure that it can withstand the weight of the body.

Buxar Jail has been making the Manila rope since 1930s, when the country was under the British rule. The same rope was used to hang 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab and Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

(With PTI inputs)

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[January 07, 2020] Blue Canyon Technologies to Provide Spacecraft Bus for Groundbreaking MethaneSAT Program

Small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) has been selected by MethaneSAT LLC ("MethaneSAT"), to develop and build the spacecraft bus for the groundbreaking mission. MethaneSAT is a subsidiary of the non-profit Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). The donor-funded mission, which is scheduled to launch in 2022, will provide global, high-resolution detection and quantification of methane emissions from oil and gas facilities, as well as measure emissions from other human-generated methane sources. This comprehensive data will be made available to the public, and provide companies, governments and other stakeholders with a new way to track, quantify and take actionable steps to reduce methane emissions. "Reducing methane emissions is critical to slowing the pace of climate change, and we're proud that our small-satellite technology will help MethaneSAT and the Environmental Defense Fund with this important mission," says George Stafford, President and CEO of Blue Canyon Technologies. "Our technology will make it less expensive and quicker to launch, allowing them to collect more data sooner." The satellite will be designed using BCT's newest X-SAT line of spacecraft, specifically the X-SAT Saturn-Class which can carry payloads up to 200 kg. As with other BCT X-SAT buses, the X-SAT Saturn-Class is a high-agility platform, enabling the onboard instrument to collect data and revisit sites frequently. The X-SAT Saturn-Class's compact profile is designed to maximize the volume, mass and power available for the methane measuring instrument.



"MethaneSAT has a unique and demanding mission involving some of the most seasoned, innovative organizations and individuals from both the commercial and public aerospace sectors," said Dr. Steven Hamburg, MethaneSAT project co-lead. "Blue Canyon Technologies is a best-in-class bus provider and we are confident in their ability to deliver a spacecraft that meets the demanding performance requirements of this mission." Human-generated methane emissions are responsible for more than 25 percent of global warming we currently experience. EDF calculates that reducing global oil and gas methane emissions 45 percent by 2025 would deliver the same near-term benefit to the climate as closing 1,300 coal-fired power plants.

Blue Canyon's diverse spacecraft platform has the proven capability to enable a broad range of missions and technological advances for the New Space economy, further reducing the barriers of space entry. BCT is currently building more than 60 spacecraft for government, commercial and academic missions. The company has doubled in size over the past 12 months and plans to open its new 80,000-square-foot headquarters and production facility in 2020. About BCT Blue Canyon Technologies, Inc., (BCT) a Colorado-based private company founded in 2008 to bring innovative, reliable and affordable solutions to space missions, is an experienced integrator of aerospace systems and developer of advanced aerospace products and technologies. BCT is a vertically integrated spacecraft manufacturer supporting nearly 40 unique missions with over 70 spacecraft. The company currently has more than 60 satellites in production and is developing a new 80,000-square-foot facility for high rate production. BCT has supported missions for the U.S. Air Force, NASA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and many others and provided the Attitude Control Systems for the first interplanetary CubeSats which successfully traveled to Mars. The company has been recognized with awards including Inc Magazine's 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies, 2017 Colorado Companies to Watch, and the 2019 Colorado Biz Made in Colorado Emerging Manufacturer Winner. For the latest news on Blue Canyon Technologies and for other company information, please visit www.bluecanyontech.com. You can follow the company on Instagram here or Twitter (News - Alert) here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005101/en/

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Tony Dejak, STF / Associated Press

A Galveston County woman has died following her use of e-cigarettes or vaping products, according to county health officials.

The woman, who was between 30 and 35 years of age, is the first death associated with e-cigarette, or vaping, associated lung injury (EVALI), according to a Galveston County Health District news release. The woman was being treated at a local hospital for EVALI, officials said. The health district said it would not release any additional information about the woman.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7)  President Rodrigo Duterte now has a Presidential Adviser on Space Matters.

Joel Joseph Marciano, Jr., the acting director of the Department of Science and Technology's Advanced Science and Technology Institute, has been named Director General of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA).

He was appointed on December 5, 2019, based on the list of presidential appointees released by Malacanang on Tuesday.

Marciano is the first-ever head of the PhilSA, a government body dedicated to the improvement of space science and technology. Duterte signed the law creating this agency under the Office of the President in August 2019.

Under Republic Act No. 11363 or the Philippine Space Act, among the tasks of the Director General is to "advise the President on the promulgation of executive and administrative orders and formulation of regulatory and legislative proposals on matters pertaining to SSTA (Space Science and Technology Applications) development."

Under the law, Marciano has the rank and pay grade of a Cabinet Secretary.

He shall manage the operations of the PhilSA, which will plan programs and craft policies for the Philippines' space development program.

The law has set 1 billion as the agency's initial operating fund, taken from the budget of the Office of the President.

The law also mandates at least 30 hectares of land to be used for the office and research facilities of the PhilSA in the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga and Tarlac.

The country's space program will focus on the development of space technologies for use in national security, hazard management and climate studies, space research and development, space industry capacity building, space education and awareness, and international cooperation.

The goal is to make the Philippines a "space-capable and spacefaring nation within the next decade."

Aside from Marciano, Duterte also formalized the appointment of Eduardo del Rosario as Ad Interim Secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. He also reappointed Manila Times' chairman emeritus and columnist Dante Ang as Special Envoy of the President for International Public Relations.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th January, 2020) US President Donald Trump in a presidential determination said he his removing restrictions on American foreign aid to Bolivia.

"I hereby determine that the provision of United States assistance to Bolivia in Fiscal Year 2020 is vital to the national interests of the United States," Trump said on Monday.

In November, then-President Evo Morales under military pressure stepped down from his fourth term in office and fled to Mexico.

Carlos Rafael Faria Tortosa, the Venezuelan ambassador to Russia, told Sputnik last month that the unrest that erupted in Bolivia after the country's presidential election was an ideal moment for the United States to successfully overthrow Morales.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 13:49:50|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese court has ruled in favor of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in a trademark infringement lawsuit that a Beijing firm made unauthorized use of the "BBC" logo.

The Haidian district people's court made the first instance sentence that the Beijing iYuba Tech Company should stop the infringement of the exclusive right to use the "BBC" trademark and compensate BBC for economic losses and reasonable expenses totaling 1 million yuan (143,400 U.S. dollars).

BBC claimed that the trademark involves its enterprise name, which has high popularity in China. Without permission, the Beijing firm used the "BBC" logo prominently on its two company websites, a public account on Chinese social media WeChat, and five mobile phone applications developed by iYuba.

The Beijing tech firm is an English language learning application developer. BBC claimed that iYuba's use of the "BBC" logo makes the public mistakenly believe that the applications and services provided by iYuba are associated with BBC, causing confusion and constituting unfair competition.

The court heard that relevant logos used by iYuba, although slightly different in font and color with additional words such as "English," the overall visual effect is similar to that of the BBC trademark.
Ghosn has denied any wrongdoing and has said he was the victim of backstabbing and a conspiracy that wanted to derail his efforts to bring the two automakers towards a merger

Tokyo: Japan has asked Lebanon for help regarding Carlos Ghosn, a top Japanese official said on Tuesday, calling the former auto executives escape to Beirut regrettable but stopping short of spelling out what Tokyo was seeking from local authorities.

The former Nissan Motor Co Ltd and Renault SA chairman became an international fugitive after he fled to Lebanonhis childhood homelast week to escape what he called a 'rigged' justice system in Japan, where he faces multiple charges related to financial misconduct.

He has denied any wrongdoing and has said he was the victim of backstabbing and a conspiracy that wanted to derail his efforts to bring the two automakers towards a merger.

Japanese authorities said on Monday they may press for Ghosns extradition from Lebanon to face the charges, even though the Middle Eastern country does not normally extradite its nationals.

On Tuesday, Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, sidestepped questions about what exactly Japan had asked of Lebanon beyond finding out the truth.

Its necessary to carefully consider the legal systems of both countries, he told a news conference, referring to any requests for the extradition of a fugitive.

Ghosn is due to speak to the media in Lebanon on Wednesday where he is widely expected to detail some of the claims he has made against Nissan since his arrest in November 2018.

Citing an interview with Ghosn, Fox Business reported that the former executive said he has actual evidence and documents to show there was a Japanese government-backed coup to take him out. He plans to identify those he believes responsible at a news conference, the broadcaster reported.

Separately, Nissan said Ghosns flight from Japan would not affect its policy of holding him responsible for serious misconduct.

The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan, the Japanese automaker said in a statement.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 20:59:45|Editor: Wang Yamei

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TIRANA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The winter flu season has arrived in Albania with the cases on rise, Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu said on Tuesday.

Manastirliu made the remarks while visiting a health center in the capital city Tirana.

She ensured that three health centers in Tirana will provide 24-hour service for the citizens.

"The flu virus, according to the health specialists, has a moderate intensity, with an increasing tendency, so we have responded to this situation by guaranteeing 24-hour health care seven days a week at three health centers in the capital," Manastirliu said.

According to the Public Health Institute specialists, the A/ subtype virus is spreading in Albania.

Health authorities reported that the flu virus continues to spread across Albania while over 11,000 citizens sought medical assistance last week, calling the situation normal for the winter season.

Meanwhile, the ministry offers free anti-virus vaccines to medical personnel, children, retirees, and those with chronic illness.
ASUS Republic of Gamers Unveils New Gaming Lineup at CES 2020

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today unveiled an all-new lineup of gaming innovations at CES (News - Alert) 2020 that deliver top-tier performance, features and aesthetics to ensure superior experiences for all types of gamers. The new lineup include the ultra-slim ROG Zephyrus G14, the world's most powerful 14-inch gaming laptop, and the ROG Swift (News - Alert) 360Hz, the world's fastest gaming monitor. Additional highlights include the ROG Swift PG32UQX gaming monitor, ROG Pugio II and ROG Strix Impact II Wireless gaming mice and the ROG ITX Z11 case.

ROG Zephyrus G14 is a 14-inch gaming laptop teeming with power from new AMD Ryzen 4000 Series Mobile Processors and an NVIDIA (News - Alert) GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, giving serious gamers the firepower they need to dominate the battlefield. ROG Swift 360Hz is a 24.5-inch Full HD gaming monitor with an insanely fast 360 Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth gaming performance. ROG Swift PG32UQX is a high-performance 4K HDR gaming monitor with G-SYNC ULTIMATE, NVIDIA's highest G-SYNC certification. ROG Pugio II is a versatile and customizable gaming mouse with a 16,000 dpi sensor. ROG Strix Impact II Wireless is a powerful wireless gaming mouse with more than 2.5X the wired model's maximum sensitivity and features Aura Sync lighting. ROG ITX Z11 is a sleekly designed case with RGB LEDs and a patent-pending 11 tilt for showcasing and heat dissipation.

Other products on display at the ROG Media Showroom include the ROG Strix GA15 and ROG Strix GA35 gaming desktops. ROG Strix GA15 delivers serious esports performance in an economical package, while ROG Strix GA35 features an up to 16-core AMD (News - Alert) Ryzen 9 3950X CPU and ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2080 Ti graphics card to deliver serious performance for gaming and content creation. ROG is also displaying two custom system builds that showcase the aesthetic and performance possibilities achievable with ROG components: the sleek and pristine ROG Strix White Edition build and the ROG TRX40 motherboard build with a concept AIO cooler design for high core count 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Threadripper CPUs.

The latest ROG gaming innovations will be on display to CES 2020 visitors Jan. 6-9 at the ASUS Media Showroom at the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino.

GAMING LAPTOPS

ROG Zephyrus G14

The ROG Zephyrus G14 gaming laptop brings unprecedented power to an ultraslim 14-inch form factor, wrapping powerful processors in a compact chassis portable enough to go anywhere. Despite a chassis that's only 17.9 mm thin, Zephyrus G14 features carefully customized cooling that brings out the best of its AMD Ryzen 4000 Series Mobile Processor (News - Alert) made with 7nm fabrication technology and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU. Users can optimize for gaming or creative pursuits with a choice between 120 Hz high-refresh and high-resolution displays, both with PANTONE Validated colors and adaptive sync technology. Over 10 hours of battery life and the ability to charge from compatible Type-C power packs makes the Zephyrus G14 highly portable.

Subtle styling in Moonlight White or Eclipse Gray gives ROG Zephyrus G14 a clean and professional look, and the optional AniMe Matrix display deepens personalization, enabling users to show custom graphics, animations, and other effects across more than a thousand mini LEDs embedded in the lid.

DISPLAYS

ROG Swift 360Hz

ROG Swift 360Hz is the world's fastest gaming monitor. Compared to widely available 240Hz gaming monitors, the ROG Swift 360Hz can put out a whopping 50% more frames every second - supplying esports and competitive gamers with the edge they need to win. With a comfortable 24.5-inch display size and its Full HD resolution, the ROG Swift 360Hz features the same unmistakable design that graces the ASUS lineup of its highest-end ROG gaming monitors.

ROG Swift PG32UQX

ROG Swift PG32UQX is the ultimate 4K high-dynamic-range (HDR) gaming monitor. Featuring an advanced G-SYNC ULTIMATE processor with the latest HDR features, the 32-inch 16:9 display is illuminated by full-array local dimming backlight with 1152 Mini LED zones that let the PG32UQX display the brightest highlights and darkest blacks of a scene with incredible contrast and minimal haloing. Small highlights in games, like light bulbs or the disc of the sun, can reach peak brightness of up to 1400 nits, offering a more lifelike HDR experience than ever before. The Mini-LED backlight can also turn off as needed when it comes to darker scenes.

The G-SYNC processor drives variable refresh rates up to 144Hz and support for 10-bit color throughout the refresh rate range ensures that the PG32UQX always shows off games, movies and desktop applications at their best. With NVIDIA G-SYNC technology, users will enjoy smooth, tear-free gameplay even when frame rates fall below the monitor's peak 144Hz refresh rate, and with the incredibly capable panel and backlight inside, ROG Swift PG32UQX is certified as NVIDIA G-SYNC ULTIMATE. All G-SYNC Ultimate-certified displays undergo a rigorous validation process and are subjected to 300 image quality tests to ensure they deliver consistent quality and maximum performance.

PERIPHERALS

ROG Strix Impact II Wireless

The ROG Strix Impact II Wireless mouse is an exemplary device that elevates any gaming experience. Its 16,000 dpi sensor paves the way for more than 2.5X the wired model's maximum sensitivity with 400 inch-per-second accuracy. This means users can move the mouse much faster than before while maintaining pinpoint precision. ROG Strix Impact II Wireless is also capable of keeping its focus at up to 40g of acceleration. The combination of high performance, optimized comfort and attractive aesthetics make the Impact II Wireless a significant step up for users seeking competitiveness in their gaming endeavors while freeing themselves from the constraints of a cord. The Impact II Wireless can add a bit of extra RGB flair to an Aura Sync-capable PC as well.

ROG ITX Z11

The RO ITX Z11 case features an innovative interior layout with a patent-pending 11 tilt design, which enables better heat dissipation and component showcasing as well as support for up to an ATX power supply unit and 2080 Ti graphics card mounted vertically without a riser. The case also provides excellent thermal performance via a chimney effect conducive to vertical ventilation, ample space behind the motherboard and additional cable management space. ROG ITX Z11 offers a premium design with a 1.2 mm aluminum frame to ensure chassis construction strength, two tempered-glass panels and an internal extension hub for adding addressable RGB fans and LED strips, USB headers and PWM fan connectors. Furthermore, this chassis features a standing design that allows users to display it vertically or horizontally. An additional version of ROG ITX Z11 is also available featuring an embedded 1.77-inch LiveDash color OLED on the front panel displays useful system information, such as temperatures, voltages, fan speeds, or frequencies. Gamers can also customize LiveDash to display a customized image or animation to highlight their clan insignia or gamertag.







ROG GAMING DESKTOPS

ROG Strix GA15

The new ROG Strix GA15 gaming desktop focuses on gaming fundamentals for serious esports performance in an economical package. With a lean profile and light weight, ROG Strix GA15 leverages the latest generation of dynamic processors to handle hardcore gaming, streaming and multitasking. The desktop fits its power in a compact 10 kg package and offers a built-in carrying handle for easy portability. It also features an efficient cooling design and up to an AMD Ryzen 7 3800X CPU with eight cores and 16 threads to easily handle demanding and varied workloads.

ROG Strix GA35

ROG Strix GA35 is a gaming desktop engineered to sustain smooth gameplay under serious pressure and offers the flexibility to perform a wide range of tasks, from producing top-quality streams to developing games. Featuring an up to 16-core AMD Ryzen 9 3950X CPU and ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2080 Ti graphics card, ROG Strix GA35 is built to handle demanding workloads like content creation and heavy-duty multitasking. The graphics card's massive triple-fan cooler stands tall in an optional vertical mount, while a 240 mm radiator chills the CPU with liquid cooling. These are part of a comprehensive cooling system that includes a multizone chassis optimized for airflow. The all-new case is simple to open and upgrade, giving gamers the freedom to build upon their investment. Customization is easy with a deep suite of personalization features like Aura Sync lighting, Keystone II technology and Scenario Profiles.

PRODUCT IMAGES

https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=kZfWaukZpCd7lvCXjtHhGT9opD3V9L4LJAUk

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information on products and availability.

ASUS at CES 2020: If you're interested in seeing any products or taking a tour of the ASUS and ROG showrooms at CES, please reach out to the press contacts listed below.

ASUS AND ROG AT CES 2020

To access all ASUS and ROG CES 2020 press releases and collateral, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/ASUS-AT-CES-2020.

For all ASUS and ROG CES 2020 news, please visit: https://www.asus.com/us/News/ or view the related press releases below:

About ROG

Republic of Gamers (ROG) is an ASUS sub-brand dedicated to creating the world's best gaming hardware and software. Formed in 2006, ROG offers a complete line of innovative products known for performance and quality, including motherboards, graphics cards, laptops, desktops, monitors, audio equipment, routers and peripherals. ROG participates in and sponsors major international gaming events. ROG gear has been used to set hundreds of overclocking records and it continues to be the preferred choice of gamers and enthusiasts around the world. Learn more about the choice of champions at http://rog.asus.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200106005985/en/
B oris Johnson is set to chair a meeting of the National Security Council as Britain continues to urge all sides in the Gulf crisis to draw back from all-out conflict.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab spoke on Monday to his Iranian counterpart Mohammed Javad Zarif to stress the need for a diplomatic resolution to avoid a renewed conflict in the region.

Tehran has vowed "severe revenge" for the killing of its top military commander Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike last week. President Donald Trump in turn has warned the US was ready to strike back in a "disproportionate" manner if the Iranians hit US targets.

The Ministry of Defence refused to comment on reports it is stepping up contingency plans to evacuate military and civilian personnel from neighbouring Iraq amid fears they could be targets for Iranian reprisals.

Coffins of Gen. Soleimani and others killed in a US drone strike are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession in Tehran / AP

It comes after the Times reported that a team of around 20 senior military planners and liaison officers had been dispatched to the embassy in Baghdad over the weekend.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is due to update MPs, who are returning to Westminster on Tuesday following their Christmas break, on the latest situation in the region.

The Prime Minister has faced criticism that he was slow to respond to the crisis - only returning to the UK at the weekend following his New Year break on the private Caribbean island of Mustique.

The former national security adviser Lord Ricketts said that ministers should have been quicker to react to the escalation. "I think that the British Government were caught short by this," he told BBC2's Newsnight.

"People were still on holiday, and there wasn't sufficient early recognition at the top level that this is a serious crisis and really dangerous for Western interests in the Middle East.

"Yes, I'm glad to see that the wheels are now in motion and things are happening but we are four days downwind of this sudden and dramatic escalation."

Lord Ricketts said he would have expected the National Security Council to have met on Friday, when the killing of Gen Soleimani took place, to co-ordinate measures to ensure British nationals were protected.

"That may have been going on behind the scenes but there wasn't, as far as I could see, a collective discussion among senior ministers.

Mr Johnson has sought to tread a delicate diplomatic path - joining with French and German allies in calling for a "de-escalation" in the region.

At the same time, he is anxious to maintain good relations with the Trump administration ahead of talks with the US on a post-Brexit trade deal.

Mr Raab is due to fly to Washington later this week to meet Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after he criticised the lack of support by the Europeans - including the UK - for the US action.

The Foreign Secretary echoed Mr Johnson in saying the UK would not "lament" the passing of Gen Soleimani who he described as a "regional threat".

However he also warned that a threat by Mr Trump to target Iranian cultural sites would be a breach of international law.

"We have been very clear that cultural sites are protected under international law and we would expect that to be respected," he said.

Meanwhile US defence secretary Mark Esper was forced to deny the US was about to withdraw its troops from Iraq where the strike on Gen Soleimani took place.

A leaked letter from a US Marine Corps commander said that in "due deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq", the coalition would be "re-positioning forces over the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement".

It added: "We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure.

It followed a vote in the Iraqi parliament on Sunday, backed by prime minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, calling for the withdrawal of all foreign troops including British forces.

The Pentagon said the letter, addressed to the Iraqi defence ministry had been a "poorly worded" draft which should never have been released.

Mr Esper told reporters in Washington: "There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq. There's no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave."

Mr Johnson emphasised the need to maintain a coalition presence in Iraq against Islamic State when he spoke by telephone to Mr Abdul-Mahdi on Monday.
New Delhi:

As many as 7 Maoists were arrested from Jharkhands Latehar district on Monday, reported ANI. The Maoists are said to be involved in an attack that killed four Jharkhand police personnel on November 22 last year in Chandwa.

"The Naxals were involved in an attack on November 22 in Chandwa in which four police personnel were killed," ANI quoted DIG Amol Homkar Venukant as saying.

Jharkhand: Seven naxals arrested in Latehar district yesterday. DIG Homkar Amol Venukant says,"The naxals were involved in an attack on November 22 in Chandwa in which 4 Police personnel were killed" (6.1.20) pic.twitter.com/0jYxdIGMzd  ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2020

The arrest comes days after at least five Naxals were arrested from the Titir Mahua forest in the Balumath police station area.

Also Read: JNU Violence: Mumbai Police Moves Protesters From Gateway Of India To Azad Maidan

According to Latehar SP Prashant Anand, the police received secret information that an organisation, Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) was travelling in the border areas of Balumath and Lavalong police station area, following which a raiding team was led by Anand.

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KALAMAZOO, MI  Looking back at December and the first few days of January, police in Kalamazoo are reporting an above-average number of vehicle thefts, and encourage residents to be aware and take steps to prevent the crimes.

Since Jan. 1, nine vehicles were reported stolen in Kalamazoo. From Dec. 1 through Monday, Jan. 6, 42 vehicles have been reported stolen in the city, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Lt. Matt Schemenauer said.

That number of stolen vehicles is above average, Schemenauer said, prompting officers to take steps to raise awareness of the circumstances around these crimes.

Most of the thefts occurred when a vehicle was left running and unlocked in the driveway to warm-up during cold weather, or when a spare set of keys was left inside an unlocked vehicle, he said.

Recent reports have also showed an increase in theft of vehicles left running that have a push-to-start feature, since the key-fob does not always need to be inside for someone to drive it away, Schemenauer said.

This is a crime of opportunity, Schemenauer said. No matter how safe you feel or how good of a neighborhood you think you live in, you need to be aware.

In a Jan. 6 news release, KDPS listed a few tips to help residents protect vehicles from theft:

Never leave a running vehicle unattended

Lock vehicle doors and roll-up windows

Park in secure and well-lit areas

Remove valuables from vehicles

Although officers do not typically issue tickets for leaving an unattended vehicle running, it is illegal, Schemenauer said.

Weve seen an increase in these crimes on the west side of Kalamazoo and made some arrests, but some cases are still open, Schemenauer said. We want to make sure people are aware.

One of the thefts took place Friday, Jan. 3, when a Jimmy Johns delivery driver left the vehicle running and it was stolen. The stolen vehicle came to a halt when the driver crashed into a light pole on West Lovell Street in downtown Kalamazoo. The driver of the stolen vehicle, a 20-year-old Kalamazoo man, was arrested Friday on a charge of unlawful driving away of a vehicle.

Anyone with information about the recent vehicle thefts, or other crimes in the city, can contact KDPS at 269-488-8911, Silent Observer at 269-343-2100 or submit a tip online at www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.
Now more than ever, marketing is becoming a living, breathing response to culture rather than an attempt to dictate it. In one or two magical moments, marketing ideas have ignited culture, but that comes along once in a unicorn-shadowed blue moon.

Nkgabiseng Motau, co-founder and chief creative officer at Think Creative Hub.

1. The rental economy

From monthly rentals to circular product swapping, more retailers are catering the whims of shoppers who are inclined to invest in what they fantasise their homes and lives to be for occasions, but not forever.

When my friend & her business partner come through and save the day with 1 of their pieces! I cant believe wigs used to be such a taboo concept & now we can even rent them out! Check out their growing hair empire (@hairmeout_za) across all social media platforms!! #HairMeOutZA pic.twitter.com/SCQBmTfZlg  President Dreamist (@KiwiPatrova) February 18, 2019

2. Brands have a change of tone on social media





At least y'all clap backs are always fresh  #FreeKanyaCekeshe (@Tickle_Me_Joey) December 14, 2019

.@bujy, O ntse o phela? But then again If you lived up to your name you wouldve had your own bowl.  https://t.co/g7Eip4LD2H  NandosSA (@NandosSA) July 24, 2019

3. The great un-gendering

From every perspective, the idea of gender is being challenged and brought closer to the 21st century. From the inclusion of preferred pronouns into work environments, to gender-neutral childrens clothing and gender-neutral job titles, this is a welcome shift as the latter has had negative or limiting effects on individuals and industries.

4. Vulnerability Is cool

Congratulations @akreana_ mother of 'O jewa ke eng?'

Great time to be a South African! pic.twitter.com/MT6FVKlygd  Kagiso Tony (@kmabal) December 11, 2019

O jewa ke eng? If there is someone who might be stranded in Polokwane and needs transport to Giyani or Tzaneen am available. Am cheaper than Uber!  Thapelo Tloukgolo (@Thapelo_Tlou1) December 13, 2019

Im extremely grateful to everyone who RTd this O jewa keng tweet. After two grueling interviews, this December, I finally got the call thats about to change my life forever



I start my first job in Feb. And its all thanks to Twitter



MODIMO O MOHOLO!#TaxBracketBoyz2020 https://t.co/dMsLYO5Mt8  Kgopelo Matlala (@KgopeloMatlala) December 17, 2019

5. Pregnancy is no longer the P word

#Siyamitha2019 was a success, we are now waiting for the boy to make his debut  pic.twitter.com/3CBHcW2OYa  Yolanda Mgwatyu (@TheeYolanda) December 12, 2019

The MOOD going into #Womyn2Womyn tomorrow morning . Im teaching a dance class, many months in, so all you ladies coming through have no excuse - Re tlo jaiva goed !!! 7am-1pm at Nelson Square, Sandton. You can still get your tickets. See you then!  #BontleBaAfrika pic.twitter.com/S1ytaNHbHp  BontleBaAfrika Moloi (@BontleModiselle) August 30, 2019

Creating pockets of influence and finding a spot in conversation is a far more deliberate activity, which entails keeping ones eyes peeled and ears close to the ground. Here are five shifts in culture that, even if you havent picked up on them, will inevitably find their way into a brief on your desk or a conversation in a boardroom...Cant afford luxury? Rent it. Renting is not a new subject, it has been done for centuries, but whats different about this form of renting is that you can rent luxury for a day or two and send it back to the lender.This new form of business is becoming popular both globally and right here at home. Companies like Front Row, Wear The Walk and Hairmeout are tapping into this market.The types of goods that are available for rental are also different, take Hairmeout for example.This is an up-and-coming online wig rental business based in Johannesburg. With the normalising of wig-wearing as a socially shareable truth, businesses like Hairmeout are able to appeal to a new market with niche interests. Wigs, like other luxury rentals, do not come cheap to purchase. Prices range from R2,000 to R10,000 or even more.This presents an opportunity for those who want fleeting glam but cannot afford the top-shelf prices to flirt with the lifestyle rather than marry it, so to speak.Brands have realised the power of the emerged black audience and are speaking to this consumer in vernacular, especially on social media channels. Brands are unapologetic and not attempting to translate into English.Key brands embracing this include Nandos, Budweiser, Castle Milk Stout and Rocomamas, which has become a favourite on Twitter.Brands need to urgently speak how their consumers speak or risk being seen as out of touch, aloof or outdated. In addition, brands are nowThe customer is not always right. While the power on Twitter is still very much in the consumers hands, consumers now have to be careful as brands with high brand love are able to shut down negative comments.One of a few examples, Nandos clapped back hard at popular celebrity, Bujy over their Boujee bowl, and the consumersit. Nandos trended all night following thatThere is a very important moment unfolding before us.There is an opportunity for brands to start a conversation or to provoke thought around gendered titles.The language we use to describe a job role matters. According to Judith Baxter , Emeritus Professor of Applied Linguistics at Aston University, sexist language perpetuates gender-biased attitudes by defining what we see as normal for both men and women.The language we use not only reflects our culture but also constructs it, she explains. It sets up expectations about how people are supposed to be. Job descriptions can often slip through the net, less with official titles, and more with implied sexism.The move, for instance, from fireman to firefighter could open up more opportunities for women to see themselves in that role, as is the case with the move from air hostess to flight-attendant. These titles inform behaviour and can have powerful effects.Brands often shy away from difficult, sad, uncomfortable and emotionally wrought conversations with consumers. How many times has someone in a presentation said we cant leave the ad off on a sad note?This trend is showing that South Africans are healing together by sharing the ugly side of life. Case in point, the rise of the now Twitter staple, O jewa keng? is Sotho for Whats bothering you? and first used by @akreana_, who had simply tweeted this on 5 January 2019. The tweet quickly went viral as people responded with stories of rape trauma, painful infidelity, loneliness, and every kind of misfortune.The tweet has gained over 10-million impressions and continues to elicit responses. In line with the above openness to vulnerability, Twitter and Facebook users are showing up to help complete strangers online.Everything from e-wallet transactions helping those who call out for transport money to get to an interview, to people hiring those in need of employment.The stigma around pregnancy seems to be falling, finally. Both from the perspective of premarital pregnancy shame as well as the shame associated with being pregnant in a high-performance work environment.The hashtag #siyamitha2019 We are falling pregnant 2019, rose to trend status when various influencers and celebrities announced their pregnancies online with pride.Women who are tied to brand campaigns and television shows have begun to speak out about the biases and discrimination associated with pregnancy and some like Denise Vasi have even called brands out for retracting when women are pregnant.This has been a time-old issue, especially in advertising. Ever noticed how invisible pregnant women are in advertising? They are only visible when selling Gaviscon, nappies, Bio-oil or life cover?Pregnancy is treated more like a disability than a normal part of life. This is an area the advertising community has chosen to ignore, except when we need to make a joke, like in the following two ads:This cute video of a pregnant television and radio personality being active and dancing with her baby bump trended and was hugely popular on Twitter:Why do hair care, fashion, cellphone providers, retailors generally ignore pregnant woman?One advert that beautifully bucked this trend was the Cadbury advert with the twins. South Africans rewarded this creativity by voting this the most-liked advert of 2014:Women are ready to embrace pregnancy in the communications space and to echo this, the cover of, leading the charge by featuring Audrey Gelman, CEO of The Wing, during her pregnancy, had a massively positive response:
DECATUR -- Joyce Faye Oleson passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of January 5, 2020.

Joyce was born April 29, 1942 in Oakland, California. She was the daughter of Robert and Beverly (Johnson) Ingram. Joyce married Everette Emery Oleson on June 23, 1962. He preceded her in death on May 17, 2007. Joyce was a homemaker with a love of all things outdoors, especially fishing at Bull Shoals Lake, Arkansas. She was an avid bowler who was on several leagues. She loved sewing, knitting and crocheting. She was a talented artist; she painted color on black and white photos for photography studios. Joyce loved animals; even showing Persian cats for a while. She made friends of everyone she met, was quick with a joke, a smile or a laugh. After the passing of her husband; Joyce met another wonderful man, Noah (Rex) Hill. They shared many wonderful years on his property in Mulberry Grove, IL, he survives.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and her husband.

She is survived by her sister, Judy (Lee) Hull of Mt. Pleasant, SC; her children: Robert of Mt. Zion, IL, Larry (Angela) of Decatur, IL, and Mike of Decatur, IL; grandchildren: Brittany Oleson, Kelsey Oleson, Zach (Jordan) Oleson, Evan Oleson, Nicholas Oleson-Miller, Justine Oleson-Miller and one great-granddaughter due in May.

The family would like to extend gratitude to all the wonderful caregivers she had at Lincolnshire and Safe Haven Hospice.

Funeral services to celebrate the life of Joyce Faye Oleson will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 10-11 am at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association or to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
Dont Believe a Word, a new book by 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?
Lenovos new IdeaPad 14 laptops are set to ship in April with a choice of processor families  and two different starting prices.

If you want a model with an AMD Ryzen 4000 series processor, youll be able to pick one up for as little as $850. But prices start at $1210 for models with 10th-gen Intel Core Ice Lake processors.

Both are thin and light Windows laptops that weigh around 3.3 pounds and measure about 0.6 inches thick. But while the AMD model seems to offer more bang for the buck, there are certainly a few reasons to consider the Intel-powered version.

For example, only the Intel version has a Thunderbolt 3 port. And the AMD version of the laptop is only available with a metal chassis, while the Intel version is available in metal or with a Slate Grey fabric cover. The Fabric model is also available with a choice of FHD (300-nit) or 4K HDR (500-nit) touchscreen displays. Neither of those options are available with the AMD version of the laptop.

Here are some key specs for each version of the IdeaPad 14, which will be branded as the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 outside of North America:

Lenovo Ideapad 14 (AMD)

14 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel IPS display (300 nits)

Up to AMD Ryzen 7 4800U processor

AMD Radeon graphics

Up to 16GB LPDDR4X memory

Up to 512GB PCIe SSD

Stereo 2W speakers

Up to WiFi 6

Bluetooth 5.0

2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A

1 x USB Type-C

HDMI 2.0b

3.5mm audio

microSD card reader

12.62 x 8.2 x 0.58

3.3 pound starting weight

Lenovo IdeaPad 14 (Intel, metal)

14 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel (300 nit) non-touch display

Up to 10th-gen Intel Core i7

Intel Iris Plus graphics

Optional NVIDIA GeForce MX graphics

Up to 16GB of LPDDR4X memory

Up to 1TB PCIe SSD

Stereo 2W aspeakers

Up to WiFi 6

Bluetooth 5

1 x Thunderbolt 3

1 x USB-C

2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A

HDMI 2.0b

microSD card reader

12.62 x 8.19 x 0.59

3.3 pound starting weight

Lenovo IdeaPad 14 (Intel, fabric)

14 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel touchscreen (300 nit) or 3840 x 2160 pixel (500 nit)

Same specs as metal version

12.66 x 8.19 x 0.6

3.41 pound starting weight

Lenovo will also offer a 15 inch model with a full metal body and support for optional NVIDIA GeForce graphics. That version is also expected to sell for $1210 and up.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Odgers Berndtson, a top-six global executive search firm, is pleased to announce that they have been awarded the national search for the President and CEO for the Epilepsy Foundation. The search will be led by Odgers Berndtson partners Maureen Ryan and Derek Wilkinson.

"We are honored to partner with the Epilepsy Foundation Board for their CEO search and have committed our best resources possible for a successful outcome," said Steve Potter, CEO of Odgers Berndtson US.

With a network of nearly 50 partners throughout the United States, the Epilepsy Foundation is leading the fight to END EPILEPSY. The Foundation connects people to treatment, support and resources; leads advocacy efforts; funds innovative research and the training of specialists; and educates the public about epilepsy and seizure first aid. For more than five decades, the Epilepsy Foundation has shone a light on epilepsy to promote awareness and understanding, and to advocate for laws that matter to people with epilepsy, while also funding $68.7 million for epilepsy research and supporting 3,091 epilepsy investigators and specialists in their early careers. Over the past 18 years, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the Epilepsy Foundation has helped to improve access to care for people with epilepsy, expanded its digital reach and online resources in homes across the country, and trained more than 500,000 school and community personnel in how to recognize seizures and administer seizure first aid.

Odgers Berndtson's experience attracting highly regarded, nationally and internationally recognized leaders who effect positive change and growth into mission focused organizations is respected worldwide.

Nominations and expressions of interest should be directed to Odgers Berndtson at [email protected].

About Odgers Berndtson

For more than 50 years, Odgers Berndtson has delivered executive search, leadership assessment, and development strategies to the world's biggest and best organizations. Odgers Berndtson's 250+ partners cover more than 50 sectors and operate out of 61 offices in 29 countries. . Odgers Berndtson currently has U.S. offices in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington DC.

CONTACTS

Odgers Berndtson

Anne Board, 646-612-7208

[email protected]

SOURCE Odgers Berndtson

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 7

By Samir Ali - Trend:

On Jan. 6, 2020, Ankara hosted solemn opening ceremony of the Gala administrative building of the Central Office of Turkeys National Intelligence Organization, Trend reports referring to the Public Relations Department of Azerbaijans State Security Service.

On the instruction of Azerbaijani President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev and at the invitation of Head of Turkeys National Intelligence Organization Hakan Fidan, delegations led by Head of Azerbaijans State Security Service, Lieutenant General Ali Nagiyev and Head of Azerbaijans Foreign Intelligence Service, Lieutenant General Orkhan Sultanov participated in the solemn ceremony.

The event was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The opening ceremony of the new building was also attended by senior officials, members of the government and other Turkish executives and the Azerbaijani delegations.

During the event, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with representatives of Azerbaijans State Security Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service.
The New York Times

Australians are reeling from the hundreds of devastating fires sweeping through parts of the country.

Since October, the wildfires have scorched millions of acres of land and destroyed more than 1,000 homes. At least 24 people have died. With people displaced and wildlife populations gutted, here are ways to help.

Australia Fires: How to help

 Australian Red Cross

The Australian Red Cross is accepting donations to its Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund, which has helped to send 1,285 staff members and volunteers to communities affected by the fires and to provide support to displaced people sheltering in more than 69 evacuation and recovery centers. The Red Cross also provides emergency grants to help people cover their immediate needs.

There are other ways to help if you cannot donate money. The Red Cross says clothing and household goods can be given to Red Cross-affiliated shops, or suggests holding garage sales or fundraising events. Volunteering roles are also possible. After training, volunteers are deployed to fill emergency roles.

 GIVIT

GIVIT is an Australian organization that matches donated goods with items that are specifically requested by victims of the fires. People have asked for things like car batteries, fence posts and gas pumps.

 Salvation Army Australia

Like other organizations, the Salvation Army advises donors to send money instead of goods because of the logistical difficulties of storing and distributing goods in areas affected by disasters. Donations are funneled to various forms of assistance, including mental health support and housing.

Financial donations also allow residents the opportunity to make their own choices and inject much-needed funds into local economies and businesses, helping communities recover sooner, the organization says.

 St Vincent de Paul Society

The lay Catholic organization has more than 60,000 members and volunteers who assist people in need across Australia. Its bush fire appeal designates how far specific financial amounts can go, and brings home the reality of how the disaster has upended the lives of the dispossessed: 50 Australian dollars (about $35) can provide food for a displaced family; AU$150 ($105) can help stave off bills; and AU$300 ($208) can help clothe a fleeing family that had to leave behind their belongings.

 NSW Rural Fire Service

Firefighters and community workers in rural fire brigades are in the thick of it. The fire service has a map that is regularly updated, showing clusters of fire spots stretching along a swath of the countrys southeast coast. Donations are directed to emergency efforts and nonemergency community work.

Australia Fires: Celebrities draw attention to climate change

The devastating start to the fire season in Australia has confirmed the predictions of scientists that the countrys bush fires will become more frequent and more intense as climate change worsens.

Hollywood has long had ties to Australia, and in recent weeks, stars have been using their celebrity megaphones in pleas for help. Russell Crowe did not attend the Golden Globes in Los Angeles on Sunday after fire damaged his sprawling property in Coffs Harbour, about 300 miles from Sydney. In prepared remarks after he won a best actor award, he blamed the events on climate change.

Make no mistake. The tragedy unfolding in Australia is climate change-based, said Jennifer Aniston, reading a message from the Australian actor, who portrayed media titan Roger Ailes in a Showtime series.

At the Globes, too, Cate Blanchett thanked volunteer firefighters. When one country is facing a climate disaster, we are all facing a climate disaster, she said. And Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who won a best actress award for the show Fleabag, vowed to auction off her couture suit, which was created by Australian designers Ralph & Russo, and donate the money raised to fire relief.

Other celebrities posted pleas for help on social media. Nicole Kidman and her husband, Keith Urban, donated $500,000 to volunteer firefighters and urged followers on Instagram to help. Margot Robbie also posted on Instagram, asking fans to donate money online.

Australia Fires: Wildlife rescue efforts

 Port Macquarie Koala Hospital

The hospital has a GoFundMe appeal for its work with the National Parks and Wildlife Service searching for koalas in the Port Macquarie area. At least 31 koalas have been brought to the hospital from several fire grounds, the hospitals appeal says. More than $4 million in donations have been accrued so far. The money has enabled the organization to purchase a vehicle to distribute water and to set up drinking water stations in areas affected by the fires, especially in New South Wales. It has also enabled the organization to expand its breeding program.

 RSPCA New South Wales

Funds from the organizations bush fire appeal will support its work at evacuation centers in northern New South Wales and other areas. Once fire zones are cleared, its inspectors will enter those areas to assess how to help any injured animals.

 Australian Koala Foundation

Donations can be made through its website.

 Koalas in Care Inc.

The nonprofit accepts funds for its work. It assists about 65 koalas every year, but the bush fire situation is one that we have never experienced on such an enormous scale.

 World Wildlife Fund

At least 350 koalas have died in the fires and more have been injured or burned, according to figures from the group. Donations go to medical treatment and planting trees for koalas.

 WIRES

The most affected state, New South Wales, which includes Sydney, Australias largest city, is having its worst fire season in 20 years.

WIRES, or the NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc., is Australias largest wildlife rescue organization. Donations can be made online, by telephone and through Facebook and PayPal.

Australia Fires: Crowdfunding campaigns

 Facebook and GoFundMe

Several people have organized fundraisers on social media or GoFundMe pages to help people in need. Celeste Barber, an actor and comedian, started a fundraiser on Facebook for The Trustee for NSW Rural Fire Service & Brigades Donations Fund. It has already generated more than $26 million. Dacre Montgomery, who starred in Netflixs Stranger Things, started a GoFundMe page. The money raised, which tallies more than $250,000, is earmarked for the Australian Red Cross.

 Airbnb

Airbnb is offering free temporary housing for the displaced in homes in New South Wales, south of Sydney, and in Melbourne and its suburbs.

Christine Hauser and Laura M. Holson. c.2020 The New York Times Company
The Bharat Bandh call given by the 10 central unions have received a strong response in some parts of the city. West Bengal, Telangana and Kerala saw strong responses to the nationwide strike call. Banking services took a hit across the nation due to the strike call. Roadway services were also affected. Some Congress and CPI leaders were taken into custody for taking part in the Bharat Bandh 2020 strike in Andhra Pradesh. Central traders unions and bank unions have announced a nationwide strike in order to protest against the 'anti-national' and 'anti-people' policies of the government. Trade unions claim they have decided to go on a strike after a futile meeting with the Central Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar. Trade unions say none of their concerns were addressed in the meeting last week. Trade unions have raised multiple issues related to PSU mergers, disinvestment, which they claim will affect their livelihood.

Also read: Bharat Bandh 2020 Live Updates: Trade unions to hold nationwide strike; banking, exams to be majorly hit

Here's what's likely to be affected due to the Bharat Bandh 2020 tomorrow:

Banks Strike

According to a statement by the Indian Banks' Association (IBA), six bank unions have decided to partake in the January 8, 2020 Bharat Bandh. Banking services such as ATMs and branch services are expected to be affected by this strike. Online transactions such as NEFT, IIMPS won't be affected. The bank workers are protesting against the merger of public sector banks.

Are schools going to be close tomorrow?

No school holidays have been announced yet due to the bandh.

Also read: Bank strike on January 8: ATMs, branch services likely to take a hit

What about state and national level exams tomorrow?

The UPTET 2019, JEE Mains and ICAR NET exams are slated to take place tomorrow. According to the official notification by the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), the ICAR NET 2019 will be conducted between January 8 and January 10 across the country. The examination scheduled on January 8 will be postponed only in case of "unforeseen circumstances". If the examination on January 8 is not conducted in case of any untoward law and order situation, then it would be conducted on January 11. However, the examination venue, slot and timing of the examination would remain unchanged.

In case of UPTET 2019 and JEE Mains 2020, there is no official notice regarding postponing the exams as of now. The exams are expected to be conducted as per the schedule. It is also suggested that students do check for traffic snarls due to the Bharat Bandh. The UPTET exam was originally scheduled to be held on December 22, but it was postponed due to the protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Will transportation facilities be affected due to the Bandh?

The nation-wide bandh is likely to affect the daily life of citizens. With various trade unions taking part in the bandh, the regular services including transport, banking services, are likely to be disrupted. However, the emergency services, like supply of milk, public transport, availability of medicine, ambulance and hospital services will not be affected. As per media report, commercial taxis, barring Ola and Uber, auto-rickshaw associations will participate in the bandh.

Also read: Bharat Bandh: Around 25 crore people to take part in nationwide strike on January 8, claim trade unions
Re: western separation:

The recent poll was based on advice suggesting separation is rarely successful. In the case of Western Canada (B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) there may well be a case to suggest it would be a successful break.

The West Coast and its access to Asian markets. Where else could the rest of Canada ship goods out to China, Japan, India etc. other than through the Port of Vancouver, or where would goods coming into Canada from Asia come through  unless importers/exporters want to go around South America or via South Africa, then the West Coast is the obvious choice.

Raw material: Western Canada has an abundance of assets needed by Asian countries, from oil (though it would be so much better for this to be refined under strict environmental controls and sold as petroleum), to natural gas, to lumber, to the products from our prairies.

It would require a government with a leader who can negotiate with the Pacific Rim nations, and again the West Coast has a huge population of Asian descent who can provide such a negotiator.

Similarly, we need a government open to pipelines and improved transport corridors to get our goods to the markets we sell to. First Nations peoples need to be brought together to give them a piece of the pie that would result.

The advice given in the polling article indicates other areas where separation has been considered and has proven difficult to put together. In a lot of these cases, reality shows that separation would not result in improved living for residents. Looking at Quebec, Scotland, Catalonia, all of those semi-countries really have nothing to offer their residents or the world, so separation likely would be a miserable failure.

Western Canada has a lot to offer and would give its residents a sure win-win and leave the rest of Canada totally beholding.

I am not suggesting that there should be a Wexit, but if there was, it likely would be a success.

Malcolm Roberts, Kelowna
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 7, 2020

Environmental activists have criticized President Joko Jokowi Widodo for rolling out the red carpet to mining investors at the expense of local people and have called for abstention during the 2020 regional elections as a form of protest.

Under Jokowis regime, the [governments] dependency on the mining sector, especially coal mining, has become huge, Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) campaign manager Melky Nahar said during a discussion in Jakarta on Monday.

He said Jokowis policies that favor investors and corporations have led to rampant land conflicts in mining concession areas.

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Night Curfew in Maharashtra: Check guidelines, rules; what is allowed, what is not allowed

JNU violence: Protesters shifted from Gateway of India to Azad Maidan in Mumbai

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

Mumbai, Jan 07: The protesters in Mumbai who were protesting against the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) violence in Delhi, were evicted from Gateway of India, Mumbai on Tuesday morning as roads were getting blocked and tourists and common people were facing problems, a police official said.

Reportedly, the Mumbai Police had appealed to the demonstrators to shift but they didn't listen, so they were "relocated" to Azad Maidan, the official said.

Hundreds of people, including students, women and senior citizens who assembled at the iconic Gateway of India since Sunday midnight demanded action against the culprits and called for Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation.

We responded to PCR calls on time says Delhi Police on JNU violence

JNU violence: No arrests yet, FIR filed against JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh | OneIndia News

Violence broke out in the JNU campus in Delhi on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus.

On Monday, taking the cognizance of the violence at JNU the Delhi police have registered an FIR. The case has been registered under a section of rioting and damage to property.
A mother with Crohn's disease, and suffering from abscesses, was being treated on a chair in the emergency department of University Hospital Limerick (UHL), where a record 92 patients languished on trolleys.

Rachel Hillyard initially presented at the ED on Saturday but decided to go home after she was told there was a nine-hour wait to see a doctor.

She returned to the ED at 10am yesterday and, after being triaged and seen by a doctor within an hour, she was five hours waiting on a chair in the cramped and noisy ED to see a surgical doctor.

"I'm sitting on a chair, it's not very comfortable. To be honest with you, there's actually a lot of people sitting on chairs, they seem to have got rid of the trolleys and have put chairs in.

"Sitting on a chair is not the best for me," she said, adding that she had no cushion and was suffering "uncomfortable and very painful" abscesses.

With a line of trolleys next to her in the ED, she said: "Something drastic needs to be done.

"There are a lot of doctors coming in, but there are a lot of patients coming in as well. It's frustrating for both the patients and for the staff.

"The staff are run off their feet, doing everything they can with the little resources they have, but it's not doing any good.

"I just don't know what the solution is. Maybe reopen another hospital, at this stage, if it's possible."

In 2009, the then Fianna Fail-Green coalition signed off on reconfiguring 24-hour emergency care out of Tipperary and Clare to UHL.

The Limerick hospital opened a new ED costing 24m two years ago, but overcrowding has continued.

"They have tried everything here, they've built a new building and it's not working.

"In my opinion, it needs a new hospital," Ms Hillyard added.

The hospital said it could not comment on individual cases, but encouraged the patient to engage with its complaints process.

Despite the ordeal for many, some patients were very satisfied with their ED experience at UHL.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said that within 15 minutes of presenting at the hospital with her husband he had been triaged, admitted on a trolley, and given a sandwich and bowl of soup. "We're in awe of it," she said.
BOSTON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Circle Travel is offering a civil rights tour to travelers interested in understanding pivotal moments from the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. The company's Let Freedom Ring: A Civil Rights Journey is an 11-day itinerary with departures available September through November 2020.

Travelers will trace the steps of America's early civil rights heroes on an emotional journey through Mississippi and Alabama, brought to life by the guidance of local people who witnessed and participated in the historic events at Selma, Montgomery, Birmingham, and other historic civil rights locales.

A portion of the proceeds from this journey will be donated to the Equal Justice Initiative, an Alabama-based non-profit organization dedicated to documenting the history of racial injustice in America, and dismantling its impact on the nation today.

Let Freedom Ring: A Civil Rights Journey  11 days from $2,595 per person (airfare not included); free single supplements.

Highlights of the trip include:

Selma, Alabama  Travelers will follow the footsteps of John Lewis , Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , and thousands of other activists who faced violent opposition in their march for voting rights. With a "foot soldier" who was there to experience it firsthand as a guide, travelers will walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, then trace the protesters' route to Montgomery .

 Travelers will follow the footsteps of , Dr. , and thousands of other activists who faced violent opposition in their march for voting rights. With a "foot soldier" who was there to experience it firsthand as a guide, travelers will walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, then trace the protesters' route to . Rosa Parks Museum  Travelers will delve into the legacy of the Montgomery Bus Boycott at a museum located at the bus stop where Parks took a seat to stand her ground. The museum offers interactive, multi-media exhibits that explain how her actions changed America.

 Travelers will delve into the legacy of the Montgomery Bus Boycott at a museum located at the bus stop where Parks took a seat to stand her ground. The museum offers interactive, multi-media exhibits that explain how her actions changed America. 16th Street Baptist Church  Travelers will visit the Birmingham church where a Ku Klux Klan bombing murdered four African-American girls and injured 22 others in an act of domestic terrorism that spawned riots and national outrage. Travelers will learn more about the city's turbulent past and its hopes for the future at the neighboring Civil Rights Institute.

"This Civil Rights tour has changed my life," said traveler Clare Chapman, of Boulder, Colorado, who participated in an initial Grand Circle trip. "These lessons from our U.S. history are essential for every American to learn. This trip is a must for all of us."

The trip will celebrate African-American culture through its soulful food, music, and art. Along the way, travelers will meet with fellow Americans from all walks of life who continue to fight for equal rights for all people today.

To reserve travel, call 1-800-221-2610 or visit www.gct.com.

About Grand Circle Travel

Launched in 1958 to serve American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) members, today Grand Circle Travel offers its international vacations to all Americans 50+. Key to Grand Circle Travel's popularity are the pillars upon which every vacation is built: comprehensive value, leisurely pacing, varied choice, and cultural discovery.

Grand Circle Travel prides itself on its professional Program Directors and signature Exclusive Discovery Series events. These cultural and educational events and activities range from visits to local homes and schools to classes in language and local cooking. To learn more, visit www.gct.com .

Grand Circle Travel is part of Boston-based Grand Circle Corporation's family of travel companies, which include Grand Circle Cruise Line and Overseas Adventure Travel.

SOURCE Grand Circle Travel

Related Links

http://www.gct.com


An aircraft engineer going on holiday and a teacher picking up his elderly parents are the latest people to be fined 100 for stopping for seconds outside East Midlands Airport.

Alan Chapman, 64, works as an aircraft engineer at the airport and planned to park his vehicle in the car park while he and his wife Karen went on holiday to Cyprus.

He stopped at a nearby petrol station for a few seconds to double check he had his work pass as he wouldn't be allowed into the car park without it.

Alan Chapman, 64, and Nigel Wright, 34, are the latest people to accuse parking authorities at East Midlands Airport of a 'scam' after they were fined 100 for stopping for a matter of seconds

The 64-year-old from Boston, Lincolnshire, returned from his getaway to discover he had been slapped with a fine.

Nigel Wright, 34, was accused of parking in a 'no stopping zone' as he waited for the car park barrier to go up at the same airport.

DRIVERS WHO HAVE FACED PARKING FINES AT EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT NAME AGE DATE FROM Ruth Pickering 52 30/06/2019 Clifton, Nottinghamshire Louise Stevens 54 11/07/2019 Littleover, Derbyshire Geoffrey Palmer 69 11/07/2019 Beeston, Nottingham Nigel Martinez 60 13/07/2019 Nottingham Alan Chapman 64 17/07/2019 Boston, Lincolnshire Tajdar Kamal 30 19/07/2019 Normanton, Derby Paul Hayes 69 21/07/2019 Ratby, Leicestershire Ryan Smith 33 22/07/2019 Coventry Gordon Jackson 59 25/07/2019 Chellaston, Derby Terry Tunnicliffe 77 30/07/2019 Findern, Derbyshire Saj Sayani 47 07/08/2019 Edinburgh Terri Akers 51 18/11/2019 Nottingham Leslie Coleman 94 23/11/2019 Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire Nigel Wright 34 17/12/2019 Swadlincote, Derbyshire Peter Dalton 93 tbc Leicestershire Dave Corder 56 tbc Sleaford, Lincolnshire John Baines tbc

The English teacher, of Swadlincote, Derbyshire, was astounded when he received a penalty charge notice (PCN) of 100.

The pair are the latest to accuse the airport and enforcement company Vehicle Control Services (VCS) of 'scamming' customers.

Mr and Mrs Chapman about to jet off on a holiday to Cyprus when their car was snared by a parking control CCTV van at about 3.40am.

Mr Chapman was caught as he was parked on the garage forecourt for a few seconds to retrieve his work car park pass from the boot of his car.

But after returning home from his getaway, Mr Chapman received a letter from Vehicle Control Services Ltd demanding 100, reduced to 60 if paid within four weeks.

He lost his appeal against the charge and ended up paying 60 because his car was 'stopped for an unreasonable amount of time' at the fuel station where restrictions apply.

He says he now wishes he had ignored the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) rather than a penalty charge notice usually issued by local authorities.

Mr Chapman said: 'I got caught at the same petrol station as many other people have and I work at the airport.

'We were going on holiday and the plan was to leave the car in my work car park.

'As I got to the roundabout at the entrance to the airport I suddenly thought that if I didn't have my pass I wouldn't get into the car park.

'I knew about the CCTV vans and the parking issues and I just panicked. So I pulled into the forecourt where there's no red lines, got out of the car, got my pass out of the boot, got back in the car and drove off.'

A CCTV still shows Mr Chapman's car parked on the forecourt of a nearby petrol station so that he could check he had his work pass for the East Midlands Airport car park

Mr Chapman, who was caught out on July 17, last year, added: 'CCTV vans were sat on the petrol station forecourt. I was only there for a few seconds.

'There are no red lines at the petrol station but the parking company told me there are warning signs on the outside of the forecourt.

'How are people supposed to see the signs in the dark? I think they're being unfair.

'I can understand them wanting to stop people being dropped off at the petrol station to catch flights but that's not what I was doing.

'I appealed the 100 fine but my excuse wasn't accepted and I had to pay the reduced fine. I wish I'd checked my bag for my pass at the car park barrier.'

Mr Wright was accused of parking in a 'no stopping zone' while he was pulled up in front of an entry barrier at the airport's short stay car park.

Mr Chapman stopped at this nearby petrol station forecourt to search for his pass

The English teacher, who was there to pick up his parents, said he stopped for half a minute while he edged closer to the token machine and waited to be let inside.

Once he was parked up he paid for a ticket, so was baffled when he was fined 100 by parking enforcement company Vehicle Control Services (VCS).

The company said he was fined for 'stopping in a zone where stopping is prohibited'.

VCS provided photographs that show Mr Wright's Peugeot stopped at the car park entrance as he waited for the barrier to open.

The 34-year-old accused VCS of trying to 'scam' him out of 100 and has appealed the fine with the company.

He said: 'I pulled up to the barrier and waited for it to open but soon realised it was not automatic.

'I wound my window down to reach for a token but the car was too far away.

'So I reversed the car back slightly and pulled up closer so I could reach the button to get the plastic coin.

'I entered the car park within about 35 seconds of first arriving at the barrier. It is nothing less than a scam. I could not believe it when I read the letter.'

Mr Wright visited East Midlands Airport on December 17 to pick up his elderly parents following their holiday to Spain.

The pair's stories come after Terri Akers vowed to campaign to stop people who use East Midlands Airport (pictured) being issued with the charges

They were ready and waiting when he arrived at around 1.30pm and he spent just 11 minutes in the car park before paying the 4 parking charge.

But 13 days later, he received the PCN through the post ordering him to stump up 100 - or face legal action.

Parking enforcement company VCS offered him a 40 discount on the fine if paid promptly, but he said he refused to just accept the fine.

Livid mother, 51, becomes latest victim of 100 East Midlands airport parking fine after dropping off a friend at the petrol station next door By Henry Martin for MailOnline A mother is starting a campaign after she was fined 100 for dropping off her friend at the petrol station next to East Midlands Airport. Terri Akers, 51, received a parking charge notice after she was caught on CCTV filling her car up at The Fuel Station while her friend left the vehicle to catch a flight last month. Signs have been put on display in and around the petrol station to warn motorists they could be fined if they are seen using the area to drop off or pick up airport passengers. Mother-of-one Miss Akers, from Nottingham, wrote a two-page letter to Vehicle Control Services Limited appealing the 100 fine, as she claimed she did not see the signs and therefore they were 'not effective'. Since winning her appeal, Miss Akers now wants to help others who have fallen victim to what she described as an 'outrageous scam'. Terri Akers, 51, received a parking charge notice after she was caught on CCTV filling her car up at The Fuel Station while her friend left the vehicle to catch a flight last month Miss Akers, who works as a technical writer, also blasted the fine as 'illegitimate' and 'poorly conceived as it has no basis in law or common sense'. She said: 'As I approached the airport, I needed to get petrol, but was fully intending to go to the 3 parking bay. 'My friend then noticed the garage and suggested that I fill the car up there. It seemed like a sensible thing to do, then my friend realised he could quickly jump out while I was filling up. 'My sole intention was not to defraud the authorities out of their 3 parking charge. What sane person would insist that their friend stay rooted to their seat waiting for the fuel to be paid when the airport is just a short walk away?' Vehicle Control Services said Miss Akers had won her appeal, but did not state why. A representative for Vehicle Control Services Limited said: 'In light of Mrs Akers' appeal and the evidence supplied we have accepted her appeal; we will formally confirm our decision to Mrs Akers.' Advertisement

Mr Wright believes he was not in the wrong and lodged an official appeal with VCS.

He said: 'It is quite confusing for drivers because there are no stopping signs everywhere.

'I was really careful so I was shocked when I received the fine, and surprised that I did anything wrong.

'I made sure I did not stop where I wasn't supposed to. There seems to be a ridiculous level of enforcement there.

'I looked at the photos on the letter and saw they were fining me for being at the barrier. I just couldn't believe it.'

Nigel lodged a complaint with VCS on January 2 and said he didn't get a reply.

An East Midlands Airport spokesperson said: 'It is clear that Mr Wright was attempting to enter the car park and should not have been penalised.

'Following his appeal, Vehicle Control Services (VCS), which enforces parking on red-routed airport estate roads, have cancelled the fine.

'We apologise for the inconvenience that this has caused him.

'The safety of people visiting East Midlands Airport (EMA) is of paramount importance and controlling the traffic flow across the airport site is key to this.

'For this reason, airport estate roads are red-routed and 'no stopping' signage is clearly visible to discourage drivers from waiting in undesignated parking areas when dropping off and collecting passengers.

'All drivers have a choice of drop-off and pick-up parking at the airport. Ten minutes parking in rapid drop off costs 3, while 30 minutes in short stay 1 car park is 4.

'During the busier summer months (April to October), one hour's free parking can be had in Long Stay 2.' VCS has been contacted for comment.

The pair's stories come after Terri Akers vowed to campaign to stop people being issued with the charges.

The 51-year-old from Nottingham was left shocked when she received a ticket after being caught on CCTV camera dropping a friend off while putting petrol in her car last month.

She said that signs in and around the fuel station warning people they could be charged for dropping or picking up passengers at the fuel station were 'not effective'.

In Mr Chapman's case, Vehicle Control Services Ltd told him his appeal was turned down because: 'The signs at the entrance to the East Midlands

International Airport and the access roads within, clearly state 'No Stopping', giving clear notice that the land is private property and that a charge of 100 will be levied if vehicles do stop.

'The above detailed vehicle stopped in a zone where stopping is prohibited and the driver became liable to pay that charge.

'In your appeal you have confirmed to us that on the date in question, you stopped your vehicle in the fuel station.

'A review of our CCTV evidence has confirmed that on the date in question, your vehicle stopped for an unreasonable amount of time in the fuel station where restrictions apply.

'There are more than 70 high profile signs advising drivers not to stop and warning that if a driver does stop, a charge of 100 is payable.

'The signs exceed recognised industry standards, with some as large as 2m by 1.1m (6ft 6in by 3ft 7in) which clearly state 'no stopping' alongside the nationally recognised Highway Code symbol for a Clearway (No Stopping).

'Furthermore, the signage on the approach road is reflective and positioned to face oncoming vehicles and the text size used is relative to the average approach speed of a vehicle in relation to the speed limit in force at that location.

'We have fully reviewed this case and we are satisfied that the charge notice was correctly issued.

'We are unable to accept the mitigating circumstances raised in your representations, your appeal is therefore rejected and the charge will stand.'

We have invited Vehicle Control Services to comment.

The RAC advises motorists to check for signs and terms and conditions when parking, which could help when appealing against a parking charge notice.

It is also important to park correctly within the lines. There is no automatic 10-minute period of grace at the end of the parking period, as you would expect from local authority parking.

But if private operators are members of the British Parking Association, there should be 10 minutes' grace if the area is one where parking is actually permitted.
In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But its virtually certain that sometimes you will buy stocks that fall short of the market average returns. Unfortunately, that's been the case for longer term Freelancer Limited (ASX:FLN) shareholders, since the share price is down 43% in the last three years, falling well short of the market return of around 32%. The more recent news is of little comfort, with the share price down 33% in a year. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 26% in the last three months.

Check out our latest analysis for Freelancer

Because Freelancer made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. That's because fast revenue growth can be easily extrapolated to forecast profits, often of considerable size.

Over three years, Freelancer grew revenue at 1.7% per year. Given it's losing money in pursuit of growth, we are not really impressed with that. Indeed, the stock dropped 17% over the last three years. If revenue growth accelerates, we might see the share price bounce. But the real upside for shareholders will be if the company can start generating profits.

You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

ASX:FLN Income Statement, January 6th 2020

It's probably worth noting we've seen significant insider buying in the last quarter, which we consider a positive. On the other hand, we think the revenue and earnings trends are much more meaningful measures of the business. This free report showing analyst forecasts should help you form a view on Freelancer

A Different Perspective

Freelancer shareholders are down 33% for the year, but the market itself is up 25%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 1.8% over the last half decade. We realise that Buffett has said investors should 'buy when there is blood on the streets', but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality businesses. If you want to research this stock further, the data on insider buying is an obvious place to start. You can click here to see who has been buying shares - and the price they paid.

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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.

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.
U.S. Army Recruiting Command put out a message Tuesday warning the public to beware of fake draft notices, which have been circulating since tensions escalated with Iran last week.

"A number of fraudulent text messages informing individuals they have been selected for a military draft have circulated throughout the country this week," according to a message on the command's website marked "FRAUD ALERT!!"

"U.S. Army Recruiting Command has received multiple calls and emails about these fake text messages and wants to ensure Americans understand these texts are false and were not initiated by this command or the U.S. Army," it continues.

The warning comes just days after the Selective Service System's website crashed following the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad, an act his government has promised to avenge.

Related: People Are Panicking About Military Draft, Stop-Loss and IRR Activation. Here's the Reality

The Selective Service sent out a tweet Friday blaming the "spread of misinformation" for the high volume of traffic to its site.

Since Friday, the Pentagon has ordered roughly 9,000 soldiers, Marines, sailors and special operations forces to the Middle East to reinforce the U.S. presence in the region.

However, the decision to "enact a draft is not made at or by U.S. Army Recruiting Command," the message states.

The U.S. has not had a draft since 1973, and it would take an act of Congress and a presidential signature to bring it back. Currently, 18- to 25-year-old males are required by law to register for the Selective Service, which is done most often when individuals get a driver's license or apply for federal student aid.

"The military has been an all-volunteer force since [1973]," the message states. "Registering for the Selective Service does not enlist a person into the military."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

-- Military.com reporter Gina Harkins contributed to this report.

Read More: US 'Got it Right' on Soleimani Strike, But Evidence Is Classified: Pompeo
Mumbai, Jan 7 : There have been many films on Kashmir, but Vidhu Vinod Chopra's upcoming film "Shikara" looks different the moment you watch the trailer, which was released on Tuesday.

The film chronicles the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir on the night of January 19, 1990. This is a theme that has never been explored in mainstream Bollywood, as a fullfledged feature film.

There is a trace of personal pangs and passion in the trailer as the plight of Kashmiri Pandits becomes evident, and the reason seems to be that Chopra himself belongs to that community.

"Shikara" revolves around two lovers, played by newcomers Aadil Khan and Sadia, and how their dreams turn into a horrific reality when they are asked to leave the Kashmir Valley after their hometown is targeted by Islamist militant groups.

The trailer promises a love story that also depicts one of the most searing chapters of reality in the history of Kashmir.

Taking to social media, Vidhu Vinod Chopra films shared a poster featuring the two protagonists in a state of distress.

"More than 4,00,000 Kashmiri Pandits lost their homes and became refugees in their own country. Three decades later, watch their story unfold," the post read.

Presented by Fox Star Studios and produced by Vinod Chopra Productions and co-produced by Fox star studios, "Shikara" is scheduled to release on February 7.
One of the most heated debates in the cryptocurrency space is the future of regulation and whether financial regulatory bodies should oversee the trading of crypto coins.

Just last month, a group of United States congressmen put forward a new cryptocurrency bill labeled the Cryptocurrency Act 2020.

The goal of the new legislation is to provide additional clarification on digital asset regulations. The bill has some wide-ranging regulations that, if voted into law, could reshape the crypto landscape moving forward  at least in the United States, that is.

The US senator who put forward the Cryptocurrency Act 2020, Paul Goser, stated that it was his desire to attribute regulatory clarity to the market.

Currently, many cryptocurrency regulations across the world are vague. Consumers and lawmakers are locked in a debate over which agencies are responsible for regulating different types of cryptocurrencies.

Some companies, like EOS or Telegram, have even been fined for conducting unregulated securities, for instance.

In this article, Ill discuss what to expect from regulators in 2020 with a focus on the Cryptocurrency Act 2020, since I believe it could have a significant impact on the space.

Cryptocurrency regulation around the world

In November last year, Coin Rivet reported that the US Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) has called for tighter regulations on stablecoins and digital assets.

As part of its latest annual report, the council identified digital assets and stablecoins as major areas for concern, urging closer scrutiny of existing laws and a review of new products in the blockchain space.

In October, the Central Bank of Russia revealed it is against the integration of cryptocurrencies in the public monetary system, even though some banks and politicians, Vladimir Putin included, have insisted on adopting crypto regulations instead of banning digital coins.

On January 10 2020, the European Union (EU) will implement a new law  known as the EU Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD)  which requires cryptocurrency platforms and wallet providers to identify their customers for anti-money laundering purposes.

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Some countries such as Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are expected to implement the 5AMLD law by the deadline this week, but other nations are resisting it.

The United Kingdom has decided to implement the law despite its decision to leave the EU.

Mexico is also reportedly taking a harder stance on fintech and cryptocurrency companies.

We can clearly see the current trend is moving towards increased regulation and oversight across the globe.

The Cryptocurrency Act 2020

The Cryptocurrency Act 2020 begins with the categorisation of cryptocurrencies into three main groups. These groups are then used to determine which agencies are responsible for the creation of regulation and legislation. The first class described in the new bill is cryptocurrencies.

The crypto class includes Bitcoin, Litecoin, and any other cryptocurrencies that dont fall under the current securities regulations. The bill classifies these tokens as any digital asset that includes representations of United States currency or synthetic derivatives resting on a blockchain or decentralised cryptographic ledger.

Smart contracts and oracles fall under the cryptocurrency category as well.

The next class described in the bill is crypto-commodities. A key aspect of these tokens is the fact that they contain some form of substantial fungibility.

Fungible assets are interchangeable, such as the USD. These assets must reside on a blockchain or decentralised cryptographic ledger to fall under this classification.

The final type of coin described in the bill is crypto-securities. These tokens are simply any coin that fails the Howey Test.

The three regulatory bodies mentioned in the bill that will oversee the cryptocurrency space include the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

These groups will gain sole authority over their respective digital asset types.

Will legislation shape cryptocurrencies in 2020?

We have witnessed a clear and transparent shift from government bodies, especially in the US, towards the regulation of digital assets since the announcement of Facebooks Libra. I expect more legislation in the near future, even though I highly doubt its long-term effectiveness.

However, if regulation brings more businesses and companies into the space, thats a good thing. Hopefully, well see companies taking this wave of regulation as a sign for adoption.

The post What to expect from cryptocurrency legislation in 2020 appeared first on Coin Rivet.
The three-hour-long season premiere of The Bachelor Season 24 wrapped with an excessive amount of kissing. Lets take a look at every single contestant that our new bachelor, Peter Weber, locked lips with during just one night and two dates. We will also reveal the big question everyone is wondering: does he kiss Hannah Brown?

[Warning: The Bachelor Season 24 spoilers ahead ]

Peter Weber and Mykenna Dorn | John Fleenor/ABC via Getty Image

Someone steals a kiss from Peter Weber right out of the limo

When a 27-year-old realtor from Houston, Texas, arrives, things heat up before Peter makes it into the cocktail party. Savannah Mullins blindfolds Peter so that he can feel something and then jumps right in for the kiss.

Peter does kiss her back, so it doesnt seem like she is too forward for him. He gives her a rose at the end of the night, so we can assume he enjoyed the kiss.

The bachelor kisses three more girls during the cocktail party

Although Peter is not the one initiating the kisses, he is not rejecting them either. During the cocktail party, Hannah Ann Slussa 23-year-old model from Knoxville, Tennesseegives Peter a painting that she made for him. The bachelor finds this very touching, and the two exchange several kisses.

Next, viewers are not quite sure if Peter was expecting to kiss Tammy Ly, a 24-year-old house flipper from Syracuse, New York, but he has no choice in the matter.

Tammy handcuffs the bachelor, pats him down and finds a condom. Peter insists she planted the contraceptive on him. Then she proceeds to make out with him, as well. He kisses back, so it seems like he is into it.

I didnt expect to be kissing so many girls, but it just happened, Peter admits.

Before the night is over, he ends up kissing one more person. When a 22-year-old fashion blogger, Mykenna Dorn, goes in for a kiss, he does not turn her down, either. That makes it a count of four for the first night.

During the first group date, Peter kisses three girlstwo new, one repeat

Peter invites the first group of ladies to a competition surrounding aviation. The women go through several flight tests, including a motion simulator. Right before the obstacle course, Tammy jumps in again for another stolen kiss. While we cant count that as woman number five, it is worth mentioning.

The real heartfelt kissing occurs during Kelley Flanagans time in the cockpit with Peter. The 27-year-old attorney from Chicago won the obstacle course by cheating, but that didnt stop her from relishing in every one-on-one moment with Peter.

It turns out that Kelly and Peter randomly met in a hotel lobby about a month before she came to the mansion.

I was looking forward to talking to you, and Im so happy youre here, Peter tells Kelley later on in the evening when the pilot lifts her onto a counter and makes out with her, yet again.

Before the night is over, Peter makes out with one more girl. He meets privately with Victoria Paul, the 27-year-old nurse from Alexandria, Louisiana.

Today, when I was sick, and you came running and asked me if I was okay, Victoria confides, Ive never had anyone be that for me.

The gentleman pilot remembers that she has never received flowers before. He gives her roses and then goes in for a short make-out session.

Peter Weber has the best first date ever with Madison

For Madisons one-on-one date with Peter, he takes her to his parents vow renewal. She meets his entire family and many friends. Then she catches the bouquet when his mom throws it! Later on, the two reminisce over what a great day it was and exchange tender kisses.

When we think it cant get any better, Peter takes her to see Tenille Arts play live. The pair romantically dance and viewers at home slowly fall in love with Peter and Madison.

I will never forget this date, Peter admits. It was perfect in every single way. Im flying high right now, and everyone I care about was part of it today. Im very grateful that I was able to share it with them and with Madison.

Peter kisses a total of 7 girls in the premierealthough he wanted to kiss one more

Hannah Brown returns to lead the contestants in the next group date, and the entire show is turned upside-down. Peter asks her if she wants to join the ladies at the houseas in be a contestant this season. She does not answer, but its clear from the previews for next week that she is sticking around.

I want to just kiss her and have had all of this workout, Peter admits. I feel like such a jerk because I have such an awesome group of girls here.

He didnt kiss Hannah Brown yet, but he wants to. Find out how many more ladies he makes out withand if Hannah is one of themwhen The Bachelor returns next Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC.
TOKYO  The Japanese authorities said on Tuesday that they had issued a warrant for the arrest of Carole Ghosn, the wife of Carlos Ghosn, taking direct aim at the family of the fallen auto magnate as they sought to bring him back to the country to face criminal charges.

[Latest updates on Mr. Ghosns press conference in Beirut.]

Prosecutors in Tokyo said they had obtained an arrest warrant for Mrs. Ghosn, 53, on suspicion of giving false testimony nine months ago. In a statement, they said Mrs. Ghosn had testified that she did not know a person who was involved in Mr. Ghosns case, even though she was in communication with that person while the person was wiring money between companies at Mr. Ghosns request.

The statement did not disclose the identities of the person or the companies.

The arrest warrant is the latest twist in an international tale of intrigue. Mr. Ghosn, the architect of the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi auto empire, faces charges of financial wrongdoing in Japan. But he fled the country on Dec. 29, flying on private jets first to Turkey and then to Lebanon. Mr. Ghosn is a Lebanese national, and the nation does not extradite its citizens.

In an additional development, the air charter company that flew Mr. Ghosn said in a statement on Tuesday that it was paid only half of the $350,000 fee for the Japan-to-Turkey flight, and that it had received no compensation at all for the second flight from Turkey to Lebanon.
BREAKING: LA prosecutors charged Harvey Weinstein with rape and sexual assault, saying he used his power and influence to abuse 2 women in 2013.



He is currently on trial in New York, facing similar charges and potential life in prison. pic.twitter.com/uKVrQnC1yp  AJ+ (@ajplus) January 6, 2020

L.A. INDICTMENT! Cant breathe. Happy trial day to you, Mr. Weinstein. Welcome to the rest of your life, hope youll have as much fun as we have had being in your jail. https://t.co/l8tcZlh5zq via @NYTimes  rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) January 6, 2020

"You brought this upon yourself by hurting so many." Actress Rose McGowan speaks out as Harvey Weinstein begins his sexual assault trial in New York https://t.co/WUwtTItWZ1 pic.twitter.com/nHQy3lqTWr  TIME (@TIME) January 6, 2020

"Harvey will be held accountable for his actions."



As Harvey Weinstein's rape and sexual assault trial is set to begin, actress Rosanna Arquette speaks outside the New York courthouse in support his alleged victims pic.twitter.com/63bYaemZ9V  QuickTake by Bloomberg (@QuickTake) January 6, 2020

Disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein was charged by prosecutors for rape and sexual assault in Los Angeles earlier today, after being found guilty of using "his power and influence" to abuse 2 women in 2013. If convicted, he could face up to 28 years in prison.The charges against Weinstein include forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint.Prosecutors are recommending bail be set at $5M.He is still facing similar charges in New York City. Jury selection in the New York case began on Monday, with the trial expected to begin properly in about two weeks.Source: 1
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Since its launch in early 2019, Money Experience has teamed up with partners across its home state of Massachusetts to help provide people of all ages the opportunity to increase their financial literacy. Through partnerships with YMCA of Greater Boston, Girls Inc., Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, State Street Corporation, Boston Children's Hospital, South Shore Bank, and numerous other companies, organizations, banks and school districts, Money Experience has touched a diverse audience statewide.

In the most recent National Report Card from the Center For Financial Literacy, Massachusetts was one of only nine states in the US that received a failing grade. And for residents living in a state with no financial literacy requirements, associated budget, or curriculum available for schools that take the initiative to introduce the topic, this comes as no surprise.

"We've seen a really strong response from the local community," says Jeet Singh, co-founder and CEO of Money Experience. "Schools, financial institutions, and nonprofits recognize the need for engaging financial education and are done waiting for legislation to provide a solution. Now they're thinking creatively about how they can provide programs and we're really starting to see an impact."

The Money Experience personal finance program is a simulator and curriculum that helps teach the next generation how their life choices can impact their finances and quality of life. The platform aims to broaden the way financial decisions are understood among the next generation of adults by letting users test their assumptions about the future and see how their life choices impact their wealth and well-being. As it increases its presence across the region, Money Experience is setting the stage for the next generation to be armed with essential information to make educated decisions about their finances.

Through a summer-long partnership with YMCA of Greater Boston, Money Experience simulations were offered at The Oak Square YMCA in Brighton, the Parkway Community YMCA in West Roxbury, and the Dorchester YMCA. The YMCA of Greater Boston strengthens the Greater Boston community through a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, allowing for Money Experience to perfectly align and partner with the nonprofit.

"The simulation and graphic novel made it a lot easier to digest the information and financial topics," says John, Massachusetts-based college freshman. "This thing is probably the most advanced financial literacy that anyone my age will do, so it was definitely a really good way to get these topics started."

By partnering with Canton Co-operative Bank, Money Experience has been taught to students Canton High School. Canton Public Schools Wellness Coordinator Ryan Gordy is leading the implementation of the Money Experience program for two cohorts through Family & Child Studies and Life After Canton courses, both offered to juniors and seniors.

"At Canton Co-operative Bank, we're all about helping people be successful with money," said Anabela Vargas, vice president and senior loan officer. "This truly innovative program seemed like something that would be perfect for us to activate in our community."

A partnership with South Shore Bank is introducing Money Experience in high schools across the South Shore. Through the partnership, launching soon, students in grades nine through 12 will have the opportunity to explore how each decision they make starting now can impact their long-term financial health. Schools preparing to implement the program are: Braintree High School, East Bridgewater High School, Hingham High School, North Quincy High School, Norwell High School, Pembroke High School, Quincy High School, Stoughton High School and Weymouth High School.

In partnership with Jean D'Arc Credit Union, Money Experience has also been run in Nashua, Dracut, and Lowell High Schools. Additional programs have been offered at Northeastern University, Bridgewater State University, Westfield Public High School, and Fontbonne Academy.

"Helping arm students with the knowledge to understand the relationship between financial decisions, personal priorities, and quality of life helps to prepare them for a lifetime of better decisions," said Brilene Faherty, curriculum director at Money Experience.

Looking ahead to 2020, the platform will continue to engage with students and communities in Massachusetts, but also expand its reach throughout the country with new offerings, including recently launched Money Experience Pro, designed to give Millennial and Gen Z users the knowledge needed to navigate the considerable and often complex financial situations they may face as they advance in age and their careers.

About Money Experience

Part of the family of companies founded by noted Boston tech entrepreneurs Jeet Singh and Joe Chung, Money Experience is an educational technology company addressing the need for personal finance education among young people and adults. Money Experience is headquartered at One Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts. https://www.moneyexperience.com/

Media contact:

Monica Higgins

[email protected]

781-749-0077 x22

SOURCE Money Experience

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Pakistani authorities handed over 20 Indian fishermen, as a goodwill gesture, to their Indian counterparts at the Attari-Wagah Border on January 06, 2020. The Fishermen, who hailed from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, were released from the Landhi Jail in Lahore, Pakistan on January 05, 2020. They were arrested by the Maritime Security Agency for allegedly venturing into Pakistani territorial waters for fishing last year. Pakistan had released 360 Indian fishermen last year.In this photo, Indian fishermen show their name tags while they line up to leave for India after being released at Lahore railway station in Pakistan. (Image: AP)
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

 Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I dont want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.

- David Livingstone

We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light the candle that can guide us through that darkness to a safe and sane future.

John F. Kennedy

There comes a time in the trajectory of man, when man has to evaluate his relevance to humanity, to his environment. In the course of that evaluation, seismic decisions would have to be made; decisions that would seem weird while simmering in its irresistible relevance in juxtaposition to reality. Such decisions might be a run against the convention. It might be against the run of tradition. It might be against the run of expectations. But nevertheless, it has to be taken, based on conviction, driven by a vision, propelled by passion and mobilized as a mission for accomplishment.

History does not make men. It is men that make History. In the course of making History, men have to be courageous. They have to be bold. They have to be imbued with dazzling audacity. They have to troll in tantalizing temerity. They have to frolic with risky effrontery. They have to challenge the tradition. They have to be different and delineate a direction that is distinct, plod a path that is principally unpaved. Such men usually would not consider the sky as a limit but as a stepping stone to penetrating the heavens.

For some of us, who believe in fate, in our hearts and consciousness, well comforted is the concept of destiny. With this concept of destiny are intravenous variables of Providence and Divinity. They are the catalysts of what has to be, what will be and what must be. They are the tools of fate. The embryos of destiny. Providence and Divinity in collaboration with fate, come together to format destiny, to which we must all come in all our journeys on Earth. It is this destiny that is currently beckoning to the man, Kayode Abegunde.

In the History of Delaware, called the "First State," because it is the first State in the American Union of the first 13 Colonies to approve the November 1787 Constitution, no African American has ever won any statewide election into the office of Insurance Commissioner. This is the first time this office would have an African American aiming for the seat in a State where the first immigrants, the Dutch, first landed in 1631.

Kayode Abegunde, the man responding to the beckoning of destiny, who is making record as the first African to bell this cat and contest for this post deserves some kudos for treading this path. The interesting and beautiful thing is that in a State, where the Swedes took control in 1638, and lost to the Dutch in 1651, before the British finally took over in 1674, Abegunde, the man of destiny, has support base across the racial and gender lines for his bid.

The Department of Insurance in the State of Delaware, a small State that sent about 4,000 soldiers to the American Revolutionary war, has its mission and tasks clearly spelt out. These include the protection of insurance consumers, regulation of insurance companies to ensure ability to pay claims; review, approve and or disapprove rates submitted by insurance companies. They also include the prosecution of insurance fraud, license agents and brokers, save businesses money on premium costs, assist medicare-eligible seniors and advocate for residents through arbitration and legislation.

Abegunde who has two MBAs from Wilmington University, Delaware with one concentrating on Finance and another concentrating on Health Care Administration, has his vision clearly defined for the office he is contesting for. His primary goal is to seek and ensure protection for insurance consumers in the State and advocate for Cultural competence on the part of the Insurance Companies.

Determined to put the benefit of his experience to the services of the Delaware State that ratified the U.S. Constitution by a unanimous vote of 30-0 on December 7, 1787, Abegunde is promising the consumers a sense of inclusion that would help to deploy its diversity for the benefit of the average Delawarean without manacling the growth of insurance business in the State.

We want to protect insurance consumers in our State. That is our first and primary priority. But we want to do it in a manner that would not destroy business so as to protect employment of our citizens in the industry, Abegunde said, while explaining the thrust of his agenda, as the Delawares Insurance Commissioner.

Abegunde who traversed the Rocky City, where the University of Ado-Ekiti was domiciled from whence he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, had been part of the team that led Tax Audit for Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue in Nigeria. He attended Capella University for his Ph.D. in Human Services and Public Leadership, and later transfer to Wilmington University for Doctor of Social Science in Prevention Science. He is an Alumni of Delaware Citizens Academy under the United States Department of Justice.

As a State that had 5 signatories to the Draft US Constitution despite its being small compared to Georgia with only two signatories and the big expansive Pennsylvania with eight signatories, Delaware would benefit from Abegundes vision to ensure reliable insurance coverage at reasonable rates for Delaware consumers as well as encourage timeliness of claim decisions.

Over the years, Abegunde has served in various capacity as an Accountant, Marketing executive, Insurance Agent, Financial Analyst, Consultant, Tax specialist, Investigator, Auditor, Project Manager, Program Director, Human Service Practitioner and Health Care Administrator. He is a certified member of several professional bodies. Past member, Citizen Budget committee Charter School of New Castle, Delaware. He led the audit team of Llangollen Estate Civic Association as the chairman and currently elected as the Vice President of Llangollen Estates Civic Association in New Castle. He was appointed as a Commissioner, Behavioral and Mental Health Care and also appointed as New Castle County Financial Advisory Council by the County Executive. He is a Democrat committee member for 17th District.

Abegunde who is a good communicator is imbued with the ability to understand and effectively interact with people across cultures. He is an apostle of equity and justice for all. His dream as the Insurance Commissioner has a departure point from the purview of an average consumer, the ordinary citizen that is often trod upon by the powerful corporations.

The State of Delaware which was governed as part of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1701 but had continued to share the same Governor with Pennsylvania until 1776 when all ties were completely broken, would be richly blessed by the ascendance of Kayode Abegunde as the State Insurance Commissioner.

Kayode Abegunde would need your support to be able to reach this destiny that is beckoning to him. Your votes would be worth its value when you give him that push to become the Insurance Commissioner for the State of Delaware in and for our collective interest. Give him your support.

Let us not despair but act . Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past  let us accept our own responsibility for the future.  John F. Kennedy

By Remi Oyeyemi

Jan. 6, 2020
Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn and his wife Carole leave the office of his lawyer in Tokyo on April 3, 2019.

Japanese prosecutors have obtained an arrest warrant for the wife of fugitive ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn.

Her husband fled Japan in late December, using the bullet train and two private jets to travel to Lebanon. The former executive was first arrested in Japan in 2018 and charged with financial crimes while serving as the boss of Nissan.

He denied any wrongdoing in January 2019 and has also claimed that Japan's justice system is "rigged."

According to several media reports on Tuesday, investigators believe that n April last year his spouse Carole Ghosn may have made false statements about the case to a Tokyo court.

A spokeswoman for Carole Ghosn told Reuters that the issuance of a warrant was "pathetic," noting that Ms Ghosn had traveled to Japan last year to answer questions and had left without any charges at the time.

Carole Ghosn is an American passport holder and, unlike her husband, could potentially be made subject to an extradition request between Japan and the United States.

The spokesperson added that the timing of the warrant is designed to undermine a press conference by the former Nissan boss which is due this week.

"Last time Carlos Ghosn announced a press conference and got re-arrested. This time, the day before he is announced to speak out freely for the first time, they issued an arrest warrant for his wife Carole Ghosn," the spokesperson said.
Kim Jong-un has been seen in public for the first time since the death of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, demolishing rumours that he had gone to ground in the wake of the assassination.

The North Korean leader had not been seen since December 31, when he warned that he would restart missile and nuclear weapons tests unless the US 'rolls back its hostile policy'.

And following the death of General Soleimani, with the North's propaganda silent about the attack, rumours abounded in neighbouring South Korea that the tyrant was lying low.

But now he has surfaced, offering some of his notorious 'field guidance' to workers at fertilizer factory under construction in Sunchon, South Pyongan Province.

Kim Jong-un seen in public for the first time since the death of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, demolishing rumours that he had gone to ground

The North Korean leader visited a fertilizer factory under construction in Sunchon, South Pyongan Province

Kim Jong-un gives 'field guidance' to workers at fertilizer factory

There's precedent for North Korean rulers vanishing at times of international crisis. Former leader Kim Jong-il vanished from the public eye for 25 days after the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, and disappeared for 50 days following the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

But the current leader has snubbed the practice. 'Chairman Kim has stressed the personal friendly relations he has built up with President Donald Trump,' a Seoul official told South Korea's JoongAng Daily newspaper.

'Either he recognizes that he is different from Soleimani or he has an intention to show off the construction work.' A report on Kim's outing made no reference to the assassination or the tyrant's ongoing dispute with the US.

Kim Jong-un gives 'field guidance' to workers at fertilizer factory. There's precedent for North Korean rulers vanishing at times of international crisis

Kim Jong-un gives 'field guidance' to workers. 'Chairman Kim has stressed the personal friendly relations he has built up with President Donald Trump,' a Seoul official told South Korea's JoongAng Daily newspaper

In fact, the subject has hardly been touched upon by the North's propaganda networks. State broadcaster KCNA ran only a small report yesterday noting that China and Russia had condemned a US strike in Baghdad.

The victims of the strike were not named and no sense was given of the gravity of the attack.

On Tuesday, another brief report described an antiwar demonstration in the US capital.

Kim Jong-un gives 'field guidance' to workers at fertilizer factory

Kim Jong-un gives 'field guidance' to workers at fertilizer factory

Kim Jong-un's reappearance comes amid reports that South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) had concluded it was 'impossible' for him to give up his nuclear weapons.

The finding was briefed to Lee Eun-jae, a member of the opposition in the South's National Assembly, by an NIS official.

She was told that the North believed its future security could never be surrendered, 'thus a method of negotiations involving an exchange of nuclear weapons for sanctions is not possible'.
EUGENE, Ore.  Finn is a handsome retriever mix who is ready to become part of an active family.

This sweet boy would thrive in a family that will take him on walks, hikes and adventures. He has energy to burn and loves to play outside. He is a smart dog that would benefit from ongoing training and enrichment activities.

Finn will make a loyal companion for the right family. He can go to a family with older children and should be the only pet in the home.

Finn is 5-years-old and weighs about 60 pounds. He arrived at Greenhill Humane Society on Dec. 31. His adoption fee is $175, which helps pay the cost of vaccinations, microchip identification, spaying or neutering, a certificate for a free veterinary exam and more.

Finn visited KEZI 9 News as Pet of the Week. Every Tuesday, KEZI showcases homeless pets on the Midday newscast at 11 a.m. If you are interested in Finn or other animals at Greenhill Humane Society, click here.

Greenhill Humane Society is located at 88530 Green Hill Road and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Its phone number is 541-689-1503.

To ensure a good match is made, potential adopters must go to the animal shelter in person to meet with the animal and kennel staff. All family members should be present to ensure the animal is compatible with everyone in the household.
[January 07, 2020] Cubic Announces Departure of Cubic Transportation Systems President Matt Cole; Names Laurent Eskenazi as Acting President of Business Segment

Cubic Corporation (NYSE:CUB) today announced that Matt Cole, senior vice president and president of Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS (News - Alert)), will leave the company at the end of January to pursue a leadership opportunity in a non-competing industry. Laurent Eskenazi, who is currently the senior vice president and managing director of CTS EMEA, will serve as the interim president of CTS effective January 13, until a permanent successor is named. Cubic has initiated an internal and external process of recruiting for Cole's replacement and has retained Dinte Global Executive Search to support the recruitment process. "Over his 17-year career with Cubic, Matt has made significant contributions to our company, most recently in operationalizing and growing our transportation business, advancing our NextCityTM vision and execuing strategic priorities, particularly related to mobile and Intelligent Transport Systems. On behalf of Cubic and the Board of Directors, we thank him for his leadership and service to Cubic and wish him well in his future endeavors," said Bradley H. Feldmann, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Cubic Corporation. "During this time of transition, Laurent brings extensive strategic and operational experience in ticketing and revenue collection globally and we are confident in his ability to serve in this interim role."



In his role as senior vice president and managing director of CTS EMEA, Eskenazi managed Cubic's transportation operations in the U.K., Germany and Sweden, which is the second largest combined market for CTS. Prior to joining Cubic, Eskenazi was an executive for French transport and technology company, Thales (News - Alert), responsible for all business operations of the Revenue Collection Systems business across nine countries. Eskenazi holds a doctorate in Electrical Engineering and master's degree in Communications and Signal Processing from the University of Florida as well as an engineering degree from Telecom Sud Paris. About Cubic Corporation

Cubic is a technology-driven, market-leading provider of integrated solutions that increase situational understanding for transportation, defense C4ISR, and training customers worldwide to decrease urban congestion and improve the militaries' effectiveness and operational readiness. Our teams innovate to make a positive difference in people's lives. We simplify their daily journeys. We promote mission success and safety for those who serve their nation. For more information about Cubic, please visit www.cubic.com or on Twitter (News - Alert) @CubicCorp. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200107005283/en/

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Carlos Ghosn, former chairman of Nissan Motor Co., sits in a vehicle as he leaves his lawyer's office in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, March 6, 2019.

Representatives for ousted Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn lashed out against the Japanese automaker Tuesday afternoon, reiterating claims of a conspiracy to take down the high-profile executive.

The remarks from Ghosn's defense team come a day before Ghosn is expected to publicly speak for the first time since secretly fleeing Japan, where he was under strict house arrest, to Lebanon on Dec. 30 to escape what he called a "rigged" justice system.

The statement claims Nissan's investigation into the executive for alleged financial misconduct and misuse of corporate resources was "never about finding the truth; it was initiated and carried out for the specific, predetermined purpose of taking down Carlos Ghosn to prevent him from further integrating Nissan and Renault, which threatened the independence of Nissan, one of Japan's iconic, flagship companies."

The statement from Ghosn's team follows a statement from Nissan saying it would "continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused."

Ghosn, who simultaneously led three automakers as part of the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance, has denied all charges against him. He had been awaiting trial in Japan since his initial November 2018 arrest on charges of financial misconduct and misuse of corporate resources for personal gain.
A motorcyclist caught speeding 62 times in just three months has racked up the equivalent of 392 demerit points and $54,000 in fines.

The 22-year-old man was clocked riding speeds of up to 178km/h on Gympie Road in Brisbane and 155km/h in a nearby airport link tunnel.

An off-duty police officer arrested the rider after spotting his motorcycle in a hotel car park.

The officer spotted a motorcycle with an allegedly stolen registration plate that read 'RUNIT' parked at the back of a pub

An off-duty police officer arrested the man in a hotel carpark (pictured) after he was clocked doing 178km/h on Gympie Road in Brisbane

Last Thursday, the officer spotted a motorcycle with an allegedly stolen registration plate that read 'RUNIT' parked at the back of a pub.

An extensive investigation had been underway into a Suzuki GSXR-600 with the same stolen plates that police allege was involved in more than 50 speeding offences in and around Brisbane between October and December.

When he was arrested, police found a backpack allegedly containing methylamphetamine and a set of scales.

He was also allegedly in possession of 13 Queensland and New South Wales drivers licences, 13 Medicare cards, four Australian passports and one UK passports.

The man returned a positive result when breath tested, and was charged with 36 offences, as well as 62 traffic infringement notices for speeding.

His motorcycle was also impounded for forfeiture.
Sunny Sen and Pratik Bhakta

Over the last few months, PhonePe has been engaged in discussions with investors for a funding round of up to $1 billion. Reports indicate that the asking price for the company, which was founded by three former Flipkart executives, values it at between $8 billion and $12 billion. At that level, PhonePe would be the second most valuable unicorn in India after Paytm.

However, the talks seem to have deadlocked over the valuation sought by Walmart, which paid $16 billion to buy a 77 percent stake in Flipkart in 2018. If PhonePe alone is worth $10 billion, Walmart certainly bought Flipkart at a bargain. But what do the facts say?

Morgan Stanley makes a case

In September, investment bank Morgan Stanley pegged the value of PhonePe in a base case scenario at $7 billion. This valuation is based on a number of assumptions. One of the presuppositions is that Flipkart should hold a 50 percent share in the ecommerce market (probable) and 65 percent of mobile transactions are processed through PhonePe (probable again). PhonePe should corner 22 percent of payments business excluding Flipkart transactions (it had around a 40 percent share of the total UPI payments) and it should make $50 million in revenue from payments (total revenue was Rs 200 crore last year, or about $29 million).

Besides, Morgan Stanley assumes that for the $7 billion valuation to hold, PhonePe must make $350 million from distribution of financial services, and $1 billion from consumer lending. (PhonePe has not started lending yet; it has started selling direct mutual funds as one of its first steps into becoming a broader financial services platform.)

On the whole, when it comes to the vital assumptions about revenue, PhonePe falls short. Which means that this base case may not really be applicable.

The case of precedent

In November, PhonePe received its fourth round of funding for 2019 from Flipkart, when it raised $82.5 million at a valuation of about $1.9 billion. Previous funding rounds valued the company at $1.55 billion (September) and $1.03 billion (February).

If Flipkart is valuing PhonePe at less than $2 billion, how does it convince outside investors that they should value the company at five times as much?

The Paytm benchmark

Paytm, the poster child of digital payments in India, was valued at $16 billion during its last funding round announced in November 2019. Paytms revenue is Rs 3,000 crore, compared to Rs 200 crore for PhonePe. If the revenue multiple were to be the benchmark, PhonePe would have to be valued at just over $1 billion.

Paytm has already expanded into becoming a digital bank and into other financial services like mutual funds, loans, games, ticket booking and others. PhonePe is just about starting to expand beyond payments. Even in payments, less than 20 percent of PhonePes transactions are at merchants.

The case for PhonePe

What PhonePe has managed to show is a steady rise in transactions and a strong jump in revenue, demonstrating the potential to assume leadership in payments. It has been leading the UPI race and giving strong competition to Google Pay, which has seen a dramatic rise in adoption over the last year. PhonePe has clocked more than 500 million transactions on UPI in December. This number was close to 410 million in November and 340 million in August. The company itself claimed that it had reported more than 90 million offline transactions in August, having rapidly expanded its small merchant base for QR code payments.

But is it worth $10 billion?

Walmart is trying to hook Chinas Tencent (a backer of Flipkart, Ola and Swiggy) as the lead investor in PhonePe. Tencent, in effect, is an insider because it still owns about a 5 percent stake in Flipkart and has a board seat. If Tencent is chary of biting into PhonePe at $10 billion, the message is obvious.

The canny Pony Ma, the founder of Tencent, is deeply aware that he will be taking on the might of Alibaba (Paytms backer), Google (Google Pay) and Facebook (WhatsApp Pay) with a big investment in PhonePe. He will want a payment play in India at the right price, but not any price.

So how much is PhonePe really worth?

Valuation, they say, is more art than science.

Sometimes it has little to do with mathematics. But the whole point of this piece is to stick our necks out, and this is the bottomline: PhonePe clearly does not meet the criteria for the Morgan Stanley base case, which means it is definitely not worth $7 billion. The valuation assigned by Flipkart (Walmart) in November is $1.9 billion. Assuming that PhonePe is growing like a teenager on steroids, and that valuation is a liberal art, anything more than $2.5 billion for the payments company today is a bonus.
The Kingdom is taking part in an anti-corruption conference in Morocco, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The president of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, Mazen bin Ibrahim Al-Khamous, will head Saudi Arabias delegation at the two-day Conference of the States Parties to the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention in Rabat from Jan. 7.

The conference will discuss a number of important topics, including the implementation of the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention, follow-ups to the previous meeting, reports and recommendations. A set of resolutions proposed by member states will be presented to the conference for approval.

The conference will elect the president of the third session and, also on the agenda, is the Kingdoms invitation to hold the next session in Riyadh in 2022. The Kingdom joined the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention in 2012. It contains provisions concerning preventive measures to prevent corruption, to determine the criminal acts as stipulated therein and to recover assets.

It also seeks to activate measures aimed at preventing, combating, and exposing corruption in all its forms, as well as all related crimes, prosecuting perpetrators and enhancing Arab cooperation.
CHICAGO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Organic Feed Market by Type (Cereals & Grains, Oilseeds), Form (Pellets, Crumbles, Mashes), Livestock (Poultry, Ruminants, Swine, Aquatic Animals), Additives (Amino Acids, Enzymes, Vitamins, Minerals, Phytogenics), and Region  Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Organic Feed Market size is estimated at USD 6.8 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 10.1 billion by 2025, recording a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period. The market growth is driven by the increasing demand for organic food, rising organic livestock farming, expansion of organic farmlands, and the contribution to the environment. Developing countries in South America are projected to create lucrative opportunities for organic feed manufacturers in the coming years.

Download PDF Brochure:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=158519224

The cereals & grains segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment in the organic feed market during the forecast period.

The cereals & grains segment accounts for the largest share in the organic feed market. Cereals and grains in this study include corn, wheat, and barley. The US is among the largest producers of corn and wheat, as well as key raw materials used for manufacturing organic feed. According to the 2016 Certified Organic Survey (2015 to 2016), the US organic corn acreage increased from 166,841 in 2015 to 213,934 in 2016. Most of this production was used in organic feed rations. Due to these factors, the growth prospects for organic feed manufacturers remain high in the country.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Organic Feed Market"

114  Tables

45  Figures

169  Pages

The poultry segment is projected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period.

The poultry segment is estimated to account for the largest share in the organic feed market in 2019. It is also projected to be the fastest-growing market during the forecasted period. Poultry meat is the most popular natural and organic meat among consumers. According to the USDA, in the US, the largest volume of organic meat sales is for poultry. According to the USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS), in 2016, the number of certified organic broilers produced totaled over 19 million in the US. The number of certified organic layer hens produced in the same year was over 15 million, and the number of certified organic turkeys produced was 410 thousand. In developing countries, organic feed manufacturers are focusing on capitalizing on significant growth prospects as consumers opt for organic products.

The pellets segment is projected to record the fastest growth during the forecast period.

Pellets are the most common and preferred form of organic feed. They also contain a high level of binders as compared to the mashed form of organic feed. The pelleted form of organic feed stimulates early organic feed intake. Pelleting of organic feed also reduces wastage, as it is easy to feed to animals, convenient to store, and is also preferred by backyard chicken farmers.

Speak to Analyst:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=158519224

North America is projected to be the largest market during the forecast period.

North America is projected to be a key revenue generator for organic feed manufacturers due to the increased demand in the US. North America witnesses various key players operating in the organic feed market. These include Cargill (US), SunOpta (Canada), and Purina Animal Nutrition LLC (US). The demand for organic feed products remains high in the poultry segment in the region. The US is among the largest producers and consumers of corn, wheat, and soybean at a global level. These ingredients are majorly used in the feed industry, as they increase their nutrient quotient. Due to the rising consumer preferences for natural ingredients, the demand for these ingredients is projected to increase in the coming years.

In Canada, some of the small scale players are focusing on offering organic feed for poultry, swine, and ruminants. In Mexico, the demand for organic poultry products, such as eggs and poultry meat, is projected to create lucrative opportunities for organic feed manufacturers. Milk is also projected to increase the demand for organic feed products among ruminant livestock, as consumers opt for organic dairy products in the region. Thus, North America is projected to offer high growth prospects for organic feed manufacturers in the coming years.

This report includes a study of marketing and development strategies, along with the product portfolios of leading companies, in the organic feed market. It consists of the profiles of leading companies, such as Cargill (US), BernAqua (Belgium), Country Heritage Feeds (Australia), ForFarmers (Netherlands), SunOpta (Canada), Ranch-Way Feeds (US), Aller Aqua (Denmark), Purina Animal Nutrition LLC (US), Scratch and Peck Feeds (US), Cargill (US), K-Much Feed Industry Co., Ltd (Thailand), The Organic Feed Company (UK), B&W Feeds (UK), Feeddex Compaies (US), Country Junction feed (US), Green Mountian Feeds (US), Unique Organic (US), Kreamer Feed (US), Yorktown Organics, LLC (US), and Hi Peak Feeds (UK).

Browse Related Reports:

Compound Feed Market by Ingredient (Cereals, Cakes & Meals, By-products, and Supplements), Form (Mash, Pellets, and Crumbles), Livestock (Ruminants, Swine, Poultry, and Aquaculture), Source, and Region - Global Forecast to 2022

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/compound-feed-market-12564156.html

Feed Enzymes Market by Type (Phytase, Carbohydrase, and Protease), Livestock (Poultry, Swine, Ruminants, and Aquatic Animals), Source (Microorganism, Plant, and Animal), Form (Dry and Liquid), and Region  Global Forecast to 2025

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/feed-enzyme-market-1157.html

Browse Adjacent Markets: Feed and Animal Nutrition Market Research Reports & Consulting

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MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

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Exxons refinery at Fos-sur-Mer in France was blocked by a strike of union workers on Tuesday as part of a massive French strike against a proposed pension reform, and shipments at the 140,000-barrels-per-day refinery are also blocked, the French unit of the U.S. supermajor told Reuters on Tuesday.

The month-long strikes in France against the governments plan for a pension reform have now reached oil refineries around the country, but officials and oil companies say there will be no shortage of fuel.

According to the CGT trade union, its unionized workers at Exxons Fos-sur-Mer and Port Jerome have decided to go on strike.

The Fos-sur-Mer refinery was blocked on Tuesday while Port Jerome, which has a processing capacity of 240,000 bpd, was operating normally early today, Exxon France told Reuters.

Fos-sur-Mer accounts for 10 percent of Frances refinery production, while the Port Jerome refinery processes 20 percent of the French refinery output.

The CGT union has called for a total blockade of all oil refineries across France to force the government to withdraw plans to amend the pension system.

The trade union has called for the blockade to begin on Tuesday, January 7, through Friday, January 10, so that no refined product would come out of any French refinery for 96 hours, one of the unions leaders at French oil major Total, Thierry Defresne, told French radio station Franceinfo.

Defresne told Reuters that seven out of the eight refineries in France would be on strike for those 96 hours, and workers would not allow any shipments of refined products to come out of the refineries.

Meanwhile, Total said on Monday, ahead of the massive strike, that it did not expect fuel shortages, as its gas stations are well stocked.

While the trade union insists that it will block fuel supplies out of refineries, an industry source told Reuters that France imports around 50 percent of the fuel which is sold in the country, so the impact of a massive strike would not be as severe as it would have been if all products were processed domestically.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Dhakamail24.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

This CoolSocial report was updated on 27 Aug 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

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LONDON - Britains defence secretary urged Iranian leaders on Tuesday to refrain from retaliating for the slaying of Gen. Qassem Soleimani in an American drone attack.

Ben Wallace appealed for calm even as he told the House of Commons that Irans aggressive behaviour such as hijacking civilian ships was never going to go unchallenged. Nonetheless, further conflict is in no ones interest, he insisted.

Her Majestys Government urges Iran to return to the normal behaviour of the country it aspires to be and resist the urge to retaliate.

The main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn challenged Wallace on whether U.S. actions were legal, describing the attack as an assassination that placed British troops and civilians in danger.

Time and time again over the last two decades the political and military establishments have made the wrong call on military interventions in the Middle East, Corbyn said. This House must rule out plunging our country into yet another devastating war at the behest of another state.

Corbyn also criticized Prime Minister Boris Johnson for handing the task of briefing the Commons to Wallace, rather than appearing himself.

But Wallace brushed off the criticism and defended government actions. He said it was up to the United States to explain its decision.

From the information and intelligence that I have seen, what I could say is that it is clear there was a case for self-defence to be made about an individual who had come to Iraq to co-ordinate murder and attacks on U.S. citizens, he said.

Wallace said urgent measures were being taken to protect British national and interests and in the Middle East. The defence secretary underscored that Britain remained committed to the region, and that the government was looking at the implications of the vote in the Iraqi parliament which called for the expulsion of foreign troops, who are in Iraq to help defend the nation against the Islamic State group.

Our commitment to Iraqs stability and sovereignty is unwavering and we urge the Iraqi government to ensure the coalition is able to continue our work countering this shared threat, he said.

British forces in the region were on standby to assist if needed, while non-essential personnel had been relocated from Baghdad to Taji.

As part of prudent planning, a small team has been sent to the region to provide additional situational awareness and contingency planning assistance, Wallace told lawmakers.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab travelled to Brussels for meetings with European counterparts about the situation in the Middle East.

The talks are expected to assess the state of Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers after Tehran announced Sunday it is withdrawing from further commitments in the agreement.

Raab will have a bilateral meeting with the French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, before meeting with German and Italian counterparts.
Panaji, Jan 7 : The Bombay High Court's Goa bench on Tuesday directed a trial court to defer the cross-examination of the victim in the rape case involving former Tehelka Editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal till the first week of February.

The HC directive follows a petition filed by the victim, in which she said that she was subjected to irrelevant and scandalous questions by Tejpal's lawyers, in course of cross-examination during the trial at the District and Sessions court in Mapusa in North Goa.

The victim also prayed in her petition to restrain the defence lawyers from asking such questions during the cross-examination.

According to the victim's counsel Saresh Lotlikar, the victim was currently employed abroad and would be available in court only in the first week of February.

The HC also directed the prosecution and defence lawyers to be present in the court on January 16 and place their arguments on record vis-a-vis the nature of questions to be asked during the cross-examination.

Charged with sexually assaulting his junior colleague inside an elevator of a resort hotel in Goa during an event organised by the magazine in November 2013, Tejpal has been booked under Sections 376 (rape), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement) 354A (sexual harassment) and 354B (criminal assault), of the Indian Penal Code.

The trial, which began in September 2017, was delayed after Tejpal, appealed to the Supreme Court pleading quashing of the charges framed against him by the trial court. The apex court, while disposing of his plea in August last year, had directed the lower court to complete the trial within six months.
On one side of the street were truckers, blaring horns and demanding the right to stay independent. On the other, Uber and Lyft drivers, demanding the right to become employees. This recent scene on the streets of San Francisco acted as a microcosm of the confusion and complexity that California Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) has introduced. Meant to restrain the gig economy created by Uber and Lyft, AB5 essentially makes it tougher for workers to be classified as independent contractors.

And while the law is limited for now to California, it is likely the template for legislation to come from other states around the country. AB5 has set off intense debate about what constitutes an employee, and whether the law is really about protecting workers or more about generating additional tax revenue.

Uber and Lyft are worried for obvious reasons, but its small businesses that should be wringing their hands the most. The highest burden of cost will fall, just like it always has, on them, not the large corporations that have not only the resources to help navigate new legislation, but a much lighter tax bill -- about 21 percent compared to 28 percent for small businesses. Of course, this is a fight thats been brewing for many years. Small-business owners have already been squeezed, and how to classify their employees is just the latest example.

Related: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Compliance

The distinction between big and small is crystalized in the recent uptick of wage-and-hour suits, which purport workers are actually employees instead of independent contractors. Amazon might be able to withstand such a lawsuit with little to no fanfare, but this kind of litigation can put smaller companies out of business. Thats because if a court decides you treated a worker like an employee, you now owe all of the taxes you never paid on their behalf, and potentially all the cost of covering their healthcare. It can get more complicated if youre in an industry that requires workers-compensation insurance. You could be found liable for that as well.

For example, I once had a client who ran her own massage-therapy studio. She successfully rented out unused rooms to other therapists until the day one of them suggested they were employees and demanded back taxes and wages. All it takes is one disgruntled worker to raise the red flag, and if you dont have your affairs in order, youre vulnerable.

It seems with each new rule designed to make it harder for companies to classify workers as independent contractors, the burden on small businesses gets bigger. The good news is theres a lot you can do to protect yourself.

Only engage in business-to-business payments.

This is the number-one priority. Only engage with independent contractors who have gone through the process of creating their own company. That way, youre only ever making payments to a business, not an individual. I once knew of a firm that employed a full-time lawyer whose only job was to help independent contractors set up their own businesses. While it was expensive, the cost was worth it. Even without an attorney, its extremely easy for individuals to set up an LLC, and can get even easier depending on what state youre doing business in.

Ensure youre not the sole provider of income.

To be truly independent, a contractor needs to be working on more than one project with more than one company. If youre providing all their income, even if its a big job and it seems reasonable, you could get pegged as an employer. Even if youve got contractors on a major project, they need to be working for multiple companies to be truly considered independent.

Demand proof.

To ensure your contract will hold up in court, youll need to make sure your contractor is doing their part. Its not enough for them to tell you they secured their own insurance. You need to see the proof. Also, get your hands on some kind of proof that your contractors are paying their taxes properly, because if the IRS comes knocking on their door demanding loads of cash, its all too easy to point the finger back at you and claim you should have been paying employment taxes and withholding all along.

Related: The Legal ABCs of Running a Transportation Service

Decide whats best for your business.

While getting your books, payroll and contracts in order will go a long way towards protecting yourself, theres nothing thats foolproof. As legislators and tax collectors begin to potentially undo the gig economy, the burden will continue to fall on small-business owners. The fact remains that they pay higher taxes and states have more revenue to gain from ensuring theyre paying up.

If, despite all these challenges, you decide to stick with independent contractors, dont take the risk of assuming its a problem for the Ubers of the world. Stay up to speed on whats happening in your state, cover your bases, and perform your due diligence in every case. It could literally mean life or death for your business.

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Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
New Chief of Iran's Quds Force Vows to Remove US From Middle East to Avenge Soleimani Hit

Sputnik News

14:07 06.01.2020

Iraqi lawmakers have already taken legislative steps to oust American troops from the country; and it's not clear what sort of action the new Quds commander was referring to.

The new head of Iran's elite Quds force called for the removal of the United States from the region in response to the killing of his predecessor, Qassem Soleimani.

"We promise to continue martyr Soleimani's path with the same force," Esmail Qaani said on Monday in an interview on local radio, "and the only compensation for us would be to remove America from the region."

Gen. Qassem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike at the Baghdad airport, where he was met by allied militants. Soleimani has been at the helm of the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, since 1997.

His comments come after the Iraqi parliament voted to expel US troops from Iraqi soil, outraged by the US not agreeing in advance with Iraqi authorities the strike that killed Soleimani in Baghdad. President Trump has already vowed to impose sanctions on Iraq should its government go ahead with the plan and exchanged threats of retaliatory strikes with Iran.

The latter on Monday officially rolled back its remaining commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal but promised to continue to allow international inspectors. Tehran said that it could still reverse the decision if the US lifted its crippling economic sanctions.

Esmail Qaani, named as Soleimani's successor on Friday, had served as his deputy commander for the last 22 years, so his policy is not expected to differ much from that of his late boss.

A Sputnik

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A local court here on Tuesday granted bail to theatre artiste Deepak Mishra, popularly known as Deepak Kabir, in connection with the December 19 violence during anti-CAA protests in Lucknow.

Additional District Judge SS Pandey granted bail to Deepak on furnishing two sureties of Rs 50,000 each and a personal bond of the same amount.

The court found that the prosecution failed to produce evidence to prove Deepak's involvement in the violence and that his name was not mentioned in the FIR lodged initially.

The court also noted that Congress activist Sadaf Jafar, a co-accused with Deepak, has already been granted bail.

The court also took cognizance of medical reports of the policemen injured during the protests, stating that it was evident that injuries were not grievous in nature.

In his bail petition, Deepak had said that he was beaten up by police and arrested when he went to the Hazratganj police station on December 20 to enquire about his missing colleagues--Sadaf Jafar and Pawan Rao Ambedkar.

The court also issued directions that the accused will cooperate in further investigation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nigeria is a failed state that needs restructuring to avoid total collapse and non-existence as a united indivisible nation. Nigeria is controlled and influenced by the rich and powerful. They are the cabals who disguise as warlords, Godfathers made up of various tribes with a common selfish interest and the morbid taste for absolute power and control. These cabals will go extra steps and to any length to take control of the seat of power for their selfish interest, nothing more and nothing less.

As long as the current unitary military system of government exist, Nigeria will remain in the hands of the few cabals who constitute less than 5% of the population. Cabal system cannot function well in a truly democratic dispensation where there are checks and balances to ensure accountability. The cabals trample on the rule of law and often use their selective rule of law as an instrument to advance their imperious control of power.

The cabals operate similarly as landlords, they will put you out of your house and rent your home to you. They render you as a tenant rather than a landlord. They strip you of your entitlement to ownership and position you to be an economic slave to your landlord. On a systemic larger scale, they displace the entire village, a community or a tribe.

We must fight against internal and external colonization imposed and orchestrated by the cabals. They use all kinds of methods to achieve their plans including but no limited to corrupt practices, abuse of power, money laundering, government influences and other instruments of government such as the army, police, civil defense, traitors and collaborators.

Generally, some of our current leaders are mortgaging the future of our current and future generations yet unborn. The time has come for a total transformation of our nation through restructuring and patriotism. The strategies must be driven by educational empowerment, skills acquisition, political transformation, social consciousness, universal moral standards as the cornerstone of our laws and statutes, entrepreneurship, youth and women empowerment.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr eloquently stated that peace is not the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice. Justice in Nigeria is for the highest bidder. Where there is no justice, there can be no peace. Corruption has become undeniably the rule of the day and accountability is nonexistence or selective.

The instrument of power has become the oppressive tool to control the people to submission in the face of tyrannical administrative unwritten policies. Nigeria is suffering from cancer and the power to be are oblivious to obvious reality. If the cancer is not treated aggressively, Nigeria will die a natural death. It is just a matter of time while currently on life support before the pending doom. How long? Not long but we must rescue Nigeria from dying through restructuring into six geo-political autonomy zones to surgically remove the cancer.

The template of election rigging perfected in Osun State has become perhaps the template used in other states to control the agenda of the ruling party. The law must address corruption and the fundamental ethics of morality in our society. The time has come for restructuring before it is too late for Nigeria under the wait of corruption, abuse of power, injustice and lack of progressive development. For Africa to survive Nigeria must lead.

It is time just like in the bible, let my people go from a unitary, oppressive, repressive and imperious government. Change must come by the electorate demanding for change without violence but through the moral consciousness and obligation of the Nigerian people. Dr. King expressed that darkness cannot drive away darkness only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive away hate only love can do that. Love will conquer hate always and God is love.

Nigeria must be restructured to survive. The agitation for restructuring has fallen upon deaf ears by those who are benefiting from the current chaos and the unitary system which is counter-productive to a democratic dispensation

The battle for restructuring must be fought and won. We must demand restructuring through a referendum - a structural change in our system of government which will guarantee, liberty, equity, the pursuit of happiness and systemic regional development and economic transformation.

The South (SE, SW, SS) must engage the North Central to take control of our lives from the cabal and warlords who are the enemies of Nigerian development and transformation. Nigeria is a great nation which stands still and allow cabals and warlords to run over it. It is time we began to take control of our destiny by restructuring Nigeria.

If we can achieve this noble goal, then Nigeria will become the true giant of Africa we hope to achieve.

Prof. Babs Onabanjo, Former President of the Nigerian Alliance for Democracy 1993-1999/ President, AD King Foundation
NASA's newest planet hunter just bagged some big game.

For the first time, the agency's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered a roughly Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of its host star, the zone of orbital distances where liquid water could be stable on a world's surface, researchers announced today (Jan. 6).

The newfound exoplanet , known as TOI 700 d, lies just 101.5 light-years from Earth, making it a good candidate for follow-up observations by other instruments, scientists added.

Related: NASA's TESS Exoplanet-Hunting Mission in Pictures

"TESS was designed and launched specifically to find Earth-sized planets orbiting nearby stars," Paul Hertz, astrophysics division director at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said in a statement . "Planets around nearby stars are easiest to follow up with larger telescopes in space and on Earth. Discovering TOI 700 d is a key science finding for TESS."

TESS, which launched in April 2018, hunts for planets using the "transit method," looking for telltale dips in stellar brightness caused by orbiting worlds crossing stars' faces from the satellite's perspective. This same strategy was used to great effect by NASA's Kepler space telescope , which discovered about 70% of the roughly 4,000 known exoplanets.

Artist's illustration of TOI 700 d, the first Earth-size, haitable-zone planet discovered by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. (Image credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center)

TESS found three different planets circling the star TOI 700 (TOI is short for "Tess Object of Interest"). One of the other planets is a red dwarf about 40% as massive, 40% as wide and 50% as hot as Earth's sun. The innermost world, TOI 700 b, is roughly Earth-sized and completes one orbit every 10 Earth days. The center planet, TOI 700 c, is 2.6 times bigger than our planet, meaning it's likely a gassy " mini-Neptune ," and zips around TOI 700 every 16 days.

TOI 700 d, the outermost known planet in the system, is the really intriguing one. It's just 20% larger than Earth and completes one orbit every 37 days. The alien world receives 86% of the stellar energy that Earth gets from the sun, putting TOI 700 d in the habitable zone (at least as it's traditionally defined), discovery team members said.

All three planets may be tidally locked to TOI 700, always showing it the same face just as Earth's moon only ever shows us its near side. But tidal locking doesn't necessarily preclude the possibility of life on an alien world, astronomers say. And there's more good news along these lines regarding TOI 700.

Related: Gallery: The Strangest Alien Planets

"In 11 months of data, we saw no flares from the star, which improves the chances TOI 700 d is habitable and makes it easier to model its atmospheric and surface conditions," discovery team leader Emily Gilbert, a graduate student at the University of Chicago, said in the same statement.

(Red dwarfs are generally much more active than the sun, and there's considerable debate about how habitable their planets may be as a result. Frequent and powerful flaring, for example, can strip away a planet's atmosphere .)

TESS isn't the only spacecraft that has spotted evidence of TOI 700 d. A different team of researchers used NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope to confirm the existence of the alien planet.

"Given the impact of this discovery  that it is TESSs first habitable-zone Earth-size planet  we really wanted our understanding of this system to be as concrete as possible," team leader Joseph Rodriguez, an astronomer at the HarvardSmithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts, said in the same statement.

"Spitzer saw TOI 700 d transit exactly when we expected it to," Rodriguez added. "It's a great addition to the legacy of a mission that helped confirm two of the TRAPPIST-1 planets and identify five more."

TRAPPIST-1 is a dwarf star that lies just 40 light-years away from us and hosts seven Earth-size planets, three of which appear to be in the habitable zone. The system is a prime candidate for observation by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope , which is scheduled to launch in 2021. James Webb should be able to probe the TRAPPIST-1 worlds' atmospheres for potential biosignature gases, such as methane and oxygen, scientists have said.

TOI 700 is a bit farther away, but it's still close enough to be scrutinized in more detail in the future. And scientists do hope to learn more about it via observations by other instruments. For example, they want to pin down TOI 700 d's mass by measuring how much its gravity tugs the host star this way and that. Without knowing the mass, it's unclear how dense TOI 700 d is  and thus if it's a rocky world like Earth.

And in-depth observations of light that has streamed through TOI 700 d's atmosphere on its way to Earth could tell us a great deal about conditions on the alien world's surface, which remain a total mystery at the moment.

A third team of researchers, led by Gabrielle Engelmann-Suissa, a Universities Space Research Association visiting research assistant at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, did some modeling work to get at the various possibilities. And those possibilities are vast. For example, one of their simulations depicted TOI 700 d as an ocean-covered world with a carbon-dioxide-dominated atmosphere, whereas another one pictured the planet as a dry, cloudless world.

"Someday, when we have real spectra from TOI 700 d, we can backtrack, match them to the closest simulated spectrum and then match that to a model," Engelmann-Suissa said in the same statement. "It's exciting because no matter what we find out about the planet, its going to look completely different from what we have here on Earth."

Gilbert, Rodriguez and Engelmann-Suissa presented their results today in Honolulu at the 235th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS). Their papers have also been submitted to scientific journals.

Other exciting TESS news came out at AAS today as well. For example, mission team members also announced TESS' first circumbinary planet  a world with two suns in its sky  and revealed that the bright star Alpha Draconis and its dimmer companion mutually eclipse each other.

Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, " Out There " (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate ), is out now. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook .
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-07 16:46:13|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam on Tuesday expressed her utmost will and resolve to restore the vitality of Hong Kong society in the new year after about seven months of social unrest.

At a press conference, Lam promised to strive to bring Hong Kong out of the predicament as soon as possible along with the officials team of the HKSAR government.

Besides stopping violence and rebuilding order, Lam said there will also be various challenges in 2020, in particular a shattered economy.

"We also have to deal with what seems to be a more severe economic recession in 2020," Lam said. "The unemployment rate will rise and people from multiple industries expect a large number of bankruptcies after the Lunar New Year."

Hong Kong braced for its first annual GDP decline since 2009 as continued violent incidents disrupted business activity, scared off visitors and caused severe damage to public and private properties.
An employee takes granules of 99.99 percent pure gold at the Krastsvetmet non-ferrous metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk

By Karthika Suresh Namboothiri

(Reuters) - Gold prices inched higher on Tuesday, having earlier retreated from the previous session's almost seven-year high as fears of a larger Middle East conflict following the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general eased.

Palladium raced to a fresh all-time high earlier in the session, boosted by fears of a scarcity of supply.

Spot gold <XAU=> was up 0.4% at $1,571.77 per ounce as of 01:42 p.m. ET (1842 GMT).

U.S. gold futures <GCcv1> settled 0.3% higher at $1,574.30 per ounce.

"Unless there is a continuous acceleration in the aggressive rhetoric ... The risk perceived to oil is going to diminish and probably less reason to buy gold. The market thinks that at this point the conflict may not escalate too much," said Bart Melek, head of commodity strategies at TD Securities.

Gold prices soared to $1,582.59 an ounce on Monday, their highest since April 2013.

The killing of General Qassem Soleimani last week by the United States spurred a rush in to safety assets and dented risk appetite. Gold benefits during times of political and economic uncertainty.

"There is a concern there might be new instability in the Middle East ... There is a contingent of people diversifying their positions and gold has benefited from it," Melek said.

A senior Iranian official on Tuesday said Tehran was considering 13 scenarios to avenge the killing, while the U.S. defense secretary denied reports the U.S. military was preparing to withdraw from Iraq.

World shares <.MIAPJ0000PUS> steadied and oil pulled back from multi-month highs as investors looked past the news. [MKTS/GLOB] [.N]

Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar <.DXY> rose against six other major currencies, helped by better-than-expected data in the U.S. non-manufacturing sector. [USD/]

"Monday's price action does suggest the gold and silver bulls are a bit tired and need a pause," Kitco Metals senior analyst Jim Wyckoff said in a note.

"It appears risk aversion in the global marketplace has at least temporarily subsided following last week's geopolitical shockwave."

Story continues

Elsewhere, in a boost to market sentiment, the United States and China are expected to sign a preliminary deal on Jan. 15 to de-escalate a prolonged trade war that has roiled markets since its conception.

Among other precious metals, palladium <XPD=> extended gains, climbing 0.8% to $2,046.37 an ounce, close to its record high of $2,048.55 notched earlier in the session.

Silver <XAG=> rose 0.9% to $18.31 an ounce, while platinum <XPT=> gained 0.4% to $966.51.

(Reporting by Karthika Suresh Namboothiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler and Steve Orlofsky)
Jihadists from Somalias AlShabaab group yesterday attacked a military base used by US and Kenyan forces in Kenyas coastal Lamu region, the army spokesman said.

The strike on the base known as Camp Simba in Manda Bay near the picturesque tourist drawcard of Lamu Island is the latest by the group in Kenya since Nairobi sent troops across the border in 2011. Kenyas army spokesman Colonel Paul Njuguna said in a statement that at 5:30am an attempt was made to breach security at Manda Air Strip.

The attempted breach was successfully repulsed. Four terrorists bodies have so far been found. The airstrip is safe. Arising from the unsuccessful breach a fire broke out affecting some of the fuel tanks located at the airstrip. He said the fire had been brought under control and standard security procedures are now on-going.

The US military command for Africa, AFRICOM, confirmed there had been an attack in a brief statement. US Africa Command acknowledges there was an attack at Manda Bay Airfield, Kenya and is monitoring the situation. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the incident.

As facts and details emerge, we will provide an update. Lamu County Commissioner Irungu Macharia said the assailants have been repulsed. We are not sure if there are still remnants within, he said. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying it had successfully stormed the heavily fortified military base and have now taken effective control of part of the base.

The group said there had been both Kenyan and American casualties, but this could not be immediately verified. Al-Shabaab said the attack was part of its Al-Quds (Jerusalem) shall never be Judaized campaign -- a term it first used during an attack on the upscale Dusit hotel complex in Nairobi in January last year that left 21 people dead.
By Sonali Paul and Swati Pandey

MELBOURNE/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian officials took advantage of better weather on Monday to reopen roads blocked by wildfires and move some people to safety although thick smoke stalled rescue efforts and hundreds of people remained stranded.

Fires have ravaged more than 8 million hectares (19.8 million acres) of land across the country, an area nearly the size of Austria, killing 25 people, destroying thousands of building and leaving some towns without electricity and mobile coverage.

Police on Monday confirmed the death of a 71-year-old man on the south coast of New South Wales (NSW) state who was reported missing on Dec. 31.

A second day of light rain and cool winds brought some relief from heat-fueled blazes that consumed parts of two states over the weekend, but officials warned the dangerous weather was expected to return this week.

Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said about 400 people were airlifted on Sunday out of Mallacoota, a small, coastal holiday town.

"We had a plan to airlift another 300 out today. Sadly smoke means that is not possible," he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has come under criticism for what opponents call his governments failure to tackle climate change, announced A$2 billion ($1.4 billion) over two years for a newly formed National Bushfire Recovery Agency.

"What we are focusing on here is the human cost and the rebuilding cost for people's lives," Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

He said nearly 4,000 cattle and sheep have been killed in the fires. Countless wild animals have been killed.

Dean Linton, a resident of Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains, used the break in the immediate threat to his town to visit his wife and four children who had fled to Sydney.

He also picked up a fire-fighting pump and generator to help him protect the family home.

"There's a lot of fuel in that national park; it would only take one lightning strike," Linton told Reuters.

Story continues

The bushfire season started earlier than normal this year following a three-year drought that has left much of the country's bushland tinder-dry.

GRAPHIC: A devastated east coast - https://graphics.reuters.com/AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-MAP/0100B4TW2NK/index.html

Following are some highlights of what is happening:

* New Zealand Defence Force said the first of three air force helicopters being sent to help departed on Monday while the other two were expected over the next two days.

* There were no emergency warnings in fire-ravaged states on Monday following the weather change. Two people were missing as 146 fires burned in New South Wales (NSW) but all were back at the "advice" level, the lowest alert rating.

* Victoria state had 39 fires with 13 "watch and act" alerts. All missing people had been accounted for, authorities said.

* About 67,000 people have left or been evacuated from fire-ravaged areas in Victoria, state Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said.

* Victoria set up a Bushfire Recovery Agency, with initial funding of A$50 million. The recovery is expected to cost "a lot more" than A$500 million, state premier Andrews said.

* Fire officials said light rain that has brought some relief posed problems for back-burning efforts to starve fires of fuel.

* NSW state power distributor Essential Energy said its network had suffered "significant damage", with almost 24,000 customers without power. It might take a while to restore power to some areas because of the extent of damage and difficulty in gaining safe access, it said. Affected areas include Batemans Bay on the New South Wales south coast.

* As conditions eased, the NSW fire service said residents of Bega, Tathra, Merimbula, Eden, Pambula, Bermagui and villages to the north and south can now return though they need to monitor conditions.

* Insurers have received 5,850 bushfire-related claims in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland since the Insurance Council declared a bushfire catastrophe on Nov. 8.

* Losses are estimated at A$375 million since November, with a further A$56 million in insured property losses in September and October, the Insurance Council said. Figures do not include properties lost over the past 24 to 36 hours in areas such as the NSW Southern Highlands and south coast.

* Accommodation provider Aspen Group <APZ.AX> said it expects a A$500,000 hit to both revenue and net operating income from the fires.

* Canberra was running short of masks as smoke blanketed the capital, ACT emergency services said. The National Gallery of Australia said it was closed to protect visitors and art works. The government department responsible for coordinating disaster response also closed due to poor air quality.

* Pictures on social media showed the city of Melbourne cloaked in thick smoke.

* Actor Russell Crowe skipped Hollywoods Golden Globes ceremony, where he won an award for playing former Fox News Chief Executive Roger Ailes in the TV series "The Loudest Voice in the Room". Presenter Jennifer Aniston said Crowe stayed in Australia to protect his family from the fires and read remarks he had prepared in which he said the fires were "climate change based".

* Prime Minister Morrison faced more criticism of his handling of the crisis. "Poor political judgment is one thing. Competency is another thing altogether. This is the political danger zone Scott Morrison wants to avoid," Rupert Murdoch's the Australian newspaper, a supporter of the government, said in an article by the newspaper's national affairs editor.

* Forty-one U.S. firefighters are in Victoria with a further 70 from Canada and the United States expected to join on Jan. 8, the Victoria Country Fire Authority said on Twitter.

(Reporting by Sonali Paul and Swati Pandey; Additional reporting by Paulina Duran and Jonathan Barrett in Sydney and Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Editing by Jane Wardell, Robert Birsel)
The fallout of Prince Andrews scandal following his 20-year-friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has wreaked havoc on the British royal family. The Duke of York has been stripped of his royal duties and charities. He will effectively live out the duration of his life away from the public eye.

In addition to embarrassing Queen Elizabeth, the princes scandal has also put the spotlight on his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Both royal women are very close to their father, so this is obviously a troubling time for them.

To make matters worse, Princess Beatrice is recently engaged, and shes been forced to change all of her wedding plans to avoid further embarrassment and humiliation.

The British royal family is trying to protect Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

Obviously, this is a terrible position for these two ladies. However, their fathers issues and scandals have nothing to do with them. There were concerns that the princesses would be booted out of their homes. Princess Beatrice lives in an apartment at St Jamess Palace which is said to be funded by U.K. taxpayers. In contrast, Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank live at Ivy Cottage, a three-bedroom house on the grounds of Kensington Place. Since Prince Andrew no longer earns a working royal salary, fans were fearful that the women would be displaced.

Thankfully, the royal family is circling around the ladies. There was a sense of everyone circling the wagons around the girls, a palace insider told Daily Mail. There is a feeling that they must not be made to pay for the sins of the father. The Queen is particularly fond of Beatrice and Eugenie, and she respects the way that Andrew and Sarah have brought them up. The feeling is that everyone wants to protect them from this hurt and from further hurt, rather than dance on their fathers grave

Princess Beatrice doesnt want any further humiliation or embarrassment surrounding her wedding

When Princess Eugenie wed in 2018  U.K. citizens were critical about the astronomical cost and Prince Andrew and Duchess Sarah Fergusons constant demands for their daughters big day. Many people were offended about the Princess of Yorks lavish and costly wedding since she is a minor royal. Princess Beatrice wants no parts of that when she weds Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi this year.

There were outcries over security costs for the taxpayer and I dont think theyll want a similar embarrassment for Beatrice so I imagine that will be scaled down somewhat, Royal correspondent Jennie Bond explained. An insider told Mail on Sunday, that the Prince Andrew scandal has made things even worse. Only three weeks ago, friends were expecting to watch Bea walk down the aisle at The Guards Chapel, but that location is now looking unlikely.

Princess Beatrice will have a very private wedding

Princess Beatrice has been constantly tearful since the fallout of her fathers bombastic BBC Newsnight interview which ultimately led to him stepping down from his royal duties. Though she moved forward with her engagement party in late December 2019, her father did not show up. Now it looks like the princess is just hoping for a stress-free and quiet wedding day.

I can honestly say that the splendour of her wedding will be the last thing on Beatrices mind, an insider told royal reporter Tom Sykes. The girls have both been not just reconciled to but have actually welcomed living more normal lives and having normal jobs for some time now, even if their parents have not.

On Pod Save The Queen Daily Mirrors royal editor Russell Myers revealed that the wedding might take place in Italy. It will be in a castle I imagine in the hills of Italy, somewhere where there wont be any press, maybe one release of a photograph.

Royal author Phil Dampier told The Mirror, Andrew is so toxic at the moment, I wouldnt be surprised if its going to be a private wedding with a couple of photos released afterwards.
Environment Minister Matt Kean has said there will be an inquiry into land management in national parks once the crisis of this years bush fire season has passed, but the Herald argues that NSW needs a much broader inquiry  a royal commission.

While the Herald is not always supportive of responding to major problems in this way, it is the only response that can properly examine all facets of what has already been a horror summer.

The issue of whether NSW should conduct more hazard reduction burning is important but it is only one of literally scores of issues that need examination if the state is to prepare for a future with a hotter climate and longer and more intense bushfire seasons.

The model for the inquiry should be the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission into the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, which made 67 separate recommendations on everything from building standards to fire awareness courses at schools.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said he is considering a royal commission but it is probably more important that NSW undertake this inquiry on its own. Mr Morrison is right that emergency management is primarily a state-based responsibility.
Unidentified miscreants pelted the car of a ruling YSR Congress MLA with stones here on Tuesday, even as farmers of Amaravati region organised a road blockade demanding that the Andhra Pradesh government drop the move to shift the state capital.

The Telugu Desam Party supported the farmers' agitation while the YSRC alleged that the "opposition party goons" were responsible for the attack on MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy.

"It's a case of attempt to murder on our legislator. TDP president Chandrababu Naidu is a known anti-social element and he is trying to disturb peace in the state," Deputy Chief Minister Amzath Basha alleged while talking to reporters.

Reacting to the attack on him, MLA Ramakrishna Reddy said it was a "clear conspiracy."



"In the guise of farmers, the TDP henchmen attacked me and my security personnel with sticks and stones and damaged my car.

But we will not be cowed down by such attacks," Reddy, who represents Macherla constituency in Guntur district, said.

None was injured in the attack though the legislator's SUV's windshields were broken.

Meanwhile, police detained several TDP leaders, including legislators, as they tried to proceed to China Kaakani to take part in the National Highway blockade in solidarity with the agitating farmers.

TDP MLC Nara Lokesh, MLA Nimmala Ramanaidu and former minister Kollu Ravindra were taken into custody and taken to far-off Thotlavalluru police station.

We have taken them into custody in view of the prevailing tension on the NH, as the leaders prepared to go there, police said.

The TDP alleged that several of its leaders were placed under house-arrest since morning to prevent them from taking part in the farmers' agitation.

MPs Galla Jayadev, Kesineni Srinivas, former ministers D U Rao, N Anand Babu, former MLA Y Srinivasa Rao and others were placed under house-arrest.

A large posse of police was posted on the NH-16 near China Kaakani as the farmers staged the road blockade.

State Education Minister A Suresh was caught in the traffic jam, following which police forcibly evicted the protesting farmers and took them away to nearby police stations.

"There is information that some anti-social elements may cause trouble during the agitation and hence we have not permitted the road blockade," Guntur Range Inspector General of Police Vineet Brijlal said in a statement.

In the villages in Amaravati region, farmers and their families continued their protest for the 22nd day on Tuesday, opposing the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government's move to relocate the state capital to Visakhapatnam.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Retired IPS officer S R Darapuri and Congress worker Sadaf Jafar walked out of jail on bail Tuesday, with the Congress member accusing the police of high-handedness during the arrest.

They were granted bail on Saturday in connection with anti-CAA protests in Lucknow on December 19.

However, the two could be released only three days later as some formalities could not be completed, sources said.

Commenting on his arrest, Darapuri said the case against him was fake.

Jafar, also a social activist, alleged, "I was slapped by many and called Pakistani because of my name. In the night, I was told that a senior police officer wanted to meet me. I had hoped that at least on the ground of humanity and my constitutional rights, my family will be informed of my whereabouts but when I went to meet him, I was abused.".

Claiming that police had no evidence against him, Darapuri told PTI, "I have worked as a senior officer in the state police for 32 years and my task was to maintain law and order and not to instigate violence. I had no role in the violence that took place in the state capital on December 19 yet I was framed in a fake case."



Darapuri said on the day of violence, he was under house arrest and no post of his on Facebook or social media was such which could foment violence.

"I had appealed to people not to indulge in violence and protest through peaceful means," Darapuri said, alleging that the violence was sponsored and jointly instigated by the RSS and the BJP, along with police.

Speaking about her meeting with the senior police officer, Jafar said the policewomen "assaulted and clawed her face".

"The officer told the women police to slap me. He was not satisfied. He then himself pulled my hair and kicked in my stomach and knee. None of them were wearing badges to keep their identities hidden," she alleged.UP-CAA-ACTIVISTS-LD RELEASE



Sadaf Jafar said that the manner in which Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stood by her in the hour of crisis removed all fears and she would continue to take the struggle forward.

Jafar was arrested on December 19 while 76-year-old Darapuri was arrested the next day.

Soon after their release, Priyanka Gandhi tweeted, "Ambedkarite thinker and former IPS S R Darapuri and Congress leader Sadaf Jafar released from jail today. When court had asked for proof, the state police appeared clueless. The BJP showed its real ideology by arresting innocents and those taking forward the legacy of Baba Saheb Ambedkar."



In another tweet, she said, "..but lies can never win."



She also posted pictures of Darapuri and Jafar on her Twitter account.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Las Vegas, Jan 7 : Heralding the next decade as an 'Age of Experience', Samsung showcased human-centered technologies and experiences -- a personal care robot, AI-powered home of the future, and a smart city driven by Internet of things (IoT) and 5G at the ongoing 'CES 2020' conference here.

The 'Age of Experience' will transform how we care for ourselves and our family and customise our homes to meet our individual needs.

"In the Age of Experience, we need to rethink the space we have to accommodate our diverse and evolving lifestyles," said H.S. Kim, President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Division, Samsung Electronics.

"What makes Samsung's approach unique is the fact that we have a very clear philosophy built around human-centered innovation," Kim told a packed house here on Monday.

Kim unveiled Samsung's vision of robots as 'life companions', and introduced Ballie, a small, rolling robot that understands you, supports you, and reacts to your needs to be actively helpful around the house.

Sebastian Seung, Executive Vice President and Chief Research Scientist at Samsung Electronics said that Ballie, with its On-Device AI capabilities, is a fitness assistant and a mobile interface that seeks solutions for people's changing needs.

"It does all this while maintaining stringent data protection and privacy standards," said Seung.

Samsung also showed how a room can be transformed with a screen like its MicroLED display, a convergence of software, AI, IoT and hardware.

"A screen is not a product -- it's your window to the world, allowing you to instantly connect to your loved ones and friends as if they are in the same room," said Federico Casalegno, Chief Design Innovation Officer of Samsung Design Innovation Center.

"People can see and experience almost everything in the world and even the unknown world through the screen." Pointing to increasing global urbanisation, Samsung outlined its smart cities vision, where intelligent systems enabled by smart devices, platforms and data, will make city life much safer and easier.

"Smart cities that utilise AI, IoT and 5G will transform how we interact with the surrounding environment in ways that maximise convenience and enjoyment," noted Emily Becher, Senior Vice President and Head of Samsung NEXT Global.
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh: The lucrative fish feed industry is killing traditional fisheries

by Haritha John

January 07,2020 | Source: Scroll

Tonnes of fish caught through unsustainable fishing methods are being used by the fish meal and fish oil industry  also known as the FMFO industry  that supply feed to global aquaculture chains. These are wreaking havoc on fish stocks. The FMFO industry was considered a solace for fishermen as it purchased the trash fish, which is not edible, that came in with the catch. But the scenario has changed as the FMFO industries have now turned into a threat to the fisheries sector as the income from supplying to these industries is driving unsustainable fishing. A study in India, Vietnam and Gambia by Netherlands-based Changing Markets Foundation highlights the hazards caused due to the present functioning of these industries. Tonnes of fish, including juvenile and edible ones, are being caught, processed and exported to various countries resulting in the collapse of fish stocks and marine ecology, imbalances in food security and causing severe environmental issues, pollution and overexploitation, said the CM



End to fisheries?



As part of the study in India, two regions were selected  the Mangalore-Karwar belt and the Vishakhapatnam region of Andhra Pradesh. Indigenous fishermen communities across Indian coastal areas predict an end to fisheries soon. The topmost reason they cite is unsustainable fishing driven by the income from the FMFO industry. In 2017, Indias aquafeed market was valued at US$ 1.20 billion. Its domestic feed mills have the capacity to produce 2.88 million metric tonnes, said the study.



Vasudev Boloor, who is Karnataka Coastal Fishermens Action Committee general secretary, said that as the FMFO industries buy waste fish or bycatch from the fishermen, the trawlers intentionally go for waste fish, including juveniles and non-edible species of fish, which were not earlier targeted for fishing. The CM report claimed that these companies are causing the decline of local fish stock. Earlier only a small portion of the catch was waste and that used to be given to the FMFO industries. But things have changed and to generate more income, fishermen have started fishing everything in the sea. Juvenile catch is the most serious threat because of which many species have declined in the sea, said Boloor, while adding that the trawlers use small-sized nets which makes it easy to catch juveniles.



Divya Karnad, a marine biologist and assistant professor at the Haryana-based Ashoka University, said that the FMFO industries originally started as a solution to the trash fish that had been generated in the catch. Ideally, trawlers should take measures for bycatch reduction. They are not using doing so and that is why this waste is generated. Moreover, now fishermen are encouraged to bring more and more waste. Presently, trawl fisheries are mainly dependent on this bycatch income. If the FMFO plants were not there, many of the trawlers would have gone out of the sector, Karnad said.



Ineffective laws



Karnad pointed out that each state in India has got specific laws to protect marine ecology but none of them has actually been implemented and the laws just remain on paper. For instance, as per the government rule in Karnataka, bottom trawling nets with mesh size more than 35 mm should be used and in other methods of fishing, nets with mesh size of more than 20 mm should be used. Vasudev alleged that there are many trawl boats that use smaller nets than prescribed measures.



Up to the 12 nautical miles, the state government can implement laws [regarding fishing]. From 12 to 200 nautical miles, we still have no rules, said K Sunil Mohamed, principal scientist at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute said. He stressed that overexploitation of the resources by using methods like bull trawling, where the net is tied between two boats and dragged for kilometres to catch fish and light fishing, where artificial lights used to attract fish to a particular spot for an easy catch, are being followed widely. According to the CM study, in both Mangalore and Malpe ports, the investigators found that bycatch mainly consisted of juvenile and extremely damaged fish. At both harbours, the investigation team found several piles of pelagic fish, including pomfret, juvenile mackerel, juvenile cuttlefish and silverfish, the study said.



Juvenile fishing is considered a major reason for the decline of certain species. The CM study said that FMFO plants have to be blamed for the decline of Indian oil sardine in many parts of India. The study also revealed that in Vietnam, one of the worlds leading fishmeal producers, unsustainable fishing practices has caused fish stock reduction and due to which boats are regularly fishing in foreign waters which is prohibited. The situation in the Gambia is not very different. The country has one of the worlds richest fishing grounds but despite that, the nations food security is declining over the years. It is due to fluctuating populations of Bonga fish [also known as shad], which experienced a crash of 40% between 2013 and 2014. The study even said, Gambian fishmeal plants continue to be involved in social and environmental scandals.



The study quoted the Indian governments Agriculture Ministrys 2017 National Policy on Marine Fisheries in India which had stressed on dangers of the fish feed industry. Use of low-value fish species in the fish feed industry is becoming a matter of concern as it can lead to overfishing of such species and by-catch, and could undermine the integrity of the marine ecosystem. The spread of fish meal plants in some coastal states and their overwhelming demand for small pelagics [such as oil sardines] has led to overfishing, resulting in reduced stocks of small pelagics in some parts of the country, the policy said.



Verge of extinction



Sunil Mohamed said that juvenile catch could result in fish extinction as well as restrain fishermen from more profits. In juvenile catch, we dont allow a fish to grow to its maximum size. With that, fishermen will not get good price[s]...[and] people will not get quality fish. Another issue with this that through juvenile catch, a chance of reproducing another generation been lost, Mohamed said. Shailendra Yashwant, environmental journalist and climate change activist, said that though fishermen are aware of the hazards of these industries, they are worried about the decline in the catch.



They know the dangers posed by fish meal industry on the traditional fisheries. But the fishermen are desperate due to falling catches, reduced days at sea due to bad weather, rising operating costs, debt, the power of contractors and non-fishermen in the business, and thus, they are indulging in overfishing, including the catching of juveniles and wild catch, knowing well that there is a market for anything they catch. Those who can afford trawlers, and their numbers are increasing, are shamelessly literally scraping the bottom of the oceans to bring back catch, any catch, to survive, he said. The CM report said its not just the trash fish that goes to FMFO plants. It points out that about 30%-40% of the catch in Karnataka goes to the FMFO plants including the species fit for human consumption.



Significant quantities of food rather than trash fish are being diverted to the fish meal plants...People rely on locally caught fish for their protein needs, and it is becoming harder for them to compete within the new system, said the study pointing towards the imbalances it creates on food security. It explained that agents of such plants bypasses the traditional auction system and get the entire fish in a vessel to the factory. Krishna, a fishermen association representative from Malpe in Karnataka, said that the FMFO plants use sardine, mackerel, squid lizard fish and almost all the edible varieties. Fishermen catch the juveniles...which will not have demand in the market. So usually traditional fishermen dont catch them, but those in trawl boats are not traditional fishermen, they aim for money, he said.



Food security at risk



The CM report emphasised that sardine is a staple food in south India and its decline has affected food security. In June 2019, media outlets reported that the drastic decline in sardines has left Keralas fishermen in crisis and is affecting food security in the region, said the report. We cannot find the original oiled sardine now. It has been lost. [Soon] we will lose other species too, Krishna said.



Divya Karnad said since most of the FMFO is exported, it requires a minimum quality to meet the standards given by foreign countries, which lead these plants to go for quality fish than trash fish. They cannot use semi-decayed fish to make the fish meal as it would not meet the standards of European countries. In order to meet the standards they use high-quality fish which is our food, said Karnad. Trawl net fishers catch fish on a large scale, maybe in one net, they get five tonnes. When this large quantity is brought to the land, its price goes down, where the FMFO industries buy them in large quantities. So in a way, they promote destructive fishing, Karnad added.



There are certain species which are not edible that can go to the FMFO industry. But they are not the ones we consume. Peruvian anchoveta is similar to sardines, but are not consumed directly by humans, while oil sardine is the staple food [in south India]. Sardine also has high nutritional values so it should not be included in the FMFO industries. When certain FMFO industries had tried to standardise sardine catch for the FMFO, we had objected to it, said K Sunil Mohamed. He added that there are many unhealthy practices that are being followed by the FMFO industries. Apart from unsustainable fishing practices, they also get fish from boats by trapping fishermen. They pay an amount to fishermen in advance and get a full catch in their boat. The government doesnt have control over the number of industries coming up in the country, said Mohamed.



Violation of norms



The CM report also claimed that most of the plants located along the Indian coast are violating the Coastal Regulatory Zone regulations. It revealed that their investigators, while visiting a few FMFO plants in Ullal of Mangalore, had found that there were no waste treatment plants for the industries. After fish oil and fish paste [were] extracted, the remaining wastewater, called stickwater, was dumped into the backwaters adjoining nearby mangroves. The units visited did not have a wastewater treatment plant, said the report. They loot fish from the sea and dump waste into the sea after production. If a poor fisherman has to build his house, he is tangled with CRZ rules but industries can easily bypass laws, said an official of the Karnataka government, who works with fishermen in Mangalore. People living near the plants suffocate [because of the] putrid odour. These industries cause water pollution and air pollution. They dump effluents to the sea as well as to nearby rivers. Those who voice against them are being threatened by the companies.



Is there a solution?



The study recommends soybean and palm oil production as an alternative to the FMFO. Fish feed made of food waste, mealworms, algae, is being globally discussed as sustainable alternatives. In 2012 in Kerala, there was a huge decrease in Indian oil sardine stock when the government had introduced certain rules specifying the size of the fish to be caught in order to prevent juvenile catch. The mesh sizes and shape of the net were also prescribed by the government. So strict rules on mesh size and shape can reduce juvenile catch, said K Sunil Mohamed. He further said that Karnataka has also implemented laws against juvenile catch of certain species but they havent taken steps on restrictions over mesh size. There are recommendations given to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra [by CMFRI]. We hope they will implement these restrictions soon. Regulations on the mesh size of the net are the only solution to control juvenile fish catch, he added.



According to him, strict adherence to standards by the aquafarms can also be a solution. There are certain standards prescribed by Marine Stewardship, Aquaculture Stewardship Council and International Fish Meal and Fish Oil Organisation, The Marine Ingredients Organisation. The fish farms accredited by these standards accept only fish feed from sustainable fisheries. So pressure from the buyers for sustainable fisheries can be a solution, said K Sunil Mohamed. However, the CM study alleged that certification from these standards was not effective to curb unsustainable fishing. Many of the unsustainable practices witnessed during investigations in India, Vietnam and the Gambia, have received a stamp of approval by one or more of these certification schemes, the study said.
Lord Peter Ricketts

Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images

Boris Johnson's government was "caught short" by the Iran crisis and "off the pace" in responding to it, according to the UK's former national security adviser.

Lord Peter Ricketts said Johnson was too slow in responding to the escalation in tensions between the US and Iran, telling the BBC: "the world doesn't stop over Christmas and New Year."

The prime minister is accused of being distant from the crisis after taking three days to issue a public statement on Donald Trump's decision to assassinate Iranian military chief Qassem Soleimani.

Johnson was on a private island in the Caribbean in the days immediately following the assassination.

Members of Parliament will debate the crisis on Tuesday before UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab travels to the US on Wednesday for talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Boris Johnson's failure to return from his Christmas break in the Caribbean in the immediate aftermath of the Iran crisis has met growing criticism, with the United Kingdom's former national security adviser accusing him of being "caught short" by the conflict.

Lord Peter Ricketts, who was the UK's first National Security Adviser between 2010 and 2012, told the BBC that Johnson should have realised that "the world doesn't stop over Christmas and New Year."

Johnson was on a private island in the Caribbean in the days immediately following the assassination and didn't issue a public response until three days after it happened.

In an interview with BBC Newsnight, Lord Ricketts said Johnson's government was "off the pace" in responding.

"I think the British government were caught short by this," he said.

"People were still on holiday, and there wasn't sufficient early recognition at the top level that this is a serious crisis and really dangerous for Western interests in the Middle East. I think the reaction could have been quicker.

Story continues

"Yes, I'm glad to see the wheels are finally in motion and things are happening but we are four days downwind of this sudden and dramatic escalation.

He added: "Prime ministers are entitled to get a break, and clearly Boris Johnson had had a tough year.

"But even in Mustique I hope that he was in very close touch with what was going on, because the world doesn't stop over Christmas and New Year and we've seen that this year with in a very dramatic way and I think the British system has been off the pace in its response.

The UK Parliament returns from its Christmas holiday today and is scheduled to hold an urgent House of Commons debate on the crisis in Iran this afternoon.

However, Johnson is not set to attend, with the government expected to be represented by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

Asked on Tuesday why the prime minister wouldn't be taking questions on the government's behalf, his spokesperson said: "The prime minister leads a Cabinet government and he has been in charge of the overall response."

Watch Lord Ricketts accuse Johnson of being too slow to respond to the Iran crisis

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is set to travel to the US on Wednesday for talks with Trump's Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo.

The UK and other western governments are urging Iran and the US to de-escalate tensions following President Donald Trump's decision to authorize the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week.

The Iranian regime has vowed to seek revenge for the assassination while Trump has threatened to destroy dozens of sites of cultural importance in Iran, tweeting that the US could hit such sites "VERY FAST AND VERY HARD."

Read the original article on Business Insider
With a long term aim to disrupt student accommodation space in India, UniAcco raises seed funding from Adventum Offshore, an investment and wealth management firm.

India's newest entry into the startup world, UniAcco (uniacco.com), is all set to become a leading global demand platform and the ultimate destination for any student who is actively seeking education in the UK, Australia or the USA.

With USD 1 million funding, the company aspires to be one of the prominent players in student accommodation space in the coming years.

The Founder, Amit Singh aims to create a unique market place in the Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) sector where it's still at an early stage and a significant value can be created by a platform.

With over 20 years of experience in the financial and real estate industry, Amit brings in the right balance of organisational skills, PBSA owner relationships and an understanding of best practices.

The co-founder, Sayantan Biswas, comes with rich experience in co-living spaces and student accommodation in the global market. Sayantan comes with a strong domain understanding of the business, especially from the product and demand side.

He is an IIT, Roorkee drop-out and has been part of a few startups in the past. He was also shortlisted for the Peter Thiel Fellowship Summit.

Amit and Sayantan started UniAcco, 'a prop-tech company' catering to international students looking for the right advice and best-suited accommodation. UniAcco offers premium personalised student accommodation along with a range of other hassle-free services to ease the journey of students.

An overwhelming demand for PBSA across fast-growing educational markets led them with an idea to create a global marketplace for international students. The motto of the company is Compare-Consult-Choose.

The initial round of funding is led by the promoters of Adventum Offshore - an investment and wealth management platform which enables UHNW clients to participate in various global opportunities. Considering the student accommodation opportunity internationally, the idea appealed to them strongly.

On UniAcco platform, students can compare, consult and choose their accommodation from several established property providers. It is a one-stop solution for hassle-free resettlement of the student in an unfamiliar environment.

Some of the USPs of UniAcco are free visa consultation, availing loans from premier institutions in India, setting up a student bank account with top banks in the UK, cost-effective guarantor service, airport pick-up service for a smooth check-in and a pre-activated overseas SIM. On each step, technology is the driving force behind the smooth operation of UniAcco.

It is not only limited to curated accommodation recommendations but also comes with an integrated payment gateway for seamless bookings with a status update, AI chat-bot for customized support and automation for end-user retargeting to secure successful conversions.

The team at UniAcco comprises young professionals and experienced individuals who are experts in their respective domains. UniAcco thrives on implementing international practices in Indian markets. Soon, they aim to enter and develop the PBSA market in India by implementing the best global practices.

"Our goal is to be with the student at every step of selecting an accommodation by empowering them with contrivances like the ability to compare and choose an apt accommodation using our consultative platform with the intent of making the transition as smooth as it can be," said Founder Amit Singh.

"Coming from an international platform, we understand the space well, the scale of opportunity available in the student accommodation market for international students is huge and prop-tech is the way to capture it/solve it. We are very excited to be part of this journey and looking forward to add in whatever way we can to the team with our international experience," said Emron Samuel, Director, Adventum Offshore Pvt. Ltd.

This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Documents Show Senior Kerry Aide Used Private Email to Send Steele Reports to State Department Colleagues

WASHINGTONEleven pages of State Department documents released on Jan. 7 in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch show that Jonathan Winer, an assistant to then-Secretary of State John Kerry, used his private email address to convey information he received from former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele to top U.S. diplomatic officials.

I will send them to her [his assistant, Nina Miller] from my non-State email account, not copying myself, Winer said in response to a December 2014 email from Paul Jones, principal deputy assistant secretary for European Affairs.

Jones wanted Winer to use the State Departments secure email system, known informally as the high side, to transmit reports from Steeles firm, Orbis Business Intelligence.

Given our ongoing concerns about security of open net, [then-Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland] and I wonder if it would be possible for you to flip Orbis reports to this system before sending them to us. Understand thats yet another step in the process for you. We just want to be sure we dont inadvertently undermine a very good source of info or worse.

Winer, who was then-special coordinator for Libya under Kerry, continued in his response, telling Jones she will then send them to us. You know who they are coming from, so even high side from here I will just refer to them as O Reports, and strip out any other identifying information as to sourcing.

Winers use of his private email to conduct official U.S. government business may have violated federal regulations and State Department guidelines.

The documents made public by Judicial Watch demonstrate the close relationship between Steele and Winer. Steele became famous in 2017 for the dossier bearing his name that he compiled on allegations that President Donald Trumps 2016 campaign against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton colluded with Russian interests.

Steeles work was paid for by Clintons campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC), which she nominally controlled as the partys choice to succeed outgoing President Barack Obama.

In a Feb. 8, 2018, Washington Post op-ed, Winer said he first met Steele in 2009. Then in 2013, when Winer joined Kerry at the State Department, he said he and Steele over the years  had discussed many matters relating to Russia. He asked me whether the State Department would like copies of new information as he developed it. I contacted Victoria Nuland, a career diplomat, who was then assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, and shared with her several of Steeles reports.

She told me they were useful and asked me to continue to send them. Over the next two years, I shared more than 100 of Steeles reports with the Russia experts at the State Department, who continued to find them useful.

Winer wrote in the Post article that in 2016, Steele told me that he had learned of disturbing information regarding possible ties between Donald Trump, his campaign and senior Russian officials. He did not provide details but made clear the information involved active measures, a Soviet intelligence term for propaganda and related activities to influence events in other countries.

Winer declined to be interviewed by Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) Michael Horowitz regarding issues related to Steele.

No wonder Jonathan Winer, Steeles ally at the State Department, refused to talk to the DOJ IG, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in releasing the documents on Jan. 7.

He seems to have circumvented the rules in pushing Steeles unreliable reports to his Obama State Department colleagues.  Attorney General William Barr and U.S. Attorney John Durham would do well to focus like a laser on the State Department.

Durham was appointed by Barr to lead a DOJ criminal investigation into the FBIs Operation Crossfire Hurricane probe of the allegations raised by the Steele dossier. A federal grand jury is hearing witnesses and evaluating evidence produced by Durham.

Judicial Watch noted in its Jan. 7 statement about the Winer emails that it previously released 146 pages of documents revealing that Steele had an extensive and close working relationship dating back to May of 2014 with high-ranking Obama State Department officials, including Winer and Nuland.

Judicial Watch also uncovered documents showing that less than a month before the presidential inauguration, Winer had a 10-minute phone call with Alexey Vladimirovich Skosyrev, the political chief at the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

In July 2019, Judicial Watch released 84 pages of documents revealing an email exchange between Nuland and Winer, discussing a face-to-face meeting on a Russian matter in New York in September 2016.

Special counsel Robert Muellers two-year investigation of the TrumpRussia collusion allegations produced no evidence that any U.S. citizen colluded with Russians during the 2016 presidential campaign.

The Mueller investigation cost $32 million and resulted in a 448-page report that Mueller, a former FBI director, defended under intense questioning during April 2019 hearings before the House Judiciary Committee.

The Judicial Watch suit that produced the 11 pages of documents released on Jan. 7 was filed on behalf of itself and the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc.
YREKA, Calif.  Dozens of Siskiyou County employees were on the picket line Monday, protesting the County's cuts to medical insurance contributions that union representatives characterize as unfair.

"We are not asking for dramatic increases in pay," said Jodi Eceves, senior deputy agricultural commissioner for the County. "We are asking to be treated fairly and not have takeaways to our monthly income."

A unit of the Organized Employees of Siskiyou County (OESC) prepared to strike last week after contract negotiations stalled. Union representatives have said that they agree with a recommended compromise issued in a mediator's fact-finding report. At a final meeting last month, the County made a different offer. The two sides ultimately did not agree.

"Now we are here 10 years later, and we are still having takeaways happening to the three units that sacrificed so much for so many years and, other units are not being treated the same way," said Eceves.

The employees currently fighting for improved benefits from the County are represented by OESC in the "Miscellaneous, Professional, and Management" units.

"The County has not budged in its position to cut its payment for family medical insurance over $500 per month," said Steve Allen, a labor relations negotiator with Goyette & Associates, representing OESC. "The Board of Supervisors continues to pay itself $300 per month deferred compensation while offering most of OESC positions zero. This strike is about fair treatment."

OESC has called a five-day strike, which will continue throughout the week. Meanwhile, union representatives plan to make their presence known at a County meeting on Tuesday morning. This is a developing story, and NewsWatch 12 will continue to cover it as it unfolds.
By Associated Press

TEHRAN: A stampede broke out Tuesday at the funeral for a top Iranian general slain in a U.S. airstrike, and at least 56 people were killed and more than 200 were injured as thousands thronged the procession, Iranian news reports said.

The stampede took place in Kerman, the hometown of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, as the procession began, said Pirhossein Koulivand, head of Irans emergency medical services.

There was no information about what set off the crush. Online videos showed people lying apparently lifeless, their faces covered by clothing. Emergency crews performed CPR on others as people wailed and cried out to God.

Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions," Koulivand said.

State TV reported the death toll of 56, with 213 injured, citing Koulivand.

Soleimani's burial was delayed, with no new time given, because of concerns about the massive crowd that had gathered, the semi-official ISNA news agency said.

A procession in Tehran on Monday drew over 1 million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main avenues and side streets in Tehran. Such mass crowds can prove dangerous. A smaller stampede at the 1989 funeral for Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini killed at least eight people and injured hundreds.

Soleimani's death in a drone strike Friday has sparked calls across Iran for revenge against America, drastically raising tensions in the Middle East. The U.S. government warned ships of an unspecified threat from Iran across the region's waterways, crucial routes for global energy supplies. Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force launched a drill with 52 fighter jets in Utah, just days after President Donald Trump threatened to hit 52 sites in Iran.

Earlier in the day, Hossein Salami, the new leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard, vowed to avenge Soleimani's death as he addressed a crowd of supporters gathered at the coffin in a central square in Kernan.

We tell our enemies that we will retaliate but if they take another action we will set ablaze the places that they like and are passionate about," Salami said.

Death to Israel! the crowd shouted in response. Israel is a longtime regional foe of Iran.

The funeral processions in major cities over three days have been an unprecedented honor for Soleimani, viewed by Iranians as a national hero for his work leading the Guards expeditionary Quds Force.

The U.S. blames him for killing U.S. troops in Iraq and accused him of plotting new attacks just before he was killed in the drone strike near Baghdads airport. Soleimani also led forces supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad in that country's civil war, and he also served as the point man for Iranian proxies in countries like Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

The U.S. is continuing to reinforce its own positions in the region, including repositioning some forces.

Soleimani's slaying already has pushed Tehran to abandon the remaining limits of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers as his successor and others vow to take revenge. In Iraq, pro-Iranian factions in parliament have pushed to oust American troops from Iraqi soil following Soleimani's killing at the Baghdad airport.

In his eulogy to the crowd, Salami praised Soleimani's work, describing him as essential to backing Palestinian groups, Yemen's Houthi rebels and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria. As a martyr, Soleimani represented an even greater threat to Iran's enemies, Salami said.

According to a report on Tuesday by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Iran has worked up 13 sets of plans to avenge Soleimani's death. The report quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, as saying that even the weakest among them would be a historic nightmare for the U.S. He declined to elaborate,

If the U.S. troops do not leave our region voluntarily and upright, we will do something to carry their bodies horizontally out," Shamkhani said.

The state-run IRNA news agency later published a statement from the Supreme National Security Council denying Shamkhani made the comment.

The U.S. Maritime Administration warned ships across the Mideast, citing the rising threats. The Iranian response to this action, if any, is unknown, but there remains the possibility of Iranian action against U.S. maritime interests in the region, it said.

Oil tankers were targeted in mine attacks last year that the U.S. blamed on Iran. Tehran denied responsibility, although it did seize oil tankers around the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of the worlds crude oil travels.

The U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet said it would work with shippers in the region to minimize any possible threat.

The 5th Fleet has and will continue to provide advice to merchant shipping as appropriate regarding recommended security precautions in light of the heightened tensions and threats in the region, 5th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Joshua Frey told The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, Iranian Gen. Alireza Tabgsiri, the chief of the Guards navy, issued his own warning.

Our message to the enemies is to leave the region," Tabgsiri said, according to ISNA. The Guard routinely has tense encounters with the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf.

Separately, Iran summoned the British ambassador over comments by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the British defense minister about Soleimani's killing, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

Iran's parliament, meanwhile, has passed an urgent bill declaring the U.S. military's command at the Pentagon and those acting on its behalf in Soleimani's killing as terrorists," subject to Iranian sanctions. The measure appears to be an attempt to mirror a decision by Trump in April to declare the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization.

The U.S. Defense Department used the Guards terror designation to support the strike that killed Soleimani. The action by Irans parliament, done by a special procedure to speed it into law, comes as officials across the country threaten to retaliate for Soleimanis killing.

The vote also saw lawmakers approve funding for the Quds Force with an additional 200 million euros, or about $224 million.

Also Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the U.S. had declined to issue him a visa to travel to New York for upcoming meetings at the United Nations. As the host of the U.N. headquarters, the U.S. is supposed to allow foreign officials to attend such meetings.

This is because they fear someone will go there and tell the truth to the American people, Zarif said. "But they are mistaken. The world is not limited to New York. You can speak with American people from Tehran too and we will do that.

Asked about Zarif, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told journalists America would comply with its obligations under U.N. rules to grant visas. He then referred to the Iranian diplomat as a propagandist of the first order.

Soleimani will ultimately be laid to rest between the graves of Enayatollah Talebizadeh and Mohammad Hossein Yousef Elahi, two former Guard comrades killed in Iran's 1980s war with Iraq. The two died in Operation Dawn 8 in which Soleimani also took part, a 1986 amphibious assault that cut Iraq off from the Persian Gulf and led to the end of the bloody war that killed 1 million people.
Every farming year is characterised by an event or occurrence which will be etched it in the memory of the wider agricultural community for years to come. The drought of 2018, removal of milk quotas in 2015 and the horrible wet weather of 2012/13 are good examples.

For me, 2019 will be remembered as the year when farmers turned on farmers.

Love them or leave them, for years the IFA, ICMSA and Macra na Feirme have represented Irish farmers with strength and unity. They have vast experience, contacts and - more importantly - a structure from local branches all the way to the decision-making process in Brussels to assist and enhance the their members' farming lives.

In recent decades the strength of trade unions in all industries have significantly diminished, but farmers were the exception until 2019.

The emergence of the Beef Plan Movement (BPM) and Independent Farmers of Ireland (IFoI) in 2019 in addition to the higher profile of the Irish Cattle & Sheep Association (ICSA) and Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) has led to unprecedented fragmentation in the Irish farmer lobby movement.

The feedback I'm getting at farm level is that the average farmer is disappointed with the recent performance of the established farm organisations, but many are embarrassed with the actions of the populist movements that emerged in 2019.

It has never been easier to set up a new organisation or movement all you need is a Twitter, Facebook, and Whatsapp account and away you go.

Your family does not have to be steeped in the history of the organisation, you don't have to know the other members of the organisation or even pay a membership fee.

The disruption presently happening in the farmer lobby movement is not new or unique.

This new form of protest/lobbying is evident all over the globe as evidenced by the Yellow Vest Movement in France and anti-government protesters in Hong Kong and Chile, but the best example for us is the Brexit Party in the UK.

What is interesting to recognise and understand is that these organisations or movements will often cease to exist as quickly as they were set up.

For example, there is unlikely to be a need for a Brexit Party in the UK after January 31.

So how do we restore and build unity among farmers?

Surely the first step for the established and newer groups is to join together in an umbrella coalition' and present a united front to fight for 'the cause'.

I highlight 'the cause' as I believe it must be cause by cause.

It will take a brave leader in any of the current organisations to promote this suggestion, but it's clear that without unity, the farming lobby will fail.

If organisations put their differences aside to fight for an identified common cause. this would show great strength and unity in the industry.

Such coalitions would only be temporary or for a limited period of time until the cause is achieved, or a particular protest exhausted.

For example, the recent/ongoing beef protests would have been much more effective if such a temporary coalition was formed to fight for the common cause.

Achieving the stated goals of a specific cause will increase credibility and foster support for this new temporary 'pop-up coalition'-type approach.

The next step is to figure out what exactly to fight for.

This will be the most difficult task of all, as it's the very reason why we have so many organisations in the first place; they cannot agree on what to fight for.

We have to start with the bigger picture where there is a huge onus on government via the Department in Agriculture Food and Marine (DAFM) and all stakeholders to set out a clear and detailed pathway for the industry.

Strategy

I recently attended an open policy debate on Irelands Agri Food Strategy for 2030.

As the EU primarily determines agricultural policy in this country ,the upcoming EU- Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) reform is the place to start.

The following are the stated nine specific objectives of the Common Agriculture Policy post 2020:

* support viable farm income and resilience across the Union to enhance food security;

* enhance market orientation and increase competitiveness, including greater focus on research, technology and digitalisation;

* improve the farmers' position in the value chain;

* contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as sustainable energy;

* foster sustainable development and efficient management of natural resources such as water, soil and air;

* contribute to the protection of biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services and preserve habitats and landscapes;

* attract young farmers and facilitate business development in rural areas;

* promote employment, growth, social inclusion and local development in rural areas, including bio-economy and sustainable forestry;

* improve the response of EU agriculture to societal demands on food and health, including safe, nutritious and sustainable food, food waste, as well as animal welfare.

The DAFM state the "those objectives will be complemented by the cross-cutting objective of modernising the sector in fostering and sharing of knowledge, innovation and digitalisation in agriculture and rural areas."

These are very high level objectives, but the real challenge is for us as an industry to distil these lofty objectives into a clear strategic plan with clear goals and specific actions to execute the plan.

A clear strategic plan will provide the platform and pathway for the industry.

A strong farm lobby organisation/movement will buy into such a plan and lead the way by forming coalitions, as needed, to keep the plan on track to benefit of its farmer members.

Mike Brady is managing director at Brady Group agricultural consultants & land agents; email: mike@bradygroup.ie
The mother of a man brutally murdered by the East Belfast UVF has said she is more determined than ever to stand up to intimidation and threats from loyalist thugs as her family prepares to mark the anniversary of Ian Ogle's death.

Speaking for the first time about her son's killing, Margaret Elliott hit out at those behind disgusting graffiti which has been scrawled on walls in east Belfast targeting the Ogle family for speaking to the media and the police about the horrific murder in Cluan Place on January 27 last year.

The East Belfast UVF admitted its members carried out the murder but said it was not sanctioned by its leadership.

Graffiti near the Beersbridge Road in east Belfast labels Ian's daughter Toni as a 'Sunday Life tout' for doing a recent interview with the Belfast Telegraph's sister paper.

Margaret, who is 64 and lives in Holywood, said it has been terrible for the family to celebrate Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries and births without Ian, who was known as 'Big O' to his close friends.

The family have also had to endure cruel taunts on social media and on the streets of Belfast about Ian's murder.

"I am upset, because if they have anything to say, come straight to us," Margaret said. "Don't write bad things on the wall, they are just graffiti cowards.

"If they think they are going to lower us to their level, they won't. We will be strong and we will all stand together because we want our day in court.

"We will put our head high and they won't intimidate us."

Margaret said she was heartbroken to see the impact the intimidation and threats has had on her family.

"It makes me cry because why are they torturing the ones that suffered and making their lives even worse?"

She said those behind the intimidation have also got family.

"I don't understand how they sleep at night. But why somebody, coming up to the year anniversary, is writing silly things on the wall like children. Some of them can't even flipping well spell," she said.

"I loved him as my son, and Vera's (Ian's partner) first love, Toni and Ryan's daddy, Christina's brother... we all loved him in a different way and miss him in a different way. When something happens in the family, we all stand together. We will be shoulder to shoulder and we will have our day in court."

Margaret added she was proud of how her family have stood up to intimidation since Ian's death.

"I love my family, I would never change my family. I thank Vera for giving my son love and two beautiful children, Toni and Ryan," she said.

"As our Ryan would say 'unbowed and unbroken', they can write what they want but they can't change the love we have for that boy and they will never take the respect that everybody had for him."

Margaret said Ian was a "noisy, big-hearted giant" and that the family could not celebrate his sister Christina's 40th birthday because of their sorrow over his death.

Speaking directly to those behind the graffiti, Margaret said: "Stop being cowards, stop trying to belittle the death of a beautiful person and stop making us sadder than we have to be."

Christina McMaster, Ian's sister - who is also speaking for the first time - said the past year has been a nightmare. "It has been awful. Every day is like living the same day. Part of you thinks it is going to end, but it isn't. There is no end to it," she said.

Addressing the graffiti, she said: "I don't see the point in it, they are not getting anywhere with it. They are just causing more hurt and upset. There is no need for it.

"Stop, you are not getting yourself anywhere. We are not going to go away, we are still going to fight for justice for my brother. He was a brilliant person and there is no need to carry on like that."

Toni Ogle, Ian's daughter, said she believes the East Belfast UVF are behind the graffiti.

"It's been frustrating because we are trying to come to terms with the fact that it has been almost a year since my daddy was murdered," she said. "We are upset about that and we are upset because we have not been allowed to grieve because we are still getting tortured."

Toni said the intimidation has become a fact of life for her family.

"It has been going on since soon after the murder. A couple of weeks after my daddy was buried someone threatened to kill my brother and that is when the threats started, and to be honest it hasn't stopped.

"It is really stressing my mum out.

"She is trying to deal with the fact that her life partner has gone. She is getting upset for us because she can't understand how anyone can disrespect kids that have been through what we have been through. They are just motivating us and the family are more defiant than ever to keep going."

Ian was murdered at the front door of his Cluan Place home as he prayed with local pastor Kevin Sambrook. Earlier that evening he had been involved in a clash with UVF members on the Beersbridge Road. The gang responded by sending five men armed with knives and bats to his door. Ian was stabbed 11 times in his back.

Three men are currently on bail charged with Ian Ogle's murder. Mark Sewell (40), Glenn Rainey (33) and Jonny Brown (33) all deny involvement.
 Flash

At least 16 people were killed and another 40 injured when a bus crashed on Monday morning into a number of other vehicles near the town of Caraveli in the Arequipa region of Peru, said Dember Munoz Lozada, head of Regional Health Management for Arequipa.

The official said that the accident occurred at 00:41 a.m. local time (0541 GMT) on Monday, when the bus, which was heading from Lima toward the city of Arequipa, crashed into several other vehicles.

According to Munoz Lozada, two people severely injured in the accident were taken to Nazca Hospital near Arequipa, where they received emergency care.

There were four foreign tourists among the injured, including two Brazilians.

The manager of the Superintendency of Ground Transportation of People, Cargo and Merchandise, Jorge Beltran, said that a possible cause of the accident was the driver's excessive speed, as the vehicle was travelling at over 100 km per hour.

Peru's highways have seen frequent fatal accidents as many of the nation's roadways pass through the dangerous Andes Mountains.
The year 2019 marks the 500th anniversary of world-renowned Italian painter Leonardo da Vincis death. His innovative ideas, extensive interests and creativity have always intrigued Andrew J. Scoma, Jr., M.D. If da Vinci was able, Scoma wonders what he might do to help people become the best they could be.

In Leonardos Return (published by AuthorHouse), Scoma tells the story of Leonardo, who has been in purgatory for 500 years and is due to stay for another 500. How can he use his genius to get out of purgatory? Readers are invited to find out as Leonardo makes a deal with God.

This novel has an unusual plot that is based on history, theology and psychology. It offers, hope, humor and imagination. It will appeal to readers because most people appreciate insights into becoming their best selves, Scoma says. For more details about the book, please visit https://www.amazon.com/Leonardos-Return-Andrew-Scoma-Jr/dp/1728312477.

An excerpt from the book:

How did you happen to pick the bishop of Orlando, the pope asked, and not the bishop of Milan, where you worked before, or myself, the bishop of Rome?

Anyone who has Disney World in his diocese will probably be open to my project.

Leonardos Return

By Andrew J. Scoma, Jr., M.D.

Softcover | 5 x 8in | 104 pages | ISBN 9781728312477

E-Book | 104 pages | ISBN 9781728312460

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Andrew J. Scoma, Jr., M.D. is a retired endocrinologist with an interest in history and Italian culture. He often wonders about the lives of people who are mentioned in passing in history books or in the Bible.

AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is a leading provider of book publishing, marketing, and bookselling services for authors around the globe and offers the industrys only suite of Hollywood book-to-film services. Committed to providing the highest level of customer service, AuthorHouse assigns each author personal publishing and marketing consultants who provide guidance throughout the process. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, AuthorHouse celebrated 15 years of service to authors in Sept. 2011.For more information or to publish a book visit authorhouse.com or call 1-888-519-5121. For the latest, follow @authorhouse on Twitter.
R ebecca Long-Bailey has announced she is standing in the Labour leadership race.

She joins Clive Lewis, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips, Sir Keir Starmer and Emily Thornberry in the battle to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.

The shadow business secretary, a key ally of Mr Corbyn, said the party needs a proud socialist leader" driven by their principles and "unwavering determination" as she officially entered the race.

In an article for Tribune magazine on Monday evening, Ms Long-Bailey said: The election result was devastating. But with the climate crisis spiralling and the far-right on the march, we must regroup for the struggles ahead. Our task is to build a winning vision of a socialist future, and this task has never been more urgent.

Labour leadership candidates Clive Lewis, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips, Sir Keir Starmer and Emily Thornberry

She added: "We need a proud socialist to lead the Labour Party, driven by their principles and an unwavering determination to see democratic socialism in our lifetime.

"For all of these reasons and more, I have decided to stand for election to become the next leader of our party."

A YouGov poll of Labour members last week gave Sir Keir, the shadow Brexit secretary, a strong lead over his nearest rival Ms Long-Bailey.

Earlier Ms Long-Bailey confirmed her support for Angela Rayner, her friend and flatmate, to be deputy leader. In return, Ms Rayner said she would be supporting Ms Long-Bailey should she announce her candidacy.

The new Labour Party leader will be revealed on April 4, the party confirmed earlier.

Who will replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader? 1 /4 Who will replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader? Rebecca Long-Bailey Getty Images Lisa Nandy REUTERS Keir Starmer PA

Labours ruling body has agreed on timetable for the partys leadership race. The National Executive body met on Monday, the day before Parliament returns from its Christmas recess, to decide the rules and length of the contest and who can vote in it.

A Labour Party spokeswoman said: Our National Executive Committee has agreed the timetable and process for the leadership and deputy leadership elections. The ballot will run from February 21 to April 2, with the results announced on Saturday April 4.

We are by far the largest political party in the UK with well over half a million members. We want as many of our members and supporters to take part, so it has been designed to be open, fair and democratic.

Nominations will open from MPs and MEPs on Tuesday, January 7, and will close on January 13.

Keir Starmer: Labour needs a leader who will unite the party

Ms Phillips and Sir Keir have said the party must learn the lessons of the partys devastating December election defeat and why many Labour seats in the Midlands and the North of England were lost to the Tories.

Ms Phillips also identified the manifesto - which pledged to bring rail, mail, water and energy into public ownership and extend the role of the state into new areas - as one of Labour's weak points.

Both Ms Phillips and Ms Nandy have said the party must work on being relevant to voters.

"People have to feel a connection with us again. People have to feel we are on their side, Ms Phillips said.

Ms Nandy added: "People said to us, 'It's all very well promising free broadband but can you sort out the buses?' and that was the more pressing issue in their lives. It's not about whether you're radical or not it's about whether you're relevant."

Sir Keir and shadow foreign secretary Ms Thornberry, who were strong supporters of another referendum before the election, have said Labours focus should be on ensuring Prime Minister Boris Johnson negotiated the best economic and trade partnership with the EU.

Listen to today's episode of The Leader:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Former Vice President Joe Biden has added to his stable of presidential primary endorsements in Pennsylvania, picking up the backing of two more of the state's Democrats in Congress.

U.S. Reps. Conor Lamb and Chrissy Houlahan, both serving in their first full terms, endorsed Biden over the weekend.

Lamb represents a politically divided district outside Pittsburgh that Republican Donald Trump narrowly won in 2016's presidential election. Houlahan's southeastern Pennsylvania district has long been Republican turf, but Democrat Hillary Clinton won it in 2016 by 9 percentage points.

Pennsylvania has the fifth-most delegates in the Democratic primary. With an April 28 primary date, it is a late primary state that still could be an important prize if the nominee remains in doubt past March.

Last month, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren's campaign became the first in the Democratic presidential primary to hire field staff in Pennsylvania.

Biden has already garnered the endorsement of Pennsylvania's U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and three other U.S. House members from Pennsylvania.

Biden has a number of built-in advantages in Pennsylvania. He has his campaign headquarters in Philadelphia and deep political inroads in Pennsylvania after living for decades just across the border in Wilmington, Delaware, as that state's longtime senator.

Biden also spent part of his boyhood in Scranton, used Pennsylvania as a backdrop to announce the start of his campaign and has campaigned for many Democrats in the state, including Lamb.
AUSTIN  Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is warning of potential cyberattacks on state agencies as a result of the conflict between Iran and the U.S.

In the past 48 hours, Abbott said Texas officials have identified Iran as the origin of as many as 10,000 attempted attacks per minute on state computers and networks.

After a roundtable with law enforcement officials on Tuesday, Abbott said there are some concerns about the attempted hacks, but that state officials have no credible information about immediate threats to the state or Texas residents.

For subscribers: Texas Republicans rally around Trump after Soleimani slaying

A federal website and a state website that isnt monitored by the Texas Department of Information Resources might have been defaced by someone with pro-Iranian sentiments, the agencys executive director Amanda Crawford told reporters after the roundtable. But she declined to name the affected sites and said the department is still gathering information.

Abbott is warning local governments to be especially vigilant.

Local governments across the U.S. have been increasingly targeted by hackers in recent years. In August, hackers locked 22 local governments in Texas out of their own computer systems, requesting a collective $2.5 million in ransom to restore them.

State officials have said the attack was a coordinated effort from a single person or group. The state declined to release the names of the affected cities, and would provide no details about how the attack occurred, or whether any local governments paid the ransom.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

In the run-up to the 2016 election, Russia-linked hackers targeted two Texas state agencies, including the Department of Public Safety, but they never broke in, state officials have said.

The cyber attacks scanning state servers for potential vulnerabilities arent unusual, Crawford said. The states network can face billions of probes on any given day, she said.

It happened yesterday, its going to happen tomorrow, she said. This is just in particular because of events that are going on we are being extra vigilant.

amorris@express-news.net
Kim Kardashian knows when to stay silent and when to fight back.

Since Sept. 2018, wildfires started in Australia and have already spread through 11 million acres of land in the continent.

Currently, ecologists from the University of Sydney estimated that almost half a billion of wildlife have already died in 130 still-burning fires.

To help the victims and community in need, Hollywood stars like Pink and Nicole Kidman pledged to donate $500,000 to the Rural Fire Services.

As usual, however, netizens only noticed the "negative side" and started to throw criticisms to those A-list stars who remained silent throughout the efforts -- and the Kardashians became the first targets.

Kardashians Not Helping?

On Sunday night, a Twitter user questioned the Kardashian-Jenner clan and accused them of not donating or doing anything in response to the Australian wildfires relief efforts that are currently on-going now.

The since-deleted tweet of the fan stated: "Nothing gets me more heated than to see the Kardashians/Jenners talk about climate change/wildfires & not donate even a penny."

The Twitter user also tagged the Kardashian sisters (Kim, Kourtney, Khloe) and the Jenners (Kendall and Kylie).

Kim Kardashian, who previously defended the family over the issue of not supporting their father Caitlyn Jenner, replied on the now-deleted tweet. Obviously, she got stressed about how the fan pointed out that they only spoke about the issue and never did their part.

nothing gets me more heated than to see people think they know what we donated to and to think we have to publicize everything https://t.co/9qW1h2eZXe  Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) January 6, 2020

Khloe also took it to Twitter to share her defense. According to the 35-year-old media personality, they do not need to "boast" and post every donation they make online since it is not something to be bragged about.



Good deeds should be done with intention and not for attention. We are all blessed to be able to bless others even if it is in the slightest way. But we do not need to be boastful about that. Be boastful in regards to teaching others how they may be able to help as well.  Khloe (@khloekardashian) January 6, 2020

Just like what the Kardashians sisters claimed, they really did join the growing list of celebrities who have pledged to help before the fan even mentioned the family,. Moreover, it is not the first time that they truly helped in such situations.

Kim Donated Something Special Before

In 2018, Southern California also suffered from wildfires, and the KKW Beauty owner did something to help her community.

The now-39-year-old socialite hired private firefighters together with her husband, Kanye West, to protect their neighborhood from being devastated by the natural disaster.

"I feel like we were really blessed to have the help of the firefighters that we did," Kim talked about the wildfires during her appearance on the "Ellen DeGeneres Show."

"And our house is right at the end of a big park. So the whole park had caught fire and if our house went, then every other house would go."
During Orientation Week, first-year students will be welcomed to Rhodes University. They will have a chance to assess what subjects they want to take during their first year, will be exposed to university life, the residential system, the library, and learn what will be expected of them during their years of study.

Activities will include:

1. Registration

2. RULearning course

3. Orientation course

4. Making curriculum choices

5. Meeting Deans and Faculty staff

6. Understanding the residence system

7. Exploring the Main Library

8. Social aspects workshops

9. Introduction to clubs, societies and sports

10. Introduction to computer services (JAC Labs)

11. Curriculum approval
A seven-year-old girl in Kazakhstan has undergone surgery to have the foetus of her triplet sibling removed from her lower back.

Doctors removed the large tumour from the child in which they had found 'fuzzy outlines' of a human head, arms and legs.

The unidentified schoolgirl was delivered at 34 weeks by Caesarean as the firstborn of a set of twins - the youngest children in a family of eight siblings.

However, it was later found that an unusual medical defect had caused the embryo of an unnoticed triplet to be embedded inside the eldest twin.

The tumor had grown progressively over the seven years of the young girl's life and was causing her progressively worse spinal problems

Such cases, where one foetus envelops another, normally involves twins and are usually noticed at birth.

The undeveloped embedded foetus, which acts as a parasite, is usually removed not long after birth.

But in this latest case, the foetus remained unnoticed inside the child for years.

As time went on, it grew, leading to a progressively worse spinal problems for the young girl.

By the time her parents - from a remote village in the central Asian country - took her to surgeons in the city of Almaty seven years later the remains of her undetected triplet had grown to the size of a human fist.

A team of surgeons in the central Asian country of Kazhakstan worked to remove the tumour from the girl's lower back. She is believed to have recovered well

The resulting tumour was clearly visible as a swelling in the schoolgirl's lower back and upper buttock.

Doctors were unable to determine the sex of the unborn and non-viable triplet but it was assumed to be a girl.

The girl who carried her sibling was found to be clear of cancer or other serious conditions,' said Dr Alibek Zharasov, deputy head doctor of Children's City Hospital No. 2 in Almaty.

He said it was unclear why the parents had not sought medical help earlier, but he said if the lump had not been removed it could have developed into a 'dangerous tumour'.

He confirmed the girl - who underwent surgery late last year - had recovered well from the surgery.

Dr Alibek Zharasov, deputy head doctor of Children's City Hospital No. 2 in Almaty (pictured above) is one of those who operated on the young girl

Dr Zharasov was assisted by three other surgeons in undertaking the unusual operation - Dr Marat Rabandiyarov, Dr Azamat Zhailganov, and Dr Marat Kaptagaev.

Such cases - known as foetus in foetu - typically occur in twins and the Kazakh doctors are unaware of any previous cases involving a triplet.

The condition develops inside the womb where one foetus wraps itself around the other.

The enveloped foetus becomes a parasite depending on the host unborn child's blood supply.

It has no brain and is unable to survive on its own and if not removed by surgery after birth, it grows slowly inside its twin.

The young boy in this picture, Almajan, presented to doctors in Kazakhstan with a similar tumour. His had grown in his stomach giving him the appearance of pregnancy

In 2003 there was a similar case in Kazakhstan, involving a boy, Almajan, also aged seven.

He became known as 'the boy who gave birth to his twin' when surgeons operated on his distended stomach, that gave the appearance of pregnancy.

Inside the boy, they found a large, oval mass covered in veins, each connected to blood vessels, with limbs, nails and male genitals.
France and the U.S. will seek a compromise on the taxation of digital services over the next two weeks in a effort to avoid an escalation in the transatlantic trade dispute.

"I had a long discussion with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin yesterday," French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told reporters in Paris on Tuesday. "We agreed to redouble our efforts in the coming days to try to find a compromise on digital taxation in the framework" of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, he said, adding that they had given themselves 15 days to strike a deal.

Without a resolution, the dispute threatens to open up a new front in the Trump administration's effort to rebalance global trade toward America's advantage and use tariffs as negotiating leverage. Its trade war now is mostly targeted at Chinese imports.

Last month, the U.S. said it would hit $2.4 billion of French products with tariffs in response to a 3% tax France instituted on the revenue of large tech companies including Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon.com. The office of the U.S. Trade Representative said the levy "discriminates against U.S. companies" and the European Union has vowed to retaliate if the U.S. followed through.

Le Maire said that he would pull out of negotiations if the Trump administration imposed the sanctions while talks were ongoing. The U.S. tariffs will target goods including sparkling wine, cheese and makeup.

Standing alongside Le Maire, the EU's trade chief Phil Hogan said he is very concerned about the tariff threat because France's digital tax is "legitimate." The EU would consider "all possibilities" if Washington goes ahead, he said.

Representatives for French products, including Le Creuset cookware and champagne producer Laurent-Perrier, plead their case at the U.S. Trade Representative on Tuesday. The tariffs could go into effect as soon as early this year.

The tariffs would be "completely devastating," Jeff Zacharia, a representative for the National Association of Wine Retailers said Tuesday. He said that many wine shops have profit margins of approximately 2.7%, meaning that they wouldn't be able to absorb the duties and would likely have to reduce staff.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

The OECD is hoping to reach a consensus among more than 130 countries this year about how global digital companies should be taxed. France has said it will repeal its tax and refund the tax payments if an international agreement is reached. U.S. officials have called that unacceptable and says the tax should be rescinded immediately.

Despite opposition from importers and sellers of French products, the technology sector is encouraging the Trump administration to proceed with the tariffs, an unusual position for an industry that typically supports free trade.

"The financial effect of this is transfer of tax dollars from U.S. Treasury to the French treasury," Gary Sprague, a law partner at Baker McKenzie representing tech firms, including Airbnb, Amazon and Microsoft, said at Tuesday's hearings. These revenues aren't subject to French taxes under existing treaties, he said.

The U.S. has also said it would consider investigating digital taxes in other countries that have followed France's lead -- including Austria, Italy and Turkey. That could result in sanctions on products from those countries.
A police officer and a suspect were wounded in a shooting Monday night in the south-central Minnesota city of Waseca.

The Waseca police officer, Arik Matson, and the suspect were taken to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale for treatment.

According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Matson was shot in the head and gravely injured. He is in critical but stable condition. The suspect is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The incident occurred as police were responding to reports of a "suspicious person in the backyard" of a house on the 900 block of Fourth Avenue Southeast just before 8 p.m., according to BCA Superintendent Drew Evans. Investigators arent sure yet why the suspect was in the yard.

"It was not his home," Evans said.

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According to the BCA, four Waseca Police Department officers responded to the incident, and located the suspect nearby. "At one point during the encounter with him, Officer Matson was shot," Evans said. Officers then shot the suspect.

"Multiple shots were fired," Evans said. "Were still working through the crime scene to determine how many."

Both were transported by air to North Memorial. Both remain hospitalized.

Waseca police officers do not wear body cameras, Evans said, and the BCA is still in the process of determining whether the officers dash cameras captured the details of the incident. No further details have been reported.

Police say the suspect has not been charged but is in custody. Authorities say the suspect had an active warrant for drug-related charges, though officers did not know that when they encountered the suspect at the scene, Evans said.

Waseca Police Chief Penny Vought said Matson, 32, has been with the department since 2013. He is a member of the departments patrol unit and of the South Central Drug Investigative Unit, which serves Steele, Freeborn, Waseca and Faribault counties. And, she said, he is a "much-beloved Waseca PD DARE officer."

The Waseca Public Schools activities organization posted a tweet Tuesday morning , saying, "Officer Mattson is an important part of #BluejayNation serving as a DARE officer for our district."

In addition to his law enforcement duties, Arik Matson serves on the city council in Freeborn, Minn., where he has also been a volunteer firefighter for 7 years.

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Fellow Freeborn city council member Jim Beach said it's a somber day for the town of 300.

"I think it's kind of rallying the community together," he said. "You see people talking more than they usually do, I think, and I'm sure that's what it's about. It's about Arik, and wondering what's going to happen and how he's doing. Everybody's wondering for the latest update."

Earlier Tuesday morning, Rep. Jim Hagedorn, R-Austin, tweeted about the incident, saying "I communicated with Arik's father, retired Officer Tim Matson, overnight. On behalf of all southern Minnesotans, I offered our deepest concerns and prayers for Arik and his family."

According to the Albert Lea Tribune, which profiled Arik Matson and his father, Tim , when they worked side by side on the night shift  the younger Matson as a new patrolman with the Freeborn County Sheriffs Office and his father as a corporal with the Albert Lea police department  Arik Matson began his law enforcement career in Freeborn County in 2010.

He told the paper at the time that his interest in law enforcement came, in part, from his familys experience. His father had joined the Albert Lea police force in 1985. "You get the bug, you do," Tim Matson told the paper.

A GoFundMe account set up to raise money for the Matson family raised more than $30,000 by early Tuesday afternoon.

Vought said this is the first time a Waseca police officer has been shot while on duty.

"This is the worst nightmare that a law enforcement agency can face, and were living it right now," she said.

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Evans said investigators have not yet spoken with the other officers who were at the scene, but that the BCA continues to investigate the incident.